democrat Finney fighting her republican challenger on two fronts
by russ tArby
Contributing writer
Liverpool’s first-term Mayor Stacy Finney, a Democrat, is fighting on two fronts to have her Republican opponent, attorney Tom Valerino, removed from the November ballot.
She has registered an official complaint with the Onondaga County Board of Elections claiming that Valerino does not actually reside at the address he listed on his recent voter registration, 300 Tulip St.
Valerino and his business partner Clay Town Judge Jeffrey Schiano do own that historic brick building at the corner of First Street, but the mayor maintains that Valerino lives in Syracuse. Not only has Finney prompted the BOE to reconsider Valerino’s eligibility, she also filed a lawsuit last month against both Valerino and the BOE.
Finney has retained Syracuse attorney Ronnie White Jr. White previously worked for Mackenzie Hughes law firm and for Onondaga County’s law de -
Annual AIDS Walk/ Run returns to Onondaga Lake Park
by KAthErinE rAKowsKi
ACR Health’s 33rd Annual AIDS 5K Walk/Run will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool at the Saw Mill Creek Shelter.
The walk was initially scheduled for early June, but with the poor air quality caused by the Canadian wildfires, ACR Health moved the event to September.
The air quality, combined with the hot summer might have limited the amount of people who felt comfortable taking part, and this is too important of an event for people to miss, ACR Health’s Director of Development and Community Engagement Katherine Lowe, said.
“The run highlights where we used to be while leading us into where we are now,” she said. “And we’ve come a long way since the AIDS crisis of the 90s.”
ACR Health is a not for profit, community based organization providing a wide range of educational programs and a variety of services for those impacted by STI’s, including HIV and AIDS.
These services include free and confidential testing, medication management, support groups, a housing program, a Q Center, and most importantly, a social network for those who otherwise may not feel comfortable seeking out care.
“Being welcome is something that a lot of us take for granted,” Lowe said. “We’ve had people come to us who are afraid to seek help because they’ve been made to feel less than because of a diagnosis. We do not judge. All are welcome here.”
The walk provides an opportunity for the organization to call attention to the fact that HIV and AIDS is still out there, and everyone is at risk, but there is a lot of hope and there have been significant strides in treating this illness.
“This is now considered a chronic illness which is very manageable,” Lowe said. “There is actually a vaccine now for people who are at risk, and that’s just mind boggling. It’s a very manageable disease with great medicines out there to help you survive and live your life.”
Supporting the walk means participants will be ensuring that people in need are served immediately, as ACR is often the first place people at risk turn to, providing medi-
partment. A Democrat, White also served briefly as a councilorat-large on the Syracuse Common Council.
In a letter attached to the lawsuit, village Codes Officer Bill Reagan said Valerino’s three-story building currently has no dwelling spaces.
“I’m just baffled,” Finney told a reporter. “The Tulip Street address is a vacant building and is obviously under construction.”
Valerino told the Star-Review that he intends to either buy a
Clerk clarifications
New part-time village clerk/treasurer desiree salvagni is an army veteran
by russ tArby Contributing writer
Liverpool’s new part-time village clerk and treasurer, Desiree Salvagni, is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovinian from 1993 to 1997.
She later worked for the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors from 2012 to 2014.
“In 2019, I became the clerk to the comptroller at the Town
of Schroeppel,” Salvagni said, “and it is there that I have gained knowledge in municipal accounting.” She is still employed part time at that Oswego County town.
The village board -- Mayor Stacy Finney, Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti, Matt Devendorf and Michael LaMontagne -- appointed Salvagni at their July 21 meeting.
North Area Meals on Wheels breaks ground on expansion Aug. 7
by ElEnA EhrhArt
On Aug. 7, volunteers, staff, local politicians and other supporters gathered for the ground breaking of the North Area Meals on Wheels’ expansion.
After having the facility built in 2004, the North Area Meals on Wheels met the needs of the com-
munity, serving 55,000 meals in their first year. Now, the organization is on track to serve over three times that amount to their 500 clients across the North Syracuse area.
“This expansion has been a long time coming,” said North Area’s Executive Director Randy LaManche. “We’ve outgrown
this building due to demand. Our meal production is increasing, as is our demand in North Onondaga County.”
The addition of 2,400 square feet will provide more space for employee offices, storage for meal components and more space for volunteer parking.
Additionally, a second phase
will install a solar field behind the facility in hopes of aiding in a fully electric transition for the appliances within the building. Supporters of the project, Assemblyman Al Stirpe and Frank Ridzi of the CNY Community Fund each provided their own remarks centered on the impact Meals on Wheels has had on the
community and the importance of the work done.
While many of the public figures provided remarks commending the organization and those who volunteer, others like Ridzi and Gary Butterfield, mayor of the Village of North Syracuse provided their own stories of personal
Submitted photo
Page 11
syracuse salt Cats crowned champions for second year in a row
Wednes -
Stadium against the Genesee Rapids. In a three game series final, the Cats lost their first game at the Rapids, but on day two at home won the second game 6-1 and continued on to win the third 4-0.
The Salt Cats remained the number one seed throughout the majority of the season, winning 31 of their 46 games and totaling 63 points, the highest in the league. Their participation in the East Division of the NYCBL All-Star game, providing 10 players and the Cats coaching staff, led to a 7-1 victory against the West Division in mid-July.
The Syracuse Salt Cats won the championship title for a second year in a row under the direction of Head Coach Mike Martinez, the coach with
l From page 1 Walk
cal care and much more.
“We care for the whole person,” Lowe said. “People come for the confidential testing, but they leave with medical support, social support, and even housing support if they need it.”
ACR Health works hard to provide all options available to people so that they can feel comfortable making their own decisions about their future, whatever that may look like, according to Lowe.
the most wins in NYCBL history. Assistant coach staff included Joe DeGroot,
About the s yracuse s alt Cats
The Syracuse Salt Cats is a Summer Collegiate Wood Bat Baseball team that plays in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, and is a non-profit organization. The NYCBL is partially funded by Major League Baseball. They have had players from colleges and universities located throughout the United States and Canada and have enjoyed the experiences and quality of the soon to be 47 year old New York Collegiate Baseball League.
“You’re more than your diagnosis and you can live life to the fullest,” Lowe said.
The deadline to sign up for the walk/ run is Sept. 16 and the cost is $35 which includes a T-shirt or hat.
All levels are welcome to participate. There will also be food at the event, and the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for theme baskets and a 50/50. Supporters can sign up for the walk at runsignup.com/aw r. For more information on ACR Health and the services they provide, visit acrhealth.org /
The Syracuse Salt Cats reclaimed the National Collegiate Baseball League Champions title this past
day, July 31, at OCC Baseball
Joe Wike, Rob Call, Kevin Newby, and Evan Plante.
Submitted photo
the syracuse salt Cats reclaimed the national Collegiate baseball league Champions title this past wednesday, July 31, at oCC baseball stadium against the Genesee rapids.
Paul D. Murphy, 88 retired teacher, former fire chief
After leading a life of service and adventure, Paul D. Murphy passed away four days shy of his 89th birthday on Aug. 2, 2025, with family by his side.
Paul, along with his three brothers, grew up in Central Square, the son of Bertha and Grant Murphy. After graduating from high school, Paul joined the United States Army and was stationed in France for two years. Upon his return, he attended Oswego State University where he obtained a degree in education.
Paul married Theresa (Terry) VanAucken. They started their family in Bolton Landing, N.Y., and eventually settled in Skaneateles where they raised six children. Paul began his teaching career at Skaneateles Central School District as a technology teacher where he remained for over 30 years until retirement. Because he could never sit still, post-retirement, Paul began a second career at Chase Design working in the model lab and remained there for 10 years. Following his second retirement he volunteered for Laker Limo.
Paul was an active and proud member
of the Skaneateles Fire Department for 55 years. He held the positions of chief, assistant chief and president. He loved his morning coffee club with “the boys,” Syracuse sports and a good gin and seven with a twist of lime. He had the great fortune of traveling the world in retirement. He loved to share tales from his seven trips to Ireland, creating memories with many different friends and meeting many new ones along the way. Paul had a wonderful knack for making friends wherever he went.
Paul lost Terry in 1983 to cancer, but was lucky to have found a second chance at love with his partner of many years, Gail Brehm. Paul and Gail created a lifetime of memories together and helped each other when they both needed it the most. Gail was a constant source of love in his life and they were affectionately known by many as Paulie and Gailie. They shared in the love of their canine child, Wylie.
Paul was predeceased by his wife Terry, his parents, his brother Bob and sister-inlaw Sheliah.
He is survived by his children Kelly (Larry), Kim (Ray), Karyn, Steve (Cindy), Kerry (Tom) and Kristine aka Cookie (Phil) as well as 10 grandchildren Alexis, Evan and Cam-
Local blood drives held this month
During National Wellness Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to prioritize their personal health and wellbeing while helping to save lives with a blood or platelet donation. Donors of all blood types – especially those with type O positive or B negative blood – are asked to make an appointment now to prevent a further drop in donor turnout.
In August, the Red Cross will provide free A1C screening – a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes – for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Fasting is not required for this test, and donors will be able to view their confidential results one to two weeks after their donation in the Blood Donor App or their donor account at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors will receive one A1C test result in a 12-month period.
Schedule a time to give now by visit-
ing redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give through Aug. 28 2025, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For details on both offers visit redcrossblood. org/test.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Blood drives l Page 10
ZACHARY FLEITZ
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
in Real Estate! Let me help you buy or sell your home!
185 Clinton Avenue, Cortland, NY 13045 zfleitz@yaman.com (315) 725-3690
Premier
eron Hall, Madelyn, Riley and Bella Brogan, Tara, Jenna and Jack Schroeder and Ava Murphy. He is also survived by two great grandchildren Naveah and Noah, his brothers Norm and Millard and members of the VanAucken family.
Calling hours were held on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles. A private service for family will be held later. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Skaneateles.
The family would like to thank Dr. Micheal Glowacki for his compassion and care of Paul.
They would also like to thank the staff on the rehabilitation and fourth floors at The Commons. Also, a heart-felt thank you to Mike and Steve Casper for their years of care and support for both Paul and their mother Gail.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Skaneateles Fire Department and Laker Limo, two organizations that meant a great deal to him. To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
DEATH NOTICES
Karl M. Wirt, 87, of North Syracuse, passed away July 30, 2025. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
John E. Stivers, Jr., 68, of Syracuse, passed away July 29, 2025. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
Darryl J. Barnett, 63, formerly of North Syracuse, passed away July 18, 2025. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
Thomas J. Major, 92, of Skaneateles Falls passed away July 30, 2025. The Bush Funeral Home of Elbridge has charge of arrangements.
Virginia H. Brennan, 92, of Syracuse, passed away Aug. 3, 2025. Buranich Funeral Home, Camillus, has arrangements.
Huyland M. Bryant, 78, of Marcellus,
passed away Aug. 3, 2025. Buranich Funeral Home, Camillus, has arrangements.
Helen Popcun,101, of Westvale, passed away Aug. 3, 2025. Buranich Funeral Home, Camillus, has arrangements.
Richard J. Laufer, 75, of Geddes, passed away Aug. 1, 2025. Buranich Funeral Home, Camillus, has arrangements.
Philip Crouse, 78, of Hastings, N.Y., passed away Aug. 4, 2025. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
John E. Trimble, formerly of Liverpool, passed away Aug. 3, 2025. Fergerson Funeral Home, North Syracuse, has arrangements.
Edward A. Salvagni, 89, of Camillus, passed away Aug. 7, 2025. Buranich Funeral Home, Camillus, has arrangements.
Name
Paul D. Murphy
OuR vOicE
At the fair
The countdown is officially on.
In just about a week the 2025 New York State Fair will open the gates to visitors from across the state and often from out of state as well.
Is it the rides? Or maybe it is the food?
Or maybe it is the live entertainment? Maybe it is the cows, sheep, chickens and other assorted animals?
Maybe it is something else all together? Or maybe it is a combination of all of the above and many other things that aren’t even on this list?
Whatever the reasons are many of us and thousands of others from across the state and beyond, will be spending some time at the Great New York State Fair over the next few weeks.
And while many of us don’t like to see summer coming to an end, the fair is a staple, a tradition.
It is a tradition that for many marks the last weeks of the summer season and it gives us the opportunity to enjoy a number of attractions and activities and highlight some of the best things our state has to offer, from food and entertainment to agriculture and everything in between.
The fair has a long and rich history and it has become New York’s largest annual event and tradition for hundreds of thousands of families from all corners of the state.
The first fair took place in Syracuse in 1841 and by 1890 had made Syracuse its permanent home.
It is the oldest and one of the largest state fairs in the United States, with nearly one million visitors annually and more than a million in 2018 when attendance hit about 1.2 million people.
The idea of the fair goes back a few years prior to 1841 when in February of 1832, the New York State Agricultural Society was founded in Albany by a group of farmers, legislators, and others to promote agricultural improvement and local fairs.
The nation’s first state fair was later held in Syracuse from Sept. 29 to 30, 1841. Attendance was estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 and features included speeches, animal exhibits, a plowing contest, and samples of manufactured farm and home goods.
In the ensuing years prior to 1890, the fair moved to various cities across the state.
The second New York State Fair was held in Albany in 1842. Between 1842 and 1889, the fair traveled among 11 different cities: Albany, Auburn, Buffalo, Elmira, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Utica and Watertown.
In September 1890, the Syracuse Land Company donated a 100-acre tract of land in Geddes to the Agricultural Society.
Crossed by railways that facilitated exhibit transport, the Onondaga County location became the fair’s permanent home.
In the late 1890s, The Agricultural Society turned to state government for relief from debt due to the construction of permanent buildings on the site. The state purchased the grounds in 1899, and assumed management of the fair the next year, creating an 11-member State Fair Commission appointed by the governor.
Over the next few decades, changes took place that helped shape the fair and fairgrounds as we now know them with the addition of structures like the Center of Progress Building and the Dairy Building and most recently more changes took place beginning in 2015 with a focus on the Expo Center.
But as the fair and its grounds have changed and grown, the mission has remained largely the same, highlight and share the best of New York State.
So whether it is a concert at Chevy Court, bringing the kids for a day of rides and games or a night out to enjoy some drinks and food, take some time to enjoy the Great New York State Fair.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
CoMPlAint DEPArtMEnt: lEAvE A notE.
I complain a lot. Lately, too much. For the last month or so, I have averaged about three to four hours of sleep a night and I am not impressed with the me that I see in the mirror. Ugh. Why? I’ll tell you why. Let’s start with the easiest part.
Among my many failings is the idiocy of confusing right and left. I modified the effect of this shortcoming by getting married. My engagement and wedding rings tell me which hand is my left. Of course, then I did put two rings on my right hand and so when I am making a decision that involves right or left, I am treading on thin ice. This is why I always add an extra half an hour to find a place where I have never been before. An exploratory trip to Baldwinsville, which should take a half hour, took an hour yesterday.
Overshadowing the stressors in my pantheon of problems is the changes that are happening to what I learned and taught about our federal government … as our Constitution, checks and balances, the rule of law, habeas corpus and common decency and basic morality take a back seat to the consolidation of power in the executive branch of the government. At my age one would think, hey, you won’t be around much longer, so why do you care? I have children and grandchildren and I worry for them and the children and grandchildren of all of us oldsters who cherish the rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the land. As we experience the attempt to rewrite our history, we should remember that the American Revolution and our involvement in World War II were not fought to provide fodder for great movies but to move away from autocracies.
There are more pedes -
Ramblings from the empty nest ann Ferro
trian worries that add to my anxiety. I live in a house with a long list of things that need being fixed, things that seem to stump the experts, e.g. why do the three lights that flicker annoyingly every day remain solidly glowing when the electrician is there? How many times can you open a double-hung window when one of the chords has broken or take a bath when the faucet is broken? I have a list taped to the inside of a kitchen cupboard that has been there for 30 years. I’ve crossed off five and added 20. No, 21 … who is going to clean out the gutters before winter?
And, too, there are the ordinary things that happen to your body as you age, often shrugged off as “aches and pains” … which really do need renaming as something more aggressive, all in caps. These aches and pains make accomplishing most anything that used to take 10 minutes expand to at least a half an hour or more…. which is why there are dust kangaroos living under some of the furniture and cobwebs that have become part of my décor and windows you can’t see through. Last week it took me three hours to wash, iron and rehang the curtains in the family room. Five years ago, that was an hour job. And don’t look at my garden … if you can see anything over the weeds. Vertigo is a bitch and I won’t say anything about arthritis or the fallout of a botched hip replacement. And what happens when the remote to the TV becomes lost? Why can’t there just be an on /off button and a dial? Why? What happens when the washer won’t drain or the
basement starts to flood when it rains or the bedrooms need painting? In our house, we both used to share the “in charge” position which has now become all mine. I didn’t ask for it or want it, but Alzheimer’s has created the situation where all of the problems that I used to assign to my spouse are now mine. No more Honey Do list…it’s all my “to do” list. As I am sitting here typing, I am mentally grousing about how I can get the trash out for tomorrow’s pickup and figuring out how to get 30 pounds of cat food into the cellar when, in my fantasy, I should be out in the garden or lying on a beach drinking a margarita.
And the piece de resistance of all of these failings, problems, events, necessities, etc. that keep me up at night … ah, yes, add insomnia to the list … is my feeling of inadequacy. I used to be able to get things done! Outrageously pitiful. Woe is me!
Good Lord, I know that I am not special. My own mother had to honcho the house and the income after my Dad was felled by TB, coronary heart disease and emphysema and we heated with coal. I keep remembering that she had to move the ashes out to the street and shovel coal into the furnace. Come to think of it, the same was true for my maternal grandmother. So, what did I learn from them?
Ok, I observed that you can’t shoot for excellent. Good is good enough and sometimes fair is an accomplishment. Some things need to be written off. I saw both of these women defer their own wants in favor of family and, while that is admirable, I wish that I could have lightened the burdens they faced … and truthfully I did help both, especially my mother, which is a good thing and puts some
stars on my chart. But that was a lifetime ago when I was very young, had strength, could fall asleep standing up and had fewer of those aches and pains.
I also noted that my mother and grandmother found joy in their own ways, maybe not the ways I might find a respite, some joy, some release from the daily straws that assault this camel’s back. I guess I will have to reevaluate what needs to be addressed on any given day, set a goal or two and work toward each without the requirement that I reach either … leaving time and space for whatever I need for me and my spouse, whose needs grow each day.
I truly have been blessed with two wonderful children who, even with their own careers, families and civic responsibilities, help as often and far more often than I could ever expect. Getting outside myself is a must. I have to reimagine, decisively plan how we will face each day and not “sweat the small stuff.” Of course, I do have to define what the small stuff is. Sharing time with friends has to happen. Should I have a root beer and ice cream float party on the porch? Should I rejoin Weight Watchers? Go play miniature golf? Should I keep a freshlybaked item under the cake saver every day? Can I get to the library to browse? Should I postpone housework, fixing things? Should I just stand by a window, sadly looking out and feeling sorry for myself? Gads…I don’t know but I am working on it. Hold my hand as I work through this.
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.
Essence to Empress, local writers flourish on the page
Paul Condon grew up here on Fourth Street, went on to study criminal justice and corrections at St. John’s University and then took a job the U.S. Justice Department as an investigative analyst. Paul put in nearly 34 years at Justice before retiring in 2017.
Now at age 68, Paul is forging an entirely new career as a free-lance writer.
An illustrious story
The aspiring scribe got some good news last month. His screenplay, “Once an Empress,” received a finalist award at the 2025 Spring Santa Barbara International Screenplay Competition.
“This is my third of six copyrighted screenplays,” Paul said. “None of them has been optioned to date, but ‘Once an Empress’ is my first work that has placed competitively, and only the second of my screenplays that have been sent out to competitions.”
The 113-page script focuses on the happiest years of Napoleon and Empress Marie Louise’s life together, the first four years of their marriage. Those years included the high point of this union -- the birth of their son.
The Santa Barbara finalist
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Livin’ in Liverpool
award is considered a significant achievement indicating that the screenplay was among the top contenders in the competition. No wonder!
That’s one heck of an illustrious story to tell, and it’s made even more intriguing by its ultimately unhappy ending.
Paul now lives in Syracuse.
Poetry with a twist
Miranda Baron, who works in Liverpool as a pet-groomer, has published her debut book, “The Essence.”
“It’s poetry with a twist,” Miranda wrote in an email.
“It’s rhythmic. It flows with every prose. There are even hidden messages for those who read between the lines.”
A self-taught writer, for Miranda poetry came naturally.
“Senior year in high school, I started collecting my written work as I flourished in the creative writing course.” She remembered. “For the past 15 years, I’ve been avidly using my imagination and experiences to form a cathartic release and connection to the
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reader.”
“The Essence” explores the raw process of emotional healing, spiritual awakening and personal transformation. Through vivid imagery, lyrical storytelling and a bold voice, Miranda unearths the hidden truths of love, trauma, self-acceptance and identity. The collection invites readers to sit with their shadows, listen to their inner voice and rise in the light of selfawareness.
“The Essence” can be purchased at outlets such as amazon.com for $34.99/hardcover, or $28.99/paperback.
‘speak her name’ Former Onondaga County Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Jumbelic has written a moving memoir of her life in true crime called “Speak Her Name.” For nearly three decades she worked as a forensic pathologist using medical science to determine causes of death.
Alternately humorous and harrowing, “Speak Her Name” introduces us to Mary as a child in Baltimore, and brings us along as she personally experiences death – her father’s – and later deals with it professionally in Chicago, Peoria and then Syracuse.
Jumbelic will read from her book, sign copies and answer questions from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Barnes & Noble, on Route 31 in Clay. In a recent email, Dr. J explained how “Speak Her Name” came about.
“It is the culmination of years of work, subconsciously begun in 2012 when Leslie Neulander was killed,” she wrote. “When I began writing her story in earnest a decade later, the ghosts of other women started to surface. Many had laid on my autopsy table, unable to move, unable to speak due to violent crimes. As I say, I ‘speak for the dead’ and was struck with the impetus to speak for these women, for Leslie, and to advocate for those still with us.”
Dr. J will also appear at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Northern Onondaga Public Library, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, in North Syracuse. last word
“Leslie Neulander’s injuries were not caused by a slip-and-fall in the shower. She was beaten.”
– Dr. Mary Jumbelic.
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russ tarby
To
Our
ings, and our historic, quaint library is one of them.
Why replace it with a nondescript, modern overkill and expensive new one?
All the neat old library needs is an elevator to the second floor. Let’s have a drive for a much less expensive elevator.
I would gladly donate for that.
Let’s have a public vote on a new, very expensive building or a more plausible and less expensive elevator for our nice old library.
Let’s vote.
ClArA ClArK SkaneateleS
It takes a library
To the editor:
As a proud year-round resident, board member, and regular visitor to the Skaneateles Library, I’m writing to express my full support for the plans to build a new library on Fennell Street. I serve on the board because I deeply believe in the mission of libraries—to educate, to connect, and to inspire. Our current library embodies that mission through its welcoming staff, outstanding programming, and commitment to lifelong learning. But the physical space no longer meets the needs of our wideranging community.
My four children all love the library. It’s one of their favorite places in town. The programs are imaginative, engaging, and led by an incredible team. But the building itself makes participation a challenge. Story time is held upstairs, which is difficult to access— especially with a stroller or young children in tow. Seating is limited, and I’ve often tried to work there only to find no available tables or outlets. Parking—especially with small children, during inclement weather, or in the busy summer months—is another real hurdle.
Beyond that, the current layout makes it nearly impossible to support different activities at the same time. It’s hard to balance quiet reading, focused work, and connecting with others when there are few distinct spaces. I’ve often wanted to linger and talk with fellow parents or neighbors, but there’s no way to do that without feeling like you’re disrupting someone’s quiet time. The new library will change that—with defined spaces for children, teens, adults, collaboration, and quiet work, all thoughtfully designed for different needs and activities.
The new building will eliminate many of these barriers—offering easier access, welcoming gathering spaces, and modern infrastructure that expands the reach of the library and invites more of the community in. With enhanced technology, flexible rooms, and accessibility features throughout, this new space will serve not only today’s needs but those of the future. The current building, as cherished as it is, was built for a different time.
Libraries today are so much more than places with books. They are one of the few truly intergenerational, inclusive spaces in a community. They are for everyone—young children, teenagers, adults, retirees, and lifelong learners. The new library will be a welcoming place where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather, interact, and feel a sense of belonging. In a time when many spaces are segmented or come with a cost of entry, the library stands out as a free, inclusive, and shared resource.
Skaneateles is a beautiful town with so much to offer, but as the seasons change, there are few indoor spaces where the community can gather, learn, and connect. The new library will be a vibrant, yearround space—one that supports the daily lives of those who call Skaneateles home, while also offering something special to anyone who spends time here.
I urge my neighbors to support the “It Takes a Library” campaign and help make this vital investment in our shared future.
Kristin lAbEAu SkaneateleS
bAybErry CoMMunity
by JEff snow town of Clay hiStorian Clay hiStoriCal aSSoCiation member
It’s been 70 years since the announcement of the new housing community called Bayberry back in April of 1955. The area is between Route 57 and Morgan Road. Part of Bayberry would include roads on the west side of 57 all the way to the Seneca River. Pictured on the right side is Bayberry, before and after, with the top picture taken in 1951 and the other 15 years later taken in 1966. The two pictures show an area of farmland to the new Bayberry community with almost of all the roads and homes completed. The area was purchased by Bayberry Properties of Long Island and was 475 acres.
The law firm Melvin and Melvin wanted a planned community with shopping centers, schools and services of water and sewer.
Mayer, Whittlesey and Glass was the architectural firm that helped achieve the way the roads were laid out, done in such a way to eliminate four-way intersections, easy to navigate as Blackberry Road was the center road thru the community. In the original plans the roads south of Blackberry are named paths and the roads north are named lanes.
The “path” roads are named after birds and “lane” roads are named after fruit and berry trees/ bushes. In addition, all the roads are mostly in alphabetical order starting over near Bayberry Plaza and continuing to the east.
On July 4 of 1956 the sales office opened with six models on Apricot Lane. Eleven homes were sold that morning and the entire section was sold by later that afternoon. In the bottom picture
is an example of the Bayberry ad showing what homes could cost back in the late 1950s from $14,500 to almost $21,000. The picture on the left is an aerial view of the growth of Bayberry in the middle of construction most likely taken in the early 1960s.
The picture above that shows the typical loop road and this one show homes near the intersection of Elderberry and Blackberry.
The house picture is the typical ad that was presented of what homes could look like.
The Bayberry sign is the most famous part of Bayberry, with its cursive name at the entrance.
The Bayberry Community Association (BCA) is a local group for neighbors to meet and encourage a sense of community. The group also contributes to the welfare of others and represents the community in town meetings. The BCA also contributes to the com-
munity through a scholarship given to a Bayberry high school student going to college. For more information on the BCA go to bayberrycommunity.org. Ryan Vollmer is BCA president. Some information was obtained through the last historian, Dorthy Heller, and the aerial pictures of 1951 and 1966 through Cornell University Library. Dorthy Heller’s article on Bayberry can still be read on the town of Clay website under the historian section.
Any questions can be directed to historian@townofclay.org.
The Clay Historical Association meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Clay Historical Park. Those interested in attending, inviting others to join, or sharing any historical photographs are encouraged to reach out.
Submitted photo
Cazenovia
Aug. 21: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cazenovia
American Legion, 26 Chenango St
Aug. 26: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany Street
Chittenango
Aug. 26: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Patrick’s Church, 1341 Murray Dr. baldwinsville
Aug. 25: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Northwest Family YMCA, 8040 River Road
Camillus
Aug. 18: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Michaels Lutheran Church, 5108 West Genesee
Street
Cicero
Aug. 21: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Legion Post 787, 5575 Legionnaire
Drive
Clay
Aug. 27: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sky Zone, 4155 NY-31 East syracuse
Free Library, 32 Maple Street skaneateles
Aug. 16: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Skaneateles Fire Department, 77 West Genesee St.
Aug. 20: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., SkanWorks, 1326 New Seneca Turnpike syracuse
Eagle Newspapers is here to help readers share their milestone celebrations, including birth announcements, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. The deadline to submit an announcement is 10 a.m. the Friday before publication. Announcements of up to 250 words with a photo cost just $50, with an additional 15 cents per word over 250 words. Announcements will be posted to eaglenewsonline.com within 24 hours of receipt of payment. To submit a milestone announcement, email Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@eaglenewsonline.com, or call 315.434.8889 ext. 305.
Aug. 18: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Northeast Medical Center, 4000 Medical Center Drive, (off Burdick)
Aug. 23: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fayetteville United Methodist Church, 601 East Genesee Street
Aug. 29: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Northeast Medical Center, 4000 Medical Center Drive, (off Burdick) Manlius
Aug. 16: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Manlius Village Center, One Arkie Albanese Ave. Marcellus
Aug. 22: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Marcellus
Have you ever had a golf tting? Do you understand what all of the numbers mean? Did it improve your golf game?
Did you understand the terms your tter used to explain your swing tendencies? Did it help you select the clubs you currently play?
ese de nitions will help you understand “why” it is important for you to become more educated about your golf game. In a few weeks you will be able to use this knowledge to hopefully lower your scores.
De nition of Terms:
* CLUBHEAD SPEED - Is the speed (MPH) you swing your club at the moment you make contact (impact) with the ball.
Is it Important? - Yes, it is important. e faster you swing your club is a factor in determining how far you should hit your ball when making solid contact. Driver Speed - Super Senior…6070 MPH…Senior…70-80 MPH…80-90 MPH… Average Amateur…90-100 MPH…PGA Tour Average…113 MPH.
* BALL SPEED - Is determined by how fast the ball leaves the club face of your golf club when you make contact.
It is important because it is one of the critical factors in determining how far you can hit the ball.
* SMASH FACTOR - Your Smash Factor is determined by dividing your ball speed by your clubhead speed. e number shows how pro ciently you are transferring energy to your ball. A smash factor of 1.45 - 1.50 is excellent with a driver…1.30 - 1.35 with a 7 iron and 1.20 - 1.25 with a wedge.
* LAUNCH ANGLE - It is the angle your ball bounces o the face of your club. Launch angle identi es how high your shots y. When using your driver, a launch angle of 13-15 degrees is considered excellent. A launch angle of 10 or below is considered low and won’t carry very far. If the number is 18 or above with your driver, it is too high and might cause amateur golfers to loose distance.
* CLUB PATH - Your club path is the direction your club is swinging through impact based on your intended target. An “in-to-out” path might produce draws. An “out-to-in” path might result in producing fades or slices. Your club path assists in determining your shot shape.
Aug. 19: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Oncenter Complex War Memorial, 515 Montgomery Street
Aug. 21: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Dewitt Community Church, 3600 Erie Blvd. East
Aug. 22: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Howlett Hill Fire Dept, 3384 Howlett Hill
Aug. 26: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., CNY Community Foundation, 431 East Fayette Street
Aug. 27: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., OneGroup, 706 N Clinton St
Aug. 28: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., SU Schine Student Center, Waverly Ave.
Aug. 30: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., All Saints Parish Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave.
* FACE ANGLE - Your face angle is where your club head is pointing when you make contact with the ball. If it is “Open”, your clubface is pointing right of target. If it is pointing “Closed”, your clubface is pointing le of your target. If it is “Square” to your target, it is pointing directly at your target. Face angle is important because it determines where you ball will go when to make contact.
* ANGLE OF ATTACK - is Is a measurement to determine if your club is moving upword or downward when you swing. A positive number means your hitting up on the ball… which is bene cial when hitting a driver. A negative number means you are hitting down. A descending swing with your irons is preferred for your irons.
* SPIN RATE - Spin rate is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). Spin is important because it stabilizes your ball ight. Too much spin can cause your ball to go higher and lose distance. Too little spin can cause your ball to y lower and roll over the green. Ideal spin rates for a driver is between 2,000 - 2,500 RPM. Ideal spin rates for your 7 iron is 6,000-7,000 RPM. Ideal spin rates for your wedges is 8,000-10,000 RPM.
* CARRY DISTANCE VS TOTAL DISTANCECarry distance is how far your ball ies while in the air. Total distance is determined by adding tour carry distance plus the distance of your rollout when your ball stops at rest. ese numbers can help your course management when you are not sure you can carry a pond or hitting over trees. ere are always “THREE FACTORS” that will chart your journey through golf and life…KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, and ATTITUDE”.
When you acquire all “THREE”, you will be a very happy person. Good luck on your journey.
OCC to help students through SUNY Reconnect program
According to a press release from Onondaga Community College, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul came to the college campus Jan. 29 to rally support for her proposal for free community college.
New Yorkers between the ages of 25 and 55 who pursue an associate degree in high-demand fields would be eligible.
She was followed at the podium by SUNY Chancellor John King and OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton who echoed similar messages.
According to the press release, the star of the show however was the final speaker, OCC student Josh Barr. who is an adult learner in a high-demand field who would be eligible for the free tuition program if it was available.
He shared his remarkable story with those in attendance.
“Gov. Hochul, Chancellor King, and President Hilton... thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story with you,” Barr said. “I’m a 41-yearold single father and recovering heroin addict. On Oct. 6, 2023, I began a life of sobriety. I needed to set an example for my son and decided to go to college. One year ago, I became a student here at Onondaga Community College in the computer information systems degree program. It was tough, but thanks to great professors like Timothy Stedman and Christian Sisack, my wonderful navigator Betsy Vavonese, and all of the other great support staff around me, I ended up earning a 3.825 grade point average in my first semester.” Barr said he was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
“The night of the ceremony, my mother and son were there cheering me on,” Barr said. “It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Because I am a single father, I need to finish my degree as soon as possible so I can begin working in cybersecurity. Gov. Hochul, if your free college program was available to me one year ago, it would have helped me tremendously. When you’re trying to change the course of your life while you are living it, every penny helps. I have many goals; some are short-term, some are long-term. They include sobriety, being the best father I can be, completing my degree here at OCC, going to work, eventually earning my bachelor’s degree, and one day starting my own cybersecurity company. Gov. Hochul, I hope your free college program becomes the law so it will be here to help future students like me. Thank you.”
With SUNY Reconnect and the Opportunity Promise Scholarship now a reality, OCC has hosted information sessions to help answer questions and
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house or rent an apartment in a residential village neighborhood. As long as he can confirm village residency by Election Day, Nov. 4, he could be eligible to run.
On July 10, the village GOP caucus nominated Valerino to oppose Finney.
He was also nominated by the local Conservative Party on July 24.
On Aug. 5, Democrat BOE Commissioner Dustin Czarny filed his ruling on Valerino’s two nominations.
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connection to the program through their own work volunteering and witnessing how the meals provided helped relatives in need.
The common thread in each of the six speeches given was the strong emphasis on the North Syracuse community.
Stirpe was among the first to speak.
“Now that I am getting close to the age of receiving meals, I want to make sure we are in a good position to continue serving,” he joked. “But in all reality, this group here is among the best I ever worked with.”
Following Stirpe’s praise, Maria Mahar passed along the regards of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, who commended the hard work done by the Meals on Wheels volunteers and staff.
McMahon expressed pride in partnership with the organization, writing that they are “building more than just community. It is a symbol.”
Despite the project’s groundbreaking, the program has not reached the estimated million dollars needed to complete the expansion.
Along with the CREST grant and a gift from the CNY Community Fund, donations from community members have been and continue to be the primary coverage for the
guide potential new students on the path.
More information on the Reconnect program are also available on the website, sunyocc.edu/freecc.
According to information available on the OCC website, degrees designed to connect students with jobs in high-demand.
To be eligible, a student must be at least 25 years old at time of enrollment (student’s start of classes, including late start sessions) and no older than 55 years on Jan. 1 of the year in which they enroll.
The website goes on to explain that the SUNY Reconnect program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
It does not cover housing.
The website further details that the Opportunity Promise Scholarship, New York’s free community college initiative, aims to help the four million working-age adults in New York who do not have a college degree.
Other criteria include being New York State resident or eligible for in-state tuition; U.S. citizen and a legal New York State resident for at least 12 months; Age 25 to 55; Does not already hold a bachelors, graduate, associate, or professional degree; You are still eligible for the Opportunity Promise Scholarship if you currently have a certificate or a microcredential; Enrolled in an approved associate degree program at a SUNY community college.
There are a range of programs offered including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, green and renewable energy, nursing and health care professionals, pathways to teaching in shortage areas, and technology fields.
The website also explains that New York State’s free community college program is funded by an investment in the 2025-2026 New York State budget, meaning it’s supported in part by taxpayers as a commitment to creating stronger communities, growing the state’s economy, and helping every New Yorker achieve the American dream.
The Opportunity Promise Scholarship is designed to be a flexible degree program for adults, offering a variety of services to ensure your success. Support and services may vary by campus, but typically including dedicated advising, flexible scheduling (including part-time options), personal support for adult learners, career support services, online options and childcare services on or near select campuses.
For more information about SUNY Reconnect to find programs eligible for NY’s Opportunity Scholarship, visit suny.edu/freeCC
He found the Conservative Party nomination valid due to a technicality, but that the Republican nomination was invalid because of the residency question.
Czarny cited an investigation conducted by Liverpool Police Chief Jerry Unger which confirmed that Valerino’s Lillian Avenue address is the one listed with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.
The police chief also said 300 Tulip St. is zoned exclusively for commercial use.
Republican BOE Commissioner Kevin Ryan has yet to issue his ruling, but he told
cost.
“Most of our support comes from the community,” LaManche said. “This community fuels us. They wanted us here and helped this building 20 years ago and they continue to rally around us.”
The community also aids in the campaigns and fundraisers conducted by Meals on Wheels throughout the year.
From pasta nights to a golf tournament, the program invites volunteers and supporters to opportunities to get involved in ways outside of cooking, preparing and delivering meals.
For LaManche, who has been with North Area for the last 17 months, seeing members of all backgrounds from the community come together to support each other and the program is empowering.
“It is something everybody needs to see at least once in their lives,” he said of the process of individuals coming together to fulfill various jobs at the facility. “This whole building is packed. It’s truly something.”
It will be these same people who will help manage the next six to eight months as the expansion progresses.
Although it will be “chaotic,” in LaManche’s words, the dedication and duty of the program to their clientele will not be lost.
A client, Peter Wong, who described himself as “one of those people you don’t
by DonnA nEwMAn photo by donna newman
birdie is a beauty, inside and out. this bulldog mix is about a year old. she loves everyone and is dog friendly. she is very unique; she has complete heterochromia, which means she has two different colored eyes. Just part of what makes her so special. if you’re looking for a dog with a heart of gold and a twinkle in her blue - and brown! - eye - take the time to meet birdie! not in the position to adopt? no worries! we’re always in the need of fosters who can give dogs a break from from shelter life. our dedicated staff would love to match you with a dog compatible with your lifestyle. In order to adopt, you must fill out an application, pay an adoption fee, and have your pets up to date on their rabies vaccines. All adopted cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on their vaccinations before they go home. the Cny sPCA is located at 5878 East Molloy road, syracuse. for more information about adoption, call 315-454-4479, email frontdesk2@ cnyspca.org or visit cnyspca.org.
a reporter that he may prefer having the court decide.
If the BOE commissioners fail to agree on the question, which appears likely, Finney will have to present her case to Supreme Court Justice Robert Antonacci.
She filed a lawsuit July 29 arguing that Valerino actually lives at 360 Lillian Ave. in Syracuse, which invalidates his recent voter registration information. A court date has yet to be set.
In state supreme court, Valerino would be represented by attorney Joe Burns, a
see,” lives on his own after suffering multiple strokes and became a candidate for the program.
Many have rallied around Wong, from volunteers to case workers, providing meals as well as wellness check-ins.
Along with the check-ins, he receives holiday cards and even Christmas gifts.
“They really go above and beyond,” Wong said. “They fill my heart with such joy.”
LaManche called Wong “truly special.”
Wong was invited to the microphone by LaManche to conclude the ceremony.
former deputy director of election operations at the New York State BOE.
Meanwhile, American High founder Jeremy Garelick has yet to follow up on his June announcement that he would for mayor of Liverpool.
Like Valerino, Garelick – who lives in Fayetteville – would need to establish residency here.
And the deadline for submitting signed petitions has passed, and it’s unlikely that any existing political parties could possibly nominate the filmmaker.
As the closing speaker, Wong chose to directly address the volunteers and staff, reminding everybody in attendance what Meals on Wheels is all about.
“When you feel the pressures and difficulties on you, think of my face,” he said. “You are touching the absolute fiber of my life.”
Home delivered meals are administered and funded in part by the Onondaga County Department of Adult and Long Term Care Services, New York State Office for the Aging and the Administration on Aging.
