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.
North Syracuse BOE candidate profiles
North Syracuse will hold its budget and board of education vote Tuesday, May 21. Residents will vote for three BOE members; four candidates are running. The polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; if you live north of Route 481, vote at Cicero Elementary on Route 31. Residents living south of Route 481 should vote at the district office, 5355 W. Taft Road, North Syracuse. The budget itself is $144 million. The estimated tax increase is 5.33 percent; the tax impact is about $23.10 per $100,000 of assessed value. The budget includes full-day kindergarten. The full budget can be found at nscsd.org. Read on for profiles of the candidates.
Liverpool BOE candidate profiles
Liverpool will hold its budget and board of education vote Tuesday, May 21. The polling place, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., is Liverpool High School, 4338 Wetzel Road, Liverpool. Voters will choose three representatives for BOE; three candidates are running. The budget itself is $135 million and represents a 4.71 percent increase over last year's budget. The tax levy increased by 5.2 percent; the tax impact is estimated at 4.2 percent. The full budget can be found at liverpool.k12.ny.us. Read on for profiles of the candidates running for BOE.
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.
The I-81 conundrum: Highway reconstruction will cause hassle, but something must be done
Five years from now, the Syracuse skyline could look very different. Instead of an elevated highway heading into the city, the New York State Department of Transportation could construct an arterial boulevard. Or an underground tunnel. Or an iconic bridge. Truthfully, the DOT isn’t sure yet what the new Interstate 81 will look like. They just know that something needs to be done to replace the existing structure. “Bridges are designed to last for a certain period of time,” said Beau Duffy, public information officer for the NYS DOT. “The I-81 viaduct in Syracuse is reaching this point in time. Because repair and refurbishment of the bridge involves a significant investment, it makes sense, from a cost-benefit perspective, to look at potential alternatives for the future of the corridor.”
Interfaith activists celebrate social justice at ACTS spring banquet in L’pool
Central New York boasts a rich history of social activism, and the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS) keeps that tradition alive. More than 300 ACTS members, honorees and supporters filled the ballroom at the Holiday Inn at Electronics Parkway on Thursday, April 25, at the group’s sixth annual spring banquet. “This is an incredible sight,” exclaimed Mark Spadafore as he gazed out at the crowd from the podium. “There are people from different communities, people from different races and people from different faith traditions. Everyone coming together like this shows us that we have power, and power can change things.”
Stirpe announces Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday April 27
In an effort to help keep unwanted and expired prescription drugs off the streets and ensure they are properly disposed of, Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced April 27 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Now in its sixth year, Central New York families are encouraged to dispose of their unwanted medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.
Liverpool Public Library to hold budget hearing
The Liverpool Public Library Board of Trustees will be conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. May 1 just prior to their regular board meeting to discuss the expenditure of library funds for the fiscal year 2013-14 and the budgeting thereof.
North suburbs to host meeting on I-81
At the request of the towns of Salina and Cicero and Onondaga County Legislator Kathleen Rapp, staff from the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council will provide an overview of The I-81 Challenge at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool (441 Electronics Parkway). The meeting will include a brief presentation from SMTC staff that will provide background information about The I-81 Challenge.
Liverpool levies stay flat though village budget increases slightly
After a brief public hearing on April 15, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees approved a 2013-14 budget of $2,306,565.32. The tax rate for village property-owners will stand at $12.25 per $1,000 of valuation, the same as it was for the 2012-13 cycle. In 2012-13, a home assessed at $100,000 received a village tax bill of $1,225. All properties in the village are also assessed a $150-per unit sewer rent charge.
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.
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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