Runners braved a snowy, 16-degree day to take part in the third annual Dunn Run to benefit Canastota runners. Participants had to run two laps around Canastota’s track, eat a Dunn’s Bakery glazed donut, then run the distance again. Ed Coluccio won the individual race in 7:48, Eric Wells finished second and Ryan Misencik took third. Hall of Jesters won the team challenge in 18:12 with Team Irish in second place and So-So-Sopers in third place.

The race was started by Mark Szkolnik in honor of Tommy Dunn, owner of Dunn's Bakery. Dunn was forced to close his bakery when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, but reopened when he recovered.

While most racing fans from the Rome-area are familiar with the driver Richie Evans' career and the circumstances of his death, there are some casual fans and youth who may need a refresher before the "Rapid Roman" is inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday.
 Here is an excellent documentary originally aired on the Speed channel with video footage and interviews of the late modified champ.

Evans won four titles at Utica-Rome Speedway in his orange No. 61 then went on to win nine NASCAR Modified championships — including eight in a row from 1978-85. His final title was awarded posthumously after a fatal crash during a practice session for the final event of the 1985 season at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. He was 44 years old.

The Syracuse Nationals U10 girls ice hockey team beat the Stony Creek Sares 1-0 to win the Atom BB division championship at the Mississauga Chiefs Christmas Classic Tournament in Ontario.
Canastota resident Katrina Grzeszczuk, a student at St. Patrick's Elementary in Oneida) was the top player in the team’s 3-1 first round win.

The team is, from left, (front row) Bailey Thieben, McKenzie Schmidt, Gabby LaBarge, Megan Cramer, Madeline Savicki, Kamryn Barnes, Nicole Tulowieki, Rylie Dwyer, (middle row) assistant coach Pat Calhoun, Sheridan Terrazzano, McKenzie Emery, Anna DiChristina, Miranda Bookman, Riley Calhoun, Katrina Grzeszczuk, assistant coach Kevin Dwyer and coach Dr. Dan DiChristina.

During the NFL and NBA lockouts of 2012, it seemed inconceivable that millionaires and billionaires were squabbling over more money than the average American will make in an entire lifetime, especially with the struggling economy and the unemployment rate above eight percent.

Anthony's donated more than $6 million and he's still smiling

While the amount of money athletes -- and other celebrities -- make is exorbitant, the ones that give the most to others should be commended. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is one of those athletes. The former Syracuse Orange basketball player has made a ranking of the top 30 charitable celebrities three of the five years the Giving Back Fund has released the list.

The Giving Back Fund is a non-profit that, according to its website, "highlight(s) philanthropic role models, promote best practices, and help to foster a strong and dynamic philanthropic community with an emphasis on the sports and entertainment industries." 

Anthony was the 22nd on the list for 2011 and the only NBA player listed with a $837,200 gift to the Carmelo Anthony Foundation. The foundation in turn gave a $500,000 grant to Syracuse University and 302,000 to the Living Classroom Foundation. 

Anthony was 13th on the 2010 list which came out when he was a member of the Denver Nuggets. He gave $1,066,037 to his foundation which again gave grants to Syracuse and the Living Classroom Foundation in Maryland. 

Finally, Anthony was the 2007 list's No. 7 giver after a $4,282,000 contribution towards a youth recreation center in Baltimore, a Syracuse recreation center and other charities.

Giving money to charity does not automatically make you a good person and there is no doubt Anthony can afford these donations after his salary/endorsements have made him a wealthy man. Still, he should be applauded for consistently giving and setting a good example for professional athletes around the world.