UPCOMING EVENTS

What: WBOC event presented by Alexis Pierce. When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Where: SKY Armory, 351 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse NY 13202. Info: To register, visit: https://wboconnection.org/event-4432073/Registration.

Thursdays, September 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th Legacy Writers

What: “Write Your Legacy” is a writer support group designed for adult writers. Do you have a story to tell? Family skeletons to reveal? Silly excursions to share? What do you want your heirs to know? Make sure memories become a legacy! When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Northern Onondaga Public Library, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Cost: Free. Info: (315) 699-2032 or visit: https://www.nopl.org/meet-the-legacy-writers.

Saturday, Sept. 11th Walk for Hunger

What: Organized by the Rotary Club of Camillus, Solvay and Geddes. All funds raised will support the CNY Food Bank, local food pantries and the India Rotary Relief Fund. Walk is approximately 5 miles. Vendors, Food and Family Fun after the walk. When: 10 a.m. Where: Reed Webster Park, Warners Road, Camillus. Info: Call George at (315) 952-2256.

Saturday, Sept. 11 – Sunday, Sept. 12 Golden Harvest Festival

What: An old-time county fair and traditional harvest festival wrapped up in one. Non-stop music, live entertainment, wildlife programs, canoeing and kayaking, hayrides, with a variety of food and more. When: Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. Cost: Admission $5, $1 ages 6 to 17; Free ages 5 & under. Info: (315) 638-2519. What: Enjoy a fabulous evening of fine food, live entertainment and safe socializing on the Everson Plaza as we celebrate our community and honor the 2020 and 2021 Everson Award recipients. When: 6 p.m. Cost: Tickets are $250. Info: (315) 474-6064 ext 307 or visit: everson.org/picnic2021.

Saturday, Sept. 25 Teal Ribbon Run for Ovarian Cancer

What: The 13th annual Heather’s Teal Ribbon Run and Walk benefits Hope for Heather, a local non-profit dedicated to ovarian cancer education, awareness, patient support and supporting research. When: 10 a.m. for the live run, or virtually anytime before Oct. 2 Where: Lewis Park, Minoa Info: tealribbonrun.org

Saturday, September 25 - Sunday, September 26 A New Beginning

What: Ludwig von Beeethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Annelle Gregory, a sphinx solo Program Violinist, performs the fiery Violin Concerto by Cuban-French composer Jose White LaFitte, and Gioachino Rossini’s charming overture to Semiramide starts the season on the right note. When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Where: Symphoria, Inspiration Hall, 709 James St., Syracuse. Cost: Varies, please inquire. Info: (315) 299-5598

Sunday September 26 29th Annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair

What: One-day celebration of the diversity and uniqueness of the Westcott neighborhood, with performing arts, food, service organizations and activities for all ages. Parade at noon, performances begin at 12:30 p.m. Where: Westcott neighborhood: Concord St. and Dell St., Syracuse. Info: (315) 313-5447 or visit info@westcottstreetfair.org.

Investment executive joins Excellus BCBS

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently named Robyn Smith as community investments and partnerships manager for the company's Central New York region. Her responsibilities in this role include overseeing strategic investments with the goal of improving access to care, advancing specific health outcomes and supporting similarly mission-driven organizations in the region.

Prior to her new position, Smith was employed with the Central New York Community Foundation since 2013, where she ascended to the role of director of strategic initiatives and managed the organization’s grant process and selection, among several other duties.

Smith is a member of the Leadership Greater Syracuse Class of 2016. She and her family currently reside in Chittenango.

Symphoria names new marketing coordinator

Symphoria recently hired Donna Vickers as its full-time marketing coordinator.

Vickers shared that she is “excited to have the opportunity to continue expanding audience awareness about what Symphoria brings to Central New York and the arts community.”

Prior to moving to Syracuse in 2020, Vickers spent several years as a band director. She holds a master’s degree from Le Moyne College in arts administration, and a bachelor's degree in music education. Donna served as the graduate assistant for the arts administration program at Le Moyne, which helped prepare her for her role at Symphoria.

Joins Revercomb Dental Group

Dr. Aleksandra Zak, a graduate of JamesvilleDeWitt High School, will be joining the Revercomb Dental Group in Manlius.

Dr. Zak completed her undergraduate studies in biological sciences and SUNY Buffalo and her DMD at the University of New England School of Dental Medicine in 2018. She went on to complete a general residency program at Jocobi Medical Hospital in the Bronx in 2019, where she focused on surgical extractions, endodontics, implant placement and other advanced clinical procedures.

Dr. Zak moved back to the Syracuse area to be close to family and friends, and has been practicing dentistry here since 2019. She especially enjoys visiting the Salt City Market.

Helio Health names new Chief Growth Officer

Shawna Craigmile, LCSW, is now the chief growth officer of Helio Health, Inc. She will work with Helio Health’s executive leadership team to create and execute the organizations strategic plan across new business development, mergers and acquisitions, and existing business expansion.

Craigmile is well known in the Upstate community for her leadership in New York State healthcare initiatives such as Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program and Health Homes. She brings with her years of experience collaborating with organizations across the Upstate community, to include activities such as the steering committee for Onondaga County Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, Onondaga County Drug Task Force, Central New York Care Collaborative Board of Directors, and the Rural Health Network of Oswego County Advisory Committee. Her public speaking engagements include SUNY Upstate’s Transitions in Care Symposium and NYS Supportive Housing Conference.

Shawna earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at SUNY Oswego and her master of social work degree at Syracuse University.