Cazenovia Republican digital edition - Sept. 13, 2023

Post-Caz College public input sessions planned

deployment of ‘Smart Meters’ discussed

by kAtE hill staff Writer

During the Sept. 5 Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees meeting, Lauren Lines, executive director of the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA), announced two upcoming public information/input sessions focused on the repurposing of the Cazenovia College campus.

The sessions will be held on Oct. 11 from noon to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites Cazenovia.

Both events will include presentations by seven or eight local working groups that have been looking into different ideas for the future use of the campus.

“[These groups] don’t have the funding, but they have, I think, some pretty interesting and creative ideas that could just use more vetting,” said Lines.

The working groups are exploring such uses as a high-tech workforce development center, a site for training/ workforce development in the historic preservation trades, and a charter school for neuro-diverse students.

“They are all at the stage of looking at similar examples elsewhere and how they [run] and how they’re funded, and [they’re] compiling all that information,” said Lines. “They are all very conceptual ideas. All the groups seem to [really want] more public input on the ideas. There is so much expertise out there in our community, and I think the public is also interested to know what conversations are going on, and people might be interested in getting involved.”

The working groups will answer

questions following their presentations and have tables set up for further conversations with interested community members.

Lines said she also invited the entities that are interested in purchasing the campus and are currently in the due diligence stage.

“Some want to be more public than others, but so far two have said [they’d] love to get public feedback and see if the community is interested in their ideas,” she said.

Mayor Kurt Wheeler commented that there are three or four interested entities that he believes would each bring their own unique set of advantages to the local community.

“Each of them, I think, is in the process of doing their financial analysis, their vetting of, ‘OK, do we have funding lined up? Who would we actually have for tenants and users?’” Wheeler said. “Again, the good news is there are some very viable interested parties, so we hope something will come to fruition in the near future.”

According to Wheeler, the three criteria he and other community leaders are looking for in a new campus tenant/ owner are job creation, economic activity, and neighborhood compatibility.

The New York State Police, which is currently leasing a large portion of the campus for use as a new NYS Police Basic School Auxiliary Academy, will also attend the Oct. 11 sessions to deliver a short presentation and answer questions.

During her report, Lines also informed the board that she is working through the contracts for a $44,000 Empire State Development grant and a $166,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant. CACDA was awarded both grants on behalf of the village for the purpose of

to school

strategic planning for the campus.

The funding for the planning process also includes an additional $40,000 in matching funds from the town and village.

Lines said she is also planning to prepare a request for proposal for a consultant to assist with the strategic planning process.

Although the scope of the planning work has not been finalized, it will include feasibility studies and needs assessments for proposed future uses of the campus, as well as a parking study.

“Any day, one of these [interested] parties could end up buying the campus, so it makes the planning process really challenging,” said Lines. “But we are just kind of moving it forward because maybe they all fall through.”

She added that the strategic planning process could also be useful if a buyer does emerge but doesn’t have plans for the entire campus.

“These funds could still be used to help figure out whatever users would be compatible, so I think it will be worthwhile,” she said.

Later in the discussion, Wheeler reported that the offer submitted for the campus by Cazenovia Community Vision, LLC was not accepted.

The entity was formed by investors seeking to gain local control of the real estate to then be able to work collaboratively with local government, CACDA, and other agencies to find the most suitable use for it.

The group has now gone dormant but, according to Wheeler, is “still in the wings.”

“Their only interest is to help do what is best for the community,” Wheeler said. “I think some of the same folks are also Village l Page 3

Town takes first step in annual budget cycle

by kAtE hill staff Writer

On Sept. 11, the Cazenovia Town Board adopted a local law authorizing the adoption of a budget for the fiscal year 2024 that may require a real property tax levy in excess of the limit specified in General Municipal Law §3-c.

Prior to voting on the proposed local law, the board opened a public hearing and responded to questions from community members regarding the tax cap and the budget process.

New York State’s tax cap law limits the annual growth of property taxes levied by local governments to two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Local municipal boards must pass a local law or resolution by at least a 60 percent vote to override the tax cap.

According to Deputy Supervisor Patrick Race, the Town of Cazenovia has adopted a local law to enable it to override the tax levy limit every year since the property tax cap was first implemented in 2012.

“All this [local law] says is that if we should determine while we are doing the budget that we have to exceed that limit for fiscal reasons, we have the ability to do that,” Race said. “If we don’t pass this and we have a problem, there is no going back. We’d have to do something differently, like cut services.”

In the past decade, the town has ended up needing to override the tax levy limit four times, but it has never gone above two percent. Each time, the rate of inflation was less than two percent.

According to Race, the Town of Cazenovia has the lowest tax rate in Madison County.

For town residents who live outside the village, the rate is currently $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed value.

“Your town tax as a whole on a $300,000 house is [about] $450 bucks,” said Race. “. . . A two percent raise in the rate on that $300,000 house would be nine dollars overall.”

Race emphasized that adopting the local law to allow the town to exceed the tax cap is an annual formality that enables the town to begin its budget cycle.

“This is one of those things where you have to put the key in the lock before you can even start to open the door,”

Cazenovia earns status as a U.S. News & World Report Best High School

by kAtE hill staff Writer

On Aug. 29, U.S. News & World Report announced that Cazenovia High School (CHS) has earned high national and metro-area rankings in its 2023-2024 edition of “Best High Schools.”

According to the company, the public schools with the highest Best High Schools rankings are those whose students “demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science

state assessments, earned qualifying scores in an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions.”

The 2023-2024 rankings place CHS 899th in the nation and third in the Syracuse metro area after Fayetteville-Manlius Senior High School and Skaneatelas Senior High School. The school was also named the 98th-best public high school in the state.

“Congratulations to the exceptional high school faculty on being recognized with this distinction,”

Years Ago in History

by ciNdy bEll tobEy

130 years Ago – sept. 14, 1893

Friday morning an accident happened on South Street which might easily have resulted seriously. O.A. Wells was gathering up a load of hop pickers, preparatory to taking them down to T. G. Fuller’s place. He stopped at his home on South Street for something, and while arranging various articles under the seat, the horses became nervous at the rattling of them and started.

Mr. Wells was thrown to the ground and one wheel passed over him, forcing him to let go the reins.

The horse was not very much frightened and ran at a leisurely gait out to Mill Street and turned south. It did not turn quite quick enough and the wagon dropped two wheels into the ditch and tipped over, throwing the occupants out. A ll were considerably shaken up, but none suffered serious injuries except Alice Magee, of Baldwinsville, who had a dislocated shoulder. The horse ran a rod or two and was stopped without injury to itself or wagon.

110 years Ago – sept. 11, 1913

A banquet of the Cazenovia Automobile Club, held at the New Woodstock Hotel, last Thursday evening, was attended by about 40 members and their friends. Cazenovia village members began to leave for New Woodstock as early as seven o’clock in the evening. The seven-mile trip was made safely and on arrival the New Woodstock members were found in waiting.

The time until 9 o’clock, when the banquet was served, was passed socially. The gathering completely filled the lobby and porches of the hotel. An exceptionally appetizing five-course banquet was served by the Landlord F. B. Haswell. After the tables were cleared a short business session was held, President D.D. Norton presiding, and the members meanwhile enjoyed cigars, the compliments of Supervisor C.S. Fox.

100

years Ago – sept. 13, 1923

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cazenovia held Sept. 3, 1923, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That we extend to Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild our thanks and appreciation for photostat reproductions of two papers telling of the early history of the Village of Cazenovia by Major Samuel S. Forman, one of its pioneers, also that these valuable papers be placed in the Public Library with other Village Histories. Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild and be printed in The Cazenovia Republican

90 years Ago – sept. 14, 1933

Miss Elizabeth Finke swam the length of Cazenovia Lake, a distance of about four miles, Saturday afternoon.

She started about the middle of the afternoon at the head of the lake and swam to the foot, finishing at the public pier, in three hours and thirty-five minutes.

She says the water was fine until about the last mile when the sun went down and the temperature became colder. Misses Ruth Bobbette and Kathleen Walsh accompanied her in a row boat.

Miss Finke is the physical education instructor for girls at the Central School, and this summer she was the swimming instructor at the Nassau County Girl Scout Camp, Long Island.

said CHS Principal Molly Hagan. “This well-deserved achievement reflects their consummate dedication to excellence in education and the positive impact they make on our students’ lives. The hard work, commitment, and innovative teaching methods of our team truly set our school apart. The teachers and students are what make Cazenovia such a special place.”

In coordination with the global nonprofit social science research firm RTI International, U.S. News reviewed nearly 25,000 public high schools and ranked approximately 17,680.

The methodology focused on six factors — college readiness (30 percent), college curriculum breadth (10 percent), state assessment proficiency (20 percent), state assessment performance (20 percent), underserved student performance (10 percent), and graduation rate (10 percent).

CHS was awarded an overall score of 94.92/100.

According to the school’s “scorecard,” 66 percent of students took

miKe byrnes

U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 “Best High Schools” rankings place cazenovia high school 899th in the nation and third in the syracuse metro area. the school was also named the 98th-best public high school in the state.

at least one AP Exam, 54 percent passed at least one AP Exam, 96 percent mathematics proficiency, 96 percent reading proficiency, 89 percent science proficiency, and 94 percent graduation rate.

By earning a national ranking in the top 40 percent, CHS achieved sta-

tus as a U.S. News Best High School and gained eligibility to display a U.S. News-trademarked 2023-2024 Best High Schools award badge.

To view the high school’s full U.S. News profile page or learn more about the U.S. News Public High School Rankings, visit usnews.com.

‘shelter in solitude’ premieres

on sept. 6, cazenovia native siobhan Fallon hogan premiered her latest film, “Shelter in solitude,” at the Manlius cinema with a formal red carpet and a step-and-repeat banner for photography. Fallon hogan wrote, produced, and starred in the film, which tells the story of a death row prisoner with 10 days left to live and his unconventional relationship with a wannabe country singer, played by Fallon Hogan. “Shelter in Solitude” will officially premiere on sept. 26 at the belcourt theatre in Nashville, tennessee, and it will open across the country on sept. 29.

Kate hill

Spruce Ridge Landscape & Garden Center celebrates 20 years

by kAtE hill staff Writer

On Thursday, Sept. 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Spruce Ridge Landscape & Garden Center in the Town of Nelson will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a lively community gathering in its greenhouse.

Owned by Jon and Amanda Kogut, Spruce Ridge offers landscaping and hardscaping services, a garden center, and a storefront with fountains, garden accessories, and a full-service florist specializing in wedding flowers, sympathy arrangements, and handmade bouquets.

The 20th-anniversary party will feature food from the Brae Loch Inn and live music by singer and guitarist Jason Dyer.

“We wanted to thank and enjoy this milestone with the community that supports us,” said Amanda. “We love our customers and appreciate them so much.”

Spruce Ridge will also be offering a 20 percent discount on all trees, shrubs, perennials, pottery, store goods, and stone from Sept. 14 through Sept. 30.

connected to other parties who are interested [in the campus]. Again, they just want to use their resources to help move the process forward for the community.”

Nys Police

Wheeler also provided a few updates on the NYS Police’s presence on campus.

According to the mayor, a crew has been on campus since Aug. 1 preparing for the arrival of the academy’s first class. All the staff should arrive by about Oct. 1. The class’s approximately 225 cadets will move in on Oct. 15 and begin training on Oct. 16.

The trainees will be required to remain on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon each week during the program.

“I think the instructors will be visible and be making a contribution to the local economy, but the cadets will probably get some food or whatever they need on the way into town and fuel up the car on the way out, but it won’t be like they are just wandering around the village,” said Wheeler.

The state police are hoping to fit three 28week training cycles within their current twoyear lease, which has no option for renewal.

“They really initially wanted . . . options to renew, but that obviously makes it very difficult for the bondholders to market the campus if you have this open-ended lease,” explained Wheeler.

Wheeler concluded the college campus discussion by addressing a resident’s concern regarding newly posted signs around the campus that convey the message “Keep out.”

Wheeler responded by expressing that he understands that the state police will require some restrictions because they will be actively training on the campus, but he is not happy with the current signage, which essentially creates a “no go” zone in the center of the village.

According to Wheeler, the state police made assurances during the lease negotiations that

The Koguts, who are raising three children, met at SUNY Morrisville as horticulture majors. Jon is a Cazenovia native, and Amanda is from Palenville, a small town in the Catskills.

They started a landscape and plowing business together in 2003, and in 2013 they joined the Cazenovia Farmers’ Market to increase their presence and role in the community.

In December 2015, the business moved to its current location in Nelson and added its now-flourishing florist shop.

“When we moved our business to this location, it needed a lot of work,” said Amanda.

“It’s been a slow process from our perspective, but the Nelson community reminds us all the time how far we’ve come over the last seven years.”

Spruce Ridge, which now has 10 employees, has been part of numerous weddings and has created many notable landscape and hardscape areas locally and beyond.

In the Village of Cazenovia, for example, the business is responsible for the pavers around the canon in Canon/Memorial Park, the patio on the front lawn of the Brae Loch Inn, and the

those types of signs would not be put up.

The college’s legal council is now pursuing the issue, and Wheeler is personally engaging the state police to encourage the use of a little “softer” signage that might say something like “No public access during training hours.”

“I hope we can come up with a mutually agreeable solution,” said Wheeler.

National Grid smart Meter deployment

The meeting began with a presentation on National Grid’s ongoing meter replacement program in the Central New York region.

Melissa Piper, a member of National Grid’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure team, explained that National Grid is in the process of replacing its customers’ existing utility meters with new, highly sophisticated “smart meters.”

According to Piper, the company last replaced its meters 20 years ago.

Most customers currently have automated meter reading (AMR), which enables their meters to be read remotely from company vehicles equipped with AMR receivers as they drive by the person’s home or business.

Piper said the new smart meter module looks very similar to the previous model, but it transmits all collected data on a network, eliminating the need for utility workers to drive by the meter’s location.

“The data is encrypted, so there is security,” she said.

According to the National Grid website, the smart meter is designed to improve service and reliability, while also giving customers more control over their energy usage, faster, near real-time energy readings, and an overall faster response.

“It is able to read your energy consumption in 15-minute intervals, and that helps us better manage the distribution system [and] allows customers to create an account online so that they can see their energy use in near real-time,” said Piper, who added that the meter also contains a chip that enables the use of a mobile app.

patio for the John Lincklaen statue in Lakeland Park.

Cazenovia business owner McKenzie Houseman has been selling Spruce Ridge flowers at her Cazenovia farm store, 20|EAST, for several years.

“When the idea for 20|EAST was taking shape, I asked my good friend Amanda if she would be interested in offering her beautiful bouquets as part of the shop,” said Houseman.

“She immediately agreed, and the rest is history. We are so lucky to have Spruce Ridge as part of our community. They do so many amazing things behind the scenes to participate in events and fundraisers. I am blown away to

Prior to installation, customers are sent a series of National Grid communications.

About two months before they are targeted to get a new meter, the customer will receive a letter in the mail, and then about 30 days out, they will receive a brochure with additional information, Piper said.

Typically, electric smart meter installation takes just minutes to complete, involves only a brief interruption in power, and does not require the property owner to be at home if the meter is accessible and located on the outside of the home.

Installation appointments can be made for customers with medical needs or other special circumstances.

Once the new meter is installed, the data will be available for online viewing within approximately 24 to 48 hours, according to the National Grid website.

In response to Wheeler’s request that she address potential concerns regarding the safety of the smart meter technology, Piper explained that any radio frequency (RF) emissions that come from the meters are lower than those from commonly used household items such as

spruce Ridge landscape & Garden center will celebrate its 20th year of business with a party in its greenhouse on thursday, sept. 14. submitted photos

celebrate 20 years with them.”

Spruce Ridge is located at 4004 Erieville Rd, Cazenovia,. For more information call 315-6552477 or visit spruceridgelandscape.com.

cell phones, baby monitors, and microwaves. She added that the RF level decreases significantly as a person moves away from the meter.

Wheeler noted that most electric meters are located outside of people’s homes.

If a customer decides they do not want a new smart meter installed, they can choose to have a conventional “non-communicating” meter installed instead for a monthly fee. Because that type of meter does not transmit data automatically, it will need to be read manually by a utility representative.

Currently, National Grid is focused on installing electric smart meters. Smart gas modules are expected to be installed at least a year after the electric meters, according to Piper, and the replacement should cause no disruption in service.

To learn more about National Grid smart meters, visit nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NYHome/Smart-Meters/.

Questions can be directed to National Grid Lead Program Coordinator Travis Glazier at 315-980-8825 or travis.glazier@nationalgrid. com. Glazier is the account manager for Cazenovia and Madison County.

OuR vOicE

22 years later

It is hard to believe that 22 years have passed since the events that shook our country and changed the world, took place at the World Trade Center complex, Ground Zero, as it came to be known, on that bright morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Many of us woke up in the morning and started our days much like any other day, ready to go to work or school and we either saw as we watched the morning news or were quickly informed by friends or family to turn on the news and see what was happening in New York City.

When the first plane hit the tower at about 8:46 a.m., no one was sure what was happening.

Reports from the ground coming across news networks wondered if it was some kind of freak accident and if so how could it have happened?

At the time no one knew what the machinations were behind this act and it would take some time before there were any answers.

But as we watched this unfold in real time, many of us looked for an explanation, some way to make sense of what we were seeing, grasping at any news reports that flashed across the screen for some kind of answer. It was about 9:03 a.m. when the second plane hit the South Tower.

There were still no real answers, but after the second plane, it became apparent this was not some kind of horrific accident.

Watching it unfold, it seemed like only seconds and at the same time it seemed like those minutes stretched on forever before the second plane hit.

And looking back on it, it seemed like an eternity, but it was less than two hours, about an hour and 42 minutes, until both towers collapsed.

Even those of us in Central New York, watching from some 250 miles away were struck by the scene as it unfolded.

We felt it and we were trying to make some sense out of what we were seeing.

Trying to impose logic on something so momentous that the mind simply can not process it, many of us sat awe struck, at a complete loss for words.

There were feelings of fear and confusion, even for those of us watching on the television, there was pain, sadness, terror, a true sense of loss hung over that day and the days and weeks that followed. And it still hangs over this day 22 years later.

It was only in the aftermath that some facts came to light about what happened, including Flight 77, which hit the Pentagon and Flight 93 which was believed to be headed for Washington D.C., but crashed near Shanksville, PA after passengers struggled to subdue the hijackers.

Nearly 3,000 lives were lost, 2,977 of those lives were people simply going about their own business, headed to work, headed out on flights. Some of those people even called Central New York home.

Immediately emergency personnel, fire departments, police and other first responders were on the scene and ran into those buildings, responding to what was unfolding, with the one singular goal to help anyone they could and save as many lives as they could and many of them were people who sacrificed their lives trying to help others.

They were many, too many, people who didn’t make it home that night to see their family and kiss their kids goodnight and live the lives they had planned.

To this day many in our communities gather to mark this day and share memories and reflections on what happened on Sept. 11.

These ceremonies are a solemn tribute to those who were lost that tragic day.

They are all people we will remember and should never forget.

NAtuRE vs. NuRtuRE

Today we are going to wander through a brief discussion of two theories of evolutionthe very French, Jean Baptiste Lamark and the other, the more popular but less flashy Charles Darwin.

So, what about these two and the concept that flora and fauna change in response to environmental pressures? The fact that the idea of species change was thought to be a revolutionary idea should catch you up straight. Humans have been modifying their plants and animals for millennia. There are two ears of corn on my kitchen counter right now that can be traced to a simple mesoAmerican grass, teosinte, which was selectively grown over many hundreds if not thousands of years to produce what now fills most of the fields in Central New York. Take a look at the many breeds of dog, all of which are the descendants of wolves. Pekingese didn’t develop into lap dogs without human intervention.

The idea that living organisms changed their phenotype (what you see, hear, can touch, smell, taste, etc.) because of pressure from the environment (including other flora and fauna, climate, etc.) without human intervention was revelatory and also the source of much contention. Natural selection, the general terms used by Darwin to encapsulate all of the forces that instigate change, was, and for some still is, wildly heretical. If you only read about the Scopes “Monkey Trial” or saw the movie “Inherit the Wind,” you would be aware of the

FROM THE MAILBAG Special election

To the editor:

Dear neighbors and friends in the Town of Manlius, There is a special election coming up on Sept. 23. It has been fast tracked and not a lot of publicity has been apparent. It’s coming at a time when folks don’t think about voting so there is the possibility of low turnout. I firmly believe that everyone should vote on this serious issue and I’m sending this to help the turnout. I’ll admit I have a bias but I’ll explain.

The issue: should the Town of Manlius be divided into six wards in order to elect town councilors? Up to now, three councilors are elected every two years for a four year term, for a total of six councilors and one town supervisor who is elected for a two year term. The proposition states that Manlius will be divided into six wards with one councilor for each ward, to be elected to a two year term.

This topic has been brought up in the past, several times by Democrats when the Republicans controlled the town board, and currently by Republicans when the Democrats are in control. It was voted down in the past. What is noteworthy is the sense of rush that is obvious, a rush to vote without much discussion. Of further note is that the recent comprehensive plan adopted by the town board mentioned wards as a possibility but with the proviso that it be thoroughly explored to see if it was a valid course of action for Manlius.

At first, there was to be no way to accommodate absentee votes. That has been addressed and ballots can be picked up at the town hall on Sept. 8, 9 and 11 or requested by mail (see townofmanlius.org website for further information about voting).

First of all, I am encouraging you to vote. My bias: vote no! Why…there hasn’t been enough time for discussion! What happens to the terms of the current councilors? If all councilors are elected at the same time, where is the continuity of business at hand? Why should we divide Manlius? Is there much distinction of interests for the town based on the street, neighborhood where people live? In New York State, only 15 towns out of almost 200 have a ward system…. what size are they compared to Manlius? Does it work well? Too many questions,

Editor: Jennifer Wing, ext. 340, jwing@eaglenewsonline.com

Editor: Jason Gabak, ext. 319, jgabak@eaglenewsonline.com

Kate Hill , ext. 325, khill@eaglenewsonline.com

Reporter: Jason Klaiber, jklaiber@eaglenewsonline.com

sports Editor: Phil blackwell, ext. 348, pblackwell@eaglenewsonline.com display Ads Eb: linda Jabbour, ext. 304, ljabbour@eaglenewsonline.com

dichotomy that arose between those who saw the idea of evolution as a denial of the bible vs. those who saw evolution as an explanation of scientific facts. The differences are still fodder for some rather spirited discussion.

Still, the two men in question, Lamark and Darwin, offered proof that evolution is a fact of life. How that occurred, outside the hand of man, separated the two. I should step back and note that Darwin had no proof of the mechanisms that drove evolution. No one was aware of genes or how they functioned. He even accepted the longridiculed theory offered by Lamark that evolution occurred because of acquired characteristics for a time. What is an acquired characteristic? If you are a blacksmith and use your right arm for work, it will develop greater strength than the left and, according to Lamarck, that physical strength will be passed on to succeeding generations. Another oftenused example is that of the length of the neck of a giraffe. Lamark said that as the giraffe foraged for food in the trees, each generation grew a longer neck that was passed on to succeeding generations. He also said that disuse and the changes that grew from disuse could be passed on to future generations.

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian Monk, unknowingly discovered the basic mechanisms of inheritance and Watson and Crick, who were not monks, demonstrated how genes were made of four bases which wound around each other in a double helix. Voila … genes, or DNA, the blueprints of life told us how we were constructed and

few answers and why the rush?

Key dates:

Special Election Day, Sept. 23 from 9 to 5 p.m. at the Manlius Town Hall, 301 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville Obtain absentee ballots in person: Sept. 8 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Sept. 9 from 10 to 2 p.m.

Sept. 11 from 10 to 2 p.m.

Or apply online (townofmanlius.org) with absentee ballot application form and all deadlines clearly indicated

If you are as concerned as I am about this issue, please feel free to forward this to friends in the Town of Manlius.

RosEANN loREFicE manlius

Shameful

To the editor:

My parents were honorable people. They worked hard, paid their taxes and raised their children well. One of the things that I learned at an early age was telling the truth was good and lying was bad. It’s a message which I have tried to pass on to my own kids as well.

But here we are with a Congressman from my home state of New York who seems to lie more than he actually tells the truth.

I’m thinking of George Santos who represents the 3rd district of New York.

He is a man who is still serving in Congress and making decisions which affect all of us. And yet his lies run the gamut from superficial to outright fraud.

Here are a few examples: Lying about his education and work experience. He said he had been a banker on Wall Street; Lying about his grandmother being a holocaust victim; Lying about being Jewish; Lying to collect unemployment benefits; ...and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Santos’s record of fraud has triggered federal investigations, an indictment, and an ethics inquiry. And yet he still maintains his seat in Congress. Why? Mostly because the speaker of the house needs his vote. He is not voting to represent our state or even his district. He is voting to maintain the power of his party in Congress.

It offends me and if my parents were still alive (good Republicans, both of them), they would be offended too.

And here’s the thing: our representative, Congressman Brandon Williams, is supporting the coalition in Congress who continue to underpin George Santos’ retaining his seat. Shameful!

Judy JERoME syRAcusE

by changes in genes, how we change. By “we,” I mean all living organisms. Then came epigenetics, a discovery that the mechanisms that control the expression of DNA, the stuff that holds the blueprints of life, our genes, can be changed during the lifetime of an individual and that change, not in the genes, but in the chemistry (histones and methylation … I’ve spent a lot of time looking up these terms) surrounding them, can be passed on to succeeding generations.

The term epigenetics crept into a casual conversation on our porch one afternoon while we were discussing genealogy with a guy who has traced his family practically back to the Middle Ages and he, an artist, noted that many of his predecessors were also artists of sorts. Did he inherit a predilection to art? Is there more to epigenetics than a lot of looking up scientific terminology? Did he inherit his talent from his ancestors? Did the fact that most of my father’s Irish relatives identified themselves as tailors explain why my sister can recover a sofa or design and make and Irish dancing costume?

I can’t do either, so what did I inherit from my grandparents, my great-grandparents? Well, both of my grandmothers and my paternal greatgrandmother would never have been called slim. Epigenetics might be the explanation of why I am forever on Weight Watchers.

My paternal grandparents passed before I was born, so seeking clues to other epigenetic inheritance had to be done among my father’s sisters and brothers.

Evolution l Page 9

Don’t divide Manlius

To the editor: When I moved to the Town of Manlius in 2009, local races ran uncontested. There was no choice for town councilors. Three candidates were running, usually the same ones that were already on the board and that was it. It was almost a decade before there were choices. First in 2017 and then every race after that. Now just six years later after residents have had choices, Republicans, who lost the majority of the town board in 2019 after decades of control, are proposing changing how we elect our town councilors.

But when you look at the two towns that currently have a ward system in Onondaga County. They still have races that are going uncontested. Voters in the wards that only have one candidate have no choice. Let’s not go back to that in the Town of Manlius. Let’s keep our democracy healthy by keeping our at large seats. Anyone anywhere in the Town of Manlius can run for the town board and I don’t think we should limit that.

Our county legislators represent over 27,000 people, almost the entire size of the Town of Manlius. If this was too much then why didn’t county legislators add more seats to the county map. But this wasn’t even part of the conversation when legislators redrew the districts in 2021.

Yet Republicans want to divide the town into smaller districts. Electing town councilors with less votes. Did you know that currently town councilors are elected with more votes than our county legislator? To be elected to the town board, candidates have to get almost 5,000 votes! That is amazing for a local election. That is more than every county legislator race and even City of Syracuse wards!

Let’s not go backwards. Keep Manlius strong by keeping us united! Vote no on a ward system!

ElAiNE dENtoN manlius toWn CounCilor

DAR: Celebrate

Constitution Week

To the editor: The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution urges Americans to read and reflect on the United States Constitution during this month’s annual observance to honor our foundational document of national governance,

l Page 5

Letters

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Ramblings from the empty nest Ann Ferro

92,000 can’t be

That number won’t soon be forgotten.

It first was displayed on cards put up by the cheerleaders in between sets.

Then, after the match, the clear night sky was lit up with drones that spelled out those same five digits.

No matter how many times you see it, from the images of the vast sea of red that Wednesday evening in Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium to the players walking out of the locker room through the same tunnel the football Huskers do to the national anthem complete with a jet flyover, it was all staggering, stunning, special, unprecedented.

And it bears repeating – 92,003 sat and stood to watch a University of Nebraska women’s college volleyball match against Omaha, a new world record for any women’s sporting event.

This was decades in the making. Nebraska has grown into a volleyball power, winning four NCAA titles and selling out every single home match with thousands more wanting to get tickets.

Then, when the Huskers visited Wisconsin for a key 2022 match and the Badgers decided to move it to the larger Kohl Center, drawing 17,000-plus, an idea of doing something far bigger in Lincoln was hatched.

Anyone who might have wondered about this event’s viability was quickly silenced. When put on sale, the original set of tickets sold out in days, and more was needed, especially to fill the parts of the field not covered by the volleyball court.

While it sounded great in theory, seeing it actually happen elated, energized and stirred everyone present and a whole lot more who were watching it on TV.

From former Nebraska players (some of them All-Americans and Olympians) to young girls and their parents in the stadium, they all seemed moved to tears, awestruck at what they had accomplished.

They also sent two powerful messages to the sports world. One, that didn’t need repeating, was that women’s sports continues to explode in growth, as reflected by the increased ratings of the NCAA basketball and softball tournaments along with the WNBA.

The other message had little to do with equality and everything to do with what college sports, at its best, can produce when freed from the chains of football-driven

Random Thoughts

Phil Blackwell

wrong

realignments that make no geographic or logical sense.

Anyone who has witnessed the dismantling of the Pac12, a conference with more than a century of history and a towering legacy of championships in almost every sport imaginable, can only wince at the greed on display.

All that mattered to the college presidents throughout these power conferences was not what their athletes could do, or what their coaches could accomplish, or the chance for their fans to witness it in person.

Who cares about those things when the possibility, if not guarantee, of millions from media giants was at hand? Take the jackpot, now, and leave behind all the things that really count.

Sure, you say, football funds athletic departments. They could still do so in a structure where the football superpowers can do what they want, get their ratings fill, while still making sure the rest of college sports remains structured, regional and full of real, organic rivalries.

Fault the NCAA if you want for letting this race to the trough get out of hand, but ever since the 1984 Supreme Court decision that allowed schools and conferences to negotiate their own TV contracts away from central control, it was heading in this direction.

With so many parties trying to avoid financial ruin, what they’ve done, intentionally or not, is set fire to so much of the joy and spirit of college sports which does not carry a price tag.

Maybe all those administrators patting themselves on the back for their financial foresight should stop the self-congratulation and remember, again, that it’s not about them at all.

It’s about young women and men daring to dream big, and then accomplishing it. Something like taking a sport once played in front of a few hundred, if lucky, and adding nearly 100,000 to it.

Many championships will get handed out between now and June. But it’s doubtful that anything will top the night in Lincoln where volleyball reached the record books – and offered a timely reminder that money is no substitute for magic.

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

Meet Willow and Juniper

by Donna neWMan

Willow and Juniper are a bonded pair of chinchillas who came to the shelter when their family could no longer care for them. While they’re no youngsters (Willow is eight and Juniper is nine), chins can live for 15 -18 years in captivity. (Fun fact – the oldest chinchilla lived to be twenty-eight years old!) Chinchillas are gentle, quiet creatures. They require daily attention, but they’re relatively easy to care for. They need an appropriate-sized crate, chews to file down their teeth, dust baths, food/water, and an exercise wheel. They’re nocturnal and can be shy but also inquisitive. They need to be kept in relative cool environment, and they should avoid humidity. It’s also important to not get them wet. Make sure you do your research before adopting a chinchilla, so you can keep your pets safe! For more information about adoption, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk1@cnyspca.org, or visit cnyspca.org.

Letters

l From page 4

and during Constitution Week Sept. 17 to 23, 2023. There are two documents of significant importance to American history: The Declaration of Independence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Constitution, which set forth the framework of the federal government that continues to guide us today. While Independence Day (July 4 th ) is our wellrecognized and beloved national holiday, fewer people know about Constitution Week, the annual commemoration of the document that upholds and protects the freedoms central to our American way of life.

DAR has been one of the foremost advocates for the awareness, promotion and celebration of Constitution Week. The an-

nual observance this month provides innumerable opportunities for educational initiatives. By fostering knowledge of and appreciation for the Constitution and the inalienable rights it affords to all Americans, DAR helps to keep alive the memory of the men and women who secured our nation’s liberties. Look for more information about the United States Constitution at the displays provided by the Fayetteville-Owahgena Chapter NSDAR at the Manlius, Bridgeport and New Woodstock Libraries during the month of September. And listen closely for the bells as local churches participate in Bells Across America on Sept. 17, 2023 at 4 p.m.

Donna WaSSaLL, ReGenT PaTRICIa RICHaRDS, 2nD VICe ReGenT FayetteVILLe-owahGena ChapteR nSDaR

photo by Donna newman

We clean out your junk, NOT your wallet! Attics, bsmts, garages, yards, almost anything! Call Bruce @ 315-730-6370. Year round service! www.expertclutter.com

ESTATE SALE Sat. Sept. 16 and Sun . Sept. 17, 9-5, at 3800 English Ave., Morrisville (1 mile east of village just off of Route 20). Includes Sellers Hoosier-style cabinet, 2 pine cabinets, JM Youngs Sons platform rocker (Camden), Morris chair, 3-drawer oak dresser w/ mirror, primitive school desk, kerosene rocker can, camel-back trunk, love seat sofa bed, baker's cabinet, oak kitchen table, 4 caned ladder-back side chairs, queen bed, 82-in. futon, Pfaff 230 commercial sewing machine, antique Singer sewing machine, Weslo Cadence treadmill, wooden picnic bench, 60-pc. Blue Ridge Stanhouse Ivy dishes set, vaseline uranium glass, carnival, goofus, Cambridge, Libbey, Arcoroc ruby, Pyrex, egg nog set, teapot collection. Optional sign-up list starting

Spiritual Stress Relief

Timothy Southworth, 57

Beloved son, brother, friend

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Timothy Southworth, of Cazenovia, passed away on Aug. 31, 2023. He was 57 years old.

With the exception of a brief childhood in Pelham, N.Y., a year living on a sailboat in the Bahamas, and a couple years checking out the “other coast” in California, Tim has always called Cazenovia his home. He went to grade school, middle school and high school in this town and has always felt most at peace here.

Those who knew him well will remember him for his unique perspective on life and sense of humor, despite the obstacles he faced over the last few years of life. He is already missed by his mother, extended family, close friends and, especially, his three brothers, who continue to share the close bond that have united the four boys through whatever challenges life has presented over the years.

“There is no love like the love for a brother. There is no love like the love from a brother.”

We’ll miss you, Tim.

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From page

They were all musical. That would not be me either, although I love music as an afficianato. My brother … absolutely. He could play a tombone and a bass without lessons and front several bands when he was young. We had no trombones or bass fiddles hanging around our house. He had what seemed to be a natural proclivity for music.

As musical as they were, they all seemed to be able to hold dissonant views. For a group that were devote Catholics, they all had mystical leanings to fortune tellers and belief in reincarnation. I don’t frequent fortune tellers and believing that one of my cats is the reincarnation of another relative is a bit much for me, but I do have this idea that there is more to our relationships with the wider world, worlds that we cannot see .. and OK, I am not surrounding myself with crystals but there is something… Most of these things can attributed to where and with

whom you grew up.

We come back to the question of nature vs. nurture. Epigenetics, as it now exists, tells us that inheritance is more complicated than we knew. Inheritance of things like immunity, susceptibility, etc., maybe even individual preferences are on the table.

In the meantime, I am concerned about what I may be passing on to my grandchildren and their offspring. Will musical ability skip a generation? Will stray cats follow them home? And then, I did eat those Drake’s cupcakes, drink diet soda, stay up late to watch movies, get angry at people who were unkind to animals … I lose patience with those who aren’t patient. I am a grouch when I am tired. Are these traits going to be my contribution to my posterity?

Football Lakers beat General Brown 30-20

by Phil blAckwEll

Anyone back for the Cazenovia football team in 2023 still carried the disappointment of last November’s defeat to General Brown in the Section III Class C semifinals with them.

So when the 2023 schedule had the Lakers opening with the Lions in Dexter, all energies and time were devoted to trying to get some atonement. At last, the moment

arrived last Friday night, and after a slow start everything clicked for Cazenovia in a superb second-half effort that led to a satisfying 30-20 victory.

With so many new faces on offense, including sophomore quarterback Bobby Livingston, not to mention getting a rhythm after a long bus ride and weeks of practice, the Lakers were unable to put together any scoring drives in the first half.

At the same time, though, Cazenovia’s de -

fense was solid, only allowing a first-quarter touchdown and then recording the team’s first points of the night when Christian Schug recorded a safety.

So, only facing a 6-2 deficit at halftime, the Lakers pieced everything together and then, in the third quarter, seized control.

The key blow came from midfield when Brayden Weismore, on an option play, threw deep and found Alex Ku -

per, who turned it into a 49-yard go-ahead TD as Connor Frisbie added the extra point.

Minutes later, the Lakers got the ball back and drove to GB’s five-yard line, from where Livingston scrambled in for the score that, with Frisbie’s conversion, made it 16-6.

Yet another drive led to yet another TD early in the final period, Livingston throwing four yards to Schug, and when the Lions cut it to 2314, Weismore offered a

Cazenovia girls tennis takes defeat to CBA

by Phil blAckwEll

Buoyed by a key early-season win over Skaneateles on Aug. 30, the Cazenovia girls tennis team would get an even greater test when it met Christian Brothers Academy on the first day of September.

And it was the Brothers prevailing 4-3 over the Lakers, a higliight coming from Cazenovia in doubles when Ava Galton and Lila Campagna paired up to outlast Maddie Kanerviko and Piper Powell 6-4, 4-6, 10-7. Rachel Molly and Grace Probe paired and got past Audrey Schaefer and Meredith Sommers 6-3, 6-3.

In between the Skaneateles and CBA battles, Cazenovia blanked Canastota 5-0, with Rachel Molloy handling Adeline DeBrucque 6-0, 6-1, Bell topping Mya Rizzo 6-3, 6-2 and

Madden Cobb beating Ava Rizzo 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles, Ava Galton and Katie Williams got a 6-0, 6-0 shutout over the Raiders’ duo of Lily Prisco and Kiarra Lawrence as Lila Campagna and Audrey Henry claimed a forfeit.

A busy week of matches with Marcellus, Manlius Pebble Hill and Bishop Grimes awaits the Lakers after rain and storms postponed a visit from Homer last Thursday afternoon.

Chittenango returned to action in last Tuesday’s heat to face Phoenix, and the Bears proved successful, defeating the Firebirds by a 6-1 margin.

Playing single-set matches to eight games, Sarah McKillip handled Sabrina Haynes 8-1 as Maddy Douglas took an 8-5 defeat to Finley Harwood.

Lia Ezzo (in singles) and Anna Chatwin-Lynne Devine (in doubles) each got forfeits, while Hope Rock and Margaret Geer had the toughest doubles match, topping Regan Southworth and Annabella McKay 8-5.

Ally Bartoszek and Molly Douglas defeated Gabrielle Reynolds and Claire Pritting 8-3, with Evelyn Keville and Michell LaTour prevailing 8-4 over Carielys Calderon and Phoebe Christian.

After weather postponed Thursday’s match with Cortland, the Bears took on Skaneateles Friday afternoon and prevailed 4-3 over the Lakers, keyed by its doubles play.

Bartoszek and McKillip beat Caitlin Day and Katie Danforth 6-4, 6-4, with Erica Ezzo and Michele LaTour winning 6-3, 6-1 over Makayla Barron and Madelyn Vance.

Caz boys soccer gets 1-0 victory over Marcellus

by Phil blAckwEll

Even as many other Section III boys soccer teams moved to different classes, Cazenovia did not, staying in the Class B ranks along with its OHSL Liberty division work. Coming off last season’s 7-10 mark, the Lakers hoped for some better results starting with back-to-back road games against tough foes.

At Lowville on Sept. 1, Cazenovia kept things scoreless until the second half, but the Red Raiders won it 2-0 on second-half goals by Trey Smith and Peyton Matuszczak. The Lakers were held to four shots, all stopped by Isaiah Spence.

For its league opener last Tuesday night, Cazenovia visited Marcellus, a 2022 sectional Class B finalist, and with a

splendid defensive performance was able to edge past the Mustangs 1-0.

Defense was needed since the Lakers spent long periods of time defending its own end against the relentless passing of the Marcellus attack.

Try as it could, though, the Mustangs could get nothing past Jack Casey, who recorded eight saves and whose effort was rewarded when Jaden Kaplan netted the game’s only goal.

Cazenovia fully expected this good work to carry over into Friday’s game against visiting Cortland, but ran right into the Purple Tigers’ duo of Caden and Cal Albright, who was largely responsible for beating the Lakers 5-0.

Nothing the Lakers did stopped the Albright brothers, as Caden netted four

goals and Cal assisted on hree of those tallies and getting the other goal himself. What was more, none of Cazenovia’s 11 shots would get past Cortland goalie Liam Burns. Chittenango had lost its season opener to Central Square on Aug. 30, but had more success at Cortland last Tuesday night, rolling to a 5-1 victory over the same Purple Tigers that would dominate Cazenovia later in the week.

It basically turned into a three-player show, the Bears seeing Gavin Karwoski earn a three-goal hat trick and Jake Wagner nab the other two goals and Ryan Thousand helped both of them with three assists. Cole Thomas also had an assist and, in goal, Logan Bronner earned eight saves.

Cazenovia, Chittenango soccer both face Cortland

by Phil blAckwEll

A tough 2-1 season-opening win over Tully on Aug. 30 at the Sean Googin Sports Complex had the Cazenovia girls soccer team feeling some confidence going into its game with Cortland 24 hours later.

However, the Lakers were unable to get on the board in a 1-0 defeat to the Purple Tigers, who got all the offense it needed when Maude Terwilliger scored off a feed from Claire Turner.

So Cazenovia was 1-1 going into last Wednesday’s OHSL Liberty division opener against traditional power Marcellus, but here a slow start proved quite costly as the Lakers fell 3-0 to the Mus-

tangs.

All the offense Marcellus generated came in the first half, with goals earned by Jadyn Baker, Claire Card and Cece Powell, all part of a continuous Mustangs attack.

To her credit, Skye Stanford was able to blank Marcellus in the second half and finish with 13 saves, but it could not overcome the visitors’ early surge.

A night before Cazenovia faced Marcellus, Chittenango opened its season with its own game against Cortland, but this one was on the road.

The Bears prevailed, though, blanking the Purple Tigers 2-0 as Abby Scheidelman got both goals and the defense, though constantly tested by Cortland,

maintained the shutout, Rebecca Baldwin stopping all 10 shots she faced.

Chittenango’s scheduled home opener against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill was postponed by dangerous weather, but on Saturday the Bears hosted Jordan-Elbridge Meanwhile, Cazenovia played in the Mount Markham Optimist Tournament and found itself in an epochal openinground game against Hamilton. Through 80 minutes of regulation, overtime and a weather delay, it remained 1-1, Cassia Race getting the Lakers’ goal assisted by Abby Lansing and Kristen LaFrance scoring for the Emerald Knights. But in a penalty kick shootout, Hamilton prevailed 4-3, overcoming Stanford’s 12 saves.

Caz boys golfers return for three matches this week

by Phil blAckwEll

More than any other factor, heat and high temperatures marked the first full week of September, and the Cazenovia boys golf team saw its schedule affected by this. The postponement of last Thursday’s match with McGraw meant that, after its Aug. 30 win at LaFayette, the Lakers were not set to compete again until early this week, when it faced Tully and Skaneateles on back-to-back days before a Friday clash with Hannibal.

Start

l From page 11

earned eight saves. Still, F-M got three goals from three different players – Elizabeth Kilmer, Natalie Rameasa and Sophia Lobo, plus assists

Chittenango weathered that heat last Tuesday when it faced Onondaga High School League front-runner Christian Brothers Academy at Woodcrest and took a 187-258 defeat to the Brothers.

Matt Huckabee shot a 48 to lead the Bears, Wyatt Perry adding a 50 as Sam Martin got a 51 and Mason Fraser a 53. They trailed a CBA sweep of the top six spots, led by Jack Gregory’s 34 and Rowen Lynch’s 37.

But the same storms that stopped Cazenovia from facing McGraw also kept

from Brooke Southwick and Audrey Burke. On the road again last Wednesday night , Cazenovia visited Port Byron/Union Springs, playing a solid allaround game to deliver a 3-1 victory over the Panthers.

Chittenango from a Thursday match with Homer, rescheduled exactly one week later in between battles with Mexico, Phoenix and Westhill.

However, it did clear up Friday for the Bears to face Tully at Woodcrest, and it lost 212-252 to the Black Knights.

Four Chittenango golfers – Huckabee, Perry, Ryan Skoglund and Trevor Bentz –each shot 50, but Tully swept the top five, paced by a 39 from Sullivan Waldron and 40 from Nate Melton. Martin finished with a 52.

After surrendering a first-quarter goal to Kylee Cordway, the Lakers’ defense settled down, Rothschild eventually earning six saves.

McMurtrie continued her hot streak by finding the net twice. Bella Fazio had the

clinching play by running 46 yards to the end zone.

Overall, Livingston was 12-for-21 for 126 yards, one TD and one interception, but he added a team-best 114 yards on the ground, displaying the same kind of dual threat his predecessor, J.P. Hoak, often displayed.

Weismore, aside from his big plays on offense, also recovered a fumble as

Taven Reilley had a teambest seven tackles. Jonathan Macro’s five tackles included a sack as Evan Rice added four tackles.

Now the Lakers get their three “home games” away from Buckley-Volo Field, starting Saturday at 5 p.m. when, as part of the Kickoff Classic at the JMA Dome, Cazenovia faces Little Falls, who is 0-2 after defeats to Skaneateles and Solvay.

Chittenango football opens 1-1, blanks VVS

by Phil blAckwEll

Rarely in all of its history has the Chittenango football team roared the way it did in its 2023 season opener at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Sept. 1.

Scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter and rarely letting up from there, the Bears demolished the Red Devils 61-0, offering a fair amount of hope to its fans that it can seriously contend for Class B honors this fall.

Chittenango went 3-5 a season ago in Bill Cretaro’s first season as head coach, but returns a sizable portion of its lineup that, at least at the outset, proved it was quite ready for things to get underway.

In the opening minutes, the Bears scored on Brayden Smith’s four-yard run, then made it 14-0 when Jack Lamphere tossed a 20-yard TD pass to Hunter Taylor, along with a two-point conversion.

Smith returned to find the end zone from 22 yards out, and when Lamphere and Taylor connected on a 27-yard TD play late in the first quarter, it was 27-0.

Two more touchdowns followed in the second quarter, on runs of nine yards by Smith and 13 yards by Kyle Wehrlin, and in the third period the Bears struck on special teams when, after Wehrlin’s second TD on an eight-yard run, Robert Pierce returned a Red Devils punt 76 yards to the end zone.

Zailor Caras capped it off with a 68-yard TD run, and Chittenango could look ahead to a key early-season clash with New Hartford in last Friday’s home opener/

And it proved quite humbling as the Spartans struck four times with big plays in the first half before the Bears could get in the end zone, Chittenango ultimately taking a 47-14 defeat.

Cole Raux’s 40-yard scoring run was followed by New Hartford quaterback John Vitullo striking for TD passes of 55 yards to Gail Rowan and strikes of 55 and 71 yards to Peyton Way.

So it was 27-0 before Wehrling, returning a kickoff 80 yards for a TD, gave Bears fans something to cheer for. But Chittenango was again kept quiet before a fourth-quarter three-yard scoring run by Seamus Gardner.

At 1-1, the Bears will visit Central Valley Academy this Friday at 6;30 and play at defending sectional Class B champion Homer a week later.

Town

he said.

l From page 1

According to Councilor Kyle Reger, the town board will be gathering numbers for next year’s budget over the next month and a half or so and then formally submit a budget to the state in early November.

“What we are trying to do is make sure that we are providing all the services that our residents require, [such as] maintaining the roads, snow plowing, the water pollution control facility, youth recreation, [and] seniors programs,” Reger said. “We are trying to put together [what the cost of all that] will be for next year.”

Reger then assured the meeting attendees that everyone on the board takes the budget process extremely seriously.

“This is taxpayer dollars,” he said. “We are trying to be as fiscally responsible as we can to make sure we are providing all the services needed but at the lowest rate that we can.”

He added that all the board’s meetings are open to the public and that he believes the more the town can engage with residents, the better.

The public will have opportunities to provide input at every step of the budget cycle, according to Race.

Later in the meeting, the board scheduled a budget work session for Monday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.

The town board’s October regular meeting will be held on Oct. 2 at the New Woodstock Firehouse at 2632 Mill St.

For more information on the Town of Cazenovia, visit towncazenovia.digitaltowpath.org or call the town office at 315-655-9213.

other goal, with Casey Felton and Lucille Hagan also earning goals.

Back at Burton Street to meet Weedsport on Friday, Cazenovia once again flourished amid the quirky bounces and other unique

aspects of its home turf, prevailing by a score of 2-0.

Both goals came in the first quarter, with Mehlbaum converting and Margaret Huftalen also finding the net. The rest was done by a Lakers defense that rarely let

Weedsport get close, holding it to just two shots all afternoon.

Two more home games follow this week, the Lakers first taking on Cato-Meridian and then hosting New Hartford.

Caz girls runners open at Cato-Meridian meet

CNY golfers “Shine” at… NYS Super Senior Championship

I had the pleasure of participating in the 2023 NYS SUPER SENIOR AND LEGENDS tournament at the EnJoie Golf Club in Endicott, NY last week. The course was simply magnificent and memorable. In the Super Senior Division, age 65-69, Tom Fletcher 4th, Todd Dischinger 7th, Stew McGough 8th, Rich Volcko 11th, and Greg Bilyeu 16th, did CNY “proud”. In the Legends Division, Age 70 & over, Randy Young 2nd, Perry Noun 5th, and Don LaLonde 6th, also played very well.

In the 65-69 Age Group Division, the winner was…Tom Fletcher - Tuscarora Country Club

In the 75-79 Age Group Division, the winner was…Don LaLonde - Stonehenge’s Golf Club

In the ##-## Age Group Division, the winner was…Perry Noun - Lakeshore Country Club (by default)…I was the only player.

It was embarrassing !

If you want to view the scorecards with total scores for each round, hole by hole, go to… nysga.org. Also, a big thanks to Mike Deuel, head golf professional at EnJoie and his staff for the fine job they did to prepare the course and service the competitors for the two-day competition.

And finally, a well deserved “A” goes out to Bill More, Executive Director of the New York State Golf Association, Andrew Hickey, Asst. Executive Director, Dan Thompson, Dir. Marketing & Partnerships, Jack Travers, Asst. Dir. Rules & Competitions, for the superior management of the state wide competition. As you may already know, the main offices of the NYSGA are located in Jamesville,NY. CNY is lucky to have them in our back yard.

After the 2nd round of competition, I noticed a gold plated sign in the locker room that said EnJoie Men’s Association. Under the sign there was a letter size piece of paper listing the “Golfers Commandments”. Thought you might like reading them.

OPENING ACT: Cazenovia girls cross country runner Olivia Ruddy, finishing eighth among individuals, led the Lakers to a third-place team finish in last Saturday’s season-opening cato-Meridian invitational.

by kuRt whEElER

The Cazenovia girls cross country team kicked off its 2023 campaign with a third place finish at last Saturday’s Cato-Meridian Invitational as Olivia Ruddy led the defending Section III Class C champions with an eighth-place finish.

Having finished 2022 undefeated with league and sectional titles along with a fifth place showing at the state meet, the Lakers journeyed to Cato for an early season tune-up meet.

With nearly a dozen runners returning from last year’s squad, Cazenovia hopes for another strong showing this fall. They finished the meet with 69 points to earn third place in the nine team field with only Class A power West Genesee (23) and host Cato (58) ahead of them.

Junior runner Olivia Ruddy, who led the Lakers in every race last season, picked up right where she left off, claiming first for the team in 22 minutes, 35.6 seconds over the tough 5,000 meter course. Senior captain Zoey Gagne earned her best finish ever for the Lakers, capturing 10th place in

22:46.4.

Sophomore Maeve McGreevy was third for the team, finishing in 17th place in 23:55.4. The Lakers quickly rounded out their scoring as sophomore Haylee Stearns (20th, 24:54.8) and senior captain Olivia Wong (22nd, 25:08.6) crossed the line just seconds apart.

Senior captain Lauren McLean (24th, 25:36.9) and Junior Ilsa Denton (29th, 26:15 flat) earned the critical sixth and seventh spots for the team, displacing runners from nearly every other squad.

Sophomore Emma O’Shea led the rest of the Laker pack, running her best race ever to finish 32nd in 27:11.8. Mesi Stevens (27:41.4), Iris Casey, Micaela Tobin, Alison Morse and Savannah Randall also ran well for Cazenovia in their first outing of the season.

The Lakers will be back in action at the intitial session of the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Invitational this Friday as they strive to replicate their strong sectional and state races on the course last season. VVS is slated to host the sectional and NYSPHSAA championships again this fall.

I. Thou Shall Arrive In Advance of Thy TeeTime

II. Thou Shall Allow Faster Groups To Play

Through

III. Thou Shall Replace Thy Divots In The Fairway

IV. Thou Shall Repair Thy Pitch Marks On The Greens

V. Thou Shall Rake Thy Footprints In The Bunkers

VI. Thou Shall Be Ready Whence It Is Thy Turn

VIII.Thou Shall Allow Faster Groups To Play Through

IX. Thou Shall Repair Thy Pitch Marks On The Greens

X. Thou Shall Rake Thy Footprints In The Bunkers

Xl. Thou Shall Allow Faster Groups To Play Through DOING THIS AND MORE WILL ASSURE YOUR PLACE IN GOLF HEAVEN…

AMEN

As you can see, the last “4” are mentioned twice. I am sure the anonymous author of the “Golfers Commandments” was just trying to emphasize the importance of the last “4”, however, I’m disappointed when this happens. Therefore, I found “10” more from Jordan Brooks that will improve your course strategy…1. Know Thy Distance…2. Know Thy Self…3. Know Thy Short Game…

4.Know Thy Bag…5. Help Thy Self…6. Get Thee Self Into Scoring Position…7. Read Thy Scorecard…8. Recognize Thy Badness…9. Stick To Thy Strategy and…10. Have Thyself Some Fun. If you don’t understand these course strategies, read them again. Eventually you will figure them out. When you do understand them, your handicap will improve dramatically. Good luck.

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