Archive: News

Monday night a large crowd gathered for the official dedication of the band stand in Myers Park from the Lansing Lion's Club to the Town of Lansing.  After a day of storms that rained hail over Lansing, the weather was perfect for the occasion.  Supervisor Scott Pinney, Town Board members Connie Wilcox, Matt Besemer, and Marty Christopher were on hand along with Parks Superintendent Steve Colt to be part of the ceremony.

"We put together an idea, and the idea came into fruition," said outgoing Lions President Lin Davidson.  "Today the Lansing Lions would like to convey the gazebo to the Town.  There's no key to the gazebo, so we can't hand you the key, but it is now the Town's."


The lions began working on the idea in 2005, hoping to have a band stand built the following year.  But the cost of raising an old fashioned gazebo-style band stand was more than originally anticipated.  Sales of a Lansing-themed throw blanket designed by Lion Noni Krom, private donations, a grant from the New York State and Bermuda Lions Foundation and a lot of labor by Lions Club and community members moved the project along to the point where the almost-finished band stand could be used in the first Lansing Harbor Festival last August.


Volunteers led by contractor and Lion John Moravec completed the structure, adding railings and painting the band stand white.  A cupola has been ordered and will be installed soon.

The driving force behind the project was Char Wilson, who was honored with the club's Citizen of the Year Award at the Monday ceremony.  Wilson chaired an ad hoc committee and personally coordinated the effort, scheduling volunteer workers and making sure they could work as materials arrived.  "Sometimes people get ideas and they just talk about them," said Davidson.  "That doesn't happen with Char.  It was a huge outpouring by the town, showing what this town can do.  Char was there to put everything in order and make it happen.  I don't know if we can say enough about what is reflected by this town and what it can get together when the whole town gets together to do something."


After the dedication The New York State and Bermuda Lions Foundation's Jim Dormandy installed the new Lions Club officers for the next year.  Outgoing President Davidson was awarded a plaque for three years of service as President, unusual because Lions presidents typically serve one year.  Noni Krom and Betty Ellis were awarded Lion of the Year awards.  Krom recently became District Governor for the Finger Lakes District, which will require her to attend Lions Club meetings in 45 clubs spread around the district.


"It's just one of the many things that the Lion's Club does for the Lansing Community," says Town Supervisor Scott Pinney.

"I think it's a nice addition to the park, really," adds Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox.  "They have the concerts every summer and now they have a place to do it.  And the harbor festival and all the other events.  It will be great."

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