Over 15,000 attendees and visitors, some traveling from as far away as Canada, are expected to converge in Oneida County for the event, which will feature exhibits, educational programs, and hands-on training activities. The expo moves to the Turning Stone for the first time after being held in Lake George, N.Y. for three consecutive years. Previously, the conference and expo was held at the Empire Expo Center in Syracuse for eight years and at The Concord Hotel in the Catskills for 32 years.

“The association and its members are very excited about FIRE 2009 coming to the Turning Stone and Oneida County. And as a member of Oneida County’s fire service, I know that the local fire departments are very excited about the convention coming to our community,” said NYSAFC President William K. Owen, past chief of the Stittville Fire Department.

EXHIBITS – Nearly 300 companies from across the United States and Canada will be exhibiting at FIRE 2009, displaying fire, rescue, and emergency medical services (EMS) apparatus, tools, equipment, and services available to purchase or order. The wide array of industry displays will include fire trucks, ambulances, public safety equipment, the latest firefighting technologies, educational products, and much more. Exhibit hours are Thursday, June 11: 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 12: 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 13: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. A One Day Ticket for entrance to the exhibits can be purchased for $5.00 on-site during exhibit hours. Kids 15 and under can enter the exhibits for free.

HANDS-ON TRAINING – Students registered to participate in the intense Hands-On Training Program will operate in full protective equipment and learn in a realistic fireground environment. Some evolutions will include live fire training led by some of the nation’s leading fire service instructors. The Hands-On Training Program will be conducted on Oneida Nation lands at the site of the former U.S. Air Force installation in Verona, N.Y. on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Various training drills will be conducted simultaneously throughout both days. For safety, the training site is closed to the public.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS – FIRE 2009 will feature education programs presented by nationally renowned emergency services leaders from many major metropolitan fire departments including New York City, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, and Ottawa (Canada). NYSAFC expanded the Conference education program for FIRE 2009, adding one full day (Wednesday) for workshops only. A Conference Full Term Registration pass is required to attend these programs.

Visit www.nysfirechiefs.com for complete event information.

PRESS PASSES – Press Passes for FIRE 2009 can be obtained at the registration area located at the main entrance to the Turning Stone Event Center. Present valid media credentials and sign-in to obtain a FIRE 2009 Press Pass. For safety, the Hands-On Training Program site is closed to the public.

Clip art courtesy of fundraw.com.

We are on the verge of a new era, an epoch shift from the Age of Information to an Age of Transformation. Each of is a co-creator, a carrier of the new consciousness.

Using music, images and poetry, Jan Phillips creates an environment in which we will experience our own wisdom, discover our soul’s mission, and fashion a life that’s true to our purpose and rich with meaning.

In the workshop we will:

·        Connect the dots between creativity, mysticism, and activism

·        Experience the alchemy of transforming our life experience into creations that can heal ourselves and others

·        Discover the meaning of co-creating a culture of compassion

·        Transcend dualities and experience the joy of communion consciousness

Saturday 27 June 2009     9:00am until 4:00pm

Unity Church and Spiritual Center of Syracuse

300 W Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13207

315.492.0330

Cost of the workshop $50 with pre-registration; $60 at the door

Registration includes a copy of Jan’s book, The Art of Original Thinking

Please consider pre-registering by Monday 15 June by calling 315.492.0330

Jan Phillips is a writer, speaker, and national workshop director. She is the author of The Art of Original Thinking-The Making of a Thought Leader, Diving the Body, God Is at Eye Level-Photography As a Healing Art, Marry Your Muse-Making a Lasting Commitment To Your Creativity, and Making Peace: One Woman’s Journey Around the World. She has presented workshops and lectures in over 23 countries and has had her work published in the New York Times, Ms. Magazine, Newsday, Christian Science Monitor, New Age Journal, National Catholic Reporter and Utne Reader. For more information go to: www.janphillips.com

(Syracuse) In May of 1963, President Kennedy declared the first “Senior Citizens Month.” Presently we refer to the month of May as National Older Americans Month, and celebrate the contributions of older adults in our community. Older citizens of today and tomorrow promise to be among the most active and engaged older adult populations in our Nation’s history.

At Menorah Park, a senior living community, in conjunction with National Nursing Home Week we are having a special event called Our Shining Stars, celebrating those who are true stars on our campus. This will be our 5^th annual celebration of Older Americans Month. The event will be a barbeque dinner and awards program on Thursday, May 21^st from 5:30 pm – 8 pm. The event will be held under the tent on the Menorah Park campus and is co-chaired by Steven and Robin Sisskind of Manlius, NY.

We will be presenting awards to several remarkable people who are the “stars” of today. The group of seven was chosen from more than sixty nominations. The winners are: Tiffany Bennett, Certified Home Health Aide at The Inn; Francine Berg, Volunteer at Menorah Park; Hadassah Fendius, Resident of The Oaks; Lottie Groover, Volunteer at Menorah Park; Bernard Martin, Resident of The Inn; Shelley Robinson, CNA at Menorah Park; and Mary Swenson, Rothschild Adult Day Client.

This is the perfect opportunity to bring into the limelight those people who have contributed so much to Menorah Park and the community at large.

If you would like to be a part of this great event please contact the Foundation Office at

446-9111, ext 166.

Menorah Park is a full service continuum of care campus which includes The Jewish Health and Rehabilitation Center, The Oaks, The Sam Pomeranz Assisted Living Residence at The Inn, Ahavath Achim Apartments, Rothschild Adult Day Program and Menorah Park Licensed Home Care Agency.

Since he founded the tournament in 2003, John Madden has seen a steady increase in both participating horses and public attendance.  With a sold out and record-breaking 2008, the show was attended by more than 12,000 patrons, and the economic impact on the region was larger than ever.

In 2008, the Syracuse Invitational hosted the ASPCA Maclay Championship for the fourth year, and added the 125th National Horse Show to its schedule.  These events will all return in 2009, to further enhance the tournament.  The event will also continue to include entertainment, shopping, and exhibitions, along with the best in competition.

The Oncenter Complex, in partnership with the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB), celebrates the official commitment from the tournament management team.

“We are thrilled to confirm that the 7th annual Syracuse Invitational will be held in our facility in 2009, and look forward to seeing this spectacular event returning in 2010 and 2011,” said Terri Toennies, President/CEO of the Oncenter Complex.

The Syracuse Invitational and National Horse Show will run October 28 to November 1, 2009.  Tickets will be available in September.

Pictured: John Madden, Director of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, Inc., shakes hands with Sandra L. Baker, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at the Oncenter Complex, after signing the new contract. They are surrounded by members of the Syracuse Invitational management team (Connie Sawyer, Megan Maloney, Heather Kallas, and Allison Stevens) as well as Oncenter Complex representatives (Danielle Goss, and Linda Natoli).

The Oncenter Complex, a multi-venue exhibition, convention and entertainment facility in Syracuse, N.Y., consists of three sites.  The Complex is centrally located in the Northeast to attract both regional and national events that contribute to the economic and cultural development of Onondaga County.  The Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter is a 99,000-square-foot structure ideal for major conventions, meetings, banquets, consumer shows, trade shows, car shows, exhibitions and corporate awards dinners.  The space includes exhibition halls, a grand ballroom, and breakout meeting rooms.  Next door, the War Memorial Arena at Oncenter has the versatility to accommodate numerous large-scale events, including ice shows, family shows, car shows, concerts, sports events and conventions.  Finally, the John H. Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter is home to three beautiful, distinct theaters that host a diverse variety of events, from stage productions to business meetings.  The Oncenter Complex has received the Inner Circle Award, for being one of the top 15 convention centers in the nation, for ten consecutive years.  For more information, visit www.oncenter.org.

This is the 13th consecutive year in which the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth has scheduled their celebration to coincide with other national Older American’s month events. This year, the theme for Older Americans Month is Living Today for a Better Tomorrow.

The following awards will be presented at the ceremony:

Senior Citizen of the Year – Mr. J. Edward Kaish of Camillus

D.A.Y. Light Youth of the Year – Miss Allorra Allen of Syracuse

Youth Intergenerational Volunteer – Miss Natalie Carr of Syracuse

Adult Volunteer Working with Youth – Mr. Thomas G. Burgess of Jamesville

Adult Volunteer Working with Youth – Mr. Anthony Nocella of Onondaga

Flanders Memorial Caregiver of the Year – Mrs. Christine Balduc of North Syracuse

Senior Services Professional – Mr. David DeFrancis of Syracuse

Outstanding Intergenerational Program – P.E.A.C.E., Inc.’s Eastwood Senior and Teen Taskforce

Professional Youth Worker – Mr. James Czarniak of Syracuse

Media Award – Mr. Chris Iven, The Post Standard

For more information about the Intergenerational Awards Ceremony, please call the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth at 435-2362.