Books, bikes, and even a fire truck participated in the Sixth annual Light a Candle for Literacy parade on Saturday, June 4. Even spotty rain showers couldn’t keep the energy down, as students and community members chanted catchphrases like “Read a Book! Read a Book!”

More than 400 eighth-graders learned about college life and the importance of an education Seventy-five students from the Roberts School, at 715 Glenwood Ave., joined their peers from Frazer and Grant middle schools to spend an April day at Syracuse University. The eighth-graders learned how to be accepted into college and what an education at that level can offer.

Article by Glory Thomas, who owns Thomas’ Kitchen with her husband and recently published a book, “My Big Little Book of Spiritual Experiences.” Contact Glory at tglory47@yahoo.com I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. First let me say that the inspiration for writing this article is greatly influenced by the people within our community.

By Megan Ripley, Corcoran High School columnist High school seniors work through stress for nationally recognized diploma, college credits Corcoran’s International Baccalaureate exams generally begin in March and continue through May. This time of year, many IB students are studying and preparing for exams and recorded presentations in order to succeed.

Branch’s Driving School flourishes with a father-son management team When Deraux Branch looks up from his small 8-and-a-half by 6-inch book, he sees the pupils of about 26 eyes staring back at him. One would think that from the second floor of the triangular building on the corner of West Genesee Street, these eyes could be easily distracted. Surrounding them …

Valerie Hill, the director of community services at the Southwest Community Center at 401 South Ave., says that for her, summer programming doesn’t end when the leaves take on their bright autumn hues. “As soon as summer camp ends, I start working on summer camp,” Hill said.

Students start with sewing basics and then go on to create projects such as pillows, handbags Say Yes to Education recently started offering sewing classes to elementary school students on the South Side. Staffed by instructors from Peterson Sewing School, 920 Euclid Ave., the classes are for students at Elmwood Elementary and Roberts School. Students can enroll in a free, …

Public learns deciding the highway’s future is more complex than it first appears Nearly 700 Central New Yorkers attended the I-81 Challenge Public Workshops held May 3, 4 and 7 at the OnCenter to learn about the interstate highway, its condition, how it’s being used and by whom. Citizens took the opportunity to give extensive and meaningful input about their …

Teenagers will harvest fresh produce from once-empty property lots City officials and neighborhood activists are transforming the South Side’s landscape, turning a dozen vacant properties into an urban farm. The farm will employ the neighborhood’s teenagers during summer months and help alleviate the shortage of fresh produce on the South Side.

Construction on new grocery store scheduled for this summer The dream of a full-service grocery store on Syracuse’s South Side will take a very big step toward becoming a reality, as construction workers plan to break ground on the nearly $3.5 million project by June. All that remains for the project’s planners is to locate and sign a tenant for …