A new gymnasium will open for business later this year on Old Liverpool Road. It’ll be located a stone’s throw from Onondaga Lake, but its name will pay homage to a faraway ocean.
Pacific Health Club, Inc. of Oswego received approval from the town of Salina Planning Board to open a facility at 604 Old Liverpool Road, where the old Bresee Chevrolet and Burdick Chevrolet dealerships sold thousands of cars and trucks.
In November 2011, town voters rejected a proposal that would’ve allowed the town itself to buy the property for a new town hall and town highway operations.
Pacific Health Club
At a special meeting of the town planning board chaired by Timothy Frateschi on March 21, the board approved a proposal by Pacific Health Club, Inc. headquartered at 113-119 E. Bridge St. in Oswego, to transform the 90,000-square-feet auto dealership into a fitness center and retail space.
“Pacific Health has the approvals they need to move forward with their health club,” said Salina Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra. “I know they’re going great guns over there and would like to open in June.”
Pacific Health plans to install traditional gym equipment, a rock-climbing wall, a swimming pool, an indoor track and a sports-training arena, Nicotra said.
Project manager Dave Potter declined comment and referred inquiries to Pacific Health executives in Oswego.
Pascarella’s grand opening
Just down the street at 663 Old Liverpool Road, Pascarella’s Bakery and Deli celebrates its grand opening this month. The new deli’s at the same location that housed Aubrey’s Sandwich Chef since May 2012, and before that The Sandwich Chief. Aubrey’s, operated by Jill and Gary Vincitore, opened last May but closed its doors a few months ago.
The Pascarellas also run the Last Stop Bakery at 634 Old Liverpool Road in the Lamont Plaza next to the old Bresee site. They previously did business on Buckley Road.
Anyhow, the new Pascarella’s Bakery and Deli boasts a bountiful menu of fresh baked goods, subs, sandwiches, soups and such beloved Central New York specialties as fried haddock and fried calamari; 214-3540.
Adios, Juanita’s!
After three years at the old Ponderosa Steakhouse building in Ponderosa Plaza, at 207 Old Liverpool Road, Juanita’s es finito.
Originally owned by Juanita DiMartino who opened her small restaurant in 1982 on Court Street in Syracuse, the South of the Border bistro was purchased in 1985 by Paul and Sam LaRose. They moved to the Liverpool site in March 2010 before closing a few weeks ago.
Tom Leo’s last inning
Dark clouds hovered over the ballpark both figuratively and literally when the Syracuse Chiefs played their home opener on Saturday, April 13. Longtime sportswriter and Chiefs official scorer Tom Leo had died the day before, on Friday, April 12, when the regularly scheduled first home game of the season was rained out. A resident of Cicero, Tom succumbed to cancer at age 56.
Before the National Anthem rang out before Saturday’s game, before Syracuse University basketball star Brandon Triche bounced the ceremonial first pitch to the plate, the Chiefs called for a moment of silence in tribute to Tom.
Having started at the afternoon Herald-Journal in 1984, Tom Leo moved to the morning Post-Standard where he covered plenty of sports from high-profile Syracuse University football games and International League baseball games as well as all types of scholastic contests. He also excelled as a baseball coach for Cicero Little League and for the North Syracuse Babe Ruth League, where he sat on the board of directors.
For a time, Tom worked for the Post’s Thursday tabloid, Neighbors North, for which he often covered the Liverpool Village Board. I remember him interviewing Gary White at Village Hall on Election Day night in 2009 moments after White won his first term.
Help for crime victims
National Crime Victim’s Week runs from April 21 to April 27. For info, visit the National Center for Victims of Crime website at VictimsofCrime.org.
