Trustees decline coverage
When the mayor polled the four trustees — Hebert, Bob Gaetano, Nick Kochan and Jim Rosier — they agreed to decline that coverage when the insurance policy is renewed. Saving six bills-plus seems like a good decision during these tough times, especially after the county cut out the towns’ and villages’ fair share of sales tax revenues in 2010. Did the trustees act carelessly? Perhaps they should have pondered this question: could the village’s close proximity to the Lockheed Martin plant increase the chances that terrorists might target us? Lockheed Martin is an American global defense, security, aerospace and advanced-technology company. Among its products are munitions, ballistic missiles, missile-defense systems and radar. The plant in Salina — one of CNY’s top employers — is located between Vine Street and Electronics Parkway. It provides surface, air and undersea applications for U.S. and allied forces, including radar and surveillance systems, undersea combat systems and surface combat systems and sensors. Lockheed Martin, which earned more than $36 billion in revenues last year, sure seems like exactly the kind of corporation despised by jihadists and anarchists of all stripes. I’m just saying it might be better to be safe than be sorry. Let’s hope I never have to say I told you so. Harding’s sense of humor
I caught up with retired Village Justice Herm Harding on Sept. 18 as he was hauling groceries to his car in Nichols Supermarket parking lot. Harding confirmed the almost unbelievable news that, yes, he had in fact sold the Bass Street house in which he and his family had lived for decades. The judge and his lovely wife, Toni, now reside in Baldwinsville. While parting from his hometown had to cause emotion, Harding has tenaciously hung onto his sharp sense of humor. “How could you possibly leave the village?” I asked him. After all, he lived here his entire life, went to school here, practiced law here and presided as judge here for 36 years before retiring in December 2007. “You’re practically a village landmark,” I insisted.
Without batting an eyelash nor bothering to insert his tongue into his cheek, the judge quickly replied, “Remember, landmarks have a way of attracting pigeons.” Touché, Herm ! We’ll see you in B’ville.
‘Journeyman’ at 407
The Christopher Ames Band plays one of the catchiest versions of The Beatles’ “One After 909,” but the local trio also performs plenty of Ames originals. The guitarist’s compositions include songs such as “Coins in the Jar” and “Off the Beaten Highway” from his 2011 CD, “Journeyman.” The thumping threesome will rock the joint from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the Café at 407 at Ophelia’s Place, 407 Tulip St., in the village. Admission is free; 451-5544. Syracuse Area Music Award Hall of Fame guitarist Mark Hoffman and Swing This will take the stage at the Café at 407 on Friday, Oct. 12. Cajun pawn star
Paul McCoy’s dad bought the kid his first guitar when he was 12 years old shortly after his family moved from Mississippi to Louisiana in 1993. Ten years later, McCoy won a Grammy as a member of the band Evanescence, singing the hit song “Bring Me to Life.” Now the Southern rocker fronts a post-grunge combo called 12 Stones which will roll into Monirae’s at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Monirae’s (formerly the Red Door North) is an authentic rock roadhouse a few miles north of Liverpool at 688 County Route 10, in Pennellville. The Louisiana quartet will appear here in support of its fourth album. “Beneath The Scars,” featuring tracks with titles such as “Infested” and “Pretty Poison.” Local fans of radio-friendly hard rock will be making the drive down Count y Route 10 on Saturday take advantage of the rare opportunity to catch this hot and hard-working band in an intimate bar setting. For ticket info, dial 668-1248.