The aquarium's $5.7M came from where? And Lysander wants 300 megawatts.

Here's a plot twist: the largest single donation to the "Friends of the Aquarium" fund came from the Greater Syracuse Soundstage Development Corporation. This county-controlled nonprofit sold the old CNY Film Hub to Saab Inc. for $5.7 million and then funneled the proceeds straight to the aquarium. County Comptroller Marty Masterpole says he was "shocked" when he saw it. County Executive Ryan McMahon defends the move, saying the money supports infrastructure where films could eventually be shot. Of 42 total donors, 41 remain anonymous. The $103.8 million project is now about 65% complete with a tentative Labor Day opening.

The take: The aquarium keeps raising more questions than fish. At some point, those donor names are going to come out, and the longer they don't, the louder the questions get.

🔗 Read more at CNY Central

James Ranalli, the prominent Onondaga County developer behind United Auto Supply, is planning a hyperscale data center on 120 acres of vacant land in Lysander. How big? The facility has requested 300 megawatts of grid interconnection capacity from NYISO, enough electricity to power roughly 200,000 average households. The project, filed under "Ranalli Super DC, LLC," is still in early planning stages, but if it moves forward, it would be one of the most power-intensive data center proposals in New York State. It comes as CNY is already absorbing Micron's massive footprint, and the region's grid capacity is under increasing scrutiny.

The take: Data centers are the new warehouses; everybody wants one, nobody wants to talk about what they do to the power grid until it’s too late. This one's worth watching closely.

🔗 Read more at Syracuse.com

The Town of Cicero declared a local state of emergency this week, shutting down Beach Road to all non-essential traffic as Oneida Lake flooding continues to swamp the neighborhood. Residents are the only ones allowed through, and Cicero PD is ticketing violators. The problem? Drivers rubbernecking the floodwaters have been sending wakes crashing into homes. Town Supervisor Rob Santucci has set up sandbag filling stations at the South Bay Fire Department for residents. The flooding, driven by snowmelt and heavy rain, is the worst some neighbors have seen in years, with garages taking on water and crawl spaces filling up.

The take: If you don't live on Beach Road, stay off Beach Road. Those wakes aren't just annoying; they're eroding people's property.

🔗 Read more at CNY Central

The NCAA transfer portal opened Tuesday, and Syracuse men's basketball wasted no time. Former Siena guard Gavin Doty — who averaged 18 points per game last season — announced his commitment to the Orange. On the flip side, forward Donnie Freeman entered the portal. New talent, new era. The Adrian Autry rebuild continues.

The take: Eighteen points a game in the MAAC is no joke. Keep an eye on this kid in the Dome next winter.

🔗 Read more at The Daily Orange

The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office pulled off a significant narcotics bust in the Town of Salina this week, recovering 28 ounces of cocaine along with other drugs. Details on the arrest are still coming together, but it's one of the larger seizures in the area this year.

🔗 Read more at CNY Central

Spring is doing that thing where it gives you one gorgeous day and then hits you with three rainy ones. Early this week looks warm and pleasant, with highs climbing into the mid-60s on Monday and pushing into the low-to-mid 70s by Tuesday and Wednesday. The catch? Rain is likely on Tuesday and hangs around through midweek. By the weekend, things should settle down a bit, but keep layers handy. Translation: perfect weather for catching a Mets game under the lights Tuesday, less perfect for leaving your car windows down Wednesday.

🎶 Nate Gross Band – Blues Is Dead at Funk 'n Waffles, 7:30 PM. If the Grateful Dead and a sticky blues riff had a baby, this is the show. Get weird on a Monday. | Tickets

🧀 Tannat & Malbec Cheese Pairing Class at The Curd Nerd (2800 James St., Eastwood). Eastwood's beloved cheese shop is hosting a guided pairing class matching artisanal cheeses with Tannat and Malbec wines. If you've ever wanted a cheesemonger to tell you exactly what to drink with your wedge, this is your night. | Tickets

🎶 Fotocrime at The Song & Dance, 7:00 PM. Post-punk with teeth. If you like dark, driving synths and moody vocals, this one's for you. | Tickets

⚾ Syracuse Mets vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at NBT Bank Stadium, 6:35 PM. The homestand kicks off against the Yankees' Triple-A squad. Grab a dog, grab a seat, enjoy April baseball under the lights. | Tickets

🍺 Trivia Night at Meier's Creek Brewing (Inner Harbor), 7:00 PM. The Wednesday ritual returns at one of the city's freshest breweries, right on the edge of Onondaga Lake. New theme every week, teams of up to 7, no cover. | Free | Details

👢 Boots at the Brewery | Line Dancing at Middle Ages Music Hall, 7:00 PM. Yes, line dancing. Yes, at a brewery. Greg Hale brings the energy, whether you're a first-timer or a veteran boot-scooting pro. | Tickets

⚾ Syracuse Mets vs. SWB RailRiders at NBT Bank Stadium, 6:35 PM. Game two of the homestand. | Tickets

🎸 Killer Queen – A Tribute to Queen ft. Patrick Myers at Landmark Theatre, 8:00 PM. The UK's premier Queen tribute band has been at this for decades and has the West End residency to prove it. If you want to feel like you're at a Queen concert without a time machine, this is it. | Tickets

⚾ Syracuse Mets vs. SWB RailRiders at NBT Bank Stadium. Homestand continues. | Tickets

🎙️ Dean Stanfield at Funny Bone (Destiny USA), 7:00 PM & 9:45 PM. A 2025 Just For Laughs New Face, Stanfield is a comedian, actor, writer, and racecar driver out of Austin, TX. He's featured with Mark Normand and Ian Fidance on the road. Two shows on Friday night. 21+. $20. | Tickets

⚾ Syracuse Mets vs. SWB RailRiders at NBT Bank Stadium. Friday night baseball. | Tickets

🎸 Nirvani – A Nirvana Tribute Experience at Middle Ages Music Hall, 8:00 PM (Doors 7:00 PM). A full-throttle, instrument-smashing recreation of the grunge era. If you missed the '90s — or want to relive them — this is your chance. All ages (under 16 w/ guardian). $19. | Tickets

🛍️ CNY Regional Market, 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The Saturday institution. Spring is starting to show up at the market, early greens, maple syrup, fresh baked goods, and the kind of Saturday morning energy that makes the rest of the week feel worth it. | Free | Details

🎙️ Dean Stanfield at Funny Bone (Destiny USA), 6:30 PM & 9:15 PM. Back for two more shows if you missed Friday. 21+. $20. | Tickets

🐶 Puppies & Yoga at Pink Rock Studio (201 E. Jefferson St.), times vary. A 75-minute session of beginner-friendly yoga with actual puppies roaming around. Arrive 15 minutes early, kids must be 10+, and yes, you will leave happier than when you arrived. Breeds are announced on Instagram a few days before. All ticket sales are final. | Tickets

🎶 Uncaged – Zac Brown Band Tribute at Middle Ages Music Hall, 8:00 PM (Doors 7:00 PM). Country, Southern rock, bluegrass, and Gulf-coast swagger, Uncaged nails the ZBB catalog from "Chicken Fried" to "Colder Weather." All ages (under 16 w/ guardian). $25. | Tickets

🎵 Syracuse Orchestra: Liberty & Justice at Saint Paul's Syracuse, 7:00 PM. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the orchestra performs music from around the world that celebrates liberty, justice, and the human spirit. A stunning program in a stunning venue. | Tickets

🎵 Syracuse Orchestra: Liberty & Justice at Saint Paul's Syracuse, 3:00 PM. Can't make Saturday? Same program, Sunday matinee. | Tickets

⚾ Syracuse Mets vs. SWB RailRiders at NBT Bank Stadium. Series finale and the last game of the homestand. | Tickets

This week's trio is all from the CNY SPCA in Mattydale, two dogs and a cat, all waiting for the right person to walk through the door and say "that one."

Ricky is a 3-year-old Yorkshire Terrier and is looking for his person at the CNY SPCA. The shelter is still getting to know him, but he's already charming the staff.

🐾 Meet Ricky and Apply to Adopt

Nudge is a 3-year-old short-haired tabby cat who is doing exactly what the name suggests, gently nudging you to come meet her at the CNY SPCA.

🐾 Meet Nudge and Apply to Adopt

Chance is a 1-year-old male German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix, is young, big (expected 61–100 lbs), and ready to grow into his name. A Shepherd-Rottie mix at a year old means you're getting a dog who's smart, loyal, and built like a tank.

🐾 Meet Chance and Apply to Adopt

📍 CNY SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale | cnyspca.org | Open Mon-Sat, 11 AM-4 PM

Lead the Green Street Residential Reintegration program, which supports men in recovery. Full-time, $70K-$75K annually, plus a sign-on bonus up to $8,000 depending on licensure. 🔗 Apply Now

Handle inbound calls, chats, and emails about accounts and digital banking. Full-time, onsite in Syracuse. Financial services experience a plus. Starting at $30 and hour. 🔗 Apply Now

A senior leadership role overseeing all IT strategy and operations for one of Central New York’s longest-standing healthcare systems. This position owns everything from Epic EMR performance to cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital transformation—acting as a key advisor to executive leadership. Salary range: $150,000–$175,658. Ideal for someone who’s led hospital IT teams, understands clinical workflows, and can balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day system reliability in a 24/7 care environment. 🔗 Apply Now

SU is building out its global online education division and needs someone to build enrollment and marketing data infrastructure from scratch. On-campus, full-time. Great opportunity for someone who likes wearing multiple hats and finding clean stories in messy datasets. 🔗 Apply Now

The district is hiring TAs for the 2026-2027 school year. If you love working with kids and want to get into education, this is a great entry point. 🔗 Apply Now