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Restoring history
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‘Be a good neighbor’
Cicero’s 160-year-old schoolhouse roof needs repair
Planning Board member offers advice to American High’s owner By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
At its monthly meeting on the evening of Monday, Aug. 26, the village of Liverpool Planning Board welcomed American High owner Jeremy Garelick who wanted to discuss the recently amended special permit his company has to operate a film industry trade school at 800 Fourth St. American High has produced 13 movies here since Garelick purchased the historic school building in 2017. Last year, after directing the Netflix blockbuster, “Murder Mystery 2” – which was not an American High project – Garelick moved his family from Los Angeles to Fayetteville. “So now I’m here full-time,” Garelick told the planners. A veteran of 25 years in the movie business, Garelick is now spends more time in Liverpool and hopes to iron out American High’s relationship with village government. Board l Page 2
Bike lane brouhaha Second Street neighbors voice worries about DOT repaving plan By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
Submitted photos
The Cicero Historical Society is working to repair the roof to help preserve the community’s 160-year-old one room schoolhouse.
At its Aug. 22 meeting, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees – Mayor Stacy Finney and trustees Rachel Ciotti and Michael LaMontagne – heard from 12 village residents worried about the state department of transportation’s plan to repave a one-mile stretch of that road. Because the DOT plans to add bicycle lanes on both sides of the road, the village is considering a prohibition of on-street parking there. At the trustees July 15 meeting, Finney said she would alert the neighborhood via a letter welcoming public comments on Aug. 22. Most of the dozen speakers who responded maintained that on-street parking is needed to accommodate elderly relatives, deliveries, lawn services and driveway repairs. Several cited safety concerns and several more complained that vehicles traversing Second Street routinely do so at illegal speeds. The mayor pointed out that eight letters had been received about the no parking proposal, all but one in opposition. “About 90 percent of the comments opposed the bike lanes,” she said. The Karle family, who live in Galeville, favored the DOT plan as a step toward creating a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly village. Despite their support for bike lanes, the Karles acknowledged that Second Street’s sidewalks should negate the need for a bike lane there. “If there are sidewalks along Second Street, especially with accessibility ramps at the curbs, then a bike lane is not needed,” they wrote. “Otherwise they are badly needed.” All seven of the other letters were submitted by village residents who strongly oppose the DOT plan. Second Street resident Mollie Didio wrote that bike lanes “would negatively impact our daily lives in terms of not being able to park in front of our house, not being able to have visitors park in front of our house struggling even more so to deal with the busy traffic that is a near-constant on Second Street.” Lisa Wildrick wrote, “I’m not quite certain why there is a need for a bike lane considering that Onondaga Lake Park is literally a street away – which offers fantastic biking, walking and running trails – safely.” Maureen Wood, who has lived on Second Street for 25 years, argued that adding bike lanes would only “increase the danger of an already dangerous street.” In her two-page letter, Second Street homeowner Linda Loomis agreed. “Mixed-use traffic is already hazardous on Second,” she wrote. Loomis described speeding motorcycles and tractor trailers along with countless delivery vans. “Dog-walkers, stroller-pushers, cane-users and other pedestrians move through, and old ladies like me wait patiently to turn into or pull out of our driveways, watching diligently for traffic moving at several different speeds on road and sidewalk,” Loomis wrote. “A bike lane would add yet one more type of traffic moving at yet another speed.” Bike lane l Page 2
Janelle Davis In the heart of Cicero stands a testament to the community’s rich educational heritage—a 160-year-old one-room schoolhouse. Located at 6453 Route 31, near the Thompson intersection, this historical gem has been a silent witness to generations of learners since its construction in 1854. Now, the Cicero Historical Society is rallying the community to preserve this invaluable piece of local history through an ambitious roof restoration project. The Cicero Historical Society, established in 1978, has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the town’s heritage for over four decades. Founded by history-conscious citizens, the society focuses on storing historical records, acquiring artifacts, and displaying exhibits that showcase Cicero’s rich past. Their mission aims to connect contemporary residents with their local history while preserving it for future generations. Mallory Albert, president of the Cicero Historical Society and town historian, emphasizes the society’s current priorities. “We’re mostly interested in just getting the word out about our organization in general, but then also our GoFundMe and the fundraising that we’re doing to replace the roof,” she said. This dual focus underscores the immediate need for the roof restoration while also highlighting the society’s broader mission of historical preservation and education. It encompasses more than Schoolhouse l Page 2
Volume 131, Number 36 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.
c-ns: Liverpool football gear up for 2024 season.
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opinion: Unsung heroes.
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