At First Sight: There are groups and groups of people squeezing under the Pan-African Village tent for one of two reasons: either they can’t hear the act that is on or they want a better view of the dancers in CJack’s variety showcase. Right of the tent is a line-up of dancers, singers, bands and collaborations mixed and huddled into …

Onondaga County probation officer holds annual 5K to raise money for infant burials With the desire and drive to help her community, Linda Donalson has raised money to help more than 200 families pay for the burial of children who die as infants. On Sept. 15, nearly 100 supporters gathered at Sawmill Creek Shelter at Onondaga Lake Park for a …

New staff reporter Natalie Caceres and The Stand’s Community Correspondent Keith Muhammad worked together to contribute October’s Cover Story and appeared on WCNY’s “Reith” Show Wednesday, Oct. 3. If you missed the pair’s appearance, you can watch the video here.

A large blue tarp shrouds in mystery what everyone is anticipating — a bronze statue commemorating and celebrating the life of the late Libba Cotten. Cotten, a South Side resident and all-around “friendly” woman, as many spoke of her, was not your average neighbor. A mother and grandmother by day, this extraordinary figure was a revolutionary inspiration within the music …

South Side residents rely on pantries, bus trips for grocery needs While South Side residents wait for a grocery store to be established in their neighborhood, some seek out food banks to fill their basic needs, officials at local community centers say. “Our pantry helps serve people who have no other means of feeding their family,” said James Outlaw, a …

Proposal suggested loss of curb cuts to West Onondaga Street business entrances The West Onondaga Green Corridor project, a plan to re-design West Onondaga Street to reduce storm water runoff and improve traffic flow, has some local business owners worried that they could lose access to the street from their building parking lots.

The Expeditionary Learning Middle School has come under new administration this year as Rebecca Groat, former vice principal at Franklin Elementary School, assumed the role of principal effective July 1, 2012. Kevin Burns, who was the ELMS principal, is now principal at Lincoln Middle School. “Every year there is an evaluation of the schools and there’s a lot of shifting …

The Onondaga branch of the NAACP will hold a special event for local high school students with the goal of bringing them into an academic program that would link them with adult mentors in a specific field of their choosing. The meeting will be held on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the South Side Communication …

Women who served as true story behind the Hollywood motion picture “A League of Their Own” will reunite, possibly for the last time, this Saturday in Syracuse This year marks the 20th anniversary of the movie “A League of Their Own,” a story about how women’s baseball surged during the 1940s while men were fighting over in World War II. …

Home HeadQuarters’ Annual Block Blitz Spruces Up Two City Blocks The South Side of the city received a facelift from what was called a Block Blitz. On Friday, Sept. 14, neighbors and residents looked on with anticipation and amazement in the 200 block of McLennan Avenue as volunteers and contractors came together and did a variety of work on the …