By DORIS COOK

Staff Writer

dcook@starbeacon.com



JEFFERSON Ashtabula Countys OSU Extension Agent, Cheryle Jones Syracuse can remember the days when morning radio shows were not a rarity when she first filled the position of extension educator here.

Syracuse, whose last day on the job after nearly 26 years serving Ashtabula County residents, is today. Friends, staff, 4H families and county officials will have the chance to say goodbye to this gentle lady, who has worn many hats, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Wall St. Extension Office in Jefferson.

On Friday, Syracuse was working feverishly planning to do a cooking stint at the Jefferson Farm Market, but rain canceled the event. "I had all this food lined up to cook a special fresh vegetable recipe," she said laughing.

"Now Im trying to figure out what to do with the food. Fresh vegetables are in now and the recipe will have to wait to be shared another time," Syracuse said.

Syracuse said she always had as a goal to get into the states extension agency work. She grew up in Trumbull County graduating from Howland High School.

She began her college career at the Trumbull campus of Kent State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. The Ohio State University Extension Service during that same period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, changed the role of its Home Economics extension agents to Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences.

"After KSU I received my Masters degree from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. But I wanted to get back to Ohio. I applied for an Extension Service job in Perry County and worked there for two and half years, then wanted to get back closer to northeast Ohio," Syracuse recalled.

An opening for an FCS agent came about in Ashtabula in November 1980 and Syracuse was hired. She joked about the transition from small rural Perry County to Ashtabula County.

"I looked at Ashtabula County as a metropolitan big city area and it became home for me. My husband Phillip and I were married in November 1982. We lived in Jefferson then," Syracuse said.

When Phillips employment took him to Cuyahoga County, the couple moved to Lyndhurst. Syracuse has driven 96 miles every day for years even in snowstorms.

"I love this county and its people, but I wont miss the drive. There are so many good memories of things we accomplished. I know Im going to miss many people and the staff here. We did our 23rd FamilyAFair this year and I can remember wondering when we started if it would continue. It has and it will go on without me," she said.

Syracuse loves to tell stories involving her nearly 26 years on the job even ones slightly embarrassing.

"One year for FamilyAFair we decided to have Clifford the Big Red Dog make an appearance. Phil and I do not have children, but I know the kids talk about Clifford. So I went on the local radio station to talk about the event and was asked how we were going to get Clifford into the mall," Syracuse said.

Not knowing how big Clifford was, Syracuse paused a moment and announced quickly, "I told everyone we would form a committee to take care of it."

Syracuse is specially proud of the FamilyAFair programs over past years and reaching out to help families in the county to live better lives. "The program is a good example of how all these various agencies have worked together in this county. Its wonderful and we try not to duplicate services," Syracuse said.

Her role on the job has included conducting many cooking classes for the public in many different locations from Kent State UniversityAshtabula Campus to churches. Some recipes developed from those classes can be found in local organization cookbooks, she said.

Looking forward to retiring, Syracuse and her husband are building a house in Brunswick County, North Carolina near Wilmington. During summers for some years, Syracuse said shes participated in the 4H Sea Camp held at Kelleys Island in Lake Eries western basin.

"Im a certified master diver and have been for 18 years. Ive taught snorkeling classes at the camp for the week Im there. The kids go on a fishing trip and learn to clean and cook what they catch," Syracuse said.

Moving to the Atlantic Ocean shore has been a dream for Syracuse and her husband. She has gone on a number of diving trips including the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.

"My husband and I dove and swam with whale sharks, which are really fish. This is something we love to do. I know Ill miss everyone, but I plan to still do freelance writing. Another thought is when we get to North Carolina Ill volunteer in something and maybe teach some cooking classes," she said.