01-2010madcc-printme

Free Classified

with the purchase of a

paper...see page 14!

5865 Rome-Taberg Rd, Rt 69, Rome

(315) 337–8900www.romevw.com

‘08 VW Jetta Sedan Sfrom $13,995 Special A.P.R.

as low as

3.99%

SPECIAL OF THE WEEK…

3 TO CHOOSE FROM!

22001100 TTDDI SSpppoorrttWWWaaggooonnss AAvvvaailaabbblee!

6 TO CHOOSE FROM!

*All VW Certifi ed Vehicles come with balance of the VW New vehicle warranty PLUS 2 years/24,000mile extension. Each vehicle is eligible for APR as low as 3.99% through VCI with approved credit.Prices based on 60 mos. and excludes sales tax and fees. Offer good thru January 31, 2010.2-year/24-hour roadside assistance provided by Road America. See Rome VW for details.

Your News. Your Voice.Madison County Courierwww.MadisonCountyCourier.com 75 cents

Vol. 2, no. 1Jan. 6, 2010

IndexYour Athletes: 12

Your CAlendAr: 18

Your editoriAl: 2

Your Government: 10

Your librAries: 15

Your news: 3

Your voiCe: 7

Your YounG PeoPle: 9

see storY on PAGe 10County Celebrates

Historic Swearing-In Photo bY

riC mAin

Madison County Courier Jan. 6, 2010

in our oPinion

“Congress shall make no law…abridging the

freedom of speech, or of the

press…”First Amendment to

the u.s. Constitution

miChAel A. bovA, Jr., Publisher315.404.8200

[email protected]

PhiliP KinG, viCe President/Cio315.542.7892

[email protected]

mArGo FrinK, mAnAGinG editor315.481.8732

[email protected]

mArthA e. ConwAY, mAnAGinG editor

[email protected]

Your stAFF

stAr GrAnt, sAles AssoCiAte

[email protected]

JodY mCniChol, sAles AssoCiAte

[email protected]

The human CondITIonWe all fall down

(County Seat – Dec. 29, 2009) A quiet revolt of sorts happened in Wampsville last week. It was so quiet, I wondered if anyone even noticed. So far, I haven’t found anyone who did.

For me, the story began in late July or early August; I remember it well because I always remember well when I screw up.

I received four news tips; well, actually, I received the same news tip four times. Two members of the public and two elected officials called me within the course of 11 days to express outrage that Supervisor Russell Hammond (R – Georgetown), Madison County Board of Supervisors’ Solid Waste and Recycling Committee chairman, secured employment with Waste Management Renewable Energy and continued to be a member of SW&R.

I told all four that I would put it on my list to follow up. At the time, I was ill and doing some part-time freelancing while I worked on getting better. I did not have the energy, time or resources to pursue the matter as I might have under other circumstances. When the fourth call came in, I called Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman John M. Becker. He said he had just learned of the situation and would address it.

I went back to my to-do list and was disappointed to find out the following week that the only measure taken was to remove Mr. Hammond as chairman. I felt strongly – and still do – that he should have been removed from the committee altogether.

Why?In late 2007, the Board of Supervisors

voted to enter negotiations with Waste Management to build a power-generating facility at the landfill to convert the methane gas produced by landfill decomposition into electricity. That process was plagued by contention and accusations of conflicts of interests. Some supervisors were members of the Oneida-Madison Electric Cooperative (OMEC) and abstained from voting on the matter;

others did not disclose their affiliation with OMEC.

In the end, County Attorney S. John Campanie strongly cautioned supervisors to make full disclosure

about possible conflicts of interest, perceived conflicts of interest and to seriously consider abstaining from any vote in which they could be viewed as biased to make sure the project could go forward with minimal threat of litigation by any of the bidders involved.

Mr. Hammond was a member of the SW&R committee even then, so he should have known – better than many others – of Mr. Campanie’s warning. I wish I could find some evidence it ever crossed his mind during the past two years.

Last week, Dec. 29, the Madison County Board of Supervisors met for its

fifth and final day of annual session. Two supervisors were absent: Walt Jaquay (R – Hamilton) and Mr. Hammond. With those two absent, 1,350 of the 1,500 votes in the county’s weighted voting system were present. The third resolution of the day was “creating a temporary, part-time landfill operations manager position in the Department of Solid Waste and Sanitation.”

I initially thought the vote was unanimous, having not audibly heard any “nay” votes; however, Clerk Cindy Urtz announced “1,065 ayes.” It didn’t add up: 415 votes were missing.

Wednesday morning, I called Cindy to confirm my numbers. She explained Messrs. Hammond and Jaquay accounted for 150 missing votes, which are counted as no.

mArthA e. ConwAY

humAn - 19

Your Contributors

AAron [email protected]

donAld [email protected]

t. sCott [email protected]

Jim [email protected]

riC [email protected]

robert [email protected]

Ann [email protected]

ltC dAniel mArvin ret’[email protected]

steFAnie [email protected]

lindA J. [email protected]

MadisonCountyCourier.com

Your news. Your voice.

“No one discussed that detail with me. I didn’t even know he was working for Waste

Management.”

“I didn’t know he was working for Waste

Management. I knew he didn’t run [for another term

of office] because he was going somewhere else. Now I

know where.”

“I learned this fall that he was working for Waste

Management and thought he should have been removed

from the committee, but this is just ridiculous.”


Your newsmAdison CountY Courier

MadisonCountyCourier.comPublished Weekly By

m3P mediA, llC119 Genesee Street

Chittenango, New York 13032

Advertising Office81 Clinton Road, Suite 5E

New Hartford, N.Y. 13413

315.404.8200Publisher

miChAel A. bovA, Jr.315.404.8200

[email protected]

Vice President/CIOPhiliP l. KinG

[email protected]

Managing EditormArthA e. ConwAY

[email protected]

Managing EditorsmArGo FrinK

[email protected]

Subscript ions are $13 per quarter, $20 for s ix months or $35 per year.

Postmaster, please send address changes to:

M3P Media, LLC, 119 Genesee Street

Chit tenango, New York 13037.

Bennetts CornersBouckvilleBridgeportBrookfieldCanastotaCazenovia

ChittenangoClockvilleDeRuyterEarlvilleErievilleEaton

FennerGeorgetown

HamiltonHubbardsville

KenwoodKirkvilleLakeportLebanon

LenoxLeonardsville

LincolnMadison

MerrillsvilleMorrisvilleMunnsville

NelsonNew Woodstock

North BrookfieldNorth Chittenango

OneidaPeterboroPerryvillePoolville

Pratts HollowPuckervilleQuality HillRandallsville

RippletonShedsSiloam

SmithfieldSolsville

South BayStockbridge

SullivanWampsvilleWest Eaton

West EdmestonWhitelaw

Your

CommunITIes

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? Let us know.

Submit your news and story ideas to [email protected].

www.MadisonCountyCourier.com

Your News. Your Volice.

Commemorative Plate on Sale

Shown is the new Canas to ta B icen tenn ia l Commemora t i ve P la te now fo r sa le . (Photo by Margo Fr ink ) .

Bicentennial Opening Ceremonies scheduled for Jan. 9mArGo FrinK

(Canastota) The Canastota Bicentennial Commemorative plate is now on sale. Staff of the Canastota Canal Town Museum designed the plate to benefit the 200th anniversary of the village, which will be celebrated from July 22 to 25, 2010. Organizations and clubs in the village will also hold their own celebrations throughout the year.

The center of the

commemorative shows the bicentennial logo depicting Canastota as a “Canal Town,” “Onion

Town” and “Title Town.” Surrounding the logo are photographs of a muckland family, the public library, the old time city hall and fire department, the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Canal Town Museum, and the images of the 911 and World War II memorials.

A historical narrative is on the back of the 10-and-

Breakfast Buffet PlannedSt. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus will hold an

all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet Sunday, Jan. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The menu includes pancakes, omelets, eggs to order, ham, bacon, sausage, assorted hot foods, pastries, juice and coffee.

Adults $9; seniors and children under 13, $7. biCentenniAl - 17

Caz man miffed over ‘borrowed’ step ladder

The ladder tha t Randy Ph i l l i ps sa id be longs to h im can be seen th rough th is u t i l i t y shed bu t he i s unab le to ge t to i t because the shed is locked.

Says AT&T used property two months ago, not returned itAAron GiFFord

(Cazenovia) It’s a situation almost anyone can relate to: A neighbor borrows a tool and neglects to return it in a timely manner. You politely ask for it back. More time passes without the tool being returned. You want to be a good neighbor, but at some point you must take action.

That’s sort of what happened to Randy Phillips of Cazenovia after his aluminum step ladder disappeared for a short time in early November. Only in this case his neighbor is

a huge corporation, AT&T, and he said the workers didn’t ask to borrow it in the first place, though they may have mistaken it for company property. He shares a shed with the utility near a Route 92 cell tower and can see his

ladder through a fence in the other half of the building.

AT&T has an easement to Phillip’s property and he has a contract to use part of the utility’s shed for his amateur radio equipment.

lAdder - 18

PaC 99 sChedule

Week of Jan. 4wednesdAY, JAn. 6

2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.: Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting of Dec. 29

2:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.: Swearing-in Ceremony of Sheriff Allen Riley

2:54 p.m. and 7:54 p.m.: Oneida Rotary Club with Richard Vindigni on Health Care Proxies

thursdAY, JAn. 72:00 p.m. and

7:00 p.m.: Tomorrow’s World

2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: Heaven Bless the Little Ones


��

��

��

�� !"#��

$��%��&�� '��'�� &� ��

��

(��'�� '��&��'�

��

)�� &� �� *��

!��

+,-��# �� $�� '�./

$��0-12++30��&��&� ��

��

4�� %�

��

Your newsChITTenango roTarY Club news

Menninger Proposed Candidate for 7150 District GovernorrAY mAnn

Chittenango Rotary’s President Sherry Menninger has been proposed as a candidate for 7150 District Governor for the Rotary year 2012-2013, by our club. In a letter to the nominating committee, these are some of the qualifications and experiences that were mentioned:

“Sherry is our club president. She travelled to India to help local Rotary clubs in their national immunization for polio. She has hosted Group Study Exchange folks from the Philippines and Japan. She worked thru the GSE to have a well dug in the Philippines in a remote village. Sherry’s been involved with club projects for the elderly, schools, libraries and our Gift of Life program

“Sherry is not only a Paul Harris Fellow, but she has

made PHF’s of her daughter and son. In addition, Sherry is a Paul Harris ‘Benefactor,’ which means she has inserted a provision in her will to leave $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.

“We feel she is well qualified thru experience and involvement to be our District Governor for 2012-13.”booKs For the world

Chittenango Rotarian Russ Wehner has one-and-a-half pallets (25 cases per pallet) filled with kids’ books. The Canastota club has another one-and-a-half pallets. The Chittenango club has agreed to pay shipping for up to five pallets, so we’ve taken Canastota’s and will ship them with ours for a total of three pallets between the two clubs.

What happens to these books? Chittenango Rotary pays $160 per pallet to ‘Books for the

World’ (promoted by the Skaneateles Rotary Club). They have arranged for a local trucking firm to pick them up and ship them to Houston.

In Texas, they are placed in a big shipping container, along with a door and a window and shipped to South Africa. There they are distributed to needy kids by local Rotary clubs. English is a second language there. Amazingly, the door and window casements are installed in the big cargo container, which is then used as a classroom or library.

Russ would like to complete a fourth pallet. He has a six-case start on the new pallet, so find those

gently used kids’ books, bring them to Rotary, or give them to Russ. For more information, call 687-5487.

CAsino nite/Cruise rAFFle set For sAturdAY, JAn. 30

Mickey Kopp is chairing Casino Nite for Chittenango Rotary, but she needs help from the club and the community. If she can find sponsors for the 12 gambling tables at $200 per table or $100 to co-sponsor a table, it will go a long way toward covering expenses.

Every Chittenango Rotarian has tickets to sell. It’s a win-win situation. Not only will folks have

a fun night of casino-type gambling, but one lucky ticket-holder will win a Caribbean cruise.

Other prizes include a $500 second prize and a $250 third prize. The $25 donation gives the participant $200 in play money.

There will be finger food and drinks. The location will be upstairs at the Chittenango Fire Station on Genesee Street.

Proceeds of the Casino Nite/Cruise Raffle will be used for local projects.

Ray Mann is volunteer publicist for the Chittenango Rotary Club. These pieces were taken from the most recent copy of “The Wheel Thing” newsletter.

Canalside Talks Begin Jan. 25Mucklands, Italian immigrants featured

(Canastota – Jan. 25, 2010) The Canastota Canal Town Corporation will once again sponsor Canalside Talks, a series of interesting lectures on local and area history, at the Canal Museum Education Center, 110 Canal St. in Canastota starting Monday Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

This year¹s talks are celebrating Canastota¹s Bicentennial Year.

The January talk is titled “Canastota

Mucklands and Italian Immigrants.” Sam Setticase whose family worked

the muckland will introduce the topic with a short audio-visual presentation.

The rest of the hour will be opened up for members of the audience to share their family or personal stories.

Due to the potential popularity of the talk, reservations should be made by calling the Canastota Canal Town Education Center at 697-5002 and state your name, number attending, and phone number by Jan. 21.

Three Money-Saving Workshops offeredTopics include debt management, energy savings, making ends meetKAren bAAse

(Morrisville) Household and personal finance, credit and debt management, and energy conservation will be the topics of a three-part program presented at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County. The program will take place on Wednesday Jan. 20 beginning at 9 a.m. in the Cooperative Extension’s Ag Center, 100 Eaton St. in Morrisville.

The first session, “Making Ends Meet,” will present techniques and tools that help people improve their financial situation. The program will outline community resources and guide participants on establish family financial goals. Free money management tools will be provided.

The second workshop, ““Exploring Credit/Debt Management Issues” begins at 11 a.m. and will examine actual credit reports and discuss ways to improve your FICO score.

“Save Energy, Save Dollars,” the final workshop, begins at 2 p.m. Participants will look for ways to reduce fuel, electric, and water use in their homes. Everyone will receive free energy-saving items valued at $30. Refreshments will be served.

These workshops will be presented by Opportunities for Chenango in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County.To register for any or all of the workshops, call (866) 456-3051 ext. 123 in advance. Questions about the program can be directed to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County at 684-3001.

Karen A. Baase is Association Issue Leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County.


��

��

��

��

!�!�� "��#!�� !�$%&"�'�(( ��) ��

��*� ��

��

��

��

�� +�� ,-�

. (��

��' /�� ((��0�

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

�� !�"!� #$��%� $!�&�'�

Your news

Changes made to parking violationsMayor, councilors bid farewellmArGo FrinK

(Oneida – Dec. 29, 2009) At a special meeting of the Oneida Common Council, a resolution was passed to amend the current fees for parking violations, after a public hearing was opened and closed without comment.

Handicapped parking violations will be the same as the state Vehicle and Traffic Law fines, which are $50 and a $30 surcharge. After 72 hours, the fine increases to $100 with a $30 surcharge.

All other parking violations will be $25 and $50 beyond 72 hours late. Fines paid more than 30

days late will be $100 and $200 after 60 days.

Penalties have been amended and for the first or second offense, fines will be no less than $50 or more than $200. For the third and subsequent offense, fines will be no less than $100 or more than $300.

Councilors Michael Murawski, Marcia Rafte and Rob Brown and Mayor Peter Hedglon said goodbyes at what was their final meeting.

Murawski said there were challenging issues but the personalities of the members of the council made it a pleasure to face those issues. He encouraged the new councilors to work together and remember the open form of government this council has applied for the

past two years. Rafte thanked the

community for her term and wanted to apologize to the council for raising her voice at times. She said it was her passion about the issues and nothing more.

Brown also thanked the council and the citizens of Oneida and said he enjoyed his two years serving.

Hedglon said he enjoyed working with the department heads and the council. He also thanked the city employees and said at times they are taken for granted. He recognized them for all their hard work.

He thanked Public Safety Commissioner Douglas Lippert and city Attorney Michele DeBottis who will also be leaving their posts.

Chatterbox Closes

The Chat te rbox d iner loca ted on Peterboro S t ree t in Canas to ta has c losed fo r good. (Photo by Margo Fr ink ) .

Owner cites financial difficulties as reasonmArGo FrinK

(Canastota – Dec. 30, 2009) A sign on the Chatterbox door read, “We will no longer be accepting credit cards or debit cards.” Inside on the counter was letter addressed to customers and vendors of the diner from co-owner Bob Blanchard.

“It hurts me to inform you that the Chatterbox is closing Dec. 31 due to financial difficulties,” Blanchard wrote.

The diner was open for the last time from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Blanchard went on to say that the business has been fun, exciting and rewarding, especially when he sees groups of customers coming in and having a good time.

According to manager and co-owner Gene Beardslee, the restaurant opened about a year ago under the ownership of Blanchard and Kevin Cashel. When asked what he will do now, Beardslee said, “I

McNichol Joins M3P Media

JodY mCniChol

Begins duties as sales agent for the Madison County Courier

(Madison County) M3P Media, LLC welcomes new Sales Agent Jody McNichol to its growing team of professionals. McNichol has begun her duties with the company’s print and web editions of the Madison County Courier.

McNichol’s resume includes 20 years in sales and marketing management with five years spent as a small business consultant designing sales programs and business plans to help owners grow their market share.

“I really enjoy showing business owners how they

can get their name out there and make the most of every customer contact,” McNichol said.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jody to our team,” said Michael Bova, publisher of M3P Media. “With her past newspaper and consulting experience, she will be an excellent addition to our sales and

mCniChol - 17

ChAtterbox - 17


Your news

GLAS Deputy Director to be honored

Patr ick Dwyer wi l l be awarded recogni t ion at the annual Associat ion of Churches d inner Jan. 23.

Dwyer volunteer member since joining in high schoolmArGo FrinK

(Canastota) Patrick Dwyer began his career in the life-saving business when he was just 16 years old. His mother met an old friend at his school’s open house who happened to volunteer at the Greater Lenox Ambulance Service. He handed Dwyer an application and two months later he was a junior member. That was 11 years ago. Now Dwyer serves as the corps’ deputy director of operations.

Dwyer has been selected to receive the Canastota Association of Churches Appreciation Award. The award is given annually to a member of GLAS and the Canastota, Wampsville and Lincoln fire departments.

Dwyer said this award is special to him because winners are chosen by their colleagues.

“It feels good to know that people [at GLAS] appreciate you,” Dwyer said. “The award nomination doesn’t come from the community but from my peers.”

Dwyer, who works for the state Department of Corrections, had to give up his paramedic’s license

because he works nights and it was too difficult to work and volunteer. Licenses must be renewed every three years, he said. But when he can, Dwyer volunteers as a driver and helps with patients and equipment. He volunteers for fund-raising efforts when he is available.

Being a paramedic is what Dwyer trained for. He earned an associate’s degree from Herkimer County Community College. He also attended driver instructor training.

When still in paramedic school, Dwyer said GLAS was dispatched to a call where a 6 month old child was not breathing. All the rigs were out on other calls and Dwyer took off to the scene.

“When I got there mom and baby were in a van,” Dwyer said. “Mom looked up, handed the child to me and said, I think my baby is dead.”

Unfortunately the child did die, Dwyer said. It was born with a heart defect. Although the incident was one of those not-so-happy moments on the job, Dwyer said his rewards come from helping family and seeing the person he helped walking the streets again.

Dwyer said he’d like to see more volunteers become active and join the corps. He also reminds motorists to give the right-of-way to emergency

personnel. Dwyer grew up in

Canastota and still lives in the village. He’s a graduate of Canastota High School and a member of the Canastota Fire Department. His family includes his

mother, Lorrene, and his siblings Michele, Kathy, Sean and Brian.

In his free time, Dwyer enjoys fishing, hunting and camping.

The Canastota Area

Association of Churches’ Appreciation Dinner will be held Jan. 23 at the Rusty Rail. To find out how to attend the dinner and help honor Dwyer and other volunteers, call William D. Yorton at 697-2978.

CommenTs From The webWindmill Hits the Ground

These windmills should be taken down as they are a blight on the scenery. Utility bills have NOT gone down as a result of these windmills, they just keep going up.

In most cases, wind farms do not produce enough electricity to pay for themselves. All wind farms rely on significant government subsidies. Our tax dollars were used to subsidize the construction and operation of these windmills. At current wholesale electricity prices, the Fenner wind farm will reach end-of-life before paying for itself. Our tax dollars keep the windmills spinning.

This sort of technology can only be brought to success and eventual cost reduction with government subsidies. In my opinion it is the perfect place to invest federal funds in, far better than to

make Wall Street and bankers richer. The closer we can get to self-sufficiency in our own power generation, without having to rely on foreign oil, the better. Everything comes down in price with more production and more use. Batteries are getting better, solar cells are getting cheaper. It takes time and the foresight of people that are willing to take risk to develop technology. The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) cost millions of government dollars. The AGC had 2K of RAM and the interface was a series of switches and lights. Ten years later I bought my first personal computer, and Apple II, that had 16K of RAM and the interface was a keyboard and joystick and an actual video screen that you could see on TV. The wind turbines are a marvel of mankind and we need more of them.

Sad news from a great project in Madison County. The Fenner Windpower Project’s 20 turbines provide 30MW clean, renewable power! I hope the fallen turbine is restored quickly, and

the cause is discovered and remedied. If you’re interested in wind energy, check outhttp://www.greencollareconomy.com. It has hundreds of case studies on emerging green technology and wind farms. It’s also the largest b2b green directory on the web.

Cazenovia Curmudgeon: Christianity Begs Questions, Prefers You Don’t Ask Them

Religion is man made. It’s man trying to reach up to God. Christianity on the other hand is God reaching down to lost man. There is a huge difference and Christianity is no myth!

Cazenovia Curmudgeon makes a lot of sense. Comments - 15


��

Your voiCeleTTers

Believer’s Chapel 2009 Updateto the editor:

I just want to say thank you to all of you for your prayers and support. Your friendship is a blessing to us.

Here’s a brief 2009 update:l To God be all the

Glory!l 2009 has been one

of our best years yet, and 2010 is looking even better!l Our youth ministry

is really starting to take off under the leadership of John and Linda Boylan.l The Good News

Club at the School doubled this year to 50 kids in fourth through sixth grades.l We added seven

new families to the church in 2009.l Our worship

ministry is rockin' thanks to Heidi Lupi and Naomi Moore, and the addition of Brent and Melissa Buneo.l The Food Pantry is

thriving! We fed more than 6,000 people in 2009.

For all of this and more, our great God gets all the glory!doug brushell, PasTor

belIevers’ ChaPel CanasToTa

Victorian Open House Ran Smoothlyto the editor:

Holiday cheer was most apparent at this year’s Madison County Historical Society’s Victorian Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 13. The society hosts the annual open house to thank all those who have been loyal and supportive of the society throughout the year. Three hundred and nineteen visitors attended. The splendid afternoon ran smoothly thanks to the help from MCHS volunteers, staff, and MCHS Trustees.

Many, many thanks to the following wonderful women who take time out of their busiest season to festively adorn the period rooms at the historical society: Lisa Marshall, owner of Oneida Floral and Gifts; Denise Goodwin, owner of Balloons and

Blossoms; and Diane Gunthorpe, owner of Unique Flower and Gift Boutique. I am also grateful that both the Sherrill Garden Club and the Green Thumb Garden Club of Oneida Castle devote their time to add beautiful holiday embellishments to the period rooms as well. Thank-you Becky Karst for the lovely tree adorning the society’s south parlor, decorated with the society’s collection of holiday ornaments.

Thank you to our lovely hostesses, Alexandra Spoletini and Lexi Bennet, who dressed in period clothing and passed cookies to our visitors. Our sincerest thanks to the following area schools and musical directors for performing holiday music in the society’s music parlor: Otto Shortell Middle School Choir under the direction of Roselle Lynch and Otto Shortell’s Flutist Quintet under the direction of Nick Anderalli; North Broad Mini Jazz Machine under the direction of Heather O’Connell; Oneida High School Chamber

Choir under the direction of Jeff Welcher; and the Shining Angels of St. Pat’s under the direction of Pam Maihafer.

I am so appreciative that the historical society has many superb volunteers who help us out at our events throughout the year. The following volunteers spent their afternoon with us as: room guides; door greeters; servers; raffle ticket sellers, and holiday gift shop helpers: Barb and Harold Chamberlain, Teri Hill, Mishell Magnusson, Cindy and Fred Whipple, Tim Crofton, John Ready, Florence Meakin, Marcia Bortle, Becky and Steve Ewen, Pat and Bob Heller, James and Barb Kinsella, David Alvord, Rosalie Orr, Lori Hollenberger, Johann and Frank Valentino, Joanne O’Brien, and Bernice and Wayne Coston. A very special thanks to MCHS volunteers, staff and trustees for baking and purchasing the many delicious cookies. Many thanks to Harrison Bakery of Syracuse for donating their delicious cookies.

Best wishes for a happy holiday and a prosperous New Year to all! sYdneY l. loFtus exeCutive direCtor mAdison CountY historiCAl soCietY

thAnKs united wAY And those who suPPort itto the editor:

I want to take this opportunity to thank the United Way for its continued support of the Madison Cortland ARC. And, I want to thank everyone who gives to the United Way!

The United Way is an important agency that does so much good in the community. United Way is comprised of many volunteers and donors who value the need to help their fellow man by donating their time and their hard-earned money.

The United Way, as many not-for-profit agencies across the state and the country is feeling the effects of current economic conditions. But that does not deter from the efforts and the spirit United Way has to help their community, and to do the best they possibly can.

Please join me and support the United Way. And, thank you United Way for all you do!

Sincerely,Christine n. seArs

direCtor oF develoPment & PrmAdison CortlAnd ArC

goIng greenSeed catalogues help us ‘think spring’

We are smack dab in the middle of the dark, dismal, dreary days of winter, which can be very depressing.

When it gets to be this time of the year, we begin looking for signs of spring.

Even though we know that it is still far away (well, not that far- it just seems that way) there are indications that things are getting better.

One hard sign is the fact that we have turned the corner is that we celebrated the winter solstice and days are getting longer.

It is almost imperceptible – only a minute or two – but it adds up to more daylight each day. This is a sure sign

that spring is on the way.This alone is almost

enough to boost our spirits. Another sign, and one

more perceptible, is the influx of bulb and seed catalogs that have begun to appear in our mailboxes.

It is ironic that in the dead of the winter, with

swirling winds whipping up snow that stings your face, that there are signs of better things to come.

It may be the furthest thing from our minds, but getting the garden going is only a few months away.

If you take into account that there are some seeds that need to be started by late February or early March, we can see that it is actually only weeks away.

It may be difficult to think of starting your garden and other green things in the dead of winter, but it is a sign that before we know it, spring will be knocking on our doors much like the seed catalogs are now.

So, thumb through those promises and hopes of bounteous harvests and pick out what you are going to grow this season. It is almost time to place the order.

All we have to do is hope that the weather will cooperate better than it did last year.

For now, though, select (and dream) wisely.

Jim Bona is a technician at Colgate and also a Trustee of the Village of Hamilton. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Jim

bonA


��

��

��!��"��#�� $��%%��&�� '�(

�� )��*+��,

��

�� !��"��#��"��#��

��$��%��&'()*+*),-++

Your voiCea Fresh PersPeCTIve

New Year, New WordIt is a new year, and the

word that inevitably comes up in many conversations is “resolution.” The problem I have with that word is, although we talk a good talk, there is often nothing that stays resolved for very long.

Instead, a few weeks into a new year, most resolutions are already broken and we are no different than we were on December 31 of the previous year.

So I began to examine and think about what word I would want to describe my attitude towards 2010. I first came up with the word “change.” However, after much consideration (and almost a whole article written about that word), I came to realize that change

is not the word I want to summarize what I hope is going to be a great year. Instead, the word I have

decided to put into the forefront of my mind is “surrender.”

I know what you are thinking: why should I have to surrender? I have given up so much already; I

do not want to give up so much I lose myself.

My response to that is: that is the point of surrender. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “surrender” as meaning to give up completely or agree to forgo, especially in favor of another.

Two synonyms listed are “yield” and “relinquish,” which no one

truly wants to do.Yet in Matthew 10:39,

we see Jesus preaching this very idea. “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

This is the very essence of “surrender.” However, this is not what society tells us to do. We live in a very self-centered world; while it is not wrong to take care of ourselves (in fact, I believe that it is important), our scope should be God first, next others, and then us.

We often look at surrender as a bad thing because it means we lose control, but control is not all it is cracked up to be – especially when you do not see the whole picture.

Thankfully, God does. Matthew 6:32 tells us that

“your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” It is just that simple and that complicated.

We can know this and still fight against what we know we should do, because it does not gel with what we want. In my life, what I have wanted has rarely aligned (at least initially) with what God knows is best.

This begets an internal struggle of whether or not I am going to do what I want or what I believe is best for me.

There have been times I have done both; but I can honestly state that anytime there was this internal struggle and I have gone with what I wanted, the results have been more than a letdown.

This is why surrender

is an essential part of our lives: we do not always recognize what is best; what we want and what we need are two different things; and we do not see the whole picture (especially in the midst of a storm).

I want not what is easiest but what will benefit me the most in the long run, because that is always going to be what is best. I guess I better get going on this surrender thing.

My mom always says to me that anything worth having requires work. It will undoubtedly be a long road and most certainly will not be fun, but it will be worth it.

T. Scott Burgess is Youth and Young Adult Leader at Hope Christian Fellowship in Canastota.

t. sCott

burGess

guesT ColumnCity can do better by Pulling Together Peter hedGlon

I would like to thank all the voters who voted in the 2009 City of Oneida Mayoral Election, especially the more than 1,000 who voted for me.

I again congratulate Mayor-elect Matzke upon his victory. My only real disappointment is that less than half of eligible voters voted in an election with clear differences between the candidates and serious issues facing our City.

I am very proud of what was accomplished in 2008 and 2009. The Common Council followed the City Charter and made the policy decisions for the operation of City government. As Mayor and Chief Executive Officer of the City, I followed those policy decisions even when I didn’t agree with them.

For example, I proposed in the budget for 2009 to pay for crossing guards at Vet’s Field. The Common Council made a policy decision to take that out as part of cutting almost $400,000 of spending. I honored that policy decision and did not attempt to go behind the back of the Council to provide funding for crossing guards from some other part of the City budget, recognizing and accepting that the Council makes policy and no Mayor is empowered to ignore or overrule the

Council’s policy decisions. In 2008 and 2009 the City of Oneida

Common Council complied with the letter and the spirit of the Open Meetings Law. We met in the Common Council chambers and discussed City business in meetings open to all.

We discussed, debated, and even disagreed in front of those to whom we were accountable.

In 2008 and 2009 public participation was welcomed in Common Council meetings. The public had the opportunity to comment on and ask questions about every agenda item. There were numerous times where we had a dialogue between the Council and the audience on a specific agenda item, with the result being that the Council had the benefit of knowing what was on the

minds of the people in the audience and the audience was able to see the thought processes of Councilors.

In addition, at the end of every Common Council meeting, every person in the Chambers was invited to bring any item of old business back or to place an item of new business before the Council.

Early in 2008 the Common Council

hedGlon - 17


Broa

d St

reet

Main

Stre

et (R

t. 46

)

Farrier Ave.

Lenox Ave. (Rt. 365A)

Wilber Duck ➔

Post Office

Visit us on the Web at www.wilberduck.com

1 1 6 B ro a d S t r e e t O n e id a , N Y 1 3 4 2 1 1 1 6 B ro a d S t r e e t O n e id a , N Y 1 3 4 2 1 1 1 6 B ro a d S t r e e t O n e id a , N Y 1 3 4 2 1

363-4600 363-4600 363-4600

WILBER-DUCK WILBER-DUCK WILBER-DUCK Chevrolet Buick Chevrolet Buick Chevrolet Buick

“It ’s a great day at Wilber-Duck Chevrolet Buick” “It ’s a great day at Wilber-Duck Chevrolet Buick” “It ’s a great day at Wilber-Duck Chevrolet Buick”

Always 100 Used Cars Available

2009 CHEVY SUBURBAN 4x4, LT, Every Avail. Opt., TV, DVD Player, Pwr. Moonroof, Front & Rear Air, 20” Chrome Wheels, Running Boards, Only 12,000 Miles, Co. Car, 5Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., This Suburban Has It All, Super Sharp, Must See $39,995 $39,995

2009 PONTIAC GT G6 All Opt., V6, Auto, CD, 20,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., Chrome Wheels, Cruise, This Car Has It All, What A Buy At $12,995 $12,995

2009 HUMMER H3 4x4, LT2, All Opts., Off Road Pkg., Chrome Pkg., This Hummer Has It All, Must See, Super Sharp, Will Not Last At $23,995 $23,995

2009 CHEVY 1 TON EXPRESS 12 Pass. Van, All Opts., Front & Rear AC, PW, PL, Cruise, CD, OnStar, Sat. Radio, Only 11,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., This Van Has It All, MSRP $36,000, Steal At $22,995 $22,995

2009 GMC YUKON 4x4, SLT Pkg., Heated Leather Int., Chrome Wheels, Running Boards, Only 13,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., This Yukon Has It All, Must See, Super Sharp $36,995 $36,995

2009 CHEVY MALIBU New Style, Air, Chrome Wheels, CD, OnStar, Sat. Radio, 17,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., Super Gas Mileage, What A Buy At $14,995 $14,995

2009 CADILLAC DTS All Opts., Heated & AC Leather Seating, OnStar, Sat. Radio, Chrome Wheels, 20,000 Easy Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., Many Many Extras, MSRP New $54,000, Must See, Super Sharp $26,995 $26,995

2006 FORD MUSTANG

2009 CADILLAC CTS All Avail. Opts., Chrome Wheels, 16,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., This Caddy Has It All, Must See, Will Not Last At $29,995 $29,995

2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER Ext., 4x4, All Opt., 3rd Row Seating, V6, Auto, Full Power, 50,000 Easy Miles, This SUV In Showroom Condition, What A Buy At

$10,995 $10,995

2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE AWD, Every Avail. Opt., 12,000 Easy Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., This Traverse Has Too Many Extras To List, This AWD Will Go Anywhere, Super Gas Mileage, Must See, Super Sharp $27,995 $27,995

2008 NISSAN ROGUE AWD, SL Pkg., Bose Stereo, Sunroof, Chrome Wheels, Loaded w/Extras, 30,000 Miles, One Owner, This AWD Will Go Anywhere, Super Price, Showroom Condition Steal At $17,995 $17,995

2008 HUMMER H3 4x4, All Opts., Off Road Pkg., Chrome Wheels, 6 Disk CD, Chrome Running Boards, 30,000 Easy Miles, Many Extras $19,995 $19,995

2007 GMC YUKON 4X4 SLT Pkg., Every Avail. Opt., Pwr. Moonroof, Heated Leather Int., 3rd Row Seating, Running Boards, Chrome Pkg., Too Many Extras To List, MSRP New $55,000, Super Clean, One Owner $26,995 $26,995

2006 CHRYSLER SEBRING Convertible GTC Pkg., V6, Auto, 30,000 Very Easy Miles, This Car Has It All, Must See, What A Buy At

$8,995 $8,995

Every Avail. Opt., Pony Edition, Chrome Wheels, Stripe Pkg., Only 20,000 Miles, One Owner, This Car Has Many Many Extras, Super Price $13,995 $13,995

2008 CHEVY AVEO Auto, Air, All Opts., Only 31,000 Miles, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., CD, Many Extras, Super Gas Mileage, Great Price $8,995 $8,995

NEW SILVERADOS AVAILABLE

SERVICE SPECIAL OF THE MONTH Rotate Tires, Lube, Oil & Filter $39.95

1500, 2500 & 1 Ton Series Available 2WD & 4WD

HUGE INCENTIVES

40

NEW CARS AVAILABLE 37 EVERY MODEL

Cameros, Malibus, Impalas, Cobalts, Aveos

GOOD SUPPLY OF TAHOES, SUBURBANS, AVALANCHES

& NEW 2010 EQUINOX

CHEVROLET

2008 CHEVY CORVETTE Every Avail. Opt., LT3 Pkg., Glass Top, Nav. System, Chrome Wheels, Heads up Display, Heated Leather, Excellent, This Vet Has It All $34,995 $34,995

2007 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ, 4x4, Every Avail. Opt, 5 Yr. 100,000 Mile Warr., TV, DVD, 20” Chrome Wheels, Super Clean, One Owner, Steal At $24,995 $24,995

Your YounG PeoPleYMCA Offers Music Lessons for All Ages Pic tu red a re

C indy Legwal ia and Jenn i fe r Berns toneNew Center for

Creative Arts Department developed

(Oneida) The Oneida Family YMCA is now offering guitar lessons, flute choir and African drums for people of all ages. The Y created a YMCA Center For the Creative Arts Department in 2003 in Rome and has now developed a new program in Oneida.

The YMCA is also offering Creative Moment classes for children ages 3 to 12 on Tuesday mornings. Also an adult acting class will be held Sunday from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The instructors are Cindy Legwalia and Jennifer Bernstone. Lewalia

is a board-certified music therapist, having received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music therapy from Nazareth College. Over the years she has played guitar and flute in church worship teams, sang in gospel and community choirs and given lessons on guitar, flute, piano and drums.

Bernstone is a professional actress, singer, dancer and musician from New York City. She has taught and performed across the country. She has been playing piano since age 8 and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre dance from Luther College in Iowa.

For more information on the Y music program times, fees and session dates, visit the website at www.ymcatrivalley.org under the programs menu.


Your Government

County Celebrates Historic Swearing-InThe Hon. Dona ld Cer io , le f t , admin is te rs the oa th o f o f f i ce to new Mad ison County Sher i f f A l len R i ley. R i ley ’s fami ly par t i c ipa ted in the ceremony.

mAdison CountY sheriFF

Allen rileY

Riley First Black, Democrat SheriffmArthA e. ConwAY

People lined the walls of the Madison County Board of Supervisors chambers New Year’s Eve Day – four deep in some places – to witness an historic event: the swearing in of Allen Riley, the first black sheriff – and first Democrat to hold the office – in the history of Madison County.

According to state-certified historian David Sadler of Lincoln, in research he has done with colleagues around the state, it appears that Riley is the first black elected sheriff in New York.

Riley asked the Hon. Donald Cerio of Lenox, former longtime Madison County District Attorney, to administer his oath of office.

“Wow,” Riley said after the brief ceremony. “Thank you very much. It’s hard to believe.”

Riley told Cerio he

hoped is tenure as sheriff is as success as Cerio’s career as DA. He thanked his family, campaign staff and supporters, Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman John M. Becker (R,C,I – Sullivan) and Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Darrin P. Ball (R – Lincoln).

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be elected as the 55th Madison County Sheriff,” Riley said. “The position holds a great deal of responsibility.”

Riley said the office oversees the functions of the jail, including inmate care, the collection of money and protection of the public.

“I will open a positive line of communication with the Board of Supervisors, Madison County department heads and the public,” Riley said. “I stopped in Nov. 4, the day after the election, to meet the staff, and they wouldn’t let me leave. I have spent two months reviewing policies and transitioning into this position. It is a nice

feeling to have those two months under my belt.”

Riley said it was among his top priorities to work with the staff toward achieving accreditation for the criminal and civil divisions of the agency.

“The jail is

accredited,” Riley said, adding that the move would move the sheriff’s office toward the accountability, integrity and respect it needs.

“The office offers many challenges and opportunities,” Riley said.

Photos bY riC mAin

Peop le l ined the wa l l s o f the Mad ison County Board o f Superv isors chambers New Year ’s Eve Day – four deep in some p laces – to w i tness an h is to r i c event : the swear ing in o f A l len R i ley, the f i r s t b lack sher i f f – and f i r s t Democra t to ho ld the o f f i ce – in the h is to ry o f Mad ison County.

“It’s an honor and a privilege... The position holds a great deal of

responsibility.”mAdison CountY sheriFF Allen rileY


Your Government

City Officials Sworn In

Ci ty o f One ida Mayor Leo Matzke was sworn in a t a ceremony he ld Jan . 3 a t 1 p .m. a t the One ida Recrea t ion Center on Cedar S t ree t . Matzke sa id there were two th ings he was look ing fo rward to . One was the cha l lenges these two years wou ld b r ing and the o ther was look ing fo rward to work ing w i th the county and c i t y o f f i c ia ls . Wi th the cha l lenges ahead, Matzke sa id , “ I ’m a s t rong be l iever tha t every cha l lenge has a seed o f oppor tun i ty. Once met , someth ing i s a lways ga ined . I f we can work toge ther fo r the good o f the c i t y we w i l l be be t te r fo r i t and the c i t y w i l l be be t te r fo r i t . ”

Photos bY mArGo FrinK

ABOVE: One ida C i ty C le rk Sue Pu lveren t i swears in c i t y Chamber la in Nancy Andrews. LEFT: Mad ison County Board o f Superv isors represent ing the c i t y o f One ida a re f rom le f t Lou Car inc i (D-Wards 4 ,5 ,6 ) , James Raf te (D-Wards 4 ,5 ,6 ) , John Re inhard t (R-Wards 1 ,2 ,3 ) and Scot t Henderson (R-Wards 1 ,2 ,3 ) . BELOW: Tak ing o f f i ce as members o f the One ida Common Counc i l a re f rom le f t , M ichae l Grass (D-Ward 6 ) , Dona ld Moore (D-Ward 5 ) , M ichae l Ka iser (D-Ward 4 ) , Max Smi th (R-Ward 3 ) , Dav id C imp i (R-Ward 2 ) and Dan Jones (R-Ward 1 ) . C i ty C le rk Sue Pu lveren t i he ld the swear ing in ceremony.


Your Athletes

BELOW: Another four th p lace f in isher fo r Canas to ta a t the Ken Ha ines Memor ia l Tournament was Schuy le r Jayson. Jayson has h is hands fu l l go ing fo r a takedown aga ins t A l len Ho ld r idge f rom Cato , bu t p reva i l s , w inn ing by a 3 -0 score a t 140 pounds . (Photos by J im Sche id )

Grapplers Fare Well at Oswego Tourney

At the Ken Ha ines Memor ia l Tournament he ld in Oswego Dec . 28 and 29 , Sam Stagn i t t i was the lone Canas to ta wres t le r to make i t to the f ina ls . S tagn i t t i f l a t tens APW’s Mike Wood in 1 :43 to ge t th ings ro l l i ng in the 285-pound we igh t c lass .

Sam Far fag l ia surpr ises a t the Ken Ha ines Memor ia l Tournament . The Canas to ta wres t le r f in ished four th overa l l wres t l ing a t 160 pounds . Far fag l ia con t ro ls Mex ico ’s Gav in Campbe l l w inn ing the match by a 12-5 score .

Canas to ta ’s Brandon Dur fee has h is way in th is match aga ins t Car thage ’s Josh McFar land in the 135-pound we igh t c lass . Dur fee w ins th is match hand i l y by a score o f 17-3 a t the Ken Ha ines Memor ia l Tournament hos ted by Fu l ton .

Your PolICeSullivan Troopers make two DWI arrests New Years Eve

(Town of Sullivan – Jan. 1) Sullivan- based state troopers arrested Stephanie A. Maroney, 22, of Bull Street, Bridgeport for aggravated driving while intoxicated after stopping her for driving her 2001 Ford Taurus at 67 mph in a 45 mph zone on Peck Road in the town of Sullivan around midnight.

Maroney was processed at the State Police Sullivan barracks where a breath test was administered, resulting in a .24 percent blood alcohol reading.

Maroney was issued tickets returnable Feb. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in the town of Sullivan Court.

Later in the morning, at approximately 2:10 a.m., those same troopers stopped a 1997 Geo Prism travelling on North Manlius Road in the town of Manlius for having an inadequate exhaust. The operator of the Geo, Gary M. McCarthy, 32, of Creek Road, Chittenango was found to be driving while intoxicated.

McCarthy was processed at State Police Sullivan, where a breath test revealed his blood alcohol level to be .16 percent.

McCarthy was issued traffic tickets returnable in the town of Manlius Court on Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Canastota Police BlotterdeC. 26

Jason t. Brown, 28, of Syracuse was ticketed for driving an unregistered motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile phone. Officer William Stevens.

deC. 28Scottie L. Snyder, 49, of Morrisville was

ticketed for speeding. Officer William Preuss.


��

��

��

� �� !��"��#$%� � �� %�� &'�� (�%��")��!�� *�+ �,� ��--�� .��/ �*�)�00 �" ��#1%�)��!��

%��%& �2�-�1#3'!�4�� 53�� 53��)��!��2*�)� ��

0��5� ��2� *��6 ��7 �4 ��8�! �2��.��/ �*�)�00 �" ��#%��

"��

"�� $#�& ��)�� 3��" ��*�+ ,��2��

9��2��:"�� $��8�! �2��

9��" ,5��2 �*�� (((-�� 1$

& ��

8%:&;� ��1#$-�� $

& ��5��/�4��*� "��7��1& ��5��

&��5��< 2=� ��2��-�-&��5��

+ 2��5��%��%& �2�(�(& ��

+��2��*� ��2��((��%��

��4�)��,��=�� $�� 742�#

7 ,��>�� >�� >�� 4�=�9��.�! ��

&'�� (�>�� ) ��2*�7 �4 ��#>��

7�!! ��5��

7�!! ��5�� 1�1)��5��

� ��8%:&;� ��-��-�� #

��5��9��"��2)" �, �2��1& �� &'�� & �� #��5��$ ,!��85��

%�4:��9/*�� #�1� ��

3�� 7� �� %��"� ��+�5� �� ( ��. 6��"�,��#�� 2��4�� -�#.��'85��"2*� ��$� ��%��%& �2�1��(�� $(

) 4� � 4�+� �"��+�� 53�� (�� 53��$1(.��'85��?>��@� 53�� 53��.��'85�� 53��2��?��1$@

�"��.�!!�2*��%�4��"��(� 53�� (��"��

��!��!��6 ��2+��(�$��

6��%��%& �2�(�(1:��

6�� 53�� $(�� 53��(��) ��

6�� "� 53��

: ��5��<��=�� ((�4 ,��%��%& �2� ��#

��

��

�� !"! #$""%


Your business

��

��

� �� !!"#��"�� $ ��

%%&�' � � �(�� "�� )��*+�% � ,��

��

��

�� !��

��"��#�$��%�&��#�'�(��

� �� !��"#��$��$

PIg CITY garden CalendarTroyer’s Country Store Off to Busy StartdAniel mArvin

Editor’s note: This column is reprinted from www.MadisonCountyCourier.com and takes the place of Marvin’s weekly column while he is on vacation.

I had the privilege of meeting store manager John Troyer at his very special Amish store named Troyer’s Country Store as the door opened for the first time at 9 a.m. this morning. It is located at 5518 Nelson Road in Fenner, and the hours (for all you who are eager to see what it is all about and start to fill your pantries, refrigerators and freezers with what is good to have) are Monday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

They sell products from local farmers like

grass-fed beef, all kinds of deli products, normal refrigerated items including butter, cheese, milk, cheese curds, soda and bacon.

Bulk foods galore meet your eyes on the many shelves including such special things as peanut butter, Epsom salt and just about anything we need to cook with or have on the side, even fresh, homemade bread, pastas, dried beans, nuts, fruits and other specialties.

If you yearn for “Jake and James” Amish products (such as sauerkraut, asparagus, mushrooms, and so much else!) or “Kuntry Kettle” Amish products from the Yoder Family, which include jellies, sauces and other special treats, then this is the store

for you. It is only six miles from Cazenovia, and they

rely very much on local producers, such as the eight nearby Amish Farms. They will have pork in the spring or sooner, which is right now being raised on local farms.

There will not be

vegetables out of season…all will be fresh from local farms.

You will be happy to know they sell honey from Bob Thorp’s bee colony. Oh yes - before I forget – on Fridays and Saturdays there will be some special offerings each week, so get there early those days for fresh-baked pies, rolls and cookies.

If you are producing an organic product on your farm, you might go to the store and ask John Troyer if he has a need for what you grow.

Happy Gardening!Daniel Marvin is a retired

lieutenant colonel and hobbyist gardener. He can be reached at [email protected].

dAniel

mArvin

Pic tu red i s a sample o f the merchand ise ava i lab le a t Troyer ’s Count ry S to re . (Photos by Dan ie l Marv in )

Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation Could Be For YouWould you like to feel

better, look younger and reduce stress?

For centuries, Oriental women have used acupuncture to improve their appearance and wellbeing.

Now this ancient treatment is available in Madison County.

Sterile, disposable, extra-fine needles are inserted into the face and scalp, as well as other areas of the body, depending on health issues.

The result is deep relaxation, increased energy and a glowing complexion.

Most people look and feel more radiant in three to

five treatments.Acupuncture works

on the principal of self-healing, allowing the

body’s energy or Qi (Chi) to flow more easily, detoxifying vital organs, and releasing the brain’s own pain-relieving

neurotransmitters. There are also

documented local effects on soft tissues involving increased circulation and decreased inflammation.

Side effects are minimal and include minor bruising or bleeding. Pregnancy and hemophilia are the only strict contraindications to acupuncture.

Many chronic diseases can be helped by acupuncture at the same time one is having facial rejuvenation.

These include arthritis, pain, headaches, stress, insomnia, hot flashes, mood disorders, gastrointestinal

lindA lemAY, md

ACuPunCture - 15


Get Your Daily Fix

Of the Madison County Courier

At www.MadisonCountyCourier.com

For The Latest NewsClick on Todays News

IT'S GOOD FOR THE SOUL!

For the stories you missedClick on Yesterdays Posts

To submit news email [email protected]

MadisonCountyCourier.comYour News. Your Voice.

problems, allergies, sinusitis, asthma and more.

The beauty of Oriental medicine is that many problems can be addressed in one session, versus taking a host of medications for different ailments.

Visit the web site of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture at medicalacupuncture.org for more information.

Dr. Lemay practices at her home office on Pompey Hollow Road in Cazenovia. She is Board Certified in

Family Practice, state-certified in acupuncture, a yoga instructor and Reiki master.

For more information, visit chscaz.com or call 315.655.8637.

Your librAries

Religion is basically myth and superstition that has been passed down through the centuries.

Interesting article and I too find that all too often people outside of my own world view have problems answering questions. Even more problematic is when you answer their questions with questions. For example – why is it to be assumed that God was created? An understanding of the philosophy or theology of what or who God is renders the original question absurd. Time, energy, space… all the things you mentioned are distinct from the eternal and spiritual nature of God. Even the words ‘eternal’ and ’spiritual’ are insufficient to describe – but are necessary to at least give us something to hold on to in attempting to understand a concept such as ‘God’. But the mistake is when we begin to try to define the creator in context of the created. Injecting him as intrinsically part of the creation. Draw two dots and connect them with a line on a piece of paper. Imagine then that the paper extends into ‘infinity’ in all directions. The illustration is that that which is created are the dots and line – the time-space continuum. But the paper is the creator in which and apart from which the time-space continuum cannot exist. So why is it reasonable to assume that God would be created?

City Slicker: Getting Back to Basics

Sounds great to me. Having lived in a suburban area all my life raising my kids in a rural environment was an awesome experience. I had never seen a “dirt” road in my life! Look forward to reading more about your experiences.

Sound interesting! Especially to me, as I lived my first 20 years in the (small) City Of Oneida. I elected farm life and stayed with it most of the rest of my life. I had SOME learning to do at first.

Out of the Dust: J. Willard EdsonWonderful story. Thanks for diggin it up. Hard to

believe the difference in how such a case would be handled now. An 82 year old imprisoned for $91!! and yes, a lawsuit over 6 cents!! I wonder what happened to the Bantam rooster???? Hmmm…

Comments from page 6hamIlTon PublIC lIbrarY newsUp next: Health, Taxes, Community ArtbArbArA CoGer

Now that a new year has begun, it’s time to think about health, taxes, community artwork, and story time at Hamilton Public Library.

There will be a presentation on breast cancer education and awareness Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. The focus will be upon the recent recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concerning mammograms, clinical exams, and self-breast exams.

This program is being presented by ARISE, an independent living center, and made possible by a grant from Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer CNY Affilliate. A question-and-answer period will follow the half hour presentation.

Registration is

suggested.Please call the library,

(315) 824-3060, or stop by to register.

We currently have federal tax forms available and anticipate receiving New York state tax forms soon. These forms can be found in a stand just outside the adult reading area and museum.

Now’s the time to start thinking about our annual Community Art Show, which will be displayed in April. We’re hoping all of you who have participated in the past will once again consider bringing in a piece of artwork before the end of March.

For those of you new to the idea, we welcome art work in any media by anyone in our library community. The art work will be displayed in the Children’s Room and in the glass display cabinet.

Participants are limited to one piece of art work. This is a non-juried show.

For more information please call the library.

Story time is back on the schedule for Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Stop by and enjoy a half-hour program with your children. Stay afterward to visit with others and play with your children in the Story Time room.

The library is usually open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call the library at (315) 824-3060 for assistance during these hours.

The bookdrop at the Broad Street entrance is always open for your convenience.

Barbara Coger is Hamilton Public Library director. For more information, visit midyork.org/hamilton.

BOCES Plans Pre-K Registration

(Madison County) Madison-Oneida BOCES will be holding Pre-K registration in the Stockbridge and Canastota school districts for the 2010-11 school year. The following information must be provided:

· Child’s birth certificate· Child’s immunization record· Proof of residency (utility

bill, rent receipt, or mortgage receipt)All children must be four years

old on or before Dec. 1, 2010. • Parents are encouraged to

register now so that children can be a

part of the orientation program

mAdison-oneidA boCes Pre-K reGistrAtion

Registration will be held on Tuesday Jan. 26 at Stockbridge Elementary School from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m.

Registration will also be held on Thursday Jan. 28 at Peterboro Street Elementary School from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Madison-Oneida BOCES Early Childhood Office at 361-5903.

Acupuncture from page 14


��

��

�� !� �� "�� #�� $�� %�� &��'��(!)�(�))�

&��

*�� +��*�� "�� ,��&��-�,��&�� .-� "��/�� "��-��-� ��.�� %�� 0!1())�)� ��

&�� '(�� *�.� �� %��(!20'

�� !�"#�#"$��

!"#$%&"'(%)#*$+,#%-##.%/"(#%0(122+34

!"#$"%&'()"$(%')%("'$*+%",-.,"%/0).&.1')./,2%3")%4(%+"50%6/4%)'7"%6/4$%

84(.,"((%)/%)+"%,"9)%5":"52

!"##$%&$'()"*$"'$+,+-./,,$

0(1$"2$"00(1)"3#4$5"*$'($%6$*(%1$3(''(7$#8249

Your voiCeCazenovIa Curmudgeon

Resolved, that there should be…a debateIf the question is too

simple and the answer too obvious, have a debate, what they’re calling that to-do in Congress now. About health care they say, but I suspect is is more about “What’s in it for me, the Member?”

My dictionary defines debate first as “discussion,” but from the way Congress is behaving, it’s more like the other definitions: “Contention, argument, disputation, controversy.”

Or is the question, Resolved, that there is a conspiracy of special interests?

We had nerdy-type debaters – I was one – and competitions of debate teams when I was in high school; we shuffled three-by-five-inch index cards of notes on whatever topic

while the non-nerds were doing after-school sports. One of those questions was Resolved, that there

should be a world government.

Remember the League of Nations? Our reward was making it to a statewide competitions and coming home with a trophy and

imitation gold, silver and bronze medals; never did make it to the nationals. Do they do competitive debating in high schools today, or is losing bad for self-esteem?

In Congress, it seems the rewards come in the form of pictures of past presidents and winners get cu$hy jobs with healthcare insurance companies. Losers get re-elected to try again. In the meantime, while Congress debates-

contends over healthcare, we’ll be sitting in doctors’ waiting rooms, some of us seemingly for as long as a Congressional recess.

We gather waiting room time is not an issue in those debates-disputations. Should there be something like Resolved, that time spent in doctors’ waiting rooms should be no longer than 20 minutes? And why the long wait in some and not in others? If I were to show up even a few minutes late for an appointment, I’d likely find it canceled. My time has no value?

On one side of the question – take note, Sarah, Glenn and Rush – I do have a single-payer, socialistic(!), Big Government healthcare plan, thanks to a service-connected disability and Big Government’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs. My usual waiting time in a doctor’s office at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse is barely enough to look at the pictures in an old People magazine. By the way, who are those people?

On the other side, I, on occasion, have to find a specialist not among VA doctors, one who

will accept Medicare’s ridiculously low “allowable” payments to doctors and as well take payment from a private insurer for the 20 percent of those allowable fees Medicare doesn’t pay.

I found such a specialist a few years ago and since have been quite satisfied with his services; he’s painless, but when he does have to cut, he finishes with practically invisible stitches. And he gives good conversation while doing his business.

A good doctor he may be; my problem is the time I spend in his waiting room while watching those who came in after me being ushered into the inner sanctum. And I don’t want to have to read all those People magazines in addition to looking at the pictures of whoever they are. Or read about old folks’ ills in so-called health mags. Is that it? I’m too old, and you’d rather I expire in the waiting room, rather than the examining room? Something to do with your insurance?

I can understand why you might want to give your younger patients prompt service. Keep’em happy, and they’ll stay with you until they’re

ready for Medicare. But an hour in the waiting room?

That’s what happened at my last appointment. And no one came out to offer an apology or reason, to ask if I’d mind waiting a few minutes longer, to ask if I’d like to reschedule.

I sat and I sat until it was too much. The chairs aren’t comfortable for dozing. I’d had enough; I decided to depart. It didn’t help that on stopping to tell the young woman at the reception desk that I was leaving, she said something like, “It happens to you a lot, doesn’t it?”

So, do I reschedule? Well, I’d sorta hoped I’d hear from you or someone on your staff, or have a note, that you were sorry I had to wait…it won’t – shouldn’t – happen again. Do I wait for one still or at least a recommendation of someone in your field with your expertise…and a bedside manner once one gets into his or her examination room?

Meanwhile, Resolved that there should be…

Donald W. Krueger of Cazenovia is a retired professor and active contrarian. Readers can email him at [email protected].

donAld KrueGer

bob

betz

ouT oF The dusTLibel Suit

In May of 1882, the Grand Jury returned an indictment against Willis A. Ingalls for the crime of libel.

‘The said Willis A. Ingalls being then and there a person of an envious, evil and wicked mind, and wickedly, maliciously and unlawfully intending to injury, oppress and agonize the good name, fame and reputation of Louisa Downer of the Town of Smithfield aforesaid, a person of good name and fame and reputation and

as such was esteemed and respected by and among all good and worthy citizens of the State of New York

to whom she was in any way known and to bring her into public scandal, hatred, infamy, and disgrace, and his great hatred, motives and ill will toward the said Louisa Downer,

wickedly, maliciously and unlawfully did compose, write and print, publish and cause to be composed, written and published a certain false scandalous, malicious and degramatous

libel of and concerning the said Louisa Downer, containing the false, scandalous and defamatory words following of and concerning the said Louisa Downer in words following, that is to say (the following is copied from a sheet that was printed and apparently distributed):

Opposition SchoolHaving failed to

secure the position of “preceptress” in Evans Academy, ostensibly because the Trustees were unwilling to raise my salary, but really because

historY - 19


three-quarter inch ivory-rimmed plate.

This commemorative can be purchased for $25 at the village and town offices and the Canastota Public Library. The plates, the bicentennial calendar and the new Canal Town ornament can also be purchased at the “Firemen’s Ball” and at all subsequent bicentennial activities.

oPeninG Ceremonies

On Jan. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. at village hall, a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony will take place to celebrate the start of Canastota’s 200th birthday. The Canastota Rotary Club will serve refreshments. Bicentennial memorabilia also will be on sale. At that time Mayor Todd Rouse will make a presentation and the winner of the banner slogan contest will be recognized. The public is invited.

The contest was held in conjunction with the Canastota High School. Students in ninth through 12th grade were given the opportunity to create a slogan that would be placed on all the banners. The Bicentennial Committee selected the slogan that best represented Canastota. On Jan. 8, the Canastota

High School will hold an assembly and name the student whose slogan was chosen. The banners will be hung in the downtown district after the winner is announced.

Firemen’s bAll Later that evening,

a “Night of Community Celebration” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Canastota Fire Department, will kick-off the villages Bicentennial celebrations slated for 2010. The fire department is asking anyone who is interested to come join them for the celebration.

The party will begin at 6 p.m. at the Rusty Rail Party House. Open to all ages, the evening will consist of music for adults and children, a buffet throughout the entire event, fireworks and adult music by Matt Chase and Thunder Canyon. There will be a DJ for the kids.

Tickets can be purchased at the village and town offices or from any member of the fire department. They sell for $15 for adults and $5 for children.

For more information on the event, call Rick Stagnitti at 697-5575.

Bicentennial from page 3

don’t know.” Staff member Chris

Emmerich said she was going to miss the customers.

“A lot of them have followed us from place to place,” Emmerich said. “They’ll find us eventually.”

Emmerich and five others will find themselves unemployed; Stephanie Gallagher, Janine DiVeronica, Louann Frye, Beardslee and Melissa Cady. All have experience in the food service industry.

Blanchard asked that his customers keep their eyes and ears open for opportunities for his wonderful staff.

“They’ve been an asset and an inspiration to the Chatterbox,” he said.

Blanchard also boasted that the restaurant has received “excellent” ratings from the health department.

Anyone who was unable to use their gift certificate can call Blanchard and he will “make it right.” Anyone who donated memorabilia for the wall is welcome to take it. Anyone interested in purchasing any equipment, can also call Blanchard.

The diner will go up for sale next month.

The Chatterbox is the third establishment to close in downtown Canastota. Dunn’s Bakery and Community Pharmacy closed earlier this year.

To contact Blanchard, call 427-7338.

Chatterbox from page 5

marketing force.”Her newspaper

experience includes two-years as a reporter for the Oneida Daily Dispatch where she covered the government desk even getting arrested once in her enthusiasm to get a story.

“Covering politics is great fun,” McNichol said. “Every politician should be a reporter for at least a year.”

She adds substitute teacher in the Oneida School District for 10 years and a summer running a day care out of her home to her list of experiences.

“Being a reporter was a great learning experience. I met many wonderful people. Some of them

were even politicians,” McNichol joked. “But I wanted to get back in sales and when I saw what Mike [Bova], Martha [Conway] and Margo [Frink] were up to, I just had to join the fun.”

Originally from Liverpool, McNichol lives in Durhamville with her husband, Tim, a Union Carpenter; two of their five kids; son Sean, 19, a theater major at Mohawk Valley Community College and Abigail, 15, a sophomore at Oneida High School.

Daughter Kristin, 28, lives in Manhattan and teaches sixth grade biology in East Harlem. Sons Timothy Jr., 30, and Christopher, 26, live

in Virginia where Tim Jr. is a police officer in Williamsburg and Chris works as a sous chef.

The family shares their home with Jack, a 120-pound lab shepherd mutt with his own Facebook page.

The Madison County Courier is a daily online newspaper and a weekly community print newspaper covering the city of Oneida and all towns in Madison County and their respective villages and hamlets.

For more information about M3P Media and the Madison County Courier, visit www.MadisonCountyCourier.com.

McNichol from page 5

met with the City Engineer and the Code Enforcement Officer, the Fire Chief and the Housing Code Inspector and Fire Marshal, and the Police Chief and the Community Services Officer. The Common Council gave a clear expression of its policy determination that it wanted our codes to be vigorously enforced.

We added a second part-time housing code inspector in an effort to catch-up on housing code inspections. Codes enforcement protects the health and safety of our residents, which is most important.

In addition, codes enforcement enhances the quality of life of everyone who lives in or comes to our community to shop, work, play or attend school, as well as helping to maintain property values for all.

A great deal of my time and that of the Common Council was spent on discussing and attempting to focus attention on the long-term financial situation of the City.

It cannot be disputed that the City of Oneida is spending more than it is generating in current revenue, funding the difference by dipping into the General Fund Balance, the City’s “savings account.”

There is nothing wrong with using the General Fund Balance for this purpose, however, we need to have a plan for what to do when there’s not enough money left in the General Fund Balance to balance the General Fund Budget.

Will we raise taxes, cut services, or some combination of these two things?

While I hope that City revenues can grow by adding retail establishments that collect sales tax and new assessed value upon which real property taxes will be paid, it is unlikely that will solve our problem.

I campaigned for re-election on the basis of the accomplishments of 2008 and 2009 and talking honestly about what I thought were the big and challenging issues facing the City. I resisted the temptation to promise individuals and groups favors at tax payer expense or of questionable legality. I did what I concluded was in the best interest of the

City of Oneida, even when I knew it was politically risky. I did not compromise principle for political advantage. I have no regrets and am proud of how I conducted the 2009 campaign.

Governments at all levels, including the City of Oneida,

face difficult challenges as a result of the current recession and the need to balance revenues and spending. I urge all residents of the City of Oneida to study the issues, to attend and participate in Common Council meetings, and to communicate with our new Mayor and Common Councilors by phone, email, mail, and in person. They need to know what we want and, perhaps more importantly, what we are willing to pay for. We can continue to do better by putting aside selfishness and pulling together with Mayor Matzke and the new Council to solve problems and improve our future.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving as Mayor of the City of Oneida in 2008 and 2009.

Hedglon from page 8

Governments at all levels, including the City of Oneida, face difficult

challenges as a result of the current recession and the need to balance revenues

and spending.


��

��

��

�� !��"�#��$ #��$�

Targeted Advertising



CALL TODAY 404-8200

!"#$%&"'(%)#*$+,#%-##.%/"(#%0(122+34

!"#$"%&'()"$(%')%("'$*+%",-.,"%/0).&.1')./,2%3")%4(%+"50%6/4%)'7"%6/4$%

84(.,"((%)/%)+"%,"9)%5":"52

!"##$%&$'()"*$"'$+,+-./,,$

0(1$"2$"00(1)"3#4$5"*$'($%6$*(%1$3(''(7$#8249

Your eventsbridGePort

JAn. 14The South Shore

Trailblazers will meet at the VFW at 7 p.m. for a general meeting.

JAn. 16The South Shore

Trailblazers will hold its annual snowbird chicken barbecue at Cooper’s Landing, Murray Drive in Cicero.

CAnAstotA

JAn. 9The public is invited

to a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony for Canastota’s Bicentennial at village hall from 2 to 4 p.m. The winner of the banner slogan will be presented. Bicentennial memorabilia will be on sale. Refreshments provided.

The Canastota Fire Department will kick-off the village’s Bicentennial celebration with “A Night of Community Celebration” at the Rusty Rail from 6 to 11 p.m. Event features fireworks, food and music. Tickets sell for $15 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased at the town or village offices or from members of the fire department. The

public is invited. For more information, call Rick Stagnitti at 697-5575.

The Great Swamp Conservancy will feature “Swamp Snappers” Camera Club at 1 p.m. “Outside Snow Shots” will be guided by professional photographer Cheri Sassman. Bring your camera and be prepared to go outside. For more information or to register for this class, call 697-2950.

JAn. 10The Great Swamp

Conservancy will hold its annual members meeting. Members are invited to taste a variety of wines and beers and review the past year’s accomplishments and the coming year’s projections. Hors d’oeuvres provided. To pre-register, call 697-2950.

CAzenoviA

JAn. 7The Red Cross will

hold a blood drive at the First Presbyterian Church, 27 Albany St from 1 to 6 p.m. Double red cell machines will be available. To pre-register, call (800) 448-3543.

JAn. 8Family Films on

Fridays will bring in the new year at the Cazenovia Public Library. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” will be shown from 3:15 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room. Admission is free and so is the popcorn. For more information, call the library at 655-9322 or visit www.midyork.org/Cazenovia.

ChittenAnGo

JAn. 14The Red Cross will

hold a blood drive at the Sullivan Free Library, 101 Falls Blvd. from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Double red cell machines will be available. To pre-register, call (800) 448-3543.

deruYter

JAn. 14-17The first annual

Tioughnioga Winter Carnival will take place throughout the community. Activities include a family community dance, snowman building contest, chili contest and more. For more information on events, call 852-9861 or visit cnywintercarnival.com.

hAmilton

JAn. 12Story time with

Guest Storyteller Cynthia Mannino and Library Director Barb Coger will be held at the Hamilton Public Library at 10:30 am. Please use side door.

JAn. 13A breast cancer

education and awareness presentation will be held at the Hamilton Public Library in the Community Room from 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is suggested. Please call the library 824-3060, or stop by to register.

JAn. 16An indoor winter

market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 12 Madison St. behind the Colgate Inn. Items for sale include organic meats and cheeses, eggs, baked goods, jewelry, candles, soaps and other homemade items.

morrisville

JAn. 21Morrisville State

College will host a “Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr.,” presented by award-winning author and actor Barry Scott. It will take place at 6 p.m. at the STUAC theater. The event is free and open to the public.

munnsville

JAn. 8The Red Cross will hold a

blood drive at the Munnsville Volunteer Fire Department, 5210 S. Main St. from 1 to 6 p.m. Double red cell machines will be available. To pre-register, call (800) 448-3543.

oneidA

onGoinG

Holy Cross Academy, 4020 Barrington Dr. in Oneida Castle will hold an ongoing bottle drive to raise money for a trip to Washington, D.C. Bottles and cans can be dropped off at the school Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For pick-up, call 363-1669.

To have your event listed in the calendar, email [email protected].

Phillips said phone company workers have access to his half of the locked building but he cannot get into their half.

“It was actually missing for a few days, but I didn’t call anyone because I knew they had it. But then it was in their half [of the building] and I couldn’t get it back,” Phillips said.

Phillips waited to see if it would be returned. It wasn’t, so on Nov. 6 he tried to call AT&T. He said the phone numbers posted on the chain link fence around the property and in the building were no longer valid.

“It took me awhile to get a person, and then the right person, on the phone,” said Phillips. “I ended up speaking to someone in senior management about this, and still no ladder.”

“It’s not worth much money, but this is more about the principle of the matter,” he said. “The problem here is they unlawfully took it, and they don’t take my concerns about it seriously.”

Marcia Murray, the AT&T leasing manager who Phillips dealt with in this matter, was unavailable for comment last week.

Phillips contacted the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, which advised him to file a police report. He presented his complaint to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department last week.

Deputy Jamie Badgley contacted AT&T and is awaiting a response. He said it would be difficult to prosecute the phone company in this situation.

“From what I gather, it’s more of a civil matter,” Badgley said, “because they share a building. Someone could have borrowed the ladder and not known that it isn’t theirs (AT&T’s).”

Before the ladder dispute, Phillips was already feuding with the phone company over an access road that connects the cell tower site to Route 92. He says the roadway has eroded to the point where it’s unsafe to drive on.

Ladder from page 3


“Mr. Becker voted against it,” Urtz said. “He has 285 votes, and he was the only one who voted no.”

I called Mr. Becker to ask why he voted against the resolution.

“I didn’t think there should be a training period necessary,” he said, explaining that the individual who succeeds landfill Operations Manager Andrew Wolff should begin when Wolff is done.

So I started calling supervisors, doing a straw poll of one question:

“Did you know at the time of the Dec. 29 vote for creation of a temporary position at the landfill that the position was earmarked for Mr. Hammond?”

Their responses?“I didn’t know at the time

of the vote, but learned afterward. Now it concerns me…we should know exactly what we are voting on every single time.”

“A position is a position; who is put in it isn’t up to us. A resolution is a resolution, and this one was not atypical of what we have done in the past. No one was named in it. It is up to Jim Zecca to hire someone for the position, and I have faith in him to make the best decision. It is a civil service position, so for [Hammond] to be appointed, he will have to pass the test.”

“No one discussed that detail with me. I didn’t even know he was working for

Waste Management.”“I didn’t know he

was working for Waste Management. I knew he didn’t run [for another term of office] because he was going somewhere else. Now I know where.”

“I learned this fall that he was working for Waste Management and thought he should have been removed from the committee, but this is just ridiculous.”

“I think he is one of two people who have expressed interest in the job; I think everyone knew he was looking at the position.”

This last supervisor, confronted with the fact that no one else could have possibly known about the position because the Board of Supervisors had only approved it the previous day, responded, “Well, you’ve got me there.”

Yes, I think I do.“I heard the chairman

tried to remove him from the committee and wound up with grave resistance, so he removed him as committee chair and made [Lenox Supervisor] Rocky [DiVeronica] chair because they were worried it would wind up before the ethics board where it would be really public and people might demand [Hammond’s] resignation as supervisor completely.”

Asked if they knew Mr. Becker voted against the creation of the position, all seemed universally surprised. No one I spoke with had heard his “no” vote, and only one offered

anything further.“I knew he was really

struggling with that decision.”

Some supervisors wondered – and I certainly wonder – if Mr. Hammond was absent last week to avoid abstaining from the vote. After all, that would certainly have drawn attention to the resolution. But in the end, the vote tally gave it away.

So why hadn’t Mr. Becker removed Mr. Hammond from SW&R in the first place?

“I never dreamed in a million years that anyone in my administration would – in actuality or perception – use their position with the county for personal gain,” Becker said.

On the Dec. 4 Board of Supervisors meeting, asked if the Solid Waste Department was looking at Mr. Hammond to fill a vacancy, DiVeronica responded in the affirmative and said Mr. Hammond was the best-qualified individual for the job at the landfill.

“The county is lucky to get him,” DiVeronica said, adding that Mr. Hammond would likely begin employment in January.

At that same meeting, Mr. Hammond said he had not voted in committee on the position that he was expected to fill.

I spent a few hours in Wampsville New Year’s Eve day reviewing minutes of the Solid Waste & Recycling Committee. The minutes from several meeting dates I sought were missing altogether, and there were no executive session minutes at all included in the documents I reviewed for 2009.

It would seem the creation of the position would be a matter of public policy, and since the employment, promotion, etc., of a specific person was allegedly not discussed, the topic would not be eligible for executive session.

Whatever the case, the minutes I reviewed – dating back to July, never mentioned the planned creation of any position to train someone to assume the duties of Mr. Wolff.

Someone recently commented on a local news website that ‘something stinks in Wampsville, and it isn’t the landfill.’ A few weeks ago I would have pointed out that the landfill

isn’t in Wampsville.Now I would say

something might stink up there, but it’s not the facility. Whether the matter was handled by the book, actual or perceived, Mr. Hammond was in the position of having insider information on not only the direction of the committee’s actions, but also of being privy to information that may have or could in the future benefit himself or his employer.

This matter was handled badly by a number of us. Sometimes it takes a little embarrassment to improve accountability.

Sadly, in this particular case, the poor decisions of one or two reflects on the character of an entire board of 19. It’s too bad because we’ve got a pretty decent barrel of apples there.

Martha E. Conway is Managing Editor for the Madison County Courier. She can be reached at 315.813.0124 or by emailing [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/marthaeconway or become a friend on Facebook at http://facebook.com/meconway.

Human from page 2

“I never dreamed in a million years that anyone in my administration would – in actuality or perception – use

their position with the county for personal gain.”John m. beCKer (r,C,i - sullivAn)

ChAirmAn, mAdison CountY boArd oF suPervisors

I was deficient in Arithmetic and Grammar, I am about to start an ‘Opposition School.’

My purpose in doing this is to cause the trustees to lose as much as they refused to rasie my salary. I have secured the good will of the scholars by leniency in school, by taking them to Morrisville for a ride, and promising hem a croquet set, hoops, and the use of our “parlor,” etc., etc. I have secured an able assistant in my work and also a “preceptress.”

To fill the first position, Rev. (so styling himself) Mr. Dudleigh has been secured. His first work ws to write an article for the “Dispatch,” in which he lauded me as having the brought the school to its present standard of excellence

and styling me “preceptress” while in the same article Mrs. Cramer who is to fill the same position was spoken of as only “assistant.”

He was found so skillful in puffing himself while in Cazenovia, that he proved a valuable aid to me in my efforts. He will supervise my work, staying here two nights a week, and with a Perryville lady when not otherwise occupied. He will visit the Clockville school-teacher in case he should be too late for the cards. The main plan of the school has been made by Mrs. Martha Downer, better known as “Old Marth.” I am to teach music, though I never took three terms in my life and I have no doubt that I can teach Prof. Barnes “a thousand things.”

Though Mrs. Downer does dress like a girl of sixteen, she is far past forty and has ‘a world of experience,’ which she is ready to give to all the innocent girls. My school room is far from pleasant, as it has but two substitutes for windows, and we shall be obliged to pass through it at all hours of the day. Not long ago, “Cousin” Wm. called at the district school to visit Mrs. Cramer, wishing to see her discomfited, accompanied y “Rev.” Mr. Dudleigh, I followed Wm. up and added to her embarrassment by my presence.

You know my object. You see my manner of working. You know my assistant and my “preceptress.” I ask you to patronize me.

Louisa Downer.

This piece was dated Peterboro, Aug. 12, 1881, in the “Morrisville Abuser Print.” There is more legalese that followed, which we have omitted. I thought this was quite a bit of parody and wry humor, although it is libelous to Louisa Downer. I haven’t found the result of the action, but I feel it would be anti-climactic.

Robert Betz is an independent amateur historian who has volunteered for the past two years in the Madison County Archives in the Clerk’s Office. While working there three days a week, Betz has recaptured stories of Madison County’s past ‘out of the dust.’ His columns are taken directly from the county’s historic documents and written in the vernacular of the era.

History from page 16


smallcollege

BIGresults

closeto home

Utica Campus201 Bleecker StreetUtica, New York

Oneonta Campus17 Elm StreetOneonta, New York

Canastota CampusRoute 5 & DominicBruno Blvd.Canastota, New York

Locations:

1.800.321.4USCwww.uscny.edu

Weekly Open HouseFridays - 1:00pm

Call to reserve a spot or feel free to drop in!

Ac.101 Principles of Accounting I T/TH 12:45-2:05 3Ac.102 Principles of Accounting II* M/W 11:00-12:20 3Ac.204 Cost Accounting* M/W 9:30-10:50 3Ac.205 Financial Statements Analysis* M/W 8:00-9:20 3Ac.206 Federal Tax Accounting* T/TH 9:30-10:50 3Ac.208 Intermediate Accounting* M/W 12:45-2:05 3Cs.101 Computer Concepts M/W 12:45-2:05 3Cs.102 Computer Applications with Spreadsheets and Database* T/TH 11:00-12:20 3Cs.113 Operating Systems* M/W 8:00-9:20 3Cs.114 Hardware Concepts* T/TH 8:00-9:20 3Ec.101 Macroeconomics T/TH 8:00-9:20 3En.101 English Communication M/W 8:00-9:20 3En.102 English Composition* M/W 9:30-10:50 3Et.210 Ethics M//W 11:00-12:20 3Ma.101 Mathematics M/W 9:30-10:50 3Me.101 Anatomy & Physiology M/W 11:00-12:20 3Me.108 Introduction to Pharmacology* M/W 8:00-9:20 3Me.110 Medical Transcription I* M/W 12:45-2:05 3Oa.101M Medical Office Administration* T/TH 12:45-2:05 3Oa.201 Health Records Management* M/W 9:30-10:50 3Om.202 Administrative Seminar* T/TH 9:30-10:50 3Ps.101 Introduction to Psychology T/TH 12:45-2:05 3Re.101 Office Procedures M/W 9:30-10:50 3Ty.101 Keyboarding I T/TH 11:00-12:20 3Ty.102 Keyboarding II* T/TH 8:00-9:20 3Wp.101 Word Processing T/TH 9:30-10:50 3Wp.103 Word Processing/Machine Transcription* M/W 11:00-12:20 3

Ac.101 Principles of Accounting I M 6:00-8:50 3Ac.102 Principles of Accounting II* M 6:00-8:50 3Ba.105 Human Resource Management T 6:00-8:50 3Ba.202 Marketing TH 6:00-8:50 3Ba.207 Management Processes W 6:00-8:50 3Cs.101 Computer Concepts W 6:00-8:50 3Cs.102 Computer Applications with Spreadsheets and Database* W 6:00-8:50 3En.101 English Communication T 6:00-8:50 3En.102 English Composition* T 6:00-8:50 3In.101 Introduction to Insurance T 6:00-8:50 3Ma.101 Mathematics TH 6:00-8:50 3Me.101 Anatomy & Physiology TH 6:00-8:50 3Me.104 Medical Insurance and Coding* W 6:00-8:50 3Me.204 Advanced Medical Coding* S 8:00-10:50 3Oa.101M Medical Office Administration* M 6:00-8:50 3Oa.201 Health Records Management* W 6:00-8:50 3Om.202 Administrative Seminar* TH 6:00-8:50 3Ps.101 Introduction to Psychology M 6:00-8:50 3Re.101 Office Procedures M 6:00-8:50 3Ty.101 Keyboarding I S 8:00-10:50 3Ty.102 Keyboarding II* S 8:00-10:50 3Wp.101 Word Processing TH 6:00-8:50 3Wp.103 Word Processing/Machine TH 6:00-8:50 3 Transcription*

Ac.101 Principles of Accounting I 3Ac.209 Non-Profit Accounting* 3Ba.105 Human Resource Management 3Ba.202 Marketing 3Ba.213 Small Business Management 3Cs.101 Computer Concepts 3Cs.102 Computer Applications with 3 Spreadsheets and Database*Cs.112 Logic and Program Design* 3Cs.211 Automated Accounting* 2Cs.316 Networking I: Server Operations 3

Ec.101 Macroeconomics 3Ec.102 Microeconomics 3En.101 English Communication 3En.102 English Composition* 3Ma.101 Mathematics 3Me.101 Anatomy and Physiology 3Me.102 Medical Terminology 3Me.107 Diseases of the Human Body* 3Me.108 Introduction to Pharmacology* 3Ps.101 Introduction to Psychology 3Sk.101 Study Skills 1

CANASTOTA SPRING SEMESTER 2010 DAY CLASSES

ASK ABOUT OUR PER CREDIT HOUR TUITION!

Register Now! 697-8200SPRING CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 19, 2010

EEOC

CANASTOTA SPRING SEMESTER 2010 NIGHT CLASSES

SPRING SEMESTER 2010 ONLINE CLASSES

* Prerequisite May Be Required. Schedule Subject to ChangePlease Note: Students are limited to 50% of their program courses online

$99

Grinch

Grinch from page 3

CountY budGet - 6

Grinch from page 3CountY budGet - 6

Grinch from page 3

01-2010madcc-printme

Documents

rome vw

news tips

recycling committee

vw new vehicle warranty

sales tax

vw certifi ed vehicles

com08 vw jetta sedan

landfill decomposition