OGDENSBURG – When Madill Elementary School fourth-grader Layla Besaw selected a piece of her artwork for the Frederic Remington Art Museum’s fall exhibit last year, she didn’t know which would eventually bring his work to the fore. of t-shirts and hoodies.
However, that’s what happened when members of Stronger Together saw their artwork and wanted it to be the logo for their first annual Maple City Fall Festival scheduled for Saturday, October 8 at the Knights of Ogdensburg Pigeon, 721 Hasbrouck St., Ogdensburg, noon to 4 p.m.
Stronger Together is a registered, non-political, non-profit corporation comprised of a group of volunteers who advocate for Ogdensburg’s first responders.
Layla took inspiration from her artwork that was at Remington’s Fall Show, found some great leaves to use as a reference, and drew and painted a new design.
It didn’t take long, according to the ninth-year student, maybe 15 to 20 minutes to get to the piece of art.
“I like it,” Layla said, “I feel like I’m going to be famous.”
His artwork is featured on t-shirts and hoodies that are sold to help benefit the Maple City Fall Festival. Gold Youth Hoodies are available for $25. Also sold are long-sleeved shirts, brown in color and in different sizes. Both cost $25.
Order information is on the Maple City Fall Festival and Stronger Together Facebook pages.
Amy Anderson, a member of Stronger Together, which is one of the Fall Festival organizations, said the idea for an annual logo came from the Seaway Festival, which has a different theme and logo each year on its T-shirts and buttons
“That’s how it all started. I remembered all the cool artwork designed on Seaway Festival t-shirts and buttons,” Anderson said, “We want to do a contest every year at the elementary schools to come up with a different design each year.”
The plan is for the Maple City Fall Festival to be reminiscent of the fall festival of the old St. Marguerite D’Youville Academy, minus the rides, according to Stronger Together member Marsha Hough.
“We don’t have anything for the kids after July, this will be for them,” said Hough, “What’s amazing is the community support for this event. It’s a positive thing and our community needs positivity right now “.
There is a craft show planned inside the Knights of Columbus and outside, weather permitting.
There will also be a wide assortment of games including the Pepsi Toss, Hamster Wheel, Duck Pond, Sack Races, Kids Casting, Kan Jam Golf, Witch Brew Game, Spider Hole and a contest of stretching and dragging.
There will also be face painting, pumpkin decorating, sand art, a photo booth, Plinko and bounce houses. There will be a DJ to entertain.
Groups in attendance will be the county sheriff’s office to provide the children’s IDs, the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and others.
Organizers continue to add to the event weekly.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the Maple City Fall Festival, please contact Cynthia Layng at (315) 528-2130 or Amy Anderson at (315) 528-6284.
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