By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

A recently-released state audit of village finances and financial procedures criticized the existence of large unappropriated, unreserved fund balances. The audit covering June 1, 2009 to Sept.30, 2010 also pointed out numerous issues in how revenues and expenses are handled, spent and overseen.

The Board of Trustees has already made changes to address many of the audit's criticisms. Mayor Margaret Miller has not responded to an email asking for comment.

Read the complete audit.

The audit shows the general fund had a fund balance of $1.3 million and the water fund had one of $703,000. The audit noted that in spite of these surpluses, the village raised taxes and water rates.

The audit criticized the board, which it said "... consistently overestimated expenditures and underestimated revenues over the last five years, which resulted in annual operating surpluses and increases to fund balance totaling approximately $718,000 in the general fund and $275,000 in the water fund. Despite these surpluses, the Board increased the Village’s real property tax levy by approximately $200,000 during the past fi ve years. The Board also increased the water rates in three of the last five years by $0.35 per cubic foot for Village residents and $0.43 per cubic foot for properties outside of the Village limits. The $1.3 million in unreserved, unappropriated fund balance in the general fund represented 96 percent of the Village’s last year’s tax levy."

Miller was not mayor at the time of the audit, but was a member of the board of trustees; Sue McVaugh was the mayor. Ronda Winn, who served as clerk-treasurer at the time of the audit, resigned last year, and the village split those duties and hired a new treasurer. At the same time Sean Graham was named village administrator.

The audit also citied other issues:

• The board also did not ensure that the clerk-treasurer add delinquent water and sewer rents onto the account holders’ property taxes. Instead, the village pursued collection of unpaid water and sewer rents in court system, a violation of village law.

• The clerk-treasurer was not reconciling the village’s bank account in a timely manner, and was not making appropriate corrections to the accounting records identified during the bank account reconciliation process. As a result, the Clerk-Treasurer was creating inaccurate financial records that did not provide an accurate picture of the village’s finances. These discrepancies were not identified because the mayor was not performing an effective review of the clerk-treasurer’s bank reconciliations.

• The board does not have non-payroll cash disbursement or claims processing policies in place. The Clerk-Treasurer performs incompatible duties, such as maintaining accounting records and performing disbursement transactions, without any supervisory or Board oversight. As a result, unauthorized or improper non-payroll cash disbursements could be made and not detected in a timely manner.Also, because the Board has not established claims processing procedures, claims against the Village were not always audited. The claims that arrive after the Board meeting and before the date the checks are issued are not audited by the Board. In addition, Village officials used three debit cards to purchase items that were direct charges to the Village’s checking account and circumvented the claims audit process. The Board’s failure to ensure that all claims are audited and approved prior to payment increases the risk that the Village could erroneously pay for items that are not authorized or valid Village expenditures, make duplicate payments, or pay for goods and services that have not actually been received.

• We also found that village officials did not always comply with General Municipal Law when making purchases. Village officials did not use competitive bidding for three of 10 purchases totaling $71,048 for two pickup trucks, a tractor, and a lawnmower. Additionally, for another purchase for a fi re rescue truck totaling $532,393, Village officials were unable to locate the bid documentation. Also, Village officials inappropriately restricted vendor competition when purchasing a garbage truck for $129,450 by failing to adopt a standardizing resolution and by using bid advertisements that solely stipulated the product of a particular manufacturer. The village could have saved $1,178 had it purchased the truck from the lowest bidder.

Included in the audit are the village's responses to recommendations made by auditors. The recommendations and the village responses include:

Recommendation: Village officials should use excessive fund balance identified in this report in a manner that benefit village taxpayers.

• Response: Village officials have discussed the use of fund balance for one time expenses, increasing capital reserves, and have considered the use to offset property taxes for future budgets.

Recommendation: The board should ensure that budget estimates are reasonable.

• Response: The board is now projecting expenses by tracking revenue and expenses more closely.

Recommendation: The board should ensure that the clerk-treasurer prepares and submits necessary financial reports to the board, so that it is able to monitor the village's budget and financial condition.

• Response: The treasurer will provide monthly financial reports to the board at their monthly meeting.

Recommendation: The clerk-treasurer should provide the board with a delinquent water and sewer rents report at the end of the fiscal year. The board shopuld ensure that the clerk-treasurer adds the delinquent water and sewer rents to the rea property taxes of the delinquent water and sewer account holders.

• Response: The report will be given to the board and the delinquent water and sewer rents will be relieved by a resolution from the board.

Recommendation: The clerk-treasurer should accurately prepare the village's bank account reconciliations in a timely manner and record all adjusting entries in the appropriate accounts. The mayor should review the clerk-treasurer's adjusting entries during her review of the bank reconciliations.

• Response: The bank accounts are reconciled up-to-date. The administrator now opens and reviews the bank statements, including returned checks. The mayor will review journal entries.

Recommnedation: The board should establish and adopt comprehensive policies and procedures for cash disbursements and claims auditing.

• Response: The board will develop policies and procedures and will adopt by resolution as soon as possible.

Recommendation: The board should segregate the duties of the clerk-treasurer so that this individual does not control all aspects of any financial transaction. If it is not feasible to adequately segregate the clerk-treasurer's duties, the board shoould establish compensating controls to routinely monitor and review the work of the clerk-treasurer.

• Response: Reorganization of staff was done by resolution. Duties have been segregated; one individual does not hace control over financial transactions.

Recommendation: The board should ensure that all claims against the village are submitted to the board for audit before they are paid.

• Response: No claims will be paid unless audited; passed by resolution.

Recommnedation: The board should document its audit of specific claims in the minutes of its proceedings. Also, the board should ensure that the minutes identify which claims have been audited and approved. After claims have been audited and approved, the board must ensure that the mayor signs an abstract of audited claimss directing the clerk-treasurer to pay the claimants the allowed amounts.

• Response: The minutes will reflect a numeric/alpha combination with the dollar amounts listed, that will correlate with the same numeric/alpha combination identified on each month's abstracts. The mayor will sign the abstracts of audited claims each month.

Recommendation: Village officials should discontinue the use of debit card.

• Response: The debit cards have been destroyed.

Recommendation: The board should closely monitor the purchasing process to ensure that purchases are made in accordance with GML.

• Response: The board will monitor the purchasing process more closely. The board has also reviewed the current adopted produrement policy.

Recommendation:village officials should maintain their purchasing documentation for six years after the final payment is made, as required by law.

• Response: The board adopted records retention and disposition schedule MU-1 and will follow those regulations.

Recommendation: The board should take an active role on reviewing equipment specifications prior to advertsing for bids, especially when using specifications based on a specific product, to avoid using unduly restrictive labguage in the specifications and stifling competition.

• Response: The board will review equipment specifications and avoid using restrictive language.





By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The Colgate University Department of Music presents the men's vocal ensemble Cantus in concert Sunday, Feb. 12 in Memorial Chapel at 3:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.  A reception will immediately follow.

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

by Barbara Coger, Library Director

Exceptional artists from central New York will be honored at a reception at Hamilton Public Library, Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend. 

Among the agencies represented are ARISE, Heritage Farm, Madison/Lewis ARC, Madison/Oneida ARC, and Madison County ARC Seniors.This exhibit will be on display until March 23. 

Our annual Community Art Show will follow this exhibit, so there is still time for artists to complete current projects. All forms of artwork will be considered and all ages are welcome to display one piece of their work. This is a non-juried show, so don’t be hesitant to bring in your favorite item.

New book titles for children include: The Lego Ideas Book, Don’t Wake Mr. Bear by Jill Newton, and Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed by Eileen Christelow.

The library is open Monday-Friday, 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm. Please call the library, (315) 824-3060, during these hours for assistance. The book drop on Broad Street is always open for your convenience. Check the library’s Facebook page for up-to-date information about programs and special events.

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The Colgate women's hockey team will host its second annual Light Up Starr Rink Blue event during its home game against ECAC Hockey opponent Union tonight at 7.
 
The event will mark the beginning of the team's 2012 Autism Awareness Project. The Raiders are looking to have over 1,200 fans help them celebrate their Autism Awareness Project by wearing light blue to the game. The first 300 fans to arrive at Starr Rink will receive a free light blue special event t-shirt courtesy of Price Chopper, Crows, Oliveri's, the Colgate Bookstore, the Colgate Inn, the Hamilton Inn and Seven Oaks. Any fan wearing light blue, the color of autism, will get in for free.

The team will also wear special autism jerseys designed by Christian Mast, an 11-year-old from the area. Christian is an author, hockey player, student, friend, brother and son who has autism, a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. It is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
 
The jerseys will be auctioned off through an online silent auction that will begin on Feb. 3 after the game.

In addition to other prizes, the Raiders will host their Inter-Greek Challenge once again, offering a prize to the Greek organization with the highest percentage of members wearing blue at the Union game. Gilligan's will also be selling blue ice cream with proceeds going towards the project.

The team created this project in support of Kati Williams, a teenager from Norwich. Kati has been an avid fan of Colgate women's hockey for several years and now works as the team manager. She has Asperger's Syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

For more information about the auction and the project's events please visit www.colgate.edu/autism.

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

By   Fri, Feb 03, 2012

By   Mon, Jan 30, 2012

Colgate President Jeffrey Herbst today announced the selection of Douglas A. Hicks as provost and dean of the faculty, effective July 1. Hicks also will serve as professor of religion.

Hicks has spent the past 13 years at the University of Richmond, where he currently serves as professor of leadership studies and religion in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. He is the author of four books, including With God on All Sides: Leadership in a Devout and Diverse America (Oxford University Press, 2009) and Religion and the Workplace (Cambridge University Press, 2003). He has been published widely on academic presses and contributes opinion articles on issues of religion and public life to the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal and other newspapers.

"Doug Hicks has distinguished himself as an outstanding scholar, teacher, and leader," said Herbst. "He will be a critical contributor as we advance our ambitious academic and institutional vision to maintain high educational standards while growing ever more diverse, accessible, technological, and international. His background and intellect will be invaluable."

Hicks graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in 1990 with honors in economics. He earned an MDiv from Duke University, and went on to earn MA and PhD degrees from Harvard University's program in the study of religion, with a specialization in religion, ethics, and economics. He studied in 1997-1998 as an exchange scholar in Yale University's department of religious studies. He also served on the Board of Trustees at Duke.

In assuming Colgate's top academic post, Hicks will succeed Bruce Selleck, interim provost and dean of the faculty. Selleck, who graduated from Colgate in 1971 and joined the faculty in 1974, will continue in his role as Harold Orville Whitnall Professor of geology.

Hicks joins Colgate along with his wife Catherine Bagwell, PhD, a highly accomplished scholar with a specialty in child and developmental psychology. Presently serving as MacEldin Trawick Professor in psychology at Richmond, she will be appointed professor of psychology at Colgate. They will reside in Hamilton with their two children, Noah and Ada.

Source: Colgate

By   Sat, Jan 28, 2012

The Colgate women's hockey team will partner with Autism Speaks, ViewSonic and Goals for Good in its 2012 Autism Awareness Project.
 
The Raiders will launch the 2012 project with their annual Light Up Starr Rink Blue event that will take place on Feb. 3 in its ECAC Hockey matchup against Union at 7 p.m.
 
“We are thrilled to continue our work with Autism Speaks and have added some great new partners this year,” stated head coach Scott Wiley. “We really wanted to build on the momentum we created in 2011 by adding new and exciting elements to the project through new partnerships and initiatives. This year we added ViewSonic and Goals for Good as partners and we look forward to working with them to achieve this year's goals which are to raise $30,000, broaden our outreach efforts, and provide resources and networking for people on the autism spectrum.”
 
The team will partner with Autism Speaks once again this season. Last year, Colgate partnered with Autism Speaks U and established a Colgate chapter to support the work of Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization.
 
“I am excited to attend the second annual event and thankful to the Colgate women's hockey team for organizing this event,” stated Autism Speaks' Walk-Events Manager, Melissa Zavorski. “The team's efforts to raise awareness of autism at Colgate University are so greatly appreciated. Autism Speaks is dedicated to changing the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders; our mission includes funding autism research, developing family services tools, raising awareness, and advocating for autism treatments to be covered by insurance. The Autism Awareness Project is such a wonderful example of how students can raise awareness in their community and we can't thank the Colgate women's hockey team enough for their efforts.”
 
One of two new partners to the project this season is consumer electronic company, ViewSonic, which will be donating five Viewbook 10e tablet computers to the project. These tablet computers will be given to families in need of a communication device for their family member on the spectrum.

“For ViewSonic to be able to donate to a worthy cause is goodness and fulfilling unto itself," said Jeff Volpe, ViewSonic President of Americas and father of sophomore forward Taylor Volpe. "But for our tablet technology to make a difference in a person's life beyond work and play is incredible. We are grateful and proud to be associated with Colgate which has been such an advocate and leader in the Autism Awareness Project this past year.”
 
The second new partner added to the project this year is Goals for Good, an initiative created in 2011 by senior Kevin McNamara from the Colgate men's hockey team. The mission of the project is to provide a vehicle inspiring people to donate to chosen non-profit organizations through collegiate ice hockey competition. Men's and women's ECAC Hockey teams have partnered with a charity and Goals For Good hopes to bring an increased amount of aid and awareness to these charities this season.
 
"I think that it is great that the men's team (Colgate) and Goals For Good is going to be involved with the Autism Awareness Project,” stated McNamara. “The women's team has always done an outstanding job with this project, and my teammates and I are hoping we can help. Coach Wiley was instrumental in helping Goals For Good get off of the ground, and we always spoke about teaming the Autism Awareness Project and Goals For Good together. We are all very excited about the upcoming games, auctions, and raffles to raise money and awareness for these causes."

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Jan 27, 2012

By   Thu, Jan 26, 2012

With a 3-0 (25-11, 25-11, 25-19) win over Cooperstown at home last night and Sauquoit Valley's loss to Westmoreland, the HCS volleyball team clinched Center State Conference Division 3 championship.

Hamilton is now 12-3 overall and 8-1 in leage play.

Coach Dennis Roy said that for the second match in a row the Emerald Knights started strong and kept the momentum with solid defense and minimizing offensive errors. Emily Powrie and Carrie von Muench combined for 12 kills each. Von Muench also helped anchor the defense with 17 digs, while Morgan Brooks collected 16 digs.  

Roy said that this was the third straight match in whci h his squad served above 90%.

HCS plays at Morrisville-Eaton Friday.

By   Thu, Jan 26, 2012

The proposed merger between HCS and the Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools, which seemed to have been forgotten late last year, is back on. In fact, the first meeting on the topic is planned for early next month.

On Feb. 8, a meeting of the two school boards will be held at Morrisville State College to explain the process and get it started. The consulting group conducting the student will be there, and it is open to the public.

On Tuesday HCS Superintendent Diana Bowers said arrangements have been made with the state Education Department to create a timeline and to schedule payments of the money.

Bowers also said that in addition to a study of the two districts merging, other scenarios -- i.e. just merging the districts' business offices for example -- will also be studied.

The Feb. 8 meeting is the first step in a process expected to take some two years. Residents of each district will part of the study committees. Once the study is done, both districts must vote o approve it. If both agree, the pro[posal goes to the state Education Department for approval. If it is approved, then the two districts  take a second vote.

The Madison and Stockbridge Valley will be going through a similar study about the same time.

A merger between four districts in Oneida County just failed on the first vote. 

By   Wed, Jan 25, 2012

UPDATE: NPR Story explains why natural gas prices are so low right now.

At a time when it seems every line of the HCS budget increases -- except for state aid -- the creation of a local natural gas utility could offer the school district some significant savings.

That was the takeaway from a meeting this evening at which Mayor Margaret Miller and Village Administrator Sean Graham explained the financial benefits of creating a municipal utility that would supply natural gas -- at first -- to Colgate, Community Memorial Hospital and HCS. Graham said the school district could save about $125,000 a year in heating costs based on today's gas prices; that's about a 47 percent savings.

Graham said Colgate estimates a savings of 56 percent and the hospital 39 percent.

The possible switch from number two fuel oil to natural gas could come at an opportune time for HCS. Business Manager Matt Crumb said the district's boilers are in need of considerable updating or replacement. 

Graham said that if all goes right, the utility could be in operation in about two years. Once the lines are installed and the major consumers connected, the utility would make natural gas available to residential customers, if it made financial sense.

The village board holds a public meeting Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. on the topic. If the board of trustees approves going ahead with the utility, there would be a vote by village residents April 17.

Graham said the village would issue bonds for from between $2.7 million and $7 million to create the infrastructure to bring the natural gas from one of two nearby pipelines to the village. He said the utility's operation would be paid for by customers.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Miller said the village is also looking at other, sustainable fuels, including a possible photovoltaic array at the airport.

By   Wed, Jan 25, 2012

At a meeting this evening, HCS Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers laid out six pages of paper and said the tightly-spaced type on them was an explanation of the various state funds the district receives and how they are calculated. She joked that even she didn't understand everything it said.

But, she made it simple for the folks who were gathered at the "community leaders" meeting:

1. HCS faces a $300,000 deficit between what it expects to raise in taxes and what it gets from the state, and all of its expenses;
2. That state aid to the district is increasing just .58 percent or $23,000 in 2012-2013, but quickly added, "We'll be happy with every little bit we can get."
3. The much ballyhooed 2 percent tax cap is not really limited to 2 percent; under the law passed last year by the legislature and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo HCS' "maximum allowable levy" is more like 2.25 percent.
4. And, finally, creating the 2012-2013 budget -- expected to be about $12 million -- means making lots of little cuts, because all of the major savings have already been made in previous years.

"We hope we have seen the worst," said Bowers. "But, we are going to have to make decisions that we wish we didn't have to make. There are no decisions we can make any more without hurting kids."

She added that now that the the district has an idea of how much state aid it can expect, budget preparations can begin in earnest. She said, "The entire budget is up for grabs. We have to look at everything, everywhere.

Bowers said there is a retirement incentive program available to some veteran teachers. She said she had no idea how many members of the HCS staff might accept it.

She also said that superintendents within the Oneida-Madison BOCES have been meeting with elected officials to plead their schools' cases, and distributed a fact sheet local residents can use when contacting Albany officials.

By   Tue, Jan 24, 2012

The Colgate women's hockey team will kick off its second annual Autism Awareness Project during its home contest against Union on Feb. 3 at Starr Rink.
 
The project, which was first launched in January, 2011, was created in support of team manager and avid Colgate women's hockey fan, Kati Williams, a local teenager from Norwich. Kati has Asperger's Syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
 
“We are really excited to kick off our 2012 Autism Awareness Project and are hoping to build on the success we had in 2011,” stated head coach Scott Wiley. “Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. in which there is no cure or medical detection. Our goals are to continue to raise awareness, educate Colgate and surrounding communities about autism, and raise funds to assist local and national agencies that support people and families that are managing autism.”
 
Last season, the team partnered with Autism Speaks U and established a Colgate chapter to support the work of Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization. The Raiders raised over $18,000 for their chosen charities, increased awareness through their outreach programs, and helped educate Colgate and surrounding communities about autism. They also took part in the Walk Now for Autism event and were recognized by the National Hockey League (NHL) for their efforts at the 2011 Face-Off for a Cure gala in April. Most recently the team was also recognized for its efforts by the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Dec. 3.

This year, the women's hockey team is looking to build on the momentum it created in 2011 by adding new and exciting elements to the project through new partnerships and initiatives. The Raiders' goals are to raise $30,000, broaden their outreach efforts, and provide resources and networking for people on the autism spectrum.
 
The money raised through the project will go to Autism Speaks of Central New York, the Family Resource Network, The Kelberman Center, The OZ Project, and the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA).

Source: Colgate

By   Mon, Jan 23, 2012

Word has been received here that Stanley Newell Kinney, Colgate associate professor of English emeritus, died in Asheville, NC Dec. 31, at the age of 93.  

He earned his degrees from Michigan State University (AB, MA) and the University of Michigan (PhD).  Professor Kinney retired in 1978.
 
During his Colgate tenure that began in 1949, Professor Kinney served as debate coach for several years and was instrumental in the formation of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, for which he served as faculty adviser and corporation president. 

In 1965 the Colgate Alumni Corporation awarded him a Maroon Citation in recognition of his service as director of the Colgate Alumni Service office in New York City, which assisted hundreds of alumni in finding the right job.  Professor KInney served as director of the then Placement Office (currently Career Services) for 20 years, a post he held at the time of his retirement.
 
  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jane.

By   Sun, Jan 22, 2012

The 2011-12 Alliance Bank Children’s Matinee Series kicks off for the spring at the Hamilton Theater Saturday, at 12:30 p.m. with Kung Fu Panda 2, sponsored by the HCS Teachers’ Association. There will be a martial arts exhibition by students from Pinney’s American Karate School before the movie.

Thanks to Alliance Bank, in partnership with individual film sponsors and campus partners, admission to all films in the series is free for children and adults. This marks the ninth year that Alliance Bank is sponsoring the children’s series.

“We are extremely grateful to Alliance Bank, and to our individual film sponsors, for making this series available to the community,” said Hamilton Theater’s Chuck Fox. He said nearly 3,600 children and family members enjoyed the series last year.

Saturday children’s films feature a special highlight to complement the movie. This spring’s schedule will include animals from Spring Farms Cares, a special exhibit by Rogers Environmental Education Center and a performance by students from Joy’s Dance Studio.

The complete schedule includes:

• Jan. 28- Kung Fu Panda 2 (HCS Teachers’ Assoc.),
• Feb. 4- Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (Paul Oil Co.),
• Feb. 11- Tooth Fairy(Reality Check),
• Feb. 18- The Smurfs (Damian’s Automotive),
• Feb. 25- Clifford’s Really Big Movie (Nilles Ford and Mercury),
• March 3- Megamind (Den Kelly Chevrolet),
• March 10 - The Ant Bully (Hamilton Chiropractic Health Center),
• March 17- The Secret of Kells (Rusch’s Bar and Grill),
• March 24- Hop (Witter Construction),
• March  31- Happy Feet (Catania Chiropractic).

For information, call 824-8210.

By   Fri, Jan 13, 2012

It may or may not have been by design, but the Town of Hamilton board and new Supervisor Eve Ann Shwartz made it very clear at tonight's regular monthly meeting that the new year is bringing with it a new way of doing business. And, it is bringing new people in some key positions.

At tonight's reorganization meeting, the board discussed, among other things, replacing two key appointed officials:

• Assessor Dave Roach
• and Codes Enforcement Officer Geoff Worden.

The board has already sought applicants to replace Roach, who was at the center of last year's highly controversial property revaluation fiasco. Three of the eight people who applied will be interviewed at a special meeting Jan. 16. The board expects to appoint a new assessor on Jan. 23.

Shwartz said all of the applicants were well qualified for the position.

Worden, was given a three-month appointment tonight instead of a normal full year to give the board time to find a replacement. Shwartz said questions have been raised about his performance in the past.

Also at the meeting, a variety of steps were announced that demonstrate Shwartz intends to get the town's financial house in order. Among steps being taken are:

• Contracting with Robert Tackabury at $1,000 per month to provide a variety of financial services, including ensuring proper filing of reports with the state and federal governments;
• Increasing the salary and hours of Linda Manchester, who will be a bookkeeper and secretary for Shwartz;
• Computerizing town financial transactions and synchronizing them between Tackabury, Manchester and Shwartz so they are readily available;
• Creating a new system for tracking bills to be paid and making that information available to council members;
• Consolidating all of the town's money now in several certificates of deposit (CDs), checking and savings accounts into one money market account with Alliance Bank, which had been named the town's official bank. The CDs, which pay just .8 percent interest are coming due, as are other ones, which pay no interest;
• A plan to establish reserve funds for future expenses will be presented in the coming months, something Shwartz called "a priority;"
• Creation of a four or five year financial plan to forecast and deal with capital equipment needs;
• and Shwartz will be the town's budget officer. This is standard practice for towns, but the previous Supervisor Bob Kuiper had appointed council member Peter Darby to that post.   

Shwartz and new Council Member Chris Rossi both campaigned heavily in last fall's election on the need to get the town's financial situation straightend out.

A damning audit by the Office of the State Comptroller in 2009 found numerous problems with how town finances were handled and uncovered more than $1 million in what it said were surplus funds. The audit also found that bank statements had not been opened let alone reconciled and that mandatory reports had not been filed.

Little improved in the last two years, when some of the surplus was used to reduce taxes and a property revaluation was performed that drove up assessments and angered taxpayers. Many of those assessments were reduced.

In addition, the town struggled to create a budget for this year, often not knowing how much money it had. Several members of the council felt they were not given sufficient information needed to make decisions and cast informed votes.

By   Wed, Jan 11, 2012

The village Board of Trustees tonight took the first steps toward possibly creating a utility to sell natural gas much like the one it has now that provides electricity to local residents.

The board will hold a public hearing about creating the municipal utility in conjunction with its Feb. 14 regular meeting, and could hold the required public vote on the issue as early as April 17. A simple majority of those voting is required to approve the creation of the utility. 

The possibility of providing natural gas to customers in the village has been on the table for a number of months. So far it has discussed selling natural gas from wells east of here to Colgate, HCS and Community Memorial Hospital. It could expand the sale to other business, institutions and eventually residents as the infrastructure is built.

It has been said at previous board meetings that Colgate is actively seeking a supply of natural gas, as it expects considerable savings and also a reduction of emissions.

At tonight's meeting the board, the board approved taking initial steps in the state environmental review process, but village Attorney Jim Stokes said the approval does not commit the village to anything else. This is, he said, the most preliminary step in the process.

Mayor Margaret Miller said former Colgate communications director and assistant to the president Jim Leach is preparing an informational handouts to be shared with residents.

In the past the board made it clear that the gas will be coming from existing wells and is becoming available because of pipelines close to the village.

Read this from the June 16, 2012 meeting.

By   Wed, Jan 11, 2012

Anne Clauss, who was elected to the village Board of Trustees last June as part of the Bullthistle Party ticket, is resigning her seat next month and being replaced for a Democrat who ran for and lost in last November's Town of Hamilton council election.

Mayor Margaret Miller announced Clauss' departure and her appointment of Dominick Pangallao at tonight's regular village board meeting.

Clauss is stepping down because she is leaving Hamilton. Her husband Karl, associate vice president for institutional advancement; and director of capital and annual support at Colgate, has just been named VP for advancement and alumni affairs at Swarthmore College near Philadelphia. He will be working for Swarthmore's President Rebecca Chop, who formerly was president at Colgate.

After tonight's meeting, Clauss said it was "bittersweet" to be leaving Hamilton. She said she and her family have been here for almost 10 years.

Karl Clauss is a Colgate graduate and was a captain of the men's hockey team his senior year of 1990.

She graduated from Princeton and earned an MBA from Harvard and has worked at Colgate for the past six years.

Pangallo's run for town council was his first try for elected office, but he is no stranger to politcs or government. He was active in both when he lived in Massachussets.

He is a stay-at-home dad and is active in programs at the Palace Theater. His wife Kristin is an assistant professor in Colgate's chemistry department.

By   Sun, Jan 08, 2012

By   Sun, Jan 08, 2012

by Barb Coger, Hamilton Public Library Director

The Hamilton Public Library hosts its annual Community Art Exhibit in April, so now’s the time to be thinking about what you might like to display. All forms of art work will be accepted. There is a limit of one item per person. Over the years we have seen a fantastic array of wall art, basketry, jewelry, pottery, fabric arts, woodwork, photography and other creative pieces of art work.

As a reminder, suggestions for technology classes this spring are now being accepted. We have a list of suggested topics and welcome your input.

The library has state and federal income tax forms available and will once again host free tax preparation assistance.

The library will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr Day.

The library is usually open Monday-Friday, 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm. Call the library at 824-3060, during these hours for assistance. The book drop on Broad Street is always open for your convenience. 

By   Sun, Jan 08, 2012

Lindsey Brandolini Hoham knows a bit about saving money and shares that with a program she calls Not- So-Extreme Couponing and other Money-Saving Tips program on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 6:30 pm. in Hamilton Public Library’s Community Room.

The program is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food, paper goods, or personal care items to donate to the Food Cupboard, preferably something purchased with a coupon.

Topics to be covered include basic couponing and deal match ups, making a coupon binder, easy and free rewards programs, saving money online, and using your smart phone to save money.

By   Sun, Jan 08, 2012

The teams have been set for the fifth annual Hamilton Feud, a quiz show based on  the hit TV program Family Feud. It will be held at the Palace Theater Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

Playing for the Hamilton Lions Club are:

• Ahmad Khazaee,
• Matt Barber,
• Clara Lantz,
• Michelle Butzgy
• and John Butzgy.

Playing for the Hamilton Rotary are:

• David Craine,
• Aurelius Henderson,
• Bobby Pennington,
• Gwen Parry Werner,
• Lindsey Hoham,
• and alternate Barb Albrecht.

Proceeds from the night benefit the two organizations.

By   Sun, Jan 08, 2012

The hometown fans have numerous opportunities to see Emerald Knights teams in action in the week ahead. All of the HCS winter sports teams have two games on tap, and all but two of them are at home.

Monday:

• volleyball hosts Stockbridge Valley
• boys basketbal team travels to Cooperstown.

Tuesday:

• girls basketball is home vs. Morrisville-Eaton
• hockey is home vs. Watertown

Wednesday:

• volleyball is home vs. Canastota
• boys basketball is home vs. Morrisville-Eaton

Thursday:

• girls basketball is home vs. Oriskany

Friday:

• hockey is at Central Square

Game times:

• volleyball starts at 5 p.m. with the JV;
• boys and girls basketball begins at 6 p.m. with the JV;
• hockey is 7 p.m. Tuesday and 6:15 p.m. Friday

By   Sat, Dec 31, 2011

The Lifelong Learning Program offers a variety of classes as the new session begins.

Members may choose as many classes as you wish. Non-members will be charged $5.00 per session (e.g., a four-session course would be $20).

Classes include:

• Microsoft Windows 7 and Office 2010 Interactive Support Tutorials: Harvey Kliman; Wednesdays, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 14, April 11 from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Hamilton Public Library

• Visualization Lab Show: Life: A Cosmic Story: Joe Eakin; Thursday, January 12 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm at the Ho Tung Visualization Laboratory, Colgate University

• Crash Course in Jazz Appreciation: Kara Rusch; Tuesdays, January 17, 24, & 31 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Colgate Bookstore

• The One-Month Macbeth: Susan Cerasano; Thursdays, January 26 and February 2, 9, 16, & 23 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• Comfort, Compassion, and Care with Hospice and Palliative Care: Hospice Employees; Tuesdays, February 14 & 28 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• Middle East: Current Events in Context: Noor Khan; Wednesdays, February 29 and March 7, 21, & 28 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• Why the Great Recession: Government's Role and Limitations: David Sturges; Tuesdays, March 13, 20, & 27 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm at the Hamilton Public Library I will attend I will attend some sessions

• A Golden Potpourri - Readings from Some of My Favorite Works: Hugh Humphreys; Wednesdays, April 4, 11, 18, 25, and May 2 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• Putting the Sun to Work: Beth Parks; Thursdays, April 26 & May 3 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• "With Liberty and Justice for All?": The Pledge vs. the Plague: Dick Cheshire and Carl Albrecht; Tuesdays, May 15, 22, & 29 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Hamilton Public Library

• U.S. Immigration and Immigration Reform: Challenges and Opportunities: Ellen Kraly; Tuesday, June 26 & Thursday, June 28 from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Colgate Bookstore

Call 228-6623 for more details.

By   Wed, Dec 28, 2011

The National Weather Service is forecasting some winter weather for a change. Here's the outlook for what is supposed to be a lousy weather day today, the balance of the week and the start of the new year:

Today: Snow showers. Temperature falling to around 22 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind between 20 and 24 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -1. Breezy, with a west wind between 11 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of flurries after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 30. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of light snow. Cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: A chance of snow before 1pm, then rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 39. South wind between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after 7pm. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

New Year's Day: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy and breezy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 12.

Tuesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

By   Tue, Dec 27, 2011

By   Sun, Dec 25, 2011

So much for 2011.

It was the year of the Emerald Knight, the year of the Bullthistle and the year of town goverment debacles and change.

This was a time to welcome new people to the community, and a time to bid farewell to others.

See our Favorite Faces of 2011 slide show.

Hamilton weathered the storm that was 2011, but not without some bumps and bruises and basements filled with water.

Finally, it was the year that gave one longtime business a new look, gave another a new location, brought a new one nearby and gave yet another the boot.

And, the top stories of the year included:

1. Town of Hamilton finances fumbled (More), revaluation botched (More) and gets new leadership (More).

2. Bullthistle Party sweeps village election. More

3. HCS boys soccer team wins Class D State Champion. More

4. HCS potential merger with Morrisville-Eaton was in low gear. More

5. Newsweek ranks HCS in Top 500 Schools in U.S. More

6. Lyle Roelofs leaves Colgate for Berea College. More

7. Colgate contributes $300,000-plus to HCS. More

8. Colgate Inn gets $7.7 million redo. More

9. Parry's relocates to former Grand Union store. More

10. HCS softball team reaches state final four. More

Also @ HCS

• Buffalo business magaine rates HCS in top 100 Upstate schools. More

Also @ Village Hall

• Clerk Ronda Winn resigns More
• Agreement allows village to hang onto police Chief Rick Gifford. More

Also in Sports:

• Colgate men's hockey Coach Don Vaughan gets 300th victory. More
• HCS girls basketball team wins Section III Class D title.More
• Colgate men's basketball coach of 13 years Emmitt Davis is fired; becomes assistant at Tulsa.More
• Brian Rose named coach of the HCS girls soccer team.More
• Colgate's football coach Dick Biddle gets two-year contract renewal.More

Also @ Colgate:

• University announces major environmental initiatives More
• New VP for communications hired. More
• Charlotte Johnson departs for Darthmouth More

Also in the Arts:

• Earlville Opera House Celebrates 40th anniversary. More
• Hamilton International Film Festival grows; returning in 2012. More

Also in Business

• Rogers Market becomes Hamilton Eatery. More
• Peebles opens at Madison Marketplace. More
• Jane Porter Studio folds; replaced by artist cooperative. More

By   Sun, Dec 25, 2011

Earlville Mayor Mark A. Doeberl was arrested Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated.

State police said, Doebril, 50, was stopped at a police checkpoint on Route 12B Saturday afternoon. Police said his blood alchol level was .10 percent; the legal limit is .08 percent. Police said there was an open can of beer in the arm rest and an empty can on the rear floor.

Doeberl was appointed mayor of Earlville after former mayor Toni Campbell resigned and won election in March.

By   Sat, Dec 24, 2011

In a move to further internationalize Colgate's liberal arts core curriculum, 27 faculty members will begin the new year traveling through India for two weeks. The academic expedition was initiated by faculty and is being funded in part by a $100,000 Mellon Foundation new-president's grant awarded to President Jeffrey Herbst for his discretionary use.

"This trip, involving 10 percent of our faculty, represents a significant investment in Colgate's core curriculum, and also in our colleagues who bring it to life," said Herbst. "Colgate can be transformed by experiences such as this one, and serve as a model within higher education. There are few colleges and universities in the country which would have the ambition for such a large percentage of their faculty to travel to enhance scholarly perspectives and fewer still who could support such a venture."

Upon joining Colgate in 2010, Herbst vowed to strengthen the university's global perspective and invited faculty to propose ways to accomplish that goal.

Led by Eliza Kent, associate professor of religion, and Padma Kaimal, associate professor of art and art history and Asian studies, the structured program, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 13, will immerse participants in the nation's culture, history, and environment. Connie Harsh, director of University Studies, the division that includes the core, envisions that as a result of the 14-day expedition, faculty will expand their understanding of the world and will enrich their core courses with material they encounter.

The trip involves faculty from across the disciplines: English, environmental studies, biology, psychology, history, religion, philosophy, political science, geography, art and art history, sociology, anthropology, physics, Russian, Jewish studies, Asian studies, romance languages, and educational studies.

All participants teach in the core and are committed to its continued relevance to Colgate's increasingly diverse student body. Faculty members will share their experiences on a blog, Reflections from India, which also will show their daily whereabouts.

Colgate has a history of supporting faculty development and curricular enhancement through carefully designed travel experiences.

In 1986, a trip to Manchester, England, was instrumental in defining the curriculum for the precursor to today's Modernity course. In 1998, members traveled to Madrid, Granada, and Seville, Spain, to examine the intersections of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions. In 2002, faculty gained a stronger understanding of classical culture through travel to Rome. And trips to East Asia in 2004, 2005, and 2008, sponsored by the Freeman Foundation, supported course development across the curriculum.

Colgate was one of the first liberal arts institutions to offer faculty-led, semester-long international study programs, which continue to be a hallmark of a Colgate education. According to the Institute of International Education's 2009-2010 data, Colgate is ranked No. 3 nationally among baccalaureate institutions in the number of students who participated in semester-long study abroad programs. The university ranked No. 7 in the total number of students who studied abroad overall, including extended study trips.

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Dec 23, 2011

After sitting idle for much of the past year, it appears the study of a merger between the HCS and Morrisville-Eaton school districts could be getting into gear.

HCS Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers Thursday said she has spoken with MECS Superintendent Michael Drahos as well as representatives from the state Education Department and the SES Study Team consultants about beginning the process of studying a possible joining of the two districts. She said there will also be other studies to offer insights into how to help both districts deal with deepening fiscal woes.

While the state had approved the money for the study to be performed by the SES Study Team from Canastota, the fund had never been released. Bowers said the state is creating a schedule by which to make payments as the study process begins.

Bowers expects to sign papers at the state Education Department sometime next month, at which time the 18-month timeline to study and either accept or reject a merger recommendation would begin.

She reiterated the importance of community involvement, and reminded district residents that this is the very beginning and no decisions can be made without their involvement.

"We are exploring options for the district," said Bowers. "No decisions will be made without full public input and voting."

She also urged residents to watch the school's website to find out how the selection process for the citizen committee will work.

The merger process requires involvement by district residents at every stage, and each district must vote twice to approve the merger.

The SES Study Team is made up of three former educators: Dr. Paul M. Seversky, Doug A. Exley and Sam A. Shevat.

This from their website:

"The common elements followed by the Team to achieve customized studies includes:

• A focus on answering a set of questions by school district and community stakeholders;
• Inclusion of, and sensitivity to, all points of view from the communities involved;
• An approach that begins with the collection of data, a review of major findings, sharing of perceptions, recommendations based upon challenges and opportunities, and the modeling of potential options;
• The central role of school district instructional, instructional support, and administrative staff in providing comprehensive data for the study to use to answer the study question(s) posed by the client district(s);
• Public transparency of the work and data developed, compiled, and analyzed by the Study Team;
• The creation of a study report that becomes the prime useable tool by members of the communities as they decide how best to educate their children in the future.

"The Study Team brings a combined 104 years of public education experience to working with and helping school districts identify options in serving pupils and their communities. Each team member has served as a teacher, principal and superintendent of a K-12 school district. Doug and Sam each has served as a superintendent of a reorganized district through centralization. Paul has served as a superintendent of a district that explored reorganization and in a regional capacity as a Deputy District Superintendent of a BOCES. Sam has worked for a college to administer programs for public school pupils; Paul has taught graduate level courses in educational administration for 23 years; and Doug serves as a council member at a local university. The Study Team Members have provided consultant services to public school districts since 1998."

SES is currently conducting the merger study involving four Mohawk Valley school districts: Herkimer, Illion, Mohawk and Frankfort-Schuyler.

By   Mon, Dec 19, 2011

The village board of trustees will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. to consider changes to the zoning laws to -- in part --  address issues raised by efforts to locate a home affiliated with the A Better Chance (ABC) organization. This mission of this group, according to its website, "... is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. ".

The hearing will be held at the courthouse on Montgomery Street.

The ABC house would become home to between four and six students from outside the area so they could attend HCS. They would be supervised by a live-in staff and not their parents. It has been discussed at several previous board of trustees meetings.

Similar ABC houses are located in the Clinton and the Fayetteville-Manlius school districts.

In a letter in early November, organizers and supporters of the Hamilton ABC house said they  "... continue to work on several areas of the Hamilton ABC action plan including budget planning, fundraising, non-profit status, staff, HCS and Colgate support, ABC student recruitment and establishment of a local advisory board. The current target for opening the doors to Hamilton ABC scholars is Fall 2013." 

Signing that letter were John Cochran, Eric Cochran, Jill & Joe Baker, Merrill Miller, Ingrid Hale and Rachel Amann-Burns.

According to the village's legal notice about the meeting, the changes to the zoning law includes:

1. The definition of “FAMILY” would change to include a “FUNCTIONAL FAMILY UNIT.”
2. The following definition of “FUNCTIONAL FAMILY UNIT” would be added, which states in part: “A group of persons, not necessarily related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living, cooking and eating in and otherwise occupying one dwelling as a single housekeeping unit and who function as a family with respect to those characteristics that are consistent with the purposes of zoning and use restrictions in residential neighborhoods, as distinguished from persons occupying a boardinghouse, rooming house, or a dormitory.” Criteria have been established and would have to be met in order to show that the functional family household has stability in respect to the purposes set forth in the zoning code. A functional family unit would be allowed by right in all residential districts.
3. The definition “rooming house" or "boardinghouse” has been added and is defined as follows: “A building used for temporary or transient occupancy purposes by individuals not constituting a family or functional family unit who pay expenses by the room, or based on a share of total expenses of the dwelling. The term does not include a motel, hotel or group residence.” All dwelling units allowed as “group residences” in the current zoning code would now be classified as a “rooming house" or "boardinghouse".
4. The definition of “group residence” would be amended as follows: “A group of individuals occupying a single dwelling or dwelling unit as an integral component of a recognized program of physical or mental health rehabilitation, or other custodial care supervision and care living arrangement operated by a non-profit entity, with or without resident supervisory personnel. This term shall not include rooming houses, boarding houses, nursing homes, dormitories, sorority houses, fraternity houses, or similar facilities.”Group residences" as newly defined would be allowed by special permit and site plan review in all residential districts.
5. A number of other definitions and have been added or amended to accomplish the major proposed changes.
6. Fraternities and sororities located in an R1 district would be required to be licensed as part of the special permit process.

There will be an opportunity for residents to make comments at the public hearing. The3y can also file written statements by mailing them to:  Village of Hamilton, P.O. Box 119, Hamilton New York 13346-0119 or hand deliver to the Village Office at 3 East Broad Street Hamilton, New York. Written comments will  be accepted until the close of business on Tuesday, Jan. 17th,.

For residents wishing to view the detailed proposed Zoning Law Amendments, they may do so by contacting the village's codes enforcement officer, Paul McGinnis, during regular office hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m..

If a person is disabled and requires special services at the public hearing, the need to notify McGinnis by Jan. 2  at 824-1111 so that arrangements can be made.

By   Mon, Dec 19, 2011

A group of folks have started work on creating a dog park in the village, and they are seeking citizen comment.

Sarah Kunze is one of the people involved and explained:

Kunze said many options exist and the group wants to gague public interest. She invites people to fill out a survey, which can be found at: goo.gl/5K2D8

By   Mon, Dec 19, 2011

This fall, thre village was being set upon by animals.

Village Administrator Sean Graham reported to the Board of Trustees that:

1. An influx of geese were landing at the municipal airport, making it dangerous for the intended traffic -- airplanes -- to do the same.
2. Beavers were doing what beavers do so well -- build dams -- near Woodman Pond that there were problems with flooding.

To combat these problems, Graham asked for and got permission for:

1. Two hunters to shoot some of the geese and leave their carcasses as warning to other geese that the airport was not a good place to land.
2. A trapper to remove the beavers.

As the year draws to a close, it appears both problems have been resolved. Graham said:

1. No geese got shot. There seemed to be fewer geese using the airport as runways of their own, so not were shot.
2. The licensed trapper caught what Graham called "two very large and one average size" beavers and dam building has stopped.

By   Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Advocates, a public service organization for HCS students, is holding a drive for the Galisono Children's Hospital in Syracuse from now through Tuesday, and there still is time for members of the community to be involved.

Jessica Barnum, an HCS counselor and adviser to Adocates, said, "The holidays can be a difficult time for many families, and this is especially true for children who are hospitalized. Your donations can make a big difference for these children and their families."

She said the hospital needs items such as art supplies, new toys, bibs, rattles, DVD's, pajamas, books, board games and band aids. All items must be new, non-toxic, and non-Latex. Barnum said the hospital is especially in need of items for infants/toddlers and for teens. If anyone prefers to give a monetary donations, they are also welcome and checks should be made out to Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.

There are collection boxes in the Counseling Office and the school's main office.

By   Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Sean Nevison is not just a neighbor of the Hamilton Food Cupboard, he is one of its biggest boosters.

This is evident as Nevison is hard at work on Treasures in the Heart of New York, a second volume of music by local and regional musicians and some who grew up here and relocated. As with the first treasury, this proceeds from the sale of this one will benefit the Food Cupboard, which is located on Mill Street next to Nevison's family's farm.

Nevison is recruiting submissions for a variety of folks, some who appeared on the first CD and some new faces as well. He said the submissions range from bands on the West Coast to New York City.

Producing this year's Treasures is Brendan O'Connor.

Another CD launch party is in the works to be held again at the Barge Canal Coffe Company, according to Nevison. It will feature a raffle of baked goods and other local products.

By   Thu, Dec 15, 2011

CORRECTION: Alana Scheckler was named the village clerk, after Ronda Winn resigned and the job of clerk/treasuer was divided.

Mary Ann Henderson, the village's new treasurer, gave trustees a lot of information and plenty to think about at Tuesday's regular monthly meeting.

Henderson, who until recently was treasurer for the Village of Cooperstown, made a variety of suggestions of processes, reports and policies the board needs or ought to adopt, some of which the village has not had.

On Tuesday, Henderson:

• asked the board to approve a records retention policy;
• recommended the board adopt a comprehensive computer-use policy;
• gave trustees a recap of income and expenses for the past 10 years;
• discussed with the board the need to use fund balances to pay down some of the village's debt;
• said she will begin creating monthly finance reports for each department head and for the trustees;
• reported she had spoken with Alliance Bank about putting a cap on how much money approved vendors (i.e. the state, the IRS, etc.) may withdraw without an approval by village officials;
• and said the checking account of the Fourth of July Committee needs to have a second signatory on all checks.

In addition, Henderson said the fee for the 2012 fire protection contract with the Town of Hamilton is $37,209, which the town accepted. Contracts with the towns of Madison and Lebanon are pending.

Henderson, who was named the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers' Distinguished Finance Officer for 2010, also said the Office of the State Comptroller has finished its audit and that she has reviewed the 25-page report.

At the end of her report, Mayor Margaret Miller said to Henderson, "You're getting us on track."

Henderson was hired after former Clerk/Treasurer Ronda Winn resigned this fall. At that time, trustees decided to split the job, hiring a treasurer and appointing Alana Scheckler clerk. At the same time, Sean Graham was named village administrator.

Henderson said she worked for the Village of Cooperstown from March 2002 to November 2011, starting an account clerk/typist and after eight months was appointed to deputy treasurer. In August of 2003 she was appointed treasurer.

Before that she worked for Little Falls Scaffolding for nine years as a bookkeeper.

By   Thu, Dec 15, 2011

I meant to send this letter around Thanksgiving time to remind me to “give thanks” to the entire community in thanks for the many contributions to the Hamilton Emerald Foundation (HEF) in 2011.

The impact was simply and powerfully illustrated at a gathering last June at the Barge where HCS teachers and students presented all of the proposals, projects, trips and scholarships that had been funded by the HEF in 2010-11. By the time they had completed their presentation, I had totaled the dollar amount that these teachers and students received, and amazingly, it had reached $108,000!  And since there are no administrative or overhead costs for the HEF, and it is a totally volunteer-driven organization, that dollar amount reflects just how much was raised in 2010-11 from you and other important supporters of the HEF. So during this season of “giving thanks,” I hope you will accept the Foundation's  deep, heartfelt appreciation for your financial support and involvement in the continued vibrancy of Hamilton Central School.

Murray L. Decock, Member, Hamilton Emerald Foundation

By   Wed, Dec 14, 2011

Joe Restic, who was an assistant coach at Colgate early in his career and former HCS teacher, died on Thursday in Boston. He was 85. He went on to create a complex offense known as the multiflex while coaching in Canada and took it to Harvard, becoming its longest-serving football coach

He was the husband of Marian "Bea" (Biedinger) Restic who passed away in 2008.

Restic is survived by a children, Kathleen A. Restic and her husband Robert Brown of Groton, Mass., Joseph W. Restic and his wife Susan (Schaumburg) Restic of Lake Oswego, Ore., Suzan R. and her husband Lou Milione of Gainesville, Va., and David L. Restic and his wife Jaime (McGadden) Restic of Milford, Mass. He is also survived by one sister, Agnes Mancuso of Ohio, eight grandchildren; Chelsie, Brittany, Eric, Kelly, Marcus, Shawn, Hailey, Riley and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 4 brothers; John, Michael, Frank and George and 4 sisters; Margaret, Kathryn, Mary and Goody.

A Funeral Mass was held Tuesday at St. Mary's Church in Milford, MA. Burial followed at St. Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , 30 Speen St., Framingham, Mass. 01701-9376. 

An obituary published by Harvard said that on Jan. 5, 1971, he became the head coach at Harvard, leading the Crimson to five Ivy League championships and a 117-97-6 record in 23 years.

Restic, who served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1988, also coached collegiately at Brown as an assistant. He was named AFCA District 1 Kodak Coach of the Year in 1975. 

He coached in six all-star games, serving as head coach in the East-West Shrine Game and the Blue-Gray Classic. A three-time Eastern Coach of the Year honoree, Restic was the 1990 winner of the "Distinguished American" award given by the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

He also coached in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, leading the team to six Grey Cup appearances.

Restic, who began coaching in 1955, said in a 1993 interview, "I'm really concerned about college football. There are forces taking over the game that only care about money."

In another 1993 interview, Restic said, "Success is not what the players on my team do on the field, but what they are doing five years after they leave here. If I can have an impact in helping them along, that's what means the most to me."

Restic was born July 21, 1926 in Emeigh Run, PA, the son of the late Louis and Mary (Hoyson) Restic. A native of Hastings, Pa., Restic graduated Villanova in 1952 and earned his master's degree from Seton Hall in 1962. A talented athlete, Restic played professional baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was also a wide receiver and defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1952-53.

Restic served in the US Army and the US Air Force during WW II. Sgt. 1st Class Restic served in the Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. He was awarded the Army Occupation Medal (Germany), the American Theater Ribbon and the WW II Victory Ribbon.

By   Wed, Dec 14, 2011

Before tonight's meeting of the village Board of Trustees, Mayor Margaret Miller presented the HCS boys soccer team with a proclamation praising their winning of the state Class D championship.

Coach Brian Latella and many team members were at the meeting to receive the proclamation read by the mayor.

HCS beat Chazy 1-0 last month at Middletown High School to win the championship. The Emerald Knights also were regional and sectional champs this year.

By   Tue, Dec 13, 2011

By   Sun, Dec 11, 2011

Over 500 kids and their families shared a special moment as they visited with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty, Rudolph and all the elves on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the "North Pole" (The Palace Theater). What a magical day.

I would like to thank: Marv Hamstra and Gail Young (Mr. and Mrs. Claus) Fred von Mechow (train conductor), Jenni Larchar and Lucy Taylor (entertainment), Curtis Lumber, Price Chopper, Wayne's Market, Dunkin Donuts, Kinney Drugs, Jim Farrugia and the BOCES Class, Colgate's Konosioni Honor Society students, HCS National Honor Society students, and Vernon Ross, Dave Augustine and Rich Pancoe for donating trees (that ultimately are donated to families in need), and the Hamilton Lion's Club.

More volunteers were Tracy Owens, Janet Briggs, Jill Nillis, Joann and Tim Borfitz, Ben Gorton, Dominick Pangallo, Kirsten Weyter, Roger Bauman, Harry Jarcho, and Darcie Loveless.

Happy Holidays.

Patricia von Mechow, Director of The Palace Theater

By   Sun, Dec 11, 2011

By   Sat, Dec 10, 2011

By   Fri, Dec 09, 2011

On behalf of the CMH Auxiliary, I would like to thank all who attended the 56th Community Memorial Hospital’s Holiday Sale. We had another very successful year.

People in the community work tirelessly throughout the year on their many projects. The groups of “Twigs” and “Twiglets” work year-round on new projects that will please our patrons and are different from previous years. “The Kitchen Corner” ladies make the many calls that bring in the wonderful baked goods that we offer each year, and also make baked goods for the sale. Many thanks to the cooks who gave us another wonderful lunch and recruited the helpers to serve this meal.

Vendors who set up at the Farmers Market during the summer months generously donate to our sale. The First Baptist Church allows us to set up a few days before the sale. Employees at the hospital donate marvelous items for our raffle baskets and local artists and crafters donate their paintings and wares. Thanks to the cashiers, set up help and clean up help, whose efforts are so appreciated. This is definitely a community event, as many hands are needed to accomplish our goals.

I would like to personally thank Polly Elgie for another year of hard work collecting the “Attic Treasures” that we all look forward to. She works all year collecting these treasures, prices them and displays each item. This year, she went above and beyond. She presented us with a check in the amount of $6,800. This money was earned selling the higher end donations on eBay. She also held a yard sale in the summer, earning an additional $1,200.

Our total earnings this year were over $15,000. What an amazing statement of support by members of our community to benefit our local hospital.

Monies earned from our sales are donated to CMH for items needed that may not be included in the hospital budget. In the past, we have purchased flat screen TV’s for patient rooms, purchased medical equipment, and are presently updating the patients’ rooms with repairs and a fresh coat of paint.

Once again, many thanks to all who participated and attended. What a wonderful and caring community we live in.

Susan A Stradling-Barrett
CMH Auxiliary President

By   Fri, Dec 09, 2011

The post-season honors are in and the HCS boys soccer team has a lot to be proud of. They include:

* Coach Brian Latella named coach of the year by the Syracuse Newspapers in its All-CNY selection;

* Drew Thompson named to the NSCAA Small School All-State second team, which includes all schools in classes B, C and D. He was also named to that All-CNY team, that includes just 15 players from all classes in the region. He was also named Center State Conference (CSC) Division III Player of the Year.

* Thompson, Devin Askew and Sam Owens first team CSC;

By   Mon, Dec 05, 2011

With expenses up, temporary federal support gone and the state once again facing fiscal problems, HCS is concerned not just about formulating its 2012-2013 budget, but also for the long-term financial health of the district. And, neither looks good.

In fact, Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers last week said she is concerned that HCS as we know it today -- a district that successfully educates its children and offers sports, music, drama, art and other enrichment programs -- faces an increasingly difficut financial future. Bowers suggested at a meeting last week that she and other superintendents worry that districts' offerings may soon be stripped to the bare educational bones simply because of a lack of funding.

Because of this, and because of the growing demands by and chaos within the state Education Department and continued threats of reduced funding, HCS and other districts in the area are going to push back. Bowers said HCS will be asking district residents to write to legislators and the governor to ask that they stabilize aid for low-wealth, rural school districts like most of those in Madison County.

"We are getting close to being at a point that we will not be able to provide education to kids as we have in the past," said Bowers.

In fact, Bowers said HCS -- as well as other school districts in the county -- is "a couple to a few years away from a structural deficiet." She explained that is the same as districts facing bankruptcy.

HCS is at the start of formulating its 2012-2013 budget against a sobering backdrop:

• New York State recently learned it is facing a $350,000,000 budget shortfall;
• the state could have to offset a projected $3 billion deficit in the next budget year;
• district officials believe state aid will remain flat over last year;
• the $235,000 HCS has received from the federal government in the past to offset state cuts has expired;
• the state legislature passed a bill limiting municipalities and school districts from raising their annual budgets beyond 2 percent.

The district's budget outlook  "... is preliminary, preliminary, preliminary," said Bowers, but still it appears the district, at first blush, the district may have to reduce its spending by about $250,000 from the current spending plan. Bowers said it is difficult to tell exactly what this year's budget will be because the governor has yet to release his budget estimate. 

"We cannot stress enough that there are so many unknowns," said district Business Manager Matt Crumb.

However, HCS and other districts are more certain of something else.

"Albany is no longer listening to us," said Bowers.

Bowers and other Central New York educators are going on the offensive. She said she and other superintendents within the Oneida-Madison BOCES are working on a collaborative lobbying effort. They plan to appeal to legislators and the governor to better understand the problems -- including and especially funding -- school districts face. 

Bowers said they will be asking district residents to do the same. Districts are formulating plans to have their residents write to state officials explaining the need to ensure schools receive proper funding.

In addition, school district officials from around the reason will take turns traveling to and making their cases in Albany.

The Merger and Beyond

At the same meeting, Bowers explained that while there is no word of when the district might receive state funds to study a possible merger with the Morrisville-Eaton district, HCS is looking for assistance to consider finding ways to share money-saving services with other entities.

By   Sun, Dec 04, 2011

By   Sun, Dec 04, 2011

Last spring, HCS students Allen Schult and Dana Bowers both performed at the New York State Student Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival in Norwich with the intent of auditioning to be in one of the all-state ensembles.  Both performed solos which were rated at the highest level of difficulty, both did so from memory, and both received perfect scores.  

Schult was accepted to the Symphonic Band, and Bowers to the Women's Chorus.  

Unlike state championships in athletics, students auditioning for All-State compete against every school in the state.  Schult was chosen as one of only 14 percussionists and Bowers was accepted for the second straight year.

NYSSMA Conference All-State is the highest honor for a high school junior or senior musician in the state.

The two HCS student musicians were in Rochester this weekend where they rehearsed for three days prior to their performances.

By   Sun, Dec 04, 2011

Hamilton Theater will present Mozart’s classic opera, Don Giovanni, Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Captured live during the recent gala season premiere at Milan’s renowned Teatro alla Scala, this audience favorite is presented in high definition digital image and surround sound. Anna Netrebko stars as Donna Anna, with Peter Mattei Don and Bryn Terfel as Leporello.  Daniel Barenboim conducts.

Don Giovanni is a feature of Hamilton Theater’s Grand Operas in Cinemas series, presenting world class opera from Europe’s leading opera houses once a month through April, 2012. 

The series is sponsored by Hamilton Orthopeadic Surgery and Sports Medicine. 

Intermissions are hosted by the Colgate Inn, with wine, beer and complimentary refreshments.

For tickets and information, contact Hamilton Theater at 315-824-8210, or visit the website at www.hamiltontheater.net.

By   Sun, Dec 04, 2011

The Hamilton Sports Boosters recently funded the construction of a kick wall for use by the HCS boys and girls soccer teams.

The wall is used for practice on a variety of skills by individual players.

In photo, from left: HCS boys soccer coach Brian Latella, Boosters President Doug Rusch, girls soccer coach Brian Rose and HCS Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Bill Dowsland.

By   Sun, Dec 04, 2011

Visit Ho Ho Hamilton to see:

Video of the Community Memorial Hospital Sale & Cafe

Santa Claus at the Palace Theater

Slide Show of the Various Events of Saturday

Scenes from ast Night's Tree Lighting

By   Thu, Dec 01, 2011

Last year's HCS salutatorian recently had a role in a new musical review staged by the University of Buffalo's Theater Department.

Alana Graber was one of the performers in It Goes Like It Goes, a review of the music of Academy Award winning composer David Shire.

Among other things, Shire wrote music for the movies Saturday Night Fever, and Norma Rae as well as the stage productions of Big, Baby, Closer Than Ever .

Graber was one of 18 undergraduates performing in the show.

Director-choreographer Terry Berliner (The Lion King, The Sound of Music, The Red Shoes, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife) worked on the piece with an undergraduate cast and associate professor of music theatre Nathan R. Matthews, who is the show's conceiver, music director and orchestrator.

Songs in the show included:

• "I Hear Bells (Starting Here, Starting Now)
• "Salsation" ("Saturday Night Fever")
• "I Want It All" (Baby)
• "What Am I Doin'?" (Closer Than Ever)
• "Halfway Home" ("The Earthling")
• Travel (Starting Here, Starting Now)
• "Back on Base" (Closer Than Ever)
• "There's Nothing Like It" (Closer Than Ever)
• "Do You Want to Play Games/Stars, Stars, Stars" (Big)
• "Cross the Line" (Big)
• "I'll Never Say Goodbye" ("The Promise")
• "The Sound of Muzak" (Closer Than Ever)
• "If I Sing" (Closer Than Ever)
• "Simplicity" (for Ed Wortz)
• "Earthbound" (Take Flight)
• "Only When I Laugh" ("Only When I Laugh")
• "What About Today?" (Starting Here, Starting Now)
• "Coffee, Black" (Big)
• "It Goes Like It Goes" ("Norma Rae")
• "Before the Dawn" (Take Flight)
• "One Step" (Starting Here, Starting Now)
• and "Manhattan Skyline" ("Saturday Night Fever").

By   Wed, Nov 30, 2011

Chris White, a.k.a Isto the Lumberjack, will take over the stage of the Earlville Opera House's Arts Cafe Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. for a holiday concert he has title Chris Whitemas.

The Hamilton native and HCS grad now living, performing and teaching in Brooklyn, will perform variety of music. The set list for the night includes.

• Christmas is Coming
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• Jingle Bells
• I'll Be Home for Christmas
• Up on the Housetop
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Here We Come A-Wassailing
• Good King Wenceslas
• Go Tell It On the Mountain
• O Christmas Tree
• Deck the Halls
• Joy to the World
• You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
• A Christmas Carol (Charles Ives)
• White Christmas
• Christmas in Heaven (From Monty Python's The Meaning of Life)
• Silent Night

Admission is $10; $8 for EOH members and $5 for students.

By   Wed, Nov 30, 2011

The Hamilton Sports Boosters recently helped memorialize the state Class D cross country title won last year by Sage Hurta.

Hurta's shoes and big number from the 2010 race, as well as a collection of photos is on display in the hallway at HCS.

Doug Rusch (left) is president of the boosters. Rick Hanson (right) is Hurta's coach.

The eighth grade runner did not compete in the state meet this year because of an injury.

By   Wed, Nov 30, 2011

By   Tue, Nov 29, 2011

By   Fri, Nov 25, 2011

"Good teams find a way to win."

That was the mantra for the HCS boys soccer team this season, repeated by Coach Brian Latella from the start of the pre-season in the middle of August until the final day of a long and successful season that saw the Knights bring home their fourth state championship.

The Emerald Knights found a way to win 20 times this year, including seven times in the post season. That compares to only three times this very good team did not find a way to win; two of those were losses to Clinton, the team that eventually went on to a 20-1 record before losing in the state Class B state semi-finals.

Hamilton's only other loss of the year was a bit of a mystery. HCS lost to Holland-Patent 3-1 in the championship of the Optimists Tournament. It was the first time in four years the Knights did not hang onto the Optimists Cup. Holland Patent finished with a record of 15-3 in the Tri-Valley 2 League, but was the only team to score three goals on the Knights this year.

Another curious -- and at times, dangerous -- match-up for HCS this season was with Old Forge. The two teams met three times this year and HCS won all of those meetings. But, none were easy or pleasant. Oddly, HCS opened the 2011 season beating Old Forge 3-1 at home and closed the regular season at Old Forge beating the Eskimos, yes, 3-1.

It was in the waning moments of that game that freshman starter Ben Knecht took a shot that broke his leg, something that was fresh in the minds of the Knights when the two teams met in the post-season.

In the regular season, HCS had a record of 13-3; eight of those wins were shutouts. And, the Emerald Knights outscored opponents 48-11 in 16 games. Talk about finding a way to win ...

Post-Season

On the opening day of summer drills, Latela told his squad that the season was actually divided in thirds, each with its own focus:

• Pre-Season
• Regular Season
• Post Season

The Knights seemed to do just about everything right in the first two "seasons" to be successful in the third.

HCS began sectional play meeting an old foe they hadn't seen in the regular season: Poland, who they cruised past 3-1 at home. Hamilton beat Immaculate Heart Central 1-0 to advance to the Section III Class D-1 title against a strong Cincinnatus team and came home with a 1-0 win and its fourth banner in four years and ninth in the history of the program. (HCS won five consecutive sectional banners from '94 to '98.)

In a perverse twist, so many teams qualified for the Section III Class D tournament that the Knights had to once again play Old Forge -- winners of the D-2 bracket -- in a super-sectional match-up. Hamilton won 2-0. In that game, Sam Owens wore a t-shirt under his jersey on which was written, "This one is for Knecht."

The award for most bizarre post-season game of 2011 goes to the Knight's game vs. Cherry Valley-Springfield, a powerhouse Section IV champ from just up Rte. 20. Snow was falling during warm-ups and increased steadily so that officials stopped play halfway through the second period. As the two teams sat in their locker rooms, a tractor plowed the sidelines and the goal areas of the field. When play resumed, CVS skidded through the motions and the Knights were central region champs again.

Then it was on to Middletown, just as it was last year, where HCS faced two powerful and physical opponents.

Senior Drew Thompson scored the game's only goal in the second half to beat Ft. Ann 1-0 and senior Devin Askew scored in the last five minutes of regulation to clinch the Knights second state title in four years, beating Chazy 1-0.

In the huddle just before the start of the title match against Chazy, Latella told the Knights they were the best team in the state and to simply play together. They did and proved him right.

Hamilton ended the post season winning seven games, six by shutout. They outscored their opponents 10-1.

So, this "good team" ended up with:

• a sectional title (two actually);
• a regional title;
• a state championship and sportsmanship award;
• a 20-3 overall record;
• 15 total shutouts;
• and outscored all opponents 57-12.

And, for Latella, the season ran his total number of wins at HCS to 136.

2011 At A Glance

2011 Individual Statistics

Goalie Statistics

By   Wed, Nov 23, 2011

The Hamilton Business Alliance's annual tree lighting will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.

Mayor Margaret Miller will make remarks before flipping the switch to light the tree on the southern end of the green in front of the First Baptist Church.

Luminaries will line the walks on the green and there will be horse-drawn trolley rides and hot chocolate served in front of the village courtesy of Hamilton Rotary Club.

Music will be provided by Hamilton Girl Scout Troop # 822, Colgate Resolutions, Colgate Thirteen and the Colgate Pep Band.

By   Wed, Nov 23, 2011

Wallets are staying in people's pockets this holiday season.

That's the sentiment expressed in a recent poll on Radio Free Hamilton. The unscientific online poll found found that 91 percent of people will be spending less or the same money as last year on holiday gift shopping.

Results of the poll show:

• 59 percent of people expect to spend less this year than in 2010;
• 32 percent expect to spend the same as they did last year;
• 9 percent say they will spend more than a year ago.

Our new poll asks folks how much of their shopping they expect to do locally.

By   Tue, Nov 22, 2011

By   Mon, Nov 21, 2011

The Colgate University Athletics Department will continue its food drive for the Hamilton Food Cupboard this week.

The women's hockey and women's basketball games on Tuesday night as well as the men's basketball game on Wednesday will be part of the food drive. Fans that bring five non-perishable items will receive one free ticket to any of the games. The drive has already collected over 500 pounds from the men's hockey games last weekend.

• Women's hockey versus Robert Morris - Tuesday, at 7 p.m. in Starr Rink;

• Women's basketball versus Sacred Heart - Tuesday, at 7 p.m. in Cotterell Court;

• Men's basketball versus St. Francis (Pa.) - Wednesday, at 5 p.m. in Cotterell Court.

By   Sat, Nov 19, 2011

 Austin Smith tallied his second career hat trick to lead the 17th-ranked Colgate men's hockey team to a 3-1 win over Quinnipiac Friday night at Starr Rink.

The Raiders will be back at Starr Rink for Don Vaughan Night at 4 p.m. against Princeton this afternoon. The first 450 fans that enter the rink will get a free Don Vaughan bobblehead and anyone that has a mustache, real or fake, will get one free general admission ticket.

Colgate (7-4-1, 3-2-0 ECAC) got the three goals from Smith and Chris Wagner assisted all three goals to tie a career-high with three helpers. Jeremy Price, Spiro Goulakos and Thomas Larkin also added assists in the win, while Alex Evin looked impressive in net with 31 stops to move to 2-1-1 on the season.

Quinnipiac (7-4-3, 1-3-2 ECAC) saw Connor Jones put home its lone goal of the game and the Bobcats have now scored just four goals in their last four games. Goaltender Eric Hartznell pushed aside 23 shots, including 10 in the final frame, but took the loss.

After an entertaining end-to-end game the first 15 minutes, Quinnipiac got on the board with Jones lighting the lamp with 4:10 remaining in the first.

Colgate answered after killing off the first power play of the game. Smith scored his 11th goal of the season off a faceoff in the offensive zone. Wagner won the draw back to Price, who then passed it on to Smith. The leading scorer for the Raiders then beat the Bobcat netminder to knot the game at 1-1 after the first period of play.

Colgate got the lone goal of the second period with Smith tallying his second of the night with a nice wrap around move that got the puck inside the far post. The play started as Goulakos and Wagner helped clear the defensive zone. Wagner then found Smith in front of the Colgate bench and he did the rest. Smith shielded off a defender and went around the net. Hartznell was caught up with bodies in the crease and couldn't get to the far post and Smith tucked it in for the 2-1 lead. Colgate carried that lead into the final period.

The Raiders were able to kill of two power plays in the final period and Smith put the nail in the coffin with his third of the night coming as an empty netter with 28 seconds remaining in the game.

By   Sat, Nov 19, 2011

Colgate University Director of Athletics David Roach today said he is pleased to announce that Colgate has given football head coach Dick Biddle a contract extension through June 30, 2014.

“The Colgate football family is pleased that coach Biddle will be leading our football program for the foreseeable future,” stated Roach.

Biddle, 63, the four-time Patriot League Coach of the Year has guided Colgate to a cumulative 124-61 record in his 16 seasons. His overall record at Colgate includes 14 winning seasons, six Patriot League Championships and six FCS Playoff appearances.

“Coach Biddle has had tremendous success in leading our program over the last 16 years. His name has become synonymous with winning football at Colgate," said Roach.

Colgate has the highest winning percentage among Patriot League teams this decade with a record of 71-24 under Biddle. The Raiders are also 36-9 against the Ivy League.

In his first season, Biddle not only produced a winning campaign, but also became only the third head coach in Division I or I-AA history to record a winning record the season after a team suffered through a 0-11 campaign. For his effort, Biddle was selected by his coaching peers as the Patriot League Coach of the Year, and was named the co-recipient of Colgate’s Howard Hartman Coach of the Year Award.

In 2003, Biddle was named the American Football Coaches Association Division I-AA National Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders to a 15-1 record, and to the national championship game of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The 2003 campaign was arguably the greatest in school history when the Raiders captured the imagination of the collegiate football world becoming the first non-scholarship program to advance to the title game of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

In 2008, Colgate captured its sixth Patriot League title with a perfect 5-0 mark, and finished with an overall record of 9-3.  Biddle earned his fourth Patriot League Coach of the Year award.

Under Biddle, the Raiders have produced an explosive offense finishing in the Top 10 nationally in rushing six times and twice in total offense.
   
On the defensive side, Colgate has been ranked four times in the Top 10 in rushing defense, once in pass defense and total defense.

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Nov 18, 2011

By   Thu, Nov 17, 2011

It's always a good idea to see the Colgate men's hockey team play, but Friday's game offers even more reasons to be present at Starr Rink when the Raiders face Quinnipiac.

1. Bring five non-perishable food items for the Hamilton Food Cupboard get in free.
2. Show your mustache -- real or fake -- and get a free general admission ticket.
3. And, the first 450 fans to arrive -- with or without a mustache -- will receive a Don Vaughan bobblehead.

Play your cards right and you get to see a great hockey game, help those in need and go home with a Colgate collectible.

Oh, and this is Silver Puck weekend.

By   Wed, Nov 16, 2011

By   Wed, Nov 16, 2011

By   Wed, Nov 16, 2011

The majority of students in third through eighth grades at HCS meet or exceed state standards for the mastery of English and math, according to results from tests administered in May.

The results were released last week by the state Education Department.

HCS Principal Kevin Ellis said the district's students continue on the right path, making progress year after year.

For the last five years, said Ellis, HCS has been either the top of second top scoring district in the Oneida-Madison BOCES. He added that the district continues to score above the state average.

The state Education Department said 52.8 percent of grade 3-8 students across the state met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard (a decrease from 53.2 percent last year); 63.3 percent met or exceeded the standard in math (up from 61 percent last year).

The levels and what they mean include:

• Level 1: Student performance does not demonstrate an understanding of the (mathematics, English language arts or science) content expected at this grade level (depends on the grade the student is in).
• Level 2: Student performance demonstrates a partial understanding of the (mathematics, English language arts or science) content expected at this grade level (depends on the grade the student is in).
• Level 3: Student performance demonstrates an understanding of the (mathematics, English language arts or science) content expected at this grade level (depends on the grade the student is in).
• Level 4: Student performance demonstrates a thorough understanding of the (mathematics, English language arts or science) content expected at this grade level (depends on the grade the student is in)

By   Wed, Nov 16, 2011

When does 2 percent not really equal 2 percent?

When it is the property tax cap approved earlier this year by the state legislature and imposed on municipalities and school districts, HCS.

At Tuesday night's HCS Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers explained that the 2 percent cap is not an absolute. Instead, provisions in the law include calculations that take into account growth in the area, which would mean the amount the district and other taxing entities can raise their levy is more than 2 percent.

Based on growth that has occurred in the towns that are part of the HCS district -- especially the Town of Madison -- HCS' allowable tax levy could end up being between 3 and 3.5 percent. This about the rate HCS has increased its levy in recent budgets.

The district continues to work on its budget, which will be voted upon in May.

On another budget-related note, Bowers told the board that the state is anticipating a $350 million shortfall in its current budget. She hopes this will not mean a reduction in state aid, which HCS anticipates will remain at this year's level.

Also on Tuesday, Bowers told the board that the process to study a possible merger with Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools remains in neutral. Money for the study has not been released by the state, and Bowers said indications are that it might not be until 2013.

However, HCS is going to proceed with some studies to consider ways to save money, such as combing services.

Read about the results of a merger study between the Ilion, Frankfort-Schuyler, Mohawk and Herkimer school districts.

In other action Tuesday night, the board:

• heard from Assistant Principal William Dowsland that 30 of the 37 HCS students who attend classes at the Madison-Oneida VOCES made its honor roll in the first marking period. Dowsland said eight had high honors, 13 had honors and nine had honorable mention.
• discussed the need for changes to the selection process for pre-kindergartners. Again this year there were more children than there were spots in the program (families of 41 children applied for 32 spots) so the district had to use a lottery system to fill the class, and there appeared to be some confusion about how that process worked.
•  approved increasing the amount paid to retired teachers from other districts who substitute at HCS; the current rate is $75 per day after 20 days and it will be raised to $90.

By   Mon, Nov 14, 2011

By   Sun, Nov 13, 2011

The stage is set for the HCS boys soccer team's latest trip to the state championships next weekend in Middletown.

The Emerad Knights will play Ft. Ann (15-2-2) from Section II at 4 p.m. Saturday at Middletown High School.

If the win, they will play the winner of the match-up between Chazy (16-3-0) from Section IIV and Alfred-Almond (16-1-2) from Section VI. That game is played at 1 p.m.

Hamilton's march through the post-season has included:

• its Section III quarterfinal win at home against Poland 3-1;
• beating Watertown Immaculate Heart Central 1-0;
• winning the Section III D-1 title by beating Cincinatus 1-0;
• defeating Old Forge for the third time with a 2-0 win in the Section D-1 vs. D-2 winners;
• and Friday's 1-0 regional win over Cherry Valley-Springfield on the frozen and snow-covered tundra of Morrisvisville State College.

                       How it looked Friday when snow stopped play in HCS's game against Cherry Valley-Springfield.

By   Sat, Nov 12, 2011

We wish to express our gratitude to the many Hamilton residents who attended the Village Board of Trustees meetings in September and October in support of village zoning changes that are key, ultimately, to the creation of an A Better Chance (ABC) house in Hamilton. We'd also like to thank the residents who wrote letters to the Board supporting this change.

The success of an ABC house in Hamilton will be built on this community's spirit of action and compassion. We are thankful to everyone who spoke/wrote in favor of exploring this exciting new.

As we wait for the final outcome from the governing board and the Board of Trustees, we continue to work on several areas of the Hamilton ABC action plan including budget planning, fundraising, non-profit status, staff, HCS and Colgate support, ABC student recruitment and establishment of a local advisory board. The current target for opening the doors to Hamilton ABC scholars is Fall 2013. We hope you will stay tuned for future opportunities to become more involved with the efforts to establish an ABC house in Hamilton.

For additional background information about ABC please visit www.abetterchance.org. You can also contact us directly at info@hamiltonabc.org.

John Cochran

Eric Cochran

Jill & Joe Baker

Merrill Miller

Ingrid Hale

Rachel Amann-Burns

By   Sat, Nov 12, 2011

HCS grad and former Hamiltonian Trevor Chapman will be on the sidelines this afternoon when Castleton College's men's soccer team plays in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England tournament.

Chapman, who played for HCS and was an assistant coach for the Emerald Knights, is an assistant for the third-seeded Spartans.

Castleton, located in Vermont near Rutland, faces second seed Albertus Magnus in a game played at Brandeis University. If Castleton (13-6-2) wins, they will face either Brandeis or Norwich College in the finals Sunday.

By   Sat, Nov 12, 2011

We would like to express our thanks to all of those friends and supporters who worked so hard on our campaign, hosted our meetings, took our signs and most importantly, came out to vote. It was a mighty and fruitful effort, all made possible by you.

Thank you also to all the candidates, who entered this campaign with the aim of serving their community. It is important work and it needs to be recognized and honored.

Hamilton is in the midst of sorting out some tough issues. We look forward to working together in a non-partisan and united effort to make our community a better place for all of us.

Eve Ann Shwartz and Chris Rossi

By   Fri, Nov 11, 2011

By   Thu, Nov 10, 2011

I would like to express my thanks to the nearly 1,200 voters in Hamilton who cast a ballot in the recent town election.

 In many towns local elections are too often disregarded by voters, despite the fact that there is no other level of government that has more of a daily impact on their personal lives.  The strong participation in this election is a testament to how informed and engaged the people of Hamilton are.  It is encouraging to witness and heartening to be a part of.  I hope that spirit of positive and constructive civic engagement persists in the face of the challenging work that lies ahead for the new administration.

I also want to thank Eve Ann Shwartz and Chris Rossi.  I cannot think of two more energetic, well-informed, or deeply dedicated neighbors and public servants to introduce me to the myriad issues and many people in my new hometown.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to be on the slate with them both.  I extend to both my most enthusiastic congratulations on their victories and commit myself to helping them, in whatever fashion I can, restore hope and confidence in all that the town of Hamilton can truly be for all of our citizens.

To the many campaign volunteers who made phone calls, knocked on doors, sent letters to the newspapers, put out lawn signs, sent out emails, distributed fliers, signed postcards, hosted house parties, and served as poll-watchers on my behalf – in many cases after having met me only once – thank you.  I am a better person for your involvement and commitment, and I know that Hamilton is a better town for it, too.  I feel fortunate to live in such a remarkable community.

Finally, I must thank my eternally patient, exceptionally sensible, and boundlessly wise wife, the remarkable Kristin Pangallo.  She continues to be my inspiration and the source of all my confidence.

 Dominick Pangallo, Hamilton

By   Thu, Nov 10, 2011

Cinderella's Closet, located at Hamilton Bible Fellowship Church at 7433 Hamilton St., has nearly 200 formal and semi-formal dresses available for girls to borrow at no cost.  Any girl who is in need of a dress is welcome to visit on Nov. 20. 

By   Tue, Nov 08, 2011

Here's the breakdown of the unofficial results of yesterday's Town of Hamilton election by voting district.

District 1 and 2 = primarily the village.

District 3 = the southern portion of the town near Earlville.

District 4 = the rest of the town outside the village.

* = winner

By   Tue, Nov 08, 2011

Two HCS competed in Sunday's ING New York City Marathon raising thousands of dollars for two charitable causes.

Rob Cornell (left in photo), Class of '02, and Erin Koen (right in photo), Class of '01, ran together in the marathon while helping raise money for charitable foundations.  

Cornell competed for the Michael J. Fox Foundation (Team Fox) for Parkinson's Research, while Koen ran for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (Team JDRF).  

Both runners finished the Marathon in 3:49.40.  

This was Koen's first marathon, while Cornell was competing for the second time.

"The race went extremely well," said Cornell. "We couldn't have had better weather and the 2.5 million spectators along the 26.2 mile trek really pushed me through to the finish.

By   Tue, Nov 08, 2011

Colgate is one of 32 universities taking part in a program created by Dartmouth University to combat binge drinking.

The Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking, coordinated through Dartmouth's National College Health Improvement Project (NCHIP), tackles excessive alcohol consumption on campus using initiatives that require stakeholders to plan, do, study, and act (PDSA).

The collaborative's dynamic approach treats binge drinking -- five or more drinks in one setting -- as a public health problem. Its tactics are similar to those used by Jim Yong Kim, Dartmouth president and NCHIP founder, when he directed the Department of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization.

Led by Colgate's Interim Vice President and Dean of the College Scott Brown, alcohol and drug services coordinator Jane Jones and a team of students, faculty, and staff spark numerous ideas, which they implement quickly on a small scale. PDSAs in development this semester include:

• training students to watch out for intoxicated classmates at parties,
• delivering water and pizza to parties,
• and informing parents about the university's new points system.

Jones and her colleagues then use qualitative and quantitative data to assess outcomes. If programs are successful, planners upsize the model, rerun, and reevaluate to ensure that only proven programs will be sustained.

"You're working for the greater good," said Jones. "You make changes today that add up to larger progress tomorrow."

All of this activity happens within the learning collaborative context. PDSAs are underway nationwide, from Stanford to Northwestern to Brown, and each member files weekly reports with NCHIP. What worked? What didn't? Prove it. The concepts and analysis are uploaded into the group's extranet, which can be tapped by participants as they strategize.

NCHIP's own core faculty -- physicians, psychologists, statisticians, communications specialists and public health experts -- are also studying methods to reduce the staggering numbers associated with binge drinking.

"Nationally, there are more than 1,800 deaths per year and there are 600,000 associated harms - injuring yourself, injuring others, having unprotected sex, thoughts of suicide," said NCHIP program manager Lisa Johnson.

It is the program's persistent movement forward that inspires Jones and reminds her that she's a part of something novel.

"We get things done," she said. "If your goal is to do something next month, then we ask, 'What are you doing about it next week?'"

The collaborative was launched last April as an 18-month program, punctuated by three learning sessions and a series of smaller meetings. Given the amount of data being collected and the number of institutions interested in the outcome, its potential will stretch far beyond 2012.

"High-risk drinking is a concern for most universities," said Brown. "We are proud to be part of an evidence-based, collaborative effort that promotes the safest possible environment for our students."

Source: Colgate

By   Mon, Nov 07, 2011

By   Sun, Nov 06, 2011

Who: HCS boys soccer vs. Old Forge

What: Section III Cass D-1 vs. Section III Class D-II game

When: Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Where: Sauquoit Valley High School

That's the Emerald Knight's (16-3) next step in the post-season. And, if they are successful, they will play the winner will play Section IV champion Cherry Valley-Springfield (17-0-2), either Thursday or Saturday at a Section III location to be decided for the regional title.

Hamilton faced Old Forge (12-5-1) twice during the regular season, winning 3-0 at home in the season opener and 3-1 to end of the regular season at Old Forge. HCS also faced the Eskimos in sectional play last year, beating them 5-1 in one of the most physical games in recent seasons.

By   Sun, Nov 06, 2011

The past year or so made it abundantly clear that public service -- especially if you serve as an elected official in the Town of Hamilton -- is a thankless job. And, that is putting it mildly.

More to the point: it has sucked.

That's what makes this week so important for the future of the town. On Tuesday, there is an election and on Wednesday there is a meeting to discuss the town budget. Both will give a good indication to what the future holds.

Tuesday's election may well be remembered as the most contentious in recent memory. That may well be because of several reasons:

1. The two slates of candidates are so distinctively different; no one can say there are no clear choices this year.
2. There have been several major issues on which there has been disagreement.
3. Finances -- both town and personal -- have been at center stage, and in these hard times, money is a flash point.
4. And, each side -- and there are very distinct and very vocal partisan sides -- has blamed the other for all of the ills bestting the town and for ones that will come in the future.

Tuesday's election may also be remembered as one of the most important too. Clearly, whomever is elected will have a full plate of problems to solve:

1. Budget.
2. Capital projects.
3. Gas drilling/fracking.
4. Assessment and taxes.
5. Openness.
6. Inclusiveness.
7. Accountability.
8. Leadership.
9. Town operations.

It is no understatement to suggest that this is a pivotal moment in the history of the town. Tuesday's election gives voters clear choices. 

It is likewise clear that the winners will have many fences to mend and olive branches to hand out. It is doubtful that regardless of the outcome, Tuesday's vote will end the debate over issues facing the town. Therefore, once the votes are counted and certified, it will be time to put away the yard signs, stop sending letters to the editor and not just start the transition in town government, but also begin thinking about what is in the best interest of the town and not the two political parties.

This might also be a good time to begin rethinking those as well. Neither party has lots to be proud of this fall. Each side spewed its fair share of venom. Fortunately, for the most part, the candidates themselves did not over-indulge in the nastiness. It was the party, um, faithful(?) who gave playground nastiness and name-calling a bad name. 

Just as town government needs a fresh start, so does the election process. Otherwise, we will have another perfectly good autumn spoiled by another perfectly awful urination contest.

By   Sun, Nov 06, 2011

Saturday, the HCS boys soccer team won its fourth Section III Class D title in a row and ninth overall.

They did it with a lot of hard work and skill. But there is more to the team than that.

Read Why We Love the HCS Boys Soccer Team in Field Notes.

By   Sun, Nov 06, 2011

My name is David Crumb and I have been on the Town Council for almost four years. The last two years have been wrought with difficult challenges andissues that I wouldn't wish on anybody. I am writing this in support of going forward.

Going back to two years ago the Board was alerted to an incredibly high number of violations both major and minor by the New York State Controller's office. Including the lack of filing a Supervisor's report foreight years. This is the town's equivalent to your tax return. We found the way the town was doing business was not acceptable in many ways from how money was spent to what were the roles of the councilors were out of date and no longer able to meet the needs of the town.

We also found that the budgets were completely misaligned and people were grossly overtaxed creating a cash surplus of 1.2 million dollars. This caused a huge burden on the taxpayers. The budgets were miscoded so moneys were spent with little regard to the category they were in. This caused a convoluted budget with very little clarity.The other important issue we found was that villages of Hamilton and Earlville were being woefully overcharged with their share of the taxburden. When we did the calculations we made a 34% reduction in the tax rate for these villages. That means for years they were being grossly overburdened with their taxes.

Winston Churchill wrote that "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it." It cost the town many thousands of dollars to repair the damage of our past. Do we really want to go back to the days of unfiled reports, overtaxation, bloated unclear budgets and over burdening the village residents with taxes for services they will never receive? We can't afford to go back to those days!

Gone are the days of partisan politics. We do not need the parties dictating our policy in the Town of Hamilton. The Village election taught us that it is the candidates not doctrine that is important. That is why I am supporting David Holcomb and Chris Rossi for town councilor and Eve Anne Shwartz for Town Supervisor.

David Crumb

By   Sun, Nov 06, 2011

By   Sat, Nov 05, 2011

By   Sat, Nov 05, 2011

Colgate men's hockey Coach Don Vaughan became just the 39th NCAA Division 1 coach in history and just the 13th active coach to achieve that milestone.

Vaughan's 300th came Friday night as Austin Smith scored two shorthanded goals to lead 18th-ranked Colgate to a 5-3 win over Brown in Providence. He is the fourth ECAC coach to win 300 and the first Colgate hockey coach to do so. Vaughan has a career record of 300-298-69.

Colgate will be back on the ice tonight at 7 at Yale.

Colgate (5-2-1, 1-0-0 ECAC) saw Smith collect his hird two-goal game of the season and his second and third shorthanded goals of the year. Kevin McNamara tallied his fourth career tmulti-point game with a goal and an assist, while Chris Wagner and Jeremy Price added goals in the win. Eric Mihalik was impressive in net and finished with 33 saves between the pipes for his fourth win of the year.

Brown (1-2-0, 0-1-0 ECAC) got goals from Jack Mclelland, Massimo Lamacchia and Chris Zaires in the loss. Matt Wahl added a pair of helpers for the Bears and Mike Clemente pushed aside 20 saves.

Smith gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead 6:35 into the first period with his second shorthanded goal of the season and extended his point-scoring streak to nine games. Spiro Goulakos did a great job pressuring the puck during the Brown power play. He intercepted the puck and found Smith in stride on a breakaway and he buried his eighth goal of the year.

Brown answered in the second period with two-straight scores coming 1:14 apart in the first five minutes. Mclelland tallied the first Bear goal on the power play and it came during an extra attacker situation as Brown pulled the goalie during a delayed penalty on a 5-on-4 power play. After tying the game, the Bears took their first lead 1:14 later with Lamacchia scored on the man advantage. Brown took advantage of over four-straight minutes of power play time.

The Raiders answered with 12:12 remaining in the period as McNamara scored his first of the season with a blast from the blueline. Robbie Bourdon was given the assist as he dropped the puck for McNamara during a rush up ice and he blasted it home. 

The Bears tied the game 6:25 into the final frame as Zaires won a battle in front of the net. Jeff Ryan put a shot on Mihalik that the sophomore couldn't cover and Zaires was there for the rebound to tie the game at 3-3. Smith got the lead back for the Raiders at 4-3 with his second shorthanded strike of the night, coming with 4:35 left in the game. He scored 40 seconds into the Brown power play and the goal came unassisted. Wagner sealed the win for Colgate and coach Vaughan with an empty-netter with five seconds remaining in the game.

Brown earned the shot battle with 36 shots to Colgate's 25. The Raiders were 1-for-7 on the man advantage, while Brown went 2-for-8 with the extra skater. All three power play goals came in the second period.

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Nov 04, 2011

In his letter announcing his candidacy and at last Thursday’s Hamilton Forum Scott Mills promised the voters what he would do as Town Supervisor.

When the new Hamilton Town board first met on January 7, 2010, we were briefed by a representative of the State Comptroller on the draft of a 21-page report criticizing the Financial Condition and Internal Controls over Selected Financial Operations of the Town of Hamilton.  It was based on an audit of the Town’s finances from January 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009, and prepared by the Division of Local Government and School Accountability.  Completed in early October 2009, the results of the audit were shared with town supervisor Walt Jaquay and deputy supervisor Scott Mills.   The information was kept from the public when Mills ran for town supervisor two years ago.

The final report was made public in November 2010.  It is still available in the Town Office and on-line.  It includes the current supervisor’s four-page response that addresses the nine recommendations for corrective action on 17 separate faults identified in the report.  Before leaving office on December 31, 2009, neither Jaquay nor Mills had informed the newly elected members of the Town board or begun to take corrective action.

Six missing annual financial reports that had not been completed and submitted to the State, as required by law, was the most serious fault.  The recovery of missing and often inaccurate financial data and the completion of six overdue annual reports cost the taxpayers $10,000 over the next half year.  The inherited mess, along with the disrupting succession of three assistant bookkeepers who left the area for personal reasons, complicated and delayed getting complete control of the Town’s finances.  The other mostly procedural faults detected by the State Comptroller have now been corrected.

Scott Mills mentions his many years of service on the Town board as a qualification for higher office, but he avoids drawing attention to his eight years as deputy supervisor until the end of 2009.   It is easy for a candidate to make promises, but more difficult to run away from a record of inaction and lack of transparency.

Bob Kuiper, Town of Hamilton Supervisor

By   Thu, Nov 03, 2011

By   Thu, Nov 03, 2011

By   Thu, Nov 03, 2011

(The Town of) Hamilton is working with a challenging budget, so the town council has scheduled a dedicated meeting in the court house for Wednesday, Nov 9, at 7 p.m. The public is invited to ask questions.

In developing this year's budget, I convened a committee of the full board and all the candidates in this year's election. My purpose was: 1) to broaden public input in a manageable way; 2) to start the transition process for the new board members so whoever is elected will have a beginning understanding of the town finances and the budget. 3) to develop a broad consensus for what I knew would be a difficult budget. I think the effort was successful.

The appropriation is not the problem. It is 2% higher that the 2011 budget but 1% lower than the 2009 budget. The problem is that, because last year's budget used $175,000 from savings to offset the tax burden, the budget ended the year in deficit. This is not sustainable. The proposed budget received broad consensus support from the four sitting town councilors and all the candidates who believe that it builds a base for future budgets that can avoid large swings in the tax levy.

The estimated tax rates are $1.92 per $1,000 of assessed value—or $192 for a $100,000 home-- for the villages and $2.92 per $1,000 of assessed value for properties outside the villages. Because of the erratic nature of the reval, I can give no estimate of the impact on individual properties but many property owners will see a significant increase in taxes.

Peter Darby, Deputy Supervisor and Budget Officer

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

I am writing to ask that Hamilton voters cast their votes for Scott Mills on November 8. Over the past couple years I come to recognize and respect the knowledge that Scott has on all of the issues facing local governments and the dedication that he has to work for the people and find appropriate solutions. Scott has an excellent understanding of the town budget process and recognizes how to manage the budget in these difficult economic times.

Scott has worked hard to reach out and build relationships with Town Supervisors from around Madison County. By building working relationships with other Supervisors, Scott has already opened the door to potential cost-sharing initiatives by working together with neighboring towns.  He understands that, as Supervisor, his role will also include representing Hamilton residents at the county level; the relationships that he has built with many county board members will help Scott serve both the residents of Hamilton and of Madison County.

Scott’s years of service to his community makes him a great candidate for Supervisor and gives him the skills he needs to hit the ground running. Please support Scott Mills in his bid for Hamilton Town Supervisor.

Dan Degear, Supervisor Town of DeRuyter

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

On Saturday, Nov. 12,  the first of five Poolville Winter Farmers Markets will be held at the Pollville Community Center. Visitors will find locally grown food products including eggs, produce, meats, honey, cheese and other dairy products, mushrooms, baked goods, and more.

It is managed this year by Martine Cook and Amy Sommers.

This season, the market’s café will feature a local guest chef offering brunch and/or lunch items to enjoy with a cup of locally roasted coffee. Janssen Fay of Nola’s in Clinton is at the November’s market.

The market will also be held

• December 10,
• February 11,
• March 10,
• and April 14.

November’s vendors include Drover Hill Farm, Dutch Girl Cheese, Fruit of the Fungi, G & M Farms, Heirloom Meadows Farm, Highland Farms, The Imaginary Farmer, Ingallside Meadows, Jake’s Gouda Cheese, Jewett's Cheese House, Johnston's Honeybee Farm, Lucky Moon Farm, Maple Avenue Farm, Mizrahi Manor Farm, Poolville Country Store, Quarry Brook Farms, Sabino's Farm, Sommers Harvest Farm, and Windy Hill Orchard.

For more information, contact poolvillefarmersmarket@gmail.com.

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

On Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. the Capitol Steps once again puts the "mock" in democracy at the Palace Theater. 

Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. The group started in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole Congress they couldn't find three wise men or a virgin. So, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and they created song parodies & skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor.

They've been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard 4 times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide. Since they began, Capitol Steps has recorded over 30 albums, including its latest, Desperate Housemembers and Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree. CD's will be available for sale and autographing.

WRVO, NPR's local affiliate, will be recording the show for rebroadcast at a later date, so audience members can listen to themselves and enjoy the show twice. The Palace Theater is excited to partner with WRVO to share this broadcast with other NPR stations around New York including WAMC (Albany), WXXI (Rochester), and WNED (Buffalo).

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

Sociologist Anthony Campolo, PhD. will be the guest of the Madison Association of American Baptist Churches on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. at Hamilton's First Baptist Church.

"This is a rare opportunity to hear a prophetic, modern day messenger of Rev. Dr. Campolo's stature," said Pastor, Rev. Wes Smith.

Rev. Dr. Campolo is Professor Emeritus of Eastern University in Saint Davids, PA. He is a graduate of Eastern and earned a PhD. from Temple University. He is also a visiting professor of Sociology at University of Pennsylvania.

Founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Campolo has worked to create and support programs for at-risk children in cities across North America. He has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries.

Campolo also is a commentator on religious, social and political matters, having been a guest on television programs including The Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfire, Larry King Live, CNN Dayside, CNN and MSNBC News.

He is author of 38 books, with the latest releases in 2010 "Choose Love Not Power," and "Connecting Like Jesus."

He and his wife, Peggy, live in the Philadelphia area and have two grown children.

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

The Earlville Opera House Arts Center opens two new exhibits Saturday, Nov. 12, from noon to 3 p.m. In the East Gallery is “Reflections,” the assemblage works by Jim Ridlon and in the Arts Café is “View,” acrylic paintings by Kayla Cady. 

Ridlon is an artist and athlete who has achieved fame in both professions. His assemblage works have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, the American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) on the campus of the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama, and at Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary Celebration. He was named Sport Artist of the Year for 1989 by the U.S. Sports Academy. He taught art and coached football at Syracuse University, and is now a distinguished professor emeritus of the University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, and a well-known artist and art consultant.

Cady’s paintings make reference to scenic landscapes but seek to capture the energy of the natural environment - “rooted in the rich history of American landscape while passing into the realm of abstract expressionism.” Many of her paintings contain three-dimensional elements and feature multiple layers on untreated canvases. Cady received her BFA at Cazenovia College and her MFA at Marywood University. She is a native of Hamilton.

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

By   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

If you pay taxes in Hamilton and care about what happens to your tax dollars you should read this report. You really only need to read the first few paragraphs to get the picture. It is deeply disturbing. I do not understand why it has not been more widely publicized and discussed.

The State Comptroller's office audited the Town of Hamilton's finances for the period January 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009 (the report is at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/towns/2010/hamilton.pdf). They found

- records missing

- no mandatory financial reports filed since 2003

- bank accounts unreconciled since 2005

- we may have been inadvertently overtaxed

As a result, the report says, "it is impossible for the Board or public to oversee the Town's finances." We cannot tell how tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars were spent. Two current candidates for town office, Scott Mills (for Supervisor), and David Holcomb (for Council) sat on the all-Republican Council during this period. Mr. Mills was deputy supervisor.

Mr. Mills says that when he left office, the budget was balanced and every dollar spent wisely. How can he say that when "it is impossible" to know? Mr. Holcomb says a Councilor's job is deciding on what is put in front of him. He blames the former Supervisor and former bookkeeper for not providing them with financial reports.

Did they really sit, year after year, never asking for financial data, then blame others for what happened on their watch? Imagine the captain of the Titanic excusing himself because no one told him he was going to hit an iceberg!

No one suggests either gentleman acted corruptly. But they failed badly at financial stewardship, and neither shows any insight into his own responsibility. We cannot afford to return them to office.

Owen Tallman, Hamilton

By   Tue, Nov 01, 2011

Halloween was filled with a big treat for the Hamilton Food Cupboard.

Members of the HCS Almeda organization and Colgate's women's lacrosse team went door to door Monday, trick or treating on behalf of the food pantry that supplies food to local folks in need.

The groups collected some 750 lbs.of food in their effort.

Among the HCS students trick or treating were (left to right in photo above) Lauren Weeks, Eme Jones, Hayleigh Hanson and Clara Jones.

By   Mon, Oct 31, 2011

By   Mon, Oct 31, 2011

A new book about the Cold War politics and missteps that lead to the rise of the Berlin Wall will be the focus of a lecture by the author Fred Kempe, at Colgate Thursday, Nov. 3, at 4:30 p.m. in 27 Persson Hall. 

His book is titled Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and The Most Dangerous Place On Earth.

Kempe is a former Wall Street Journal reporter and editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe, and is now President of the Atlantic Council, a national security and international policy think tank in Washington, D.C.

This is the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Berlin Wall.

By   Sun, Oct 30, 2011

By   Sun, Oct 30, 2011

The 16th-ranked Colgate men's hockey team had a third period lead, but Niagara tallied two unanswered goals to hand the Raiders a 2-1 loss Saturday night at Starr Rink.

Colgate's (4-2-1) Alex Evin (in photo by Bob Cornell) season-high 35 saves, including 18 in the first period. Thomas Larkin scored the lone goal for the Raiders with Austin Smith and Robbie Bourdon earning the assists.

Niagara (1-3-1) came back from a third-period deficit with Marc Zanette scoring the tying goal and Mike Benedict tallying the gamewinner with 1:09 left in the game. Colby Drost matched Evin save-for-save and finished with 42 stops to earn his first career win. He made double-digit saves in each period.

The first period featured a lot of up-and-down play with Niagara earning an 18-16 advantage in shots. The Purple Eagles were given two power play opportunities, while Colgate went scoreless on its own power play. Evin was impressive on a couple of occasions, including a great save on a shot from the slot right off a faceoff.

The second period was almost a copy of the first frame as Colgate had a 14-10 advantage in shots, but could not get the puck past Drost. Evin came up with 10 saves of his own. The Raiders had the best chance of the game up to that point as Christian Long slipped a slow pass in front of Drost that Smith collected and tried to stuff it around the Niagara netminder, but the puck hit the post.

Colgate got on the board first with Larking scoring with 11:55 remaining in the game. Bourdon handed the puck to Smith and then the senior shifted a pass over to Larkin on the far wing and he shot a rocket over the blocker of Drost for the 1-0 lead. It was Larkin's second goal in as many games and both came on the power play.

Niagara fought back to tie the game as Zanette beat a defenseman on the edge and charged Evin. The Colgate netminder made the initial stop, but Zanette swept at the puck and it barely made it through Evin's pads and across the goal line. The goal came unassisted with 4:04 left in the contest. Then the Purple Eagles earned the win as Benedict skated in on a 2-on-1 and beat Evin blocker high and just under the crossbar.

Colgate outshot Niagara 43-37 and went 1-for-5 on the man advantage. Niagara only earned two chances on the power play and could not score.

The Raiders will be on the road next weekend to open conference play at Brown and Yale. Coach Don Vaughan will get his second chance at win No. 300.

By   Sat, Oct 29, 2011

The HCS boys soccer team scored its first goal within the first three minutes of play against Poland tonight, added another 12 minutes later and went on to defeat Poland 3-1 in Section III Class D play.

They now await the outcome of Saturday's Alexandria Bay vs. Immaculate Heart Central game tl learn who they will play, when and where.

Just as Coach Brian Latella wanted, his team came out firing. Devin Askew scored the Emerald Knights first goal at 37:14 in the first half.

The Knights continue to play aggressive offense and it paid off at 25:48. Sam Hale scored on an assist from Sam Owens.

But a brief lapse on defense tighten things up. Poland's Ross Agen scored at 11:56 and the half ended 2-1.

Hamilton added an insurance goal at 17:51. Drew Thompson scored on an assist from Sam Owens.

What doesn't show up in the box scores are the two monster saves HCS goalie John Kerber made in the late going of the second half. At the 15:01 mark, Kerber showed his leaping ability and tipped a high shot that would have gone in had he not gotten his fingers on the ball to send it sailing over the net. About nine minutes later he made another diving hand save to keep Hamilton's margin of victory safe.

"Kerber was huge," said Latella after the game. "Huge."

He also praised the defensive play of seniors Sam Reilly, Devin Askew and Alan Schut. Latella said they got to every ball to help keep Poland in check.

And, as for playing Poland in the sectionals after not facing them in the regular season?

"It was a typical Poland-Hamilton game," said Latella. "They play fast, the play well together and they made us earn it tonight."

By   Fri, Oct 28, 2011

The home of Hamilton's founder, Elisha Payne, is on the market again.

The 4,300-square-foot home on Payne Street had been purchased by Colgate in early 2009 as a home for its president after Rebecca Chopp left and before Jeffrey Herbst was hired. Chopp and her husband did not live in the on-campus presidential home, Watson House, as it needed a great deal of work. There had been some discussion of even raising the 1960s era home on the hill overlooking most of campus.

However, the university reversed its decision, renovated Watson House -- which is being renamed and dedicated this weekend -- and put the Payne house back on the block in the spring of 2010.

The five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath Federal style home was reportedly purchased by the parents of a Colgate student from out of state.

The current asking price is $450,000. It's listed with Village Real Estate.

Read: A Tale of Two Houses

By   Fri, Oct 28, 2011

By   Fri, Oct 28, 2011

Over 40 Community Memorial Hospital nurses attended the first Ann Cochran Nursing Education Day recently. Ann Cochran, who passed away in 2010, was well known throughout the region and to the CMH community for her work with the Mid-York Family Health Center and the Mid-York Foundation..

Speakers for the event included:

• Mitchell Brodey, M.D., (in photo) from Infectious Disease at Community General Hospital at Upstate University Hospital (topic: Infection Control);
• Darlene DelPrato, Ph.D., RN, Chair of Nursing and Health Professions, SUNY IT, Utica (topic: Horizontal Violence);
• Todd Olrich, RN, MSN, CNS, Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital (topic: Hourly Rounding);
• and Diane Potter, RN, Community Memorial Hospital (topic: Pneumonia Prevention).

The program was held at V.J.'s Diner and was repeated in the morning and afternoon so that more of the nursing staff could attend. At the luncheon, Dr. Merrill Miller spoke about Cochran's many attributes and how she touched the lives of many. 

The funding for the program came from the Ann Cochran Endowment for Nursing Education at Community Memorial Hospital and a gift from the Price Chopper's Golub Foundation.

By   Fri, Oct 28, 2011

Bravo to:

1. The Rotary Club for a well executed and informative candidates night for those running for the Nov. 8 town election. It was well run and well attended. Most of the candidates were well prepared and most answered the questions they were asked. Only once did a candidate open an answer with, "My opponent says ..."

2. The HCS girls soccer and field hockey teams. Both teams finished strongly and represented Hamilton well. Special nod to first years girls soccer Coach Brian Rose for solid season and getting his squad two games deep into the sectionals. And, one to Coach Karrie King and her field hockey squad for raising funds for breast cancer research.

3. The village board, and especially Trustee Anne Klauss, for taking quick action to make the intersection of Maple and Lebanon streets a four-way stop. This was part of the bundle that is the five-way intersection project, but the board broke it off and made it happen; quickly and efficiently and with due diligence. Look for the new stop signs in the spring.

4. HCS for being named among the top schools in Upstate New York by a Buffalo business magazine. The ranking was based on the success of students on Regents exams and state standardized tests. More proof that small rural schools can be academic stars.

5. Coach Don Vaughan and the Colgate men's hockey team for a great start to the season. So nice to see the Raiders do so well on ice.

By   Thu, Oct 27, 2011

A Buffalo business magazine rates HCS among the top schools in Upstate New York. HCS was ranked 100th among 431 districts.

The ranking by Buffalo Business First is based upon students' success on Regents exams and standardized tests.

"The recognition from Newsweek, and now Business First highlights the great work of our students, teachers and staff," said district Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers. "Over the past 5 to 6 years, our Learning Community has been willing to learn and implement the best practices in teaching and learning, despite all the issues that are swirling around us. We have great people that make HCS a great place to grow, learn and work. I am privileged to be part of this community."

The magazine has used state Education Department data to annually rate the performance of Western New York schools since 1992. It added schools in the Rochester area in 2010 and expanded to 48 Upstate counties this year.

Districts were rated on students' performances on 21 Regents exams and statewide tests between 2007 and 2010. Final scores are based on 172 statistical indicators.

Nearby schools and their rankings included:

• 9. Cazenovia
• 33. Clinton
• 89. Chittenango
• 104. Vernon-Verona-Sherrill
• 178. Waterville
• 245. Oneida
• 249. Norwich
• 276. Stockbridge Valley
• 286. Madison
• 288. DeRuyter
• 321. Morrisville-Eaton
• 333. Sherburne-Earlville
• 390. Canastota

The top performing schools included:

• 1. Pittsford
• 2. Fayetteville-Manlius
• 3. Brighton
• 4. Williamsville
• 5. Skaneateles

The poorest performing schools included those in urban areas:

• 431. Rochester
• 430. Syracuse
• 429. Buffalo
• 428. Albany
• 427. Schenectady

By   Thu, Oct 27, 2011

I am writing in support of Chris Rossi who is a candidate for Hamilton Town Council.

I have known Chris for several years, having met during the STOP NYRI citizen action. I ran the website for the organization and was continually impressed at the drive and commitment Chris had in her position as co-chair of the local movement that defeated a proposed power line that would have ruined the region in many ways. Of course, it was not a solitary defeat, but without her tireless efforts to motivate the good people around her to take action, it is likely that we would today have hundreds of 100-foot towers defiling our landscape. The leadership she demonstrated during that campaign makes it clear that she has the potential to be a dedicated and trustworthy representative.

I strongly recommend Town of Hamilton voters choose Chris Rossi as their representative in the upcoming election.

Kurt Reymers

By   Thu, Oct 27, 2011

I would like to express my support of Dominick Pangallo’s candidacy for Hamilton Town Council. Over the past half dozen years, I have attended many Town Council Meetings. Different people on the council have brought different strengths to the table, and, as a Town citizen, I appreciate the willingness of all to serve, each in his or her own way. At this time, I feel that Dominick has the qualifications and manner to represent all of the town citizens in the most effective way.

I do not base my opinion of Dominick on his background alone, impressive though his experience and education may be. Before I agreed to write this letter, I met with Dominick to assess what I thought he could bring to the table. Even before the election, I found that he was well versed in Town business, including the all important budgetary matters, an area that will surely continue to be taken up by the council. In these difficult economic times, I found in Dominick a true understanding of the needs of the citizens to know that each tax dollar paid is well used and well needed.

Since politicians writing political letters tend to be verbose and unnecessarily wordy, (and largely unread)  I will buck this trend by coming right to the point and asking you to vote on November 8, and especially to cast your vote for Dominick Pangallo.

Sue McVaugh, Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 27, 2011

We are writing to share our support for Dominick Pangallo, who is running for Hamilton Town Council. We met Dominick and his family last summer as we were walking near the town green with our little boy, William. We stopped to chat with him, his wife Kristin, and their daughter, Aurelia. It was clear we had found new friends and neighbors.

As we have gotten to know Dominick better, we have come to understand just how much he brings to Hamilton. Dominick has thrown himself into the Hamilton arts scene—a scene that is important to us. One of Dominick's loves is theater and we are looking forward to his contributions as a director and volunteer at the Palace Theater.

Dominick also brings extensive experience promoting good governance. Beyond his formal studies, which prepared him to understand how to manage budgets and make policies that work, Dominick devoted many years to promoting the environment, local preservation, and affordable housing. We all want our town to work well and to act fairly. Dominick has the tools to help us meet those goals.

And he, like the rest of us parents with young children, wants Hamilton to succeed in the long run. It is in the context of working for our kids that we have witnessed Dominick in action. Elizabeth serves with Dominick on the Chenango Nursery School's Parent's Advisory Committee. In meetings, Dominick has practical, thoughtful ideas, but he exhibits another quality that we think is very important: he really knows how to listen.

We hope you will vote for Dominick Pangallo for Town Council.

Liz & Dan Bouk, Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 27, 2011

Come next spring, local motorists will have to adjust how they drive in part of the village's business district. That's when the village will make the intersection of Maple and Lebanon streets a four-way stop.

There are only stop signs on Maple Street now.

The change was approved following a discussion of the five-way intersection plan at a recent village Board of Trustees meeting. The creation of the four-way stop was suggested as part of proposed changes to Lebanon Street included in a plan created by a task force studying the five-way intersection. Trustees decided that instead of making the change as part of the broader plan, that it could be done sooner and on its own.

The trustees decided not to adopt the portion of the plan that called for installing bump-outs in the street and widening the sidewalks.

The cost for the change is about $100 for the additional stop signs, according to Village Administrator Sean Graham.

The change will mean moving the stop for the Colgate Cruiser on Lebanon Street in front of  the Hamilton Eatery.  

By   Wed, Oct 26, 2011

I am writing this letter in support of the candidacy of Scott Mills for Town of Hamilton Supervisor.  He has been very involved in addressing local issues affecting both village and town residents. What I have observed is an energetic, dedicated public servant with a real sense of responsibility to the citizens he serves. I am particularly impressed with his depth of knowledge on many issues including gas drilling, shared services between municipal governments, and budgetary matters.  He takes the time to research complex issues and is often the best informed on them.  He is an assertive advocate for the Town but also has the ability to participate productively in contentious debates in a cooperative and bipartisan way. He is very much aware of his responsibility to insure that quality services are provided in the most efficient way possible. Scott has always been accessible to his constituents…anxious to hear and respond to their points of view.  It is particularly noteworthy that Scott was recently appointed by the current Supervisor to be the Town of Hamilton’s representative on the Partnership for Community Development’s Board of Directors.

I urge you to vote for Scott Mills on November 8. We need this young and energetic leader representing us at the county level.

Carl Albrecht, Village of Hamilton

By   Wed, Oct 26, 2011

By   Wed, Oct 26, 2011

This fall 12 members of Colgate's admission team spent a total of 276 staff days on the road. They visited 850 high schools in 41 states and 24 countries. They were asked -- and they answered -- every conceivable question about the admission and aid process.

On Thursday, from 8 to 9 p.m., three Colgate admission deans will take questions online in Colgate's first Inside the 'gate live video chat for prospective students and parents. Because the topics will be relevant to admission and aid processes at most four-year institutions in America, participants need not be applying to Colgate to join in, and can be based anywhere in the world.

Online taking questions will be Gary Ross, vice president and dean of admission; Karen Giannino, senior associate dean of admission; and Lynn Holcomb, senior associate dean of admission.

Topics will include how candidates can prepare for an admission interview, what role in the process is appropriate for parents, and some common mistakes students make in their applications. The deans also will demystify the admission committee process, during which decisions about applicants are made.

To participate in the Inside the 'gate live webcast, visit livestream.com/colgateuniversity any time between 8 and 9 p.m. Thursday. Participants can pose questions through the interactive chat feature (no password or software required) or by simply calling this toll-free number: 855-277-6204.

Other options include tweeting your question to our Twitter page or posting it to the Office of Admission Facebook page. To meet Colgate's admission team, visit the Inside the 'gate blog.

Source: Colgate

By   Wed, Oct 26, 2011

By   Tue, Oct 25, 2011

I write in support of Chris Rossi’s candidacy for Hamilton Town Council on November 8.

Chris has long worked quietly, thoughtfully and effectively to make Hamilton a better place.  She has been an active volunteer and as co-chair of STOP NYRI, helped unite the entire community to oppose the powerline. 

Chris can be counted on to study the issues, seek input from all sides, and then follow an informed and considered course of action.  While the town was in an uproar over the recent property tax revaluation, Chris saw a way that she could help. She learned about the complicated grievance process and then helped organize a group of volunteers to assist confused and worried taxpayers prepare their cases.

There are no easy answers or simple solutions for the Town of Hamilton. I attend most of the meetings of the town board and know that I will have confidence in the board if Chris is sitting at that table, asking informed and intelligent questions, listening to the voices of the taxpayers and considering the best course of action for the town and for the benefit of all.

Bruce Moseley, Hubbardsville

By   Tue, Oct 25, 2011

The Earlville Opera House hosts guitarist, singer, and composer Vicki Genfan on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. in the Arts Café. 

Genfan was the winner of Guitar Player magazine’s 2008 “Guitar Superstar” competition.

A grduate of Ithaca College, Genfan performs frequently throughout the Northeast and overseas, and teaches guitar.

In 2006 Genfan published a double CD titled Up Close & Personal. The first CD, Up Close, contains instrumentals, the second CD, Personal, features her singing and songwriting.

Tickets are $15, $13 members and $10 students. The Café will have reserved seating for this performance, and seating is limited to 50, so call early to reserve a seat!  For more information, or to reserve your space: call EOH at 691-3550.

By   Tue, Oct 25, 2011

Recently I was contemplating the upcoming election for the Town of Hamilton and I wondered what might be the general perception of the voters. Perhaps there is the notion that there is not much the elected officials can do on the local level so it really doesn’t matter who gets voted in – “ So I’ll just vote for the one I know – they seem like a good person. “

The fact is that all of the candidates for town council and supervisor are “ nice people “ and I’m sure have the best of intentions. It is also a fact that there is much that needs to be done by the local government to keep the residents and businesses of the township thriving.

Recently I have put myself in a position to be conscious of local government and I have been amazed at how involved and how intricate the whole process is, especially for the position of supervisor. I have become aware that there is only one person that knows what the heck is going on – Scott Mills.

When Scott starts talking about the function of the town board and all the logistics involved, his knowledge and enthusiasm is overwhelming. Scott Mills has served as deputy supervisor and therefore he has received on the job training, which is the best kind. That is why Scott is the one person capable of the position of supervisor for Hamilton Township.

For those of us who want our town to return to fiscal stability and to function with common sense, we need to recognize that it is absolutely essential to elect Scott Mills supervisor for town of Hamilton. Please join me in voting for Scott on November 8.

Kerry Dart

By   Tue, Oct 25, 2011

By   Tue, Oct 25, 2011

By   Mon, Oct 24, 2011

By   Mon, Oct 24, 2011

Members of the Hamilton Police Department made the following arrests:

10/14/11 – Connor F. Hedges, age 22, of 11 Colonial Way, Weston, MA and Daniel J. Pulitano, age 21, of 38 Arden Rd., Mountain Lakes, NJ, were arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  They are scheduled to appear before Acting Village Judge Donald Haight on Monday, October 24, 2011 to answer the charges.

10/14/11 – James A. Bourne, age 20, of 547 N. Bundy Dr., Los Angeles, CA, was arrested for Criminal Possession of Forged Instrument 3^rd, a Class A Misdemeanor violation of Penal Law 170.20 and Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65C.  He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charges.

10/15/11 – William H. Schubert, age 22, of 321 Sharpley Rd., Wilmington, DE, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  He is scheduled to appear before Acting Village Judge Donald Haight on Monday, October 24, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/15/11 – David B. Long, age 21, of 5563 Cottonwood Dr., Conesus, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  He is scheduled to appear before Acting Village Judge Donald Haight on Monday, October 24, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/15/11 – Melissa A. Giusti, age 21 (at time of arrest), of 20230 Hidden Creek Court, Ashburn, VA, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/15/11 – Scott A. Coates, age 22, of 111 Claridon Rd., Chardon, OH, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/15/11 – Ellen E. Callahan, age 20, of 626 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1 and Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65C. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charges.

10/16/11 – Adam B. Costello, age 22, of 3 Meghan Court, Saratoga Springs, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/16/11 – David B. Gold, age 18, of 11 Heights Rd., Manhasset, was arrested for Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65C and Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charges.

10/16/11 – Zachary Kolomeir, age 21, of 17 Ch Edge Hill, Westmount, PA was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/16/11 – Vincent J. Myers, age 18, of 120 Shelbys Cove Court, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL was arrested for Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65C and Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charges.

10/16/11 – Otelia S. Werthen, age 18, of 448 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA, and Taylor A. Hawks, age 20, of 11 Greenbriar Lane, Greenwich, CT, were arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). They are scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/16/11 – Ilana M. Pecan, age 25, of 132 Mountain Rd., Stowe, VT, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1.  She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, October 31, 2011 to answer the charge.

10/21/11 – Jamie L. Hogg, age 33, of 406 White St., Waterville, was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Registration Suspended, a Misdemeanor violation of Vehicle & Traffic Law 512.  She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on Monday, November 14, 2011 to answer the charge.

By   Mon, Oct 24, 2011

Over the years, I’ve come to  trust and rely on the leaders in our community to understand and tackle important issues. 

Eve Ann Shwarz’s  business experience and leadership qualities are evident from her many roles as  attorney, business woman, executive director  and Town Board member.  She helped stop NYRI, and is promoting strategic and safe planning for the inevitable growth of gas drilling in our area.

I believe in Eve Ann’s character, integrity and smart judgment.  She has an uncanny ability to engage people in conversation, encouraging  participation and sharing ideas.  She is a thoughtful listener, researches the facts and promotes community involvement.

I feel fortunate to live and work in this community rich with talented, hardworking  leaders.  My vote for Eve Ann Shwartz for Town Supervisor on November 8  guarantees this tradition.

 Barbara Golden, Earlville

By   Sun, Oct 23, 2011

Give me a Break! Really, my teeth ache reading this double-barreled salvo of revisionist history and the fanciful résumé of Shwartz & Rossi.

The truth is the gang elected in 2008 operated under a paranoid conviction that the Town council had embezzled or otherwise dematerialized town funds. When their accusations were printed in local media the state of NY comptroller’s office chastised them for offering misleading information to the press. When the final state audit revealed no such felonies or misdemeanors, there was no apology forthcoming.Indeed, their ideologically-driven delusion drove the debacle of the reval that tore this town apart and cost us taxpayers 50,000 plus and any trust in Bob Kuiper, Peter Darby or Carolyn Todd.

 As to the Qualifications of Eve Ann Shwartz-spare me the homespun tale of the humble family Farm. Her fortune was made outside this country by her father. Shwartz built her farm as much as Paris Hilton built a hotel chain. If my words seem harsh or unfair, is it anymore forgivable to trade on the fiction that Shwartz has abilities she doesn’t posssess, in the cynical attempt to garner your vote? The Dems sold us Bob Kuiper, too, pretending his capacities were what they once had been. This tactic is a dedication to power for its own sake, and a betrayal of the public trust. Shwartz is clumsy and erratic, her only consistency being her allegiance to her own self advancement.

Chris Rossi is indeed motivated by compassion, but her enchantment with the fatuous agenda of the green movement almost certainly guarantees future decisions based more on emotion than by logic, more on good intentions than good stewardship of our local economy.

Mr. Pangallo who? How about bringing some experience as a resident to the table? As to Mr. Pangallo having time to attend meetings-attendance at meetings has been no problem for the hometown republican team. Are we to ignore Mr. Kuiper’s Naps and Shwartz’s legendary tardiness? Ohh, My teeth!

Votes for Shwartz, Rossi& Pangallo are not in the best interests of the people of the Town of Hamilton.

Ned Lamb, Hubbardsville

By   Sun, Oct 23, 2011

I rarely write letters to the editor but this year’s Town election has prompted me to express my sincere belief on the candidates.

Eve Ann Shwartz is a very nice lady and a good friend. However our town is in a mess and we need people on the town Board with experience and background facing the coming years. A good example of the mess we are in is the fiasco of reevaluation or reassessment that we experienced this last year. Our local assessor has worked very diligently to correct the work that the hired assessment company left behind. Many people got hurt very deeply by their actions. We need people on the Town Board who know the people and their problems.

Our Republican and independent hometown candidates for the two positions of town council David Holcomb and Kerry Dart grew up in Hamilton and know the people and their needs. Cathy Hotaling and Bert Glazier are very experienced and both have done a good job.

Scott Mills, a former Town board member for 12 years is highly qualified for Town Supervisor and the right person to clean up the mess we are in today. He is a hard worker and can devote the time needed to get the job done.

I have spent most of my life in public office so I feel I can evaluate the problems and select the best people to do the job.

To the residents of the Town of Hamilton, do yourselves a favor and elect Scott Mills  and the rest of the  ticket this November 8th for the Town Board, an investment in your future.

Thank you.

Arnold R Fisher, Hamilton

By   Sun, Oct 23, 2011

The life of Manning Marable, author and founding director of the Africana and Latin American Studies Program at Colgate, will be celebrated Monday with two campus events that will be webcast live.

Marable died April 1 at age 60.

Marable was at Colgate from 1983 to 1987, teaching a range of courses including African American Social Thought and African American Freedom Struggles. His book, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, was published just three days after his death. It was nominated for the National Book Award.

The two Monday events are open to the public and also available online. No special software is needed to view the live webcasts.

Listen to this extensive interview with Marable on public radio's Studio 360.

The events:

4:15 p.m., Love Auditorium
Keynote address by Clayborne Carson, professor of history and the founding director of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Foundation. His topic will be "Manning Marable on the Integrity of Leadership and Scholarship in History's Greatest Freedom Struggle."

7:30 p.m., Love Auditorium
Three scholars, Robyn Spencer (Lehman College), Russell Rickford (Dartmouth College), and Komozi Woodard (Sarah Lawrence University) will discuss Marable's Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.

Source: Colgate

By   Sat, Oct 22, 2011

As a lifelong friend and colleague of Dave Holcomb, my wife Susan and I firmly support his re-election to the Town Council.

Dave should need no historical introduction to many of you so I leave that to other letters of support that will or already have appeared. Despite four terms on the board, Dave is not a politician. The Town of Hamilton needs Dave to continue his role on the board. I had the honor of servicing with Dave for eight years on the board. He, in particular, is important in many ways. Dave will ask the hard question that others will sit and wonder silently," Should I ask that?" Dave listens to those with differing views but does not patronize them into a false sense of what his position really is.

Dave knows the very basic role of town government and makes every attempt to keep the board focused on that role. Dave works very hard in his professional life, his family life and also for the town. He wants to see farmers have a chance to continue their lifestyle and see that multiple generations of Hamiltonians have the option of staying in Hamilton. Dave works on behalf of us to keep Hamilton growing in sensible fashion that is in keeping with the lifestyle we all are accustomed to and hope to see for many years to come.

Dave's direct and to the point style of communication as well as his perspective allow him to view issues as a taxpayer and not just as a board member seeking re-election. These are strong attributes that help him keep the proverbial " eye on the ball."

My family and I support Dave Holcomb and we hope you all will too!

Tim and Susan Trueworthy

By   Sat, Oct 22, 2011

I'm writing in support of Eve Ann Shwartz for the Supervisor of the Town of Hamilton.

I've been acquainted with Eve Ann for several years through her successful involvement with the Madison County Agricultural Economic Development Board, NYRI, the Southern Madison County Gas Coalition, and as a neighboring farmer.

After having several conversations with Eve Ann since the announcement of her candidacy I have become more familiar with her background and with her views of the Town of Hamilton and Madison County. Eve Ann has a common sense approach to the issues and her answers are candid and straight forward.

Based on the strength of those conversations, her public service record, and her views for the future of the Town of Hamilton. I strongly support Eve Ann Shwartz for Supervisor of the Town of Hamilton.

Darrell J. Griff, Hamilton

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

The Berea College Board of Trustees has named Lyle D. Roelofs as the ninth president of the college. Dr. Roelofs currently serves as provost and dean of the faculty (on leave), and professor of physics at Colgate University. He will succeed current Berea president, Larry D. Shinn, who will retire on June 30 of next year.

The college is located in Bera, KY and has more than 1,500 students.

“I am very honored to have been elected as Berea College’s ninth president,” Dr. Roelofs stated. “I have great admiration for Berea’s historic and continuing identity as an interracial, coeducational institution; for its enduring focus on the Appalachian region; and for educating talented students who have economic need. Berea is a strong academic institution, whose foundational Great Commitments provide a compelling vision for all who aspire to become part of its community. Berea’s distinctive heritage and institutional identity deserve wider attention and emulation.”

 “We are extremely pleased and fortunate to find a candidate with such a wide range of demonstrated and effective leadership skills as reflected in Dr. Roelofs’ career,” stated Dr. David Shelton, chair of the Berea College Board of Trustees. “Dr. Roelofs’ background and experience have prepared him well for this vital role at Berea College.”

Roelofs is a graduate of Calvin College with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in physics and mathematics. He earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, both in physics, at the University of Maryland and has more than 35 years experience in teaching and research at the University of Maryland, Calvin College, Brown University, Haverford College and Colgate University. He is also an experienced administrator, having served as associate provost at Haverford College, as provost and dean of faculty, and as interim president at Colgate University. A number of U.S. and international institutions have tapped Roelofs for visiting appointments and fellowships, such as the Sandia National Laboratory; the Fritz-Haber Institut in Berlin; University of Munich; Technical University Clausthal-Zellerfeld; and Universität Ulm.

Dr. Roelofs’ academic and scholarly research has resulted in substantial grants from such organizations as the Research Corporation, Pew Mid-Atlantic Cluster, and the National Science Foundation. Other honors include the Humboldt Research Fellowship and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Teaching Fellowship.  He held an endowed faculty chair at Haverford College as distinguished professor of computational science.

 Dr. Roelofs has many accomplishments in research and pedagogy, numerous publications in refereed professional journals, as well as invited papers and presentations at national and international seminars and colloquia. Beyond his academic interests, Dr. Roelofs enjoys reading, running (for exercise and the occasional distance race), cooking, and various outdoor activities including bird watching, camping and hiking. He and his wife Lauren have two sons, both of whom are in graduate school.

 “During our visits to the campus, my wife Lauren and I have been impressed by the warmth of the Berea community, the energy and quality evident in all of the college’s undertakings, and the beauty of its campus and natural setting,” Dr. Roelofs stated. “We very much look forward to becoming more acquainted with the campus community, the City of Berea, and to investing ourselves fully in Berea’s special relationship with southern Appalachia.”

 The college’s trustees began the presidential search process earlier this year when current Berea College president, Dr. Larry D. Shinn, announced his pending retirement effective June 30, 2012. Shinn became Berea’s eighth president in 1994. A search committee, comprised of a diverse mix of college students, staff, faculty and trustees, worked since the spring reviewing applications from a wide field of more than 120 candidates and nominees, many of whom were former or current college presidents and administrative officers.

“We were gratified by the strong interest to the Berea presidential opportunity, the diverse range of nominators and potential candidates, and the many ways in which these responses affirm Berea College and our mission,” stated Elizabeth (Libby) Culbreth, Co-chair of the search committee, former chair, current trustee, and a Berea alumna. Nancy Blair, co-chair of the search committee and trustee added, “We had an abundance of superbly-qualified candidates applying for the Berea presidency which is a testament to the college’s unique place in American higher education.”

During its 156-year history, Berea College has had only eight presidents. Since its founding by Kentuckian John G. Fee, an abolitionist, preacher, and educator, Berea has been guided by the welcoming and inclusive words of the Apostle Paul, “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth” (Acts 17:26). These words, which serve as the college’s motto, have guided Berea in building a strong liberal arts program of national reputation, while maintaining its commitment to the Appalachian region, to interracial education and to the equality of all women and men from all nations.

 “Dr. Shinn’s upcoming retirement culminates a recent period of intensive planning designed to deal, in part, with the new economic realities facing all of higher education,” stated Chair Shelton. “Dr. Roelofs will be asked to strategically and creatively lead a program of ‘Engaged and Transformative Learning’ in a significantly restructured academic model. Berea will continue to stay true to its inspiring mission and vision while encouraging exploration of energetic new initiatives that are consistent with its Great Commitments.”

Berea College is distinctive among institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1855, Berea was the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. Berea awards four-year tuition scholarships to all its students, who because of financial circumstances could not otherwise afford a high-quality, residential, liberal arts education.

More details about Roelofs’ appointment and a full Curriculum Vita are available on the Berea College website at:  www.berea.edu/ninth.

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

This letter is in support of Eve Ann Shwartz for Town of Hamilton Supervisor. I met Eve Ann several years ago at a gathering for local farmers. I was very surprised to find out that she had practiced law in Hamilton, but returned to her true passion of running the family farm. This to me showed her strong family ties and values.

Eve Ann is the type of person who is willing to roll up her sleeves and get involved in projects that have an effect on not just the Town of Hamilton but southern Madison County. When NYRI proposed to build a high power transmission line through our county, Eve Ann rolled up her sleeves and co-chaired STOP NYRI. This transmission line would have had a great effect on many farm and residential property values. It would have also had a lasting effect on our beautiful rolling hills and picture perfect views. STOP NYRI was a very successful campaign in stopping the transmission line, thanks to Eve Ann. 

As a resident of southern Madison County, I support Eve Ann Shwartz for the Town of Hamilton Supervisor. She is a local business owner with family and community values and very approachable. Eve Ann has the leadership that the Town of Hamilton needs to move forward.

I ask you to vote for Eve Ann Shwartz on November 8 for Town of Hamilton Supervisor.

Allen Riley, Earlville

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

I write to express my support for Chris Rossi’s candidacy for Hamilton Town Council. I have known Chris and her daughter, Nicki, throughout Nicki’s years as a student at Hamilton Central School and have appreciated how Chris’s mix of public outreach and love of place has stood as an admirable model for Nicki. Now Hamilton town residence can benefit from Chris’s exemplary blend of strength and love.

Several years ago, as co-chair of STOP NYRI, Chris successfully defended our town against a corporation that threatened environmental devastation. Now she leads Citizens for Safe Energy, a group that promotes best practices and policies for natural resource development, especially for natural gas and the complicated issue of hydro-fracking. This work proves Chris’s intelligence, organizational skills, and unstoppable work ethic.

Personally, the thing about Chris I most cherish is her blackberry jam-making skill. That’s not trivial. It’s evidence that in addition to her fearless engagement with the big world out there, she’s also a very grounded person who connects with the goodness that surrounds her and makes something really valuable with it.

I am confident that Chris will be a strong, smart, and balanced Hamilton Town councilperson.

Melissa Davies

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

In a few short weeks we’ll have the opportunity to turn away from the catastrophic leadership of the Town of Hamilton town council by electing Scott Mills as Supervisor and Kerry Dart and Dave Holcomb to town council.

For those of us who pay taxes in this town, I say remember the reval! The team of incompetents that gave us that fiasco will be looking to pass off their legacy and perpetuate it under new management. The names will change; the arrogant mismanagement will go forward.

Times are hard, and require common sense to meet the challenges. Our town is too small to be used as a microcosm of the national debate. Our neighbors are our concern and taking control of the fiscal chaos brought upon us by the Kuiper council is paramount.

A dedication to sound principle is what Scott Mills will bring to the town. His record of service in and out of office stretches back a dozen years. His relationship with the board of Supervisors is excellent. His work ethic is obvious to anyone who’s ever tried to keep up with him. (No you will never have to ask if he’s awake at a meeting)His knowledge of the issues facing our Town, County and State is encyclopedic, and his dedication to the wise use of our tax money has been validated by his record and contrasted with the Keystone cops of our current council.

Our town has been placed in a fiscal hole. Were at a point where our taxes, driven higher by the reval, will have to go up another 30 to 40% to pay the debt we have been left. This is just the way it is. Your taxes are going up, and there is nothing we can do to stop that.

But we can stop the bleeding going forward by electing Scott Kerry and Dave on November 8^th.

Don’t be fooled again Remember the Reval!

Ned Lamb, Hubbardsville

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

When we go to the polls to elect our government leaders, we need to consider their character, their work ethic, their honesty, and their common sense. In addition I have known David Holcomb to hold the highest of family values. 

On November 8, when I enter the voting booth, I will remember how Dave stood in position during the re-evaluation fiasco. David stood with people like me, Scott Mills, Kerry Dart, and Mike Hotaling. Jody Palmer, Ned Lamb, Mike Welshco, and others when we rallied to fight an unfair re-evaluation that saw some properties increase as much as 600%.

Dave represented our community in the past for 12 years as a Town of Hamilton Councilor. He has shown he is a devoted public servant.  He is running for all the right reasons. He is not running to advance a personal agenda or to seek higher office. He knows that serving on our town board is an honor and a responsibility. He knows the issues we face and will be our voice.

I love this area. With my family, we are beginning an expansion of our dairy business. I need a person like David Holcomb to represent me, my neighbors, and this town. His common sense solutions, joined by people like Scott Mills, and Kerry Dart, will help set a direction for the town that we need and can afford. They realize that agriculture is a key part of the economic fabric and well-being of this community.

If our town is to remain a place where people can remain in their homes, where folks will invest and create well-paying jobs, and where the young and the seniors want to live, then we must have a reasonable tax levy. Rural resident, village dweller, merchant, and farmer all need to unite and elect people like David Holcomb.

I urge you to vote for a team that promises common sense decision-making: the team of Mills, Holcomb and Dart.

John Schell and Family, Earlville

By   Fri, Oct 21, 2011

We have the opportunity in this election to bring new faces, fresh ideas, and different perspectives to the Town of Hamilton Board. 

Eve Ann Shwartz is a life long resident of the Town of Hamilton who offers us experience in local government, community organizing, and agricultural development.  The list of her accomplishments have been mentioned by many in their letters of support.  But it’s not because of her involvement in these organizations that I support Eve Ann—I support her  because of her success in them. Her accomplishments in so many arenas on behalf of the residents of the Town of Hamilton deserve my, and your, support.

Chris Rossi will bring special qualities to the Town Board as a master organizer and a true consensus builder.   We have all seen the results of her organizational and leadership skills with NYRI.  She’s not afraid to hear all sides of an issue, as she has so clearly shown in her leadership of the Southern Madison County Gas Coalition.  She’s passionate about the importance of support for local agriculture and local development.  Her concern, her integrity, and her leadership skills will make her an excellent Town Board member.  

With several years of experience in public administration and public affairs, Dominick Pangallo will bring professional experience in issues that confront the Town of Hamilton—tax policy, public finance, environmental concerns, and policy analysis--to the Town Board.  It’s obvious to us all that we need that knowledge and experience for the Town to be able to move forward in these difficult times.   

As we discuss amongst ourselves how to involve and retain young adults in our rural area, Dominick is living that experience.  He brings, as well, the perspective of a father with a young child, a perspective necessary for the Town of Hamilton to be successful on behalf of all its residents.

With Dominick, we have the opportunity to bring a different perspective, new energy, and fresh ideas to address the many challenges facing our community.

I urge you to support Eve Ann Shwartz for Supervisor and Chris Rossi and Dominick Pangallo for Hamilton Town Board.

Russell Lura, Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 20, 2011

We have known Eve Ann for the past 35 years first as an attorney and later, working with her on the Partnership for Community Development. It was in that capacity that I watched Eve Ann invest her leadership skills - along with her fine understanding of the law – into the long range interests of our greater community. During her tenure, the PCD restored 16 storefronts in the Villages of Hamilton and Earlville and created a successful small business assistance program.

Eve Ann and her family have successfully developed Maple Avenue Farms providing "Sun Fed Beef" to local and NYC consumers. Her interest in protecting agriculture and historic communities was a natural segue for her Stop NYRI efforts. The defeat of this proposed 200 mile long electrical transmission line was a victory for everyone.

With the arrival of gas drilling, it has been interesting to see where Eve Ann has come in on this issue. Eve Ann is a founding member of the Southern Madison County Gas Coalition a group organized to give local landowners sufficient bargaining power to negotiate leases that protect the individual and the community's land, water and air, while also providing a positive financial return. Clearly neither for nor against, but rather acting as a watchdog for safe practice, Eve Ann is a good neighbor, using her talents and abilities that has helped all of us.

If you know Rob and I, you know that we are not concerned with party affiliation particularly at the local level. We support individuals who have the skills, personal integrity, dedication to community service and business savvy that a leader must have. If you are an independent thinker, as so many of the silent majority are, then we urge you to vote for Eve Ann as Town of Hamilton Supervisor. Together this years' Democratic ticket of Eve Ann Shwartz, Chris Rossi and Dominic Pangallo are a winning combination who
are ready, willing and able to serve us all.

Susie Gustafson, Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 20, 2011

Chris Rossi’s “community sense” is great.  Whether she is taking care of her neighbor’s goats, attending a Friends meeting and helping to preserve a hundred year old church, volunteering for the library or leading a skillful, grassroots fight against NYRI, Chris is up to her elbows in community.  

As Natural Gas development approaches, Chris has not focused on self - interest or self - preservation, but stood in the middle of our community, looking to gather and publicize honest answers about how we will be affected.  

Now that the Town of Hamilton is mired in financial problems and a poorly managed property tax revaluation, Chris is stepping up to solve the problems.  We better vote for her. 

Harmon Hoff, Earlville

By   Thu, Oct 20, 2011

We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our newest neighbor, Dominick Pangallo, to all Town of Hamilton residents. Dominick, his wife, Kristin, and toddler moved across the street from us this summer and Dominick has fast become an active participant in Hamilton affairs.

Dominick and his family moved to Hamilton from the Boston area, when Kristin took a position at Colgate.  He “works” as a full-time dad, but has become involved in many local activities, one of which is politics.  He was nominated by the Town Democrats to run for Town Council in the November 8 election.  Dominick is a great addition to the Democratic team: Eve Ann Shwartz, running for Supervisor; Chris Ross, running for Town Council; and Dominick, also for Town Council.  Although relatively new to Hamilton, he is well prepared for this position.  He has learned everything he can about the Village and Town, and has attended Democrats’ meetings and Town Council meetings.  Dominick has two Master’s degrees; one in Political Science and one in Public Administration.  He has run campaigns for several candidates in Massachusetts and served as Chief of Staff for one Representative whom he helped elect.  He has also served as a free-lance consultant for a variety of non-profit and other organizations in Massachusetts.  There is no question but that Dominick is well prepared for the position of Town Councilor, and he has many great ideas about how to help the Town operate efficiently, economically and in a sound financial position.

In addition, Dominick is a good neighbor, friendly, cheerful, and helpful.  You will not regret casting your vote for Dominick Pangallo for Town Councilor.

Deborah S. Kliman, Hamilton Board of Trustees, and Harvey L. Kliman

Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 20, 2011

My name is Kerry Dart and I’m running for Hamilton Town Council. I live on beautiful Bonney Hill in rural Hubbardsville. I’m a fifth generation lifetime resident and businessman of Hamilton Township and I graduated from HCS. I’m an auctioneer and part time farmer. My wife, Paula, is a nurse supervisor at Community Memorial Hospital. Our 3 sons graduated from HCS. I love Hamilton and I want the best for all those that call Hamilton home.

Perhaps what I am most recognized for is the caretaker of “ Big Norm – world’s largest known pig “. In addition I have served on the boards of the Madison Co Fair and Camp Hunt. I played a key role in the organization and operation of CNY Giants Youth Football with 11 years of total service. During my tenure with the Giants, the organization grew 400% and stayed fiscally sound. In the past I have served as a Hubbardsville volunteer fireman and on the HFD board of commissioners. While a commissioner I was instrumental in solving serious financial issues, adding 2 important vehicles, and updating much needed safety equipment. This was done “ out of pocket “ without borrowing money.

Hamilton is a uniquely diverse township that provides a wonderful environment for families to live and businesses to thrive. I believe that to maintain this great lifestyle that we need to guard against over regulating, over spending, and over taxing by our town government. The property “ over-evaluation “ of 2011, with all of the hardships and problems that it caused, can never be allowed to happen again. I am asking the Town of Hamilton residents for their  vote for Town Council on November 8. Please let me go to work for you.

Kerry Dart

By   Thu, Oct 20, 2011

By   Wed, Oct 19, 2011

I remember the words of a beloved civics teacher who cautioned, " If you are not prepared to do the heavy lifting, be sure to find someone to represent you who is."

As most of you know from her tireless and determined work to prevent NYRI from installing power lines in our area, her involvement during the bicentennial, her work with the Chenango Valley Peace Alliance, and her service on the board of the Hamilton Public Library, Chris is not afraid of hard work.

Many seeking public office bring a love and respect for the unique qualities of this community,  but few bring such passion and ability for focusing on and analyzing complex problems, or such a willingness to gather and share information (for a time my lap top was clogged with STOPNYRI updates from Chris), or such innate public speaking and organizational skills necessary for effective service. 

When being involved politically, in the true sense of the word (relating to citizens) can be such a thankless job, I am thankful for a woman of such energy, determination, integrity and focus, and I know she will listen to our concerns and do our "heavy lifting." We're lucky she wants to represent us.

Linda Leach
Hamilton

By   Wed, Oct 19, 2011

The HCS Board of Education Tuesday night adopted a calendar for the development of the 2012-2013 budget; it was adopted earlier than ever before and includes 24 milestones (meetings and filing deadlines) before the budget is voted on next May 15.

Dr. Diana Bowers said the budget process is more complex this year in part because of the 2 percent property tax cap approved earlier this year by the state legislature. She encouraged school district residents to attend meetings on the budget and offer suggestions and opinions.  

HAMILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL 2012-2013 BUDGET CALENDAR

October 18:  BOARD OF EDUCATION – REGULAR MEETING – ADOPT 2012-2013 BUDGET CALENDAR (*Tentative – Some dates/times subject to change*)

November 29: Preliminary review with  Superintendent & SBO – Buildings & Grounds  

November 30: Preliminary review with Superintendent & SBO – Transportation  

December 1: Preliminary review with Superintendent & SBO – Cafeteria

December 2: Preliminary review with Superintendent & SBO – Athletic Director           

December 20: Board of Education – Regular Meeting - Preliminary Budget Discussion

January 3: Budget review with Superintendent & SBO – Secondary Principal             

January 4: Budget review with Superintendent & SBO – Elementary Principal           

January 5: Budget review with Superintendent & SBO – CSE 

January 6: Budget review with Superintendent & SBO-Director of Technology

January 17: Board of Education – Regular Meeting – Preliminary Budget Discussion

February 14: Board of Education – Regular Meeting – Preliminary Budget Review

February 27: Budget Coffees – Discussion on calculation of Maximum Allowable Tax Levy

March 1: Petition forms available for Board of Education Candidates – Legal Notice (first of five)

March 1:  Deadline for Tax Levy Limit to be submitted to NYS Comptroller’s Office

March 12: Board of Education – Budget Workshop – 4:30 – 9:00 PM *Schedule TBD*

March 16: Deadline for submission of petition to be placed on ballot (60 days prior to vote, per board policy).

March 20: Board of Education – Regular Meeting – Budget Review

April 3: PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARING – 6:30 PM

April 16:  Petitions for Board of Education candidates are due in the District/Main Office by 4:00 PM.

April 17: Regular Board of Education Meeting – Adoption of 2012-2013 Budget

April 20: Property Tax Report Card – Submit to NYSED and Local Press

April 30: Budget – Send to printer

May 4: Mail budget newsletter to district residents – (Budget and attachments available)

May 8: PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING – 6:30 PM

May 15: REGULAR BOARD MEETING AT 6:30 PM – FOLLOWED BY THE ANNUAL MEETING – BUDGET VOTE AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS 12:00 NOON – 8:00 PM.

 NOTE:  Dates for Public Notice of Annual Meeting: March 1,15, 29 and April 23, 30 

By   Wed, Oct 19, 2011

HCS is taking a proactive approach to helping students deal with several highly personal issues.

At Tuesday's HCS Board of Education meeting, counselors Jessica Barnum and Courtney Simmons explained what they and others are doing to help students deal with depression, suicide and other issues. They also explained the school's efforts to continue educating students about bullying, and next semester the two will attend a program on safe dating.

The goal is to help students understand what resources are available. This semester, Bridges, a county-wide mental health organization, will present three one-hour programs to secondary school students in health class.

HCS also has a behavioral intervention team. This group meets each Monday to discuss issues effecting individual students so they can be prepared to help those students.

The counselors and others are responding to the results of a county-wide survey of students, and one they did of HCS students this fall.

Also on Tuesday, the board:

• acknowledged the receipt of a donation from Slater Brothers Entertainment of $485 from this past August's Hamilton International Film Festival;
• heard that the French and Spanish clubs plan a trip to Puerto Rico;
• approved Barbara Orth as a full-time secondary science teacher;
• accepted the resignation of music teacher Austin Kiley, who is taking a full-time position elsewhere;
• approved coaches for the winter sports season;
• and approved staff and volunteers for the fall play, Enchanted April.

By   Wed, Oct 19, 2011

Hamilton Theater’s season of Grand Operas in Cinema kicks off Sunday at 2 p..m with a presentation of Francesco Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, performed at the Royal Opera House in London.

Presented in high definition digital image and surround sound, the season features seven operas from Europe’s greatest opera houses.  Tickets are $20 individual operas or $120 for the full season.

This year’s opera season is sponsored by Hamilton Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. 

“We are extremely grateful for this sponsorship, which enables Hamilton Theater to present world class opera to the community,” said Hamilton Theater’s Chuck Fox.  “Audiences for last year’s season were large and enthusiastic.  We look forward to another exciting season.”

Guests are invited to enjoy refreshments in the theater at intermissions, hosted by the Colgate Inn.

The rest of the schedule includes:

• Nabucco performed at Italy’s Teatro Antico (11/13), 
• Don Giovanni from Teatro alla Scala in Milan (12/11),  
• Cendrillon from London’s Royal Opera House (1/22), 
• The Magic Flute from Teatro alla Scala (2/12), 
• La Boheme performed at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu (3/25),
• and Rigoletto from London’s Royal Opera House (4/22).   

All presentations are on Sundays at 2 pm.

For tickets and information call 824-8210 or visit.

By   Mon, Oct 17, 2011

By   Mon, Oct 17, 2011

Proceeds from the sale of tickets on a chance to win a handmade quilt benefit Robby's Team, the organization formed to aid Robby Britton and his family, an HCS student battling rare form of muscular dystrophy.

The quilt was made by Joanna Overton and Mary Thaller, and for the next several weeks will be on display at the Barge. After that it will be displayed and tickets sold at a variety of local events.

The final drawing will be held XXX at the HCS hoiday concert. Tickets are $5 each.

Also see:

• Riggies for Robby
• Little League Joins Robby's Team

By   Mon, Oct 17, 2011

By   Sun, Oct 16, 2011

Dominick Pangallo is a bright newcomer to the Town of Hamilton. He’s young, technically savvy, and has lots of training and experience in governance issues. Composed and unflappable, Dominick will work effectively to keep the dialogue civil and get to the basic task of listening to and addressing the concerns of the people. I have full confidence in his integrity and genuine desire to serve this community. Being new here is probably a big advantage. He owes no favors and will bring just plain common sense to the process. I urge you to vote on November 8 and please consider voting for Dominick Pangallo for Town Council. Thank you.

Susan Tallman

Hamilton

By   Sat, Oct 15, 2011

By   Sat, Oct 15, 2011

By   Fri, Oct 14, 2011

I am a lifelong resident of our town; I have lived and worked side by side with you; I have raised my family here; I have served our town in many volunteer community and civic roles; and I have worked hard to contribute to the Town of Hamilton. Now, I seek to continue that role as your Town Supervisor.  

I share a slate of candidates who, like me, are committed to a more fiscally responsible representative government.      

Two years ago, when my term on the Town Council expired, we had a fund balance to support local services without resorting to borrowing.  Just two years later, we now face the probability of large tax increases.  Our budget surplus appears to have been used to pay for purchases that exceeded our ability to fund. Two years later, and after guidance from the Office of the New York State Comptroller, we still don’t have a clear picture of our fiscal well-being.  No real understanding of our finances.  And, who can forget the chaos of the re-evaluation mess that we just experienced?  It is time for leadership based on common sense.

Town government needs to get back to doing the people’s business.  Political posturing and advancing decisions based on political expediency has to stop.  In the weeks preceding November’s election and thereafter, I look forward to speaking with you about your concerns, your issues and your hopes for Hamilton.  If you think as I do, then join me and the others on my slate along with your neighbors and friends with similar views and elect a new team with experience and common sense ideas.  Our ideas build on a foundation of reason, responsible and disciplined spending, and good judgment. 

 Your support is appreciated.  Thank you.

Scott Mills

By   Fri, Oct 14, 2011

 It is my strong opinion that the Town of Hamilton has to return to commonsense government. This requires leaders who follow fiscally responsible tax and spending policies and are accountable to the town residents.

The town is facing several key issues that will have a major impact on its residents such as Zoning and land use, property revaluations, taxes and the safe extraction of our natural gas resources. Unlike most of us, Scott Mills takes the time to research all sides of an issue and seeks answers that work in the best interest of the town. He seeks input from many individuals and weighs the costs and benefits to all residents.

Scott’s prior record shows that he follows financially sound principles; while he was serving on the Hamilton Town board we had reasonable budgets. Scott has always been willing to stand up for the residents, most recently on rezoning - land use regulations and revaluations-even while not serving in office. As our next supervisor I am confident he will represent all residents fairly at town and county level in a productive manner.

Mike Hotaling,

Hubbardsville

On a personal note-I extend many thanks to my sister Cathy Hotaling for the months of extra work and late night meetings assisting all the hundreds of citizens with the cumbersome paperwork needed to resolve their recent tax reassessment.

By   Fri, Oct 14, 2011

On November 8 the Town of Hamilton will have the opportunity to elect a Supervisor and two Town Councilors who would bring fresh perspectives and expertise to a Town that has struggled for two years to recover from an earlier period of inadequate reporting and misguided financial management.

Eve Ann Shwartz would bring to the position of Supervisor her love of her home town, her expertise in the law, her passionate commitment to protecting the land and its value, and her entrepreneurial and managerial skills. She has demonstrated strong abilities as a leader, not only in the Town, but in the County and region.  Her proactive orientation has been shown repeatedly; she has been an initiator as well as a leader of Stop NYRI, the Partnership for Community Development, the Southern Madison County Gas Coalition, and the county’s Agricultural and Economic Development Committee. As Supervisor, she would bring intelligent energy, dedication to the well-being of all citizens, and practical knowledge to both Hamilton and Wampsville.

Chris Rossi’s energetic dedication to the well-being of the Town again is being shown in her willingness to run for Town Council. She has repeatedly shown that she knows how to organize citizens toward constructive action when their rights are threatened, whether by a power line, careless natural gas development, or apparently unfair property assessment. Chris took the lead last Spring to organize citizens to help other citizens who wanted advice about the grievance process about property assessments.

 Dominick Pangallo would bring to the Town Council knowledge about state and local tax policy, public finance, budgeting, as well as organizational effectiveness. The mistakes made in Hamilton’s financial reporting between 2003 and 2008 and identified in 2009 by the NY Comptroller might well have been avoided if such knowledge had been represented on the Town Council. Dominick offers what sometimes admittedly has been missing:  he has time for regular attendance at meetings. He also has knowledge about public administration that would enable him to recognize problems when they emerge.

Votes for Shwartz, Rossi, and Pangallo are votes for good government!

Donald L. Berry and Wanda Warren Berry

49 University Ave.

Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 13, 2011

Eve Ann Shwartz is a born leader with a sense of the common good and the voltage to make things happen.

Not simply because she knows everyone you could name (even with phone book in hand!) in Madison County and Albany. Or because she understands farming and the law; has served on the Hamilton Town Council; shaped its strategic plan; led the PCD, and StopNYRI. Something else commands attention: an uncanny frankness, a surefootedness, that makes you trust Eve Ann's judgment.

Eve Ann Shwartz led the Partnership for Community Development with spectacular pizazz, working with the village, with the Colgate Board of Trustees, with everyone who would help make things happen. She convinced and cajoled, successfully shaping the renovation of the building facades in Hamilton and Earlville, helping local businesses grow.

And then she turned to StopNYRI. With her terrific co-chair, Chris Rossi--Davids fighting 120 foot pylons--she led this community and partnered with an array of New York agencies: Eve Ann a state-wide leader here. Red and Blue together won.

When good things happen they sometimes seem inevitable. But remember how real the threat of a 200 mile power line from Canada was. No single person in New York State was more clearly responsible for toppling NYRI than Eve Ann Shwartz. An articulate voice, pitch-perfect in dealings with lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, transparent with the public, she -- we all -- won.

Are those transferable skills? You betcha. What a township we will have with Eve Ann as Supervisor.

Jane L. Pinchin

Hubbardsville,

By   Thu, Oct 13, 2011

A Colgate student was arrested this morning wearing just his underwear while sleeping at the wheel of a bus inside the HCS bus garage.

HPD Chief Rick Gifford said Louis Patrick Webster, 19, of 730 Westmoreland St., Syracuse, was found asleep in the driver's seat of an HCS bus at about 5:30 this morning when the driver reported to work. The chief said the Webster awoke, grabbed his clothes off the floor of the bus garage and fled. Webster entered a locker-room; the door locked behind him when it closed, securing him in the locker-room until police arrived.

Gifford said Webster broke a window in the bus garage to get inside.

The chief added that Webster is believed to have been under the influence of some substance(s) -- including alcohol -- at the time of the incident.

Webster has been charged with fourth degree criminal mischief and third degree criminal trespass, both misdemeanors. He remains in the custody of HPD. 

By   Thu, Oct 13, 2011

By   Thu, Oct 13, 2011

Chris Rossi is a long time resident of Hubbardsville. I have known her for 16 years as a friend and neighbor. Our children grew up together and remain close friends. Chris has always been hard working and generous with her time and talents. She has volunteered for the Hamilton Library Board and Hamilton Historic Commission, and was co-chair of Stop NYRI. Over the years Chris has shown a combination of intelligence, ability, common sense, level headedness, kindness, humor, and, most importantly, integrity in her personal life, career, and community activities. Particularly with Stop NYRI, she demonstrated time and again an ability to educate herself on the issues, work with and listen to many individuals with a broad spectrum of views, and use this information to arrive at the most reasonable and effective course of action. Chris has the ability to recognize the talents of others and use those talents effectively.
She always does the work she agrees to do and often picks up the slack for others. A consensus builder by nature, Chris has the ability to persuade and lead when necessary. Above all, I can say without reservation that she is the most forthright and honest person I know, and has always been a friend I could count on. We residents of the Town of Hamilton are fortunate to have an honest, talented, and hard working person like Chris Rossi willing to serve on our Town Board.

Michael Zahn, MD
Eaton Road
Town of Hamilton

By   Thu, Oct 13, 2011

The HCS Board of Education holds its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the elementary school library. The agenda includes:

1.0 Call to Order

2.0 Preliminary Action
2.1 Additions to Agenda
2.2 ACTION – Approval to Agenda
2.3 ACTION – Approval of Minutes

3.0 Consent Agenda Business Operations
3.1 ACTION – Treasurer’s Report
3.2 Financial Report
3.3 ACTION – Consideration of Claims
3.4 Transportation Report
3.5 Cafeteria Report
3.6 ACTION – 2012-13 Budget Calendar

3.7 ACTION – Extra-curricular Advisors

4.0 Community Participation
4.1 General Public - Communication Protocols – Please sign in with the District Clerk. We reserve the right to limit the amount of time available to each individual speaker.

5.0 New Business
5.1 ACTION -- Personnel
5.2 ACTION – CSE/CPSE Recommendations
5.3 ACTION – Professional Development Planning
5.4 ACTION – Donation
5.5 ACTION – French/Spanish Trip
5.6 ACTION – Teaching Artists

6.0 Information and Correspondence
6.1 Administrators’ Reports
6.2 School Boards Recognition Week
6.3 Common Core
6.4 Correspondence
6.5 Superintendent’s Evaluation System
6.6 On-line Courses
6.7 BOCES Correspondence
6.8 Analysis of 3-8 Math & ELA Scores
6.9 Merger Study Update

7.0 Future Business
7.1 Executive Session A portion of an open meeting during which the public may be excluded. Pursuant to education law, we are notifying our community of what will be discussed at that time. The Board will be discussing: 1) Personnel and student updates.

Adjournment

By   Wed, Oct 12, 2011

The late Manning Marable, the founding director of Colgate's African-American and Hispanic studies program, has had his biography , Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, named a finalist for the National Book Awards.

The announcement was made in New York this afternoon.

Marable, who taught at Colgate from 1983 to 1986, died just as his critically-acclaimed book was released. He was 60 and a professor at Columbia University at the time of his death in April.

Winners of the award will be announced Nov. 16.

By   Tue, Oct 11, 2011

By   Sun, Oct 09, 2011

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

Milton C. Sernett and Hugh C. Humphreys will present the Abolition Lyceum IV: Slavery, Law, and Politics for the annual National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) event Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in Golden Auditorium at Colgate.  This lecture is fourth in a series of five lectures chronicling the history of American abolition from the colonial period to the Civil War which Dr. Sernett has delivered each year.

Humphreys and Sernett team up to examine the intersection of politics in the debates over American slavery and abolition.  They will explore the legal and political aspects of the debate over slavery by highlighting watershed events such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Amistad Incident, the Great Fugitive Slave Convention held in Cazenovia in 1850, the political debate over the Compromise of 1850 and the struggles that took place in the Kansas Territory over the issue of "popular sovereignty" and slavery.

Other topics of interest will be efforts of abolitionists to organize political parties and the rise of Lincoln and the Republican Party. Humphreys and Sernett will also be talking about the debates over the Constitution, the emergence of political abolitionism, and the role played by significant figures such as Gerrit Smith, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Abraham Lincoln. Humphreys will discuss the Dred Scott Case where the fate of Scott and his family went all the way to the Supreme Court.  Several video clips will be shown.

Sernett is professor emeritus of African American Studies and History, at Syracuse University.  He has spoken widely on abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and Harriet Tubman. His books include North Star Country: Upstate New York and the Crusade for African American Freedom; Abolition’s Axe: Beriah Green, Oneida Institute and the Black Freedom Struggle; and Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, & History.

He is a founder and a member of the Cabinet of Freedom of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.

Humphreys is a retired Madison County judge and currently teaches a course on abolition law at Syracuse University.  Humphreys researched and published Heritage #19 on the Great Cazenovia Convention for the Madison County Historical Society. Humphreys is a founder and a member of the Cabinet of Freedom for the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. He has shared his oratory, painting, and theatre talents with Peterboro heritage projects for two decades.

Admission to the Abolition Lyceum IV Slavery, Law, and Politics is $12 at the door, or free with the total day package for the annual NAHOF event.  

This illustrated lyceum presentation will draw on images and text from the traveling exhibit panel "The Politics of Slavery and Abolition" that is part of the traveling exhibit of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. All eight panels of the exhibit will be shown for the first time following the lyceum.

The Traveling Abolition Museum will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. in the Clark Room in the James C. Colgate Building.  Dr. Sernett created the text and assembled the visuals for the traveling “walls” to chronicle American abolition in a similar way that Sernett’s lyceum series has done.

Scott Hughes managed the fabrication and the installations. The mobile museum has been made possible by generous donations from the American International College, Norman K. Dann and Dorothy Willsey-Dann, The Gorman Foundation, Ellen Percy Kraly, the New York Business Development Corporation, Dr. Milton C. Sernett and Janet M. Sernett, Maryann M. Winters, and the Upstate Institute at Colgate. The public is encouraged to attend the free exhibit.

For more information and registration: www.AbolitionHoF.org, info@abolitionhof.org, 366-8101

Source: NAHOF

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

OK, someone please explain this: each time we post recent arrests by the Hamilton Police, it always includes several for violation of Penal Law 240.20(7), disorderly conduct a.k.a. urinating in public. Why?

We understand the other arrests:

1. People, including those who are under age, drink too much and do stupid things.
2. People, especially those who are under age, will try to buy alcohol illegally by using a fake ID;
3. People, especially those who are drunk, will decide to leave a bar and take one last drink with them;
4. People, especially those who just left the bar with an open container, will discard that drink someplace other than a trash can or recycling bin. 

We know why people do those things and why they get arrested.

We do not, however, understand that those who drink too much -- regardless of age:

1. somehow view village streets as their personal bathroom.

Yes, urination often is a consequence of drinking. The more one does the later, the more they will do the former. It's biology ... or physics.

BUT, most people have the great good sense to not pee in public. Urination is -- or ought to be -- a private matter; something between the drinker and a piece of bathroom furniture usually made of white porcelain.

Is public peeing some new right of passage? Some badge of courage? A way to prove you have arrived as a drinker? A perverse requirement of Greek life?

Or, is there some physical phenomenon of local baldder capacity that makes it impossible to drink and make it home -- or even to a puiblic restroom -- before the need to pee arises?

Whatever the cause, all we can say is knock it off.

The next time you go out drinking and have to

• go number one,
• see a man about a horse,
• tinkle,
• micturate,
• piss,
• pee,
• take a leak,
• pee-pee,
• make water,
• relieve oneself,
• take a leak,
• spend a penny,
• wee,
• wee-wee,
• pass water,
• take a whiz,

don't do it in public on the village green or a side street or someone's garden or flower bed or behind a tree. Just hold it.

And, if you don't, and you wind up in court, we suggest that our esteemed local justices impose a not so new punishment. Instead of a fine or public service (even if urinal cleaning might be a good deterrant!), require offenders to wear scarlet "P's" on their chests.

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

Variety reports that Slater Brothers Entertainment -- organizers of the annual Hamilton International Film Festival -- is getting into the distribution business next year with the movie My Uncle Rafael.

Slater brothers Todd, Grant and Wade grew up in Hamilton. Their father Terry was longtime men's hockey coach at Colgate.

The company, producer on House of Dust and upcoming Elvis Presley biopic Fame and Fortune, closed a deal for a North American theatrical release and worldwide representation of the film that is the first American comedy with an Armenian lead character.

Written by Scott Yagemann and Vahik Pirhamzei, My Uncle Rafael follows an old Armenian uncle who gets cast in a reality show and has one week to save a dysfunctional American family from breaking up. It is directed and edited by filmmaker and former Spielberg assistant Marc Fusco, and stars Missi Pyle, John Michael Higgins, Anthony Clark, Joe Lo Truglio, Rachel Blanchard and Pirhamzei as the title character.

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

I am running for Hamilton Town Council because important work must be done to plan for our town’s future. By working together in a positive fashion we can succeed in the face of the many challenges before us. I will bring a different perspective, new energy, and fresh ideas to our Town Council.

I hold Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from Suffolk University, where I studied local tax policy, public financial management and budgeting, program evaluation, organizational effectiveness in government, and civic engagement. 

As a public affairs consultant I have worked to advance over 40 nonprofit and political causes across the Northeast. I “retired” from consulting last year to take on my most challenging - and most rewarding – job: at-home father. I serve on the Chenango Nursery School’s Parents Advisory Committee and volunteer at the Palace Theater.

In a vibrant community, citizens are engaged, participative actors in civic life and enjoy an organized, communicative, and responsible government. In Hamilton we already have the first of these; now we deserve the second.

We can rebuild our town’s finances and restore confidence in local government through pro-active planning. I will work with residents from our entire town, bringing interested citizens together in a series of task forces to study and make recommendations for the issues we face ahead.

By planning pro-actively we will ensure that our and future generations alike will enjoy a town that is fiscally sound, with fair and predictable taxes, clean and safe air and water, reliable infrastructure and services, good jobs and economic opportunities, and access to high-quality education for every child. As a father, that is the most important legacy I can imagine. And it is why I am proudly running for Hamilton Town Council and ask for your vote on November 8^.

Dominick Pangallo

21 West Pleasant Street

Hamilton

By   Fri, Oct 07, 2011

I am proud to announce my candidacy for supervisor for the Town of Hamilton.

As the daughter of Yissakhar Shwartz, a naturally optimistic immigrant who built a successful farm on Borden Road., I learned to work hard, treat people fairly and watch the bottom line. As the daughter of Jean Shwartz, a bright woman who woke up an hour earlier than the rest of the family to read the paper, I learned how to balance raising a family with farming and community service.

Over the past 57 years I have built upon those lessons and learned new skills. As a small town attorney I listened to my clients and solved their problems. As a Town Board member I brought community members together to create the Town’s first comprehensive plan. As Executive Director of the PCD I won grants, restored storefronts, and helped small businesses grow right here in Hamilton.  As a farmer selling “Sun Fed Beef”, I combined a great product with loyal customers to grow our farm business. As co- chair of STOP NYRI, I learned that the “Davids” of the world can beat “Goliath”, provided they are willing to work with all parties, take the time to learn the details of the issue, and have the courage to stand up for their convictions.

If I am elected supervisor I will listen to the views and needs of Town residents and apply my business skills and work ethic to restore the Town’s bottom line. I will work with Town residents and members of neighboring communities to implement shared services and secure grant funding to make our Town efficient and cost effective. I will treat Town employees fairly and make sure that Town taxpayers are fairly assessed and taxed. I will lead Town residents in planning for major issues that lie ahead, including the safe and environmentally responsible extraction of natural gas. I will “stand up” for our Town at all levels of government.

 I ask for your vote for Town Supervisor on November 8 so that I may bring these skills and experiences to work for you.

Eve Ann Shwartz,

689 Borden Rd.

Earlville

By   Thu, Oct 06, 2011

By   Wed, Oct 05, 2011

By   Wed, Oct 05, 2011

In a short span of time, folks here in the Greater Hamilton Metroplex have had the opportunity to be part of two successful events, gatherings we hope will be on the calendar next year about this time.

The first was the Great Chocolate Train Festival, which celebrated a 1955 incident in which an Oswego & Western train went off the rails and spilled its cargo of chocolate bars and chocolate drink powder near Lebanon Street. The other was the first Gate-Town Connection Barbecue on Whitnall Field.

Both were great events; well organized and executed and the proof of their success were the crowds of smiling faces at each. And, both were resurrected from similar events in the past.

The Partnership for Community Development created the chocolate event. They blended some history, kids events, free food and some great music for a great day on the green. It was attached to the already successful Farmers' Market and included a lot of support by Colgate students.

Having top notch music in the person of Tom Chapin was one of the highlights of the event, and certainly something that helped attract people.

There was some grumbling about the number of commercial sponsors, but that is what it takes to stage something of this magnitude in the absence of private funding dedicated to the event.

The Gate-Town Connection was likewise enjoyable. This student-organized gathering on Whiitnall field had many of the same elements of the chocolate festival, but with added the dimension of bringing the college and to community closer. That was a recipe for another success.

Just as the chocolate festival brought folks from outside the area to see Hamilton, the party on Whitnall field brought more local residents to campus. Both of these are good for the village and the university.

Certainly, to bring these events back for another year will take dedication and dollars. We have to hope both will be there, because the two events truly enriched the community. The PCD and Colgate -- especially its student organizers -- deserve the thanks of the community for their work.

By   Tue, Oct 04, 2011

By   Sat, Oct 01, 2011

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder and president, will deliver the next lecture in the Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders at Colgate, kicking off entrepreneur weekend on Colgate Day, Friday, April 13. Branson will speak to the campus community in Sanford Field House at 6 p.m.

Ticketing information will be posted at colgateconnect.org/globalleaders as it becomes available.

Branson, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, founded Virgin in 1970 as a mail-order record retailer. Shortly thereafter, he opened a record shop and recording studio. The first album of the newly created Virgin Records went on to sell more than 5 million copies, and over the years, many household names, including Belinda Carlisle, Genesis, Janet Jackson, and The Rolling Stones, helped make Virgin Music one of the top record companies in the world.

The interests of Virgin Group have now expanded into music retailing, air travel, mobile, financial, retail, music, Internet, rail, resorts, and leisure, through approximately 200 companies in more than 30 countries.

Branson is a trustee of several charities, including the Virgin Healthcare Foundation. His initial funding of Charity Projects helped that organization to raise significant support through campaigns such as Comic Relief. In the summer of 2004, he launched Virgin Unite to tackle malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Since 1985, Branson has been involved in a number of attempts to break world records. In 1986, his boat Virgin Atlantic Challenger II crossed the Atlantic Ocean in record-breaking time. This was followed a year later by his hot-air balloon crossing of the same ocean in Virgin Atlantic Flyer -- the first hot-air balloon to cross the Atlantic and the largest ever flown. In January 1991, he crossed the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada, breaking all existing records in a balloon of 2.6 million cubic feet.

His net worth is estimated to be more than $4 billion.

In December 1999, Branson was awarded a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth's millennium New Years honors list for "services to entrepreneurship." He currently lives in London and Oxfordshire, and is married with two children.

The Global Leaders series, sponsored by Colgate's Parents' and Grandparents' Fund, allows the university to invite high-profile guests like Branson to campus.

President Bill Clinton delivered the most recent lecture in the series. Previous speakers have included Garry Kasparov, world chess champion-turned-politician; Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain; Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state; the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism; and Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, award-winning authors of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Sep 30, 2011

By   Thu, Sep 29, 2011

A Pennsylvania woman was ticketed in connection with an accident that occurred Wednesday evening. 

Alexandra Tartell of 25 Springdale Road in Scrascale, PA, was traveling south on Utica Street at about 6:35 p.m. She was making a left turn onto Payne Street when her vehicle struck one driven northbound on broad Street by Sandra Conte of 206 terry Meadows Drive in Waterville.

The collision caused Conte's vehicle to spin out, strike a light pole, jump the curb and come to rest against the front of Alliance Bank.

There were no injuries.

Tartell was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.

By   Thu, Sep 29, 2011

WEST WINFIELD -- The Emerald Knights boys soccer squad bounced back from a loss earlier in the week to beat Mount Markham 3-1 Wednesday afternoon.

Three Knights scored in the win that followed a 2-0 loss at Clinton on Monday. Scoring for HCs were Sam Owens, Devin Askew and Chris Jackowski. Adding assists were Drew Thompson and Noah Fry.

HCS goalie John Kerber had six saves.

Hamilton scored once in the first half and two in the second.

The Emerald Knights -- now 5-2 overall -- play at home at 7 p.m. Friday against Waterville.

By   Thu, Sep 29, 2011

The HCS boys soccer team was ranked 16th in the first New York State High School Athletic Association poll, as voted on by sportswriters. The entire poll includes:

1 Cincinnatus-3                 4-0-1
2 Fort Ann-2                    5-1-1
3 Northstar Christian-5         6-0-0
4 South Kortright-4             8-0-0
5 Willsboro-7                   4-2-1
6 Parishville-Hopkinton-10      6-1-2
7 Chazy-7                       5-1-0
8 Family School-9               4-0-1
9 Harrisville-10                5-1-0
10 Alfred-Almond-5              7-1-0
11 Elizabethtown-Lewis-7        5-2-0
12 Jasper-Troupsburg-5          7-1-0
13 Smithtown Christian-11       2-1-1
14 Belfast-5                    8-0-0
15 Cherry Valley-Springfield-4  5-0-0
16 Hamilton-3                   4-1-0
17 Ellicottville-6              3-4-0
18 Chateaugay-10                5-2-0
19 Alexandria-3                 7-0-0
20 Lisbon-10                    6-2-0

By   Tue, Sep 27, 2011

Two HCS students were honored for their academic achievements this morning.

Elizabeth Williams and Gwyneth Davies received letters of commendation by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They are among the top 4 percent of 1.5 million American high school students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.

Williams and Davies were presented with their honors by HCS Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kevin Ellis at this morning's forum.

By   Mon, Sep 26, 2011

The Colgate Bookstore will host a presentation by Colgate Professor Meika Loe about her research and new book Aging Our Way: Lessons for Living from 85 and Beyond on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all.

Aging Our Way follows the everyday lives of 30 elders (ages 85-102) living at home and mostly alone to understand how they create and maintain meaningful lives for themselves. Drawing on the latest interdisciplinary scholarship on aging and three years of interviews with the elders, the book explores how elders navigate the practical challenges of living as independently as possible while staying healthy, connected, and comfortable. While most books on the subject treat old age as a social problem and elders as simply diminished versions of their former selves, Way Aging Our views them as they really are: lively, complicated, engaging people finding creative ways to make their aging as meaningful and manageable as possible.

Meika Loe is Associate Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies, Director of the Women’s Studies Program, and Interim Director of the Upstate Institute at Colgate University, where she teaches courses on aging, gender, culture and medicine. She is the author of The Rise of Viagra: How the Little Blue Pill Changed Sex in Americaand co-editor (with Kelly Joyce) of Technogenarians: Studying Health and Illness Through an Aging, Science, and Technology Lens.

Her critical scholarship on culture, age, medicine, sexuality, and gender has appeared in a range of academic journals and her research has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR), BBC, Kobra (in Sweden), as well as in The Washington Post, London Sunday Times, Psychology Today, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), The New England Journal of Medicine, Mother Jones, and O Magazine.  Her research on aging in place was supported in part by the Upstate Institute of Colgate University and the Center for Research on Women at SUNY Albany.

By   Mon, Sep 26, 2011

Nov. 8 is an important date in the life of the Town of Hamilton.

On that day, voters will chose a new supervisor and place two people on the board of trustees.

Here's hoping the campaign and the election are undertaken by all concerned with the understanding that their conduct and the outcome carry weight like never before. This may very well be the most important town election in recent memory because the stakes are so high.

The new supervisor and the board will face some significant challenges, issues that have the potential to reshape not just the town, but the lives of people who call it home. Because of this, we have to hope that it will not be business as usual.

This election is too important to be allowed to disintegrate to the strictly partisan level. We have already heard people lament they are bracing for a nasty election; not a hard fought one, but one laced with the kind of odious behavior we have come to expect elsewhere.

We don't believe in any sort of loyalty oath or litmus test, but candidates must agree to behave civilly. More importantly, so must their supporters.

In the past we have heard of stupid stunts like lawn signs being stolen; unfounded rumors circulated; personal attacks. Let's not let them begin; if/when they do start, they need to be shouted down by all candidates and both parties. We need to be better than that.

And, we need to do a better job of being an informed electorate.

We hope the Hamilton Rotary -- through the Hamilton Forum -- will organize a meet the candidates event as they did with the village election this past spring. But, we hope they do it better this time. If they do a forum, the questions cannot be softballs lobbed so the candidates can hit home runs. And, the entire audience -- not just the politically-connected -- has to be allowed to ask meaningful, specific follow-up questions. The forum should facilitate serious discussion on a par with the magnitude of the issues these candidates will face if elected.

The Rotary also ought to consider having more than one forum, and moving it from the library's community room to a venue elsewhere in the town as well. Acknowledge that the town is more than just the village.

It is good to see that voters have some clear choices. Republicans and Democrats alike have solid slates of candidates. Let's be sure they:

• are asked to campaign vigorously and fairly;
• are questioned thoroughly and made to explain their positions;
• and that we elect the best women or men possible and do not just pull a lever with a party name attached.

Let's, in short, treat this campaign and election with the respect it deserves. It is not hyperbole to suggest the future of the town is at stake.   

By   Mon, Sep 26, 2011

Coming to a polling place near you, the 2011 Nov. 8 general election, and this year Town of Hamilton voters will elect a new supervisor and two members of the town board.

That means keyboards throughout the Greater Hamilton Metroplex will be pounded by folks creating letters of support for the candidate of their choice. Well, ladies and gentlemen, start your typing.

We'll start posting your letters as soon as they arrive. We will stop posting new letters as of Sunday, Nov. 6.

Now, here are the rules:

• Don't submit anything you wouldn't want to read about yourself;
• Stick to the issues and candidates at hand;
• Say something of substance;
• No blatant campaign commercials;
• Be civil.

And, please be as brief as possible. You ought to be say everything you need to say in 300 words.

And, no robo-letters. Letters MUST be from the person whose name is on them; we don't want candidates or political parties ghosting letters for someone else to sign.

And, we will reject any letters that are not in good taste or that violate any of these guidelines.

We will not edit for grammar.

By   Sun, Sep 25, 2011

The Colgate University Orchestra, with Marietta Cheng conducting, will begin the new season with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, “Pathetique” on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3:30 p.m. in the Colgate Memorial Chapel. Also on the program will be the Dvořák's Carnival Overture and the Corigliano Promenade Overture.

A highlight will be the performance of a 2004 work by Colgate’s new composer, Zhou Tian, entitled The Palace of Nine Perfections. This work was inspired by a set of 12 Qing Dynasty hanging scrolls by Yuan Jiang, paintings that depicted the emperor’s palace near Xian. Cheng describes the work as poetry in sound and a rhapsodic flight of imagination.

Zhou earned music degrees from both Curtis and Juilliard, is a first-prize winner of the Washington International Composers Competition and first-prize winner of ASCAP/Lotte Lehmann Foundation Art Song Competition. His “The Grand Canal Suite” was performed during a nationally televised celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The work was also selected as theme music for the Zhejiang Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Recently Grammy Award-winning Cedille Records released his composition in “The Billy Collins Suite,” a recording devoted to musical settings of poems by former Poet Laureate Billy Collins.

Admission is free.

By   Sun, Sep 25, 2011

The 2011-12 Alliance Bank Children’s Matinee Series kicks off at Hamilton Theater on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 12:30 p.m. with the animated family favorite Rio, sponsored in partnership with Mang Insurance Agency LLC. The Utica Zoomobile will visit with live animals before the movie.

Thanks to Alliance Bank, in partnership with individual film sponsors and campus partners, admission to all films in the series is free for children and adults. This marks the ninth year that Alliance Bank is sponsoring the children’s series.

“We are extremely grateful to Alliance Bank, and to our individual film sponsors, for making this series available to the community,” said Hamilton Theater’s Chuck Fox. He noted that more than 3,300 children and family members from Norwich to Brookfield to
Cazenovia to Oneida and all communities in between enjoyed the series last year.

Saturday children’s films feature a special highlight before each film to complement the movie. Greet animals from Heritage Farm before Kung Fu Panda 2 on October 22, meet McGruff the Crime Dog prior to Monsters vs. Aliens on October 29, thrill to live hawks
and owls from Talon! A Birds of Prey Experience before Fantastic Mr. Fox on November 19, meet Rudolph’s live reindeer friends before A Holiday Classic Double Feature on December 3.

The full fall schedule includes:

• Oct. 8- Rio, Oct. 15- Hoodwinked, Too! Hood vs. Evil,
• Oct. 22- Kung Fu Panda 2,
• Oct. 29- Monsters vs. Aliens,
• Nov. 5- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,
• Nov. 12- Fantastic Mr. Fox,
• Nov. 19- Mr. Popper’s Penguins,
• Dec. 3- A Holiday Classic Double Feature with Rudolph and Frosty,
• Dec. 10-Polar Express.

By   Fri, Sep 23, 2011

The HCS field hockey team will be part of a "Play for the Cure" Pink game vs. Clinton Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.  

The special night game will be played under the lights on the stadium field at HCS and will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  There will be baked goods for sale at the game, donations will be accepted at and before to the game.  

Teams will wear special jerseys made by Screen-It Printing in Hamilton to commemorate the event.  

For further information or questions contact head coach Karrie King at kking@hamiltoncentral.org or at 824-6300 ext. 4215.

By   Wed, Sep 21, 2011

Banned books will be read and discussed Monday night beginning at 7 p.m.

The annual read-out, which is sponsored by the Hamilton Public Library and the Colgate Bookstore, will be held in the Hamilton Public Library's Community Room. Refreshments will be provided.

For information on how you can participate in the national Virtual Read-Out, please click this link.

Among this year's participants are:

•  Chris Rossi, event emcee
•  Bev Choltco-Devlin, MidYork Library System, giving an introduction and over-view on banned books, and reading from The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville.
•  Heather Elia, Colgate Bookstore
•  Joanne Geyer, Education Unlimited, reading from Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich.
•  Rebecca Hewitt, Hamilton Public Library Board member
•  David Hollis, community member, reading from Lush by Natasha Friend.
•  David & Clara Lantz, Colgate faculty & staff, reading from Salome by Oscar Wilde.
•  Margaret Miller, Hamilton Mayor, Lifelong Learners, and Fortnightly Club
• Xavia Andromeda Publius, Colgate student, reading from A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
• Kathy Sabino, Hamilton Central School teacher
• Isadora Schaller, Hamilton Central School student, reading from Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

By   Tue, Sep 20, 2011

The Colgate women's volleyball team will be taking part in the Dig Pink campaign for cancer awareness on Oct. 30 against Lehigh. The Raiders will be auctioning off their game worn pink jerseys.

Colgate is asking any fan of Colgate volleyball to make a donation through its donation page at the Side-Out foundation's web site. Fans can also send a check to the Side-Out Foundation with Colgate Volleyball Team on the memo line of your check.

The Raiders have set a goal of $5,000 and are hoping to reach that with a jersey auction, bake sales and donations. Also the team will be hosting a party at DU, where they hope to raise money with their own classmates.

“I am so proud of how much time and effort the team is exuding in support of our Dig Pink Weekend,” said head coach Ryan Baker. “Any free time they have is spent making cookies for bake sales and soliciting donations from friends and family. You can tell how invested they are in this charity.“

Colgate is participating in honor of Susan Beattie, who is a member of the Senior Rowdy Raider fan group, and has recently finished her chemo treatment and is on the road to recovery after chemo treatments for breast cancer.

“Each year our program tries to give back in some way to different charities,” said Baker. “ When we heard that Susan Beattie, who is a member of our Senior Volleyball Rowdy Raider's, was diagnosed with breast cancer our team immediately wanted to support her and all breast cancer survivors. Susan and the rest of the Rowdy Raiders are so important to our program. Their enthusiasm and appreciation for life motivates us each and every day.“

Source: Colgate

By   Tue, Sep 20, 2011

Last Saturday Colgate President Jeffrey Herbst made an announcement that will change the landscape of admission and financial aid at the university.

"Our ultimate aspiration is to be need-blind, to admit the students we want, without finances playing into the equation."

The news was delivered at Gotham Hall in New York City to an audience of alumni, parents, and friends -- philanthropists who have helped to increase Colgate's financial aid resources by $87.5 million since the launch of Passion for the Climb: The Campaign for Colgate in March 2007. They were seated next to current undergraduates who have received that generosity and used it to build an academic foundation for future success.

The crowd was joined, in spirit, by a series of students who weren't as fortunate. Every year, the university declines admission to numerous individuals who are academically qualified. "These are outstanding students who had the credentials to be admitted," said Herbst. "They came to our doorstep, but we could not admit them because we could not afford them all."

President Herbst has made scholarship support a top priority at Colgate, where approximately 40 percent of the student body currently receives financial aid.

The process of achieving need-blind admission will be founded on early campaign gains and on a new challenge leveled by members of the Colgate community. Nearly 100, including Herbst and his wife, Sharon Polansky, have already stepped forward with a $20 million investment. They are asking their friends and classmates to match those dollars, raise the tally to $40 million, and make the total campaign contribution to financial aid an impressive $127.5 million.

"We will not get there tomorrow," Herbst warned the crowd. "But get there we will. And long before we reach need-blind status, we will have aided dozens and hundreds and thousands of additional students -- all of whom will make tremendous contributions to our school and our society."

Denying admission based on financial qualifications has a profound influence on Colgate and on the world outside its gates, said Herbst. "The best way to ensure our health as an institution for decades to come is to make sure we can admit the outstanding students who are already applying to us," he said. "Given the challenges we face today, I think our society needs those Colgate-educated students."

To make the theoretical point real, Herbst introduced Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose family was profiled in the Oscar-winning film The Blind Side. She and her husband, Sean, adopted Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher when he was a high school student in Memphis in 2004.

She spoke passionately about her own commitment to bettering the world through charitable giving and encouraged the Colgate community to follow suit.

"We believe with every fiber in our being that the kids who will find the cure for cancer -- living in inner-city New York, inner-city Detroit, you name the city -- they just need opportunity," she said. "That is what Colgate is doing: they're trying to provide opportunities."

By   Mon, Sep 19, 2011

Students in art classes at HCS will soon be using art supplies coming to the school as part of a $1.8 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by the state.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that the state has agreed to a $1.8 million settlement with Michaels Stores Inc. The state accused the retail chain of engaging in deceptive advertising practices. Michaels sells arts and crafts supplies and custom framing at its 48 stores across the state, including one in Utica.

As part of the settlement, school districts located within a 50-mile radius of a Michaels store are eligible to receive a $200 store gift card for each school within their district.

By   Mon, Sep 19, 2011

The Boston Globe's magazine this past weekend did a feature on great college towns to visit this fall, and Hamilton was number six on their list, tied with Clinton.

The article started out with:

"Even if you’re not campus-shopping this semester, college towns around the Northeast make fantastic fall destinations for their gorgeous settings and cultural offerings that rival their urban counterparts."

Then it listed 20 great college towns in the Northeast to visit. They ranged from #1 Northampton, MA to # 20 Hartford, CT.

And, they said of Hamilton and Clinton:

Lest you get confused: Hamilton, New York, is home to Colgate University, while Hamilton College is in Clinton. The two towns, about 20 miles apart, share a rural landscape of rolling hills and rivers ...

Hamilton’s town green, with its gazebo, fountains, and weekly farmers’ market, is an inviting spot. The elegant Colgate Inn, renovated this spring, is a downtown focal point. Clinton resembles a picture-perfect New England village. The steepled building on its green, originally a Methodist church built in 1842, is now the Kirkland Art Center, sponsoring exhibits and concerts.

Ithaca, was number seven on the list.

By   Fri, Sep 16, 2011

 by Barbara Coger, Library Director

Story time at Hamilton Public Library begins again on Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m.  All ages of preschoolers are welcome. Babies and toddlers will share finger plays, rhymes, and simple stories in the Story Room with Barb Coger. A guest storyteller will
share stories and book related activities with the older children in the Community Room at the same time.

Charlotte Blanchard's colorful oil paintings have been replaced by equally colorful self-portraits, rain sticks, and weavings created by the children who participated in the MultiArts Summer Camp of Hamilton Center for the Arts . There will be a reception in the young artists' honor on Thursday, 6:30 p.m. The reception will be held in the children's area of the library.

Banned Book Week is fast approaching and the library and the Colgate Bookstore will once again host an evening of banned and challenged book readings. This event will be held in the Library's Community Room on Monday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Both the Colgate Bookstore and the library are also offering the community a chance to share their favorite excerpts from banned or challenged books on YouTube! For more information, please call the Colgate Bookstore, 228- 6944 or the library,  824-3060.

Now that our summer reading program is over, those who generously loaned the library clothing and mementos from around the world may now pick up their belongings. These items were much appreciated and enriched our summer theme, "One World, Many Stories".

The library is open Monday-Friday, 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm. Please call the library, (315) 824-3060, during these hours for assistance. The book drop on Broad Street is always open for your convenience. Check the library's Facebook page for
up-to-date information about programs and special events.

By   Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Created in 2006 by former Mayor Sue McVaugh, the Pedestrian Safety Committee exists to help make Hamilton a safe, accessible, and appealing community for all. Over the years, the committee’s most visible role has been in the creation and oversight of the Sidewalk Repair and Replacement Initiative.

The majority of property holders in the village own the stretch of sidewalk in front of their property. They are required by law to maintain that stretch of sidewalk. This means keeping it clear of debris, snow, and other potential obstacles to walkers. It also means they must repair or replace slabs that have become so damaged over time that they might prove hazardous to people or to snow removal equipment.

Every year, the Department of Public Works (not the Pedestrian Safety Committee) creates a list of 10 property-owners whose sidewalks are in dire need of repair. The property owners receive a certified letter requesting that they repair their sidewalk, in whole or in part, and informing them that, when the work is complete, they are eligible for a partial rebate. The maximum rebate is $600.

Here are some particulars of the Sidewalk Initiative:

• Property owners on the sidewalk list have 90 days following approval for participationin the rebate program to perform the work. The deadline for submitting a request forreimbursement for the coming year is anticipated to be July13, 2012.
• To receive a rebate, property owners must submit paid receipts for materials and/or labor. Also, prior to and during construction the work must be inspected by the Codes Enforcement Officer.
• The rebate covers materials and labor at a rate of not more than $5 per square foot. The average stretch of sidewalk in front of a home in Hamilton is 200 square feet.
• Any taxpaying property owner may apply for a rebate on the cost of sidewalk repair or replacement, not just people on the sidewalk list.

Questions about specific sidewalk repair or rebates should be addressed to the village office at 8214-1111. General questions or comments for the Pedestrian Safety Committee may be addressed either to Sam Cooper, the trustee liaison to the committee, at coopesam@gmail.com or 824-0866, or to Jennifer Brice, the chair of the committee, at jbrice@colgate.edu.

Other members of the Pedestrian Safety Committee include Susan Marafino, Shaun Richard, Daniel Rains, and Carol Bergen. Members of the committee normally serve two-year terms.

Anyone interested in joining the committee should contact the trustee liaison or the chair. Meetings are normally held on the third Tuesday of every month at 4:15 p.m. in the Hamilton Public Library. The public is welcome.

Jennifer Brice and Sam Cooper

By   Fri, Sep 16, 2011

By   Fri, Sep 16, 2011

The HCS cross country squad had some excellent individual performances at its meet at Herkimer County Community College Wednesday.

HCS' Sage Hurta won the girls race easily, and Austin Hirsch finished third against some very tough competition, said Coach Rick Hanson.  Freshman Ben Parfitt ran well finishing ninth, Hanson added.

The team's next meet is Saturday at the VVS invitational; 128 teams will be involved. Hanson said VVS is the location of the state meet in November so everyone wants to get a crack at the course. 

By   Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Congratulations and thanks to HPD Chief Rick Gifford, Mayor Margaret Miller and the Board of Trustees.

Together they came up with a way to keep a professional, well-like and respected top cop where he belongs: on the job in the village.

Because of a sweeping and arbitrary move by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the village was close to losing one of the best police officers ever to wear the uniform locally. Cuomo needed to look tough so cracked down on state retirees who drew pension payments and got paid for working too.

No one likes double-dipping when it is abused, but good people doing good jobs with the best of intent ought not to be punished. Waivers were granted in the past and Cuomo was silly to issue a blanket "no more waivers" policy.

In less than a year Gifford has tackled two major issues in the village and done so with true professionalism and with a firm but not heavy hand. He has gotten tough on under-age drinking and bad public behavior, and has begun strictly enforcing the village's parking regulations. Gifford has also found ways to squeeze the most out of the department budget by making well-researched, informed decisions. And, he is visible and accessible.

Much the same can be said for Mayor Miller and an almost completely new board of trustees. This was a huge win for the mayor and the trustees, one that is beneficialy to the entire community.

It will be good to see Chief Gifford still walking the streets of the village as he does most days, and good knowing the trustees and Mayor Miller are willing to work hard to find solutions to major issues.

By   Thu, Sep 15, 2011

HPD Chief Rick Gifford is staying put for at least another nine months.

In a very brief statement issued today, Mayor Margaret Miller said:

"The Village of Hamilton Board of Trustees and Police Chief Rick Gifford have come to an agreement and he will continue to work as our full time Police Chief until at least June of 2012."

Gifford had been scheduled to wrap up his service in Hamilton at the end of this month. When he was hired, about a year ago, Gifford and the village sought a waiver so he could continue to draw pension payments as well as his salary. This was common practice until earlier this year when Gov. Andrew Cuomo said waivers would no longer be granted and regulations would be strictly enforced.

No details of the agreement between the chief and the village were released.

See our editorial.

With that, the village began a search for a new chief; one that was not going very well.

The mayor said of Gifford:

"Chief Gifford has a very positive attitude about our village and has worked hard to improve our parking issues, student behavior issues, and is extremely respected and liked by all in our community."

By   Thu, Sep 15, 2011

The Earlville Opera House opens three new exhibits on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 6 p.m. to 7:30pm,  to run through Nov. 5.  The new exhibitions include:

• Painter Picks Painters an alumni artist exhibit featuring: Sarah McCoubrey, Gary Trento, and Steven Ginsburg, curated by Colgate Professor, Lynette Stephenson;
• Fleeting Dreams, paintings by Chun Arthur Wang;
• and Ink and Wax by regional artist Yolanda Sharpe.

Showing in the East Gallery, Painter Picks Painters is an alumni exhibition in honor of EOH’s 40^th anniversary, featuring three CNY artists: Sarah McCoubrey, Gary Trento, and Steven Ginsburg. Colgate Professor, Lynette Stephenson chose the artists “because of the beautiful paintings that they create and their ability to present a fresh perspective of traditional subject matter. The three artists have very different approaches but complement each other very well.”

Wang’s oil paintings of China are shown in the West Gallery. The artist, who was born in China, says the works “reflect my personal recollection of rural life and traveling experience in the minority areas of China. Some of my works captured a brief moment from sensitive observation; others re-created poetized landscapes from fantasy that invoke my nostalgia or meditation."

In the Arts Cafe Gallery is Ink and Wax: Selections from Foliage & Still Life Drawing series and Urban Fragments Painting series. Sharpe, of Oneonta, constructs abstract images through re-invention and improvisation, by combining fragments with attention to geometry and color. 

The EOH galleries are open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturday, noon tp 3 p.m. 

By   Wed, Sep 14, 2011

The Village Board of Trustees is dividing the duties once held by Ronda Winn, who last week resigned after a long career with the village.

Winn had served as both village clerk and treasurer. The board is splitting those duties and has started advertising for a treasurer.

The change was discussed at the board's regular meeting Tuesday night.

The board also continues to seek to find a way to hold onto another key employee: HPD Chief Rick Gifford, who may have to resign at the end of the month because the state is strictly enforcing regulations regarding how much money can be earned by those who are receiving state pension payments while working. Gifford is a retired police officer, and sought a waiver of the rules, something that was common practice until recently.

Mayor Margaret Miller said the village continues to talk with Gifford about finding a way to keep him in his post. The board met in executive session after the regular meeting to discuss the police chief position.

In other action Tuesday night:

* the board learned that Wendy Fisher has been hired as a part-time clerk for the village court at $10 per hour for no more than 10 hours a week;

* the village is applying for a $27,000 grant to make further improvements to the courthouse;

* heard that Colgate has committed $50,000 and Community Memorial Hospital $5,000 toward the field studies of what it will take to bring natural gas to the village;

* a state Transportation Bond Act grant for $300,000 is being sought to create more hangar space at the airport;

* the village and the union representing the Municipal Utility Commission workers will appear before a mediator to settle the dispute over the current contract offer;

* Trustee Sam Cooper told the board that a program is being developed to reach out to high school seniors and juniors to encourage them to take training to become volunteer firemen;

* members of the Municipal Utility Commission's workforce assisted NYSEG in the Mount Upton area during recent major power outages;

* Mayor Margaret Miller praised Ben Barrett for the quality of the car Cruise Ins held on East broad Street throughout the summer;

* a new bike rack is being installed on Broad Street near Whole Foods;

* work is almost complete on the building to house equipment to make the salt brine used by the DPW on streets during the winter;

* and the board discussed the possibility of charging for amplified sound permits, but took no action.

By   Wed, Sep 14, 2011

The Village Board of Trustees Tuesday night agreed it was OK to shoot some of those who land at the municipal airport. The Airport/Air Park Commission agreed.

Both bodies OK'd allowing two village employees to shoot some of the Canada geese that have started landing at the airport in huge flocks. DPW and Municipal Utilities Director Sean Graham told the board at its regular meeting that the number of geese flying near and landing on the airport's runway is so large as to be a safety hazard. He said they are seeking food in nearby farm fields.

The plan is to close the walking trail near the airport, equip the hunters with radios so they can hear incoming airplane traffic and let them shoot some of the geese. Graham said the season to hunt geese is open, and hunters are allowed to take up to eight birds a day.

Graham said the plan includes leaving some of the dead birds in the field. He said Department of Environmental Conservation personnel said that geese will avoid an area where other geese have died. The hope is to discourage the geese from frequenting the airport.

More Information

   * DEC on Canda Geese

   * Geese Killed at NY City Airports

   * Federal Aviation Administration statistics on planes being struck by wildlife

By   Tue, Sep 13, 2011

By   Tue, Sep 13, 2011

The Earlville Opera House welcomes folk music legend Bruce Cockburn to its stage Saturday, Sept. 24.

Cockburn, touring in support of his newest CD, has rocked audiences for more than 40 years earning 11 Juno Awards (Canadian Grammy) as well as 31 nominations for his outstanding musicianship.  He is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 

This year he is touring in support of Small Source of Comfort, Cockburn’s 31st album.

Cockburn broke into Billboard’s annual top 100 songs with two of his songs, Wondering Where the Lions Are(1979) and If I Had A Rocket Launcher (1984). 

General admission is $35 and $32 with an EOH membership. Students are discounted to $30.

By   Mon, Sep 12, 2011

The Hamilton Police Department reports the following arrests:

8/27/11 – Austin P. Mayer, age 23, of 27 Meadow Lane, Little Compton, RI, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.to answer the charge.

9/8/11 – Cailey A. Fiesel, age 19, of 11 Rocky Brook Rd., Wilton, CT, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (Obstructing Traffic), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(5). She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/9/11 – Patrick J. Franciotti, age 18, of 40 Whittier Rd., Clark, NJ, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/9/11 – Jason M. Coppersmith, age 22, of 18 Madison St., Hamilton, was arrested for Nuisance Noise – Amplified Sound, a violation of Local Law 109.2. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/9/11 – Courtney S. O’Connell, age 20, of 501 Palm Ave., Palm Harbor, FL, was arrested for Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65-C and Possession of Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/10/11 – Conor J. Coughlin, age 19, of 25 Rockledge Ave., White Plains, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/10/11 – Bruce A. Lilly, age 21, of 458 Mount Curve Blvd., St. Paul, MN, was arrested for Nuisance Noise – Amplified Sound, a violation of Local Law 109.2. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/11/11 – Sheik I. Bacchus, age 19. of 4613 Carpenter Ave., Bronx, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

9/11/11 – Katherine G. Philpott, age 18, of 45 New Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, was arrested for Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65-C and Possession of Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m. to answer the charge.

By   Sat, Sep 10, 2011

MORRISVILLE -- The HCS-MECS merged football team had a tough night on offense Friday, being shutout 14-0 by Mount Markham in the Emerald Warriors' first home game of the year played at Morrisville-Eaton Central School.

Mount Markham scored early in the first period on a 21-yard pass from Nate Hudson to John LaPerla, but the Emerald Warriors shut down the PAT ... and much of the Mustangs' offense until the third period. Mount Markham's LaPerla scored again in the third period on a four-yard blast; they added a two-point PAT.

And, that was it for offense.

Fore HCS-MECS:

• Quarterback J.T. Metz was seven of 20 passing for 92 yards and ran the ball 12 times for just six yards;
• Dakota Miller ran the ball three times for seven yards;
• Will Thomas caught four passes for 58 yards;
• Eric Horton caught one pass for 16 yards;
• and Lucas MaClaury caught two for 18 yards.

HCS-MECS is now 1-1.

By   Sat, Sep 10, 2011

UPDATE: The 10th anniversary of tragedies of 9/11/2001 will be recognized between the championship games of the Hamilton Optimists Soccer Tournament today.

There will be a ceremony of remembrance at 7 p.m. before HCS plays Holland Patent in the championship game. Members of area first responders corps will participate.

-----

Two services of remembrance will be held next weekend to observe the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania.

A service is planned for 2 p.m. at Colgate's Memorial Chapel and one is set for Sunday at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.

In addition to the 2 p.m. service at the chapel, Colgate will:

• Hold an afternoon of service at the COVE;
• Host a community dinner at Merrill House. Keynote speaker is Jane Pinchin, who was interim president at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

Sunday, at 7 p.m. members of the Hamilton Village Area Clergy will sponsor the interfaith service of remembrance and  reflection at the First Baptist Church.

As part of the evening there will be singing, prayers, Scripture readings and personal reflections from the congregation. The service will focus on healing and hope.

Host pastor, Rev. Wes Smith said, "This is an opportunity for our entire community to come together to share hope and to offer thanks to God for the blessings we share as a great Nation, and world-wide family."

Rebecca Shiner, associate professor of psychology at Colgate, shared this event beign held in Utica:

Greater Utica Choral Society will present a free performance of the Requiem of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Sunday, September 11th at 3:00 p.m. at Grace Church, 6 Elizabeth Street, Utica, as a memorial tribute to the victims and rescuers lost 10 years ago.Music Director Charles Schneider will conduct a combined chorus of over 100 voices that will include many members of local choirs, as well as members of the Catskill Choral Society from Oneonta, members of the SUCO (Oneonta) and SUNY (Albany) choruses and the Pro Musica choir from Albany. The soloists will be J.C. Adair, soprano; Jennifer Snyder, mezzo-soprano, Arthur Durando, tenor; and David Kolb, bass. Andrew Russo will perform the piano accompaniment

The Rome Research Site Honor Guard, Air Force Research Laboratory, coordinated by Second Lieutenant David Hunt, will present the colors. Rabbi Henry Bamberger, Sakib Duracak, President of the Muslim Community Association of Mohawk Valley, and the Rev. Dr. Janet Hoover from the New Hartford Presbyterian Church will offer brief meditations.

The service will will also remember those in our area who suffered the loss of a loved one on that day. For more information, contact Charles Schneider at 792-9199, or csbaton@yahoo.com.

Links to other Information:

• Peter Balakian's book, The Ziggurat
• Chris Vecsey on 9/11 coverage by The New York Times
• Colgate on the first anniversary of 9/11
• 9/11 Digital Archive
• National Geographic's Inside 9/11
• Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
• The New York Times' series Portraits of Grief

By   Wed, Sep 07, 2011

Update: 8:15 a.m. Thursday: The state Department of Transportation plans on closing Rte. 12 B South this morning because of water over the road near the spillway coming out of Taylor Lake between Kendrick Avenuse and College Street.

A Colgate Buildings and grounds crew was working nearby removing a tree that had fallen during the night. The tree did not damage any power lines.

Town of Hamilton highway crews are reported to have been working on trouble spots since about 2 this morning, including Williams, Rhodes and Bonney Hill road, as well as the hamlet of Poolville.

Updated: 7:12 a.m. Thursday:

Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers between 9am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. East wind between 3 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming northwest between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. West wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Updated: 11:20 p.m. The Madison County Sheriff's Office has issued a travel advisory for this area. While no roads were closed, the sheriff's office said there should be no unnecessary travel.

The advisory said an areas of concern included all the roadways in the areas of Brookfield, Munnsville, Poolville and Hubbardsville. and State Route 8 near the Madison-Oneida county line and south of the village of Leonardsville to the Chenango County line.

Updated: 9:15 p.m. Chenango County south of Hamilton is under a state of emergency and all roads in the county are closed because of flooding. 

Sherburne-Earlville is reported to have cancelled classes for Thursday.

Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker reportedly issued the order. Major flash flooding is occurring in parts of the county and is forecast to continue through the night.

There is no travel on roads in the county except in emergency situations, according to county officials.

The status of the state of emergency will be reevaluated at 7 a.m. Thursday, county officials said.

UPDATED at 6:22 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flood alert for most of Central New Yo9rk, including the Hamilton area. Rain from tropical storm Lee is forecast to fall through the rest of the week. Here's the weather service's outlook:

Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 55. Calm wind becoming southeast between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday: Rain likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. East wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming northwest between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

By   Wed, Sep 07, 2011

By   Sun, Sep 04, 2011

HCS is rolling up its sleeves to face what it expects to be a demanding budget process while at the same time beginning discussions of a possible merger with Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools. To accommodate these two major issues, the district is changing when and how often the Board of Education meets and adjusting its meeting structure to encourage more public participation.

Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers last week said the budget process will begin much earlier this year. In addition, the board plans to add meetings to just talk about the possible merger.

In her blog on the HCS website, Bowers wrote about the changes:

" ... our Board of Education Work Session, is a new type of meeting designed to offer our community additional opportunities for input. This will be held the morning of Friday, September 9th at 7:30, to accommodate work schedules. This will also be held in the HS Library. Child care will be available, in the cafeteria, for children that attend HCS.

"The second meeting is our September BOE meeting on Tuesday, September 20th in the Elementary Library. Please note that our BOE meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. this year. The earlier start time will allow more time for conversations.

"As you prepare for these meetings, please consider suggestions that you would like to make regarding the Consolidation Study, and any additional studies that we may include that will help us keep our Learning Community healthy and strong. We anticipate that we will be conducting multiple studies simultaneously.

"We predict our upcoming meetings will be filled with positive energy and good thinking. We are all looking for the best solution to a difficult problem. Our collective energies and wisdom can only make us stronger. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these meetings."

The 2011-2012 budget process is expected to be more demanding because of the state's imposition of a 2 percent cap on property tax increases by schools and municipalities.

The new law allows school district and other taxing entities to seek more than a 2 percent increase, but it must be approved by a super-majority of 60 percent of voters. If that vote fails, the district/municipality cannot increase taxes at all in that budget.

The possible merger process is expected to take some 18 months to complete if it goes its full course of two votes by each school board and two more votes by each community. The first step in the process is for a committee of the two school boards and the two superintendents to review the proposals of the three consulting firms who have applied to perform the study.

In addition, the community is invited to meet with Bowers in the cafeteria for a "Superintendent's Coffee".  These "coffees" will be held on Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 20 at 7p.m.

By   Sat, Sep 03, 2011

By   Sat, Sep 03, 2011

By   Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Colgate plans to recognize one of its own Friday afternoon, a colleague in need of support as he battles cancer.

A special gathering is planned for 4 p.m. Friday in Memorial Chapel to recognize Kevin Carlsmith, an associate professor of psychology now seeking treatment in California. The event will be recorded and streamed so Carlsmith can view it.

Mark Shiner, University Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister, says:

We have recently learned that Associate Professor of Psychology Kevin Carlsmith may soon be moved to hospice care after battling cancer since January, 2009. He has recently requested that friends and colleagues from Colgate and Hamilton send him notes, emails, and photos of our fondest memories of him. In response to Kevin's request to hear from us, the Psychology Department and the Office of the Chaplains are organizing a tribute service to honor him.

Kevin is very pleased about the possibility of a tribute service.

Several people who have been close to Kevin have prepared remarks for the occasion, but we are inviting all who've known and loved Kevin over the years to come and celebrate his time here with us and to share memories as well. Kevin is receiving his treatment in California and will not be able to attend. We will be video recording and streaming the service so that Kevin can view it remotely afterward.

Carlsmith has been at Colgate since 2003. Before that he taught at the University of Virginia and was an instructor at the White Mountain School in New Hampshire. His educational background includes:

• PhD, Princeton University, 2001
• MA, Princeton University, 1998
• MA, University of New Hampshire, 1996
• BS, Lewis & Clark College, 1989

By   Wed, Aug 31, 2011

What's the future hold for one of the village's prime pieces of business real estate?

It's owner remains unsure, but still is hard at work cleaning and fixing up the place.

Earlier this year the Hamilton Initiative -- Colgate's corporation created to invest in the downtown -- purchased the large Utica Street property that formerly housed Parry's. The initiative made the purchase, in part at least, to help make possible Parry's move to an expanded location to what was the former Grand Union supermarket on Rte. 12B North.

At one point, the initiative considered breaking up the 9,000-square-foot space to accommodate a number of small businesses. It would have functioned as an incubator of sorts to help new businesses get started.

Now, Colgate's VP for Community Relations Joanne Borfitz says the initiative is not certain what is going to become of 20 Utica St.She said there are "not lots of people knocking down our doors" looking for retail space.

Borfitz did, however, say that Colgate is proceeding at full speed to fix up, clean up and improve the space.

The progress thus far includes:

• repair of some of the brickwork;
• cleaning up the grounds at the rear of the building;
• painting the back wall of the building (see photo);
• removing the large overhang that covered the sidewalk across the entire front of the building;
• cleaning the inside of the building;
• and preparing to install awnings across the front.

"There is a lot to do in advance of the next phase, whatever that is," said Borfitz.

She said the initiative is "constantly looking at ideas" about what is to become of 20 Utica St. but that nothing concrete has been settled on as far as its future use. A number of suggestions have been made, but Borfitz said it is too early to comment on anything specific. She did say that the initiative's hope is to create something that complements the existing businesses and creates foot traffic in the downtown.

For the short term, Borfitz said the university is working on creating some attractive displays to fill the front portion of the store.

By   Tue, Aug 30, 2011

Robert A. “Bob” Gross, 74, of State Rt. 12B, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2011 at Community Memorial Hospital.

He was born February 27, 1937 in Syracuse, a son of E. Robert and Adelaide Reussow Gross and graduated from North Syracuse High School. He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Robert was married to Judith Chapel in 1959. He later married Susan Cashier in 1970. Bob was employed at Vantine Studios. Previously he had worked at Colgate University in Security; and for Best Brands Beverage and Twin Trees Pizza. Earlier, he owned the Loose Caboose clothing store in Hamilton. Bob was a devoted family man, father and grandfather, and was always ready to help a friend in need.

Bob was a member of the F&AM Lodge #120 of Hamilton. He was a former member and Past President of the Hamilton Rotary Club; and a recipient of the Colgate hockey's Silver Puck Award.

Surviving are his children, Cheryl Darrow and her fiancé, Donald March of Hamilton; Kimberly and Paul Stein of Bronx, NY; Danielle and Marc Bikowsky of Hamilton; Robert and Dawn Gross of Juneau, AK; a sister and brother-in-law, Norene and Michael Durney of East Syracuse; nine grandchildren, Zachary Darrow, Steven Gross, Devin Gross, Jack Stein, Ben Bikowsky, Jillian Gross, Sam Stein, Brynn Bikowsky and Icelyn Gross. He was predeceased by his sister, Janice Swartz.

Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home.

Interment will be private at the convenience of his family.

Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-6pm prior to the service.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.

By   Tue, Aug 30, 2011

Recent arrests by the Hamilton Police Department include:

8/19/11 – Garth G. Liddle, age 29, of 5160 Eagleville Rd., Eaton, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/12/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/25/11 – Lily C. Beckman, age 21, of 9 Landmark Rd., Westford, MA, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/25/11 – George J. Mavredakis, age 21, of 83 Crest Rd., East, Rolling Hills, CA, was arrested for Nuisance Noise, a violation of Local Law 109.1c. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/26/11 – Elisabeth H. Kadesch, age 21, of 424 Brentwood Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/26/11 – Ryan D. Jones, age 22, of 5302 Pugh Rd., Morrisville, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct (urinating in public), a violation of Penal Law 240.20(7). He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/26/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/26/11 – Ryan M. Taylor, age 18, of 3234 7th Ave., Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1 and Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65-C. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11@ 7:00 p.m.

8/27/11 – Elizabeth A. Wing, age 21, of 60 Page Lane, Hampstead, NH, was arrested for Littering, a violation of Local Law 92.10a. She is to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/27/11 – Eric A. Lasker, age 21, of 49 School Ave., Jamestown, was arrested for Littering, a violation of Local Law 92.10a. He is to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/27/11 – Nicole M. Corazza, age 19, of 22 Hunters Path, Skillman, was arrested for Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1 and Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65-C. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

8/28/11 – Otelia S. Werthen, age 18, of 448 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA, was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 3rd, a Misdemeanor violation of Penal Law 170.20, Open Container, a violation of Local Law 34.1 and Unlawful Possession Alcohol Under 21, a violation of ABC Law 65-C. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Bogan, Hamilton Village Court on 9/19/11 @ 7:00 p.m.

By   Tue, Aug 30, 2011

It has been about 30 days since the village police have started strict enforcement of parking regulations, especially in the downtown, and Police Chief Rick Gifford is pleased with the results.

"I'm very encouraged," said the chief.

Last month HPD started an awareness campaign, warning people that the department had hired a parking enforcement person (Richard Ireland) and tickets would be issued to those who violated the law. Then, on July 25, tickets started to be issued.

Since then, 164 tickets have been written.

More importantly, according to Gifford, the enforcement initiative is having the desired effect: people are obeying the regulations, allowing more people to park nearer downtown businesses. This, said Gifford, is driving business for some of the store owners/operators he has spoken with as he walks the downtown streets.

"We have a few complaints, of course," said Gifford. "But, we have also had plenty of positive comments. We did our research, we gave people the heads up that this was happening and now we are seeing the fruits of that preparation."

By   Mon, Aug 29, 2011

By   Sun, Aug 28, 2011

The ever-charming Adonal Foyle, who graduated from HCS and Colgate, is the subject of an extensive feature on ESPN W.

The feature begins:

"On a humid summer day on the Caribbean island of Dominica, 1,400 miles south of Miami, two men with rusted machetes quietly crossed an outdoor basketball court populated with young children. The children paid the knife-wielding trespassers no mind. The men were on their way to work in the rain forests, their long blades used for making trails and felling fruit from trees. The kids were more captivated by the white bus pulling up to the basketball court. Sixteen coaches and volunteers emerged, one standing 6-foot-10, with a towering physique of muscle and power. A young boy approached the enormous man, who wore the long shorts and cutoff sleeves synonymous with basketball garb.

"'Are you Shaq?' the boy asked.

Adonal Foyle leaned down to the child, feigning great offense.

"'I am much prettier than Shaq,' he said. The child laughed and ran away from the gentle giant.

In addition to the print feature is a video interview with the former Emerald Knight/Raider who played 13 years in the NBA. and was inducted into the HCS Hall of Honor.

Both stories focus on Foyle's philanthropy and his focus not just on sports, but on academic and good health.

Foyle was interviewed by fellow Colgate grad Kathryn Bertine.

Revisit Bertine's visit to the Colgate Bookstore.

By   Sat, Aug 27, 2011

Colgate's Athletic Communications office was recently honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for having the fourth best football game programs in the nation during the 2010 season.

Jeremiah Hergott, the director of athletic communications, received the award during the Annual CoSIDA Convention held in Marco Island, Fla. Hergott has earned a total of five awards during his time at Colgate.

The 2011 football game programs will be sold in limited numbers featuring collectible covers drawn by artist Neal Portnoy. The first game program cover, versus Albany on Sept. 3, will feature head coach Dick Biddle. The 2011 game programs will also feature new QR codes inside them to help fans follow live stats, watch GateTV interviews and join the Raiders on Facebook and Twitter through their mobile devices.

Posters, media guides and game programs are submitted to the CoSIDA Publications Committee for judging every year and winners are announced in each category. Each category awards in Division A (NCAA-I), Division B (NCAA-II and NAIA-I), Division C (NCAA-III, Canadian, NAIA, NCCAA and junior colleges).

Source: Colgate

By   Fri, Aug 26, 2011

Just before heading back to St. Lawrence University for his sophomore year, local musician and HCS grad Blaine Holcomb managed to squeeze in three songs on the Sylvan Beach grandstand this week.

In doing so, he won the local finals of the Texaco Country Challenge sponsored by the Utica radio station Big Frog 104. He advances to the state finals in October in Jamestown.

For his win, Holcomb performed:

• Neal Young's Heart of Gold,
• Brad Paisley's Mud on the Tires;
• and Bluebird Days, a song Holcomb wrote with a friend, Robert Montgomery. 

He competed against Eddie Arcuri and Corrine Kopytowski, both from Rome.

By   Fri, Aug 26, 2011

It's the size of a bread box, runs on 9-volt batteries, is about the weight of a cell phone, and could help home owners conserve energy.

This device in development at Colgate will detect the R-value, or thermal resistance, of insulation in the walls of houses. Michael Michonski '12, is the fourth in a series of students who has been part of the project, and is researching the device's accuracy, stability, mobility, and consistency in Professor Beth Parks's physics lab, and in homes around Hamilton.

Colgate has submitted an application to patent the technology, which Parks hopes to license to a local company that could manufacture it for homeowners.

Funding for the project has come from the Justus '43 and Jayne Schlichting Student Research Fund and the Upstate Institute.

By   Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bouk and pianist Dianne McDowell will perform an evening of cabaret songs at the Barge Saturday starting at 8 p.m. 

Bouk and McDowell will perform well-known songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Goldrich & Heisler, and Kurt Weill. 

Both Bouk and McDowell call the Hamilton area home.

Colgate Maroon-News article about  Bouck.

Bouck at the Barge in 2009.

By   Wed, Aug 24, 2011

Tuesday afternoon's tremor that shook Hamilton and much of the East Coast is a reminder that a major earthquake in the region could mean a lot more than rattled wine glasses, temporary evacuations of buildings and a flurry of Facebook punchlines.

Colgate's Interim Provost, Dean of the Faculty and geology Professor Bruce Selleck said a major earthquake in the East could mean major problems. He explains:

"There is a history of earthquakes in this region, but this one was much larger than most in that area that have been recorded.  In the northeastern US, the area over which earthquakes are felt is larger than in the western US.  The earth's crust here in the east is much more rigid than the crust in the west, so earthquake waves travel farther, and lose less energy.  In the west, the numerous faults tend to dissipate earthquake energy over long distances, although of course there are more earthquakes, and more damaging larger quakes, in the west.  But an important point is made by cases like this one. If a larger magnitude earthquake were to occur in the eastern US, damage would occur over a much larger area."

There were numerous reports yesterday of an earth tremor being felt locally between 1:50 p.m. and 1:55 p.m.

HPD Chief Rick Gifford confirms it was felt at village hall. "The whole building was shaking," said Gifford.

Hamilton native and musician Chris White, now living in Brooklyn, was recording when the tremor struck there.

The U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake website reports we felt tremors from a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred this afternoon in Virginia. It was centered northwest of Richmond and east of Charlottesville.

Oddly, the U.S.G.S. also reports a 2.2 magnitude quake occurred at 6:35 a.m. about 4 miles westsouthwest of Altamont, west of Albany today.

These quakes comes only hours after one that was recorded in southern Colorado overnight.

More about the quake's epicenter.

Detailed coverage from The Washington Post.

By   Wed, Aug 24, 2011

A memorial service will be held on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the downing of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. members of the Hamilton Village Area Clergy will sponsor the interfaith service of remembrance and
reflection at the First Baptist Church.

As part of the evening there will be singing, prayers, Scripture readings and personal reflections from the congregation. The service will focus on healing and hope.

Host pastor, Rev. Wes Smith said, "This is an opportunity for our entire community to come together to share hope and to offer thanks to God for the blessings we share as a great Nation, and world-wide family."

 For details on this special service call Rev. Donnel O'Flynn at 824-1745.

By   Tue, Aug 23, 2011

In order to raise money and awareness for the victims of famine in Africa, a bake sale will be held to benefit UNICEF.

The bake sale will be Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at the Hamilton Public Library.  There will be a variety of dishes to sample and puchase including Indian, Middle Eastern and Turkish foods, including spinach pie, meat pie, cookies, baklava, and rice pudding.

Twelve million people are facing a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, and they are in desperate need of help. 

For more information, contact Margaret Wehrer (mwehrer@colgate.edu) or Ayten Ay(amay@colgate.edu), or call 824-9310.

By   Sat, Aug 20, 2011

This year's summer kids series drew  crowd to the Hamilton Theater.

Nearly 1100 guests attended features in this year's Summer Family Film Festival, according to manager Chuck Fox.

 "We are extremely grateful to our sponsors, including our anonymous series sponsor, for their help in making this series available to the community at no charge," said.

(In photo: Keslie and Susan Nolen help moviegoers with an art project at the recent screening of Kung Fu Panda at Hamilton Theater, sponsored by Mark and Barb Golden.)

By   Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Activities for the revived Great Chocolate Train Festival on the village green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 include a blend of chocolate and train-themed exhibits and events, according to the Partnership for Community Development (PCD), the event's organizer.

The festival is a celebration of the historic railroad chocolate spill of 1955 when an Oswego & Western train filled with Nestle's Crunch Bars and Nestle's Quik derailed in the village. The PCD held a similar event several years ago.

The festival will feature three main activity tents:

• The Family Fun Zone sponsored by Oneida Savings Bank will  include chocolate related arts, crafts and games.
• The History Tent, sponsored by Price Chopper, is presented by the Hamilton Historical Society and will contain memorabilia, documentation and artifacts from the wreck There will be a . It will panel discussion about the wreck and a special presentation honoring Henry Harter and Bill Wilcox who were instrumental in preserving the memory of the event. It will also include exhibits by HCS students.
• The Movie Tent, sponsored by Syracuse New Times and Family Times, will feature a documentary about the wreck by Ed Volmer.

In addition to the three main tents, local artist David Grace will be carving a train out of a large block of chocolate. 

Additional festival activities include:

• tastings from a variety of specialty chocolate vendors,
• model train exhibits,
• free instant photo center,
• kiddy train rides and amusements,
• a presentation from Northeast Classic Car Museum,
• downtown chocolate dessert contest,
• hands-freechocolate pudding contests,
• and chocolate cooking demonstrations.

The culmination of the festival will be a reenactment of the wreck. Using 1½” scale operating freight train cars (supplied by the Model Railroad group of the Central New York Chapter, National Railway Historical Society) and 3,000 mini Nestle Crunch bars, the
cars will dump Nestle Crunch bars onto the village green. Children will have the chance to grab as many of the candy bars as they can.

The event is free and open to the public. 

By   Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Slow down.

That's the requirement of a newly-lowered speed limit on South Broad Street. The state Department of Transportation, at the request of the village, lowered the speed limit to 35 mph coming into the village from the south.

HPD Chief Rick Gifford said the request was made by the village because of the increased foot traffic because of Colgate's new fitness center. He said there was concern about northbound traffic coming over the crest of the hill on its way into the village.

By   Mon, Aug 15, 2011

By   Sun, Aug 14, 2011

By   Fri, Aug 05, 2011

The Colgate men's hockey team opens its pre-season drills tomorrow morning at Starr Rink.

Coach Don Vaughan (in the photo flipping burgers at Crowe's Pharmacy customer appreciation day today) says the squad is tuning up in Hamilton for several days before making a European training trip before the new school year and season begin.The Raiders open the 2011 season at the Mutual of Omaha Stampede in Omaha Oct. 7 and 8.

Vaughan and the Raiders play at home for the first time this season on Oct. 14 and 15 against Miami University.

By   Fri, Aug 05, 2011

The Colgate Bookstore will co-sponsor public readings with four authors next week.  All events are free and open to the public, and will be held at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

The schedule of the week’s events is as follows:

Tuesday, August 9 – Matt McCue is a non-fiction author and public speaker living in Manhattan.  He has written for New York, ESPN The Magazine, Bloomberg, and The Daily Meal. An Honorable Run is his first book.  For more information about the book, please visit www.colgatebookstore.com/mccue.

Wednesday, August 10 – Brian Hall graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1981 with a degree in English literature. His novels include The Saskiad, I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company, and The Fall of Frost.  For more information on Brian and descriptions of his books, please visit www.colgatebookstore.com/hall.

Thursday, August 11 – Naomi Guttman is a member of the Hamilton College faculty. She holds a MFA degree from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Southern California. She is the author of two volumes of poetry, including Wet Apples, White Blood.  For more information on Naomi and her work, please visit www.colgatebookstore.com/guttman.

Friday, August 12 – Celebration of Writing with guest author Shannon Delany. (Noon to 3 p.m. on the village green).  Featuring readings by students of the Colgate Young Writer’s conference. Guest author Shannon Delany will read from Bargains and Betrayals, the third book in her teen paranormal series. For more information about Shannon and her books, please visit www.colgatebookstore.com/delany.

The co-sponsors of this event series include the Young Writers’ Workshop at Colgate, Colgate Bookstore, Earlville Opera House, Hamilton Club, Hamilton Community Chest, Hamilton Emerald Foundation, Hamilton Odd Fellows, John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, and Sherburne Rotary Club. 

The following Colgate groups are also sponsors: Department of Writing & Rhetoric, Department of English, Division of the Humanities, Institute for Creative & Performing Arts, Office of the Provost, and Dean of the Faculty.

By   Sun, Jul 31, 2011

For the third summer in a row, Grant, Wade and Todd Slater -- three boys who grew up here as the sons of one of Colgate's greatest coaches -- return and give a gift to the community they called home for many years. The Third Annual Hamilton International Film Festival opens Thursday and features a long list of films and an opportunity to meet and learn from a variety of Hollywood professionals.

Most of the films will be shown at the Hamilton Theater. Chuck Fox manages the theater and says the festival has attracted a broader range of films and filmmakers each year, which has helped attract a wider audience. 

"It is a tribute to the festival, and to Hamilton, that several filmmakers from last year are returning this year, even though they do not have films in this year's festival," said Fox.  "The Slater brothers have done a tremendous amount of work to put together a terrific program, continuing their commitment to do something special to give back to the community where they grew up.

"I think it is great for the village that the Slater brothers continue to bring such a great event to us. Their willingness to have the Thursday screenings benefit HCS is an added plus. The four day event is a unique opportunity for all of us to view so many great films without having to travel outside the Village. A huge thanks to the Slaters."

Thursday:

• 7 p.m. opening short films Perfect Gift and Mr. Stache;
• feature film is Soul Surfer. Ticket sales benefit HCS

Friday:

• 6:30 p.m. opening rception at the Colgate Bookstore is free and open to all;
• 8:15 p.m. Openign shorts Spare  and Esha.
• feature film is A beginner's Guide to Endings

Saturday:

• Noon filmmakers' panel at the Cogate Inn;
• 1:30 p.m.  A Jpourney in My Mothers Footseps;
• 3 p.m. Opening short Change anf feature film Mighty Jerome;
• 6:15 p.m. red carpet arrivas at Palace Theater
• 7 p.m. openign shorts Perfect Gift, Snow Angels
• feature film, the hockey musical score!
• 9:30 p.m. closing night party at the Colgate Inn and sponsored by Chibani.

Sunday:

• 12:30 p.m. openign shorts Baby Boss, Page Zero
• feature shorts are The Sea Is All I Know and Brigth
• 2:15 p.m. opening short Raccoon  & Crawfish;
• feature film is Patagonia Rising.

For more details call Hamilton Theater at 824-8210.

By   Fri, Jul 29, 2011

Hamilton Theater takes a trip down memory lane Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. with An Evening of Silent Film, featuring the 1925 adventureclassic Don Q: Son of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks.

Admission is $7.75.

“Families who have not had the pleasure of enjoying silent film are in fora treat,” said Hamilton Theater’s Chuck Fox. “Fairbanks' action adventure is as entertaining for families today as it was for those who enjoyed his films in the Hamilton Theater in the 1920s.”

Live accompaniment on keyboardand fascinating insights into the silent film era will once again be providedby Ben Model, silent film historian and host of the Silent Clown Film Series in New York.

Fairbanks, thought by many as the greatest swashbuckler of the 1920s, plays both Zorro and his son in this light, high energy adventure. Fairbanks did his own stunts and dazzled and endeared audiences with his athletics andineffable charisma. “Don Q is a wonderful adventure with lots of action,humor and romance,” said Variety.

An Evening of Silent Film is sponsored by Vantine Imaging and LB Homewood Construction. For tickets and information, contact HamiltonTheater at 824-8210. 

By   Thu, Jul 28, 2011

Colgate's Board of Trustees have two new leaders:

• Denis F. Cronin '69 was elected chair,
• and Robert A. Kindler '76 was named vice chair.

Cronin succeeds J. Christopher Clifford '67, and Kindler follows Margaret A. Flanagan '80. The change came at the board's meeting last month.He is a former senior partner, now "of counsel", to the law firm of Vinson & Elkins in New York City. A former partner at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, he is a trustee and past-president of the Fordham Law School Alumni Association.

Kindler, global head of mergers and acquisitions and vice chairman of Morgan Stanley, and former partner at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, has been a member of Colgate's board since 2002.

Kindler went on to earn his law degree from the NYU School of Law, where he is a trustee. He also serves on the boards of the March of Dimes (New York division) and Levin Institute.

By   Tue, Jul 26, 2011

Just as their third annual Hamilton International Film Festival is about a week from opening, the Hollywood trade journal Variety reports that Slater Brothers Entertainment is part of a group that is to begin shooting next week on an independent thriller/horror fil House of Dust.

The Slater Brothers -- Todd, Grant and Wade -- produce the annual local film event locally. It is set to open Thursday at the Hamilton Theater.

A Facebook page for the movie describes it:

"College students exploring an abandoned insane asylum accidentally shatter canisters holding the cremains of former mental patients; inhaling the dusty ash filling the air, they’re soon possessed by the souls once held within them. One, is a convicted serial killer from 1950."

Variety says Todd Slater and A.D. Calvo of Goodnight Films are producing the film, which is being shot in Connecticut. Calvo is also directing.  Among those who will appear in the film are:

• Inbar Lavi ("Underemployed"),
• Holland Roden ("Teen Wolf"),
• Steven Grayhm (The First Ride of Wyatt Erp)
• Eddie Hassell (The Kids Are All Right)
• Stephen Spinella ("Angels In America"),
• Nicole Travolta -- the niece of John Travolta -- ("The Middle"),
• Joy Lauren ("Desperate Housewives"),
• John Lee Ames ("Days Of Darkness")
• and Alesandra Assante -- daughter of Armand Assante -- ("Looking For An Echo").

By   Fri, Jul 22, 2011

By   Fri, Jul 22, 2011

The village has to hire a new police chief, but at least it has a little extra time to complete the process.

Chief Rick Gifford, who was hired just last October, is unable to remain on the job because of state regulations. He cannot continue to receive pension payments from his previous position and also earn his salary from the village. So, he must step down or lose his pension benefits.

The village had sought a waiver to allow him to work longer, but the state has tightened enforcement of pension rules for civil servants.

However, the state Thursday agreed to allow Gifford to work through the end of September instead of forcing him to step down at the end of this month.

Trustee Sam Cooper was in Albany to meet with Civil Service representatives Thursday. He said commissioners agreed that Gifford had started some initiatives that ought to be continued until a new chief can be hired. Cooper said the commissioners agreed that it was important for the village to have its police force fully functional when Colgate classes resume later this summer.

"It wasn't the outcome we wanted," said Cooper. "But, at least it bought us some time."

The village is interviewing candidates for the position.

By   Tue, Jul 19, 2011

There have been several changes in some top administrative positions at Colgate.

Ellen Kraly, who had served as director of the Upstate Institute for five years is taking a sabbatical year and was originally to be replaced by geology professor Bruce Selleck. However, when Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lyle Roelofs decided to take a sabbatical this year, Selleck was appointed to fill in for him on an interim basis.

As a result, Meika Loe was named interim director of the Upstate Institute. She has been serving as associate professor of sociology and women's studies and is director of women's studies at Colgate.

By   Tue, Jul 19, 2011

By   Tue, Jul 19, 2011

By   Mon, Jul 18, 2011

Hamilton Police are warning residents -- especially senior citizens -- to be careful when answering the phone.

Chief Rick Gifford says a local resident recently received a call from a person identifying themselves as the grandchild of the person answering the phone. There was some sort of trouble and the "grandchild" needed money quickly, and asked that it be sent via Western Union.

Gifford says the call was a scam.

It seems as though the person on the other end of the line is anxious and agitated and says their call is an emergency, hoping to rattle and confuse the person answering the phone into sending the money.

Gifford says the calls have been traced to a number in Canada for a comapny that appears not to exist. The investigation continues.

The chief urges people receiving such a call to be to be wary of the request, and to be sure that the caller properly identifies themselves.

By   Fri, Jul 15, 2011

By   Wed, Jul 13, 2011

After two tumultuous years, the Town of Hamilton Board is facing an election in November that could remake the board in significant ways.

Residents will elect a new supervisor and vote for two trustee seats.

The Nov. 8 vote follows:

• a 2009 audit by the Office of the State Comptroller that showed the town accumulated what it called a surplus of some $1.2 million. 
• and a town-wide revaluation of properties earlier this year that caused property taxes to skyrocket and prompted widespread complaints and a highly visible tractorcade protest at the opening of the village Farmer's Market in May.

Both of these issues precipitated major public outcries and showed some divisions between members of the board.

The race for supervisor will feature two familiar faces: Democrat Eve Ann Shwartz and Republican Scott Mills.

Republicans running for two trustee spots are incumbent David Holcomb and Kerry Dart. The Democrats' trustee candidates are Chris Rossi and Dominick Pangallo.

Absent from this race is incumbent Dave Crumb. He intended to run for supervisor but received no nomination at the recent Republican caucus, and says there was maneuvering by the nominating committee to deny him a spot on the ballot. Crumb said he is considering his options; he could run as an independent or on the Conservative line. He said he was going to the county Board of Elections to pick up paperwork.

Incumbent Highway Supervisor Bert Glazier has been endorsed by both parties, while Republican incumbent Clerk Kathy Hotaling is unchallenged.

The supervisor's race is prompted by the June 9 announcement that Supervisor Bob Kuiper, a veteran Democrat elected in 2009, would not be running again. Kuiper came under fire during the protracted debate over the revaluation and more than a few residents called for his resignation. He was also questioned about how he handled the fund balances.

Kuiper was elected in 2009 by a 156-vote margin (698 - 542) over Mills, who had been a trustee and assistant to long-time Supervisor Walt Jaquay.

Shwartz is well known to town residents for a number a reasons:

• she ran the Partnership for Community Development in its formative years;
• was asked by Jaquay to head citizen opposition to the New York Regional Interconnect power line project;
• and was part of the effort to rewrite the town's zoning laws.

By   Wed, Jul 13, 2011

Running the village is a collaborative effort, with the mayor and each of the trustees shouldering responsibilities for various functions. At Tuesday's meeting, the first regular one for the recently elected officials, Mayor Margaret Miller assigned the trustees responsibilities.

The trustees are the elected liasons to the various departments, commissions and other village functions and report back to the entire council about activities in their specific areas. The trustees and their assignments are:

Sam Cooper:

• Mayor's representative to the police department;
• Mayor's representative to the fire department;
• Mayor's representative to the village court;
• Mayor's representative to the Colgate's Campus Safety Department;
• Serves on the Pedestrian Safety Committee
• and sits on the Five-Way Intersection Task Force.

Debblie Kliman:

• Parks;
• Library Board;
• Historical Commission;
• Farmers' Market;
• Recreation, Playgrounds and Pavilion and Fountains;
• Mural Commission;
• Trails Committee;
• Fourth of July Committee.

Russ Lura:

• Streets and Public Works;
• Municipal Utilities Commissioner;
• DPW and Solid Waste Management;
• Madison Street Cemetery.

Anne Clauss:

• Economic Development;
• Mayor's representative to the PCD
• Mayor's representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals;
• Mayor's representative to the to the Planning Board;
• Airport-Airpark Commission
• Mayor's representative to Colgate's Upstate Institute;
• Tree Committee.

The mayor will continue as the village's representative to the Hamilton Business Alliance.

By   Tue, Jul 12, 2011

By   Mon, Jul 11, 2011

It is billed as the world's biggest 15K road race. It's the Boilermaker, and it was run through the streets of Utica Sunday.

Not surprisingly, a number of Hamilton foks were among the 11,060 who finished the run. Here they are, with their times and where they placed.

For those who want to start getting ready for next year's Boilermaker, there are one-mile and 5K fun runs every Wednesday through August. They start at 6 p.m. in front of the Hamilton Public Library on the village green.

*All times are from the Boilermaker website.

By   Mon, Jul 11, 2011

Dear Gov. Cuomo:

You missed it, Governor.

Last Saturday you could have had the perfect opportunity to see why it is complete and utter nonsense to tamper with schools that aren't broken. Schools like Hamilton Central.

For two hours last Saturday, HCS celebrated its strengths and showcased its successes when it held its third annual induction ceremony for its Hall of Honor. You should have been there. So should have whomever is in charge of the State Education Department these days. And, the Board of Regents, especially Chancellor Merryl Tisch and James R. Tallon, Jr. the regent for Madison County.

Had you b een here, you would have seen that HCS -- small and rural as it is -- produced:

• John Vincent Griffith, a college president;
• Charles Getchonis, a man who taught children for 34 years and led the village as its mayor;
• Dean W. Chapman, a minister who became a doctor at the age of 52;
• Jeff Dinksi, an Emmy-winning TV reporter who started his own online business;
• Kathleen "Katie" Mogelgaard, an international on population and climate change issues;
• Paul Howes, a successful psychologist;
• and Tim Noel, a man who has touched the lives of HCS students for dozens of years.

In the past, the Hall of Honor has added:

• an NBA player turned team executive and philanthropist;
• a principal horn player in the Philadelphia Orchestra;
• a former U.S. attorney turned federal judge;
• one of best high school basketball coaches in all of New York state;
• and a list of successful educators and coaches.

Not bad for a small school you think ought to be subsumed by another, and a school and community you do not believe can make decisions about and manage its own finances.

Had you been here for the recent Hall of Honor induction, you would heard a long list of successful people explain how important it was to be educated in a small school and community where teachers and coaches are invested in the success of their students not because they are mandated to do by the state, but because they truly care. You would have heard how they became the people they are today because of how they were taught and coached as children; how people cared about them.

You and the regents ought to be concerned about the state of education in New York. There are a lot of schools that are failing their students and their communities. Too few kids are graduating, and many who do fail miserably in college, if they even get there.

Concentrate on them, and stop making life difficult for successful schools like HCS. If you don't want to listen to the Hall of Honor inductees say, listen to your own Education Department. The latest statistics show that the vast majority of kids are successful at HCS; most graduate and do well beyond high school. (And, by the way, stop jiggering around the standards to make things look worse than what they are.)

And, if your own Education Department isn't authoratative enough, check out what Newsweek said: it ranked HCS one of the 500 best high schools in the entire country.

New York State has a whole lot of problems. HCS is not one of them.

There is no need to fix that which is not broken ... even school children know that, Governor.

By   Sun, Jul 10, 2011

When the Slater Brothers return to Hamilton for the third annual film festival they created, they will be joined by an impressive guest list of people in the industry. Scheduled to be part of this year's Hamilton International Film Festival staged by Grant, Todd and Wade Slater are:

• Charles Officer, director of the Mighty Jerome
• Actor and director Benjamin Busch, whose father was longtime Colgate professor Frederick Busch, will screen his film Bright
• Director Jordan Bayne will show her film The Sea is All I Know
• Dina Rosenmeier, director of A Journey In My Mother's Footsteps
• Producer Richard Hanet will screen his Toronto Film Festival official selection Score - A Hockey Musical.
• Carrie Clifford '93 and Gillian Vigman '94 will show their short film Baby Boss.
• Al Sapienza, of the HBO series The Sopranos, will present his film Spare.

The first film will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Hamilton Movie Theater, and all proceeds will benefit Hamilton Central Schools.

The festival will conclude with critically acclaimed films Patagonia Rising and Esha, and a special presentation of the animated short film Raccoon & Crawfish presented by Four Direction Productions and the Oneida Indian Nation.

On Friday night, a special filmmakers reception will be held at the Colgate Bookstore. The free event, which starts at 6:30 p.m., will feature several of the directors, producers, and actors from the festival.

The schedule for Saturday includes red-carpet arrivals starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Palace Theater, two film screenings, and the closing night party at the Colgate Inn.

"The filmmakers and actors who have agreed to come to Hamilton are truly first rate," said Grant Slater, adding that they are coming from places such as Denmark, Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, India, and New York City.

By   Sun, Jul 10, 2011

The selected books/movies for the Summer 2011 (July-September) season of the book and movie club sponsored by the Colgatre Bookstore and Hamilton Theater include: 

July 28 – Out of Africa – Autobiography by Isak Dinesen; 1985 film starring Meryl Streep & Robert Redford
Karen Blixen (whose pen name was Isak Dinesen) moved to Kenya in 1914 to marry her cousin and run a coffee plantation.  A lyrical meditation on Blixen’s seventeen years on her plantation, as well as a tribute to some of the people who touched her life there, the story is also a vivid snapshot of African colonial life in the last decades of the British Empire.

August 18 – The African Queen – Novel by C.S. Forester; 1952 film starring Katharine Hepburn & Humphrey Bogart
This classic adventure tale follows the journey of Rose (an English spinster missionary) and Allnut (a disreputable Cockney), who wend their way down a river in Central Africa in a rickety steam launch called The African Queen. The unlikely traveling companions eventually put aside their differences and join in a mission of retaliation against the Germans in the early days of World War I.

September 29 – Invictus – Non-fiction book by John Carlin; 2009 film starring Morgan Freeman & Matt Damon
After being released from prison and winning South Africa's first free election, Nelson Mandela presided over a country still deeply divided by fifty years of apartheid. His ambitious plan: to use South Africa's national rugby team to engage and unite the nation.

Members are encouraged to read the book in advance and then meet on the selected date at the Hamilton Theater to view the film based on that book. Club members have the opportunity to discuss the book and the movie at a dinner in the Colgate Bookstore immediately following the film screening.

The Book & Movie Club offers two subscription plans.  Full Members will receive their own copy of all three books for the season, free admission to the screening of all three films, and dinner during the three after-movie discussions, for a one-time fee of $48/season.  Basic Members receive free admission to the film screenings, and dinner during the after-movie discussion, for a one-time fee of $24/season.

For more information about these options or to join the club, visit www.colgatebookstore.com/bookmovie or call the Bookstore at 228-7480.

By   Sun, Jul 10, 2011

The Skyway Music Festival, a showcase for local talent, is taking this year off.

Meredith Leland Getchonis (wearing hat in photo from last year's event), a leading organizer of the event honoring her late husband Craig, explains:

"I'm sorry to say we're not holding a festival this year. One thing after another fell through while we were planning it so it looked as if it was time to take the summer off.  The economy was definitely a factor.  All of us involved were united in our decision and it was all good-natured.

"We're not throwing in the towel on Skyway altogether, and Jimmy Wunderlich is busy thinking up new ideas for it.  The Christmas open mic at the barge was so great last year that I'm sure we're doing that again."

In the past, Skyway was held on the village green and last year moved to the Eaton Street Park.

The festival had been organized to provide a visible stage for local musicians and to raise money for the HCS music program.

By   Sat, Jul 09, 2011

Several young artists chalked up a whimsical piece of sidewak art at Eaton Street Park this week. The artists included Sarah Foster, Hayleigh Hanson, Taylor Wiley and Colleen Carroccio.

By   Fri, Jul 08, 2011

The Miller Administration is off to a great start.

On Monday new Mayor Margaret Miller handed out candy along the route of the Fourth of Juy parade. Tonight, she got to introduce the Syracuse Symphony, which played to a packed house on the village green.

Under the baton of Grant Cooper, the orchestra, which rose phoenix-like from the ashes of a headline-making bankruptcy of the former Syracuse Symphony, wowed the crowd with an eclectic program from Mozart to Sousa to Tchaikovsky and beyond.

This was the third July that the green has become a concert hall, a project championed by former Mayor Sue McVaugh.

By   Thu, Jul 07, 2011

By   Thu, Jul 07, 2011

At its meeting tonight at the Hamilton Public Library,  the Town of Hamilton Democratic caucus nominated four candidates for the general election on Nov. 8:

• For Supervisor:  Eve Ann Shwartz, of 689 Borden Rd.  Earlville
• For Town Council: Chris Rossi, 8225 Hill Rd, Hubbardsville
• For Town Council:  Dominick Pangallo. 21 W. Pleasant St., Hamilton
• For Highway Superintendent: Bert F. Glazier, 2069 Wickwire Rd.

The Denocrats did not nominate anyone to run for town clerk.

Supervisor Bob Kuiper said last month he would not seek reelection.

By   Thu, Jul 07, 2011

Colgate will conduct a test of its emergency notification systems on Thursday, July 15 at 12:15 p.m.

The emergency notification systems include ‘Colgate Alert’, the outdoor public address system, and ‘INFORMACAST’, a component of the campus VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) telephone system. All these systems are part of the university’s comprehensive emergency notification plan.

The test message that people will receive and/or hear will advise that,  "This is a test. This is a test of Colgate’s Emergency Alert system. This is only a test."

The emergency notifications systems are intended to provide timely warnings to the campus community in the event of a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate and widespread notification.

Should you have questions about the testing of the emergency notification systems, do not hesitate to contact Campus Safety at 228-7333.

By   Wed, Jul 06, 2011

By   Tue, Jul 05, 2011

By   Tue, Jul 05, 2011

By   Tue, Jul 05, 2011

With long-time judge and civic leader Arnold Fisher as its grand marshall, Hamilton's signature Fourth of July filled the streets this morning on what can only be called the perfect July day: sunny, bright, breezy.

Music echoed along the parade route from marching and community bands, and local fire departments turned out in force.

Mayor Marget Mill was sworn in Friday but officially took office today. She marched in the parade courting future voters by passing out candy to kids seated street-side. Assemblyman Bill Magee and Senator Dave Valesky were also in the parade.

Yet this afternoon is the "town ball" game on Colgate's rugby field and fireworks over Colgate this evening.

See a slide show of Faces of the Fourth.

By   Sat, Jul 02, 2011

There they were:

a theologian turned college president;
an Emmy-winning reporter/writer turned Internet entrepreneur;
a landscaper turned Presbyterian minister turned doctor;
a teacher turned mayor;
an international expert on population and climate change issues;
a successful psychologist;
and a fixture at HCS and one of the men most responsible for the creation of the Hall of Honor

As emcee Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers said, "All of them are members of the HCS family," and as of today, all enshrined in the school's Hall of Honor

On a perfect July afternoon, friends, families and past Hall of Honor inductees gathered in the HCS auditorium to see the seven latest members enshrined.

Having their plaques added to the wall between the gymnasium and the cafeteria were:

• John Vincent Griffith, introduced by Dave Berkey;
• Charles Getchonis, introduced by his son Scott;
• Dean W. Chapman, \introduced by Fred Howe;
• Jeff Dinksi, introduced by his father Ed;
• Kathleen "Katie" Mogelgaard, introduced by Dick Carroll;
• Paul Howes, introduced by Stu Dodd and Matt Behler.
• and Tim Noel, a surprise inductee, introduced by Dick Lenhardt.

After the other six inductees were honored, Bowers and Dick Lenhardt, a member of the Hall of Honor committee, recognized Noel for his many years of contributions to the school. He was a bus driver for HCS and has, for many years, been a scorekeeper for most of the HCS athletic events. Noel and Lenhardt were instrumental in getting the Hall of Honor started; in fact, Noel sold a boat of his and used the proceeds as seed money in the hall's first year.

To a person, each of the inductees commented on the specialness of HCS and the village in which they spent their formative years.

"I have tried to recreate what it was like growing up in Hamilton in ever community in which i have lived," said Griffith, HCS Class of 1965 and today president of Presbyterian College in South Carolina. "This is a place where you are known, and held accountable.

Another inductee, knows a bit about Hamilton. Getchonis, HCS Class of 1960 and a teacher for 34 years, was its mayor for four terms. In his remarks, Getchonis said it was good "... to be in a position to do something for the village you love -- it doesn't get any better than this."

His son Scott echoed his father's outlook: "I feel fortunate to call Hamilton my home town."

The Chapman family are no strangers to the halls of HCS. Dean Chapman, Class of 1968,  was a student here while his father was principal; his brother Dana was principal at HCS as well. After his parents did a few months apart, Chapman left the Presbyterian ministry and went to the University of Florida Medical School at the age of 52. He graduated at the top of his class and now is a hospitalist practicing internal medicine in Vermont.

"I am astounded by the quality of the people that this school has produced over the years," he said.

Jeff Dinsky is one of those people. After graduating from Princeton, he was a writer for NCS and t hen ESPN and today runs an online site for new mothers called Gaggle of Chicks.

"This was a place to learn to do different things," said Dinsky, Class of 1995. "There are an incredible amount of people who are really invested in your long-term success."

Dinsky said three such people at HCS were Nan Washburn and two previous Hall of Honor inductees Gary Rider and Tom Blackford.

In introducing Katie Mogelgaard, Dick Carroll said he was waiting for a return email from her about some of the details about the induction. When she did hget back to him, she apologized for the delay: she was in Bangladesh when he had sent his email. Listing all of the country Mogelgaard visits in her work on climate change and population issues, Carroll said, " her office is the planet."

Mogelgarrd, who graduated in 1991, recalled "the kind of attention we got from teachers and the time they took to cultivate your potential." She cited several teachers, including Washburn for instilling a love of language and Rick Hanson, her girls basketball coach, who taught her the value of teamwork.

"So many things that are still with me today started here at HCS," she said.

Stu Dodd and Matt Behler co-introduced Howes. All were members of the Class of 1977. Combined they provided the comedy relief of the afternoon.

Howes, who said "my roots in Hamilton run deep," confessed to three things as part of his induction acceptance speech:

1. In second grade he punched a classmate in the nose ... a girl.
2. In a hockey game, he carried the puck into the goal ... with his foot.
3. His senior year, he was part of a failed plot to steal the large bell in front of the school.

Howes also led the audience in the singing of the alma mater.

Following the ceremony, the Emerald Foundation provided an ice cream social for those who attended.

Here are the iscriptions on the inductees' plaques:

Dean W. Chapman

Dean was a member of the Hamilton class of 1968. While in school he was very active in sports, playing football and baseball. Dean was also an accomplished musician, playing in the band and earning high ratings on two instruments at the state level. He was also a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. From high school he went to Oberlin College making the dean’s and president’s lists, and graduating with a B.A. degree in English in 1972. He started a career in professional landscaping and after 10 years returned to the academic scene at the Columbia Theological Seminary andearned his Doctor of Divinity in 1982, becoming a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He served in this capacity for 21 years in the Orlando, FL area. During that time he authored two books. His work inspired him to help others who were suffering from poor healthand he returned to school where he earned a medical degree from the University of Florida in 2007. Dean was awarded the Hippocratic Award for unselfish devotion to patient care. In 2007, after long hours and at the age of 61, he began to practice internal medicine in Vermont. Dedicated to his need to help others, Dean has volunteered for numerous projects first here in Hamilton at the First Baptist Church and then in Florida at nursing homes in his community. He practices internal medicine and continues to do volunteer work at a student-run free clinic, earning him the Equal Access Clinic Services Award. Dean enjoys music, travel and birding. He has two grown children and currently lives with his wife in South Burlington,VT.

Jeffrey J. Dinski

Jeff Dinski graduated from Hamilton Central School in 1995. He was the salutatorian and also won that year’s Senior Athlete of the Year Award, as he captained football and basketball teams and was a key member of the league champion golf team. He was also the senior class president, Student Council president, and editor of the Emerald Press. He was in the National Honor Society. All of his achievements throughout high school prepared Jeff for continued success at Princeton University from which he graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and later at Harvard where he earned an MBA with honors. As an undergrad, he wrote for The Daily Princetonian, earning the coveted sports editor position. As awriter for NBC sports, he won an Emmy for NBC’s outstanding live sports coverage of the 2002 Olympics. He also covered the French Open, Wimbledon and Notre Dame football. Later, Jeff helped start ESPN’s first live morning show, Cold Pizza, where he served as head writer and a producer. More recently, Jeff served as Director of Business Development for Comcast Interactive Media. Currently,Jeff is the co-founder and COO of an e-commerce business called Gaggleofchicks.com and lives in Philadelphia with his family.

Charles Getchonis

Charlie was born and raised in Hamilton and is a 1960 graduate of HCS. He was active in sports, playing on the basketball teams as well as the football teams that won the 1959-60 Center State Championships. He was also a four-year member of the band and orchestra. He graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1965 with a B.S. in education and in 1965 began his career at the Madison, Canastota and Chittenango BOCES program. From 1967 he taught drivers education and technology for 34 years at Chittenango Central School, also serving as senior class advisor for 15 years. A popular teacher, the school yearbook was twice dedicated to him by his students. He retired from teaching in 1999. His dedication to Hamilton is reflected in his service to the community. Elected to four terms as the village’s mayor, he has also served on the boards of the Village of Hamilton and the Town of Hamilton. As a member of Rotary he served as its president and he was a former president of the HCS Sports Boosters Club. His involvement in Hamilton continues to this day as he serves on various village committees overseeing local projects. His three children are all HCS graduates and Charlie resides in Hamilton with his family.

John Vincent Griffith

John Vincent Griffith graduated from Hamilton in 1965. While inschool he ran track, was a member of the band, orchestra, and choir, and was active in theater productions and the honor society. He earned his undergraduate degree in religion from Dickinson College, a master of divinity degree from Harvard University, and his Ph.D.from Syracuse University. His career eventually took him into higher education where he has held the positions of dean and vice president at Davidson College and president of Lyon College. In June of 1997, he was the unanimous choice of the Presbyterian College Board of Trustees to be its 16th president. During his tenure the College launched a $160 million campaign, established a doctoral program in pharmacy, recruited a Confucius Institute, and positioned the college to transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. He has also served on executive boards on the state and national levels for Independent and Presbyterian Colleges and Universities. Because of his interest in development and strategic planning, he has served on boards and chambers of commerce in the communities in which he has lived. He is an ordained Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA) and a member of Trinity Presbytery. He enjoys yoga, water sports and reading and is an avid artist. John has two grown children and hecurrently lives with his wife in Clinton, SC.

Paul Howes

Paul, a 1977 graduate of Hamilton Central School, finished fifth in hisclass and was very active in all aspects of school life. He was afour-sport athlete: football, ice hockey, tennis and track. He was captain of both the hockey and football teams in his senior year. In addition to sports he was an accomplished French horn player with the wind and brass ensembles and the orchestra from eighth grade forward. Paul was a member of the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Utica Symphony Orchestra, and the Colgate Orchestra. His talent earned him NYS all–wind ensemble honors during his senior year. His musical talents were also on display as the leading role in the HCS musical productions for three years. He attended Amherst College and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in psychology while playing four years of varsity ice hockey. Paul continued his passion for all things musical, playing in the college orchestra and singing in the men’s a cappella group, serving as itsdirector in his senior year. He completed his advanced degrees, psychology (1985) and Ph.D. in psychology (1989) and was an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Rochester from1989 until 1992. Paul is now in his 21st year in private practice as a clinical psychologist with his focus being kids and families. He still performs in an a cappella group called the “Bowties” and serves as the group’s musical director. He married a fellow HCS grad, has two grown children, and currently lives with his wife in Fairport.

Kathleen Anne Mogelgaard

Katie graduated from Hamilton Central School in 1991. She participated in all musical groups, was in Masquers, was on the Hamiltonian 1991 core staff, and in National Honor Society. She played on the first HCS girls’ soccer team, was All-CSC, as well as playing basketball and running cross country and track. In 1995 Katie, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.S. in environmental science. She earned masters’ degrees in public policy and science from the University of Michigan in 2004. As Assistant Director of Government Relations at the National Audubon Society she worked on international conservation policy issues. As a Population-Environment Fellow at the Population Reference Bureau, Katie conducted research onhealth, population, and the environment in Asia and Africa. She coordinated efforts on population-environment at the National Wildlife Federation and the Union of Concerned Scientists, and has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Boston. She currently is a lecturer at U. of Maryland and Senior Advisor for Population, Gender and Climate Change at Population Action International in Washington, D.C. She plays in a symphony and bluegrass band, and is a mentor with the DC Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

By   Sat, Jul 02, 2011

Two local musicians have made quite a hit with a country music mega-star and his fans.

Not long ago, HCS grads Blaine Holcomb and Lucy Campbell shot a home video version of Remind Me, a hit by Brad Paisley. Now, the Holcomb/Campbell video of the song is a hit unto itself, racking up thousands of You Tube views.

It seems that Paisley posted a Tweet -- a message on Twitter -- recently about getting ready to do a duet of Remind Me with fellow country crooner Carrie Underwood.  He said, "Until our video is done for ‘Remind Me’ this one will do fine,” and linked to the version by Blaine and Lucy.

The long and the short of it is this: the You Tube video of the local pair has been viewed almost 50,000 times.

In addition, the country music website Taste of Country posted a story and the video.

Both Campbell and Holcomb had musical careers while at HCS. Lucy is now a student at Skidmore and Blaine finished his first year at St. Lawrence, where he is a member of the men's vocal group. In addition, he plays at various clubs in the Canton area, and while home in Hamilton for the summer can be seen performing at local venues.

Holcomb studied guitar with Ed Vollmer, the local musician who has launched many a player.

By   Sat, Jul 02, 2011

Members of the Hamilton Fire Department were called to and extinguished a fire at ah home at 1559 River Road at 12:31 p.m. Thursday.

When they arrived smoke was visible from the roof of the single-story structure. A SOMAC ambulance was request to the scene as was a tanker from the Eaton Fire Department.

Hamilton's engine crew had the fire under control in minutes.

Cause of the fire was a pizza box left on a kitchen stove, according to the fire department website.

Photo by Hamilton Fire Department

By   Fri, Jul 01, 2011

There are a few spaces left for children entering Kindergarten through sixth grade, in this hands-on program of literacy-based French language instruction.  Instructor, Kerry Linden, will focus on language exposure, experience, and description, using dramatic play, books, games, and music around themes of sports, animals, the Middle Ages and more.

The camp will meet afternoons at the Colgate Bookstore, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 19, 20, 21 and July 26, 27, 28.  Children entering Kindergarten – second grade will meet from 1 – 2:30 p.m.  Children entering third – sixth Grade will meet from 2:30 – 4 p.m.  The cost is $120 per student for the two-week camp ($100 per sibling).  Registrations will be accepted until Friday, July 1^st. 

Contact Kerry at dwilso4@twcny.rr.com or 825 – 5543.

By   Fri, Jul 01, 2011

Monday, July 4 

• 6 a.m. - Vendor and Crafters registration begins and Farmer’s Market opens
• 9 a.m. to 10:30am – Parade Registration at the Mid-York Airpark, Rte. 12B
• 9 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. – Pre-Parade Entertainment “Rags to Riches” at the Pavilion on the Village Green
• 10:30a.m. – Parade Step-Off
• 10:45a.m. – Pre-Parade Show at the Judges’ Stand with K.C. Stewart and Miriam Stewart will be singing the National Anthem.
• 11 a.m. – Parade arrives in heart of the village
• Noon to 4 p.m. – Games for kids, including an inflatable slide, bounce house, obstacle course and more, First Baptist Church lawn
• Noon - until ? - Chicken Barbeque at the Park United Methodist Church 
• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Entertainment featuring Putter Cox and the Sunday Tunes at the Pavilion on the Village Green
• 1 p.m. – Annual July 4th organ concert at the First Baptist Church, featuring Chris Warren
• 2pm Class of 1981 picnic, music and lake fun at Loch Haven, East Lake Road, Hamilton
• Nightfall Fireworks - Colgate University by Taylor Lake

** There is a changing table available for infants at the Baptist Church. The church will be open on the Fourth for public use. This is available from 10am until after the organ recital is over approximately 2:30pm.

By   Thu, Jun 30, 2011

The remodeled Colgate Inn will be the backdrop for its annual July Third Block Party Sunday.

Innkeeper Ben Eberhardt says Payne Street between the inn and the village green will close at 1 p.m. Sunday.

There will be bouncy castles, snow cones and cotton candy available for kids from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.

This year's music lineup includes:

• 5- 8pm - Wild Honey -- a local band;
• 8-11pm - New Day -- the same band as last year.

Eberhardt reminds Block Partiers that those under 21 are allowed in the party until 8 p.m.

By   Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Fourth of July parade organizers are expecting a line-up worthy of the holiday and history of the village's celebration.

Linda Gorton says there about 60 entries already registered and at least six more have expressed an interest in joining. She says this year's parade ought to be very musical as well, with eight bands. They include:Madison Central School

• Hamilton Central School
• Stockbridge Valley Central School
• Sherburne Earlville Central School
• Laurens Central School
• Smyrna Community Band
• Canastota Community Band
• Holy Cross Academy drumline (formerly known Avant Guard)
• and the Morrisville Drumline (comprised of students from around Madison County)

The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to reach the village green at about 11 a.m.

By   Wed, Jun 29, 2011

Some of the best and brightest ever to walk the halls of HCS will be honored Saturday as the third class of inductees are added to the school's Hall of Honor.

The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium.

This year's inductees include:

•     John V. Griffith HCS class of 1965. President of Presbyterian College in South Carolina;

•     Charlie Getchonis HCS class of 1960. Long-time teacher and Hamilton Mayor; 

•     Jeff Dinski HCS class of 1995. Running his own online company;

•     Kathleen Mogelgaard HCS class of 1991. Adviser for international environmental and peace initiatives;

•     Dean Chapman HCS class of 1968. Presbyterian Minister and doctor of internal medicine;

•     Paul Howes HCS Class of 1977. Clinical psychologist.

2010 induction ceremony coverage

2009 induction ceremony coverage

Meet this year's inductees:

Dean W. Chapman

Dean was a member of the Hamilton class of 1968. While in school he was very active in sports, playing football and baseball. Dean was also an accomplished musician, playing in the band and earning high ratings on two instruments at the state level. He was also a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. From high school he went to Oberlin College making the dean’s and president’s lists, and graduating with a B.A. degree in English in 1972. He started a career in professional landscaping and after 10 years returned to the academic scene at the Columbia Theological Seminary andearned his Doctor of Divinity in 1982, becoming a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He served in this capacity for 21 years in the Orlando, FL area. During that time he authored two books. His work inspired him to help others who were suffering from poor healthand he returned to school where he earned a medical degree from the University of Florida in 2007. Dean was awarded the Hippocratic Award for unselfish devotion to patient care. In 2007, after long hours and at the age of 61, he began to practice internal medicine in Vermont. Dedicated to his need to help others, Dean has volunteered for numerous projects first here in Hamilton at the First Baptist Church and then in Florida at nursing homes in his community. He practices internal medicine and continues to do volunteer work at a student-run free clinic, earning him the Equal Access Clinic Services Award. Dean enjoys music, travel and birding. He has two grown children and currently lives with his wife in South Burlington,VT.

Jeffrey J. Dinski
Jeff Dinski graduated from Hamilton Central School in 1995. He was the salutatorian and also won that year’s Senior Athlete of the Year Award, as he captained football and basketball teams and was a key member of the league champion golf team. He was also the senior class president, Student Council president, and editor of the Emerald Press. He was in the National Honor Society. All of his achievements throughout high school prepared Jeff for continued success at Princeton University from which he graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and later at Harvard where he earned an MBA with honors. As an undergrad, he wrote for The Daily Princetonian, earning the coveted sports editor position. As awriter for NBC sports, he won an Emmy for NBC’s outstanding live sports coverage of the 2002 Olympics. He also covered the French Open, Wimbledon and Notre Dame football. Later, Jeff helped start ESPN’s first live morning show, Cold Pizza, where he served as head writer and a producer. More recently, Jeff served as Director of Business Development for Comcast Interactive Media. Currently,Jeff is the co-founder and COO of an e-commerce business called Gaggleofchicks.com and lives in Philadelphia with his family.

Charles Getchonis
Charlie was born and raised in Hamilton and is a 1960 graduate of HCS. He was active in sports, playing on the basketball teams as well as the football teams that won the 1959-60 Center State Championships. He was also a four-year member of the band and orchestra. He graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1965 with a B.S. in education and in 1965 began his career at the Madison, Canastota and Chittenango BOCES program. From 1967 he taught drivers education and technology for 34 years at Chittenango Central School, also serving as senior class advisor for 15 years. A popular teacher, the school yearbook was twice dedicated to him by his students. He retired from teaching in 1999. His dedication to Hamilton is reflected in his service to the community. Elected to four terms as the village’s mayor, he has also served on the boards of the Village of Hamilton and the Town of Hamilton. As a member of Rotary he served as its president and he was a former president of the HCS Sports Boosters Club. His involvement in Hamilton continues to this day as he serves on various village committees overseeing local projects. His three children are all HCS graduates and Charlie resides in Hamilton with his family.

John Vincent Griffith
John Vincent Griffith graduated from Hamilton in 1965. While inschool he ran track, was a member of the band, orchestra, and choir, and was active in theater productions and the honor society. He earned his undergraduate degree in religion from Dickinson College, a master of divinity degree from Harvard University, and his Ph.D.from Syracuse University. His career eventually took him into higher education where he has held the positions of dean and vice president at Davidson College and president of Lyon College. In June of 1997, he was the unanimous choice of the Presbyterian College Board of Trustees to be its 16th president. During his tenure the College launched a $160 million campaign, established a doctoral program in pharmacy, recruited a Confucius Institute, and positioned the college to transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. He has also served on executive boards on the state and national levels for Independent and Presbyterian Colleges and Universities. Because of his interest in development and strategic planning, he has served on boards and chambers of commerce in the communities in which he has lived. He is an ordained Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA) and a member of Trinity Presbytery. He enjoys yoga, water sports and reading and is an avid artist. John has two grown children and hecurrently lives with his wife in Clinton, SC.

Paul Howes
Paul, a 1977 graduate of Hamilton Central School, finished fifth in hisclass and was very active in all aspects of school life. He was afour-sport athlete: football, ice hockey, tennis and track. He was captain of both the hockey and football teams in his senior year. In addition to sports he was an accomplished French horn player with the wind and brass ensembles and the orchestra from eighth grade forward. Paul was a member of the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Utica Symphony Orchestra, and the Colgate Orchestra. His talent earned him NYS all–wind ensemble honors during his senior year. His musical talents were also on display as the leading role in the HCS musical productions for three years. He attended Amherst College and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in psychology while playing four years of varsity ice hockey. Paul continued his passion for all things musical, playing in the college orchestra and singing in the men’s a cappella group, serving as itsdirector in his senior year. He completed his advanced degrees, psychology (1985) and Ph.D. in psychology (1989) and was an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Rochester from1989 until 1992. Paul is now in his 21st year in private practice as a clinical psychologist with his focus being kids and families. He still performs in an a cappella group called the “Bowties” and serves as the group’s musical director. He married a fellow HCS grad, has two grown children, and currently lives with his wife in Fairport.

By   Tue, Jun 28, 2011

Slater Brothers (Grant, Wade and Todd) Entertainment is back in August with its third annual Hamilton International Film Festival. Here is a tentative lineup for the weekend, and a look at some ofthe movies to be shown.

Thursday, Aug. 4

7 p.m

• Short Film: Nestle Purina's The Perfect Gift
• Short Film: Baby Boss (Created and Written By Colgate Graduates Gillian Vigman and Carrie Clifford) 
• Short Film: Mr. Stache (An American Express Submission)

All profits from Thursday night ticket's sales to benefit Hamilton Central School.

Friday, Aug. 5

• 6:30 PM Opening Reception at the Colgate Bookstore
• 8:15 PM  Short Film: Spare at the Hamilton Theater
• Short Film: Esha
• Feature Film: A Beginner’s Guide to Endings

 Saturday, Aug. 6 

• Noon Panel Discussion (The Business of Hollywood) at the Colgate Inn
• 1:30 PM Feature Film: A Journey in My Mother’s Footsteps
• 3:00 PM Feature Film: Mighty Jerome
• 6:15 PM Red Carpet Arrivals at the Palace Theater
• 7:00 PM Short Film: Nestle Purina’s The Perfect Gift                                              
• Short Film: Chobani’s Snow Angels
• Short Film: Bright (Written and directed by Shereburne native Benjamin Busch)                                         
• Feature Film: Score, A Hockey Musical                                                              
• 9:30 PM The Chobani Closing Night Party at the Colgate Inn

Sunday, Aug. 7 

• 12:30 PM Short Film: The Sea is All I Know (29 Min.)
• Short Film: Bright  (40 Min.) 
• 1:45 PM Raccoon and Crawfish (8 Min.)
• Feature Film: Patagonia Rising (85 Min.)

Here's a quick look at the films that will be shown.

A Journey in My Mother’s Footsteps (77 Min.) India/ Denmark 2010: Since the 1970’s, Jesse Rosenmeier has worked as an activist to improve the lives of orphans and street children in India, primarily in the cities of Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. Through her volunteer work approximately 400 children have gone on in adoption to Denmark, schools, orphanages and sponsorship programs have evolved. Hoping to understand her mother’s choices, Dina Rosenmeier, the youngest of six children, sets out on a journey in her footsteps. For every person who dedicates their life to a cause, their family makes a collective sacrifice…just like no words could possibly truly describe her mother’s experiences, no photos could depict them. 

SCORE A HOCKEY MUSICAL Canada 2011 Directed by Michael McGowan: Seventeen-year old Farley (Noah Reid) has the stickhandling skills of the next Sidney Crosby. Not that Farley has any idea who Crosby is. He’s led a sheltered life; home schooled by parents (Olivia Newton-John and Marc Jordan) whose idea of homework is trips to an art gallery or ashram. His best friend is Eve (Allie MacDonald), the girl who’s lived next door since they were both three. Much to the dismay of his parents, Farley loves to play shinny with the local rink rats (Dave Bidini, Hawksley Workman et al.). To their even greater dismay, Farley is signed to a major hockey league, where he achieves instant stardom, throwing him into a world of hype. This GLEE like inspired film has won national attention.

MIGHTY JEROME (83 Min.) Canada 2010 Directed by Charles Officer:  In 1959, at just nineteen years of age, Harry Jerome was Canada's most promising track and field star, and was on his way to the Olympics in Rome. By 1962, after suffering a gruesome leg injury, there was every reason to think that his racing days were over. But Jerome was not just a champion on the track; he was doubly determined off it. And so began his climb to what his coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman, called "the greatest comeback in track and field history." Through years of unparalleled political turbulence, personal challenge and racial conflict, Harry Jerome kept his head down and ran, displaying a strength of character and willful perseverance every bit as impressive as his record-setting athleticism. Filmmaker Charles Officer uses gorgeous monochrome imagery, impassioned interviews and astonishing archival footage to tell the runner's triumphant story, from his early days in North Vancouver.

PATAGONIA RISING (85 Min.) USA/ Chile 2010, Director: Brian Lilla,  Producer: Greg Miller: Deep in the heart of Patagonia, Chile flow two of the world’s purest rivers, the Baker and Pascua. Fed by vast glacial systems, these free-flowing watersheds drive biodiversity in temperate rainforests, estuaries and marine ecosystems. They are also the life source for Patagonia’s most tenacious residents. Gauchos, the iconic South American cowboys, endure relentless winds and long winters on remote ranches in these river valleys.

Isolated and largely undeveloped Patagonia and its people are caught in a heated conflict surrounding a proposal to build five large hydroelectric dams on the Baker and Pascua Rivers. Promoted as “clean” energy, the project’s cultural and environmental impacts would forever alter the region. Alternatives exist. Clean energy experts are proving the viability of solar, wind and geothermal resources developed much closer to demand and infrastructure.

Over the past century more than 45,000 large dams have redefined the course and health of the planet’s rivers with disastrous impacts that continue to unfold. Tracing the hydrologic cycle of the Baker from ice to ocean, Patagonia Rising brings voice to the frontier people caught in the crossfire of Chile’s energy demands. Juxtaposing the pro-dam business sector with renewable energy experts, the documentary will bring awareness and solutions to this global conflict over water and power.

BRIGHT (40 Min.) USA 2011, Directed by Benjamin Busch (Sherburne native): BRIGHT carries us into the life of Troy, played by Eric Nenninger (Malcolm in the Middle, Generation Kill, Glory Daze), a character who has built a world to protect himself from a paralyzing fear, and is encouraged to become brave by his blind adopted father Irwin, played by Robert Wisdom (The Wire, Prison Break, Burn Notice). It is a story that we can all live in. The cast is a stunning collection of actors to include Emmy Award Winner Glynn Turman (The Wire, In Treatment), Andre Royo (The Wire), Barry Kramer (Seinfeld), and Marc Menchaca (Generation Kill). BRIGHT is a contemplative film built for interpretation on several levels: that of a simple human drama, as a metaphor for the impossible search for childhood, as a metaphor for a spiritual journey, and as a story about the conflict between the natural and the artificial. The dialog is carefully crafted, sometimes cryptic, and there is weighed symbolism in every frame. The film plays against the bias of sex, dissolves race, and refuses to answer questions. It restores wonder to the film experience. Edited to move at the pace of real thought, it was made for an intelligent viewer to experience and go home discussing. It also happens to be beautiful.

Mr. Stache (10 Min.) USA 2010, Director: Jac Schaeffer: Mr. Stache always believed he had an inner mustache. Now he's wearing it on the outside. Where it makes way more sense....Mr. Stache is the 2010 winner of "My Movie Pitch," a contest launched by American Express to help bring unique independent movie ideas to life.

A Beginner’s Guide to Endings (93 Min.) Canada 2010, Producer(s): Nicolas Tabarrok, John Kozman; Director: Jonothan Sobol: Duke White (Harvey Keitel) hasn’t been an ideal father to his five boys. An inveterate  gambler who never experienced a windfall he couldn’t blow within twenty-four ours, he has come to the end of his rope, literally. Years ago, he signed up his three eldest sons for unsafe drug test that turned out to have dire consequences: the boys’ life expectancies have been substantially reduced. Upon receiving the news after their father’s funeral, the sons return to their fammily home in Niagara Falls, where they respond to eminent demise in different yet equally hilarious ways.

 Esha (14 Min.) Canada 2011, Director: Reza Dahya, Producer: Shaffin Haji: Starring Albina Naharand and Khalid Klein, Esha is a modern day love story rooted in the cultural backdrop of people changing their names to fit into western society. This Film was recently part of the Short Film Corner at Cannes and the India International Film Festival in Tampa.

The Sea Is All I Know (29 Min.) USA 2011, Director: Jordan Bayne: The Sea is All I Know is a testament to the strength and resilience of the soul. When an estranged couple, Sara and Sonny, come to the aid of their dying daughter, the experience sends them spiraling into spiritual crisis, and emotions they do not understand. In the end, this experience renews their lives, transcends their loss of faith, and even death itself. Award winning writer/director Jordan Bayne collaborates for the first time with 2009 Oscar nominee Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and critically acclaimed Peter Gerety (The Wire) on a film that will make you consider- what is a selfless act of love. 

The Raccoon and Crawfish (8 min.) Oneida Indian Nation 2011: Four Directions Productions is proud to present The Raccoon and The Crawfish, based on the story from the oral tradition of the Oneida Indian Nation, now brought to life through 3D animation. Presented is stunning High Definition, this is the story of a fateful meeting of a scheming crawfish and his mortal adversary, the hungry raccoon.

Baby Boss (2 Min.) USA 2 Created and Written By Colgate graduates Gillian Vigman and Carrie Clifford: Some people never grow-up … and then they run a company. The Nuthouse series continues.

Spare ( 9 Min.) USA 2010 Producer: Gabrielle Almagor, Executive Producer: Scott Rosenfly: Leo and Frank are gangsters. Leo is number one and Frank is his right hand man. Their relationship is based on mutual respect, but when Leo crosses the line, Frank decides to avenge the old mafia way. When Frank’s flimsy plan to whack Leo is tempered by a flat tire Leo flees the scene, the two gangsters embark on a case deep into the woods where they ultimately unravel a dark secret and realize that the truth is complicated.

By   Tue, Jun 28, 2011

Radio Free Hamilton wants you help so we can help promote your events.

 While we appreciate you sending information about your events, we want to help you maximize efforts to generate interest in them. Please continue sending your events by email but also place them directly in our Events Listing.  To do this:

1. “Subscribe” to Radio Free Hamilton. There is no cost. You can do this simply by clicking on “Subscribe” in the upper right corner of our home page and entering some information, which is kept private. This gives you access to our content management system to submit events and articles directly, making it faster and easier to get posted on the site.
2. Fill in the form: it allows you to select time, date, location, contact information and provides space for a large description.
3. That’s it. The system notifies us that you have entered an event.
4. We edit it for style and post it.

Our goal is to expand the event listing as mush as possible, include as many events as possible and help make your event as successful as possible.

So, please enter as many events as you wish. If you are part of a club or group, please feel free to include your organization’s regular weekly/monthly meetings as well as special things you are up to.  

By   Mon, Jun 27, 2011

HCS Softball Coach Bill Dowsland was named the state's Class D coach of the year and four of his players received all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.

His players receiving all-state honors were:

• Pitcher Becca Rogers was named all-state first team;
• Shortstop Katie Weeks was also named to the first team;
• Third baseman Sara Whyatt was named secondteam all-state
• and Catcher Kelby Watkins was named to the all-state third team.

Dowsland (in photo with Senior second baseman Jordan Peterson) was also named All-Mowhak Valley Coach of the Year by the Utica Observer Dispatch. Rogers, Weeks and Whyatt were also named to that team.

HCS finished in a three-way tie for the Center State Conference title this year, won the secionals and regional titles before losing to eventual state champs Livingston Manor in the state semi-finals.

Other post-season honors include:

By   Mon, Jun 27, 2011

Colgate received Second Nature’s Second Annual Climate Leadership Award. Award recipients were recognized at the Fifth Annual American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) Summit at George Washington University in Washington, DC last week.

In 2010, Colgate reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent last year. This reduction is mainly the result of conservation and efficiency projects through a:

• 24 percent decrease in fuel oil consumption (nearly 88,000 gallons less in 2010 compared to 2009);
• 4 percent decrease in electricity consumption (1.3 million kWh less in 2010 compared to 2009);
• 33 percent decrease in paper use (43,000 lbs less in 2010 compared to 2009);
• and  4 percent decrease in landfill waste (34 tons less in 2010 compared to 2009).

Combined, conservation and efficiency saved the university nearly $300,000 in operating costs while enhancing its liberal arts education as student participation was integral to these results through academic research, governance, and co-curricular club activities. Additionally, student-driven behavior change programs such as Eco-Olympics and the Green Living Program were designed by students and implemented for the first time in 2010.

In 2010, Colgate used 23,000 tons of locally-grown wood chips to provide heat and hot water to campus. Their wood-fired boiler displaced over one million gallons of fuel oil, avoided over 13,000 metric tons of emissions, and saved the university over $2 million in energy costs. CU is also experimenting with cropped biomass in the form of an 8-acre willow plot in the hopes of cultivating some of its own energy.

In 2010, the institution also implemented a full-blown electronic waste recycling program with 18 stations located throughout campus, implemented a new composting program, and broke ground on a new half-acre community vegetable garden. Vegetables and herbs from the garden were sold back to the university and served in its dining halls. Each program was funded by the Class Gift of 2010 and, students are currently overseeing each of these initiatives. Colgate’s administration leads by creating opportunities and opening pathways for student research and innovation.

Regarding transportation, Colgate expanded its Green Bikes program by purchasing an additional 12 bikes and introduced a new online carpooling program in order to help reduce its employee commuting emissions.

Colgate’s Green Office Program, also introduced in 2010, is indicative of their approach.  Eight teams representing 65 employees registered for and are actively pursuing official Green Office Certification.

In April of 2010, Colgate’s faculty officially approved the goals of a Colgate education. Among them, they specified that a Colgate education should enable students to “recognize their individual and collective responsibilities for the stewardship of the earth’s resources and the natural environment” and graduate as “engaged citizens strive for a just society.” To meet these ends, Colgate offers numerous courses focused on sustainability and climate change.

Source: Second Nature

By   Sat, Jun 25, 2011

A number of awards and scholarships were handed out at the HCS graduation ceremonies today..

For the first time, the William R. McNeice III Foundation awarded scholarships to two seniors instead of just one. Winning $2,000 per year for all four years of college were John Andrzejek and Tom Hilgenberg.

Other awards and the winners include:

Madison County Education Association Award: Dan Jacobs

Austin Joerger Memorial Scholarship by the IBEW Local 43: Dan Jacobs

Earlville Conservation Club Award: Evie Crumb

Affiliated Conservation Clubs of Madison County Award: Evie Crumb

Morrisville Area Garden Club Award: Evie Crumb

Hamilton Fortnightly Club Journalism Award: Dan Jacobs

Molly Ramshaw Award for Achievement in Dramatics: Alisa Babcock

David W. Felton Community Memorial Hospital Prize: Brigitte Capirci and Lucas Rhyde

Larry Nelson Awards of Excellence by Technical Theater Supporters: Nicole Kinne

OES Chapter 511 Citizenship Award: Emma Van Voorhis

Hamilton PTO Award to Future Educators: Tom Bodnar, Lucas Rhyde, Joe Taranto and Rachel Holcomb

Frank Vecchio Music Award: Charlisa Todd

David S. Follett Memorial Scholarship: Josh Hodge and Nicolle Holcomb

Kevin Mayer Memorial Award: Sara Whyatt

Luther V. Shafer Scholarship: Meagan Van Auken

Music Award by the Hamilton Lions Club: Isadora Herold

Business Award by the Hamilton Lions Club: Ashley Crowell

HCS Friends of Music Award: Danielle Capirci

Hamilton Masonic Lodge Vocational Award: Joe Taranto

Curtis Lumber Company Award: Skip Relyea

Hamilton Sports Boosters Club Awards: Lucas Rhyde and Jenna Schell

Regina Geruntino Memorial Award: Tom Hilgenberg

Masonic Lodge 120 Mathematics Award: John Andrzejek and Brigitte Capirci

Hamilton Teachers Association Vocational Scholarship: Jenna Schell and Kim Turcic

Josh Elliott Memorial Award: Alisa Babcock

William and Frances Mordus Moten Memorial Award: Phil Douchinsky

Andrew M. Hotaling Memorial Music Award: Phil Douchinsky and Tara Rebuck

Tuscarora Lodge No. 669 I.O.O.F William and James Loop Memorial Award: Nicky Anderson and Joe Murphy

Rider-Blain-Halloran Scholarship: Cam Fisher

John. L. Cossitt Memorial Scholarship: Skip Relyea

Andrew B. Hengst Sr. and Grace V. MacNeilly Memorial Scholarship:Nicky Anderson

Mid-York Press' Roberts Memorial Scholarship: Charlisa Todd

Hamilton Rotary Club's Student Leadership Award: Liz Pils

Hamilton Rotary Club's Paul Benedict Memorial Scholarship: Dan Jacobs

The Eugene and Betty McGregor Memorial Scholarship:Tom Bodnar

Gay Hylander Rockwood Memorial Music Scholarship: Joe Murphy

Hinman Foundation Scholarships: Alisa Babcock, Evie Crumb and Nicolle Holcomb

 

By   Sat, Jun 25, 2011

John Allen Blackmore, policy analyst, criminal justice consultant and writer, died on Thursday at his home. He died of complications arising out of his long and courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma. He was 65.

John was born on May 18, 1946 in Buffalo. Long time resident of both Pelham and Hamilton during various periods of his life, he attended Pelham Memorial High School and graduated from Hamilton Central School. He received his B.A. in psychology from Colgate and did his graduate work in public administration and criminal justice and psychology at George Washington University and the New School for Social Research.

John was a man of many talents. He was a founder of the Earlville Opera House; he was a reporter and managing editor for The Phoenix in Brooklyn. He combined his expertise in criminal justice with his reportorial skills as a contributing editor of Corrections Magazine and Police Magazine.

In 1981, he put his knowledge into practice as the director of court operations for Victims Services Agency in New York City and later joined the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. He was a senior associate at The Criminal Justice Institute in Middletown, CT from 1997 until his retirement earlier this year.

In 2006, he moved back to Hamilton from Pelham Manor with his family to pursue his favorite activities: cross-country skiing, trail maintenance, hiking, walking, gardening and, last but not least, cooking remarkable meals for his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Welsh, their children, Carrie and Rob, his mother, Lucia Wicker Blackmore, all residing in Hamilton, and his brother James of Albany. His father, Robert L. Blackmore, passed way in 2002.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2011 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. All who knew and loved John are welcome. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall. A memorial service and celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society for stem cell research in John’s name.

By   Sat, Jun 25, 2011

By   Sat, Jun 25, 2011

By   Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Sam Cooper may have finished third in Tuesday's race for two open seats on the village Board of Trustees, but he still will be joining the board. 

Mayor-elect Margaret Miller today said she is appointing Cooper to her vacant seat on the board. He will officially join the board -- along with Miller and the two trusteess-elect Anne Clauss and Debbie Kliman -- July Fourth.

The election means three new trustees will join the board along with a new mayor.

Cooper is a retired educator and ran on the Your Voice line and was endorsed by the Republicans.

By   Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Legislation that would create a second, month-long period during which Town of Hamilton residents could complain about and seek adjustments in their property revaluation awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature.

But, the bill that passed the Assembly and Senate is not the one the town board -- and many residents -- sought. The board voted in May to ask Assemblyman Bill Magee and state Sen. Dave Valesky to create legislation that would throw out the revaluation that raised most property tax rates.

Earlier, the board had voted 4-1 to ask Assessor Dave Roach to throw out the reval performed by the Maxwell Appraisal Services of Syracuse. He refused.

Check backl for more details.

By   Thu, Jun 23, 2011

About 45 percent of Hamilton's registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's election for mayor and trustees.

There are 984 registered voters in the village, according to the Madison County Board of Elections (565 women and 419 men). Of that number, 395 went to the polls on Tuesday and 48 cast absentee ballots. (By comparison, 54 percent of Americans voted in the last presidential election; about 41 percent of those in the U.S. voted in last year's mid-term elections.) 

Only 37.3 percent of them cast votes in the mayoral election. Margaret Miller's 346 votes amounts to 35.2 percent of the total registered voters.

In the trustees race, a total of 825 votes were cast; voters could vote for two of the four candidates running. The results were:

• Anne Class' 242 votes = 29.33 percent of the votes cast;
• Debbie Kliman's 201 = 24.36 percent;
• Sam Cooper's 196 = 23.76 percent;
• Meredith Leland Getchonis' 178 = 21.58 percent.

Others Besides Miller Received Mayoral Votes

Nine people received votes for mayor in Tuesday's village election, but only one was on the ballot.

Margaret Miller ran unopposed and received 346 votes. But, eight other people received write-in votes. They included:

• Wanda Warren Berry, five votes;
• Arnold Fisher, three;
• Carl Albrecht, three;
• William Porta, three;
• Jack Loop, one;
• Russ Lura, one;
• Suzanne Collins, one;
• Brendon Fox, one.

There also were three votes that were voided.

Most of the write-ins have some sort of political connection. Berry is a retired Colgate professor and chair of the Town of Hamilton Democrats. Albrecht and Collins are former trustees. Lura is a trustee. Fisher, until last year, was village justice for many years.

Hamilton's Registrations

A look at the registrations of voters in the village shows some interesting numbers. According to the Madison County Board of Elections, there are 984 registered voters in Hamilton. Of them:

• 565 (57 percent) are women;
• 419 (42 percent) are men;
• 457 (46 percent) are Democrats;
• 274 (27 percent) are Republicans;
• 201 (20 percent) are Unaffiliated; 
• 32 (3 percent) are Independent;
• 12 (1 percent) are Conservatives;
•  6 (Less than 1 percent) are Greens;
•  2 (Less than 1 percent) are Working Families.

By   Thu, Jun 23, 2011

By   Thu, Jun 23, 2011

By   Wed, Jun 22, 2011

By   Tue, Jun 21, 2011

There on Newsweek magazine's list of the best schools in the U.S. between University Park Campus School in Worcester, MA and the George Washington School in San Francisco is HCS.

Hamilton is ranked 496th out of what Newsweek calls the 500 best high schoiols in America.

HCS Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers said:

"The Hamilton Central School is privileged to be in such good company both locally and nation-wide. This is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our faculty, staff and administration. It also exemplifies the hard work of our terrific students, the importance of our Board's and our community's support and the encouragement of our parents. 

 

"This honor truly illustrates the best in education today. Our focus has been, and will continue to be, producing students with strong self-efficacies, powerful educational skills, and the belief that hard work makes a difference. We are proud of our students and what they have accomplished. It's nice for an outside organization to recognize the efforts of everyone involved."

The ranking is based on several criteria:

• student/teacher ration (HCS's is 11.5 to 1)
• graduation rate (HCS' is 94 percent)
• AP/IB test scores (HCS' is 1.3)
• percentage of college-bound students (HCS' is 90 percent)
• and average SAT score (HCS' is 1558)

This gave HCS a score of .092.

Newsweek explained the scoring:

"... each school’s score is comprised of six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10%), and AP courses offered (5%)."

Clinton High School ranked 423.

By   Tue, Jun 21, 2011

The Town of Hamilton Republican Committee met tonight and named a slate of candidates to run for office in the November election. The candidates include:

• Scott Mills for supervisor;
• Kerry Dart and David Holcomb for the two trustees seats that will be open;
• Catherine Hotaling for clerk and tax collector;
• and Bert Glazier for highway superintendent.

Holcomb, Hotaling and Glazier are indumbents.

Mills is a former trustee who last ran for supervisor and lost to Democrat Bob Kuiper.

By   Mon, Jun 20, 2011

$29,791

By   Mon, Jun 20, 2011

The Hamilton Theater will present a Youth Film/Video Workshop this summer, July 11-15 from noon to 4:30pm each day.

This informal summer program is is intended for youths 11 to 15 years old. It introduces the techniques,language and process of film/video making, and gives youngsters who love movies a behind the scenes experience in film/video making.

Henry O'Connell, Kenny MacBain and Dennis Kiely have a combined wealth of experience in all aspects of film and video making. All products of the highly regarded film and broadcast programs at Oswego State University, the three will present a fun and informal workshop that teaches the basics from A(ngles) to Z(oom) including conceptualizing, writing, recording, editing and finalizing short film videos.

Geared for beginners, youngsters will work in groups and receive a hands on experience in creating stories, camera work, lighting, angles, pre-and post-production process and working in front of and behind the camera. Groups will use everyday video cameras and basic PC editing software and equipment.

Each group will produce a short video to be premiered at the Hamilton Theater in a final session for family, friends and guests. Participants will receive a DVD copy of their work.

The cost of the workshop is $15. To register or for information, contact the Hamilton Theater at 824-8210.

Photo: (from right) Kenny MacBain, Henry O'Connell and Dennis Kiely.

By   Sun, Jun 19, 2011

Sir Edward Elgar penned his Pomp and Circumstance in 1901 and it still is a hit these days.

It will be played Saturday when HCS' Class of 2011 receives its diplomas. Commencement begins at 1 p.m.

Hamilton graduates 51 seniors this year.

By   Fri, Jun 17, 2011

On Tuesday, registered viters in the village will have the opportunity to elect two new trustees and a new mayor.

Running for the two trustee spots left vaccant when Suzanne Collins and Jim Bona decided not to seek reelection are three newcomers and a woman who ran in the last election. They include:

• Anne Clauss, Bullthistle
• Sam Cooper, Your Voice & Republican
• Meredith Leland Getchionis, Democrat
• and Debbie Kliman, Bullthistle.

Running unopposed for mayor is Margaret Miller, who has served six years as a trustee.

We asked the trustee candidates to respond to several questions about issues facing the village. We have posted them side by side without editing, so you see the candidates own words as they wrote them. We also asked the candidates to rank (on a scale of one to four) the importance of these and several otgher issues so you can see at a glance what they consider priorities.

You can see the candidates' responses by clicking here.

You can see how they ranked the issues by clicking here.

You can see what they said at the Hamilton Forum Candidates Night Thursday by clicking here.

And, be sure to read the letters to the editor the candidates and their supporters shared.

The polls are open Tuesday noon to 9 p.m. All voting is in the community room of the Hamilton Public Library. The election is conducted by the madison County Board of Elections.

By   Fri, Jun 17, 2011

In addition to asking candidates for trustee their views on a variety of issues, we also asked that they rate them, on a one scale of one to four. 

1. Least Important
2. Somewhat Important
3. Very Important
4. Most Important

By   Fri, Jun 17, 2011

Candidates who will appear on the ballot in Tuesday's village election stated their positions and gave responses to questions at tonight's Hamilton Forum program.

Larry Baker moderated the program, which included Margaret Miller, the only candidate for mayor, and trustee candidates:

• Debbie Kliman;
• Meredith Leland Getchonis;
• Anne Clauss;
• and Sam Cooper.

Each candidate gave brief opening and closing statements and in between was given the opportunity to answer questions submitted by the audience. The candidates were asked for their views on:

• The specific strengths of the village;
• Improving the village's economic climate;
• Lowering the tax rate without cutting essential services;
• Environmental issues;
• and the five-way intersection.

On the strengths of the village:

• Leland Getchonis: it's a unique little village with a great college; preserved our historic architecture; village green is the heart of the community; its churches and schools
• Clauss: "We have done a hell of a job of holding onto our traditions."; work class university and an incredible hospital;
• Cooper: the quality of the people of Hamilton; stable employment offered by Colgate and Community Memorial Hospital
• Miller: the people who volunteer, who give of themselves to the fire department, the recreation commission, the pedestrian safety committee, the trails committee.
• Kliman: it's a unique village with assets of Colgate, the library, hospital and good schools.

On improving the economic climate of the village:

• Clauss: an opportunity to have more Colgate students live in the village itself, but not necessarily in the neighborhoods; said an Upstate Institute study showed students who live in the village spend more money there.
• Cooper: encourage a culture that creates and supports small businesses; bring people from other communities to Hamiton to consider opening businesses here; ask residents to promote the village as a place to have a business.
• Miller: create a roundtable of people with ideas on how to expand on what is already being done by the Partnership for Community Development; improve marketing of the village.
• Kliman: hire a consultant to recruit businesses; create a committee of people to help promote the village; encourage people to buy local;
• Leland Getchonis: is concerned that rents for business space in the village may be too expensive for some start-ups; cited Richard Florida's book, The Rise of the Creative Class saying artists, musicians and others could add to the economy if they could afford reasonably-priced spaces.

On lowering the tax rate without cutting essential services:

• Cooper: expand the tax base, and believes the budget can be lowered;
• Miller: said she doesn't believe the tax rate should be lowered, Hamilton has great services and that is one of the reasons people live here, wants the village to get its fair share of sales tax revenue from the county;
• Kliman: doesn't propose raising or lowering tax rates; wants to expand the tax base with more businesses and moderately prices housing;
• Leland Getchonis: believes people enjoy and are willing to pay for the services they receive; increase the tax base; solve the issue of the village not receiving its fair share of sales taxes;
• Clauss: be aware of where every dollar comes from and where every dollar goes. 

On environmental issues:

• Miller: pointed to her work on the committee that plants trees in the village;
• Kliman: cited her work on the Chenango Canal Association and the village's multi-use trails and the Southern Madison heritage Trust;
• Leland Getchonis: feels very strongly about environmental issues, practices "reduce, reuse and recycle" in her own life and urges others to do the same; 
• Clauss: have best environmental practices for DPW vehicle and police cars, educate citizens about energy conservation; urge people to buy local;
• Cooper: urge citizens to practice sound environmental principles at home, continue the sound environmental practices already undertaken by the village (i.e. using brine on streets in the winter instead of only salt); encourage folks to walk; be aware of the impact of new clean water regulations driven by the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay.

On the five-way intersection:

• Kliman: not sure how big a problem it is; study it more; improve signage for municipal parking; consider better aligning Payne and Lebanon streets;
• Leland Getchonis: easily solved by keeping left turn lanes clearly delineated;
• Cooper: it would cost a lot to make the changes that had been suggested and "funding is just not there"; determine who is parking in spaces and suggested some store owners may be part of the problem;
• Miller: said the state Department of Transportation supports continued study of the issue; it is more than just a traffic issue; is an economic issue as well;
• Clauss passed on answering the question.

The polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday. All voting is in the community room of the Hamilton Public Library.

By   Tue, Jun 14, 2011

By   Mon, Jun 13, 2011

Registration for Hamilton Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, “One World,Many Stories”, will open on Friday, June 24. Children of all ages may sign up toparticipate in Bibliomania, the summer reading board game which can be played untilLabor Day.

This year, for the first time, there will be a weekly art program in July. This program isdesigned for children ages 6-9 and as space is limited, pre-registration is required.

Story Time will be held every Tuesday in July starting at 10:30 am. Every Wednesdayin July there will be a featured family program. Most are at 2:30 pm, but Magician andScientist Jeff Boyer will be here at noon on Wednesday, July 13.

In addition to these scheduled events, children will have a chance to explore the worldthrough post cards, sort coins from around the world, enter a raffle for dolls from MachuPicchu, and who knows what else.

For a full schedule of events, stop by the library and pick up a brochure. Be on thelookout for copies coming home from school, too.
If you have international connections, encourage them to send the library a postcard or amemento of their country. This promises to be an exciting and educational summer forall.

Volunteers are always needed during the summer for special programs.

Please note a change of location for Story Time on Tuesday, June 21. It will be held inthe Community Room of Madison Lane Apartments, between buildings 2 and 3.

The library is open Monday-Friday, 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm.

Please call the library, (315) 824-3060, during these hours for assistance. The book drop on Broad Street is always open for your convenience. Check the library’s Facebook page forup-to-date information about programs and special events.

Photo: The Hamilton Public Library recently held a vegetable seed planting event with Story TIme families.  Totally immersed in the Butterfly Garden planting is Nora Hasegawa. 

By   Mon, Jun 13, 2011

A variety of events during the upcoming Colfate Writers Conference are open to the public. These include:

Sunday, June 19

• 7:30 pm Reading by Peter Balakian

Monday, June 20

• 9:00 am Craft Talk by Brian Hall
• 3:30 pm Shop Talk by Ginnah Howard
• 7:30 pm Reading by Dana Spiotta and John Robert Lennon

Tuesday, June 21

• 9:00 am Craft Talk by Jennifer Brice
• 4:00 pm Shop Talk by Gabriel Packard
• 7:30 pm Reading by Carrie Brown and Jennifer Brice

Wednesday, June 22

• 9:00 am Craft Talk by Jennifer Vanderes
• 3:30 pm Shop Talk by Jennifer Pooley
• 7:30 pm Reading by Greg Ames and Betsy Andrews

Thursday, June 23

• 9:00 am Craft Talk John Robert Lennon
• 3:30 pm Shop Talk Andrea Barzvi
• 7:30 pm Reading Jasmine Bailey and Brian Hall

Friday, June 24th

• 9:00 am Craft Talk by Peter Balakian
• 3:30 pm Shop Talk by Jennifer Smith
• 7:30 pm Reading by Jennifer Smith and jennifer Vanderbes

Saturday, June 25

• 9:00 am Craft Talk by Carrie Brown

All events will take place in Meyerhoff Auditorium, 101 Ho Science Center.

About the Authors

By   Mon, Jun 13, 2011

With the Fourth of July landing on a Monday this year, Hamilton's celebration of Independence Day will begin early and stay late.

Thigns get underway on Friday, July 1 and end with the annual fireworks over Hamilton Monday night, the Fourth. In between is plenty of music, food, the HCS Hall of Honor Induction and, of course, the Fourth of July Parade. The schedule thus far includes:

Friday, July 1

• 6:30pm Class of 1991, Informal gathering at Ye Olde Pizza Pub for dinner
• 8pm Open Mic night at the Barge Canal

Saturday, July 2 

• 12 pm - 4 pm Class of 1986 Reunion Picnic at White Eagle Conference Center
• 1 pm Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony @Auditorium, Hamilton Central School
• 1pm - 5pm Class of 1956 at Art Zimmer’s house, Eaton Street, Hamilton
• 2011 Inductees: Paul Howes '77, John Griffith '65, Dean Chapman '68, Katie Mogelgaard '91, Jeff Dinski '95, and Charlie Getchonis '60. Ice Cream Social Reception to follow the ceremony.
• Ongoing throughout the day at Seven Oaks: Halloran, Rider, Blaine Alumni Golf Tournament
• 5-9pm Class of 1981 Pizza Party, @Ye Olde Pizza Pub, bring your family. (cash bar)
• 6-10 pm Class of 1991, The Palace Theater, 19 Utica Street, ADULT NIGHT OUT cost includes dinner, with cash bar available)
• Gathering for Alumni and Visitors, Barbeque 6pm Live music featuring the band Cherry Bomb 8pm, beer garden, food, at Hamilton Inn, East Lake Road, Hamilton
• 8pm Music featuring Greg MacBain and Joe at the Barge Canal
• Movie under the stars, at dusk (9:30pm) @Eaton Street ballfields

Sunday, July 3 

•  10:00am-4:00pm Eaton Street Field, Class of 1991, FAMILY EVENT, Potluck lunch and games (please bring food or drink to share); HCS teachers are invited to this event
• 4-7pm - Class of 2001 picnic Eaton Street pavilion
• 4 pm - 7 pm Class of 1986 Class and Friends informal gathering at the village green
• 5 to 11 p.m. - Block Party in front of the Colgate Inn with children’s activities provided for a nominal fee ($10 /2 days, $6/1 day) sponsored by the Colgate Inn. Music provided by “Wild Honey” along with perennial favorite “New Day”.
• Known classes that will gather informally at the block party. Class of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 2001 
• 6pm Class of 1981 @ Colgate Inn, Cash bar
• 7pm Informal gathering Class of 1998 @ Colgate Inn
• 10pm Informal gathering of the Class of 1991 at the Hour Glass

Monday, July 4 

• 6 a.m. - Vendor and Crafters registration begins and Farmer’s Market opens
• 9 a.m. to 10:30am – Parade Registration at the Mid-York Airpark, Rte. 12B
• 9 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. – Pre-Parade Entertainment “Rags to Riches” at the Pavilion on the Village Green
• 10:30a.m. – Parade Step-Off
• 10:45a.m. – Pre-Parade Show at the Judges’ Stand with K.C. Stewart and Miriam Stewart will be singing the National Anthem.
• 11 a.m. – Parade arrives in heart of the village
• Noon to 4 p.m. – Games for kids, including an inflatable slide, bounce house, obstacle course and more, First Baptist Church lawn
• Noon - until ? - Chicken Barbeque at the Park United Methodist Church 
• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Entertainment featuring Putter Cox and the Sunday Tunes at the Pavilion on the Village Green
• 1 p.m. – Annual July 4th organ concert at the First Baptist Church, featuring Chris Warren
• 2pm Class of 1981 picnic, music and lake fun at Loch Haven, East Lake Road, Hamilton
• Nightfall Fireworks - Colgate University by Taylor Lake

** There is a changing table available for infants at the Baptist Church. The church will be open on the Fourth for public use. This is available from 10am until after the organ recital is over approximately 2:30pm.

By   Mon, Jun 13, 2011

By   Sat, Jun 11, 2011

By   Fri, Jun 10, 2011

Colgate plans to add five more teaching positions next year and also convert six visiting-faculty positions to tenure stream. Combined with eight new faculty positions added during 2010-2011, this increase of 19 potentially permanent positions represents a 7.8 percent growth in teaching power at Colgate, and comes as many institutions are making cuts in their teaching programs.

Colgate employs 275 full-ptime faculty.

"Colgate is fortunate to be able to make investments that increase the tenured faculty," said President Jeffrey Herbst, who joined the university a year ago. "This ambitious academic expansion is even more exciting as this is an excellent time to be searching for great new faculty colleagues. We therefore have the opportunity to explore new fields and reinvigorate existing offerings with some of the most exciting scholars in the nation."

Herbst has focused on Colgate's scholarly activity and potential. Last year he sought proposals for positions that would take advantage of intellectual opportunities and address areas where Colgate has relatively high concentrations of students.

During 2011-2012 new searches will be held for assistant professors o:

• English (African-American literature),
• geography (ecohydrology with regional focus on Asia and Africa),
• history (South Asian), philosophy (non-Western),
• and writing and rhetoric (communication studies and public address).

"All of these positions will expand the Colgate curriculum in important ways," said Provost Lyle Roelofs. "The English and philosophy hirings bring new contributions to curricular diversity; the history and philosophy searches add international depth; writing and rhetoric contributes directly to one of the major strengths of a liberal arts education; and the geography position expands scholarship in an increasingly important part of the field, and also connects to the physical sciences, particularly geology and physics."

Next year Colgate also will conduct six to eight searches to replace faculty who are retiring or leaving the university. Position descriptions will be posted in the fall.

More faculty does not mean more styudents. Sokesperson Barbara Brooks said the incremental positions keep class size low while broadening Colgate's academic offerings.

Source: Colgate

By   Thu, Jun 09, 2011

Move over, Old McDonald, there's a new farm in town: HCS and its Ag Days.

Staged outside Thursday afternoon, students from the agriculture program and the HCS chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), displayed a variety of animals many of their classmates have never met up close and personal. They also learned about crops, spinning wool and some even engaged in a tractor pull.

On display were pigs, sheep, goats, mini horses, turkeys, chickens and other farmyard friends. There were games for visiting classes and guests were given sunflowers that had been stated in the HCS greenhouse.

Some students had the opportunity to test their strength in a pedal-tractor pull.

Johanna Bossard is the ag teacher and adviser to the FFA champter.

By   Thu, Jun 09, 2011

HCS celebrated the success of its student/athletes tonight, honoring them at the annual Hamilton Sports Boosters sports banquet and senior recognition ceremonies held in the HCS gym.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of this year's female and male athletes of the year. They are:

• Rachel Holcomb, who played soccer, volleyball and softball for HCS. She is attending Gettysburg College in the fall;
• Lucas Rhyde, who was part of the Emerald Knights' boys soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He will go to Canasius College.

Athletes of the year must have earned at least six varsity letters, maintained an average of 80 or more and played at least two sports in their senior year.

And, the boosters named their Booster of the Year at the banquet. That was award was given to David Hollis, who produces Radio Free Hamilton. Making the presentation was Bob Sullivan, who with his wife Joann, were the recipients of the award a year ago.

Coaches also handed out other individual and team awards. Winners and their awards included:

• Soccer player Phil Douchinsky, received the Robert Schultz Memorial Award;
• Nick Koen received both the Todd Cochran and Terry Slater Awards given to HCS hockey players;
• Dennis Adamley Awards also went to Koen and two other hockey players, Alex Brink and Brendan Thomas.
• and receiving Andy Hotaling awards to attend sports camps this summer were Hannah Sorosky and Kelby Watkins.

Several coaches also recognized players for their All State accomplishments. Among them were:

• Dan Kraynak was named to the all state boys soccer team for the second year in a row;
• Jordan Peterson, who was first team all state in girls basketball, and Katie Weeks who was fourth team all state;
• and Sage Hurta, who won the cross country state title.

But honors were not limited to the playing field. HCS and the boosters also made sure that athletes; accomplishments in the classroom were honored. Scholar/Athlete awards were given to members of team which had combined averages of at least 90 percent. Those teams includes:

• Cross Country, coached by Rich Hanson and having the top average of 95.1;
• Girls Soccer, coached by Harry Jarcho, with a team average of 93.5;
• Volleyball, coached by Dennis Roy, with a team average of 92.9;
• Softball, coached by Bill Dowsland, with an average of 92.5;
• Girls Basketball, coached by Jessica Poole, with an average of 92.4;
• Boys Soccer, coached by Brian Latella, with an average of 92.1;
• And Field Hockey , coached by Kari King, with an average of 90.9.

But, individual scholarship of HCS student/athletes was also honored. The top female and male athletes in the classrooms and their scholastic averages were, by grade:

• Sophomores Sam Hale (96) and Kendall Rusch (97.6)
• Juniors Katie Weeks (97) and Drew Thompson (98)
• Seniors John Andrzejek (98.3) and Nicolle Holcomb (95.3) 

The awards come as the softball team continues its extended season Saturday when it plays for the state Class D title. The Lady Emerald Knights face defending champs Livingston Manor at 11:30 a.m. at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury, south of Lake George.

While introducing cross country state chjampion Sage Hurta, Hanson said she was the school's only state champion "so far", casting a grin toward softball coach Dowsland.

By   Tue, Jun 07, 2011

By   Mon, Jun 06, 2011

By   Mon, Jun 06, 2011

Drew Thompson, who was instrumental in getting the HCS boys soccer team to the state championship game last fall, was part of the the team that won the recent state youth soccer championship for New York.

Thompson plays for Empire United Soccer Academy Syracuse U17 Boys. They recently won the State Cup for NY West. Regional tournament play will be will be June 27 - July 5. If they win they then go onto to play for a national title.

Thompson is a junior at HCS.

By   Fri, Jun 03, 2011

By   Tue, May 31, 2011

Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim today announced that he has appointed Charlotte H. Johnson, vice president and dean of the college at Colgate University, as dean of the college at Dartmouth. She will assume her new role in July.

Johnson has been dean at Colgate since 2006, leading a student affairs division of 114 staff in 16 units.

In announcing the appointment, Kim said, “Charlotte is a visionary leader in the field of student affairs. Her thoughtful and extremely effective approach to her work at Colgate is widely respected, and we’re thrilled that she’s agreed to join our team at Dartmouth.”

Johnson, who was appointed following a national search, said, “I have long admired Dartmouth and am excited and privileged to be joining President Kim, Provost (Carol) Folt, and the exceptional leadership team they have assembled. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead and innovate. I look forward to partnering with the Dean of the College staff, students, faculty, and alumni as Dartmouth continues to distinguish itself as a leader in higher education.”

The Dean of the College is Dartmouth’s senior student affairs officer, providing leadership for a comprehensive set of undergraduate student affairs programs and services. The dean is a member of the president’s leadership team, and is responsible for numerous activities including student support services, counseling services, campus life programs, dining services, health services, judicial affairs, and campus safety. The dean works closely with the faculty to integrate Dartmouth’s curricular and co-curricular experience, and to foster a climate conducive to the academic, personal, and professional success of students.

Provost Carol Folt said Johnson’s “reputation as a strong and inclusive leader will serve her well at Dartmouth. Charlotte combines a genuine affinity for students with outstanding ability to collaborate across the institution and manage a complex organization.”

Johnson brings more than 14 years of experience working with students to Dartmouth. Prior to her role at Colgate, she served, from 2000 to 2006, as assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Michigan Law School, and, before that, was the law school’s director of academic services, beginning in 1997. At Michigan, she collaborated with faculty to create new interdisciplinary academic programs. She was also a member of the legal and communications strategy teams that contributed to the defense of the university’s admissions policies in the landmark 2003 Supreme Court case upholding affirmative action in higher education.

Previously, she worked for eight years at Garan Lucow Miller, a law firm in Detroit, where she focused on corporate and municipal defense in cases involving medical devices, insurance coverage, and lawsuits involving exposure to toxic substances. She was the first African American woman to be made a partner of the firm. In 2008, she received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service from the National Bar Association. Johnson has also presented at national conferences on the importance of access and inclusion in higher education.

Johnson earned a BA in psychology in 1985, ranking first in her graduating class at the University of Detroit. She earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1988.

Additionally, she has completed continuing education programs at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and at Michigan. She was chosen by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan to be a Menttium Scholar at Menttium Corporation, of Minneapolis, where she completed a program supporting leadership development and diversity for high-performing mid-career level women.

Johnson will take over from Sylvia Spears, who, in August 2009, took on the role of Acting Dean of the College for two years, with the expectation that a national search would be launched during the 2011 academic year.

Source: Dartmouth

By   Mon, May 30, 2011

Ann Marie Weeks reports that the HCS softball team raised $251 for the Joplin High School Softball team. 

Team parents sold condessions and held a 50/50 raffle at the team's Section III Class D quarterfianls game vs. Belleville-Henderson to raise funds for the team that lost everything in tornadoes that ravaged that community a week ago.

"When I got home from the game there was a message on my answering machine from the Joplin Schools business office, thanking us profusely for offering to help out," said Weeks. "The woman said that things were still 'pretty crazy around here,' but she wanted to let us know how much they appreciated us thinking about them.  It was very touching."

By   Sun, May 29, 2011

By   Sun, May 29, 2011

By   Sun, May 29, 2011

By   Sun, May 29, 2011

By   Sat, May 28, 2011

The HCS Hall of Honor Selection Committee has chosen the people who will inducted this year. They include:

•     John V. Griffith HCS class of 1965. President of Presbyterian College in South Carolina;

•     Charlie Getchonis HCS class of 1960. Long-time teacher and Hamilton Mayor (85-89 and 2001-2005);

•     Jeff Dinski HCS class of 1995. Running his own online company;

•     Kathleen Mogelgaard HCS class of 1991. Adviser for international environmental and peace initiatives;

•     Dean Chapman HCS class of 1968. Presbyterian Minister and doctor of internal medicine;

•     Paul Howes HCS Class of 1977. clinical psychologist.

This, the third group named to the hall of honor, will be inducted during ceremonies July 2 at HCS.

By   Thu, May 26, 2011

When the HCS softball team takes the field Saturday afternoon in sectional play, there's more at stake than which team advances to the next round in the post season.

Saturday's game will help high school athletes in tornado-ravaged Joplin, MO get back in the field.

This Saturday at 1 pm, the #2 HCS softball team will host #7 Belleville-Henderson in the quarterfinal round of the Section III Class D playoffs. The team will also be donating the proceeds from their concession stand, and from a 50/50 raffle, to the Joplin, Missouri High School and its softball team.  

Joplin High School, and its baseball and softball fields, were devastated in the tornado that hit their city last Sunday, and the Emerald Knights are showing their support for them in their rebuilding process.  

Hamilton's coaches and players are asking spectators who come out and support the HCS softball team by cheering on the players, and by participating in this very special fund-raising event.

By   Tue, May 24, 2011

Dear Hamilton Community,

On behalf of the Board of Education and the children of the Hamilton School District, I would like to take a moment to extend a well deserved thank you to the Hamilton Community for their support at last week’s budget vote.

As you know, the Hamilton Central School District has been dealing with unprecedented financial issues, as have many of our community members. We know it is increasingly difficult to give the same level of support during these difficult times, however, you still do.

We thank you for your continued generosity. Our students’ futures are being developed now. They are fortunate to have so many caring individuals and Community Partners that aren’t willing to compromise this important time in their lives.

Thanks again,
Diana Bowers, HCS Superintendent

By   Mon, May 23, 2011

By   Sat, May 21, 2011

Becca Rogers found out that perfection can be an elusive thing.

She had a perfect game going with two out in the final inning Friday at Sherburne-Earlville, only to have it broken with a sing by Shania Nelson. Still, the Lady Emerald Knights won the first game of the double header 21-0 and took the nightcap bye a slightly closer final of 4-3.

Rogers finished her one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts. She was just as solid at the plate, going three for five -- including a double and a home run -- with four RBIs. She is now 15-2 on the year.

Cory Bergeron got tagged for the loss for S-E.

At the plate Hamilton got doubles from Kelby Watkins, Alisa Babcock and Kendall Rusch. Sara Whyatt added a second home run for HCS.

This were not as wide open in the second game.

Heyden Nolan -- HCS' other eight grade pitching star -- got the start and the win in the second game. Rogers came on in relief.

Senior Jordan Peterson had the hot bat for the Lady Emerald Knights. She was two for two with a tripe and a home run and two RBI.

Hamilton is now 17-2 overall and 11-2 in the league.

Photo: File photo of Becca Rogers

By   Sat, May 21, 2011

PETERBORO -- What started out as the dedication of a piece of art turned into a major "thank you" to the artist Friday.

Hamilton's Hugh Humphreys explained the work behind and the content of Come Join the Abolitionists, a massive painting now hanging in the second floor of the Smithfield Community Center. And, when he had competed his presentation, a number of people who have worked with Humphreys on past projects stepped forward to say thanks.

The parade of admirers included the Lingo Family, Max Smith, Lauri Tomberlin, Norm Dann, Dot Wiltsey and others. All thanked him for bringing his time and considerable talents to bear on making known the abolitionist history of this modest Madison County hamlet.

Come Join The Aboilitionists may be a high water mark in Humphreys' efforts. 

The 40" x 80" painting depicts what an abolitionist rally might have looked like had one been held on the green in Peterboro. Humphreys explained the many stories within the story of the painting, which was inspired by an actual anti-slavery rally held in Cazenoivia in 1850.

Among the 200 or so people in Humphreys' mural-sized work are:

• Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who became one of the abolitionist movement's most eloquent spokesmen;
• Gerritt Smith, Peterboro's favorite son and active leader in the temperance movement and leading abolitionist;
• John Brown, the radical abolitionist best known by many for his failed raid on Harper's Ferry;
• The Dominee, a.k.a John West, an African American preacher;
• Elizabeth Smith Miller, Gerritt Smith's daughter and women's rights advocate;
• a group of Peterboro women warming up to sing at the abolitionist meeting;
• a student from nearby Madison University, now known as Colgate;
• boys playing on the green;
• an African American family;
• and the large and gathering crowd attending the meeting.

The title of the painting is also the title of a song often sung during abolitionist times. A group of singers -- many from Hamilton -- quickly recruited by Humphreys just for the occasion -- sang Come Join the Abolitionists Friday. They also sang two other songs popular at the time of the meeting shown in painting.

Humphreys said the painting took about three years of on-and-off work to finish. During that time it occupied two easels in what used to be his son's bedroom of his Smith Road home. 

Now the painting hangs in the room that Humphreys explained holds a significant place in the histories of Peterboro and the abolitionist movement. The retired judge explained that an anti-slavery rally in Utica in 1935 was broken up and Gerritt Smith invited everyone to reconvene in Peterboro. They met in the second-floor sanctuary of the then-Presbyterian Church, now the Smithfield Community Center and home to the National Abolitionist Hall of Fame.

Humphreys also said the painting was, in part, an extension of some of his other work on the history of the anti-salvery movement in the county. He spent about four years researching a daguerrotype -- a photographic image made on a glass plate -- for the Madison County Historical Society. It turned out that it was the only image made of an anti-slavery rally, one held in 1850 in Cazenovia.

The evening was capped by the presentation of a drawing of Humphreys, which will hang with his painting ... and a standing ovation for the artist.

Mugs, T-shirts and postcards of the painting are available for purchase.

By   Thu, May 19, 2011

This has not been an easy season to keep track of those running and/or not running for the two seats on the village board coming open next month. The race had a new entry last week, and now it's been learned that it has one less candidate.

Here's the update:

• Merideth Leland Getchonis, accepted the nomination of the Village of Hamilton Democrats.
• David Regenspan, who was offered the Democrats' endorsement but refused it, has left the race as he will be out of the country with his wife who is leading a Colgate study group to England.
• Debbie Kliman is running only on the Bullthistle line; she had been offered the Democrats' endorsement but refused it;
• Sam Cooper is running as an independent and accepted the Republicans' endorsement;
• Anne Clauss is running on the Bullthistle line.

Two trustee seats will be open for the June 21 election. Democrats Jim Bona and Suzanne Collins are not seeking reelection.

However, the board will have a third new trustee as a result of the election. Trustee Margaret Miller is the only candidate for mayor, running on the Bullthistle line.

As it is likely she will be elected, Miller will then appoint a trustee to fill her spot on the board. This is how she came to the board originally.

By   Wed, May 18, 2011

Voters in the HCS District tonight approved the 2011-2012 budget by a wide margin 347-132.

They also:

• approved the purchase of two buses, 296-176;
• approved funds for the Hamilton Public Library 333-137;
• returned Ingrid Hale to the board with 372 votes;
• and elected Bud Ballinger III to a first term on the board with 325 votes.

Ballinger replaces Gail Davis whose term was expiring, but resigned from the board and moved from Hamilton.

By   Tue, May 17, 2011

The Earlville Opera House opens its 40^th anniversary season with the Grammy-winning blues of the Joe Louis Walker Band on Saturday, May 28 at 8 p.m.

Joe Louis Walker grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco in the late fifties and early sixties. His influences include early years playing with Lightnin' Hopkins, Fred McDowell, Magic Sam and Earl "Zebedee" Hooker. 

Recently voted Most Outstanding Guitarist by Living Blues critics, Joe Louis Walker is recognized for his original blues and for his passion that has revolutionized the art of the electric guitar. In his 2008 review for Honest Tune, Fred Adams notes: “It’s been said that only B.B. King has taken the blues further, and to more destinations, than Walker. With the release of Witness to the Blues, Walker proves to be just as vital as ever, continuing to redefine blues in the 21st century, just as he has throughout the past four decades.”

Writing for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange, Mark Tucker describes his most recent CD FAME:  “Walker sings with a sassy upper register voice but plays like a combination of Jimi, Stevie Ray, Frank Marino, and one of his heroes, Buddy Guy…. the highlight is Walker and his guitar, and you get plenty of both, what with jumping vocals alongside a band that keeps the rhythms nailed and the atmosphere hot.”

This past December Joe Louis Walker was nominated for 3 Blues Music Awards: B.B King Entertainer of the Year, Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year, and Best Instrumentalist – Guitar.

This performance is sponsored by WAER-FM.

General admission is $18 and $16 for EOH members and students are discounted to $13.  Premium seating in the first four rows is an added $5. For more information, or to reserve seats, call 691-3550.

By   Tue, May 17, 2011

Wednesday May is the last day to meet with Town of Hamilton Assessor David Roach to appeal the new property assessments. This is the fastest way to register a complaint and potentially lower your property assessment. Residents are urged, but not required, to bring their "2011 Notification of Assessment" (received by mail in March) and meet with Mr. Roach between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Town Office.

Appeals that are not satisfactorily resolved can be brought next week to the grievance board. To do so a "Complaint on Real Property Assessment" form (available at Town Office) must be filled out and returned to the office by May 26, the date of the grievance hearings. Two sessions where community members will have the forms available and offer help with the paperwork will be held: Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Poolville Community Center, and Saturday May from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hamilton Library Community Room (enter back door off village parking lot). Community members will help with questions, assist with property assessment concerns, and help fill out grievance forms.

While the Town Council is seeking every legal alternative to this re-valuation, it is important that taxpayers continue to pursue their grievances. As the notice with the assessment notification says "Further legal review is available only if you file a grievance with your respective board."

For more information or to be put in touch with help more quickly, please contact Bruce Moseley 263-3557 or moseleyb@me.com or Eve Ann Shwartz 83-3126 or eashwartz@frontiernet.net. or Carolyn Todd 824-0824 or bandctodd@verizon.net.

By   Sun, May 15, 2011

Residents of the HCS District go to the polls Tuesday; polls are open from noon to 8 p.m.

They will be voting on several items:

• The proposed 2011-2012 budget of $11,723,312;
• Two candidates running for two open seats including incumbent Ingrid Hale and Bud Ballinger;
• The purchase of two new buses;
• And, $103,123 in support of the Hamilton Public Library.

By   Fri, May 13, 2011

Today is Friday the 13th, and as such, it is Colgate Day.

Celebrating Friday the 13th instead of fearing it was created by former Colgate President Rebecca Chop as a way for those affiliated with the university to show their pride. The number 13 has many Colgate connections.

Part of Colgate Day is to wear something Colgate-related. Today, Head Football Coach Dick Biddle chose to wear a few rings ... championship rings won over the years by his teams.

All that is left to say is, Go 'Gate!

Photo by Debbie Rhyde

By   Fri, May 13, 2011

The race for two trustee seats in next month's village election has another entrant.

Merideth Leland Getchonis, 36 Lebanon St., has filed a petition with the Madison County Board of Elections to run for trustee as a Democrat. And, illage Democratic Chair Carolyn Todd today said Getchonis "... has accepted the nomination of the Village of Hamilton Democratic Committee to run for Trustee on the Hamilton Village Board."