UPCOMING EVENTS

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: One of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s most beloved family events is back each weekend in October with a safe, fun, “kooky not spooky” daytime Halloween celebration. The zoo becomes a kid-friendly haunt with trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal encounters, keeper chats, games, activities and photo ops. Wear your costumes and bring your treat bags! Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse Info: onondagacountyparks.com

Friday, October 1 - Sunday, October 31 Haudenosaunee Art Across the Homelands

When: Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and Sunday by appointment only. What: Composed of over 52 contemporary artworks by Haudenosaunee artists from all six nations across what is now New York. The works are on loan from the Contemporary Native American Art Collection, New York State Museum, Albany. Where: Stuart Gallery Shaffer Bldg, College Place, Syracuse Cost: Free Info: 315-443-4097, email suart@syr.edu or visit: https://museum.syr.edu/visit/plan-your-visit/

Friday, October 1 Familiar Reimagined

When: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. What: Paintings by Karen Burns, semi-abstract landscape oil paintings with Nancy Nixon Ensign’s mixed media series titled “An Artist’s Year in Quarantine.” Where:Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse Cost: Free Info: 315-544-5811.

Saturday, Oct. 2 Early Autumn Paddle

When: 4 p.m. What: Enjoy autumn’s glow with a naturalist on an early evening canoe paddle around Beaver Lake. We’ll launch the beach to enjoy the sunset while snacking on cheese, crackers and cider. Price includes canoe rental. Advanced registration is required. Where:Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville Cost: $25 per canoe Info: onondagacountyparks.com

Wednesday, Oct. 6 There’s No Place Like Home

When: 7 to 8 p.m. What: A virtual event featuring auctions and raffles to support Francis House. Where: Live broadcast on Newschannel 9. Visit www.localsyr.com to join in. Info: francishouseny.org When: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. What: Gain a new perspective on networking, use your skills to make the most out of networking opportunities and learn tactics for engineering your own networking experiences for maximum effectiveness and enjoyment with Kelly Schrank, MA, ELS. Where:SKY Armory, 351 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse Info: www.wboconnection.org to register.

Thursday, Oct. 21 An Evening at the Everson

When: 6 p.m. What: A truly immersive experience featuring conversation, wine and music on the third Thursday of the month. Experience the Museum and learn about exhibitions and the history of the building through informal guided strolls. Afterwards, sip along and learn about a variety of wines with James Beckman, regional vice president of the American Wine Society. Join us for a thrilling concert of newly commissioned works, Prisms and Antiphons – v. 1.1 – AbStranded. Where:The Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse Cost: Free Info: 315-474-6064

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 & 24 Symphoria Masterworks: Classical Revival

When: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday What: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saints-Georges, was a colleague of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Saint-Georges’s Symphony No. 2 and Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 will be performed side-by-side in a marvelous reframing of what we think we know about the Classical period. CNY’s longtime friend, Julian Schwartz, performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s powerful Cello Concerto No. 1. Where:Inspiration Hall, 709 James Street, Syracuse Cost: $35 to $90

Saturday, Oct. 30 Symphoria Kids: Spooky Symphoria

When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. What: Your favorite Halloween tradition returns with creepy classical music and family-friendly activities, including a Costume Parade! Where:Inspiration Hall, 709 James Street, Syracuse Cost: Free to $18 Info: symphoria.org

Saturday, October 30 Inaugural Witches’ Ball of CNY

When: 7 p.m. What: Syracuse’s First Annual Witches Samhain Ball, presented by Witches and Heathens of CNY and sponsored by The Sabbath Project. Ticket prices and packages vary. Where:The Landmark Theatre, 362 S Salina Street, Syracuse Info: To order tickets email customerservice@ticketnetwork.com or call 1-888-456-8499.

 Experience  Commitment  Dedication

Named NYS Senate ‘Woman of Distinction’

Detective Gwen Dowdell (Ret.) was recently presented the 2021 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction award in recognition of her trailblazing career and decades of service to her community. Sen. John Mannion presented Dowdell with the award last month.

Dowdell served in the Syracuse Police Department for 20 years and worked as a detective and investigator in the Domestic Violence Unit, the Child Abuse Unit and the Missing Persons Unit. She retired from the police department in 2007 but continued her service as a school resource officer at Corcoran High School and later as security official at Onondaga Community College.

“As a member of the Syracuse PD, Det. Gwen Dowdell took on the most difficult cases; she built bridges between the community and her department while dedicating herself to protecting our most vulnerable neighbors,” Mannion said. “In our schools, she became a role model while protecting our kids. Gwen Dowdell is a true Woman of Distinction and deserves our praise, respect, and gratitude. She has never stopped making this community a better and safer place and she is clearly one of Central New York’s finest citizens.”

Dowdell is a past vice president of Camp 415, an organization of African American law enforcement officers who seek to strengthen relationships – and awareness - between police and the community. Camp 415 honors the badge number of Wallie Howard, a beloved Syracuse Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty.

Randi Bregman, the co-executive director of Vera House said, “Gwen was one of the most caring, committed police officers I ever worked with. She went above and beyond to try to get victims help and support and to hold offenders accountable. She had a way with people and made them feel like they mattered to her.”

For that work, Gwen received the Sister Mary Vera Award, dedicated to citizens who serve those affected by domestic and sexual violence while emulating “the humility, gentleness and humanitarian spirit reflected by Sister Mary Vera.”

Dowdell has also received the Champion of Children Award, the PBA Merit and Valor Award, and numerous law enforcement commendations.

Named Foundation director for Syracuse Diocese

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse recently announced that Beth Lynn Hoey, CFRE has been hired as the executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, effective October 12. The Foundation is a tax exempt, not profit charitable corporation established to foster philanthropy throughout the seven county Diocese. Hoey will be responsible for all fundraising initiatives, the annual HOPE Appeal, and the management of the Office of Stewardship and Development.

Beth has more than 29 years of experience in development locally beginning at the St. John's Home in Rochester, Huntington Family Center in Syracuse, and the last 25 years with Francis House in Syracuse as the director of development. She earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo in communications and public relations. She is accredited as a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Joins Barclay Damon

Barclay Damon recently announced Traci Boris, partner, has joined Barclay Damon’s Health Care & Human Services and Labor & Employment Practice Areas. Her primary office location is Syracuse.

Boris primarily focuses her practice on counseling individual practitioners, owners, administrators, executives, directors, and employees of health care practices and health care-related facilities, including physicians, licensed medical personnel, hospitals and clinics.

Boris assists health care clients with drafting and negotiating complex contracts and agreements; reviewing liability insurance portfolios; navigating wage-and-hour laws, the Family Medical Leave Act, disability issues, and personnel matters; human resources investigatory processes; HIPAA compliance, compliance programs, audits, investigations and self-disclosures, and licensure issues; EMTALA and transfer questions; and physician and patient relations.

Boris also assists with creating and revising corporate documents and provides guidance on merger documents and transition plans to health care systems and boards of directors.