Community News for Wednesday, April 5, 2017

NEW HARTFORD

Attorney will speak

on nursing home care

Attorney Mark Wolber will speak on preparing for nursing home care at 11 a.m. today at the New Hartford Nutrition Center on Oxford Road.

He will discuss Durable Powers of Attorney, healthcare proxies and wills, ways to avoid probate and ways to preserve assets for the family in the event nursing home care is required.

He also will explain the five-year Look Back rule and will remain after the presentation to answer questions.

The presentation is free. Reservations are required by calling 315-724-8966.

Boscov’s supports March of Dimes

About one in 10 babies will be born prematurely this year — and Boscov’s wants to help the March of Dimes to improve health of local moms, babies.

Bosov’s will host its Easter “Eggstravaganza” Event to support the March of Dimes and March for Babies from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. March for Babies teams will be stationed throughout the store with fun activities, raffles, food and more, with proceeds benefitting the March of Dimes. The Easter Bunny will be there too, so stop by for a photo.

Customers can donate at the registers and sign a Pin-Up to show their support. Since 2006, Boscov’s has helped raise more than $76,000 for the March of Dimes mission to prevent birth defects, premature birth and other serious infant health problems.

For information, call 315-679-5037 or email lfarrell@marchofdimes.org.

UTICA

FrogWatch USA Workshop at the Zoo

Frogs and toads are an important part of local wetland ecosystems and their numbers are declining at an unprecedented rate. Community residents can help by becoming a citizen scientist and joining FrogWatch USA at the Utica Zoo.

This two-part workshop will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 10 and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 24.

FrogWatch USA is a citizen science project which aims to collect data on amphibian breeding calls. These data are then used to better understand species distributions and develop ways to conserve amphibians and our freshwater wetlands. Participation is fun and it’s a great way for families to spend time outside while learning about your local wetlands and frog and toad species.

The Utica Zoo will provide all of the tools you need to participate at the volunteer training workshop.

The workshop is recommended for families and children age 5 and older. Only 30 spots are available. To register, email mary.hall@uticazoo.org or call 315-738-0472 ext. 26.

For information on the Association of Zoo’s and Aquarium’s FrogWatch USA program, go to aza.org/frogwatch.

Sand Dollar Stroll postponed

The Sand Dollar Stroll, the new version of the ALS of Utica Walk, in partnership with the Sitrin Health Care Center, scheduled for Saturday, May 20, has been postponed. Storm Stella heavily damaged the venue for this event, the Todd and Jen Hutton Sports and Recreation Center, (the Dome) at Utica College.

A new date for the Sand Dollar Stroll will be announced once the Dome becomes operational.

REGION

Volunteer firefighters needed across NY

More than 200 fire departments across New York State have already signed up for the seventh annual RecruitNY weekend, a major initiative of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY). On April 29-30, firehouses across the state will open their doors to the public in an effort to increase membership in the volunteer fire service.

Members of the public are invited to visit their local firehouses, where volunteer firefighters will be conducting tours of their facilities, demonstrating firefighting techniques and allowing visitors to try on turnout gear. These activities, and more, will give visitors a taste of what it means to be in the fire service, and volunteer firefighters will be on hand to discuss the requirements and rewards of joining.

For area residents looking to find if your fire department is participating in RecruitNY, visit www.recruitny.org/participation-area/ or for information, visit www.recruitny.org.

For fire departments that would like to sign up for RecruitNY, log on to www.recruitny.org/signup and fill out the participation form. The program provides fire departments with access to recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners and more. Visit recruitny.org/resources.php to help plan a RecruitNY event.

Sheriffs to begin membership drive

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute has begun its annual honorary membership drive in Oneida and Lewis counties during March.

The Sheriffs’ Institute was established in 1979 to advance criminal justice education, prevent juvenile delinquency and support victims of crime and their families. Their programs include:

* Sheriffs’ Summer Camp: Almost 900 children from across New York State attend the sheriffs’ camp for economically challenged children, which is located on Keuka Lake. The Sheriffs’ Institute pays all costs for the campers, including transportation, a week of camp, meals and traditional camp activities.

* Criminal justice Scholarship Program: The scholarship program provides one scholarship to the Criminal justice Program at each of New York State’s Community Colleges. This program aims to attract the best and the brightest to the criminal justice vocation.

* Victim Notification Programs: The Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline provides automated notification to registered victims when an inmate is released. The Sheriffs’ Order of Protection Notification Program allows individuals who have been granted Family Court orders of protection to receive alerts when those orders are served.

For information, visit www.sheriffsinstitute.org.

Give blood during volunteer month

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during National Volunteer Month this April.

Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those in need of transfusions.

Donors of all blood types are needed this spring.

Blood donation opportunities are available in New Hartford, Herkimer, Ilion, Boonville, Clinton, Remsen, Rome, Sauquoit, Utica, Vernon, Verona, Cooperstown, Edmeston, Fly Creek and Richfield Springs.

Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App at www.redcrossblood.org/bloodapp. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED CROSS to find a donation location near you.

Students inducted into theatre society

The Elmira College cast of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Society recently inducted eight new members during a recent induction ceremony.

Those inducted included local students Samantha Chrysler of Rome and Nathan Edwards of Yorkville.

YORKVILLE

Thank you for…

help during blizzard

I got stuck in the snow on my street as I was driving home from work Tuesday, March 14.

I would like to thank the 911 operators, the Yorkville Police Department and the Yorkville Fire Department for helping me get home safely. I was stuck for a long time and found it impossible to try to walk. Thanks to all of you, I’m very grateful to have had your assistance.

Celia Darling-Cabo