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Phil Blackwell reflects on 2010’s local sports champions ... Page 4 Volume 180, No. 1 Jan. 5 to 11, 2011
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Wildcats top Ludden in holiday tourney ... Page 8
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The gift of gratitude Towns get tax hike
Residents see steep increase in county property tax By Ned Campbell editor@eagle-observer.com
Residents of Elbridge, Camillus and Marcellus receiving their property tax bills last week saw a hike in the bottom line. The town of Elbridge (outside the villages) was hit the hardest with an increase of 33.33 percent, from $610 to $813 per assessed value of $100,000 — the result of a 78 percent increase in taxes labeled “state mandated costs.” Elbridge town property taxes decreased one percent. Town officials point to Onondaga County government
Brianna McGraw, Joshua Kay named ‘Seniors of the Month’ at WG
See Property tax, page 17
Chocolate cheer Chocolate Pizza Company
...See page 6
Sports
sees huge boost in holiday sales Ned Campbell
Maxwell Memorial Library director Katy Benson (right) and Peg Paige, circulation clerk, hold a check for $15,700 that was donated in the will of former board member Melvin Penfield. Melvin was a library in various volunteer capaciboard member and trea- ties for some 30 years, and surer for 30 years, stepping who had really loved it,” she down in 2005 when he was said. “Mr. Penfield’s resulting named emeritus trustee. generosity is humbling.” The size of his donation to Benson isn’t sure how the library came as a big the donation will be used, surprise to library director but said the library has an By Ned Campbell Katy Benson. ongoing wish list of projects editor@eagle-observer.com “I could hardly believe that include repairs, capital Some gifts are random it,” Benson said. “It had improvements and upgrad— Melvin Penfield’s dona- been almost two years since ing equipment. “It will be well used,” tion of $15,700 to Maxwell we’d first heard about the bequest, and I just figured Benson said. Memorial Library in Camilit would come to a couple lus was anything but. Melvin died in January of hundred dollars, if anything 2009 at the age of 87 and left came at all.” Benson received a letter 2.5 percent of his estate to containing the donation’s the library, a place he often details during the library’s called home. annual holiday party hosted Melvin was known to by trustees for staff and volcome into the library every unteers. She was thrilled to morning to read newspaannounce it then. pers and make conversa“I felt like we’d hit the lottion. Every morning, he tery, ” she said. would leave his copy of This windfall, however, the Wall Street Journal for had nothing to do with the library’s use, and when luck. Submitted photo he became too ill to come “It came from a man who Melvin Penfield pictured at Maxwell to the library, his son Arik had served Maxwell Library Library in May 2004. continued the task.
Lifetime library patron leaves $15,700 to Maxwell
Solvay goes 2-1 Solvay players celebrate Ben Carrock’s secondperiod goal, one of two on the night, during a 6-2 win over Liverpool in last Monday’s opening round of the King of the Coliseum Tournament. ...See page 9
Business ���������������������7 Calendar �������������������2 Classifieds �������������� 18 Editorial ��������������������4 Obituaries ��������������� 16 Public notices �������� 17 School news �������������6 Sports ������������������������8
By Ned Campbell editor@eagle-observer.com Headquartered in the village of Marcellus, the Chocolate Pizza Company had plenty to celebrate this Christmas. With a new owner and CEO in Ryan Novak, the company added a new satellite shop in Manlius and, as a result, added a new batch of customers. Sales were up 27 percent from last year. “It was the busiest year, it was unbelievable,” the Syracuse University business student said. “We were here (in Marcellus) until four in the morning and back here at 6:30 a.m. cooking pizzas.” Novak said the retailer in Manlius provided a boost in sales — at a level he never predicted. “It was huge for us,” he said. “Our goal for next year is to make sure that we have more than enough products
Ryan Novak for everyone on the shelves so we’re not telling people to come back tomorrow or the next day.” Novak was a place kicker for SU and then Temple before a leg injury led him to go pro in the chocolate business. He said playing football in college helped him prepare for the long hours of the holiday season. “It’s a tough job but it’s a rewarding job,” Novak said. “You get to hear people say ‘We couldn’t have Christmas without it’ or ‘They wouldn’t let me in the door without a chocolate pizza.’”
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