The Skaneateles Fire Department is a volunteer organization, committed to providing the best emergency services possible to the citizens of the Skaneateles Fire District. The objective for the Department is to protect life and property, prevent and extinguish fires, and initiate rescue in hazardous situations within the laws of the State of New York as well as the policies and ordinances of the Village of Skaneateles.

To maintain our high level of service, we are always looking for interested individuals 18 years of age and older to become a valued asset of the Skaneateles Fire Department. We are people like yourself – home and business owners, parents, and students. We will provide all necessary equipment and training for a Firematic membership. See a chief or officer for an application packet.

If entering a burning building is not to your liking, the SVFD, Inc. (the corporate side of things, set up primarily to accept tax deductible contributions) has an Associate membership. This is also on the application and can be checked in the appropriate place. If you are interested in becoming a member or are just curious about what we have to offer, stop by Station #1 Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. or call us at 315-685-3497.

City Staff and Public Attend Arts Districts Presentation

Imagine if Auburn was a hub for artists and creative professionals, and the city attracted thousands of tourists who spent millions of dollars every year. Some members of the local arts community believe it can happen, and they are pointing to a small city in Kentucky as their evidence.

Schweinfurth Memorial Arts Center director Donna Lamb, Mack Studio Displays project manager Hilary Ford and Auburn Public Theater director Angela Daddabbo gave two presentations in August at the APT about how they believe establishing an arts district and encouraging artists to relocate to local residences could improve Auburn’s economy.

Throughout the presentations, which took place during and after the weekly city council meeting, the three speakers examined Paducah, KY, which revamped its downtown business district and neighborhoods through the arts.

The city, which has a similar population as Auburn with 27,000 people, boasts millions of dollars in annual tourism revenue thanks to a number of public and private art initiatives, Ford, Lamb and Daddabbo said. And they believe some of those can be successful here.

Ford, who was raised in Paducah, said the city is very similar to Auburn in a lot of ways. “It’s not any bigger. The demographics aren’t different,” she said during the presentation.

Between 2001 and 2007, the city of Paducah invested about $3 million in projects and initiatives related to the arts and saw almost $40 million spent by organizations, visitors and artists in that same stretch. One random property worth $715,000 in the downtown area in 1987 is now worth $4 million.

A number of factors led to the city’s economic success, the speakers said. Paducah hosts a national quilting festival and is home to a major quilting museum. The city and private businesses invested in numerous public art initiatives and beautification projects, including a series of murals on a wall built in the 1930s to prevent flood damage.

The neighborhoods are tied together by an arts district that boasts multiple galleries and performance venues. And an artist recruitment program offered professional artists an opportunity to own homes in one run-down neighborhood practically free of charge in exchange for the artist’s commitment to invest in and fix up the properties.

“In 10 years, five really, I saw the city completely turn around,” Ford said. All three said this sort of thing can happen in Auburn if the city, local businesses, organizations and the residents themselves can all come together and commit to a similar concept.

An arts district can help tie together Auburn’s many cultural and historic sites that already exist, Lamb said. Private and public initiatives can help spur investments, as can changes to city codes and tax incentives, she said. According to the group, this would improve the city’s quality of life.

Lamb said the city listed similar priorities in the 10-year master plan released last year. And the city council is looking to overhaul some of its codes and zoning policies in the coming years.

“We’ve already done a lot,” Lamb said. “But there’s a lot of potential to move this along even further.”

After the council meeting, Mayor Michael Quill said he was impressed with the presentation and the three speakers’ enthusiasm for improving Auburn through the arts.

Quill said he believes it could be possible with a strong commitment from the city, private sponsors, citizens and arts organizations. Though local initiatives would need to reflect the local community, he said. “I feel something similar is very logical and doable,” Quill said.
—The Citizen

Fun Fact about Syracuse & Onondaga County …. did you know …..

… that the Great New York State Fair started in Syracuse. New York’s very first fair (September 29-30, 1841) was located in a square bounded today by North Salina, Division, Townsend & Ash Streets with the old Onondaga County Court House serving as an exhibit hall. It was deemed a tremendous success & attracted between 10,000 & 15,000 spectators many traveling by railroad. The NYS Legislature budgeted $8,000 for the “promotion of agriculture & household manufactures in the state” through the annual fair.

Joyce Backus

Exhibition by Joyce Bond Backus Opens at Imagine That… Gallery Sept. 3

Imagine That…, the fine arts and fine craft gallery at 38 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles, will feature new figurative artwork by Joyce Bond Backus throughout September.

The show opens Sept. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m., as part of the village’s First Friday art night. The longtime Skaneateles-area artist—known for her nature, figurative and whimsical paintings—will be in attendance and available to discuss her work. Refreshments and musical entertainment will be provided.

“My recent figure-drawing series combines the tradition of life observation drawing and experimental digital techniques,” says Backus. “I combine multiple hand-drawn images with my digital imagery, handmade paper, hand-written letters and found artifacts. These pieces reflect urban settings, architectural and natural environments.

“Each image created from my life figure drawings becomes a unique work in a series of related themes,” she explains. “My digital techniques have become drawing tools as much as my paintbrush or charcoal stick. I work to create an emotional connection to the art image. I enjoy the psychological element that happens between artist, life model and drawing surface.”

Backus’ jewelry designs are also shown at Imagine That…

Backus works from her home studio in Marietta, where she says she is inspired by “our beautiful area landscapes and my English gardens.”

She earned master’s degrees in illustration and environmental design at Syracuse University and teaches fashion design at SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Her art can be viewed at www.joycebackus.com.

Imagine That… is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call the gallery at 685-6264.

Tuesday, August 17 Tuesday Night music sessions at Auburn Public Theater (APT),
108 Genesee St., Auburn 7:30 PM A weekly evening of regional and national talent, and
featured acts. Door prize, a light snack menu & wine/beer with I.D. $2 at the door at.
www.auburnpublictheater.org or (315) 253-6669
Wednesday, August 18 The 2010 Tiffany Summer Concert Series at Noon and Art
Market 11 AM – 2 PM Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson St. With the music of the
Stephen Lonsky Family. The family has been playing gospel music for 20 years in
churches and the community. Their daughter, Stephanie, is an accomplished musician
and has been part of their ministry for 10 years. They will perform Old Time and
Southern Gospel music on piano, guitar, mandolin with vocals and harmony. This
concert is free and open to the public. Donations accepted (315) 252-0339
Wednesday, August 18 – Saturday August 21 Skaneateles Festival Schedule
Week 2 Baroque and before….
• Wednesday, Special Event: Summer Suite: Villas, Vittles, and Fiddles. 6:30 PM
• Thursday at St. Mary’s of the Lake. 8 PM featuring Lionheart.
• Friday, Prelude Concert: Meet & hear the 2010 Robinson award winner, violinist
Alicia Friedrichs. 7:00 PM
• Friday at the First Presbyterian Church featuring NYS Baroque 8:00 PM
• Saturday at Brook Farm featuring the Festival Chamber Orchestra; and Robert
Moody, conductor 7:30 PM
Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Update
“Skaneateles Skinny”
• To order tickets online, www.skanfest.org, or order by phone (315) 685-7418
Wednesday, August 18 TRIVIA NIGHT: 7:00 PM. Creekside Coffeehouse. 35 Fennell
St. Free (315) 685-0379 or www.creeksidebooks.com
Thursday, August 19 OPEN MIC: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM with Joanne Perry Creekside
Coffeehouse, 35 Fennell St., FREE (315) 685-0379 or www.creeksidebooks.com
Thursday, August 19 Skaneateles Farmers Market 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM at the
Skaneateles Community Center parking lot, 97 State St.
Friday, August 20 Skaneateles Community Band Lakeside in Clift Park 7:00 PM
Bring your own chair or blanket. Rain Place Austin Park Pavilion.
Friday, August 20 MUSIC: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Donna Colton + one Creekside
Coffeehouse, 35 Fennell St., FREE (315) 685-0379 or www.creeksidebooks.com
Saturday, August 21 MUSIC: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM The Sloppy Joes Creekside
Coffeehouse, 35 Fennell St., FREE (315) 685-0379 or www.creeksidebooks.com
Saturday, August 21 Skaneateles Farmers Market 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the
Skaneateles Community Center parking lot, 97 State St.
Saturday, August 21 at Auburn Public Theater, 108 Genesee St. Singer Songwriter
Phil Henry with percussionist Gary Moon Opening act: Wendy Ramsay, Joanne Perry &
Donna Dennihy 8:00 PM Contact APT at www.auburnpublictheater.org or (315) 253-
6669
Sunday, August 22 Borodino Pancake Breakfast, 2500 Nunnery Rd. 8:00 AM – 1 PM.
Sunday, August 22 Lakeside Church Service located in Thayer Park next to St. James
Episcopal Church, 96 E. Genesee St. 10 AM.
Tuesday, August 24 Morris’s Grill, A Skaneateles Landmark: History & Memories” will
feature an overview of its history since 1906, a “Living History” sharing of memories &
local lore about the place, and a dramatic reading of a new poem, “The Ghost of Morris’s
Past.” at The Creamery, 28 Hannum St., sponsored by the Skaneateles Historical
Society. 7:30 PM.
Tuesday, August 24 Tuesday Night music sessions at Auburn Public Theater (APT),
108 Genesee St., Auburn 7:30 PM A weekly evening of regional and national talent, and
featured acts. Door prize, a light snack menu & wine/beer with I.D. $2 at the door at.
www.auburnpublictheater.org or (315) 253-6669
Wednesday, August 25 The 2010 Tiffany Summer Concert Series at Noon and Art
Market 11 AM – 2 PM Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson St. Pianist, Emmanuel
Ferrara, is the final performer of the 2010 Tiffany Summer Concert Series. Emmanuel is
well known for his various performances at the Hotel Syracuse, supper clubs, VA
Hospitals, USO shows in Europe, and on the BBC on the island of Malta. He studied
piano privately and at the Syracuse University School of Music. His piano concert will
consist of a selection of songs including classical, popular and show tunes. This concert
is free and open to the public. Donations accepted (315) 252-0339 Last of the summer
concert series until next year!
Wednesday, August 25 FREE Community Concert sponsored by the Skaneateles
Festival at Anyela’s Vineyards, 2433 West Lake Rd. featuring the Sylvan Winds
5:30 PM (315) 685-7418 or www.skanfest.org
Wednesday, August 25 – Saturday August 28 Skaneateles Festival Schedule
Week 3 White Nights – The vast sweep of the Russian steppes and soul
• Wednesday, Workshop for Music Students 11 AM
• Thursday, 8 PM at the First Presbyterian Church Featuring Elinor Freer, piano;
Spencer Myer, piano; Sylvan Winds; and Ying Quatet
• Friday, at the First Presbyterian Church 8 PM featuring Spencer Myer, piano;
Sylvan Winds; and Ying Quartet
• Friday at the First Presbyterian Church featuring NYS Baroque 8:00 PM
• Saturday at Brook Farm featuring the Festival Chamber String Orchestra Joshua
Weilerstein, conductor. 7:30 PM
To order tickets online, www.skanfest.org, or order by phone (315) 685-7418
Thursday, August 26 Skaneateles Farmers Market 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM at the
Skaneateles Community Center parking lot, 97 State St.
Thursday, August 26 Author Louis Profeta MD “The Patient in Room Nine Says He’s
God” 7:00 PM. Creekside Books & Coffee. 35 Fennell St. Free (315) 685-0379 or
www.creeksidebooks.com
Friday, August 27 Skaneateles Community Band Lakeside in Clift Park 7:00 PM
Bring your own chair or blanket. Rain Place Austin Park Pavilion. The Community Band
will be at the Fireman’s Field Days Saturday, September 4 at 3 PM. Watch for
information on the December Holiday Concert in December!
Saturday, August 28 Skaneateles Farmers Market 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM in the
Skaneateles Community Center parking lot, 97 State St.
Saturday, August 28 Bill Horrace Trio featuring Joe Riposo at Anyelas Vineyards,
2433 West Lake Rd., 4:00 – 7:00 PM (315) 685-3797
Tuesday, August 31 Tuesday Night music sessions at Auburn Public Theater (APT),
108 Genesee St., Auburn 7:30 PM A weekly evening of regional and national talent, and
featured acts. Door prize, a light snack menu & wine/beer with I.D. $2 at the door at.
www.auburnpublictheater.org or (315) 253-6669