Life in the Finger Lakes MarApr 2016 by Fahy-Williams Publishing

Since

2001

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IER EM

LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES

Children’s Photo Contest Winners, p. 36 • Chainsaw Art, p. 20

CHILDREN’S PHOTO CONTEST • ELUSIVE WOOD DUCK • CHAINSAW ART

March/April 2016

The Magazine for People Who Love New York State’s Wine Region

The Elusive

Wood Duck page 30

MARCH/APRIL 2016 • VOL. 16, NO. 2

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This page: Leaves are just starting to appear on the trees that live on the Keuka Lake shoreline. Warmer days are coming soon.

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Cover: Photograph taken by Laurie Dirx. See how she got her wood duck photos on page 30.

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

Volume 16, Number 2 • March/April 2016

F E A T U R E S

Waiting on the Elusive Wood Duck

2nd Annual Children’s Photo Contest Winners

With a telephoto lens on hand and a lot of Young people of the Finger Lakes continue to patience, author Laurie Dirx sets out to capture amaze with their creativity and talent in images one of the most beautiful ducks in the world

1 JJ aa nn uu aaM Jrruyayl//ryFFc/eeh Abb/urrAguupuaarrsri tyyl To Subscribe, visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com or call 800-344-0559

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4 My Own Words

thoughts from the editor

5 Letters

reader feedback

6 Finger Lakes Map

areas of interest in this issue

8 Happenings

news and events

10 Day Trip

exploring the Finger Lakes The new Logan Hill Preserve

20 Offbeat

fresh and unique Cutting edge - chainsaw art

Outdoors in the open air

24 Life at a red fox den 50 Finger Lakes frogs

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26 Fruit of the Vine

wine, spirits and brews Heart and Hands Winery

14 Nooks & Crannies

a little bit of everything Little Jan and the Radiants

16 Gardening

growing and landscaping Coloring outside the lines

42 How-to

be a better photographer Photographing wildlife, Part I

46 Finger lakes Tourism

explore and discover LIFL APP EXTRA! Cork and Pork on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

54 Human Interest 72

stories about real people Hazel Thompson at your service

71 Index of Advertisers 72 Off the Easel

creating art Printmaker Elizabeth King Durand

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My Own Words

thoughts from the editor

Slow but Sure I

recently had an opportunity to take some time off on a weekend. The kind of time where you don’t have to deal with the outside world much, and you have a lot of quiet time on your hands to think. I spent a lot of time hiking, and reading. It’s amazing how, after a short time, one can start to become comfortable with oneself by slowing down and just listening. I think a lot of the free space in our daily lives is taken up through music, television, radio talk shows – anything that will fill our time of silence with something – anything – to dispel that silence. I am one of the biggest culprits in that area. But 36 hours of downtime really helped me to get back in touch with who I am – and it wasn’t quite as scary as I may have originally thought. I was watching a TED Talk recently, and one of the speakers was discussing slowing down. By doing this he said that he improved his own life, and we can all improve our lives if we let it. He used one anecdote about reading bedtime stories to his young son. All he wanted to do was speed read through the children’s book so that his son would go to sleep and he could continue on with his evening. But then the dad realized that this was one of the most important parts of the day – an opportunity to bond with his son and vice versa. Eventually the father learned to read at a speed that

suited a young boy, and in turn the son opened up more to his dad – talking about his day and anything else that came into his mind. One day the boy came home from school and gave his dad a big hug and kiss and gave him a gift, an award. The ribbon had these words on it: “To Dad, who is The Best Storybook Reader in the World.” Many great things can be accomplished by taking our time and being patient. Laurie Dirx is a wildlife photographer who did just that, and in turn she captured some beautiful photographs of wood ducks in their natural habitat (“Waiting on the Elusive Wood Duck, page 30). These waterfowl are notoriously shy and difficult to approach, so Laurie had to be very patient and slow in how she entered their habitat. In turn, they felt comfortable enough to share some of their world with her by not flying away and allowed her to capture them with a camera. Even children and young adults can show us how to be patient and how to slow down. The winners of the Children’s Photo Contest on pages 3640 certainly know how to observe the environment that surrounds them. Their photographs prove that slowing down enables us to capture the beauty that is with us everyday. mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

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Please direct your responses to mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

I live in Mendon and received a sample issue of Life in the Finger Lakes recently. I enjoyed the issue and will be subscribing to your magazine. I have some pictures of cardinals in my office but I don’t have a picture of a male and female cardinal in the same picture. The picture on your cover is outstanding. I retired recently and I’m sure your magazine will give me ways to enjoy the Finger Lakes. Good luck with the magazine. – Ed Masel P.S. Here’s a favorite cardinal photograph that I took. I really could relate to the story by Dennis Money (“Pierre the Partridge,” January/February 2016 Issue). The past two deer seasons I have stayed at a friend’s hunting camp overnight for opening day. The partridge that kept us company acted in a similar, familiar fashion. Anytime someone would step outside, the bird would come running and hang about. When some guys drove the ATV, the bird would run alongside. This behavior seems so strange for a species that usually is very difficult to get close to in the wild. – Pete Crooker

reader feedback

Letters

Sharp-Eyed Readers On page 49 the Oneida River actually joins the Seneca to form the Oswego flowing to Lake Ontario. Thank you for a great magazine. – Ted Reich On page 48 in the January/February 2016 Issue it is stated that Silver Lake is the only lake with a northern inlet and a northern outlet. What about our beloved Keuka Lake? – John Schutt Keuka Inlet exists at the southern end of Keuka Lake near Hammondsport. The Keuka Lake Association lists a dozen “principal streams” that drain watersheds into the lake. One of them is Sugar Creek near Branchport. But it is not the same as an inlet, although someone could interpret that as such. Silver Lake on the other hand has no inlet on its southern end. Both inlet and outlet are on the northern end. That’s what makes it unique. – Editor Just wanted to you to know the last issue of Life in the Finger Lakes wasn’t very good – no – it was excellent! The breadth of coverage, the quality of the photographs and writing are outstanding. Keep up the good work! – John S. Ruef, M.D., Rochester

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by Nekludov

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Finger Lakes Regional Map 1 Auburn (p.8, 61) 2 Canandaigua (p.37) 3 Candor (p.10)

4 Cortland (p.20) 5 Elmira (p.54) 6 Fayette (p.46)

areas of interest in this issue

7 Naples (p.38) 8 Pittsford (p.72) 9 Shortsville (p.40)

10 Syracuse (p.14) 11 Union Springs (p.26) 12 Waterloo (p.39) 104 04A 4A

255 250

188

Webster

Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park

Brockport

386 8

Spencerport

Rochester

490

259 5

33 490 33A 3

383 833

38 386

E. Rochester Fairport

252

155

Lima

Can an da igua L ake

Honeoye Lake

Conesus Lake

63 63

256 25 256

t Keuka Ou

l et

144 Lodi Point State Park

ka L ake

Hammondsport

4 415

eC Catharin

From Binghamton

TOMPKINS

Spencer

3344

CHEMUNG

Elmira

nk Cr.

2233 22

Van Etten

3 34

Candor o tat Ca

Pinnacle State Park

38 38

9966

22 224

133

k Cayuta Cree

Addison

41 26

Elmira Heights 352

221 22

4177

225 22 25

Marathon

224 24

Horseheads

River

221

96B 6B

Mark Twain State Park

Chemung

366

Buttermilk Falls State Park

414

Painted Post

Corning Rexville

144

1 86 4415

366

4177

2488

1 13

Montour 228 Falls Odessa

144 17

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

Robert H. Treman State Park

Cayuta Lake

Riv

STEUBEN

n cto

Canisteo Rive r

41 S C H U Y L E R 414

13 Watkins Glen

Coho

Canisteo

248 24 48

226

Bath

Hornell From Jamestown

Watkins Glen State Park

Ithaca

Burdett

Lamoka Lake

Avoca 86 17

215 15

41 41

McGraw

Dryden

Cayuga Heights

Allen H. Treman State Park

. Cr

3666 366

Keu 36

Lansing

222288

227

4 414 14A 4A A

CORTLAND

l Fal

38 89

Homer

Cortland 222

Groton

Taughannock Falls State Park

230

Waneta Lake

41 90

Trumansburg

5 54

133

41A 41 41A A

r ive aR

Filmore Glen State Park

iog

390

211

Moravia

34B

22 227

133

Cohocton

Dundee

37 371

Long Point State Park

14A 4A

5 54

70 Stony Brook State Park

Keuka Lake State Park

wa s

96A

54A A

41 41A

g Tiou

211

911

388

Interlaken

38A 8

Aurora

414 1

Branchport

Wayland

4 436

Deans Cove Boat Launch

Ovid 96

YATES

Dansville

4 436

9 90

Sampson State Park

11A A 80

et Inl

Naples

3366

Nunda

34 34B

911

390

258 4408 088

an ea t

9 91

ONONDAGA

CAYUGA

Penn Yan

411

Letchworth State Park

3664 364

st We

Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area

41A 1A

Springs

9 96

144

14A 4

344

4 41

173 17 73

Manlius

Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park

9666A A

245

36 364

644

11Union

Fayetteville

481

Clark Reservation State Park

La es el

Honeoye

2 7 247

326 26

SENECA

21 20A

Cayuga

Cayuga Lake State Park

Green Lakes State Park

173 173

17774

Auburn

e ak o L

1 A 15A

Geneva

yuga and Ca 414 14 eca en

sc Owa

15 15

36 364

e Lak Cayuga

4408 08

LIVINGSTON

2Canandaigua

Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park

41 414

Waterloo Seneca Lake State Park

ake Seneca L

e ock Lak Heml

2566

4 488

Skaneateles 175

Seneca Falls

318

Phelps

Marcellus

From Utica

290 90

175

o isc Ot

Clifton Springs

ONTARIO

Bloomfield

Hemlock Canadice Lake

Conesus Lake State Marine Park

Mt. Morris

332

. Cr

Livonia 20A

96 96

Ganondagan State Historic Site

Honeoye

39 63

366

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Site

Avon

Geneseo

Victor

Honeoye Falls

390 15

s ne Ge

321

State Park at the Fair

Syracuse

38 38

298

481 90

3188

344

North Syracuse

690

Solvay

Weedsport

Caledonia 366

4488

Jordan

3 31

Newark ndaigua Outlet Cana

251

4811

37 370 690 900

31 90

655

383 8

Clyde

Palmyra

4114

Lyons

Baldwinsville

6 64

3 36

337700

Macedon 311

490

57 57

WAYNE

350 550

Oneida Lake

4441 41

31F 31F

370 70

104 144

286

From Watertown 176 7

Wolcott

35 350

104

Sodus

104

100044

TIOGA

Newark Valley 388 88

9966

Owego

427 42 27

ego C r.

26 260

From Buffalo

Sodus Bay

Sodus Point

Seneca R.

MONROE

38 1004A 4A

Can

104

Chimney Bluffs State Park

261 6

Lake Ontario

259 5

Hilton 18

Barg e

260 60

1 19

360

From Oswego

Fair Haven Beach State Park

Hamlin Beach State Park

272 27

13 Watkins Glen (p.36)

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...........................................Danielle Valente Associate Editor..............................................Tina Manzer

Contributors................................................ John Adamski .................................................................................. Laurie Dirx

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

...............................................................................Mary Grasek

Online Sales

.......................................................................Bill Banaszewski

..................................................................... James P. Hughes ........................................................................ Arthur Masloski

Assistant Editors........................................ Jenn Bergin

.................................................................Nancy E. McCarthy

.............................................................................. J. Kevin Fahy

...................................................................... Roger Neumann

............................................................................Carol C. Stash 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© 2016 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.

Rick Kauder...........................................rkauder@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

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Happenings

news and events

MARCH

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March 11, 18…Sip & Sparkle It is time to pull out the glasses, turn up the music, and indulge in an evening of fun at Miles Wine Cellars with a glass of our newest sparkling wine, wine and food samplings throughout the event, complimentary wine glass, additional wine tastings and giveaways for all guests. Hand selected vendor’s products include jewelry, make-up, candles, wine charms, essential oils and fitness plans. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 168 Randall Crossing Road, Himrod, NY 14842 607-243-7742 mileswinecellars.com Mar. 17…The Fox Sisters “168 years of the Fox Sisters” beginning at Hydesville, New York, where Modern Spiritualism began. Brought to you by Tracy Murphy, Director and Caretaker of the Hydesville site. No charge program, all welcome, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Alling Coverlet Museum, 122 William Street, Palmyra, NY 14522. Call for details and information. historicpalmyrany.com

Wohlschlegel ’s Life in the Fingerlakes Magazine Ad / Spring 2014 3.25" x 4.75" / Color

Naples Maple Farm I Wood Care

8064 Coates Road, Naples, NY 14512

585-775-7770 Artwork prepared by Anne Sabach / 607-842-6843

wohlschlegelsnaplesmaplefarm.com

Maple Weekend Open House Celebration! March 19 & 20 • April 2 & 3

Pancake Breakfast 8AM–1PM • Open House 10AM–4PM Visit Website for Event Details

Sweetest Special for the day, Maple Cotton Fluff!

Made with Moxie! Just Tap It Enjoy our scenery, eateries, shops, wineries, B&B’s + much more. Naples Creek Rainbow Trout Derby April 1st!

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Amazing Race in Auburn East Hill’s Third Annual Amazing Race will take place in Auburn on Sunday May 1. This is an exciting health and wellness event that will engage the entire community in a fun-filled afternoon of leisurely competition. Simultaneously, it will raise funds to ensure the ongoing availability of East Hill Family Medical’s health care services. The competition is approximately 2 miles in circumference and will accommodate those who wish to be more competitive in their approach as well as those who enjoy more of a leisurely walk. Modeled after the popular Emmy winning TV show, 2-person teams are assigned to one of two routes (competitive route approximately 3 miles; leisurely route approximately 2 miles), which is selected during the registration process. Groups of teams from each route leave the starting line at specific timed intervals. Each team will be given a map with clues to take them across downtown Auburn and to the stations where they’ll complete challenges before moving to the next location. Awards will be given to teams from each route that finish with the best overall time. Registration for East Hill’s 2016 Amazing Race is $40 per team and includes participant t-shirts, goody bags and admission to the after party. For more information, or to register your 2-person team, visit easthillsamazingrace.com no later than April 11.

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March 18-20…March Maple Family Weekend Bring your family and join us in the peaceful and relaxing setting of Watson Homestead for an opportunity to immerse yourself in the process of maple sugaring. Participate in the process of making maple syrup – from tapping trees, collecting buckets, evaporating away water, feeding the fire, and more. At the end of the weekend, you will return home with maple sugar candy and syrup that you actually helped make. 9620 Dry Run Road, Painted Post, NY 14870 607-962-0541 watsonhomestead.com March 19…Fine Art & Antiques Auction from Cottone Auctions Full catalog available online from the auction company that specializes in fine art, antiques and more. 120 Court Street, Geneseo, NY 14454 585-243-1000 cottoneauctions.com March 19-20, April 2-3…Maple Weekends Join us at the scenic Wohlschlegel’s Naples Maple Farm for a pancake breakfast, open house tour, woods walk and fun. Visit the gift shop featuring gourmet maple creams, syrups, mustard, cotton candy and more. 8064 Coates Road, Naples, NY 14512 naplesvalleyny.com March 20…Stella’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt Free to the public of all ages. Visit the Easter Bunny. Hunt begins at 1 p.m. Prizes awarded. 1880 Rochester Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-1830 March 20-April 3…Dancing Lessons at Kitchen Theater Company After an unfortunate encounter with a taxi, Senga’s Broadway dance career is sidelined. Her downstairs neighbor, Ever, a brilliant scientist, is in need of dancing lessons. Sound like a good match? There’s just one problem – he has Asperger’s, and a notouch policy. A funny, compelling, and wonderfully complicated story about understanding ourselves and others. By Mark St. Germain. Ages 14+ 417 West State / MLK, Jr. Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-0403 kitchentheatre.org (Continued on page 61)

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M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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Day Trip

exploring the Finger Lakes

Exploring the NEW

Logan Hill

Nature Preserve story and photos by Anne O. Stout

riving up Water Street in the Village of Candor last spring, I met up with Betsy Darlington, one of the founding members of the Finger Lakes Land Trust. We left our vehicles at the junction of Water Street and Logan Hill Road and headed up a dirt road to the new Logan Hill Nature Pre-

serve. The 290 acres had recently been donated to the Land Trust by Betsy and her husband Richard. It is located in the Village and Town of Candor, south of Ithaca (see map on page 12). Our path started out not too bad, but got rougher and rougher as we hiked. A tough winter, and water run-

ning down, had carved grooves in the road but on both sides, yellow flowers were growing. In 1963, Betsy and Richard moved to Ithaca from Minnesota, and made a lot of adjustments in their new, very different, environment. They’ve owned the property since 1972, and enjoyed

A Canada goose that has made one of the vernal pools home.

Wildflowers are in abundance, and there are many varieties to study.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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This tree on the preserve looks like it’s home to a number of squirrels and birds.

it during camping breaks when the children were growing up – they’ve kept a small portion today as an escape place. Over the years, they took the time to put in ponds and vernal pools. I saw trees that they planted, as well as all the signs marking the preserve from the rest of the area. “Candor is one of the most beautiful towns,” Betsy said, the big reason she and Richard bought the land. In 1990, they donated a conservation easement on a large part of the property. Betsy has always been a naturalist. Walking the preserve with her that day was very educational as she can name every flower and tree, and each bird we heard singing. In addition to seeing and enjoying a wide variety of birds, I thought the views from up top of the valley below were amazing. Even though I was only a short distance from the village, it was very quiet and peaceful with only the sounds of nature. Logan Hill Nature Preserve is a mix of forest and meadows with frontage on Catatonk Creek. It’s made up of ponds, streams, woodlands, meadow, wetlands and more, and is located entirely within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Finger Lakes Land Trust plans to develop a network of hiking trails there, along with a parking area and an interpretive kiosk. Plans also include working with the Town of Candor to develop a public canoe/kayak launch on the Catatonk Creek on the lower part of the preserve. Betsy and I talked about the trust’s 36 preserves located all over this region, and how sometimes power lines and gas lines have been allowed to cross them. Still, the trust works hard to keep these areas as natural as possible. They hope that be including the land as part of the trust, it will be protected from eminent domain.

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Day Trip Skunk cabbage grows wild in many of the ditches along the road to the preserve.

WE REMOVED A TUMOR FROM HER HEART. HER KIDS FILLED IT WITH LOVE.

Patti takes care of precious cargo as a driver for Honeoye Central. When a rare tumor was found in her heart, we took care of her — finding a route that got her back to her kids in no time. Because that’s where she belongs.

Patricia Long Honeoye

Land Trust staff and volunteers will be working together to inventory the property and develop a plan to manage its future use. They want to make the property accessible not only for hiking, but also for nature study, bird watching, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and more. The land trust will also allow deer hunting, but only with permits. “In the coming months there will be a naturalist guided field tour, as well as a meeting with members of the local community to hear their ideas for the Logan Hill Nature Preserve,” says Land Trust Executive Director Andy Zepp. What a peaceful and enjoyable afternoon I had with Betsy. I am planning on exploring the preserve even more when better weather comes to Candor.

Logan Hill Nature Preserve

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Nooks & Crannies

a little bit of everything

Little Jan and The

Radiants

by James P. Hughes

recognized the song at once – the harmony and especially the plaintive, faintly nasal falsetto of the female lead voice. It was Little Jan and The Radiants belting out If You Love Me (Really Love Me) from 1959 … doo-wop at its finest, with a killer finish. I hadn’t heard the song in decades, but its refrain had clearly lingered in my brain. During those heady days so many years ago, the song was a local hit in Syracuse, and had now emerged on the airwaves of The Doo-Wop Stop, a nationally syndicated radio show. Host Cool Bobby B has kept alive both familiar and obscure doo-wop for those of us who have never quite gotten it out of our systems. With passion in his voice, Bobby fondly described “Jan’s great falsetto riffs” and shared them with listeners across the country. From Glenn Miller to Jay Z, music clings to each generation, a melodic companion to the growing, learning and maturing demanded of youth. The music of each era is personal – parents generally disdain the tunes revered by their children as “nothing but noise.” Ah, but doo-wop and the music of my youth … that was different … special … classic … perfect. I wondered about YouTube. Could the song possibly be

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on that copious video-sharing site, an archive of all things from the Stone Age to the present? Yes, it was, and along with it were the only other songs recorded by the group: Heart and Soul, Now is the Hour and Is It True. There were no group snapshots, only the music accompanied by photos of well-worn 45 RPM record labels. I listened to each track several times and read the accompanying comments …“amazing, listening to this I’m immersed in nostalgia”…“my favorite and what a knockout ending”…“an unknown gem.” One post mentioned “my aunt Jan Perolla.” Further reading and some detective work revealed that Jan Perolla still lived in the Syracuse area, but had been out of the music scene for several decades. I found a phone number and gave her a call. “Is this Jan of Little Jan and The Radiants?” I asked. “Yes …yes it is,” she replied. “Would you be interested in getting together to talk

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about those days and the music,” I asked, “possibly for a short written piece?” “Well sure,” she said, “why not?” So on a crisp fall morning, I ventured out to Jan’s place in the countryside. Over coffee, I explained my “radio rediscovery” and we pored over her memories of that musical era so many years ago. Music came naturally to Jan. “My dad played the guitar and often sang opera around the house,” she said. “I loved joining in, hitting the high notes, and always loved harmony. When my friend Bill Sanders formed the Teen Tones (an early Syracuse doo-wop group) we started an all-girl quartet, the Teen Tonettes.” Jan eventually became lead singer for the boys, the group first using the name Little Jan and The Orients. “We sang for fun, practiced in a garage, and played local sock hops and clubs,” she said. The members changed – Billy, Tippy, Tommy, Dominick, Carl, Sam. “We were young and unsettled … guys got married, went in the service or moved on to other things.” The group morphed into Little Jan and The Radiants and went on to make two studio recordings: If You Love Me/ Heart and Soul (1959) and Is It True/Now is the Hour (1960). With Jan’s distinctive voice leading the way, both received local and national airplay. Jan remembers both “good times and bad times, laughter and disagreements.” They traveled and played, meeting a number of popular artists of the day like Frankie Lymon and Frankie Valli along the way. “I had some tempting offers to go with other groups, to expand my career,” Jan said. “But I stayed true to my hometown and the guys. They were always like family.” Little Jan and The Radiants broke up in 1961. Over the years, Jan worked in nursing and other fields but continued to sing when the opportunity arose, later performing with a group called Vintage (featuring her son Tony as its drummer) into the 1980s. “That group gradually dissolved,” Jan explained. “I spent some years caring for my mom, and never sang again after she died.” In 1999, Jan was inducted into the Syracuse Music Hall of Fame, created by local music historian Ron Wray. “Most of my memorabilia from those days was lost in a fire” Jan says. “But I have lots of vivid memories, good memories … and every once in a while I still try to hit a high note.”

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

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 M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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Gardening

growing and landscaping

A. Heath

Coloring Outside the

Lines

story and photos by K.C. Fahy-Harvick

s your garden “color challenged” during the time between tulips and tropicals? The Finger Lakes area can have a wide range of temperatures in spring, but it’s our late frosts that make it dangerous to plant out tropicals (annuals) much before Memorial Day. The very best solution is perennials; they provide long-lasting transitional color well into summer, and stand up to those late spring frosts. For sure, perennials are not no-

brainers, but gardening with plants that come back each year can be a lifelong, gratifying, sometimes addictive, experience. You can plant and transplant them until you find the perfect spot. This is why I have made it my mission to educate gardeners about perennials. My experience includes owning a perennial nursery, working for local garden centers, and now owning a business which specializes in the design and

installation of perennial gardens. Although spring color is the focus here, I’m going to give you some tips on selecting and purchasing plants that will help you make the right choices whenever you shop. As a plant geek myself, the word lust comes to mind when entering a greenhouse in spring! Even educated plant buyers can be challenged by the spring shopping experience. As the fierce competition for your

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The key is to know the entire life cycle of the plant, which includes the following factors: 1) Foliage – color and texture in spring, summer, fall and winter (if evergreen). Is it sustaining foliage that keeps its shape and color throughout the season? 2) Flower – color, bloom time and length of bloom, re-blooming possibilities (with proper deadheading) and fragrance. 3) Size and Shape – height and width, self-supporting if very tall, vertical, rounded, short and flat, base leaves with stems, or bushy and fully rounded. Know its spreading habit, including possible bad habits like invasiveness, or selfsowing by seeds. 4) Seed heads – as a winter feature, used for dried arrangements or bird attraction.

garden dollar increases each year, so does the use of horticultural marketing tricks. All the beautiful flowers are tempting, but you need to keep your head and consider other characteristics. Perennials are often grown in warmer areas or brought into green houses to bring them into flower earlier than normal. The heavy use of fertilizers can make them grow too large too fast for their young root system. Compounding the problem, the labeling can be generic and misleading. Under great pressure to have new varieties, the industry may bring new plants to market before they have been proven to be hardy in the Finger Lakes climate. Even hardy plants may be grown on in warmer places to bring them into flower sooner. The soft new growth may die back if you plant them outside too soon. These can be covered for protection from late frost events; they will likely survive, but not flourish that first season.

Some of the best plants for coloring your spring spaces are ones that you might pass by, or actually misuse due to the lack of accurate information. Designing with perennials can be daunting for the most experienced gardeners, but if you keep in mind the key elements to consider when choosing plants, you will have more success and avoid costly mistakes.

ictured here are a few of the wonderful perennials that will light up your garden, starting as soon as early April. Notice, the emphasis is not always on the flowers. A) Heaths and B) Heathers (Erica and Calluna) are actually categorized as subshrubs, but I put them in the woody, evergreen perennial class. They need good drainage, no fertilizer, no mulch and full sun to part shade. Heaths bloom as soon as the snow melts. Heathers bloom in summer but they sometimes have foliage color that

B. Heather

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lasts all winter. Some Heathers turn red with frost, this one is gold then limey in summer. C) Astilbe “Amber Moon.” I adore the foliage color on this plant so much that the flowers are just an added bonus. In part-shade or shade the leaves are very limey with bronze edges. As soon as they begin to grow in spring, they light up the area and continue all summer. D) This little rock garden beauty has a very interesting history. It is called Lewisia, named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clarke Expedition. They discovered it in the Rocky Mountains, so we know that it prefers good drainage and protection from our harsh west winds in winter. I like to plant it between rocks. It blooms May through June. E) Many gardeners are familiar with the delicate Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis), but this one is called “Gold Hearts” for its gold-y and lime colored foliage. In shade or part-shade it blooms through June, giving a jolt of color when paired with a dark foliage plant or contrasting house color.

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F. Epimedium versicolor ‘“Sulphureum” 2/15/16 2:47 PM

Gardening F) Epimedium versicolor “Sulphureum” also comes in white, lavender, pink and burgundy. A ground cover for dry shade that tolerates root competition, perfect planted around trees, the evergreen heart-shaped leaves are my favorite feature. You might use a small area as a “test bed” to observe plants before

C. Astilbe Amber Moon

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giving them a permanent spot. Also, this could reveal color features not noted in available information. While the season is young, attend lectures, take classes, go on garden tours, keep learning, and keep gardening. The more you garden, the more you’ll get hooked on the pure joy it brings to your life, and you’ll find color where you least expect it.

D. Lewisia

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E. Gold Hearts

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Offbeat

fresh and unique

Step 1: Dave cuts down a 100-year-old tree and begins to carve it into the shape of a wine bottle. See page 22 for the next four steps.

Cutting

EDGE story and photos by Mary Grasek

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“I

f you can dream it we can build it,” is the motto of Dave Adams, owner of Adams Chainsaw Carvings in Cortland. From what I’ve seen, it’s an accurate statement. When I spotted his artwork outside his shop one day, I was so intrigued (he created that out of wood with a chainsaw?) I wanted to find out more. We met in October, and I had the chance to see more of his sculptures, which range from the realistic to the whimsical. While Dave was packing for a move from Route 13 to a new shop on Delaware Street – and also preparing for an onsite carving – we talked about his skills, his materials and the market for chainsaw art. How did you become involved in this kind of sculpture? I’ve always been interested in art. As a chef in a Hilton Hotel in Colorado, I was exposed to ice carving, and I found it really exciting. Sculpting was one of the classes I took when I spent a semester at Mesa State in Grand Junction. I’ve also worked in Cortland as a chef, and then for awhile in the oil industry in Colorado and Pennsylvania. I came home to pursue sculpting full-time.

Where does the wood come from? Is there anything besides a chainsaw that you use to sculpt it? In addition to a chainsaw, I also work with chisels, a right-angle grinder, Dremels and other pneumatic tools. I use wood from local tree surgeons who trim or fell trees. Some wood comes from Cornell; from trees that had to be cut down because of disease. Who are your customers? They range from just regular people who want artwork for their home or as a gift, to businesses that commission custom sculptures. One of the coolest things I’ve ever created is the figure in front of Hairy Tony’s Pub in Cortland. Binghamton University recently contacted me to do a project for them. It’s still in the planning and bid stages. A carving can take anywhere from one hour to 100-plus hours, depending on what it is. Carving onsite, rather than in my shop, goes faster because there are generally fewer distractions.

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd • Ithaca, NY 14850 877-266-4928 • www.sapsuckerwoods.com

Binoculars • Books • Audio Guides • Nature Gifts

What is the average lifespan of one of your carvings? Twenty-five years is what I’m seeing out of pine right now, but oak outlasts pine. The better seal you put on it – so the more moisture you keep out – the longer the carving is going to last. What is your favorite part about what you do? Your least-favorite part? The hardest thing is meeting my own expectations – not getting discouraged. The best part of it all is bringing life to something so old, like a 200-year-old log. It’s an honor to do that.

Read about Dave’s carved wine bottle project on pages 22-23. M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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Step 2: Dave makes a copy of the Cayuga Lake Sunset vaction rental logo, glues it on the front of the wood and stencils it out.

Step 3: Once the logo is finished being stencilled,

Step 4: Dave is ready to transport the carving to its

Step 5: Once the final carving is placed, finishing

final destination.

touches are added on, such as the copper leaves.

Dave can begin to paint the wood.

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Offbeat

The Wine Bottle Project

s Dave got ready for only his second on-site carving, I made plans to join him in Union Springs, at Cayuga Lake Sunset Vacation rental, owned by Kathleen Spingler and Christine Buerkle. My first thought was: chainsaw carving outside in November in Central New York? Will the weather cooperate? It turned out to be a perfect day with beautiful blue skies. The owners wanted him to transform a standing tree into a wine bottle with a cork sticking out. It was do-able, with a few suggestions from Dave. “A chainsaw wouldn’t work for carving the leaves like I was imagining they wanted. I always wanted to work in copper, and the opportunity was there and the time was right. I did a little reading and then I went at it. I used a hammer and an anvil and I made the leaves. I did the cut-outs. I did all the hammer marks, shaped them. It was fun.” I left him working that morning, but received a text that afternoon that he couldn’t continue. The tree was rotted. “They told me the tree was dead and they had it cut down,” explained Dave. “Since they found nice clean wood, the assumption was that it was all solid. It was maybe a good 2-and-a-half-to-3 feet down from their cut that I actually found the rot.” After they discussed their options, Kathleen and Christine decided to let Dave work their design in a piece of pine he had his studio. “I came back and found a tree as close as I could to the size I needed,” said Dave. “It was a 100-year-old pine.” The completed sculpture is 7 feet tall and weighs 500 pounds. Dave and his father used a backhoe to load it for delivery. He wants to continue creating art – it seems to sell itself. “It’s been a struggle, but I’ve been following my dream. Luckily, my wife wants to see me succeed.” Dave would also like to build playhouses for kids, which he has already envisioned. “They would be whimsical, with sloping roofs, crooked walls and circular doors.” To see more of Dave’s work, visit adamscarvings.com.

Post and Beam Homes Locally crafted in our South Bristol New York shop

Dave Adams The artist behind Adams Chainsaw Carvings.

His shop is located at 21 Delaware Street, Cortland.

5557 Rt. 64, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-374-6405 www.timberframesinc.com Building the Finger Lakes since 1977 Photo courtesy adamscarvings.com

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Outdoors

in the open air

Life at a

Red Fox Den story and photo by Bill Banaszewski

or the past two years, from late March through April, I have had the pleasure of witnessing life at a red fox den. A pair of red fox has raised six pups for two consecutive years in a den located under a storage shed a short distance from my home. At each visit to the den, I sit on the ground about 30 yards away. When the pups emerge from their underground lair they stare me down. Occasionally, when their curiosity gets the best of them, one by one, they slowly walk in my direction. When they’ve had their full of me they dash back into the den. Blind at birth with grayish hair, the kits usually emerge four to five weeks after they are born. As the weather warms, the pups are out earlier and longer. In the morning they go through a wakeup routine

– sitting by the den entrance checking out their surroundings and then vigorously scratching to get relief from biting fleas. Once fully awake, they exhibit short bursts of energy – sneaking up and pouncing on each other, playing tail tug of war, competing for the remains of prey such as bones and feathers, and jumping on windblown leaves. When birds fly overhead I have twice seen them look skyward in unison. Sometimes all six kits are out together, just relaxing and basking in the sun. That seldom lasts for more than a few minutes, and once again the games begin in earnest with playful biting and wrestling. When the pups are out and about, the vixen is usually not far away. Once when she returned and spotted me, she let out a screaming bark and the youngsters scurried into the den.

~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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APP

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Download the FREE mobile app to see more photos of red fox pups.

As the season progresses, their coats brighten to rusty red. At 12 weeks they are weaned and begin wandering further from the den, often accompanying adults on foraging trips. By fall the young fox have developed hunting skills sufficient to head out and begin a life on their own. The past two Februarys, my trail camera has picked up numerous photos of adult fox carrying prey toward the den, a sure sign that a new litter has been born.

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Fruit of the Vine

wine, spirits and brews

Heart & Hands

Winery

Sticking to the plan

by Jason Feulner Tom and Susan Higgins

Photo by Jason Feulner

~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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hen I first visited Heart & Hands Winery in Union Springs over five years ago, I was treated to wines crafted with passion and precision by Tom Higgins, winemaker and cofounder of the winery along with his wife, Susan. Tom has a predilection for facts and figures – as the information-laden labels on his wines suggest – and the Heart & Hands story is one of deliberate planning. The two-wine focus (Pinot Noir and Riesling), the location of the winery, the production methods and the bottle enclosures: Each and every element at Heart & Hands is deliberately executed by Tom and Susan to their specifications. In fact, the site location was the main focus of Tom’s discussion points. During that initial conversation, he laid out in great detail how he had chosen the vineyard site based on its proximity to the Cayuga Lake shore, its slope, and, most importantly, its limestone soil well suited for growing Pinot Noir. Tom wanted the vineyard to drive his winemaking vision.

Dust off the clubs, and shore up your swing, There is only one thing to do this Spring!

(Story continued on page 63) See photos on page 28-29.

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TASTING NOTES Higgins still uses grapes from various vineyards around the Finger Lakes. The Heart & Hands vineyard is used primarily to produce Mo Chuisle (My Pulse), of which the 2012 is the first vintage. This single-vineyard Pinot, which uses all 7 clones grown on the property, is simply excellent, exhibiting layers and layers of well-balanced fruit and acidity from start to finish. Photo by Jason Feulner

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Good drainage is a key component of growing grapes. Prior to planting, Heart & Hands dug trenches and installed drain tile to ensure that vine roots could spread and mature in well-drained soil.

New vines on grafted root stock await planting at Heart & Hands. Each new vine typically costs around $4 and are planted around 800 vines per acre. Since maturity can take four years and more, it’s a longterm investment.

A newly-planted grape vine pops above the new vineyard at Heart & Hands. The graft, where the vine is joined to existing root stock, is visible as a “knuckle” upon which the specific varietal will flourish.

Photos this page Tom Higgins

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A marker in the vineyard labels the specific clone grown in a single row. Of the 4 acres under vine, nearly all is Pinot Noir save 2 rows of Riesling. “We’ve planted clones that haven’t been planted in this region,” Tom Higgins explains. There are 7 different clones of Pinot Noir planted at Heart & Hands.

One can see the difference between immature vines at Heart & Hands and those some years later at full foliage, laden with grapes ready for harvest. Grape vines are vigorous by nature and yet yield fruit on new canes. Therefore, growers spend a lot of time pruning each year. Photo on left by Tom Higgins. Photo on right by Jason Feulner

Photos by Jason Feulner

(Story continued on page 63)

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~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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Waiting

on the

Elusive

Wood duck The Photography of Laurie Dirx

e all have a certain something we set our heart on; something that inspires us perhaps, or gives us a goal to strive for. Hopefully that something, in the end, brings us great joy. For me, the photographs here represent a personal achievement right along those lines. I spent my childhood surrounded by woods, where I was taught to not pick wildflowers or kill spiders; or that a fawn wasn’t really abandoned by its doe. Irondequoit Bay was my backyard, Ellison Park was my front. The time spent in that Penfield neighborhood was enchanting. About five years ago that dreamy being-one-with-nature world got even better, thanks to my first telephoto lens. Wildlife viewing distances became closer to my vision and, in turn, my heart. Thus, with my long lens in hand, I began a journey to be among the wood duck (Aix sponsa), the most elusive species I’ve set my camera’s sights on. They live in woodland habitats near ponds, streams, marshes and swamps. The ducks roost in trees and nest in tree cavities; and forage for fruits, arthropods, seeds, nuts and sometimes grains from a farmer’s field. The male, or drake, is considered North America’s most colorful waterfowl, with iridescent feathers in elegant patterns that span the spectrum of the rainbow. His stark red eyes are spellbinding. But photographing them is difficult. Even a slight crinkle of leaves underfoot disturbs a wood duck. Unlike a cottontail rabbit that freezes if you happen upon it, the wood duck is gone in a split second with a flash of astounding color.

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donned camouflage and hunkered down by a tree before dawn one day. I waited for the ducks to come down from their roosts and splendidly land in the water. I thought if I sat stone-still with my lens at the ready, they’d surely fly in. Nope, they didn’t. I realized I needed a pop-up blind. Thank goodness I have Cabela’s on speed-dial. After finding the ideal spot, I secured the blind and placed a chair inside, then left. I wanted the ducks to get acclimated to the blind first, without the motion of my comings and goings. I didn’t exactly camp out there, but for five years my vacuum collected dust (not in the correct way). Instead of cleaning, I greeted each spring with wood ducks on my mind. Spring is their nesting season and the drake is in his finest plumage.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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went to my blind prepared to stay for hours. It always astonished me how fast the time went by as I gazed at the pristine natural setting. I was waiting for just the right moment when this exceptionally beautiful duck would grace my lens, the day’s light playing on the water just so. Last spring, it finally came. He leisurely swam about in front of me as the hen was on her eggs above in the trees. It’s a privilege to be out there with my camera. A further reward is sharing my images with those who are not able to be in the woods as I am. I hope the photos inspire people to protect our wildlife and their habitats.

Visit lauriedirkx.com to see more of her photography.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Children’s Annual 2nd

PHOTO CONTEST

hotography has never been more available to us as it is today. Almost everyone has a cell phone these days, and even the least expensive ones have some kind of camera built into their system. So, people are taking a lot of photos. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there are many more great photos out there though. The young people who have submitted photos for

winners

this contest certainly have an eye for photography. They have turned ordinary subjects into something that pleases the eye – and this is not as easy as it looks. The winners of the contest have done this especially well. Parents, you can help foster your children’s interest in photography by providing them easy-to-read books that offer tips to young photographers.

There’s a wide range of photo equipment out there as well that makes taking photos even more fun for your children. This magazine issue has several articles dedicated to the patience involved in taking a better photograph. So kids, grab your cameras, get outside and just have fun with them! – Mark Stash, editor

First Place “Snow on Seneca Lake - Watkins Glen” Sarah Parshall • Middlesex

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Ages

14-16

Second Place “Heading home” Matthew McDonald • Seneca Falls

Third Place “The beauty of reflection – Canandaigua Lake” Nichaela Commisso • Rushville

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2nd

Annual Children’s PHOTO CONTEST winners

Second Place “Post-harvest blues” Amelia Sidonio • Holley

Third Place “Conklin Gully waterfall in the Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area on Parish Hill Road, Naples” Kyle Sheppard • Canandaigua

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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First Place “Midwinter sunset – Serven Road in Seneca County” Carlie Jensen • Waterloo

Ages

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10-13

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2nd

Annual Children’s PHOTO CONTEST winners

First Place “Throwing stones never gets old – Onanda Park on Canandiauga Lake” Ben Bremer • Canandaigua

Up to 9 Years Second Place “Backyard beauty” Gabriel Bowen • Shortsville

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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How-to

BE A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER

The deer is cleaning up spilled birdseed from the ground beneath some feeders.

Photographing

Wildlife, Part I story and photos by John Adamski

’ve been photographing wildlife for more than 40 years. Occasionally, someone will ask how I’m able to photograph such a wide variety of animals and birds and take intimate portraits of creatures that some folks never see. I always have to stop and think about my answer because I’ve been doing this for so long that I just do it. It has simply become second nature.

But that answer seldom satisfies anyone serious about getting started in wildlife photography. So, this is the first of three articles for Life in the Finger Lakes that will help you develop that same mindset. You can begin by spending as much time outdoors as possible to familiarize yourself with your subjects, their behaviors and their habitats. If you’re wondering what’s needed to get started in

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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wildlife photography, in addition to photo equipment, let me ask you some questions. Are you patient? Do you have the perseverance to sit in a photo blind for several hours at a time? Few wildlife images are taken on a stroll through the woods. Are you perceptive? Can you spot the flicker of a deer’s ear at a distance? Can you see wildlife before it sees you? Can you sit still and be quiet? Can you tolerate insects? Do you mind being a little cold? Or warm? Or wet? Wildlife photography is as much about temperament as it is about equipment. You can have the best quality photo gear but if you can’t sit still you won’t see much. You’ll also need some hunting skills, like being mindful of wind direction so you know where your scent is going. You won’t see any wild anBirds like this tufted titmouse imals downwind from are not inclined to pose for your position. We’ll long so patience is a must. learn more about those and other skills later on, but as for your own individual traits, they are something you’ll have to focus on yourself. This article has little to do with f-stops and shutter speeds. Instead, it is intended to help you understand wildlife behavior as it relates to photography. There are plenty of sources where you can study the science and technology of photography, and you should. But there are fewer resources available that explain the behavioral patterns of wild birds and animals, and the techniques you can use to photograph them. This article assumes that you are familiar with your equipment and know how to use it. Its purpose is to open the door to the exciting world of wildlife photography. Once you step through, there is no limit to how far you can go.

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Then and Now I was bitten by the wildlife photography bug in the 1970s when I lived in the central Adirondack Mountains. Working in the woods every day afforded me plenty of opportunities to photograph wild animals, birds and stunning scenery. I started out with a manual 35mm single-lens-reflex camera (SLR), and for years, I ratcheted what seems like miles of slide film through that outfit. But the change to digital photography a dozen years ago proved to be my best

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move. Having immediate access to a digital image rather than waiting a week or two for film processing opened up a whole new range of opportunities. And if an image didn’t turn out well, which happened a lot, it could simply be deleted without costing any money. Today those same opportunities are available to anyone with the desire to photograph wildlife. Technology has advanced more in the last 10 years than it did in the previous hundred. You can take a good-quality digital photo with anything from a cell phone to a digital single-lens-reflex camera (DSLR). But if you’re just getting started, comprehending the various choices available can be overwhelming. I recommend using a DSLR because you can change lenses and control exposure. Auto-focus and other preset camera functions are essential when you’re scrambling to compose an unexpected wildlife shot. Look for an auto-focus telephoto zoom lens with a focal range up to at least 200mm. 300mm is better and a super-zoom lens up to 500mm is best for photographing big game. It all depends on what you can afford. If you already own a collection of lenses, let that be your guide in selecting a compatible camera. If not, you can always add to your lens inventory as you progress. With most DSLRs, there is a 1.5X multiplication factor, which means that your 200mm lens is actually recording an image equivalent to

To photograph wild birds, I sometimes bungee-cord a dead sapling to my deck railing at eye-level with my camera and tripod.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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How to be a better photographer

If a photo of birds perched on a feeder isn’t your idea of wildlife photography, locate it within a few feet of a tree or shrub so that birds like these redpolls and goldfinches have a place to land while taking turns at the feeder.

one taken with a 300mm lens. 500mm will be recorded at 750mm, and so forth. This can be an advantage in wildlife photography but remember that you will also need a tripod or other means of support when shooting at higher magnifications. When photographing big game animals, distance is a given and a tripod is essential, even if your outfit has some form of image stabilizing compensation.

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Start Small Don’t expect to buy a camera today and be photographing big game animals tomorrow unless you live near Yellowstone National Park or someplace similar. In order to practice with your new equipment, I recommend that you start small. Feeding wild birds is a good beginning and something you can do at home on a minimal budget. A couple of bird feeders filled with black-oil sunflower seeds will have your yard teeming with a variety of wild birds within a few days. Feeding birds will condition them to accept your presence and they’ll soon allow you to photograph them to your heart’s content. You can start by shooting through a window for a few days and then move outdoors. Buy a field guide to help you identify the different birds that you see or find one online. You’ll have a growing portfolio of wild bird images before you know it. If a photo of birds perched on a feeder isn’t your idea of wildlife photography, there are a few tricks that you can use to change the illusion. Locate it within a few feet of a tree or shrub so that the birds have a place to land while taking turns at the feeder. This staging area will give you a natural background, free from manmade objects. I sometimes bungee cord a dead sapling to my deck railing and set it up so that it’s at eye-level with my camera and tripod. Remember that birds are not inclined to pose for long, so patience is a must.

(Continued on page 59)

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he Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s second annual Bacon on the Lakein will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20. Sponsored by WQNY 103.7 in Ithaca, the event’s two-day tickets are good for one trip to each of the 16 member wineries for just $30. Transportation and accommodation packages are available, as well as discounted designated driver tickets. Last March, the trail hogged the spotlight during the inaugural event. Each member winery prepared a bacon-featured food item and served it with a recommended wine pairing. Event-goers were encouraged to leave their ticket stubs in papier mache piggy banks at check-in and for every winery they visited, had a chance to win a gift basket full of wine and barbeque utensils.

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he trail recently rebranded, making the most dramatic changes to its visual identity since its inception. The design elements of the new logo include the “vine to wine” concept from the former logo, a weathered look and the words “America’s First” for authenticity. It’s in the shape of a seal to exemplify the quality of the product produced by some of the most skilled winemakers in the region. The new look has been carried out throughout the trail’s promotional materials, tickets, website and social media, and more.

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Recipes on the trail ranged from maple bacon ice cream to smoked bacon and cauliflower soup, and bacon and cream cheese roll-ups to maple bourbon glazed bacon chunks. The response was overwhelming. The wineries anticipated only a fair turnout – not unlike its other winter events – due to unpredictable weather and a smaller pool of visitors to the region. Bacon on the Lakein, however, sold out twice in advance, early enough to have more tickets printed to meet the demand. At nearly double the originally anticipated attendance, it truly was a bacon lovers’ paradise. One Facebook review said “Bacon on the Lakein 2015 event was amazing! Great job to all of the wineries that participated ... food/wine pairings were innovative and absolutely delicious! Here’s to hoping for the same event in 2016...and beyond! #MMMMMBacon. #CLWTBACON2015.”

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acon on the Lakein is just one of the many high points our wineries have enjoyed over the past few years. In 2014, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named New York State “Wine Region of the Year,” pointing to its more than 400 wineries, 37,000 acres of vineyard and 700 Gold medals; not to mention the countless wines achieving 90+ scores regularly and the hands-on research conducted by Cornell. As a result, the Finger Lakes has become one of the most-talked-about wine regions in the country. Last summer, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail planned an exclusive excursion for writers visiting the region for the Wine Bloggers Conference. From the nearly 300 bloggers who travelled here from near and far, a select 50 were treated to a private tasting from all 16 wineries, along with a scenic boat ride and an exquisite dinner prepared by three wine-trail chefs. Since their visit, the writers have showered the Finger Lakes region and its wine with high praise. Founded in 1983, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail was America’s first. Its original five members pioneered the wine-trail concept, which has been mimicked by numerous organized trails across the country. Many of the founding members of the trail are still involved, and work alongside their small teams in every aspect, ranging from harvest and production to sales and marketing. Their hands-on approach to running their wineries

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Finger lakes Tourism Wineries on the Trail • Americana Vineyards • Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars • Buttonwood Grove Winery • Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery • Goose Watch Winery • Hosmer Winery • Knapp Winery • Long Point Winery • Lucas Vineyards • Montezuma Winery • Six Mile Creek Vineyard • Swedish Hill Vineyard • Thirsty Owl Wine Company • Toro Run Winery • Treleaven by King Ferry Winery • Varick Winery & Vineyard sets the stage for friendly service and handcrafted products, sealed with their personal approval. A mobile app for the trail is scheduled to be launched this spring. Available on both Apple and Android, the app’s primary function will be way-finding. It has been designed with the visitor in mind – for those in the immediate area and those who are not. It’s intended to make planning a trip in advance, and navigating the trail upon arrival, a bit easier. The app will be fully integrated with Google Maps so that navigation is possible from anywhere in the world. The application will have complete winery details with a photo of each one. Local transportation companies, accommodations and attractions will be listed and integrated into separate maps. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is entirely navigable in just one weekend and definitely worth visiting.

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Last December, Cassandra Harrington was named the executive director of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Her plans include expanding the group’s marketing efforts to include social media and websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial.

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Outdoors

American Bullfrog (Lithobates Catesbeiana)

in the open air

Finger Lakes

Frogs

story and photos by Arthur Masloski

ine species of frogs call the Finger Lakes home. That’s nine out of 4,800 that occur worldwide. And while that number may seem small and the frogs less glamorous than some of their exotic cousins, they’re all special because they live here alongside us

humans who also call this place home. Growing up in New York among meadows, beaver swamps and farm ponds, I spent my summer days trying to catch these nimble and alert creatures, and my nights being lulled to sleep by their primordial cacophony. As an adult, my appreciation for them

has not waned. As the seasons change and new singers replace the old, I’m reminded of the constant transition between the seasons and the fleetingness of time. We start our journey with a harbinger of spring, a frog you’ve no doubt heard, even if you’ve never seen it.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) When early spring nights still bring cold and frost, these intrepid little frogs are already migrating to their breeding pools. Although they’ll breed in a wide variety of habitats, their preferred sites are mostly the small bodies of water left behind in forests and meadows by melting snow. These vernal pools typically dry up in early summer, so for peepers, the race is on to get their tadpoles in the water before the pools vanish. Scientifically designated “crucifer” for the diagnostic “X” marking on their back, a large spring peeper will only measure 1.5 inches in length, but the “peeping” sound for which they are named is piercing. You can often find spring peepers crossing roads during the warm rains of spring, and they’re most vocal from March through May.

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) The wood frog is a local treasure. When they hibernate their heart literally stops beating, as does their breathing. Their body shuts down and produces antifreeze that prevents ice from forming within their cells. Many frogs possess this adaptation but none demonstrate it as well as the wood frog, which can be found as far north as Alaska. Wood frogs depend on vernal pools, and breed in few other places. Their breeding season is short, only lasting from late March to midApril, with individual populations calling for about a week. Their raspy “duck, duck” calls are unmistakable in the frog world. They’re easy to identify with a black mask over their eyes and a tan or brown body with white underbelly.

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American Toad (Bufo americanus)

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)

Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)

You’ll start to hear the trill of the American toad in mid-April through June. Although all of the frog species mentioned breed in mass, the American toad is perhaps the easiest species to observe in the daylight and one of the most impressive in sheer numbers. You’ll only have a brief week or so to observe these amphibians in any given location. The American toad is a species commonly found in backyards, but the breeding spectacle that occurs each spring is a local phenomenon that can be seen in shallow portions of ponds and seasonal wetlands. While you won’t get warts from handling them, the glands on these toads do contain toxins.

One of the most visually striking frogs of the region has to be the leopard. Reaching 3 to 4 inches and typically green or brown with bold spots bordered by white along the back and legs, these athletic frogs can be heard from April into May. Their call is best described as a “rattling snore.” Search for them in wet fields and meadows along permanent bodies of water. The closely related Southern leopard is not native to the region but a population does live within the Seneca Army Depot.

Showing up in mid-May, these frogs can be heard calling well into July throughout moist forested areas. Often calling from high in the treetops near their preferred pools, the call is best described as a musical trilling sound. Because this species is a tree frog it is often hard to locate and very well camouflaged with bumpy mottled grey skin that matches the bark they cling to.

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) The pickerel frog is very similar to and often confused with the leopard frog. Typically brown in color, the species also has spots – though usually rectangular in shape. The pickerel can be found in wet meadows and fields as well as damp forests. You can hear pickerels calling between April and May. Their call is said to sound like a “soft grating snore.”

Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) This species has a preference for flooded fields and meadows, and is identified by the three dark-brown stripes running down its brown back. Their call is said to sound similar to a fingernail being dragged over the teeth of a comb, and they’re most active from late March through April. Unfortunately, the likelihood of finding these frogs is increasingly rare as a combination of pollution and habitat loss has forced its population to decline. The search for this frog is a personal quest of mine, and the hunt continues.

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana) A symbol of wetlands and summer nights, this is a species that needs no introduction. The bullfrog is the largest species native to our country, reaching 6 to 8 inches in length. Its “jug-o’-rum” call can be heard from May through July. Like all frogs, the bullfrog is a skilled predator and its large size makes it all the more formidable. It is able to eat anything it can fit into its mouth, including birds and rodents. The bullfrog is easy enough to find, he’ll be the largest frog in the pond!

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Outdoors

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) The green frog is commonly confused with its larger cousin the bullfrog, but unlike the bullfrog, it has a ridge running down the sides of its body on either side. They can frequently be found in habitats as simple as a roadside ditch or mud puddle. The green frog is one of the last frogs of summer. Although they will start calling as early as May, they’ll still be calling well into August. The “gunk!”-sounding call of the green frog is sure to be heard on any summer outing where ponds are present.

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Human Interest

stories about real people

Hazel Thompson

At Your

Service Volunteerism is alive and well in Elmira story and photos by Roger Neumann

ast Election Day, Hazel Thompson needed a ride to her polling place, which was unusual. She had decided to downsize a bit after her birthday in September, and selling her car was part of the plan. After all, she’s 98. She had always driven whenever she needed to, and walked whenever she could. After she sold the car, she moved from her apartment to a place closer to the center of Elmira, within walking distance of her many volunteer activities and the grocery store – but not her new polling place, at the Grace Episcopal Church over on West Church Street. Hazel called the Board of Elections to ask for a lift, and Chemung County Legislator Rodney Strange, the county Republican chairman, showed up. He drove her to the church and back and posted a photo of the two of them on Facebook, explaining that he wasn’t going to let her miss a chance to vote. Hazel had told him that in all her years of eligibility, she had failed to cast a ballot only once, in 1988, when she was hospitalized in a coma with a potentially fatal infection called strep septicemia that doctors thought would take her. “They wrote me off,” she said recently of that period of illness. “But the good Lord was good to me.” (Full disclosure: I volunteer with Hazel at the Clemens performing arts Center, and although newspaper style calls for use of the subject’s last name after the first reference, I wouldn’t feel comfortable calling her Thompson, and readers who know her at all probably wouldn’t like it either.) Until Election Day, Strange knew Hazel only by her reputation – the volunteer

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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who seemed to be everywhere. He said that when he walked into the polling place with her, although it was her first time there, “People knew her and were very excited to have her there.” By the time he drove her home, he knew her, too. And to know her, even for a little while, is to like her. “She’s amazing. You can’t get any better than Hazel,” said Venitra (Vee) Clark, who retired in March after 38 years as Director of House Operations at the Clemens Center. One of her responsibilities was to oversee volunteers like Hazel, who usher and handle various duties during shows, fundraisers and other events. “Hazel works about 99 percent of our events,” Clark said. “Not just shows, but all the events.” During shows at the center’s Powers Theater, Hazel can be found at the window of the coat-check room, her post since 1985. She’s the white-haired woman, all 4-foot-10 and 115 pounds of her, with the broad smile as she greets guests. For Elmira Little Theatre and other performances in Mandeville Hall, she’ll take tickets at the door, always with that same warm smile and often with a big hug. “She knows everybody and always looks for a hug, and they always look for a hug,” said Clark. “She volunteers everywhere, so she double dips, you might say. People see her wherever they go.” Hazel has lived in Elmira since 1949, when she and her second husband, William Thompson, moved to the city. She and her first husband, Leonard Bolton, had divorced. She has outlived both of them. The first marriage produced her only child, Lenny Bolton, who is 63 now. He lives in Elmira and works as a machinist at the Hilliard Corp. “She’s a great mom. I love her to death,” said her son. “She’ll do anything for anybody. She just loves to help people. She’s kind, thoughtful, very giving.” A guitarist, he played in a band as a teenager and says that his mother was the band mom, and more. LIFL

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Human Interest

Hazel Thompson gets a hug from a Clemens Center patron at the window of the center’s coat check room, her usual post during performances.

“She was our roadie,” he said. “She would pick everybody up, load everything into the station wagon, take us to the high school dance or whatever, and then she’d come back, pick us up, load up again and drop everybody off. “She’s been like that her whole life.” Hazel was born on a farm in Pawlet, a small town in Vermont, on September 5, 1917, one of 10 children and the only one still alive. She earned a nursing certificate after high school and has used those skills all her life, on the job and as a Red Cross volunteer. In 1969, the Red Cross honored her for more than 100,000 hours of volunteer work over the previous 20 years. She served at national disasters in South

Carolina, Maine, Pennsylvania, and right here at home after the Flood of 1972. Hazel lost her job as an industrial nurse at Kennedy Valve after the flood. She took off a week from work to help at a Red Cross first-aid station, and when she went back to her job she found out she’d been let go. “They told me I said I’d take volunteering over my job. I never said that.” She got another job soon after, as the first female nurse at the Elmira Correctional Facility. She retired in 1985. The complete list of volunteer work Hazel has performed seems endless, so there’ll be no attempt here to compile it. But it should be noted that in 2010 she received the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service. She’s been a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at American Legion Post 443 in Elmira for 67 years, serving as president, secretary and treasurer at different

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times. She’s also a past president of the county auxiliary unit. At the Legion, she helps serve meals on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Also, the post treats Arctic League volunteers to a free breakfast on Christmas Day, and Hazel and other helpers start working at 5:30 a.m. She is active in AARP Chapter 276 and edits its newsletter, and she’s helped during all 25 years of the Chemung County Senior Games. At her previous apartment, she delivered the Star-Gazette to her neighbors in the building. Years ago, as a volunteer, she worked with five other senior citizens to write the Senior Desk reports for the paper. Then, after eight or nine years, the Senior Desk was turned over to a young reporter. “He just told us we didn’t know how to write,” Hazel said. “None of us were too happy about it.” Hazel says volunteering helps keep her feeling young –

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Hazel Thompson shows a woman how to use one of the Clemens Center’s hearing aids loaned without charge at performances.

or at least a lot younger than 98. “I take one day at a time and stay active,” she said. Most of her relatives have lived into their 90s, and an aunt made it to 103, so she has longevity on her side. As a project at church, Hazel recently put together a list of five wishes for the future. Four of them had to do with taking care of herself or giving back to her community. Fifth: When her time comes, she is donating her body to the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. “As soon as I pass,” she said, “within 15 minutes I’m on my way to Syracuse.” Giving back, right to the end.

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GIFT CERTIFICATES are available on our website for use at participating Member Inns.

Please visit www.flbba.com 58

Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 40 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.

www.fingerlakescabins.com

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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How to Be a Better Photographer (Continued from page 45)

Maxwell Creek Inn

Bed & Breakfast

7563 Lake Road, Sodus, NY maxwellcreekinn-bnb.com

1819

Red Brick Inn

A quaint and quiet escape in the heart of the Finger Lakes

2081 Route 230, Dundee, NY • 607-243-8844 www.1819inn.com • stay@1819inn.com

WINNER

TRAVELERS’ CHOICE 2013

Village Friendliness & Victorian Charm in the Heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country

As winter melts into spring, flocks of migrating waterfowl will be winging northward. Look for enormous flocks of snow geese on the open waters of Canandaigua, Cayuga, Seneca and Skaneateles Lakes.

Other Critters Depending on where you live, your bird feeders will attract a variety of other critters as well. Squirrels are a given but I have also photographed deer, red foxes and raccoons cleaning up spilled birdseed on the ground beneath the feeders. Black bears usually den for the winter near the end of November and emerge in early April. One of their favorite springtime treats is black-oil sunflower seed so make sure to schedule your bird feeding program accordingly. Migrating Waterfowl As winter melts into spring, flocks of migrating waterfowl will be winging northward. There are hundreds of places around the Finger Lakes to photograph ducks, geese, swans, and other web-footed visitors both on the wing and on the water, not the least of which is the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of Cayuga Lake. You’ll also find bald eagles, ospreys, and wading birds like herons and shorebirds there. And look for enormous flocks of snow geese on the open waters of Canandaigua, Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles Lakes Author and photographer John Adamski in his as well. natural environment.

You can count on us! Hilton Garden Inn - Ithaca

Next Time Around In the next installment in the May/June 2016 issue, we’ll take a look at how to find and photograph wild animals, how to attract them to your location, and how to blend in with your surroundings. We’ll also study the dos-and-don’ts of wildlife photography and explain ethical practices that ensure safe photo experiences for both you and your subjects. M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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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

Recollections Antiques

Canandaigua • 585-394-7493 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!

Chair Caning Call Chris or Paula • All types of chair re-weaving • 30 years experience

56 South Main St. • Downtown Canandaigua Open Daily • 585-394-6528

Your Chosen Spot for Diamonds Certified Diamonds • Estate Rings Interest Free Financing • Free Layaway

142 South Main St. • Canandaigua, NY 585-394-3115 • mycrowndowntown.com

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Happenings (Continued from page 9)

APRIL

Stella’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt Free to The Public Visit With The Easter Bunny

March 20th Hunt Begins at 1PM SHARP All Ages Welcomed, Prizes To Be Awarded

1880 Rochester Road Canandaigua, N.Y. 14424 585-394-1830 FlowersByStella.com

Ontario County Historical Museum “View and share our award winning historic Mini-Video series at www.ochs.org”

55 North Main Street Canandaigua, NY

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April 1…Downtown Ithaca’s First Friday Gallery Night The Downtown Ithaca Alliance welcomes you to First Friday Gallery Night, a monthly community celebration taking place in and around downtown Ithaca when 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 and 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 and the Downtown Visitors Center on the Ithaca Commons. gallerynightithaca.wordpress.com April 1-30…”The Birds are Back! A Celebration of Spring” Paintings by Nancy Murty and Ray Easton at P. Tribastone Fine Art Gallery. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 32 South Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 patriciatribastone.com April 22-24…Spring Wine & Cheese Weekend This is an incredibly popular event on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, combining the classic tastes of wine and cheese into one delectable weekend. It is a self-guided tour around beautiful Seneca Lake visiting over 30 unique, participating wineries. You start this event by picking up your gift item and tickets at your chosen starting winery and receive your first sampling of wine paired with a sample of a cheese-themed dish the winery has prepared. Regular tickets purchased in advance are $40 per person. senecalakewine.com April 23-24…Arts in Bloom – Steuben County Arts Trail A countywide open studio and gallery trail, where you get to meet the artist, watch them create and learn what inspires their amazing work. The collective of artists that make up Arts in Bloom is a diverse and eclectic group of new, and well established, men and women who bring a range of techniques, mediums and materials together to create what you will see in their workspaces and galleries. April 23, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 24, 12 to 5 p.m. artsinbloom.net

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Voted “Best Professional Theatre” in New York State

he New York Theatre Guide is pleased to announce that Auburn’s MerryGo-Round Playhouse is the winner of the 2015 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Professional Theatre (non-Broadway/ off-Broadway theatre company). The award is designed to honor local performing arts, entertainment and education organizations for their creativity, talents, and contributions across New York. The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse was founded in 1958 as the Auburn Children’s Theatre by Susan Riford and members of the Auburn Service League. The building once contained a classic merry-go-round that delighted area children for many years. That merry-go-round was sold in April 1972 to the Nassau County Historical Society. A $3-million renovation was completed at the Playhouse in 2004. That renovation included an expansion of seating capacity of the Playhouse from 365 to 501. The Playhouse launched the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival in 2012. The festival uses two additional performing spaces in downtown Auburn to supplement the Playhouse’s season. The MGR Downtown series utilizes the newly renovated space at the Auburn Public Theatre for “off-Broadway” productions, while The PiTCH series (for a generation of new musicals) is held in the newly renovated Theatre Mack behind the Cayuga Museum of History and Art.

M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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marketplace

Shopping & Services We have gently-used

Eileen Fisher

In-shop repairs & complete engine overhauls

Drake Engines Inc.

GRE EW E

fashions at bargain prices

112 N Cayuga St. downtown Ithaca 607-319-4106 www.sewgreen.org 11-6 weekdays 11-5 weekends

Discover...

Specialty Engine Rebuilding, Since 1974

• Machine work for new/used car dealers, garages & marinas. • Custom machine work on both classic & antique engines We have extensive experience rebuilding various types of auto and marine engines, some requiring extensive restoration to show quality appearance.

2285 Ridgeway Ave., Rochester NY 14626

585-723-1333 • drakeengines.com

Gifts

It’s a Shopping Experience... Beyond Ordinary Hours Mon-Sat 10-5 2 West Main Street, Clifton Springs 315-548-4438

Buying Coins Old Time Collections & Estates Safe Deposit Box Visits Made

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

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

Call Ed Schoen • 315-946-4360

References at: www.coinsbought.com E-mail at: gene@coinsbought.com

Gene Lane PO Box 221 Burdett, NY 14818 607-342-3606 I have collected coins for 57 years.

www.fingerlakescoffee.com 800-420-6154

Visit our locations. Farmington Pittsford Plaza Corner of Routes Monroe Ave. 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) (Next to Shear Ego) 585-742-6218 585-385-0750 Strong Memorial Hospital Thompson Hospital Destiny USA Mall (Syracuse, NY)

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Fruit of the Vine (Continued from page 29) Before

After

A before-and-after view from the middle of the 4-acre Heart & Hands vineyard. It takes four years for a vineyard to mature to the point where a sufficient harvest can be had for winemaking. Top photo by Tom Higgins. Bottom photo by Jason Feulner

At least, that was the plan. Like many wineries, Tom at first sourced his grapes from high-quality growers. During the first few years at Heart & Hands, Tom could only point at a recently cleared field adjacent to the tasting room. The vines weren’t there yet. It’s easy to take vineyards for granted. They can be lush and beautiful things to behold, and their green symmetry seems to inspire those who admire “wine country” settings. Vineyards, however, take a lot of planning and a lot of dirty work to get off the ground. The happy ending to the story is that Tom and Susan did plant their vineyard, and the even happier ending is that it yielded one heck of a wine (see tasting notes). The photographs and captions above, the newer set captured during the most recent harvest, will hopefully provide the reader some idea as to the time it takes to plan, plant and sustain a vineyard as part of a productive winemaking enterprise. What makes the vineyard at Heart & Hands such a great teaching tool is that it is not a sprawling farm but a relatively small plot planted with great focus. Visitors to the winery can get a sense of how viticulture works in the Finger Lakes. “A small vineyard is more the norm in places like Burgundy where vintners work with one small vineyard year in and year out,” Tom relates. “It creates a better connection so that winemakers can make good decisions about the wine.” M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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marketplace

Wine, Spirits & Brews

A Legacy Four Generations in the Making

Join us for a tasting of our premium wines and enjoy lunch at our deli, Amelia’s.

Since 1962 9749 Middle Rd. Hammondsport www.drfrankwines.com 800-320-0735

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 LakeMiddle Road • Aurora,Rd. NY 13026 9749 Hammondsport, NY (315) 364-6990 • mail@longpointwinery.com

M Y E R FA R M •

TAS T I N GS • CO C K TA I L S • R E TA I L SA L ES •

•

Estate-grown, craftdistilled, award-winning spirits produced in the heart of the Finger Lakes.

The Finger Lakes Most Recommended Wine & Brew Tour Service 7350 State Route 89 (607) 532 4800 myerfarmdistillers.com

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Scenic, Fun & Tasteful!

www.QualityWineTours.com (877)424-7004

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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marketplace

Seneca Lake Wine Trail

THE NEW MOBILE APP IS HERE! Children’s Photo Contest Winners

For iPhones, iPads, Android Tablets and Phones

Offbeat

fresh and unique

The Elusive

Wood Duck

Photographing Wildlife, Part I Step 1: Dave cuts down a 100-year-old tree and begins to carve it into the shape of a wine bottle. See page 22 for the next four steps.

A Wine for Every Taste!

Cutting

EDGE story and photos by Mary Grasek

NOW OPEN AT WSW! Locally crafted beer & root beer Two complimentary beer or wine tastings with this ad.

Be sure to check out our new interactive app optimized for access on your mobile phone. For a limited time, our new app will be available for free. • Download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad • Get it on Google play for Android devices

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 M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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marketplace

Culture & Attractions

Reenactment Weekend

Soldiers & Sutlers at the Village, April 16-17

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

5 muse um 1 destin s, ation

HistoricPalmyraNY.com

Steak Dinner • April 23 • 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Alling Coverlet Museum Historical Museum, Wm. Phelps Store, Palmyra Print Shop and Erie Canal Depot at 132-140 Market St and Alling Coverlet at 122 William St. All open 10:30-4:30 pm Tues.-Sat. May 5 to Oct. 31. Begin tours at Historical Museum 132 Market St. (315) 597-6981.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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marketplace

Naples – Wineries, Artists and more

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!

Open: Tuesday 10am-3pm & Saturday 1-5pm

6925 State Route 5, Bloomfield, New York 14469 585-257-5119 • www.antiquewireless.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?

Bristol Views Bed & Breakfast 6

Famous for our Grape Pies Available Year Round

A gift that keeps giving all year long! 1st Gift .................................. $16 2nd Gift................................. $14 3rd Gift ................................. $12

LifeintheFingerLakes.com 800-344-0559

Now

SIX issues

MONICA’S PIES

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!

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-5PM 7599 Rte, 21, Naples

585-374-2139

www.monicaspies.com M ar ch /A pr i l 2016 ~

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IAM_FngrLakesAd_3.25x5 1215_IAM_FngrLakesAd_3.25x5 1215 12/4/15 1:57 PM

Real Estate

DON’T BUY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITHOUT TALKING TO

MARK MALCOLM II

“HE’S GOT A CORNER ON THE MARKET”

STUDIOS,1,2&3BR APARTMENT HOMES Ithaca-Apartments.com

marketplace

The Trimmer House Bed & Breakfast at the north end of Lake Keuka, and in the heart of the Finger Lakes! A proven revenue producer, and offered as a “turn-key” package. Totally renovated, beautifully appointed, with 5 guest rooms, private baths and a separate inn-keepers quarters. Hot tub, central AC, marble, decks, open porch, butler’s pantry, and the mechanicals are perfection. Circa 1891, but conveniences and all the perks of 2016. Live life to the fullest, and stay vital. Now priced at $325,000.

■ In-Home Washer/Dryer* ■ Pet Friendly ■ 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 * Select Units ** Select Communities ■ Large Patios & Balconies

CANDLEWYCK LANSING PARK WEST 272-9206 257-5444 NORTH WOOD WARRENWOOD 257-4037 257-5200 Keuka Lake-light filled contemporary at end of private cul de sac... open floor plan, easy family living and great entertaining flow. Large deck with classic sunsets and view to wide water. Convenient main floor MBR, upstairs bedrooms/bath and its own sitting area, lower level bedrooms/bath/media room and patio. Charming guest cottage and potting shed, area for your croquet and bacci, oversized 2 car garage. All public utilities, level drive/easy access, endless parking and just minutes to restaurants, groceries, movies, golf, etc. To be sold substantially furnished! Now priced at $885,000.

Mark Malcolm II “KEUKA LAKE’S TOP AGENT” 315-536-6163 Direct

email: mmalcolmii@aol.com

Website: MARKMALCOLM.COM (w/mobile app)

GASLIGHT VILLAGE 257-3311 BROOKLANE 257-5444

OFFICE M-F 9-5, Sat 10 -3 HOURS: Plus some evenings

KEUKA LAKE (10558 E Lake Road) $795,000 PC 06770 NothnagleHTC.com R290807 YEAR ROUND- unique property with 150’ lakefront. Built in the 1920’s, converted to a 4-unit residence & is currently available to year round tenants. Keep as rental or convert back to single family home. Finished lower level has owner suite possibilities. Level beach area. First time on the market.

Terri Sutherland • 585-750-6054

YEAR ROUND SENECA LAKE HOME 2171 Hansen Point Road

Privacy w/ panoramic views from every room, totally upgraded in ’12. New baths, appliances, counters, roof, heating, AC & more! 112’ natural beach, wrap-around deck w/pergola! Expansive dock w/boat lift. Excellent rental income and history, sleeps 8. Selling Turn-key w/ALL contents! Great investment or family retreat.

$449,000 • (800) 295-2797 • PC 74287 nothnagle.com/R282974 Lisa Johnson-Licensed Associate RE Broker • Cell: (315) 771-2371 Office: (315) 828-0764, 97 Seneca Street, Geneva, NY 14456

~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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Real Estate

marketplace YOUR LAKE & COUNTRY SPECIALISTS on and around Seneca & Cayuga Lakes

DOWNTOWN ITHACA Luxury Condominium

In scenic downtown Ithaca with views of Cayuga Inlet, Cornell University and Ithaca College. Two bedroom, two bath condo features beautiful finishes including; gleaming hardwoods, granite counter tops, a kitchen island/breakfast bar, 2-car garage and many other high-end amenities. Located in the historic redeveloped Lehigh Valley House and Restaurant this condo is walking distance to health clubs, shopping, cultural centers, public parks and restaurants. Close to a marina. City living at its best.

Search the Finger Lakes from our website

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

Senecayuga.indd 1

5/29/15 11:34 AM

2 Eagle Landing, Scipio

KEUKA LAKE VIEW

(2474 Bath Rd)

$579,000 • MLS# R290824 Architectural Digest meets FLX Wine Country! Elegant & sophisticated 3 BR, 2½ bath home, Cherry & granite Chef’s kitchen with ALL PUBLIC UTILITIES. 2 more BRs & bath plumbed and framed in walkout lower level

Mary Worth 585-704-4872

179’ of West Side Owasco Lake Frontage w/ 3 bdrm, 2 Bath manufactured home. Lovely lake views from everywhere! Open floor plan leading to huge deck with hot tub. 2 car attached garage, central air.

$399,900

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

M ar c h/Ap r i l 2016 ~

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marketplace

Camping

Off the Easel (Continued from page 72)

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

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

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

Family Camping at its best! Near Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventure Park

Meet the Artist • 100 Acres • 60´x80´ sites w/ Full Hook-ups • Modern Facilities • Playground

• Pavilion • Fishing Pond • Large Pool • Store • Ice • Propane

• Cabin Rentals • Cabin with Full Amenities • Hiking Trails • Wi-Fi • New Solar Canopy

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

4835 South Hill Road • Canandaigua, NY 14424

Cheerful Valley Campground

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

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

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Durand participates in the Arts at the Gardens show at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, and MAG’s Clothesline Festival in Rochester. Her prints are carried at Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs and other galleries. Durand created a new print for the themed exhibit Myths and Mytholologies, which will showcase the work of more than 50 artists at Oxford Gallery in Rochester on April 30 through June 11. “Whatever the subject, Elizabeth’s work always projects an easy freedom possible only through a considerable experience in, and understanding of, the print medium she is using,” says Oxford Gallery owner Jim Hall. Meet Durand and other artists during an Artists’ Reception at the gallery, 267 Oxford Street, on Saturday, April 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

are singular works. Durand utilizes intaglio and relief processes, using plastic master plates, colored ink and overlaying multiple images in the printing process, sometimes later stenciling by hand. The result is a delicately complex and unique masterpiece. Contact Elizabeth King Durand directly at 585-381-0679 or ekdurand@ frontiernet.net. Read the artist’s blog: mainstreetartsgallery.com/blog/ elizabeth-durand.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Index of Advertisers March/April 2016

COMPANY....................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL Antique Revival.................................... 27.....800-780-7330........antiquerevival.com

COMPANY.......................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL Hotel Ithaca.......................................... 49.....607-272-1000.........thehotelithaca.com

Belhurst..................................................13.....315-781-0201..........belhurst.com

I-Wood-Care............................................8.....800-721-7715.........iwoodc.com

Bristol Harbour.................................... 27.....800-288-8248........bristolharbour.com

The Inn on the Lake............................18.....800-228-2801........theinnonthelake.com

Bristol Mountain.................................. 43.......................................bristolmountain.com

Inns of Aurora...................................... 55.....315-364-8888.........innsofaurora.com

Canandaigua Emporium & Trading Co.................... 48.....585-469-4672........canandaiguatrading.com

Ithaca Farmers Market.........................21.....607-273-7109.........ithacamarket.com The Jewelbox........................................ 55.....800-711-7279.........ithacajewelbox.com

Caves Kitchens..................................... 47.....585-478-4636........cavesmillwork.com

Kendal at Ithaca...................................C3.....877-915-7633.........kai.kendal.org/FL

CB Craft Brewers.................................54.....585-624-4386........custombrewcrafters.com

Keuka Arts Festiva............................... 23.......................................keukaartsfestival.com

Chemung Canal Trust......................... 28.....800-836-3711.........chemungcanal.com

Kitchen Theatre Company.................15.....607-272-0570.........kitchentheatre.org

Clifton Springs Chamber of Commerce..................... 53.....315-462-8200.........cliftonspringschamber.com

Larry’s Latrines..................................... 49.....607-324-5015.........larryslatrines.com

Cobtree Vacation Rentals...................51.....315-789-1144..........cobtree.com

New Energy Works.............................C4.....585-924-3860........newenergyworks.com

Corning Museum of Glass................ 47.....800-732-6845........cmog.org

Rochester Regional Health.................12 ....585-922-4000........rochesterregionalhealth.org

Cottone Auctions................................. 44.....585-243-1000.........cottoneauctions.com

Route 96 Power & Paddle..................11.....607-659-7693........powerandpaddle.com

DockCraft Industries........................... 55.....585-734-7374.........dockcraft.com

Seager Marine.......................................18.....585-394-1372.........seagermarine.com

Downtown Ithaca Alliance................ 48.....607-277-8679.........downtownithaca.com

Seneca County Chamber.................. 57.....800-732-1848.........fingerlakescentral.com

Eastview Mall........................................ 29.....585-223-4420........eastviewmall.com Ferris Hills..............................................C2.....585-393-0410.........ferrishills.com

Seneca Lake Winery Association............................................ 25.....877-536-2717.........senecalakewine.com

Finger Lakes from Space Poster.......54.....800-331-7323.........atwatervineyards.com

Smith Boys Marina.............................. 46.......................................smithboys.com

Finger Lakes Jewelry............................17.......................................fingerlakesjewelry.com

Timber Frames..................................... 23.....585-374-6405........timberframesinc.com

Finger Lakes Soaring Club..................15.....585-335-5849........flsc.org

Tioga Downs Casino Resort.................9.....888-946-8464........tiogadowns.com

Finger Lakes Tram............................... 44.....315-986-8090........fingerlakestram.com

Titus Gallery.......................................... 43.....607-277-2649........titusgallery.com

Fireplace Fashions............................... 45.....877-409-6555........fireplacefashions.com

Wagner Vineyards............................... 25.....866-924-6378........wagnervineyards.com

Five Star Bank..........................................7.....585-627-1362.........five-starbank.com

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel................41.....607-535-6116..........watkinsglenharborhotel.com

Flights of Fancy Finger Lakes Wine Classic..................11.....800-228-2760........fingerlakeswineclassic.com

Wild Birds Unlimited...........................21.....877-266-4928........sapsuckerwoods.com

Naples Valley Visitors Association......8.......................................naplesvalleyny.com

Genesee Valley Timber & Stone......56.....585-889-7950........geneseevalleytimberandstone.com German Brothers Marina Inc...............2.....585-394-4000........germanbrothers.com

MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING

Granger Homestead........................... 45.....585-394-1472.........grangerhomestead.org

Accommodations.......................Pg. 58-59

Real Estate for Sale....................Pg. 68-69

Greater Rochester Int’l Airport............5.......................................rocairport.com

Camping................................................P. 70

Seneca Lake Wine Trail....................Pg. 65

Halco.........................................................3.....800-533-3367........halcoenergy.com

Canandaigua............................... Pg. 60-61

Shopping & Services..................Pg. 62-63

Halsey’s Restaurant............................. 48.....315-789-4070.........halseysgeneva.com

Culture & Attractions.....................Pg. 66-67

Wine, Spirits & Brews......................Pg. 64

Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca......................4.....877-STAY-HGI.........ithaca.hgi.com

Naples.................................................Pg. 67

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2/16/16 9:38 AM

Off the Easel

creating art

Art That Leaves a Deep Impression

” Island Shoreline,” collagraph monoprint

by Nancy E. McCarthy

rintmaker Elizabeth King Durand grew up in the town of Irondequoit in Rochester, where she and her sister played in apple orchards by their home that

The work of printmaker Elizabeth King Durand

of ever-changing local landscapes – a recurring theme in her impressive body of artwork. Durand’s artist statement notes: “I endeavor to picture a strong sense of place in my etchings; the roll-

“Four Seasons from Sunny Hill,” etching

extended nearly to Lake Ontario. “A connection to nature and outdoor play were constant,” says Durand, now 77. Her parents valued creativity and imaginative play and encouraged Durand’s artistic interests from an early age. Well-traveled and having lived in several cities, Durand and her husband settled in the town of Pittsford in 1969, where they raised their three children. She’s experienced decades

ing hills, lakeside scenes and the seasonal changes that are representative of this locale. The interplay of parkland and skyline, so essential to the look of our region, figures prominently in my work, offering a rich variety of images and impressions.” Rochester’s Shoestring Gallery represented Durand’s work for nearly 40 years until it closed in 2007. Retired owner Nancy Esmay says Durand was

“without question, the most popular artist. Her work speaks to the hearts of people of all ages and lifestyles.” Durand studied drawing, painting, silk screen and woodcut printmaking at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana and graduated in 1960 with a degree in fine arts. Etching evolved into her preferred art process after Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) classes with Eric Bellmann in 1973. She also enjoys creating unique collagraph monoprints. “The etching process provides a way to be descriptive in a linear way, while the monoprints allow me to explore veils and layers of color that evoke my sense of landscape and mood,” Durand explains. She teaches classes at Saint John Fisher College and summer workshops in Nantucket. She has three printing presses in her home studio: portable for demonstrations, medium-sized for etchings and a large motorized model for collagraph monoprints. Prints start with the creation of images on a master plate, using either “intaglio” (impressions etched into the surface) or “relief” (applying materials that raise the printing surface) methods. Durand’s etchings are produced intaglio. Designs are drawn with an etching needle and bitten with acid into a zinc or copper plate. Black ink is pressed into the lines and the plate surface is wiped before paper is applied and turned through the press to produce the print. She later embellishes the images with watercolor. Plates are wiped down and ink re-applied to create up to 100 prints before the plate degrades. Etchings yield multiple editions, each an original work of art. Larger scale collagraph monoprints (Continued on page 70)

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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