🌱 New Proctor Park Playground + Utica Will Host Fall Comedy Festival

Welcome back, Utica! I'm here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Sunny, breezy and cooler. High: 56 Low: 29.
• Thursday: Partly sunny. High: 67 Low: 44.

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Here are the top three stories today in Utica:

1. The third largest park system in New York State has expanded after officially opening a new playground at Proctor Park. The mayor of Utica had the honor of cutting the ribbon Monday afternoon for the all-inclusive user-friendly park that adds another dynamic of excitement for children. The park was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and will provide families with another place in the park to relax and enjoy the warm summer days. (WKTV)
2. Coming this October, the Uptown Theater for the Creative Arts will be hosting the Uptown Comedy Festival in Utica. Headlining the festival will be "Trio," the improv group of Stephnie Weir, Bob Dassie, and Rich Talarico. The festival was announced earlier this week. The four-day event is expected to bring comedy groups from around the world to put on an amazing show and host workshops for aspiring comedians. Emmy-winning comedian Greg Garcia will be hosting the event with his production company, and it was funded by a $10,000 grant from the New York State Council for the Arts. The festival is also inviting local comedians to perform. If you are interested, you can submit your information by Jul. 1. Tickets will be going on sale on Jul. 6 for the festival. (WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com)
3. Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri and his wife presented Make-A-Wish Central New York with a check of more than $52,000 this past Thursday for money raised at the 2023 Mayor's Benefit Gala last month. More than 600 people attended last month's gala, and their efforts and donations raised enough money to grant the wishes of six terminally ill children in Utica. Make-A-Wish was selected out of 68 applicants due to its direct impact on the Utica community and those within it. This will be the last gala Palmieri will be participating in as the city's mayor. In his time in office, he has awarded more than $450,000 to local organizations through the gala. (WKTV)

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Today and tomorrow in Utica:

Wednesday, May 17

• T5's Cheers To 1 Year Party! - Nostro Restobar and Lounge (4:30 PM)
• Community Resource Fair - Utica Public Library (5:00 PM)
• Hamburger Cookie Creations - Utica Public Library (6:00 PM)

Thursday, May 18

• Divine Direction Fitness With Donna - The Link At Sunset (11:00 AM)
• Paint A Pot - Utica Public Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Utica University believes every student should have the opportunity to change their life regardless of where they come from financially. Join in the celebration of the class of 2023 by donating money to gift to a student trying to make a difference. (Utica University via Facebook)
• It is less than three weeks before the Utica Zoo hosts its highly anticipated Wine in the Wilderness party on the first Saturday in June. A ton of wineries are already registered to participate, as well as vendors and live music. Tickets are on sale now. (Utica Zoo via Facebook)
• Recently the Utica Police Department and investigators have received complaints about fraudulent temporary out-of-state registration tags on vehicles. A city-wide enforcement detail was targeted specifically for this, and the results have come back. If you have any questions on registering a vehicle in New York State, contact your local DMV. (City of Utica, NY Police Department via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for 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.