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C-NS boys lax beats rivals by Phil Blackwell
Liverpool adopts $3.6 million budget
For the second time in three weeks, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse teams were together, this time on the turf at LHS Stadium. And this Thursday-night clash would go 11-10 in the Northstars’ favor, culminating a week as memorable and exciting as any in the C-NS program’s history. Having already beaten Baldwinsville 10-9 for its first win over the reigning two-time state Class A champion Bees in 15 years, the Northstars carried newfound confidence into its rematch with a Warriors side that went to Bragman Stadium April 16 and, with a big fourth quarter, won 13-10. Here, it would prove even closer, but part of what made the difference was that C-NS, by claiming face-offs, was able to have far more opportunities than Liverpool. Then Tanner Long stepped up, setting a season mark with four goals and helped by Adrian Sweeney’s three-goal hat trick and Rocco Villano’s pair of goals. Cy Liberman got four assists as single goals went to Donovan Chaney and Emmit Porter. What kept the Warriors in it was Owen Salanger’s 15 saves and a well-balanced attack. Chris Mattot scored three times, with Mason Gridley and Brady Michaud getting two goals apiece. Owen Michaud had four assists as he joined Dom Osbeck and Danny Dunn with single goals and Gavin Kenna got an assist. All of this followed what happened to C-NS at B’ville as it snapped a skid against the Bees far longer than Liverpool had when it won over the Bees in overtime on April 25. C-NS spent the first half
At a special meeting on April 29, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees approved the 2024-2025 village budget totaling $3,574,315. The trustees – Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti, Matt Devendorf, Mike LaMontagne and Mayor Stacy Finney – voted unanimously to approve the annual budget. Although the village plans to spend a couple thousand dollars less than the in 2023-24, next year’s budget calls for a raise of the property tax assessment from $11.95 to $12.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Finney pointed to the cost of police services as a primary reason for the tax increase. “In 2021, taxes were reduced by fifty cents per thousand in assessed value,” she said. “This year we signed the police contract, which resulted in thousands of dollars in back pay. With a negotiated police contract we were able to hire three full-time officers.” The village police department remains seriously understaffed, and the board of trustees hopes to hire more in the near future. In any case, the mayor thinks the cost is worth it. “For any resident with a home assessed at $200,000 this will result in an increase of $16.67 per month,” Finney said. “Though I cannot speak for all, I feel that our village police department is a worthy investment.” While local budgets are often increased by purchases of vehicles and/or major capital improvement projects, no such expenditures are foreseen next year. The single largest budget line in the village is always the police department. Next year, the village will spend $883,944 for police services including $698,596 for salaries. A separate budget line listed under “Holiday Decorations,” provides for $6,000 to pay for police services for the Memorial Day Parade next year. This year’s parade was canceled due to police staffing issues. Village taxes have remained flat at $11.95 per $1,000 of assessed value since 2011. Now that’s gone up to $12.95 so that, as an example a village property assessed at $100,000 will receive a tax bill for $1,295. Along with the taxes, village property owners must also pay a $130 annual sewer-fund assessment. To balance the budget, $28,364 will be transferred from the village fund balance, according to Village Clerk Mary Ellen Sims.
Scott Thomas
Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse players celebrate last Tuesday night’s 10-9 win over Baldwinsville, the first time in 15 years it had defeated the Bees as the Northstars held off a late comeback attempt. at B’ville patiently controlling the game’s tempo and getting out in front, eventually taking a 6-4 lead to the break. They played on even terms in the third quarter, but as the final period wore on the Northstars appeared to have sewn the game up, extending its lead to 10-6 with just four minutes to play. It wasn’t over, though. Playing with desperation, the Bees rattled off three consecutive goals and sliced the C-NS lead to one, but could not quite force overtime. What ultimately made the difference was that B’ville, who took more shots, was turned back by Northstars goalie Leyton Sullivan, who made 14 saves to the six for Trevor Sutton. Villano led the C-NS attack with four goals as three others
Scott Thomas
C-NS forward Tanner Long (16) netted two goals in last Tuesday’s victory and then put up four goals to help the Northstars beat Liverpool 11-10 two nights later. – Sweeney, Long and Chaney – scored twice. Dylan Garcia and Judson Ferris both got three-goal hat tricks to pace the Bees. Right after it beat Liverpool, the Northstars would face Indian River on Saturday and, avoiding any kind of letdown, prevailed 14-6 as Villano and Chaney both scored three
times, with Sweeney getting two goals and two assists. Liberman added three more assists to give him 39 for the season and added a goal. Karsen Pritchard had a goal and two assists as Long and Porter both had one goal and one assist. Luke Deinart and Quinn Empey also contributed goals.
By Russ Tarby Contributing writer
GOP nominates incumbents in village of Liverpool trustee race By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
Village trustees Matt Devendorf and Mike LaMontagne are running for re-election on Tuesday, June 18 in Liverpool. The two incumbent board members along with Village Justice Anthony LaValle were nominated by the Republican Party’s village caucus on April 30. Village GOP Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. said that 27 registered Republicans attended. Attendees reported that all three nominations were unanimous. Initially elected as trustee in 2016, Devendorf hopes to win his fifth two-year term, while LaMontagne seeks his fourth term after winning elections in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Trustees earn annual salaries of $6,000 each.
Devendorf works as director of sales and marketing at Young & Franklin/Tactair. From 2013 and 2016, he served on the village zoning board of appeal. LaMontagne is a principal architect at C&S Companies in Syracuse and served for several years on the village planning board. He focuses on higher education and aviation as a member of the C&S Education, Healthcare and Public Facilities group. LaMontagne has also served on the board of directors of FOCUS Syracuse which aims to engage the public in shaping a healthier community. LaValle was first elected judge here in 2008 and is now seeking his fifth four-year term. Besides serving as village judge, LaValle works as court attorney referee and alternative dispute resolution coordinator for the state’s Fifth Judicial District which cov-
ers six upstate counties. For his work as village justice LaValle earns $15,000 a year. Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.
Democrats sit out
The village Democrats have declined to conduct a caucus this spring, according to Liverpool Mayor Stacy Finney, a first-term Democrat. “The Democrats will not be putting any candidates forward this election cycle,” she wrote in a May 3 email. “We will focus our efforts on informing citizens of the benefits of moving the election to November.” At its April 15 meeting, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees voted 3 to 1 to conduct a referendum on June 18 in which voters could switch the village election date from June to November. Re-
Submitted photos
Pictured from left, Incumbent Liverpool Trustee Matt Devendorf hopes to be re-elected to serve a fifth term, Trustee Michael LaMontagne will seek his fourth term and Judge Anthony LaValle will seek his fifth term on the bench in the June 18 village election. publican Trustee Matt Devendorf cast the sole nay vote. Republicans have enjoyed largely unchallenged control of village government for two decades until last year when Democrats conducted their first village caucus since 2001. In 2023, Democrats nominated
two women to run for the board of trustees – Melissa Cassidy and Rachel Ciotti – and one woman – Stacy Finney – to run for mayor, and all three were elected. So now Democrats control the board of trustees, 3 to 2, with Devendorf and LaMontagne as the holdover Republicans.
Volume 131, Number 19 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.
community: North Syracuse celebrates Earth Day.
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sports: Liverpool softball comes back for win over F-M.
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Calendar ������������������ 10 Editorial ��������������������� 4 letters ������������������������ 4 library ������������������������ 2
Obituaries ������������� 3,12 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ����������������������� 13