Chestnuts Aren't the Only Things that Could 'Roast' This Season

Christine Pitawanich / NCC News

12/8/2009

Syracuse, NY – It’s that time of year again and people are starting to gear up for the holiday season. For many people this means buying a Christmas tree…but not just any tree, a fresh-cut tree.

A Trip to the Farm

At Critz Farms in Cazenovia, families trudged through a Christmas tree field, hoping to find and cut down their own perfect Christmas tree. For people like Denis Branson, a resident of Fayetteville, this year isn’t any different than years past.

“Oh, it’s an annual tradition,” said Branson. “We like doing fresh trees, because that way they stay fresh for a long time,” he said.

Dry Christmas Trees Can Kill

Though cutting down his own Christmas tree is all part of the holiday spirit, Branson acknowledges the risks involved with having a real tree.

“When I was a kid, […] one year two people that my father knew were killed in a Christmas tree fire,” Branson said. After that, his father bought fake trees.

And killer Christmas tree fires are exactly what Captain Tom Erwin of the Syracuse Fire Department hopes to keep at bay. Though Syracuse hasn’t seen a devastating Christmas tree fire in the last two years, Erwin said, it’s important not to get complacent.

“[People] don’t understand the power of a fire as a whole and they certainly don’t understand the power of a fire this time of year in a dried Christmas tree,” said Erwin. “I think it’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays,” he concluded.

Being Safe This Season

Erwin suggests keeping the tree watered, because if it gets dry, a festive holiday could quickly take a turn for the worst.

“When they’re fresh cut, they tend to […] withstand a little bit of spark before it turns into an inferno,” said Erwin. “It literally takes only 30 seconds or less,” he added.

Erwin also says that using thicker wired Christmas lights and plugging them into a heavy duty surge protector will lessen the risk of a fire.

Fire Risk Shouldn’t Dampen Holiday Cheer

Back at Critz Farms, Branson isn't letting the potential danger ruin his holiday fun. He now keeps an extinguisher nearby and takes steps to make sure his Christmas stays safe.

If you ask Branson, it’s all about good judgment: “ It just takes common sense. Life is not without risk; and as long as you manage risk, the smell and the season, and the enjoyment of hunting for the tree is worth it.”

A Christmas tree fire Public Service Announcement from the National Institute of Standards and Technology:

The First Ever Annual Shop Syracuse Week Hopes to Encourage Buying Local

Christine Pitawanich / NCC News

12/1/2009

Syracuse, N.Y. - The first annual Shop Syracuse Week is underway and many local business owners are excited. Shop Syracuse started on Friday last week and ends on Sunday. Syracuse First, a non-profit organization which started this past summer, is behind the effort to encourage holiday shoppers to buy local so money can stay in Syracuse.

Good for the Community

Shop Syracuse Week’s Organizer, Chris Fowler, said money is better spent locally where it can be re-invested into the community.

“When you spend money at a locally owned business, almost twice as much money is re-circulated in the community,” said Fowler.

To better illustrate it, Fowler said that for every $100 spent at a local business, more than $70 stays in the community. This is in contrast to $40 when spending the same amount of money at a national chain.

“You don’t have to completely change the way you do things,” Fowler insisted. “But instead of going to Starbucks ten times, try Sparky Town, [or] try another local coffee shop,” concluded Fowler.

Shop Syracuse Week Good for Small Business Owners

Sparky Town, a coffee shop and restaurant on Burnet Avenue in Syracuse, is dedicated to supporting local businesses. In addition to serving food and coffee, they sell locally made crafts, decorations and paintings. Owner of Sparky Town, Linda “Sparky” Mortimer, says she’s seen a boost in sales since Shop Syracuse Week began.

“More people are coming in [and] more people are finding out about us. I think there’s a genuine interest here for people to shop locally,” Mortimer said.

A short distance away in Armory Square, Owner of Eva’s Boutique, Eva Higgins, is excited and feels that the community should know that money spent in the city, stays in the city.

“I think it’s good that they know the money will stay in our economy, you know, make Syracuse a stronger place. Economically we need this boost,” said Higgins.

And according to Higgins, the possible rise in sales is much needed.

“We really do need help here in the retail world. The small boutiques, we’re not like the big department stores,” Higgins said. She continued, “We don’t make a ton of money. We’re locally owned and we just make enough to make a living,” she finished.

Shop Local? Or Not to Shop Local? That is the Question

Some, like Danny McNally, say they already shop at local businesses.

“I love the personal touch,” said McNally. “[And] I want to make sure to maintain the vitality of our city center.”

While others, like Christina Stasko, thinks shopping locally is more expensive.

"If they had better deals I would definitely think about shopping at one of the local shops," said Stasko.

But Shop Syracuse business owners say it's not all about the cost.

"You have nothing to lose and everything to gain and you get that personalized intimate service that you may not get in a bigger store," Mortimer said.

Free Fitness for Kids in Need

Christine Pitawanich / NCC News

11/17/2009

Syracuse, N.Y. - With the New York State child obesity rates higher than 30%, it’s no wonder why Syracuse has started “Fit Club,” a free-of-charge after school fitness program where kids will do aerobic activity, strength-building exercises, and learn about nutrition.

The Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department and Strength In Motion, a sports training center, teamed up to offer kids a place to be active. Funding for the program came from government grant money that is geared towards promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Giving Back

The pilot program started just last Friday at McChesney Park and will continue twice a week (Wednesdays and Fridays) for the next six weeks.

Corey Parker, the owner of Strength In Motion as well as the Program Director, said his company doesn’t receive any money for coaching the kids, but that’s okay.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do,” said Parker. “Working with the inner city kids…I feel like it’s giving something back,” he said.

According to Parker, the kids are getting much needed exercise, but it’s still not enough.

“We need to make sure we’re doing something that’s making them active on the days they’re not doing that 60-minute program. Two days out of seven is not going to have the results that you want,” said Parker.

The kids are fortunate to get personal training for free. Parker said normally, it would cost $15 per hour at the Strength In Motion Training Center for the same services.

A Safe Place is the Key

SU Diet and Nutrition Professor, Lynn Brann, thinks that anything that can get kids active in a safe environment is a benefit. She said many times, it’s the child’s environment that makes it hard to live a healthy lifestyle.

“Do they have a park? Do they have sidewalks? [It’s] their physical environment that’s either lending or not lending to their being physically active,” said Brann. “There are a lot of barriers that kids could encounter, if for example their parents are working, and they go home after school and their safe place is to be at home in front of the TV or playing a video game, then they’re not getting that opportunity [to be active],” she continued.

And according to neighborhoodscout.com, in Syracuse where the crime rate is about 50% higher than the state average, the opportunities for kids to be play in safe places can be hard to find.