North Syracuse mayor wins diamond necklace at festival she helped create

North Syracuse, NY - North Syracuse Mayor Diane Browning has been having quite a good year so far. In January, she unexpectedly became mayor of the village she's lived in for 47 years. Then at the end of May, she unexpectedly won the grand prize -- a diamond necklace -- at the North Syracuse Family Festival, which she helped...

View full sizeSubmitted photoNorth Syracuse Mayor Diane Browning won this diamond necklace at the North Syracuse Family Festival.

In January, she unexpectedly became mayor of the village she's lived in for 47 years.

Then at the end of May, she unexpectedly won the grand prize -- a diamond necklace -- at the North Syracuse Family Festival, which she helped create.

"It was exciting, but very embarrassing," Browning said.

Welch & Co. Jewelers, of 513 S. Main St., North Syracuse, donated the $495-retail value Journey diamond necklace. The festival committee, which Browning used to chair, sold raffle tickets for the necklace at $5 each, or five for $20. The raffle raised $500 for the festival, organizers said.

Festival treasurer Pat Fergerson said she doesn't see any conflict with the mayor and past committee chairperson winning the raffle.

"I think if we get too hyped and too concerned about it, then we aren't going to raise as much money," Fergerson said. "If we had given her the necklace without her contributing any money, that would be bad. But she had to kick in her fair share. She also made a cash donation to support the festival."

View full sizeJohn Berry / The Post-StandardNorth Syracuse Mayor Diane Browning

Fergerson said current and past festival committee members bought about half the raffle tickets sold for the diamond necklace.

Browning said she spent $20 on raffle tickets.

Browning said she and a handful of other people, including former Mayor John Heindorf and his wife, Pat Heindorf, as well as the current festival chairperson, Charlotte LaPorte, came up with the idea of a family festival while talking in a parking lot several years ago.

The festival began five years ago, with Browning as the chairwoman for the first three years, she said.

Browning said she was a little embarrassed when she won the raffle because she is mayor, but she's also glad to see the family festival be so successful.

"We were just talking about it in a parking lot and then it came to fruition with help from many people in the community," Browning said. "We all thought a family festival would be fun. Our goal now is to keep it a family festival that's affordable for all families."

Browning has continued to have a good year, as residents in the village of North Syracuse overwhelmingly voted to keep her as mayor for the next year. The mayoral race was held the day before her 71st birthday earlier this month.

"It's been a great year," Browning said. "I'm grateful for the support and the people of the village. I hope I won't disappoint them in the next year."