Latest news with #ZooNewYork
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watertown Rapids open season with win
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Collegiate baseball made its return to Northern New York and it was a successful one for the Watertown Rapids. Ben Hess belted a solo home run as the Watertown Rapids rallied past the Rochester Ridgemen for a 7-4 victory Friday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds. 2025 Watertown Rapids Schedule This game was the first game for the Rapids in the New York Collegiate Baseball League after spending a number of seasons in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Watertown was down 2-0 after three innings, but roared back to take a 6-2 lead after six innings. The Rapids were slated to visit the Sherrill Silversmiths on Saturday night, but that game was rained out. Watertown will host the Syracuse Salt Cats at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon in NYCBL play. The game is Zoo New York Night. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students 13 to 19 and free for kids 12 and under. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zoo New York advocates urge city to include funding for facility in upcoming budget
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 5—WATERTOWN — Last year, Zoo New York supporters successfully lobbied the city to keep the facility at Thompson Park open. On Monday night, about a dozen volunteers, members and fans of the zoo were back in front of City Council members to convince them to keep the zoo open, urging them to include funding in the city's proposed $59.1 million budget. When he released the spending plan last month, City Manager Eric F. Wagenaar left out any money to support the zoo. About 50 people packed the third-floor council chambers on Monday night for a public hearing on the financial plan, many of them urging council members to include financial support again this year. Some of them wore bright pink, red and yellow T-shirts with the words "I Love the Zoo" on the front. Volunteer Leanne Frazee told council members that the zoo is too important for the community to lose. When she greets people at Zoo New York, Frazee always asks why they visit and where they are from. Many of the visitors are young Fort Drum families who tell her the zoo is one of the few places that they can enjoy in Watertown with their children. Just on Monday, Frazee spoke with a little girl riding in a wagon and wearing a birthday tiara. When the girl's mother finished paying admission to the zoo, Frazee learned that the family spent $125 for a family membership, rather than buying some toys for her birthday. "It's my favorite story of the week," Frazee said. Out of the nearly 20 people who spoke at the budget hearing, all but four spent their time at the podium talking up the zoo. The other four people cautioned council members that they face an 18.8% proposed tax rate increase and that they have to make some difficult decisions before they pass the budget early next month. City resident Frank Battista, who has attended budget hearings for years, said council members can't fund the zoo and the Thompson Park Golf Course because they will be a "long-term drain" on the city. "They're not going to be popular decisions, but they are decisions you have to make," he said. City resident Robert Avallone said council members will have to find $100,000 to reduce the proposed budget by 1%. That means that they'll have to cut $1.8 million to keep taxes at the same level as the current budget, he stressed. As the zoo was ready to close its doors for good last year, council agreed to appropriate $275,000 to keep it going after the community came forward to express how much the zoo meant to them. The Thompson Park Conservancy, the volunteer board that operates the zoo, says that it needs a $375,000 financial commitment from the city to keep its momentum going. The board also is requesting $375,000 from Jefferson County this year. So far, zoo board members have not heard whether the county will make the commitment. Mark D. Irwin, the zoo's interim executive director, acknowledges that maybe council members are waiting to see what the county will do. He reminded council members that 98% of the people who responded to a Jefferson Community College survey want the zoo to stay open. If it's not funded, it will be expensive to close and find homes for the animals. "We'll be left with nothing to show for it," Irwin said. Alfred L. Gianfagna remembered when then-Mayor T. Urling Walker got him and a group of people to come together 35 years ago to form the zoo. In those early days, there was no admission fee and no fence. It's the only zoo in the state, the country and the universe that is dedicated to animals native to New York state, Gianfagna said. "Did you wake up this morning thinking you could change the universe?" he asked. Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce and three of her colleagues did not respond to the funding request on Monday night. Only Councilman Cliff G. Olney did, saying that he was impressed by the supporters' passion for the zoo.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zoo New York hosting Earth Day celebration Saturday
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Zoo New York in Watertown is hosting an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 19. The event will start at 11 a.m. and will feature vendors, crafts, games, and plenty of educational displays and demonstrations. ABC50 to help at Zoo New York as part of 2024 Founder's Day of Caring The zoo will welcome guests like Newt the Turtle Tracking Dog and Perry Ground, a traditional storyteller from the Onondaga Turtle Clan, as special guests. Zookeepers will also be giving presentations with animal meet and greets and biofacts. Guests can also hand-feed the zoo's elk herd for an additional cost. For more information, visit or follow our Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zoo New York offers free day for military families and kids
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Zoo New York in Watertown will be hosting a will host a special free event in observance of April's 'Month of the Military Child. Military children and families will are invited to the event, which is slated for Saturday, April 12, hosted by the New York State Department of Veterans' Services. ABC 50 helps beautify Zoo New York in Watertown as part of Founder's Day The event, which starts at 11:30 a.m., will have private tours and animal encounters where children will learn about wolves, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and more. These tours will be led by Zoo New York guides and each tour will end with a special animal encounter bringing attendees up close and personal with one of Zoo New York's wonderful animals. Saturday's special event at Zoo New York is one of 10 statewide events hosted by DVS. These events are free, family-friendly and fun events to honor and recognize the strength, resilience, and contributions of military children and their families throughout April during Month of the Military Child. For more information about Zoo New York, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zoo New York offering a unique Valentine's Day fundraiser
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Zoo New York in Watertown is offering a chance to raise money and take out some frustrations. In an announcement from the zoo, for a donation of $10, people can name a mealworm after an ex anyone else. The zoo will perform a live stream on Facebook at 5 p.m. on Valentine's Day this Friday. This event will show the mealworms as they are fed to the many grateful animals at the zoo. ABC 50 helps beautify Zoo New York in Watertown as part of Founder's Day The fundraiser serves as a financial boost for the zoo and a method of closure after an unpleasant relationship. The worms are also a key part of the diet for several animals at the zoo. All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly contribute to the animals' care and the zoo's ongoing mission of conservation, education, and science-based natural and cultural experiences. For more information or to buy a worm, go to the zoo's website at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
