Ann Oliver, of Marcellus, recently snapped this photo of a well-concealed eastern screech owl in Skaneateles.
Ed Rossmann submitted this photo of rays of sunlight poking through the sky onto Cayuga Lake from Long Point State Park in Ledyard recently.
A quilt donated by the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Moravia, currently on display at Regenerations, 101 Genesee St., Auburn, will be raffled to fund a scholarship for the winner of an essay contest on the subject of Summerhill native and 13th U.S. President Millard Fillmore. High school seniors in the Cayuga County area are invited to participate in the contest, which is being organized by members of the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society and officials with the town of Summerhill, where Fillmore was born in a log cabin in 1800. Further details on the contest will be available from each high school's American history teachers. The overall winner of the contest will receive a $500 scholarship, while the winner from each school will receive a wristwatch. The quilt will be on display the last two weeks of January at Regenerations; in February at Mark J. Lawn Optician, 13 E. Genesee St., Auburn; and in March at Camardo Law Firm, 127 Genesee St., Auburn. Tickets for the raffle are $1 and will be available at the participating locations through the end of April. For more information, contact contest organizer Joyce Hackett Smith-Moore at (315) 224-7273 or drjoycesmith@hotmail.com.
Gertrude Capocefalo was born on Dec. 31, 1920. She has been a resident of the Finger Lakes Center for Living since July 2013. This Dec. 31, she celebrated her birthday with friends and family. Attending outside her window were her two daughters, Valerie Prouten and Paula Capocefalo, along with their husbands, Bruce Prouten and Rob Outhouse. Also attending was good friend Cayuga County Clerk Susan Dwyer. On conference call were her only grandchildren, Jamie Prouten and Jaylyn Edoo. She was elated to receive a recognition from her congressman, John Katko. She also received a citation and a beautiful flower arrangement from her assemblyman and friend Gary Finch. Cake was distributed to the residents of the center.
For the new year, 10 backpacks will be given to the Chapel House homeless shelter in Auburn as part of an initiative by the Cayuga County branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Each backpack contains body wash, deodorant, disposable razors, Kleenex packages, protein bars, hand sanitizer, face masks, hats, gloves, washcloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, Band-Aids, soap bars and other toiletries. There are also educational pamphlets on asking for help, post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health guidelines. The backpacks are the first of many projects the branch is planning to reach out to those in need this year.
The Cultural Italian American Organization of Cayuga County spread some holiday cheer this season when Dr. John Ryan coordinated the delivery of panettone to all nursing stations at Auburn Community Hospital. Handing off the holiday packages for delivery to Dr. Ryan, left, are CIAO members Paul Saltarello, center, and Tony Gucciardi. "Thank you to all frontline workers from CIAO! Buon Natale!" the organization said in a news release.
A retirement parade was held Dec. 22 for Seward Elementary School reading teacher Linda Miller. Staff, students and parents from the school and the district drove by her home, recognizing the impact she made during her 22 years at the school and 30 years as a teacher.
Sanjay Ruperto puts money in the kettle as Richard Farrelly, 73, rings the bell for those in need during the holiday season outside the Auburn Walmart store. Farrelly has manned the red kettle for The Salvation Army for more than 25 years.
Despite the "It's a Wonderful Life" Festival not taking place in person in Seneca Falls this year, the event's committee wanted to give back to the community. The committee donated $8,000 — the amount of money Uncle Billy "loses" in the movie — three times to local food pantries. The Seneca County House of Concern and Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca each received $8,000, and another $8,000 was split between several more area pantries for a total of $24,000 in donations. "In this year of uncertainty, when families are under the strain of dealing with the (COVID-19) pandemic, the committee wanted to try to make sure that getting food was a little easier for those who are in need," said Ann Sandroni, the committee's treasurer, in a news release.
Members of the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Auburn Police Department to deliver 30 handmade quilts to deserving children throughout the city of Auburn Friday. The quilts were made and donated by the Cayuga Lake Quilt Guild. Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca and the Auburn Rescue Mission helped identify those who would receive the quilts.
Unity House of Cayuga County held its annual appreciation breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Oct. 22, thanking donors and honoring its 2020 award winners before an audience of about 60. On the left, community advocate Timothy Donovan is presented the 10th annual Fred Atkins Community Service Award by Unity House Executive Director Elizabeth Smith, and on the right, Cayuga County Sheriff's Department Lt. Michael Wellauer is presented the Open Arms Award by Unity House Director of Marketing and Development Kelly Buck.
Friday, Jan. 22
Winter soup sales: beef vegetable, noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., back entry, First United Methodist Church, 2 Chapel St., Seneca Falls. Delivery available by appointment. Cost $7; preorders encouraged. Call (315) 651-6692.
Blood drive, 2 to 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Memphis, 1960 W. Genesee Turnpike, Elbridge. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Fish dinner, 5 p.m., Auburn Moose Lodge, 83 Wall St., Auburn. Broiled or fried, with fries or baked potato, cole slaw fish sandwich or wings with choice of sauce. Call (315) 253-2301.
Monday, Jan. 25
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Cub Scout Pack 40, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Elks Lodge No. 474, 314 State St., Auburn. Call (315) 283-5752.
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Job hunting/employment group, 10 a.m. to noon, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn.
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Soup kitchen, 4 to 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 47 Market St., Auburn. Hot soup, sandwich and dessert for takeout only; use back entrance.
Seymour Public Library District Board of Trustees, 4 p.m., Zoom. For link, email seymourlibrary@seymourlib.org.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Happy Hour Yoga, 7 to 9 p.m. Virtual yoga hosted by Summerhill Brewing. Visit summerhillbrewing.com.
Thursday, Jan. 28
Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., conference room A&B, Geneva General Hospital, 196 North St., Geneva. To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Alzheimer's Association caregiver support group meeting, 2 p.m. For group that regularly meets in Skaneateles. To join, call (315) 472-4201 ext. 228.
Three-part virtual precision agriculture workshop, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Zoom. Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County; continues Feb. 11 and 25. Free and open to the public; registration required. To register. visit senecacountycce.org.
Friday, Jan. 29
Blood drive, 1 to 5 p.m., Mozaic, 1521 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Blood drive, 2 to 6 p.m., Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Fish dinner, 5 p.m., Auburn Moose Lodge, 83 Wall St., Auburn. Broiled or fried, with fries or baked potato, cole slaw fish sandwich or wings with choice of sauce. Call (315) 253-2301.
Laurie Berkner concert to benefit CNY Diaper Bank, 6 p.m. Virtual concert on Zoom. Free; suggested donation $35 to support the bank's diaper distribution program. Visit cnydiaperbank.org.
Saturday, Jan. 30
Donation drive for Sew What! group, 9 a.m. to noon, Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson St., Auburn. New nonprofit group seeks all types of fabric, yard, sewing machines, materials and more in unopened packaging or good condition. Call (315) 406-0097 or email sewwhatcny@gmail.com
10th anniversary January Jazzfest, 7 p.m. Virtual event from Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, featuring Mark Nanni and The Intention, followed by Miller & The Other Sinners. Private VIP watch parties also available at the venue. Tickets $15-$45. Visit cnyjazz.org.
Sunday, Jan. 31
10th anniversary January Jazzfest, 5 p.m. Virtual event from Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, featuring Chuck Lamb and KJ Denhert. Private VIP watch parties also available at the venue. Tickets $15-$45. Visit cnyjazz.org.
Monday, Feb. 1
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Cub Scout Pack 40, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Elks Lodge No. 474, 314 State St., Auburn. Call (315) 283-5752.
Town of Brutus Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., town building, 9021 N. Seneca St., Weedsport.
Tuesday, Feb. 2
Job hunting/employment group, 10 a.m. to noon, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn.
Medicare basics class, noon to 2 p.m. Virtual class hosted by the Cayuga County Office for the Aging with information on Part D drug plans, EPIC co-pay assistance and more. Registration required. Call (315) 253-1226 or visit cayugacounty.us/507/office-for-the-aging.
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Owasco Watershed Lake Association public forum with Dr. Neil Murphy, 7 p.m., Zoom. Murphy will talk about his career, his experience with storm runoff buffers on land he and his wife lease to a crop farmer, and solutions for harmful algal blooms. Free and open to the public. To register, visit owla.org.
Happy Hour Yoga, 7 to 9 p.m. Virtual yoga hosted by Summerhill Brewing. Visit summerhillbrewing.com.
Hey everyone, David Wilcox here. I edit the Lake Life section of The Citizen. That's where you can find our feature stories, community columns…
Thursday, Feb. 4
Alzheimer's Association caregiver support group meeting, 2 p.m. For group that regularly meets in Auburn. To join, call (315) 472-4201 ext. 228.
Friday, Feb. 5
Winter soup sales: chicken vegetable, noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., back entry, First United Methodist Church, 2 Chapel St., Seneca Falls. Delivery available by appointment. Cost $7; preorders encouraged. Call (315) 651-6692.
Monday, Feb. 8
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Virtual Craft Camp, 6 p.m., Zoom. Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County. Cost $3-$5 for kit. To register, call (315) 255-1183, visit facebook.com/ccecayuga or email emw54@cornell.edu.
Cub Scout Pack 40, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Elks Lodge No. 474, 314 State St., Auburn. Call (315) 283-5752.
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Job hunting/employment group, 10 a.m. to noon, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn.
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Soup kitchen, 4 to 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 47 Market St., Auburn. Hot soup, sandwich and dessert for takeout only; use back entrance.
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., Union Springs Fire Department, 257 Cayuga St., Union Springs. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Happy Hour Yoga, 7 to 9 p.m. Virtual yoga hosted by Summerhill Brewing. Visit summerhillbrewing.com.
Thursday, Feb. 11
Blood drive, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nucor Steel, York Street, Auburn. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Friday, Feb. 12
Cayuga County Office for the Aging Caregiver Program Virtual Coffee Hour, 10 to 11 a.m. A casual, welcoming environment for informal caregivers to take a break and connect. For more information, or to sign up, call (315) 253-1226 or email ccofa@cayugacounty.us.
Blood drive, 2 to 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Memphis, 1960 W. Genesee Turnpike, Elbridge. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Saturday, Feb. 13
Blood drive, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Skaneateles Fire Department, 77 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Blood drive, 8 a.m. to noon, Vineyard Church, 99 Wall St., Auburn. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
CNY Folksmarch, 8 to 11 a.m., Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. A non-competitive walking event for people of all ages and abilities. Participation $4 for nonmembers. Visit folksmarch.wordpress.com.
Book sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Luke's United Church of Christ, 25 Seminary Ave., Auburn.
Sunday, Feb. 14
CNY Folksmarch, 1 to 3 p.m., Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. A non-competitive walking event for people of all ages and abilities. Participation $4 for nonmembers. Visit folksmarch.wordpress.com.
Monday, Feb. 15
Winter Break Camp, 9 a.m., Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. Continues through Feb. 19. Call (315) 673-1350 or visit baltimorewoods.org.
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Cub Scout Pack 40, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Elks Lodge No. 474, 314 State St., Auburn. Call (315) 283-5752.
Quizeum, a President's Day virtual trivia event, 7 p.m. Hosted by the Cayuga Museum of History & Art. Reservations $10 general admission, $8 museum members; all proceeds support the museum. To register, visit cayugamuseum.org/quizeum-virtual-trivia-night or email geoffrey@cayugamuseum.org.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Job hunting/employment group, 10 a.m. to noon, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn.
Free grab-and-go soup kitchen, noon to 1 p.m., S-K American Legion Post No. 1324, 168 State St., Auburn. Distributed by Auburn Hunger Task Force. Email auburnhungertaskforce@gmail.com.
Soup kitchen, 4 to 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 47 Market St., Auburn. Hot soup, sandwich and dessert for takeout only; use back entrance.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County Winter Shop meeting, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., virtual. Glyphosate and ALS-resistant marestail in Cayuga County with Mike Hunter, field crops specialist for the North Country Regional AG Team/Cornell Cooperative Extension. To register, visit reg.cce.cornell.edu/virtualwintershopmtg2021_205.
Happy Hour Yoga, 7 to 9 p.m. Virtual yoga hosted by Summerhill Brewing. Visit summerhillbrewing.com.
Thursday, Feb. 18
Blood drive, 11:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Auburn United Methodist Church, 99 South St., Auburn. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Friday, Feb. 19
Winter soup sales: Italian wedding, noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., back entry, First United Methodist Church, 2 Chapel St., Seneca Falls. Delivery available by appointment. Cost $7; preorders encouraged. Call (315) 651-6692.
Blood drive, 2 to 6 p.m., Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. Visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.
Parade of plaudits
A retirement parade was held Dec. 22 for Seward Elementary School reading teacher Linda Miller. Staff, students and parents from the school and the district drove by her home, recognizing the impact she made during her 22 years at the school and 30 years as a teacher.
Undercover mission
Members of the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Auburn Police Department to deliver 30 handmade quilts to deserving children throughout the city of Auburn Friday. The quilts were made and donated by the Cayuga Lake Quilt Guild. Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca and the Auburn Rescue Mission helped identify those who would receive the quilts.
'Wonderful' gesture
Despite the "It's a Wonderful Life" Festival not taking place in person in Seneca Falls this year, the event's committee wanted to give back to the community. The committee donated $8,000 — the amount of money Uncle Billy "loses" in the movie — three times to local food pantries. The Seneca County House of Concern and Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca each received $8,000, and another $8,000 was split between several more area pantries for a total of $24,000 in donations. "In this year of uncertainty, when families are under the strain of dealing with the (COVID-19) pandemic, the committee wanted to try to make sure that getting food was a little easier for those who are in need," said Ann Sandroni, the committee's treasurer, in a news release.
Awards and appreciation
Unity House of Cayuga County held its annual appreciation breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Oct. 22, thanking donors and honoring its 2020 award winners before an audience of about 60. On the left, community advocate Timothy Donovan is presented the 10th annual Fred Atkins Community Service Award by Unity House Executive Director Elizabeth Smith, and on the right, Cayuga County Sheriff's Department Lt. Michael Wellauer is presented the Open Arms Award by Unity House Director of Marketing and Development Kelly Buck.
Salvation donation
Auburn Lodge of Masons No. 124 recently donated $800 to the Auburn Salvation Army. Pictured are W. Scott Harris, master, left, and R.W. Tom Ostrander, secretary, right, presenting the check to Maj. Carmen Campbell; not pictured is R.W. Dave Bowman, grand lodge chaplain, who took the picture. The donation was the culmination of three months of out-of-pocket donations from the lodge brothers, and was the idea of Bowman.
Wegmans warmth
Auburn Rotarians Henry MacDonald, Karen Macier and Mike Trapani accept a huge bin full of new winter coats, gloves and hats from Wegmans of Auburn for the Warm the Children program of Cayuga County. Wegmans held a coat drive in November to support the program.
Turkey tradition
The 50th annual Turkey Bowl football game took place on Thanksgiving at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn. As is tradition, younger Auburn football players faced off against older football players, with the younger ones winning the game. The game was also preceded by the first youth Turkey Bowl, a flag game won by the blue team. Organizer Nasir Smith said, "This tradition is a very special thing to the people in the Auburn community. It’s something everyone looks forward to on Thanksgiving morning. I loved to see the community come together and show love and support to the kids and each other. As a community we’re all we got and we have to stick together."
Terrific trot
The annual Jordan Turkey Trot was still held this Thanksgiving, but virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the event saw record donation numbers from the community, collecting 3,073 food items.
Belly bucks 1
The Auburn Enlarged City School District's Fill-A-Belly program recently received $500 donations from the Auburn Rotary Club and Jonathan's Furniture. Pictured, from left, are Henry MacDonald of the club and Camille Johnson and Jen Poole of the district.
Belly bucks 2
The Auburn Enlarged City School District's Fill-A-Belly program recently received $500 donations from the Auburn Rotary Club and Jonathan's Furniture. Pictured, from left, are Camille Johnson and Jen Poole of the district and Bob Edmunds of Jonathan's.
Belly bucks 3
The Auburn Enlarged City School District's Fill-A-Belly program recently received $500 donations from the Auburn Rotary Club and Jonathan's Furniture. Pictured, from left, are Ed Helinski and Henry MacDonald of the club accepting a donation from Bob Edmunds of Jonathan's.
Trucking turkeys
Auburn firefighters pick up turkeys from Wegmans on behalf of St. Alphonsus Church early in the morning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The department has been helping St. Alphonsus transport food from Wegmans to the church's food pantry on the Saturdays before Thanksgiving and Christmas for several years, and this year transported 480 turkeys and 10 cases of butter. All firefighters were off-duty and used their personal vehicles for the effort.
Helping Habitat
Students from New York Chiropractic College have continued helping Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County to build homes for local families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students have volunteered with the organization for at least eight years, with recent projects including spreading gravel for a sidewalk on East Bayard Street and building a shed on Tyler Avenue. "Our experience with NYCC students is that they are willing to take on any task — demolition, building walls, putting in plumbing, wiring, roofing, you name it! They bring with them a willingness to learn and patience to work with both skilled and unskilled volunteers and family members," Habitat President Menzo Case said in a news release. For more information, call (315) 568-1190 or email volunteer@habitatseneca.org.
Fabric fundraiser
This 72-by-96-inch quilt was donated by the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Moravia, in memory of members Patricia Dillon and Florence Lansdowne, to an upcoming Millard Fillmore high school essay contest. It includes a top sewn by Dillon and long-arming sewn by Cindy Goodwin. The quilt will be displayed in stores throughout Cayuga County, beginning with Jennings Department Store in Moravia in November, and raffled to support a $500 scholarship for the winner of the contest. Tickets are $1 and will be sold until the scholarship is funded. The contest will take place beginning early next year at all nine Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES schools, as well as Homer and Groton schools. Students will be asked to write essays about Fillmore, the 13th U.S. president who was born in Summerhill, based on former Moravia history teacher Robert Scarry's 2009 biography of him. Copies of the biography will be donated to the schools for students' reference. The contest, which will also award wrist watches as runner-up prizes to the winner at each school, is being organized by members of the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society and officials with the town of Summerhill. For more information, email drjoycesmith@hotmail.com.
Campaign contribution
Karen Macier, executive director of the United Way of Cayuga County, receives a $2,500 donation from Auburn Rotary Club Vice President Mitch Maniccia for this year’s United Way campaign.
Helpings of treats
Friends Helping Friends of Cayuga County held a Trunk or Treat event on Halloween in the parking lot of Fingerlakes Mall. Moved outside due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event saw about 1,000 children and their families collect candy. Also participating with costumes and decorated cars were local car clubs, including Undead Street Crew and Cayuga County Cruisers, as well as the Aurelius and Springport fire departments, Bobby Mac from WAUB 99.3, Irie Jamaican Queen food truck, local Girl Scouts, Farm Girl Greens and Witchy Women of the Finger Lakes. Friends Helping Friends also handed out candy and donated Halloween toys from Bass Pro Shops, Auburn Party Rental donated a popcorn machine for the day for popcorn sales, and 50/50 and raffle tickets were sold. The event also served as the beginning of fundraising for Friends Helping Friends' annual Holiday Helper Project, which provides gift assistance to low-income families in the county. Just under $500 was raised for the project at the event. For more information on the nonprofit and the project, email fhfofccinc@gmail.com.
Ghoulish GISH
Cathy Leogrande, of Auburn, recently participated in the Halloween Haunt as part of her involvement in GISH (the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen). A "Gisher" for many years, Leogrande raises monetary donations for many causes through the organization, including food pantries, women's shelters, coat drives and more. Her husband, Joe, is her photographer and assists with wardrobe, props and more. For more information, visit gish.com.
Tubman's time
Don Victor Mooney, president of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project, recently delivered a time capsule commemorating 400 years of African-American history to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Included among the artifacts, books, music and more was a picture of Harriet Tubman. For more information, visit hr1242 resilence.com.
