🌱 Eight New Firefighters To Be Hired + Utica Receives Credit Upgrade

Hey, everybody! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your Wednesday edition of the Utica Patch newsletter, full of all the community information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warm. High: 70 Low: 53.

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Here are the top three stories today in Utica:

1. As part of a $2.1 million federal grant, the Utica Fire Department announced plants to hire eight new firefighters. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Utica officials announced the $2,117,320 grant on Friday. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program and will increase department staffing, reduce overtime costs, and enhance fire protection and public safety services for Utica residents. Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said the funding will go toward the new positions for three years. (Utica Observer Dispatch)
2. In a press conference held on Tuesday, Oneida County officials urged motorists to be mindful of slow-moving farm equipment this time of year. Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced there will be a high volume of farm equipment moving around the city this spring crop season. Maciol also discussed Oneida County’s recent “Share The Road” campaign. (WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com)
3. For the fourth time during the Palmieri administration, Utica received a credit upgrade and had the highest rating since 1987. Standard & Poor, one of the largest credit rating agencies, released a report last Thursday giving the city an “A” rating. The report reflected the city’s significant growth in multiple sectors, including market value, residential and commercial economy, and more. (Rome Sentinel)

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Today in Utica:

• Seed And Weed Garden Club At Utica Public Library (2:00 PM)
• Utica Comets vs. Syracuse Crunch At Adirondack Bank Center Utica Memorial Auditorium (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a job but don't know where to start? Check out the latest positions open in Utica, including account manager, insurance sales representative, and automotive mechanic. (Utica Patch)
• A drive-by shooting on Lenox Avenue early Sunday morning is currently under investigation. At around 4:30 a.m., police were called to the 1200 block where they found a male with multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and hands. Police say a vehicle drove by and someone inside shot at the man several times. (WKTV)
• This week, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. remembered the tragic losses of Utica Police Officer Thomas Lindsey and Whitesboro Police Officer Kevin Crossley. May they rest in peace. (Anthony J. Picente Jr. via Twitter)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday. I'll be in your inbox soon with another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.