Central New York Magazine - May/June 2020

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G O O D

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Nature Nurture C E L E B R AT I N G FA M I LY C O N N E C T I O N S , T H E A R R I VA L O F S U M M E R A N D L O CA L E N T R E P R E N E U RS

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bR it te R R iv eR st o ne H al

Expect the best.

Even for the unexpected.

Crouse Health’s family-centered maternity care goes beyond the expected when you’re expecting.

Not just during delivery, but before and after.

Just ask Renee and Ray Halbritter, who credit Crouse for saving their son Riverstone’s life after he was born three months early.

More OB physicians and midwives deliver more babies at Crouse than any other upstate New York hospital. And our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is the highest level center in the region for complicated pregnancies, deliveries and specialized newborn care.

Thankfully, most births go as planned. But it’s reassuring to know our resources are right here if needed.

CROUSE

Kienzle Family Maternity Center

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For the health of both you and your baby, choose a doctor who delivers at Crouse.

Learn more at crouse.org/babies

www.RomaTileny.com

YOU PICK & YOU CHOOSE! From the Largest Collection of Imported Quartz and Granite in Central New York

When it comes to remodeling your kitchen or your bath, our production and design team utilizes modern cutting and buffing machinery to create your custom countertop.

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Visit us online at romatileny.com or our showroom at the Corner of Wolf & Park St. Syracuse

QUARTZ AND GRANITE COUNTERTOPS AND TILE

www.romatileny.com

Corner of Wolf & Park St. Syracuse | 315-471-7856 | Mon, Wed, Fri 8-5; Tues, Thur 8-6; Sat 8-3

PRESIDENT Tim Kennedy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF THE GOOD LIFE Annette Peters 315-282-8527 apeters@advancemediany.com SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Lindsay Marlenga lmarlenga@advancemediany.com

EDITOR MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com ASSISTANT CONTENT EDITOR Amy Bleier Long 315-470-2146 ableierlong@advancemediany.com

MAGAZINE/EVENTS SALES MANAGER Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com DESIGNERS Susan Santola Kimberly Worner

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas H. Brown 315-470-2053 tbrown@acssyr.com CUSTOMER SERVICE 315-470-6397

The Good Life, Central New York Magazine (ISSN 1931-194X) is published six times a year by Advance Media New York, 220 S. Warren St., Syracuse, New York 13202. The Post-Standard © 2020.

ADE GO

CORTLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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All material submitted to Central New York Magazine becomes the property of Advance Media New York, publishers of The Post-Standard and Central New York Magazine. It will not be returned. Such a submission, to name a few examples, may be a letter to the editor, a cartoon, a picture, a poem and the like. Any such material may be excerpted, edited for length or content, and may be published or used in any other way. For example, on Syracuse.com or in The Post-Standard.

HARTLEYS

Telling Your Stories Since 1925

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James Suggett House Museum Kellogg Memorial Research Center Gift Shop

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 ISSUE • Day Trips

Contact - Jennifer Queri at JQueri@AdvanceMediaNY.com 4

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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Local journalism is essential.

Our news team always has to be ready for whatever comes our way. We’re always planning and are committed in making sure we’re informing you on what matters most. And we take that responsibility very seriously.

Everyone’s world has been flipped upside down because of this virus - including ours.

It’s been all hands-on-deck for our team.

We’ve been close to the action while having to worry about all the same issues as you.

The most rewarding thing about the work we do is hearing from the community about the impact that we’ve made in their lives.

That is why we do what we do.

Thanks for the support Central New York, we couldn’t do it without you

To support the vital work we do every day, please consider subscribing

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Editor’s Letter

Sweet dreams

Editor’s picks

O F S H E E T S O N T H E L I N E A N D T H E WAY M O M T U C K E D M E I N AT N I G H T

MJ and mom

FEELING BLUE

A classic denim jacket is practically a required uniform when the weather turns. It goes with almost every outfit and can be worn at any age.

SUN UP

mer bed at night, I can almost feel her sit-

me think of my mother. Winter-

ting there with me.

green Lifesavers, “The Sound

That’s my story. We hope you’ll enjoy hear-

of Music,” ballroom dance and

ing many others. In this special edition of

fresh sheets. On Saturdays in the summer,

Central New York, we celebrate moms and

my mother brought a basket of clean sheets

dads by asking prominent Central New York-

to the clothesline. She’d hold clothespins in

ers for their memories of their parents. You’ll

her mouth while pinning sheets to the line.

also read memories from our staff.

My sister and I would run through them

Keeping with the familial theme, we visit

blowing in the breeze — until she told us to

local businesses with family ties to find out

cut it out. Later that night, we’d watch her

how they make it work. In other features, we

make the beds, folding and tucking the cor-

spotlight handcrafted self care products by

ners of the top sheet in a way I’ve never been

local artisans, offer a guide to uniquely lo-

able to imitate. She’d run her hand over the

cal ways to relish the season and highlight

mattress to smooth out wrinkles and toss a

many other bright spots in our area.

quilt over the bed, making a bubble of blan-

All good things that celebrate living here

ket as the air caught underneath. I’d climb

with family, memories and thoughts of sun-

into this bed she so carefully made for me

nier days ahead.

out of the summer sun and breezes. Mom

Cheers.

would sit with me and I’d tell her how I loved the smell of fresh sheets. And she’d smile.

I’ve been hanging sheets on the line for

6

years. But in the last two that she’s been

MJ

gone, fresh sheets have meant more than

mkravec@advancemediany.com

they used to. And when I make that sum-

315-766-7833

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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CITRUS GROOVE

Heard that goofy statistic that 38 percent of Americans wouldn’t drink Corona beer because of Corona virus? We’re not one of ‘em. Plus there’s no better way to celebrate Cinqo de Mayo and the rest of the days of May and June. Lime, please!

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

T

here are so many things that make

After the dark days of recent weeks, it’s comforting to know the sun will always come out tomorrow — even if we don’t always see it behind the clouds. This Pura Vida ring is a sweet little reminder of brighter days.

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Contents Features

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Take Care

Locally made soaps, salves, scrubs, soaks and salts.

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Terms of Endearment Prominent Central New Yorkers and our staff share memories of mom and dad.

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It’s All Relative

A look at four family businesses contributing to the economic fabric of CNY.

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Summer’s Sweet List Trendy, spendy and classy ways to experience the season in CNY.

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Departments 6 Editor’s Letter 11 It’s All Good

What to savor in CNY now...

A Good Feeling, Downtown Doings, Caught Doing Good.

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20 The Seen

A pictorial review of Central New York’s social gatherings.

66 Our Town Live like a local in Geddes.

68 CNY Scout

Leatherworks maker The Local Branch.

70 Farm to Table

Grimaldi’s Luna Park shares mom’s recipe for Banana Cream Pie.

74 Art Profile

Cuban-born artist Richell Castellon makes a fresh start in Syracuse.

78 Galleries

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What’s on display in the art world.

81 Flashback

How Syracuse University’s Otto the Orange came to be.

82 Last Word

With a socially distanced teen in DeWitt.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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It’s All Good

Hey, June

BY M J K R AV EC

Late spring. Is all lavender skies and lilac air. Balmy temps and lighter wear.

Looking forward to summer, yes.

But right now, the world is glorious with the scent, sun and birdsong. Here’s how to savor the best of CNY now.

 GET MISTY Make your own lilac infused astringent.

Combine a sprig of lilacs with witch hazel in a bottle. Allow to infuse for at least 48 hours. Apply to skin with a cotton ball for a seasonal way to refresh your complexion.

It’s All Good

 S O L S T I C E W I T H T H E M O S T- E S T Saturday, June 20 marks the Summer Solstice — the longest day of the year and summer’s official start. People still gather at Stonehenge to watch the sun come up. But we can celebrate the day just by getting up early to watch the sun rise. Go a step further and wear a flower in your hair. We dare you.

 BE RRY GO O D

 VA L L E Y G I R L Lily-of-the-valley is plentiful in CNY yards this time of year. Pick enough to fill a small bud vase and place by a bedside table. You’ll wake up to the scent of late spring every morning.

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PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

In honor of strawberry season, infuse fresh, cold water with sliced strawberries and sliced cucumber. Allow to steep in fridge for at least two hours. Discard solids, pour over ice and replace with fresh slices of fruit and cuke.

Some claim the nutrients help rid your body of toxins, but water will do that anyway. If nothing else, this recipe just feels good.

 CANDLELIT DINNER Invest in a classic hurricane or outdoor lantern and take to dining outside by candlelight. Make space in your backyard with a blanket or set out a display on your outdoor dining set.

 P E TA L T O M E T T L E Cherish flower season and freeze (pesticidefree) pansy flower petals into ice cubes.

When frozen, drop into a homemade glass of lemonade for a pretty spring drink.

 LEMON UP Grilled food tastes even better with the addition of fresh lemon.

Squeeze lemon over grilled chicken to add brightness.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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It’s All Good A G O OD F E E L I NG

Not just for cats POWER NAPS HELP RESTORE AND REFRESH. BORROW A VERSION OF THIS REVITALIZING HABIT FROM JAPAN.

BY M J K R AV EC

For some, it hits at 10 in the morning. For others, it’s two in the afternoon. You’re sitting at your desk and you can barely keep your eyes open. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep per night. Experts say this regular lack of sleep contributes to sleepiness, poor memory, lack of concentration, emotional stress, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

FAMOUS DAY NAPPERS

Feel good ritual In Japan, a ritual known as inemuri or “sleeping

30-minute naps, those stress levels returned to nor-

Winston Churchill

while present” is a common practice in which em-

mal. The other half, who were not allowed naps,

John F. Kennedy

ployees sleep while at work. We’re not advocating

continued to have elevated stress hormone levels.

Ronald Reagan

that you sleep on the job, but come lunch time, a

In other research from The National Sleep Foun-

Thomas Edison

10-minute cat nap in a quiet place could do won-

dation, a short nap lasting 30 minutes seemed

George W. Bush

ders for the rest of your day.

to improve mood, alertness and performance in

Studies show that short daytime naps have health benefits, while a lack of sleep has negative effects on the immune system and overall health.

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study subjects.

When you need to rest, find a quiet place where you feel safe. Close your eyes and tune out the

Consider this: Researchers in a 2015 study in the

world for 10 to 15 minutes. It might help to set an

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

alarm on your phone. Focus on breathing slowly

saw an increase in stress hormones and inflam-

and allowing yourself to drift off. When the time’s

matory molecules in subject who were deprived

up, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the

of sleep. When half the subjects were allowed two

rest of the day.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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PUT YOUR TRUST IN US. A cancer diagnosis can be confusing. Our expert physician teams, dedicated to your type of cancer, will help you and your family navigate the road ahead. With all the resources you need in one place, we have you covered.

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It’s All Good D OW N T OW N D OI NG S

Epicurious proportions EATERY/MARKET/BAKERY OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM MADE-FROM-SCRATCH GOODIES TO PANTRY ITEMS

BY NICOLE MOSS UNDERWOOD

Epicure: “a person who takes pleasure in fine food.”

Syracuse: “a city in Central New York.” Epicuse: “a fresh, local, made-from-scratch market and café.”

Epicure + Syracuse = Epicuse (Yum!) Although she’s a self-proclaimed “accidental entrepreneur,” Nicole Samolis knew exactly what to do when a retail space opened adjacent to SKY Armory on South Salina Street. Her natural inclination to ask questions and conduct effective market research lead her to open Epicuse six months ago. It’s a storefront that has ambitions to fill several needs: a grab-n-go takeout joint for busy professionals, an eat-in space for the “brunch culture,” a bakery for those who love baked-from-scratch goodies, a pantry with small batch specialty items and even a place you can go for a cup of sugar.

It’s just “like knocking on a neighbor’s door,” Samolis says. Her underlying drive for Epicuse is to facilitate a sense of community among busy downtown professionals who may, at times, feel disconnected in an urban setting.

“We live in a food desert,” Samolis says of Syracuse. “We’ve been living downtown for eight years, and we didn’t have access to fresh food. I thought about opening another restaurant, but I asked myself, ‘Does it need to be a restaurant?’”

That’s when Samolis had her “a-ha!” moment and came up with the idea for Epicuse, where people who work downtown could grab healthy restaurant prices, on their way home from work.

It was fairly simple to conceptualize since Samolis and her husband, Kevin, already own SKY Armory, a special events venue where the culinary staff uses high-quality, fresh, organic ingredients in gourmet food.

“Why not increase the batches so we can sell the extra food inexpensively? There will be continued variety and access to our pastry pantry for requests,” Samolis says. She then expanded this take-out idea, by adding a consistent menu for 16

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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Top, as an eatery, market, bakery and pantry, Epicuse offers specialty items from mostly local producers.

Left, Epicuse’s grilled chicken salad to go.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EPICUSE

made-from-scratch takeout meals, without paying

Grubhub, tables and chairs for an eat-in crowd, pre-packaged specialty items from mostly local producers, a bar which will serve “craft beers, spirits and really awesome wines” as soon as they get their liquor license and, at some point, outdoor heaters so Syracusans can sit outside Epicuse mid-winter with a blanket and gloves, enjoying a hot beverage on Epicuse’s 100 feet of sidewalk space.

“So far the reviews are raving about our food. I’m very encouraged,” Samolis says.

Nicole Samolis is the president, general manager and creative director of SKY Armory and, now, Epicuse. She grew up in an entrepreneurial family and, when her youngest child went to school, she asked herself what she could do with her newfound free time. The answer was start a business — a bold move for someone with seemingly no professional experience as a business owner. However, the confidence to do it was in her blood, as she had watched her faPHOTOS BY EPICUSE AND JACOB PUCCI

ther do it, and she had grown up listening to her mother’s refrain — there’s nothing she can’t do. So, without thinking twice, Samolis dove into events planning by founding The Events Company in 1996, then SKY Armory in 2014, and now Epicuse in mid-November 2019.

What’s next? Glamping! Her family owns a Christmas tree farm and

Clockwise from upper left, Epicuse’s cheese and charcuterie; homemade desserts; gourmet food available for takeout and storefront.

a campground in the Adirondacks, and they’re in the planning stages of creating a glamping site where CNY folks can unplug. It would be “a place where you can go and have a little chichi magic” under the stars in the forested mountains, Samolis says.

Epicuse is open 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily, 334 South Salina Street. Go to epicuse.net.

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It’s All Good C AUGH T D OI NG G O OD

Designed with giving in mind SYRACUSE CLOTHING CO. DONATES A PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO LOCAL CHARITIES

BY SUSAN KENNEDY

Syracuse’s Taylor and Matt Sourwine would give a stranger the shirt off their backs to help someone in need.

“You can’t be selfish. You have to help other people who are less fortunate. Why not try to change the world?” says Taylor, who teaches third grade at Syracuse’s Seymour Dual Language Academy.

So it’s no surprise the mission of the Sourwines’ new side hustle, online streetwear retailer Syracuse Clothing Co., includes donating proceeds each month to a different local non-profit.

The company launched in November 2019.

“Our mission is two-fold,” says Matt, Creative Services Manager for Advance Media New York (Ed. note: AMNY is the publisher of this magazine). “We want to increase a sense of pride by giving people a way to rep this city through unique clothing designs inspired by the Salt City. And we want to give back to this city we love.” Matt creates the graphic designs used on the apparel.

Through Syracuse Clothing Co., the Sourwines so far have made donations ranging from $100-$300 each to the Rescue Mission, Clear Path for Veterans and the CNYSPCA. Along with other donations, they’ve given $500 in profits from customizable gear to a cousin’s friend, a local student hockey player who is fighting leukemia.

“In this crazy world, we try to make a little bit of a difference,”

To Matt and Taylor, it’s a town where they continue their families’ legacy of generosity. Taylor’s father is a volunteer firefighter

The couple also makes a difference volunteering in other

and her grandparents also helped out the community.

ways. Both Matt and Taylor are members of the United Way

“My grandparents were always giving back,” says Taylor, “giv-

CNY’s Emerging Leaders United Program. This group of young

ing rides to people to doctor appointments who were too old

professionals hosts various events year-round, including book

and couldn’t see well.”

and personal care item drives, Boys & Girls Club mentorship programs, networking events and fundraisers for the United Way’s Capital Campaign.

Matt grew up on a 150-year-old working dairy farm.

“My mother always taught me about faith and to be thankful for everything.”

“They are great ambassadors for us,” says United Way CNY

As new parents, the couple is most thankful for their infant

President Nancy Eaton. “They are energetic and positive peo-

son Rowan, born just about a week after they launched Syra-

ple. They take initiative. They offer innovative ideas and are

cuse Clothing Co.

willing to put in the work to make it happen.”

While they grew up near Alexandria Bay, the Alexandria Central High School sweethearts chose to make Syracuse home.

“There’s something special about each neighborhood,” says Taylor. “You have that feeling like Syracuse is a close-knit small town.”

good person, a positive person,” says Taylor.

As she turns to her husband, while feeding her son, Taylor says, “I know both of us would feel completely fulfilled if our boy turns out to be kind.”

Just like his mom and dad.

For more information, visit syrclothingco.com CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

“I want him to see that the most important thing is to be a

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT SOURWINE

says Taylor.

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Syracuse Clothing Co. founders Matt and Taylor Sourwine, wearing some of their designs, present a check to The Rescue Mission.

CENTRAL NEW YORK

COVID-19 COMMUNITY CENTRAL NEW YORK SUPPORT FUND COVID-19 COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND

While dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our neighbors have faced disproportionate challenges due to unexpected time off from work, unplanned child or health care expenses While dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our neighbors have faced disproand lack of access to adequate food and shelter. A coalition of community partners banded together to portionate challenges due to unexpected time off from work, unplanned child or health care expenses give support to those who need it most.partners banded together to and lack of access to adequate food and shelter.

A coalition of community give support to those who need it most.

The Central New York Community Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Central New York, Allyn The Central New York Community Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Central New York, AllynSupport Foundation, the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County established a COVID-19 Community Foundation, the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County established a COVID-19 Community Support Fund to support nonprofit organizations working with communities who have been disproportionately Fund to support nonprofit organizations working with communities who have been disproportionately impacted by economic consequences of the pandemic. impacted by economic consequences of the pandemic.

The fund rapidly deploying flexible resources theform formofof one-time operating grants on a basis rolling basis Theisfund is rapidly deploying flexible resources in in the one-time operating grants on a rolling to nonprofits whose operations support populations stressed byoutbreak. the outbreak.

The Community to nonprofits whose operations supportvulnerable vulnerable populations stressed by the The Community Foundation seeded the fund with owncontribution contribution and individuals, institutions, companies Foundation seeded the fund with itsits own andencourages encourages individuals, institutions, companies and other funders to help as well. and other funders to help as well.

The coalition of partners will identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on immediate needs from

The coalition of partners will identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on immediate needs from community advisors and recommend final awards. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising community advisors and recommend final awards.

Funds willcrisis, be released a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the making iton possible to move resources continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of theneeds. crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving quickly and adapt to evolving needs.

Learn more at cnycf.org/covid19

Learn more at cnycf.org/covid19

315.422.9538 | C N YC F. O R G

315.422.9538 | C N YC F. O R G COVID ad for Good Life.indd 1

3/20/2020 1:37:33 PM

The Seen ROCKIN’ THE REDHOUSE 2.28 The Redhouse faithful rocked the Landmark Theatre in the 8th annual battle of corporate bands. Employees from companies around Central New York got together to make music and entertain over 1,000 audience members. The event is one of the biggest community fundraisers of the year for the Redhouse. Proceeds support the center’s education programs, which include a summer rock camp for kids. The winning band receives their choice of a performance at the Redhouse or a six-hour recording package at SubCat Studios. Last year’s champion Defense Mechanism from Lockheed Martin brought home the “Most Rockin’ Band” title again this year. The runner up was Six Pack from Anheuser-Busch. Other returning bands included The Verdict from Bousquet Holstein law firm; JAM Wireless from JMA Wireless; The Tyler Band from Advance Automation Corp and The Actuators from Young & Franklin Inc./Tactair. The Vagabonds from Bond, Schoeneck & King and Bronze Puppies from Upstate Medical University were new participants this year. Each band competed for Best Look, Best Vocalist, Best Instrumentalist, Best Showmanship, Best Audience Participation, Runner-Up and The Most Rockin’ Band. Singer Maria DeSantis, Letizia of Letizia and the Z Band and Larry Luttinger from CNY Jazz judged this year’s event.

1 . The Tyler Band (Advanced Automation Corp) perform. Eight corporate

bands from across CNY competed for prizes at the eighth-annual “Rockin’ The Redhouse” benefit concert at the Landmark Theatre.

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GREENLAR

1

3

2

2 . Patricia Tyler performs with

The Tyler Band (Advanced Automation Corp).

3. Members of Lockheed

Martin’s band Defense Mechanism play for the crowd.

4. Fans cheer on The

Tyler Band.

5.The event was held at the

Landmark Theatre.

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The Seen

“LEASH” CUTTING AT NEW HELPING HOUNDS LOCATION

1.21

After more than a year of construction, Helping Hounds Dog Rescue opened for business in its new location in North Syracuse.

Officials opened the new building with a press conference and “leash” cutting. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, CNY Community Foundation President Peter Dunn, major donors and several other officials who helped support this project were also in attendance. The 9,000-square-foot facility was designed with Cornell University’s Shelter Medicine Program and features 34 kennels, 22 puppy cages, four isolation kennels, two respite kennels, eight outdoor kennels and two play yards. The area of the building that houses the dogs is the “Kelly Wilson Adoption Center” in honor of one of Helping Hounds’ most dedicated volunteers — Kelly Wilson — who died tragically at 26 years old in 2017.

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1 Dogs settle into their new homes

at Helping Hounds Dog Rescue.

2 . A leash/ribbon cutting kicked

off the new location’s opening.

2

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4. From left, Helping Hounds Dog Rescue Board President

3. Family and friends of the late Kelly Wilson

celebrate the “Kelly Wilson Adoption Center” at the new Helping Hounds Dog Rescue.

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Crystal DeStefano, Central New York Community Foundation President & CEO Peter Dunn, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, Helping Hounds Dog Rescue Executive Director Kathy Gilmour, Helping Hounds Community Outreach & Training Center sponsor Bob Linn and the family of Kelly Wilson, for whom the Helping Hounds Adoption Center is named, husband Matt Wilson, mother Janice Ross and father Doug Ross.

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The Seen

CNY DIAPER BANK’S BATTLE OF THE BRUNCH

3.8

A crowd of 200 came together to sample and vote on the best brunch dishes in Syracuse to benefit CNY Diaper Bank. Attendees helped celebrity judges TeNesha Murphy (Bridge Street), Charlie Miller and Jacob Pucci (Syracuse.com) determine who walked away with the Battle of the Brunch title. The CNY Diaper Bank has a mission to ensure that all CNY families have access to an adequate supply of diapers for their babies and toddlers. Proceeds from the event allowed the organization to set up a crisis fund to support the huge increase in need during the pandemic.

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1 . Volunteers watch as more than

10 restaurants battle it out.

2 . From left, owner Theresa Aviles-

VanDeWalker and head chef Zachary Cavallo of Carmelita’s Mexican Restaurant accept the restaurant’s first place award. Carmelita’s served a signature tostada named “Christina’s Critter Tinga.”

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3. Attendees sample the Chicken &

Waffle pizza from Toss & Fire WoodFired Pizza, featuring a Belgian waffle crust and fried chicken, mozzarella cheese, Mike’s hot honey sauce and New York State maple syrup.

4. Guests sampled gluten-free

cinnamon French toast doughnuts topped with a mixed berry sauce, cream cheese frosting and fresh blueberries from 110 Grill.

Exclusive stores Luxury brands More than 170 specialty shops

Athleta l LEGO l L.L. Bean l Madewell l Soft Surroundings l Von Maur

I-90 to Exit 45, Victor www.eastviewmall.com (585) 223-4420

S9507586-01

Take care

BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

Everyone knows beauty is big business. We found several local entrepreneurs providing a high-quality personal care experience that’s handcrafted close to home. Many of the formulations incorporate regionally sourced or harvested ingredients, such as Seneca Lake salt, goat’s milk and honey.

Add these indie beauty brands to your routine.

GLOW

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1. Nickie Tobacco Flower soap, $6 for 5-ounce bar, Kingsley Street, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, kingsleystreet.com.

2. Loofah goat milk soap with lemongrass essential oils, $6.50 for 4-ounce bar, Mercer Naturals, Inc., 315-925-SOAP (7627), mercernaturalsinc.com.

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3. Hydrating body oil in lavender mint, $26 for 4-ounce bottle, INDIE GOAT, 585-314-7214, indiegoatsoap.com.

4. Lavender LiXTiK natural lip balm, $5 (use code “CNY Mag” to receive 10% discount), Ithaca Soap, at the Ithaca Farmers Market AprilDecember, 607-844-4319, ithacasoap.com.

(All other products appear on following pages.)

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1. Cherry Almond goat’s milk lotion, $12 for 8-ounce bottle, Clucked Out Farm, 4288 US Rt 11, Pulaski by appointment only, 315-297-0111, cluckedoutfarm.com.

4. Patchouli natural lotion, $12.99 for 8-ounce bottle, Syracuse Soapworks, at Salt City Artisans, 226 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, 315-479-0400, syracusesoapworks.com.

2. Blood Orange body lotion, $14 for 8-ounce bottle, The Soapery, 315-807-8733, thesoaperycny.com.

5. Italian Sunshine hand & body lotion, $16 for 8-ounce bottle, Avital’s Apiaries, 607-229-4882, shopavitals.com.

3. Cotton Candy Lush hydrating lotion, $10 for 8-ounce bottle, All Things Lushious Bath and Body, allthingslushious.etsy.com.

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1. Felt So Clean Goat’s Milk, Sea Salt & Lanolin body bar in Jade, $7.50 for 3.5-ounce bar, Glory Felt, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, wildflowersarmory.com.

5. Argan Oil bar soap, $6 for 3-ounce bar, The Soapery.

2. India Pale Ale soap, $7 for 5-ounce bar, Balsam Rose Soap Company, at Cazenovia Artisans, 39 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-256-8196, balsamrosesoap.com.

7. Cloud Nine goat’s milk soap, $5 for 4-ounce bar, Clucked Out Farm.

3. Banana soap, $8 for 4.29-ounce bar, Taza Skincare, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, wildflowersarmory.com.

4. Mom glycerin soap, $6 for 6-ounce bar, The Wren’s Den, 2756 W. Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus, 315-952-5954, wrensden.com.

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6. Castile Goat Milk soap unscented, $6 for 5-ounce bar, Kingsley Street.

8. Ithaca Soap bar soap in lavender, $8.50 for 5-ounce bar (use code “CNY Mag” to receive 10% discount), Ithaca Soap.

9. Unscented Oatmeal soap, $4.29 for 3.5-ounce bar, Syracuse Soapworks.

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1. Lush Locks hair oil, $4.99 for .5-ounce bottle, Silk Naturals, silknaturals.com.

2. Ithaca Soap olive oil shampoo, $26 for 16-ounce bottle (use code “CNY Mag” to receive 10% discount), Ithaca Soap.

3. Hydrating hair oil unscented, $14.99 for 2-ounce bottle, Mercer Naturals, Inc. 4. Vanilla shampoo bar, $10 for 4-ounce bar, Clucked Out Farm.

6. Vanilla Mint shampoo bar, $12 for 2-ounce bar, and conditioner bar, $12.75 for 2.5-ounce bar, Avital’s Apiaries.

7. Jasmine shampoo bar $8 for 3.5-ounce bar, and Coconut conditioning bar, $8 for a 3.5-ounce bar, Kingsley Street.

8. Juniper & Citrus dry shampoo/hair powder, $9 for 2-ounce glass shaker, Stinky Girl Beauty Co., at 20|East, 85 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 215-954-8243, stinkygirlbeauty.com.

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5. Nature’s Hair Care oil and shampoo bar in rosemary, $15 for set of 2-ounce bottle and 2.5 ounce bar, Balsam Rose Soap Company.

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1. Strawberry Guava foaming hand soap, $8 for 8-ounce bottle, The Soapery.

2. Lilac liquid soap, $8 for 8-ounce bottle, The Wren’s Den. 3. Adirondack Pine natural liquid soap, $8.10 for an 8-ounce bottle, Syracuse Soapworks.

4. Tahitian Dream foaming hand soap, $7 for 8-ounce bottle, Kingsley Street.

5. Lemongrass foaming soap, $7 for 9-ounce bottle, Balsam Rose Soap Company.

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E X FO L I AT E

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1. Main Squeeze whipped sugar scrub, $9 for 4-ounce jar, All Things Lushious Bath and Body.

2. Coconut Coffee sugar scrub, $6 for 4-ounce jar, Kingsley Street.

3. Scrub Bee solid sugar scrub with organic butters and raw honey, $10 for 4-ounce bar, Avital’s Apiaries.

4. White Tea & Lemon sugar scrub, $8 for 4-ounce jar, The Soapery.

5. Amazon Lily goat’s milk and sugar scrub, $15 for 8-ounce jar, Clucked Out Farm.

6. Clementine sugar scrub, $8 for 4-ounce jar, The Soapery.

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1. Balsam Rose face mask for normal skin, $12 for a 3-ounce jar of powder, Balsam Rose Soap Company.

2. No. 3 Anti-aging clay mask, $16 for a 2-ounce jar of powder, INDIE GOAT. 3. French Pink Clay mask, $12 for 4-ounce jar, The Soapery.

4. Onyx face mask powder, $4 for a .2-ounce packet, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

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PAMPER

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1. Citrus solid lotion stick, $10 for 2-ounce stick, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

6. Bright Citrus natural deodorant, $8 for a 2.5-ounce stick, Kingsley Street.

2. Woods Spice unisex cream deodorant, $12 for a 2-ounce jar, Stinky Girl Beauty Co.

7. Lip plumping scrub, $8 for a 4-ounce jar, The Soapery.

3. Grand Reserve night cream, $17.99 for a 1-ounce bottle, Silk Naturals.

8. Pomegranate Salt Soak, $6 for a 3-ounce bag, The Soapery.

4. Cucumber Peptide eye cream, $9.99 for a .33-ounce tube, Silk Naturals.

9. Cuticle cream, $6 for a 2-ounce tin, The Wren’s Den.

5. Patchouli/Sweet Orange aroma roller, $8 for a .33-ounce bottle, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

10. Soak milk bath salts in rose, $6 for a .5-ounce vial, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

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9 1. Pure Whipped Natural Body Butter unscented, $15 for 6.2-ounce jar, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

7. Fourmula solid lotion in original, $12 for 1.5-ounce tin, Upstate Herb Works, upstateherbworks.com.

2. Unscented body butter, $14.75 for 2.5-ounce tin, Avital’s Apiaries.

8. Chilean Rose Emollient Balm, $12 for .25-ounce jar, Upstate Herb Works.

3. Balsam Rose Skin Balm, $8 for 2-ounce jar, Balsam Rose Soap Company.

9. Shea & Aloe Cream in Sand and Surf, $12 for 8-ounce jar, Kingsley Street.

4. Lilac hand crème, $6 for 4-ounce jar, The Wren’s Den.

10. Vegan Body Butter in ruby red grapefruit, $40 for 4-ounce jar, Upstate Herb Works.

5. Super Salve, $8 for 4-ounce jar, The Wren’s Den.

11. Hand & Body Butter in citrus, $17.99 for 4-ounce jar, Syracuse Soapworks.

6. Felt So Clean Whipped & Scented soy, mango and shea body butter, $12 for 8-ounce jar, Glory Felt.

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SOFTEN

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1. Hibiscus lip balm, $4, The Soapery.

2. Strawberry beeswax lip balm, $3, Kingsley Street.

3. Unscented natural lip balm, $3.25, Mercer Naturals, Inc. 4. Peppermint essential oil lip balm, $3, Clucked Out Farm.

5. Green Tea & Aloe Bee Kissed all natural lip balm, $6, Avital’s Apiaries.

6. Pink Lemonade organic lip balm, $3.99, Silk Naturals.

7. Macaron buttercream lip balm, $6, Upstate Herb Works.

8. Beeswax lip balm, $12 for set of two tins, The Bee Hive, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, wildflowersarmory.com.

9. LiXTiK natural lip balm in rosemary, $5 (use code “CNY Mag” to receive 10% discount), Ithaca Soap.

10. Marshmelon original lip balm, $3, Upstate Herb Works.

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1. No. 2 Brightening Facial Oil in geranium, $32 for 2-ounce bottle, INDIE GOAT. 2. Charcoal & Tea Tree organic shea butter soap, $6 for 4-ounce bar, Plant-Based Beauty, at Wildflowers Armory, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, wildflowersarmory.com.

3. Pore Refining Toner, $8.99 for 4-ounce bottle, Silk Naturals.

4. No. 4 Conditioning Goat Milk Beauty Bar in geranium rose + rose clay, $9 for 4.75-ounce bar, INDIE GOAT. 5. Vitamin C Peptide Serum, $15.95 for 1-ounce bottle, Silk Naturals.

6. Rosewater toner, $12 for 4-ounce bottle, The Soapery.

9. Face goat milk soap with activated charcoal and clay in lavender/tea tree, $10 for 3.5-ounce bar, Mercer Naturals, Inc. 10. Blushed Orchid sunflower & aloe facial cream, $10 for 4-ounce jar, Kingsley Street.

11. Moonflower face serum, $22 for .5-ounce bottle, Upstate Herb Works.

12. 100% Pure Organic Jojoba Oil, $8 for 2-ounce bottle, Balsam Rose Soap Company.

1. Mountain Man beard oil, $9 for 2-ounce bottle, Stinky Boy Supply Co, at 20|East, 85 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 215-954-8243, stinkygirlbeauty.com.

13. Anti-aging Moisturizing Cream, $8 for 2-ounce jar, Clucked Out Farm.

2. Beard & Hair oil, $12 for 4-ounce bottle, All Things Lushious Bath and Body.

14. Lavender Honey Bentonite Clay soap, $6 for 4-ounce bar, The Bee Hive.

3. Teakwood Cardamom shaving soap, $6 for 4-ounce bar, Kingsley Street.

15. Rosewater soap with oats and Moroccan red clay, $11 for 4.2-ounce bar, Taza Skincare.

4. Northern Star shave bar, $10 for 4-ounce bar, Clucked Out Farm.

7. Oatmeal Lime cleanser, $12 for 4-ounce jar, The Soapery.

5. Natural Beard Oil unscented, $16.99 for 2-ounce bottle, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

8. Moisturizing face serum, $15 for 2-ounce bottle, Mercer Naturals, Inc.

6. Bay Rum after shave & beard oil, $12 for 2-ounce bottle, Kingsley Street.

7. Organic Shave Trio (shave soap, shave brush, beard oil), $10.99 for set, Plant-Based Beauty.

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M A I N TA I N

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TER MS OF EN DE A R M EN T For Mother’s and Father’s Days, we asked prominent Central New Yorkers to share their stories of mom and dad. Some made us laugh, some made us cry, but every story offers a peek at what remains dear to their hearts.

BY M J K R AV EC

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Right, Amy Robbins with her parents Bill and Jacquelyn Robbins. Below, Amy with her parents and sister Jenifer at her family’s summer cottage.

Amy Robbins Ted and Amy in the Morning, Co-host, 93Q the Number One Hit Music Station

My family owned a summer cottage right next to my grandparent’s summer cottage at Mexico Point on Lake Ontario from the time that I was a baby until I turned 40. We spent so much time there every summer, as my dad could commute most times to his job. My mom and I both have birthdays right around Labor Day, so we would have amazing combined birthday celebrations on my grandparent’s porch overlooking the lake every year. Homemade cake and ice cream and just so many memories. I always thought that if I could pick one day to go back and visit in my life, it would be one of those birthday celebrations when PHOTOS COURTESY AMY ROBBINS

my grandparents were alive and I had no worries other than hoping all of my birthday presents were not back-to-school clothes.

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Jason Smorol General Manager, Syracuse Mets

Polly Smorol was an intelligent, strong, beautiful woman in a small package. Mother’s Day is in May so generally we were always in Syracuse as opposed to Father’s Day. Back in the day it was a brunch at Wysocki’s Lakeside Manor or the Top of the Hill in Camillus and later Critella’s in North Syracuse followed by the Clam Bar after Critella’s closed. This picture is late in my mother’s life at a Syracuse Chiefs game on Mother’s Day. She was living in The Nottingham at the time and was proud to boast of her son — the general manager of the Chiefs. I’ll always remember my mother’s humor, love and commitment to our family and her luck at winning scratch-offs.

Father’s Day was always different as in June we usually were up north in Alexandria Bay at our camp. Father’s Day was always a big fish dinner on the river ­— usually caught by my Dad and his friends. This picture goes way back in the day to Ina Island, cleaning Northern Pike and feeding the “Y” bones to the cats. My Dad was a west side guy who went to Sacred Heart Church and was a dentist in North Syracuse for many, many years. I learned many life lessons from this great man and to this day I run into people in CNY that knew and respected my father.

Troy Waffner I am an orphan in the simplest sense that both my parents have died. My dad died in 1993 and although I was fairly young there were so many great memories and lessons that he taught me — a zeal for life, to enjoy the best and the hardest moments, the belief that you always show up for work no matter what and work hard and that being quiet and observant is usually better than talking too much.

I got to enjoy the wit and wisdom of my mom for many more years as she did not pass until 2017. Her health declined over several years but what she never lost was her curiosity of all things, her perseverance and, most importantly, her sense of humor (which is what I like to think I picked up). Honestly, as the years have passed I don’t think of them often enough, but am always thankful for everything they did for me, what they taught me and, quite frankly, the tough love they showered me with.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASON SMOROL

NYS Fair Director

TeNesha Murphy Bridge Street Co-host, Local SYR

As I walk into our home on the base of Fort Campbell, KY, I immediately seek out my mother. She was the only person who would understand how I was feeling. I couldn’t wait for her to ask me the same question she had asked for the past two weeks. Today’s answer was different. My mother and I talked every day when I got home from school about what had transpired, but more importantly, if Mike Parker asked me to the prom. My entire junior year of high school was consumed with trying to date him. The football jock, who recently moved to the base to complete his senior year, was smart, tall, wellgroomed and seemingly had no interest in me. Maybe that’s why I wanted to go to prom with him so badly.

My mother, who was home in the afternoons preparing for her college finals, knew the heartache I felt being rejected by Mike. She also knew I wouldn’t go to prom unless it was with him. She would ask every day if Mike talked to me about prom and every day, I would say no. On this afternoon, as I lay in her bed talking to her about my day, she didn’t ask. I waited and waited for her to bring it up. Finally, I said, “You’re not going to ask if Mike asked me to go to prom?” She gave me a sharp look and said, “he didn’t ask you.” I said, “yes, he did.” My mom continued to repeat, “no, he didn’t” and I continued to say, “yes, he did!” Eventually we both started screaming and hugging each other. At the time it was the happiest day of my life.

My mother is my true best friend and to this day she’s still the only person I share my deepest secrets with and the only

FAMILY PHOTOS COURTESY OF TENESHA MURPHY AND SISTINA GIORDANO

one who is always genuinely happy for me.

TeNesha Murphy with her mother TeNesha Murphy is co-host of the Bridge Street program on NewsChannel 9 with Sistina Giordano.

Sistina Giordano Bridge Street Co-host, Local SYR

This photo of my baptism with my godparents was one that spoke to me because growing up in a big Italian family, we were always celebrating. Be it birthdays, holidays, graduations or even religious sacraments, we always found a way to celebrate the important milestones. Faith has always been a large part of my life and I’m grateful to my mom for instilling that in me and my father for his support, too.

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George Kilpatrick CEO and Founder, Inspiration for the Nation

My favorite memory of my mother is her cooking and her ability to throw a party at a moment’s notice. I love her creativity around making things happen. I remember going to the store — and we weren’t gone that long — one Saturday.

Now mind you, there was no talk about a party or any of that. When my sister and I returned home there were balloons, streamers and a DJ and plenty of food. Who was the party for? A neighbor’s kid I didn’t even know, but that’s the kind of heart my mom has. Always looking out for others, 100 percent of the time. If my mom was down to her last nickel, she’d give you a quarter.

My favorite memory of my dad was waking up at his house to the smell of waffles. When we’d visit him, that was our absolute favorite. Lamb chops was another food favorite with lots of garlic, or herbal lamb or saucy duck. My parents divorced, but the upside was two Thanksgivings, two Christmases. We’d celebrate with mom, then hop on the train and celebrate with dad, too. Another memory was his love of reading and learning. He was always teaching us about African American culture and history.

Clifford Malzman President, Cannon Pools

backyard swimming pool to Syracuse in the mid-1960s.

He believed that every home should have a pool. And he created a business model that for the first time allowed middle class Americans to enjoy one.

There was a time that my father was supposed to take my mom out for dinner on Mother’s Day. He scheduled an earlier appointment that night to talk to folks about purchasing a pool. Well, two neighbors ended up coming to that appointment and he sold all three of them pools. This made him so late that he got pulled over for speeding on the way home. The end of this story is that not only did he not get a ticket, but he famously sold his fourth pool of the evening to the state trooper who had pulled him over. My mother forgave him.

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Cliff Malzman with his son Ari and father Robert.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGE KILPATRICK AND CLIFF MALZMAN

My dad passed away six years ago and we miss him greatly. He was instrumental in bringing the idea of a

Rita Grimaldi Owner, Grimaldi’s Luna Park

To say my mother is the best only scratches the surface of how I feel about her. Her name is Regina, which means Queen. My siblings and I refer to her as such sometimes. My mother is the backbone of our family and has always been the strongest woman throughout good times and bad. She handles situations in our life with patience and grace.

My mother has been the light and comfort when we needed to hear just the right words.

Many of the recipes we have at Grimaldi’s are my mother’s. My mother’s mother is of Sicilian decent and she was a great cook, as is my mother. My grandfather Fred would collaborate with my mother on many of his recipes for the restaurant to get them just right. My mother is known for her baking. Her cream pies are served at the restaurant with rave reviews. Our traditions are carried on because of her — especially at Christmas as we celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Quentin Hillsman Syracuse University Women’s Basketball Coach

My mother and father were big believers in confidence. I was taught all throughout my childhood to be confident, prepare for success and believe in a positive result.

I thank them for that. It has spilled over into my coaching career. I believe we will win ev-

PHOTO COURTESY OF RITA GRIMALDI

ery game because I trust our preparation.

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S TA F F M E M O R I E S Central New York magazine staffers share their parent stories.

Amy Bleier Long Assistant content editor When I was 6 or 7, two neighborhood friends and I were attacked by wasps. They stung us everywhere, and I mean everywhere. My friend’s mom called my mom, a former nurse. Moments later, my mom came speeding down the street on her bicycle, wearing her light blue spring jacket and her dark hair in a ponytail whipping behind her. A first-aid kit was strapped to the back of her bike.

When she was close to my friend’s driveway, I ran across the lawn, crying, into her arms. It’s not the only time she saved the day.

My dad likes to play songs he enjoys ad nauseam; I inherited that trait. Certain songs, like “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg, remind me of him. Once when my sister and I were fighting, he made us stand together and he took a Polaroid. The photo shows us, elementary-aged, pink-cheeked and not amused. My dad and I share an intense love of movie popcorn. He has always provided hugs and affection, made it known when he was proud of me (or wasn’t), and I always know how much he loves me.

Amy Bleier Long with parents and husband

Nicole Moss Underwood Writer Unlike my Hungarian great-grandmother who was a formidable force to be reckoned with, and who would chase me out of the kitchen whenever she needed to roll out the dough for mákos és diós, my mother loved to include me in the baking. She had a playfulness about her, a sense of humor, that turned ordinary mishaps into a fun family story to tell, like the time she baked a three-layer sprinkles cake for a birthday party, and I poked my finger into it to taste it when she wasn’t looking. She had walked out of the kitchen and I, who had been pitching in along the way, snuck a little lick of frosting with the tip of my finger. It was so good that I poked my finger into the frosting again but this time further until I reached the soft sponge of cake. It was so good, that I did it again, and again, until before I knew it, the cake had finger holes everywhere. When my mom came back into the room, she exclaimed, with her hands at her face, “Oh, my!” She looked surprised, her face red, and I suddenly got scared. “Oh no! What did I do?” But then her face

Nicole Moss Underwood with mom

changed, and she giggled. “Was it good?” she asked, gently tickling me. “Delicious,” I said, shyly. She gave me a hug. “We can fix this,” she said, and she proceeded to fill the holes with something that looked like raspberry purée. When she served it at the party, it was the biggest hit! But that was my mom – ever ingenious, ever playful, ever kind…able to see the good in the bad, able to turn a problem into a solution, able to take an accident and let it drive her to invention.

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Susan Kennedy with her parents

Amelia Beamish and mom

Susan Kennedy

Amelia Beamish

Writer

Photographer

My mom was full of advice. Suggestions. Recommendations.

Every year for Halloween my mom

In her eulogy a dozen years ago, I dubbed them “Carole-isms.”

would ask me to sketch out what I

I recall her oft-used phrases, those directed to my teenage self: Stand up

wanted to be and she’d take my de-

straight. Use proper grammar. Slow down and count to ten. When in doubt, don’t.

There were softer Carole-isms, too: Be humble and kind. You’ll never know if you don’t try. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

sign and bring it to life. From simple costumes, like a Jurassic Park employee in full uniform (complete with

But for all her talking, she listened best of all.

laminated ID badge!) to a huge bee-

At the round kitchen table every day when I came home from school, no matter

tle with a shell, antennae, mandi-

what she was doing she sat down with me. As the ice melted in her Coke, she lis-

ble and six moveable arms! She even

tened. No advice. Just hearing me. I treasure those memories.

designed a Beast costume that still

I’m still making memories with my vibrant father. He hiked Peru’s Machu Pic-

blows anything Disney sells out of the

chu with my brother and me last year, for his 85th birthday! He’s active, healthy, a

water. Suffice to say I won every cos-

good listener and when asked, he’ll offer his advice, too. Happy Father’s Day Dad!

tume contest.

Katherine Rushworth Arts writer Anyone who knew my Mom, Mae McCurdy, knew she was passionate about several things…a well-chilled martini, Pascale’s Bete Noire chocolate cake and a good conspiracy theory. She had a theory about the Kennedy assassination, the New York State Thruway Authority and the flu shot. It was the flu shot that garnered the most attention and created the greatest challenge for me and her doctors.

One day, about two years ago, we were in her physician’s office completing her annual physical when the doctor asked if she’d had her flu shot yet.

She replied emphatically, “Oh, no. I don’t believe in them and I don’t want one!”

To which her doctor replied, “I see, Mae. And why exactly do you not want a flu shot?”

Katherine Rushworth’s mom

“I never get the flu,” she replied, “and besides, I believe it’s a government conspiracy to turn us all into Republicans.”

The doctor nodded his head, looked at her suspiciously and replied, “You know, Mae, I’ve been getting a flu shot for 40 years and I’m still a Democrat. I think you’ll be OK.” She laughed and he rolled up her sleeve.

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Son and father team Jeffrey and John Tyo at Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center.

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IT’S ALL RELATIVE AN INSID E LO O K AT SO M E O F CENTR AL N E W YO RK’S FAMILY BUSIN E S SE S STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

Mark Martino’s first job was working in the warehouse of Modern Kitchens of Syracuse, the business started by his parents in 1955.

Syracuse Wineworks co-owner Danielle Bibbens says her children have memorized the recipe for making wine and like to instruct their grandfather — her business partner — on the next steps in the process.

Jeffrey Tyo works alongside his father at Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center. The business dates back to the Civil War when its founding family helped soldiers who lost limbs in battle.

And Ryan and Leigh Ann Benz dedicated a corner of the menu at their restaurant Oh My Darling to their toddler son Oliver, who also inspired other family-friendly amenities at the upscale downtown eatery.

Family-run businesses account for 80 percent of private sector jobs in the United States, according to the Family Business Center at the Madden School of Business at LeMoyne College.

Here are the stories of several family businesses contributing to the economic fabric of Central New York.

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Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center East Fayette Street, Syracuse spocsyr.com

One of John Tyo’s first jobs was whittling prosthetic feet from wood.

Today, he and his son, Jeffrey Tyo, fit patients at Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center with microprocessor-controlled knees and ankles, bionically powered elbows and hands.

“The innovations are growing by leaps and bounds,” Jeffrey Tyo says.

Now in its third generation of ownership by the Tyo family, the business dates to 1866, when Chauncy A. Frees began making artificial limbs to help soldiers injured in the Civil War. Three generations of the Frees family brought the business into the mid20th century, when Howard Tyo came on as an apprentice after losing his

Top, Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic

leg during World War II.

Center fabricates many pieces by

“The day after my father’s 18th birthday, he joined the Army,” says John Tyo. “The day after his 19th birthday, he shared a foxhole with a mortar round and left his leg in Italy when he got shipped back to the United States.”

The Tyo family established itself as a leader in the field of prosthetics and orthotics by focusing on patient care alongside advances in technology.

“You’re not treating a missing arm or a leg, you’re treating a whole person,” John Tyo says. “We try our best to return a life to a person who has lost an arm or a leg. You give them hope first.”

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hand instead of outsourcing, ensuring a custom fit to match each patient.

Above, Howard Tyo came on as an apprentice at the business after losing his leg during World War II.

The Tyo family established itself as a leader in the field of prosthetics and orthotics by focusing on patient care alongside advances in technology.

Many patients achieve more than just everyday function. Jennifer Kelchner

John Tyo recalled meeting his

lost her leg at age four in a lawnmower accident; she went on to win a gold med-

father’s military friends who

al in downhill skiing at the 1998 Paralympics in Nagano, Japan. Other patients

were also amputees. “It was

have completed the Boston Marathon and triathlons.

“It would have been totally impossible when I started in the profession,” says John Tyo. Jeffrey Tyo joined the family business after several years in hospitality management.

no big deal,” he says. “People had both arms and leg — ­ or both legs and an arm — and they did everything everyone else did.”

“I was very unfulfilled, I didn’t get a sense of purpose out of it,” he says.

While considering new career options, he spent several months working with patients at his father’s Syracuse clinic.

“Seeing the process from start to finish, it blew my mind what kind of impact we had on people’s lives,” he says.

He returned to graduate school at his father’s alma mater — Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, home to the country’s oldest orthotic prosthetic program.

Together, the father-son pair have pushed the practice forward while allowing practitioners to focus on patient care.

“It’s not like buying a pair of shoes,” says Jeffrey Tyo of the diagnostic and therapeutic process. “It takes constant maintenance and adjustment,” he continues.

“When we see a patient, we expect it to be a lifelong partnership.”

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Syracuse Wineworks Milton Avenue, Camillus syracusewineworks.com

Robert Maynard’s favorite wine to make is a dry red Nebbiolo, flavored with black fruits, figs and dried cranberry, with an earthy and smoked flavor.

His daughter, Danielle Bibbens, prefers sweeter white wines.

The difference in their individual tastes helps when serving customers at Syracuse Wineworks, a business they have co-owned for nearly a decade.

“We kind of complement each other,” Bibbens says. “Because we both like different things, we can help our customers make choices.”

The father-daughter duo purchased the business in August 2011, when it was located in downtown Baldwinsville and focused strictly on on-premise winemaking.

In November 2013, they moved the operation to a storefront in Elm Hill Plaza in Camillus and added a retail operation with the equipment and supplies needed to make wine, craft beer and cider at home.

It was a new chapter for Maynard, who had spent two decades as a contractor, and a good fit for Bibbens, who had a business degree and a knack for marketing.

Together, they help customers navigate the science behind their favorite wines. It’s a six-week process for most vintages that starts with mixing the juices of grapes from across the world with yeast and other necessary ingredients 50

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After spending more than 20 years on construction sites, Maynard appreciates more than just the wine he makes in his new career. “It’s 73 degrees in here every single day and I don’t have to worry about the weather,” he says. “The nature of the business is much more relaxed and enjoyable.”

and finishes with 30 bottles of wine to take home.

They encourage customers to make the most of the experience, bringing snacks and tasting different vintages as they stir, stabilize and bottle their own kits.

“It’s a business that can bring people together,” Maynard says. “People come to have fun and make wine and drink some wine — they’re always in a good mood.”

Maynard says the process reminds him of the craftsmanship he cherished while in the construction industry.

“At the end, you have a great product you can be proud of,” he says.

How it works Customers choose from more than 100 winemaking kits, like Argentinian Malbecs, Australian Shirazes and Washington Rieslings. The primary fermentation process begins with the first visit; one week later, the wine is transferred to a glass carboy for secondary fermentation. Next, chemicals are added to stabilize the wine, and six weeks after starting a kit, customers return to bottle their wine.

Syracuse Wineworks helps customers navigate the science behind their favorite wines in a six-week process that starts with mixing the juices of grapes from across the world with yeast and other ingredients.

Each wine needs to age; the length of time depends on the vintage. Maynard suggests up to a year for some wines; others can be consumed three months after bottling.

For best results, wines should be stored in a cool, dark place where the temperature is consistent. The bottles should be kept horizontally, ensuring the cork stays moist and wine ages properly.

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Modern Kitchens of Syracuse Court Street Road, Syracuse modernkitchens.com

During his high school and college years, Mark Martino began working part-time in the warehouse of Modern Kitchens of Syracuse.

He moved into the order department and then into sales and management, learning the many parts of the business his parents, Raymond and Beverly Martino, had founded in 1955.

When he joined the company full-time in 1977, the business had expanded to include offices, showrooms and warehouses in Albany and Buffalo.

His son, Alexander, followed a similar path, working summers part-time while pursuing his degree at Le Moyne College. He now serves as the company’s service coordinator and is moving into builder and developer sales and management.

Seeing a third generation involved in the family business would have pleased his parents, Mark Martino says. The couple worked side by side for decades; while Ray focused on sales and marketing, Bev handled billing and the office functions.

“I wish my parents could be here to see him come in and grow into his role,” he says. “He’s getting more comfortable and confident in all aspects of the business.”

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Alexander Martino with his father Mark Martino at Modern Kitchens of Syracuse. Seeing a third generation involved in the family business would have pleased his parents, who started the business in 1955, Mark Martino says.

The Syracuse showroom offers examples of kitchens, bathrooms and closets. Designers help customers choose finishes for each project. The company is connected to an extensive list of preferred contractors to help with installation and remodeling.

service and quality offerings.

“For the most part, we still do things the same way as when they started the business,” he says. “We’ve just evolved with the times and are doing things more efficiently.”

Employees at all three locations are like family, with an average tenure of more than two decades.

The company’s longevity and commitment to the community has also inspired repeat customers.

“People know that if they buy a kitchen or appliance from us, we will be here to service it and take care of them,” he says.

“They can buy from us with confidence, because we are here, and we will continue to be here.”

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Oh My Darling South Salina Street, Syracuse darlingsyr.com

where they ran Lee Lee’s Forest, a women’s boutique at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.

But their hearts called them back to Central New York, and their newest entrepreneurial ventures are helping revitalize a once-forgotten part of the Salina Street corridor.

“Every time we would come back to Syracuse, to escape the city or visit friends and family, we felt like we never wanted to leave,” says Leigh Ann Benz. “The community, all the people are so wonderful here.”

The couple invested in two 1800s-era buildings on South Salina Street that now house Whitney Lofts, renovated apartments with refinished hardwood floors from the 1920s, the buildings’ original tin ceilings and brick archways, and private terraces along Bank Alley in the back of the building.

But the capstone of the project has been the trio of dining establishments spearheaded by the Benzes. Full-service restaurant and cocktail bar Oh My Darling opened in March 2019, with a small grab-and-go section named Clementine offering pre-wrapped items like paninis, pastas, salads and sandwiches for the lunch crowd. Downstairs is The Fitz, named after jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald and themed like a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

The location was part of the magic for the couple, who married at the neighboring Landmark Theatre.

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Ryan and Leigh Ann Benz with son Oliver at Oh My Darling, a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar in Syracuse.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JACOB PUCCI, JARED PAVENTI AND DENNIS NETT

Liverpool natives Ryan and Leigh Ann Benz lived in New York City for seven years,

“Restaurants become anchors within the community,” says Ryan Benz. “Downtown Syracuse is having this great renaissance, and we wanted to help bring out the best of our town.”

The couple let the historic building speak to them when designing the restaurants and bar. High ceilings and windows flood Oh My Darling with natural light, paired with exposed brick and shiplap. The basement-level speakeasy features the original scalloped stairs, soft lighting, tin ceilings and live music played on a baby grand piano.

“Every space has its own personality,” says Ryan Benz of the eight-month renovation project. “The building was built in 1855 — we just had to get out of the way and let it shine.”

The farm-to-table cuisine changes all the time, with a focus on elevated American comfort fare like homemade mac and cheese paired with pork belly and parmesan truffled french fries. Appetizers include elegant charcuterie and locally sourced cheese alongside playful dishes like Syracuse poutine, made with salt potatoes, cheese curds and gravy.

The brunch menu draws a crowd each weekend, with avocado toast, four styles of eggs benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes and banana bread French toast.

The cocktail menu is part of the experience, from the mimosa and Bloody Marys served at brunch to the clementine whiskey smash and lavender lemonade martini.

There’s even a corner of the menu dedicated to the Benzes’ son Oliver, with grilled cheese, an angus hamburger and a cheese and chicken quesadilla. Amenities for young families include high chairs and activities for little diners.

Ryan Benz says his favorite dish — the maple bourbon-glazed salmon, served over corn risotto and seasonal vegetables — is gluten free. There are also options for vegan and vegetarian diners.

“We wanted to have something for everyone,” says Leigh Ann Benz, who designed the menu with Culinary Institute of America-trained chef Jayden White and general manager Anna Fecco.

The Salina Street location was part of the magic for the Benzes, who married at the neighboring Landmark Theatre across the street.

Honing their version of work-life balance has taken years, but both Benzes said they appreciate the opportunity to work together each day. While Leigh Ann focuses on marketing and the menu, Ryan handles the administrative tasks behind the scenes.

After work, they turn their attention to their toddler, Oliver, and spend their nights “binge watching a show with a bottle of wine.”

“We try our best not to talk about work for awhile and focus on each other,” Leigh Ann Benz says. “Some days it is overwhelming, but most days it is great. We feel so lucky to get to work together as a family.”

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Summer sweet list A GUIDE TO THE CL ASSY, TRENDY AND SPENDY LIT TLE WAYS TO SUMMER

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W

BY M J K R AV EC

E’VE COMPILED A LIST OF CLASSICALLY SUMMER WAYS TO SOAK UP THOSE WARM WEATHER VIBES. FROM ROADSIDE BARBECUES TO CANAL CRUISES — SOME ARE MORE WELL KNOWN THAN OTHERS. BUT

ALL ARE UNIQUE TO OUR AREA, OUR HISTORY AND TRUE TO THE CENTRAL NEW YORK TRADITION OF LOVING THE OUTDOORS WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS SWEET.

Stretch with the sun Try sunrise yoga in Clinton Square. Part of the downtown location of Metro Fitness’ Wellness Wednesdays program, this morning group workout takes place every summer. Get up with the sun, shake up your wake up. This one’s for early risers. For more about these Wellness Wednesdays specials, go to getmetrofit.com or follow them on

On the village green Cazenovia Farmers Market: Homegrown fruits and vegetables, locally made crafts and foods including baked goods, cheeses, DAVID LASSMAN

PHOTOS BY ELLEN M. BLALOCK,

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for times.

honey, coffee, jams, eggs, plants, flowers and more. Stroll the sidewalks of picturesque Cazenovia village. Bring a straw tote. Runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting May 9 through Oct. 31 at Memorial Park on Albany Street. Visit cazenovia.com for more information.

Listed dates were accurate as of press time, but are subject to change.

Please visit the websites to confirm.

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Summer sidewalks The Skaneateles Curbstone Festival features fashion, home goods, jewelry, paintings, denim, plant specials, live music, balloon animals and great discounts in a charming lakeside village setting. It’s about as close to the Hamptons as you can get without a long drive. July 16, 17, 18. Go to skaneateles.com for more information.

Hoof it The 43rd Lorenzo Driving Competition takes place 8 a.m. zo State Historic Site. The beautiful backdrop at Lorenzo sets the stage for this horse and carriage showcase of driv-

A shore thing

ing, dress and style. The event also features exhibits, sales,

Rent a quadricycle at Onondaga Lake Park. McKie

refreshments and demonstrations. Admission is free. Visit

Sports “Cuse Cycle” Rental Shop is next to the Griffin

lorenzodriving.org or call 315-655-3200.

Visitor Center at the south end of the park. A twopedal Surrey Quadricycle is $20 per hour, while a four-pedal bike is $30 per hour. Now through Labor Day. All hours are weather permitting. Finish the day with a hot dog from Heid’s across the street.

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PHOTOS BY DAVID LASSMAN AND MIKE GREENLAR

to 5 p.m. Friday, July 17 until Sunday, July 19 at the Loren-

Go west Take a guided ride on horseback through the woods of Highland Forest. Featuring horseback rides from Highland Outfitters. Rides are $35 per person and last about an hour. For ages 5 & up by appointment only. Call 315-289-3775.

Roadside ribs Bob’s Barbecue, 5290 State Route 281, Homer: Take a trip out to this roadside barbecue hotspot and eat in at one of the stand’s picnic ta-

PHOTOS BY DAVID LASSMAN

bles or take it home. People come from miles around for their brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken and Hoffman Hots. Dinners include a choice of two sides, which include (when available) baked beans, cole slaw, cornbread, potato salad, macaroni salad, sweet corn and salt potatoes. Desserts include choice of homemade brownies, assorted cookies, cheesecake and “mom’s assorted homemade pies and homemade cakes.” Visit bobsbarbecue.com, 607-753-7098.

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Shake it up For a classic Shakespearean outdoor theater experience in a beautiful setting unique to Syracuse, don’t miss Syracuse Shakespeare in the Park at Thornden Park Amphitheatre. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs for this year’s productions. Go to ssitp.org for dates.

Ahoy Polloi!

26, Clift Park in Skaneateles. With 90 antique and classic boats and motors on display in the water and on land, live music, a boat parade and a spectator cruise on the Judge Ben Wiles, children’s activities, demos, shopping, a knot tying class, toy boat painting for kids, raffles and more. Hours are 3 p.m. to dusk Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Go to skaneateles.com or call 315-685-0552.

Like Paradise Falls Pratt’s Falls Park in Manlius is a relatively easy jaunt that features an overlook at the top you can get up close and personal to. This 137-foot drop is a stellar sight a mere 15 miles from Syracuse. Pay $2 to park. With picnic benches, restrooms and volleyball net, you can make a day of it. Plus, there are other trails to hike from 1.2 to 2.6 miles.

Visit onondagacountyparks.com.

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PHOTOS BY KATHE HARRINGTON, DENNIS NETT AND GARY WALTS

It’s the 42nd annual Antique & Classic Boat Show, July 24, 25 and

Morning walk Immerse yourself in nature with the Wellness Walking Group at Beaver Lake Nature Center. This morning walk on the trails at Beaver Lake encompasses a few miles on a variety of trails or three miles on the Lake Loop. Stay for coffee after the walk. Starts at 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Visit onondagacountyparks.com/parks/ beaver-lake-nature-center/

Cruise back in time Go back in CNY history with a canal boat cruise at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. Board the Ontario, a vintage canal boat replica; the Otisco, a canal packet boat; or the Camillus Erie and the Iroquois pontoon boats. Rides feature music and narration and run 45 PHOTOS BY DICK BLUME AND JOHN BERRY

minutes round trip. Regular tours start in May. Call 315-420-4763 or visit eriecanalcamillus.com.

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Baltimore Woods Nature Center in Marcellus boasts more than 180 acres of field and stream with more than six miles of trails open daily. With day camps for kids, tours and unique interactive and immersive programs, the center aims to bring people and nature closer together. This summer look for creative outdoor adventures like star parties in the woods, s’mores and campfire stories get-togethers, natural navigation lessons and summer solstice meditation and hiking. Go to baltimorewoods.org or call 315-673-1350.

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PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Into the woods

Central New York is amazing in so many ways. It’s never been more apparent than during the Coronavirus crisis.

The national news is full of stories that show what good people, good companies and good communities do during difficult times.

In Central New York, Syracuse.com is full of stories of how our community is coming together to work through the crisis.

It shows people, companies and non-profits working together to address community needs and the needs of their neighbors. People reaching out to others. Random acts of kindness, companies transitioning their businesses to produce much-needed gear for health care workers, companies rewarding essential employees for working through the pandemic and so many volunteers stepping

CENTRAL NEW YORKERS SHOW THEY CARE THROUGH COVID-19 CRISIS

forward to donate blood or to help non-profits continue to provide community services.

We couldn’t be prouder to call Central New York home. We hope you are, too.

CenterState CEO and Advance Media New York started an initiative to promote the area as a great place to live and to work. That campaign — called The Good Life CNY — is continuing. When we come out of this crisis, Central New York will be at the forefront of marketing itself as a great place to live, to work and to build a great life.

CenterState CEO’s most recent report shows economic advancement for our region and that job growth has accelerated over the past year, closing the gap as compared to the national average.

It shows that people understand what a great place Central New York is to live.

CenterState CEO is leading several initiatives to help address employers’ needs for available workers. They’ve partnered with Advance Media New York to create an all-in-one resource for Central New York companies to sell the area to job candidates.

The project includes a multimedia marketing effort and a new website — goodlifeCNY.com — that provides potential Central New Yorkers everything they need to know about the region to entice them to join us in The Good Life.

FIND OUT MORE AT GOODLIFECNY.COM AND PREPARE TO FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN.

Check out the website and share it with friends or family who are considering relocating and employers looking for their next new hire. More than 27,000 people have checked out the site since it went live just a few months ago.

Among the site’s many features is a job board for hiring managers and job seekers that can be accessed from the Good Life CNY site or by linking directly at careers.goodlifecny.com.

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These local companies are working together to promote CNY and to build our community: INFICON, Inc. M&T Bank National Grid Pathfinder Bank Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Inc. Saab Syracuse University Turning Stone Resort & Casino Bristol-Myers Squibb Onondaga County SyracuseCoE SRC Inc. Anaren AXA C&S Companies Fust Charles Chambers LLP Le Moyne College Thompson & Johnson Co., Inc. These companies hope to attract more people to consider working in Central New York and calling it home.

JOIN THE INITIATIVE. Promote our hometown. Thank those forward-thinking companies that are working together to push this initiative forward.

Share the job opportunities listed across high-level sectors like defense, engineering, health care and more.

Act as an ambassador for Central New York and help us spread the good word. Share the website with friends or family interested in making a move.

Use #goodlifeCNY to highlight the fun and beauty of your life in CNY. Follow GoodLifeCNY on social media and post and share your love of CNY. And, continue to take care of each other by practicing social distancing, donating or volunteering and helping your CNY friends and family.

Stay safe and be careful, CNY. We love you.

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Our Town

Geddes BY

AMY BLEIER LONG

The town of Geddes is made up of residential Westvale (which Niche ranked the #2 best place to raise a family in the Syracuse area for 2020), the village of Solvay and the more-rural Lakeland. The town’s adjacency to Onondaga Lake affords residents panoramic views and recreational options. Building off its strong industrial history, the town is looking toward the future with a comprehensive plan that capitalizes on the available opportunities for preservation and development and enriches the community. The town of Geddes is primed for a resurgence.

Grab a bite

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A variety of wines from Lakeland Winery.

Have a drink

Grab a cup of joe at Byrne Dairy & Deli. Fair Deli Mart sells nearly 200 types of beer; try their Rueben, too. The town has several neighborhood bars to hang out at: Wally’s Belvedere has darts and TVs to catch the game. Join a team at the Bridge Street Tavern to play on their indoor and outdoor beach volleyball courts. Bosco’s Village Pub features a special late-night menu.

Mikey’s Tavern offers chicken wings in an extensive list of flavors. Try the Bang Bang Shrimp when you’re at Lamont Tavern. For bottles of wine, tastings and wine-making sessions, visit Lakeland Winery. Peruse Westvale Wines & Liquors and Western Lights Liquors for your favorite vice or visit Liquor, Wine & Moonshine for a long list of bourbons and a variety of moonshines.

Shop local

Decorate with furniture and accessories from China Town Furniture and Mattress. Start or maintain an aquarium with supplies and fish from ABC Reefs.

New-to-you items at Thrifty Shopper support the Rescue Mission’s work. Start your next home project at Valu Home Centers. Find accent pieces and more at A Bright Furniture. McKie Sports has custom uniforms and equipment, specializing in hockey gear. From models to gaming, fuel your interests at Walt’s HobbyTown. Pick up fresh produce and plants at Marble Farms Produce.

PHOTO BY GARY WALTS

Many of the town’s eateries are considered hidden gems of the CNY area. Enjoy breakfast anytime and lots of lunch options at Gracie’s Kitchen. Visit Suzie’s Lakeland Diner for classic dishes and nightly specials. Find fresh fish and shrimp at Westvale Fish Cove. Savor Iraqi and Middle Eastern dishes at Sumer. Tuck into a steak or platter of ribs at Kirby’s Grill.

Eat in or take out at China Pavilion; check out their Dim Sum brunch. Call Greg’s Pizzeria, Bianchi’s Pizza Pad or Johnny Mac’s Pizzeria & Deli for your pizza and wings fix. Chow down on hot hero sandwiches and specialty pizzas from Pies Guys Pizzeria & Fish Fry. Sam’s Chicken Land’s fried chicken is a don’t miss. The Tyrol Club’s monthly polenta dinner is popular. Daniella’s Steakhouse is known for quality cuts of meat and their service.

Mona Lisa’s Ristorante offers Italian dishes and much more, including Sunday Brunch. Head to Yamasho for sushi and hibachi. Chicken tenders lovers know to hit Tully’s. At European Specialties, find gourmet goodies, particularly Eastern European dishes and packaged foods. The Western Ranch Motor Inn restaurant features live music and nightly specials. Eva’s European Sweets serves decadent desserts and is noted for its Polish dishes. Order pies, pastries and breads at Bella Bakery. At the edge of town are Twin Trees, Twin Trees Too and Jammer’s Sports Bar and Restaurant.

Get Outside

Head to Lakeland Park for some action: it has two basketball courts, two tennis courts, three ball fields, two pavilions, a playscape with swings and a slide. Play ball at Geddes Athletic Fields facility, which has four ball fields, a football field, one soccer field and a pavilion. The Lindbergh Lawns Park offers a small pavilion, swings and a play scape. Shoot some hoops and let the kids loose on the playground at Charles Ave. Park. The Woods Road Park features two ball fields, a pavilion and the Solvay-Geddes Veterans Memorial Plaza. Additional neighborhood parks have playgrounds and basketball courts. Get some practice in at Pope Memorial Soccer Field. Take swimming lessons or free swim at the Solvay Swimming Pool. Attend an event or sled down the hill at Long Branch Park at the north end of Onondaga Lake. Cast your line in Geddes Brook or Nine Mile Creek for some good fishing. The southeast edge of town borders Burnet Park. The West Shore Trail and Lakeland Trail, part of the Loop the Lake project, provide places to walk, run, bike and skate around Onondaga Lake. The coming Empire State Trail will connect through the town.

Imagine Dragons guitarist, Wayne Sermon, performs for a packed crowd at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview.

Things to Do

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GREENLAR, SCOTT SCHILD

John Carno Recreation Center hosts all sorts of activities and events, including fitness classes and afterschool crafts. Many residents join social clubs such as the Hilltop Club and Tyrol Club. The Solvay-Geddes Community Youth Center offers swimming lessons and aquatic classes, an adult basketball league, fitness classes for seniors, and an afterschool program. Get fit with programs and personal training at Core Fitness Training. Hit your clubs at Pope’s Grove Golf Course; it’s great for beginners. Dancers of all ages and abilities can find classes at CNY Performing Arts Studio and Caitlin Clark’s Centre of Dance. Play ten frames at Solvay Recreation Alleys. Rock out to your favorite jam at Singers Karaoke Club. Solvay Library, on the National Register of Historic Places, is a Carnegie library still in use. Solvay-Geddes Historical Society meets monthly to preserve and showcase the past of this important area. Exciting events hit the Fairgrounds year-round. Catch your favorite band at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview.

“I love my community.

It has very safe neighborhoods and the Loop the Lake trail in our backyard.”

CHRIS MARONEY, OWNER OF LIQUOR, WINE & MOONSHINE AND TOWN COUNCILMAN

launch a Kayak from Long Branch Park on the Onondaga Lake outlet.

Annual Events

Lace up for the Paint Westvale Purple Run/Walk. Bring your blankets and chairs for outdoor summer concert series or outdoor movie nights. Westvale’s neighborhood association hosts an annual garden tour and a community garage sale. Solvay Field Days features live music, food, carnival games and rides. The Great New York State Fair is the biggest event of the year. The town hosts a Halloween party full of fun, costume contests and treats.

Geddes’ tree lighting takes place in early December. Neighbors in Westvale line the streets with luminaries and go caroling.

Beautiful Display of Antiques, China, Glass, Collectibles & Vintage Jewelry.

Trollbeads | Red Bali Frog | Charms of Aloha

Shop Online!

4669 Westlake Road State Route 41A | Skaneateles, NY, 13152 Hours: Friday-Saturday: 12-4 p.m. and by Appointment (315) 263-8189 | Browndogantiques.com M AY/J U N E

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CNY Scout

Blaine Vossler attaches a handle to a tote bag. “I have a pretty good collection of leather scraps and different pieces of hides, so it feels like there’s a big paint palette, so to speak, to pull from when I am creating and coming up with new ideas,” he says.

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tration’s Emerging Leaders program.

workshop is stocked with hides of leather, specialty tools and

Together since high school, the Central New York natives were

sewing machines. Using techniques he’s honed over the last

entering the workforce in the wake of the financial recession. The

ten years, Blaine handcrafts handbags and other lifestyle ac-

couple moved to California to find jobs using their arts educa-

cessories for The Local Branch, the brand he founded with his

tions, expecting to follow traditional career paths. The positions

wife Mackenzie.

they started weren’t in the creative industry, so they launched

After a decade of working side by side, the Vosslers have es-

The Local Branch as an artistic outlet. Blaine and Mackenzie be-

tablished a division of labor that suits their skills and personal-

gan making items out of scraps of leather, driftwood and vintage

ities. They design products together, but Blaine makes the pro-

materials. They found a sewing machine on the side of the road

totypes and finished pieces, including screen-printed shirts

and experimented, taught themselves how to screen print and

— rather than utilize the traditional photo emulsion method,

do leather work, then developed their own style.

he hand-paints his designs on the screen. Mackenzie now focus-

A friend introduced the couple to the nascent Etsy, which made

es on visual merchandising and the administrative side of the

it easy to begin selling pieces with low overhead. The Vosslers

business; she’s a 2019 graduate of the Small Business Adminis-

were at the forefront of the artisanal movement. Their momen-

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PHOTOS BY EMMA BAUSO PHOTOGRAPHY

On the third floor of a Victorian farmhouse, Blaine Vossler’s

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

tum allowed them to start selling their wares at festivals and craft shows and invest in better equipment and newer tools, which expanded their product assortment. They garnered a diverse fan base that responded strongly to their aesthetic and story. Blaine sees their approach as part of a broader economic model embraced by their generation: being authentic, building a community, pulling back the curtain to get to know the people behind a brand. Through savings and a Kickstarter campaign, the pair purchased and renovated a vintage Airstream trailer. It became their mobile residence and workshop; they traveled the country for two years, making and selling all the while. The couple settled back in Central New York three years ago, but they’re not slowing down. In 2017, they had their son Hawk and in 2018, opened their Skaneateles storefront.

Their designs are inspired by America’s history and manufacturing tradition, nature and the spirit of exploration. “Now that we’re back in the Northeast, we’re definitely inspired by the Adirondacks and the lakeside community,” says Blaine. Apparel and accessories, such as capes and wearable blankets, wallets, weekenders and hats, typically in a neutral palette, act as layering pieces or timeless staples. “We are pretty utilitarian, and we want our products to be visually beautiful, but we also want them to have a function in your life and serve you,” Mackenzie says.

With a permanent location, the brand has grown in ways it couldn’t when the duo was on the road. As both maker and retailer, The Local Branch can offer their high-quality leather goods at attainable prices

Blaine and Mackenzie Vossler started The Local Branch in 2009. The moniker evokes the homegrown nature of the business and references the brand’s outdoorsy vibe.

between wholesale and retail. The Local Branch also curates a collection of goods from regional, American and fair-trade companies who share their ethos of thoughtfulness and sustainability. “It allows us

The desire to build connections underpins the Vosslers’ work and life-

to empower other makers who are similar to us and

style. They have literally opened the doors to their own home as part

those who don’t necessarily have another outlet to

of their second business, The Kester Homestead. Mackenzie leads that

sell their products,” Blaine says. Each season, The

project, which involves event planning and venue rental of their 10-acre

Local Branch collaborates with other artisans to cre-

property for weddings and special gatherings. Ironically, the homestead

ate exclusive products.

was Mackenzie’s original dream and the success of The Local Branch is

With tourists and locals frequenting the shop,

what allowed the couple to bring the venue to fruition. “We picture our-

Mackenzie refreshes the displays often and Blaine

selves growing as different brands that all have a thread between them of

explores new product lines and extensions. The

bringing people together,” Mackenzie says. “I don’t know what the other

store provides them with the opportunity to engage

things [are] but we’re always stewing on what our next adventures may be.”

customers and give them an understanding of the care, skill and effort that went into the creation of these products.

Visit The Local Branch at 4 Jordan Street, Skaneateles or thelocalbranch.co.

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Farm to Table

Going bananas EM B R ACE T H E FACT T H AT SO M E TIM ES A C O M FO RTIN G RECIPE F RO M M O M IS J UST W H AT YO U N EED.

BY M J K R AV EC

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Farm to Table

CALL FOR COMFORT. AND COMFORT FOOD. SO WE SOUGHT OUT A FAMILY-OWNED AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT TO SHARE AN OLDFASHIONED FAVORITE. Grimaldi’s Luna Park owner Rita Grimaldi, who shares a memory of her mother Regina in this issue, offers this recipe for her mom’s banana cream pie. It’s one of many made-from-scratch desserts on the menu at the East Syracuse restaurant, established in 1943 by Rita’s grandparents.

“My mom developed this recipe years ago and uses fresh local ingredients,” says Grimaldi. We don’t grow bananas here, but you can find fresh, local eggs, milk, butter and cream. Mix them all together and serve on Mother’s and Father’s Day or any time you need to be comforted. Hugs all around.

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Banana Cream Pie MAKES TWO 9-INCH PIES

Ingredients: 2 9-inch pie crusts ¾ cup sugar ½ cup cornstarch 2 tsp. unflavored gelatin 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 Tbsp. butter 2 cups sweetened heavy whipped cream (for topping) 2 cups heavy cream (unsweetened) 3 bananas 6 cups milk 8 egg yolks

Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add 4 cups milk. Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl. Mix remaining 2 cups of milk into yolks and mix all ingredients in sauce pan. Cook over low heat for about 12 minutes, stirring constantly until thick. Add 2 tsp. vanilla extract and 2 Tbsp. butter.

Cool mixture in refrigerator until set. When cool, fold in 2 cups of unsweetened heavy cream. Line pie crusts with sliced bananas and fill crust with mixture. Chill completely and top with sweetened heavy whipped cream.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

THESE ARE TRYING TIMES. AND TRYING TIMES

“ My mom developed this recipe years ago and uses fresh local ingredients.”

RITA GRIMALDI

Regina Grimaldi with her homemade banana cream pie

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www.inn-between.com • 12 minutes west of Syracuse on Rt. 5 • 315-672-3166 Reservations Recommended. www.inn-between.com • 12 minutes west of Syracuse on Rt. 5 • 672-3166 •• Reservations Recommended M AY/J U N E

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Art Profile

74

At left, Street Light and Rain Cuba acrylic on canvas, 2017.

Above, Skyline Buildings Cuba acrylic on canvas, 2018.

Starting over C U BA N - B O R N A R T IS T RI C H E L L CA S T E L LO N B U I L DS A N E W L I F E I N SY R AC U S E

B Y K AT H E R I N E R U S H W O R T H

Starting over is hard to do for anyone. But it’s especially challenging when you are doing it in a new country, in an unfamiliar

“I can afford to be an artist here,” he says. “I’ve worked in fac-

language and you know only one other person in the entire city.

tories here, but I come home after standing all day and I’m tired.

But that’s what Cuban-born artist Richell Castellon Ferreira did

It’s important to work full time and to be an artist.”

in August of 2016. He left the only home he knew and moved to PHOTOS COURTESY RICHELL CASTELLON

flexibility to paint as much as he can.

Syracuse because his uncle lived here.

In Cuba, Castellon did not work a second job. He reached a point where he was able to survive on sales of his artwork. He

“Then my uncle moved to Florida,” says Castellon, 35. “But I

first fulfilled a mandatory six-year teaching commitment in ex-

decided to stay.” He decided to make Syracuse, or at least the

change for his education, which was free. But in 2012, he moved

United States, his permanent home and received his Green Card,

from his home in Cienfuegos, in the southeastern region of Cuba

or Permanent Resident Card, in 2017. (It is tradition in Cuba to

to Varadero Beach, a resort community in the northeastern re-

take the last names of each of your parents. Castellon is his fa-

gion of Cuba. There he rented an apartment and began selling

ther’s name and Ferreira is his mother’s. He prefers, for simplic-

his work near the beach.

ity, to use only Castellon.)

Castellon says Syracuse is more affordable than Florida. He’s able to support himself driving for Uber, a job that gives him the

“There were more people there (in Varadero Beach),” he says, which gave him an opportunity to sell more work and support himself as an artist.

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In order to sell his paintings, Castellon had to first obtain a license from the Cuban government, a piece of paper that granted him the right to sell his art. The license cost $20 per month, which doesn’t seem much, until you factor in rent at $60 per month.

“I acted quickly,” he says about obtaining the license. “In Cuba, something will happen, and then it stops and you don’t know when it will happen again.”

He was selling his work to tourists who visited the beautiful resort town for its beaches and vacation vibe. He painted urban landscapes: scenes from bustling Havana, capturing the light, movement, and gritty textures of the city. People responded to the work and there was an arts community to support it.

Castellon says art and artists were a more visible part of the cultural fabric in Cuba. There was more art happening there than what he’s experienced in Syracuse.

“In Cuba, I could see more art and there was a relationship of art to Cuba,” he says. “There were more people doing art.”

Which seems ironic, but given the scarcity of galleries in our community, it’s not surprising Castellon feels this way. There are fewer and fewer venues for artists at any level to exhibit their work.

He currently shows his work at Riverside Artisans in Oswego, Gallery 54 in Skaneateles, and recently had his first one-man show at the Wilson Art Gallery at Le Moyne College. But he’s constantly looking for more opportunities.

Castellon has made much progress towards establishing himself as a serious artist since settling in Syracuse. He paints, he exhibits, he works, but the move was disruptive to his life in many ways.

What hasn’t changed is Castellon’s commitment to his subject matter. He still is drawn to the visual rhythms of the urban landscape, but the street scenes he paints today are of his new home.

“The architecture is different from Havana,” he comments about Syracuse’s urban persona. “There are street lights and street signals here. That attracted me.”

Castellon typically begins a painting with a photograph…an image or scene that caught his eye while driving throughout the city. But he uses the photograph only as a point of departure or source of inspiration.

“I use it for an idea,” he says of his photographic source matestraight to the paint (acrylic). No drawing.”

His style is loose, improvisatory in feel, but there is a strong sense of place in each of his paintings — be it a scene from Cuba or from Syracuse. While each scene represents a moment in time, Castellon fills them with an energy and spontaneity that also reflect an acute sense of observation. All of the paintings exude a powerful sensitivity to the light or movement within a scene.

Sometimes he offers us an unresolved narrative, and sometimes it’s simply about a naturally occurring play of lines, shapes and patterns within an urban landscape. But there’s always an infu76

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Top, artist Richell Castellon.

Above, Couple in the Rain Cuba acrylic on canvas, 2018.

PHOTOS COURTESY RICHELL CASTELLON

rial, “and then I change everything. I start with the photo, but go

S. Warren St. Night acrylic on canvas, 2019.

sion of light and movement be it within a fully rendered color palette or within restrained tones of gray, black and white.

“I try to capture the emotion of the scene,” Castellon says. “I want people to hear the painting.

PHOTOS COURTESY RICHELL CASTELLON

The details aren’t important. It’s the overall effect.”

Almost four years have passed since Castellon moved from the only country he had ever known to the unfamiliar landscape of Upstate New York.

Somewhere Downtown acrylic on canvas, 2018.

In that time he has steadfastly figured out how to rebuild a life, one that supports his innate passion to paint and to be the artist he knows he is capable of becoming.

“I’m used to starting over,” Castellon says. “In my country you start over every day.”

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Galleries ArtRage Gallery, The Norton Putter Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, artragegallery.org. 2 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free.

Tim Atseff: The Seven Deadly Sins – A Trump Dystopian Heptology. Tim Atseff has been painting since 1970. He spent his professional career in journalism, including several years as an editorial cartoonist exposing hypocrisy and corruption with the stroke of his pen. Enlarge a nose or jowl here and droop an earlobe or place tiny hands there. The idea is to take an imperfection and apply a magnifying glass while still capturing the subject’s likeness and exposing them for who they really are. Tim’s editorial cartoons — from Nixon to Reagan — appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Times, and Monitor, a publication of the American Psychological Association. His cartoons have also been published in several anthologies and books and are included in the Smithsonian Libraries’ Collection and noted in the Michigan State University Comic Art Collection. He has won more than 20 awards for newspaper design and several for editorial cartoons. Atseff is also the founder of The Good Life, Central New York magazine. Runs through May 16.

Joe Guerriero: Waiting for Normal: Cuba and the United States. People feel an undeniable attraction to Cuba after visiting even once. It’s mostly about the people — their warmth and friendliness, their art, music and culture. However, it is almost impossible to photograph or create art in Cuba without capturing the effects of the embargo. Photographer Joe Guerriero’s photography and film work does just that, reflecting more than 20 years of spending time with the Cuban people and experiencing first-hand the effects of the United States’ continuing embargo of the island. He shows how the embargo affects the lives not only of Cubans but of those Cuban-Americans who still have relatives in Cuba. Opening reception, 6-8 p.m., Sat. May 30. Runs May 30 through July 10.

Pacifico Silano’s The Eyelid Has Its Storm... at Light Work.

Spring Grazing 48”x36” by Jim Ridlon at Edgewood Gallery.

Edgewood Gallery 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. 315-445-8111, edgewoodartandframe.com. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday- Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Closed Sunday-Monday. Free.

Natural Abstractions. Marian Settineri’s colored pencil drawings and Louise Woodard’s watercolor paintings of natural forms incorporated with abstract, graphic elements; with paper sculpture by Louise Woodard and Deborah Rogers’ jewelry. Runs May 8 through June 19.

Opening reception 6-8 p.m., Friday May 8.

Bird In a Cage by Joe Guerriero at ArtRage Gallery.

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Horses and Horizons: Collaborative work by Jim Ridlon and Alyson Markell. Ridlon and Markell combine techniques of painting and collage creating elements of impressionism and abstract expressionism for their equine and landscape theme. Also exhibiting ceramics by Leslie Green Guilbault, scarves by Josephine Nieuwenhuis, and Susan Machamer jewelry. Starts June 26.

Everson Museum of Art 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. 315-474-6064, everson.org. Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed MondayTuesday. $5 suggested donation.

Casual China: Modernist Dinnerware. Syracuse-based Iroquois China began as a manufacturer of Victorian fine china but produced revolutionary dinnerware in the postwar era by designers like Russel Wright and Ben Seibel. Casual China showcases modernist designs produced by Iroquois China, Homer Laughlin, the Hall China Company and others. Through June 14.

PHOTOS COURTESY LIGHT WORK GALLERY, ARTRAGE GALLERY, EDGEWOOD GALLERY, EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Renegades and Reformers: American Art Pottery.

Since acquiring its first works by Adelaide Alsop Robineau in 1916, the Everson Museum of Art has built one of the finest collections of art pottery in the world.

Renegades and Reformers revolves around two common personality types among potters: the “renegades” who embarked on highly personal artistic quests that pushed clay and glaze to their limits, and the “reformers,” whose modern designs and social attitudes pushed back against Victorian mores. Through July 5.

Veterans Creative Arts Festival: Across the country. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities incorporate creative arts into their therapy programs to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the progress and recovery made through that therapy and is a way to recognize the creative achievements of our nation’s veterans. A selection of the participants from the Syracuse VA Medical Center are displayed at the Everson. Through May 10.

AbStranded: Fiber and Abstraction in Contemporary Art. AbStranded brings together contemporary American artists who use fiber-based materials to investigate the complex lineage of abstraction. A prominent use of the hand looms large — through knitting, weaving, quilting and more — and suggests an alternative mode of communication within a digital society. Together, the works reveal how artists employ the language of abstraction to speak about the intertwined histories and politics of craft, race and gender. Through Aug. 16.

Marian Settineri’s colored pencil drawings at Edgewood Gallery.

Top, Russel Wright, American Modern Water Pitchers, 1939 from Casual China at Everson. Above, Adelaide Alsop Robineau, Viking Ship Vase, 1905, porcelain, 7¼”x2¾” from Renegades and Reformers at Everson.

Tony Labat: Box Cleanly. Don’t Foul. On June 4, 1981, San Francisco-based artists Tony Labat and Thomas Chapman stepped into a boxing ring for an officially sanctioned, four-round slugfest. Part performance art and part sport, both artists/boxers trained for eleven months, became licensed boxers, and were students at the San Francisco Art Institute. Box Cleanly, Don’t Foul, drawn from the Everson’s video art archive, presents documentation and ephemera about a single event, important to the development of performance art and video art history. Through June 28.

Everson Teen Arts Council Exhibition. This exhibition features work made by Central New York high school students and curated by the Everson Teen Council through an open call for entries. Teen Council members collaborated to select a theme, select works, write wall text, and design the layout, teaching Council members how museum exhibitions come to life. Through July 19.

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Light Work Gallery, Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery at Light Work 316 Waverly Ave., Syracuse. 315-443-1300. Lightwork.org. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday- Sunday and by appointment. Free.

PHOTOS COURTESY EDGEWOOD GALLERY, EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Speak Up by Maison Lamanna, 32”x38 1/2” from Everson Teen Arts Council Exhibit.

Pacifico Silano: The Eyelid Has Its Storms... Light Work is pleased to present The Eyelid Has Its Storms…, a solo exhibition of work by artist Pacifico Silano. Silano is a lens-based artist whose work explores print culture and histories of the LGBTQ community. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he received his MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts. He has exhibited in group shows at the Bronx Museum, Museo Universitario del Chopo in Mexico City, Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and Tacoma Art Museum.

He has had solo shows at Baxter ST@CCNY, The Bronx Museum, Fragment Gallery in Moscow, Rubber-Factory and Stellar Projects. Reviews of his work have appeared in Aperture, Artforum, and The New Yorker. Silano’s awards include the Individual Photographer’s Fellowship from the Aaron Siskind Foundation, Finalist for the Aperture Foundation Portfolio Prize and First Prize at the Pride Photo Awards in Amsterdam. His work is in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. Through July 23.

2020 Newhouse Photography Annual. Hallway Gallery. Light Work is pleased to present the 2020 Newhouse Photography Annual, featuring work by photography students in S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. The exhibition represents various approaches to photographic practice and technique and showcases the range of images that today’s students are producing. Through July 23.

Watercolor by Louise Woodard at Edgewood gallery.

Radiant Vision

i

May 23 - September 27 Sponsored in part by The Clark Foundation, Gary Cassinelli, Mr. Tom Morgan and Ms. Erna J. Morgan McReynolds, NYCM Insurance, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mahon. The exhibition is traveled by PAN ART Connections, Inc. S9530858-01

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ALSO THIS SUMMER

ANSEL ADAMS

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KEITH HARING

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Flashback

Otto the Orange is a fan favorite at Syracuse University sporting events.

Problematic to anthropomorphic H OW SY R AC U S E L A N D E D O N OT TO T H E O R A N G E

BY CHRIS MELFI

Syracuse University’s mascot has not always been a loveable,

Debuting in front of nearly 25,000 fans, to a mix of applause

fuzzy orange ball. SU athletes and fans have been spurred on

and jeers during a 28-0 loss to Florida State, the Gladiator was

by a varied, sometimes problematic, cast of characters since its

perhaps destined to have a short tenure. Decked out in Roman

first unofficial mascot in 1931.

Legion garb, the Gladiator rolled towards Archibold Stadium

Before any student took to the field as a mascot, both dogs and

PHOTO BY STEPHEN D. CANNERELLI

goats were seen in team pictures or on the sidelines at games.

in a chariot, losing a wheel on the way, according to a Lambda Chi Alpha brother.

The first, and most controversial, mascot in SU’s history was

The search for an inoffensive, lively mascot led to the intro-

the product of a fiction printed as fact in a campus publication

duction of the fuzzy orange we now know as Otto. Debuting in

called the Orange Peel in 1928. The article purported that the

1980, the anthropomorphic orange was first known as Clyde,

remains and belongings of a 16th-century Onondaga Chief were

then Woody, and almost Opie, before cheerleaders landed on

unearthed during the construction of Hendricks Chapel. With

Otto the Orange.

this, the Saltine Warrior was born and would run the sidelines of

It wasn’t until 1995 that Chancellor Kenneth Shaw made Otto

Archibold Stadium for 45 years, eventually being portrayed by

the official mascot of Syracuse University, edging out a much

a tomahawk wielding Lambda Chi Alpha brother in face paint.

more aggressive wolf mascot that was backed by the advisory

In 1977, a group of Native Americans on campus calling them-

committee and favored by football coach Paul Pasqualoni. Had

selves Onkwehonwneha voiced their concern that the Saltine

Chancellor Shaw listened to his committee, we never would

Warrior perpetuated disparaging stereotypes. They asked the

have seen Otto in ESPN commercials or listed among the na-

University to end the use of the “American Indian” as a school

tion’s best college mascots in Sports Illustrated.

symbol. By the second semester of the 1977/78 school year, the

CHRIS MELFI IS SUPPORT SERVICES COORDINATOR AT ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

Saltine Warrior was out, and the Saltine Gladiator took its spot.

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Last Word

With a quaran-teen A S H O R T C H AT W I T H A 16 -Y E A R- O L D ST U C K AT H O M E

BY M J K R AV EC

Things have been weird lately. And working from home has proved no exception. Our original source for Last Word fell through right at story deadline, when COVID-19 event cancellations and social distancing went into full swing. Nobody could really talk about anything other than the virus. And I admit, asking someone to participate in a fun Q&A for the magazine felt trivial. So, I had to come up with something else at the last minute. Then I got an idea. Like so many area businesses, I could try to make the most of the situation and, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

I could talk to a teenage girl who’s in the midst of social distancing. I have one at home! How convenient. The following is a Q&A with Emma, a junior at Jamesville-DeWitt High School.

Em, would you be my featured person for Last Word in the magazine? What’s that?

It’s a question and answer feature with an interesting person in Central New York. Well, I am interesting. You came to the right person. (Smiles)

Yes, I was thinking that an interesting person is a teen in quarantine. A “quaran-teen” (I put my fingers in quotations for emphasis).

(Stares at me blankly) What?

Because you teenagers like to be social, right?

And now you’re socially distanced, a kind of quarantine but spelled with t-e-e-n. Get it?

Em with Bear

(Unimpressed) Yeah. I’m gonna go get a mochi (sticky rice dough wrapped around ice cream filling).

What are you binge watching while you’re social distancing? “The Office.”

home? I actually feel like I’m able to focus

Who are your favorite characters? I like

more and I’m really organized, so I’m fine.

Dwight. Maybe Kevin. He’s hilarious.

Are you ever going to change out

What are you doing to deal with stress?

of your pajamas? (No answer)

I like to cuddle with Bear Bear (family cat).

How’s it going with school? It’s going. I

Are you nervous about this pandemic?

mean I have a 40-minute podcast to watch for

Nuh, uh. Alright I’m gonna go.

AP History, but my homework for that class

82

isn’t due until Friday and I thought it was due

Wanna watch Netflix later? Maybe

today. So after I do my math, I’m gonna chill

after I finish my English homework.

for a bit. I’ll watch the podcast Thursday.

By the way, what’s for dinner?

While you’re chilling, can you put

I’ll tell you as soon as you

your laundry away? Yeah, in a bit.

put your laundry away.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

Mochi

PHOTOS BY MJ KRAVEC, SHUTTERSTOCK

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