Mike Jaquays, Daily Sentinel Journalist Profile

Articles

Utica school board lauds latest retirees at special meeting

2 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

UTICA — Two members of the Utica City School District Board of Education shared their experiences with a pair of the district’s new retirees Tuesday at a special board meeting. On the recommendation of district Superintendent of Schools Christopher Spence, the board accepted the retirements of:Alinda Goodman, a teacher at General Herkimer Elementary School, effective June 30 after 26 years of service.
Farrell, Flint lead Herkimer Class of 2025 graduates

2 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

HERKIMER — The Herkimer Central School District recently named Christopher Farrell the valedictorian and Brian Flint the salutatorian of the Class of 2025. The rest of the Top 10 alphabetically includes Bianca Barreto, Sydney Bell, Danny Bleaking, McKenna Gargas, Audrey McDonnell, Chase Pettengill, Zachary Petucci and Ariana Verenich. They and their classmates will graduate on Friday, June 27.
Rutledge: 'Lord led me' to 41 years at Lee Center church

2 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

LEE CENTER — Scott Rutledge said that even after a musical career that included concert tours of Germany and Ireland, his best memories of 41 years at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church were made in that building. “The real highlights were right here,” Rutledge explained. “We have so many great parishioners and truly dedicated choir members who show up every single week.”Rutledge is retiring on Tuesday, July 1, from his position as the church’s director of music.
Farm Fest event in Marcy brings classrooms to the dairy farm

2 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

MARCY — The annual Farm Fest at DiNitto Farms is the chance to connect the non-farming community to life on a working dairy farm, said co-owner and event host Terri DiNitto. “This event gives people the opportunity to see where their food comes from,” DiNitto explained. “They can learn a lot about agriculture here.”Farm Fest returned Friday for both a morning session for area students and an open-to-the-public open house in the afternoon.
VVS school board to send revised $48M budget plan to voters

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

VERONA — The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District Board of Education voted Thursday in a special meeting to send a newly reduced $48,069,866 budget plan to stakeholders on Tuesday, June 17. The majority of voters were actually in favor of the district’s original $48,328,969 budget plan for 2025-2026 in the annual vote May 20.
First Raiders Rally games event celebrates inclusion in Utica

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

UTICA — The first-ever district-wide Raiders Rally celebrated student ability, inclusion, and Raider pride Thursday with a variety of activities on the John F. Kennedy Middle School athletic fields. "We have a little something for everybody, to celebrate everybody's ability," said the Utica City School District's Director of Special Education Pamela Smoulcey.
OHM BOCES students share their projects at MVCC in Utica

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

UTICA — As students from across the state showcased their recent environmental projects Wednesday during the annual Empowered Schools Summit, Project Leader Sophie Tan from the Alliance to Save Energy told them that they hadn't simply completed another school project. They just might have helped create a sustainable environment for future generations, she said.
VVS schools $48M budget to go back to voters in June

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

VERONA — Voters in the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District will be asked to go back to the polls Tuesday, June 17, for a revote on the proposed 2025-2026 budget. The district’s $48,328,969 budget plan was defeated 612-574 on Tuesday, May 20 in the annual vote. Because the proposed 5.99% tax levy increase exceeded the tax cap, a 60% supermajority vote was needed to pass that budget and the district was unable to meet that percentage.
Piaschyk & Jones lead class of 2025 in Remsen

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

REMSEN —The Remsen Central School District recently revealed its top students from the class of 2025. Ean Piaschyk is the valedictorian and Dylan Jones is the salutatorian. The district’s Top Seniors — students achieving a 90% or higher cumulative average in high school — are Shianne Austin, Natalie Barnard, Jennah Day, Shaylyn Dolly, Wyatt Ehart, Dylan Gutowski, Matthew Helmer, Tucker Hollenbeck, Dylan Jones, Rachel Leska, Madisyn Pett, Ean Piaschyk, Colton Walker, and Lorelai Walker.
Oneida County Public Market in Utica supports local producers

3 weeks ago | romesentinel.com | Mike Jaquays

UTICA — The now-weekly Oneida County Public Market is a social place for shoppers to meet area vendors and support their businesses, said market co-manager Audra Benincasa. "It's so nice to see the community come out for this," Benincasa, the online coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County which oversees the event, said.