FREE • EagleStarReview.com
Proudly serving Liverpool, Salina, North Syracuse, Cicero & Clay
PENNY SAVER: CNY’S BEST BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY INSIDE!
Week of July 19, 2023 Home of The Piraino Family
WORK BUY SELL TRADE GET IT DONE
trucks banned Healing by helping others Big Liverpool passes local law Local woman launches The Cus Foundation By Janelle Davis
Betsy Cusumano’s world changed forever in the fall of 2022 when her husband Tom, also known as “Cus,” unexpectedly took his life. “He never suffered from any mental health issues. He was the most evenkeeled person you could meet, so it really blindsided us,” said Cusumano, who lives in the town of Clay, within the Baldwinsville school district. Cusumano shared that her husband was one of the best people you could know and you couldn’t find anyone with something bad to say about him. “He lived his life with kindness, selflessness, and generosity in everything he did. He was that kind of person, just a pure soul,” she said. While there is no one way to deal with grief, Cusumano wanted to do something to honor her husband. While she said she is very grateful for the strong foundation of friends and family that she and her four children have, during her grieving, it occurred to her that some people who lose someone in this way may not have the same foundational support system. What happens to the people that are left behind? What happens to the survivors of suicide loss? That’s the gap that Cusumano wanted to fill. She wants to bring some hope and light into people’s lives who are trying to heal from such a traumatic loss and help them along their journey of healing. So she started the Cus Foundation. The Cus Foundation is a nonprofit
Submitted photo
Shown are Betsy and Tom Cusumano with their four children. After Tom Cusumano tragically ended his own life in the fall of 2022, Betsy Cusumano has launched the Cus Foundation, an organization devoted to providing support for people who have lost someone close to suicide. organization that means Caring for Unexpected Survivors of suicide loss. Betsy wanted to build a foundation where she can provide services like meals, care packages, and support groups. But she also wanted to offer a platform for people to go and access a multitude of resources, if they didn’t want to contact her personally. Some resources include: l Links and information you need to know for when someone passes l Support groups l Restorative Yoga with Branches of Growth l Links to getting meals
l Link to Hope For Bereaved, Inc l A list of therapists “Either I can be involved in their journey by providing services, or they can access the website and get what they need,” Cusumano explained. When asked how people dealing with unexpected loss can find their coping mechanisms, she said everyone has their own tools that work for them. “Don’t isolate yourself. You may want to, but don’t,” she said. She suggests finding the little things that give you peace, like taking a walk in nature or doing kickboxing to take out frustration. As far as what others
can do to help a loved one when experiencing grief, Cusumano offered some helpful advice. “People are so kind and tell you to let them know if you need anything,” she said. “But your loved one might be uncomfortable or not know what to ask for.” Her advice? Don’t ask, just do. Things like doing favors, giving helpful gift cards, or offering to take them out somewhere could go a long way. While Cusumano is still learning, she leads by example by finding her little pieces of joy. “My kids are the most important thing to me. I refuse to let them live a life of sadness and sorrow. I have to make it as beautiful and filled with love and laughter as much as I can,” she said. “That is my goal Cus l Page 13
Local eatery to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants By Frances Sharples
On Thursday July 13, TV program and YouTube channel America’s Best Restaurants arrived in Brewerton to interview restaurant owner Michael Piraino at his restaurant, Bear Creek. From the first glance of the restaurant to the feel of the interview itself, it’s evident why. “They [America’s Best Restaurants] walked us through everything,” said Piraino. “They explained B roll and A roll and all these different film terms, and we did a walkthrough of what we were going to do in the segments…it was really a fun experience.” Piraino provided insight into the style of the channel’s filming, as well. “The way they like to shoot is kind of off-the-cuff,” he said. “It’s like being on a talk show, and they don’t give you the questions in ad-
vance. For me, I love that— I’ll engage with anybody.” Starting off in 2019, months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Piraino opened Bear Creek with his girlfriend, Jackie Allen, after attracting attention from the restaurant’s previous owners for his success at another diner Piraino ran just down the road. While the pandemic led to many other businesses closing, Piraino transformed tragedy into opportunity, selling over 150 burgers through a drive-thru window every Wednesday. This is not the only time that Piraino spotted an opportunity to create community through food. “I make good food— familiar food,” Piraino explained, “and I make it so that all walks of life can enjoy it…We welcome anyone— any walk of life, any race, color, creed, political [view], Bear Creek l Page 13
By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer At its July 10 meeting, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees approved a new local law prohibiting the operation of trucks weighing more than five tons within the village. The law specifically targets “truck, trailers and tractor-trailer combinations.” “It has been recognized that there is an increase of heavy truck traffic through the village,” the trustees’ resolution stated. The law, which was drafted by the former board of trustees headed by Mayor Gary White, aims to “regulate and control land use and to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents as well as the integrity of village thoroughfares.” The resolution cited a December 2022 truck and traffic study conducted by civil engineers Barton & Loguidice which documented existing traffic patterns and applicable laws, engineering design standards and signage. The law includes a notable exclusion, allowing trucks of all weights to make local deliveries and pickups. At a public hearing about the new law there was one speaker. First Street resident Joe Ostuni Jr. said he appreciated the new law’s intent and urged the trustees to back it up by enforcing heavy fines. The current fine for such an offense is $50, but Mayor Stacy Finney predicted that amount will be increased. “As it stands – at $50 – it’s not even a slap on the wrist,” Finney said. The board – Finney and trustees Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti, Matt Devendorf and Mike LaFontagne – then unanimously approved the new law. Two other measures were approved but not unanimously. In fact, the resulting votes reflected the new partisan makeup of the village board, as three Democrats voted in favor and the two remaining Republicans – Devendorf and LaMontagne – opposed it. So Finney’s appointment of Bob Bradt as new chairman of the village planning board, replacing longtime Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr., passed by a vote of 3 to 2. Bradt has been a planning board member since November 2020 while Ostuni began as a planner in 1995 before becoming chairman nearly 20 years ago. Ostuni also serves as chairman of the village Republican Party. Several other mayoral appointments were unanimously approved by the trustees as part of its annual organizational meeting on July 10, including two new members of the zoning board of appeals, Amy Lago and Jeremiah Thompson. Two re-appointments to the tree committee – Chairwoman Yvette Hewitt and member Holly Granat – also received unanimous approval. But when it came to scheduling a public hearing on Aug. 14 to consider changing the annual village election day from June to November, the two Republicans opposed it. By a vote of 3 to 2, the trustees approved next month’s public hearing.
New mayor, trustees sworn in.
Before the July 10 meeting was called to order, newly elected Liverpool Mayor Stacy Finney and new trustees Melissa Cassidy and Rachel Ciotti were sworn into office by Liverpool Justice Anthony LaValle. Before administering the oaths, the judge reminded elected officials and residents alike that they all have a responsibility to work together for the betterment of our community.
Ten accidents in June
Frances Sharples
Bear Creek in Brewerton will be featured on an upcoming episode of America’s Best Restaurants.
At the village board’s monthly meeting on July 10, Police Chief Jerry Unger reported via memo that his officers made 180 traffic stops and issued 163 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in June. Ten accidents were investigated here last month, and two motorists were issued parking tickets. Officers made 32 residential checks and 171 business checks in June while responding to a total of 480 incidents and calls for service. That number represents an average of 16 calls answered per day. The LPD arrested 20 individuals last month on 22 criminal charges.
Volume 131, Number 29 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.
milestones: McLaughlins celebrate 60th anniversary.
PAGE 2
achievers: Liverpool resident promoted at Loretto.
PAGE 2
Calendar ������������������ 13
milestones ����������������� 2
Editorial ��������������������� 6
Obituaries ���������������� 12
letters ������������������������ 7
PennySaver ���������������� 8