Gazebo blues
Homeowner claims village wants to ‘destroy’ his backyard building
By russ TarBy Contributing Writer
Paul Blundell wants just one thing: a chance to finish building a backyard gazebo.
The problem is that the construction has dragged on for five long years.
Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan asked the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees to conduct a hearing at its Sept. 16 meeting at which both he and Blundell spoke about the impasse. Pointing to a thick file of accumulated case paperwork, Reagan said the homeowner repeatedly ignored state building codes and had failed to present required building designs.
“I want to finish my gazebo appropriately,” Blundell told the trustees.
He accused Reagan of trying to “destroy” his gazebo project.
Blundell requested another six month extension of his building permit, but – by a unanimous vote – the trustees gave him just seven weeks, until Nov. 5.
Bike lanes nixed
As she reviewed the village’s “outstanding issues,” on Sept. 16, Mayor Stacy Finney announced that the state Department of Transportation had dropped its plan for bicycle lanes on along Route 370, also known as Second Street.
At its Aug. 22 meeting, the trustees heard from 12 resi-
dents who opposed the bike lanes.
“I spoke with DOT project director Paul Lo Gallo, and he agreed that the bike lanes would not be part of the project,” Finney said.
Last November, Lo Gallo outlined the proposed reconstruction of Second Street easterly from the Liverpool Elementary School entrance to the intersection at Heid’s corner.
Scheduled to begin in April 2025, the work will remove the road’s existing pavement, reconstruct the roadway base, upgrade traffic signals, update the drainage system and install handicapped-accessible curb ramps.
Trucks ticketed: 19
Police Chief Jerry Unger reported via memo that his officers made 174 traffic stops and issued 162 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in the month of August.
Officers stopped 21 tractor trailers in the village last month, and ticketed 19 of them for being overweight.
Eight accidents were investigated here last month. Officers made 18 residential checks and 244 business checks in August, while responding to a total of 664 incidents and calls for service, an average of 21.5 calls per day.
The LPD arrested 28 individuals last month on 41 criminal charges
Raffle, bake sale and bottle drive planned
The EJ Thomas United Methodist Men, the Little Utica United Methodist Church and the Corporal Kyle R. Schneider Foundation, along with other area churches are hosting a raffle, bake sale and bottle drive.
The event is slated for Friday, Sept. 27, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Cicero American Legion during their famous fish dinner.
All of the proceeds will go directly to the Corporal Kyle R. Schneider Foundation and the military veterans that they serve.
Items offered for raffle are
donated by merchants, restaurants and families in the local area. Bake sale items are donated by excellent bakers from local churches and the Legion’s Auxiliary.
The American Legion Post 787 is located at 5575 Legionnaire Drive, Cicero.
The drawing will be held at 8:15 p.m.
Raffle prizes will be picked up on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion. For more information, contact the church at 315678-2270 at littleuticaumc. org or by email at info@littleuticaumc.or g
clay seniors host events
Pop up thrift, craft shop
The town of Clay Senior Center will host a pop up thrift and craft shop at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at the Town of Clay Senior Center, 4948 Route 31. Free and open to the public, the shop will be open until the vendors leave.
For more call 315-652-3800, ext. 137 or email cclancy@ townofclay.org.
candidate meet and greet
The public is invited to an informal Meet and Greet the Candidates event on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Town of Clay Senior Center, 4948 Route 31, Clay. Doors open 10 a.m. for coffee social; the candidates will speak at 11 a.m. Light refreshments will be provided. For further information call Chrissy Clancy, senior coordinator, at 315-652-3800, ext. 137 or email her at cclancy@ townofclay.org
summer reading success
Over 300 children, tweens, and teens and several dozen adults made their summer both fun and educational by registering for the Northern Onondaga Public Library Summer Reading Programs.
NOPL’s three branches featured exciting programs and book challenges to bring kids and families into the library throughout July and August.
New this year, NOPL’s youth librarians each held a major event that invited patrons of all three libraries to gather together—a kick-off, halfway, and closing celebration.
The kickoff program on July 1 featured a Solar Show Spectacular by the Syracuse Astronomical Society, along with Summer Reading sign-ups and goodie bags at NOPL Cicero. Patrons traveled from the skies to the seas for an Adventure on the
High Seas pirate-themed sing-along with Merry Mischief at NOPL Brewerton on July 31. Pirate facts and historical figure stories were shared along with great tunes! The duo played popular pirate hits from movies such as Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Muppet Treasure Island as well as classic kids tunes like Puff the Magic Dragon. At the End of Summer Reading Party, kids got to complete an adventure course, make a craft, and enjoy ice cream sundaes at NOPL North Syracuse.
Kids, tweens, and teens tracked how many books they read or listened to and won prizes along the way. There were many other events to bring families to the NOPL branches, such as Zoo to You with Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Adventure Begins at the Library with the
MOST, Cooking for Teens, , Adventures in the Ocean Twilight Zone with scientist Sophia Fiumano, Tweens & Teens Edible Engineering, and a Dinosaur Adventure Show with paleontologists Mike and Roberta Straka.
Not surprisingly, one of the biggest draws was the Taylor Swift Party at NOPL North Syracuse on July 11, with 150 people attending. Since not everyone can see Taylor Swift on tour, this was a popular opportunity to gather to celebrate her music. Party-goers listened to Taylor Swift music, made friendship bracelets, took on a Swift song-themed scavenger hunt inside the library, and enjoyed food and drinks also based on song puns! Creative librarians put together a cheese and cracker platter with a sign saying, “You
CROP Walk planned for Oct. 6
No one in this world should be hungry, that is the message and the motivation of organizers behind the Greater Syracuse CROP Hunger Walk which is slated to take place Oct. 6 beginning at noon at Onondaga Lake Park at Willow Bay.
According to Bob Graves, co-chair of the walk, local CROP Walks began in the early 1970s.
But the history of the walk goes back a bit further.
According to crophungerwalk.org, the Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to hungry people in postWorld War II Europe and Asia.
The first CROP Hunger Walks took place in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1969 and York, Pennsylvania in 1970.
Since then, CROP Hunger Walk events have been held in hundreds of communities, large and small, raising millions of dollars to eradicate hunger and poverty.
For decades walks have been taking place across the country to shine a light on the need to help others.
This year’s local walk will help a number of people and organizations.
Twenty five percent of the funds raised goes to five local agencies to support their mission including In My Father’s Kitchen, Samaritan Center, Interreligious Food Consortium, Isaiah’s Table, and Epiphany ParishLiverpool.
“Hunger does not go away,” Graves said. “The money raised supports the agencies who are committed to mak-
cnyspca pet of the week: Diablo is waiting for his forever home.
Page 5
ing a difference in the lives of those who are hungry.”
Graves went on to say that is why the Greater Syracuse CROP Hunger Walk is more than just a gathering of people in a place.
“We are part of a movement, taking steps and raising funds together to provide meals for those in our own community who need them - and supporting programs that create greater food security in communities all around the world,” he said.
Graves said organizers hope to see 100 participants this year, but more
sports: C-NS, Liverpool cross country get big league wins. Page 2
are most welcome. He said thinking about those who may need to walk miles just to get food and water and who will benefit from their steps often serves as motivation for participants.
Whether joining in on the Oct. 6 walk, or walking virtually or just making a donation, every contribution can go a long way to help others, Graves said. Visit events.crophungerwalk.org/ cropwalks/event/syracuseny to register or call Graves at 315-427-6054 for more information.
Shaylene harriS
NOPL’s summer reading program was a success, connecting with people of all ages.
Submitted photoS
The Greater Syracuse CROP Hunger Walk will be held Oct. 6 at Onondaga Lake Park.
C-NS, Liverpool cross country get big league wins
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Over a stretch of nine days late in September the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse cross country teams would both clash head-tohead with Baldwinsville and, in between, compete in the Bees’ own invitational meet. In the Northstars’ case, it marked a big development to have its boys team defeat the Bees 24-33 last Wednesday at Oneida Shores after years of B’ville dominating this particular series. And it started at the front, where Rhett Andrews, in 17 minutes 13.9 seconds, pulled away to win the individual title and Tyler Graham was second in 17:35.1 ahead of the 17:50.8 from the Bees’ Jacob Guelli.
Further depth was provided by Jack Putman getting fourth in exactly 18 minutes and Nolan Zinsmeyer finishing fifth in 18:03 flat. B’ville got the next five spots before Dominic Petrera clinched it for C-NS, going 18:42.7.
By that exact same 24-33 score, the C-NS girls defeated B’ville, featuring a close individual race where Gabby Putman needed exactly 19:46 to hold off the 19:49.8 from the Bees’ Kamryn Barton and 19:55.9 from Madelyn Donhauser.
Kennedy Jones, fourth in 20:20.2, led a string that included Cameron Sisk (20:34.5) edging Katy Harbold (20:35.2), while Mya Patti finished ninth in 20:40.3 and Sophia Graham (20:48.5) rounded out the top 10.
Liverpool had its league opener last Tuesday at Long Branch Park against West Genesee and Syracuse West, sweeping both sides of both races.
Meanwhile, Liverpool beat West Genesee 21-34 while sweeping Syracuse West 15-50 led by Joshua Vang, whose time of 17:34.2 was well clear of the 17:58.1 from Mason Dineen.
Brian Juston, in 17:59.7, completed a topthree Liverpool sweep in front of WG’s David
Petrus (18:33.1), while Jackson Allen finished sixth in 18:42.5 and Michael Hoey (18:56.6) was ninth.
Over in the girls race, it was closer, but Liverpool won 25-30 largely because it had a 1-2 individual finish from Taylor Page, who prevailed in 19:21.9, and Kaitlyn Hotaling, easily taking second in 19:42.6.
Still, the third through fifth runners had to reach the top 10, and did so starting with Rose Piorkowski getting fifth place in 21:18 flat.
Katie Martin’s 21:29.9 edged out WG’s Claire Griffin (21:31.0) for seventh-place points and Paige Baker clinched it by running to 10th place in 21:34.4.
Both Liverpool and C-NS then made their way to Saturday’s Baldwinsville Invitational where the girls Northstars would finish second with 68 points behind Auburn’s winning 42 and the Warriors were fifth.
Individually, the best finish came from
Hotaling as she made her way to fourth place in 18:56.2 three spots ahead of Gabby Putman’s seventh-place 19:22.3 as Jones was ninth in 19:56.8.
Harbold ran well, too, getting to 13th place in 20:10.9, just ahead of Patti’s 15th-place 20:14.3 and Sophia Graham (20:57.1) in 24th place. Martin gave Liverpool a 20th-place clocking of 20:42.8, with Piorkowski (21:04.7) one spot ahead of Maggie Sherlock’s 21:05 flat as Kailyn Barth posted 21:53.7. C-NS’s boys team was third with 121 points, trailing the same B’ville side (103 points) it beat earlier in the week as Liverpool took seventh in the 16-team field. Vang led the Warriors, claiming 10th place in 16:57.3, but no other Liverpool runner finished in the top 40. Four did for the Northstars, with Zinsmeyer 12th in 16:58.9 and Andrews 14th in 17:09.6. Tyler Graham went 17:18.3 for 18th place and Petrera needed exactly 18 minutes for 29th place.
Liverpool boys soccer battles past C-NS, 2-1
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Not in any way did it matter that the Liverpool boys soccer team was 4-0-1 and no. 7 in the first state Class AAA rankings of the season and Cicero-North Syracuse was still winless. It was the Warriors and the Northstars going head-to-head, and any time that happens the intensity of a rivalry can upend whatever the records might show.
So it wasn’t surprising that last Tuesday night’s clash at LHS Stadium went all 80 minutes with the outcome in doubt, C-NS going all-out and nearly getting it to overtime, but
Belong with Cheese” and “Bad Blood” punch made out of juice, Sprite, and lemonade.
Adults were not left out as all three branches held an Adult Summer Reading program too. They tracked books they read or listened to, wrote reviews, attended programs, and completed items on the Summer Reading Bucket List, which listed things to do at NOPL and all around Central New York. Participants also
Liverpool prevailing 2-1.
Though it was in a defensive mode for a majority of the first half, the Northstars kept it within range, only allowing a single tally and trailing 1-0 going to the break.
Dante Melfi’s second-half goal meant that the Warriors had to get something more –which it did, overcoming Tyler Munnich’s eight total saves.
Bobby McQuatters scored for the hosts, as did Christian Hope, with Dominic Paolini and Connor Lynch getting assists.
Without much time to recuperate, Liverpool had to travel to face Fayetteville-Manlius
had the chance to win prizes!
Adults were also invited to happenings at NOPL over the summer, such as author events. Mary Jumbelic, MD, visited NOPL North Syracuse one rainy evening in August, giving a voice to the dead. The former medical examiner for Onondaga County, Mary is now an author with her debut work “Here, Where Death Delights” having hit the shelves last fall. In her literary memoir, she recounts her life and career and her experiences with death, giv-
Liverpool, New York 13088 (315) 699-3914 shawn.lappin@lappinlaw.com
Thursday night, and perhaps the toll of the C-NS game lingered as the Warriors absorbed its first loss of the season by that same 2-1 margin. Dominic Giamartino scored off a feed from Connor Lynch in the first half.
The Hornets matched it, though, and then pressured throughout the second half until netting the game-winner, F-M’s goals coming from Aiden Burkett and Connor Hutko with assists from Owen Pipes and Henry Dougherty.
This happened as C-NS again sought that first win, this time Saturday against Christian Brothers Academy after Thursday’s game with
ing the reader an insight into the most human of conditions. During her talk at NOPL NS, Dr. Jumbelic told her tales to a robust crowd before answering a slew of questions that ranged from the status of Oswego and Onondaga County’s mortuary practices to her own brush with death, her next book, and more.
Adult library patrons also had many opportunities to be creative. They painted a sunset
Baldwinsville was postponed. Melfi again put in a goal, this time in the second half after the Brothers took an early 1-0 advantage, and the Northstars were able to push it to overtime only to see the Brothers prevail in yet another 2-1 decision, this despite 10 saves from Munnich.
At 0-5-1 overall, C-NS would resume late this week with games at Henninger Thursday and Corcoran/ITC on Saturday, with Liverpool facing the Cougars as part of a big homestand that also includes West Genesee on Thursday and a rematch with Baldwinsville, whom it beat 1-0 earlier this month, on Saturday.
beach canvas painting, created art on tote bags, and crafted pressed flower coasters and macrame bracelets.
NOPL’s Brewerton, Cicero, and North Syracuse branches will host an Adult Winter Reading program in 2025. Keep an eye on the library’s event calendar at nopl.org/events, for more information.
June
performing music to some of your children’s favorite video games, including excerpts from the soundtracks of classic game franchises such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Minecraft. $22; kids 18 and under free with adult ticket purchase; evening concert $39
Oct. 19 – Masterworks and The movies
7:30 p.m.; pre-concert talk by Maestro Larry Loh at 6:30 p.m. Held at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater.
Violinist Will Hagen returns to play Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major, the first non-film music he wrote after the defeat of Hitler in World War II. The rest of the program highlights pieces written by film composers and music made famous on the big screen, including the opening fanfare of Also Sprach Zarathustra from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” $63-$98
Oct. 26 – Literary Classics (Pops) Held at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater. The first Pops concert of the season welcomes you with music inspired by some of our favorite books. Readers of all ages will love the mysterious and magical music inspired by Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings and more. Dress up in your house colors for this delightfully spooky concert. $50-$98. For more information, including shuttles to the downtown concerts, visit SyracuseOrchestra.org.
Spooktacular Stroll returns to Long Branch Park starting Oct. 3
The Spooktacular Stroll will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the month of October, starting Oct. 3, at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. Hours of the event are 5 – 9 p.m. “Spooktacular Stroll is an event that the whole family can enjoy. It gets you in the Halloween spirit, without the fear factor of a haunted house. Get your best costumes ready, and don’t forget to order your light-up wands to add a fun, interactive element to the show,” said Carrie Wojtaszek, Chief Operating Officer of Galaxy Media Partners.
The Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Spooktacular Stroll is CNY’s not-so-scary family walk-thru Halloween experience. Visitors will follow a ½ mile paved path at Long Branch Park
in Liverpool, as they see festive Halloween-themed displays in the wooded trail! The event will feature themed areas including Witch’s Way, the Ghost Barnyard, the Pumpkin Patch, Skeleton Graveyard, the Spider Forest, Creepy Castle, Villain’s Village, Mummy Mansion, and the Dinosaur Dungeon. Each section will include large wooden structures, LED light displays, and more to help the sections come to life! Every night will also feature food trucks, family games, a seating area, and festive music.
The price of admission is $25 per carload, paid in advance by visiting www.SpooktacularStroll.co m A limited number of vehicle passes will be sold for each night. Visitors can log onto the website to buy their pre-sale
Owned & Operated For Over 50
pass for a specific date in October.
Every Thursday will feature “Dog-oween,” where the event encourages attendees to bring their four-legged furry friends and their costumes. Fridays and Saturdays are family nights for the kids (and adults too) to enjoy time together during the Halloween season.
Each Sunday will feature “Treats on the Trail” when attendees will have the option to purchase a Trick-or-Treat bag to collect trinkets at each of the nine themed sections on the wooded walk. Halloween themed LED wands and
m ilitary historian presentation
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 5 military historian Hal Flickinger, director of the Society for the Preservation of Military History will give a presentation.
Flickinger will discuss the vital role that this region played on the world stage during the war and its impact on the American Revolution.
The presentation will be held at 4939 Clay Historical Park- Visitor Center.
During the French and Indian War, New York state played a crucial role
flashlights will also be available to purchase online so everyone can be part of the Halloween light show. Merchandise will be given out when passes are scanned.
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Spooktacular Stroll is presented by Upstate Honda Dealers.
The entry to the event is at the main gate leading into Long Branch Park off Long Branch Road in Liverpool. For more information, visit SpooktacularStroll.co m
as a battleground, with major conflicts occurring around Lake George, Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga, which were strategically located in the state’s northern region. Yet it was in the middle of the state, particularly in CNY where British forces in New York struggled against French troops and their Native American allies to control key waterways and trade routes in the area.
Open House
From 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, come and tour the Cigarville Railroad Station and
learn of its important history in Clay. Numerous train artifacts can be found in the station. The Sellen-Weller 1840s barn has two floors of agricultural artifacts donated from local town of Clay farmers. The log cabin is a replica of the first cabin built in Clay and houses many household items and furnishings from the 19th century. The visitor center has many artifacts from the early 1900s: loom, quilt, organ, and etc. Come and take a trip down memory lane. All are welcome.
OuR vOIcE
Fall feelings
By the calendar at least, the seasons have officially changed and summer has gradually transitioned into fall in Central New York.
Didn’t summer seem to go by awfully fast? Wasn’t it just graduation season and doesn’t it feel like we were just getting ready to celebrate summer holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July?
But for many, even when it seem to go by a little faster than we might like, one of the most appealing parts of living in the Central New York region is the changing of the seasons.
And with all that comes with the fall season, this is a particularly enjoyable time of year for many of us.
Whether it is decorating for the fall harvest season holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving and visiting the local pumpkin patches to pick up pumpkins and other decorative items--and we are already seeing plenty of pumpkins and corn stalks and other orange and yellow colored items that celebrate the season -- or it is enjoying the cooler, crisper weather with sweaters and warm pumpkin spiced drinks and apple picking, there is something that brings a festive atmosphere to the fall season for many people who enjoy the cooler temperatures and that cozy feeling of a nice blanket or heavier clothing and a warm drink in their hands.
And of course there is also the visual beauty of the season.
Simply going online and looking at local weather forecasts or any number of other sites will likely turn up a map depicting the changing leaves and the colors of the season.
And while it is still just early fall, Mother Nature is already starting to put on a show, displaying some of the crisp oranges, reds and yellows that make the area come alive with color this time of year. It is likely the peek of leaf peeping season is still a few weeks off, but there is no denying the scenic beauty that fall brings to our area with a blaze of brilliant colors.
And we are fortunate to call this area home and many people will even take the time to travel, making long drives, to take in the beauty many of us are able to enjoy by simply sitting on our porch or looking out our windows.
These days, with work, families and other responsibilities, it is not always easy to take the time to stop and appreciate all that is around us.
Maybe the changing of the seasons can serve as a good reminder to slow down and take some time if you can and appreciate those things we are fortunate enough to have.
Whether it is a family outing to get pumpkins at any number of local pumpkin patches, sitting by the lake shore and gazing out over the water at the expanse of leaves that decorate the far reaching hills, gathering with friends around a campfire or going for a hike -- right in the thick of the natural beauty our area possesses -- along the many nature trails and preserves through the area, or going on a longer outing for a weekend or even a Sunday drive around town or out of town in almost any direction toward the North Country or to the southern border or even toward New England, this is a great time of year to try to take a moment or two to sit back and enjoy the wonder and beauty that comes to our region with the change of the seasons and take some time to relax and simply enjoy yourself and all our region has to offer.
SUNLiGHT ON THe ROSeS
Syracuse University has plans for a new dorm that fills an entire city block between Comstock and Ostrom avenues.
It was slated to house over 700 students but, after some public kerfuffle about saving a gracious older mansion and some heat from another advocacy group, the dorm will now house fewer students, closer to 400 students.
Why? Well, the section of the dorm nearest Thorndon Park will have one less floor so as to allow sunlight to reach the Rose Garden.
The Rose Garden is a located at the Ostrom Entrance to Thorndon Park, where the beauty of the garden is enthusiastically maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers.
It is home to an award winning garden of roses of all kinds: old roses, floribundas, hybrid teas, climbing and shrub roses each carefully chosen to exemplify the best of the breed. It is difficult to downplay the exquisite beauty of this garden or its importance to Syracuse.
And yet ..
When the university was planning its new dorm, the thought that it might negatively impinge on the rose garden wasn’t considered until the Rose Society raised the issue.
This is one of those times when there is the “issue,” that is, that a rose garden needs sun and SU’s four-storied dorm across the street from the garden would impinge on that need at the same time being an example of the larger issue of change and the response to change.
Change happens.
Change begins from the moment we are conceived in our mother’s womb, weather, climate, land and
Ramblings from the empty nest
ann Ferro
resource use, the westward movement, building canals, roads, your teenager gets a driver’s license, the internet, etc. …on and on, the forces of change mediate how life moves and adapts.
But, how we respond to the idea of change is always on the edge of resolution, measuring the effects of change and our ability to evaluate those effects and modify that which needs modification.
In this instance, the change coming was planned. If the university had not lowered the height of the dorm, the volunteers who maintain the rose garden would have had to change what grew in the garden, perhaps even consider moving the plantings to a more hospitable site.
Or, as did happen, a group of advocates could point out what the planners had overlooked and, with some rather effective publicity, move those who make those decisions at SU to modify the changes to accommodate the needs of the garden.
Oversight by government, nongovernmental organizations and ad hoc advocacy groups is one of the ways that the effects of change are managed. Management by the negatively affected is not always successful because the proponents of the change in question may have more power.
Think of the polluted waterways, the higher incidents of deadly diseases, etc. that have been linked to chemical plants and the inability of those affected by the relationship between the plants and the pollution and illnesses to effect any remediation.
Why do I write about this?
My village is undergoing, as it always had …and having lived in that
village for more than 50 years I can interject memories of retail outlets from candy stores to a woman’s clothing boutiques that have left … change. We no longer have a pharmacy, a fine dining restaurant or a grocery store. These missing services have decided effects on the lives of those who patronized them.
I doubt very much whether anyone would deny the rights of those who closed their establishments to do so, and I don’t doubt that the people who are affected have the power to figure out how to determine what comes next … or they don’t believe they can.
It first means understanding that, as Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
There also needs to be what is often called the “political will” … the energy to do something, to engage enthusiasm for remediation or reimagining.
I invite you to visit the E.M. Mills Rose Garden on Ostrom Avenue in Syracuse and see the real benefit, not only of the loveliness of the roses but also the equitable way that change can be managed.
Whether we are talking about finding ways to make more services available in a small village, protecting the sunlight on roses or voting in a Presidential election, we do have the power to maintain or make better the effects of an ever-changing world.
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.
Fire Dept. Auxiliary celebrates centennial
The Liverpool Fire Department was established in 1889 under the leadership of foreman John Rogers. Some 35 year later, the firemen were pleased that a ladies’ auxiliary was formed to support their firefighting efforts. That was in October 1924, exactly a hundred years ago next month. So on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 28, the current auxiliary will host a centennial celebration luncheon from 1 to 4 p.m. at Station One on Oswego Street. A hot buffet will be served, catered by Bianchi’s in Solvay. About 60 guests are expected to attend.
Founded in 1924
According to the LFD’s centennial history published in 1989, the LFD Auxiliary’s first president was Carrie Schreiner followed by Grace Wurzburger in 1925 and Lydia Snogles in 1926. Over the years, many prominent village women have presided including Virginia Peta, Christine O’Reilly, Evelyn Weigand, Margaret Henes and Joan Merritt. The year 1927 was especially memorable as the Onondaga County Firemen’s Convention met here, and members of the auxiliary – then led by Emma Nichols – bought new dresses and hats, white trimmed with black. The dresses cost a small fortune, at $107.50, and ribbon for ties cost $4.30.
In the 1920s, the Auxiliary clearly embraced the idea of having fun. For instance, on St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Halloween, its members were encouraged to attend
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that month’s meeting in costume, or be fined a dime.
At that time, the LFD Auxiliary numbered about 55 members.
existential crisis overcome
Thirty years after the auxiliary’s formation, both the fire department and its auxiliary faced serious challenges.
On Jan. 21 that year, a blazing conflagration caused $15,000-worth of damage to Station One, then located on Sycamore Street.
And in August 1954, the auxiliary suffered a difficult existential crisis. The firemen had demanded that the auxiliary limit membership to the wives of active firefighters or it would be disbanded. Widows and unmarried ladies – the firemen insisted – could be retained as social members but without voting powers.
The conflict dragged on for months with both parties even hiring attorneys. But the case never had its day in court.
“Things finally tapered off and once again harmony prevailed,” says the history book.
A similar squabble was noted in 1969, and in 1982 auxiliary member briefly considered disbanding, but it has continued to fulfill its charter.
The auxiliary has hosted hundreds of card parties, suppers and bingo games over the years to raise money for “civic and firematic events.”
Proclamations aplenty
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the auxiliary will enjoy presentations of proclamations from State Sen. John Mannion, Assemblywoman Pamela
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Hunter, Town of Salina Supervisor Nick Paro and Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lucretia Hudzinski.
A proclamation from Liverpool Village Mayor Stacy Finney will also be presented and a 100-year certificate will be presented to the auxiliary by Toni Casey, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.
The auxiliary currently has 24 members who range in age from 90 years young to 31 years old. Nine of its members have served 50 years or more with the auxiliary.
The current officers are President Bobbie Vassallo, Vice President Nancy Ormsby, Secretary Amy Balcum, Treasurer Marian Kaplan and Trustees Donna Bushnell, Enie Carlisle and Elaine Tipton.
Spectacular new mural
Check it out: Haudenosaunee
artist Brandon Lazore has painted a gorgeous mural on Tulip Street’s State Farm building just south of Liverpool Public Library. The project was made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, as administered here by CNY Arts.
Lazore appeared at the June 17 Liverpool Village Board of Trustees meeting to share his design, an inspiring image of the Tree of Peace.
Last word
“Many times differences have arisen between the men and the women, but cool heads prevailed and soon a smooth course of better understanding united the two groups.” –LFD Centennial History.
Livin’ in Liverpool
russ Tarby
Don’t let frost end your garden season
By meLinda myers
No matter where you garden there never seems to be enough time to grow and enjoy all your favorite vegetables. Start preparing now to extend your growing season and continue enjoying garden fresh vegetables even after the first frost.
Some vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts tolerate frost and even taste better after a slight chill. Most of these can tolerate temperatures as low as 24 to 28 degrees.
Leeks are another vegetable that thrives in cooler temperature. Many tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees. Just mound some protective mulch around the plants and continue harvesting.
Take advantage of the chilly winter temperatures to store some of your carrots, turnips and parsnips in the ground for winter. Just cover the soil with straw or
evergreen boughs after it lightly freezes. Dig as needed or during a winter thaw. You will enjoy their wonderfully sweet flavor.
Those first few fall frosts are often followed by a week or more of mild temperatures.
Protecting frost sensitive plants from the first few fall frosts is one way of extending your season. Cover the plants with old bed sheets, mattress pads, or similar items in late afternoon and remove them as soon as the temperatures climb above freezing. Keep these handy and be ready to cover whenever frost is in the forecast. Make it easier by using floating row covers. The spun material allows air, light and water through while protecting the plants from frost. You will find different weights of row covers that provide different levels of temperature protection. Just loosely cover the plants and anchor the edges with
stones, boards or garden pins. You only need to remove the fabric to harvest ripe vegetables. Otherwise, it can stay in place until the vegetables stop producing or you decide it is time to end the season.
Create a high tunnel over garden beds filled with large plants. Use hoops and row cover to allow easy access for harvesting while protecting the plants.
Cloches have long been used to jump start the season or extend i t beyond the first fall frost. You’ll find a variety of shapes and sizes available. Select one large enough to cover your plants and protect them as needed. Look for those with vents to prevent plants from overheating and those that allow water through while trapping in the heat.
Don’t let unripe tomatoes go to waste if you are unable or unwilling to protect them from frost. Harvest any that are starting to show color
By DONNa NeWMaN
photo provided by the CnySpCa
Diablo means “devil,” and never has a dog been so misnamed! Diablo came to the shelter in July when his family could no longer care for him. He’s eight years old but is perennially a puppy – assuming that a puppy can weigh seventy-three pounds! He’s energetic, mischievous, and friendly. He’s also good-natured, gentle, and very foodmotivated. in other words, he’s a typical goofy, lovable lab mix! Those who know him, love him, but not many people outside of the shelter have bothered to get to know him; he’s been at the shelter since February, and he hasn’t had any visits. Diablo would make a loving companion for an active family. Come meet this diamond in the “ruff” – you won’t be disappointed. Diablo is waiting to meet you at the CNySPCa! in order to adopt, you must fill out an application, pay an adoption fee, and have your pets up to date on their rabies vaccines. all adopted cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on their vaccinations before they go home. The CNy SPCa is located at 5878 east Molloy Road, Syracuse. For more information about adoption, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk2@cnyspca.org, or visit cnyspca.org
before the killing frost and finish ripening them indoors. The bottom of the tomato should be greenish white or starting to color up. Store your green tomatoes in a cool (60 to 65 degrees) location to extend their storage life.
Spread out the tomatoes on heavy paper or wrap them individually in newspaper so the fruit do not touch each other. They’ll ripen over the next few weeks. Speed up the process by moving a few tomatoes to a warm bright location a few days before they’re needed. Enjoy green tomatoes fried, in relish, salsa, pies or many other ways. And when your season ends, begin planning for next year. Enlist some of these strategies to jump start the season for an earlier harvest.
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Editio n and Small Space
melindamyerS Com
Floating row covers protect plants from frost while allowing light, air and water through.
Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “ How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD serie s and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio progra
is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is MelindaMyers. co m
Sadness on the South Side
So the Chicago White Sox lost a baseball game. No big deal.
Except that when you add up 120 of those small deals it turns into a rather large one, and a 121 st , if attained, puts these White Sox alone in post-1900 Major League Baseball in terms of defeats in a single season.
Just the number is staggering enough. Think of how many quiet clubhouses accumulated over six torturous months, mixed in with audible and inaudible cussing, perhaps a locker or table turned over, a slump
Random Thoughts Phil Blackwell
turned into a malaise evolved into a full-blown crisis which affects every corner of the franchise. And to do it all in Chicago, where you already have second-class status. Even winning it all in 2005 didn’t get the White Sox of the Cubs’ shadow. This has, in all the wrong ways. At least when the New York Mets lost 120 games in 1962 it (1) was an expansion franchise, (2) had Casey Stengel to entertain, (3) evoked laughter more than ridicule and (4) managed
It could happen anywhere
To the editor: ‘Please read this letter as I urge you to give it some thought. Another tragic shooting, this time in the State of Georgia.
It has been a little over 25 years since the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado occurred. As a nation, we found ourselves in a state of shock. How could such a tragic event have occurred? How could two teenagers have committed this heinous crime against their own peers and teachers? What went wrong?
These questions and many more came to our minds. As a pediatrician I felt a sense of sadness, for in my eyes all were victims, even the two perpetrators.
Tragically nothing has changed, and nothing will change until we take mental health issues more seriously.
Like Eric and Dylan, Colt Gray was a troubled youth. To his disadvantage he came from a broken home.
A year prior to this tragic
event he posted his threatening ideation online. Law authorities questioned Colt and his father, but unfortunately, he slipped through the cracks. Then on Sept. 5, Colt Gray went on a shooting rampage at Apalachee High School, killing two students, two teachers and injuring at least nine others. A frightening event that will have a lasting psychological impact on the students, their parents, the school authority and the community.
Take a pause and reflect. Did Colt Gray get a fair chance at turning his life around or did he not? Did the law authorities, the pediatrician, the school and most of all his parents fail him?
This question needs to be asked for unless we do, many a troubled youth will go down the same path as Colt. Do not get me wrong, I am not condoning this act of violence. However, unless we take the issue of mental health more seriously, a tragedy such as this could very well happen in our community. We all bear a responsibility, now is not the time to procrastinate.
P URN i M a Vya V a H a R ka R , MD p hoenix, ny
m. Myers
FROM THE MAILBAG
Sadness
PENNY SAVER
Visit our self-service site at www.theclassifiedsuperstore.com
Newspaper Delivery (Surrounding Syracuse)
Delivery of newspapers/magazines -- Part time – approx. 9-15 hrs/week -- (flexible) MUST work EVERY Wednesday starting at 8:00 a.m. $16/hr. -- MAIN DUTY is to drive company van usually 1 day a week (3 or 4 days at end/beginning of month) making newspaper/magazine exchanges.
We have 6 papers so VERY CRITICAL the proper paper goes in proper delivery area. Keep track of returns on a log. Lifting of 40 lbs. Clean drivers license required. Contact Lori Newcomb, Circulation Manager, Eagle Newspapers, 2501 James St., Suite 101, Syracuse NY 13206 by email lnewcomb@eaglenewsonline.com or call 315-434-8889 ext. 333
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 - $83,341 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.
to outdraw the Yankees in New York since bereft Dodgers and Giants fans were never, ever going to change their
allegiance to the pinstripes. In other words, the ‘62 Mets brought smiles. These White Sox? Just a steady stream of bad news. A mere three years ago this same
Where do you fit in the game of golf?
I have always thought it was important for me to know who reads my articles so that I can write about things that are informative and bene cial. Because all golfers have di erent skill levels, motivations for playing and uctuating amounts of time and resources to devote toward playing the game, it is both prudent and necessary that I focus on writing about things that are engaging to the majority of golfers… not to just one speci c category. Although I have a pretty good idea who reads my “trash talking, dump-on” articles, I must admit I don’t know enough about you so I decided to do some research to nd out who you are. I am delighted to inform you I found a wonderful organization that has already completed a research project that has done a great job of categorizing golfers, including you and me.
e United States Golf Association (USGA) has been conducting on going research into the golfer experience for many years. One of their recent projects has been to classify golfers into stereotype categories based on their “individual characteristics and how they engage with the game”. e research was re ned and characterized using a quantitative survey of 20,001 golfers from across the U.S.. We have all been put into categories…
e Di erent Types of Golfers:
OCCASIONAL - e infrequent and o en reluctant casual player that is lowest on the engagement scale and learning curve. ey play less than 12 times a year and represent 14% of the gol ng population. ey tend toward single, younger, female and no kids.
DETERMINED - ese golfers are lower on the learning curve, lower on performance expectations, and likely newer to the game. ey represent 6% of all golfers and have lower skill levels. ey are the highest scoring golfers that play 12 or more rounds per year. ey also tend to be older and spend less on golf per year than the median player.
FUN-ONLY - It’s all about the social aspects for these players. ey don’t keep score, don’t know the rules, and don’t compete against anyone. is small segment represents only 2% of the gol ng population and to be older and ride in carts more o en.
SPORTY AND GRINDER - Golfers are classi ed into this category because of their “medium skill level” and because they play 12-
52 rounds per year. e Sporty golfer represents 3% of all golfers, are younger than 50 and o en picked up the golf “bug” a er participating in other sports or physical activities. ey tend toward urban living, single, younger and with no kids. e “Grinder” golfer represents 17% of the gol ng population and are 50 or older. ey also tend to ride in carts more o en.
AVID - is group is golf’s passionate “weekend warrior”. ey represent 16% of golfers, have medium skill levels, and play more than 52 times per year. ey tend to be older and spend more on golf at private courses.
PLAYER AND VETERAN - Golfers are classi ed into this category because of their “high skill level”. ese are the best golfers. e “Player” golfer represents 3% of the gol ng population and are younger than 50. ey tend toward being single, younger, and with no kids. ey also walk more frequently than the typical golfer. e “Veteran” golfer represents 19% of all golfers, are older than 50 and have “strong desires” to preserve the norms of the game and the integrity of classic courses. ey tend to be older, spend more on golf at private courses and walk more frequently than the typical golfer.
Who are the “most satis ed” golfers playing the game?
* e “most satis ed” golfers were the Veterans, with Avids a close second.
* Grinders and Players are about average.
* e three categories that scored below the overall average were the Determined, FunOnly and Sporty Players.
* e “least satis ed” players, by a large margin, were the Occasional golfers.
I know the category where I belong…DO YOU? If you don’t see a category that “ ts” you, send me one that does. teetimewiththe pronoun@yahoo.com
I’m Dennis, a 73 year old man, on a heartfelt search for a lasting connection filled with trust, companionship, and love with a special woman. I hope to find a life partner and a best friend, someone with whom I can share the remainder of my years. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, hand in hand with someone you truly care about.
If you’re interested in embarking on this journey with me, please feel free to drop me a message to know about you at oceandeep452@gmail.com I’m open to connecting with someone between the ages of 59 and 75.
team won the AL Central. Then it hired Tony LaRussa to manage, saw many key players and pitchers tail off from their peaks or get injured leading to a downward spiral that preceded the 2024 debacle. From early-game blowouts to lategame blown leads, there was no set pattern, just bad baseball followed by worse. An entire two months went between series victories. For the first time ever a team fell 81 games below .500.
When something gets this bad, there’s never one cause of it, though in Chicago and elsewhere most of the arrows have flown right at owner Jerry Reinsdorf for setting the destructive tone, even if he didn’t mean it that way.
Whether it was holding on to frontoffice personnel too long, or reacting slowly to the growth of analytics and its increased use at all levels of the sport, or something as obvious as not chartering a team plane with full firstclass seating for coaches and players (which almost every other MLB team does), Reinsdorf’s old ways are seen as the primary culprit.
Still, some are acting as if this is new or novel. It isn’t, and there’s plenty of reason to think that, awful as it is now, it won’t last.
In 2003 it took a last-week surge of victories for the Detroit Tigers to stay at 119 losses and avoid matching those ‘62 Mets. Three years and one Jim Leyland later, they were playing a World Series in Motown.
Early in the 2010s, the Houston As -
l From page 5
community service, personal projects, tips and encouragement from members. For more information, visit plankroadquiltguild.org.
GBCC Coffee Talk
10 a.m. first Wednesday of the month. The Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Talks are for anyone who is interested in joining the chamber, current members, or community members interested in learning about what the greater Baldwinsville area has to offer while we showcase a local business that supports the area. Interested in hosting a coffee talk? Email baldwinsvillechamber@gmail. com.
Adult Coloring
10-11 a.m. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St. Come join us for the relaunch of our popular adult coloring group. Supplies will be provided but we also encourage you to consider bringing your own. Call 315676-7484 or visit nopl.org.
Storytime with Miss Sarah 10-11 a.m. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane. Join Miss Sarah for a free storytime filled with picture books and songs. Designed for young children and their caregivers. After 30 minutes of stories and songs there will be 30 minutes of playtime. For more information, call 315-458-6184 or visit nopl.org.
Early Learners Story Time
11 a.m. Salina Library. Get your child ready for school! With stories, rhymes, songs and crafts, your child will learn important early literacy and social skills. Meet in our community room. For children ages 2-4 with an accompanying adult.
Fika: Swedish Coffee Break
3 p.m. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Make time to pause and refresh, to socialize and energize. Meet new people or bring along a friend. Please register.
Bingo Every Wednesday. Liverpool Elks Lodge,
tros lost, in consecutive years, 106, 107 and 111. Within two years they were in the playoffs and within four years the champs, even if many didn’t like the deliberate step back they took and, worse yet, the sign-stealing that paid off the sudden turnaround.
Heck, just this year the Kansas City Royals battled back into contention after dropping 106 games in 2023. Baltimore went from 110 losses in 2021 to the AL East title in just two seasons. On and on the turnarounds go. Of course, many are convinced the White Sox will never truly soar again unless Reinsdorf dies or sells the team. Much as that is desired, though, it’s not the fans’ decision, for if it were, John Fisher sure would not own the A’s and drag them out of Oakland. If it ever does happen, the biggest heroes aren’t on the diamond or up in the suites. It will be in the stands, where some fans have still managed to make their way out to the South Side of Chicago, maybe take in a Campfire Milkshake and watched this all unfold, game by game, brutal defeat after brutal defeat.
They are the ones whose hope still lingers amid this field of ashes, and will rejoice the most if these White Sox, scorned and ridiculed and mocked for making the wrong kind of history, find themselves in a few years’ time battling for pennants.
Phil Blackwell is sports editor at Eagle News. He can be reached at pblackwell@ eaglenewsonline.com.
3730 Cold Springs Road (corner of Route 370 and Hayes Road), Baldwinsville. Admission is $5 for 11 total games weekly, including two progressive and one special bonus game. Food and beverage available, open to the public, free parking and wheelchair-accessible. Doors open at 5 p.m., kitchen opens at 5:30 p.m. and bingo sales start at 6 p.m. Call 315-622-2348 for more information. Proceeds benefit Elks projects and charitable programs. Current COVID guidelines apply.
BPL Board Meeting
7:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month. Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 E. Genesee St., Baldwinsville. The monthly business meeting of the Baldwinsville Public Library Board of Trustees is open to the public. For a Zoom link to the meeting, contact Library Director Meg Van Patten at 315635-5631 or megv@bville.lib.ny.us.
COMMUNITY NEEDS & FUND -
RAISERS PEACE, Inc. Senior Nutrition
PEACE, Inc.’s food service program prepares nutritious lunches for seniors at many sites throughout Onondaga County. Visit peace-caa.org/programs/senior-nutrition/ or call 315-470-3331 to find the program in your neighborhood. Baldwinsville Christmas Bureau Bottle and Can Drive Each holiday season, the Baldwinsville Christmas Bureau serves over 100 local families in need. Support the Christmas Bureau year-round by donating your bottles and cans at the Baldwinsville Bottle and Can Return located in River Mall.
Shacksboro Museum Open noon to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting; Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse, 46 Canton St., Baldwinsville. For more information, visit facebook.com/ShacksboroSchoolhouseMuseum or call 315-638-2452.
SPORTS
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Having amassed 111 points in its first two games of the season the Liverpool football team got fully contained by Cicero-North Syracuse last Friday night, managing just six points.
And the Warriors still won, making those six points as satisfactory as any in the Liverpool program’s recent memory.
The 6-0 victory at Bragman Stadium was a reflection of two superb defenses at full capacity quieting the opposition, making every possession and every play important all the way to the moment Braylon Otis recovered a Northstars fumble with 1:20 left, sealing it for Liverpool.
“They (C-NS) have a great defense and did a lot of stuff to disrupt us,” said Warriors head coach Joe Sindoni. “But our defense was also great today. We bent, but did not break.”
It didn’t take too long for both teams to understand just how valuable any points
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Two unbeaten field hockey rivals went at it last Thursday night at Bragman Stadium when Cicero-North Syracuse hosted Liverpool , and plenty was learned along the way.
For while the Warriors have improved the last couple of years, it still finds itself looking up at the Northstars, who steadily and relentlessly worked its way to a 4-0 victory.
There was not a single surge in this
would be, with Liverpool quarterback John Sindoni twice getting intercepted in the early stages- once by Miy’Jon McDowell Reid, then again by Owen Ellis near the goal line on the first play of the second quarter.
Yet it was the Warriors who, from the outset, did just as much disruption of what the Northstars planned, taking full advantage of C-NS missing its top lineman, left tackle and Syracuse University recruit Kardiear Shepherd.
From where Shepherd would usually block on a fourth-down attempt with 7:33 left in the first half, Ade Adefashola broke through and sacked quarterback Braydon Dems, forcing a fumble that Josh Hester recovered near midfield.
Two runs up the middle by Owen Brown got the Warriors to the C-NS 25, from where Sindoni threw over the middle and found Jayden Deveraux for the touchdown - and the game’s only points, as it turned out.
game. Instead, C-NS patiently worked its attack and, once in each quarter, proved successful, often with Addie Esce at the center of it.
By the time she was done, Esce had recorded a three-goal hat trick, helped out by a pair of assists from Isabel Normanly along with single assists from Avery Carinci and Selena Moreno.
The other goal went to Nicole Conklin, with the Northstars’ defense in prime form limiting a potent Liverpool lineup to three direct shots, all stopped
Liverpool wasn’t done making clutch defensive stops. The Northstars drove inside the Warriors’ five less than two minutes before halftime, only to get penalized for a false start on fourth-and-goal and then, from the eight, see a pass to the end zone broken up.
Adding to C-NS’s woes was Dems leaving the game with an injury, forcing Marcus Reed to take snaps as the Northstars mostly turned to its ground game for the entire second half, hoping to break a big play somewhere.
Joe Sindoni said that his team got cautious as the game wore on, punting more than usual, but that Liverpool could do so because its defense wasn’t letting C-NS accomplish much, which proved true all the way to the end.
With 1:50 left, the Northstars stopped Liverpool’s Isaiah Morris inches short of a first down at the C-NS 43, giving the hosts one more chance. After picking up a first down with an Anthony Johnson sweep,
by Olivia Planty.
Both of these sides had defeated Baldwinsville in the previous week, but while C-NS had a more conventional 3-1 decision on Sept. 13, Liverpool needed to go to overtime last Monday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium to get past the Bees 3-2.
After Liverpool went up 2-1 in the first quarter, B’ville’s defense settled down and pitched a shutout for the rest of regulation, rarely letting the Warriors get in a good shot.
though, Liverpool forced a fourth down and, out of time-outs and hurrying, the snap was fumbled, with Otis falling on it to allow the Warriors to run out the clock.
Brown led the Warriors’ ground attack with 59 yards on nine carries, but C-NS held Allie Rivera to 20 yards on eight carries after he went for 208 yards against Baldwinsville the week before. John Sindoni, despite the two interceptions, went 13-for-22 for 125 yards, most of it to Devereaux and Antonio Rivera who each had 48 yards on a combined nine completions.
C-NS, 1-2 and shut out in back-to-back games, gets another test next Friday when West Genesee visits, the Wildcats at 2-1 following back-to-back wins over Henninger and Baldwinsvlle.
Liverpool, meanwhile, hosts 0-3 Fayetteville-Manlius, the last test before a highly-anticipated Oct. 4 clash with reigning state Class AA champion Christian Brothers Academy.
Patient at the other end, the Bees were able to get even, 2-2, in the fourth quarter before the seven-on-seven OT that resulted in Liverpool’s game-winner, by which point Isabella Ames, Zoe Noyes and Chloe Youker had scored, with Gianna Carbone joining Noyes in the assist column. Liverpool would go to East Syracuse Minoa Monday and then wait for Saturday’s non-league test at Holland Patent as C-NS, at 4-0, went for five in a row Monday at Fayeteville-Manlius.
C-NS girls soccer dazzles Liverpool, Baldwinsville
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Through an 0-3 start, the young Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team had to quickly grow up and try to rise to the level of the tough competition it had to face.
But it may not have taken long for these Northstars to arrive – as Liverpool had to discover, up close.
The two neighbors and rivals last Monday night at LHS Stadium, and C-NS went in front early, yet saved its best work for a second half where it ran through all of the Warriors’ defenses and didn’t stop until it had a 5-1 victory in
the books. With its speed and pressure, the Northstars got in front 1-0 by halftime and kept swarming against Liverpool goalkeeper Gracie Sleeth, who picked up 13 saves.
The late getaway was led by the duo of eighth-grade Sloane Raymond and freshman Evelyn Magente, who both hit on a pair of goals, while Gianna Melfi had a goal and assist.
Abby Mackey had two assists and single assists went to Lilah Kelly and Adrianna Calabria, all of which negated the Warriors’ lone goal which came from Mia Wright.
C-NS now set its sights on Thursday’s match at Baldwinsville, where it showed a little more defensive vulnerability but still, with its improving attack, did enough to defeat the Bees 3-2.
B’ville was playing it sixth game in 14 days and had started 5-0 before a 2-0 defeat to West Genesee two nights earlier. Here, the Bees would get on the board fgainst the young C-NS back line, with Nadia Guzman and Natalie Hollingshead each producing goals.
Still, the Northstars would get out in front and stay there thanks to goals by Mackey, Magente and sophomore Emery Kozdemba, Each of Natalie LaPoint’s
five saves would prove important. Off until Saturday, 1-2 Liverpool, with its own battle against B’ville looming on Wednesday, faced Section IV’s Vestal on Saturday afternoon and dropped a 3-0 decision to the Golden Bears, seeing the game get away late as Sleeth finished with eight saves.
C-NS, meanwhile, opened weekend tournament action with an 8-1 romp over Athens (Pennsylvania) as Kozdemba and Raymond both notched two goals, with single goals going to Magente, Alexa Belknap, Briar Raymond and Katalina Lawrence. Calabria and Raymond each got an assist.
Liverpool, C-NS girls volleyball both take defeats
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
Ahead of their first head-to-head match of the season Tuesday night, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse girls volleyball teams both had to absorb defeats in last Wednesday’s league action.
The Warriors did so facing Baldwinsville for the first time since last November’s Section III Class AAA final, where again the Bees got the best of it, thwarting a possible late Liverpool rally to prevail in four sets.
All through the first set B’ville served well, keeping Liverpool off balance and rolling to a 25-15 win. And though the second set was a lot closer, the Warriors could only cut the margin in half as the
Bees took it 25-20.
On the brink of a sweep, though, B’ville wasn’t quite able to end the match, Liverpool withstanding match points and then taking the set 28-26 to drag it to the fourth, where again it was close.
Still, the Bees were able to end the match 25-21, this despite 16 kills from Lola Sageer and 11 kills from Madison Ames leading a front line where Katie Lebiedzinski had six kills. Josie Shaw earned 32 assists as Sageer and Ames both recorded 14 digs and Lily Correll 12 digs. Elise Borrell added nine digs and Shaw eight digs.
For B’ville, Addy Garcia put up 23 digs and four aces next to Madison MacKaig, who had 18 assists and eight digs. Aubrie
Morris had seven assists and five digs as, up front, Amelia Hahn got 13 kills and Mallory Offredi nine kills, Natalie Dauphinais setting a career mark by getting seven blocks.
Then there was C-NS’s match against Fayetteville-Manlius, where the Northstars’ comeback attempt went further than Liverpool’s did with B’ville, but still led to a five-set defeat.
What was similar was the rough start, a 25-14 opening set where the Hornets rolled and carried it over to a far closer second set that still saw C-NS lose it 2522.
Where it started to differ was that the Northstars had no trouble extending the match 25-11 in the third and, even with
a bigger F-M challenge in the fourth set, claimed it 25-20 to send it to the final-set race to 15.
Regrouping just in time, the Hornets claimed that fifth set 15-11 carried by the duo of Laila Duggal, who amassed 47 assists, and Kalyna Dannenberg, who took most of Duggal’s passes and turned them into 32 kills.
Grace Murray got close to Dannenberg’s numbers with her 24 kills with help from Grace Turrell’s nine kills. Kendall Rumble, with 21 assists, and Payton LaMott with 10 assists split back-line work as Rumble and Piper Adams had five kills apiece. Allison Navarra recorded 19 digs and Hannah George had three aces to equal Rumble and Adams.
Liverpool, C-NS boys volleyball both take defeats
By PHiL BLaCkWeLL
The Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool boys volleyball teams gathered Tuesday night at North Syracuse Junior High School for the first of their two regular-season encounters. And they would both do so coming off defeats in last Thursday night’s matches, the Northstars falling to Fayetteville-Manlius and the Warriors turned back by East Syracuse Minoa. In C-NS’s case, this was payback on F-M’s part for the defeat it took to the Northstars in the 2023 Section III Division I final, only lasting three sets but still quite close.
Having pulled out the opening set 25-23, the Hornets saw the Northstars drag the second and third sets beyond the point limit with multiple chances to close out each of them.
Yet F-M won them, 28-26 in the second and 26-24 in the third, overcoming Jack Copeland’s eight kills and a back line where Grady Kennedy had 14 assists and Dylan Fournier 10 assists. On the Hornets’ side, Patrick Horton’s 28 assists led to 12 kills from Ben Resig and eight kills from Charlie Schroder.
As this went on, Liverpool took its 5-0 record to East Syracuse Minoa, where it tore through the first set 25-11 but then lost close 25-23 and 29-27 sets
to the Spartans, who went on to win the fourth 25-21 and hand the Warriors its initial defeat of the season.
It happened despite Sean Frawley’s 22 kills and Kellen Conway’s 46 assists. Chase Loveless and Jack DeForge had 10 kills apiece, Loveless adding 12 digs to help a defense where Shahidullah Sahak had 18 digs and Gianni DeFrancesco 14 digs. Amaree Burton had five kills as ESM was led by Dononvan Randall’s 30 assists and Tyler Quarry’s 14 kills.
Back on Tuesday night, Liverpool went to F-M and delivered a first-rate performance, sweeping the Hornets with 25-18 decisions in each of the first
two sets and a 25-14 victory in the third for the sweep.
DeForge set the tone, not only getting 17 kills but serving up four aces and adding five digs. Frawley chimed in with 10 kills as Loveless earned six kills. Conway had 28 assists as Sahak picked up a team-best eight digs.
C-NS met Syracuse City where Joey Lukasiewicz, with eight kills, led a well-balanced front line where Luke Ricci got seven kills and Ryan Hill had six kills. Dylan Fournier, with 15 assists, and Grady Kennedy with nine assists set up points as Max Wolanski had 10 digs and Jack Copeland seven digs.
