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RESOLUTIONS SPONSORED BY SENATOR DEFRANCISCO AND PASSED BY THE SENATE IN JUNE

Senate Resolution No. 6317

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 3, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

   HONORING  Gloria  Corcoran  for  her  37  years of
        dedicated service to elementary education  at  Elden
        Elementary School

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
honor Gloria Corcoran for her 37 years of teaching and for  her  service
and  dedication to the Baldwinsville Central School District as a Second
Grade Teacher at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS, Teaching is among the noblest and  most  important  of  all
professions,  with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and day
out, year after year, caring for and nurturing young minds  and  spirits
to allow them to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play such
a  vital role in this adolescent development, they are worthy of special
recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS, Gloria Corcoran graduated from the State University of  New
York  at Oneonta in 1968, and went to work at the Afton School District,
teaching first grade; and

  WHEREAS, Gloria Corcoran then moved to Binghamton and  taught  first
grade  for three and a half years in the Union Endicott School District,
before moving to Central New York; and

  WHEREAS, In 1974, Gloria Corcoran began her  34  years  of  teaching
first  and second grade at Elden Elementary in the Baldwinsville Central
School District, a job that would become more than  just  a  career  for
her; and

  WHEREAS,  During  her  time  teaching  at  Elden,  Gloria Corcoran's
daughters  Diane  and  Melissa  were  both  born  and   attended   Elden
Elementary,  where they were able to proudly proclaim that their mom was
indeed the very popular teacher there; and

  WHEREAS, It is estimated that Gloria  Corcoran  taught  close  to  a
thousand students while at Elden Elementary, which has left a remarkable
impact  on our community, preparing our young people for the future with
the knowledge and tools for success that they will need for the rest  of
their lives; and

  WHEREAS,  Gloria  Corcoran has many memories from her time at Elden,
enjoying herself at work while entertaining the school with such  events
as  her  performances  of her original plays, "Christopher Columbus" and
"The First Thanksgiving"; and

  WHEREAS, In addition  to  her  involvement  at  the  school,  Gloria
Corcoran  has  also  been an active part of the Baldwinsville community,

through her involvement in  numerous  church  activities  and  with  her
children's and grandchildren's activities; and

  WHEREAS,  Gloria  Corcoran has always enjoyed traveling and she will
be able to continue to travel the world in retirement with her  husband,
Bill; and

  WHEREAS, Gloria Corcoran now will have more time to devote to living
her life to the fullest, following her own words of wisdom, of which she
has  many,  to "grab the moment" no matter how busy you are, recognizing
that "life is too short to put those important things off"; and

  WHEREAS, Gloria Corcoran also likes to tell  people  to  follow  the
Golden  Rule and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and
also to "always smile"; these are words she  has  always  lived  by  and
philosophies  she  has undoubtedly passed along to the many children she
has taught that will make them better people as they grow older; and

  WHEREAS, Reaching retirement will begin  a  new  chapter  in  Gloria
Corcoran's  life,  one  that will no doubt be filled with more fun, love
and adventure, as is the  way  she  lived  her  years  in  the  teaching
profession; and

  WHEREAS,  Gloria Corcoran's impression she left on her students will
be felt by them for many years to come,  each  with  their  own  special
memory  of  what she gave to them as they grow from adolescents to teens
to young adults and eventually into adulthood; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in  its  deliberation  to
honor  Gloria  Corcoran  for  her  37  years of dedicated service to the
profession  of  teaching  and  to  Elden  Elementary   School   in   the
Baldwinsville  Central School District to be celebrated at the school on
June 6, 2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Gloria Corcoran.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6329

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 5, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

   HONORING  Phyllis  Straub  for  her  30  years  of
        dedicated service to elementary education  at  Elden
        Elementary School

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
honor Phyllis Straub for her 30 years of teaching and  for  her  service
and  dedication  to the Baldwinsville Central School District as a Third
Grade Teacher at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS, Teaching is among the noblest and  most  important  of  all
professions,  with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and day
out, year after year, caring for and nurturing young minds  and  spirits
to    allow  them  to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play
such a vital role in this adolescent development,  they  are  worthy  of
special recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS,  Phyllis  Straub  grew  up  in  Liverpool,  New  York,  and
graduated from Liverpool High School before continuing her education  at
the State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia, where she graduated in
1969, with a dual degree in French and Elementary Education; and

  WHEREAS, In her senior year of college, Phyllis Straub was placed in
her  first  teaching job and returned to Liverpool upon graduation where
she began teaching French at Morgan Road Middle School; and

  WHEREAS, In November of that  year,  Phyllis  married  her  husband,
George,  who  she  met  while  working at a summer job at Fredonia; they
settled in Liverpool, New York; and

  WHEREAS, In 1972, George  and  Phyllis  Straub  bought  a  house  in
Baldwinsville,  New  York,  and began to raise a family; she temporarily
left the teaching profession to raise their sons, Matt and Mark; and

  WHEREAS, While no longer working full-time  as  a  teacher,  Phyllis
Straub  kept  active  in  her  career  as a substitute teacher at Elden,
Palmer and Elizabeth Street Schools; and

  WHEREAS, In 1982, Phyllis Straub returned full-time as a  5th  Grade
Teacher  at  Elden  Elementary  School;  she  later taught 2nd Grade and
finished up as a 3rd Grade Teacher at Elden; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to her teaching, Phyllis Straub has served as a
Baldwinsville Teachers' Association (BTA) building representative for 20
years, as a BTA delegate for five years,  and  as  a  Central  New  York
Teaching Center building representative; and

  WHEREAS,  Outside of school, Phyllis Straub has served her community
as a Cub Scout Den Mother and at St. Mary's  Church  as  a  Confirmation
Teacher,  a  money counter, a greeter and a member of the Altar Society;
and

  WHEREAS,  During  retirement,  Phyllis  Straub  intends to keep very
active with trips planned to Las Vegas,  Florida,  and  the  New  Jersey
shore  this summer, and trips to Nashville and Atlantic City in the near
future; and

  WHEREAS, When she is not traveling, Phyllis  Straub  hopes  to  keep
busy  as  a  volunteer  at Golisano Children's Hospital, as a substitute
teacher at Elden Elementary, taking  daily  walks,  and  continuing  her
occasional  trips  to  "the casino" and her monthly Bunko games with her
friends; and

  WHEREAS, It is evident that in her 30  years  of  teaching,  Phyllis
Straub  has touched the lives of so many young children through her gift
as an educator and a nurturer; it is estimated that she has taught close
to 1,000 children over the years; and

  WHEREAS, Reaching retirement will begin a  new  chapter  in  Phyllis
Straub's  life,  one  that  will  no  doubt  be filled with much fun and
adventure, and giving back to her community, as is the way she lived her
years in the teaching profession; and

  WHEREAS, The impression Phyllis Straub left on her students will  be
felt  by them for many years to come, each with their own special memory
of what she gave to them as they grow from adolescents to teens to young
adults and eventually into adulthood; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Phyllis  Straub  for  her  30  years  of dedicated service to the
profession  of  teaching,  and  to  Elden  Elementary  School   in   the
Baldwinsville Central School District, to be celebrated at the school on
June 6, 2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Phyllis Straub.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6377

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 5, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  HONORING  Theresa  Kowalski  for  her  34 years of
        dedicated service to elementary education  at  Elden
        Elementary School

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-lasting  traditions,  it is the intent of this  Legislative Body to
honor Theresa Kowalski for her 34 years of teaching, and for her service
and dedication to the Baldwinsville Central School District as a  Speech
and  Language Therapist at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS,  Teaching  is  among  the noblest and most important of all
professions, with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and  day
out,  year  after year, caring for and nurturing young minds and spirits
to allow them to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play such
a vital role in this adolescent development, they are worthy of  special
recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS,  Theresa Kowalski began her teaching career as an itinerant
speech teacher for the Homer and DeRuyter School Districts in 1974, upon
her graduation from the State University of New York at Cortland; and

  WHEREAS, During her five years of teaching in Homer and DeRuyter for
the Cortland/Madison  BOCES  program,  Theresa  Kowalski  completed  her
Master's degree at Ithaca College; and

  WHEREAS, In 1979, Theresa Kowalski moved to Kirkville, New York, and
began teaching in the Baldwinsville School District; for many years, she
worked  at  Elden  Elementary,  the  Elizabeth Street School, Baker High
School, Durgee Junior High  School,  Ray  Middle  School,  and  Reynolds
Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS,  Several  years  after joining the Baldwinsville staff, she
became the fulltime speech teacher at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS, Theresa Kowalski has many, many fond  memories  of  her  28
years  at  Elden  Elementary  and the Baldwinsville School District; she
particularly cherishes the many staff,  parents  and  children  she  has
worked with over the years; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to all of the warm memories Theresa Kowalski
has from her years at Elden Elementary School, she feels she has learned
a great deal from the teachers she has worked with so closely;  she  has
learned many life lessons and many things to help make her better at her
profession, such as the time one of her colleagues taught her to realize
that "for every problem, there is a solution"; and

  WHEREAS,  Theresa  Kowalski credits the children she has taught over
the years with teaching her so much about joy, compassion,  perseverance
and love; and

  WHEREAS,  Theresa  Kowalski  retired  in February and is now able to
spend more time with her  husband,  Edward,  and  their  five  children,
Christie, Ricky, Thomas, Tait and Kyle, as well as her grandson, Joseph;
and

  WHEREAS,  Reaching  retirement  has  begun  a new chapter in Theresa
Kowalski's life, one that will no doubt be filled with  more  fun,  love
and  learning,  as  is  the  way  she  lived  her  years in the teaching
profession; and

  WHEREAS, In retirement, Theresa Kowalski will  be  able  to  be  the
"stay  at  home  mom"  she always wanted to be, and will look forward to
traveling, watching a lot of lacrosse games, walking,  participating  in
the  music  ministry  at  her  church  and spending time with family and
friends; and

  WHEREAS, Theresa Kowalski is not ready to give up teaching  entirely
yet,  as she is now able to continue her love for her profession and the
children as a substitute teacher, a position that enables  her  to  keep
teaching without all of the paperwork and planning involved; and

  WHEREAS, Theresa Kowalski's impression she left on her students will
be  held  by  them  for  many years to come, each with their own special
memory of what she gave them as they grow from adolescents to  teens  to
young adults and eventually into adulthood; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Theresa Kowalski for her 34 years  of  dedicated  service  to  the
profession   of   teaching   and  to  Elden  Elementary  School  in  the
Baldwinsville Central School District to be celebrated at the school  on
June 6, 2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Theresa Kowalski.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6338

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 5, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  HONORING  Judith  Flanagan  for  her  40  years of
        dedicated service to elementary education  at  Elden
        Elementary School

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
honor Judith Flanagan for her 40 years of teaching and for  her  service
and  dedication  to the Baldwinsville Central School District as a First
Grade Teacher at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS, Teaching is among the noblest and  most  important  of  all
professions,  with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and day
out, year after year, caring for and nurturing young minds  and  spirits
to allow them to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play such
a  vital role in this adolescent development, they are worthy of special
recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan began her teaching career as a Kindergarten
teacher  in  1968  in  Indiana,  beginning  a  career  of  devotion  and
dedication  to  the  profession  and  to her students that would last 40
years; and

  WHEREAS, From 1971 to 1973, Judith Flanagan continued her work  with
children  in  a  slightly  different  way,  as the director of a Nursery
School in North Syracuse, New York; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan was a teacher at Merriday School from  1974
to  1977, then served as a substitute teacher in the West Genesee School
District until 1978, and later as a  Teaching  Assistant  from  1978  to
1984; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1984,  Judith  Flanagan  began teaching first grade at
Elden Elementary School in Baldwinsville, New York, a position she would
hold for 24 years until her retirement this year; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan taught in the very same classroom  for  all
of  her  24  years at Elden Elementary, making her a stable influence on
the entire faculty, students, and the school setting in general; and

  WHEREAS, One great thrill in  the  career  of  Judith  Flanagan  was
having  the  opportunity  to  teach  at Elden for several years with her
daughter, Carrie; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan took a leave of absence from  her  teaching
duties  from  January  1994 to June 1995 to take on a new challenge with
her fight against breast cancer, a challenge she was  able  to  take  on
with  the  love  and  support  of so many Elden parents and staff by her
side; in her fight, she became an inspiration to many and, through  this

difficult  time,  she  was  actually  teaching her students an important
lesson in life; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan has always loved what she does and tried to
teach her students using humor and warmth to make learning fun for them;
and

  WHEREAS,  Judith  Flanagan is still an inspiration for students many
years after they leave her classroom as many of them return to  pay  her
visits  and reminisce with her as they look through her old photo albums
of their own first grade classes; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan is a big supporter of not  only  the  Elden
Elementary School, but of the entire Baldwinsville community, calling it
"a great place to raise a family"; and

  WHEREAS,  Judith  Flanagan  has  many,  many fond memories of her 24
years at Elden Elementary, including her December  holiday  show,  which
ran through all of her time at Elden; and

  WHEREAS,  Reaching  retirement  will  begin  a new chapter in Judith
Flanagan's life, one that will no doubt be filled with  more  fun,  love
and  humor as is the way she lived her years in the teaching profession;
and

  WHEREAS, Judith Flanagan's impression she left on her students  will
be  felt  by  them  for  many years to come, each with their own special
memory of what she gave to them as they grow from adolescents  to  teens
to young adults and eventually into adulthood; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Judith Flanagan for her 40  years  of  dedicated  service  to  the
profession   of   teaching   and  to  Elden  Elementary  School  in  the
Baldwinsville School District to be celebrated at the school on June  6,
2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Judith Flanagan.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6339

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 5, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

 HONORING   Gail  Strobeck  for  her  20  years  of
        dedicated service to elementary education  at  Elden
        Elementary School

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
honor Gail Strobeck for her 20 years of teaching, and  for  her  service
and  dedication  to the Baldwinsville Central School District as a Third
Grade Teacher at Elden Elementary School; and

  WHEREAS, Teaching is among the noblest and  most  important  of  all
professions,  with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and day
out, year after year, caring for and nurturing young minds  and  spirits
to allow them to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play such
a  vital role in this adolescent development, they are worthy of special
recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS, Gail Strobeck began her  professional  career  in  1967  in
Toronto,  Canada,  as  a  reservations/ticket  office  agent for British
Airways after studying at Wagner College on Staten  Island;  it  was  at
this  job  that  she  began to explore the world of computers, attending
classes worldwide to prepare her to train staff on  a  new  computerized
reservation system; and

  WHEREAS,  In  May  of  1977, Gail Strobeck earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Business Administration from  Stephens  College  in  Columbia,
Missouri; and

  WHEREAS, Gail Strobeck moved to Syracuse, New York, in 1977, to join
the  Hartford  Insurance  Group  as a sales representative and financial
planner; it was there that she met her future husband, Ted; and

  WHEREAS, Gail and Ted Strobeck married in 1978, and bought a home in
Baldwinsville, New York, where they raised their two sons, Jeff and Tim;
and

  WHEREAS, While  embarking  on  the  new  path  of  motherhood,  Gail
Strobeck  took  the  opportunity  to  volunteer  for many worthy causes,
including the Volunteer Center, Sunday  School  teaching,  the  steering
committee  for  the  Presbyterian  Nursery School and as a Boy Scout Den
Mother; and

  WHEREAS, It was at this time that Gail Strobeck became involved with
Elden Elementary School, first as a room mother and as an officer of the
Parent Teacher Association; and

  WHEREAS, Gail Strobeck's connection to Elden Elementary continued to
grow as she became a substitute for both teachers and  assistants;  this

led  to  a position in charge of a new computer lab at the school, a job
she held from 1988 to 1994; and

  WHEREAS, In May of 1994, Gail Strobeck completed her Master's degree
in  Education  at  the  State  University  of New York in Oswego, and in
September of that  same  year,  began  teaching  first  grade  at  Elden
Elementary; and

  WHEREAS,  After  five  years  of teaching first grade, Gail Strobeck
moved to second grade and her  classroom  became  the  Technology  Model
classroom for the primary level; she also served as the Math and Science
Elementary team leader; and

  WHEREAS,  In  2003,  Gail  Strobeck advanced to the third grade and,
since 2004, has served as the school's Elementary Math team leader; and

  WHEREAS, During all of her years at Elden, Gail  Strobeck  has  been
credited with bringing her colleagues into the technology world, so they
could keep pace with their students who she said were already there; and

  WHEREAS,  Reaching  retirement will begin a new chapter in the lives
of Gail and Ted Strobeck as they move to  State  College,  Pennsylvania,
where  Gail  will  work  part-time  as  a mid-level and Elementary Field
Experience Supervisor, a move that will no doubt allow her  to  continue
to  share her joy and passion for teaching and for technology with a new
group of students and teachers; and

  WHEREAS, Gail Strobeck's impression she left on her students will be
felt by them for many years to come, each with their own special  memory
of what she gave to them as they grow from adolescents to teens to young
adults and eventually into adulthood; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Gail Strobeck for  her  20  years  of  dedicated  service  to  the
profession   of   teaching   and  to  Elden  Elementary  School  in  the
Baldwinsville Central School District to be celebrated at the School  on
June 6, 2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Gail Strobeck.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6340

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 5, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  COMMEMORATING the  60th  Anniversary  of  the
        founding of the  modern  State  of  Israel,  at  the
        Syracuse Jewish Federation Jewish Cultural and Music
        Festival, Clinton Square, Syracuse, New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this Legislative Body to recognize
people that have played a significant role in making our community  what
it  is  today,  celebrating  the  contributions  made to society and the
advancement of the quality of life for all residents; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully  in  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
recognize the State of Israel, upon the auspicious occasion of its  60th
Anniversary,  recognizing  its importance to our community and the world
community; and

  WHEREAS, In its 60 years of existence, Israel has  become  the  most
successful  democracy  in the Middle East, and its citizens enjoy one of
the highest standards of living in the area; and

  WHEREAS, Since its establishment 60 years ago, the modern  State  of
Israel  has  rebuilt  a  nation,  forged  a new and dynamic society, and
created  a  unique  and  vital   economic,   political,   cultural   and
intellectual life; and

  WHEREAS,  Israel  continues  to  strive  for peace with security and
dignity for themselves and for their neighbors; and

  WHEREAS, With the anniversary observance taking place throughout the
year, Israel will celebrate its 60th anniversary with events marking the
birth and development of the state,  the  struggle  to  find  peace  and
security and its hopes for the future; and

  WHEREAS,   The   significance   of   the  60th  anniversary  of  the
establishment of the sovereign and independent modern State of Israel is
historic; and

  WHEREAS,  The  people  of  Israel  should  be  commended  for  their
remarkable  achievements  in  building  a  new  state  and a pluralistic
democratic society in the Middle East; and

  WHEREAS, The  bonds  of  friendship  and  cooperation  have  existed
between  the  State  of New York, the Syracuse Jewish Federation and the
State of Israel for six decades; and

  WHEREAS, It is with high regard  that  warmest  congratulations  and
best  wishes  be  sent  to  the  State of Israel and to her people for a
peaceful, prosperous and successful future; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the modern State of
Israel at a celebration to be held on June 15, 2008; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to the Syracuse Jewish Federation and to Israeli Ambassador
Sallai Meridor.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6465

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 11, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  CONGRATULATING the Onondaga Community College
        Lazer  Men's  Tennis  Team  upon  the  occasion   of
        capturing the 2008 NJCAA Division III National Men's
        Tennis Championship

  WHEREAS,   It   is  acknowledged  that  excellence  and  success  in
competitive sports can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team
play, and a spirit that has been nurtured by dedicated  coaching  and  a
supportive community; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  also  acknowledged  that such athletic competition
enhances the moral and physical development of the young men  and  women
of  our  State,  preparing  them  for the future by instilling in them a
sense of fair play and the need for discipline, a  standard  of  healthy
living, and a desire for excellence and success; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and
pay tribute to those who, by achieving outstanding success  in  athletic
competition,  have inspired others and brought pride to their community;
and

  WHEREAS, One such outstanding example,  worthy  of  our  praise  and
recognition,  is  the Onondaga Community College Lazer Men's Tennis Team
whose  phenomenal  and  competitive  season  catapulted  them   into   a
tremendous post-season; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the
Onondaga Community College Lazer Men's  Tennis  Team,  Head  Coach  John
LaRose  and Assistant Coach Jeff Lonczak, upon the occasion of capturing
the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association  (NJCAA)  Division
III National Championship for the first time ever in school history; and

  WHEREAS,   As   post-season  competition  got  underway,  this  most
exceptional team continued to display extraordinary teamwork and talent;
and

  WHEREAS, During the NJCAA Region III Division III Championship,  the
Lazers  took  first  place in 8 of 9 flights; Myles Knipper captured the
1st Singles Title and also teamed with Ken Schiefer to win 1st  Doubles;
Ryan  Sadowitz  and  Ryan Everett were victorious in 3rd and 4th Singles
and the duo then rallied together to  capture  the  2nd  Doubles  Title;
Mason  Drastal  and  Jeff  Kurtz won 5th and 6th Singles and then joined
forces to win 3rd Doubles; Ken Schiefer played his way to  runner-up  in
2nd  Singles;  each player's outstanding contributions thrust the Lazers
to their second consecutive NJCAA Region III Division Ill  Men's  Tennis
Championship; all of the Regional Flight Champions were named All-Region
in their respective flights; and

  WHEREAS,  This  set  the stage for the 2008 NJCAA Division Ill Men's
Tennis National Championship held in Plano, Texas, May 12  -  16,  2008;
and

  WHEREAS,  During  the  Championship  tournament,  Ryan Sadowitz took
first place in 3rd Singles, Ryan Everett captured  first  place  in  4th
Singles and Mason Drastal rallied his way to first place in 5th Singles;
the  duo  of  Ryan  Sadowitz  and  Ryan  Everett were also successful in
capturing  2nd  Doubles;  Jeff  Kurtz  also took runner-up honors in 6th
Singles; and

  WHEREAS, By playing to victory in four  out  of  nine  flights,  the
Onondaga  Community  College  Lazer  Men's  Tennis  Team was awarded the
distinction of being named the 2008 NJCAA National Champions  for  Men's
Division  III  Tennis;  the  amazing contributions of the members of the
Onondaga Community College Lazer Men's Tennis  Team  and  their  coaches
have earned them this proud honor; and

  WHEREAS,  This  exhilarating  game  of  tennis  requires and rewards
coordination and agility, quickness  and  speed,  and  endurance;  while
tennis  requires dedication from each individual player, it is still the
team that worked together to achieve the national title; however, it  is
evident  that outstanding individual talent must be present throughout a
team's roster; this was the case for this  year's  champions  Ian  Behm,
Travis Bullock, Mason Drastal, Ryan Everett, Cory Greiner, Chris Horton,
Matt  Johnson,  Mike  Kazel,  Myles  Knipper,  Jeff Kurtz, A.J. Rizzuto,
Andrew Roberts, Ryan  Sadowitz,  Mike  Savastano,  Ken  Schiefer,  Chris
Spilka, David Utter, Patrick Vinette, and Alex Wilczak; and

  WHEREAS,  Exceptionally  solid  performances  were  recognized  with
All-American  honors  being  given  to  all  flight  winners   including
champions  Ryan  Sadowitz,  Ryan Everett, and Mason Drastal and also 6th
Singles runner-up, Jeff Kurtz; and

  WHEREAS, The athletic  talent  displayed  by  the  Lazers  has  been
enthusiastically  guided  and  encouraged  by Head Coach John LaRose and
Assistant Coach Jeff Lonczak, who demonstrated that they are skilled and
inspirational leaders of young athletes; special mention  must  also  be
made  of  Coach  LaRose  and  his well-earned distinction of being named
Coach of the Tournament; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
congratulate  the  Onondaga  Community College Men's Tennis Team and its
coaches upon the occasion of  capturing  the  2008  NJCAA  Division  III
National Men's Tennis Championship; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Onondaga Community College Men's Tennis  Team,  Coach
John LaRose, and Assistant Coach Jeff Lonczak.

____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6466

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 17, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  HONORING  Katherine A. McKenna for her 31 years of
        dedicated service as a teacher

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
honor   individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community  best
exemplify the ideals and values cherished by  the  great  State  of  New
York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative  Body  to
honor  Katherine  McKenna  for  her  31  years  of teaching, service and
dedication to the education profession, as well as 11 years as President
of the Syracuse Teachers' Association; and

  WHEREAS, Teaching is among the noblest and  most  important  of  all
professions,  with teachers giving so much of themselves, day in and day
out, year after year, caring for and nurturing young minds  and  spirits
to allow them to grow up and be the best they can be; teachers play such
a  vital  role  in  adolescent  development,  they are worthy of special
recognition and praise; and

  WHEREAS, Katherine McKenna grew up on Long Island  and  has  been  a
resident  of  the Central New York area since 1968, living since 1977 in
the City of Syracuse; and

  WHEREAS, In her years of teaching,  Katherine  McKenna  spent  eight
years  teaching  elementary  school in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th grades;
eight years as a middle school reading teacher; and four years  teaching
High  School  reading;  overall, she taught for 29 years in the Syracuse
City School District; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to her  dedication  and  commitment  to  public
education,  Katherine  McKenna  served  the  teaching profession in many
ways, well beyond just the  scope  of  teaching,  most  notably  as  the
President  of  the  Syracuse  Teachers' Association, a position she held
since 1997; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Syracuse  Teachers'  Association  is  a  labor  union
representing  more  than  three  thousand  Syracuse City School District
employees, including teachers,  counselors,  occupational  and  physical
therapists,  social  workers,  school psychologists, cooks, food service
workers, recreational aides, teaching assistants, bus and hall monitors,
and nurses; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  Katherine  McKenna's   leadership,   the   Syracuse
Teachers'  Association  has  flourished  into a very powerful and active
voice for the City of Syracuse's teachers and public  school  employees;
and

  WHEREAS, Katherine McKenna has also served on the Board of Directors
and   the  Executive  Committee  of  New  York  State  United  Teachers,
representing teachers and school employees throughout  New  York  State;
and

  WHEREAS,  Katherine  McKenna served on the Board of Directors of the
Greater Syracuse Education Fund, to help  identify  grant  opportunities
for teachers; and

  WHEREAS,  Katherine  McKenna is a member of Syracuse 20/20, engaging
community conversation about government modernization; and

  WHEREAS, As a true leader of local labor, Katherine  McKenna  served
as  President  of  the  Greater  Syracuse  Labor Council and as the Vice
President of the AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation; and

  WHEREAS,  Katherine  McKenna  has  also  been   involved   in   many
education-related causes, devoting her time as a Principle member of the
Teachers Union Reform Network (TURN), as a Trustee of the New York State
United  Teachers Member Benefit Trust, and on the American Federation of
Teachers' Program and Policy Council; and

  WHEREAS, Katherine McKenna is well-known in the Syracuse area  as  a
political  activist,  working  hard every year to support candidates and
causes to benefit the interests and agenda  of  the  Syracuse  Teachers'
Association and its members; and

  WHEREAS,  Reaching  retirement will begin a new chapter in Katherine
McKenna's life, one that will no doubt be filled with more fun, love and
passion, as is the way she lived her years in the  teaching  profession;
and

  WHEREAS,  Katherine  McKenna  will  now be moving to San Diego to be
with her husband of two years, Don, himself a  retired  teachers'  union
president, and her son, Brendan, and his wife and two step-children; and

  WHEREAS,  In San Diego, Katherine McKenna hopes to take some time to
rest and return to some of the  hobbies  she  has  neglected  in  recent
years, including becoming involved in the local running community; and

  WHEREAS,  As  she embarks on this new journey in her life, Katherine
McKenna will be missed by many  for  her  years  of  dedication  to  her
students,  to  the teaching profession, to the local labor community and
to the Syracuse area political scene; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Katherine  McKenna  for  her 31 years of dedicated service to the
profession of teaching to be celebrated on Friday, June 20, 2008; and be
it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to to Katherine McKenna.

____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6467

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 17, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  HONORING  Neil  Falcone  upon  the occasion of his
        retirement after 36 years of dedicated service

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
honor   individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community  best
exemplify the ideals and values cherished by  the  great  State  of  New
York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative  Body  to
honor  Neil  Falcone  for  his 36 years of service and dedication to the
United Auto Workers, Local 624; and

  WHEREAS, Neil Falcone grew up on the  south  side  of  Syracuse  and
married his high school sweetheart, Sherry; Neil and Sherry Falcone have
two  adult  children  -  a  son,  Ryan,  and  a  daughter, Leigh - and a
granddaughter, Skylar; and

  WHEREAS, Neil Falcone first joined the United Auto Workers in  1968,
as  an  employee  of Prestolite Corporation on James Street in Syracuse;
and

  WHEREAS, Neil Falcone, after some time of service to his country  in
Okinawa  with  the  United States Army, was hired by New Process Gear on
February 14, 1972, continuing  his  affiliation  with  the  United  Auto
Workers; and

  WHEREAS, Over the years, Neil Falcone served the Local 624 branch of
the United Auto Workers in many different leadership roles - as Chairman
of  the  Education  Committee,  Alternate  Steward,  Chief  Steward  and
Financial Secretary Treasurer; and

  WHEREAS, In 1984, Neil  Falcone  was  elected  as  the  Local  Union
President  of  Local  624  of the United Auto Workers and served in that
capacity for two terms; and

  WHEREAS, In March of 1988, Neil Falcone was appointed as Director of
the United Auto Workers - Chrysler Region 9 Training Center;  under  his
leadership,  the  Training Center expanded its scope to provide training
opportunities for other area labor organizations, including  the  United
Steel Workers Local 1277; and

  WHEREAS,  Neil  Falcone was promoted to International Representative
for the then UAW International Vice-President in 1991; and

  WHEREAS, In 1992, Neil Falcone  was  transferred  to  the  Region  9
United  Auto  Workers Syracuse Area Office as a servicing representative
and was appointed Area Director two years later; and

  WHEREAS, In March of 2008, Neil Falcone retired from the United Auto
Workers Region 9, leaving behind a legacy of dedication  and  commitment
to  the  cause  of  the  workers of the local automakers' industry and a
record of service to this cause; and


  WHEREAS,  Neil  Falcone's  dedication to his union showed through in
his final act for the United Auto Workers;  he  delayed  his  retirement
long  enough  to  play a role in finalizing a labor agreement that would
keep the local plant from shutting down and preventing many job  losses;
and

  WHEREAS,  Reaching  retirement  will  begin  a  new  chapter in Neil
Falcone's life, one that will no doubt be filled  with  more  dedication
and  commitment  to making this community a better place and promises to
be filed  with  happy  times  with  his  growing  family,  with  another
grandchild on the way; and

  WHEREAS, As he embarks on this new journey in his life, Neil Falcone
will  be  missed  by many for his years of dedication to the local labor
community and in specific, to the workers of the  United  Auto  Workers;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Neil Falcone upon the occasion of his retirement after 36 years of
dedicated service; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Neil Falcone.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6536

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 17, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  HONORING  Marshall  Blake upon the occasion of his
        retirement after more than  35  years  of  dedicated
        service to the cause of local workers

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  individuals  whose  character  and  service  to  community   best
exemplify  the  ideals  and  values  cherished by the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
honor Marshall  Blake  for  his  more  than  35  years  of  service  and
dedication  to  the  cause of workers and organized labor in Central New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Marshall Blake was born and raised  in  Bradford,  Vermont,
and came to Syracuse to study at Syracuse University; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon graduation from Syracuse University in 1970, Marshall
Blake first began his life's journey of helping the  working  people  of
Central  New  York  by  organizing  his  fellow  workers in the Syracuse
University  library   system   into   Local   200,   Service   Employees
International Union; and

  WHEREAS,  Marshall  Blake  served  as  President  of  Local 200, and
eventually merged it into 1199 Upstate  and  finally  Service  Employees
International Union (SEIU) 1199; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to  his  efforts on behalf of workers at the
SEIU, Marshall Blake has also served workers throughout the area through
his efforts as President of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council and  also
of the Central New York Labor Federation; and

  WHEREAS,  Marshall  Blake is widely credited with bringing all major
unions in the area together through his work with the  Greater  Syracuse
Labor  Council,  and  reversing,  for  a  time,  the  decline  in  union
membership  that  existed  locally,  while  making  organized  labor  an
important force in the Central New York community and in local politics;
and

  WHEREAS,  Marshall Blake was also instrumental in helping labor on a
national level as a member of the National Executive Board of the  SEIU;
and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  his more than 35 years of dedicated service to
workers and organized labor, Marshall Blake  has  devoted  much  of  his
time,  energy  and,  most  importantly,  his  skills as a true leader of
people to this cause; and

  WHEREAS, Being a leader of the local labor scene, Marshall Blake has
made an impact on many different levels; after working hard to make  the
SEIU  Local  1199  what  it  is  today,  from the Local 200 Union at the
University library system to a powerful Upstate  New  York  organization

representing  more  than 17,000 workers at more than 20 hospitals and 45
nursing homes throughout 26 counties in Upstate New York,  he  has  also
taken his talents to a different level representing all Central New York
workers  through his efforts with the Greater Syracuse Labor Council and
even representing laborers nationwide as well; and

  WHEREAS, In retirement, Marshall Blake intends to spend time on  his
personal  avocation of landscape painting, although he will likely still
be very active in local and national politics and labor's role  in  this
year's elections; and

  WHEREAS, While the absence of Marshall Blake from active involvement
in  labor  activities  will  leave  a  great  void in our community, his
involvement, organization and leadership will live on for many years  to
come  and  local  labor  unions will continue to be much stronger in the
future because of his efforts and involvement; and

  WHEREAS, Reaching retirement will begin a new  chapter  in  Marshall
Blake's  life, one that will no doubt be filled with more dedication and
commitment to making this community a better place to live and work; and

  WHEREAS, As he embarks on this new journey  in  his  life,  Marshall
Blake  will  remain active in the community and, in his own words, "keep
his hand in politics and social consciousness and stay involved, in some
fashion, in the labor movement"; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Marshall Blake for his more than 35 years of dedicated service to
the cause of local workers and organized labor; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Marshall Blake.
____________________________________________________________________________

Senate Resolution No. 6663

Unanimously Passed by the Senate on June 19, 2008 

SPONSORED BY: Senator DeFrancisco

  CONGRATULATING the Syracuse University Men's
        Lacrosse Team upon the  occasion  of  capturing  the
        2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship

  WHEREAS,   It   is  acknowledged  that  excellence  and  success  in
competitive sports can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team
play, and a spirit that has been nurtured by dedicated  coaching  and  a
supportive community; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  also  acknowledged  that such athletic competition
enhances the moral and physical development of the young men  and  women
of  our  State,  preparing  them  for the future by instilling in them a
sense of fair play and the need for discipline, a  standard  of  healthy
living, and a desire for excellence and success; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and
pay tribute to those who, by achieving outstanding success  in  athletic
competition,  have inspired others and brought pride to their community;
and

  WHEREAS, One such outstanding  example  worthy  of  our  praise  and
recognition  is the Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Team, who, at the
culmination of their regular season compiled a stellar record of 12 wins
against only 2 losses; and

  WHEREAS, This stellar regular season record represents a  remarkable
turnaround  from  the 2007 campaign, which was the Orange's worst season
in 32 years with a record of 5 wins  and  8  losses;  the  2008  regular
season  featured  many  exciting  and  very  close games including three
overtime games in a row, and the only two blemishes on the  record  were
very close contests against rivals Virginia and Colgate; and

  WHEREAS, The post-season was a continuation of the regular season as
this  most exceptional team continued to display tremendous teamwork and
talent in winning some very close  games;  on  May  11,  2008,  Syracuse
started  it  off  by defeating the Canisius Golden Griffins in the first
round of the NCAA's in the Carrier Dome by a score of 20-3; it was  then
on  to the quarterfinals in Ithaca on May 18th where Syracuse fought for
an impressive 11-9 victory over  the  Notre  Dame  Fighting  Irish;  the
team's  next  challenge  was  a  rematch  in the semi-finals against the
Virginia Cavaliers at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on  May
24th,  where the Orange overcame a five goal deficit late in the game to
win a thrilling contest in double-overtime, 12-11; and

  WHEREAS, Having earned the right to compete in the NCAA  Division  I
National  Final,  the  Syracuse  Orange faced their long-time rivals and
traditional powerhouse Johns Hopkins on Memorial Day, May 26th, in front
of the largest crowd ever to witness an outdoor NCAA Championship in any
sport, with 48,970 fans, a  favorable  percentage  of  them  dressed  in
orange  and  cheering  on  their  team,  witnessing  Syracuse overcome a
red-hot Blue Jay goalkeeper to post a 13-10  come  from  behind  victory
while dominating virtually all statistical categories; and

  WHEREAS,  By  virtue of their victory in this final tournament game,
Syracuse was awarded  the  distinction  of  being  named  NCAA  National
Champions for Men's Division I Lacrosse for 2008; and

  WHEREAS,  This  hard-fought  victory  makes  Syracuse University the
proud owner of a record tenth NCAA men's lacrosse title, breaking a  tie
with Johns Hopkins with nine championships since the NCAA began crowning
champions in lacrosse by virtue of a post-season tournament in 1971; and

  WHEREAS,  This  championship  was extra special, not only because it
comes  on  the  heels  of  last  year's  down  season,  but  even   more
significantly,  because  it  came on a day when the NCAA was celebrating
the Silver Anniversary of Syracuse's first championship in 1983 and most
of the 1983 champs, who also defeated Johns Hopkins for the crown,  were
present  to  cheer on this new edition of the Orange and help guide them
to victory; and

  WHEREAS, Lacrosse, considered to be America's first sport, is one of
the fastest growing team sports in the United States; this  exhilarating
game requires and rewards coordination and agility, quickness and speed,
endurance and solid teamwork; and

  WHEREAS,  Lacrosse  is a team sport; to earn a national title, it is
evident that outstanding individual talent must be present throughout  a
team's  roster; this was the case for this year's champions Matt Abbott,
Josh Amidon, Steve Babbles,  Max  Bartig,  Evan  Brady,  Danny  Brennan,
Steven  Brooks,  Anthony  Bucco,  John  Carrozza,  Al Cavalieri, Lincoln
Cavalieri, Peter Coluccini, Brandon Conlin, Joe Coulter, Chris Daniello,
Tim Desko, Nathan Farabee, John Galloway, Jeff Gilbert,  Alex  Giocondi,
Kyle   Guadagnolo,  Thomas  Guadagnolo,  Tim  Harder,  Dan  Hardy,  Jack
Harmatuk, Tyler Hlawati, Gavin Jenkinson, Stephen Keogh,  Blair  Keontz,
Josh  Knight,  Mike  Leveille,  Brendan  Loftus,  Mike  MacDonald,  Sean
McGonigle, John Mecionis, Jovan Miller, Jake  Moulton,  TJ  Murphy,  Pat
Nemes,  Greg  Niewieroski,  Kenny Nims, Pat Perritt, Derek Pilipiak, Jay
Shaw, Sid Smith, Matt Tierney, Nate Tucker, Spencer Van Schaack and Joel
White; and

  WHEREAS, Team Captains Evan Brady, Mike Leveille and Kyle Guadagnolo
led an experienced group of seniors, hungry for their first championship
and to bring Syracuse University back to the top position in their sport
once again; and

  WHEREAS, Of particular note were the performances of those who  were
recognized  with  NCAA  All-Tournament Honors: Danny Brennan, Dan Hardy,
Mike Leveille and Sid Smith; Leveille was named as the tournament's most
outstanding player; and

  WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by  the  Orangemen  has  been
enthusiastically  guided  and  encouraged  by tenth-year head coach John
Desko, who has now won four national titles, and  his  staff,  Assistant
Coaches   Roy   Simmons   III,  Lelan  Rogers  and  Kevin  Donahue,  who
demonstrated that they are skilled and inspirational  leaders  of  young
athletes; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Team and its coaches
upon the occasion of capturing the 2008 NCAA Division I  Men's  Lacrosse
Championship; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Team and to  Coach
John Desko.

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