By Phil Blackwell

Yet another signature event in the village of Baldwinsville has proven a casualty of COVID-19 and its aftershocks.

At the village board meeting on July 16, it was announced that the 2020 edition of the Taste of Baldwinsville, which was set to take place Sept. 26 and run by the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce, was canceled.

Mayor Richard Clarke said that every effort was made to keep the festival going, but that it proved unsuccessful, a fate Taste of Baldwinsville shares with all public festivals, large and small, that since March have gone away.

The Taste of B’ville committee and the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce released a statement July 16.

“We don’t like making this announcement and we waited as long as we could, but Taste of B’ville will not take place this year,” the statement reads. “Like many of you, we were so looking forward to Taste of B’ville. Gathering together to eat delicious food, dance to wonderful music, and celebrate as a group was going to be our reward for persevering through the last few months to keep our community safe. It will happen, just not in September of this year.”

B’ville foodies should not despair at the cancellation, however: Taste of B’ville is planning a contest involving the festival’s food and beverage vendors that will take place this fall. Details are still in the works. Follow facebook.com/tastebville for updates.

Also on the agenda

Better news arrived from the way village residents have responded to the national 2020 Census.

Clarke reported that, as of this week, 70% of residents had turned in their census forms, far greater than the 57% response rate for all of New York state.

Two longtime village employees had their retirements approved — one a decorated police officer, the other a veteran of the Department of Public Works.

Martin Knaul, who served 28 years in the Baldwinsville Police Department and was the popular resource officer for the Baldwinsville Central School District, was not fully going away, as he was later approved to have part-time duties starting in August.

Still, Knaul received high praise from police chief Michael Lefancheck for his long service that dated back to serving in the United States Army before he joined the department. Twice, Knaul was chosen as the village’s Officer of the Year, earning those honors 19 years apart.

“There’s no better ambassador for the Baldwinsville Police,” said Lefancheck.

Another retirement took place with Brian Trowbridge’s departure from the Department of Public Works, effective July 31.

Village engineer Stephen Darcangelo said that Trowbridge had a good feel for when water pipes within the village needed to be shut off or turned on, and did plenty of great work without drawing attention to himself.

“He was a very quiet, effective employee,” said Darcangelo.

After a brief public hearing, the board approved a $15,513 transfer from the village’s water reserve system fund designed to replace water main breaks on East Genesee Street.