Star Review digital edition - April 19, 2023

ChIP CAMP WRAPS uP

North Syracuse to celebrate Arbor Day

Arbor Day will be celebrated in the Village of North Syracuse at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28, near Veterans’ Memorial Park, corner of Centerville Place and North Main Street.

Two Greenspire Littleleaf Linden trees, fragrantly flowering in July, will be rededicated to past mayors, James Hotchkiss and Mark Atkinson.

2023

Mayor Gary Butterfield will make a proclamation of the day. DEC Forester John Graham will provide recognition of the 34th year as a Tree City.

Local antiquities instrumentalist, Lee Turner, will provide appropriate music for the 151 year old holiday.

Bartlett Tree Arborist Erik Imperato will be providing seedlings to those who would like to plant and grow trees.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration.

Trustees adopt $3.8m budget

By RuSS TARBy

Writer

Contributing

Submitted photo The Micron Foundation, the Liverpool Central School District and the Liverpool Foundation for Education wrapped up the region’s first Micron Chip Camp recently.

TheMicronFoundation,theLiverpool Central School District and the Liverpool Foundation for Education wrapped up the region’s first Micron Chip Camp recently, with roughly 120 Liverpool middle schoolers. The students spent three days of their spring break getting valuable hands-

on experience with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts and a peek at the types of skills that will position them well for future careers in technology.

“We are excited to work with Liverpool CSD to give,” said Robert Simmons,headofsocialimpactandSTEM

programs for the Micron Foundation. “When we provide opportunities for young people to see what’s possible and engage in hands-on learning experiences, we unlock a world of possibilities for their future. We look forward to sparking more joy, wonder

Micron l Page 2

At its April 10 meeting the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees conducted a public hearing regarding the proposed 2023-2024 village budget. Although four citizens attended the meeting, no one spoke either for or against the proposed spending plan.

The trustees – Matt Devendorf, Christina Fadden and Dennis Hebert and Mayor Gary White (Trustee Michael LaMontagne was absent on April 10) – voted unanimously to approve the $3,867,175 budget.

That figure is more than a quarter-million dollars higher than the budget initially proposed on March 20. The updated total includes grant moneys awarded to village Main Street renovation projects and to improve the village hall’s roof and its heating, ventilation and airconditioning system.

Before they voted, the trustees agreed the budget should provide a 5% wage increase for all non-elected and non-unionized village employees.

Village taxes will remain flat at $11.95 per $1,000 of assessed value. As an example, a village property assessed at $100,000 will receive a tax bill for $1,195. Along with the taxes, village property owners must also pay a

$130 annual sewer-fund assessment. The new budget includes spending more than $502,000 on capital projects, such as the purchase of a new department of public works mini dump-truck for $71,000 and a police vehicle for $54,000. The 2023-24 budget includes $70,000 to update the village’s comprehensive plan.

To balance the budget, $455,789 will be transferred from the village fund balance, according to Village Clerk Mary Ellen Sims.

Five DWIs in March

At the village board’s monthly meeting on April 10, Police Chief Jerry Unger reported that his officers made 189 traffic stops and issued 154 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in March.

Three accidents were investigated here last month, eight parking tickets were written, and five motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated. Officers made 45 residential checks and 129 business checks in March while responding to a total of 577 incidents and calls for service.

The LPD arrested 25 individuals last month on 39 criminal charges.

Full-time Officer Ryan Roman has resigned from the LPD as of April 13.

By RuSS TARBy

Contributing Writer

After declaring in February that he intended to seek an eighth term as Liverpool mayor, Gary White has changed his mind. On April 10 he said he decided against running for reelection in the upcoming June 20 village election.

The 74-year-old mayor cited his reasons as family issues and retirement concerns. The decision clearly took some serious soul-searching.

“As a family, we had some long, thoughtful talks,” White said. “And I finally figured that after 26 years in

village government, it’s time.”

White’s family recently lost its matriarch, his 96-year-old mother, and the mayor is the executor of her estate.

Since 1997, he has served 12 years as a trustee and 14 more as mayor.

White – a Republican – is a retired Syracuse Police Department deputy chief who oversaw general services, records and the uniform bureau before retiring to work in the automotive industry.

He served six terms as a village trustee and became deputy mayor during the Marlene Ward administration before first running for may-

Submitted photo

or in 2009. In that contested election, White prevailed over independent candidate Tom Stack by a vote of 291 to 154. In subsequent elections the incumbent mayor ran unopposed.

White is the 13th mayor of the village of Liverpool.

And on June 20, the village will elect a new mayor. White hopes to be succeeded by fellow Republican, former deputy mayor Christina Fadden.

“Chris Fadden has my complete backing,” he said. “As a trustee, she’s been on the village board the longest and is well-grounded in the opera-

Mayor l Page 2

NSCSD to kick off Mental Health Month on May 5

The North Syracuse Central School District is preparing to kick off the month of May, which is Mental Health Month, by getting schools and families involved in a campaign of positivity. The district has designated the first Friday of the month, Friday, May 5, as “It’s Okay Friday” and is inviting everyone to participate by wearing a T-shirt with a positive message that day. The day is being designated as “It’s Okay Friday” because the district wants to encourage people to check in with each other and ask for help if needed.

Lisa Goldberg, the district’s director of social emotional wellness is hoping the campaign encourages people to connect.

“We want to send the message that it is okay to ask for help,” Goldberg said.

To create an environment of support and caring, the district is asking students, staff and the entire NSCSD community to wear a T-shirt on May 5 with one of the following messages:

A positive message about connection

A positive message about mental health

A positive message about asking for help

Mayor Gary White, center, won’t seek reelection to the Liverpool Village Board after serving seven terms.

Liverpool Republicans may face first Democratic opposition since 2001

By RuSS TARBy

Contributing Writer

For the first time in 22 years, Liverpool Democrats plan to conduct a caucus to nominate candidates for village offices.

The Democratic caucus will convene at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Pratt & Huerta home at 807 Oswego St. in Liverpool, according to town of Salina Democratic Committee Chairman Christopher Shepherd.

All village residents who are registered Democrats are eligible to par-

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ticipate in the caucus.

“It will be the decision of the rank-and-file members of the Democratic Party attending the caucus to nominate any candidates for village offices,” Shepherd said.

The caucus will elect its chair and a secretary before the subject of nominations is discussed.

“I’ll temporarily be an ad-hoc convener before the caucus begins,” Shepherd said, “to greet folks and then assist with the process of nominating a temporary chair and secretary.”

The yet-to-be-elected chairper-

and interest in STEM among students through the additional Central New York Chip Camps planned in the months ahead.”

son of the caucus will file a certificate of nomination with the village clerk’s office no later than May 4, Shepherd said.

Three positions will be decided by the June 20 village election, the mayor and two trustees for a single two-year-term each. The village Republican caucus will be conducted the night before, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the village hall.

Democrats have failed to field any candidate for village office since 2001 and have not conducted a caucus since that year. In the 2001 election, Republican Marlene Ward defeated

“The technology industry will need thousands of highly skilled employees in Central New York, and our students here in Liverpool are up to the challenge of learning what they need to access those opportunities,” Liverpool

incumbent Democratic Mayor Jon Zappola to become the first female mayor in village history.

Two years ago, the Salina Democrats nominated a full slate of candidates for all six town offices in 2021, for the first time in a decade. Now the Dems are making a move in the village.

Three hopeful opponents

Last month, three Liverpool women passed flyers throughout the village stating their intention to run for office in the June 20 election.

Stacy Finney plans to run for mayor

Central School District Superintendent Daniel Henner said. “I want to thank the Micron Foundation for partnering with us to give students a chance to see how they may fit into a workforce of the future. I’m excited to see what our students are inspired to do with the skills they’ve gained through this experience.”

Sponsored by the Micron Foundation and made possible by the Liverpool Central School DistrictandtheLiverpoolFoundationforEducation, the day camp featured hands-on STEM activities related to semiconductor manufacturing and engineering jobs.

Chip Camp attendees learned about what engineers and scientists do every day in a semiconductor company. The camp was offered at no cost to students through a Micron Foundation grant awarded to the Liverpool Foundation for Education.

The first in New York State and the largest ever, the three-day Chip Camp encompassed a number of activities, including building and launching rockets, learning circuitry by building Wiggle bots, and using code to program Micro:bits.

In one activity, groups of sixth, seventh and eighth graders were given approximately 15 minutes to build a freestanding structure utilizing just 25 straws and one meter of tape. The goal? To engineer a structure that would stay standing for at least five seconds.

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tions of our village government. I think she’ll have the support of the village Republican caucus, too.”

That caucus, chaired by village GOP Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr., will convene at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St. All village residents who are registered Republicans may participate.

while Melissa Cassidy and Rachel Ciotti hope to campaign for the two trustee positions.

On April 10, seven-term incumbent Mayor Gary White announced that he will not seek reelection.

Instead he encouraged former deputy mayor Christina Fadden to seek the top job.

On June 20 incumbent Trustee Dennis Hebert will seek reelection and voters will also select a new candidate to fill the trustee seat being vacated by Fadden. White, Fadden and Hebert are all Republicans.

Simulating the real world, manufacturing difficulties were thrown the students’ way during their build time. At one point, they could use only one hand to work, while later in the exercise they could communicate with their team members only in non-verbal ways.

On day two, students took a field trip to Cornell University’s NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), where students were exposed to a first-class learning environment, many for the first time. Campers learned about nanotechnology and its uses in a variety of fields such as medicine, engineering, energy, materials and manufacturing. They were then able to virtually follow a CNF staff member as he walked through the school’s cleanroom.

After the tour, students were able to conduct engaging experiments alongside Cornell scientists, as well as try on the cleanroom suits that must be worn in a sterile environment so their experiments do not get contaminated by outside or unclean elements.

On day three, they learned how memory chips are made and completed projects started on the first day. Chip Camp ended with a Rocket Blast-Off Launch Competition, as well as a Photobooth station with Micron Props.

Liverpool is the fourth on-site location for Micron’s Chip Camp, which includes camps in Georgia, Idaho and Virginia.

The GOP caucus will nominate a candidate for mayor, and a candidate for trustee to fill the seat Fadden is vacating. Incumbent Republican Trustee Dennis Hebert is also expected to be nominated for reelection.

Though Democrats have not conducted a caucus since 2001, one is scheduled this year for 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at 807 Oswego St., so it’s likely that the Republican candidates will have opponents on June 20.

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

Diana Brownlie

Mother, grandmother

It is with great sadness, fondness and respect that we announce the death of our mother Diana Brownlie, who died peace -

Peter L. Sullivan, 88 enjoyed cooking, fishing, sailing, woodworking and traveling

Peter Lawrence Sullivan, Peter to his beloved family, Pete to his many friends, Daddy to his loving daughters and Papa to his adoring grandchildren, died on March 24, 2023, in Manhattan, N.Y. He was 88.

Born Oct. 6, 1934 in Brooklyn, N.Y., second child of Peter L. Sullivan and Helen Theresa Mitchell, he graduated from Brooklyn Prep (1952), from Fordham University (1956), and proudly served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959. On Feb. 3, 1962, Peter married Marie Tiernan, with whom he raised four daughters, Marie, Moira, Sheila and Eileen. Peter and Marie divorced in 1985.

Peter’s career on Wall Street, at Gar

ban LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald, LP, led to many life-long friendships. In 1998, after his retirement from Cantor, he em

barked on his favorite and most reward

ing career, caring for his new grandson Matthew, and later for his granddaugh

ter Catherine, born in 2000.

Peter had many interests and hob

bies, among them cooking, fishing, sailing, woodworking and traveling. He enlivened many occasions with his joy -

fully and surrounded by love in the early morning of April 1, 2023.

She is survived by her three daughters and two granddaughters. Her humor, open heart, generosity, green thumb and reverent irreverence will

be keenly missed by her family and dear friends, but she will live on in our love for frog ponds, lush gardens, Mozart, books, fresh pesto, killer chocolate cake and excellent words like “insouciant” and “cary-

atid.”

Please “tip us a wink” from the other side, Di - we’ll be on the lookout for those feathers!” Visit sisskindfuneralservice.com.

MARCELLUS

NEW YORK

Our Town of Marcellus newsletter is available online, at the Marcellus Free Library, at the Town Clerk’s counter in the Town Hall building, and it’s posted at businesses around the Village of Marcellus.

We are planning 2 senior bus trips: Aug. 16th to Raquette Lake and Old Forge and October 11th to Arcade & Attica Railroad.

Peter L. Sullivan

ous laughter and lively wit. Peter and his long-time partner Anne M. Gordon shared a home in Skaneateles, NY for many years.

Peter is survived by his sisters, Martha (Albert) Green and Carol (Gerald) Ryan; his partner Anne, his daughters Moira Sullivan (Stephen Cooney), Sheila, Eileen, and two grandchildren, Matthew Sullivan Cooney and Catherine Sullivan Cooney.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The New Jewish Home, Manhattan or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Manhattan.

Park pavilion rentals are now open. Reservations can be done online, or call our of ce.

The brochure for summer programs/camps will be available in May.

Senior Social Time, facilitated by Beautiful Hearts

Professional Home Care Services: May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18. In the Welcome Center in the park.

Please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 315-673-3269 Ext. 2 for more information

Town of Marcellus, 22 E. Main St. Marcellus NY 13108

Managing stress

Life is stressful.

We accept this to a certain degree in that daily life comes with many stressors from our personal lives, work, the daily commute and innumerable other factors that each individual has to contend with. While we know there is stress in life, we don’t always take the time to realize how stressed out we are and even less time to consider the negative impacts living under stress can have on our mental and physical health and even less time to do things that can help us destress and live a healthier life.

The month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month as a means of drawing attention to the impact of stress and help us realize how important and vital it is to find ways to manage it in a healthy manner for our overall wellness.

According to the American Heart Association, stress is a health risk we all need to be cognizant of. In the short term stress can increase blood pressure and heart rate and interfere with sleep. Over the long term, stress can lead to weight gain and pose a risk for diabetes.

Stress may contribute to poor health behaviors linked to increased risk for heart disease and stroke, such as smoking, overeating, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, being overweight and not taking medications as prescribed

Your body’s response to stress may be things like a headache, back strain and stomach pains,

Stress can also zap your energy, wreak havoc on your sleep and make you feel cranky, forgetful or out of control.

A stressful situation sets off a chain of events. Your body releases adrenaline, a hormone that temporarily causes your breathing and heart rate to speed up and your blood pressure to rise. These reactions prepare you to deal with the situation — the “fight or flight” response.

The American Heart Association says chronic stress is when stress is constant and your body is in high gear off and on for days or weeks at a time. Chronic stress may lead to high blood pressure, which can increase risk for heart attack and stroke.

According to the organization managing stress is good for your health and well-being. Negative psychological health/mental health is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. But positive psychological health is associated with a lower risk of heart disease and death. Negative mental health conditions include depression, chronic stress, anxiety, anger, pessimism and dissatisfaction with life.

These conditions are associated with potentially harmful responses in our bodies such as irregular heart rate and rhythm, increased digestive problems, increased blood pressure, inflammation and reduced blood flow to the heart.

People with positive mental health are also more likely to have health factors linked to a lower risk of developing heart disease such as lower blood pressure, better glucose control, less inflammation and lower cholesterol.

Fortunately, you can manage stress in ways such as exercising regularly. It can relieve stress, tension, anxiety and depression. Consider a nature walk, meditation or yoga. Also making time for friends and family is recommended. It’s important to maintain social connections and talk with people you trust. And getting enough sleep is important. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours a night. Also important is maintaining a positive attitude. Practicing relaxation techniques while listening to music and find a stimulating hobby that can be fun and distract you from negative thoughts or worries.

Figuring out how stress pushes your buttons is an important step in dealing with it. Identify sources of stress in your life and look for ways to reduce and manage them.

A health care professional can help you find ways to manage your stress, according to the heart association. For more information visit TheAmerican Heart Association at heart. org.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

School shootings: taking aim at a national problem

The latest was in Nashville. A private Christian school. Thoughts and prayers … over and over.

Are we praying for, thinking about, the wrong things. What has gone wrong?

Something should be done! Yes, something should have been done … right after Columbine, after the horrible carnage of little ones at Sandy Hook … but no! The policy makers voices, “Let’s wait until this settles out. Use more reasoning. It’s too emotional now.”

And it continues, for me and for so many others, an unsettling disbelief that we could allow this to continue, an integral part of the gun violence culture that has become a descriptor of the United States. We are offering our children on an altar of intransigence where solutions run the spectrum from eliminating all guns to arming everyone. Where slogans have become the research that fuels the inertia.

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Absolutely true. How many school children and their teachers would have died if there were no guns, particularly automatic weapons available to the people who kill people?

Beef up the security of the schools. Spend, spend on making the school house a fortress to respond to the lack of response to the role of gun violence in our nation. Allow the perverted actions of the few change the culture of education.

Arm the teachers! As a retired teacher, you can bet that I have something to say about that. The solution to gun violence is not more guns. Teachers are not gunslingers. Teachers don’t fill the voids left by the inability to sort this

problem out. Does this sound like something out of a dime novel?

Take away the all guns. Lots of luck. Guns are important parts of the mythical culture of the frontier, self-sufficiency and specific interpretations of the second amendment. Honest people hunt, though needing an automatic weapon to hunt is beyond my ken. We have numerous examples of countries that have figured out a way to separate guns from violence. Can’t we use these models as templates here?

A firearm is a manufactured object. It did not come from the burning bush nor is it described in the 11th commandment. There is the design, manufacture, sale, ownership and use of guns to look at as we search for solutions. Can design and manufacture be addressed as part of a solution? How do you deal with the illegal manufacture of guns, ghost guns and modifications that make single-shot weapons into automatic weapons.

Who can buy and own a gun? Yes, many states have eliminated sales and ownership of firearms to people who pose a threat to themselves and others, but, even then, triaging the potential buyer has always been difficult without longer wait times and the ability to access pertinent, accurate information. How did the shooters obtain their weapons? Was there a paper trail of information that would have set off an alert to a gun salesperson? The rules of each state are different so that you can own a gun in one state but not another. So many guns are sold illegally that laws don’t apply. Fix the mental health system. Words

used to identify what we all suspect, that the shooters are what my grandmother would have described as “not right.” Mental health care for everyone, but especially for young people, is woefully in short supply. No one is significantly making any changes to that.

It is beyond complicated, but not beyond solution.

Still, there is something else that might be relevant as the meaning of school shootings.

When one happens, the news media rapidly produce pictures of the dead and wounded, heart-wrenching stories about each, often spoken by grief-stricken family and friends. There will be photos and video of ad hoc memorials built of teddy bears and flowers and art work and candles and balloons.

There will be film of the police who answered the 911 call, even chilling snippets of children cowering in their classrooms, calling for help. Local politicians and the police chief will hold forth on the preparation and implementation of shooter plans

School children and teachers who survived will be interviewed.

The shooter will be identified, his or her picture displayed on TV and social media. A biography of the shooter will be shared. Relatives, friends and neighbors will make comments about the shooter. Footage from the body cameras will show us the exchange of gunfire and, in most instances, the death of the shooter.

And all of these will live together as an episode in American life. A boxed set of failure. A production, another roadmap for the disgruntled, the disaffected,

Schools l Page 5

Frank Miller’s memories paint pictures of our past

Back around 1966, village resident Frank Miller jotted down a batch of colorful memories of Liverpool in years past. Many years past, probably 100 or more…

“On Oswego Street stood Willie Orth’s tin shop where everyone went to have their cooking wares mended for 10 cents.

“Where the IGA now stands was the famous ‘hang-out’ for the ‘old-timers,’ Russell’s Drug Store.

“The official photographer of the area was James T. Rogers, his place being on First Street over Lennie Sharrer’s grocery store. Beauty Williams ran a pool parlor underneath and later Lennie Sharrer ran his grocery and meat market there, also Lib Miller’s father, Fred, had run a grocery there before.

“Years ago, chestnutting was great fun. There were many trees around Liverpool and especially popular for nut-gathering were Long Branch, Pine Ridge and Chestnut Valley. Then the Japanese beetle came along, like a thief in the night,” and killed all the trees.

“The Town and Village Hall was located on First Street, across from the Cobblestone Hotel. A Mr. Cronkite used to make and store rough boxes upstairs. One time in the summer, it was so hot that the court adjourned across the street on the Cobblestone lawn. The lawyers were W.J. Barnum of Syracuse and ‘Silvertongue’

Is there a fire in you?

To the editor:

The above phrase is this year’s theme of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York 2023 recruitment campaign. The Baldwinsville Fire Company will be sponsoring an open house at North West Fire District Station 3, 122 Oswego St., Baldwinsville on Saturday, April 22. Even if you don’t think there is a “fire in you,” stop by from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.and meet

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Smith Soule from Cicero.

“Another outstanding spot was Em Kelly’s store on First Street. It was especially popular on the Fourth of July with a table out in front displaying chunks of coconut at a penny a piece, all kinds of candy and cornucopias of popcorn a little American flags, but no fireworks…Early in the morning on the Fourth ‘ragamufffins’ would appear on horseback and ride around town.

“The place now occupied by Joe’s Barber Shop at First and Tulip was at one time the home of Myer Myer’s show repair shop, with Rebecca, his wife, assisting. Henry Boucher also had a blacksmith shop there in the early 1900s.

“The Cobblestone Hotel has been with us a good many years. Some of the proprietors were a Mr. Wands, Mike Gaffney, Al Green, Cluff Goddard, Del Lee, Bill Therre and many others. They held dances upstairs during the winter until the wee hours of the morning, with a lunch served in the dining room between midnight and 1 o’clock.

“‘Sure Billy’ Shafer ran a grocery and saloon for many years down on First Street at the corner of Vine. One character who worked there and who was loved by all was Emil Offenheimere.

“Another person who attracted considerable attention around 1870 was ‘Sheephead’ Gleason. He had studied law in his

your firefighters. There will always be a need for people who care, who help, and who heal. As new tragedies shake us and new problems challenge us, we do more than fight fires. Volunteer firefighters are trained and equipped to fight for and protect their communities with pride. From the birth of a nation to modern days, the volunteer fire service of New York State has been at its best when times are at their worst.

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earlier days and was killed by a fall taken in the New York City subway.”

Village historian resigns

Liverpool Village Historian Dorianne Elitharp Gutierrez – who provided us with Frank Miller’s vivid recollections – has resigned after 31 years of service. In her resignation letter to the village trustees, Dorianne cited her failing health as her reason for stepping down.

Trustee Dennis Hebert suggested that the village prepare a proclamation thanking Dorianne for her decades of dedication to the community. The liaison to the village’s Gleason Mansion, Hebert pointed out that the historian’s office there maintains a fascinating display of historic artifacts as well as copious genealogical archives.

At their April 10 meeting, the trustees accepted the resignation. Dorianne’s longtime assistant, Joan Cregg, is expected to be appointed the new village historian; 315-451-7091; liverpoolhistorian@yahoo. com

Last word

“It was no idle saying when we referred to the ‘horse and buggy days.’ That’s just what they were. The only mode of transportation was via the horse and buggy. People then also did a lot of healthful walking, but now if only to on an errand for a block or two, into the auto we jump!”

–Liverpool resident Frank Miller, 1966.

We will have many activities and displays for you to peruse. There will be a “house of hazards” where firefighters will display the many tools of out trade. Children and adults will be able to spray a fire hose, crawl low in smoke, learn valuable fire prevention tips, and partake in some refreshments.

All are invited and all are welcome!

ToNy MCINTyRE, DISTRICT ChIEF north WeSt Fire diStriCt

FROM THE MAILBAG

Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro

Livin’ in Liverpool russ tarby

Meet Bonnie and clyde

Schools

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the bullied, psychotic, etc. to get the attention, the notoriety, the fame forever linking the shooter to the murdered children and teachers.

It is almost as if school shootings are becoming a cottage industry, complete with paraphernalia, personnel, web sites, social media platforms, publicity, heroes and anti-heroes. Did you read about the company that is making bullet-proof backpacks?

We have created our real-life version of the “Hunger Games” where politics, policy and a perverted subculture of vengeance for those who see schools as the object of their anger, fear, despair

By DoNNA NEWMAN

photo by donna neWman

Batman and Robin. Mario and Luigi. Peanut butter and jelly. Some things just belong together, like the delightful doggy duo of Bonnie and Clyde. This bonded canine couple came to the shelter when their family could no longer care for them. Bonnie is only a year old, and Clyde’s around five. They’re very sweet pups who would make loving companions for almost any family. They walk nicely on the leash and are very,

come together to create the movie script. As one quote from the trilogy illuminates this theme, “Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s nothing you can do.”

Add to this gnawing frustration, the governor of Florida has recently signed a bill that will allow anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry a concealed weapon in public without any training or background check.

As they say, “May the odds be ever in your favor.”

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.

very treat-motivated. We think they’d do well with respectful school-aged kids. Unlike their gun-toting namesakes, the only thing Bonnie and Clyde

will steal is your love, and maybe part of your unattended lunch. If you have room in your heart and your home for 120 pounds of puppy love, come and

meet Bonnie and Clyde today! For more information, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk1@ cnyspca.org or click cnyspca. org/adopt.

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Voting for Trustees of the Public Library and on the Budget will be by voting machine.

Earth Day cleanup planned

Join the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps for the Fourth Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m., to noon. Participants will pick up debris along Onondaga Lake’s southwest shoreline and learn from Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon, and Parsons staff about birds, other wildlife, and the importance of healthy habitats in the Onondaga Lake watershed.

Participants should wear shoes or boots, long pants and sleeves, and bring work gloves. Plastic bags

GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Trustee of the Baldwinsville Public Library must be filed with the Clerk of the Baldwinsville Central School District no later than March 28, 2023.

will be provided. The event will take place rain or shine.

Volunteers will meet at Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Visitors Center, 280 Restoration Way and then drive one mile to Harbor Brook.

The following vacancies are to be filled on the Board of Trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Li-

brary:

Term of five yearsPAMELA FALLESEN

Term of five yearsLAUREN RUSSETT

Space is limited and registration is required for the Earth Day Cleanup. Click act.audubon.org/a/ onondaga-lake-conservationcorps-earth-day-event-saturdayapril-22-10am to register. Call 315.365.3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with questions.

“Earth Day presents us with a

NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION OF TRUSTEES AND VOTING ON BUDGET OF BALDWINSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, ONONAGA COUNTY NOTICE lS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual election of Trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Library, in the Baldwinsville Central School District, and the voting on the annual budget for said library, will take place at the Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 East Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, in said district on the 27th day of April, 2023, beginning at 9:O0 a.m. of that day, local time, at which time the polls will be open from 9:OO a'm. to 9:OO p.m. Voting for Trustees of the Public Library and on the Budget will be by voting machine.

AND NOTICE lS ALSO

GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Trustee of the Baldwinsville Public Library must be filed with the Clerk of the Baldwinsville Central School District no later than March 28, 2023. The following vacancies are to be filled on the Board of Trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Library:

Term of five yearsPAMELA FALLESEN

Term of five yearsLAUREN RUSSETT

A petition shall be required to nominate a candidate for that office. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the School District and shall be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall State the name and residence of the candidate, and shall describe the vacancy on the Board of Trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Library for which the candidate is nominated and which shall include the term of office and the name of the last incumbent, if any. Each petition shall be filed with the Clerk of the Baldwinsville Central School District between the hours of 9:O0 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., not later than the thirtieth day preceding the day on which the candidates nominated are to be elected

AND NOTICE lS FUR-

moment to commit to meaningful change,” said Chris Lajewski, program director of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. “The Earth Day Cleanup is a perfect opportunity to stop and listen to what birds are telling us about the changes in their habitat, how these changes also affect our own communities, and what we can do to meet the moment. For more than a decade, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps has worked with many partners to conserve and restore the lake and is committed to a better future for birds and all of us.”

A petition shall be required to nominate a candidate for that office. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the School District and shall be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall State the name and residence of the candidate, and shall describe the vacancy on the Board of Trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Library for which the candidate is nominated and which shall include the term of office and the name of the last incumbent, if any.

2024

April 4, 2024

04/7/2023

Jody DePaulis

Village Clerk

BM-309157

NOTICE OF FORMATION

Name: 25 Syracuse Street LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/8/2023. Office location: Onondaga County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, at 25 Syracuse Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 Term: Perpetual. Purpose: Any activity for which a limited liability company may be lawfully engaged under the laws of the State of New York. BM-309167

THER GIVEN that the Trustees of the said Baldwinsville Public Library have authorized the use of absentee ballots for the vote on said election of Trustees and the said annual budget in accordance with the provisions of §2018-b of the Education Law as existing or hereinafter amended. Voters may apply for absentee ballots at the Baldwinsville Public Library until April 20, 2023, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or until Apnl 27, 2023, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. An applicant for an absentee ballot must submit a f ullycompleted application stating (1)his name and residence address, including including the street and number, if any, or town and rural delivery route, if any; (2) that he is or will be on Aprll 27, 2023, a qualified voter of the District in that he is or will'be on such date, over eighteen years of age, a citizen of the United States, and has or will have resided in the District for thirty days next preceding April 27, 2023; and (3) that he will be unable to vote in person on April 27, 2023 (a) due to illness or physical disability; or (b) because his duties, occupation, business or studies will require him to be outside of the county or city of his residence on April 27, 2023 or © because he will be on vacation outside the county or city of his residence on April 27, 2023, or (d) because he will be detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial or is confined in prison after conviction

Each petition shall be filed with the Clerk of the Baldwinsville Central School District between the hours of 9:O0 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., not later than the thirtieth day preceding the day on which the candidates nominated are to be elected AND NOTICE lS FURTHER GIVEN that the Trustees of the said Baldwinsville Public Library have authorized the use of absentee ballots for the vote on said election of Trustees and the said annual budget in accordance with the provisions of §2018-b of the Education Law as existing or hereinafter amended. Voters may apply for absentee ballots at the Baldwinsville Public Library until April 20, 2023, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or until Apnl 27, 2023, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. An applicant for an absentee ballot must submit a f ullycompleted application stating (1)his name and residence address, including including the street and number, if any, or town and rural delivery route, if any; (2) that he is or will be on Aprll 27, 2023, a qualified voter of the District in that he is or will'be on such date, over eighteen years of age, a citizen of the United States, and has or will have resided in the District for thirty days next preceding April 27, 2023; and (3) that he will be unable to vote in person on April 27, 2023 (a) due to illness or physical disability; or (b) because his duties, occupation, business or studies will require him to be outside of the county or city of his residence on April 27, 2023 or © because he will be on vacation outside the county or city of his residence on April 27, 2023, or (d) because he will be detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial or is confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony. The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by "permanently disabled" voters of the District and any question regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the School District. All completed ballots shall be returned to the Baldwinsville Public Library no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 27 2023. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the Baldwinsville Public Library on each of the five (5) days immediately prior to April 27, 2023 except Sundays, and such list will be posted at the polling place. AND NOTICE lS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for Library purposes may be obtained by any taxpayer in the Baldwinsville Central School District during the seven (7) days immediately preceding the annual meeting except Saturday, Sunday or Holidays, at the Baldwinsville Public

The Baldwinsville Central School District is soliciting Proposals for Construction Management Services in connection with capital construction projects with total estimated costs in excess of $100,000,000. Interested firms are invited to submit a proposal for services in the format described in the RFP, which may be obtained from Kimberly A Vile, Assistant Superintendent for Management Services, 29 East Oneida Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027, Email: kvile@bville.org beginning on April 13, 2023. Proposals must be received by May 4, 2023, 4:00 PM local time. Note that the listed dates are tentative, and the District reserves the right to revise the dates in its sole discretion.

BM-309203

Notice of Formation of Home Property Hub LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on December 20, 2022. Office location: County of Onondaga. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 12 Oswego Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. Purpose: any lawful purpose. BM-307229

and the revised Map, Plan and Report can be found online and in the Office of the Town Clerk. www.townoflysander.com/notices

By order of the Town Board of the Town of Lysander, dated April 6 2023 Dina Falcone, Town Clerk BM-309154 TOWN OF LYSANDER NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on Thursday May 18, 2023 at 6:30 PM at the Town of Lysander, 8220 Loop Road, Baldwinsville, NY to approve the zoning for the proposed Melvin Farm project.

By resolution dated April 6, 2023, The Town Board declared itself as Lead Agency pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for the proposed project.

The Town Planning and Zoning Boards and the Onondaga County Planning Board will review proposed project before the public hearing with their recommendations

The Town Planning Board will conduct a SEQR review and submit its findings to the Town Board.

By order of the Town Board of the Town of Lysander, dated April 6 2023

Dina Falcone Town Clerk BM-309152

TOWN OF LYSANDER NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on Thursday April 20, 2023 at 6:30 PM at the Town of Lysander, 8220 Loop Road, Baldwinsville, NY to consider a local law to establish a moratorium on “solar farms” in the Town of Lysander. By order of the Town Board of the Town of Lysander, dated April 6 2023 Dina Falcone Town Clerk BM-309153

NOTICE OF FORMATION

Name: Olive's Café & Market LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/8/2023. Office location: Onondaga County SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, at 25 Syracuse Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

Term: Perpetual. Purpose: Any activity for which a limited liability company may be lawfully engaged under the laws of the State of New York. BM-309168

Notice of Formation of Reel Sunset Fishing Charters LLC a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on February 6, 2023. Office location: County of Onondaga. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: Roland Laxton 1407 W. Genesee Road Baldwinsville, NY 13027

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

BM-307255

Notice of Formation of Sweetest Dreams Slumber Parties LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC).

Notice of Formation of Sweetest Dreams Slumber Parties LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 7/7/22. Office location: County of Onondaga. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 3012 Verona Court, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. Purpose: any lawful purpose. BM-300430

Notice of Formation of THE SPRITZ EVENTS LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/08/2023 Office location: County of Onondaga. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 7774 Barbara Ln., Baldwinsville NY 13027. Purpose: any lawful

Notice of Formation of Trellus US LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC). Articles

Larry A. Gillespie, 78

Vietnam veteran

Larry A. Gillespie 78, of Wood Battle Road, died peacefully on Dec. 26, 2022, at his home. Born on May 8, 1944, in Phoenix, N.Y., to the late Hubert & Ada (Clark) Gillespie, he was a 1962 graduate and athlete of Baldwinsville High School. He went on to take the wrestling championship for the county, pinning his opponent in 11 seconds.

He served proudly in the U.S. Army from 1967-1968 in Danang, Vietnam, with honors of merit.

He was a heavy equipment operator for 33 years with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 545 and was a 50-year member of the Lowville, N.Y. Elks Lodge No. 1605.

He was part owner along with his brother Don in establishing “The Montague Inn” from 1972 until the late 1970s, also serving as Town Justice of Montague, N.Y., for several terms.

Larry enjoyed entertaining family and friends, had a love for animals and always took in stray dogs, making them his beloved pets.

He was a communicant of St. Mary’s

Church in Copenhagen, N.Y., where there will be a funeral mass held in the spring on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11 a.m. Per his wishes, there will be no calling hours. Burial will be held after the mass in Saint Peter and Paul’s Cemetery. Larry is survived by his three sisters, Linda (Bob) Meyer, Cynthia (Tom) Yerdon, and Susan (Bob) Bertollini, and several nieces, nephews and God children.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Donald and Stephen Gillespie, and his old dog Timmy. Donations in his memory can be made to St. Mary’s Church, 9790 State Route 12, Copenhagen, NY 13626. Arrangements are with the Lundy Funeral Home and Cremation Service Inc. located at 500

Carthage,

Todd M. Moore, 37, of East Syracuse, passed away April 4, 2023. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.

Dana A. Fear, 75, of Liverpool, passed away April 5, 2023. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.

Christopher M. Netti, 37, of Baldwinsville, passed away April 8, 2023. Maurer Funeral Home Moyers Corners, Baldwinsville, has arrangements.

Matthew K. Hawkins, 50, of Liverpool, passed away April 7, 2023. Maurer Funeral Home Moyers Corners, Baldwinsville, has arrangements.

David F. Thomas, 89, of Cleveland, passed away April 10, 2023. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.

Kim S. Demperio, 61, of Jordan, passed away March 31, 2023. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge had arrangements.

Constance G. Boyd, 82, of Weedspor,t passed away April 6, 2023. The Bush Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Francis A. Parker Jr., 59, of Jordan, passed away April 8, 2023. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge has arrangements.

Larry A. Gillespie

C-NS beats F-M; L’pool falls to B’ville

By PhIL BLACkWELL

All along, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse team knows that any chance of gaining area Class A supremacy requires measuring up to reigning state champion Baldwinsville.

That opportunity would arise Tuesday night, when the Bees visited Bragman Stadium dealing with a Northstars side who had passed all of its tests so far to build a 4-0 record.

Of those four games, none were as big as last Thursday night’s 13-12 victory at FayettevilleManlius, C-NS proving again that it could rally against a high-quality opponent on the road and make the late stops it needed, too.

A back-and-forth first half saw the Hornets match whatever C-NS threw at them and carry a 7-6 advantage to the break, but the Northstars controlled the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 5-2.

Now trailing 11-9, F-M nearly made it back, John Angelicola getting three goals and two assists as Madden, Sean Kellish and Colin Clark each scored twice amid a balanced attack.

Still, C-NS held on at the end, helped in no small part by Leyton Sullivan’s 12 saves as , on the other end, Mason Ciciarelli got five goals to lead the way.

Ian Leahey and Donovan Chaney were sensational, too, matching each other with three-goal hat tricks as Elijah Martin piled up two goals and four assists. Joe Green had two

C-NS baseball defeats Syracuse City, RFA

assists, with Cy Liberman and Nick Bisesi earning single assists.

A non-league game against New Hartford on Saturday saw the Northstars not have a letdown nor look ahead to the B’ville showdown, earning a 12-7 victory over the Spartans.

Again, Ciciarelli stood out, accounting for half of C-NS’s production as his six goals gave him 11 total for the week, to go with an assist.

Helping out, Leahey got three goals and three assists, while Martin also had three assists. Single goals went to Bisesi, Liberman and Nick Milewski, with Colin Stanton contributing an assist.

Of course, Liverpool would get a chance of Baldwinsville before C-NS did, traveling last Thursday to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium and getting humbled quickly in a 17-7 loss tot he Bees. Before the Warriors could even get settled, B’ville had jumped on them with seven goals in the first quarter. Liverpool did play on even terms in the second, but a 9-3 halftime deficit was daunting.

Even with two goals from Brady Michaud and Aaron Clouthier, tallies from Owen Michaud and Mason Gridley and two assists from Joe Sacco, Liverpool saw the Bees add to its margin. Four players – Keegan Lynch, Brady Garcia, Garrett Sutton and Dylan Wirtheim –had three goals apiece. Owen Salanger, in defeat, had 12 saves.

C-NS girls unbeaten; Liverpool edges F-M

By PhIL BLACkWELL

In racing out to a 5-0 start, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team had undergone a series of close contests where, on each occasion, it did enough on both ends to stay undefeated.

At least, in terms of the Northstars’ fifth consecutive victory on April 8, it did not have to go all the way to the wire, building a bigger margin against Section II’s Bethlehem on the way to beating the Eagles 15-9.

A well-balanced and deep attack featured Elizabeth Smith scoring four times and adding an assist, with Brooke Molchanoff not only getting three goals, but earning four assists.

Shea Firth also had a three-goal hat trick, with Mackenzie Prentice scoring twice and earning three assists. Sophia Nesci also had two goals, with Katy Harbold getting a goal and two assists.

However, when C-NS faced Section V’s Irondequoit on a hot Saturday afternoon, it turned into a low-scoring struggle that the Northstars were glad to pull out by a 5-4 margin.

In addition to stifling defense that matched the temperatures, the Northstars got two goals and one asssist from Natalie Wilson as Gabby Putman, Elizabeth Smith and Marissa Doty had the other goals. Nesci got an assist as Jillie Howell and Nicole Mirra combined for seven saves.

Liverpool had its own pair of one-goal decisions late last week, ultimately splitting those games. hosted Fayetteville-Manlius on Thursday night and, after playing on even terms, was able to pull out a 12-11 victory over the Hornets.

Helped by a well-balanced attack, the Warriors found itself even with F-M 11-11 and in possession of the ball, seemingly content to run down the remaining clock in regulation.

However, with 55.4 seconds left, Caitlyn Guilfoil cut to the net and put a shot pat Hornets goalie Micaela Jennings, and Liverpool’s defense held it from there.

Rewarding Ava Eicholzer’s nine saves, the Warriors had Mia Berthoff net three goals and Abby Geary score twice to go with three assists. Guilfoil and Gianna Carbone also had two goals, with Grace Geary, Emma Esposito and Addyson Graham adding one goal apiece.,

Still at home on Saturday, and with a Tuesday-night showdown against C-NS looming, the Warriors welcomed Section II’s Colonie and, battling both opposition and summer-like heat, it was close again.

This time, though, the Warriors lost, 8-7, seeing its record fall to 2-3 overall just before it met the Northstars and had games later this week at West Genesee and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Right after it plays Liverpool, C-NS will challenge reigning state Class A champion Baldwinsville on Thursday night.

C-NS, Liverpool softball sweep non-league foes

By PhIL BLACkWELL

Armed with all it had learned through a difficult stretch of games in Cocoa Beach, Florida, the Cicero-North Syracuse softball team practiced hard through equally warm weather once school resumed.

And when the Northstars took the field at the Gillette Road complex for last Friday’s home opener against Christian Brothers Academy, it was more than ready.

All that C-NS did in the first inning was bat around and put up nine runs, adding five runs in the fourth and easily cruising to a 15-1 victory over the Brothers.

Spreading around its productions, the Northstars had three different players – Bella Julian, Sydney Rockwell and Eva Farone –produce three RBIs apiece, Farone getting a triple and Rockwell a double.

Paige Pangaro drove in two runs, with Sydney Puttkamer, Aubrey Coyle and Paige Glassford also getting RBIs as Julian scored three runs.

Meanwhile, Lillian Hotalilng pitched five solid innings, allowing just three hits before Payton Bach worked the last two innings of relief. Liverpool, meanwhile, had played just one game (an April 4 defeat to Webster Schroeder), and returned to action on Saturday at Carrier

Park for a doubleheader against two other Section V sides – and won them both.

Meeting Webster Thomas, the Warriors prevailed 12-3, with Mackenzie Frani taking over the pitching duties as she gave up three Titans runs in the second, but blanked Thomas the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, Liverpool used a five-run third inning to erase a 3-1 deficit, adding six more runs in the latter stages as Maya Mills led the way, going three-for-four with a double, two singles and two RBIs.

Cassie Wiggins also drove in two runs, with single RBIs credited to Frani, Joelle Wike, Lily Stevens and Ava Falvo. Emily Nestor and Lauren Ragonese joined Mills and Falvo scoring two runs apiece.

Then, against Pittsford Mendon, Liverpool dominated in an 11-0 decision, Frani only allowing two hits while recording 11 strikeouts. It was 0-0 until the Warriors scored twice in the fourth, then used a six-run fifth and three-run sixth to pull further away.

Action picks up for the Warriors this week as it meets Fayetteville-Manlius and Auburn before a Saturday doubleheader at Fairport, while C-NS meets West Genesee and Baldwinsville before hosting the ALS Tournament Saturday that includes its own game against Sandy Creek.

By PhIL BLACkWELL

The irony that the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool baseball teams faced was that, in the week after returning from seasonopening spring-break trips, the weather was even better back home.

Still, the Northstars only had two games scheduled, including last Tuesday’s home opener, where it shook off a rough start to rally and beat Syracuse City 9-4.

Syracuse got to C-NS ace Bryce Zicaro for four runs in the top of the first inning. From there, though, Zicaro and reliever Battista Wood pitched a shutout, Wood not allowing a hit in three innings.

A three-run rally in the bottom of the first was followed by two runs in the second and a four-run fourth as Lucas Crystal and Shacory Williams each got two RBIs. Chris Williams and Sean Lawler both scored twice, with single RBIs going to Zicaro and Mason Mingle.

Then, facing Rome Free Academy Friday at DeLutis Field, C-NS went back and forth

with the Black Knights, but a late bit of scoring proved the difference in a 10-8 victory.

They were tied, 2-2, when the Northstars nearly batted around in the top of the third, netting five runs. Still, RFA absorbed this and, with a run in the third and four runs in the fifth, it pulled back even, 7-7.

It took C-NS scoring twice in the sixth and again in the seventh, along with three innings of strong relief pitching from Wood, to gain the win after Casey Gunnip started.

Williams led the Northstars at the plate, going three-for-five with two doubles as he and Hayden Staab both drove in a pair of runs. Zicaro, Crystal, Lawler and Carter King also earned RBIs.

Both C-NS and Liverpool have games this week (weather permitting) against Baldwinsville, who has roared out to a quick start with wins over Syracuse City and defending sectional champion Fayetteville-Manlius. The Warriors also meet a fast-starting West Genesee on Thursday afternoon.

What is the toughest club to hit?

For those of us who no longer have the club head speed to drive the golf ball 250-270 yards anymore, being able to successfully hit our fairway woods can make or break our round of golf. For seniors, higher handicap players, beginners and women, being able to hit consistent fairway woods can be the key to our golf success. I may have told you once or twice that I made a decision 12 years ago to get rid of my 3 wood that was 15 degrees, because I could no longer generate the club head speed that is required to launch the ball from a good lie in the fairway. I purchased a 17 degree 4 wood. Then, I made a decision about 6 years ago to get rid of my 4 wood for “exactly” for the same reason. Therefore, this article is dedicated to approximately 75% of us who simply should not be playing with a 3 or 4 fairway wood any longer. The fairway woods of choice in our bags should be a 5 wood and 7 wood and perhaps even a 9 wood that is becoming more and more popular. Do not allow your buddies to convince you otherwise. My experience has been that I hit my 5 wood higher, farther and straighter and more consistently. Now that we have established the ground rules for our “Fairway Wood Instruction”, here are “9” concepts that will help us hit higher, farther and straighter fairway woods. Kelle Stenzel is a Top 100 Teacher for Golf Magazine. I have written about her concepts in the past. She is very good. This is what she has to say…

1. Posture is Key - Being in good posture, where you bend forward from your hips, so that your arm can hang, is key to good contact. If your set-up is great, hitting a golf ball becomes a lot easier. Hand eye coordination is nice, but it cannot override a bad set-up. Juston Thomas has a great set-up and should be a model to all golfers. His arms hang straight down and relaxes his legs before he gets ready to hit a good shot.

2. Better Ball Position - While all golfers and golf swings are not the same, ball position is certainly a key to great fairway woods. I like to see the ball slightly forward but relatively centered in your body similar to a long iron or a hybrid. Why? Because in order to hit a truly solid fairway wood, you need to “hit the ground” and maybe even make a divot. If your ball position is too far forward, you may hit the ground before the ball, costing you good contact and distance.

3. Hit the Ground - Watching the best players in the world hit fairway woods is interesting because it’s quite common to see slight divots.

If you can’t hear the club “thump” the ground slightly, your club is not low enough to generate a higher launch many golfers need.

4. A Good Practice Swing - If you understand that you need to hit the ground, it can be a very smart and effective reminder to do this in your practice swing. Think about it this way: If your practice swing does not hit the ground, you are practicing “topping it”.

5. Straighten Trail Arm - When you make your back swing, your trail elbow should, and does, fold. So, in order to get your club all the way back to the ground, this elbow needs to straighten down toward the ground, much like a throwing motion. You can actually practice this without a club.

6. Embrace Loft - Having a fairway wood with enough loft to help increase launch can improve consistency and confidence. I’m a huge fan of a 7 wood for most golfers, other than golfers with very high club head speed. Loft helps give your fairway woods beautiful launch, which can make them great clubs to approach the green.

7. Turn Around Your Body - Because your fairway woods are longer than your irons, you will be farther away from the ball. This will make your swing feel more like it is coming around your body. This curving will allow you to keep your lead underarm close to your chest on your backswing and this will help you with stability and center face contact.

8. Relax Your Hands To Feel The Club HeadThis starts with the grip. If you can avoid too much tension in your hands, you should be able to feel the weight of the club head throughout your swing. This will help with tempo and create wrist hinge you can use for power later in your swing.

9. Finish With Balance - Being off balance can ruin many a good set-up and swing. Try to hold your finish in balance until your golf ball lands. If you do not typically do this, it will feel like a long time. Watch good players and watch how impeccable their balance is throughout.

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