Cazenovia Republican digital edition - March 6, 2024

CAVAC celebrates 50 years

Kate hill

The Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) celebrated its 50th anniversary during a banquet at the Hampton Inn & Suites Cazenovia.

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

On

Established in 1974 and currently based at 106 Nelson St., the local ambulance service relies on volunteer drivers, crew coordinators, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and general members, as well as paid professional paramedics. A high school student corps also supports its operations.

In addition to providing emergency medical services (EMS) to Cazenovia and surrounding communities, CAVAC offers short-term loans of medical equipment, such as crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs, and has a New York State-certified child/baby car seat installer.

The organization is led by the CAVAC Executive Committee, which currently consists of Kerstin McKay, president; Ron Scott, vice president and student corps advisor; Niki Ammann, secretary; Dennis Goldmann, treasurer; Rick Macheda, chief of operations; Chris Marconi, ombudsman; John McCabe, medical director; and Sara Mitchell, immediate past president.

CAVAC l Page 12

“Tonight is dedicated to celebrating all of you — those who have paved the way before

Village approves Caz College tax settlement, shares tentative budget

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

On March 4, the Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees voted to approve a settlement resolving a disagreement relating to Cazenovia College’s new tax status and assessed property values.

Last summer, when Cazenovia College transitioned from a tax-exempt educational institution to “The Institution Formerly Known as Cazenovia College,” assessor Brian Fitts and consultants determined that it no longer qualified for educational tax-exempt status, and the properties were put back on the tax roll.

“[That] triggered a tax bill both for the school taxes that were paid last fall, as well as the town and county taxes from this year,” said Village Attorney James Stokes. “The college raised some arguments. . . . Nobody is admitting they are right or wrong, but in order to settle the case, it was agreed that some of the assessments would be reduced.”

Mayor Kurt Wheeler said it is his understanding that all the involved parties worked together in good faith to negotiate a reasonable resolution to the situation.

“They reexamined the assessed value [considering] what it had been in its highest and best use as an educational institution versus where it is now,” Wheeler said. “I think all parties came to a consensus and agreed on a set of figures.”

According to Stokes, the village is the least affected of all the taxing entities by the reduced assessments. Some of the Cazenovia College properties with the most heavily reduced assessments are in the town outside the village.

The total reduction in assessment for the village properties is $1,567,510.

Chenango St., Cazenovia, NY 13035. The deadline to send letters is April 12.

“Al would love anything that gets more kids sailing,” said Marshall’s wife, Elaine, who administers the memorial fund with his sister, Bindy Dain.

Marshall passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 23, 2023, at the age of 60.

He grew up in Cazenovia and graduated from Cazenovia High School in 1980.

He went on to receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984.

For most of his career, Marshall worked in the radar industry, initially at Hughes/Raytheon in California on military aircraft radar and lastly at Saab in Syracuse on airport ground control radar systems.

He started sailing in the mid-1970s at WBYC, first in lessons and then in the junior fleet.

After returning home to Cazenovia as an adult, he sailed in both the WBYC Laser and Finn Fleets. He also crewed for other fleets over the years, and there wasn’t a boat at the

club that he could not sail.

According to Elaine, her husband preferred sailing Finns in his later years and Lasers before that.

“He enjoyed being on the water and the camaraderie with the other sailors,” Elaine said. “He really enjoyed helping others improve their sailing knowledge and was generous with his time.”

A memorial featured in the WBYC “Scuttlebutt” following Marshall’s death highlighted the sailor’s innate ability to read the wind, his generosity with his sailing knowledge, and his humility in his victories, including his win at the last race he ever sailed at WBYC, the 2022 Preston Cup.

The memorial thanked Marshall for all the work he did to maintain the club and keep it running efficiently, and it commended him for guiding WBYC through two summers of the COVID-19 pandemic as commodore in 2020 and 2021.

“His quiet and focused leadership was a much-needed contrast to the many challenges and stresses of those years,” the memorial said.

Also acknowledged were the ten-plus years that Marshall was part of the WBYC charter of the 1932 schooner Brilliant out of Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport.

Aboard Brilliant, he and the rest of the WBYC crew won the schooner division of the Pat West Gaff Rig and Schooner Race in Martha’s Vineyard in both 2019 and 2022.

“Al was a mainstay on any Brilliant voyage and could often be found at his favorite position — the helm,” the memorial said. “He was a keen sailing tactician who effectively communicated with a gesture, nod, or a quick remark. In calm seas or the foulest of foul weather, Al was always the first to be found in the most challenging areas of the Brilliant’s formidable deck and could always be relied upon to provide helpful technical knowledge to both new and seasoned WBYC schooner sailors. He was the first crew member to assist with daily meal preparation and last one to be found in the

Submitted photoS

This year, the Al Marshall Memorial Fund will support eight scholarships for oneweek sessions of sailing lessons through the Willow Bank Yacht Club (WBYC) Youth Sailing Program. The fund was established in honor of avid sailor and two-time WBYC Commodore Alfred Marshall, who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 23, 2023.

galley cleaning up. Al’s wit and presence on the Brilliant always made everyone’s voyage brighter and he will be sorely missed in the years to come.”

Founded in 1948, WBYC is a private, family yacht club that promotes sailboat racing, sailing in general, and other water-based activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and power boating, in an active volunteer atmosphere. The club, which is located at 27 Forman St., also maintains a full calendar of organized social events.

To learn more about the WBYC 2024 sailing programs, visit willowbankyc.com/ sailing-programs.

“It’s still a significant net increase in taxable value here in the village for as long as these properties stay on the roll,” said Stokes. “We don’t know how long that will be; it depends on their future use, but for now, they are on the roll. This does not mean that the college or any future owner of these properties can’t come in and challenge the assessment again based on the 2024 roll, which has not yet been completed, but for now, it gives us some certainty in terms of what property you can rely on for your tax levy.”

According to Stokes, once the other taxing entities have agreed to the settlement and it has been signed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Patrick O’Sullivan, it will be made public.

2024-2025 Tentative Budget

At the beginning of the meeting, Wheeler announced that the village put together a tentative budget of $3,854,457 for the fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins June 1.

The current 2023-2024 budget is $3,383,321.61.

According to the minutes from the board’s Feb. 20 budget workshop, key budgetary challenges include the need to plan for a significant wave of staff retirements in the next two years that will require the village to have competitive salaries, increases in costs for all forms of insurance that exceed the rate of inflation, and massive increases in essential equipment such as fire apparatus.

“Due to many years of fiscal discipline, we are on track to have the funds saved up to replace our fire department ladder truck that has reached its end of service life,” the minutes report. “Next [fiscal year], we will have to immediately begin preparations to replace the [fire department’s] pumper that will soon reach its effective lifespan as well. We have budgeted for the closing expenses associated with the replacement of the lake wall that forms the western and southern boundaries of Lakeland Park and will begin work this year on the final phase of that project to restore the pier that is the most iconic site in our village and central to our tourism and outdoor recreation programs. We hope to secure additional grant funding to assist with that effort. Finally, we have budgeted for ongoing support associated with the planning process to redevelop the former CaVillage l Page 10

On Monday, March 11 at 12:30 p.m.

Lorenzo State Historic Site will host speaker Ian Mumpton for his presentation, “The Women of Schuyler Mansion.”

Thanks to “Hamilton: An American Musical,” the three eldest Schuyler sisters, Angelica, Eliza (Elizabeth), and Peggy (Margaret) are now household names.

But did you know there were more than three sisters?

The Women of Schuyler Mansion explores the lives of their mother, Catharine van Rensselaer Schuyler, the five Schuyler sisters, and the women the Schuylers enslaved.

Ian Mumpton is the historic site assistant at Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany.

In addition to the Schuyler household, his areas of interpretive interest include the

The Community Memorial Foundation was honored to be a recipient of an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Health and Wellness Award, as the organization continues providing exceptional local healthcare and just surpassed its 70th anniversary in the Hamilton Community. Offered to support programs that conduct ongoing work to improve health outcomes, this year’s award was granted to aide in the vital medical imaging

stories of free and enslaved Africans in colonial New York; working-class Loyalists in the American Revolution; and the relationship between martial arts, brawling, and colonial identity in 17th century New Netherland.

Situated in historic Cazenovia, Lorenzo State Historic Site is the 1807 Federal style home of John Lincklaen, Holland Land Company agent and founder of Cazenovia.

equipment upgrades that are a component of the ongoing transformation project currently underway at Community Memorial (CMH).

“We’re delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield,” noted Jeff Coakley, president and CEO. “Both organizations recognize the importance of local healthcare in rural settings, as we both share important relationships with local employers like Colgate University.”

Lorenzo was continually occupied by the Lincklaen/Ledyard family until the property

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal and Community Investments and Partnerships Manager Shayna Keller visited CMH to present the award.

and contents were conveyed to New York State in 1968.

The imprint of all of Loren -

zo’s residents, including enslaved people, servants, and

“The Excellus BCBS Health and Wellness Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” Van de Wal said. “We are proud to support CMH with this essential community health funding to improve patient care.” The radiology department renovation and expansion is a major phase of the construction project at CMH and will include both a new CT Scanner and MRI machine, both valuable and important resources in patient care.

“Our new equipment will enhance the care pro -

vided locally,” Coakley said. “We are excited to bring these critical and essential upgrades in technology to the organization, ensuring that patients won’t need to travel for medical imaging, especially in emergent situations.”

The transformational project of CMH has already successfully completed the

inpatient wing with private patient rooms, along with a new and expanded Emergency Room, as part of the largest capital project since its inception in 1952. To learn more about the project details or to support, please visit communitymemorial.org/foundation/capital-campaign/.

James R. Logsdon, 72 husband, father, grandfather

James Richard “Jim” Logsdon, 72, of Hamilton, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. He was born April 1, 1951, in Fremont, Ohio, to Gilbert and Betty (Hayes) Logsdon.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Tiffin University where he was a member of Delta Beta Chapter of the Phi Theta Pi fraternity.

He had a successful career working for Waste Management Inc. for 35 years and held many positions including vice president of operations.

Upon his retirement Jim continued as an entrepreneur and consultant in the waste industry.

He was an Eagle Scout with the Fre -

Nancy Lewis, 90 taught special education

Nancy Hinsdill Lewis, 90, of Cazenovia, passed away Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Crouse Community Center in Morrisville.

She was born June 16, 1933 in Troy, New York to Roger and Evora Hinsdill. Nancy was a graduate of the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in education and received her master’s degree in special education from George Washington University.

Nancy was a special education teacher and reading specialist with the Longfellow Middle School in McLean, VA.

She was a member of P.E.O. Inter-

mont St. Joseph School, Boy Scout Troop 304 and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Jim cherished his time living and working at his family’s 65-acre farm in Hamilton, Saddleback Farm.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Valerie (Hackney) Logsdon; his children, Kristie (Jeremiah) Vergowven of Newport, MI, Lori (Eldon) Hallows of Waynesville, OH, Nicole (Maurice) Tommie of Tampa, Fl and James Ryan (Andrea) Logsdon of Jacksonville, FL; his brothers, John (Andrea) Logsdon of Tiffin, OH and Thomas “Buzz” Logsdon of Newmarket, NH; his grandchildren, Jackson Vergowven, Brynn Hallows, Ava Hallows, Grayson Logsdon, Nathaniel Logsdon, Javian Tommie, Nyrobi Logsdon, June Logsdon, Aja Tommie and Kairo Tommie as well as several nieces and nephews.

national and in her free time enjoyed reading, arranging artificial flowers and spending time at her family’s camp at Twitchell Lake.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dr. Russell M. “Rusty” Lewis of Cazenovia; her children, Jeff (Darlene) Lewis of York, PA, Cindy (Warren) Jones of Nelson, Roger Lewis of Pucellville, VA and Susan L. (Ron) Whitley of Springfield, VA as well as several grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Robert Hinsdill.

There are no calling hours or services.

Condolences for the Lewis family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com

Nancy Lewis

In addition to family, Jim left an impact on countless friends and community members.

Friends of Jim could rely on him for support or to lend a hand in their time of need.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Betty Logsdon. Calling hours were held from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road in Cazenovia NY.

Additional calling hours and funeral services were held through the Hanneman-Keller Funeral Home in Fremont, Ohio. Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to a local Boy Scout troop of your choice.

Condolences for the Logsdon family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.

James R. Logsdon

Lorenzo

l From page 2

the many employees required to run the estate, can be found at every turn.

Lorenzo State Historic Site is operated by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation which oversees 180 parks and 35 historic sites that are visited by 70 million people annually. Visit us at parks.ny.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

for everything from emergency

such as accidents, to responding to the needs of patients who are ill or undergoing surgery, to offering training and certifications in areas such as CPR, first aid and babysitting among other offerings, to disaster response and relief efforts to support for military families and veterans, the American Red Cross is a valuable resource that has touched many lives.

A great deal of this work is made possible through the support of volunteers. Whether that is in the form of making a blood donation or being part of a response team when an emergency situation arises, volunteers are a vital part of what the American Red Cross is able to do.

According to the Red Cross volunteers comprise 90% of the national Red Cross workforce to power its lifesaving mission, along with generous blood, platelet and financial donors; people trained in skills like first aid and CPR; and other supporters. Locally, nearly 1,800 volunteers serve a population of more than 3.6 million people across 27 counties. The Eastern New York Region is comprised of three chapters: Central and Northern New York, Hudson Valley, and Northeastern New York.

In 2023, local volunteers Responded to 727 local disasters, providing relief to 1,182 families impacted by home fires, floods, winter storms and other emergencies; Installed 3,096 free smoke alarms, making 1,548 local homes safer by presenting fire safety education and other lifesaving resources; Trained 7,173 people in free disaster training programs to help adults and children prepare for emergencies; Served 2,434 military families and provided 5,034 case services to aid veterans, service members and their families; Enrolled 54,531 people in first aid, CPR, water safety, babysitting and other lifesaving skills; and collected 104,449 units of blood from volunteer donors to support area hospitals and patients in need.

The American Red Cross, Eastern New York Region, is observing national Red Cross Month in March to honor local community heroes who help ensure their neighbors never face crises alone.

Red Cross Month is a national tradition that began in March 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation — and each U.S. president has followed ever since. Local proclamations will be presented during the month in the cities of Oneida and Syracuse.

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to honor the people in our community who step up to support one another when help can’t wait during emergencies,” said Kevin Coffey, chief executive officer, Eastern New York Region, “This relief and hope wouldn’t be possible without these local heroes. Please consider joining in their commitment by donating, volunteering, giving blood or platelets, or taking a lifesaving skills course.”

Join the Red Cross Month celebration by visiting redcross.org/en y

Those who donate at redcross.org/givingda y on March 27 will be part of the 10th annual Red Cross Giving Day, which aims to rally 30,000 supporters nationwide to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

As we approach the final weeks of winter, the public is urged to book a time to donate blood or platelets now as we continue to strengthen the blood supply heading into spring.

Much like pets provide comfort and support, so does the Red Cross in local communities. As a thank-you for providing comfort during Red Cross Month, all who come to give blood or platelets March 1 to 24 will get a $10 e-gift card to a pet supply merchant of choice, plus automatically be entered for a chance to win a $3,000 gift card.

There will be five winners. See rcblood. org/Pet s for details.

I bought the shoes in 1999. They are still here.

I continue to wear them, just about everywhere. Well, let me qualify that. I do not wear them to church or out to dinner, but around the house, in the garden, in the snow…yes!

from

I was, in 1999, looking for waterproof boots that fit my 9.5 wide feet and looked, if not fashionable, at least OK. I couldn’t find any.

A note in one of the magazines that I read said that Land’s End had shoes that were amazingly good and less than $30. I took a look. They came in wide’s. I ordered a pair.

They are backless slides, with a sole that is more than an inch thick made of some kind of rubber-like material. The upper portion of the footwear is a brown sueded leather that has proved to be wonderfully waterproof. They are warm in the winter and not hot in the summer.

They never were beautiful. Now they are, well, less than that.

I now have a pair of fantastic LLBean boots that are warm, don’t leak and are fairly good looking, but I hang on to my old slides because they’re quick to wear and they still work.

The same is true of an Irish knit cardigan, complete with all of the intricacies of the style, that was old when I acquired it. A friend was divesting herself of this woolen masterpiece and offered it as a donation to a clothing drive at Catholic Charities. Despite the fact that it was missing several buttons and needed some repair on the sleeves, I loved it. So, I swapped my new sweater with its buttons for the Irish knit one. I’ve never added more buttons and wear it with its needed repairs undone.

It’s been more than 20 years, my go-to sweater for cool evenings in

our family room, which means that I can wear it every evening beginning in the fall of the year. It’s heavenly warm and takes the place of multiple blankets needed to keep the evening chill away when you are sedentarily watching TV. This sweater and the one that my Mom gave me have kept me warm for many, many years, and neither is fashionable.

Then there is the offset Japanese weeder that I bought when I could not afford it, a treat for myself during an especially hard time. It’s more than 30 years old, a bit rusty because I have not attended to its care as often as I should. But it is marvelously suited to its job. Triangular in shape and offset from its shaft, it moves around the plants effortlessly and removes the offending weeds quickly. It does double duty as a smallish spade when it’s time to remove larger infestations or to plant smaller offerings. When spring comes, and I can only dream of that now, I know that my first work in the soil will be with my simple tool in hand.

Looking around, there are so many objects that I’ve accumulated over the years that are modest, mundane, useful and somewhat less than aesthetically attractive. My home could be museum for such things. I have a bunt pan and a food mill that I bought for 50 cents more than 50 years ago that join five wicker laundry baskets purchased for less than a dollar each at the same yard sale. Each showed its age when I bought it and time hasn’t changed that. I wouldn’t exchange them for anything new or fancier. They are perfect without being magazine photo worthy.

And then there is my set of knives that I bought with great anxiety about the cost. In the world of things that are better

when they are better, it has to be knives. Before I took the plunge and bought this set, slicing butter was a challenge. Facing a butternut squash was the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest without a sherpa. With my lovely red handled knives I can now cut a tomato into thin slices and face that hard skinned squash with no fear. Life with those blades is better. And, to be truthful, they are rather stunning with their red handles. So, they don’t fit the categories of old, worn and useful, but they are certainly appreciated. Only time will morph them into the well-loved status.

Now, the world is a mess.

Hordes of displaced people are seeking safety all over the world. Declared and undeclared wars are destroying massive numbers of lives. A frightening pandemic of thought has grasped the minds of humans as people are aligning themselves with those who believe only as they believe, rejecting the power of discussion for the easy path of the mindless follower. We turn our heads away too often from the needs of the poor and oppressed, suffering from compassion fatigue. Our little village has lost a fine dining restaurant, the pharmacy and its beloved grocery store.

So, how to cope?

Today I am thankful for the little things … each is special, bringing a simple comfort to me, inanimate allies of my family and friends. They have been there when I needed them, never speaking loudly or keeping me awake at night, often easing my passage through a day. And, thankfully, none has an opinion with which I have to negotiate.

Ann Ferro is a mother, a grandmother and a retired social studies teacher. While still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, she lives in Marcellus with lots of books, a spouse and a large orange cat.

Years Ago in History

By Cindy BEll toBEy

140 Years Ago – March 6, 1884

The music loving people of Nelson, were afforded a rare treat (Tuesday evening, Feb. 26) in the concert given by the Nelson Orchestra, assisted by outside talent.

The evening was stormy and disagreeable, but those who braved the inclement weather were more than paid for their trouble.

The performance of the Orchestra at their concert last winter, was considered highly creditable, but those who had the pleasure of hearing them on both occasions, were surprised at the great advancement which they have made.

The violin duet by Messrs. Waterbury and Holdridge, showed great talent and skill, also the cornet duet by Messrs. Hutchinson and Lloyd, were heartily applauded.

A cornet and piano duet by Mr. V. Bowers and Miss Lownberry, was finely rendered, Mrs. Fred Holdridge of Cazenovia rendered several vocal pieces with great taste and feeling and was heartily applauded.

Mrs. S. B. Meredith presided at the piano, with her usual grace and skill.

There are few performers on the piano that put as much soul into their music as Mrs. Meredith. Taken all in all, the entertainment was the finest Nelson has been favored with for a long time.

110 Years Ago – March 5, 1914

Cazenovia Sunday night experienced the biggest snowstorm in 25 years.

The present generation will be rich with stories to tell the grandchildren in the years

to come. While there was not as great a fall of snow as two weeks ago, the heavy wind caused a blizzard that piled up the drifts, effectually blocking all traffic.

Early Sunday evening the storm commenced.

One lady on her way home from church was overcome and had to be carried into a nearby house.

Town Clerk Allen late in the evening went uptown and was so exhausted in making his way through the storm that he decided to spen the night in a hotel rather than return home a distance of about four blocks.

90 Years Ago – March 8, 1934

Oranges are cheaper in Cazenovia than apples. Some of the stores are selling Northern Spies for 60 to 75 cents per peck, or $2.40 to $3 per bushel.

The same stores are selling Florida sweet oranges for forty-nine cents per peck or $1.90 per bushel – and are those oranges good!

Local food stores have scarcely been able to supply the demand at these prices but have limited supplies on hand now.

70 Years Ago – March 4, 1954

Mrs. Rose Williams will be leaving Cazenovia about the middle of this month to make her home in Ryderwood, Wash., which is located about half way between Portland and Seattle.

For the last 10 years Mrs. Williamshas lived in her house, “Lunky’s Lane,” which has been sold through K.B. Allen of Chittenango to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Waechter of Years Ago l Page 5

Phil blackwell

overtime, power plays that weren’t converted and Jonah Vormwold’s short-handed tally that made the Wildcats sectional champions again.

Why the analogy to Woodson?

after it was discussed for several minutes between officials and the goal judge as two loud, agitated groups of partisans watched.

One of two things happened. Either the puck brushed along the outside of the net or, as Lokker and his teammates thought, it sneaked inside the top left corner and then flew back out the other side.

In real time, it was impossible to tell. On-ice replays of the sequence couldn’t decide it, either, and worse yet, the replay system the Syracuse Crunch uses for their games was down.

What made it even more agonizing for RFA partisans was what followed – a 1-1 game that went to

Well, you may have watched a playoff game in January 2002 where Woodson tore through the snow, stripped the ball from Tom Brady, and watched an Oakland Raiders teammate recover to preserve a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots– or so he thought. Turns out there was this NFL rule where if a quarterback faked a throw and moved it back toward his body and got hit along the way, it was an incomplete pass.

The Tuck Rule, it was called. Just saying those evokes anger among Raiders fans, especially considering what the Patriots accomplished in the ensuing two decades.

So many what-ifs. Does the New England dynasty happen? Does Brady turn into a human deity in every burg from Boston to Bangor? Do the Raiders even go to Las Vegas?

You would hope and pray that Lokker, a terrific junior who had 15 goals and 17 assists this season,

goes on and finds tremendous success as a person and as a hockey player, so that this one hypothetical doesn’t end up defining his remaining days.

Yet that’s the tricky part. We tell people not to take the result of any game too seriously, that life is full of far more important matters, and that’s true in the long term – but not in the moment.

Put yourself in the position of the RFA players. This is your program’s first sectional title game in 10 years. Against a mighty, powerful opponent that won the state championship in 2023, you’ve played them to a deadlock, getting a special game in goal from freshman Donte Spurace, who made 49 saves.

This might end up your best chance, your only chance at the kind of glory that endures long after you’ve stopped putting on skates. It’s one thing to get there and run into a far superior opponent, which you can live with.

But this? All that is felt, for a while, is pain, anger, a sense of injustice, maybe even wondering if as a relative outsider, some kind of sinister force was at work to keep you from reaching your dreams.

Sure, in time some of the pain

Starting plants from seeds indoors

BY MELINDA MYERS

bleach and nine-part water solution for ten minutes then rinse with clear water. This helps reduce the risk of disease.

Fill the containers with a moist well-drained potting mix or a sterile seed starting mix. Once the containers are filled, check the back of your seed packets for planting directions. Most contain all the information you need for when and how to plant the seeds. Some seed companies

now provide this information on their website instead of the seed packets. Most seeds are planted about twice the seed diameter deep while smaller seeds are often set on the soil surface and gently watered in place. Once again, check the seed packet for the seeds you are growing. Plant two seeds per container just in case one of the seeds fails to sprout.

Once planted, move the containers to a warm location. Many gardeners use heating pads designed for germinating seeds to help speed sprouting. Covering the containers with a sheet of plastic or one of the prefab domes will help conserve moisture so you will need to water less often.

Check the soil moisture daily and water often enough to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy wet. Remove the plastic and move the containers to a sunny window or better yet, under artificial lights as soon as any green appears.

Regularly rotate plants that are growing in sunny windows to promote more

even growth. Adjust artificial lights as plants grow. Most seedlings benefit from keeping the lights four to six inches above the top of the seedlings. Leave the lights on for 14 but no more than 16 hours a day. Using a timer is an easy way to make sure the plants receive the right amount of light each day.

Once the seedlings develop two sets of true leaves (these will look like the leaves of the plants you are growing), it is time to do some thinning. Remove the weakest seedling in each pot so only one strong seedling remains. Trimming the weaker seedlings back to ground level instead of pulling avoids damage to the remaining seedling.

Once seedlings have been thinned and are actively growing, use a fertilizer labeled for this use. Continue to water thoroughly and often enough to keep the planting mix slightly moist but not soggy wet.

Check the weather and seed packet to determine when it is safe to move your plants outdoors. You’ll need

to prepare them for their new home outdoors with a technique called hardening off. Start by moving the plants to a sheltered and shaded location after the danger of frost has passed. Stop fertilizing, and check soil moisture daily but allow it to dry just slightly before watering thoroughly. Gradually increase the amount of sunlight the plants receive each day. Cover or move them indoors when frost is in the forecast. Your transplants are ready to move to their permanent location after a week or two. Start gathering your supplies and seeds now. And before you know it, you will be enjoying the beautiful blooms and tasty vegetables you started from seed yourself.

will dissipate and all that you’ve accomplished and experienced together will be cherished, but that time isn’t now.

Sports is compelling not just because someone wins. It’s because someone doesn’t, and at some point every single athlete experiences both of these things, often in extremes.

With the state ice hockey championships set for this weekend at Buffalo’s HarborCenter, the hope and prayer here is that the result never hinges on whether a puck went in the net or not, something West Genesee experienced a couple of times in the past, as their partisans will gladly recall.

When Charles Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 in a class that included Peyton Manning, Tom Brady was there. So was a Raiders fan who held up a sign that said, “It was a fumble!”

Only 19 years had passed. No one had forgotten. Two decades from now, good health willing, Tyler Lokker will be around to remind you that it was a goal. He just might be right.

Phil Blackwell is sports editor at Eagle News. He can be reached at pblackwell@ eaglenewsonline.com.

www.MelindaMyers.co

M Seedlings should

under

& Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com artificial lights as soon as any green appears.

down and small monthly payments.

Pittman finishes indoor track season at state meet

By PHil BlACkwEll

Cazenovia girls indoor track and field star Susie Pittman once again cleared 10 feet in the pole vault during her run at last Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Athletic Center.

This would help Pittman to place 14th among all vaulters in the state, and was just six inches from her career best of 10’6”, which she established at the Feb. 14 Section III state qualifier. Warwick Valley’s Lily Beatty won the state title by clearing 13 feet.

Pittman cleared her first two heights at 8 feet and 9 feet easily and was able to sail over the ten foot bar on her second attempt after making a slight adjustment to her mark. She was close to tying her personal best when the bar moved up another six inches, just grazing it on her final attempt.

This was the talented Junior’s second appearance on the “big stage” of the state championship competition, having also reached the event in the high jump during her 9th grade season.

She was even stronger in that event this season, clearing 5’2” to win a sectional title compared to her best of 5’1” in 2022. Pittman was also a champion in the triple jump this winter, but chose to focus on her specialty of pole vault at states.

The meet capped an incredible season of competition in the event as she

broke Cazenovia’s school record four times over the winter, topping the mark of 9’6” that had stood since 2004. A clearance of 9’7” established the new school mark for Pittman. Then she got to 10 feet, 10’2” and 10’6”, all while winning the Onondaga High School League and Section III Class B-2 championships, plus first-team AllCentral New York Honors with her win at the state qualifier.

Pittman also had an exceptional season on the track, breaking the Lakers’ indoor track record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.42 in the first leg of her team’s school record effort of 4:07.03 in the 4x400 meter relay that was good for number two in the section. She also contributed a 26.3 second 200-meter leg during Cazenovia’s fastest 4x200 meter relay of the season of 1:49.76; the fastest of any small school in the section.

Pittman will now set her sights on spring track with the goal of setting a new school outdoor record in the pole vault. She is already tied for the best alltime at 9’6” during both her ninth and 10th grade seasons and hopes to quickly set a new standard based on her successes this winter. In short, Pittman’s achievements in both track and field events will be a major boost for her Lakers as they strive to win a third consecutive sectional outdoor track title.

A HIgH BAR TO CLEAR: Cazenovia girls indoor track and field athlete Susie Pittman cleared 10 feet for a 14th-place finish during last Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships on Staten Island.

Chittenango volleyball wins sectional, regional titles

By PHil BlACkwEll

Only a Section III winter championship and regional championship would provide the ending the Chittenango boys volleyball team wanted for the 2023-24 season – and the Bears would get them both to complete a perfect 21-0 run.

Meeting Central Valley Academy in last Friday night’s sectional Class B championship match, the Bears, even while playing on CVA’s home court, overcame a tough start to prevail in four sets over the Thunder.

All season long, Chittenango had overwhelmed opponents from the moment the first serve went up.

CVA didn’t fit into that category, though, hanging close in the first set and then getting the key points late to take it 25-22.

The second set was just as close, but this time it was the Bears claiming the 25-22 decision to pull even, leading to third and fourth sets where its skills would prove too much for CVA as it won them 25-18 and 25-16.

Jackson Blaszkow gained 13 kills and 12 digs.

Rodger Mulholland and Ryan Thousand each had nine kills, with Jacob Wagner get-

ting six kills.

As always, Cole Thomas fed all of them with his deft passes, accumulating 37 assists, while Andrew Uryniak led the defense with 16 digs ahead of Mulholland’s 14 digs. Wagner had eight digs and Thomas seven digs.

Less than 24 hours later, Chittenango found itself at Maple Hill High School in the Class B regional final, taking on Section II’s Ichabod Crane, and it was the most dramatic match of all.

This time the Bears won the opening set 25-19, but the Riders took the second 25-22 before Chittenango won the third 25-20 and found itself just a couple of points from victory in the fourth.

But after a series of set and match points, Crane won that fourth set 29-27, and a finalset race to 15 points would decide it.

Tested as never before, the Bears would inch in front and, at match point, finally win it 15-13.

Thomas needed 44 assists to go with four aces and five kills.

Blaszkow got 14 kills and 21 digs, with Thousand earning 12 kills and 13 digs.

Mulholland and Quinton Hillkier had 11 kills apiece, Mulholland tacking on 12 digs,

just behind Wagner’s 13 digs as Uryniak managed 16 digs and Seth Boulter 13 digs.

Chittenango earned its berth in the sectional final by sweeping Rome Free Academy in last Tuesday’s semifinal round, though the circumstances certainly helped.

RFA was not even 24 hours removed from a wild five-set first-round match with Utica Proctor where it trailed 10-2 and 13-4 in the final-set race to 15, stormed all the way back and, after several missed match points, won it 22-20.

Fresh and rested, the Bears quickly put the Black Knights away, winning the first two sets by 25-9 and 25-7 margins before it took the third set 25-17 to close it out.

Thomas piled up 33 assists, an average of 11 assists per set, to go with two aces, two kills and a block.

Blaszkow served up seven aces, adding a team-best eight kills and six digs.

Mulholland, Thousand and Hilliker had six kills apiece.

Wagner and Kai Streeter each got four kills as Mulholland earned eight digs, ahead of Boulter and Micah Granata both earning seven digs.

Lakers’ Frisbie competes at state track meet

By PHil BlACkwEll

It was only appropriate that someone represented the Cazenovia boys indoor track and field team at last Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships on Staten Island. Connor Frisbie got that honor, competing in the triple jump, where his best attempt of 44 feet 2 inches put him in the state field along with Liverpool’s NyQuez Madison among Section III representatives. Here, Frisbie would start out with a leap of 40’7 1/4”, then go 39’9 1/2” on his second attempt. A third attempt brought the best jump yet, one of 41’6” that put Frisbie in 20th place overall. Madison, going 42’9”, would finish 14th, and they would all chase the work of Midlakes’ Aiden Bryant, who with a best attempt of 49’ 1/2” in his final leap beat the field by more than two feet, with Beacon’s Damani DeLoatch second at 46’4”.

Bears boys basketball stopped by Westhill in sectional semifinals

By PHil BlACkwEll

Facing an opponent three times, even a great one, gives a team the chance to get the result it wanted.

Yet the Chittenango boys basketball team never could solve the puzzle of Westhill, who backed up its top seed by defeating the no. 4 seed Bears 75-44 in Tuesday night’s Section III Class A semifinal at East Syracuse Minoa High School.

Not only had the Warriors won 11 in a row going into the game, it carried the confidence from beating the Bears in last year’s sectional Class B semifinal on the way to a state title, plus two regular-season wins over Chittenan-

l From page 1 Village

zenovia College campus. The college was our community’s largest employer and [number one] engine of economic activity. Successfully converting the campus to a new long-term use that will replicate the economic impact of the former college is our most important goal for the upcoming year.”

During his budget update, Wheeler said the bit of extra revenue the village got from the college properties at least temporarily being on the tax roll helped a lot this year, especially because the village is expending additional funds for the campus planning process.

go along with the lessons learned from those meetings.

In both of this season’s games - an 84-76 decision on Jan. 17, then a 69-58 decision on Feb. 6 - Chittenango lost despite big games from star junior Ryan Moesch, especially the 46 points he notched in the first defeat.

Given Moesch’s prodigious scoring gift, Westhill was determined to keep him from getting his trademark big point totals, even if it meant abandoning its traditional man-to-man defensive approach.

Here, from the moment Moesch crossed midcourt, he faced double teams from Dom Zawadzki and Eli Welch, who shadowed him on drives to the basket and also stayed close

According to Wheeler, the village received state and federal grants to help with the strategic planning for the future of the campus, but a local match is required.

“The extra revenue this year has helped with that plus the many other budget lines that increased faster than inflation,” he said.

Wheeler also said sales tax continues to be healthy, and that has allowed the village to propose increasing the property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value by only two percent to $6.67.

“You look around and a lot of other levels of government are increasing at a faster rate than that, so I’m happy that we could keep it to just a two percent increase to the rate,” he

whenever he decided to pull up and shoot.

Initially, this didn’t work. A combined four 3-pointers - one from Moesch, two from Jack Lamphere and one from Brendon Barnard - had the Bears leading 17-11 late in the first quarter.

Yet when those outside shots stopped falling, Westhill took over, moving in front early in the second period and using a 21-2 run to gain control, with eight of those points coming from Eli Prince, who notched 35 and 21 points, respectively, the first two times they met.

Meanwhile, Moesch was shut out in that second period. Even with that, Chittenango only trailed 33-23 at halftime, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Zawadzki, a player not known

said. “Hopefully, it will not have too much of an impact [on] our residents.”

The board will hold a public hearing on the 2024-2025 tentative budget at the beginning of its April 1 regular meeting.

The board will also hold a public hearing on April 1 regarding a proposed local law authorizing the village to exceed New York State’s property tax cap, if necessary.

The state’s tax cap law limits the annual growth of property taxes levied by local governments and school districts to two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Wheeler explained that the amount the village is allowed to raise taxes is determined by a complex formula, and it can end up being

for his offensive gifts, helped the Warriors pull further away early in the third quarter.

Ultimately, Moesch would finish with 22 points, which provided a consolation in that it allowed him to pass Brandon Corp and, with 1,682 career points, become the program’s alltime leading scorer.

But Moesch had to work until the end to get that total, which Prince equaled as Welch (14 points), Kam Langdon (17 points) and Charlie DeMore (10 points) also reached double figures.

Lamphere’s eight points were the most outside of Moesch for the Bears, whose season concluded at 14-8, nearly half those defeats coming at Westhill’s expense.

more or less than two percent.

“We strive to keep our rate increase no more than two percent, regardless of what the calculated percentage is,” he said. “The local law allows us to set the rate based on our discretion without having to worry about the formula.”

A copy of the tentative budget is on file in the office of the village clerk, and it will be posted on the village website at villageofcazenovia.com.

The Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the village municipal building at 90 Albany St.

Pewter Spoon’s ‘Weekend Fundraiser’ supports emergency food relief

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

Pewter Spoon Café in Cazenovia recently held its most successful weekend fundraiser to date, raising $1,585.71 to support the emergency food relief efforts of World Central Kitchen (WCK).

Located at 87 Albany St., Pewter Spoon is owned by Pat Carmeli and managed by her daughter Ava Carmeli.

Over the past several years, the business has held weekend-long fundraisers for multiple organizations, including Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee, and Campaign Zero.

WCK is a not-forprofit non-governmental organization that provides fresh meals to communities around the world in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.

Founded in 2010 by chef José Andrés, the organization first prepared food in Haiti following its devastating earthquake.

“Right now, its efforts are focused especially on Gaza, where over one million people are eating half a meal every two days due to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid trucks,” said Ava. “WCK has been able to set up large kitchens in different parts of the Gaza Strip in the last 130 days, and their incred -

ibly hardworking staff makes 170,000 hot meals every single day.”

Last year, Carmeli hosted a foreign exchange student from Gaza named Medhat.

According to Ava, the student was recently able to evacuate to Egypt with his mother and two young sisters, but his father, who is a doctor, remains in Gaza treating the wounded, and several other members of his family were killed by Israeli airstrikes.

“This violence hits close to home, and we need the community’s help in supporting the people of Gaza,” Ava said.

Pewter Spoon committed to donating 15 percent of its sales from Friday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 25, to

WCK.

In addition to supporting the organization through purchases made at the café and through the Pewter Spoon website, people could also make personal contributions to WCK through a social media fundraiser and in-person donations.

“We [also had] postcards available for folks to send to [their] elected representatives demanding a ceasefire now and an end to the forced starvation of Palestinians living in Gaza,” said Ava. “[We] raised $1,585.71, so [we] are rounding it up and donating $1,600.”

To learn more about WCK, visit wck.or g

For more information on Pewter Spoon, visit pewter-spoon-cafe. square.site.

How much time do you “need” for golf?

During

satisfy their appetite for golf.

ere are others who “need” to play 4-5 days a week to satisfy that appetite and even some who “need” 2-3 days. What makes this information comical is that most of the golfers in these three categories will do anything to try to hide their passionate a liation with the game and they aren’t fooling anyone in their family, their friends…or you and me because we know who they are. e other 90% of golfers in CNY fall into one of the next two categories; the ones who want and “need” to play at least 1 day a week to bring that big smile to their face that releases the mental cobwebs that have been building in their brains for 6 days and the last category that also “needs” to play to support their favorite charity event once a month. Because we all have to make choices about the time we “need” for family, friends and work, I suggest you re ect on the game of golf as something you want and “need to do for yourself”. en and only then, will you and everyone else in your life truly have an understanding of the long term bene ts of playing the wonderful game (SPORT) of golf.

Last year, MyGolfSpy.com did some research about,”How Long It Takes To Play A Round Of Golf”. As you know, I have referred to them as one of the best “Independent Research Companies” speci cally for the game of golf, in the world. eir research is very thorough and usually provides information and draws conclusions that are useful for golfers when they make their decision.

Before you make your decision about the time you “need” to play golf, please consider the following recommendations from MyGolfSpy regarding what tees you should play, regardless of the number of times you play per week or month. When you play from the recommended yardages, you “will” play faster, you “will” play better and you “will” enjoy playing much more than you do from a set of tees that are sure to spoil your day and round. Tee-It-Up from the 150 yard markers in the fairway, to the green. It works! I did it with my four children, beginners and many others who couldn’t hit their tee shots 150 yards.

Other Factors at Will A ect Time To Play

* Weather conditions.

* Course set-up.

* Are you playing 9 or 18 holes?

* How busy the course is that day.

* Do you play “ready golf”?

* Avoid excessive practice swings. Do if before your turn.

* Tee Time intervals - every 7, 8, 10, 12 or even 15 minutes.

HOW MUCH TIME DO “YOU NEED” FOR GOLF?

In order to answer the question, you should rst ask yourself “why” you play golf? Start from this premise, your family comes rst…period! en determine if golf is a “want” thing or is it a “need” thing for you. Hopefully, you will know the di erence and recognize it is a “need” thing and that you are doing it for “yourself”. Hopefully, you will then establish that special relationship with the game that will allow you to appreciate the health and well being bene ts it provides.

have an eligible child are asked to contact Mrs. Richer as soon as possible.

Any

who has a

Submitted photoS

Pewter Spoon Café donated 15 percent of its sales from Friday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 25, to World Central Kitchen to support the organization’s emergency food relief efforts in gaza. Last year, Pewter Spoon Owner Pat Carmeli hosted a foreign exchange student from gaza named Medhat.

us and those who continue to support CAVAC in various ways,” said McKay when welcoming the banquet attendees. “CAVAC responded to 958 calls in 2023. That’s an average of more than two and a half calls per day. Making sure our community is covered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year takes commitment and dedication from so many people — our paramedics, EMTs, and drivers who respond to our neighbors in need; our crew coordinators and operational members who keep us running, organized, and on track; our intrepid student corps who bravely tackle the challenge of learning about EMS; and all the family members who encourage us. All are required for CAVAC to be successful.”

In addition to acknowledging all the current and past CAVAC members in attendance and the people who have supported them, McKay thanked the local government, law enforcement, and fire and rescue department representatives at the banquet, as well as the neighboring rescue squads, fire departments, and ambulance services that assist on calls.

Special recognition was given to CAVAC’s founding members, including active charter members Tom Davies, 1974-1995, 2022-present; Peter Diefendorf, 1974-2001, 2012-present; Bryan Ramsay, 1974-1995, 1997-present; and John Stephenson, 1974-1982, 1996-present.

“It is with profound gratitude and deep respect that we acknowledge the visionaries who laid the foundation of our organization half a century ago,” said McKay.

After dinner, Jenna Illingworth, Madison County’s director of emergency medical services, read aloud a proclamation from the Madison County Board of Supervisors thanking CAVAC for providing 50 years of dedicated and professional EMS to the Town of Cazenovia, the Town of Fenner, the Town of Nelson,

the Village of Cazenovia, and the surrounding areas of Madison County.

Next, members of the CAVAC Executive Committee announced the organization’s newest members and presented service awards to the following individuals: Barry Blanchard, Jenn Grosskopf, Colleen Maika, Bill Robinson, and Colleen Robinson for five years of service; Tim Ahern, Carol Gravelding, and Scott for ten years; Mike Phillips for 25 years; Carol Coufal for 30 years; Dave Ammann and Diefendorf for 40 years; and Mitchell for 45 years.

Appreciation certificates were presented to Blanchard, Eric Byers, Matt Smith, and Dave Miller for their contributions over the past year.

CAVAC Student Corps President Grace Probe received an achievement award for her outstanding service last summer on an especially difficult call in Delphi Falls.

In a pamphlet distributed to the banquet attendees, Probe described her experience serving in the student corps as “rare” and “wonderful.”

“[High] school students get exposure to the medical field, giving them an idea of patient care, bedside manners, and teamwork,” she wrote. “There are so many great things about being a part of the student corps; we get to learn, educate, and work with great paramedics and EMTs. We assist on calls by taking important vitals (blood pressures, respirations, pulse, and oxygen level), filling out the patient’s information, getting equipment, and after a call, restocking the ambulance. All the skills that we use on calls we practice at our meetings. We also get important training [in] CPR, first aid, and bloodborne pathogens. Those joining the student corps tend to be interested in the medical field, and with all we do, those who decide to go into the field have the advantage of being more prepared than others.”

The event pamphlets also included an abbreviated history of CAVAC.

“It’s quite the saga of how the local undertaker, whose hearse was the ambulance, announced his retirement and 232 local residents came together to create CAVAC,” said Mitchell. Recognition was also given to Cindy Underriner, a past CAVAC president who also served as the organization’s administrator for 12 years.

“[As administrator], she often worked above and beyond what she was compensated for, but she did it because of her love for CAVAC,” said Mitchell. “In 2023, she announced that she was stepping away from that position, but she continues to serve [CAVAC] faithfully in multiple capacities.”

The CAVAC Life Member Award was presented to Gene Smith, a past president who was instrumental in the formation of the ambulance tax district for CAVAC. He also played a key role in designing the current CAVAC headquarters and acquiring the land the building sits on.

“[This is] someone to whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude,” said Mitchell. “This member stopped by CAVAC years ago to get his blood pressure checked, and he walked away with an application. He became a driver, then an EMT, then he served on the executive committee as president, past president, and ombudsman. Without this member, we would not have our wonderful building on Nelson Street.”

Mitchell added that Smith continued to volunteer with CAVAC as an ambulance driver into his late 80s and as a dispatcher into his 90s.

“It’s been one of the pleasures of my life to work with CAVAC and the people that volunteer for it,” said Smith. “I’ve never worked with a group of people who were so dedicated to what they were doing. . . . Everybody was so enthusiastic about doing the job, cooperative, and helpful. And so, for that, I want to thank

everybody. . . . I will continue to support CAVAC for as long as I’m alive.”

A final award, the President’s Award, was presented to Bill Robinson for his unselfish dedication to CAVAC and the community over the past year.

According to McKay, who presented the award, Robinson signed up for and worked 179 six-hour shifts in 2023, not counting the numerous back-up shifts he did.

“This individual’s efforts — while they have not often been outwardly recognized or applauded — have gone far in making all our lives at CAVAC more harmonious and enjoyable,” McKay said.

At the end of the event, every CAVAC and student corps member was given a gift of appreciation donated by local businesses and artisans. Attendees were also gifted commemorative fleece blankets.

“Tonight, we’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the impact of our collective efforts over the past 50 years,” said McKay in closing. “As we look to the future, let us carry forward the spirit of camaraderie and service that brought us together 50 years ago. Let us continue to support and uplift one another, knowing that together we can overcome any challenge, as we have so many times before, and continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Let us also remember the fun and the laughter we had being in one another’s company tonight and bring that back to base with us the next time we are there. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of CAVAC, past and present. Your commitment is truly inspiring, and I am honored to be a part of this incredible organization. Here’s to another 50 years of service, growth, and community impact.”

To learn more about CAVAC and about becoming a volunteer, visit cavacambulance.org