The Post-Standard News |
||
|
Post-Standard,
The (Syracuse, NY) October 11, 2001
The correct name of the park is Veterans' Park. A PARK WITH A GAZEBO, PLAYGROUND, GARDEN DEDICATED THIS MONTH IN THE HAMLET. Sara Errington Staff writer Community pride bloomed in
Borodino recently with the dedication of a park and the appearance
of an American flag painted next to the old Fesko's store.
Dozens of people gathered Saturday to dedicate Borodino
Park. A dilapidated building recently was torn down to make room for a
veterans' park and the historic grange building continues to undergo
renovation.
As a chamber music group performed in the gazebo, women carried to
a picnic table plates of cookies and an urn of hot spiced cider from the
Methodist church.
Nearby, children clambered over the refurbished wooden playground.
During a brief ceremony, the Rev. Jim LeGro of the Borodino
United Methodist Church described how the dream of building a gazebo
"spread from one person to another."
Beautification committee members singled out Johanna Frittelli.
"She was the one who really spearheaded the project," said Carol
Bourque.
Frittelli "saw a tiny corner of the world, but the heart of our
community," and knew how lovely it could be, said Joyce Barnett.
Afterward, those who attended the dedication socialized and sipped
hot cider.
Ann Droppa and Winifred Sanford, who retired to Spafford in 1981
after 35 years as missionaries in India, admired the gazebo from matching
lawn chairs they'd brought.
"I think that this is a beautiful part of the country," said
Sanford.
Frittelli was quick to praise the more than 100 people who gave
time and money to the project.
"What was so wonderful is that people just came and volunteered
without even being asked," she said.
Grants of $5,000 from both the CNY Community Foundation and Allyn
Foundation were extremely helpful, she said.
Across the street from the gazebo, an American flag painted on the
pavement is another product of community pride.
Becky Leubner was driving through Camillus when she spotted an
American flag painted on Gorge Road (Rte. 174).
"We gotta do that in Borodino," she recalled saying.
Armed with 13 cans of spray paint, Leubner and three friends set to
work one night in the parking lot of the old Fesko's store.
They were still drawing an outline, when Frank Marcheterre stopped
by.
"He comes walking down through and jokingly says, "Don't you have a
tape measure?"'
Marcheterre used his to help map out the precise dimensions of the
flag.
"If it hadn't been for him, it would have looked like it was
waving," Leubner said.
Finished, the flag is nine feet long. Leubner said she returned a
few days later to paint a pole extending from the bottom left corner of
the flag, and to paint the words "God Bless America" in the intersection.
Leubner said someone called the police while she was painting and
an officer came to see what was going on, but didn't issue tickets.
"That store's been closed for years. I never gave it a thought that
I should ask permission," Leubner said.
Community members have been supportive of the flag, Leubner said.
"I'm very proud of it," she said.
| ||