WAER 88.3 News | NPR from Central New York

People who participate in this year’s Women’s March are honoring more than the call for equality and justice. The expected thousands that go to Seneca Falls this weekend are also commemorating the 100 th anniversary of women’s suffrage, as well as a significant milestone for the Equal Rights Amendment.

This weekend faith communities in Syracuse are being asked to emphasize the power of being invested in a students’ education by taking active roles as family members or as a mentor. The first Interfaith Education Weekend runs Friday through Sunday and stresses parental involvement as a key to success at school and in life.

America’s History as well as Syracuse University’s history starts to get busy in the middle of the century. It's during this time that SU strengthens its relationship with veterans, accepting nearly 7,000 soliders under the G.I. Bill after World War II. This doubled enrollment at the school, so Syracuse hired more faculty and expanded academic programming.

Don’t let the mild temperatures and lack of snow in your backyard fool you…Central New York ski resort operators say it’s a great time to hit the slopes. Holiday break is a critical time of year for the resorts.

Two Central New York properties were recently nominated to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. WAER News decided to dig a little deeper and find out what makes them historially significant. A PIEMAKER'S DELIGHT A Syracuse company known worldwide for its canned fruit and vegetables in the late 19 th and into much of the 20 th centuries might be long forgotten by many residents. But the nomination of the former Merrell-Soule mincemeat factory in Franklin Square to the State and National Registers of Historic Places might bring back some memories. Curator of Museum Object Collection at the Onondaga Historical Association Tom Hunter says Lewis Merrell and Oscar Soule’s claim to fame was their None Such Mincemeat… "In the 1880's, they developed a process to reduce the moisture content in traditional mincemeat, which originally included bits of meat and candied fruit. But today we know really know mincemeat more as candied fruit." Hunter says much to the delight of bakers,

Resettlement agencies in Syracuse continue to adjust to the significant drop in refugees nearly three years after president Trump’s executive orders severely restricted the number allowed to enter the U.S. In part one of this story, we learn about the most recent order that adds another layer to the process. Before president Trump took office, the U.S. typically welcomed upwards of 80,000 refugees every year, more than 1,000 of which settled in the Syracuse area. President and CEO of Interfaith Works Beth Broadway says this year, the president set that number at 18,000. That means only about 200 will end up here during the October to September fiscal year. “We did have a lot of families that did come over the last period of time out of the many different wars in the Middle East, the Congo, and parts of Africa. They will not be the families that will be coming. So, the reunification of families will not be allowed during this particular year. That’s a very, very difficult thing for our

He arrived by Fed Ex cargo plane from Colorado. He weighs 450 pounds and likes the smell of Prada perfume and fresh brewed coffee. And he’s the newest addition to the Rosamond Gifford zoo. WAER was one of the only media outlets on hand for Monday's introduction of Thimbu the Amur Tiger . Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon tried to round up children to get a better look. "Come on up, come on kids, come on up, " he said. "Oh, here he comes," one visitor said. "Here is is. Oh my goodness. Wow!" The crowd admired the new tiger as he slowly emerged into his new home. "He probably smells the scent of the past tigers that were in here," said Zoo Director Ted Fox. "So he's a little uncertain about whether he should be in this territory or not. Once he figures out its his, he'll be a lot more comfortable." Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon attended the event. "Obviously we were very, very sad when we lost our tiger earlier this year in the fall," said McMahon. "So this is great that

The president and CEO of Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is looking back at her 13 years with the non-profit with pride as she prepares to retire next month. Janet Agostini says the organization was $2 million in debt when she took the position in 2006. She says it was paid off 12 years early. " We're very healthy financially. We end most years each year with an operating surplus, which we're very proud of. We have very healthy earned revenue streams from our gift shop and other sources, then a good fundraising effort. We're in a strong position, and I think it's really important to maintain that in order to support a zoo of this caliber." The Friends of the Zoo is the non-profit arm of the zoo that runs the business and education operations, including the gift shop and Jungle Cafe. Those efforts have raised $30 million during her tenure, some of which goes toward new exhibits. Onondaga County owns the zoo and employs much of its staff. Agostini says the partnership is typical

A progressive Downtown Syracuse Church established by a group of Christian abolitionists in the 1850's has its first African American Pastor. Plymouth Congregational Church has a nearly 170 year history of fighting against slavery, poverty, and war.

Syracuse-area residents will gather at a church this Sunday for more than worship. It’s the second in a three-part discussion about 400 years of inequality in Syracuse and across the nation.

This episode of Her Hilltop High starts right before the United States enters World War I. Football and basketball are established sports on campus. But in 1916, SUNY ESF students introduce a new game to Syracuse University students: Lacrosse.

The holidays are upon us in Syracuse and this weekend an event aims to get shoppers and families to Downtown Syracuse. The third annual “Holidays in the City” on Saturday is filled with activities, contests and decorations to entice people to experience what the city offers this time of year. Downtown Committee Executive Director, Merike Treier, says there’s a list of events and exhibits families can expect throughout Saturday’s festivities. “At 5 pm this Saturday there’s a light up Hanover Square moment where you’ll have the holiday lights out you have that special holiday feeling, but also there is a special performance at St Paul’s Cathedral . The OHA has their exhibit that will be open. Art Mart and Shopping happens on Salina Street as well as the gingerbread gallery at the Erie Canal Museum , and some family friendly activities at the central library.” Years ago, Downtown Syracuse was the place for holiday shopping and gathering before large malls were built. But with the addition

Many Central New Yorkers will be among the 85,000 people in the state affected by the Trump Administration’s recent decision to cut SNAP benefits for low-income residents. Changes to the federal food assistance program include limiting the number of exemptions for applicants who cannot meet the program’s work requirements, leaving many without aid.

An on-the-job apprenticeship training program is about to launch to fill the gaps for a lack of qualified talent in Central New York for machinists and toolmakers. Onondaga Community College is partnering with two local companies to offer the free on the job training.

The Sikh Temple, Gobind Sadan, in Central Square remembered the 18 th Anniversary of being burned down shortly after the September 11 th terrorist attacks. WAER’s Dignelly Torres reports the message of their weekend celebration was forgiveness. “Gathering Around the Light” remembered the arson attack back in November 23, 2001. The Sikh Temple was set on fire by three teenagers. They mistakenly related them to the 9/11 attacks. Founding member of Gobind Sadan Ralph Singh says forgiveness helped transformed the lives of the kids. “When these kids, out of ignorance, post 9/11 the hatred whipped up, they thought that we were followers of (Osama) bin Laden.” In addition, the Sikh community celebrated the 550 th Anniversary of the founder of the Sikh, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The weekend event started with a tour. The people who attended visited the Meditation Center next to the Sikh temple. Sacred music played and a meal was served to people. Arnold Hook says it was his first time in Gobind Sadan

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud sent a message to the university community Monday with an update on the work they're trying to accomplish toward campus safety when students return from Thanksgiving Break.

A range of businesses that call Syracuse and Central New York home will come together Monday to try and convince people to spend their money locally. The 10 th Buy Local Bash and has spent the last decade trying to support local buisnesses.

There’s encouraging news from this year’s state of homelessness report. Megan Stuart is director of the Housing and Homeless Coalition of Central New York.

People visiting the S-U campus during the Basketball game Saturday Night can make a positive impact. A silent auction inside The Dome during the game will raise funds for Make-A-Wish Central New York . Caroline Johnson is a member of SU’s Sport Management Club that puts on the auction and selected this year’s benefactor. “The way they show this is us making a difference for these children and we just loved the smiles we saw and the happiness and the change and the hope. The way that they just influe3nce all these lives and the lives of the families around us is amazing.” The more than 500 items include sports collectables, such as a Derek Jeter autographed baseball and another by Joe DiMaggio; Yankees, Mets and Nets tickets; items autographed by Jim Boeheim and Jerry McNamara; trips, tickets to events and jewelry. People bid on the items in a silent auction before and during the first half of the game. Johnson has been committed to the event for her entire time at SU, as has co-chair

Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud Friday paid an hour-long visit to students holding a silent sit-in protest of repeated incidents of racist graffiti found in and around campus. At least 200 students packed in a long hallway of the Barnes center to ask him questions and demand answers. Freshman Vanessa Giraldo says the administration can improve communication of such incidents to students. “When the whole incident happened last week in Day Hall, they didn’t give us any acknowledgement of it until a week later when everybody already knew about it. They told everybody in Day Hall to stay quiet and to keep it to themselves because they don’t want controversy, but I feel like they have to be responsible and have to take ownership of what happened.” For his part, Syverud told the students he, too, is concerned about the delay in reporting the first graffiti incident, and that their activism has made it clear that they could do a better job. “While there may need to be some delay