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Winter Pride Fest Market returns
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H. Grey Supply Co. will host its second Annual Winter Pride Fest Market on Saturday, Feb. 8, to benefit Cazenovia Pride Fest 2025.
Held to support 2025 Cazenovia Pride Fest By kate Hill Staff Writer H. Grey Supply Co. in downtown Cazenovia will present its second Annual Winter Pride Fest Market on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., during Cazenovia’s Winter Fest weekend. The event will celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community and
feature music, special beverage and food offerings, and a lineup of LGBTQ+ vendors. Co-owned by Travis Barr and Alex Altamonte, H. Grey Supply Co. is a modern-day general store and outfitter focused on bringing people together in a safe, inclusive space and selling products from small-batch makers and inPride l Page 9
Ski patrol to host ‘Valentine’s in the Forest’ fundraiser Caz school district finalizes merger study public town hall dates By kate Hill Staff Writer
Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) is presenting a series of town halls to inform the public about its merger exploration process with Morrisville-Eaton School District. The CCSD Board of Education passed a resolution in September 2024 authorizing Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio to pursue a joint comprehensive merger study with Morrisville-Eaton — including the engagement of appropriate consultants, collection and analysis of relevant data, and collaboration with stakeholders from both districts. Morrisville-Eaton, which initially approached Cazenovia about the possibility of a merger, also passed a resolution in the summer of 2024 to conduct a merger study with CCSD. The resolution adopted by CCSD explains that the district is committed to exploring all avenues that may improve educational opportunities and outcomes for its students. It also states that the BOE recognizes the potential benefits of a merger, including enhanced academic programs, increased extracurricular opportunities, and potential cost savings. “[The] board has received a recommendation from the superintendent of schools, Christopher DiFulvio, to explore the feasibility of a merger with the MorrisvilleEaton School District; and [it] is in the best interest of the Cazenovia community to fully understand the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of such a merger,” the resolution states. The comprehensive study will gather information on a merger’s potential benefits and challenges. It will consider the possible impacts on administrative staffing and board structure, transportation, food service, instructional programming and BOCES use, scheduling, extracurricular activities, building use, tax rates, potential savings, costs, etc. According to the district, the feasibility study is an exploratory phase; a resolution to study a merger does not guarantee that a merger will occur. CCSD and Morrisville-Eaton recently worked with the Merger l Page 10
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The Highland Forest Nordic Ski Patrol will present its annual “Valentine’s in the Forest” fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15. at Highland Forest’s Skyline Lodge. By kate hill Staff writer The Highland Forest Nordic Ski Patrol invites couples, friends, and individuals to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Highland Forest County Park’s Skyline Lodge. The park’s annual “Valentine’s in the Forest” event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15. Catered by White Linen, the event will feature a fourcourse gourmet meal, a DJ, dancing, a photo booth, a cash bar, and a complimentary sleigh ride through the luminary-lit forest. Tickets are $90 per person
and can be purchased online at bullandbearroadhouse. com/merch. The number of tickets sold is capped at 100 per night. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the park’s allvolunteer Nordic ski patrol. The local patrol is a member affiliate of the National Ski Patrol, one of the largest outdoor safety organizations in the country. The primary responsibility of Highland Forest’s 18 ac-
tive patrollers is to ensure the safety of visitors who use the park’s 20-plus miles of hiking/ snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and skate skiing trails each winter. Volunteers patrol mainly on weekends but also at various times during the week. Patrollers help with medical emergencies, conduct search and rescue, help skiers and snowshoers who are lost or have minor equipment failures, and assist the county
Volume 215, Number 5 The Cazenovia Republican is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 35 Albany St., Second Floor, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Pe r i o d i ca l Po sta ge Pa i d at Cazenovia, NY 13035, USPS 095-260. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Cazenovia Republican, 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206.
sports: Caz ice hockey wins at weekend tournament.
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events: Cazenovia to celebrate the season with annual Winterfest.
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employees when visitors are still out in the park at closing time. “I enjoy being outside in the winter with other outdoorloving, active people,” said patroller Kerstin McKay. “I also like learning new things and interacting with the public.” To become a patroller, volunteers must take courses in outdoor emergency care and Nordic skills, such as fire and Patrol l Page 10
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Obituaries ������������������ 3
letters ������������������������ 4
PennySaver ���������������� 6
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