Latest news with #CentralNewYorker
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Latavius Murray announces new timeline for Jon Diaz Community Center opening, addresses multi-year delay
NEDROW, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Former NFL running back and Central New Yorker Latavius Murray announced on Monday plans for when his community center will finally be built. This comes after years of waiting, along with fundraisers being held for the project. In 2022, he set his sights on building the Jon Diaz Community Center in Nedrow, with the groundbreaking scheduled for 2023. Halfway through 2025, only the floor plan has been completed. 'We're about 99% done with the floor plan, which is a huge step, something a long time coming,' Murray said at a community meeting Monday night. Latavius Murray announces new timeline for Jon Diaz Community Center opening, addresses multi-year delay Destiny USA owner, Pyramid Management Group, defaults on loans owed for Buffalo-area mall Pride Day musical line-up announced for NYS Fair Syracuse teen charged for attempted armed robbery in Clay Local bottle redemption center hoping state bottle bill will pass The center has raised $9 million, with $500,000 coming from State Senator Rachel May after Murray told her about the project. 'We got excited about it, too and I was able to get some funding. Sometimes, I get capital funding that I can allocate around,' May said. 'I was able to get some funding for it. $500,000 for it.' Murray said the reason for the delay was having to wait for grant funds and more donors. 'When you have to apply for grants and get donors, it's a process. It's not easy, but it's something we signed up for and we're gaining momentum now,' he said. 'We're excited about where we are heading.' Now he says the plan is to have the groundbreaking in 2026 and the center open in 2027. 'While we have some goals in mind and things we want to accomplish with timelines, sometimes things change. What's important is keeping the main thing, the main thing, keep progressing, keep focus,' Murray said. 'We've been able to do that and that's why I feel confident in where we're going.' Murray partnered with the Integrated Community Alternatives Network to open an office space in Syracuse. The space will provide social and emotional services to families and children. The space is located at 1010 James Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A life dedicated to helping neighbors near and far
FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. (WSYR) — One of this year's Remarkable Women nominees is Laurel Flanigan, a life-long Central New Yorker. Laurel's life has been dedicated to service. Ever since she was a young child volunteering with her mother at the WYCA, Laurel was put on the path of helping others. 'It helps you think of something outside of yourself and realize that there are other people who have other problems that you can help things,' Laurel explained. At the annual Crawfish Festival, a fundraiser for Operation Northern Comfort, Laurel came face to face with her future. 'When you meet Norm he was constantly like what skills does this person have and how can I benefit the organization with the skills this person has?' said Laurel. Norm, the founder and CEO of Operation Northern Comfort, recruited Laurel right away. What started as little tasks slowly turned into Laurel becoming a board member and eventually taking over as CEO. Operation Northern Comfort is all about helping a neighbor, near or far. Whether the crews were building desks for kids in Central New York to use while learning remotely, or collecting donations and traveling thousands of miles to help hurricane victims rebuild. Laurel believes that in this world, we're all neighbors. 'I get overwhelmed sometimes because there is so much need in our area, and it feels like what we do is just a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed,' Laurel shared. 'But to that person even if it's a small help or small project it just gives them hope and that hope is what they need to keep going forward.' The volunteering that Operation Northern Comfort does the most is perhaps viewed as the simplest. 'We started doing clean-up projects in Central New York for folks who didn't have the means to do that and we started building ramps for folks who can't get out of their homes.' So, what's the payout? Why does Laurel, a self-described busy bee, spend so much time helping others? 'The smiles that's the payout that's the best part,' Laurel said. 'You don't volunteer to feel better, but it's just a side effect. You do feel better when you help somebody or do something to help the cause.' It's a whole operation of people, but it's run through one remarkable woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
