Tiny Village Undergoes Controversial Makeover
Residents Hope to Put Division Behind
Melissa J. Hipolit NCC News Syracuse Reporting
April 23, 2008


(Aurora, NY) It’s spring in Aurora, New York and things are downright pleasant. But, it wasn’t always this way. Seven years ago the village looked a lot different. “Aurora really was in a downhill slide, in a state of disrepair, and things were starting to look pretty shabby,” said Mayor Tom Gunderson.


Pleasant Rowland
That was until 2001 when Pleasant Rowland arrived. Rowland is a 1962 graduate of Wells College, who went on to create the American Girl dolls. The millionaire philanthropist gave the historic village a controversial $40-million makeover. “My reaction was thank goodness, right from the beginning,” said village resident George Peter. Rowland fixed up old buildings along Main Street, like the Leffingwell House, vacant for over 60 years. She planted Chinese Elms, buried power lines and restored the historic Aurora Inn.

Positive Impact on Village
The Mayor said this brought wealth to the village. “These properties are now worth more money, and therefore pay a bigger tax bill...so that’s been a help,” said Mayor Gunderson. He also said Rowland’s work inspired other people to restore properties in the village.

Division
Not everybody liked the changes Rowland made along Main Street. “The whole thing really divided Aurora,” said village resident John Miller. Miller grew up in Aurora, moved away and came back to raise his children. “There was not a sincere attempt by the people that were here on the ground to integrate themselves with all the people,” said Miller. Village Trustee LiLi MacCormick opposed some of Rowland’s changes. The bumper stickers still on her pickup reflect her resentment. “If she had only talked with people—it wouldn’t have been so difficult,” said MacCormick.


Fargo
The former owner of the local watering hole, the Fargo, found Rowland’s work particularly hard to swallow. Rowland bought the bar from Jim Orman and gentrified it. “I was left without a business I had not anticipated selling…and that left a bad taste, I think, in a lot of people’s minds,” said Orman. He would like to see the local businesses that Rowland bought and handed over to the college, go back into the hands of locals. “The fabric of a community is local, private business owners. You have those different personalities and that’s what makes up a community,” said Orman.

Aurora Today
Rowland is now long gone, having moved on to other projects. The house she bought for herself in Aurora is on the market. But, the changes she brought to Aurora, both cosmetic and personal, remain. “You feel more proud of the community today when you drive through, cuz things look like they should…but, its come at a price, like everything does,” said Mayor Gunderson. “There seems to be some divide…I don’t see people as much as I used to,” said Orman. “I just hope we can talk in positive ways that will improve things, instead of just digging away at the same old sores,” said MacCormick.
The Mayor said people are trying to move on with life. After all, there are bigger fish to fry, like the failing economy. And so, as the sun sets on Aurora, rest assured, another pleasant day is ahead.

Aurora, NY: A community divided, ready to move on

April 23, 2008
By: Ashley Kalena, NCC News

Aurora was a pleasant village. Then in 2001, Pleasant Rowland who is the owner of the American Girl Doll collection came in and turned the small village on Cayuga Lake upside down. It’s a tight-knit community where the students at Wells College outnumber the less than 400 people living in the village. But after Pleasant Rowland came to town, things changed. These changes weren’t so subtle for some people. The Aurora Coalition was formed by a group of people who weren’t happy with the way the village transformation was happening. Lili MacCormick had lived in the village for 50 years and is opposed Rowland's changes. "I felt that if she had only talked with people, it wouldn’t have been so difficult," MacCormick said.

The Restoration

Rowland is a Wells graduate and a wealthy businesswoman. So, she got together with the college and invested 40 million dollars in the village. She buried powerlines, replaced trees and restored buildings throughout Main Street. Tom Gunderson is the mayor of Aurora and is generally pleased with what Rowland has done for the village. “Aurora really was in a downhill slide – in a state of disrepair and things were starting to look pretty shabby," Gunderson said. The Aurora Inn is a historic building and when Rowland made changes to it, some villagers weren’t happy, but the mayor says…it needed to be done.


The Fargo

John Miller grew up in Aurora and moved back in 1992. Miller said once Rowland made renovations to the local bar, the Fargo - that sent the village over the edge, but unlike some of the other villagers – he won’t stop going there. “My feeling about me coming to the Fargo is, it’s my bar, I don’t care who owns it," Miller said.

Jim Orman is the former owner of the Fargo. “I think the Fargo would have kept going as a major social point, or social gathering place but I think the way everything was handled, some people didn’t care for that," Orman said.

The Future

Seven years later now, tensions are dying down and the community is looking to the future. George Peter is seen as the patriarch of the village and he is just read to see everyone move on. “I hope that we can resolve our differences and come together as a community and act as an example for the larger community," Peter said. MacCormick agrees, "I just hope was can talk in positive ways that will improve things instead of just digging away at the same old sores.”


Gunderson is optomistic about Aurora's future, he said, "I think it’s got a bright future, if we can just keep everybody pulling in the same direction."

Guide Dogs in Central New York

Seeing Through Another's Eye

By Anala Tuenge, NCC News

April 25, 2008

Mexico, New York-- Bill Irwin lost his sight to diabetes ten years ago, and ever since, he has relied on his guide dog, Toga, to see for him. The retired Vietnam Veteran said at first he was hesitant about getting a guide dog because he'd never been a dog person, but that all changed the first time he worked with one.

"I gave the command to cross the street, and the dog took one step and stopped," Irwin said. "There was a car coming and I didn't see it coming.

Irwin has used a guide dog ever since, and among the benefits he values most from a dog like Toga is his independence.

He just kind of weaves you out and around everything. You never have to worry about running into something," Irwin said.

Guide Dog Training

Freedom Guide Dogs in Cassville, New York, breeds mostly Labrador Retrievers. As puppies, the dogs are sent to live with families who will raise them. When they are two years old, they return for special training to help the visually impaired.

Anne Mercer has been training guide dogs for ten years. She said simulating real life situations, like walking the dogs blindfolded in downtown areas with heavy traffic, prepares the dogs for the large responsibilities they will shoulder.

"A guide dog has to problem solve. A guide dog has to make decisions that could concern life or death," Mercer said.

And Mercer doesn't just train the dogs. She also trains the people who receive them. She said they have to know where they're going and how to get here.

"You as a person have to be able to read traffic. The dog can't read traffic. The dog can't decide," Mercer said. "You're dealing with the team, and you're dealing with what both personalities bring to that team."

Trainers are careful to pair the dogs with people who have similar personalities. Mellow dogs go to older people or those with disabilities, while more energetic dogs go to people who are active.

"We interview the person and find out where they live and what they're going to use the dog for," Mercer said.

A Shortage

An even bigger challenge that finding a compatible match is finding a match at all. At Freedom Guide Dogs, the waiting list includes more than twenty people, and the wait is more than a year. With just two trainers and a limited budget, the non-profit organization can only produce so many puppies.

"It's tough, because we want to. We desperately want to. We want to help as many people as we possibly can," said Nicole White, the Director of Development at Freedom Guide Dogs.

Great Companions

Those, like Bill Irwin, who do receive help, said the dogs enhance their lives, not just by being a pair of eyes, but also by being a friend.

"Guide dogs are great. They're great company, and the independence is just fabulous," Irwin said.

And even when the harness comes off, the bond is still there.

Beer Trail Brewing Viable Business for New York State

Monday, April 21, 2008
By: Chelsea Pizzi

New York State beer brewing dates back to the mid-1600s, but now the brewing industry has a thirst to expand its horizons. The Empire State Brewery Trail is a collection of more than 50 craft beer micro-breweries that are opening their doors to the public in a marketing campaign to promote New York State Beer to the public.

"It's gonna bring a lot more people up here," said Patrick McQuillen, a Moutoursville, PA resident.

-What's new?-

"The goal is to raise the awareness of pride of New York and really focus more on being loyal to New York State produced products," said David Katleski, President of the New York State Brewer's Association and co-owner of Empire State Brewery.

Craft beer is beer brewed for quality, not so much mass consumption. Micro breweries like Empire State Brewery, Syracuse Suds Factory and Middle Ages Brewery have cut into the monopoly once enjoyed by the bigger breweries like Miller and Budweiser…and account for 7-percent of all beers sold in America, but the Brewers Association has its sights set on 10-percent market share by 2010.

-Location-

The beer trail is separated into the four regions of the state - North, South, Central, and West.

"We love the Empire State Brewery Trail-it's challenging for them because they're not fortunate enough to be located in one central place," said Paul Thomas, the Executive Director of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Thomas says marketing and advertising are going to be the Brewer's Associations most important step in creating a successful beer trail.

Katleski says three advertising methods are in the works:
(1.) website - http://www.thinknydrink.ny.com/
(2.) 38-page pamphlet
(3.) signs

-Wine Trails-

The beer trail is dovetailing the success of the Finger Lakes Wine Trails. "We welcome anything that brings more traffic to this region," said Brad Phillips, the Marketing Director for Hazlitt Winery which makes the region's most popular wine -- Red Cat.

"Wine is my favorite!" said Amy Casemen, a Montoursville resident.

"I'm probably more of a beer drinker, but I like both," said Mike Caseman, also from Montoursville.

-What's Next?-

"There's an economic stimulus potential with growing those raw materials that are needed in the brewing process in New York State," said Katleski.

Katleski says he is planning his next project along with state legislators to create a hops processing plant which will utilize New York State products and make the state more agriculturally self-sufficient.

Are Energy Drinks Really Worth the Buzz?

That extra boost might be giving you more than you bargained for.

By: Tracy Kracker, NCC News















Energy drinks are a fast-growing, five billion dollar industry, and a popular fist choice source of caffeine for anyone needing a boost or a buzz. Matija Popovich is one of them. When Popovich needs help staying awake delivering sandwiches until three o’clock in the morning, he reaches for an energy drink, instead of coffee.

“It’s not like an addiction, oh I need one. It just makes the job you do easier, whatever you do, focus or physical,” Popovich said.

The industry is focusing on young adults like Popovich. Research says people 18 to 24 are nearly twice as likely to use energy drinks. But they might come with more than consumers bargain for. One eight ounce serving of an energy drink can have up to as much caffeine as four cans of coke. But, cardiologist Dr. Michael Gabris said excessive caffeine can be dangerous.

“It won’t lead to heart attacks, but caffeine can cause a racing heart beat. It can lead to dizziness, light-headedness, and in high doses, it can cause you to faint,” Gabris said.

Heavy use can lead to even more caffeine consumption. Nutritionist Michelle Gallant said caffeine can be addictive.

“When you get into those higher doses, you’re not getting the stimulant effect of it anymore. You’re kind of avoiding the withdrawal from the caffeine,” Gallant said.

Despite these risks, young adults are still turning to energy drinks for that extra boost. And, they found a new use for drinks them as mixers with alcohol. But, the blend of a stimulant with a depressant comes with its own dangers. Energy drinks can mask some of the clues telling a person they are drunk, which can lead to more drinking. Dr. Kate Carey is a psychologist who studies alcohol use among college students.

“What people say is when they use it at the same time, they’re feeling alert. They keep drinking,” she said, “and, when the energy drink wears off, the alcohol hits them hard.”

Alex Bercheck is a graduate student at Syracuse University. He said his favorite drink is Red Bull and vodka, which he calls the devil’s drink.

“Alcohol gives you ideas to do all these stupid, crazy things you usually don’t have the energy to do because you’re like, ‘oh, I’m drunk.’ But,” he said, “with Red Bull vodka, you get the energy and stupid ideas.”

Wiihab

Wiihab Helps Therapy Woes in Central New York
Westbrook Shortell, N-C-C News.

Wii Would Like to Play

For the past two years Nintendo’s new gaming system has really revolutionized the gaming industry. The Wii has a unique remote. It’s wireless, enabling the player to experience a different kind of gaming. In games like Wii sports, it allows the player to actually mimic real life movements.


Wii is Making P.T. Less Like Physical Torture and More Like… Playing Video Games

It’s the free motion and mimicking that therapy is taking advantage of. At the Nottingham Senior Retirement Community, the Wii is helping its residents regain their independence. Rita Fahey, a Nottingham resident used to love to play golf. She said “… I used to play at least two or three eighteen holes a week.” When the first video game came out Rita was 57. But she said she is using the Nintendo Wii to get back out onto the links. “I think it’s given me a lot of metal therapy as well as physical therapy because it reminds me that I loved to play golf and be outside exercising and walk and when you walk on a long golf course you're getting a lot of exercise”

Kelly Van Auken-Mason, an Occupational therapist at the Nottingham, said important core excercizes can be accomplished on the wii and patients can have a good time doing it. “ The trend right now in therapy is the core, the trunk, the stability and that really is vitally important for this population. A lot of the core excersizes we do are kind of boring… You can actually do that on the Wii with the golf shot because you’re getting a lof of lateral movement and they’re actually having to balance their body more”

WiiHab Helping turn Strokes Into Strikes

At the SUNY Upstate Medical Center, the Wii is helping stroke patients get better. Bob Maybee Jr. was an avid fisherman. He took ESPN crews out on Onondaga lake and Oneida lake to shoot video for Bass Master tournaments. A few months ago, a stroke immobilized the left side of his body, chanign his life forever. A few days before playing the Wii, he couldn’t even stand. Now, with help, Maybee is able to play almost half a full game of Wii bowling. Donna Simms, a certified recreational therapist, said the Wii is helping stroke patients reestablish pathways in our brain damaged by strokes. “Every time [patients] do [Wii] movements they are challenging their brain to do something to create a new path to go in a place that they haven’t been able to go and asking their brain to Find another route. “ Simms said the button sequences and then the actual movement of the remote are what reestablishes the pathways.

Are Medical Students Losing Their Marbles?



While patients are learning how to regain their independace, A preliminary study at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center is finding video games are actually improving med students performance in practice surgeries. Dr. Marshall Simth and Kavil Kahol had a group of students play the game Marble Mania for one hour before performing a practice laporoscopic gall bladder surgery. The students who did play the game scored almost fifty percent higher on the surgery than those who didn’t. Dr. Smith said, “There is a 92 percent correlation between the game and a surgeon… the test didn’t really measure cognitive skills decisions, it measured psycho motor skills and that was very good.”

Wii want results

The medical world is now unlocking secret levels with te healing powers of the Wii. Patients like Bob Maybee and Rita Fahey are using the Wii for their own benefit. What parents once thought of as a nuisance is now changing people's lives.

Downtown Living is a Growing Trend Among Syracuse Residents

By: Chelsea Pizzi, NCC News, Syracuse

For years, businesses and homeowners have been turning out the lights and leaving downtown Syracuse, but now, the trend is reversing with big changes in neighborhoods around Armory and Clinton Square, and in Little Italy.

They Buy a Lifestyle

"When people by downtown they pay more per square foot than if you buy in the suburbs, but you buy a lifestyle," said Ann Clifford, owner of Enlighten Realty in Armory Square.

An urban revival is currently underway downtown with new building projects, and new pioneers are discovering downtown life can be both a curse and a blessing.

"There is more activity down here," said Clifford.

Typical Downtown Resident

The typical downtown resident is either a young professional or an empty-nester.

Rick Albright said his condo in the Loews Building is where he lives during the work week because his hour-long drive from his home in Canandigua got to be tiring.

Buyers are paying up to $2,000 monthly mortgages for one and two bedroom condos, and taxes are a little over $3,000 a year.

Albright said he also purchased a second condo downtown in the new Jefferson Clinton Commons. Ground was just broken on this new development two weeks ago. It will be located across the street from the MOST near Armory Square.

Buyers are paying up to $500,000 for two bedroom condos in the JCC.

Jay Dietershagen is a bartender and part-owner of Al's Wine & Whiskey--convenience was the selling point for him. He can see his newly purchased $220,000 condo in Center Armory from his position behind the bar.

"A lot of people, they're like, 'oh, you're gonna live at work,' and the reality is, I live at work now, so the fact that I can run home and make a sandwich, or take a shower, or do whatever I have to do--the convenience is so key for someone like me," said Dietershagen.

Paying More for Quality

"Quality is selling best," said Clifford.

High ceilings, exposed brick, granite counter tops, and hardwood floors are common expectations from a downtown buyer.

David Tiberio is the owner of cheapbooks.com, and rents an apartment on East Water Street for $1,700 a month.

"If you go into a suburban home and rented some place there--they usually don't remodel it for someone like me--who wants to pay more for a quality place," said Tiberio.

"It's good for the area--clean up the whole area and every body's happy," said Cosimo Zavaglia, a downtown developer.

Zavaglia is a trail-blazing developer, he has developed several buildings in the past and more recently renovated 466 Salina Street--an old bowling alley turned luxury apartment building.

Downfalls

While the perks to living downtown are closeness to restaurants, bars and shopping, some every day necessities are limited--like parking and grocery stores.

"You have to go out in the suburbs pretty much to do your grocery shopping--there's a store down here that's small and not open a lot of hours," said Albright.

That store is C.L. Evers Grocery in the Amos Building--the only downtown grocery store.

"The experience is worth the little extra inconvenience," said Clifford.

"I couldn't ask for anything more than to be where I am right now," said Dietershagen.

Residents say the limited services do not outweigh their excitement and comfort over their downtown lifestyles, and they say they are optimistic for further downtown growth as the Downtown Committee has more than twenty development projects in the works.