News
November 16, 2016Schenectady Smiles Contest Winning Photos Now on Display at Happy Cappuccino
Buzz Media Solutions announced today that the winning submissions of the Schenectady Smiles community pride photography contest which had been on display at Schenectady City Hall, have moved to the walls of local coffee shop Happy Cappuccino (located at 185 Jay Street) until the end of 2016.
“We’re so glad we can continue to showcase the Schenectady Smiles photos here in downtown Schenectady,” said Jeff Goronkin, Chief Strategy Officer for Buzz Media Solutions. “Our goal for the move was to find a place with a lot of local foot traffic. Happy Cappuccino is a great location where people can enjoy the photos while enjoying their favorite coffee and socializing with friends. They are a thriving local business and a daily destination for many in the community, including myself. We’re thrilled they have decided to provide a home for the photos!”
“Happy Cappuccino is pleased to display the Schenectady Smiles photos in our cafe on Jay Street, we enjoy supporting the community, especially artists – and this is a great way of highlighting local talent,” said Lindsay Perry-alves, Director of Operations at Happy Cappuccino.
In August of 2016, hundreds of people gathered at Schenectady City Hall for a pep rally to hear the announcement of the winners of the 2016 Schenectady Smiles Photo Contest, which ran for six weeks last summer. Each winner was awarded a prize from a local business, as well as a congratulatory citation from NYS Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara.
The Schenectady Smiles Pep Rally featured speakers including: U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko, NYS Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara, Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, owners of Beekman 1802, Ellen Sax, vice president of community engagement at MVP Health Care and Jeff Goronkin of Buzz Media Solutions.
The Mohonasen High School marching band and color guard were also on hand to bring sound and spirit to the pep rally. In addition, The Smile Monster and Newsie Gazette made special appearances, as well as Steve, the miSci-saurus from the Museum of Science and Innovation
The Schenectady Smiles Photo Contest 2016 can be viewed here on Daily Gazette.com; the categories, titles and winners are as follows:
Category 1- Diversity (people, art, culture, food)
| 1st place | Paige Street Petting Zoo | Joe Piazzo |
| 2nd place | Welcome with a Smile | Jessica Vanasdale |
| People’s Choice | Welcome to Schenectady via #Amtrak | Chad Putman |
Category 2- Community Vitality (vibrant places, neighborhood pride)
| 1st place | Girls Inc. Mural | Diana Suits |
| 2nd place | Penguin Sighting @ Woodlawn Park | Spero Zoulas |
| People’s Choice | Fun at the Stockade | Gladys Dunbar |
Category 3- Natural Environment (rivers, preserves, parks, sky, wildlife)
| 1st place | Rose Garden Smile | Jean Churchill |
| 2nd place | Memorial Day Sunset | Dave Breitenstein |
| People’s Choice | Sundown | Matt Foster |
Category 4- Architecture/Urban Design (plazas, buildings, neighborhoods, boulevards)
| 1st place | State Street 2016 | Vincent Giordano |
| 2nd place | Namaste Jay | Lauren Magin |
| People’s Choice | Happy Hour Horizon | Julia Henze |
Category 5- Businesses & Organizations (clubs, non-profit organizations, businesses)
| 1st place | Sunnyview Hospital Junior Volunteers | Joan Laviolette |
| 2nd place | Perreca’s Bread | Jim Prendergast |
| People’s Choice | Dino Grins | miSci |
Both the Schenectady Smiles Photo Contest and Pep Rally was a collective community partnership supported by the following organizations: Ambition Café, Aperitivo Bistro, Beekman 1802, Bowtie Cinemas – Schenectady, Buzz Media Solutions, Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, City of Schenectady, The Daily Gazette, DSIC, HOMES, Katz Kafe, Legere Restorations, miSci, Mohonasen Central School District, MVP, The Open Door Bookstore, Open Stage Media (OSM), Proctors, SCCC, Schenectady United Neighborhoods (SUN), The Smile Monster and Yoga Bliss on the Boulevard.
A video of the 2016 Schenectady Smiles Pep Rally can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/180324887
For more information on Schenectady Smiles, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/schenectadysmiles/
