Livin’ in Liverpool: Corporate trimming mutates our trees

Something dreadful is happening on Second Street. No, I’m not referring to Friday’s opening of the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru, although that’s sad enough.

No, I ask you to look at what’s happening to the trees along the north side of Second Street west of Tulip.

Those stately old trees are being routinely mutilated by utility crews cutting away branches to make way for cables.

Large portions of dozens of trees have been chopped away so that power and communication lines can run unimpeded up and down the street. Sure, we appreciate the technology, but must we sacrifice our trees at its altar?

Rotted roots?

Midday on Aug. 2, a large maple standing on the south side of Second near the corner of Sycamore suddenly keeled over northward, across the busy thoroughfare. Luckily, nobody was hurt and no vehicles damaged, but the tall tree did pull down power cables as it crashed across the street.

It’s not known exactly what caused the tree to come down, but its root system was apparently rotted.

Liverpool Deputy Mayor Christina Fadden Fitch is in the process of establishing a village tree committee which will survey our tree population and, hopefully, nurture their growth into the future. Stay tuned…

Barking Gull dark

The Barking Gull, at 116 S Willow St., closed the week the State Fair started. The corner bistro over seeing Onondaga Lake Park probably won’t fly again until next May or June, but of course it’s always available for private parties; (315) 457-2780

Business has also been spotty at the White Water Pub of late, next door to the Gull at 110 S. Willow. The pub flourishes every summer at its patio bar, but its turned off its taps early on the rainy night of Saturday, Sept. 2.

Organ accompanies silent thrillers

Before the advent of sound on film, silent movies were often accompanied by live organists or pianists. The Central New York Theater Pipe Organ Society recalls those days with the screening of two classic films starting with Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 thriller, “The Lodger,” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Empire State Theater at the State Fairgrounds in Geddes. Organist Andrew Rogers will perform the score on the world-famous Syracuse Wurlitzer.

Next month, Jim Ford will be at the keyboard for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” the 1923 version directed by Carl Laemmle and starring Lon Chaney. Admission costs $15 for adults, and $2 for children, and the theater is handicapped-accessible; empiretheatre.org; (315) 487-7711.

Sunday funday

Sunday’s going to be a great day for music hereabouts.

Former Out of the Blue bandleader Skip Murphy brings his newest kickin’ combo, the Merry Pranksters, to the Liverpool Public Library at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, to play a free fall concert in the Carman Community Room.

The Pranksters specialize in honky tonk tunes, jump blues and soul music. The band features George Newton (pedal steel), Dave Liddy (keyboards), Dave Schneider (guitar/vocals), Mark Gibson (guitar/vocals), Mike Ranger (bass), Wayne Stevens (drums), Sharon Allen (vocals) and Skip Murphy on harmonica.

Later that afternoon, British trad-jazz saxophonist Sarah Spencer will front her Transatlantic Band at Uriah’s Restaurant, 7990 Oswego Road (Route 57), in the town of Clay, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. The concert is hosted by the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse (JASS). Admission costs $12 for JASS members, $15 for others; jasscny.org.