Morrisville

Morrisville State College student receives equine scholarship

May 6, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY) Not a day goes by that Morrisville State College equine student Katrina McAllister doesn’t think about her best friend, Laura Janson. She remembers most her driving spirit and how much she loved animals. The promising Morrisville State College student, who naturally connected with everyone, was a role model to McAllister who was four years younger and boarded her horse at the Janson home in North Chittenango.

Janson, an MSC equine science and management student was killed in a car accident on Swamp Road in Morrisville in 2006. She was 18. Her spirit is still alive on the Morrisville State College campus through the Laura Janson Scholarship, an annual award which honors her legacy. Its presentation took on significant meaning this year.

McAllister, of Manlius, presented this year’s award to fellow equine student, Rebecca Brunecz, of Sugar Grove, Pa.

“I was honored when Kat presented me with the scholarship, Brunecz said. “It was nice to be in touch with someone who knew Laura and to find out a little more about her. I am very saddened by the reason for the scholarship, but very thankful to have been chosen as a recipient to represent Laura and all that she did.”

The scholarship, given by the Morrisville College Foundation, is presented to a student in an animal-science related field who excels academically and emulates Janson’s passion for working with animals.

“The amazing thing about Laura was the connection she had with animals; especially the horses, McAllister said of the friend she remembers with the contagious smile. “Becca has a natural ability like Laura did in riding horses; and she always has a smile on her face.”

Brunecz is a second-year student in the college’s equine science bachelor degree program. A member of the college’s western riding team, she also volunteers at Double Rainbow Farms, a therapeutic riding facility in Russell, Pa.

Brunecz, whose plans to move west and become a manager and trainer at a reining or western pleasure facility someday, said receiving the scholarship is a great help in affording her education so she can make a mark in the lives of horses.

“My long-term goal is to make a name in the industry, but not for the fame—for the betterment of it,” Brunecz said. “I want to make a difference.”

Brunecz is a 2010 graduate of Eisenhower Middle/High School. She is the daughter of Sherri and Colin Brunecz, of Sugar Grove, Pa.

Filed Under: Education, Equine, Morrisville

Madison County to Celebrate Civil War Sesquicentennial

May 6, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Earlville, Morrisville, Peterboro, NY) Two major Madison County arts and historical organizations are collaborating on a series of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The Earlville Opera House Multi-Arts Center and the Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend have developed two historical and musical programs to provide education and entertainment about the War Between the States.

In conjunction with the 2012 NYS Heritage Weekend, to be celebrated at sites around the State on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, the first collaborative event will take place on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 pm, at the historic Madison Hall in Morrisville. The event, John Brown’s Ghost: From Madison County to Harpers Ferry, will be hosted by local author and playwright Hugh C. Humphreys who will highlight Madison County’s profound role in igniting the war, including abolition activities and its support of John Brown. Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian, will present the faces of Madison County participants in the war, as well as a selection of letters to and from Civil War soldiers.

Greg Artzner and Terri Leonino, who comprise the musical duo Magpie, will perform selections of Civil War music. Artzner and Leonino have spent decades studying John and Mary Brown, and they perform regularly at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and at John Brown Lives! functions in Lake Placid.

On Friday, June 8, at 7:30 pm, the Earlville Opera House presents Four Seasons, Four Years – The Civil War, A Musical Journey. Magpie returns with nine other upstate New York musicians in a new theater/folk music ensemble performing popular songs of the era (1820-1865) as well as songs composed in response to the war and the events leading up to it. The music will be interspersed with historical narratives specific to New York State and the New York Volunteer Regiments.

The Earlville Opera House Multi-Arts Center leads the collaboration as Madison County’s premier performing arts venue. Founded in 1970 as a nonprofit, volunteer-based, community service organization to promote the arts in rural Central New York, EOH offers programs of cultural, educational and historical significance to audiences from all over the northeast in a beautifully restored theater originally constructed in 1892.

Tickets to the May 19 and June 9 events are available online at www.earlvilleoperahouse.com or by calling 315-691-3551, and at the door of Madison Hall on May 19. Madison Hall is located at 100 East Main Street / Route 20, Morrisville.

These two events are a prelude to the 20th Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend to be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, in the Hamlet of Peterboro and sponsored by the Smithfield Community Association. The 12th U.S. Infantry (Reenacting) hosts the military and domestic encampments. Peterboro sites are on the Heritage NY Underground Railroad Trail and on the National Park Service Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Trail. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, June 9, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, June 10. Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, and free for children under 6. Parking is free. For more information call 315-684-3262 or visit www.civilwarweekend.sca-peterboro.org.

Filed Under: Announcements, Calendar of Events, Earlville, History, Morrisville, Peterboro, Top Stories, Veteran's Corner

Students Put Dairy Knowledge, Talents to the Test during Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge

May 5, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

Members of the Morrisville State College team pose during the 11th annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge held recently in Roanoke, Va. Pictured, first row, from left: Kenneth Nearhoof of Warriors Mark, Pa., and Heather Frost of Sauquoit. Back row from left: Richard Robinson of White Creek, Steve Mooney ( coach and assistant professor of dairy science, Morrisville State College) and Nathan Harrington of Mexico.

(Morrisville, NY) A team of Morrisville State College students brought home a third-place finish from the 11th annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge held recently in Roanoke, Va.

The NAIDC is a two-day competition that enables students to apply theory and learning in a real-world situation. It also facilitates an exchange of ideas among students and dairy producers to help maintain and develop the industry.

This year’s event attracted 128 students from 32 colleges from across the United States and Canada.

The challenge entailed four-person teams evaluating one of four well-managed dairy farm businesses then recommending management enhancements to a panel of judges comprised of industry and academic professionals.

Teams were first presented with a dairy summary and detailed production, financial, nutrition and reproduction records, and then traveled to one of the contest dairies to evaluate the farm’s cows, facilities and management practices.

After a two-hour visit at the farm, teams returned to analyze data, develop recommendations for improvement and prepare a summary presentation for the panel of judges.

Morrisville’s team placed third out of the eight teams in the group that evaluated “Dairy A.”

“Our team is a talented group that works well together and they returned a solid and sound evaluation with recommendations to the dairy producer,” said Steve Mooney, coach and assistant professor of dairy science. “Throughout their four years at Morrisville State, they have absorbed their skills and talents from a number of different sources, including college course work, experience they brought to school and what they have gathered from internships and seminars.”

Morrisville State College’s team was comprised of Heather Frost, of Sauquoit, dairy management B.Tech; Nathan Harrington, of Mexico, dairy management B.Tech; Kenneth Nearhoof, of Warriors Mark, Pa., dairy management B.Tech; and Richard Robinson, of White Creek, dairy management B.Tech.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Education, Morrisville

Student-Athlete also Volunteer Firefighter

May 5, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, Oneida, NY) Every spring at Morrisville State College starts with the snow melting and a new season of sports is starting. For Kayla Walker, that sport is softball. Growing up, there were two things for Walker: softball and watching her father, Reay Walker, put out fires for the Oneida City Fire Department.

“I watched my dad and saw how much he loved it,” Kayla said of her father’s career as a lieutenant firefighter.

It’s what inspired her to become a volunteer firefighter for the village of Morrisville.

“She just came home one day and said she was joining the Morrisville Fire Department,” Reay said. “I’m very proud of her and what she is accomplishing.”

Kayla is a junior majoring in criminal justice and hopes someday to become an arson investigator. She is also an athlete on the school’s softball team playing first base. Kayla began her passion for the sport when she was four and began playing t-ball.

“I started playing, and I loved it,” she said.

Kayla completed fire school in January and, after completing 86 hours of training, she is now a member of the interior squad, which means that she enters burning buildings to extinguish fires and rescue people who may be trapped inside.

“I like the bond between the community and the firehouse, along with helping the community,” she said.

Kayla has appeared in 76 games for the Mustangs with 45 runs and 54 RBIs, tallying two home runs and 405 putouts. She has led the team in putouts for the past two seasons, totaling 189 in the 2011 season alone. Kayla was also named the Northeastern Athletic Conference player of the week March 21, 2011.

“My most memorable moment playing softball for the Mustangs would have to be my first home run,” Kayla said. “It was the first field I played on that had a homerun fence.”

Kayla’s favorite teams to play are conference rivals SUNY IT or Keuka because they are more challenging, but in high school she said it had to be Tri-Valley League rival Camden because it was always a heated match-up.

At the beginning of this year’s softball season, Kayla started bringing her pager to practice and told Coach Tom Blackford if it went off, she had to go. Blackford said that he was always prepared for it to go off and tell her to be careful.

“I think it’s really neat that she’s a student, an athlete and a firewoman,” Blackford said. “Over the past two years, I’ve really grown to rely on her as a player and a captain.”

Kayla said that someday she would like to coach, but she wants to coach the younger kids and teach fundamentals. For now, it’s tackling life as a student, an athlete and a volunteer firefighter.

“I always tell her to be smart in her actions when she goes out there,” Reay said.

Filed Under: Education, Morrisville, Oneida, Sports, Top Stories, Youth

Rundle named Mustang Athlete of the Week

May 2, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY – April 26, 2012) The Morrisville State College athletics department has named sophomore Erin Rundle (Marathon, N.Y.) it’s Mustang Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 22.

Rundle, midfielder for the women’s lacrosse program, assisted the Mustangs to a 3-0 week as they clinched the regular season title with a perfect 9-0 record in conference play. Throughout the week, she tallied nine goals, assisted one, collected four ground balls, six draw controls and caused two turnovers. Three of her nine tallies on the week were in the victory over rival Keuka to clinch the title.

The graduate of Marathon High is majoring in liberal arts and science: humanities and social science at Morrisville State. A two-sport student-athlete in soccer and lacrosse, Rundle is the daughter of Michelle and David Rundle of Marathon.

Filed Under: Morrisville, Sports

Puzio named ECAC Division III Mid-Atlantic Defensive Player of the Week

May 2, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY – April 26, 2012) The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its Division III regional women’s lacrosse weekly awards for April 24, naming Morrisville State College freshman goalkeeper, Danielle Puzio (Holbrook, N.Y.) its defensive player of the week.

Puzio registered 34 saves for a .576 save percentage and a 8.33 goals against average to help the Mustangs to a 3-0 week in conference play. She posted 16 saves in the victory over Medaille College and added six more in a 19-5 onslaught over Wells on Saturday. Puzio completed the week with a 12-save performance in the 13-10 conference victory over Keuka to secure the regular season conference title for Morrisville State.

The freshman is a graduate of Sachem High and is majoring in sports, nutrition and fitness management at Morrisville State. She is the daughter of Diane Staufenberg of Holbrook.

Filed Under: Morrisville, Sports

Wii Bowling Tournament this Friday

May 2, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

Morrisville Public Library news

By Michelle Rounds, library manager

(Morrisville, NY – May 2012) Join us this Friday May 4 at 6:30 p.m. as we have a Wii bowling tournament! Bring the family in for some Wii bowling; come see who will be the best bowler in Morrisville. Bring a snack to share. This event is open to all ages.

On Friday, May 11, at 12:15 p.m., we will be having a “share-a-book” book discussion. Bring a book or two (or more) that you would like to share with the group. Bring your lunch and discuss all these favorites! After, these will be compiled into our summer reading list for adults for 2012.

Join us as we make Mother’s Day gifts for that special lady in our life-our moms on Friday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m.

Our last preschool story hour, Kiddies Korner, will be held Tuesday, May 15, at 9:30 a.m. Come join us for stories about ice cream and have some ice cream sundaes with us, too. Thank you Robin Suarez for reading to our youngsters for another year; we shall see you all in October.

We will be having a Nutritional Talk with nutrition specialist, Dr. Nanci Knox, Wednesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. Knox will explain how our diets cause nutritional deficiencies and organ dysfunction leading to various health issues. You must sign up for this program; signups start May 1.

Bring the family in to talk to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Friday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. Meet some deputies and see some of their equipment. Ask questions about this wonderful profession and learn more about our local authorities.

The Library Board of Trustees will meet Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Eaton, Libraries, Morrisville, West Eaton

CORE FCU Offers Community Grants

May 1, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY) To celebrate two years of serving communities in Madison County from our Morrisville Office, CORE Federal Credit Union is reaching out to community organizations to thank them for the work that they do serving our community.

“As a not-for-profit financial cooperative ourselves, we recognize the challenges that many not-for-profit groups have in these difficult economic times, as well as the vital role that these organizations play in our community here in Madison County,” said CORE CEO Bill Sweeney. “We always look for ways to give back to the many high quality organizations in the communities that we serve.”

CORE announced it will be offering $2,500 in community outreach grants. Not-for-profit and community organizations located in, or serving the community in the southern and central Madison County townships of Nelson, Eaton, Madison, Brookfield, Hamilton, Lebanon, DeRuyter, and Georgetown, are encouraged to apply. Grant dollars will be awarded based upon the needs of the organization, the program’s projected impact on the community and the number of requests received. In order to assist a number of groups, grants will be capped at a maximum donation of $1,000 to any one organization.

Grant applications are at available online at www.core-fcu.com, or at CORE’s Morrisville office, located in the Big M Plaza. Applications should be returned to the credit union no later than May 11, 2012. Award recipients will be notified on or around May 31, 2012. For more information please contact Jessica Burch via e-mail at jburch@core-fcu.com.

Filed Under: Announcements, Business & Finance, Madison County Agencies and Organizations, Morrisville

Yogurt Founder to Address Graduates

April 30, 2012 By margo 2 Comments

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Greek yogurt Chobani, will address Morrisville State College graduates during commencement ceremony May 19.

By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY – May 2012) The founder of Greek yogurt giant, Chobani, will address Morrisville State College students during the college’s 101st commencement ceremony May 19.

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and president of Chobani, Inc., the parent company for the Chobani brand, will give the keynote address during the ceremony, which will take place at 1 p.m. in the Recreation Center.

Born and raised in Erzincan, Turkey, Ulukaya is a third-generation maker of Mediterranean foods. He started Chobani yogurt seven years ago with the vision of bringing great-tasting, high-quality products made with only natural ingredients to the United States.

Today Chobani is a local homegrown success, leading the Greek yogurt boom as America’s number one yogurt brand.

Ulukaya, whose family has cheese and yogurt operations throughout Turkey, has an extensive history of dairy farming and manufacturing. He came to the United States from Turkey in 1994 to learn English and pursue business studies.

In 2002, he launched Euphrates, a wholesale feta cheese company in Johnstown. He started Chobani in 2005, spending nearly two years perfecting the recipe before launching the Greek yogurt line, Chobani, in 2007. The company started with five employees and produced 1,000 cases of yogurt per month. Today, the company has more than 1,100 employees and pumps out more than 1.5 million cases of yogurt per week, with plans for more growth and expansion on the horizon.

Chobani, or “chopani,” means shepherd in Mediterranean languages and symbolizes giving while asking nothing in return—a gift from the heart. The word bears significance in Ulukaya’s life, whose philanthropic endeavors include the Shepherd’s Gift Foundation, the charitable arm of Chobani which donates 10 percent of the company’s annual post-tax profits to causes worldwide.

Ulukaya’s philanthropic pursuits also extend to his personal life where he serves on several boards including the Pathfinder Village, American Turkish Council and Federal Reserve Bank of New York Advisory Boards.

He has also been recognized with several awards. In 2009, he was named one of the distinguished 40 Under Forty business leaders by the Albany Business Review, and also received the Jack Avrett Volunteer Spirit Award from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for commitment to public service and the betterment of both the advertising industry and the community.

Ulukaya, who resides in Norwich, earned a master’s degree from SUNY Albany and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ankara University in Turkey.

For more information about the college’s commencement exercises, visit morrisville.edu/commencement.

Franci Valenzano is public relations associate at Morrisville State College.

Filed Under: Announcements, Calendar of Events, Education, Morrisville

Morrisville State men top rival Cazenovia 15-13, remain undefeated in conference play

April 29, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Cazenovia, NY – April 25, 2012) The Morrisville State College men’s lacrosse was able to withstand a fourth quarter Wildcat comeback attempt, holding on to a 15-13 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory Wednesday over rival Cazenovia College in Cazenovia.

Morrisville State improves to 10-3 overall and remain undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 record. Cazenovia drops to 7-6 overall and suffer their first NEAC loss this season (6-1).

Jack Martocello (Miller Place, N.Y.) netted four goals to lead Morrisville State, while seven additional teammates each added tallies, including Devin Maxwell (Culver City, Cali.) who posted two scores and assisted two others. Andrew Stein (Oswego, N.Y.) also tallied two, adding an assist, while Jeremy Beresovoy (Jamesville, N.Y.) and Joseph Chazen (Brooklyn, N.Y.) rounded out top scoring, netting two each.

Michael Hinchey (Lake Katrine, N.Y.) recorded the win in net, saving eight.

Cazenovia’s efforts were led by attackman Jamil Modaffari who posted a team high six goals and an assist, as Cory Hilton added three tallies and assisted two others.

Pat Boyle registered 24 stops in net in the loss for the Wildcats, including six in the third and fourth quarters.

Morrisville State held a 12-8 advantage heading into the final quarter and posted three quick scores for the seven goal lead, but a score by Modaffari motivated the Wildcats to rattle off three straight to cut the lead to four with 4:17 remaining on the clock.

Cazenovia’s Tilton added one with 1:34 to go, and Modaffari another to bring the Wildcats to within two with 1:13 remaining, but the Mustangs forced a turnover and held on to capture the win.

Filed Under: Cazenovia, Morrisville, Sports

Students Recognized for Volunteerism

April 29, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY) Two Morrisville State College students were recently recognized for their volunteer efforts.

Receiving the Rays of Light Servant Leadership Award was Thomas Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario, a human performance and health promotion bachelor degree program major. Longland also has an associate degree in sports, nutrition and fitness management from Morrisville State College.

Alana Brandon, of Greenville, N.Y., an agricultural business major, received the college’s Rays of Light Award.

The awards recognize students who show initiative, leadership and selflessness through community service.

Given at more than 40 campuses nationwide, the Rays of Light Servant Leadership Award is partially sponsored by a grant through the Barney II Foundation. Winners receive a $700 award with $200 going as a donation to their choice of charity. Longland chose the Wounded Warriors Foundation to receive the donation.

Longland has accomplished much in his time at Morrisville State College. He served as president of the college’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years and also served as the community service coordinator for two years. During that time, he organized a campus-wide volunteer brigade, “Into the Streets,” that involved nearly 300 students and employees volunteering in the community.

He spearheaded and was involved in numerous fundraising efforts at Morrisville State College, including the “We Heart Haiti” project to raise funds for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, two lacrosse games that benefited injured veterans of the Wounded Warriors Foundation, and the men’s ice-hockey “Saves-For-A-Cure” program, which raised more than $6,000 to aid children suffering from cancer. He also organized and ran the Fighting MS charity hockey game this year, which raised more than $3,000, in addition to directing and supervising countless activities with college organizations.

A two-sport athlete competing in hockey and lacrosse, and caption of both teams, Longland started a program, Triple M (Morrisville Mustang Mentors), with a local elementary school which combined his interest in athletics and community service. Through this program, student varsity athletes visit local elementary schools where they read, teach math skills and mentor children who lack adult support at home.

Longland has also received numerous athletic accolades including the 2010-2011 NEAC Male Individual Sportsmanship Award, was named a SUNYAC All-Academic Team member, a NEAC Scholar Athlete, and was a Commissioner’s List recipient.

He also excelled in the classroom. A peer tutor, he maintained Dean’s List honors throughout his academic career and was named to Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. He was the recipient of the 2010 Rays of Light Service Award, is a past recipient of the Madge Snyder Biology Award, and was named International Student of the Year in 2010 and Peer Tutor of the Year in 2010.

This year, he was also awarded the 2012 SUNY-wide Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence, a prestigious award given to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and exemplify leadership on and off campus.

Longland is planning to pursue a master’s degree in kinesiology from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, where he received a full academic scholarship.

A 2006 graduate of Lakeshore Catholic High School, Longland is the son of Carol and John Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario.

Brandon has been active both on and off of the Morrisville State College campus.

Actively involved with the Morrisville Fresh LLC, a business operated by agricultural business students, she is the recipient of a Calvin Dunkle Award and was named to the Dean’s List.

Serving as the current Greene County Dairy Princess, she is also an FFA (Future Farmers of America) Alumni member and recently received an American FFA degree from the National FFA Organization. She also shows dairy cattle at home.

Throughout high school, Brandon was a member of the Challenge Program which assists local food pantries. Through that program, she also volunteered at the VA Hospital in Albany, at nursing homes and helped local farmers. Additionally, she is a “puppy raiser” for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Albany County.

Filed Under: Education, Morrisville

Puzio receives NEAC player of the Week honors

April 28, 2012 By margo Leave a Comment

(Morrisville, NY – April 24, 2012) The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its player of the week selections, naming Morrisville State student-athlete, Danielle Puzio (Holbrook, N.Y.), its women’s lacrosse player of the week for the week ending April 22.

Puzio earned North Atlantic Conference (NAC) West defensive player of the week honors following her performance in three games this week. Over the course of the week, she had 34 saves with a 57.6 save percentage. She made 16 stops in the 22-10 victory over Medaille on Tuesday. While making six saves in the Mustangs win over Wells College on Saturday before the 12 saves she had in the 13-10 victory over Keuka College where the Mustangs clinched the divisional regular season title.

Starting and playing in all but one game this season Puzio has tallied 128 saves in 14 games for the Mustangs while allowing 137 goals with an overall 48.3 save percentage.

The freshman goalie is a graduate of the Sachem and is majoring sports nutrition and fitness management at Morrisville State. She is the daughter of Diane Staufenberg.

Filed Under: Morrisville, Sports

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