Mohawk Valley Express Volume 3 Number 4 April 2023

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VOLUME 3: NUMBER 4

APRIL 2023

Benton Hall recognized as STEM School of Excellence

By Dave Warner

Scott Weiler, Director of Innovation for ITEEA’s STEM Center of Teaching and Learning, shared that Benton Hall Academy has been recognized as an ITEEA STEM School of Excellence.

“We thank you for your investment in students and respect your unique abilities to inspire, engage, and lead learners

toward their future,” he colleges and universities, stated. or their ‘college road trip series’ as they like to call Benton Hall Academy it. will be recognized at the Opening General Tracy Young, the STEAM Session of ITEEA’s specialist at Benton Hall 2023 Conference in Academy, stated, “One of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the reasons we won the on Thursday, April 13, award was because of 2023. these new initiatives that Benton Hall Academy One of the reasons the has been doing.” school has won the award is the field trips They first started out the students take to area visiting Utica University.

Salisbury Grange Seeks New Members

mystery luncheon. They featuring an open house are looking for new The Salisbury Grange members and volunteers is working hard to get with raffles, a rummage to help get the Grange ready for their upcoming sale, and a murder up and running so it can once again contribute to the community as it has in the past. Charles Hayden, President of the Grange as well as board members Nora Cool-Guinup and Brenda Barton, were available to talk about the origins and importance of the Grange The Salisbury Grange #642 Photo Courtesy of the Salisbury in our community.

Story by Carol Vogel

Grange Group Facebook Page.

calendar

of

events

Young had told them that she wanted to come on campus and maybe do a lesson. “We decided that it would be best if it was going to enrich the program, so 3rd grade would go to Utica, and

they’d learn all about materials.”

In the meantime, they had visited the Fab Lab at Mohawk Valley Please See STEM Page 3

“It’s the oldest farming organization in the The National Grange of country,” Charles added. the Order of Patrons of Grange gave Husbandry was founded The Farmers a voice in what in 1867 as a family and community organization railroads and warehouses in support of agricultural charged to ship and store endeavors. The group their goods as Farmers is described as “a were being overcharged.

Grange gave nonprofit, nonpartisan, The Farmers the opportunity fraternal organization that advocates for rural to assemble to advocate America and agriculture for fair rates so everyone and brings rural could be profitable. communities together,” according to the Many of the founding national website www. members were Masons, Please See GRANGE Page 3 nationalgrange.org.

What is the Grange?

W W W . M Y L I T T L E F A L L S . C O M

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M O H A W K Page 2

STEM From Page 1 Community College, and they offered to have the students come there as well. “So, 5th grade now goes to MVCC.” Young said that in the meantime, Herkimer College had caught wind of the program. “We had a meeting and told them we were closest, so we asked what they would like us to get involved in.”

HC said that the electrical lab might be interesting for students, and Young said, “This would go really well with 4th grade.”

Next year, Young says that SUNY Poly wants to be involved, so she’s looking at involving 2nd-grade students in that program.

“We are going to meet with some professors there that are doing research on animals, and we’ll be partnered with them next year,” she stated.

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her students to see the College’s STEAM-related programs. “In particular, Young said that she that they could commute electrical technology and doesn’t believe that any to and save money.” physics,” he said. other schools are doing this but that some want “It’s very eye-opening for “This is the second of to. “Nobody is doing this them.” four planned trips to with elementary schools.

It’s been super fun.”

She also said that it’s our campus, and these will meet just been wonderful that students “When they went to they’ve been able to go. professors in electrical Herkimer, they came “The school district has tech and engineering, home with the lanyards. been really supportive science, and physics.

Utica University provides of us getting busses to We’ll also be going up them with snacks, and go to each of these. It’s to the physed center to we tie-died t-shirts at a lot of field trips. But talk a bit about athletics no charge. At Mohawk it’s small groups, a lot of on the campus and our Valley, we do Fab Lab engagement, and a lot of programs,” McDonald stated. and work with coding and hands-on experiences.” robotics, and they come home with something Bill McDonald, Associate Young said she’ll accept that says MV on it, and Dean of Academic the Minnesota award at they also provide a snack Affairs at Herkimer the national conference. for us.”

College, stated, “We’re “It goes by a point system, very grateful for the and it’s something you She said that they also partnership with Little apply for. “We were well did a pizza lunch at Falls. We had met with above the number of Herkimer.

Tracy and her team over points needed to win, I there, and she talked with Young said that it impacts us about her Engineering the students, as she’s by Design Program and heard them say things how she would like to like, ‘I want to go here.’ have a better engagement “We’re hoping that it between ourselves and broadens the horizons of her students.” the students about our colleges that are right The discussion led to the here in the area. Ones current program, allowing

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think.”

One of the perks of winning the award is a spot in the STEM showcase at the ITEEA conference. “We get our own table to put out our projects and spotlight what our school has done to earn this award.”

Young also got an individual award The New York State Technology Engineering Educators Association - STEM Teacher of Excellence Award.

“It’s the first one that’s been given by New York State,” she said. “I had to be nominated, and then I had to do an application, a video, and then had to answer a whole bunch of questions.”

M O H A W K

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APRIL 2023

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GRANGE From Page 1 so quite a few of their secretive rituals, like the secret member’s only handshake, were incorporated into The Grange rules. At the time, this was meant to keep the Grange safe from anyone trying to spy on their rural chapter meetings, such as men from the railroads regarding fees and rates.

“Along with being a social and service organization, the Grange is the nation’s oldest agriculture advocacy group. Being a Grange member opens the door to interacting with legislators to advocate on behalf of rural America and agriculture.

Local Granges hold regular meetings to discuss issues like rural broadband access, climate change, and rural healthcare. As the Grange is a grassroots organization, policy recommendations are adopted in local Granges, passed by State Granges, and moved to the National Grange who advocates for them in Washington, D.C. with Congress and other federal agencies.”

What is The Grange?

PDF

home to showcase their talents in things like quilt making and sewing, to discuss issues with other women and to learn new skills. “Basically, it was a community socialization place,” Nora commented.

The Grange was a major proponent behind some of the most progressive legislation in the United States in the early twentieth century, including the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote.

Ahead of the curve compared to many fraternal organizations when it comes to women’s rights and equality, women can hold any of the offices of the Grange, while men can only hold 9!

Local Chapter #624 The Salisbury Grange #624 was chartered on January 25, 1890, and is located at 2550 Route

29 in Salisbury Center across from the Fire Department. One of only two Grange chapters left in Herkimer County, it is an important historical and viable organization the community needs. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Brenda Barton, a board member and also the Town of Salisbury Historian, explained, “You have to have a certain number of members in order to keep your charter, and especially with Covid, the numbers went down. The only way we get money is by fundraising, and during Covid, you couldn’t do anything. Now we are all getting together to do some fundraising, so we have money to pay the bills and keep the building in good shape.”

After being closed for four years, money was tight. “We started with no

Board Members Brenda Barton (Left) and Nora Cool-Guinup (Right) with Grange President Charles Hayden (center). Photo by Carol Vogel

2nd Floor Hall of Grange with stage. Photo Courtesy of Brenda Barton.

Please See GRANGE Page 5

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M O H A W K

V A L L E Y APRIL 2023

E X P R E S S

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - APRIL City of Little Falls April 4, 2023 - Common Council Meeting - Public Hearing: 6:15 p.m. - 2023 Budget Auditing of the bills: 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing: 6:45 p.m. – Local Law #1, to amend local law #1 of 1998 to raise the qualifying income level for senior citizens for tax exemption in the City of Little Falls. Regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

April 5, 2023 - Police and Fire Board Meeting - Bills 9:30 am and Regular Session 10:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

April 11, 2023 - Golf Commission Meeting 8:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

April 17, 2023 - Board of Public Works Meeting Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

April 18, 2023 - Board of Property Maintenance & Codes - 6:00 p.m., in the Mayor’s conference room at City Hall.

April 24, 2023 - Zoning Board of Appeals - 6:30 p.m., in the Mayor’s conference room at City Hall.

April 26, 2023 - Urban Renal Agency Meeting 8:15 am in the Mayor’s conference room at City Hall.

Little Falls Elks April 28 & 29, 2023 - The Valley Girls will be having

a sale at The Little Falls Elks Club from 10 am to 5 pm. We are helping to sell years of accumulation to make room for some new exciting projects for the club. There will be a variety of items, from antiques to restauranttype items, decorations a bar, and more.

We have a wonderful, antique antler chair, a round oak table with large claw feet, roll top desk, library tables, a display cabinet, a round oak missionstyle game table, stack bookcase, a funeral floor candelabra with the case, doors, tables, chairs, decorations, much more.

Elks collectibles, trophies, baseball bats, pins, photos, cranberry shade, and more. We will be listing more items and photos, so check back.

Come help support the club! Along with the sale

on Saturday, the Elk’s Mohawk will be putting on their Walk for Wanda spaghetti famous Chicken BBQ. dinner, April 22, 2023 from 2-5pm at the Mohawk Salisbury American Legion, 43 Open House April 15th, West Main St. Dinner Salisbury Grange: includes spaghetti with Showcasing the Grange meatballs, tossed salad, in the Community and bread and dessert for $12. displays of its interesting There will also be basket history. Refreshments raffles. Proceeds to served. Raffles will be benefit Herkimer County available for purchase HealthNet’s Prevention to win a Shotgun and a and Living Well with 10-man tent. Donations Diabetes programs. are always welcome!

East Herkimer “Shooting at the Grange” Murder Mystery and April, 22, 2023 - Arts, Catered Luncheon on Craft and Vendor Fair from 10:00 am to 4:00 April 29th at 12pm: Tickets are $20 per pm at the East Herkimer person, $35 per Fire House, Main Road. couple. Tickets must be Twenty plus Vendors. purchased in advance Admission free. Food for Sale. from a Grange Member Available at the Open House or are Sponsored by the Ladies available at the Salisbury Auxiliary of EHVFD. Town Hall, Kirby Free Contact Barbara Noyes Library, or Rusty Relics (315) 866-5879 or Janice in Salisbury.

Harter (315) 866-1885

Little Falls Public Library April 2023 Programs Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday American 1 Revolution Class #3 12:30-2pm Knitting & Crochet 11am

3

Teen Creative Writing 5:15pm

10

4

Laurie's Make & Take 3:305:30pm

11

Teen Creative Writing 5:15pm

17

18

Teen Creative Writing 5:15pm

Toddler Time 5 10am & 11:15am

6 Teen Art Night 5:30pm

24

Book Club 6pm, Water for Elephants

25 Dream Workshop 5:45pm

Toddler Time12 10am & 11:15am

Kids Craft13 10:30am

Flash Fiction 5:30pm

Toddler Time 19 10am & 11:15am

Toddler Time26 10am & 11:15am Flash Fiction 5:30pm

14

15

Playdate 10am

Kids Craft 1pm

Cookbook Club 5:30pm, Mexican Food

Knitting & Crochet 11am

20

Retirement Solutions Workshop 6pm

21

All programs are subject to change.

Follow us online to stay up to date: Website: lflibrary.org Facebook: Little Falls Public Library Instagram: @lflibrary

22

Playdate 10am

27

28

29

Playdate 10am

Knitting & Crochet 11am

Sharon's Bracelet Class 3-4:45pm

Irish Cultural Center Events Join us at The H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley or from the comfort of your own

American8 Revolution Class #4 12:30-2pm Art Reception 12:30pm

Flash Fiction 5:30pm

Flash Fiction 5:30pm Teen Creative Writing 5:15pm

7 Playdate 10am

Info:

Morrison.

home on Wednesday Few Irish can forget April 26 6:00 PM for a the Irish Long Kesh conversation, via Zoom, Prison hunger strikes with former Sinn Féin spokesperson Danny Please See IRISH Page 6

M O H A W K

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APRIL 2023

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GRANGE From Page 3 money this year. Charlie even paid some bills out of his own pocket this winter!” Their dedication to their community is evident.

Dolgeville School and presented about the Grange to 5 different classes. They are hoping to get feedback from the classes and community about what people would Charles explains that like to see the Grange due to strict Grange rules offer. “Back when I was and regulations, “We pay a kid, I came here all dues, but we don’t get to the time for dances. They keep any of the money. It taught us how to square goes to the State Grange, dance, and a band from and then they give half the Stratford area of High to the National Grange. School kids would come So we don’t get any of to play for the dance. the benefits of dues. And they used to have We do have the right to suppers that we would increase dues ourselves come up for as well,” over the primary dues, Nora recalled. but we don’t do that. I mean, money is tight for The 2nd floor of the everyone.” According to Grange houses a their laws, The Grange beautiful wood-clad hall can’t sell anything or with a stage, perfect have a store, but they can for dances and theater. take donations and have Some ideas they have fundraisers or sell tickets are ice cream socials, to fundraising events. dances, CPR classes, movie nights, and The current members allowing the community have a list of ideas to rent out the space for and events to get their events. They will also be chapter back on the map cleaning up the kitchen and ready to serve the and dining hall space on community. Now they the 1st floor so the Health need members to make Department can come to it a reality. Nora Cool is inspect. This will allow proud of the work they do them to start using that and explained that at the space to its full potential. end of each meeting of “We have a lot of work members, an important to do!” Nora laughs, “We question is asked: “Is have a good start, but there anyone that needs we need more volunteers help?” Grange members and new members to serve their communities help.” by assisting a neighbor in need or organizing Upcoming Events a bake sale to raise money for a local school. The Salisbury Grange The Grange truly helps is busy preparing for improve the lives of its springtime events. Here’s members and neighbors what’s happening: in the community.

Open House April 15th: Community Input Showcasing the Grange and Ideation in the Community and displays of its interesting In order to educate and get history. Refreshments the younger generations served. Raffles will be involved, Charles and available for purchase Nora recently visited the to win a Shotgun and a

10-man tent. Donations are always welcome!

“Shooting at the Grange” Murder Mystery and Catered Luncheon on April 29th at 12pm: Tickets are $20 per person, $35 per couple. Tickets must be purchased in advance from a Grange Member at the Open House or are available at the Salisbury Town Hall, Kirby Free Library, or Rusty Relics in Salisbury.

Community Donation Day May 9th and 10th: – drop off all your good and saleable item donations for the rummage sale to help preserve the

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events. Monies raised will help with the upkeep of the historic building that Grange. houses it and to provide Rummage Sale May future community events 12 and 13th: Come and opportunities for all. find treasures and help Meetings are on the first support the Grange with Monday of the month at your purchases! The 5 pm at the Salisbury Grange has coordinated Town Hall. You can join this event with the their Facebook Group to Salisbury Universalist keep up on events and Church Chicken BBQ on get more information.

May 12th, so you can shop and grab some Donations for the Grange can be mailed to Salisbury great food too!

Center Grange #624 P.O. Box 491 Salisbury Become a Member Center, N.Y. 13454. or Volunteer!

The Grange is looking for volunteers and members to help with the upcoming rummage sale, fundraisers, and other

If you would like to see your story in the Mohawk Valley Express - email it to news@ mylittlefalls.com

The Powerhouse Global Transformation LLC , Rock Valley Brewing Co., and the Little Falls Youth and Family Center present the

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Bring your lawn chairs, and a canned or nonperishable food item donation for the LF Food Pantry The Powerhouse, 95 West Mill Street, Little Falls, NY USA 13365

M O H A W K

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V A L L E Y APRIL 2023

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SENIOR MEALS FOR APRIL To reserve a meal, call the Herkimer County Office for the Aging at least one business day in advance, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315-867-1204 or 315-867-1634. If you will not be home for meals, call 315867-1204 at least a day in advance. All sites are handicapped accessible.

Apr 03 - Cream of broccoli soup, egg salad sandwich, coleslaw, cookie.

Apr 04 - Philly cheeseburger, O’Brien potatoes, broccoli, cake with topping.

Apr 05 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cookie.

Apr 06 - Yankee pot roast, boiled potatoes, dill carrots, pineapple tidbits.

Apr 07 - Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, green beans, chef’s choice pie.

Apr 10 - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas, cookie.

Apr 11 - Chicken parmesan, rotini in sauce, tossed salad, brownie.

Apr 12 - Cheesy ham and rice casserole, beets, wax beans, cinnamon cake.

Apr 13 - Roast pork, stuffing, cauliflower, pudding.

Apr 14 - Turkey with gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, Mandarin oranges.

Apr 17 - Egg bake sausage patty, hash browns, muffin, fruit cup.

Apr 18 - Ham with plum sauce, scalloped potatoes, beets, peanut butter cookie.

Apr 19 - Baked fish with her sauce, rice pilaf, spinach, vanilla ice cream.

Apr 20 - Chicken marsala, seasoned noodles, Italian blend vegetables, fruited gelatin.

Apr 21 - Stuffed pepper casserole with beef and rice, cauliflower, red cabbage, cookie.

Apr 24 - Lemon chicken, au gratin potatoes, mixed vegetables, pudding.

Apr 25 - Beef stew with vegetables, beets, biscuit, frosted birthday cake.

Apr 26 - Turkey divan with noodles and broccoli sauce, broccoli, cookie.

Apr 27 - Sloppy Joes, O’Brien potatoes, carrots, applesauce.

Apr 28 - Lasagna, tossed salad, garlic roll, brownie.

All meals are served with 8 ounces of milk, a slice of bread, and margarine.

Desserts have no concentrated sweets. The suggested donation is $3. Mail donations to Herkimer County OFA, 109 Mary St., Suite 2501, Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes are available from drivers.

IRISH From Page 4 of the 1980’s that left an indelible mark on Ireland’s struggle with Great Britain. It was an event that held the world spellbound and would change the face of Irish politics forever cementing Sinn Féin’s standing as

a major political party in Ireland. At the age of 22, Danny was the editor of the Sinn Féin newspaper, Republican News and later would become editor of An Phoblacht/ Republican News. Having served time himself in

publication of several books on the struggles faced at the hands of British oppression.

You can attend this presentation at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica or from the comfort of your own home. There is no charge for this event but you must register with Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link. The link can be found on our events calendar at https:// www.iccmv.org/eventscalendar/ .

Join us at The H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley on Sunday April 16 2:00 for a presentation by retired NYS Historian Craig Williams as he discusses the life and works of 19th Century Irish cartographer David Vaughan.

It is well known that the Irish contributed considerable manual labor to the first enlargement of the Erie Canal in the 1840’s.

The labor could not be started, however, without the help of the maps and plans of Irish immigrant David Vaughan. Not only were Vaughan’s maps and drawings invaluable to the construction of the canal enlargement, they could also be considered works of art.

The embellishments he used in his maps and drawings often contained minute humorous and cultural elements from his native Ireland. You will find this presentation most informative and you may be in for a surprise or two as you learn about Vaughan’s life.

The presentation will be held at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley.

Admission is free but we do ask that you register.

Long Kesh, he became the spokesperson for Bobby Sands and others during the 1981 hunger strikes which would later that year take the lives of Sands and his comrades.

Danny’s penchant for writing soon led to the Photo submitted - Danny Morrison

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M O H A W K

Little Falls Officials Handling a Dangerous Case The Saturday Globe November 1, 1902

Those individuals whose hardihood would lead them to fry beefsteaks at a volcano are matched by a Third Warder of Little Falls who has spent the past several years of home life over 50 pounds of dynamite, and the high-powered variety of the explosive at that.

At least, he says, the dynamite has reposed on his cellar wall since the Dolgeville Railroad was constructed. A terrified neighbor who became cognizant of

the fact brought it to the attention of the Fire and Police Department and representatives of each made an expedition for the removal of the stuff.

The citizen in whose possession it was made no objection to parting with it when the law of the matter was explained to him. But, as earthquakes are infrequent in these parts and family jars light, he thought the rest of the ward rather timorous.

None would be lifted so high as he would if the stuff did go off. Chief Cooney and Officer Klock got the easiest riding

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barouche, laid a woven wire bed spring across the seats and took the explosive to the river, where it was sunk in a manner to insure its getting wet and incurring no chances of killing the fish by an unexpected concussion or raising a tidal wave. The people of Whited street shiver yet when they think of the possibilities that might have replaced their locality with a large hole in the city’s rock foundations, and the shiver travels a considerable way from the center. Some playful urchin in combination with that box of cartridges wouldn’t have needed any

Page 7

further equipment to show what big happenings may result from small causes.

People who saw Chief Engineer Cooney and Officer Klock conducting their equipment to the Mohawk thought at first glance they were carrying some unfortunate victim of accident in an improvised ambulance, but when the spectator got near enough to see the inscription on what was hopping up and down between them he fled faster and further than he would from a smallpox sign. There is talk of having a medal struck for the two heroic guardians of public safety.

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V A L L E Y APRIL 2023

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Community turns out for public meeting about ‘connector bridge’

By Dave Warner

Many community members attended last week’s meeting, where the New York State Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation provided conceptual ideas about a bridge connecting the Empire State Trail to Moss Island and updates to the Lock 17 area.

“The Little Falls Connector,” as it is called, is a project proposed through the Reimagine the Canals initiative. It aims to create a new pedestrian bridge connecting the Empire State Trail directly to the Erie Canal at Lock 17.

It enables easy access to Moss Island, Seeley

Street, and the City of Little Falls for pedestrians and cyclists.

The team stated that they are a little more than mid-way in their design process for the project but that things might change as they get into the details and understand the costs associated with the project. All of the main concepts and what they presented should not change, though.

The current team working on the project includes landscape architects, civil engineers, cost estimators, and structural engineers.

The Reimagine the Canals initiative invests in communities all along

the Canal to provide resilience, economic development, and recreational opportunities to Canal communities.

The Little Falls Connector is one of the early projects they identified almost two years ago, and it’s designed to create connections and a space for the community as well as a landscape around a working piece of infrastructure.

Improvements to Seeley Street, funded through New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), will complete the connection to Canal Place. The $1.8 million dollar DRI project will transform Seeley Street into a bicycle and

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pedestrian waterfront walkway by repaving the existing roadway and installing lighting and guide rails.

Additionally, a park envisioned at Lock 17 will include new vistas, new seating, a kayak launch, and new plantings for the City of Little Falls.

Simultaneous with the construction of these projects, necessary repair work to structures in and around Lock 17 will occur, including the dam, canal walls, and

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lock towers.

The design for the bridge is called a multi-span connector, keeping it very light and delicate as opposed to a heavy bridge so that they can respect the presence of the Lock. It has the thinnest amount of steel and the fewest columns,

so it’s not a heavy bridge, which would have taken away from the presence of the Lock.

The bridge will be built in pieces offsite, galvanized for corrosion resistance, and brought together with no welding but by using bolts with minimal maintenance. Water will flow through the bridge because of its design, so it won’t pool and rust. It will also let light through so it doesn’t create a heavy shadow and dark space underneath.

The team said they’d optimized their designs from 90 tons of steel to 45.

The incline on the bridge Please See BRIDGE Page 9

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going from Moss Island to the Empire State Trail is a 1 to 20 ratio, which the engineers said is technically not even a ramp because the incline is so slight. It will be easy to walk with handrails and guardrails. Cyclists will be asked to walk their bikes across the bridge.

and expose the beautiful rock faces and edit the landscaping in the area.

One of the other things they want to do in the area is increase the safety of how you enter the park. The entrance off the highway will be improved, as well as the parking area under the bridge.

They will also integrate signage in an exciting way that tells people where to go or interprets some of the history of the location.

They intend to clean up the area around the historic Lock 36 area, removing invasive species and exposing the structure that is left.

The team that presented is also working on Sealy Street, but they are not as far along in their design of that project.

Curved pocket seating areas will be created so

As for Lockview Park, they say it’s a simple project because of the spot’s natural beauty.

They intend to share

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that you can sit and get a better view of the water.

In the basin area, they will stop the water leakage into that spot and dry it out, creating a large grassy area for movie nights and other activities.

Lighting will also be a consideration so that the area is well-lit and safe, extending the length of time the park can be used.

The team is working with a budget for the project but would not reveal the potential cost at this point.

Photo by Dave Warner - Maintenance work is currently underway on Lock 17.

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The grind of a long hockey season gave way to playoff excitement for most of Central New York’s college hockey teams in the month of March. Although their seasons are now over, four Central New York teams competed in postseason play that featured three conference titles and a run to the Frozen Four.

Five Central New York teams ranked in the national polls at the end of their seasons.

On the professional side, the Utica Comets and Syracuse Crunch finished March locked in a very tight battle for a playoff spot in the AHL’s North Division. The top five teams in the division will qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs, and with the Toronto Marlies having already clinched one, only four remain.

The Comets and Crunch will play each other a total of fourteen times in

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first in his thirty year tenure behind the Raider bench. They opened their run by defeating the Dartmouth Big Green and then traveled to Lake Placid for the rest of the tournament. There, they the regular season and pulled off a colossal upset through the end of play of the then #2 ranked on April 2nd the Crunch Quinnipiac Bobcats 2-1 are in second place in on a Ross Mitton goal in the North Division and double overtime and then the Comets trailing them claimed the conference by only one point in third crown the next night by place. taking down the sixth ranked Harvard Crimson As fate would have it, by a score of 3-2. With the The Comets and Crunch ECAC title, the Raiders will conclude the regular were guaranteed a spot season by playing each in the NCAA Tournament. other on April 15th in The following week, Colgate’s season ended Syracuse. when they lost to the current #2 ranked COLLEGE Michigan Wolverines in the first round of the Colgate Raiders Men’s NCAA Tournament.

Hockey Team Final Records: 19-16-5 (overall), 11-8-3 (ECAC).

Final National (USCHO): #19.

Colgate Raiders Women’s Hockey Team

Rank Final Records: 32-6-2 (overall), 18-3-1 (ECAC).

The Colgate Raiders entered the ECAC Tournament as the five seed and made a Cinderella run to capture their first conference title since 1990 and Head Coach Don Vaughan’s

Final National (USCHO): #5.

Rank

The Raiders capped an outstanding regular season by winning their third consecutive ECAC Tournament title. They were nearly upset in the best of three first round series by a feisty Princeton Tigers team but defeated their rivals from New Jersey two games to one with each game being decided by one goal. After getting by Princeton, the Raiders travelled to New Haven,

Connecticut for the rest of the tournament where they handily defeated #8 Quinnipiac 5-1 and #9 Clarkson 8-2 to claim the title and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

as they were defeated once again by Amherst in the Semifinal thus ending their season.

Colgate hosted the Wisconsin Badgers in the Quarterfinal of the NCAA Tournament, but were upended by the visitors 4-2. The Badgers would go on to win the national title.

Final Records: 25-3-1 (overall), 20-0-0 (UCHC).

Hamilton College Continentals Women’s Hockey Team Final Records: 22-62 (overall), 12-3-1 (NESCAC).

Final National (USCHO): #4.

Rank

The Hamilton College Women’s Hockey Team began the month of March by advancing to the final of the NESCAC Tournament.

Although they fell to the fourth ranked Amherst Mammoths, their stellar play during the regular season earned them an at-large bid into their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

They defeated the eleventh ranked Nazareth Golden Flyers at home in the first round and three days later they travelled out to Michigan and shutout the fifth ranked Adrian Bulldogs 2-0 to make it to the Frozen Four (hockey’s equivalent of the Final Four). It wasn’t meant to be for the Continentals,

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Utica Pioneers Men’s Hockey Team

Final National (USCHO): #5.

Rank

The Pioneers entered the month of March ranked #1 in Division III and then claimed their second consecutive UCHC Tournament title by defeating Arcadia, Manhattanville, and Nazareth - all at the friendly confines of the Adirondack Bank Center. After a two week layoff, they hosted the University of New England Nor’Easters in a quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament rematch of last season’s stunning Nor’Easters upset of the Pioneers. The rematch was a game for the ages, as the Pioneers staged a dramatic three goal comeback to tie the game late in the third period.

Despite dominating the overtime period, Utica’s season came to an unexpected end when New England’s Anthony Sciucco scored his second goal of the game at the 13:07 mark to end the Pioneers season.

Despite the disappointing end, eight Pioneers seniors and graduate students signed professional contracts shortly after the New England game. Justin Allen and Regen Cavanagh signed with Norfolk of the ECHL, Connor Fedorek signed with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, Dante Zapata Please See HOCKEY Page 11

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HOCKEY From Page 10 signed with Tulsa of the ECHL, John Moncovich signed with Fayetteville of the SPHL, Brandon Osmundson signed with Knoxville of the SPHL, and Lucas Herrmann and Mic Curran signed with Pensacola of the SPHL. Utica Pioneers Women’s Hockey Team Final Records: 22-3-3 (overall), 17-1-2 (UCHC) Final National Rank: #13.

The Utica Pioneers Women’s Hockey Team and the eleventh ranked Nazareth Golden Flyers seemed destined to meet again after the Golden Flyers edged out the Pioneers for the UCHC Regular Season title on the final weekend of the season. That rematch was realized on March

4th in the final of the UCHC Tournament when the teams collided once again in Rochester, NY. Like the regular season finale, the rematch was tightly contested but the Golden Flyers found a way to get the victory once again by defeating Utica in a 3-2 double overtime thriller. With the loss, the Pioneer’s season ended as they narrowly missed out an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Utica Comets March 2023 Record: 6-41-2.

Place in the AHL North Division (as of April 3rd): 3rd.

Remaining

season schedule: April 7th vs Toronto, April 8th vs Rochester, April 12th vs Syracuse, April 14th vs Cleveland, April 15th at Syracuse.

Website: https:// uticacomets.com Syracuse Crunch March 2023 Record: 7-51-0.

Place in the AHL North Division (as of April 3rd): 2nd.

Remaining regular season schedule: April 5th at Rochester, April 7th vs Rochester, April 8th vs Laval, April 12th at Utica, April 14th at Laval, April 15th vs Utica.

Website: https:// regular syracusecrunch.com

Photos by Scott Kinville - Utica Comets goaltender Issac Poulter makes a save against the Syracuse Crunch during a game on March 5th at the Adirondack Bank Center

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