Storm The Bay

Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:42 PM EDT

AUBURN - Dozens of teenagers gathered to listen to rock music and support a good cause Saturday at the Auburn Public Theater.

Sponsored by the Cayuga Community College Student Government Organization, Cayuga Palooza is a new, day-long musical festival. Proceeds from Saturday's event will go to the Child Advocacy Center, said organizer and student government president David Calkins.

Planning for the concert took most of the spring semester and other organizations including the criminal justice club, the telecommunication department and the poetry club all helped with the event.

“We just wanted as much student involvement as we could (get) for this because we're trying to make money for the Child Advocacy Center,” he said. “It's a good cause and we're trying to help out as much as possible.”

Although this is the first year, Calkins would like to continue Cayuga Palooza on an annual basis.

“We're hoping to do it again next year with a different organization to help out,” he said.

Calkins believes helping the Child Advocacy Center is extremely important because then children will not have to live through the trial every day, he said. Sometimes, abuse is not reported because of what the child has to go through after initial reports are made, he said. With the Child Advocacy Center, children could just give testimony there about what happened to them and it would be admissible in court, he said.

Calkins organized Saturday's event with student trustee Chris Green. Green assisted with setting everything up, booking the Auburn Public Theater as a venue and letting bands know about the concert.

He believes the college should contribute to local organizations.

“The college is part of the community and it's a win-win situation for everybody because bands are just getting started so they want to try to get exposed and they can do it while making money for a good cause,” Green said.

A few hundred people were expected to come through the APT throughout Saturday. Each band got a chance to play for 30 to 40 minutes.

Desiree McConnell, 18, and Mecca Brooks, 14, came to Cayuga Palooza with their friends to enjoy the music and see the bands. But the group of friends, who attend Auburn High School, also wanted to be a part of raising money for the Child Advocacy Center.

“It's a good cause. I think money from concerts should be donated to a good cause instead of bands being selfish,” McConnell said.

Cayleigh Matzen, 15, who came with friend Julia Lampen, 16, said she enjoys this kind of music and supports how the money will be used.

“I like the fact that the money goes to the CAC,” Matzen said. “It shows how important it is.”

While most of the teenagers came to hear some good music, they also recognized the cause behind the concert.

Kayla Colgrove, 14, Marissa Weaver, 13, Raeann Wyskowski, 14, and Emily Penird, 15, came to see the band “Through These City Streets” but they were happy their money was going to be donated to the Child Advocacy Center.

“It's fun and it's a good thing to do,” Colgrove said.

Bands played for free at Saturday's event, which helped them gain exposure in addition to helping raise money for the center.

Rochester-based “Storm the Bay” came to Auburn because a member of local band “Road to Recovery” told them about the event. This is the second benefit they have played and it's a good way to get exposure and support an important cause, said Synth and keyboard player Doug Kelley.

“We wanted to play for the benefit and also to expand our audience,” he said.

Kelley believes this event is an important way for members of the community to get involved.

“It will open eyes and ears to the cause,” he said, “and maybe they will start donating to local charities.”

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.ne - Gitana Mirochnik / The Citizen