Symphoria’s first full season an ‘Overture to the Future’
Symphoria outlined its first-ever full season for 2013-14 at a press conference down city at the Mulroy Civic Center on May 15. Fifth District Legislator Kathy Rapp (R-Salina) spoke at the press confab, reflecting on how far Symphoria has come in the single year since the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra sputtered out of business and into bankruptcy.
Irish Jack Murphy crosses his final finish line
Before I even started kindergarten, my family lived in Liverpool on Salina Street in an upstairs apartment rented by Mary Landers and squeezed between two thriving businesses, Steve’s tavern to the north and Irish Jack Murphy’s auto repair shop to the south. Jack was a master mechanic, but I knew, even as a 5-year-old, that he was much more than that. Jack was a champion race-car driver! On May 2 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Jack crossed his final finish line. He was 85 years old.
Spring in Salina 2013
With winter in our rear view mirror, spring is in full bloom. During this time of year, I receive many calls regarding certain warm weather issues. I would like to take this opportunity to address these issues and give town of Salina residents a few pointers for weathering the transition to the warm months ahead. Each winter, our town highway employees spend a great deal of time plowing our roads. Our plow crews do a wonderful job every year, and we have had a few heavy snowfalls. Sometimes it is inevitable to find some areas where the plows may have damaged the road edge or the lawn. If you have plow damage on your property, please call the town highway department as soon as possible at 455-5525 to report the damage. Crews have already begun the repair process to correct the damages and will continue to do so throughout the spring.
From the legislature: War Memorial’s Honor Wall pays tribute to vets
Citizens that have served our country in the military are deserving of, at the very least, recognition. To serve your country during perilous times is a great honor and a great sacrifice. The Oncenter War Memorial Arena is more than a place where the Syracuse Crunch play hockey, it is a living memorial to those that have served, and in some cases, those that have given their lives for our freedom. It is important to honor the individuals that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Parishes in Park Saturday, and Masons mark 150
More than most civic groups, the Masons really respect and honor history. This weekend, the local lodge will celebrate some annals of its own. And as usual, the Masons will do it in style. The Liverpool-Syracuse Lodge No. 501 of Free & Accepted Masons will mark its 150th anniversary at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, by erecting a four-foot-tall obelisk monument in front of its building at 608 Oswego St., across from Johnson Park in the village. New York State Grand Master James Sullivan is expected to attend.
How sweet it is! Village trees bear sugary sap
Last month, my buddy Joe Romano gifted me with a quart of homemade maple syrup made from sap from old maple trees growing right here in the village. Actually, the syrup blends drippings from Liverpool silver maples and sugar maples down in DeRuyer, where Joe has a camp and a sugar shack. Anyhow, what you need to know is that the syrup’s sweet as sugar cane. A barely transparent chestnut brown, it pours evenly with consistency like soft honey. My pancakes never tasted so good! And it made me feel proud to know that this superlative confection comes from some of the same trees into which I’d carved my initials so many years ago.
A role model departs
Long-time Buffalo sports journalist served as my role model
Something really stopped me last week. Not the occasion of a birthday, for there’s one of those every year and it always happens to fall during a busy time where there’s little chance to really kick back and enjoy things, not with the deluge of games, tournaments and meets to keep up with.
Skunk problem remains a low priority for village
In August 2008 several Third Street residents appeared before the Liverpool Village Board to complain about skunks inundating the neighborhood. In April 2011 in two separate incidents, Liverpool Police officers shot and killed two skunks which had been behaving strangely in village yards in broad daylight. Last summer, two longtime Liverpool residents complained to the mayor and trustees that the odious infestation had become unbearable. Salina’s animal-nuisance wildlife trapper told one resident that he was “overwhelmed” by the extent of the skunk problem across the town and unable to prioritize village properties threatened by the pesky polecats.
Something new due on Old Liverpool Road
A new gymnasium will open for business later this year on Old Liverpool Road. It’ll be located a stone’s throw from Onondaga Lake, but its name will pay homage to a faraway ocean. Pacific Health Club, Inc. of Oswego received approval from the town of Salina Planning Board to open a facility at 604 Old Liverpool Road, where the old Bresee Chevrolet and Burdick Chevrolet dealerships sold thousands of cars and trucks. In November 2011, town voters rejected a proposal that would’ve allowed the town itself to buy the property for a new town hall and town highway operations.
Raising awareness about autism
It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that autism has risen to one in every 88 births in the United States. In order to raise awareness about the programs and services available to families affected by autism, the New York State Senate has commemorated April 2013 as Autism Awareness Month.
Stirpe to host volunteer fair this May
Volunteering is an important part of what makes our community such a great place to live. Donating your time can sometimes be more valuable than simply donating money. When you volunteer, you are spending time enriching the lives of those less fortunate in our community.
Cicero goes green
The town of Cicero is committed to recycling and to reducing what is called our “carbon footprint” on the Earth. This is a goal that we hope you share with us. The town certainly isn’t yet where it needs to be; we have vehicles that aren’t as fuel-efficient as possible, we use oil-based products extensively on our roads and are working for better solutions, and our use of paper needs to be curtailed. Those challenges face us and this will be a time of transition to better use of our Earth’s resources. We believe this direction will also make us more effective, as finding ways to reduce resource consumption should also streamline what we do.
Just like the rest...but not like the rest
SU basketball reflects best, worst parts of college game
So what is Syracuse University basketball, circa 2013? The Orange’s run to the Final Four in Atlanta has evoked a whole lot of examination of what’s gone right and what’s gone wrong here. It’s also evoked the usual amount of journalistic opportunism - some of it legitimate, some of it not.
Stott sits out legislative race; may run for Salina council
Former County Legislator Dave Stott has had enough. After losing two close elections to Republican Judy Tassone, Stott decided against running against her for a third time when she defends her Fourth District seat in November. Instead, he has his eyes on the Salina Town Council where he hopes to take over for incumbent Democrat Jim Magnarelli who has represented the second ward since 2010 but is now considering stepping down. Stott had served one term on the county legislature after beating incumbent Republican Legislator Jim Farrell in 2007. Meanwhile a new candidate has emerged to challenge Tassone this year: Democrat Carol Sinesi.
Jadak Technologies to expand
It is hard to believe it has been five years since our country was thrust into a recession. Unemployment is still over 8 percent and consumer confidence is not entirely back to normal, but there are shades of promise that the economy is rebounding. The best indicator is when companies choose to expand their businesses, especially if that expansion takes place in Central New York.
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