AIDS Community Resources is hosting their annual Holiday Angel Gift Giving Program this winter season. So far, more than 200 people have become angels this holiday season.
Wil Murtaugh of AIDS Community Resources says many give because they've lost a loved one from AIDS. "So many people have been touched from losing someone that they don't want to have someone else go through that pain. At this time of the year people are extremely generous and want to do whatever they can to support people."
Shirley Bacon's sorority, Lambda Kappa Nu, is an annual angel. "Part of our main thrust is to create awareness and relief to those with AIDS, so this is really exciting."
AIDS Community Resources says people can choose to give to entire families or just to an individual. The organization will give angels a list of personal needs for a family; including simple supplies like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. "Personal care you cannot buy with foodstamps," Murtaugh says.
Gifts have been filling entire rooms at the Resource building, and according to those that work there, people can still become angels until all the gifts are delivered on December 23rd.
Through out Syracuse, signs that it is almost Christmas are visible. From holiday lights to inflatable snow men. With Christmas just a few weeks away, people are decorating their homes for the holiday season. But with the state of the economy, will people think twice before purchasing that hundred dollar snow globe to put outside their homes? "No extravagant type stuff for our house this year," says a resident of Syracuse. "The economy is certainly going to affect how much people are going to spend. By in large people would be affected so you will probably see less decorations than usual," says Apuru Khana. Syracuse resident, Janet Russo, are one of those people. "I think I probably would have bought a little bit more if I had more money, maybe some more lights. But I don't think I would go all out with the blow up things that are like a hundred dollars," she said. According to American Research Group, 2009 Christmas spending plans will be slightly lower than 2008 levels. With overall spending down a little over three percent from 2008. Cory Slater, Sales Manager at Lowes, says consumers are waiting out for sales before purchasing decorations. "A lot of people have held off a little bit with buying stuff waiting to see if they will go on clearance. Once we get close to Christmas, some of the decorations don't start until a little later this season and were going to see people coming in this time of year still trying to decorate for Christmas. A lot of people start in November. Now this year it's been more towards December with people starting to decorate," he says. Even though some associate decorations with the holiday believe it can still be Christmas with out them. "I think it;s still Christmas with out these, but to each his own. Some people like to have bigger decorations. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but I don't think you need to have the big decorations to have Christmas," said Khana. "In my personal opinion Christmas is about being with your family. So I don't think it matters with the decorations and all that stuff. So it really depends on the person, but some people associate them with Christmas," said Russo.
The almost four inches of snow that fell around the region today broke a snowless streak of 288 days without a full inch. That means that in Central New York, both March and November didn't register even that small amount.
At Onondaga Lake Park where just a week ago joggers and bikers were out, only a few brave joggers were on the trails braving the freezing temperatures.
The first school delays of the winter season also came today. Major roads around the city were cleared by noon although side streets took a little longer to get to.
Snow is in the forecast for the next few days, but after going more than nine months without a full inch, Central New Yorkers should be fully prepared for a winter as usual.
When Greg Callen suffered a fall a little over four years ago, he told a family friend he would never advocate for people with paralysis.
"I was offended he would even suggest it," Callen said, but when a friend asked him to try Go-Kart racing, Callen realized he felt freer and more independent than he had since his accident.
This was the inspiration behind his organization, Move Along, Inc. The organization seeks to bring together people with physical disabilities through athletics.
Every Friday night, the Boys and Girls Club in Syracuse allows Move Along to use the space to hold youth basketball clinics.
GETTING EXERCISE
Elizabeth Wagner's son, Jaden, counts down the days after he leaves the gym each Friday night. Before he began to participate in activities through Move Along, his mother said he got "little to no exercise."
The group of children, both able-bodied and physically disabled, stretch before each clinic and do drills to build muscle strength.
"When [the children] first come, they could hardly put their hands up. Now you look at them--they're all over the place," said Jerry O'Connell, who has worked for the Boys and Girls Club for over 20 years.
BUILDING A BOND
Wagner said until Jaden met his friend, Caleb, at a Spina Bifida family support meeting over a year ago, he had never met anyone who is confined to a wheelchair and is around the same age. The two now guard each other on opposing teams during scrimmages.
"I got lucky with my son. He thinks not in terms of what he can't do, but what he can," said Wagner.
"The biggest reward for me is seeing the smiles on their faces," said O'Connell.
Family participation is a key factor for the youth clinic. Most of the players are able bodied, but choose to play in wheelchairs.
"I think it allows their siblings to see what it's like to be in a chair and some of the challenges," said Wagner.
FACING BIG CHALLENGES
Callen said the biggest obstacle he faces are finances. Move Along, Inc. relies heavily on the community. Callen has also been applying for different grants and has tried to work out deals with several wheelchair companies. He relies entirely on volunteers, including some from SU.
Specialized athletics come at a price. Callen's newest sports chair costs $2020, whichis a heavy price to pay, especially when growing children are involved.The cheapest activity is kayaking, which runs at about $80 per piece of equipment.
Some of the challenges are in learning about how to cater to people with all different types of disabilities. Callen pointed out that cerebral palsy and nervous system disorders sometimes make it difficult to maintain control over the upper body and sometimes communicate.
Callen is trying to extend his knowledge through going to seminars about different disorders. He admitted he's "still got a lot of learning to do."
Planning for the Future
Several fundraisers have already been put into place to help Move Along, Inc., including a portion of the proceeds from a Syracuse Crunch game.
One plan that has already been put into action has ties to SU. While volunteers come to help off campus, Callen wants to build an intramural wheelchair basketball league that includes both able-bodied and disabled individuals.
"I've always been tied to people's emotions, especially children, so I'd like to continue to try to give them the resources they need," he said.
Callen hopes to eventually build trails in the woods near Camp Hollis in Oswego that would accommodate wheelchairs. He explained that he wants the children to be able to feel the freedom of wandering in the woods. WATCH THE VIDEO:
The Erie Canal Museum is offering some sweet real estate. There are over 30 home made gingerbread houses on display at the Museum for the 24th Annual Gingerbread gallery. The museum transforms the gallery into an 1800's street scene with the gingerbread houses in storefront windows.
In order to participate, bakers must create the houses with edible food. The museum hosts two competitions, the People's Choice Award where visitors can vote on their favorite house and a confectionary competition. With a $25 entry fee, competitors can enter the confectionary contest and have the chance to win $150-500 prize money. Judges critique the houses on originality and creativity and vote by the first week of December.
Expect to see the winners announced on the Erie Canal Museum's website The gingerbread gallery ends January 3rd and houses will then be donated to local libraries or nursing homes.
The 24th Annual Gingerbread Exhibit at the Erie Canal Museum in Downtown Syracuse is now on display. The creations create a boom in business for the museum, who sees 5000 visitors including 20-25 school groups in the month of December.
There are multiple categories of gingerbread creations and designers don't have to stick to just house-like structures. Some of the pieces exhibited include Santa Claus, carousels, the Wizard of Oz, Rapunzel and Noah's Ark.
Yesterday a 24-year veteran of the exhibit named Margaret Solomon was at the museum. She votes for her favorite creation every year and told me that each season the exhibit gets more and more impressive. This year, as in some years past, she voted for a white church.
Anyone can enter a gingerbread creation in the contest. Solomon said she always thinks about it but becomes intimidated by what she calls the "fabulous" decorations. Voting takes place through this week and winners have ribbons placed in their cases for the remaining duration of the exhibit.
Former Syracuse University Head Coach Dick MacPherson is headed to the Hall of Fame. MacPherson will be inducted in New York this Tuesday, and he spoke in Syracuse today.
"There are less than 1,000 players in the college football Hall of Fame and less than 100 coaches," MacPherson said. "So to say that I'm overwhelmed...believe me, I'm overwhelmed."
MacPherson coached for both Syracuse and the University of Massachusetts, compiling a 111-73-5 record at the helms. 66 of those wins came in Orange, including 11 in the 1987 undefeated campaign.
""[I left] a better program here then when I came and I think that’s what people kinda like about me,"MacPherson notes.
Coach Mac left Syracuse after the 1990 season to coach the New England Patriots for two years. He returned to the hill ten years later to start working as an analyst on the Syracuse radio network.
"His influence and presence around is phenomenal. Its like having an emeritus professor," said Syracuse Athletic Director Daryl Gross. "To have Coach Mac there for the broadcasts, to have him around the team, around our coaches, to have him around our administration has been outstanding for us."
The former College Football Coach of the Year will become the 17th person with Syracuse ties to make the Hall. He follows one year after his former quarterback Don McPherson was enshrined last fall.
