Cazenovia Republican digital edition - Aug. 30, 2023

September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival returns

By kAtE hill Staff writer

As summer comes to an end, CazArts creative alliance is preparing to welcome the change of seasons with its September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival, four weekends of local arts events.

CazArts is a non-profit organization that works to promote the creation and appreciation of the arts in the greater Cazenovia area.

According to a CazArts press release announcing the festival, the schedule features 22 free events at various locations.

“[We invite] you, whether local or visiting for the weekend, to enjoy this beautiful historic village as the leaves are turning and summer breezes off the lake are tinted with the breath of autumn air and the crispness of our fall evenings,” the press release states.

“With historic restaurants and inns, outdoor dining, strollable pathways through [the] Willow Patch along the Creekside, and sunsets over Cazenovia Lake, the September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival invites you to take a moment, relax, and thoroughly enjoy art within [nature’s] art.”

Jazz-N-Caz

The popular Jazz-N-Caz festival will return for its 21st year on Sept. 6-10 with CazArts as its new home.

The event will be sponsored and presented by

Submitted photoS

CazArts creative alliance will kick off fall with its September Autumn leaves Arts Festival, four weekends of free, local arts events. highlights include Jazz-N-Caz, Autumn leaves Quilting at the library, and the Cazenovia Art trail.

Nascentia Health and will feature performances by world-class musicians in multiple intimate settings throughout town.

Colleen Prossner, who founded Jazz-N-Caz over two decades ago as an employee of Cazenovia College, is producing the music festival again this year.

Six months ago, after the college announced its decision to close, Prossner joined Nascentia Health, where she now serves as vice president of communications and development.

Founded in 1890, Nascentia Health delivers home and community-based health care in 48 counties throughout New York State. For more information, visit nascentiahealth.org

Prossner, who sits on the CazArts board, said that

following the news of the college, she was asked by many community members whether Jazz-N-Caz would live on.

“I wanted to be able to continue the tradition,” she said. “I asked our Nascentia Health CEO Kate Rolf, a philanthropic-minded leader, [about sponsoring the 2023 event], and she was thrilled with the idea to expand our name into Madison, Oneida, and surrounding counties. . . With over 35 musicians playing in the fest at seven locations over five days, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to continue the tradition.”

Autumn leaves Quilting

Throughout September, the Cazenovia Public Library & Museum (CPL) will be celebrating the art of

quilting.

Since the spring, CPL has been working with the Towpath Quilt Guild to execute a community quilting project aimed at producing a banner to hang in the library.

Quilters of all ages and experience levels were given kits to create their own 10 in. x 10 inch autumn leaf quilt blocks to contribute to the project.

All the squares were collected, and the guild members are now working to connect them.

“We had a great response to the quilt square kits, and we have over 60 squares for the quilt banner, so the Towpath quilt ladies are putting together two,” said CPL Adult Programming and Service Coordinator Renee Joseph.

The completed banners will be on display in the library from Sept. 1-30.

The CPL Gallery will exhibit the works of local quilting artist Sharon Bottle Souva from Sept. 2 through the end of the month.

An artist reception will be held on Sept. 15 from 5

to 7 p.m. for the community to view Souva’s contemporary quilts, the community banners, and historic quilts from the CPL Archives. Souva, who has been making quilts since 1976, will share her extensive knowledge and some of her

Willard Insurance Group celebrates two decades of business

By kAtE hill Staff writer

This year, The Willard Insurance Group of Cazenovia is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Owned by Philip Willard and located at 114 Albany St., the agency offers insurance advisory services for auto, home, business, and life.

Looking back at his time in Cazenovia, Willard expressed his great appreciation for the community for embracing and supporting his business throughout the years.

“It has been such a privilege to serve this awesome lake community over the last 20 years, and [I] plan to continue [to do so] for many more years,” Willard said.

Willard currently employs three licensed insurance producers — Paul Little, Jake Fesko, and Patty Smith, who is also the office manager. Fesko is new this year, Smith has been part of the team for over five years, and Little has been with the business for over 12 years.

According to Willard, he and

his employees strive to position

The Willard Insurance Group

“Above all in customer service.”

“Erie Insurance is our core carrier, and they hold the same core values and are rated consistently at the top of New York State insurance office [lists] when it comes to customer service,” Willard said. “We are proud of how we handle our clients and consistently post a 93 percent retention rate.”

He added that even in today’s electronic world, The Willard Insurance Group is still focused on meeting every client in person.

Willard grew up in Camillus and went to West Genesee High School.

After a time living in Washington DC, Willard returned to Central New York in 1995 with his wife, Amy, who grew up in Dallas, Texas.

“After touring the Cazenovia area, we decided that it would be a great place to settle down and raise a family,” Willard said.

“[It’s] one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

Willard and Amy, who recent-

ly retired from the special education department at Burton Street Elementary School, share two daughters who were both born and raised in Cazenovia — Emily, a registered nurse at Duke Medical, and Sarah, a women’s lacrosse coach at Elon University.

Willard worked in the commercial real estate field for ten years after moving back to CNY. After consulting with a few good friends in the insurance field, however, he decided to open a small insurance business in the Village of Cazenovia.

The Willard Insurance Group started out in a storefront on Lincklaen Street across from the post office.

Six years ago, the business purchased its current building, which is now undergoing a complete renovation.

Outside of his business, Willard is actively involved in the Cazenovia community.

He previously served as president of the United Community Chest of Cazenovia, Fenner & Nelson and sat on its board of directors. He served on the board

Submitted photo

the Willard insurance Group of Cazenovia is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. the business is owned by Philip Willard and is located at 114 Albany St.

of CazCares and is the current president of the Cazenovia Country Club. He has also volunteered as a driver for the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps and as a girls’ lacrosse coach.

“In a small town like this, you can be as involved in the community as you want to [be],” he

said. “All the organizations that I have been involved [in] were very receptive and made helping them very rewarding.”

For more information on The Willard Insurance Group, call 315-655-2424 or visit “The Willard Insurance Group” Facebook page.

By kAtE hill Staff writer

On Sept. 9, licensed massage therapist, intuitive healer, and spiritual medium Laura Riposo-Hackney will host the second Nelson Psychic & Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at “Mike’s Pond,” 3733 Old State Rd., Erieville.

The family-friendly event is expected to include psychics, mediums, Reiki practitioners, astrologers, henna tattoo artists, aura readers, bodywork practitioners, and tarot readers; crystals, artwork, and healing/spirituality products; and food and beverage vendors. There will also be a variety of classes and presentations, such as gentle yoga, tiny house tours, an Emotional Freedom Technique tapping session, and an introduction to homeopathy.

Mike’s Pond is a peaceful and healing place for the community to gather to remember loved ones, connect to nature, and enjoy the serenity of the land, pond, meditation garden, and walking trails.

Riposo-Hackney and her family created Mike’s Pond on their property in 2017 in memory of her son Michael Hackney, 26, who lost his life in an accident in 2016.

Michael grew up in Erieville and graduated from Morrisville High School in 2009.

He attended Mohawk Valley Community College and was enlisted in the Army National Guard in Syracuse.

According to his family, he was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing, as well as connecting with people from all walks of life and sharing his knowledge and experiences with others.

“Mike’s Pond was built as a way to not only keep Mike’s legacy alive but to also provide a space for the community where there is love and light, a ‘soft place to land’ where people can experience the outdoors in a way that sparks joy within their hearts, just as it did for Michael,” said Nelson Psychic & Wellness Fair Coordinator Julia Liotta.

Michael’s family hosted the first Nelson Psychic & Wellness Fair last September.

“When Michael died, our world crumbled, and I felt as though we were thrown into a bureaucratic system that was missing love and compassion,” said RiposoHackney. “For the past 30 years, I have been immersed in a community of spiri-

tual practitioners, teachers, and visionaries. Since Mike and I shared a love of helping and gathering with all types of people, it felt like this event would be the perfect merging of love, healing, and connection to a piece of Heaven on Earth.”

According to Liotta, the inaugural fair was very well attended by patrons and vendors alike.

The event included several intuitive readers, energy healers, jewelry and crystal vendors, live music, and healthy homemade food for sale.

“This year, we are doubling the amount of vendors and hopefully doubling the amount of attendees as well,” she said.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. Each

ticket includes a free raffle ticket for

our voice

Focus on wellness

The month of August was dedicated to National Wellness Month, but no matter what month or day it may be there is never a bad time to take your overall health and wellness into consideration.

Both mentally and physically our wellness is vital and these are things that like any other aspect of our lives need and deserve time to be focused on.

And increasingly in recent years we are coming to have a better understanding of the connection between these two aspects of ourselves and how they collectively play a role in how we feel.

In a world that moves ever faster and is connected 24/7 and where the line between work and personal life is blurry we are realizing that the constant toll on our mental wellness can impact our physical wellness and manifest in physical ways with feelings of being tired or rundown or mentally drained.

But many agree that by taking some time to focus on wellness and do things that benefit our personal wellbeing we can break this cycle.

But as difficult as it can be to find the time, our awareness of how important this is continues to grow as we come to better understand the toll constant stress can take on our health.

While there are numerous opinions about ways to better care for our overall wellness, there seems to be consensus around several key things that we can do to improve our overall wellness.

Doing an online search can provide a great deal of information to consider and of course speaking with your healthcare provider is an important resource when you are making any decisions about your health and wellness.

Some common examples include things like exercise, even 30 minutes a day, is believed to have significant benefits to both physical and mental health.

Exercise, depending on what form it takes, can have a variety of benefits. It can help improve mood while also helping maintain a healthy weight or helping with weight loss, it can boost energy, help with pain management and improve cardiovascular health among other benefits.

Along with exercise stretching is also recommended, not only to help muscles before and after exercise but also for overall health benefits.

For people who may work in a situation where they are on their feet all day or people who work at desks, stretching can help with aches and pains as well as help with back pain and better posture.

Stretching can also help us relax and release some stress benefiting our mental health as well.

And as we better understand the connection between our physical and mental wellness we are learning how feeling better and relieving those aches and pains can help improve our mental feeling of wellbeing.

It is also recommended to take some time to get outside, especially exercise like going for a walk or hike and getting some fresh air have been found to improve memory and help lower blood pressure while also helping improve mood.

When exercising or in general focusing on breathing is also recommended as deep breathing has been found to help relive stress and when we are stressed it has been found we often take shallow breaths and may even hold our breath, tensing up over time. Deep breathing can help relive that.

And other factors such as getting enough sleep are vital to our physical and mental wellbeing.

Lack of sleep has been connected with weight gain, depression and anxiety and can even take a toll on our immune system.

And getting enough water is also highly recommended.

Hydration we know plays an important roll in our health. In the warmer months of summer being dehydrated can be dangerous but staying hydrated can help our body manage nutrients, lower blood pressure and improve our mood.

Other things like taking a break from social media and taking the time to connect with friends and family can also play an important part in how we feel and our overall health and well being.

PoRCh PERfECtion

They are friends of my husband, friends from college, Alan and Cookie.

Cookie and Alan live in West Virginia. Alan is an architect and Cookie is a retired professor of French from Sweet Briar College.

Cookie, a native Syracusan, has maintained her family’s home in Liverpool since her parents passed on, visiting several times a year as a kind of retreat. When they are here, we try to catch up, sometimes at the Liverpool house, sometimes a restaurant, sometimes at our camp. They arrived a few days ago. This time we decided to invite them to our home for a dinner, nothing elaborate, since elaborate has gone the way of short shorts and bathing suits in my lexicon and practice. But something casual and nice, with emphasis on nice, since that isn’t a category much used these days.

The weather, as we all know, has been erratic and when the erratic runs into

FROM THE MAILBAG

My concerns

To the editor:

humidity in the 70s, in a house without AC, I eschew most of anything in favor of sitting in front of one of our many fans and vegging but at our station in life, missing out on time with friends takes precedence over much of what else there is.

How to accommodate friends and climatic discomfort?

Why, our front porch, of course. Our porch. It’s wide enough for four chairs and a glider, the latter needing a lot of work, but I think I can pull off a shabby chic vibe there. I’ll pull some of the impatiens from our patio out onto the wide railings of the porch for an attempt some kind of décor, a bright red against a very conservative gray-green.

The porch is surrounded by trees, a burning bush, two apple trees, a wildlyout-of-trim viburnum and a dogwood. To be truthful, this summer’s climatic events have caused these landscaping beauties to grow without limits and I am thinking that I had better call someone who knows

I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed change from open council seats to a ward system in the town of Manlius. While the idea of localized representation may seem appealing, it’s important to carefully consider the potential problems and pitfalls that could arise from such a change, especially when driven by political motivations.

First and foremost, the manipulation of district boundaries for political gain raises serious concerns about gerrymandering.

We must be wary of any attempt to divide our community’s population strategically, as this could lead to an unfair representation and a distortion of our democratic process.

The concept of equal representation would be compromised, and certain groups of voters could find their voices silenced.

Furthermore, a shift to a ward system might inadvertently foster division and polarization within our community. By separating neighborhoods with varying interests and needs, we risk exacerbating existing social, economic, and cultural divides. This could lead to a more fragmented council, hindering the collaboration necessary for effective governance.

Equitable representation is also at risk. If districts are drawn without careful consideration of population distribution, some wards may end up with significantly more voters than others.

This imbalance could result in unequal political power and decisions that fail to reflect the best interests of the entire township.

A shift to a ward system may also shift the focus from addressing local issues to pursuing party loyalty. When a political party aims to manipulate districts to gain electoral advantages, candidates and elected officials might prioritize party interests over the concerns of the community. This could lead to decisions that do not align with the needs of our residents.

Lastly, accountability could become an issue in a ward system. Elected officials may prioritize the demands of their specific wards, making it challenging for residents to hold them accountable for decisions that impact the broader community. This lack of transparency could lead to an uneven distribution of resources and services.

As residents of the town of Manlius,

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how to trim them without doing damage to their ability to provide privacy to those on our porch. That will be next week. But for now, I think that we can facilitate a casual “nice.”

And so, with some simple hors d’oeurves and Ina Garten’s recipe for Cosmos, the time passed as if it hadn’t. Our lives had branched in so many different ways and yet we were still the young, striving achievers dressed in, to paraphrase Billy Joel, an old person’s clothes.

Mixed in with descriptions of balance issues, doctor’s advice and so forth, we still brought the Peace Corps, teaching, summers in Paris, children who left home for Europe or Georgia or Rochester or Cazenovia, with grandchildren often seen and not often seen, siblings’ and mutual acquaintances’ lives, innovative architectural ideas and stained glass and …memories of silly times and poignant events… all jumbled together in the back and forth conversations on the porch. We did eventually go

we must be cautious and considerate when evaluating changes to our governance structure. While the ward system may hold certain promises, we must remember that the potential for manipulation, division, and unequal representation exists. Our democratic process is a cornerstone of our society, and any changes should be made with the utmost care and transparency, devoid of political ulterior motives.

In conclusion, I urge my fellow residents to critically assess the motivations behind the proposed change to a ward system and carefully weigh the potential long-term impacts on our beloved community. Let us uphold the principles of fair representation and open discourse that have always been at the heart of our town’s values.

C RA ig Polh AM uS , town of M A nliuS R ES i DE nt Fayetteville

Amphitheater lacks ADA compliance

To the editor: I recently had the opportunity to visit the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater in Syracuse for the Phish concert on July 23.

Our group included one person in a wheelchair. I have been to dozens of venues around the country and have never seen such an appalling lack of ADA compliance, much less welcoming location for those of us with disabilities. Honestly, in my humble opinion, it strikes me as illegal and find it even more surprising the venue is named after a health institution which apparently has no regard for those who are less than completely able-bodied.

First, parking. Not clearly labeled in any way.

That said, as we drove in, at each area where we encountered a staff person, they directed us further along the way to the ADA parking section.

However, when we finally arrived, there was not a single space left in the ADA parking and numerous vehicles were parked without any ADA rearview hanger card or license plate. There was no guidance or enforcement for this parking. Although still relatively close to the entrance, we needed to park further than ADA, a struggle for those with limited mobility.

Second, once we entered the venue, there were zero signs indicating where the ADA section or sections were located. None of the staff we asked knew anything about where ADA or

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Ramblings from the empty nest

Ann Ferro

inside to eat dinner, but the warmth of that simple time amidst the overgrown landscaping and soft late August breezes was more special than anticipated.

The porch was perfect, or at least as close as I could come that day.

I’ve often wondered why people removed porches. You can see the houses where that has been done and somehow the houses look less. A porch serves the purpose of summer. It is where you can be alone and let the lists of responsibilities slide for a time. It’s where friends can gather their memories and share validation that friendship offers.

I am sure that there are other ways to engender these moments, but having a porch makes it easy.

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.

wheelchairs could be safely located to view the concert. This is outrageous on any number of levels and while I don’t expect every single staff member to know all aspects of a venue, at least one should know. The able-bodied among us searched for ADA areas, to no avail.

Ultimately, we had to land at the top of the lawn hill where it was relatively flat and also about as far away from the stage as possible. Generally speaking, most ADA/wheelchair sections are located within easy view of the stage whether in a pavilion or lawn section. I personally saw only one other wheelchair at the venue down by the moat between lawn and reserved and that person was there with their friends.

Honestly, I have no idea how they managed to get there as accessibility ramps weren’t signed or easily visible.

My friend took it in stride but I am outraged. Every other venue I’ve ever been to has easily accommodated anyone with special needs including large venues like Madison Square Garden and outdoor venues like the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia. While I won’t be the one to sue, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

As the owner of the venue responsible for hiring any contractors you may require to run the venue, Onondaga County is liable for, and responsible for providing a legally ADA compliant venue for all customers, regardless of their abilities.

n . R. M C Donn E ll Burlington, vt

Thanks for your support

To the editor: We would like to thank the entire Cazenovia Community for making this years’ “Yard Sale for Charity” a great success.

Because of all the generous donations we were able to raise $5,600 for our local and international charities.

Thank you to all the volunteers, Alicia, Betsy, Denise, Kay, Laurie, Marie, Monica and Susan, who worked so very hard to make the sale a success. I would especially like to thank Cunningham Excavation for the generous use of their property for the site of the sale and H. G. Ellis Agency for their help with this event.

We hope to be able to have the Yard Sale for Charity again in 2024 and look forward to the generous support of the Cazenovia Community once more.

K E vin K E nn EDy A n D to M gREE n Cazenovia

Years Ago in History

By CinDy BEll toBEy

20 Years Ago – Aug. 27, 2003

Critz Farms will soon feature a piece of local history for visitors to the farm’s attractions as its latest project approaches completion. Earlier this summer, construction began on a hops barn that is being built using a design as close as possible to the original structures that were common in Madison County during the 1800s. “We went to a couple hops barns and measured them – all the sizes, all the timbers – and tried to create a replica,” Matthew Critz, Critz Farms owner, said. Critz Farms is a local agriculturally based attraction boasting 50,000 visitors each year. Different seasons bring in customers for different activities and products, including cutting your own tree around Christmas time, berry picking in the summer, maple syrup products and a corn maze. The project originated as a much smaller building project for which Critz Farms received a grant from the state Agritourism and Education Program, which works to educate the public about farming, Juanita Critz, Critz Farms owner, said.

15 Years Ago – Aug. 27, 2008

The businesses in downtown Cazenovia have been celebrating the last Friday of the month since the spring; this Friday will be more of the same but different. “Our plan is to have as many businesses as possible out on the streets and those that participate will give out street chalk to the kids to decorate the streets in front of that store or business,” said Karen Eldridge of Isabella’s. Along with staying open late and offering snacks and refreshments, the businesses are “Taking it to the Curb” to spark a little excitement in the community. The sidewalk sale will also offer the opportunity for kids to come along and express themselves with colored chalk. The HCBD has been building up the final Fridays of each month since the spring in hopes of creating a regularly anticipated outdoor festival much like those urban areas but to a smaller extent. “I would like to see more people on the street,” Eldridge said. “As a shop owner I hear it all the time; what a gem we have here.”

10 Years Ago – Aug. 28, 2013

The New York Water Environmental Association (NYWEA), a statewide nonprofit organization of water quality professionals, has announced that Peter Radosta, of Erieville, is the recipient of the Clarkson University Alumni Association’s Golden Knight Award. Clarkson’s most prestigious alumni honor, the Gold Knight Award was presented to Radosta on the Clarkson campus during alumni reunion weekend in July. Clarkson recognized Radosta for his outstanding loyalty and service to the university including, most recently, his term as president of the Clarkson Alumni Association, as well as his notable career contributions.

5 Years Ago – Aug. 29, 2018

Throughout the month of September, the Cazenovia Public Library will exhibit the work of nature and wildlife photographer Jerry Hook. The collection of 33 photos is currently on display in the gallery. Hook and his wife Nancy have lived in Cazenovia since 1976, when he started as an environmental engineer with Stearns & Wheler. In his retirement, he has actively pursued his passion for photography. His favorite subject is wildlife, particularly black, grizzly, and polar bears. Hook has traveled extensively around the U.S. and the globe, visiting, and photographing 46 different countries and all seven continents. He recently journeyed to the Chilkat River in Haines, Alaska, where he photographed a group of more than 3,000 bald eagles gathered to feast on the last run of the Chum salmon. Last August, Hook drive over 13 hours to Sweetwater, Tenn., to capture the eclipse, which he described as the most incredible 2 minutes and 37 seconds of his life. Another memorable trip was his voyage to Antarctica. “Standing in the middle of a colony of 400,000 penguins can’t be reproduced anywhere else,” said Hook.

By DonnA nEwMAn photo By Donna newman

There’s not many dogs like Harrison! We think he’s a pit bull/bull terrier mix. Bull Terriers have been described as “a three year old in a dog suit” and that’s the perfect description of Harrison! He’s playful, mischievious, energetic and charming, and like a toddler, he has the tendency to explore the world with his mouth. He loves his treats, he loves his toys, he’s comfortable in a crate, and he loves other dogs. He’s a mainstay of the doggy playgroup and has a lot of personality. Harrison came to the shelter on December 24, 2024, and since then he’s only had one visit. He’s almost two years old, so at this point he’s spent almost half his life in a shelter! The ideal home for Harrison would be a patient family with a fenced-in yard so he can run and romp, and a friendly, energetic dog for him to play with. If you have a dog who needs a playmate, Harrison’s the dog for you! For more information about adoption, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk@ cnyspca.org or visit cnyspca.org.

Once more before the breach

Early in Novem ber, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will renew on the gridiron the rivalry they call “Bedlam” in Stillwater.

Later in the month, it’s the turn of Washington and Washington State, competing again for the Apple Cup, while just down the Pacific coast Oregon and Oregon State have one more chapter of what they long called a “Civil War”.

Note the words – just one more chapter.

Come 2024, it’s quite likely none of these three feuds, dating back more than a century, will have a place in the autumn. Not with Oklahoma flush in SEC riches and Washington and Oregon part of the Big Ten.

Of all the many, many casualties of conference realignment madness, none sting as much as seeing fierce rivalries blown up and cast away because a bunch of college presidents caught a serious case of FOMO.

Forget about what football players, or coaches, or fans, or support staffs, or anyone else with a shred of common sense and perspective feels. Only pledge loyalty to the network willing to give you more millions for a few Saturdays in the fall.

And it might not be done. Florida State has made noises about ACC discontent, and you can almost count on Clemson being just as noisy.

Between them, the Seminoles and Tigers have (checks notes)…..six national championships, all achieved under the ACC banner. For both, it’s still the easiest, safest way to glory, but they want more and if the SEC , already bloated, wants to

get even bigger… Among other things, it might leave Syracuse off the big-time college-football carousel. All the history and tradition stocked up at SU, and its growing profile in sports beyond basketball and lacrosse, carries little weight in this landscape defined entirely by brand names and fall TV ratings.

So the 2023 season carries a particular urgency for the Orange beyond Dino Babers’ job security. Wins, and a lot of them, are required to reclaim a secure place in the upper echelon, at least enough to make other schools think longer about their path toward destruction.

You can also feel that desperation in Corvallis, in Pullman, and in any other place where their identity as a town is centered on their college campuses.

Essentially, they were all told by their haughty rivals that they don ‘t count that much. It’s the kind of sting and pain that only a public rejection can produce.

Thus, when they do meet late this fall, one of two things will happen. Either the wealthy side proves that they were right to chase financial security, or the state schools provide one more victory whose memory will resonate far beyond the ugly divorces this has produced.

Already enough rivalries –think Oklahoma-Nebraska, or Pitt-Penn State, or MissouriKansas – have proven them -

selves casualties of realignment. Just as animosity takes a long time to build, it doesn’t dissipate because one school desperately needs that 3:30 time slot.

It’s more than fair to ask if college football is making the same mistake that NASCAR did early in the 21 st century, proving so eager to find new fans with endless combinations of marquee match-ups that they neglect all those who made it so popular in the first place.

Simply put, this sport, or any sport, is far less compelling if it lacks the element of surprise or the ability of those with less means to dream, work hard and, just maybe, upend the big-time powers.

Maybe, in whatever system leads to a playoffs – four teams, soon to be 12, perhaps more down the road – we get Alabama or Ohio State or Georgia still winning it close to every time.

Fine, as long as there remains the possibility that it doesn’t always happen. All it takes is one team from one non-power or perennial doormat making the semifinals or final to change perceptions and make the whole corrupt enterprise tolerable.

Now I almost want Oregon and Oregon State to go into their game with a lot on the line besides a long period of bragging rights. The idea of the Beavers making a title push, and the Ducks sinking, would make the powers squirm and turn their heads even as they count their riches.

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

Random Thoughts

Phil Blackwell

RIVERKNOLL AT RADISSON

Riverknoll at Radisson located in Baldwinsville, NY. Riverknoll is a family community o ering a ordable rents for low income households. Riverknoll o ers

rebeca A. Gavilondo, 81

Worked as a bookkeeper

Rebeca A. Gavilondo, 81, of Cazenovia, formerly of Tamarac, FL, passed away Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Crouse Community Center in Morrisville. She was born May 26, 1942, in Havana, Cuba. In the mid-1950s, Rebeca moved to the U.S. with her mother and stepfather, Manuel Pedrozo, for Manuel to complete his medical residencies.

She lived in Knoxville, TN, and Wheeling, WV, for some time, and her southern-accented Spanish baffled and delighted friends when she visited Cuba on vacations.

She met her husband, Alfredo Jorge Gavi-

londo, in 1957 at the Casino Español on one such vacation and he was spellbound--they married in the summer of 1958.

Alfredo and Rebeca emigrated to the United States in 1965 to find a better life for themselves and their two young sons. They moved to Kidron, Ohio, to be near her parents and soon moved to Cleveland, where Rebeca stayed home with the boys and took bookkeeping classes at night.

The family moved to South Florida in 1972, where Rebeca had a long and successful career as a bookkeeper. In addition to keeping the numbers straight for her clients and her family, Rebeca made time to be a Cub Scout den mother, a football team mother and attend her

Sign up for Leagues!

Tuesday - Men’s (5 person teams)

Wednesday - Women’s (3 woman teams)

Thursday - DoublesStarts in October (6 weeks)

4 Person LeagueStarts after Thanksgiving (16 weeks)

boys many sporting events. She was the center around which immediate and extended family life revolved.

Rebeca and Alfredo moved to Cazenovia in 2015 to escape the Florida heat and be close to their son and his family. Although leaving family and friends in Florida was hard, Rebeca made several dear friends in her time in Cazenovia, and their friendship was a significant comfort to her.

Rebeca is survived by her son, Carlos (Jennifer) Gavilondo of Cazenovia; her grandchildren, Shana, Shaun, Sierra, Julia and Daniel Gavilondo, her sister, Estrella, her brothers Frank, Raul and Camilo, and her stepmother,

Estrella. Alfredo, her husband of 62 years, died in 2020. Rebeca also was predeceased by her parents, stepfather and by her son, Alfredo.

The Gavilondo family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Crouse Community Center, and particularly those in the C-D units, for the excellent care and compassion provided to Rebeca. Details of a service have not yet been determined. Contributions in Rebeca’s memory may be made to Crouse Community Center, 101 South Street, Morrisville, NY 13408, or crousecommunity.com. To leave a message of sympathy for the Gavilondo family, please visit michaelebrownfuneralservices.com

funerals may be transferred to another funeral home at any time? Call us if you have any questions.

Town of Nelson Highway Department

Notice of Open Position – Full Time Laborer

Town of Nelson Highway – Joe Deyo Nelsonhighway@hotmail.com 315-662-7942

This is a full-time position for a laborer to be paid $18.00 per hour that may be responsible for any of the following:

May assist in the maintenance or construction of roads, streets, utility and

• drainage systems by digging and backfilling trenches, spreading asphalt, sand and gravel;

May assist in the maintenance or minor construction of hydraulic,

• mechanical or electrical systems;

May operate power driven tools and equipment such as saws, compressors,

• drills, mixers, pumps, mowers and snow blowers;

Uses hand tools such as pliers, hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers and crow

• bars in systems maintenance work;

• maintenance and beautification work;

Uses hand tools such as shovels, scythes, forks and rakes in grounds

Loads and unloads trucks, stacks materials and supplies and delivers

• materials and supplies to their point of use;

May act as flagman on highway jobs, directs trucks at loading and unloading

• sites;

May assist in erecting snow fences and barricades. picnic tables and

• recreation equipment

Performs general clean-up work such as removing debris, raking leaves,

• cutting grass and weeds;

Mops, sweeps and washes floors, stairs, hallways and restrooms;

• Dusts desks, woodwork, furniture and other equipment;

• Collects and disposes of trash and garbage, empties waste baskets and

• separates recyclable material

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Must have a valid New York State Driver’s License.

All applicants are subject to a background check, license check and drug testing immediately upon hire. Applications are available at the Nelson Town Office, 4085 Nelson Road and Nelson Highway Department, 3985 Dugway Road, Applications must be received by the Town Clerk or Highway Superintendent by 3 p.m. September 8th. 124912

rebeca A. Gavilondo

Cazenovia trail run takes places this week

The Cazenovia Girls and Boys Cross Country teams will sponsor a three mile trail run fundraiser on their Fenner Road course this Wednesday evening.

The race is open to participants of all ages with a men’s race to kick off at 5:45 p.m., followed by a women’s race at 6:30.

Entry Participants can sign up online at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Cazenovia/CazCountryTrailRun or at the race site.

The race will be conducted on the Lakers’ scenic 4,800meter course traversing woods, fields and small streams in the beautiful Fenner countryside.

Free parking and restroom facilities will be available near the start line at the school’s Fenner Road Sean Googin Athletic Complex. Participants can sign up on race day near the start line beginning at 4:30 p.m.

runners sprint from the start line at the start of the 2021 women’s portion of the Cazenovia Country trail run. this year’s race takes place on Wednesday evening, starting at 5:45 with the men’s race and the women’s race to follow at 6:30.

Madison County Craft Festival to be held Sept. 9 and 10

Madison County Historical Society’s 59th Annual Madison County Craft Festival is Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10 to 4 p.m. on the historical society’s grounds located at 435 Main St. in Oneida.

Adult admission is $5. Weekend passes are $8. Children 12 and under are free.

“We have a wide selection of contemporary arts and crafts, ranging from functional to decorative works including fabric, glass, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, metal, glass, floral, drawings, paintings, jewelry photography, soap, skincare products, leather, and wood,” the historical society announced in a press release.

This is an outdoor craft show, featuring juried artisans, artisans of edible treats,

more sensitive plants.

food trucks, live music, and NYS wineries. There will be live music all weekend.

Performing on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 to noon is Papamojo. At 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Kevin Keating will perform followed by The Pomeranians at 3 to 5 p.m.

On Sunday the live music continues with performances by One Man The Band at 10 to 12:30 p.m. Followed by Double Chase performing from 1 to 4 p.m.

There will be food trucks at the Madison County Craft Festival and each day we will be offering some different food trucks. Joining us are Tacocat, Tasko Distribution/Full Time Kettle Korn, Maddox and Ruth’s ADK Soft Serve, Food Zone, Brake from the Grind, Stathis Greek Food, and Oh Crepe

l From page 13

The good news is that for some diseases, showing up in August doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the harvest. For instance, tomato early blight (often seen with its spotty friend Septoria Leaf Spot) usually affects tomatoes from the ground and slowly moves up the plant. If you keep plants trellised with decent airflow and remove infected leaves as needed, they often keep producing on top, especially if the weather dries out again and slows down disease progression.

Remember: if you remove infected plant parts, make sure to sanitize your clippers and hands between plants to minimize spreading disease from one plant to another.

l From page 1

quilted creations during a program in the community room on Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Historic quilts and quilts from the Towpath Quilt Guild and the community will also be on display.

The library will show the 1995 American drama film “How to Make an American Quilt” with Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, and Ellen Burstyn on Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. in the community room. Refreshments will be served, and a discussion will follow.

CPL’s “Connecting Collections” open book group will meet on Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss “The Runaway Quilt” by Jennifer Chiaverini. Copies of the book will be available at the front desk starting Sept. 1.

CPL will also participate in the September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival by hosting the kick-off Jazz-N-Caz performance on Sept. 6 and by screening the ten finalists of the 26th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. and on Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. The finalists will screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the “Best Film” and “Best Actor” awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue.

Cazenovia Art trail

On Friday, Sept. 29, CazArts will team up with the Cazenovia Art Trail, the Cazenovia Area Painters, and the Carpenter’s Barn Studios to present an open house at Carpenter’s Barn and an opening reception for the 11th annual Cazenovia Art Trail, which is scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The Art Trail is a self-guided tour of 25

and Waffles. There will also be a kids’ activity tent on the sideyard for scheduled kid activities.

Imagination Station with Maya Phillips will be joining the festival with her free interactive activities for kids. There will also be free house tours of Cottage Lawn offered.

“We are very excited to announce a raffle drawing of a bench that has been created and donated by New York State Designer Blacksmiths,” the historical society wrote. “The drawing of the bench will be on Sept. 10. Tickets available now and during the show are $5 each or three for $10. New York State Designer Blacksmiths will be on the grounds by the agricultural barn demonstrating the art of blacksmithing all weekend.”

No animals (except for ser-

One gardening skill this time of year is understanding what plant illnesses will kill your crops versus what can be nursed along. Tomatoes with early blight can keep going, but late blight is a systemic disease that destroys plants and spreads by air so it’s important to remove and destroy the plant so that the disease doesn’t spread.

For other summer veggies like tender basil, cucumbers, or zucchini, the stress of producing for months combined with airborne issues like mildews eventually runs down the plants’ energy to produce. As days shorten, your summer vegetables might just be reaching the end of their normal lifespan. Rather than trying to nurse a dying plant along, consider using that space to stick in a quick growing fall crop like lettuce mix or radishes.

artist studios that offers the public the unique opportunity to meet artists in their working environments and view their artwork.

Other events

All month, the Cazenovia Watercolor Society will exhibit its work at the New Woodstock Free Library, and poetry will be posted along local hiking trails.

“AND EAT IT TOO,” a new art installation at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (SQAP), will also be on display throughout September.

Created by 2023 SQAP Visiting Artist Patrick Costello, the work is a monumental composting structure of plants, hay, wood chips, and elephant dung from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse.

“AND EAT IT TOO finds joy in our being part of the ecosystem, explores the many relationships we have to land, and invites the notion that we are creatures of joy, pleasure, and decay,” the SQAP website says.

The website also states that Patrick’s work, which is informed by the process of composting, experiments with temporary world-building as a way of accessing the potential for collective transformation and utopian possibility.

On Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m., Lorenzo State Historic Site will host a fine art tour led by art historian Elisabeth Genter Montevecchio. The 45-minute tour will highlight Lorenzo’s impressive art collection, which includes works by Samuel F. B. Morse, Jasper Cropsey, Sanford Gifford, Dwight Williams, and 17th-century Dutch Masters.

“The variety of paintings reflect a century of trends in art collecting, such as the

vice animals) or smoking are permitted on the grounds.

The Madison County Craft Festival is one of the Madison County Historical Society’s major fundraisers. Proceeds from the event support the educational programs offered.

“We look forward to having you join us for a fun family weekend event,” the historical society wrote. “This year’s Madison County Craft Festival is made possible by the most generous support from the Gorman Foundation.”

For more information

With other crops, you can still enjoy the harvest even if they are a little banged up. For instance, unmanaged apples at this time of year can be ugly. However, they may still taste delicious or cook down into great sauce.

This leads us to the bad news. For many plant issues we see at this time of the year, it’s too late in the disease progression to take any preventative action. If your apple trees have scab in August and September, it’s because the treatment window that started back in April was missed. There’s no spray to make fully formed fruits not have the pest or disease damage they might be showing.

It’s also prime time to get ahead of plant disease issues for next summer with a hearty end of the season field cleanup. Compost, remove, or till under diseased plant tissue

commissioning of family portraits, the distinctive American style of the Hudson River School, and the family’s pride in their Dutch heritage,” said Jacqueline Roshia, Lorenzo’s interpretive programs assistant. Seating is limited, so registration is required. To reserve a spot, call 315-655-3200, ext. 106, or email Jacqueline.roshia@parks. ny.gov

“We want the September Autumn Leaves Art Festival to be a colorful celebration,” said CazArts Board President Geoffrey Navias. “It’s a celebration that invites the com-

Submitted photo

about the event please visit mchs1900.org and click on the Madison County Craft Festival tab.

The historical society can also be reached at 315-3634136, mchs1900.org, and on Facebook at Madison County Craft Festival.

so that it can decompose properly. Pull out and sanitize metal stakes and cages and use wooden stakes that were exposed to plant pathogens for kindling or campfires as you enjoy the crisper fall air.

If you have gardening questions, you can call our great Master Garden Volunteer helpline at 315-684-3001, extension 127. If you have commercial farming questions, you can reach me at the same number, but extension 126.

After growing up with all things 4H and horses in Indiana, Maryellen Sheehan worked on farms and in forests in MA, NH, and NY, before starting Hartwood Farm with her husband in Fenner. She recently “retired” from commercial vegetable production to join CCE Madison as their agriculture and horticulture (and natural resources) educator.

munity, visitors, and our neighbors to come to Cazenovia and enjoy the spectacular range of the arts in the midst of this beautiful countryside and special village. We celebrate and showcase the many Cazenovia artists, groups, and organizations [that each offer] their art in the way that suits them best. The different art forms that make up the festival invite a variety of people to come, participate, and enjoy.”

For the full September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival schedule, visit CazArts.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. Announcements will be posted to eaglenewsonline.com within 24 hours of receipt of payment. To submit a milestone announcement, email Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com, or

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The 59th Annual Madison County Craft Festival is Sept. 9 and 10 at the Madison County historical Society in Oneida.