By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
For the first time in at least 60 years, American Legion Post 188 has declined to present its annual field days, staged in recent years at Washington Park, across the street from Post 188 on South Cypress Street.
Decades ago the field days set up at Johnson Park. I remember being stopped at the top of the Ferris wheel there about 1956 while sharing a ride with my maternal grandfather, Matt Egloff. He scared the bejesus out of me by leaning out of the car to snip a green leaf from a towering oak.
New vendor sought
So no tilt-a-whirl rides or cotton candy this summer, but Post 188 Commander Ken Palmer says the Legion hopes to bring back the field days possibly as soon as next year.
“What happened was we lost our vendor,” Palmer said, meaning the company that operates the rides, games and food booths. “I’ve been scouting around for a new vendor, and when we find one we’ll get the field days back up and running.”
Mural on hold
Meanwhile, Post 188’s plan to create murals on both its southern and northern outside walls is temporarily on hold. A BOCES art class taught by Claire Stewart is designing the images, including Old Glory and American Legion logos.
“Because we don’t know whether Dunkin’ Donuts is going to come into the village, we’re concerned about the mural we want for the Second Street side,” Palmer said. “We’re not sure it would even be visible if they build a restaurant there.”
So, like most village residents worried about the DD drive-thru proposed there, the Legion waits with bated breath as the village planning board decides the matter.
Village planners will consider a “final” site-plan from DD at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, at the Village Hall, 310 Sycamore St.
Simple solution
For guidance, all the planning board has to do is look to the Village of Liverpool Community Design Handbook, adopted in December 2013, in conjunction with the village’s Comprehensive Plan.
The handbook states, “A primary objective with regards to vehicular access and circulation is to maintain an acceptable level of service on roadways for safe and efficient traffic flow by limiting unnecessary turning movements, curb cuts (driveways), sightline problems, pedestrian conflicts and other potentially unsafe roadway conditions…
“New site entrances, curb cuts and driveways along major roadways shall be avoided as much as possible to eliminate additional turning movements that may cause further restrictions in traffic flow, decreased levels of service and most importantly unsafe pedestrian/vehicle conflicts.”
For the sake of local motorists and pedestrians alike, the planners should stand behind the handbook’s advice and refuse to allow a drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts on Second Street. Onondaga County planners have warned that DD drive-thrus in the county routine have long lines of traffic — often more than a dozen queued cars — spilling out onto the street. That’s exactly the kind of traffic-flow restrictions the handbook reminds us to avoid.
Concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the Dunkin’ Donuts site plan likely scheduled for Sept. 26.
Jam session and BBQ
Music shop-owners Phil and Gena de Anguera invite the community to a free summer jam session and barbecue from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the parking lot of Family Music Center, 914 Old Liverpool Road; 457-7375. Several of their student musicians will perform as will Phil’s new band, The Breakaways.
Food drive Wednesday
Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series concludes with its annual John Denver Memorial Food Drive concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. Folk and oldies duo Two Feet Short, which consists of Jimmy Flynn and Don Meixner, will perform Denver tunes along with a wide variety of folk revival standards. Audience members are asked to bring along a non-perishable food item with will be donated to the St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church food pantry. For info, visit liverpoolistheplace.com, or call 457-3895.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
