After the Syracuse Chiefs baseball club suffered significant financial losses last year, the board of directors replaced longtime General Manager John Simone in mid-October. The ballclub’s new GM, Jason Smorol, lives in Liverpool.
Smorol, 44, and his family reside on Balsam Street here in the village.
From 2002 to 2004, Smorol served as general manager of the Auburn Doubledays. Under his leadership the Single-A team’s attendance rose at Falcon Park while it won three division titles in the New York-Penn League.
Syracuse is that much closer to The Show. It’s a Triple-A team playing in the International League, one level below the major leagues.
Smorol recently managed accounts for Hilti Inc., a construction supply manufacturer, but he previously worked for minor-league ballclubs in Watertown, Batavia and Staten Island.
Lower ticket prices
An Energizer Bunny kind of guy, the first thing Smorol did was lower the Chiefs’ ticket prices by $3 per. At an Oct. 16 home-plate press conference at NBT Bank Stadium, he also announced that all U.S. military members will receive free general admission to the ballpark. The Chiefs open the 2014 season at home on the afternoon of April 3.
“The Syracuse Chiefs said we’re going to listen to our fans,” Smorol said. “We believe in affordable family entertainment, we think this is a positive first step in reaching our goals for the new Syracuse Chiefs.”
Speaking of family, Jason and his wife, Rachel, have two daughters, Julia, 10, and Mary, 8, who attend Liverpool schools. You might see the Smorols this fall when they’re out walking their three dogs, Mr. White, Daisy and Teddy.
Death has no mercy
Last week Death and his darker shadow descended on Second Street where two young women were brutally murdered.
Of course he continued his more routine rounds as well, finally taking a stubborn nonagenarian before sneaking up on a younger man, one of our most prominent business owners.
On Oct. 16, Willard Bahn, one of the village’s oldest residents, passed on at age 93. Bahn left General Electric in 1984, but he didn’t let retirement slow him down any. The Third Street resident made his presence felt here by regularly attending village board meetings.
Up until a few years ago, Bahn appeared monthly at the village hall, sharing his views on local projects in no uncertain terms. He was opinionated, but he was authoritative. After all he’d been a mechanical engineer for decades. Not only did he know physics, he also knew human nature. Willard’s thought-provoking ideas and his refreshing bluntness will be sorely missed.
Stockyard twangin’
Remember the old Poorhouse North at 500 Old Liverpool Road?
After a brief spell as Tonic earlier this year, the 1,000-square-foot club reopened recently as The Stockyard, showcasing country rock and — get this! — a mechanical bull!
A “modern country” quartet called Grit N Grace will perform there at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8.
The foursome features blonde bombshell Jackie Pop on lead vocals, guitarist Dave Brown, bassist Bob Lett and drummer Mike Oliver. Operated by Kevin Klink, the Stockyard is open just two nights a week, Fridays and Saturdays.
New Retreat hours
The Retreat kitchen now closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The cooks keep at it until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bon appetit; 457-6358.
