Hometown News

Newly Opened South Literacy Zone assists in adult education and GEDs It has been more than 30 years since Arlene Brodbeck sat in a classroom. But at age 52, Brodbeck decided it was time to get her GED diploma — for her own education and so she could help her 25 grandchildren with homework. It was the South Literacy Zone that …

On Monday, Feb. 13, the Syracuse/Onondaga Co. NAACP and the Syracuse Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta will hold a voter education meeting at the Peoples A.M.E Zion Church at 2306 S. Salina St. The meeting is the first part of a series designed to teach the Syracuse community about the importance of voting. To help convey the message the …

Beauchamp Library houses little-known nook for African-American works Ajiyah Coleman doesn’t know what a Sankofa bird is or that her local library has a room named after it. All she knows is that she likes to read about African-American history and “all that kind of stuff.” The 9-year-old Ajiyah, who lives across the street from the South Side’s Beauchamp Branch …

The first-grade class of McKinley–Brighton Magnet School performed two rocking Christmas performances Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15 and 16, recently. The performance was a first time experience for them, and it was wonderful to see the parents and family members in attendance clapping and cheering with great support of the children on stage.

The newest book from the “Images of America” series highlights the history of Syracuse’s Police Department and will be widely available starting Monday, Dec. 12. “Syracuse Police” is written by local authors and members of the Syracuse Police Department, Daniel F. Walsh, Thomas L. Derby and Russell W. Gates. The forward is written by the city’s current Police Chief Frank …

Local nonprofit builds job opportunities by deconstructing old homes The people who run Concerned Citizens Action Program like to say they keep an open door policy, meaning anyone looking for job training or better communication skills can walk in and apply for one of its programs. The 22-year-old nonprofit, located at 2309 S. Salina St., provides training programs in environmentally …

Sonimar Molina, the recipient of the 2011 Outreach/Scholarship Program, was one of many students who performed Sunday, Nov. 13 in “Many Thanks, Many Thanks,” a musical featuring Syracuse students and musicians at the Rockefeller United Methodist Church. The two-hour event presented by the church and The Professional Woman’s League of Syracuse, which also sponsors the scholarship program, featured 13 performances …

Phoenix Philosophies restores properties and strives to rebuild South Side back to glory A rising nonprofit is helping rebuild neighborhoods on the South Side, one house and one family at a time. Phoenix Philosophies Inc., a year-old organization, is focused on providing affordable housing for the homeless while renovating vacant and tax-delinquent properties throughout the city.

Democrats swept the commissioner of education race Tuesday night, winning all four open seats. “It’s an opportunity for real reform, we are reformers,” said Steve Swift, one of the candidates who brought in 7,510 votes. “We need to create 21st century schools and we will do that.”

Traveling produce stand brings fresh food to residents’ homes Four bananas, two pears and two tomatoes: $3.25. These are the fresh produce items that Betty Brooks, 87, bought recently without even leaving home. On Wednesdays, Brooks goes downstairs to the lobby of her Valley Vista Apartments home to purchase her weekly produce from the brightly colored vehicle that brings nutrition …