6 June 1, 2022
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There was a time in America Bike safety our voice
There is nothing like the feeling of getting out and going for a nice ride on your bike. For many of us this was an important right of passage. There was the special moment when, after a lot of trial and error and a skinned knee or two for some of us, when you learn to find and keep your balance and could ride securely on two wheels all on your own. For many it is a first taste of freedom and the chance to transport ourselves a little farther from home and have a little more independence. Riding bikes with friends as kids can lead to many fun adventures. And for many adults riding a bike is not only a fun means of transportation, but also offers a chance to relax, perhaps get out and take a path you might not otherwise take on foot or in a car and explore and it offers a chance to get in some extra exercise when we venture out without our cars. For some it even becomes more than a hobby and offers exciting opportunities to compete and go for long range rides with like minded people. And with the warmer weather of spring and summer there will likely be more bikes out on the road and this means bicyclists as well as pedestrians will be out and for all involved as well as motorists, there are some important safety tips worth keeping in mind. According to AAA, May was both Global Youth Traffic Safety Month and Bike Safety Month, but these tips are valuable for everyone’s safety year round. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 846 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2019, with most killed between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and most often in urban areas. Males are eight times more likely than females to be fatally hit while riding a bicycle. However, what’s more alarming, is the number of pedestrians killed in collisions. The NHTSA reports that, in 2019, 6,205 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, that’s 85 pedestrians killed every 85 minutes. With more families walking and cycling, AAA has tips to ensure everyone’s safety while sharing the road. Tips for Pedestrians: Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible and cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. Tips for Bicyclists: Follow the same rules of the road as other roadway users, including riding in the same direction as traffic and following all the same traffic signs and signals. Signal all turns. Wear a bicycle helmet every time and on every ride. Be visible. Wear bright colors in daytime, reflective gear in low light conditions, and use head and taillights at night. Remember that respect is a two-way street. Show motorists the same courtesy that you expect from them. Tips for Drivers: Stay alert—avoid all distractions while driving. Yield to bicyclists when turning. Make a visual check for bicyclists by scanning mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic. Slow down and give at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. Never honk your horn at a bicyclist—it could cause them to swerve into traffic or off the roadway and crash.
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hese are terrible times, times that have elevated gun culture to the point that the gun, particularly the automatic rifle, has become the instrument by which all problems are solved. My husband and I, shocked again, as you no doubt have been at the senseless murder of innocent children and their teachers in Texas, compared how the times have changed. As a short refuge from these difficult times, I share with you my husband’s images of summers in the late 1940’s and ‘50’s’ “ We lived in the Corn Hill section of Utica, sharing streets with neighbors who were also family, immigrants, first and second generation Americans who combined the cultures of Italy and the United States into wonderful summers for my brother Sam and me. Both of our parents worked at the Oneida Knitting Mills and so, in the summers, when we were 10 and 11, and 12 , we were “on our own” during the day. Now, to be truthful, being “on your own” only meant that your parents didn’t know what went on until they got home. Supervision was provided by the eyes and ears of neighbors and family. We were in and out of each other’s houses and were expected to obey adults as if they were parents as the adults were expected to look out for us as they would their own children. What did we do? Weekends were busy. Often our
Ramblings from the empty nest
Ann Ferro parents would take us out to eat at the one and only Joe’s on Pellitteri Avenue. My parents were harsh critics of food eaten outside the home and Joe’s made the cut. Everyone ate at Joe’s. Even my Uncle Joe, who lived across the street ate there. Eating there was like eating at home. And thinking about the name Joe. In our family there were so many named Joe and Mary that we had a series of nicknames to identify who we were talking about. Of course these were nicknames we only used at home. I can’t share them, even today. Family, so much family, visiting all the time. There wasn’t a day that family didn’t visit us or we visit them. My mother came from a family of 10 siblings and my father came from a family of six. Aunts and Uncles and cousins all over Utica. Visits meant gossip and food, “Come sit, eat.” More eyes and ears to keep you in line. East Utica never had a downtime when it came to excitement and fun. The Catholic churches in the area held festivals that we called feasts. There were the Mary of Mt. Carmel feast, the St. Cosmos and Damian Feast, the San Gennaro Feast … and others, the names of which I can’t recall. For several days, the area around each church would hold cel-
ebrations that included a dramatic parade when numbers of men would carry a heavy statue of the Saint after whom the feast was named. There was music and dancing for the adults and games, food and opportunities to get into trouble for the kids. But, again, the people who were there were neighbors, family, lots of family, the same eyes and ears as on the block. My parents owned a small camp on Oneida Lake that they rented out over the summer months. This meant that, at least on some weekends, my brother and I would accompany them to the camp to help ready it for the next occupants. After we finished our chores, we could go swimming and visit Oneida Lake’s version of a boardwalk. Bright lights, barkers, excitement for Sam and me. I had a bike. I loved that bike. It took me to marvelous places, at least in the eyes of a pre-teen. I could ride it to the park and get into a pick-up ball game, or ride it along the railroad tracks to the very first try outs for Little league ever in Utica. I made it as a center fielder and spent my one and only Little League year happily playing ball. Why only one year? I was 12 and aged out at 13. I rode that bike for two miles each way for all practices and games. Good times. On any ordinary day, my brother and I played in the shade of the trees along our street with the other kids who lived on the block. We did ordinary things like
play hide and seek, climb trees … actually we climbed just about anything that you could climb including the roofs of sheds. Pretending, a wonderful ability, we were WWII commandoes climbing into the headquarters of the enemy, jumping off, we were paratroopers or one of our movie heroes. I broke my wrist when I fell out of one of the trees. Jennie Minuti took care of me until my mother came home. I had THE lecture from both of them. We sat on porches and played pitch for hours, we traded Superman, Archie and Wonder Woman comic books, or took off to the corner store to get a popsicle or a cold bottle of soda. We went to the movies; spent hours in the theaters watching two features, cartoons, news, and a serial, sometimes twice. The stars of these were the cowboys in the white hats. Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers and others were our poster heroes. We wiled away the hours in neighborhood camaraderie, with voices calling us to good behavior from all around. It was a warm and innocent time, when we were surrounded by people who genuinely cared for us. It was that village that some always talk about when raising children. It seemed to work just fine.” 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.
Kabob House adds to the ambiance at Johnson Park
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alik improvements. AboshOnce the work is Livin’ in reakh and finished, the menu Liverpool his wife, will offer entrees Faye, have a vision. such as slow-roasted Russ Tarby The owners of The whole chicken Kabob House, soon to stuffed with rice and open for business in the former vegetables, and baked meat with Pizza Villa building at 409 Tulip vegetables. The bistro’s chicken St., hope to take advantage of their shawarma bowl features fowl over restaurant’s prime location across rice, French fries, salad, hummus the street from Johnson Park. and sauces. They’re petitioning village govCustomers who order kebbeh ernment for permission to install will enjoy its fried ground beef a few picnic tables at the west end and bulgur balls stuffed with meat of the park. The tables would be and onions, all served with pita convenient for Kabob House cusbread and white sauce. Others tomers wishing an al fresco dining will order gyros, falafel and grape experience. leaves. And vegetarians will revel But because it’s a public park, in fresh greens in the tabbouleh the tables would be open to salad, Arabic salad or yogurt cueveryone, not only Kabob House cumber salad. patrons. Ever since the pandemic Storefront seeks tenants descended upon us two years Meanwhile, catty corner to The ago, Café at 407, next door to the Kabob House, the storefront ownKabob House, have placed a few ers of 612 Oswego St. are actively plastic-top round tables on the seeking tenants. Tulip Street side of the park, so a Once the site of Foley’s Rexprecedent has been set. And the all Drug Store, the address has tables and chairs make for quite recently housed an upscale tattoo shop and then a varied beautyan idyllic scene. and-health spa. Now it’s up for Gyros and grape leaves grabs, offering a heavily traveled The owners of the Mediterhighly visible location to interranean Combo Restaurant at 149 ested businesses. Marshall St., on the Syracuse UniIf you’re interested, call 315versity Hill, are busily remodeling 491-6055 or 315-807-1614. the Liverpool location, and village Codes Officer Bill Reagan — who Irish Joe sings ‘The Rooster’ has witnessed the renovations upOn May 17, Irish Joe Tormey close — says the couple is sparing bid farewell to Liverpool as he no expense to make significant prepared to fly home to the Old
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SKANEATELES - JORDAN - ELBRIDGE - MARCELLUS - CAMILLUS
Sod. A fixture for the past several years at The Retreat, Joe was toasting his good-byes with his best buddies at the bar, when they urged him to give us all a song by which to remember him. It didn’t take too many words of encouragement before Joe stood and belted out an ancient Irish folk tuned called “The Rooster.” Among its memorable lyrics is this telling stanza: We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay Oh, my wife said, “Honey, we’re losing money! “Because them chickens no eggs will they lay!” Then came a rooster into our yard and he caught them chickens right off of their guard They’re laying eggs now like they never used to.
Coy-dogs and foxes
Speaking of wildlife, there seems to be an influx of critters hereabouts. Several coyotes have been sighted at Salina Meadows and also along Route 57, near Domino’s Pizza in Bayberry. And red foxes have been spotted at Bass and Second streets, Fourth and Oswego streets and also near Liverpool Elementary School between Hickory and Second streets. Keep your eyes peeled!
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