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Cicero UMC welcomes new pastor By Ashley M. Casey Associate Editor
After spending his pastoral career island-hopping throughout his native Caribbean, the Rev. Jefferson Niles decided in 2017 that he was ready for a new adventure. “I began to sense after a quarter-century in the ministry … a fresh calling to serve outside of my comfort zone,” said Niles. Niles spent five years preaching at the First United Methodist Church of Fulton before moving to Cicero earlier this summer. His tenure as pastor of Cicero United Methodist Church began July 1. His goals for Cicero UMC include reviving inperson church attendance, strengthening the youth ministry and holding regular bible study sessions where people can engage in meaningful discussions beyond the Sunday service. Born in Anguilla (pronounced “ang-GWIL-uh”), Niles’ family relocated to Saint Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, when he was 9 months old. The Niles family — which in-
cluded Jefferson, his older brother and their three younger siblings — lived in Saint Thomas for about nine years before returning to Anguilla in the early 1970s. Life in Anguilla was hard: their village home had no potable running water, so they collected rainwater in a cistern. During times of drought, Niles and his siblings had to haul water from town to their home twice a day — before school and in the evening — so the family could cook, bathe and do laundry. “Ever since then, I’ve been an early riser,” he said. Electricity was scarce and many Anguillans cooked with outdoor rock ovens. Niles’ family grew a few crops — mostly peas and corn — and raised goats. During the summer, Niles and his siblings worked construction jobs to pay for their school uniforms. Despite the difficulties, Niles has fond memories of his upbringing: tasting fresh milk from his grandfather’s cows, his father building and sailing a boat from Saint Thomas to An-
guilla, and accompanying his uncle on land surveying jobs. His uncle would cut coconuts from palm trees for the siblings. Church was central to his family’s life. His father was a member of the choir and both parents were devout Christians. Niles taught Sunday school and was in a youth group that led worship once a month. The church was also where he met Annie, the girl he would one day marry. “We knew each other in high school. We grew up in the same village. It was through church … that we got to know each other, and our relationship grew and deepened,” Niles said. As a youth, Niles dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, but as he grew up and became more involved in church life, he found his destiny lay elsewhere. “Instead of becoming a doctor of the body, I became a doctor of souls,” he said. In 1987, Niles left Anguilla once again to attend the United Theological College of the West Indies in Jamaica. He graduated in 1991
and began his two-year probationary ministerial appointment in Nevis. Jefferson and Annie Niles married in 1991 and welcomed a daughter the following year. His Caribbean career continued: Niles spent 1993-96 in Antigua, where he was ordained in 1994. After Antigua came a fiveyear stint in Dominica, where his son was born in 1999. Niles was assigned to two different postings in the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2001 and 2017. That was when his calling shifted northward. He applied for permission to seek an appointment in Methodist conferences in the United States. The Upper New York Annual (Regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church sent him to Fulton. After the 2021 death of Cicero UMC Pastor Greg DeSalvatore, UNYAC Bishop Mark Webb and his cabinet assigned Niles to Cicero. “The most challenging aspect was the weather. We’d never really experienced winter,” Niles said. The climate of the CaribPastor l Page 3
Ashley M. Casey
The Rev. Jefferson Niles, a native of Anguilla, began serving as pastor of Cicero United Methodist Church on July 1. In his spare time, he enjoys jogging and playing the trumpet.
L’pool Police losing three part-time officers Cicero Police make arrest in stabbing By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
Facing a staffing shortage he calls “critical,” Liverpool Police Chief Jerry Unger appeared at the monthly meeting of the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees on Monday, Aug. 15. Unger requested approval to promote a part-time officer to full-time and to hire a police academy graduate as a part-time officer. The board – Mayor Gary White and trustees Matt Devendorf, Christina Fadden, Dennis Hebert and Michael LaMontagne – voted unanimously to approve the promotion of Officer Ryan Roman, a veteran of the Dryden Police Department, to full time and to hire Justin Rushlow, a recent graduate of the Cazenovia Col-
lege Police Academy, to a part-time position. “We’re potentially losing three of our seven part-time officers in the coming weeks,” Unger told the trustees. Sgt. Sean Edwards plans to take a job as a student resource officer in the West Genesee School District, Unger explained, while rookie Officer Charles Mataraza is being hired by the state police, and Officer Dave Butler intends to retire. “The face of law enforcement in this county has changed,” Unger said. The Hancock International Airport is in the process of establishing its own police agency, one that will largely be staffed by retired police officers, the chief said. That situation will likely limit the pool of eligible
candidates to work part-time in departments such as the LPD. Rushlow will be paid $24.05 per hour, while Roman will earn a yearly salary of $47,910.
Six accidents in July
On Aug. 15, Unger reported to trustees that the LPD made 200 traffic stops in July, and officers issued 161 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws. Six traffic accidents were investigated last month, and one driver was arrested for DWI. Four parking tickets were written. Officers made 105 residential checks and 223 business checks in July while responding to a total of 667 incidents and calls for service. The LPD arrested 26 individuals last month on 38 criminal charges.
On Aug. 17 at about 8:28 p.m. the Town of Cicero Police Department was dispatched 6210 Pebble St. in the town of Cicero for a 911 call with a women reporting that someone had been stabbed. Upon police arrival a male later identified as Mark A. Crawford, 40, of Cicero, was found unconscious lying on the floor. Medical care was immediately administered, and upon Navac ambulance arrival Crawford was transported to Upstate Hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition. April J. Barbagallo 28 of 6210 Pebble St. Cicero, was detained on scene and transported to the Cicero Police Department and subsequently charged with assault in the first degree, a class B Felony, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. Barbagallo was processed at the Cicero Police Department and remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center pending arraignment. The investigation is still ongoing.
Conservative activists picket congressional candidate’s Liverpool business By Ashley M. Casey Associate Editor
A former volunteer of Steve Wells’ congressional campaign organized a protest last Wednesday at Wells’ American Food and Vending Corp. headquarters in Liverpool. While the demonstration at Wells’ business was presented as a “rally for life” meant to attract anti-abortion protesters, activist Caleb Slater said his main issue with Wells is transparency about his views. Wells, of Cazenovia, faced off against Sennett resident Brandon Williams in the Aug. 23 Republican primary for New York’s reconfigured 22nd congressional district. Results from the primary were not available before press time. Slater said he was a paid volunteer for Wells’ campaign in June and July. “I was a paid member of Steve’s staff, but walked away due to his failure to defend the right to life and consistent track record of misleading the public,” Slater said ahead of the protest. “Even though I didn’t like his stance, I hoped that by volunteering I could convince Mr. Wells to research the issue and change his mind. That was two months ago and his refus-
al to act proves I was wrong. We must hold our officials and candidates accountable.” The Aug. 17 protest, which Slater co-organized with Students for Life and Juli Rosati’s Pro Life Training Center, drew about 15 to 20 participants. In an email to Eagle Newspapers, a representative of the Wells campaign refuted Slater’s claims. The unsigned email from press@stevewellsforcongress.com said Slater was not a staff member but a paid volunteer. “He was paid $2,500 from the campaign to pass petitions and help get Steve on the ballot. He was not a member of our staff. Caleb is now working with the Williams campaign,” the email read. Williams’ campaign manager Michael Gordon told the Auburn Citizen that Slater “has no affiliation with our campaign.” Wells’ spokesperson also said the candidate has made his stance on abortion clear in conversations with voters, GOP committee members throughout the 22nd district and in a Q&A on Syracuse.com. “Steve has met with Republican voters and committee members throughout NY-22. He has been asked about his position and clearly
answered it time and time again,” Wells’ representative wrote. The campaign provided a statement from Steve Wells on the issue of abortion: “I agree with the Supreme Court that this issue should be decided by the states. I do not support federal funding for abortion — indirectly or directly.” Slater said his concerns about Wells extend beyond the reproductive rights debate. He condemned Wells for vague position statements on major issues and for donating to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s election chest. “It’s not just about abortion,” Slater said. “There are tradeoffs in politics, but at the end of the day, transparency is the most important.” According to the New York State Board of Elections Campaign Finance System, Wells’ business American Food & Vending Corp. donated $26,000 to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign between December 2014 and July 2021. Cuomo, a Democrat, resigned in August 2021 after a New York State Attorney General report concluded he had sexually harassed numerous women. Slater also cited New York’s Red Flag Law, under which law enforcement can apply for
Extreme Risk Protection Orders to seize firearms from people who are potentially a danger to themselves or others. “What is more tyrannical than red flag laws? We don’t know where Mr. Wells stands on those issues,” Slater said. Wells’ position on the Second Amendment, which appears on his campaign website, does not mention any specific legislation but he appears to favor balancing responsible gun ownership with issues of mental health and school safety. “I have been a licensed and lawful owner of firearms for decades. As a prosecutor I have seen firsthand the damage inflicted by irresponsible criminals with no regard for human life,” Wells wrote. “I’m a proud 2nd Amendment supporter and oppose efforts to take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens. We need to address mental health, improve and utilize background checks, and secure schools. The right of self-defense is fundamental to our system of justice and liberty.” Wells has received endorsements from the county sheriffs of Onondaga, Madison and Oswego, former New York State Sen. John A. DeFrancisco and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Volume 130, Number 34 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.
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calendar ������������������ 15 death notices ����������� 5 Editorial ��������������������� 6 letters ������������������������ 7
Obituaries ������������������ 5 PennySaver ���������������� 8 Sports schedules �� 14