Author: Michael Davis

They say every picture tells a story. So examine the below photos of a victorious Old Dominion bench compared to the glum kissers on the Syracuse University side during the Dec. 15 Carrier Dome basketball game, with the Orange on the losing end of a 68-62 contest. Guard Frank Howard and forward Elijah Hughes logged playing time along the way, but Coach Jim Boeheim was clearly disappointed with his team’s second-half collapse against a nonconference opponent. And as Orange fans know, the ACC games are only a few weeks away.

Interstate 81 was built in the mid-1960s riding on the concept of “urban renewal” in an attempt to rejuvenate the city. The plan was largely rejected by residents, and the city faced heavy pushback from property owners faced with losing their homes for construction. About 50 years later, the City of Syracuse is taking a second look at the now dilapidated concrete giant — which either needs to be rebuilt or replaced — and is facing the same issue as history repeats itself. Read the cover story I-81 Highway Robbery: The razing of Syracuse’s 15th Ward

Related: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que celebrates 30 years as Syracuse’s classic rib joint

The yuletide season doesn’t really begin in Central New York until the Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes place at downtown’s Clinton Square, as throngs of frigid onlookers gathered for the annual post-Turkey Day festivities on Nov. 23. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh got his first chance to flip the switch, and this year he was accompanied by movie actor Ian Petrella, who portrayed annoying kid brother Randy in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story. A visit by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, musicmakers making merry and displays of ice skating rounded out the evening.

Lights on the Lake, the annual yuletide spectacular at Onondaga Lake Park, is off and running, as an unexpected blanket of snow during opening week added more flavor to the wintertime diversion. The show runs every night, 5 to 10 p.m., through Jan. 6.

A bite at Our Lady of Pompei Church’s spaghetti dinner is a regional “must do” for anyone thinking of running for office in Syracuse. 2018 was no exception.

There was laughter, tears and even a standing ovation at this year’s Syracuse Area Live Theater (SALT) Awards on Nov. 11 at the new Redhouse Center on Salina Street. Trading stage makeup for formal garb, professional, regional and community theater companies went head-to-head in 23 categories in Syracuse’s version of the Tony Awards. Marie Felice was honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the late Armond Magnarelli was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Syracuse University football squad’s hopes for a season-ending bowl bid keep getting better all the time, as the Orange improved their record to 8-2 after steamrollering the Louisville Cardinals for a 54-23 victory Nov. 9 at the Carrier Dome. More than 42,000 fans rocked the Loud House for the team’s final home game, which also included a Senior Day farewell as well as festivities that commemorated Veterans Day weekend.

Democrat supporters gathered at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Syracuse Tuesday evening to watch as the results of the 2018 midterm elections came in. Only one of the three local blue candidates took home a clear win. Republican incumbent John Katko beat out Dana Balter with 53.1 percent of the votes, and Republican Robert Antonacci seemingly outdid John Mannion with 51.2 percent of the votes. However, Mannion would not concede, saying at the event that he would wait for the final absentee ballots to be counted and the race officially called before accepting a defeat. Democrat Rachel May took the 53rd…

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Ben Walsh cut the ribbon Oct. 31 to debut the completed renovations at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Construction has been going on at the facility for months as elements of both the interior and exterior were modernized and brought out of the 1960s. Notable new features are the locally-quarried stone accents in the main lobby, larger flight display screens and a broad, outdoor canopy. The renovations cost over $35.8 million to complete.

There wasn’t much to be scared about during the Halloween men’s basketball exhibition game between Syracuse University and Le Moyne College.

The Oct. 25 exhibition game between the Syracuse University men’s basketball squad and the College of Saint Rose at the Carrier Dome went pretty much the way Orange faithful would expect, with SU on top 80-49. But there was a Fayetteville freshman on the team that garnered some attention: guard Buddy Boeheim, the son of Orange coach Jim Boeheim. The younger Boeheim joins an impressive roster that also includes forwards Marek Dolezaj and Elijah Hughes, as well as fellow guard Tyus Battle and center Paschal Chukwu. The Orange has another exhibition tune-up at the Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 31, for…

The Syracuse University football team now boasts a 5-2 record, thanks to a nail-biting victory against North Carolina on Oct. 20 at the Carrier Dome. While the Orange Nation would not have been pleased with another close loss, Coach Dino Babers and his squad, which includes quarterback Eric Dungey, managed a last-second touchdown in double overtime to overcome the Tar Heels, 40-37, which made the Homecoming weekend that much sweeter. The Orange returns to the Dome on Saturday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., to battle NC State in the hopes of getting a sixth win for bowl eligibility.

After months of nominations and voting, winners finally emerged in the 2018 Best of Syracuse survey. Area businesses, organizations and individuals were selected as the top of their respective fields — aka more than 100 voting categories — by local residents, and headed to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on Oct. 10 to celebrate and claim their well-earned awards. To see a full list of finalists, check out the results page.

Members on opposite sides of the Columbus Day debate both rallied in Downtown Syracuse on Oct. 8. A Columbus Day commemoration, organized by the Columbus Monument Memorial Association, was scheduled for the morning, while a celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, organized by Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, followed that afternoon. The former included a wreath-laying ceremony and appearances by local politicians (including Sen. John DeFrancisco), while the former drew its own sizable crowd that included protesters. To read more on the issue, read “Movement to drop Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day comes to Syracuse.”