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Jug band blues
The Westcott Jug Suckers rock L’pool Library Sunday, Nov. 10 By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
By Russ Tarby Contributing writer At its monthly meeting on Oct. 28, the village planning board continued a public hearing about a developer’s proposal to build two fourunit “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 and September, to provide details about their plan for eight upscale apartments inside row house-style townhomes at 103 Vine St. Their Manlius-based engineer, Neal Zinsmeyer, also attended. When the developers first presented the proposal, the planning board requested a reduction of the number of rental units from eight to six. But the revised plan still calls for eight. The planning board – Chairman Bob Bradt and Nathan Holliday, Heidi McElwee and Jim Rosier – also heard from three Brow Street residents who reiterated concerns about traffic congestion and drainage. The new village engineering firm, LaBella, was represented at the meeting by senior planner Wesley Pettee and associate Jon Derworlz. Pettee read from a four-page letter in which the firm makes 29 specific recommendations to the developers. The 29 items include concerns about topsoil and trees, sidewalks and sanitary sewers. In addition, Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan attended the Oct. 28 meeting and presented the developers with a list of 28 items which Park & Vine will need to include in their site plan submission. Village Judge Anthony LaValle, who lives at 101 Tulip St, at the corner of Brow, spoke in opposition of the proposal. He blamed the village’s comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2008, for allowing the area to be zoned for multi-family residences. “Without even involving the neighborhood’s residents, the comprehensive plan committee ignored Brow Street,” LaValle said. “And its zoning suddenly morphed into a business district. We made a mistake with that comprehensive plan, and we need to correct that.” About a dozen attendees at the meeting applauded that comment. Michael Dougherty said Park & Vine Holdings revised its plan after studying the village’s comprehensive plan and community design handbook. 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. The planning board will continue the public hearing at its Nov. 24 meeting.
For the past three decades the Westcott Jug Suckers have bravely carried the torch for country blues which they present with an authentic jug band vibe. The quirky quintet will perform a free concert of roots, blues and jug band music at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at Liverpool Public Library. Led by guitarist Colin Aberdeen, the Suckers also feature harmonica master Curtis Waterman, percussionist Hymie Witthoft, tenor guitarist Shirley Woodcock-Kolb and baritone saxophonist Rodney Zajac. Following in the fretsteps of pioneers such as Gus Cannon and the Memphis Jug Band, the Hoosier Hot Shots and Jim Kweskin’s jug band, last year the Suckers issued a dynamic disc called “Distilled Spirits.” It’s notable how many of the album’s 11 tracks have roots in old New Orleans, including the opener, “Do You Call that a Buddy?” That number was first recorded in 1932 by washboard wizard Eddie Edinborough & His New Orleans Wild Cats. The tune’s clever intro features Rodney Zajac’s baritone sax blowing a Halloweenish horrormovie vamp punctuated by Colin Aberdeen’s animated guitar picking. Then Aberdeen sings the sad song, asking the title’s rhetorical question answered each time – loudly – by the rest of the band, including tenor guitarist Shirley Woodcock-Kolb and harmonica honcho Curtis Waterman. Those two also occasionally take over lead vocals, adding a refresh-
Submitted photo
The Westcott Jug Suckers (from left) Curtis Waterman, Mark Tiffault, Shirley WoodcockKolb, Rodney Zajac and Colin Aberdeen. The band will perform a free concert of roots, blues and jug band music at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at Liverpool Public Library. ing variety to the tracks. Shared vocals are a hallmark of the Jug Suckers’ sound, as is Zajac’s reedy rhythmic bottom. His baritone basslines boldly drive the tunes with the power of a tuba complemented by the palpable breathing of his reeds. Similarly, percussionist Hymie Witthoft brands the jug band with his washboard, its cymbals and his snare. Another tune with a proud Crescent City lineage, “Junco Partner,” benefits from Witthoft’s nifty jailbird beat as Aberdeen delivers a remarkably robust vocal. Curtis Waterman’s high-strung harmonica lead is impressive as always, but it’s Witthoft’s sticks that steal the show. It’s fitting that the Suckers recorded “Don’t You Just Know It” by New Orleans bandleader Huey “Piano” Smith because Smith had died in February 2023. The song’s shared call-andresponse vocals make for a joyous listening experi-
ence. “Distilled Spirits” concludes with “Down By the Riverside,” the classic African-American spiritual performed by many Big Easy musicians including Bunk Johnson, Al Hirt and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The Jug Suckers’ version shines from the getgo by pairing Aberdeen’s leisurely guitar work with Witthoft’s rattling washboard. After a few of Colin’s inspired vocal verses, Shirley’s resonating guitar and Curtis’s expressive harp help take the anti-war tune peacefully home. Other “Distilled” tracks exhibit Memphis origins. A double-time “Step It Up and Go” is derived from the old Memphis Jug Band tune “Bottle Up and Go,” and “Let’s Get Drunk Again (Whiskey and Gin)” was penned by Beale Street blues guitarist Bo Carter. S h i r l e y -Wo o d c o c k Kolb infuses that old song with plenty of innuendo, especially in
the “washboard and tub” verse. Her full-bodied vocals never fail to please, and her agile picking graces both “Step It Up” and “Whiskey and Gin.” The Suckers also do a jumpin’ Louis Jordan hit, “Is You Is or Is you Ain’t My Baby?” And one by Chuck Berry, “Nadine.” Near the end of the album the quintet performs a kind of theme song, “Easy Ridin’ Suckers.” That boastful ditty is extrapolated from “Easy Ridin’ Papas” by western swing group the Famous Hokum Boys. With these 11 exquisite tracks, the Westcott Jug Suckers have cultivated an acoustic alchemy by transmuting tattered old tunes into golden Americana. Sunday’s concert – a collaboration of Liverpool Public Library and the Liverpool Is The Place Concert Committee – is made possible thanks to generous support from the NY State Council on the Arts administered by CNY Arts.
Liverpool High School seniors commended in scholarship program Liverpool High School Acting Executive Principal Briana O’Brien recently announced that seniors Madison Ames, Brady Fouts and Finnegan Patterson have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. The seniors are three out of approximately 34,000 students who received Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise, according to the National Merit Scholarship Program Web site. Students taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test were eligible for this honor. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which sponsors the National Merit Scholarship Program, is a not-for-profit organization established in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSATs and by meeting published entry/participation requirements. Liverpool High School Acting Executive Principal Briana O’Brien recently announced that three seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Pictured, from left, are O’Brien, senior Madison Ames, senior Brady Fouts, 12th Grade Principal Christine Wood, senior Finnegan Patterson, and Acting Associate Principal Jessica Ancona. Submitted photo
Volume 131, Number 45 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 news: Business owner shows her resilience.
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sports: C-NS, Liverpool football set for semifinal showdown.
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business ��������������������� 2 Editorial ��������������������� 4 history ������������������������ 5 library news �������������� 2
Obituaries ���������������� 10 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ��������������� 2,11-12