Ë®¹ûÅÉAV's top 10 most-read stories of the week: Auburn police car hits pedestrian, final employees leave Daikin Applied
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Ë®¹ûÅÉAV's top 10 most-read stories of the week includes articles on a pedestrian who was struck by an Auburn police car, an Auburn man allegedly tried to commit suicide by cop, a downtown music festival will support a local man with cancer and a missing teen has been located.Â
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
- Updated
A pedestrian was injured Saturday night in Auburn when she was struck by a police car.
The Auburn Police Department said that an officer responding to an emergency call along with the Auburn Fire Department struck the woman at about 6:37 p.m.
The accident occurred near the closed Auburn Schine Theater on South Street between Genesee and Lincoln streets.
Police said that the patrol car was traveling south on South Street a short distance behind fire and ambulance vehicles when the woman ran from the sidewalk area near parked cars and into the roadway in the path of the police car. She was struck in the southbound lane of South Street, police said.
A helicopter was called to transport the woman for treatment, and a landing zone was established at the nearby Holiday Inn on North Street.
Police said the woman was transported by ambulance and then airlifted to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse.
The APD said that further details would not be available until the investigation is completed and requested that anyone with information on the incident to contact the APD at 253-3231.
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
- Updated
An Auburn man led police on a chase by car and by foot Thursday, at times using his hand or a cell phone to simulate a handgun in an effort to commit "suicide by cop," police said.
Christopher L. Copeland II, 29, 65 South St., is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after what police said began as a domestic incident, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Police said that as officers approached 65 South St. in response to a complaint, Copeland left the scene in a woman's vehicle and led police on a chase. During the pursuit, police said, Copeland appeared to be holding a gun to his head.
The car crashed into a snowbank at the intersection of Swift and Steel streets, and Copeland ran off through surrounding backyards, police said. Reverse 911 was used to call homes in the area, because officers were not sure if the suspect was armed.
Police found Copeland hiding behind a home on Swift Street, and he eventually complied with officers and surrendered, police said.
The area that Copeland had run through was searched, and no weapon was recovered, leading police to believe that Copeland was using a cellphone or his hand to make it appear as though he had weapon so that officers would shoot him.
Copeland was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing; endangering the welfare of a child; third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle; fourth-degree criminal mischief; fleeing an officer; and resisting arrest. He was arraigned at Auburn City Court and remanded to the Cayuga County Jail on $25,000/$5,000 cash bail/bond.
Anyone with information may contact the Auburn Police Department at (315) 253-3231. Callers may remain anonymous.
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
- Updated
A travel advisory for Cayuga County that was issued Tuesday has been lifted.Â
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office made the announcement Wednesday. The advisory was issued after a winter storm slammed central New York. A mix of rain and snow created hazardous conditions on area roads.Â
Earlier report:Â
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as the weather deteriorated road conditions throughout the region.Â
A travel advisory was issued across the county Tuesday afternoon as the wet, flooded roadways began to freeze when temperatures dropped and snow began to fall, deputies said. Emergency personnel were responding to dozens of accidents across the county, according to a release.
The Seneca County Sheriff's Office also issued a travel advisory for the county, reminding drivers that roads are currently open but snow covered and slippery in several areas.
Later in the day, the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for the southern half of Cayuga County, stating that the Owasco Inlet was flooding in the town of Locke due to ice jams.
Flood advisories were in place for much of the day for urban flooding in upstate cities, including Auburn, created by the combination of steady rains and slush-clogged storm drains.
The weather forced Cayuga Community College to close at 4:30 p.m., cancelling all evening classes and activities, according to the college's Twitter page. The Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency meeting scheduled for Tuesday was also canceled and rescheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday. Â
- Robert Harding |
- Updated
For U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, watching Gov. Andrew Cuomo deliver the State of the State address looked like a scene out of "The Hunger Games."
There was the 10-foot tall lectern that made it seem as if the governor was towering over his audience. And there was a 10-minute video clip full of praise for Cuomo's work on economic issues.
Any mention of Cuomo and "The Hunger Games" typically refers to the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, a $1.5 billion economic development competition the governor launched last year. But Gibson, a Republican who is exploring a gubernatorial run in 2018, thinks the Cuomo-Hunger Games comparison extends beyond the economic initiative.
Gibson criticized the taxpayer-funded television commercials Cuomo's administration has used to tout the Start-Up New York program, another key piece of the governor's economic strategy. The ads seek to spread the message that New York is open for business.
But New Yorkers, Gibson says, aren't buying it.
"If he's doing it to raise his job approval, it's not working," he said in an interview this week. "Fifty-eight percent of the people in New York think that he's not doing a good job. Maybe if he stops running the commercials and lowers the taxes, he'll actually get the numbers that he's looking for."
Gibson has visited 42 of New York's 62 counties as he considers a run for governor. A three-term congressman from Kinderhook in Columbia County, he announced in January 2015 that he wouldn't seek a fourth term in the House of Representatives. Instead, he set his sights on running for statewide office in New York.
Last week, he launched an exploratory committee, which will allow him to raise money in preparation for the 2018 campaign.
While he isn't officially a candidate, Gibson has some ideas for what his platform would look like.
ECONOMY
New York's unemployment numbers have improved since the Great Recession, particularly in upstate. But Gibson believes that doesn't tell the whole story about the state of the economy.
"A lot of individuals don't feel secure in their jobs," he said. "They wonder if they're still going to have that job in 3 to 5 months. We've had an issue for really the past 20 years — and this transcends New York, but includes New York — and that is really the absence of rising wages."
Gibson supports broad-based tax relief. He cited a study which found New York's tax climate ranks 50th out of 50 states.
Lowering taxes, he said, could have a major impact.
"We're not going to go from 50th to first overnight. That's not going to happen," he said. "But when we start to make progress and New Yorkers see that truly we're making progress on that, these trends tend to be infectious."
Addressing the state's regulatory environment is also a priority for Gibson. He hears from small business owners who feel that when state regulators show up for inspections, they're looking for ways to penalize them.
He recalled his time commanding units in the U.S. Army. He said his staff would conduct site visits, but before they would leave, he would remind them that their role is to assist the various battalions and companies.
That same approach, he said, should be used by the state's regulators.
"Our small business owners feel like every time the regulators show up, all this is is an approach to try to get more revenue into the state — to penalize them and write them fines," he said. "We have to have an orientation approach that really recognizes that while we're always constantly striving to get better, that we're all in this together and we need to move forward in that way."
EDUCATION
Gibson said one of the most-talked about issues during his statewide tour is Common Core. The standards, he says, were rolled out without input from administrators, parents, students and teachers. High-stakes testing raised concerns and some critics believe the curriculum isn't age appropriate.
At the federal level, Congress passed an elementary and secondary education bill last year which Gibson says allows states to withdraw from Common Core without being penalized.
"I think it was an important reform," he said.
In New York, Gibson supports rolling back Common Core and returning to the state's education standards. He said parents, students and other key stakeholders should be included in any discussions about new learning guidelines.
He also thinks there needs to be more funding for mentoring and professional development. In the Army, he would mentor company commanders. That experience, he said, helped the officers become better leaders.
"I find it tragically ironic that at a time that this governor has been demonizing teachers, he's been cutting the budget for professional development," Gibson said. "So, he's completely upside down."
He added later, "My approach will actually bring more value on excellence than the approach the governor has taken."
ETHICS REFORM
After ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos were convicted on public corruption charges late last year, there have been more calls for ethics reform in Albany.
Gibson said there needs to be leadership by example. He singled out Cuomo's proposal, which was first announced in his State of the State address, to impose a limit on outside income for state legislators.
The concept is worthy of debate, Gibson said. But he noted that Cuomo accepted more than $700,000 to write his 2014 book, "All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life."
"Here's someone who's willing to take a $700,000 check — outside money — but then turn around and, without blinking an eye, ask other people to do something that he won't do himself," he said.
"We're all products of our experience. I'm no different. In the infantry, you just don't do that. No infantry leader — you're not successful by telling your troops to take a hill. What you do is you get out front and you say, 'We're going to the hill. Follow me.'"
Gibson used himself as an example. As a member of Congress, he is paid $174,000 a year. Before serving in Congress, he was in the U.S. Army for 29 years. He receives a pension for his service, but voluntarily returns the funds to the U.S. Treasury "so that we don't double dip in these hard times."
As a congressional representative, he self-imposed term limits — he pledged to serve no more than four terms in the House. He also cosponsored legislation that would impose term limits on members of Congress.
"You could imagine how unpopular that is," he said of the bill. "But I didn't wait on a change in the law. I did it first."
If he's elected governor, Gibson pledged to serve no more than two four-year terms in office. He would then ask the state Legislature to approve a measure setting gubernatorial term limits.
There are other proposals he supports, including closing the LLC loophole which enables wealthy individuals to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns. He's a proponent of independent redistricting and believes public officials who are convicted of corruption should lose their pensions. And he supports term limits for legislative leaders.
Along with ethics reform, Gibson believes there needs to be legislative reforms. He commended state Assembly Republicans for their proposals, one of which is allowing bills that have majority support in the chamber to receive a hearing and a floor vote.
"Too often we see this three men in a room that decides on what gets put into law," he said. "That's wrong in so many ways. We're meant to have a representative form of government. Regardless of party, our legislators are a voice for all of us... So, if they've got an idea that comes from their people and they put a bill in and a majority of the legislators support it, they ought to at least get a hearing and a vote."
SAFE AND SECURE COMMUNITIES
Gibson wants to address issues affecting communities, whether it's the heroin epidemic or gun violence.
He challenged one of Cuomo's key legislative feats, the SAFE Act, a gun control measure signed in 2013 just weeks after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and Webster, a town near Rochester.
If elected governor, Gibson said he would advocate for the SAFE Act's repeal.
"We're not even thinking about and characterizing this in the right way, in my view," he said. "The issue is not gun control. When we had these tragic events that happened across the country, the first thing that Governor Cuomo does is knee-jerk to more gun control. This never works and here's why: Because it targets law-abiding citizens who are already following the law."
Instead of gun control, Gibson said he would work with the state Legislature to make communities more safe and secure.
His approach would put an emphasis on mental health treatment. (His wife is a licensed clinical social worker.) He noted that the perpetrators in the Aurora, Newtown and Tucson shootings exhibited signs of psychosis.
"For those that are suffering from psychosis, most of them — the overwhelming number of those individuals — are not violent," he said. "But that is the vulnerability area that we have to be cognizant of is individuals with psychosis who are hearing voices with, if you will, homicidal ideations. That's the issue we need to be focused in on."
IF HE'S ELECTED GOVERNOR ...Â
The next gubernatorial election is more than two years away. Gibson, who is finishing up his final year in Congress, has time to make a decision on whether he'll run for governor. That announcement will likely come in early 2017.
He isn't the only Republican interested in the seat. The party's past two gubernatorial nominees, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, may run again. Other names have been mentioned, including Harry Wilson, who ran for state comptroller in 2010.
If Gibson succeeds in securing the party's nomination and is elected governor, one thing is clear: He won't be delivering the State of the State address behind large lecterns in a convention center.
He would outline his annual agenda in the state Assembly chamber, which was the traditional setting for the State of the State until Cuomo took office in 2011 and moved the event to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
"That address was really meant to be delivered in the people's chamber," he said. "The whole point is that the executive is a servant. The executive works for the people of New York and works with the elected representatives of New York. I think that address really needs to be given in the people's chamber."
- David Wilcox
- Updated
More than 20 live musical acts will donate time and talent for the benefit of Auburn man Art Wenzel at Art's Inhale Music Fest Saturday, March 12.
The festival will span three venues along State Street: at 119 Genesee St., at 24 State St. and at 28 State St. The music begins at 1 p.m.
Wenzel, a former journalist, music promoter and benefit organizer, was diagnosed with stage-four renal cell carcinoma in 2015, and it has since spread to his lungs and bones. He recently New York state to make its medical marijuana program more accessible and less complicated.
The event will also include a brunch, raffles, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, an auction and, from 2 to 7 p.m., a chicken barbecue for those who purchase a $20 donation ticket. Contributions and in-kind donations to support the event are also being accepted at Art's Lung Fund, P.O. Box 2204, Auburn, NY 13021.
Advance chicken barbecue tickets are available at Pepper’s Discount Liquor, D & L Truk Stop, Robin’s Hair Care, Hairlooms, A.T. Walley, Moondog’s and Prison City, all in Auburn.
For more information, call Donna Brooks at (315) 730-2156 or Bernie Simmons at (315) 246-9945.
A.I.M. Fest schedule
A.T. Walley & Co. festival tent:
• 1-2:15 p.m.: Custom Taylor Band
• 2:30-3:45 p.m.: Kim Fetters & Andy Rudy
• 4-5:15 p.m.:
• 5:45-7 p.m.: Joe Whiting Band
• 7-7:45 p.m.: Raffles and auction
• 7:45-9:15 p.m.:
• 9:30-11 p.m. Funky Blu Roots
(Sound by Mike Skowron, All Ears Sound)
Blues Bonanza at Moondog's Lounge:
• 1:15-2:15 p.m.: Colin Aberdeen
• 2:30-3:45 p.m.: Miss E & The Resonators
• 4-5:15 p.m.: Phil Petroff & Natural Fact
• 5:30-6:45Ìý±è.³¾.:Ìý±á´Ç²õ³Ù
• 7-8 p.m.: Mark Doyle & The Maniacs
• 8:15-9:30 p.m.: Johnny Rage Band
• 9:45-11 p.m.:
(Sound by Moondog's co-owner Shane Stillman)
Acoustic Alchemy at Prison City Pub & Brewery:
• 1:10-1:50 p.m.: Ryan Coughlin
• 2-2:50 p.m.: Kevin Barrigar
• 3-3:50 p.m.: Loren Barrigar with Joe Whiting
• 4-4:50 p.m.: Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin
• 5-5:50 p.m.: Donna Colton and Sam Pelterlli
• 6-6:50Ìý±è.³¾.:Ìý
• 7-7:50 p.m.: Host
• 8-9 p.m.: Tim Herron
(Sound by the Honky Tonk Hindooz)
Schedule subject to change.
- Jordyn Reiland |
- Updated
AUBURN — John Ryan's farewell from Daikin Applied wasn't filled with balloons, cake or any kind of company-wide celebration.
Instead, the 50-year-old was greeted Friday afternoon in the parking lot by friends and family after walking out the door for the last time after 30 years of employment with what was formerly one of the largest employers in Cayuga County.
Ryan was one of the last hourly employees to finish working for the company, leaving only the janitorial staff and a few of the salaried employees left behind.
Daikin Applied, which specializes in manufacturing building management equipment, announced in 2013 that the plant was shutting down, leaving more than 300 employees without jobs. Initially the plan was to shut down by December 2014, but the plans were extended through 2015. The plant's operations were scheduled to be moved to Mexico.
"So it's like you're told one day and then you gradually see the place decrease, decline and of course you are going to find another job," he said. "But it's the people that you live with every day for eight hours a day, 40 hours a week and then some."
Ryan began working with the company in 1986 when the facility was on Columbus Street before it moved to its current location at the Technology Park site off North Division Street. He said he got the job after his sister, Kathy Ryan-Rainone, started working there in 1981. She left the company in 2004.Â
First traveling across the state servicing air conditioners, John Ryan worked his way up to becoming group leader of the shipping department where he managed a staff of 12-13 employees.
"You'd think it'd be a good thing to be one of the last people here. It was the worst thing, because your friends left every week, every month," he said. "Then you turn around the last day to walk out the door to say goodbye and there's nobody there."
He said members of the maintenance staff have to remain in the building and continue working to clean up and make sure the pipes don't freeze.
John Ryan said he is in the process of securing another job, understanding he will once again have to start from the bottom and prove himself as a quality employee.
"It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun. I couldn't wait to go to work in the morning. Then toward the end it got real depressing," he said.Â
- Jordyn Reiland |
- Updated
AUBURN — A U.S. Army tank that was on display in Cayuga for more than 50 years has a new home in Auburn.
Traveling by crane and flatbed truck, the M41A1 tank was brought from the American Legion Donald R. Ward Post No. 1259 in Cayuga to the American Legion S-K Post No. 1324 in Auburn Monday afternoon. The trip took longer than anticipated because the tank hadn't been moved since it arrived in Cayuga from Fort Drum in 1964. The tank was retired after an engine fire.
Legion member Ed King said the tank was moving to Auburn because the Cayuga Legion post is closing — like many others across the country.Â
Membership nationwide has dwindled down to 2.4 million, down from 3.1 million 20 years ago, according to recent statistics.
King said the Legion post in Cayuga has 10 members currently, but at one time had roughly 250. He and his fellow Legion members voted recently to ensure the tank would move to Auburn.Â
The tank will sit adjacent to the legion's parking lot, with the gun facing toward State Street.Â
"It is a tribute to our greatest generation. I mean this is what this post is named after," King said. "It's a tribute to all veterans as well."
The tank itself was a Korean War-era tank, King said. He hopes the new, unique feature to the Auburn post will help increase membership and enrollment. The Auburn Legion currently has roughly 370 members, but that number is continuing to decline.
"It's a tough thing to try to keep interest," he said.Â
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
- Updated
An Auburn teen missing since early December has been found, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Paige S. Sharp ran away from 61 N. Lewis St. on Dec. 1 and was reported missing on Jan. 29.
Police said as a result from several tips, Sharp was located in Tompkins County on Feb. 11.
- Greg Mason |
- Updated
AUBURN | Nearly a year into owning his first barbershop, Rafaelin Espinal said he is working hard so his brand can live up to its name.
Espinal dubbed his business Upstate's Finest Barbershop almost on accident, he said. The 29-year-old Dominican native, who moved to Auburn from Queens in 2010, said he branded the shop partly based on his previous understanding of the "upstate" area: anywhere outside of New York City.
Nevertheless, Espinal said Upstate's Finest has seen growth in the central New York area since opening last April as he works to be "one of the best in the business."
"I'm not going to stop learning. I want to be one of the good ones," Espinal said. "I want to live up to the name of the shop."
The barbershop is located on Columbus Street in the former building for Joseph's Salon. Espinal, who formerly worked for the hair salon and spa, said owner Joseph Chindamo relocated at some point in April last year, giving Espinal the opportunity to slide into the space.
Chindamo, who has been cutting hair since 1976, decided last year that it was time to "move on" from the Columbus Street space to the city's east side at 11 Walnut St.
Espinal, known as "Rafy," worked at Joseph's Salon for around six to eight months prior to the relocation, Chindamo said. In that span, Chindamo said the 29-year-old proved himself to be "very talented."
"He's popular," he said. "He does a lot of designs in the hair. He's got good clientele and he's good at what he does."
The transformation of the former Joseph's Salon into Upstate's Finest is visible in the interior, Espinal said. The barbershop has a handful of cutting stations set up with repainted walls, a TV and an air hockey table for children, and he plans to install a refreshment bar.
The real difference between a barbershop and a salon, however, lies in the vibes, he said.
"The atmosphere is different. We talk about sports, the kids in high school sports, football and all that," Espinal said.
Upstate's Finest offers haircuts, shaves, hot towels and hair tattoos, which are buzzed, stylized designs into a person's head. These designs can be faded gradients of hair, while others can invoke color dye for effect.
Espinal said he is currently focused on growing his business the best he can as he nears his one-year anniversary. While he didn't grow up wanting to be a barber, Espinal said he finds enjoyment in the craft, coming into his business after stints at both Joseph's Salon and Ruscio's Barber Shop.
"It's great. You always have a great conversation with a lot of different people," he said. "I always liked the interactions."
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
- Updated
• Subway/Auntie Anne's, 297 Grant Ave., Auburn; unsatisfactory (Jan. 29, 2016). Small glass door refrigeration unit used to store single service beverages was noted to have an internal temperature of 58 degrees F at time of inspection. Milk stored in unit was 58 degrees F. Twenty containers of milk were voluntarily discarded at time of inspection. Lacks accurate thermometers in each and every cooler unit.
• Lin Bo Chinese Restaurant, 8932 N. Seneca St., Weedsport; satisfactory. Multiple containers of chicken, beef and pork observed to be uncovered and double stacked in walk-in cooler. Bottom of double door preparation cooler is covered in grease and food debris. Floor of walk-in cooler requires cleaning. Shelving in walk-in cooler is noted to be covered in surface rust.
• Tabatha's Restaurant, 264 Genesee St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Community Soup Kitchen, 184 Van Anden St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Burger King #404, 225 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Subway - North Street, 76 North St., Auburn; satisfactory. Sanitizer bay was the center bay of the three-bay sink. The inside of the double-door freezer in back storage room requires cleaning. One microwave and one toaster oven noted not to be in working order, stored in rear storage area of facility. Drain for the third bay of three-bay sink not in working order.
• Daphne's Diner, 15085 State Route 104, Martville; satisfactory. Linoleum in front of walk-in cooler is in disrepair. Laminate top adjacent to sandwich station is no longer smooth and easily cleanable.
• Barb's Diner, 891 Main St., Locke; unsatisfactory. Two plastic bins full of fish fillets and one plastic bin of hamburger patties stored in refrigerator above heads of lettuce used for sandwiches. Items in fridge were reorganized by the operator so that raw products were properly stored on the bottom of the fridge.
• Brenda's Diner, 1951 State Route 31, Port Byron; satisfactory. Multiple pieces of broken non-functioning equipment observed onsite, including a double-door sandwich unit, two microwaves and a fryer. Missing and broken drawer face plates and cup boated doors on the cabinets near the rear dining area. Multiple cooler door handles noted to be broken and in various stages of disrepair.
• O'Toole's Restaurant, 113 Osborne St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Harley's Irish Pub, 149 State St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Sunset Restaurant, 93 N. Division St., Auburn; satisfactory. Walk-in freezer door is in disrepair. Lower hinge is completely broken, door does not open or close. Door handles for the double-door cooler on main cook line are broken. Shelving in walk-in cooler is covered in surface rust.
• C.J.'s Pub & Restaurant, 8902 S. Seneca St., Weedsport; satisfactory. Baffle inside ice machine requires cleaning. Floor in kitchen is no longer smooth and easily cleanable. Linoleum is cracked and torn with holes in it, missing multiple floor tiles.
• Subway/Auntie Anne's, 297 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory (Feb. 5, 2016).
• Chili's Grill & Bar, 1624 Clark St. Road, Auburn; satisfactory. Floor under convection oven requires cleaning due to food debris build up. Missing pieces of corner molding throughout the facility.
• Downtown Deli - Grant Ave., 217 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Spring Garden, 68 Owasco St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Port Byron Diner, 97 Rochester St., Port Byron; satisfactory. Floor of walk-in freezer requires cleaning due to excessive build-up of food debris. Ceiling in rear storage room noted to have water damage and requires repair. Floor under dish-washing area requires cleaning.
• Wendy's, 218 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Moe's Southwest Grill, 217 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory. Lacks accurate thermometer in each and every cooler unit. Miscellaneous food debris noted on floor under cook line and in corners of rear preparation area.
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- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
A pedestrian was injured Saturday night in Auburn when she was struck by a police car.
The Auburn Police Department said that an officer responding to an emergency call along with the Auburn Fire Department struck the woman at about 6:37 p.m.
The accident occurred near the closed Auburn Schine Theater on South Street between Genesee and Lincoln streets.
Police said that the patrol car was traveling south on South Street a short distance behind fire and ambulance vehicles when the woman ran from the sidewalk area near parked cars and into the roadway in the path of the police car. She was struck in the southbound lane of South Street, police said.
A helicopter was called to transport the woman for treatment, and a landing zone was established at the nearby Holiday Inn on North Street.
Police said the woman was transported by ambulance and then airlifted to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse.
The APD said that further details would not be available until the investigation is completed and requested that anyone with information on the incident to contact the APD at 253-3231.
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
An Auburn man led police on a chase by car and by foot Thursday, at times using his hand or a cell phone to simulate a handgun in an effort to commit "suicide by cop," police said.
Christopher L. Copeland II, 29, 65 South St., is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after what police said began as a domestic incident, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Police said that as officers approached 65 South St. in response to a complaint, Copeland left the scene in a woman's vehicle and led police on a chase. During the pursuit, police said, Copeland appeared to be holding a gun to his head.
The car crashed into a snowbank at the intersection of Swift and Steel streets, and Copeland ran off through surrounding backyards, police said. Reverse 911 was used to call homes in the area, because officers were not sure if the suspect was armed.
Police found Copeland hiding behind a home on Swift Street, and he eventually complied with officers and surrendered, police said.
The area that Copeland had run through was searched, and no weapon was recovered, leading police to believe that Copeland was using a cellphone or his hand to make it appear as though he had weapon so that officers would shoot him.
Copeland was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing; endangering the welfare of a child; third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle; fourth-degree criminal mischief; fleeing an officer; and resisting arrest. He was arraigned at Auburn City Court and remanded to the Cayuga County Jail on $25,000/$5,000 cash bail/bond.
Anyone with information may contact the Auburn Police Department at (315) 253-3231. Callers may remain anonymous.
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
A travel advisory for Cayuga County that was issued Tuesday has been lifted.Â
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office made the announcement Wednesday. The advisory was issued after a winter storm slammed central New York. A mix of rain and snow created hazardous conditions on area roads.Â
Earlier report:Â
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as the weather deteriorated road conditions throughout the region.Â
A travel advisory was issued across the county Tuesday afternoon as the wet, flooded roadways began to freeze when temperatures dropped and snow began to fall, deputies said. Emergency personnel were responding to dozens of accidents across the county, according to a release.
The Seneca County Sheriff's Office also issued a travel advisory for the county, reminding drivers that roads are currently open but snow covered and slippery in several areas.
Later in the day, the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for the southern half of Cayuga County, stating that the Owasco Inlet was flooding in the town of Locke due to ice jams.
Flood advisories were in place for much of the day for urban flooding in upstate cities, including Auburn, created by the combination of steady rains and slush-clogged storm drains.
The weather forced Cayuga Community College to close at 4:30 p.m., cancelling all evening classes and activities, according to the college's Twitter page. The Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency meeting scheduled for Tuesday was also canceled and rescheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday. Â
- Robert Harding |
For U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, watching Gov. Andrew Cuomo deliver the State of the State address looked like a scene out of "The Hunger Games."
There was the 10-foot tall lectern that made it seem as if the governor was towering over his audience. And there was a 10-minute video clip full of praise for Cuomo's work on economic issues.
Any mention of Cuomo and "The Hunger Games" typically refers to the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, a $1.5 billion economic development competition the governor launched last year. But Gibson, a Republican who is exploring a gubernatorial run in 2018, thinks the Cuomo-Hunger Games comparison extends beyond the economic initiative.
Gibson criticized the taxpayer-funded television commercials Cuomo's administration has used to tout the Start-Up New York program, another key piece of the governor's economic strategy. The ads seek to spread the message that New York is open for business.
But New Yorkers, Gibson says, aren't buying it.
"If he's doing it to raise his job approval, it's not working," he said in an interview this week. "Fifty-eight percent of the people in New York think that he's not doing a good job. Maybe if he stops running the commercials and lowers the taxes, he'll actually get the numbers that he's looking for."
Gibson has visited 42 of New York's 62 counties as he considers a run for governor. A three-term congressman from Kinderhook in Columbia County, he announced in January 2015 that he wouldn't seek a fourth term in the House of Representatives. Instead, he set his sights on running for statewide office in New York.
Last week, he launched an exploratory committee, which will allow him to raise money in preparation for the 2018 campaign.
While he isn't officially a candidate, Gibson has some ideas for what his platform would look like.
ECONOMY
New York's unemployment numbers have improved since the Great Recession, particularly in upstate. But Gibson believes that doesn't tell the whole story about the state of the economy.
"A lot of individuals don't feel secure in their jobs," he said. "They wonder if they're still going to have that job in 3 to 5 months. We've had an issue for really the past 20 years — and this transcends New York, but includes New York — and that is really the absence of rising wages."
Gibson supports broad-based tax relief. He cited a study which found New York's tax climate ranks 50th out of 50 states.
Lowering taxes, he said, could have a major impact.
"We're not going to go from 50th to first overnight. That's not going to happen," he said. "But when we start to make progress and New Yorkers see that truly we're making progress on that, these trends tend to be infectious."
Addressing the state's regulatory environment is also a priority for Gibson. He hears from small business owners who feel that when state regulators show up for inspections, they're looking for ways to penalize them.
He recalled his time commanding units in the U.S. Army. He said his staff would conduct site visits, but before they would leave, he would remind them that their role is to assist the various battalions and companies.
That same approach, he said, should be used by the state's regulators.
"Our small business owners feel like every time the regulators show up, all this is is an approach to try to get more revenue into the state — to penalize them and write them fines," he said. "We have to have an orientation approach that really recognizes that while we're always constantly striving to get better, that we're all in this together and we need to move forward in that way."
EDUCATION
Gibson said one of the most-talked about issues during his statewide tour is Common Core. The standards, he says, were rolled out without input from administrators, parents, students and teachers. High-stakes testing raised concerns and some critics believe the curriculum isn't age appropriate.
At the federal level, Congress passed an elementary and secondary education bill last year which Gibson says allows states to withdraw from Common Core without being penalized.
"I think it was an important reform," he said.
In New York, Gibson supports rolling back Common Core and returning to the state's education standards. He said parents, students and other key stakeholders should be included in any discussions about new learning guidelines.
He also thinks there needs to be more funding for mentoring and professional development. In the Army, he would mentor company commanders. That experience, he said, helped the officers become better leaders.
"I find it tragically ironic that at a time that this governor has been demonizing teachers, he's been cutting the budget for professional development," Gibson said. "So, he's completely upside down."
He added later, "My approach will actually bring more value on excellence than the approach the governor has taken."
ETHICS REFORM
After ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos were convicted on public corruption charges late last year, there have been more calls for ethics reform in Albany.
Gibson said there needs to be leadership by example. He singled out Cuomo's proposal, which was first announced in his State of the State address, to impose a limit on outside income for state legislators.
The concept is worthy of debate, Gibson said. But he noted that Cuomo accepted more than $700,000 to write his 2014 book, "All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life."
"Here's someone who's willing to take a $700,000 check — outside money — but then turn around and, without blinking an eye, ask other people to do something that he won't do himself," he said.
"We're all products of our experience. I'm no different. In the infantry, you just don't do that. No infantry leader — you're not successful by telling your troops to take a hill. What you do is you get out front and you say, 'We're going to the hill. Follow me.'"
Gibson used himself as an example. As a member of Congress, he is paid $174,000 a year. Before serving in Congress, he was in the U.S. Army for 29 years. He receives a pension for his service, but voluntarily returns the funds to the U.S. Treasury "so that we don't double dip in these hard times."
As a congressional representative, he self-imposed term limits — he pledged to serve no more than four terms in the House. He also cosponsored legislation that would impose term limits on members of Congress.
"You could imagine how unpopular that is," he said of the bill. "But I didn't wait on a change in the law. I did it first."
If he's elected governor, Gibson pledged to serve no more than two four-year terms in office. He would then ask the state Legislature to approve a measure setting gubernatorial term limits.
There are other proposals he supports, including closing the LLC loophole which enables wealthy individuals to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns. He's a proponent of independent redistricting and believes public officials who are convicted of corruption should lose their pensions. And he supports term limits for legislative leaders.
Along with ethics reform, Gibson believes there needs to be legislative reforms. He commended state Assembly Republicans for their proposals, one of which is allowing bills that have majority support in the chamber to receive a hearing and a floor vote.
"Too often we see this three men in a room that decides on what gets put into law," he said. "That's wrong in so many ways. We're meant to have a representative form of government. Regardless of party, our legislators are a voice for all of us... So, if they've got an idea that comes from their people and they put a bill in and a majority of the legislators support it, they ought to at least get a hearing and a vote."
SAFE AND SECURE COMMUNITIES
Gibson wants to address issues affecting communities, whether it's the heroin epidemic or gun violence.
He challenged one of Cuomo's key legislative feats, the SAFE Act, a gun control measure signed in 2013 just weeks after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and Webster, a town near Rochester.
If elected governor, Gibson said he would advocate for the SAFE Act's repeal.
"We're not even thinking about and characterizing this in the right way, in my view," he said. "The issue is not gun control. When we had these tragic events that happened across the country, the first thing that Governor Cuomo does is knee-jerk to more gun control. This never works and here's why: Because it targets law-abiding citizens who are already following the law."
Instead of gun control, Gibson said he would work with the state Legislature to make communities more safe and secure.
His approach would put an emphasis on mental health treatment. (His wife is a licensed clinical social worker.) He noted that the perpetrators in the Aurora, Newtown and Tucson shootings exhibited signs of psychosis.
"For those that are suffering from psychosis, most of them — the overwhelming number of those individuals — are not violent," he said. "But that is the vulnerability area that we have to be cognizant of is individuals with psychosis who are hearing voices with, if you will, homicidal ideations. That's the issue we need to be focused in on."
IF HE'S ELECTED GOVERNOR ...Â
The next gubernatorial election is more than two years away. Gibson, who is finishing up his final year in Congress, has time to make a decision on whether he'll run for governor. That announcement will likely come in early 2017.
He isn't the only Republican interested in the seat. The party's past two gubernatorial nominees, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, may run again. Other names have been mentioned, including Harry Wilson, who ran for state comptroller in 2010.
If Gibson succeeds in securing the party's nomination and is elected governor, one thing is clear: He won't be delivering the State of the State address behind large lecterns in a convention center.
He would outline his annual agenda in the state Assembly chamber, which was the traditional setting for the State of the State until Cuomo took office in 2011 and moved the event to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
"That address was really meant to be delivered in the people's chamber," he said. "The whole point is that the executive is a servant. The executive works for the people of New York and works with the elected representatives of New York. I think that address really needs to be given in the people's chamber."
- David Wilcox
More than 20 live musical acts will donate time and talent for the benefit of Auburn man Art Wenzel at Art's Inhale Music Fest Saturday, March 12.
The festival will span three venues along State Street: at 119 Genesee St., at 24 State St. and at 28 State St. The music begins at 1 p.m.
Wenzel, a former journalist, music promoter and benefit organizer, was diagnosed with stage-four renal cell carcinoma in 2015, and it has since spread to his lungs and bones. He recently New York state to make its medical marijuana program more accessible and less complicated.
The event will also include a brunch, raffles, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, an auction and, from 2 to 7 p.m., a chicken barbecue for those who purchase a $20 donation ticket. Contributions and in-kind donations to support the event are also being accepted at Art's Lung Fund, P.O. Box 2204, Auburn, NY 13021.
Advance chicken barbecue tickets are available at Pepper’s Discount Liquor, D & L Truk Stop, Robin’s Hair Care, Hairlooms, A.T. Walley, Moondog’s and Prison City, all in Auburn.
For more information, call Donna Brooks at (315) 730-2156 or Bernie Simmons at (315) 246-9945.
A.I.M. Fest schedule
A.T. Walley & Co. festival tent:
• 1-2:15 p.m.: Custom Taylor Band
• 2:30-3:45 p.m.: Kim Fetters & Andy Rudy
• 4-5:15 p.m.:
• 5:45-7 p.m.: Joe Whiting Band
• 7-7:45 p.m.: Raffles and auction
• 7:45-9:15 p.m.:
• 9:30-11 p.m. Funky Blu Roots
(Sound by Mike Skowron, All Ears Sound)
Blues Bonanza at Moondog's Lounge:
• 1:15-2:15 p.m.: Colin Aberdeen
• 2:30-3:45 p.m.: Miss E & The Resonators
• 4-5:15 p.m.: Phil Petroff & Natural Fact
• 5:30-6:45Ìý±è.³¾.:Ìý±á´Ç²õ³Ù
• 7-8 p.m.: Mark Doyle & The Maniacs
• 8:15-9:30 p.m.: Johnny Rage Band
• 9:45-11 p.m.:
(Sound by Moondog's co-owner Shane Stillman)
Acoustic Alchemy at Prison City Pub & Brewery:
• 1:10-1:50 p.m.: Ryan Coughlin
• 2-2:50 p.m.: Kevin Barrigar
• 3-3:50 p.m.: Loren Barrigar with Joe Whiting
• 4-4:50 p.m.: Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin
• 5-5:50 p.m.: Donna Colton and Sam Pelterlli
• 6-6:50Ìý±è.³¾.:Ìý
• 7-7:50 p.m.: Host
• 8-9 p.m.: Tim Herron
(Sound by the Honky Tonk Hindooz)
Schedule subject to change.
- Jordyn Reiland |
AUBURN — John Ryan's farewell from Daikin Applied wasn't filled with balloons, cake or any kind of company-wide celebration.
Instead, the 50-year-old was greeted Friday afternoon in the parking lot by friends and family after walking out the door for the last time after 30 years of employment with what was formerly one of the largest employers in Cayuga County.
Ryan was one of the last hourly employees to finish working for the company, leaving only the janitorial staff and a few of the salaried employees left behind.
Daikin Applied, which specializes in manufacturing building management equipment, announced in 2013 that the plant was shutting down, leaving more than 300 employees without jobs. Initially the plan was to shut down by December 2014, but the plans were extended through 2015. The plant's operations were scheduled to be moved to Mexico.
"So it's like you're told one day and then you gradually see the place decrease, decline and of course you are going to find another job," he said. "But it's the people that you live with every day for eight hours a day, 40 hours a week and then some."
Ryan began working with the company in 1986 when the facility was on Columbus Street before it moved to its current location at the Technology Park site off North Division Street. He said he got the job after his sister, Kathy Ryan-Rainone, started working there in 1981. She left the company in 2004.Â
First traveling across the state servicing air conditioners, John Ryan worked his way up to becoming group leader of the shipping department where he managed a staff of 12-13 employees.
"You'd think it'd be a good thing to be one of the last people here. It was the worst thing, because your friends left every week, every month," he said. "Then you turn around the last day to walk out the door to say goodbye and there's nobody there."
He said members of the maintenance staff have to remain in the building and continue working to clean up and make sure the pipes don't freeze.
John Ryan said he is in the process of securing another job, understanding he will once again have to start from the bottom and prove himself as a quality employee.
"It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun. I couldn't wait to go to work in the morning. Then toward the end it got real depressing," he said.Â
- Jordyn Reiland |
AUBURN — A U.S. Army tank that was on display in Cayuga for more than 50 years has a new home in Auburn.
Traveling by crane and flatbed truck, the M41A1 tank was brought from the American Legion Donald R. Ward Post No. 1259 in Cayuga to the American Legion S-K Post No. 1324 in Auburn Monday afternoon. The trip took longer than anticipated because the tank hadn't been moved since it arrived in Cayuga from Fort Drum in 1964. The tank was retired after an engine fire.
Legion member Ed King said the tank was moving to Auburn because the Cayuga Legion post is closing — like many others across the country.Â
Membership nationwide has dwindled down to 2.4 million, down from 3.1 million 20 years ago, according to recent statistics.
King said the Legion post in Cayuga has 10 members currently, but at one time had roughly 250. He and his fellow Legion members voted recently to ensure the tank would move to Auburn.Â
The tank will sit adjacent to the legion's parking lot, with the gun facing toward State Street.Â
"It is a tribute to our greatest generation. I mean this is what this post is named after," King said. "It's a tribute to all veterans as well."
The tank itself was a Korean War-era tank, King said. He hopes the new, unique feature to the Auburn post will help increase membership and enrollment. The Auburn Legion currently has roughly 370 members, but that number is continuing to decline.
"It's a tough thing to try to keep interest," he said.Â
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
An Auburn teen missing since early December has been found, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Paige S. Sharp ran away from 61 N. Lewis St. on Dec. 1 and was reported missing on Jan. 29.
Police said as a result from several tips, Sharp was located in Tompkins County on Feb. 11.
- Greg Mason |
AUBURN | Nearly a year into owning his first barbershop, Rafaelin Espinal said he is working hard so his brand can live up to its name.
Espinal dubbed his business Upstate's Finest Barbershop almost on accident, he said. The 29-year-old Dominican native, who moved to Auburn from Queens in 2010, said he branded the shop partly based on his previous understanding of the "upstate" area: anywhere outside of New York City.
Nevertheless, Espinal said Upstate's Finest has seen growth in the central New York area since opening last April as he works to be "one of the best in the business."
"I'm not going to stop learning. I want to be one of the good ones," Espinal said. "I want to live up to the name of the shop."
The barbershop is located on Columbus Street in the former building for Joseph's Salon. Espinal, who formerly worked for the hair salon and spa, said owner Joseph Chindamo relocated at some point in April last year, giving Espinal the opportunity to slide into the space.
Chindamo, who has been cutting hair since 1976, decided last year that it was time to "move on" from the Columbus Street space to the city's east side at 11 Walnut St.
Espinal, known as "Rafy," worked at Joseph's Salon for around six to eight months prior to the relocation, Chindamo said. In that span, Chindamo said the 29-year-old proved himself to be "very talented."
"He's popular," he said. "He does a lot of designs in the hair. He's got good clientele and he's good at what he does."
The transformation of the former Joseph's Salon into Upstate's Finest is visible in the interior, Espinal said. The barbershop has a handful of cutting stations set up with repainted walls, a TV and an air hockey table for children, and he plans to install a refreshment bar.
The real difference between a barbershop and a salon, however, lies in the vibes, he said.
"The atmosphere is different. We talk about sports, the kids in high school sports, football and all that," Espinal said.
Upstate's Finest offers haircuts, shaves, hot towels and hair tattoos, which are buzzed, stylized designs into a person's head. These designs can be faded gradients of hair, while others can invoke color dye for effect.
Espinal said he is currently focused on growing his business the best he can as he nears his one-year anniversary. While he didn't grow up wanting to be a barber, Espinal said he finds enjoyment in the craft, coming into his business after stints at both Joseph's Salon and Ruscio's Barber Shop.
"It's great. You always have a great conversation with a lot of different people," he said. "I always liked the interactions."
- Ë®¹ûÅÉAV staff
• Subway/Auntie Anne's, 297 Grant Ave., Auburn; unsatisfactory (Jan. 29, 2016). Small glass door refrigeration unit used to store single service beverages was noted to have an internal temperature of 58 degrees F at time of inspection. Milk stored in unit was 58 degrees F. Twenty containers of milk were voluntarily discarded at time of inspection. Lacks accurate thermometers in each and every cooler unit.
• Lin Bo Chinese Restaurant, 8932 N. Seneca St., Weedsport; satisfactory. Multiple containers of chicken, beef and pork observed to be uncovered and double stacked in walk-in cooler. Bottom of double door preparation cooler is covered in grease and food debris. Floor of walk-in cooler requires cleaning. Shelving in walk-in cooler is noted to be covered in surface rust.
• Tabatha's Restaurant, 264 Genesee St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Community Soup Kitchen, 184 Van Anden St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Burger King #404, 225 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Subway - North Street, 76 North St., Auburn; satisfactory. Sanitizer bay was the center bay of the three-bay sink. The inside of the double-door freezer in back storage room requires cleaning. One microwave and one toaster oven noted not to be in working order, stored in rear storage area of facility. Drain for the third bay of three-bay sink not in working order.
• Daphne's Diner, 15085 State Route 104, Martville; satisfactory. Linoleum in front of walk-in cooler is in disrepair. Laminate top adjacent to sandwich station is no longer smooth and easily cleanable.
• Barb's Diner, 891 Main St., Locke; unsatisfactory. Two plastic bins full of fish fillets and one plastic bin of hamburger patties stored in refrigerator above heads of lettuce used for sandwiches. Items in fridge were reorganized by the operator so that raw products were properly stored on the bottom of the fridge.
• Brenda's Diner, 1951 State Route 31, Port Byron; satisfactory. Multiple pieces of broken non-functioning equipment observed onsite, including a double-door sandwich unit, two microwaves and a fryer. Missing and broken drawer face plates and cup boated doors on the cabinets near the rear dining area. Multiple cooler door handles noted to be broken and in various stages of disrepair.
• O'Toole's Restaurant, 113 Osborne St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Harley's Irish Pub, 149 State St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Sunset Restaurant, 93 N. Division St., Auburn; satisfactory. Walk-in freezer door is in disrepair. Lower hinge is completely broken, door does not open or close. Door handles for the double-door cooler on main cook line are broken. Shelving in walk-in cooler is covered in surface rust.
• C.J.'s Pub & Restaurant, 8902 S. Seneca St., Weedsport; satisfactory. Baffle inside ice machine requires cleaning. Floor in kitchen is no longer smooth and easily cleanable. Linoleum is cracked and torn with holes in it, missing multiple floor tiles.
• Subway/Auntie Anne's, 297 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory (Feb. 5, 2016).
• Chili's Grill & Bar, 1624 Clark St. Road, Auburn; satisfactory. Floor under convection oven requires cleaning due to food debris build up. Missing pieces of corner molding throughout the facility.
• Downtown Deli - Grant Ave., 217 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Spring Garden, 68 Owasco St., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Port Byron Diner, 97 Rochester St., Port Byron; satisfactory. Floor of walk-in freezer requires cleaning due to excessive build-up of food debris. Ceiling in rear storage room noted to have water damage and requires repair. Floor under dish-washing area requires cleaning.
• Wendy's, 218 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory.
• Moe's Southwest Grill, 217 Grant Ave., Auburn; satisfactory. Lacks accurate thermometer in each and every cooler unit. Miscellaneous food debris noted on floor under cook line and in corners of rear preparation area.
