Good morning, Syracuse.

Syracuse’s Webster Pond in the Valley faces closure amid rising operating costs and dwindling volunteer support, but an almost fully funded GoFundMe by the community temporarily keeps this cherished wildlife sanctuary open to care for its ducks and geese.

Syracuse University Libraries LaunchPad held its Ideas Fest at Bird Library on Sept.

16 where student founders pitched in 90-second rounds to win up to $500. The next pitch competition for freelancers and small businesses will take place on Oct. 2 with registration closing Sept. 28.

Joe Zavaglia is seeking $2.3 million in tax breaks for an $8 million mixed-use project that will provide 33 apartments and six storefronts in Solvay.

Construction is planned to begin later this year or by spring 2027 to redevelop a vacant lot left after a 2003 fire.

United Way’s Book Buddies program pairs volunteers with kindergarten to third-grade students at six local elementary schools.

Volunteers must complete a background check and training (required) before the program launches on Sept. 28, with sessions running Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

On Sept. 25, the Dollywood Foundation held Give Like Dolly Day to support donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Onondaga County.

The program sends free monthly books to 16,000 children and boosted kindergarten readiness by 30%.

Onondaga County lawmakers (in talks) are considering a pilot program to connect local farms with food pantries that have seen an increase in clients needing fresh produce over the past three months.

Details on the plan and funding will be discussed in upcoming sessions.

The Mixing Bowl at 103 Bennett Road in Camillus serves its popular MJ sandwich featuring grilled chicken, applewood-smoked bacon, fresh mozzarella, green apple, and fig jam on house-made ciabatta — a tribute to the bakery’s pet inspiration.

Local columnist Kenny Lacy compiles Lacy’s List to highlight 10 Section III football players who excelled in Week 3 and will face key matchups in Week 4 this weekend, inviting readers to vote for the standout player.

High school football action unfolded on Friday with live recaps and scores available, and today, games like Rome Free Academy + Utica Proctor are set to kick off.

Fans can look for updates throughout the afternoon as scores continue to roll in.

After longtime coach Jim Boeheim retired in 2023, Syracuse University fired Adrian Autry last spring and hired Gerry McNamara to lead the men's basketball team.

Fans hope his first season sparks a return to the postseason, which the team has missed since 2021.

West Genesee beat Auburn 17-13 on Thursday, Sept.

24 in a close high school football game; junior quarterback Parker Vienne earned Game of the Week MVP honors with his standout play.