FREE • EagleStarReview.com
Proudly serving Liverpool, Salina, North Syracuse, Cicero & Clay
PENNY SAVER: CNY’S BEST BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY INSIDE!
Bright lights, big city LHS singers light up the stage in New York City
T
he Liverpool High School Concert Chorale and MMSquared Quartet recently took part in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Next Generation Junior Chorus Festival and Quartet Contest in New York City. They were one of only 15 high school ensembles invited world-wide to participate Chosen for the festival through an extensive application process, the LHS Concert Chorale is an auditioned ensemble made up of 50 LHS students who have been fundraising and preparing for this destination event since last summer. Each ensemble invited was required to prepare a threesong set of a cappella music, including two songs in the traditional American art form of 4-part barbershop harmony and a third from any a cappella tradition. The LHS Concert Chorale, under the direction of Sky Harris, selected three pieces to share their story of love and hope that opened with the 1946 Peggy Lee chart,” It’s a Good Day,” with studentgenerated parody lyrics introducing the Liverpool group to the New York City crowd. “We’re doing things the Liverpool way,” wrote the students! Song two was a world premiere arranged by NYC l Page 2
Week of Jan. 31, 2024 Home of The Bembry Family
Submitted photos
The Liverpool High School Concert Chorale and MMSquared Quartet recently took part in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Next Generation Junior Chorus Festival and Quartet Contest in New York City.
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
Pre-k registration begins Feb. 1 for NSCSD The North Syracuse Central School District will begin accepting registrations for its Universal Prekindergarten program beginning Feb. 1, 2024. Applications are available online at www.nscsd.org and can be picked up and/or completed in person at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse. Applications received prior to March 1 will be placed into a lottery drawing for first enrollment. To be eligible for the district’s UPK program, children must live In the North Syracuse Central School District and be four years old on or before Dec. 1, 2024. There is no charge for district residents as the program is funded by the state, subject to the passage of the New York State budget. Children will be enrolled in programs at one of the following five locations based on their address or sitter location. l Learn As You Grow, Inc. at 5684 South Bay Rd., Cicero, NY 13039 l Learn As You Grow, Inc. at 8381 Elta Dr., Cicero, NY 13039 l Northminster Early Childhood Center at 7444 Buckley Rd., North Syracuse, NY 13212 l North YMCA at Roxboro Road Elementary at 200 Bernard St., Mattydale, NY 13211 l North Syracuse Early Education Program at 205 South Main St., North Syracuse, NY 13212 If the UPK program fills up before all names are pulled from the lottery, the remaining students will be placed on a waitlist and parents will be notified If a spot becomes available. The district will continue to accept registrations after the March 1 deadline but those students will not be included in the lottery drawing. Registrations taken after the lottery period will be placed on a waitlist and parents will be notified if a spot becomes available. Registration can be completed online at the North Syracuse Universal Prekindergarten application system on the district website. You will need to provide the following documentation in addition to your application: 3 Completed registration packet available on nscsd. org 3 Proof of residency- (current National Grid or home phone bill, signed lease or mortgage statement 3 Valid proof of birth 3 Valid parent identification (driver’s license) The programs at Learn As You Grow will be full day from 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. For further information regarding both programs, please contact Katie Polhamus, LAYG Director, at (315) 699-7189. The program at Northminster will be full day from Pre-k l Page 2
Clay Senior Center announces events Tweaking village codes By Janelle Davis
The Town of Clay Senior Center is planning a variety of events in the next couple of months, in addition to their traditional programs. “I try to have as many different offerings as possible. We have traditional events, and then I throw in, my Chrissy creative stuff. I develop the programs with their different interests and mobility in mind,” Chrissy Clancy, senior citizen coordinator, said. According to the senior center’s webpage, “The Clay Senior Center offers many and varied programs to Clay Seniors including - Cards, Creative Arts, Sewing Guild, Chair Yoga, Yarn Circle, Ball Drumming, Nutritious Lunches, and Fitness Programs, just to name a few! There is a weekly to-go take-out lunch and specialty programs too! We at the Town of Clay are pleased and proud to be able to offer Clay Seniors the very best in quality Senior programming.” All participants in senior programs who join the Town of Clay Senior Center must receive an official safety ID badge. A badge is required for all on and offsite programs. It’s free and available to register at the town recreation department. The badge will contain the participant’s medical and safety information. “The badge lets us know who the person is and that they are registered. If there were an emergency, we would give the badge to the first responder, so they are aware of the care they may need,” Clancy said. Among the many events being offered will be a Little Red Poetry Jam in February. Workshops will take place on Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This event is free with your Clay safety ID badge.
This is a creative women’s writing group ending in a poetry jam reception and show. There is no experience needed, but you should enjoy writing and have a willingness to create. There will be refreshments, including jam. On Wednesday, March 6 at 10 a.m., there will be a diabetic education workshop. This is an open group discussion with a registered dietician. There will also be instructor-led lessons on various topics related to diabetes. Topics will cover the basics of the body, what insulin is, how it works, and tips to manage blood sugar with food and nutrition. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for a coffee social. There will also be a pop-up thrift shop on April 26 from 9 a.m. until the vendors leave. Registration to sell is on March 4 and you must be a Clay Senior Center member with a safety ID badge to sell. Setup is April 25 at 10 a.m. only. The event welcomes sales of vintage, thrift, crafts, and yard sale items, but no food or drink. All Clay Senior Center events take place at the Clay Senior Center at 4948 Route 31. For more information on upcoming events, or to register, contact their office at 315-652-3800 extension 137 or email cclancy@townofclay.org. You can also visit the Town of Clay Senior’s Facebook Page. The center encourages requests, comments, ideas and creative input on future programs.
Trustees approve clarified ordinances; introduce more By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
At its first meeting of the year on Jan. 22, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees approved two new local laws designed to clarify ordinances governing construction on residential properties. Trustee Matt Devendorf was absent from the meeting as was Village Attorney Richard Andino, but the four other elected village officials -- Mayor Stacy Finney and trustees Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti and Mike LaMontagne -carried on. After approving the two new local laws, the trustees introduced three more such code changes and scheduled public hearings for their Feb. 26 meeting. The two new local laws include one amending the village noise ordinance and another amending the zoning code regarding accessory structures. Three Oswego Street residents attended the trustees’ Dec. 11 meeting and expressed their hope that, if passed, the new local laws will benefit their neighborhood. At the Nov. 27 village planning board meeting, the same neighbors protested an application made by Dr. Bryan Popovici to build a large garage at his property at 717 Oswego St. They complained about years of construction projects disturbing their neighborhood with noise, floodlights and garbage. The proposed new local laws would address the storage of commercial construction equipment, outdoor illumina-
tion, and building permit time limits. Those proposed changes will be discussed at a 7 p.m. public hearing Feb. 26, at the village hall.
Thirteen mishaps in December
At the village board’s monthly meeting on Jan. 22, Police Chief Jerry Unger reported that his officers made 138 traffic stops and issued 116 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in December. Two motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated. Thirteen accidents were investigated here last month, and 22 parking tickets were issued. Officers made 55 residential checks and 150 business checks in December, while responding to a total of 489 incidents and calls for service. The LPD arrested 25 individuals last month on 34 criminal charges.
Fewer traffic stops last year
Unger also shared statistics representing the LPD’s activities over the past 12 months. In 2023, the officers made 1,112 traffic stops and issued 1,476 tickets, both figures significantly lower than the 2022 figures or 2,522 and 2,610, respectively. On the other hand, LPD officers made four more arrests for DWI last year. In 2022 they made 24 such arrests before making 28 in 2023. The LPD answered 5,491 calls for service in 2023 as compared to 7,353 the previous year. The chief attributed the drop in those numbers to a longstanding staff Codes l Page 2
Volume 131, Number 5 The Star-Review is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206. Periodical Postage Paid at Syracuse, NY 13220, USPS 316060. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Star-Review, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
explore cny: Find fun events for your whole family, all happening just down the road.
inside
sports: C-NS boys basketball win streak ended by RFA.
PAGE 11
death notices ����������� 3
Obituaries ��������������� 3,9
Editorial ��������������������� 4
PennySaver ���������������� 6
letters ������������������������ 4
Sports ������������������ 11-12