You ever see this image @justintyper1.bsky.social? This is Elmwood in the heyday, maybe late 1950s. Staggering how much of commercial fabric is gone:

JP Crangle, whose-stream-of-consciousness cartoons helped give Gannon’s Isle cream distinct identity, says Eileen Gannon - a founder who died this week - had vision to see potential, courage to take chances, toughness to will a fledgling Syracuse business into legend. My column:

Every community has ice cream stands. But not every community has a Gannon’s Isle - where Eileen Gannon made extraordinary string of brilliant decisions in Syracuse to create a great #UpstateAmerica tradition. Her death this week touched off a wave of civic sorrow. My piece for The Central Current:

Sean with another great story on the passing of a local icon and ice cream genius.

Ice cream is one of most commonplace & popular summertime products in the nation. That only underlines brilliance of Eileen Gannon, who died this week at 68 - and extraordinary civic oasis she built with brother John (they’re shown in memorable JP Crangle mural) at Gannon’s Isle:

In Syracuse, the astounding ice cream legacy - and touch of genius - of Eileen Gannon, quiet civic giant whose funeral is this morning. My Central Current column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-e...

The intriguing family journey of Brad Clarry - at 75, born in Hawaii, raised in Syracuse neighborhood of Elmwood - and a guy who just donated a vehicle to the war effort in Ukraine in memory of a brother renowned for humanitarian work. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-a...

The extraordinary basketball shot clock monument in Syracuse, restored and in (slightly) new downtown location, makes a point about sports history - but also the power of possibility, when you least expect it. My column for The Central Current: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-s...

In 2005, dedication of 24-second clock monument in Syracuse included Hall of Famers John Havlicek, Earl Lloyd, Bill Walton and Dolph Schayes. This week, in smaller but emotional ceremony, refurbished monument was rededicated, on grounds of armory where Syracuse Nats once played.

Descendants of the late Emil Barboni, Leo Ferris and Danny Biasone - who changed basketball in 1954 when they convinced the NBA to embrace a 24-second clock - pose together at the reeducation of the one-of-a-kind shot clock monument in Syracuse. My column:

The extraordinary basketball shot clock monument in Syracuse, restored and in (slightly) new downtown location, makes a point about sports history - but also the power of possibility, when you least expect it. My column for The Central Current: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-s...

A lot of passionate and thoughtful debate following my piece on the ‘rusting away’ of the iconic railroad bridge messages of famed artist Steve Powers - and whether the next step should be to bring Powers back for restoration or to go with something else. Another familiar bridge:

Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens did a lengthy Q and A last month with journalism students at @LeMoyne for The Dolphin, the student paper: thedolphinlmc.com/news-feature...

I was thinking about this over the winter. These could be great spots for new murals, like the city has funded all over town the last few years. Maybe even have them include the concrete walls under and around the actual bridges.

Iconic messages on downtown Syracuse railroad bridges by acclaimed artist Steve Powers are rusting away. The civic question: Leave as is, bring Powers back for restoration or go in entirely new direction? My Central Current column with Mike Greenlar image: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-f...

The pillared facade of the 124-year-old Syracuse STEAM school was illuminated with LED lights for the first school dance in the restored landmark. Next up: A community celebration in the magnificent Lincoln Auditorium. This Michelle Gabel image appears with my column:

The restored Lincoln Auditorium at Syracuse STEAM: In less than two weeks, students will formally reopen hall where Gershwin and Ellington once performed. Image by David Trotman-Wilkins:

In less than two weeks, the students at new STEAM school - joined by alumni and performers from many major arts groups - will formally reopen Lincoln Auditorium, acoustical masterwork ... stage once walked by Duke Ellington & George Gershwin. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-t...

In Syracuse, city of long and hard winters, the sudden switch on 'Leaf Day' from world of browns and grays into a brief, astounding fluorescent green is 'like night and day,' says Logan Reidsma, foreman of the tree-planting Onondaga Earth Corps (Michelle Gabel image). My column:

In Syracuse, city of long and hard winters, the sudden switch on 'Leaf Day' from world of browns and grays into a brief, astounding fluorescent green is 'like night and day,' says Logan Reidsma, foreman of the tree-planting Onondaga Earth Corps (Michelle Gabel image). My column:

The payback for the hardest and snowiest winter of any large city in the nation: The extraordinary nature of ‘Leaf Day’ in Syracuse, happening in a stunning green explosion as I write this. My piece for The Central Current:

Happy 'leaf day' in Syracuse, that vivid breakout moment of fluorescent green when the maples emerge and we finally feel beyond a winter that brought more than 140 inches of snow to the community, most of any large city in the nation. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-t...

Buffalo News photographer Harry Scull Jr. discusses covering the Buffalo Sabres and what makes a great hockey photo. Go Behind The Lens with The Buffalo News' photographers here: buffalonews.com/multimedia/c...

It's been a long time since anyone gave me a closing quote that so beautifully captured everything about a moment (and thus a column) as the way Sebastian Moore described what throwing out first pitch on Jackie Robinson Day meant to 84-year-old Al Gunn, in Syracuse. Image by Mike Greenlar:

As a child, Al Gunn was barred from playing baseball in public parks in his Alabama hometown. Eighty years later, his friends say impossible to capture what it meant to him to throw out the first pitch on Jackie Robinson Day in manicured Triple A stadium, in Syracuse. My column:

Hard to believe there was anyone, anywhere in this country, who felt this year’s Jackie Robinson Day more intensely than the way Al Gunn felt, on the field, when he threw out the first pitch. My Central Current column, with beautiful Mike Greenlar images: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-o...

As a teenager, Jim Boone was sexually assaulted by a priest. Almost 60 years later, he believes the majority of people who endured similar trauma still carry that suffering alone - and he offers an open invitation to an event led by survivors this weekend at Le Moyne:

Tonight - Jackie Robinson Day in Syracuse … home of franchise that used to be Montreal Royals, for whom Jackie played 80 years ago … and Al Gunn and his young ballplayers will throw out the first pitch at NBT Stadium for Syracuse Mets … centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-e...

This weekend in Syracuse: Beyond court settlements, a gathering focused on solace for survivors of clergy sexual abuse ... and the reality that the effort to heal those wounds can never really fade away. My Central Current column, with Mike Roy images: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-f...

Ten years ago, Muz Kaila was 12-year-old who had ‘lost my sense of self’ and felt child’s despair at landscape all around him. The ‘Building Men’ program in Syracuse gave him traction to turn things around, says Kaila, who now runs his own garage. My column with Mike Roy images:

The journey that led former @syracuseu.bsky.social and Baltimore Colts football standout Joe Ehrmann to dedicate himself to transformative vision of masculinity ignited same torch in Joe Horan, whose Building Men program is celebrating 20 years of outreach to Syracuse city schoolchildren:

At 20 years, that 'Building Men' is still rolling for young men in the Syracuse schools becomes the whole life-changing point. My column, with beautiful Mike Roy images: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-a...

From a tired world, the longest journey in human history becomes a reason to look up (image courtesy NASA). My piece:

Whatever you're doing at 1:56 p.m. today, a reason to look toward the sky: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-a...

‘Knowledge was holy and sacred and liberated you for the opportunities your parents didn’t get. That’s America. I eat, drink and sleep these emotions.’ - Le Moyne College president Linda LeMura on legacy of her mother, a Sicilian immigrant who died a year ago this month:

‘Knowledge was holy and sacred and liberated you for the opportunities your parents didn’t get. That’s America. I eat, drink and sleep these emotions.’ - Le Moyne College president Linda LeMura on legacy of her mother, a Sicilian immigrant who died a year ago this month:

On Easter Sunday, Le Moyne College president Linda LeMura will be thinking of mom she lost a year ago this month - and thanking her for family trajectory that LeMura says is totally due to American gateway of birthright citizenship. My Central Current column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-b...

Options for community fish fries, a Buffalo tradition, are dwindling. by @chessabond.bsky.social buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Over past day, since this column ran, I’ve received many notes from readers who’ve been in recent vehicular accidents in Syracuse in which other driver was at fault - but couldn’t prove it to insurance companies because police, citing staff shortage, no longer responding to scene of many accidents:

In Syracuse, lawyer Joe Stanley says a new policy that means police often don’t show up at non-injury automobile accidents can have serious consequences for everyday drivers, especially when it’s not their fault: ‘You’re pretty much out of luck.’ My column:

In Syracuse, police - citing staffing shortfalls - following new policy: In many non-injury auto accidents, officers no longer go to the scene. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-i...

This image demonstrates what happens when you work with photographer Mike Greenlar on a piece like, say, the 80th birthday of human rights lawyer Joe Heath, who represents the Onondaga Nation in many state, local and federal issues … my column:

This image demonstrates what happens when you work with photographer Mike Greenlar on a piece like, say, the 80th birthday of human rights lawyer Joe Heath, who represents the Onondaga Nation in many state, local and federal issues … my column:

As he turns 80, Joe Heath - general counsel for the Onondaga Nation - needs one thing to retire. My Central Current column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-a...

Added to the global Tolkien Reading Day map, Sean! 😃

A selection of volumes from many years of The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - from one of our earlier gatherings for Tolkien Reading Day in Syracuse, global birthplace of the event. This year’s event is Saturday:

With even the children of fabled 'stone throwers' in winter of their lives, St. Patrick's Day reveal of new marker at fabled Tipperary Hill green-over-red traffic signal helps guarantee: A legendary Syracuse story will live on long after them. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-t...

Before St. Patrick’s Day season is totally gone, one last look at peculiarly Syracuse phenomenon - in certain way, naturally caused - at St. Patrick’s Day unveiling of green-over-red roadside marker: Near the famous Tipperary Hill traffic signal, along the curb … green slush.

A selection of volumes from many years of The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - from one of our earlier gatherings for Tolkien Reading Day in Syracuse, global birthplace of the event. This year’s event is Saturday:

Saturday, we'll celebrate Tolkien Reading Day in Syracuse, global birthplace of the event, and we're grateful for the support of both The Central Current and the Onondaga County Public Libraries in putting together our annual gathering. My column: centralcurrent.org/sean-kirst-f...