Cazenovia Republican digital edition - May 17, 2023

Caz College celebrates the Class of 2023 - its final class

graduates welcomed into the alumni community

By KAtE Hill Staff Writer

On Saturday, May 13, Cazenovia College presented its 198th commencement. A large crowd of alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, parents, friends, and neighbors of the college community gathered on the campus quad to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2023, the final group of students to graduate from the historic institution.

On Dec. 7, 2022, the college announced its plans to permanently close following the spring 2023 semester due to financial difficulties.

Founded in 1824, Cazenovia College is the eighth-oldest private, independent college in New York State and the 28tholdest independent college/university in the United States.

On graduation day, the degree candidates and faculty members arrived at the packed quad in a procession led by the Mohawk Valley Frasers pipe band.

Following an invocation by Father Kevin Corcoran, the National Anthem by alumna Jaylah Wilson ‘22, and a welcome from Cazenovia College President David Bergh, Valedictorian Sarah Cole took the stage to address her classmates.

According to Bergh, who introduced her, Cole completed her environmental biology degree in three years while playing on the college’s soccer team and participating in many other activities outside of the classroom.

In her speech, Cole encouraged her classmates to take the time to recognize that the Cazenovia College experience is one of a kind.

“There are so many unique experiences that we have all had just because we came to this college,” she said. “For example, many have had the opportunity of continuing or starting new sports at a competitive level. Not many people can say that they started

a new sport at the college level and were actually able to play in every game. We were also able to present our work and research to the town members and other distinguished members of our fields. These were amazing opportunities that many [other] schools could not have had the chance to have.”

Cole also said she hopes her fellow graduates realize that the connections they have made at the college are also unique and enduring.

“Most college students never get the opportunity to even talk to their professors, let alone become close with them,” she said. “I have had the amazing privilege of learning about my professors’ lives, and I know that they will support me in my future decisions. The same is true for the staff members; most students at other schools have not even spoken with the landscapers, maintenance workers, dining staff, or janitors of their school. I’m sure most of you know the names of at least a few of these amazing people here, and we are better for having known them. Being at a school this size means we know everyone.

. . We have all become close through the many activities held through the school. .

. That truly was a wonderful thing, and it made this experience a much happier one. Even though we will all be apart from each other after today, the connections we have made here will be lasting ones.”

Following the presentation of the student awards and honors, Bergh recognized Dr. John B. McCabe as the recipient of the distinguished service award, which recognizes individuals whose contributions to the college and the greater community have helped to improve the quality of life for others.

At Cazenovia College, McCabe has served as a trustee, chair of the academic affairs committee, and a member of the board executive committee. In the past six months, he has played a large role as a representative on the board teach out committee, dedicating countless hours to attending college leadership meetings and representing the board on numerous working groups.

Outside of the college, McCabe serves as board chair of the Rescue Mission Alli-

ance, board chair of the Loretto Management Corporation, volunteer and medical director for the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and former board member and vice president for Hope for the Bereaved. Recently, he received the board leadership award for his service to Loretto at the 2023 Non-Profit Awards presented by the CNY Business Journal.

According to the college, McCabe is a retired professor and chair emeritus in the department of emergency medicine at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, where he served as chief executive officer of University Hospital/Health System and senior vice president for hospital affairs at Upstate. He was a professor in the department of emergency medicine, for which he was the founding chair in 1992 and where he was also instrumental in developing the residency program in emergency medicine. McCabe was also the founding fellowship director of the program in undersea and hyperbaric medicine at University Hospital.

Bergh next introduced Dr. John Robert Greene as the 2023 commencement keynote speaker.

Greene, who was known as “the national face of Cazenovia College,” taught at the school for 42 years.

Prior to his retirement this past January, he served as the Paul J. Schupf Professor of History and Humanities.

Greene started at the college in September 1979 as a part-time instructor while also serving as manager of the campus radio station. He became a full-time faculty member in 1984, was tenured in 1987, and was named a distinguished faculty member in 1993. He was awarded the college’s first endowed chair, the Paul J. Schupf Chair in History and Humanities, in 2000 and a distinguished service award in 2021. Upon his retirement, he was awarded the title of professor emeritus.

Greene was also the program director of the history department, he co-directed the dual major program in history and social science, and he served several

Class of ‘23 l Page 12

CAVAC seeks volunteer members, recognizes National EMS Week

By KAtE Hill Staff Writer

The Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) is currently seeking additional volunteer members, especially nighttime drivers.

Established in 1974 and currently based at 106 Nelson St., the local ambulance service relies on volunteer drivers, crew coordinators, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and general members, as well as paid professional paramedics. A high school student corps also supports its operations.

In addition to providing emergency medical services (EMS), CAVAC also serves the community through the short-term loaning of medical equipment, such as crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. Additionally, the organization has a New York State-certified child/baby car seat installer. The no-cost service can be arranged by calling 315-655-9798.

According to CAVAC driver and EMT Scott Whitmore, the agency has two identical ambulances and transports patients to the following

hospitals: Crouse, Upstate, Community, St. Joseph’s, Hamilton, and Oneida.

Whitmore said CAVAC always has a primary ambulance with a driver and a paramedic on duty to respond to a first call. Ideally, there is also an EMT on the crew.

He added that the organization would ideally always have a backup driver and paramedic scheduled to be available to respond to a second emergency if the primary ambulance is already out on a call.

“They would need to come into [the] base at CAVAC, and there may or may not be a second call when the primary is out,” he said. “. . . A typical scenario would be the primary is out and the crew coordinators will attempt to find a backup driver and paramedic or an EMT to handle a potential second call.”

If a backup crew is not secured and a second call for service comes in, CAVAC must request aid from other agencies.

Whitmore noted that CAVAC also sometimes covers calls for other agencies with mutual aid agreements if they are unable to respond.

Submitted photoS the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) is currently seeking additional volunteer members, especially drivers available to work the 6 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 6 a.m. shifts.

Cazenovia Fire Department and a few other nearby volunteer fire agencies with EMT members often respond to medical calls in CAVAC’s district. However, their vehicles are not equipped for hospital transport. “. . . Over the course of the year, we may average around three calls a day,” said Whitmore. “As an example, we had no calls on May 3 and we had seven calls on May 4, so having backup was more important that day

as the primary rig was out often.”

To assist crews when they are out on calls, residents are encouraged to ensure that their house addresses are visible from the street and to post their prescription medications on their refrigerator doors.

Currently, CAVAC has three paramedics who work most of its shifts, and some additional paramedics who may pick up one to two 12-hour shifts a week, according to

Whitmore.

Volunteer positions

CAVAC’s volunteer drivers are primarily responsible for driving the ambulance to the scene of an emergency, to the hospital, and then back to base. They are also responsible for helping the paramedic and/or EMT with equipment, lifting patients as needed, and cleaning and restocking

CAVAC l Page 11

Kate hill

The nearly 200-year-old Cazenovia College presented its final commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, on the campus quad.

Lorenzo historic site set to open

Situated in historic Cazenovia, Lorenzo State Historic Site is the 1807 Federal style home of John Lincklaen, Holland Land Company agent and

founder of Cazenovia. It was continually occupied by family until the property and contents were conveyed to New York State in 1968.

The imprint of Lorenzo’s residents, including the enslaved people, servants, and many employees required to run the estate, can be found at every turn.

Camera club plans event at the Great Swamp Conservancy

By KAtE Hill Staff Writer

On June 3, Cazenovia

resident Jerry Hook and other members of the Canastota-based “Swamp Snappers Camera Club” are hosting a free threepart open house at the Great Swamp Conservancy at 8375 N. Main St., Canastota. The event is open to anyone interested in developing their nature photography skills.

The event, titled “A Guide to Nature Photography,” will begin at noon with an hour of handson camera setting advice given by the club’s experienced photographers. Participants are invited to bring their cameras and questions.

From 1 to 2 p.m., professional photographer Ed Guarente will present on the eagles of Onondaga Lake.

Guarente is based in

Central New York and has over 30 years of professional photography experience. For much of that time, he specialized in senior, wedding, and studio photography, but when the COVID pandemic hit, he shifted his focus to nature photography. He has captured many images of the bald eagles on Onondaga Lake.

Guarente’s presentation will cover camera equipment and settings,

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advice for capturing outstanding images, and some basic Lightroom and Photoshop image enhancement tips.

From 2 to 3 p.m., the Swamp Snappers will lead a guided tour through the Great Swamp Blue Heron Trail to the Great Blue Heron Rookery, where over 30 nests currently stand. The club members will be available to answer questions, help with camera settings, and more.

Members of the public are welcome to attend only the parts that interest them or join in all three.

The not-for-profit Swamp Snappers Camera Club typically meets on the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Great Swamp Conservancy.

Hook, who is one of only a couple of Swamp Snappers from Cazenovia, said he hopes the upcoming event will encourage more Cazenovians to join the club, especially since the community does not have a camera club of its own.

“The big thing [about the event] is we are offering a free membership for

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From May 19 to Oct. 2 visitors to Lorenzo can enjoy guided tours of the mansion furnished with 160 years of Come

Jerry hooK

On June 3, Cazenovia resident Jerry Hook and the other members of the Canastota-based Swamp Snappers Camera Club will present a free three-part photography event at the Great Swamp Conservancy. Pictured: Great blue heron taken at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

one year if you join that day,” he said.

Hook added that he would love to form a Cazenovia-based camera club, but because he doesn’t live in town yearround, he thinks he is

probably not the right person to get one up and running.

To learn more about the Swamp Snappers and the Great Swamp Conservancy, visit greatswampconservancy.or g

original furnishings. Explore the visitor center for the history of Cazenovia, building of Lorenzo, and an amazing carriage and sleigh display. Visit the museum shop which features a unique selection of Lorenzo merchandise, books, and gift items. The grounds are open daily, year-round, dawn until dusk to stroll through the Ellen Shipman-designed formal garden and Dark Aisle Arboretum or hike the connective trail through the 87-acre site.

This season Lorenzo will unveil a new exhibit, Art as Memory: What We Leave Behind. Guest curator, Elisabeth Genter Montevecchio has chosen to display some of the personal expressions of art, such as sketches and needlework, left behind by Lorenzo’s residents and their families. As you explore, she invites you to consider: what did your ancestors create for you to remember them by? What will you leave behind? What does history look like to you? Meet the curator at the free opening reception on June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. This exhibit made possible thanks to a New York Hu -

manities Grant, and is on view with guided tours through Oct. 9.

Location: Lorenzo State Historic Site, 17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia.

Dates for 2023 Season: May 19 through Oct. 9.

Days Open: Wednesdays through Sundays, and Monday holidays

Times and tours: 10 to 4:30 p.m. Tours available every half hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m.

Contact: For more information: call 315-655-3200, visit parks.ny.gov, or connect on Facebook.

May 20 at 1 p.m.: Join us as speaker Merri Ferrell presents “19th Century American Carriages.” The presentation will cover the industrialization of carriage production in the United States. Merri will include the specialized trade groups who undertook painting, trimming, and other design work. Her talk will also highlight Brewster & Company, an American carriage company established in 1810.

Merri Ferrell started her museum career at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, and later was curator of carriages at Maymont, the 105-acre estate of Mr. &

Mrs. James H. Dooley in Richmond, VA. Following this she became curator of carriages and the carriage reference library at the Museums at Stony Brook (now the Long Island Museum) in Stony Brook, NY. Merri created a ground-breaking conservation program for horse-drawn vehicles and has been a preservation advocate throughout her career. Today, Merri is a contract museum consultant, volunteers at the Metropolitan Museum cataloging their collection of Brewster & Company drawings and is the executive manager of a 443-acre equestrian facility.

Lorenzo’s collection of thirty-three horse-drawn vehicles was donated in the 1970s by Mrs. Walter Oakman, great grandniece of the estate builder. In the 1930s, saddened by their destruction to make way for automobiles, and determined to save the remnants of the horse-powered era, she began collecting. For Preservation Month, Lorenzo would like to pay tribute to Mrs. Oakman’s forward thinking in not only preserving an important mode of transportation, but also a link to an American industry and the

people it employed. Admission to the event is free.

Don’t miss your old favorites, such as the Friends of Lorenzo Garden Gala on June 8, Lorenzo Driving Competition celebrating their 45th year on July 14-16, or “Community Day” at the Rippleton Schoolhouse on September 24.

For something new, enjoy the Caroga Arts Collective concert on the lawn Aug. 13. Stay tuned to friendsoflorenzo.org for information on their pre-concert fundraiser.

Visit for Christmas at Lorenzo from Dec. 5-10 and enjoy this year’s display of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”.

For more information call 315-6553200, visit parks.ny.gov, or connect on Facebook.

Lorenzo State Historic Site is operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation which oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites that are visited by over 75 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks. ny.gov, connect on Facebook, or follow-on Twitter.

OuR vOicE

Teacher appreciation

For those of us who have completed our years of school, from elementary school on to high school and even through college, it is likely we have some perspective that let’s us look back and think fondly of some of our favorite teachers.

Even for students who are still in the midst of their school days, there are probably teachers they have already created special bonds with or moments where they feel that their teacher has made a difference in their lives.

This influence can make a big difference.

It can come in any of the myriad things teachers do that resonate with a student.

Whether it is taking those extra minutes to listen when a young student has a story they are excited to share or taking that extra time to help work through a math problem or listening to a student’s ideas on the meaning of a classic book or showing appreciation for writing skills or fanning the flame for students with a love of the arts or music or encouraging them to go the extra mile on the athletic field, teachers have an influence that resonates.

In some cases it can even be this influence that helps us on our path to follow our passions and study harder, or push ourselves to explore new ideas in college or even helping us find our path in our adult lives with careers that were inspired by those little extra bits of encouragement we got from that teacher that we remember years later.

Needless to say the role teachers play in our lives is not one that is easily confined or defined by the strict parameters of the school day and can have a lasting impact on our lives.

According to pta.org, since 1984, the National PTA has designated one week in May as a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children.

Last week, the first full week of May, was set aside as that week to stop and think about the educators in our lives and the lives of our children and to show our appreciation.

In recent years teachers have shown an incredible ability to adapt and keep working to offer the best possible education for students.

In 2020 as everything closed there was a great deal of uncertainty about so much, including how schools would function.

Teacher rose to the challenge of teaching remotely and adapting lessons to this new reality. This was no small task and one that had to come together fairly quickly.

Even as schools returned to normal, teachers had to adapt to split schedules where students were present part of the time and remote other days.

And even now as schools have returned to more or less normal teachers are still working to address the challenges that the past couple of years posed, often going the extra mile to help students who may need a little extra help.

This is all in addition to the many hours teachers put in on evenings, weekends and holidays to grade work, prepare lessons, make evaluations and numerous other tasks that cannot be done during the regular school day.

Many teachers even go above and beyond purchasing supplies and other needed materials for their classes with their own money.

For many of us the pandemic may have given us a little more insight into what it is like to be a teacher and a better sense of the work they put in every day.

For many of us this has helped give us a deeper appreciation for the role educators play in the lives of our children and this has carried on even as things returned to normal and we see all the work teachers continue to put in for our children.

While the appreciation week has passed, like any other profession, extending courtesy and appreciation can go a long way.

It never hurts to reach out to your children’s teachers and have a conversation, ask questions and let them know the work they do makes a difference.

Or for other ideas visit pta.org to get some thought on ways to show appreciation for local teachers.

A BROKEN SyStEM

Today was glorious – warm with the sun shining. I thought, “I’ll go outside and work in the garden.”

Sure, I will. I bent over to pull a weed and had to grab onto the porch railing to prevent myself from becoming an embarrassing example of stupidity. Vertigo in one or another of its dizzying manifestations has been my unfortunate identifier for some time now.

I went to my new doctor about two months ago with a detailed description of what was identified by previous physicians as orthostatic hypotension and benign postural vertigo, not one malady but two. I get to use the word comorbidities here. We came up with a plan.

The plan was for me to seek help from physical therapy for the latter and to wear a Holter monitor for a bit to eliminate or identify any cardiovascular issues with the former. Someone from the cardiologist office would call me about the Holter monitor. OK.

I’ve been going to physical therapy. I think that it is helping. I use the word think because becoming dizzy, short of breath, etc. are symptoms of both. For a while I could truly say that the symptoms were intermittent, but no longer … more mitten than inter.

So, I waited to hear from the specialist to whom I was referred to have a Holter monitor fitted. I waited for almost a month. My ability to carry on normal activities was declining rapidly.

“dizzy dame” was not at all inappropriate. A “patient” patient was also correct but the patience was wearing thin. A month seemed a bit long to wait.

I called my doctor’s office. Was it something I had failed to do that was holding up my access to this test? They assured me that I would be contacted “any day” now. “Any day” passed, so I calmed my umbrage and I called the specialist. They had no record of a referral for the device. I could only get a Holter monitor if I saw the cardiologist and the first appointment available was in late June. Are you kidding?

That seemed odd, since my PCP was the one ordering the device. Did he have to get the approval of the cardiologist?

Approval from the cardiologist? I was under evaluating who second guesses the physician the doctor’s plan would have to go through. I had worn one of these devices in the way-back time when they were huge and didn’t remember having to wait at all.

Back to the primary doctor. The response was “There must be some mistake, someone will call you.” No one called.

Last week I got a letter from EviCore, a firm that is hired by Excellus to evaluate whether or not I should be allowed to have a Holter monitor. Luckily for me, this company, located somewhere in the southern U.S., decided that I could have one. Apparently, there is something special about me because my spouse, who purchases the same health insurance as

I do, got a Holter monitor within five minutes of the doctor telling him that he would need one. No referral, no waiting, no scrutiny of what the doctor wanted. The nurse went to a supply cupboard and got one. Actually, I have permission to get a cardiac event monitor which is a bit different from a Holter monitor. Who made the change? The guy at EviCore?

So two and a half months after one was ordered, I got a phone call from the cardiology department to report mid-May to get not a Holter monitor but a Holter event device with instructions to wear a shirt that opens in the front.

But wait. Want more of the source of my frustration? My spouse had a referral to another specialist and again, no one called. I followed up with the primary care doctor who said that the office would look into this. The next day I received a call from the specialist and made the appointment.

This morning we received a call apologizing for our long wait and telling us that the specialist had not received the original referral. The primary care doctor’s office would help us set up an appointment with the specialist. When I told the nurse that we had an appointment this Thursday, her response was “the system is broken” It sure is. The trick is to not have it break me or my spouse.

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.

BEt ON A CRiSiS, SOON

First there was the news that Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired. Then there was the suspension of more than three dozen athletes from Iowa and Iowa State.

Each of these events, hundreds of miles apart, were connected by the strong, singular thread of sports betting.

Bohannon lost his job because he was communicating with a person making wagers on the Tide’s game with LSU. In Iowa City and Ames, the situation involves bets perhaps coming from the players themselves.

And all this came on the heels of the NFL suspending a handful of players for their wagering, even if had nothing to do

CWR thanks supporters

To the editor:

On May 6, a beautiful spring Saturday, Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees (CWR) hosted a two seating fundraiser dinner at St. Peter’s Church. 150 community members attended. We would like to thank these community members who supported us. We also would like to thank the community members who wanted to come, but couldn’t, because we were sold out. This community awareness and participation are what makes Cazenovia a great place to live, work, go to school and enjoy recreation together. These are the attributes that CWR wishes to offer to new American families who choose to start a new independent, productive and peaceful life in our town and village.

CAROlyN HOlMES, PAuliNE CECERE, COllEEN StEVENS AND CARlA ZiMMERMAN Cazenovia

Support electric buses

To the editor:

Each year, our school districts purchase new buses, and it’s time they buy electric. Electric buses have something for everyone.

1.) Electric school buses are actually cost effective. After New York State’s reimbursement, an electric bus would only cost our districts $5,600 more than a diesel bus would, a difference that would quickly be recouped by savings on fuel and maintenance costs. Electric buses are 85% cheaper to use and maintain than diesel buses.

2.) An electric bus emits 62% fewer

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with football but was on other sports.

Really, is anyone surprised by this?

Five years have passed since the Supreme Court threw open the doors for legalized sports books in all 50 states. What was once illicit, and covert, was now out in the open.

No doubt, you have noticed, if you’ve watched any sports event on television. Pre-game, during the game, after the game, and in every single commercial break, it’s all about the odds, the prop bets, the point spreads, anything but, you know, the game itself.

True, a fraction of the audience has always centered their interest in a contest on whether they might make a few bucks out

emissions than a diesel bus. School buses, by design, drive through neighborhoods with children. We literally send our kids out to wait for the diesel bus and to breathe in diesel exhaust fumes. Every parent--I am one--should ask our school districts to prioritize the health of children and transition to electric school buses.

3.) Each electric bus reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds a year. Kids learn about climate change in science class. Shouldn’t they also know that their schools are making budget decisions with sustainability in mind?

My child attends F-M school district and I love her school, but I am baffled that the school district is planning to replace diesel buses with diesel buses. It makes no sense. We have the opportunity to drive (sorry) into a better future. We should do it.

SARi FORDHAM manliuS

Thanks for your support

To the editor:

The Cazenovia High School Parent Teacher Student Association would like to thank local businesses and parents for generously supporting our weeklong celebration of our high school teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. The PTSA was able to show our high school educators our appreciation last week largely because of the generosity of our community’s local businesses and our high school parents and families.

The PTSA would like to extend a thank you to all the local business that donated gift cards. We thank Owera Vine -

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of it. Now, though, it’s like they’re the only audience, and the other fans are fools for only caring about who won or lost.

Athletes see all this and are just as immersed in it, if not more than the outside audience. And they are human, just as vulnerable to temptation as all of us.

Drill down to the so-called “amateur” sports, and the picture gets more complicated. Even with the advent of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) funds now available to all college athletes, we all know they’re going to get largely funneled to stars in the revenue sports by scrupulous and not-so-scrupulous individuals.

In other words, the starting quarterback is sure to get compensated, but others? They’ll have to get by on their scholar

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yards, The Brae Loch Inn, The Brewster, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Purpose Coffee, Kalamata Pita, H. Grey Supply Co., Lillie Bean, Jasmine Rae Floral Design, Cazenovia Abroad, Hearthstone Bakery, Lincklaen House, 20 East, The Pewter Spoon, Carriage Barn Books, Gabrielle’s Chocolates, Caz Pizza, J. S. Hight Fine Wines and Spirits, Mad Tacos, Loka Leaf, Nelson Farms Country Store, McCarthy’s Irish Pub, and The Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed. And, Dunkin’ for their donation of donuts and coffee for the entire High School staff. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and generosity that these businesses showed when the PTSA invited them to help celebrate our Cazenovia High School teachers.

We would also like to thank all the parents that made monetary donations, donated food items, and/or their time to make this week so meaningful. A big thank you to the parents that donated and delivered items to the High School. And, to all the parents that showed up and donated their time and energy to put together the week’s events, we couldn’t have done this without you.

A special thank you goes to our parent volunteers who began organizing this special week many months ago. These parents recognized the impact Cazenovia High School teachers have on our youth and created a week-long celebration to show how much our community appreciates their dedication to their profession and their devotion to our children.

Thank you Cazenovia!

CAZENOViA HiGH SCHOOl PtSA Cazenovia

Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro Random Thoughts Phil Blackwell

FROM THE MAILBAG

Crisis

Years Ago in History

By Cindy Bell ToBey

32 years Ago – May 15, 1991

“Operation Zero Zebra,” a program to prevent the Zebra Mussel from entering Cazenovia Lake, has taken steps to enlist the help of the Cazenovia Village Board.

The board of directors of the Cazenovia Lake Association met May 1 to consider ways to avoid a possible infestation and outlined a plan which would involve the help of both the village and town boards. On May 6, lake associaiton board members Connie Getmen and Robert Hofstead spoke at the village board meeting, giving trustees some background about the Zebra Mussel and ideas about prevention.

The lake associaiton asked for town board for help on May 13. Mr. Hofstead explained that the Zebra Mussel is a real threat to Cazenovia Lake, one that makes the Eurasian Milfoil seem like a “mere nuisance.”

The rapidly multiplying mussels can close off intake pipes and cling to piers and walls along the shore. Steam cleaning of boats is believed to cut down on chances of the mussel moving from one lake to another.

22 years Ago – May 16, 2001

They envision a place where community members of all ages will gather for recreation and socializing, where area youths can have fun and freedom in safety. The Cazenovia skate park committee, which was secured about 500 signatures in favor of the park, and has raised about $1,500 in contributions, meets weekly at Common Grounds Coffeehouse.

Its goal is to renovate the Burton Street park into a recreation facility for all ages, focusing on the skate park, which will accommodate skateboarders, rollerbladers, ice skaters and ice hockey players.

“Burton Street stood out because it was already an athletic facility,” Nancy Sellers said. “They were talking about renovating it anyway.”

Plans call for picnic tables at the park so parents could socialize while their children skated.

“Kids will always find someone there,” said Josie Glos. “It’s of great comfort to a parent,” Julie Mattina added. The Cazenovia Community Skate Park would be unsupervised.

All skaters would have to register at the village office and comply with posted rules and regulations, which include mandated wearing of helmets and refraining from abusive language and any substance from food to alcohol.

12 years Ago – May 18, 2011

The Cazenovia Baseball and Softball Association celebrated the start of the season for players 9 years to 12 years old on Saturday May 7, with their annual Opening Day Parade.

The ceremonial stroll began at Burton Street Elementary School, as the players, lead by Cazenovia Fire Chief Gil Hodges driving Engine 131, marched to the Burton Street Fields.

The opening ceremony was conducted by Terry Damon, president of the Cazenovia Baseball and Softball Association.

Damon acknowledged the importance of volunteerism to support a community baseball and softball program, and thanked the many program volunteers from past to present. Cazenovia High School junior

Kelly Dougherty sang a beautiful rendition of the national anthem and Mayor Thomas J. Dougherty delivered an inspirational speech.

2 years Ago – May 19, 2021

On Saturday, May 15, the newly repaired and rerestored 1835 Lincklaen House Sign was unveiled during a brief rededication ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at the corner of Albany and Lincklaen street, the historic sign was accidentally knocked down by a Town of Cazenovia snowplow this past winter.

According to Highway Superintendent Dean Slocum, the plow was turning around at the intersection when the back of the wing caught the pole; in the process, the sign fell off. The distinctive roadside hotel/tavern sign was first erected in 1835 when The Lincklaen House was built.

According to a 2017 article in the Cazenovia Republican, the sign was taken down around 1870 when the hotel temporarily closed down, but it was replaced upon the reopening. In the early 1980s, the Village of Cazenovia took responsibility for the sign.

ships – if they even have them, as plenty of athletes in non-revenue sports don’t.

It’s not a stretch to think that the Iowa and Iowa State players in question fall into this category and could prove vulnerable, even if they all know they cannot wager on any events or risk losing their eligibility.

Oh, and add to it how easy it is to download a sports wagering app and get hooked.

What’s going on now in the United States already happened in Great Britain and Canada. Sports books were legalized thanks to effective lobbying from the gaming industry, widespread betting followed, and so did the stories of men (mostly men) increasing their bets, gambling more, falling into inescapable debt, depression, even a few cases of suicide.

Human nature knows no geographic boundaries, so all of these trends, multiplied by population and betting opportunities, are sure to turn up on these shores, too.

The only question is what form the crisis will take. In the 20th century, without all the forms of technology at our disposal now, we had the Black Sox, various college basketball point-shaving incidents, Paul Horning and Alex Karras suspended by the NFL and Pete Rose kicked out of Major League baseball.

All that we’ve seen so far remains relatively small-scale, nothing vastly organized or involving big names known beyond sports circles. But with billions floating out there and so many sports intertwined with them, no great leap of imagination is required for a larger scandal that could paralyze a particular league.

To ask for pure morality is pointless – such loud proclamations are usually accompanied by vast hypocrisy. Still, you can acknowledge the presence of wagers without subjecting an entire broadcast to their whims, or centering an entire storyline of a game around a point spread.

As seen at Alabama, and again on two college campuses in Iowa, it doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to have our fun and games called into question. So many outlets, with so many ways and means to wager, are close at hand. It will take extraordinary focus to avoid a bigger mess. Not to mention some luck.

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

the ambulance after returning to base. They typically work six-hour shifts, but some circumstances may require extended shifts.

“If someone is on from noon to 6 p.m. and there is a call at 5:45 p.m. before your replacement comes in, you still need to respond to the call,” explained Whitmore. “And if that becomes a hospital transport, your six-hour shift could end up being eight.”

CAVAC is currently experiencing a need for drivers available to work the 6 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 6 a.m. shifts.

The midnight to 6 a.m. shifts can be done from home with a pager if a driver lives close enough to the base. CAVAC also has a bedroom for drivers to sleep in.

EMTs, who also work six-hour shifts, assist the paramedics as crew members on advanced life support calls. They may also handle basic life support calls on their own, serve as backup medical, or fill in as a driver.

Crew coordinators work at the base, ensuring that all shifts have coverage, contacting backup crews, answering the phone, logging call information, greeting the occasional walkin, and handling other administrative duties. They work four-hour shifts between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“We ask for two shifts a month for drivers, crew coordinators, and EMTs,” said Whitmore. “Some work three or more a week; most work one shift a week. . . Since drivers, crew coordinators, and EMTs are all volunteers and some still work, the numbers we have for each position are less critical than the availability to cover open shifts. So, we could add 10 more

drivers, but depending on their schedule availability it may not help address some of our scheduling pain points.”

Whitmore applied to CAVAC after retiring from his job and shortly after moving to the area. He saw the organization as a good way to get involved in his new community.

“Initially, I was a driver and then decided to take the EMT course,” he said. “[My] son had a sudden cardiac arrest when he was 25, and first responders made the difference in his survival.”

For volunteer Greg Wilt, his decision to join CAVAC was motivated by his own neardeath experience.

On July 4, 2022, Wilt, who was 53 years old at the time and appeared to be the picture of health, experienced a massive heart attack in his Lincklaen Street home following a 64-mile bicycle ride.

Wilt’s then-girlfriend, now-fiancé Amy Farry, who is a registered nurse, discovered him immediately and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but there was no pulse, so she yelled down to her son to call 911.

The local first responders, who were gearing up for the annual Fourth of July parade only a block and a half away, arrived on the scene in no time, resuscitated Wilt with an automated external defibrillator, and transported him to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, and doctors applied two stents and performed an angioplasty to clear the full blockage in his left anterior descending artery.

Just 48 hours later, he was discharged with the expectation that he would make a full recovery.

2023 Kathryn Fish Lecture Series

Following that harrowing experience, Wilt decided to ‘pay it forward’ and give back to his community by becoming a volunteer CAVAC driver and telling his story to the CPR classes at Cazenovia High School.

According to Wilt, the classes are part of the high school’s eighth- and 10th-grade health curricula.

“Each eighth and 10th grader gets CPR trained every school year,” Wilt said. “They have the opportunity to receive certification by paying a small fee.”

Wilt added that he believes CAVAC is planning to start offering public CPR classes on a regular basis.

“My health event was very dramatic, which allows me to draw attention to several things — the importance of getting regular heart health screenings, getting CPR certified, and CAVAC’s need for volunteers,” he said.

CAVAC EMT Steven LaFever, who is currently a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University, said the hands-on patient care experience he gained in the CAVAC student corps played a major role in his decision to go into medicine.

“I decided to join the student corps because some of my friends were already part of it and it seemed like an exciting and interesting experience,” said LaFever, who graduated from Cazenovia High School in 2018. “I also realized

I might not have that opportunity again and didn’t want to miss out on it.”

LaFever went on to attend Boston College, where he became an EMT his first semester to stay involved in EMS.

“At Boston College, I studied biochemistry and public health, and while I loved both of those subjects, my EMS experience showed me that I wanted something where I was applying information and having an immediate impact on someone’s health, which led me to medicine,” he said.

Despite his current busy schedule, LaFever continues to enjoy and look forward to volunteering with CAVAC during the summers and school breaks.

“The people in CAVAC are wonderful, and it allows me to keep my EMT skills sharp while also practicing things we learn in medical school such as taking patient histories and physical exams,” he said. “I also find it very rewarding to help people in the community and feel very lucky to be in a position where I can give back.”

In recognition of the 49th annual National EMS Week, May 21-27, 2023, CAVAC will be hosting an open station day on Sunday, May 21.

To learn more about applying to become a CAVAC volunteer, visit cavacambulance.org or stop by the base.

terms as chair of the social and behavioral sciences division. Additionally, he was director of the Wheler Conference on World Affairs and director of the Washburn Junior Research and Teaching Fellowship Programs. He was the advisor to the Alpha Chi Honor Society and the college archivist, and in 2000, he published the book “Generations of Excellence: An Illustrated Biography of Cazenovia College.”

Greene endowed the annual Mary Rose Greene Scholarship and donated all proceeds from “Generations of Excellence” to student scholarships.

Known nationally as a leading scholar of the American presidency, he has edited or written 20 books, including works on Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush. He serves as a subject matter expert for national and local print and broadcast media outlets and appeared for 17 years as a regular faculty panelist on WCNY-TV’s “The Ivory Tower” political and public affairs talk show.

Greene began his keynote speech by acknowledging the dedication of the school’s faculty and emphasizing that he had no intention of delivering the college’s eulogy

that morning.

“This moment today does not call for a eulogy,” he said. “A commencement is a beginning, not an ending. I am here for one reason and one reason only — to speak to and about the class of 2023.”

According to Greene, this year’s ceremony had the highest attendance he has seen in his 42 years at the college.

“Every single person here, folks, is here for you,” he said to the graduates.

Greene commended the class for exhibiting undeniable courage and resilience while navigating “a unique and often terrifying set of times.”

He pointed specifically to the COVID19 pandemic when the college community was dealing with quarantine, illness, masks, and online classes.

“Staying was scary, and yet you stayed,” he said. “. . . You bounced back, you didn’t hide, you didn’t quit. You pushed toward your goal of a college degree and a college education. That’s what resilience is.”

Greene also highlighted the fact that all the students seated in front of him are college educated, which he noted is true of only 32 percent of the American population.

“You’re going to pick up a diploma [in a few minutes], and that diploma does not say ‘Cazenovia College closed,’” Greene said. “Nothing, no set of circumstances can take away [that] accomplishment. Nothing, ladies and gentlemen of the Class of 2023, can cheapen that accomplishment. It’s yours, you get to keep it for the rest of your lives.”

Greene concluded by stating that although the graduates have achieved this significant success, they all remain “unfinished” and must now take their next steps toward achieving future successes.

“We are going to be there with you — some in spirit, some in person — but we await successes that you can’t even dream of today,” he said, “. . . You are ready, perhaps more ready than you think you are. You, as a class, have made [life] decisions

that no class that preceded you ever had to make. In a way, you got the most liberal education of any group of students that I have ever taught. Watching you make those decisions every single day made me proud to be a member of the faculty of this place. You are ready for your next step.”

After the graduates received their diplomas, Bergh delivered his Charge to the Graduates, during which he applauded them for their perseverance during this challenging school year and welcomed them to the ranks of the tens of thousands of Cazenovia College students who graduated before them.

“As you prepare to depart with your degree, accept the congratulations of the entire campus community on this single achievement as well as those achievements we all know will follow,” Bergh said. “You are an extraordinary class, a class we will miss, and a class that we will remember always.”

Alumni Speaker Dacia Banks then addressed the college’s newest group of alumni.

Banks has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration. After receiving a bachelor of science in liberal and professional studies from Cazenovia College in 1994, Banks held positions in academic affairs, community service, resident life, admissions, and financial aid at Class of ‘23 l Page 13

CAZ BASEBAll’S ByRNES NO-HitS CBA, 1-0

By PHil BlACKwEll

At any advanced level of baseball, including the high school ranks, pitching a no-hitter is a big accomplishment. Pulling off two of them in consecutive games is rare - and even more special.

Cazenovia has done this, with Jack Byrnes following Jack Donlin’s May 4 gem against Homer with one of his own last Tuesday at Robert Dubik Field to defeat Christian Brothers Academy 1-0.

All kinds of circumstances made this performance even more special. It was Cazenovia’s Senior Day and each of the four - Byrnes, Sully Clarke, Jacob Grevelding and Jacob Szalach - would make major contributions.

Also, it was quite an opponent. CBA had started the season winning its first 10 games before a tough 6-4 defeat to a strong West Genesee squad just the day before it came to Cazenovia,

and the Brothers boasted a strong, deep lineup of powerful hitters.

None of this affected Byrnes, who had struggled in his last start May 2 against Bishop Grimes but more than atoned for that here, recording 10 strikeouts while overcoming two walks and twice hitting Mike Giamartino.

Defensively, Byrnes got help from Clarke and Szalach, who both made great catches in the outfield, Clarke’s sliding grab in the second inning the best one of the afternoon.

It remained 0-0, with CBA pitcher Ryan Petrie keeping Cazenovia off the board despite two hits apiece from Szalach,and Grevelding, until the bottom of the fifth Byrnes started the rally with a single, moved to second and then raced home when Clarke singled. Though Teddy Meade relived Petrie and blanked the Lakers the rest of the way, Byrnes got the last six

SAFE SliDE: Cazenovia baseball’s Jack Byrnes slides into second base in last tuesday’s game against Christian Brothers Academy, where Byrnes pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory less than a week after teammate Jack Donlin threw a no-hitter against Homer.

outs and preserved his nohitter.

A far more conventional game at Mexico followed on Thursday, Cazenovia defeating the Tigers12-2 as it took charge

with seven runs in the top of the first and added five more runs in the fourth and fifth.

Joey Awald went threefor-four at the plate with a double, two singles and

three RBIs. Szalach’s pair of singles helped drive in three runs as Donlin, while wild at times with five walks, struck out seven and limited Mexico to three hits.

On the road throughout this last week of the regular season, Cazenovia is traveling to Sknaeateles and Solvay and also has a game agianst Chittenango on Tuesday afternoon.

Chittenango was 6-3 going into the week and would take its own shot at undefeated defending sectional champion Westhill last Tuesday afternoon on its home field amid a stretch of five games in six days.

All Westhill did was score six times in the top of the first inning off Kyle Peryer and go on to rout the Bears 14-2. All Chittenango could manage was two hits and single runs in the first and third innings, each scored by Ben Welch as Cooper Smith was credited with an RBI.

Just before it faced Westhill, the Bears defeated Clinton 8-1 as pitcher Carlos Torres-Carman set a career mark with 16 strikeouts while only allowing three hits.

Chittenango jumped out to a 7-0 lead through four innings as Torres-Carman also got an RBI. Welch led the way, his two hits driving in a trio of runs as Ty Kelly and Zailor Caras each scored twice.

More followed the Westhill game, the Bears going to Homer Thursday and again struggling in a 12-2 defeat to the Trojans as four Chittenango pitchers gave up 13 hits between them. Kelly did get two hits and an RBI.

Turning this around on Friday, the Bears beat Central Valley Academy 6-1, netting runs in four consecutive innings starting in the bottom of the second and pounding out 12 hits before taking a 5-2 defeat to Skaneateles a day later.

Caz track seniors cap perfect run with meet win

By KuRt wHEElER

The Cazenovia girls track and field team topped off an undefeated regular season with a 126-15 victory over Phoenix last Tuesday at Buckley-Volo Field to capture the OHSL Liberty-National league title.

This victory was even sweeter for the team’s seniors who capped a perfect 16-0 career in dual meets. After losing their 9th grade season to COVID-19, the Class of 2023 ran off three unbeaten seasons and three league championships, part of a broader string of five in a row for the program and 11 in the past 13 years.

Senior captain Faith Wheeler led off the landmark victory with an outstanding 2:32.4 leg in the 4x800 meter relay. Reid McMurtrie matched her pace exactly in the second leg with Izzy Stromer-Galley and Senior Julia Reff also handling the baton to run a season best time of 10:20.8 to win the race. Wheeler returned later in

the meet to win the 3000 meter in a time of 11:59.6.

Fellow captain Corinne Albicker was also brilliant for the Lakers, winning three events, including victories in the 100 meter hurdles (17.6 seconds) and 400-meter hurdles (1:12.5). Captain Bonnie Pittman was just steps behind, capturing second in both events, including a season best time of 1:14.2 in the 400 hurdles with Meghan Mehlbaum (1:14.3) completing the Cazenovia sweep.

Albicker also won the long jump (15 feet 8 inches) with Susie Pittman (14’11”) and Sophie Rheaume (14’11”) shutting out the Firebirds. Pittman returned to win the triple jump (33’9”), with Albicker second.

Senior captain Grace Dolan earned four victories including individual wins in the 400 (1:01.4) and 200 (career best of 26.8 seconds) while also leading off the Lakers’ winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Freshman Alyssa Wardell backed up

Dolan in the 400 with a personal best of 1:05.6 and returned with fellow freshman Audie Spring (29.7 each) to complete a Laker sweep of the 200. Wardell, Mehlbaum and Maura Phillips all added to the Laker victory in the 4x400 (4:31.0).

Senior Caitlyn Smithers joined Dolan, Spring and Rheaume to win the 4x100 relay in 53.6 with the “Seniors only” Cazenovia team of Jane Lee, Erin Kuhn, Cady Webb and Sami Carnahan also beating out the Phoenix foursome.

Smithers earned a victory of her own as she led a sweep in the pole vault, clearing 9 feet for first, with Susie Pittman second at 8’6” and Wheeler third at 8 feet.

Senior Riley Knapp capped off the Class of 2023’s winning efforts with a career-best time of 12.9 seconds for first in the 100meter dash with Smithers second at 13.4 as Spring (13.6) and Rheaume (13.7) also ran sectional times in the event.

Cazenovia’s juniors also got into the winners’ circle during the meet as Zoey Gagne won the 1,500 in a personal best time of 5:31.0 and Maddie Rothfeld won the shot at 29’6” and the discus with a personal record throw of 82’1”. Fellow juniors Karly Vaas (26’10” in the shot) and Olivia Morse (74 feet in the disc) also scored in the throws.

Not to be outdone, sophomore Susie Pittman and Freshman Maura Phillips also added first place finishes as Cazenovia won 16 of 17 events.

Pittman added to her triple jump victory with a winning leap of 4’8” in the high jump that was equaled by Mehlbaum for second. Phillips led a sweep of the 800 with a winning time of 2:39.1 as Lily Kogut and Lauren McLean also ran season bests to score.

Cazenovia would be back in action Monday as they strive to win their fifth straight Onondaga High School League Liberty League meet at Marcellus.

the college. She went on to work at Albany Medical College and SUNY Morrisville, and in 2020 she received her master’s in higher education administration from SUNY Stony Brook.

A dedicated and active alumna, Banks received the young alumni award from Cazenovia College in 2006, the volunteer of the year award in 2008, was a member of the alumni board of directors from 20042013, served as a trustee from 2006-2014, and was president of the Cazenovia College Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2007-2013. In 2013, she received the distinguished alumni award. Most recently, Banks was the interim president of the alumni board of directors from 2021-2022.

“As you graduate, you are leaving a

campus of people that you are very fa-

miliar with and going on to a very different world,” Banks said in her address.

“You are, however, being welcomed into a much larger group, the Cazenovia College alumni. The Cazenovia College alumni are a family, and your graduating class is the baby of the family. . . You are the youngest of the crew. You will always be known as the last to walk this campus, the last student government, the last athletic teams, and the last to walk this stage. Everyone will continually look back at your accomplishments. You are part of a rich history, so please do not ever forget that. As you go off to various places, be proud of the fact that you are Cazenovia graduates.”

Banks also encouraged the graduates to lean on and assist their fellow alumni going forward and to make themselves available to each other by organizing gatherings and setting up social media events, among

other considerations.

“The important [thing] is to stay connected,” she said. “The doors of the campus may close, but the hearts of those who have come to know you will remain open. As alumni, we are now brothers and sisters of Cazenovia College. We look out for one another.”

At the end of the ceremony, all the Cazenovia College alumni in attendance were invited to join Wilson in singing the school’s alma mater:

“Sunlit Owahgena’s waters

Dash their spray on high; Nearby stands our Alma Mater, Famed in years gone by.

Hail thee fairest Cazenovia!

When from thee we part;

Yet thy name we’ll ever rev’rence

Fairest of our heart.”

Banks and each of the 2023 graduates received commemorative Cazenovia College coins featuring the college seal on one side and the alma mater on the other.

Cazenovia Garden Club initiative

Leading up to graduation day, Cazenovia resident Sandi Patrizio spearheaded a Cazenovia Garden Club-sponsored initiative to plant blue and gold pansies in baskets and planter boxes throughout the village as a sendoff to the college.

“We usually go from Christmas to June with nothing in the boxes, but this year I decided that with [this being the college’s last graduation] and with family coming into town, we should do something to honor them,” Patrizio said.

She added that she knew pansies were available in blue and gold, but she didn’t realize how difficult they would be to find.

“I didn’t get all blue and gold, because it was just not available, but I did the best I could to get as much blue and gold as possible [and put] blue and gold ribbons on Dave’s Diner,” she said.

Cazenovia College’s official closing date is June 30, 2023.

A gathering was held to honor the 50 years of the

Gathering celebrates 50 years of equine

at Caz College

Alumni, faculty and friends gathered at Cazenovia College in mid-April to honor the 50th anniversary of the school’s equine program.

“I think the word bittersweet defines this spring,” college President David Bergh told the crowd of 250 gathered at the Equine Education Center.

In mid-May, the final class will graduate, and the nearly 200-year-old college will close forever, a casualty of debt and declining enrollment.

But this day, Bergh said, was for remembrance and celebration.

“It’s important to know that the legacy of Cazenovia College doesn’t end here, and the legacy of equine – equestrian – is intertwined with that legacy and will go on with you,” he said.

In the center’s arena, program Director Barbara Lindberg led a toast to everyone and everything that made Cazenovia one of the premier equine programs in the Northeast, with a nationally recognized Equine Business Management specialization.

“The program is more than just a building,” said Lindberg. “The program is more than its star students. It is more than your favorite professors … The program is all of you.”

She toasted as well to absent friends and to the beloved school horses, all of whom will go to new homes, some to the former students who’d dreamed for years of owning them. And indeed, a shared passion – for horses, for riding, for excellence – is the thread that runs through the equine program’s five decades.

The program was approved in 1973 and the first students entered in 1974.

At that time, Cazenovia was a two-year college, and those earliest grads received an associate’s degree in physical education with an equine studies option. Within a year, it became

a standalone associate’s program in horsemanship and stable and farm management.

Weese Sullivan Moore, a member of that first graduating class, has taught hunter seat riding classes as an adjunct for more than 30 years while running her own communitybased equine business.

Ann Fowler, an adjunct and the longest serving faculty member, has been with the program since 1983, first as barn manager then as a dressage instructor and – although she is now retired from that job – a nationally honored coach of the dressage team.

Of the students, Fowler said, “I’m so proud of their integrity, their horsemanship and their work ethic … I have so many memories. I truly do.”

In 1996, with Cazenovia’s transition to a four-year college, equine business management became a four-year specialization.

With it came a new 240-acre equine center, built in 1999, with stalls for 74 horses, classroom space, multiple outdoor riding areas and a heated indoor arena that twice played host to the national finals of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

For Dylan Dombrowski, a 2016 grad who ribboned twice at the IHSA finals in reining, the absence that will be felt with the college closing is immeasurable. He said the difference Cazenovia made in his life was, in a word, everything.

“It was an essential part of getting me to where I am, an essential part of all my goals,” Dombrowski, a sales supervisor at Purina who still competes in reining, said. “Everything is the word I think of … When I look at my life – personal, professional, my place in the horse world – it all links back to this college. When I say everything, I’m not exaggerating. Every aspect of my life is connected to this college.”