Annual syracuse ugly sweater 5k that was once again be held nov. 30 at onondaga lake Park under the lights on the lake. All race participants had the option of receiving a custom ugly sweater 5k long sleeve shirt, a unique winter headband (team santa or team Grinch) and custom finisher medal. A postrace awards ceremony and party was held at the Cobblestone Pub in liverpool. there were awards for the overall and age group winners as well as prizes for best in dress. in addition, prizes were awarded for best, most creative and funniest ugly sweater. All donations, both financial and in-kind, went to the syracuse rescue Mission this year and participants were asked to bring lightly used winter clothing donations to the race.
longtime superintendent left a legacy at liverpool, N syracuse schools
Dr. Jerome F. Melvin, the longtime superintendent of both Liverpool and North Syracuse school districts, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21 with his children at his side. He was 90 years old.
Melvin, who served as a school superintendent in four states over 40 years, came to Liverpool as superintendent in 1978, remaining in that role until December 1992 when he assumed the North Syracuse position. After first retiring as North Syracuse school superintendent in 2000, he was employed as an educational planner by a regional architecture firm, and later served as an interim high school principal as well as the interim school superintendent for five school districts. In 2005, Melvin returned to North Syracuse as its superintendent of schools, where he served until 2011, finally retiring at 77 years old. He loved being a superintendent of schools, which was evident not only in holding the position over parts of six decades, but in his constant dedication to students, teachers, administrators, and board members. He was especially known for encouraging and inspiring teachers and administrators to maximize their talents and advance their careers. He was a true gentleman with a keen sense of intellectual curiosity who held himself and others to high standards and expectations. In 2000, the North Syracuse School District named its district office building the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building.
Last week, the North Syracuse district issued a statement offering condolences to Dr. Melvin’s family and praising his dedication to the district and its students.
“During his tenure, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, compassion and an unwavering commitment to student success,” the statement read. “He guided the district through challenges and opportunities with a steady hand, creating a collaborative environment where staff, students and families thrived.”
Melvin was born on May 29, 1934, in Providence, RI, the son of the late Edward G. Melvin, M.D., and Veronica Melvin.
A graduate of La Salle Academy, Providence, RI, he received a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA; a master’s degree from Boston College; and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Following graduation from Holy Cross, he served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps.
Prior to coming to New York, he was school superintendent in Wallingford, CT; Exeter, NH; and Turners Falls, MA. He earlier served as an Assistant Superintendent,
Jerome F. Melvin, Ph.d.
Lori Newcomb local runners came to celebrate the transition from thanksgiving to the Christmas season at the 10th
‘lookin’ For soME lEEwAy’
Planning board considers revising american high’s special permit
By russ tArBy coNtributiNg writer
American High film company and its Academy at Syracuse Studios at 800 Fourth St., made two requests of the village planning board at its monthly meeting on Nov. 25.
One request was for permission to build a large garage door at the back of the building. The other request was to revise the
special permit which was issued when the academy was established in 2017.
American High CEO Jeremy Garelick attended the Nov. 25 meeting along with Andie Schlenker, American High’s bookkeeper and director of development at its academy.
Planning board Chairman Bob Bradt said the proposed site plan revisions need to be fleshed out with more specific details.
“We felt they did not give us enough information to properly assess the request,” Bradt said after the meeting. “We invited them to come back [in January] with more substance to the items that addressed hours of operation and attendance limitations.”
Similarly, in regards to the garage
lCsd BoE seeks audit committee members
The Liverpool Central School District Board of Education is actively seeking new additional members for the audit committee. The audit committee is an advisory committee, formed in 2005 by the board of education to help the board oversee the district’s internal and external auditing of fiscal operations.
The audit committee meets approximately five times per year. Currently, meetings are held on Thursday mornings at 8 a.m., however this could be changed based on member availability.
Optimal candidates have a background in accounting, auditing, actuarial science or other related fields. Committee members are not required to be current district residents.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be a good candidate: please send a message to Board President Nick Blaney, Nblaney@liverpool.k12.ny.us, and include candidate background/qualifications.
Salina Town Board meeting canceled
The Salina Town Board voted Monday, Nov. 25, to close Salina Town Hall on Friday, Dec, 27, and to also cancel the Town Board meeting originally scheduled for Dec. 23.
door, the chairman said, the board members – Nathan Holliday, Heidi McElwee, Sam Reppi and Jim Rosier – “felt they did not give us enough information to properly assess the request.”
In reviewing planned changes to the special permit, Garelick listed a few things he’d like to see including lengthening the time allowable for filming and expanding the number of students allowed to be enrolled at the Academy at Syracuse Studios.
Village Attorney Richard Andino told him that such changes were possible but would necessitate a new, detailed application to be filed with public hearings to follow.
Over its eight years, American High has grappled with code enforcement and
with two dozen complaints from neighbors about noise, lights, diesel trucks and crowds.
Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan has worked closely with American High personnel to bring them into compliance.
“I’m just tired of seven years of beating around the bush,” Reagan told the planners. “It’s a school.”
He pointed out that some of the school’s requests – such as the new garage door to allow producers to bring vehicles onto its indoor soundstage – actually benefit American High’s production of commercial films rather than the academy.
Garelick said his staff “has done our best to comply, now we’re just looking for a little leeway.”
Town of Cicero hosts tree lighting Saturday
On Dec. 7 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Cicero Fire Department Station #1 at 8377 Brewerton Road, the community is welcome to gather and celebrate the annual holiday tree lighting.
It will be a night full of cocoa, cookies, caroling, crafting, and cheer.
First, enjoy a wonderful performance by the CNS Orchestra, Jazz
Choir, and Jazz Ensemble.
The community concert will be followed by the arrival of a surprise visitor who is usually very busy this time of year. Our surprise visitor will also help lead the countdown to light the community holiday tree.
After the tree is lit, the Northern Onondaga Public Library will read
NOPL holds food, mitten drives
To help local families in need, the Northern Onondaga Public Library branches are hosting a mitten drive and a food drive this holiday season.
All NOPL locations are accepting donations of new handmade or purchased mittens for children or adults now through Dec. 7.
The mittens will be distributed through Divine Mercy’s Caring & Sharing project and local schools. Mittens can be dropped off at NOPL Brewerton, NOPL Cicero, or NOPL North Syracuse during regular library hours.
The mitten drive is presented by Northern Onondaga Public Library & the Friends of NOPL Cicero.
NOPL’s Staff Association is hosting the Food Drive at all three library locations now through Dec. 30.
The group is accepting new, unexpired, and unopened non-perishable items. Some suggested items include canned soups and stews, canned fruits and vegetables, cereals, pasta, peanut butter, beans, and dinner mixes.
Donations will be delivered to the Brewerton Food Pantry. l From page 1 Melvin
Essex Junction, VT; Junior High Principal, Keene,NH;AssistantPrincipal,NorthSmithfield Jr. Sr. High School, RI; and Social Studies Coordinator, Bristol, RI. A native of Warwick, RI, he taught in the Warwick Public Schools and also at the University of Connecticut’s E.O. Smith School in Storrs.
Melvin was a 55-year member of Phi Delta Kappa, an emeritus member of the American Association of School Administrators, a life member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, a member of the Horace Mann League, and a former member of Phi Kappa Phi. He was also a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League.
He was president of both the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and the Liverpool Rotary Club, where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a past president of the OCM Superintendent’s Association and served as chairperson of the School Committee, City of Syracuse/Onondaga County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission. He was a corporator of the Meriden-Wallingford Hospital and served as division chairman for the United Way of Central New York. He also served on the board of directors of the Humane Association of Central New York; the Plank Road Chamber of Commerce; Hiawatha Council, Boy Scouts of America; the American Heart Association; Central New York Education Consortium; Partners for Education and Business, Inc.; Syracuse/Onondaga
County Youth Bureau; and the Program on Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts, Syracuse University.
A New England transplant in Central New York, Melvin led with an unmistakable Rhode Island accent and a smile on his face. To keep the public informed, he would often write columns in the Eagle Newspapers offering his thoughts on district and community news.
“Dr. Melvin was not only the heart and soul of our district but also a guiding force who left an indelible mark on all of us – students, staff and families alike,” wrote North Syracuse Interim Superintendent Michael Schiedo. “He will be dearly missed, but his legacy will live on in the classrooms, hallways, and hearts of all those he touched.”
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife Cynthia P. Melvin. He is survived by his two daughters; Cynthia (Keith) Ballard of Wakefield, RI and their son William, Mary Katherine Melvin (Chris Weltzien) of San Francisco, CA and their children Katherine, Elizabeth, and Christopher; his son, Edward G. (Deborah) Melvin, II of Syracuse, NY and their children Daniel and Margaret. He was a loving father and grandfather, and he was deeply loved in return.
He is also survived by his former wife and companion Barbara Melvin, with whom he has spent the last twelve years in Royse City, TX, where he had many close and faithful neighbors and friends. He was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Rockwall, TX; he was deeply appreciative of the church’s Eucharistic ministers who brought him communion and companionship over the last couple of years, especially during his recent illness.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 259 E. Onondaga Street, Syracuse, where Dr. Melvin has been a parishioner since the early 1980s. Family and friends may call at the church starting at 9. a.m. He will be laid to rest in his family’s plot at St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket, RI. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Syracuse School District Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 5205, Syracuse, NY, 13220-5205, specifically to the Memorial Scholarship he established in honor of Catherine Cifaratta-Brayton, Liz Chisling, Sandra Di Bianco, and Dr. Kathleen Gramet.
The New York State Schools Music Association (NYSSMA) announced former C. W. Baker High School choral director Carol Jacobe as the 2024 All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble guest conductor for the 88th Annual Winter Conference. Jacobe is a graduate of Syracuse University and has been a music educator for 53 years, serving in the Liverpool and Baldwinsville school districts.
For the past 20 years, she has been a member of the faculty at Le Moyne College, where she directs the vocal jazz ensemble, The Jazzuits.
Students of Jacobe
“Cathie
have received numerous awards around the country, including the prestigious 23rd Annual Student Music Award from Downbeat for outstanding high school female jazz vocalist. Professional awards of her own include Outstanding Choral Director from Civic Morning Musicals, Outstanding Vocal Music Educator from the Syracuse Symphony and
Syracuse University and Outstanding Jazz Educator from the Syracuse Jazz Fest. In 2015, she was honored as both the first female and first local jazz educator to receive the Jazz Central Jazz Educator of the Year Award. Honors from Le Moyne College include Outstanding Part-time Faculty Member of the Year (2020) and the Ignite
OuR vOicE
Tree transportation
It is now December and the Christmas season is in full swing.
Almost everywhere anyone looks they will see the lights and decorations, snowmen and Santa Clauses, and of course the decorated trees that seem to be every where from the grocery store to likely right in your own neighborhood.
For many people one of the highlights of the season is going to get a tree.
Whether this is at a local lot, tree farm, picking a precut tree or going out and selecting the perfect one and sawing it down, this is a beloved tradition for many people.
Finding the right one, just tall enough, full enough, with the right shape can be a challenge, but all in all is something many seem to enjoy.
But once the perfect tree is found there is the matter of getting it home.
According to AAA, much like moving furniture, appliances, or other large objects, transporting a tree is no different. If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals or distorted window frames.
Even worse, it could fly off or out of the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers.
AAA research shows that 44% of Americans planning to purchase a real Christmas tree would transport the tree using unsafe methods. This includes 20% who would tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle without using a roof rack and 24% who planned to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck unsecured.
Among those who planned to purchase a live Christmas tree, 16% have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport.
If a tree is improperly secured to a car, it can cost drivers as much as $1,500 in repairs. Twine, ropes or straps can wear away paint and tear rubber seals when routed through door or window openings. Closing a door over tree tie-downs may also permanently distort the window frame and tree branches can cause scratches to the paint.
AAA shared some tips about how to get the tree home safely this holiday season.
Plan ahead, before heading out to buy a real Christmas tree, make sure to bring strong rope or ratchet straps, an old blanket, gloves and of course –the right vehicle.
One with a roof rack is ideal, but a pickup truck, SUV, van or minivan can work just as well.
Wrap and cover the tree once you’ve found the perfect tree, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it.
Loose branches can also be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage.
Also, prior to loading the tree, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.
Place the tree on the roof rack or in the bed of the truck with the trunk facing the front of the car. If the vehicle does not have a roof rack and is large enough – place the tree inside.
Tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps.
Avoid using the nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tiedown points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch to prevent any side-to-side or front-torear movement.
Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to make sure it is secured in place and will not come loose.
Drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods. For more information about car insurance, stop by your local branch or visit AAA.com.
sEAson’s GrEEtinGs
subscription info: lori Newcomb, ext 333, lnewcomb@eaglenewsonline com
The product of parochial schools and a well-thumbed catechism, I was sure that was the name of the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was Advent.
Children were extra careful to be good so that Santa would bring them a gift or two.
There were Christmas pageants at school, store windows decorated to charm the passersby, carols over loud speakers and Santas on every street corner.
The words “Merry Christmas” were on everyone’s lips.
Things change, and in my now wider world, in deference to fellow citizens who don’t celebrate Christmas, the phrase for the season is simply the holidays.
I can see the logic here. Christians celebrate Christmas, Jews, Hanukkah and those of African heritage would, of late, celebrate Kwanza.
It isn’t Christmas, it’s the “holidays.” Not as specific for me, but OK.
I’ve learned that the “holidays” is now passé. It’s now “gift giving season.”
The mad dash to exchange gifts for the purpose of exchanging gifts has become so entrenched that Wall Street trembles at the results of retail sales during the days after Thanksgiving. Will Santa be replaced by
Soda
Ash
One of Central New York’s longest-lasting bands – the Soda Ash Six – will perform a free concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., in the village of Liverpool. The septet’s appearance will conclude the library’s fall concert series called “Swing this!”
Led by trombone player and vocalist Bobby Morris –who lives in Liverpool – the band traces its roots back to the early 1960s when it was founded by trumpeter Eddie Musengo. For many years, the Soda Ash Six was helmed by banjoman Dick Sheridan. Morris stepped up to take over the band after Sheridan died in June 2023 at age 88.
Over the years, the band has built a reputation as an authentic, New Orleansstyle traditional jazz combo specializing in tunes such as “Basin Street Blues,” “Bill Bailey” and “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.”
Authentic dixieland
Morris enjoys playing upbeat Dixieland music.
“Dixieland Jazz has to be experienced live,” he
Conductor
l From page 3
Elon Musk? Will children accuse their parents of economic treason if they don’t receive their portion of the season’s booty?
Is this yet another sign of time passing and my mind holding fast to old fashioned concepts? Maybe.
There is a card, decorated with tiny finger prints, misplaced stickers and a carefully printed greeting on my refrigerator door. It is one of my treasures, a gift from my child at Christmas and more precious than any trinket a store might sell.
Here is the answer to my quandary. The name of the season has been modified, but most certainly not the spirit.
I see that universal spirit of selfless giving, of love, every day. I can complain about the commercialism of the season while understanding that the very meaning that I treasure is not exclusive to the end of the year.
Libraries offer tutoring space for volunteers to assist those who need help. Scholarships to local summer camps open doors that would otherwise be closed to poor children. Vans patrol city streets to minister to the needs of the homeless. Hospitals receive beautifully-crafted lap robes, afghans, hats and booties for patients, often made by residents of nursing
homes, while musicians of every genre share their talents with the residents of nursing homes.
The cold and blustery weather doesn’t deter the volunteers who man the Red Kettles, ringing their bells to remind us of who we can be. And my little grandson who gave his piggy bank to his mother, telling her to use it to help all the doggies and kitties who are cold and hungry. Oh, my heart.
But it is in the now, in what Christians call Advent, in every community that the needs of others rise to acute awareness as does the self-knowledge that, no matter your own circumstances, there is always something that you can do to ameliorate the trials of fellow citizens and those who aspire to be citizens.
Giving trees in Christian faith communities, toy collections by the military, clothing and toiletries gathered by media outlets … the list goes on. And at a Syracuse soup kitchen, the congregants of Temple Society of Concord serve the Christmas meal. They know and live the true meaning as well as any.
As Tiny Tim would say, “God bless us, every one.”
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.
Six is still swingin’
on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., in its Persimmons Restaurant, at 3536 Timber Banks Parkway in Baldwinsville.
said. “Dixieland Jazz isn’t meant to educate people. It isn’t meant to be esoteric or egalitarian. Dixieland Jazz is meant to entertain. It’s meant to help people forget their problems for a little while and have fun.”
Besides Bobby on the ‘bone, on Sunday the Soda Ash Six will feature drummer Mark Adamski, clarinetist Larry Czajkowski, trumpeter Jeff Dovi, banjo player Mark Hoffmann, and tuba player Woody Woodworth.
The library’s Swing this series was made possible by a state grant administered here by CNY Arts; the concerts are presented in collaboration with the Liverpool Is The Place Concert Committee; lpl.or g ; 315-457-0310.
Jazz tuesdays at timber
Banks
The growing Timber Banks community along the scenic Seneca River is enjoying “Jazz at Timber Banks”
can hope for; an opportunity to direct the best jazz students of our state,” said Jacobe.
Jacobe has acted as chairperson for numerous terms for NYSSMA’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble and has been a vocal jazz adjudicator since the beginnings of this ensemble. She has also served as the New York
Managing Editor: Jennifer Wing, ext 340, jwing@eaglenewsonline com
news Editor: Jason Gabak, ext 319, jgabak@eaglenewsonline com
sports Editor: Phil blackwell, ext 348, pblackwell@eaglenewsonline com display Ads: Paul Nagle, ext 308, pnagle@eaglenewsonline com display Ads: lori lewis, ext 316, llewis@eaglenewsonline com
The series features jazz, blues, funk, R&B, Americana, country swing, Latin crossover and contemporary pop. Performers are vocalist Scott Dennis & Friends Dec. 10, Simpatico Dec. 17, and don’t forget the March 4 Mardi Gras Party with the Soda Ash Six.
The series is presented by CNY Jazz Central; cnyjazz. org/jazz-at-timber-banks / ; 315-635-8800; persimmons@ timberbanks.co m
Ahl All-star lives in l’pool
Gage Goncalves doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going.
Four times already this season, the 23-year-old allstar pro hockey forward who is rooming here in Liverpool, has been called up to the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning before being reassigned to the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch.
Goncalves has skated in four games with Tampa Bay so far this season, firing three
State Chairperson for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Repertoire and Standards for Vocal Jazz.
Jacobe is active in the Jazz Educator Network. She has chaired numerous vocal jazz festivals at Le Moyne College giving students of New York State the opportunity to work with such prominent jazz educators such as the New York Voices, Janis Siegel, from The Manhattan Transfer, Rosen Eckert
Classified Advertising: Patti Puzzo, ext 321 ppuzzo@eaglenewsonline com
Billing questions: alyssa dearborn, ext 305, adearborn@eaglenewsonline com
legal Advertising: luba demkiv, ext 303, ldemkiv@eaglenewsonline com
Publisher: david tyler, ext 302, dtyler@eaglenewsonline com
Creative director: Gordon bigelow, ext 331, art@eaglenewsonline com
shots on goal, registering four hits and averaging 11:44 of time on ice. The Mission, British Columbia, native made his NHL debut with the Bolts last season on Jan. 11 in a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Last season Goncalves, led the Crunch with 58 points (13g, 45a) over 69 games. In five games played this season the southpaw stickhandler has six assists. Goncalves and his Crunch teammates will host the Laval Rocket at Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial, 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. The Crunch head to Cleveland for three games next weekend before returning to the War Memorial on Dec. 13 to face off against the Hershey Bears and Dec. 14 against the Utica Comets; 315-473-4444; syra cusecrunch.com
last word “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” – Wayne Gretzky.
from University of North Texas, Greg Jasperse from the University of Western Michigan to name a few.
Her vocal jazz arrangements have been published by Anchor Music and Hal Leonard’s ArrangeMe and have been performed nationally.
Jacobe’s select vocal jazz quartet, Salt City Voices, received a 2023 Sammy nomination for jazz. Their CD, For Once in My Life, is streaming on numerous platforms.
Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro
Livin’ in Liverpool russ tarby
cLay
By JEFF snow towN of cLay HistoriaN
received a copy of this picture from a fellow reader, Keith Fryer. Fryer, of Baldwinsville, wanted to share some pictures that his father took back in the 1920s and 1930s. One picture in particular stuck out as just a view of Belgium looking down Belgium Road. There are not many pictures of roads taken that long ago. In the picture, the house on the right is the Erenst Marshall homestead. The road has changed significantly and is now a five-lane highway. Today the farm has been transformed into the Hickory Golf Course.
This area, although on the western part of the town of Clay, has a Baldwinsville mailing address.
The Marshalls have been farmers in the town of Clay for four generations. First was Nodiah Marshall, who was born in CT in 1786. It is not known when Nodiah arrived in the Clay area, however on the web site “Find a Grave” it says one of his daughters was born in the area in 1823. His son Joel was a farmer along with his son Eber and grandson Ernest. All four generations of Marshalls are buried at the Pine Plains Cemetery along with their wives and some family members.
In the Syracuse Journal newspaper, you can see what some farmers in the area sold at the North Side Public market 100 years ago. Some of these newspapers are available to view online. Ernest Marshall sold a variety of items at the market like eggs at 50, 75 cents per dozen, Northern Spies apples at $1-$2 per bushel plus depending on the time of the year; potatoes at 80 cents per bushel; and live chickens like Rhode Island Reds for 25 to 35 cents per pound. Compare this to my great-grandfather (Elmer Snow,) who sold chickens at the market; his chickens were already dressed at 45 to 50 cents per pound. It’s hard to imagine bringing a live chicken home from the market to cook. Could be a possibility that someone would want a chicken for egg laying. If anyone has any stories of doing this, share them with me.
Please visit our Google page at “Clay Historical Association.” Email me at historian@townofclay.org if you have any questions. The Clay Historical Association meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Clay Historical Park at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend and/or join the Clay Historical Association.
Okay, I thought it would take a while.
December, perhaps, but more likely wait until January, after the holidays, when sustained conference play began and the intensity would pick up once fans and students had returned to the campuses.
Ah, but college basketball decided not to withhold the bait, thanks in no small part to the Maui Invitational returning home after COVID and those
awful fires which burned up most of Lahaina. There were ridiculous comebacks by Auburn and North Carolina, multiple games decided in the final seconds or OT, reigning two-time national champion (Connecticut) losing twice in less than 24 hours to Memphis and Colorado and Dan Hurley throwing several fits along the way. Add to it the great games in Vegas
(Kansas edging Duke, Alabama topping Houston in OT) and all those big-name teams, led by Gonzaga, Indian and Arizona, in the Bahamas and….cue Michael Corleone about getting pulled back in.
Look, it’s easy to get disillusioned about anything these days. College hoops doesn’t avoid the cynicism, from all the early departures to the NBA to all the transfers to NIL money and its effect.
Yet get a few terrific games on the card and all the distractions can melt away, replaced by energy, passion and emotion that’s difficult to match anywhere on the sports spectrum. This is a lifelong thing on my part. Two seminal events in childhood cemented the hold of college hoops on my psyche. First there was the 1983 NCAA fi-
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 DEC. 30
Travis Kelse Signed Football Raffle
CNY SPCA, 5878 E. Molloy Rd., Syracuse. Winner to be drawn on Dec. 30. Tickets online at www.cnyspca.org.
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS THROUGH DEC. 22
Dickens Christmas
12 p.m.-4 p.m. Skaneateles. Merriment for the whole family! Enjoy trunk shows, sing a longs, entertainment, roasted chestnuts, and character appearances. www.skaneateles.com
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Cicero Fire Department. Join for entertainment, holiday stories, crafts, treats, and a surprise visitor.
SUNDAY, DEC. 8
The Longest Night: A Service of Remembrance and Hope
2 p.m. Baldwinsville First United Methodist Church, 17 West Genesee St. Join for a space and time to acknowledge grief. Call 315-6356442 for information.
DEC. 12-15
Christmas at Lorenzo Thursday and Friday: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Lorenzo State Historic Site, Cazenovia. Celebrate the season with entertainment, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, gift shopping, sweets, horse-drawn wagon rides and more.
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
Christmas Cookie Cafe
9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Columbian Presbyterian Church, LaFayettle. Create your own cookie trays from dozens of homemade varieties. Bring your own tray or purchase one. $16 per pound. www.columbianpresbyterianchurch.com
TUESDAY, DEC. 26
The Great Salt City Blues Concert
7:30 p.m. St. George Church Hall, 5083 Onondaga Rd., Syracuse. The area’s best musicians will pay tribute to Blues Hall of Fame members. Food and beverages available. #30 in advance, $40 at the door. www.brownpapertickets.com.
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
Christmas Concert
2 p.m., Oswego Alliance Community Center 370 Thomson Road, Oswego. The Oswego Valley Snowbelters Barbershop Chorus will present their 15th Christmas Concert. Admission is $7; children under 12 free. Free Homemade deserts are a plus at intermission. To purchase tickets in advance visit ovcsnowbelters.org.
DEC. 7-8
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s Holiday Shopping Spree $65 for individuals, $95 for couples. Enjoy food and drink pairings, wine samples, keepsake gnome ornament from each winery you visit, and souvenir wine glass. www.cayugawinetrail.com.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
Plank Road Quilt Guild Business Meeting
9:30 a.m. Cicero United Methodist Church. Short meeting followed by the annual Christmas party. Join for a potluck lunch, silent auction, ugly sweater contest, and more. www.plankroadquilt.org.
DEC. 14 & 15
CNY Folksmarch
City of Auburn. Registration 9 a.m. to Noon on Dec. 14 and 1 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15. $4 for adults, $1 for kids ages 5 to 18. Active military and veterans walk for half-price. First timers walk free. For more information visit https:// folksmarch.wordpress.com/ or https://www. facebook.com/folksmarch
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Crush Course on Clinton’s Ditch”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Eco-Conscious and Eco-Friendly Production and Consumerism”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, FEB. 8
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Exploring Packaging Science and Engineering”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Physics of Dimension and Perspective”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Climate Change: a Focus on Carbon Footprints”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, MAY 17
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “Secret Messages with Encryption”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
TACNY Junior Café Scientifique
9:30 a.m. The MOST, Downtown Syracuse. Continental breakfast at 9:15 a.m. “STEAM Challenge Accepted!”. Following the program, attendees are welcome to explore the museum. Free.
ONGOING EVENTS
THURSDAYS
Family Storytime
10 a.m. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge
Lane. Join Miss Raena for Thursday morning storytime to enjoy stories, songs, and fun! Registration is required; call 315-6992032 or visit nopl.org.
Adult Exercise: Chair Yoga
9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-11:30
a.m. Marcellus Free Library. $25 for 8-week session. Register at 315-673-3269.
Read, Sing, Play Story Time
10:30 a.m. Skaneateles Library, 49 E. Genesee St. Can’t sit still? No problem! Join us for stories, songs and movement. For ages 18 months to 4 years.
Bingo
4 p.m. Fingerlakes Mall Conference Center, 1570 Clark Street Rd., Aurelius. Yoga with Becca
6 p.m.-7 p.m. Brewerton Center for the Arts, Rt. 11. Registration and information: 315-920-8121 or www.yogosnacks.org. All levels welcome.
Baldwinsville Rod & Gun Club
7 p.m. First Thursday of each month. 1405 Kingdom Road, Baldwinsville. Learn about the workings of the club and help us run the organization. For more information, visit bvillerodandgun.com.
FRIDAYS
B’ville Cardio Ball Drumming
9:30 a.m. Canton Woods Senior Center, 76 Canton St., Baldwinsville. Onondaga County Healthy Schools and Communities has provided cardio ball drumming kits for workout classes led by senior volunteer Arlette Folckemer. This fun cardio workout is set to upbeat music and folks can participate and enjoy the class seated or standing. For more information, call Canton Woods at 315638-4536.
Clay Cardio Ball Drumming
10:30 a.m. Clay Senior Center, 4948
Route 31. Gwen McCarroll leads this onehour class. Free with a Town of Clay Senior Center Membership and Safety ID badge for admission. Drop-in; no entry after the day’s class begins. Equipment provided on a first-come, first-served basis for ball and basket setup.For more information or to sign up for a membership and ID badge, contact Chrissy Clancy at 315-652-3800 ext. 137 or cclancy@townofclay.org.
Acoustic Music Jam
7 p.m. Marcellus American Legion, 13 E. Main St. Bluegrass,country and gospel music. All acoustic musicians welcome. $2 donation for free coffee and cookies. For info call 315-673-2329.
SUNDAYS Cicero UMC Services
8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Cicero UMC, 8416 Brewerton Road. The church is returning to two Sunday services (contemporary 8:30 a.m. and traditional 10:30 a.m.). All are welcome to enjoy worship and fellowship. The church is fully accessible. For more information, visit ciceroumchurch.org.
MONDAYS Drop-In Tech Help
10 a.m. to noon. Skaneateles Library, 49 E. Genesee St. Let us help with your tech questions: computers and mobile devices, downloading e-content from the library’s catalog, using Google Drive and social media platforms. Bring your device and drop in during a Tech Help session to get started. Appointments are also available; please give us a call at 315-685-5135 or email andrea@ skanlibrary.org to schedule.
with her operational expertise, has driven significant advancements and growth in each role she has undertaken and we are pleased to welcome her to the Crouse board,” said Mannion.
Gridley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Ithaca College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Binghamton University. She grew up in upstate New York, has lived in multiple cities in the U.S. and the U.K., and now resides in Central New York with her husband, David.
Crouse Health is the only locally governed community hospital system in Central New York, comprised of 507 beds, more than 800 physicians and 3,500 employees with locations throughout the area. The board of directors, comprised of 17 local community leaders, provides all governance over the organization. Crouse Health was named “Business of the Year” in 2024 by CenterStateCEO.
nal. Not yet 8, I saw N.C. State stun Houston, the story of the Cardiac Pack only growing with time and augmented by the sad loss of Jim Valvano a decade later and the way he, in his final days, inspired the world and started the V Foundation to benefit cancer research.
A year later – December 1984 – Dad took me to Niagara Falls Convention Center for a basketball doubleheader involving two of the local college teams associated with the Festival of Lights.
Canisius played in the first one, and won. But the second one was the real attraction, St. John’s with Chris Mullin and Walter Berry taking on Niagara and….the Purple Eagles won! An even bigger shocker given that the Johnnies would rise to no. 1 at one point and reach the nearly All-Big East Final Four a few months later.
Combine those experiences and soon each winter involved lots of time glued to ESPN and looking forward the most to March, to Champ Week and then, most of all, the Dance itself, even as the tournament’s magic got diluted by power conferences trying to hog all the bids and soured by a steady stream of tired cliches.
Each year, though, stories make it more compelling. There was UMBC, the 16 seed, humiliating Virignia in 2018...only to have the Cavaliers get ultimate redemption a year later.
This decade alone has seen Gonzaga threaten a perfect season all the way to the final in the 2021 bubble, Saint Peter’s get all the way to the Elite Eight in 2022, Fairleigh Dickinson pull off their own 16-1 shocker in 2023 on Purdue and those same long-denied Boilermakers nearly win it all in April, only to run into those darn Huskies.
Who will surprise us this season? The best part is that you can’t possibly know less than 10 games in. Heck, it might still be a mystery in February, though you know that, if and when it does arrive, the cliches will follow and they’ll miss the point.
In this fractured time in our country and our world, some will consider a retreat into sports as a way to avoid the problems. To others, it’s a necessary refuge, a chance to cheer and perhaps smile about something and share an experience with people you might avoid for different reasons.
For my part, reconnecting with college basketball has provided a necessary lift, a reminder that it all comes back to simply loving a sport and the compelling stories it can tell.
In both youth and adulthood, the sight of players running up and down a court and throwing a ball through a net has stirred a deep passion, one that will renew itself again in hundreds of places, in both modest gyms and grand arenas, a product which will always be special in my heart.
Anna Bader, 92
Wife, mother, grandmother
Anna Bader, 92, formerly of Skaneateles, died Nov. 16, 2024. She was born in Skaneateles to the late John and Anna (Frendak) Nikodem. She was a 1950 graduate of Skaneateles High School. Anna went on to attend the Lutheran Deaconess Mother House. Afterwards, she went to work at Covenant Lutheran Church in Ridgewood, Queens, where she met and later married Rev. Sylvester Bader.
While in Skaneateles, Anna was employed by the Upstate New York Lutheran Synod and she was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Skaneateles.
She was predeceased by her husband Sylvester, and five siblings: Ruth (Drzik), William, Margaret (Faulkner), Dorothy (Carver) and David.
She is survived by her three children: Mary (Dick), David (Brenda) and Ruth (Frank). She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren whom she dearly loved: Mathew, Gregory and Kimberly Bader, Courtney Lipton (Max), Amber and Veronica Walker.
Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery,
Holly Huseynova, 41, of Ithaca, passed away Nov. 22, 2024. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge has arrangements.
Joyce R. Murfitt, 81, of Liverpool, passed away Nov. 23, 2024. Fergerson
Skaneateles at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Holy Trinity Church to honor Anna’s memory. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge has charge of arrangements. bushfuneralhomes.com.
Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
William F. Carroll, 98, of Jordan, passed away Nov. 27, 2024. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge has charge of arrangements.
Evelyn w. Boink, 92 dedicated mother
Evelyn (Williams) Boink, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Fairfield, CT, on July 25, 1932. Lynn grew up in New Jersey and moved to Scotia, N.Y., during high school.
Lynn met the love of her life, N. Donald Boink, at the Schenectady Light Opera Company where she enjoyed being a set designer and makeup artist. She worked at General Electric in the drafting department. Don and Lynn were married June 19, 1955 and moved to Liverpool, where they raised their family.
Lynn was a dedicated mother to her girls. She enjoyed being a Girl Scout leader, classroom helper and homemaker. She discovered a passion for the art of tole painting and enjoyed teaching the art to others. She created many beautiful paintings and home decorations that family members will cherish for generations.
Lynn and Don enjoyed many activities together and shared a passion for being in the Lake George region during the summers and also hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. Every summer was spent at their camp with the families at The Grove on Lake George.
During their retirement, Lynn and Don enjoyed living on Cape Cod in Brewster, MA, where they explored the bays, beaches and sunsets. She and Don returned to Liverpool in 2010 where they settled in the Springmoor Community. They were immersed in the lives of their daughters and grandchildren as well as many wonderful friends.
Lynn was deeply religious and has been an active participant in the First Church of Christ, Scientist for all of her life. She loved
serving on every committee and found the work and relationships very fulfilling.
Lynn is survived by her husband, Don, her three daughters; Susan (David) Corbitt, St. Louis, MO; Nancie (Nick) Romano, Jamesville, Cindy (John) Edwards, Liverpool; five grandchildren; Danielle Corbitt, Sarah (Brett) Banning, Samantha Corbitt, Milena Romano and Trey Romano and two great-grandchildren, Claire and Brooke Banning. Private services will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association (chbenevolent.org) or the Humane Association of CNY (humanecny.org).
Please sign the Maurer Funeral Home, Inc online guestbook (maurerfuneralhome. com) for Evelyn to express your condolences to her family.
Evelyn w. Boink
Anna Bader
DEATH NOTICES
CNY Art executive director announces retirement
Rita Paniagua, chair of the CNY Arts, Inc. Board of Directors, and Stephen Butler, executive director, jointly announced that Butler will retire on Feb. 1,
PGA tour policy changes… for 2026
A few weeks ago, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan issued an o cial press release that said, “Today’s announced changes on the competitive and schedule enhancements incorporated over the last six years in seeking the best version of the PGA Tour for our fans, players, tournaments, and partners. is was a true collaborative e ort and I’m extremely proud of the Player Advisory Council (PAC) for the time and e ort they put into evaluating how we build a stronger PGA Tour”. Optimistically, at least 60% of you reading this article will be “some what” interested in the changes, though it will probably not make a “hoot of di erence” in your perception of the PGA Tour or a ect your habits watching TV or playing golf. So be it. To those of you who are already familiar with the changes, I say congratulations! To those of you who are only interested in watching golf on TV and don’t care about the business side, I say congratulations! All I ever expect is the truth. ese are the major changes for Eligibility:
* Exempt Status changes from Top 125 players to Top 100 players ( rst time since all-exempt Tour in 1983).
* Only the Top 20 nishers on the Korn Ferry Tour will receive PGA Tour cards instead of 30.
* Q-School will be limited to ve instead of ve and ties.
* Monday Quali ers…only four spots for 144 player eld…only two for 132 player eld… none for 120 in eld.
* Ten players from the DP World Tour will receive cards. ese are the changes for Field Sizes:
* Events played on multiple courses will have 156 players.
* Events played on one course will have only 144 players.
* Events will be reduced to 132 or 120 players as circumstances require, such as daylight.
Other changes:
* Top ten nishers and ties, including amateurs, will be granted access to the next event, rather than the top 10 Tour players.
Lucas Glover, former US Open Champion and the most vocal opponent of the new policy changes, has this to say, “ I think it’s terrible. And then hiding behind pace of play, I think challenges our intelligence. ey think we’re stupid”. Glover contends that 20 years ago when he started out on tour, there were no more than a handful of slow players. He says, “Now, we have 50. So don’t cut elds just because it’s a pace of play issue. Tell us
to play faster, or just say you’re trying to appease six guys and make them happy so they don’t go somewhere else and play golf”. DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION YET?
Please read the rst paragraph again. Mr. Monahan claims that the process started six years ago (2018). I SAY, NONSENSE! Tiger won his 5th green jacket at the Masters in 2019. I don’t recall any major policy controversies or serious issues back then…do you? And you might recall Liv Golf o cially started their tournament schedule in 2021, a er “luring” several top PGA Tour players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, and Louis Oosthuizen, just to name a few, with obnoxious amounts of money. You should also remember that was the year of the verbal WAR of WORDS between the PGA Tour and Live Golf that divided golf fans all over the world. Mr. Glover is correct. e new policy changes are a direct result of trying to appease the current top golfers on the PGA Tour so they do not defect to Liv Golf for signi cantly more money. Where does the $70 million new dollars come from? Correct! From the 121-136 Top money winners on the PGA Tour who just got red.
And nally, I remind you that in March of 2020, Mr. Monahan announced that the PGA Tour had secured a total of $6.3 billion from TV streaming rights. is was in addition to their already negotiated $2 billion from their international rights deal with Discovery in 2018 for a total of $8.3 billion. Never once during his press conference in 2020 did Mr. Monahan speci cally lay out his plan to tell the players they would be playing for a lot more money in all of the tournaments and signi cantly more in the majors and others with higher pro les. He merely painted a pretty PR picture similar to his quotes in the rst paragraph of this article. “I wonder how many PGA Tour players would have defected to Liv Golf, had Mr. Monahan told them they would be making an average of approximately 54% more money within two years”? Lucas Glover is right…”THEY THINK WE’RE STUPID”!
2025, after 16 years as executive director of the agency.
Butler will provide continuity to CNY Arts during this transition by serving as leadership and continuity consultant, providing his expertise to the next executive director and the board of directors.
Alexander Korman, deputy director, at this point in time, has been appointed CNY Arts interim executive director.
“For the past 16 years, Stephen Butler has been a transformative leader in the arts, guiding CNY Arts to become one of the most vibrant and impactful arts councils in New York State,” Paniagua said. “Under Stephen’s leadership, CNY Arts has flourished, elevating the arts across the region through innovative community programming. His efforts have secured tremendous resources for the arts, enriching the cultural landscape for the communities we serve. On behalf of the CNY Arts Board of Directors and the communities we serve, I extend our deepest gratitude to Stephen for his remarkable service and steadfast dedication to advancing the arts. We are thrilled that he will continue to lend his vast expertise to the organization in his new consulting role.”
Paniagua said KOrman will be a good fit during this transition.
“Looking ahead, we are confident in the continued success of CNY Arts under Alex Korman’s interim leadership,” she said. “Having worked alongside Stephen for the past five years in roles of increasing responsibility, Alex has demonstrated the vision, talent, and commitment needed to sustain and build upon the organization’s achievements. CNY Arts remains in strong hands, poised to continue its vital work to enrich our communities through the arts.”
Born in Syracuse, Butler grew up in Baldwinsville.
After receiving his undergraduate degree at SUNY Oswego he moved to New York City and became an equity actor and stage manager.
serving three counties to an agency that is now the largest geographical regional arts council in New York State.
One of his first accomplishments, as directed by the board, was to shift the emphasis of being mainly a producing/ presenting agency to a regional financial conduit awarding, administrating and providing reports on CNY Art’s “regrant” activities.
All funds are provided from national, state and local government sources, local foundations, fund raisers, and individual gifts and donations.
Over the years, millions of dollars have been distributed across the counties this agency serves.
This regional arts council now services Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and Cayuga (for certain grants).
CNY Arts, Inc. is an official conduit of funding for central New York’s local communities and in addition to granting opportunities also provides marketing assistance, administrative, planning and technical assistance, professional development opportunities, local and regional advocacy leadership, arts education consortiums, and continuing strategic support for community art, cultural, and historical programs and services
“Working at CNY Arts has been wonderful. I want to thank the CNY Arts Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, past and present,” Butler said. “Working together over the years, we have made tremendous strides to move this agency forward. I want to thank our elected officials, past and present, who have supported our work in the arts. I especially want to applaud County Executive Ryan McMahon, the County Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the State Legislature, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, and the Syracuse Common Council. I’ve been at the helm of CNY Arts since late 2008 and I can say in full confidence that, if it wasn’t for all our stakeholders, CNY Arts would not be the active, reliable, vibrant, regional council that it is for all things arts, culture and historical.”
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.
He also held positions at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/NY, the Alliance of NYS Arts Council as well as Creative Alternatives of New York, a drama therapy organization.
He returned to Syracuse to earn his MA in public administration from the Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Affairs and has worked and lived in Syracuse ever since.
Butler was hired at the Cultural Resources Council, a former name of CNY Arts in December of 2008.
His tenure as executive director has seen CNY Arts, Inc. grow from an agency
CNY Arts, Inc. serves arts, cultural institutions, and individual artists while fostering arts education in Onondaga, Cortland, Herkimer, Oneida, Madison, Oswego, and Cayuga counties through funding opportunities, marketing, technical support, and advocacy.
To learn more about CNY Arts, visit cnyarts.or g. CNY Arts welcomes outreach from arts organizations, individual artists, local cultural institutions or historic sites seeking assistance.
Albert C. Clos Owner & Licensed Manager
Liverpool basketball sweeps through Zebra Classic
By Phil BlACkwEll
Nothing about the aspirations of the Liverpool basketball program, both on the girls and boys sides has subsided in a busy and eventful offseason.
For the girls team a trip to last March’s state Class AAA championship game only has made it hungrier to complete the journey in 2024-25, especially with standouts like A’briyah Cunningham back to tear it up again.
Liverpool’s boys, meanwhile, dealt with the departure of head coach Ryan Blackwell to assist Gerry McNamara at Siena College as the school promoted junior varsity coach Preston Shumpert to the top spot.
Judging by the two days of competition Liverpool hosted last Friday and Saturday at the Zebra Classic, all seems to be humming.
In its first game against Section II’s Bethlehem on Friday afternoon, Liverpool’s girls rolled past the Eagles 6740, mostly thanks to the duo of Cunningham and Gia Kinsey.
With her quick drives to the basket Cunningham earned most of her 25 points from 12 field goals, and when Bethlehem closed on her Kinsey got open outside looks and hit a trio of 3-pointers on her way to 18 points overall.
Gianna Washington and Angie Kohler added seven points apiece, but Washington would take on much larger roles a day later when Liverpool met Phoenix and rolled past the Firebirds 57-22.
Jumping out to a 31-10 advantage by halftime, Liverpool was led this time by Washington getting 14 points, just ahead of Cunningham’s total of 12 points. Gracie Sleeth chimed in with nine points,
Kinsey and Kohler adding eight points apiece.
Then there was the Liverpool boys team experiencing about as easy a game as it could ever imagine against Christian Brothers Academy last Friday with the Brothers still having several players finishing out their football seasons.
Cruising from start to finish, Liverpool handled CBA 68-32,
with each of the 11 players that saw action earning at least two points led by 13 points from Alex Trombley and 10 points from Denis Kuzma. Danny Dunn got all nine of his points from three 3-pointers as Sean Frawley also had nine points.
A far tougher game loomed on Saturday against another Section V opponent, Victor, and the game was mostly on even
terms – but Liverpool’s quick start made the difference in a 67-57 win over the Blue Devils.
Hot early shooting had Liverpool in front 20-11, and that margin was maintained through the game’s middle stages with increased offensive contributions from Freddie Fowler and Giancarlo Galimi.
Fowler led Liverpool with 19 points, just ahead of Trom -
bley’s total of 16 points. Galimi earned six of his 14 points at the free-throw line as Jayden Cromwell stepped up, too, earning 11 points. Liverpool’s boys team hosts Rome Free Academy this Friday at 6:30, but the girls have a busy first week of December hosting Binghamton (Section IV) and Marcellus Thursday before a Saturday trip to
Eight Liverpool High School seniors recently participated in a National Letter of Intent Signing Day ceremony at the school. Signing letters of intent or commitment were:
Gianna Carbone – Long Island University (lacrosse)
Jack Cavallerano – Niagara University (swimming)
Emma Esposito – Mercyhurst University (lacrosse)
Piorkowski medals at state meet
By Phil BlACkwEll
A remarkable season for the girls diving programs at Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse concluded with three of them taking part in the Nov. 22 New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships.
Gathering at Webster Aquatic Center near Rochester, the diving field included Liverpool teammates June Piorkowski and Molly Murphy, along with C-NS’s Sophia Sugrue, and Piorkowski would make it to the medal podium.
Making it through all the rounds of competition, Piorkowski finished with
433.80 points, which put her in 11 th place overall, just behind the eighthplace total of 450.00 points from her season-long rival, Jamesville-DeWitt’s Kayla McQuaid.
Sugrue would earn 163.55 points and Murphy 157.20 points to finish 36 th and 37 th , respectively, while the other Section III diver, Christian Brothers Academy’s Sophia Osvoldik, was 28 th with 187.05.
Fredonia’s Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer earned both the NYSPHSAA and Federation diving titles, the senior gaining 503.50 points to edge the 493.60 of Manhasset’s Victoria Wang.
liverpool dollars for scholars announces Jreck subs fundraiser
Liverpool Dollars for Scholars is proud to partner with a local business from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 6. All proceeds will fund additional scholarships for students in the Liverpool High School Class of 2025. Stop by Jreck Subs, 720 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool, for a meal if you’re out running errands, holiday shopping, or needing a break. Unable to participate but want to contribute? Donations are always welcome – contribute online at liverpooldfs.org or mail a check to Liverpool Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 32, Liverpool, NY 13088-
0032. Liverpool Dollars for Scholars board member Rob Just chairs this event. Contact him at robsjust@gmail.co m or (315) 3824832 for additional information or to sponsor a future event. As always, Dollars for Scholars appreciate the generous support from individuals, businesses and organizations in the greater Liverpool community. With your help, the organization was able to award 178 scholarships worth $135,425 to LHS graduates in the Class of 2024 and more than $2.38 million since 1970.
Guilfoil – Long Island University (lacrosse)
Gabrielle Jondle – Longwood University (lacrosse)
Maya Mills – Delta State University (softball)
By Phil BlACkwEll
Fresh off a third-place finish at the Nov. 16 state Class A championships, the Liverpool girls cross country team still had one more big meet to go.
A week later at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, Liverpool took part in the New York State Federation championships, where it placed fourth out of 30 teams with 198 points.
Bethlehem, the state Class A champions, easily prevailed with 43 points, but Liverpool was able to hold off Auburn (235 points) in sixth place, repeating its one-point win over the Maroons in the Section III meet two weeks earlier.
Taylor Page got a top-10 finish among
By Phil BlACkwEll
Though far more competition remains, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool boys bowling teams both got off to just the starts they wanted.
On consecutive days early last week the two rivals both earned shutouts in their respective season openers – C-NS doing so against Homer, Liverpool doing the same against West Genesee.
The Northstars opened at Hi-Lanes in Homer, where in an 11-0 victory Nehemiah Bachmann netted 10 strikes in his opening-game 277, adding a 234 and 256 for an impressive 757 series.
Garrett Arnold was steady with a 216,
team runners, covering the Bowdoin Park course in 19 minutes 9.6 seconds to get ninth on the team side and 15th place overall, the race won by William Floyd’s Zariel Macchia in 18:09.9. Among Section III runners, only Auburn’s Kyleen Brady (sixth, 18:52.6) was quicker. Kaitlyn Hotaling took 19th place in the team event (42nd overall) in 19:38.6, with Katie Martin 28th among team runners in 20:00.4. Rose Piorkowski, in 20:52.9, beat out the 21:06.9 from Paige Baker, with Addison Ziegler (21:26.6) just ahead of Maggie Sherlock (21:28.8) at the line. Page and Hotaling both graduate, as does Ziegler, meaning that it’s up to Martin, Piorkowski, Baker and Ziegler to lead Liverpool’s next charge in 2025.
226 and 204 in his 646 set, while Zach Hoffman put together a three-game total of 565 capped by a 209 third game. Terry Miller shot a 205 in his 539 series, Hunter Backus adding a 510 series. Liverpool, meanwhile, began taking down West Genesee 7-0 at Flamingo Bowl led by Tanner Gist, whose 631 series included games of 235 and 214, and Kyle Lake, who posted a second-game 246 and added a 214 in his 624 set.
Mykey Hatherill opened with 221, added 189 and 188 and finished with a 598 series. Carter Thomas contributed a 185 opener and Gianni Quelor had games of 169 and 164.
Caitlyn
Taylor Page – Binghamton University (cross country/ track)
Mia Wright – Daemen University (soccer & track)
submitted pHoto
Eight liverpool high school seniors recently participated in a national letter of intent signing day ceremony at the school. Pictured, in the first row, from left, are taylor Page, Jack Cavallerano, Mia wright, Emma Esposito, Maya Mills, Caitlyn Guilfoil, Gabrielle Jondle and Gianna Carbone.
