Life in the Finger Lakes SepOct 2018 by Fahy-Williams Publishing

LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES

Rafting in Letchworth State Park, p. 56 • Autumn Road Trip, p. 50

RAFTING IN LETCHWORTH STATE PARK • WINE • AUTUMN ROAD TRIP

The Region’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine Since 2001

September/October 2018

Wine A Finger Lakes

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 • VOL. 18, NO. 5

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JOIN US FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AT FERRIS HILLS Peg Rayburn Drive, Canandaigua

Thursday, September 13th

Car Show

We welcome you to bring your classic car or to come as a spectator. Either way, you do not want to miss our annual car show! With a cookout, music and the Pink Ladies, a fun day will be had by all, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, September 18th

Music with B’ Sharp

Enjoy a glass of wine as you listen to the live music performed by B’ Sharp beginning at 3 p.m. Nancy and Bill will get your toes tapping with their vocal and saxophone talents as they take you on an upbeat trip down memory lane.

Tuesday, September 25th

Oktoberfest Party

Did someone say “Polka?” This is one of the best socials to attend at Ferris Hills! The German buffet, beer and wine, music, costumes and dancing are just a few reasons why we love this event, and you will too. Begins at 4 p.m.

Please RSVP at 585.393.0410 or visit FerrisHills.com

Monday, October 1st

Culinary Fusion

The Partnership for Ontario County proudly presents “Culinary Fusion,” a unique fundraising event featuring grazing stations, infused drinks, entertainment and impressive silent and live auctions. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. and the cost is $40 per person, payable at the door.

Friday, October 5th

Bridge Tournament and Luncheon

Our community bridge day is back. Players may choose to play in either a duplicate game or a social game. Join us for a buffet lunch and fun afternoon beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, October 6th

Fiddlers of the Genesee

Back by popular demand with a variety of instrumental old-timey fiddle tunes, Fiddlers of the Genesee will share their repertoire of reels, jigs, hornpipes, rags, breakdowns and waltzes. There are even a few western swing and bluegrass instrumentals which will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 31st

Halloween Party

Looking for a spook-tacular way to start your Halloween evening? Join us at 4 p.m. for perfected potions and devilish delights. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Either way, you’ll be glad you joined this “spirited” event.

Continue the Good Life

Independent & Enriched Senior Living An affiliate of

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Cover: With over 140 wineries in the Finger Lakes Region, the possibilities are endless for wine lovers. Turn to page 28 for a primer for your next wine adventure.

A G A ZI N

THE RE

Since

2001

IER EM

ON’S PR GI

Volume 18, Number 5 • September/October 2018

Cover, small photo: Adventure Calls Outfitters offers white water rafting at Letchworth State Park. Photo courtesy Adventure Calls Outfitters

This page: Canandaigua Lake View from Griesa Hill Road near Naples. Photo by Gerald Lalonde

F E A T U R E S

28 Wineries & Wine

A Finger Lakes Experience Lovers of the fruit of the vine will get a different perspective of their favorite drink by Jason Feulner

44 Watch the Chips Fly Check out both men and women smashing axes and ripping saws in this fast-paced, authentic competition at the Macedon Center Lumberjack Festival. by Derek Doeffinger

50 Autumn Road Trip

LIFL

APP EXTRA!

Crank the tunes and set off on your next road trip to explore these eleven beautiful Finger Lakes destinations. by Bill Banaszewski

the 56 Mind Splash

LIFL

APP EXTRA!

White Water Rafting at Letchworth State Park is yet another fun adventure to experience within the Finger Lakes. by Jennifer Srmack

September/October 2018 ~

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Since

2001

A G A ZI N

THE RE

IER EM

ON’S PR GI

Ithaca’s Only Irish Pub D E P A R T M E N T S

4 My Own Words

thoughts from the editor

5 Letters

reader feedback

Open 7 days a week Serving Lunch and Dinner Visit our website to see our full menu, daily specials and a full list of our weekly night events! Dont forget we have happy hour Monday - Friday, 3pm to 6pm

“You might just get lucky!” Located on the corner of Tioga and Seneca Streets. 607.273.2632 www.Kilpatrickspub.com

6 Finger Lakes Map 8 Happenings

APP EXTRA!

66 Health

news and events

10 Day Trip

exploring the Finger Lakes Alfred Ceramic Art Museum

16 Gardening

growing and landscaping Sanc•tu•ar•y

20 Off the Easel

24 Only Online

what you missed Eaglets take flight; Finger Lakes farmette

62 Nooks & Crannies

a little bit of everything There’s always room for Jell-O

alive and kicking Salt water and dreams at Inner Peace Floats

72 Outdoors

in the open air Favorite hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail

74 Food

good eats Maitre’ D at Trombino’s

Offbeat

fresh and unique Wings and Wheels in Hammondsport

78 Turtle stones 81 Tourism

explore and discover Cabin living keeps on giving

95 Index of Advertisers 96 Roadstoppers

You can count on us!

LIFL

areas of interest in this issue

creating art The wearable art of Anne Fischer

Hilton Garden Inn - Ithaca 130 E. Seneca Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Tel: 607-277-8900 1-877-STAY-HGI www.ithaca.hgi.com

get a better look Catch the scene on Rt. 318

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My Own Words

thoughts from the editor

Wood

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can’t help myself. The lyrics from a Monty Python song of “I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK, I sleep all night and I work all day,” come to mind when I’m reading a feature article in this issue. The Macedon Center Lumberjack Festival is coming September 8 and 9 this year, and it’s an event that’s different and very entertaining (see page 44). Both men and women compete, and their skill level and athleticism are showcased through axe, saw, and wood. The New York State Lumberjack Association had several events in 2018, starting in May in Bath, July in Hancock, August in Stony Creek and Owego, and finally the September event in Macedon Center. The Finger Lakes may not have the traditional history of logging and lumberjacks like the Adirondacks and Catskills, but at one time there were vast forests of white pine, hemlock and spruce that covered the entire state of New York. Deciduous trees were mixed in with many of these conifers as well. In this region, it was mostly cleared by Native Americans for farming purposes, and then by Europeans who moved in to colonize and also farm the region. The soil in the Finger Lakes is good for

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growing crops of all sorts, including grapes. Growing grapes is a complicated process. A lot of factors come into play, and soil acidity is one of the most important, along with climate, typography, geology and weather. The Finger Lakes Region tends to have a diverse array of types of grapes that are grown, probably more so than any other area in eastern North America. Because of this, winemakers enjoy a virtual smorgasbord of wines that they can produce. The region is traditionally known for its whites, especially Riesling. And reds are starting to make some headway as well, competing with the best of western vineyards in California and other states. We’ve focused on that delicious beverage in this issue to showcase some of the wineries and wines. Although we are only scratching the surface when it comes to Finger Lakes wines, we hope that the article on page 28 will give you a taste of what you can enjoy when you hit the road and visit these delightful businesses.

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

LIFL APP Subscription Packages coming in 2018!

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Letters

reader feedback

y husband and I have enjoyed your magazine for many years. I would like to suggest that you stop wrapping them in plastic, as I am sure you are aware of the harm plastic is doing to our planet. We receive many publications by mail which are not encased in plastic and they arrive in perfect condition. — Lee and Debbie FitzGerald In an effort to conserve energy and be a company that is more environmentally conscious, we have decided to forego the polybag for most copies mailing to subscribers. There will be exceptions when there’s an onsert or some other special mailer included with the magazine. — Editor

saw the digital edition of Life in the Finger Lakes’ August/September 2018 issue with the Honor Flight Rochester article. Looks great. Thank you very

much. We hope more veterans in the Finger Lakes Region will see your article and apply for their Honor Flight. — Rick Meier, VP Publicity, Honor Flight Rochester

hank you for the copy of the magazine. It was a real honor seeing my photo on the cover as well as the pictorial inside (July/August 2018). My friends and family have really enjoyed seeing it, as well as some of my friends and customers. I really appreciate the opportunity to be in your magazine and I can’t thank you enough. — Anthony Marino

he January/February 2018 issue brought to light the village of Phelps. “Best Seat in the House” showcased an interesting place to visit that is close to home. We live near Watkins Glen and read of their possible purchase of a

clock. In our historic Hanover Square in Horseheads, and village green in Elmira Heights, more clocks are also being considered. Perhaps in the future you might write of the Isle of Pines – a mansion of wealth, intrigue, murder and ruination in Wayne, New York. More information can be found at the Dundee Historical Society. Until next issue, thanks for your excellent magazine. — Jan and Floyd Bennett Please direct your responses to mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Taste the best in local food and drink at the City of Rochester Public Market

Sept. 17 6-9 pm Tickets on sale now at foodlinkny.org and Wegmans locations!

Proceeds benefit

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Finger Lakes Regional Map

areas of interest in this issue

1 Alfred (p.10) 2 Canadice (p.52) 3 Castile (p.61)

4 Dundee (p.51) 5 Fairport (p.53) 6 Hammondsport (p.77)

7 Homer (p.55) 8 Honeoye (p.51) 9 Keuka Park (p.55)

10 Lakeville (p.53) 11 Lansing (p.54) 12 LeRoy (p.62)

13 Lyons (p.74) 14 Macedon (p.44) 15 Mt. Morris (p.50)

16 Ovid (p.81) 17 Sodus Point (p.52) 18 Watkins Glen (p.66)

From Oswego

Lake Ontario

Hilton

Webster

Brockport

Sodus Bay

104

Sodus

Baldwinsville

Caledonia

Honeoye Falls

390

Macedon

490

10 Geneseo

Hemlock

INGSTON L I V15

ONTARIO

Seneca Falls

Cayuga

Skaneateles

Auburn

SENECA

Union Springs

ONONDAGA

Aurora

4 5

Penn Yan

YATES Branchport

Wayland

Avoca

Groton

Canisteo

Watkins Glen

SCHUYLER

McGraw 81

Dryden

Cayuga Heights Burdett

CORTLAND

11 Lansing

Lamoka Lake

Bath

Hornell

Homer Cortland

Trumansburg

Waneta Lake

CAYUGA

Interlaken

Hammondsport

86 17

Moravia Ovid

Dundee

390

Ithaca

Marathon

From Binghamton

Montour Cayuta Lake Falls TOMPKINS Odessa

STEUBEN

Candor

Spencer 86

Rexville

Painted Post

Horseheads

Corning

Elmira C H E M U N G Heights

Elmira

Addison

TIOGA

Waverly

Editorial & Production

Contributors.......................................................Kevin Allen

Editor......................................................................Mark Stash

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

......................................... mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

..................................................................... Derek Doeffinger

Graphic Artists.........................................Maia VanOrman ............................................................................ Cody Brackett Associate Editor..............................................Tina Manzer Assistant Editor............................................. J. Kevin Fahy 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© 2018 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: $16 for one year. Canada add $15 per year. Outside North America, add $35 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.

....................................................................K.C. Fahy-Harvick ............................................................................Jason Feulner

Newark Valley

Van Etten

Owego

Fayetteville Manlius

Prattsburgh

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

690

Syracuse 481

Geneva

Cohocton

From Jamestown

Solvay

Weedsport

Waterloo

Honeoye

Naples Dansville

Clifton Springs Phelps

20A

390

Nunda

Jordan

Victor

Livonia

20A

Mt. Morris

Newark

Clyde

From Utica

481

Marcellus

Bloomfield

Lima

Lyons

Palmyra

Canandaigua Avon

North 11 Syracuse

WAYNE

Fairport

490

Oneida Lake

Rochester

490

E. Rochester

F From Buffalo

From Watertown

Wolcott

104

Spencerport

Finger Lakes 1 Conesus 2 Hemlock 3 Canadice 4 Honeoye 5 Canandaigua 6 Keuka 7 Seneca 3 8 Cayuga 9 Owasco 10 Skaneateles 11 Otisco

104

Sodus Point

MONROE

From Binghamton

Editorial Office..............................................315-789-0458 Director of Advertising................................ Tim Braden ............................................. tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

For Advertising Inquiries - 800-344-0559 Darlene Ryan............darlene@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

..................................................................... James P. Hughes

Marketing Director

.................................................................................. Ray Levato

Amy Colburn............................................. amy@fwpi.com

........................................................................... Kelly Makosch

For Subscriptions.................................315-789-0458 ................................subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Business Office............315-789-0458, 800-344-0559 Business Fax...................................................315-789-4263

................................................................Nancy E. McCarthy .....................................................................Mary Beth Roach .......................................................................Jennifer Srmack .............................................................................. Tim Starmer .....................................................................Laurel C. Wemett ...............................................................Gabrielle L. Wheeler

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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The History of

Fashion featuring

The Hollywood Collection For the first time in our area, the history of fashion and the glamour of Hollywood will be on display, as Eastview Mall hosts the world-renowned Gene London Collections.

See

costumes worn by Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, and many other icons of the silver screen.

Enjoy a fashion retrospective featuring

authentic turn-of-the-century styles and modern clothing in 24 life-size steamer trunks.

Experience

a complimentary guided exhibit tour with Mr. London himself.

Exclusive

Be the first to view the collections during our Red Carpet Reception on Sunday, September 23 at 7:00pm. A private appraisal clinic for attendees will be part of this event. Proceeds will go to Fashion Week Rochester.

A limited number of tickets will be available at Eastview Customer Service. Visit our website for full details.

Eastview Mall l www.eastviewmall.com

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Happenings

After Hours at the Museum

news and events

ome enjoy a series of entertaining and informative bimonthly presentations at the Antique Wireless Museum. The next presentation is “The Impact of Radio on Society” by Robert Hobday, AWA Deputy Director, on September 5, 2018 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Unlike other major communication technologies, the “magic” of radio had an almost immediate and amazing impact on society. Bob will provide a fascinating look at the growth and reach of radio in the United States. Tickets are available in advance at the museum or at the door. Admission for adults is $10 or $5 for museum members. The Antique Wireless Museum is located at 6925 Route 5 in Bloomfield just east of the corner of Route 444.

September September 1-2...Pirelli World Challenge Pirelli World Challenge returns to Watkins Glen International for the season finale on Labor Day Weekend, August 31-September 2. This weekend full of action will feature GT (GT/GTA/GT Cup), GTS (GTS/GTA), and Touring Car (TCR/TC/TCA) with doubleheader sprint races. Watkins Glen International 2790 County Route 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 theglen.com September 1-30...North Star Art Gallery Works by Brian Keeler: New England & Acadia Brian Keeler is renowned for his use of light and color, and evocation of scenes we love. His work has won wide acclaim over the years and his paintings have been collected by many individuals, corporations and museums. Open Fri. -Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. 743 Snyder Hill Rd Ithaca, NY 14850 northstarartgallery.com

September 3...Hop Harvest Festival Help harvest fresh hops and tour the only working 19th-century brewery in the United States. Sample local craft beers throughout the historic village, then relax with a full glass of your favorite brew (21+ only). Fun for all ages! 10 a.m. Genesee Country Village & Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Rd , Mumford, NY 14511 gcv.org September 8...Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium Fall Open House Have you been wondering what is happening at the Finger Lakes Museum & Aquarium? Join Museum staff, volunteers, and trustees to find out! Tour the Finger Lakes Museum campus and explore the wetlands by land and water on mini guided wetland walks and mini guided eco-paddles from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. FREE! 3369 Guyanoga Road , Branchport NY 14418 315-595-2200

Ontario Pathways Great Pumpkin Walk

ake a walk in the moonlight on October 20 as hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins twinkle in the dark. This will be a truly magical evening along a section of the Ontario Pathways trail. The round-trip walking distance is about 1 mile and is suitable for all ages. Strollers are allowed, but no pets, please. There is plenty of free parking at the Fairgrounds. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Ontario County Fairgrounds, County Rd 10, Canandaigua. $4 per person, children aged 2 and under free. Rain date, Sunday October 21. For more information: 585-2347722 – seturner@frontiernet.net – www.ontariopathways.org.

September 15-16...Harvest Celebration Keuka Lake Wine Trail Experience the scents and sights of this exciting season in wine country. Come taste the exquisite wines of Keuka Lake and sample delicious dishes highlighting the region’s seasonal produce. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Heron Hill Winery 9301 County Rd 76 - Hammondsport, NY 14840 keukawinetrail.com September 15-16...Wings and Wheels in Hammondsport The greatest annual air and land show in the Finger Lakes region. A combination of seaplane air show, exotics and classics car show, featuring a flyover appearance by B-17 Superfortress “Memphis Belle.” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to attend by one and all. Glenn Curtiss Museum 8419 Rt. 54, Hammondsport, NY 14840 wingsandwheelshammondsport.com

September 17...Foodlink Festival of Food Foodlink’s annual fundraiser, features more than 100 local restaurants, wineries, breweries, bakeries and specialty food purveyors. It’s the best and biggest food and drink tasting event in the region! 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets on sale now at foodlinkny.org and Wegmans locations. City of Rochester Public Market 280 Union St N, Rochester, NY 14609 foodlinkny.org September 20...Alfred Ceramic Art Museum Reclaiming Splendor: Ceramic Design by Chunmao Huang Featuring the First Lady of China’s Banquet Ware. The exhibit runs through December 30, 2018. Opening Reception: Thursday, September 20, 5 to 8 p.m. Alfred University, 1 Saxon Dr, Alfred, NY 14802 ceramicsmuseum.alfred.edu September 22-23...Big Flats Appleumpkin Days A harvest celebration held at Big Flats Community Park Extension along State Route 352 and at businesses throughout the town. A vendor fair with over 50 crafters and vendors will be held in Big Flats Community Park Extension. Food will also be available for purchase. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Big Flats, NY 14814 bigflatsbusinessassociation.com September 22-23...Lamoka Motocross Vintage Cycle Races Fourth annual American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association Vintage Cycle Races at Lamoka Motocross. Open Friday for camping. Scenic, wide and hilly natural terrain track overlooking Lamoka and Waneta Lakes. Great spectating and racing. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $10 for the weekend, 12 and under free. Lamoka Motocross 641 Fish Hill Rd., Bradford, NY 14815 facebook.com/lamokamotocross (Continued on page 86)

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Day Trip

exploring the Finger Lakes

Alfred

Ceramic Art Museum by Laurel C. Wemett

hen I last visited the ceramic art museum at Alfred University in 2005 it was housed temporarily in Binns-Merrill Hall. Then called the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, the museum had a modest 1,500 square feet of exhibition space, and its permanent collection of 8,000 objects was in storage elsewhere. A longtime goal to have a facility of its own was realized thanks to a substantial gift from university trustee and Alfred alumnus Marlin Miller, Jr. (’54, HD ‘89). It paved the way for a new spacious 20,000-square-foot museum which opened in the fall of 2016 and was greeted with great enthusiasm and anticipation. “A new era for Alfred has truly begun,” wrote Wayne Higby in the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum Ceramophile newsletter after the opening. Higby, an internationally known ceramic artist and educator whose works are in major museum collections, oversaw the new building’s construction as its first Director and Chief Curator. His teaching career at Alfred University spans 45 years. Thanks to Miller, the museum directorship became an endowed position in his honor.

The new museum was built on the site of the university’s old gymnasium at the northeast corner of Main and Pine Streets, a walkable distance from Harder Hall, which houses the School of Art and Design. The new facility boasts two stories with a 4,000 square foot main gallery on the upper level along with offices and collection storage below, including a seminar classroom. A terracotta and brick exterior harmonizes with brick structures on campus and in the village of Alfred, but a dynamic roofline and a floor-to-ceiling glass wall sets this building apart. The exciting contemporary design was the work of Kallmann, McKinnell and Wood, the Boston architectural firm also responsible for the Miller Performing Arts Complex across campus with support from benefactor Miller. Changing exhibitions in the new gallery have increased attendance from university and school-age students, alumni, researchers, and visitors. An inaugural display featured more than 200 pieces from the museum’s own collection. A permanent case presents a selection of ceramic vessels and tiles made by legendary faculty members from 1900 to 1997, including Charles Fergus

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Pine Street Entrance, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum Photo by Rick McLay, courtesy of ACAM

Right top to bottom: Chunmao Huang (Alfred MFA ’03) with tableware designed for BRICS summit in 2017. The island of Gulangyu, off the coast of Xiamen, where summit was held prompted a wave design and other marine motifs. Photo courtesy of ACAM

This blue and white place setting with ships design was an alternate design for BRICS summit in 2017. China President Xi Jinping used this at another high level meeting banquet in 2018. Photo courtesy of ACAM

Susan Kowalczyk, Curator of Collections/Director of Research. Photo by Zach Lyman, courtesy of ACAM

Former U.S. President Barack Obama at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference with banquet ware designed by Chunmao Huang. Photo courtesy of ACAM

Binns, founder and first Director of The New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC). Behind the Scenes “It is the first time early faculty pieces have been located next to one another – Binns, Fosdick, Harder, Rhodes, Randall, Cushing, Turner and Perry,” observes Susan Kowalczyk about the new roomy storage area. An Alfred BFA graduate, Kowalczyk began as museum registrar in 1996 and over the years has mounted exhibits, taught classes, and even managed the museum from 2004 to 2014. Now, as Curator of Collections/ Director of Research, Kowalczyk delights in unpacking the objects, some long hidden from view. Under her watchful direction, each piece is newly photographed, documented

and sorted by accession number and size in the custom-made compact storage. Kowalczyk enjoys seeing the collection studied by teachers and students. One such student-turnedteacher is Kala Stein (MFA ’09) now the Director of Ceramics and the Arts at the Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, California. “As a maker and educator, I value the intimacy of going ‘behind the scenes’ to experience just about anything,” confirms Stein. “When I was teaching at Alfred, I loved bringing my students to view the collection each semester. Through these visits, the students became acquainted with the valuable and vast collection, as well the history of The New York State College of Ceramics, through ceramic objects. To completely grasp a dimensional piece, one must have a sensory experience with it. All of the parts count – inside, outside, front, back, the weight, the scale, and especially the nuances and complexities that cannot be captured in a photograph.” September /October 2018 ~

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Finger Lakes Tram

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“Reclaiming Splendor: Ceramic Design of Chunmao Huang” September 20 to December 30, 2018 The art of fine dining may receive a boost thanks to the ACAM’s exhibition opening this September featuring china designed by Alfred graduate Chunmao Huang (MFA ’03) considered China’s number one tableware designer. He is chief designer for Yong Feng Yuan Co., Ltd., a leading china manufacturer founded in 1997. His place settings have graced the tables of state banquets attended by many high-level international leaders. “He is on the world stage,” agrees Higby, describing the Alfred alumnus who rose from humble beginnings. Born in 1971, Huang grew up in a rice farming village. After receiving a BFA in ceramic design from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, he came to Alfred in 2000, thanks to a grant from the Asian Cultural Council of the Rockefeller Foundation awarded to the NYSCC, Division of Ceramic Art. Huang has become lead faculty for the ceramic design program which Higby initiated at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), regarded as China’s number one art school. Alfred’s program, ALFRED-CAFA: Ceramic Design for Industry, has an annual exchange student component between countries. Sure to be a show stopper in “Reclaiming Splendor” is the tableware used at a luncheon held by the First Lady of China Peng Liyuan during the 2016 summit meeting for the Group of Twenty (G20) in Hangzhou, China. Featured is a large, very grand display of 14 individual place settings, each with approximately 35 pieces. Orange flowers and gold accents are set against a background of robin’s egg blue, the First Lady’s favorite color. “She chose

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Interior of Alfred Ceramic Art Museum with an inaugural display that featured more than 200 pieces from the museum’s own collection. Photo courtesy of ACAM

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Thoughts from Wayne Higby on contributing to world peace through art. “A dialogue of genuine interest and understanding across cultures has always been a goal of mine – since traveling around the world in my 20s. China is of particular interest to us because it represents the root history of Ceramic Art. Crossing the threshold into China has created many friendships that continue to impact the world via ceramic art. World peace is the goal, as my friends and I try to make a contribution to each other and to the bigger picture the best way we know how –through art. Continued and greater understanding is always hoped for. In a few short years we have made remarkable progress as people, as individuals, as loving friends across a huge cultural divide.”

On October 10 at 4:30 p.m., the endowed Perkins Lecture will be given in the Nevins Theater by Denise Leidy, a distinguished scholar of Asian art. Leidy is the Ruth and Bruce Dayton Curator of Asian Art, and Department Head of Asian and Islamic Art at the Yale University Art Gallery.

the robin’s egg blue set for the G20 and I agree with her,” says Higby “It is just spectacular.” The Alfred museum will also display other place settings, including the black and white dinnerware with a floral motif designed for the First Lady’s banquet at the

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Tableware used at a luncheon held by the First Lady of China Peng Liyuan during the 2016 summit meeting for the Group of Twenty (G20) in Hangzhou, China. Photo courtesy of ACAM

9th BRICS summit in 2017, which was attended by member states Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. “As a designer,” says Huang, “I have to consider my clients and the general atmosphere. For state banquets, I focused on how to make it classic and simple, and tried to

project a sense of authority.” The exhibit features one full set of tableware selected for the welcoming banquet at the BRICS summit of 2017 in the seaport city of Xiamen hosted by China’s President Xi Jinping. Its blue and white colors are common on traditional china items. The island

of Gulangyu off the coast of Xiamen prompted a wave design and other marine motifs like shell-shaped plates. Even the island’s outline appears in gold under the finial on the lid of a domed serving dish which also features the egret, the official bird of the city.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Day Trip Alfred Ceramic Art Museum 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802 (607) 871-2421 ceramicsmuseum@alfred.edu

Hours At the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, former U.S. President Barack Obama was captured in a famous photograph seated at the banquet table with Huangdesigned Imperial Yellow china. This banquet ware blends traditional and modern Chinese elements and was reportedly inspired by ancient mural paintings. The exhibit of all this elegant tableware is multidimensional and timely. “They tell a fascinating story of China’s rise to the world stage,” says Higby. “When I first went to Beijing in 1991 – a huge city, it had only a few street lights to guide the way through the streets at night. ‘Have you eaten?’ was

a typical form of greeting – like, we say ‘hello.’ In China, food is extraordinarily important. Feeding guests is of major significance. All significant transactions from family to government are facilitated with food. Banquet ware – in this case, lavish originally designed tableware – sends many messages. ‘Reclaiming Splendor’ – reclaiming status, reclaiming the magnificence of China and its position at the center of the world. All this is tied to the new economic initiative to reclaim the ideal of the Silk Road – a form, now legendary, of communication with the world.” A bilingual catalogue accompanies the exhibition and explores these topics in more detail.

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum

Reclaiming Splendor – Featuring the First Lady of China’s Banquetware Exhibition opening Sept. 20, 2018

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM Thursday: 10 AM to 7 PM Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Admission $7 Adults (18-54) $5 55+ $3 Local Residents, non-Alfred students with ID, alumni, AAA & military FREE 17 & Under, AU & A-State faculty, staff & students (with ID); Museum members. Learn more about the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and the ceramic museum in our earlier article, “Mecca for Ceramics” at lifeinthefingerlakes.com/ mecca-for-ceramics/

Alfred University 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, New York 14802 ceramicsmuseum.alfred.edu 607-871-2421

September /October 2018 ~

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Gardening

growing and landscaping

sanc tu ar y •

•

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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story and photos by K.C. Fahy-Harvick

he word sanctuary, from the Latin sanctus meaning holy place, may evoke thoughts of consecrated spaces like churches, monasteries, or temples, but some may be drawn to the definitions that speak to reserves (as in bird sanctuaries), to places sought in times of trouble, or perhaps retreats. When I think of the word sanctuary, I feel an aura of security and peacefulness as in a safe haven. While the world whirls around us and tries to suck us up into the jet stream of work, news, kids, politics, what’s for dinner, the din of everyday life, try to remember that the earth is like our anchor that slows the currents. The stillness in this earthly state replaces the noise in our heads with peace. The true challenge is how to disconnect from the stressful atmosphere surrounding us. Some find the teachings of ancient philosophies to be helpful; learning to use a mantra to focus their thoughts, slowing their heart rate, breathing deeply. Perhaps this is why we see ‘meditation

gardens’ popping up around hospitals and corporate headquarters where the stress is palpable. Before you start choosing your mantra, I have a much simpler idea, a challenge really. Plant a seed in a cup of dirt, and watch as it miraculously pops out of its tiny vessel. Check on its progress growing up into a delicate leafy plant. If it wilts a bit, you water it, and it comes back up as if gratefully returning the favor of your care. This process continues, all the while your attention is drawn back each day. Notice that the strength of your connection is in direct relation to the vigor of your little plant. If in these moments you are not transplanted to a place where the peace of the earth helps you to breath slower, and de-stress, then there are other techniques you can try. At the core of my being is a gardener, my sanctuary is my garden, and my mantra is “don’t look at the weeds.” But you don’t need a big yard, or a perfect garden in order to create the feeling of sanctuary. No matter where you live, how large your space, or what gardening abilities you have, these activities will bring feelings of calm and peace to your

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everyday life; plant a container next to your chair on your little balcony, grow a pot of sweet basil on your kitchen window sill, dedicate a little tree in memory of a loved one. It is well documented that gardening activities are very beneficial to your health, but as we age many aches and pains restrict our movements. One thing I know for sure is that pain can really focus our brain, so finding alternate methods to distract our minds from the pain can be extremely helpful. Many gardeners consider weeding in their gardens to be an almost meditative exercise. Reaching the ultimate goal of the neat and tidy garden is a kind of nirvana for the peace-seeking horticulturist. Just watch the garden center shoppers as they walk through the sea of flowering plants. They touch, they smell, and they become captured by their senses. Suddenly these gardeners are unaware of the world around them, and they are enraptured by the whole experience of choosing plants for their gardens. If you look closely, you will notice a certain look on their faces. It’s the look of euphoria. Gardeners find enjoyment in many different ways. Some are thrilled by the friendly competition with their neighbor, seeing

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Gardening who has the newest or most unusual plant. For me the deepest feelings of enjoyment come while walking through my garden, and I am struck by the significance of two particular plants. They aren’t rare or unusual, but one is a large clump of Trillium my mom gave me from her woods. I have transplanted and taken them with me each time I’ve moved, and I plan to will them to a family member. The other is a beautiful German Iris from my grandmother’s garden. I have shipped pieces of these plants to Massachusetts and as far as California, giving me the special joy of sharing the family’s legacy of gardening through plants. Each time I walk by these plants I think of the people who loved them before me, and my heart is warmed by the thoughts of future generations enjoying them after I’m gone. These days our so-called ‘smart’ phones suck us into the fast pace of emails, texts, voicemails, tweets, instagrams, and facebooks until we find ourselves unable to function without them. There are even meditation apps for our phones that will

tell us how to relax, how many deep breaths to take, until the noisy little signal goes off. You can use your phone to put yourself in your zen place, until the phone alarm tells you to UN-zen yourself, and go back to your desk. Seriously? The pleasure of gardening is often described as an addiction for which there is no cure, but because this addiction is based on relaxation instead of adrenalin, these earthly activities bring a completely different kind of high. It is a long-lasting feeling renewed each morning when we wake up to nature’s bounty of stimulants for all five senses. Sanctuary is the feeling created in this space where a small piece of earth connects our senses with our emotions, and takes root in our soul. K.C. Fahy-Harvick, a landscape designer, is a sought after lecturer. Her workshops feature her love of perennials, bird gardening, and water features. More about Fahy-Harvick can be found at GardeningMatters.com or by email at kcfh60@gmail.com.

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Off the Easel

creating art

TheWearable

Art of Anne

Fischer by Nancy E. McCarthy

nne Fischer’s retirement from a 25 year engineering career at Kodak in 2005 freed up her time for artsy explorations. Fischer was an avid sewist and drawn to textiles as a creative outlet for most of her life. When she retired, Fischer was primarily creating art quilts. Occasionally she would sell her work to help fund the workshops and classes she took to hone her skills. In 2010, she learned the nuno felting process and began making oneof-a-kind garments and accessories from her own felted fabrics. Two years later, Fischer began selling her wearable art at festivals. Her transition from hobbyist to a professional, award-winning fiber artist was nearly seamless. Kay Thomas of Wayland met Fischer at a stop on the 2012 Naples Open Studio Trail. She bought a jacket and then commissioned Fischer to create a custom coat. “I feel both are timeless, versatile additions to my wardrobe,” says Thomas. “Each time one is worn it is as if I am wearing beautiful handmade art.”

Engineer to Artist

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Anne Fischer wearing one of her nuno felted tunics

Fischer’s Rochester childhood set the stage for her artistic progression.

photo by Michele Kisly

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Left: Long white vest: reversible vest: wool, hand dyed silk, cotton, yak; Below: Blue Nuno felted jacket: hand dyed wool, hand dyed silk fabric, printed silk fabric

their favorite cross-country skiing locales. They added an art studio with a woods view to their country home.

Right Brain Stuff Goebel had been retired for a couple of years before Fischer began to consider it herself. Morale at Kodak was spiraling downward and she began to tire of the negativity. “I had an interesting and challenging job but not much fun anymore,” Fischer explains. She also recognized that the artistic and creative “right brain stuff” was missing at Kodak – something that had become increasingly important to her when she left in 2005. Five years later, Fischer agreed to host a nuno felting workshop (led by visiting fiber artist Joan Berner) at her Canadice studio. She knew nothing about felting but was instantly hooked. “I automatically loved it,” Fischer says, “but it took a while to get good. I made a lot of felt and garments by trial and error and took more workshops and classes.” Unlike woven fabrics which are constructed on a loom, felted fabric is produced by using heat, moisture and pressure to mesh and interlock fibers. The emerging fabric is also wet down with soapy water and then to further entangle the fibers, shrinking methods such as kneading, rolling and dropping, plus temperature changes, make the material even sturdier. The nuno felting technique incorporates other fabrics, such as silk, into the wool roving (wool fibers not yet spun into yarn) used to make felt, resulting in a soft blended fabric. This lightweight material is durable but significantly less stiff and more drapeable than traditional felt, and well suited

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Although there were no formally trained artists in the family, her creative mother taught her how to draw and sew. Fischer also learned embroidery and crocheting. She was the eldest of four children. Fischer’s father worked at Kodak, her mother was a homemaker and they also ran a small antiques business. When Fischer was in high school, her parents wanted to experience country living and moved the family to an Albion farmhouse. With no kids her age nearby, Fischer sewed for her own entertainment. Her numerous projects included a hand-dyed caftan, quilted jackets and an embroidered blouse. When considering her field of study for college, Fischer selected engineering because she felt it was a marketable career path. She graduated from University at Buffalo with a Chemical Engineering degree in 1980 and began at Kodak that same year. Over the course of her career, Fischer worked in manufacturing engineering, process development, research and management. While working, she attained a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Rochester. During Fischer’s Kodak years, her creative pursuits after working hours included knitting, quilting, sewing and photography. In 1984, Fischer married Bill Goebel, a Kodak chemist. They had been introduced by mutual friends and hit it off right away. The couple, who shared a love of the outdoors, enjoyed hiking and biking together in the Finger Lakes region. Eighteen years ago they moved to Canadice, near Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area, one of

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Calendar of Events

/October 2018 ~

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Off the Easel

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for making garments. “Fiber is quite easy to manipulate and shape, somewhat like clay,” Fischer explains. “The way that I work with fiber, the colors can be blended much like working with paints or pastels.” Fischer dyes her own colors for the roving and silk she uses. Inspiration for her chosen palette often comes from nature. She selects a starting color and the rest is color harmony: hues that go well together or “give it some pop.” Fischer also designs the clothing and accessories she makes. Each piece is a singular, original creation.

Working Artist Fischer has been selling her work at various festivals since 2012. These settings provide enjoyable opportunities to interact directly with clients. She describes the felting process, offers garment care tips (all items are hand washable), suggests versatile ways to wear a shawl or scarf and can even make minor adjustments to help make clothing, such as a jacket or tunic, fit better. Plus “I often get ideas for new styles from customers,” says Fischer. She’s been a vendor at the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock for the past five years. “Anne’s innovative wearable creations add diversity to the festival’s offerings and we look forward to seeing her new designs each year,” says festival cochair Peggy Hagen. This particular festival near her home is a favorite. The wide range of products helps Fischer stock up on First Place Wearable Wet Felt and the Marylil McStravick Memorial Award for Best Felted Item, 2016 Finger Lakes Fiber Festival.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Blue shawl: hand dyed silk, wool

supplies for her work (“and great yarn … the timing is perfect for a winter of knitting!”). Fischer, a past recipient of numerous Finger Lakes Fiber Festival awards, will skip competing this year in favor of sponsoring the Excellence in Felting award for the Skein & Garment Competition. It’s her way to encourage other felters to have their work recognized, and to promote felting as a fiber art form. Within the vibrant local fiber arts community (weaving, spinning, knitting, quilting) there is less emphasis on felting and a scarcity of bricks and mortar locations to purchase supplies. To help bridge these gaps, Fischer has started to sell hand-dyed fibers and silks, and she offers nuno felting workshops at her studio and off-site. “It’s fun to see the satisfaction people get from making something beautiful,” says Fischer, who relishes any chance to share the process that has enriched her own creative life in so many ways. Anne Fischer’s Upcoming Shows include Finger Lakes Fiber Festival, Sept 15th – 16th, Hemlock, NY, gvhg.org/fiber-fest, Naples Open Studio Trail, Oct 6th – 7th, Rochester Folk Art Guild, Middlesex, naplesopenstudiotrail. com and Memorial Art Gallery Fine Craft Show & Sale, Nov. 2-4, Rochester, mag.rochester.edu. Visit annemfischer.com for more information.

October 26-28, 2018 FREE ADMISSION

Enhance Your Weekend with a Magical Passport (starting at $15)

A Magical Celebration of Science Fiction and Fantasy for the whole family! Enjoy interactive exhibits, geek music, street performers, and so much more - Costumes encouraged! For full details visit: WizardingWeekend.com

Facebook: @WizardingWeekend Twitter: @ithacaismagic Instagram: @ithacaismagic

This festival is made possible in part by a Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Grant and attendee donations. Photos by Allison Usavage

2018 PHOTO CONTEST! DEADLINE! AUGUST 31, 2018 Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for more information September /October 2018 ~

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Only Online

what you missed

he Life in the Finger Lakes print publication is our flagship product, and by far it’s the best way to experience the beauty of the region through incredible photographs, artwork and great writing. In the same breath, timely and interesting articles, along with photos contributed by readers, appear in our online products on almost a daily basis. This makes our online products something NOT to be missed! Here are some posts that have appeared in the past month or two that you’ll enjoy.

WEBSITE

Eaglets Take Flight

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by John Adamski t’s been just over a month since I last checked on the bald eagles’ nest in my neck of the woods and even longer since I reported on them. This year the parents produced three eaglets. It is the second year that they used this nest. Last year they had two babies. On my last visit, which was on June 25, the youngsters looked like they were almost ready to fledge as they took turns hopping from the nest to a couple of nearby limbs and back while vigorously flapping their wings ...

To read more, visit lifeinthefingerlakes.com and type in the keyword search: eaglet

MOBILE APP

Finger Lakes Farmette by Margaret Wiant ong before raising backyard chickens, and the small farming craze, my husband Tim and I paved the way to creating our own “farmette” in the Finger Lakes. Twenty four years ago we decided to move from our adorable Victorian home off Park Avenue in Rochester to the country. Our long term plan was to get our college degrees, marry, buy a house, adopt a dog, and have a baby ...

To read more, download the lifeinthefingerlakes mobile app and go to: app exclusive

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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I-86/17 Exits 64 & 65 at the Start of the Finger Lakes

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Take the

Scenic Route Discover America’s First Wine Trial

WINERIES

Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery We are proud to serve you award winning fruit, honey, and grape wines. With over 30 wines ranging from dry to sweet, there is something to suit everyone’s palate. Hidden Marsh Distillery has premium liquors, brandy, whiskey, bourbon and vodka. Don’t forget the homemade fudge and extensive gift shop. www.MontezumaWinery.com

Swedish Hill Winery Experience over 30 different wines ranging from classically produced Rieslings and Cabernet Francs to delicious blends that showcase the flavors of the region. A visit with Doobie, our pet miniature donkey and our new miniature horse, Sven is a must-see! www.SwedishHill.com

Goose Watch Winery

Toro Run Winery

Six Mile Creek Vineyard

For over 20 years, we’ve produced distinctive premium wines with a concentration on off-the-beaten path varietals and styles not found in most other Finger Lakes wineries. Sample hard to find European varietals, or more traditional wines from our picturesque setting overlooking Cayuga Lake. www.GooseWatch.com

The 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 Gruner Veltliner. Toro Run offers all the beauty of Finger Lakes with a Spanish flair. www.ToroRunWinery.com

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 wines and spirits. Panoramic valley views capture the beauty of the vineyard, pond, and gardens. www.SixMileCreek.com

Buttonwood Grove Winery

Hosmer Winery

Long Point Winery

Founded on the principle that great wine starts in the vineyard, the first vines were planted on the family farm in 1972. 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. www.HosmerWinery.com

The winery sits on 72 acres of land overlooking the east side of beautiful Cayuga Lake. Guests are treated to a tasting of the finest dry red and white wines and the spectacular views that the tasting room provides. www.LongPointWinery.com

Winner of the 2017 Governor’s Cup! Come explore our beautifully landscaped grounds and lake view while tasting some of our many award winning wines. A renowned venue for weddings, we also have on-site cabins for overnight lodging. www.ButtonwoodGrove.com

Lucas Vineyards Three generations of fun-loving Lucas family invite you to experience Cayuga Lake’s oldest winery. Engaging wine tastings, beautiful gardens and one of the area’s most unique gift shops are just a few happenings at Lucas. Wine slushies that can’t be beat! www.LucasVineyards.com

Varick Winery & Vineyard Experience wines paired with complimentary fare. Sample over 100 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. www.VarickWinery.com

RESTAURANTS Knapp Vineyard Restaurant 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 entrees using regional products. Combine this setting with Knapp’s premium wine for an authentic Finger Lakes experience. www.KnappWine.com

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The Copper Oven at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery

Bistro at Thirsty Owl Wine Company

Crystal Lake Café at Americana Vineyards

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. Check out website for up to the day menu planning and special events. www.SlowFoodOnTheGo.com

The Thirsty Owl Winery and Bistro, with its own 41 acres of vineyards overlooking Cayuga Lake, offers indoor, outdoor, and private seating for larger groups. Enjoy our award-winning wines and delicious local fare. www.ThirstyOwl.com

The Crystal Lake Cafe offers fresh, locallysourced, from-scratch gourmet comfort food in a laid-back casual atmosphere year-round – inside or out when the weathers nice. Enjoy lunch, dinner, our Friday Nite Pizza Party, and a Sunday brunch that’s not to be missed! www.AmericanaVineyards.com

CayugaWineTrail.com

8/7/18 12:16 PM

EVENTS

2018

Mardi Gras

CeleBrunch

Beads, coins and a scavenger hunt February 24 & 25

Celebrating 35 years June 3

Bacon on the Lakein

Holiday Shopping Spree

The perfect event for bacon lovers March 24 & 25

Wine & Herb Festival

Wreath, ornaments and shopperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s card November 16-18 and November 30 - December 2

Potted herbs and veggie plants April 27-29 and May 4-6

CayugaWineTrail.com

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Wineries & Wine A Finger Lakes Experience by Jason Feulner Images courtesy each winery represented

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines

~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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here was a time when there were relatively few wineries in the entire Finger Lakes Region. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, wineries popped up here and there, but it was hardly the wave one sees today. It was only in the 1990s that the region really seemed to find its footing when it became clear that there was a rapidly increasing market for vinifera as well as the native and hybrid varieties. After 2000, and especially after 2010, growth seemed nearly exponential and now there are over 140 wineries in the region. The following round-up includes wineries that responded to a survey from Life in the Finger Lakes. For those who love Finger Lakes wine, let this information serve as a primer to get out there and enjoy what the region has to offer. Along the way, you’re guaranteed to discover even more that interests you. It has always been about the journey – no matter how many wineries lie along the route.

Billsboro Winery

Domaine LeSeurre Winery Starkeys Lookout

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

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Fun Name,

SERIOUS WINE

Wineries have some fun with their labels and label names from time-to-time, and the sheer variety of grapes and winemaking methods means that you can create some off-beat bottlings. Furthermore, the informal nature of the Finger Lakes has led to a disproportionate number of wineries where – really – anything goes, especially in the sweeter wine category.

Sometimes simple is the way to get a more complex message across. McGregor’s Black Russian Red might sound like a weird cocktail order at first, but it is an effective way to explain that two Eastern European red grape varieties – Saperavi and Sereksiya Charni – grow well in the Finger Lakes and taste great blended together.

The name of a wine can, in its own weird way, honor a piece of relevant information concerning the region. For instance, Wagner’s Fathom 107 is a blend of Riesling and Gewürztraminer. A fathom is a nautical term of measurement for 6 feet of water depth and Seneca Lake is 107 fathoms (640 feet deep), one of the deepest lakes in the United States. So, no, the name has nothing to do with the wine, but it is an interesting way to reference the unique lake next to which the grapes grow.

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Lamoreaux Landing’s T23 Unoaked Cabernet Franc might lead one to think that the letter-number combo refers to some chemical principle of winemaking. Nope – T23 is just the name of the stainless steel tank in which the wine was first made. Tank number 23.

Shaw Vineyard offers a Riesling that is proudly labeled Road Block Reserve, typically harvested late in the season. The wine is made from the block of Riesling that grows right next to Route 14.

Teetotalers beware! Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery’s newest product, called Prohibition Red, is a soft, smooth, sweet red fortified dessert wine reminiscent of yesteryear. It’s made like the dessert wines during prohibition 1920-1933.

Art imitates life with Anthony Road’s 2013 Art Riesling. This vintage is part of the “Art Series.” This label artwork came from Ann Martini’s (founder, owner, matriarch) fine arts days at Nazareth College, circa 1965.

The sweet wine institutions really jump on the insane labeling. Pompous Ass prides itself on its Kiss My Ass series that pokes fun at the wine industry in general, including Highfalutin’, Pure Arrogance, Big Ass Blend and Pretentious Port. Ouch!

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Vintage Alert Some Wineries Are Older Than You Think

ince most wineries undergo some sort of a facelift from time-totime – and the years pass all of us by a little too quickly – it’s quite easy to forget that some Finger Lakes wineries have really been here awhile. No, there aren’t many “grandparents” in the group quite yet, but some of the wineries have definitely entered early middle age. One of the early standouts that people tend to take for granted is Dr. Konstantin Frank on Keuka Lake. Bonded in 1962, Dr. Frank’s (as most refer to it) was a rather small affair in its early years, serving as an experimental station for its namesake who was hell bent on establishing his theories about the viability of vinifera in a cool climate. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, this flagship winery continues to maintain some of the highest quality winemaking in the region.

Estate grown on the western shore of Cayuga Lake since 1997

Sheldrake Point Winery 7448 County Road 153, Ovid, N.Y. 14521 607.532.9401 | www.sheldrakepoint.com

(Continued on page 33)

Dr. Konstantin Frank vineyard

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Morning Dew

Table Wine

New York State Pinot Gris

750 ml

CONTAINS SULPHITES

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Join us as we raise our glasses to Avery’s memory. Joan & Doug

Wineries that carry a theme can keep the references alive with their new creations. Damiani honors its Italian heritage by naming its new sparkling wine Bollicine, which means “tiny bubbles” or “bubbly” in Italian.

For anyone who knows Doug, this was bound to happen. A “grateful” name for a “great” wine. Fresh as the crisp morning dew this Pinot Gris is a reflection of Doug’s love of music and semi-dry wine. This wine is a tribute to Avery Ayers, who designed this label and was one of Doug’s life-long friends.

Keuka Spring Vineyards calls one of their red blends Millers Cove Red not only because it mentions the name of the shoreline just below the vineyard, but it highlights a bit of local history. Over 100 years ago, long before there were grapes on that site, a landowner named Miller cultivated fruit trees and left a legacy on that part of Keuka Lake.

WINE CELLARS LONG ACRE FARMS

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON GENERAL, WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING PREGNANCY BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS. (2) CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE A CAR OR OPERATE MACHINERY, AND MAY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS.

Long Acre Farms calls one of their white blends Morning Dew (Vidal Blanc, Traminette and Cayuga White). The tie-dye tear drop and the name are a subtle reference to the winemaker’s favorite band, the Grateful Dead.

Blends of different grapes are often given interesting names. Hunt Country calls their traditional red Bordeaux blend Alchemy because “it’s the closest thing we’ve found to the magical Elixir of Life.”

If you’re feeling patriotic, Thirsty Owl invites you to try their red blend Lot 99, which is not a reference to a lot of wine, but to the specific land on which the winery was built. The name comes from the original Revolutionary War land grant given to Sergeant Florence Marony, 1st Regiment, for his service to the founding of the nation.

NAME THAT

WINE

Diane Moore of Inspire Moore Winery wants to inspire more love in the world, and through their ever popular semi-dry Riesling called “Love,” they are doing just that. Her husband Timothy Moore has a vast knowledge of many different winemaking styles and has worked with many varieties. Their winey was one of the first Finger Lakes wineries to produce high end dry red wines, and Austrian varieties such as Gruner Veltliner and Blaufrankisch.

Zinderella 2017 from Long Point Winery is a sweet light-bodied red with flavors of raspberry and watermelon. Imagine Cinderella as a wine, and this is what you get!

Perhaps Three Brothers takes the cake in almost any naming category. I will quote directly from their response since it’s nothing short of an eclectic work of art: “One of our most popular wines is Scandelicious. This wine label was inspired by Heddy Lamarr, an Austrian born American actress and inventor. At the beginning of World War II, she and composer George Antheil developed a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes. Although the US Navy did not adopt the technology until the 1960s the principles of their work are arguably incorporated into Bluetooth technology. This work led to their induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.” A head-scratcher for sure.

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Wine

marketplace

a shared drink is enjoyed by all (Continued from page 31)

Get to the Point Breathtaking vistas. Award-winning wines.

While Dr. Frank’s is definitely the oldest in the group found in this article, there is one winery that can make an interesting claim about longevity. Eagle Crest Vineyards, located on Hemlock Lake in the far western reaches of the Finger Lakes, was spun off from the Oh-Neh-Da brand of sacramental wine, founded by Bishop of Rochester Bernard McQuaid in 1872 to make “Wine that is Wine, pure grape wine for the Eucharist.” It’s a long and interesting story, but the bottom line is that if you are looking for a real adventure, look up Eagle Crest and make your way over to Hemlock Lake, which is preserved as a water source and has no other structures around it save for the old winery next to a former seminary. It’s a Finger Lake in all its natural glory. (Continued on page 35)

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Ryan William’s popular wines are their Cabernet Franc & Chardonnay wines. They consistently produce quality wine year after year using estate grown grapes.

Senza is Anyelas Vineyard’s first sparkling wine. It’s a blend of their best white grapes and has a smooth and refreshing effervescence with crisp, clean floral notes.

Riesling is the favorite at Azure Hill Winery. They planted 700 vines in 2006 and make a estate-grown sparkling brut, a dry and a sweet Riesling. Dry Riesling tends to be their best seller.

Some themes are a bit out there but fun nonetheless. Barnstormer attempts to evoke the daring acrobatic pilots of the 1920s, and therefore it named its Ruby-Port style dessert wine Nosedive. Hopefully no one falls down drinking the stuff.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Animals are always a popular theme that seem to dominate at some wineries. Chateau LaFayette Reneau offers a Nature Pack: Emperor’s Blush (penguin), Northern White (polar bear) and Roaring Red (lion), three semi-dry wines. Deer Run has a wine named Max Black, a blend of Niagara and Vincent grapes. The wine boasts a Scottish Terrier on its label and was named after the owner’s late winery dog, Max.

Often family itself is the theme. Zugibe was founded by a Lebanese family that named one of its wines 4 Freds, which is a red blend that honors 4 succeeding generations of Fred Zugibe. It is not specified which specific Fred most closely corresponds to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, or Lemberger blended therein. Riesling, inspired by the wines of the Rhienhessen in Germany, is also popular at Barry Family Wine Cellars. Their lineup of wines is always changing. They adjust their wines to fit the vintage and the variations 34 ~which L i f e it i nprovides. theFingerL akes.com

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Ventosa Vineyards boasts Italian heritage and bottles the relatively rare Tocai Friulano grape from northern Italy.

Belhurst’s best sellers are always Rieslings. Their signature historical collection, which has some incredible blends, gives depth to the history of the Belhurst property as well as combinations of grapes most people have never tried.

Tug Boat Red is one of Lucas Vineyards most popular wines. What (or who) was the inspiration for this wine? One of the founders was a Tugboat Captain in the New York Harbor. They also have some catchy “nautical” themed wines and “Nautie Wines” which are a spin off of their Tug Boat wine.

Montezuma Winery boasts that Fat Frog Red (concord grapes) is their most popular wine. It was inspired by the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge that is adjacent to the winery.

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stonecutters tavern

sunken bar overlooking Seneca Lake (Continued from page 33)

As for the rest of the class, the following wineries were all founded before the year 2000. No, that doesn’t make them ancient, but that means all of them are now older than a college student, and a whole bunch are creeping up on the big 4-0!

John and Jo Ingle of Heron Hill Winery

edgar’s steakhouse and lounge in the magnificent and historic Castle

Heron Hill Winery – 1977 Wagner Vineyards – 1979 Lucas Vineyards – 1980

three distinct hotels

Castle Chambers - Vinifera Inn - White Springs Manor

McGregor Vineyard– 1980 Hunt Country Vineyards – 1981 Chateau LaFayette Reneau – 1985 Hosmer Winery – 1985 Keuka Spring Vineyards – 1985

Keuka Spring Vineyards

winery, craft beer & gift shop 2 ballrooms, weddings, events, meetings

belhurst

4069 west lake rd, geneva, ny 315-781-0201 | www.belhurst.com

Fox Run Vineyards – 1989 Fulkerson Winery – 1989 Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars – 1992 Shalestone Vineyards – 1998 Atwater Estates – 1999

2018 PHOTO CONTEST! DEADLINE! AUGUST 31, 2018 Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for more information September /October 2018 ~

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On the web

HUNTWINES.COM

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Anthony Road Wine Co.................................anthonyroadwine.com Anyelas Vineyards...........................................anyelasvineyards.com Arbor Hill Winery.............................................thegrapery.com Atwater Estate Vineyards...............................atwatervineyards.com Azure Hill Winery............................................azurehillwinery.com Barnstormer Winery.......................................barnstormerwinery.com Barry Family Cellars........................................barryfamilywines.com Belhurst.............................................................belhurst.com Billsboro Winery..............................................billsborowinery.com Cayuga Lake Wine Trail..................................cayugawinetrail.com Chateau LaFayette Reneau............................clrwine.com Colloca Estate Winery.....................................colloca.com Damiani Wine Cellars.....................................damianiwinecellars.com Deer Run Winery.............................................deerrunwinery.com Domaine LeSeurre Winery...........................dlwinery.com Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines..........................drfrankwines.com Eagle Crest Vineyards.....................................eaglecrestvineyards.com Fox Run Vineyards..........................................foxrunvineyards.com Fulkerson Winery............................................fulkersonwinery.com Heron Hill Winery...........................................heronhill.com Hosmer Winery...............................................hosmerwinery.com Hunt Country Vineyards................................huntwines.com Inspire Moore Winery....................................inspiremoorewinery.com Keuka Spring Vineyards.................................keukaspringwinery.com Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars................lamoreauxwine.com Long Acre Farms.............................................longacrefarms.com Long Point Winery..........................................longpointwinery.com Lucas Vineyards...............................................lucasvineyards.com McGregor Vineyard.........................................mcgregorwinery.com Montezuma Winery........................................montezumawinery.com Pompous Ass Winery.....................................pompousasswinery.com Quality Wine Tours.........................................qualitywinetours.com Rooster Hill Vineyards....................................roosterhill.com Ryan William Vineyard...................................ryanwilliam.com Shalestone Vineyards.....................................shalestonevineyards.com Shaw Vineyard.................................................shawvineyard.com Sheldrake Point Winery.................................sheldrakepoint.com Starkey’s Lookout............................................starkeyslookout.com Thirsty Owl Wine Company..........................thirstyowl.com Three Brothers Wineries & Estates..............3brotherswinery.com Toro Run Winery.............................................tororunwinery.com Ventosa Vineyards...........................................ventosavineyards.com Wagner Vineyards...........................................wagnervineyards.com Zugibe Vineyards.............................................zugibevineyards.com

Quality Wine Tours

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Wine

marketplace

a shared drink is enjoyed by all

Share the Passion

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Handcraed wines

What Sets Us Apart,

Brings Us Together

Overlooking Keuka Lake 1-800-272-0192 | mcgregorwinery.com

ineries surveyed were asked what sets them apart, and there were some interesting answers. Most wineries have a story, and that’s part of the fun. It’s rare to hear someone rave about a winery just because of the wine (as important as that is). As consumers, we love to feel connected to what brings a wine about, whether the background of the winemaker, the conditions in the vineyard, or even the view from the tasting room. Collocca Estate Winery emphasized that it’s special because it’s not technically in the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area, but is closer to Lake Ontario, which the proprietors believe gives the grapes an extra boost. Who knows? Much like heading out to Hemlock Lake to check out Eagle Crest, this sounds like an adventure ready to go.

Hosmer is one of the older wineries in the region (1985) but the family has been growing grapes since 1972. In fact, the vineyard expertise has been passed down to such an extent that Tim Hosmer owns a spin-off business called Benchmark Planting which uses a GPS guided laser system to plant incredibly accurate new vineyards. This is one of the few such setups on the entire East Coast and his services are in high demand in growing wine regions. Tired of all that white wine? Shalestone has your back. The winery produces not a single white wine, and is in fact the only winery in the state that produces only reds. Atwater Estates claims they have one of the best views in the Finger Lakes (and they might have a point) but they also have a unique business (Continued on page 40)

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Seneca Lake Wine Trail

marketplace

real, local, industrious and determined wineries

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WWW.FULKERSONWINERY.COM

OPEN DAILY 10AM-5PM

5576 STATE ROUTE 14, DUNDEE NY

ounded in 1986, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization dedicated to its member wineries. We are not unlike your local Chamber of Commerce, except where our members are all wineries, rather than the usual mix of businesses associated with Chambers. Our members are all independently owned and operated businesses, and collectively run the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and its modest business office. Much more information can be found about the trail, our member wineries, events, activities and other relevant

businesses and experiences all around Seneca Lake and throughout the Finger Lakes Region of western, central New York State by clicking around on senecalakewine.com, becoming a fan of the trail at Facebook, following us on Twitter and signing up to receive a mere 6-10 informatively entertaining emails per year. Before embarking on a trip to visit the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and our member wineries, we encourage you to call the individual wineries themselves for answers to any questions, or the offices of the Trail itself, weekdays, at 877-536-2717.

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(Continued from page 38) Billsboro Winery

Domaine LeSeurre Winery

relationship with Billsboro. Both wineries share the same winemaker – Vinny Aliperti – who first served as winemaker for Atwater before founding Billsboro on the others side of Seneca Lake. For some reason the situation seems to work for both wineries and Vinny continues to make award-winning wines under both labels. Fulkerson Winery has been around since 1989, but the winery actually started as a juice plant 10 years earlier. In fact, the winery still provides a great deal of grape juice to home winemakers as a secondary business to their labeled wine production. Domaine LeSeurre is one of the newest wineries on Keuka Lake, but the young French couple (Sébastien and Céline Leseurre) trace their winemaking roots way back. Sébastien’s family has been involved in winemaking in (Continued on page 42)

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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8/6/18 1:50 PM

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Toro Run Winery

Fox Run Vineyards

(Continued from page 40)

Champagne for at least 6 generations and Céline grew up near her grandparent’s vineyard near the Pyranees. The family crest on the winery label is a reflection of this heritage. Is all this talk of wine giving you the munchies? Rooster Hill now sports a brick oven pizza operation utilizing an imported Italian implement, and pairing various gourmet pizzas with the wine is a must. Food is typically offered on weekends. Toro Run Winery offers a Spanish theme, but their winemaker is French… and one of their standout wines is made from the very French grape Pinot Meunier, which is native to Champagne. Regardless, their bottles often sport a Flamenco dancer and they serve delicious Tapas, so it’s all good. And finally, most people have heard of Fox Run, known for their wide variety of wines made by veteran winemaker Peter Bell, but the winery’s biggest claim to fame is its annual Garlic Festival. This event continues to be one of the most popular single winery events of the year and, despite all the strong odors of glorious garlic cooking during the festivities, people seem to enjoy the wine as well. It’s a bit of an extreme pairing, but no one can argue with success. Sheldrake Point Winery

Get to It! A lot of fun can be had when tasting wine. Ask questions and see where the conversation takes you. I’ve never met a winemaker or winery owner who wasn’t willing to talk about the wine. In many ways this round up of information only scratches the surface, but that’s the point: The Finger Lakes wine region has always been a large territory but now it’s getting deeper and deeper with more wineries, more wine, and more stories. There’s a lot to explore. Have fun out there and be safe! Always have a designated driver when you go tasting.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Edward “Ed” Jackson Lic. Associate RE Broker, REALTOR

Real Estate marketplace finding the perfect place for you

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DON’T BUY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITHOUT TALKING TO

MARK MALCOLM II

“HE’S GOT A CORNER ON THE MARKET”

9005 Jersey Hill Rd HONEOYE/CANADICE: 2008 True Vermont Log Home with 12 acres

located on a scenic hill between Honeoye and Canadice Lakes; 10’ x 40’ covered porch looking easterly toward the Bristol Hills; 1,600 bright and airy square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; open floor plan with southern exposure; master bath; 1st floor laundry; full Superior wall walk out basement; 2011 24’ x 36’ barn/outbuilding with electric and water; minutes to Bristol Mountain or Hunt Hollow ski slopes; easy commute to Rochester. TEXT: H041447 TO: VIDEOS or visit: howardhanna.com/R1128760

6005 State Rte 15A CANADICE: Spectacular 2001 tri-level 3,100 sq ft

timberframe on a scenic 15 acre wooded hillside between Hemlock and Canadice Lakes; walk or bike to the 6,684 acre Hemlock-Canadice State Forest; 4 bedrooms/3 baths; 16’x24’ great room with cathedral ceiling and southern exposure for solar gain; in floor radiant heat in lower level; detached 12’x20’ heated workshop with loft; woods with trails; pond; easy commute to Rochester, Geneseo, etc. Minutes to Bristol Mountain and Hunt Hollow ski slopes. TEXT: H035367 TO: VIDEOS or visti: howardhanna.com/R1121259

A terrific opportunity for equestriAns & gentlemen fArmers

JB’S Restaurant/Bar & Catering, located high above Keuka Lake’s Western Shores. One of the Finger Lakes most successful eateries, bar, and banquet halls! This is an opportunity of a lifetime; with a proven winner! Folks come from all over to enjoy the finest of food, greatest selection of libations, banquet facilities for up to 250, and catering for all occasions. It’s time to get branded at JB’S. The financials prove its value. Now Priced at $999,000. Keuka Lake - A Lindal Cedar Home with soaring ceilings, sitting on 150’ of all natural frontage! Almost 1 acre of land, a 2-car garage, 3+ bedrooms, 4 full baths, gas stove in the great room and wide views, which can be fully appreciated with two stories of glass, overlooking Lake Keuka. Decks, patio, permanent dock, lawn, and it’s on the lower road for walking & biking. Evening sunsets, close to the Village of Hammondsport, with many dining and shopping options. This is a wonderful setting! Now priced at $775,000. Keuka Lake - Picture this scene.....A lake home with the character of those at the Turn-of-the-Century; with porches, and grassy front lawn, leading to your level beach front. Couple this image with 1900 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, wood burning fireplace, country kitchen and, across the way, your very own barn with 2nd floor recreation room, which is unbelievable. It doesn’t get any better on Lake Keuka! Now priced at $725,000.

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

email: mark@markmalcolm.com

Website: MARKMALCOLM.COM (w/mobile app)

7.99 acres, 3 fenced pasture lands, 60x160 indoor riding arena, custom built 4BD, 2BA ranch home, Morton building w/9 horse stalls, office, tack room, artisan well for unlimited water for horses and any livestock needs, public water for the house, 24x40 barn., 5 minutes to Exit 40 NYS Thruway.

Contact Midge Fricano Broker, GRI. CRS.

cell: 315-729-0985 • email: MidgeFricano@gmail.com www.LakeCountryRealEstateNY.com

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at the Macedon Center Lumberjack Festival 44

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Why is this early fall event my favorite Finger Lakes festival of the year?

aybe it’s because I like to watch women throwing axes (and they’re not throwing them at me). Or perhaps I get a kick out of seeing a big burly guy heft a huge axe overhead and then smash it down between his feet, mere inches from his toes. Or possibly because I sense my own wood chopping efforts could yet turn into a greater glory. Bottom line? The Macedon Center Lumberjack Festival is simply fun, fast-paced, and authentic. You get to watch unique athletic events in a relaxed country atmosphere. In addition, it’s a fundraiser – for the Macedon Volunteer Fire Department and the Methodist Church across the street. If you think you can do what these jacks and jills do, dream on. Here, in a race against time, male and female contestants, smash butcher-sharp steel axes against logs in an explosion of wood chips. Glistening with sweat and rippling with muscles, they slice chainsaws through logs in a geyser of sawdust, and furiously pump crosscut saws across 19-inch-diameter logs in a display of “cookie” cutting. All hope to grab a portion of the $5,000 in prize money. story and photos by Derek Doeffinger

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Jacks and Jills

You might be surprised to see that many of the guys (not all) look less like Paul Bunyan and Daniel Boone and more like Rob Gronkowski and LeBron James. Brutish strength no longer guarantees success. These guys and gals are athletes. They need speed, agility, precision, power, and strategy. Thankfully, there are a few old-school-looking lumberjacks

who carry the bulk and beard of Hagrid, the enormous gamekeeper friend of Harry Potter. They add a comforting retro cinematic warmth to the event. This year, for the first time, all the 50 or more contestants are pros, including a few world-class performers like Pittsford’s Dave Jewett, who is well-known for his chainsaw

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art. He travels the world competing, promoting, and instructing in things lumberjack. The women, known as lumberjills, also ripple with muscles, but often are surprisingly sleek. Some look like they’ve just come from a spinning class or an L.L. Bean photo shoot – until they begin slamming an axe into a log. Just how well equipped they are to heave double-headed axes, thrust bucksaws, and wrangle chainsaws may come as a bit of a revelation. About the relatively recent inclusion of lumberjills, contestant Tracie Henning says, “People think it’s pretty cool.” Not only muscles are unleashed here. So is the mouth of off-the-wall announcer, Kevin Holtz. A former pro competitor and now a parttime professional lumberjack sports announcer (shows on ABC, ESPN, and other outlets), he spouts constantly with knowledgeable insights about all aspects of the sport. There’s a lot going on here so listen to him. From his stream of patter you’ll learn event essentials, pick up colorful gossip (who’s marrying whom), and laugh at his constant stream of good-natured jabs.

Training, tools and protection

The athletes range from muscular to very muscular, so you might think that weightlifting and strength-building exercises are at the core of their workouts. That’s not always the case. “These events are bursts of activity that last less than 30 seconds, so working on fast twitch muscle is important,” explains Holtz, who knows most of these athletes. With a few hundredths of a second often making the difference between a September /October 2018 ~

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HARRY McCUE

win and a loss, efficient movements matter. One inaccurate swing could be game over. Tracie Henning and her husband Chris, also a competitor, emphasize event training. “We bought a house that backs up to the woods so we’d have enough space to practice our actual events,” she says. “We videotape ourselves for analysis.” The tools are critical to success. Most competitors bring a couple of saws and several axes to an event. It’s no myth that a lumberjack can shave his beard with one of his axes. “They’re surgically sharp,” says Tracie. “A competitor may test the sharpness of his or her axe by sliding it along their arm to see if it shaves off the hairs.” The best racing axes are custom-made in Australia and New Zealand, and sell for $400 and up. They are designed for specific events and specific types of wood. In addition, a twoheaded throwing axe and a lighter axe for the springboard competition are also required. Most of the axed wood is aspen; its soft knots won’t ruin an expensive tool. Sawn wood is often white pine. Crosscut saws start at $1,000. The modified hotsaws easily run $5,000 and up. Hockey players may regularly lose teeth, but most lumberjacks and jills remain sandal-ready with all toes intact, thanks to effective protective devices that reduce injuries. They include chainmail socks to prevent toe departure (but not bruises). Chaps made with chainmail or stuffed with shredded Kevlar protect against chainsaw wounds. Ear and eye protection do their jobs.

The Events

Everything takes place in a common infield ringed by grandstands. There’s a constant flurry of activity.

Penn Central Set in the Finger Lakes Region, these themes of nature and the transience of man in nature are the focus of most of my works.

607.582.6252

faculty.ithaca.edu/hmccue 48

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The Kayak Showroom

The details When: Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9, from mid-morning to late afternoon. (Lunch break 12 to 1 p.m.) Saturday – all athletes compete. Sunday – the top-scoring athletes from Saturday vie for prize money.

Over 500 Kayaks & SUPs

Where: Behind the Macedon Center Fire Department at 2481 Canandaigua Road, Macedon Center What: In addition to the competition, there will be craft booths, food vendors, displays of assorted farm and lumbering equipment, and demonstrations of chainsaw carving and other wood crafts. Cost: Adults, $3; seniors, $2; kids ages 6 to 14, $1; ages 5 and under, free. Proceeds support the all-volunteer Macedon Center Fire Department and the Macedon Center United Methodist church.

Try Before You Buy Candor, NY · www.powerandpaddle.com

For the most up-to-date information, go to http://macedoncenterfire.org.

The winner is the fastest to finish an event. Most events last less than a minute, but the hotsaw lasts only a few seconds. It’s a two-day competition, so on Saturday the athletes compete to make the cut for the Sunday finals. On Sunday, the survivors compete for the prize money and glory. Competitors randomly draw logs before the start of an event. The axe events include the axe throw, underhand chop, standing block chop, and springboard. Sawing events include the single buck saw, crosscut saw, stock chainsaw, hotsaw, and jack-and-jill relay crosscut. The hot rod of lumberjack events is the hotsaw, a souped-up chainsaw. Typically powered by a 250cc to 350cc dirt-bike engine, it can cut through a log before you can wipe the sweat off your brow. The springboard chop may be the most entertaining and demanding event because several competitors compete simultaneously. Each swings an axe while standing on an improvised and flimsy “diving board.” With an axe and two planks (the springboards), the lumberjack, standing on the ground for the first swings, cuts a notch into an upright 9-foot pole, then inserts the plank into it, hops onto it (hoping it holds), and then cuts the next higher notch, inserts the next springboard and hops onto it. Now 6 feet in the air, he chops away at the top log, hoping he doesn’t tumble before severing it. Even if you’ve never swung an axe or handled a chainsaw – or even if you have – you’ll be amazed at what these athletes can do. LIFL

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Autumn

ROAD TRIP story and photos by Bill Banaszewski

Crank the tunes and set off on your next road trip to explore these eleven beautiful Finger Lakes destinations.

LETCHWORTH 2

State Park

Mt. Morris, NY 14510 50

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HONEOYE inlet Wildlife Management Area

Honeoye, NY 14471

Rochester

Canandaigua

Syracuse

Geneva

2 1 3

Ithaca

Watkins Glen

SENECA lake

Glenora Winery

5435 NY-14 Dundee, NY 14837

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CANADICE

lake

Canadice, NY 14560

Lighthouse Museum 6

7606 N Ontario St, Sodus Point, NY 14555

SODUS bay

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Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. – Margaret Lee Runbeck

CONESUS lake Vitale Park

5828 Big Tree Rd, Lakeville, NY 14480

Rochester

7 Canandaigua

Syracuse

Geneva

ERIE canal

7 Ithaca Watkins Glen

S Main St, Fairport, NY 14450 September /October 2018 ~

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Lansing Myers Park 8

1 Lansing Park Rd, Lansing, NY 14882

Rochester

Canandaigua

Syracuse

Geneva

9 8 Ithaca

11 Watkins Glen

SKANEATELES lake

Dowload the Life in The Finger Lakes APP for LIFL Google Map locations of these beautiful destinations! 4 ~ L i f e i n t h e F i n g e r L a k e s . c o m 5

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CAYUGA

USA in farm field

9 from Route 54A Keuka Park, NY 14478

lake

LAND art

South end

Spafford Landing Road Homer, NY 13077

LIFL

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HAMMONDSPORT

That’s why I love road trips, dude. It’s like doing something without actually doing anything. – John Green

Finger Lakes Boating Museum 11

8231 Pleasant Valley Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840

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White Water

Rafting

at LETCHWORTH STATE PARK by Jennifer Srmack

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the “LifeCalls in the Finger LIFL Photos Get courtesy Adventure Outfitters

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Lakes” APP for more photos and articles!

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Mind the

sk any Finger Lakes local about Letchworth State Park and I’m sure they’ll gush about the trails, the history, the camping and, most of all, the breathtaking views down to the river. But I’ll wager many have never seen it from the bottom up. Rafting in Letchworth is yet another adventure to explore within the Finger Lakes. Head to the Lower Falls area of the park to the South Poolhouse, and there you’ll find Adventure Calls Outfitters (ACO). Founded in 1981, they’re the ones who will lead you on a raft ride down the river through “The Grand Canyon of the East.” The rafting season runs from April to October. I chose June as a good time to seek out my adventure, mostly because I’m rather averse to cold water. In the summer months, the water may be low, so they do note on the site that some days they use inflatable kayaks rather than rafts to get down the river. When the water is lower the trip may take longer, but it just means that there’s that much more time to enjoy the breathtaking views. You can choose to go on a morning run or afternoon run. I chose afternoon. When you arrive the guides are there to greet you and get you situated for the ride. I was greeted by Joan, a vet amongst them, and was introduced to Kevin, the company owner. Most of the staff have been there for years and they definitely exude a cheerful family feeling. They love their job and, let’s face it, who wouldn’t? Your guides will fit you with a lifejacket, helmet and paddle. Once everyone is fitted, there’s a short presentation about safety and the dos and don’ts of rafting. Pay attention, because you may find yourself stuck on some rocks and in need of a way to get loose. After that you board one of three buses for a short ride down to the river. ACO takes care of everything at this point. Rafts and kayaks are zip-lined down to the river and all you have is a short hike to the boats. Groups are formed with four to five people per raft. Some have guides and some don’t, but

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LIFL

Get the “Life in the Finger Lakes” APP for more photos and articles!

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North Star Art Gallery

Works by Brian Keeler Sept 1-30: New England & Acadia Oct. 5-14: Rural Landscapes & Harvest 743 Snyder Hill Rd Ithaca, NY 14850 Open Fri. -Sun. 11-4 and by appt 607-323-7684 • Info@northstarartgallery.com • northstarartgallery.com

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

you all stick together so you’re never without assistance. On this raft ride you are expected to paddle, but it is by no means strenuous. People of all ages can enjoy this ride. I was lucky enough to end up in the lead raft with my guide Ted, a knowledgeable and funny character. He steered and we paddled. The view from the bottom of the canyon is simply jaw dropping. You can’t really take in the scope of it all until you see it from the bottom. Make sure to wave to the folks at the top. The amount of rapids you hit depends on the water level of the river. Because the level was a bit low that day, we only experienced a few fun rapids, but the pace of the river gave us more time to spot local wildlife – some deer, eagles and several families of geese. Ted and the other guides have a good sense of where to spot them, and are always eager to point them out. To ensure everyone stayed together, we took a few breaks on the side of the river so the groups behind us could catch up. At these times, you’re free to jump into the water to cool off or walk up on shore and explore a bit. It’s recommended you wear clothes that can get wet, so I chose to swim. About two-thirds of the way down, we stopped at Wolf Creek. A few steps away from the river are an Instagramworthy waterfall and the “Leap of Faith,” a small 4- to 5-footwide hole of water near the waterfall. Are you brave enough to jump in? After that it’s just a leisurely float to the end where you can jump in the water and swim to shore or paddle in. After that, the rafts are loaded onto the buses for a ride back to base where juice and cookies are waiting. All in all, it’s an amazing bucket-list adventure. I met several folks who do the rafting trip every year. One couple, who were seasoned travelers, mentioned that this rafting tour was one of their favorites. If you’re looking for a fun day adventure, I’d definitely recommend this one. And if you come face to face with the leap of faith, take it. A few words of advice • Wear clothes that can get wet • Listen to your guide • Watch out for the bucket. If you didn’t get wet on the rapids you may still get doused. • Bring a camera that can get wet • Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock

Building the Finger Lakes since 1977

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LIFL

APP extra!

Get the LIFL APP to see more WHITE WATER RAFTING PHOTOS!

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Mind the

Adventure Calls Outfitters Letchworth State Park 7051 Lower Falls Rd., Castile, NY 14427 1-888-270-2410 aco.rafting@gmail.com Schedule April 7 through October 28 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (call for departure times) June 19 through August 31 Tuesday through Friday (10:30 AM only)

FAQs from Adventure Calls Outfitters How deep is the water? You can either touch the bottom or you can’t. However, as a general rule wherever the river is the deepest it is also the calmest.

14th

Romantic Fall Sky Ride!

Live Music, Sky Rides, & Family Fun Food Trucks, beer, wine, & spirit tasting and craft vendors

BristolMountain.com Open weekends Sept. 8th - Oct 28th 12pm-4pm plus Columbus Day (October 8th)

Will I get wet? Yes, that’s sort of the point with this activity. Can I bring my dog? No, and you can’t bring your cat either. Is the water cold? In the early spring and late fall, yes, thus the need for wetsuits. During the summer months it is quite refreshing and bathing suits or t-shirts will suffice. Do I need to know how to swim? No, your PDF allows you to float whether you can swim or not. Is it possible the raft could tip over? Yes, but only if everyone in it stands on one side and pulls the boat over on their heads. It is extremely unlikely that the raft will flip over as a result of the river conditions. What happens if I fall out of the raft? You’ll get wet. Part of the safety talk that precedes every trip is about what to do in the event you fall out of the raft.

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THE PIANO TEACHER

October 21 - November 4 | 2018

GROUNDED

Is this dangerous? You will partake in two very dangerous activities the day of your trip – riding in a vehicle to and from our site office. Our safety record is among the very elite in the paddlesports industry.

November 25 - December 9 | 2018

Does the river end where it started? Only on an amusement park ride. A river trip on a naturally flowing waterway always starts at a point ‘A’ and ends downstream at a point ‘B’.

January 27 - February 17 | 2019

Do I have to wear a life jacket? Only if you want to go on the trip. Can I go barefoot? No. Footgear is required and you must bring your own. Old sneakers, water shoes or secure sandals are best. What do we do if it rains? We get wet. All trips proceed rain or shine. Do I have to paddle? You’re kidding, right? Paddling is what propels the raft forward and moves it left or right around rocks and other obstacles in the river bed. Is there a guide in every boat? No, but generally, people that really would like a guide in their raft will get one.

THE ROOMMATE THE ROYALE

March 10 - 31 | 2019

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April 21 - May 5 | 2019

TRIBES

June 2 - 23 | 2019

607.272.0570 · www.kitchentheatre.org 607.272.0570 • kitchentheatre.org

For more FAQs and general information, visit adventure-calls.com. September /October 2018 ~

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Nooks & Crannies

a little bit of everything

There’s Always Room for

JELL- O “America’s Most Famous Dessert – Delicate, Delightful, Dainty” (First major advertising slogan – 1902) story and photos by James P. Hughes

Rochester

LeRoy Avon

Canandaigua

Geneva

Penn Yan

n the past 120 years, who hasn’t savored a bowl of that jiggly treat with a dollop of whipped cream, or molded it into a chilled salad enhanced with fresh fruit? That ever-popular dessert, a simple mixture of gelatin, sugar, and flavoring was conceived and trademarked as “Jell-O” in LeRoy, New York in 1897. So embedded has the tasty dish become in America and around the globe that the generic term “jello” is commonly used to reference virtually any gelatin dessert, regardless of the brand name on the package. (Gelatin , or “gelatin,” is a “translucent, colorless, flavorless food derived from the collagen in various animal parts … and…” Well, enough of that; you get the idea.)

Gelatin’s use in dessert-making goes back many centuries and involved long, painstaking processes before reaching the table as acceptable fare. It was generally considered a delicacy available only to wealthy families. History changed in a home on a quiet LeRoy street in 1897. Pearle B. Wait, a local carpenter, dabbled in the business of creating patent medicines – a cough remedy and laxative tea among them. Experimenting with powdered gelatin, he stumbled upon a fruit flavored dessert that his wife May dubbed “Jell-O.” “On that day,” explains LeRoy historian Lynne Belluscio, “an elitist food became democratized.” Wait attempted to market his

Far left: Exterior of Jell-O Gallery Museum in LeRoy, NY; Left: New York State Historical sign at the site of Orator F. Woodward’s Genesee Pure Food Company factory where Jell-O was produced until 1964. The building still stands along North St. in LeRoy.

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“J-E-L-L-O!!!” (Sponsor lead-in to early Jack Benny radio shows – 1930’s)

Clockwise from top: One of the rooms at the museum displaying a wide variety of Jell-O advertising and memorabilia; Early plaster casting of the “Jell-O Girl”; A Jell-O poster from the 1930s; Again, the Jell-O girl illustrates the simplicity of preparation; Early “Jell-O Girl” poster; This very early sign stresses the simplicity of preparing Jell-O and lists the 4 original flavors – lemon, orange, raspberry, and strawberry.

newfound product, but lacking capital and advertising skills, he had little luck. In 1899, Wait sold his formula and trademark for $450 to fellow LeRoy resident Orator F. Woodward, an established and ingenious businessman with the necessary qualities of shrewdness, imagination, and ambition to make the Jell-O brand a success. To introduce the relatively unknown product, one early

Woodward marketing ploy involved sending promotional wagons throughout the Northeast and Midwest to drop off free recipe books on the porches of homes. Of course, every recipe coincidentally involved the use of Jell-O! Next, the salesmen delivered advertising posters to local storeowners, convincing them to buy and stock the product with some sage advice – “Be prepared, there will soon

be a demand for Jell-O.” The strategy worked. With slick promotion, advertising acumen, and hard work, Woodward eventually turned Jell-O and his Genesee Pure Food Company into household names. For decades, the firm gained notoriety and went through several sales and mergers. Jell-O proudly continued production in its hometown until 1964; it is

“There’s always room for Jell-O” (Slogan promoting a “lighter dessert” – 1964)

Slogan photos courtesy various collections

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Nooks & Crannies

G This colorful illustration (c. 1925) is one of many showing the use of Jell-O in pleasant surroundings.

A Few Jell-O

Fun Facts • At the turn of the 20th century, the Genesee Pure Food Company seized an opportunity to convert the influx of Ellis Island immigrants into future loyal customers. At times, members of the arriving “huddled masses” were welcomed to America with a free bowl of Jell-O. • Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 film version of The Ten Commandments depicts the spectacle of Moses parting the Red Sea. Theodore Roberts played Moses…The Red Sea was played by two huge slabs of Jell-O. • In 1974, Dr. Adriane Upton in Hamilton Ontario (and later hospital technicians in Batavia, New York) tested a bowl of lime Jell-O with an EEG machine. The brain waves of the jiggly mass proved to be identical to those of an adult human. • “I’ve never seen a horse like that before,” exclaims Dorothy (Judy Garland) in the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Of course, she was speaking of the iconic film’s “Horse of a Different Color” whose color changes were due to the clever use of pastes created from Jell-O powders.

Take time for a visit! The Jell-O Gallery Museum, operated by the LeRoy Historical Society, is located at 23 E. Main Street and is open weekdays year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From April 1 through December 31, it also opens Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Easter.

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® I LOVE NEW YORK logo is a registered trademark/service mark of the NYS Dept. of Economic Development, used with permission.

Advertising and packaging, forever a key to the success of Jell-O, have been collected and well-preserved at the museum.

presently manufactured by Kraft/Heinz. By staying in tune with the times as the years rolled by, Jell-O underwent numerous production and marketing innovations, always with an eye to public appeal. Advertising artwork gave way to photography, and periodically, new slogans and jingles emerged. Fortunately for fans of the wiggly and bouncy favorite, this entire history has been preserved and is on full display at the Jell-O Gallery Museum in LeRoy. Just a short walk from where the sweet treat was created, the museum is stuffed with fascinating facts, engaging exhibits, and intriguing images. During your visit there, you’ll discover that there’s much to learn about “America’s most famous dessert.” • Strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon were the original flavors with others introduced over the years – some successful (lime and cherry among them) – some with a short life span (chocolate, cola, celery, and more). • In 1904, 4-year old Elizabeth King was introduced as the “Jell-O Girl,” a tea kettle in one hand, a package of Jell-O in the other. Her appealing image remained associated with company advertising into the 1940s. • Many famed artists of the day contributed to the company’s marketing, including the legendary Norman Rockwell, and Rose O’Neill, creator of the “Kewpies,” the first published female cartoonist in the United States. • Several early radio and TV shows sponsored by Jell-O showcased celebrities of the day – Jack Benny, Roy Rogers, Bob Hope, and others. • “Jell-O shots” are nothing new. Some surmise they were first created in the 1950s by American singer/songwriter/ satirist Tom Lehrer as a means of avoiding alcohol restrictions when he was in the Army.

Em us fa m du fru fli

Lake Ontario • Finger Lakes Region

New York’s

Great Lake

A TASTE OF WAYNE COUNTY

21ST ANNUAL

APPLE TASTING

getaway

TOUR

the Experiences abound in Wayne County Located between Rochester and Syracuse, Wayne County is a great destination for all tastes.

® I LOVE NEW YORK logo is a registered trademark/service mark of the NYS Dept. of Economic Development, used with permission.

A Fall Destination – Lagoner Farms & Embark Ciderworks

TOUR CHALLENGE October 1-31, 2018

Embark Craft Ciderworks hand crafts hard cider using apples grown on-site at Lagoner Farms, a family farm since 1909. Featuring a farm kitchen menu & farm market offering donuts, apple dumplings, homemade pie, homegrown seasonal fruit, & U-pick apples. Plus...the taproom offers flights, pints and bottles.

TASTING WEEKEND October 5-8, 2018 Special Weekend Events in October!

Market hours: 9am-5pm daily, taproom extended hours.

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Health

alive and kicking

Just

Floating sto

p h o t o s b y G a b r i e ll e and L

Salt Water and Dreams at Inner Peace Floats

Kathie Notarfonzo

hat happens when you mix 1,000 pounds of pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salts in 10 inches of water? You get salty water – really salty water – that can keep anyone afloat. In Watkins Glen, Inner Peace Floats is bringing tranquility to the community with its float rooms. Floatation therapy has been around since the 1950s; it was first used by neurophysiologist and psychoanalyst Dr. John C. Lilly while exploring the concept of sensory deprivation. Today, interest in float tanks is gaining momentum as an alternative health option.

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The Dream Inner Peace Floats owner Kathie Notarfonzo has always been interested in health and wellness. In addition to working full-time for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, she is a certified yoga instructor and teaches spinning classes. Ten years ago, her oldest son brought home the idea of floatation tanks due to a keen interest in sensory deprivation. While float tanks were her son’s dream, Notarfonzo had hoped to one day own the gym she managed across the street from Inner Peace Floats. Then in December 2015, she

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• Chair Lift Rides • Live Music • Fun for Kids Top: Cassie Osborn, LMT, and Clayton DeSarno Bottom: Float room

had a chance to try a float. “After I settled, I literally couldn’t get out of my head that we need this in Schuyler County,” Notarfonzo says. “We need this in the Finger Lakes Region. We don’t have enough alternatives for people in their health care tool box.” Brainstorming how to connect a floatation center with the gym and continuously coming up short, Notarfonzo decided to pursue her new dream elsewhere, when another building became available close by. “I just resolved that I’m on the right path, and I just trust my intuition and that it’s all going to be okay,” she says. LIFL

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Health The Therapy Behind It All

Originally published on Health.com by Catherine DiBenedetto

ut in Tulsa, Oklahoma, clinical neuropsychologist Justin Feinstein, PhD, is trying to understand that mental piece of the float phenomenon. Feinstein is the director of the only float lab in the U.S. – the Float Clinic and Research Center at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. His team has been using wireless, waterproof sensors and fMRI scans to collect data on what happens in the brain while people float. “Our preliminary analyses are showing that the stress circuits of the brain are shutting off post-float,” Feinstein tells me over the phone. Once he finishes this current study, he plans to explore the therapeutic potential of floating for people who suffer from anxiety, especially PTSD. (To avoid triggering claustrophobia in subjects, the lab has a specially designed open tank in a light-proof, sound-proof room.) “So what is it about floating that makes it so restorative?” I ask him. “It’s most likely a combination of a lot of variables,” he explains. For one, you’re in a near-zero gravity state, he says, which gives your body a chance to relax. “You’re also reducing external sensory input to the brain—reduced light, reduced sound, reduced proprioception, or how you feel your body in space.” This is why people refer to floating as a form of sensory deprivation. But Feinstein says that’s actually a misnomer. “What we’re finding in our research is that floating is a form of sensory enhancement,” he says, because it allows you to tune into your own body—especially your heartbeat and your breathing. “It becomes an ideal environment for mindful meditation,” Feinstein points out. “For anyone who may have trouble focusing on their breath outside of the tank, floating makes it lot easier to enter into a meditative state.”

Floating Soft-spoken and quick to smile, Notarfonzo’s son, Clayton DeSarno, shows me to my float room. He explains that I must shower first, then shows me how the buttons work. He says a white light will signal the end of my 60-minute float. Afterwards, there’s no rush, he adds. I can use the room as long as I wish, to shower and relax afterward. I do as he instructs and then slip into the 94-degree water. Some centers use float tanks that are like small submarines with the water inside, but at Inner Peace Floats there are float rooms shaped much like a large shower. The lights turn off automatically save one dim light at my feet, which I set to blue. I fiddle with the knob to get my music to a volume I can hear with my ears underwater. (Both the light and music are optional). During the first five minutes, I am afraid I might have a claustrophobic panic attack, but gradually I let go of the side railings, put the floating pillow away, and just let myself relax completely. My mind wanders here and there, comes to the present and then floats away again. I am literally floating on top of the water – buoyant, weightless, defying gravity – and at times I imagine I am a mermaid, as crazy as that sounds. I feel like I’m in a scene straight out of Eat, Pray, Love.

Family and Community It seems like Inner Peace Floats, now in its second year, can’t

do anything but succeed. Just like Notarfonzo has many professions, the business now offers numerous other services. In addition to the two float rooms, the building also features two massage rooms occupied by licensed massage therapists Jen Valkenburgh and Cassie L. Osborn. The upper level is an Airbnb, established before Notarfonzo moved in. A kitchenette has helped DeSarno add nutrition to the business’s philosophy. Of its one menu item, the Inner Peace Salad, he says, “It’s just a whole food, plant-based salad, so you always feel like you’re winning.” Notarfonzo emphasizes that it is important that customers feel comfortable and un-rushed. While explaining to me the filtration process, which takes about 20 minutes between floats, she says that many businesses schedule customers one right after another. “We don’t do that here; we schedule our people really far apart because we want them to have the sense that they’re the only one there.” Ah, that’s what DeSarno meant about taking my time. As a final unique service, floats are available to customers 24/7 if pre-booked between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. If a customer works a crazy schedule and can’t utilize daytime business hours, someone will open shop at any hour of the day so the customer can float. Says Notarfonzo, “We really want you to have that sense that this is your space.” The experience of the float and the time I spent out of the float room getting to know the business lingered with me Kyle Numan and Clayton DeSarno at Inner Peace Floats

(Continued on page 70)

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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(Continued from page 68)

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for days; making me feel like I’m part of their community, family, and dream. It felt good, especially because it helped my inner peace.

If you would like to be part of the Inner Peace Floats community, please visit the center at:

Rochester Syracuse Geneva

111 West 4th Street, Watkins Glen, NY Ithaca 14891 Watkins Glen Phone: 5FLOATS (607-535-6287) Email: innerpeacefloats@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/innerpeacefloats Website: innerpeacefloats.com/

To schedule a massage, contact

DEADLINE! August 31, 2018 Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com for more information 70

Jen Valkenburgh, LMT 607-684-8314 Email: sharethewellness.jenvlmt@gmail.com Cassie L. Osborn 607-425-4451 Email: MassageWithCassie@gmail.com Bodymind Float Center has two additional locations: bodymindfloatcenter.com • 622-1 Park Ave Rochester, NY 14607 Phone: 585-413-0616

• 22949 Erie Blvd East Syracuse, NY 13224 Phone: 315-992-8656

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Outdoors

in the open air

ore than 950 miles long and covering some of the most scenic land in New York, the Finger Lakes Trail system (FLT) runs from Allegheny State Park on the Pennsylvania border to the Catskill Forest Preserve, with branch trails to Niagara Falls, the Genesee River valley, the Great Eastern Trail, the central Finger Lakes, and the Syracuse Region. This system is built and maintained almost entirely by volunteers. Here in the Finger Lakes Region there are a few hikes along the FLT that really stand out. They pass through Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserves, New York State Forests, and county parks. We invite you to explore some of the best. Birdseye Hollow State Forest Savona Spanning more than 3,000 acres, Birdseye Hollow State Forest has seven designated primitive lakeside campsites and nearly 11 miles along the Finger Lakes Trail. The white-blazed FLT winds its way mostly north to south through predominately deciduous forest, though several conifer plantations dot the landscape as well. Deep woodlands and babbling brooks occupy the majority of the trail experience here, but there is also the short blue-blazed lakeside trail that traverses the transitional space between forest and wetland, and offers ample wildlife viewing along the way. Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve Newfield A highlight of the Finger Lakes Trail, this wooded 48-acre preserve offers ideal options for an easy walk or connection to a much longer, more challenging hike. Owned by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, subject to a conservation easement held by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the BockHarvey Forest Preserve features some of our region’s oldest and most majestic trees. Starting from the parking area on

Favorite Hikes on the Finger

Lakes Trail

By Tim Starmer and Kelly Makosch

Rockwell Road, the FLT passes through a grove into a large meadow. At a fork in the trail, a yellow-blazed path leads to the “old-growth loop,” which passes by the preserve’s tallest maples – thought to be 300 years old. In the other direction, the trail leads to an overlook with views across Enfield Creek valley, and then passes by a lean-to, fire pit, and picnic table, perfect for camping. Danby State Forest Ithaca Hikers looking for a quiet and secluded setting need look no further than the roughly 8-mile Abbott Loop in the Danby State Forest. Though the forest is relatively close to Ithaca – less than 10 miles – its 7,337 acres

feel perfectly tranquil and the lengthy trail proves the old maxim that a little distance will ensure solitude along the trail. Additionally, in a region with so many out-and-back hikes, the loop configuration is greatly appreciated by those who dislike retracing their steps. The trail weaves primarily through wooded glens with slow creeks and hilltop oak-hickory forests. Of particular interest along the loop is the trail leading hikers to a stunning lookout at Thatcher’s Pinnacles, found along the steep western edge of the forest. The forest is thinned here, and from the pinnacle you’ll find sweeping views of the Cayuga Inlet Valley and the LindsayParsons Biodiversity Preserve of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

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Opposite page: Labrador Hollow – Chris Ray is a nature photographer and cartographer from Ithaca. He hopes to inspire viewers to strengthen their own personal connection with the natural world through his work. Instagram @topher.ray

Finger Lakes National Forest Burdett The forest is home to more than 30 miles of trails that have a mixture of uses ranging from hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding. The trails vary from roads and worn footpaths in the forest to sunken ruts or merely painted stones in the fields. Though a short portion of the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the southern boundary of the forest, much of the trail system is closely tied to the twelve mile northsouth-oriented Interloken Trail – a branch trail along the FLT. It forms the central axis through the forest while the other trails are either side loops or form parallel north-south-oriented trails. Wooded glens and open pastures comprise the majority of the landscape in the Finger Lakes National Forest. However, the pastures are what make these trails distinct from those in other forests. As is the case on many federally owned lands, grazing is permitted. Hikers will find that they share the pastures with cattle during the months of May to October, and must use a series of locking cattle gates when venturing in and out of the fields. Aside from the oddity of bovine accompaniment, the pastures provide excellent vistas and habitat for a variety of grassland birds. Gannett Hill Park Naples There are not many trails with broad scenic views in the Finger Lakes Region, but the ones that do exist are high on the must-visit list. Among those trails with a view, the “Jump Off” overlook at Gannett Hill is one of the best. But the lookout is just the beginning of the activities available in the 400-acre county park. A vast network of trails, over 10 miles in total, weaves through the woodland and over steepened hillsides of the Bristol Valley. Trails are laid out in different loops that occasionally connect. Each trail is well marked, has its own color, and also provides an indication of trail difficulty – difficulty being a measure of ruggedness and elevation change rather than distance. The trail network actually extends beyond the park boundaries along the Bristol Hills Trail, a spur of the Finger Lakes Trail. This branch trail snakes its way through several parks, state forests, and wildlife management areas. It totals roughly 55 miles from Gannett Hill in the north to the main Finger Lakes Trail in Mitchellsville to the south. The trails beyond the park boundary are for foot travel only, and you will certainly notice the change as access is through tight V-shaped structures that preclude anything but hikers from passing further. High Tor Wildlife Management Area Naples Opportunities abound for all types of outdoor enthusiasts at the High Tor Wildlife Management Area (WMA). With ponds, waterfalls, rivers, gorges, forests, and open fields, there is an abundance of outdoor experiences waiting within the 6,315acre wildlife management area. There are more than a dozen miles of hiking trails in the LIFL

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Use the LIFL APP for hike locations.

3,400-acre upland portion of High Tor WMA, including the 4.8 mile High Tor Loop of the FLT. No matter which approach you choose to reach the upland site, the climbing is steep. But once you reach the top, the hiking is fairly level. The trail network is a mixture of access roads and rugged worn footpaths that wind their way through open fields and dense woodlands with the occasional wooded glen and pond to spice up the experience. The trail system is also a part, albeit only a short section, of the more extensive Bristol Hill Trail, a branch trail of the FLT.

Bock Harvey Forest Preserve photo by Andy Zepp

Morgan Hill State Forest and Labrador Hollow Unique Area Cortland and Tully Morgan Hill State Forest and Labrador Hollow Unique Area are often referred to as one and the same, and to a certain extent it is true. They are, for the most part, contiguous parcels and are connected by the North Country Trail. The best trips to the area include both locations and combine the striking scenery from Labrador Hollow with the rugged wildness of Morgan Hill. However, Morgan Hill remains the destination of choice for more serious hikers, backpackers, and those who want an extra challenge. The rugged trails feature some higher levels of difficulty along lengthy rising and falling treks, which experienced hikers will cherish. Since the trails to Tinker Falls and the Jones Hill hang glider launch at Labrador Hollow are the most popular and farthest many visitors travel, hikers that delve into Morgan Hill will be rewarded not only with a deep forest setting but solitude as well. You can learn more about these and other great places to hike on gofingerlakes.org. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) invites you to hike the trail and volunteer to keep it beautiful; see their site for maps and tools – fingerlakestrail.org. September /October 2018 ~

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Food

good eats

Maitre D’ at

Trombino’s story and photos by Mary Beth Roach

“I

eat, sleep and breathe restaurants,” said Christopher VanEpps, owner of the Maitre D’ at Trombino’s restaurant in Lyons. It’s this passion – and 18 years of experience in the restaurant business – that VanEpps brings to the establishment he opened a year ago; starting a new chapter in the building’s rich history. According to A Look at Lyons, by

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Andrea Evangelist, the building at 12 Pearl Street housed a livery barn, the Westfall Bank, the Park Hotel and the Regent Theatre before Sam Trombino bought it in 1947. He remodeled it into the iconic Trombino’s restaurant. It remained open until 2011; its last owners being the Santelli brothers. Once it closed, the space sat dormant until it was purchased by local

businessman Sean Dobbins in 2016. Talks started with VanEpps to reopen it as a restaurant. How VanEpps – a Caledonia native and SUNY Oswego grad who had worked in Brighton and Pittsford eateries – came to the Lyons area is a story that began several years ago. “When I reached my 30s, I had an awakening,” said Van Epps, now 38. “I

Bartender Lee Houghton (left) confers with Christopher VanEpps

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germanbrothers.com 3907 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY

585-394-4000

needed to get back in touch with my personal roots.” Growing up in the ConesusLake area, he was looking to return to the small-town atmosphere. He had been living in Pittsford, and working at Label 7 Eatery and Bar there, but he wanted to find a home that he could retreat to after his long shifts at the restaurant. He had rented a cobblestone just outside of Lyons before eventually purchasing a home in Palmyra. At about this same time, he was ready to take that next step professionally. Van Epps was planning to go with the owner of Label 7 who was moving on to a second location. But then he met Dobbins through a mutual friend, Mary Tatem, and everything changed. By the time Dobbins bought the site, Trombino’s restaurant had been gone for several years. Many wanted to see it return. Dobbins asked VanEpps to take a look at the space and make some recommendations. He offered some advice, which he admitted was “pretty stern,” but told Dobbins he had no interest in opening a new restaurant in that space. Following more conversations, Dobbins and VanEpps finally worked out a deal, and VanEpps moved in Memorial Day weekend of 2017. While he wanted to honor the legacy of Trombino’s, he believed that the place needed a new look and menu. What he created accentuates a lot of the building’s history, but with a new flair. The Trombino’s sign on the building remains, as does the long, curved bar inside. However, there is new lighting and upholstered blue bar seats that look like they came from a 1940s movie set. Along one side of the bar area is banquette seating, and suspended over the tables are mini-chandeliers representing an old theater’s chandeliers. Also, in some of the windows in the bar area, are blue bottles that had been used to hold the famous H.G. Hotchkiss Peppermint Oil LIFL

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eout! s o l c d n -e r a e Y

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Food

produced at one time in Lyons, and exported internationally. VanEpps has chosen cobalt-blue drinking glasses to play off those bottles. In creating some of the décor, he turned to the internet where he met artist Molly Miller from Utah. He gave her a brief history of the building. She came upon some old props and costumes from an abandoned opera house and created several unique characters for the walls. The menu, too, reflects its theatrical history, with its various categories referred to not as “appetizers,” “salads” and “entrees,” but as “overtures,” “interludes” and “finales.” The restaurant’s new age American fare offers a range from salads, fish tacos, pizzas and burgers to high-end steaks, chops and seafood, and both vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. VanEpps is striving to locally source many of the menu’s ingredients and beers; visiting local farmers and craft brewers. The name – Maitre d’ at Trombino’s – is a nod to the Trombino and Santelli families, but it also reflects the role that VanEpps has learned over the years in the business, and the relationship he’s building with his patrons. It’s reaching into every guest’s life and learning what they’re enjoying, making them feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door, he said. As he wraps up his first year, VanEpps realizes he had taken a chance. “It was a risk I wanted to take because I was going back to my roots,” he said. “I was continuing the path I had started when I first moved out this way. The small town. Everyone reaching out to everyone. Everyone helping each other. Everyone lending a hand. Everyone working together. More importantly, being that neighbor.”

~ LifeintheFingerLakes.com

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Offbeat

fresh and unique

Hammondsport’s

Wings and Wheels

September 15-16

lenn H. Curtiss Museum’s Seaplane Homecoming again will join forces with the Hammondsport’s Classic and Exotic Car Show to form this year’s “Wings and Wheels in Hammondsport” event. During the event attendees will see demonstrations of seaplanes and they can meet the pilots. Seaplane activities begin at 10 a.m. at Depot Park on the Hammondsport lakefront. In addition to various seaplanes landing and taking off at the lakefront, there will be food and souvenir vendors. Beginning at 1 p.m., visiting pilots will take part in a “Salute to Glenn Curtiss” seaplane parade around Keuka

Lake, extending their southern loop directly over the Curtiss gravesite in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. The car show will feature classic and exotic cars of all types, including Ferraris, vintage autos from the 1940s and 1950s, muscle cars and more. The Wings and Wheels in Hammondsport event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. It is free to the public. Events attendees also are encouraged to visit area wineries, craft brewers, restaurants and shops in the village. There will be a planned fly-by from the movie Memphis Belle on Sunday, weather dependent. More information is available at wingsandwheelshammondsport.com or by calling the museum at 607-569-2160.

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Offbeat

fresh and unique

TurtleStones

story by Ray Levato photos by Maia VanOrman

hen we moved into our current home, there were some really interesting looking rocks in the backyard flower garden, courtesy of the previous owner. They looked like the top or back of a turtle shell. Sure enough, after some checking, I learned they are called turtle stones! A geologist would find the following explanation oversimplified, but here’s my understanding of how they’re formed: turtle stones are basically concretions, or sedimentary mud deposits, that have hardened into rock. The “turtle shell” pattern of unusual-looking oval shapes, separated by angular cracks of crystallized minerals, was created by the seepage of water over time. In our area, turtle stones can be found along the shorelines of lakes and creeks. One theory is that these rocks are more resistant to weathering than the surrounding rock strata in which they are embedded, so over time, they “wash out” to become individual stones. Turtle stones are found in various parts of the country, but because they were first discovered around Conesus Lake, they are known as Conesus turtle stones. According to a column by Mrs. Joseph Lang about Conesus Lake folklore, published in The Livonia

Gazette in 1962, turtle rocks have also been discovered in places like Iceland and Siberia, “but even there they are called Conesus Stones.” I asked Peter Jemison, manager of the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, about the Legend of Bare Hill. He’s a member of the Heron clan of the

Seneca Nation, and a direct descendant of Mary Jemison, a white captive adopted by the Senecas. Mary was born in 1743, but when she was about 15, she and a neighbor boy were spared, but orphaned, during a battle of the French and Indian War, according to

Turtle Stones and the Legend of Bare Hill Before the first European settlers came to what is now Conesus, it was the Land of the Senecas. The following story, from the Ganondagan State Historic Site, recounts the origins of the Seneca people and provides an interesting explanation for the turtle stones once common along the Canandaigua Lake shoreline. The Seneca are known in their own language as “Onondowahgah,” or people of the Great Hill. Tradition relates that long ago, two men paddling home from a hunting trip found a small, brightly colored serpent floating on a leaf. They put this serpent in their canoe and took it home. The people were much amazed and the whole town fed the snake. The snake grew until it was no longer satisfied with insects or mice but craved rabbits, then deer, and even bear. When the people became exhausted from feeding it, the great snake broke out of its pen and began eating them. So huge was the snake and so ravenous its appetite, that soon it ate all the people of the town. Then it began hunting human beings, going from town to town, spreading terror and death. Finally, all were eaten except the people who lived on a great hill overlooking Canandaigua Lake. There, in a dream, a boy and girl were told to make a bow of white pine, a string from the girl’s hair, and an arrow of dogwood tipped with a pure-white arrowhead. These two, the last survivors, shot and killed the serpent. As the snake died, its body rolled down the hill into Canandaigua Lake, disgorging human skulls. To this day, no trees have grown where the serpent rolled down the hill. It is said that the round stones at the bottom of the lake are the skulls. The boy and girl were the first People of the Great Hill, the founders of the Seneca Nation.

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Left: Turtle stones line the edge of a planting bed. Some are smooth and resemble a human skull, while others have markings similar to a turtle shell. Stones courtesy of Tim Woodworth Right: This incredible stone was found near Coy and Granger Points at the south end of Canandaigua Lake. Stone courtesy of Paul Brady

letchworthparkhistory.com. Peter says the Legend of Bare Hill dates back to the time of Mary Jemison, and points to a biography published in 1824 by Dr. James Seaver after interviewing her. Dr. Seaver, a minister, learned the Seneca language and became a translator. “This is the period when the Seneca people were beginning to live on Bare Hill,” Peter says. “The first time it appeared in print was the book on her life. This is why the Senecas are known as the people of the snake.” Peter also told me about Arthur Parker, whose father was one-half Seneca Indian. Arthur was born in 1881 on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, and served as the first director of what is now the Rochester Museum

& Science Center. When he investigated the story of the turtle rocks, he concluded that it is an allegorical account of a real event that happened much earlier, in the 1400s. “Parker believes that the legend of the turtle rocks told the story of the ancestors of the Seneca people who fought off invaders from the land of Virginia,” explains Peter. “The boy and girl in the story were orphans from that battle.”

Turtle stones today Turtle stones are also found prominently in the Arkansas River Valley. According to the Arkansas Geological

Survey, turtle stones are in the category of pseudofossils in that many rocks of this type appear to be fossils when really they are not. Turtle stones have even been mistaken for dinosaur eggs! If you are out driving in our region, you may come across Turtle Rock Road in Lakeville at the northern end of Conesus Lake. There is Turtle Rock Lane off of Rock Beach Road along Lake Ontario in Irondequoit. Turtle Rock Hollow is a nature retreat south of Honeoye Lake, and Turtle Rock Village

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Offbeat is a mobile-home park on the western shore of Seneca Lake near the hamlet of Himrod. When you head to the community of Conesus, population 2,409, you’ll notice signs that say, “Welcome to Conesus – Home of the Turtle Stones.” They were erected through the efforts of the American Legion. The locals are proud of their turtle stones, and even enjoyed displaying them at the Turtle Stone Festival that existed for a time in Conesus. One day, Conesus Town Supervisor Brenda Donohue and a friend spotted a turtle stone when they were out walking near Hemlock Lake. “It was a 12-pounder!” she told me. The stone became the property of her friend “because she saw it first.” That’s okay – Donohue already has some that were left in her basement by former residents. I wondered if visitors to her community ask, ‘What are turtle stones?” “Oh sure, lots of people do,” she answered. “And they

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marketplace

a variety of adult beverages

This large turtle stone is about 2 feet tall and was once used by a farmer. It was dragged by horse through the perimeter ditch of a plowed field to clear the end furrow for irrigation. These days, it stands sentinel—guarding the entrance of a footpath leading to the owner’s residence. Stone courtesy of Tim Woodworth

want to know what the stones look like.” You can see them at the northern end of Hemlock Lake, at Hemlock Lake Park, where the stones – one in particular – are part of an historic monument dedicated in 1929 to the Sullivan-Clinton campaign that took place during the Revolutionary War. A check of western Finger Lakes garden centers failed to turn up any natural turtle stones. Your best bet of locating one for your garden means putting on your hiking shoes and trekking the shores of Conesus or Hemlock Lakes. Ray Levato is a retired reporter/anchor for WHEC-TV Channel 10 in Rochester, NY.

Beer Here!

And Hard Cider, too!

Taste the Fun! Thursday-Sunday, 11 to 6 Route 13, Cazenovia 3.5 miles south of Route 20 critzfarms.com critzbrewandcider.com

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Tourism

explore and discover

CabinLiving by Kevin Allen

Keeps on Giving

ou would never know that it’s taken only about three years for Jim and Cheryl Santos to garner recognition for their Cayuga Lake Cabins from both the local press and the popular online travel hub, TripAdvisor, for the cabins’ outstanding amenities and pet-friendly policy. In person, the two cabins appear to have been settling nicely into their natural surroundings for decades, and exude an oldtimey friendliness that quickly wins over any guest that books a stay there. “We opened in August of 2015, and the other one opened in October, and ever since then, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s we’ve always had guests there. So it’s pretty nice, even in the holidays,” Jim says. “Once May hits, it starts to fill in pretty good.” Since 2002, Jim has been acquiring more and more acreage around their home on the west side of Cayuga Lake, near Ovid. Since the cabins are open year-round, Jim and Cheryl have noticed an uptick in bookings during the winter holidays. People want to take advantage of the idyllic scenery that comes with being surrounded by steep hills, a placid lake, and snow-laden tree branches. Still, summertime remains the most popular time of the year for couples and families, or really anyone, who desire a few carefree days in the outdoors. With Taughannock Falls State Park to the south and Sampson State Park to the north there are plenty of trails to

LIFL

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September /October 2018 ~

8/6/18 2:54 PM

Camping

marketplace

outdoor recreation at its best

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

Family Fun for Everyone!

315-781-5120 Playgrounds • Pool • Kids Crafts Outdoor Games and Game Room • Themed Weekends Large 50 Amp Sites • Dog Friendly

RV Sites and Rental Cabins Available 315-781-5120 • juniuspondscabinsandcampground.com campjpcc@gmail.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

Hejamada Campground & RV Park

Family Camping at its best! 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

satisfy avid hikers. Across the way and through Jim and Cheryl’s property, guests can walk to the beach and swim in the lake, or launch a kayak from the wooden pier and glide into the calm waters. At night, guests can sit around the community fire pit in the front lawn and enjoy the cooling lake breeze and musical crickets. Possibly the biggest draw for most guests to the cabins is the petfriendly policy that Jim and Cheryl are particularly proud to maintain. Jim estimated that about 30 percent of their guests own dogs. With plenty of sticks lying around to be thrown and fetched, and a big body of water nearby in which to take a dip, any dog would have a grand old time vacationing there. Due to the increasing demand and their desire to not keep turning

~ LifeintheFingerL akes.com

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Tourism

Life in the Finger Lakes SepOct 2018

Articles inside

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum