M
14th ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST • PICTURE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFTS • READING REVIEWS
The Magazine for People Who Love New York
State’s Wine Region
Since
2001
A G A ZI N
E
THE RE
ON’S PR GI
IER EM
LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES
Picture Perfect Holiday Gifts, p. 24 • Reading Reviews, p. 55
November/December 2015
14th Annual
Photo Contest Winners
page 32
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 • VOL. 15, NO. 6
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Since
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A G A ZI N
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THE RE
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ON’S PR GI
Volume 15, Number 6 • November/December 2015
Cover: The pier at Watkins Glen on Seneca Lake was photographed on a very cold late afternoon last winter. When it comes to the appeal of this shot, it’s all about the light. Photo by Steve Edgerly
This page: Whitetail deer take the path of least resistance to conserve energy by walking in tracks left behind by a four-wheel-drive vehicle on Potts Road in the town of Jerusalem, Yates County. Photo by Roger Bailey
F E A T U R E S
28
32
Light of Winter Capturing the cruel, magnificent elements of the season. by Trevor Andrews and Larkin Ryan
LIFL
APP EXTRA!
41
The 14th Annual Natural History Photo Contest Almanac A banner year of photographer submissions yields impressive results.
A year in review - 2014. by Bill Banaszewski
46
LIFL
APP EXTRA!
Winter Over
Outdoor survival using helpful crafts and skills. by Dave Hall with Jon Ulrich
1 A N U AJRUYL/ YF/EABUR G UU A SR TY To Subscribe, visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com or call J800-344-0559
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2015 ~
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A G A ZI N
E
THE RE
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Since
2001
IER EM
Life in the
ON’S PR GI
D E P A R T M E N T S
4
MY OWN WORDS thoughts from the editor
5 6
FINGER LAKES MAP
8
HAPPENINGS
LETTERS
reader feedback
areas of interest in this issue
72
news and events
12 ENTERPRISING
in business Meet me at the corner
12
24 HOW-TO
LIFL APP EXTRA! be a better photographer Picture perfect holiday gifts
52 GARDENING
growing and landscaping Cold weather container gardening
20
18 NOOKS & CRANNIES
A little bit of everything McDonough Christmas Tree
20 FRUIT OF THE VINE
wine, spirits and brews Domaine Le Seurre Winery
52
55 BOOK LOOK
reading reviews Catch up on new titles this winter
71 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 72 DAY TRIP
exploring the Finger Lakes Ithaca’s Winter Festival
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My Own Words
thoughts from the editor
www.germanbrothers.com
Winter
3907 West Lake Rd www.germanbrothers.com www.germanbrothers.com
585-394-4000
Survival 101
W
inter is coming. It’s a fact of life that happens every year. Some winters are more brutal than others, but we can all agree that even a mild winter has its share of very cold days. Today, modern conveniences are a way of life for many people. We can sleep in our climate-controlled homes and drink delicious coffee in our stateof-the-art kitchens. We may have to step outside for a bit – gasp – to clean snow off our car and turn it on to heat things up. But, then we drive off in a warm car on dependable tires that take us to another heated building, where we work in comfort all day long. And at the end of the day, there’s nothing like coming home to a hot, home-cooked meal and sitting on a nice comfy couch and catching up on some television episodes on Netflix. Winter, at the very least, is a minor inconvenience compared to what our ancient ancestors had to deal with on a daily basis. They had real concerns about daily living: What will I have to gather or kill today so I can eat? Will my shelter hold up under the heavy snow that’s falling right now? How are my feet going to stay warm enough so they don’t freeze? Aren’t we lucky that most of us don’t have to be concerned with those kinds of tests? At the same time, it’s not a bad thing to still experience a little bit of
those challenges today – once in a while – just so we don’t lose that closeness to the earth that we all share. “Winter Over – Outdoor Survival” on page 46 is excerpted from a book written by Dave Hall with Jon Ulrich. It goes into detail about the crafts and skills needed to survive outdoors during the winter, using minimal materials. It really is fascinating how one can take bark from a tree and fashion a container for cooking from it. Or make warm and comfortable winter shoes from leather, netting and grasses for insulation. Dave’s reasoning for both studying and teaching winter outdoor survival is stated in the opening section of the article. Dave states, “Because the driving force behind primitive survival is that all of our needs can be met through a deep and meaningful relationship with the earth, it was necessary that I learn to meet these needs without the aid of gear or technology.” Within the article there are three exercises listed. Take up the challenge and try them (although the seat cushion may be a bit difficult for most because of the materials needed). You might be surprised by how capable you really are, in spite of our dependency on modern life. mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
Need an idea for a great gift? Why not share the beauty of the region with a gift subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes?
Now
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Please direct your responses to mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com or to Life in the Finger Lakes magazine letters, PO Box 1080, Geneva, NY 14456.
App Happy We’re really grateful for this look at life in the area to which we hope to move soon by viewing the magazine app. As an artist, graphic designer, font designer and self-publisher, many of your articles are of direct interest. My wife’s a decorative painter, jewelry maker and pastor, so she’s equally interested. I should mention, I basically do not like apps. Yours is the first one I have really enjoyed and read end to end. It’s beautifully done. – David Bergsland, slowly and laboriously typed on the iPad
Print Happy When folks talk about the demise of the “print” business, I always point them to you guys as one good example of smart publishers who made the transition. Keep up the good work! – Leanna Landsmann, sent from my iPad
reader feedback
Letters
Taughannock Falls is shown on the cover of the September/October 2015 issue. The waterfall shown on page 50 of the same issue, also labeled Taughannock Falls, is actually the upper falls. It is in the same gorge several hundred yards above the main waterfall. The photograph shown was taken from an abandoned railroad bridge that spans the upper falls. Views of the gorge from that bridge are definitely worth the five minute walk. If you continue up the road from the main falls overlook and turn left at the “T” you will see a parking lot on your left. The railroad bridge, maintained as part of the park trail system, is a short walk from there. – Len Dawson There are two schools of thought on these falls. Some think that the series of waterfalls are all a part of Taughannock Falls. And others think there should be clarification on the upper falls. I think clarification probably works best. – Editor My husband and I enjoyed your story on Trumansburg (September/ October 2015 issue by James Hughes). We are long time residents of the village – more than 75 years– and it was fun reading your view of our town. But you neglected to mention that we have a beautiful 18-hole public golf course in the village. USGA rules govern play and we hope to see you back in the area sometime to play a relaxing round of golf. – Margaret Northrup
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Finger Lakes Regional Map 1 Auburn (p. 10) 2 Aurora (p. 11) 3 Branchport (p. 57)
4 Canandaigua (p. 8) 5 Corning (p. 11) 6 Hammondsport (p. 10, 20)
areas of interest in this issue
7 Honeoye (p. 12) 8 Ithaca (p. 72) 9 McDonough (p. 18)
10 Penn Yan (p. 55, 57) 11 Rochester (p. 11, 53) 12 Skaneateles (p. 10) 104 04A 4A
Lake Ontario 255 250
36
Rochester
11
490
259 5
490 33A 3
ee
R.
Lima
Conesus Lake
Honeoye Lake Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
256 25 256
10
Penn Yan
YATES
t
144
Keuka Lake State Park
ka L ake
Keu 226
Bath
Hornell
Robert H. Treman State Park
1 13
13
38
144
221 22
Marathon
366
41
9
26
221
From Binghamton
Buttermilk Falls State Park
96B 6B
79
TOMPKINS
38 38
224 24 34 9966
r.
2233 22
Elmira Heights 352
CHEMUNG
Elmira 427 42 27
15
Van Etten
3 34
Candor nk Cr.
Horseheads
Ri er
96
o tat Ca
Pinnacle State Park
Spencer 3344 k Cayuta Cree
225 22 25
Addison
22 224
133 Mark Twain State Park
C emung
4177
Ithaca
414
Painted Post
5 Corning 36
8 Cayuga Heights
Dryden
Cayuta
Montour 228 Lake Falls Odessa
1 86 4415
366
4177
Rexville
79
Watkins Glen
144 17
2488
Allen H. Treman State Park
215 15 13
3666 366
79
eC Cat arin
er
STEUBEN
222288
Ri
Canisteo Ri e r
41 S C H U Y L E R 414
n cto Co o
Canisteo
Lansing
. Cr
er Ri
54
89
oga
4 415
Watkins Glen State Park
41 41
McGraw
11
a ll
38 Taughannock Falls State Park
Burdett
Lamoka Lake
CORTLAND
Cortland 222
ni
Hammondsport
91
Homer
81
79
14A 4A A
41 90
Groton
34
96 227
4 414
133
41A 41 41A A
89
230
Waneta Lake
5 54
Avoca 86 17
Filmore Glen State Park
Trumansburg
6
36
Moravia
wa s
22 227
133
ioug
53
34
34B
Dundee
Cohocton
Long Point State Park
14A 4A
5 54
91
38A 8
414 1 96A
80
388
90
Interlaken
911
41 41A
2
Aurora
Ovid 96 Lodi Point State Park
3
54A A
390
211
The Finger Lakes Region of New York State
Deans Cove Boat Launch
CAYUGA
54
tl e Keuka Ou
53 37 371
Stony Brook State Park
248 24 48
9 90
Sampson State Park
11
k
nl et
211
70
From Jamestown
34 34B
9 96
Branchport
Wayland
4 436
144
14A 4
3664 364
Naples
Dansville
9666A A
245
st We
15
Nunda
2 7 247
11A A 80
co
63 63 3366
89
41
an ea t
20
911
La
Sk
9 91
81
ONONDAGA
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Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park
38
Union Springs
SENECA
36 364
644
411
ke
20A
344
20
173 17 73
92
Manlius
La es el
7 Honeoye
326 26
Cayuga Lake State Park
Fayetteville
481
Clark Reservation State Park
80
17774
4 41
41A 1A
O
390
258
Geneva
5
21
Letchworth State Park
4408 088
20
36 364
Cayuga 414 14
12
20
Auburn
From Utica
290 90 Green Lakes State Park
173 173
o isc Ot
Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park
and eca en
Cayuga
Skaneateles 175
1
5
13
State Park at the Fair
175
Marcellus
e ak o L
1 A 15A
Waterloo Seneca Lake State Park
90
sc Owa
15 15
4 488
ONTARIO 4Canandaigua
5
41 414
20
e Lak Cayuga
4408 08
LIVINGSTON
20
96
298
481
Syracuse 321
5
Seneca Falls
318
Phelps
ake Seneca L
e ock Lak Heml
2566
Hemlock
15
Canadice Lake
Conesus Lake State Marine Park
Mt. Morris
Bloomfield
. Cr Honeoye
Livonia 20A
Clifton Springs
21
31
North Syracuse
690
Solvay
3188
344
90
332
31
57
4488
Weedsport
14
96 96
Ganondagan State Historic Site
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Site
39
Geneseo
64
4811
37 370 690 900
Jordan
3 31
38 38
ndaigua Outlet Cana
Victor
Honeoye Falls
390 15
63
4 436
Palmyra
31
90 31
l
s ne Ge
Clyde
na
5
Avon
366
WAYNE
Ca
Caledonia
4114
Lyons
14
251
366
337700
Newark
655
11
38
Macedon 311
90
90 383 8
N
31F 31F
490
6 64
3 36
From Buffalo
Fairport
252
155
383 833
38 386
21
350 550
57 57
Baldwinsville
88
4441 41
Oneida Lake
81
34
89
144
286
E. Rochester
33
370 70
104
35 350
104
From Watertown 176 7
Wolcott
TIOGA
ego C r.
386 8
Spencerport
100044
Newark Valley
Ow
Webster
Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park
Brockport
Sodus
104
al
188
Barg e
26 260
31
38 1004A 4A
Sodus Bay
Sodus Point
Can
MONROE
Can an da igua L ake
104
Chimney Bluffs State Park
261 6
18
Seneca R.
259 5
Hilton
S
260 60
1 19
360
From Oswego
Fair Haven Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park
R.
272 27
13 Syracuse (p. 53, 59) 14 Victor (p. 53)
388 88
9966
Owego
17C 7C
Newtown Battlefield State Park Two Rivers State Recreation Area
Waverly
14 14
17C 7C
86 17
From Binghamton
427 277
Editorial & Production Editor......................................................................Mark Stash ......................................... mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Senior Graphic Artist...........................Jennifer Srmack Graphic Artist.................................................Liz Pieniazek Associate Editor.............................................Tina Manzer
Contributors ............................................Trevor Andrews ..................................................................... Derek Doeffinger
Editorial Office .............................................315-789-0458 Director of Advertising ............................... Tim Braden ............................................. tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
....................................................................K.C. Fahy-Harvick
For Advertising Inquiries - 800-344-0559
............................................................................Jason Feulner
Rhonda Trainor........rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
..................................................................................... Dave Hall
Online Advertising Sales Director
.......................................................................Bill Banaszewski
..................................................................... James P. Hughes .................................................................................Larkin Ryan
Assistant Editors........................................ Jenn Bergin
...............................................................................Kay Thomas
.............................................................................. J. Kevin Fahy
................................................................................... Jon Ulrich
...........................................................................Carol C. Stash
.....................................................................Laurel C. Wemett
Life in the Finger Lakes is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. and owned by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. Co-owners: Mark S. Stash; Timothy J. Braden. Copyright© 2015 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: $14.95 for one year. Canada add $19 per year. Outside North America, add $37 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.
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Christie McConnell .......................... christie@fwpi.com
For Subscriptions Tricia McKenna ............................................315-789-0458 ................................subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Business Office ...........315-789-0458, 800-344-0559 Business Fax ..................................................315-789-4263 Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • P.O. Box 1080 • Geneva, NY 14456 LifeintheFingerLakes.com Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes Region
~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM
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Connect . Learn . Fitness . Happiness . Purpose . Nature . Peace
On behalf of my fellow residents,
I tip my hat to the Staff! ~ Dick, Keeping the staff busy since 2011
The hospitality at the Highlands at Pittsford is top notch. No request is too big or too small. I should know, I’ve asked for it all! Seven Dimensions. One Goal.
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SixMileCreek V I N E YA R D
Happenings
news and events
NOVEMBER
26 Years of Award Winning Finger Lakes Wines and Spirits 1551 Slaterville Rd Ithaca, NY 13045 GPS: 420 25’ 04N” / -760 27’ 15” W
607-272-WINE www.SixMileCreek.com
Wags to Riches
Nov. 3…48th Annual Canandaigua Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner On Election Day November 3, the Canandaigua Kiwanis Club will host their 48th Annual Spaghetti Dinner at the Canandaigua Academy from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or from any Kiwanis member. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 seniors and $5 children. Drive through takeout is available. Canandaigua Academy 435 East Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 Nov. 5…Adventure Time at the Museum: Stories that Rock Your World! Hear stories about dinosaurs, coral reefs, fish, and other strange prehistoric creatures. Snack and create your way through Earth’s past, a fun way to learn. Each week there will be a story, snack, and craft that will be explored. 10:30 a.m. Museum of the Earth 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca NY 14850 607-273-6623 museumoftheearth.org Nov. 7…First Friday Gallery Night First Friday Gallery Night is a monthly community celebration taking place in and around downtown Ithaca. Local galleries and art houses host special receptions, performances, screenings, and other events showcasing the work of local, national, and international artists. Gallery Night is free and open
to the public. Takes place on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery guides with maps of participating locations and show descriptions are available at all participating venues. downtownithaca.com Nov. 10-15…Motown: The Musical Motown the Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Featuring classic songs such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” experience the story behind the music in the record-breaking smash hit. motownthemusical.com 885 East Main Street, Rochester NY 14605 rbtl.org Nov. 14…The Best of Seneca West Wine Tour The western shores of Seneca Lake are home to some of the most well-respected wine-makers in the Finger Lakes. On this tour, you will learn their stories and taste the outcome of their commitment and passion to their craft. The stops include Kemmeter Winery, TheFLX Wienery, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards and Red Tail Ridge Winery. Price is $145 per person. This price includes the transportation, tasting fees, added services, lunch, and special food pairings. Tour runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 607-233-4818 experiencefingerlakes.com (Continued on page 10)
Canandaigua Christkindl Market Celebrates Its 9th Year
N All Proceeds Benefit Humane Society of Schuyler County 313 North Franklin Street Watkins Glen, New York 14891 (607) 210-4263 New and gently used designer and brand name clothing, jewelry, accessories, antiques, collectables, furniture, decorative items, pet boutique — and more! Monday-Saturday:10:00 am - 5:30 pm Sunday: 11:00 pm - 4:00 pm www.schuylerhumane.org
Find us in Facebook
8
ovember 2015 will mark the 9th year for the Canandaigua Christkindl Market. This event, held on the lawn of the majestic Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum in a series of decorated, heated tents brings together over 130 regional artisans and unique food vendors. German food along with traditional fare, wine, beer and “Gideon’s Grog” will be available. Live entertainment and holiday music fills the tents throughout the show. Bid on over 100 prizes donated by vendors at the Raffle Tent. A free shuttle service on Molly the Trolley to Canandaigua’s historic downtown area is available for added shopping, food and fun. All this for $6 per person for a single day ticket or $10 for a multi-day pass. Children 12 and under are free. Visit canandaiguachristkindlmarket.com for more information.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Breakfast, with a view
Edgar’s, the Restaurant in the Castle Join us for our full breakfast menu, or for our Famous Weekend Brunch -Famous For Over 20 years! Weekend Brunch is served 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday & 11 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. on Sunday $24.95 All You Can Eat
4069 West Lake Road • Geneva, NY www.Belhurst.com • 315.781.0201 Open Year-Round 01-27.LIFL_NOVDEC2015.indd 9
10/2/15 10:29 AM
Happenings (November, continued) Nov. 14…Animal Feeding at Cayuga Nature Center Feed snakes, turtles, birds, fish and mammals from noon to 1 p.m. Staff of animal specialists will be available to answer your questions. General admission fees apply. 1420 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca NY 14850 607-273-6260 discoverytrail.com
www.iwoodc.com
Log Home Care for All Seasons Log Cleaners Wood Strippers • Sanding & Blasting Materials • Mildewcide • Insect Control Products • Preservatives • Log Repair/ Wood Fillers • Caulk Guns & Equipment
Paint Brushes Application Tools • Fasteners & Log Gasket • Exterior Stains • Caulking & Chinking Products • Interior Wood Finishes • Bar Top & Hobby Coatings
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Contact us at 1-800-721-7715 E: info@iwoodc.com • www.iwoodc.com
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Nov. 20, 21, 26, 27…Breaking Bread: Food, Culture and What’s on Your Plate Breaking Bread is a new original exhibit at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art that explores the history, culture and politics of food, and celebrates the myriad of ways food brings people together. Ranging from the three-in-onefield farming system that the earliest settlers copied from the Iroquois to the emerging trends of the eat local and organic movements, Breaking Bread explores food both historically and currently, politically and socially. Just a few of the many topics to be explored are farming practices in central New York, the science and romance of raising heirloom plants and animals, and the evolution of the American kitchen. From the huge technological advances in producing food, to the myriad of improvements in preparing food in home kitchens, a number of food-related devices will be displayed. Breaking Bread will be open through December 30, 2015. Museum hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. 203 Genesee Street, Auburn NY 13021 315-253-8051 cayugamuseum.org 27…Dickens Christmas Opening Day The 22nd anniversary edition of Dickens Christmas opens at noon in the Village of Skaneateles, with the World’s Smallest Christmas Parade. Charles Dickens and his entourage will meander down Fennell Street to Jordan Street to Genesee Street, ending on the porch of the Sherwood House. Dickens Christmas continues every Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., through December 20, with an abbreviated production (noon to 3 p.m.) December 24. 315-685-0552 skaneateles.com
DECEMBER Dec. 4-6…21st Annual Holiday Shopping Spree Experience the holidays with all the hustle and bustle at The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s Annual Holiday Shopping Spree. You will receive a wine glass, a grapevine wreath, and an ornament from each winery. You will also take home a Shopper’s Discount Card and a recipe card from each winery as you enjoy holiday-inspired dishes while sipping fine wines. Packages that include event tickets, transportation and accommodations will be available. Make sure to hand in your ticket to be eligible to win one of our Grand Prizes. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 800-684-5217. cayugawinetrail.com Dec. 5…41st Annual Sparkle on Historic Market Street in Corning Join in the 41st annual culmination of the Crystal City Christmas events season. Featuring horse and carriage rides, shopping and dining promotions, outdoor entertainment and activities for the whole family. Enjoy craft and food vendors, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa in his Crystal House. A favorite for generations that’s not to be missed. This year’s event includes the Selfless Elf 5K and ends with fireworks. gafferdistrict.com Dec. 5…Christmas in Aurora Join the charming Village of Aurora on Main Street as it comes to life with caroling, trimmed trees, hot cocoa and more. Take advantage of shopping specials throughout the village as well. Sponsored by the Aurora Arts & Merchants Association. visitaurorany.com Dec. 19...Reindeer Run 5K Sprint over to The Strong and get into the action at the fourth annual Reindeer Run, a unique, family-friendly foot race. Produced by YellowJacket Racing and sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports, the all-ages run is downtown Rochester’s only winter 5K event and includes a kids’ race series. To register, please visit yellowjacketracing.com/events/reindeerrun-5k-kids-race-benefit-strong-museum. museumofplay.org
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
Life in the Fingerlakes Magazine Ad / Spring 2014
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10/2/15 10:29 AM
Giving with in Upstate New York BBB Foundation of Upstate New York celebrates our Accredited Charity seal holders. They have made the commitment to BBB’s holistic standards and transparency. BBB Charity Review offers nonprofit organizations a way to distinguish themselves as transparent and accountable. This distinction as a BBB Accredited Charity offers donors peace of mind knowing they have gone through extensive BBB research. Congratulations to each one! Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Brian Moorman’s P.U.N.T. Foundation
Orchard Park, NY
Cradle Beach Camp
Angola, NY
Crisis Services
Buffalo, NY
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Elmira, NY
Friends of Night People
Buffalo, NY
Lupus Alliance of Upstate New York
Cheektowaga, NY
Meals on Wheels of Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Restore the Earth Foundation
Ithaca, NY
SALT Recovery
Schoharie, NY
SPCA Serving Allegany County
Wellsville, NY
The Food Bank of Central New York
Syracuse, NY
United Way of Cattaraugus County
Olean, NY
United Way of Greater Rochester
Rochester, NY
United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Albany, NY
Veterans One-Stop Center of WNY
Buffalo, NY
Water for South Sudan
Penfield, NY
®
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Enterprising
in business
E
Meet Me at the Corner by Kay Thomas
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very Monday morning at 6 when The Cornerstone Market in Honeoye opens for business, a close-up picture of the freshly baked muffin of the day appears on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. “Happy Muffin Day,” say owners, Alysha and Ian Baier, who established the market on Main Street in the village in 2014. They depend heavily on word-of-mouth and social media, along with a limited print advertising budget. In only a matter of minutes people flock to the store to grab their muffins – they might be apple pie, dark chocolate mixed berry and strawberry, or chocolate – before they are sold out by the afternoon. The weekly electronic newsletter delivered to customers’ inboxes highlights the seasonal produce available, craft beer specials – growlers filled, too – and featured lunch items on the menu in Peggy’s Rumpus Room. Friday is a favorite day at The Cornerstone Market. A new supply of meats comes from Seven Bridges Farm of Lima; and freshly picked, organic hydroponic greens (mixed greens, basil, cilantro, micro greens and kale) are delivered from Bolton Farms of Hilton. Dairy products from Pittsford Farms Dairy and meats from The Piggery of Ithaca are also scheduled to arrive. Most products are unique to New York State, and the Baiers enjoy working directly with purveyors and supporting them as well. There is a conscious trend in buying locally, and the market is making that option available in the Honeoye area. The Cornerstone Market is customer-friendly and Alysha and Ian say that they know everybody by name. “We’ve noticed a lot of younger people moving into the area because it is affordable, there are good outdoor activities and it’s a fine place to raise a family.” They live in Conesus, and are considering moving closer to the business.
Photos courtesy Cornerstone Market
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Cannolis on a plate crafted by Alysha Baier. Photo courtesy Cornerstone Market
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First came the artisans In 2013, ceramic artist Kala Stein found studio space to rent in the rear of the building that houses the Cornerstone Market. At the time, she traveled to and from Alfred University – where she was a visiting professor – Livingston Arts in Mount Morris, and her studio. She asked fellow potter Alysha Baier, founder of the Western New York State Pottery Festival in Avon, to be her studio mate. Alysha wanted room to expand her pottery work, so the fit was next to perfect. Honeoye Pottery was born. Today, several artisans use the large open space in the former lumberyard for studios. “The Cornerstone Market and studios will always have a presence in Honeoye. There’s a lot of energy,” says Robin Whiteman, who rents a small space there. A graduate of RIT’s School of Crafts, Robin is a nationally recognized sculptor. Her work focuses on the sacred serenity of being a body, both animal and human. For years, she has sculpted human-and-other-animal hybrid figures in both ceramic and fiber media, but her current work further emphasizes duality through the merging of masculine and feminine features, as well as inner and outer worlds. Jim Johnson’s showroom in the front of the building displays original pieces of occasional furniture and carvings. He has a fine art background in sculpture and painting, and he started
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Enterprising
I promised myself the good life.
From left to right, Alysha Baier, Ian Baier and the late Peggy O’Neill Hilimire Photo courtesy Cornerstone Market
making furniture soon after grad school. Jim is very passionate about sustainable living and promoting local businesses and makers. It was his idea to introduce “Second Saturday,” when the four would open their studios to the public. Several other businesses in town joined in. Visitors came to see what new life was blossoming at the red light.
The Cornerstone Market
Photo courtesy of Al Johnson
Now I’m living it every day in the Finger Lakes
8732 Main Street Honeoye, NY 14471 thecornerstonemarket.com
Approaching retirement, I promised myself I would always stay connected to the people I love the most. That I would keep
map
pursuing my passions and continue to indulge and try new things. That I would look back on fond memories while making new
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ones every day. And I will continue to keep that promise. At Ferris Hills in Canandaigua.
Map data ©2015 Google
Kala Stein kalastein.com Robin Whiteman robinwhiteman.com
Canandaigua, NY
Call us today at 585.393.0410 or visit FerrisHills.com
Jim (James Willis) Johnson James Willis Studios on Facebook Alysa Baier Baier Pottery on Facebook
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Photo courtesy Robin Whiteman
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Robin Whiteman, artisan, sculpting a piece in the Honeoye Pottery shop located at the rear of The Cornerstone Market.
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Then came the market In 2014, one large area in the building, facing Main Street, was still available. Again, Kala started throwing out ideas of what she wanted to see in town. Everybody joined in. One thing was evident: there was no other place for a good source of quality food after 7 p.m., other than pizza or Chinese food. Alysha’s husband, Ian, put his extensive restaurant background to work, and came up with a business plan that the two took to the building owner, a supportive person intrigued with the idea of an artistic group of people settling in one location. “It is a nice niche for Honeoye yearround,” says Alysha. They opened their market in May with business partner Peggy O’Neill Hilimire, Alysha’s childhood friend from Livonia. The original plan was for Peggy to eventually manage the market. Alysha would go back to her pottery studio and Ian would fulfill his lifelong dream of farming the land; perhaps growing hops. Nothing stays the same There have been a lot of unexpected detours and changes, including a very devastating loss when Peggy passed away suddenly the following spring. Today, a room has been added called Peggy’s Rumpus Room in honor of her antics and shenanigans. The place brings smiles to everyone’s faces, but it’s bitter-
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Enterprising
Kala Stein uses digital tools to add surface pattern and texture to the design of her new UMBRA series. Photo courtesy Kala Stein
sweet, say the Baiers. The addition gives customers a place to sit down with a cup of coffee, sandwich or salad, and has freed up more room in the market for a larger bakery, more products on the shelves and a catering prep area. Its custom high top counters were crafted by James Johnson, who has since moved out of his showroom space and into his working studio, James Willis Studios, in Bristol. Kala left for a stint on the West Coast as the Director of Ceramics at the Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, California, although she will keep her ties to Honeoye Pottery through social media and her part-time studio assistants. Robin is temporarily using part of Kala’s space, and hopes for a studio in her own home. Alysha is back to work in her studio, leaving Ian, his brother and six other employees to handle the market. “I will always have some presence here. People can also come visit me in my studio,” she says. The one piece that holds every other element together is the cornerstone, and that’s been the circumstances for The Cornerstone Market complex and the artisans sharing studio space. It’s taken courage and reimagining by a group of entrepreneurs – they’re good friends, too – committed to their work and the community.
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Nooks & Crannies
a little bit of everything
A
Glorious
Tradition
by Jim Hughes McDonough has a Christmas tree, That’s lofty and lit with pride. It’s over eighty feet tall, And forty feet from side to side. If you haven’t been to see it, It would be worth your while, To ride through town and take a look, It’s sure to make you smile. “The McDonough Christmas Tree” by Jane Sheldon
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ith its towering presence at the wooded hamlet’s four corners, the McDonough Christmas tree is most imposing as it rises majestically above a cluster of homes and a few steepled buildings. Why is this Norway spruce special, and why have generations of local residents embraced it in their hearts? It has to do with tradition, size, and that hallowed time of year, the Christmas season. Each year since 1927, local folks have gathered for the tree’s lighting ceremony, a ritual that has brought McDonough families and friends together for generations. On the first Saturday in December, crowds congregate around its ample boughs as Santa arrives (perched atop a fire truck) to join local children in flipping the light switch on the now 115-foot spruce. Yes, 115 feet! The tree has grown considerably since resident Jane Sheldon described it as “80 feet tall” in her 1967 verse. Is it the “world’s largest living Christmas tree,” as touted by some? Not quite. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho puts the “world’s largest” mystery to rest with its own living 164-foot Christmas tree. However, within New York State, no living decorated tree tops the height of McDonough’s unique pride and joy. Even splendid pre-cut
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Photo illustration by Mark Stash
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See us on
The tradition continues!
.com
This year’s lighting ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 5 starting at 5 p.m. McDonough, surrounded by forested hills and rolling farmland, is tucked just a few miles inside the Chenango County line along County Route 5. It is 15 miles east of I-81’s Marathon exit. trees adorning the centers of New York’s larger upstate cities and towns during the Christmas season never match the McDonough tree in height. What about the glorious tree displayed at New York City’s Rockefeller Center? Though much publicized and brilliantly decorated since 1933, those trees have never exceeded 100 feet tall. The stately McDonough spruce was planted around 1890. Under the direction of storekeeper Robert Emerson, it was illuminated in 1927 when electricity first came to town. After many years, Emerson’s maintenance efforts were carried on by local postmaster Donald Bosworth and others. More recently, through the combined efforts of the McDonough Fire Department, the McDonough Improvement Committee (MIC), the Genegantslet Lake Association, and with numerous individual donations, money was raised to upgrade wiring and provide almost 3000 new LED bulbs to enhance the light display. A commemorative monument carved from local bluestone was added and now prominently stands beneath the tree, while the community looks forward to the tree’s centennial lighting in 2027. Town historian Donna Robb praises the “critical support” of the fire department over the years in maintaining the tradition. “In addition, the tree’s owner Kevin Fritschler, Pat Ford who spearheaded our fund drive and many, many others have always treated our Christmas tree as something very special … a true community project,” she says. Have there ever been any serious problems? “Not many,” Donna adds. “Occasionally local pranksters have flipped the light switch on in the middle of summer …that’s about it!” LIFL
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O
ne of the more interesting observations I made on a recent visit to Domaine Le Seurre was noted first by the interview subject, winemaker Sébastien Le Seurre, in the midst of our conversation on a variety of topics related to their craft. “You see that tasting?” he asked mid-thought, referring to the visitors on the other side of the room who had been engaged in their experience nearly as long as it took me to gather in-depth
details on the operation. “It is typical for these to last so long – we like to educate customers with our wines.” In that moment Sébastien so poignantly illustrated the theme of Domaine Le Seurre. The winery, perched on the eastern shore of Keuka Lake, about a 10-minute drive north of Hammondsport, strives to offer its customers knowledge. There are small placards throughout the tasting room highlighting relevant sweetness scales of Riesling,
Sébastien and Céline Le Seurre
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Domaine Le Seurre is located 8 miles north of Hammondsport on the eastern shore of Keuka Lake at 13920 NY-54, Hammondsport, NY 14840. It is open every day from mid-May through mid-November and on weekends for the rest of the year. Please call the tasting room for more detailed hours. domainleseurre.com
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map Map data ©2015 Google
the process of stirring up the fine lees, and even the origin of barrels. At first I thought these little cues might stem from the proprietor’s cognizance of their accented English – a prompt to help carry conversations – but it became clear as our conversation progressed that they truly enjoyed imparting knowledge through wine almost as much as the wine itself. The tasting room felt, in part, like a classroom. Sébastien Le Seurre is a sixth-generation winemaker from Champagne, France, where his father, uncles and cousin all separately produce wine under labels bearing the family name. Sebastien’s wife Céline is originally from the Toulouse region in the southwest of France, and grew up around her grandparents’ vineyard located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. After receiving his oenology education in Champagne, Sébastien decided to experience winemaking in a variety of different regions around France, and also in New Zealand and Australia. Céline originally based her career on the consumer side of wine as a sommelier and hospitality expert, but over time focused more on viticulture and winemaking as
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Located 5 minutes east of Corning, at exit 49 off I 86 26 Palmer Road North, Big Flats NY www.antiquerevival.com | 800-780-7330
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Fruit of the Vine well. The two met in 2009 in New Zealand while working at Clos Henri Vineyard, a French-owned vineyard in the Marlborough region known for Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. In 2011, Sébastien and Céline came to the Finger Lakes to work at another winery, but soon fell in love with the area and its promise. “The Finger Lakes is at the beginning,” says Sébastien, relating why he became excited about the region. He stresses that they did not end up in the region by default, but settled here based on careful observations about the region’s diversity of terroir, or growing sites, and what they saw as untapped potential in many areas of winemaking. The first vintage for Domaine Le Seurre was 2012 and the tasting room opened in late 2013. Sébastien is adamant that Céline is central to the winemaking process. “I taste a lot,” she explains, detailing how she and Sébastien feel their way through it, reacting to the variables of the vintage, the fermentations and the developing wines. They choose their harvest times based on how the grapes taste, and they treat and blend
wines based on their instincts and knowledge gathered from over 19 vintages in the Finger Lakes and around the world. Sébastien and Céline are a winemaking team from beginning to end. Domaine Le Seurre does not have its own vineyard yet – the parcel around the tasting room has the potential for about 8 acres – but the wheels are set in motion for Sébastien and Céline to create a biodynamic vineyard that suites their theories on viticulture. Sébastien outlines their plans in great detail. They include staged soil de-compaction, the introduction of microorganisms, and the planting of dense rows (more common in Europe) to ward off disease. It will be some time for the property to be acclimated to this plan, but Sébastien and Céline hope to start planting in the foreseeable future. The winemaking methods employed at Domaine Le Seurre are not unheard of in the Finger Lakes, but the winery’s adherence to hands-on winemaking puts it in the company of a select few boutiques. Extended hang time, prolonged skin contact, cool fermentations – sometimes lasting 10 months –
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Tasting Notes The methodical and experience-driven winemaking approach at Domaine Le Seurre results in wines that are dripping with individual character. The 2013 dry Riesling has a beautiful mid-palate and mouth feel, while the 2013 barrel select Riesling (100 percent neutral oak) stands out with its welcoming aromatics. There are two versions of the 2013 Chardonnay available, unoaked and barrel select, and they are a testament to the potential of a grape that unfortunately has become more obscure in the Finger Lakes as of late. The 2012 Cabernet Franc features mature fruit with herbal and tobacco notes and a smooth finish; the patience of the winemaking team has created a full-bodied Cab Franc that avoids the vegetative notes that plague so many other versions of this varietal in the Finger Lakes.
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are all important elements of the approach at Domaine Le Seurre. Céline emphasizes the batonnage sur lies, or stirring of the fine lees, which is the manipulation of fermentation sediment that requires careful calibration. “If done right, the lees create complexity and mouthfeel,” she explains, while cautioning that such an approach can be overdone. “We do a lot of little tasting trials,” Sébas tien adds, “to get the wine exactly where we want.” Overall, one gets the impression that Sébastien and Céline have made a long-term investment in the Finger Lakes. They are adamant about cellar aging their wines for years if necessary, and they let wines settle in bottles for months before offering them for sale. When asked about their production scale, Sébastien shrugs and instead talks of vintages and Terroir. There is a passion at Domaine Le Seurre that is unmistakable. “Europe has had hundreds of years to figure out the best ways to make wine,” Sébastien reflects, “but in the Finger Lakes I don’t even think the best sites have been planted yet.” He remains excited about the discoveries to come.
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How-to
BE A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER
What should you give your favorite photographer? Why a professionally made enlargement of his or her photo, of course!
Picture Perfect
Holiday
Gifts story and photos by Derek Doeffinger
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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERLAKES.COM
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Y
ou’re into photography, or somebody close to you is. And it’s approaching that time of year when you need to start thinking about the gifts you’ll be buying, or maybe even asking for. Well, for those of you subjected to the rarefied and sometimes hot gases of the photosphere where we photographers tend to soar, or (in the eyes of some) endlessly and aimlessly drift, I’ve got some gift suggestions for both conventional digital camera and phone photographers. With a few exceptions, the recommended gifts cost less than $100. Let’s start with conventional digital camera shooters. Check out more gift suggestions for your favorite phone photographer on the Life in the Finger Lakes app. Gifts and gear for the digital camera photographer Sometimes known as photo hobbyists, enthusiasts or obsessives, digital camera shooters love their photo gear – so you may need to consult them, or “punt” and do it the easy way by buying them a gift card. Leaders in photo gear such as adorama.com or bhphotobvideo.com are a good choice. These New York box stores often have attitude but more importantly, they have knowledge, tons of gear and good customer service. You can purchase and discuss products over the phone or just order online. The return policies are good. Of course, if you have a good local photo store, give them your business. While gift cards are great, sometimes you’re looking for the
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The versatile and inexpensive Lens Pen makes an excellent stocking stuffer.
Finger Lakes Tram Enjoying God’s Creation
perfect stocking stuffer or something more sentimental. Let’s look at some lower-priced gift ideas and move up. LensPen – This $10 cleaning tool is essential for any photographer because it cleans lenses quickly and effectively, so pictures will be sharp. Camera strap – Do you think a new camera comes with a comfortable strap? You’re right, it doesn’t. Good camera straps range from the Op/Tech Pro ($20) to the $80 and up leather Ona Presideo straps. For the world traveler, consider a security strap that makes it hard for thieves to cut the strap and run off with the camera, such as the Pacsafe Carrysafe strap ($40). Extra battery – I carry two, sometimes three, camera batteries (usually unique to the camera model) when hiking LIFL
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We build elegant and rugged tram systems to provide years of enjoyment on your lake property
2052 O’Neil Road • Macedon, NY 14502 315-986-1937 www.fingerlakestram.com November /December 2015 ~
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or traveling, and so should your photo buddy. Know the brand and model of the camera before placing an order. These can cost up to $50. Memory card – You can’t have too many memory cards. Get a 32 or 64 GB Class 10 memory card suitable for the brand and model of the camera. Newer memory cards may not offer full functionality with older cameras, so ask ahead of time if a particular card is suitable for a particular camera model. Brands I have tried include PNY, Transcend, Sony, SansDisk and Lexar. On sale, they should be under $30. Polarizing filter – This is the most important accessory for improving photos. The filter screws onto the front of the lens and enables a photographer to make fluffy clouds pop from blue skies and reduce surface reflections to intensify colors. Its diameter must match the diameter of the lens, which is written in white on the front edge of the lens. Typical diameters range from 58 mm to 62 mm to 67 mm, but can vary greatly so check before buying. Tiffen and Hoya make good filters, B+W makes the best of this group. Get a filter with the word “circular” in the description. Expect to pay $30 to $100, with larger diameter filters costing more. Top-quality monitor – If your photo bro regularly adjusts photos and makes prints, go for the gold and get a superior 24- or 27-inch monitor. A high-quality monitor that accurately reveals colors and tones is an integral part of adjusting photos. My online search of monitor reviews revealed these two from Asus: Asus PA249Q ProArt LCD Monitor or PA248Q. These two monitors range in price from $250 to $500. Dell Ultrasharp monitors also get good reviews.
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And the gifts that top my list … Give a gift certificate to rent a camera or lens from lensrentals or borrowlenses.com. Both places rent out cameras and lenses for several days. I rent occasionally because I enjoy testing out the latest and greatest. Prices vary depending on length of rental time and type of equipment. You may want to hand write a gift certificate (or hand over a check) for $75 to $100 and let the recipient “bill” you upon actual rental. Order a fine art print (matted and mounted) of your favorite photographer’s favorite photo to showcase the quality of his or her skill. Ask for the photo file (hopefully adjusted in Photoshop) and upload it to the lab, where they will tweak adjustments if needed. Two fine art print labs are lumierephoto. com (in Rochester, ask for Michael or Bill) and perfectartprints.
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LIFL EXTRA!
Many hearth warming gifts for the holiday season!
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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM
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Download the FREE mobile app of the magazine to see Gifts for your favorite phone photographer
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How to be a better photographer Everybody needs a calendar. Photo calendars (of your photos, of course) make great Christmas gifts.
• My nephew makes and passes out a wellreceived photo calendar each year. It’s useful and entertaining, it doesn’t need a display space and no one feels bad when its life ends at the next holiday season. Because a calendar is useful, you can fill it with almost any type of photo – from family shots to flowers to scenics to … whatever. Apple (via iPhoto), shutterfly.com and adoramapix.com are just a few calendar-making sites. Check out other products like photo mugs and T-shirts, too.
com (in Ithaca, ask for Stan). Expect to pay $40 to $50 to print, mount and mat an 8 by 10 print, and roughly double that for an 11 by14 print. Shipping is included in that estimate. To save half the cost, pay just for a print and put it in a frame from a local shop. Just remember, order before the end of November because this is a busy time for printers and framers. Give the gift of your photography If you’re a good photographer, you have a means of making others happy at your disposal – use your photos as gifts. The trick is to do it without seeming cheap or self imposing. Keep it light and fun and, unless requested, don’t give your favorite photo as a framed print. Instead, choose gifts that are lighthearted and useful. How do you achieve this? I think you know – by using a photo sharing website like snapfish.com or shutterfly.com. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions.
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• Create a photo book. Adult children often appreciate a book that collects photos from their childhood, and parents love one of the grandkids. Younger children might enjoy a book featuring shots from the past year. A spouse would treasure one showing family history, pets, holidays past or a favorite vacation. If you’re the confident type, you might even attempt to show your appreciation (but be careful, my friend) of the relationship; I hope you’re more surefooted than I am if you attempt this last one. Photo book makers include Apple (from iPhoto), snapfish.com, mypublisher.com, shutterfly.com and adoramapix.com. • Offer your photo services for an event or subject they choose, but don’t put anyone on the spot or feel bad if opportunities lack. You could take shots for a holiday card, pet photos, a family picture, or stage a humorous photo shoot, if your family trends that way.
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Chilly sunset on the farm
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Light of Winter photos and story by Trevor Andrews and Larkin Ryan
F
or years, we’ve regarded winter as nothing more than an inconvenience, an unpleasant hardship that must be endured to earn the reward of summer. As last winter dragged by, minute
by bitterly cold minute, we finally arrived at a way to break the gray monotony. Newly armed with cameras, we set out to capture the way the landscape is transformed by the cruel, magnificent elements of the season.
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Gone for the winter
Canandaigua City Pier from the water
Marina at rest
The last five minutes of daylight
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When you search long enough, you start to notice how much beauty you’ve overlooked. The way pale sunlight filters through barren trees, casting long shadows and just enough warmth to shrug off the chill, keeping you outside a few more moments. How wind gusts make patterns in the snow and carry it, glittering, through a path of light as the sun begins to set. The solitude of the frozen lakes, eerily silent and abandoned for the season. Even the stark contrast of a vacant beehive, once rapidly expanding and buzzing with life, now tattered and shredded from bitter whipping winds.
We begin this winter with a new attitude; a desire to seek the splendor in the cold. The barren land holds many surprises for those willing to see them. We hope that, like us, you’ll be inspired to find all the good in the season! Trevor and Larkin have lived their entire lives in the Finger Lakes Region. They recently discovered their love for photography and are just beginning to scratch the surface of this interest. Most of their free time is spent outdoors and/or with a camera in hand, adventuring and capturing anything and anyone that will let them.
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The 14th Annual
Life in the Finger Lakes Photography Contest
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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WINNERS Grand Prize “February Morning in Lima” Scott Hooker • Livonia
T
o say that this has been a banner year for photo submissions would be an
understatement. I believe that 2015 has had the most photographers submitting the highest number of photos since the contest was started in 2002, with over 1,800 photographs entered. And it’s difficult to imagine, but the quality of photographs just keeps improving with each year, and this year is no exception. For the first time ever, the winning photographs will appear in the magazine app as well, along with a level of photographs we’ve never published before. The “Staff Picks” are a set of photos that didn’t make it into the winner’s circle, but they still deserve recognition by being published in the Life in the Finger Lakes magazine app. Enjoy the photos and keep taking those pictures. You never know when that special one could be a winner!
APP LIFL EXTRA!
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First Place “Canandaigua Lake Fall Sunrise” Adirondack chairs line the shore at The Inn on the Lake. Annette C. Averitt • Norfolk, Virginia
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Second Place “Preparing to Head South” Taken in Elmira, these two monarch butterflies rest before their long journey. Steve Edgerly • Elmira
Third Place “Snow Angel” Irondequoit Bay, Lake Ontario Mandy Applin • Pittsford
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Second Place “Frozen” Letchworth State Park’s upper falls were almost completely frozen over. Taken with a Nikon D800 f/8, 2 second exposure. Paul Lossowski • Rochester
Third Place “Region of the Eye” Madison Chalfant • Horseheads
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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First Place “The Old 765” Chris Walters • Corning
black and
white LIFL
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Second Place “Horseshoe Bend at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca” Joshua Snow • Elmira
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Third Place “Reflections” This image was taken while walking along the Erie Canal in Pittsford. I was trying to get a picture of the bridge with its reflection on the canal. When I uploaded this image to my computer I had quite the surprise to see how well it actually turned out. ” Chad Burton • Rushville
First Place “Erie Canal Stroll in Pittsford” Joann K. Long • Bloomfield
digitally altered LIFL
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honorable mention “An Early Morning on Seneca Lake” Taken along Route 14 in Geneva, across from Hobart and William Smith Colleges – color Sam Malone • Marion
“Apple Blossoms at Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford” – color Gene Bavis • Walworth
“Sweet Float” Taken while in Canandaigua Lake facing Kershaw Park and Bathhouse using a Nikon D700. – black and white Cindy Alves • Canandaigua
“42 Chevy” On the hill approaching the channel between Lamoka and Waneta Lakes sits this old car. I can’t help but grin whenever I drive by as a nearby sign simply states “Nice Car. Needs tires and seat covers.” – digitally altered Rick Cornell • Cary, North Carolina
“Kisses at the Concert” Photo was captured on Cayuga Lake in Ithaca – black and white Corinne Morton • Ithaca
“Letchworth Sunrise” – digitally altered Charles Vaughn • Spencerport
Life in the Finger Lakes magazine’s 2nd Annual Children’s Photo Contest! Up to 16 years old • Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for info • Entry deadline Jan. 15, 2015 28-51.LIFL_NOVDEC2015_FEATURES.indd 40
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2014
YEAR
IN
REVIEW
Natural History I
ALMANAC March 6 All of the Finger Lakes except Seneca, Cayuga and a small portion of Keuka, near Hammondsport, are frozen. I spotted a white-winged scoter and a female long-tailed duck (formerly named oldsquaw) near permanent docks where bubblers keep the water open.
January 3 2 degrees this morning and 7 inches of new snow. January 5 -6 degrees overnight. Nine turkey at the feeder. One had a band on its leg, #3637. It was banded on my property last year by the DEC as part of a hen dispersal study. January 7 40 degrees and rain yesterday, snow melted. 6 degrees and 25 mph winds this morning. January 11 More than 60 Tundra swans on Keuka Lake. January 22 -5 degrees with a high of 6 degrees. Snowy owls have migrated south into the Finger Lakes again this winter. I watched one take flight from a fence post west of Seneca Lake, scattering hundreds of snow buntings and horned larks.
March 7 Twenty-four turkey in the yard, including three gobblers on full display. When a red fox came from the woods, the gobblers herded the flock into a circle. Seemingly trying to impress the hens, four jakes (young males) walked toward the fox in unison. The fox slowly retreated into the woods.
n many ways, 2014 was a typical year for natural history events, but weather events were anything-but-typical here in the Finger Lakes. It’s been said that 90 percent of us couldn’t start a conversation if it weren’t for unusual weather. Well in 2014, Mother Nature’s rampages got a lot of folks talking!
“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci And in 2014, the forces of water and ice reminded us how powerful nature can be.
March 12 60 degrees. Turkey vultures have returned from the south.
January 24 Good old-fashioned winter. -5 degrees this morning. All of Keuka Lake is fro zen except a small section, 1 mile north of Hammon dsport.
February 3 Snowy owls are still being reported west of Seneca and on Keuka Lake, near Branchport. February 24 Haven’t had a winter like this in years. Despite the frigid conditions, ice fishermen and ice boaters are taking advantage of the hard water. February 26 A recent Cornell study determined that chickadees take and eat up to 50 sunflower seeds per day at bird feeders. Eating that many seeds is like an average person eating 100 lbs. of hamburger a day. Chickadees are constantly coming and going, burning up loads of energy. LIFL Read more content on your mobile device! Download the FREE app at lifeinthefingerlakes.com.
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2014 March 20 First day of spring. 40 degrees. Ice fishermen have been doing well jigging for lake trout on Keuka and Canandaigua Lakes. March 21 After scattering birds at my feeder, a sharpshinned hawk perched nearby. Deep in the adjacent rhododendron, a chickadee boldly squawked at the hawk. The sharpie had enough; it flew into the shrub and came out with the chickadee in its talons.
YEAR
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April 6 56 degrees. Some of the ice has melted on Keuka, however large ice sheets, 6 to 8 inches thick, are shifting dangerously east and west across the lake. April 11 Ice has now melted on most of the lake. However, a 5-mile-long sheet of ice left a path of destruction as strong winds pushed it east and west into the shoreline, before moving north and breaking apart. Seasonal and permanent docks, boats and hoists were crushed.
March 25 Watched a gobbler mate with a hen tod ay. The ritual took two minutes and the hen – appe aring to be glad it was over – bega n feeding. The tom puffed into full display, strutting ab out and rather full of himself.
April 20 A red fox den near our home once again has a family of six pups. I watched and photographed them for an hour as they pounced on each other, played tug-of-war by pulling tails and chased after anything that moved (insects and blowing leaves).
May 14 Mother Nature has been on a rampage. It started with a harsh winter, followed by damaging ice. And now, heavy downpours wreaked havoc. It was a hot and humid 87 degrees, followed by a horrendous storm overnight. Between 5 and 9 inches of rain fell in a short period of time, washing out roads and bridges and damaging homes, docks, boat hoists and property from the Guyanoga Valley, Branchport, and into Penn Yan.
May 18 More rain. The lake is brown and full of debris from the flooding. The flooding has no doubt impacted ground nesting birds such as turkey in the forest and loons on the shore. I saw a family of geese earlier with 12 goslings, now reduced to four. May 23 Pouring rain again. Carp spawning near shore.
March 28 From dusk to dawn, three toms put on quite a show in front of hens who only seemed interested in feeding. Their egos were fully inflated as they puffed up, strutted and gobbled in front of the hens.
May 24 Everything is lush. I can’t recall ever seeing so many shades of green on the landscape. May 27 Raccoon raided the nest box near the house and took six baby chickadees. The confused adults keep coming to the box with food attempting to feed their nestlings.
March 31 4 inches of snow
April 1 Opening day. Despite the fact that Canandaigua Lake is still frozen, there was a good spawning run of rainbow trout into Naples Creek. I watched anglers catch 10 trout in less than an hour.
April 25 Caught 42 perch today. One was 13 inches. Females are still hard with eggs and haven’t started spawning.
May 6 71 degrees. Loons are in close to shore, feeding on spawning perch. Warblers are migrating through.
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June 1
stumbling running in circles, Fawn in the yard e looked do the exercise as and repeating the stroyed by de st ne the g din uil on. Chickadees reb raccoons.
10/2/15 11:12 AM
PRESENT THIS AD TO RECEIVE ONE FREE CHILD ADMISSION! Photocopies not accepted.
June 10 Osprey flew along the shore with perch in its talons. There are several nests nearby. Chickadees incubating six eggs in the nest box.
June 14 One year ago, my neighbors spotted two bucks swimming in the lake. This morning, another buck was swimming in the lake in front of their house. June 18 Extreme weather continues. A microburst toppled large trees near Keuka College. To the south and west, hail the size of quarters accumulated 2 inches and shredded leaves on trees and grapevines.
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July 1 90 degrees July 12 I’ve been watching three wood duck broods substantially reduced by predators – large fish, eagles, osprey, owls, raccoons or fox. One brood started with 13 and is now down to five.
quite 23 ho is June bear bor, w h black ig e a d e t t My n spo 1 mile able, road, e h reput t g rossin use. cub c ur ho o f o north
July 12 Kind of like a rain forest around here. Humid, daily downpours and lush with mosquitoes. With so few bats around, I’m hoping the emerging dragonflies will reduce their numbers.
mon f com 27 ods o o June ough r h b lt ke. A a few la e it e u h t Q on s from anser range e iz s merg s join h brood l clutc 3 imes t typica e with 3 m emale 16, so f o t e n ix o s aw her. S toget w. t s in o chick
July 21 Softshell turtles are laying eggs in the sandy, gravelly shoreline. July 29 3 inches of rain yesterday. In the Honeoye Lake watershed, 5 inches of rain fell, causing the lake to rise 1.5 feet. Once again, more damage. (Continued on page 44)
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2014 August 4
YEAR
IN
REVIEW
Another quick downpour, some localized flooding. Three bats in the evening sky, the most I’ve seen in quite some time.
September 20 Quite pleasant this month, warm and calm with the colors of autumn coming on slowly.
August 7 Caught a 10-inch rock bass. When I removed the hook, it regurgitated a 4-inch shrew.
September 28 I’m seeing a few more monarch butterflies in migration than I saw last year. September 30 The screech owls are calling out back most evenings.
October 6 Abundant crop of both red and white oak acorns. With so many underfoot, it’s hard to keep your balance.
August 16 Trail cam captured a photo of a red fox pup out ba ck this morning.
October 14 Temperatures are around 80 degrees. Very nice color. With the wind this afternoon, bass have been close to shore feeding on crayfish that are washed from under rocks. Caught one nearly 5-lb. largemouth bass and a 3-lb. smallmouth bass.
August 22 Because of all the rain, mushrooms are popping up all over. Horseflies are numerous and relentless. August 27 Spots on fawns are giving way to winter coats. August 28 For the past three summers, I have not heard the flute-like song of a wood thrush. When we moved here in 2000, we often heard their enchanting song from deep in the woods. Possibilities for their decline here and elsewhere include forest fragmentation and cowbird parasitism.
September 6 Hot and humid. Hummingbirds still taking nectar from the flowers on our deck. Soon they will be migrating to the tropics.
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November 5 Beautiful and 64 degrees. Still no killing frost November 7 Snow. Rut is in full swing, bucks chasing does in the woods. October 19 Planted the last of nearly 2000 garlic cloves in the neighborhood gardens. Helps to keep the vampires away. October 27 Nothing close to a killing frost. Garden continues to produce, but my tomatoes have been killed by the blight. October 28 Trail cam report: four bucks – one 10-point, two 4-points and one spike.
November 14 First killing frost and 1 inch of snow. November 15 A very quiet opening day of deer season, 22 degrees. November 19 Just heard that south of Buffalo they had 60 inches of snow yesterday with 15 to 20 inches more predicted for tonight. It was 13 degrees here today with strong winds, but I’m not complaining.
~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM
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November 25 67 degrees yesterday, 55 degrees today. Now I’ve stopped complaining. Every fall, golden crowned kinglets migrate through and glean insects and larvae from the twigs on our Japanese maple. Four kinglets were in the tree this morning.
December 7 A sharp-shinned hawk captured a blue jay at the feeder. It flew off with the jay in its talons, landed in the driveway and started plucking the screaming jay apart. Although quite a feat for a small hawk, nature is relentless and unforgiving. December 11 4 inches of new snow. I am somewhat surprised to see a chipmunk still coming out of its den near the feeder and stuffing its cheeks full of sunflower seeds to be cached. December 17 Mild, mid-40 degrees. Photographed a young red-tail hawk that was feeding on a road-killed deer carcass that I placed out back. It was probably starving because I approached within 20 yards, and it refused to abandon an easy meal. December 18 Very mild and the snow is gone. Two mature bald eagles in a treetop near the canal at the north end of Seneca Lake. Their mating season is about to start. December 24 No white Christmas. It’s raining and 47 degrees. December 31 A dusting of snow. Reports of snowy owl coming into the Finger Lakes region; appears to be the start of another irruption. Six loons still on the east branch of the lake. Deer and turkey tracks are everywhere in the new fallen snow.
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Winter Over Outdoor Survival by Dave Hall with Jon Ulrich
I
t’s fifteen degrees outside, there’s over two feet of snow on the ground, and I’m laughing. I’ve pulled an amateur move and have begun to sweat inside my snow shelter. I know better. I’ve entered my snow trench headfirst, and in an effort to turn around so I can close my door, I’ve overheated. I could have exited my shelter and come in feetfirst, but in an act of stubbornness I’ve defied rational thought. Staying as dry as possible in a winter survival situation is one of the cardinal rules. I’m leading a winter overnight into the wilds of central New York with a group of high school students. Our goal is for each person to solo in his or her own shelter without the aid of a sleeping bag or blanket. I’m joined by my coworker Tom Archibald (a rookie in matters of winter survival) and my good friend Suzanne Johnson. Sue has been to many of Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School classes, including a winter survival intensive. Both Tom and Sue use sleeping bags. The rest of us go without. The students I’ve invited on this challenge are prepared. They’ve been practicing survival skills for years and have become well versed and comfortable in wilderness settings. Some have even become instructors for Primitive Pursuits, an
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outdoor education program I founded in 1999 in the town of Dryden. I emerge the next morning unscathed. For one thing, I’m wearing a sensible combination of wool and synthetics, allowing me to stay warm despite the moisture. Second, I exited my shelter and was able to regulate air flow through my layers and dry out before settling down. Later in the evening, when I found myself unable to sleep, I joined several students around the fire. Still, my situation is a telling reminder of how quickly fortune can turn on even the most seasoned outdoorsman. One misstep could mean the difference between life and death. Why Winter Survival? My immersion in winter survival began more than twenty years ago as a natural extension of my interest in primitive skills. As an instructor, I knew I could not ignore this topic if I wanted to build confidence while exploring the outdoors. Because the driving force behind primitive survival is that all of our needs can be met through a deep and meaningful relationship with the earth, it was necessary that I learn to meet these needs without the aid of gear or technology.
~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM
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Reprinted from Winter in the Wilderness: A Field Guide to Primitive Survival Skills, by Dave Hall, with Jon Ulrich. Illustrated by Dave Hall. Copyright © 2015 by Cornell University. Used by permission of the publisher, Cornell University Press. Available wherever books are sold and at cornellpress.cornell.edu.
Helpful Crafts and Skills
O
n assignment for Life in the Finger Lakes magazine in August of 2012, Jon shadowed Primitive Pursuits’ Forest Archer program. Of all the skills he observed, he was most taken with a demonstration of knapping – the practice and art of shaping rock. Jon watched as lead instructor Justin Sutera flaked apart pieces of obsidian to create stone carving tools. Later, Sutera used these tools to skin a groundhog. Utilizing resources the earth provided, he was able to remove the animal’s pelt in less than 20 minutes. The deeper an outdoorsman’s bag of tricks – coupled with true hands-on experience – the more options he will have at his disposal. Our forebears met seasonal challenges not with apprehension but with confidence. The skills culled from our collective ancestry are indeed vast, and learning these will deepen your connection with nature like nothing else can. Coal Burning Coal burning is an incredibly important skill to master. This skill, which has been used to fashion items as large as canoes, allows you to make wooden bowls that can then be used to boil water. The importance of being able to purify water with this method should not be underestimated. I have coal-burned numerous containers and spoons over the years. With
care, these projects will last for years. The easiest way to begin a coal-burning project is to use a saw and ax. Look for sections of wood that are free of knots or other imperfections. My favorite woods for coal burning are cedar, basswood, aspen, and pine, but any soft wood will do. These materials should be dead, dry, and free of knots or cracks. In a true survival situation, you will not likely have metal tools at your disposal. In such cases, simply burn a section of wood to length and use this uncut, rounded portion for your project. (Logs are typically split in half for coal burning, but without the luxury of metal tools, burning the round is a viable alternative.) The hardest part of any coal-burning project is getting started. To begin, place your coals in the center where you want your catch to be. These coals, with a well-directed exhale, will heat up and your project will soon begin to smolder. In no time your log will turn red with heat. Remember that you are the artist. Much like a sculptor wielding her chisel, you will determine where wood burns away by the placement of coals. Quite often the interior of your bowl will become red hot and embers will no longer be required. Burning can then be controlled by dampening certain areas. Wind can be a great ally when it comes to coal burning. One thing to avoid is flames. While coals NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2015 ~
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Winter Survival
Coal-burned bowls can be used to heat and purify water.
To construct a white pine bark container, secure each corner in place with a split stick.
Stone tools have a multitude of uses.
Snow shoes facilitate travel over deep snow.
are relatively easy to control, flames will lick the edge of your container, rendering it nothing more than a charred piece of wood. Be careful not to go too far and burn your bowl through the bottom. Once you’re satisfied with it, scrape it clean using a stick or smooth rock. Be sure to start your fire and your coal-burning projects as soon as you’ve established your camp. Once your fire is burning, you can get your project going and monitor its progress while tending to other matters. I once left a large split willow log out overnight with a small pile of coals in the center. In the morning, I was fortunate enough to find that my project hadn’t burned through but had converted into a functional bowl. Pine Bark Baskets The Eastern white pine is a gift to the survivalist. This magnificent tree can be found throughout the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and south along the Appalachian Mountains. The bark of this conifer can be removed and folded into a seamless container that can then be used for cooking or water purification. These containers can also be used directly over a bed of coals. When I use them in this way, I prefer to buffer the container by placing green sticks on the coals and my container on top. This will, however, diminish the life of your container. Unlike most barks that lend themselves to basket making, white pine bark can be removed from the tree in the winter and, once removed, is leathery and pliable, making it ideal to fold and manipulate. The best bark to use for this project comes from either young trees or lower branches. The bark should be smooth and without damage. The older, more mature bark of the white pine is rough. I typically locate a section of bark from a branch that is at least fourteen inches in diameter and of substantial length. Using a knife, make two circular cuts around each end of your length of bark. Next, make a straight cut lengthwise connecting these circular cuts. When hammering through the bark, make sure that you’ve cut down all the way through the bark and into the wood. This next step is helpful but not always necessary. Heat your wood next to the fire. (Heating the bark will make it easier to remove.) Be sure to turn your project regularly to ensure that all sides are evenly heated. (Removing pine bark in the winter without the aid of heat can be done, but it is challenging.) Next, using a spatula (a small, flattened hardwood stick), gently pry up a corner of your bark. Be careful not to poke through the bark! Instead, carefully use this tool to separate the bark from the wood. If all goes well, you’ll end up with a rectangular sheet. You can fashion simple pins to secure the corners of your pine bark basket by splitting a short stick. I like to bind one end of a three-inch stick (about one inch in circumference) or find a stick that branches or has a knot at one end. This branching or knotted end will help prevent your split from going all the way through and doesn’t require any binding. Tongs I often craft tongs because they are so useful in handling
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Line illustrations by Dave Hall
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Book Lectures Buffalo Street Books (Ithaca): Saturday, 10/24, 2:00 p.m. Ithaca College (Ithaca): Wednesday, 11/4, 7:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble (Ithaca): Saturday, 11/7, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Mountain Sports (Ithaca): Sunday, 12/6, 6:00 p.m. hot rocks and coals. I tend to use green wood, looking for material that’s straight, several inches in diameter, and at least eighteen inches in length. Certain woods split straighter than others. I prefer to use ash and cedar for my tongs. Once your wood is split, shove a small stone in the crack toward the base and secure this in place with a length of cord. The cord also prevents the tongs from splitting. Snow Saws Snow saws or knives were traditionally made of bone and wood for use in the construction of igloos. In lieu of carrying a modern snow saw, you can improvise a useful cutting tool from wood. I often use a simple snow saw that my older son made for me years ago. This tool can be crafted from split wood or a large, flat splinter from a damaged tree. Remember, too, that you can quarry and remove snow blocks from drifts using something as rudimentary as a straight stick. Stone Tools and Knapping Rocks, our geological record, can be used in a variety of ways to help complete certain tasks. From pounders to hammers, scrapers to sanders, they are an invaluable resource. Always remain vigilant and keep an eye out for these hidden gems. With snow cover, this can be challenging. To combat this, I typically look to stream and creek beds, steep areas, or overhangs where snow is less likely to accumulate.
December 11 & 12 at 8pm
Holiday Concert
Dave Hall
Celebrate the Holidays at the Hangar as the Burns Sisters perform original songs and seasonal favorites from cultures around the world. Bring nonperishable foodstuffs or give on-site donations to the Food Bank and be entered to win fabulous Hangar prizes.
HangarTheatre.org • 607.273.ARTS Located at 801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850
Photo by Megan Ludgate
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#Hangar2015
Hangar Theatre gift certificates, subscriptions, and giftiks are the perfect gift for any occasion.
November /December 2015 ~
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Winter Survival
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APP
Here I will focus on creating Photo by Dave Hall basic edged tools. Becoming an expert at making sharp-edged stone tools can take years. With that said, it is important to understand that simple and effective tools can be made quickly in times of need. With a basic understanding of how to work stone, these wedges, simple knives, and choppers and scrapers can be made with minimal effort. This process is called knapping. The best rocks to use for sharper-edged tools are those with a high silica content. Obsidian is a classic example of this type of stone. The easiest way to find suitable rocks is to look for dense stone that has a highpitched ring when you tap it with a rounded, hammer-like stone. The higher the ring, the better suited the rock is for making sharp-edged tools. As always, experiment. I have made tools from slate, even though sedimentary rock isn’t thought of as ideal knapping material. Exercise caution when working with stone. If you don’t have eye protection (such as ski goggles), close your eyes before striking your rock. Once you’ve found a stone, support it either on your lap or in your nondominant hand. Using a hammer stone (a hard, rounded cobble), forcefully strike the edge with a glancing blow, directing your effort on a spot near the bottom half of your rock. Be sure to continue your motion and follow through. If all has gone well, you will release a flake from your stone. Depending on its size, this flake can be used as a splitting wedge, a chopper, or a knife. Experiment with this method of removing flakes. Adjust the angle of your strike, the angle at which you hold your larger tool rock, and the force with which you strike.
Digging Sticks The digging stick is a simple tool used to loosen soil and extract tubers and roots from the earth. It is a hardwood stick two to two and a half feet in length that is beveled at one end. Under certain conditions it may become necessary to thaw prospective areas with a fire before digging. Footwear Proper footwear is essential to the itinerant survivalist. Here I share three of my favorite designs. Improvised Snow Shoes The use of snow shoes may become necessary to facilitate travel through deep snow. Snow shoes can be as simple as lashing spruce branches underneath your feet. These are then bound near the toe. With the luxury of cordage, fancier snowshoes can be crafted out of saplings. The illustration on page 48 shows the classic Tom Roycroft design for making snowshoes in the backcountry. Expandable Moccasins In an issue of the now-defunct magazine Wilderness Way, Randal Jones contributed an excellent article titled “The Perfect 15-Minute Moccasin,” wherein he described a design from the Tierra Del Fuegan Indians. These people, who lived in the archipelago region south of mainland South America, adapted footwear to an unpredictable environment with an average summer temperature of only fifty degrees. These moccasins are easy to make, and they expand and contract to receive natural insulation such as grasses and sedges. The illustration (on page __ on the book) shows how to use your foot to create a moccasin specific to your needs. (The overall
Exercises 1. Fashion a coal-burned bowl and pine bark container, and then experiment boiling water in each. Which is easier to construct? Which is more durable? Which is better suited for travel? 2. Assemble footwear during a simulated situation involving a stranded vehicle. First, remove the cover from a seat cushion without the aid of a knife. Secure this in place with cordage or netting and fill with grasses or other insulation. Then walk a mile over snowy, uneven terrain and record the results. The digging stick is a simple yet effective tool.
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3. Visit a nearby creek or stream and survey the area for rocks that are suitable for boiling and knapping. Are such rocks abundant in number? If you are not able to locate rocks with a high silica content, experiment with knapping sedimentary rocks such as shale. Put the resulting flakes to use trimming meat, skinning game, or slicing edibles.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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pattern should be the length of two of your feet, with the lower width the length of your foot and the upper portion the width of your foot from the big toe to the little toe. Depending on the temperature, you may want to expand on this design to accommodate more insulation.) First, fold the pattern’s heel section in half and sew these two pieces together. After placing your foot in the pattern, punch holes where your foot meets the ankle. Then fold the remaining part of the pattern over the top of your foot to where the foot meets the ankle. Last, punch matching holes in the upper portion as depicted in the illustration and lace your moccasins in a drawstring fashion. Although these moccasins are ideally made from leather, they can be made from other materials such as car seat covers or canvas and adapted to beef up lighter footwear. I have constructed several pairs of these over the years and believe they are truly the perfect moccasin. I often add uppers to my design, transforming them into a mukluk-style shoe.
Some wines age for decades.
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Netting When Ötzi the Ice Man, whose remains date back to the late Neolithic period, was discovered in the Ötztal Alps in September of 1991, he was wearing leather shoes insulated with grasses. This grass layer was held in place with a net. (Because his footwear was insulated with hay, Ötzi was thought to have been a migratory herder.) Such an intricately designed piece of footwear reflected the ingenuity and needs of a people who lived in a harsh and unforgiving environment. With Ötzi as my inspiration, I once crafted a handmade net and filled this with grasses to bolster the poor footwear of one of my students. As a means of comparison, we insulated one foot and left the other in her sneaker. The results were alarming – the bundled foot was warm and comfortable, whereas the noninsulated foot was significantly colder. Netting is an age-old skill found across the globe. Once understood, making netting is a relaxing process that results in a craft that has many uses.
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November /December 2015 ~
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Gardening
growing and landscaping
CONTAIN YOUR
Enthusiasm
#1
story and photos by K.C. Fahy-Harvick
I
f you were not convinced about the length and severity of the Finger Lakes Region’s winters, the winter of 2014 should have sealed the deal. Don’t get me wrong, I love winter here, and I believe this to be one of the most beautiful areas of our country during all four seasons, but even a mild winter can give us brown, leafless vistas outside our windows. Snow provides a beautiful cover for the brown landscapes around our homes, but there’s nothing like a container with a punch of green and sparkly color to greet you and lift your spirits when coming in the door. I have found that decorations on the porch or entrance in winter can provide a welcoming lift of the heart, even when those days in January and February get you down. Many of us have containers teeming with flowers in the summer, so rather than putting them away for the winter, why not let them continue to teem with evergreens and sparklies? While working at garden centers, I noticed customers would haul their containers to the store and have them filled with winter arrangements. The problems involved with this are the expense and the return trip home. Having your containers done for you this way is always an option, but I would like to share some tips on how best to make beautiful winter containers yourself. Like most things, it is all about knowing the secrets that change the process from being a big messy, disappointing DIY project, to being a beautiful, gratifying exercise in creativity. Use frost-free containers You don’t want them to crack or break when they freeze. Plastic containers will break, but they are inexpensive, so they’re not as much of a financial consideration. Some containers are labeled “frost free,” and I have used many different kinds of these for years. There are also pots made out of “high-fired clay” that are expensive, but do not break when frozen. You don’t have to move them inside for the winter – a great attribute for a heavy container.
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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERLAKES.COM
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CONTAINER GARDENING RESOURCES K.C. Fahy-Harvick Garden Design & Custom Container Design Horticultural Speaker/Teacher 585-729-1419 gardeningmatters.com Facebook – Gardening Matters • Evergreen Landscaping & Garden Center Cast Stone Containers Syracuse, NY 315-463-0233 evergreensyracuse.com • Ballantyne Gardens Syracuse, NY 315-453-0621 ballantynegardens.com • Bristol’s Garden Center Victor, NY 585-924-2274 bristolsgardencenter.com • The Artful Gardener High-fired Glazed Clay Rochester, NY 585-454-2874 theartfulgardenerny.com The large dark urn in picture #1 is cast iron. The light-colored urn in picture #2 is a fiberglass composite material and it sells for $90. The tall square container in picture #3 and the low round in #4 are each made from a high-quality composite material that is very durable year-round. They sell for between $110 and $180. If you use your existing pots, clean them out before the soil gets too cold and frozen. Allowing the soil to freeze in the container will make it impossible to work with when the time comes. Discard the spent plants and roots, and save enough soil to refill the pot about 8 to 10-inches in depth. Save the soil in a warm place, like your garage, where it won’t freeze. Holiday decorations are festive Colored decorations can be used to match your front door color or accent the house color, but for a really festive arrangement most people use holiday decorations. The holiday accents can be removed afterward, but I almost always put something sparkly in my containers. (Picture #5). The porch light or even the street light can pick up the sparkle and give the arrangement a lot more life.
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TASTE OF
Presented by
VISIONS
FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Dinner with Celebrity Chef
October 16
November /December 2015 ~
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#2
#3
You can sprinkle glitter on the branches directly, or even string battery operated lights in the arrangement for extra glow. Include natural materials from your garden Using items from your garden can really personalize your arrangements; these can include rose hips, ornamental grasses, bitter sweet, winterberry, holly, juniper, gold mop false cypress, yellow flag iris seed pods, dogwood branches, pussy willow branches, curly willow branches, and pine cones. I use a lot of dogwood shrub branches in my arrangements. I wait until the yellow-twig and red-twig dogwoods turn color in late fall, and then cut them nice and tall. Some branches I leave natural, and some I spray-paint silver, gold, white or copper colored. (Picture #4) Note: If you are cutting twigs or gathering dried flowers from the roadside, be sure to ask the landowner’s permission first wherever possible.
#4
Evergreens! Many locations that sell Christmas trees also sell bundled branches. This is where I get the Fraser fir, white pine, Douglas fir and noble fir for my arrangements. You may also purchase greens from a florist supply house. If you can’t use cases of greens, maybe share with a friend or neighbor. How to put it all together In mid-November, I begin constructing my containers in the garage, refilling with the reserved soil that’s been set aside, being sure that it is well moistened. Moistening the soil makes it easier
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#5
#6
to work with, and it holds better. I always make a fresh cut to the end of the live evergreen branches to help them stay fresher longer. I begin with the white pine around the edges, then the stiffer Fraser fir for the tall center pieces and longer accents on each side. Once you have that done as your base, fill in with whatever greens seem right. When you put the container out in the cold, the frosts will freeze the soil and this holds the branches in. If the container is in a windy spot, I use metal ground staples to secure the main branches to the soil. One last trick: stick a red pipe cleaner in the front of the container. When I place the container in its winter location, it reminds me which side of the arrangement was planned to be the front. If your container is too heavy to bring into the garage for construction, and the weather is too cold for you to work outside, you can try another trick I use: get a plastic pot sized to slip down inside the heavy pot. Construct the arrangement in the lighter, plastic pot and take it out to the heavy pot outside. It’s faster, easier and much warmer.
There is still time to gather all of your supplies – you might even find some great containers on sale at your local garden center. Whether your taste is boisterous bling, subdued elegance or natural beauty, you can express your creativity and contain your enthusiasm this winter. A beautifully decorated front entrance to your home always says “Welcome Friends.” (Picture #6)
~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com
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Book Look
reading reviews
Catch up on
New Titles this Winter
by Laurel C. Wemmett
W
ith colder weather ahead, it may be an opportune time to find out more about ice fishing, an activity covered in one of the books featured here. If, however, your tastes lean more toward winter’s indoor activities, there are other book offerings that may appeal to you, both literally and figuratively. There are new books that address the growing Finger Lakes wine industry and the region’s expanding range of culinary offerings, and others that take you on an old-fashioned road trip along an iconic highway, and a steamboat journey on scenic Keuka Lake.
A Taste of Upstate New York by Chuck D’Imperio Syracuse University Press syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu Soft cover
U
pstate resident Chuck D’Imperio takes readers on a tasty tour of eight regions of New York State beyond the five boroughs of New York City. Forty food favorites are presented with
LIFL
the people behind them. In the Finger Lakes Region the selection ranges from Rochester’s Garbage Plate to Naples’ grape pie and three Syracuse specialties: Cornell chicken, salt potatoes and meatballs in a heel. Many examples of unique gastronomical fare are featured in this well-illustrated title. The Finger Lakes gets numerous mentions in this friendly overview in “Upstate Food Traditions,” a section focusing on its unique culinary culture. Farmers markets, ice cream stands, Friday fish fries, bakeries, cookbooks and diners are featured. One chapter is devoted to buckwheat pancakes and the famed Birkett Mills in Penn Yan. Dining destinations include favorite restaurants and fun food-centered festivals like the Chili Festival in Ithaca, the biggest of its kind. D’Imperio, an author of other books about Upstate New York, even selected five “iconic food favorites” for an Upstate New York Food Hall of Fame. He admits he had “quite a chore coming up with the initial class” but readers will enjoy learning the identities of these classic foods and the details of their origins.
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There is more to life than a return on your 401(k). Call me and explore what Comprehensive Planning can do for you! Chad J. Bonshak, Financial Advisor Centra Financial Group, Inc. 500 Linden Oaks | Rochester, NY 14625 585-899-1220 cbonshak@centrafinancialgroup.com
Registered Representative of, and Securities and Investment Advisory services offered through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc., (HTK). Registered Investment Advisor Member FINRA/SIPC Centra Financial Group, Inc. is independent of HTK
November /December 2015 ~
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Over A Barrel by Thomas Pellechia State University of New York Press sunypress.edu Hardback
T
Your Yarn Shop in the Finger Lakes Where you’ll find local, luxury and name brand yarns, roving, supplies, and classes for all levels. Whether you knit, crochet, spin or weave stop by and visit! Join Us for Open Knitting Monday and Thursday Evenings Mon, Thurs 10-8 Tues, Wed, Fri 10-5 Sat 10-5 Sun Noon-4
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Stop By and Visit! We’re Easy to Find.
315 North Franklin Street • Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-9710 • www.fiberartsintheglen.com fiberartsintheglen@gmail.com
his well-written narrative details the rise and fall of the Taylor Wine Company, once a major economic force in the wine industry. It begins in 1880 when Walter Stephen Taylor, the son of a cooper, started a commercial grape juice company. Wine production was soon added and Taylor’s three sons oversaw the expanding business well into the 20th century. The longtime enterprise based in Hammondsport survived Prohibition and achieved great success. After going public in the 1960s, the company was sold to Coca Cola in 1977 and changed ownership three more times before its dissolution in 1995. Numerous lives and the economy of the Keuka Lake community were adversely affected. Tom Pellechia, an independent journalist and author of books on the Finger Lakes and the wine trade, presents a compelling account of a proud family and its influential company. He reveals how family dynamics impacted business decisions including those of the third generation’s “maverick,” Walter S. Taylor, who founded Bully Hill Vineyards and challenged conventional winemaking practices. Today, the Finger Lakes wine industry is made up of small, mostly family-run wineries. Pelletier describes
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Book Look the Taylor story as relevant and cautionary: “Growth is good but remaining innovative and flexible may be more important in a consumer market as fickle as wine’s and more competitive than ever.”
Steamboats on Keuka Lake by Richard S. MacAlpine & Charles R. Mitchell The History Press historypress.net Soft cover
F
or several years beginning in 2008, MacAlpine and Mitchell narrated Keuka Lake boat tours about the steamboat-era to benefit the Yates County History Center (YCHC). When the tourboat business ended due to stringent new shipbuilding requirements, the pair compiled knowledge from their extensive research into this comprehensive book. MacAlpine, a retired history teacher active in several capacities at YCHC; and Mitchell, former owner of a photography business and the curator at the History Center, chronicle the Keuka Lake steamboats from their beginnings through their heyday and decline. Both men have published other local history books. The story of Keuka Lake steamboats will have special appeal to those with ties to communities around the lake frequented by steamboats such as Penn Yan, Hammondsport and Branchport, among others. Besides providing a means to travel for visitors and locals alike, steamboats and railroads also met the transportation needs of 19th-century grape farming and wine production. A virtual tour of the three branches of Keuka Lake takes readers on a steamboat-era excursion. Illustrations of long-gone resorts, landmarks, and steamboats, plus a map of the lake provide helpful visual references.
BUYER & CELLAR
by Jonathan Tolins / Sep 6 - 27
THE MOUNTAINTOP
by Katori Hall / Oct 11 - 25
I AND YOU
by Lauren Gunderson / Nov 8 - 22
THE SOUP COMES LAST Pavlova in a Hat Box by Cynthia Neale Pear Tree Publishing Co. peartreePublishing.net Soft cover
H
ere is a cookbook for lovers of sweets, especially cakes. Combined with personal stories, often of the preparation and
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by Rachel Lampert / Nov 29 - Dec 13
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER by Rick Elice / Jan 31 - Feb 21
DANCING LESSONS
by Mark St. Germain / Mar 20 - Apr 3
GRAND CONCOURSE
by Heidi Schreck / May 1 - 22
607.272.0570 · www.kitchentheatre.org November /December 2015 ~
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marketplace
A
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
W I N E E X PE R I E NC E that truly
ST TA N D S OU T
Trail-Wide
1020 Anthony Road Penn Yan, New York 14527 800.559.2182 anthonyroadwine.com
family, friends, passion. tastings • treasures • gardens • view
2 5 t h An n iv e rsary
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Book Look
A Wine for Every Taste!
NOW OPEN AT WSW! Locally crafted beer & root beer Two complimentary beer or wine tastings with this ad. Open daily, year ‘round Located on the northwest end of Seneca Lake, just south of Geneva 4200 Route 14, Geneva NY 315-781-9463 www.whitespringswinery.com
Founded & owned by Carl Fribolin
consumption of these delicacies, the book uniquely blends recipes with memories, some linked to the author’s native Finger Lakes Region. Cynthia Neale, whose writing includes young adult novels, offers well-crafted stories of times when family and friends gathered. The presentation is enlivened by numerous lush and whimsical watercolor illustrations by artist Maggie Martin. The author’s prose combined with the fanciful imagery enhances the mouth-watering recipes and will engage the readers’ senses. The title is taken from Neale’s light and airy dessert, “Pavlova,” named for the renowned Russian ballerina who “had wings for soaring in dance and her feet never touched the floor.” The author recounts how a hat box was pressed in to use to carry this fragile delicacy on a boat trip with friends. Neale’s enjoyment of Irish set dancing fills the chapter, “Ceili Cakes.” An Irish ceili is a festive gathering with music and dancing when cakes are served at tea time breaks. One such cake she christened “Luscious Lemon Cake Dressed to the Nines.” Such word-imagery is typical of the author-baker who encourages decorating confections with “your own signature of creativity.”
Historic Route 20: A Journey Across America’s Longest Highway by Bryan Farr The Historic US Route 20 Association historicUS20.org Soft cover t is the longest highway in America and its 3,365-mile length spans the U.S., traversing 12 states and running through the Finger Lakes Region. For those without the time or stamina for a cross-country drive on this classic highway, this book is the next best thing. More than 200 fullcolor photographs bring to life a journey along this one route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. Boston, Massachu-
I
setts, where Route 20 begins in the east, is linked to Newport, Oregon, where the transcontinental highway ends. Lush panoramic vistas of rolling countryside alternate with small-town views and natural wonders. Classical-style architecture gives way to open farmlands of the Great Plains and the grandeur of the national parks in the far west. Bryan Farr’s photographs are captioned with tidbits of history and relevant facts. The book is an outgrowth of the author’s road trip along US Route 20 in 2010. Having grown up on Cayuga Lake, Farr’s first road trips and photos were taken in the Finger Lakes area. The author was so impressed with the value of Route 20 that he founded the nonprofit Historic US Route 20 Association “to preserve and promote Route 20’s significance and history.” He believes this scenic byway has achieved iconic status similar to the better known Route 66 or the Lincoln Highway.
Fishing Oneida Lake by Spider Rybaak Burford Books, Inc. burfordbooks.com Soft cover
T
his compact guide by writer and renowned angler Spider Rybaak focuses on Oneida Lake, calling it “the most productive warm water fishery in the state.” Central New York’s fastest growing sport may be ice-fishing, Oneida Lake’s claim to fame. By mid-December ice (Continued on page 61)
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marketplace
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Maxwell Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast
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130 E. Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850 Tel: 607-277-8900 Fax: 607-277-8910 ©2005 Hilton Hospitality , Inc.
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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM
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Book Look
Clute Memorial Park & Campground • Full Hook Ups Including Cable & Wi/Fi
• Across From Beautiful Seneca Lake
• Walking Distance to Downtown
• Community Center & Pavilion Rentals
• Boat Launch
155 S. Clute Park Drive (Boat Launch Road) Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-4438 www.watkinsglen.us
Bristol Views Bed & Breakfast 6
6932 County Rd. 12 Naples, NY 14512
585-374-8875
www.bristolviews.com Henry and Barb Owens
Your home away from home, located high above Canandaigua Lake with awesome views. Hiking, biking, wineries & more await you. We also offer a beautiful wedding site that will fulfill your dreams. Let us help you discover the Finger Lakes!
Finger Lakes Mill Creek Cabins 2382 Parmenter Road Lodi, NY 14860
607-582-7673 Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 40 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.
www.fingerlakescabins.com
is already forming on this, the largest body of water northeast of Syracuse and totally within New York State. While acknowledging the appeal of ice fishing, the author points out that it can be a dangerous pursuit. He provides measurements of the thickness of the ice with corresponding weight limitations, and points the reader to the Department of Environmental Conservation for further safety precautions. The book is well-organized and easy to use, offering descriptions of fish species, definitions of terms, detailed maps and summaries of locations and catches by season. Photographs of smiling anglers show off a variety of fish caught in Oneida’s waters. The author’s easygoing writing style will appeal to novice and experienced anglers alike. Appendices present contact information for fishing guides and charter services, sources for bait and tackle, marinas, parks, and county tourism offices. Rybaak provides all an angler needs to have a successful and enjoyable fishing trip at any time of year on Oneida Lake.
Finger Lakes Wine Country by Sarah S. Thompson Arcadia Publishing arcadiapublishing.com Soft cover
C
overing 150 years of wine-making history, this pictorial book focuses (Continued on page 63)
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marketplace
Shopping & Services
Specializing in High-End Vintage, Foreign & Domestic Autos, Boats and Tractor Trailers We cover Rochester, Canandaigua, Syracuse, Buffalo and surrounding areas www.spyrodetailing.com • 585.955.3273
The Hall Diner
Buying Coins
Hours
Mon-Fri 6am-2pm Sat 6am-12 noon & Sun 7am-12 noon (serving breakfast only Sat & Sun)
Back to Basics... featuring meals prepared from farm to table
Old Time Collections & Estates Safe Deposit Box Visits Made References at: www.coinsbought.com E-mail at: gene@coinsbought.com
Gene Lane PO Box 221 Burdett, NY 14818 607-342-3606
Offering baked goods prepared fresh and in-house. 4856 NY Rte 14A Hall, NY 14463 (585) 526-7118
I have collected coins for 57 years.
MAKE YOUR OWN WINE www.101winemaking.com
www.fallbright.com Secure online shopping Winemaking Information Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe Keuka Lake 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY 607-292-3995
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Heron’s Roost Gift Shop
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Over 700 REAL LOG HOMES Built in the Finger Lakes Area Since 1971.
Unique gift items including candles, bath soaps, walking sticks, bird baths and feeders, wind chimes, lavender scented items, tee shirts, wine accessories, books, cards, teas and tea pots, CD’s, custom gift baskets
Hand-made alpaca items from the fiber of our own resident alpacas “Eli, Eugene, Bo and Nyaki”
7661 Tuttle Road • Prattsburgh, NY 14873
(607) 522-4113
LIFL magazine’s 2nd Annual Children’s Photo Contest! Up to 16 years old Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for info Entry deadline Jan. 15, 2015
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Book Look JA
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(Continued from page 61)
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Penn Yan Diner 131 East Elm Street, Penn Yan NY 14527 315-536-6004
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Visit our locations. Farmington Corner of Routes 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) 585-742-6218
Pittsford Plaza Monroe Ave. (Next to Shear Ego) 585-385-0750
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on the four deepest Finger Lakes where conditions are best for growing grapes: Keuka, Seneca, Canandaigua and Cayuga. Illustrations from numerous archival sources support themes such as early grape production, the growth of wineries, and the impact of influential individuals or “Vineyard Visionaries” who paved the way for the recent Finger Lakes wine renaissance. Thompson, a freelance writer who lives on Seneca Lake (where she and her husband plan to open a small winery), has written thoughtful thematic essays to accompany the images. She explores the impact of the 18th amendment, Prohibition, when the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol were prohibited; and the 1976 New York Farm Winery Act, which made it easier for small growers to plant vineyards and sell wine. Thompson has provided a solid introduction to a complex subject. Images pay tribute to the countless workers employed in supporting businesses like basketmaking or crate and barrel fabrication, essential to the early packaging and transport of grapes and their juice. Views of packing houses, and the steamboats and railroad trains that carried grape products to market, expand the story. Even labels of products like grapes and wines contribute to this comprehensive title.
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IAM_FngrLakesAd_3.25x5 1014_IAM_FngrLakesAd_3.25X5 1014 10/2/14 11:07 P
Real Estate
DON’T BUY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITHOUT TALKING TO
MARK MALCOLM II
“HE’S GOT A CORNER ON THE MARKET”
marketplace
Keuka LakeYou prefer brand new? Well, this is a new contemporary on 150’ of Nat’l frontage. All the finer appointments, such as vaulted ceilings, fireplace, decks, upscale kitchen, master suite on first level, 2-car garage, hot tub, and best yet... you can drive right to your door! Now priced at $949,000. Keuka Lake-Recently renovated, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, year-round, ranch home, on absolutely dead-level frontage. Views of the very tip-of-bluff, and the wide waters... all natural beach, permanent dock, natural gas, large 3-car garage with second level storage area, new roofs on all buildings. Picture your children/grandchildren playing at the beach or on the large back lawn. This is so manageable and charming, you just must see it. Now priced at $525,000. Keuka Lake-Meticulously maintained, 3 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bath, year-round home with no steps inside or outside. Wonderful level lawn for playing horseshoes or whatever level lawn means to your family and friends. The enclosed porch, deck, patio, dock create additional space to entertain, and then there is the garage/recreation room/bonus area. With 75’ of level lake frontage, and all the additional “perks”, this is a must see/must have option! Now priced at $575,000.
STUDIOS,1,2&3BR APARTMENT HOMES Ithaca-Apartments.com
■ Within 2 Miles of Cornell ■ Professionally Managed w/24 Hr. Maint. Service ■ Regular T-Cat Bus Service ■ Fitness Center** ■ Newly Renovated ■ Free Private Parking Kitchens* ■ Energy-Efficient Windows ■ In-Home Washer/Dryer* ■ Large Patios & Balconies * Select Units ** Select Communities ■ Pet Friendly
CANDLEWYCK LANSING PARK WEST 272-9206 257-5444 NORTH WOOD WARRENWOOD 257-4037 257-5200
GASLIGHT VILLAGE 257-3311 BROOKLANE 257-5444
OFFICE M-F 9-5, Sat & Sun 10 -3 HOURS: Plus some evenings
Successful U Pick Apple Orchard
Mark Malcolm II “KEUKA LAKE’S TOP AGENT” 315-536-6163 Direct
email: mmalcolmii@aol.com
Website: MARKMALCOLM.COM (w/mobile app)
35 Acres Town of Dix, NY (near Watkins Glen)
Schuyler Co.
Rare opportunity to step into a successful and viable apple orchard business! Current owners are retiring.
Property consists of 35 acres and includes a primary home, sales barn, pavilion, gazebo, and other outbuildings. Currently, there are over 8,000 trees with 20 varieties of apples planted. With a proven track record for success, the Orchard has the ability to continue to grow in the future. KEUKA LAKE $499,000 MLS# R266160 Desirable East Side with 100’ of fresh water lake frontage, updated kitchen, 4 BR, 2 full baths, hardwood & tile floors & LOTS MORE! Dick Murphy, Lic. Broker 315-270-2002
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Offered exclusively by NY Land Quest for $849,900
Owner Financing Available ™
SELLING LAND IS OUR SPECIALTY
Selling All Types of Real Estate is Our Business
82 North Street, Dryden, NY 13053
Call for Private Showing
607-280-1058 (C)
Brian Jackson Licensed Real Estate Salesperson nylandquest.com
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• 28.29 level acres in Canandaigua just off Route 332 • Heart of the bustling Finger Lakes Region • Currently zoned RB-1 - offices, labs, R & D, clinics • Eligible for Mixed Overlay District option
• Totally restored 1850 colonial as a B & B • Six bedrooms each with its own full bath • Commercial grade kitchen • Public water, natural gas, cable
• Land wraps around Canandaigua’s Blue Heron Park • 2 minutes to airport – 10 minutes to Thruway I-90 • 1-800-295-2797 PC73297 • Nothnagle.com/R282776
• On 7.4 acres near Honeoye Lake • Amazing value at $294,500 • Available completely furnished ($10,000) • 1-800-295-2797 PC44787 • Nothnagle.com/R275314
4805 East Lake Road
• Four bedrooms two baths 2,132 square feet • Impeccable condition, many recent upgrades • Two decks to enjoy the well landscaped yard
Real Estate
Cell: 585-732-1271 Office: 585-624-3370
marketplace
Ed Jackson, Licensed Associate R.E. Broker
1300 Route 14A
• Fully equipped restaurant by the Keuka Wine Trail • Two minutes north of Penn Yan • Dining room plus banquet room • Kitchen has all recent equipment • Complete line of bakery equipment • Tables are already set – ready to reopen now • Separate storage building – all on 5 acres • 1-800-295-2797 PC73287 • Nothnagle.com/R282793
• 75 feet of level Seneca Lake Frontage • Scenic east side, enjoy the sunsets • Permanent dock, concrete launch ramp • Easy commute to Geneva or Ithaca • 1-800-295-2797 PC34777 • Nothnagle.com/R272192
4556 County Road 37
0 State Route 64
• 4 bedroom, 2 bath maintenance free ranch • Central air, master bath, hardwood floors • Natural gas, cable, public water available • Gorgeous 16 rolling acres of meadows and woods • Huge spring fed pond with trophy bass • Near Honeoye, Hemlock, and Canadice Lakes
• 15 Acres across from Bristol Mountain Slopes • Grab your skis, walk across the road, you’re there • Spectacular slope views from anywhere on property • Seven acres just cleared and ready for you to build
• $169,900 for 15 acres or could sell individual 5 acre lots • Unique Neighborhood/Commercial Zoning • 1-800-295-2797 PC02117 • Nothnagle.com/R264492
• Easy commute to Rochester, Canandaigua, Geneseo • 1-800-295-2797 PC34787 • Nothnagle.com/R272338
YOUR LAKE & COUNTRY SPECIALISTS on and around Seneca & Cayuga Lakes
4943 Rockefeller Rd,Owasco
38’ of Level Year Round East side Owasco Lakefront 4 bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath split level home on Rockefeller Rd. Large living room with fireplace Formal dining room and large kitchen and a half bath on the main floor. 4 season sun room off the back of the house leading to a 2 level deck. 2 car garage under. The second floor has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths including a master suit. The basement has a laundry room a family room with a pool table and a large “shop” area. This is a flag pole lot with 205’ on Rockefeller Rd and 38’ on the beach. Plenty of room for a dock, boat hoist and swimming.
Search the Finger Lakes from our website
$399,900
www.senecayuga.com
Buy or Sell with us! Call 315-568-9404 Carmelo “Mel” Russo Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner 315-246-3997 • 97 Fall St., PO Box 386, Seneca Falls, NY 13148
Jeffery “Jeff” Trescot, Broker Cell 315-730-1446 www.jefftrescot.com • jefflcre@aol.com landoflakesrealty.com
96 S Main St 113 Cayuga St Moravia, NY Union Springs NY 315-497-3700 315-889-2000
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Real Estate
4895 Springport Cove, Union SpringS, nY Cayuga Lake – Eastside Sunshine
This 4BR, 2.5BA ranch features new cherry kitchen/solid counters/ SS appliances. Open floor plan with fireplace, hardwood floors, covered patio off dining room. Fully finished lower level w/private entrance, perfect for additional family or guests. Slight slope to level lakefront. New aluminum dock, great rental history, low taxes. Call for details and private viewing. $289,000 We have many more lakefront properties available for sale or rent, call today for more information.
Contact Midge Fricano Broker, GRI. CRS.
marketplace
cell: 315-729-0985 • email: MidgeFricano@gmail.com www.LakeCountryRealEstateNY.com
VICTOR-SPRINGDALE B & B
Originally The Motts Apple Homestead – 1820 – This 3,396 square foot home has 6 bedroom suites with baths, most with fireplaces. New granite kitchen with exposed beams. Architecturally significant period details. Private setting on 7 acre lot with 2 barns and workshop. Minutes to Victor, NYS Thruway, 490 and Eastview Mall. PC10857 nothnagle.com/R285041 $539,000
Jane Gavett • Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 384 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Office: 585.396.5237 • Cell: 585.919.9137
Call our 4-sale line at 1-800-295-2797. Press in the 5-digit code for more info.
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Need an idea for a great gift? Why not share the beauty of the region with a gift subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes?
LifeintheFingerLakes.com 800-344-0559 Now
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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marketplace
Wine, Spirits & Brews
Join us for a tasting of our premium wines and enjoy lunch at our deli, Amelia’s.
Business Hours: Winery Sun-Thurs: 10 am- 5 pm Fri and Sat: 10 am-6 pm Deli Fri, Sat and Sun: 11 am- 4 pm Order Online: www.longpointwinery.com 1485 Lake Road • Aurora, NY 13026 (315) 364-6990 • mail@longpointwinery.com
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marketplace
Culture & Attractions
ARTiST OPENHOUSE 4
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33 South Street, Auburn, NY 13021
BLACKFRiDAY SMALLBiZSAT 5-8 9-5 SUNDAYFUNDAY
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&FRIENDS 28 artists
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143WiLLiAM st GENEVA NY •
F ly i n g W h a l e S t u d i o S • c o m
Beautifully decorated for the holidays beginning December 3! (315) 252-1283 www.sewardhouse.org Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am - 5pm. Visit our website or call for more information about our Candlelight Tours offered throughout December.
LIFL magazine’s 2nd Annual Children’s Photo Contest! Up to 16 years old Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for info Entry deadline Jan. 15, 2015
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~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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ANTIQUE WIRELESS MUSEUM
Experience Two Centuries of Communication Technology Titanic Radio Room, 1925 Radio Store First Transistor Radio, Working Transmitters First Cell Phone and Much, Much More!
Museum complex features a tavern c1796, log house c1850, school house c1878, blacksmith shop c1870, and agricultural barn.
73 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm 607-937-5281 • heritagevillagesfl.org
marketplace
Open: Tuesday 10am-3pm & Saturday 1-5pm
6925 State Route 5, Bloomfield, New York 14469 585-257-5119 • www.antiquewireless.org
Naples – Wineries, Artists and more
BREW & BRATS Features Locally Made BREW - Crafted Beers, Wine and Root Beer BRATS- Specialty Sausages Fri., Sat., & Sun. Noon-9 May- October May Free Live Music on Friday & Saturday 6-9
Wine, Cheese & Gourmet Food Tastings Daily
Winter Hours: Sat. 12-9 & Sun. 12-7
Open Mon. - Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-5
Go online for a list of local musicians playing
www.BREWAndBRATS.com
MONICA’S PIES Famous for our Grape Pies Available Year Round
Local fruits to luscious creams we have your favorite! Call to order yours! A variety of pies available daily also chicken pot pies, quiche, jams, jellies & gifts.
Open 7 days a week, 9AM-6PM 7599 Rte, 21, Naples
585-374-2139
www.monicaspies.com
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marketplace
Canandaigua – The Chosen Spot
Original artwork from over 40 established & aspiring artists Paintings, mixed media, drawings, glass, hand crafted jewelry, sculptures, ceramics, pastel
726 South Main Street Canandaigua
Workshops & Classes
585 . 905 . 0201
71 S. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 585-394-0030 www.prrgallery.com
www.nolansonthelake.com
The area’s largest Native American Jewelry collection.
142 South Main St. • Canandaigua, NY 585-394-3115 • MyCrownDowntown.com
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A Finger Lakes landmark for classic gifts, extraordinary accessories for home and garden, handcrafted jewelry, apparel, fine stationery and whims w h i m ses! ie s! 56 South Main St. • Downtown Canandaigua Open Daily • 585-394-6528
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Index of Advertisers November/December 2015
COMPANY....................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL
COMPANY.......................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL
Adirondack Firestone Company...... 53.....315-295-1068.........adkfirestone.com
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard......................... 43.....888-750-0494........hazlitt1852.com
Americana Vineyards & Winery........14.....607-387-6801.........americanavineyards.com
Heron Hill Winery............................... 55.....800-441-4241.........heronhill.com
Antique Revival.....................................21.....800-780-7330........antiquerevival.com
The Highlands at Pittsford....................7.....585-586-7600........highlandsatpittsford.org
Arnot Health.........................................C2.....607-737-4499........arnothealth.org
Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca......................2.....877-STAY-HGI.........ithaca.hgi.com
Belhurst..................................................13.....315-781-0201..........belhurst.com
Hotel Ithaca...........................................17.....607-272-1000.........thehotelithaca.com
Better Business Bureau.......................11.......................................bbb.org/upstate-new-york
Humane Society of Schuyler County................................8.....607-210-4263.........schuylerhumane.org
Bristol Harbour.....................................14.....800-288-8248........bristolharbour.com Bristol Mountain.................................. 26 ......................................bristolmountain.com
Hunt Hollow Ski Club......................... 45.....585-374-5428........hunthollow.com
Caves Kitchens......................................19.....585-478-4636........cavesmillwork.com
I-Wood-Care..........................................10.....800-721-7715.........iwoodc.com
Cayuga County Tourism.....................16.....800-499-9615.........tourcayuga.com
The Inn on the Lake............................16.....800-228-2801........theinnonthelake.com
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.......................18.....800-684-5217.........cayugawinetrail.com
Ithaca Farmers Market........................ 49.....607-273-7109.........ithacamarket.com
Centra Financial Group Inc............... 55.....585-899-1220........centrafinancialgroup.com
The Jewelbox........................................56.....800-711-7279.........ithacajewelbox.com
Chemung Canal Trust......................... 22.....800-836-3711.........chemungcanal.com
Kendal at Ithaca...................................C3.....877-915-7633.........kai.kendal.org/FL
Clifton Springs Chamber of Commerce..................... 57.....315-462-8200.........cliftonspringschamber.com
Kitchen Theatre Company................ 57.....607-272-0570.........kitchentheatre.org
Cobtree Vacation Rentals..................56.....315-789-1144..........cobtree.com
Rosamond Gifford Zoo...................... 43.......................................rosamondgiffordzoo.org
Corning Museum of Glass.................19.....800-732-6845........cmog.org
Seager Marine.......................................51.....585-394-1372.........seagermarine.com
Cricket on the Hearth......................... 20.....585-385-2420........cricketonthehearth.com
Seneca County Chamber.................. 23.....800-732-1848.........fingerlakescentral.com
New Energy Works.............................C4.....585-924-3860........newenergyworks.com
Downtown Ithaca Alliance.................21.....607-277-8679.........downtownithaca.com
SignLanguage Inc.................................21.....585-237-2620........signlanguageinc.com
Eastview Mall...........................................5.....585-223-4420........eastviewmall.com
Six Mile Creek Vineyard........................8.....607-272-9463........sixmilecreek.com
Ferris Hills...............................................15.....585-393-0410.........ferrishills.com
Timber Frames..................................... 25.....585-374-6405........timberframesinc.com
FiberArts in the Glen..........................56.....607-535-9710.........fiberartsintheglen.com
Wagner Vineyards................................17.....866-924-6378........wagnervineyards.com
Finger Lakes Community College....51.....585-394-3522........flcc.edu
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel................13.....607-535-6116..........watkinsglenharborhotel.com
Finger Lakes from Space Poster........18.....800-331-7323.........atwatervineyards.com
WCNY.................................................... 53.......................................wcny.org
Finger Lakes Jewelry........................... 27.......................................fingerlakesjewelry.com
Wild Birds Unlimited.......................... 45.....877-266-4928........sapsuckerwoods.com
Finger Lakes Tram............................... 25.....315-986-8090........fingerlakestram.com Fireplace Fashions............................... 26.....877-409-6555........fireplacefashions.com German Brothers Marina Inc...............4.....585-394-4000........germanbrothers.com
MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING
Granger Homestead............................10.....585-394-1472.........grangerhomestead.org
Accommodations....................... Pg. 60-61
Real Estate for Sale....................Pg. 64-66
Halco.........................................................3.....800-533-3367........halcoenergy.com
Canandaigua.....................................Pg. 70
Seneca Lake Wine Trail.............. Pg. 58-59
Halsey’s Restaurant............................. 20.....315-789-4070.........halseysgeneva.com
Culture & Attractions.....................Pg. 68-69
Shopping & Services..................Pg. 62-63
Naples.................................................Pg. 69
Wine, Spirits & Brews................Pg. 66-67
Hangar Theatre.................................... 49.....607-273-2787.........hangartheatre.org
Need an idea for a great gift?
Why not share the beauty of the region with a gift subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes? LifeintheFingerLakes.com 800-344-0559
Now
SIX issues November /December 2015 ~
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Day Trip
exploring the Finger Lakes
by Downtown Ithaca Alliance staff
L
ate December in the Finger Lakes – it’s a veritable winter wonderland of glistening trees, gleaming waterfalls and glossy lakes. It’s also when downtown Ithaca holds its beloved Winter Festival – two weeks of winter revelry that culminate in a nationally-sanctioned ice carving competition. The 6th annual Ithaca Winter Festival will take place November 28 through December 13, 2015. The Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall will be transformed into a crystalline dreamworld, dotted with scores of exquisitely detailed ice sculptures of all shapes and sizes. “The whole package is a oneof-a-kind Upstate New York experience,” says Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Winter Festival starts on Small Business Saturday, a celebration of the 150-plus unique, independently-owned stores and restaurants within the walkable three-block downtown district. Next is the arrival of Santa and his merry band of elves. The entire polar contingent rappels down a four-story building onto the Commons and joins in on gingerbread crafts, photo sessions and fun seasonal activities for the whole family. The ice festivities kick off with a series of demonstration carvings and the creation of a 12-foot bar and lounge, where visitors can sit on sol-
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Ithaca’s Winter
Festival
finned merman, a Kafkaesque praying mantis and a night owl taking wing. Each stood head and shoulders above its sculptor. In recent years, visitors saw elaborate renderings of eerily translucent giant squid, prancing antelopes, and a largerthan-life housecat gazing intently into an out-ofreach fishbowl. “It’s so energizing to see artisans turn what we all hate in the dead of winter – cold and ice – into remarkable, ephemeral works of art,” says Eldred Harris, a longtime Ithaca resident. And tourists agree. “The talent on display at Ice Wars is amazing,” says Trai Sang of Atlantic County, New Jersey. “The ice bar is a Photo by Bruce Barber unique, seasonal way to spend time on the Commons. It’s great to find such joy during the cold winter.” id-ice thrones (cushioned for comfort), Other Winter Festival events inhave a steaming hot chocolate or saclude Chanukah celebrations and the vor local beer and wine, and watch fire annual Chowder Cook-off, where fesdancers and expert ice carvers. Next, tivalgoers sample piping hot chowders the Ice Wars competition begins with and bisques to determine which of the the Speed Carving event, when some area’s top chefs is crowned Chowderof America’s finest ice carvers go headcup Champion. to-head in a race against the clock to In short, if you’re looking for a complete a sculpture in just under 20 great place for holiday shopping, minutes, with limited tools. gourmet food and drink, and a unique The second Ice Wars event is opportunity to watch first-class artithe Carve and Deliver competition, sans in action, look no further than where master carvers are given three downtown Ithaca. hours to plan and execute an intricate This year’s Winter Festival is sponlarge-scale piece and then move it – sored by the Tompkins County Tourism very, very carefully – to a display area program and The Ice Farm of Auburn, where it will be judged by attendees New York. For a complete schedule of and a professional panel. Last year, the events, visit downtownithaca.com. top-ranked creations were a fantastical
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Exploring Ithaca’s spectacular landscape with her trusty pal, Tasha, gives Loretta great scenery and even better company. Whether she’s hiking to the heart of the gorge or just taking in the falls, she always enjoys the natural beauty of the area. Living on the 105-acre campus of Kendal at Ithaca not only keeps Loretta connected to the places and companions she loves, but the care she may need someday. And, from here, the story just keeps getting better. Come for a visit and tell us your story. Call 800-253-6325 or go to kai.kendal.org to learn more.
2230 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
A not-for-profit continuing care retirement community serving older adults in the Quaker tradition. ©2014 KENDAL
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 • VOL. 15, NO. 6
Serving great clients in the Finger Lakes for 30+ years | newenergyworks.com | 585.924.3860
14th ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST • PICTURE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFTS • READING REVIEWS
Architect: D. Michael Collins Architects
LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES
“Wow. The process was fun, collaboration was tremendous. You achieved exactly what we had in our minds - superb workmanship yet casual and welcoming; new but a nod to old and post and beam that didn’t go “country”. We really appreciate all the effort and caring you put into making this happen.” -Jackie & Sal - Steve & Denise
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