Community News

     The Oswego Salvation Army made their monthly visit to residents at St. Luke Health Services, in Oswego, and made the holiday season special as they not only shared some holiday music, but also left residents with a Christmas gift – a cozy lap blanket to help stay warm during the winter season ahead. From left, Mrs. Major Kathleen Purvis of the Salvation Army; St. Luke resident Mary Jane Sullivan; and Mrs. Major Jody Best, of the Salvation Army.

     The SUNY Oswego Athletic Department will be accepting donations of unwrapped toys and non-perishable food as part of their United Way weekend, Dec. 7 and 8.

     With Christmas just days away, area human service agencies are making their list and checking it twice. The economic challenges that many families and individuals in Oswego County are facing has resulted a record amount of requests from families in need this holiday season.

     Representatives from the Rural Health Network of Oswego County (RHNOC) have had a busy month as they celebrated National Rural Health Day and welcomed 21 new health care providers to local Network health care practices.

     The Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) will temporarily re-locate to the former Cayuga Community College facility on state Route 3, west of Fulton, in mid-December. The offices at 100 Spring St., Mexico, will close at noon Friday, Dec. 14.

     The Oswego County Historical Society cordially invites everyone to attend the annual "Christmas Open House" at the Richardson-Bates House Museum at 135 E.Third St., in Oswego. The event will take place from 1-5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, and is free and open to the public.

Lois Luber, resource development director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, accepts a box of food from Ben Turner, of Murdock's Bicycles and Sports, in Oswego. Turner, who has collected six boxes of food to date, started collecting food at his store in support of United Way's Annual Stone Soup luncheon and is continuing to do so until Christmas. The food will be delivered to local food pantries including Salvation Army of Oswego County, Human Concerns Center and Catholic Charities. Murdock's Bicycles and Sports is located at 177 W. First St., in Oswego. For more information, contact Murdock's at 315-342-6848.

     Homelessness. It exists in virtually every community and impacts all ages. In some cases, the plight of the homeless is easily recognizable; in others it is more of a silent, unseen issue. While homelessness in Oswego County is not always recognizable, it does exist.

     Lionel Earl, of the city of Oswego, strategically places a bright ornament on the city's Christmas tree in the Civic Hall Plaza in preparation for the official tree lighting ceremony, which takes place Thursday, Nov. 29, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

     Santa arrives after the opening ceremonies and the tree lighting and will take holiday requests and photos with children inside City Hall. Free music and holiday crafts in the Council Chamber with cookies, cocoa and apple juice being served by the Lion's Club on the first floor.