M
The Magazine for People Who Love New York State’s Wine Region
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LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES
Rustic Revolution p. 66 • Hopshire Brewery’s Craft Beer Craze p. 28
September/October 2016
FALL IN FOCUS • RUSTIC REVOLUTION • HOPSHIRE BREWERY’S CRAFT BEER CRAZE
AutumnAir is in the
Fall in Focus page 50
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 • VOL. 16, NO. 5
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Cover: Scenic country roads lead from all directions into Montour Falls from the surrounding hills. Photo by James P. Hughes
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Volume 16, Number 5 • September/October 2016
This page: This mature whitetail buck was spotted on Voak Road near Gorham searching for doe during the 2015 breeding season. Photo by Roger Bailey
F E A T U R E S
36
44
50
58
66
An intense all-body workout not only for college athletes, but for people of all ages. by Cindy Ruggieri
The Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Hinchcliff Family preserve is near Skaneateles Lake. by Andy Zepp
Photographer Mike Sargent is fascinated by smaller autumn scenes
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum’s recent renovations are spectacular. by John Adamski
A Tale of Two Barn Houses by Derek Doeffinger
The Art of A New Rowing Crew Perspective
Autumn Abstract
Change is in the Air
Rustic Revolution
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Since
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A G A ZI N
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THE RE
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D E P A R T M E N T S 4 My Own Words
thoughts from the editor
5 Letters reader feedback 6 Finger Lakes Map
areas of interest in this issue
7 Happenings
30
news and events
Cultured
Outdoors in the open air
the better things in life Lyons’ Ohmann Theatre
30 7 7 Corning’s Alley Art Project
12 Reader’s Choice:
Finger Lakes Big 5
73 The naturalist in all of us
80 Lifestyle
mode of living The GoPro photo perspective
84 Day Trip
exploring the Finger Lakes Erie Canal nature therapy
24
103 Index of Advertisers 104 Off the Easel
creating art Living art with Dawn Jordan
14 Proud Community cities & villages Montour Falls
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18 History
narrative of the past Great Western Winery
24 Finger Lakes Tourism
explore and discover Natalie’s Finger Lakes adventure
28 Fruit of the Vine
wine, spirits and brews Hopshire Brewery
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My Own Words
thoughts from the editor
Adventure Calling
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enu. .Kilpatric Visit www ule and complete m d e h music sc
Serving lunch, dinner & late night. Located downtown on the Ithaca Commons corner of Tioga/Seneca Streets
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You can count on us. Guaranteed!
A
dventure can take many forms. By its definition it can mean taking dangerous and unknown risks, and it can also mean an exciting or remarkable experience, and last it can be an enterprise involving financial risk. I think this issue of the magazine is filled with adventurous people. They may not be climbing Mount Everest or working as a stock broker on Wall Street, but they are still seeking something that’s fulfilling and exciting in their lives. Natalie Payne is the executive director of the Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium. She attained that position in 2015 and has been working diligently to bring the dream of a world-class museum to reality. That dream started with John Adamski, a frequent contributor to Life in the Finger Lakes. Both of these people, along with many that support them, have risked much to see a wonderful transformation take place at the museum’s location in Branchport. Through many hours of volunteer work and sheer fortitude and persistence, the fulfillment of the museum project is moving along nicely. Natalie wanted the full Finger Lakes experience and set out on a fourday adventure with her husband, son and dogs by visiting many of the Finger Lakes while hiking and paddling (see page 24). In order for Natalie, a Finger Lakes native, to truly understand the region, she wanted to enjoy it as any tourist and sight-seeker would. Another museum that’s recently gone through some renovations
and changes is the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum near Hammondsport. Curtiss was the quintessential risk-taker, creating the first airplanes and the fastest motorcycles. The museum focuses on his accomplishments along with other related collectibles. Ben Johnson, the new executive director of the museum, is on his own adventure, relocating from Oregon to direct operations. College is a time for new undertakings. One such adventure that my daughter sought out was rowing crew for a New York State college. She has always been a competitive swimmer and runner, and the pull of rowing crew always was an interest of hers, especially after hearing her mother describe her days rowing crew in college. Early, cold mornings on the Susquehanna River near Owego brought a sense of adventure to her. Working with teammates and pushing herself physically while enjoying nature all around appealed to her, and the headiness of rowing events fit with her competitive nature. Read Cindy Ruggieri’s article on rowing crew on page 36 to get a better idea of what I’m briefly describing. We can all have little adventures in our daily lives, doing something different we never did before. Stepping outside of our comfort zone. They don’t have to be big, grand experiences, but they do need to be fulfilling. Enjoy autumn in the Finger Lakes! mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
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Please direct your responses to mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com reader feedback
Letters
Dear Mark,
J
ust a quick “thank you” for the inclusion of Walnut Hill Driving Competition’s 45th anniversary event in the July/ August 2016 issue. It looks great, as does the advertisement! Amy Blum
I
just read John Adamski’s piece – Black Bears on the Move – at LifeintheFingerLakes.com. It was very interesting and informative. I enjoyed it a lot and learned a lot too. The black bear is an animal I thought I was already quite well informed about. Clearly, I was mistaken. Thanks for offering it. Bard Prentiss, Dryden
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Sharing on social media has become a part of our everyday lives, and Facebook is one of the leading apps that people use. When visiting the Life in the Finger Lakes Facebook page, you can see interesting posts, like this black bear swimming across Hemlock Lake this past July. The video was taken by Matthew Garrity.
September /October 2016 ~
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Finger Lakes Regional Map 1 Auburn (p. 104) 2 Corning (p. 77) 3 Hammondsport (p. 18, 58, 66)
areas of interest in this issue
4 Hincliff Family Preserve (p. 44) 5 Ithaca (p. 28) 6 Lyons (p. 30)
7 Macedon (p. 84) 8 Montour Falls (p. 14) 9 Owego (p. 36)
10 Rochester (p. 8) 11 West Bloomfield (p. 66) From Oswego
Lake Ontario
Hilton
104
Webster
N
Brockport
10
Spencerport
490
104
Sodus
Baldwinsville
Fairport
Macedon
7
90
Caledonia
Honeoye Falls
390
5
Lima11
Avon
20A
Mt. Morris
LIVINGSTON
5
Clifton Springs Phelps
20
ONTARIO
5
5
Waterloo
Seneca Falls
20
Cayuga
5
1
81
20
7
11
9
11
Aurora Moravia Ovid
Penn Yan
YATES
CAYUGA Homer
Interlaken
Branchport
Cortland Groton
Wayland
6
Avoca
3
Burdett
Watkins Glen
Bath
Hornell Canisteo
Lamoka Lake
Hammondsport
86 17
5
Waneta Lake
SCHUYLER
8
McGraw 81
Lansing
390
CORTLAND
11
Trumansburg
Dundee
Prattsburgh
Dryden
Cayuga Heights
Marathon
Ithaca
From Binghamton
Montour Cayuta Lake Falls TOMPKINS Odessa
STEUBEN
17
Painted Post
2 Rexville
Horseheads
Corning
Elmira C H E M U N G Heights
Elmira
Addison
Van Etten
TIOGA
Owego
15
Waverly
Editorial & Production Editor......................................................................Mark Stash ......................................... mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Senior Graphic Artist...........................Jennifer Srmack Graphic Artist...........................................Danielle Valente Associate Editor..............................................Tina Manzer Assistant Editors........................................ Jenn Bergin .............................................................................. J. Kevin Fahy ............................................................................Carol C. Stash
Contributors................................................ John Adamski ..................................................................... Derek Doeffinger ............................................................................Jason Feulner ....................................................... Susan Peterson Gateley ..................................................................... James P. Hughes .................................................................................. Ray Levato .................................................................Nancy E. McCarthy ............................................................................ Natalie Payne ..........................................................................Cindy Ruggieri ..............................................................................Mike Sargent ............................................................Jan Bridgeford-Smith .............................................................................John VanNiel .....................................................................Laurel C. Wemett .............................................................................Andrew Zepp
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.
Newark Valley
Candor
Spencer 86
6
20
4
8
Cohocton
The Finger Lakes Region of New York State
ONONDAGA
20
Auburn
Union Springs
SENECA
Honeoye
Naples
From Jamestown
Fayetteville Manlius
Skaneateles
Geneva
20A
5
Dansville
690
Syracuse 481
10
4
2
Solvay
Marcellus
Canandaigua
390
Nunda
Jordan
3
1
90
Weedsport 90
From Utica
481
90
6 Newark
20
Geneseo
Clyde
Lyons
Palmyra
Victor
Bloomfield
Livonia Hemlock
North 11 Syracuse
WAYNE
490 90
Oneida Lake
81
Rochester
490
Finger Lakes 1 Conesus 2 Hemlock 3 Canadice 4 Honeoye 5 Canandaigua 6 Keuka 7 Seneca 8 Cayuga 9 Owasco 10 Skaneateles 11 Otisco
From Watertown
Wolcott
104
104
E. Rochester
F From Buffalo
Sodus Bay
Sodus Point
MONROE
86
17
9 From Binghamton
Editorial Office..............................................315-789-0458 Director of Advertising................................ Tim Braden ............................................. tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
For Advertising Inquiries - 800-344-0559 Rhonda Trainor........rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
Online Sales 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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news and events
SEPTEMBER Sept 1-5…New York State Festival of Balloons Organized and staffed solely by community volunteers, this is a weekend of hot air balloon flights, tethered rides, arts & crafts, car shows and fun for the whole family. Maple Street, Dansville, NY 14437 nysfob.com
2016 Crystal City Ferrari Show Returns to Corning The Upstate Chapter of The Empire State Region of the Ferrari Club of America announces the return to Corning of the Crystal City Ferrari Show on Market Street, September 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. With the repaving of the Watkins Glen International track completed, the Ferrari Club, which rents the WGI facility for Labor Day weekend events, will be back at the track. Unique this year, will be the sharing of the track with the Indy Racing League. The Crystal City Ferrari Show, which is organized through the Upstate Chapter of the Empire State Region, piggybacks on the club’s track event and counts on the members bringing their cars from the track to display them in Corning. For more information contact Paul Mayo, email: pmayo@stny. rr.com or phone: 607-733-1616.
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Sept 10…Varick Winery’s Glorious Grape Day Grapes, grapes and more grapes. From 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. you can enjoy wine tastings and grape treats such as grape pies, frozen grape pops, grape cookies, grape cheesecake, and more. 5102 St. Rte. 89, Romulus, NY 14541 315-549-8797 varickwinery.com
Happenings
Sept 16-17…Harvest Music Festival Enjoy free musical performances by many local and regional talents throughout Corning’s historic downtown. Along with the Corning Farmers Market, local food and craft vendors, children’s activities, tractor display, shopping and dining incentives. 130 Center Way, Corning, NY 14830 607-937-6292 gafferdistrict.com Sept 17…Kettle Fest From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. head over to Kettle Ridge farm to enjoy some of their fresh produced maple syrup, delicious wildflower honey and mushroom demos! There will also be local artisans, food, educational workshops, chicken races and live music! 249 Benson Road, Victor, NY 14564 kettlefest.com
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Happenings Sept 17-18…Harvest Celebration of Food & Wine Come taste the exquisite wines of Keuka Lake and sample delicious dishes highlighting the region’s seasonal produce from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a fun time to learn from tasting room staff and to enjoy recently released wines. At your starting winery, you will receive a complimentary Keuka Lake Wine Trail wine glass with 28 wine samples and over a dozen food samples to follow. Groups of 20 or more people must be obtained in advance by calling. 2375 State Route 14A, Penn Yan, NY 14527 800-440-4898 keukawinetrail.com Sept 18…German Festival at Lucas Vineyards From 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. this lively fall festival includes authentic live music and dancing by The Enzian Bavarian Band and Dancers and German food. Also highlighting the day will be grape stomping, a photo booth, face painting, alpacas, local vendors featuring their hand crafted items and a variety of contests to enter in. 3862 County Road 150, Interlaken, NY 14847 607-532-4825 lucasvineyards.com
Sept 24-25… Naples Grape Festival Enjoy wine, food, arts, crafts and local/ regional music. Bake a pie for the World’s Greatest Grape Pie Contest and sample everything “grape” that our valley has to offer. Will be held at the Naples High School grounds and across the street at Memorial Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. 154 N Main St, Naples, NY 14512 naplesgrapefest.org Sept 30-Oct 2…Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival A great introduction to the rich farm and artist community of Ithaca with plenty of apples, local produce, fresh baked goods, family entertainment, games, rides, prizes and live performances. 607-277-8679 downtownithaca.com Sept 30-Oct 2…Annual Wineglass Marathon Each year, more and more runners travel from all over the U.S. and Canada, and from around the world to America’s “Crystal City” for the Annual Wineglass Marathon. Along with the Marathon, other races including Wineglass Half Marathon, Corelle 5K and Glassfest 8K will also be going on. Don’t forget to check out the many wine and brewery tours being held this weekend as well. 1 W. Market Street, Suite 103, Corning, NY 14830 607-654-7601 wineglassmarathon.com
44th Annual Antiquarian Book Fair in Rochester
T
he oldest, continually running regional Antiquarian Book Fair in the U.S. takes place on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Main Street Armory in downtown Rochester. Presented by the Rochester Area Booksellers Association (RABA) and RIT Press, the event presents a unique aspect of the antique industry. In the past three years, the Fair experienced a growing number of exhibitors (about 50, currently) and an increasing number of visitors. The Fair’s dealers are from across the nation and Canada. Beyond the rare and antiquarian books, collectors can expect to find good secondhand titles of wide breadth and interest including scholarly texts, as well as prints, maps, photographica and collectible ephemera embracing an equally broad range of subject categories. Additionally, the Book Fair features readings by local poets. For more information, visit rochesterbooksellers.com or call Jonathan Smalter (of Yesterday’s Muse Books) at 585-265-9295.
OCTOBER Oct 1-2… The Great Cortland Pumpkinfest With volunteers from numerous organizations, the festival offers crafters, children’s games, food and entertainment, antique tractors, hay rides, tons of pumpkins, and many other displays. For more information please call. 37 Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-8463 or toll-free 1-800-859-2227 cortlandpumpkinfest.org Oct 1...Historic Barn Tour The Newark-Arcadia Historical Society’s 1st Historic Barn Tour, featuring 8 barns in the town of Arcadia. Tickets available in September. 315-331-6409
Oct 1-2… Naples Open Studio Trail We are a group of dynamic, innovative artists located in the Finger Lakes in Western New York. We invite the public to our homes and studios to share our crafts, demonstrate how we work, and create a better understanding of the arts. Art studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Various studio locations found on website 585-967-3348 naplesopenstudiotrail.com Oct 1-2…Pumpkin Chunkin’ (Every Saturday and Sunday in the month of October) From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, cost per pumpkin to be determined. $4.00 for wine tasting. 5102 State Route 89, Romulus, NY 14541 315-549-8797 varickwinery.com
Humane Society of Schuyler County Launches Reading Buddies Program
W
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hile most cats might be napping on Saturday afternoons, cats at The Humane Society of Schuyler County are listening attentively as the Shelter Reading Buddies share their favorite stories. The program provides six students the opportunity to improve the lives of shelter cats and their own reading skills at the same time. The program is a wonderful opportunity for younger children, ages 8 – 12, to become involved directly with shelter animals, to develop a sense of compassion for animals and to further their reading skills in a noncompetitive, nonjudgmental environment, says Susan Herbert, vice president. are thrilled to host this program for the youth of ~ L i f e i n t h e F i n g e r L a k e s .“We com
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our community,” says President, Georgie Taylor. “As we began our journey to provide a better facility for the animals, we also hoped to provide greater community outreach, offer more educational programs and to serve as a central resource for the entire community. The Shelter Reading Buddies program does just that.” Shelter Reading Buddies meet the second and fourth Saturdays for a period of three months. At the end of the each series, young readers will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in the program and the contribution they have made to helping shelter animals find their forever homes. For more information call 607-594-2255 or visit schuylerhumane.org.
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WINF O AR SLAKE HOUSE UMMER 2017 del Lago Resort and Casino is proud to be part of the Finger Lakes community. By signing up for del Lago Rewards you’ll be entered into our exclusive “WIN A LAKE HOUSE FOR SUMMER 2017” giveaway! The perks don’t stop there - as a member, you’ll earn valuable points that can be redeemed throughout the del Lago Resort and community partners all over the region.
Sign up today at delLagoResort.com.
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Happenings Oct 9…Bristol Mountain Fall Festival Come down to Bristol Mountain from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to enjoy a bunch of fun activites like the ever famous bubble ball! Along with our favorite food, wine, beer and crafts vendors, live music and sky rides. 5662 Route 64 Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-374-6000 bristolmountain.com Oct 15…Historic Palmyra’s Famous Cemetery Walk An amazing journey into the land of the dead. There are three show times: 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person, get 1 full price ticket and a second for ½ price! Children 6-17 years tickets are only $8 per person and must be accompanied by an adult. 315-597-6981 historicpalmyrany.com Oct 21-22…Finger Lakes Beer Festival Finger Lakes Beer Trail and Watkins Glen International bring you over 30 New York State craft breweries and distilleries. Enjoy live music, food, beer and friends at this unique event. Each guest receives a commemorative sampling glass with tasting coupons. 2790 County Route 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-2486 theglen.com
Live the Magic
October 28-30, 2016 Journey to Ithaca NY for a magical weekend inspired by the Harry Potter book series! Part street festival, part fantasy con, Wizarding Weekend takes over downtown Ithaca in a family-friendly way! Wizarding Weekend is non-profit, community based celebration of the spirit and artistry of Harry Potter. Warner Bros. Entertainment and JK Rowling are not associated with or responsible for the event in any way.
WizardingWeekend.com Presented By:
Follow the Magic on:
Oct 22…Goose Watch Winery, Chestnut Festival Each fall we harvest the chestnuts grown right at Goose Watch Winery and host one of the biggest celebrations of the year! Enjoy live music while you sample a variety of foods made from our own chestnuts, a tasting of our wines and warm mulled wines and be sure to leave room for BBQ food from Thurston’s and ice cream from Cayuga Creamery. You can also have fun playing lawn games, while overlooking the beautiful fall foliage on Cayuga Lake. 5480 Rte. 89, Romulus, NY 14541 1-888-549-WINE goosewatch.com Oct 22…The Best of Seneca West Wine Tour The western shores of Seneca Lake are home to some of the most well-respected wine-makers in the Finger Lakes. On this tour, you will learn their stories and taste the outcome of their commitment and passion to their craft. $145 per person including transportation, tasting fees, lunch, and special food pairings. 9:30 to 5 p.m. Three pick-up locations: 16 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 1001 Lochland Rd (Rte 14), Geneva NY 14456 4069 Westlake Rd., Geneva, NY 14456 607-233-4818 experiencefingerlakes.com
American Diabetes Association Unveils Get Moving Challenge in Rochester
The challenge, a half-day event featuring six different indoor and outdoor activities, will be held Sunday, October 2 at Total Sports Experience in Gates. The essence of the event is to encourage the Rochester community to explore new physical activities they already love or have always wanted to try – just for the health of it. The event is intended for family, friends and corporate teams; individuals are also welcome. It will feature six activity options for attendees to choose from, including a 5K run or 2 mile walk on the campus of Total Sports Experience, giant inflatable obstacle courses, and 20-minute yoga, barre, and/or spin classes led by local professional fitness instructors. Visit diabetes.org/getmoving. October 23...Billy Jacobs Artist Signing One of America’s most talented and sought after artists, Billy Jacobs, will be visiting the Finger Lakes. He has painted hundreds of watercolor scenes of the rural American countryside. You will have the opportunity to meet this talented artist and he will also personally sign his artwork that you purchase. 12 to 4 p.m. at the Cottage Gift Shop. 2445 State Route 352, Elmira, NY 14903 607-733-9063 cottage-gift-shop.com Oct 24…Downtown Ithaca’s Oktoberfest A celebration of the German Tradition with lots of beer, wine, and German food tastings! Sample Finger Lakes wines and beers as well as tasty german fare from local restaurants and food vendors! The Ithaca Oktoberfest is full of rich harvest season celebrations complete with live music. We’ll be awarding the Oktoberfest Cup to the most popular beers sampled at the fest. Advance tickets are available. 607-277-8679 downtownithaca.com
photo: AllisonUsavage.com
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Outdoors
in the open air
Reader’s Choice
Finger Lakes by John VanNiel
BIG 5
I
n the last issue I asked readers to vote for the five species of wild animals that would best symbolize the Finger Lakes region – our own “Big 5” – styled after the original African list. Readers could vote online through the Life in the Finger Lakes website or mobile app, via e-mail or traditional mail. I provided 10 species to consider plus the option to write in a candidate not listed. I received some very positive comments from readers regarding the idea and although they didn’t always agree on which species should make the list, they all expressed
1. Bald Eagle
2. White-tailed Deer
3. Great Blue Heron
A whopping 68 percent of voters selected the Bald Eagle as a member of the Finger Lakes Big 5. With more than 200 years of experience as our national symbol, the bald eagle will easily slide into the role of Finger Lakes representative as well. They are becoming increasingly easy to spot in the region, especially if you know to look for the brown-headed immature birds and the white-headed adults that give the species its common name.
More than half of the voters included white-tailed deer on their slate of candidates. Love them or hate them, you cannot deny they have a huge impact on our area, both economically and environmentally. Spotting a deer in the Finger Lakes is not a challenge, but finding a mature buck or spying a set of triplet fawns is less common and worth remembering.
Exactly 50 percent of the ballots included the great blue heron (“GBH” to many birders). Like the bald eagle, this species often feeds in the waters of the Finger Lakes themselves. For an additional glimpse into their natural history, spend some time at a nesting area. With a good pair of binoculars you can watch these birds tend to their lanky nestlings in large, exposed stick nests.
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great pride in the wild animals that help make the Finger Lakes such a special place to live. Here are the results. Ten different species received write-in votes with only timber rattlesnake and osprey receiving multiple votes. Other suggestions included bobcat, coyote, large-mouthed bass and short-eared owl. Of the 10 species I nominated in the article, all received some votes but as I watched the results come in throughout the month, I could see some lagging behind very quickly. Snow goose received the smallest number of votes with sandhill crane coming in second-to-last. Just as there were clear losers, there were some clear winners. So there you have it! Our unofficial Finger Lakes Big 5. How many of you have seen all five species in the Finger Lakes? I have. As for the rest of you, what are you waiting for?
Come have the
Best Day Ever! PRESENT THIS AD TO RECEIVE
ONE FREE CHILD ADMISSION! Photocopies not accepted.
JOANNE M. MAHONEY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
SYRACUSE, NY | ROSAMONDGIFFORDZOO.ORG OPEN DAILY 10 AM - 4:30 PM | (315) 435-8511
4. Black Bear
5. Wild Turkey
This would be the most difficult species to actually spot in the wild in the Finger Lakes and for that reason, perhaps the most rewarding. As bear populations continue to rise in the region, bear sightings will become more frequent but for most of us, sightings will never become common. Forty-six percent of voters nominated the black bear.
Rounding out the top five species selected by Life in the Finger Lakes readers (with 38 percent of the vote) is the heaviest wild bird in New York, a fact that no doubt helped make it a member of the Big 5. Whether you see a single bird or a flock of dozens of individuals, they are a thrilling sight.
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A Proud Community
cities & villages
Montour Falls
Three miles south of Watkins Glen stands French Catharine’s town of song and story, the old village of Montour Falls, where cascading waters almost spill into the principal street. Arch Merrill Slim Fingers Beckon (1951)
story and photos by James P. Hughes
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ocal people insist that during the early spring runoff or after a prolonged rainstorm, the roar of Che-qua-ga dominates the village of Montour Falls, often sending a misty spray into nearby neighborhoods. The sight and sound of the plunging 160-foot waterfall are never far away – in fact, just a matter of yards from the center of town. Glance up from a leisurely stroll along Main Street and there it is; encased in jagged ice during the winter, at other times veil-like as it gently sweeps over multiple tiers. Even in the water-rich Finger Lakes, the tumbling cataract at the center of Montour Falls village is truly extraordinary.
Skaneateles Geneva
Naples Ithaca
Mountour Falls
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Queen Catharine’s Valley The Seneca village of Queanettquaga once encompassed the falls and a fertile area between the lofty hills at the base of Seneca Lake. On the death of her husband, Seneca Chief
Telenemut, “Queen” Catharine Montour (1710 – 1804), a product of generations of mixed French and Iroquois blood, assumed leadership of the prosperous village. It came to be known as “Catharine’s Town,” producing fruits and vegetables in the soil of a rich valley abundant with fish and game. An Iroquois alliance with the British during the American Revolution would prove to be the undoing of Catharine’s realm. Her people were forced to flee when in 1779 the Sullivan Expedition, on the orders of General George Washington, destroyed Catharine’s Town and other allied tribal villages crushing British power in the region.
You can see Che-Qua-Ga Falls from the business district.
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Above: The straight and curved bricks for the village hall, built in 1855, were handmade and fired using clay from a farm at the eastern edge of the village. Pictured from top to bottom: Portions of the Catharine Valley Trail are built on Chemung Canal towpaths. In 1978, 24 buildings in the downtown area became part of the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1858, this stately brick structure houses the New York State Academy of Fire Science. For many years it was Cook Academy,a preparatory school. West Main Street with the village hall dome in the background.
Most accounts of Catharine’s life are based in myth and legend, and stories vary as to her final years. Some believe she eventually returned to the area while others are convinced she died in Canada, having settled there following the Sullivan raid. A walk along an unmarked, wooded path leads to a sacred mound and memorial honoring Queen Catharine. The secluded plot near the village is the only tangible site that remains in the area of the once prominent Seneca leader. Past Meets Present The earliest settlers arrived during the 1790s and in 1836, the town became incorporated as the Village of Havana.
A local tale endures that an early cigar-making industry led to the choice of name – promotion and marketing of the tobacco products found to be more successful with a “Made in Havana” message conspicuously printed on the labels. The village officially was renamed Montour Falls in 1893, having become a commercial center with both the Chemung Canal and Northern Central Railroad passing through the heart of town. Historical buildings of the era remain, enriching the village’s downtown area. The recently renovated 1840 Montour House, a prime hostelry during the busy canal and railroad days, now houses fine loft apartments LIFL EXTRA! in its upper
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Finger Lakes Tram
Proud Community
Enjoying God’s Creation
We build elegant and rugged tram systems to provide years of enjoyment on your lake property
2052 O’Neil Road • Macedon, NY 14502 315-986-1937 www.fingerlakestram.com
levels with commercial space along West Main Street. The Montour Café and Tapas Bar on its main floor is a great gathering place not only for coffee, but pastries or lunch as well, and with outside seating in nice weather. In recent years, the Village Bakery, Harvest Café, JBK Bridal & Prom, and Jerlando’s Pizza are among the shops that have helped revive the business climate along Main Street. Amid those historic downtown buildings it seems that something intriguing is always underway; festivities to bring the community together. In June it’s the Montour Falls Fire Department Festival & Parade of Bands. Classic cars line Main Street in mid-July for the annual Cruise-In to support local food pantries, and October brings The Falls Harvest Festival topped off with a spectacular fireworks display high over Che-qua-ga Falls. Every Thursday from May through October, the Montour Falls Farmers Market displays the finest local flowers, vegetables, fruits, meats and cheeses. All the events provide plentiful food and entertainment – always with a view of the ever-present waterfall. The “Glorious T” At the intersection of West Main and The historical society is headquartered Genesee Streets at the Brick Tavern Museum, a large stands the “Glorious brick Federal style building built in 1828. T” Historic District, spearheaded by 19th century resident Charles Cook and placed on the National Register in 1978. Comprised of 24 buildings, many in Greek Revival style, the district is a “must see” during a visit to Montour Falls – a delight for any lover of history and architecture. Prominent among the sites are Village Hall and the Memorial Library, classic Greek-style buildings which should be seen both inside and out to be appreciated. Both are enhanced by uniquely Doric columns of curved brick created in the 1800s at a local kiln. It doesn’t stop there. Public buildings and private residences in the district go beyond Greek Revival into Federalist, Victorian, Gothic, Italianate and Queen Anne styles. For the architectural buff, noteworthy features are everywhere: porticos, stained glass, double doors, hanging lamps, gambrel roofs, full length windows, and more. Coincidentally, Mayor John King and wife Lorna live in a Greek Revival home at the Glorious T intersection adjoining Che-qua-ga Falls and its village park. “We love the location,” says John. “And yes, we are very familiar with the thunder of the falls and its spray.” To really appreciate The T, ask for a detailed self-guided walking tour guide book available at Village Hall.
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A Night at the Theatre You’re never quite sure what pleasant surprise you might stumble across on a trip through the Finger Lakes. In Montour Falls that just may happen to be the Old Havana Courthouse Theatre, where each summer a series of old-fashioned interactive melodramas (promising “all the fun of 1901”) is presented by a local company of energetic actors and script writers. Founders Bill and Donna Christoffels encourage audiences to robustly “applaud virtuous heroines, cheer courageous heroes, and boo dastardly villains” in the cozy auditorium on the second floor of Village Hall. The hilarious dramatizations carry such titles as “The Curious Curse of Manley Manor (or Where There is a Will, There Will Be a Slay)” and “Run to the Roundhouse Nellie! He Can’t Corner You There!” Adds Bill, “It’s all great family fun at an affordable price.” More to See and Do Once you’ve taken in Che-qua-ga Falls, visited a local festival, wandered the “Glorious T” neighborhood, or hissed and cheered at a playhouse performance, there are still reasons to linger in Montour Falls. A choice of eateries includes Mura Bella’s Italian Steakhouse, called “a gem” and “delightfully delicious” by some local patrons. Just outside the village is Havana Glen Park. With hiking trails and more waterfalls it offers an “ol’ swimmin’ hole” experience. Nearby, a historic 1858 six-story brick building built by Charles Cook housed an acclaimed preparatory school for many years. Learning continues in the structure today as thousands train each year at the New York State Academy of Fire Science. A municipally run campground and marina provides full service camping with close to 200 boat slips, all with easy access to Seneca Lake. The extensive history of Schuyler County is housed in the 1828 Brick Tavern Museum, another local landmark. Hikers and cyclists meander along the forested Catharine Valley Trail, perhaps one of the best ways to sample the changing scenery and multiple glens in what the Senecas called the “Valley of Tumbling Waters,” and the region Queen Catharine Montour once proudly called home.
FALL SALE
Related Sites villageofmontourfalls.com townofmontour.com oldhavanatheatre.com
SINCE 1957
montourfallslibrary.org schuylerhistory.org traillink.com/trail/catharine-valley-trail.aspx
1936 Hudson Ave. in Irondequoit 877-409-6555 • www.fireplacefashions.com September /October 2016 ~
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History
narrative of the past
a
Sparkling History Great Western Winery
The hills near Keuka Lake provide shelter for Great Western vineyards.
by Ray Levato
“I am drinking the stars!” exclaimed Dom Perignon in 1693. According to legend, the French Benedictine Monk had just invented champagne. The truth is that bubbles were present in wine long before his important role was recognized, due to a secondary fermentation that often happened in the bottle. In the often snobby, high-priced world of French champagnes, the Reims and Epernay area of the Champagne region of France was, and still is, the center of the bubbly wine universe. But in 1867, a funny thing happened to shake up French sensibilities. A little known Finger Lakes wine company shocked the world
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by winning an honorable mention at the Exposition Universelle in Paris – the first award in Europe for an American sparkling wine. Six years later, the winery’s champagne earned a first-place in Vienna. In between, a wine connoisseur in Boston declared it “the Great Champagne of the Western World.” And so, Great Western was born. Today, it remains the flagship brand of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company in Hammondsport, and holds the distinction of being U.S. Bonded Winery No. 1. The European-style winery commands a picture postcard spot just outside the touristy little village of Hammondsport. In 1962, the Taylor Wine Company bought Pleasant Valley Wine Co.,
its next-door neighbor. After many subsequent ownership changes that included corporate beverage giants Coca-Cola and Seagram in the 1970s and ’80s, Great Western has been in the capable hands of the Doyle family since 1995. In 2002 they purchased the historic winery outright. Inspired Charles Davenport Champlin and some of his friends opened the first winery near Keuka Lake in 1860, after they recognized that the soil and climate conditions were similar to those in the Champagne region of France. They carved impressive wine cellars out of a hillside overlooking Pleasant Valley. They resemble the champagne caves in
Photos courtesy Great Western Winery
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At Pleasant Valley Wine Co., there are eight remarkable stone buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Reims, France, to this day. Two noted French winemakers were brought in to oversee the winemaking operations. Not to be outdone, the U.S. Post Office was persuaded to open a branch at the winery in 1870 with the postmark “Rheims, N.Y.” (Note the addition of an “h” to the French spelling.) It was used until about 1945 when rural delivery started. Champlin’s portrait still hangs in the dark, wood-paneled, Gothic-style boardroom where family patriarch Michael Doyle and his son Patrick talked to me recently. Patrick heads up sales and marketing, and another son, Matthew, manages Pleasant Valley’s extensive vineyard operations. Doyle’s involvement goes back decades as general counsel for the Taylor Wine Company. His determination to keep the lights on prevented the winery from being broken up and the assets sold off to resolve bank issues. “We would never have been able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again if that happened,” Mike says. “I didn’t want to see the place go away forever.” Tradition While Pleasant Valley Wine Co. is thought of as the granddaddy of Finger
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Lakes wineries, the Doyles have acquired the labels of Gold Seal and Widmer, which also go back more than a century. Mike says Widmer’s Lake Niagara is still an incredibly popular brand. “It’s all about preserving the tradition of these labels that go back so long.” Patrick has practically lived Great Western ever since he and his brother were kids. “I’ve been part of it since I was eight years old. Now we not only make it here but we own the winery, which is pretty cool.” What makes Great Western special in many champagne lovers’ minds is that the sparkling wine undergoes a second fermentation “in the bottle,” the traditional way champagne is made in France and called Methode Champenoise. Its price point at under $10 a bottle gives it an edge with consumers looking for quality at an affordable price. “Great Western and the Pleasant Valley Wine Co. have a rich and distinguished history in the Finger Lakes and the New York wine industry,” points out Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. “The Great Western brand has become well known throughout the country, and the facility is historic and very impressive in scope.”
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History
“The Great Western brand has become well known throughout the country, and the facility is historic and very impressive in scope.” -Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
Top left: The original 1860 wine vault now used for special occasions Top right: Patrick and Michael Doyle in the Great Western boardroom Bottom right: These wine casks contain aging dessert wines
Eight of the winery’s original stone buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pleasant Valley’s Great Western is the largest producer of bottle-fermented champagnes in the eastern U.S. Pleasant Valley also produces an extensive list of table wines including a semi-dry Riesling, and several dessert wines like Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine.
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The Doyles have also kept the loyal and talented workforce going. One employee has been on the job there 52 years. Currently, the family is making a multimillion-dollar investment in the winery by purchasing new bottling equipment that will increase capacity on the production line from 90 bottles a minute to 400. Pleasant Valley also bottles for
a number of other companies. The day I visited, a wine for a company co-owned by singer Nicky Minaj was on the production line. Myx Fusions is a Moscato grape beverage infused with exotic fruit flavors. Mike Doyle loves history, and is a dreamer of all things possible. He’s thinking of converting unused winery space into an inn or conference center. With its world-class Visitors Center,
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Connect . Learn . Fitness . Happiness . Purpose . Nature . Peace
My wife and I love being connected to our
Neighbors and our Community After raising our family on a quiet cul-de-sac off Knickerbocker Road, we couldn’t be happier to have established close-knit friendships with our neighbors at The Cottages.There’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie among us all. It’s also great being a hop, skip, and a jump from our favorite restaurants, shops, and golf club!
~ Don, heading out to lunch and golf with the guys since 2012
Rochester’s Only University-based Retirement Community
100 Hahnemann Trail, Pittsford, NY 14534 (585) 586-7600
Seven Dimensions of Wellness
www.highlandsatpittsford.org
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History Great Western is poised to become a bigger Finger Lakes destination. Car and Driver magazine says it has the “best winery tour in New York.” Looking back at all he has accomplished, Mike says, “This wasn’t the smartest thing to do from a business standpoint at that part of my life. But you can’t help falling in love with this place.”
ajs-photography
Guided Tours Guided tours of the historic winery are conducted daily from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving Week, weather permitting. The tours take about 45 minutes and start at approximately 11 a.m. with the last tour departing at 3 p.m. Guided tours are $5 per person. There is no charge to tour the Visitors Center, which features historic exhibits, winemaking displays, and a unique theater-in-a-wine-tank. There is a large horseshoe-shaped bar for wine tastings and an interesting gift shop. Visitor Center Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, April thru December; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday from January through March. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Rt. 17, Exit 62, Nichols NY 13812 888-WINTIOGA (888-946-8464) • www.tiogadowns.com
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For group/bus tours, call 877-662-8833, or e-mail visitorcenter@pleasantvalleywine.com for reservations and group rate information.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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RIGHT IN THE FINGER LAKES
VISIT
Belhurst Castle takes you away to a place filled with rich history, beauty, and breathtaking views. Allow yourself to experience the rest and relaxation Belhurst provides with mouth-watering dining experiences, soothing spa treatments, award-winning wines and truly unique accommodations. Find out why Belhurst Castle is a premier attraction in the Finger Lakes. Call 315.781.0201 or visit www.belhurst.com to book your stay.
4069 West Lake Road, Geneva NY 001-035.LIFL_SEPOCT_2016.indd 23
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Finger Lakes Tourism
explore and discover
Natalie’s
Finger Lakes Adventure by Natalie Payne, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium
Natalie and her son stand on the causeway at the south-end of Otisco Lake
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I
have been fortunate to have lived all of my life in the Finger Lakes Region. Home to pristine freshwater lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, streams and creeks, magnificent hillsides and vistas, boundless wildlife, culture, and much, much more, I believe this region is nothing short of awe-inspiring. When appointed as executive director of the Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium (FLM&A) in March 2015, I saw the appointment as an incredible gift. Yes, the gift was wrapped with what seemed to be impenetrable paper, lots of tape and knotted bows, but I knew that if I could get through the tough exterior, once opened, the
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gift had the power to bring discovery, adventure, knowledge and understanding to individuals of a timeless creation I adore – the Finger Lakes. Over the next year, ceaseless tasks kept me focused on achieving a series of smaller, but substantial, goals for the FLM&A. I found myself in need of a refresher – something that would rekindle the “why” in accepting the gift in 2015. It was time for an adventure. So, along with my husband, son and two springer spaniels, I took off on a 490-mile, four-day trek by truck, foot and water, as we immersed ourselves in the charm and distinctive characteristics of each of the 11 Finger Lakes.
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Finger Lakes Tourism •
• • Natalie practices her balancing skills on a limb over Canadice Lake
•
Throughout those four days, I disconnected and found myself completely captivated and inspired by the region. In brief, the journey included: • Walking across a Finger Lake – thanks to an abandoned roadway now turned into a causeway at the south end of Otisco Lake. • Finding what felt like every dead-end road possible around Skaneateles while stumbling upon spectacular views, hidden forests and charming homes tucked in the steep ravines and hillsides. • Discovering an astounding waterfall, using only GPS coordinates, just south of Owasco Lake. • Hiking the rim trail around Taughannock Falls with a 35-pound Kelty backpack (holding my son and extra water) while enjoying, from that vantage point, first-time glimpses of mighty Cayuga Lake. • Watching a spectacular sunset along Seneca – the second longest
Alex and son enjoying the view of Honeoye Lake from Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park.
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and deepest of the 11 wonders. Spending two separate evenings kayaking with friends and family on the serene waters of Keuka and Canandaigua. Enjoying a stellar, rainy hike above Honeoye. Journeying along Rob’s Trail – an intense descent and ascent to the forever wild Canadice. Celebrating a birthday with family along the northern shores of Hemlock, and finishing the adventure with a drive around (and toe dip into) Conesus.
In retrospect, what sane person would try to see and do all there is within the Finger Lakes in just four days? It’s impossible and we didn’t come close! There is too much in these 9,000 not-so-square miles to simply make a long weekend of it. It would take a lifetime to experience, understand and know every nook and cranny of this region. But my
Alex with their two Springer Spaniels, Noma and Tali, hiking the rim trail at Taughannock.
Natalie’s husband, Alex and son on an evening paddle out on Canandaigua Lake.
adventure was invigorating and inspiring and I returned feeling renewed, reminded of the importance of our mission and work at the FLM&A. The gift that the Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium will offer to residents and visitors is that it will serve as the basecamp of the Finger Lakes, as the place where one begins his or her journey and exploration of the region. The FLM&A will provide that first taste of the many (note I say many, not all) things this region is known for, while also encouraging and enabling further discovery. It will showcase momentous stories that have shaped and defined the distinct cultural and natural history of the expansive region, through immersive and interactive experiences. By strategically selecting smaller, feasible pieces of the overall initiative and focusing on completing those one at a time, the FLM&A is able to open components of the project while living (Continued on page 93)
Ensure the Museum’s Success If you would like to donate, please visit fingerlakesmuseum.org. Cash and material donations are tax-deductible. See the website for more details.
~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com
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Find yourself at Farm Sanctuary.
Farm Sanctuary offers 175 acres and hundreds of animal friends to visit. Connect with some of the 500 rescued farm animals that call the rolling green pastures of Farm Sanctuary’s 175-acre New York Shelter home. Open May through October. For tour hours and directions, please visit farmsanctuary.org or call 607-583- 2225.
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Fruit of the Vine
wine, spirits and brews
Hopshire Brewery
Story and photos by Jason Feulner
I
walked into Hopshire Brewery in Ithaca to find that the owner, Randy Lacey, had just finished cleaning up the floors in the production facility adjacent to the tasting room. “There’s a yoga class in here tonight,” he shared with me. What? “Yes, the instructor wanted a different type of setting, so the class is in our brewery. It seems to be working out great.” Yoga and all, Hopshire embodies the Ithaca vibe of anything goes, but this approach is not limited to outsiders coming to the use the facility. Hopshire takes a comprehensive approach to the craft beer craze that’s sweeping the nation, and tries to put a local flare on the brew it offers to its growing base of loyal customers.
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~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com
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LOCATION AND HOURS Hopshire Farm and Brewery is located just north of Ithaca on Route 13 and is open Wednesday through Sunday. To check out their events calendar for live music and other events, visit hopshire.com Randy Lacey spent most of his career at Cornell as an engineer for operations and was bitten by the home brewing bug around 2005. He and his wife Diane had also begun growing hops at home, supplying their own needs and tapping into the growing market for this beer-making ingredient. Fascinated by the history of hops-growing in New York State
(upstate was the largest supplier of hops for much of the 19th century), Randy and Diane began to formulate their own idea for a local brewery. “We traveled the country and saw all sorts of breweries: big, little, city-based, country-based,” Randy explains. “What we didn’t see was a brewery that emphasized hops growing right next to the brewery.
Randy Lacey, owner of Hopshire Brewery
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Tasting Notes Hopshire has a variety of beers on tap at any given time, and there is something for everyone. The Beehave, an ale brewed with local honey, is smooth and inviting, while Brambles uses local raspberries to elevate the wheat ale with a subtle flavor that is neither too fruity nor cloying. If you love hops, the Near Varna IPA has a good solid kick with citrus and caramel notes, but the Hamlet of Varna – a summer special – uses hops in concert with a smooth malt to create a sipper that should be fun for everyone. These are all nice brews!
That’s when we came up with our business plan.” Hopshire opened its doors in 2013. Before a driver on Route 13 even sees the brewery building – which re-creates the look of a 19th-century hop kiln – they might notice the 1.5 acres of tall poles that hold up the ropes upon which the hop bines (yes, bines not vines) grow. These eight rows stretch in front of the property, creating a visual reminder that for Hopshire, agriculture is an important aspect of the operation. As a licensed farm brewery, Hopshire is required by New York law to source at least 20 percent of its hops from New York growers, a requirement which Randy readily exceeds. The tasting room at Hopshire is intimate, holding a single long counter, although there is room for the various events and live music acts that are scheduled throughout the year. The production room is adjacent to the tasting area and the equipment is fully in view, framed by large windows for
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all customers to see. By staying small, Randy can make beers “that don’t scale up,” using expensive local ingredients (he never uses additives, but uses real local fruit, maple syrup, and honey in some of the specialty beers). “There is variation because we are so small, but we create consistency through rotating and seasonal variety.” In an annual event that embodies the Hopshire spirit, Randy and Diane welcome local hops growers to bring their “backyard hops” for a brewing of beer using green, or fresh, hops. The drop is the last Saturday of August and the participants are welcomed back to enjoy their brew the first Saturday of October. The entire event is called coHOPeration and it brings together local enthusiasts to enjoy the beer-making process. “We want to demystify beer,” explains Randy. “It’s not complicated – we want to be a small, neighborhood brewery.”
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Cultured
the better things in life
Ohmann Theatre
“Ready for its close up”
Above: Bob Ohmann first sold popcorn at his family’s theatre when he was a boy. Photo by Laurel Wemett
Left: With the interior upgrade, the railings in the balcony had to be raised to comply with current code. Sound baffles were installed in the 1930s on the upper level. Photo courtesy Ohmann Theatre
by Laurel C. Wemett
P
opcorn and movies go together like the Ohmann family and the theatre that bears its name. It opened in Lyons in December 1915 during the silent movie era when stars like Charlie Chaplin filled the silver screen. While the historic landmark was sold and shuttered for a number of years at the end of the 20th century, the third generation of Ohmanns has fully restored it. The 20th century has spawned many changes in the film industry, and numerous theatres have come and gone, but the marquee on the William Street theatre continues to illuminate the letters in the OHMANN sign. As a beacon to generations of moviegoers, it can be seen from three different directions. “I love the theatre business,”
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admits Bob Ohmann, whose grandfather Burt and Uncle Amos built the theatre and operated it through the 1930s. Burt’s sons Robert and Myron took over its management for the next 20 years. Robert eventually ran the theatre as a sole proprietor and his young son, Bob, the present owner, often sold popcorn and tickets. In 1980, the theatre was put up for sale. The new owners operated the Lyons theatre until 1993 when they closed it and opened a multiplex cinema in Newark. Saving a Landmark “I used to walk by the theatre whenever I came up for a visit from North Carolina,” recalls Bob, who owns a construction business in Raleigh. He credits his wife Leslie
with encouraging him to buy back the movie house in 2004 after it had become very rundown. “It was like a scary movie,” remembers Ohmann, who is now semi-retired. The seats of the unattended theatre were covered in cobwebs. Even worse, pigeons had gotten in through a trap door that blew open in the stage floor. But within a few short months, the Ohmann Theatre was transformed and reopened in 2005. “The bones were here; most old buildings are not in as good condition,” says Ohmann. The first thing he revived was the electrified marquee sign. The work was carried out by Chrisanntha Construction Inc., the same firm that oversaw the restoration of Geneva’s Smith Opera House. Renovations were extensive
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Top: The Ohmann’s first-run movies attract local patrons. Tourists from all over the country arrive eager to see what Bob Ohmann describes as the oldest operating privately-run movie theatre in the country. Photo by Laurel Wemett Above: Originally, the Ohmann Theatre could seat nearly 1,000 people; with the renovation there is comfortable seating for closer to 400. Modernization also included air conditioning and better acoustics. Photo courtesy Ohmann Theatre
but respectful of the original structure. Upgrades included restored woodwork and trim, new flooring, carpeting and full bathroom facilities. New seats were purchased from the same manufacturer that provided the house seating in 1914. These seats are still used in the balcony. Old projectors which used reels of film were replaced in 2010 by a new projection system with both film and DVD capabilities. Special surround-sound and digital stereo is provided by a new sound system. Adjacent to the theatre, a renovated shop – formerly a drug store, soda fountain and candy shoppe – is ideal for small audiences, meetings and presentations. In its window is an original Simplex movie projector. “What a wonderful asset it has been to our Lyons community!” says Patricia Alena, President of the Lyons Heritage Society. “When Bob finished the restoration, the theatre project gave some momentum to restore or remodel other of our historic buildings in Lyons, including the LIFL
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Cultured Hotchkiss Building, Growler’s (Centre Building) and Newberry’s.”
This Simplex projector at the Ohmann Theatre has been replaced by a digital projection system. It is a splendid relic of an earlier era seen in the front window of the building adjacent to the theatre, now used for special gatherings. For nearly 100 years movies were shown on projectors using multiple reels of film. Photo by Laurel Wemett
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The Balcony is Open Moviegoers are greeted at the Ohmann by nostalgic movie posters of classic films like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Rio Grande” and “Casablanca,” which line the long, sloping entryway. The use of oak on the walls, partitions, woodwork, stairways and even the bathroom stalls provides a warm early-20th-century feel. A rich interior color scheme of maroon, blue and gold in the upholstery, curtains and carpets creates a glamorous setting. Cinema fans have a choice of 400 available seats; those in the balcony still have hat holders underneath, a reminder of when men wore fedoras. A small number of dedicated employees, including Ohmann’s lifelong friend Rick Wadsworth, keeps the
theatre clean and welcoming. General Manager Tom Herendeen is described by Ohmann as a “special person” who makes the place run smoothly. Thespian Roots, Cinematic Sequels and More From its earliest days, the Ohmann Theatre has been more than a movie house. A large stage has hosted a variety of live performances. In the early 20th century, the railroad brought vaudeville shows to Lyons, then a booming town. A 1921 poster promotes a wrestling match between “Tarzan” Wilkman and “Ironman” Lauster with “musical entertainment between times.” The theatre’s history also includes its use for various community purposes: hosting Civil War veterans, sending off new enlistees to World War I, and serving as Lyons’ designated disaster holding area during World War II.
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Coming Soon! Boom and Bust: America’s Journey on the Erie Canal This 30-minute documentary about the rise, fall and rebirth of the Erie Canal will be shown at the Ohmann on Friday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner, the film debuted in 2015 and was an official selection at the Syracuse International Film Festival and the Virginia Film Festival. Dr. Daniel Ward, a member of the Board of Directors of the Canal Society of New York State, will be there to answer questions. Ward, a folklorist and historian, is co-producer of Boom and Bust with Steve Zeitlin. Boom and Bust opens with 20th century black and white film footage heralding the Erie Canal as the “first Empire Builder in our history.” Subsequent views of today’s quieter waterway and the final voyage of the last remaining commercial vessel are accompanied by soulful lyrics and music of the 19th century Stephen Foster song, “Hard Times Come Again No More.” The Erie Canal story is one of industrial expansion, followed by its commercial decline that impacted cities and factories that once flourished nearby. Filmed on location, it offers first-hand accounts of workers from several now-shuttered industries along the canal’s route. Former scoopers at the grain elevators on the Buffalo waterfront and spinners at a boarded-up Seneca Falls textile mill are among those who share their memories. Alternately poignant and humorous, these stories include Tugboat Captain Steve Wunder’s recitation of his poem, “Dipper Dredge No. 3,” about the once mighty steam-driven canal dredge. The film gives the manmade waterway its due with narration by
experts who have studied its influence and workers whose livelihood depended on it. Folklorist Bruce Jackson photographs canal structures like the “Flight of Five Locks” at Lockport and credits the canal with making America rich. Despite changing fortunes, hope is expressed through the revitalization of the 21st century canal as a tourist and recreation destination. Boom and Bust was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Archie Green Award from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, New York Council on the Arts, New York Council for the Humanities, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, National Park Service. Copies of the DVD can be purchased at the showing for $15.00, at Amazon.com, or from Paul Wagner Films at ellen@paulwagnerfilms.com. Shipping and handling plus applicable taxes apply.
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As part of a Wayne County tour during the 2016 Global Mural Conference, the public is invited to view Boom and Bust: America’s Journey on the Erie Canal at the Ohmann Theatre and attend additional programming at a cost of $10. Following the film Joe Concra from the 0+ Project in Kingston, New York, will discuss how the celebration of art and music is used to bridge access to health care for artists directly with a coalition of health care providers and health resources. Gigi Alvare will share how the Rockwell Museum in Corning has collaborated with a high school learning center using the museum’s art collection as a catalyst for student creative writing and designs for larger murals in the community. Mark DeCracker of Mural Mania in Lyons will lead a village mural walking tour in Lyons. For details of the 2016 Global Mural Conference in Fairport, September 18 to 24, contact DeCracker at 315-573-8170; or go to the website: http://gmc2016.com
2016/2017
Season
Hand to god
September 4 - 25 | 2016
precious nonsense October 16 - November 6 |
Death Boogie
November 15 - December 4 | 2016
birds of east africa January 29 - February 12 | 2017
sex with strangers March 12 - April 2 | 2017
throw pitchfork April 23 - May 7 | 2017
Clean Alternatives June 4 - 18 | 2017
607.272.0570 • www.kitchentheatre.org
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Theatrical productions tapered off by the 1940s and gradually ended by the 1950s as movies flourished. Ohmann’s personal favorite film, “The Sound of Music,” was shown in celebration of the theatre’s 95th anniversary. “Lyons is a family-oriented town; restricted movies don’t sell,” says Ohmann. Since reopening in 2005, live productions returned, including two Civil War plays presented by the local historical society. A flick of a switch parts the gold-tasseled velvet curtain and retracts the wide screen revealing a large stage. Local groups continue to use the theatre for meetings, conferences, and reunions with many fundraisers held there each year. “In 2015, the theatre, the Lyons Heritage Society, and the movie ‘Gone with the Wind’ all celebrated anniversaries. The Lyons National Bank along with Bob Ohmann held a special showing of the 1939 movie, all to benefit the Lyons Heritage Society,” says Alena. The original organ that once provided the musical accompaniment for silent movies is gone but has been replaced. Lyons resident Charles Finley, a lifelong organist who played at St. John’s Lutheran Church and other local churches, donated his own Rodgers organ to the theatre a few years ago. “That’s the kind of stuff that makes you feel good about this town,” says Ohmann. Local organists were recognized at the theatre in 2013 with a performance on the newly dedicated organ by Tim Schramm, who has also performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer at Rochester’s Auditorium Theatre. Pat Gorthy and her late husband Robert sponsored the concert, which included a showing of “The Blacksmith,” a silent movie starring Buster Keaton. “It went over very well,” recalls Gorthy. Younger attendees saw a silent film with musical accompaniment for the first time, while others “renewed the experience.”
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Cultured “Tourists are enthralled with the theatre and our local residents are drawn to it for the first-rate movies shown there at very reasonable prices,” says Alena. People from across the country come to see the theatre and enjoy a weekend in the Finger Lakes. Business is up 30 percent from last year due in part to the closure of the Newark multiplex, word-of-mouth about the Ohmann’s dynamic atmosphere, and the ‘Star Wars’ movie that was booked for several weeks. In 2006, Bob Ohmann was presented with the Theatre Historical Society Honorary Member of the Year Award for his efforts in renovating and reopening his family’s historic theatre. The 1,000-member society praised Ohmann “for his efforts to bring the theatre up to modern standards while retaining its old-fashioned charm.” The theatre renovation is just one way Ohmann gives back to his hometown. He has contributed to the Lyons Community Center, the Lyons Fire Department, and the Lyons Central School, among other organizations. He and his wife are part owners of the Newark Pilots and of the Geneva Red Wings. Both teams are members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Does the movie theatre owner have a favorite baseball movie? The 1984 Academy Award nominee, ‘The Natural,’ of course.
MAKE YOUR OWN GLASS PUMPKINS THIS FALL.
65 William Street Lyons, NY 14489 315-946-4604 ohmanntheatre.com Learn more about the history of the Ohmann Theatre in a display at the Hotchkiss Peppermint Museum. It is located at 95 Water Street, in the Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company Building owned and managed by the Lyons Heritage Society. The museum is open July and August from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; other times by appointment. Call 315-946-4696 or 315-946-9154.
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GLIDING ON THE WATER
CREW The Art of Rowing
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Story and photos by Cindy Ruggieri
A
t 5:45 a.m. when I pull into the Les Wagner Rowing Center in Owego, the parking lot is already full. It’s mid-April, it’s still dark, and it’s cold. Lights are on in the building, giving a slight glow over the water, and pinpoints of light are moving along on the Susquehanna River. The Binghamton University crew teams are already working. I hear someone calling to me through her megaphone from one of the motor boats “meet me at the dock and you can hop in the boat with me!” Umm … okay, sure. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into – I was just there to take pictures. I hop into the boat with Emily, one of the coaches, and she revs up the motor to catch up to the team she’s coaching for that day, being careful not to leave a wake near any of the other teams on the water.
The Binghamton University CREW Team practices on the Susquehanna River near Owego.
An early morning sunrise casts a glow on the rowers.
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READY, SET, GO!
Competition between college teams
And so begins my eye-opening experience of watching a practice session of the Binghamton University crew team. Rise and shine Emily is laser-focused, watching every stroke of the paddles in perfect tandem. I can just about feel the efforts of rowers from my perch as we keep motorized pace with them. “Be careful not to drop your shoulder,” she coaches one of the rowers. Even a slight shift in position can alter the “set” (the perfect tandem) of the team. The mother in me blurts, “I can’t believe they are not wearing gloves!” (Did I mention it was cold?) Emily grins and says, “It’s pretty warm in the boats. Plus, we all get used to it.” Finally after 30 minutes of intense
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rowing, they pause for a break. I thought I would see exhaustion, but instead I see smiles and camaraderie … chatting and teasing and laughing. They’re working hard but enjoying themselves. I smile in spite of my frozen toes. As the sun starts to peek over the horizon, a peace settles over the water, and the rowers pause to watch the dawn of a new day. No doubt, this is the reward for a morning of hard work. Practice resumes and a short time later, the rowers dock and unload. The team carries the oars and boats (also known as shells) out of the river to carefully store in the boathouse. The teams gather, drink water, chat and laugh. It’s 7:25 a.m. and practice is done. I’m going home to drink a warm cup of coffee and they’re headed back to campus for a full day of class.
The language of crew I have a whole new appreciation for the hard work and dedication of crew athletes. I chatted with Cayla Kiernan, co-president of this year’s BU crew team. “At BU, this is a club team,” she explains. “We have an overall sports director for all BU club teams, but we are pretty much self-directed.” Co-presidents are elected each year by the teams, and they are able to set their own practice schedules. Coaches are all certified by the USRowing organization and are often alumni of BU, who are local to the area or in graduate school. The BU crew teams – both men and women – consist of experienced rowers and those new to the sport. When joining the crew team, the first year is spent on the novice team
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Call or stop in anytime! Clifton Springs, NY 585.478.4636 caveskitchens.com houzz.com
Oars are carefully stored in the boat house.
before advancing to the varsity teams. And practice is year-round. During the colder months, training takes place indoors using rowing machines and other body-toning workouts. Cayla explains, “We run up and down the stairs of a 15-story building on campus, but then we also do fun things such as Zumba.” Each rowing team consists of an eight-person or four-person unit, plus the coxswain (pronounced “coxin”) who is in charge of guiding the team. The rowers face the stern (back) of the boat. The coxswain may sit in the front or the back, depending on the style of the boat. In a bowloader crew shell, the coxswain sits in the front of the boat and faces the rowing direction. In a stern-coxed boat, the coxswain sits in the back and faces the rowers. “There is an advantage to both,” explained Cayla. “In a bowloader, the coxswain can’t see the rowers but has a clear view ahead of them. With a stern loader, the coxswain can see the rowers but it is harder to see around them for direction.” In either case, the coxswain will wear a headset and mic to be able to communicate with the rowers.
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SAFETY FIRST! Safety is key. A coach will follow each team during practice, not only to coach but also for safety. Their boat will have enough life jackets for whomever they are coaching.
There are specific techniques for loading and unloading the boats in the water. The team will spend an entire day of training at the beginning of the season to learn these safe practices.
Right: Safely unloading the shell from the water
Below: The college team prepares for its competitive event.
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CREW Crew is an intense all-body workout. To hold them in place, rowers will slide their feet into a foot plate in the boat. The seats move with the motion of the rowing, which allows rowers to use the push of their legs to row, in addition to the upper body pull on the oars. The end of the oar is called the blade and the rower grips are referred to as the handle. And of course, there’s a specific language known to the rowers. The catch is the point where the rower’s blade is entering the water. A crab is a term used when a rower has a flaw in rowing technique, causing the blade to be caught in the water. When this throws off the set of the team, it’s known as catching a crab. A coxswain may call for a power 10, asking the rowers to give their hardest 10 strokes.
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Public Rowing
College Rowing A sampling of New York State teams
Check usrowing.org for rowing clubs and what opportunities they offer to their communities. Here are some of the clubs located in the Finger Lakes Region that offer training programs from beginner to master rowers. Hiawatha Island Boat Club – Owego – youth through adult rowing programs Cascadilla Boat Club – Ithaca – adult beginners through master Fairport Crew Club – youth through adult rowing programs Pittsford Crew – youth programs Rochester Boat Club – adult programs Genesee Rowing Club – Rochester – youth through adult rowing programs Brighton Rowing Club – Rochester – youth grades 7-12
University at Albany United States Military Academy Binghamton University University at Buffalo Canisius College Cazenovia College Clarkson University Colgate University Cornell University Dowling College D’Youville College Fordham University SUNY Geneseo Hamilton College Hobart & William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Iona College Ithaca College
Manhatten College Marist College New York University SUNY Oswego Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology University of Rochester Sarah Lawrence College Schenectady County Community College Skidmore College St. John Fisher College St. Lawrence University Stony Brook University Union College US Merchant Marine Academy Vassar College
Left: The coxswain in a bow loader guides the team
Below: A misty morning practice on the Susquehanna River
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CREW
On the backstroke, the oar “feathers” across the water.
“Way enough” is the command to stop rowing. And “hold water” is the signal to square the blades in the water to bring the boat to an immediate stop. The original competitive sport Crew – also known simply as rowing – has been around for a long time, with origins dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Modern rowing as a competitive sport started in the 1800s, and the first American college rowing club was formed at Yale University in 1843. On a recent episode of the popular TV show “Jeopardy!” the final question was: “What was the first inter-collegiate competitive sporting event?” The correct answer is crew. Today there are numerous competitive crew events held between colleges. The BU crew teams participate in six competitive events in the fall and an additional three events in the spring. For those who love rowing, the USRowing organization can provide additional support for all levels of rowing, from the novice through the Olympic-level athlete. Master level programs are available, as well as coach and referee training, competitive opportunities and a guide to local clubs. “National Learn to Row Day” is held on the first Saturday in June, and clubs all over the United States participate to increase interest in the sport. Rowing is a sport for all ages. It’s a great workout, and a lot of fun. Check it out!
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A New
Perspective on Skaneateles Lake The Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Hinchcliff Family Preserve by Andrew Zepp, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Land Trust
T
hanks to the generosity of its donors, the Finger Lakes Land Trust recently acquired a mile of scenic hillside overlooking Skaneateles Lake’s eastern shore. This diverse tract of land is now open to the public and it offers visitors the opportunity to experience the scenic vistas and rugged gorges for which our region is so well known. Comprising 206 acres, the Hinchcliff Family Preserve encompasses a mosaic of meadows, hardwood forest, and numerous ravines that deeply incise the hillside. The history of the land is evident in old farm foundations, stone walls, and a chimney which is all that remains of a once grand vacation home. And best of all, the preserve features a terrific view of Skaneateles Lake! The Land Trust acquired the property as part of its ongoing effort to create a greenbelt around the southern half of Skaneateles Lake. To date, the organization has conserved 1,000 acres in this area through acquisitions, as well as conservation easements (perpetual agreements that limit
Photo by Bill Hecht
The Hinchcliff Family Preserve features diverse landscapes overlooking Skaneateles Lake with several historic features.
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Photo by Betsy Darlington
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Photo courtesy Finger Lakes Land Trust
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The Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Hinchcliff Family Preserve Photo by John Sutton
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future development while allowing the land to remain in private ownership). The Hinchcliff Family Preserve was identified as a priority for protection in recognition of its value as wildlife habitat, its scenic vistas, and most importantly, its value to the health of Skaneateles Lake – the source of drinking water for Syracuse residents. Once the Land Trust successfully negotiated a purchase agreement, a fundraising campaign was launched to cover the cost of acquisition as well as long-term stewardship of the site. The campaign was completed with broad support from the community, a grant from New York State Parks, and a lead gift from the Hinchcliff family. From open fields to forest A visit to the preserve starts at the end of Covey Road – a short spur off of State Route 41 on the east side of Skaneateles Lake. At the entrance to the preserve, a curving stone wall was created by using material from the farmhouse that once graced the site. Nearby, the first segment of a 1.4-mile loop trail passes through the remains of a dairy barn before entering one of several fields that provide distant vistas
The preserve’s hiking trail passes through a barn foundation that now hosts a mature aspen tree. Photo by Bill Hecht
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of the verdant hills that steeply rise from the shoreline of Skaneateles Lake. Another remnant of the site’s agricultural history is a trailside truck – a 1937 Chevy that sports a U.S. Army star on its doors and rests next to the trail at the edge of a field. After serving the military and at least one farmer well, the truck now hosts an impressive garden of flowering jewel weed on its bed. The trail heads downhill toward Skaneateles Lake alongside the depths of Randall’s Gulf – one of the largest ravines in this area. Fall is a great time to get glimpses of the lake here, among the reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding hardwood forest.
THIS REGION IS HOME TO FIGHTERS. This region is home to fighters like Pam. Rochester Regional Health’s breast center specialists helped her beat cancer physically and emotionally. Today, she’s back in the classroom — proud, confident and fearless.
If you get out to visit the Hinchcliff Family Preserve, consider also stopping by the Land Trust’s nearby High Vista Preserve, as well as Carpenter’s Falls – a popular waterfall on the east side of
Pamela Lashbrook, Brockport
Skaneateles Lake. The composition of the forest reflects a mix of northern and southern species. In addition to the commonly found oak, maple, and ash, the preserve hosts Yellow Birch that are more commonly found in the Adirondacks along with Tulip Poplars that are near the northern edge of their distribution. One surprise to be found in the woods here is a massive stone fireplace, complete with inlaid staghorn coral fossils. This is all that remains of a large summer home that once graced the site. The house was built for the Wickwire family by company employees who traveled to the site from the family’s factory in Cortland. An interpretive display at the chimney highlights a photo of the home from 1917. At that time, it commanded sweeping views of the lake from its perch on a grassy knoll.
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The Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Hinchcliff Family Preserve
Photo courtesy Finger Lakes Land Trust
Getting Healthy While Giving Back to the Land
ng C
o.
The carefully crafted trail at the Hinchcliff Family Preserve came about through hours and hours of volunteer effort. Volunteers cleared vegetation, created trail grades, built stone steps, and helped in countless other ways. A weekly series of “Trailblazer Tuesday” work parties made the project progress rapidly. Participants enjoyed getting an aerobic workout while creating a community asset. This is just one of many land stewardship projects that is being undertaken by volunteers at land trust preserves throughout the region. To learn more about getting involved and volunteering, check out the Land Trust’s web site (fllt.org) or call the Ithaca office at 607- 275-9487.
Today, this knoll is entirely forested and the lake is gone from view. Our changing use of the land is evident throughout the preserve. In 1938, approximately 36 percent of the preserve was forested with the remaining acreage utilized for some form of agriculture. Today, these numbers are quite different – 83 percent of the preserve is now forested, while only 17 percent is open fields. To keep these last fields open, several are leased to the previous owner – Bill Burns, who farmed this land for decades. In exchange, Bill mows several other fields that are maintained as meadow habitat – a resource that has declined in many parts of our region. A highlight of a visit to the preserve is a pleasant overlook at one of these fields where a bench invites one to stay awhile and take in the view – sweeping from the wall of forest on the west side of Skaneateles Lake
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to the distant views of the lake and surrounding farm fields to the north. Hawks and vultures are commonly seen soaring over these fields along with the occasional bald eagle. Looking ahead And what’s next for the Hinchcliff Family Preserve? Additional hiking opportunities, as the preserve includes a narrow corridor of land that extends eastward from Route 41 to Ripley Hill – the highest point in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed. Plans are underway for the development of a hiking trail that would connect the existing trail to a new access point near the summit of the hill. If you get out to visit the Hinchcliff Family Preserve, consider also stopping by the Land Trust’s nearby High Vista Preserve, as well as Carpenter’s Falls – a popular waterfall on the east side of Skaneateles Lake.
Photo courtesy Finger Lakes Land Trust
About the Finger Lakes Land Trust
Established as part of a Cornell University graduate student project in 1989, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has worked with landowners and local communities to conserve more than 19,000 acres of the region’s most cherished natural areas, parks and scenic farmland. The organization today owns and manages a network of 38 conservation areas that are open to the public and also holds conservation easements on more than 100 properties that remain in private ownership. More information may be found at fllt.org.
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autumn abstract story and photos by Mike Sargent
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J
oyous is a word that can describe the glorious season of fall.
Sweeping landscapes display nature’s brightest colors. Reds, oranges, and yellows dominate the hills and valleys of the Finger Lakes. Scenic vistas including lakes, barns, and rows of grapes are favorite targets for anyone with a camera (including me). But recently I found myself fascinated by some smaller autumn scenes.
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W
alking along streams including
abstract images of the season. Light on
Scenes like these can be found later
Mud Creek in Farmington,
the water as it moves over the rocks
in the season when most of the trees
Onanda Glen in Canandaigua, and
creates a silky smooth appearance and
have shed their leaves. Most digital
Flint Creek near Double Drop Falls
brings out all the colors that nature
cameras will allow for using a slower
in Phelps, I took the time to look for
provides. Using the slower exposure
exposure and at 1/10th of a second,
some smaller fall scenes created by
allows for the capture of the colors
which can be done hand held without
the flow of the water and the colors of
of the fixed objects, such as the
the use of a tripod.
leaves trapped in the rocks.
rocks and the leaves that have been stopped on their journey downstream,
Choosing a setting on my camera to
while simultaneously showing the
shoot at exposures of 1/10th of a
movement of the water.
second was enough to create these
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TASTE wine that’s earned over 6,000 national and international medals SEE breathtaking views of Cayuga Lake, Taughannock Falls, and rolling vineyards VISIT wineries, cideries, distilleries, a meadery and a brewery—all along America’s first wine trail CayugaWineTrail.com 800.684.5217
Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery We are proud to serve you award winning fruit, honey and grape wines since 2001. With over 30 wines, ranging from dry to sweet, there is something to suit everyone’s palate. Hidden Marsh Distillery, winner of NYS Best Spirit, for their Corn Whiskey, has premium liquors, brandy, whiskey, bourbon and vodka. Enjoy our extensive gift shop, homemade fudge, picnic area and more. Visit our website, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to learn about our upcoming events. A
Swedish Hill Winery Celebrating our 30th anniversary, Swedish Hill Winery is consistently one of the region’s most awarded wineries, with three Governor’s Cups awards in addition to five ‘Winery of the Year’ honors since 2012. Experience over 30 different wines ranging from classically produced Rieslings and Cabernet Francs to delicious blends that showcase the flavors of the region. Enjoy a winery tour from Memorial Day through October, picnic facilities, and meet our pet miniature donkey, Doobie! Open year-round! B
Varick Winery & Vineyard At Varick Winery, experience wines paired with complimentary fare. Sample over 100 complimentary food items at the country store. Enjoy scenic views of the vineyard, cherry orchard and Cayuga Lake. At Varick Inn, relax and rejuvenate at an 1833 historic home. Stay includes breakfast, afternoon tea and cookies, evening cocktails with hors d’oeuvres, a gift basket and discounts at the winery. Event rentals. Open year-round. www.VarickWinery.com. C
Goose Watch Winery Be captivated by Goose Watch Winery from our nationally recognized innovative wines to the winery’s picturesque setting overlooking beautiful Cayuga Lake. From hard to find highly acclaimed premium wines such as Viognier, Traminette, Aromella, Chambourcin and Lemberger, to traditional favorites Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir Brut Rosé (sparkling), visitors will find wines for most every occasion as well as palate. Accessible by car, bus and boat. Open year-round. E
Buttonwood Grove Winery Experience Buttonwood Grove! Come explore our beautifully landscaped grounds and lake view while tasting some of our many award winning wines. Live music and BBQ all summer—check our website for dates, times, and entertainers. A renowned venue for weddings, we also have on-site cabins for overnight lodging. Our friendly staff and Melody, our Scottish Highland Cow, can’t wait to meet you! F
Toro Run Winery Toro Run Winery sits on 64 acres 530 feet atop a glacier-carved hillside overlooking Cayuga Lake. We serve World Class Finger Lakes wines, including our Signature Estate Grown Grüner Veltliner. Toro Run Winery offers all the beauty of the Finger Lakes with a Spanish flair—“where the good life demands grape views.”
Six Mile Creek Vineyard Nestled on the southwest slope of one of Ithaca’s most picturesque settings, Six Mile Creek Vineyard is a boutique winery and distillery specializing in the production of premium Finger Lakes wines and spirits. The Dutch reform barn offers a comfortable venue to taste memorable wines styles to suit all preferences. Panoramic valley views capture the beauty of the vineyard, pond, and gardens, perfect for a walk after tasting or a picnic with wine and cheese from the shop. Such a lovely spot so close to town makes this an ideal choice to host a wedding or special event.
Hosmer Winery Founded on the principle that great wine starts in the vineyard, the first vines Hosmer were planted on the family farm in 1972. Cameron and Maren Hosmer established their winery in 1985 and were among pioneers in the blossoming industry. Today, 70 acres of vineyards are producing some of the finest fruit in the Finger Lakes, used to make 100% estate grown, award winning Hosmer wine.
Treleaven at King Ferry Winery The oldest winery on the east side of Cayuga Lake, Treleaven has been crafting fine vinifera wines and fun proprietary blends since 1988. Experience our 20 wines ranging from Chardonnays and Rieslings, to hearty reds and fruity blends. Treleaven also offers local craft beer on tap. Enjoy our extensive gift shop, spacious outback and family-friendly events. Visit our website or like us on Facebook for winery happenings.
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Lucas Vineyards Three generations of the Lucas family invite you to experience Cayuga Lake’s oldest winery. Four decades of grape growing and wine making have won the Lucas family International and Regional acclaim since 1980. The famous, nautically-inspired “Tug Boat” and “Nautie” wines sport colorful bottles and spectacular labels, completing a diverse collection of estate-grown vinifera, method-champenoise sparkling and Iced wines. Enjoy impressive views, beautiful gardens and shop in one of the area’s most unique gift shops. Wine slushies available. 800–682–WINE(9463). K
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RESTAURANTS
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
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Auburn Seneca Falls
Cayuga
Waterloo
Cayuga Lake State Park
Union Springs
Cty. Rd. 124
Ogden Rd.
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Ernsberger Rd.
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Aurora
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Romulus
Cayuga Lake
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Did you know you are only 15 minutes from the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail from here?
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Long Point State Park
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Montezuma Winery
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Swedish Hill Vineyard
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Varick Winery & Vineyard
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Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant
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Goose Watch Winery
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Buttonwood Grove Winery
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Toro Run Winery
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Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery
Hours: April–November 11am–5pm daily
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King Ferry
Seneca
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Lake
Interlaken Lodi
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Thirsty Owl Wine Co. Hosmer Winery
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Lucas Vineyards
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Bellwether Hard Cider & Wine Cellars
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Americana Vineyards & Crystal Lake Café
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Six Mile Creek Vineyard
Trumansburg Taughannock Falls State Park
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Treleaven by King Ferry Winery
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Long Point Winery
Stewart Park
Alan Treman State Marine Park
Enfield
Watkins Glen
Ithaca Cornell University
Cass Park
Robert Treman State Park
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Ithaca College
Park
Download our free app Make planning your trip even easier. Get the most out of your Cayuga Lake Wine Trail experience. Access winery details, transportation and accommodation information and a list of winery events when you use our mobile application to navigate the Trail. Available on
Mardi Gras Beads, coins and a scavenger hunt February 20–21
Bacon on the Lakein The perfect event for bacon lovers March 19–20
Wine & Herb Festival Potted herbs and veggie plants April 22–24 and April 29–May1
Holiday Shopping Spree Wreath, ornaments and shopper’s card November 18–20 and December 2–4
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The Copper Oven at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery Wood-fired pizzas at the copper oven are a mouthwatering delight. Our pies cook next to a crackling wood fire at 750 degrees in two minutes. Winner of the 2012 Finger Lakes Foodie award for best main course, the 2013 Nature Conservancy’s Nature’s Plate award also a 2013 Trip Advisor Excellence award! Check our website for up to-the-day menu planning and special events throughout the 2016 season. Call 607–220–8794 or visit www.SlowFoodOnTheGo.com for restaurant hours. H
Thirsty Owl Bistro The Thirsty Owl Bistro overlooks Cayuga Lake, offering indoor, outdoor and private seating for larger groups. Enjoy award-winning wines and delicious local fare. Live music on Saturdays from June to September. Boat access is available. Please call for restaurant hours, as they vary in April, November and December. For reservations and information call (866) 869–5805. I
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Knapp Vineyard Restaurant A visit to Knapp Vineyard Restaurant is a must. Sit inside or on our vineyard trellised patio overlooking our landscaped gardens and vineyards. Our hearty dishes include classic burgers with unique flavors, alongside special entrées using regional products. Combine this setting with Knapp’s premium wine for an authentic Finger Lakes experience. Five-course wine dinners featured monthly. Available for private parties, weddings, receptions and business functions. Call for reservations (607) 869–9271. D
Lunch Hours: April–December 11:30am–5pm daily Dinner Hours: July–August 5–7pm Friday and Saturday Crystal Lake Café at Americana Vineyards The Crystal Lake Café offers fresh, locally sourced, from-scratch gourmet comfort food in a laid-back casual atmosphere year-round—inside or out, when the weather’s nice. Enjoy lunch, dinner, Friday Nite Pizza Party and a Sunday brunch not to be missed! www.AmericanaVineyards.com. (888) 600–8067. M
May–October Hours: Monday–Wednesday 12–6pm Thursday–Saturday 12–8pm Sunday Brunch 11am–3pm Sunday Dinner 4pm–8pm
November–April Hours: Thursday-Saturday 12–8pm Sunday Brunch 11am–3pm Sunday Dinner 4–8pm
Tra n sport ation a n d a cco m modation pa ck a g e s a re a va ila ble i n It h a ca, A u bu rn a n d Se n e ca Fa lls for a ll fou r eve nts
Purchase tickets at CayugaWineTrail.com or by calling 800.684.5217
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story and photos by John Adamski
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isitors to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum near Hammondsport are greeted by a C-46 Commando twin-engine military aircraft parked alongside the museum’s entrance drive on NYS Route 54. The C-46, which is on loan from the National Air and Space Museum, was used by the United States Army Air Forces and Navy/ Marine Corps to transport troops and military cargo during World War II. In a way, this airplane highlights the achievements of native son and hometown hero Glenn Curtiss, even though he didn’t live to see it. Curtiss died eight years before it was developed by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a consolidation of his Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, founded by
the Wright brothers. Glenn Hammond Curtiss was born in Hammondsport in 1878 and grew up in Pleasant Valley at the south end of Keuka Lake. His curiosity, mechanical ability and ambition were evident at a young age, and led him to pursue a career as an inventor and entrepreneur before he reached his mid-20s. His early obsession with speed inspired him to design and build racing bicycles and by 1902 Curtiss was manufacturing a line of motorcycles he named “Hercules.” In 1907, his V8-powered motorcycle was officially clocked at 136.3 mph in Florida, earning him the title, “Fastest man on Earth.” His first experience with aviation came when he modified a motorcycle engine to power the California Arrow, a lighter-than-air ship in what was to become the first successful American dirigible flight in 1904.
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Glenn Curtiss successfully piloted his aeroplane, the June Bug, a distance of nearly a mile across Pleasant Valley on July 4th, 1908, making it the first preannounced public flight in America and earning him Pilot’s License #1.
In 1907, his V8-powered motorcycle was officially clocked at 136.3 mph in Florida, earning Glenn Curtiss the title, “Fastest man on Earth.”
A flying boat is a fixed-wing seaplane with a specially-designed hull that floats, enabling it to land on water without the need for pontoons. This one has rear-mounted propellers that push rather than pull the aircraft through the air.
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Ben Johnson, the new executive director at Curtiss, is seated in the museum's stunning board/conference room that commands a semicircular view of nearly the entire exhibit area below.
The first of many firsts But these are just two examples of the many “firsts” accomplished by the enterprising young Curtiss. Even though the Wright brothers have been credited with flying the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft in 1903, their series of experimental flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, were conducted in secret. Curtiss successfully piloted his aeroplane, the June Bug, a distance of nearly a mile across Pleasant Valley on July 4, 1908. It was the first preannounced public flight in America and earned him Pilot’s License #1.
LIFL
Other Curtiss firsts include the following. • Flying his Hudson Flyer from Albany to New York City in 1910, a 150-mile accomplishment that was hailed as the first city-to-city long distance flight • Inventing and flying the first seaplane in 1911 • Training the first pilots in an aircraft he designed and built for the U.S. Navy that same year, a distinction that earned him the title of “The Father of Naval Aviation” • Dropping the first bomb from an aircraft, also in 1911, in a
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demonstration for Army and Navy officials at Keuka Lake
A high point in Curtiss’s aviation career came in 1919, when the U.S. Navy Curtiss NC-4 Flying Boat became the first aircraft to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean. A flying boat is a fixed-wing seaplane with a specially designed hull that floats, enabling it to land on water without the need for pontoons. From wine to wings The building that houses the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum was built
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Although the museum remained open during renovations, there was no charge for admission since some of the exhibits were covered with plastic sheeting to protect them from construction dust and debris.
as a wine storage warehouse by Gold Seal Winery in 1972. It was added onto 10 years later by the Taylor Wine Company. The museum moved into the building from its former location in the center of Hammondsport in 1992. Its two-story, clear-spanned interior height is ideal for the display of airplanes, many of which are suspended from the ceiling. There are dozens of exhibits that range from motorcycles, horseless carriages and antique boats to 22 historic aircraft that include full-scale reproductions of the first naval aeroplane and the famous June Bug, on loan from Mercury Aircraft, an airplane component manufacturer established in Hammondsport in 1920. Some of the building’s 57,000 square feet, including 38,000 square feet of display
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and exhibit area, have recently been renovated to increase and make better use of the existing space. Last January, construction began to modify parts of the existing building in order to improve traffic and enlarge the museum’s store and restrooms. A second floor was built above the existing 100-seat theater and first floor office area, and an elevator and staircase were added. Although the museum remained open during renovations, there was no charge for admission – some of the exhibits were covered with plastic to protect them from construction dust and debris. Visitors were given the option to make a donation instead. The renovation, which added 1,600 square feet of space on the second floor and affected 10,000
square feet altogether, was completed by Memorial Day weekend. The layout puts executive and staff offices on the new second floor, together with an aviation library, a kitchenette, additional restrooms, storage space, and a stunning board/conference room that commands a semicircular view of nearly the entire exhibit area below. It will be made available for community events as well. Elmira Structures Inc. was the general contractor for the project, which was paid for with foundation grants, member and private donations, and a community fundraiser that brought in $100,000 that was matched by the Mercury Aircraft Foundation. The new floor plan doubles the size of the museum store and improves the flow of visitor traffic throughout the building.
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3907 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY
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We have a large inventory of new Cobalt Boats, Crest Pontoons and Sunfish, as well as many other previously enjoyed watercraft.
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Enjoy a day (or a half day) on the lake in a new Pontoon boat.
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fixing
Broken airplanes
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ne of the most fascinating things to see at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is its Restoration Shop, located in a smaller secondary building behind
the main exhibit hall. Staffed by a dedicated group of volunteer craftsmen, the shop provides many services to the museum. They range from building and repairing equipment and displays to restoring originals or building reproductions of aircraft and other vehicles. In contrast to the museum’s well-organized exhibit and display area, the Restoration Shop is a cluttered workplace with tools, machinery, and airplane parts scattered all around, but its volunteers know where everything is and what it’s used for.
One of those volunteers is Art Wilder, who is helping to rebuild and
restore a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. The U.S. Army Air Corps World War II single-engine fighter plane, a “Flying Tiger,” crashed in 1943 after a midair collision in Florida with another P-40. It was lost in the Everglades until 1986; the museum purchased it in 2011.
The Flying Tiger was delivered in pieces by truck, courtesy of Mercury
Aircraft. Like completing a giant jigsaw puzzle, volunteers are meticulously rebuilding it for display using the wreckage from two other Flying Tigers – one of which being the other aircraft involved in the collision. They are using the original blueprints from Curtiss-Wright, and Wilder says that it will be a long-term reconstruction project. Some of the parts that were unrecoverable are being remanufactured by the Restoration Shop, perhaps a fitting tribute to the legacy of Hammondsport’s most famous native son.
All in the family The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is branded as an aviation and local history museum with a predominant focus on transportation. It was founded in 1961 by Otto Kohl,
who had been an aeronautical engineer at the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Trafford Doherty had been the organization’s executive director since 2002 until his retirement last month. The job
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Trafford Doherty was the Curtiss Museum's executive director from 2002 until his retirement last month. His wife Jewan handled the museum’s membership duties and newsletter publication until her retirement last month as well.
was a natural fit for Doherty, who has an aviation background and holds a commercial pilot’s license in both aircraft and glider aviation. His grandfather, William Doherty, learned to fly in 1911 as a student of Glenn Curtiss. His father, William Doherty, Jr., served as a director of the fledgling Curtiss Museum beginning in 1961. To keep things all in the family, Trafford’s wife Jean handled the museum’s membership duties and newsletter publication until her retirement last month as well. Nebraska native Benjamin Johnson has taken the helm as the Curtiss Museum’s new executive director. Ben and his wife Adrienne recently relocated from Eugene, Oregon, where he served as the executive director of the Springfield Museum. With an undergraduate degree in History from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s in U.S. Military History and Foreign Relations from the University of Nebraska, Johnson looks like another perfect fit for the institution. His game plan is to implement the board of trustees’ vision of increasing public awareness of the Curtiss name, and to move the project into the next phases of physical and marketing expansions.
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New York’s Largest & Finest Antique store with over 10,000 square feet of Signature room settings. Vintage Lighting Antique Furniture Oriental Rugs & Much More
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Located 5 minutes east of Corning, at exit 49 off I 86 26 Palmer Road North, Big Flats NY www.antiquerevival.com | 800-780-7330
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Using the numbered tags on structural members, a team of Mennonite carpenters reassembled the framing and also handled the conversion.
Rustic Revolution A Tale of Two Barn Houses
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n the 21st century, people are loving barn living. If you don’t believe me, take a look on Pinterest, Houzz or the DIY Network where the hit show “Barnwood Builders” follows the crew of the Antique Cabins and Barns company as they reclaim pioneer-era structures. You’ll see beautiful old beams, lots of indoor space, the natural grandeur of wide-open fields, plus the latest modern conveniences. Better yet, here’s a glimpse at what two couples here in the Finger Lakes did with dilapidated, but comely, 19th-century barns. In West Bloomfield, Patty Sapere and Phil Sacchitella did all the work to create their family home on the barn’s original site. Mark Siwiec and Duffy Palmer moved a disassembled barn to a beautiful location and hired a crew to rebuild it as a retreat. Here are their stories.
Ode to a View In our interview, partners Mark and Duffy bat anecdotes back and LIFL
forth about their recently converted barn house. Mark is one of the top two real estate agents in Rochester and a member of several community boards, including the Rochester Philharmonic. Duffy began his career as a teacher and rose to become the Deputy Secretary of Education for New York State, the top education position. He serves on the board of the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery and is president of the board of Young Women’s College Prep. Right now, he’s exploring coming out of semiretirement. It becomes clear that they love their barn house when, an hour into the interview, they can’t wait to reveal their crown jewel. It could be titled “Hollywood meets Hammondsport,” or “Hathaway’s Hideaway.” An exhausted Anne Hathaway rested in their remote Keuka Lake barn house after her role in the 2012 movie “Les Misérables.” Although her stay there excited locals, it seemed to settle her. She left not only restored, but ready to marry. While they stayed at the house, she
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Story by Derek Doeffinger Photos by Stephanie Albanese
Mark Siwiec (left) and Duffy Palmer
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Above: Duffy Palmer dubbed their new slate walkway “The Hathaway Pathway.” Anne Hathaway’s stay paid for its installation.
Lower right: During gatherings, the mesmerizing view offered by the porch makes it a prized destination.
Photo by Derek Doeffinger
Lower left: In the kitchen old gives way to new in the form of a soapstone counter, stainless steel appliances, pendant lighting, and Ikea cabinets.
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Rustic Revolution A Tale of Two Barn Houses
and her fiancé made a CD wedding invitation. Mark and Duffy chose their friend Tom Johnson as designer, and then they searched for a site. Mark found a promising 30-acre parcel that they walked in the dead of winter. When they reached the upper end of the open fields and saw the view, Mark and Duffy knew this was where they belonged. Tom, who said his role was “to make them happy to be living in the house he designed,” already had a barn for them. By happy coincidence, his neighbor on the east side of Keuka Lake wanted to unload his Civil War era barn. The barn was disassembled and its structural members numbered so a team of Mennonite carpenters could begin converting it into a house. In retrospect, the first construction decision may have been a minor stroke of genius. “We showed up one day to find a bulldozer clearing the driveway,” said Duffy, who was Tom’s constant collaborator. Placed on the property’s south side, the sinuous driveway is nearly invisible as it curves to the back of the house – the entryway – preserving the magnificent view of meadows and pastures that stretches for miles to the lake and bluff. In many ways, the house was designed as an ode to that view. Every major room displays it. When Mark slips an apple pie into the oven, the view is framed within a floor-to-ceiling window. Where they eat the pie, a wall of windows reveals a Daguerre-like, 19th-century pastoral diorama. When they awake, it’s to that view at sunrise The vista, combined with a vast interior space that soars to 28 feet, makes visitors’ spirits soar, too. A large dining table, lots of seating throughout, two patios, a balcony and a porch give Mark and Duffy the perfect space for entertaining. The house wears its barn heritage well, from its original gambrel shape to the exterior cedar siding. The main entrance, the side porch, the window exteriors and the indoor firewood closet all sport sliding doors characteristic of late 19th-century barns. Indoors, locally made Mennonite cattle railings guard the stairs. A small collection of colorful sculpted-metal chickens perch on hand-hewn, century-old beams. A worn 6 by 10-foot, 48-star American flag hangs above the fireplace. A stone fireplace is among its many tasteful embellishments. As it was going up, “I told the mason it was too perfect for a barn, and asked that he chip or break some stones and set them more randomly,” Mark recalls. Doors from a Buffalo convent, and 18-foot-long entry treads made from an old oak 4,000-gallon wine vat, fit in naturally. Mark added an unusual window to his second-floor bedroom: it opens to the great barn interior. On the ground level, two more bedrooms and a sitting room pay homage to the view with large windows, and to the barn with their pine paneling and slate floors. Whether an ode to a view or an era, this barn house created by Mark and Duffy reveres and respects the land and the barn’s heritage. At the same time, it’s a welcome retreat they can enjoy with friends. LIFL
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Post and Beam Homes Locally crafted in our South Bristol New York shop 5557 Rt. 64, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-374-6405 www.timberframesinc.com Building the Finger Lakes since 1977
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Before
After
Above: From the original barn complex, Patty and Phil used only the barn on the left side. Photo courtesy Patty Sapere and Phil Sacchitella
Lower left: The simple appearance of their steel-sided barn house does not prepare you for the amazing interior. Lower right: The pattern of the rafters becomes a repeated design element for Patty and Phil.
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Rustic Revolution A Tale of Two Barn Houses
Detroit
ELM Philadelphia
Atlanta
Patty and Phil stand on the stairway beside a picture of the original barns on the property.
St. Petersburg/ Clearwater
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Your connection to the world.
Fit for a big family Patty and Phil put in over 30,000 hours of DIY work during a 15-year span to convert their West Bloomfield barn into a house. The gargantuan effort involved their kids, relatives and friends. “Phil and I had always dreamed about owning a timber frame home,” said Patty. For the two single parents who needed a place large enough for their merging families, the only financial alternative was to do all the work themselves. A touch of delusion and obsession might have contributed. “Everyone thought I was nuts,” Phil said. “My friends said, ‘The barn doesn’t need work, it needs a match.’” Phil was undeterred, but he did have a major challenge: his finances. The property went into default in 2001 when he was dating Patty. No problem – she bought it. For her it was love at first sight. Fifteen years later, it’s still not clear whether Patty married Phil or the barn. They had to quickly make it livable for their blended family, which included five children ages 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Patty and Phil each had full-time day jobs, so Phil set up halogen spotlights, allowing them to work on the project every evening; often past midnight. You might not think an interpreter of American Sign Language (Patty) and a software engineer (Phil) would have the DIY chops to handle such a rigorous construction, but over the years they gained extensive building skills. Phil says the toughest part was the foundation. “We jacked the thing up with homemade tools and bottle jacks, and put a foundation under it.” For Patty, it was installing the steel siding, chosen for its durability and low maintenance. “Our hands and arms were covered in cuts and blood,” she relates.
LIFL
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Life in the Fingerlakes Magazine Ad / Spring 2014 3.25" x 4.75" / Color
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Rustic Revolution A Tale of Two Barn Houses
APP
LIFL EXTRA! Download the Digital Magazine to see more photos
of both barns!
Above: Old bottles found on the property are just one of several artifacts displayed. Center: In the master bedroom, Patty continues the country look with quilts and barn-door themed closets. Below: The warmth of natural pine throughout the first floor provides a warm, inviting touch.
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Their philosophy for the 3,000-square foot, four-level interior was to keep it simple and barnlike. “We wanted a rustic homey feel with a combination of old and modern,” they note. With plans from architect George Baker in hand, they were ready. When they needed floor joists, Phil went to an Amish sawyer whose lack of dimensional precision led to the nickname, “Thick and Thin Lumber Company.” The stair balustrades came from the barn’s horse stalls – Patty and the kids removed and refinished the wood. The floor was constructed from salvaged hardwood flooring scraps; leftover floorboards became picture frames. The siding on the kitchen island came from the barn’s old grain bins, and all four bedrooms display exposed ceiling rafters. The kitchen cabinets Phil built feature doors made from barn windows. Patty made tablecloths, placemats and curtains. Recovered artifacts abound: old bottles from the barn glint from a beam, wagon wheels and steel milk containers adorn the walkway, and a large pulley hangs from a post. They acquired only the furniture that fit into their style, meaning it was often gently used. The exceptions include modern appliances, simple lighting to accentuate the structure, and an Amish-made, custom dining table with nine leaves. It can seat 20. The wonderful feeling of its comforting space can surprise first-time visitors, especially when the modest exterior opens to a 38-foot expanse inside. It makes you feel like you’re in an opening in an old-growth forest. Large windows on opposing walls admit copious amounts of soft light. It reflects off the warm-stained woods to bathe you in a golden glow. Even though years of hard work have compounded the beauty of this barn house, a handful of grandchildren are calling. So they can be closer to them, Patty and Phil have decided to sell their home.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Outdoors
in the open air
The
Naturalist
In All of Us
Cornell University’s Master Naturalist Program
story and photos by Jan Bridgeford Smith
S
and goldenrod); 1,345 acres of old field, ituated in a remote, hilly area saplings, brush and pole timber; 170 of Chemung County in New acres of softwood plantations; 40 acres York’s Southern Tier Region, of sugarbush; 20 acres of field campus; Arnot Teaching and Research plus 10 ponds and Banfield Creek.” The Forest is comprised of 4,000 acres main entrance to Cornell’s preserve owned by Cornell University. It is a mix sits at an elevation of 1,150 feet and its of environments that, according to the highest, forested hilltop rises to school’s website, includes a majestic 2,035 feet. “2,400 acres of mature “These I arrived at Arnot Forest forest … some 100 acres people have on a hot day in July of open land (grass
learned not from books, but in the fields, in the wood, on the river bank.” — Anton Chekhov, A Day in the Country
In order from top to bottom: Stalking a baby snapping turtle Workshop participants Hilary Mosher and Kristina Dougherty “use all the senses” for tree identification Blackpoll Warbler Searching for aquatic insects
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Outdoors 2015, searching for evidence of a secret World War II program once housed there. I had an appointment with Dr. Peter Smallidge, senior extension associate and Arnot Forest director, to discuss this little known piece of the preserve’s history. As we talked, Dr. Smallidge’s enthusiastic appreciation for the place was undeniable. Now, here’s my confession: given the choice between spending time in the city, any city, and a weekend among flora and fauna, I always opt for the urban experience. I’m pretty much an outdoor bozo, unless it’s on a deck sipping wine (produced in New York State, of course). So, sure, I thought we were meeting in a pretty place, but I was looking at the scenery like a judge at a beauty pageant – delighted with the visuals, but clueless about the complexity of what I was seeing. Then, towards the end of our conversation, Dr. Smallidge made a casual remark. He mentioned that Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources sponsors a Master Naturalist Program weekend at Arnot and it was coming up in a couple of months. My conscience took off. Maybe I should aspire to be more than just a kitchen window squirrel watcher. Should I stretch my bucolic activities beyond planting porch box petunias and walking the quarter mile, roundtrip, from my house to the post office? I asked Dr. Smallidge if I could attend the weekend as an observer. He gave me the contact information. Two days after that conversation, I connected with the Master Naturalist Program coordinator and begged my way into the event. The Master Naturalist Program is a statewide, adult education initiative “designed for educators, land trust personnel, private landowners, land managers, natural resource professionals, and citizens with a passion for our natural environment,” according to a program brochure. Implemented in 2010, the certification process requires individuals to complete 30 hours of instruction in three subject areas – ecosystems, conservation issues and identifying organisms – and 30 hours of volunteer participation in an environmental project tailored to his or her personal interests. The mandatory first step towards certification is the three-day workshop I asked to observe. Once completed, participants are credited with 16 of the 30 hours of instruction that are needed. Attendance is limited. For several years, there have been more applicants for the workshop than spaces available.
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd • Ithaca, NY 14850 877-266-4928 • www.sapsuckerwoods.com
Binoculars • Books • Audio Guides • Nature Gifts
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A weekend in the wilderness Three months later, as I drove through Arnot Forest’s entrance once again and up the
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Natural resources doctoral student, Bryant Dossman, demonstrates how bird info is collected and recorded prior to banding.
For more information The Master Naturalist Program • blogs.cornell.edu/cerp/master-naturalist-program • facebook.com/New-York-Master-Naturalist-Program889088577851588/timeline • e-mail Kristi Sullivan at kls20@cornell.edu Arnot Teaching and Research Forest blogs.cornell.edu/arnotforest Call or email Diana Bryant • dlt5@cornell.edu • 607-255-2115
winding drive to the lodge, I had the dreamy idea that I was going to heed Albert Einstein’s advice to “look deep into nature, and … understand everything better.” What I should have recalled were Shakespeare’s words, “What fools we mortals be.” Kristi Sullivan, an extension associate in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Natural Resources, oversees and organizes the Master Naturalist Program. Also a certified wildlife biologist, Kristi has a passion for bats and is knowledgeable, funny, energetic, a skilled instructor and a cordial ambassador for the program. As I confessed earlier, I am not an experienced camper or hiker or even backyard bird watcher. But I had no idea what a hapless neophyte I was until I saw the first activity on the agenda: a 90-minute tree identification walk. It was 90 degrees that afternoon – in the shade. I arrived without a hat, sunscreen, water bottle or insect repellent – and wearing stupid flip-flops. I looked like I belonged at a table under a beach umbrella eating hot dogs. I did remember my camera, cell phone, notebook, laptop and pen, which I carried in a frayed knapsack thingy because I only had two small pockets. Carrying a pack on my shoulder was going to be like hauling around a small boulder in a sauna. I felt foolish, but reasoned that there must be others in the group as lost as I was, wondering what to expect. Nope. As participants were introduced, my singular novice status was confirmed – over and over. The event was filled with individuals who had spent years actively engaged with the natural world. LIFL
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Outdoors
Ontario County Historical Society
2016 Fall Foliage Trail Events Every Weekend in October – proceeds benefit the operation of the Ontario County Historical Society Museum. visit www.ochs.org or call 585 394-4975 for a free Trail Map or additional information
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Saturday October 8
Agricultural Fair and Tour of Barns
Saturday October 15
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Canandaigua Historic District Architectural Scavenger Hunt
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in a forest regeneration test plot, and I was surrounded by people who wandered around in a forest mushroom foraged regularly in the woods and lab looking at how different fungi fell fields for roots, mushrooms and other in love with different trees. I scrambled edibles. Sierra Club members who over rocks and up steep trails, waded in hiked for days in wilderness areas, marshy sediment, and walked at least and camped for weeks in remote 100 miles – or maybe it was about 3. environments. Teachers, health I spent an hour in a pitch dark professionals, and environmentalists meadow waiting for an owl to hoot (it who wrote monographs, dissertations didn’t) and peered through binoculars and articles on nature topics. Visual for a good half an hour trying to spot, artists and illustrators who translated well, anything that flew. No luck. the natural world into artistic works Though only slightly less hapless with pencils, crayons, oils and silk in the wild after the workshop than screens. Several participants taught when I started, I did pick up some classes and led workshops on info that will stay with global warming, illness me: Don’t rely on a cell and the environment, phone for sustained water quality, herbal lighting (they die). cooking, organic Always carry a full gardening and bird water bottle. Wear watching. clothes with lots Since the of pockets. Do not, few stray facts I repeat, do not wear could recall about — John Muir flip-flops for any any nature topic activity that has the came from watching word “hike” in it. Never an occasional PBS assume you will recognize documentary, I was a teensy poison ivy, oak or sumac. It takes bit intimidated. That feeling faded, years to become a wild mushroom though, after a short time. Everyone expert, a wild ginseng expert, a wild was happy to converse, answer anything expert. Too many deer questions, share their knowledge, in any ecosystem, no matter how and speak about their dedication to sweet-looking, cause trouble. Bears protecting, improving, preserving or deserve respect and a wide berth. connecting others to the natural world. Bugs, even the ugliest ones, play a The weekend was designed to be role in ecosystems. Invasive species an immersion experience. Through come in all shapes, sizes and colors. a combination of lectures, slides, The natural world is both resilient demonstrations and activities led by and delicately balanced. Do not take current and retired Cornell faculty, the resilience for granted. Almost any researchers, extension associates creature is faster than I am. and staff, the workshop covered: tree Aside from foolish mortals, identification, birds and bird migration, Shakespeare was also spot-on when amphibians and reptiles, stream he wrote, “One touch of nature ecology, deer impact on forests, bears, ginseng, mushrooms and fungi, invasive makes the whole world kin.” I will never be a certified Master Naturalist, insects, native insects. not even an uncertified outdoor I tasted leaves, held a snake, lightly recreationalist. But I came away from touched a warbler’s soft belly, watched my time in the woods with a with a as tiny song birds were measured, profound regard for people devoted weighed and banded, sluiced pond to being competent stewards and water looking for creatures, and knowledgeable ambassadors for the examined pond slime, insects and natural environment. If that’s your water droplets under a microscope. I passion, then this is one swell way to caught a salamander, stalked a baby spend a fall weekend. turtle, counted new growth shoots
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
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Cultured
the better things in life
Christian Ackerman (right) and Jacob McBee, work on the 2014 mural, Perfect Imperfection, located in Corning’s Denison Park
I
f you’ve visited Corning in recent years, you may have noticed murals popping up in and around the downtown alleyways. And like
many, you may not understand their significance.
Called The Alley Art Project,
Corning’s murals are the result of a special collaboration between The Rockwell Museum and the High School Learning Center (HSLC) of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District. Since 2009, The Rockwell and the school district have worked together in conjunction with downtown planning agencies and business owners to make this project a reality.
The Alley Art Project supports
students in learning about art, design, and the research associated with the process of art making – all while cultivating a sense of pride in the community. The HSLC is a small learning community for high school students not succeeding in traditional schools. Located on the campus of Corning Community College, the school’s focus is on the development of academic,
TheAlley
Art Project Murals make a difference in the lives of students and the Corning community September/October 2016 ~
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In The Rockwell Museum education center, High School Learning Center students create pottery superheroes as inspiration for the 2016 mural, inspired by Virgil Ortiz’s clay sculpture, “Ancient Elder”
social, and vocational skills, resulting in a New York State Regents diploma. And as most cosmopolitan museums are doing, The Rockwell in downtown Corning is expanding beyond its gallery walls – serving as a cultural center by administering arts education to people of of the HSLC. A highly-creative and all ages and backgrounds. This perfect storm talented artist, a student participant of creativity and care for our local community in the first alley art mural now serves has sprouted an important program that conas the artist-in-residence on the nects at-risk youth to their town. “Art is intended to be a project. Each academic year, students fulfill “This story is ‘full circle’ for me mandatory art and English language arts part of our everyday lives – it takes a village to raise creative credits during their time spent at The – to inspire and to be and caring students and the Alley Rockwell. Guided by Rockwell educators, enjoyed in the Art Project has deeply connected American art collection at students use the communities in many students to our community,” The Rockwell as a catalyst for creative writing continues Alvaré. and art. Then, students create individual which we live.” pieces of art that work as elements of a larger – Gigi Alvaré A collaboration coming soon mural. Designs are later painted on the alley The Alley Art Project has gained facades of downtown businesses by the the attention of not only local leaders but also internationalstudents. There are now a total of seven murals and plans ly-renowned ceramicist, fashion designer and artist, Virgil Ortiz. are underway for another this year. During the fall of 2015, The Rockwell welcomed Ortiz, a Native “The Alley Art Project provides students an outlet to American artist and ceramist, to Corning for a week-long colexpress themselves and is a way in which they can contribute laborative initiative exploring how glass and ceramics can intersomething positive to their community. Most importantly, an twine. While in Corning, Ortiz became intrigued by the murals incredible sense of pride is gained,” says Gigi Alvaré, director he saw in the downtown area. After meeting with The Rockwell of education at the Rockwell Museum. and learning more about the student population served by the The mural project is changing students’ lives, evidenced HSLC program, Ortiz offered to return to Corning in 2016 to by the story of a former student and successful graduate
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Corning Area Youth Center students began the mural, Garden of the Spirit, as an extension of the Tree of Life mural (2012).
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Cultured work with students in the design and execution of a mural. Ortiz has worked with Corning students all summer through a series of Skype sessions. Students have studied Ortiz’s Ancient Elder sculpture on view at The Rockwell. Ancient Elder is one of the characters that appear in Ortiz’s work, centered on the story of a futuristic revolution in the year 2180 that restores sacred lands to the Pueblo people. Inspired by Ortiz’s work, students created their own “super power” characters. The idea is that these characters will help bring about important changes needed in society such as equality for all. A final drawing is being created by Ortiz that will incorporate elements of the students’ work and become this year’s Alley Art Mural. Under Ortiz’s guidance, the mural drawing will be painted by the HSLC students beginning in August at Cap’n Morgan’s on 36 South Bridge Street in Corning. From Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico, Ortiz uses art to blend historic events with futuristic elements in provocative and edgy designs to ignite contemporary interest in stories of his Pueblo culture. Beyond the notoriety of his artistic talent, Ortiz’s professional agenda centers on a lifelong dream to create opportunities for youth in his tribal community by opening his studio to Pueblo children to learn different artistic mediums. The imagery of his Pueblo Revolt series is designed particularly to capture the attention of a younger audience in order to raise their consciousness about important events in Pueblo history and culture. It is Ortiz’s commitment to using art as a catalyst for teaching young people that has inspired him to return to Corning to work with HSLC students at The Rockwell.
To check out these murals in person, begin in the parking lot of The Rockwell. Four murals can be seen just around the corner from The Rockwell’s entrance. For a full listing, visit rockwellmuseum.org. This project is made possible by grants from The Triangle Fund and Great Circle Foundation, Inc.
LIFL
2016 PHOTO CONTEST Deadline: August 31, 2016
FIREPLACES • INSERTS • STOVES
Categories:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize plaques plus publication in the November/December 2015 issue • Best Color • Best Black-and-White • Best Digitally Altered* • Grand prize to best overall photograph (Photographs may also be selected for honorable mention and for photo illustration)
Submit photos by e-mailing mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
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If submitting through USPS, mail to: Life in the Finger Lakes Photo Contest P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for complete information and rules
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September /October 2016~
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Lifestyle
The camera is pointed down to produce fish eye and the horizon is centered.
mode of living
a New
Photo
Perspective story and photos by Susan Peterson Gateley
T
he ubiquitous GoPro camera is everywhere these days, as are its distinctive images of extreme outdoor adventuring – from water skiing, hiking and other outdoor excursions to, of course, capturing selfies. My husband, Carl, and I acquired one of these compact and nearly indestructible little devices last spring. We aren’t surfers or skydivers or skiers screaming down mountainside slopes. Our idea of outdoor fun is a leisurely sail aboard our boat. We got the GoPro because we wished to use it in the production of an educational video about Lake Ontario. The camera’s wide angle lens and incredible depth of field capacity provided a novel perspective on our shoreline world, while its small size and waterproof/shockproof case allowed for “thinking outside the box” photography. So we experimented. We took it aloft to the top of our schooner’s foremast, we thrust it among the weeds of our pond to photograph minnows and newts, and we floated it over a shipwreck in shallow water. Subsequently, the tough little camera survived being lowered 80 feet down to the bottom of Lake Ontario and being bumped, banged, crashed and dropped innumerable times. Our fearless camera could fit into spaces and go to places we could never go. It gave us a fish or bird’s-eye view of the lakeshore, and GoPro excursions aloft and underwater made the world around us appear quite extraordinary – even surreal at times.
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While the GoPro has proved to be surprisingly versatile, it does have its limits. We used the GoPro Hero4 model and I felt restricted by its lack of a viewfinder. Instead of trying to use a tiny screen or viewfinder, you may find it easier to use a smartphone to modify camera settings or view the scene. But then you have two pieces of gear to keep track of – and the camera is waterproof, but your smartphone is not. (Of course paddlers and other water sports enthusiasts can buy little protective “rain jackets” for their phones, if need be.) Using and orienting the camera through the smartphone viewfinder takes a little practice, especially when you are wearing the camera on your head. And once the GoPro goes underwater there’s no more wireless connection. Our usual technique for submarine photos was to attach the camera to a 6-foot aluminum snow rake handle or a
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longer lightweight spar from a derelict Sunfish sailboat, using one or more of the GoPro’s pricey but handy plastic fittings. For good photo fishing you need clear water and plenty of sunlight. When I went stalking a trophy on overcast days, the flat low-contrast photos were less than inspiring. Sometimes, it’s a bit tricky to tell if you’re actually taking a photo of that fish you see down there, and you may need to adjust your camera angle on the pole. Luckily, the camera has such a wide angle that you have a pretty good chance of capturing some sort of scene. Reflections and odd lighting effects made unexpected, and often extraordinary, effects underwater in some of my shots. I had great fun paddling around in the shallows “fishing” from my canoe with a camera. Taking their pictures was easier on the fish than catch and release, too. Colors under water quickly wash out to become blue or green as you descend. Nearly all my underwater photos were from a dinghy or dock at depths of less than 4 feet. To go deeper, you may need to install a red filter. GoPro makes several according to the depth you plan to shoot at. On the surface, watch out for water drops on the case in front of the lens and fogging when you pull the camera out of cold water.
H
olding the selfie stick or pole steady can be a problem. When I was stalking fish in shallows, I sometimes set the pole end and camera on the bottom near the subject. You may want to adjust your angle to look outward rather than straight down if you’re floating along in the dinghy “trolling” for a big one. On land, the compact wide angle camera with its amazing depth of field can produce some unexpected but interesting effects. When I think of other cameras on the market, the GoPro comes closest to capturing the images produced by the human eye, although it
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This photo shows a smart phone in the foreground as I use the Go Pro app to frame the video of the boat under sail.
LIFL
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larryslatrines.com Hornell, NY September /October 2016~
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A one hour documentary video titled “Lake Ontario A Quest For Hope,” explores how Lake Ontario became the most polluted of the five Great Lakes and what is being done to improve its condition. https://vimeo.com/165682289/0d5fb6b7c6
Top: An aerial view offers a glimpse of the fall colors. Left: This photo of a bass was taken underwater.
does have limits when it comes to light and dark contrasts in a scene. Turning off the spot focus mode helps a little. And shooting at the highest available resolution gives you some cropping options later on. Sometimes you can adjust colors and contrasts during the editing process, but you may find your sky overexposed and washed out or your forest shadows too dark to show anything. It’s extremely effective at showing sweeping landscapes, spectacular skyscapes or dramatic crowd shots. I have found
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my shadow (or knee or hand or foot!) sometimes intruding on the scene, however. And it’s not so hot for very close up “macro” work. The GoPro is fairly forgiving of excessive pan speeds when taking video, but it can be a challenge to keep the horizon straight. (See photos of sailing.) If you don’t want the fisheye effect (which sometimes adds to the drama of the photo) place the horizon in the center of the frame. The edit process can also remove some of this distortion. I recently saw an article in a sailing magazine about using a kite with a GoPro to take photos of a yacht under sail. We haven’t tried that yet, but it might be an experiment in our future. Kites and small balloons are both possibilities for stunning aerial shots. And then there’s the killer application for GoPro photography, the small UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, aka drone). These things with their stabilizing camera mounts are not cheap. You can get a stable, easy-to-fly kite for a modest outlay, but a new drone will set you back at least $600, plus a couple hundred more for the gimble mount. Drones have a limited battery life, and must be used in a respectful and sensible manner, in accordance with federal and local regulations. You can
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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2016 PHOTO CONTEST Deadline: August 31, 2016
Categories: First, Second and Third Place prize plaques, plus publication in the November/December 2016 magazine issue, are awarded for: • Color • Black-and-White • Digitally Altered*
• Honorable Mentions are also awarded for color, black-and-white, and digitally altered. • Entries are limited to: – 5 for Black-and-White – 5 for Color – 5 for Digitally Altered* See below for the definition for “digitally altered.”
• There is also a Grand Prize to best overall color or black-andwhite photograph
Submission
get into trouble and hurt people (or other living creatures) with even a small drone. Never fly one over a crowd and be careful around wildlife. (There are a number of videos of drones being attacked by large birds – a hazardous business for both parties.) Although we eventually purchased another video camera for our project, the GoPro has been great fun, and I plan to do more “fishing” in our creek next summer and maybe try for more shipwreck photos, too.
Check it out!
For more information and fun with Go Pro shots (including the use of phone to set up the shots), check out Sara B’s video at sarab.brownroad.com/video/sb2015
LIFL
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– where the image was taken (all photographs must be taken in the • Submit photos by e-mail: mark@ Finger Lakes Region) – any other information you’d like lifeinthefingerlakes.com to include about that image – Please send the highest resolution photo that you have. Be • Photographs that have careful when e-mailing – somealready been published in other times e-mail programs will try magazines or newspapers, either to downsize the image to make online or in print, are not eligible. mailing faster. This does not include postings on • Submit photos as prints (if no digital version is available) All entries should be sent through U.S. postal mail or parcel post. Prints and CD/ DVDs will not be returned. Life in the Finger Lakes Photo Contest P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 • Identify each photo and/or digital image. On a separate sheet that is typed, not hand-written, please include the following: – photographer’s name, address, phone, e-mail address – the image name – the category each image is to be judged
social media.
• Only winners will be notified before the November/ December Issue is published. Please refer to that issue to see the results of the photo contest. * Digitally Altered images are those that have used digital manipulation using the following methods: excessive dodging and burning; excessive color saturation; filtering using solarization; messotint and duotone; stitched panoramas; high dynamic range (HDR) images. Send submissions no later than August 31, 2016
Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for complete information and rules
September /October 2016~
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Day Trip
Photo courtesy Macedon Village Pride Committee
exploring the finger lakes
Erie Canal
Nature Therapy
Story and photos by Laurel C. Wemett
T
oday’s Erie Canal is not your great-grandfather’s Erie Canal, nor for that matter is it the one that your grandfather knew. The original canal, still referred to as “Clinton’s Ditch,” was such a commercial success that enlargement began fairly soon after it opened in 1825. Those changes were completed in 1862 and the waterway became known as the Enlarged Erie Canal. At the beginning of the 20th century the canal was altered again and renamed the Barge Canal. The canal reverted to its original Erie Canal name in 1992. One of the few locations in New York where all three versions of the Erie Canal can be seen side by side is in Macedon, Wayne County. For over two decades, local volunteers have uncovered abandoned canal locks and bridges, adapting these
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areas for recreational use through initiative and hard work. Most recently, a new nature trail was designed to attract butterflies on land between the current Erie Canal Lock 30 and a portion of “Clinton’s Ditch.” A vision takes flight “I do not know of any other butterfly nature trails along the Erie Canal except for ours,” says Marie Cramer, who helped bring Macedon’s Butterfly Nature Trail to fruition. The new trail opened in August 2012 and was dedicated the following month. “Anybody can walk on the trail,” explains Cramer, the former mayor of the Village of Macedon. “It is friendly to individuals, such as older people who use walkers.” Cramer credits Mark DeCracker of Trail Works’ Forever Wild for Everyone project and businessman
John Cieslinski for the idea. When Cieslinski, owner of Books ETC. on Main Street in Macedon, visited the location he saw its natural beauty. “I could feel the sacredness there,” says Cieslinski. He recalls DeCracker’s encouragement and says, “Mark was a resource and inspiration.” DeCracker oversaw the development of the Trail of Hope, a handicap accessible trail in Lyons. The Macedon site, on the land west of the boat launch, is owned by the state. Permission was sought for the project and approved by the Erie Canal Corporation. Cramer was helped by a former village trustee, Marcy Frey, then executive director of Macedon Partners Association, Inc., which worked to foster an economically healthy commercial district in the village. Cramer said, “Marcy had the vision and gave the (continued on page 87)
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Macedon’s Canal Heritage Within a short stretch along the Erie Canal and Erie Canalway Trail, there are several historic sites and canal structures from the 1800s. Nearby locations include: Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 60: Off Quaker Road, between Walworth and O’Neil Roads, Lock 60 was opened in 1841 as a single chamber lock with a 10-foot lift, replacing the original 1822 Clinton’s Ditch lock. It was doubled in 1874 and the north chamber was lengthened at the eastern end in 1888. Lock 60 became overgrown after all Wayne County locks were abandoned in 1917. In the 1990s volunteers worked to clean it up. Lock 60 shared the “2013 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Award of Excellence” with another nearby canal location, Change Bridge #39.
Change Bridge #39, also known as Gallup’s Bridge Just west of the O’Neil Bridge are the abutments for Gallup’s Bridge #39 of the Enlarged Erie Canal. It was a combination highway and towpath change bridge. The change bridges allowed the towline and the mules, horses and young boys that walked with the animals, to cross and re-cross the canal when the towpath switched banks, as it did at this location.
Mud Creek Aqueduct is located in Aqueduct Park, just west of the Village of Palmyra and north of Route 31, adjacent to Erie Canal Lock No. 29. The wooden floor timbers of the aqueduct have been removed and today the structure is a spillway for the current canal. It also carries the New York State Canal Trail over Ganargua Creek. Aldrich Change Bridge, Aqueduct Park is the only change truss bridge still in existence in New York State. Built in 1858, it is one of only two surviving bridges from the first enlargement of the Erie Canal. Originally located at the weighlock in Rochester, the bridge moved to the Macedon-Palmyra Town line in 1880. It became a farm bridge until approximately 1970, when it was abandoned. Washed from its abutments by ice and high water in 1996, it was salvaged, dismantled, stored and finally re-erected in Aqueduct Park in 2003-04. An award of commendation from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor was presented to the Friends of Aldridge Change Bridge in 2014.
Wayneport Union Burying Ground is a small cemetery located on the west side of Wayneport Road, just north of the canal. Buried here are 26 canal workers, victims of an epidemic in 1846. It is the only known site where canal laborers were buried en masse. The actual gravesite is unmarked, but in 1992 a historical marker was dedicated here.
For more information, visit macedontown.net, trailworks.org, and the Lock 30-Butterfly Nature Trail Volunteers page on Facebook. John Cieslinki can be reached at 585-474-4116.
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marketplace
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
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Day Trip
After
Before Photo courtesy Macedon Village Pride Committee
(continued from page 84)
Macedon Village Pride Committee the support needed to accomplish this project for all to enjoy.” “You couldn’t even see the canal,” recalls Bill Lawton, a volunteer on the Butterfly Trail from the start. At the entrance to the trail, a plaque lists
those who rallied to clear the land and to provide materials and financial help to develop the trail. After excavation, volunteers graded the earth, tilled the meadow and seeded it with grass and wild flowers to attract butterflies. “Butterflies like water,” explains
Photo courtesy Macedon Village Pride Committee
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Lawton. “They have to keep their wings moist.” Lawton, who checks the trail weekly, is excited to see milkweed plants in abundance this year, since they are known to attract monarch butterflies. “Monarch butterflies rely on the milkweed, lay eggs under leaves, and when hatched to caterpillar stage they eat the leaves,” explains the Xerox retiree. He was among those who built frames for raised flower beds planted with butterfly bushes. “Bill sees the true value of history and nature preservation,” says Cramer. “Without Bill in this community, the Butterfly Nature Trail, Lock 60, Gallup Bridge area and Aldrich Change Bridge would not look as beautiful as they do today!” (continued on page 89) Cutting the ribbon to the future site of the butterfly trail, (from left to right) volunteer Bill Lawton, New York State Canal Corporation Deputy Director John Callaghan, former Macedon Village Mayor Marie Cramer, former Macedon Village Trustee Marcy Frey and New York State Canal Corporation Director of Special Projects John Joyce.
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marketplace
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Day Trip Photo courtesy Macedon Village Pride Committee
Above: A view of the flowers along the Erie Canal in Macedon. Right: A sculpture of a Native American Peace Queen entitled “Jegohnseswe” stands near the Butterfly Nature Trail entrance.
(continued from page 87)
Along the trail “Free nature therapy” is how Cramer describes the trail, where families and individuals are now safe to enjoy the Canal Park at Lock 30. “Prior to this, you could drive back with your car or truck from the entrance to the point with overgrown trees and bushes. It became an unsafe place because unusual activities were occurring day and night.” Near the entrance of the one-quarter mile Butterfly Trail is a chainsaw sculpture of a Native American Peace Queen entitled “Jegohnseswe,” donated by Richard, Sr. and Carol Elaine Deys, a couple who shared in the vision for the trail. The figure, holding a butterfly, was crafted by Jeff Cook, and stones at its base, some painted with butterflies, create an impromptu rock garden. The Canal Park at Lock 30 provides overnight camping for Erie Canal or Canalway Trail users, picnic areas, and a boat ramp. A playground was added in 2015. The Butterfly Trail offers an opportunity to walk, jog, cycle, and hike along the man-made waterway. Birders, fishing enthusiasts and photographers enjoy (continued on page 91)
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marketplace
Accommodations 1819
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Day Trip 1885 Victorian on 5 peaceful acres, patios and porches One mile from Main Street, 1.5 miles from the lake Five romantic rooms/suites with en suite bathrooms, double whirlpool tubs, fireplaces Three course gourmet breakfast, evening dessert Individual air conditioning, free internet/WiFi, Cable TV/VCR/ DVD, many other amenities
3179 State Route 21 South, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-396-0375 • www.SutherlandHouse.com
Finger Lakes Mill Creek Cabins 2382 Parmenter Road Lodi, NY 14860
Above: A catamaran heads east along the Erie Canal toward Lock 30 in Macedon. Below: Benches have been provided by local families to honor loved ones.
607-582-7673 Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 40 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.
www.fingerlakescabins.com
(continued from page 89)
a natural environment. Children can find a “leprechaun house” at the base of a large tree. Canalside benches are great for viewing boats or the cyclists traversing the Erie Canalway Trail. The benches were purchased by local families to honor loved ones. “Just sit and the beauty arrives,” says Cieslinski. There are both bluebird and butterfly houses. Signs provide information about birds, butterfly species and their life cycles. Youngsters in a 2013 Palmyra-Macedon summer learning program observed the butterfly metamorphosis process at school and then released the butterflies at the nature trail after each student read the signs. The trail is included in the Wegmans “Passport to Family Wellness” program for Wayne County. Hikers complete a passport after visiting numerous trails. Each trail head has a unique symbol to trace or rub into a passport book. “Visitors have a unique experience,” says Frey, calling the trail a destination. “It gives Macedon a higher profile and visibility,” agrees Cieslinski.
The trail has already been recognized by the New York State Conference of Mayors with a “Best Practices” award. “If you take the time to walk the trail you will see why it is special,” says Frey. A largely abandoned park has been beautified and transformed into an educational resource for the local intermediate school, where science teachers can access the habitat of the butterflies. “It is a peaceful sanctuary and it would not be there if it were not for Marie driving the project and finding so many volunteers,” says Frey. After more than a century and a half in existence, the Village of Macedon has recently taken steps to dissolve. However, there is every expectation that the Butterfly Nature Trail – a grassroots effort of the Macedon Village Pride Committee, Trail Works, Inc., village officials, businesses, visitors, residents and volunteers – will continue to attract people of all ages and be recognized for what it has achieved. September /October 2016 ~
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marketplace
Shopping & Services
We have gently-used
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Finger Lakes Tourism (continued from page 26)
Lukacs Pottery Shop for unique, functional art at a working pottery studio 315-483-4357 7060 State Route 14 Sodus Point, NY 14555 lukacspottery.com
H A R RY M CC U E
Ford on Mill Creek, oil on panel, 16" x 20"
faculty.ithaca.edu/hmccue •
607.582.6252
its mission – now! This approach has proven to be very effective and the plan is to continue this method as the organization works towards completing the entire project in the years to come. In this high-tech world of information galore, accessible anywhere and everywhere, you may ask: Why create a “place” when everything can be found at your fingertips? Let me ask you this – When was the last time you told a story with passion or excitement about something you discovered through an Internet search, rather than something you experienced live and in the flesh? I realize that not everyone can experience all there is out there and that technology is fascinating and necessary, but why settle for a quick search when your life can be transformed through learning, experiencing and ascertaining something that you never have before. The FLM&A will be just that. A place to go to that will certainly change over time, but will always portray the essence of the Finger Lakes through immersion, education and encouraging discovery. Over the next year, the FLM&A staff and volunteers will begin an intensive data collection process to gather exhibit content. Connecting with each lake and its surrounding communities is an essential task that the FLM&A must undertake to effectively portray the appropriate stories and messaging before we enter into the next phase of exhibit design. If you are interested in assisting the FLM&A in collecting this information, or know of a person or organization we should consider contacting, please send an e-mail to npayne@fingerlakesmuseum.org. As a lover, inhabitant, visitor, or however you might associate yourself to the region, I know you share my passion – passion for a region that is second to none and deserves recognition for all time. My hope is that I’ve conveyed to you not just the “why” for the Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium, or what drives my passion in bringing it to fruition, but rather truly inspired you to want to learn more about the world that exists outside of yourself. September /October 2016 ~
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marketplace
Culture & Attractions
MONICA’S PIES Famous for our Grape Pies Available Year Round
Local fruits to luscious creams we have your favorite! Call to order yours! A variety of pies available daily also chicken pot pies, quiche, jams, jellies & gifts.
Open 7 days a week, 9AM-6PM 7599 Rte, 21, Naples
585-374-2139
www.monicaspies.com
Colonial Belle Cruising The Historic Erie Canal Fun for th ut e Entire s Abo s Family Ask U e Cruise m e h T Our
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585-223-9470 • colonialbelle.com
400 Packett’s Landing • Fairport, NY
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Naples – Wineries, Artists and more Quality Fresh Fruits & Veggies of the Season
marketplace ld’s Woratest Gre pe Pie Graontest C
Naples Grape Festival
• The Largest open air produce market in the Finger Lakes
September 24th & 25th 10am-5pm Rain or Shine
• Enjoy Naples Grapes & The Fall Foliage • Breads, Pies & Cookies Baked Fresh Daily
Rte 21 in Naples Village on the grounds of Memorial Town Hall and the Naples High School.
• 100’s Of Kinds of Jam’s ‘N’ Jellies... (Visit our Sampling Area)
Featuring Finger Lakes Finest wineries and micro breweries
• N.Y.S. Honey & Maple Syrup • N.Y.S. Cheddar Cheese
Over 100 vendors for fine art, crafts, food and local products.
• Browse Our Wine & Gift Shop... Handcrafted Gifts From Across the U.S.
Music schedule and information on www.naplesgrapefest.org
• Handmade Amish Lawn Furniture
Commercial sponsors wishing to market their organization to Thousands of guests should contact Donna Scott at 585-490-1339 or naplesgrapefest@yahoo.com
Open May - Nov Daily 8am-7pm
S. Main Street, Naples 585-374-2380
www.josephswaysidemarket.com
Wohlschlegel’s
TOUR IT
“State of the Art” Sugarhouse. Hike the Sugarbush, Sweet view
TASTE IT
Tastings of Maple Syrup. Maple Cream and More!
Naples Maple Farm
Garry and Bobbi Wohlschlegel
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8064 Coates Road Naples, NY 14512
Maple with Moxie
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wohlschlegelsnaplemaplefarm.com wohlschlegelsnaplemaplefarm@yahoo.com
Assorted Maple Products from our Sugarhouse Store From Our Finger Lakes Forest to Your Table, Call to schedule a tour
(585) 775-7770
Bristol Views Bed & Breakfast 6
6932 County Rd. 12 Naples, NY 14512
585-374-8875
www.bristolviews.com Henry and Barb Owens
Your home away from home, located high above Canandaigua Lake with awesome views. Hiking, biking, wineries & more await you. We also offer a beautiful wedding site that will fulfill your dreams. Let us help you discover the Finger Lakes!
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September /October 2016 ~
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marketplace
Culture & Attractions
Bringing art and people together since 1973 JOHNSON MUSEUM OF ART Cornell University 114 Central Avenue, Ithaca Tuesdays–Sundays, 10AM–5PM Free admission! 607 255-6464 museum.cornell.edu @HFJMuseum
www.schuylerhistory.org 607-535-9741 108 N. Catharine St., Montour Falls, NY 14865 Historic 1828 BRICK TAVERN MUSEUM Open Thursday 1:30 to 7:00 pm •••
Tues,Wed, Fri 10am-4pm
Sat & Sun • Noon-5pm Oct. 1 – Oct. 31st Family Fun stuff, pumpkin painting, hay rides, sheet maze and more!
EATING…EXPLORING…ENJOYING ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED! 800.979.3370
Deadline: August 31, 2016
50 varieties of heirloom, edible and decorative pumpkins and gourds available from Labor Day on.
Categories:
315-568-2379 meadevillefarm.com 1911 Auburn Rd (Rts 5 & 20), Seneca Falls
Geneva History Museum
2016 PHOTO CONTEST
Rose Hill Mansion Johnston House
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize plaques plus publication in the November/December 2015 issue
FLFoodTours.com
HISTORIC ITHACA’S
• Best Color • Best Black-and-White • Best Digitally Altered* • Grand prize to best overall photograph (Photographs may also be selected for honorable mention and for photo illustration)
Submit photos by e-mailing mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com If submitting through USPS, mail to: FREE • SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Telling Geneva’s Stories three museums ∗ tours ∗ exhibits ∗ programs ∗ events www.genevahistoricalsociety.com 315-789-5151
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WORKSHOPS • EXHIBITS • VENDORS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT HISTORICITHACA.ORG
Life in the Finger Lakes Photo Contest P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for complete information and rules
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Since 1982
1826 Palmyra, NY
Historic Maritime District
Ghost hunts all year. Call (315) 597-6981
Open 1-5pm • Monday thru Sunday
West 1st Street Pier, Oswego 315-342-0480 • www.hlwmm.org
Open 7 Days a Week April through Dec 10am-4pm (Sunday 1-4pm) 23 East Main St, LeRoy, NY 585-768-7433 • www.jellogallery.org
for information, prices and reservations on all events.
Aug. 27th • Ghost Walk Sept. 16th • Historic Palmyra Ghost Walk
ANTIQUE WIRELESS MUSEUM
Sept.17th • CanalTown Days Historic Palmyria’s murder, mayhem & tragedy walk
Experience Two Centuries of Communication Technology Titanic Radio Room, 1925 Radio Store First Transistor Radio, Working Transmitters First Cell Phone and Much, Much More!
Oct. 8th • Sibyl Phelps’s 121st Birthday Party and Individual Readings Oct. 15th • Famous Historic Palmyra Cemetary Walk
Museums open 10:30 to 4:30 until Oct. 31, Nov. 1 – May 1 Tues. – Thurs. 11-4 p.m.
Open: Tuesday 10am-3pm & Saturday 1-5pm
www.HistoricPalmyraNY.com
6925 State Route 5, Bloomfield, New York 14469 585-257-5119 • www.antiquewireless.org
FALL for the ARTS with music and more at BVT!
Sept. 17 - Paulsen Baker Band Sept. 28-Oct. 2 - Autumn Leaves *A musical revue* Oct. 15 - A Taste of the Finger Lakes ! Oct. 26-30 - Mystery Radio Theater Nov. 6 - Fiddlers of the Genesee
www.bvtnaples.org 585-374-9032
Fall Heritage Festival September 24
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
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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
585 . 905 . 0201 www.nolansonthelake.com
Workshops & Classes 71 S. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 585-394-0030 www.prrgallery.com
Love x 2 Crown Jewelry 142 South Main St. Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-3115 mycrowndowntown.com
A Finger Lakes landmark for classic gifts, extraordinary accessories for home and garden, handcrafted jewelry, apparel, fine stationery and whims w h i m ses! ie s! 56 South Main St. • Downtown Canandaigua Open Daily • 585-394-6528
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marketplace
Camping
Hejamada Campground & RV Park 295 N Main Street Canandaigua, NY 585-394-1472 www.grangerhomestead.org
Fri. Sept. 23, 2016 School Program: 9am-2pm
Public Program: 2pm-4:30pm
Sat. Sept. 24, 2016 Public Program: 9am-4:30pm
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! A Real Coin shop!
Certified and Raw Coins and Currency Gold and Silver coins and bars
BUY • SELL • TRADE Visit our store. Open 6 days a week We also do home and deposit box appraisals Smitty’s Coins and Currency 80 S Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-3650 • www.smittyscoins.com 10 years on Main Street Canandaigua - small city friendly, big city selection!
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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September /October 2016 ~
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Real Estate
DON’T BUY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITHOUT TALKING TO
MARK MALCOLM II
“HE’S GOT A CORNER ON THE MARKET”
marketplace
The Trimmer House B & B circa 1891: in the top 3 B & B's on the north end of Keuka Lake according to Trip Advisor! This beautifully-appointed, completely furnished bed and breakfast, in the heart of the Finger Lakes, is absolutely turn-key, and there is nothing to update or improve upon! Five richly furnished suites, plus a self-contained owner's apartment. An impressive revenue stream, in a glorious area to live in and/or to retire to. Now Priced at $325,000. Keuka Lake-A 2002 constructed contemporary/ranch with a walk-out and completely independent lower level at water’s edge. 95’ of lake frontage, permanent dock, gorgeous cherry kitchen up, which makes up only a portion of the great room, with vaulted ceilings, numerous custom built-ins, and another kitchen downstairs. Natural gas fireplace, master suite on the main level, attached garage, and a boat garage. Now Priced at $789,000. Seneca Lake-Upscale Lake Home on Seneca’s Western Shore. 3/4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 120’ of lake frontage. So many perks, including the spacious master suite, game room/office, sun room, decks with hot tub, boathouse, and the huge garage/workshop. All of this and more, on a gracefully sloping 1/2 acre lot near many of the most notable Finger Lakes Wineries. Now Priced at $550,000.
Mark Malcolm II “KEUKA LAKE’S TOP AGENT” 315-536-6163 Direct
email: mmalcolmii@aol.com
Website: MARKMALCOLM.COM (w/mobile app)
Move-in ready camp in The Finger Lakes with GREAT possibilities! 8082 Shadow Tree Ln Avoca, NY 14809 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin in the woods. Well, septic, electric baseboard heat & gas fireplace make this year-round possible. It’s fully furnished down to the silverware! Pretty views on your own 875 sq ft and 5.33 acres lot. New $6200 metal roof 12/2014. Now priced at $78,500.
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Contact Lorri Rouse at Lorri@NothnagleHTC.com or 607-794-0901
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Real Estate
Lake and Farm Real Estate Sales FL Land Trust
Private and Pristine 335’ft of west Shore of Cayuga Lake fronting private,wooded 4.2 acres with a beautiful 4 bedroom, 3170 SqFt. Log Home, plus a pleasing lakeshore guest cabin; two bay garage. $ 689,000.00
marketplace
Rogers
Spacious 3 bedroom Ranch on a large private, prestigious lot fronted by 147’ west shore of Cayuga Lake. Convenient to Seneca Falls, Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca. $ 499,000.00
97 FALL STREET, PO BOX 386 * SENECA FALLS, NY 13148 315-568-9404 (OFFICE) • 315-246-3997 (CELL) SENECAYUGA@AOL.COM • WWW.SENECAYUGA.COM
4943 Rockefeller Road, Owasco $374,900 38’ of Level Year Round East side Owasco Lakefront. 4 bedroom, 21/2 bath split level home. Formal dining room and large kitchen on main floor. Large living room w/fireplace. 4 season sun room off the back of the house leading to a 2 level deck. 2 car garage under. The second floor has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, including a master suit. The basement has a laundry room, family room with a pool table and a large “shop” area. Plenty of room for a dock, boat hoist and swimming. Furnished.
KEUKA LAKE $1,200,000 (525 Mill Street) Keuka Lake opportunity! Established marina & residence on over 440 ft of level frontage. 2005 built 3 bdrm, 2 bath Cape Cod style home with a wonderful, open floor plan. 82 slip marina with office and bathhouse building, shop, floating docks with water and power, ramp, boardwalk rec area, and more! Purchase together for a great price- or also available for separate sales!
Dick Murphy** (315)270-2002 NothnagleHTC.com R292342
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In 1981, she moved to Florida where her sister Cheryl Schoonmaker, also an artist, was living then. Together, they attended The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. She moved back to Auburn in 1985 and worked as a graphic artist at Cayuga Community College designing catalogs, brochures and posters. In 1989 she married Roger Jordan and the couple raised their sons Oliver, born in 1990, and Abraham, 1992, in nearby Weedsport. Jordan, who is now divorced, worked from home while her boys were growing up. She started a graphic design business and got her first commission to paint a mural at the American Legion in Moravia, New York, in 1995. Another artist had started the mural, a historical depiction of foreign war scenes, and suddenly died. When Jordan’s grandmother was asked to finish the project, she suggested her granddaughter instead. Jordan, with no large-works experience, embraced the challenge. She was immediately comfortable with big scale painting. Ten years and many murals later, Jordan produced her largest mural, a 33-foot-wide by 22-foot-tall image of former Erie Canal Lock 52 in Port Byron featuring her sons as models.
create heritage murals during the 10th Biennial Global Mural Conference in Fairport). The expo, a week-long conference feature free to the public, is organized by Amy Colburn, an accomplished Bristol muralist. Colburn knows Jordan’s work well. “She has extensive experience painting historic structures like buildings, barns and boats,” says Colburn and “excels in her ability to create realistic details, especially in
Art in Motion! Dawn Jordan’s Dragon of Junkshire, an original comedic marionette show for all ages, will be performed during the 31st annual TomatoFest in downtown Auburn on Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10. For details and show times, visit cnytomatofest.org.
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Art preserving history Jordan uses premium-quality exterior latex over a quality primer, and then coats with a sealer for ultraviolet ray protection. She has painted directly on brick, cinder block, concrete and wood but her next mural will be on Evolon, a strong synthetic fabric like a flexible canvas, later affixed and permanently sealed to a surface. Her project, commissioned by the Montezuma Historical Society, will depict the Richmond Aqueduct, a “water bridge” in Montezuma that carried the enlarged Erie Canal waters over the Seneca River. It was partially dismantled in 1917. Jordan is painting the mural in September at a Mural Expo (under a large tent alongside other muralists commissioned to
these circumstances where historic reference material is lacking.” Hosted at the Woodcliff Hotel, the conference theme is “Preserving Heritage Through Community Art” and the large works, utilizing 16-foot-wide by 7-foot-tall rolls of Evolon, will highlight the historical significance of the Erie Canal. The finished murals will be installed in the communities that sponsored them. When completed, Jordan’s mural will be displayed in Montezuma Heritage Park, another magnificent and enduring illustration of our region’s rich cultural history. Murals are a public art trend in the Finger Lakes and have become Jordan’s distinctive hallmark as an artist.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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Index of Advertisers September/October 2016
COMPANY....................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL
COMPANY.......................... PAGE.... PHONE..............WEBSITE / E-MAIL
Antique Revival.................................... 65.....800-780-7330........antiquerevival.com
Hunt Hollow Ski Club..........................31.....585-374-5428........hunthollow.com
Belhurst Castle..................................... 23.....315-781-0201..........belhurst.com
I-Wood-Care..........................................71.....800-721-7715.........iwoodc.com
Brew Central......................................... 48.......................................brewcentralny.com
The Inn on the Lake........................... 39.....800-228-2801........theinnonthelake.com
Bristol Harbour.................................... 43.....800-288-8248........bristolharbour.com
Ithaca Farmers Market.........................81.....607-273-7109.........ithacamarket.com
Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures.....75.......................................bristolmountain.com
Jack Greco Custom Furniture...........69.....585-328-3350........jackgreco.com
Caprini Realtors....................................19.....585-330-8258........caprinirealtors.com
The Jewelbox........................................ 79.....800-711-7279.........fingerlakescharm.com
Caves Kitchens..................................... 39.....585-478-4636........cavesmillwork.com
Kendal at Ithaca...................................C3.....877-915-7633.........kai.kendal.org/FL
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail................ 56-57.....800-684-5217.........cayugawinetrail.com
Kitchen Theatre Company................ 34.....607-272-0570.........kitchentheatre.org
CB Craft Brewers................................. 43.....585-624-4386........custombrewcrafters.com
Larry’s Latrines......................................81.....607-324-5015.........larryslatrines.com
Chemung Canal Trust......................... 49.....800-836-3711.........chemungcanal.com
New Energy Works.............................C4.....585-924-3860........newenergyworks.com
Clifton Springs
Ontario County Historical Society.... 76.....585-394-4975........ochs.org
Chamber of Commerce......................17.....315-462-8200.........cliftonspringschamber.com
Rasa Spa................................................ 34.....607-273-1740.........rasaspa.com
CNY Arts.................................................31.....315-435-2155..........cnyarts.org
Rochester Fringe Festival......................7.......................................rochesterfringe.com
Cobtree Vacation Rentals.................. 74.....315-789-1144..........cobtree.com
Rochester Regional Health ............... 47.....585-922-4000........rochesterregionalhealth.org
Corning Museum of Glass................ 35.....800-732-6845........cmog.org
Rooster Hill Vineyards........................ 35.....315-536-4773.........roosterhill.com
Cricket on the Hearth......................... 79.....585-385-2420........cricketonthehearth.com
Rosamond Gifford Zoo.......................13.....315-435-8511..........rosamondgiffordzoo.org
del LAGO Resort & Casino...................9.......................................dellagoresort.com
Route 96 Power & Paddle..................13.....607-659-7693........powerandpaddle.com
Downtown Ithaca Alliance.................41.....607-277-8679.........downtownithaca.com
The Salvation Army............................. 32.....888-434-1391
Elmira Corning Regional Airport.......71.......................................ecairport.com
Seager Marine.......................................41.....585-394-1372.........seagermarine.com
Farm Sanctuary.................................... 27.....607-583-2225........farmsanctuary.org
Seneca County Chamber.................. 33.....800-732-1848.........fingerlakescentral.com
Ferris Hills..............................................C2.....585-393-0410.........ferrishills.com
SignLanguage Inc.................................16.....585-237-2620........signlanguageinc.com
Finger Lakes from Space Poster....... 29.....800-331-7323.........atwatervineyards.com
Smith Boys Marina.............................. 46.......................................smithboys.com
Finger Lakes Jewelry..............................2.......................................fingerlakesjewelry.com
Timber Frames.....................................69.....585-374-6405........timberframesinc.com
Finger Lakes Tram................................16.....315-986-8090........fingerlakestram.com
Tioga Downs Casino Resort.............. 22.....888-946-8464........tiogadowns.com
Fireplace Fashions................................17.....877-409-6555........fireplacefashions.com
Wagner Vineyards............................... 79.....866-924-6378........wagnervineyards.com
German Brothers Marina Inc............64.....585-394-4000........germanbrothers.com
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel............... 63.....607-535-6116..........watkinsglenharborhotel.com
Granger Homestead............................11.....585-394-1472.........grangerhomestead.org
Wild Birds Unlimited.......................... 74.....877-266-4928........sapsuckerwoods.com
Greater Rochester Int’l Airport............5.......................................rocairport.com
Wizarding Weekend............................10.......................................wizardingweekend.com
Halco.........................................................3.....800-533-3367........halcoenergy.com Halsey’s Restaurant............................. 29.....315-789-4070.........halseysgeneva.com The Highlands at Pittsford..................21.....585-586-7600........highlandsatpittsford.org Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca......................4.....877-STAY-HGI.........ithaca.hgi.com
MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING Accommodations....................Pg. 90-91
Real Estate for Sale.............Pg. 100-101
Camping......................................... Pg. 99
Seneca Lake Wine Trail............... Pg. 86
Hotel Ithaca.......................................... 65.....607-272-1000.........thehotelithaca.com
Canandaigua........................... Pg. 98-99
Shopping & Services.............. Pg. 92-93
Humane Society
Culture & Attractions....... Pg. 94, 96-97
Wine, Spirits & Brews.................. Pg. 88
of Schuyler County............................. 76.....607-210-4263.........schuylerhumane.org
LIFL
Download the DIGITAL MAGAZINE at lifeinthefingerlakes.com
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Naples....................................... Pg. 94-95
September /October 2016~
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Off the Easel
creating art
Living Art with
Jordan produced her largest mural, a 33-foot-wide by 22-foot-tall image of former Erie Canal Lock 52 in Port Byron featuring her sons as models.
Dawn Jordan by Nancy E. McCarthy
A
uburn artist Dawn Jordan lives and breathes art. By day, she works full-time at MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora as a professional artisan, hand-painting unique furniture pieces in their signature style. Jordan has worked at the iconic home design company’s bucolic compound near Cayuga Lake off and on for a dozen years. After “office hours,” she creates her own art in an unusual home studio. Jordan lovingly restored a condemned building (formerly a pizza place) in 2008 as her living and creative space. Best known for large work heritage murals, Jordan has produced so many she’s stopped counting. The artist also creates fine art paintings, designs theatre sets for local school plays and constructs string puppets. “If your art is your passion, you can make a living as an artist,” says Jordan. Many of Jordan’s family members are working artists of various genres: fine art, caricature portraits, pottery, graphic design, wood-working. Her own creative journey began at age 10. Jordan discovered a 1929 vintage craft book, Marionettes: Easy to Make! Fun to Use!, in her grandparents’ attic and then saw a live string puppet show. She started making marionettes and it literally changed her life. “It was my way of telling stories with art,” Jordan says.
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Her captivation was cultivated by her grandmother, a prolific fine art landscape artist who taught her how to sew puppet costumes; and her grandfather, a boat builder, who built a puppet stage. Jordan still loves creating marionettes. She has over 50 now, all about 30 inches high, made of papier mâché and cloth. Most comfortable out of the spotlight, Jordan enjoys pulling the strings as a puppeteer behind the curtain. She writes and produces shows which include making puppets, stage and sets, and recording music and narration. Her newest, Dragon of Junkshire, debuts in September during Auburn’s Tomatofest. All in the family While Jordan appears to have inherited her creative genes, she has two associate degrees and did formally study art. After graduating from Auburn High School in 1978, she attended Cayuga Community College and, as an exchange student, studied art in London at Ealing College of (continued on page 102) Higher Education. Watch Jordan, and other muralists from all over the world, create new heritage murals at the Mural Expo tent during the 10th Biennial Global Mural Conference at Woodcliff Hotel & Spa in Fairport, New York, on Monday, September 19 through Thursday, September 22 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Friday, September 23 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.). It’s free and open to the public! View art in action, visit vendors, browse art booths and enjoy refreshments. For more information, visit gmc2016.com.
~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com
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LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES
30Years serving great clients in the Finger Lakes
T
Keuka Lake and was given a spontaneous
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 • VOL. 16, NO. 5
personal tour by the gracious owner, who just
raved about her experience with NEW. My
goodness, what a beautiful home! What a
pleasure it was to stumble across such an
exuberant example of NEW’s design/build.
— Tom, Tom Breen Design
newenergyworks.com | Farmington, NY | 585.924.3860
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FALL IN FOCUS • RUSTIC REVOLUTION • HOPSHIRE BREWERY’S CRAFT BEER CRAZE
home that New Energy Works built on
Photo by Matt Wittmeyer
Late in the summer, I happened upon a
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