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Warriors win regional title
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
Karen Eames now faces grand larceny charges By Russ Tarby Contributing writer
Hal Henty
The Liverpool softball team celebrates the 4-3, nine-inning victory over Baldwinsville that gave the Warriors the Section III Class AA championship after it trailed 3-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. by Phil Blackwell
T
here really was little time for the Liverpool softball team to savor its remarkable Section III Class AA championship victory over Baldwinsville. Not even 48 hours and one senior prom later, the Warriors boarded a bus and went to Luther Forest Athletic Fields in Malta for Saturday’s regional final against Section II champion Saratoga Springs. All these factors, combined with the fact that Saratoga was playing close to home and was well-rested (it won its sectional final over Shenendehowa more than a week earlier), appeared to leave Liverpool at a major disadvantage. That did not prove the case, though. Sustaining all the momentum from that B’ville epic, the Warriors struck early against the Blue Streaks, continued to pile up runs and didn’t let up until it had secured a 10-4 victory and a regional title. Quite unlike the sectional game, Liverpool didn’t wait until the game’s middle stages to get on the board. Softball l Page 14
Hal Henty
Liverpool’s Cassie Wiggins connects on the single in the bottom of the ninth inning that drove home the winning run in the Warriors’ 4-3, nine-inning victory over Baldwinsville that earned the Section III Class AA championship.
Hal Henty
Liverpool’s Gracie Zankowski touches home plate with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Warriors the championship.
On Feb. 7, when her 48-yearold husband, Isaac Eames, killed their 21-year-old son, Troy, and shot his wife in the face, Karen Eames was clearly the victim of a brutal crime gofundme committed at the Karen Eames pictured with her two family home in sons, the late Troy Eames, left, and Brewerton. Andrew Eames, right. On May 26, however, her status as a victim changed dramatically. Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway announced that Karen Eames had been arrested and charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Conway appeared at a press conference that day along with District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick, who said the Eames couple collaborated on the theft of more than $529,000 from the sheriff ’s office where Isaac Eames worked as a civil deputy. Karen Eames, 46, worked as a secretary at Liverpool High School. Her charge is for thefts of more than $50,000. She’s accused of sharing the personal account to which her husband transferred money from a sheriff ’s office account. The thefts attributed to the Eames couple occurred between January 2020 and July 2021, Fitzpatrick said. In all, the investigation revealed 13 transfers and two additional transfers that were flagged and stopped. Between their two jobs, the couple legitimately earned approximately $115,000 annually. But they had just bought a new riverfront house for more than $200,000, Fitzpatrick said, and they frequently visited local casinos and tourist destinations such as Orlando, Toronto and New York City. After the murder-suicide and shooting of Karen Eames, a GoFundMe account raised nearly $100,000 for her and their surviving son, Andrew. Now GoFundMe and the district attorney’s office are working to refund the donations. Late last week, Eames’ attorney, Michael Vavonese, agreed to freeze the account and transfer the money to the district attorney. “If we get permission,” Fitzpatrick said, “we’ll start making reimbursements now. If we don’t get her permission, we will hold onto the money, so I’m optimistic people will get their money back.” The DA has subpoenaed GoFundMe for a complete list of donors’ names and addresses. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for GoFundMe pointed to its “GoFundMe Giving Guarantee,” which allows donors to apply for refunds if they are concerned about where their money went. When Karen Eames was arraigned last Thursday, her attorney questioned her culpability. “I sincerely hope that as we go through this,” Vavonese said, “we find that there is some misinterpretation or confusion of events.” Eames pleaded not guilty and was released from jail until her next court appearance in July.
Village of Liverpool
American High Film Fest set for Aug. 19-21 By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
Axelle Azoulay, the co-director of the American High Film Festival, appeared before the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees on May 16, and again before the Liverpool Planning Board on May 23, to seek approval for the August festival. Although not yet officially approved, the festival — set for Aug. 19, 20 and 21 — was first announced Feb. 23 in articles published in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. An Israeli-born producer/actor and Syracuse University alumna, Azoulay said the three-day film fest will showcase high-schoolonly shorts and feature films. “We hope to incorporate local businesses which might host networking events,” Azoulay told
the planning board, “and village residents will be admitted to all screenings and the awards ceremony for free.” Azoulay is co-directing the festival along with Ana Olano, who has worked as an assistant to American High CEO Jeremy Garelick. Attendance would be capped at 500, Azoulay said. Planning Board Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. said that if hundreds are expected to attend, parking could be a problem. While screenings are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at American High’s auditorium gymnasium and one classroom, the festival would also be presented virtually online, Azoulay said, so many viewers could participate without having to drive to American High, at 800 Fourth St. “If it’s properly done, it sounds
nice,” said planning board member Bob Bradt. “I like the idea.” At the May 23 planning board meeting, the film fest discussion followed a 75-minute review of American High’s Academy at Syracuse Studios site plan and special permit to operate a trade school here. About 30 of the school’s neighbors attended the meeting and — in contrast to the negative comments which dominated a similar hearing in April — several neighbors spoke highly of American High. “This is a tremendous opportunity for this area,” village resident Gabrielle DiBella told the planners. “You should be more accommodating to American High. What these film crews do here is great. American High has my overwhelming support.” Barbara Dennehy, who lives across the street from the school,
IMDB.com
Axelle Azoulay, Israeli actor/producer and SU grad, is co-director of the inaugural American High Film Festival, which is slated for Aug. 19-21 in Liverpool. said she was bothered by truck traffic there when it occurs at 2, 3 or 4 a.m. In fact, truck traffic, overnight parking of trucks and diesel fumes are among the neighbors’ top complaints about the film operations.
The planning board was expected to consider a proposed resolution to revoke the special-use permit issued to American High five years ago and its amended site plan adopted in 2020, but no action was taken on May 23.
Volume 130, Number 23 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.
LIBRARY NEWS: True colors: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
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sports news: L’pool girls lacrosse reaches sectional final.
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