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September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival returns By kate hill Staff writer
As summer comes to an end, CazArts creative alliance is preparing to welcome the change of seasons with its September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival, four weekends of local arts events. CazArts is a non-profit organization that works to promote the creation and appreciation of the arts in the greater Cazenovia area. According to a CazArts press release announcing the festival, the schedule features 22 free events at various locations. “[We invite] you, whether local or visiting for the weekend, to enjoy this beautiful historic village as the leaves are turning and summer breezes off the lake are tinted with the breath of autumn air and the crispness of our fall evenings,” the press release states. “With historic restaurants and inns, outdoor dining, strollable pathways through [the] Willow Patch along the Creekside, and sunsets over Cazenovia Lake, the September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival invites you to take a moment, relax, and thoroughly enjoy art within [nature’s] art.”
Jazz-N-Caz
The popular Jazz-N-Caz festival will return for its 21st year on Sept. 6-10 with CazArts as its new home. The event will be sponsored and presented by
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CazArts creative alliance will kick off fall with its September Autumn Leaves Arts Festival, four weekends of free, local arts events. Highlights include Jazz-N-Caz, Autumn Leaves Quilting at the library, and the Cazenovia Art Trail. Nascentia Health and will feature performances by world-class musicians in multiple intimate settings throughout town. Colleen Prossner, who founded Jazz-N-Caz over two decades ago as an employee of Cazenovia College, is producing the music festival again this year. Six months ago, after the college announced its decision to close, Prossner joined Nascentia Health, where she now serves as vice president of communications and development. Founded in 1890, Nascentia Health delivers home and community-based health care in 48 counties throughout New York State. For more information, visit nascentiahealth.org. Prossner, who sits on the CazArts board, said that
following the news of the college, she was asked by many community members whether Jazz-N-Caz would live on. “I wanted to be able to continue the tradition,” she said. “I asked our Nascentia Health CEO Kate Rolf, a philanthropic-minded leader, [about sponsoring the 2023 event], and she was thrilled with the idea to expand our name into Madison, Oneida, and surrounding counties. . . With over 35 musicians playing in the fest at seven locations over five days, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to continue the tradition.”
Autumn Leaves Quilting
Throughout September, the Cazenovia Public Library & Museum (CPL) will be celebrating the art of
quilting. Since the spring, CPL has been working with the Towpath Quilt Guild to execute a community quilting project aimed at producing a banner to hang in the library. Quilters of all ages and experience levels were given kits to create their own 10 in. x 10 inch autumn leaf quilt blocks to contribute to the project. All the squares were collected, and the guild members are now working to connect them. “We had a great response to the quilt square kits, and we have over 60 squares for the quilt banner, so the Towpath quilt ladies are putting together two,” said CPL Adult Programming and Service Coordinator Renee Joseph.
The completed banners will be on display in the library from Sept. 1-30. The CPL Gallery will exhibit the works of local quilting artist Sharon Bottle Souva from Sept. 2 through the end of the month. An artist reception will be held on Sept. 15 from 5
to 7 p.m. for the community to view Souva’s contemporary quilts, the community banners, and historic quilts from the CPL Archives. Souva, who has been making quilts since 1976, will share her extensive knowledge and some of her Festival l Page 15
Willard Insurance Group celebrates two decades of business By kate hill Staff writer
This year, The Willard Insurance Group of Cazenovia is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Owned by Philip Willard and located at 114 Albany St., the agency offers insurance advisory services for auto, home, business, and life. Looking back at his time in Cazenovia, Willard expressed his great appreciation for the community for embracing and supporting his business throughout the years. “It has been such a privilege to serve this awesome lake community over the last 20 years, and [I] plan to continue [to do so] for many more years,” Willard said. Willard currently employs three licensed insurance producers — Paul Little, Jake Fesko, and Patty Smith, who is also the office manager. Fesko is new this year, Smith has been part of the team for over five years, and Little has been with the business for over 12 years. According to Willard, he and
his employees strive to position The Willard Insurance Group “Above all in customer service.” “Erie Insurance is our core carrier, and they hold the same core values and are rated consistently at the top of New York State insurance office [lists] when it comes to customer service,” Willard said. “We are proud of how we handle our clients and consistently post a 93 percent retention rate.” He added that even in today’s electronic world, The Willard Insurance Group is still focused on meeting every client in person. Willard grew up in Camillus and went to West Genesee High School. After a time living in Washington DC, Willard returned to Central New York in 1995 with his wife, Amy, who grew up in Dallas, Texas. “After touring the Cazenovia area, we decided that it would be a great place to settle down and raise a family,” Willard said. “[It’s] one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.” Willard and Amy, who recent-
ly retired from the special education department at Burton Street Elementary School, share two daughters who were both born and raised in Cazenovia — Emily, a registered nurse at Duke Medical, and Sarah, a women’s lacrosse coach at Elon University. Willard worked in the commercial real estate field for ten years after moving back to CNY. After consulting with a few good friends in the insurance field, however, he decided to open a small insurance business in the Village of Cazenovia. The Willard Insurance Group started out in a storefront on Lincklaen Street across from the post office. Six years ago, the business purchased its current building, which is now undergoing a complete renovation. Outside of his business, Willard is actively involved in the Cazenovia community. He previously served as president of the United Community Chest of Cazenovia, Fenner & Nelson and sat on its board of directors. He served on the board
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The Willard Insurance Group of Cazenovia is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The business is owned by Philip Willard and is located at 114 Albany St. of CazCares and is the current president of the Cazenovia Country Club. He has also volunteered as a driver for the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps and as a girls’ lacrosse coach. “In a small town like this, you can be as involved in the community as you want to [be],” he
said. “All the organizations that I have been involved [in] were very receptive and made helping them very rewarding.” For more information on The Willard Insurance Group, call 315-655-2424 or visit “The Willard Insurance Group” Facebook page.
Volume 214, Number 35 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.
SPORTS NEWS: Cazenovia trail run takes place this week.
events: Nelson Psychic & Wellness Fair returns to Mike’s Pond.
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LABOR DAY
Editorial ��������������������� 6
Obituaries ���������������� 14
history ������������������������ 7
PennySaver ���������������� 8
letters ������������������������ 6
Sports ����������������������� 15