April 16, 2026 Meeting
Andy Stevens opened the meeting by leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Andy welcomed our guests who were the speakers for the evening, Dave Hempson and Andrea Synder.
Announcements:
- A big thank you to Mary and Bill Conole for hosting last week’s happy hour. These gatherings continue to be a great way to introduce prospective new members, reconnect, and collaborate on upcoming service projects.
- Tree Planting Service Project: Occured this weekend on Saturday, April 18th on Whitegate Drive. It was enouraged to park at Austin Park and have laker limo shuttle you to the destination. It was a great opportunity to make a visible impact on our local environment while working alongside fellow members.
- Upcoming Service Project is the Food Drive on April 25th from 10 am to 2 pm. Please distribute flyers and donation bags to your neighbors in advance of this event. The event will take place at Ed Evans’ home, in the barn behind the house. Volunteers will help sort and organize items into totes, and Ed's famous breakfast sandwiches will be provided. Donations will support Skaneateles and Spafford food pantries.
- Youth Exchange Program Update: The Youth Exchange Program is in need of renewed support as we look ahead. Jay will be stepping away from the exchange program, and we thank him for his contributions. Pam will also be stepping away from the exchange program and Rotary as she transitions back into the workforce. We appreciate her dedication and wish her all the best in this next chapter.
- Next Rotary Meeting will be back at the Sherwood.
Library Project Update:
We were pleased to hear from Executive Director Andrea Snyder and Board Chair Dave Hempson regarding the future of our community library. 
This project has been a big undertaking and after careful evaluation, the decision was made to build a new library rather than expand the current one. This will allow for greater energy efficiency, flexibility, and long-term community use. The committee reviewed 20 potential sites before selecting the Fennell Street location. Following extensive environmental testing, the site was successfully purchased. Design and construction firms were selected after additional research was conducted through visits to libraries in Vermont, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
The total project cost is estimated at $15 million, with $7.3 million already secured. The remaining funding will hopefully come through a public bond, which is expected to cover approximately 78% of the cost. If approved, the project will move quickly, with permits and groundbreaking anticipated between November and December. The library is projected to open in January 2028.
The new facility will include a quiet reading room, dedicated areas for children, teens, and adults, and flexible meeting spaces including conference rooms that can accommodate both small and larger gatherings. Plans also include a dedicated after-school space for teens and solar panels to support energy efficiency.
The bond vote will take place on May 19. Community members can vote in person at the School District Office between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM, or learn how to request an absentee ballot through the library’s website. Please consider investing in your community and vote on May19th! Looking ahead, the current library building is expected to be repurposed as an art and cultural center, with plans involving the Barrow Art Gallery.
The meeting closed with the Four (Five) Way Test.
See SPEAKERS below or.png)
First Thursday - Dinner meeting with speaker. Meeting starts at 6:30 and ends at 8:00.jpeg){kind=small}
D7180 Website - Events & Other Info
.jpg){kind=small}
