Northside Urban Partnership

“Syracuse First” wants you to celebrate our city’s local businesses this Holiday Season.  That’s why they’re sponsoring the first ever “Shop Syracuse Week,” which will kick off on November 27 (the biggest shopping day of the year), and run through December 6.

Consumers are beginning to recognize the importance of local businesses.  They are trading the impersonal national chains for the unique atmosphere and selection of the neighborhood shop. More than that, however, by shopping locally they are keeping their money in the community and not sending it to some corporate headquarters far away. In fact, when we spend our money at a locally-owned establishment, 73 cents of every dollar is re-circulated in our economy, as opposed to the meager 43 cents  that we see when we spend at a chain.  Syracuse First is really working to get people to examine their spending habits. Imagine what might happen if you shopped locally just a little bit of the time. “A 10 percent shift in market share from national to local businesses would result in $130 million staying right here in the Greater Syracuse area,” says Chris. “That’s a significant amount of money being re-circulated to support our community.”

For more information on Shop Syracuse Week check out the following link: www.shopsyracuseweek.com

Northside Businesses Participating in Shop Syracuse Week:

CabFab           

124 Burnet Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13202
cabfab.com

Cooperative Federal Credit Union
800 N. Salina St.

Syracuse, NY 13208

473-0280

Craft Chemistry
745 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
http://craftchemistry.com/

Davco Performance Automotive
102 Catawba St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
davcoperformance.com

DiLauro’s Bakery
502 E. Division St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
471-0509
http://www.dilaurosbakeryandpizza.com/

Freedom of Espresso
424 Pearl St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
472-0705

Hairanoia
101 Green St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
479-8255

Jacobsen’s Oriental Rugs
401 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
jacobsenrugs.com

The Lavender Inkwell
304 N. McBride St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
lavenderinkwell.com

North Salina Car Wash
1600 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
475-1610

Posterworks @ ArtRage
505 Hawley Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13203
artragegallery.org

Ra-Lin
625 Burnet Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13203
ralins.com

Riley’s Restaurant
312 Park St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
471-7111

Rocky’s News & Cigar
447 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
rockyscigars.com

Sparky Town
324 Burnet Ave.

Syracuse, NY 1320
sparkytown.net

The Speach Family Candy Shoppe
2400 LOdi St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
speachfamilycandy.com

Sugar Pearl
600 Burnet Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13202
sugarpearl.org

Syracuse Cultural Workers
400 Lodi St.
Syracuse, N Y 13202
syracuseculturalworkers.com

Thanos Import Market
330 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
422-4085

Vinomania
313 Willow St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
315-422-8466

Things are looking up in Syracuse these days. The Indian electric-car company, Reva, announced its plans to relocate to Onondaga County, and this week, representatives of both the county and the Onondaga Nation announced plans to continue cleaning up the lake using innovative, green technologies.This video explains in greater detail how both the county and the tribe plan to do so, and more information can be found in Tim Knauss’s Post-Standard article, available here. Such environmental improvements ultimately affect all of us on our Northside and beyond.

The arrival of the holiday season signals the approach of another Syracuse institution – snow. Whether you embrace it, tolerate it, or despise it, the upcoming season will bring with it the need to address, on average, 115 inches of the white stuff. As property owners across the city can attest, it is not always easy to find places to remove it. However, this year business owners along Northside business corridors might consider an alternate approach when shoveling their sidewalks so patrons can reach their establishments with ease.

Is your business located next to a property that rarely, if ever, shovels the walk? Maybe the storefront is vacant and the property owner is avoiding their snow removal responsibilities. Or maybe they do a great job shoveling but you constantly hear complaints about how much time it takes. Well, this season, consider approaching your neighboring business owners and pooling your properties together to secure a contract with a local snow removal company. It is likely that the company would give you a better deal if they know that the entire block is going to pay in one lump sum and not require a piecemeal approach. It keeps their contracts simple and your sidewalks clean. Your customers will appreciate it too because they won’t have to trudge through a hodgepodge of cleared, somewhat cleared, and uncleared sidewalks to reach your business.

Image courtesy of www.locallygrownnorthfield.org

Shop Local. Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local. This is the tag line for Syracuse First (www.syracusefirst.org), a non-profit organization working to promote locally owned and independent businesses while also increasing consumer awareness about the value of shopping at these establishments instead of national chains. It is part of the growing local first movement comprised of over 50 similar organizations across the country. Founder Chris Fowler has worked tirelessly, engaging countless Syracuse area business owners. The result of this effort is he now has more than 65 member businesses in less than a year, a number of which call the Northside home.

Many small business owners recognize the value of shopping local – it is required for them to keep their doors open. Consumers are beginning to recognize the importance of local businesses too. They are trading the impersonal homogenous atmosphere of national chains for the friendly smile and unique selection of the neighborhood shop. This is one of Syracuse First’s primary goals – to get people to examine their spending habits and think more local. It doesn’t even have to be all the time. “A 10 percent shift in market share from national to local businesses would result in $130 million staying right here in the Greater Syracuse area,” says Chris. “That’s a significant amount of money being re-circulated to support our community.”

Syracuse First has hosted a number of events throughout 2009 designed to promote local businesses while increasing consumer awareness. The latest, Shop Syracuse week, will kick off on November 27, the biggest shopping day of the year, and run through December 6. Look in the Syracuse New Times, CNY Latino, Daily Orange and other local media outlets as well as the Shop Syracuse Week website (www.shopsyracuseweek.com) for a list of participating businesses. Some businesses will be offering specials or hosting an event to showcase their products or services. Facebook and Twitter are also being used to promote the event as well as other Syracuse First activities like new members.

If you are a locally owned and independent business and would like to learn more about or become a member of Syracuse First, please contact Chris Fowler at chris@syracusefirst.org.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center will host free informational sessions in November.

“Bothered by Hip and Knee Pain?” will be presented on Wednesday, November 18, at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, located at 301 Prospect Avenue in Syracuse. The seminar will take place in the conference room L-100A off main lobby. A board-certified orthopedic surgeon will explain what causes joint pain, discuss treatment alternatives and rehabilitation options. Free parking is available in the Medical Office Centre garage. Light refreshments will be served.

“Diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease?” will be presented on Wednesday, December 2, at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, located at 301 Prospect Avenue in Syracuse. The seminar will take place in the conference room L-100A off main lobby. Talk with a board-certified cardiac surgeon, and learn more about the latest surgical options. Free parking is available in the Medical Office Centre garage. Light refreshments will be served.

To register for the sessions, call St. Joseph’s at 315-703-2138.

This Saturday, November 7, Craft Chemistry will open its doors at 745 North Salina Street (next to Biscotti’s Cafe) to become the newest business to join the Northside. Proprieter Briana Kohlbrenner will bring a diverse selection of locally produced art to the Syracuse area. The opening, which will be from 6pm to 9pm on November 7 and include light refreshments, will provide a chance to meet some of the artists selling their creations.

Craft Chemistry is the latest in a string of new businesses to take up residence on the Northside this summer and fall. A number of other of entrepreneurs have filled some of the vacant storefronts along North Salina Street with their establishments in recent months. At 515 North Salina Street, formerly occupied by H & R Block near the Butternut Street intersection, M’Presshun’s offers a selection of unique clothing and jewelery. Owner Tonya Freeman invited the Columbus Day parade crowd to check out her new establishment.

A&M Properties opened recently at 835 North Salina Street. The property management company is owned and operated by Central New York native Peter Rushford.

Right next door to A&M Properties are the offices of real estate broker Gary Morris, Jr. G & R Real Estate 2007, LLC is located at 831 North Salina and offers residential and commercial real estate listing and sales services.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center today announced Kathryn H. Ruscitto has been named executive vice president for the organization. Under the leadership of Theodore M. Pasinski, president and chief executive officer, Ruscitto will guide the leadership structure and provide overall direction for the administrative team. Mary W. Brown will continue to serve as senior vice president and chief operating officer responsible for aligning the operations structure for St. Joseph’s network.

“Kathryn Ruscitto has been an enthusiastic and visionary leader for St. Joseph’s network,” said Theodore M. Pasinski, president, St. Joseph’s. “In her new position, she will continue to lead us to achieve our vision to be world-renowned for passionate patient care and outstanding clinical outcomes.”

Ruscitto has served as St. Joseph’s senior vice president of strategy, development, and government affairs at since 2001. In addition to leading the organization in strategic planning, Ruscitto was responsible for overseeing mental health services, facility and support services, marketing, communications and development, mission services, and physician relations. She also has served as the hospital’s liaison to government and community organizations.

During her tenure with St. Joseph’s, Ruscitto has led successful team efforts to build strategic alliances, streamline business operations, enhance internal efficiencies, and improve employee satisfaction. With a focus on “patient first” and “employee as family,” she has encouraged a cutting edge health care environment which includes such innovations as Lean 6 Sigma, a physician engagement team, green infrastructure, and hospital-led neighborhood revitalization, including a Prospect Hill master plan.

Ruscitto is active in many national and local organizations such as the United Way and the Catholic Health Care Association. She also serves on the Boards of several foundations and not-for profits, including the Community Health Foundation of Western & Central New York, and the Anna Mahan Foundation.

A resident of Syracuse, Ruscitto holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College.

The above article was taken from the Syracuse City Eagle. Read the full article by clicking here.