Cazenovia Republican digital edition - March 27, 2024

Input sought on 2024-25 school budget

By kate hill Staff writer

On March 20, the Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) held a community discussion on the challenges facing the district this budget season and potential options to close a $1.85 million budget gap for the 2024-25 school year.

The event drew approximately 195 attendees, including students and parents, faculty and staff, and people not directly affiliated with CCSD.

During a district presentation, Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio explained that the meeting was organized in response to requests for increased community involvement in the budget process.

“I don’t want people to panic,” he said. “[We’ve] had budget gaps that we’ve been talking about at public meetings for several years. At this time, now, we are engaging the community, and I hope we can do this again next year as well.”

DiFulvio added that the public input received will help the district provide the board of education with a proposed budget that truly reflects the priorities, values, and expectations of the community.

“We are committed to sustaining our excellence and preserving our identity,” the superintendent said. “We’re doing everything we can to retain our high-performing, high-quality staff and to stay competitive. And we know the decisions that we make will have long-term impacts on our students, staff, and community. We are staying true to who we are by aligning our budget with our mission, vision, and goals and our strategic plan. . . It’s of the utmost importance that we continue to be fiscally responsible. We owe it to our taxpayers, now and in the future.”

Budget challenges

DiFulvio discussed the fluid and complex nature of the annual budget process and offered insight into some of the current budget challenges.

The budget consists of instructional costs, administrative costs, employee benefits, facilities and operations, special education, extracurricular activities, debt service payments, and a contingency fund.

According to Assistant Superintendent/ School Business Official Thomas Finnerty, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024-25 executive budget proposal removed the “Hold Harmless” piece of the state foundation aid formula, resulting in a $614,000 reduction in foundation aid for CCSD.

DiFulvio noted that a cut of that amount would dramatically decrease the district’s estimated revenues for the 2024-25 school year.

“That is part of the impact that we are

On March 20, the Cazenovia Central School District held a meeting to seek input on the 2024-25

seeing,” he said. “Hold Harmless” is a provision that ensures districts don’t see a decrease in foundation aid funding compared to the previous year.

“Previously, the state said, ‘Every year, we’re going to guarantee you this amount of money, regardless of the changes in the student numbers,’” DiFulvio explained. “Even with fewer students, it didn’t matter. However, the governor has now taken that away. So, if fewer kids attend the school, we might lose some funding. We don’t know, and we might not even know until April 8, what our exact amount from the state government will be. That’s why I talk about it being a fluid process. Without this protection, our school needs to be cautious with spending, and there might be less money available, impacting resources like new books and fun activities for kids.”

DiFulvio also acknowledged the challenges of rising expenses, such as inflation on goods and services; contractual salary increases; and benefit cost increases.

2024-25 budget outlook

“We have been fiscally responsible as a school district,” said DiFulvio. “The board of education has done an excellent job at preserving money into a fund balance to put us in a fiscally sound position.”

The district has already gone through its budget line-by-line and made an estimated $700,000 in position cuts and financial reductions.

The following actions are assumed for next year: cutting one foreign language position, cutting one library aide position, cutting one elementary teacher position, cutting one instructional coach position, cutting one academic support position, leveling out all BOCES expenses, cutting $100,000 from the technology budget, and combining athletic teams when it makes sense.

The district is also already proposing to use $500,000 in fund balance, which DiFulvio compared to a savings account.

Fund balance results from spending less than the district takes in.

many of whom are top experts in their fields.

For

“[The through line is] optimism as we age,” said Christina. “I want to challenge the narrative of decay and decline. In fact, many people over 60 report that they’ve never felt happier. It’s important to navigate the challenges as well as the joys. It’s a balancing act. Living with zest is the basic theme.”

Christina has over 30 years of experience in psychotherapy. Her private practice specializes in anxiety, depression, grief, food and body issues, and positive aging. She tried out podcasting at the suggestion of her technical assistant, who

“When we spend less, we can take more in, so every year, we will try to underspend our budget,” DiFulvio said. “[Every year], we get one shot; we can’t go back out and ask the taxpayers for more money, so the goal has got to be underspending.”

Even with the $500,000 in fund balance and $700,000 in budget reductions, the district is still facing a $1.85 million gap between its expenses and revenue based on the governor’s 2024-25 budget proposal.

DiFulvio explained that if the district had reduced its expenditures by zero and assumed no fund balance, the gap would be around $3 million.

The district has also implemented a spending freeze on non-essential expenses.

CCSD’s calculated tax levy limit for the 2024-25 school year is 4.4 percent.

If the district’s proposed tax levy increase is within that limit, a simple majority of voters (50 percent + 1) is needed for budget approval. If the proposed tax levy increase exceeds the tax levy limit, a supermajority of voters (60 percent or more) would be required for budget passage.

When discussing the tax levy, DiFulvio remarked that the district’s tax levy increase last year was 6.9 percent. The tax increase experienced by residents, however, was variable and based on many factors.

For example, a home assessed at $189,000 in the Town of Cazenovia saw an increase of 5.36 percent or $169.87, while a home assessed at $189,500 in the Town of Fenner saw an increase of 2.93 percent or $106.19.

Potential budget options

There are four ways to close the $1.85 million gap: cutting expenses further, increasing revenue through the tax levy, using fund balance, or doing a combination of those options.

“At this point, tonight, I just want the people in the community to know that all options are on the table,” said DiFulvio. “What you see are merely proposals, and we are asking for your input.”

Week

Home of The Christina Family

By kate hill Staff writer

Nancy Mitchell, a certified professional life and health coach, recently returned to her hometown of Cazenovia, where she is now offering her services out of the Atwell Mill at 132 Albany St. Mitchell has been helping clients redesign their lives and live up to their full potential through her practice, Bold Beginnings Coaching, for the past seven years. She works with clients going through life transitions, such as job changes, marriage, divorce, parenting, caregiving for a loved one, becoming an empty nester, and grieving a loss. Her specialty is in working with motivated clients who feel overwhelmed, scattered, and in need of focus and positive forward movement.

“A life coach is a professional who guides indi-

viduals in identifying and reaching their personal and professional goals,” explained Mitchell. “Through supportive and goal-oriented sessions, life coaches help clients to explore their aspirations, overcome any blocks or obstacles in their way, and develop strategies to reach their goals and achieve success.”

Before starting her coaching career, Mitchell spent 25 years as an elementary and preschool teacher.

She was first introduced to life coaching about eight years ago when she was going through a divorce and parenting her two children, who are now 19 and 23.

“[Seeing a life coach] had such an incredibly positive impact on how I navigated the years during that time that it inspired me to get certified and become a life coach myself,” Mitchell said. She first earned her

optimistic conversations on aging

was helping with her online courses and suspected her personality would make for a good podcast host.

“The next day, I took my laptop to my meditation retreat co-leader Vicky Lane’s house,” Christina recalled.

“She’s a New York State fishing guide and volunteers with women who are recovering from cancer. We had led a fly fishing and meditation retreat together in Chittenango. While we were talking, I knew I wanted to do more [interviews]. It felt effortless and wonderful. I’ve never looked back.” She decided to focus her podcast on aging to help address topics repeatedly brought up by her clients.

“I was noticing that my psycho-

therapy clients were asking questions that were also on my mind,” she said. “[They asked things] like, ‘What’s next?’ ‘How do I want to spend the rest of my life?’ ‘What’s important to me?’ ‘What might retirement look like?’”

As of March 18, Christina had released 367 interviews with 20 more waiting to be aired.

The podcaster said a particularly memorable episode was with python elimination specialist Donna Kalil.

“People love the story of riding shotgun with python hunter Donna Kalil in the Florida Everglades,” Christina said. “Her mission is to remove the invasive Burmese python

because they are eating all the mammals. I was down in Florida playing tennis in the National Senior Games and asked if I could shadow her. It was quite an adventure. If you have a

Nicole Christina

Submitted photo

Cazenovia native Nancy Mitchell recently returned to Cazenovia, where she is offering her professional life and health coaching services out of the Atwell Mill at 132 Albany St.

Donald Stehle, 92

enjoyed sailing, skiing

Donald Stehle died March 15, 2024 at the age of 92. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, on July 3, 1931. He grew up in Crestmont Farms, PA and then moved to Rydal, PA. Don graduated from Germantown Friends School in 1948 at the age of 16 and enrolled at Brown University where he met his future wife Dorothy “Dot” Brandon. He received a bachelor’s degree from Brown in 1952 and enlisted in Officers Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, VA. Don and Dot were married November 1953 and he served overseas during the U.S. occupation of Korea. Don then received an engineering degree from Penn State in 1958 and moved to New Hartford, N.Y. where he worked for General Electric. He continued to work for General Electric as a manager of marketing until his retirement in 1989. Don and Dot moved to Cazenovia in 1981 and lived there until her death in 2010.

In 2012, he married Charleen Herrling Smith. They lived in Fayetteville when they weren’t traveling. Don was active in many dif-

Rudolph M. Braun, 67

Rudolph M. “Rudy” Braun, 67, of Erieville, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton. He was born on Jan. 25, 1957, in Syracuse, a son of Otto and Gertrud (Bader) Braun and graduated from Cazenovia High School.

OBITUARIES

ferent activities including the Otsego Sailing Club where he and Dot taught their family to sail, the Snow Ridge Ski Club where he and Dot taught their family to ski, the House of Good Shepherd, the vestry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the Willow Bank Yacht Club and the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation. Don is survived by his wife, Charleen; children, Katharine (James) of Aurora N.Y., David (Andrea) of Cazenovia, Elizabeth of Syracuse and Donald (Stacey) of Penfield, N.Y. Don left seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brother, Charles of Lower Gwynedd, PA, and his sister, Katharine (Robert) Young of Newport Beach, CA.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cazenovia. There will a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, CazCares or a charity of your choice. Condolences for the Stehle family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.

Rudy began his career as a dairy farmer and later worked as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, also serving as a steward for local post offices. Additionally, he was a dedicated member of the NYS Farm Bureau, where he held the position of president and advocated for various farming issues. Rudy had a passion for history, enjoyed museum visits and was a fan of Jackson Pollock’s artwork. His great sense of humor endeared him to many.

Michael T. Markowski, 60 eaton Fd member

Michael T. Markowski, 60, of 36 North St., Morrisville, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Wynn Hospital, Utica. He was born April 13, 1963, in Hamilton, the son of the late Thomas and Luella (Rivenburgh) Markowski and graduated from Morrisville-Eaton High School.

Michael had worked for the Big M Supermarket, Morrisville, Grand Union, Marquardt Switches Inc., Carrier Corporation and at one time was a cook at Colgate Inn and Mr. Ed’s, Hamilton.

He was a member of the Eaton Community Church, Eaton Fire Department, where he served as a fireman, chief and commissioner with over 50 years of service. He enjoyed hunting and trapping in his younger years, but most of all he loved fishing.

Surviving is his companion, Donna DeGroat and her children, Stephen Shelton,

He is survived by his mother, Gertrude Braun, of Schenectady, his children, Annelise (Brett) Wood, of Schuylerville, Nicklaus (Heidi) Braun, of Medford, NJ., Emily Braun (Kyle Fitzgerald) of Wolcott, special friend, Charlotte Seals, of Erieville, sisters; Annette (Kevin) Tirrell, of Deerfield, MA., Ellen (Steve), Palladino, of Groton, Katharine (Mike) Hyrny, of Schenectady, a brother, Claude (Sue) Braun, of Cazenovia, grandchildren, Lily, Leo, Emma, and Marcus. He is also survived by

Eric DeGroat and Amos (Jennifer) DeGroat and beloved grandson Ayden, stepchildren, Rueben, Daniel Wednesday, Jennifer, step-grandchildren Mallory, Maddy and beloved grandson Ayden, two greatgrandsons and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

To honor Michael’s life, a gathering will be held at the Eaton Fire Department, 2631 Mechanic St., Eaton, NY 13334 on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. Ham, Turkey and a roast will be supplied; please bring a dish to pass.

Interment will be in the Nelson Rural Cemetery.

Contributions in Michael’s memory may be made to US Renal Care Oneida Dialysis, 131 Main St., Suite 101, Oneida, NY 13421 or the American Heart Foundation, or Eaton Fire Department.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, NY 13408.

To leave a condolence online, go to burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com

many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Donations in Rudy’s memory can be made to Cazenovia Aggies FFA, 31 Emory Ave., Cazenovia, NY 13035.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, NY 13408.

To send a condolence online, please visit www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com

The Cazenovia Art Trail’s 2024 New Artist Application is available on-line at www.art-trail.org.

The deadline to participate is April 30th

The Cazenovia Art Trail is an annual self-guided tour of artists’ studios which is a unique opportunity for the public to meet artists in their working environments. This event is free and open to the public.

We hope you will

Donald Stehle

Michael T. Markowski

Rudolph M. Braun

Mary E. Valletta

owned appletree

Creations

Our beloved mother, grandmother “Babba,” and great-grandmother Mary Elaine (Radway) Valletta passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter Jennifer and family in Mooresville, North Carolina, on Feb. 2, 2024.

Mom was mother to seven of us. She leaves behind Theresa (Foster), Beth (Catranis), Lisa (Maloney), Michael, Jennifer (Michel), Joshua, and Nathaniel, and also her remaining brother, Vernon Radway of Florida.

Her children and their spouses, 26 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren are spread out from California to Tennessee and North Carolina, to Pennsylvania and New York, north to Nova Scotia and overseas to the Netherlands and Germany.

Mom was born in Elkins, WV, on June 28, 1934.

She spent much of her childhood in Boston, but the family returned to Pompey, N.Y., before the end of high school.

She graduated from Fabius Central School in June of 1951 and completed her college degree at Syracuse University studying both art and education.

Elaine was awarded a Teacher’s Certificate in art in September of 1957, and she worked as an art teacher in Baldwinsville the following year.

During that time she met her future

spouse, Frank Valletta, of Gardner Road, Pompey, at the “Old Stone Store” in Pompey.

They married on April 6, 1958, at the old Pompey Firehouse, and celebrated 62 years of marriage in 2020 before Frank passed away.

Elaine always wanted to be a mother, and she and Frank quickly started their large family.

During the years while Frank was a school teacher and then an athletic director, Elaine managed and beautified their home and the children.

She loved to create a warm and welcoming space for family and friends. As an artist, Elaine was always working on a new household project or encouraging and delighting in her family’s creative endeavors.

As a stay-at-home mom, Elaine was always present at her children’s sports or musical events. Together they often traveled to support their grandchildren’s events, or even took them along on trips. Elaine also held down the home front while Frank was engaged for decades in service to the community.

By the time retirement came along, Frank and Elaine knew they wanted to pursue their interest in American folk arts and crafts. Together with Elaine’s designs, they opened Appletree Creations.

They began with hand-carved wooden figurines of Americana scenes, moving on to larger American Folk Art

Share your milestone celebrations!

animals. They spent close to 30 years after retirement producing, traveling and selling their unique line at craft shows in the northeast, retiring from that work in 2019.

Elaine was all about exploring and appreciating our incredible world. She loved traveling! She and Frank volunteered for many church-sponsored overseas missions trips helping with many types of service projects; for Elaine these became opportunities to befriend strangers. She loved lighthouses, finding fields of sheep, enjoying new scenery, immersing herself in the ocean breeze, discovering charming local restaurants and shops, tending her flowers, standing in awe of every new sunset and so much more.

First and foremost, Elaine treasured spending time with her children, grandchildren and greats. She made each of us feel uniquely loved and appreciated.

Elaine and Frank were devoted and faithful Christ followers and church members; they spent the last 30 years serving in various capacities at Pompey

Community Church, the same church Elaine had attended as a youngster. She was known for her warm hospitality, her striking creativity, abundant energy and love for life, and most of all her passion to spread the love of God shown in Jesus His son, her precious Savior. We will miss so very many things about our mom, our Babba, but we are incredibly thankful for the gift she was to each of us.

Please join the Valletta family for a service to honor both Frank and Elaine, which will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Pompey Community Church.

A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pompey Community Church for their children’s playground and pavilion to serve the community. Send donations to: Pompey Community Church, 2555 Berwyn Rd., Lafayette, NY 13084. Condolences for the Valletta family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.

Eagle Newspapers is here to help readers share their milestone celebrations, including birth announcements, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. The deadline to submit an announcement is 10 a.m. the Friday before publication. Announcements of up to 250 words with a photo cost just $50, with an additional 15 cents per word over 250 words.

at Cazenovia Presbyterian Church, 7pm. Better understand the basics of the complex immigration process, and hear personal stories from two New Americans who came to the US from Iraq and Afghanistan. Their insights can help answer questions about how to best welcome refugees into a new community.

4/16 - Energy Efficient Homes, Zero Net Housing a Panel Discussion at the Cazenovia Library, 6-7:30pm, hear from our three panelists who have built net zero homes

4/19 - Earth Day Cleanup with Caz Garden Club, 10am1pm, Meet at the parking area at the south end of the lake.

4/20 - Winter Farmer’s Market at the American Legion, 26 Chenango St, 10am - 1pm

4/21 - Earth Day Fair presented by ‘United Climate Action Network’ at the American Legion, 11am3pm, Electric Vehicle show, vendors, performances & activities for children, workshops & informational presentations for adults and Vietnamese Food Truck.

4/22 - Earth Day at The Haven At Skanda, 4am - 4pm, volunteer with the animals, in the gardens, and on the trails to beautify Skanda! Register

Mary E. Valletta

Diana Carpenter

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health and life coaching certification and then went on to get her mastery certificate in transformational life coaching. Bold Beginnings Coaching LLC was established in 2017.

Mitchell meets with clients in person, on Zoom, or over the phone. Although her sessions are individualized to each client’s needs, they all have the same basic structure.

“We always start with reviewing what’s going well, followed by how the action steps I gave them [to complete] in between sessions went,” she said. “Then we talk about what [needs] attention at that point in time. The end of the session is when we set steps to complete between sessions.”

Mitchell, who left Cazenovia after college, returned last September after living in Minnesota, California, North Carolina and New Jersey.

“It feels so wonderful to come back to this community that I love so much and to hopefully make a positive impact on the place that gave me so much growing up,” she said.

In addition to offering individual coaching, Mitchell has an online group for women going through divorce that she has been running for two and a half years. In the next year or so, she is also planning to launch a local in-person support group for women going through divorce, a support group for empty nesters, and an empowerment group for girls ages 9-11. For more visit boldbeginningscoaching.com or email nancy@boldbeginningscoaching.com

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best podcast category at the Hermes Awards, silver in the best podcast category at the Anthem Awards, and silver in the best podcast host category at the Communicator Awards.

Most recently, the podcast received a 2023 Speak Up Talk Radio Positive Change Award and a 2023 Davey Award for Social Good.

Christina is also the author of the book “Not Just Chatting: How to Become a Master Podcast Interviewer,” in which she shares her interviewing expertise to inspire the next generation of podcast hosts.

On May 2, Christina will present “Embracing Change: Cultivating Positive Body Image in Midlife” at the Cazenovia Public Library.

She is hoping to facilitate conversations that challenge the negative view many women have about their aging bodies.

The presentation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Betsy Kennedy Community Room.

For more information, find the event on the calendar at cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.

To learn more about Christina’s work and her podcast, visit the zestfulaging.com

year, the show won gold in the

OuR vOicE

Prepare for spring

Despite some lingering signs of winter, by the calendar, we are in spring and likely the warmer weather and brighter days of spring are not so far off.

As spring approaches there are often things we do to prepare for the new season. Whether it is a bit of spring cleaning, some repairs or maintenance around the house or out in the yard, there are likely things many of us will be doing to get in the swing of things for spring and summer.

This time of year, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) , an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, reminds homeowners to keep safety in mind.

“Before you use a mower, trimmer, blower, power washer, chainsaw, pruner, portable generator or other piece of outdoor power equipment this season, it’s important to be up to date on handling and safety procedures,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. “We’re all eager to get outside and enjoy our yards, but you also need to take the time to do maintenance to ensure your equipment operates safely for the season and is ready to get the job done.”

The organization shared some tips to help people prepare for spring and make sure there outdoor equipment is safe and working properly.

OPEI, recommends that you read your owner’s manual. Follow all guidelines for your outdoor power equipment and familiarize yourself with the controls. Review how to shut on, shut off, and use the equipment safely. If you have lost your manual, look it up online and save a copy on your computer for easy reference in the future. Inspect equipment. Check the air filter, oil level and the gasoline tank. Also check for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Ensure all safety guards are in place. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative for servicing. If using electric equipment that relies on power cords, make sure cords are in good condition and not damaged.

Protect your power by only using E10 or less fuel in gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment. With today’s higher ethanol content fuels, most manufacturers are recommending a fuel stabilizer be used, especially if you don’t use up all the gas purchased right away. Some gas stations may offer 15 percent ethanol (E15) gas or higher ethanol fuel blends, but any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol can damage, and is illegal to use, in small engine equipment not designed for it.

Store fuel safely. Label your fuel can with the date of purchase and ethanol content of the fuel. Never put “old” gas in your

TuESDAy DElighTS

The big thing on Tuesdays is to remember to take the garbage and recycling bins out. Today was a bit different.

It started … well, not differently, but pleasantly … when I awoke to find our big gray cat named Brother asleep, purring happily by my side. He is a sweet boy who usually sleeps at the foot of the bed. A foretelling?

I was looking forward to that morning, anticipating the arrival of our son, who had would be driving in from Rochester to help with some family business. Later that day, our daughter would be picking her father up to go to see “Pretty Woman” in the city. There was enough of yesterday’s Chinese “take out” left to cover the evening’s dinner. The first of three loads of laundry were in the washing machine. It was going to be a good day.

It got better. I went to get my mail.

Let me explain. I have subscribed to a number of publications for different reasons over the years. I was one of the original subscribers to Living, the Martha Stewart magazine with the aspiration of becoming organized enough to emulate Martha’s sweeping success at home keeping. There was this innovative feature called “good things” that demonstrated how to use ideas and objects in creative, useful ways.

In my mind … terrific.

Could I have arcana chickens that lay colored eggs, an orchard with a zillion types of peaches, several houses with what, at one time, had servants’ quarters, etc.? It became abundantly clear that the answer to these questions was no.

Martha went to jail, the magazine limped along and then expired.

And then social media sealed the fate of many such magazines, decimating what had been a profitable niche in print journalism. But some did continue and I, being eternally hopeful, continued to add subscriptions to fill in for those that left, enticed by slick ads that promised me personal fulfillment and the ability to continue to reinvent myself with decorating and new clothes.

It took a while, but it became abundantly clear that I was not in the group of people to whom these journals were targeted.

I mean, I don’t know anyone who goes away for a weekend packing a pair of jeans that cost more than my first car and some hand lotion that has to be imported. Recipes called for ingredients and equipment that I consider to be exotic and not readily available. What is Za’atar anyway? And I don’t know anyone who would redo their living room by wall -

Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro

papering the ceiling with a zebra print. My taste and that of the editors - were definitely not the same. And then there are the country-focused magazines that are no more country than Times Square is Navarino. In these publications city dwellers who are mostly antique dealers or decorators have a weekend house of more than 3,000 square feet with furnishings that have all been found on antiquing trips through some mountain villages in France. Tell me who takes care of the city and the country houses?

And a pox on magazines that use impossiblyyoung ultra-wealthy entertainment personalities to tell us about the things we should aspire to be or own. A pox! Since I can’t enforce that, I simply unsubscribed - my version of “poxing.”

So…with this in background in mind … what was so special about the mail? Woman’s Day magazine and the Bas Bleu catalog were in the mailbox. I have read Woman’s Day since I was a teen. It was the only magazine in our house, bought by my mother when she went grocery shopping. Its articles are real, relating to ordinary folk. You can actually do what is described on its pages without taking out a loan or travelling to places where you need injections and don’t speak the language. Sure, it’s not a sophisticated exploration of cutting-edge decorating, gastronomy or organizing, but so what. That is what I find charming.

And Bas Bleu? Oh, my!

I am all for rejecting the accumulation of stuff except for books, and Bas Bleu is a catalog that will inveigle me into adding to my collection of books that are still unread. It is, in my mind, a Sunday afternoon before Christmas dreaming with the Sears catalog when I was a child. List and descriptions of titles, mostly from across the pond, British, and lately about WWII or nature, quirky books about ideas or information, a veritable treasure hunt for the unusual that is so very ordinary. There are puzzles and gifts for children on its pages, pages which are laid out in so pleasant a way that I find my time just reading it, a delight, a real delight.

So, between remembering the trash cans and everything else that was good on Tuesday, I found the time for delight, and that is a good thing (to quote Martha.)

Ann Ferro is a mother, a grandmother and a retired social studies teacher. While still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, she lives in Marcellus with lots of books, a spouse and a large orange cat.

the Glens Falls experience

What to say about attending the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys basketball championships in Glens Falls?

Well, that took a few days to process. After a few days of just plain recovering from it. Everything about this event, in this particular venue, demanded full contemplation, about past, present and future, and about how what we love can run into inconvenient reality.

For a long time, for reasons both professional and personal, I had not gone. Too long a drive, too much time away from home, difficulty finding or affording a place to stay – all may have proved valid reasons, even if they sounded like excuses.

All the people I had talked to – coaches, players, parents - raved about the experience, the sense that this was a special event in a special place and it just wasn’t the same if it went anywhere else.

Yeah, about the “anywhere else” part.

From 2017 to 2019, the show went to Binghamton and, with multiple teams in the state final four and barely an hour to drive, I did go, and it was fun and rewarding in its own way, even if one time I had a serious stomach bug.

Most were happy when Glens Falls got the tournament back, even though it took until 2022 to host it again due to COVID. Even so, I again stayed home….until now.

Admittedly the trip was

Random Thoughts

Phil blackwell

partially due to urgency. In a close vote at the end of January, NYSPHSAA’s Executive Committee approved a return to Binghamton for three years starting in 2025, and already those who had long ventured to Glens Falls were grumbling about how it just wouldn’t be the same.

This, along with having two teams (Marcellus and West Genesee) part of the show and the prospect of experiencing the home team having a shot at the Class A crown after holding off Westhill in the regionals, propelled me to go. So did having my wife’s parents set up the hotel room at no charge.

The long drive up into the foothills of the Adirondacks would be a gorgeous one if it were October and all the trees were at peak colors. Yet it also served as a reminder of just why anyone would consider another home for this tournament.

Getting to Glens Falls took 2 ½ hours on my part. It’s much, much longer for teams from Western New York or Long Island, and competitively it may put them at a disadvantage compared to those from our Section or (especially) the hosts of Section II.

Once you reached the destination, though? Friendly people everywhere and, at Cool Insuring Arena (once the Civic Center), a sense of community and importance that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else.

Oh, and the noise. Since the arena is built into the ground

and has a low ceiling, when a big crowd is there it doesn’t take much for the roar to build and when something big happens, it’s loud. Now take all this and then add the fact that Glens Falls High School was playing. When Joe Girard won his state title in 2019, that was in Binghamton with a big crowd, but nothing like this.

Glens Falls’ semifinal was played Friday morning – and there was still 2,000 or so in the building. By the time the final came around on Saturday against Wayne, the line to get in the arena probably stretched half a mile toward the Hudson River.

And when they got in there, it was a true event, overwhelming for anyone to take in. Just imagine what it was like for the players –little surprise that the state Class A final featured a lot of ragged play.

True, Glens Falls fans roared when the Black Bears made the decisive third-quarter run. But they also gave a loud ovation when the announcer noted that a Wayne player got his 1,000th career point.

Glens Falls won. Marcellus and West Genesee did not, both of them stopped just short in tense title games even as they both achieved magnificent seasons.

All of them, though, got to feel just how unique and awesome it was to go for a state championship in this setting. That alone made the trip worthwhile. I was grateful to be there.

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

SuBMiTTED By WhiTnEy KMETz Cornell Cooperative extenSion Snap-ed program team leader

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s the theme is... “Beyond The Table”

“Beyond the Table” can mean many different things for individuals.

This can range from ways we eat our foods, how we can reduce food waste in our community, and how we get the foods we eat, thinking of every aspect of “farm to fork.”

This year’s theme is extremely important because we all have very busy schedules at points in our lives and it is important to become more mindful of how we are eating the foods within our certain environments.

Want to know how you can get involved? Check out some ideas below or create your own!

Try a new fruit or vegetable this month

Plan to eat more meals together as a family

Give family members a role in meal planning

Use herbs and spices to bring out

OpINION

the flavor in foods

If you watch TV, take breaks during commercials to be physically active

Try at meatless meal at home

Practice mindful eating by eliminating screen time during meals

For more information or inspiration, check out this website: eatright. org/health/wellness/awarenesscampaigns/50-ideas-to-get-involvedin-national-nutrition-mont h

This is how our SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators help celebrate National Nutrition Month:

Whitney: I use all my leftover vegetable scraps and slowly cook them with water all day to make homemade stock! This gives my soups a great flavor and I can reduce food waste!

Carol: My husband and I are trying new fruits and vegetables to add more variety to our meals, and I am trying food that I haven’t liked in the past again to see if my taste has changed for them.

We are also going to start eating one meal a week at the table together instead of on TV trays in front of the TV.

Cornell in the community: National Nutrition Month years Ago in history

By CinDy BEll TOBEy

35

years Ago – March 29, 1989

and cross country ski trails.

30 years Ago – March 30, 1994

Some of the students involved in the local home education group, Families for Home Education, are working on an unusual extra-curricular project these days. Nine children, along with several adults, have been gathering on Thursday evenings in the pole barn at the home of Bill and Susan Groetz on Lincklaen Road to help build an experimental aircraft.

Bill Groetz had previously built a two-seater plane in the basement of his home. He enjoyed the experience and decided to turn his hobby into a small business.

But Bill’s wife had had enough and “kicked me out” into the pole barn. Bill mentioned his entrepreneurship at a home-school meeting; inviting whomever to help.

The aircraft they are working on is a type of ultralight, an H-3 Pegasus single-seater. When finished it will be 15 feet long with a wingspan of 25 feet. It will take about 300 hours to build.

20 years Ago – March 24, 2004

For Cazenovia resident Kevin Spillane, the Subway diet made famous by the fast-food chain’s spokesman Jared wasn’t just a way to take a couple of inches off the waistline.

It was also a medical necessity. Subway’s latest marketing and advertising attempts have emphasized the importance of nutrition and promoted submarine sandwiches as a healthy alternative to hamburgers and French fries.

Subway’s creation of a “six grams of fat and under” menu and its new “Atkins wraps” have left many people wanting to lose weight skeptical but curious.

Spillane was diagnosed with diabetes and found himself in a situation where he had no choice but to lose weight and keep it off.

For nine months, Spillane has been eating a turkey sub for lunch almost every day. After six months of sticking to his diet and exercising, Spillane lost 80 pounds.

Glossary of terms - Part Two For recreational golfers

will absolutely be a bene t to you, not only at the golf course but at home, the o ce, parties, etc. because of the favorable impression you will make with your family, friends, associates and yes…even with strangers. Last week I challenged all amateur and elite golfers to send my last two articles to at least “3” golfers they know to help them gain more knowledge and have more fun playing.

Continued from last week…

Terms For Scoring

* Albatross - A score that is “3” strokes under par for a hole.

Example: When playing a Par 5…the 2nd shot goes in the hole…the score is “2”…”3” strokes under par

* Eagle - A score that is “2” strokes under par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 4…the 2nd shot goes in the hole…the score is “2”…”2” strokes under par

* Birdie - A score that is “1” stroke under par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 3…the 2nd shot goes in the hole…the score is “2”…”1” stroke under par

* Par - A score that is “equal” to par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 4…the 4th shot goes in the hole…the score is “4”…”par” for the hole

* Bogey - A score that is “1” stroke over par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 5…the “6” shot goes in the hole…the score is “6”…”1” stroke over par

* Double Bogey - A score that is “2” strokes over par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 3…the “5” shot goes in the hole…the score is “5”…”2” strokes over par

* Triple Bogey - A score that is “3” strokes over par for the hole.

Example: When playing a Par 4…the 7th shot goes in the hole…the score is “7”…”3” strokes over par

* Hole-In-One (Ace) (rare) - When playing a Par 3 or 4…the 1st shot goes in the hole…the score is “1”…

Hole-in-One

e odds of an average golfer making a Hole-in-One are 12,500 to 1..A Tour player3,000 to 1…A low handicapper - 5,000 to 1… Two players from the same foursome making an ace are 17 million to 1…A player making two Holes-in-One in a round is - 67 million to 1.

* Condor (very rare) - Hitting a tee shot in the hole on a Par 5…the score is “1”…Condor ere have been “5” recorded Condors in history...467yds…480yds…496yds…517yds… and 667yds on a Par 6 (only one for a Par 6).

Terms For Beginners

* Gimme Putt - When the ball on the green is so close to the hole, your playing partners say, “that’s good” and don’t require you to nish putting the ball into the hole.

* Shank - When any badly struck golf shot hits the “hosel” (the spot where the head of the club and the sha meet) and the ball goes almost 90 degrees to the right of where a righted golfer is aiming. Any other golf shot that does not hit the hosel…”is not a shank”.

* Yips - e yips are involuntary wrist spasms that occur most commonly when golfers are trying to putt. It was once thought that the yips were always associated with performance anxiety. It now appears that some golfers have the yips due to a neurological condition a ecting muscles, known as focal dystonia. Finally…I now know it’s not my fault.

* Snowman - e term is used to refer to a score of “8” on a golf hole. Why “Snowman”? Doesn’t the numeral “8” look like three balls of snow piled on top of each other that look like a “Snowman”? I rest my case.

* Worm Burner - When you strike a golf ball that barely gets o the ground and just rolls out.

When you become familiar with “all” of golf’s terms, you will receive a Bachelor of Science in Golf from the Pronoun...”Virtually”.

Submitted photo Cornell Cooperative Extension has some ideas to share during national nutrition Month.

First Presbyterian Church to hold Maundy Thursday service

There will be a Maundy Thursday service at First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia starting at 7 p.m.

Maundy Thursday is a solemn day observed by Christians worldwide, which holds great significance in the Christian calendar, particularly during Holy Week.

Years Ago

l From page 7

The Meeting House of the church will be open for those interested in joining in a reflective journey through Christ’s final days. Participants are invited to walk the 14 interactive Stations of the Cross either by themselves or with a friend.

It is a day that commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples and reminds us of the importance of humility, selflessness, and service to others. The service will include an anthem sung by the senior choir, a communion service and an opportunity to experience the Stations of the Cross.

Though it is unclear when or how the “stations” originated, it is likely that they pre-date the Crusades and were walked by many of the faithful who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Each station invites those who undertake the journey to reflect upon a portion of Scripture related to the time between the Last Supper and Christ’s burial as they draw near to the one who has “been tempted in every way just as we are – yet did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

For more information about the Maundy Thursday Service or other Easter Season celebrations, contact the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia at 315-655-3191 or visit the website at cazpres.org

10 years Ago –March 26, 2014

When Cazenovia Fire Department volunteer firefighters went into the first floor of a burning house in Fenner on March 12, they did so in full gear, including respirators and air tanks, with fire tools in their hands, ready to battle whatever came their way. The fire that started in the chimney and was whipped into a frenzy by 25-mile-per-hour winds ultimately engulfed the roof and attic, making the structure unstable and forcing a firefighter evacuation and an “exterior attack” with water hoses.

Although the Cazenovia firefighters – with mutual aid – were unable to battle the blaze from inside the house, when they went in they were trained, capable and prepared to do their job – the payoff of the department’s constant drilling and training of its members.

One such instructional exercise occurred last Wednesday, when 18 volunteer members when through self-contained breathing apparatus training while completing an obstacle course set up inside the department’s truck bay.

“There’s a lot of training involved before anyone goes into a burning building,” said Captain Shain Emerson. “This [obstacle course] hones the skills in what might happen in a worst-case scenario. It really gets the blood pumping and the adrenaline going.”

10:00 am Readings and Hymns in Celebration of our Risen Lord

Special music: Ryan Hobart on Trumpet and Chris Schierer on Trombone