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Week of July 16, 2025 Home of The Blake Family
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Brassy and funky
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Sample News Group acquires Eagle News Classic rock, oldies, R&B to ring out at Johnson Park this month By Russ Tarby Contributing writer Three of Central NY’s rockingest bands will play free concerts this month at Johnson Park as part of the ongoing 39th annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series. At 7 p.m. Monday, July 21, one of the area’s most popular dance bands, The Horn Dogs, return to the park. Now a 12-piece combo, the ensemble was established years ago when four friends from Solvay High School came together to play rock’n’roll. Decades later, the group has emerged as one of the top horn/party bands in Upstate New York. Horns l Page 2
Sample News Group, publisher of over 75 titles in four states, has acquired the assets of Eagle News from Community Media Group, LLC. The sale includes The Eagle Bulletin, The Baldwinsville Messenger, The Star-Review and The Press-Observer in Onondaga County, The Cazenovia Republican in Madison County, Syracuse Woman Magazine and several digital properties including eaglenewsonline.com. The announcement was made on Thursday, July 10, by George “Scoop” Sample, owner of Sample News Group. “Eagle News has a strong presence in the greater Syracuse area,” said Sample. “They provide their communities with exceptional local journalism. This was a natural fit for our Central New York operations, and we are proud to have them join our group.” David Tyler, newspaper publisher with Eagle News in Syracuse, will continue to serve as publisher of the group. “This sale represents the beginning of a new era for Eagle News’ historic publications. Despite the headwinds our inSample News l Page 2
Submitted photo
As members of The Horn Dogs, these musicians play brass and reed instruments to really feel the funk. They return to Johnson Park at 7 p.m. Monday, July 21.
LMS sixth-graders study Onondaga Lake
Submitted photo
Liverpool Central School District sixth-graders recently learned first-hand about Onondaga Lake’s past, present and future. The students spent a day at the lake exploring topics such as its watershed, water quality and environmental issues through hands-on activities. The students participated in nature and ecology walks with Jack Gramlich, went fishing at the Salt Museum pier, tested oxygen levels in water samples and took a boat ride on the Syracuse Boat Tours new pontoon boat. Students also had the opportunity to play Pickleball at the Onondaga Lake Courts. The goal of the visit, according to retired LCSD teacher Alex Becerra, is to encourage students to be stewards of the environment and the watershed, as well as learn what a great resource Onondaga Lake is to the community.
GOP caucus Thursday, Valerino to run for Liverpool mayor By Russ Tarby Contributing Writer Local Republicans nominated attorney Thomas J. Valerino as their candidate for mayor of Liverpool. Valerino will oppose incumbent Democrat Stacy Finney in the Nov. 4 general election. Having graduated in 1998 from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, Valerino is employed by the Hillsberg, Sharp, Corbacio & Valerino law firm in Syracuse. His practice areas include criminal defense, divorce and separation and DUI and DWI defense. Valerino lives in the village. Twenty registered Republican village residents attended the caucus at the village hall on July 10. Valerino was the caucus’s only nomination. There were no nominations for village trustee. That means that first-term incumbent Democrat trustees Melissa Cassidy and Rachel Ciotti will run for re-election without opposition. Village GOP Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. is impressed with the party’s mayoral candidate who is making his first-ever run for public office. “He’s part owner of the historic brick building at the corner of Tulip and First streets,” Ostuni said. “Tom enjoys the village and wants to work with village residents to maintain and improve it.” Finney, in her first term as mayor, is an eighth-grade art teacher at Strough Middle School in Rome, New York. Republican Commissioner for Onondaga County Board of Elections attended the Liverpool caucus as Ostuni’s guest. “We’re very pleased he could be with us,” Ostuni said.
Trustees OK non-union employee raise, mayor casts lone no-vote By Russ Tarby Contributing writer At a special meeting by the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees on Wednesday, July 9, the subject was non-union village employee wages. The trustees voted 4-1 to award those employees a 3.5 percent raise. Voting in favor of the wage increase were trustees Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti, Matt Devendorf and Mike LaMontagne. Mayor Stacy Finney cast the lone dissenting vote. She explained why: “I believe our employees all deserve a raise, yet I voted ‘no’ for the following reasons: With a universal percentage raise, this gives more to higher earners and less to those with a lower hourly rate. By doing standard percentage raises year after year, this divide between the higher and lower wage earners only increases, which becomes problematic,” the mayor wrote in a July 10 email. “In my opinion, a universal dollar amount for all, based on hours worked or longevity, shows all employees that we value what they bring to our community equally. Therefore I voted ‘no’ to a universal 3.5 percent increase.
Volume 132, Number 29 The Star-Review is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206. Periodical Postage Paid at Syracuse, NY 13220, USPS 316060. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Star-Review, 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206.
community: Sunshine Horses holds program for individuals with Alzheimer’s.
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library news: July events planned for adults, children, teens.
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Editorial ��������������������� 4 in the service ���������� 11 letters ������������������������ 4 library news �������������� 2
history ������������������������ 5 Obituaries ���������������� 10 PennySaver ���������������� 6