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Harmonic Collective will host a membership drive Oct. 6.
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Chorus to host membership drive Made up of amateur and professional singers from all over Central New York, Harmonic Collective is more than just a chorus. The ensemble competes internationally, engages in community outreach, and performs across the state yearround! They welcome all ages and experience levels to join with their youngest singer just turning 11 and their oldest in their 70s. Chorus members include everyone from high school and collegiate music students to professional vocalists and hobbyists alike. Founded in 2017, the chorus is just back from their fourth appearance at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Contest, held this summer in Cleveland, OH. As one of the top 30 a cappella barbershop choruses in the world, Harmonic Collective, is led by local music educator and vocalist, Sky Harris, who also teaches in Liverpool. Chorus members come together each week to learn, grow, and prepare for upcoming performances and competitions.
Most are amateur musicians… men brought together by their love of singing and performing from all walks of life. “The environment is the best part,” bass, Edward Deaver said, “the group is super positive… everyone is always rooting for you! I sang in high school, but took time off in college, and I’m just so excited to be back!” Like many singers in Harmonic Collective, Deaver grew up loving to sing in school, church, and community groups, but after taking some time off for life, he’s now rekindled that love in Harmonic Collective. “I like the singing the best,” lead, Alan Weinberger said. “I sang for a long time growing up, took a few decades off for family, and on a challenge from my wife, I joined the chorus and am really enjoying it!” One of several collegiate faculty in the group, Weinberger is from a family full of singers and loves what a wide assortment of people make up the group - everyone from engineers and tech specialists to students, educators, laborers, and retired folk from every line
of work. “The chorus has become like a second family to me,” bass and chorus president Keith Edwards said. “My youngest got me back into singing when the chorus got started in 2017 and it’s just become more and more of a passion every week!” Edwards is local to Liverpool, but some members come from as far as one to two hours away for weekly rehearsals, events, and the chorus family that Harmonic Collective has become. If you’re looking for an opportunity to get back into singing, try it out for the first time, or are a seasoned professional looking for an added challenge in the “black belt of a cappella”, Harmonic Collective is hosting a membership drive in October beginning with their first guest night on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Liverpool. You can find out more about CNY’s best kept a cappella secret and register for their membership drive by visiting their website: harmonic-collective. com/.
Harassment complaint filed against Cicero supervisor Board to hire independent firm to investigate By David Tyler Last Wednesday night, the Cicero Town Board voted unanimously to have the town attorney engage a human resources firm “for the investigation of an employee matter,” ostensibly in response to a complaint filed earlier in the day that alleges Supervisor Michael Aregano harassed his former secretary, Natalie VanEpps, who was employed in that role in 2022. The complaint was filed by Cicero resident Robert George, who said that last fall he had heard from a number of people at town hall that Aregano had been abusive to a staff member and that his tirades directed at her could be heard throughout town hall. In the complaint, George is asking the town board to investigate Aregano for sexual harassment, harassment and other misconduct toward a subordinate female town employee. The complaint also asks for an investigation into Amy O’Mara, who handles human resources for the town, for failing to follow town procedure and for failing to protect an employee from Aregano’s alleged conduct. George said he has not been retained by VanEpps as an attorney and is seeking no compensation. “This is hard for me. I like Aregano,” said George, who added that he worked on both of Aregano’s election
campaigns. “But this goes beyond the pale.” George has filed other complaints with the town in the past. In 2014, George filed an ethics complaint with the town alleging that former supervisor Jessica Zambrano was involved in a romantic relationship with Douglas Wickman, a senior principal at C&S Engineering, and then voted to hire C&S Engineering as the town’s engineering firm. The town’s ethics committee did determine that a conflict of interest took place. George said Friday that he is only acting as a concerned Cicero resident and that he believes in the mantra “sunshine is the best disinfectant for government corruption.” In an affidavit filed last Wednesday in conjunction with the complaint, which was shared with the Star-Review and other media outlets, VanEpps accuses Aregano of using foul language in regard to another woman in VanEpps’ presence, badgering her about her personal medical information, restricting her movement in the office, and verbal abuse. “I dreaded coming into work. And while at work, I experienced extreme anxiety all day long because of Supervisor Aregano’s constant harassing and blaming behavior towards me,” VanEpps stated in the affidavit. “Supervisor Aregano was so cruel and abusive to me, numerous times, I would cry while in other town employees’ offices. Many people witnessed and/or heard Supervisor Areg-
ano’s abusive treatment of me.” As a result of this treatment, VanEpps stated that she felt extreme “emotional, psychological, and even physical distress,” which caused her to lose 15 pounds during the 11 months she worked for the town. In the affidavit, she said that about a month before she resigned, she filed a complaint with Amy O’Mara, who handles human resources at town hall. A meeting was scheduled with O’Mara, Aregano and VanEpps to discuss the allegations of harassment. “…During this meeting, I had the feeling that Ms. O’Mara was not going to do anything to stop Supervisor Aregano’s abusive treatment towards me. And Ms. O’Mara did not stop Supervisor Aregano’s abusive behavior towards me,” she stated. “I did not want to leave working for the Cicero Town Government, but I felt that I had no choice but to leave.” In a conversation last Friday, VanEpps said the board’s vote last Wednesday to hire an independent human resources firm to investigate the complaint was a “right step” in the direction of providing the support for employees that she didn’t feel she received during her employment with the town. “I generally really loved the people I worked with and wanted to make it a career, but I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said. “Those people that work there deserve someone who cares about them and treats them with respect.”
By Russ Tarby Contributing writer Sgt. David Sturtz of the Liverpool Police Department will present the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Course at the village hall meeting room from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9. The village hall is located at 310 Sycamore St. This course provides strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. The program is geared toward adults, with graphic content. No reservation is needed and the course is free to attend. The theme of next Wednesday’s session is ADD – avoid, deny, defend. That strategy was developed by ALERRT, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. Program topics will include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, the role of professional guardians, civilian response options, medical issues and drills. Along with his police work, Sturtz is has served as a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve Unit.
‘Townhomes’ revisited
Developers’ new proposal features entrance on Vine Street, not Brow By Russ Tarby Contributing writer At its monthly meeting on Sept. 23, the village planning board opened a public hearing about a developer’s proposal to build two four-unit “townhomes” at the corner of Brow and Vine streets. Owner-developer Michael Dougherty and his daughter, Lily Dougherty, of Park & Vine Holdings and Taber Rowlee of the Rowlee Construction Company reappeared as they did in July, to provide details about their new plan for eight townhomes at 103 Vine St. Last year, Park & Vine Holdings proposed two buildings, each with four townhomes, and the new plan calls for the same number of units. When the developers first floated their plan, the planning board asked them to reduce the number of rental units from eight to six. The new plan still calls for eight. The most notable change in the plan is that it no longer features an entrance-way to the townhomes off of Brow Street. Instead, all tenant traffic will enter and exit via Vine Street. The planning board – Chairman Bob Bradt and Nathan Holliday, Heidi McElwee and Jim Rosier – also heard from a handful of Brow Street residents who reiterated concerns about traffic congestion, snow removal and drainage. Planner Sam Reppi was absent Sept. 23. Neighbor Joni Romano said “parking will still be an issue.” She pointed out that Onondaga County Parks plans a major renovation and expansion of its marina on Onondaga Lake at the base of Vine Street. “That marina gets traffic 24 hours a day as it is,” Romano said. The lakeside expansion will only increase the influx of vehicles, she said. Neighbor Henry Bretschneider agreed, and he insisted that the intersection of First and Vine streets needs a traffic light. Others reminded the planners that Brow Street is one of the narrowest roadways in the village, so any increase in traffic will negatively affect the neighborhood. Michael Dougherty said Park & Vine Holdings revised its plan after studying the village’s comprehensive plan and design handbook. To address traffic worries, Dougherty showed slides that depicted all vehicle-access to the two buildings would be via Vine Street. “There’s no outlet at all onto Brow,” he said. His designer-contractor Taber Rowlee pointed out that the new plan provides an additional outdoor parking space for each tenant between the buildings. Each rental unit at 103 Vine St. would include two or three bedrooms. A basement garage for a single vehicle would be located beneath each unit and each tenant would have access to two more parking spaces. Dougherty estimated that the monthly rental fee for each townhome unit would be between $3,500 and $4,000. “Candidly, those will be higher-end rentals,” he said. The planners praised Dougherty and Rowlee for their updated proposal. “This is definitely a better plan than what you first brought us,” Bradt told them. The planning board will continue the public hearing at its Oct. 28 meeting.
Volume 131, Number 40 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.
cnyspca pet of the week: Champ needs a home.
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sports: C-NS girls soccer maintains unbeaten streak.
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