FREE • EagleStarReview.com
Week of May 4, 2022 Home of The Michaud Family
Proudly serving Liverpool, Salina, North Syracuse, Cicero & Clay
PENNY SAVER: CNY’S BEST BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY INSIDE!
Lilacs for Lynn
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
Village of Liverpool
Trustees pass $3.37m budget
North Syracuse dedicates tree to late resident
Taxes to remain flat By Russ Tarby Contributing writer
Submitted photos
ABOVE: Sharyl Hand, daughter of Evelyn Roecker, speaks about her mother. LEFT: Mayor Gary Butterfield receives a Tree City flag from DEC Forester John Graham. Submitted by Pat Fergerson Contributor
be recognized as a National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forester John Graham made the presentation, recognizing this year as the 33rd year North Syracuse has been a recipient of the honor. Mayor Gary Butterfield made proclamation of Arbor Day in the village and Lee Turner played “Woodman, Spare That Tree” and other Arbor Day songs. Turner performed on antique brass instruments such as an 1870
T
he village of North Syracuse celebrated the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day on April 29 in Memorial Park. A lilac tree of Korean origin, called Miss Kim, was dedicated in memory of Evelyn “Lynn” Roecker, who died in 2018. This classic lilac tree has purple blossoms in late spring. The village continues to
ophicleide made by Gautrot in Paris and an 1830 keyed bugle. Sharyl Hand, daughter of Evelyn Roecker, spoke about her mother and thanked the village for the tree and the recognition. According to her obituary, Roecker was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church and a member of the Columbiettes. After the death of her husband, Donald, in 1976, Roecker owned and operated Lyndon Lawn Mobile Home Park in Central Square until
1994. She was an avid sailor and member of the Oneida Lake Sailing Club, winning numerous races with her boat, Wind Song II. She drove a Z-28 Camaro and was fond of Syracuse University sports and cats. ISA Certified Arborist Erik Imperato of Bartlett Tree Experts gave free tree seedlings to all in attendance. North Syracuse Parks Director Tony Burkinshaw and DPW Superintendent Ed Ware coordinated planting of the Miss Kim lilac tree.
Liverpool, C-NS lax fall to league rivals by Phil Blackwell
Genesee, found itself chasing the Wildcats throughout the evening and taking an 11-7 defeat. In Liverpool’s case, its 7-1 record had included a lone April 21 defeat to West Genesee, but it had recovered two days later to beat Essex (Vermont) 13-3 as Dom Osbeck picked up four goals, with three others – Aaron Clouthier, Joe Sacco and Jalen Graham – each had two goals and one assist. B’ville provided a far greater challenge, yet for two quarters Liverpool matched whatever the Bees threw at them, ultimately reaching the half in a 7-7 tie. What made the difference was the way B’ville’s defense adjusted, making several key stops as, on the other end, the Bees remained consistent in converting its opportunities. Graham and Michaud
No one can question the vast progress the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse teams have made in the first half of the 2022 regular season. Only against the best and most established foes have both of these sides faced some struggles, as was the case when they each lost highprofile games on the same chilly Tuesday evening. At Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, Liverpool challenged undefeated Baldwinsville for first place in the SCAC Metro division and played on even terms for a while, only to see it get away in a 15-10 loss to the Bees. Back at Bragman Stadium, C-NS, in the first of two regularseason encounters with West
Scott Thomas
Liverpool attacker Owen Michaud (10) goes behind the back to net one of his four goals in last Tuesday’s game against Baldwinsville. accounted for most of Liverpool’s production, each netting four goals as single goals went to Sacco, who had four assists, and Osbeck. For B’ville, Keegan Lynch got four goals and two assists as Trey Ordway and Ryan Hollenbeck each scored three times. C-NS was back home, confronting a West Genesee side that
was getting into gear following a 3-3 start under its own first-year head coach, Eric Burns. Once it fell behind 3-1 by the end of the first period, the Northstars found itself doing well in the second quarters, only to have the Wildcats match it and still have a 7-5 edge going to the break. Lacrosse l Page 11
Film school’s special permit in jeopardy
Planning board wants American High to make changes or face fines By Russ Tarby COntributing writer The Village of Liverpool Planning Board met for nearly two hours on April 25 to review recent neighborhood complaints about the film company American High and its Academy at Syracuse Studios, at the former Liverpool High School at 800 Fourth St. The board reviewed a list of 19 concerns presented by Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan reflecting repeated complaints registered with his office by the school’s neighbors. The concerns ranged from the trade school’s lack of accreditation to its need to limit truck traffic between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. “Neighbors are most concerned with the truck traffic happening outside of the permitted times and the parking of trucks overnights on the school premises,” Reagan said. A 2017 special-use permit and a 2020 siteplan approval from the village both prohibited parking on the tennis or basketball courts along Birch Street, Reagan said, except for
overflow parking during film shoots. Regardless, such parking has become routine on the 6.9-acre property. A handful of neighbors attended the April 25 meeting as compared to about 40 who turned out for the March 28 meeting which also dealt with the complaints. Representing American High on April 25 were Director of Operations Heath Cottengim. Director of Development Matt Sacca, building supervisor Paul Stacey and movie producer and American High partner Will Phelps. Planning Board Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. asked them to consider finding alternative parking lots in the area. Board member Bob Bradt advised them to “stop kicking the can down the road…set a goal and get things done. Let’s reach a compromise that works. It’s time to resolve these issues.” Member Sam Reppi recommended finding alternative parking sites and employing a shuttle system. “I see trucks as 80 percent of the problem,” Reppi said. “This is the big one you’ve got to take off your plate. Take care of it the way you
would if it was your grandma’s home.” Ostuni predicted that if the various issues remain unresolved, “We’ll have to take action.” To that end, Village Attorney Richard Andino read a proposed resolution stipulating that the owners of the property cease violating terms of its special permit and site plan or risk their possible revocation. Ostuni hinted that continued violations could result in fines being issued and court cases instituted. The discussion, including debate over the resolution, will continue at the board’s meeting next month. Meanwhile Reagan is working directly with the Academy at Syracuse Studios to draw up revisions to their special-use permit and site-plan approvals to address the neighbors’ and the village’s concerns. “We’ll also try to fulfill the needs of the Academy to the maximum extent possible given that it is located in a residential neighborhood,” Reagan said. “It’s our intent to address any modifications at the May 23 planning board meeting.”
At a special 8 a.m. meeting on Monday, April 24, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees passed the proposed 2022-2023 village budget. Earlier this month, the board – Mayor Gary White, and trustees Matt Devendorf, Christina Fadden, Dennis Hebert and Michael LaMontagne – was considering a $2.9 million budget, but when adding in various grants received by the village, the total increased by more than $400,000. Despite the larger budget, the village property tax rate will remain flat at $11.95 per $1,000 of assessed value, the same as last year. A village property assessed at $100,000 will receive a tax bill for $1,195. “The budget includes revenue and expenses for the Main Street Reimbursible grant for 11 properties in the village approved by Onondaga County,” according to Village Clerk Mary Ellen Sims. “The village is the ‘pass through’ agency for this grant. This has a zero effect on the budget.” Also included on both the revenue and expense sides of the budget are other grants that have been approved or are awaiting approval, Sims said. The new budget calls for spending more than $75,000 in capital projects, including the purchase of a new department of public works vehicle for $50,000, plus funding for construction of a new salt shed and to improve the village hall’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. The 2021-22 budget reduced the village’s tax rate from $12.45 per $1,000 of assessed value to $11.95 per $1,000, after the 2020 reassessment of village properties by the town of Salina. Along with the taxes, village property owners also pay a $130 annual sewer-fund assessment.
Republicans nominate incumbents Two incumbent trustees – Matt Devendorf and Mike LaMontagne – were nominated by the Liverpool Village Republican Caucus on April 28 at the village hall. Village Republican Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. confirmed the nominations by email shortly after the caucus adjourned. Devendorf and LaMontagne will likely run unopposed in June. Democrats have failed to field any candidate for village office since 2001. The Democrats have not conducted a caucus here in the past 21 years. Devendorf is vice president of sales and marketing at Young & Franklin/Tactair. He was first elected to the village board in 2016, and is now seeking his fourth twoyear term. LaMontagne is a senior principal architect at C&S Companies in Syracuse and was first elected in 2018. He is seeking his third term as trustee.
Volume 130, Number 18 The Star-Review is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206. Periodical Postage Paid at Syracuse, NY 13220, USPS 316060. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Star-Review, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
Senior news: Clay Senior Center plans May programs.
PAGE 2
library news: LPL budget vote is May 17.
PAGE 2
Wake up to the Star Review in your inbox every Wednesday morning! Visit the Eagle Newspaper Facebook page to sign up for our NEW digital edition.
Calendar ������������������ 12 death notices ����������� 5 Editorial ��������������������� 4 history ������������������������ 2
letters ������������������������ 4 library news �������������� 2 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ����������������������� 11
Sponsored by