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Remembrance Run/Walk returns HOPE for Bereaved fundraiser set for Aug. 6
gearing up for the run/walk, they welcomed a new executive director. Alicia Ernest stepped into the role in late July after the retirement of founder Therese Schoeneck. By Ashley M. Casey “I certainly want to continue Therese’s Associate Editor legacy and the plans she has made for HOPE,” Ernest said. After a COVID hiatus, the RememErnest began her career in the not-forbrance Run/Walk for HOPE returns to profit world, having previously worked for Liverpool on Aug. 6. The event benefits the Friends of Beaver Lake before moving HOPE for Bereaved, to the veterinary field. a Syracuse-based nonShe took the top job profit that offers grief at HOPE for Bereaved support groups, indiso she could continue vidual counseling and helping others. other resources for those “I was looking for struggling with loss. a way that I could reWhile the struggle ally support the comwith grief is what unites munity and give back,” the Remembrance Run/ she said. “What better Walk participants, the mission than HOPE’s, event itself is joyful, [which] is to support featuring kids’ activities [people] and help them and a memory board as they grieve.” to celebrate lost loved Ernest’s first day at ones. HOPE was July 18. “The morning of the “It’s such a welcomrace … there really are ing environment. It no tears. Everybody’s Alicia Ernest recently joined HOPE feels like I’ve always smiling, everybody’s for Bereaved as executive director. been here even though hugging one another, I just started yesterday,” she told Eagle everybody’s laughing. It’s a couple hours Newspapers on her second day. “I’m honwhere they can just have fun and be themored to be a part of something that is so selves,” said Walt Stein, who works in adimpactful.” ministration, counseling and development Throughout the pandemic, HOPE for for HOPE. “They’re around other people Bereaved has offered its regular support who are going through what they’re going groups and one-on-one counseling via through, so there’s this bond that develZoom and phone, but the office is open ops.” once again for walk-in traffic. As the HOPE for Bereaved team was HOPE l Page 3
Submitted photos
The 12th Annual Remembrance Run/Walk for HOPE, a fundraiser that benefits HOPE for Bereaved, takes place Aug. 6 at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. Shown here is a scene from previous event.
Town of Salina dedicates Lyncourt street LaMontagne appointed to distillery co-founder, veteran Village of Liverpool
deputy mayor
By kate hill Staff writer
By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer While last month’s election of the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees was uncontested, there will be a minor shakeup in village leadership. At its annual organizational meeting July 18, the board approved the appointment of third-term Trustee Michael LaMontagne as deputy mayor. Mayor Gary White, who suggested the change, explained that he wanted each of the trustees to get experience in that position. LaMontagne replaces Christina Fadden who has served as Liverpool’s number-two leader since July 2017. Longtime Trustee Dennis Hebert served as deputy mayor for several years about a decade ago. LaMontagne’s appointment leaves four-term Trustee Matt Devendorf as the only sitting board member yet to serve as deputy mayor. White served six terms as a village trustee and became deputy mayor during the Marlene Ward administration. Elected mayor in 2009, White went on to be re-elected to the top job six times, most recently in an uncontested election in 2021. In this year’s village election on June 21, LaMontagne was returned to the village board for a third term. Running without opposition, he drew 74 votes, 50 on the Republican line and 24 on the Residents Party line. A resident of Second Street, LaMontagne is employed as a senior principal architect at C&S Companies in Syracuse where he heads the firm’s newly formed architecture and interior design service group. Previously, LaMontagne served for several years as a member of the village planning board.
One DWI in June
At the village trustees’ July 18 meeting, Liverpool Police Chief Jerry Unger reported his department’s activity during the previous month via memo provided by Devendorf. In June, LPD officers made 272 traffic stops and issued 216 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws. There was a single arrest made last month for driving while intoxicated last month. Officers investigated 10 accidents and made 76 residential checks and 192 business checks. They responded to a total of 725 incidents and calls for service in June. The department arrested 28 individuals last month on 35 criminal charges.
The town of Salina recently recognized the military accomplishments of Michael Basla, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general and co-founder of Cazenovia’s Madison County Distillery, by co-naming Swan Avenue in the hamlet of Lyncourt “Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla Way.” Basla grew up on Swan Avenue and graduated from Bishop Grimes High School. He received his commission in 1979 as a distinguished graduate of officer training school. After serving multiple assignments, he retired in 2014 as the chief of information dominance and chief information officer for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Upon retiring, Basla returned to Central New York with the goal of helping to grow the local economy, create jobs, and give back to veterans. In 2017, he co-founded Madison County Distillery at 2412 Route 20 East on an 80-acre farm known as “The Maples.” On July 12, 2022, Basla’s family and friends, local government officials, and members of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing surprised the veteran with a street dedication ceremony outside his mother’s Swan Avenue home, where he was raised with three younger brothers and a sister. Basla described the experience as overwhelming and a great honor. “I was celebrating a birthday and was told we were headed to my mom’s house for a family barbecue,” Basla said. “Unbeknownst to me, there were 140 guests invited, many from Cazen-
Submitted photo
On July 12, the town of Salina co-named Swan Avenue in the Hamlet of Lyncourt “Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla Way” in honor of retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Michael Basla. From left to right: Salina Town Councilor David Carnie (4th Ward), Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro and Onondaga County Legislator Deb Cody. ovia, who showed up to help celebrate the humbling honor bestowed on me [by] naming the street I grew up on Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla Way.” Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro said that David Carnie, 4th Ward Town Councilor, was responsible for bringing the street dedication idea to the Salina Town Board. “I thought it was actually a fantastic idea, and this year we were able to get it done,” said Paro. The town board adopted a resolution acknowledging Basla’s military service and officially co-naming the street in his honor. Following Paro’s introduction, Carnie read the resolution aloud and presented it to Basla. The resolution begins by explaining that the town of Salina has an interest in recognizing former and current town residents who have
achieved extraordinary accomplishments and performed extraordinary duties in the field of military service. It goes on to list several of Basla’s achievements, including his service in numerous operational communications units, including as Director for C4 Systems, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Saudi Arabia, where he delivered integrated network operations in support of United Nations security resolution enforcement against Iraq. The resolution also highlights his role as Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where he assisted the commander in organizing, equipping, training, and maintaining mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command. Salina l Page 2
Volume 130, Number 30 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: Looking back at NOPL’s history.
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Schools: Legislators meet new OCC president, discuss health programs.
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Calendar ��������������� 4,12 death notices ����������� 5 Editorial ��������������������� 6 HISTORY ���������������������� 14
letters ������������������������ 7 Obituaries ������������������ 5 PennySaver ���������������� 8