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MARCH FOR MEALS County executive helps raise awareness of NAMOW, needs of seniors
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From left is Jeremy Garelick directing “MM2” on location in Paris with stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.
‘Deux or Die’ Comedy sequel directed by American High founder By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
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North Syracuse Mayor Gary Butterfield volunteering in the kitchen.
NAMOW volunteer Dick, Cicero Councilman Mike Becallo.
County Executive delivering meals to NAMOW participant. North Area Meals on Wheels (NAMOW) recently held a Community Champions event with local community leaders, including Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, in celebration of the 2023 March for Meals Community Champions Week. Across the country this week, Meals on Wheels programs have enlisted elected officials, local celebrities, and other prominent figures to deliver meals safely, speak out for seniors and raise awareness for the power of Meals on Wheels. “We are so grateful to have our community leaders join us in our commitment to caring for our homebound neighbors.” said Jennifer Covert, NAMOW executive director. “Together we can positively impact and change the lives in our community, as well as continue to fulfill our mission of ensuring that no senior goes hungry”. The annual March for Meals commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. This March, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining forces to celebrate more than 50 years of success and garner the support needed to ensure these critical programs can continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, enable independence, and improve health for years to come.
Cicero Town Assessor Karen Sgroi, Cicero Town Clerk Tracy Cosilmon, NAMOW volunteer Sally.
Salina Councilman Matt Cushing, Clay Town Supervisor Damian Ulatowski, Town Supervisor Nick Paro. “We commend all of our 2023 Community Champions for stepping up to ensure that Meals on Wheels is there for all of our senior neighbors in need,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “The demand for services is already great and approximately 12,000 Americans are turning 60 every day. We must maintain and expand the programs that have helped so many get through this unprecedented time in our nation’s history. We can’t do it
alone. It takes all of us to keep the nationwide Meals on Wheels movement going.” NAMOW serves nutritious meals to over 300 seniors, the disables, and homebound in Northern Onondaga County. (North Syracuse, Cicero, Mattydale, Clay, Liverpool. Bridgeport, Brewerton and Baldwinsville) For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Northern Onondaga County, visit namow.org.
Comedy sequels are infamously worse than its initial version. Think “Caddyshack II” or maybe “Men in Black II.” “I’ve never seen one that was better than the first one,” said film director Jeremy Garelick. But every once in a while, the sequel outshines the original. That certainly seems to be the case with “Murder Mystery 2: Deux or Die,” now streaming on Netflix. On Thursday, March 30 at the American High building in Liverpool, nearly 300 hundred curious movie-goers turned out to see the new movie directed by Garelick, founder of American High. Ana Olano, another American High staffer, worked as Garelick’s assistant director on the movie. American High head of production praised Garelick’s comedy chops. “Jeremy is one of the funniest screenwriters of all time,” Will Phelps told the audience. As evidence, Phelps listed some of Garelick’s earlier script credits, “The Hangover, “The Break Up” and “The Wedding Ringer” Screened at the old school’s auditorium at 800 Fourth St., “Murder Mystery 2” stars Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston as Nick and Audrey Spitz, a cop and his hairdresser wife. In the original film released in 2019, Sandler and Aniston play a couple who take a vacation in Europe where they get framed for a murder. In “MM2,” the Spitzes are now full-time private detectives who find themselves at the center of an international abduction when their friend, the Maharajah, is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding. Three years ago at American High, Garelick directed “The Binge” which included several wild party scenes, but nothing like the ill-fated wedding event. The “MM2” dance scene would be the envy of Bollywood. Cue the elephant! From there, Garelick and his cast are off and running. And running rapidly! The pacing of this humorous whodunit clocks in at breakneck speed. Supported by a seemingly bottomless budget, Garelick managed to film awesome action sequences, some involving jet skis, multiple helicopters, exploding vehicles and a car crash into a Parisian coffeehouse. One of the movie’s most gripping scenes is a duel to the death inside a van speeding down the streets of Paris between our heroic couple and some ax-wielding kidnappers. But even that dynamic action is trumped by the finale on the Eiffel Tower in which Audrey is dangled from the tower’s crown. In a 45-minute question-and-answer session following Thursday’s screening, Garelick said such scenes required “plenty of prep and a lot of effects.” The cost of the needed technology was covered by what Garelick called the film’s “huge” budget, “bigger than all the American High movies put together.” Five different production companies collaborated on the new movie, including Sandler’s own Happy Madison Productions, plus Echo Films, Mythology Entertainment, Vinson Films and Endgame Entertainment. The 47-year-old Garelick reminded Thursday’s audience that one of his goals at American High is to offer opportunities to younger actors and filmmakers. He made sure that a couple of talented American High actresses were cast in this major Netflix product. Movie l Page 15
Volume 131, Number 14 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.
schools: Students excel in Optimists essay contest.
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sports: C-NS girls lacrosse handles Westhill in opener.
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Calendar ������������������ 15 Editorial ��������������������� 6 LETTERS ������������������������ 7 HISTORY ������������������������ 7
Obituaries ���������������4-5 PennySaver ���������������� 8 SCHOLARS ������������������ 16 Sports ����������������������� 15