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Upcoming Historical Events Happening Around the County

April 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Matt Urtz, County Historian

(Madison County, NY – April and May, 2012)

On Friday April 27th from 9 am to 2:30 pm the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum will host the 1st Annual Erie Canal Geographic Conference.   The event is co-sponsored by the museum and the New York State Geographic Alliance.  The event will focus on teaching about the canal and related topics.  Museum staff will be on hand to give tours and demonstrate 19th century boat-building techniques.   There is no cost of admission or registration for this conference.  Lunch will also be provided. To register go to the NYGA website – http://www.nygeographicalliance.org. If you have any questions please contact Tim McDonnell via email attmcdonnell@monroecc.edu or by phone at( 585)-292-2398.

On Saturday April 28th from 8 am to 11 am the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark will host a pancake at the Copper Turret Restaurant in Morrisville, NY.  The breakfast will included pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee.  There is a $5 donation for the event and all proceeds go to the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark in Peterboro, NY.

On Saturday April 28th from 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday April 29th from 12 pm to 3 pm the Chenango Canal Association hosts CANAL CLEAN SWEEP. Clean Water Coalition from COVE at Colgate University brings students who volunteer with the public to rake and drag fallen limbs to the roadside, pick up trash and clean up the entrances to the trail. This is a great family project and qualifies for school-required community service (check with the local high school for paperwork). Canal Clean Sweep is a state-wide event for canals and waterways and is sponsored by Parks & Trails New York and the NYS Canal Authority. Dress in layers and work boots or tie-shoes (no flip flops).  Lunch is provided both days.  Please call 315-893-7910 to register. This is a community project, improving a national and state historic site that is a National Recreation Trail.

On Sunday April 29th from 12 pm to 3 pm the Madison County Historical Society will host a Antebellum, Wartime & Peace Fashion Show at the Rusty Rail Restaurant in Canastota. Fashions from the periods between 1840-1860 and 1940-1960 will be shown. Dode Page, owner of Black Antiques of Earlville, will be the emcee. The show will start at noon and feature a buffet, raffle and vendor booths. Tickets for the show are $20 and reservations are required. For more information visit www.mchs1900.org.

On Wednesday May 2nd at 11 am the Town of Madison Historical Society will host a ceremony to dedicate the placement of a historic marker where the first Hops field in Madison County was planted.  The event will take place in front of Steve Dow’s home on Route 12B, near the corner of State Route 20 (2nd house on the right, after turning from Rt. 20). Parking will be in the lot across the street.  You are invited to RSVP by April 23rd to Diane Van Slyke at towpath@twcny.rr.com or call 315-893-7910. A tour of Good Nature Brewing, a micro-brewery in Hamilton that uses locally-grown hops and other ingredients, follows for the cost of $4 a person (including taste-testing samples of beer).

On Saturday May 5th the Canastota Canal Town Museum will host a grand opening of the new dump wagon display.  More information to come.

On Saturday May 5th from 1 pm to 3 pm the Madison County Historical Society will host Lady’s Handiwork: Create your own Victorian Whimsy. Participants will create their very own whimsy boxes using the decoupage technique under the direction of Pam Lynch, a retired art teacher from the Oneida City School District.  A light fare of Victorian delights will be served.  The cost for the workshop is $15 and it is limited to 20 participants.  For more information please visit www.mchs1900.org.

On Saturday May 5th at 2 pm the Quincy Square Museum will host the talk “How Madison County Changed the United States,” by Madison County Historian Matt Urtz.  Madison County was home to some of the most innovative thinkers in American History. Madison County residents have directly affected the movie industry, the development of computers, firearm production, dental science, federal fiscal policy, the development of the tractor, and so much more.  There is no cost for this event.  For more information please visithttp://www.quincy.earlville.net/.

On Wednesday May 16th from 9 am to 1 pm Madison County Historian Matt Urtz will host a New York State Archives workshop entitled Fugitive Documents at the Madison County DMV Building (Building #4).  NYS Archivist Dr. Suzanne Etherington will speak examines how records become lost, show how to keep records in custody, outline strategies to regain custody if necessary, and discuss issues to consider when donating archival records to another organization.  There is no charge for this event but pre-registration is required.  For more information please contact Madison County Historian Matt Urtz at 315-366-2453.

On Saturday May 19th from 10 am – 12 pm the Jerry Munger and Ted Bartlett will host a walking tour of historic Cazenovia Church Architecture. More information to come.

On Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th from 10am until 4pm the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum will celebrate NY State Heritage weekend in cooperation with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Everyone is invited to the historic drydocks and canal boat building facility on the Old Erie Canal.  There is no charge for the day’s festivities which include an open house, guided tours, children’s hands on activities including receiving an Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Badge, Quilter vendors, lunch at the hotdog cart for $5.00 and a fully stocked gift shop (proceeds will benefit CLCBM).  For more information please visit www.clcbm.org.

On Saturday May 19th from 12 pm to 3 pm the Chenango Canal Association will host a historic tour of the Chenango Canal and local businesses in honor of New York State Heritage Weekend. Tour guides in period dress brings to life what it was like to live in the mid-1800s. Tours begins every half hour.  Meet at the Canal Cottage Museum, Rt. 20, Bouckville (across from the Landmark Tavern). Donations accepted.  For more information please visit http://www.chenangocanal.org.

On Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th, Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, and Peterboro Heritage Mercantile will open for season in celebration with New York State Heritage weekend.   New exterior exhibits at Gerrit Smith Estate will be featured.  All sites are open from 1-5 pm.

On Saturday May 19th at 7:30 pm the Earlville Opera House and the 20thAnnual Peterboro Civil War Weekend a Civil War concert at Madison Hall in the Town of Morrisville as part of Heritage Weekend in NY.   The event will preview upcoming events in Madison County dealing with the War.  Hugh C. Humphreys will welcome the audience with a preview of the Civil Weekend program entitled “John Brown’s Ghost: Madison County to Harpers Ferry.” Madison County Historian Matthew Urtz will preview his program for Civil War Weekend entitled “Writing Home, Madison County letters from the front line.” Performers Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino, well known for their musical renditions of Civil War songs, (especially the history of John Brown) will provide a preview for an expanded concert entitled “Four Seasons, Four Years ~ The Civil War a Musical Journey” on June 8th at the Earlville Opera House.

On Sunday May 20th at 3 pm, the Oneida Community Mansion House will welcome the Jim O’Mahony Trio who will perform music of the Beatles in the Big Hall.  The event is free to the public.  For more information please visit http://www.oneidacommunity.org/.

On Wednesday May 23rd from 10 am to 3 pm the Lorenzo House will host a workshop on cultural landscape research and documentation.  In association with the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums the workshop will feature representatives from the National Park Service, The Department of Landscape Architecture at SUNY ESF and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  Pre-Registration is required and a program fee will be charged.

On Wednesday May 23rd at 7 pm the Cazenovia Public Library will host Salamanders, Firedogs, Beehives and Cranes:  Open Hearth Cooking and Brick Oven Baking.  Open hearth cooking expert Lynne Belluscio, director of the LeRoy Historical Society will offer the class for no charge.  More information to come.

On Wednesday May 23rd at 6:30 pm the Oneida Public Library welcome Madison County Historian Matthew Urtz.  More information to come.

On Saturday May 26th at 9:30 am the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark will host its annual Barn Sale.  More information to come.

The Oneida Community Mansion House has prepared a new exhibition entitled “The Design and Promotion of Lady Hamilton Tableware:  1932-1954.”  Lady Hamilton flatware was one of the longest-lasting patterns of Oneida’s high-end silver plate. The show features a table-setting (by Maria Skinner, Simply Designed Spaces) of silverware, plates, glassware, and serving pieces belonging to the Lady Hamilton line. A quarter century of Oneida’s industry-leading promotional work can be perused in seventeen full-page ads from Life, Saturday Evening Post, and Good Housekeeping. Among these eye-catching graphics is one of the most successful campaigns in American advertising history: Jon Whitcomb’s war-time series, “Back home for keeps.” Included is an original Whitcomb watercolor for a 1947 version of the ad, “Let’s make it for keeps.”  The exhibition runs through the end of August.  For more information please visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

 

 

Filed Under: Bouckville-Solsville, Calendar of Events, Canastota, Cazenovia, Chittenango, Earlville, Hamilton, Kenwood, Lenox, Madison, Morrisville, Oneida, Peterboro, Smithfield, Sullivan, Wampsville

Farm Families Honored For Conservation Tradition

April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Conservation Farm of the Year (6)

 

Submitted Photos/Troy Bishopp

Pictured: Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District Board Member Ron Bono presents Jeff Manley and son Karch on behalf of Lui-Vu Farms in Hamilton with the conservation award.

Pictured are Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District 2012 Conservation Award winners surrounded by friends and family at the White Eagle Conference Center.

(Earlville, Hamilton, Madison, NY) Leigh Manley, William “Billy” Marcellus and Jeff Manley have a fairly pragmatic way of describing their dairy farming relationship: their families’ operations have been working together for so long they know what each other is thinking before they do it.

This close-knit bond between Leigh Manley and 20-year business partner, Billy Marcellus, owners of M&M Farm in Earlville and the “over-the-hill” connected Dairy of Distinction, Lui-Vu Farm owned by Jeff, Gwen and Karch Manley in Hamilton, epitomizes the concept of sharing resources between families for profitable, environmentally-friendly dairy production.

Because of this unique working relationship and their commitment to conservation in the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay along the Chenango River, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District saw fit to make dual awards to the two farms as the county’s 32nd annual Conservation Farms of the Year.

This yearly awards banquet serves to thank farmers for their commitment to improving water quality through land management planning and installed conservation practices.

“Anytime we can honor our stewards of the land for their time and effort to improve our rural communities, it’s a great day for local agriculture,” said Madison County SWCD District Manager Steve Lorraine.

You’ll find the three farmers at Leigh and Sue Manley’s kitchen table every morning at 9 a.m. going over the preparations for the day and who needs help with what.

“With more than 550 acres of cropland and pastures to feed more than 200 head of dairy cows and replacements between the two farms, we have found there is more profit in working cooperatively,” Jeff said.

Each farm has a nutrient management plan and routinely works with district nutrient management planners David Livermore and Jessica Heim to get fertilizer recommendations and soil testing done, in addition to conservation tillage and cover cropping.

M&M Farm has installed two heavy-use areas for the dairy cows and heifers with adjacent grass filter strips and cattle exclusion buffers around their ponds, while Lui-Vu Farm developed a hillside pasture system, wildlife ponds, contour strips and curbed concrete heavy-use area with a runoff control structure leading to a vegetated filter strip.

“Farming on land above the Chenango River comes with a responsibility to protect it,” the partners agreed. “We value working with our local conservation staff to achieve erosion control measures and improve animal health by getting cows out of the mud while capturing needed nutrients.”

Billy summed up their long tradition of taking care of the land.

“We all want to make sure there’s something viable here for the next generation,” he said.

To find out more about water quality initiatives and conservation planning, call the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District at (315) 824-9849 or visit madcoswcd.com.

Troy Bishopp is grazing specialist for the Madison Co. SWCD/Upper Susquehanna Coalition. He can be reached at  (315) 824-9849 ext. 110, troy-bishopp@verizon.net or thegrasswhisperer

Filed Under: Agriculture, Earlville, Hamilton, Madison, Top Stories

Historical Society to Host Round-and-Square Dance

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

(Madison, NY – April 2012) The Madison Historical Society will host a round-and-square dance, to be held at the Madison Historical Museum on South Street in Madison, April 21, from 7 until 11 p.m. Music will be provided by “Good Old Boy.” Donation is $6 per person. Refreshments will be available.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Dining & Entertainment, Madison, Museums & Historical Societies

Wind Energy: What’s it All About?

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

(Hamilton, Madison, NY – April 2012) Madison Matters will host a presentation by Jonathan P. Knauth, P.E., at the Masonic Lodge, Route 12B in Hamilton Tuesday, April 24, at 7 p.m.

Knauth, a scientist and a professional engineer, will provide an overview of the economic and technical effectiveness of industrial wind power, as well as its impacts on the natural and human environments.

His presentation is designed to assist communities in making informed judgments regarding the scope and siting of wind energy projects. This is an opportunity hear an expert explain complicated scientific and engineering concepts in language that we can understand.

 

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Environment and Nature, Hamilton, Madison Tagged With: ,

Madison Board to Discuss Wind Farm Moratorium

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Chris Hoffman

(Madison, NY – April 2012) At the regular meeting of the Madison Town Board on Thursday April 12 citizens concerned about the proposed wind farm once again packed the house.  Many questions focused on the relationship between the Town Board and the Planning Board and the functions and responsibilities of each in reviewing the application to site a 36-turbine wind farm off Bonney Hill Road.

Jane Welsh submitted to Town Supervisor Ron Bono a four-page draft of a new Local Law that would impose a 12-month moratorium on applications and proceedings as well as the issuance of approvals or permits for the construction of Wind Power Facilities (other than Residential Wind Power Facilities) within the Town of Madison.  Welsh requested that the Board review the proposed law along with the Town attorney and consider adopting it.  Many citizens expressed approval of enacting a moratorium in order to allow time to revise the special use permit regulations for wind energy that the Town adopted in April 2011.  At the Planning Board meeting on April 4, Chair Roger Williams agreed that the regulations as currently written are inadequate “and need to be revised.”

After significant discussion, the Town Board agreed to convene a Special Joint Meeting of the Town and Planning Boards for the purpose of considering the proposed moratorium.  Citizens at the meeting, joined together as “Madison Matters,” expressed their desire and willingness to work with both boards and offered their expertise and significant research undertaken to date.

The Special Joint Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 25.  Details of the location and time of the meeting will be posted at madisonmatters.org as soon as they are finalized.

Residents Contribute to Legal Fund

As of Friday, April 13, Madison Matters announced that, thanks to the generous contributions of numerous citizens, the Legal Fund created less than three weeks ago has reached the minimum goal necessary to retain a lawyer with expertise in representing citizen groups to protect their communities from corporate takeover should it become necessary to take the matter to court.

Upcoming Meetings

The public hearing on the proposed wind farm will be held on Wednesday April 18 at 7 pm at Madison Central School.  This public hearing is the forum in which citizens can submit oral and written comments on the draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement.  All comments then become part of the official record and must be taken into consideration during the Planning Board’s review process by which a decision will be made to grant or deny a special permit.

On Tuesday April 24 at 7 pm at the Masonic Lodge in Hamilton, Jonathan P. Knauth, a professional engineer, will give a presentation on “Wind Energy: What’s It All About?”  Knauth will provide an overview of the economic and technical effectiveness of industrial wind power, as well as its impacts on the natural and human environments.  His presentation is designed to assist communities in making informed judgments regarding the scope and siting of wind energy projects.  This is an opportunity to hear an expert explain complicated scientific and engineering concepts in language that laypersons can understand.

Chris Hoffman is a freelance writer/reporter for the Madison County Courier. 

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Government & Politics, Hamilton, Hubbardsville, Madison

Madison-Oneida BOCES Third Marking Period Honor Roll Released

April 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

(Verona, NY – April 2012) The Madison-Oneida BOCES Career and Technical Education Department recently announced honor roll students for the Third Marking Period.

High Honor Roll (90 to 100 percent)

Canastota Central School District

Brittany A Boisen-Equine & Animal Science; Joel M Campanie-Criminal Justice; Gavin Campbell-Engineering New Visions; Kevin Carpenter-Engineering New Visions; Ashley J Cassano-Pre-Nursing; Hailie M Chandler-Culinary Arts; Justice C Clark-Pre-Nursing; Brionna L Coleman-Pre-Nursing; Brandon Crawford-Career Exploration II; Jeremiah Depasquale-Carpentry; Chelsea Dickenson-New Ventures; Bradley W Hibbard-Recreational and Outdoor Power Eq.; Jessica Hofmeister-New Ventures; Kaliegh Larmer-Engineering New Visions; Nicole Lasnicki-New Ventures; Racheal L McAllister-Graphic Design; Vincent C Offutt Jr.-Carpentry; Tracy O’Hern-Engineering New Visions; Kyle R Oram-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Jordan L Pannell-Criminal Justice; Ryan E Pedersen-Engineering Science; Courtney B Pell-Health Professions; Chris Polisse-Career Exploration II; Samantha M Pulverenti-Criminal Justice; Shaun M Renfer-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Katelyn Rounds-Allied Health Partnership; Logan E Smith-Allied Health Partnership; James Tolliver-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; John A Tupper-Carpentry; Ronald J Vaccaro-Engineering New Visions; Nicholas Wilcox-Engineering New Visions; Greg Zupan-Engineering New Visions

Hamilton Central School District

Hanna E Carpenter-Equine & Animal Science; Josephine Jimenez-Criminal Justice; Emily M Powrie-Cosmetology; Rebecca L Schneider-Equine & Animal Science; Mason J Seitz-Foundations of High School Math; Cody D Smith-Foundations of High School Math; Tina Stagaman-Foundations of CTE; Tina Stagaman-Foundations of High School Math; Teanna Wilcox-Foundations of CTE; Teanna Wilcox-Foundations of High School Math; Jared K Winterrose-Graphic Design; Kaylee Winterrose-Foundations of High School Math

Madison Central School District

Shana M Biedermann-Early Childhood Education; Tyler Langbein-Engineering New Visions; Damien Wright-Career Exploration II

Morrisville-Eaton Central School

DaVaun J Chandler-Carpentry; Abby L Hastings-New Ventures; Kasey L Holbert-Early Childhood Education; Taylor E Leonard-Early Childhood Education; Alyssa Matuszczak-Allied Health Partnership; Olivia Q McAdams-Health Professions; MariBett P Montanye-Nurse Assisting; Molly T Moran-Hollenbeck-Health Professions; Elizabeth N Nodine-New Ventures; Madeline Peckham-Equine & Animal Science; Katherine E Pelton-Early Childhood Education; Dylan P Perry-Carpentry; Thomas L Strong III-Recreational and Outdoor Power Eq.; Destiny L Vaill-Criminal Justice; Shelby L Widger-New Ventures

Oneida City School District

Kelsey L Besock-Criminal Justice; Annaliese Clements-New Ventures; Candra Connelly-Allied Health Partnership; Anai J Cortes-Graphic Design; Samantha M Dick-Criminal Justice; Ryan Duke-Allied Health Partnership; Frederick J Edick-Auto Body Repair; Christopher J Femia-Auto Body Repair; Brandon T Hall-Criminal Justice; Kayla M Happle-Equine & Animal Science; Carley R Herb-Engineering New Visions; Tyler Mallinder-Allied Health Partnership; Eric Merrell-Allied Health Partnership; Justin D Miller-Automotive Technology; Carley Parker-Engineering New Visions; Tyler J Reed-Engineering Science; Andrew P Rogers-Carpentry; Nathaniel J Thurber-Criminal Justice; Samantha E Tucker-Criminal Justice; Carissa A VanDusen-Equine & Animal Science; Kathaleen Vineall-Health Professions

Stockbridge Valley Central School

Cody L Collins-Criminal Justice; Dale Durant-New Ventures; Makayla Glauer-Allied Health Partnership; Samantha Manaseri-Criminal Justice; Matthew Papa-Engineering Science; Teagan A Porter-Health Professions; Justine E Sanford-Culinary Arts; Randi Jean Sheldon-Early Childhood Education; Justin M Sirles-Criminal Justice; Tyler Smith-Auto Body Repair; Danielle Smith-Equine & Animal Science; Ryan M Thorna-Engineering Science; Alyson Wilson-Health Professions

Honor Roll (85 to 89 percent)

Canastota Central School District

Traci K Abel-Graphic Design; Kimberlee Brown-Cosmetology; Brandon M Claflin-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Desirea A Douglass-Early Childhood Education; Erica M Galavotti-Pre-Nursing; Christopher J Gardner-Heavy Equipment Operation; Garritt Heintz-Carpentry; Lacy L Jennison-Nurse Assisting; Xavier M Johnson-Electrical/HVAC; Katlyn E Kelly-Equine & Animal Science; Brooke R Klish-Criminal Justice; Michael Miles-Career Exploration I; Kara R Otts-Career Exploration I; Michael Russitano-Allied Health Partnership; Jasmine F Shimer-Criminal Justice; Alisa M Thayer-Early Childhood Education; Nathanial Trost-Automotive Technology; Joseph Whitehead Jr.-Graphic Design; Ryan M Wisinski-Carpentry

Hamilton Central School District

Matthew T Peckham-Foundations of High School Math; Samantha L Reardon-Early Childhood Education; Mason J Seitz-Foundations of CTE; Cody D Smith-Foundations of CTE; Kaylee Winterrose-Foundations of CTE; Shayne Winton-Foundations of CTE; Shayne Winton-Foundations of High School Math

Madison Central School District

Brandon Dapson-Heavy Equipment Operation; Cassandra M Derby-Early Childhood Education; Hunter D Roberts-Heavy Equipment Operation; Jhon Robertson-Carpentry; Brian Schenk-Carpentry; Mindy S Smith-Cosmetology

Morrisville-Eaton Central School

Joseph J Abbott-Criminal Justice; Douglas C Boyden-Auto Body Repair; Kayla A Branch-Early Childhood Education; Kilee M Buell-Health Professions; Alexander Clark-Computer Programming; Dylan M Clark-Automotive Technology; Reece J Dailey-Computer Programming; Joseph M Ducey-Graphic Design; Jessica M Glynn-Culinary Arts; Lucas D MacLaury-Graphic Design; Amanda L Mason-Criminal Justice; Nickolas A Raymond-Heavy Equipment Operation; Dani-Marie E Ward-Health Professions

Oneida City School District

Aubrey J Ambrosio-Cosmetology; Molly A Bartlett-Pre-Nursing; Keirsten L Burton-Early Childhood Education; Jeffrey Decker-Recreational and Outdoor Power Eq.; Zachery T Ebersold-Criminal Justice; Geoffrey M Garrison-Criminal Justice; Mayjon D Ghrayyeb-Pre-Nursing; Shannon L Hollenbeck-Graphic Design; Brent Kearney-Culinary Arts; Andrea E Kodya-Criminal Justice; Paige Lerch-Career Exploration II; Andrew Lollman-Vocational Technical Preparation; Olivia R Lopitz-Culinary Arts; Angelo D Manzella-Heavy Equipment Operation; Evan P Merrell-Career Exploration I; Rosemarie Musolino-Early Childhood Education; Julie Schuler-Early Childhood Education; James Schuler-Vocational Technical Preparation; Matthew P Teague-Conservation; Kristy L Ward-Early Childhood Education; Ashley M Warner-Nurse Assisting; Khristopher K Wesolowski-Graphic Design; Brian Williamson-Engineering New Visions; Fredrick F Wilmer-Criminal Justice; Melissa M Wright-Health Professions

Stockbridge Valley Central School

Christopher M Baker-Heavy Equipment Operation; Mark Carpenter-Career Exploration II; Torell Chaires-Early Childhood Education; Shiel Lamb-Graphic Design; Brooke A McCarthy-Cosmetology; Ashley O’Herien-Equine & Animal Science; Christopher Rifenburg-Broadcast Technology; Kayla M Weismore-Equine & Animal Science

Honorable Mention (80 to 84 percent)

Canastota Central School District

Jordan J Becker-Auto Body Repair; Corey Bloss-Career Exploration II; Zachary Bloss-Vocational Technical Prep ABR Lab; Todd D Cannistra-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Donna M Compoli-Cosmetology; Sara A Compoli-Cosmetology; Arlen A Cummings-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Autumn N Davis-Health Professions; Adam M French-Auto Body Repair; Myranda M Hayes-Computer Programming; Elaine Hoch-Schmidtka-Vocational Technical Preparation; Trisha J Hubbard-Early Childhood Education; Wayne Hutchins-Carpentry; Nathan King-Criminal Justice; Stephanie B Patterson-Cosmetology; Kaleb Raufer-Career Exploration I; Cassandra Reinhardt-Vocational Technical Preparation; Kathryn E Rinaldo-Culinary Arts; Sonya R Smith-Equine & Animal Science; Austin R Thomas-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Paul M Thornton-Carpentry; Jacob J Wimmer-Vocational Technical Prep Carp

Hamilton Central School District

Shannon Heath-Early Childhood Education; Edwin Heath-Carpentry; Kyle T Lopp-Auto Body Repair; Karch D Manley-Conservation; Matthew T Peckham-Foundations of CTE; Willy W Relyea-Graphic Design; Cheyanne J Smyrski-Culinary Arts

Madison Central School District

Brandon Dougherty-Carpentry; Skyler Glouse-Carpentry; Vincent Stolarczyk-Electrical/HVAC; Mitchell Van Ormer-Electrical/HVAC

Morrisville-Eaton Central School

Cody W Ammon-Heavy Equipment Operation; Justice Armstrong-Cosmetology; Allen J Bailey-Recreational and Outdoor Power Eq.; Joshua K Boyden-Heavy Equipment Operation; Michaela L Clark-Equine & Animal Science; Michael P Day-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Forrest L Garbry-Culinary Arts; Austin J Hirsch-New Ventures; Devon Manaseri-Heavy Equipment Operation; Tori Meacham-Nurse Assisting; Dustin J Pelky-Electrical/HVAC; Victoria R Phillips-Criminal Justice; Renee M Shantal-Nurse Assisting

Oneida City School District

Brittany E Agan-Early Childhood Education; Mark M Baer-Carpentry; Andrew G Bavo-Automotive Technology; Paige M Chandler-Culinary Arts; Alexandra K Dailey-Cosmetology; Rachel L Eastman-Early Childhood Education; Kasandra Fisher-Nurse Assisting; Garrett A Hopper-Computer Programming; Ashley V Janovsky-Nurse Assisting; Gregory D Janovsky-Conservation; Skylar Z Jones-Culinary Arts; Jordan D Koons-Culinary Arts; Abrina P Leahey-Equine & Animal Science; Lindsey K Loucks-Automotive Technology; Zachary D Malek-Culinary Arts; Tasha M Mariano-Cosmetology; James Marks-Vocational Technical Preparation; Jessie B Morrison-Culinary Arts; Matthew J Otts-Conservation; Craig A Pollack-Graphic Design; Danielle N Potter-Information Technology Systems/CISCO; Michael A Reesh-Computer Programming; Ryan Roberson-Vocational Technical Preparation; Chelsea E Saltamach-Culinary Arts; Kylie A Ulm-Equine & Animal Science

Stockbridge Valley Central School

Louisa M Bartlett-Equine & Animal Science; Lisa Curtis-Health Professions; Reyanne Dailey-Cosmetology; Edward Hayden-Auto Body Repair; Tiffany Nazel-Culinary Arts; Gabrielle Panzone-Health Professions; Brandon Pupp-Engineering Science; Dylan Russ-Conservation; Samantha Yates-Early Childhood Education

Filed Under: Canastota, Clockville, Eaton, Education, Hamilton, Lenox, Lincoln, Madison, Morrisville, Munnsville, Oneida, Stockbridge, Wampsville, Whitelaw, Youth

Energy Industrialization – Impacts on a Residential Community

April 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

To the Editor:

I write as a resident of the Town of Madison who lives close to the boundaries of the proposed Rolling Upland Wind Farm project. Along with dozens of other residents, I am contributing my own time, money, and energy to the effort to help get the word out about the impacts that an industrial wind energy facility of the proposed scale may have for our entire area.  Anyone who attends meetings of the Madison Planning Board or the Madison Town Board, or any of the other gatherings around this issue will see how many concerned local residents there are.

Apprehensions about the negative consequences of mega-scale industrial wind installations near residential communities are not based on frivolous “opinion.”  There is substantial and growing literature on the impacts that industrial wind facilities have on physical and mental health, property value, and the social fabric of communities. A clear trend in expert literature (by government, scientific, and conservation organizations alike) suggests that big wind projects should not be intermingled with homes. Appropriate siting of renewable production facilities is key to their success, and must, of course, be matched by significant, even radical energy conservation measures in every realm of consumption.

If there is a movement away from aggressive siting of wind projects in residential areas, it comes as a result of community opposition. That opposition is global, sizeable, and strong. It is not a superficial “NIMBY” response as the wind companies assert. Community-based movements emerge as attempts to prevent catastrophic property value loss and quality-of-life destruction due to inappropriate placement of gigantic wind facilities. Neither the wind industry nor its critics dispute the fact that large-scale industrial wind installations change the character and natural resources of an installation area in profound and permanent ways.  Energy developers can and do site these industrial projects more carefully, when forced to mitigate impacts and plan with residents’ concerns, community interests, and environmental contexts in mind.

The specific question of industrial wind turbine placement and residential setbacks is absolutely critical for THIS proposed project. If constructed, Rolling Uplands Wind Farm will cover 7000 acres – nearly one third of the entire area of the Town of Madison (as acknowledged by Planning Board chair Roger Williams at the meeting on April 4, 2012) and it will impact an area perhaps twice that size. The project zone encompasses more than one hundred homes, of which only a small number belong to leaseholders.  According to the Madison County property tax office, there are 768 property parcels within 5000 feet of the project zone (80 in Brookfield, 146 in Hamilton, and 542 in Madison). There are also many just on the other side of the project boundary in Oneida County. Many of these parcels are agricultural, wooded, wetlands, or not yet developed, but there are many hundreds of homes within a mile of the zone and many hundreds more – including all of those on Lake Moraine – within the likely impact area. The DGEIS completely ignores these residential communities, indeed in both maps and text the DGEIS mischaracterizes the larger impact zone, cutting off maps so as not to include the lake on one side and the major wetlands on the other.

Expert opinion differs on how large the setbacks should be from non-participant properties, but many recent sources suggest that 2000-3000 feet may be the minimum setback (as opposed to the 1000-foot setbacks proposed for RUWF), and some suggest that 5000-foot or even larger setbacks may be necessary to protect peoples’ health and property values. Town, state, and national governments all over the world are setting larger setbacks, in response to the legal challenges, political opposition, and medical complaints of affected residents in rural areas everywhere. The bottom line: turbines should not be sited so close to so many homes.

Area residents should be VERY concerned, as well, to know whether our elected and appointed officials are capable of negotiating in ways that will protect our communities and our properties. Do they have sufficient expertise to guide their communities through industrial and financial processes of monumental technical, legal, and financial complexity? From the limited information I have been able to get from our Town Supervisor and Planning Board Chair, it is not clear that the Town of Madison has the capacity to negotiate well with a big international energy firm that brings every form of expertise to bear on getting a permitting decision and a low PILOT payment.  If our properties are going to be altered, and our community permanently changed into an industrial site, there should at least be recompense of an appropriate scale for those who will bear the costs of this. Let us all put get some numbers on the table and get the Town to show that it is taking our property values and our community worries seriously. The Town should negotiate Property Value Guarantees (PVGs) to compensate or buy out owners whose properties are negatively or severely impacted by this process. If the company is unwilling to commit to PVGs, our Town officials should demand to know why.

Elected and appointed officials must take a hard look at the significant and long-term impacts that the proposed industrial wind project may have on our tax base and on future, sustainable economic and social development potential. Area political leaders and school district officials should also be concerned to understand the multiple long-term impacts this project could have for their tax base – as well as the lives of hundreds of their neighbors. It would be appropriate for leaseholders and Town officials not to dismiss the substantive and serious concerns raised by many residents without understanding that we are trying to protect our community from an irreparable harm. If Madison builds this project, it should at least figure out how to compensate the Town and individual non-participating residents for potential damage to individual property and to the whole area in which we live.

Nancy Ries, Hamilton

 

Filed Under: Environment and Nature, Government & Politics, Madison, Opinion-Editorial

Fashion Show: Antebellum, War, and Peace

April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dode Page featured Speaker at Madison County Historical Society Fashion Show April 29 2012

 

Dode Page will be the featured speaker at the Madison County Historical Society’s Fashion Show: Antebellum, War, and Peace scheduled for April 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rusty Rail.

By Sydney L. Loftus

(Canastota, NY – April 2012) The Madison County Historical Society is hosting a Fashion Show: Antebellum, War, and Peace on April 29 at the Rusty Rail in Canastota. Fashion from the periods between 1840-1860 and 1940-1960 will be modeled.

Dode Page, owner of Black Cat Antiques and Gifts of Earlville, will be the guest speaker. Dode will be sharing her vast knowledge of vintage clothing showcasing her 1940-1960s era clothing from her shop.  She will also present the clothing borrowed from Mary Jeanne Bialas’ Victorian Whispers collection covering the eras 1840-1860.

Dode is a 1976 graduate of Morrisville-Eaton Central school and has lived in Morrisville most of her life. In 2004, she opened Black Cat Antiques and Gifts filling her shop with vintage clothing from the 1940s-1980s, antique furniture and decorative accessories, hand- made primitive gifts by Valerie Valentine of Sherburne, and locally made honey and beeswax candles.

Dode and her husband, Charles, enjoy going to auctions and estate sales to buy items for her shop. Her background running a fashion show comes from her four years of experience leading the Earlville Opera House’s Annual Mother’s Day fashion show of vintage clothing and desserts scheduled this year for May 12.

Dode emcees, coordinates the outfits, and writes outfit descriptions. Since 2010 Dode has served on the board of the Earlville Opera House. She also volunteers her time with events for the Chenango Canal Association of Madison and the Earlville Community Day Planning Committee.

Dode’s shop is located at 14 East Main St. Earlville. Her hours are Tuesday- Friday 9-5 and Saturdays 9-2. You can also contact her by calling 691-5721.

Tickets for the historical society’s Fashion Show: Antebellum, War, and Peace on April 29th at the Rusty Rail in Canastota are $20. They are available at the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street in Oneida.  The buffet menu served at 1 p.m. will include: chef salad, rolls and butter, garlic mashed potatoes, carrots with dill, fresh baked chicken, Virginia baked ham, sausage and meatballs in sauce.

The fashion show will start after the buffet luncheon. Door prizes and raffle gift baskets will also be available at the luncheon.

For more information please contact the society at 363- 4136, 361-9735, or history@mchs1900.org.  Reservations are required and payment must be received by April 20.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Canastota, Earlville, History, Madison, Madison County Agencies and Organizations, Morrisville, Museums & Historical Societies, Oneida, Top Stories

Approach Windmill Project with Sense, not Sentiment

April 12, 2012 By 1 Comment

To the Editor:

(Town of Madison, NY – April 2012) We all understand the anxiety that people who might be living near the proposed next generation windmills in Madison have. We also understand that people who own land and can collect rent for windmill sites have real property rights.

All who pay taxes to the town of Madison and Madison and Hamilton Central schools have a stake in the project that will lower their tax bills. And all of us think that the eight technical jobs that remain to run the windmills is a good thing.

This year, under the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement negotiated by the town, the town of Madison received $60,859 from the two existing windmill farms, and MCS got $78,691 (a few windmills are in the district but out of the town).

It would help if the folks at Madison Matters were a bit calmer, would refrain from labeling the proposed windmills ‘industrial,’ as though the existing ones weren’t; would not publish misleading telephoto pictures that seem to show a windmill within 250 feet of a house.

It would help if they did some research then made specific recommendations to the town about what decibel levels might be acceptable, what a fair tax deal might look like if in the form of PILOT or if negotiated through our Madison County Industrial Development Agency.

It would be more helpful if our elected officials made any effort at all to reassure us that they are doing their homework. What steps are they taking now to learn about environmental concerns (dB levels at property lines and at homes); silting, runoff, road repair?

Who do we have who is qualified to inspect, monitor and approve the results?

How can we be assured there is a chain of responsibility for removing or replacing the windmills at the end of their useful lives?

What are the best tax deals other municipalities have made with windmill farm developers?

Tell us.

Stanley H Roe, Hamilton

Filed Under: Hamilton, Madison, Opinion-Editorial

‘20 for Route 20’ Announced

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Route 20 Association

(Madison County, NY – April 2012) The Route 20 Association of New York State, serving as stewards of the Route 20 Scenic Byway, announced recently there will be 20 Route 20 Road Challenge run/walk/triathlon events in 2012.

Road Challenge events are community-based events on the Route 20 Scenic Byway or in the Byway Corridor that are promoted by the Route 20 Association.  Events will take place from Fabius to Duanesburg, and from Hamilton, Morrisville, Cooperstown and Cobleskill to Richfield Springs, Deansboro, Miller’s Mills and Cazenovia, plus another 10 in other communities on or along the Route 20 Scenic Byway.

According to Road Challenge Coordinator Craig North, a total of more than 4,000 participants are expected in these combined events.

“It is a great way to get out and get some exercise and support worthy community causes,” North said. “This is our 13th year of sponsoring the Road Challenge with the first series held in 2000.  That first year, we had seven events as I remember, and now we are up to twenty.”

North, in addition to being the series coordinator, also serves as director of the Eaton 5K Run/Walk in October.

North said he is pleased the series was able to add so many new events this year.

“We lost four events from the 2011 Series for reasons of lack of sponsors or scheduling conflicts or the retirement of race directors,” North said. “So, to drop from 17 to 13 events and then add seven to bring the total to 20 is something we are really proud of.”

In addition to promoting each of the events in the series, the Route 20 Association provides an apparel “prize” to those who report that they have completed at least half (10) of this year’s events. This year, the apparel is a quality running shirt with the Route 20 Road Challenge logo.

New also in 2012 is a partnership between the Route 20 Association and Chobani Yogurt of Norwich.

“With Chobani’s focus on fitness and community involvement, it was an easy decision for Chobani to help us with support for the Road Challenge Series because all of these events are in Chobani’s backyard,” said John Sagendorf, administrator for the Route 20 Association. “As part of Chobani’s support, they will supply complimentary yogurt for all participants in all events at the after-the-race refreshment tables.”

The complete Road Challenge Schedule, race registration forms and Race Director contact information are available at nyroute20.com.

The Route 20 Association of NYS is a 501(c)(3) volunteer and membership organization serving as stewards of the 108 mile Scenic Byway stretching from Duanesburg, Schenectady County on the east to LaFayette, Onondaga County, on the west.

For more information, visit nyroute20.com.

Filed Under: Announcements, Bouckville-Solsville, Cazenovia, Hamilton, Madison, Morrisville Tagged With: ,

Residents Question Madison Planning Board

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Agree that current wind farm regulations are inadequate

By Chris Hoffman

(Town of Madison, NY – April 2012) At a regular meeting of the Town of Madison’s Planning Board on April 4, about 70 residents raised additional questions about the proposed Rolling Upland Hills Wind Farm.

Joe Koen pointed out that the environmental consultant hired to advise the Town, Clough Harbor Associates (CHA), has significant ties to the developer and asked if these ties could be construed as a conflict of interest.  He then asked if the board would consider hiring a different firm without such conflicts.  Board Chair Roger Williams said he would look into the matter.

Jane Welsh asked whether the Town Board would have the power to override a Planning Board decision to grant the special permit, and if so, on what basis.  Significant discussion ensued about the relationship between the Town Board and the Planning Board and the powers of each, with no clear consensus on which board can override the decisions of the other.

David Sonn commented that it is the responsibility of a planning board to enforce zoning law and make decisions on land use, but wondered if there was a zoning board of appeals in the Town of Madison.  Williams replied there is not, nor is there any zoning in the Town.

Nancy Ries questioned the separate functions of the Town Board, which negotiates PILOT payments, and the Planning Board, which has the permitting authority, and asked how they interact with one another.  When told that the Planning Board has no interest in the financial ramifications of any project that comes before it, one resident replied, “That’s like agreeing to buy a car without knowing the price.”

Andrew Coddington said the current process is backwards, that the Planning Board is “engaging in an esoteric environmental exercise, when economic considerations should be negotiated first so the Town and the Planning Board can know what values are in play.”  The Town currently receives $60,000 a year in PILOT payments from the 12 established windmills.  The proposed wind farm envisions 36 windmills, which would theoretically garner about $180,000 in revenue.  People generally felt that this was an unacceptable trade in terms of the impact on the residents in the project area.

Paul Crovella explained that the Planning Board’s role is to assess environmental impacts and determine whether any one project impacts the community significantly different than what is already allowed.  Welsh then stated, “The ultimate question is:  is it really worth it?  You cannot separate the economics of a project from all the other considerations.”

Laura Wilson requested that the Planning Board take a step back and ask the Town Board to create acceptable parameters because the current special use permit regulations, enacted in April 2011, are inadequate, adding “The time to do this is now.”  Fuller stated that even though the existing regulations are minimal and poorly written, they allow the Planning Board to waive anything it decides to, which leaves little protection for residents.  Williams agreed that the regulations need to be redefined.

The Planning Board was asked if it would consider a moratorium period to allow time to amend the current regulations.  Williams replied that it was too late to declare a moratorium, but was corrected by Welsh, an attorney who has studied the law on these issues, stating “The Town Board can declare a moratorium on any project in order to provide sufficient time to study the issues and create regulations in the best interest of its residents.”

Crovella then asked, “Where is the line?  What makes the most sense for the entire community, and what standards should we impose?  Is it time to float zoning once again?”  Spontaneous applause broke out, but he then said that writing a zoning law will require community involvement to make decisions and achieve consensus on all issues – noise, land use, visual, etc.  He stated that he was willing to make a motion to the Planning Board to postpone the wind project until zoning laws could be developed and adopted, but noted that the concept of zoning has been defeated in the past.

Koen stated that despite being initially upset, now that he has been involved with the citizen group opposing the wind farm, he no longer feels the project is unstoppable, and wants to work with the Planning Board and the Town Board to create local laws that will benefit everyone.  He told the Planning Board, “You now have the incentive to create such laws with the help of some very concerned and motivated citizens,” and thanked the board for being open and receptive to everyone’s comments.  Another resident also complimented the board on how they have responded to people’s concerns, and said, “It feels like we are a community now.”

The Planning Board remained divided on whether a moratorium could be enacted before the April 18 public hearing, but Welsh pointed out that that hearing is only about the dGEIS and SEQRA, and that whether or not to declare a moratorium is a completely separate issue.

Ultimately no motion was made to declare a moratorium, but the Planning Board agreed to consider the issue before its next meeting on May 2.

Chris Hoffman is a freelance writer/reporter for the Madison County Courier.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Government & Politics, Hamilton, Madison Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Master Pilot Honored

April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Judd photo

 

Carroll Judd, right, is shown receiving his Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for flying more than 50 years without incident.

By Margo Frink

(Town of Lenox, NY) Town of Lenox resident Carroll Judd recently received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for flying without incident for more than 50 years. He was honored on Feb. 18 at the Naval Reserve Center in East Syracuse.

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years. Recipients are awarded a certificate and a lapel pin and are recognized as Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award winners.

Judd said the 50 year clock starting ticking on July 31, 1961 at the former Canastota Municipal Airport.

“July 31 of 2011 was the 50th anniversary,” Judd said. “I took a plane and flew over Canastota airport and Chittenango airport on Chittenango Perryville Road, called Luther Airport and went into Hancock,” the airport he’s based out of.

Judd is also the safety officer for the Stockbridge Valley Flying Club, of which he’s been a member and safety officer since its inception in 1969.

“I still do check rides every six months,” Judd said. Check rides determine the plane is safe to fly and carry passengers.

Judd is a certified flight instructor. He began giving flying lessons in April of 1964. Shortly after that he went to work at the Camillus Airport and remained there for two years. There he provided flying lessons, performed flight reviews and flew some charter flights.

“I did a heck of a lot of flying there,” Judd said.

At that time he was teaching Latin and driver’s education at Stockbridge Valley Central School, until the program was dropped from the curriculum. He spent the next couple years as a guidance counselor at Madison and Oriskany Falls school districts.

Later, Judd taught driver’s education and an aviation course at Liverpool High School.

Over the years, Judd remembers his former students.

“Quite a few I’ve taught have gone on to bigger and better things,” Judd said. “A former student from Liverpool now does inspections at the Rochester FAA district office.”

Another one of his students was an assistant attorney general for the Syracuse area.

“I taught him to fly instruments 15 years ago,” Judd said. “He’s got his own airplane, flies to Texas and all over. It’s not unusual for him to call and say ‘well, you saved my butt today.’ I flew with him a few weeks ago.”

Judd was on the Madison County Traffic Safety board for more than 30 years, serving as chairman for a while. He remained on the board until April 2011.

He holds two degrees from Albany State. He and his wife, Penny, have been married 46 years. He has three step-daughters.

Judd will perform his own personal reconstruction on flying accidents and uses what he learns to instruct on what and what not to do.

Of his flying career, he said, “I’ve met some very, very interested people from all walks of life. I’ve impacted a lot of lives.”

 

 

 

Filed Under: Canastota, Lenox, Madison, Stockbridge, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,
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