MVHS facility Madison County Lukas off earns stroke farmers roll out to the races Page 9 designation red carpet Page 3 Page 4 157 YEARS FAMILY OWNED ROME, N.Y. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 | OUR 139TH YEAR | $1.00 Mostly sunny Offi cials tout growth in city, Griffi ss Tomorrow’s weather Lieutenant governor in Rome to help cut ribbon at Orgill and Cold Point; tour additional projects sponsored by BY NICOLE A. HAWLEY came another downfall with the closing of Staff writer Griffi ss Air Force Base in 1995. “All roads lead to Rome.” “I tell you this history today because it’s In an address to company and local part of a great future,” said Hochul, adding offi cials, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul shared that working hard is “in the blood” of local the history of Rome and Griffi ss Air Force workers who will be loyal to their employ- base in order to recognize the growth and ers. “… There are still better days ahead. new life created as more businesses con- As they say, ‘Rome was not built in a day,’ 1149 Erie Blvd. W. • 315–709–9096 tinue to come make Griffi ss Business and but you can say” this distribution center More weather on page 5 Technology Park home. “was basically done in a day, and it’s the “This is an exciting day and thanks for best pandemic story I’ve heard yet.” Saturday — Mostly sunny. having faith in us,” said Hochul as she Back in 2019 when Orgill announced Highs in the lower 70s. West addressed representatives of Orgill. it would make a home in Rome, it was winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts The lieutenant governor was among anticipated that at minimum, around 225 up to 20 mph. Saturday night dignitaries for the offi cial ribbon cutting new jobs would be created for the region. — Partly cloudy with a 50% ceremony and Rome Area Chamber of Today, company offi cials said that number chance of showers. Lows in Commerce First Dollar of Profi t Award will increase to around 300. the mid 50s. presentation at Orgill, Inc. Distribution Orgill, Inc. President and CEO Boy- center located at 1 Atlas Drive on Thurs- den Moore commended Vice-president day morning. NEW FACILITY UNVEILED — Cold Point St., part of the former Rome Cable brownfi eld of Northeast Distribution Mark Scanlon Despite the odds and challenges pre- for assembling a “great team,” in Rome, Briefly sented during the construction phase as President Steve Schreppel, center, speaks during site. In the background are: Shawna Papale, of a ribbon-cutting ceremony as Lt. Gov. Kathy Mohawk Valley EDGE; Oneida County Executive with the number of company vendors and the COVID-19 pandemic struck soon after customers continuing to grow. Griffo asks feds groundbreaking, Orgill nonetheless man- Hochul, right, looks on at the ribbon cutting cere- Anthony J. Picente Jr., and Rome Mayor Jacque- mony of the company’s new facility at 510 Henry (Sentinel photo by John Clifford) Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo opened aged to construct and open their state- line M. Izzo. remarks by noting the “interesting nego- for more COPS of-the-art facility six months ahead of tiations” that took place in order to bring funding with letter their projected opening date last month. In her remarks, Hochul went on to residents helped build the Empire State Orgill to Rome and get the company up The facility located across Route 825 identify Rome and the central New York with the building of the Erie Canal and to president and running ahead of schedule during the from the Wingate by Wyndham, occu- region as a solid contributor to the state’s the businesses that grew along it as a pandemic. State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, pies 776,000-square-feet, with another economy that is overcoming an economic result. Manufacturing jobs were pivotal R-47, Rome, has written a let- 250,000-square feet of exterior storage downturn through teamwork. She noted in helping to lift the area out of the Great ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ter to President Joseph Biden space. through the region’s history how area Depression and into World War II. Then Economic development and Congress urging for more federal funds for the Commu- nity Oriented Policing Ser- vices program. Councilors The COPS program was established in 1994 with the passage of the Violent Crimi- discuss nal Control and Law Enforce- ment Act and is intended to enhance public safety legislation for through the implementation of community policing strat- egies. Griffo, R-47, Rome, historic district said that COPS received BY NICOLE A. HAWLEY upwards of $1 billion in Staff writer funds throughout the 1990s, but the amount per year has Updates on legislation meant to deem decreased recently, with only Erie Canal Village property as an “his- $386 million earmarked for toric district” so that it may reopen as 2021. President Biden then a museum and tourist destination was increased the amount to $651 discussed during Wednesday’s Common million for 2022, Griffo said. Council meeting. During councilor reports, Third Ward In his letter, Griffo asked Councilor Kimberly Rogers started com- for the President and Con- ments by thanking Rome Historical Soci- gress to increase that amount ety — RHS Trustee Bobbie O’Brien and going forward due to an Executive Director Arthur L. Simmons increase in reported crimes III — who “spent a lot of time at ECV last across New York. week,” along with owner Rick Rios, of Brea, Calif., who was in town for about a week. During that time period, RHS helped FUN FEEDING — Three-year-old William Field, of Alder Creek, chuckles William’s fi rst time at a fair and his fi rst close encounter with a food-loving the city by identifying and categorizing in the arms of his mom, Tanya Field, as he feeds one of the two camels camel. artifacts still on the ECV property to on display at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair petting zoo. The event was (Sentinel photos by John Clifford) determine what was not only salvage- Facebook: able, but what items had clear title and https://www.facebook.com/ belonged to the city. RomeDailySentinel RHS “is an organization with vested Twitter: interest in preserving history, and they are @RomeSentinel working with the city to secure artifacts and separate them from others” in the Web: RomeSentinel.com collection, Rogers said. “The mayor is Email: [email protected] working with Mr. Simmons so we can get Phone: 315–337–4000 artifacts off site and into another building the city owns. So this is an exciting time — we’re fi nally putting this behind us and we’re fi nally able to have those artifacts.” Inside As for a zoning update on the Rome- New London Road property, Rogers said Stocks .............................. 5 she and Sixth Ward Councilor Riccardo Editorial .......................... 6 D. Dursi Jr. attended a public information session opened by Rios on July 17 where Comics ............................ 7 he shared his plans for the ECV property. Sports ......................... 9-11 Concerning proposed legislation that Family, Movies ........ 12-13 would allow the ECV property to reside in Classified ................. 14-15 an historic district so that it may reopen as a museum, Rogers said, “I am forward- ing all of you information on the fi nal draft now,” including a map from Deputy Direc- tor of Community and Economic Devel- opment Matthew Andrews, “that identifi es the property description and we’ll get FIRING OFF THE LINE — Derek Hawkins, of Ava, catches some air CHEERING HIM ON — Alissa Tuthill holds 1-year-old Lincoln Hawkins that on the agenda for the next council with his front tires of his Minneapolis Moline as he charges off the start as his dad — and Tuthill’s stepson — Derek Hawkins competes in the line during the tractor pull competition at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair tractor pull competition at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair on Thursday. ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 on Thursday. More photos from the fair, page 8 and online at www.romesentinel.com. Common Council 7824 RIDGE Established in Gift MILLS ROAD 1915 Certificates 315–337–MEAT (6328) Available NEW STORE HOURS: MEATS & DELI & PRODUCE MON–SAT 8–8; SUN 9–7 Check us out online at: mazzdeli.com PAGE 2 DAILY SENTINEL, ROME, N.Y., romesentinel.com, FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 Police: Woman should have kept paws off dog outside store A 33-year-old woman is Police said they were able to accused of stealing a dog she locate the women due to their found tied up outside the Dollar work uniforms and the dog was General in Rome, according to recovered. Police said the case law enforcement officials. against Amber L. Wilcox, of Onei- Police said a Rome man took da, was turned over to Rome City his dog for a walk to the Dollar Court and a criminal summons General on Black River Boule- was issued on a charge of petty vard at about 5:30 p.m. June 9. larceny. Police said the man left the dog According to police, Wilcox tied up outside the store while said she thought the dog had he went shopping. When the man been abandoned. came back out, the dog was gone. Wilcox answered the sum- Police said a witness in the mons on Wednesday, authorities area told the man that two stated. She is scheduled to reap- women had taken the dog and pear in court. The second woman had driven off. was not charged. CONVEYOR BELTS — Workers at the Orgill Distribution Center, 1 Atlas Drive, company and local officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the site on Thurs- Deputies: Man of threatened in the Griffiss Business and Technology Park, are hard at work below a large day.