Hello, Oswego! The busy time that is early October, full of tests, papers, and club happenings is winding down. This means it’s time for a quick review of what has happened so far this month.

The first half of the month has felt much more like September than October. Average highs this time of year are in the lower 60s, with lows in the low to mid 40s. Through today (the 15th), we’ve had 10 days exceed 65º, 5 exceed 70º and 1 (the 5th) exceed 80º. Factoring in the relatively warm low temps we’ve experienced, and the average temperature has been over 5º above normal thus far into the month!

The month, so far, has featured its fair share of interesting weather and sunsets, as well.

First off, the remnants of Hurricane Nate, which made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi on the 8th, impacted the region the following day. 2.87″ of rain fell on Oswego in a 12-hour period! No flooding was noted, as the area had been very dry prior to the rain falling. Nearby Watertown, NY recorded 3.67″ from the event, their wettest October calendar day ever recorded.

Perhaps most striking (ha!), was a thunderstorm the evening of the 5th. A passing cold front combined with warm and humid conditions initiated scattered showers and storms, one of which approached Oswego via Lake Ontario. I managed to capture the shot above using my iPhone’s slo-mo video feature.

With warm, dry high pressure frequenting the Northeast this autumn, clearer skies have meant more great sunsets. This one was captured on the 2nd of the month.

More dry, mild conditions and great sunsets are in the offing this upcoming week as high pressure returns. Have a great week!

Hi everyone!

I know my blog entry is a few days late this week, and that is because I wanted to wait until I attended the I Am Oz Speaker event that took place Tuesday night before writing this week’s blog post. The reason that I want to center my blog around Kate Fagan, an ESPN sports anchor and journalist, is because she has inspired so many young college students to be who they truly are and find what they love in this world. As a college student writing for an audience mainly of college students, I believe we all can learn so much from Kate and the journey she endured during her time as a college athlete and her years beyond that.

While Kate was speaking, she addressed the issues that commonly occur among college students. The issues of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses occur on college campuses on a daily basis, and no matter how hard the college tries to address these issues, there are always people who go unnoticed. I wanted this post to be for those people. The people who feel like they are alone, who feel as if no one notices the struggles that they are facing. Whether it is transitioning into college, trouble with friends, grades, or something even deeper than that, college students everywhere need to know that they are not alone. Here at SUNY Oswego, our campus provides many resources that people may not even know about, and these resources help students work through difficult times they are facing. Here is a list of resources any student on our campus can use for free if they are facing challenges in any area of life:

1. Counseling Servies Center (www.oswego.edu/counseling-services) The counseling center can be used for anyone who is dealing with a life change, personal problems they would like to discuss, or just need someone to talk to. They provide a variety of services, and you can find these services and their phone number on their website (which I posted above).
2. The Compass (www.oswego.edu/career-services/compass-navigators) The compass is an outlet for students who need help with any challenges they may be facing regarding their future careers. The compass is full of professionals and staff who can help you build your resume, cover letter, or just talk with you about your future and where you are hoping to move on to after your time at SUNY Oswego.
3. Student Resources (www.oswego.edu/ols/student-resources) Student resources is a tool provided to students through the Office of Learning Services at SUNY Oswego. This tool provides students with tips about how to take notes, maintain good grades, and how to figure out what they are good at. This can help students get a handle on their academics and help prevent future stress that may be caused by classes.

There are many more resources out there, but these are just a few of the very important ones that students should be taking advantage of while on campus. College campuses are huge and filled with people, but it is so easy to end up feeling alone. But the truth is, you are not alone! Chances are the people that live in your dorm or the person who sits next to you in class feels the same way that you do. Don’t bottle up your emotions! It is okay to talk to people about how you feel and figure out exactly what it is that will help you. Even if SUNY Oswego does not have exactly what you need, there are people here who are more than willing to make connections for you and get you the help that you need and deserve. Take advantage of everything the campus has to offer! You won’t regret it.

Hi Everyone!

It’s that time of week again….Morgan Monday! This week I want to talk to you guys about the best places to eat around town. We all know what it is like to get sick of the dining hall, and if you live off campus then you know what it’s like to open your fridge and only see a half eaten piece of pizza sitting there. If you’ve got the extra cash and are looking for a good meal then listen up!

1. My absolute favorite place to grab something quick is Port City Cafe. They are located right on West 1st Street, and their menu consists of soups, salads, and all different types of sandwiches.They also serve breakfast until 10:30 a.m., and they have the best coffee I’ve had in Oswego. Their prices aren’t bad at all, around the $8-$10 range. If you love the cafe feel and really want a good sandwich, cup of coffee, or just want a place to hangout and do homework then go check it out!

2. If you’re looking for a good place to take someone on a date, celebrate a friend’s birthday, or are just in the mood to treat yourself, Vona’s is the place for you! It is a family run, Italian restaurant located on Willow Street in Oswego. They have all of your typical Italian dishes, but everything there is amazing and I really suggest trying it out. As long as you don’t mind shelling out a little extra cash ;).

3. Fajita Grill does not get the credit that it deserves in my opinion. Here in Oswego, we are lacking both Moe’s and Chipotle. Maybe it isn’t as good as those two restaurants in some people’s opinion, but I love it and think it is the best place to go in Oswego to get your Mexican food fix. Prices are very reasonable and the queso is awesome!

4. Old City is sort of like Oswego’s hidden gem when it comes to deals on food, and lets face it, we’re all broke and looking to save a couple bucks. Old City has a 50 cent wing special on Monday’s. Yes, you can eat as many wings as you want for only 50 cents each. They also have $1.50 tacos on Wednesdays. A taco for under $2…how could you go wrong? Of course Oswego is the only place who has taco Wednesday instead of taco Tuesday…but either way they’re still awesome tacos and I highly recommend checking it out! (Yes, guac is extra there too).

5. Last but not least, Press Box is the best place to go if you are looking for bar food, but in a sit-down setting. They have everything from nachos, to salads, to chicken fingers, and everything in-between. Don’t go there if you are trying to eat healthy, but if you are looking for good food at a reasonable price then check it out! I know from experience you won’t regret it :).

I hope this post gave you guys some ideas of places to try next time you are out and about and looking to grab a bite to eat! If you try any of these places and love them as much as I do, leave a comment below and let me know what you had! Look out for my post next week and enjoy! 🙂

It’s the end of September. Leaves are changing, the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air, and temperatures are turning chillier…

That doesn’t seem right. The weather has remained hot the past couple of weeks!

Sunset on Sept. 15. Much of the haze that appears was actually smoke from wildfires in the Western US.

Here in Oswego, we have put together a string of 14 days straight with 70º+ high temperatures, with a few of those eclipsing 80º as well. Nearby Fulton, NY, away from the cooler Lake Ontario, even reached 91º on the 25th. (Normal highs this time of year are in the mid to upper 60s.) This sounds like mid-summer weather to me!

So, why has it been so warm lately? Thank a persistent, strong ridge of high pressure over the eastern US. This high promoted a “bubble” in the jet stream extending well north of the international border, allowing warm air to flood the region. Active weather systems tend to be located near the jet stream, hence the large absence of clouds and rain. Additionally, the ridge was a major factor in steering the remains of hurricanes Irma and Jose away from our region. And, as a result, the region has had a wonderful stretch of warm, dry weather. We could use some rain in the near future, however.

The pattern looks to finally break in a couple of days, with much cooler temps by the weekend. Fall lovers rejoice!

Another picture-perfect sunset, Sept. 23

Are you sitting alone in your dorm room, bored and wondering why you have nothing to do except go to class and do homework? Well that’s because you probably don’t know that there are over 250 clubs and organizations to be apart of right here on SUNY Oswego’s campus! I am not going to name them all because we would be here for a while…but I will provide you with 10 clubs and organizations you probably didn’t know existed! If none of those interest you you can find the full list at

https://lakerlife.oswego.edu/organizations

Here we go…

1. Adopt A Grandparent
This organization is a good one to get involved with if you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer and make a difference within the community.

2. Badminton Club
Get out there and show off your badminton skills!

3. College Republicans
If you are interested in politics and would enjoy meeting with your peers to discuss similar interests, then this club might be just right for you.

4. Cut The Craft
Students meet in order to create handmade crafts and enjoy each other’s company.

5. Fishing Club
Have an interest in fishing? Join the fishing club! Improve your fishing skills all while having fun with friends.

6. Math Club
If you love math and want to show of your skills then this would be the perfect club for you! Make sure to add yourself into their equation 🙂

7. Mentor Oswego
Connect with Oswego’s youth and become a role model for them through Mentor Oswego!

8. Oswego State Equestrian Team
This club allows students to pursue their love of riding horses as well as compete at the local and national level.

9. Potterwatch
This club is based solely on a love for Harry Potter. If you can’t get enough of Harry Potter, check out Potterwatch! They hold Harry Potter inspired events and activities in order to raise money for charities related to Harry Potter.

10. Scuba Club
If you have always wanted to become a certified diver then this club is for you! Dive in the local area with both new and experienced divers.

If none of these clubs interest you, don’t worry! Like I mentioned in the beginning, there are many more clubs and organizations where those came from. Be sure to check them out! 🙂

Looking for fun activities to take part in this fall in the Oswego community? Well you are in luck! There are many exciting things going on both on and off campus in the upcoming weeks, and I am here to share these events with you. Here are 5 things you can’t miss out on this fall in Oswego…

1.) The Ontario Orchards Fall Jamboree
This event will kick off on Saturday, September 23 at 11 a.m., and will be going on until 6 p.m. There will be food, games, live music, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and so much more! Can’t make it Saturday? Don’t sweat it! The jamboree will also be taking place Sunday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at Ontario Orchards Farm, 15273 Center Road, Sterling NY. If you don’t have a car but really want to get in on the fall fun, invite your friends! Spend the day together in the beautiful fall weather.

2.) The 3rd Annual Oswego Porch Fest
This is something that many people may not know about, but it sounds awesome and is definitely something that is going to be worth checking out! Oswego has scheduled for over 30 performers to come out on Sunday September 24, 2017 from 1-5 p.m. They will be located on the west side of Oswego in the Historic Districts of West/Franklin and Montcalm Parks. The performances are free, and they are scattered throughout the neighborhoods and parks. Don’t miss this fantastic chance to meet local performers and spend the day outside with friends!

3.) CNY Great Pumpkin Festival
Each year, Oswego is the host of this annual festival. Come out and enjoy amusement rides, vendors, crafters, food, fun, and GINORMOUS pumpkins! This festival lasts all day long from September 30 to October 1, 2017. It is located at Washington Square Park in Oswego, NY. Take a picture next to one of the huge pumpkins and send it to us for a chance to be featured on the SUNY Oswego Instagram or Snapchat!

4.) Suicide Prevention 5k Fun Run and Walk
This is the 7th annual suicide prevention walk to be held on the SUNY Oswego campus. This walk is meant to support those who have lost someone to suicide, and raise awareness for the cause. The run/walk will be held on September 30, 2017 from 9-3 p.m. The event is free, but if you chose to raise $50 or more you will receive a free t-shirt. Put on your running shoes and come out to support a great cause!

5.) Oswego Farmer’s Market
The Oswego Farmer’s Market is basically a mini fair, with food trucks, fried dough, popcorn, vendors, crafters and much more! This event takes place each Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and is located on West 1st Street right in the heart of Oswego. There are only two more weeks left of the farmers market for this season, so don’t miss out!

There are many other things going on both on and off campus this fall, so don’t limit yourself to just these events! Get out, get involved and enjoy the fall season! Before we know it the ground will be covered in snow…

Look out for my posts every Monday, I will have new and exciting topics each week!