Mohawk Valley history: Remembering Boilermaker milestones, 'courtesy' parking tickets

2012, 10 years ago

Ethiopians dominate

Tilahun Regassa and Mamitu Daska, both from Ethiopia on the Horn of Africa, win the men’s and women’s open in the 35^th annual Utica Boilermaker Road Race. Regassa runs the 15k race in 43:01 and Daska in 49:26. Sam Morse, of Camden, is a top local runner in 48:30. Matthew Lack, of New Zealand, wins the wheelchair division in 36:41 while Amanda McGrory, of Savoy, Illinois, tops the women in 39:33. A total of 11,360 runners finish the race.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bruce Elwell, at the Barneveld Medical Office of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, is named “family doctor of the year” by the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. He also is medical director at St. Luke’s Home. Brad Crysler, executive director of Adirondack Community Physicians, says, “Dr. Elwell is very passionate about the care that he provides his patients. I think that is very evident … he always wants to do the best for them and puts them first in everything he does.”

The Whitesboro Alumni Association awards scholarships to graduating seniors at Whitesboro Central School: Colleen Moore, Katherine Purtell and Jacqueline Scibior.

In Oneida County American Legion baseball, Whitestown Post defeats Smith Post, 6-0, behind the two-hit pitching of Matt Engler and the hitting of Mike Sullivan.

1997, 25 years ago

A very large Boilermaker

The Utica Boilermaker celebrates its 20^th anniversary by becoming the largest 15-kilometer road race in America. A total of 7,661 finish the race, 2,100 more than last year. Joseph Kimani of Kenya, last year’s winner, also celebrates by winning the men’s open in the record time of 42:54. Lornah Kiplagat, of Kenya, wins the women’s open in 49:58. Martin Mondragon, of Mexico, wins the men’s master in 46:47 and Joan Benoit Samuelson, of the United States, wins the women’s master in 53:23. Top local runners include Marc Gage, of Mohawk, in 47:24; Chris Getman, of Ilion, 48:46, and Kyle Fenton, of New Hartford, 49:54.

More than 3,500 volunteers — coordinated by Debbie Johnson — are busy during the race doing everything from passing out water to picking up papers. When Earle Reed, founder and chairman of the race, is asked how important the volunteers are, his answer is simple and direct to the point: “There would not be a Boilermaker Road Race without our volunteers.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Jorge Ferreiro is elected president of the medical staff at Faxton Hospital. Others elected: Dr. John Houck, vice president; Dr. Leroy Cooley, secretary; and Dr. William Parker, treasurer.

In Oneida County American Legion baseball, Clonan defeats Moran, 11-2, behind the hitting of Kevin Marchetti and Kevin Sheridan and the pitching of Josh Goodale.

History:Herkimer County became the envy of New York when they landed this big company

History: Oneida County company develops first full-length hybrid bus in the world

1972, 50 years ago

Social Security increase

President Richard M. Nixon signs into law a 20% increase in Social Security benefits. Raymond Schultz, district manager of the agency’s Utica office, says the average monthly benefit for a retired worker in the area will increase from $134 to $162 and for a retired couple from $224 to $271.

The South Utica 14-15 Babe Ruth Baseball All-Stars win their second consecutive district title by defeating North Syracuse, East Syracuse, Liverpool and Watertown. Players include John Magee, Dave Siriano, Vin Cannistra, Al Grimaldi, Scott Svehlak, Jim Ashmore, Ron Ellis, Bobby DiBrango, Carmen Betar, Jim Ambrose, Paul Siracusa, Mark Obernesser, Brad Gebhardt, Mike Mirabella and Mike Metzger. Bill Salisbury is manager, and Jack Shaffer and Tom Everson are coaches.

In softball news, Butch Gilbert tosses a no-hitter and goes 3 for 3 at the plate to lead the Trenton Mets to a 13-0 win over Stittville in the Northern Fast Pitch League.

1947, 75 years ago

‘Hello, visitor’

Utica adopts a new parking ticket policy for out-of-town visitors. Hereafter, offenders no longer will receive a $1 parking violation tag, but, instead, will find on their windshield a “courtesy ticket.” It will read: “Hello, Visitor. Welcome to Utica. Will you help us make your visit safe by complying with our traffic laws? You have violated one of our traffic ordinances. We are striving to make Utica the safest city in the world. Thank you.”

1922, 100 years ago

Street names

Utica’s Common Council schedules a hearing to consider the renaming of several streets. They are: Warren Avenue to Emerson Avenue … Madison Avenue to Richardson Avenue … Sunset Place to Shepherd Place … Miller Road to Leland Avenue … Lincoln Street to Oswego Street … West Pleasant Street to Burrstone Road.

1897, 125 years ago

Cold month

June this year was the coldest in a quarter of a century. Temperatures on some nights dropped to 18 degrees and snow fell in some sections of the Upper Mohawk Valley region.

Trivia quiz

Ronald Reagan, 40^th president of the United States, was elected to the White House in November 1980 and re-elected in November 1984. He was a Republican. Who were the Democratic Party candidates he defeated in 1980 and 1984? (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week’s question: Calvin Coolidge, 30^th president of the United States, is our only president born on the Fourth of July. He was born July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont.

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Mohawk Valley history: Boilermaker milestones, Social Security change