SUBMITTED PHOTO The Rev. Wes Fleming and daughter, Beth of DeWitt.
by Emily Dillon, contributing writer
Once again, Valentine's Day will come a week early for hundreds of Central New York fathers and daughters.
The dance floors at the State Fair Grounds' Empire Room are expected to be full on Feb. 9, as young girls, dressed in their finest party attire, accompany their fathers to the 8th Annual Father Daughter Valentine Ball.
Presented by Eastside Vineyard Church, the event benefits pediatric cancer services at the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. The Rev. Wes Fleming, pastor at Eastside, said he and his wife, Vicki, first conceived the idea for a father-daughter dance in 2002.
"Our 15-year-old daughter, Beth, was born with a brain tumor, and has needed regular treatments since birth," he said. "We were drafted into hospital ministry as a result of that, but we'd never considered an actual charitable event until one of the parishioners suggested it." {Full Story}
PHOTO BY BRIT WORGAN Donna Bradford, far right, stands inside a dance studio during a warm-up session at One Village, Syracuse, in early January. Bradford, part-owner of One Village, is recognized by Syracuse University as a 2010 'Unsung Hero'. Dancers from left, Margaret Moreno, Shaina Bradford and sister Shantia Bradford, all from Syracuse.
Emily Dillon, contributing writer
Syracuse University has once again recognized four members of the greater Syracuse community who exemplify the spirit, life and teachings of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.
According to Judy Holmes, communications manager at the university's College of Arts and Sciences, each of the four "Unsung Heroes" has, in some way, given back to their community. {Full Story}
PHOTO BY DAN BERNARDI Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau president David Holder explains the advantages of receiving the accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program.
The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) announced that it has been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) for 2009-2013.
The SCVB is one of only three marketing organizations (DMOs) in New York State and one of only 101 DMO's in the world to be accredited.
DMAP is an international accreditation program developed by the Washington, DC based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). {Full Story}
SUBMITTED PHOTO Roxboro Road Elementary students on Hat Day. From left Ted Fanelly, Charity Dudley, Dana Rookey, Emily Hogan, Josh Hemingway. It was Emily's idea to have the fundraiser for Haiti, which raised $603.
Emily Hogan watched the television reports of the devastation and suffering people in Haiti with her family.
The second grader at Roxboro Road Elementary School was moved by what she saw and wanted to make a difference for those in need.
As her mother said "Emily was on a mission." {Full Story}
Submitted photo From left are Sandra DuBuke and her son Chad Guiliano.
When Chad Guiliano was born it was immediately known that he would have developmental delays.
The Central New York resident was born with Noonan's Syndrome, a developmental disability.
Early on, "His doctors didn't think that he would live very long. They thought he would be lucky if he made it to age 10," his mother, Sandra DuBuke remembers. "I guess we proved them wrong. Doctors said he would never walk or talk and he did it all." {Full Story}
Celebrate love and loved ones at Valentine's in the Forest and support the hard-working volunteers of the Nordic Ski Patrol with a buffet dinner and live entertainment in the Skyline Lodge at Highland Forest County Park, 1254 Highland Park Road. {Full Story}
The Scotsman Press is one of only 22 companies in Onondaga County to be awarded a Blue Ribbon Recyclers by OCRRA (Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency) for reducing waste, recycling and the use recycled products. {Full Story}
Former UFC lightweight fighter Hermes Franca recently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts competitions and has relocated to Liverpool. {Full Story}
