Nelson Corners Festival returns for its second year

by kAtE Hill Staff Writer

The Second Annual Nelson Corners Festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Nelson Farms Country Store parking lot at 3261 US-20. The event will include live music by Syracuse-based recording artist and singer-songwriter

“Just Joe”; beer from several local breweries; the Erieville Volunteer Fire Department’s chicken BBQ fundraiser; Mad Tacos “Fest Specials;” burgers, soft drinks, and other offerings from Terri’s Quick Bites And More; Nelson Creamery ice cream; and a homemade lemonade/bake sale to benefit the Old Drovers Tavern (ODT) at the northeast corner of the Nelson four corners.

The ODT is a project of the Nelson Preservation Associates (NPA), a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of historic Nelson, NY. The NPA is working to preserve the ODT building and to rehabilitate the entire property to create economic and community-use opportunities.

In addition to its lemonade/ bake sale, the NPA will have a table with a presentation on the organization’s progress and next major project plans, a 50/50 cash raffle, 2024 ODT desk calendars for sale, a bottle and can return, and information on the NPA’s account with CazCans. The organization will also be offering tours of the tavern.

“The tavern has served our area as a community touchstone for over 200 years, and we are honored to be working to restore not only its physical structure and appearance but also, with time, its historic community services of fine food and drink, family entertainment, and good times for neighbors and visitors,” said NPA CEO Nancy Demyttenaere. “The money raised during the Nelson Festival will be used this fall when we will finish repainting the tavern in its color scheme from

1874. Can’t wait for everyone to see it. Lots of fun to look forward to.”

The festival’s “beer garden” will feature offerings from Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Foothill Hops Farm Brewery, Underground Beer Lab, Buried Acorn Brewing Company, Seneca Street Brew Pub/Erie Canal Brewing Company, and Talking Cursive Brewing Company.

Adults ages 21 and older can pay $17 and show a valid photo ID

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Village board updated on Cazenovia College campus

by kAtE Hill Staff Writer

During the July 5 Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees meeting, Mayor Kurt Wheeler reported that as of that evening, negotiations were still ongoing between the Cazenovia College bondholders and the New York State Police, which are intending to lease “the lion’s share” of the college campus as a location for a temporary, secondary training academy.

The mayor informed the board that the June 15 deadline for the state police has been extended to Aug. 1 and that David Bergh, Cazenovia College’s most recent president, said he is optimistic that the negotiations will wrap up prior to that date.

“They are still working towards a consensus on the terms of the lease, so he is still optimistic that that is going to happen, but the timing is going to be tight between when they take over the campus and when they want to start training cadets,” Wheeler said. “We still anticipate that as being the outcome, but I will believe it for sure when I see the signed contract.”

According to Wheeler, the police are currently seeking to lease the central village campus, the Stephen M. Schneeweiss Athletic Complex at the end of Liberty Street, and a couple of other buildings. They do not plan to lease the Jephson/South Campus on Albany Street or the equine education center outside

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Kate Hill

During the July 5 Village of Cazenovia board of trustees meeting, Village Clerk-treasurer susan Dady swore in Kurt Wheeler (left) as mayor and Thomas Tait (right) as a village trustee.

The resolution contains a “negative declaration” for the purposes of State Environmental Quality Review.

According to Town Attorney John Langey, the declaration is based on a Full Environmental Assessment Form prepared by GHD.

“The question [is], ‘Will there be some significant negative environmental impact by fixing or upgrading our treatment plant?’” Langey said. “I think the obvious answer is ‘No, there won’t be.’ I think we can agree to that.”

The next step in the process, according to Langey, is for the town board to hold a public hearing to receive input on the proposed increase and improvements.

The public hearing will take place during a special meeting on Thursday, July 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the town hall.

During his report, Langey stated that the town has been very busy working on the project and has held multiple meetings over the past couple of months.

“It’s moving forward at a rapid pace,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to submit an application for a grant program [July 28].”

According to Town Supervisor Bill Zupan, the town has been exploring a facilities improvement project since last year when it hired a company to evaluate the plant infrastructure.

Zupan also commented that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is expected to make amendments to the town’s permit that will raise the standards the facilities will have to meet.

“We haven’t gotten the permit yet, so we don’t know, but [Jim Cunningham, operator of the facility], knows that at every other plant he runs, the limits have been lowered on discharge,” Zupan said.

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