Vera House Program Reflects Increase in Domestic Violence Cases

Vera House hosted community leaders in Onondaga County at Curtin Auditorium for their 21st Annual Report to the Community on domestic and sexual violence. In spite of the decreased funding from the city, Vera House verahouse.org established an International Victims Program to provide legal assistance to immigrants and refugees who are victims of domestic violence. Additionally, it also expanded its shelter to provide safe housing to men and transgender individuals.

Co-founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence, Lakisha Martin spoke today about violence within Syracuse and her experience overcoming it. "We had no idea we were going to open pandora's box. We had no idea we were going to trip over it. Violence is a complex thing," said Martin.

The report showed that law enforcement response answered less domestic calls in 2009 compared to 2008. The Police Department says it "looks like were on track," because the arrests they've made on domestic and sexual violence has increased.

Survivors of domestic violence spoke today on behalf of Vera House, "from my mistakes I've learned to never keep a secret. Someone is always watching. Vera House helped me help myself and they can do the same for you," said Ed. Victims withheld their last name in hopes to remain anonymous in order to protect their safety.

Vera House also displayed a clothesline exhibit of over 500 shirts created by survivors of sexual assault. The Clothesline Project can be seen at Great Northern Mall and Clinton Square.

Despite their efforts to rally support today and update the community on its services, there has actually been an increase in couple's homicide. In 2008 there was 1 couple's homicide in Onondaga County and so far in 2009 the number has risen to 6.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Jennifer Shaw, program coordinator of Vera House says "all we can do is let the community know and keep them informed."

Price of tomatoes up three dollars

If dealing with this year’s poor economy isn’t enough, local farmers and grocery stores are putting up with something else. Phytophthora infestans, better known as Late Blight, has ruined thousands of tomato crops up and down the east coast this year. Late Blight was the culprit of the infamous Irish Potato Famine.

Fewer tomatoes means prices are going up. But for one local organic grocery store, the Syracuse Real Food Co-Op, business is still rocking – even though tomatoes cost three dollars more today than they did a year ago. Business is surviving because customers come here for what they want.

“A lot of food is better,” said Brian Looper, who was stopping for coffee at the Co-Op Wednesday morning. “Definitely the coffee is better here than what you get somewhere else.”

Even though store management says, for the most, business is doing okay, customers have changed their shopping habits.

“We've seen frozen sales go down,” Syracuse Real Food Co-Op Information Manager Ryan Gorham said, “Some produce, in bulk especially, (has) gone up. It seems like a lot more people are staying home and cooking more meals at home.”

Sales have been driving customers to make purchases. Purchases that would be cheaper at a non-organic, conventional grocery store.

“Whatever's on sale kind of seems to be the most common for the month,” said cashier Matt Siebert.

Sales can only do so much and can do little to offset higher prices caused by Late Blighte. Gorham said tomatoes cost $1.99 per pound a year ago but are now 4.99 per pound.

“The Late Blight affected tomatoes and potatoes the most and many, many farmers lost their entire tomato crops this year which is thousands of dollars in loss,” Gorham said.

The higher price doesn’t seem to stop some shoppers from buying organic.

“I think That's worth it to me because I think you're getting higher quality produce,” said vegan Matt Gasda.

Other shoppers are not so sure.

“As the price increases we might not be able to get organic every single time but I don't think it will stop us from buying organic,” Kelly Hixon said.

Despite the high prices and the prospect of loosing customers, the management remains optimistic.

“They're gonna sell either way. They might not sell as fast,” Gorham said.

The Matilda Joslyn Gage House

"I fell in love with a dead woman, what can I say?" commented Sally Roesch Wagner, Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation on why she is so passionate about Mrs. Gage. "This woman so intrigued me and what I realize now is that I'm not the only person this has happened to."

The Matilda Joslyn Gage House can be found in Fayetteville on the corner of Genesee Street and Walnut Street just past the town center. Gage was a nationally known abolition and women's rights advocate who lived in the Greek revival style home from 1854 until her death in 1898.

The home is now currently under construction to become a museum. Restoration began in September and is expected to be completed before the end of 2009. Once completed, the museum will include rooms dedicated to women's rights, the Underground Railroad, religious freedom, the Gage Family, local history, and the Haudenosaunee Native American Tri

be.

"This was a woman who was the head of the women who were ahead of the times," said Wagner who quoted Gloria Steinem, a current day feminist writer and activist. Gage worked along side Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton brainstorming women's rights initiatives in this house. During the years before the Civil War, the house functioned as a dry goods store to those walking by, but secretly served as an Underground Railroad station.

The foundation's goal is to bring Gage's ideas and the relevance of them today to the community. "We really stand to become the center of heritage tourism in this region," says Wagner.

Other than Christmas, Halloween is the most commercialized holiday in the US as Americans spend hundreds of dollars every year on costumes and decorations. Central New Yorkers are no different.

And like millions of other Americans, last year Halloween-related sales were down across the board in CNY due to the economy. But this year things are looking up.

Sara Murphy, a worker at Dougherty's Masquerade in Syracuse notes that, "Its been really busy in here, I think things are getting better." Murphy adds that it is much more crowded than last year.

Not only are people buying costumes once again, many aren't holding anything back. One cashier remembered a customer paying $230 dollars on his costume.

Bobbi Walker, the store's office manager, thinks that the holiday falling on a weekend helps a lot. She says that because there is no work the day after Halloween, more people will have costume parties on the 31st.

"I think Halloween is a holiday where people can forget about all of the things going on with the economy and just go out and have a good time with your friends," says Chelsea Colon, a student at LeMoyne and customer at Dougherty's Masquerade.
Walker also says there is a big rush during the final week as people change their minds about what they can spend.

"A lot of people think they are not gonna do it." Walker says, "They are not gonna go out and get dressed up and then at the last minute they go, nah I think I better go get out something. "

The employees say that the store's top selling this year has been the Michael Jackson "thriller" set which comes complete with a jacket and glove.

Horses In The City

While driving through downtown Syracuse it’s tough to miss the four-legged animals strolling across the crosswalks. That’s because horses have taken over the Oncenter and the War Memorial for the week.

Nearly 400 horses arrived to compete in the 7^th Annual Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament this week. That is where the logistics get interesting. Where can you keep 400 horses in downtown Syracuse?

Well, organizers start by housing a majority of the horses not competing at the fair grounds. Horses then take turns cycling into the make-shift stable that was created in the parking garage across from the Oncenter. Storing horses on the streets is something riders and horses do not see in many other competitions.

“It’s really different for the horses to be in this environment, walking on the street to the show ring and everything,” competitor Navajo Gallegos said.

However it presents a different atmosphere that has created an interesting challenge for competitors.

“I think it was a really great vision that John Madden had when he said let’s hold a horseshow in the middle of the city of Syracuse,” Horseshow Management Team member Heather Kallas said. People said how are you going to do that? And we’ve been doing it now for seven years and successfully, so it worked out.”

Despite all the craziness of moving horses through the streets of Downtown Syracuse, with the help of volunteers and police, traffic continues to move relatively smoothly throughout the city.

Watch the video form of this story:

Safety Concerns with this Year's Halloween in Syracuse?

When Halloween rolls in, normally people think about candy and spending time at get togethers; however, residents of neighborhoods near the East Side of Syracuse University have more important things to consider.

"We've got right now four people in custody in the Onondaga County Justice Center that were involved in robberies that occurred on or near campus and those folks are sitting in jail on twenty thousand dollars bail each," said Syracuse University Chief of Public Safety Anthony Callisto, Jr.

Over the past two months there have been numerous robberies and a sexual assault case that have caused area law enforcement to be on hightened alert.

Among other things, the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety has increased its number of on-duty officers as well as extending the area that the Department covers.

City of Syracuse Police have also increased efforts by having plain-clothes officers patrol the area.

The joint work has paid off thus far, as several residents said that they feel safe with their Halloween plans.

For the whole story, check out Devon's story for NCC News.

Onondaga County Begins Distributing Flu Shots

SYRACUSE - The first round of scheduled flu shots given by Onondaga County were given out Wednesday afternoon at the Magnarelli Community Center. Three hundred people were expected to show up to the event which required an advance registration. Those looking for a flu shot had to go online, sign up for an appointment, and then either present proof of insurance or pay thirty dollars when showing up for the shot.

Vaccines were made available either as a traditional shot or through a nasal spray that was shot once in each nostril. Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney was on hand for the event and got her flu shot too. “Easy and painless” is how Mahoney described the shot. She also encouraged everyone to get their shot, but to be patient because not everyone could get one right away due to limited supplies.

Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow was originally expected to be in attendance, but was “laying low” according to Deputy Commissioner Linda Karmen. Morrow is expected to speak about the flu tomorrow.