Enable, also known as the United Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children’s Association of Syracuse, Inc. began in 1948.  Since that time they have provided a range of services to enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.  All proceeds from the golf classic go to support these services.

This year, the golf classic is being held at the Lake Shore Yacht and Country Club in Cicero, NY.  Registration and lunch begin at 11:30 a.m.  Golf starts at 1:00 pm and will be followed by a cocktail hour and auction at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30 pm.

For more information contact Cristina Jardine, Enable’s Donor Relations Coordinator, (315) 410-3384, cjardine@enablecny.org.  Registration is also available online.  Don’t miss a great chance to relax with friends and colleagues while supporting a great cause.

The tomato is very important to the average Italian. It’s not just a fruit or a vegetable but a metaphor for life. My grandparents grew up in Sicily, in the shadow of Mount Etna; a volcano that is still active today. Volcanic ash layered for thousands of years has created a rich bed of soil to grow the most beautiful tomatoes imaginable. Growing flavorful tomatoes has always been a source of great pride for Sicilians and Italians who emigrated to the Northside of Syracuse. The climate, as you might imagine, was a huge challenge. The short growing season, the lack of sunshine and most importantly the soil was just not as fertile, due to the general absence of volcanos on the old Northside. But the old timers were crafty; they knew how to build up the soil with nutrients. Both of my grandfathers loved to garden. Grandpa Russo passed away when I was very young and I never got to talk to him about his gardening secrets. Grandpa Emmi lived into his nineties and I was able to absorb a wealth of information from him.

Grandpa Emmi lived on Grumbach Ave next to Schiller Park. His garden was absolutely magnificent, especially his tomatoes. Grandpa paid attention to every detail, the soil, moisture, fertilizer and of course the sun. I recall stopping by Grandpa Emmi’s home one warm summer day. He was sitting in the backyard under the grape arbor sipping a glass of his homemade wine. The conversation quickly focused on grandpa’s garden. He explained how he just spent the morning pruning his tomato plants. He actually examined each tomato plant and tended to its needs. This morning he concentrated on pruning off the bleeders. If a branch on the tomato plant didn’t have a flowering bud or an actual tomato he would snip it off. It was a bleeder, taking valuable nutrients that would otherwise be fortifying his soon to be beautiful red tomatoes.

I was living around the corner from my grandfather on Park Street at one time. “Tomato inspecta, the tomato inspecta is a here”, I heard over the knock on the door. I recognized the broken English but what was this tomato inspector stuff all about?  I had a very small house with a very small backyard and a very small tomato patch. Somehow grandpa found out about it. He was there to make sure I was doing the job right. We went right to the backyard and my humble tomato patch. Grandpa reached down and burrowed his fingers into the ground grabbing a pinch of soil to taste. I waited nervously for his judgment. “Did a you use a the cow manure?” he said knowingly. “No”, I replied, “I just raked in a bag of top soil I got from the hardware store.” “Oh Joey, you gotta use a lots a cow manure”, he said with his hand on my shoulder. It was clear there was more at stake here than growing tomatoes, it was family pride. The tomato represented hard work, commitment and an understanding of how to live a good life. If you lived on the northside the quality of your tomatoes were indicators of your commitment to that good life.

My grandfather had a stroke while in his early nineties but he still had to have his garden. He could no longer till the soil by hand with a pitch fork. My Uncle Sam Emmi told me he was going to grandpa’s house to rototill the garden. He said, with the big smile he was famous for, “..meet me at grandpa’s tomorrow”.  He thought I might be able to rake the soil or help out in some other way. As we unloaded Uncle Sam’s rototiller from his Buick station wagon grandpa became very agitated. “No, no, no machine!” he exclaimed in a high pitch voice. “You’ll bruise a the soil. Nothing will grow!” Uncle Sam reacted with a big laugh, “Oh Pa, the tiller is so much easier. It saves so much time.” Back and forth went the argument and as one would expect grandpa won. So, Uncle Sam and I spent the entire day digging with pitch forks, raking and breaking up clumps of soil, getting rid of stones and weeds. At the end of the day Grandpa had his beautiful “unbruised” soil and lovely red tomatoes. We had our aching backs.  The essence of this story is captured in a song by John Denver. “What would life be without home grown tomatoes? Only two things money can’t buy, that’s true love and home grown tomatoes.”

For more information about TNT, visit their website or contact Luke Dougherty via email (LDougherty@syrgov.net) or phone (315-448-8005).

Using state of the art technology, Lead Safe has provided quality lead based paint services for 12 years now. Their group of highly dedicated professionals offer a unique approach when creating and managing lead-based paint programs and will take on the most difficult and complex contamination situations as if they were their own.

Editors Note: Each Monday, we’re introducing a community spotlight piece highlighting one of our Northside Business Partnership (NBP) members in an effort to showcase the diverse and unique businesses that make up the Northside. NBP is a collaboration between Northside UP, the Greater North Salina Business Association, and CenterState CEO that works to promote, support, and engage Northside businesses.

With three generations of owners, Thanos Import Market has remained a staple of the neighborhood for over 90 years. Thanos is the epitome of a neighborhood business. It’s a place that makes you feel like part of the community, where you make a quick stop for groceries but leave an hour later after catching up with the owner and friendly staff. According to Soula Carni, the current owner of the store, this is the way it has always been.

Soula was born in Greece and moved to Syracuse with her parents and 3 siblings in 1968. Reflecting on her days of growing up in Syracuse, Soula recalls the family outing every Sunday starting with mass at St. Sophia’s Church, where many of the area’s Greek population settled. Afterward, they would stop into Thanos Market to stock up on Greek food items and chat with Mr. Thanos, the original owner of the store. The store changed hands when Mr. Thanos’ daughter, Sophia, married into the Copanis Family. They kept the business running until Soula purchased the business in 2008, when Mr. Copanis decided to retire at the age of 91.

Before becoming the owner of Thanos, Soula received an Accounting degree with a minor in Business Administration from Lemoyne College.  She pursued this career for several years working at Testone, Marshall and Discenzo, a local accounting firm. Although Soula didn’t always imagine herself running a business, it isn’t surprising that she came to purchase Thanos. She was raised in a business environment with her parents owning Athens Pizza in Dewitt. The whole family helped out, and Soula started working there in high school. Years later, she bought a deli from her brother called A Taste of Philadelphia. After running the deli for a couple years, Soula decided to sell the business to spend more time with her family, a luxury she feels grateful they could afford. The value and immense care that Soula has for her family is evident from the moment you meet her, and is also something she easily extends into her profession. Customers who stop into Thanos are always greeted with open arms, and the three gentlemen who work there – Jerry, Joe, and Jack will always leave you with a smile.

If the welcoming atmosphere doesn’t amaze you, the quality products available for sale will. The store has an old world charm and offers specialty items from Greece, Italy, Spain and the Middle East. Soula has also made a strong effort to source more of her products locally, which is evident in the “Pride of NY” signs posted throughout the store. A quick look around and I found a handful of local goods, including handmade pasta from Utica NY, flavored roasted nuts, and specialty dipping oils. Yet when it comes to the most popular item in the store, the Wisconsin sharp provolone cheese fits the bill. The secret to its success is having the already aged cheese go through a longer aging process, another 3-6 more months on site. Pair that with the popular cured meats like capocolla and sopressata, add some of the house seasoned olives to the side, and you have the best party platter you can find in Syracuse! Another item that is gaining popularity is a new domestic cheese called Bellavitano. Although it comes plain, the variety of flavors – soaked in merlot, balsamic vinegar, and raspberry ale or encrusted with black pepper or espresso bean, makes this a fun party cheese to add into the mix.

This past February marked Soula’s fifth year Anniversary of owning Thanos Import Market. Looking ahead, she hopes that Thanos and other Northside businesses remain successful and continue to benefit from the neighborhood’s revitalization. We are beginning to see a resurgence of the unique shops that were once plentiful on the Northside, with new businesses being opened by New Americans from Asia to Africa and everywhere in between. Soula imagines their experience is similar to her family’s, who came to America in search of a better life and more opportunities. Thanos Import Market is a testament to what can happen in this search, and is proof that with time and investment into the community, a business can thrive. I have confidence that Thanos will remain a neighborhood icon, new shops will continue to emerge, and together they will create a vibrant Northside.

“Growing up in Auburn I spent little time in Syracuse until I moved back to the area last fall and began an internship at Northside Urban Partnership. During my time here, I’ve found this much to be true: we who live and work in Syracuse love our city. This past Saturday I attended DISHES for the first time and couldn’t wait to demolish a Mexican feast and vote for my favorite innovative public project. Under the soft glow of strung lights, the rows of long tables were filled with people who wanted to enrich their city by voting for one of five projects: Salina St. Refreshed, the Cooperative Permaculture Garden, Trees: Symbols of Powerful Experiences, Noexcuses: LOWdowns, and Syracuse in Print.”

Read the full piece at saltcitydishes.blogspot.com

Photo by Allison Gates, allisongates.com

Photo by Allison Gates, allisongates.com

Brighten your evening next Wednesday with Cathedral Academy at Pompei’s (CAP) Spring concert! CAP’s choral and symphonic programs will team-up to bring an hour-long celebration of music, complete with African drumming and dance.

The after school music program at CAP is available to students in grades 2nd – 6th. Two days each week students are immersed in music and learn to compose their own pieces, play an instrument, and participate in African drumming and dance. Choral music is present throughout the school day and includes all students.

For more information about CAP and the after school music program, visit their website.

The Spring Concert is open to all friends and family members of the students, as well as the Northside neighborhood.

Editors Note: Each Monday, we’re introducing a community spotlight piece highlighting one of our Northside Business Partnership (NBP) members in an effort to showcase the diverse and unique businesses that make up the Northside. NBP is a collaboration between Northside UP, the Greater North Salina Business Association, and CenterState CEO that works to promote, support, and engage Northside businesses.