The Poor Shall be Rich: Three Voices message for 11/10/24

Last weekend I had the honor of emceeing the Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce annual award dinner. The biggest award of the evening went to my friends from the KEYS Program, a musical outreach for children facing life-threatening illnesses. I was so thrilled to be there, celebrating with these people who have done so much to comfort children in some of their gravest times of need. I got dressed up for the event … truthfully kind of surprised that my dinner jacket still fit … donned a snazzy tie … and mingled with politicians, company CEOs and business owners for the evening. I was having a great time with friends old and new. Then I started looking around at that crowd and it struck me that I was likely the poorest person in that room of local luminaries! But how do we really justify who is rich and who is poor? In today’s reading Mark 12: 38-44 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace, who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts. They take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers. Their punishment will be all the worse!” As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had - she gave all she had to live on.” we find a Widow placing a paltry two coins in the offering. Meanwhile, the rich were placing large amounts of cash in there. Jesus is watching nearby and sensing a teaching moment, calls his disciples together to learn about what had happened. Jesus tells them that she actually made the large contribution because it was much more of a sacrifice for her than for them. While a big bank account might be nice short-term, in the long run money can’t buy happiness, it can’t buy love and it can’t buy health. People joke about money making life better but does it really? Who is happier, the rich people in this passage, or the Widow who has shared of herself and earned the blessing of Jesus? You definitely can’t put a price on a good reference from the Lord! Of course, I am also far from the poorest person I know. Not all that long ago, I had the opportunity to interview some homeless folks in Rome for a series of articles we were running and that was eye opening. The situation was not at all like I imagined. The people I talked to were very self-reliant and self-confident, adamant not to accept help from anyone else, nor to live by anyone else’s rules. Living in the woods with all of your belongings in a single bag was actually a choice for each of the five or six persons I talked with in the Bellamy Harbor Park. One in particular, Eric, admitted he had family right there in Rome, but he wouldn’t live with them because he wanted to do his own thing. He wouldn’t go to a shelter because he didn’t want to follow their rules. Living in the woods wasn’t all that bad … he told me how he actually dug out a small living area in the ground and even a dirt bench to sit in by his fire. If it wasn’t for all of the cold months around here, I could almost go for that kind of freedom. I doubt Noah would like to be separated from his electronics, though, and I suppose it wouldn’t really take long to miss my music. But one thing I know for sure is that God is out there in the woods with Eric. Even before we hear about the Widow, however, Jesus says to beware of presumptuous teachers of the law, who feel they are better than everyone else. They are taking advantage of others while maintaining a façade of being prayerful. They are putting on a false-face of being for the people … when they are really in it for themselves. They might be able to fool the people, Jesus notes, but they won’t fool Him … and their punishment for their deceit shall be much worse than what they have done to the people they’ve taken advantage of in the past. Have we just seen some of that in our own Election Day this week? Maybe so. Some 2,000 years since the time of Jesus and nothing has really changed all that much, has it? But there are so many teachers of law who are there to help. I dare say I think it is still the majority. We have so many teachers and helpers out there who reach out to the poor - whether in finances, relationships, health, or even faith - to make them richer. Hopefully we feel a bit of that right here. Back to that chamber meeting for a minute … besides the KEYS Program, awards were also given out to the Worthy boutique on Lenox Avenue and the CPA firm Gustafson and Wargo. But none of the awards was for making a major profit. Those awards, instead, were for the way those two businesses actually profited their community. Worthy sells gently used, high-end clothing and accessories so all women can feel, well, “worthy” of having nice things. And the CPAs were described in the award presentation as being easy to talk to as friends, rather than as accountants. There was never a mention of how much each had made in the last fiscal year because that is not what the award dinner was all about. I believe that message is the exact same message we see here today. Just as the meek shall inherit the earth, so too shall the poor become rich, and all in the name of the Lord. Jesus didn’t check anyone’s bank account when He called the Disciples to His side, nor did He stay strictly in the prosperous lands in His travels. Quite the opposite, really. And who better to minister to than the poor? There are so many distractions in the lives of rich people, as they constantly strive to stay rich. Much like a child with way to many toys, maybe his name is Noah, there is just so much there that he might not appreciate all of the smaller nuances. Some of my best friends are the simplest people I know. I find in the hustle and bustle of my every day life it actually feels relaxing to be around someone living a simpler lifestyle. And I have to admit every time I see a horse and buggy traveling down the road I am kind of envious of that life. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to last long without my modern conveniences, but I like to think about how uncluttered my mind would become without the constant barrage of electronics. Maybe someone who is too poor to afford all of the latest technology with the need for a degree in IT to run it isn’t really that bad off at all. Have you tried to buy a computer, or even an oven recently? Why do I need one that will not only cook my dinner but will walk the dog afterwards? And only after I’ve spent as much time as a full college course trying to learn how to operate the new-fangled technology. The best news of all for the “poor” folks is it doesn’t cost you anything to go to church. You can give what you’ve got. People don’t even dress up in their “Sunday finest” anymore. Everyone is welcome. Our Sunday mornings here are a great time to enrich each other with the spirit, to brighten all of our days. Rich or poor, or anywhere in between, we all are a bit richer from having gone to church on a Sunday … and we carry along that wealth as we go back out into the world when we leave. Amen.

The Time Has Come: Three Voices sermon for March 17

Previously, in our studies of the Bible … In John 2:1-4, there is a wedding in the town of Cana. Jesus' mother Mary said to Him, “They are out of wine.” Jesus replied, “You must not tell me what to do. My time has not yet come.” In John 7:1-6, Jesus traveled in Galilee. The time for the Festival of Shelters was near, so Jesus' brothers said to him, “Leave this place and go to Judea, so that your followers will see the things that you are doing.” Jesus said to them, “The right time for me has not yet come.” In Mark 8: 27-30, Jesus asked His disciples, “Tell me, who do people say I am?” They answered, “Some say that you are John the Baptist. Others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.” Jesus asked them "What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.” The last time I was up here, we talked about Mark 9: 2-9, as Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. As they watched, Jesus and his clothes became shining white and then the three disciples saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. But then as they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from death.” End of flashback. Now, finally, today we come to the words, “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.” It’s been the same wait we go through every year, and so much shorter for us than it was for the Disciples. And we know how the story is going to turn out! Easter is an early one this year, too, so we get to relive the resurrection in all of its glory that much earlier this month. Again, Jesus tells them and us a parable, and by now you can probably tell I love diving head first into His parables. We have a grain of wheat that is only a single grain until it dies and becomes many grains. But what does that mean? Dying is shedding their solitary life to join the union of believers and finally go on to the eternal reward. On a smaller scale, we ourselves become many grains as we meet together here at our own Three Voices. Jesus has obviously accepted His fate to die on the cross for the world’s sins. And when an angel speaks to Him, that angel is not there to prove anything to Jesus … the angel is there to prove something to everyone else. Jesus is the Son of God! I remember in my youth being really excited about Christmas. It always seemed to take forever to arrive. New Year’s Day followed shortly afterwards, offering the chance to make New Year’s resolutions that I very rarely kept in a half-hearted effort at bettering myself. One Christmas is especially poignant for me now, as we watched a movie at my then-in-laws telling the story of Jesus. I don’t remember much about the movie itself but that family viewing actually became a milestone moment in my own religious journey for another reason. It’s funny how the simplest situations can sometimes become milestones as you reflect on them. It seems the film told the whole story of Jesus, not just the Christmas story of His birth. And when Jesus is seen riding a donkey into Jerusalem, the family matriarch insisted we turn it off. I thought that was kind of silly at the time. Except that now I do the same thing. The birth of Jesus is a story for the Christmas season. The story of the crucifixion is for Easter. And now as an adult I actually look forward to Easter more than Christmas and New Year’s Day. Want a gift? You aren’t going to get one more heart-felt than Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. And the time of the resurrection this time of year seems a much better time for change than when making your New Year’s resolutions in January. Not to mention that Easter comes at the beginning of spring, so rebirth is happening all around us in nature as well. Today’s reading has a parting line that it is also time for the world to be judged. Looking around the world today, I would have to say I would not want judgment day to happen now with all of the commotion in the world. Some say they can’t wait for Jesus to return in glory … to me, it’s more like waiting for dad to come home from work when you know you’ve been bad all day. It’s not like I’m expecting Jesus to come back to the world all happy with the way we’ve honored His sacrifice by our continuing to sin. But like I said before it’s Easter time! It’s the time for rebirth! Spring is near! What a great time to rededicate ourselves to improving not only ourselves but our world around us. Another orator with the initials MJ once said he would start with “the man in the mirror,” asking him to change his ways. Easter is a great time to do a bit of retrospect. Take a look at yourself, decide what you want to change and make that effort. But at the same time, take a look also at what is great about you. What it is that is uniquely great about you, that is something you would like on a spiritual resume. Give those aspects a boost, even as you seek to change what you can. But remember, in the famous words of St. Francis of Assisi, to ask God for the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Do what you can, start with yourself, pray to God for strength. Improve what you can. Make your own imprint on the world, regardless of just how large it is. And yes, I am talking to myself just as much as any of you. Every day at work I think about just how much more I could - and maybe should - be doing. I hear compliments about how often my stories land on page 1 quite often. But that is not always a good thing. Most of the time it’s bad news, to be honest. Truth to tell, taking on the job as education reporter was supposed to be only a temporary stepping stone to get my foot in the door at a new place of employment. That job in itself almost immediately became something bigger. In just a little over a year, I’ve reported on a school shooting, a stabbing, not one but two ousters of school district superintendents … the list goes on. It’s certainly job security, but do these stories really help in any way, I ask? Maybe like the “prophets” Lynyrd Skynyrd once said, “All I Can Do Is Write About It.” Hopefully spreading the news opens up peoples’ eyes and sparks conversation. Maybe those stories do help in some way. But that introspect of myself and my work and its importance is invaluable. Take a good look in that “mirror” at your own daily lives and activities and interactions with others. Learn from the past and use that to improve the future. Reflect on your own personal “milestones” of the past and build from them. It’s the season of Easter, the time for rebirth. Jesus’ time has come. It’s also time for all of us - “all” not being solely those in this church but those of us all around the world - to really make an effort to better ourselves and the world. The time has come - so make the best use of that time that you can. Amen.

HERE AGAIN: GIN BLOSSOMS PLAY THE HITS

The upcoming Gin Blossoms show at Mohawk Valley Community College will be heavy on the familiar material, promises founding guitarist and backing vocalist Jesse Valenzuela.

“It will be all of the hits, so worry not,” Valenzuela said Oct. 18 in an exclusive Open Mike telephone interview from Phoenix, Arizona. “All of your radio favorites will be fulfilled.”

Since their multi-platinum debut “New Miserable Experience” back in 1992, their 25-plus years making records has certainly produced a full playlist of hits, including “Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down,” “’Til I Hear It From You,” “Miss Disarray” and “Long Time Gone.” And they’ve just released their latest album “Mixed Reality,” so the hits keep on coming. The new material is seeing a receptive response from concertgoers as well as the oldies, he said.

Valenzuela recalled he was 24 when he helped form Gin Blossoms more than 30 years ago. There are days when he feels every year, but then again, there are the young college crowds that the band still enjoys playing for while feeding off their own young enthusiasm.

“I love their youthful exuberance,” Valenzuela admitted of audiences like the one expected at MVCC. “I really envy their strength and energy.”

"As Long as it Matters " by Gin Blossoms featuring Jesse Valenzuela on lead guitar and backing vocals.

Reflecting on the band’s image, Valenzuela admitted none of the Gin Blossoms - also including lead singer Robin Wilson, bassist Bill Leen, guitarist Scotty Johnson, and drummer Scott Hessel -  really stands out as a “star” in the band. The focus is simply on creating great tunes, he explained.

“This is completely about the whole package,” he said. “None of us really had that George Clooney star magic. We just have a great catalog of music.”

Asked about the duration of the current tour, Valenzuela said the touring never really stops. They are traveling across the United States playing some 100 dates this year. He also does his own solo acoustic shows, and was playing one the evening of this interview.

He said although he doesn’t often get the chance to really sight-see while in a new town, he does try to walk around a college campus when playing there, or visit a local museum. In his downtime, he watches CNN or a movie.

Touring has definitely changed since he started out, Valenzuela noted. Back then, there was no Internet nor cell phones to bring everyone closer. But he does appreciate the new modern conveniences of Uber and Lyft drivers, though, since they give him the freedom to get around in the places he visits.

The music business has certainly changed dramatically in his time with Gin Blossoms as well.

With this summer’s “Mixed Reality,” it was an eight-year wait since its predecessor “No Chocolate Cake.” Valenzuela said the wait for a new album might be even longer. Fans might even never see another Gin Blossoms album, he revealed - but it’s definitely not because they would stop recording, or that they were breaking up.

It’s the changes in technology that will prompt that change in the delivery of their music, he intimated.

They will definitely continue to record new Gin Blossoms music, but with digital delivery they can easily release it song by song right over their website. A long time gone are the days of buying full albums for one or two favorite songs, as he did in his youth. Now the computer age makes compiling a digital collection of only select songs a reality.

“We’ll be recording new songs, but maybe just putting them up on the ‘site. The idea of buying an album seems to be outdated,” he observed.

The Gin Blossoms take the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 in the Schafer Theater on the MVCC Utica campus. Tickets are available at the MVCC Box Office, located in the Information Technology Building room 106, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; at the College Stores on the Utica and Rome Campuses; online at www.mvcc.edu/tickets; or by calling 315-731-5721.

STUDIO 26.2 A FUN WAY TO KEEP FIT

Barb Day

 Barb Day, owner of Studio 26.2 and Fitness Complex in Vernon, NY, promises she offers “something for everyone” when it comes to wellness, fitness and healing.

“I just love helping people live a healthier lifestyle,” Day, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of Studio 26.2 in 2017, said.

For both men and women, and from teens to seniors, Studio 26.2 and Fitness Complex offers group and private sessions, with a wide range of training offerings including but definitely not limited to yoga, dumbbell toning and core conditioning, kettlebell, Pilates, Zumba, cross-training, and even insanity workouts.

Day said she became interested in fitness instruction in college. Although she wasn’t taking it as a major, she decided to earn her certification to be able to be a trainer, but originally as a part-time job. That part-time job has blossomed into her own facility currently located along Route 5 in Vernon. They have actually made a few moves over that decade as Studio 26.2 outgrew its previous locations, each time moving a bit further east along Route 5 but not too far from before.

An enthusiastic group celebrates the finish of another great workout on Jan. 6, 2018 at Studio 26.2 in Vernon, NY

Celia Goodwin has been coming to Studio 26.2 for six years, introduced by a friend who offered to take her to a class. She was quickly hooked, she admitted, and there isn’t much that will slow her down from coming out for her exercise.

“Once, I had my foot in a cast and on crutches, and I was doing squats,” she said.

For Goodwin, Studio 26.2 is “all about the camaraderie.”

“It’s a great team effort,” she explained. “Everybody’s friends and we all help each other out and cheer each other on. And Barb is a great motivator.”

Pat Kerr has been with Day through several locations for some 15 years.

“I’m dedicated to her,” Kerr admitted. “This has become a way of life for me. Every single class is different, and that‘s what has kept me following her.”

Studio 26.2 and Fitness Complex enriches her life in mind, body and spirit, Kerr said, as well as offering her nutrition advice as well. She has met good friends there, and now they go out together socially. The 6 a.m. classes she attends might be a bit early for some people, but for Kerr -- who doesn’t mind saying she is 72 years old -- it’s dedication to improving her life.

“It’s all about what you want to accomplish,” Kerr assessed.

But it’s not just about the women, as men enjoy the benefits of a good workout there as well. Rob Wright said he started six years ago after receiving some bad results on blood work. He has been a regular since then, and the benefits to a good workout at Studio 26.2 are clear.

“I am in better shape now at 48 than I was at 35,” Wright said. Pilates are his personal favorite, and he recommends them especially for anyone who has had any kind of back problems. He admitted he would like to see more men take advantage of the opportunities at Studio 26.2, and also intimated he might not always seem as appreciative of the workout as he actually is.

“I complain a lot, but I keep coming back,” he quipped.

Studio 26.2 is designed as an upbeat and lively fitness facility, keeping people motivated by keeping it fun, Day promised.

“My motto is I like to keep fitness as fun as possible,” she said. “We aren’t doing the same thing all of the time. I focus on people, and improving their health and fitness.”

Studio 26.2 and Fitness Complex is located at 4929 State Route 5 in Vernon, NY. For more information, call (315) 886-6506 or visit: www.262fitnesscomplex.com

To learn how you can find your own business featured here, email Mike Jaquays at mikejake1164@gmail.com

SUKOSH FEARON: A BLIND GUIDING LIGHT

There really aren’t that many people who could tell me to shut the f*** up, and mean it, and still be endearing to me.

Sukosh Fearon was the man to do that. He was a true inspiration to me ... Blind since he was just a prematurely-born baby, Sukosh (a name the staff of the Japanese hospital gave him after he was born, a shortened version of their word for “little one”) would go on to become one of the finest musicians and vocalists ever to grace a stage in Central New York. We lost Sukosh on Dec. 23, but not until he had one last gig the Sunday before that, during the heart-warming “A Day of Music with Sukosh Fearon” event in Canastota. There, I saw (for the last time, sadly) Sukosh in his true environment. Performing music live on stage, and loving every minute of it.

Sukosh performs at "A Day of Music With Sukosh Fearon" at the Rusty Rail Party House in Canastota, NY on Dec. 17, 2017. Dozens of his musical friends came out for a musical afternoon less than a week before his passing, to celebrate his love of music and all of the great times singing songs.

So, yeah, he did once tell me to shut up. And I’ve never, ever heard that f-bomb from his mouth before or since, so I know he was mad at me. Truth to tell, it was really my own fault. Let me set the scene -- there is an annual Relay for Life in Oneida for the American Cancer Society, and it is always an emotional time with many cancer survivors coming out to share the love and support of caregivers and friends. One of the highlights is a silent lap for those who have been lost to cancer, with Relay attendees walking around the Oneida High School track behind a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace.”

That silent lap was well underway as I ran into Sukosh while walking around the area. Not thinking, I burst out with a “Hey Sukosh. How are you doing?” not noticing he was standing there entranced by the solemnity of the moment. That I just ruined for him. So he cussed at me. When it was over, he apologized, but I told him it was definitely okay … I earned that reaction, and apologized myself.

Sukosh was fond of greeting you with a hearty “Nice to see you!” or “You look great today!“ even though he had never “seen” you in his life. When my girls were working a Lions Club event, and complained they were working too hard, I asked Sukosh right in front of them if he had seen them do anything at all that day, and he said no. The girls were mortified that I would say that to a blind man, but this wasn’t poking fun at his blindness, it was embracing the way he himself always focused past it. His “Nice to see you!” showed something about Sukosh. His blindness was not holding him back. He was just like everybody else. And maybe he could see us all in a way beyond what we could ourselves.

And once he got to know you, he rarely needed you to tell him who was speaking. Sukosh had a great memory for voices -- way better than my own memory for putting names to faces.

Of course, my time with Sukosh is not without regrets. Like the time I was helping him navigate a narrow hallway, leading him by the arm with directions like “turn left” and “watch the step here.” Well, at one point I told him to turn left, when he really needed to take a right, and promptly walked him into the wall. Sorry, buddy.

A few years ago, I had my own bout with vision loss. It was a time of uncertainty and fear, but there was always an inspiration throughout my own visits to several doctors. I thought of Sukosh and how he would walk the streets of his Oneida hometown, and even hitchhike across the state, travels that perhaps by fate led him to meeting his wife Pat on one of his trips. Sukosh was a bright guiding light throughout all of my own appointments. He was the model I tried to emulate.

Now, that light has not diminished at all with the loss of Sukosh. In fact, it is brighter now than ever, because I was with him right near the end to see how bravely he faced that diagnosis. That smiling face on stage less than a week before his death, followed just days later by his warm greetings to visitors in his room at the Extended Care Facility, will be the way I always remember him. RIP my friend and inspiration, Sukosh Fearon. You have left behind great memories of music and inspiration to so many people who have had the pleasure of knowing you here.

We could all only hope to leave that kind of legacy.

PONDERING 'THE LAST JEDI'

I have been along for the Star Wars ride since the very beginning, even before episode four was called “A New Hope.” Those were the good old days when Han shot first. I even waited impatiently for the early Christmas present in 1978 that turned out to be the bantha fodder of the “Star Wars Holiday Special.” I think I have enough experience to truly reflect on all the goings-on along this 40-year trek among the stars.

So here are my thoughts after seeing “The Last Jedi,” and obviously there will be lots of spoilers. See the movie first! (unless you want to use this as a guide for what really to watch for in the film, which will be fun also)

The all-out attack on Luke Skywalker was my favorite part of the film.

Rey vs. Kylo was my second favorite part of the film.

Poe and Finn really haven’t grown on me like Luke, Leia and Han had by the second of their movies.

So, my first thought at the Luke and Leia reunion is, “Why did Luke stop for a hair cut and dye job when the galaxy is falling to hell?” And I cracked up when Leia says, “I changed my hair,” because that was the same thought I had about Luke. Luckily, this whole situation is later explained and actually made great sense.

Is it just me, or did it look like the movie was finished, and somebody realized Maz was contracted to appear so they had to squeeze her in somewhere? And why is Lupita Nyong’o listed so high in the credits? How much did she make for this five minutes of work?

Is she still saving the story of how she got Luke’s lightsaber for another time?

Did the pseudo-Master Codebreaker really know anything about breaking codes?

Why does the whole space casino part look like it was supposed to be in another movie?

Rey’s parents revelation just had me wondering why the hell I just spent two years trying to figure out that non-mystery. And I still want to know who the heck was Snoke? But really, going back to “The Force Awakens,” there is no where in that film that alludes to any big mystery in either character … it was all just fan boy and fan girl pondering afterwards that amounted to jack.

Vice Admiral Holdo totally annoyed me at first, and then was totally awesome at the end.

Those little birds annoyed me all the way through, but the Crystal Critters were cool.

Am I the only one who thought the red stuff in the ground at the new rebel base was blood at first? And totally grossed out when the Rebel dude tasted it?

True love is stopping someone from committing suicide by committing suicide, according to Rose.

Why is Carrie Fisher the only surviving member of the main heroic trio, when she is in real life the only one who has passed?

'Brute' returns to Oneida for CNY Slam Jam

Oneida High School graduate-turned professional wrestler Brute VanSlyke returns to the area in November to bring his own brutish brawn to the mat at the Kallet Civic Center, as he takes on "The Man" Kevin  Graham during the Kallet's first-ever CNY Slam Jam on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Independent professional wrestler Brute VanSlyke -- better known to his fellow Oneida High School class of 2004 grads as Mike VanSlyke -- returns to Oneida for a match at the Kallet Civic Center on Nov. 5. (Photo courtesy of Brute VanSlyke)


Here's his story, related to me by Brute himself:

Oneida High School class of 2004 graduate Mike VanSlyke -- now known to professional wrestling fans as the massive Brute VanSlyke -- recalled it was a chance switching of the television channels that led to his discovery of wrestling back when he was just a tyke. VanSlyke said he was 5 years old when one day he was channel surfing and landed on a wrestling match featuring Andre the Giant. 

He was mesmerized, and a lifelong passion was born.

“I saw Andre the Giant and stopped changing the channel,” he remembered. “Ever since then I have been a fan of everything about wrestling -- the sport, the lights, and the entertainment of it all.”

On his 6th birthday, VanSlyke received several wrestler action figures, with Andre the Giant becoming his favorite. 

He wrestled at Oneida High School, and one day a few years after graduation he saw a commercial for Squared Circle Wrestling in Syracuse, also known as 2CW. VanSlyke was intrigued by the possibility of training to become a professional wrestler, so he visited the location to find an old abandoned warehouse turned into a training facility. He signed up for their program and began a journey that has most recently taken him to the Land of the Rising Sun as an independent professional wrestler.

2CW trained him well with their intense and rigorous sessions … he started out at 396 pounds in 2009 and by the time of his first match 10 months later he was down to 280 pounds. VanSlyke enjoys the physical demands that wrestling puts on him, as he makes sure he is properly trained to withstand the hits and falls in the ring. 

“If you don’t have a strong love and passion for wrestling, you won’t make it,” he said. 

VanSlyke debuted as a professional wrestler on Feb. 19, 2010, and has traveled across the state and to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island to face fellow independent wrestlers in the ring. His official stats list him as 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighing in at 346 pounds. Trademark moves he uses to subdue his opponents include the Deep Double Underhook Suplex, Military Press Body Slam, T-Bone Suplex, Bicycle Kick, Power Bomb, Two-Handed Choke Bomb, and Pop Up Headbutt. 

His recent titles include GSW Heavyweight Champion from June 14, 2014 to April 11, 2015; the GSW 2014 AggroCup Tournament on May 17, 2014; 2CW Tag Team Champion with Kevin Graham from Nov. 23, 2013 to April 19, 2014; and WXW C-4 Elite Tag Team Champion also with Graham from Nov. 2, 2013 to May 31, 2014. VanSlyke was even selected as the GSW Most Hated Wrestler for 2013.

He is just recently returned from wrestling for the summer in Japan, where he had the chance to meet his idol Stan Hanson, one of their biggest wrestling draws ever. VanSlyke explained he was seen by a Japanese wrestler at one of his own events, and invited to go overseas for a couple months.

“It was great wrestling in Japan … it was always my main goal,” VanSlyke said. “They are more about athleticism and less about the soap opera, just like I am, and they really have an insane level of competition.” 

In addition to his summer spent wrestling in Japan, he also counts as career highlights wrestling in “dark” matches for TNA -- matches that take place before the televised portion of the events take place. He said he has had the chance to wrestle many great opponents, and appreciates the opportunity to work with those wrestling talents.

At this point in his career, VanSlyke still works a full-time job to support himself, and moved to Rochester to pursue a larger job market. He settled in at Staples, where he found bosses who are accepting of his wrestling schedule -- which often entails going away on weekends. 

“They are willing to work with me,” VanSlyke complimented. “They understand what I am trying to do.”

Although he appreciates the support of his Staples bosses and co-workers, VanSlyke hopes to someday soon be able to make a full-time career out of his wrestling, and leave the 9-to-5 world behind, he intimated. 

His dad Edward VanSlyke still lives in Oneida, as does his mom Marjorie. While his dad has been supportive of his wrestling career, VanSlyke said his mom and her boyfriend Jim Farnam have gone above and beyond -- especially in helping finance his trip to Japan.  

“She has always been there for me, since my very first match when she said afterwards that she knew that was what I’m supposed to do,” he recalled. 

As of now, VanSlyke doesn’t have an action figure of his own, although he does own a specially-made stuffed plush “wrestling buddy” in his own image. No matter where VanSlyke ends up in the future, he promises he will always has his hometown at heart.

“Even though I’ve moved to Rochester, I am still an Oneida native,” VanSlyke said. “Whenever I am announced in the ring, it’s always that I am from Oneida, NY and nothing is going to change that.” 

There's even more local excitement at the Kallet, as Oneida's own guitarist Roy Coston will perform the National Anthem and entertain during intermission. The event also features former WWE / ECW superstar Tommy "The Innovator of Violence" Dreamer,  a six-man tag match as the The Fellowship battles Northern Fury, and the 20-man battle royal.

CNY Slam Jam is Saturday, Nov. 5, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. followed by the event at 7 p.m. The event is presented by SCW, Happy2Assist, and The Kallet Civic Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children 12 and younger, with free for lap seats for kids under 2.  VIP Tickets are $25 and include a meet and greet with the wrestlers and front row seats ... other tickets are general admission.