(Town of Sullivan, NY – Feb. 2012) The town of Sullivan Parks & Recreation Department, combined with the Knights of Columbus will be holding their Annual Foul Shooting Contest on Saturday Feb. 11 at the Chittenango Middle School from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This program is open to all boys and girls ages 7 to 18 as of Jan. 1.

Registration is onsite beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Try your luck and test your skill.

Trophies will be awarded to the top scoring boys and girls in their age groups.  Parents, come cheer on the children.

For additional information, contact the Parks & Recreation office at 687-3471.

(Oneida, NY – Feb. 2012) The Oneida Area Civic Chorale is offering a $300 scholarship to an area high school senior who has displayed musical talent in school and community performances and plans to engage in musical study beyond high school as a music major or in extracurricular areas.

Applicants must submit a completed application form, a performance tape or CD displaying solo and/or ensemble achievements, a short written explanation of how the award money would be used and a letter of recommendation from a music teacher. An interview with selected candidates may be requested before a final decision is made.

The scholarship will be awarded in May.

Applications and tapes/CDs must be received by April 1. Applications may be obtained from music teachers and guidance counselors at local high schools or by calling Kitty Warner at (315) 363-9667, and should be submitted to the Oneida Area Civic Chorale Senior Scholarship, 431 Broad St., Oneida, N.Y. 13421.

BHOF News

(Canastota, NY – Jan. 2012) Former undisputed middleweight champion and 1993 Hall of Fame Inductee Marvelous Marvin Hagler will attend festivities planned for the 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend scheduled for June 7 to 10 in Canastota.

“It’s very exciting to have Marvelous Marvin Hagler return to Canastota for the Hall of Fame Weekend,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “He’s a legend and a fan favorite.”

Hagler reigned as world middleweight champion from 1980 until 1987. He won the title with a 3rd round TKO over Alan Minter on September 27, 1980 and over the next seven years he successfully defended the crown 12 times with wins over Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, John Mugabi and Mustafa Hamsho. Now an actor based in Italy, Hagler was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1993.

Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, a heavyweight bash, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2012. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 12 are multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcerMichael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz.  Posthumous inductees will also be honored.

A list of more than 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.

Hagler is excited to be in Canastota to witness the induction of Hearns.

“I watched Thomas Hearns grow from amateur status to a professional, until he became a World Champion, who faced his boxing challengers with courage and determination. I am glad that he finally has retired for good! I believe that Boxing Hall of Fame makes a good choice. Thomas Hearns deserves to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and be recognized as one of the best. I have tremendous respect for Hearns. My congratulations!” said Hagler.

For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 23rd Annual Induction Weekend, call 697-7095 or visit ibhof.com.

(Brookfield, NY) The Madison County Fairgrounds Board of Directors is busy making plans for the 2012 Fair slated to take place July 12 through 15.

Over the recent long holiday weekend, five members of the Madison County Fair Board traveled to Rochester to attend the 124th annual New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention At the convention it was announced that once again the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and New York State Showpeople’s Association are in process of accepting applications for their annual scholarship program, which will award up to ten $1,000 scholarships in 2012.

These scholarship are available to students who are New York state residents, who currently are (or have previously been) active in a fair that is a member of the NYSAAF or the NYSSA and who plan to attend (or already attend) college in pursuit of a degree.

The fair where you have been active or the NYSSA must endorse your application and will submit it for you. Madison County Fair President Jeff Mayne will gladly accept applications at the Beaver Den Diner in Brookfield or mail to Madison County Fair, P.O. Box 114, 1968 Fairgrounds Road, Brookfield, N.Y. 13314.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 13.

For further information on the scholarship program and application forms, visit nyfairs.org/scholarship.htm; visit us at madisoncountyfairny.com.

(Madison, NY – Jan. 2012) Spring may be a few months away, but the Madison County Conservation District is already thinking green with its annual 2012 Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale. This year’s sale features a variety of trees and shrubs to fit all kinds of landscaping needs.

Many of the species are ideal for erosion control and many are attractive uses for wildlife food and cover, windscreens, shade, and privacy.

There are 27 different varieties of trees and shrubs offered along with fruit trees, strawberries, ground cover, and variety packs. All of these trees and shrubs are bare root, not balled and sold in bundles of 10 or more.

People interested in ordering can visit the district’s Web site at madcoswcd.com for an order form or can call (315) 824-9849 ext.3. Orders with cash or check payment are due by March 23, and the plants will be available for pickup April 12 at the district’s pole barn at the USDA Service Center in Madison.

(Oneida, NY – Jan. 30, 2012) The New York State Police in Troop D announced a three-day campaign to crack down on drunk drivers this upcoming Super Bowl weekend.  The campaign will begin Friday, Feb. 3 and continue through Sunday, Feb. 5. The Super Bowl featuring the New England Patriots and New York Giants will be played on Sunday.

If football fans plan on drinking during the Super Bowl, designating a sober driver can help increase the chance of avoiding an alcohol-impaired-driving crash. Alcohol-impaired driving is no accident nor is it a victimless crime. 10,228 people died nationwide in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 in which an impaired driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher.

There are just too many drivers out there who believe that having just a few drinks and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle is harmless. But numbers don’t lie. Drinking and driving can result in loss of life or serious injury. These not only affect the lives of the impaired driver but can affect other families as well.

When you choose to drink, drink responsibly, and pass your keys to a sober driver. Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. If you know of someone who has been drinking and is planning to drive, please remember Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

(Canastota, NY – Feb. 2012) Last year, BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse sponsored a training session on what to do following a suicide. A follow-up meeting will be held to discuss the needs in Madison County as relates to suicide prevention, education and intervention on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. at the BRiDGES conference room, 3059 Seneca Turnpike, (Route 5).

By Gloria Nantulya, Athletic Communications Assistant

(Hamilton, NY – Feb. 2012) Head Coach Scott Wiley and the Colgate women’s hockey team have announced that 11-year-old Christian Mast will be the designer of this year’s autism awareness jersey that will be worn during the team’s 2012 Autism Awareness Project kick-off weekend on Feb. 3 and 4.

“Christian has become a part of the Colgate women’s hockey family over the past year,” stated Wiley. “He is an extremely talented, caring and inspiring individual and we were excited to give him an opportunity to show his creativity through designing this year’s autism awareness jersey.”

Christian is an author, hockey player, student, friend, brother and son who has autism, a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. It is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.

“I think that what Christian does for the autism community is amazing,” said proud mother and committee chair of the Central New York Community of Autism Speaks, Erin Mast. “He has a huge heart and just wants to belong. That is what he has with the entire group at Colgate, a sense of belonging. He is treated like a part of the team. I cannot put into words how it feels to see this group embrace and accept him for who he is. Christian is certainly my hero.”

Christian created numerous designs for the autism awareness jersey and will find out which design was picked when the jersey is unveiled to the team prior to the Light Up Starr Rink Blue game on Friday, Feb. 3 against Union at 7 p.m. The jerseys, along with other items, will be auctioned off as part of the project’s fund-raising plan.

The Upstate New York native has received local and national attention for his fund-raising efforts and goals, one of which includes raising one million dollars for Autism Speaks.

(Hamilton, NY – Feb. 2012) The Colgate women’s hockey team will partner with Autism Speaks, ViewSonic and Goals for Good in its 2012 Autism Awareness Project. The Raiders will launch the 2012 project with their annual Light Up Starr Rink Blue event that will take place Feb. 3 in its ECAC Hockey matchup against Union at 7 p.m.

“We are thrilled to continue our work with Autism Speaks, and have added some great new partners this year,” Head Coach Scott Wiley. “We really wanted to build on the momentum we created in 2011 by adding new and exciting elements to the project through new partnerships and initiatives. This year we added ViewSonic and Goals for Good as partners, and we look forward to working with them to achieve this year’s goals: to raise $30,000, broaden our outreach efforts and provide resources and networking for people on the autism spectrum.”

The team will partner with Autism Speaks once again this season. Last year, Colgate partnered with Autism Speaks U and established a Colgate chapter to support the work of Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization.

“I am excited to attend the second annual event and thankful to the Colgate women’s hockey team for organizing this event,” said Autism Speaks’ Walk-Events Manager Melissa Zavorski. “The team’s efforts to raise awareness of autism at Colgate University are so greatly appreciated. Autism Speaks is dedicated to changing the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders; our mission includes funding autism research, developing family services tools, raising awareness and advocating for autism treatments to be covered by insurance.

“The Autism Awareness Project is such a wonderful example of how students can raise awareness in their community, and we can’t thank the Colgate women’s hockey team enough for their efforts.”

One of two new partners to the project this season is consumer electronic company, ViewSonic, which will be donating five Viewbook 10e tablet computers to the project. These tablet computers will be given to families in need of a communication device for their family member on the spectrum.

“For ViewSonic to be able to donate to a worthy cause is goodness and fulfilling unto itself,” said Jeff Volpe, ViewSonic President of Americas and father of sophomore forward Taylor Volpe. “But for our tablet technology to make a difference in a person’s life beyond work and play is incredible. We are grateful and proud to be associated with Colgate which has been such an advocate and leader in the Autism Awareness Project this past year.”

The second new partner added to the project this year is Goals for Good, an initiative created in 2011 by senior Kevin McNamara from the Colgate men’s hockey team. The mission of the project is to provide a vehicle inspiring people to donate to chosen non-profit organizations through collegiate ice hockey competition.

Men’s and women’s ECAC hockey teams have partnered with a charity and Goals For Good hopes to bring an increased amount of aid and awareness to these charities this season.

“I think that it is great that the men’s team (Colgate) and Goals For Good is going to be involved with the Autism Awareness Project,” McNamara said. “The women’s team has always done an outstanding job with this project, and my teammates and I are hoping we can help.

“Coach Wiley was instrumental in helping Goals For Good get off of the ground, and we always spoke about teaming the Autism Awareness Project and Goals For Good together. We are all very excited about the upcoming games, auctions and raffles to raise money and awareness for these causes.”

(Hamilton, NY – March 2012) The Palace Players are pleased to announce the cast for their upcoming production of Neil Simon’s comic masterpiece The Odd Couple.

Michael McCormack (Norwich) and Mark Walden (Hamilton) will portray Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar respectively. Vito Bolognone (Earlville), Christopher Farrell (Hamilton), Mason McDowell (Eaton), and Bruce Ward (Hamilton) will appear as Oscar and Madison’s poker buddies Speed, Vinnie, Roy, and Murray. Jan Webb Guistwite (Sherburne) and Shari Taylor (Earlville) will play Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon, Oscar’s upstairs neighbors.

Dominick Pangallo (Hamilton) directs the production, with stage management by Kate Reynolds (Sherburne) and set design by Colgate University student Andrada Danila (Class of 2015).

The Odd Couple will take the stage on Friday March 9 and Saturday March 10 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday March 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults (18 and older) and $8 for students (with ID). Reservations at palacetheater.org/tickets.php or by calling 315-824-1420 are highly recommended. Tickets may also be purchased at the Palace box office (Mondays-Fridays, 9am-4pm, and two hours prior to each show).

Seating is general admission and the house will open 30 minutes before show time.