JULY --Issue 50

RT. 90 GARAGE SALE-- It's that time of year again. Garage and lawn sales pepper the 54-mile stretch from Montezuma (in Cayuga county) to Homer (Cortland county)--this Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 am. 

ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW-- The 26th Annual Skaneateles Antique and Classic Boat Show will be held from Friday to Sunday. This is where I fell in love with the adirondack guide-boat and decided to build my own this past spring.  Plans were purchased from guillemot-kayaks.com

SKANEATELES PUBLIC HEARING-- Brought back by popular demand is another public hearing on the Watershed Overzone law at the Skaneateles village board meeting August 9 at 7:30 pm. The August 9 meeting will be at the Skaneateles Community Center, if available. 

GEDDES COMMITTEE STUDIES WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION 
From Post-Standard/Neighbors West, July 29
Geddes town councilors will form a committee to study ways to revitalize the town's waterfront. Interested residents were asked to apply in writing to the town clerk by July 31. All applicants will automatically be appointed to the committee. Talk about democracy in action! What a fabulous idea. I wish we had that kind of inclusion in Spafford.

SORRY TO SEE HER GO 
Post-Standard reporter, Sara Errrington who has covered news events in  Skaneateles town and village, Onondaga town and Spafford town for many years--will be leaving to become a fulltime firefighter. We wish her well. 

MARCELLUS TRIES TO LOWER WATER DISTRICT COSTS 
Post-Standard/Neighbors West article 7/29/04
Marcellus town board has asked help to lower costs from NY Rural Water Association and RCAP Solutions, to conduct mail-in income surveys in Marcellus, Otisco and Spafford. Results of the survey might help the project qualify for grants and low-interest loans from the Department of Agriculture or State Environmental facilities.

JOB OPENING
The Town of Spafford has a job opening to serve on the Sub Division/Planning Board. Applicants must be a resident of the town of Spafford. Letters and resumes must be sent to Spafford Town Hall, 1984 Rt. 174, Skaneateles, NY 13152, and received by 12 p.m. noon on Thursday, August 12, 2004.

SPEND YOUR WEEKEND IN SPAFFORD 
July 24, 10 AM at Borodino Grange Hall - Dawn Jordan String Theatre presents the Frog Knight

July 25,  8 AM -1 PM at Borodino Firehouse - Pancake Breakfast

See Community page for more information

RECENT ADDITIONS 
Krissy Lanning of Marcellus wins the 2004 Harley Davidson Super Dyna Glide motorcycle at Saturday's Spafford Vol. Fire Department's 2004 Harley Raffle

Otisco Lake newsletter, Reflections June/July (6 pgs, pdf), and the Spafford Area Historical Society's June newsletter (4 pgs, pdf). 

If you are interested in the history of Spafford, perhaps researching your family geneology, you will enjoy this excerpt from Central New York Geneological Society's quarterly publication, Tree Talks, which includes the index and notes of the Berry Letters, by Bill Breihan. 

BOARD MINUTES 
Lisa's official Spafford Town Board Minutes from June 10, 2004.

PUBLIC NOTICES
Town of Spafford held a public meeting with Richard Thomson from the NYS Codes Division - Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1984 Route 174. 

'You can't cite someone because their property is not "pretty" -  only if its not safe.'

"Oversight Program Review of the Town of Spafford", by NYS Dept of Codes Division [ Full version, 24 pgs, pdf ] 

BULLETT MINUTES 
Some of July 8 town board meeting at Spafford Town Hall-- first from the public agenda--

Rose Case asked for clarification of incidents of physical assault and tire slashing alleged in a letter written to Neighbors West by Councilwoman Joyce Barnett. Mrs. Case said she called the state troopers and the *  sheriff's department; there was a report made about a tire, but no report filed about an assault. Councilor Barnett replied that this "isn't town business" and declined comment. 

Ken Lieberman introduced a representative from Adelphia to give an update on the cable expansion project. [map June 2004] Mike Webster, construction coordinator for the project to install cable lines to serve 302 homes, said he thinks the project will be complete by the end of this year. He cited an audit of Adelphia by the city of Auburn, and a "more efficient design for their system" ** as reasons for the delay.

Supervisor Ireland commented the town of Spafford has received positive press recently in Sunday's Post-Standard article by Dick Case on veteran Bob Sharpe. Supervisor Ireland asked Councilor Fred Chappell (chairman of the memorial committee) about installing a sign at the Spafford Veterans memorial site. Mr. Chappell said that the fence was recently installed and a gate will be added, but at the present time there is not enough money to do the signage.

Supervisor Ireland stated that Mr. Widger, who owns a camp on Spafford Landing Road, has asked the board to approve a request to DOT for a speed reduction on Spafford Landing Road. This was approved.

Frank Moran spoke about the status of the Borodino Landing park project. (Re: some community members would like the town to purchase the Denslow property at Borodino Landing for a resident use park.) Moran said he learned from conversation with the Denslows they would prefer their children take over the property, but are willing to hear what the town would offer. (It is a 1.6 ac lot with an assessed value of $267,000) Mr. Moran stated he feels we should "act soon or we may miss the boat" to obtain lake access for future generations. The town owns a 49' ROW (right-of-way) -- up the the high water mark of the lake, then the state takes over. Moran suggested moving the road back, or shortening the road to create a beach area. 

Mr. Moran also stated he feels the job of town board member has become more complicated, a sometimes thankless job that is poorly compensated. He suggested increasing wages of board members would attract younger people to the board. Supervisor Ireland replied that he doesn't do this for the money, but to (provide) service to other people. and has pride in this community. 

Town Clerk's Report -- Lisa Valletta sold 2 marriage licenses, and 122 transfer station tags, many because of area re-districting. Mrs. Valletta stated these new boundary lines apply to changes in election districts, not fire districts. The new district map is posted at town hall.

Highway Superintendent's Report-- Carl Weiss said "another sign is on the way" to replace the misspelled Bockes Road sign. The Bacon Hill project has been completed. Vic Sayko asked about the procedure for shoulder mowing. Johanna Frittelli asked who was responsible to clear the tall grass on the corner of Nunnery and Richard Road. Mr. Weiss said this is the county's responsibility; he has already ordered this. 

Councilor Joyce Barnett-- re: Town Justice's monthly action report. Mrs. Barnett asked if a short description could be added. 

Councilor Bill Vinzant - requested an executive board session be scheduled to review findings and comments about NYS Dept of Codes review of the town of Spafford's codes. He said he is concerned that Doug Staley and Judge Regan are "not reading from the same songbook."  Update: A public hearing was held July 14 at town hall.

* Editor's note: Although incident reports are public record, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Dept, you must request the information in writing and you must state that you are making the request under FOIL.

**Source: Neighbors West, July 15, 2004

Top

HAPPINESS IN BORODINO -- For list of pancake breakfasts and other community events.

FIREWORKS 
Frankie's Fireworks Saturday, July 10th

Spafford In the News

Dining Out:1820 House serves up splendid food  Yolanda Wright, 7/29/04

Town tries to lower water district costs 7/29/04

• Skaneateles Press

• Post-Standard

Downloads 

Spafford Forest map1, by Chris Somerlot  

Spafford Forest2, by Chris Somerlot  

Spy Ware Removal  (right-click, "Save Target As")

1. Ad-Aware 

2. Spy Remover v. 1.62

AVG - free Antivirus