CAZENOVIA — On Oct. 29, the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) celebrated the local community during a special version of its Annual Meeting and Fundraising Dinner.
For this year’s “Spooky Soirée: A Community Celebration,” the chamber’s Caz Life committee replaced the traditional formal sit-down dinner with a “mix and mingle” cocktail party at the Lincklaen House.
The festive evening featured live music by The Jess Novak Band, complimentary tarot readings by Renee Joseph from the Cazenovia Public Library, a photo booth, raffle baskets, a live auction, food stations, and the introduction of the Ezra Greenleaf Weld Community Awards.
Ezra Greenleaf Weld (1801-1874) was a photographer and an operator of a daguerreotype studio in Cazenovia. He and his family were also important figures in the abolitionist movement.
Weld’s legacy is tied closely to the Fugitive Slave Law Convention of 1850, an abolitionist meeting held in Cazenovia on Aug. 21–22, 1850.
The convention was organized in opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, which mandated that federal marshals actively capture and return escaped slaves to their owners, even in free states, and established significant fines and penalties for individuals who assisted runaway slaves, essentially forcing ordinary citizens to aid in their capture if needed.
The gathering, the largest of its kind, reportedly drew more than 2,000 attendees, including prominent figures such as Gerrit Smith and Frederick Douglass, along with nearly 50 fugitive slaves.
The meeting opened at the First Congregational Church of Cazenovia — now the theater on Lincklaen Street — before relocating to an orchard on Sullivan Street to accommodate the crowds.
In the orchard, Weld captured a now-famous image of the historic event and its leaders.
“Weld’s famous daguerreotype . . . remains a powerful testament to the courage and resolve of those who fought for freedom and justice,” the Caz Life website states. “Weld’s commitment to using his art to document and influence social change is a source of inspiration for the awards that bear his name. Each year, the Ezra Greenleaf Weld Awards will honor those who have made unique and lasting contributions to our community. These individuals share a love for Cazenovia’s natural beauty, its vibrant businesses, and the well-being of its people. They are dedicated to preserving the town’s heritage while enhancing its future.”
The “Visionary Persistence” award celebrates those who imagine a Cazenovia that has yet to be realized, look beyond existing norms, and work tirelessly to turn their visionary ideas into reality.
The “Professional Excellence” award honors individuals whose professional endeavors contribute significantly to Cazenovia’s success and quality of life, and the “Unsung Heroics” award recognizes those who work quietly and selflessly for the betterment of the community.
Ezra Greenleaf Weld Community Awards recipients
This year’s Visionary Persistence award winner is Village of Cazenovia Mayor Kurt Wheeler.
Former real estate developer and local visionary Bob Hood presented the award. His remarks highlighted Wheeler’s ongoing role in the strategic planning for the future of the former Cazenovia College campus, his leadership of the student-directed non-profit organization Project CAFÉ, his involvement in introducing a comprehensive plan for the community, and his sacrifices throughout his years as mayor.
“I think of three things when I think of Kurt and visionary persistence — leadership, vision, and empowering other people,” said Hood. “No matter how talented a person is, without other people involved, you’re not going to get much done. . . . I was reminded the other day of a phrase that represents Kurt’s philosophy, ‘If you don’t care who gets the credit, an awful lot can get done.’”
The Professional Excellence award was presented to Jen Wong, executive director of the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF), president of the CazCares food pantry and clothing closet, and founder of the new organization Cazenovia Female Executive Directors.
“Jen has a talent for bringing people together and creating networks and partnerships, which are so important to get anything done,” said Cazenovia Area Community Development Association Executive Director Lauren Lines, who presented the award. “It has been a joy over the past five years to watch Jen lead CPF in, I think, a new and wonderful direction. She has brought enormous leadership skills, boundless energy, and, importantly, a new generation’s perspective to CPF, which I think has been wonderful and needed.”
This year’s Unsung Heroics award recipient is Dan Kuper, owner of the Lincklaen House and the Hampton Inn & Suites Cazenovia.
Kuper has also coached Pop Warner and, since 2007, served the Cazenovia Fire Department. He currently holds the position of first assistant chief.
20|EAST & Cazenovia Cut Block Owner McKenzie Houseman presented Kuper’s award and read a statement from his son, Alex.
The statement acknowledged Kuper’s leadership, quiet strength, unwavering commitment to those around him, and dedication to his community.
“For as long as I have been in the [fire] department, he has responded to the most [calls] per year,” wrote Alex, who also serves the department. “Whether it’s broad daylight or the middle of the night, he will be there. To this day, I can only count one fire call that I have been to without him being there. Honestly, if it wasn’t for visiting me [at college], he would probably make 100 percent of the calls. . . . Despite being a dedicated father, husband, friend, business owner, fire chief, and [much] more, he still finds time [to be available] in any situation you need him. Many people ask, ‘When does your father sleep?’ I honestly don’t really know the answer.”
Each award recipient received a piece created by the artists at Cazenovia Artisans.
“It seems fitting that we would name these awards after an ordinary person doing extraordinary things here in Cazenovia,” said Caz Life board member Judith Hight, owner of J.S. Hight & Sons Fine Wines & Spirits. “. . . As we reviewed the nominees, we found they shared some significant qualities with Ezra Greenleaf Weld. Like Ezra, our nominees work tirelessly to improve their communities and even impact their nation. They love the people, the natural resources, and the lifestyle of Cazenovia. They are motivated to do good and create a legacy that they will be proud to pass on to future generations.”
Caz Life is the events and marketing committee of the GCACC. Its members work to foster local business development, promote tourism, and implement effective marketing strategies to enhance the vibrancy and economic growth of the village.
Proceeds from the Spooky Soirée will support Caz Life community events and local business promotion.
Caz Life’s next event, “Caz Night Out,” will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Downtown stores will be open late and offer special deals and promotions. Shoppers are invited to finish the evening with food and drinks at the Brae Loch Inn.
To learn more about Caz Life, visit cazenovialife.com. For more information on the GCACC, visit cazenovia.com.
