Southern Cayuga Planetarium and Observatory

In the last year we have had 4 presentations in our Speakers Series. Alan Ominsky , Director Emeritus , hosted 300 in viewing the Eclipse on simulcast on the dome and with telescopes in front of the planetarium. The "Friends" set up some demonstrations at the Ann Frank Event. The "Friends" were at the Science Fair with our Demos also. Finally we have got a new roof donated to the Planetarium by Bob Barker and the GREAT FOLKS at J&B Installations, Inc. in Skaneateles Falls. ... The John Ben Snow Foundation and the Cayuga Community Fund have contributed funds to improve our efforts by hiring Sandra Souder , grant consultant. Cayuga Lake National Bank has contributed to our Student Scholarships to our Speaker Series. An anonymous donor is helping out with our website and we are gradually making it better . Mike Dempsey , President See more

SHOOT THE MOON A golf tournament fundraiser for Southern Cayuga Planetarium Saturday, August 22, 2015 10:00am start Wells College Golf Course... 18 holes - teams of 4 - $45 per person - cart & lunch included Prizes 50/50 raffle register now at 315-246-0706 (deadline August 15) brought to you by Friends of the Planetarium

Well the Planetarium went on gofundme.com/planetarium

Hi folks, Here is an update on the Planetarium. I’m thrilled to report that Proposition #3, approving use of $100k from the reserve repair account for building repair, was approved by voters on May 19. Even better, the approval was 3 to 1, with a larger than usual turn out at the poll. I think the School Board, and everyone else, now see the size of community support for the Planetarium. Thanks to everyone who voted! Now the real work begins. The Friends of the Planeta...rium must match the school’s $100,000 for the repair work to begin. To that end, we have been working to identity possible grant opportunities. At the moment we await a decision on a substantial application, and several others are in the works. We are also pursuing a social media campaign, using an online crowd-funding donation site (I won’t mention any names yet because a final decision on which site we are using has not been made.) We are very fortunate to have the help of an individual who worked in marketing for the March of Dimes and has much experience with social media campaigns. She is also the daughter of one of our retired science teachers! In addition, we are brainstorming possibilities for more local fundraising events that would allow the public to participate and show their continued support. Stay tuned! Lastly, we would like to begin sharing memories of the planetarium. If anyone has a story or old photo they would like to share, please send it to [email protected]. Thanks to all for their continued support! See more

Friends of the Planetarium has been busy working with the school administration to revive the Planetarium. Because this activity is reaching a critical phase, we will, once again, post to this page regularly. If you live in the southern Cayuga Central School district, please read the following and vote May 19. Dear Friends, Neighbors and other Alumna of SCCS, We are writing to you today to bring to your attention an important upcoming vote at the Southern Cayuga Central Schoo...l. On Tuesday, May 19, voters will be asked to approve the use of funds from a reserve account for repairs to the Planetarium (this item is Proposition #3). The Planetarium is in desperate need of repairs, without which the building is likely to close forever. There are already funds in a reserve account to begin these repairs, but they cannot be expended without voter approval. A group of community members (Friends of the Planetarium) has been working in cooperation with school administration to raise additional funds towards the repair effort. At least one large grant application has already been submitted and others are in the works. Once the basic repairs to the building have been completed, the goal is to enhance the facility and broaden the educational programs that can be offered there. A vast array of educational programs could be offered at an improved planetarium facility things like history, government, media arts, geography, geo-spatial technologies, paleontology, and the list goes on. But the first step is to get Proposition #3 approved! If you support keeping the planetarium and enhancing the educational opportunities for our children and grandchildren, please consider doing the following: Vote YES to Proposition #3 on MAY 19. Post this message to your Facebook account and ask your friends to do the same. Send an email to [email protected] and ask to join their mailing list. Or indicate your interest in joining the current fund-raising group. Come to the SCCS Board of Education meetings and express your support for the plan to repair and enhance the planetarium. (It is especially important to have residents of the school district attend these meetings!) Thank you for your time and your anticipated YES vote on May 19. Sincerely, The Friends of the Planetarium

This is it! We, Friends of the Planetarium need to find $100,000 by May 1, 2015. A surprising thing happened at the Southern Cayuga Central School board meeting Monday night. The Facilities Committee unveiled their plan for rehabilitating the Planetarium building. They want to rehab the building in phases. The first phase will deal with the shell of the building, the roof and walls, to make them watertight. The District plans to take $100,000 from the repair reserve. The scho...ol’s May 2015 budget vote will include a referendum asking voters to approve $100,000 from the school’s repair reserve (using part of the repair reserve means no increase in school tax for citizens of the School District). We, Friends of the Planetarium, need to match that amount: $100,000. Repeat: our deadline to raise $100,000 is May 1, 2015. Cash in hand is preferred but but firm commitments from donors will probably work. If either the school budget referendum or Friends fund raising fail to meet their goal by May 2015, then apparently the School Board’s Planetarium project ends. At this point we Friends have several undertakings to start immediately and more or less simultaneously. 1. Find donors to give $100,000 to the District to save the Planetarium building. Most Foundations do not donate for infrastructure, but there are exceptions. If I understand correctly, Nancy Abbot has contacted Senator Nozzolio’s office and they indicated interest if the School District puts money in the pot. The District has effectively done this. I doubt the State will supply all of the matching money, but who knows. We need to seek other donors, individuals and businesses, who may be willing to make significant contributions. At a later date we will organize an area wide drive for money from the general public for later phases of the rehabilitation and renewal. 2. Write a vision statement that outlines our goals. While I have started on a draft, this project needs a leader to do the heavy work. This is one document any donor will want to see. 3. Create a comprehensive plan, including a timeline and strategies for fundraising and development of the Planetarium. The comprehensive plan will address: our relationship with the School District, building repairs and improvements, new Planetarium equipment and upgrades of current equipment, new programming content, staffing of the Planetarium, promotion of Planetarium use. This necessarily requires close coordination with the school administration. Donors will want to see this document too. Who is willing to undertake this work? Tentatively, there will be a meeting at Wells on November 5, Wednesday, at 7:30 pm. At this meeting we will divide the work up and find the means to coordinate. Will you attend this meeting? Our fundraising project needs all the Friends of the Planetarium. Alan Ominsky See more

The future of the Planetarium is at stake. If you want it continue operating I urge you to come to a Board of Education meeting on Monday, September 22 at 7:00 pm. The Board is considering closing the facility. Enter the school building by the door on the south side of the school nearest route 34B. About halfway down the long hall you will find the meeting in the Library. Please sign in, place your name on a 3x5 card, and state your interest in the Planetarium. You will then be allowed to speak. You are allowed four minutes, but briefer is better, even if you only say please save the Planetarium. The more people in the room supporting the Planetarium, the more likely the Board will take action. If you cannot get to the Board meeting, please email any remarks to: Superintendent Patrick Jensen, [email protected].

The September 8 meeting of the School Board did not resolve the future of the Planetarium. A number of people are involved in discussions and research trying to find a way to keep the Planetarium functioning. As of today, I am pessimistic, but we keep trying. The next Board meeting is September 22 where we may or may not learn the Planetarium's fate.

The Southern Cayuga School Board is going to consider closing the Planetarium at the meeting on Monday, September 8 at 7:00 pm. An inspection of the building, by some district folks and outside experts, concluded that the building needs almost $600,000 in repairs. One option they will consider is draining the pipes and mothballing the building. The lack of a boiler means there is no heat in the building. I think it may be possible to simply install a new boiler, about $18,000..., and keep the building open. The meeting is open to the public. If you wish to make a statement, indicate your interest when signing in. Alan Ominsky

The Milky way dives to the horizon on fall nights.

On a clear night look to the south end of the Milky Way.The Milky Way steams out of the spout of the Teapot (Sagittarius) to the center of our galaxy (arrow).