Liverpool business community expanding
Submitted photoS
Liverpool keeps expanding and growing. The village is becoming more diverse with many places for people to shop or get services. Blue Moon Apothecary expanded on First street. The establishment offers shopping, yoga, health services and tea. JRECK subs is a new addition to Old Liverpool Road. They will host a fundraiser for Liverpool Dollars for scholars. Bricks Crossing on second street offers Legos, new, used and retired, and they do trades and classes. “The Liverpool Chamber welcomes these new members to the chamber and to the community,” said Chamber Director Lucretia Hudzinski.
Olums in Liverpool nears completion Furniture/appliance store to open on Taft road
Empire Commercial Construction, a regional general contractor that specializes in turn-key retail, restaurant and small-project construction, is nearing completion of the construction contract for Olum’s Appliances and Go2Sleep Gallery in Liverpool. Empire partnered with Design Space Studios and BX2 Architecture for all design of the over 20,000-square-foot tenant space renovation in the existing one-story building located at 4979 West Taft Road in the Wegmans Plaza. Completion is expected sometime this month.
“This new relationship with Olum’s continues to build-upon our extensive experience,” said Empire President, Josh Myers. “We look forward to successfully delivering this and future locations, continuing to
grow their footprint and 110+ year reputation as the area’s premier employee-owned and operated furniture/ appliance store.”
The custom buildout of the existing 20,000-squarefoot space within Wegmans Plaza features a centrally located business office, appliances retail area, Go2sleep Gallery exclusively at Olum’s, public bathrooms, offices, storage, conference and breakroom.
Olum’s Furniture and Appliances, celebrating over 110 years of service, offering furnishings for the home from bedroom accessories to home entertainment features to dining room furniture and more, along with decorative accents. For more information visit olums. com.
Police investigate incident at Cicero Elementary
A Cicero Elementary School teacher is facing charges after the Cicero Police Department initiated an investigation regarding allegations she used physical force against a 5-yearold student in a classroom during school hours. At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the school’s special patrol officer became aware of the alleged incident.
Cicero PD detectives reportedly determined that the suspect teacher, Margaret Bautista-Smith age 58 of Central Square, had allegedly slapped the 5-year-old female student in the arm causing redness and swelling.
The school nurse and administration were immediately notified and it was repored that the injury did not require any medical attention. An investigation was then conducted with the full cooperation of the North Syracuse School District.
After consultation with the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office Bautista-Smith was charged on Dec. 2 with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor and harassment in the second degree, a violation
Bautista-Smith was issued appearance tickets returnable to Town of Cicero Court on Dec. 17.
Warriors now Legends
Only one liverpool bOE opposed the new mascot name
By Russ TARBy Contributing Writer
When the Liverpool Central School District’s Board of Education met on Dec. 2, they voted 8-1 to change the district’s nickname from Liverpool Warriors to Liverpool Legends.
The new mascot will make the scene starting on July 1, 2025.
The lone board member to vote against the new name was Stacy Chilbert.
She joined the board in 2023.
Board members who voted in favor of the Legends name were President Nick Blaney, Vice President Jecenia Bresett along with Hayley Downs, Matt Jones, Kimberly Martin, Dan McKeever, Kimberly Melnick and John Solazzo.
Since February, the Liverpool Mascot Committee has been meeting and studying mascot-name surveys of students and community members
In April 2023, the New York State Board of Regents unanimously approved a ban on the use of Native American images as school mascots.
School districts which use indigenous team names, logos, and mascots are to be entirely eliminated by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
While the Liverpool adopted a Roman Warrior logo 20 years ago, the NYS Education Department determined that the term Warrior remains connected to Native American culture, and must be replaced.
On Nov. 20, the Mascot Committee recommended “Legends” as the new nickname for the district.
A press release issued by the district last week applauded the change.
“The choice speaks to the honor, strength and spirit that have always represented the hard work of Liverpool’s teams, clubs, programs and student body,” the district maintained. “It also aligns with the current district logo.”
While some board members at the Dec. 2 meeting suggested a compromise, removing Warriors and not immediately replacing it while trying to meet with Native American representatives, the board decided to go ahead with the new nickname.
“I feel like we’ve exhausted every possible route and as a community, we have to move forward,” said board member Matt Jones, who served on the Mascot Committee. “We are risking losing state aid if we don’t move forward on this.”
Trustees gather Monday
By Russ TARBy Contributing Writer
In order to convene their monthly meetings around the upcoming holidays, Liverpool’s village government has rescheduled several board meetings.
On Monday, Dec. 9, for instance, the planning board planned to meet at 6 p.m. rather than on its regular rotation of the fourth Monday of the month. Similarly, the zoning board of appeals also scheduled its December meeting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 9.
The village board of trustees will convene at its usual third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.
MAPs FROM THE PAsT
William P. Foley, Jr.
loved golf, owned lumber company
Bill (William P.) Foley, Jr., died on Nov. 26, 2024, of congestive heart failure at the Bailey Center for Caring in St. Augustine, FL with his loving and devoted wife, Ginger, and three sons and grandson Connor at his side.
He was born in Auburn on Aug. 11, 1937, the son of the late Dr. William P. Foley and Veronica Brennan Foley. He was baptized at Holy Family Church and remained a parishioner there until permanently moving to St. Augustine in 2019 and joining St. Anastasia Church.
Bill attended Holy Family school in Auburn, graduating in 1955. From there he went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and received the degree of Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering in 1960 from RPI.
During his senior year he met Ginger (Virginia) DiNuzzo. Ginger and Bill were married on July 7, 1962. Throughout their 62 years together he frequently acknowledged that the best choice he ever made was Ginger. In 1963 they started their family. Together they raised three sons, with Bill providing the wherewithal for a comfortable (but not extravagant) lifestyle and Ginger instilling the moral values and wisdom to sustain them for the rest of their lives.
Bill learned to skate at Rensselaer under the tutelage of the legendary RPI hockey coach Ned Harkness. In 1970 Bill became active in youth hockey. He joined the Auburn Hockey Club and coached his sons on several teams over the next few years. He also was one of the group of people who established the Snowbelt Youth Hockey League.
Throughout his adult life Bill loved the game of golf and took a special interest in the rules of golf. He was a member of the Skaneateles Country Club for over 30 years and since 2004 a member of the
DEATH NOTICES
Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine. He was too modest to mention it, but he achieved the elusive “hole-in-one” three times, on holes 8, 10 and 13 at Skaneateles.
In 1990, with Ginger’s support, Bill purchased the Builder’s Choice Lumber Company in Auburn. He became a member of the Northeast Retail Lumber Dealers Association and served in offices in the Central New York affiliate and the parent Northeast Association, encompassing New York and the six New England States. He thoroughly enjoyed the lumber industry and the friendship and respect of his peers throughout the Northeast.
After assuring the college education for their sons, Bill and Ginger enjoyed visiting the U.S. National Parks. They greatly appreciated the experience of seeing over 50 parks from Florida to Alaska.
Besides his parents, Bill was predeceased by his sisters, Markey (Margaret Ringwood) and Cathy (Catherine Laskey). He is survived by Ginger and their three sons, Matthew (Suzanne) of Atlanta, Michael of Naples, FL, and Christopher (Pei) of Los Angeles and six grandchildren,
Stephen R. Besio, 71, of Liverpool, passed away Nov. 28, 2024. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
Patricia M. Darling-Winkler, 93, formerly of North Syracuse, passed away Nov. 30, 2024. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
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Connor (Courtney), Megan (Kevin), Emily, Luke, Stephanie and Valerie and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Those wishing to do so may contribute in Bill’s memory to:
Bailey Center for Caring, 200 Health Park Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32086
Bill would like to be remembered as a faithful Catholic husband, a wise unselfish father and a proud citizen of the United States of America.
There will be no calling hours. Bill’s funeral mass will be celebrated at St. An-
Mary E. Mayer, 91 beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother
Mary Elaine Mayer, 91, of Baldwinsville, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 2, 2004, at home surrounded by her family.
She was born on Feb. 22, 1933, in Syracuse.
Mary worked for Rockwell International in her earlier years and Miller Brewery and retired from EagleComtronics in 1998.
She had a great passion for her family and singing.
Mary was a devoted Catholic and sang with the choirs of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and the Liverpool Community Chorus. Mary also had a special love for all ot the pets in her life, especially her dogs. We must not forget her love for her backyard animals of the birds and the squirrels, they were all of her friends.
Mary was predeceased in death by her beloved husband, Carlton A. Mayer in 1988; her brothers, James, and Thomas Pfeiffer; parents, Anna, and Jacob Pfeiffer. She is survived by her children, Cynthia (Doug) Housel, Donald (Carolyn),
astasia Church at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, and his mortal remains will be inurned in the North Columbarium on the St. Anastasia campus following the mass. There will be a celebration of life following the service at Marsh Creek Country Club.
Those desiring may leave messages of sympathy and encouragement by going to his tribute page at: stjohnsfamilyfuneralhome.com. St. Johns Family Funeral Home of St. Augustine, FL, is assisting the family with arrangements.
A
LAKESIDE VISTA
SUNDAY, DEC. 15
Breakfast Buffet 9 am - 12 pm “HOLIDAY FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!”
Santa Claus is Here! 10 am - 1 pm “A Special Christmas Movie for the kids too!”
Call ahead for Reservation to Save Your Spot! 315-636-1083 “Happy Holidays from all of us at Lakeside Vista!”
Located at: 2437 Rte. 174 Marietta, NY
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.
David, and Patricia (John) Mayer; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
funeral Mass was held on Friday, Dec. 6, at 11:30 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 3494 NY-31, Baldwinsville. Mary was laid to rest next to her husband at Riverview Cemetery, Baldwinsville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Guestbook at FalardeauFH.com.
Bill P. Foley, Jr.
Mary E. Mayer
OuR vOicE
The spirit of giving
Following Thanksgiving several days have taken on names and concepts all their own such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
But since 2012 the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been a day that has taken on a different tone more in line with the spirit of the holiday season.
This has come to be known as GivingTuesday.
According to givingtuesday.org, GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
The website goes on to say that GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.
GivingTuesday’s global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.
GivingTuesday espouses a concept that organization calls radical generosity.
While many call on philanthropists, policymakers and grantmakers to repair broken systems, GivingTuesday recognizes that we each can drive an enormous amount of positive change by rooting our everyday actions, decisions and behavior in radical generosity—the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering. Radical generosity invites people in to give what they can to create systemic change, the website says.
Whether it is presents under the tree or gathering with friends and family for a big meal many of us are fortunate to be able to enjoy these luxuries.
But we also know this time of year many will struggle to provide those things for their family and many more will struggle just to stay warm and fed and still many others will go without entirely.
There are a number of things many of us can and often do take advantage of to lend even a little bit of help.
This can come in the form of making a donation to the food pantry or local church that helps provide meals.
We can donate clothing items and hats and scarves to help others keep warm.
We can donate gifts or get a name from a giving tree and give some extra presents to make Christmas a little merrier for children.
We may give the extra few dollars at the checkout stand that will go to a charitable organization.
All of these efforts are good and well worth doing and as the old saying goes; every little bit does indeed truly help.
Perhaps this time of year the most visible and audible reminder that there are people in need are the Red Kettle bell ringers associated with the Salvation Army.
Whether on the street or at the entrance of a store, these volunteers, the bells they are ringing and the red kettles they are using to collect are a common site and have served as a friendly reminder for decades to give a little whether it was loose pocket change or a dollar or two.
With online shopping, many are out less than they once were and many of us now rarely if at all carry cash, instead using bank and credit cards for the majority of our purchases.
According to the Salvation Army, this has changed the manner in which it is able to raise the funds it uses through the year, much of which has traditionally come from these red kettles.
Now donations can be made online.
For our region anyone interested in making a donations can visit easternusa.salvationarmy.org/ eastern-territory/kettle/ and enter their zip code to make a local donation.
But this spirit of generosity does not have to be and should not be limited to one day specific day.
And while the holiday season makes us a little more aware that there are many who will go without, the generosity often demonstrated during this time of year is something we can find ways to practice anytime of the year.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
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The avenues of my childhood
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n the Brooklyn of my youth there were two-way streets and one-way streets. The twoway streets were designated as avenues and each had its own collection of stores, theaters, schools - urban collections that supported a now vanished life style.
Ramblings from the empty nest Ann Ferro
In England it would be called the High Street; in most American cities, it would be Main, but in our Brooklyn it was 5th Avenue. Not to be confused with 5th Avenue in Manhattan which would be a mistake of scale and prosperity. Yes, 5th Avenue has shopping in common with its similarly-named thoroughfare across the bay, but the type and degree of shopping in Brooklyn was miles different than what was available in the big apple.
Fifth Avenue was where we went to shop for most everything besides food. Lerner’s, AS Beck, Thom McCann, Woolworths, Kresge’s, Lofts and
Florsheim’s led the list as famous outlets.
On Brooklyn’s 5th, there were many other, smaller, specialized, often “Mom and Pop” shops. At the corner of 55th and 5th Avenue was a cigar shop. I’m sure that cigars, newspapers and the kinds of merchandise that is associated with the nomenclature were in greater supply than were Tootsie Rolls, the big Tootsie Rolls. My Aunt Dorothy, while on our way to shop on 5th Avenue, would always stop in the cigar store to buy my sister Kathleen and I one of those huge confections. My mother did not approve … too many sweets.
Lerner’s was the origin of my once-a-year new Easter outfit. Top to almost bottom, I was dressed in would-be Lerner’s haute couture. My younger sisters would have to be content to wear what I or my next younger sister had outgrown from previ-
Avenues l Page 5
Rockin’ through the holidays at Rocky’s Pub
It’s going to be a tuneful yuletide at Rocky’s Pub, at 209 Oswego St., in the old Ponderosa Plaza. Owners Janice and Gary Rockdashil have booked a series of serious rock’n’roll outfits to make the season merry.
Livin’ in Liverpool russ Tarby
A rootsy combo called The Malcontents performs at Rocky’s at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. The quintet specializes in Southern Rock and Classic Rock.
“We’ll serve it up with a bit of blue collar working man attitude, and just enough sugar for the ladies to like,” the pub’s Facebook page promises.
Cornucopia of classic rock
Then at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, a veteran sextet named The House Rockers Band takes the stage, showcasing the talents of guitarists Hal Wolf and John Serpe, keyboardist Howie Orlando, bassist Bob Kilian and drummer Rick Damanski.
The Rockers cook up a cornucopia of classic rock including sing-alongs and dance favorites.
Rocky’s Pub hosts its annual Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Casino games will kick off the festivities at 3 p.m. followed by a snack buffet at 5:30 p.m., and then a performance by the unabashed party band, Mothercover from 8 to 11 p.m.
New year’s Eve w/Infinity
The live music continues with vocalist Kim Fetters and keyboardist Andy Rudy at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, and a band named Faceless at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28.
The biggest bash of the season, a New Year’s Eve Party will be headlined by the five-piece band Infinity at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Solo performer Tom Chick will warm up from 7 to 9 p.m.
Then Infinity will carry the crowd into 2025 with covers the greatest rock hits from the 1970s and 1980s including
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music by Journey, Foreigner, Toto, Loverboy, REO Speedwagon and Van Halen.
Infinity features five versatile musicians: keyboardist and saxophonist Jamie Colucci, bassist David Impellizzeri, lead guitarist Matt McGriff, drummer Joe “Outlaw” Rehbein and singer Rocks Wilson.
For admission prices and other details, call the pub at 315 -214-3200; rockys-pub. co m
New name
What do you think of the school district’s new mascot name?
Liverpool Legends may lack the usual combative connotations of athletic team nicknames, but hey, at least it alliterates!
Homemade holiday cookies
To help you celebrate the season, Bella Domani’s banquet house at 5988 E. Taft Road, in North Syracuse, is offering plates of its famous homemade holiday cookies.
The colorful combinations include 14 varieties including snowballs, almond paste, chocolate balls, thumbprints, macaroons and date nut.
To learn the prices and to place your order, call 315-458-2514.
Carols by Candlelight s unday
Singers at Liverpool’s First United Methodist Church will perform a free concert called “Carols by Candlelight” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15 at the church at 604 Oswego St.
Refreshments will be served after the concert.
Donations will be accepted; 315-4575180; liverpoolfirstumc.or g
Last word
“You only have 12 notes. Do what you want with them.” – Eddie Van Halen.
sMITH’s HOMEsTEAD
By JEFF sNOW toWn oF Clay hiStorian Clay hiStoriCal
member
aSSoCiation
In this month’s calendar collection we are visiting the Smith’s homestead. The old homestead was featured in two of the town of Clay’s Historical calendars.
The hand-drawn calendar picture was drawn by Sue Ann Armani and was featured in the 1977 issue. Sue was part of the North Syracuse Art Guild and the 1209th NYS Army Reserve. Unfortunately, Sue passed away in 2001, as mentioned by her husband, who lives in NC.
The picture labeled “Smith Home” was featured in the 1983 calendar in December. The picture was taken in 1893 by the farm owners, Silas “Joshua” Smith and Sarah Morgan Smith, and features five out of eight family members.
whole lives within a few miles of where they grew up, and all of them remained local.
Silas bought the farm in 1877 from E. Kinney according to the town of Clay map of 1874. They had six children: Chauncey, Frank, Martha, Effie, Ida and Robert. Four out of the six children lived their
The ones in the picture from left to right are Frank, Effie, Sarah, Ida and Robert. All members of the immediate Smith family shown in the picture have passed away, as the youngest would now be over 140 years old. Nearly everyone is buried in Pine Plains Cemetery, except for Chauncey, who is interred in the Phoenix Cemetery. The next articles will feature Ida and
Smith. After the Smiths sold their farm, the Reddick family bought the farm
ous Easter collections. My Mary Janes came from AS Beck, where my feet were measured with a fluoroscope. No Brannock device there.
Woolworths and Kresge’s were where I would spend the dollar that my mother gave me each Christmas season to spend on gifts for the family. You could purchase something for each of my siblings and my parents and keep it under or just at the dollar.
The stores that had the big chain names were to the left of 55th Street from the perspective of my house. To the right were the smaller, locally owned shops. On the opposite side of Fifth was the haberdashery that was rumored to be connected in some way to the criminal element. At least that is what my aunts said, based on their knowledge of what they read in the Daily News or the Mirror newspapers.
In the summer, walking along this part of 5th avenue, I would experience the oh-so-seductive scents of vanilla and carbonation wafting out of the open doors of the soda shops. I so wished that I had the money to treat myself to some of the luscious ice cream treats inside those establishments. Money was always tight, though, and even a nickel was a lot to have for a child. The smell of leather was rife outside the shoe makers and the smell of fresh baked bread perfumed the air outside the bakeries. My father would stop at one of these bakeries on Sunday, after mass, to buy six Kaiser rolls for breakfast.
My friend and classmate Nora Frers lived in a railroad flat above a shoe store on Fifth Avenue. Those apartments were entered through the kitchen. You had to walk through two bedrooms to get to the living room with its bay window that overlooked 5th Avenue. I can recall thinking how elegant her apartment was in comparison to the one where another classmate, Barbara Thomasewski, lived on 3rd Avenue. It was the same kind of floor plan but in a building that was dark and poorly maintained. Were the walls really painted ochre? Her living room overlooked the gloomy underside of the Belt Parkway. But if you looked hard enough you could see part of the bocce ball courts on the opposite side of the avenue. It did seem that the quality of housing changed as you went from the bay to higher numbered avenues.
Our parish church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, was on 5th Avenue and 59th street. A large basilica, it covered the entire block between 59th and 60th street. We did not only visit on Sunday; as students in the school, my siblings and I went to daily mass at 7:30 a.m., a six-block walk in all weather. Mass was over before 8 and we would walk home for breakfast only to repeat the now sevenblock walk to school.
Third Avenue had a collection of small stores that sold food. There was the butcher, a fish monger, the green grocery, the banana store and the source of most of our clothing, the Goodwill, thanks to my mother and grandmother’s skills with a sewing machine. It also was the location of our candy store, Pops, at the corner of 55th and 3rd where you could buy a Mello Roll ice cream. Then there was Vinnies, a small grocery store where you told the man behind the counter what you wanted to purchase and he retrieved it for you. I can remember walking down the street past the vacant lot to Vinnies repeating over and the short list of what my mother needed while clutching the change in my hand. “Bread, Pet milk, baking powder and sugar” …over and over. “Don’t forget to get change, Ann.”
There were untold hours walking along 4th avenue, past small stores, coffee shops, bars and large apartment buildings on my way to the library. Also on Fourth Avenue was the Coliseum, the movie house where we spent eons of hours watching double features with this week’s episode of an exciting serial, Pathe news’ “Eyes and Ears of the World” as well as three cartoons. This is where I absorbed a vision of the world where houses had 12-foot ceilings and women had long blond hair, dark lipstick and clothes that sparkled…not anything like real life, but so palatable to a child. What a comparison between our house, my Mom, her housedresses and the palatial homes in movies and Diana Durban.
That Brooklyn was created by and for a heterogeneous mixture of blue collar, aspirational peoples who have long moved out to “better places,” replaced by what has been described as hipsters who prefer more upscale and certainly far more expensive pursuits.
I am sure that the current residents will gather their memories in the same way as I have … different memories for
in the 1940s. My aunt (Beverly Reddick Snow) lived in the house in her younger years. She married my uncle (Howard Snow), and the couple was featured a few articles ago regarding the Clay Historical Association celebrating its 50th anniversary. My great-grandmother (Edith Snow) bought the farm in the mid 1950s, and it remained in the Snow family until 2018. My other uncle (Gary Snow) rented and lived in the house up until it was sold.
The current owner is Sean Gardner, who bought the house in August 2022. Sean and his family wanted an old farmhouse with a “Norman Rockwell” charm, hoping their children could experience life beyond the suburbs, making this house the perfect fit for that vision.
In the collage featured on this page the top left photo shows the house in the 1970s with a dead elm tree behind the house.
A disease known as the Dutch Elm Disease killed many Elm trees through-
a different population, but nostalgia for a time when you played stick ball and potsie in the streets, going home when the street lights came on, where your block was family and your church a central part of that family. Nowadays memories keep both that time and place alive as well as a smile on
I truly believe 80% of golfers, male and female, would use the following words and phrases to describe the skills of the players on both tours; superior, exceptional, outstanding, superb, of the highest quality, magni cent, and let’s not forget the word Billy Crystal made famous, “marvelous”. e remaining 20% are not as engaged as you might think they are. ey don’t play as o en as we do, don’t watch as many tournaments as we do, don’t read as much and only watch the golf channel occasionally. ey are also the ones who use words such as; choke, stinks, amateurish, de cient, and unacceptable when describing a player who is having a “bad day” on the course. is article is being written for the 20% of golfers who need to be better educated about just how much better professional golfers are than the rest of us over the course of an entire season so that they will some day become one of us.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE 2024 PGA TOUR SEASON: e Money List
# 1 - Scottie Sche er……….$29,228,356
# 2 - Xander Schau ele…… $18,385,320
# 3 - Hideki Matsuyama…….$11,257,969
# 4 - Will Clark……………….$10,901,416
# 5 - Rory Mcllroy…………..$10,893,790 Tour Average…$2,109,985
Scoring Average
Birdie Average
# 1 - Scottie Sche er………4.88
#
# 2 - Harry Hall………………4.52
out the 1970s and 80s as it did the one in the photo. The top right picture is the hand drawn picture in the 1977 calendar. The bottom left photo is the result from the tornado of May 1983, which ripped down the two giant Catalpa trees to the west of the house. Along with the Smiths’ Homestead, the tornado caused extensive damage to many other properties in the neighborhood. The bottom-middle photo is from 1944 when the Reddicks bought the house from the Smiths. Bottom right picture was taken in 2024 from the current owner, Sean Gardner. 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 or join the Clay Historical Association.
my non-hipster face.
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.
Other facts about Scottie Sche er’s “marvelous” golf season.
* He won 7 tournaments.
* He also had 16 Top “10” nishes.
* His approach shots to the green from 100-125 yards was 14 9in.
*
* Next weeks article will be about Nelly Korda and the 2024 LPGA Tour season.
Martha
l From page 4
Bent L. Thomsen, 91 lived in Skaneateles
On Nov. 20, 2024, surrounded by his loving children, Bent L. Thomsen lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 91. By his own account, “I’ve lived a good life.” He used to joke, “You better keep moving or they will throw dirt on you.” And he never did stop moving, seeing his trainer, with whom he developed a strong friendship over the years, up to the day before he passed.
Bent was born in Denmark in 1933. He went to boarding school at Herlufsholm School, where he met friends he kept up with until the end. Bent continued his education at Polyteknisk Læreanstalt (Royal Technical University of Denmark), receiving his master’s degree in soil mechanics and foundation engineering.
While working at Diakonissestiftelsen (The Deaconess Foundation), he met his future wife, American Janis Peet. They married and Bent set his sights on moving to the United States. So, in 1958, Bent and Jan immigrated there with their 3-year-old son, Kim Peet, in tow.
Bent had to give up his Danish citizenship to obtain his engineering license. It proved to be a good decision. One could say he lived the American dream. He worked his way up and purchased Empire Soils Investigations Inc. In his words, “Empire was a huge part of my life.” Forever a gentleman’s gentleman, he collected many friends who stayed in touch with him over the years. The primary Empire Soils office location was in Groton, N.Y., where Bent also became a member of First National Bank of Groton’s board and served for 28 years.
Bent‘s hobby was sailing, and he enjoyed many summers at the south end of Skaneateles Lake. His boat of choice was Lightning, with his first vessel aptly named “Viking.” He also enjoyed the nights after races with the South Skaneateles Sailing and Singing Society where he exchanged stories from the day and shared in song.
After living in Homer for many years, Bent took up residency in Skaneateles. There, he volunteered at the Skaneateles Historical Society. Using his European design sense and engineering mind, he made an impact with a significant expansion project to the museum. He was also a member of the Skaneateles Country Club and was involved in the design and building of a highly successful floating dock system in front of the club.
In 2013, Bent moved to the Catskills to be closer to his daughter. The excitement of this move was dampened by the sudden loss of his second son, Carl Eric Thomsen, to Lupus.
After the shock of this passed, Bent became a member of The Marbletown Historic Preservation Commission and settled into a relaxed country lifestyle, maintaining his gardens just as well as his parents did in Denmark, which was nothing short of beautiful.
Bent is survived by his sister Lilian Nielsen and two children, Kim Peet Thomsen and Elsebeth Kay Thomsen.
Arrangements were held privately. In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to the Skaneateles Historical Society in Bent’s memory. He would be happy to see that he continues to make an impact.
In his new role as Chair he’ll bring valuable continuity and vision to our organization,” said Mannion.
Vicki Brackens, CHFC, appointed to board Crouse Health Board of Directors
Chair Patrick A. Mannion recently announced the appointment of Vicki Brackens, CHFC, to the board of directors.
President of Brackens Financial Solutions Network, Brackens has over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur working in the area of financial education and financial services. She was cohost of Financial Fitness on PBS affiliate WCNY in Syracuse for a number of years. A Chartered Financial Consultant, Brackens can be heard providing strategic financial advice weekly on Inspiration for the Nation, hosted by George Kilpatrick.
Brackens is an active community leader, having served as Board member and on the Finance and Development Committees of the Central New York Community Foundation, as a Foundation Board member of the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, a member of The Raymond von Dran IDEA Board of Advisors (RvD IDEA), and as a member of the Syracuse Area Salvation Army Advisory Board. She continues to be involved with her
community as a member of the Board of Directors and Investment Committee Chair of CenterState CEO. She proudly serves her community as a member of the Iota Nu Omega Chapter, Syracuse Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2020, to address the need for greater diversity in the financial services industry, Brackens co-founded Heritage Financial Partners (HFP). As a management company HFP provides individual advisors and firms, particularly those founded by African American and Latino practitioners, affiliation under one entity to provide the scale and support needed to consistently serve their marketplace.
“Vicki is an accomplished, highly regarded community leader. Her unwavering commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of our community aligns perfectly with Crouse Health’s mission. We are pleased to welcome her expertise and passion to the board and look forward to her contributions,” said Mannion.
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.
Tim Kennedy Vicki Brackens
Bent L. Thomsen
C-NS, Liverpool boys bowlers earn victories
By PHIL BLACKWELL
While bigger matches still lay ahead, both the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool boys bowling teams have claimed wins in their first two matches.
Back in action last Wednesday C-NS defeated Solvay 9-2 at Strike-N-Spare Lanes despite a tremendous series from the Bearcats’ Justin Zimmerman, whose 720 set featured games of 247, 235 and 238.
By PHIL BLACKWELL
Having earned the Section III Class AA and Division I titles a season ago, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys wrestling team is already learning the difficulty of pulling this off again.
With many new faces in the lineup the Northstars opened its 2024-25 season at Baldwinsville, where it led for portions of the meet but struggled late in a 38-34 loss to the Bees.
C-NS won three of the first five bouts, starting at 138 pounds when Javone Dawkins pinned Scottie Warner in the second period before Sean Aldrich (152 pounds) got a pin over Jacob Bennett near the end of the first
Displaying more depth, the Northstars had Hunter Baciuska step up, shooting 256, 214 and 232 for a career-best 702 series just ahead of the 696 set from Terry Miller that included games of 220, 243 and 233.
Also rolling well, Garrett Arnold shot 216 and 202 before closing with a 247 during his 665 series Nehemiah Bachmann peaked with a 247 second game after a 215 during his 640 series, while Ryan Daggett shot a third-game 212 In his 575 series and
period and a forfeit went to Kennedy Thomas at 160 pounds.
Kaydin Welch (215 pounds) and Michael Pease (285 pounds) each earned their own second-period falls – Welch over Connor Daughton, Pease over Ed Primrose – and with that C-NS led 30-22.
However, B’ville took the next three bouts with two technical falls and a forfeit, clinching it before the 124-pound finale where Anthony Lisi beat Coleman Bouthillier 12-4.
In the girls wrestling meet between C-NS and B’ville the Northstars lost 40-23, the Bees getting pins in five straight bouts from 114 to 138 pounds to account for most of its points.
Shea Ellsworth had one of the Northstars’
Cameron Miller added a 524 set.
As this went on, Liverpool beat Fulton in a tight 4-3 match at Lightview Lanes, prevailing despite having a pinfall of 3,352 less than the Red Dragons’ 3,438.
Mykey Hatherill dropped 10 strikes during a 268 opening game on his way to a 680 series that also had games of 202 and 210, while Gianni Quelor was steady with 208, 234 and 227 in his 669 series.
Kyle Lake shot 207 and 203 games in his 596 set, with Tanner Gist adding a three-game total of 509. Fulton, in defeat, got a 684 series from Max Cunningham and a 666 series from Kyle Stuber which included a 268 in the opening game. Liverpool’s girls lost 7-0 to Fulton, with Sara Conover recording a 478 series which included an opening game of 211. The Red Dragons were led by Addison Nichols’ 640 series (games of 233 and 236) and Molly Smith’s 624 set which closed with a 238.
three wins on the mat, a 10-0 technical fall over Addyson Kral at 107 pounds. Later in the meet Chloe Tice got her own 10-0 shutout beating Riley Meyer after Aniyah Burton, at 185 pounds, pinned Iliyana Malinova. Forfeits went to Elise English at 145 pounds and Molly Daniels at 152 pounds.
As this went on Liverpool had its own struggles in its season opener against Fayetteville-Manlius, the Legends topped 40-23 by the Hornets.
F-M jumped out 13-0 before Samir Amiri (152 pounds) put Liverpool on the board with a 17-1 technical fall over Zach Henderson. At 160 pounds, Will Cowan pinned Tyler Delaney in the waning seconds, while Mateo Gon-
zales (190 pounds) earned his pin over Jacob Pavlov near the end of the second period.
A close bout at 285 had David Blue Moore fall 3-1 to Caleb Haase, and F-M won the two other contested bouts in between a forfeit to Aiden Adams-Bovenzi at 116 pounds.
C-NS would host the girls Bill Andersen Memorial Tournament on Friday where the Northstars earned 76.5 points to finish ninth in a 17-team field, Fulton taking the top spot with 289 points. No C-NS wrestler could reach the finals, but Ellsworth took third at 100 pounds pinning Brooke Agnone (Fairport) in 51 seconds. English took fourth place at 145, which Tice matched.
C-NS, Liverpool wrestlers drop opening meets Liverpool
By PHIL BLACKWELL
Having a new name is one thing, but living up to it requires something special.
Fortunately for the Liverpool girls basketball team, the moniker “Legends” fits well given the program’s two straight trips to the state final four and nearly grabbing the state Class AAA title a season ago.
Already at 2-0 following a sweep of Bethlehem and Phoenix in the Nov. 29-30 Zebra Classic, Liverpool kept this up last Tuesday in
By PHIL BLACKWELL
Armed with a desire to challenge the longtime Division I powers, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team got underway with back-to-back games on the first full weekend of December.
First, the Northstars traveled to Clinton Friday night and, gaining momentum as the
another lopsided game as it bashed Section IV’s Binghamton 63-33.
Combining its suffocating defense with plenty of conversions on the other end, nearly half the margin got established in the first quarter, the Legends building a 22-4 margin on the Patriots. And it was 32-9 by halftime, the attack again led by A’briyah Cunningham, who delivered on 21 points helped by Angie Kohler and Gia Kinsey getting 12 points apiece and Gianna Washington earning nine points.
A fun game awaited on Thursday night with
night went along, pulled clear to earn a 6-2 victory over the Comets.
Never trailing, C-NS built upon a 1-0 firstperiod advantage, scoring twice in the second and three times in the third period and also spreading around its production.
Only Nate Bustin got two goals, with Andrew Gabor netting a goal and two assists.
Cam Walker, Chase Mearon and Calen Brown
Liverpool hosting Marcellus, a Class B sectional finalist last year boasting two 1,000-point scorers in guard Cece Powell and forward Tenly Baker, who just reached that milestone two nights earlier in a season-opening win over Syracuse Academy of Science. But then the weather got in the way, postponing the game and leaving Liverpool idle until the weekend, when it went to St. Mary’s High School near Buffalo for games against St. Mary’s and Rochester’s Bishop Kearney, who beat the Legends 74-70 in an overtime classic.
each found the net, too, with Landon Russo, Austin Clarke and Dylan Ling earning assists.
All of these good feelings crashed down a bit a day later at the Twin Rinks when C-NS took a 4-1 loss to Watertown IHC, the two sides meeting again in Watertown this Thursday right after a Tuesday home game against Rome Free Academy.
Down 55-40 after three periods, Liverpool made a stirring fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Kearney 21-6 the rest of regulation, but could not carry it over into OT despite 28 points from Cunningham as Washington earned 12 points, Kinsey 10 points and Lyric Noel nine points. Liverpool will go to Fayetteville-Manlius Thursday for its SCAC Metro division opener just two days after Cicero-North Syracuse opens its season with a big test against a Baldwinsville side who had roared out to a 4-0 start.
Meanwhile, CNY Fusion, the combined team featuring Liverpool and Fulton, began its season Saturday against another combined team, the Capital District Jets, and it ended in a 2-2 tie. Fusion fell behind 1-0, tied it in the second period and then traded third-period goals, the game unresolved as Fusion moves on to face Mohawk Valley and Syracuse this week.
Liverpool boys fall to RFA; C-NS meets Westhill
By PHIL BLACKWELL
Though they all talk about taking it game-by game, there’s no question the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball teams are also watching one another and taking notes of the results.
The Legends’ narrow victory over the Northstars in last March’s Section III Class AAA final has only added more fuel to their rivalry, but the two sides don’t meet this winter until mid-January.
However, they would be in the same event
last weekeend – namely, the Peppino’s Invitational, which began Friday at Christian Brothers Academy and continued Saturday at Jamesville-DeWitt.
Liverpool’s game was on Friday, against Rome Free Academy, and with a furious lategame comeback the Black Knights won it 7570, the first time it had defeated the Legends since the early 2000s.
Despite playing in the same class, these two teams had not squared off for 13 years, but in terms of intensity and quality they made up for that lost time with a back-and-forth classic.
NEEDs A HOME
By ELENA sELTHuN photo by barb gomez
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It was Liverpool jumping out in front early, only to have RFA make up that ground and inch into a 30-29 halftime lead before the Legends reclaimed the advantage through a wild third period that included 50 total points.
Trailing 52-47, the Black Knights would again catch up in the final period, take the lead and hang on helped by Surafia Norries’ 22 points and Uzziah Grimes’ 20 points, plus 13 points from Deandre Neal.
Freddie Fowler charged to 25 points to lead Liverpool, just ahead of Alex Trombley, who had 19 points. No one else hit double figures, though Sean Frawley hit three 3-pointers as he and Giancarlo Galimi had nine points apiece.
C-NS was supposed to open last Thursday against Utica Proctor, only to have weather postpone this game until Jan. 3, which the Northstars hope is its first game in the revamped high school gym after starting the season at the Junior High School.
Instead, it would play first against Westhill
Saturday as the Peppino’s Invitational action moved to J-D. Westhill, the reigning sectional Class A champions, were already 2-0 with wins over Jamesville-DeWitt and PSLA Fowler. In a close, tense battle, the Northstars prevailed 61-57, demonstrating right away that it could handle an adverse situation.
Unable to contain Westhill standout Eli Prince, C-NS watched Prince take charge in the second quarter, erasing an early Northstars lead to put Westhill up 30-28 going to the break.
Yet it was C-NS who would crank up its defense, reclaim the lead limiting Westhill to 10 points in the third quarter and then answer every challenge during a final period to stay out in front.
Andrew Benedict began his senior season moving past the 1,300-career point mark and finishing with 27 points overall. Nate Francis got 14 points and Andrew Potter 11 points to help overcome Prince’s game-high 31 points.
