sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Science Fiction Day!
National Science Fiction Day promotes the science fiction genre, celebrates its creators and history, and commemorates the birthday of renowned science fiction author Isaac Asimov, who was born on January 2, 1920. Born Isaak Yudovich Ozimov in Petrovichi, Russia, young Isaak and his family immigrated to America from Russia when he was a toddler, making their home in Brooklyn and changing their name to Asimov. Asimov worked in his father's candy stores while growing up. After graduating high school at 15, he entered Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science, M.A., and Ph.D. He married Gertrude Blugerman in 1942. He began working at Boston University School of Medicine in 1949 and became an associate professor in biochemistry in 1955. However, writing was his passion and he pursued it throughout his tenure as a professor.
SU News
Syracuse basketball at Duke: 5 Key Things to Know (PS; $; Waters)
Things will look a little different when Syracuse faces Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night.
Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski, the two legendary coaches who led Syracuse and Duke for more almost combined seasons, have both retired within the last two years.
Jon Scheyer, a former Duke player and long-time assistant, took over for Krzyzewski last season. Adrian Autry, who like Scheyer both played and coached for his predecessor, is in his inaugural season as the head coach of the Orange.
The Blue Devils went 27-9 in Scheyer’s first year and they’re 9-3 this season. Autry has the Orange at 10-3 thanks to a recent five-game win streak, including an 81-73 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The trip to Duke is part of a brutal slate of road games that Syracuse faces in the early part of its ACC schedule. Syracuse’s first four conference road games are at Virginia, at Duke, at North Carolina and at Pittsburgh.
Syracuse is 2-5 at Cameron Indoor Stadium since joining the ACC in 2014. The Orange won close games in 2016 (64-62) and 2019 (95-91 OT). Aside from the epic 66-60 loss to Duke in Syracuse’s first trip to Cameron back in 2014 when Jim Boeheim was ejected from the game following a controversial charge/block call against C.J. Fair, the Orange’s losses have been by an average of 17.2 points.
The SU-Duke game is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
Here are five key things to know about the match-up:
Opportunity knocks
Tuesday’s game at Duke presents a key opportunity for Syracuse. The Orange is desperately in need of adding some high-quality wins to its NCAA tournament resume.
Duke is currently at No. 21 in the NCAA’s NET rankings. That’s well within the criteria for a Quad 1 road game, which requires a team to be ranked in the Top 75.
It has been a long time since Syracuse took advantage of this kind of opportunity. Syracuse’s last regular season Quad 1 win was against North Carolina State on Feb. 9, 2021.
The Orange is 0-2 in Quad 1 games this season, but beginning with Tuesday night’s game at Duke, Syracuse is going to have plenty of chances to secure a resume-building win.
The game at Duke is the first of nine games remaining on SU’s schedule that would currently fall into Quad 1. The rest are: at North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, at Boston College, at Wake Forest, Clemson, North Carolina, at NC State and at Clemson.
Flip-ping out
In case you haven’t noticed, Kyle Filipowski is following up his outstanding freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign.
Last year, Filipowski was named the ACC’s Freshman of the Year after posting these numbers: 15.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.7 blocks per game.
Now compare those stats with Filipowski’s averages this season: 18.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks.
Notice, in particular, his assists and blocks. Duke is running more of its offense through the 7-foot center. He’s comfortable with the ball away from the basket. He can stretch the defense -- he’s 12-for-38 on 3s this season -- and is willing to feed teammates the ball.
He ranks seventh in the ACC in scoring, sixth in rebounds, and fifth in blocks despite not being in the Top 25 for minutes played. He is playing 28.8 minutes per game.
It will be interesting to see how Syracuse decides to guard Filipowski. Can 7-foot-4 Naheem McLeod handle the task? Will Maliq Brown be able to bother Filipowski with his quick hands? Could Syracuse employ the 2-3 zone and hope that Duke doesn’t get hot from 3-point range?
Forward-thinking
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Beat writers split on whether Syracuse will upset No. 16 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium (DO; Staff)
Syracuse begins 2024 on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium, facing No. 14 Duke. The Blue Devils boast an eight game-winning streak over the Orange, dating back to 2018-19.
Saturday, SU extended its winning streak to five, beating Pittsburgh in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener. The bench — Benny Williams, Quadir Copeland and Maliq Brown — continued its strong performance, combining for a season-high 52 points led by Copeland’s career-best 22.
The Orange, in search of a massive upset, now meet a Duke squad that’s searching for its first conference win of the season.
Here’s what our beat writers think will happen when Syracuse (10-3, 1-1 ACC) visits No. 14 Duke (9-3, 0-1 ACC):
Cole Bambini (12-1)
(Blue) Devil’s advocate
Duke 79, Syracuse 70
Syracuse enters this matchup as a much different team than it looked about a month ago, when it lost by 22 to Virginia in the conference opener. It has rattled off five straight wins, fueled by the strong bench play of Brown, Copeland and company.
Duke boasts a top 10 adjusted offensive efficiency and top 30 adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. And on the Blue Devils’ home floor, I find it difficult for SU to escape Cameron Indoor with a win. The Blue Devils return Jeremy Roach and Kyle Filipowski, who led Duke in scoring against the Orange in February’s outing. Since losing back-to-back games against Arkansas and Georgia Tech, the Blue Devils have won four-straight, including a 78-70 win over then-No. 17 Baylor.
This matchup will be a good indicator of how the Orange have evolved over the last month and if they can compete with the ACC’s best down the road. A single-digit loss should be treated as a small slap on the wrist, especially in a tough environment like Cameron Indoor.
Henry O’Brien (12-1)
New year, same result
Duke 81, Syracuse 69
One could argue SU is a different team since it played Tennessee and Gonzaga in Hawaii. They are on a five-game win streak with victories over Oregon and Pitt, after all. But the fact remains that Syracuse and Duke, a team relatively in the same tier as the Volunteers and Bulldogs, are in different stratospheres. For as physical players like Copeland and Brown are, the Blue Devils’ talent will win out.
Filipowski will bully their way down low against Naheem McLeod and have another performance that will help him win ACC Player of the Year. Furthermore, the Orange will have a tough time guarding against experienced players like Roach in a hostile Cameron Indoor.
I don’t want to say that Syracuse doesn’t have a chance. It’s played too well over these past five games to say otherwise. But the Blue Devils will maintain a healthy lead before pulling away in the final minutes.
Tyler Schiff (12-1)
No longer scared
Syracuse 75, Duke 72
Across its five-game win streak, Syracuse has realized much of its preseason potential. Its bench has played an invaluable role in its last three victories, combining for an unfathomable 136 points. Adrian Autry’s run-and-gun style of basketball most recently resulted in 12 steals and 20 fast break points during a resume-boosting 81-73 victory over Pittsburgh. And SU’s star backcourt of Judah Mintz and J.J. Starling has looked more solid than ever.
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https://www.si.com/college/miami/basketball/week-9-acc-power-rankings (SI; Willerup)
Just three teams in the ACC remain ranked in the latest edition of the AP Poll, but their ranking in the AP Poll doesn't directly reflect how I view them.
With marquee ACC matchups early this week, these power rankings could significantly change depending on the results. As it stands today, here are my power rankings:
#1: Clemson Tigers (11-1)
Last Result: 93-58 Win vs Radford
Not much has changed for Clemson since the last power rankings, as PJ Hall continues to dominate while Joseph Girard III has been hot as of late. They'll have a very tough week as they'll go to Miami on Wednesday before facing the Tar Heels at home.
#2: North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3)
Last Result: 105-60 Win vs Charleston Southern
RJ Davis has asserted himself as the clear best player on this Tar Heels team with a signature win over Oklahoma in the game before. They'll now go on three straight road games where many will expect them to run the table.
#3: Duke Blue Devils (9-3)
Last Result: 106-69 Win vs Queens
After a statement win against the Baylor Bears and now looking more like the team many were expecting, Duke is looking to dominate in ACC play. A big part of Duke's rise has been the play of freshman guard Jared McCain, who's put up 20+ points in three of his last four games.
#4: Virginia Cavaliers (10-3)
Last Result: 54-76 Loss at Notre Dame
In what can only be viewed as a fluke game, Virginia's offense couldn't knock down a shot as they are winless on the road through two games. While Virginia is far from the flashiest team, they're one of the best-coached teams in the nation and will look to bounce back against a bad Louisville team.
#5: Syracuse Orange (10-3)
Last Result: 81-73 Win vs Pitt
Led by the sensational sophomore guard Judah Mintz, the Orange boast the second-longest winning streak in the conference with five in a row. While they look good now, their upcoming schedule is a gauntlet featuring road games at Duke and North Carolina.
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Pitt Blows Double-Digit Second-Half Lead, Falls 81-73 at Syracuse (pittsburghsportsnow; Michalowski)
On Saturday afternoon, Pitt blew a double-digit lead to the Syracuse Orange in its first road conference game of the year.
After leading by 11 early on in the second-half, the Panthers struggled to take care of the ball, hit timely shots, and convert from the free-throw line throughout the rest of the half. While Pitt struggled, the Orange took advantage behind a breakout game from Quadir Copeland.
Pitt surrendered the first four points of the game to the Orange, headlined by a game-opening bucket by former Pitt commit Judah Mintz. However, the Panthers found their groove early behind a three pointer from Guillermo Diaz-Graham and early points from other members of the starting five: Blake Hinson, Zack Austin, and Bub Carrington.
Throughout the first half, the two teams traded buckets, as Diaz-Graham continued to pace the Panthers and the Orange looked all around for production. Eight different Syracuse players scored in the first half, led by Copeland’s six. As the half went on, the defensive intensity, along with some sloppy play, ramped up.
Each team had ten turnovers in the frame, and Syracuse capitalized directly with eight points off of those turnovers. However, the Panthers’ used timely defense towards the end of the half to go on a late 14-4 run into the break and steal all of the energy out of the JMA Wireless Dome. Carrington shined for Pitt on all cylinders early on, contributing 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his first half of basketball in an opposing ACC environment.
Pitt won the first-half rebound battle as well, earning a team-high seven from Will Jeffress off the bench in the half, and totaling 22 as a team. At the break, the Panthers held a commanding lead, 38-30.
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New AP men’s basketball top 25 is out. Syracuse will play a ranked team on Tuesday (PS; $; Ditota)
The Syracuse men’s basketball team takes to the road for its next game.
And that contest features an opponent ranked in the Top 25. Next week, the Orange faces another ranked team on the road.
First up is No. 14 Duke on Tuesday. The Orange then play No. 8 North Carolina next Saturday, Jan. 13. Boston College looms at home on Jan. 10.
That is quite a daunting (or potentially rewarding) road stretch, depending upon your perspective.
There wasn’t a lot of movement in this week’s Top 25, though FAU’s loss to middling FGCU created waves.
First up for SU is No. 14 Duke on Tuesday. The Orange then play No. 8 North Carolina next Saturday.
Here’s the Week 9 poll, followed by the ballot I turned in yesterday.
(position, team, record, points, number 1 votes in parentheses)
1. Purdue 1561 (49)
2. Kansas (12-1) 1497 (5)
3. Houston (13-0) 1477 (9)
4. UConn (11-2) 1302 (0)
5. Tennessee (9-3) 1234 (0)
6. Kentucky (10-2) 1196 (0)
7. Marquette (11-3) 1137 (0)
8. North Carolina (9-3) 1088 (0)
9. Illinois (10-3)Pacific 12 (0)
10. Arizona (10-3) 975 (0)
11. Oklahoma (12-1) 898 (0)
12. BYU (12-1) 723 (0)
13. Colorado State (12-1) 694 (0)
14. Duke (9-3) 662 (0)
15. Memphis (11-2) 631 (0)
16. Clemson (11-1) 630 (0)
17. FAU (10-3) 603 (0)
18. Baylor (10-2) 589 (0)
19. James Madison (13-0) 469 (0)
20. Texas (10-2) 374 (0)
21. Wisconsin (9-3) 355 (0)
22. Ole Miss (13-0) 329 (0)
23. Providence (11-2) 198 (0)
24. Gonzaga (9-4) 173 (0)
25. Auburn (10-2) 168 (0)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: San Diego St. 113, Creighton 106, Colorado 86, Utah 82, Miami 41, Iowa St. 22, Michigan St. 15, Nevada 13, Texas A&M 13, Ohio St. 8, New Mexico 6, Dayton 5, Grand Canyon 5, South Carolina 4, Mississippi St. 4, Northwestern 3, Villanova 3, Alabama 3.Point values in parentheses indicate the number of first-place votes.
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Sports Illustrated
https://www.si.com/college/syracuse...son-recaps-syracuse-basketball-official-visit (PS; McAllister)
Syracuse basketball hosted one of the top wing prospects in the 2025 recruiting class for an official visit over the weekend. West Hartford (CT) Thomas More small forward London Jemison enjoyed his time on campus.
"The Syracuse visit, it was great," Jemison said. "I actually really enjoyed it. Just the coaches, the environment, the fans, the team made me feel welcome. I would say my favorite part of it was just building a relationship and bond with the coaches. Hearing what they have planned for me if I were to go there. Seeing the game, seeing the environment and how Syracuse fans just love Syracuse basketball."
The 6-8, 200 pounder is rated a four star prospect by Rivals and ESPN. The message from Syracuse during the visit was he can develop into a pro and fits their system well.
"They definitely see me as a versatile wing," Jemison said. "Someone who can shoot, get to the rim, dribble, pass, defend. They see me fitting in from that standpoint. Then they just see me getting better over there. Player development is big for them. They feel like they can prepare me for the next level above college. Definitely just have me coming in, bringing that winning mindset."
Jemison attended Syracuse's win over Pittsburgh on Saturday in the Dome and came away impressed by the fan support.
"I was actually surprised how many fans came to the game," Jemison said. "I knew the students were on break and not many students would be there. It was really surprising to see the atmosphere even without the students. I can only imagine how it would be with the students there."
Jemison's player hosts were Kyle Cuffe and Chance Westry. He also spent time with Justin Taylor and JJ Starling as well.
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ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Syracuse men head to Duke as one of league’s hottest teams (PS; $; Carlson)
The Syracuse men’s basketball team heads to Duke on Tuesday as the winners of five straight games, the second-longest winning streak in the ACC.
The Orange has been playing better basketball as the season goes deeper. It might have the ACC’s best bench unit, allowing head coach Adrian Autry can play different groups depending on how the game is being played.
All of that has the Orange on the edge of the NCAA tournament conversation and creates the potential for a breakout performance or an unwanted reality check during the team’s only game this week on Tuesday at Duke.
Here’s a look at how I’d rank the ACC this week.
1. Clemson
Record: 11-1 (1-0)
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week’s result: Win 93-58 vs. Radford
This week’s schedule: Wednesday at Miami; Saturday vs. North Carolina
Why No. 1? Old friend Joe Girard III had 24 points against Radford and is now averaging 15.6 points per game on a team that shoots 39.2 percent from behind the 3-point arc. That includes 45.8 percent from Girard.
The Tigers will have to prove they deserve this spot, facing a difficult opening week as conference play begins in earnest.
2. North Carolina
Record: 9-3 (1-0)Last week’s rank: 2
Last week’s result: Win 105-60 vs. Charleston Southern
This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Pittsburgh; Saturday at Clemson
Why No. 2? In a season full of strong performances, R.J. Davis may have delivered his most complete game of the year against Charleston Southern with a double-double effort that included 20 points, 10 assists, 5 steals and not a single turnover.
The Tar Heels don’t have a road win this season and will be tested at a raucous Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.
3. Duke
Record: 9-3 (0-1)Last week’s rank: 3
Last week’s result: Win 106-69 vs. Queens College
This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Syracuse; Saturday at Notre Dame
Why No. 3? Point guard Tyrese Proctor returned from injury against Queens College and came off the bench with 9 points and four assists. The Orange will get Duke at full strength on Tuesday.
4. Miami
Record: 10-2 (1-0)Last week’s rank: 4
Last week’s result: Win 95-55 vs. Stonehill
This week’s schedule: Wednesday vs. Clemson; Saturday at Wake Forest
Why No. 4? Miami’s Nijel Pack missed the Stonehill came with a back injury. The Hurricanes don’t have a lot of depth. They’ll need him back at full strength to handle a difficult schedule in the coming week.
5. Wake Forest
Record: 9-3 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s result: Win 86-63 vs. Virginia Tech
This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Boston College; Saturday vs. Miami
Why No. 5? Wake Forest owns the ACC’s longest active win streak with seven straight and delivered the league’s best performance last week with an annihilation of Virginia Tech.
The only transfer more impactful than Girard this season is likely Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis, previously of Gonzaga. He’s averaging 18.2 points per game to lead the Demon Deacons and had 20 against the Hokies.
6. Syracuse
Record: 10-3 (1-1)Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week’s result: Win 81-73 vs. Pittsburgh
This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Duke
Why No. 6? As long as Syracuse opts to continue with its current starting lineup the Orange might have the best bench in the conference thanks to Maliq Brown, Benny Williams and Quadir Copeland.
7. Virginia
Record: 10-3 (1-1)Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s result: Loss 76-54 at Notre Dame
This week’s schedule: Wednesday vs. Louisville; Saturday at North Carolina State
Why No. 7? One of the more fascinating questions this week is what to do with Virginia, which crushed Syracuse and owns a respectable NCAA Tournament resume but also has three blowout losses, including two in its last three games.
The blowout loss to Notre Dame has me skeptical about how the Cavaliers will perform the rest of the way.
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Which Syracuse Basketball Alum is Quadir Copeland Most Like? (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
Quadir Copeland has been on an absolute tear recently. In Syracuse basketball’s last four games, the guard is averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2 steals. He even broke his career-high in points three separate times in that span. That type of play is garnering plenty of comparisons to former Orange guards. Here are the best ones we’ve seen so far.
Michael Carter-Williams
Quadir Copeland is so similar to Michael Carter-Williams that the comparisons started well before he stepped on the court at SU. In fact, the Orange’s coaches even told him that he’d get to play the “MCW role” while recruiting him.
It just makes too much sense. Both are 6’6” guards that can drive to the hoop well, hold their own on the boards, and play suffocating defense. Their Syracuse careers have even played out similarly, with limited opportunities as freshman, but breakout sophomore campaigns.
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(youtube; video; ACC DN)
The Syracuse Orange rallied from an 8-point halftime deficit on their way to an 81-73 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Four players scored in double figures for the Orange, led by Quadir Copeland's 22 points. Benny Williams and Maliq Brown each scored 15 points in the win as well. The Panthers were led by freshman Carlton Carrington, who scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a losing effort.
X-Factor: McCain's scoring efficacy, energy crucial for Duke men's basketball against Syracuse (dukechronicle.com;/ Gorfain)
Coming off of a four-game win streak, the Blue Devils seem to be on the upswing from what is arguably a lackluster season thus far, and freshman guard Jared McCain’s energy on the court is no doubt a part of the team’s recent success. For the past four games, the Sacramento, Calif., native has been Duke’s top scorer.
A key aspect of McCain’s play is his ability to put points up on the scoreboard early into the game, subsequently adding fuel to the Blue Devils. In Duke’s game against Queens Saturday, the guard was the first to reach double-digits with 17 points in the first half. In total, the freshman put 24 points on the board, a career high. It is paramount that the Blue Devils keep up their offensive energy against Syracuse, who transform its opponents’ pockets of low energy into points off fastbreaks and turnovers.
When someone needs to change the game, McCain is up for the challenge. In Duke’s game against Baylor, the freshman drained a game-changing 3-pointer during the second half and scored a game-high 21 points, earning him the title of CBS Sports/USBWA Freshman of the Week. If the Blue Devils are in a tough spot Tuesday evening, the guard will be essential to the team’s redemption. Look out for more double digits from an energetic McCain against the Orange.
Syracuse: Judah Mintz
Syracuse is also riding a winning high of five consecutive victories, and sophomore guard Judah Mintz — who has been averaging a formidable 19.2 points per game this season — certainly won’t be ready to back down against Duke.The Fort Washington, Md., native is the Orange’s top scorer. In their win against Niagara, Mintz led the team with 18 points, all of which were scored in the paint. The sophomore is a master at the drive and layup, a skill that could make or break Syracuse Tuesday evening. The Blue Devils’ dominance of the paint is essential to their style of play, and the guard will need to battle for control to secure a win.
Mintz’s contribution to the Orange’s success also lies in his skill for forcing turnovers. He currently leads the team in steals, racking up an impressive 29 this season. To get ahead in its upcoming matchup, Syracuse will have to continue maximizing points off of turnovers — currently, the team averages 18.4 per game compared to Duke’s 16.7. Watch for Mintz to lead this effort Tuesday evening.
Podcast #576: Syracuse In The House! (DBR; podcast; Wine II)
On Episode 576, Jason is back from the slopes to join Donald as they preview tomorrow’s Duke Blue Devils game against the Syracuse Orange.
The Orange have a new coach, as Jim Boeheim has retired and Adrian Autry is now in charge. With that coaching change has come the switch from the 2-3 matchup zone to man-to-man on defense. It also has come with more tempo when they’re defending the ball. Donald and Jason go through the Orange’s metrics, who they’ve played, and which players Duke should pay attention to when they take the floor.
After the break, we discuss the tweet from Mark Mitchell’s dad that came in the late hours after the victory over Queens.
The tweet caused a lot of confusion among the Duke fanbase, but Donald and Jason are here to take a measured approach on what it means and how Mark Mitchell can get back on track on the offensive end this season, particularly from beyond the arc.
Make sure you’re following us! Head to our Linktree to get all our available social media and links to follow and subscribe to the show. Don’t forget, we have affiliate partnerships with Homefield Apparel (use the code DBRPODCAST to save 15% off your first order) as well as Fanatics. Save some cash by hitting those affiliate links and it helps to support the show. Also, follow us on Twitter @DukeRoundup!
Other
Disney on Ice Presents “Mickey’s Search Party takes the ice of the Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse foe four days of performances. Courtesy of Sallie Palmieri Rego of Feld EntertainmentCourtesy of Sallie Palmieri Rego of Feld Entertainment
First Day hikes, Disney on Ice, Ultimate RV Show: 12 things to do this week in Central NY (PS; Croyle)
Happy New Year and welcome to 2024!
The week ahead of us is a busy one as we transition from the holidays.
If you have more walking and exercise on your New Year’s resolution list, you are in luck with many First Day hikes around Central New York, including at Fort Ontario, Clark Reservation, and Beaver Lake Nature Center.
The week also includes the Ultimate RV Show at two buildings at the New York State Fairgrounds for those of us already dreaming of summer.
Disney on Ice will be at the War Memorial for a weekend of shows at the War Memorial. The Palace Theatre has three Elvis Presley tribute performers on Friday night and Van Hager relives the “Sammy” era of Van Halen in Oneida on Saturday.
Know of an event you would like to see on this list? Email us at least two weeks in advance at features@syracuse.com.
Monday
First Day Hike
The Friends of Clark Reservation State Park will once again be hosting a “First Day Hike” on New Year’s Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year’s drew over 350 people who started the new year off with an invigorating hike through the woods. There will be two guided hikes: an easier “walking hike” (about an hour) on mostly flat or slightly inclined ground, as well as a more challenging hike (about 2 - 3 hours) for those who like more of a challenge. Hikers are also welcome to hike the Clark Reservation trails on their own. Friendly dogs are welcome on a leash. Online registration is encouraged: First Day Hike 2024 | Mysite . On-site sign-in begins at 10:45 at the large pavilion at the end of the main parking lot. Light refreshments will be available at the Nature Center from noon until 2.Where: 6105 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville
When: Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
How much: Free
Beaver Lake hike
The Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville will also be holding a first day hike on Monday. Starting at 10 a.m., the one-hour hike will be led by a Beaver Lake naturalist. It is free with park admission.Where: 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville
When: Monday at 10 a.m.
How much: Free with park admission, $5/vehicle.
Fort Ontario
2024 marks the centennial celebration of the New York State Parks and Historic Sites. You can start your tour of these cherished lands this year at the First Day hike at Fort Ontario from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grab a self-guided tour booklet from AmeriCorps staffer Jonathan Kobelia inside the old stone Fort and walk in the footsteps of history. Please dress warmly and wear adequate footwear. Bring a friend or your leashed dog....
Ryan McMahon: Onondaga County is ready for next big challenges, including Micron preparations (PS; Weaver)
Onondaga County is ready for its next big challenges, from providing more housing to training a new generation of workers, because of the way community leaders collaborated during the coronavirus pandemic, County Executive Ryan McMahon said today.
“This community did really, really well,” McMahon said moments after taking the oath to serve a second full term as county executive. “And this community was tested. And because of that we were prepared to believe in the next chapter.”
That next chapter includes Micron Technology’s pledge to invest up to $100 billion in Clay to build a computer chip manufacturing complex. But that optimism comes with a list of serious challenges, McMahon noted, from tackling lead poisoning in Syracuse’s children to bolstering the number of doctors, nurses and mental health care providers in the community.
“We have to figure out how we’re going to get out of a housing crisis in a smart and intuitive way,” McMahon told a crowd of about 100 people at the Everson Museum of Art. “We have to prepare a workforce for a growing community not just for semiconductor manufacturing, but for the jobs that are here today.”
McMahon, a Republican, easily fended off a challenge last fall from Democrat Bill Kinne. In the end, McMahon got 61% of about 90,000 votes cast. Kinne got 37%, according to county election results.
Today, New York Supreme Court Justice Rory McMahon, who is Ryan’s cousin, swore him in. Ryan McMahon was joined by his family, including sons Jack and Andrew, and his fiancee Alicia Turner.
At the end of administering the oath today, Justice McMahon added a familiar Sunday shout: “Go Bills!”
County Executive McMahon burst out laughing. He’s a fan and shareholder of the Green Bay Packers.
Others in attendance today included District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Syracuse University Vice Chancellor Michael Haynie.
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Actor Chevy Chase filming new Christmas movie in Central New York (PS; Herbert)
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” star Chevy Chase is starring in a new holiday film that will be shot in Central New York.
Director Tori Hunter announced Thursday that Chase will have a role in her new movie, “The Christmas Letter.” The story centers on an “everyday man who gets a Christmas letter every year from his (wealthier) friend” and decides to take his family on “wild, crazy adventures” for a whole year in an attempt to top his friend’s Christmas letter.
“It’s a holiday film that goes past the holidays,” Hunter explained. “I love that we get to go on a whole year of him searching for happiness and joy until he finds his true happiness... is right in front of him with his family.”
According to WKTV, “The Christmas Letter” is set to film scenes in Utica next month. A recent casting call was looking for extras in the Central New York area to be part of the production.
Chase, 80, is an Emmy-winning actor who was an original cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” His credits include “Caddyshack,” “Fletch,” “Three Amigos,” “Community,” and the Syracuse-set “Snow Day,” plus his iconic role as Clark Griswold in the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” franchise.
Chase previously visited Syracuse in 2019 and Utica in 2021 for screenings of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” He met with fans and participated in a Q&A for the John Hughes-scripted 1989 holiday classic about a married father of two whose plans for a big family celebration turn into disaster with memorable scenes involving Christmas lights, sledding, gift shopping, a squirrel, and a visit from Cousin Eddie.
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