By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
You may have seen him on WSTM-TV advising callers about financial decisions, or you may have seen him along with his wife, Judi, gardening at the Liverpool Willow Museum, or you may have seen him in or outside his office at 209
Yes, Village Trustee Dennis Hebert wears plenty of hats.
At its annual organizational meeting on July 18, the Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees approved Hebert’s appointment as deputy mayor. Hebert takes over for former Trustee Nick Kochan, who failed to win his party’s nomination at the May 2 Republican caucus. Kochan had served as deputy mayor under Mayor Gary White for most of his five two-year terms as trustee.
White, Kochan and Hebert are all Republicans.
Hebert is in the midst of his sixth full term as trustee. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in spring 2005 by then-Mayor Marlene Ward, then successfully ran for reelection in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
A former president of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, he operates his own business, Hebert Financial Strategies, from a second-floor office on Second Street.
Hebert also serves as treasurer for Historical Association of Greater Liverpool, and Mayor Gary White has also asked Hebert to chair a new ethics committee including former Mayor and County Legislator Jim Farrell and former Village Trustee Bob Gaetano.
War vs. water chestnut
The long and arduous task of cleaning up Onondaga Lake continues.
“Conservation Corps volunteers have achieved measurable success by removing invasive plants from Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River,” Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley said last month. “We’re seeing almost no water chestnut in the lake and very little in the outlet. This annual event is benefiting the watershed and Onondaga Lake Park visitors.”
Water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant species first introduced to the United States in 1877, is impacting CNY waterways by growing into floating mats of thick vegetation clogging lakes and rivers. It’s a rooted plant with both floating and submersed leaves.
Plant stems are cord-like and can attain lengths of up to 16 feet. The plants can cause fish kills due to low oxygen levels under dense mats and prohibit boater and angler access.
Mexican food due
Here’s some good news: a Rio Grande Mexican restaurant plans to open for business at 510 Oswego St., the former location of Heartland sub shop, which closed there on May 5.
The 510 Oswego St. property has housed successful eateries for decades, going back to Carroll’s Hamburgers which opened there a full half-century ago. Burger King took over after that, and the Oswego Sub Shop owners opened Empire Subs there three years ago, before giving way to Heartland.
Now it’s time to ford the Rio Grande! Stay tuned for grand-opening and menu details…
Flat Iron goes flat
Meanwhile, the Flat Iron Grill on Buckley Road has closed two and a half years after opening and one year after transitioning from a steakhouse to a more casual nightspot. The restaurant at 1333 Buckley Road shut down after service July 29. The location had previously housed the Colorado Mine Co.
DeSantis Band Monday
The Maria DeSantis Band will present a free concert sponsored by Empower Federal Credit Union, at Johnson Park, at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29.
“Next year will be the 70th anniversary of my dad’s orchestra,” Maria said, “and we’ll be showcasing the whole 12-piece group in 2017, so this year, I’m bringing in a nine-piece band that will perform a wide range of tunes.”
Monday’s audiences may well hear songs ranging from “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins to “Black Horse in a Cherry Tree” by British gal rocker K.T. Tunstall. Liverpool native vocalist Keith Condon will be here Monday as will Liverpool saxophonist Joe Riposo; desantisorchestra.com; 488-7611.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
