Archive: Around Town

Photo by Monroe PayneThe 7th annual Lansing Harbor Festival is set to go on Saturday, August 10th from 10am to 6pm at Myers Park.  Festival Chairman Dennis Griffin says this year's event is somewhat scaled down, but will be a fun day that includes a foot race, fishing derby, kids' activities, food, vendors and entertainment.

"It'll be a fun time," Griffin said.  "We have the kids' pavilion, and we're hoping we'll get some new vendors this year.  This year is kind of a scaled down year, but we're going to have a great day."

The festival, hosted by the Lansing Community Council, began in 2007 under challenging circumstances.  The day before the festival a thunderstorm struck with hurricane winds, hail larger than nickles, and solid sheets of rain causing white-out for drivers along Ridge Road.  Five utility poles between the school campus and the Lansing United Methodist Church snapped in half, plunging 1200 homes into darkness.  And the park was trashed.


Members of the community showed up out of the blue that day to help clean up the park, removing damaged tree limbs and the remains of damaged tents.  They hoped the festival would go on as scheduled, but town officials worried the park wasn't safe because limbs that may have been shaken loose by the storm could have fallen Saturday when the park was to be full.  Festival chair Karen Veaner spent Friday night in a dark office calling town officials, vendors and performers.  When it became clear the festival would have to be postponed, she arranged for almost all the participants to commit to the following Saturday.

The rest is history.  That first festival was a success, and it continued each year to celebrate the community that had come to its rescue.  Even in its more condensed form this year, most of the favorite pieces will be at Myers Park this year.

"The fishing derby is back this year," Griffin says.  "$1000 will be divided for prizes this year.  The weigh in begins at 7am, as does check in for the Lighthouse Run 5K.  A Fun Run will begin at 8:30 with the 5K Run starting at 9am."


The usual four band line-up has been replaced by two live bands and a disk jockey this year.

"Bob Keefe and Backtalk Band will play from eleven until one," Griffin says.  "Then we're going to fill in with DJ Rick Uhl.  Then at four o'clock True Bleu will play."

Backtalk Band features Jim Lawrence on Bass, Bob Keefe on Guitar, Mark Joyce on percussion, and John White on keyboards and vocals, featuring classic Rock from the '50s through the '80s.  True Bleu features Kip Opperman on guitar and vocals, Jennifer Giroux providing vocals and percussion, and Paul Parks on harmonica and vocals, writing, playing, and singing music with heart, soul, and meaning.

Cayuga Nature Center, the Cornell Raptors, Cayuga Nature Center will be among many popular  local organizations providing fun in the Kids' Pavilion.  Tompkins County Sheriff's Deputies will be on hand to demonstrate equipment.


"We did reduce the festival for cost savings," Griffin says.  "We decided to make it happen, but our biggest concern is we're not getting enough volunteers.  I'm hoping people who want to help their community will come out and volunteer. We'll put them to work."

The Lansing Varsity Football team will be on site again this year to help manage and direct parking and clean up at the end of the festival.

"Food vendors will be there, the vendors will be there," Griffin says.  "We'll have entertainment.  Let's make it a good day.  Come celebrate with us."

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