Mission
Rome Weed & Seed is continually working with the public and creating positive and successful programs and events. Keep up to date with all the past and recent happenings of Weed & Seed with the following press releases.
Dec
03Pen Pals Needed
Rome Revisit the old form of communication so often overlooked with todays electronic technology by joining the pen pal program at Gansevoort Elementary School. Second grade students will learn the art of letter writing through the successful pen pal program that is running for its second consecutive year. This program has been very successful in the past, said Ed Carolla, Safe Schools Coordinator. We look forward to making this years program even more successful by pairing every student with a pen pal. The program is run in cooperation with Rome Weed & Seed and the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative. Interested seniors and other community members who are willing to receive and respond to letters and enhance a childs education are encouraged to contact Ed Carolla at 334-5184.
Nov
21The Elders in Concert
Rome Tickets are now on sale for The Elders concert scheduled for January 12, 2008 at the Capitol Theatre in Rome, presented by Rome Weed & Seed. The widely popular, contemporary Irish Band performed recently at The Great American Irish Music Festival in Frankfort and are excited to return to Central New York for a one time performance.
The Elders create original music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music and they deliver it with passion and fire. The songs are mystical, comical, political and cultural, while covering a wide variety of topics such as poverty, civil war, family bonds, spirituality, love and friendship. They tell us stories of people, places and events - some distant, some recent, some real and some imagined. Robert Oermann of Music Row Magazine calls The Elders a band to shout from the rooftops about".
To show community spirit, the concert will also include a performance from the YMCA Center for the Creative Arts. An unbelievably talented group of musicians who have performed and recorded with many famous performers and continue to show their talent by winning international competitions. To compliment the Irish theme of the night, local dancers from the Butler-Sheehan Academy of Irish Dance will perform jigs and reels as they demonstrate the ancient dance that has been made famous by acts such as The Lord of the Dance and Riverdance.
This event is an important fundraiser for Rome Weed & Seed. Proceeds from this concert will go towards the Prudy Ellinger scholarship fund that was established in memory of one of Weed & Seeds founding members. The scholarship fund is designed to benefit a local youth who wishes to further their education. The recipient will exhibit the same qualities of leadership and community involvement that made Prudy such an inspiration in our community, and to those that loved her.
Funds will also be applied towards projects that cannot be funded through the Department of Justice Grant. Projects such as the Community Gardens and the Paint Giveaway are unallowable costs that must come from alternative sources in order to continue. These projects positively impact the community, and continue in the redevelopment and reinvestment in our community.
In addition, a portion of all ticket sales will be applied towards the renovation fund of the historic Capitol Theatre. This theater features one of only a few Moller theatre organs in the nation. The organ was restored in 2002 and since then has been used on a regular basis to accompany silent movies. The Theatre is raising money to rebuild the marquee that once adorned the front of the building.
Looking for a great holiday gift for friends and family? Tickets to The Elders concert will satisfy young and old and the difficult to buy for. Give the gift of music and entertainment while helping to make our community safer, as this concert will not be easily forgotten. Tickets are available at the following venues: Garys Music, 229 West Dominick Street, Rome; Accents of Ireland, New Hartford Shopping Center; Rome Federal Credit Union, 937 Seneca Street, Rome; Rome YMCA, 301 West Bloomfield Street, Rome; Oneida YMCA, 701 Seneca Street, Oneida; and online at www.ymcatrivalley.org. General admission tickets are $20 in advance, $15 for students and seniors and $25 at the door.
For more information please contact Kathy Stockbridge, Weed & Seed Site Coordinator at (315) 838-1713 or kstockbridge@romecitygov.com.
Oct
15Gansevoort's Winterization and Safety Clinic
Gansevoort Elementary School, a Weed & Seed Safe Haven, will hold its annual Winterization and Safety Clinic on Saturday, October 20 from 9am to 11am. The clinic is free and open to all parents and community members to learn how to winterize your home. With winter fast approaching and energy costs continually on the rise, this is the perfect opportunity to obtain information on surviving the winter. A free breakfast will be provided from 8:30am to 9am followed by information and demonstration sessions by ACE Hardware. In addition to winterization information, a representative from the Rome Fire Department will be available to promote Fire Prevention Month with important safety tips. Weed and Seed is a community-based multiagency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. This initiative is a comprehensive strategy - not simply a program - to assist communities in bringing together people and resources to prevent and control crime and improve the overall quality of life. Weed and Seed relies on volunteers and active community members to promote unity in our community. For more information on Weed & Seed please contact Kathy Stockbridge, Weed & Seed Site Coordinator at 838-1713 or kstockbridge@romecitygov.com. Gansevoort Elementary School is located at 758 West Liberty Street, Rome. For more information and to RSVP please contact the school at 334-5184.
Oct
02Weed & Seed Job Fair
The NYS Department of Labors Workforce New York and the Herkimer/Madison/Oneida Working Solutions present their third annual Community Job Fair sponsored by Rome Weed & Seed on Thursday, October 11 from 10am to 3pm. The Job Fair will be held at the New York State Armory located at 1110 Black River Boulevard, Rome. Local area employers including: Apac, Birnie Bus, Centro of Oneida, Columbia Place, East Coast Olive Oil, DFAS, Empire Aero, Fiber Instrument Sales, Girl Scouts, First Choice Staffing, Harden, Human Technologies Corporation, Kelly Services, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Oneida Healthcare, Rome Memorial Hospital, Staffworks, The Bank of New York, Upstate Cerebral Palsy, Vernon Downs, and branches of the military will be available to talk to interested applicants in a wide variety of career options. An interview preparation class will be held during the Job Fair to provide interested applicants with tips on how to prepare for an interview, how to answer interview questions and the best way to present yourself in a successful manner. For assistance in preparation of your resume for the upcoming Job Fair, please contact One Stop in Rome at 356-0552, in Oneida at 363-2400, and in Utica 792-2229. For questions about the event, contact Kathy Stockbridge at 838-1713 or by email at kstockbridge@romecitygov.com.
Aug
29Weed & Seed Reps Attend National Conference
Rome Weed and Seed representatives recently attended the 2007 Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO) National Conference, Promoting Unity in Each Community in Detroit, Michigan. Bruce Hairston, Co-Chair of Seeding; James Masucci, Co-Chair of Weeding; Kathy Stockbridge, Site Coordinator; Julie Stickel, Public Relations and Mary Jeanne Hubbell, resident, attended the bi-annual conference that consisted of learning labs, training sessions, plenary sessions, breakout sessions, workshops and exhibitors and provided a great opportunity to gain knowledge of the latest developments in community prevention and control and law enforcement technology. The conference is part of an ongoing series of required training to maintain the Weed and Seed accreditation. All expenses associated with the conference were underwritten by Weed and Seed. More than 1500 people attended the conference representing over 300 Weed and Seed Sites in the nation. Across the country, Weed and Seed sites are creating healthy communities that offer safe after-school programs, free tax assistance, and job training, said Dennis Greenhouse, Director of CCDO. These successes restore our commitment to this work, and we want to take this moment to congratulate everyone involved with a Weed and Seed site, whether you serve as a site manager, law enforcement officer, or safe haven volunteer. Rome was nationally recognized through the Weed and Seed National Poster Contest that encompassed the theme How Weed and Seed Has Changed My Neighborhood. Emily Colvin, a second grade student at Gansevoort Elementary School won first place in category 1 of the competition. Her colorful drawing depicted community involvement which creates a safer place for the community to live. Emily was recently recognized for her achievement at the Weed and Seed National Night Out held at Fort Stanwix Park on August 7, 2007. Rome was also recognized nationally for the local Camp CEAL program that originated at Rome Free Academy. Melissa DAntonio-ORourke, Project Director Rome City School District, Rome Free Academy coordinated the program in 2005 and led the breakout session at the conference. The community after school program, aimed at fourth grade students, provides an environment where students learn important life skills through experience. CEAL Leaders (Rome Free Academy High School Students) are trained to lead the fourth graders in recreational activities to provide opportunities for the students to build character, responsibility, citizenship, and trust worthiness. Additional skills learned through the program include, communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, anger management, stress and time management, decision making, organizational skills, and goal setting. CEAL was specifically designed to meet the needs of the Rome Community, said ORourke. Her breakout session provided other Weed and Seed Sites the opportunity to take the knowledge from the Rome program and apply it to suit their own communities. Participants showed great interest and enthusiasm in the program. It is an honor for this successful local program to be recognized and shared on a national level at a conference of this caliber. The City of Rome Weed and Seed was recently awarded a grant of $200,000 to continue to reduce crime in target neighborhoods and promote neighborhood revitalization. This grant is the second the Weed and Seed site has received since earning official recognition in June 2006. Over the past year we have achieved great success with this program, said Stockbridge. Through continuing success and training opportunities we hope to sustain the positive measures we are currently accomplishing and continue to improve our community. Collaborating with other Weed and Seed sites throughout the nation provided our local representatives with a greater understanding of crime prevention and seeding strategies that are necessary to improve our quality of life, said Mayor James F. Brown. Their continued dedication and work ethic, along with the involvement of the community provides the framework necessary to succeed. For more information about Weed and Seed or to volunteer please contact Kathy Stockbridge at kstockbridge@romecitygov.com or 838-1713.
Aug
09Arcuri Announces Weed & Seed Grant for Rome
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) announced that the U.S. Department Justice has approved a $200,000 grant to the City of Rome to reduce crime in target neighborhoods and promote neighborhood revitalization. As a former Oneida County District Attorney, I know first-hand how critical community building programs like Weed and Seed are to reducing crime and fostering development in our cities most vulnerable areas, said Arcuri, who spoke in support of federal funding for the Weed and Seed program on the floor of the House yesterday. The Weed and Seed program helps localities develop programs to weed out and deter crime and then take the all-important step often left out of planting seeds in the formerly high-crime areas with programs to promote neighborhood revitalization. The Rome Weed and Seed site received Official Recognition in June 2006. This grant is the sites second award to implement its strategy. During the project period, law enforcement will identify and reduce drug incidents and drug-related crimes, and reduce the number if violent crimes committed in the designated area. Community policing goals will work to improve community relations. Prevention, intervention, and treatment goals include the creation of a safe haven, providing a variety of programs and services focusing on drug abuse, prevention, and other behavioral problems. Neighborhood restoration goals strive to restore the community by increasing homeownership opportunities and employment opportunities. Weed and Seed is a perfect example of residents and the community volunteering together to make our City a safer place to live, work and play, said Mayor James F. Brown. It is through the dedication of Coordinator Kathy Stockbridge and the community involvement that allows our City to move forward in a positive direction and ultimately improve our quality of life. This funding will allow us to proactively attack our crime while seeding with preventative programming that will allow us to sustain the positive measures we are currently accomplishing, said Kathy Stockbridge, Weed and Seed Site Coordinator. Over the past year we have achieved great success with this program and we are grateful that we will be able to continue the positive work that has been carried out this far. Yesterday, as a member of the House Rules Committee, Arcuri led the debate on a resolution providing for consideration of the fiscal year 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill (H.R. 3093), which includes increased funding for the Justice Departments Weed and Seed program. It is an honor to be able to announce this grant for the City of Rome so soon after I spoke on the floor of the House in support of increased federal funding for the Weed and Seed program, said Arcuri. The fiscal year 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3093) would provide $50 million dollars, 52 percent more than current funding, for the Weed and Seed program. The funds will be used to sponsor activities such as truancy prevention, conflict resolution, mentoring, and job-training for at-risk youths in cities like Rome nationwide. H.R. 3093 also includes $725 million dollars for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, 25 percent above the current funding level. As well as, $40 million dollars for grants, technical assistance, and training to state and local governments to develop dedicated drug courts that subject non-violent offenders to an integrated mix of treatment, drug testing, incentives, and sanctions. H.R. 3093 is expected to pass the House of Representatives today.
July
31National Night Out
Join Rome Weed and Seed for a National Night Out full of fun, food, and entertainment Tuesday, August 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. With support from Target, Rome Savings Bank, Ace Hardware, WXUR, Neighborhood Watch groups, and the Rome Police and Fire Departments, Rome Weed and Seed presents its second annual event. New to National Night Out this year is the National Guards rock climbing wall in addition to music, vendors, face painting, the YMCA inflatable obstacle course, fingerprinting by the Rome Police and Fire Departments and the Oneida County Smokehouse. National Night Out, also known as Americas Night Out Against Crime, is a nationwide effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. It is an opportunity to promote police-community partnership, drug and crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in National Night Out not only by attending the event, but taking part in events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, rallies or neighborhood meetings, among others. National Night Out will be held rain or shine at Fort Stanwix Park, on the corner of James Street and Turin Road.
Jan
31SK8 Jam
Weed and Seed, The City of Rome and The New York National Guard Counter Drug Task Force presents the first SK8 Jam to be held in Rome, NY from February 21 to 23, 2007. Join us for a drug and alcohol free community skating event for all levels of skateboarders and in-line skaters aged eight and up. The Rome Armory located at 1110 Black River Boulevard will have numerous skate ramps set up providing a safe and fun environment for hanging out with your buddies and skating during the winter school break. Open skating will take place on Wednesday, February 21 and Thursday, February 22 from 10am to 4pm where all skaters are welcome to enjoy skating, gaming music and fun. K-Rock will broadcast live from the Armory on Friday, February 23 for the SK8 Jam skateboarding competition. There will also be a rock climbing wall, raffles, door prizes, gaming and food vendors. Admission is free for the three day event but skaters may want to bring some money for purchasing lunch and buying raffle tickets for raffles that will be drawn throughout the day offering more chances of winning great prizes. To promote participation and excitement of the event, local schools are participating in a SK8 Jam poster contest that either concentrates on the physics of skating or the safety issues involved with skating. A representative from the US Attorneys office will judge the contest on Friday and award the winners. Children under the age of 18 must be registered by a parent or guardian and sign a waiver. Get your entrance application now at www.romenewyork.com or www.counterdrug.com and bring with you on the day of the SK8 Jam. For more information about the event, please contact 838-1713. Grab your friends, your skateboard or your in-line skates and rip and grind your way to the Rome Armory on February 21-23 for fun, entertainment, games and skating, skating and more skating.
July
2006National Night Out
Rome Weed and Seed in a collaborative effort with Target, Lowes, our local Neighborhood Watch groups, the Rome Police and Fire Departments, and several area sponsors are happy to extend an invitation to you to participate in Romes first annual National Night Out celebration. National Night Out, also known as Americas Night Out Against Crime, is a nationwide effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. This year represents the 22nd year of National Night Out. Last year more than 34.2 million people in more than 10,325 communities from all 50 states participated. It is anticipated that more than 10,500 communities will participate this year.
Communities involved in the past have raised awareness for crime prevention through:
- lights on and front porch vigils
- block parties
- cookouts
- parades
- visits from police
- festivals
- neighborhood walks
- safety fairs
- contests
- rallies
- and meetings
Hope to see you there. Kathy Stockbridge Weed & Seed Site Coordinator 838-1713
May
2006Spitzer Presents Neighborhood Watch Awards
New York State Attorney General Spitzer recognized 11 neighborhood and community watch organizations for their efforts to create safer and healthier communities and boost civic pride. The awards were presented at the Spitzer's Neighborhood Watch Conference during which community leaders, local law enforcement, and neighborhood activists gathered for a series of workshops and information sessions focusing on topics ranging from reducing gang violence to preparing for emergencies in the community to forging relationships with local law enforcement and government leaders. "These award recipients have sent a clear message that their neighborhood is unified, caring, and organized, and will not tolerate crime, drugs, or violence in their communities," said Spitzer. The Attorney General's Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence were earned by the following groups:
City of Rome's Neighborhood Watch Association of Block Coalitions (ABC) - (Oneida County)
Since 2002, the City of Rome Neighborhood Watch Group has emphasized the proactive nature of residents. Meetings and community projects conducted by the various ward watch groups are more frequent and turnout and involvement has increased. Collaboration among various stakeholders, including educators, libraries and community-based organizations has been pursued. Members have attended the police department's Civilian Police Academy where volunteers gain knowledge about police procedures, criminal laws and code enforcement, evidence preservation and collection, and criminal and accident investigations. Watch members joined with law enforcement to participate in a "CSI" scenario to understand how police investigate a crime scene. Additionally, members have been pursuing a Weed and Seed strategy engaging local businesses, addressing restoration projects and working on youth development and safety initiatives.
Town of Tonawanda Crime Resistance Executive Board (Erie County)
Champlain Street/Frost Avenue/Iceland Park Block Club (Monroe County)
Irondequoit Crime Prevention Coalition (Monroe County)
Southwest Sector 4 Court Watch Program (Monroe County)
Johnson City Neighborhood Watch Group (Broome County)
Trafford and Savitch Road Neighborhood Watch (Broome County)
Utica Weed and Seed Program, Home Ownership Center (Oneida County)
Schenectady Neighborhood Watch (Schenectady County)
Long Beach Auxiliary Police (Nassau County)
The NorthEast Bronx Association, Inc. (Bronx)