Fourteen small-business owners complete SBA THRIVE program

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A group of 14 small-business owners from across upstate New York on Friday completed the SBA’s THRIVE program. THRIVE is a redesigned version of the SBA’s annual Emerging Leaders program, an entrepreneurship-development program that helps small businesses grow and expand, the Upstate New York district of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) […]

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A group of 14 small-business owners from across upstate New York on Friday completed the SBA’s THRIVE program.

THRIVE is a redesigned version of the SBA’s annual Emerging Leaders program, an entrepreneurship-development program that helps small businesses grow and expand, the Upstate New York district of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) said in its announcement.

The T.H.R.I.V.E. program stands for train, hope, rise, innovate, venture, and elevate. It provides participants with a curriculum that includes mentoring, in-person coaching, and self-paced instruction. The hybrid model combines virtual and classroom sessions, “ensuring flexibility and accessibility for busy business owners,” the SBA said.

“The Upstate SBA team is proud to celebrate the graduation of another successful THRIVE cohort,” Dan Rickman, director of the SBA Syracuse-Upstate New York district, said in the agency’s announcement. “With two thirds of net new jobs being created by small businesses over the last several years, it’s clearly critical to support the growth of our small businesses in order to sustain a healthy local economy. This amazing group of small business leaders have spent the last 6 months working together to develop strategies and skills to grow their businesses, and they’ve already started achieving some of their goals, such as hiring more employees, expanding into new markets, and building strong foundations for continued success.”

THRIVE also seeks to help small businesses develop and execute strategic growth plans.

Participants worked over a six-month period from late June to December. These business owners were involved in an interactive curriculum; received coaching from experienced business experts; and developed a three-year strategic growth action plan.

The current THRIVE program uses a hybrid model that requires participants to meet in Syracuse monthly in addition to accessing parts of the curriculum online. Altogether, the program provided more than 100 hours of instruction, the SBA said.

Participants

The following is a list of this year’s THRIVE participants, along with their business name and its location. Those involved are also pictured above.

Andrew Carter, owners of Resilienx in Syracuse
Tonya DeMulder, owners of Sunshine Counseling Services in Oneonta
Paige Flori, owner of Boutique Wines, Spirits & Cider in Fishkill
Lee Frisbee, owner of Frisbee’s Landscaping, Ponds & Patios in Rochester
Kyle Hierholzer, owner of Hand in Health Massage Therapy in Syracuse
Sean Lattimore Sr., owner of Springside Inn in Auburn
LaTerese Matthews, owner of Van Dyke Norris Cleaning Services in Syracuse
Maria Metthe, owner of Salt City Coffee in Syracuse
Vicky Panissa, owner of Dakota Property Preservation & Home Improvement in Central Islip
Joanne Rauch, owner of CR Fletcher in Syracuse
Shannon Secor, owner of R2I Defense in Boonville
Catherine Toniatti-Yanulavich, owner of Applied Biophysics in Troy
Tina Webster, owner of Finger Lakes Staffing Services in Canandaigua
Alex Zaranski, owner of Saucy Confections in Syracuse

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Syracuse University to begin demolition work on both Marion and Kimmel Halls

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SYRACUSE, N.Y.— Syracuse University on Thursday said it plans to begin demolition of Marion Hall and Kimmel Hall and the Kimmel dining center “later this month” to prepare for two new residence halls. In addition, the demolition of the Comstock Avenue garage is expected to start in early 2025, following the permitting process. Syracuse parking

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In addition, the demolition of the Comstock Avenue garage is expected to start in early 2025, following the permitting process. Syracuse parking services staff will connect with each Comstock Ave. garage permit holder directly to coordinate new parking assignments, the university said in its announcement.

The effort is part of Syracuse University’s work to advance the comprehensive housing strategy that it first announced back in February.

The announcement followed the creation of the school’s first housing strategy, which was co-led by Allen Groves, senior VP and chief student experience officer, and Brett Padgett, senior VP and CFO. As part of the group’s work, its members surveyed students to assess their housing expectations, reviewed Syracuse University’s current housing stock, and toured recent renovations and new construction at peer institutions.

“A lot of intentional thought around current and future needs and cross-campus collaboration went into developing this housing strategy,” Groves said in the Syracuse University announcement. “Not only is the University focused on enhancing its housing stock for students, but we’re also thinking strategically about how we can create and offer housing options for other important campus constituency groups, including new faculty, staff and graduate students. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this important work and look forward to seeing progress as demolition and construction get underway.”

In addition to the new residence halls being built at the former sites of Marion and Kimmel Halls and the Comstock Ave. garage, Syracuse University will also construct a new residence hall at 544 University Place, along Ostrom Avenue, adjacent to Thornden Park. This new facility will house about 570 students.

The design is nearing completion, and construction is anticipated to begin early in 2025, the university said.

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Southern Tier woman arrested for theft of nearly $30,000 in pension checks

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New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, recently announced the arrest of Linda Burrows of the town of Fillmore in Allegany County for the alleged theft of $29,893 in state pension checks sent to her deceased stepfather. The comptroller was joined in the announcement by Allegany County District Attorney Ian Jones, and the New York

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The comptroller was joined in the announcement by Allegany County District Attorney Ian Jones, and the New York State Police.

“Linda Burrows allegedly concealed her stepfather’s death and forged his name in order to steal benefits from the pension fund,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “My office will continue to partner with law enforcement, to protect the integrity of our pension system and I thank District Attorney Jones and the state Police for working with us to hold Burrows accountable.”

Burrows’ mother retired as a custodian for the Yorkshire Pioneer Central School District and received a monthly pension through the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS). When Burrow’s mother passed away in 2019, her pension went to her designated beneficiary, which was her husband, who was Burrows’ stepfather.

When he died the following year, the pension payments should have stopped, the comptroller said. Instead, Burrows, who lived at their address, allegedly forged her deceased stepfather’s signature over the next 23 months and deposited the checks in a joint account. She allegedly spent $8,752 of the money at various casinos during that time.

When NYSLRS became aware of her stepfather’s death, it halted the pension payments.

Burrows was charged with grand larceny in the third degree, forgery in the second degree, and possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 12 in the Town of Hume Court.

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “This arrest is another example of how dedicated police work and strong law enforcement partnerships are succeeding in tackling pension fraud. The alleged actions by Ms. Burrows will be fully investigated to bring justice and closure to this case. I commend the dedicated work put forth by our State Police members, the Comptroller’s Office, and the Allegany County District Attorney’s Office in making this arrest.”

The charges filed in this case are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, the comptroller’s office stressed.

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Task force seeks to cut crime at Towne Center at Fayetteville

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Seeking a safer holiday season FAYETTEVILLE — With the holiday shopping season now underway, the Town of Manlius Police Department says it wants to prevent robberies and other retail crimes with the creation of a retail crime task force. The task force is a public/private

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Seeking a safer holiday season

FAYETTEVILLE — With the holiday shopping season now underway, the Town of Manlius Police Department says it wants to prevent robberies and other retail crimes with the creation of a retail crime task force.

The task force is a public/private partnership with COR Properties and local retailers at Towne Center at Fayetteville, the department said in its Nov. 26 announcement.

This comes after an analysis by the town’s police department found that incidents of thefts and other retail crime are up 35 percent year to date in 2024 compared to 2023.

“Beginning immediately and continuing into the new year,” the Town of Manlius Police Department will, as necessary, deploy officers dressed in plain clothes around Fayetteville Towne Center and within participating stores.

The department also notes that signs will be “conspicuously” displayed around Towne Center informing the public about the presence of plain-clothes police officers. Teams will also include uniformed officers in marked patrol vehicles.

Those arrested for crimes should also expect to be “trespassed” or banned from all COR properties for up to three years. Subsequent arrests in violation of no-trespass orders may result in serious felony charges with the possibility of jail time exceeding one year, the Manlius Police Department said.

Officers patrolling Fayetteville Towne Center will also be on the lookout for crimes occurring in the parking lots, and the department would like to remind shoppers and families about how to avoid being a crime victim this holiday season.

Manlius Police say that with increased shopping comes an increase in thefts from motor vehicles. Shoppers and families should not leave purchased products in vehicles “longer than necessary;” keep bags, packages, and valuables out of sight; remove keys from vehicles; and always remember to lock your car.

What led to the task force

In early 2024, the Town of Manlius Police Department began an initiative called the chief’s business-advisory committee. The group sought to increase communication and collaboration between the department and local businesses with the goal of improving the quality of life for customers, employees, and businesses.

The committee also wanted to continue to “ensure the Town of Manlius is a desirable location for commerce.”

The Town of Manlius Police Department’s analysis identified a “significant portion” of retail crime and business losses due to theft in the town are concentrated at Fayetteville Towne Center and incidents have increased 35 percent so far in 2024 compared to the previous year.

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Seeking a safer holiday season

What led to the task force

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