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‘Crazy for You’ Cazenovia Drama Club impresses with performance
Kate Hill
The Cazenovia High School Drama Club presented the romantic comedy musical “Crazy for You” from March 7-9. By kate Hill Staff Writer This past weekend, the Cazenovia High School (CHS) Drama Club wowed audiences with its
production of “Crazy for You.” The show opened on March 7, with an evening performance on March 8 and two additional shows on March 9. “Crazy for You” is a Tony
Award-winning romantic comedy musical with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by George Gershwin. Drama club l Page 14
Town board shares Cazenovia Earth Day schedule, Caz Youth Space idea presented BY KATE HILL STAFF WRITER During the March 11 Cazenovia Town Board meeting, Councilor Jimmy Golub announced that several local organizations have organized a weekend of free events leading up to Earth Day on Monday, April 22. On Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m., the Cazenovia Garden Club will be cleaning up the Route 20 rest stop at the south end of Cazenovia Lake. On Saturday, April 20, at 9 a.m., the Village of Cazenovia Tree Commission will plant two trees on Mill Street at the corner of Riverside Drive to commemorate the work of Bob and Bobbi Constable. The National Arbor Day proclamation will be read, and the names of past tree donors will be shared. At 10 a.m., Cazenovia area Scout troops will gather in the Buyea’s True Value parking lot to organize into groups for a Chittenango Creek clean-up. At the same time, horticulturist Patty Stimmel from Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County
will present a “Native Plants and Pollinators” workshop at the New Woodstock Free Library. At 2 p.m., Pat Carmeli will be at the Cazenovia Public Library to discuss how she built her home and interiors using salvaged materials from historic homes, encouraging sustainability and reuse. Her presentation, titled “The New Old House,” is presented by Cazenovia Heritage. An electric vehicle show is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 21, at Lakeland Park. The Cazenovia Lake Association (CLA) will also have the lake’s new, custom-built electrofishing boat at the park for public viewing during the electric vehicle show. The electric vehicles will then be paraded through the village with a Cazenovia Police Department escort to the American Legion on Chenango Street for the Earth Day Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the United Climate Action Network, the fair will feature 24 exhibitors and vendors, an up-cycle/repurpose “Trash to Treasure” competition, informational presentations, and a Viet-
namese food truck. The electric vehicles will also be parked outside the building for viewing and guest rides. The Earth Day Fair schedule is available at unitedclimateaction. org/cazenovia-earth-day-weekend/.
Caz Youth Space proposal
During the town board meeting’s second public comment period, Cazenovia resident Jennifer Marotto Lutter presented her idea for a “Caz Youth Space.” Lutter, who is a professional planner and the former executive director of the Partnership for Community Development in Hamilton, proposed that the Town of Cazenovia consider launching a youth space modeled after the Town Shop Youth Center in downtown Camillus. She explained that Town Shop has been in operation since 1971 and serves youths ages 13-19 with programming in the following areas: open building hours after school and on weekends, adventures in nature and culture, selfless service, creative expression, and
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
Caz CSD seeks input on budget for 2024-25 school year The Cazenovia Board of Education met on Wednesday, March 6, for a budget discussion on ways to close the district’s $1.85 million gap. Board members grappled with the reality of the governor’s budget proposal to cut significant state aid to the district. In an effort to identify areas where costs could be reduced without a negative impact on the highquality academic experiences Cazenovia is known for, administration instituted a spending freeze in February on any non-essential district expenses. “We’re committed to sustaining our excellence and preserving our identity,” said Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio. “We’re examining every line of the proposed budget to be fiscally responsible while prioritizing core academics and preserving special education services and support.” The district explored three tiers of spending reductions, with each tier indicating minimal, moderate, and significant impacts on student achievement. Board members acknowledged the severe shortcomings of the governor’s proposal and discussed possible advocacy measures to inform their local representatives of the severity of the district’s fiscal outlook. As a next step, the district is inviting its community members, including students and parents, faculty and staff, and those who may not be directly affiliated with the school, to a community conversation to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, in the high school’s Buckley Gym. An RSVP is encouraged, and walk-ins are welcome. RSVP by email eayres@caz.cnyric.org or call 315-655-1317. “The evening will begin with some options the district is presenting to the board of education to balance the budget, and then we’ll ask attendees to weigh in on what matters most when it comes to the educational experience at Caz,” added DiFulvio. Various options that will be presented could include reducing staff and programming, using budget reserves, and/or piercing the allowable tax levy limit. “The district has already looked for ways to reduce spending and be creative in preserving its extracurricular opportunities for students, such as by combining sports with neighboring districts when it made sense,” DiFulvio said. “Decisions like that have helped Cazenovia avoid cutting benefits to its students’ experiences; however, the governor’s budget proposal makes it harder to continue to be creative.” Board members expressed that they would like community input on the options before them so they are making decisions that best align with the community’s values and expectations. The district plans to make a survey available after the March 20 event for those who are unable to attend but are interested in sharing their thoughts on the options. “There are no easy choices, and it’s imperative we hear from the community how they feel about the options before us,” said Board President JoAnne Race. “While we didn’t create this problem, we recognize that it’s our responsibility to [approach the budget] in a way that aligns with the district’s mission, vision and goals.”
Youth space l Page 15
Volume 214, Number 11 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: Cazenovia Public Library to present inclusive theater program.
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sports: MCFC prepares for spring season.
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