This year’s cold in Oswego is not only breaking records, but apparently water lines as well.

Mayor Thomas W. Gillen said the below zero temperatures have caused water lines in some neighborhoods to freeze, leaving the residents of those areas without water.

“It’s possible people will be without utilities, specifically water, for an extended period of time, potentially for several days,” the mayor said.

Oswego is currently working with the American Red Cross of Central New York to house impacted people in Laker Hall, a building on the SUNY Oswego Campus.

Mayor Gillen declared a state of emergency in the city to address the situation as quickly as possible.

He advises all residents to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled, to make sure they are okay.

If you know anyone who needs help, call 911, or (315) 343-1212 for other assistance.

A new SUNY Oswego Assistant Professor introduced herself to campus in a special way: by enlightening students with her violin.

Ahreum Kim, the campus’s new assistant professor in high strings and musicology, performed with Professor Robert Auler in front of an audience in Sheldon Ballroom.  The sonatas consisted mostly of classical and romantic times in music.

Professor Kim not only had to perform the music, but also make sure that her movements accurately portrayed the specific emotions of the songs.

Reporter David Hermanovitch talked with Kim, who told him that to portray the emotion, she had to change her expressions at the same time, which is very tiring during the performance.

Overall, the performance was a creative way for Kim to begin her tenure with SUNY Oswego.

On February 13, 2015, SUNY Oswego University Police arrested Abhay Pant on a charge of first-degree rape.  Pant is originally from New Delhi, India, but lived in Hart Hall while studying abroad in Oswego.  He is accused of entering a residence hall room and sexually assaulting the resident early in the morning.  He was arraigned in Oswego Town Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu of bail in the amount of $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.  He is scheduled to reappear in Town Court on Wednesday, February 18.