Welcome to The Borodino Bullett Online Newsletter. We are STILL The Unofficial and irreverent voice for an area of Central New York that almost no one knows exists. 

WHERE THE HECK IS BORODINO?
Borodino is a hamlet nestled between two lakes: Otisco and Skaneateles. The Borodino Bullett website serves the residents of the Town of Spafford, and surrounding areas.

"History of Borodino", by Janice Beaman can be found on the Spafford Area Historical Society web page. This is a postcard from the SAHS archives of Borodino Landing. Actual date unknown, circa 1900.

 BORODINO SCALE LINE
All aboard the Borodino & Southern Express! Martin Collard brings combines history and modeling skill to create and build the Borodino Scale Line right here in "Downtown Borodino." (Note: This two page article containing many graphics.)

SPAFFORD VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
Over 50 people attended the Benefit Grill at the Cherrywood Inn on July 16th. Peter and Julie Trawinski, owners of The Cherrywood Inn raised about $900 for the planned Spafford Veterans Memorial, bringing our total to almost $20,000 raised toward the ultimate goal of $30,000 estimated to complete the project. Updates on this project inside...

APPRECIATION RECEPTION TO BE HELD FOR SEN. DEFRANCISCO & ASSY. BROWN
The public is invited to attend a reception August 9th at 6:00 PM at the Spafford Town Hall, to show their appreciation for all the work that Senator John De Francisco and Assemblyman Hal Brown have done for our community. Munchies will be provided.

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM BEGINS IN SPAFFORD
Children ages 6-10 that live in the Town of Spafford (including Summer residents), can register now for the first annual Summer Youth Program. The Spafford Area Historical Society will sponsor these Monday morning sessions (9:00-11:30 am) at the Borodino Grange building. Cost is just $2 per child for each session.  Register your child by calling Shari @ 636-8629, or Susan @ 673-1206 (at least 7 days prior to the class to ensure space). See the Community page for a complete class listing. See Bill Vinzant's photos of  "How To Build Kaleidoscope" class taken August 5th.

KEN'S KABLE UPDATE:
After two years working to bring Adelphia Cable service to the Town of Spafford, Ken Lieberman says that now the Town is having to look to Time Warner to complete the job. Ken tells us why...

OVERSTRESSED IN THE STRESS-FREE ZONE
Roving Bullett reporters follow the trash trucks from Borodino to Seneca Meadows landfill near Seneca Falls in this special report...

COMMUNITY EVENTS: WE HAVE PICTURES
Pictures from Linda Sanders' Benefit Garden Tour for the Bordino Fire Dept. Sanders raised around $400 to give to the BFD. This was the first time she opened her garden for a fundraising event.

CHICKY BBQ: FINAL TALLY IN
Pictures from the annual Chicken BBQ to benefit the grange building restoration. Here is the Official News from Ruth Vinzant, BBQ Hostess:
This report is a tad bit late, and I do apologize. The weather cooperated, not too hot, no rain --- just perfect. We had a great deal of good help and for that we are most appreciative. Thanks to one and all. Our profit was a bit lower that we had hoped our chickens were heavier, and cost more that in the past.  We did not have as many pies donated as in the past so again we were a bit short in the final tally.  At this point our profit is $880.00. There may be an additional amount coming in.  Thank you again for all the help.  Many hands make light work.  Ruth and Bill

100 YEARS OF KEEPING COOL
From: Bill Littlehales <blittlehales@bigplanet.com>
Subject:  100 years of keeping cool
Date:  July 18, 2002
My Mom, Edna, is getting a lot of press lately in conjunction with the Carrier celebration. Click here: 100 years of keeping cool. This is quite a story. Edna is mentioned throughout, with reference to the Skaneateles Lake cottage toward the end.

TRANSFER STATION: MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Metal Day is the third Saturday of each month through October.  If you do not have a valid Transfer Station permit see Lisa Valletta at the Town Hall. Permits must be renewed each year. Cost is $15. What items can and cannot be recycled? Get your copy of the rules and regs on the Town of Spafford Info page.

HAPPINESS IS A BORODINO PANCAKE BREAKFAST
The Borodino Fire Department announces four pancake breakfasts this summer on the third Sunday of each month--June 23, July 28, August 25, and September 8. Shown here is Assemblyman Hal Brown sampling the pancakes at last July's Borodino Pancake Breakfast.

DAWN JORDAN STRING THEATRE
Marionettes invade the Grange building once again this August 25, as SAHS sponsors a return performance of The Dragon of Umshire by the Dawn Jordan String Theatre. Pictures and more inside...

MARTISCO LIONS CLUB PRESENTS:
Tickets are on sale now for the 10th Annual Seward F. Hoxie Memorial Duck Derby at Marcellus Park. Sunday, August 18th at 1:00 pm -'til the ducks come home. Contact Curt Ledermann or Tom Trachimowicz --or any Lion you know for tickets. 90 prizes in all. Grand prize is $500 cash from DFP Roofing & Sheet Metal. Click here for a list of all prizes and sponsors.

TAX ASSESSORS HOLD PUBLIC INFO SESSION AT SPAFFORD TOWN HALL
At a public informational session July 11th at 6:30 pm, at Spafford Town Hall on Route 174, Bob and Don, representatives from Appraisal Consultants from Rochester, spoke to residents about what to expect when all 1900 properties in the Town of Spafford are re-assessed this August.

They will be parked on your street in early August --you may notice cars with white magnetic signs ("Appraisal Consultants-Assessment Review-Town of Spafford").

Bob and Don, asked everyone who hasn't done so already, to send in their data mailer. 'The second thing you'll receive,' they say, 'will be the Fair Disclosure Assessment Impact Notice.'

' We were hired by the Town of Spafford to estimate the fair market value of your property as of 1/03. The last time the Town assessed property was in 1998. '

The Town is paying them $30,000 to assess the 1900 parcels in Spafford. It will take 3 or 4 months to analyze all 1900 parcels to update the 2003 tax rolls (roughly $15 per parcel).

Informal hearings will be held in early March at the Town Hall. You can receive a copy of your property report at that time. Each person will be allowed 15 minutes each, by appointment only, during the hours of 9 am- 7 pm. If you're not satisfied following this session, you can go to the Grievance Board.

They will take into account the average selling price of property in the Town of Spafford (i.e. currently Skaneateles Lakefront property assesses for $2500 per ft). as of January 1, 1999 and again for 2000. They analyze the market trend and estimate land values. Their starting point will be 7/2/02.

One man asked: "Do you take into account the truck traffic on Route 41 (when determining assessed value of a property)?"
Bob: "Of course we do."

A woman in the back asked: "How about how you keep your yard?"
Bob: "Obviously, there are people who are better house keepers than others. We try not to penalize those who are the "shit banger" of the street. We don't penalize people who outright neglect their property in valuation for assessment purposes."

BULLETT MINUTES: JULY SPAFFORD TOWN BOARD MEETING 7/11/02

The town board has recently created two temporary positions, in anticipation of a busy grievance period next year after a town wide property revaluation is completed. These 2 positions are still open on the Board of Assessment Review (send letter of interest to Lisa Valletta at the Town Hall). This is a one-year term, and you must attend a 1 day class in the Spring.

Re: Veterans Memorial park project
Gordon Ireland said Paul Hood can locate the well on the property with his metal detector. The well was probably buried when pulling out the lilac trees. A power pole needs to be installed for lights on the flag. So far we have collected $3865 total funds from private donations; $10,000 from Senator John DeFrancisco; $5,000 from Assemblyman Hal Brown; the benefit grill at the Cherrywood Inn --which brings our total to around $19,765. (Editor's note: goal is $30,000) Donations can be sent to: Veterans Memorial, c/o Town of Spafford.

Merle Clark Highway Department report:
Spafford Landing: Banks were hydroseeded at Spafford Landing. They'll do another culvert this Fall. All dirt roads were treated with calcium for dust control. They're trying to locate a mower to mow the side roads.

Gordon Ireland noted an outstanding job done on the bridge on Willow Hill Road. There is interesting history about this site of the old Puddin' Mill flour mill...and "Puddin' Mill Bridge"--originally the water flowed under this road.

GOSSIP AND MAIL

This is where we answer e-mails.

BULLETT ARCHIVES
We wouldn't want you to miss a thing. The Archives contains select past articles, and pictures for you to discover.