Cazenovia Republican Digital Edition - Nov. 30, 2022

Lincklaen House continues operating under current ownership

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

On Nov. 15, 2022, Cazen ovia’s historic Lincklaen House at 79 Albany St., was put up for sale via an online auction. Two days later, the auction concluded without producing a suitable buyer.

The property includes a 23-room colonial-style boutique hotel, an event space, and three restaurants — the “casual fine dining” Lincklaen House, the Sev en Stone Steps tavern, and Due Passi Pizzeria.

The auction was con ducted by Todd Wenzel of WYZE Commercial Real Estate in conjunction with the Ten-X online commer cial real estate exchange. The starting bid was $700,000.

According to Dan Ku per, who owns the business with his wife, Mary Mar garet, the bidding reached $2.3 million before the auc tion ended.

“That price included 79-83 Albany St. and the two parking lots with all furniture, fixtures, and equipment, so basically [a]

turnkey business,” said Ku per. “. . .We were concerned about the bidder being a good fit for the community and meeting the reserve.”

A reserve price is a min imum amount that a seller will accept as the winning bid. In an auction, the seller is not typically required to disclose the reserve price to potential buyers. If the re serve is not met, the seller is not required to sell, even to the highest bidder.

Leading up to the auc tion, Kuper explained that his focus was on uncovering the business’s next owner/ operator and making sure there would be no inter ruption in business at any point. He also said there was no guarantee that he would find a buyer through the process.

For now, the Lincklaen House will continue op erating under its current ownership.

“Business will go on as usual, and we are looking forward to a very busy holi day season,” said Kuper. “So, if you haven’t booked your event yet, do it soon as we are running out of avail

ability.”

The Lincklaen House was built in 1835 and named after John Linck laen, an agent of the Hol land Land Company and the founder of Cazenovia.

According to its web site, the Lincklaen House opened its doors in 1836 and became a notable stage coach stop along Route 20.

Among the establish ment’s most famous guests are President Grover Cleve land and John D. Rock efeller.

Following a disastrous fire in 1916, Henry Burden renovated the building.

“[Burden] remodeled the hotel using finely carved woodwork and moldings, still visible today among the high ceilings and painted wood panels,” the Lincklaen House web site states. “Each of the 23 guest rooms is unique, and retains its 19th-century charm. The locally made brick, fine chimneys, and broad front steps are won derful representations of a storied past.”

The property was pur chased in 1956 by Edward

Arts & Crafts Fair returns to Cazenovia College Presbyterian Church to host Soup and Dessert Café

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

On Friday, Dec. 2, Ca zenovia College will pres ent the 11th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair in conjunction with the Cazenovia Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Walk.

The event was last held pre-pandemic in December 2019.

This year, a group of 20 students, faculty, and staff will exhibit and sell their unique handcrafted goods in the Cazenovia College Art Gallery in Reisman Hall at 6 Sullivan St. from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will also feature visits from Santa, village carolers, and free hot chocolate.

Items for sale will include pottery, photography, jew elry, ceramics, glass works, candles, fiber works, wood items, paintings, and mixed media works.

According to Cazenovia College Professor and Art Gallery Director Jen Pepper, all crafters make their items on their own time, and all sales go directly back to the individual makers.

“It’s a wonderful ex change to let each maker know that their talents are appreciated by others while putting a little cash back into their pockets,” said Pepper.

The annual fair is open

to all individuals connected with the college. Some art ists participate as individual crafters, while others rep resent their clubs, like the Fashion Connection, Inte rior Design, and Psychology clubs.

According to Pepper, the Human Services Club will

be selling items this year to raise money for a variety of charities.

“The student entrepre neurs of smART — the group “students making art” — will be on hand sell ing their kiln-formed glass works, candle sticks, cheese platters, holiday bells, jew

elry, and more,” said Pep per.

The Arts & Crafts Fair is free and open to the public.

To learn more about the Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, visit cazenovia.edu/art-andtheatre/art-gallery-reismanhall or contact Pepper at jpepper@cazenovia.edu

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

On Friday, Dec. 2, the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia will host a Soup and Des sert Café in conjunction with the Annual Ca zenovia Village Tree Lighting/Holiday Walk.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Church Meeting House.

Gourmet soup offerings will include loaded potato soup, seafood Frogmore stew, ched dar broccoli soup, shrimp bisque, and buffalo chicken wing soup.

All the soups are made by members of the First Presbyterian Church.

“Come early, the soup goes quickly,” said Sharye Skinner, a ruling elder at the church. “And the desserts are wonderful.”

According to Skinner, the dessert offerings include cookies, cupcakes, and BJ Palmer’s fa mous gingerbread men.

All proceeds from the sale of the soups and desserts will go into a scholarship for Cazenovia High School (CHS) seniors.

Immediately following the Tree Lighting in the church’s front yard, the CHS String En semble will perform Christmas music under the direction of Mary Coburn.

“So, stop by the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church for some warm soup, tasty desserts, and wonderful Christmas music on Friday, Dec. 2,” said Skinner. “Then go on the streets and enjoy the Christmas Walk in downtown Cazenovia.”

The First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is located at 27 Albany St. The Entrance to the Meeting House is on Sullivan Street.

For more information, contact the church at 315-655-3191 or visit cazpres.org.

and Helen Tobin, who add ed modern amenities and ran the business until 1997

when it was purchased by Kuper and his partner Charles Morgan.

To learn more about the Lincklaen House, visit lincklaenhouse.com

Submitted photo

Recently, an online auction failed to produce a suitable buyer for Cazenovia’s historic lincklaen House. For now, things will remain “business as usual” under the current ownership.

Submitted photo

Cazenovia College will present its 11th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair in the Art Gallery in Reis man Hall (6 Sullivan St.) on Friday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. Pictured: the exterior of the Art Gallery at Reisman Hall and a sculpture by tadashi Hashimoto.

Elsbeth Morgan, 88

Active in her community

Elsbeth Wright Morgan (Betsy), 88, of Cazenovia, died Friday evening, Nov. 25, 2022, after a protracted illness. She was born Aug. 6, 1934, in Buffalo to Elsbeth Tait and Frederick Williston Wright, Jr., and spent her childhood in Haworth, NJ. Betsy gradu ated from Syracuse Univer

Jeffrey Miller, 80 retired educator

Jeffrey David Miller of Monson, MA, passed away in the comfort of home and fam ily on Nov. 12, 2022, at the age of 80. Born in Elmira, N.Y., Jan.17, 1942, son to Ernest

sity with a degree in interior design. She was very active in her community and served on many boards including The Friends of Cazenovia Library, ASID, S.U.N.Y. ESF and Cazenovia College. Betsy was a member of the Cazen ovia Club, Willow Bank Yacht Club, the Century Club, La Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and the Lotos Club in New York City. She enjoyed

and Ruth Miller, Jeff grew up on Riverside Ave across the street from Riverside Elemen tary School.

Jeff was an avid outdoors man and athlete, happiest when outside and active. He was a proud 32nd degree Ma son and Master of the Mor

OBITUARIES

traveling the world with her husband, exploring the Ad irondacks and spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Betsy was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Charles Bedford Morgan, and their youngest son, Edward Scott Morgan, her brother, Fred erick W. Wright III and his wife Prim. She is survived by

risville, N.Y., lodge. He was an accomplished tenor saxo phonist who shared his ex pressive gifts with innumer able audiences over a lifetime of professional band work.

three of her children, Charles (Wendy) Morgan, Jr. of Fair field, CT and their children Katherine (Josh) Regina and Elizabeth Morgan, Alexan dra “Alix” (Jeffrey) Shaw of Cazenovia and their children Emily (Bryan) McLaughlin and Thomas (Riley Penning ton) Shaw, Jeffery (Virginia) Morgan of Peru, VT and their children, Nicholas and Henry Morgan and Edward “Ted”

education students from 1968 until his retirement from the Cazenovia Central School dis trict in 1997.

Morgan’s family, Charles Mor gan III, Christopher Morgan and Gabriela (James) Fowler; three great-grandchildren, Blair Regina, Brook Regina and Parker Morgan; her sister Linda (Sandy) Stuart (Sandy) of Lynchburg, VA and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cazenovia.

ard “Butch” Miller, daughter Laura Miller, son Jeffrey Mill er Jr., daughter-in-law Robin Beck-Miller, granddaughter Cybéle Miller and grandson Jacob Miller.

In parallel, Jeff was an in novative educator; a teacher and champion for special

Above all, Jeff was dedi cated to the safety and care of his family, generations past, present and future. Dad was always there when you need ed him. Always.

Jeff is survived by his wife Bonnie Miller, brother How

Special Christmas

The family will celebrate his life privately. Condolences may be expressed at lombard funeralhome.com/obituary/ Jeffrey-Miller Jeffrey D. Miller Loving

Elsbeth Morgan

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

and neighboring communi ties.

The featured artists are Carolyn Ah

ern, Naomi DeMuth, Pilar Figueira, Marybeth Fiorentino, Audrey Hamilton, Elaine Haynes, Jennifer Hooley, Sally Hootnick, Tami Louco, Tara McClung, Neal Parker, Jen Pepper, Rochelle Reed, Kristin Ryan Lim, Donny Seib, and Ka tie Szyjkowski.

All sales will go directly to the artists.

CazArts is an alliance of area arts or ganizations, individual artists, and mem bers of the public, that works to promote the creation and appreciation of arts in the greater Cazenovia area.

Carpenter’s Barn was originally built

in 1889 as a carriage house for the for mer Lakeland estate (now Lakeland Park). Through the efforts of CazArts, in cooperation with the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, the Village of Cazenovia, and Cazenovia College CazArts, the stone barn has been partially re-purposed to serve as a dynam ic arts hub and “welcoming gateway” to the Village of Cazenovia.

“CazArts will also have a table at the show, so members of the community can learn about upcoming classes, join our organization as an artist or art lover, or

just make a donation to our organization to help with Carpenter’s barn upkeep, art supplies and other supportive costs,” said Cynthia Decker, member of the CazArts Board of Directors and coordinator of the event.

According to Decker, this will be the second art show & sale held at Carpen ter’s Barn.

“We hope that it continues as part of the Cazenovia Community Tree Lighting tradition for years to come,” she said.

For more information on CazArts and Carpenter’s Barn, visit cazarts.com

OuR vOicE

Winter driving

Whether it comes early or late, winter is an inevitable factor of life in Central New York.

While we were mostly spared the more intense snowfall that hit com munities to the west and north of our region rcently, sooner or later it is likely we will have to deal with our fair share of snowfall.

What the weeks and months to come until spring is here again will bring is anyone’s guess.

There are memes and old clichés that say in Central New York we can experience all four seasons in the mat ter of a single day, and there are times when that is not so far off the mark.

But no matter what the weather brings, snow is likely to be a factor one way or the other, heavy or light, throughout the coming months.

This affects or daily activities from the morning and evening commute to going to the store for groceries.

And it is a factor we all have to take into consideration for our own safety and the safety of others when we are out on the road, whether it is commut ing 20 plus miles a day or 10 minutes down the road.

AAA recommends taking some com mon sense measures to ensure safety for yourself and others on the road. Do not tailgate. Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be extended to a minimum of five to six seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.

Never use cruise control on slip pery roads. If your vehicle hydroplanes or skids, you will lose the ability to regain some traction simply by lifting off the accelerator. It will be harder to recover from the loss of traction if cruise control is active.

Slow down and adjust your speed to the road conditions. Leave yourself ample room to stop. Accelerate, turn and brake as gradually and smoothly as you can.

Don’t slam on the brakes. If your car begins to skid, continue to steer in the direction you want the car to go. Slamming on the brakes will only make your vehicle harder to control.

Use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses. Black ice typically forms first in shaded areas of the roadway and on bridges and overpasses that freeze first and melt last. Although the road leading up to a bridge may be fine, the bridge itself could be a sheet of ice.

React quickly. Watch the traffic ahead and slow down immediately at the sight of brake lights, skidding cars or emergency flashers.

AAA also recommends taking the time to be mindful of the condition of your vehicle.

Cold weather can affect batteries, leading to a drain of power.

It is also vital to make sure the igni tion and heating systems are working correctly.

Properly clearing snow from the vehicle before driving and having adequate wiper fluid to keep the wind shield clear are also highly recom mended.

Even considerations such as cloth ing should be taken into consideration.

AAA recommends wearing comfort able clothing. While heavy coats and gloves are good when outside, once a vehicle heats up, these items may be too restrictive and inhibit movement. Having a free range of motion becomes even more important when needing to drive safely in bad weather according to AAA.

Sunglasses are also recommended to help reduce glare that can be intense when combined with snow.

To lean more visit AAA.com.

Remembering past and present Christmases

Yesterday the sun hid behind the clouds and the sharply cold air caught us up in the reality of late No vember, almost December, and the coming Christmas holidays.

For those of us who celebrate Christmas, Advent began this week and I am remembering the wonder and awe of the Advent of my child hood.

We attended parochial school, and so the preparations for Advent and Christmas were couched in the language of the church.

We were to prepare for a cel ebration of the birth of Jesus by praying and doing good works. Prayers were easy.

We went to mass every morning, prayed in school and we prayed as a family every night with a long list of petitions for sick relatives and friends and for our own “spe cial intentions.”

I can just imagine what my special intentions were. I had these “wants” that included a “bride doll,’ an umbrella and a purse, all outside the realm of possibility in the real world.

Still, we believed that the Karma of good and evil would work itself out on Christmas Eve, when Santa came and delivered our rewards and so, as difficult as it is for four children, each born one year apart, to get along, we tried to be good.

Gothic Cottage

To the editor:

The Cazenovia Preservation Foun dation (CPF) holds conservation ease ments on several historic structures in the Village of Cazenovia. These ease ments preserve the integrity of the historic village downtown area which is central to Cazenovia’s attractive ness and overall community character for residents and for visitors to our community. This work by CPF is con sistent with our mission of protect ing historic, natural and agricultural resources in and around Cazenovia for the benefit of the community

The Gothic Cottage, currently the Town of Cazenovia municipal build ing, is a beautiful historical and archi tectural resource for the community.

The Cazenovia Town Board re cently renewed its discussions around the future home of the Town of fices focusing on three alternatives: renovation of the Gothic Cottage in accordance with a plan prepared by Holmes, King, Kallquist & Associ ates (HKK), an alternative conceptual design for renovating the Gothic Cottage presented by a group called Cazenovia Heritage, and moving to a newly constructed offsite location on Rt. 20 East.

The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation believes that continued town ownership and occupancy of the Gothic Cottage offers the greatest certainty of ongoing protection of this important building in the village’s streetscape. Further, this arrangement also provides opportunities for the public to experience and appreciate the interior architectural elements and fixtures of the Gothic Cottage.

Perhaps most importantly, the use of the building as the Town of Cazen ovia municipal building speaks force fully and directly to the value that the community places on its unique historical architectural resources and in maintaining a vibrant walkable vil lage center. The Town office’s location in the Gothic Cottage demonstrates recognition of those values and sets Cazenovia apart from other communi ties in Madison County and Central New York.

At recent town board meetings, and through individual conversa

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For my parents, it only took a word about Santa and our sibling squab bling would stop.

Ramblings from the empty nest Ann Ferro

But I will also bet that plans for future retribution were being qui etly hatched … we weren’t angels.

But for those few years of ab solute belief, we were consumed by the desire to do good and pray, feeling manifestly connected to something much larger than our selves.

There was this safety in belief, in practice.

My Dad, who worked as a pas senger representative for the B&O Railroad, sent hundreds of Christ mas cards to people on his contact list.

He would spend hours sign ing the cards and addressing the envelopes.

I watched this process, lusting with the oldest child’s desire to participate. Could I help?

At some point, my father ac quiesced and sat me down at the big round oak table in the dining room with a fountain pen, a list of people and blank envelopes. I was overwhelmed with pride.

I was growing up and changing what was my reality, away from something so precious that I now cherish even the smallest memory.

It was then, when I was about

tions with town councilors, CPF has learned of concerns raised by some of the town councilors with regard to maintaining the town offices in their current location at the Gothic Cottage. As the town board continues to evaluate options for the location of the town offices, CPF encourages Su pervisor Zupan and the town council ors to be rigorous and transparent in their work to: 1) comprehensively list the concerns that they have identified with regard to remaining in the Goth ic Cottage; 2) describe what processes or studies they have undertaken to identify alternatives; 3) describe the outcomes of those evaluations; and 4) describe the degree to which each identified concern can be mitigated.

Many in our community feel strongly about preserving the Gothic Cottage and maintaining the town municipal offices in a location central to the community. A comprehensive and thorough review by the town, such as the one described above, that is clearly communicated to town resi dents will provide the best foundation for upcoming community engagement around this topic.

CAzENoviA PRESERvAtioN FouNDAtioN BoARD oF DiRECtoRS Cazenovia

Crosswalks are a twoway street

To the editor:

Re: Kate Hill’s piece in the Re publican, there are drivers who ignore the Caz village crosswalks. But the issue of crosswalks is a two-way street. While some drivers fail to stop, pedes trians need to take some responsibil ity as well.

At the Community Bank crosswalk most eastbound drivers are focused— as they should be — on the traffic, the light, and vehicles turning into and off of Albany Street. They are also watching for cars pulling out of park ing spaces. Often, they just don’t see the pedestrians who seem to come out of nowhere. I sympathize with people like Justin Fuchs (it’s happened to many of us). But wouldn’t it be better to put up signage advising pedestrians that although they have the right of way, drivers don’t always see them and don’t always stop as required by

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8 or 9 and came to know the truth about Santa and I was invited to help my parents trim the tree, that pride, the knowing challenged the safe harbor of Advent.

Growing into that adult world’s reality brought pride, while that indescribable, sparkling something was getting even farther away. It was as if I were trying to go home to a place I couldn’t find.

Through the years that passed, Christmas has always been special at our house.

Still that something, that magi cal sense of belonging had been lost.

But the circle turns and that miraculous something lived again with our children’s wide-eyed wonder and joy at the Christmases we made for them.

Time passes yet and marvelous ly; it is soon to begin again with our grandchildren.

Maybe you can never go home to that childhood faith again, but you can peek in the windows of your memories and see in them through your children and grand children’s eyes.

What a gift!

Ann Ferro is a mother, a grand mother 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.

law? Or maybe consider relocating that crosswalk to a less congested corner?

While a convenience for pedestri ans, the crosswalk law(s) may have made Albany Street more dangerous than before because many people no longer look before they walk. Mea sures like flashing lights are effective only if drivers can see pedestrians before they step out in front of them. Parked cars and piles of snow obscure them, and then there are those pedes trians who seem to be going straight along the sidewalk and then suddenly dart out into the traffic, cell phones in hand or conversing with friends.

Last year for example, I saw a Caz police car almost mow down a pedes trian at the walkway by Willow Place. Obviously, the officer was aware of the crosswalk. So flashing lights, etc., wouldn’t have helped. It was dark and the person just stepped out into the crosswalk, oblivious and apparently texting. Whose fault was that? If the officer had hit him, it would have been a disaster. And, while flags may work for some, other pedestrians would undoubtedly fail to use them.

Just because pedestrians are authorized to cross doesn’t mean they are “entitled” to do so without paying attention. Often people meander out in the street, focused on their devices or conversations, oblivious to the traffic that waits for them. And usu ally without a nod of thanks for their patience.

Even if 90% of the cars stop … that still leaves some who won’t see them and/or fail to stop. This is a safety priority for pedestrians and motorists and a liability issue for municipalities throughout the state. Presumably the topic has been addressed at the NYS Conference of Mayors, or state plan ning officials? If not, it should be.

Monitoring the crosswalks with video might help identify the prob lems. But adding more lights prob ably isn’t going to solve them.

JoDy REyNolDS Cazenovia

Dooling thanks voters

To the editor:

I would like to extend my sin

FROM THE MAILBAG

Years Ago in History

By cinDy Bell ToBey

70 years ago – nov. 27, 1952

Robert Loomis, second mate of the “Yankee,” one of the young amateur crew under Commander Irving Johnson, U.S.N.R., which sailed on an 18-months cruise to the romantic “South Pacific” and other out-ofthe-way places around the world, will give his full color movie lecture at Cazenovia Central School assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 10:35.

From eight miles of film taken on this great expedition the film of “The World-Cruising Yankee” and others were culled and edited by Commander Johnson and Mr. Loomis. Mr. Loomis received his B.A. degree from Yale University in 1950, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Among the many yacht ing races in which he has participated are the Marblehead-Halifax in 1947, the NewportAnnapolis in 1948, the Rochester in 1949, the Bermuda in 1950. The “Yankee’s” amateur crew equipped with 30 cameras, diving gear and underwater photographic equipment spent a year and a half just looking for the odd places and excitement you will see in this modern epic adventure story.

65 years ago – nov. 28, 1957

Postmaster Hendrix today reemphasized to the citizens of Cazenovia, the need to shop and mail early this Christmas season, to speed the processing of Christmas mail. Mr. Hendrix cautioned that putting off mailing Christmas cards and parcels until the last moment results in an extremely heavy burden being placed on the postal employees and postal facilities of Cazenovia and slows up the processing of

mail. Every facility of the local post office, he added, will be pressed into maximum service again this year so that the post office will be cleared of all Christmas mail that has been deposited in time for delivery by Dec. 25.

60 years ago – nov. 29, 1962

William S. Hults, chairman of the New York State Traffic Commission, has an nounced the recent issuance of the following orders by the commission which are on file with the secretary of state’s office: Madison County – Town of Cazenovia. Prohibited the standing or vehicles on the north side of Route US 20 between the village line and a point 1,058 feet west of the village line. Pro hibited the standing of vehicles on the south side of Route US 20 between the village line and a point 898 feet west of the village line.

55 years ago – nov. 29, 1967

In what could be the mismatch of the cen tury, the “Fearless Faculty” of Cazenovia Cen tral School will contest the Harlem Astronauts in a game of basketball at the high school gymnasium on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. Fortunately, the Astros play it for laughs as well as baskets, so the exhibition should be an orbiting good time for the spectators. The Harlem players are noted for their clowning, but also will provide a show of good basketball, featuring their trademark, clever ball handling. As their advance notices say, “there is always humor in seeing the other fellow get fooled.” The Astros top laughmakers are Wiley Briggs and Joe Joe Byers. Joe Parker is their ace shotmaker. This season, the Astros will travel 60,000 miles and play 200 games. They are shooting for a perfect record.

Deep snow, deeper hearts

You started hear ing about it early in the week, breathless talk about it.

As the week pro gressed, the prognostica tions got more outlandish, and more than a few folks may have started to tune out, convinced that they knew more than the experts or wanting self-serving rectitude in case it didn’t happen.

Oh, but then it happened.

Active weather fronts swooped down from Canada, combining with high winds from the west and mois ture from two warm (50-plus degrees) Great Lakes to form a massive, un stoppable snow machine.

Anyone on the eastern shore of these bodies of water was fair game. Talk of 3 to 4 inches falling an hour, temperatures warm enough to make that snow heavy, compact, tough to shovel or blow clear. Even thunder and lightning.

When all was done a few days later, the numbers were numbing. Hamburg had 81.2 inches. Orchard Park, 80 inches. Elma, 67 inches, Watertown, 57.4 inches. East Aurora, 51.3 inches. And so on.

To think that being “spared” meant a mere two feet on the ground tells you all that is necessary about how extreme this was, that an entire season’s snow fall can get squeezed into a 36-hour window.

That’s part of the story. The one with all the ridiculous pictures of hous es, cars, mail boxes disappearing under monstrous white drifts, garages open ing and no daylight emerging until the door was six feet off the ground.

Random Thoughts

Phil Blackwell

ly inundated, it required an army of fans, shovels and heavy equipment just to get the players out of their homes and toward a (less-buried) airport so they could fly to Detroit.

Beyond that, though, there were in numerable instances of cars and people stuck outside who got a helping hand, a helping push or a warm place to spend the night, no one thinking twice about helping total strangers survive.

Some of this is just an outgrowth of having decades of experience dealing with snowstorms and blizzards, just as residents in other parts of the country are well-versed with hurricanes on coastlines, tornadoes in the middle of the country and earthquakes along fault lines.

Yet there’s also the notion, perhaps quaint and certainly not celebrated, of neighbor helping neighbor, no ques tions asked. This is a bigger deal than you think.

Whenever any kind of disaster or tragedy strikes these days, it doesn’t take long for the political and social divides to emerge, coloring and warping our priorities.

It doesn’t take an ideology, though, to reach out and be kind. If we condition our behavior strictly along the lines of who agrees with us, we isolate ourselves from one another and, worse yet, choose to learn nothing.

By the time all those families in the Buffalo and Watertown areas and other related lake-effect outlets gathered together for Thanksgiving feasts (and to see if the Bills beat the Lions), perhaps they got a greater appreciation for the simple gift of time with those they loved.

By Donna newman

what can we say about miss Jewl? She’s truly a gem. you could say she’s a diamond in the “ruff.” She has a good heart and a gentle soul. She’s almost two years old, and came to the shelter when her family could no longer take care of her. She loves to play, she loves to learn, and she loves peo ple. She also loves car rides. Because she’s so energetic, she would do best with older, respectful kids. like all dogs, she would benefit from training. She’s so pretty, and the best smile, and those ears – adorable! She loves helping out in the front office at the shelter and as much as we’ll miss her, she belongs in a loving home that can truly appreciate her winning ways. for more information about adoption, email front desk1@cnyspca.org, call 315-454-4479, or click cnyspca.org

cere thanks to the voters in DeWitt who elected me on Nov. 8, 2022 to represent them in 2023. I will keep working hard to improve the way of life in DeWitt on a full-time basis. A special thank you to my committee of 12 people who worked so hard in getting signs and palm cards distributed. Sometimes difficult years like this year makes us especially thank ful for what we do have and what’s really important.

I will be working for all the citizens in DeWitt so please feel free to reach out to me on email jhdpad@twcny.rr.com or on my cell at (315) 278-0495. Thank you.

Jack Dooling

Town of DewiTT councilor

On Nov. 9, the day after my election, I attended the Town of Manlius budget hearing. This was not in retaliation from my election, but as a concerned citizen. My sole purpose for even running for the town board was to be a voice for those that are unaware of what was going on in our town. As I have said before, a unanimous board is not a good thing.

There needs to be a different perspec tive to formulate good decisions.Very rarely have you seen the board, through scripted motions, not vote unanimously. When I spoke at the public hearing it was not only as a concerned resident but as a way for those who do not know what may be going on to understand the issues.

The board has touted themselves as transparent and open to the residents, but this is far from the truth in my opinion.

After asking a series of questions that the board could not answer or refused to, a week later passed the budget.

What follows, though, is quite instructive. Outside of this realm, it’s quite easy to (literally) pile on the jokes, to wonder why in heaven’s name anyone would want to live in a place that can get this buried….in November, a month before the “official” first day of winter.

Inside of it, though, a different mindset takes over. One that sheds per sonal comfort and warmth for commu nity spirit and the old-fashioned notion of helping one another.

This was especially the case in the Buffalo area, where tens of thousands experienced this latest snowstorm (spare me the clever titles) and then went straight to work digging out.

Admittedly, some VIPs who play pro fessional football got first dibs. With the Bills’ stadium in Orchard Park absolute

This budget increased spending by almost $3 million dollars and lowered the tax rate by increasing home assessments and the use of the fund balance (savings) to make themselves look appealing.

In a time when inflation is rising and the cost of living is skyrocketing, the board missed an opportunity to use ARPA funds for one-time projects. Instead of getting ahead and completing some long overdue projects, the board chose options that would add cost to our tax base. Add ing a comptroller to the budget expense with little or no discussion between the public hearing and the final budget, surely does not show transparency.

To me this was a calculated plan that will add expense to the town for years to come. Cutting from our police depart ment and no other department or special interest projects does not seem quite right either.

Cutting the core services that the town

Most years, they would only have to overcome the virtual and literal head aches travel can cause. In 2022, it in volved winding their way down streets where, a few days earlier, no one could move, only cleared out through hard, concentrated work and a community spirit that cannot be taught.

If only this spirit, shown in our most dangerous, vulnerable and extreme moments, manifested itself on ordinary days, too. It should not take a weather emergency, or some other kind of crisis, to bring out the best in humans.

Besides, there’s still a long way to go in winter. We might have to join up to dig out again.

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

expects seems careless. My intent is not to be “contentious”, but to let the board know someone is paying attention and to hold the board accountable. Trying to cre ate a better town that reflects the majority of the town’s views should not be seen as a partisan issue. Whether you are a Repub lican or a Democrat, I would think that we all would want safety on our streets, a highway department that maintains our roads, a fire department that is there for us in need and a fiscally responsible town.

Reacting to your tax bill after it arrives in the mail is too late to make change. I was only one of two people that took the time to attend the public hearing for the town budget. As a whole we missed an opportunity to diversify our board, begin to work together, put political divisiveness aside and truly begin to work together for the good of our community.

DaviD Barnwell Manlius

Among these revelations was that only 51% of all participants knew the legal age for marijuana use is 21 years old. It is im perative that the residents of New York understand that despite marijuana be ing legalized, it is only intended for adult consumption and like all drugs, can carry risks, especially for the developing brains of

young people.

BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc., contracted with Lalone to conduct a sur vey in late 2021 regarding marijuana use in Madison County related to the recent legalization. School counselors, and staff from Madison County Health Department, Madison County Youth Bureau, and Onei da Police Department were among the au dience members who came out to hear this revealing information.

BRiDGES took this opportunity to share

James Church “The Comfort & Joy Tour” w/Sarah Hart & Steve Angrisano. 4 pm.

Joel LaLone, principal researcher of Joel LaLone Consulting, shared many compel ling facts during his recent presentation at an event hosted by BRiDGES at the Kallet Civic Center in Oneida.

with those present about a new communitywide coalition aimed at reducing underage and binge drinking, and reducing harm re

lated to marijuana use in Madison County. BRiDGES Coalition Coordinator Caro

Submitted photo

BRiDGES recently held an event at the kallet Civic Center in oneida, looking at infor mation on marijuana as well as introducing a new program.

milestone,

In observance of

Cazenovia Heritage organization will host a robust year of programs recog nizing 230 years of Cazenovia’s historic architecture.

Operating since 2021, Cazenovia Heritage promotes the protection and preservation of historic architecture, sites, and objects in the Cazenovia area.

Cazenovia has a rich inventory of ar chitectural styles representative of its 230-year history.

While the majority of its historic homes are of the 19th century, it is well represented by 20th century styles, as well.

“Our built environment is all around

us and defines our community, and our historic architecture contributes much to that identity. By highlighting 230 Years of Architecture, we hope every one in Cazenovia can become a little more aware of Cazenovia’s historic ar chitecture and why protecting it from deterioration and other threats is so important to our economy, identity, and community character,” said Ted Bartlett, vice president of Cazenovia Heritage.

January will begin with a program on early center-chimney homes and subsequent programs continue through the year covering architectural styles up to post-modern designs.

The celebration year also includes three architecture walking tours, selfguided tours of homes and school houses, on-site programs at a barn and

a cemetery, a children’s program, as well as special presentations by noted speakers.

Two programs will be jointly hosted with the Cazenovia Public Library and Lorenzo State Historic Site. A dditionally, the Gustav Stickley House in Syracuse, currently under restoration, will reserve a “Cazenovia Day” next summer specifically for free private tours for residents of Cazen ovia.

Most important, in May, a commem oration event will be held near John Lincklean’s original campsite, followed by a “birthday cake” at the Cazenovia Club and tour of the 1890s Owahgena Clubhouse. A special guest --- whose identity is being kept under wraps -will attend that day’s celebration.

All of the programs are free, open

to the public, and are made possible by annual memberships in Cazenovia Heritage.

“With this year-long celebration, we hope to demonstrate that Cazenovia is a community that honors, celebrates, and will protect its historic architec ture,” said Anne Ferguson, president of Cazenovia Heritage. “We invite all organizations to join us in celebrating Cazenovia’s 230 years. In addition to architecture, Cazenovia has much to celebrate: 230 years of art, 230 years of farming, 230 years of caring for the lake, 230 years of industry and invention – you name it – we can all celebrate this anniver sary.”

Details of the entire program schedule will be published in this paper next month and available on the Cazenovia Heritage website cazheritage.org

lann Ferrier, and Coalition Development Specialist Gretchen Slater, were recently hired to organize and execute this coalition.

After LaLone’s presentation, Ferrier en couraged the audience to consider joining the coalition.

“I would like to invite you to become members of our coalition so that we can work together to provide resources as well as solu tions to the issues within our community in regards to marijuana and alcohol use,” she said. “Gretchen and I look forward to work ing with you to build healthy communities

in Madison County.”

To learn more about the coalition, contact Ferrier at cferrier@bridgescouncil.org

Immediately following LaLone’s presen tation the Kallet opened to the community for a free family friendly event and BRiDG ES Executive Director Maureen Campanie, invited participants to enjoy the entertain ment and visit the tables set up around the Kallet showcasing BRiDGES programming.

Campanie shared that BRiDGES was re cently awarded a grant through the NYS Of fice of Addiction Services and Supports that allowed for expansion of current program ming and to add additional curriculums to their lineup.

Highlighted at these tables were new offerings such as the Stanford Cannabis Prevention Toolkit, aimed at prevention of marijuana use among teens. Also featured was All Stars Core, a curriculum that invites students to participate in art projects, video making, and to think about their hopes for the future and the way risky behaviors may impact those dreams.

BRiDGES offers prevention program ming for all ages including parenting classes and programs that can be enjoyed by class rooms and youth groups or youth focused organizations. Visit bridgescouncil.org to download the programming catalog for this year and be sure to reach out to info@bridg

escouncil.org if you have an interest in any programming.

In addition to the tables of BRiDGES programming, Upscale Exotics provided reptiles and a large tortoise to engage com munity members, Drew’s Balloons offered free balloon animals, Oscar’s Food truck was on site for dinner, and many community partners attended to share what their agen cies can offer in Madison County.

Additionally, winners of the BRiDGES coloring contest were awarded. Winners included students from Madison Central School, Roberts Street Elementary, and Bo livar Road Elementary.

Congratulations to all of the winners.