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Return of the gala CCP plans annual fundraiser at the Lincklaen House
BOE discusses next budget Principals report on learning opportunities By Kate Hanzalik
By kate Hill Staff Writer On Saturday, March 4, Cazenovia Community Preschool (CCP) will present its Annual Fundraising Gala at the Lincklaen House at 79 Albany St. from 7 to 11 p.m. Presented by the CCP Board of Directors in partnership with Berkshire Bank, the event will feature an hourlong open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, live music by Mark Zane, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle. According to CCP Board of Directors Chair Lindsay Maine, it has been four years since CCP’s last gala and five years since the gala was held at the Lincklaen House. Founded in 1969 and operated out of a retrofitted house at 49 Burton St., CCP is a not-for-profit, comprehensive preschool with a mission to provide well-rounded and nurturing learning experiences for children in the Cazenovia area, regardless of ability or family income, with the goal of supporting the full development of each child’s potential. The curriculum emphasizes language, cognitive, social, physical, emotional, and creative development. The gala, which is CCP’s largest annual fundraiser, will benefit the school’s tuition assistance program for families CCP l Page 2
Submitted photo
Cazenovia Community Preschool will present its Annual Fundraising Gala at the Lincklaen House on March 4. Pictured: Isla Hunt, a student in CCP’s Caterpillar Class
Pewter Spoon supports earthquake response efforts By kate hill Staff writer
Pewter Spoon Café and Eatery in Cazenovia is planning a weekend fundraiser to benefit Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international, independent medical humanitarian organization that cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. Located at 87 Albany St., Pewter Spoon is owned by Pat Carmeli and managed by her daughters Ava and Dana. The weekend fundraiser will begin with a “latenight” kickoff event on Friday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. and will run all day Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5. “On Friday, our kitchen will be open later hours (6 to 8 p.m.) and we will host Francie, our ‘joe’y’ coffee alternative sales represen-
During the Feb. 27 Cazenovia Central School District Board of Education (CCSD BOE) meeting, Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio presented budget options for consideration for the upcoming academic year. According to DiFulvio, the current year-end balance is just under $1 million. “The reason this number is so high is because of the amount of money we have from the COVID relief fund offsetting what we’re spending as a district right now,” DiFulvio said. “As you know costs are going up. We had some discussions about how much our budget has gone up, but I think our district has done a really nice job of being fiscally responsible.” DiFulvio added that the balance does not yet offer a complete picture as the district is awaiting details on enrollment numbers, staffing needs, and health insurance increases, to name a few. “As costs go up, I just want to let people know that we have been tightening our belts as a school district,” DiFulvio said. DiFulvio said the school eliminated one of its Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) curriculums and wants to replace it as well as curriculums for K8 Math and English Language Arts (ELA), but these would not be included in a roll-over budget that maintains the status quo. “Just to maintain our current operations and our current curriculum we’d be looking at, with no [appropriated] fund balance, we would be at [a] 9 percent [budget increase], which is about [the] average [for] what other businesses are looking at, with the rate of inflation over the past year-and-a-half,” DiFulvio said. DiFulvio noted concerns such as students not reading on grade level, the need for professional development, more attention paid to facilities, cybersecurity, and funding that can be used for remediation opportunities for high school students. He pointed to possible budget options with additional funds, acquired from tax levy increases or appropriated fund balances, ranging from $555,000 to $855,000. “What I’m recommending on behalf of the district is that we need to make curricular change,” he said. “I’ve heard that over the past yearand-a-half. I’ve heard families. I’ve heard it from staff. Our teachers are ready to make curricular changes. We need professional development coaching in order to be able to do this and we also need the funds to purchase the curriculum.” The discussion concluded with plans to schedule a budget workshop with the board.
In other news Submitted photos
Pewter Spoon will present a weekend fundraiser from 6 p.m. on Friday, March 3, through Sunday, March 5, to benefit Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. tative, who will provide a free joe’y tasting during those hours as well,” Dana said. “For customers who
enjoy their tasting and decide to buy a joe’y beverage from the barista on Friday [night], we will be donating
20 percent of those sales to [MSF].” According to Dana, 15 Earthquake l Page 2
CCSD K-12 principals updated the board on experiential learning opportunities during the month of February. Kara May, principal at Burton Street Elementary School, reported on a mobile planetarium from BOCES that was used to enhance students’ learning about outer space BOE l Page 2
Volume 214, Number 9 The Cazenovia Republican is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 35 Albany St., Second Floor, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Periodical Postage Paid at Cazenovia, NY 13035, USPS 095-260. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Cazenovia Republican, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
A&E: Great Minds series continues March 15.
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school news: Students compete in Lego robotics regional competition.
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Calendar ������������������ 13 Editorial ��������������������� 4 history ���������������������� 11 letters ������������������������ 4
Obituaries ���������������� 14 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ����������������������� 12
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