Off Campus: Top Featured

Syracuse history comes to life on Instagram
By Georgie Silvarole
February 8, 2016 - 11:43am
David Haas, creator of an Instagram account dubbed @syracusehistory, is dedicated to sharing the stories of historic buildings and interesting homes that Syracuse residents might not know about.

David Haas calls the city of Syracuse his home. It's where he grew up, it's where he bought his first house and it's where he finds the most interesting stories to share.

Wolff’s Biergarten brings Syracuse soccer fans, beer enthusiasts together
By Ellen Meyers
February 1, 2016 - 7:03am
Downtown Syracuse's new German bar caters to a wide variety of Central New Yorkers, especially soccer enthusiasts.

After being open for more than two months, Wolff’s Biergarten continues to serve a niche demographic in Central New York: Syracusans who enjoy European beer and soccer.

Farmers market and garden center stays in family more than four decades after opening
By Tory Russo
November 20, 2015 - 6:16pm
Jess Hafner returned to the area 15 years ago to help manage Chuck Hafner's Farmers Market and Garden Center in North Syracuse, a popular nursery that dates back to his grandfather's farming business that started in 1922.

Jess Hafner has worked at his family’s garden center for his entire life.

Over the years, his responsibilities have increased from sweeping the floors to delegating tasks to his department managers. But he has always kept the customers at the center of what he does.

“We put an awful lot of heart and soul into trying to carry the best product, the highest-quality product, and [giving] the best customer experience that we can,” Hafner said.

From stage to sound booth, opera singer Bruce Paulsen brings vocal talent to radio announcing
By Remy Reynolds
November 18, 2015 - 12:50pm
Bruce Paulsen began announcing at WCNY-FM after a diverse career led him both on and off the stage.

“When I was in fourth grade, I wanted to be Johnny Cash,” said Bruce Paulsen, classical music announcer at WCNY-FM. “Back then, I started talking with a fake low voice. But it turned out to be where I live.”

SU-based art collective puts on Generation XX themed art exhibit
By Janelle James
November 6, 2015 - 11:08pm
Girl on Girl, a Syracuse feminist art collective founded in 2012, organized an exhibit focusing on the influence of past and present generations.

On Friday Night at the Spark Contemporary Art Space in Syracuse, the art collective Girl on Girl organized an art exhibit showcasing multitudes of art pieces ranging from videos, sculpture, and photography. 

To combat veteran suicide, the stigma must end
By Gulnaz Khan
November 6, 2015 - 4:16pm
As Veterans Day approaches, local workers aim to help with the ongoing sacrifice veterans are making.

Martin Goettsch was 18-years-old when he was deployed to fight in the Vietnam War with the Navy. Goettsch remembers the feeling of being far from home, constantly on edge and not knowing when shots would be fired. He remembers the realization that you can save some people, but there will always be those who can’t be saved.

Syracuse-area man looks to move past heroin addiction
By Mary Anderson
October 6, 2015 - 6:30pm
A Central New York man recounts his struggle with heroin addiction and staying sober.

On a crisp January night, *Brent trudged through the snow, carrying his flat-screen TV to trade for cash. Hours later, he stood in his bare apartment, alone, with his newly purchased heroin needles.  

After a marathon of doping through the night, Brent decided that he could not continue down this path and called the Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare for detoxification services. Since the morning of Jan. 25, 2015, Brent has been clean. 

Bill Clinton speaks at Syracuse airport in support of Dan Maffei
By Benjamin Fang
October 25, 2014 - 1:19pm
The 42nd President of the United States landed in Syracuse Friday to campaign for Maffei, who's up for re-election in New York's 24th congressional district.

Former President Bill Clinton stopped by Syracuse Friday evening to stump for Rep. Dan Maffei as the District 24 congressional race nears the Nov. 4 midterm elections.

In a speech to more than 750 people in a hangar at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Clinton touted Maffei’s positions on issues like equal pay for women, college affordability and economic growth of the middle class.

Panhandlers driving away business
By Molly Smith
October 7, 2014 - 10:48am
A new housing initiative aims to get homeless off Syracuse's downtown streets.

More than 400 people in Onondaga County live without a roof over their heads on any given day according to the Housing and Homeless Coalition of Syracuse and Onondaga County.  But a fragment of this population, who have claimed an I-81 underpass as their home, have emerged as a problem for at least one businessman who said their presence is scaring off his clients. 

23rd Westcott Street Cultural Fair celebrates historic neighborhood
By Irfan Uraizee
September 21, 2014 - 5:00pm
A lack of sunshine couldn't dampen the storied Westcott neighborhood's unique offering of food, art and culture.

For Westcott residents and neighbors, overcast skies and a lack of sunshine couldn’t put a damper on the 23rd iteration of the Westcott Street Cultural Fair.  Despite the miserable weather, the people, food and vibrant culture of the historic Westcott neighborhood seemed to shine even brighter.

“What makes Westcott unique is the mix of different people that we have here. The energy and the activism of the neighborhood that you won’t see anywhere else,” said Marcellus resident Sondra Bromka.