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A look back at 2022 in the Cazenovia area Part one in a review of the year By kate hill Staff writer Throughout the past year, members of the local business community have welcomed new establishments, expanded their operations, received regional and national recognition, given back to the Cazenovia area and beyond, and demonstrated determination when faced with the news of Cazenovia College’s upcoming closure. Here is a selection of news surrounding local businesses in 2022:
DAVID TYLER
New Businesses
Derek Clark, right, co-owner of Otis + Matilda, is awarded the New Business of the Year award by Cazenovia Chamber chairperson Sara Munoz and vice chair Fred Agerter III.
Last winter, Debbie Tillson opened “Purpose Coffee Co.” — a full-service coffee house with a mission — in the Common Grounds space at 35 Albany St. The business offers USDA-certified organic coffee and espresso roasted by Skytop Coffee in Manlius, lattes, chai, specialty drinks, baked goods, and a small merchandise shop. Prior to opening, Tillson said she aims to not only provide the community with high-quality, locally roasted coffee, but also to brew it in a setting that fosters inclusion and purpose. “I am dedicated to creating a space where everyone that walks through the door feels welcomed regardless of [their] differences,” she explained. “The Purpose Coffee Co. mission is simple; we aim to brew inclusion, one cup at a time. You are wanted here, you are welcomed here, and you have purpose.”
With help from local contractors, Tillson renovated the Common Grounds space in hopes of creating a fresh environment while also preserving the historic character of the space. “It’s just so fun and warm and inviting; there’s a new energy,” she said. “The warm glow of the neon above the fireplace says it all. . . ‘This must be the place.’ We hope that it truly is ‘the place’ for many, many years to come.” Purpose Coffee Co. officially opened on Feb. 14. “The community response has been so much more than I could have even hoped for,” said Tillson on Feb. 15. “We have had so many people come in and say, ‘Thank you for doing this, our community needed you here.’ On opening day, we were showered with flowers and gifts from the community and local business owners. The outpouring of support has filled my heart. We’re so
Purpose Coffee Co.
thankful. At one point during opening day, I looked up and had to just pause for a moment. Every seat was filled, there were moms and dads with their little ones, people cozied up by the fire with a book, friends laughing, people of all generations sitting in one space enjoying a good cup of coffee. That right there was my vision.” Updates, specials, and additional information can be found on the Purpose Coffee Co. Instagram page at Purposecoffeecaz and on Facebook.
Otis + Matilda
Over the summer, Otis + Matilda New York — a specialty women’s and men’s footwear, accessories, and home brand — opened its first brickand-mortar location at 65 Albany St. in the space that was occupied by P.E. Mulligan’s for the last 126 years. “The Otis + Matilda target customers are professionals who have an elevated taste level for both casual
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On Valentine’s Day, Debbie Tillson officially opened Purpose Coffee Co. in the Common Grounds space at 35 Albany St. and dress wear,” said Derek Clark, who co-owns the business with his partner, Jason Johnson. “Our customer has an appreciation for branded footwear and accessories, and they enjoy shopping in an upscale environment and feeling good about their experience.” Clark added that he envisions Otis + Matilda evolving into a lifestyle brand that encompasses women’s footwear, accessories, and readyto-wear alongside men’s footwear, accessories, and casual wear. Clark has over 30 years of experience building and branding wholesale and retail companies. He held senior executive positions with Macy’s West & Federated Department Stores in San Francisco and with de-
signers Steve Madden and Perry Ellis in New York City. He also served as senior vice president of wholesale & retail financial planning, merchandise planning & production planning for the global fashion brand Elie Tahari in New York City. “My experience within the wholesale and retail sector coupled with Jason’s experience within retail and corporate accounting made creating a brand that parallels both our careers a natural progression,” said Clark. Clark and Johnson scouted several locations for their first store and ultimately fell in love with Cazenovia and the historic building at 65 Albany St. 2022 l Page 9
Madison County considers the future of its solid waste management system By kate Hill Staff Writer
Madison County is in the process of planning for the long-term future of its solid waste management system. Located on Buyea Road in Canastota, the county landfill site includes the main office, scalehouse, and ARC Recycling Center for haulers. The Madison County Solid Waste Department also oversees four transfer stations — Buyea Road, Cazenovia, Hamilton, and Sullivan — where residents can dispose of their household garbage and recycling if they do not use a private hauler. According to the county, the solid waste department does not receive revenue from taxes; instead, it is run as an enterprise fund and funded by user waste disposal fees that must be sufficient to support the entirety of the solid waste management system, including landfill operations, recycling, transfer stations, special programs, capital expenses, and future liabilities. In 2021, the Madison County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to hire Cornerstone Engineering and Geology, PLLC to conduct a study of the long-term sustainability
of the current Madison County landfill operations. According to a new webpage focused on the long-term planning for the solid waste department, the county is concerned about the financial viability of the current operations because it does not want everincreasing disposal fees to financially burden the community. The county said its main challenge is the small scale of its operations and its inability to achieve sufficient economies of scale. Although the Madison County Landfill has many years of remaining life in terms of capacity, the facility is among the smallest operating landfills in New York State. Despite its size, it is subject to the same regulations as much larger landfills and the equipment needs are similar. The same is true for the transfer stations and material recovery facility, which processes recyclables. “In other words, the amount of waste that is generated within Madison County is not enough to financially sustain operations without increasing costs significantly to residents and businesses,” the county said on the “Long Term Planning” webpage. “Changes, whatever those may be, need to be considered.”
The county explained that the costs of operating the solid waste system have increased substantially in recent years, and additional costs are anticipated in the next five years due to New York State’s regulatory trajectory. The board of supervisors tasked Cornerstone with first assessing the current system and then evaluating alternatives that may improve the long-term financial sustainability of the solid waste department. On Sept. 22, 2022, the engineering firm presented the county’s solid waste committee with an initial assessment and several options for changes to the system. According to the county, Cornerstone’s draft report indicated that the current waste disposal fees are not sufficiently covering the costs of operations, capital expenses, and the long-term management of the landfill. If changes are not made to the system, waste disposal fees will need to increase to fully fund the program’s annual costs as well as the future responsibilities of landfill closure and post-closure monitoring. The draft study evaluated three options for the future. The first is to maintain the status quo with the implementation of some efficiency
Submitted photo
The Madison County Board of Supervisors and Solid Waste Department are in the process of planning for the future to ensure that residents and businesses have a cost-effective solid waste management system for the next 30-plus years. measures, such as closing some of the transfer stations and beginning to charge a fee for recyclables. The second option is to explore a publicprivate partnership where Madison County continues to own the landfill and partners with a private landfill operator. The third option involves closing the landfill and constructing a transfer station to send waste elsewhere. The meeting minutes from when
Cornerstone presented the results of its draft study are available at madisoncounty.ny.gov. The final report of the study is expected to be available in early January 2023. “The option to close the landfill was ruled out, as it does not achieve the ultimate goal of long-term financial stability and sustainability,” the countyreportedonitswebsite.“While the status quo option offered some Waste management l Page 2
Volume 213, Number 52 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: Caz girls continue win streak at Colgate.
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municipal news: 2023 Town of Cazenovia Board meeting schedule announced.
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Calendar ������������������ 10 Editorial ��������������������� 4 history ������������������������ 5 LETTERS ������������������������ 4
obituarieS ������������������ 3 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ����������������������� 11