Star Review digital edition - June 12, 2024

C-NS girls win first state title since 1996

Phil blaCkWell

BACK AT THE PINNACLE: The Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team won its first state Class A championship since 1996 when it defeated Fairport 12-8 in last Saturday’s title game at SUNY-Cortland, the Northstars breaking out of an 8-8 tie with a closing 5-1 run to lay claim to the state title.

By Phil BlACkwEll

Twelve minutes of excellence delivered what the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team had waited 28 years to achieve.

The Northstars broke out of a tie with Fairport early in the fourth quarter Saturday at SUNY Cortland and, by a 12-8 margin, claimed the state Class A championship, its first since 1997.

“It means the world to us,” said senior Gabby Putman, the team’s season-long force in the draw circle. “This team is amazing and is a special group.”

“They just had a dream and made it happen,” said head

coach Stephanie Prentice. “I have no words for it.”

Just when it was required the most, C-NS played at its best – in the fourth quarter of the title game after it had led most of the way, only to see Fairport, the Section V champions, rally to tie it 8-8 with one period left. Talking to her team before the quarter started, Prentice said she kept it simple. I told them that we came here to win,” she said. “That was it.”

And win the Northstars did, taking the lead for good when Sophia Nesci, a force all throughout the state final four, fed Brooke Molchanoff for the go-ahead goal with 10:10 to

play.

Within less than 90 seconds, it was 10-7, Putman twice winning draws and then landing a goal of her own as Natalie Wilson converted, too, Nesci recording her fourth assist of the afternoon. Wilson wasn’t done, either, landing two more goals to complete her hat trick, the last of them with 4:38 to play as Nesci picked up her 10th assist of the weekend to go with a pair of goals. This culminated the restoration of long-sought C-NS lacrosse glory, gained in the early years of the state tournament in the late 1990s and lost for a generation as rivals like Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-

Manlius and West Genesee all took their turns getting to the top multiple times. An awesome roster which lacked nothing, from scoring ability to defensive aggression, was on display from the start against Fairport as Putman set the tone, two draws which led to goals by Elizabeth Smith and Marissa Doty nine seconds apart.

From there, Fairport only caught up at 5-5 in the second quarter, a tie that lasted 13 seconds as Putman grabbed the ensuing draw and fed it to Kaelyn Reid, whose goal created a 6-5 advantage that stood at halftime.

Defense ruled most of the Lacrosse l Page 15

Summer reading program to kick off with carnival

By AnnA EdwARds

The Liverpool Public Library will host a summer carnival on Thursday, June 27, to kick off its annual summer reading program. The theme of this year’s event is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”

The kick-off event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will include temporary tattoos, carnival games, and crafts for kids. Jeff the Magic Man will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to make balloon art.

Adults can play the character quote matching game, enjoy the genre challenge, and test themselves on book trivia. The carnival will include stations of crafts and games that attendees can move between.

“There are going to be a bunch of different activities to engage learners

The CanTeen, the teen center which falls under the Town of Cicero Parks and Recreation department, is celebrating its 25 th Anniversary. Founded in 1999, the CanTeen offers young people a safe, supportive, and substance free environment that encourages healthy choices.

On June 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. there will be an anniversary party at the CanTeen. The event is open to the public and re -

of all ages…From the youngest child through the seniors,” said Nori Gartner-Baca, the library’s communications coordinator.

Readers can meet in the Dinosaur Garden at the side of the library on June 27 to register for summer reading and pick up their packets. Activities will also be taking place in the library’s lobby.

Community Engagement Librarian and Volunteer Coordinator Edina Osmanovic said that the kickoff event is a fun way to get people excited about summer reading.

“It’s just a crazy day. We get so many people, and they line up down the street, and it’s just a really fun time. I love that people are so engaged,” Osmanovic said.

The summer reading program is open to people of all ages.

marks will be made at 6 p.m. There will be light refreshments available, an array of raffle prizes, live music played by teens, and the ability to order a commemorative t-shirt.

Please join in celebrating this special occasion and help support the fundraising efforts of the CanTeen. For more information or to see how to support the CanTeen, visit canteencny.co m

Adults will track their progress through an online program called Read 2

Children will be given coloring sheets at the summer carnival that they will fill in all summer as they read. Sheets will be turned in at the end of the summer for a prize. This year is also the first time there will be a program for adults with disabilities.

Those participating in the program will come in weekly to get their new book. Summer reading can also be done through audiobooks for both adult and child readers.

Osmanovic said that the summer reading program will allow people to apply their reading skills and for kids to be ready for school in the fall.

“This event is just a way to encourage everyone to read more during the summer. We know that it’s the time to have fun and be outdoors, but it’s really important to read, especially for school-age children,” Osmanovic said.

The summer reading program will finish with a celebration at the end of the summer which will include tie dye, a fashion show, and an ice cream social.

Visit lpl.org for more information on the summer reading program and the summer carnival.

Voters to decide via referendum at village election on tuesday, June 18

By Russ TARBy Contributing Writer

For more than 90 years, the village of Liverpool has conducted its annual elections in either March or June. This year, village voters will have a chance to move its mid-June election date to November, coinciding with the general election.

At its April 15 meeting, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees – Mayor Stacy Finney and trustees Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti and Matt Devendorf – voted 3 to 1 to put a referendum on this year’s village election ballot in which voters could choose the annual election date.

While Democrats Finney, Ciotti and Cassidy voted in favor of the referendum, Republican Devendorf voted against it. The board’s other Republican, Mike LaMontagne, was absent on April 15.

The two Republican Trustees – Devendorf and LaMontagne – are running for re-election this year, and both are running unopposed. So is Village Justice Anthony LaValle, also a Republican.

On Tuesday, June 18, however, voters will also be asked to weigh in on whether the village should switch the annual village election from mid-June to earlyNovember.

Cassidy explained how the referendum was inspired.

When the Democrats went door-to-door during last year’s campaign, they found that changing the election date was one of the top two issues concerning village residents.

“The idea came from knocking on your neighbor’s doors,” Cassidy said. The referendum, she added, “is empowering our residents, allowing them to choose the date.”

If voters approve the change on Tuesday, next year’s village election will be aligned with the general election scheduled on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Supporters of the move claim that voter turn-out will increase in November, while opponents say village elections would be overshadowed by county, state and federal races.

Voters in the nearby villages of Baldwinsville and Fayetteville recently chose to switch their election dates from the spring to the fall.

Nearly 70 percent of those voters favored the November election date, according to Onondaga County Board of Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny, a Democrat.

So now six of the county’s 15 villages have decided to conduct elections in November.

B’ville and F’ville join four other villages which have moved their elections from March to November, Solvay, East Syracuse, Tully and Elbridge.

Eight years ago, the county board of elections made it possible for all villages to move to November elections if they chose to.

“If a village moved their election, they could save 100 percent of the cost of running an election as opposed to March and June,” Czarny said.

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.

The Town of Cicero and the Friends of the CanTeen will host the second annual commu

nity garage sale on Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CNS High School parking lot.

The event will have a wide variety of ven

dors, community members selling used trea

sures, as well as multiple food truck vendors.

The community garage sale is a fundraiser to support the CanTeen, a teen center located next door to CNS High School which sees approximately 600 young people a year.

To reserve your spot at the Garage Sale, go to https://form.jotform.com/231504296786161 or you can find physical forms at the Cicero Parks and Rec office, the CanTeen, or by downloading from the CanTeen’s website.

Reservations for the event must be completed by July 3.

To learn more about the CanTeen, visit canteencny.com.

The Liverpool Central School district hosted its newlynamed Olympiad at the ‘Pool (formerly Special Olympics) on May 23 at the Liverpool High School Stadium & Tennis Courts. more than 160 Liverpool CSD student-athletes participated in activities including softball throw, bean bag drop, standing broad jump, running long jump, 50-yard dash and sensory activities. There was also bubbles, face painting and cornhole. John and laura lally were the premier sponsors of this event, through the lally Foundation. John and Laura Lally were present during the Olympiad to cheer on the inclusive student-athlete powered event. submitted Photos

Syracuse Orchestra announces July performances

The Syracuse Orchestra will play the following community concerts in July:

Monday, July 1, 7

p.m. Summer Concert, Oswego (Ft Ontario)

Wednesday, July 3, 8

p.m., Summer Concert, Auburn (Emerson Park)

– Fireworks!

Friday, July 5, 7 p.m., Summer Concert, Hamilton (Village Green)

Saturday, July 6, 7

p.m., Summer Concert, Fayetteville (Beard Park)

Wednesday, July 24, 7

p.m., Summer Concert, Syracuse (Destiny)

Thursday, July 25, 7 p.m., Summer Concert, Cazenovia (Lorenzo House)

Saturday, July 27, 8 p.m., Summer Concert, Rome (Ft Stanwix) –Fireworks!

Destiny USA performances in July include:

Monday, July 1, 10

a.m. Syracuse Orchestra Open Rehearsal (Free) Sunday, July 7

, noon-2 p.m., Instrument Petting Zoo (Free)

Sunday, July 7, 2 p.m./3:30 p.m., Music of Studio Ghibli (Woodwind Quintet)

Wednesday, July 10, 2 p.m., Syracuse Orchestra Open Rehearsal (Free)

Friday, July 12, 5:30

p.m./7 p.m., Music of Studio Ghibli (Woodwind Quintet)

Saturday, July 13, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Instrument Petting Zoo (Free)

Saturday, July 13, 5:30 p.m./7 p.m., K-Pop Trib -

Walter H. Blackler, 88 owned apple acres

Walter Hazard Blackler, 88, of Skaneateles, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, as a result of pancreatic cancer.

Walt was born to Walter and Louise Blackler on April 19, 1936, in Bethlehem, PA, while his father was a college student.

He grew up in Farmington, CT. Following in his father’s footsteps, Walt attended Lehigh University. After graduation in 1958, he moved to Rochester, N.Y., to work for Gleason Works as a mechanical engineer.

While living in Rochester he met Patricia Mahoney at a YMCA ski event for young singles. They were married in Haverhill, MA, in February 1960.

Walt enrolled at Harvard Business School that fall.

He and Pat welcomed their first child while he was a graduate student. They lived in Cambridge, MA, and West Hartford, CT, before eventually settling in Skaneateles in 1965.

Walt had an entrepreneurial drive. Seeking to become a small business owner, he bought an apple orchard in Lafayette, N.Y., in 1965. Apple Acres has been in business for nearly 60 years, growing, packing and shipping apples across the country.

He loved the apple business and never retired, assessing the crop and providing wise counsel until his death.

He served the New York apple industry in leadership roles throughout

his career, including the Western NY Apple Growers’ Association, the NY Apple Association, the Horticulture Society and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

He especially enjoyed his time with the Apple Research and Development Program Board directing research funds to improve the profitability of all the state’s orchards. He was instrumental in bringing new apple varieties to market with the Crunch Time Apple Growers group.

Like their parents, many of his grandchildren got their first work experience at the orchard, learning valuable lessons while spending time with their Pappy.

Walt had a strong sense of civic responsibility. His record of service to the Skaneateles community stretched multiple decades and included positions on the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, the Board of Trustees, and, most recently until his resignation in 2023, the Municipal Board.

In 2023, the mayor of Skaneateles presented him with a Resolution of Appreciation for his unwavering and devoted service to the community. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, his words were smart, thoughtful and kind.

Pat and Walt had five children. Walt loved spending time with his family. He never missed a ballet recital or graduation ceremony. Until the day he died, he was an active (and funny) participant in the family group text chain. His last text congratulated his grand -

daughter on her recent engagement.

He had a baseball hat from each college attended by his children and grandchildren, and he proudly rotated through them as appropriate for the occasion.

He especially enjoyed annual summer vacations in the Adirondacks. He made his last trip to Lake Placid in June 2023, shortly after his cancer diagnosis, enjoying the time with 26 of his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. His extended family continues the annual tradition.

Pat and Walt enjoyed sailing on Skaneateles Lake and were active in the racing community. They were members of Owasco Yacht Club, Skaneateles Sailing Club and Skaneateles Country Club.

He was a skier and softball player, famous among his friends for his antique softball glove.

He also loved watching almost any sport, but especially lacrosse and baseball. In 2022, he had the chance to travel to Houston to see his Phillies play the Astros in the World Series.

Walter was predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and his son, Walter Hazard Blackler IV. He is survived by his four daughters, Anne Marie Reynolds of Houston, Ellen Blackler (Francis McNally) of Takoma Park, Maryland, Laurel Grow (Dan) of West Hartford and Catherine Blackler (Derek Raymond) of Skaneateles; nine grandchildren, Rudy Reynolds (Buffin), Catie Reynolds (Tony Zupancic), Nora McNally Reiff (Zach Reiff), Peter McNally,

ext.

and seven greatgrandchildren.

Calling hours will be held at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles on Monday, June 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s of the Lake, Skaneateles with burial following the funeral at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Skaneateles Lake Association (skaneateleslake.org). To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

Patrick Grow (Tory), Stephen Grow, Mary Kate Grow, Caroline Raymond and Libby Raymond,

Walter H. Blackler

PURPOSE: TEXT:

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid

THE FILING OF A GENERAL INCREASE IN ELECTRIC RATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $525 MILLION AND GAS RATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $148 MILLION BASED ON THE TEST YEAR, TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023.

Notice is hereby given that Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid (Company) has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) proposed tariff amendments to its PSC No. 220 and 214 Electric and 219 Gas tariffs. e Company is proposing an increase in base electric delivery rates of approximately $525 million and an increase in base gas delivery rates of approximately $148 million. e Company has filed for an effective date of July 3, 2024; however, the Company’s proposal is subject to suspension and review by the PSC. After suspension and review, the Company expects the base delivery increase to become effective on May 1, 2025.

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Less than 250,000 therms per year

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Greater than 250,000 but less than 1,000,000 therms per year

usage Current Rates Proposed First 3 therms or less $500.00 $575.00

3 therms, per therm (Apr to Oct) $0.05012 $0.07859

Over 3 therms, per therm (Nov to Mar) $0.06001 $0.08381

Service Classification No. 12 – Distributed Generation Greater than 1,000,000 but less than 2,500,000

Sharing the road

Now that the warmer months of spring and summer have arrived it is likely the roads are going to be busier.

They will be busier not just with motorists buy also with bicyclists.

The warm weather often inspires many to get out and go for a ride and take in all the area has to offer, the natural beauty, the lakes and trees, parks and other attractions of the region are a natural draw for many who want to get their bikes out and go for a ride.

Whether it is for some exercise or a means of transportation for people of all ages, or just a way to take a nice scenic ride through the area, bike riders will likely be a lot more prevalent over the next few months.

And with this in mind it is important for both motorists and bicyclists alike to be mindful and keep the rules of the road in mind.

According to AAA, every day, countless individuals of all ages bicycle along sidewalks and streets across the country, and unfortunately cycling fatalities are on the rise.

With summer set to arrive in just weeks, cyclists should be aware that cycling deaths are highest from June to September. According to the latest figures from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), 1,105 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2022 – that’s up almost 18% from 2020.

Bicyclist deaths most often occur between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and usually in urban areas.

Failing to yield the right of way is the highest factor in fatal bike crashes, followed by bicyclists not being visible, according to AAA.

While cycling is good for the environment, good for physical health, and is cheaper than owning and operating a vehicle—it comes with unnecessary risks.

AAA and NHTSA want to protect bicyclists by educating responsible and conscientious motorists while also encouraging bicyclists to practice smart riding habits by riding safely and always wearing a helmet.

Bicycles are a legitimate form of transportation, and bicyclists are legal drivers of vehicles.

Yet many bicyclists feel they are not respected by motorists and must fight for their place on the road. Bicyclists and motorists can both benefit from reviewing the following safety tips and sharing the road.

Tips for bicyclists:

Follow the same rules of the road as other roadway users, including riding in the same direction as traffic and following all the same traffic signs and signals. Signal all turns.

Wear a bicycle helmet every time and on every ride.

Be visible by wearing bright colors during the day, reflective gear in low light conditions, and use lights at night.

Remember that respect is a two-way street. Show motorists the same courtesy that you expect from them.

Tips for drivers:

Stay alert—avoid all distractions while driving.

Yield to bicyclists when turning. Make a visual check for bicyclists by scanning mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.

Slow down and give at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.

Never honk your horn at a bicyclist—it could cause them to swerve into traffic or go off the roadway and crash.

Learn more at AAA.com/Bik e

sEEkinG summER

I went looking for summer. I’ve been looking for a month, trying to find, not summer as it is defined in the dictionary, but summer as I want it to be.

I found something of summer today in the beautiful wild flowers, the Queen Anne’s lace, the chicory, sedges, Oxeye Daisies and the orange day lilies as they swayed in the wind that flowed over the hills up from Otisco Lake.

Today I picked black raspberries. Birds, buzzing insects and a neighbor’s chicken sang a summer song as I scanned the thick rows of raspberry vines.

The berries are trained up over wire, but nothing else is different from youthful berry picking in the hedgerows of Kent, except here the owner cuts the grasses between the rows.

The burdocks, milkweed, daisies, stately mulleins, white sweet clover, purple flowered thistles, dandelions and other unidentified flora fill in and around the bushes.

The odd weather has been hard on these relatives of roses and picking is a bit more difficult than it was last year, but it is so worth the time and effort.

The berries will become summer in jars. Jams to eat over the cool

Thanks for your support

To the editor:

I am profoundly grateful to the Liverpool community for your support and trust in electing me to serve on the Liverpool Central School District’s Board of Education. As a proud graduate and former educator within our district, it is an honor to return and contribute to the advancement of our schools, students, faculty, and residents.

Just as I did during my campaign, I intend to remain actively engaged within our community.

You’ll find me at games, PTO functions, fundraisers, and performances, eager to hear from you, because I believe open dialogue is essential for effective representation.

Throughout this campaign, I had the privilege of connecting with members of our community, hearing their concerns, and understanding their aspirations for our district.

I want to assure each of you that I’ve listened closely and take your feedback seriously. I am committed to restoring the sacred trust between our community and the school district by advocating for increased oversight, accountability, and transparency.

I will work tirelessly to promote a professional environment worthy of our dedicated teachers and staff, and ensure every student receives the education necessary to realize their full potential.

I have never been more hopeful for the future of our school district than I am today. Thank you again for your trust and support. I won’t let you down!

With gratitude,

Subscription info: lori Newcomb, ext 333, lnewcomb@eaglenewsonline com

mATT J O n E s

l iver P ool

Something to consider

To the editor:

Villagers should consider the following when voting on the June 18 referendum to change Liverpool village elections from June to November and be run by the county board of elections instead of by the village staff:

autumn days and winter nights and, if I am more energetic this weekend, enough for a pie, now. This is the only righteous work of my elusive summer.

My summer is an idea that seems to slip around the corners of my searching, even as I reach out to grasp it.

It has something to do with days that last for weeks. Summer’s plans are no plans, a spontaneity that allows for gardening when you want, for reading what you will, for easy meals that require little preparation and minimal clean up.

Summer’s music is like that wind that flows up out of the glacial valleys of the Finger Lakes, easy sometimes, sometimes dramatic.

It is silly songs, some that I remember from my youth.

It is gentle rains and storms that send you inside, but mostly it’s sunny days when clothing is easy, when flip flops and water shoes are appropriate.

It’s shade on those sunny days and cool lemonade or iced tea on porches, casual conversations about inconsequential things and laughter.

It’s ice cream in cones and big cups. It is slow meanders to nowhere.

It’s capturing moments along a stream with an ear for the special

- Our taxes already pay the board of elections to do this work in November. Local elections they run then therefore cost villages nothing. Elections run in other months by village staff require the board of elections to charge for the use of the voting machines, costing villages $1,500 -$2,000.

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- “Tradition” isn’t a factor. Liverpool moved its voting date from March to June and, of course, its voting machines over the years have been updated. Changes happen.

- November is Election Day for many other offices and propositions. You’ll be less likely to forget to vote.

- Six other villages in the county have moved their local elections to November - most recently, Baldwinsville and Fayetteville. Both Republican and Democratic Onondaga County Election Commissioners support this, advising that impacts on party turnout have been negligible.

We must be open to prudent updates and options to manage village services in an affordable manner. I will be voting to move Village of Liverpool elections to November, allowing the county board of elections to run them. mART h A m . Ou R s l iver P ool

Library location

To the editor:

Have you read or heard of this enduring Skaneateles quote from its centennial?

“May we all do something…So that after another hundred years, our successors shall rejoice and thank us for what we have done.” - John D. Barrow

The lakefront parks and Austin Park are great examples of the above statement as all were formerly private property.

Now, at the risk of upsetting good citizens who have put in countless hours to work out a solution to update our library, let me share an ‘aha experience.’

During a trip to Lego Land, I happened upon the small town of Groton’s new Library. This well-designed building both in character and function was located on the grounds of a former private school which had been turned into a town (or village) park complete with a cool ruin of one of the former school’s stone building’s foundation.

sound that only moving water can make, remembering days when you hunted for pollywogs or believed that the shiny sand at the bottom of the stream was really gold … or watching birds loop in the air, settle into the trees, fly in formation to a cadence you cannot hear.

It’s listening to the crows talk about crow things and going fishing in a flat bottom boat, the oars up, dripping another water beat.

It’s a sweetly-remembered summer romance lived on velvet evenings when you danced to lantern light in flowered cotton dresses. It’s ending the season knowing promises to keep in touch fade with the length of days.

Summer’s subtle essence is personal, gathering up old memories of purposeless languid time when the season and the person were one, a carefree existence lost to time.

The search brings a dimension to the now-summer, a wistfulness, a need to hold onto the untroubled nature of the personal season, modifying the distances between what we have and what we seek. It is worth the effort.

Ann Ferro is a mother, a grandmother and a retired social studies teacher. While still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, she lives in Marcellus with lots of books, a spouse and a large orange cat.

Holy cow, in Skaneateles we have a park with a community center to the north — and wouldn’t it be great to have a library on the other end of the park, perhaps east of our open-span building — Allyn Arena — which is often used for town-wide events and has parking. We’ve never been able to fill all the needs of the Community at the Community Center — I believe that’s why we need a new library.

I can envision kids going to the Rec fields to play hoops or to ride bikes and later catching up with a parent attending a meeting at the library. Or students walking over from the school campus to meet at the library for a study session before heading to hockey practice at the Community Center. A great example of our library at work was the ‘eclipse gathering’ in Austin Park earlier this year sponsored by the Library and the Chamber.

The land that was purchased on Fennell Street to locate a new library, could be sold to help pay for expenses as we already own the Parkland.

I was discouraged from writing this after I visited Groton because of all the time and effort already put into planning an updated library. But it’s been haunting me — so I’m just putting it out there.

Ell E n lEA hy Former e ditor s kaneateles Press

Vote yes

To the editor:

Moving the Village of Liverpool elections to November -- “election season” -- would save upwards of $3,000 per election, and that figure doesn’t include the labor costs incurred due to the added work by our (awesome!) village clerks.

It would certainly increase voter turnout, as other villages in Onondaga County that moved their elections have experienced.

To our fellow Liverpool residents, please vote yes on Proposition 1. It’s about democracy. And it’s the fiscally responsible thing to do.

After investigating the layout of that state-of-the-art library, I went for a walk on the grounds. There was a pick-up soccer game in a designated field and plenty of walkers on the paths. Up a little hill, there was an area where people were gathered with their dogs off-leash. It struck me how wonderful it would be to have a new library with plenty of parking located in a park.

sCOTT kA llsTRO m A nd Amy lAGO l iver P ool

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OuR vOicE

Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro

FROM THE MAILBAG

Pig butchers thrive on internet romance scams

Over the years, we’ve all been cautioned about the danger of hooking up with a significant other from hell. Now would-be lovers also must be wary of pig butchers!

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert on June 6 warning New Yorkers about increasingly common online scams in which fraudsters use dating apps, social media and unsolicited text messages to befriend victims and then convince them to make fraudulent investments.

These online romance scams are also known as “pig butchering” – a term scammers use to describe “fattening up” victims by gaining their trust before finally taking their money.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) encourages New Yorkers to protect themselves from these schemes and to report such scams to the involved dating or social media app as well as to law enforcement.

Sophisticated scammers

“Sophisticated fraudsters are increasingly using dating apps and social media to trick users into bogus investment schemes,” James said. “The personal and sometimes romantic nature of these scams can often leave their victims feeling ashamed and isolated.”

Pig butchering schemes typically target victims online via dating websites and apps, social media and unsolicited text messages. After a virtual meeting between the victim and scammer, the conversation generally transitions over to an encrypted chat platform such as WhatsApp or WeChat that can shield the scammer’s identity from police.

The scammers typically spend plenty of time making victims believe that they are in a romantic relationship. After that connection is made, the scammer shifts the conversation to trading or investment opportunities.

Attorney General James advises anyone who may have been a victim to report it to OAG by filing a complaint online or calling 1-800-771-7755.

Longtime lawman passes

Daniel J. Stauffer Sr., 84, who lived on Fourth Street in Liverpool, died peacefully on Monday, May 20, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Stauffer was born in Syracuse and graduated from Central Tech High School. He was a U.S. Navy

l From page 3 Orchestra

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Monday, July 15, 10 a.m.-noon, Listening Lounge (Free)

Tuesday, July 16, 10 a.m./11:30 a.m., My First Concert: Viola

Thursday, July 18, 6 p.m., Destiny, Explore the 2024-25 Season (Free)

Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Instrument Petting Zoo (Free)

Saturday, July 20, 1 p.m./2:30 p.m., K-Pop Tribute (String Quartet)

veteran, serving from 1957 to 1963.

Contact the columnist at russtarby@ aol.co m Livin’ in Liverpool russ tarby

He worked for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy/ detective in criminal intelligence section and the arson task force from 1968-1981.

He later started his own fire investigation business from which he retired in 2000.

He and his wife, Barb, spent many enjoyable summers at Noto’s Green Acres/Brennan’s Bay, Sandy Pond.

“Dan was the rarest kind of man, the one who knows how to live with all his heart,” stated his obituary.

“He’s strong, independent and always stays true to his beliefs. He doesn’t talk nice just to please others, but his heart is bigger than the universe and his love knows no limits.”

Live music at Heid’s

You can enjoy a hearty helping of harmony along with your hot dogs at Heid’s from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 28.

Performers include the Harmonic Dirt Duo on June 12.

The twosome are Mike Gridley and Susan Coleman (with additional band members Taylor Bucci and James DaRin).

Their music draws from American folk and roots music, literature and history.

Rhythm ‘n Shoes will take the stage Wednesday June 19, followed by Sam Vecchio June 26, and guitarist Gary Johnson July 3.

If you dig the scene at the Liverpool landmark you might also want to attend Corvette Cruisin’ Nights on the second Sunday of each month through September.

All Corvette owners will receive a special coupon from Heid’s; heidsofliverpool.co m ; 315-451-0786.

Upcoming concerts

The 38th annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series continues presenting free shows at Johnson Park. The Baby Boomers will play music of the 1960s and ’70s at 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, followed by the Jess Novak Band performing original poprock compositions on Wednesday, June 19; liverpoolistheplace.co m

l ast word

“New Yorkers hoping to find romance and personal connections online are instead being taken advantage of and victimized by heartless

Sunday, July 21, 2 p.m./3:30 p.m., Summer in Vienna (String Quartet)

Monday, July 22, 10 a.m.-noon, Listening Lounge (Free)

Wednesday, July 24, 10 a.m., Syracuse Orchestra Open Rehearsal (Free)

Thursday, July 25, 10 a.m., Syracuse Orchestra Open Rehearsal (Free)

Sunday, July 28, 2 p.m./3:30 p.m., K-Pop Tribute (String Quartet)

Monday, July 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Listening Lounge (Free)

scammers.” – NY Attorney General Letitia James.

The puzzle of Pinehurst

To many, the center of American golf isn’t on Long Island or the Monterey Peninsula, where so many of the country’s most famous and exalted courses are clustered. Nor at Augusta or Oakmont or any of those time-honored venues.

Random Thoughts

It’s in the middle of North Carolina, not close to any major city, in a town where, in the early 20 th century, a guy named Tufts bought up huge amounts of pine-filled, sand-bottomed land and started a golf resort. He called it Pinehurst.

In the 100-plus years since, a mere 10 courses have sprung up at Pinehurst, but it was no. 2, designed and perfected by Donald Ross throughout the latter part of his life, which has served as a championship venue.

When first glanced the site of this week’s U.S. Open may seem docile. Wide fairways, big greens, no rough except the wire grass amid the sand restored around 2010 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It’s eminently playable for golfers with no great ambitions.

Ah, but look closer and the genius of this creation emerges.

You can hit a long, straight drive and end up with a terrible angle to the pin. Or hit the fairway and then tumble into the scrub or behind the pines. Or pipe a solid approach to the green and watch it run off the back.

Oh yes, those greens. Though not originally designed that way by Ross, eventual resurfacing gave them a unique look – some call it a turtle shell, others an upside-down saucer.

Put a hole location in the corner, and just watch as pros end up satisfied with leaving it 30 to 40 feet from the hole, knowing that if they flag-hunt, they could end up well below the green and facing a myriad of options – chip it? Bump and run it? Putt it?

The knowledge of what these greens can do affects the tee shots, too, because you might be better off 50 yards back with something less than a driver instead of bombing it into an awkward spot. Thus, you’re thinking from the moment you get on the course to the moment you putt out at 18.

No wonder that, in three U.S. Opens played at no. 2, only four players have broken par for 72 holes. Power doesn’t help much here, and you have to scramble well because nobody is hitting all of these greens in regulation.

Fitting that the first and most famous of the Opens played at Pinehurst was won exactly this way, Payne Stewart having to make par putts of 25 and 15 feet on the last three holes to edge Phil Mickelson by a stroke.

It’s impossible to escape Payne’s shadow here. A statue of him celebrating that winning putt on the 72 nd holes looks over the final green where, amid all his ecstasy, he made sure he told Mickelson, whose wife would have a child the very next day, that there was nothing like being a father – and then he was gone in a plane crash barely four months later.

Few remember the other two Opens, because Michael Campbell won in 2005 instead of Tiger Woods and because Martin Kaymer turned it into a runaway in 2014, putting any time he was off the green and always getting it up and down.

No one, great or obscure, can prevail at Pinehurst unless they embrace its unique challenges and show plenty of patience and perseverance. The sight of good shots multiple times in a round ending up in bad spots rankles pros who can rail at the unfairness of it all.

Golf isn’t played in a dome, though. And most tournaments aren’t held on courses which ask a player to consider not just the stroke they’re about to take, but the next one or two as well, a mental challenge which can prove even more draining than the physical toll the game can take.

The best thing Pinehurst no. 2 does is that it requires a full skill set, an emphasis on precision, doing your homework, facing fears and worries and ultimately conquering them – exactly what a national championship should do.

Whether Pinehurst is the home of American golf is debatable, but what isn’t in question is the singular place no. 2 holds as this country’s best example of presenting a complete, exciting and enjoyable examination.

Phil Blackwell is sports editor at Eagle News. He can be reached at pblackwell@ eaglenewsonline.com.

Phil blackwell

PENNY SAVER

IMPORTANT ESTATE SALE

Diane Fellerman

31 East Austin Street, Skaneateles, NY Friday, June 14 4:00 - 7:00 PM Saturday, June 15 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday, June 16 NOON - 4:00 PM

Numbers given at 4:00 PM Friday, June 14

ART and GLASS: 2-sided Frank Barney, lithographs, etchings; Waterford qty. Pressed, ruby flashing, “Colony”

TOYS: 70’s Fisher Price; Tonka; Mattel

FURNITURE and ANTIQUE: LUNDSTROM Bookcase; Roll-top desk; qty. early “RED WING” crocks; EMERALITE Bankers lamp COLLECTIBLES: 80’s baseball; qty. ‘60’s camera; Doorstops; qty. Books

HOUSEHOLD: Harden; West Elm leather sofa; MacKenzie-Childs; Tools

our self-service site at www.theclassifiedsuperstore.com

Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Syracuse, NY Area

CSEA, one of New York State’s largest public employee unions, is seeking resumes for a Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for the Syracuse area of New York State. The specialist will work under the supervision of the Director of Occupational Safety and Health and will be responsible for investigating complaints received or initiated by the Union alleging safety and health violations as well as circumstances and conditions resulting in workplace accidents causing injury or fatalities.

The Safety Specialist prepares comprehensive reports; provides advice/assistance to union members; prepares or assists in preparation of complaints to the State Department of Labor; communicates with the State Department of Labor for material/information; prepares material for and participates in educational safety programs for CSEA members; advises members of their rights/responsibilities under the Safety Law; and other related duties as required.

Starting salary range is $71,098 with excellent benefits including health, vision, and dental coverage; generous paid time off, defined pension and transportation stipend.

Qualifications - 3 years experience in a position or positions involving work of an investigatory or inspection nature, or the development of and participation in group training programs, or direct public contact work and/or knowledge of safety and health standards. OR a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in a related field. OR a combination of an Associate’s Degree and one year of experience in the above. Must have a valid NYS driver’s license and a car available for business use.

To apply visit https://cseany.org/jobs, or send resume and salary requirements to cseajobs@ cseainc.org Director of Human Resources, PO Box 7125, Capitol Station, Albany, NY 12224. Please note OSHSyr/EP on all correspondence. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid

THE FILING OF REVISED RATES TO P.S.C. NO. 220 ELECTRICITY, P.S.C. NO. 214 STREETLIGHTING, and P.S.C. NO. 219 GAS TARIFFS TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMISSION’S ORDER DATED JANUARY 20, 2022 IN P.S.C. CASES 20-E-0380 AND 20-G-0381.

Notice is hereby given that Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid has filed revised rates with the Public Service Commission to comply with the Commission’s order dated January 20, 2022. ese revised rates become effective July 1, 2024.

e tables listed below show a comparison between the Company’s current rates and rates effective July 1, 2024.

For more information, visit http://www.nationalgridus.com or the PSC’s website: https://dps.ny.gov/

Send your events to adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com. Notices must have the date, time and location of the event. Deadline for submissions is 12 p.m. Friday. No calendar item can be guaranteed for placement in the papers, nor run for multiple weeks, unless it is a paid announcement. All free placement is on a space-available basis. Event information may be subject to change, so be sure to contact the event organizer to confirm the details.

THROUGH JULY

Nourishing Ourselves through Nature Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Join for naturalist wellness classes that combined observing nature with mindfulness. Visit.baltimorewoods.org for more information.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

Plank Road Quilt Guild Business Meeting

9:30 a.m. Cicero United Methodist Church, 8416 WN. Main St. After the business meeting, a speaker from Helping Hounds will present about their organization. Special guests will include adoptable dogs. Liverpool Concerts in the Park

7 p.m. Johnson Park, Village of Liverpool. Bruce Springsteen tribute band Born to Run will perform.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

International Association of of Near Death

Studies Speaker

6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. North Syracuse Community Center, 700 S. Bay Rd. Lisa Latino will discuss her spiritual ex-

Last week it “ nally” happened…my golf score was one shot over my age for the rst time in 4 years, when playing from the senior tees. I must admit, it was a wonderful streak that I hoped would last forever. Unfortunately, “ e “Game” doesn’t allow us the entitlement of playing well forever. We also have to deal with the wear and tear that occurs in our bodies as we move through the journey of golf and life. Father Time is undefeated. He will always be our yardstick.

I sincerely believed I was prepared to play a good round of golf at Pompey last week in a Tuesday Tour of America (TTA) event and a er leaving my 7 . birdie putt on the 1st hole 1/4inch from dropping in the cup, I was convinced. e 7 . putt for birdie was the last time I even smelled a makable putt for birdie. e closest putts I had for the last 17 holes were between 15-20 . and they were not all for birdie. I was certain my 45 years of experience would allow me to stop the torture I was experiencing but it was to no avail. No matter what I did, nothing worked physically, mentally, or emotionally. I was simply a basket case and the knowledge I had acquired to deal with these types of conditions was useless and very disappointing.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my brother Chris several years ago a er playing poorly in a Florida State Golf Association tournament. We talked for almost four hours about my thoughts, emotions and attitudes when I played in tournaments and what I do a er a poor performance. My response was…I like to go back out on the course immediately to hit several good shots to restore my attitude and con dence as I clear my mind I of the bad thoughts I had during the round. Chris, who doesn’t play golf, posseses a unique ability to evaluate conditions and o er thoughts of his own that re ects his intellectual brilliance.

e next morning he read a short story he wrote before going to bed about the game you might enjoy.

“My Name is Golf”…by Christopher Noun My name is golf. I’m just a game. I enjoy your company every time you visit. Heck, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have any company at all. For years I have been trying to tell you. Nobody listens. I’m on your side. Your understanding of the word winning

perience following her extreme series of illnesses.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Strawberry Shortcake 4K

Sunshine Horses, 3721 VerPlank Rd., Clay. Open house to follow. Sunshine Horses is a nonprofit and facility for horses in need. www.sunshinehorses.org/events.

All You Can Eat Belgium Waffle Breakfast

8 a.m.-11 a.m. Lamson Grange #588 9108 Fenner Rd., Baldwinsville. Adults: $10. Ages 6-12: $5. Ages 5 and under: free. Menu: waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacons, toast, and beverages.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Classic Cars at the Clay Historical Park

1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Clay Historical Park. Check out classic cars and tour the park. Free.

MONDAY, JUNE 17

Liverpool Concerts in the Park

7 p.m. Johnson Park, Village of Liverpool. 60s and 70s band the Baby Boomers will perform.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

Family Movie Night 5 p.m.-8 p.m. 100 Trolley Barn Ln. The Color of Friendship. Rated G.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

Liverpool Concerts in the Park

7 p.m. Johnson Park, Village of Liverpool. Pop and rock band the Jess Novak Band will perform.

will a ect our relationship. A narrow view of the word winning is always unhappy. We’re winning if we get up in the morning and play golf in the a ernoon. We’re winning if we don’t have a heart attack. We’re winning if as seniors we can still maintain a healthy relationship with golf. We’re winning…see what I mean.

I’m just a game. Every designer gets to decide my appearance - wide fairways, narrow fairways, large greens, small greens; easy to read, unpredictable; deep sand traps, shallow sand traps; at, hilly, friendly, challenging. e next time you nd fault with my appearance, don’t blame me, blame them. I’m completely innocent. You have no idea how much your visit means to me. I’ll be right here waiting. I’d like to be your friend if you’ll let me. I’m on your side.

If you want to believe in the Golf God, It’s alright with me. I’m just a game. Every good shot you make you deserve. I have nothing to do with any frustrations. I’m constantly cheering you on. You can’t hear me when you’re blaming me. Every time you visit, remember this article. I’m just a game. ey gave me the name golf. I’m on your side.

FYI…I did go back out on the course last week, a er my round, to gure out a way to “ nd it”…again. I played holes 1-5 and hole 18 with “ ve” balls. It was 88 degrees. When I nished I was drained, weary and worn out. Did it help me to go back out on the course? I believe it did. Did it help me play better in the CNYSG Two-Man Best Ball, season opener at Lakeshore CC last ursday and Friday?

I’ll let you know next week. e deadline for this article was last Wednesday.

I try to read my brothers story whenever I play poorly. It helps me. I believe it will help you because it restores your “con dence, attitude, and frame of mind” a er a disappointing experience on the course.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

The Beer-ie Canal was a Risin’

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Clay Historical Park. Derrick Pratt from the Erie Canal Museum will discus how industries, including brewing, flourished on the canal.

Film Screening 7 p.m. The Sterling Nature Center, Jensvold Rd. “Sterling Nature Center: A Living History” is a 15 minute documentary produced by SUNY Oswego students and faculty.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Baby Party Time

10 a.m.-11 a.m. NOPL Brewerton. Bring your baby for stories, music, and tummy time.

PAWS of CNY Read to George

3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St. Meet George and his humans! Practice your reading skills by reading to George.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Brewerton Builders

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St. Use LEGOs to create structures, creatures, and more. For kids and tweens.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

Open House

2 p.m.-4 p.m. Schroeppel Historical Museum, 486 Main St., Phoenix. Join to honor Barbara Dix for her many years as a historian.

MONDAY, JUNE 24

Golf Tournament

9 a.m. Tournament will benefit the Canton Woods Senior Center. $80 per person. Price includes golf, cart, and BBQ lunch. www.baldwinsville.org/canton-woods-seniorcenter.

Bad Art Competition

9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St. Use anything and everything to make some fantastic bad art. Awards will be given and art will be displayed through July.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

CanTeen 25th Anniversary Party

4 p.m.-7 p.m. Since 1999, the CanTeen offers teens a safe, supportive, and substance free environment for programs. Celebrate with light refreshments, live music, and raffles.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Teen Mario Kart Tournament

2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. NOPL North Syracuse, 100

Trolley Barn Ln. Enjoy pizza, soda, and friendly competition. For tweens and teens in grades 5-12. Register at nopl.org/events.

SATURDAY, JULY 13

Community Garage Sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. CNS parking lot. Shop from a variety of vendors, yard sale items, and food trucks. Proceeds to benefit CanTeen and teen programs. To be a garage sale vendor, fill out the form: form.jotform.com/231504296786161. Form due July 3. JULY 27-AUGUST 2

Summer Vacation Bible School St. Mary’s of the Lake, Skaneateles. Retreat for children is run by trained college students passionate about their Catholic faith. Email stmarysfaithinformation@syrdio.org.

OCTOBER 21-26

Pigeon Forge and Smoky Mountains Show Trip $950 due August 14. Price includes transportation, lodging, three shows, tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, admission to Dollywood, and more. www.grouptrips. com/kathyssmokymountaingroup.

ONGOING EVENTS

THURSDAYS Family Storytime 10 a.m. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge

summer entertainment

series

returns events include Paper Mill island performances, art Walk

Baldwinsville Center for the Arts is kicking off the summer entertainment season with unique performances on Paper Mill Island and the return of Art Walk on Oswego Street. The June entertainment calendar begins with four free events on Paper Mill Island: Hamlet, performed by Syracuse Shakespeare-in-the-Park, Wednesday, June 12, 6 to 9 p.m. Sponsored by Baldwinsville Rotary Foundation.

Food Trucks and Music, Thursday, June 13, 5 to 8 p.m. Provided by Syracuse Food Truck Association.

Exit 11 (Durgee Jr. High and Baker High pop/rock orchestra) and the Elden Elementary Orchestra, Friday, June 14, 6 to 8 p.m.

The Dirty Doves (Americana folk music), Saturday, June 15, 6 to 9:30 p.m., with concessions sold by WT Brews.

In addition, after a pause during the pandemic, the popular Art Walk will return to Baldwinsville Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 4th Annual Art Walk will feature over 25 artists displaying and selling their work from booths set up in the front yards of houses along Oswego Street, beginning at Elizabeth Street and heading north, ending at Oneida Street.

Artists working in paint, ceramics, sculpture, photography, fiber, jewelry, wood, stained glass, metal, and more will be on hand to discuss their artistic process. Live music, kids’ crafts, face painting, and food trucks will add to the Art Walk experience. Admission to the Art Walk is free.

Baldwinsville Center for the Arts president Jim Dale said “We are thrilled to be able to bring back Art Walk and a full lineup of entertainment to Paper Mill Island. Our volunteers are working hard to bring a wide variety of experiences to the CNY area with music and theatre from a broad array of genres.”

To stay up to date on all Baldwinsville Center for the Arts events, follow their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BaldwinsvilleCenterForTheArts or baldwinsvillearts.org About the Baldwinsville Center for the Arts Formed in 2006 with a donation from the Edna Catherine Moyer estate, the Baldwinsville Center for the Arts works to advance the arts in Baldwinsville through advocacy, education, and opportunity. Become a Friend of the organization by making a donation through their website. Baldwinsville Center for the Arts is nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Eagle Newspapers is here to help readers share their milestone celebrations, including birth announcements, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. The deadline to submit an announcement is 10 a.m. the Friday before publication. Announcements of up to 250 words with a photo cost just $50, with an additional 15 cents per word over 250 words. Announcements will be posted to eaglenewsonline.com within 24 hours of receipt of payment. To submit a milestone announcement, email Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com, or call 315.434.8889 ext. 305.

Liverpool relay breaks sectional record at state meet

By Phil BlACkwEll

Track and field stars from Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse did not have to travel anywhere for last weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship meet – and wanted to celebrate that fact with medals.

In the state meet at Bragman Stadium, two days of frenzied activity, which started and stopped twice Friday due to weather, concluded Saturday with a record performance by the girls Warriors’ 4x100 relay team in the Federation finals.

Between them, the Liverpool quartet of Nahla Battle-Crenshaw, Maddie Devendorf, Mikayla Greene and Mia Wright went 47.99 seconds to set a new Section III record and finish third while their rivals from C-NS could not finish the race. South Shore won the race in 47.60.

Before their Federation battle, in the Division I (large school) final of the girls 4x100 C-NS had Hayes, Mackey, Grace Murray and eighth-grader Stephanie Todd finish fourth in 48.43 seconds, while the Warriors were seventh in 48.53, something upon which they would improve a day later.

Northstars freshman Anna Eells was in three girls events and would take the bronze medal in the high jump, clearing 5 feet 7 inches as her Section III teammate, East Syracuse Minoa’s Akuot Kuany, won as the only competi-

By Phil BlACkwEll

tor to top 5’8”.

Having gone 40’ 1/4” in the triple jump where she was the no. 4 seed, Eells went 38’4 1/2” here but still went to the podium in seventh place. She also had a time of 15.07 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles that just missed advancing to the finals and put her 11th overall.

In the long jump, Eells settled for 13th place with 16’11 1/2”, while in the 100 hurdles Morgan Hayes was 18th in 15.40 seconds and Jaydin Mackey 20th in 15.46.

Mackey also ran in the 100-meter dash (12.30), joined by Greene (12.38) and Devendorf (12.48), and it was Greene doing best in the 100, her 12.66 good for 18th place ahead of Mackey’s 12.70 and Devendorf’s 12.75, while in the 200 Greene’s 25.72 got her into the final where she ultimately took seventh place in 26.03.

Murray eeded 12th in the 400 hurdles (1:03.84), moved up into medal position, seventh in 1:03.41 and not far from the winning 1:01.48 of Columbia’s Ava Weiss as teammate Aalilyah McDonald was 18th in 1:08.13.

Taylor Page led Liverpool in the 1,500-meter run, posting a season-best time of 4:42.92 for 13th place in Division I. Page also was in the 4x800 relay with teammates Addison Ziegler, Katilyn Hotaling and Charlotte Warner, where they finished 10th in Division I with a clocking of 9:37.92.

On the boys side for C-NS, Joe Main looked for medals in the shot put and discus. As the fifth seed in the shot put with a season-best

Sophomore Chloe Tice and senior Isabella Borte both represented the Cicero-North Syracuse girls golf team during the June 2 and 3 New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships at Edison Golf Club in Rexford.

Tice would shoot an opening-round 90 but notch her lone birdie of the tournament on the par-4 3rd hole. Then she improved to an 85 in the final round that included four consecutive pars from holes 15 to 18.

The total score of 175 tied Tice for 47th place with Fayetteville-Manlius’ Gabby Dardis, while Borte would make the same

Liverpool girls track and field’s

throw of 53’6”, he went 53’8 1/4” here and moved up to fourth place, though well off the winning 64’5 3/4” from Penfield’s Peter Northrup, and added a seventh in the Federation shot put with 49’10 3/4”.

general improvement in her score during the tournament, too.

After opening with a 92 but making a birdie on the par-4 2nd hole, Borte put up a birdie on 14 during her final round, helping her score move to an 88. At 180, Borte tied for 57th place.

As a team, Section III finished fourth, helped in no small part by Sauquoit Valley’s Kamryn Yerman finishing in a tie for sixth place at 149. Section II, the host section, finished first, with Rome Free Academy third in the NYPSHSAA team tournament behind Scarsdale and Great Neck.

Albany Academy’s Kennedy Sewick won the state individual title for the third year in a row, her 136 (eight under par) five shots clear of Scarsdale’s Emma Lee.

Liverpool boys lacrosse run ends in state semifinals

By Phil BlACkwEll

A first state Class A championship was within the reach of the Liverpool boys lacrosse team, but despite an all-out effort it could not quite get to the title game.

Rochester McQuaid, the Section V champions, would end the Warriors’ run in last Wednesday’s state semifinal at SUNY-Cortland, leading from the outset and never letting Liverpool catch up in a 10-5 decision.

Start to finish, a large part of the story was in the faceoff circle. The Knights’ duo of Dom Gianagreco and Eoin Meyer took turns grabbing draws throughout the afternoon, increasing McQuaid’s possession time and making a strong Liverpool defense do all it could to keep the game close.

Taking the initial face-off, it took just 45 seconds for the Knights to go in front, Giangreco bouncing a shot past Owen Salanger. Vinny Giangreco scored two minutes later, and A.J. Quadrello and John Harding followed with goals.

Only a series of great stops from Salanger kept the deficit to 4-0 going into the second period, but even when Chris Mattot put Liverpool on the board off a feed from Dom Osbeck, J.P. Gianforti answered for the Knights just 11 seconds later.

Salanger, who finished with 16 saves, did all he could to spark the Warriors, even making a full-field run to take a shot midway through the quarter. Yet all it could add was a second goal from Mattot, again assisted by Osbeck, and went to the break trailing 6-2.

Though Mattot added a third goal in the third period, the Warriors met with more frustration, with two different shots crashing off posts and the Knights’ John Harding adding a third goal to the two he scored early.

Each time Liverpool produced anything, the Knights answered it. It happened again midway through the fourth quarter, Brady Michaud and Owen Michaud both finding the net but Vinny Giangreco hitting on his second goal in

third quarter, playing right into Fairport’s hand s as Ella Peers’ third goal created the 7-7 tie which cleared the stage for C-NS’s ultimate final statement. Before all this, there was a 25-1 regional final romp over Corning on June 1 at West Genesee, then a state semifinal last Friday afternoon against Section I champion Suffern, which turned into a showcase for Nesci with three goals and six assists as C-NS rolled past the Mounties 13-5. Nine unanswered goals spanning the first and second quarters propelled the Northstars, who had to endure a wait when stormy weather pushed back the start of the game to

between those tallies.

McQuaid also proved effective running out the game’s last five-plus minutes, deftly possessing the ball despite plenty of Liverpool pressure, and adding a goal from Liam Palmer with 1:02 left to clinch it.

Back in the Class A regional final June 1 at Vestal, Liverpool again leaned heavily on its defense during a 9-5 victory over Section IV champion Corning.

Liverpool relied on the same formula that subdued two-time state champion Baldwinsville in the Section III final three days earlier - get out in front and count on the defense to keep it that way.

Here, the 3-0 lead came by the end of the first quarter, and even when Corning got on the board, the Warriors kept answering it, eventually building an 8-4 advantage by the end of the third period.

A quartet of players carried the Liverpool attack. Brady Michaud scored four times, with Osbeck adding three goals and one assist. Owen Michaud complemented his pair of goals with three assists and Mattot also had three assists.

Again, though, the story was as much about what went on at the other end of the field. Liverpool’s back line of Braden Seymour, Joe Gravante and Jake Berthoff frustrated Corning most of the way and, once more, Salanger was sensational, facing 21 shots by the Hawks and stopping 16 of them.

The loss to McQuaid concluded a season with a 10-10 record where the Warriors faced tough competition, but emerged from it to claim sectional and regional titles, ultimately seeing its season end at the expense of a McQuaid side who would beat Farmingdale in overtime Saturday at Hofstra University on Long Island for its first-ever state crown.

Salanger, Osbeck, Seymour, Gravante, Owen Michaud and Gavin Kenna lead the departing senior class, but a large and strong returning group in 2025 is led by Mattot, Brady Michaud, Jake Berthoff and Danny Dunn.

later in the afternoon.

Still, players took to activities such as dance contests to stay energized and positive. And when it finally did get on the field, it didn’t flinch when 10 seconds into the game Michaela Fay scored, putting the Northstars in its first deficit of the post-season.

“We often come out flat,” said Nesci. “But that woke us up and motivated us.”

The deficit lasted all of 32 seconds as Nesci fed Molchanoff for an immediate answer. Nesci also assisted on Wilson’s goal before finding the net herself to put C-NS in front to stay, 3-2, before the game was five minutes old.

Mackenzie Prentice arrived to assist on Elizabeth Smith’s goal, convert herself and then watch Nesci take a pass from another draw won by

Gabby Putman and convert it - three C-NS goals just 50 seconds apart late in the first quarter.

Nesci wasn’t done, either. She added another assist to extend the Northstars’ run to nine consecutive goals before Suffern, trailing 10-2, finally broke the string. But Nesci tacked on another assist on Prentice’s second goal in the last minute of the half and the margin grew to 13-3 midway through the third quarter, with Smith and Molchanoff both joining Nesci earning three-goal hat tricks for C-NS.

“We have more grit, speed and hustled than any other team I’ve been on,” said Nesci. “We want it more.”

A day later, C-NS turned its collective desire into long-awaited state championship destiny.

team

Liverpool’s Barrett competes in state tennis finals

By Phil BlACkwEll

A memorable season for Liverpool boys tennis player

Justin Barrett concluded on the courts at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.

That was where the New York State Public High School Athletic Association singles championships took place and Barrett was the only Section III competitor, singles or doubles, to make it out of the opening round.

In the opening round May 31, Barrett was quite impressive against Monroe-Woodbury’s T.J. Mancuso, taking the first set 6-1 and the second set by that exact same score.

Meanwhile, Cameron Lukasik (Fayetteville-Manlius) and Traian Cherciu (Cazenovia) both took defeats, leaving Barrett alone to go into the round of 16.

Facing Brazil native Eduardo Niederle De Abreu, who competed for Long Island’s Ross School, Barrett was close in both sets, only to take defeats by equal 6-4 margins.

Niderle De Abreu eventually lost in the quarterfinals to New Rochelle’s Alex Suhatinski, who reached the championship match June 2 only to take a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Geneva’s Drew Fishback.

L’pool softball falls to Saratoga in regionals

By Phil BlACkwEll

At least in theory, the seven days of rest the Liverpool softball team got after its tough, emotional win over Cicero-North Syracuse in the May 24 Section III Class AA championship game was welcome and necessary.

Not only did the Warriors get plenty of time to rest and recuperate, it would also get ample practice knowing the challenges that lay ahead in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament.

With the program’s first-ever state title the ultimate goal, Liverpool traveled to Malta’s Luther Forest Athletic Field June 1 to face Section II champion Saratoga Springs in the regional finals with a trip to last weekend’s state final four on Long Island at stake.

It didn’t take long, though, for the Blue Streaks to assert control - and once it did, Liverpool never got it back, ultimately taking a 7-0 defeat.

Saratoga had won the Section II title as a no. 5 seed, and showed why in the bottom of the first inning, striking for three runs off Warriors pitching ace Mackenzie Frani.

Jackie Cutting reached base, raced to third and scored on a wild pitch. Then a double steal brought another run home, and the Blue Streaks made it 3-0 on Charlotte Drabek’s single.

Now it was the Warriors’ task to try and get some runs off Cutting, but the Saratoga pitcher proved too tough. Over seven innings, she allowed just one hit, from Lauren Ragonese, while Frani drew the only walk.

Though not overpowering, Cutting did manage five strikeouts and got just one error from her defense. What’s more, the Blue Streaks kept hitting, tacking on a run in the third, two runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth.

Frani also managed five strikeouts but surrendered 12 hits, with Drabek going three-for-three and Emily Ruscio adding a pair of hits. Saratoga went on to lose its state semifinal 6-4 to Corning, who topped Fairport 8-2 to claim the first-ever state AAA title.

This 12-8 season that concluded with a sectional title was a curtain call for several strong Liverpool seniors such as Frani, Ragonese, Joelle Wike, Katia Flavin, Ava Falvo and Brooke Tyler, who were part of two sectional titles and a 2022 trip to the state Class AA title game.

Much of the starting lineup will need to be replaced in 2025, but the returning players will have a mission to continue what the Warriors accomplished this spring.

Dante Melfi was part of the 800-meter run, where he had gone 1:56.66 this season and nearly equaled it, his 1:57.40 putting him eighth among Division I runners and 14th overall.

4x100 relay

of Nahla Battle-Crenshaw, Maddie Devendorf, Mikayla Greene and Mia Wright set the Section III record in the event with a time of 47.99 seconds in the Federation final and finished third overall.