Week of May 28, 2025
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Unfit for occupancy? Silly string celebration Cicero Elementary student survivor celebrates record fundraising Trustees hear about code violations at Second Street residence By Russ Tarby Contributing writer
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Cicero Elementary School celebrated its best year yet for Kids Heart Challenge fundraising, with a total of more than $23,000. Cicero Elementary is the top fundraising school in Onondaga County and No. 15 in New York state. Heart disease survivor Nora Tees on Wednesday, May 21, got to hit Principal Melissa O’Donnell with silly string to celebrate the Kids Heart Challenge program. The Kids Heart Challenge is rooted in proven science which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood. In addition to improved physical health, the benefits of physical activity for children include better grades, school attendance and classroom behavior. Physical activity can also help kids feel better, improve mental health, build self-esteem and decrease and prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Bresnahan Bookcases coming to libraries
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The bookcases will showcase each Bresnahan Book Award winner as a special way to remember former LCSD library media specialist Lori Bresnahan. When the Bresnahan Book Award was created by Liverpool Central School District library media specialists in 2014, one of their goals was to add a teal bookcase in each elementary school library as well as one at the Liverpool Public Library. The bookcases would showcase each award winner as a special way to remember former LCSD library media specialist Lori Bresnahan. That goal will become reality soon with the help of Liverpool High School sophomore Jack Walsh. Walsh has designed and is building nine bookcases as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project. Each completed bookcase will be painted teal, which was Bresnahan’s favorite color. The community had the opportunity see the
At its monthly meeting on Monday, May 19, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees heard from two village homeowners who were upset with village Codes Officer Bill Reagan. Both of the disgruntled residents suggested that Reagan, who has been enforcing codes here for nearly 20 years, should be fired. One of the homeowners, Steve Nichols of 104 Tamarack St., was escorted out of the village board meeting by two police officers. Nichols claims that Reagan has failed to cite an adjacent property owner at 612 Oswego St. for damage done to his driveway. Reagan maintained that Nichols is “exaggerating,” and he provided records showing that he had repeatedly monitored the driveway problem ever since Nichols bought the house at 104 Tamarack eight years ago. Mayor Stacy Finney said that the village has informed Nichols that this is a matter between his homeowner’s insurance and the homeowner’s insurance of 612 Oswego St. “The village has taken all steps necessary to keep cars off his driveway,” she said. “In addition to this, Onondaga County repaired his driveway in 2020.” Before Nichols addressed the board during the public comment period, the trustees assessed Reagan’s detailed report on property owned by Paul Blundell at 714 Second St. Complaints from neighbors led Reagan to obtain a search warrant signed by Liverpool Judge Tony LaValle which allowed him into Blundell’s home on April 7 to check for possible code violations. At the meeting, the trustees – Melissa Cassidy, Rachel Ciotti, Matt Devendorf, Mike LaMontagne and Finney – conducted two public hearings regarding Reagan’s findings. One focused on an unsafe lean-to structure attached to a garage, while the other more serious situation, declared the residence at 714 Second St. as “unfit for human occupancy.” To substantiate his findings, Reagan provided the board with 25 pages of documents and more than three dozen photographs from the property in question. “One 20-lb. container of liquid propane being used for heating purposes inside the residence was confiscated as evidence by Liverpool Police officers,” Reagan said. The codes officer also found evidence of rodent infestation, inadequate plumbing facilities, an improperly installed water heater, public water access disconnected and substantial electrical system hazards. “As a result of the dangerous conditions,” Reagan wrote, “the residential structure situated on the property is deemed unsafe, detrimental or dangerous to the public health, safety or general welfare to the public, in accordance with Chapter 140 of the Village of Liverpool Code.” Speaking at the public hearings, Blundell denied that his home is unsafe. “My home is safer than when I bought it,” he said. In April, Blundell said, Reagan “invaded my home...He personally objects to me and I personally object to him.” Last November, Blundell finally removed a gazebo he was building after Reagan had monitored its sloppy construction for nearly five years. The trustees voted unanimously to give Blundell until June 23 to address the long list of code violations. If the unsafe lean-to is not removed by June 23, the village will hire a contractor to deal with it. If the various problems in the house are not ameliorated by that date, the case could end up in State Supreme Court. “We are hopeful that Mr. Blundell can repair his home,” Finney said. “But if not, we can now take steps to protect both him and his neighbors.”
Five DWIs in April
first two completed bookcases during the sixth Bresnahan Book Award Ceremony on April 9. The Bresnahan Book Award was established to honor Bresnahan, who passed away in March 2013. The award is presented during a special ceremony, hosted by Liverpool CSD’s library media specialists and the Liverpool Public Library, featuring LCSD celebrities reading the nominated books. Bookcases l Page 2
Police Chief Jerry Unger reported via memo that his officers made 426 traffic stops and issued 416 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws in the month of April. Five arrests were made for driving while intoxicated last month. Officers stopped 17 tractor trailers in the village in April, and they wrote 14 local law traffic tickets for being overweight. Eleven accidents were investigated here last month and nine parking tickets were issued. Officers made 26 residential checks and 266 business checks last month, while responding to a total of 924 incidents and calls for service, an average of 30.8 calls per day. The LPD arrested 96 individuals last month on 123 criminal charges.
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library news: Friends of NOPL plan book sale June 5.
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sports: Liverpool’s Barrett earns sectional tennis title.
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CALENDAR ������������������ 10 DEATH NOTICES ����������� 3 Editorial ��������������������� 4 HISTORY ������������������������ 5
library news �������������� 2 Obituaries ������������������ 3 PennySaver ���������������� 6 Sports ������������������ 11-12