Life in the Finger Lakes Spring 2010

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Aurora’s Mackenzie-Childs • Bluebells Blanket the Woodlands

The Region’s Premier Magazine

Spring 2010

Nature’s Orchestra A Celebration of Birdsong

Higher Education SUPPLEMENT Lyons, A Proud Community Get Away to a Monastery

LifeintheFingerLakes.com $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN

DISPLAY THROUGH JUNE ’10

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Volume 10, Number 1 • Spring 2010

F E A T U R E S

24

2 3 4 8 7 10

MY OWN WORDS

A fairyland of vibrant blue blossoms blankets the woodlands

By Joy Underhill

14

OUTDOORS Opening day of trout season

MORE THAN MAPLE

18

A PROUD COMMUNITY Lyons

The quaint village of Marathon holds its annual maple festival

By Kristian S. Reynolds

20

IN THE KITCHEN Flipping and jumping for sauté

48

WILDLIFE PROFILE Turkey talk

MACKENZIE-CHILDS PUTS A TWIST ON TRADITION The elegant, handcrafted lines produced in Aurora are known for their distinctive designs, vibrant colors and overlaying patterns

By Kim Price

32 38

D E P A R T M E N T S

BLUEBELL ISLAND

LETTERS FINGER LAKES MAP OFFBEAT CONTRIBUTORS CULTURED Art into action in Naples

40

A MAPLE SUGARING MARCH An annual rite of passage into spring

By Malcolm MacKenzie

60

FRUIT OF THE VINE Enjoying “old” Finger Lakes wine

43 52

HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE FINGER LAKES

63

NATURE’S ORCHESTRA: A CELEBRATION OF BIRDSONG

HISTORY Glimpses: The early years of Finger Lakes Community College

68

SPORT Parkour finds a foothold in the Finger Lakes

72

LIFESTYLE Monasteries: a different getaway

76

DAY IN THE LIFE Dog whisperer

80 81 88

CALENDAR: FESTIVALS & EVENTS

A wild bird’s concert greets us in the spring

By Marie Read

Below: Skiers are a hardy bunch. When warm spring temps turn the slopes to water, they make the most of it with an informal “Pond Skimming Contest.” Jeff Gebhardt of Cortland takes the plunge on the last day of skiing at Greek Peak Mountain Resort. Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds Cover: One of the Finger Lakes Region’s most strikingly handsome songbirds is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which brightens up our backyards and woodlands in spring with its colorful plumage and rich, whistled melody. See page 52 to celebrate spring with a birdsong concert, and learn why birds sing in nature’s orchestra. Photo by Marie Read

FAST FACTS AD INFO OFF THE EASEL The colorful art of Jack Jackowetz

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M Y

O W N

W O R D S

Spring and its Various Opportunities

R

ight now I’m sitting by the side of a pool, watching my kids’ swim practice. This is the second year they’ve been involved in a YMCA club program, and I’m starting to associate winter and early spring with the swim season. I really enjoy the sport, even though I don’t have any kind of background in it (the kids can thank their mother for their swimming genes). I appreciate swimming as an activity for kids because everyone on the team has an equal opportunity to perform and improve their own personal best times at the weekly meets.

My children are still a little young to seriously think about college, but you or your kids may be starting the process. A portion of this issue is dedicated to higher education in the Finger Lakes Region (pages 43-46), and is designed to give your search a jumpstart with its comprehensive listing of local colleges and universities. If you’re in the midst of your college decision, you’ll find the practical articles in the supplement especially helpful.

Another aspect of late winter/early spring that I enjoy is maple sugaring.

Marathon has a festival every year focused on the delicious, refined sap of maple trees. This festival has more to offer than just maple syrup. Helicopter rides, train rides, wagon rides, games and more await families looking to spend a fun weekend in the eastern part of the Finger Lakes.

Malcom MacKenzie is a maple syrup connoisseur (pages 40-42) who enjoys working with syrup and also enjoys showing others, especially children, how to turn the sap into syrup.

We have an article about bluebells. These little blue flowers are some of the first signs of color in the drab

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spring woodlands. Where there are large colonies, they blanket the forest floor for acres, and are quite a sight to see. We’ve provided a map on page 36 where you can see bluebells in Farmington at a public access site. You can also see them on the many public lands in the region, especially in lowlying areas where there is more moisture. I just ask that the areas you visit remain pristine. As we say in scouts, always leave the area better and cleaner than you found it.

We’ve been busy in the past several months since the last edition of the magazine. On our website we now have a survey that changes with each issue, and the question on the survey for spring was, “what are the top three things you enjoy doing during the spring season?” The number one, most popular item is walking and hiking. I enjoy the winter as much as anyone who enjoys outdoor winter activities, but when the temperature outside rises and the days get a little longer, the urge to just get outside and walk is a strong one.

We’re always trying new ways to get the word out about the magazine, and we have entered the world of social networking by creating a page on Facebook. This is a great opportunity for you to not only get new information about the magazine on a regular basis, but also a way for you to give us your feedback, upload some great Finger Lakes photos, and become more involved with the magazine and other loyal readers.

Have a great spring, and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

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L E T T E R S Mountain Lion Population?

Responses to the continuing controversy whether there are mountain lions in western New York (lay folk claim to have seen or heard them, DEC biologists retort with the old fall-back “need proof in the form of scats, a body, or irrefutable photographs”) misses the key question, “Are there viable populations of mountain lions in western New York?”

Population biologists remind us that to sustain a viable, breeding population (a population that won’t self-extinct because of too little reproduction to offset a high mortality rate) of mountain lions requires 80-100 adults and forested habitat exceeding 1,000 square miles. As a research professor at Oregon State University, I supervised a study where we radio-collared eight mountain lions and followed them for two years. After two years seven had died: two were run over by vehicles, one was legally harvested, three were illegally harvested, and one was killed by another lion.

Humans took a devastating toll on mountain lions, and that was in rural America with a scattered and dispersed road system. There are just too many roads, too little undisturbed and unfragmented forest, and too many humans in western New York for a viable population of mountain lions.

I would not dispute all sightings and soundings of mountain lions: a fellow scientist of impeccable integrity claimed to have seen one in broad daylight in the Tionesta Scenic Area (4,000 acre old-growth forest in Pennsylvania near Bradford) and I believe him. It could have been a captive cat that escaped, or a far-ranging male that somehow made it from the Adirondacks.

So likely sightings (of indeterminate origin) – yes. probability of a viable, permanent population in western New York – sadly, no.

David deCalesta, Certified Wildlife Biologist Hammondsport W E B

E X T R A

To read more letters, visit www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com.

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The Finger Lakes Regional Map Hilton

MONROE Red Creek

Wolcott Webster

Oneida Lake

Sodus

Brockport Spencerport

Baldwinsville North Syracuse E. Rochester

WAYNE Fairport

Clyde

Macedon Palmyra

Jordan Fayetteville

Weedsport

Caledonia

Honeoye Mendon Falls

Farmington Manlius Marcellus

Manchester Cayuga

Avon

ONTARIO

Lima

Lafayette

SENECA Piffard

Union Springs

ONONDAGA

CAYUGA

South Bristol

Aurora

Glen Haven

King Ferry

Dresden

Mt. Morris

Moravia

Ovid

YATES

Homer

CORTLAND

Lodi

LIVINGSTON Wayland Nunda

Interlaken

McGraw

Groton

Dansville Dundee

Lansing

Cohocton

Dryden Marathon Burdett

Avoca

TOMPKINS

Montour Falls

SCHUYLER

Odessa

Canisteo

NEW YORK S TAT E

STEUBEN

Spencer

Newark Valley

Van Etten

CHEMUNG

Corning Elmira Heights

TIOGA

Big Flats

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

Addison

Elmira Waverly

Areas of interest in this magazine issue:

Apalachin

• communities

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Stash mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST . . . . . . . Jennifer Srmack GRAPHIC ARTIST . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Williamson ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Manzer ASSISTANT EDITORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Kevin Fahy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anya Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol C. Stash

CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Banaszewski

EDITORIAL OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Feulner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James P. Hughes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malcolm MacKenzie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Maus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kari Anderson Pink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marie Read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristian S. Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chef Eric K. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan Bridgeford Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joy Underhill

DIRECTOR

OF

ADVERTISING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Braden tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Jason Hagerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 jason@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Rhonda Trainor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS Tricia McKenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com BUSINESS OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458

800-344-0559 Life in the Finger Lakes is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. and owned by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. Coowners: Mark S. Stash; Timothy J. Braden. Copyright© 2010 by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

TO SUBSCRIBE, RENEW OR CHANGE ADDRESS: write to Life in the Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 1080, Geneva, NY 14456, or call 315-789-0458. Subscription rates: $13.95 for one year. Canada add $15 per year. Outside North America, add $30 per year. For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue of Life in the Finger Lakes. For gift subscriptions, include your own name and address as well as those of gift recipients.

BUSINESS FAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-4263

Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • P.O. Box 1080 • Geneva, NY 14456 www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes Region Printed by Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, New York

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C O N T R I B U T O R S Wildlife photographer and nature writer Marie Read has been a bird fan since her childhood in England. She migrated across the Atlantic one spring 34 years ago and has lived in the Finger Lakes Region ever since. She’s traveled the world in search of birds and other creatures to photograph – her photo of a platypus, taken in Australia, appeared in National Geographic magazine last autumn. But her favorite images are from her own bird-filled backyard or from the natural places around her home near Ithaca. Marie is the author of a book Secret Lives of Common Birds: Enjoying Bird Behavior Through the Seasons (published by Houghton Mifflin, 2005) as well as numerous magazine articles. When not being a photographer she enjoys world music, and dreams of being reborn as a dancer in some future life. To see more of Marie’s photographs, visit her website www.marieread.com.

Some of the more than 30 local artist-members

Carol Joos

who own Handwork are woodworkers...

Malcolm MacKenzie has made his home

in Italy Valley for the past 30 years. He and his wife Drury have five children and now enjoy grandchildren. His professional life has been devoted to teaching, most recently in Marcus Whitman’s ECO Program.

Malcolm enjoys wandering in the woods, hiking the Finger Lakes Trail, growing potatoes and pumpkins, and being captured in wonder by nature’s beauty and her gift of the moment. A camera lens provides him a pointed focus for recording events and places, but the written words of poetry and prose allow him to share his celebration of life and its markers of journey. Working with family members in his son’s grass-fed sheep and beef farm operation, Sweet Grass Meats, is a favored form of “recreation” for him. In these diverse endeavors Malcolm finds personal definition and spiritual sustenance. Maple sugaring has been an avid interest of his for many years.

Kimberly Price, a journalism student at The College at Brockport, SUNY, is always eager to discover people’s remarkable stories. As an intern for Life in the Finger Lakes, she has done just that. “There are so many fascinating people living in the Finger Lakes Region,” she said, “and it’s amazing to me that I get to learn about and share a piece of their lives.” A Painted Post native, Kim has also interned for The Leader (Corning) and The Star-Gazette (Elmira). In addition to writing, she has worked as an Explainer at The Corning Museum of Glass for five years, giving tours to everyone from schoolchildren to international visitors. During college breaks, Kim enjoys taking extensive road trips with friends in her car, named Blaze. “I love finding stories – finding hidden beauty – in every place I visit,” she said.

Kim hopes to someday write for a major U.S. news or travel magazine.

Bill Baker B

S b - they h may Stop by be working!

Jolene Lyon

HANDWORK Ithaca’s Cooperative Craft Store

102 West State Street The Commons, Ithaca www.handwork.coop 607-273-9400 FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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O F F B E A T O F F B E A T O F F B E A T

An Odd Duck You’ve heard of the black sheep? Meet the black (and green) duck. As legend has it, Cayuga ducks were bred on the shores of Cayuga Lake and named for the area’s native people. These Finger Lakes natives can’t fly, but they are consistent layers and good foragers, which makes them an ideal choice for a backyard poultry owner. They also yield quite a delicious meat, according to Slow Food USA, who’s placed them on their Ark of Taste for endangered livestock breeds. Coincidentally, they’re listed a threatened breed on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority list – meaning there are fewer than a thousand breeding birds in the country, and that they’re endangered globally.

– Kara Cusolito

Spring Survey Results We’ve asked readers on our website what their top three springtime activities are. Here are the results.

• The top result at 57% is hiking and walking. We just can’t wait to get out and enjoy the fresh spring air.

• The second most popular activity at 52% is a scenic drive/day trip (preferably with the windows down).

• Gardening and enjoying the spring flowers comes in at 36%.

• Winetasting and visiting wineries was popular with 29% of the respondents.

The art of Thomas Kinkade and the Village of Phelps are a natural fit – they are both undisturbed by time. Dawn Cheney, owner of the Thomas Kinkade Gallery in Phelps, wanted to enhance life in the village by creating a destination for people to visit. She and her husband Jim always enjoyed the work of Kinkade, who is commonly referred to as a painter of light. The artist visited the Phelps gallery in October 2009 and offered an original painting to be available for sale. This is an unusual occurrence, since most of his original work is sold from a gallery in California. The Phelps gallery will host a chili cook-off starting at 6 p.m. on April 10 with music from Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne Band.

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• Other activities that ranked about the same are canoeing/kayaking, photography, fishing, softball and maple sugaring.

Last but not least are some activities that couldn’t quite be categorized.

• Watching for returning spring birds • Wild Water Raft Competition in Shortsville • Visiting the Syracuse Zoo • Attending the Rochester Lilac Festival • Spring skiing at Bristol Mountain

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C U L T U R E D

Art Into Action Artizanns’ Front Porch Provides Platform for Summer-long Festival in Naples

3907 West Lake Rd Canandaigua, NY

www.germanbrothers.com

585-394-4000

by Kim Price

D

uring the 16 years Suzanne Farley ran the Naples Grape Festival, she always felt she was missing the opportunity to view and purchase great artwork. Now, several years removed from the arts, crafts and music event, she owns her own art gallery in Naples. Not only does she get to enjoy artists’ work all year, but she also gets to see them in action on her porch during the summer months.

This summer will mark the fourth annual “Artists in Action ... on the Front Porch,” an 18-week program during which more than 40 Finger Lakes artists come to Farley’s shop to demonstrate their work. This year’s program will run from noon until 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from May 8 through Artist Robert Geroux, Naples September 15.

“I had a sense – a pulse – that the Naples area needed a gallery,” said Farley.

“After consulting with some of my favorite artists, I decided to open Artizanns and make it an art festival 24/7,” she said of the beginnings of her gallery five years ago.

“It’s versatile, intimate and fun,” said Farley. “It’s a great way Elaine Verstraete (left), Middlesex, and Brooke Pevear, Naples, for people to choose a are part of the musical group “Bird on a Wire.” piece of original artwork without having to plan their lives around a particular festival.”

When Farley moved her store to its Main Street location complete with “a beautiful porch” nearly four years ago, she knew it was time to organize another one of her “programs.” “I’ve always put together music and art festivals,” said Farley. “It was just a natural evolution for me with the gallery to present some-

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C U L T U R E D

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thing that was geared toward the general public – and the best way to do that is with artist demonstrations.”

With more than 200 local artists showcased in her gallery, she has a wealth of people with different artistic talents to include in her program.

“We wanted to feature our artists and have them entertain and educate the general public with their own techniques of producing a piece of art of their medium,” said Farley. If the featured artist works with fiber, for instance, they may bring their loom and demonstrate how to weave, Farley said.

If the specialty is metal, anvils and torches will accompany the artist for his sculpture-making demonstration.

Potters bring portable wheels and throw a dozen to 20 pots in an afternoon.

Many times, the artist for the day will demonstrate a craft then let spectators try it for themselves. “The guests watching the demonstration may be invited to get on the wheel and throw a pot,” said Farley, “or if a jeweler is doing lampwork beadwork, she may pass them her safety glasses and a torch and let them make their own beads.”

Farley particularly enjoyed one artist’s collaborative approach to her demonstration last year. “A painter brought a big canvas that she’d already prepared with a coat of acrylic paint,” she said, “and she took a dozen different guests out onto the lawn and gave them tubes of acrylic paint. Everybody had a little go at creating this abstract painting.”

After the artist finished the piece in her own studio, she brought it back to Artizanns where it was displayed until Farley bought it.

She often likes to set the demonstrations to music.

“Some weeks we might have an artist painting and there will be a guitar player as well,” she said. “Other times, there will be an author signing a new book release and we’ll have a harp player or a small trio.”

This year’s program is still being compiled. Farley will post updated information on her website, www. artizanns.com, as it becomes available.

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Life is good in the Finger Lakes!

Come join us!

KENDAL

®

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

AT ITHACA

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT LIFE CARE COMMUNITY FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

2230 N. Triphammer Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 607.266.5300 800.253.6325 www.kai.kendal.org

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O U T D O O R S

Opening Day story and photo by Bill Banaszewski

M

ention the words “opening day” and across much of the country people think first of the Major League Baseball season. Not here in the Finger Lakes. To thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, opening day means it’s the first day of rainbow trout season on the Finger Lakes tributaries.

And make no mistake about it – it’s no coincidence that the opening day of trout fishing and April Fool’s Day are one in the same. If you ask anglers why

Fishing,” and joined the April fools on Naples Creek. When I returned to the office at the end of the day, the college dean reminded me that I had missed an important meeting. My excuse was that fishing rekindled my enthusiasm for work. He was not amused.

The story of opening day is full of history, science, nostalgia and occasional true stories, although truth usually takes a back seat when it comes to fish-

Snow on the banks of Naples Creek during opening day is not uncommon.

they return at the crack of dawn to the banks of their favorite stream year after year, despite wind, rain and occasional snow, they would say: “If people think we are April fools, so be it; the joke is on them. There is no place I’d rather be today than fishing.” “It’s a tradition.

My family and buddies have been coming here for 50 years.” My favorite reply is, “Let’s see – my other option was to go to work.”

Years ago, after reading a survey that concluded most people feel fishing is a legitimate excuse for missing work, I quickly concurred, hung a sign on my office door that read “Gone

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ing tales. To understand how this wonderful opening-day tradition evolved, let’s take a step back in time.

Fish shocking Most people are surprised to learn that rainbow trout are not native to the Finger Lakes. They were imported to our lakes from western steelhead stock.

For years their growth rates were disappointing, reaching only half the size of the sea-run western stock. And then someone, don’t know who or when, introduced alewives or saw bellies, as they are called locally, into the lakes.

When the rainbows started feeding on

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the 5 to 7-inch saw bellies, their growth rates increased dramatically.

Recognizing the potential for this developing sport fishery, the New York State Conservation Department began using electroshocking technology to study and manage rainbow trout.

Simply stated, using backpack gas generators and long wands, fish are initially drawn into an electrical field by a process called electrotaxis or forced swimming. Once within the field, the fish experience electronarcosis.

Essentially they are stunned; their muscles relax and they lose their equilibrium. They are immediately netted before they recover from the slight shock.

The captured trout are measured, weighed, and then scale samples are taken. As soon as the data are collected the fish are released unharmed to continue their spawning runs. Later, biologists analyze the scales to determine the age, growth rates and spawning history, much like interpreting the growth rings on a tree trunk. The information serves as a tool for managing the rainbow trout fishery.

Over time, the preseason electroshocking events were opened to the public. The events have become as much of a springtime ritual as opening day itself. Thousands of would-be anglers flock to Catherine, Cold Brook and Naples creeks to cheer and applaud as technicians net 5-, 10- and 15pound rainbows. Although biologists currently have adequate data to manage the fishery, I believe they continue electroshocking for the sake of tradition and public relations – “Here is the fishery we’ve created. The fish are huge. They are in the stream. Now all you have to do is get out there and catch them!”

Colorful males The natural history of rainbow trout is also quite interesting. Each spring,

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O U T D O O R S

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rainbow congregate at the entrances to the Finger Lakes spawning streams. As winter releases its grip on the region, the spring thaw begins. The increased water flow and temperature stimulates the spawning migrations. In some years the fish may run during prolonged January thaws or as late as April, if it has been cold and the lakes are still frozen.

Three-year-old, first-time spawning males, about 15 inches long, arrive first.

They are followed by larger and older males. They swim through obstructions, jump over small dams and – based on the current, water pressure, and its chemical makeup – return to the general location where they were hatched.

As soon as the fresh-run males, then silvery in color, enter the streams from the lakes, they begin the change to their namesake rainbow colors. Their backs turn green, and black spots become more prominent on their backs and fins. A distinctive crimson to pink band develops from their tail through their gill cover. A typical male rainbow trout is long, has a pointy head and has developed a hooked jaw during the spawning season, called a kype. The kype develops with the increasing levels of testosterone at spawning time and is used when males fight to control a specific territory in the stream.

dominant male or several males swim alongside her, bumping and rolling over her, and then release a white, milky substance called milt over the eggs. The sperm in the milt fertilizes the eggs as they are deposited in the redd. After the eggs are laid, the female moves upstream and again vigorously vibrates her tail and body to loosen sand and gravel. The current carries the material downstream and covers the eggs.

Once the now-exhausted female has deposited up to 4,000 eggs, she swims with the current back to the lake.

If males have more milt, they remain in the stream in search of other ripe females. Unlike salmon, rainbow trout do not die after they spawn.

As the stream warms by late May or June, the eggs hatch and the fish develop in stages from fry to fingerling to parr. They typically stay in the stream for a full year before migrating to the lakes. Most Finger Lakes’ streams are such excellent natural hatcheries for the young rainbow that no stocking is required.

All of the deep and cold Finger Lakes have good populations of rainbow trout, but for some unknown reason, relatively few are caught while in the lakes.

I guess that’s why the activity is called fishing instead of catching.

4,000 eggs The females begin migrating into the steams next. At least 4 years of age, they are rounder in appearance and their heads are not as pointed as the males. Because they are not in the streams as long as males, their colors are not as vivid.

The female seeks out a gravelly area in the stream and begins digging a nest, called a redd, in which to deposit her eggs. She digs the redd by turning on her side and vigorously flipping her tailfin in the stream bottom until a depression 2 or 3 inches deep and the length of her body is completed. Although there is no prior courtship between the sexes, she is now joined by the males who have been fighting for the right to breed her.

When the female is ripe or when she starts passing eggs, either a single

“A springtime tonic” Realizing the rainbow trout population is both healthy and underutilized, the Conservation Department opens the fishing season on April 1 during the spawning run. Studies have shown that the activity of fishermen in the streams and the catch rate while the fish are spawning do not negatively impact their populations.

For many fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and groups of buddies, opening-day fishing for this amazing, leaping, and acrobatic game fish has become not only a tradition, but also a springtime tonic that must be indulged, regardless of the weather or work. Come opening day, however, the use of electricity to catch fish is not permitted.

The Conservation Department has recently started the trout fishing season

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on the Great Lakes tributaries before the traditional April 1 opener, so the number of people fishing the Finger Lakes’ streams on opening day has declined somewhat in recent years. So popular was opening day in 1948 on Seneca Lakes’ Catherine Creek that officials counted 860 cars carrying an estimated 3,000 anglers, many from out of state, along a 7-mile stretch of the creek. The local trout derby officials reported that 800 rainbow trout were caught, the largest weighing over 16 pounds.

Further, when I first moved to Naples in the late 1960s, I took a photo of nearly 50 fishermen – yes, all men – at one large hole on Naples Creek. How anyone could get a line in, no less a fish out of that hole, remains a mystery to me. Nevertheless the folks seemed to be having a good time and were well “spirited.”

Today you are not likely to see 3,000 fishermen on any stretch of

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stream or 50 fishermen at any one “hot spot.” These days, I enjoy heading over to Naples Creek on opening day to watch, photograph and listen to the fishing tales of strangers, friends, and my former conservation students.

As I meander along the banks of the creek, I notice some changes in the traditions. More women are fishing – alone, with friends, or with their husbands and children – and numerous father-son-daughter combinations are wading the streams, happy to share stories about their success or lack-thereof.

Even though I’ve come to believe that opening day is more ceremonial than successful, I still enjoy asking youngsters if they’ve had any luck and then watching them stretch their arms wide beyond their shoulders, telling about the big one that got away. Ahh yes – another fisherman is born!

I also notice more folks fishing with fly rods in the more remote or qui-

eter sections of the streams, totally concentrating and entranced as they artfully drift worms or homemade egg sacs into the soothing sounds created by the current.

Quietly, I watched one gentleman fly fisherman land three nice rainbow trout. After skillfully landing them, he returned all three to the stream. I took photos of him and his beautiful rainbows, and eventually walked over to chat. At the end of our conversation he said, “I hope you’re not planning on publishing those photos. You see, I called in sick today.”

As I observed and talked to a few other anglers on this opening day of rainbow trout season, it was clear to me that the fishing fraternity continues to cut across all social and economic strata.

Name a career, and you’ll find an opening day angler among them, including a college professor who probably hung a sign on his office door: “Gone fishing.”

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C O M M U N I T Y

Lyons photos and story by James P. Hughes

A great example of Mural Mania

This sign marks the original Hotchkiss Essential Oil site

Wayne County Courthouse

The creation of G. Winston Dobbins Park was a community victory The restored interior of the Ohmann Theater

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yons has long been a proud canal town. Since the early years of Clinton’s Ditch, the Erie has meandered past Lyons’ doorstep.

Recently, through the efforts of local organizations, community minded volunteers and businesspeople, a number of canal-era structures, worn and weary with the years, have taken on a new sparkle. The village’s historic charm is back on display – something good is happening in Lyons.

In 1789 the first settlers came to “The Forks,” as Lyons was called then. The Village Square Park was established in 1794; it still marks the heart of town and is home to community festivals, concerts in the 1890s bandstand, and a Saturday Farmers’ Market in the good-weather months.

With sunlight glinting off its silver dome or illuminated at night, the Greek Revival-style Wayne County Courthouse stands as a beacon at the village center. Streets with traditional small-town names radiate from the square, each lined with businesses, offices and Victorian homes.

In 2008, the Lyons Main Street Program gained a foothold when it received the designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, one of only a few New York communities to do so. The Main Streeters have targeted historic buildings, those intact and ripe for restoration. “The program hopes to promote and market the village by sprucing up storefronts, planning special events and cultivating a renewed sense of community,” says program director Jerry Ashley. The Lyons Harvest Festival and For more information about Lyons, Peppermint Winter visit the following websites: Wonderland are Main Street www.lyonsny.com events that continue to grow www.villageoflyons.com in popularity. www.muralmania.org And why peppermint? www.lyonsmainstreetprogram.org Peppermint plants once overwww.ohmanntheater.com flowed Wayne County fields, and the local H.G. Hotchkiss International Prize Medal Essential Oil Company produced the nation’s finest grade of peppermint oil. Established in Phelps in 1839, the company moved to Lyons two years later where the heady odor of mint hung over the village for over 150 years. The product, winner of international awards for its quality and purity, was shipped from the company’s rear platform on the Erie Canal. “Soothing yet invigorating, cold yet hot,” Lyons fine peppermint oil found its way to candy and pharmaceutical manufacturers all over the world.

Two decades have passed since the Hotchkiss Company closed its doors and Visitors to the Hotchkiss Building can view artifacts of the industry and learn about the operation of the historic business. Pat Alena, or as she is known in Lyons, “Peppermint Patty,” may be the tour guide.

You can still purchase a vial of traditional peppermint oil, used for everything from calming headaches or indigestion to pest control, a few blocks away at Dobbins Drugs and The Old Pharmacy Gift Shop. As Grandma used to say, “It’s good for whatever ails ya.”

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Mark DeCracker wears many hats in Lyons – president of the local chamber of commerce and owner of the Peppermint Cottage Bed & Breakfast among them. “Paint and they will come,” says Mark describing one of his favorite projects, Mural Mania. It’s an ever-growing community venture to paint scenes of historic Lyons and local history on walls throughout the village and beyond.

One of Mural Mania’s proudest creations, a strikingly colorful mural of early canal life and a once active trolley line, decorates a former bridge abutment. It’s surrounded by the splendid G. Winston Dobbins Park, an area formerly trash-strewn and forgotten. Mural Mania was the dream of Dobbins’ son, Noel, who passed away before the project came to fruition. Both had a passion for community service.

Sadly, many local movie houses, once a staple of small town life, have vanished from the scene. But in Lyons the Ohmann Theater still sits at the intersection of William and Canal Streets, and it’s a gem. Built in 1915 by Burt Ohmann, live theater acts and stars of the silver screen delighted local audiences at the theater for eight decades.

Then in the 1990s the family-operated Ohmann went dark.

The building suffered steady decline until Burt’s grandson Bob Ohmann oversaw a complete renovation of the structure. Reopened in 2004, it shines anew. Modern technology and comfort mix with vibrant colors, restored woodwork and old-fashioned charm. It once more features the latest films, theater productions, and special events such as last year’s 1939 Film Classics Retrospective.

Take a stroll through Lyons to view the classic architecture of its buildings or the eye-catching mural collection. Visit the Wayne County Museum housed in a former jail – with the cells still intact.

Glimpse a holiday parade, enjoy summer’s annual Peppermint Days festival, or catch the wild downhill pumpkin roll in the fall. Give Lyons a try, and don’t forget to try a drop or two of that famous peppermint oil.

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T H E

K I T C H E N

Flipping and Jumping for Sauté

by Chef Eric K. Smith, New York Wine & Culinary Center photos by Mark Stash

T

he cooking method we call “sauté” is really very basic, but needs to be done properly to achieve the perfect outcome. To sauté, use a small amount of fat in a shallow pan over very high heat. Start with small tender cuts of meat, followed by a garnish of pre-cut vegetables and the addition of spirits or a good local wine.

Re-hydrating the reduced wine with a flavorful stock and then adding a few finishing agents helps create a meal fit for a king “a la minute.”

Sometimes people confuse sautéing with pan-frying or deep-frying, but each one is a different technique. With pan-frying, the meat is dropped into a thick layer of hot oil, which comes about halfway up the meat. The meat is seared on one side then flipped and seared on the other side. Pan-fried items are often finished in the oven.

Deep-frying calls for the food to be completely submerged in the oil.

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To register visit www.nywcc.com or call 585-394-707

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My best advice when cooking at a high temperature is to use light-colored oil hot, hot to get a good sear. I recommend staying away from extra virgin olive oil, which leaves particulate from the first pressing of the olives. It gives the oil a low smoking and flash point.

Pans You should sauté in a shallow slope-sided pan, 8 to 12 inches wide. I recommend a stainless steel-coated aluminum core pan, and encourage people to stay away from anodized aluminum or nonstick. When you sauté, the food particles that stick to the pan, called “fond,” are what you use to make the sauce. In fact, it’s the backbone of your sauce-to-be. The wide flat base and low sides of the pan allow steam to escape and the fond to remain.

Method What I’m describing here is more a

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technique than a recipe. By following the simple steps of sautéing, you can mix and match ingredients to create your own unique dishes. You’ll find that all the garnishes are cooked at once, and the ingredients are moved around by flipping and “jumping.” A jump is a rapid flip of the ingredients to sear, cook and caramelize them.

Step #1 Dry the meat with a paper towel.

This is a very important step if the protein is wet. The water could react with the hot oil to cause massive splattering or even a fire. Heat the pan on high until it’s hot, then add the oil. Heating the pan allows the pores to open widely so the oil can coat the pan all the way to the bottom of the pores. This creates a non-stick surface.

Step #2 Prepare the meat. When choosing a protein, be sure to select a tender cut such as chicken breast, pork loin, veal cutlet, flank steak, sirloin, tenderloin, scallops or fish (skin on fish normally works best to prevent fish from flaking). The meat should be cut thin and seasoned just a few seconds before you put it in the hot pan to sear. When seasoning, I suggest using kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Step #3 Sear the meat vigorously until a caramel-colored crust forms on the entire side, then flip and repeat on the other side. Remember: Searing is important to ensure flavor, texture and moisture.

Remove the meat from the pan and place it on a towel to drain any extra fat.

Dump the extra fat from the pan into a disposable container – not plastic, since the fat is very hot.

Step #4 Sauté the garnish by squirting a little fresh oil in the pan to coat the bottom, then tossing in your desired vegetables. Vegetables should be cut into uniform, bite-sized pieces. The choices are endless – try onions, garlic, peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, scallions, leeks,

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spinach, tomatoes, asparagus and/or Swiss chard. Remember that onions and garlic become bitter if too much color is added.

Step #8 Place the protein back into the warm sauce, flip a few times to coat, serve immediately and enjoy.

Step #5 Deglaze the pan. While most of the fond might have come up on the vegetables, the rest will come up in the de-glaze process. This is normally done with wine, liquor or other spirits. When deglazing it is very important to remove the pan from the flame. Wine and spirits contain alcohol, which is flammable.

Reduce the sauce by about half a few seconds after the flame has gone out. When reducing, the excess water from the sauce evaporates, enhancing the flavor of the wine or spirit.

Here is a simple recipe for practice.

Step #6 Re-hydrate the sauce using a stock, juice or cider to add flavor to your finished product. Common combinations include pork with apples, brandy with cider, chicken with mushrooms, Marsala wine with chicken stock, scallops with tomatoes, or white wine with tomato juice. Cook until sauce consistency, or until it coats the back of the spoon.

When you run your finger through it, it should make a track. The sauce at this point is “au sec” or “almost dry.” The French culinary term refers to the amount of liquid left after the wine, for instance, has evaporated. As a rough measurement, au sec is when the sauce is reduced to one-quarter of its original volume.

Step #7 Finishing is the final and most important step. First, “mounter au beurre” or “mount with butter,” which means adding a small piece of cold butter to sauce at the last minute.

Finishing agents used after the mounter au beurre are Tabasco, Worcestershire and vinegar. Adding these ingredients is what trained chefs call “popping the sauce” or seasoning it without adding salt.

Note: Never boil the sauce after mounter au beurre, or the sauce will break, never to return.

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Chicken Marsala For chicken • 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half or filet • 1/2-pound mushrooms, sliced thin • Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper • Fresh thyme, chopped garlic and a few pads of butter For sauce • 3 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 cup Marsala wine • 2 cups chicken stock • a few pads of butter • a splash of white wine vinegar Place a large sauté pan on a high flame and heat until hot. Meanwhile, dry the chicken breast with a paper towel and season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.

When the sauté pan is hot, add enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom, then drop in the chicken and sear.

Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed.

Cook the chicken until golden brown, then flip and sear the other side. Place fresh thyme and crushed garlic on top of the chicken breast and baste with excess fat. Turn off the flame. Toss in a few pads of butter and continue to baste.

Discard the excess oil and basting butter using a spoon or fish spatula.

Add another splash of oil, toss in the mushrooms and cook until golden brown, the flip. For best results, try not to stir them.

Pour in the Marsala and begin to reduce. After a few seconds, add chopped garlic to the wine and reduce by half. Add the chicken stock and reduce to au sec.

Finish with the butter and vinegar.

Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.

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DINE at unique local eateries featuring regional and international cuisines. SHOP at a collection of exclusive specialty stores and boutiques.

CELEBRATE our cultural heritage at year round events in Historic Downtown Cortland where memories are made!

www.historicdowntowncortland.com This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

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MACKENZiE-CHiLDS PUTS

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ON

TRADiTiON

Photos courtesy MacKenzie-Childs

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by Kimberly Price

W

hen MacKenzie-Childs began producing ceramics in 1983, no one could have guessed it would put a small town like Aurora on the map. Yet now, three prime locations for the sale of MacKenzie-Childs products exist: Aurora being the primary, and the other two placed in the heart of luxury shopping in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida.

The elegant, handcrafted lines that branched out from ceramics include enamel tableware, furniture, glassware, and home and garden accessories. Described as “tradition with a twist,” MacKenzie-Childs products are known for their distinctive designs characterized by vibrant colors and overlaying patterns.

“It’s hard to make analogies with MacKenzieChilds,” said company CEO Lee Feldman. “It’s not French country, it’s not modern contemporary. We have a unique style that’s really creative, very fun, whimsical and colorful.”

When a design team hoping to secure teaching positions at Wells College started the company, it was a one-room operation beneath a small bar in Aurora.

Over the course of a few years, MacKenzie-Childs expanded into a refurbished dairy farm about a mile up the street, where it sits today on a 65-acre plot of land, complete with gardens and streams.

Since the early-to-mid ’90s, Neiman Marcus has

Above: The entrance to the MacKenzie-Childs production studio, shop and The Courtly Check Courtyard Left: The new Courtly Campaign Collection features a trunk, end table, serving cart, hamper and stationery boxes. Each piece is constructed of rattan woven from bamboo and accented by handpainted ceramic details.

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People understand the helped MacKenzie-Childs make a price-value relationship when it name for itself, dedicating a seccomes to MacKenzie-Childs, tion of more than 40 stores to “There are a lot of very talentthe product. “One thing I tell ed people spending a lot of time people is that when you walk on each product,” Feldman into a Neiman Marcus gift pointed out. gallery and you look around, you But consumers may go might not immediately be sure At MacKenzie-Childs’ restored Victorian farmhouse, daily guided one step further when considerwhat you’re looking at,” said tours take visitors through 15 rooms on three floors, each one a ing a company’s product, he Feldman. “You turn over some thinks. They wonder, “How plates and you look at the brand. design inspiration. does this company interact But when you see the MacKenziewith its community?” “Are they Childs department, you know it’s charitable?” “Do they believe MacKenzie-Childs.” ing the high price and putting the realin sustainability?” ly fancy label on things, but now, peo“I think we score well on all those Shifting appreciation ple are asking, ‘What are the materipoints,” said Feldman. And that’s why “I think people like the fact that als?’ ‘Is it a unique design?’ and ‘What he believes that even in a tough econowhen things have sort of homogenized, kind of handwork has gone into this?’” my, MacKenzie-Childs is still doing MacKenzie-Childs has really remained People value the hard work that quite well. “People continue to be unique,” Feldman added. He also feels goes into a single dinner plate, he attracted to the product.” people can now appreciate the craftsnoted. “It’s handmade with terracotta Although he’s has only been with manship of the product more so than clay on a beautiful farm in Aurora. It’s the company for a little over a year, ever. “I really believe that luxury has hand-painted. It might have had 12 difFeldman has quickly become very been redefined as we’ve gone through ferent people work on it. It could have this economic recession. Over the last been fired four times. It may have taken involved and passionate about MacKenzie-Childs products. When 10 years, luxury was really about chargseveral weeks to produce.”

The ever-changing gardens celebrate nature’s grand design.

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Twin Lakes Capital, a private equity firm based in New York City and Rochester, learned the owner of MacKenzie-Childs wanted to sell her business last May, a deal was negotiated, and Feldman became full-time CEO. “We have a little bit different approach than your typical private equity firm,” said Feldman. “We’re very active in management.”

A quality customer for a quality product It didn’t take the 14 months Feldman’s been CEO for him to realize MacKenzie-Childs has an amazing customer base. “Lots of companies try to come up with some strategy to create community,” said Feldman, “but we really do have a tight community of collectors.” And if Feldman didn’t believe it before, he clearly saw community support at the annual barn sale held in early summer. “Aurora is not that close to any major populations,” Feldman said, “and we had 9,000 people show up over the weekend.”

The people who attend this oncea-year sale where seconds and discontinued items are sold really believe in the brand, he said. “It’s not just another consumer purchase. They really look at it as building a collection. They like to talk to each other about what other people have collected. How they’re setting up their table. How they’re using furniture.”

Feldman said MacKenzie-Childs customers are people who “surprise and impress every time they invite guests to their home or serve a meal. They have rejected mainstream furniture and tabletop offerings and seek the extraordinary.”

Like almost anything else, he feels word-of-mouth throughout the community is the “primary medium for how information is disseminated.” However, the company website, which is almost as fancy as the ceramics MacKenzieChilds creates, doesn’t hurt, Feldman said. Other parts of their “elaborate direct business” include mailing a lot of catalogs, having dozens of high-end independent home furnishing retailers

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the exquisite hand painting carrying the product, and of they’re viewing was accomcourse, owning three retail stores. plished without the use of a “The word is out.” stencil. It may astonish someone As far as the other to learn a single ceramic may MacKenzie-Childs retail shops have taken weeks to finish. go, locations are based on pure “Each piece begins with the luxury. “New York City is probamost natural and individual of bly the shopping capital of the materials: clay,” reads a world and really the center for MacKenzie-Childs press release. home and fashion and beauty,” “Molded by hand, machinesaid Feldman, “and we thought Fans of MacKenzie-Childs products line up eagerly awaiting the pressed or slip cast, the formed as an important luxury brand, it annual Barn Sale. clay is fired up to three times, was crucial for us to have a real hand-glazed and decorated. The presence in New York City.” And process is time consuming and MacKenzie-Childs achieves that world and we thought it was important takes the special skill of an artisan presence, located on 57th Street, just to be there.” off 5th Avenue. “It’s really the center of While the Palm Beach store opened trained in age-old crafts.”

Feldman said MacKenzie-Childs the center for shopping.” just a few years ago, MacKenzie-Childs artisans are “students of traditional So why Florida when the other has been impressing shoppers in New home furnishings,” as a lot of designs prime locations for the sale and produc- York City for a long time. are based around the idea of the old tion of MacKenzie-Childs products are English tea settings or traditional furniin New York? “Historically, we have Designing to dazzle ture pieces. “Then we kind of put our had a very strong customer base in And impressing people is one of own MacKenzie-Childs unique, updatSouth Florida,” Feldman told me, “and MacKenzie-Childs’ key elements to the ed twist on it.”

Worth Avenue is one of the primary success and longevity it enjoys. It may Even though those who make the luxury retail shopping areas in the astound a potential customer to realize

The MacKenzie-Childs Farm overlooks Cayuga Lake.

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products at MacKenzie-Childs must have exceptional skills, there is no established training program. “You’re trained by other people in your department,” he pointed out. “It’s really kind of an apprentice-type approach.

Coming into furniture deco where you’re hand painting furniture, it can take you up to a year to really get up to speed.”

From mold to sold With the amount of handwork that goes into each piece, artists get a substantial amount of training rather quickly. For example, the process that goes into making a signature MacKenzie-Childs majolica ceramic is not an easy one. A press release details the method.

“The Mold Shop is where craftsmen make plaster production molds for each piece of ceramic. Different types of molds are used to make a wide range of items. Hand press molds, for example, create large platters and bowls, while hydraulic press molds fashion dinnerware, knobs and tiles. Liquid clay, or slip, is used to make hollow pieces like teapots, mugs and garden balls in slip cast molds.

“The thickness of the walls of a piece is directly related to the time it spends in the mold. After pieces fry overnight, they are taken out of the mold and are hand-trimmed. Before the piece is fired, decorative and functional clay pieces are added, including handles, fishtails and rabbit ears. The base of the piece is then stamped by the hand-trimmer, who becomes the first of perhaps six artisans to mark it with identifying initials.

“After the pottery has been formed and before it reaches the kiln, it is called green ware. At this stage, the green ware is stacked onto carts, which are rolled into the kiln, where it stays for 24 hours in 1,810-degree heat.

When it is removed, it has been hardened into bisque.

“The terracotta base or foot of each MacKenzie-Childs piece is unglazed, so before any decorative touch is added, it is dipped into a vat of

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Valid May 28 - June 17, 2010 2 nights accommodations midweek, Two 50-minute spa treatments at Lifepath Spa at Bristol Harbour, 3 rounds of golf per person, 1-$55.00 dinner voucher per couple, $14.00 breakfast voucher per couple, and a bottle of Finger Lakes Wine $395.00 per person. Tax additional.

Same package above arriving weekend Friday & Saturday $479.50 per person. Tax additional.

800.288.8248 • www.bristolharbour.com FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

Uniquely combining Certified Kitchen Design and locally built cabinetry. ~Beautifully designed Caves Custom Kitchens~

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ered with the level of detail hot paraffin, which coats the that is in all of our work, and so desired area. The piece is then their attempts look like cheap placed in a glaze dip mixture of knock-offs which is exactly frit (ground glass) and other what they are.” materials, and finally set on a Production for ceramics rack to await more decorating. and all of the hand painting of “Stains are then used for furniture is accomplished in freehand decoration, and unique Aurora, while other products in qualities emerge. It is here that The production studio and tower where designs are created. the line are imported. Glassware variations in the density and comes from Spain, while enamdepth of color and in pattern Director Rebecca Proctor, it’s all about elware is imported from Asia. interpretation are introduced,” reads design sensibility. “The layering of patMacKenzie-Childs sends people to train the press release. “This individuality – terns and textures, the playfulness and those in other countries to make the evidence of the artisan’s hand – is valsense of humor, and the element of surproduct, so, Feldman says, deep relaued by collectors. No two pieces are prise are all qualities of the work that tionships are formed with other firms identical.” make it very distinctive and unique,” the company is sourcing.

“When the piece is fired a second said Proctor. time, a glossy, impermeable surface is Although many companies would Still thriving despite economy created as the glass frit-filled glaze love to imitate the beauty and intricaBut when economic times are melts. For some pieces, this is the final cies of MacKenzie-Childs products, the tough, luxury items are usually the first firing, while others have several more level of craftsmanship makes them things to take a hit. “The current recesto come. The glazed surface can have extremely difficult to reproduce. “Our sion has impacted practically all luxury more decoration applied, whether it be designs are complex and therefore manufacturers and retailers,” said china paints, decals, or even platinum, nearly impossible to imitate well,” said Feldman. “However, relative to the copper or gold lustres.”

Proctor. “Most imitators can’t be bothmarket, we have performed quite well.”

For MacKenzie-Childs’ Creative

MacKenzie-Childs’ charming shop displays the complete line of MacKenzie-Childs products and delightful gifts from around the world.

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Distribution has even expanded to include places like Harrods in London and Amen Wardy in Aspen, Colorado.

Although MacKenzie-Childs did reduce some production capacity in Aurora, it is now in a position to begin adding back production hours to meet demand. Nearly 150 people are employed at the Aurora site, which occupies 110,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space.

Also on that 65-acre former dairy farm overlooking Cayuga Lake is a three-story farmhouse built in the 1890s. Originally the homestead for the dairy farm, it served as MacKenzieChilds’ reception area and showroom until its multimillion-dollar restoration in 2003. Tours of the farmhouse, offered daily, allow visitors to experience the “blending of MacKenzieChilds home furnishings with a variety of interior styles.”

A video about MacKenzie-Childs production can be viewed, along with a live demonstration of hand-painting ceramics. The property is also “home to a herd of Scottish cattle, birds roosting in the Gothic Revival-style Chicken Palace, a duck pond, an antique horse barn, a 1930s greenhouse, spectacular and ever-changing gardens, and lovely rolling pastures,” according to a press release.

A visit to the Aurora site allows a passionate customer – or even first-time buyer – to discover how the picturesque location is translated into the exquisite beauty of the products created by MacKenzie-Childs.

For more information, visit www.mackenzie-childs.com.

SPRING EVENT IN AURORA Saturday, April 3, 2010 Kick off spring with the Easter Bunny • Door prizes awarded every hour 12 to 4 p.m.

• Easter egg hunt 2 p.m. for kids 12 and under • Coloring contest for kids in three age groups: 2-4, 5-8, 9-12 • 30 to 50 percent off selected items during spring sale FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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island bluebell

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story and photos by Joy Underhill

A

s I write this, we’re experiencing the kind of midwinter thaw that has me flipping through seed catalogs and checking out my flowerbeds. I’m looking for any sign of life, but there is none. February is not the time to be thinking of spring, but the softening snow carries the irresistible siren call of warmer days to come.

I have the all-too-common affliction of seasonal amnesia. Just as I can’t picture a blizzard on a hot July day, I can’t quite believe that in a few short months, the creek bed across the street from where I live in Farmington will be transformed into a breathtaking display of blue, trumpet-shaped flowers as far as the eye can see.

There are some traditions that serve only one purpose: to renew the spirit. We repeat such rituals again and again to come away refreshed and reminded of why we continue to

honor them. So it is with my annual pilgrimage to see the bluebells in May. The bluebell legend I’d heard of “Bluebell Island” all my life, but I didn’t explore it until one Mothers’ Day about 18 years ago. The weather forecast promised a warm afternoon, so I invited my son, mother, and mother-in-law to see the famed flowers.

As soon as we stepped onto the peninsula – not an island – we were stunned at the fairyland of vibrant blue blossoms that blanketed the ground around our knees. It was like walking into a nursery bursting with spring bulbs, except these flowers have taken hold and thrive here without any human intervention.

The true miracle of bluebells is that they don’t grow as individual plants or in small clusters. Once they find a place they like, bluebells

Left: Bluebells and sycamores along the banks of Mud Creek in Farmington Above: Emma, Tess and Matt Brantl playing in the shallow creek bed SPRING 2010 ~

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Trumpet-shaped bluebell blossoms

Bluebells grow profusely for just three weeks.

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A woodland path in Mertensia Park

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bluebell island continue to multiply into entire colonies. Until you’ve seen how they proliferate, it’s hard to imagine how they overrun the damp woodlands, creating a haze of color all along the riverbed.

Mertensia virginica A native perennial, bluebells prefer sandy, peaty soil in semi-shaded forests along creeks and bluffs. Thomas Jefferson grew them at Monticello, and they are common as far away as Alabama and Kansas. Bluebells go by a number of names, including Virginia-cowslip, Roanoke-bells, lungwort, and oysterleaf.

After blossoming, the foliage yellows and dies down completely by June. As quickly as they appear, they are gone.

The bluebells in Farmington favor

A fine and subtle spirit dwells In every little flower, Each one its own sweet feeling breathes With more or less of power.

There is a silent eloquence In every wild bluebell That fills my softened heart with bliss That words could never tell. – Anne BrontÍ

the banks of Mud Creek. At least three locations are known for the bluebells, but only one is a true island. Since the creek flows from south to north, it’s likely that the bluebell colonies originated in the southernmost Bluebell Island and found hospitable spots to flourish along the way. You may also see the occasional pink or white bluebell when recessive traits cross-pollinate.

So loved are these flowers that the hamlet of West Farmington was renamed “Mertensia� in 1891. Once a thriving community that sported a mill, blacksmith shop, general store and creamery, Mertensia now offers a public park for all to enjoy the miraculous display each spring.

Keep your eyes open. Mud Creek is an ideal habitat for other wildflowers as well, such as Trillium, Jackin-the-Pulpit, and Woodland Phlox.

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FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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Rustic by Nature,

Elegant by Design

bluebell island

Mu ree dC k

Mertensia Road

Mertensia Park access road

We offer custom designs, mirror resilvering, antique refinishing, caning, marble repairs, lamps... Come browse our extensive showroom!

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The Furniture Doctor www.thefurnituredoctoronline.com 7007 Rtes. 5&20 • Bloomfield, NY 14469 • 585.657.6941 Open 10am-5pm • Thurs til 7pm • Sun 12pm-5pm FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

E n j o y i n g

G o d ’ s

C r e a t i o n

N

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Seeing the Bluebells When: Three weeks, from late April to mid-May, depending on the weather.

Where: Bluebells grow profusely in two locations along Mud Creek on private land. You can see them in Mertensia Park on Mertensia Road in Farmington. Hiking trails, picnic areas, sports fields, and a playground are available.

Etiquette: Please don’t pick or trample the bluebells. If you want to try growing them, contact a local garden store rather than disturbing their natural habitat. Fall is the ideal time for planting.

For Shutterbugs: The best time to photograph bluebells is on cloudy days after a rain (or even in the rain).

Sunshine tends to wash out the vibrancy of the colors.

Finger Lakes Tram

Canandaigua Lake, 2007

2052 O’Neil Road • Macedon, NY 14502 • 315-986-1937

www.fingerlakestram.com Designed, built & serviced right here in upstate New York!

FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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Recessive traits can result in pink or white bluebells.

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Our Famous Grape Pies Available Year Round We bake over 25 varieties of pies Several Available Daily Call to order or just stop in!

MONICA’S PIES Open 7 days a week, 9AM-5PM 7599 Rte, 21, Naples

Bluebell Sunday, 1912

Photo courtesy Joy Underhill

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Henderson’s

Naples Pharmacy

Naples & Finger Lakes souvenirs available here!

Phone: (585)374-2080 103-107 South Main St., Naples, NY 14512

A family tradition Visiting the bluebells is a practice that dates back four generations in one Victor family. “I don’t know how it got started,” says Linda Armstrong, “but I think my great-grandparents just had to share the beauty.” They started inviting friends and family after church for a hayride across the creek to see the bluebells. Linda’s family has continued the tradition to this day on an invitation-only basis.

As Linda shows me photos dating to the early 1900s, she describes some of the special moments that her family has shared. “The kids love to explore the big rock in the middle of the river.

In fact, most of our kids celebrated Bluebell Sunday as the first day they’d take a dip in the creek.” Years ago, a sycamore tree was struck by lightning and started to decay from the inside out, forming a hiding spot for the children right in the middle of the bluebells. Indeed, the day of our first visit, my son huddled in the hollowed-out tree and dangled his feet in the frigid water as we crossed the creek.

Some things change with time, but the curiosity of a four-year-old isn’t one of them. Neither is the promise of spring delivered in the form of thousands of blue blossoms, present for a precious few weeks – our reward for making it through yet another long winter.

Joy Underhill is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Farmington.

You can reach her at joy@northcoastwriters.com.

Naples, NY In the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country offers The Elegant Escape... private hot tubs/fireplaces with the panoramic view of "The Switzerland of America"

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Apply it to meats during the last few minutes of baking or grilling. A sweeter milder flavor used as a “finishing” sauce.

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Join us each Sat/Sun Noon-3pm, May 8-Sept. 5, for our 4th Annual FREE “Artists in Action... on the Front Porch series.” Experience an intimate and joyfull time, as 40 artists share their techniques, pulling you into the process, from jewelry making to throwing pots for the kiln.

OPEN YEAR ROUND: M-SAT 11AM-5:30PM, SUN NOON-5PM

118 N. Main St., Naples, NY 585.374.6740 • www.artizanns.com

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More than Maple!

O

ver the years, maple farmers in the quaint village of Marathon would invite family, friends, and neighbors to the “sugarin’,” where maple sap is collected and boiled to make maple syrup. That tradition has continued in the form of the annual Marathon Maple Festival. This year’s festival is slated for April 10-11, marking the 40th year of the festival, which more than 100,000 people are expected to attend.

The festival has evolved into a tasty treat for all the senses.

While the celebration of maple products is the main draw, visitors are treated to one of Central New York’s finest arts and craft shows, a quilt show, live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, helicopter rides, pony rides, train rides, wood cutting demonstrations, one-room school house tours, food and lots more!

Many visitors from the Cortland area enjoy a scenic train ride along the Tioughnioga River to the depot in downtown Marathon. The depot is a quick walk to all of the festivities.

Jacki Cross, the 2009 Maple Queen, welcomes guests with samples of the sugaring process, next to a wood burning fire in the Sugar Shack.

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photos and story by Kristian S. Reynolds

The trains run all day, with a round-trip fare for about $10.

Don’t miss a tour of the Sugar Shack for a close-up view of the sugaring process, where a wood fire boils maple sap into fresh golden syrup. Then, head next door to the Maple Museum to view historic displays of maple processing equipment. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Maple Festival Queen and her court.

Maple flavor is the key for handmade maple candy, maple sundaes, and maple-flavored cotton candy. Don’t go home without some real maple syrup! There is food on every street, including beef barbecue, bake sales and the annual pancake eating contest.

The Village of Marathon is located on Interstate 81, 10 miles south of Cortland, 20 miles north of Binghamton, and 20 miles east of Ithaca. For more information, visit www.maplefest.org

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The downtown Marathon train depot comes alive with passenger service from Cortland and a scenic ride along the Tioughnioga River on the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway.

For schedules, go to www.maplefest.org.

Helicopter rides are an exciting diversion at the Festival.

Over 100,000 visitors are treated to live music, a huge arts and crafts show, a quilt show, pony rides, wood cutting demonstrations, food and lots more.

Jen, Victoria and Taylor Petrie, of Lisle, enjoy a wagon ride with Grandpa Bruce Glezen.

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A Maple Sugaring March

by Malcolm MacKenzie illustrations by Mark Stash

M

arch is a time of transition as winter releases its frigid hold and spring slowly embraces us with warmth and light. The change is gradual, but sure in its presence. An annual ritual of this passage is maple sugaring. Our family has sugared in Italy Valley for the past 25 years. During this time, the scope of our operation has changed, our workers have grown and aged, but the essence of the season has remained constant.

Sugaring is a process of tradition and change, a balance of work and celebration, a push and pull of frost and fire, and a dance of art and science. Sugaring is the sweet coolness of sap from a pail quenching your thirst, and the sugary warmth of fresh syrup ladled from the pan. Sugaring is the fierce heat of the open arch as you fire up and the cold darkness of the eternal late night and early morning, boiling away a big sap run. It’s a social time of working together collecting sap and gathering around the evaporator for hours of boiling. Sugaring is an experience of family, friends and visiting passersby.

Sugaring is an art and a practice, best learned from others and by direct experience.

Sugaring is a spiritual time to work with the rhythm of nature and rediscover our rhythm of belief and perseverance. It begins early in mid January as the nuances of seasonal change are announced in bright birdsong and increasing degrees of daylight. The maples take on a new presence, casting themselves bright and expectant against the snow.

The sugar bush begins to call. It’s time to ramble about the woods assessing what we want to do this year.

How many taps? More buckets, fewer buckets or more tubing? What other supplies are needed? Is there enough wood? Why didn’t I get it done before now?

In time, it all seems to get resolved. Before we know, the lines are repaired and tightened, buckets are ready and tanks are set. We watch the weather closely for rising and falling temperatures.

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A Maple Sugaring March Suddenly it’s time to tap. A team of willing helpers burned and less time spent boiling to produce it. The chalmakes lighter work as one drills tap holes, one hammers taps, lenge of balancing a basic economic equation of input and and another hangs buckets and snaps the lids tightly. If we output is certainly part of the sugaring process. are lucky, the sap freshly runs when we drill a tree. Our lips The sap is pumped again from the truck’s tank through a kiss the rough bark as we sip the first trickle realizing it is filter and into to the sugarhouse storage tank. From there it is spring again. The “ping” of sap dripping into a dry bucket is gravity-fed into the evaporator constantly sending fresh sap music to our ears and hearts. into the back pan. To produce quality syrup you should colBack in the sugarhouse it’s time for final preparations. The lect and process the sap as quickly as possible. This requires a arch is leveled and fresh gaskets are set beneath the pan to constant juggling of family dinners and activities as we schedhold the heat. Stainless steel pots and milk cans are scrubbed ule around the weather conditions that influence sap flow. for the syrup’s storage. Loose items are gathered up and stored Most of our boiling is done during the evening and late away. Never quite a polished place, night. Weekends provide an opportunity to enjoy the daylight our sugarhouse is definitely a coming through the open cupola vent. sanctuary of welcome and During both day and night, there’s wonder. The season’s a spectacular dance of billowing powerful magic takes steam above the sugarhouse roof place here. as the cold air chills the escaping Sap collection is an spirits. Inside, the air is sweet exciting, strenuous and the evaporator is loudly activity. The sap is gathactive with its boiling fervor. ered by pails lugged and The change from sap to dumped, or suctioned by syrup is slow and gradual as a pump into a truck’s the liquid finds its way across transport tank. The the evaporator’s back and weight on the arms as we front pans. Transformation carry it is tiring, and the is noted in color, taste and ache is difficult to ignore. viscosity as the hot liquid There always seems to be is ladled, observed, and a bit more than I have sipped. The surface bubroom in my pail to carry. bles change, the therThe sound of a sap buckmometer’s temperature et being poured is full of rises, and soon the vigor and flourish. When syrup hangs as a curthe pails become empty tain across the scoop. and light in my arms, Quickly, but carefully, a there is still more sap to valve is opened and syrup be collected meaning flows from the front pan into another trip back and a waiting vessel. Continued forth with full buckets. monitoring assures us that the But soon it’s off to the valve is closed when the boilA tradition of sight and sound, sap buckets hang in wait. next collection spot. These ing temperature drops, signaltrees have tubing and their ing the end of a draw. From sap flows into a gathering here the syrup is filtered into a tank. Here a gasoline pump does the hard work, but our arms larger holding drum to await a final “finishing” and filtering still have to convince the engine to fire. Soon our ears fill with for canning to be graded, sold and enjoyed as table fare (or, its roar and its discharge hose swells with sap rushing to fill the my favorite, by the big spoonful). transport tank. A full day’s run is quickly gathered.

This process repeats itself across the month of March Arriving back at the sugarhouse, the truck’s muffler smells without much predictability, but with lots of promise. The sweet from the splashing of wet sap cooking on its hot surface, only constant is the hard work and the faithful rhythm of sap a reminder of the sap’s sugar. A reading is taken with a flowing as the temperatures rise and fall transitioning winter hydrometer to measure the sap’s sugar content. It tells the into spring. sweet worth of our haul and the predicted production of syrup You are welcome to visit our sugarhouse when you are to be finished. The sweeter the sap the less water is required to “in the valley” and see the steam dancing in celebration of be evaporated to reach a syrup state. The less water to be life’s renewal and hope. evaporated means a lighter grade of syrup produced, so less fuel

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Hig her Education

{Choosing a College {

That’s Right for You

by Kimberly Price

T

he first hurdle in a college career happens to be a large one – choosing which college to attend. Students, at just 17 mind you, must decide what they’d like to do with the rest of their lives. Next, they must find a major that correlates. Only then can the college search commence.

So many schools have seemingly wonderful programs for virtually any major. A student looking for a program dealing with computers can find one anywhere, from the nation’s top private universities to the local community college. But how to narrow it down to just one school?

“The dream-world way of picking a college is looking at your interests, finding a career that matches those interests, and then finding a college that offers a good program in the career field you want to go into,” said Patrick Clark, a guidance counselor at Corning-Painted Post West High School. “But honestly, a lot of kids don’t really do that because they’re not sure what they want to do.”

During his 16 years of counseling students, eight of which he’s spent at the high school, Clark has helped countless students find a college that suits them.

Clark says a primary concern is whether kids can get in to the college they want.

While it’s okay to dream big, it’s also important to be realistic.

“You definitely want to pick a safety school so you know that if all else fails, you’ll get into that school,” said Clark, who has known students to apply to

competitive universities only and then have to scramble in March to find a college with open enrollment. “That’s the absolute worst way to pick a college.”

The four guidance counselors at West High, each takes on roughly 250 students, meeting with the juniors and seniors about colleges each year. Senior interviews, as they are called, are conducted in September, during which time seniors are essentially given a roadmap for college applications and finances.

Junior interviews begin in January; these get the younger group thinking about the upcoming reality of college.

Since many students are busy with extracurricular activities during the school year, Clark encourages juniors to prepare applications during summer, setting a goal for completion by midNovember.

“Admissions counselors always say, ‘It’s human nature to wait until the deadline,’” said Clark, “and some of these bigger colleges get tens of thousands of applications at the deadline. I always encourage kids not to get into that mix.”

Applying early provides admissions counselors the time they need to look over all application materials, even taking extracurriculars into account.

Further, the additional time is essential in the financial aid process.

“There is more financial aid if you apply earlier,” said Clark. “I’ve seen many instances when students with higher GPAs and SAT scores miss out

To read more about higher education in the Finger Lakes Region visit www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com/ highereducation

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on financial aid from a school because it’s given out on a first-come-firstserved basis.”

Clark always shares the following story with the seniors he counsels: “There was a girl who had all her applications in by mid-November. She went to the school’s financial aid website and applied to all the scholarships by mid-December. After an interview, she came back to the guidance office jumping up and down because she ended up receiving a $26,000-a-year award – and she knew this before she left for Christmas break.”

The girl had a 91 GPA. “Same school, same year, different kid. He’s got a 96 GPA and waits till the deadline.” The student’s acceptance letter came in February with a $36,000 price tag. When he called the financial aid office, they said all the awards had been given out.

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For more information, visit • www.princetonreview.com • www.collegeboard.com • www.campusexplorer.com

“So the girl with the 91 received $104,000 over four years,” said Clark.

“He had a 96 and received nothing simply because he waited too long.”

In Clark’s experience, the financial aspect of considering colleges has always been a bigger issue for parents than students.

“All the way up through your senior year of high school, you don’t really deal with the finances,” said Clark.

“Your parents are dealing with that stuff. After one year of college, it becomes real.”

Another important thing to consider is dropout rate. If it’s high, that’s

not a good sign. “One thing shocked me when I first started doing this job: 50 percent of kids going from their senior year at high school into a four-year college do not finish there after their first year,” he said.

“As I always say, if you don’t know what you want to do, $50,000 a year is a lot of money to try to find yourself,” Clark said.

He said that a student reading a textbook for how to do it would pick a college based on the career they they’d enjoy most. Realistically, however, that’s not what ends up happening most of the time, and that’s okay.

Students should research what they think they might want, apply early, negotiate finances and apply for scholarships. If they’re still unsure or want to improve their grades, they should consider attending a community college.

Summer Sessions June 1 & July 12

Choose a college that gives you more options, less debt.

At MCC, you’ll find 80+ programs of study, cutting-edge technology, and comprehensive facilities. Add to that our award-winning professors who are passionate about helping you succeed, plus nationally ranked athletic teams, residence halls, and a vibrant campus life.

No wonder The New York Times has called MCC one of the top community colleges in the country. Transfer the credits you earn here to the four-year college of your choice and save $60,000 or more on your bachelor’s degree. Or begin a rewarding career right after earning your associate degree. MCC expands your options for college and beyond.

For more information or to sign up for a campus tour, go to www.monroecc.edu/prospective or call 585.292.2200.

THERE’S MORE TO YOU. THERE’S MORE TO MCC.

FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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IN THE

FINGER LAKES

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Hig her Education in the FINGER LAKES

Colleg es & Universities

General contact information

Alfred University 1 Saxon Drive Alfred, NY 14802 607-871-2175 www.alfred.edu Bryant & Stratton – Greece Campus 150 Bellwood Drive Rochester, NY 14606 585-720-0660 www.bryantstratton.edu Bryant & Stratton – Henrietta Campus 1225 Jefferson Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 585-292-5627 www.bryantstratton.edu Bryant & Stratton – Syracuse Campus 953 James Street Syracuse, NY 13203-2502 315-472-6603 www.bryantstratton.edu Bryant & Stratton – Syracuse North Campus 8687 Carling Rd Liverpool, NY 13090 315-652-6500 www.bryantstratton.edu Cayuga Community College – Auburn Campus 197 Franklin Street Auburn, NY 13021 315-255-1743 / 866-598-8883 www.cayuga-cc.edu Cayuga Community College – Fulton Campus 806 West Broadway Fulton, NY 13069 315-592-4143 / 866-598-8883 www.cayuga-cc.edu Cazenovia College 22 Sullivan Street Cazenovia, NY 13035 315-655-7377 www.cazenovia.edu Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School 1100 South Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620-2589 585-271-1320 www.crds.edu Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office 410 Thurston Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850-2488 607-255-5241 www.admissions.cornell.edu Corning Community College 1 Academic Drive Corning, NY 14830 607-962-9222 / 800-358-7171 www.corning-cc.edu Crouse Hospital School of Nursing 765 Irving Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210 315-470-7111 www.crouse.org

Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) 26 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY 14604 585-274-1000 www.esm.rochester.edu Elmira Business Institute – Main Campus Langdon Plaza 303 N. Main St. Elmira, NY 14901 607-733-7177 / 800-843-1812 www.ebi-college.com Elmira Business Institute – Vestal Campus Vestal Executive Park 303 4100 Vestal Rd.N. Main St. Vestal, NY 13850 607-729-8915 / 866-703-7550 www.ebi-college.com Elmira College One Park Place Elmira, NY 14901 607-735-1800 / 800-935-6472 www.elmira.edu Empire State College – Rochester 1475 Winton Road North Rochester, NY 14609 585-224-3200 www.esc.edu Empire State College – East Syracuse 6333 Route 298 East Syracuse, NY 13057 315 472-5730 www.esc.edu Finger Lakes Community College – Main Campus 3325 Marvin Sands Drive Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-FLCC www.flcc.edu See Ad on This Page Finger Lakes Community College – Geneva 63 Pulteney Street Geneva, NY 14456 315-789-6701 www.flcc.edu Finger Lakes Community College – Victor 200 Victor Heights Parkway Victor, NY 14564 585-742-6337 www.flcc.edu Finger Lakes Community College – Wayne County 1100 Technology Parkway Newark, NY 14513 315-331-9098 www.flcc.edu Hobart and William Smith Colleges Office of Admissions 629 S. Main St. Geneva, NY 14456 315-781-3622 www.hws.edu Ithaca College 953 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-274-3011 www.ithaca.edu

ITT Technical Institute 235 Greenfield Parkway Liverpool, NY 13088 315-461-8000 www2.itt-tech.edu

Everest Institute - Rochester 1630 Portland Avenue Rochester, NY 14621 585-266-0430 www.everest.edu

Keuka College 141 Central Avenue Keuka Park, NY 14478 315-279-5000 www.keuka.edu See Ad on Page 46

Rochester Education Opportunity Center 305 Andrews Street Rochester, NY 14604 585-232-2730 www.reoc.brockport.edu

LeMoyne College 1419 Salt Springs Road Syracuse, NY 13214 315-445-4100 / 800-333-4733 www.lemoyne.edu

Rochester Institute of Technology One Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5603 585-475-2411 www.rit.edu

Medaille College – Rochester Campus 1880 South Winton Road Rochester, NY 14618 585-272-0030 / 866-212-2235 www.medaille.edu

Simmons Institute of Funeral Service 1828 South Avenue Syracuse, NY 13207 315-475-5142 / 800-727-3536 www.simmonsinstitute.com

Monroe Community College 1000 East Henrietta Road Rochester, NY 14623 585-292-2000 www.monroecc.edu See Ad on Page 44

St. Bernards 120 French Road Rochester, NY 14618 585-271-3657 www.stbernards.edu

National Tractor Trailer School Inc. 4650 Buckley Road Liverpool, NY 13088 315-451-2430 / 800-243-9300 www.ntts.edu

State University College at Brockport 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420 585-395-2796 www.brockport.edu State University College at Cortland 49 Graham Ave. Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-2011 www.cortland.edu

State University College at Oswego 7060 Route 104 Oswego, NY 13126 315-312-2500 www.oswego.edu

Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244-5040 315-443-1870 www.syr.edu

St. John Fisher College 3690 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 585-385-8000 www.sjfc.edu

Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York 769 Park Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 585-473-2810 www.tiuny.org

St. Joseph’s College of Nursing at SJHHC 206 Prospect Ave. Syracuse, NY 13203 315-448-5040 www.sjhsyr.org/nursing

Nazareth College 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 585-389-2525 www.naz.edu New York Chiropractic College 2360 State Rte. 89 Seneca Falls, NY 13148 800-234-6922 www.nycc.edu Onondaga Community College 4585 West Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215-4585 315-498-2622 www.sunyocc.edu Roberts Wesleyan College 2301 Westside Drive Rochester, NY 14624 800-777-4792 www.roberts.edu

State University College at Geneseo 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454 585-245-5211 www.geneseo.edu

Tompkins Cortland Community College 170 North Street Dryden, NY 13053 607-844-8211 www.tc3.edu

SUNY

University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627 585-275-2121 www.rochester.edu

Alfred State College 10 Upper College Drive Alfred, NY 14802 800-425-3733 www.alfredstate.edu College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse, NY 13210 315-470-6500 www.esf.edu

Wells College 170 Main Street Aurora, NY 13026 315-364-3264 www.wells.edu

3OME WINES AGE FOR DECADES But your new career could begin in just two years with a Viticulture and Wine Technology degree from FLCC.

WWW mCC EDU VITICULTURE

FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

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Hig her Education in the FINGER LAKES majors & Deg ree prog rams BIOLOGY/BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Alfred University College of Environmental Science and Forestry Cornell University Elmira College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Keuka College LeMoyne College Medaille College – Rochester Campus Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University University of Rochester Wells College BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Alfred State College Alfred University Bryant & Stratton Cayuga Community College Cazenovia College College of Environmental Science and Forestry Corning Community College Elmira College Finger Lakes Community College Ithaca College Keuka College LeMoyne College Medaille College – Rochester Campus Monroe Community College Nazareth College Onondaga Community College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Geneseo

State University College at Oswego Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College Wells College COMMERCIAL ART Finger Lakes Community College Monroe Community College Onondaga Community College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College COMMUNICATIONS Cazenovia College College of Environmental Science and Forestry Cornell University Finger Lakes Community College Keuka College LeMoyne College Monroe Community College Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College COMPUTER SCIENCE Alfred State College Bryant & Stratton Cayuga Community College Corning Community College Finger Lakes Community College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College LeMoyne College Medaille College – Rochester Campus Monroe Community College

Onondaga Community College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College ECONOMICS Alfred University Cornell University Elmira College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College LeMoyne College Nazareth College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University University of Rochester Wells College EDUCATION Cornell University Finger Lakes Community College Medaille College – Rochester Campus ENGINEERING – GENERAL Alfred State College Cornell University College of Environmental Science and Forestry Corning Community College Finger Lakes Community College Monroe Community College Onondaga Community College Tompkins Cortland Community College University of Rochester

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Alfred University Cornell University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Keuka College LeMoyne College Medaille College – Rochester Campus Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego University of Rochester Wells College LIBERAL ARTS Alfred State College Alfred University Cayuga Community College Cazenovia College Cornell University Corning Community College Elmira College Finger Lakes Community College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Keuka College Monroe Community College Onondaga Community College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Cortland Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College University of Rochester MARKETING Alfred University Bryant & Stratton Elmira College Finger Lakes Community College LeMoyne College Rochester Institute of Technology Syracuse University MATHEMATICS Alfred University Cornell University Elmira College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Keuka College LeMoyne College Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland

FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

46 ~ H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N

IN THE

FINGER LAKES

State University College at Geneseo Syracuse University University of Rochester NURSING Alfred State College Cayuga Community College Corning Community College Crouse Hospital School of Nursing Finger Lakes Community College Monroe Community College Onondaga Community College St. Joseph’s College of Nursing at SJHHC Tompkins Cortland Community College POLITICAL SCIENCE & GOVERNMENT Alfred University Cornell University Elmira College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College LeMoyne College Nazareth College St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University University of Rochester PSYCHOLOGY Alfred University Cazenovia College Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Cornell University Elmira College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Keuka College LeMoyne College Medaille College – Rochester Campus Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College State University College at Brockport State University College at Cortland State University College at Geneseo State University College at Oswego Syracuse University University of Rochester Wells College

Life in the Finger Lakes would like to thank the career services office, and particularly Teresa Daddis and Cathy Petruccione, at Finger Lakes Community College for their help in compiling this information.

Major and degree programs are subject to change.

Please contact the institution for updated information.

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W I L D L I F E

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P R O F I L E

Turkey Talk story and photos by Bill Banaszewski

A

Hens take their young into fields during May and June to feed on insects.

Turkeys are cautious by nature and will run or take flight when feeling threatened.

During periods of deep snow, turkey fly into shrubs and small trees to feed on sumac fruit, crabapples, and wild grape.

48 ~

ccounts of large flocks of wild turkey inhabiting the Finger Lakes region can be found in the stories told by Native Americans and in the writings of early settlers.

However, as settlement advanced, turkey numbers were quickly reduced.

The story of their decline was written by the axe, fire, plow and gun.

Pioneer farmers cleared the land with axes and fire. The fires were often so intense that turkey nests, nesting habitats, and food sources were destroyed. The story of their decline was further written in the furrows of the plowed earth, through the absence of laws protecting wildlife, and ultimately by the guns of market hunters. By 1850 turkey were eliminated from the region.

Around 1900, farmers began abandoning their land, and by 1950, suitable turkey habitat was returning as shrubs and then trees started reclaiming the hillsides. As the forests continued to mature, the Conservation Department released 300 pen-raised turkey into central New York.Unfortunately, the gamefarm turkey were unable to cope in the wild, and free-ranging domestic poultry transmitted fatal black-head disease to the released turkey.

Not discouraged, wildlife biologists looked next to wild flocks of turkey that were migrating into southwestern New York from Pennsylvania.

Believing that their natural expansion would take many years, biologists initiated a trap-and-transfer program.

During the winter months, turkey were baited with corn. While they were feeding, a 50-foot canon-powered net was fired over the unsuspecting birds and they were captured.

Over a period of three decades, the transferred turkey had advanced and

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were reproducing throughout central New York. To this day the trap-andtransfer program remains a great wildlife management achievement.

In 1968 the Conservation Department established the first turkey hunting season in the southern tier, and two years later, opened turkey hunting in southern Finger Lakes’ counties. So successful has the restoration been that in spring 2009 over 34,000 turkey were harvested by hunters in New York, with 1,414 taken in Steuben County alone.

Ideal turkey habitat consists of hardwood forests interspersed with open fields, and that is exactly what the Finger Lakes area offers.

Omnivorous feeders, their diet changes with the seasons. In spring and summer they eat a variety of insects, fruits, and snails. Come fall they feed on beechnuts, acorns, grapes and corn. In my woodlot, they pursue the abundant population of redbacked salamanders. It’s comical watching them snatch squirming salamanders only to end up with a wiggling tail. (To escape predators, salamanders have the ability to break off tails and legs and later regenerate them.) During winter, they often visit farm fields to feed on waste grain and manure spread by farmers. When the snow is deep, I’ve watched turkey swaying back and forth on the thin branches of sumac shrubs, feeding on the red fruit clusters.

Turkey are agile, run extremely fast, and although they fly only short distances, they can attain speeds of 50 miles per hour. When flying into their roosts at dusk, they crash land, snapping branches along the way. Once I watched a large flock fly into a white pine roost. The next morning, I returned to see the ground under the

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In early spring, toms display in front of their harems by strutting and fluffing their feathers.

tree littered with small branches broken from their incoming flights.

Male turkey are called toms or gobblers, referring to their springtime propensity to do just that. They weigh up to 25 pounds and sport 5- to 8-inch beards on their chests. During the breeding season their heads and necks become iridescent shades of white, blue and red. Toms also have sharp spurs on the backs of their legs, which are employed during dominance fights with other males.

Females, or hens, are smaller with rusty-brown bodies and blue-gray heads. They are very vocal and usually can be heard “talking” before being seen. They “yelp” to let gobblers know their location, and also “putt,” “purr” and “cluck.”

Their breeding season runs from March through June.

For most turkey hunters, the pursuit of spring gobblers is the ultimate outdoor experience. In early spring gobblers undergo anatomical, physical and behavioral changes caused by increased levels of testosterone in their blood. (The hunters

I know go through the same transformation.) At dawn, toms gobble to announce their presence to their harem of hens and competing males. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to get them gobbling. I’ve heard them respond to cawing crows, hooting owls, rumbling thunder and one time to pounding nails, when I was repairing my deck.

Typically hens lay 10 to 12 eggs on the forest floor.

After hatching, hens take the young turkey or poults into fields to feed on insects. They develop very fast and can fly within two weeks.

Much has been said about the intelligence of turkey.

Opinions range. They are the smartest creatures of the forest, or they are dumb as rocks. YouTube videos showing breeding gobblers attacking police cars with flashing red lights seems to confirm the latter. However, my vote is they are extremely smart. If I’m able to get close to a gobbler in the spring, it is usually a case of good fortune rather than my ability to outsmart him.

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REAL ESTATE

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KEUKA LAKE- New Contemporary at water's edge. 3-4 bedrooms, city water, 3 baths, boathouse, central air, deep/level lot, attached garage, workshop, master suite, hardwood...It's gonna be hard to resist this one! Asking $799,000

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FINGER LAKES UPSTATE NEW YORK Lake homes, Estates, Farms, Land on & around Seneca & Cayuga Lakes, the largest of the Finger Lakes; List, Sell & Vacation Rentals.

No One Exceeds Our Marketing Plan!!

Senecayuga is a member of all four of the Multiple Listing Services, covering all Eleven Finger Lakes.

KEUKA LAKE- Newer year-round "cape", right on the water! 3 BRs, 2 baths, gas fireplace, master suite, screened gazebo, hot tub, natural frontage, pubic water/sewer/ nat'l gas. Drive up to back door, and walk out to the lake... It's the best!

Asking $684,900

www.senecayuga.com

Mel Russo Lic. Real Estate Broker 315-568-9404 senecayuga@aol.com

Welcome to the Finger Lakes!

Full service realtors, Finger Lakes Realty, offer buyer and seller representation to the entire Finger Lakes Region.

We are currently serving Yates, Steuben, Schuyler and Ontario counties, home to Keuka Lake, Seneca Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Waneta Lake, and Lamoka Lake.

Mark Malcolm II “Keuka Lake’s Top Agent”

A few of our services include free, no obligation market analysis of your property, newspaper and internet marketing programs, and agent availability seven days a week.

Contact one of our agents for your next Finger Lakes Real Estate buying experience.

315-536-6163 Direct www.markmalcolm.com

CAYUGA LAKE VILLAGE

315-536-7285 • www.FingerLakesProperty.com

Focusing on Real Estate in the Western Finger Lakes

This historic home, circa 1857, located in Cayuga Lake village features 6 BD, 4 BA, modern kitchen w/ granite, butler's pantry, cherry woodwork and wainscot charm, wood fireplace, library, 6100 sq ft of livable space, perfect for large family gatherings, or bed and breakfast. Full acre plus a 3 car detached garage/workshop. 1 hr Rochester-Syracuse. More photos on website. $289,000

For more details and photos go to www.lakecountryrealestateNY.com View all waterfront listings on our website.

Contact Midge Fricano, Broker, GRI. CRS. cell: 315-729-0985 email: lakcountry@aol.com

Lake Country Real Estate, Inc. 121 North St., Auburn, NY • 315-258-9147 x201

L AND

OF

L AKES R EALTY The Cascade Grill on the west side of Owasco Lake

Holly H. Harvey • Associate Broker ReMax First • 585-414-4845 95 Allens Creek Rd • Rochester, NY 14618

Vacant Land to Student Housing

Coming in May 2010 to a newsstand near you!

The second annual issue of Explore the Finger Lakes.com magazine.

The Cascade Grill on the west side of Owasco Lake.

Turn-key restaurant with seating for 400 parking for 50 car and docks for 30 boats. This fully furnished and equipped restaurant is the only restaurant on the lake. It seats 200 inside and 200 on the decks. 140' of lakefront with docks. Built new as a restaurant in 1987. You are buying the restaurant business, building and equipment. $575,000

• Calendar of events • Day trips • Listing of tourism related companies

Jeff Trescot, Broker 315- 497-3700 www.jefftrescot.com jefflcre@aol.com

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Includes map

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Fully furnished year-round home. 5600 sq.ft. of luxury. Pvt suite, 5BR, 3frplcs, 36ft. indoor pool.

90ft. westside lakefront. $1,059,000

Boasts highest elevation on lake, private elevator.

225ft. eastside shore. 6BR/4.5BA. 6 acres wooded privacy. Views! $2,200,000

CONESUS LAKE WATERFRONT Completely remodeled 2BR, 1.5BA ranch on 50' of level lake frontage including new roof, kitchen w/ red birch Omega cabinetry, granite counter top, new BAs, furnace, central air, deck & more! Public Water, Gas & Sewers. 45 min to Rochester. $289,900.

REAL ESTATE

502 South Main St. Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-398-2211

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Canandaigua Lake

www.piersonrealtors.com

Bill Wheeler Salesperson, Realtor® wwwheeler47@yahoo.com 585-278-4047

2/12/10

JULIE G. SMITH ReMax Hometown Choice 5989 Big Tree Rd, Lakeville, NY 585-503-8750

www.JulieGSmith.com

Charming Colonial Keuka Lake year round home on 64' lakefront Renovated throughout with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, hardwood floors, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, 2 car garage, near Keuka College! mls# R101896 • $649,000

CURBEAU REALTY REALTY CURBEAU Bonnie Curbeau - Broker/Owner www.curbeaurealty.com • 315 277-0236 HOME OWNERSHIP WITH BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Located in the heart of the NY's Finger Lakes, CATHARINE COTTAGES is only a quick jaunt to many local attractions. A unique hospitality business with four log cabins and a separate owner residence. A rare opportunity to own and generate income. $495,000. For more info contact Sharon McRae at (607) 654-9303 or vist us at www.realtyusa.com.

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Nature s Orchestra: photos and story by Marie Read

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Celebration of Birdsong S

pring in the Finger Lakes always arrives in its own sweet time. March and April with their chilly weather and drab landscapes seem never-ending. But listen! Nature’s orchestra is already tuning up. Birds are singing!

Often it’s the cardinal’s flute-like voice that opens the year’s concert. Other members of the woodwind section soon join in: titmice and chickadees singing merry, up-and-down whistles. In March it’s the turn of the Redwinged Blackbird shouting his fanfare from the newly thawed wetlands.

April brings the robin’s cheery solo from the treetops, while flocks of sunshine-yellow goldfinches sing their tinkling melodies in chorus.

Finally the entire orchestra builds to a crescendo in May when the migrant songbirds return. Our forests, fields, parks and gardens are suddenly filled with colorful orioles, tanagers, thrushes, grosbeaks and warblers, all pouring heart and soul into their promise of spring.

From the woods come the sounds of the rhythm section: Woodpeckers rat-tat-tat on tree trunks and Ruffed Grouse thump drum-rolls from fallen logs. They use these sounds like songbirds use song, to claim and defend nesting territories and to attract mates, because much as we might like to think that birds sing for the joy of life, underlying their music making is a serious message. It’s birds’ way of communicating with each other, meaning “come hither” to the opposite sex and “keep out” to competitors.

Our beautiful Finger Lakes region is full of places to find birds. Take a walk outdoors and enjoy the songs of spring. It’ll be music to your ears!

Left: The sound of a male Ruffed Grouse drumming from deep in the forest is one of the icons of spring in the Finger Lakes. He stands on a moss-covered log and flaps his wings in a distinct rhythm, beginning slowly with a series of deep, muffled thumps that speed up to end as a rapid whirring. Drumming serves the same purpose as birdsong, to claim a territory and attract females.

Above: A brilliantly hued male Indigo Bunting sings his lively rhapsody in blue. Like most songbirds, only the male bunting sings, while his secretive mate builds their well-hidden nest near the ground. Good spots to find these birds in the Finger Lakes are shrubby abandoned fields, along roadsides and woodland edges, and in brushy vegetation in power line rights-of-way.

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Left: Woodpeckers, like the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, rap on resonant tree trunks with their strong bills to communicate with potential mates and rivals. For most it’s a simple drum roll on an even tempo, but the sapsucker’s unique – he’s got rhythm!

He drums a rapid volley followed by a series of slower and slower taps. Sapsuckers sometimes bang on metal chimneys, ladders or even street signs, making a racket seldom appreciated by slumbering humans nearby!

Above: Birders often describe bird songs using English phrases as a memory aid.

The Chestnut-sided Warbler’s song sounds like pleased…pleased…pleased-toMEET-YA! You can find this little bird, with its greenish-yellow cap and chestnutbrown streaks along its sides, in scrubby woodlands and open areas.

Right: All winter long the American Goldfinch was a drab little bird visiting our backyard feeders, but by the time the redbud blooms he’s in bright yellow spring plumage and his tinkling, canary-like song fills the air. Goldfinch music continues well into summer because these birds don’t begin nesting until July. By getting this late start, they take advantage of thistles and other plants’ seeds to feed their young.

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Making a vivid splash of red against the woodland greenery is the male Scarlet Tanager singing his buzzy melody high in the forest canopy. The female’s dress is a more muted olive green. Listen for these birds in large stretches of deciduous woodland, including suburban parks with large trees.

Left: One of the most widespread and easily spotted warblers in our region is the Yellow Warbler. It likes to nest in wet thickets and shrubby areas, especially where there are willows. Look for a small yellow bird with a bright voice that seems to say “Sweet…sweet…sweet…I’m so sweet.”

Right: Coniferous forests are home to the Black-throated Green Warbler, particularly where there are stands of eastern hemlock trees. When the male first arrives in the Finger Lakes in late April to early May, he’ll sing all day long to stake his claim on a patch of forest. Birders translate his sweet, high-pitched song – zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee – into the phrase trees-trees-whispering-trees.

Marie Read can be contacted by e-mail at mpr5@cornell.edu or by phone at 607-539-6608. Her website is www.marieread.com Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com and listen to the spring songs of the birds presented in this article.

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Seneca Lake Wine Trail ... A Tasteful Experience

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Don’t Pour It Down the Drain!

Enjoying “Old” Finger Lakes Wine photo and story by Jason Feulner

M

ost consumers buy wine to enjoy within hours or days, often in preparation or anticipation of a social engagement. Some people stock up for the holidays or with summer revelry in mind, but these wines rarely lie in wait for more than a year. Wine shopping is usually an affair of the right now, as in “That red looks good” or “I remember liking that one” or “Look at that cute label.” A wine bought in the afternoon can already be history by the time the night ends.

Yet backlogs form all too often, especially after a trip through the Finger Lakes, where the atmosphere inspires one to buy multiple bottles Fred Frank of Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars of wine from several dif- partakes in an old riesling tasting. ferent wineries in a sinwhether this wine is worthy of serving gle day. Most of these purchases are to guests in lieu of fresher fare. It is not enjoyed quickly, but a few bottles may an unknown phenomenon that the escape notice. Years pass, and the botcontents of these older bottles will find tles collect dust in the basement. their way into the sink moments before They’re a surprising discovery four or the recyclables are gathered together in five years later when the consumer a bin on garbage night. In some cases, comes across a bottle that he or she somewhat remembers purchasing many this action might be an appropriate end to a wine that is past its prime. summers before.

However, many wines are still Unfortunately, it is unclear

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WINERIES quite alive years after their purchase, often exhibiting more complex flavors the longer they are left in bottle. Many of the white wines for which the Finger Lakes region is celebrated can last for years if stored properly. While it is still hotly debated, it is entirely possible that red wines from the Finger Lakes can age gracefully as well. Ice wines and sparkling wines, both known to do well here, are as a rule fairly hearty wine products that can last for years after bottling.

The evidence that would suggest the longevity of Finger Lakes wine is empirical. Enthusiasts have had access to older wines during a variety of special events or tastings at individual wineries.

Some local restaurants, such as the Village Tavern in Hammondsport, offer a variety of older Finger Lakes wines on their wine lists. Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes editor of the website New York Cork Report, recently ordered a bottle of 1994 Hermann Wiemer Dry Riesling from the Village Tavern. “I actually think that wine was better at 15 years than it must have been in its youth.”

Dawson says. “Of course that’s rare, but I’d say the top producers have been making age-worthy wines for some time now. It just requires a patient consumer to figure that out.”

Last summer, while attending a small event at Dr. Frank’s winery on Keuka Lake, I experienced firsthand a dramatic example of the potential to age Finger Lakes wine. Fred Frank, the winery’s owner, poured the assembled group over 10 rieslings, ranging from the most recent release, 2008, back to 1985. As we tasted the selected years in reverse chronological order, the group noted the transformation of the riesling from its well-known apple and citrus components to complex flavors like caramel, honey, petrol, and herbs. All the wines back to 1987 were in great shape. Only the 1985 with a compromised cork tasted past its prime.

Not at all surprised by the ability of Finger Lakes riesling to age 20 years and beyond, Fred Frank relates his winery’s success in aging riesling. “With our old vines and this great soil, we’ve

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demonstrated time and time again that our riesling can age well. Our cellar goes back to 1962, and in cases where the cork has held up these older wines can still show beautifully.” Frank thinks that the natural acidity in Finger Lakes wine is the key ingredient to aging.

While local observers may agree that riesling and other whites from the Finger Lakes have the potential to last a few years in the bottle, the longevity of reds is a bit more controversial.

Currently, regard for red wines from the Finger Lakes lags behind the strong reputation of the whites, with most national critics pointing to uneven ripening and depth of flavors in varieties such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and even pinot noir. Despite these general doubts, the enhanced quality shown by some producers in recent vintages is bringing hope that Finger Lakes reds have something to show with a little aging.

Morten Hallgren, whose Ravines winery has won critical acclaim for its red wine, believes that the Finger Lakes is well suited for aging reds. “It’s a common misconception that age-ability is linked to big, powerful wines from hot areas. Actually, Europe shows that it comes from balance, which is found in cooler regions. All of my red wines dating back to ’02 are still doing well and most haven’t even peaked yet. Even in cooler vintages the wines keep developing years later.”

In the world of wine, aging is presented as a complicated and sometimes expensive issue, with many of the most “age-worthy” European or Californian wines seling for hundreds of dollars upon release. For the casual wine drinker, a few conversations and a little experimentation can yield some fun results without too much investment or pretense. If you have a favorite Finger Lakes producer, ask the tasting room staff which wines the winemaker has had success in aging. If you have an absolute favorite Finger Lakes wine and typically buy quite a bit of it, dedicate yourself to placing a bottle or two in reserve and watch your collection grow.

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bottle of a certain wine during a gettogether, followed by an older version of the same wine. A little comparison of new and old brings some discussionworthy results. The older wine will often be different, sometimes a little better, and rarely almost significantly better. It’s entirely possible that the wine in question will be past its prime or nearly spoiled, which might be disappointing but still interesting. To know the limitations of a certain wine can add to one’s appreciation and knowledge of a favorite beverage.

A Few Tips for Aging Wine • Store the wine away from direct sources of light (preferably in complete dark).

• Keep the wine in a cool, moist place like a basement corner (55-65 degrees, over 60 percent humidity).

• If you’re opening a red more than a few years old, learn how to decant.

• Unless you’re spending big money on wine, don’t spend hundreds of dollars on wine cooling units and other appliances.

• Avoid vibrations.

Like consumers, winemakers are constantly learning more about aging wines. Peter Bell, winemaker at Fox Run and a 20-year veteran of the Finger Lakes, believes that most Finger Lakes reds and whites can age for several years as a rule. Yet, even he has been surprised at the discovery of a forgotten wine: “A few months ago I came across a few bottles of 10-year-old Fox Run Reserve Chardonnay that had been part of a cork trial. My instinct was to dump them, but the wine turned out to be in fantastic shape, with very appealing toast, tree fruit and nuts aromas and a great slippery texture… that was a seriously good wine.”

Jason Feulner lives in Syracuse and is the Finger Lakes Correspondent for the New York Cork Report.

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H I S T O R Y

Glimpses: The Early Years of Finger Lakes Community College

by Henry Maus, Professor Emeritus

F

inger Lakes Community College (FLCC) in Hopewell near Canandaigua, recently marked its 40th anniversary as a post secondary educational institution offering programs in the liberal arts and sciences, career related programs, and personal enrichment experiences. I had the good fortune to spend 33 years at this student-centered environment as a history instructor, meeting with students in a variety of learning environments ranging from the traditional classroom to off-campus and foreign travel.

Like most individuals, I’m prone to engage in selective and subjective memories that range over the totality of my professional life. Acknowledging that fact, it is the early years, 1970 through ’75, at what was then Community College of the Finger Lakes (CCFL) that I recall as very special. Along with numerous individuals, I was part of an experience that cannot be repeated. Collectively, we created an institution of higher education that continues to mature and grow in its mission to provide quality programs of instruction for people in the Finger Lakes region and beyond.

Storefront college years My day as an instructor in history began with a walk to Canandaigua’s South Main Street “campus.” It was 1970. My office consisted of a desk, located among a dozen or so others, in a large, undecorated room in the rear of what until recently had been a retail store selling household appliances. (picture 1). Named for owner Warren Hook, we simply referred to it as the Hook Office Building (picture 3).

Makeshift bookshelves lining pale colored walls, second hand desks, and a scattering of filing cabinets served faculty from across several humanities and social sciences disciplines. Here, we met with students, evaluated student papers, prepared for classes, and spoke with one another on a daily basis.

In the front portion of Hook Building two secretaries, Gladys Paxton and Marge Simmons, ably served faculty, together with Andrew Harkness Sr., a remarkable individual who performed the post of “college printer” as well as audiovisual specialist. One college administrator, John Clarkson, our Division Chair, occupied a small walled cubicle in the center of the building. Hook Building, certainly not a traditional setting, was my/our welcoming collegiate home base.

General education courses including English, history, psychology, mathematics, as well as those in the visual arts and natural sciences, were located in classrooms scattered Photos courtesy Finger Lakes Community College

1

Hook Offices interior (author’s desk is third from back on right)

2

The Cook House, on Grove Drive, served as administration offices.

3

The author’s instructor days started in 1970 at the Hook Office Building.

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Bottom: The Perego Building, with J.C. Penney to the left, served as classrooms for the college.

Right: The Perego Building, present day.

4

Bottom: The Sommers Building on South Main Street was once an automobile showroom.

Right: The Sommers Building, present day.

5

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along South Main Street. For students and college staff, opportunities to shop, dine, do our banking and go to the post office were easily managed. Only after moving the campus 3 miles onto Lincoln Hill, in the Town of Hopewell, with a glimpsing, distant and partial view of Canandaigua Lake, did many of us really come to fully appreciate some of the conveniences our storefront existence provided.

Throughout these downtown years all history students attended three very different classroom locations. U.S. history classes were held in the Perego Building, (picture 4) two blocks north of the Hook Office, up the slight incline of South Main Street, and past the small college bookstore. A flight of wooden steps took students and faculty to one of three classrooms above the J.C. Penney store. A single bathroom at the top of the stairs served all students and faculty.

Windows in the two forward classrooms, when opened, allowed busy Main Street traffic sounds to compete with lectures, occasional visual aids and student interactions.

Nearly a dozen other instructors had offices behind the classrooms, at the rear of Perego. Mostly male, teachers of mathematics, biology, and natural resource conservation/horticulture, seemed to me to share an esprit de corps different from the more heterogeneous faculty I knew in Hook.

Having a coffee and sandwich at the Goodie Shop on the corner, or a hamburger “with everything” (if one’s stomach was amply lined with cast iron) at the Green Front on Niagara Street, were less common occurrences for us.

Other teaching venues were in the Sommers Building (picture 5) and two portable classrooms. Sommers had been at one time the location of an automobile showroom. Unless you were crossing Canandaigua’s four lane wide Main Street at a traffic signal, not conveniently near to Hook Building, the walk to Sommers from the west side of the avenue had to be managed with a bit of daring and assured swiftness.

The front portion of the building doubled as a lounge and counseling center. Three times during the academic year it also served as the college’s course registration site, efficiently presided over by Grove Nagel, director of records. The four classrooms here were up-to-date and quiet, in contrast to those in Perego. Three portable buildings (we dared not refer to them as trailers) were located in a large parking area off the west side of South Main Street between Bristol and Antis Streets. One functioned as the Student Activities Center, while the other two were classrooms.

While the center of my rich and fulfilling life as a history educator occupied a few downtown Canandaigua blocks and one large parking lot, other faculty, staff, and colleagues were dispersed elsewhere. Physics, chemistry, and biology lab classes were held in a building just south of the Hook Building (picture 6), while art classes and a studio were located at 34 South Main, one door north of Perego. Meanwhile, students majoring in criminal justice, nursing, and several business and secretarial degree programs were attending classes in Building 7 at the sprawling Veterans’ Administration Hospital more than a mile from downtown.

Initially, the college library (Alice Fedder, director) and

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admissions (John Meuser, director) were in renovated homes on Parrish Street. Apart from the three division chairs, all the administrators, including College President Roy I. Satre, Dean Charles Meder and Chief Finance Officer Richard Wilkins, occupied offices in the Cook House (picture 2).

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©2010 Thomas Kinkade

Defining moments for CCFL Teaching in a student-centered world was, however, coupled with a serious concern. Would the relatively new national trend, what teaching colleague Jack Bricker dubbed “democracy’s community colleges,” actually become a reality for Finger Lakes?

Necessary steps had already been taken. A campus site had been secured after Ontario County, college sponsor, purchased 235 acres on Lincoln Hill for $178,000 in July, 1969. The college board of trustees, in turn, approved an $11 million campus plan in January, 1971. A month later, however, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors deleted a large sum from that figure by eliminating a multipurpose auditorium.

As for having a swimming pool, forget about it. The Canandaigua YMCA would suffice.

Then, in the midst of discussions over the nature and funding of a new campus, President Satre resigned to assume a position at Rochester Institute of Technology that June. Dr. Meder, appointed interim president, was later confirmed and inaugurated in a low-key ceremony held at Sonnenberg Gardens, itself a new start-up institution.

Nonetheless, that autumn, despite the college trustees having adopted the Nixon administration’s recommended federal wage-price freezes, the faculty was fairly upbeat. Everyone was hopeful; yet always looming was the unanswered question of whether Ontario County legislators would vote to approve a total capital construction package of $11 million. College plans included a greenhouse to support the horticulture program, a gymnasium for physical education classes and interscholastic competition, and, a scaled down multi-purpose room. Legislative approval would require the state’s Dormitory Authority and the

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citizens of Ontario County to share require 2,666 votes if every legislator equally the cost through the sale of long- was in attendance and voting, since a term bonds. two-thirds approval was necessary.

Unfortunately, relations between That evening, amid tense waiting the Ontario County Board of outside, and standing room only for Supervisors and the college trustees spectators in the supervisors’ meeting were not going well. Geneva supervisor room at the Ontario County Court William F. McGowan, chair of the eduHouse, 20 of the 21 county legislators cation committee, and trustee chair were on hand. In a preliminary vote an Raymond Probst, provided leadership amendment offered by Town of Seneca for each board. supervisor John Hicks and Town of In addition to new campus discusGorham supervisor Robert Watkins to sions, relations between the two goveliminate the smaller multipurpose erning boards were further strained room was passed, a savings of $208,000. over the college’s fiscal operation under so-called 6 “Plan A” that assigned dayto-day economic decisionmaking to the trustees. A switch to Plan C, argued for favorably by many county supervisors after a poor audit of the college’s expenditures, would enable the county to better monitor and perform their stewardship function. Faculty, administrators and trustees obviously hoped that a The science lab on South Main Street. switch would not occur.

New campus vote As 1971 became 1972, college staff strived to remain hopeful and professional. At times we seriously wondered if CCFL would survive as a viable institution. Faculty wages remained frozen.

Vigorous public discussion continued.

“Can Ontario County afford to build a new $11 million campus for CCFL?” Local media reported facts and opinions for several weeks prior to a historic supervisor vote. Letters to the editor in many regional newspapers argued both sides of the question. We anticipated that a very close supervisor vote would occur.

November 13, 1972 became one of the most dramatic days in the sevenyear, sometimes crisis ridden, history of Finger Lakes. Each of the 21 county supervisors cast a weighted vote, based on the number of citizens residing in the supervisor’s district (a legislative practice that continues today). A total of 3,999 “weighted” votes meant passage would

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The full campus construction vote occurred with 14 supervisors voting “yes.” The total weighted vote to build on Lincoln Hill was 2,828 in favor and 1,058 opposed. With the enactment of Board Resolution 318 on November 13, 1972, there would be no turning back for Community College of the Finger Lakes. Nearly 20 years later CCFL changed its name to Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC).

Creating an oral archive Belatedly, in 2000, after the deaths of John Meuser, director of admissions, and colleague Bruce Bridgmen, I took steps to create an oral archive to recollect and preserve the memories of participating CCFL faculty, staff, trustees and county supervisors who shared in the process of creation, 1965-1975.

Forty-three individuals participated in a videotape recorded session, usually lasting an hour or more.

At this writing, only John C.

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Britting of Phelps, a member of the original board of trustees, is alive and able to share memories of the trials and triumphs of that first decade.

Fortunately, I interviewed former president Charles Meder, trustee Collins Carpenter, library director Alice Fedder, and my colleague and friend Prof. Jack Bricker, all of whom have since died.

Still relevant today The goals and philosophy that molded Community College of the Finger Lakes, defining its mission and vision during those start-up years, have endured. Chartered in 1965, CCFL became a public, open-access institution committed to its students as they define, develop, and realize their educational goals and potentials.

When the first credit course semester opened in January 1968, the total enrollment was 85 fulltime and 125 part-time students. Tuition was a modest $10 per credit hour or $120 for a fulltime course load, that is 12 or more credit hours. In September 1975, enrollment at the new campus totaled 1,159 full-time and approximately 1,200 part-time students. Tuition, while still inexpensive, increased to $25 per credit hour, or $300 a semester. Visit the college website, www.flcc.edu, to learn why FLCC sincerely believes it “is the right place to start.”

For myself, those early years resonate. The first graduation ceremony I attended on June 6, 1971, was a stifling hot day. The college’s third commencement, it occurred in Geneva’s Smith Opera House. The oppressive heat was amplified by the wearing of the traditional medieval regalia of cap and gown. Attending that ceremony, I was unaware that I was just one of many individuals fortunate enough to have been part of a new venture that can only be accomplished once, creation of a new public community college.

Henry Maus served as a Professor of History at FLCC from 1970-2003. He spends his time in retirement volunteering for various community activities, traveling, biking and grandparenting.

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ne Saturday afternoon last August, I took my 14-year-old son, David, to a parkour training session in Manhattan Square Park in Rochester. Although he’s tried plenty of sports – soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming – he’s never been passionate about any of them. Still, he’s an active kid who likes to be outdoors climbing trees, trying out handstands, or practicing a spectacular dismount from the swing he has long outgrown.

One day, while searching for “back flip” videos on YouTube (I said he was a 14-year-old boy), he came across the concept of parkour – a physical discipline in which the athlete views the world as an obstacle course and moves from point A to point B in the most

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efficient way possible no matter what lies in his or her path. For example, if a picnic table is in the way, instead of going around it, he’d simply vault himself over it. Vaulting? Outdoors?

Noncompetitively? David had to find out more.

After a few Google searches, he came across Rochester Parkour, a group founded by Zachary Cohn and Charles Moreland, two students at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Zac and Charlie lead weekly parkour training sessions, and David wanted to go.

We arrived at Manhattan Square Park, and David quickly found the other athletes (called “traceurs”). The group, which numbered about 25 that day, was made up of mostly young men and a few

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VISIT BELHURST ESTATE WINERY Belhurst’s Award-winning Wines Have Won over 100 Medals women, all ranging in age from teens to mid-40s. The size and architecture of the park lends itself particularly well to a discipline like parkour. Its many stairs, half walls and railings provide a variety of obstacles and shapes to incorporate into the movements.

The session began with the participants performing a cat walk (crawling on all fours) atop the half walls of the park. This was followed by taking turns balancing on a handrail while grasping for finger holds in the adjacent brick wall. The final exercise of the day was a wall run; the traceurs were to run at a wall approximately 8 feet high, kick their feet up and pull their bodies over the top. David was first in line, and I nervously watched as he ran, leaped and successfully pulled himself up. The group cheered and the next person took her turn.

Not everyone was able to complete the exercise, and when failure happened, the instructors and other participants were quick to give advice on how to improve. The line cycled through several times, and with each round, the group became more comfortable with and encouraging of each other. When the person who hadn’t been able to get over the wall finally succeeded on the sixth try, the small crowd cheered louder than ever.

A positive spin It is this “positivity” that is especially appealing. “Pretend you’re playing baseball, you’re standing at home plate, and you strike out,” explains David.

“You’d be a disappointment to the team, and they’d let you know it. Whereas, if you’re doing parkour and don’t do something right, the other people will cheer you on and help you with each movement until you get it. It wouldn’t just be the instructor doing that either – it would be everyone. It’s a really friendly environment.”

According to Zac, it’s not just the Rochester group that is like this. “One of the big things about the national parkour community is that it is so friendly,” he told me in a recent interview. “The positivity is part of the philosophy of park-

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Parkour can be done in urban or natural surrounding.

Here, Charles Moreland practices a one-armed handstand at river's edge. Photo by Zachary Cohn

our. One of our mottoes is: ‘Be strong to be useful.’ We train and become physically strong so that if necessary we can lift someone or carry something heavy or even go out into the cold and help someone fix a flat tire.”

Zac is not only the cofounder of Rochester Parkour, he’s also the marketing coordinator of American Parkour, based in Washington, D.C. Being at the pulse point of the national community has allowed him to realize what a significant role Rochester has had in this discipline.

“When we did our beginner workshops in Rochester last March, we had 100 people show up. Since then our regular training session numbers have increased exponentially. By the end of November we were still having 40 people show up to our weekly jams [informal sessions]. That’s the biggest regular jam in the United States! Most have only five to 10 people, and a group of 20 is considered big. To have a regular jam that still gets 40 people is pretty impressive.”

Safety first Zac says the popularity of parkour has been skyrocketing, partly due to exposure in the media. The season premiere of The Office featured three of the characters attempting to do parkour

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in their workspace. The James Bond film Casino Royale also showed several impressive – and dangerous – parkour stunts. While the extreme stunts seen in the movie may be eye-catching, they are not something you’d see at a typical parkour session, say Zac and Charlie.

“The mentality of ‘go big or stay home’ has no place in parkour,” Zac explained. “People who do big things before they’re ready are the ones who are pushed out of the community. We highly discourage reckless behavior.

Because most of our training is done outdoors, if we fall there’s no padded floor under us, so we have to really focus on safety.”

How do they make movements like vaulting over a picnic table or park bench safer? By breaking everything down into small individual steps and gradually progressing to the final movement. “When you get to the last step in the progression, you’re just adding a tiny bit more,” said Zac. “Using progressive steps makes parkour safe, simple and easy.”

They also teach other traceurs how to fall and roll, knowing that if they fall during an attempted move, they need to do it in a way that is least likely to cause an injury. “In gymnastics you roll head over heals,” said Charlie. “Rolling down your spine is

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good when you have padding, but it’s not so good on concrete. We teach people how to roll from one shoulder to the opposite hip to avoid spinal contact with the ground.”

Charlie especially likes the philosophical aspect of parkour. “You realize that everything in life could be viewed as an obstacle or an opportunity, and you can brainstorm ways to turn the obstacles into opportunities. I think that’s the defining aspect of the parkour community.”

Ithaca Parkour Charlie and Zac’s role in the parkour community has extended beyond Rochester into the Finger Lake Region.

Last year they went to Ithaca to help two high school girls start a parkour community there. Sophomore Hannah Wilson and Rebecca Myers, a senior, run regular training sessions with people from all over Tompkins County.

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“We had to make it so it wasn’t affiliated with any schools,” Hannah told me. “If it were, we would have only been able to allow students from that particular school to come. In order to have more people, we chose not to affiliate with a school, but we are associated with American Parkour.”

Hannah and Rebecca do much of their training on playgrounds as the equipment allows them to practice balancing, vaulting and climbing. They also train in nature’s playground: the woods. “I like to train in nature, and I think the Finger Lakes area is good for that,” says Hannah, adding, “I do make sure that I only go in areas that we’re allowed to be in.”

The fact that parkour requires no special equipment is appealing to her.

“You don’t need anything but your body.

That’s why it’s so popular in the city.

Everything you need is there, and you don’t need money or equipment to

train. You just need the ability to move.”

At the time of our interview, Hannah’s movement had recently been limited due to a pulled hamstring. Just as I was about to grill her about safety, she added: “I haven’t injured myself doing parkour. I injured myself during English class.”

Interested in doing parkour?

Contact Zac or Charlie through www.rochesterparkour.com.

Look for Ithaca Parkour on www.facebook.com. For tutorials on how to get started, check out www.AmericanParkour.com.

Kari Anderson Pink lives in Victor with her husband and three children. In addition to freelance writing, she plays the piano, organ and harp professionally and also teaches skin care and makeup artistry. She can be contacted at karijanderson@hotmail.com.

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f you asked a dozen people to name a great getaway, it’s a good bet “monastery” would not be one of the answers. Too bad, since Finger Lakes monasteries are the ultimate reprieves from modern life, the perfect destination if you’re imagining a different kind of getaway where tranquil surroundings and simple pleasures are the attractions.

Two monasteries in the area, both home to a community of Benedictine monks, offer overnight accommodations to people of all faiths or no faith, though they’re also ideal spots to visit for a day. While these are religious communities, uninvited proselytizing of visitors is considered inhospitable, a violation of St. Benedict’s instruction to “welcome the stranger.”

Hospitality, as practiced by Benedict of Nursia for whom the Benedictine Order is named, dates to the sixth century. Toward the end of his life the venerable Benedict wrote a colThe Bethany residence offer fully equipped kitchens.

Photo courtesy Abbey of the Genesee

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lection of instructions called The Rule of St. Benedict describing how monks, and later, nuns, should live together in a community dedicated to prayer, work, study and perpetual welcoming.

“Beautiful Valley” – Abbey of the Genesee Brother Anthony Weber, one of 30 Trappist monks at the Abbey of the Genesee, described the monastery as “… an oasis for people caught up in the desert of contemporary life: endless information, endless consumption, endless anxiety.” Located on more than 2,000 acres in Piffard, a small hamlet near SUNY Geneseo, this Trappist Benedictine community was founded in 1951. Forest, ravines, rolling hills and a meandering creek take up 1,200 acres, while fields comprise another 1,200, helping maintain the Abbey’s rural solitude. Visitors are welcome to use the many trails on the property for walking

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Beautiful vistas on the abbey’s property offer visitors moments of quiet contemplation.

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want ‘‘I THAT look.’’

Photo courtesy Abbey of the Genesee

and hiking. Spectacular views of the Genesee Valley at some of the higher elevations add to the sense of quietude that envelops guests.

Monk’s Bread, a brand widely distributed in supermarkets and grocery stores across Western and Central New York, is baked in the abbey’s bakery, its signature product. It is also the single greatest source of financial support for the monastery’s operations. Second greatest are the abbey’s guest services.

Three residences, known as retreat houses, are maintained for overnight accommodations of individuals, couples or groups. The different houses, known as Bethlehem, Bethany and Nazareth, all provide comfortably furnished, private bedrooms with shared baths.

Two of the residences, Bethany and Nazareth, feature fully equipped kitchens with basic food supplies, and are designed for visitors who want to set their own schedule of meals and activities. Bethlehem is for guests interested in a slightly more structured visit.

Twice a day, visitors come together for meals and are asked to observe silence while eating, mirroring the practice of the monks. Silence is also requested inside the residence, though a Speaking Room on the first floor is always available. Though keeping silence may sound daunting, Brother Anthony assured me most people quickly embrace the practice.

A Hilltop Sanctuary – Mount Saviour Established in 1951, the current Mount Saviour community is home to 11 monks. Because of its location in

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Seven daily services are held at the Mount Saviour chapel. Photo by Jan Bridgeford Smith

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the beautiful, verdant hills between Elmira and Corning, visitors are treated to dramatic views of hillsides and meadows, rich landscapes of color and shadow that change hour by hour depending on the slant of the sun or the thickness of the clouds.

Mount Saviour owns slightly more than 1,000 acres of land. Approximately 300 acres are used for raising sheep. The sale of lambs, yarn and pelt products are a source of income for the community.

In mid-April, visitors are treated to hillside pastures filled with capering lambs.

A highlight of late spring is the annual shearing, an event that draws a large audience of local residents.

Mount Saviour also earns a modest income from guests interested in staying for at least two nights or longer. The largest of the visitor accommodations is St. Joseph’s Men’s Guest House. It has 15 small private rooms with shared baths, common areas and a fully equipped kitchen, though male guests are invited to eat with the monks in the monastery.

St. Gertrude’s Guest House for women and couples sits on a hilltop pinnacle and commands amazing views. It offers two double rooms and three single-bed rooms. Meals for women guests are served at this residence.

St. Peter’s Farm House, the West Casa and East Casa are located close to the chapel and monastery. In addition to furnished sleeping quarters, these residences are equipped with private kitchens. They are available to men, women and married couples who want a

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Sheep raised on the property are a source of income for the abbey. Photo by Jan Bridgeford Smith

more private stay. Guests may bring and prepare their own food if they wish.

Everyone is welcome to attend any of the seven daily services held in the monastery’s chapel, which is worth a visit regardless. The octagon sanctuary of stone and wood, surrounded by high windows, is suffused with natural light, its central altar beneath a soaring, vaulted ceiling. A superb 15th century triptych from the Flemish School provides the backdrop for a second shrine known as The Altar of the Blessed Sacrament.

In the quiet darkness of the chapel’s crypt, a 14th century statue, Our Lady Queen of Peace from the French School, stands on a low, columned pedestal. Dancing flames from dozens of votive candles create intricate patterns of pulsing light against her carved figure.

Common threads Monasteries exude a palpable calm, still havens surrounded; yet untouched, by the hurly-burly of contemporary life.

Some might say it’s the “otherworldliness” of the monks that makes for this serene ambience, but I suspect the power of a monastery resides in the sense that it’s a place where ancient truths are revealed, and important questions resolved. Brother Cronen of Mount Saviour told me, “At some time, everyone tries to understand the meaning of life. Here, enveloped by nature and hushed routines, it dawns on you that the ordinary is quite extraordinary. This is where the meaning – that indeed, this is what life is all about – is found.”

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Niles Gourmet BISTRO All Organic with a Specialty Market ~Slow-Cooked, Handmade Rustic Italian Cuisine

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Trainer uses unique methods to change dogs’ behaviour

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Amy Holtz is shown with her German Shepherd Sierra and foster dog Hank who has since been adopted through Rudy’s Rescue. Photo courtesy Amy Holtz

L

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ittle did Amy Holtz know when she developed a passion for dogs at a young age that she would one day provide frustrated dog owners with hope. Through her work at a Labrador Retriever rescue she founded called Rudy’s Rescue, she discovered many owners release their dogs to shelters for behavioral issues.

“I knew there had to be a way to stop this,” said Holtz, “and provide a resource for their owners, rather than getting rid of their dog. To show them there’s a way out and there’s hope.” She did just that when she decided to become a dog whisperer.

Holtz, who is now New York’s dog whisperer for Monroe, Orleans, Ontario and Wayne Counties through America’s Dog Whisperer Inc., had to go through extensive hands-on training to earn her title. It was her job to find clients, and then train in their home with her boss, who would fly from Arizona, along with

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another dog whisperer from New Jersey.

“You can do it through book study,” said Holtz, “but until you actually get your hands on the dogs, and on the clients, you’re only as good as turning a page in a book.”

Sometimes when people learn Holtz is a dog whisperer, they look on it with skepticism and a sense of humor. “A lot of times when you say dog whisperer, people think of “Ghost Whisperer” where I’m talking to the dead or something,” said Holtz. “They really just don’t understand what it is, but once I explain it to them, they find it very intriguing.” And many times, she actually gets a client out of it, Holtz added.

So what exactly is dog whispering?

“It’s behavior; it’s not obedience,” said Holtz. “We do not teach obedience because that does not change a dog’s behavior. There are many dogs out there that know sit, stay or come, but still bark like crazy or bite people when they

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come in the house. So what good is that? You really need the behavior to have a dog that’s well behaved and well trained.” Holtz said there is no need for shock collars, spray bottles or other gadgets in the work she does. “It’s all behavior based on leadership.”

America’s Dog Whisperers teaches behavior based on “the four essentials,” which Holtz says helps owners become a leader of their dog. The four elements Holtz teaches both dogs and their owners are Leadership, Walks, Rules and Good Nutrition. “If you practice the four essentials, your dog will feel like you are the leader and it will feel like it’s in a stable environment.”

The four essentials are not some grandiose method for dog behavior – they’re all about getting back to basics.

“A lot of us humanize our pets these days,” said Holtz. “Everybody’s dressing them up. Everybody’s putting them on buggie carriages and carrying them around, when really they are dogs. Dogs come from wolves.” Holtz said to take a look at the National Geographic Channel. “You don’t see a pack of wolves getting dressed up or playing games. So you kind of need to step it back a bit and go back to the essentials – what does a wolf need? Then what does a dog need?”

Holtz said each element of the four essentials is key to having a stable dog – and you can’t have one without the other, she said. “If you practice our four things, the behavior of your dog will be stable, no questions asked.”

Holtz explained the significance of each essential, and how it relates to both wolves and our pets. “With leadership, any pack member knows to follow the leader,” Holtz said. “Walks are important in a dog’s life because, going back to when they were wolves, they weren’t handed food. You take a dog out on a hunt, if you will, to hunt for their food.” Holtz said with wolves, it wasn’t like they sat in a cave and a bunny dropped from the sky. They had to work for food, and that’s what a dog should think he’s doing. “You bring them back after a walk and you feed them.”

As far as rules go, Holtz said in a pack of wolves, there are rules. “If a dog

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D A Y

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Coming in May 2010 to a newsstand near you!

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or a wolf misbehaves, the pack leader is going to correct them,” she said. Finally, good nutrition provides a “solid foundation to have all those things fall in place.” Holtz said many times owners buy dog food because the bag looks petty or they’ve seen a lot of advertisements, when in reality, the ingredients on the label prove to be bad for their pets. “A lot of dog foods out there have wheat and corn in it which is not good for dogs,” she said. “We ask the owners to go to their cupboards and bring out their bags of treats and food and we’ll look though the ingredient list with them and say ‘this is good,’ ‘this is bad.’”

Although Holtz doesn’t recommend any brand of dog food in particular, she gives the owner a list of what to look for when shopping. “If you look at the label, you’re not feeling your dog what it really needs, which is protein, vegetables, and fruits,” she said. Holtz equated a dog’s good nutrition to children doing well in school. “If you’re feeding kids Kool-Aid and junk, they’re going to misbehave, but if you give them good foods so they have a stable foundation, they’re going to have a better chance at being successful in school,” she said.

In addition to going over nutrition, Holtz has the owner involved in every aspect of the session. “We can’t do it without the owner,” said Holtz. Even though she offers a board and training program at her home, she pushes the in-home sessions because that’s where the problems occur. “The owner gets involved right from the beginning,” said Holtz. “It’s all hands-on. I show them how to do it, they do it, and I don’t leave their home until they’ve demonstrated they can do what I do with their dog.”

And that can take a while. “We tell people the average is four hours for the initial session,” said Holtz. “With some people, I’m in and out within three hours, and with others, I’m there for five.” Holtz said as far as payment goes, there’s no set charge for this dog or that dog. When Holtz is contacted by an owner, she sends out a client profile which the owner fills out, explaining the problem and listing the names and number of dogs. “We quote everybody

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based on their individual circumstance.”

When Holtz gets asked if she does the same work as Cesar Millan on National Geographic’s “Dog Whisperer,” she likes to joke that, “Yes, but we’re a lot less expensive, and we’re taller.”

Holtz said Millan makes millions of dollars for each show, whereas America’s Dog Whisperers is a lot more realistic for the average person in Geneva or Canandaigua. The other difference is “Cesar will correct and stare at a dog, where we teach stare and ignore,” Holtz said. She said Millan gets dogs a little pumped up for the show, but also a lot of footage never winds up on TV. “When we see a client, we’re there for hours,” Holtz said, “but when you see his show and cut out all the commercials, you’re lucky if that’s 40 minutes.”

Even though the process may take longer than an episode of “Dog Whisperer,” Holtz promises each client that within ten minutes of her coming into their home, they will see a change in their dog. “Usually it’s nothing—it’s just my presence and my energy,” said Holtz. “There’s a certain energy required of a dog whisperer to be a pack leader with dogs. It’s the simple things I do and what I put in place that makes the dog stop – it makes them feel more comfortable.”

Holtz said there has never been a single failed session. “As long as the owner follows what we do, it always works,” she said. “I tell the owner ‘You have to do this, this and this, and if you do for seven days, I promise you, you will have a better dog.’” Holtz said it’s hard for clients to stick to the plan and trust that it’s going to work. “But when they get through those seven days,” Holtz said, “they call you and say, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you. I know I called you every day and bugged you, but it worked. Everyone says my dog is completely different. My jaw is still hanging open.’”

For more information about Amy Holtz or America’s Dog Whisperers Inc. visit www.americasdogwhispererinc.com or www.hope4yourcanine.com. E-mail Holtz at dawgsrkids2@ rochester.rr.com.

She can be reached by phone at 585-261-1088.

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ake it a day in the country. From fine furniture, gifts and collectibles to casually elegant luncheon dining, our shops offer a unique shopping experience. Relax and enjoy the country.

The Loomis Barn - Fine home furnishings and accessories Corn House Cafe - Open for lunch specialty sandwiches, homemade soups Visit our Sugar House during Maple Weekend. March 20 & 21.

Check our website for details.

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FAST FACTS INFO PAGE 81

THE CHESHIRE UNION Gift Shop & Antique Center

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bubbling over with art that’s sublime and things that tell time, whimsical crocks, frippery and frocks, bushels of books, some even for cooks, jewelry and posies, quilts that are cozy, fabrics and notions, soaps, herbs and potions, amusements and toys for girls and for boys!

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C A L E N D A R

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MARCH

APRIL

6…Ganondagan's Cornhusk Doll Workshop Come, make and dress an authentic Seneca No Face Cornhusk doll with Ronnie Reitter, a Ganondagan Seneca Interpreter. Listen to the story of why faces are not put on the dolls, and learn the important role of corn to the Haudenosaunee people. Held at Ganondagan Visitor Center, 1488 State Route 444 in Victor.

585-742-1690 www.ganondagan.org

6… National Tartan Day A Cortland Celtic Festival annual fundraiser event.

Celebrate your Scottish heritage during our Ceilidh Evening of great music, featuring internationally renowned Celtic fiddler Kathy Selby. This evening open to all bagpipers wishing to come down and participate. Wear your kilt and enter our knobby knees contest. Everyone is invited to bring your instruments and join in the fun. Admission is $10 ($5 if you are wearing a kilt). 5 to 9 p.m. at Hairy Tony's Pub and Fare on Main Street in Cortland. tartandaycortland@gmail.com

6-7....Kiwanis Antique Show and Sale March 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduced admission for seniors.

Fifty top dealers from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada, participate in this show. Selection of antiques is quite varied, including furniture, glassware, paintings, jewelry, clocks, and old documents of local interest. Many dealers have participated in the show for over 25 years. The quality of antiques is exceptional.

Location is New York State Armory on Route 39 just north of County Court House in Geneseo.

585-243-0705 rplatt@frontiernet.net 12…Family Night at the Museum Kids and parents can enjoy a free night out at the Corning Museum of Glass. Explore the galleries, see glass demonstrations, make fun crafts and enjoy live entertainment. 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and no registration is required. Contact Louise Maio at maiolm@cmog.org or 607-974-4084 for more information. www.cmog.org 20-21…Maple Weekend at the Arnot Forest Join us Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an old fashion pancake breakfast.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili available noon to 4 p.m. Watch and learn how maple syrup is made.

Taste real maple syrup and smell the comforting aroma that fills the sugarhouse as the sap is boiled. Held at Arnot Teaching & Research Forest, 611 County Route 13 in Van Etten.

607-535-9790 www.mapleweekend.com 25...Remember the Ladies: A History of American Women in Song Accompanying herself on mountain and hammered dulcimers and guitar, music historian Linda Russell will explore the images of 18th and 19th century-American women as reflected in the popular songs of the day. The program begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the general public at the Chemung Valley History Museum in Elmira.

607-734-4167 www.chemungvalleymuseum.org 28…Henry Rollins Frequent Flyer Tour to hit Castaways The legend, Henry Rollins, will bring his latest spoken word barrage to Castaways in Ithaca on Sunday March 28th. Get welcomed back from spring break in the unique Rollins style. Come see this amazing wordsmith and ex-leader of Black Flag and his own Rollins Band (among others) visit Ithaca for the first time in many years.

607-280-2900 www.dansmallspresents.com

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10…Annual Fundraising Steak Roast Dinner Held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Alling Coverlet Museum 122 William Street in Palmyra. Allen Hopkins will play his Erie Canal music. Door prizes and a great silent auction. Steaks are made to order and it’s a full six-course dinner $25 per person. All funds support Historic Palmyra’s four amazing museums.

315-597-0011 or 315-597-6981 10-11…2010 Home Show – Finger Lakes Home Builders & Remodelers Association April 10 – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 11 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Get a jump start on your home improvement projects. Come get ideas, see new products and meet professionals who can bring your plans to life. Held at Wings of Eagles in Horseheads. To see a list of our members visit www.fingerlakes builders.com 607-937-6244 office@fingerlakesbuilders.com 11…orKIDStra: Mr. Smith's Composition Ever wonder how to compose music? Conductor Michael Butterman conducts this piece demonstrating how music is created. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children. 2 p.m. at Performance Hall at Hochstein in Rochester.

585-454-2100 www.rpo.org 24…Polar Bear Plunge Held rain or shine in Watkins Glen at Anchor Inn & Marina/Tiki Bar, 3425 Salt Point Road. Take a chilly dip in Seneca Lake or watch someone else.

607-535-4159 www.anchorinn-marina.com 30…Artists Opening Reception at Yates Gallery Opening Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Yates Gallery at the Yates County Arts Council in Penn Yan. Featuring paintings by Lynette Blake, sculpture by Sam Castner, and photography by Daniel Crozet. The reception is free and open to the public. Exhibit runs through June 7 during gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

315-536-8226 www.ycac.org 30…Fishing Derby Lake Ontario Counties’ Spring Fishing Derby. Adult and youth derby, categories include salmon, brown, lake or rainbow/steelhead trout and walleye. $10,000 grand prize. Adults $30, youth $15 888-733-5246 www.loc.org

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FAST FACTS AD INFO SPRING 2010 Company

Page

Phone

E-mail Address

Company

Page

Phone

E-mail Address

Annie Walker’s ..............................80......(315)781-2141 ....dabunnell@mail.com

Kendal at Ithaca ............................13......(800)253-6325 ....bschermerhorn@kai.kendal.org

Belhurst ........................................27......(315)781-0201 ....deborah@belhurst.com

Keuka College................................46......(315)536-4411 ....dlippinc@keuka.edu

Belhurst Winery ............................69......(315)781-0201 ....deborah@belhurst.com

Keuka Family Dentistry..................70......(607)776-7656 ....keukafamilydentistry@ hotmail.com

Best Western Vineyard Inn ............73......(888)414-5253 ....lynn@rentalplus.com Brawdy Marine Construction ........47......(716)741-8714 ....carole@brawdyconstruction.com

Keuka Lake Wine Trail ..................60......(800)440-4898 ....info@keukawinetrail.com

Bristol Builders..............................75......(585)586-8370 ....gmusnicki@bristolbuilders.com

Kidders Landing ............................76......(607)532-3446 ....scottdolphin1@aol.com

Bristol Harbour..............................29......(585)396-2200 ....lstewart@bristolharbour.com

King Ferry Winery ........................79......(315)364-5100 ....taciekfw@dreamscape.com

Caves Millwork ..............................29......(315)548-4000 ....cavesmillwork@yahoo.com

Kitschen Sink ................................79......(607)277-4914 ....elisearts@gmail.com

Cheshire Union Gift Shop..............79......(585)394-5530 ....fbrund9@frontiernet.net

Lady of the Lake Suites ................75......(888)414-5253 ....gloria@themediaconnection.net

Church Creative Flooring ..............73......(315)531-8178 ....ccflooring@adelphia.net

Loomis Barn..................................79......(585)554-3154 ....loomiscs@frontiernet.net

Clark Meadows at Ferris Hills........21......(585)396-6472 ....melanie.gallahan@ thompsonhealth.org

Lyons National Bank......................C3 ....(315)789-5011 ....kschaub@lyonsbank.com

Clifton Springs Hearing Center......69......(315)462-1368 ....rockefellerh@cliftonhearing.com

Monroe Community College..........44......(585)292-2000 ....cherrera@monroecc.edu

Cobtree..........................................19......(315)759-5400 ....robert@cobtree.com

New Energy Works Timber Framers ............................C4 ....(800)486-0661 ....iain@newenergyworks.com

Community Bank ..........................78......(315)789-7700 ....b.rand@communitybankna.com

Marvin Windows & Doors ............5........(800)334-3430 ....ny@marvinny.com

Cortland Downtown Partnership ....23......(607)753-4928 ....lloyd@cortlanddowntown.com

Niles Gourmet ..............................76......(315)784-5015 ....chezsandie@syracuse.net

Cricket on the Hearth ....................77......(585)385-2420 ....crickethearth1@aol.com

Phelps ..........................................11......(315)548-8900 ....phelpsbdtc@zoom-dsl.com

Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars......62......(607)868-4884 ....frankwines@aol.com

Red Jacket Orchards ....................77......(315)781-2749 ....bnich@redjacketorchards.com

Earle Estates Meadery ..................58......(315)536-1210 ....meadery@hotmail.com

Rockwell Museum of Western Art ..2........(607)937-5386 ....harveyb@rockwellmuseum.org

Elderberry Pond ............................67......(315)252-3977 ....lou@elderberrypond.com

Schamel Brothers..........................35......(607)351-6934 ....gschamel@htva.net

Elizabeth Brewster House..............12......(607)749-2442 ....tobuck.brewsterhouse @cnymail.com

Seneca Lake Wine Trail ................58......(877)536-2717 ....paul@senecalakewine.com

Elm Croft Manor............................C2 ....(800)506-3071 ....JoRichholly@aol.com

Spa Apartments ............................74......(315)462-3080 ....orandalll@spaapartments.com

Esperanza ......................................16......(315)536-4400 ....timr@esperanzamansion.com

Syracuse Flower & Garden Show (Baringer & Associates) ................31......(800)979-1879 ....nyevents@baringerevents.com

Finger Lakes Community College ..45......(585)394-3500 ....marcinhc@flcc.edu

Southside Hearing Center..............77......(585)243-7690 ....ksbrady2003@yahoo.com

Finger Lakes Photography ............19......(315)685-9099 ....info@fingerlakesphotography.com

Taughannock Farms Inn ................68......(607)387-7711 ....shg2592@aol.com

Finger Lakes Premier Properties ..27......(315)536-2201 ....abanach@flpplake.com

The Shops at Ithaca Mall ..............80......(607)257-5338 ....linn@pyramidithaca.com

Finger Lakes Tram ........................36......(315)986-8090 ....sritchie@ankom.com

Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery 65......(315)548-8544 ....jcheney@cheneycpa.com

Finger Lakes Wine Festival ............16......(607)535-2486 ....gcook@theglen.com

Timber Frames ..............................21......(585)374-6405 ....timberframes@msn.com

Five Star Bank ..............................74......(585)786-4335 ....kahoerner@five-starbank.com

Timberpeg ....................................12......(603)542-7762 ....rconant@timberpegeast.com

The Furniture Doctor ....................36......(585)657-6941 ....furndoc@frontiernet.net

Torrey Ridge Winery......................58......(315)536-1210 ....meadery@hotmail.com

Geneva on the Lake ......................70......(607)844-3675 ....info@genevaonthelake.com

Warfield’s Restaurant ....................35......(315)462-7184 ....info@warfields.com

German Brothers Marina ..............10......(585)394-4000 ....rag@germanbrothers.com

Waterloo Premium Outlets ............3........(315)539-1100 ....tchisman@cpgi.com

Gleason Geothermal ......................6........(585)534-9029 ....andrew@gleasonheating.com

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel ............15......(607)535-6116 ....adegner@harthotels.com

Handwork ......................................7........(607)273-9400 ....handwork@lightlink.com Hansen Products ..........................66......(705)455-9751 ....bhewson@hanflo.com

MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING Accommodations ..............................................................................................Pgs. 86-87

Harvest Homes..............................19......(518)895-2341 ....Jean@harvesthomes.com

Attractions ........................................................................................................Pgs. 82-83

Hill Country Tram ..........................9........(512)264-8726 ....buster@bustercole.com

Camping ..................................................................................................................Pg. 83

Hilton Garden Inn ..........................72......(607)277-8900 ....kelli.cartmill@hilton.com

Canandaigua ............................................................................................................Pg. 71

Holiday Inn - Ithaca ......................65......(607)272-1000 ....agottehrer@harthotels.com

Higher Education ..............................................................................................Pgs. 43-46 (See www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com/highereducation)

Hope Lake Lodge ..........................23......(607)835-6300 ....gkryger@greekpeak.net Hotel Clarence ..............................66......(877)788-4010 ....johlin@hotelclarence.com

Naples ......................................................................................................................Pg. 37

I.D. Booth ......................................17......(607)733-9121 ....tpaddock@idbooth.com

Real Estate ........................................................................................................Pgs. 50-51

Inn at the Finger Lakes..................65......(315)253-5000 ....jlewis@HartHotels.com

Seneca Lake Wine Trail......................................................................................Pgs. 58-59

Inn on the Lake ............................67......(800)228-2801 ....burns@hudsonhotels.com

Shop Here! Retail & Business ....................................................................Pgs. 84-85, 87

The Jewelbox ................................77......(800)711-7279 ....podunkwife@gmail.com

Wineries....................................................................................................................Pg. 61

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ATTRACTIONS Wayland Historical Museum

Patterson Inn Museum

Cr. S. Main & Washington Sts. Wayland, NY

585-728-3610 or 728-5108 Open Sun 2-4PM Mon 10AM-Noon By appointment

Fingerlakes Fly Fishing Guide Service

59 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY 607-937-5281 Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm Museum complex features a tavern c1796, log house c1850, schoolhouse c1878, agricultural barn and blacksmith.

www.PattersonInnMuseum.org

Seneca Falls Historical Society We maintain a 23-room Queen Anne Style Victorian Mansion circa 1890, as a home of a wealthy Victorian family.

www.fingerlakesflyfishing.com Guided fly fishing trips to local streams in the picturesque Finger Lakes region. From novice to expert. NYSOGA Licensed (#4405) and Insured.

David Passmore • Ithaca, NY • 607-387-3792

55 Cayuga St., Seneca Falls (315)568-8412 • www.sfhistoricalsociety.org

Museum 8419 State Rte 54 Hammondsport, NY 14840 Ph: (607)569-2160 www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org

PhG Tours

The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum

25th Anniversary

Glenn H.

Excursion Development and Support In The Finger Lakes Region

Jennifer Cleland, Ph.D.

333 Spencer Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 www.phgtours.com • jc@phgtours.com • (607) 319-4951 Yates County Genealogical & Historical Society Museums

Seward House We invite you to visit Seward House, the historic home of statesman William H. Seward and his family.

A

welcomed sight since 1870, the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum awaits to welcome you. Climb the Victorian cast-iron staircase to enjoy views of Great Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario and the beautifully situated lighthouse garden. Take pleasure in our FREE afternoon concerts beginning July 4th and every following Sunday through Labor Day weekend! Whatever your reason, steal away to enjoy the simple pleasures only nature and time can provide.

See you at the Lighthouse!

7606 N. Ontario St., Sodus Point, NY 14555 315-483-4936 www.soduspointlighthouse.org OPEN: May through October, Tues. to Sun. 10 am to 5pm.

Closed Mondays (except holidays) This organization is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, which is administered locally by Phelps Art Center, Phelps, NY.

Seward House features an extensive collection of Civil War memorabilia and early Alaskan artifacts.

33 South Street Auburn (315)252-1283 www.sewardhouse.org

200 Main Street, Penn Yan

The L. Caroline Underwood Museum and the Oliver House Museum, home of Yates County history. Research center, period rooms, changing exhibits.

Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-4pm, Saturdays by appointment

315-536-7318 www.yatespast.org

National Memorial Day Museum Waterloo, NY Open Tue-Sat 10A.M. - 5P.M. April 8 - December 15 TH

(315) 539-0533

TH

And by appointment

The National Memorial Day Museum commemorates the founding of Memorial Day through period rooms (1866) and exhibits that highlight the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

TROPHY TROUT PRIVATE TROUT PRESERVE Catch 1 to 10 Pound Trout Exclusive Access by Appointment Only No License Required. No Closed Season. No Limit.

Barbless Artificial Lures and Flies Only Please Call for Information and Directions

607-546-7308 • 607-546-8217 • 570-877-2605

Finger Lakes Free Range Farms 4644 County Route 4, Burdett, NY 14818

“Wayne County & the Burnt-over District” Exhibit runs from March 5 - August 7

Museum Hours: Tues.- Fri. 10am-4pm (Closed Saturdays until April 3)

Closed Sun. & Mon. Admission Adults $4, Students $2, Members free!

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ATTRACTIONS C A L E N D A R

on Seneca Lake

Roy’s Marina, Inc. Boat Rental, Cottage Rental, Repairs Fuel Dockage, Storage

MAY 1…Philharmonics: Ravishing Rachmaninoff Guest conductor Rossen Milanov and our own Principal Trumpet Douglas Prosser perform Tomasi's demanding Trumpet Concerto at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre in Rochester. Other works include Ginastera and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3. Show begins at 8 p.m.

585-454-2100 www.rpo.org

4398 Clarks Pt. 3 miles South of Geneva off Rt. 14

“Over 57yrs. experience”

315-789-3094

CAMPING CHERRY GROVE CAMPGROUND

From Tenting to Large RVs Located near Lake Ontario.

Family oriented park with seasonal and overnight accommodations.

Heated pool • Cabins available Group discounts for 6+ Easy pull-through sites • 30/50 amp hook-ups

www.cherrygrovecampground.com

(315)594-8320

• 100 Acres • 60´x80´ sites w/ Full Hook-ups • Modern Facilities • Wi-Fi

Cheerful Valley Campground

Family Camping at its Best Free Vintage Fire Truck Rides • Real Log Cabins Planned Activities • Themed Weekend • All Type Sites Large Swimming Pool • Ceramic Tile Rest Rooms Rec. Hall • Playground • Great Fishing • Large Fields Peaceful River Valley • Large Grassy Sites 1412 Rt. 14 Phelps, NY 14532 Ph: 315-781-1222 • cheerfulvalley@rochester.rr.com www.cheerfulvalleycampground.com

585-229-2290 • e-mail: brwoodland@aol.com • www.bristolwoodlands.com

4835 South Hill Road • Canandaigua, NY 14424

Clute Memorial Park & Campground 155 S. Clute Park Drive Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Ph: (607)535-4438 • www.watkinsglen.us

5…Five Course Love Straight from Off-Broadway, the lip-smacking musical first developed at Geva triumphantly returns home. 5 restaurants. 15 characters. Cupid aims to triumph with a recipe for love at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester 585-232-Geva www.gevatheatre.org 7…West End Gallery: Tom Gardner Recent Work by Tom Gardner from May 7 to June 11. Opening reception Friday, May 7, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Gallery Talk with Tom Gardner Saturday May 22. Held at West End Gallery in Corning. www.westendgallery.net 14-23…Master Gardeners Of Monroe County Plant Sale Unusual and common annual, perennial, organic vegetable, herb plants, shrubs and trees will be available for purchase. Daily sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions and help select plants. Located at Cornell Cooperative Extension 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester.

585-461-1000

• Recreation/ • Ice Playground • Propane • Pavilion • Cabin • Fishing Pond Rentals • Large Pool • Tent Cabin • Store • Hiking Trails • Yoga classes Free on Saturdays

on Seneca Lake - Himrod, NY - off Rt. 14 607-243-5994 or 607-243-7926 4 cottages for rent plus campsites info@backacherscampsites.com www.backacherscampsites.com

2…Save Your Memories Workshop Learn how to care for photos and paper keepsakes.

Experts from regional libraries will offer lectures on the preservation and digitization of personal items, and provide an overview of handling and storing photos. One-on-one consultations will be offered.

Bring select keepsakes for advice. 1 to 4 p.m. at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning.

Admission is free but registration is requested.

Contact Jennifer Russell, Southeast Steuben County Library, at 607.936.3713, ext. 208. www.cmog.org

Hejamada Campground & RV Park PO Box 429, Montezuma, NY 13117

Located in the Finger Lakes Region Come see why we’re the ideal campground for caravans, jamborees, group functions, families and individual campers.

(315)776-5887 • 877-678-0647 www.hejamadacampground.com

Family Camping at its best!

22-23…Wildlife Extravaganza A family event featuring many live exotic animals and animal related activities. Includes a petting zoo, reptile displays, endangered and unusual animals, pony rides, wildlife show, vendors, and seminars. Held at Wayne County Fairgrounds, Floral building, Palmyra.

315-926-0525 www.woweewildlife.org 31…Memorial Day Parade Held on Genesee Street in Auburn. 11 a.m. parade followed by musical entertainment and the Kiwanis Duck Derby.

315-255-4104

W E B

E X T R A

For more events, explore our online calendar at www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com.

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Retail & Business

MAKE YOUR OWN WINE

www.fallbright.com Secure online shopping Winemaking Information

Lake Country

Patchwork Fabric, Books, Patterns, Classes Monday-Saturday 10-5 • Sunday 11-4

Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe • Keuka Lake 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY • 607-292-3995

Copper Beacons Herb Shop Estates | Households | Sales

Specializing in antiques and collectibles.

Delivering great results since 1971.

Please call us for a complimentary consultation. www.elliepalmer.com 585-944-4811

67 Shethar Street, Hammondsport • 607-569-3530 patchwork@infoblvd.net • www.LakeCountryPatchwork.com

Our specialty is organic culinary and decorative herbs Fresh herbs / Dried herbs and spices Specialty teas / tea accessories Herbal products / crafts One-of-a-kind theme gift baskets Plus much more Come visit the Farm

3883 County Rd. 143, Trumansburg, NY 14886 Thu.-Sat. 11-5, Sun. 1-5 • 607-387-5240 ecollins@FLTG.net • www.copperbeacons.com North of the village of Trumansburg, left off Rt. 96

Great Gift!

Great Price!

3 years - 12 issues for only $28.95

Call 800-344-0559 Today or visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com

Folks from the beautiful Finger Lakes Region have enjoyed millions of cups of coffee from Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters for over twelve years. Our travels and roasting experience allow us to locate the highest quality beans from all over the globe. Freshness is guaranteed. Please visit us or purchase a bag of beans online!

www.fingerlakescoffee.com 800-420-6154

Visit our locations.

Farmington Corner of Routes 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) 585-742-6218

Pittsford Plaza Monroe Ave. (Next to Michael’s) 585-385-0750

Strong Memorial Hospital Thompson Hospital

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Retail & Business SHOP

"Discover Ithaca" An essential DVD for visitors and new residents.

Send $19.95 which includes NYS tax & shipping to: WWW.FINGERLAKESCOFFEEHOUSE.COM

15 State Route 224, Van Etten, NY 14889 607-589-9901

IMAGE MASTERS MULTIMEDIA 1465 DANBY ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850

HERE!

f i ng e r L a k e s s o a p c o .

Wholesale Natural Soap Outlet Now Open!

15 State Route 224, Van Etten, NY 14889

www.fingerlakessoap.com Photography by

Discover...

Two Floors of Distinctive Gifts, Including Our Year ’Round Seasonal Shops Normal Business Hours Mon-Sat Closed Sundays 2 West Main Street, Clifton Springs 315-548-4438

4 North Main St. Honeoye Falls 14424

We are a FULL SERVICE salon and spa! call 585-624-1000 www.ccandcospa.com Finger Lakes from Space

POSTER Take the Finger Lakes home with you with this stunning poster of the Finger Lakes Region from Space! The photograph, taken by satellite, consists of high-detail satellite imagery with overlaid map information. The map detail consists of cities, towns, main and secondary highways as well as airports, the Erie Canal, state parks and many other features of interest. There is no other poster of the Finger Lakes as beautiful and informative as this one. Poster size - 25˝ x 39˝.

315.789.1082 • Geneva, NY www.neilsjoblom.com

Over 700 REAL LOG HOMES Built in the Finger Lakes Area Since 1971.

Call for Monthly OPEN HOUSES www.loghomeguy.com www.realloghomes.com

Call Ed Schoen • 800-736-4360

FRANKLIN STREET Gallery

209 North Franklin St., Watkins Glen, NY 607-535-2751

Wedding, Housewarming & Special Occasion Gifts by Regional Artists

LW EMPORIUM CO-OP Gifts, Antiques & Home Décor and

WHISTLE STOP ANTIQUE CENTER

10am-5pm Tues thru Sun • Closed Mon Paper Poster: $22.95 • Laminated Poster: $29.95

Call 1-800-331-7323 to order.

Dealer inquires invited.

www.atwatervineyards.com

Wed.- Fri. 12-5PM & Sat. 10AM-3PM Additional hours by appointment or chance

www.arcofschuyler.org

6355 Knickerbocker Road off 104 in Ontario 315-524-8841 • www.lwemporium.com

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ACCOMMODATIONS

P

eaceful country home that compliments the Finger Lakes.

Yale Manor Bed & Breakfast

563 Yale Farm Road Romulus, NY 14541 315 585 2208 www.yalemanor.com

Great Gift! Great Price!

3 years - 12 issues for only $28.95

Call 800-344-0559 Today!

Finger Lakes Mill Creek Cabins

VISIT BEAUTIFUL BELHURST Premier Attraction of the Finger Lakes 2 Exceptional Restaurants

2382 Parmenter Road Lodi, NY 14860

3 Luxurious Hotels • Wine & Gift Shop 2 Magnificent Ballrooms

607-582-7673

Visit Isabella Spa, Opening Spring 2010

Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 42 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.

Rte 14 South, Geneva 315-781-0201

www.fingerlakescabins.com

www.belhurst.com

Bristol Views Bed & Breakfast • Authentic Log Cabin with cozy loft & jacuzzi tub.

• Sleeps 6 • Enjoy spectacular sunsets!

• Close to wine trails, golf. Hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching on Hi-Tor State Land.

• Located between Keuka & Canandaigua Lakes.

6932 County Rd. 12 Naples, NY 14512

585-374-8875 www.bristolviews.com Henry and Barb Owens

A beautiful wedding venue, located high above Canandaigua Lake with breathtaking views. Our seven landscaped acres offer access to hiking trails, waterfalls and relaxation. A recent letter noted “20 years of B&B’ing and we finally found the BEST.”

Call 585.944.6301 www.hi-torhideaway.com

Shetland Meadows B&B

Our contemporary home features beautiful lake views, a large outdoor deck, spacious rooms and wide screen TV. Wake up to a country-style breakfast served in a comfortable dining room where, in addition to great food, you can enjoy amazing views of Keuka Lake and the surrounding hillsides. Small pet friendly.

15096 State Route 54 Dundee, NY 14837

607-292-6861 www.shetlandmeadowsbb.com

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Fisherman Welcome

THE CLIFFS AT SODUS POINT A BED & BREAKFAST ON LAKE ONTARIO This is just one of the views from our Bed & Breakfast which is situated on 5 plus treed acres with 340 feet on the water.

Restaurants, marinas, golf, gift shops, fishing, and galleries surround the Cliffs. Spend some time with us and we guarantee you will leave relaxed.

7961 Lake Road, Sodus Point • 315-483-4309 info@thecliffsatsoduspoint.com www.thecliffsatsoduspoint.com

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Retail & Business SHOP

HERE!

Bonnie Castle Farm Bed & Breakfast Bonnie Castle Farm Bed and Breakfast offers a haven of warmth and charm overlooking the east side of Great Sodus Bay in the Finger Lakes.

Private Cottage Lodging Along Catharine Creek

Where Life Is Good 607.535.0000

Host: Georgia Pendleton

6603 Bonnie Castle Rd. • Sodus Bay Wolcott, New York 14590 (315) 587-2273 • (800) 587-4006 www.virtualcities.com/ny/bonniecastle.html

www.catharinecottages.com

Glass Magnolia 4343 Routes 5 & 20, Canandaigua, NY

Bed & Breakfast Open all year

Comfortable * Affordable * Centrally Located Best Rates for Skiers!

Check out our Casino Package, 2 nights stay, $25 to gamble, & 25% off food @ Casino Package only $150!

Historic early 1800’s country estate nestled in the peaceful rural charm of the Finger Lakes Wine region

WEDDINGS, New Year's, Valentine's, Cross Country Skiing Packages Available

Your home away from home!

For reservations or Information

585-394-2800 or 800-727-2775 On the web— www.fingerlakesinn.com

Call For Reservations

8339 N. Main St. • Interlaken, NY 14847 607-330-2809 www.glassmagnolia.com

Glen Motor Inn

6 ,"

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,AKEFRONT $R 'ENEVA .9

Motel and Restaurant

Breathtaking View From Every Room Exceptional Service and Outstanding Food Casual Comfort • Centrally Located Franzese Family Owned and Operated since 1937 1 mile north of Watkins Glen on State Route 14 607-535-2706 www.glenmotorinn.com “The only thing we overlook is Seneca Lake!â€?

• Features • Current news • Up-to-date calendar • Advertiser links

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T H E

E A S E L

Searching for the Perfect Moment

by Kimberly Price

Variation on a Theme – Interlaken Reformed Church, 32"x14" plaque.

“This white Federalist-style church with the bright red doors caught my eye because of the purity of the white and red against a blue sky,” said artist Jack Jackowetz. “Rather than create a single image print I decided to create a landscape image repeating the church and changing the door color. Finally, I matched the color of the sky to the door. Notice the progression of color starting with the tree on the right. The color of the tree in one image leads to the color of the door and sky in the adjacent image.”

F

inding the extraordinary in things commonplace is a talent Jack Jackowetz has perfected. He captures moments before they’re gone – moments he knows are worth remembering.

“I don’t re-create what wasn’t there,” said the 51-yearold artist from Brantford, Ontario, Canada. “I only take what’s there today and capture it so now we have it forever.

It’s a jumping off point for memories to be rekindled.”

But he has a unique way of documenting these moments in time. Jackowetz feels photos are “rather harsh” because they portray reality, and says people tend to surround themselves with paintings instead. A photographer at heart, he has found a way to blend the two mediums.

“Not a lot of people are doing exactly what I’m doing,” he said of his “post-impressionism photography.” Although people describe his work as “paintings,” they are photographs enhanced with computer software to look like paintings.

During high school, he discovered his passion for taking pictures. He knew he’d love to pursue it as a career, but “got cold feet” and opted for a business degree instead.

After nearly 30 years in the corporate world, Jackowetz decided it was time to take care of some unfinished business.

“This need to express myself went unmet, so one day I decided to go back and fulfill it.”

With some money saved and a vision in mind, Jackowetz began crafting his art in 2004. Finding inspiration in familiarity, he discovered hidden beauty in places he often visited. Although his home is a great distance from the

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Finger Lakes, the region has captivated him. The first time he accompanied his son to Cornell University where he studies, he was struck by the scenery and the buildings.

“It was just like going back in time,” Jackowetz said.

“Everything was perfectly preserved. The buildings weren’t run down, they weren’t boarded up – they were being used.

It was wonderful to see communities embrace their past and make it a vital part of the present.”

Jackowetz has found when people see his work, including images of Seneca Lake and the Smith Opera House in Geneva, memories begin rushing back. “When I meet people, they start telling me about their experiences with a particular building or location,” he said. “It’s about taking you back and bringing back memories.”

Jackowetz compared the resurrected memories to a Google search.

“If we’re looking for something on the Internet, we use Google and we type in words,” he said. “My images kind of do the same thing, but instead, the search tool for inspiration is the image. You look at my work and that gets your mind searching for memories to recreate that moment from years ago.”

Jackowetz’s work can be seen at the Geneva Coffee House, Finger Lakes Gallery & Frame in Canandaigua, The Corners Gallery in Ithaca and Savannah House Inn in Himrod.

For more information, visit www.jjackowetz.com.

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