It’s the season for giving, with charity runs, food drives and fundraisers taking place. Among those is the third annual “Beat the Cold for the Kids” clothing drive, through Wednesday, Dec. 18. Clothes for the cold-weather months, such as hats, gloves and scarves, are gathered and donated to the Salvation Army, which distributes to families in need. The drive has gathered more than 4,000 items in the past two years, with hopes to collect 3,500 this season.
The drive also has a musical undercurrent: It is organized and run by Lisa Walton, DJ Beetz and DJ R Source, all active in the Syracuse music and hip-hop scene. DJ R Source created WJPZ-FM 89.1 (Z89)’s Off the Hook, a terrestrial radio show that brought out the best in local hip-hopy. Dutch Beetz is a music producer, recording engineer and songwriter.
One of the drop-off points will also connect with the music, as the newly opened StudioDOG Pro will accept donations. Langston Masingale, part of The Goonies, the local Syracuse Area Music Award (Sammy)-winning group, says his new space “not only focuses on recording bands and musicians for profit, but also providing community services such as vocational music and technology education to disadvantaged youth and adult populations in Syracuse, including, but not limited to, the West Side.” The studio boasts a 900-square-foot recording room, fully outfitted control room and 1,800 square feet of rental space in the front half of the building.
To support a great cause and see a great scene, drop materials at StudioDOG Pro, 621 W. Fayette St.