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Stirpe bows out Postal carrier honored Cicero Democrat ends campaign for state senate seat By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer On Dec. 20, State Assemblyman Al Stirpe suspended his campaign for the State Senate District 50 seat being vacated by John Mannion. Stirpe, a Democrat, said that it’s more important for him to benefit from the seniority he has earned in the assembly than to seek office in the senate. He remains committed to running again in the 127th Assembly District which covers the towns of Cicero,
Clay, Manlius, Pompey and Tully. Stirpe began his campaign for the state senate seat in October. But two months later he reconsidered. Last week he said, “I’ve decided that I can best serve my Central New York community by remaining in the People’s House and serving the residents of the 127th Assembly District.” He pointed to his 16 years of Assembly experience as a foundation to build on. “The relationships I
Al Stirpe have cultivated in the Assembly as well as the seniority I have built there Rigs l Page 7
Nosy Snippers welcoming members
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Fayetteville postal carrier and Liverpool resident Chris Conklin was recently honored by Senator John Mannion on his retirement after 35 years of dedicated service. Conklin was recognized during a ceremony Dec. 15 at the Fayetteville Free Library.
Liverpool school district occupational therapist inspires scholarship By Janelle Davis
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The Nosy Snipper, a local chapter of the American Sewing Guild, is welcoming new members. By Janelle Davis The American Sewing Guild (ASG) is an organization of sewing enthusiasts who connect at local, national, and online levels for activities, communication, and networking. The ASG is made up of chapters, neighborhood groups, and members at large. People of all levels of sewing experience are welcome and can expect benefits locally or nationally. The ASG’s Syracuse Chapter is called the Nosy Snippers. “We’re a group of women and men who enjoy sewing,” Kathy Karandy, president of the Syracuse chapter, said. “We get together once a month to sew for different community service projects in our area. We love doing this as a way of giving back to our community. It’s a lot of fun and we’d love to have more people join us who enjoy sewing.” Some projects the Nosy Snippers have donated to includeeffortslikequiltsforRyan McMahon Children’s Advocacy, pillowcases for Golisano’s Children’s Hospital, and adult clothing protectors for local nursing homes. Nina Dukette, who is in
charge of membership for the local group, pointed to one project that has been special to work on. “An ongoing project that we are proud of is sewing book bags for Book Van-Go,” she said. Book Van-Go is a summer reading program for kids where the van visits numerous parks throughout the summer providing books and reading opportunities for kids. “In one sitting, we’ve made over 60 book bags,” Dukette said. “We continue to make them and drop them off as we go.” Members also enjoy field trips at least once a year.
Last June, members of the group visited the Auburn Agricultural Museum to see an exhibit on costuming. Getting together to meet new people and socialize while working towards a common charitable goal is valuable. It is a way to express creativity while also easing stress, according to group members. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewer, there is a place for you in the ASG. In addition to the learning opportunities they provide in the form of videos, online classes, and seminars, you can also learn from each other. “You don’t need to know Sewing l Page 3
Philene Pisiak retired from the Liverpool school district as an occupational therapist (OT) after over 40 years. She was the first OT in the district working with students from kindergarten to high school age. Pisiak passed away this past summer from breast cancer. “Everybody knew Philene. She was such a worker bee. She always got things done but never wanted credit for it,” Elaine Wright, a retired physical therapist from the Liverpool school district, said. Wright and Pisiak worked together in the district for over 30 years. Pisiak’s friends and family wanted to do something to keep her memory alive and honor her longstanding dedication to the district, so they started The Philene Pisiak Memorial Scholarship to benefit a graduating senior from Liverpool High School who will be attending college for occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant. This scholarship is through the communitybased nationwide organization, Dollars for Scholars. Dollars for Scholars provides scholarship assistance by channeling the power of the community. Communities start a scholarship through Dollars for Scholars for many reasons, including the memory of a loved one. They raise money to
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Friends and Family of Philene Pisiak, a long time occupational therapist in the Liverpool school district, have established a scholarship in her honor. support a scholarship to help students achieve their dreams. They strive to make scholarships available for every student whether they are interested in pursuing nursing, engineering, or a general scholarship. Wright suggested the idea of the scholarship to the therapy department to commemorate Pisiak. Once confirmed, she and Pisiak’s three younger sisters got started. “Philene worked for Liverpool for so long and everyone loved her, so I thought what a great way to honor her dedication. My daughter received a scholarship, so I also know what a wonderful feeling it is for a student to receive a scholarship, no matter the quantity,” Wright said. Graduating seniors attending college for occupational therapy or oc-
cupational therapy assistant can start applying for the scholarship in early spring. If you would like to help support The Philene Pisiak Memorial Scholarship, you can donate electronically to the Liverpool Dollars for Scholars at liverpool.dollarsforscholars.org. Please include the name of the scholarship with your donation, The Philene Pisiak Memorial Scholarship. Checks may be mailed to: Liverpool Dollars for Scholars Philene Pisiak Memorial Scholarship P.O. Box 32 Liverpool, New York 13088-32. The deadline to donate is Jan. 15, 2024. When you donate, your dollar is invested in Liverpool students so they can thrive while keeping the memory of Pisiak alive, according to Wright.
Volume 131, Number 52 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.
home & garden: Read about how to prepare for winter storms and get pointers for snow removal.
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sports: C-NS boys earn satisfying win over West Genesee.
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death notices ����������� 7 Editorial ��������������������� 6 home & garden �������4-5 letters ������������������������ 6
Obituaries ������������������ 7 PennySaver ���������������� 8 Sports ��������������� 2,12-13