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Guard Duty

Sentry program works to protect students throughout district As the first lunch period at Clary Middle School approached, Aaron Wilson rose in preparation. Lunchtime is one of the biggest responsibilities for Wilson, the security officer in the building. He presides over two cafeterias of more than 50 students each. On this particular day, the school announced that the three lunch …

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Jobs for Life

Friends graduate from 16-week job training program together Late on a Monday night in January you could hear the laughter coming from inside the foyer of a church on South Salina Street. “I love my mommy!” shouted a 6-year-old with a smile from ear to ear. “She’s going to graduate and go to second grade!” All of the adults chuckled, …

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Mental Awareness

Teen with multiple personalities wants to help others even as she copes When a girl started to pick on Cora Smith her freshman year in high school in 2010, she responded with alarming rage. Cora, 14, pulled the sleeves of her sweatshirt down, put her hood up, and went to work. Cora grabbed the girl by the throat, dangling her …

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South Side Achiever

Chief Executive Officer retiring in April from the Southwest Community Center Looking like an art museum, the office of Jesse Dowdell has a heavy African feel, fully decorated with wooden masks and delicate handcrafts. These record the places across Africa where he has traveled over the years. On the wall, pictures hang — full of happy faces. Downstairs, children run …

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'Eye See Me'

Corcoran art student’s self portrait wins highest honor with Gold Key art award Out of more than 4,500 pieces of artwork submitted in a competition from throughout the Central New York region, Rahmeik Bowen’s creation has been deemed special. Very special. He was chosen as a Gold Key recipient at the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards for his painting Eye See …

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Helping Patients

New medical director of Rahma Health Clinic provides healthcare for uninsured When Dr. Mustafa Awayda settled in the United States in 1993, he suffered from a bit of culture shock. “For the first year, I was happy I had running water and electricity 24-7, which used to be a luxury in Lebanon because of a civil war from 1975 to …

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Eagle Wings Students Visit WMHR

Two cars carrying a group of eight Eagle Wings Academy students and two teachers recently climbed an icy slope that led up to the Mars Hill Network Radio Station at 4044 Maykes Road, Syracuse. Some dreamed of what it might be like to be a professional singer or DJ and others wanted to see gadgets and enjoy a get-away. As …

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“Healthy Food Means Healthy Babies”

New WIC food packaging promotes healthy eating in Syracuse Community Sarah is Ashley Sprague’s second child. Her first, little Christopher, died during childbirth in 2010. She’s especially happy, then, to “spoil” Sarah — with healthy foods. “I’m so happy that I finally get to spoil someone,” Sprague said at her home. “I didn’t get a chance to do that with …

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Don’t Close the Doors on Them Just Yet

Saturday, Feb. 16, in collaboration with D.R.E.A.M. Freedom Revival, the Ida Benderson Seniors Action League put on a jovial, quirky and message-heavy performance at the Grace Episcopal Church on Madison Avenue. The event was a way for the seniors, still reeling from the closure of the popular Ida Benderson Center back in October 2011, to musically and theatrically voice their …

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Students Brave Snowstorm to Attend Writing Workshop

The Writing Our Lives workshop connected 35 youth from Danforth Middle School with presenters and writing coaches despite cold temperatures and tremendous snowfall left from Hurricane Nemo last week. “Not one presenter called out,” said Marcelle Haddix proudly as parents and Danforth Middle School’s principal, Patricia Clark, shuttled students to the workshops in their own vehicles. “One young man came …

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