By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) The date of this year’s annual Winter Fest is Feb. 11. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are among the planned activities during the sixth annual event, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 18.

Events, which are free and open to the public, will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Morrisville-Eaton Elementary School located on Eaton Street.

Indoor games, a presentation on survival tactics, and ice skating from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Morrisville State College IcePlex are also part of the festivities.

From 3-5 p.m., participants can visit the Utica ZooMobile, see a magician and watch “Talons! A Birds of Prey Experience,” which includes flying presentations and personal interaction with birds of prey.

The Skaneateles Newfoundland Club will also be on site with several Newfoundland dogs.

Chili, hot dogs, cookies, hot cocoa, punch and coffee will be served throughout the event. Students from various Morrisville State College student organizations will be assisting with Winter Fest.

The MAX campus shuttle service will be available for students and community members, and will also travel to Cedar Street Apartments and Wilcox Apartments.

Winter Fest is cosponsored by the Campus/Community Relations Committee, an organization comprised of local business representatives and faculty, staff and students at Morrisville State College who meet monthly to discuss and plan special annual events throughout the village such as the Halloween parade, Easter egg hunt, and Christmas tree lighting.

Franci Valenzano is Public Relations Associate at Morrisville State College.

Morrisville Public Library News

By Michelle A. Rounds

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) The NYS Paranormal Research Group will be here this Friday Feb. 10 at 6:30pm to share the results of the night they spent here in the library.  Learn about some of their other investigations as well.

Come learn about Susan B. Anthony and how important she was in history on Wednesday Feb. 15 at 6:30pm.

Our next book talk will be Friday Feb. 17 at 12:15pm.  The book being discussed is The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard.  Copies can be picked up now.  Bring your lunch and join in the discussion.

Want to learn how to cross stitch?  We will teach you on Friday Feb. 17 at 6:30pm.  All materials will be provided.  See you then.

Kiddies Korner, our preschool story hour will meet on Tuesday Feb. 21 at 9:30am.  We will be hearing stories about Hats.  Bring your toddler or preschool child in for some fun and stories.

Our Annual Library Lock In will be Friday Feb. 24 at 8pm until 8am Saturday the 25th.  Bring your jammies and sleeping bag. Snacks will be provided but no meals will be.  Join us for stories, music, movies, games, karaoke, WII, food and lots more.  Bring the family in and join us for a night at the library.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Library Manager.  All children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Library Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday Feb. 16 at 6:30pm.  The public is welcome to attend.

Don’t forget you can pay off old fines with canned goods this month. Or you can just donate items to our canned food drive. All items collected go to the Morrisville Food Pantry. Help out your community today.

The Library will be closed on Monday Feb. 20 to observe President’s Day. We will reopen Tuesday at 10am.

Michelle A. Forward is the library manager. The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12pm to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

Morrisville Public Library news

By Michelle A. Rounds

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) This Friday Feb. 3 at 6:30pm we are going to have fun with our Friends.  Bring a friend and join in the fun.

Ever wanted to see the 100 Greatest Movies of all time?  Then join us as we watch The Godfather, the greatest movie of all time on Saturday Feb. 4 at 12:00pm.  Refreshments will be provided.  Please note: this movie is almost 3 hours long.  Join us in March for the #2 greatest movie of all time.

Kiddies Korner, our preschool story hour, will meet again on Tuesday Feb. 7 at 9:30am and will be hearing stories about Valentine’s Day.  Bring your toddler or preschool child in for a great time.

The NYS Paranormal Research Group will be here on Friday Feb. 10 at 6:30pm to share the results of the night they spent here in the library.  Learn about some of their other investigations as well.

Come learn about Susan B. Anthony and how important she was in history on Wednesday Feb. 15 at 6:30pm.

Our next book talk will be Friday Feb. 17 at 12:15pm.  The book being discussed is The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard.  Copies can be picked up now.  Bring your lunch and join in the discussion.

Want to learn how to cross stitch?  We will teach you on Friday Feb. 17 at 6:30pm.  All materials will be provided.  See you then.

The Library Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday Feb. 16 at 6:30pm.  The public is welcome to attend.

Don’t forget you can pay off old fines with canned goods this month. Or you can just donate items to our canned food drive. All items collected go to the Morrisville Food Pantry. Help out your community today.

The Library will be closed on Monday Feb. 20 to observe President’s Day.  We will reopen Tuesday at 10am.

Michelle Rounds is the library manager. The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12pm to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

(Morrisville, NY- Feb. 2012) A January date has been added to Madison Hall Association’s indoor farmers’ market. Local producers and growers are invited to sell their products on Saturday Feb. 4, March 3 and April 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Market is held at Madison Hall on historic Route 20 in Morrisville. Spaces are 8-by-8 feet size, tables are provided and fee is by donation.

Please contact Duane Button at 684-3402 for additional information.

Refreshments are available for sale.

Proceeds benefit continued restoration of Madison Hall.

(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.

Morrisville Public Library News

By Michelle A. Rounds

(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 2012) This Friday Jan. 27 at 6:30pm we are having Opposite Day. Come and have fun being opposite with us.

Saturday Jan. 28 at 11:00am we are having a Smash Bros. WII tournament.  Come try and see if you are the ultimate Smash Bros. champ. Please bring a snack to share and your own beverage.

Friday Feb. 3 at 6:30pm we are going to have fun with our Friends. Bring a friend and join in the fun.

Ever wanted to see the 100 Greatest Movies of all time?  Then join us as we watch The Godfather, the greatest movie of all time on Saturday Feb. 4 at 12:00pm.  Refreshments will be provided.  Please note: this movie is almost 3 hours long.  Join us in March for the #2 greatest movie of all time.

Kiddies Korner, our preschool story hour, will meet again on Tuesday Feb. 7 at 9:30am and will be hearing stories about Valentine’s Day.  Bring your toddler or preschool child in for a great time.

The NYS Paranormal Research Group will be here on Friday Feb. 10 at 6:30pm to share the results of the night they spent here in the library.  Learn about some of their other investigations as well.

Don’t forget you can pay off old fines with canned goods this month and next. Or you can just donate items to our canned food drive. All items collected go to the Morrisville Food Pantry. Help out your community today.

Michelle A. Rounds is the library manager at the Morrisville Public Library. The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12pm to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 2012) The Valentine Express rolled into Morrisville on Tuesday Jan. 17. The public was invited to an afternoon of fun and fellowship at the Morrisville Community Church’s Fellowship Hall to create Valentines for delivery to Crouse Community Center on Valentine’s Day.

The event was sponsored by the Presbyterian Women’s Ministry team of the Morrisville Community Church. Pictured from left are Irene Akers, Roberta Link and Cindy Monaghan. (Photo by Margo Frink)

(Lebanon, NY – Jan. 21, 2012) The State Police in New Woodstock responded to a Personal Injury Auto Accident in the Town of Lebanon on Jan. 21.

The collision occurred around 10:48 p.m. when a Red 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis, operated by Andrew M. Ashton, 21, of Earlville was southbound on State Route 12B when his vehicle exited the roadway and drove across the front lawn of a residence at 1343 State Route 12B, striking a tree.

The driver and the passenger, Deonna L. Stoddard, 20, of Eaton received minor facial injuries; both refused medical treatment at the scene.

Investigation at the scene revealed that Ashton was intoxicated and was traveling to fast for the road conditions. Ashton was placed under Arrest for DWI, processed and released to a third party.

Ashton is scheduled to re-appear at the Town of Lebanon Court on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to answer the charges.

The investigation was conducted by Trooper Michael Greenwood of the SP New Woodstock barracks.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact Trooper Greenwood, SP New Woodstock at 315-662-3111.

First Executive Director is retired Morrisville-Eaton teacher from Eaton

(Madison County, NY – Jan. 2012) Retired Morrisville-Eaton English teacher Jay Dunn has been selected as the first executive director of the Madison County Literacy Coalition, a collaborative effort between education, government, social services and community agencies in Madison County.

Dunn taught English at Morrisville-Eaton High School for 34 years and retired in June. During his teaching career, he taught a wide range of courses and programs, from reading remediation to Advanced Placement. He also led a college and career preparation program for high school seniors that provided assistance with college applications and career choices as well as meaningful job shadowing experience.

Through these efforts, Dunn became familiar with many of the agencies, businesses and organizations in the community that he will work with through the Literacy Coalition.

Dunn is a resident of Eaton. He holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and both a master’s degree and certificate of advanced study from SUNY Oswego. His wife is a retired English teacher from Stockbridge Valley and his two daughters are graduates of Morrisville-Eaton High School.

The Literacy Coalition formed in 2009 when more than 50 organizations across Madison County – including schools, businesses, non-profit agencies, health care providers and local governments – resolved to improve literacy at all age levels in their community. The Coalition’s first focus area is early literacy (children through grade 3), but they also plan to address issues related to older children, adults, families and the workforce.

Madison-Oneida BOCES is a member of the Coalition’s Managing Partners Board. Other board members include: Oneida Public Library, Mid-York Library System, CNY Community Foundation, Colgate University, Head Start, Canastota Literacy Tutors, Madison County Board of Supervisors, Madison County Public Health, the Canastota school district and the Morrisville-Eaton school district.

(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 2012) On Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. the Morrisville Lions Club is bringing the Circus to Morrisville-Eaton Middle High School.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or before the show at the Elementary School.  Last year saw a big crowd who were not disappointed with the entertainment.  Come one, come all.

Pictured is last year’s happy crowd for the Lions Circus included all ages.