FREE • Proudly serving Cazenovia since 1808
Week of April 9, 2025 Home of The Stocks Family
CazenoviaRepublican.com
PENNY SAVER: CNY’S BEST BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY INSIDE!
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
student donates tuition 9 Fresh has Second grader to send 10 FFA students to Camp Oswegatchie
‘hiccup’
Investors remain committed to acquiring Caz College properties By kate Hill Staff Writer During the April 7 Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees meeting, Kate Brodock, general partner of 9 Fresh, provided an update on the local effort to acquire and redevelop the Cazenovia College campus. 9 Fresh, a team of local investors, was, until very recently, under contract to purchase all the Cazenovia Collegeowned properties. According to Brodock, her team has been working hard to complete due diligence, which has been a lengthy process due to the size and complexity of the property. “There was an original gap in due diligence that was provided to us,” she said. “So, it has been a lot of pulling of information to try to fill in that gap.” Brodock reported that during the final stages of due diligence, 9 Fresh asked for an extension to ensure the thorough completion of the process; that request was denied. “As a result, we had to pull our original bid, and [we] are currently non-exclusive while we complete that process,” she said. “We are fully committed. We are still preparing a resubmission of the bid, and we really feel pretty confident about the entire thing, but there was
Submitted photos
On April 1, Henry Stocks, a second grader at Cazenovia’s Burton Street Elementary School, presented a $1,100 check to the Morrisville-Eaton Central School Future Farmers of America (FFA) to pay 10 students’ tuition to FFA’s Camp Oswegatchie. Stocks raised the money by selling raffle tickets for a “2-night get-away and Farm Experience with Henry,” donated by Owera Winds Bed & Breakfast in Cazenovia. Morrisville-Eaton FFA Advisor Rebecca Werbela and faculty members selected the 10 students based on their demonstration of FFA values, initiative, willingness to take on responsibility, ability to set positive examples for others, and openness to stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new things. The 2025 Henry Project Campership Award recipients are Leland Babcock, Taiden Eaton, Trenton Eaton, Dahlia Cook, Tori Barrett, Kendra Abbott, Breanna Green, Charlotte Koester, Maddy Corey, and Emery Russell. The Henry Project is a multi-faceted, long-term photographic documentation of Stocks growing up on a small farm in New Woodstock. Follow the initiative on Instagram @just_a_ boy_and_his_cows or visit rjketchamphotography.com/ the-henry-project/ for more information.
a change in that exclusivity from the seller’s standpoint . . . We have gotten excellent buyin from leadership at all levels of the municipality. We’ve also got state-, district-, and county-wide buy-in. Also, we have some really exceptional redevelopment partners [that are] highly engaged for that second phase. So, again, we feel really good. . . . We are just about [done] with that due diligence, and we are in regular contact with the sellers.” Brodock added that her team is compiling all the information gathered through due diligence to help prepare its offer resubmission. The date of the resubmission is currently unknown. “We expect to still have a positive outcome, [but] we had a little hiccup there in the middle,” she said. “So, that’s where we stand right now.” In response to questions from the trustees, Brodock stated that while the sellers were under contract with 9 Fresh, they were legally not permitted to continue marketing the property. As far as she knows, they are still attempting to sell all the former college properties as a single package, but they are also open to splitting the equine center from the main campus; there has been no public indication that they Investors l Page 7
Earth Day celebration returns to Caz By kate hill Staff writer Each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day, honoring the achievements of the environmental movement and raising awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. The Cazenovia community will present multiple Earth Day events from April 21 to 27 to give residents and visitors of all ages a chance to get involved. The featured event, the United Climate Action Network’s (UCAN) annual Cazenovia Earth Day Fair, will be held on Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the American Legion. The fair will include opening remarks by Cazenovia Town Supervisor Kyle Reger at 11:30 a.m., electric vehicle (EV) test drives, energy and environmental exhibitors, a magic show for kids, a Viet-
namese food truck, and H. Grey Supply Co. beverages and sweets. “Events like this are extremely valuable to our community, as they allow us all to celebrate the achievements of these wonderful organizations that perform tremendous work throughout our greater area,” said Reger. “They also allow us the opportunity to discuss challenges that the groups may face so we can work collaboratively towards solutions. Additionally, these events give people a chance to learn more about the organization and how they may be able to volunteer. I am very grateful for UCAN and its dedicated team of volunteers who are making a significant impact in our community.” UCAN is a grassroots organization in New York’s 22nd Congressional District that advocates for environmentally sustainable policies at the local, state, and national levels
and engages with businesses, schools, and other local community organizations to advance environmental literacy and sustainable practices. “The focus [of this year’s fair] will be on providing the tools and expertise to save energy, lower your carbon footprint, save money, and see what concerned citizens are doing to help protect our environment,” said UCAN Earth Day Committee member Nancy Paolozzi. At 10:45 a.m., an EV car procession will depart Lakeland Park and head to the American Legion at 26 Chenango St. for the start of the fair. The event will feature over 25 exhibitors and vendors, including student groups, climate activists, business owners, farmers, and energy experts. According to Paolozzi, the annual “Trash to Treasure” Earth Day l Page 4
Submitted photos
The United Climate Action Network will present its annual Cazenovia Earth Day Fair on April 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the American Legion.
Volume 215, Number 15 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.
A&E: Former professor to present nonfiction workshop.
PAGE 3
sports: Caz lacrosse has busy first week of April.
PAGE 11
A&E �������������������������������� 3 Editorial ��������������������� 6 history ������������������������ 6 letters ������������������������ 6
WE ARE HIRING!
t %*&4&- .&$)"/*$ t " -&7&- .&$)"/*$ t &26*1.&/5 %&5"*-&3 t ."45&3 .&$)"/*$ 6/#&"5"#-& #&/&'*54 t 4)*11*/( 3&$&*7*/( "440$*"5& t 1"354 41&$*"-*45 t , %0--"3 '03 %0--"3 ."5$) 50 t )&"-5) $"3& 13&.*6. 1"*% '03 #: $0.1"/: t '6&- -6#& 5&$)/*$"/ t %&/5"- 7*4*0/ 1"*% '03 #: 5)& $0.1"/: t /0 $045 -*'& */463"/$& t -08 $045 -0/( 4)035 5&3. %*4"#*-*5:
WWW.CLARKRENTS.COM/CAREERS
Obituaries ������������������ 4 PennySaver ���������������� 8 Sports ������������������ 11-13