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The (Syracuse, NY) July 24, 2003 COMMITTEE SEEKS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR VETERANS MEMORIAL Sara Errington Staff writer The grass at the new
Spafford Veterans Memorial is growing and flowers bloom
around its flagpole, but much
remains to be done.
The veterans memorial committee is launching a fund-raising
campaign to install a circular brick walkway and low iron fence around the
granite obelisk that was installed this spring.
"We have no money to complete our project so we're half done," said
Joyce Green, a member of the committee.
The committee is sending letters to Spafford's 150 veterans,
and to town residents, asking for their help. Also, Ryan Phillips, a
Marcellus High School student, has offered to water ski the length of
Skaneateles Lake on one ski and donate the proceeds from sponsorships to
the memorial.
"We need probably $20,000 to $25,000 more to do what they'd like to
do up there," said Town Supervisor Gordon Ireland.
About $20,000 has been invested in the park so far, he said.
Grants the committee was hoping for haven't come through.
Recent census data bumped the town's wealth level above the point
where it can use community development money for projects like the
memorial, Ireland said. Now, such money can only be used to clear blighted
properties.
This means that the town couldn't use $50,000 in community
development funds it applied for on the memorial. Instead, the money, if
it comes through, will be used for continued work at the former IGA store
at the northeast corner of routes 41 and 174, he said.
The committee meets at 10 a.m. Saturdays at the town hall. Members
often go to the memorial beforehand and do a little work.
Individuals spend time gardening, planting and finishing other
tasks at the memorial.
"In dribs and drabs we're all going over and buying trees and
planting them," Green said.
Green and Johanna Frittelli recently planted some large fir trees
and, with the help of Helen Woodmansee, staked out a raised soil bed for a
shrub and perennial garden.
The obelisk, engraved, was delivered from Mount Airy, N.C., and
installed June 9.
When it's done, a 30-foot brick walkway and gardens will surround
the monument. Pathways will link the monument to a smaller garden around a
lighted flagpole.
Granite benches will give visitors a quiet place to sit and enjoy
the memorial.
The benches have already been purchased, but are in storage.
"They're in storage now because we have nothing to put them on,"
Green said.
One was bought with a gift from the Todd Pitman fund. Pitman, 30,
formerly of Skaneateles, was killed in the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center. Another bench was given in memory of the wife of committee
member Frank Moran.
Improvements have been made to three of Borodino's four corners in
the past few years.
A gazebo and gardens were built on a field on the northwest corner.
The former IGA store on the northeast corner was knocked down this year.
The Grange building, on the southwest corner, is undergoing restorations.
The corner where the memorial is taking shape used to house an
apartment building that became dilapidated over the years. That was
demolished a few years ago and the town acquired the property for the
memorial.
"It really is a big improvement over what it was," Ireland said of
the memorial site.
"We're working on the other corner now on the other side," he
added. The town has received community development funds to build some
kind of community center where the IGA was.
Veterans Memorial Committee members include: Joyce Green, Johanna
Frittelli,
Woody Woodmansee, Gordon Ireland, Frank Moran and Joyce Barnett. The chair is Fred
Chappell.
Illustration: PHOTO Copyright, 2003, The
Herald Company | ||