What's the Best Level?

By Sean Sadri - NCC News
April 20, 2008

Wolcott, NY - Business and property owners along Lake Ontario are finding their investments wash away with the water. Mother Nature may have a little to do with it, but shoreline erosion has been greatly accelerated since a dam was constructed to regulate the lake's water levels for international shipping. Shores and wetlands have taken a lot of the damage, and many locals think something should be done to preserve the environment.

How the Locals Feel
Wolcott resident John Mayer lives along the lake, and over the years has witnessed the land in front of his property disappear. He also has a boating business that relies on Lake Ontario, and sees a need for consistently high water levels.

"There's gotta be water management and shoreline management," Mayer said. "It's a natural resource. You've got to keep the channels open. You've got to have enough water, but too much water destroys the shoreline."

New Plans to Fix the Problem
An American and Canadian commission conducted research on the lake and made three plans to manage the waterways. The commission's research has already cost American and Canadian taxpayers $20 million. The plans were designed to be both environmental and economic, but many people have voiced opinions against these plans.

"The three plans that they came up with a year and a half ago, none of the plans were at all acceptable," said Wolcott homeowner James Quick.

Government taking action
New York Governor David Paterson has even voiced his disappointment with the newest plan, and has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a new plan that is more environmentally conscious. Many environmental experts are concerned that the plans are ignoring the impact the water levels have on local ecosystems. Dr. John Farrell, a senior research associate at SUNY-ESF, said he is glad that the environment is finally becoming an issue with the government, after harm has been done to wildlife and wetlands around Lake Ontario.

"Clearly the environment has not been part of the process in the past," said Farrell. "One thing I like about the current plan is that they have adaptive management, and they are trying to bring the environment into the fold."

Ultimately, the debate between commercial and environmental interests will remain controversial until a new plan that suits all parties is developed.

The U.S. is battling the highest food inflation in 17 years and it could get worse.

By Ashley Prchal NCC News

With America's economy in a tailspin, rising food prices are hitting low income families the hardest. In Central New York, food pantries are struggling to keep up with a new trend.

Claire Pietra is a Pastor at Valley Worship Center in Syracuse, New York. She runs the weekly food pantry.

"You're seeing more young people. More single mothers. More children coming to shop for them and their families," says Pastor Claire.

One of those is Deborah Wrightson, a single mom of 8 year old son Anthony. Deborah is on social security and workman's comp. She can't work because she hurt her back. So she must stretch $79 dollars a month in food stamps to buy groceries.

"I'm on a limited budget so you have to count every penny. And by the end of the month, the last week is very hard," says Wrightson.

Food stamps help, but a lot of families don't qualify. When it opened nearly 30 years ago, the Food Bank of Central New York was supposed to be a temporary fix for hunger. Now more people are using food pantries as supplemental foods rather than emergency food because more people are in crisis all the time.



Stephanie Crowley is Development Associate for Food Bank of CNY. She says, "We even have some people that are working two and three jobs and they are still not able to make ends meet and get enough nutritious food for their families."

The Department of Agriculture says food prices rose 4 percent last year and it's predicted to hit 4 and a half percent this year.

Organizations all over Onondaga County are feeling the pinch. Meals on Wheels is dealing with a 16 percent increase in operation costs.



Mason Kaufman is Executive Director of Meals on Wheels. He says, "It's a triple wami for us. We're seeing food prices go up, we're seeing gas prices o up and the economy is uncertain."

If the economy doesn't improve, volunteers say there'll be more families relying on food banks. For now, Deborah Wrightson is just thankful for a helping hand...

"I'm taking it one day at a time. Cause you have to. If I don't I'll go crazy," says Wrightson.

Deborah is just one of may families struggling to survive through these tough times. But the key to making it out alive, program directors say, is to put your pride aside and ask for help.

Flipping Over the Market!

Two local men are using Syracuse's healthy real estate market to flip a profit!
By Kristen LaVerghetta, NCC News


SYRACUSE, NY - When Zachary Belil and Shawn Clarke look to buy a house, they don’t go for the nicest one on the block, they search for the fixer upper with the most potential. Zac and Shawn are flippers, they buy, fix-up, and re-sell homes for a profit.

The partners used to live in New York City and then Minneapolis, where they began flipping. They decided to leave big city life, and move back to Shawn’s hometown, Syracuse, where they could try their hand at flipping high-end homes at a bargain price.

Zac says that it’s Syracuse’s affordable real estate market that enables them to flip upscale homes. “We can do it here, but if we had to do the same thing in New York it would be impossible… This house in a suburb of long island would cost me a million and a half dollars, it’s no where near that here.”

Compared to the majority of the country, the cost of real estate in Syracuse is very low. Last year the median cost for a house in Syracuse was 131,000 dollar. In New York City that number jumps to just under 440,000 dollars.

Real estate experts say the affordable market here is partially due to Syracuse avoiding the housing boom. David Manzano, President of the Board of Realtors, said that Syracuse did not see the spike in building that most of the country saw. Because of this, the market has remained stable.

Affordability aside, Zac and Shawn say that for their customers, buying a flipped home in Syracuse is a life style choice. Shawn says, “A lot of people, when they buy now in today’s market and they are paying a lot for the house, they want to move into their house right away. They don’t want to take the time to do all of this work… We’re giving them the opportunity to buy an old house, brand new!

Zac says that some of their clients move here to escape the rush of big city life. “It’s a little tiring to constantly face the race in Manhattan, and when you get here it’s a little easier, it’s a little more livable.”

The Syracuse real estate market allows Zac and Shawn to make a good living flipping homes. However, bringing out the beauty in the homes they refinish, is what really gives the pair a sense of accomplishment.

Lake Ontario Water Plan Lacks Transparency

By Daniel Yang

Boating season along the Great Lakes is about to begin, but there’s something troubling the waters in the North Country. On the shores of Lake Ontario, there’s a growing controversy this year on just high the water should be.

Sandy Creek, NY (NCC) - Sailboater John Mayer says high water levels during the summer are good for racing, but the waves are devastating the peninsula between Port Bay and the lake.

"The Canadians and the Americans let the water levels go up," said Mayer, "and it completely washed this out. You can see that trees are down... 500 feet in front of here, this used to be an apple orchard."

But bringing the level down can be bad for charter boats.

"Means you can't get access to the docks," said Randy McCoy, recreation director at Port Bay Marina. "You'll either ingest mud or strike the bottom and the propellers."

How high the waters run affects everything from fishing and shipping to hydroelectric power to.... well, just going to the beach. They all rely on international regulations that control how much water is allowed to flow from Lake Ontario through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam on the St. Lawrence River, now considered one of the most endangered rivers in America, because of a water plan that turns 50 years old this year.

More water flows through the dam during the spring and summer -- to help commercial shipping and power production-- and less in the fall and winter, when the St. Lawrence River freezes. This reduces flooding and helps protect Central New York vacation homes along the shore.

But after years of disrupting a more natural cycle of highs and lows, erosion is a huge problem--destroying half the wetlands around the lake. Only a few species of plants and animals can survive the constant change, like the invasive cattail, now considered a weed.

"There used to be a 30 to 35 year cycle between highs and lows in the system," said John Farrell, director of the Thousand Islands Biological Station. "When we draw levels down for storage in the fall time, it really dries up the wetland. And when flooding is reduced, it really affects the fish spawning processes."

The International Joint Commission that regulates Lake Ontario spent $20 million of American and Canadian taxpayer money researching a new plan that was supposed to address environmental concerns but only lowers levels during the storm season.

Governor David Paterson says the plan is too conservative and fails the environment. Senator Chuck Schumer and 23rd District Congressman John McHugh call the IJC's plan irresponsible.

"I am disheartened that the IJC has chosen to disregard the effort made by so many local residents who thought they were participating in an open and transparent government process," said McHugh.

The commission says a more environmentally- minded plan that New York has endorsed risks flooding in Montreal and makes too many sacrifices for commercial shipping.

Residents have until July 1st to comment on the new plan. The IJC will be holding several hearings in June, open to the public.

PUTTING THE BRAKES ON DELIVERIES

Everyone is feeling the pain at the pump but it's being felt particularly hard by delivery companies and non-profits.

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Nan Poole drives her mini-van three times a week for Meals on Wheels. As a volunteer, Nan brings hot dinners to the elderly and disabled.

But the national average for gas prices spiked to another all time high this week of three dollars, fourty cents a gallon, and Nan is suffering because she has to pay for her own gas.

But it's not just Nan, the whole agency, Meals on Wheels in Syracuse, has been squeezed by high gas prices. It's an agency whose purpose is to deliver well-balanced meals at the lowest possible cost to a client who is unable to shop or prepare such meals due to illness, disability or advaced age. So the staff also worries about a shrinking pool of volunteers who deliver more than 200,000 dinners door to door every year to 400 clients in Syracuse.


"Individuals who say they really would want to help, but when they think about the possible mileage, it may be inhibiting them from volunteering for us.," Edward Brown, Director of Volunteer Services, said.

"Meals on Wheels is a community driven agency. We depend on the community to support it, As it impacts them it impacts us," Mason Kaufman, Executive Director, said.

TAXIS

Gas approaching four dollars a gallon is also a hugh concern for taxi drivers, who spend on average 50 dollars a day on gas. That money coming out of their own paycheck because taxi rates are set by the city.

"I have to adjust my way of planning. The drivers in the east side, I wouldn't send them all the way to the south side to pick someone up," Sonny Singh, Owner of Blue Star Transportation, said.

Instead of multiple trips to the gas station to fill up the tank, Blue Star Transportation makes the customers wait.

"We're making the customer wait. The customer has to suffer for it because they won't get their cabs on time because the driver doesn't want to pay extra money for the gas," Singh said.

FLORISTS

And it's not just taxis, but consider businesses that depend on deliveries. Florist Dave Hoover, of Hoover Flowers, never turns customers away and will not carpool deliveries with other florists. Instead he's been raising prices to cover transportation costs. If you want flowers delivered by him, you have to pay a fee of 13 to 20 dollars just for delivery alone.

"It's just a fact of business either you pass your higher prices along or you lose business," Dave Hoover, Owner Hoover Flowers, said.

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE

No one knows what the future holds but economists say what goes up must come down. Even if it doesn't go down, people like Nan Poole, will continue delivering hot meals to the doorsteps of the needy.

"I'm going to continue doing it until there may be a point where I'm going to have to reduce my days but not totally give up the service," Nan Poole, Meals on Wheels Volunteer, said.

Where the Green Grass Grows

Brad Seal NCC News

April 19, 2008

Syracuse, New York--Spring time means it's baseball season in Syracuse, but you'd never know it by looking in the stands. Syracuse ranked near the bottom of the division in attendance last year. This year the Syracuse Chiefs organization hopes more fans will turn out to see a renovated baseball field.


What's Changed

The Chiefs spent 1.5 million dollars in Onondaga tax money to tear up the old artificial turf field and in it's place went a combination of 4 types of Kentucky bluegrass. The Chiefs also moved the bullpen from beyond the outfield wall to first and third baselines.


The Reaction

The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans used many different adjectives to describe the old turf and none of them were pleasant. Chiefs season ticket holder Jacob Fikes said that the old turf made Alliance Bank Stadium look like a "graveyard".


Does it Matter?

That is the real question: Will the new field bring in fans for the Chiefs? Chiefs general manager John Simone says that only two things will bring fans to Alliance Bank Stadium: good weather and a winning team. Syracuse residents know about the weather; it can snow in May here which makes it very hard to play baseball during the early part of the season. There is nothing the Chiefs can do about that.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs can also do very little to control the winning team part of the equation. Major League parent organization the Toronto Blue Jays have a very mediocre farm system and the players that do turn out to be good players are sent up to the Blue Jays fairly quickly. That doesn't leave many up-and-coming stars for Syracuse fans to watch.

It also doesn't help that the Blue Jays play in Toronto. Syracuse has New York and Boston fans, but no too many Toronto fans. Several fans we talked to discussed the rumor about the New York Mets sending its Triple A team to Syracuse next year. The Syracuse contract with the Blue Jays is up at the end of the year so that remains a possibility, but as of now it is still just a rumor.

The Chiefs haven't had a winning season in seven years and there is very little happening to make fans believe that will change anytime soon. Looks like the Chiefs are zero for two on Simone's recipe for bringing fans to Alliance Bank Stadium.

Play On The Grass

When the novelty of grass wears off, will baseball fans still fill the seats?

April 14th, 2008 - Alliance Bank Stadium - Syracuse, NY

Matthew Schultz - NCC News

There's Grass

A new sound can now be heard at Alliance Bank Stadium; that of a lawnmower! Many baseball fans in Syracuse, frustrated for years by the deteriorating astroturf field at Alliance Bank Stadium, will no doubt make a point of seeing an early season game on the new grass field. According to outfielder Russ Adams, "It's exciting, hopefully it's exciting for the fans, too, to come out and see a game. You know, it's more appealing to the eye to see the game of baseball played on natural grass". But once you've seen the grass, what is the reasoning for a return visit? The Chiefs marketing strategy for the year relies almost solely on the grass - including grass-themed slogans and memorabilia.

What gets fans to the games?

According to Chiefs General Manager John Simone, good weather and a winning team are really the only ways to get more fans out to the stadium. That's a problem here in Syracuse, where the Chiefs have had only 8 winning seasons in the last 31 years and where mother nature does not often favor outdoor activities. With the smallest population of any city with a triple-A baseball team, Syracuse needs to do even more to convince fans to come out to the ballpark, and their marketing and promotion efforts are often not enough. "We need new blood at the top," says Chirs Fikes. "Some new ideas, fresh ideas. When I came here with my dad, back in the 60's, when I was a young teenager, same guys basically." If they need ideas for promotions, their fans certainly have plenty. We heard ideas ranging from guest announcers to better food. Just one new concept might be able to make a huge difference.

Winning Sells Seats...Will grass help the Chiefs Win?

"Just playing on a smoother surface, a nicer surface, and something that's a lot easier on your knees and your back, and everything else, is only going to help us," said Russ Adams. Pitcher Jordan DeJong echoed the sentiments of many others in the organization that Alliance Bank Stadium is now going to be a very pitcher-friendly ballpark, as the left field wall has been moved back to make home runs to that part of the stadium a little harder to come by. Russ Adams also reminded us that, despite being a pitcher's park in terms of home runs, the grass may help to slow the ball down when it is hit to the outfield, which may allow the Chiefs to score more runs in situations where they may not have had time to get all the way to home plate in the past. In any case, the grass will cut down on injuries, and reduce the home field DISadvantage that the Chiefs used to face, as they had to play 70+ games each year on what amounted to carpeted concrete.