Years Ago in History

By CinDy BEll toBEy

25 years Ago – March 4, 1998

Cazenovia area residents who call the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) in an emergency shouldn’t be surprised if the phone is answered by a 911 dispatcher in Wampsville.

Even though the person on the other end may have changed, CAVAC President Brian Tait said, the service is still as good and as fast as ever.

Up until November 1997, Tait said, dispatchers answered emergency calls and dispatched the ambulances from CAVAC’s base on Forman Street, across from Carpenter’s Pond.

With the coming of the countywide 911 service which was recently officially opened, Tait said, and its goal of making the system universal – covering fire, medical and police emergencies – the decision was made to route incoming emergency calls to the 911 center at the Madison County Office Complex.

15

years Ago – March 5, 2008

The Cazenovia Chamber of Commerce has announced a bold new initiative: Think globally, buy locally. It could be the foundation of a whole new wave of consciousness and a blueprint for survival in the future.

“Many of us take what the greater Cazenovia area has to offer for granted,” said Chamber Manager Rich Borsellino. Consider the three points that many real estate agents use to “sell” Cazenovia: The lake, the schools and the downtown shopping area.

“What we have here is what we need to protect and green thinking will protect it,” said Dave Eldridge, chairman of the Historical Cazenovia Business District.

The idea is to shrink the carbon footprint left on the earth from generation to generation and to also keep the sales tax dollars within the county.

“The sales tax dollars that stay in Cazenovia are essential to the maintenance of our town and county tax,” Eldridge said. “If the sales tax dollars are spent in other counties they never return.”

10 years

Ago – March 6, 2013

After more than 40 years of renting various buildings and locations around Cazenovia in which to teach its students, Cazenovia Community Preschool soon will have its own facility. The Cazenovia Village Planning Board last week unanimously approved a special use permit for CCP, which will allow them to purchase property at 49 Burton St. and permanently move the preschool to that location.

“This is going to happen,” said CCP Director Stefanie Lints “We are very, very excited. This is a very big step for the school.”

5

years Ago – March 7, 2018

When one of Central New York’s most prominent artists passed away last year, her estate named the Central New York Community Foundation the recipient of more than $1.6 million to preserve the local public art space that she considered her brightest accomplishment. Dorothy Riester was 100 years old when she passed away in July.

Over the course of her long career as a freelance sculptor-designer, she created major original artwork on commission, both locally and nationally. But she was arguably most proud of the establishment of the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, an informal sculpture garden and art exhibit venue in Cazenovia where she lived with her husband, Bob.

“Dorothy’s vision for Stone Quarry Hill Art Park has come true – a place where art, landscape and people connect,” said Kelli Johnson, the park’s interim executive director. “Dorothy once asked, ‘How can I make my life useful to others?’ Now, thanks to her long-range generosity, the answer to that question will be in plain sight to park visitors for generations to come.”