On April 24th, 2024, Utica Police officers were alerted to an individual who was making threatening statements about shooting people with an AK-47. The male in question had sent messages to other parties, threatening the use of the firearm and even shared pictures of the weapon. It was also reported that he had shown rifle magazines to others and made similar threats. Based on the seriousness of the situation, the police decided to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order. Once the order was granted, they went to the individual’s address on the 1400 block of Taylor Ave, found him, and conducted a search of his premises. They were able to locate the rifle mentioned, rifle magazines, as well as several associated parts of other firearms. Following the search, the male, Edward Reesh, who is 42 years old and from Utica, was taken into custody as the weapon he had was illegal to possess. He was then transported to the Utica Police Department and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, four times. This included a previous conviction, an assault rifle, and two large capacity ammunition devices. Sources: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02nACnBQMyXwJTYbDe9tkKuvYWs9mE9fkphB2YwRKNRspRWfiQ6ZvP76GM9tPrWU7Nl&id=100064802073577

On April 23, 2024, at approximately 8:00 AM Utica Police and Utica Fire units were dispatched to 2 Kennedy Pl regarding a possible arson complaint. Upon arrival, officers spoke with an individual who stated that during the course of an argument with his girlfriend, she lit multiple pieces of paper on fire and slid them under the door attempting to burn the apartment. The victim stated he was able to douse the papers without major damage. Based on the circumstances, the case was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, and later that day the suspect, Kaylen Schloop age 22 of Rome was charged with: Arson in the third-degree

On April 18, 2024, the State Police of Princetown arrested Daquan C. Watkins, a 31-year-old resident of Albany, NY. Watkins was arrested for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fourth degree, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the third degree, Criminal Mischief in the fourth degree, Resisting Arrest, and multiple Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on Albany Street in Schenectady, NY, on April 18, 2024, at around 8:45 p.m. for breaking Vehicle and Traffic Law. Watkins was driving the vehicle and failed to comply with the trooper's request. As a result, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was discontinued in the Hamburg Street area in Rotterdam, NY, due to safety concerns. Later, Troopers found the vehicle on South Brandywine Avenue in Schenectady, NY, where Watkins again fled in the vehicle. During the pursuit, Watkins collided with and damaged a marked Troop car. The vehicle became disabled due to the damage caused by the contact, and Watkins attempted to flee on foot. However, after a brief foot pursuit, he was apprehended. Upon investigation, it was found that Watkins was wanted on a Felony Arrest Warrant issued by the East Greenbush Town Court. Additionally, the vehicle Watkins was driving had been reported as stolen from Columbia Avenue in East Greenbush, NY, on March 29, 2024. Watkins was taken to SP Princetown for processing and subsequently transported to the Schenectady County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today that BRANDON SANTANOO, an employee of the New York City Law Department (the “Law Department”), pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with his participation in a scheme to steal checks mailed to the Law Department and then to deposit or attempt to deposit forged, altered, and fraudulently endorsed versions of those checks into bank accounts not associated with the Law Department.  SANTANOO pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Brandon Santanoo abused his position of trust as a city employee.  As he admitted today in federal court, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of checks made payable to the Law Department and passed them along to others to fraudulently deposit.  We will not tolerate any breach of trust or corruption within city agencies.” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “Brandon Santanoo used his position at the City Law Department to steal approximately 40 checks payable to the City – and valued at approximately $600,000 – and then handed them out to acquaintances to forge, alter, or fraudulently endorse the checks and then deposit into private bank accounts.  I thank the Law Department for the referral to DOI that prompted this investigation and our law enforcement partners in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their commitment to hold accountable City employees who exploit their access to engage in criminal conduct, and to protect valuable City resources from theft.” According to the allegations in the Information and the Complaint, the plea agreement, and statements made in court: Beginning in 2017, SANTANOO worked as a clerk in the mail room at the Law Department’s office in Brooklyn.  By virtue of his position, SANTANOO had access to mail that was sent to the Law Department. From at least in or about June 2021 through at least in or about May 2023, SANTANOO stole checks that had been mailed to the Law Department, including checks made payable to the Law Department’s Worker’s Compensation Division, which is responsible for administering claims of city employees who are injured on the job.  SANTANOO then passed those checks onto other people, who deposited or attempted to deposit forged, altered, and fraudulently endorsed versions of those checks into third parties’ bank accounts.  Approximately 40 checks, totaling approximately $600,000, were stolen and deposited or attempted to be deposited as part of the scheme. * SANTANOO, 27, of Queens Village, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 30 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DOI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their assistance on this matter. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Simon is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated April 22, 2024 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/city-employee-pleads-guilty-check-theft-scheme

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Matthew R. Talamo, age 38, of New Haven, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to 4 years of probation and a $50,000.00 fine, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act related to his operation of Southern Diesel Truck Co. and Southern Diesel and Off-Road LLC (collectively “Southern Diesel”), in Oswego, New York. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) in New York, made the announcement. In pleading guilty previously, Talamo admitted that he is the owner and operator of Southern Diesel, which specializes in buying and reselling diesel vehicles and performing after-market modifications to diesel vehicles, particularly pickup trucks. In pleading guilty, Talamo admitted that he conspired and agreed with others to violate the Clean Air Act at Southern Diesel by tampering with emission control monitoring devices and methods on diesel pickup trucks, including both software and hardware modifications. The illegal software modifications involved “tuning” or “deleting” the trucks by tampering with the “on board diagnostic” (OBD) systems and disabling emission controls, which allowed the trucks to emit substantially more pollutants into the atmosphere. Talamo and his employees also made hardware modifications to diesel vehicles, including by removing tailpipes, mufflers, and other exhaust components and replacing them with so-called straight pipes that lacked diesel particulate filters and other systems designed to reduce harmful emissions. Between January 2018 and November 2022, Southern Diesel tampered with the emission control monitoring devices and systems of approximately 244 diesel vehicles, often charging thousands of dollars per vehicle for the modifications. Despite the harm to the environment, diesel vehicle owners sometimes seek such illegal modifications to avoid the costs of maintaining and repairing emission control components and to increase speed and fuel efficiency. Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, who presided over the case, ordered Talamo to complete 150 hours of community service during his term of probation and ordered him to abide by terms of a compliance program agreed to as part of his plea agreement, including that Southern Diesel is subject to inspection at any time for potential Clean Air Act violations. EPA-CID investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry prosecuted the case. For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/oswego-vehicle-dealership-sentenced-conspiracy-violate-clean-air-act

Press Release On the morning of April 15, 2024, a call came through to Seneca County's 911 dispatch center, alerting them to an urgent situation at the Lowe's store in the town of Waterloo. A woman was in active labor and needed immediate assistance. Without hesitation, Trooper Joseph Vinci and Trooper Alexander Mullen were dispatched to the location to provide critical aid to the expectant mother. Upon arrival, they found the woman in the backseat of a car, her labor progressing rapidly. With great care and expertise, they helped to deliver a beautiful baby girl, ensuring that the mother and newborn received the best possible care in a challenging situation. North Seneca Ambulance arrived on the scene shortly after and took both mother and child to F.F. Thompson Hospital where they were examined and found to be in good health. Thanks to the swift actions of Trooper Vinci and Trooper Mullen, this miraculous event had a happy ending. Contact Troop E Public Information Officer: Trooper Lynnea Crane Troop E Commander: Major Miklos S. Szoczei

On Sunday night, two police officers, Syracuse police officer Michael E. Jensen and sheriff Lt. Michael Hoosock, were shot and killed outside Christopher R. Murphy's home on Darien Drive. It was revealed by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick that Murphy had been doing cocaine that day with his friend, Shawn Kinsella. The two of them had been long-time friends, and Kinsella told investigators that they had spent some time doing lines of cocaine earlier that day. There is also speculation that the cocaine may have played a role in the shooting, and any remaining cocaine found inside Murphy's house will be collected by officers and analyzed to see if it was laced with anything. It is unclear whether Murphy was legally allowed to possess the Springfield AR-15 gun that he used to shoot the officers. The trouble started with a traffic stop at 7 p.m. in the city's Tipp Hill neighborhood, where Syracuse police tried to pull over a car, but the driver refused and sped off. The police took the plate number, which led them to Murphy's home. There, police saw guns in the back of the car, and then heard the sound of a gun being readied to fire from inside the home. After that, gunfire filled the neighborhood as the officers and the suspect exchanged shots. It's still not clear how many total shots were fired, but on a recording from a nearby home, the gunshots lasted about nine seconds, with shots firing off so fast that it was impossible to count how many were fired. Murphy also died from gunshot injuries from officers. Kinsella, who was with Murphy earlier that day, was caught trying to jump over a fence, but he has not been charged with any crime at this point. Murphy's only prior interaction with the police was a 2014 drunken driving arrest, which also included a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. It's unclear why Murphy decided to ambush the officers, but Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile said there was something in Murphy's past which "may be some indicator" as to why he shot two officers. However, Cecile declined to provide specifics. Fitzpatrick said that he hopes Kinsella will remain cooperative with law enforcement, and no charges are contemplated against him at this time unless new evidence emerges.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SHAKEEB AHMED was sentenced today to three years in prison by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero for hacking two separate decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges and stealing cryptocurrency worth over $12 million.  AHMED previously pled guilty to computer fraud. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, Shakeeb Ahmed was sentenced to prison in the first ever conviction for the hack of a smart contract and ordered to forfeit all of the stolen crypto.  No matter how novel or sophisticated the hack, this Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to following the money and bringing hackers to justice.  And as today’s sentence shows, time in prison — and forfeiture of all the stolen crypto — is the inevitable consequence of such destructive hacks.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: On or about July 2 and 3, 2022, AHMED carried out an attack on a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (the “Crypto Exchange”), in which he used fake pricing data to generate approximately $9 million worth of inflated fees, then withdrew those fees in the form of cryptocurrency.  After he stole the fees, AHMED had communications with the Crypto Exchange in which he agreed to return all of the stolen funds except for $1.5 million if the Crypto Exchange agreed not to refer the attack to law enforcement. On or about July 28, 2022, a few weeks after the hack of the Crypto Exchange, AHMED carried out an attack on a second decentralized cryptocurrency exchange called Nirvana Finance (“Nirvana”).  AHMED used an exploit he discovered in Nirvana’s smart contracts to allow him to purchase cryptocurrency from Nirvana at a lower price than the contract was designed to allow.  He then immediately resold that cryptocurrency to Nirvana at a higher price.  Nirvana offered AHMED a “bug bounty” of as much as $600,000 to return the stolen funds, but AHMED instead demanded $1.4 million, did not reach agreement with Nirvana, and kept all the stolen funds.  The $3.6 million AHMED stole represented approximately all the funds possessed by Nirvana, which as a result shut down shortly after AHMED’s attack. AHMED laundered the millions that he stole from the Crypto Exchange and from Nirvana to conceal their source and ownership, using sophisticated techniques including token-swap transactions; “bridging” fraud proceeds from the Solana blockchain over to the Ethereum blockchain; exchanging fraud proceeds into Monero, an anonymized cryptocurrency that is particularly difficult to trace; using overseas cryptocurrency exchanges; and using cryptocurrency mixers, such as Samourai Whirlpool. At the time of both attacks, AHMED, a U.S. citizen, was a senior security engineer for an international technology company, whose resume reflected skills in, among other things, reverse engineering smart contracts and blockchain audits, which are some of the specialized skills AHMED used to execute the hacks. * In addition to the prison term, AHMED, 34, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.  AHMED was also ordered to forfeit approximately $12.3 million and a significant quantity of cryptocurrency and pay restitution to the Crypto Exchange and Nirvana in the amount of over $5 million. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Homeland Security Investigations and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit and Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated April 12, 2024 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-security-engineer-sentenced-three-years-prison-hacking-two-decentralized

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GRACE ROSA BAEZ pled guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluoro-fentanyl.  BAEZ pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Fentanyl and heroin are driving this nation’s deadly opioid crisis and are responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in this city and around the nation.  Rather than protect and serve the people of New York City, former NYPD officer Grace Rosa Baez peddled deadly poison for personal gain.  Today, Baez is held accountable for her selfish and reckless betrayal.” According to the filings and statements made in Manhattan federal court: In 2012, BAEZ became an active member of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”).  In 2020, due to alleged misconduct, BAEZ was placed on modified duty and was under departmental investigation.  On three occasions in October 2023, while on modified desk duty at a particular NYPD facility, BAEZ sold a confidential source working with law enforcement (the “CS”) packages containing over one kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue.  BAEZ negotiated the price and quantity of the narcotics and arranged to deliver the narcotics to the CS while she was on duty with the NYPD.  BAEZ sold the narcotics to the CS outside of her homes in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York.  Upon her arrest, BAEZ resigned from the NYPD. * BAEZ, 38, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluoro-fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  BAEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cote on July 18, 2024. The maximum potential sentence, in this case, is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the exceptional investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated April 16, 2024 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-nypd-officer-pleads-guilty-distributing-fentanyl-and-heroin

Defendant Yohanan Eligoola Also Attempted to Sell Surface-to-Air Missiles to People He Believed Were Acting on Behalf of the Cartel Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Spencer L. Evans, the Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of YOHANAN ELIGOOLA and DAVID ELIGOOLA in connection with a conspiracy to launder money that the defendants believed to be narcotics proceeds.  The individuals who purported to be operatives of a narcotics cartel were in fact undercover law enforcement officers (the “Undercover Agents”), and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also attempted to sell those individuals various weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was arrested on April 15, 2024, in New York, New York, and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in the Southern District of New York.  DAVID ELIGOOLA was arrested yesterday in Miami, Florida, and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Yohanan Eligoola worked with individuals he believed to be representing a drug cartel to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars and to sell them deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.  Unbeknownst to him, those cartel members were in fact undercover FBI agents.  Our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office work relentlessly to disrupt dangerous criminal activity.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans said: “FBI Las Vegas would like to thank our partners at the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI New York, and FBI Miami for their diligent work leading to these arrests.  We are committed to working collaboratively and utilizing our partnerships to combat organized crime groups to stem the illegal flow of weapons that endangers U.S. national security.” As alleged in the Complaints:[1] The Undercover Agents represented to YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they worked for a drug cartel, and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA arranged to launder their narcotics proceeds.  Over the course of 2023, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, DAVID ELIGOOLA — YOHANAN ELIGOOLA’s son — or their co-conspirators received large quantities of cash from the Undercover Agents on five separate occasions.  In total, they received more than $500,000 in cash, and returned all of it — minus their fee — back to the Undercover Agents in the form of laundered cryptocurrency and bank wires. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA informed the Undercover Agents that he could launder up to $1 million in cash per day on behalf of the cartel and that “the bank will never ask you a question” when YOHANAN ELIGOOLA transferred the laundered funds back to them. Before he had received any money from the Undercover Agents, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked one of them if the money was “from drugs.”  The Undercover Agents told him that it was and that they were “dealing with Colombians.” YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also offered to sell the Undercover Agents various munitions and bragged that he controlled a large fraction of the defense industry in a particular country.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA further claimed that he marked up munitions he sold by approximately 500% because they were “black market.”  The Undercover Agents informed YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they “have issues with aircraft,” referred to “the fucking helicopters,” and asked for “stingers.”  Because the Undercover Agents represented that they worked for a drug cartel, the Undercover Agents meant that government helicopters had been interdicting the operations of the cartel, and the Undercover Agents wanted Stinger missiles — which are man-portable surface-to-air missile systems that are effective in shooting down helicopters — in order to shoot down those helicopters. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked the Undercover Agents to send him a list of the type of munitions they wanted to purchase and offered to let the Undercover Agents visit him in other countries to see the munitions firsthand. The Undercover Agents subsequently requested a number of weapons, including rifles, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, suicide drones, and Stinger missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA responded that he could provide most of those weapons and listed the prices he would charge.  As to the Stinger missiles, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA offered FN-6 and FN-16 man-portable surface-to-air missile systems as alternatives. On April 15, 2024, the Undercover Agents met with YOHANAN ELIGOOLA at a restaurant in New York, New York, in order to make a down payment on the surface-to-air missiles.  The Undercover Agents provided YOHANAN ELIGOOLA with $690,000 in cash as a down payment for approximately eight such missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was then arrested by the FBI. * YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, 58, of the nation of Georgia, and DAVID ELIGOOLA, 34, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, are each charged with conspiracy to launder money, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Fergenson and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated April 17, 2024

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brian Tierney a.k.a “Wodanaz,” age 30, of Lynchburg, Virginia, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit bank robbery. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Tierney admitted that between November 14 and November 27, 2022, he agreed to and planned to commit an armed bank robbery at a branch in Johnstown, New York, with two co-conspirators, Michael Brown, Jr. a.k.a. “Russ,” and Luke Kenna a.k.a. “Lt.” As part of that conspiracy, Kenna conducted surveillance of the bank and purchased items, including weapons, to commit the robbery; Tierney ordered handgun parts for use in the robbery and sent photographs of a handgun and a radio scanning and jamming device for use in robbing the bank to Kenna; and Brown drove to New York to conduct surveillance of the bank with Kenna. Brown pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery on June 23, 2023. Kenna pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and possession of a firearm as a prohibited person on August 17, 2023. Kenna and Brown are both scheduled to be sentenced on June 14, 2024. Sentencing for Tierney is scheduled for August 16, 2024, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, when Tierney faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The FBI Albany Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes FBI Special Agents, and federal, state, and local investigators, including from the New York State Police, investigated the case. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case. Updated April 16, 2024 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/virginia-man-pleads-guilty-bank-robbery-conspiracy

There are reports suggesting that a new amphitheater may be coming to town. Plans are currently underway to bring a new 5,000-seat open-air amphitheater to the Erie Canal Village in Rome, New York. This is not an April Fool's joke, as some might have thought. J Anthony Stucchi, the owner of JGK Associates, has taken the lead in creating the amphitheater. Stucchi is aware that the Erie Canal Village is an iconic site that represents a significant part of the region's history. However, he recognizes that the village cannot continue to operate as a museum and cultural center alone. Without a profit center to sustain operations, it would be challenging to keep the village operating as a standalone museum, especially given today's economic climate. Therefore, the idea of building a new amphitheater has come to life. The proposed amphitheater will not only provide a new venue for cultural and entertainment events but will also generate revenue for the village. It will serve as a profit center to sustain operations and help the village continue to preserve its rich history. The proposed amphitheater is expected to have a seating capacity of 5,000, making it a significant venue for events in the area. Many people are excited about the prospect of having a new amphitheater in town, and the community is eagerly waiting for further developments on this project. Overall, the new amphitheater will not only bring more entertainment options to the community but will also help preserve the history of the Erie Canal Village. The project is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to be a significant boost to the local economy and culture.