Shipwreck discovered
A team of undersea explorers out of Rochester discovered a 123-year-old wrecked ship on the depths of Lake Ontario near Oswego on Sept. 19.
Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski and Roland Stevens, historic shipwreck hunters, found the ship, a Canadian schooner named “The Ocean Wave” that sank during a sudden squall in November 1890.
The 81-foot ship was en route from Trenton, Ontario to Oswego carrying hemlock lumber and lath and went down about 15 miles from its destination. The winds recorded in Oswego that day were 34 mph and in the middle of the lake could have been up to 45 mph, capable of producing waves exceeding 12 feet.
The captain, Thomas Brokenshire, and all five members of the crew were killed as the ship broke apart and sections floated around Mexico Bay on the eastern shore before they sank in about 300 feet of water. After ships coming into port reported remnants of the schooner, a tugboat was dispatched from Oswego to look for survivors and, if possible, salvage “The Ocean Wave,” both to no avail.
The great grandson of Brokenshire told the explorer team that that trip across Lake Ontario was to be the captain’s final voyage prior to retiring.
The team found evidence of the wreck last year by using a high resolution DeepVision side-scan sonar and returned to the area this year to use a remote-operated vehicle to gather video images of the wrecked ship.
The deck and much of the stern and cabin are missing. The masts are gone except for a small stub about three or four feet of the foremast. Both sides of the ship have fallen away and lay next to the hull, while most of the ship lies flat on the bottom. It will most likely be confirmed to be “The Ocean Wave” because the dimensions match the ship from 1890, which was the only recorded wreck of a schooner in that part of Lake Ontario.
NSF grants Oswego State $1.2 million
A five-year, $1.2 million grant has been awarded to Oswego State by The National Science Foundation. The grant is aimed to not only help Oswego State STEM students, but also help generate math, science, engineering and technology teachers for high-need school districts. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Education will use this grant to establish the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program at Oswego State for the spring semester. When they join the program, graduate students in master’s teaching programs will receive $16,000 scholarships and undergraduate sophomores and juniors will receive $12,000 to help them complete their degrees and then work toward becoming a part of a STEM graduate program at Oswego. The program’s goal is to produce 30 graduates from the STEM program who are interested in teaching and 30 graduate-level teachers with state certification in adolescence education. Students who participate in the program must commit time after they graduate to teach in high-need school districts, a minimum of two years for undergraduates and four years for STEM professionals.
Ke-Nekt music series to begin in October
Oswego State’s Ke-Nekt music series will feature a medley of genres for its 2013-2014 season. The five-performance season is set to kick off with jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein, who will be hosted by Syracuse musician Rick Balestra on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Sheldon Hall ballroom. Bernstein has played with jazz masters Larry Goldings and Lou Donaldson. The next artist to perform on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Sheldon Hall ballroom is vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Bora Yoon. Yoon has been featured in Wire magazine for her musical innovations in her quest to create a new sonic language. The next performer to take the stage on Feb. 19 will be soprano Julia Broxholm at Sheldon Hall ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Broxholm will be honoring 20th century composer Samuel Barber by performing his composition “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.” Broxholm will be hosted by Oswego State music faculty Todd Graber. Cellist Elinor Frey will take the stage March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Sheldon Hall ballroom. She will be focusing on Benjamin Britten’s “Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80.” Frey will be hosted by pianist Rob Auler of the Oswego State music faculty. Lastly, bass-baritone Philip Cokorinos will finish off the season April 30 in Sheldon Hall ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Cokorinos, an Oswego State alum, first performed with Oswego Opera Theatre. He will be hosted by Oswego State faculty member Juan F. La Manna. Tickets are available for purchase at the college box offices, online at tickets.oswego.edu or by calling (315)312-2141. Tickets are $15 for the public and $5 for Oswego State students. Parking is included in the ticket price and parking spots will be available in the employee parking lots adjacent to and across from Sheldon Hall.
Ella Wheeler gallery at Oswego Library
The third and final gallery exhibition on photographer Ella Wheeler’s original glass plate negatives at the Oswego Public Library is being brought to a close this week.
Ella married Oswego public servant and businessman Fred D. Wheeler in January 1880. The newlywed couple moved to the city of Oswego and had three children together by 1886. From 1900 to 1909, Ella was known for the scenic and picturesque photographs she took around town. She took photos from as far away as Michigan and Connecticut in that time.
For those interested in viewing Ella’s works, the gallery showcasing some of it is located throughout the lower level of the library.
The Oswego Public Library is open on Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Civic Engagement to hold panel
The Civic Engagement Program at Oswego State is conducting a discussion panel titled “Students’ Rights and Responsibilities” on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center auditorium.
The event, coordinated by Civic Engagement graduate assistant Jon Zella, aims to educate students about their rights without directly reading the handbook to them. The panel features guests Lisa Evaneski, Oswego State’s assistant dean of students for judicial affairs, Kevin Velzy, assistant chief of Oswego State’s U.P., David Roman, retired Oswego County judge, Gregory Oakes, City of Oswego district attorney and Zachary Misztal, of the Oswego City police department.
Zella’s goal for the event is to educate students on their rights by going over common scenarios students may encounter. Each panel member will describe what to do in certain situations.
After the discussion, moderator Francisco Perez, a senior and political science major at Oswego State, will be asking the panelists previously submitted questions. Students have the opportunity to submit their own questions at a tabling held by Civic Engagement on Oct. 9, 10, 15 and 16. Students can also email questions to www.civic@oswego.edu, submit questions via Twitter with the handle @sunyoswegoce or through its LakerLife page.
SHAC holds its first meeting
The Student Health Association Committee (SHAC) had its first event, SHAC Fair, of the semester on Sept. 13.
The Student Health Association Committee consists of two Co-Presidents: Pichardo and Alyssa Scruton. They, along with the other board members, plan the events that SHAC holds during each semester. SHAC Fair is an event that is held each fall semester.
During the event, students are welcome to come to the Mary Walker Health Center to tie-dye T-shirts, enter a raffle, in which a winner is picked every 10 minutes, make worry dolls and enjoy free cookies and lemonade. The fair is also an opportunity to collect further information about SHAC. Pichardo gave hint of another event that will happen toward the end of this semester or during the beginning of the next.
If you are interested in joining the Student Health Association Committee, or have any questions, feel free to contact SHAC at shac@oswego.edu for further information
