Cazenovia Pilot

HELP WANTED: Part Time Office Cleaner in Cazenovia

My business needs somebody to keep our Cazenovia office clean for the next few months. Here are the details:

Part Time Office Cleaner:

Clean medium sized professional office in the village of Cazenovia once per week Mid May- Late August.

All necessary cleaning supplies provided. Approximately 2- 2.5 hours total per week, on weekends or evenings (flexible).

Pay: $15.00 per hour

Cleaning experience preferred but not required, trustworthy, dependable and thorough. Self starter, able to follow directions with little supervision. Please e-mail cover letter, resume and two references from previous employers to jobs@ravenglass.com by April 28, 2008. No phone calls please.

Cazenovia Company Seek to Hire Web Application Developer

Hi, everybody. This article describes a job opening in my Cazenovia-based company. If you or somebody you know has application software development experience, please send your resume and a cover letter as indicated below. Thanks!

Ravenglass Technologies seeks a Web Application Developer for immediate employment. This position is responsible for the development of intranet, extranet, and Internet applications including database, reporting, social-networking, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

Requirements include demonstrable experience with web application development (using ColdFusion, ASP.NET, PHP, or similar), HTML, AJAX, and SQL Server or another SQL database management system. A degree in computer science or a related discipline is also required. Experience with Adobe Flash and Flex application development is a plus. Candidates must possess strong written and verbal communications skills.

Ravenglass Technologies is located in Cazenovia, New York (less than 20 miles from Syracuse). In addition to a competitive salary for this full-time position, the successful candidate will be offered health insurance coverage, a 401(k) savings plan, paid holidays, paid vacation and personal time, and other benefits. Since 1997, Ravenglass has delighted customers by providing solutions that support business goals.

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@ravenglass.com.

We regret that we cannot sponsor visas at this time.

Expanded P&C Grocery

The local P&C grocery store has expanded, as many of you know. The improvements are many and varied, and the store has provided a map of the new layout to help us navigate. I've uploaded it here so that those of you that don't get a chance to get back here often can see some of the differences. Conveniences include bathrooms that don't need to be accessed through the employee break/locker room and a large section for freshly prepared hot and cold foods.

Click on the smaller image to see the larger one in a new window.

County IDA Director will speak at Chamber's Annual Dinner

On Thursday November 8, Madison County Industrial Development Agency executive director Kipp Hicks will be the featured speaker at the annual dinner of the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 655-9243 or email cazchamber@windstream.net for more information.

Cazenovia Restaurants

[Updated 7/28/2007; Nirchi's Italian Grill is now open to the public; they are still awaiting their liquor license. The Brewster Inn has a fish market .]

I got to thinking the other day about the dining choices we have here in Cazenovia. I have occasionally fantasized about opening a restaurant, but I know nothing about the business and I can't cook. I just know what I like - which I guess makes me better suited to be a critic. So I wrote down quick thoughts and a rating for all of the places we have to get a bite to eat.

I am very interested in your opinions, too - where do you agree, where do you disagree, and what did I miss? If you find this kind of thing interesting, I also reviewed the Syracuse beer scene for MaltBlog.

Read on:

Kimberly's Ice Cream Factory. Serves ice cream and chocolates in a very cool little shop. The ice cream is made right there (you can even watch). An excellent product and a beautiful shop, succeeding in a very tough location. In a very short time the product and the friendly staff have made Kimberly's a community destination. 5/5.

Circa is the name of the newest (open since 1/31/2006) restaurant in Cazenovia. It's located at 76 Albany Street at the corner of Mill Street. Circa features fresh, local ingredients in American dishes, from hamburger to lamb stew to fish. Everything about my recent experience there was first rate. My wife and I were greeted promptly, seated immediately, and waited on by a small, efficient team of knowledgeable and friendly staff. The food was fresh and comprised of selections not usually found in Cazenovia - lentil and carrot samosas, freshly made spinach pasta with roasted squash and a rosemary sauce, excellent halibut with an olive tapenade over a mild tomato, onion, and butternut gnocchi mixture. It was all very good, accompanied by a nice wine and beer selection, and topped with excellent desserts from a local baker. We had the sweet potato pound cake and it was phenomenal. The chef/owner even came out to check on our satisfaction, a nice touch. So far this restaurant is a real winner and a welcome addition to the Cazenovia scene. Update 2/12/2007: Circa continues to serve winning food in creative ways. Service can be up and down; this is especially true since the owner had a baby in December and is adjusting the business to accommodate that part of her life. A second chef was hired and Circa now serves lighter, less expensive fare for lunch every day. 4.5/5

Seven Stone Steps. Ambitious and interesting menu of casual, relatively inexpensive lunches and pub grub. Their salads are really great - I've had a sliced duck salad and a grilled swordfish salad over mesclun greens that were among the best I've ever had. Some of their more familiar dishes have a twist to them - for example, the nachos are served with wheat chips instead of corn tortillas, and they serve homemade chips instead of fries. The service is usually good but sometimes it's slow or seemingly understaffed. Good bar selections (beer, wine, cocktails, liquors). The only place in Cazenovia to get a good draft brew - they always have Brooklyn IPA and Cooperstown Benchwarmer on tap [9/16/2005: a recent visit reveals they are also pouring Coopertown's Old Slugger pale ale]. Great that you can order off of the Lincklaen House menu. Prices are good. I like that they do fruit salad as a side for most lighter dishes. Bisque is top-notch, signature popovers are great. 4/5.

Lincklaen House. Excellent quality and above average service, reasonably priced for what it is. The dinner menu is limited but the selections are all very good. The multiple dining rooms are a cool way to get a different experience each time you go, and the "grand hotel" atmosphere feels special. 4.5/5

Stone's Throw. Very ambitious for Caz, priced right for what it is. I'm impressed that they can continue to have good sushi and sashimi (which I love) with so little turnover. Great classy bistro atmosphere (except for the filthy windows [9/16/2005: Windows are much improved, at least now that it's summer. Hopefully they'll stay clean!] and car lights shining in at night). Very limited wine list. Service could be faster for dinner; it's usually quick at lunch. Weird hours. 4/5

The Brewster Inn. We don't get here much now that we have a child, but when we have gone the food and service have almost always been excellent, and you can't beat the atmosphere and the grill. I have noticed that some things are a little weird (lobster ravioli with gruyere cheese? Hmmmm) but overall this is the most consistently ambitious and excellent high-end place we have. The pub menu and the salads are great for the lunch or quick dinner crowd, the wine list is terrific. The beer selection has improved, too. The Brewster also features a fish market now from Tuesday through Saturday that's open to the public; you can also buy their sauces, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil directly from this market. Rating revised on 7/28 up to 5/5 for the improved beer selection, even-better-than-before menu, lakefront setting, and the fact that this is consistently the best and most reliable experience in Cazenovia.

Brae Loch Inn. As an aficionado of things Scottish, I love the setting. I love their outdoor seating, live music, good people, and just the presence of the place. The bar is disappointing considering the way the place is put together - a good scotch selection but I would expect more draft beer and a bigger bar counter. But the evening buffet and camaraderie is great. For dinner it's very hit and miss. I have had great meals there leaving me satisfied and ready to sing BL's praises from the rooftops, then I'll go back and have an absolutely terrible meal - poorly cooked, poorly presented, bad service, sometimes even bad-tasting food. I've had similar experiences with the brunch, but overall the brunch is a fine way to get used to the BL. One thing that will never cease to amaze me - this place has the absolute worst coffee I have ever had. It's not a fluke - every time I go I have a TERRIBLE cup of coffee. 3.5/5. [Atmosphere gets 5/5 from me, food and bar 3/5, coffee 0/5]

Golden Pheasant. A step above basic, extensive if not imaginative menu, good beer/wine selection for the kind of place it is. Lots of chicken and pasta dishes, hearty soups, good lunch selection. Service is usually top-notch for a casual restaurant, sometimes it's surprisingly weak. Downstairs bathrooms are a minus but I don't know what else they can do about it. 3.5/5.

Albert's. For the basic, cheap, fast, hot meal, Albert's is a Cazenovia institution. (Even more so for cold beer) No nonsense at all, from the staff or the menu. We usually end up at GP instead of here, but you always get what you expect from Albert's. 3.5/5.

Cazenovia's Country Kitchen. Reliable, diner-esque food at good prices. My daughter really likes it there and has been counting the days until spring when she can go back again. I am never terribly impressed - there's a lot of homemade items but a lot of Sysco basics, too. The plates on the wall are cool though! 3.5/5

Nirchi's Italian Grill. Casual atmosphere with a solid, basic Italian food menu that also includes salads, sandwiches, and pizza. Menu choices include penne alla vodka, veal with peppers, chicken marsala, lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and much more. For a full review, see this post from July 27. Rating 3.5/5 for great coffee, very good pizza, OK food and OK service.

Cazenovia Grill. [6/25/2007: Restaurant closed permanently in April 2007; location to be taken over by Nirchi's Italian Grill.]

Common Grounds. Certainly the best coffee in Cazenovia and the only place to get real coffee drinks. Decent tea selection. They have light meals including sandwiches and soups, ordered at a counter; there is no table service. Rating 3.5/5. That rating has nothing to do with Project Cafe (which is a great organization) or with the space inside Common Grounds for meeting, watching a band, or just hanging out -- all of that is superb and great for Cazenovia as a whole.

Emma's Cafe on Main. Excellent, homemade food and interesting specials. Great, friendly service. Intentionally limited menu. A "real" diner. Really great prices. Only open for breakfast and lunch. 5/5 because I like a no-nonsense diner.

Great Wall. For a tiny Chinese place in a small town, they do a very good job. Their General Tso's chicken (which I no longer order for health reasons) is comparable to the best take-out I've had. The atmosphere is dingy, which I guess I expect for all of the open cooking done in that small location, but this place would get a better rating if it felt cleaner. It would get the maximum rating if they would only just deliver! 3.5/5.

Caz Pizza. Good pizza, solid ordering system (computerized and effective), attractive interior for a pizza shop. Would be even better if they had a regular delivery schedule and slightly longer hours. 4/5

Nicolena's. [1/29/2006: This restaurant closed in winter 2005.]

Pepi's Pizza. [6/25/2007: Restaurant permanently closed in May 2007].

Subway. I like the way they handled the design, though I don't particularly love the neon signs and food posters on the main drag. I have not eaten there but based on my experience with other Subways I'd give it 3/5.

Angel's. Expensive but very good quality sandwiches. Friendly staff, clean and inviting store, good soups and salads. 4.5/5.

Little Red Coffee Express. I haven't tried this yet but a couple of friends have. It's a converted RV that parks between the Atwell Mill and Harris Cleaners on Albany Street each morning. They serve hot coffee and other breakfast drinks as well as muffins, biscotti, and the like - all to go, of course. You can drive up or walk up; they're open weekdays from 7 AM - 1 PM.

McDonald's. I try to avoid it and I can't really rate something this generic! It's as clean and the people are as friendly as any McDonald's I've been to.

P&C. The roast chicken is really good - I like that markets are doing that now. Their salads are OK. Their fried foods (chicken wings/"fingers", fried chickens) are greasy and gross. Subs are OK, a better selection of bread would be nice. 3/5 for what it is.

Xtra Mart. I get the occasional sandwich here. It's what you would expect from a gas station sandwich - actually a little better than that!

Red Apple. They used to have more prepared foods but now it's mostly microwaveable stuff. The staff are really friendly and fun.

DiPaulo's Pizza. [9/16/2005: This restaurant closed in summer 2005.]

Marshall's Diner. [9/16/2005: Marshall's closed in the spring of 2005.]

Hummingbird Pantry. [9/16/2005: This bakery closed in the summer of 2005; a restaurant named "Circa" is going into this location.]

I am still amazed that there are that many different places to get a meal or snack in town. And there are a dozen places I gave at least 3.5/5. That's not too shabby for a tiny town.

What did I miss? What would you say? Please include your reviews in the Discussions area of this site! :)

Here's the history of updates to this page:

[Updated 6/25/2007; Pepi's Pizza has closed permanently (May 2007). Cazenovia Grill closed in April 2007; the location is being redeveloped as a "family Italian" restaurant called Nirchi's Italian Grill.]

[Updated 2/12/2007; Not a lot of new news on the restaurant scene at the moment, but updates include: Circa is open for lunch, and the Little Red Coffee Express is serving hot coffee and light breakfast items in the space between Atwell Mill and Harris Cleaners. Also, a friend who commutes daily to Cazenovia reports that he only eats at places that accept debit cards, which limits his quick lunch choices to McDonald's and Subway. I wonder if the other to-go places (e.g. Great Wall, the Pizza Restaurants, and Angel's) will consider taking debit cards as a way to improve their lunch business.]

[Updated 2/12/2006; Circa restaurant is open and I've had a chance to enjoy it. A separate post with a a full review will be posted.]

[Updated 1/19/2006; Nicolena's is no longer open and the space is for lease. Circa (in the former Hummingbird Pantry) expects to open in February, according to the Post-Standard. I've had meals recently at Cazenovia Grill, Golden Pheasant, Seven Stone Steps, Stone's Throw, and the Brae Loch Inn.]

[Updated 9/16/2005 and again 10/6/2005; a recent lunch at the new Nicolena's, a great meal at the Lincklaen House, and the closing of three establishments - Marshall's, DiPaulo's, and Hummingbird Pantry - made me realize I really ought to update this! Please bear in mind these are my opinions and are based on my personal experience over a few years - places change all the time and I hope everyone will try all Cazenovia restaurants at least once to see for yourself what they're all about.]

Nirchi's Italian Grill coming to former Cazenovia Grill Location

The location that recently housed the Cazenovia Grill restaurant is being renovated into the new home of Nirchi's Italian Grill. This is confirmed by a sign in the window of the restaurant (only visible from the inside hallway) and "Help Wanted" signs in the windows. The Syracuse.com classified also include this help-wanted ad for Nirchi's Italian Grill in Cazenovia.

Nirchi's is a chain of fast-food pizza establishments and (according to the posted sign) one fine-dining restaurant, all located in the greater Binghamton area. I grew up in that area and can confirm that Nirchi's has good pizza - but I certainly hope that whatever they are putting into the Cazenovia Grill location is more than just a pizzeria.

UPDATE: Here's a link to their "fine dining" establishment's dinner menu - it certainly looks a lot more interesting than straightforward takeout pizza: http://www.nirchisrestaurant.com/dinnermenu/

UPDATE, PART 2: It appears that Nirchi's is going to start with something considerably less ambitious than their existing "fine dining". A friend of the site asked the Nirchi family (via their web site) what the Cazenovia restaurant would be like; here's the response:

. We hope to be opening very soon. The restaurant in Cazenovia will be a little smaller menu to start than we have in our Endicott restaurant. We plan on having some of our pasta dishes, and our parmigiania dishes. We will be offering some specialty pizza also. There will also be specialty salads, wings, and such. We will also have beer and wine to start. Our final menu has not been completed, but I hope this gives you some idea. Cazenovia is beautiful, and we are looking forward to being part of the community.

Eckerd Location to Become Rite Aid

I was in the Town and Country plaza over the weekend and noticed a sign above the Eckerd entrance that said, "Rite Aid Coming Soon". It turns out that Rite Aid stores bought the Eckerd and Brooks drugstore chains last year, and that they are rolling out their plan to rebrand all of the stores now.

Developer wants to build near Turning Stone Casino and Resort

A Cazenovia-based developer, Kurt Wendler, wants to build a commercial and possibly a residential development on 12 acres near Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, according to the Post-Standard.

Cazenovia Area Classifieds

Hi everyone,

Please remember that you can view the full set of active Cazenovia-area classified ads by clicking the link at the top of every page of this site. Ads are free, and you control when the ad appears and when it expires - you can have a permanent ad if you like.

Besides appearing on that web page, the home page of the Cazenovia Pilot weblog shows two random ads from the set of active ones. I am hoping to expand the places where those ads appear so that you can have better visibility, but it's always easy to view all active ads at once whenever you like.

Thanks - enjoy your weekends and this beautiful spring!

Jim

P&C Begins Expansion

The P&C supermarket in Cazenovia has begun its expansion under developer David Muraco and Empire Management. The store will be expanding by about 1/3 it current space or a total of 9,000 square feet more than is there today.

Cazenovia: The epicenter of New York's Agricultural Strategy

New York State's newest agriculture commissioner is Patrick Hooker. Mr. Hooker grew up in Nelson and was active in the Cazenovia Future Farmers of America (FFA). He has a 360-acre hay and horse farm - and maple syrup operation - in Richfield Springs.

With longtime state Assemblyman Bill Magee (also from Nelson) leading that body's agriculture committee, and Troy Waffner of Cazenovia heading to Albany to be deputy commissioner of Ag and Markets, it's apparent that the greater Cazenovia area is a wellspring of agriculture knowledge. Congratulations to everyone and I hope this ends up being reflected as Madison County adds agriculture as a major plank in its economic development strategy.

More information:

Official NYS Agriculture & Markets Site

NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee Page

County to pay for new IDA home

You spending hawks should like this one... From the Post-Standard:

New headquarters for Madison County IDA?

The Madison County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors has authorized spending $425,000 for a new headquarters for local economic development.

Board members met Thursday afternoon to discuss a purchase offer on a building. Chairman Richard Bargabos would not identify the location until the real estate transaction progressed further.

He did say the facility would operate as a “one-stop shop” for county economic development activities, staffed by personnel like the IDA Executive Director and the county Empire Zone and agricultural economic development coordinators.

“This is a good investment,” Bargabos said.

The county IDA currently operates in an office at the Canastota Business Park.

- Alaina Potrikus

Posted by jimj at 09:58 PM | TrackBack

Cazenovia Development Market Survey Results TONIGHT at 7 PM

The results of the Cazenovia Development community-wide Market Survey will be presented tonight (Wednesday February 28, 2007) at 7 PM. The presentation will take place in the Community Room of the Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany Street, and is open to the public.

Madison County Fires IDA Chief

Madison County has fired its long-time Industrial Development Authority head, Peter Cann. The county has established a new strategy along two fronts: Empire Zone development and agriculture.

P-S Humor Columnist Reviews Men's Night Out

Jeff Kramer's Post-Standard article about Cazenovia's Men's Night Out does give away an important part of the secret of that event's success (beer). Despite that, it's pretty funny.

Muraco Proposes P&C Expansion

According to today's Post-Standard, developer David Muraco proposes expanding the existing Cazenovia P&C store in Muraco's Town & Country plaza by about 9,000 square feet. The article touches on the proposed creation of a new grocery store by Pioneer Development at the eastern edge of the village, a topic that is currently the subject of much debate in Cazenovia (and one which, undoubtedly, is spurring Muraco's and P&C's plans).

Revised Chenango Crossing Plans

I have not yet seen the revised plans for the Chenango Crossing proposed development (at the very southern edge of the village between Old Farms and the split of Nine and East roads), but as I understand it, the new scheme calls for less than half the originally-proposed number of homes and a greater buffer of undeveloped space between Chenango Street and the new homes. The village board ultimately denied a zone change to the project because of many concerns.

Credit should go to the board for standing firm and demanding a plan that works for all Cazenovians.

Now, too, credit should go to the project's developer as well as to the current property owners. They've listened to community concerns and modified their design. Many (including myself) were outspoken critics of the original plans as too dense and too close to the road, among other concerns. Lower-density development there should lead to a site that is more consistent with neighboring developments in Old Farms and South Village, and it should ease concerns about traffic, environmental impact, safety, and aesthetics.

It will be interesting to see where all this leads, of course, but with the myriad issues facing our community in the next few months (Route 20 commercial changes, the proposed school board bill that includes a large athletic field reconstruction project, other housing projects), it's good to see that the give-and-take of public discussion can yield positive change.

Kimberly's Ice Cream Factory Profiled By the Post-Standard

Is it possible for a place to be an "institution" when it's in just its fourth year of operation? If so, Kimberly's Ice Cream Factory of Cazenovia must qualify. Their home-made flavors (made right in the Cazenovia store), cool atmosphere, and extras like handmade candies and gift baskets have made them into a regular stop for a lot of people.

The success of Kimberly's in Cazenovia has led to a new Kimberly's location in Manlius. (In the same Manlius Commons location is another Cazenovia-based business, Cazenovia Jewelry) Today's Post-Standard profiles the owner of Kimberly's, Kimberly Bukowski of Erieville.

Need an Employee? Consider Cazenovia College Students

This was submitted by Cazenovia College:

They’re back! Cazenovia College is pleased to welcome our Class of 2010! They join our other students for an exciting year on campus and in the community.

As the new director of the college’s Office of Career Services & Internship Programs, I have recently relocated to the Central New York region and look forward to working with you to meet your hiring needs.

If you require part-time employees, seasonal employees, interns or full-time employees, I hope you will consider contacting us to help you secure a talented pool of applicants. To make this process ‘user-friendly,’ we can offer a FREE online job posting system at www.cazenovia.edu/careerservices. Point your mouse to the “Academics” then “Career Services”, and then click on either “Intern / Job Posting” to list your opportunities or on “Employers” to learn more about our services.

If you are not yet registered, complete the organizational information and it will be forwarded to us for review and approval. Once you receive your approval from us, usually within 24 hours, you will be able to post any employment opportunities you have available. You will also be able to delete an opportunity once it is filled, or re-post it if the expiration date is approaching. If you are already registered, thank you for your participation. We ask that you check that the contact information on the site is current and post any current (or future) opportunities.

Should you have any questions about this registration process, please contact us at 655.7191, careerservices@cazenovia.edu.

If you would prefer to send us opportunities through other means, our fax number is 655.7320, or by post at Cazenovia College, Office of Career Services & Internship Programs, 22 Sullivan Street, Cazenovia, NY 13035. If you would like to discuss any other recruiting opportunity with us, including participating in our spring Career Fair, please contact us so that we may place you on our invitation list.

We look forward to working with you this upcoming academic year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephen M. Klein
Director
Office of Career Services & Internship Programs

Cazenovia Equipment Co. Expands to LaFayette

Cazenovia Equipment Company, a full-line John Deere retailer, purchased LaFayette's Shanahan Tractor in April.

Little JAK'S Pizza Profiled

The Post-Standard profiles Little JAK'S Pizza Shak in today's edition.

How the DestiNY deal was made

DestiNY USA, the on-again, off-again megamall development proposed by Pyramid Companies founder Robert Congel, is very much on again. The billion-dollar development has tentacles that are sure to reach all the way through the greater Syracuse area, including Cazenovia. The Post-Standard describes in some detail the steps that led to the re-invogoration of an idea that seemed mostly dead.

Caz Pizza Featured in "Cheap Eats"

The Syracuse Post-Standard features Caz Pizza in its "Cheap Eats" column, profiling the food and atmosphere of the casual restaurant.

New Massage Therapy Business Open in Cazenovia

Elements Massage Therapy of Cazenovia is now open at 9 Albany Street in Cazenovia. According to their web site:

Elements Massage Therapy of Cazenovia specializes in massage for relaxation, pain management, wellness, and recovery.

Recognizing that no two bodies are the same, treatments are customized to the clients' individual needs. Elements offers non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical alternatives for wellness management.

Little Jak's Pizza Shak - Now Open in Town & Country Plaza

A new restaurant, Little Jak's Pizza Shak, is now open in the Town & Country Plaza. It's in the space formerly occupied by Nicolena's (and before that, DiPaulo's). I had a broccoli calzone for lunch and it was very tasty. The best part is - they deliver! Even for lunch!

Their menu looks good - pizza, wings, appetizers, salads, and subs are complemented by dinners (stuffed shells, fried clams, fried shrimp) and fried fish sandwiches and dinners. They even have a kids menu of wings, chicken fingers, or stuffed shells, and they have fried dough and cinnamon knots for dessert.

Their phone number is 655-8745 and they are open from 11 AM - 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11 AM - 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. They also take Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Circa review from "Cookin' in the 'Cuse"

Here's a great review of Circa, Cazenovia's newest restaurant, from Jennifer at Cookin' in the 'Cuse. Jennifer brings a strong foodie angle to her blog; she also has lived and worked around the country and has a simultaneously down-to-earth and cosmopolitan sensibility. The whole site is an interesting, colorful, informative read.

Two Cazenovia-Based Businesses Expanding to Manlius

As Manlius grows, two successful Cazenovia businesses are taking the opportunity to add to their own operations. The CNY Business Journal reports that a new set of commercial buildings is being built between the Nice N Easy market and the Alliance Bank on Route 92 in Manlius. Cazenovia Jewelry will move its current Manlius location from Mapstone plaza to the new location, almost doubling its space in the process. They expect to hire new employees to cover the larger store and expanded hours. Kimberly's Ice Cream Factory will open its second location (the first is on Nelson Street in Cazenovia) in the new Manlius plaza.

Congratulations to both businesses on their planned expansions!

Marquardt Switches Receives $500,000 Grant to Expand

Marquardt Switches of Cazenovia (technically Nelson) has received a $500,000 Empire State Development corporation grant to expand its manufacturing facilities. The plant was competing with other Marquardt location in the US, Tanzania, and China for the expansion.

The company employs about 230 people and is planning to hire between ten and twenty more engineers and other employees in the next two years.

Cazenovia Classifieds - Again

I've taken the Cazenovia classifieds that are part of this site (first announced in this November post) and made them part of the home page of the Cazenovia Pilot. Random ads taken from the selection of active ads will always appear on the right side of the home page.

The ads remain completely free and you can post commercial or personal ads as you wish. Cazenovia Pilot reserves the right to delete any ad with inappropriate content, but if you simply use common sense there should be no problems with your ad.

Click here to view existing ads.

Click here to create your own ads.

The Cazenovia Pilot gets an average of 85 different visitors each day with a keen interest in local news and information. I hope you find the ad service valuable, and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Remember that Cazenovia shops are open all week - there are so many places to get great gifts ranging from original artwork to antiques and from books and toys to clothing. For the perfect last-minute idea, how about a Cazenovia Gift Certificate, which can be redeemed at many area merchants! They're available online at the link provided, or you can call the Chamber office at 315-655-9243, or email them at info@cazenoviachamber.com.

Another option is Nelson Farms, on Route 20 in the heart of Nelson. They have a plethora of locally produced original foods, from chocolate to hot sauce, lollipops to maple syrup, coffee to biscuit mix. The place is really amazing - it helps local entrepreneurs and farmers learn how to produce and distribute food product ideas locally, nationally, or internationally. Here's a summary of their hours from the Utica Observer-Dispatch:

NELSON — To accommodate the holiday shopping season, Nelson Farms Country Store on Route 20 between Morrisville and Cazenovia will extend its hours beginning Wednesday.

Hours will be: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store will be open Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For information, call 655-3301 or visit www.nelsonfarms.org.

Holiday Art Gallery, Again

The almost-annual tradition of local artists finding available space to rent for a temporary gallery during the holiday season is in full swing this year. I've already posted about this a couple of times, but the Post Standard just did a story about it that really tells it well - see Guerilla Gallery Strategy. They really have some great stuff in there and it's perfect for a last-minute gift for an art lover or really anyone with a wall on which to hang great art. They're open through December 23, so by all means get down there and check it out!

Community Development Association gets $40,000 in Grants

The Cazenovia Area Community Development Association has received $40,000 in new grants, according to this NewsFlash item from the Post-Standard. $20,000 is a "seed grant" from the CNY Community Foundation, and $20,000 is from the Madison County Industrial Development Association for arranging bonds for the Cazenovia College dorm expansion.

The grants, along with a Madison-Cortland ARC grant for $50,000, are also described in this Post-Standard Article from Frank Brieaddy.

Demand for Village/Urban Core Space Leads to Neighborhood Perks

As redevelopment of core areas of cities and villages has become more desirable, so too have strategies for local governments to work with developers to get something more out of the development than the proposed construction. For example, in California a developer of a lake and retail area was asked by the city to build an ice rink too - and the developer got very favorable lease terms for a nearby parking lot. In Chicago, a developer was asked to include an elementary school on its 28-acre waterfront commercial and residential development. The upshot is that the municipalities often get something they couldn't get otherwise, and the developer gains benefits that only the public sector can bestow. And both sides win goodwill and public relations points.

Wind Turbines in Upstate New York

Here's an interesting article from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle describing the pros and cons of wind farm developments in upstate New York. Several people who live near the Fenner wind farm are interviewed, as are residents of an area (Prattsburgh/Italy) where 120 turbines are proposed.

Online Cazenovia-Area Classified Ads

I've set up an experimental free service to allow anyone to create and manage their own classified ads. The ads are linked from the Cazenovia Pilot home page as well as the online discussion forum and webcam pages.

Click here to view existing ads.

Click here to create your own ads.

Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Historic Ordinance: Residential Versus Commercial

The community has been actively discussing a proposed historic ordinance that would provide formal consideration of historic and aesthetic qualities in several zones within the village of Cazenovia. Dozens of upstate communities are using such ordinances to effectively manage growth and promote business while retaining their unique identities.

I support the concept of formally leveraging our history and community involement to make Cazenovia stronger for its residents and its businesses (while continuing to attract both). For that reason, I try to stay informed and I believe there are opportunities for appropriate expansion of commercial development within the village. I've outlined my initial thoughts on the subject in the rest of this article.

One of the most frequently mentioned success stories is that of Pittsford, NY. Pittsford is about seven miles from Rochester and has used a historic ordinance to drive canalside revitalization for its business community while retaining the aesthetics and scale of a historically charming small town. In fact, Pittsford won first place in the Village category of "Main Street Awards" presented by the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM).

I've read that award article, and it seems the advantage of the Pittsford project is in leveraging existing structures and history for aesthetic and commercial advantage. What existing commercial structures and natural/historic resources does Cazenovia have, aside from the Atwell Mill and the HBD -- plus one-off regions such as Lorenzo, the Brewster Inn, the Brae Loch Inn and the mixed residential/professional area of western Albany Street? Our lake is (and always has been) inaccessible to the general (visiting) public, unlike the Pittsford situation where they can take direct advantage of the waterfront properties. Our commercial district is long but very narrow – there is no spot of existing commercial structures as a “group” except for the Historic Business District, which is appealing and a tremendous asset but could use a kick (like the kickstart Pittsford gave to its canalside areas).

The historic ordinance that’s been put forth in Cazenovia (as I understand it) comprises a set of architectural and usage guidelines that apply to both commercial and residential areas. Cazenovians’ resistance to the ordinance concept seems centered around a “you can’t tell me what color to paint my house” argument versus one that preserves and extends the beauty and accessibility of our commercial areas on a walkable scale.

As someone who has been looking for months – years, really – for attractive professional office space that also reflects the character of Cazenovia, I’m personally interested in any program that would systematically expand retail and professional space within the scale and aesthetic qualities that make Cazenovia so wonderful already. Supporting and expanding commercial opportunities by reclaiming and redeveloping areas within the village core seems a smarter strategy than continuing to annex land to the village and/or building parking lots, strip malls, and light towers in a radiating pattern away from the core (e.g., on the Route 20 Corridor to the east). Personally, I’d love to see positive change in the zone from Leigh Baldwin’s building all the way to Park Street, and across the street from Buyea’s to Sims Lane. The entire creekside (and old railroad bed) from Riverside Drive to William/Burr Streets (including the garage complex behind the LVRR station) is a ripe zone for coordinated development of retail and professional space on a pedestrian scale, with plenty of historical significance and room for parking, too. Of course, concerns about the preservation of the creek and the overall environmental impact are important, as is the potential impact on existing businesses in that corridor. I’ve attached an image that I threw together that shows – very roughly – where such an area might be.

Please bear in mind that all of this is just a concept - I reason that the creekside is a naturally beautiful area and an historic commercial corridor (because of the railroad) and consists largely of flat, commercially usable land. Since there are major busineses there already - including Buyea's, Gissin's Photo Studio, Cazenovia Lumber & Oil, plus other landowners and people with a vested interest - my only goal is to stimulate some conversation. Do you think that something like this makes sense in Cazenovia? Would it succeed? Would it be a disaster? Why?

What's Happening In Cazenovia

Through October 30
Lorenzo State Historic Site. Mansion open for the season. Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Guided tours are offered; visitor center and museum shop are also open. Grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk, including the formal garden and Dark Aisle arboretum. Guided tours of the Mansion: Adults $5; Seniors, $4; Students $4; Groups of 12 or more with 2-week advance notice, $4; Children under 12, $1. Rippleton Schoolhouse and educational programs available by appointment throughout the year.
Phone: 315/655-3200
Web: www.lorenzony.org
 
Through November 05

Cazenovia Farmers' Market, Cannon Park on Albany Street, Every Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm, May 7- September 3 and 10:00am - 5:00pm ,September 10  - November 5. An open air market providing fresh produce, plants and homemade crafts. Sponsored by the Historic Business District Committee of the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce.

Phone: 315-655-9243
Email: cazchamber@alltel.net
Web: www.cazenoviachamber.com
 

September 2005

Through Sep 25
New Woodstock Regional Historical Society Museum and Depot open to the public every Sunday in September, 1:30 - 4:30 PM.  Railroad Street, New Woodstock,
Phone: 315-655-8834
Email: jawrl@juno.com
 
Sep 15
Cazenovia Public Library is proud to offer a presentation entitled "Islam, Muslims, and Qur'an." Leading the discussion to promote an understanding of Islam will be Taqiuddin Ahmed, head of the Islamic Society of CNY, which is located in Syracuse. All events at the Cazenovia Public Library are free and open to the public.
Phone: 315-655-9322
Web: www.midyork.org/cazenovia
 
Sep 17
Roast Beef Dinner, Nelson United Methodist Church, Rt. 20 East, in the hamlet of Nelson Complete dinners served family style 4:30 p.m. - ? $8.00 adults, $4.00 children 5-12, under 5 free
Phone: 315-655-3519
Email: cazenovia.nelsonparish@juno.com
 
Sep 17 - Sep 18
Critz Farms Fall Harvest Celebration Grand Opening weekend. Free admission for the first 100 people on Saturday! 10 acre Corn Maze –The Cow’s in the Corn! All the usual fun including pony rides, hayrides, gift shop, hot apple fritters and more. Petting zoo and two playgrounds! Twin Magicians Sat. at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at 10:00 see the Limestone Creek Huntclub Horses and Hounds. Music with John Liuzzo & Friends Sunday at 1:00. Admission $5.00 per person includes season pass. Discount family pass available online. Located 3 ½ miles south of Cazenovia on Route 13.
Phone: 315-662-3355
Email: info@critzfarms.com
Web: www.critzfarms.com
 
Sep 22
CACDA Presents: What is a Scenic Byway? What Does It Mean for Me? 7:00 pm at the Cazenovia Public Library Community Room. Route 20 will soon become a designated NYS Scenic Byway...What does it mean for business and property owners? Are scenic qualities the only priority? Is pedestrian safety a consideration? Will it help economic development efforts? Can it provide funding for projects? Join us to get the answers to these questions and more. Find out what the Scenic Byways Program is all about and get the details from local advocates who understand how it can positively affect communities along the Route 20 corridor, from Duanesburg to Lafayette. The program is free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!
Phone: 315-655-7651
Email: director@cacda.net
 
Sep 22 - Sep 25
Time Warner Cable Jazz 'N Caz - presented by Cazenovia College. Complete schedule of performers, locations and times available on the Cazenovia College website.
Phone: 315-655-STAR
Email: cprossner@cazenoviacollege.edu
Web: www.cazenovia.edu
 
Sep 24 - Sep 25
Critz Farms Fall Harvest Celebration continues, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.All the usual fun including our 10 -acre Corn Maze- The Cow’s in the Corn! Pumpkin picking, hayrides, pony rides, gift shop, hot apple fritters and more. Petting zoo and two playgrounds! Big Toys for Big Girls and Boys Farm Equipment Show. Special Cazenovia FFA Fundraiser – Kids of all ages can climb up into the driver seat of these giant machines. Local farmers and equipment dealers donate the use of their tractors, harvesters, combines, tractor-trailers, etc. Kiddie Tractor Pull Saturday at 11:00. Kid’s Songs with John Liuzzo Saturday starting at 1:00. Live music by Sharon & Mark on Sunday afternoon. Admission $5.00 per person includes season pass. Discount family pass available online. Located 3 ½ miles south of Cazenovia on Route 13.
Phone: 315-662-3355
Email: info@critzfarms.com
Web: www.critzfarms.com

Posted by jimj at 10:16 PM

Cool Networking Opportunity!!

The Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce's montly membership meeting is going to be held this coming Tuesday, September 13. It will be at the Rippleton Schoolhouse on Route 13 South. The schoolhouse is part of the Lorenzo State Historic Site, and the meeting will feature a catered brown-bag lunch, plus presentations by an 1800's schoolmistress and by Bob Dubik, superintendent of Cazenovia schools. All for just $15. Just click here for full details on the Cazenovia Chamber's September 2005 meeting!

These meetings are a great way to meet your business colleagues and neighbors - please consider going - call the Chamber office at 655-9243 or email them at cazchamber@alltel.net.

Law Firm opens Cazenovia branch office

The Central New York Business Journal has an article about the new Cazenovia office of the Syracuse law firm Sonneborn, Spring, & O'Sullivan, P.C. They've opened the office in 9 Albany Street (between the Gothic Cottage and Embellishments) to serve Madison County clients.

Wal-Mart: Becoming yesterday's story?

CNN/Money reviews the troubles facing the world's largest retailer in this article about how Wal-Mart's troubles run far deeper than rising gas prices. I've copied the relevant portion of the article below.

Thre seems to be a growing group of analysts holding the opinion that Wal-Mart may have finally jumped the shark. It appears, more or less, that the company is beginning to collapse under its own weight and success - nimbler, hipper competitors are gaining the department store defectors, and dollar stores are capturing the super-cost-conscious consumer.

Wal-Mart: Becoming yesterday's story?

A case in point is Wal-Mart, which rattled Wall Street Thursday. The retailer reported higher profits but the numbers missed Wall Street forecasts, and it warned about the rest of the year, blaming higher gas prices and weather.

Wal-Mart executives have repeatedly warned that higher gas prices weigh more on its customers, most of who live paycheck to paycheck.

But some industry watchers wondered whether Wal-Mart's troubles are running deeper than a bout of gas pains.

"Starting with the recession in the mid-70's, the worse the economy got the better Wal-Mart sales would be. Now, like everybody else, Wal-Mart is using every excuse in the book to disguise company-specific problems," said Burt Flickinger, retail analyst with New York-based Strategic Resource Group.

Robert Buchanan, retail analyst at A.G. Edwards, said Wal-Mart is struggling with internal execution problems.

"Basically it's long lines and slow speed at checkout and missing some fashion (items) and not having iPods in the majority of the stores," he said.

In addition, he said, morale at the company is being hurt by a drumbeat of negative publicity about the company, such as reports that former Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin padded his expense account with up to $500,000 in improper purchases and numerous lawsuits against it by disgruntled employees.

Coughlin resigned from the company after Wal-Mart found what it said was a pattern of expense-account abuses.

"Management distractions can have a tremendous effect on a company," said Craig Johnson, retail analyst with Customer Growth Partners. "The good news is that Wal-Mart took some action and they're putting more effort into their public relations."

For starters, Wal-Mart invited the members of the media for a first-ever two-day meet-and-greet with senior executives in early April.

But that's not likely to be enough to help pull the world's largest retailer out of its funk.

"Wal-Mart has to redefine itself to consumers," said Johnson. "If the lowest price pitch is its only value proposition, that's yesterday's news." In other words, it needs to come up with something new and fresh instead of just rocking along like it's the 1980s.

Perhaps rival Target Corp. (Research), the No. 2 discounter after Wal-Mart, can provide some inspiration. Target on Thursday beat analysts' forecasts for earnings, although sales were slightly softer than estimates.

Analysts credited Target with outmerchandising and outmarketing Wal-Mart with trendy clothes and home furnishings -- both of which are higher profit categories -- as well as running savvy ads focusing on the company's Bull's eye logo.

New Shops Open, Construction Done

The Cazenovia Grill is now open in the space between Common Grounds and Kinney Drugs. For those of you who haven't seen the new configuration, the buildings in the plaza behind "telephone park" are now (left to right): Common Grounds, Cazenovia Grill, Cazenovia Artisans, and Kinney's.

The plaza's facade is complete and looks good; the college bookstore around the corner on Sullivan Street is now open, too.

Cazenovia Grill is open for lunch right now; they expect to open for dinner in a couple of weeks. The lunch food is similar to the lunch fare offered at Common Grounds, with the addition of pizza, french fries, and other quick hot items.

I've included some photos below; they were taken on December 2, 2004:

New shops facade:

Kinney Drugs facade:

Side view of Harvey's, facing west:

CACDA Seeks Director (JOB OPPORTUNITY)

I received this message today from the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association. They're seeking a full-time Executive Director; this looks like a very interesting job.

More on the Franklin Museum

Here's the full Post-Standard article about the official announcement of the Franklin Museum coming to Cazenovia. The property on which they will build is on Route 20 West, just west of Stearns & Wheler and just a half mile from the village.

Once again, congratulations to all involved; I am very excited to see this dream becoming a reality!

Changes In Store for Kinney

Kinney Drugs is dramatically changing the look and layout of its store, inside and out. According to today's Cazenovia Republican, the remodeled Kinney will have:

• A facade that's consistent with rework being done to Common Grounds and Cazenovia Artisans, as well as in keeping with the historic character of the village
• A front entrance (facing Albany Street)
• Counters and photo lab at the front of the store
• New checkout lanes
• An expanded bank of coolers and freezers
• A modern, one-hour photo lab
• Separate pick-up and drop-off areas in the pharmacy, and a new pharmacy waiting area
• Public restrooms

Preserving Unique Communities

Small towns and cities across America seek to preserve their uniqueness by regulating development, and some are now banning chain restaurants and stores altogether, or limiting the size and number of such stores. See this USA Today article for more details.

Syracuse MDA Annual Meeting

This article from the Syracuse Post-Standard describes the annual meeting of the Syracuse Metropolitan Development Authority. Their Vision 2010 program is attracting interest and funding from a variety of private and public sources, and their event was apparently a big success. Richard Florida, author of "The Rise of the Creative Class", was keynote speaker. Florida's book was the foundation of the talk given by Vito Sciscioli at the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting in December.

Central New York told to start working smart

Small Businesses Take Note!

The Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the New York State Small Business Development Center to offer confidential expert advice to new and existing small businesses in the greater Cazenovia area. There will be an informational meeting to kick off the partnership on Wednesday, February 4 at 5:30 PM in the community room of the Cazenovia Public Library.

The Chamber has provided space in its business incubation center for the SBDC to meet with individual businesses by appointment every second Wednesday beginning February 11. The business center telephone number is 315-655-8814.

For more information about the partnership between the Chamber and the SBDC, please visit http://www.cazenoviachamber.com/sbdc_announcement.html.

Italy's Parmalat scandal affects Madison County Farmers

The scandal enveloping the Italian company Parmalat is affecting dozens of dairy farmers in Central New York who sell their milk to that company. This article from the Post-Standard uses interviews with farmers around CNY - including the Georgetown/Sheds Milk Cooperative - to illustrate the problem.

How Italy's accounting scandal hits CNY farms

CNY Household Wealth By Zipcode

A study recently conducted by a Virginia company shows that Cazenovia (13035) ranks 8th in the four-county Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical area in median household income by zip code. Fayetteville ranked first, with Manlius a close second. In fact, 18 of the top 19 zip codes were in Onondaga County; 13035 was the only exception.

According to the CNY Business Journal, "The statistics provide a glimpse into where the area’s wealth resides and are useful to marketers and advertisers, public-policy makers, developers, real-estate agents, and homebuyers, among others."

Here is the link to the article: Region’s richest live in Fayetteville

Harvey's is now Kinney Drugs

A village landmark has changed names again, as Harvey's Drugs' Cazenovia location is now a Kinney Drugs store. Kinney says it has plans to remodel the exterior and provide a new entrance, according to this article in today's Post-Standard.

Trustees see merit in vision project

Trustees see merit in vision project

Nelson Farms - Food Business Incubator

Housed in the former Nelson Inn on Route 20, Nelson Farms is an incubator for farmers, restaurateurs and anybody with a family recipe or an idea for a food product they think will sell.

This article from the Syracuse Post-Standard describes the concept, including the people involved and the past and future of the idea.

A Hothouse for Ideas

New Fees for Food Vendors in Cazenovia Parks

It will now cost from $25 - $2,000 to sell food at Cannon Park, and presumably other parks, in Cazenovia.

Food vendor fees now top out at $2,000 in Cazenovia

Manufacturing Expansion in Skaneateles

An interesting article from the Syracuse Post-Standard about the growth of technology businesses north of Skaneateles.

Historic turns high tech