UPD: Man Groped, Grabbed Several Woman in Downtown Utica

A 21-year-old man faces multiple charges of forcible touching after Utica Police received numerous complaints from woman who were groped and grabbed downtown this week.

Cops say calls started coming in around 8:30 on Tuesday morning from three separate women who said there were approached downtown by a man who began talking to them, then started to grab their 'intimate parts.'

Police say the victims defended themselves and the man ran off.

A fourth call was made to police at around 9:00 from Union Station in Utica from a woman who said a man matching the same description cornered her in an elevator and forcibly touched her, police said. Once again, when the victim began to defend herself the man suspect ran off, police said.

The UPD's patrol division responded and detained a man matching the suspect's description. Police say a positive identification was made soon after.

Maung Aung of Utica was charged with four counts of forcible touching.

Unlike many charges related to offenses of a sexual nature, forcible touching is not a felony under New York State law.

Aung was arraigned on the four misdemeanor charges and released following arraignment.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This post is for informational purposes. The information provided within was provided publicly by law enforcement. Any charges or accusations of wrongdoing mentioned in the article are only allegations and the reader is reminded that all persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.]

Great Strawberry Picking Destinations in Upstate New York

Berry picking in Upstate New York has been around for generations. Strawberry (currently), blueberry, raspberry and more are the targets of families, young and old alike, who descend on the 100+ "U-Pick" farms in the region for some personal berry "shopping." Here are a dozen that are really great!

Show Your Patriotism This Flag Day At Any of These 12 Upstate New York Places

This year, salute Flag Day (June 14) by visiting any or all of these "patriotic" places in Upstate New York. They include important U.S. forts, military museums, presidential landmarks, and more.

Of note are the graves of two famous patriotic American women, and one man, Sara Hinson, Francis Bellamy, and Kate Smith. Hinson is considered to be the "Mother of Flag Day," having instituted programs to instill a love of America in her students in the Buffalo, NY area. "Her" flag day became an official holiday when signed as so in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. And singer Kate Smith is one of the entertainment world's greatest legends. She raised over $600,000,000 single-handedly for War Bonds during World War II, and is known for her immortal introduction of Irving Berlin's musical ode to the United States, "God Bless America." Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of Allegiance. The "pledge" is written across the bottom of his grave marker in Rome, NY. Both women are also buried in Upstate New York.

All of the places mentioned in this "Flag Day Gallery" are open to the public with directions to them, as well as a link to the subject's website (where needed).

So, we urge you to consider these places when you are thinking about hitting the road this Flag Day. There are many more places in Upstate New York, that will pull on our heart strings this holiday, so please feel free to give those not mentioned here a big shoutout over on our Facebook page.

We hope you honor America in your own special way this June 14.nnHappy Flag Day!

One-Room Schoolhouses Live on In Different Ways in Upstate New York

At one time there were literally hundreds of one-room schoolhouses across the Empire State. This was mandated so "no student had to walk more than one mile to school" according to early laws. Many are still in existence. Some are badly rundown but others live on as homes, museums, gift shops, and even vacation rentals. Here are nine beauties across Upstate New York