SYLVAN BEACH'S SOBER TRUTH

Partyers beware: If you stumble along Sylvan Beach intoxicated and with an
open container of booze or a marijuana cigarette, there's a good chance
you're going to get caught.

The village has nearly tripled its law enforcement budget to about $50,000
this year, mainly to curb public intoxication, disorderly conduct and drug
offenses on busy summer weekends, Mayor Tom Statkewicz said.

"We're trying to promote a friendlier, family-oriented environment," he said.

The state police Sylvan Beach field station has assigned two full-time bike
patrol officers to patrol the village and public beach every day.

They've written 30 tickets since May, mostly for underage drinking, open
container violations and unlawful possession of marijuana, said Sgt. Tom
Haumann.

"It's always been enforced, but there's a variance of how it has been
enforced because of manpower," he said.

The village is paying state police and the Oneida County Sheriff's
Department for additional patrols, and has also hired private security
guards who will politely ask people to dump out their containers of beer or
liquor or put them away, Statkewicz said. "Just kind of a friendly
reminder," he said.

A local ordinance prohibits alcohol consumption on private property that
does not have a liquor license.

It covers village streets and the public beach, though some restaurants
have back patios that extend to the beach area.

The mayor says he encourages people to eat at those waterfront restaurants
and enjoy a few cocktails, "but it needs to be in a controlled environment."

"We've always been the type of community where people can let their hair
down, but when you mix the hot weather, the crowds and lots of alcohol, you
can have problems," he said.

Haumann said police responded to several fights and disorderly conduct
complaints during the Independence Day festivities last year.

"It was disruptive to the entire beach," he said. "That's the type of thing
we want to avoid this year."

This year, the Sylvan Beach fireworks display will be July 6.

And the fireworks will be set off from a barge on Oneida Lake.

In the past, it was done from the beach.

"It'll be safer, (and) give people more room," Statkewicz said. "It'll
spread the crowd out. That, coupled with the law enforcement will make it a
nicer weekend."

Pat Howlett, who has visited Sylvan Beach annually for the past several
years, said he's also noticed that the village has been a lot cleaner this
year, in addition to the increased police presence.

"It looks better than it has in a while," the Canastota resident said
Friday, while walking in the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park with twin
granddaughters, Sarah and Samantha, 3. "It's nice to see your tax dollars
at work."