Central New Yorkers Needing Cheaper Funerals

The Syracuse funeral industry has been decreasing for the past 15 years. It began with many northerners moving to warmer climates in their old age and the average person living longer. Today, the newest obstacle for the industry has been the economy.

The average funeral used to cost between $7,000 and $10,000. Today, many people in Syracuse are in search of a deal and finding ways to pay between $4,000 and $5,000. But the biggest effect of the economy is less people are paying for health insurance. Then when they pass away, little to no money is being left to the remaining family. It is this money that usually helps fund a funeral and burial.

So how are people cutting back? The number of cremations have risen this year and cheaper urns are being chosen for their loved ones. Ceremonies have also become less traditional, making them shorter in length and with fewer services.

But what if you don’t have the minimum $4,000 to spend? For those in desperate need, Onondaga County often assists in paying for a burial.

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Syracuse Meals on Wheels Makes Thanksgiving Special

Everyday the Syracuse Meals on Wheels provides 800 meals a day to 400 people who would not otherwise get the food they need.

Mason Kaufman, the Executive Director, says although they will be delivering meals over the holiday season just as they do all year round, they plan on making the Thanksgiving meal a bit more special.


Turkey, stuffing, side dishes, and apple pie are part of the menu. Festive fall place mats and after dinner mints will also be added to the delivery.



Volunteer Coordinator, Jeff Banta says Meals on Wheels is always looking for volunteers, but especially over the holiday season because it is very busy.



Banta, after loosing his job, began volunteering in the kitchen at Meals on Wheels. Volunteering gives him "the warm fuzzies" and he says he is grateful to now be employed by Meals on Wheels, because it helps so many people.


Other volunteers say they feel the same way as Banta. Working at Meals on Wheels is very fulfilling says Kaufman because "we become their family, in a sense."

Rescue Mission honors Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

The Syracuse Rescue Mission hosted an open house this Wednesday in light of Hunger and Homelessness Week to educate the community on the problems of hunger and homelessness in Syracuse.

A simple lunch of soup, salad, bread sticks, and rolls were served to the nearly fifty people that arrived. Executive Director Chasz Parker spoke on the increasing meals the rescue mission has served in the past two years. Their numbers indicate that in the typical week lunches have risen from 600 meals served to 650, and they’ve served 8,000 more meals than they served last year.

Parker says the struggling economy is to blame. With more pressure to make ends meet, families will come down to the mission just to have a full dinner served to them.

The open house also featured a tour of the mission, where members of the community could tour the campus of the Rescue Mission. Little known to many, the Mission even has a thrift shop, where 99 percent of their clothes are given away for free. The most an item will cost is two dollars.

Parker says the mission has even seen an increase in stay overs at the shelter, with beds full nearly every night.

JoAnn Lloyd of Liverpool, a new volunteer at the organization, said she thought the open house was very informative. She said she joined the Mission when she lost her job. Since then, her perspective has changed about her own circumstance.

“I’m already feeling better about my own situation. Everyday… I thank God for hot water, I thank him for heat, I thank him for.. and to see that video.. they’re out there in the snow.. I don’t feel bad about me anymore at all.”

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No Snow In Syracuse

It’s the week before Thanksgiving and other than a dusting here or there, no snow lays on the ground. With temperatures in the 50’s at times this week, Syracuse residents seem to be enjoying the lack of snow. However, it brings up the question, how long has it been since the city had an inch of snow?

The last time Syracuse had an inch of snow was February 24, 2009. As of Thursday that’s 268 days ago. Eight more days without the fluffy white stuff falling to the ground, and Syracuse breaks a 63 year old record of most days without an inch of sno

w. However, according to SU Earth Science Professor Linda Ivany, it’s not something that is a trend.

“There’s some average value [of days] and there’s a mean and distribution around it, so sooner or later you’re going to go a little longer. So it’s not that significant,” Ivany said.

For the city this lack of snow is significant. The city is offering four free passes to the Clinton Square Ice Skating Rink to the person who guesses the date of the first inch of snow. The people who win those free passes may need to wait a little while though, with all this warm weather Syracuse Parks Commissioner Pat Driscoll said it could be a challenge getting the rink open on time.

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Winter Boots Mix Style With Practicality

The unmistakable sound of heels clomping on the sidewalk haunts the streets of Syracuse during the fall, but throughout the winter, four inches become a quarter inch rubber sole on the heels of winter boots.

Although Syracuse has gone 268 days without snow, winter boots are lining the shelves of shoe stores. In J. Michael Shoes on Marshall Street, Uggs are still a top seller.

Ugg boots are prone to salt stains and even with a moisture-guarding spray, can still be ruined by inclement weather. The new "Adirondack" model has shearling inside, but has waterproof leather on the outside.

"In the past, a lot of people have worn Uggs in the snow, but now they're realizing they can get the warmth and the style during the yucky weather," said Jim Hicks, the general manager.

Hunter boots are walking off the shelves, too. The popular rainboot brand has fleece socks that are sold separately, which keep feet warm and dry.

"For Syracuse, you want the practicality. You don't want no ice feet," said Kimberly Martinez, a freshman at SU, who's considering buying a pair of Hunter boots.

Hunter boots, however, run at about $115 and for heavier snow boots, they can cost about $240.

Hicks calls winter boots an "investment." Bruce Tidwell, an adjunct professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication's fashion communications program agreed.

"You can buy the same boots at Target for less and wear them for a few years, since the season is so limited," he explained.

Men's Uggs, nicknamed "muggs," aren't a top seller at J. Michael. Timberland boots and hiking boots tend to be a steady trend from year to year.

Common Council Prepares for Change

Two weeks after election day, signs of change are apparent at City Hall.

Syracuse Common Council President Bea Gonzalez was absent from Wednesday's study session. Incoming president Van Robinson presided over the council in Gonzalez's absence. Mayor-elect Stephanie Miner and 2nd District Councilor Pat Hogan were also missing from Wednesday's session.

Newcomers Jean Kessner (D-At-Large) and Matt Rayo (R-1st District) were in attendance to prepare for their upcoming positions on the council. Rayo and Kessner spoke with the incumbents after the meeting.

Wednesday's agenda included the sale of properties to the nonprofit Home Headquarters, nine of which the city plans to sell for just $151. Plans for the construction of Centro bus parking bays downtown and a new dormitory on the SUNY-ESF campus were also presented to the council.

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From One Closet To Another

It might not seem like a suitable place for a suit drive. But that's what California Closets of Syracuse had for the third straight year last week. The store showroom was packed with business casual or business clothing to support Jobs Plus, a Syracuse based company to help people find employment. Jobs Plus donates the clothes to people hoping to get back into the workforce.

Showroom coordinator Sophie Meskos said the drive was only one day this year as opposed to the first two years, when it took place over the course of a week. However, that was not a problem for the drive. "This was our best turnout of any year," Meskos said.

In case you missed this year's drive, don't worry, says Meskos. Donations are still accepted and appreciated at Huntington Family Center and Women's Opportunity Center Syracuse. Contact information for both companies can be found on the California Closets website - just follow the hyperlink above.

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Onondaga County offering discounts to Vets

Onondaga County launched "Return the Favor", a program geared towards Veterans that offers discounts or free services.
County Clerk, Ann Ciarpelli, got the idea from the Rockland County Clerk a year ago and decided that "Return the Favor" would be a great opportunity to show appreciation towards the veterans.

The program launched November first and includes local businesses such as The Medicine Place Pharmacy, A Touch Above Wellness Spa, and Lasik Provisions. Business owners advertise with a sign in their window to let veterans know they offer discounts or free services.

In order to register to participate Veterans need a proof or residence and their discharge papers. The County Clerks office will then issue and ID card that will be presented to the merchants. While some think "Return the Favor" is a great way to give back others say it should be extended to active-duty members as well.

Krista Varbel, an employee of A Touch Above Wellness Spa says

"It stinks. I mean they do so much for us, they should be included too."

In response, Ciarpelli says

"At this time we don't have the resources, it's too much to take on"

Whether or not your a Veteran or participating business, the community of Syracuse now has the opportunity through "Return the Favor" to show appreciation to Veterans all year long

This image was provided by Syracuse.com

All Saints Celebrates Veterans Day

All Saints Parish on Lancaster Ave in Syracuse celebrated Veterans Day yesterday with a special mass and flagpole dedication ceremony. Veterans brought the gifts to the altar and the homily was about giving thanks to the vets, both living and deceased. Rev. Frederick D. Daley asked us to especially remember those who lost their lives in the Fort Hood tragedy.

The flagpole dedication ceremony took place immediately following the service. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were many tears as names of those killed in action were read aloud. Attendees were able to mention those close to them as well.

World War II and Korean War veteran Fred Bishop raised a flag to the top of the new pole at the conclusion of the ceremony before saluting the stars and stripes. On a day surrounded by memories of our loved ones who have served and gone before us, this 91-and-a-half-year-old vet is still full of energy.

Bishop spends his Veterans Day every year thinking back on his time in the military. Initially stationed in California to protect the coast from possible Japanese attack during WWII, then he went to Hawaii and bombed the Pacific coast before ending in the Philippines.

Says Bishop, "We were up in the Philippines with nothing to do!" As a navigator, he waited for the opportunity to return home and then navigated his way back.

Like so many other living veterans, Bishop was very eager to share his story. There was excitement in his voice as he recalled the tales of his 13 years of military service and was so excited that I'd taken the time to listen that he gave me a big hug after our interview.

View a video version of this story here.

Veterans' Day brings people to the golf courses

Drumlins Golf Course in Syracuse usually closes its East Course in early November. However, today it saw a boom in business, as the weather and the holiday brought people to the course.

Drumlins' head golf pro Sean Dadey said, "If there's 40 people out there now, they're here because of the weather, if it was 20 degrees colder you wouldnt see anyone."

Dadey was pleased with Wednesday's turnout which featured a lot of businessmen enjoying their day off for Veterans' Day.

"Its great that we have the freedom to play this game today." Said Joe Manley, who works at the VA Medical Center, "We are actually afforded the freedom to go on as if nothing matters, like there's not a war going on. Where every soldier is out there putting their life on the line every day.”

Manley was part of a foursome that started play around noon. The group said that they needed to capitalize on days like Wednesday when the weather is nice and they have time off

Manley's was one of many people who came to the course today. The crowd ranged from families to Jim Cody, who is the director of the VA Medical Center. Cody said he always tries to go golfing on Veterans' Day.

Drumlins is still scheduled to close its private course within the next few weeks (after the first big snowfall), but it until they do, it seems like Syracuse residents will keep playing.

Holiday Spirit Helps out Local Salon

The state of the economy has hurt numerous industries in various ways all over the country, including those that don't come immediately to mind.

One such industry is hair cutting.

Here at home, Hair Trends in Syracuse has seen a noticeable decline in customers; however, the holiday rush will soon help boost business.

According to Hair Trends' Angela Cooper, the holiday season brings in on average between 50 to 80 customers each day.

"They're all rushing in to look good," said Cooper.

Cooper went on to say that customers enjoy their stop in to the hair salon thanks to the stories customers and the hair stylists share with each other.

"You always have a fun time by the time you walk out of here."

Also seeing a slight increase in business at the hair salon due to the holiday rush is sales of hair styling products.

For more on the story, watch NCC News' video version of the story .

Ski Area Preps For Winter

Staff at Toggenburg Mountain Winter Sports Center are gearing up for ski season. They've already finished an upgrade of their water system used to make snow.

"They've already pressurized the hill," said Cyndy Sisto who directs Toggenburg marketing and sales. "That's when you send all your water up there and test your pressure hoses and everything make sure there arn't any leakes in any of the valves, you know. Things happen during the summer and what not."

Outside the main lodge improvements are being made. A new staircase is being built a new water pump is getting installed. Private Contractor Bruce Schaffner was working Wednesday.


"Yeah we still got some outdoor stuff. Especially the windows. We've got some stuff in the tunnel down there we got to seal up some walls that have been leaking for years," Schaffner said.

A new water pump will make blowing snow easier. That means more water will be pumped into the system at once enabling more snow machines to be used at the same time.

A warm and sunny day allows crews to get the work done they need to before winter. It's all in preparation for skiers and snowboarders to come hit the slopes. No one will be skiing if there's no snow and that is vital to business.

"The ticket sales are driven by snowfall, sunshine, things like that. So if you have a rainy weekend your ticket sales will be off," Sisto said.

Skiers are excited for the season.

"Yeah, we feel like climbing the hill right now. Looking around," said skier Rick Pettit.

"We're looking forward for when there's snow on the ground," said skier MC MacKenzie

In the mean time, all skiers and mountain staff can do is wait for snow. But current forecasts are warm and rainy.

Signing Off On a Campaign

Driving through the neighborhoods of Syracuse, you might not be able to tell that an election was over. Many campaign signs endorsing candidates for mayor, school board, and common council are still in place. But eventually the signs do have to come down.

City Clerk John Copanas said no specific, strictly enforced law exists concerning the taking down of campaign signs. But he said the general time frame to get rid of signs is a week or two. Signs in the public right of way (from the sidewalk to the street) will be disposed of by garbage men. Copanas said a family can keep a sign on their lawn if they want to: "it's private property, and we can't do anything about that."

When reached by phone, the Miner campaign said they plan to collect the signs, but they believe most people will want to keep these signs as a commemorative memento, due to the historic nature of the election.

In comparison, Steve Kimatian's campaign manager Fran Coudriet said campaign volunteers had began taking down signs during the day after the election. Coudriet said "we plan to have all signs down by the weekend." He also said the campaign volunteers planned to recycle the signs, which are made of recyclable materials. A final option for the signs, according to Coudriet, was to give them to some non-profit groups. These groups will put stickers over the signs in order to re-use them for other candidates.

Beloved Pets

In September 2006 Gina Embriadi's dog Mugsey passed away. Instead of putting him in a traditional urn, she came up with an alternative. "I didn't want to bury him cause of him being out in the cold out there. As foolish as that sounds. I was not ready not to hold him again, at all," said Embriadi. So she decided to put his ashes in a cuddly urn. "When my dog passed away I was totally devastated and I came across a photo with this dog laying on the back of my couch and that's when it hit me," she said. From then on she started her business 'Beloved Pets'. "You can have a replica that resembles them or any stuffed animal that's significant to you. It can be a personal one that you enjoy or if you have children, one that they're really close to. If they lost a beloved animal, their ashes are placed there." Gina says that each animal is special and she treats them as if they were her own. "Each one of these are passionate to me. When I do an animal, when I make a cuddly urn, I put my heart and soul into it," said Embriadi. Gina hopes, that by word of mouth, she will able to reach out to those grieving over a lost pet. http://www.belovedpetsbygina.com/ http://www.otrib.com/community/

More People in CNY Are Using Pawn Shops For Extra Cash

With the holiday season just around the corner, many Central New Yorkers are finding ways to make a little extra cash. One way some people are doing it is by pawning off their personal items.

At Big Mike’s Swap Shop in Mattydale, owner Mike Getek says it’s been a busy time for his store. Customers come in trying to sell everything from stereos to jewelry and everything in between. For a typical stereo, you can get between $20 to $30, but for jewelry you can make even more.

“Gold is up to its highest point right now,” said Getek. “It’s at $1,080 an ounce for gold. That’s for 24 karat.” All jewelry is measured by weight, whether gold, silver or diamonds.

So with all these items coming in, Getek’s store isn’t only busy with people wanting to sell. An equal number of people are also now using pawn shops as a way to find discounted gifts before the busy shopping season begins. Either way, pawn shops have become a new trend during the tough economy, and Getek expects to stay busy through Tax Day.

Find a pawn shop near you: http://www.pawnshoplistings.com/

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Celebrating Beer Week

Syracuse Beer Week gives residents a chance to taste and experience local, regional and national beers once a year. Restaurants from all over the city participate, allowing beer-lovers to taste all sorts of varieties of their favorite beverage.

The idea for Syracuse Beer Week started last year, and according to Event Coordinator Brian Duprey, was based off of Philadelphia’s own form of beer week.

Many of the events are free to the public, which allows people to try a broad range of beers without hurting their wallet. However, according to Michael Yorton from the Blue Tusk and Adam Eagen from Empire Brewery, people still make room for plenty of beer in their budgets, even during tough economic times.

“I actually see it as a sign of people being more sensible,” Yorton said. “Maybe instead of buying a $100 bottle of wine, you can buy an amazing bottle of beer for $5.”

Beer Week allows restaurants and breweries around the city to promote their products and attract new customers. This is especially important for local breweries like Empire and Middle Ages. The week allows them to showcase their full range of home brews, and seasonal beers. However the events only run until Saturday, and then it’s back to a normal schedule for all the local breweries.

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October's Auto Sales Increase

After a tumultuous year for the auto industry, October has been a good month for car and truck sales. According to Autodata Corporation, sales are up from September by 12 percent. Analysts say the willingness to spend is a sign of a bettering economy.

The most profitable company for the month was Hyundai, who saw a 49 percent boost in sales. Nissan came next with a 5.6 percent increase. General Motors saw a 4.7 increase.

Kevin Wiggins, Sales Manager of Fuccillo Hyundai, says sales of hard commodities like cars are a good indicator of the economy. He says his dealership has seen a lot more activity in the past month. "You can see it in the number of phone calls, the number of people coming into the dealership," said Wiggins.

Lucino Plaza, of Syracuse New York, just bought a car at Fucillo. He says in light of the recession, the combination of price and beauty of the Hyundai Sonata convinced him to buy. "We've been struggling, but I guess everything is going to get to normal very soon. My job is getting better, it's getting busy. That's why I'm able to afford this car that I got now, the Hyundai Sonata," he said.

While the auto industry is showing signs of growth, the future is still uncertain. Unemployment rates reached a 26 year high at 9.6 percent, and are expected to rise to 9.9 for the month of October.

Wiggins says he is optimistic though, and he believes the auto industry will rise at least 20 percent in the next few months. "As people in our neck of the woods get out of the winter months and the economy gets better, we'll see more people coming into the dealership."

Library Uses Books To Battle Budget Deficits

At 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, a crowd of approximately 15 people gathered at the back entrance of the Baldwinsville Public Library. When the doors opened, some headed straight to the computers, but others were enticed by the posting on the door that reads: book sale.

While it may seem ironic that a library is selling books versus lending them, library director Marilyn Laubacher said this is a common fundraiser.

The books are donations from members of the community and books that have been taken out of circulation. The sale sells books for as little as $1.00 and for the last two days, they sell books by the bag.

Deborah Pinker bought books on Tuesday and returned to the sale on Wednesday for a second helping. "Yesterday probably [bought 12 books]. Today, I don't wanna count yet, probably at least 20," she said.

The price is a big attraction, especially in tough economic times.

"Usually, when the economy is bad, library use goes up because people don't go to buy books as much as they used to," Laubacher said.

The Baldwinsville Public Library circulation is up by as much as 10 percent from last year, but funding is down.

"The cuts that are being made at the state level will affect us because libraries all belong to library systems in New York state, " Laubacher explained.

Most of the library staff is volunteers and delivery services, as well as cataloging, will suffer. Some residents in Baldwinsville see the book sale as a way to preserve their library.

"This is a good fundraiser, having a sale like this, and as more people begin to learn about this, you can only expand and contribute constantly to the library, which is a good thing. Besides, it makes people more aware of a resource available in their community," John Pelligra, who bought various books on art and travel, said.

The library estimates this book sale will generate about $4,000 in funds that they will distribute among various resources.

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Tire Prices Rise Just in Time for Winter

Syracuse, N.Y.--It sounds like a pun. Inflation is bad for tires.

On average, the price of an individual tire is up $2 from last year. Chinese made tires have seen a more significant price increase because of a 35 percent tariff on foreign manufacturers passed by the federal government in September. Chinese tires make up 17 percent of all tires sold in the United States each year.

Some retailers also attributed the price increase to rising transportation costs and the fact that more expensive tires are being put on passenger cars by the original manufacturer. As a result, it is more expensive to replace those tires when they wear out.

With winter just around the corner, many Central New Yorkers have yet to buy snow tires. Local retailers say this year they see a noticeable increase in people "shopping around" for tires rather than buying.

One employee at Kost-Tire Muffler at Syracuse says the price of snow tires also might be increasing as a result of a higher demand for them among Canadians.


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Learn more about the tires shown in this story here.
Watch KUSA's Kevin Torres' story on tires.