Snow Plowing

Originally reported on December 9, 2010

We have already seen more snow than the usual average of snowfall in the entire month of December. 2010 has been added to Syracuse’s snow record ranked as the fourth worst experience.

The blizzard of 1966 and the blizzard of 1993, are the only two occasions that can really compare to what we have experienced. Richard Ashby says that within his span of ten to twelve years, “I never seen this much snow at one time ever.”

Ashby is in the landscaping business, which at this time of the year consists of snow plowing. He jokingly says “yeah, this a good sign when they see that roll through the parking lot,” speaking of the siren on top of his truck.

He says, “each day get about two hours of sleep and work about eighteen,” since the snow has been non-stop the plowing must be also. “You got to roll with it, roll with the punches.”

Youth Boxing

Originally reported on December 7, 2010

At this gymnasium founded by Ray Rinaldi to keep troubled youth off the streets, they provide the opportunity for children to focus on something positive in life.

“If we paid attention and did prevention instead of intervention, I think that this place would be a much better place to live in,” says Barb Karas, who is a woman of many job titles at this facility due to budget cuts.

Some children such as D.J. White have become involved with the boxing program while serving his court ordered community service. He says, “if it wasn’t for boxing right now, I’d probably still be getting in trouble, chilling on the streets doing dumb stuff.”

They have two different locations in Syracuse, one on the west side, then this facility we visited here on the north side of Syracuse.

This boxing program is open to all ages. Children are free and adults would only have to contribute a thirty-five dollar donation every month. 
To view this story click here.

Custom Sculptures

Originally reported for NCC News on November 12, 2010.

Syracuse is known by many people for its lake effect snow. This snow falls in record numbers creating ice during the winter months. Some people view this as a beautiful scenic season change and others view the ice and snow as an inconvenience. However, Brenden Belge from Custom Sculptures looks at ice with an artist eye all year round.

Belge sculpts ice at the Holiday Ice cube factory on Vine Street. This facility has a large freezer with a temperature cold enough to store the sculptures before being delivered to the customer. Although Belge wasn’t sure of the exact temperature of the freezer where the sculptures are stored he simply said, “You don’t want to be stuck in there with out gloves. If your in that freezer without gloves for more than 30 seconds your gonna feel it.”

According to Belge, the winter months are actually slower in business for an ice sculptor than the warmer months. “As you kind of fade out of summer you fall into more weddings only, you know, your not doing the barbecues anymore.” The winter may bring the suitable weather for keeping an ice sculpture solid but the summer time brings more of the cold cash.

Belge uses many helping aids when sculpting ice. A chainsaw is used to carve away the larger pieces that need to be eliminated in order to bring shape to the overall image. A lightweight Excalibur drill bit specifically designed for ice sculpting is used as well. Belge says, “It takes to the ice and just removes it.” A chisel is used to fine tune the details and add texture within the sculpture. But the most beneficial helping aid used during an ice sculpture is an extra set of hands. Rob Loring cuts into the action adding his own vision of detail to the sculpture. There may be an “I” in Ice but there is no “I” in team.

According to Loring,“When its super, super cool or warm, I mean it cuts like that.” Naturally ice will melt in a warehouse when it’s not stored in the freezer. Puddles then form on the ground causing a potential slipping hazard. It's highly recommended to have an extra person on hand to make sure they clean up or clear away the extra ice and puddles that may form up on the ground.

This particular piece Belge and Loring are carving is a hatchet stuck in a block of wood for a party at Venue 658. The handle of the axe is beveled out so alcohol can

be funneled through the sculpture into a shot glass. Instead of using ice in the drink the sculpture will act as a cooling device as it’s filtered through the handle. The piece is stored after completion in a large freezer wrapped in plastic. The plastic is used to insure that the sculpture doesn’t freeze to the wooden palette it’s stored on.

Something to think about this Winter

Syracuse got a break from the heavy snow that blanked the area. Some people are relying on four-wheel drive to get them through the winter months. Places that are putting winter tires on the cars are backed up do a high demand. If you haven’t gotten tires yet you might have to wait a day or two.

Here are a few safety tips to think about:
•Flashlights and extra batteries
•Battery-operated radio and batteries
•Fire extinguisher
•can opener
•Bottled water
•Extra blankets
•First aid kit
•Emergency heating equipment
•Emergency non-perishable foods

Deputy Robin Stark of the Onondaga County Sheriff Office said it is dangerous out on the roads in the wintertime. Just because the ice is not seen on the roads, there is black ice. Deputy Stark stated, the way you know you hit black ice is when you’re siding. Black Ice is a glazed coat of ice on the road, which can’t be seen while driving. Make sure to give two lengths of space in case the car in front stops unexpected

The snow crews have been working over 15 hours to keep the roads clear. Later through the day you see them laying down salt to help melt the left over ice. Some people ask what these guys do in the summer time. Most of them work for the city to help fix the roads or landscaping. The Weather Channel gives information about the weather that will happen do to the Lake Effect. This condition is when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water.

Pinholes, Popcans, and an American Icon

What is art? In the mind of Wes Pope, it’s a moment of time, caught in the darkness of a soda can. For twelve years, he’s transformed pop cans into cameras. It’s one of the earliest forms of photography, a pinhole camera, and Wes uses them to document life on Route 66.

Wes said he’d never been on the road until found himself in L.A. needing to get to Chicago, “so it just worked out that I made his first trip on Route 66. After that, I was totally hooked.

Soda-can pinhole cameras look at the world a little differently. A piece of photo paper is taped to the curved interior of the can. Light enters in through a small hole in the side and exposes the film. The result is an organically distorted, black and white image, which often catches moving objects with a degree of motion blur.

Wes says on of the allures of pin hole photography is the moment of discovery in the dark-room when he sees the image for the first time. He says it’s often days or weeks since he made the image before he can develop it and so there is an expectation that builds up. “You have no idea what you’re going to get!”

Pope’s photography has been featured in magazines, NPR, and goes on display periodically at art venues like Craft Chemistry in Syracuse where photo enthusiasts gather to enjoy and purchase this unique view of an Americana Staple.

Lights on the Lake

Originally reported on November 22, 2010

Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool just opened up a light show November 22, 2010 to the public, and has been doing so for the last 21 years. This attraction is looking to bring in their 3 millionth guest this year. Every year it grows more in length and more displays are added. This year the show consists of over 200 light displays on a stretch of about two miles long.

The light show is now open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm until December 12th, then from December 16th until Christmas. 

A lot of families come out because they say it is a great way to start off the holiday season. 

A guest by the name of Lisa Adams said, "it's just kind of a nice way to start the holiday season."

Even her daughter had to agree by saying, "all the lights are like cool, and sparkly, and it kind of inspires me."

Even though it was a rainy night and pretty cold outside, you wouldn't tell by all of the people who came out to enjoy the show. The "Lights on the Lake" show from this point will be a drive through show. 

Alluring Gingerbread Creations

Originally reported on December 2, 2010, for NCC News by Stefanie Antosh.

There’s a trail of gingerbread houses

at the 25th Annual Gingerbread Gallery inside the Erie Canal Museum in downtown Syracuse. Although we didn’t find Hansel and Gretel’s witch, we did find an assortment of displays.

Only a few were anything like an ordinary gingerbread houses.

“Oh my gosh, it’s little teddy bears sliding down the hill, and a gingerbread man,” said one boy, on a school field trip and whom the teachers wanted to stay anonymous, when he looked at a display that looked like a ski resort (seen here to the right).

That was only one of more than forty displays made by members of the community, professional bakers and also corporate

submissions. To name a few more, there was a Never Never Land, an haunted house, Candyland board game and a cuckoo clock.

One of the teachers called the kids over to look at a very detailed

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs display (photo to the left), complete with woodland animals and thatched roof. Although the kids liked Snow White, another viewer chose a different favorite.

"My favorite house is number four, because the animals are made in detail,” said Joohyun Lee, a viewer of the displays and a museum

volunteer. When asked which displayed looked tastier, Lee said, “Everything looks tasty; especially for the piece with [a] dragon, the wings of it is made up with Japanese seaweed and so it looks very tasty." (Photo to right.)

The displays are submitted for a contest. The rules require that everything be made of edible materials, however, no one will be eating these displays.

A few dollars are required for entry: $2 for children under 12-years of age, $5 for adults and $4 for senior citizens. Visitors can vote for the display they like best between now and Januaray 2nd. Various prizes will be given to the winners in categories such as youth, adult and professional.

The Erie Canal Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.