CASSADAGA – A floating stage which doubles as a community fishing dock was recently donated to the village of Cassadaga. The project, under the direction of Cindy Flaherty, involved the cooperation of several organizations.

Funds were raised by the Citizens for a Better Cassadaga, Cassadaga Lakes Association and the Cassadaga Valley Kiwanis and these organizations thank Job Corps carpentry students for building the dock, Cliffstar for donating barrels, Home Depot for donating the rope and Outlander Enterprises for donating equipment and labor. The Red House, Robo Enterprises and several individuals made monetary donations as well.

Community volunteers and friends transported barrels and dock sections to Cassadaga Beach on Park Avenue. It was then assembled in the water. The last step was building and attaching a gang plank. The 40 x 20 foot structure will function as a giant stage, big enough to easily accommodate a small orchestra or big band. When used as a fishing dock, there is room for several families to fish at once.

The first concert on the new stage will take place on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. with Kokomo Time Band. There is another concert on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. with Marauder Steel Drum Band. Both concerts are part of Cassadaga’s Labor Day Festival. These free concerts may be attended by boat or bring a chair/blanket. In case of rain, these concerts will be held in the community building (fire hall).

Project leader Flaherty thanked everyone that helped make the floating stage/community fishing dock a reality.

“It was especially nice to see so many residents and organizations working together for a common cause. That’s what living in a small town is all about,” she noted.