Cazenovia veteran honored

Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla, United States Air Force, Retired, was recently inducted into the Air Force Cyberspace and Operations Support Hall of Fame.

Basla received this honor in recognition of his outstanding service to the nation while in uniform and his contributions to other national and community service organizations since retirement.

Basla spent nearly 36 years on active duty and retired out l From page 1 Town of the Pentagon in November 2014 as the Air Force chief information officer and chief of information dominance reporting to the secretary of the Air Force. While in that position he spearheaded and signed the first Air Force Cyberspace Flight Plan. This plan documented the Air Force efforts to combat global cyberspace threats to national security.

During his career, Basla served on several operational and headquarters units.

From 1988 to 1991 the

He first recognized Tom Driscoll, who was a past Cazenovia Town Board member and dedicated his time and energy to many other organizations throughout the community.

Chamber

l From page 2 nesses will donate as well and that he would like to see another $10,000 raised to provide further support for future community events. general commanded a communications squadron named best in the Air Force.

“I believe very strongly that if all the businesses work together, we can accomplish a lot of great things, as we have in the past,” Monforte said.

Between April 2000 and May 2001, he served as the director of command, control, and communications for the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. There he was part of the leadership team enforcing a United Nation Security Resolution against Saddam Hussein.

Upon his return from Saudi Arabia, Basla was assigned to one of his three Pentagon tours. During that assignment the 9/11 attack occurred. He spent the next several months overseeing communications support to the Global War on Terrorism.

Reger also highlighted the service of Deborah Kenn, of the Town of Nelson, whom he said he had the privilege of working with briefly on the Cazenovia Area Joint Youth Recreation Program.

“Both will be missed,” said Reger.

The mission of the GCACC is to benefit the local economy and enhance the community’s quality of life by actively serving, representing, and enhancing business growth and success, and by providing programs and activities to improve interaction between local businesses and the Cazenovia area communities.

For more information on the GCACC, visit cazenovia.com.

As a vice director on the Joint Staff he developed draft policy for public attendance of dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base where America’s fallen heroes’ return home.

President Obama approved the proposal and made it national policy. Today national media witness and capture these solemn events.

From 2009 to 2012 he served as vice commander of Air Force Space Command and led the effort to integrate the new cyber mission area in that command.

Since retiring, Basla has remained engaged in service activities and received other recognitions.

He served on the National Board of Directors for the Armed Services YMCA and the International Executive Committee of the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association.

In 2015 UAlbany named him its distinguished alumni of the year and in 2022 the

Submitted photo

Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla, United States Air Force, Retired, was recently inducted into the Air Force Cyberspace and Operations Support Hall of Fame.

Town of Salina in Syracuse co-named the street he grew up on Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla Way.

Basla now lives in Cazenovia with his wife Rebecca.

There he serves as first vice president of the Lions Club and started a family business. Each year he partners with the Wounded Warrior Project to sponsor a family picnic for wounded warriors, other veterans, first responders and their families on his Maples farm.

Mindful of motorcycles

It has been a long road out of winter and it seems as though the spring and summer seasons are at last making an appearance in Central New York.

As with the change to the winter months, the warmer months also bring some changes we all need to be cognizant of when we are driving.

This is a time of year when there are more people on the road in cars, on bikes and motorcycles.

Whether it is with a destination like a vacation or a weekend adventure or just a long family drive taking in the fresh air, there will be more traffic on the roads in the coming months.

Taking the time to be mindful of others and giving yourself extra time to get where you are going are always good ideas regardless of the time of the year.

Aside from more vehicles there will also be more motorcycles on the road.

According to AAA, April was dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and this segues into May’s theme which is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

There are roughly 8.6 million motorcycle owners in the U.S., according to AAA.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the number of on-road motorcycles registered in the U.S. has risen over the last ten years, doubling from 4.3 million in 2002 to 8.6 million in 2021.

While many love the feeling of freedom and the wind as they move down the road out in the open, this does leave motorcyclists exposed in a way other motorists are not.

According to the National Safety Council motorcyclists are more vulnerable to crashes than any other driver.

In 2007, the mileage death rate for motorcyclists was 37 times greater than for passenger car occupants.

Motorcycle safety also is an issue of increasing concern – fatalities involving drivers and motorcyclists increased 131 percent between 1998 and 2008, according to the National Safety Council.

May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness month and the NSC has several tips for motorists and motorcyclists alike to keep in mind.

The NSC has recommended that cars leave a greater following distance between themselves and motorcycles.

Drivers should also show extra caution in intersections. Most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle.

Drivers should never try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Always give a motorcycle the full lane width.

It is important to remember that it is a two way street and motorcyclists also need to be mindful of their surroundings and the more exposed nature of being in the open on a bike and the different limitations that a motorcycle has compared with a car or other vehicle.

According to the NSC, motorcyclists should avoid riding in poor weather conditions.

Motorcyclists should position their motorcycles to avoid a driver’s blind spot.

Many crashes occur because motorcycles are hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot.

Motorcyclists must use turn signals for every turn or lane change.

Drivers should always make a visual check for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic, according to the NSC.