Cazenovia Republican digital edition - Oct. 30, 2024

By kate Hill Staff Writer

In celebration of its 225th anniversary, the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is sharing the history and contributions of its Women’s Association with the community.

“Like every church, our population has declined, and it’s really tough to compete with other activities on the weekends, [so] one of the things we are doing is looking at the past, where we are now, and where we would like to go in the future,” said Women’s Association member BJ Palmer, who added that the church is currently going through a reorganization. “[I] think

it’s true that in most organizations, it’s the women who sort of drive the direction or at least the support underneath, and that is what it has been like for this church.”

As part of the effort to spread the word about its Women’s Association, the church plans to post a link to its bicentennial cookbook on its website.

According to Palmer, the cookbook was inspired by a potluck brunch at the church.

“There were a few items on the table that [people] had never had before, and they said, ‘We need the recipe for this,’ so this cookbook came out of it,” Palmer said.

l Page 12

By kate Hill Staff Writer

Cazenovia resident Chary Griffin recently represented the United States at the World Triathlon Championship Finals 2024 in Spain. Griffin competed in the Age Group Standard Triathlon and placed third in her women’s 75-79 age group. The championship finals were held in Torremolinos, a resort town in Andalusia on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol.

“The race venue was on a beautiful beach on the Mediterranean Sea with the transition area, expo, and finish line on the other side of the street,” said Griffin. “Over 5,000 triathletes raced, and Team USA was 500 athletes strong. . . . The weather was 75-80 degrees and sunny. That being said, the water was 67 degrees

Submitted photoS

Cazenovia resident Chary Griffin placed third

Submitted photoS

the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year and highlighting the work and activities of its Women’s association.

Kate hill

the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year and highlighting the work and activities of its Women’s association.

Triathlon l Page 8

Joseph G. Barilla, Sr., 78

Past commander of american Legion Post #88

Joseph G. Barilla, Sr., 78, of Chittenango, formerly of Cazenovia passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

He was born May 21, 1946 in Tupper Lake to Carl and Mae Barilla and was a graduate of Cazenovia High School.

Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served in the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge in 1968. He was employed by the Village of Cazenovia Water Department for 25 years, retiring

robert J. Chevako, 85

Founded Delphi Consultants

Robert J. Chevako, age 85, of New Woodstock passed away at home on Oct. 18, 2024. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Bob excelled in academics, earning the title of “Rocket Rob” as he was consistently at the top of his class and a frequent winner in science fairs. His lifelong love of music began with playing tuba in his high school marching band, then continued through the 1960s, equally enjoying rock ‘n’ roll and modern classical. Look closely at the documentary “Woodstock” and you might just catch a glimpse of Bob, as he was one of the hundreds of thousands in attendance.

Stan Scott, 87 Beloved father, husband, son, uncle and friend

Stan Scott, beloved father, husband, son, uncle and friend, passed away on Oct. 9, 2024. He was 87 years old.

Stan was born in Syracuse and raised in Delphi Falls. His family has strong roots in the Central New York area, stretching back over two centuries.

He had a keen interest in this history and was an avid amateur genealogist.

as the Water Superintendent in 2003.

He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #88, Cazenovia where he had served as their past commander for eight terms and was actively involved with the Madison County American Legion where he recently served as their treasurer.

Joe was a lifetime member of the Cazenovia Fire Department.

Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilyn S. Barilla; his children, Lonnie (Kandie) Berry of Gastonia, NC, Joseph Barilla, Jr. of Concord, NC, Brian (Dawn Bodenheimer)

After a stellar undergraduate turn at Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) majoring in physics, Robert earned a Master of Science Degree in electrical engineering at Cornell University.

After working more than a decade for General Electric, Robert founded Delphi Consultants and spent the rest of his professional career lending his expertise to a variety of engineering pursuits and projects for several high-profile clients including the U.S. military.

It was in the early 1970s that Bob found his true love: Sara Dawson.

With their marriage in 1974, Bob and Sara created a loving partnership that would hold

He was an enthusiastic member of both the Fabius and Pompey Historical Societies. After graduating from Fabius High School, and marrying Janice (“Dodge”) Morgan a couple of years later, he held a variety of jobs in many different fields. In his forties and onward, he founded a series of three successful businesses in the building materials industry. He derived immense satisfaction from these endeavors. Every day was a new and exciting challenge for him, and he couldn’t wait to get going.

Barilla of Cazenovia and Kimberly (Mike Strang) Barilla of Erieville; his grandchildren, Victoria, Gavin, Maysun and Raegin and by his great grandson, Liam.

Calling hours will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 with services to follow at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road in Cazenovia.

Contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to the American Legion Post #88, Cazenovia, 26 Chenango St., Cazenovia, NY 13035. Condolences for the Barilla family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.

fast until the end of their days. With their shared love of history, horses, friends, and family, they became a much loved and respected part of the New Woodstock community.

Throughout his life, Robert maintained a keen interest in collecting European sports cars, antique broadcast and electronic equipment, beer cans and odd little thingamajigs of indeterminant origin and purpose.

Bob was an innovative engineer, a passionate car enthusiast, a discerning beer connoisseur, a beloved son, brother, and uncle, a loyal friend, a cherished husband and father and an incredibly proud grandfather.

He threw his heart and soul into it, and enjoyed every minute.

And that is how he approached life, too. He had a zest for all the pleasures of living, and was rarely bored.

A few of his many interests included woodworking, photography and refurbishing antique tractors. He was a great listener, and had an impressive ability to make friends wherever he went. He was considered a mentor by some. He truly blazed his own trail.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, James and Helen, and his wife of nearly 50 years, Sara. He leaves his brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Anne; stepson Michael Dawson (Laura Anderson); grandsons Xander and Cooper Dawson; niece Terry Bava (Tony); nephew Jay Chevako, and grand-nephew Julian Bava. He will be missed beyond belief but his loved ones take comfort in knowing he is reunited with Sara again. Thank you for the love, laughs, kindness and wisdom you’ve shared over the years, Bob. Rest in Peace. No services are planned at this time. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a future date. Condolences for the

He is very deeply missed. Stan is survived by his daughter, Deb Scott; his best friend, Barbara Wilcox; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Janice; his brother, Kenneth Scott; and sister, Ernestine “Tina” Geariety. There will be a celebration of his life at the Craftsman Wood Grille at 7300 East Genesee St., in Fayetteville, NY on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. Condolences for Stan’s family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.

10

Celebration of life for Philma “Flip” Kennedy (tremblay)

Family and friends of Flip Kennedy are invited to celebrate her life on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 2-5 p.m. at the Lincklean House. Please join us as we gather to share memories and favorite stories of Flip, our mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who will be missed.

Joseph G. Barilla, Sr.

robert J. Chevako

Stan Scott

Cazenovia

OuR vOicE

Have a safe Halloween

Just looking around it is easy to see many are well into the spirit of the Halloween season.

At this point many have their homes decked out with ghosts and goblins, gravestones and jack-olanterns.

These days most every holiday seems to call for some amount of decorating, but Halloween may be one of the holidays people have the most fun with.

Whether it is the thrill of a little safe scare or something about the feel of fall, or the fun of dressing up in costumes and celebrating, there is something about Halloween many are able to relate to.

Adults certainly have a connection to Halloween, but in many households it is the children who get the most excited.

The chance to dress up as their favorite superhero or cartoon character and spend a night out seeking candy is simply irresistible.

As much fun as Halloween is, it is important to remember to make the effort to be safe.

Whether you will be out with your kids, passing out treats or simply going about your usual daily routines, there are steps we can all take to make sure the night is as safe and fun as possible for everyone.

Kids out trick-or-treating should be able to be easily seen by drivers.

Take the time to make sure children’s costumes have reflective materials if possible and children have some light source such as a flashlight or a glow stick, an item that is easily picked up for as little as a dollar a piece.

If you will be driving keep an eye out for children walking, particularly when they are crossing the road.

Safekids.org goes on to share a number of other things to keep in mind for a safe and happy Halloween no matter how you are celebrating it.

According to this organization on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

Taking measures such as carrying glow sticks, parents or guardians joining kids under 12 while they are out and selecting costumes that limits the chances of trips and falls are all important considerations.

Other tips to keep mind according to safekids.org include crossing the street at the corner and using crosswalks and traffic signals; putting down electronic devices and focusing on traffic and other considerations while out as well as teaching kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of vehicles are all helpful tips. As well as not crossing between parked cars and not darting out into the street.

If you live in area with no sidewalks safekids.org recommends walking facing traffic and as far out of the road as possible.

For those out driving safekids.org recommends slowing down especially in residential neighborhoods. Keep in mind children are going to be excited and may move in ways you might not expect as a driver.

Take extra time to look for kids and other pedestrians at curbs and intersections.

As a driver this should go without saying, but remove distractions such as cellphones and focus on the road.

It can also be helpful as the days get shorter to turn on headlights earlier in order to better see children.

And keep in mind that from about 5:30 p.m. to about 9:30 p.m. tend to be the busiest times for trick-or-treating. Everyone making an extra effort can help ensure a safe and fun time for everyone.

tHroW tHe FlaG

While I was watching the Bills play Tennessee last week, a referee called a penalty for something called “offsides.” I am only vaguely familiar with what are considered illegal actions on the football field that require penalties.

I just assume that the refs know what they are doing and then, of course, the coaches on both sides are hyper tuned to these things and will take issue with calls with which they disagree.

While I was considering what is meant by “offsides,” it dawned on me that maybe we should have officials to evaluate the TV ads and news clips with which we are being bombarded prior to the presidential election.

We could have an illegal action called, “Are you kidding me?” applied to statements and accusations that are proven to be false … like telling the nation that legal Haitian refugees in Ohio are eating the local residents’ pets. The penalty would be working 100 hours at an animal rescue. I mean, why not?

Could there be a penalty for vague promises to “replace Obama care” with something better while being promoted as the savior of Obama Care by a political associate? There is this thing called cognitive dissonance. How many times should the perpetrator have to write “I lied” on the chalkboard?

Locally, one candidate’s TV ad accuses his opponent of workplace harassment even though two independent sources have said these accusations are without merit.

At the same time there is footage of the candidate accuser dramatically excoriating one of his employees. Talk about cognitive dissonance (thought I’d use that term again because it sounds so good).

Is there an appropriate penalty? Maybe deportation to the state from which one candidate recently moved?

Or, what kind of penalty would accrue to messages to women telling them that a candidate,

convicted of sexual assault, would become their protector and/or that this candidate was the “Father of IVF”?

The mind just boggles.

If you try to sell me a Bible manufactured in China while promising to bring more manufacturing back to the United States, there has to be some kind of penalty.

Actually, reading the Bible might work. Is the old penalty for using foul, vulgar language to disparage your opponent still the same? What brand of soap would be relevant?

Politics has never been clean. When I taught, one of my lesson plans included the requirements that the students become familiar with the election of 1828.

It was Andrew Jackson vs. John Quincy Adams for the second time.

The run up to the election was bitter, personal and made mudslinging and personal attacks the modus operandi of Presidential elections.

Historians point to this election as being the beginning of the two-party system as we know it today.

The students had to design bumper stickers, posters and press releases for both sides, demonstrating this off-putting cultural inheritance with which we have to deal every four years.

Sadly, neither party has clean hands when it comes to campaigning, however, it is insulting to the voting populace to normalize outright lies, foul language, fear mongering and ad hominem speech.

A lie is not as good as the truth, nor is a “I have a concept” platform as good as a solid, enumerated platform for the purpose of deciding who has the best interests of the country and its democracy in mind. If promises are too vague, based on pandering to fears created by the election strategies to divide the people, there should be a penalty.

I watched the assault on the US Capital on Jan. 6. I saw and

heard it. It happened. It was not a peace and love gathering.

I saw the weapons, guns and anything that could be used to beat down the Capital police. I heard the crowd threaten to hang the Vice President and assault the Speaker of the House. So did you.

I witnessed the failure of the chief executive off the United States to take swift action against the insurrectionists. To say that is not the case is lying and lying deserves a penalty.

The election of the leader of the free world should not be reduced to a series of fear mongering rallies where the participants are educated about “us” and “them” where the “them” are described as evil, insane, criminal, immoral and illegal groups and individuals, people like you and I who disagree with the candidate, who should be rounded up, jailed, deported or, as in one case, executed. Come on! Remember the reality of what is the United States. You know who your neighbors are. We are a generous, can-do people who want the best for each other, not wandering hoards of “us” and “them” waiting for a self-styled savior to make it all better. We can work the problems of society out together … but first, we have to protect the process, the Constitution, the democracy, the vote. And perhaps work on making the campaigning process one that relates to our individual and collective reason, something that doesn’t ignore our intelligence, something more civilized. Unfortunately, there are no professional officials in striped shirts monitoring the campaign. In the case of political machinations, we are the officials. We are the refs. So, do we use hand signals? Do we distribute appropriately colored cards to the offenders? Or, maybe, the best solution would be to vote.

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.

Years Ago in History

By Cindy Bell toBey

12 years ago – october 31, 2012

The Buffalo-based business

magazine Business First has ranked the Cazenovia School District third in academic performance out of 53 public school districts in the six-county Syracuse region and seventh among all 431 Upstate school districts.

The Syracuse area rankings, which include school districts from Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties, were released Oct. 22. The total Upstate rankings include 430 school districts in 48 districts across Upstate New York. Last year, Cazenovia ranked ninth out of all Upstate school districts. The district jumped two spots to No. 7 in 2023. “We’re delighted to see the excellence of our students and teachers recognized, especially in such an elite field of districts,” Superintendent Robert Dubik said.

9 years ago – october 28, 2015

All are invited to join author Monica Meira Vaughan when she returns to the Cazenovia Public Library when she will present “Being a Writer,” and will share her experiences as a writer and offer some advice to possible future writers. After the age of 15, Vaughan spent every summer

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in Cazenovia with her father and stepmother Frederico and Kathy Meira. She spent time at the lake and bought books at the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Where she writes is part of her writing process, and her time in Cazenovia was one of those places. From her 2013 presentation at the Cazenovia Public Library, readers will remember Vaughan and her first book, “The Ability,” in which she delves into the extraordinary abilities of the 12-year-old mind. Publishers Weekly described her second book, “Mindscape,” as a “fast-paced, superhero-tinged spy novel.” In Vaughan’s most recent novel, “Six,” described by Kirkus as “inventive, entertaining and thought-provoking.”

6 years ago - october 31, 2018

In the year where he may have put together one of his finest efforts, Cazenovia girls volleyball head coach Brian Ellithorpe hit another milestone in a particularly exciting manner. When the Lakers held off Marcellus in five sets last Monday night at Buckley Gym, it gave Ellithorpe his 400th coaching victory, counting both his 23-year tenure at Cazenovia and another at nearby MorrisvilleEaton. “Living in a small community like Cazenovia is great because people come up to you and all the time wherever you are and

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congratulate you,” Ellithorpe said. “This community has always been very supportive of their sports teams, which is one of the reasons I believe Cazenovia Athletics are so successful year after year. It is always more exciting to reach a milestone with a great win against a great opponent like Marcellus and the rivalry we have had for so many years.”

3 Years Ago – October 27, 2021

FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization that assists small and medium sized manufacturing companies in New York State, recently named Cazenovia business Eco-Baggeez LLC as a finalist for its 2021 Commercialization Competition at the NYS Innovation Summit. The competition will bring together 12 entrepreneurs from across the state to pitch their ideas before a live audience for a chance to win $50,000. Founded and owned by Cazenovia resident Beth Race, Eco-Baggeez, LLC produces earth-friendly reusable sandwich bags. The patented product, which became available in stores throughout NYS in 2019, provides consumers with a high quality, green alternative to traditional plastic sandwich and snack bags. Unlike other alternatives, Eco-Baggeez contain no plastic or petroleum-based products of any kind.

Ramblings from the empty nest

ann Ferro

leBron, FatHer and Son

Four minutes remained in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota and, after the usual rest for a veteran player pushing 40, LeBron James returned to the court like he had done thousands of times in his unprecedented career. Except that he had never done so with his oldest son, Bronny, walking on the court with him. It only lasted a few minutes, but there was

a reason Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., who shared a diamond 34 years ago and even once hit home runs in the same game, were in attendance in L.A. Not before, and likely not again, will we ever see two generations on the same team, another bit of history to cross off LeBron’s career goals already full of milestones, including as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Which drives some people mad. It has gone on for

far as athletics go, it provides important opportunities for learning teamwork, goal setting, respect, and hard work.”

Before Jersey Day, each fourth grader is paired with a varsity student-athlete who offers them the opportunity to wear their jersey for the day. During the assembly, they can discuss athletic traditions, learn varsity cheers, and participate in team circles.

Jersey Day’s goal is tied to one of the district’s cultural pillars: “Foster an inclusive culture that increases involvement, strengthens relationships, and enhances collaboration between students, faculty, staff, families, and community.”

“Interscholastic athletics can teach values missed in the classroom experience, such as integrity, dedication, sportsmanship, and commitment. As a coach, I teach all of my players that there is a responsibility as varsity athletes to give back, not only their time but what they have learned along the way”, said Assistant Principal and Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Chris Bubble.

more than half the time LeBron has walked this planet, from his high school days in Akron, Ohio when he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated back when that meant something all the way to the current moment.

And it continued through the first chapter in Cleveland, “The Decision” to go to Miami, the return to Cleveland, the eventual settling in Southern California. Wherever LeBron has gone and whatever he has done, the critics

Cazenovia Athletic Association (CAA), CCSD’s All-sports Booster Club, sponsored the Jersey Day assembly, bringing in volunteers and providing refreshments. “A special thanks goes out to Co-Presidents Pete Way and Ben Reilley,” said Byrnes. “CAA was a big part of the invention of Varsity Jersey Day in the early 2000s, and it has become an admirable tradition now for twenty-plus years.”

Byrnes also said high school sports participation has been directly related to teens’ having a more positive attitude toward school work, helping to improve academic performance, absenteeism, and student dropout.

“Many of our student-athletes have fond memories as fourth graders and step up when it is their turn to mentor,” said Physical Education Department Leader Sean Condon. “They communicate the importance of becoming a good student, citizen, role model, and teammate to be successful.”

Although the focus might be on encouraging sports participation, Jersey Day also offers high schoolers a chance to reconnect with their former elementary school

follow. For all the comparisons made between LeBron and Michael Jordan, one big thing is different – MJ never had to play his prime in the era of social media where every single move is scrutinized and overanalyzed.

Sometimes LeBron did bring it on himself. He handled “The Decision” quite poorly by his own admission, sometimes was too public in pushing out coaches, and did indeed struggle

in some playoff series, though not to the extreme degree that some (not to name names, Skip Bayless) mercilessly trolled him for.

For others, it wasn’t enough that LeBron founded an elementary school in Akron to give hope and opportunity to young Black children, and he got ripped for not taking a stronger stand against China and its human rights violations.

Even in an era where players are far more empowered than previ -

ous generations, the fact that LeBron has changed teams three times denigrates him in the eyes of some old-school types, though very few greats have ever been completely associated with one franchise – even Jordan finished playing in Washington and owned a team in Charlotte. Oh, but now the critics have rooms full of more ammunition, all having to do with Bronny James, who was

support team. The Jersey Day event is designed as a fun and straightforward way for the school to annually provide excitement for sports, build connections, and foster a positive extracurricular message to generations of student opportunists.

“Outside of physical fitness, a diverse

sports program can help build and grow a healthy community by developing school spirit,” said Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio. “Further, student-athletes can utilize these intrinsic values into adulthood to succeed in the workplace and their community.”

Submitted photo

Cazenovia students celebrated Jersey day oct. 18.

cNYSPcA PET OF THE WEEK

Mallory needS a HoMe

By donna neWMan

photo provided by the CNySpCa

Have you been looking for a new best friend?? Meet Mallory, the shelter’s very own velvet hippo! This sweet girl was abandoned at the post office with her puppies, but luckily she was brought to the shelter where she has gotten lots of love and attention! Mallory is very food-motivated and is willing to learn anything if food’s involved! Just like a pittie, she loves her back scratches and snuggles - so leave a spot for her next to you on the couch. She could use some basic training, but since she loves food and praise, we expect training to go well. We think Mallory would do great in a home with kids of all ages! Don’t miss out on having your very own velvet hippo!! Call or drop by the shelter to learn more about Mallory! In order to adopt, you must fill out an application, pay an adoption fee, and have your pets up to date on their rabies vaccines. All adopted cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on their vaccinations before they go home. The CNY SPCA is located at 5878 East Molloy Road, Syracuse. For more information about adoption, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk2@cnyspca.org, or visit cnyspca.org.

saddled with unreasonable expectations that even topped those his father faced.

Bronny was pretty good in high school and was set for a solid college career at USC before a heart condition cost him most of his freshman year and he declared for the NBA.

To far too many, the fact that he did leave before getting any serious college experience, and that the Lakers would just happen to draft him, was way too

much of a coincidence and the nepotism talk has never ceased.

Maybe they’re correct.

There’s a good chance Bronny, like so many other young players at the highest level, just doesn’t catch on, and it was already unfair to expect him to be anything close to his famous father. Hold on, though. Why are we even debating this?

Rick Barry never got to play with Brent, Mychal Thompson never got to share the court with Klay and Joe Bry -

Eastwood Home opens shop in Syracuse

photo

Eastwood Home recently announced the grand opening of its new home decor and gift shop in Syracuse, k offering an eclectic blend of vintage charm and modern elegance. Located at 3501 James St., the shop opened its doors on Oct. 12. The store’s selections includes antique furniture, modern decor

ant wasn’t even around when a young Kobe emerged. Can’t something just be a singularly cool moment without the need to parse it out?

Quite often LeBron has talked about how long the odds were that anyone from his modest background could get even close to the kind of success he found, and how young Black men need role models and a reason to believe that their lives can amount to something more.

All of this LeBron James has pulled off, which in other circles would be considered the American Dream.

Instead of trashing the details, maybe we ought to celebrate it a bit more, including the fact that, for a single evening, he was not a global star, just a happy father sharing the spotlight.

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

Caz football win streak ended by Ludden/SAS

By PHil BlaCkWell

Though the Cazenovia football team remains a threat in the Section III Class C playoffs because of its good work in October, it nearly was in a better position.

That was because, had the Lakers defeated Bishop Ludden/SAS last Saturday at Buckley-Volo Field, it would have tied Skaneateles for first place in the Class C West division standings with equal 4-1 league marks.

However, the Gaelic Knights wouldn’t let it happen, excelling on offense early and letting its defense take over in the late stages to defeat Cazenovia by a score of 27-14.

Setting the game’s tone, the Gaelic Knights used more than seven minutes on its opening drive and found the end zone on X’Zavion Streiff’s scoring pass to Micah Baker, only to have the Lakers go up 7-6 with a quick answer on Bobby Liv-

ingston’s 34-yard TD pass to Wyatt Scott.

Early in the second Ludden/SAS regained the lead, 14-7, with a Streiff 14-yard TD pass to Tom Cervantes and two-point conversion. Again Cazenovia took the lead back, driving to the Gaelic Knights’ three before Livingston scrambled in and threw a two-point pass to Danny Bliss.

Ludden/SAS would strike twice in a row thanks to Jahbari Clarke, who scored on a run to put his team back in front 19-14 and then, picking up a fumble at midfield in the waning seconds of the half, returned it to set up another short Clarke TD run.

Adding a conversion, the Gaelic Knights maintained that momentum into the entire second half, clamping down on defense and taking away anything the Lakers tried in its attempt to catch up.

As a whole, Cazenovia was held to 210 total yards, just 73 of them on the ground

as Livingston completed just eight of 15 passes for 139 yards. Kyle Caraher caught five passes for 84 yards.

Defensively, Bryce Enders assisted on 16 tackles to go with five solo tackles. Carter Bowden assisted on 10 tackles as Scott got five solo tackles and six assists. Clarke led Ludden on both sides of the field, carrying the ball 29 times for 193 yards and earning a team-best 8 ½ tackles on defense to go with his key fumble recovery.

In Friday’s opening round of the sectional playoffs Cazenovia faces Lowville, whom it lost to 46-24 in September. The winner gets Ludden/SAS or Little Falls in the semifinals.

A night earlier, Chittenango had an opportunity to finish the regular season at the .500 mark and, traveling to Fulton, unloaded in a big way to defeat the Red Dragons 54-12.

Scoring runs from Seamus Gardner and Chayse Ostrander, the latter of them

a 22-yard dash, pushed the Bears in front 16-6 by the end of the first quarter, but that was just the warm-up act.

Chittenango struck for 30 points in the second period, even getting a defensive TD when Mason Corlis ran back an interception 80 yards after Gardner and Landen Pease both had scored on short runs.

Gardner’s 40-yard TD pass to Aiden Grenier just before halftime made it 4612, allowing the Bears to cool off in the second half ,though Robert Pierce still found the end zone on an eight-yard pass from Corlis. Ostrander gained 108 yards on 12 carries, with Gardner completing five of 10 passes for 96 yards.

Having finished fourth in Class B West, Chittenango will meet the unbeaten B East regular-season champions from New Hartford Saturday at 6 p.m. to determine who plays Institute of Technology Central or Vernon-VeronaSherrill in the semifinals.

Caz volleyball edges unbeaten Grimes in five sets

By PHil BlaCkWell

With the regular season’s conclusion fast approaching the Cazenovia girls volleyball team again confronted the one side it knows it must beat for area Class B supremacy.

And while it lost to Westhill in four sets last Monday night, the Lakers responded two nights later by handing 14-0 Bishop Grimes its first defeat of the season in a five-set epic.

Twice, the Cobras led, with narrow wins in the first set 25-22 and third set 25-23. Twice, the Lakers answered, rolling through the second set 25-13 and pulling out the fourth 25-21.

All of it led to a final set that went well beyond the 15-point limit. After four match points were stopped, Cazenovia, at 17-17, got the lead and then held on to it 19-17.

Nearly a full set of points came from Olivia Pirkl’s 21 kills, but she didn’t stop

there, shining on defense with 23 digs as, next to her, Alyssa Wardell put up 10 kills and added seven blocks, Jocelyn Szalach earning five kills.

So many stood out on defense, from Pirkl to Caitee Fenton getting 17 digs and McKenzie Warman 12 digs. They all flanked Lucy Bliss, who augmented her 38 assists by earning 15 digs, plus three blocks, three aces and two kills.

For Grimes, Ava Christodoulou earned 47 assists and 20 digs. Kayla Duenkel managed 22 kills and 13 digs, with Riley Abernethy stepping up to get 18 kills and 14 digs.

Westhill, undefeated in the Onondaga High School League and defending sectional champions, faced the Lakers last Monday night and were on the other end of a record-breaking effort in a four-set defeat to the Warriors.

Swept by this same Westhill side on Sept. 12, Cazenovia at least made sure it didn’t happen here, grabbing the third set

by a 25-22 margin after dropping the first set 25-20 and the second 25-14.

Still, the Warriors closed it out 25-17 in the fourth seeing its libero, Alice Bender, set a new school mark by recording 31 digs next to Sophia Johnson, who got 41 assists. Ava Baty had 13 kills and 14 digs next to Eva Tarolli, who paced the front line with 18 kills and eight blocks.

For its part, the Lakers had plenty of defensive standouts, from Pirkl with 18 digs to Warman earning 15 digs. Fenton and Bliss earned 14 digs apiece.

Aside from her defense, Bliss also got 19 assists as Wardell earned a team-best six kills. Pirkl managed five kills as Sofie Reger had four kills and McKenna Weismore managed nine digs.

All of this followed Cazenovia’s fiveset defeat to Skaneateles on Oct. 16 where twice Cazenovia rallied to extend the match, only to get beat in the final set 15-6 by those other Lakers.

Bliss had 28 assists, 12 digs, three blocks

and three aces. Wardell’s 14 kills and four blocks led the front line, Pirkl adding 10 kills and Fenton five kills to go with 11 digs. Warman’s 20 digs were just ahead of Pirkl’s 19 digs.

The victory over Grimes clinched a winning record for Cazenovia before Thursday’s match with Hannibal, where in three close sets the Lakers prevailed again 25-22, 25-23, 25-22. Olivia Ruddy, with six kills, led the Cazenovia front line against Hannibal. Wardell got four kills and four blocks, with Bliss getting nine assists and seven digs, Warmath earning six digs and Fenton three aces. With a 10-6 record, Cazenovia earned the no. 4 seed for the Section III Class B playoffs. The Lakers host no. 5 seed Phoenix Friday night at 7 p.m., the winner likely to face top seed Westhill in the semifinals.

Caz boys soccer reaches sectional Class B semifinals

By PHil BlaCkWell

Denied for so long despite so many close calls, the Cazenovia boys soccer team set itself up again for both overdue glory and possible heartbreak with its latest venture through the Section III Class B playoffs.

Given the no. 4 seed with its 13-3 regular-season mark, the Lakers first were tested in the opening round last Wednesday at the Sean Googin Sports Complex by no. 13 seed Phoenix, who were done in by the singular work of Jaden Kaplan.

Cazenovia prevailed 3-0, getting a goal from Kaplan in the first half which would have proven enough thanks to a stingy Lakers defense which recorded its eighth

By PHil BlaCkWell

shutout of the season.

But Kaplan returned in the second half, not only landing an insurance goal but also converting a third time for the hat trick and making sure that the Lakers got a quarterfinal home match Friday afternoon.

Clinton, the no. 5 seed, came to Fenner Road off its own 3-0 first-round win over Sherburne-Earlville, but would meet the same fate as Phoenix did, with Cazenovia moving on thanks to a 4-1 victory.

Kaplan continued his post-season tear, helping the Lakers gain a 2-0 advantage by halftime and then pulling further away by landing two more goals to give him five for the playoffs.

Here, though, Kaplan got some more help. Nat Gale and Eliot Comeau also

gained goals, with Cole Frazee and Eli Royer earning assists to offset the lone Comets goal by Henry Schweitzer. Jack Casey stopped five of the six shots he faced Meanwhile, in Class A Chittenango emerged as the no. 3 seed and, in Thursday night’s quarterfinal would face no. 6 seed Central Valley Academy, who ousted Fulton 3-0 in the opening round.

This was just the kind of game the Bears feared, one where top scoring threat Gavin Karwoski, who had 34 goals in the regular season, was shut down as the focal point of the Thunder’s defense.

CVA had plenty of its own chances, too, taking 10 direct shots, all of which Logan Bronner would stop to maintain the shutout and wait for his teammates to produce

something.

They finally did in the second half, with Ryan Thousand taking a pass from Jake Wagner and putting home the game’s only goal to help the Bears prevail 1-0 and advance to a semifinal Tuesday at Phoenix against no. 2 seed New Hartford, the winner to go to East Syracuse Minoa Stadium Saturday for the finals against JamesvilleDeWitt or South Jefferson.

Cazenovia’s challenge in Tuesday’s sectional Class B semifinal is a large one – top seed and state no. 1-ranked Westhill, a team it did not meet in the regular season. The winner gets Lowville or Skaneateles at ESM Saturday in the title game that is paired with the sectional Class A final.

playoff openers

An 11-5 regular-season record was supposed to, at least in theory, give the Chittenango girls soccer team a reasonable path forward in the Section III Class A playoffs. What the no. 5 seed Bears got, though, was a difficult assignment last Thursday night in the quarterfinal round as it traveled to face no. 4 seed Central Valley Academy and was ousted by the Thunder in a 2-0 decision. CVA had a 13-3 record plus plenty of good recent sectional tournament history it could draw on. Most of all, it had a defense which knew who it had to target on Chittenango’s roster.

By PHil BlaCkWell

Another superb season for the Cazenovia girls tennis team which included the Section III Class C team championship concluded with two doubles players going for state tournament berths.

Katie Williams and Claire Vaccaro were the no. 5 seed in a field of 16 for the sec-

From the outset, the Thunder honed in on 37-goal scorer Abby Scheidelman and 17-goal scorer Hannah Machan, taking the young duo out of their rhythm and, by doing so, containing the Bears’ attack. All nine of Chittenango’s shots were stopped by CVA goalkeeper Leah Brown, and her work kept the game 0-0 until her team-

tional state qualifier which took place last week. Three berths in this weekend’s state tournament at New York City’s USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center were on the line.

Starting well, Williams and Vaccaro prevailed in the opening round in straight sets over the no. 12 seed, Christian Brothers Acadedmy’s Julie Zdep and Madison

mates, in the second half, broke through. Sophia Watkins proved the key figure as the Thunder forward not only scored, she assisted on the other goal by Izzy Terzioski, CVA advancing to face top seed New Hartford in the semifinals.

It was the unique burden of the Cazenovia girls soccer team to work from a no. 10 seed knowing the kind of competition it might run into during the sectional Class B playoffs.

Yet the no. 10 seed Lakers nearly pulled one out, pushing no. 7 seed Phoenix all the

Evans, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Going further meant beating the no. 4 seed Fayetteville-Manlius duo of Smareen Mangat and Sadie Toole in the quarterfinals. Ultimately, Mangat and Toole proved too tough, prevailing 6-0, 6-2.

This didn’t prove a fluke, either, as Mangat and Toole went on to win the tournament, ultimately beating F-M team-

way to the final whistle before the Firebirds were able to escape and end Cazenovia’s season by a 1-0 margin.

They played on even terms most of the way, with Skye Stanford stopping most of the shots she faced on her way to six saves.

Only once did Phoenix convert, Katherine Kraft netting the goal assisted by Alaina Peplinski, and it held up, the Firebirds limiting the Lakers to five shots, all grabbed by Lyla Duskee. Cazenovia concluded its season with a 4-13 record.

mates Shreya Bhattacharya and Lindsey Chong in the finals. Those pairs were joined in the state tournament field by Baldwinsville’s Elaina Nesbitt and Sonia Nadzan on the doubles side along with two B’ville singles players, Mira Nadzan and Alya Kalfass, plus Jamesville-DeWitt’s Mona Farah and Skaneateles’ Eva DeJesus.

Caz cross country wins title

By PHil BlaCkWell

A single point ultimately made the difference for the Cazenovia boys cross country team in its quest for an Onondaga High School League Liberty National division regular-season championship.

The Lakers’ narrow 27-28 win over Marcellus last Wednesday at the Sean Googin Sports Complex came down to the fact that the Lakers’ fifth runner, Owen Woodworth, had to finish ahead of the Mustangs’ fourth runner, Paxton Raone.

They almost came to the line together –but Woodworth, in 18 minutes 58 seconds, finished just ahead of the 19:00 flat of Raone and 19:20 of teammate Robert Hakes to clinch the head-to-head win and the league title, too.\ Both sides came into the meet 4-0, and as expected Cazenovia standout Jake Woolbert rolled to the individual title, covering the 3.1-mile Fenner course in 17:09 to beat the 17:29 from Marcellus’ Liam Eldridge. But when the Mustangs had Griffin Palen take third place in ex-

actly 18 minutes and Evan Fullagar finish fourth in 18:08, the Lakers had no choice but to grab the next four individual spots – which it did. Kooper Wilmot tailed Fullagar and finished fifth in 18:12. Nolan Campagna was right behind Wilmot and posted 18:19, with Will Galton’s 18:42 good for seventh place setting up the late drama between Woodworth and Roane.

At that same meet Cazenovia’s girls defeated Marcellus 17-48 to complete its own undefeated run through the OHSL Liberty National division.

It was Senior Day for Avery Cashatt, Izzy Stromer-Galley and Ilsa Denton, and they were honored at the meet while Cassatt also had a strong individual showing, finishing third in 22:47.

Cazenovia swept the top three positions, Lily Kogut pulling away to win in 19:33 and Maeve McGreevy second in 21:53. Stromer-Galley got fifth place in 23:53, a time identical to Haylee Stearns, with Sorsha Lewis going 24:28 and Rylee Stearns 25:01 to finish within the top 10.

Cazenovia girls

Cazenovia field hockey team’s season ends in sectional playoff loss

By PHil BlaCkWell

Now the education of the Cazenovia field hockey team known as the 2024 season is complete, with plenty of struggles but also a lot of reason to feel good about what lies ahead.

And when it got there last Wednesday afternoon at the Accelerate Sports Complex in Whitesboro, Cazenovia, the no. 5 seed, more than held its own against no. 4 seed Holland Patent before taking a 2-0 defeat to the Golden Knights.

Constantly on the attack, the Golden Knights quieted Cazenovia from the

Playing with just a handful of seniors on a roster mostly filled with freshmen and sophomores, the Lakers had started 1-6, but then went on a 5-3 stretch in the second half of the regular season to convince itself that it needed the experience of the Section III Class C playoffs.

outset and took a 1-0 lead in the second quarter when Alivia Quesnell put a shot past Lakers goalie Rae Western.

That one-goal margin remained for a while, a tribute to a strong Cazenovia defense which turned back several HP chances, Western eventually working her total to seven saves.

Only when Quesnell returned in the fourth quarter to convert did the Golden Knights put the game away, advancing to a sectional semifinal against top

seed Little Falls. Meanwhile, Cazenovia finished at 6-11, but knows that a deep pool of players, from Western to all eight of this season’s goal-scorers – Bridget StromerGalley, Carlysle Ducey, Sidney Thompson, Lorelei Bock, Dani Stanford, Eliza Huftalen, Hayden Bubble (who led the team with seven assists) and Alayna Berson – could return in 2025 as could Olivia Puffer, Ava Eno and Brittney Hansen.

Eagle Newspapers is here to help readers share their milestone celebrations, including birth announcements, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. The deadline to submit an announcement is 10 a.m. the Friday before publication. Announcements of up to 250 words with a photo cost just $50, with an additional 15 cents per word over 250 words. Announcements will be posted to eaglenewsonline.com within 24 hours of receipt of payment. To submit a milestone announcement, email Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com, or call 315.434.8889 ext. 305.

The Village of Cazenovia is seeking an experienced and energetic individual to fill the full-time position of Village Administrator. This position offers an annual salary of $85,000 to $100,000 depending on qualifications and experience, along with a comprehensive public benefits package. A full job description and statement of minimum qualifications and application procedures is available upon request from the Village Clerk via email at clerk@ villageofcazenoviany.gov Applications are due no later than November 22, 2024. This position will remain open until filled. The Village of Cazenovia is an equal opportunity employer.

Nov 2 - Winter Farmers Market @ The American Legion, 10-1pm

Nov 4 - Indoor Walking For Health @ Caz Library, 10:15-11am

Nov 5 - Yoga @ St James Church, 6-7pm

Nov 7 - Plant n’ Sip: Harvest Hallow Planter Workshop @ Meier’s Creek Brewery, 5:30-7:30pm

Nov 7 - Book Talk : Author Amy Godine, “The Black Woods” @ Caz Library, 6-7:30pm

Nov 8 - Crafternoon Cafe: Snowflake Making out of Foil Paper @ Caz Library, 1-2:30pm

Tuesday - Friday 9:30am - 5pm

Nov 9 - Sydney Irving Unplugged @ Madison County Distillery, 5-8pm

Nov 10 - Beer Run Comedy @ Meier’s Creek, 5-7pm

Nov 12 - Yoga @ St James Church, 6-7pm

Nov 15 - Great Wheel Studio’s Intro to Pottery Class. ( Adults Only) @ Caz Library, 6-8:30pm

Nov 16 - Winter Farmers Market @ The American Legion, 10-1pm

Nov 17 - Yoga @ Meier’s Creek, 10:30-11:30am

Nov 19 - Evening Crafts: Printing on Tea Towels @ Caz Library, 6-7:30pm

Nov 19 - Yoga @ St James Church, 6-7pm

Nov 21 Caz Night Out @ Cazenovia Shops, 6-8pm

Nov 26 - Yoga @ St James Church, 6-7pm

Nov 28 - Cazenovia Preservation Foundation Turkey Trot @ The Gorge Trail, 9:30-11am

Nov 29 - Flannel Friday @ Caz Shops, Skip the big box stores and shop local! wear flannel for discounts from participating local retailers!

Nov 30 - Small Business Saturday @ Caz Shops, The shopping weekend continues! Support local while checking off your Holiday gift list!

cross country seniors (from left) Ilsa Denton, Izzy Stromer-Galley and Avery Cashatt were honored at last Wednesday’s regular-season finale against Marcellus, where the Lakers won 17-48 to clinch the OHSL Liberty National division regularseason title as Cashatt finished third among individuals and Stromer-Galley was fifth.

In addition to recipes from community members, the cookbook includes tidbits about women’s involvement in the church throughout its history.

The First Presbyterian Congregation was formed in May 1799 after four men and four women — all early settlers of Cazenovia — agreed to hire traveling preacher Rev. Joshua Leonard (1768-1843), who remained with the church for 14 years.

In 1804, with 20 frame houses in Cazenovia, the church voted on plans for a meeting house, and Nathan Smith was chosen to build it.

The church was originally erected where Cazenovia Middle School stands today. However, because the village did not grow in the expected direction, the church was moved in the 1820s to its current location on Albany Street. The cemetery was relocated to Evergreen Cemetery on Fenner Road.

The church’s bicentennial cookbook notes that women have been an important part of the congregation since its founding.

The funds raised through their suppers, rummage sales, and fairs helped build, move, and sustain the church.

Despite their contributions, women had little to do with running the church for many years; instead, their work was geared toward humanitarian service.

They held sewing circles, prepared meals for community members in need, sent clothing to the frontier, and donated supplies like bedding and preserved foods to places impacted by war.

It was not until 1861 that women were allowed to become full members of the congregation.

Throughout the years, the women of the First Presbyterian Church formally organized into different circles and societies that gathered to pursue various interests and meet specific needs.

“Though the names of the women’s circles and associations have changed, the primary functions have remained the same: fellowship, study, stewardship, and outreach to all,” the cookbook states. “The mission of giving to others follows the tradition of those early church women to whom so much is owed.”

In 1948, the Women’s Council was formed to unify the various circles and societies. All women of the church were considered members.

A year later, the church introduced its first woman deacon.

The Women’s Association replaced the Women’s Council in 1953, and, at the time, included the Torrey Circle, the Leonard Society, the Wednesday Group, and the Wendell Group.

“As times changed, some of [the women’s] activities changed too,” said Palmer. “In the 60s, we used to have church fairs

in the front yard with pony rides up and down the driveway, and we would have chicken dinners, strawberry festivals, and rummage sales. In the 70s, we started doing things that were a little bit bigger and bolder. [We] did this huge house tour with [several] houses, around 700 people going through them, and 250 volunteers. Then, of course, there was the whole issue of privacy and that kind of stuff, so those got dropped. We also used to have a huge chicken barbeque, [but] as the people involved got older and we were getting more competition, those got dropped.”

Today, the Women’s Association has 75 to 80 members who work to serve others, provide financial support, and organize outreach efforts.

Its only remaining group, the Wednesday Group — now called the Alice Edwards Circle — meets regularly to study, pray, connect, and build community.

The association’s major fundraiser is its Annual Christmas Walk Soup and Dessert Café, which supports high school scholarships. This year’s event is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Burton Street Elementary School Library Media Specialist Katie McGinnis will lead “Painting with Katie” on Nov. 4, and the Spruce Ridge Landscape & Garden Center will return to present a wreath-decorating workshop on Dec. 2. Event details will be posted on the church website.

“We are trying to do things for fellowship, as well as just outreach to people in the community, to say, ‘Hey, we are here, we are still doing stuff, come join us,’” said Palmer. “. . . We are always looking for things that make a difference.”

The First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is located at 27 Albany St. For more information, visit cazpres.org.

Kate hill the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year and highlighting the work and activities of its Women’s association.