Area athletes honored |  | | | | | | The Central New York Lady Hurricanes took the summer 14 and under season by storm, amassing an impressive record. | |
ROME - The House that Romans Built was busting at the seams last Sunday, as area athletes were honored for their achievements over the past several months.
Long-time area coach Bill Fleet presided over the festivities, as nine local baseball and softball teams were honored for winning their respective leagues and one young man was recognized for his outstanding performance in three area events.
Bill quizzed the young athletes with a variety of baseball trivia questions and kept the crowd updated on the status of the two championship games being played by the major leagues while the gals in the back kept a steady flow of cookies and cold drinks flowing. I'm still trying to determine who baked the chocolate chips, they were excellent.
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| Griffiss Air Force Base history immortalized | | | | | | | More than 50 years of Rome military history have been preserved for the ages by author Peter M. Leonard in his new pictorial book “Griffiss Air Force Base,” released on Sept. 15 by Arcadia Publishing. Leonard will sign copies of the book Sept 27 at 1 p.m. at Barnes and Noble in New Hartford, on Sept 30 at 6 p.m. at the Rome Historical Society, and on Oct. 18th at 1 p.m. at the Oneida County Historical Society in Utica. | |
ROME - Author Peter M. Leonard recalls that living near the Griffiss Air Force Base when he was a youngster was like having another world practically in his back yard.
"To the average civilian of Rome, Griffiss was off limits," Leonard said of the former military base. "However, my mom had worked at Rome Lab and every now and again I would go with dad to pick her up from work. To a kid, it was always an exciting venture to see the heavily-armed Air Police at the gates. Once you got in it really was a different world in there. It is amazing that you can now travel up and down Floyd Avenue and Chestnut Street to drive right through the former base. What a drastic change from 20 years ago."
His interaction with the Griffiss Air Force Base started even before Leonard was born. His father, also named Peter, was a New Jersey native stationed there from 1959 to 1963. The air policeman met Leonard's mother, the former Johanna DeProspero and a Rome native, at Griffiss, where she worked at Rome Lab as a management assistant. They were married in 1964.
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| A princess for all seasons | | | | | | | Last October we ran this wonderful picture showing an excited April Witusik as she checked out the barrier free playground equipment that was installed at Guyer Field last year. The courageous young lady, who for years worked tirelessly for the disabled, all the while battling her own disability, passed on September 10. Her friends, family and co-workers agree that this feisty gal’s legacy will last for generations to come. April was an advocate for the disabled and never stopped working to find new ways to improve their quality of life. The indelible mark that she has left on our community should serve as a challenge for us to continue her good works. Rest in peace Princess. | |
ROME - Last year when I spoke to April, I asked her what she thought about the brightly colored playground equipment. She replied, "This is great!" She then relaxed and quelled her enthusiasm just a bit and added, "this will be such a beautiful place for all kids to have fun, side by side." The ever-present smile on her face returned, wider and brighter than ever.
April was born in 1963 with a serious spinal condition. Her dad, Dave Witusik, explained that the doctors had given her a slim chance of surviving to age five. "She was a miracle from the very start," explained Dave. "They brought a doctor all the way from England to perform an emergency surgery to elevate a fluid problem. April was only the third person in the world to undergo that surgery at the time."
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| Awesome Autumn Adventure
ROME - Erie Canal Village Presents Awesome Autumn Adventure Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays September 27 to October 31.
The village will be open Fridays 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays, Columbus Day and Halloween 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The village is taking reservations for Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for school age groups with a $5 special rate.
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| Leaving a legacy in iron | | | | | | | Three brothers of a third generation “Rome Grown” business are, from left, Christopher, Agostino and Mark Raulli, of Raulli Ornamental Iron Works, at 133 Mill St., in Rome. Standing amidst their new addition, which sports a versatile high bay overhead crane, the Raulli boys are setting the stage to take their 97-year-old family business to the next level of development. If you have a desire to enhance your property with a touch of ornate metalwork, either for function or fashion, these are the folks to see. The artisans at Raulli’s offer some of the finest craftsmanship as they take a project from concept to reality. And their creations can be enjoyed for generations to come. | |
ROME - Blacksmithing is considered by many to be a lost art, but in Rome it not only is very much alive, but thriving. This story really begins on the docks of Ellis Island in the spring of 1903, when young Agostino Raulli first laid eyes on Lady Liberty, in New York Harbor.
At 23, Agostino came to America, as many immigrants did, to build a better life for themselves and their families. After establishing himself in Rome, he worked hard, assimilated into the new culture as best he could and eventually started his own business in 1911.
By 1915, he felt it was time to send for his wife, Elvira Macciocca-Raulli. She arrived at Ellis Island on April 1 of that year.
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| Capt. Albert P. Eisinger may be retired, but firefighting is in his blood | | | | | | | Capt. Albert P. Eisenger, retired, looks over the beautifully colored brass plaque that bares his name. Above are the service plaques for his dad, Albert J. and his Uncle Francis H. Eisenger. The plaques honoring the three Eisengers are located at the City of Rome Fire and Police Memorial Park and are a part of the Honor Wall Memorial, a unique collection of plaques honoring the men who have served this city’s fire and police departments. | |
ROME - Long before he joined the Rome Fire Department in 1952, Albert P. Eisenger had already spent many an hour at the Liberty Street station helping out, watching, learning and getting to know the guys, all in preparation for the one thing that this young man wanted to do with his life; become a fireman like his dad and uncle.
I'd been after Al for some time now to get this story, but trying to catch him when he's not busy is like trying to get an appointment with a rock star just before the concert starts. He's a very active guy in this community and is a very dedicated volunteer at St Mary's Parish where he grew up.
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