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=31. OCC: Onondaga Community College= == = [|Onondaga Community College] is a college of the [|State University of New York](SUNY) system and one of 30 locally sponsored community colleges throughout New York State. OCC was established in 1961. =

Students can earn bachelor's degrees at OCC, through partnerships with SUNY Empire State College, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Delhi, Kaplan University and Keuka College.
The different degrees and certificates that can be earned at OCC are listed at http://admission.sunyocc.edu/academics.aspx?id=6766

Nine buildings on the campus administer nearly 50 programs and enrollment has grown to over 13,000 students. Dorming is also available at the school. Three state-of-the-art, all-suite residence halls were built in August 2006 and house 585 students. OCC is proud to have over 40,000 alumni.

The school's colors are Carolina Blue and White. The school nickname is the Lazers. OCC has a history of excellence in athletics, with fifteen athletic teams that are members of the [|National Junior College Athletic Association] (NJCAA). The teams compete at the Division III level in Region III. OCC is also a member of the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Many of the teams are consistently nationally ranked. In fact, OCC teams have won five national championships in the past three years. In 2009, it became the first college in NJCAA history to win national championships in both Men's and Women's lacrosse. The school also boasts the 2006 and 2007 NJCAA Division III National Champion Men's lacrosse team, and the 2008 National Champion tennis team. For more information, visit [|OCC athletics].

For a video on Onondaga Community College women's basketball, visit []

For the arts, they have a year-round series called "Arts Across Campus" which showcases high quality art and cultural programming. For more information, visit their arts website at []

Overall, OCC's focus is on a: 1). Student-Centered Environment 2). Learning-Focused Institution 3). Community-Oriented Approach

For additional information and enrollment information you may visit their website []

Onondaga Community College address: 4585 West Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215-4585 Phone: 315-498-2622

=**32. OCRRA: Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency**= OCRRA is a non-profit public benefit corporation designed by the [|New York State Legislature] to deal with solid waste or large amounts of trash produced on a daily basis. OCRRA has been providing a comprehensive solid waste management and resource recovery system to Onondaga County since 1990. Over the years, OCRRA’s system has grown and adapted to the changing needs of the community. OCRRA’s system includes:
 * a strong [|recycling] and [|composting] program,
 * a foundation for local waste disposal at the [|Waste-to-Energy Facility] ,
 * two convenient trash and recycling [|drop-off sites], and
 * numerous programs for hard-to-manage materials - including [|household hazardous waste], [|batteries] , [|fluorescent bulbs] , and other [|mercury containing devices].

Mission: To provide to the community a solid waste solution that is environmentally, socially and financially sound.

OCRRA's mission statement is listed on its website and reads as follows: "To serve our community by providing a comprehensive solid waste management system that is environmentally, socially and financially sound. Through innovative strategies such as waste reduction, recycling, composting disposal, and education, we make our community a more healthy and sustainable place to live."

OCRRA assumed responsibility for solid waste management on November 1, 1990. OCRRA aims to recycle and safely dispose items. While a number of communities still struggle to recycle 20% of this material, Onondaga County's households and commercial outlets currently recycle better than 60% of waste that used to go to the landfill. Thirty-three of the thirty-five municipalities in Onondaga County voluntarily elected to become part of the OCRRA system.

OCRRA is governed by a 15-member board of directors. The board is a group of citizen volunteers who are in charge of setting a budget to make sure there will be sufficient revenues to cover any expenditures. The agency does not rely on county taxes. OCRRA hired Mark Donnelly as its new executive director in May 2012.

OCRRA teaches ways one can help recycle at home or out in the community. The website has a search bar for people to type in an item and learn how to dispose of it as well as reduce waste.

OCRRA has received numerous awards for its efforts in the community. In 2012 the corporation received the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Excellence Award.

For additional information, visit: [|Recycling], [|Trash], [|Compost]. OCRRA Administrative Office: 100 Elwood Davis Road North Syracuse, NY 13212-4312 Above: The OCRRA waste-to-energy plant back in 2009. (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) You may also e-mail them at: info@OCRRA.org Or you can visit their website: [|www.ocrra.org]
 * Telephone:** 315-453-2866

=33. Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA): Central New York's Water Authority= [|OCWA] (Onondaga County Water Authority) is one of the largest public water suppliers in the U.S. It provides quality drinking water to its 340,000 consumers in four counties of Central New York: [|Onondaga], [|Oswego], [|Madison], and [|Oneida]. The OCWA now serves new areas including Hastings, Volney, West Monroe, Constantia, and the Town of Sterling. It delivers water from three main sources:
 * Otisco Lake, which is treated by OCWA itself (in 2007, 41.2% of the OCWA's water came from this source). Customers who receive water from Otisco Lake are mostly in southern and western Onondaga County.
 * Lake Ontario, which is treated by the [|Metropolitan Water Board] (MWB) and sold wholesale to OCWA (in 2007, 57.4% of the O
 * [[image:http://www.villageofcentralsquare-ny.us/images/water.jpg width="288" align="right" caption="An OCWA water tower in Syracuse"]]CWA's water came from this source). Customers receiving water from Lake Ontario are mostly northern and eastern Onondaga County as well as those in Oswego, Madison, and Oneida counties.
 * Skaneateles Lake, which is treated by the [|City of Syracuse Water Department] and also sold to OCWA (in 2007, 1.4% of the OCWA's water came from this source). This water is used in necessary areas around the Syracuse including Nedrow, Southwood, and the area west of the Village of Camillus.

In 2008, OCWA supplied 14.11 billion total gallons of water to its 340,000 customers. The average cost residential a nd commercial customers was $3.14 for every 1,000 gallons in 2008. The goal of the OCWA is to continue to improve service while maintaining some of the lowest rates in the country. In order to do this, its efforts are focused on: its annual capital improvement program, the development of a long-term system enhancement program and continually improving quality of service through the national QualServe program of the [|American Water Works Association], and development of a long-term system enhancement program. The OCWA was recently highlighted in the //Northeast Executive Magazine's// Winter 2010 Edition. Th e OCWA also has an online payment plan for customers who wish to pay their bill via the internet.

In 2011, OCWA made major progress with major water quality related projects. For example, the water reservoirs in Van Buren and Manlius were replaced by concrete covered water storage tanks designed to protect and enhance overall system water quality.

The OCWA Board is comprised of John V. Bianchini, who is the Chair. Susan A. Miller is the Vice Chair. Eileen D. Gilligan is the Secretary.

The Executive Director of OCWA is Michael E. Hooker. The Deputy Executive Director is Geoffrey G. Miller.

For more information, their website is: [|www.ocwa.org]

Onondaga County Water Authority P.O. Box 4949 Syracuse, NY 13211-4949
 * Mail:**

The office address 200 Northern Concourse Syracuse, NY 13212 (315) 455-7061

Office Hours: 8:00AM-4:30PM Monday through Friday

After hours and weekend emergency answering service: 315-475-7601
 * Telephone**: 315-455-7061
 * Fax**: 315-455-8510
 * Email:** []

=34. National Grid:= [|National Grid]is one of the world's largest utilities, focused on delivering energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly. It distributes electricity in the northeastern US to approximately 7 million customers and gas in upstate New York to around 565,000 customers. National Grid has a [|New York office]based in Syracuse, New York. National Grid is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment, always seeking new ways to minimize the environmental impacts of present and future activities. It lists one of its jobs as connecting people to the energy they use. It also has a number of businesses operating in related areas such as metering and interconnectors. Grid looks for creating sustainable energy sources that are becoming more necessary in the 21st century. National Grid's vision is an important part of its strategy. It's vision statement reads as follows:

> //"We, at National Grid, will be the foremost international electricity and gas company, delivering unparalleled safety, reliability and efficiency, vital to the well being of our customers and communities.// > //"We are committed to being an innovative leader in energy management and to safeguarding our global environment for future generations."//



National Grid works with federal and state agencies, environmental organizations, and other groups to help maximize the protection of the environment in all parts of the companies operations. They believe that everyone is responsible for good environmental performance, incorporating environmental considerations into all of their business activities while adhering to the Public Service Commission. In agreement with the PSC, National Grid will not terminate residential service on days when the temperature is expected to be below freezing. National Grid also offers online payment for customers who wish to utilize the service. Electrical outages can be reported through the National Grid-New York website listed below.

Visit the New York home page at: [].

National Grid has many on-going projects. For example there is an update in [|Brooklyn, NY]. National Grid is investing more than $100 million in the Queens Gas Reliability Project.

On September 13, 2015, there was a [|major power outage] of National Grid Customers in Syracuse. A car crashed into a pole that lead to a major outage.

Contact information for Upstate New York: > Get answers Contact us form > 1-800-642-4272 > Hearing/speech-impaired: > 1-800-642-4272 ext. 711
 * Upstate NY:

Emergency Phone Numbers (24 hours a day, any day of the year):

> Phone: 1-800-892-2345 > Note: This number does not replace 911 emergency medical service. > To report an Electric Emergency or Outage > Phone: 1-800-867-5222
 * **Gas Emergency**
 * **To report a power outage**

National Grid Customer Service Center 300 Erie Boulevard West Syracuse, NY 13202-4250


 * Telephone**: 1-800-642-4272


 * Email:** Any questions can also be sent to National Grid via email.

=35. Centro: Central New York Regional Transportation Authority= http://www.centro.org/schedules.aspx

Centro provides Central New York with public transportation. The [|Central New York Regional Transportation Authority] (CNYRTA) was named by the [|American Public Transportation Association] (APTA) as the 2006 Best Public Transit System in North America among medium-size systems. The mission of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority is to be responsive to the transportation needs of the Central New York community by providing services which are safe, convenient, reliable, and environmentally responsible, with a goal of maximizing the taxpayers’ return on investment. CNY Centro Inc. was founded in 1972.

CNY Centro offers [|Syracuse/Onondaga], [|Auburn], [|Rome/Utica], and [|Fulton/Mexico/Oswego] routes, as well as [|Park and Ride Services.] The CNYRTA is moving forward on its plan to build a new transfer hub in downtown Syracuse. The new facility will have a semi-enclosed area to shelter transit passengers from the weather. Ridership on Centro bus routes is up 12.2% in CNY. They also offer College and University area routes. Centro also runs the [|Regional Transportation Center] (RTC), located in Syracuse, and houses train and bus services provided by Amtrak, Greyhound and Trailways. The RTC is accessible seven days a week by Centro bus. In the past year, new colleges have reached out to Centro to offer transportation services. [|Onondaga Community College], [|Cayuga Community College], and [|Bryant & Stratton] now rely on Centro for student transportation. This adds to Centro's commitment to locate education as the company also serves the [|Syracuse City School District], [|Oswego State], [|LeMoyne College], [|SUNY ESF], and[| Syracuse University].

Centro has published a new service map that allows people to visual look at the [|routes though the city of Syracuse.]Centro services Syracuse University students as well. One route is free to [|Destiny USA on Friday and Saturday nights.]

Centro also now includes a [|bus tracking feature.]

Citizens can buy bus passes online, depending on where their location is: http://www.centro.org/online/ The Centro Annual Report highlights the addition of new vehicles, new types of bus-passes, and a new Centro training center. Economic assets and operating costs can be found along with other fiscal reports as well.Centro now offers an online trip planner through its website, listed below. Centro has now installed automated voices and visual signs on its vehicles to make travel easier for the hearing and visually impaired.

In recent years, Centro has had a major funding problem. [|Syracuse.com reported a $4.5 million] budget hole starting April 1, 2015. Centro's current bus fee is $2 per rider.

PO BOX 820 Syracuse, NY 13205-0820
 * Telephone:** Syracuse-Onondaga: 315-442-3400. Citizens can call and ask information about different routes and when many of the city's buses will leave. To contact other Centro service areas click here: []
 * Website:** []. Fares, transportation center locations and campus services are available online.
 * Email:** cnyrta@centro.org
 * Address:** Syracuse/Onondaga: 200 Cortland Ave.
 * Bus Routes and Schedules: []**