Write a commentOne local resident met "Santa" three days early for a very special Christmas. Sharon McCoy is the lucky winner of the Diamond Necklace from the Oswego Community Youth Orchestra (OCYO), donated generously by JP Jewelers.
The necklace is shown here presented by JP Jeweler's owner James Pauldine on Monday December 22, one day after the drawing at the "Supersized" OCYO Breakfast Buffet Benefit with Santa & Diamond Necklace Raffle. Santa himself drew the winning ticket at the end of the breakfast in front of many well wishers and hopeful winners. Thanks to so many local residents and volunteers this was one of the most successful, and certainly the most activity filled breakfasts at Lake City Lodge No. 127, Oswego.
The lodge was beautifully decorated, the line of patrons were long, patient, and all morning. Santa and the children had a special area to make their requests and receive goodies, volunteers greeted people arriving and buying tickets, the OCYO ensemble & friends performed for the crowd, Holiday shows played on the big screen TV, there was a Holiday sing-a-long, and the all you can eat buffet line offered piping hot excellent food and drink. Guests that day went out of their way to say how much they enjoyed the event and were happy they came. Santa was not lonely as many local children attended and made their Christmas wishes heard.
OCYO would like to thank Lake City Lodge for sponsoring this extremely successful fundraiser, the volunteers from Lake City Lodge and OCYO families and their friends, the business, corporate sponsors, the Oswego City School District and Superintendent, and especially JP Jewelers. Also Big M of Oswego and Syracuse Symphoria for their assistance, JP Jewelers, Raby's Ace Home Center, The River's End Bookstore, and Midstate Music and many more.
OCYO is holding auditions on January 9 at Oswego Middle School. Student orchestra musician's grades 7-12 that scored Level 3 and higher for NYSSMA are encouraged to apply. Many members have consistently qualified for All-State and All-County, often are principal players in their respective school districts orchestra, with a desire to advance further in their musical abilities with OCYO and study under the direction of Dr. Juan Francisco la Manna, orchestra director at SUNY Oswego. As OCYO performs thru their season, they we just approached by Symphoria of Syracuse to open for them at some of their concerts, a real honor. Applicants can apply online and for more info visit OCYO's web site: http://www.ocyo.org/membership.html
