Friendlys Family Fun Night
Come eat at Friendlys on James Street in Eastwood
on January 27, 2010 from 5-8 p.m.
Friendlys will donate 10% of the proceeds
to the East Woods Skate Plaza

ENA will raffle a skateboard
Raffle tickets will be available at the door

Eastwood Neighborhood Association, Inc (ENA). is raising money to construct a multi-purpose recreation site for the community to enjoy. It is an urban plaza design that fits in with the landscape of the original East Woods. The plaza design maintains the natural trails and old oak trees that gave the village of Eastwood its name.

ENA, PO Box 66, Syracuse, NY 13206
www.eastwoodneighbor.com
www.skateeastwood.com

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STAR TREK II WRATH OF KAHN AND STAR TREK FIRST CONTACT double feature at The Palace Theater on SUNDAY 12/20/09.
Doors open at 6:30 pm, Movie at 7 pm.
This is a fundraiser for the East Woods Skate Plaza. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the construction of a Skate Plaza in Eastwood. We need your support to make this Skate Plaza a reality, please come to the movie! We will also be holding a 50/50 raffle. The winning ticket will be drawn prior to the second movie.

The Palace Theater
2384 James Street
Syracuse, NY 13206

21+ Drink / ALL AGES ONLY $8 / $6 if dressed as a Trekkie

Brewandview@gmail.com
skateeastwood@gmail.com

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The 2009 Skate Jam will take place Saturday, May 30, at the Sunnycrest Ice Rink from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a competition from 1 to 3 p.m. and open skating the rest of the time. Please download the flyer (PDF) and print it out and share!

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By Maria Fibiger, Community Partnerships Director, Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership, from the Fall 2007 edition of In-Sites Magazine:

What happens when you bring about 100 skateboarding youth together with the New York State National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, local law enforcement, the district attorney's office, the local U.S. Attorney's Office, a neighborhood association, and a local church on a 90+ degree summer day? An awesome SK8 Jam presented by the Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership!

Pronounced "skate jam," these events are popular competitions in the skateboarding community. For this one, collaboration was the key to making it a successful activity for city of Syracuse youth on 2 hazy, hot, and humid days in July. The site's Seed Committee had identified that many kids were skateboarding in the area, but really had no designated place to do so, much to the ire of many residence and business owners. With school out of session, many kids in the community also needed something to do that would be fun, healthy, and, of course, free. That's where the New York State National Guard's Counterdrug Task Force's Combat Skate Jam program saved the day. This community-based skateboard competition combines youth drug education with a National Guard-delivered mobile skate park. The National Guard provides the equipment for the event, assists with staffing, and brings along some terrific prizes paid for with funding from seized drug assets.

So, with the activity ready to roll, the next steps were to find a venue, secure volunteers, publicize and get the word out to all skateboarding youth in the area. The Weed and Seed site connected with the East Woods Skate Park Committee of the city's Northside residential area, whose members helped secure a spot for the SK8 Jam, spread the word about it, and provided volunteers. They even cooked hot dogs for the kids. This group was especially excited about the event because its members are working to raise funds to develop a proposed skate park in their neighborhood. The Reformed Church of Syracuse provided its parking lot, a perfect place for the skateboarders to do their thing on the National Guard's ramps and grinding equipment, while volunteers from local law enforcement agencies; Rural Metro Medical Services of Central New York, Syracuse; and the local Salvation Army helped to create a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for the kids. The teamwork of all these agencies and organizations produced a well-constructed and successful event.

SK8 Jam was undeniably fun, but what impressed all of the partners as the event rolled along was the respect, support, and collaboration the skateboarders gave to each other. Kids from all sides of the city participated in the free-skate and competition portions of the event without incident, confrontation, or difficulty. In a community with more than 40 identified gangs, many of which prey on youth, this type of positive interaction can be rare. Many of the kids in attendance were from different schools, diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds, and distinct neighborhoods. None of that mattered to them. What mattered was their common ground—their appreciation for skateboarding. Kids who typically might be a part of turf battles in various neighborhoods worked together to learn skateboarding skills, showed each other new tricks, made way for kids who were less experienced, and mutually benefited from each other's presence. Their character and behavior throughout the SK8 Jam was inspiring and promising.

At first glance, the big picture of what it would take for the Syracuse Weed and Seed site to present a skateboarding event seemed daunting, a bit overwhelming, but definitely a must-do activity for the area's youth. The key to SK8 Jam was the collaborative and cooperative efforts and expertise of all the event's partners and volunteers. More importantly, the site discovered that the commonality, team spirit, and harmony of the skateboarders superseded all expectations.

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From the Syracuse Post-Standard, April 5, 2007.

By Mike Fish/Staff Writer

The Eastwood Neighborhood Association is making steady progress on the development of a new skate park.

An ENA committee that has been working on this project since September 2005 is now focusing on making sure the design of the skate park does not affect some old trees in the area.

The proposed skate park will be in what is called Huntington Park but in a tribute to some of the old trees that gave rise to the original name of Eastwood, the ENA has formed a new association called the East Woods Park Association. Abby Parolin is the president of that new group.

"The whole purpose of the design is not to just flatten out the land, but to have a cityscape," said Judy Lewis, chair of the ENA skate park research committee.

Once the new skate park has been designed, fundraising will begin.

In the meantime, if you would like to contribute, send a check to ENA at the Eastwood Community Center, 401 S. Midler Ave., Syracuse 13206.

And if you'd like to donate some construction materials or services, contact Lewis by e-mail at judyewinglewis@aol.com.

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From the Syracuse Post-Standard, September 28, 2006.

By Mike Fish, Staff Writer

The Eastwood Neighborhood Association's Skateboard Research Committee is hosting a presentation from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St.

The committee earlier this year received several price quotes from various skatepark design and equipment companies, but architect Peter Crissey, who teaches an interior design class at Syracuse University, offered to do it for free.

After viewing the proposed skatepark site at Huntington Park and meeting with the teen skater committee, 24 SU students have drafted individual plans.

The SU students will present their ideas at Wednesday's meeting. Each student will be limited to about five minutes for each presentation.

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From the June 1, 2006, edition of the Syracuse City Eagle (PDF).

By Sarah Bates

Five concussions, a few fines, a court appearance and some scraped skin won't stop Santino Stixe Chambers from skateboarding. He can't help it. The redheaded 17-year-old is addicted. "It's the rush," he said. "The wind on my face."

Chambers stood among a group of teenage boys perched atop skateboards at the American Legion Post 1276 on Monday morning. They wore identical shirts displaying a skater's graphic yellow profile and the words "Eastwood Skaters."

Chambers said the boys grew up together in Eastwood. Recently, they've become even more united by a common cause: to turn their dream of a skate park in Eastwood into a reality.

A long time coming

After more than 20 years in the making, generations of Eastwood teens are about to get their wish. Years ago, skateboarder Jamie Notarthomas put forth the initial proposal for a skate park in the city. However, despite local and state support, his proposal was struck down because of budget constraints. And yet, dreams seldom die. Last year Judy Lewis of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association--and a friend of Notarthomas--resurrected the movement. She quickly gathered support. The current generation of Eastwood skaters and their families have rallied the community.


Chuck WainwrightIt was a seed planted 20 years ago that is now growing," she said. "The community support is amazing. We've had about 1,800 signatures supporting the park."

Eastwood Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today and the Eastwood Neighborhood Association recently agreed upon a site for the park. If all goes according to plan, cement will soon be poured over a 120-by-80-foot area behind Huntington School, between Woodbine and Stafford Avenues and south of Caleb Avenue. The only remaining hurdle is raising enough money.

'Pop slide jump'

The boys signed up to skate in the Eastwood Memorial Day parade to gather publicity for their cause. Shortly before the parade began, they practiced flips and jumps on the sidewalk and grass in front of Post 1276. "We've been doing everything to raise money," said Ray Vermeulen. "T-shirts, flyers€¦ bakeoffs," he said with a smile. "We need almost $250,000 for the pad and obstacles." Just as fellow skateboarder Josh Kinder was about to attempt a "pop slide jump" in the street, a police officer drove by and ordered him back on the sidewalk.

"See," Chambers said. "That's why we need a park." According to the boys, the only places they can skate and not get in trouble are their own driveways and a handful of parks that are too far to reach without a car. Although they insist the cars and law enforcement officers don't bother them, the skaters agree it would be best for everyone if they had their own park.

"I've been close to being hit by cars," said Neil Kraus. "Our boards run into the street all the time."

Parents realize the lengths to which their children are willing to go to practice their moves and increase their skills with their friends. They've been just as driven as the teenagers to raise money for the skateboarding refuge.

"Parents want a place for their kids not to get hassled," Lewis said. "There needs to be a place for them to do their sport."

Lisa Molesso, the mother of an Eastwood skater, carried around a spare helmet before the parade. She offered it to anyone on a board who had a bare head.

"We want them to avoid stairs," she said. "We want a place in the community that's safe for them to go."

Until enough money is collected, local residents can find the Eastwood Skaters rolling off of boards, sidewalks, stairs and streets all across the city.

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