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SUNY Oswego lost electrical power around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Auxiliary generators and emergency lighting kicked on in residence halls across campus seconds later.

It was not immediately clear how widespread the power outage was, but power provider National Grid was not reporting any outages in Central New York as of 3:05 a.m. Wednesday.
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http://www.fajitagrill.com/
By Ken Sturtz
Editor-in-Chief

When Auxiliary Services officials at SUNY Oswego announced plans in 2011 to expand their Plus Plan program to include Fajita Grill as a fourth vendor, student response was overwhelmingly positive.

Despite the success, however, Auxiliary Services has no plans to add a fifth vendor in the near future, said Director of Cash and Catering Operations Stephen McAfee.

“At this point I think we’re in a holding pattern,” McAfee said. “We need to get the details shaken out.”

Plus Plan, also known as Laker Dining Dollars, is a declining balance account useable at dining halls, cash operations across campus and select food vendors in the community. Now in its twelfth year, the Plus Plan program spent its first 10 years with just two vendors, Dominos and Oswego Sub Shop.

Student feedback in part led to Auxiliary Services adding Wonton House to the program two years ago. It had been among a handful of businesses interested in joining the selective program, which can mean substantial extra business from students. Despite the addition, students clamored to have another food vendor added to the program.

More than 65 percent of students specifically requested Fajita Grill be added to the program in a Student Association survey conducted last year, in which more than 600 students were polled.

“We had been trying for almost three years to get Fajita Grill on, but they didn’t want to be in the delivery business until 1 a.m. in the morning,” McAfee said.

One of the program’s stipulations is that Plus Plan vendors must offer late night food services. McAfee estimates more than 60 percent of Plus Plan orders are placed after midnight and around 80 percent of transactions take place after 10:30 p.m.

“They realized that they had some challenges with their program and their type of product doesn’t necessarily work well with online ordering,” McAfee said.

Instead of traditional online ordering, the restaurant compromised. It would accept Laker Dining Dollars on Plus Plan, but students would have to walk in, place their orders in person and swipe their ID cards. 

After working out some unexpected technical issues, Auxiliary Services coordinated with the new vendor for a soft opening in October 2011.

McAfee emailed Auxiliary Services roughly 600 student employees about the addition. To his surprise just minutes later, a student he was meeting with asked McAfee if it was true Fajita Grill was being added to Plus Plan. McAfee marveled at the reaction from students and how quickly word spread.

The first night Fajita Grill had the Plus Plan system working, about 30 students were waiting in line outside Fajita Grill at 5 p.m. to use their Laker Dining Dollars.

After two consecutive years of adding new vendors to the Plus Plan program, McAfee said his office is still catching up and ironing out the bugs. Not having to deal with bringing another vendor online this year will give Auxiliary Services time to assess the state of the program, he said.
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On Jan. 24, at 7:09 a.m., Mary S. McClemons, 50, of 110 county Route 51A, was arrested for speed in zone and aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree (license suspended on Oct. 31, 2011 for failure to pay a fine in the Village of Pulaski and on Jan. 4 for failure to answer a summons in the Town of Hastings), following a traffic stop on state Route 104 in the Town of Scriba. McClemons was issued tickets returnable to Scriba Town Court Feb. 9. 

On Jan. 24, at 3:34 p.m., Kimberly A. Town, 25, of 2284 county Route 37, West Monroe, was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and harassment in the second degree, after she was accused of grabbing the hood of a male victim and choking him with it while he was holding a child. Town was issued an appearance ticket returnable to West Monroe Town Court Feb. 13

On Jan. 26, Lucas L. Jacobson, 23, of 4596 state Route 49, Fulton, was operating a 2005 Bombedier snowmobile southbound in a field approximately 100 feet east of Prior Road in the Town of Schroeppel at 2:45 a.m. when he reportedly hit a snow bank causing the machine to become airborne crashing through a tree. The snowmobile struck the ground and both driver and passenger were ejected. The passenger, Thomas C. Kennedy, Jr., 25, was transported by ambulance to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

On Jan. 26, at 5:58 p.m., Richard A. Bushnell, 49, of 399 US Route 11, Apt. 5, Central Square, was issued a criminal summons out of Hastings Town Court charging him with harassment in the second degree stemming from an incident on Jan. 2 at a residence in the Town of Hastings when he allegedly grabbed the victim's leg and twisted it, causing pain. Bushnell is scheduled to appear in Hastings Town Court Feb. 6.

On Jan. 26, at 4:29 p.m., Margaret S. Ericksen, 51, of P.O. Box 91, New Haven, was operating a 2002 Ford backing out of a driveway at 12 Booth Road in the Town of New Haven onto state Route 104 and reportedly collided with a 2003 Dodge suburban that was traveling west bound on state Route 104. Ericksen was issued a ticket for unsafe backing.

On Jan. 27, at 3:38 a.m., Seth R. Peterson, 22, of 184 West Stone Road, Mexico, was arrested for felony driving while intoxicated, refusal to take a breath test, consuming an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, crossing hazardous road markings, and unlawful possession of marijuana, following a vehicle complaint that found Peterson behind the wheel of his vehicle and under the influence of alcohol in a ditch off West Stone Road. Peterson was arraigned in New Haven Town Court and remanded to the Oswego County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bail bond. He is scheduled to return to court Feb. 2.

On Jan. 27, at 6:57 a.m., Andrew A. Smiley, 46, of 302 Hannibal St., Fulton, was operating a 2002 Chevrolet northbound on state Route 48 in the Town of Granby when he lost control 1/10 of a mile north of Wildwinds Drive. The vehicle exited the west side of the roadway and struck a driveway embankment, glanced off a parked 2003 Ford suburban, then struck a parked 2004 Chevrolet suburban before coming to rest on the west side of the roadway. Both parked vehicles were facing west at the time of the incident. Falling asleep and failure to keep right appears to have been contributing factors in the incident. Smiley was ticketed for unregistered motor vehicle.

On Jan. 27, at 10:41 a.m., Robert T. Williams, 34, of 65 Beech Road, Altmar, was arrested based on an arrest warrant held by the Syracuse Police Department, charging him with failure to register an address change, a violation of the Sex Offender Registry under Corrections Law. Williams was turned over to a member of the Syracuse Police Department for further processing.

On Jan. 27, at 2:30 p.m., Rance O. Michaels, Sr., 46, of 1816 US Route 11, Hastings, was arrested for disorderly conduct stemming from an incident that occurred during an interview at the Oswego County Department of Social Services building in Mexico during which he reportedly became upset and threatened to kill the President of the United States. Michaels was released on an appearance ticket returnable to Mexico Town Court.

On Jan. 27, at 2:32 p.m., Sarah L. Jaczynski, 25, of 9292 Capron Road, Lee Center, was arrested based on a bench warrant issued by Amboy Town Court for failing to appear as ordered in the on Nov. 15, 2011. Jaczynski was arraigned in Parish Town Court and remanded to the Oswego County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash bail or $2,500 bail bond. She is scheduled to appear in Amboy Town Court Feb. 14.

On Jan. 27, at 9:13 a.m., Alexander W. Evans, 34, of 95 Whitcomb Road, Fulton, arrested for aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree (license suspended twice on Sept. 2, 2011 for failure to answer a summons in the City of Fulton), and no/inadequate headlights, following a traffic stop on state Route 481 in the Town of Schroeppel after he was observed with only one illuminated headlight while driving northbound. Evans was issued tickets and released to a third party. He is scheduled to appear in Schroeppel Town Court Feb. 7.

On Jan. 27, at 4:32 p.m., Edith Linstruth, 60, of 101 Sauter Road., Central Square, was operating a 2001 Mercury when she reportedly backed out of a parking lot off Cornell Road and struck a parked, unoccupied 2010 Hyundai. Linstruth is reported to have left the scene of the incident. She was issued a ticket for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

On Jan. 27, at 4:44 p.m., Brandie M. Hudson, 25, of 128 Cole Road, Fulton, was operating a 2004 Ford pickup truck eastbound on Cole Road in the Town of Granby when she reportedly failed to yield to a southbound 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck. Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Syracuse hospitals. 

On Jan. 27, at 7:17 p.m., Ty J. Sweeting, 18, of 285 W. Eighth St., was operating a 2002 Chrysler northbound in the parking lot of 7096 state Route 104 in the Town of Oswego when he reportedly failed to put the vehicle in park before exiting, causing it to roll into a parked, unoccupied 2005 Chevrolet. Sweeting was issued a ticket for unattended vehicle/engine running.

On Jan. 28, at 5:45 a.m., Connie R. Ingoldby, 43, of 263 Bankrupt Road, Phoenix, was arrested for driving while intoxicated stemming from a personal injury motor vehicle accident that occurred on Oswego River Road in the Town of Schroeppel. Reportedly, Ingoldby was operating a 1999 Ford northbound when it traveled off the east side of the roadway, struck a driveway culvert at 380 Oswego River Road, then became airborne over the culvert before coming to rest in a ditch approximately 20 yards north of the culvert. She was subsequently transported by ambulance to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Ingoldby was released on a ticket returnable to Schroeppel Town Court on Feb. 22. The incident remains under investigation at this time.

On Jan. 29, at 1:59 a.m., Nicholas J. Kinney, 28, of 25 Maple Ave., Lacona, was arrested for assault in the third degree, and criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, both class A misdemeanors, stemming from an incident that occurred at another Lacona residence during which he allegedly caused physical injury to a female victim, accused of throwing the victim to the floor inside the residence, grabbing her by the neck, throwing the victim outside into the snow, continuously knocking her to the ground, and placing his hands around her throat while kneeling on her. Kinney was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Sandy Creek Town Court Feb. 9.

On Jan. 30, at 6:29 a.m., Michael J. Burns, 55, of 199 county Route 23, Constantia, was operating a 2003 Chevrolet west on state Route 49 in the Village of Central Square, 1/10 mile east of county Route 12, attempting to make it up a hill when the vehicle reportedly started sliding and collided with a 2003 Chevrolet pickup that was traveling east on state Route 49, as it slid sideways. Burns was transported by ambulance to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Slippery road conditions seem to have been a contributing factor as it was snowing at the time. 

On Jan. 31, at 1:44 p.m., Joey C. Chrisjohn, 41, of 299 W. Fifth St., Oswego, was operating a 1999 Pontiac van south on state Route 48 in the Town of Minetto, 500 feet south of Gray Road, and reportedly swerved to avoid a 2011 Ford pickup which had slowed to make a right hand turn causing the vehicle to strike a mailbox then side swipe the other driver’s vehicle. Chrisjohn was issued a ticket for following too closely.

On Jan. 31, at 9:06 a.m., Dean J. Pieropan Jr., 23, of 453 Middle Road, was arrested for criminal obstruction of breathing, a class A misdemeanor and menacing in the third degree, a misdemeanor, following an incident at a Town of Scriba residence where he allegedly punched and kicked the victim in the face then placed both hands around the victim's neck and attempted to stab them with a knife. Pieropan was arraigned in Scriba Town Court and remanded to the Oswego County Justice Center in lieu of $250.00 cash or $500.00 bond. He is scheduled to return to court Feb. 9.

On Jan. 31, at 11:47 p.m., Michael J. Dineen, 53, of Doris Park Drive, Bldg. 126, Constantia, was arrested for DWI; operating a motor vehicle with a BAC .08 of 1%; failure to keep right and failure to dim lights following a traffic stop on state Route 49 in the Town of Constantia after police observed his 2006 Chevrolet pickup cross the center line multiple times. Dineen was issued tickets, returnable to Constantia Town Court Feb. 13.

On Feb 1., at 7 p.m., Tamara L. Thayer, 35, of 2751 state Route 104, Mexico, was arrested for AUO in the third degree (suspended due to insurance lapse) and no head lights following a traffic stop on Main Street in the Village of Mexico. Thayer was issued tickets returnable to Mexico Town Court Feb 21.

On Feb. 1, at 10:28 a.m., Roger W. Wallace, 59, of 39 Birch Lane, Bldg. 42, Apt. A, Oswego, was arrested for AUO in the second degree (suspended Nov. 17, 2011 due to pending DWI prosecution) and license plate violation following a traffic stop on state Route 481 southbound. Wallace issued appearance tickets returnable Volney Town Court Feb. 27.

On Feb. 1, at 2:39 p.m., L D Ferriter Jr., 36, of 1993 county Route 8, Oswego, was operating a 2010 Mazda west on county Route 3 in the Town of Granby when he attempted to turn into a driveway and collided with a 2004 GMC pickup that was traveling east on county Route 3. Ferriter was issued a ticket for failure to yield the right of way.

On Feb. 2, at 8:34 a.m., Rebecca L. Goodman, 35, of 1229 county Route 3, Hannibal, was arrested for AUO in the third degree and failure to yield the right of way following the investigation into a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of county Route 8 and county Route 3 in the Town of Granby after the 1998 Dodge she was operating collided with a 2010 Subaru. Goodman was issued tickets returnable to Granby Town Court Feb. 20.

On Feb. 2, at 8:05 p.m., Gary D. Pinto, 31, of 148 Cayuga St., was arrested for registration suspended (suspended on Jan. 1 for insurance lapse) and insufficient tail lamps following a traffic stop on state Route 48 in the Town of Granby. Pinto was issued tickets returnable to Granby Town Court Feb. 20.
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Seen here in 1890, City Hall has been the heart of Oswego city government for more than a century. Oswegony.org
_By Ken Sturtz
Editor-in-Chief

When Republican William “Dave” White declared his candidacy for Oswego mayor in June, he vowed to focus on quality of life issues and reclaim the mayor’s office from city Democrats.

However, White lost to Mayor Tom Gillen in November by more than 1,000 votes, while outspending Gillen five to one during the election, financial disclosure records show.

‘Friends of Dave White’ raised nearly $20,000 during 2011 through individual, group and corporate donations. ‘Friends of Tom Gillen’ raised roughly $7,700 during the same period.

The amount of money actually spent on the election was heavily weighted in White’s favor. White’s campaign spent more than $20,000, or about $14 for each vote he received. Gillen’s campaign spent around $4,400, or about $2 for each vote in his favor.

The disparity in spending became noticeable early in the race when lawn signs sporting White’s “It’s About the People” slogan began appearing across town. The signs eventually blanketed the seven and a half square-mile city of Oswego, overtaking Gillen’s “Believe” signs that dotted yards.

The lawn signs only told part of the story. Republicans sought to win back the mayor’s office in Oswego, one of the few key political offices in county and city government not held by one of their own.

In Oswego County, Republican voters outnumber Democrats by more than 15,000 and the GOP firmly controls the Legislature. The city of Oswego, however, is more balanced. There are 9,537 registered voters in the city, of which 3,336 are Democrats and 3,388 are Republicans. 2,813 voters make up other parties.

Gillen handily beat White 2,588 votes to 1,409 in the 2011 mayoral election.

With the new Common Council split between two Democrats and five Republicans, the mayor’s office became crucial. It had been under Republican leadership since 2000 in the form of former mayor John Gosek. However, Gosek resigned in 2005 in the wake of numerous scandals.

Those scandals served to win then acting mayor Randy Bateman to a full term as mayor in 2006. After Bateman declined to run for a second full term, Republicans were presented with a window of opportunity to find a suitable candidate for mayor.

The combination of a balanced number of city voters, not so distant memories of Republican scandal and a relatively successful Democrat mayor forced the GOP to assemble tremendous resources for the campaign.

Those resources came in the form of $500 from the Oswego City Republican Committee and $850 from the Oswego County Republican Committee. The Republican Committee gave White more money than any other Republican running for office outside the Legislature.

Democrats spent far less on the election. Gillen received no money from the Oswego City Democratic Committee and a mere $300 from the Oswego County Democratic Committee.

More than half the money White’s campaign spent was paid to Mitchell’s Speedway Press, in Oswego, for print campaign materials. Gillen’s campaign spent about half its money with Blue and Read, of Troy, for campaign literature.

Neither candidate purchased radio or television advertisements, instead focusing mainly on traditional media. White shelled out more than $1,200 for ads during the campaign to The Palladium-Times, Oswego County Weeklies and Oswego County Today. Gillen spent just $390 on ads with The Palladium-Times.

White’s spending wasn’t limited to campaign materials and ads. He spent money on a racecar sponsorship and website development. Gillen’s expenses included a fundraiser at Tamarack Golf Course and money to reserve a room at Vona’s Restaurant for election night. The Oswego City Democratic Committee picked up the bill for food and drinks.

The contributor list for White’s campaign fund reads as a who’s who of Oswego County Republicans. Among the expansive list of donors are many prominent Republican politicians and businessmen, who helped finance White’s run for mayor. Gillen’s much shorter list of contributors includes a small number of influential local Democrats and businessmen.

Gillen and White each received significant contributions from local labor and corporations.

Both candidates also contributed to their own campaign funds. White and his wife Sandra gave more than $2,000, most of which was added after the election to bring White’s campaign fund in the black. Gillen and his wife contributed about $300 at the beginning of the campaign.

Gillen, 62, of Varick Street, is a 1972 alumnus of SUNY Oswego, has lived in the city of Oswego his whole life and never held public office before. White, 72, of Montcalm Street, served on the Oswego School Board for six years, was Oswego Town supervisor for 14 years and lived in the town of Oswego 37 years before returning to the city a few years ago.
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