Livin’ in Liverpool: Republican chairman denies stacking Dems’ deck

Last week I reported that Salina Town Democratic Chairman Chris Shepherd believes

Republicans have registered as Democrats in the village of Liverpool in order to infiltrate and sabotage any village Democratic caucus that might form here.

Shepherd, who works a day-job at the Onondaga County Board of Elections, told me he knows how and why such covert strategies are adopted because local Dems themselves have registered as Conservatives to get that party to cross-endorse Democrats.

After reading Shepherd’s comments, town of Salina Republican Chairman Bill Tassone called me to firmly deny that the GOP has ever even contemplated such shenanigans. Tassone had a message for Chris Shepherd, who admitted to infiltrating a Conservative Party caucus.

“Good for you, if that’s the way you do business,” Tassone said. “But we have never recruited anyone to register as a Democrat anywhere. It’s simply not true. We just don’t play that way. Our candidates run on their records.”

Tassone also reported that Joe Ostuni Jr. has returned to his position as chairman of the village GOP caucus, replacing former County Legislature Chairman Bill Sanford.

GOP caucus April 27

On April 27 at the Village Hall, Liverpool’s Republican caucus is expected to nominate candidates for mayor and two trustee seats — probably incumbents Mayor Gary White, Trustee Dennis Hebert and Trustee Christina Fadden Fitch. While White and Fitch have both expressed a desire to run again this year, when I asked him Hebert, the current deputy mayor — was less enthusiastic. “I haven’t decided yet,” he told me on March 20.

Loaded FF pizza!

Everybody knows about the mouth-watering Philly cheesesteak sandwiches served at Pizza Villa, at the village’s main intersection, 409 Tulip St., at the corner of Oswego Street.

But lately owner Mark DeSalvo and pizza chef Frank Griffin have been jazzing up their pies too.

Pizza Villa’s now making a Chicago-style deep dish pizza that’s actually two inches thick!

And customers are raving about specialties such as the new Reuben pizza with corned beef and sauerkraut, a chicken riggies pizza and a barbecued chicken with red onion pizza.

“One of our best-sellers right now is our loaded French fries pizza,” Griffin said. “It’s made with bacon, scallions and a drizzle of ranch dressing.”

To order take-out or delivery, call Pizza Villa at 451-4200, or visit pizzavillaofliverpool.com.

Bacon-cheese dog special

Speaking of bacon — those cured streaking strips of delicious pig meat that make everything taste better — the April special at Salt City Dogs is a bacon-cheese frankfurter with fries and a medium drink all for $6.99.

Owners Terry and Tim Wilson, who were raised here in Liverpool, charbroil a Hofmann red hot and top it with creamy cheese and crispy bacon to create a culinary nirvana from that yin and yang combination.

Salt City Dogs is located at 401 Northern Lights Plaza, in Mattydale (the former site of Hofmann Hot Haus); saltcitydogs.net; (315) 454-4271.

Like father, like son

The Dan Pugh Duo will entertain from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Wegmans on West Taft Road. Dan is a young keyboardist and his dad, Darryl Pough, is one of Syracuse’s top bass players. Darryl plays with Symphoria and was recently spotted onstage plucking the bottom for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” at Syracuse Stage.