Skiing can be hard on the wallet, but this winter when you stay at select inns and B&B's in Madison County, you can ski all day long at Toggenburg in Fabius for $25.  Great country inns such as the Brewster Inn or Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia headline this special, but there is a price point available for every family.  Other participating accommodations include Graziano's World Famous Inn, The Lincklaen House, The Octagon B&B, Colgate Inn and Notleymere Cottage.  You won't find a better way to save money on the slopes this season.  All of the details can be found here.
 
 
The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Living inductees include light flyweight champion Jung-Koo Chang (South Korea), featherweight champion Danny “Little Red” Lopez (USA), manager Shelly Finkel (USA), referee / commissioner Larry Hazzard (USA), promoter Wilfried Sauerland (Germany), matchmaker Bruce Trampler (USA) and journalist Ed Schuyler (USA). 
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2010 and very much looking forward to honoring the 21st class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.  “All living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in 2010 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.” 
The 21st Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 10-13th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 13th to welcome the newest members. 
The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: light heavyweight Lloyd Marshall in the Modern Category; featherweight champion Young Corbett II, lightweight champion Rocky Kansas and light heavyweight and heavyweight contender Billy Miske in the Old-Timer Category; broadcaster Howard Cosell in the Observer Category; and Paddington Tom Jones in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
   For more information on the events planned for the 2010 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095.
 
 
The Christmas Tree Sale at the Great Swamp Conservancy this weekend, December 5th and 6th from 10am-4pm on both days. Don't have a tree yet? Plan on getting your fresh-cut Christmas tree from us this year! We will have a limited quanitity of Balsam Firs available. You may pre-order your tree to ensure supply. We will also have a little gift shop with many great Christmas gifts available! Canastota Cut Glass; Note cards and bird ornaments by Artist Helga Gilbert; Sea shell ornaments by Marine Biologist Deb Louise; and other gift ideas. Stop by for some hot cocoa, coffee and Christmas cookies!!! This Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. We hope to see you then!
 
 
The Canastota Canal Town Museum will have an Open House on Sunday, December 6, from 3:00 until 5:00 pm. This year¹s Art Show will be dedicated to the memory of Carlo Raineri who participated in former shows and whose painting of the Canastota Lift Bridge will be on permanent display at the museum.
Harp music and refreshments will be provided.
The open house will feature the art of more than 30 local artists.  The exhibit will also be open Saturday, December 12 and 19, from 10:30 until 1:00.
The new ³2009 historical ornament featuring the 200th birthdays of Canastota and Town of Lenox, along with the others in the series, will be sold.  Also Canal Town will have on sale a 2010 bicentennial color calendar.
 
 
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We hear it all the time, "Fall is my favorite season in Madison County."  It usually refers to how pretty it is around here with the leaves changing and the skies a crystal blue hue, but it also could be because there are awesome events going on all the time too.  This weekend is no different with events that range from the loud roar of tractor engines, to the smooth tones of Jazz.  Here are your best bets for a weekend of fun in Madison County:
1. Jazz in Caz -- This fall favorite is one of the most anticipated Jazz events in Central New York.  With national and local Jazz acts on stages around the village of Cazenovia, this festival has something for all tastes.  You can find a full schedule of events right here. 
2. Wheel Days -- Hosted at the county fairgrounds in Brookfield, this testosterone filled event features tractor pulls, a demolition derby, antique engine shows and more.  If it is on wheels they are celebrating it in Brookfield this weekend.
3. Community Day at the Rippleton School House -- The Friends of Lorenzo and event chairwoman Elizabeth Koennecke invite families and children of all ages to join 1880’s schoolmarm Mattie Buckland as she opens her classroom during “Community Day” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th at the Rippleton Schoolhouse. Attendees will have the chance to become “students” for an afternoon in a restored one-room schoolhouse and also enjoy live music, square dancing, old-fashioned games, Victorian crafts, pumpkin decorating, wagon rides and cider and donuts during this annual free event.
4. Fall Harvest Celebration at Critz Farms -- It is the 2nd weekend of their celebration of all things autumn.  Pick your own apples or pumpkins, buy some cider or cheddar cheese and enjoy the tastes of Central New York fall.
5. It's National Alpaca day on Sunday and BMR Acres is celebrating.  BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, will be participating in the The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association "National Alpaca Farm Day in the USA" and will be open to the public on September 27th. Local fiber artists such as spinners, felters, etc will be demonstrating their craft. BMR Acres Country Farm Store will also be open offering alpaca products for sale as well as local products such as honey, jams & jellies, maple syrup, soaps, lotions and more. And of course a line of ‘Melissa and Doug’ toys. Food and beverages will be available. See link- http://www.nyalpacas.com/Calendar/.
6. A bonus event.  Colgate is home this weekend for great college football action.  The Raiders are 3-0 on the season and seem to be headed for great things.  Kickoff against the Fordham Rams is set for 6pm at Andy Kerr Stadium.  Tailgate with your friends at the Colgate Inn before the game kicks off. 
There truly is something for everyone this weekend.  Please check out the full calendar of events and have a great fall weekend.
 
 

The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today actors Burt Young and Federico Castelluccio have been named Grand Marshals of the 20th Annual Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions scheduled for Sunday, June 14th at 1 p.m.   “The Hall of Fame is extremely excited about welcoming these two great actors to Canastota to celebrate the sport of boxing,'” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy.  “It is a thrill to have them as the 2009 Parade of Champions Grand Marshals.” Young is an Academy Award-nominated actor best known for his portrayal of Sylvester Stallone’s brother in law “Paulie” in the legendary Rocky film series. Young, who learned his craft from legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg, has appeared in such motion pictures as Back to School, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Transamerica, Convoy and Chinatown. He has also made celebrated appearances on television shows The Sopranos, Law & Order, Miami Vice, The Rockford Files and Walker, Texas Ranger. Young has also received accolades for his paintings, which are highlighted in art galleries around the world.“To be here at the Boxing Hall of Fame, amongst men of courage, valor and decipherment is for me, top draw. Any fighter, whether champion, or aging six rounder, somehow seems touched or stamped with elements of dignity, honor and strength, forever more. Hello to those of you I know, and to the fellows I don't, I certainly do from your life exploits,” said Young.            A talented actor, Castelluccio is best known for his portrayal of hitman Furio Giunta on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos from 2000-2006. His film credits include Made with Jon Favreau, Fire with Robert Klein and Pink Panther 2 with Steve Martin. He has also appeared on such notable television programs as NYPD Blue and Law & Order: Criminal Intent and soap operas As the World Turns and The Guiding Light. Born in Naples, Italy, Castelluccio is an accomplished artist and has exhibited his paintings in galleries in New York City and Washington, DC.“I am very honored to be a Grand Marshal for the Boxing Hall of Fame. I’ve been a huge boxing fan since I was a young boy and I happen to really admire some of this year’s inductees. I’m looking forward to meeting them on their big day!” saidCastelluccio.The Parade of Champions, set for Sunday, June 14th at 1:00 p.m., will pass through the streets of Canastota and lead to the grounds of the Hall of Fame Museum prior to the start of the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the new class of inductees. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony are bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales, heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell, matchmaker / publicist / promoter Bob Goodman, promoter Akihiko Honda, journalist Hugh McIlvanney and broadcaster Larry Merchant. Posthumous inductees will also be honored. Over 40 boxing stars, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Ken Norton, Angelo Dundee, Emile Griffith, Micky Ward and Leon Spinks will be highlighted in the Parade of Champions. "With the lineup of marching bands, boxing celebrities, Burt Young and Federico Castelluccio, this should be our biggest parade ever and an unforgettable day for all," said parade chairperson Charlene Barres.     The 2009 Parade of Champions is sponsored by Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppe. The June 11-14th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2009. For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 20th Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.

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Now that spring seems to be in full swing the events on our calendar have started to fill in a lot better.  If you are looking for something to do this weekend there are several great options out there.  Here are a few of the best bets for things to do this weekend:
1. The Catherine Cummings Theater at Cazenovia college hosts three performances of the "Laramie Project"  It is a play based on the murder of an openly gay college student in Laramie Wyoming.  Show times are at 8pm tonight and tomorrow and a 2pm matinee on Sunday.  Make it a date and enjoy a fine dinner at the Lincklaen House before or after the performance.
2. Learn all about wood ducks this weekend at the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota with their Wood Ducks in Our Wetlands presentation.  The program runs from 10-noon tomorrow.
3. Visit an exhibition at either the Oneida Community Mansion House or Porter Studios in Hamilton.  The Mansion House continues to feature the Art of the Oneida Community and its Children and Porter Studios is featuring an exhibit entitled High Plains.
There now you have four good reasons to spend the day and stay the night in Madison County this weekend.

 
 

The crew from Mohawk Valley Living spent some time in the Canastota and Wampsville areas.  You can view the episodes in order of airing below.

 
 

Six more inches of snow fell last night in Chittenango with a little more the further south you go in Madison County.  The snowmobile trails are open and in great shape.  The rain earlier this week served to create a frozen base and the new snow on top has created outstanding snowmobiling conditions.  Don't forget to order your snowmobile map from us and enjoy safe sledding.

If riding is not your cup of tea, you might think about heading out for snowshoeing this weekend.  Madison County offers miles of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.  You can check out many of the area trails right here.  My two favorite spots to go are the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia and the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota.  Both places give you ample opportunities to get out and enjoy the beautiful winterside in Madison County.  Take you camera and send us some pictures of your adventure and we will post them right here!

 
 

The third annual series of Canalside Talks for 2009 has been set according to Joe DiGiorgio, president of Canal Town Corporation, sponsors of the popular historical talks.
Leading off the monthly wintertime series will be "Railroad Days in Canastota" by longtime Canastota newspaper editor and publisher Mike Milmoe on Monday, January 12, at 7 p.m.  The talk and slide presentation will be held at the Canal Museum Education on North Canal Street, three doors east of the Canal Museum. The talk is free and refreshments will be served.