Save the Arts 'Rocks the Vote'

Save the Arts John Jay will host their own version of a "rock the vote" campaign Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at the Katonah gazebo located at the intersection of Katonah Avenue and The Parkway.

They're calling it "An Evening of Gazebo Music," to celebrate the musical talents in the community, and to "get the facts out about the vote," said Kelly Miller, who is helping to organize the event.

Miller is member of ArtsALIVE and Save the Arts John Jay, a group that came together to preserve arts programming in the budget, and mother of three children in the district.

John Jay junior, Adam November, who is slated to perform, said he joined initially so support performing arts teacher Amy Geiger, whose position was in danger o being cut during the budget process. Though her job was restored to the budget, he said he just wants to help get the word out.

"I've played in a lot of benefit concerts and if this benefits the arts, I'm happy to do it," said November, who plays guitar and is a singer-songwriter.

Miller's son, Cole, who is a sophomore at John Jay, is assisting with the planning and is also scheduled to play. He's been involved in music since elementary school and said he wants to support the budget any way he can.

Donna Walsh, a former board of education member and member of Save the Arts, also founded the ad-hoc group VoteYes to bring together all of the groups that lobbied to restore components to the budget adopted by the school board.

The commitment has been amazing, said Walsh, with overworked Dads and pressed-for-time students, some of whom are taking AP exams, carving out time to campaign.

"We found that many of the groups that spoke during the budget process—whether it was for saving a guidance counselor or 8th grade teaming or the arts—all wanted to get behind this budget," she said.

Walsh also said that while passing the budget is their immediate goal, they want to think beyond this budget cycle and start preparing for the next. "Phase one will be to pass the budget, and phase two will be to pull together this summer and bring everyone to the table: Teachers, parents and educators, to look at where can we be frugal and target some out of the box cuts," she said.

"When people are vested in the process, when they have had a say, they are more committed to it," she said.

abound, with "lower taxes" and "vote no" signs posted on trees along town roads.

Performers at Friday night's event include Adam November, Emilie Schattman,
Casey Feinberg, Isabella Buccellati, Sandro Buccellati, Pete Miller, Cole Miller, Jeremy Sabath, Michael Sabath, The Notables, and the group, Hot in the Pocket.

In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled.