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‘Shop Local Holiday Market’ NYS Police to vacate CCP to present fundraiser Nov. 30 By kate Hill Staff Writer In celebration of National Small Business Saturday, Cazenovia Community Preschool (CCP) will present a Shop Local Holiday Market at the American Legion on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A link to the vendor application can be found on the “CCP Shop Local Holiday Market” Facebook event page. The deadline to apply is Oct. 21. Elaine Vassie, secretary of the CCP Board of Directors, reported on Oct. 14 that the organizers had already received over 30 vendor applications. “We’ve had [a] really nice variety of products [ranging] from baby and child gifts to jewelry to personalized cutting boards and ceramics,” Vassie said. “We will also be selling our wreaths and poinsettias, so whether it’s some holiday decor or gifts, we’re sure there will be a great selection for people to choose from.” Founded in 1969 and operated out of a retrofitted house at 49 Burton St., CCP is a notfor-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. The school strives to support the full development of each child’s potential. The holiday market fundraiser sale will support the CCP’s tuition assistance program to ensure that families can access preschool education regardless of their financial situation. The event will also support the CazCares food pantry and clothing closet by serving as a collection location for donations of personal care products and kids’ coats. “For the first year, we are really focused on making this a true community event that supports local businesses and connects them to each other and the community,” said Submitted photos Vassie. “We know, therefore, that our costs to The Cazenovia American Legion will host a Shop Local Holiday Marpromote in year one will be higher than sub- ket to benefit Cazenovia Community Preschool on Saturday, Nov. 30, CCP l Page 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Five Caz girls qualify for swimming sectionals Combined F-M/Caz team looks to win ninth consecutive sectional title By kate Hill Staff Writer All five Cazenovia swimmers on the combined Fayetteville-Manlius High School (F-M)/Cazenovia High School Girls’ Varsity Swimming & Diving Team are heading to sectionals after qualifying in various events this season. The team members from Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) are captains Eliza Smith and Maeve Kelly, both seniors; first-year swimmer Alison Morse, a junior; Callahan Frazee, a freshman; and Avery Howe, a seventh grader. The team is led by head coach Tim Gallivan from F-M, assistant head coach Josh Smith from CCSD, and assistant dive coach Jennifer Kaleta from CCSD. Class A Sectionals will be held at Nottingham High School on Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m., and the state qualifier will be at Nottingham on Nov. 8 at 2:30 p.m. “These five girls have continued the tradition of strong swimSwimmers l Page 3
Submitted photo
All five Cazenovia swimmers on the combined Fayetteville-Manlius High School/Cazenovia High School Girls’ Varsity Swimming & Diving Team have qualified to compete in the Class A Sectionals. Left to right: Callahan Frazee, Eliza Smith, Maeve Kelly, Alison Morse and Avery Howe.
former Caz College campus next August By kate Hill Staff Writer
On Oct. 21, Village of Cazenovia Mayor Kurt Wheeler announced that contrary to previous beliefs, the New York State Police (NYSP) is not extending its current two-year lease of the former Cazenovia College campus. The NYSP has been leasing a large portion of the campus since August 2023 to serve as the site of its new basic school auxiliary academy. The auxiliary academy welcomed its first class of cadets in October 2023 and has run concurrently with the NYS Police Training Academy in Albany. “My understanding of the situation, based on conversations with multiple sources, is that the NYS Comptroller College l Page 4
BOE discusses zero-emission buses, district bus garage By kate hill Staff writer
During the Oct. 15 Cazenovia Central School District Board of Education (CCSD BOE) meeting, Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio provided information related to the New York State mandate that all new school buses purchased must be zero-emission by 2027, and all school buses operating within the state must be zero-emission by 2035. DiFulvio first discussed the NY School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP), a voucher incentive program established by the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to assist school districts in complying with the zero-emission school bus mandate. DiFulvio informed the board that the grant writing team CCSD works with through OCM BOCES has recommended against applying for the grant program. According to the superintendent, the grant writer who communicated with the district explained that NYSERDA would end up reimbursing the district for only about onethird of the cost of a bus. The executive summary prepared by the grant writing team gave an example of an electric school bus with a purchase price of $332,511. The base voucher for that type of bus is $114,000, leaving $218,511 as the district’s responsibility. Assistant Superintendent/School Business Official Thomas Finnerty noted that for the district’s 2024-25 gasoline bus purchase, the base price is about $139,000; with added options, the total is approximately $178,000. In addition to stating that the NYSBIP would only cover about one-third of the cost of a zero-emission bus, the grant writer said the state does not have the infrastructure to support this program, and districts do not have the money to replace their gas and diesel bus fleets at such costs. “It’s unlikely that this current mandate can be achieved in reality, so hopefully [the state pushes] this down the road because of the expenses [and] the lack of infrastructure,” said DiFulvio. During his update, the superintendent also reported that CCSD Transportation Supervisor Karen Brouillette proposed inviting some vendors to future school board meetings to discuss electric buses and other options available to the district, including gas and “clean diesel” buses, to prepare the district to present a bus purchase proposition to voters in May and to clear up any misinformation. “I think it would be beneficial for the board to hear more, so if that is what you would like to do, let me know, but it would be my recommendation that we learn some more about buses,” DiFulvio said. Later in the meeting, BOE member Jan Woodworth asked if Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has discussed changing the zero-emission bus mandate implementation or timeline. DiFulvio responded that he knew of such discussions in the New York State Legislature. “[Assemblyman] Al Stirpe said at the legislative meeting BOE l Page 5
Volume 214, Number 43 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.
cornell in the community: Enjoy a garden reading retreat.
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sports: Cazenovia football knocks off unbeaten Marcellus.
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Calendar ������������������ 11
LETTERS ������������������������ 6
Editorial ��������������������� 6
PennySaver ���������������� 8
HISTORY ������������������������ 6
Sports ������������������ 12-13