Meadows

Draws Concerns Board Approves Tentative Village Budget

By kAtE hill Staff Writer

During the April 3 Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees meeting, a group of Burton Street area residents voiced their concerns regarding The Landing at Burke Meadows, an incoming affordable senior and family housing complex on 14.96 acres of land east of Burton Street.

Several of the individuals who live in the vicinity of the development brought up such topics as the impact of the project on the area’s vegetation and foliage, privacy issues, property damage, the potential strain of the development on existing infrastructure, drainage issues and flooding, a loss of their neighborhood’s charm and character, resident safety, unanticipated changes to the scope of the project over the years, and contractors starting construction too early in the morning.

Submitted photoS search of a host for the student from Gaza.

For the past several months, Pat Carmeli, of Cazenovia, has been hosting foreign exchange students medhat al-rubei from the Gaza Strip, and Andy topchiev, from Bulgaria.

Eventually, Jeannin reached out to Carmeli to request that she take in not one but two young men.

“With a certain amount of trepidation, I said I’d give it a try,” said Carmeli. “She brought them over to meet me and then brought them to my home sometime later.”

This trip is al-Rubei’s first experience outside of the Gaza Strip.

“Medhat is from Gaza, which is also known as the largest open-air prison in the world — called that because Israel controls the borders and rarely allows people out,” said Carmeli. “. . . It’s a sad fact that I have seen so much of his ancestral homeland, and he has seen none of it. Despite this, his English is excellent. I guess it’s the wonder of kids all over the world watching US television. . . He’s a smart kid, and when I think of the explosions he has had to hear raining down from F-16s, I shudder. Of course, I’ll have his face in front of me every time I hear of new conflicts in Gaza.” al-Rubei said he decided to study in the US because he likes to try new things and wants to

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Carpenter’s Barn, library to host free theater arts classes

By kAtE hill Staff Writer

This spring, theater artist and author Barbara Gregson and musician Eric Porter will present free theater arts classes for adults at Carpenter’s Barn and the Cazenovia Public Library.

The theater and music classes and performances will be held from April 17 through May 20 under the direction of Gregson and with music by Porter.

Gregson and Porter, who both live in Chenango County, work with people of all ages and abilities to create original shows featuring mime, improvisation, storytelling, masks, and live music.

With funding from a CNY Arts grant, the pair plans to present workshops for two groups of people in Cazenovia this spring. On Mondays, starting April 17, Gregson and Porter will work with adults ages 18 and older, including those with disabilities. On Wednesdays, starting April 19, the pair will work with adults ages 40 and older.

According to Gregson, each group will have five classes/rehearsals and then perform a final live show.

The inclusive adult group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cazenovia Public Library Community Room on April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8, and May 15. A pre-show rehearsal is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn leading up to a 1 p.m. final performance in the same location.

The 40 and older adult group will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn on April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, and May 17. The group will hold a final rehearsal on Friday, May 19 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. before performing for friends and families at 6:30 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn.

Both adult groups can accommodate 20 people.

“I love the theater because it is a collaborative art form and combines so many different art forms,” said Gregson. “In order to create an original piece with a group, everyone needs to participate, n the acting techniques, [and then] work in a small group and create their vignettes/pieces for our show. Everyone has to use their imaginations and creativity and then ‘play.’ I have so much fun and love seeing everyone’s creativity and artistry unfold as we write our show. For many adults and seniors, they have never had this arts opportunity before or not for many years. It is never too late to ‘Imagine, Create, Play!’”

Gregson has been a professional theater artist since 1975. She studied acting, playwriting, and storytelling in London, mime in Paris, and mask-making in Italy and the US. According to Gregson, she uses ancient theater traditions and methods, such as mime, acting, improvisation, storytelling, and maskmaking techniques, accompanied by live music, to create her theater performance pieces and shows.

Submitted photoS theater artist and author Barbara Gregson (left) and musician Eric Porter (right) will present free theater-making classes for adults at Carpenter’s Barn and Cazenovia Public library from April 17 through may 20.

“Since 1983, I have received state and local Arts Council grants to work with groups of people of all ages and abilities, in prisons, schools, institutions, senior centers, and [professional] theaters, so they may learn this accessible theater-making process in order to create their own community theater pieces and productions.”

Gregson is the author of “Theater Artists

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Developed by Housing Visions Unlimited, Inc., the 49-unit project includes a two-story, 33-unit building (19,500 square feet) at the top of the hill and four townhomes (2,420 square feet), each containing four units.

Twenty-seven of the units in the large building are reserved for seniors ages 60 and older.

The development’s remaining 22 units are not age-restricted, and a senior could live in them as well.

Ten of the total units — six in the large building and four spread out in the townhomes — are set aside for individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness and in need of supportive services.

Support will be provided by Community Action Partnership for Madison County (CAP), which will have an office onsite.

The development’s supportive housing units will specifically serve individuals with mental illness, survivors of domestic violence, and young adults ages 18-24.

Construction on the development began in early January 2023.

During the meeting’s public comment period, Emick Lane resident John McDermott, who moved to Cazenovia with his wife in February 2021, read a letter outlining some of the concerns that he and many of his neighbors have regarding the development.

“We believe there was a lack of adherence to and/or inadequacy of the review process and due diligence by our village representatives in regard to this project,” he said. “Environmental impacts were not provided enough consideration, traffic studies were superficial and done in haste, sewage and water system capacity issues were ignored, and municipal services, such as fire, police, and ambulance corps, do not have plans to scale in order to meet the new demands provided by this new development. It is evident that an external business entity and its corporate agenda was prioritized over the well-being of the existing village residents. In order to address this and avoid it happening again, a critical assessment of all the events leading up to the approval of this development plan should be done.”

McDermott explained that he does not Village l Page 14