🌱 Patch AM: How one small ride in Thornden Park changed two lives

Hello Syracuse! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How one small ride in Thornden Park changed two lives
• How will the new I-81 ramps change your daily Syracuse commute?
• Why Syracuse crime is dropping—and why police aren’t celebrating yet

Also on today's calendar: NYE Bash.

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Sun and areas of low clouds, with a high of 36 and low of 31 degrees.
• Tuesday: Snow and flurries at times, temps: high: 37, low: 32.
• Wednesday: Low clouds, with a high of 35 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Community connection: Emotional moment for N.Y. woman after officer steps in to help with groceries (police1.com) — A Syracuse police officer’s simple offer of a ride in Thornden Park turned into an emotional moment for a lifelong city resident carrying pantry groceries to Oakwood Cemetery. Their brief trip sparked a heartfelt conversation about grief, faith, and how small acts of kindness can reshape trust between residents and police in Syracuse.
   

2. Governor Hochul Announces Latest Milestone in Transformative Interstate 81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse (einpresswire.com) — New southbound I-81 ramps at North Clinton Street and a longer, pedestrian-friendly Spencer Street bridge are now open, reshaping how drivers, cyclists, and walkers move between Syracuse’s Northside and Inner Harbor. These changes close older ramps, simplify highway access to downtown, Destiny USA, and key neighborhoods, and mark a major milestone in the long-running I-81 Viaduct Project.
   

3. SPD recaps end-of-year crime stats (cnycentral.com) — Syracuse residents are seeing encouraging drops in both violent and property crime, with the police department reporting violent crime down over 18% and property crime down more than 24% this year. Shootings with injuries or fatalities have also fallen sharply since 2020, though Chief Joe Cecile stresses there’s still work to do.
   

4. Repairs to major Central NY water main could take up to 2 weeks; customers urged to conserve water (syracuse.com) — A major OCWA transmission main serving eastern Onondaga and western Madison counties has a 100-foot rupture, and repairs near Cicero could take up to two weeks, prompting a conservation alert. While Syracuse’s regional water system is rerouting supplies and fire hydrant pressure remains adequate, residents in DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey and nearby villages are urged to sharply cut non-essential water use right away.
   

5. To Santa or not to Santa? ‘Come Christmastime, rationality need not apply' (localsyr.com) — A Syracuse University pop culture scholar weighs in on how the Santa Claus tradition shapes kids’ emotions and family dynamics, drawing on recent psychological research. The piece explores Santa’s historical roots, evolving cultural portrayals, and how parents can gently guide children from belief to skepticism without damaging trust or holiday magic.
   

📸 Around Syracuse

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Syracuse

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 31

• NYE Bash
  3 Destiny USA Dr , Syracuse
  4:00 pm

📣 Syracuse Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 22

• Boys Varsity Swimming/Diving v. Pulaski
  WG-HS Pool
  12:00 pm
• Holiday Recess
  4035 Long Branch Rd , Liverpool
  2:15 pm
• Boys Varsity Ice Hockey v. TBD
  WG-Shove Park Ice Rink
  4:45 pm
• Planning Board Meeting - Cancelled
  Manlius, NY Calendar , 301 Brooklea Drive , Fayetteville
  6:30 pm
• Planning Board Meeting
  301 Brooklea Dr , Fayetteville
  11:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Girls Junior Varsity Basketball v. Oswego
  WG-HS Upper Gym
  11:00 am
• Girls Varsity Basketball v. Oswego
  WG-HS Upper Gym
  12:45 pm
• Boys Junior Varsity Basketball @ Fulton
  Bodley H S
  5:00 pm
• Intermediate Open Co-Ed Volleyball
  Manlius, NY Calendar Fayetteville, NY 13066
  6:30 pm
• Boys Varsity Basketball @ Fulton
  Bodley H S
  6:45 pm

Friday December 26

• Xmas is over-TIME TO DRINK. At Trappers II W/Tom Chick
  TRAPPERS II Pizza & Pub , 101 N Main St , Minoa
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Catch the Last Meteor Shower of 2025—Right in Time for the Winter Solstice
  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-last-meteor-shower-of-2025-and-the-winter-solstice-align-this-weekend/ (Nextdoor Strathmore)
• 3-bin COMPOST update.
  Decomposition slows down during winter but doesn’t stop until the piles freeze. I add to ours continually. Here are the 3-bins: DEPOSIT pile,… (Nextdoor O Hill)

• Taco Bell posted a job opening for Team Member - Late Night / Closer - Part Time in Syracuse. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Activities Assistant Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $20-$37/Hr in Syracuse. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Syracuse here.

Ok Syracuse! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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