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Library celebrates winter Ticketing
big rigs
Law targeting overweight trucks actively enforced By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer
Submitted photos
The Liverpool Library’s Winter Carnival celebrating “Bring Your Child to the Library Day” was a wintry good time. Braving the cold, 170 patrons visited the library for themed games, crafts, and activities. Guests were encouraged to explore the library and learn about all the ways LPL can help save them money. Saving money was just one of many reasons patrons got their first library cards.
Liverpool Public Library programs focus on adults with disabilities in March By Kathryne Rakowski
T
he Liverpool Library strives to always have something for everyone. From children to adults, avid readers and artists, the library works to offer a variety of programs every month. During the month of March, the library will be offering a variety of events specifically for adults with disabilities. The Adults with Disabilities program has grown over the years and events are designed to foster social interaction, hands-on learning, and literacy in a welcoming and supportive environment. The program hopes to provide wellrounded experiences, and March will have a lot to offer. First up is a hangout on Monday March 10 at 1 p.m. No registration is required, and it’s a great excuse to visit the library and
have some fun in a sensory-friendly environment. “Participants can spend time with friends, both new and old, while enjoying board games, Wii, coloring, and crafting,” Edina Osmanovic, adult programming and volunteer coordinator at LPL, said. Next up is a Craft Day on Thursday March 13 at 2 p.m. Osmanovic will be leading a craft that will be tactile, fine-motor skillfriendly, and accessible for hand to eye coordination practice. Registration is required for this event and can be done by visiting their website at lpl.org/. Two more events round out the series on Friday, March 28, First up is the sensory friendly film of the month, Kung Fu Panda at 10 a.m. The environment will be comfortable for all, with lights dimmed, sound adjusted, and doors open so that patrons can move around as needed.
The last event, sure to be the most exciting, is the “Beyond Barriers: Disability Resource Fair,” which will run from 1 to 3 p.m. The fair will feature local organizations that support individuals with disabilities, providing patrons the opportunity to learn about services they have access to and find the help they may be looking for. This is the first time the library is offering a fair of this nature, and the staff is very excited about what it will offer the community. “This event will feature various organizations covering essential topics such as housing, disability rights, and available services,” Osmanovic said. “Our goal is to provide valuable resources and support to the community.” The fair is free and open to the public. To view more upcoming events, or get more information, you can view the latest addition of the LPL Connection on the library’s website.
In July 2023, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees – Mayor Stacy Finney and trustees Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti and Matt Devendorf – passed a local law prohibiting the operation of trucks weighing more than five tons within the village. The law specifically targeted “truck, trailers and tractor-trailer combinations.” In mid-January 2024, Liverpool Police began warning drivers of heavyweight vehicles, and by the end of that month the officers began ticketing alleged offenders. Although the initial fines ranged from $1,200 to $4,700, in April the trustees reduced the fines. The revamped local law set fines of not more than $300 for first offenders. Finney said the new law was needed because “the only way to weigh the trucks” would be to build a weight station in the village. “And that’s not feasible,” she said. The new law stated that a second conviction within 18 months could draw a fine of not more than $600. And a third conviction within 18 months could draw a fine of not more than $1,200. But last week Liverpool Judge Anthony LaValle said the fines he imposes rarely exceed $150. Because the infraction breaks a local law rather than a state or federal law, ticketed truck drivers must pay the fine, but will not lose any points on their driver’s licenses. In any case, the Liverpool Police Department is now actively enforcing the ban on big rigs. Over the course of 2024, officers pulled over 85 trucks and ticketed 83 of them, according to statistics provided by Police Chief Jerry Unger. The month of May was the year’s busiest, when officers stopped 30 trucks and ticketed 27 of them. That month, the LPD started listing its truck tickets in its monthly summary of statistics along with accidents and arrests. The crackdown on overweight vehicles continues into 2025. In January, officers stopped 18 tractor trailers and issued 17 local law traffic tickets. In a recent interview, Unger praised Amazon which operates a sprawling Fulfillment Center about a mile north of the village on Morgan Road. That facility draws scores of big trucks daily. “The support we’ve received from Amazon is remarkable,” Unger said. “They created an app for all its drivers and the app pictures the village as a restricted area, so the company is guiding its truck drivers away from us, and it’s working.” The number of trucks rumbling over village streets “have gone down dramatically,” Unger said. “There’s still a few stragglers, but they’re mostly getting the message.” When the local law was first rolled out, certified letters were sent out to local businesses and trucking firms, Unger noted, “and I’m sure they’ve seen the signs we’ve posted.” Placed at the village’s busiest intersections, the signs say, “Trucks Over 5 Tons Use Truck Routes.” Other signs depict the image of a crossed-out truck and the words, “except local deliveries.” Several more signs point drivers to established truck routes.
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