MESSENGER Home of Jack and Colleen Montague
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Community
Opinion
Preservation Month contest underway
Legislator Lesniak to step down this fall
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Volume 87, No. 18 May 4 to 10, 2011
Community
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Volunteers exhibit
Passion and Commitment
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75 cents
District cuts spending, tax levy rises Proposed budget public hearing to be held May 10 By Erin Wisneski editor@baldwinsvillemessenger.com
Drew Contos throws out the first pitch during a Syracuse Chiefs game on Eagle Night in 2010 at Alliance Bank Stadium.
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Eagle runs first pitch contest Want to throw out the first pitch at Eagle Night with the Syracuse Chiefs on Wednesday June 29 at Alliance Bank Stadium? Tell us why and you may be the lucky one to hurl the ball over the plate at the start of the game‌ Make sure to email your name, address and phone number to contests@ eaglenewsonline.com.
ERIN WISNESKI
Jacqueline Olmsted and Mark Dengler congratulate each other on being recognized as the Man and Woman Volunteer of the Year during the Baldwinsville Volunteer Center’s (BVC) annual awards ceremony held this past Saturday at Pucello’s Restaurant.
Volunteer Center recognizes 2010 Man and Woman Volunteer of the Year By Erin Wisneski editor@baldwinsvillemessenger.com
CALENDAR...............2 CANTON WOODS SENIOR CENTER ................ 20 CLASSIFIEDS ......... 21 EDITORIAL ...............4 LIBRARY .................5 OBITUARIES .......... 19 PAC-B ............... 21 SCHOOL NEWS ..........6 SPORTS ............... 10
Jacqueline Olmsted and Mark Dengler were named the Man and Woman Volunteer of the Year during the Baldwinsville Volunteer Center’s (BVC) annual awards ceremony held this past Saturday at Pucello’s Restaurant. Every year, the BVC accepts nominations to determine who has graciously given their time through volunteering for organizations within the greater Baldwinsville community and beyond. Other than family and friends, who are notified so they can surprise the recipients, the identity of the Man and Woman of the Year are kept secret until the awards ceremony. The recognition dates back to 1961. Dengler, who volunteers for the YMCA, Grace Episcopal Church and supports the Baldwinsville Center for the Arts, was surprised to learn he was being honored. “Thank you all very much,� he said.
When Olmsted realized she had been chosen as the Woman Volunteer of the Year, she began to tear up. Upon accepting her award, she said “I love what I do, giving back is most rewarding.� The BVC also presented a Benefactor Appreciation Award to the CNY Family Sports Centre for their support of the organization. For the past five years, Pete Ramin, owner of the center, has donated use of the facility on Jones Road for the BVC’s annual fundraiser, the Taste of Baldwinsville. Megan O’Donnell, who presented the award on behalf of the BVC, said Ramin is an incredible supporter of the event, sacrificing revenues and donating not only the space, but items for the event’s auction. Pete’s son, Jon, accepted the award on behalf of his father saying, “We are very happy to support the Volunteer Center and look forward to hosting it for many years in the future.� To see more photos of the event, check out the Baldwinsville Messenger Facebook page at facebook. com/baldwinsvillemessenger.
Baldwinsville Central School District officials have approved a $92,679,249 budget for the 2011-12, which cuts spending by $990,263. Despite the decrease, the tax levy (amount to be raised through property taxes) will increase by 1.8 percent (from $47,822,714 in 2010-11 to $48,683, 523 in 201112) should voters approve the budget. This is due in the most part to reductions in state aid, increases in costs and the economic condition of the state and nation. According to James Rodems, assistant superintendent for management services at Baldwinsville, major components of the proposed budget are salaries and benefits, especially health insurance and retirement costs. He said staffing needs were “closely examined� while maintaining a commitment to quality education programs within the district. Overall, there will be six layoffs in addition to 18 positions left vacant due to retirements. “These unfilled positions are not necessary due to student population decreases,� Rodems said. He added the budget uses reserves and fund balance to reduce the budget impact on taxpayers. “We will be using $1,500,000 in designated fund balance, plus $4,864,790 in reserves - the bulk of the reserves are coming from the Tax Certiorari Reserve and is the balance from the monies set aside to pay for a possible settlement with Anheuser Busch. We are returning this to the taxpayers See Budget, page 7
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