🌱 University Honors Retiring President + Zoo Opens New Visitor Center

Morning, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Utica Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 80 Low: 56.
• Saturday: Partly sunny and beautiful. High: 76 Low: 40.

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Here are the top three stories today in Utica:

1. Utica police took four suspects into custody Wednesday afternoon after a gun was pulled on a victim during an argument. The victim told officers that a car pulled up on her around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon with someone she recognized in the vehicle near Arthur and Steuben Streets. An argument began between the suspects and the victim before a gun was pulled and they threatened to shoot the woman before fleeing the scene. Based on the description provided by the victim patrol officers were able to locate and stop the vehicle on Bennett St., officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded .22 sawed-off rifle. (WKTV)
2. On Wednesday, Utica University revealed it will be dedicating its new athletic complex to Dr. Laura Casamento who will be retiring from her president position at the university at the end of July. Casamento holds a special place in the university's history being the ninth president of the university and the first female to hold the position in the school's 77 years of existence. In her time as the president, the university has spent over $21 million on capital projects for the school including the new multi-purpose track and field and turf complex. (WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com)
3. In case you missed it: The Utica Zoo celebrated the grand opening of the new visitor center and gift shop with public officials, business and organization leaders, and the public on Tuesday. The visitor center will serve as the new entrance for the zoo as well as an educational center for programs and other events that can be held in the new space. It was also announced at the event that by the end of the year, the zoo expects to receive a new habitat for the zoo's red panda exhibit that will make the exhibit open year-round. (Rome Sentinel)

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Today and tomorrow in Utica:

Friday, May 12

• Utica City School District Budget Presentation At James H. Donovan Middle School (6:00 PM)
• Kevin & The Wet Bandits At Gerber's 1933 Tavern (8:00 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• Spring Historical Sip and Paint At Oneida County History Center (1:00 PM)
• Mother’s Day Brunch Train At Union Station (11:00 AM)
• Keyboard Conversations With Jeffrey Siegel At Munson (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Come out and join the Rescue Mission of Utica for the 16th Annual Utica Golf Tournament being held on Thursday, Jun. 15. Start putting your team together now so you can go online and register for the event, for sponsorship information you can visit uticamission.org. (Rescue Mission of Utica via Facebook)
• Stop by the Utica Comets website for your Mother's Day merchandise needs. Women's merchandise is 20 percent off when you use the promo code MOM20. (Utica Comets via Facebook)
• The Utica Coffee Roasting Company is currently hiring for various positions throughout the company the join the fast-paced team. If you think you may be a good fit for any of the positions that you see listed you can visit the company's Indeed page or send a email to the company's email address. (Utica Coffee Roasting Company via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— 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.