We should all give thanks for Dr. Mark Potter.
A few years ago, the longtime Liverpool educator replaced Nick Johns as superintendent of the Liverpool Central School District, and he has been a breath of fresh air all the way around. I’ve even heard a few members of the teachers’ union praising Mark’s open-door policy, pleasant personality and transparent management style.
Open forum March 16
Mark now extends that open door to you, the district’s taxpaying residents, for an open-ended discussion about the state of public education from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, in the Liverpool High School Auditorium, on Wetzel Road.
“I don’t need to point out that the state of public education has become a hot-button issue in New York state,” Potter wrote in an open letter March 6. “You are bombarded with political ads and fliers about this very topic each and every day. But public education is a complex issue with topics such as Common Core, teacher evaluations, standardized tests, tax caps and the gap elimination adjustment painting a murky and emotional picture for community members.”
In an effort to clarify that murkiness, LCSD hosts Monday’s public advocacy forum to provide relevant information to Liverpool students, parents, community members and business owners.
“We’ll also share opportunities for involvement, awareness and knowledge regarding recent proposals made by the state,” Potter promised. “These proposals will impact our students and community into the future.”
Snow, snow, go away!
Liverpool Department of Public Works Superintendent Bill Asmus and his crews have been busy building summits of snow in the old municipal parking lot on the Basin Block, along lower First Street. I hear we got 51 inches in February alone.
Last year, those mountains of snow and ice resembled the Rockies. This year those peaks look more like the Grand Tetons.
Sure, the winter weather wears us all down, but we should be glad we’re not stuck up on the Tug Hill Plateau.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the snowiest place in the country is Copenhagen, a village of about 800 people in Lewis County, between Watertown and Lowville. More than 21 feet of snow have fallen there this year.
Seven of the top ten snowiest places in America are in New York state. That includes Copenhagen’s Tug Hill sister, Redfield, at 227.7 inches, and several areas near Buffalo that were blasted with a massive lake-effect storm in November.
JGB Properties plans?
Meanwhile, here in Liverpool everybody’s anxiously awaiting news from JGB Properties about its ambitious mixed-use development planned for lower First and South Willow streets.
The project calls for 47 residential units, six office spaces and two retail spaces. The office and retail spaces would be located in two buildings along First Street, while the South Willow Street building would comprise 15 residential units.
Some folks are saying they’ll believe it when they see it.
Hot harmonies at Flat Iron
The live music at Flat Iron Grill is anything but flat.
This weekend, the restaurant at the location which previously housed the Colorado Steak House, at 1333 Buckley Road, presents singer John McConnell on Friday, March 13, followed by Jane and Bob on Saturday, March 14.
Next week, blues singer Taters and his band Quickchange take the stage on March 20, followed by Outta the Red on March 21.
All Flat Iron shows run from 8 to 11 p.m. For more information, dial 214-4243.
Quigsy and the Bird
Get warmed up for St Patrick’s Day when Quigsy and the Bird play Irish pub tunes at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Liverpool Public Library. Part of the eighth annual library Folk Music Series, the concert is free and open to the public.
Irish pub tunes include traditional songs and folk music played in relaxed tavern setting from Dublin to the smallest of villages. The duo’s set list includes tunes such as “Rattlin’ Bog,” “The Unicorn,” “Whiskey in a Jar” and “The Night Paddy Murphy Died.”
Quigsy and the Bird are musicians Jim Quigley (Quigsy) and Jerry Berdan (the Bird). The two natives of Syracuse’s West End started have been playing music together for 50 years. Both are multi-instrumentalists. They each play guitar, and also showcase a five-string banjo, the eight-string Irish bouzouki and the bodhran, a hand-held drum.
The 2015 Folk Music Series will conclude Sunday, April 19, with JD and the Wandering Klezmorim; lpl.org; 457-0310.
Readers can contact the columnist at [email protected].
