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.

Course Participants learn about large animal safety and management practices at the Morrisville State College Dairy Complex.

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) Do you know youth who are 14-15 years old who want or do work on a farm? If so this course is for them!

The 2012 Agricultural Safety and Certification Program is scheduled to begin in late February. It is against the law for an employer to hire a person less than 16 years of age to operate farm tractors or machinery. An exception is made for the 14- or 15-year-old who has completed this approved safety course.

Even though family members and those over 16 are not required by law to take the course, it is a good idea for any potential new operator. The objective of this course is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from farm-related accidents, especially with young people in Madison County.

Those who satisfactorily complete the course will receive the certificate, which allows them to work for hire at age 14 and 15. Employers must request a copy of this certificate from young employees.

You must be 14 in order to take this course for a certificate.

Again this year, a special emphasis will be offered involving lawn mowers and other lawn, yard and garden equipment; information gained in this course is applicable to most home and yard work involving younger machinery operators.

In order to qualify for the certificate, participants must attend scheduled class sessions, complete the workbook provided, pass a written exam and complete the practical driving exam. The 4-H Tractor Safety and Certification Course class fee will be $10 for the manual and printed materials. The fee will be collected at the first session.

This program is a cooperative effort of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, the Madison County FFA Agricultural Programs and Morrisville State College.

Pre-enrollment is required. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County 4-H Program, P.O. Box 1209, Eaton Street, Morrisville, N.Y. 13408 or call (315) 684-3001 to enroll or for more information.

(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.

Your Scholars

Local students named to Springfield College dean’s list

Springfield College has named the following local residents to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the fall 2011 term.

Daniel Patane of Canastota. Daniel is studying Undeclared.

Logan Aikins of Sherburne. Logan is studying Applied Exercise Science.

News from SUNY Potsdam

SUNY Potsdam Students Earn Spots on President’s List

The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named more than 900 students to the President’s List for the Fall 2011 semester in recognition of their academic excellence.

Among the local students who made the SUNY Potsdam President’s List were:

Allison Forth of Canastota whose major is Childhood/Early Child Education

Corey Hopkins of Canastota whose major is Music Education

Kali Jarvis of Canastota whose major is Childhood/Early Child Education

Rhimmon Simchy-Gross of Canastota whose major is Music Performance

Mary Whitcombe of Canastota whose major is Childhood/Early Child Education

Robert Taube of Cazenovia whose major is Music Education

Emilie Weinheimer of Cazenovia whose major is Psychology

Cortney Mayo of Hamilton whose major is Speech Communication

Caleigh Tuttle of Hamilton whose major is Theatre

Timothy Simmons of Sherburne whose major is Psychology

To achieve the honor of being on the President’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.5.

Local Students Named to Clarkson University Dean’s List

The following students were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester at Clarkson University.

Beth A. Schneider, a senior majoring in civil engineering from Bridgeport.

Matthew R. Ager, a junior majoring in engineering and management from Canastota.

Tristan R. Jones, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering from Canastota.

Jeffrey R. Merrell, a freshman majoring in civil engineering from Canastota.

Michael R. Tornatore, a sophomore majoring in innovation and entrepreneurship from Canastota.

Michael A. Blanchard, a junior majoring in chemical engineering from Cazenovia.

Ryan J. Eklund, a freshman majoring in aeronautical engineering from Chittenango.

Danielle K. Cuddeback, a freshman majoring in pre-physical therapy/psychology from DeRuyter.

David E. Revette, a senior majoring in civil engineering from DeRuyter.

Andrea M. Riedman, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering from Kirkville.

Nicole M. Verone, a freshman majoring in engineering studies from Kirkville.

Raeanne J. Clabeaux, a freshman majoring in university studies from New Woodstock.

Molly E. Ogden, a sophomore majoring in history/interdisciplinary social sciences from Earlville.

Mallory J. Carhart, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences from Hamilton.

Heather H. Munz, a senior majoring in biology from Hubbardsville.

Loren J. McNamara, a senior majoring in civil engineering from Leonardsville.

Rebecca R. Kirley, a senior majoring in global supply chain management from Madison.

Colin Maykish, a junior majoring in software engineering from Sherburne.

Dean’s List students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and also carry at least 14 credit hours.

Local Students Named Clarkson University Presidential Scholars

The following students were named Presidential Scholars for the fall 2011 semester at Clarkson University.

Ellen M. Heenan, a junior majoring in engineering and management from Bridgeport.

Thomas F. Wilkowski, a senior majoring in electrical engineering from Bridgeport.

Alexandra B. Cameron, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering from Cazenovia.

Josh Bunce, a freshman majoring in civil engineering from Chittenango.

Sean P. Shea, a freshman majoring in aeronautical engineering/mechanical engineering from Chittenango.

Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.

Evans Named to Sacred Heart University’s Dean’s List

Kiley Evans of Cazenovia was named to the fall 2011 Dean’s List at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. To receive this honor, a student must achieve a 3.6 grade average, based on a 4.0 scale.

(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.

(Hamilton, NY – Feb. 2012) From Feb. 6 through April 3, the Picker Art Gallery at Colgate University will host installations by renowned artist Ann Hamilton (annhamiltonstudio.com).

Hamilton is recognized internationally for the sensory surrounds of her large-scale multi-media installations; her ephemeral environments create immersive experiences that poetically respond to the architectural presence and social history of their sites.

The exhibition will examine consistent threads that deal with gesture, the senses and the body, voice and language, time and duration and history and community. Videos will be juxtaposed with pinhole images — some taken from within the artist’s mouth — and some made on the Colgate campus by members of the Colgate staff and student body.

The videos tend to display essential actions monotonously repeated — pouring, reaching, unraveling, polishing, writing, drawing, erasing, stitching, knitting, breathing, spinning, walking — unremarkable in themselves but made strange either by isolation or by context.

The event is free and open to the public.

The hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday, January 30, 2012

2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.: Impact Committee – Madison County Promise January 17

3:02 p.m. and 8:02 p.m.: Oneida Rotary Club Meeting with Rich Vindigni “Ireland”

3:31 p.m. and 8:31 p.m.: Town of Sullivan Board Meeting of January 18

3:52 p.m. and 8:52 p.m.: Oneidas Club with Pat Albaugh – OPL Budget Vote

4:11 p.m. and 9:11 p.m.: Oneida Common Council Budget Meeting of January 17

Tuesday, January 31

2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.: Oneida Public Library Presents:  John Taibe “Oneida’s Third Rail”

3:29 p.m. and 8:29 p.m.: Oneida Public Library Presents:  Cheryl Pula “The Children’s Crusade”– The 8^th Army Air Force in World War II

Wednesday, February 1

2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.: Canastota Central Schools Board of Education Meeting of  January 24

3:54 p.m. and 8:54 p.m.: Oneidas Club Meeting with Elise Allen: “The Market Place”

4:16 p.m. and 9:16 p.m.:  City of Sherrill Commission Meeting of January 23

Thursday, February 2

2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.: CAC Series:  Oneida County Office for the Aging: “ Services and Programs for Seniors”

2:51 p.m. and 7:51 p.m.: Oneida Rotary Club Meeting, with Mike Healy “Oneida   Healthcare Web Site”

3:10 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.: Village of Vernon Board Meeting of January 23

Cazenovia College Honors Area Students

A number of students in Cazenovia College’s Class of 2012 completed their degree requirements in December, 2011. Among them:

Roberta L. Clarke of Chittenango will earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual communications at Cazenovia College’s graduation ceremony on May 12.

Stephanie R. Froelick of Canastota will earn a bachelor of professional studies degree in management, specializing in business management at Cazenovia College’s graduation ceremony May 12.

Khristyn K. Ostrowski of Bridgeport will earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology at Cazenovia College’s graduation ceremony May 12.

Area students Placed on Dean’s List

The following area students were named to the Dean’s List at Paul Smith’s College during the fall 2011 semester. Each earned a semester average of 3.3 or higher to receive this distinction:

Tessa Heintz of Canastota, John Mullins of Cazenovia, Kara Sternberg of Kirkville, Erik Palmer of Earlville and Marshall Lagoe of Sherburne.

Morley Makes Dean’s List

Ethan Morley, a senior history major of Bouckville, was named to Lycoming College’s dean’s list for the fall semester.

The dean’s list is issued at the close of each semester in recognition of superior scholarship. Students make the dean’s list if they complete at least four letter-graded courses and earn a minimum grade point average of 3.50 for the semester.

Area Residents Named to Fall Dean’s List

Dr. Stephen J. Havlovic, vice president for academic affairs at Alfred State College, has announced the Dean’s List of students for the fall 2011 semester. The following were among the over 500 students from Alfred State College who made the fall Dean’s List:

Zachary Taylor, a resident of Bouckville and Brian Klein, a resident of Madison.

Students from both the Alfred campus and the School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville are selected for the Dean’s List if they maintain a 3.50 grade point average (GPA) out of a possible 4.0.

Morrow Added to Dean’s List

Meghan Morrow, a Junior Arts and Sciences major from New Woodstock, has been named to the University of Delaware’s Dean’s List for Fall 2011. To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.33 or above for the semester.

Purdy Named to Dean’s List

Jaimie Purdy of Erieville has been named to the fall 2011 Dean’s List at Mansfield University. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must be attending the university full-time and attain at least a 3.5 GPA for the semester.

Morrisville State College News

By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 2012) Ken Stokes is pretty excited about making the four-hour plus trek from Connecticut to Morrisville State College at the end of the month.

The 2010 alum is eager to return to his alma mater to participate, along with thousands of others from all over the world, in the 2012 International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Global Game Jam (GGJ) Jan. 27-29. This is the third year Morrisville State College is serving as a host site for the international event, now in its fourth year.

Shawn Tysco of Cazenovia, John Fecteau of Syracuse, Ben Landers of Oneonta, and David Verro of Peterboro are also coming back to campus for the worldwide Game Jam where teams of artists, hobbyists, programmers, designers and musicians collaborate to create playable video games throughout the course of one weekend.

More than 3,400 jammers from 44 countries have registered for the event so far. Morrisville is one of five sites in New York state hosting the 48-hour event.

Amateurs, professionals, students, faculty, hobbyists and those with a passion for making games, are invited to participate at the Morrisville site. Registration is now being accepted. Participants must be 18 years old or older.

Meals, snacks and beverages will be provided throughout the weekend.

Dr. Richard Marcoux, assistant professor in Morrisville State College’s Computer Information Technologies Department who is organizing the event, estimates that last year’s participants consumed a whopping eight cases of the popular drink, while pizza and food from Seneca Dining Hall on campus, also helped fuel their creativity.

Participants are asked to meet at the college on Friday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. At that time, they will be given a theme, break into teams which will be formed on-site, then spend the weekend designing a new game from scratch without any outside help.

Each team will have until 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 to create its game. The event will be held in classrooms on the second floor of Charlton Hall. Local jurors will play all the games and at 5 p.m., each team will present its game to all participants. Each local site will announce what team best embodies the spirit of the jam.

(Oneida Castle, NY – Jan. 2012) Holy Cross Academy students (pictured from left) Robert van Leishout, Adam Lohr, Britton Medley, Kaylee DeZalia, and Alanna Glidden hold the new banner that the Academy will display at the upcoming March for Life in Washington, D.C.  Two-thirds of the Academy’s student body joined thousands of young people at the 2012 March for Life on Monday, Jan. 23.