Cazenovia Republican digital edition - June 5, 2024

Village election, school budget re-vote both set for June 18

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

During the June 3 Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees meeting, Mayor Kurt Wheeler announced that the Cazenovia community has two separate votes scheduled for Tuesday, June 18.

The village election will be held at the Cazenovia American Legion from noon to 9 p.m.

Two seats on the village board are open this year. The candidates are incumbent Katherine Hahn, Democratic; Kelly Ryan Vidakovic, Republican, Your Neighborhood Voice; Jennifer Lutter, Caz Forward; and Colton Mennig, Democratic, Strong Community.

The Cazenovia League of Women Voters will host a village candidate forum

at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 in the Community Room of the Cazenovia Public Library. All are welcome to attend and ask questions.

The second vote on June 18 is the Cazenovia Central School District budget re-vote.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the middle school auxiliary gymnasium, 31 Emory Ave.

On May 21, voters rejected the district’s proposed $38,826,826 spending plan for the 2024-25 school year.

On June 18, district residents will be asked to cast their votes on a revised budget proposal.

“Just coincidentally that’s the date [the district] picked,” said Wheeler. “I think that’s probably driven by state parameters of when they have to do it. Ours

inaugural lavender Festival planned

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

This summer, the historic Farmstead 1868 will celebrate its blooming lavender fields by hosting Cazenovia’s first Lavender Festival on July 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

is the standard date for villages in the state that conduct June elections. [It’s] ironic that they are the same time, but we just have to make sure people understand that. . . . Anything we can do to make sure people exercise their right [to vote] in both elections would be good.” Fiscal year recap

Wheeler provided a recap of fiscal year 2023-2024, which ended on May 31, 2024.

He described the year as “tumultuous,” explaining that the village was dealing with financial pressures associated with very high inflation, the closing out of a major project at Lakeland Park, and expenses associated with planning for the future of the former Cazenovia College campus.

Election l Page 12

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

Michael Basla, a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general and co-founder of Cazenovia’s Madison County Distillery, was recently selected as a 2024 New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame inductee by Sen. Joseph Griffo.

Basla, who grew up in Syracuse and graduated from Bishop Grimes High School, served on active duty for nearly 36 years. He received his commission in 1979 as a distinguished graduate of officer training school. After serving multiple assignments, he retired in 2014 as Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in the Pentagon.

Basla and the other 2024 Veterans Hall of Fame inductees were honored during a ceremony at the NYS Capitol Building in Albany on May 28.

“I was very humbled to be inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame,” Basla said on May 30. “I deeply appreciate Senator Joe Griffo and all the New York State Senators for extending this spe -

cial honor to me. Serving our nation as an Air Force officer was my great privilege, and to be recognized like this was totally unexpected. My time in uniform was never about accolades but rather about doing my small part in helping to protect the freedom we have been blessed with as Americans. Finally, I must extend a heartfelt thanks to my family, community, and nation for unparalleled support during my almost 36year career. I could not have accomplished what I did without them.”

Basla’s military career spanned the last half of the Cold War and many years of the Global War on Terrorism.

According to a biography included in the Veterans Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony Program, Basla was assigned in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell and was stationed at the Pentagon on 9/11.

“He began his career as a communications officer and broadened his expertise into command and control, computer systems, and space and cyberspace operations,” the biography states. “Mr. Basla served in five operational communications units and has extensive joint experience, including a tour as Director for C4 Systems, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Saudi Arabia

Call us today 315-472-7607, and

The Cazenovia League of Women Voters will host a village candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday June 12 in the community room of the Cazenovia Library.

All are welcome to attend and ask questions to the candidates. What follows is submitted information from each candidate Kelly Ryan Vidakovic is running for village trustee as a Republican.

“I love this village and want it to be the best it can be, for all of us who call it home,” she said. “I believe in the power of effective communication, careful spending, and strong collaboration to support our community. I will be a voice for the people, by fostering open and transparent communication. I will ensure the concerns of residents are heard and addressed and any ideas, no matter how small, will be heard and brought to the board. Open communication between the village board and the people who trust us to govern is very important to me. Also, my aim is to improve our village by advocating for careful spending during these fiscally challenging times. By having a voice in our financial decisions, I aim to prioritize long-term financial health to ensure we are investing in our future responsibly. Collaboration is the key to our success, which is why I will be working alongside organizations such as CazLife, CACDA and CPF. I will also work alongside current and future business owners in

in support of the United Nations security resolution against Iraq. He served twice on the joint staff and held key positions. Mr. Basla also served as Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, where he assisted the commander in organizing, equipping, training, and maintaining mission-ready nuclear, space, and cyberspace forces and capabilities for North Aerospace Defense Command, US Strategic Command, and other functional and geographical combatant commands. . . . [In his final assignment], he led four directorates supporting 77,000 cyber operations and support personnel across the globe, with a portfolio valued at $17 billion.”

Basla has received several major awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster. An oak leaf cluster is worn to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration.

In 2021, Basla was inducted into the Air Force Cyberspace and Support Hall of Fame.

Submitted PhotoS the lavender Festival will be held on July 6 at Farmstead 1868. tickets must be purchased in advance.

katherine Hahn Jennifer lutter

Colton Mennig kelly Ryan Vidakovic

Submitted Photo On May 28, Cazenovia resident Michael Basla was honored as a 2024 Veterans Hall of Fame inductee during a ceremony at the NyS Capitol Building in Albany. Basla served in the US Air Force for nearly 36 years and retired as lieutenant general. Forum l Page 14

Distillelry l Page 2

Caz High School students, Nelson Creamery develop ice

By kAtE Hill Staff Writer

In May, Cazenovia High School (CHS) students in Sara McDowell’s advanced foods course collaborated with Nelson Creamery to create a signature ice cream flavor for the summer season.

The new flavor, Rainbow Fudge Fiesta, features chocolate ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, a fudge swirl, and brownie pieces.

Working in teams, McDowell’s students were challenged to develop unique flavors based on a list of criteria and available ingredients provided by the creamery.

With help from other faculty members, McDowell reviewed video presentations submitted by each team and narrowed the options down to Bess Johnson and Amelia Cashatt’s Rainbow Fudge Fiesta, Finn Worthington and Avery Cashatt’s Coral Reef Crunch, and Ben Bianco and Fletcher Litera’s Patriotic Party Pop.

The three finalists were submitted to Nelson Creamery, which presented the flavors to its board and held a customer vote to select the winner. According to McDowell, Johnson and Cashatt are both seniors. Johnson will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, and Cashatt is headed to SUNY Geneseo.

This is the second collaboration between McDowell’s classes and Nelson Creamery. In 2021, Ben McPherson and Wyatt Hartley’s Mean Green Machine was named the creamery’s signature summer flavor.

McDowell’s advanced foods is a follow-up course to food and nutrition, which focuses on kitchen

safety, sanitation, safe food handling, measuring, using kitchen equipment, healthy substitutions in meal preparation, and reading and executing recipes independently.

In advanced foods, students continue to practice and develop those skills, test their time management, and execute more difficult recipes.

“Instead of reading and executing one recipe, they may be [asked] to execute two to three recipes and ensure that they are all ready to be served at the same time,” said McDowell. “They also practice the skill of creating effective grocery lists and [learn] how salt, fat, acid, and heat all play an important role in a dish.”

The course culminates in “Chopped Challenges,” where students are presented with a bag of ingredients and tasked with combining them to create a delicious dish.

“Sometimes the ingredients are ‘easy’ and pair well together, but I’ve been known to throw in a can of sardines or other unfamiliar ingredients to challenge their abilities,” McDowell said. “They have a very strict time limit to prepare a dish with no recipe. Judges come in at the end [and] taste dishes prepared by each kitchen, and a winner is chosen. This really tests their ability to use all the skills learned through the two classes. It is also a way to simulate a real, practical life situation. How many times do we come home and consider what we can make for dinner with [the] ingredients we have on hand?”

McDowell is CHS’s family and consumer science (FCS) teacher. In addition to advanced foods and food and nutrition, she teaches

l From page 1

Since his retirement, Basla has served on the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International Executive Board of Directors and its cyber committee, on the national Armed Services YMCA Board of Directors, and as Honorary Chairman of Volunteers for Ukraine,

Submitted Photo

Cazenovia High School Students in Family and Consumer Science teacher Sara McDowell’s Advanced Foods course helped Nelson Creamery develop its signature ice cream flavor for the summer season. The class presented three flavor options to the creamery, which held a customer vote and selected Bess Johnson and Amelia Cashatt’s “Rainbow Fudge Fiesta” as the winner. Pictured left to right: Johnson, McDowell, and Cashatt.

child development and parenting, family relations and partnerships, and a required eighth grade exploratory FCS. She also teaches teachers for tomorrow, a course designed for aspiring educators or individuals considering a career working with children. Students have coursework with McDowell while also participating in an internship at Burton Street with master elementary school teachers.

“When I tell someone that I am a Family and Consumer Science teacher, the response is often a blank stare,” said McDowell. “I then explain it is the ‘new name for home ec,’ which typically sparks a response. Many people think that these classes aren’t offered anymore, but they are!”

According to McDowell, FCS

an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and medical support for the victims of the war and the people of Ukraine.

In 2017, he and his family founded Madison County Distillery on an 80-acre farm called “The Maples.”

Basla has partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project to co-host an annual ap -

~Due to Unforeseen Circumstances, Lake Treatment was Postponed~

LETTER OF NOTIFICATION

New Date Set!

CAZENOVIA LAKE HERBICIDE TREATMENT DATE: June 12-13, 2024 (rain date: June 14, 2024)

The Town of Cazenovia has received an approved NYSDEC aquatic herbicide permit to apply ProcellaCOR EC on June 12-13, 2024 (rain date: June 14, 2024) to control Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in areas of the lake. The Program will be conducted by NYS Certified Pesticide Applicators with the firm READY SCOUT, LLC, NYSDEC Pesticide Business Registration No.18575.

The roads along the lakeshore and public access points will be posted at the time of the treatment indicating applicable water use restrictions. The following water use restrictions are currently applicable for your property for the duration of the treatment PLUS as indicated in the table below. Water use restrictions are as follows:

Product Swimming Fish Consumption Livestock Watering Drinking, culinary or food processing purposes Irrigation ProcellaCOR EC no restriction no restriction <1 ppb no restriction <1 ppb

Water samples will be collected following treatment to determine when livestock watering and irrigation restrictions can be removed. This may take 7-14 days after treatment.

The product label is available for review at: www.townofcazenovia.org and Ready Scout at: www.ready-scout.com/product-label-info For further information about the proposed management program or hard copies of the product label, please contact The Town of Cazenovia at 315-655-9213 or Glenn Sullivan, Ready Scout, LLC at 908-310-8775 between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Mon - Fri.

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courses help students build universal life skills that are needed regardless of whether they pursue trade school, attend college, or enter the workforce directly.

“We all have to eat, we all have to manage our homes, [and], most importantly, we all have a family,” she said. “We may choose to have a partner or spouse in the future. Likewise, we may choose to become parents. Can we communicate effectively with our family members, spouse, partner, or child? Can we deal with conflict with healthy strategies? How should we spend time with those individuals? What are healthy relationship behaviors with all the groups listed above? . . . Many think that FCS — or home ec — is about laundry, sewing, and food. Sure, those are all part of what

preciation day for wounded warriors, veterans, first responders, and their families at The Maples.

He is also the current president of the Cazenovia Memorial Association and the Cazenovia Lions Club.

According to his biography, Basla resides in Cazenovia with Rebecca, his wife of 10 years. His first wife, Barbara, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery; together, they had four children: Sara, Beth, Marissa, and Adam.

Established in 2005, the NYS Senate Veterans Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves in both military and

I teach, but it is about so much more. FCS has matured a great deal over the years. It’s been my passion since I was in high school [and] decided to pursue a degree in FCS education. Offering these courses to my students gives me immense joy. I am extremely thankful that the administration, parents, and Cazenovia businesses like Nelson Creamery continue to see value in FCS.”

To learn more about CHS and its course offerings, visit cazenoviacsd.com/highschool.

Nelson Creamery is located at 2836 US Route 20, Cazenovia, and operated by the Cazenovia Lodge No. 616, Free & Accepted Masons. For updates on the business, visit facebook.com/nelsoncreamery

civilian life.

“Their meritorious service to our nation deserves the special recognition that only a hall of fame can provide, as a fitting expression of our gratitude and admiration,” the NYS Senate website states. A recording of the Veterans Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony and the ceremony program can be found at nysenate.gov/ honorees/2022/honoring-our-veterans To learn more about Basla’s military career, visit af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/ Display/Article/104624/michael-j-basla/ Madison County Distillery is located at 2412 Rt. 20 E., Cazenovia. For more information, visit madisoncountydistillery. com.

PURPOSE: TEXT:

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid

THE FILING OF A GENERAL INCREASE IN ELECTRIC RATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $525 MILLION AND GAS RATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $148 MILLION BASED ON THE TEST YEAR, TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023.

Notice is hereby given that Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid (Company) has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) proposed tariff amendments to its PSC No. 220 and 214 Electric and 219 Gas tariffs. e Company is proposing an increase in base electric delivery rates of approximately $525 million and an increase in base gas delivery rates of approximately $148 million. e Company has filed for an effective date of July 3, 2024; however, the Company’s proposal is subject to suspension and review by the PSC. After suspension and review, the Company expects the base delivery increase to become effective on May 1, 2025.

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Less than 250,000 therms per year

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Greater than 250,000 but less than 1,000,000 therms per year

usage Current Rates Proposed First 3 therms or less $500.00 $575.00

3 therms, per therm (Apr to Oct) $0.05012 $0.07859

Over 3 therms, per therm (Nov to Mar) $0.06001 $0.08381

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Greater than 1,000,000 but less than 2,500,000

OuR vOicE

Be ‘water smart’

Living in the Finger Lakes region comes with many perks, not the least of which is the access we are able to enjoy to the many lakes in our region.

Throughout the summer many can be found out on the lakes taking advantage of the long, warm days swimming.

But whenever you are out on or in the water, it is good to keep some safety tips in mind.

When it comes to swimming safety is also of the utmost importance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4,000 unintentional drownings occur every year.

Drowning is also one of the leading causes of unintentional death in children between the ages of 1 and 9, while children ages 1–4 have the highest drowning rates.

Most drownings among children aged 1–4 happen in swimming pools.

Many of these fatalities occur even with supervision.

The American Red Cross encourages families to prepare for the fast-approaching summer swim season by learning to be “water smart.”

Before families head out to pools and parks, it’s important for all family members to learn and review critical water safety skills. Knowing fundamental Red Cross water safety skills will help you feel more prepared for fun outings in, on and around the water and help save lives.

This summer, remember these water safety tips.

Nobody should ever swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and don’t trust a child’s life to another child.

It’s best to always designate a “water watcher” who will keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in, on and around water until the next water watcher takes over.

Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but don’t rely on life jackets alone.

In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on. Don’t go in. You could be in danger of drowning yourself.

The Red Cross also suggests to always swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Never leave a young child unattended near water and teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well and consider taking lessons at the YMCA or similar organizations.

If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.

Avoid distractions when supervising children around water. If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

Also consider enrolling in a home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/ AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Other safety measures to keep in mind include making sure to have the proper equipment such as well fitting pool covers so that children and pets cannot slip under them as well as surrounding the pool with proper fencing or barriers.

Surround your pool with a fence or other barrier.

It is also recommended to keep the pool area clear and to keep children away from filters and other mechanicals.

Other considerations include limiting the use of alcohol as the CDC reports that alcohol is involved in 70 percent of all teen and adult deaths associated with water recreation.

Regularly check the pool area for any potential accident hazards.

For more information visit redcross.org/ watersafety.

there’s no crying in basketball

I like to keep up. The current craze for women’s sports, particularly basketball … kudos to Caitlin Kelly …is a challenge. Why?

I am now and always have been … what is the word? Uncoordinated? Clumsy? Probably both. Even the simple street game like hopscotch were hard for me. And jumping into a turning jump rope? Not a chance. I was the anathema of the school yard.

So when it came to high school and gym or PE class was not one in which I excelled. Not hurting myself was my goal.

And in college, well, here is my story. Syracuse University required students to take four semesters of PE. For the female version, that took place in the Women’s Building, located off Comstock Avenue. It was the Mecca for women’s sports. There were choices for those four semesters, but the only ones I am remembering were fencing, modern dance and basketball. I’m sure they had tennis and so forth, but I am very clear that I lusted after fencing. It was so much more romantic than the other options.

But, no matter how early I signed up, I was wait-listed. Fencing was the most requested PE activity for women at SU. There are only so many instructors, padded vests and protective head gear, not to mention the rapiers. No female swashbuckling for me.

For one semester I took modern dance. This required specific clothing. The student supplied the leotard and SU supplied the floor length circle skirt, de rigeur for Modern Dance.

At SU PE also meant classes and lectures about the sport you for which you signed up. Oh, my gosh, how many short, grainy films did we watch about Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan?

The teacher, whose name I have long

ann Ferro

forgotten, spoke those women’s names as one would speak of God in church. And when she told us how Isadora met her maker … well, it was more than dramatic. I did make a mental note not to wear a silk scarf when riding in an open motor vehicle.

Instruction was mostly watching these films, and our final for the semester was a dance composition that we, the class, designed and performed.

The group of 12 met about two hours before our performance to plan. We wore our long sleeve leotards and the circle skirts. The quickly-invented plan was to start seated on the floor in a circle. One of us would arise and tap each girl as she danced around the circle, causing each to rise and circle after her.

Of course this terpsichorean feat was performed to music. We had two choices, based on what records were available. One was “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny and the other was “Claire De Lune” by Debussy. We chose Clair de Lune because one of us had a 33 1/3 of the music I took basketball for two semesters. Ms. Wadsworth was our instructor. Note here that I do remember her name. We used to joke that she was probably the only person in the world who could logically connect basketball to the Renaissance or the Sermon on the Mount.

Those Wadsworth lectures on basketball were thorough, if a bit unbelievable. But we did learn that although Jim Naismith is credited with the invention of the game, it had roots in other activities throughout the world.

Personally I don’t think that Mr. Naismith studied the history of games of people all over the world in order to figure out how to get a round ball through a basket. We were actually tested on this. And back then, in 1959, women

played half-court basketball. You stayed on your side of the court. Boring and, since I was playing, dangerous.

One of the gals shot the ball from the other side of the court to me and it hit the tips of my outstretched fingers. Ouch. By the time the game was over, the pinky finger on my left hand was the size of both thumbs.

One of my fellow players called Ms. Wadsworth’s attention to my finger … and I was, of course, trying not to appear weak, but the racking sobs were a big giveaway. Ms. Wadsworth shook her head, coached me on what to do the next time the ball came at me and said as a side remark, “Oh, soak that finger in the cold water of the drinking fountain.” Which I think is the equivalent of “walk it off.”

Back at my dorm, the finger started to change colors and I was advised to go to the infirmary to see if there was anything that could be done. Off I went. It was broken. Yup. The intern on call padded it so that it was maintained in a slight curve, wrapped it in seriouslooking tape and told me not to use it. Really? When I reported to PE next, Ms. Wadsworth’s assessment of my dramatically-bandaged broken digit was use my other hand while I was playing.

I tried to explain what the doctor had advised and her reply was that I should not use it while I was playing. Didn’t I understand? I told her that it would be dangerous to play with a broken finger. She pulled herself up as straight as she could and told me that there were “no excuses” in basketball.

Then she said that maybe I should have chosen fencing, where you only use one hand.

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.

Excerpts from ‘What Memorial Day Means to Me’

The following is a taken from a presentation made by Gene Gissin, commander, American Legion Post 88 in Cazenovia, on “What Memorial Day means to Me,” at the Cazenovia Memorial Day Program on May 27.

Some see Memorial Day as a holiday to celebrate with various festive events. But, more importantly, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died while serving in our military and others who risked their lives but died after leaving the military. Brave Cazenovia area servicemen and women from throughout history are illustrated by the following who died while in uniform:

Wylie De Clercq, US Army, grew up in Cazenovia, enlisted at age 16 and died in 1864 at age 17 during the Civil War . He was captured and later died at the Confederate POW Camp at Andersonville.

Elmer B. Roberts, US Army, grew up in Fenner, served in WWI and was killed on 6 October 1918 while fighting in France, one month before the end of the fighting.

Laverne A. Austin, US Navy, grew up in Perryville and was one of the first killed in WWII. He died at age 18 on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese torpedoed the USS Arizona during the attack at Pearl Harbor.

Harold G. Blodgett, US Army, grew

FROM THE MAILBAG

The right candidate

To the editor:

Onondaga County, it is time for Central New York to have real representation in Congress. With Sarah Klee Hood as our candidate, we will finally flip this seat! Sarah has community support across our district that continues to grow. She gets voters excited and when voters are excited they vote!

Sarah decided to run for office when she saw a need for sidewalks in her community. As I have been working to bring sidewalks to the Town of Manlius, I know how important sidewalks are to connect our community and the more federal funding there is to support these community building projects the more our communities will thrive. Let’s send Sarah to Washington D.C to bring more

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up in Cazenovia, served in WWII, was recalled for the Korean War and was killed in South Korea. on 16 February 1951 at age 23.

Joseph C. Wiltsie, US Navy, grew up in Nelson, served as a medic with the Marines in Vietnam and was killed on 31 May 1969 at age 24.

Some examples of WWII veterans who died after leaving active military service are:

Frank Cargill, US Navy, was a telegraph operator and the railroad station master in Cazenovia. He enlisted and was assigned to the Navy’s Training Center at Sampson where he continued to operate a telegraph for the duration of the war, delivering messages to help advance the needs of the military.

Herm Munger, US Army, worked in Cazenovia Post Office, was drafted in 1943 and served for two years. He was assigned to the Army Post Office on Long Island doing the same job that he had been doing in Cazenovia, thereby facilitating the delivery of mail to service men and women everywhere.

Mary Thomas Newberry, US Navy, grew up in Nelson and was educated as a nurse. Against the advice of her already serving fiancé and nephew, she enlisted to be a Navy Nurse in 1944. Although she wanted to serve “over there,” her assignments kept her at stateside hospitals.

federal dollars to Central New York for these important community projects, to protect our reproductive rights, and take action on the climate crisis.

Sarah has the experience, the team and the resources to flip this district and become our next Congresswoman. Please join me in voting for Sarah Klee Hood for Congress in the Democratic primary on June 25.

ElAiNE DENtON manliuS

Thanks to Gene Gissin

To the editor: Those at the Memorial Day parade and observance heard Gene Gissin describe what Memorial Day means to him.

Gene recounted stories of past service

Bob Mansfield, US Army, spent his civilian life in Cazenovia. He was drafted in the early 1940s, did basic training at Fort Dix and was assigned to advanced training at Fort Hood. Later he was assigned as an instructor in the tank destroyer school. He received overseas orders on three occasions, but the orders were cancelled each time. So, he was ready to serve in combat, but never left the US.

Mabelle “Barry” Vincent, WASP, grew up in Chittenango and had two brothers who were military pilots who encouraged her to learn to fly. She did and then enlisted in the WASP in 1943. She served as a test pilot at Lackland Army Air Force base testing recently repaired planes of all types to safely return them to combat.

These veterans, whether they served in combat or not, wrote a blank check payable to the ‘The United States of America’ for an amount up to and including their lives. Some gave their lives, some did not, but all were ready to do so. So, as we in Cazenovia honor our deceased veterans today, let us pledge not to forget that service men and women have been serving and even dying for 249 years to protect our freedoms. That is what Memorial Day is all about. For full transcript see cazlegion.wordpress. com.

members, and I watched and listened together with hundreds of fellow Cazenovians. I’m truly grateful to the service men and women who have done so much for our country and community, and I want to thank Gene in particular for his years of service.

Aside from being the outgoing commander of American Legion Post 88, Gene has been a presence in countless community organizations and at community events.

Whether he’s weighing in with his experienced opinion, or documenting an event with his camera, Gene has been a steady, familiar presence that makes Cazenovia a great place to live. Thank you, Gene.

CARlOS GAVilONDO Cazenovia

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Ramblings from the empty nest

Years Ago in History

By CiNDy BEll tOBEy

12 years Ago – June 6, 2012

On May 15, the second annual appreciation luncheon to honor CRIS-CAT volunteer drivers was held at the Lincklaen House in Cazenovia. Close to 50 volunteers and several Community Resources for Independent Seniors board members gathered to celebrate, share stories and get to know each other better it proved to be a heartwarming, lively and fun event reflecting the “neighbors helping neighbors” nature of this program. Coordinator of CRIS-CAT, Steve Burrell, spoke about the progress made since its inception just two years ago. To date, volunteer drivers have accumulated more than 20,664 miles, providing 629 rides to seniors in the greater Cazenovia area. These trips have transported seniors to medical offices, grocery stores, banks, libraries, community centers, hair salons, friends’ homes or just on a relaxing ride in the beautiful New York countryside.

9 years Ago – June 3, 2015

Burton Street Elementary School students, staff, parents and guests saw the unveiling of a new addition to the school’s sculpture garden last week –an original creation by local artists Dorothy Riester and David Harper. The unveiling occurred last Thursday, May 28, after the fourth-grade concert during Fine Arts Night at Burton Street. “This is the moment we’ve been anticipating,” said Burton Street Principal Mary Ann MacIntosh, as the new sculpture stood covered in a blue tarp in the sculpture garden courtyard. “All week long, students and staff have been walking by the sculpture garden wondering what this is.” What it was was a small, elegant assemblage of smooth scrap wood titled, “Cliff Dwelling,” which Riester originally created in 2013. Riester made the piece table-sized scale, and local sculptor, David Harper, made an enlarged model of the piece for installation in the school sculpture garden.

6 years Ago – June 6, 2018

Cazenovia High School brought home two awards Sunday night from the fourth annual Syracuse High School Theatre Awards. Senior Megan Schwartz won the award for outstanding actress in a lead role, and Maureen Carroll won the award for outstanding execution of choreography. The Cazenovia High School Drama Club production of “Nice Work if You Can Get it” received 10 nominations total. The Syracuse High School Theatre Awards event, sponsored by the Syracuse Area Honda Dealers, took place on Sunday, June 3, at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse. The evening was a Tony Awards-inspired production featuring hundreds of high school performers.

3 years Ago – June 2, 2021

This spring, Cazenovia High School graduate Annie Skinner and her family are preparing to open Annie’s Sweets & Treats on Rt. 20 in Morrisville. The new business will offer Gifford’s premium hard ice cream, Queensboro Farm Products soft custard, homemade ice cream sandwiches and cakes, and a variety of bakery items, including bread, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookies and pies. Skinner, who currently lives in the Eaton area, graduated from Cazenovia High School in 2017. Last month she graduated magna cum laude from Nazareth College with a bachelor of fine arts in theater design and technology.

Cornell in the community: Japanese Knotweed

SUBMittED By PAtty StiMMEl ag/garden eduCator/hortiCulturiSt –mgv Coordinator

This time of year, with our rolling hills flushing out so quickly in varying shades of green, the serviceberries blooming with pops of white here and there, it’s easy to miss the not-so-nice botanical banes of a native plant’s existence: invasive species. If you dial back the spring rush a bit, to maybe, mid-April, you’ll see a different story.

Invasive species are often some of the first to leaf out in the spring, beating out their native counterparts by a good two weeks, allowing them to get a jumpstart on their goal of taking over the world. Not really, but it does give them a leg up. Invasive honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii and Lonicera tatarica) are very easy to spot this way in our woodland understory.

Then in early May, another invasive rears its ugly head in damp, sunny areas. Growing incredibly fast from absolute nothingness into a 7+ foot tall monstrosity that is absolutely creepy if you’ve never witnessed it: Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) makes its presence known. Calls start coming into the Master Gardener Volunteer helpline (315-6843001 ext. 119 or ccemadisonmgv@cornell.edu asking: “What is it?” and “How do I get rid of it?”

Before I dive into the details, let’s talk about what makes a plant invasive.

It’s not always easy to define, but in general, it’s a plant that is not indigenous and competes with native plants for resources until natives get ousted by sheer volume (literally squeezed out) or the invasive species changes the environment enough that the area where natives once thrived becomes inhospitable. Invasive species can sometimes change the very composition of the soil in our woodlands. Couple that with invasives lacking natural predators, the insects and diseases that kept their growth in check in their homeland, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Luckily, many of our invasive plants have been here long enough that universities, environmental agencies, botanic gardens and local groups have figured out ways to, if not eradicate things like Japanese knotweed from our state, at least work with homeowners and municipalities to get it as gone as it can be when the alert is raised.

So how do you get rid of Japanese knotweed? One thing to remember about invasive species in general, is that they require persistence to remove

them, and constant vigilance to ensure they remain gone. Japanese knotweed has an extensive network of underground modified stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes creep just under the soil, functioning as roots and stems combined, putting down roots below ground and sprouting up shoots above ground, rooting into larger and larger patches at a speed that seems supernatural. According to the USDA Forest Service, small stands of knotweed can be killed by repeated cutting, which will eventually exhaust the rhizomes. Any piece of the plant that is greater than ½” long has the capacity to root itself, so plant material should be incinerated, buried deeper than five feet, or by composting chopped plants (smaller than ½” pieces!). Removal of plant material from the site is not recommended, so some sort of disposal should happen on site. Mostly this plant moves around because people don’t realize a tiny bit of root is all it takes to start a new colony and as it often grows next to streams and bodies of water, pieces that fall into moving water can be carried downstream to root and start new colonies quite easily.

Smothering small patches with heavy grade plastic for three to five years can eventually kill the plants as well. Finally, for larger patches, a combination approach of breaking/cutting the stems in early summer, then applying a glyphosate herbicide to the regrowing shoots in late summer before they reach three feet in height, can be effective over time. Injecting glyphosate into the broken stems is more effective than foliar sprays, but more time consuming and labor intensive. Always check label instructions when applying pesticides and contact our office if you have questions! We have Cornell pesticide experts via email and certified pesticide applicators on staff to help you.

For this and other questions this season, be sure to give our Master Gardener Volunteer helpline a call at 315-684-3001 ext. 119 or email them at ccemadisonmgv@gmail.com

They will begin the process of finding answers to your questions! And if you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, we will be having a collaborative training with CCE Oneida starting in October 2024.

Patty Stimmel is a Horticulturist and the Ag & Garden Educator for CCE Madison. She runs the Seed to Supper and the Master Gardener Volunteer programs and can be reached at 315-684-3001 ext. 108 or emailed at patriciamae@cornell.edu

Caz boys tennis again reaches state final four

By PHil BlACkwEll

From the moment it left the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens last June, the Cazenovia boys tennis team has worked toward securing a third consecutive trip to the annual home of the U.S. Open. And now it will take place, thanks to the Lakers’ undefeated run to the Division II regional championship that has secured a spot in next weekend’s New York State

Public High School Athletic Association championships.

Regional play began last Saturday, at SUNY Plattsburgh, where Cazenovia met Plattsburgh High School from Section VII and worked its way to a 3-2 victory. Unlike the regular season, which had three singles and two doubles matches, state tournament matches include two doubles and three singles, and in this format the Lakers swept the doubles from Plattsburgh. Again together, the team

of Evan Molloy and Max Reger prevailed in two sets. And while the team of Ethan Camp and Cy Lurie split up, they both won points, too, Camp combining with Gabe Reagan for one straight-set doubles win and Lurie going with Robbie Dorus for another point.

Cazenovia did drop a point in singles when Traian Cherciu lost in two sets, but with a tough three-set win Garret Lounsbury earned the fourth point and the Lakers could look ahead to the regional

Caz softball falls in sectional semis

By PHil BlACkwEll

After waiting six years to win a Section III playoff game, the Cazenovia softball team only had to wait 48 hours to get the next one – much to the surprise of just about anybody outside the Lakers’ dugout. With tremendous pitching and patience, Cazenovia, the no. 6 seed, stunned no. 3 seed Jordan-Elbridge 1-0 in a Class B quarterfinal where lots of experience with the Eagles may have played a key role in the outcome.

These same two teams had played a doubleheader a week earlier. J-E won them, but the initial 3-0 encounter was followed by a 6-5, 10-inning epic which required the Eagles to score twice in the seventh inning to erase a 5-3 Lakers lead.

Filing all of this away, Cazenovia returned and saw its sophomore pitching ace, Paige Reilley, adjust and confuse the Eagles’ hitters through seven scoreless regulation innings.

Yet it remained 0-0 because J-E pitcher Abby DelFavero was just as good, only allowing four hits while accumulating 13 strikeouts and, again, pushing the game into extra frames.

This time, though, it didn’t go beyond the eighth inning. Cadence Walter singled and Cazenovia loaded the bases, then saw DelFavero hit Sophie Wilmot, which brought home Walter.

Reilley then got the final three outs, having given up six hits and two walks but earning nine strikeouts. Lucy Bliss had two of Cazenovia’s four hits, with Wilmot adding a hit.

Whatever else now took place, the Lakers’ season had proven a smashing success, so the disappointment of a 10-2 defeat to no. 2 seed Marcellus in the May 25 semifinal at Carrier Park did not linger too long.

That game belonged, in large part, to

Mustangs senior Bella Mondello, who damaged Cazenovia both with her pitching arm and her bat.

Marcellus put on pressure from the outset, using walks and bunts to force a series of throwing errors and three quick runs in the bottom of the first

Though Mondello had a part in that early rally, she didn’t really get going at the plate until the bottom of the third, when she drilled a Reilley pitch over the rightfield fence to make it 4-0.

Then, after the Lakers cut it to 4-1 in the top of the fourth on Madison Weeks’ RBI double, the Mustangs got four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the key blow Amelia Novitsky’s two-run single.

But it also included Mondello hitting one deep for her second home run of the afternoon. All this, plus a sixth-inning single, complemented what Mondello did in the pitcher’s circle as she amassed 16 strikeouts to run her season total to 192.

To its credit, Cazenovia battled to the end, tacking on a sixth-inning run. Gianna Comino earned two of the Lakers’ four hits, with Lucy Bliss adding a hit. Nearly the entire roster returns for the 2025 season.

Which are worse for golf… Mental or physical mistakes?

e fact is that both mental and physical mistakes are bad for our golf game and cost us strokes on the golf course. However, my experience has taught me that the mental mistakes we make during a round of golf have the potential of a ecting our scores much greater than the physical (poor ball striking) mistakes we make. Look at it this way…a physical mistake should cost us one stroke (bogey), maybe two (double bogey) when we miss a shot. A mental mistake has the potential to cost us two, three or even four strokes on a hole, depending on how we handle the “adversity factor”, as well as how we play the rest of the round when our “thoughts” turn to doubt, we hesitate and our minds begin to vacillate to “negative thoughts. No, you are not the only one that has experienced these “thoughts” on a golf course. Yours truly once had a “quadruple bogey” (4 over par) on the rst hole of an important tournament as well as on the last hole of the same tournament (8 over par on two holes). BRT…Bull, Rubish, Trash!

So, how do we establish a “game plan” for competition, as well as to apply “course management” during our round to become more e ective and shoot lower scores? If you want to improve your scores, simply “avoid” the following mistakes that Nick Foy (Foy Golf Academy) says has cost every golfer strokes on the course. MISTAKES TO AVOID:

1. Not Using A Pre-Shot Routine - A pre-shot routine is like a checklist to give you structure so you can go through a proper setup and make good decisions before hitting your shot.

* Analyze the lie of your golf ball (how’s it sitting).

* Evaluate the weather conditions (wind, rain).

* Establish the distance from your ball to the ag on the green.

* Visualize the golf shot you want to hit…in your mind.

* Pick your club choice.

* Make a practice swing.

* Setup to your golf stance and align yourself to the target.

* Make the swing and hit a great shot.

2. Trying To Hit A Golf Club You Are Not Con dent With - If a golf club is not playing well for you, try other clubs in your bag you like more.

* Lay up on a hole instead of trying to reach the green with a club that you don’t have con dence in.

* Sacri ce a little distance to increase accuracy.

3. Trying To Fix Your Golf Swing During A Round - When you go to a golf course to play

9 or 18 holes, you never know what golf swing you will have that day.

* Learn to play the swing you have that day.

* If you start making grip changes, closing the face, or other adjustments, it might lead to poorly hit shots that end up 40 yards away.

4. Playing too quickly

* Slow down your pace of play if you feel you are playing too quickly.

* Slowing down gives you more time to think about the shot you want to make.

* Factor in distance to bunkers, water and out of bounds.

5. Looking Up Too Early On Putts

* Keep your eyes and head down a little longer on your putting stroke and nish the follow thorough.

* Apply the same thoughts to your golf swing and chip shots as well.

6. Not Using Enough Lo When Hitting From e Rough

* Take a higher lo ed club to get the ball to “pop out” of the rough when it is tall and thick to avoid a clunker.

From Practicable Golf: “5” Mental Mistakes You Should Never Make 1. Don’t analyze your swing, or think about it while swinging.

2. Don’t think about your score (unless you really have to).

3. Don’t beat yourself up. Be your own caddie and remember, it’s just a game.

4. Don’t just aim at the fairway or green…have a very precise target in mind.

5. Don’t forget about your “pre-shot routine”. Good Luck!

final Tuesday against Section II’s South Glens Falls in Schenectady.

With its experience in big matches, the Lakers held off SGF 3-2, with all the excitement taking place in doubles after Cherciu routed Julian Oswald 6-1, 6-1 and Lounsbury rolled past Ronan Westfall 6-3, 6-3.

Molloy and Reger looked for the clinching third point but lost, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, to Tim Mastiff and John Tallon. Camp and Reagan won the first set 6-1 from Brayon Dock and Nate DiFore, but dropped the second set 6-4 and the third set 6-2. This left it all on Lurie and Dorus. They split the first two sets with Collin Woodell and Kerian Westfall, each of them ending 6-2, but stepped up in the final set to win 6-3 and secure another regional championship.

In between the Lakers’ Section III Class C team title and its quest for a state championship was some individual quests for top honors at the May 23-24 sectional state qualifier at Utica Parkway Courts. From his no. 2 seed, Cherciu beat Evan Lyga (New Hartford) 6-0, 6-1 in the first round and took out Skaneate-

les’ Noah Soderberg 7-5, 6-0 in a rematch of the sectional Division III final earlier in the week.

A day later, in the semifinals, Cherciu had to win once to advance to the state tournament and had his chance against Fayetteville-Manlius’ Cameron Lukasik in the semifinals.

However, Lukasik prevailed, 6-3, 6-2, and in the consolation match Cherciu ran into Cortland’s Tyler Cranfield, who in three sets outlasted Cherciu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Still, Cherciu would play in the individual state tournament.

Held rain or shine, the festival will include more than 20 local artisan vendors; food and beverage trucks; educational classes and demonstrations; live music; and lavender-themed crafts and face-painting for kids.

According to a May 22 press release announcing the event, visitors can stroll through rows of fragrant lavender, cut fresh lavender bouquets straight from the fields, learn about the plant’s many uses, and shop lavender soaps, lotions, culinary items, pottery, jewelry, and clothing.

“You no longer have to travel to Provence and the south of France to experience the beauty and benefits of lavender,” said Monica Cody, owner of Farmstead 1868. “However, after strolling through our fields, you will feel transported a world away.”

Festival tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost is $15 for adult admission including a pre-picked lavender bundle or $12 for adult admission including a u-pick lavender bundle. Kids ages five and under are free but require a pre-reserved ticket.

Parking passes are $5 per carload and must be purchased in advance. Space is limited so carpooling is advised.

Admission and parking tickets can be purchased through the pre-sale tickets link on the Farmstead 1868 website.

According to Cody, some festival experiences will require pre-registration and additional payment.

He noted that the funding the village secured for the strategic planning is through a reimbursable grant.

“We are kind of fronting the money in installments and then getting reimbursed for that,” he said. “Despite those added fiscal pressures, we did end the year in a healthy place with a 15 percent cash reserve. We like to see between 15 and 20 percent, so we did hit that threshold. To be in that healthy range in a pretty stressful year is good.”

Fourth of July

Wheeler also highlighted the community’s upcoming Fourth of July festivities, including the 51st Annual Cazenovia July 4th Foot Races in the morning, the parade at 1 p.m., and fireworks in the evening.

The 10-mile race will start at 8 a.m., the 5K will begin at 8:15 a.m., and the Kids’ Fun Run will begin at 8:20 a.m.

To learn more about the foot races and sign up, visit runsignup.com/Race/NY/Cazenovia/ CazJuly4thFootRaces

According to Wheeler, parade participants are asked not to throw confetti this year. Candy throwing is permitted if it is done mindfully and with good judgment. Candy should be thrown as close to the sidewalks as possible and not in intersections.

In other news

The village will be flushing and testing fire hydrants from June 11-13. Residents may notice some water discoloration. This is normal and they are advised to run the water to clear it.

Trustee Thomas Tait announced in his report that the new boat cleaning station for the Lakeside Park boat launch was delivered to the Town of Cazenovia earlier that day.

“It will be set at Lakeside Park at 10 a.m. on Thursday, and I’ll be there,” he said. “There

Two doubles teams from Cazenovia and two doubles teams from Chittenango were also part of the state qualifier, but only one made it past the opening round.

That was Camp and Lurie, who got a 6-0, 6-2 win over Westmoreland’s Brody Faffley and Richard Ziegler, but lost in the quarterfinals to F-M’s top-seeded duo of Justin Dunn and Dan Manta 6-1, 6-0.

Back in the first round, another Cazenovia team, Evan Molloy and Max Reger, took a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to JamesvilleDeWItt’s Carson Souser and Shreyank Bhatt.

Tickets for “Honeybee 101,” “Growing Joy: Cut Flower Gardening,” and “Flower Arranging Basics” classes can be purchased in advance on the Farmstead 1868 website.

Attendees can book chair massage sessions with Kristen D’Mello of Safe Haven Healing in advance at safehavenhealing.com/bodywork-1

“Pop-in” wreath-making demonstrations will take place throughout the day in the farm’s Silo Shop. Materials will be available to purchase. Additionally, BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. will present a series of free stress management classes. Sign up for the wellness sessions on the Farmstead 1868 website.

“We’re thrilled to share the beauty of our lavender fields with the community,” said Cody. “Lavender offers so many benefits. This festival is a wonderful way to experience its sights, smells, and flavors. Whether you already love lavender or are just looking for a new way to relax, we expect the festival to become a popular annual event.”

Located at 4690 Shephards Rd., Cazenovia, Farmstead 1868 has been continually farmed by the Cody family for five generations.

Today, the farm is dedicated to lavender, dairy, sustainable agriculture, and educational experiences, and it is a member of the US Lavender Growers Association. For more info visit farmstead1868. com/2024-lavender-festival or follow @ Farmstead1868 on social media.

have been very few boats that have needed cleaning this year, so if this doesn’t get a lot of use it means that people are heeding our request to have them arrive clean and protect Cazenovia Lake.”

Tait also reported that the 2024 lake treatment has been rescheduled for June 12 with a rain date of June 13.

“That delay was because of mechanical issues with the boat,” he said. “The Town of Cazenovia website has an abundance of specific information if anyone requires more [about the treatment].”

Portions of the lake’s nearshore area will be treated with the herbicide ProcellaCOR to address the continued presence of the invasive aquatic plant species Eurasian watermilfoil.

The Cazenovia Lake Association is holding a public outreach event on June 30 at 7 p.m. at Our Farm at 1590 Peth Rd, Manlius. The swim season at Lakeland Park opens on June 24.

Later in the meeting, Deputy Mayor Maureen Fellows delivered her final report as a village trustee.

She was elected to the board in June 2016 and now serves as the police commissioner and the court liaison.

On behalf of the board and the entire community, Wheeler thanked Fellows for her many years of faithful and effective service.

He recognized her as not only a great public servant but also a great friend and colleague.

“[You are] someone who could always be relied upon to fill a gap, cover a meeting, [or] solve a crisis,” he said. “You’ve done it all, and we will certainly miss you. You have been awesome. . . . Truly, you have been just a joy to work with, and the village owes you a great debt.”

The Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the village municipal building at 90 Albany St.

the Caz boys tennis team won the regional championship.

The Cazenovia softball team went 7-8 this regular season.

By PHil BlACkwEll

A stellar season for the Cazenovia girls track and field team only got better last Thursday with one of the most successful Section III state qualifying meets it has ever put together.

Before the day was done at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium, the Lakers had broke two school records while advancing two relay teams and two individuals to this weekend’s state championships at that same C-NS venue.

Susie Pittman and Claire Marris led the parade, each of them qualifying for the state meet in three different events.

Pittman was the top sectional finisher in the pole vault, clearing 10 feet, 9 inches to break her own school record. She is currently ranked second among all Division II (small school) vaulters in the state. At the same meet, Pittman led off the winning 4x400 relay and anchored the 4x100 to victory.

As for Marris, she ran a personal record time of 15.76 seconds to win the Division II finals in the 100-meter hurdles over Westhill’s Emma Murphy (16.10) to advance to the state title meet. Marris was also a key contributor to the two winning relays.

In the 4x400 relay, Pittman led off with

a 1:01.34 leg to put Cazenovia in the lead.

Meghan Mehlbaum pulled away from the field with a personal best leg of 1:01.53 that was extended by Marris’ 1:01.47 effort.

Reid McMurtrie anchored the foursome to victory with a career best leg of 59.53 seconds as she crossed the line nearly 12 seconds ahead of second-place Vernon-VeronaSherrill in a school record time of 4:02.86.

Izzie Stromer-Galley led off the Lakers winning 4x100 with smooth exchanges to Audie Spring and Marris before Pittman out-kicked the rest of the field to win the race in 50.55 seconds, the fastest of the year for Cazenovia. The team will try to replicate last year’s silver medal performance at States.

The 4x800 meter relay also ran a tremendous race with Maura Phillips running a personal best leg of 2:28.27 to lead off. Alyssa Wardell (2:34.47), Lily Kogut (2:33.82) and Olivia Ruddy (2:33.62) each contributed strong legs of their own.

The Lakers crossed the line in 10:10.17 for third place in Division II behind VVS (10:00.99) and Tully (10:08.88). Their effort was among the top-10 performances in the event all-time for Cazenovia.

Cazenovia also competed in multiple other events, with Stromer-Galley running 13.07 to finish tenth in the 100 meter dash

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while Marris (seventh, 1:10.33) and Mehlbaum (12th, 1:12.15) capped off their outstanding seasons in the 400 meter hurdles. Spring leaped 15’6 3/4” to finish 13th n the long jump, while Maddy Rothfeld concluded her exceptional Senior season with a throw of 32’11” to finish fifth in the shot

put. Fourteen members of the Lakers’ sectional Class B-2 championship team, including relay alternates, will head to C-NS for the state meet in pursuit of championship medals.

We need your help to continue the great tradition of July 4th fireworks. Last summer, the community really pitched in. More than 500 families contributed to the Fireworks Fund! The results were spectacular - our most exciting fireworks ever! Again this year We are counting on your help. Like last year, your contributions will be used exclusively to cover the cost of the fireworks show. In short, it’s up to you! We need support from your family to keep alive the great tradition of July 4th fireworks!

Fireworks Fund, P.O. Box 83 Cazenovia, NY 13035

All Contributors Will Be Printed in the Cazenovia Republican

Cazenovia to ensure they receive the support they need from the village board.”

Katherine Hahn is running for re-election as a Democrat for the village trustee. Hahn holds a master’s degree in environmental science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. She is currently an associate director of corporate environmental, health, and safety (EHS) at Curia Global, Inc., an international biotechnology company with headquarters in Albany, NY and Raleigh, NC. Since being elected as a village trustee in 2022, Hahn has served as the water commissioner and fire commissioner. In addition to these roles, she was involved in the final phases of the solar energy project started by Dave Porter (previous village trustee) and continues to monitor the program. Hahn is seeking re-election to the board of trustees for several reasons.

“First and foremost, I feel it is important to contribute to the community that the coming two years will allow me to continue to ap-

ply both my professional experience and the knowledge gained since first being elected to the board,” she said. “In addition, I am involved with some initiatives which I would like to see through to completion. The village received funding for development of a drinking water source protection plan which will guide the village with protecting our water supply while allowing for responsible growth. Development of this plan has just begun. Similarly, I continue to explore sustainability projects, again with an eye toward allowing responsible growth while retaining good stewardship of our resources.”

Also running on the Democratic ticket for village trustee is Colton Mennig.

Mennig is an elementary school teacher with a background in policy and government operations. He received a master of public policy from American University and received his bachelor’s in political science from Le Moyne College. While in college, he interned at the federal level researching a wide array of issues, including education, housing, and environmental protection.

“Our community faces substantial opportunities and obstacles that will greatly impact the future of the village and what it will look like for years to come,” he said. “As we face these decisions together, it is vital that the voice of every villager is considered and uplifted. I hope to use my skills and experiences to uplift the voices of village residents. I also hope to bring greater youth representation to the village board, working to improve youth services in our community.

The final candidate for village trustee if Jennifer Lutter, running as an Independent.

Lutter holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. She has over 15 years of community development experience, mostly focused on small towns and business district improvement. For nearly seven years she was the Executive Director of the Partnership for Com-

munity Development (PCD) in Hamilton, NY, where she launched Madison County’s first certified New York State Business Incubator, among many other planning initiatives.

For her work at PCD, she was named to the 2019 Central New York Business Journal 40 under Forty list. Lutter is running for Cazenovia village trustee to bring her experience and ideas to the broader community.

“If elected, I would like to focus on finding a viable and sustainable future for the Cazenovia College campus that enriches the community; increasing the vitality of the village’s downtown business core and encouraging further investment; improving pedestrian infrastructure, parks, and amenities for youth and families; and increasing resident engagement,” she said. “I am especially interested in expanding public participation in Village government and bringing in new ideas and perspectives from the community.”