As another year begins, let’s take a brief look at the highlights of 2007.
The year began with a bang as the Baldwinsville Bees toppled the undefeated ESM basketball team in the Vince Celi Memorial Tournament followed by a Marching Bees victory at the Gator Bowl.
Consolidation was the buzz in January and February with notions of Baldwinsville the city being tossed around. Shortly after, Dan O’Hara resigned as mayor of Baldwinsville to become the director of the New York State Fair, leaving Rick Presley to fill in until the March elections. His vacancy wasn’t the only shuffling of political seats. Sandy Baker resigned as county legislator and Rich Lesniak left his seat on the Lysander town board to fill the county position. Jack Krisanda was appointed to fill Lysander’s vacancy shortly after.
In March, students of the Baldwinsville Central school district were not happy when they lost a vacation day in order to pay back for excess snow days.
May put Baldwinsville on the world map when the American Carp Society hosted the Northeast Regional Carp Tournament along the Seneca River. The total weight of carp caught during the three-day event was 26,764 pounds and 13 ounces. The largest fish caught weighed 32 pounds and six ounces.
That same month, the old Harrington Firehouse was torn down after several years of debate on what to do with the property. The village has adopted a plan designed by Environmental Design and Research and is working with the consultants on specifics of the plan. In the meantime, the village plans to put an ice skating rink in the area for all residents to use, so long as the weather cooperates.
In June, Van Buren was dealt a blow when the Syroco plant announced it was closing. More than 150 employees that worked at the manufacturing factory received notice June 15 that they would be laid off permanently.
Within a two-week period over the summer, two men were charged with arson in the Baldwinsville area. Chester Cooper Jr. was charged with second-degree arson in a fire that broke out at the Woodsboro Drive cul-de-sac in Radisson. Then, on the morning of Aug. 6, fire engines could be heard from all over Baldwinsville as 24 departments from central New York headed to the downtown district of Baldwinsville to respond to a fire at the four corners. The fire caused the intersection to be closed for most of the day and Michael K. Lyons was later charged with second-degree arson for the fire.
Thankfully, there were no fatalities in either incident.
Three officers were honored for their efforts to ensure the safety of others during the Aug. 6 fire. Deputy Daniel Bieling of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Trooper George Lumkin Jr. of the New York State Police and Officer James Cerankowski of the Baldwinsville Police Department received recognition for the bravery they demonstrated that morning.
On Aug. 29, the Bitz family sold their successful, family-owned Plainville Turkey Farm in Lysander to Plainville Farms, LLC due to growth and increasing sales. The business had become too big to remain a family operative.
This fall, the Baldwinsville Public Library launched an effort to digitize The Gazette, The Gazette & Farmer’s Journal and The Messenger, to make information more easily accessible. Thousands of articles regarding Baldwinsville’s history are available to library patrons on microfilm, but there is no efficient way to sort through them. Bob Bitz and Meg VanPatten spearheaded the effort and are currently seeking funding to digitize the papers.
It was an exciting fall for Baldwinsville soccer fans. First, the Baldwinsville Bees won the Section III Class AA boys soccer final for the first time. Then, CNY United FC of CNY Family Sports Centre on Jones Road joined the Premier Arena Soccer League becoming central New York’s first semi-pro indoor soccer team.
There is plenty to look forward to in 2008, so stay informed with the Messenger.
