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Meet the 2022 Business of the Year Mud Mill Liverpool Chamber of Commerce recognizes Karate John’s Martial Arts The Second Annual Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award was presented to John Annabel of Karate John’s Martial Arts. The process of choosing the business to be awarded this honor starts in March. Each month features a category chosen by the ARM (Ambassadors, Recognition and Membership) committee. Each of the businesses chosen over a period of 10 months becomes a nominees for Business of the Year. The community and members of the chamber can vote for their choice once per email. This year more than 70 members attended a lunch at OneGroup catered by Amore Pizza of Liverpool. The video of this event can be viewed on the chamber’s Facebook page. Annabel started Karate John’s in 2004 and has two locations, one in Liverpool (Bayberry Plaza) and one in Cicero. He said he is trying to build leadership “one black belt at a time.” His program fosters self-esteem, helps children focus, instills respect and encourages nonviolent solutions to conflict. Karate John’s statistics prove that children have improved in school and communication. The program starts for children at 4 years old and up and also offers programs for adults. Annabel is an active member of his community and of the Greater Liverpool Chamber.
By David Tyler
Submitted photo
The Second Annual Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award was presented to John Annabel of Karate John’s Martial Arts.
Hoyt to be inducted into SAMMYS Hall of Fame By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
When he was growing up in Pitcher Hill, Larry Hoyt first heard Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” and the kid was duly impressed by the power of music. Soon his attention turned to rock’n’roll. Over the years, Hoyt’s love of music has manifested itself in many ways – as a fan; as a performer; as a presenter; as a band manager; as a music writer and reviewer; as an open mic host; as a music video producer; and as a radio disc jockey. He recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as host of WAER-FM’s Sundayafternoon show, “Common Threads,” which features a marvelous mix of folk and acoustic recordings. On “Common Threads,” Hoyt spins tunes by accomplished artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Johnny Cash, but he also programs local performers such as Martin Sexton, Karen Savoca, Loren Barrigar and Ryan Burdick. Because of Hoyt’s lifelong devotion to the CNY music scene, he’s being inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame, at a 7 p.m. dinner Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 S. Franklin St., in downtown Syracuse. Admission costs $30 per person.
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North Syracuse native Larry Hoyt, host of WAER-FM’s “Common Threads,” will be inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame, on Thursday, March 2, Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, in downtown Syracuse. Hoyt’s fellow 2023 inductees also include blues singer Carolyn Kelly and Doug Thaler, a member of Ronnie Dio & The Prophets who went on to become a booking agent for artists such as Ju-
das Priest, Bon Jovi, Bruce Hornsby and Rusted Root. Jazz bassist and composer Kevin Dorsey will be recognized as music educator of the year. He has taught SAMMYS l Page 12
Penizotto snags Conservative endorsement for supervisor By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
On Feb. 3, local businesswoman Stella Penizotto announced that she will challenge incumbent Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro for the Republican Party nomination to run for the office in November. She is currently passing petitions to force a GOP primary on June 27. Last week, the Conservative Party of Onondaga County announced that it was endorsing Penizotto to run for supervisor in November on that party line. “I am honored and I am humble to receive the Conservative endorsement,” Penizotto said. “Years ago I was a registered Conservative.” Having the Conservative support, she said, should make her candidacy more attractive to GOP voters as well. Paro pointed out that he had secured
Road solar array approved
the support of the town Conservative Party committee, but the county committee overruled the town endorsement. “Why should committee members from all over the county – LaFayette, Camillus, Skaneateles, wherever – why should they get to make this decision which affects Salina,” he asked. Paro suggested that the town’s own registered Conservatives should be the ones to endorse town candidates. The town of Salina Conservative Party is chaired by Paro’s wife, Bree Paro. “I am just confused because Stella was a Republican and then left the party and changed affiliation, now she wants to run as a Republican and Conservative,” Paro said. Paro said he is not worried because the Conservative Party line routinely draws a small fraction of the overall vote total in the general election.
When he was initially elected supervisor in 2021, Paro drew most of his votes from the Republican line. “I would have won anyhow that time, even without the votes I got on the Conservative line,” he said. Onondaga County Conservative Party Chairman Bernard Ment, who resides in East Syracuse, characterized the Penizotto endorsement as “a surprising move.” In the Feb. 22 press release, Ment wrote that Penizotto “cited the current incumbent’s lack of transparency or empathy for the community as reasons for her run.” The co-owner of Shining Stars Day Care Centers, Penizotto has never before run for public office. Paro, who was an analyst for the Onondaga County Legislature, previously served a term as Salina’s First Ward councilor, from 2019 to 2021.
Last week, the Cicero Town Board approved a special permit for a solar array to be constructed on Mud Mill Road. The property, at 7570 Mud Mill Road, is owned by Donald Harwood, a local farmer who has been involved with a number of community organizations over the years. The project, which is being developed by Renua Energy out of Glens Falls, would sit on about 20 acres of Harwood’s farm and the rest of the land would remain agricultural. The project site would sit about 410 feet off of Mud Mill Road. The panels, which would rotate with the sun during the day, would be at about 16 feet at their highest point. During a public hearing held two weeks earlier, several area residents expressed concerns about the project’s visual impact on the neighborhood and on groundwater. Those concerns came up again during the public comment portion of last Wednesday’s meeting. The panels would be screened by hundreds of plantings, including sugar maples, hemlocks and white pines. The trees that are to be planted will be seven to eight feet tall, and will not fully screen the project in the first couple of years, said Steven Darcangelo of Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, the firm that is providing engineering and landscape architecture services to the developer. But as the trees mature, they will provide adequate screening, he said. When considering solar array proposals, the town’s code requires that the board consider whether a project “overburdens” a neighborhood when taken in context with other solar arrays in the area. At issue was whether the approval of this project, to go along with the nearby McKinley Road solar array which is less than a mile away, would overburden the neighborhood around Mud Mill Road. “Personally, my thought is that this one is very close to the other one,” said Councilor Nancy White. White was the lone member of the board to vote against the proposal. Darcangelo disagreed. “Would anyone see both? Would anyone be directly impacted by both, particularly from a visual impact?” he asked the board. “With that in mind, we thought that we would meet that requirement of not overburdening the neighborhood.” Councilor Jonathan Karp said he is generally not in favor of commercial solar arrays, citing the law he recently drafted making it more difficult for solar arrays to be sited in the town. This array, however, is different, he said. “Given the distance from the road, the screening and the fact that this does allow this farm to continue operating as it has been … I think the issuance of this permit is appropriate in this circumstance,” Karp said. The project will create enough energy to power approximately 1,000 homes. As a community solar project, area residents who sign up for renewable energy through Renua will see a discount of approximately 10 percent on their energy bill. As the project nears completion, Renua will begin marketing energy from the solar array, first in the immediate area and then to a wider audience.
Volume 131, Number 9 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.
school news: LHS students receive Junior High All-County Honors.
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sports news: Boys hoops Warriors return to sectional AA final.
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letters ������������������������ 5 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ����������������������� 11
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