May//June 2024 Rochester HOME Magazine

SERVICES

ROOFING

For homeowners and businesses across Western New York, we offer reliable residential roofing solutions tailored to your needs. We use durable materials to ensure your roof's longevity and ensure a fast and efficient roofing process.

GUTTERS

We understand the importance of having a well functioning gutter system to maintain the overall health of your building. Hence, we only use high quality materials and proven installation methods when installing our gutters.

SIDING

Our siding experts help protect and beautify your property. We offer a variety of siding materials that are sturdy, attractive, and cost-effective, making your home or business stand out.

WINDOWS

We have several years of experience providing the best window and door products in WNY using only the highest quality materials that homeowners prefer.

INSULATION

We provide exceptional home insulation services, tailored to meet the unique needs of your property. Leveraging years of expertise, we offer a range of insulation solutions that are designed to enhance the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

REPAIRS

"So glad I chose Stellar to do my new roof. Professional from start to fi nish. On time with quality materials, installation, and clean up. I would absolutely recommend them without hesitation for all your roofi ng needs."

- Janet O, Rochester

Roofs often suffer wear and tear due to weather conditions. Count on our reliable roof repairs service when you spot a leak or other damage. We provide a thorough assessment and swift repairs to ensure your safety and comfort.

REPLACEMENTS

Sometimes a full roof replacement is needed. We inspect, clean, and replace various types of residential and commercial roofs, ensuring your roof stays in the best shape all year-long.

ROOF VENTILATION

Want improved roof ventilation systems? Invest in our modern roof upgrades. We stay updated with the latest roofing technologies, providing you with service that enhances your property’s aesthetic appeal and overall lifespan.

Where Dreams and Designs Come Together

ARTICLE BY HELANA SHUMWAY

The kitchen is often the place in a home where people gather. Whether it is to share a bite to eat, cook a meal together, catch up over a cup of coffee, or inevitably spend hours simply sitting at the table reflecting on life, the kitchen is a very personal space. People end up spending several hours each day in their kitchen without realizing it. In many ways, kitchens are the heart of a home.

Daniel Ewing is keenly aware of this importance. In April 2021, he purchased the well-known Baker’s Frontier Kitchens in Batavia, and this past September, he opened an exquisite, state-of-the-art Kitchen Design Center in Webster. Between the two locations, Frontier Kitchens serves Monroe, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Orleans, Ontario, and Erie counties. As they like to say, “If you can drive to our house, we’re happy to drive to yours.”

For Ewing and his team, they realize that the kitchen design process is very personal, often emotional, and guaranteed to be an extremely rewarding experience. The Frontier Kitchens family takes this seriously. “The opportunity to meet customers and develop a relationship with them to really help transform their kitchen is very impactful,” Ewing reflects.

The new Webster showroom is the premier place to make any homeowner’s dreams come true. It houses fourteen kitchen displays and many styles of quartz and granite countertops to explore. Simply put, the new Frontier Kitchen Webster showroom is a world of its own that inspires creativity and encourages new beginnings.

A Collaborative, Customer-Centered Experience

While designing a kitchen can feel like a daunting undertaking, Ewing suggests the first step is to begin with a visit to the showroom, where customers get a sense of what is important to them in a kitchen. Ewing says, “The first visit helps customers figure out what they like. Are they more interested in paint colors or wood species? Are they looking for a full inset cabinet door style, or would a half or full overlay work better for them?” As customers start to learn what they like, they begin discussions with the design team.

Following the visit to the showroom, a designer schedules a home visit to take measurements, get to know the space, and speak with the customer in greater depth to learn what their dream kitchen will look like. These home visits are always complimentary.

Guiding with an Impact

The Frontier Kitchens team then starts designing. At times, this includes more than one plan option that satisfies the clients’ wants and needs. Information gathered from the initial showroom visit and in-home consultation provides the designer with details translated into the design, including everything from functional cabinets and accessories to working patterns and color schemes.

The next step includes a second visit to the showroom to discuss designs and review quotes for cabinetry and countertops. Using 3D rendering software, the designer walks through the proposed plans with the client, reviewing details of each cabinet and the thought behind each concept. This visit also includes a referral to an installer, as Frontier Kitchens focuses and isolates their process solely on the kitchen design itself to ensure full dedication to their craft.

From start to finish, Ewing describes the kitchen design process at Frontier as highly iterative and collaborative. “We discuss with each customer what they like about the first two designs. We then decide if there is a need for another rendition. We are happy to create as many designs as you need,” he says.

Throughout the design process, Frontier Kitchens makes sure to keep each client’s budget at the forefront in all decisionmaking. “We are happy to fine-tune the design until everyone is more than satisfied,” Ewing assures.

Between the Batavia and Webster locations, Frontier Kitchens has two of the largest kitchen design showrooms in the tri-county area, and they are only getting started. For example, the Webster design center will soon showcase an outdoor kitchen through Stoll Industries. Open Monday through Friday, the showroom is ready and eager to help community members design their personal home oasis.

When Ewing is not busy at work, he is an avid golfer. Since buying Frontier Kitchens, it has been a primary goal to give back to the community, and he enjoys doing so through playing in area golf charity tournaments. In fact, he hopes to host a Frontier Kitchens golf tournament this year! He and his team will collectively choose charities to support through proceeds donation.

Frontier Kitchens is much more than a kitchen design business; their work is about connecting with others, learning customers’ needs and what makes them happiest, helping them create a space to share memories for years to come, and above all, acting as a guide through a very personal journey.

A customer favorite at Frontier Kitchens is the well-known Candlelight Cabinetry. When Ewing purchased Baker’s Frontier Kitchens in Batavia – a business that had been open for many years – previous owner Tim Baker had established a decades-long, strong working relationship with Candlelight Cabinetry, a custom cabinet business located in Lockport. Today, Ewing and Frontier Kitchens proudly continue the phenomenal working relationship with Candlelight.

In fact, thirteen out of the fourteen displays in the Webster showroom feature Candlelight Cabinetry. Their cabinets are customized based on wood species, finish color, door style, and overlay. With manufacturing so close by, costs run much lower. The Frontier Kitchen team personally picks up and delivers cabinetry directly to customers, which removes the cost of freight and delivery fees, and reduces the potential for damage during transport.

“Candlelight is really a custom cabinet manufacturer with semi-custom prices,” Ewing explains. Their high-quality standards have established them as leaders in the kitchen design industry for the past several decades. From only using steel gussets (while most competitors use plastic) to their vast range of accessories, Candlelight helps Frontier Kitchens designers truly personalize and optimize a customer’s dream kitchen.

One of Ewing’s favorite aspects of the Candlelight line is the way their accessories can be simple yet highly practical with the ability to change a kitchen’s flow. As someone who loves to cook for hours in his own kitchen, Ewing loves Candlelight’s many accessories for addressing the ever-present spice rack debacle, for instance. Accessories act both functionally and decoratively, and the options are endless.

Let’s create the heart of your home. Visit our showroom today or request a consultation online!

Candlelight Cabinetry – A Local Staple

SUNSHINE AND SMILES

This is just my second Mother’s Day as a mom and I am so excited to continue the tradition of checking out Flower City Days at the Rochester Public Market. With so many stunning, local growers alongside great food, you cannot go wrong. The warmer weather brings so many great festivals, and some of our favorites are the art festivals. We’ve been going to the Corn Hill Festival in July for the past few years.

JUST A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Spring

may be my favorite time of the year: the flowers bloom, outdoor events start, and the sun shines. All of WNY comes out of hibernation. To me and my family, that mainly means getting in the garden to get the vegetables planted in the beds and reviving the flowers surrounding the big garden area (living more in the country does have its perks). As we’re relatively new to gardening, we worked with Gardenette a few years ago to give us a good layout for our flower design that is both beautiful and useful.

I am a cider girly and nothing makes me happier than when Blue Toad’s Lilac Cider comes out. Between that, Rochester’s Festival, and one very large bush outside my kitchen window, lilacs and sunshine are synonymous with happiness.

I am lucky to live in a small town right between Buffalo and Rochester, which allows us to enjoy both with ease. But there’s something special about going to the local farmers markets for a loaf of bread (shout out to Schwabs Farm Market’s garlic and herb bread) or some fresh vegetables. My in-laws live right on the lake, giving us the opportunity to enjoy the water often. From kayaking on Oak Orchard Creek to riding the jet ski along the coast to just taking a swim, it really is nice to have this right in our backyard. Not to mention the beautiful spots along the waterfront.

I am passionate about shopping local. A while ago (Sept//Oct 2022) we featured The Hive founder, Chelsey Zawadzki, and she mentioned something that I took to heart: “community over competition.” Since reading that, it has been a motivation behind a lot of what I do and think. I believe the more people believe in that statement the more we can connect and grow our community.

Cheers to embracing the vibrant blooms of spring, reveling in the beauty of May and June in ROC! Let’s savor every sunny moment, the warmth of longer days, and the sweet scent of flowers in the air.

‐Kar�

EDITOR

Do you love WNY? Join us as a freelance writer to create inspirational, uplifting content about the cities we love. Email a cover letter and two writing samples to our content manager at: suziew@featuredmedia.com

the garden

I don’t know if there’s anything more satisfying than seeing the little green plant start to pop up from just a seed. (feat.The Gardenette’s design)

lilac hard cider from blue toad

My favorite! I can definitely say it was the driving force behind being part of Blue Toad’s mug club.

sunshine

Once it starts to get warmer out, I love being able to work outside and soak up some sun, play outside in the evening, or walk the disc golf course on the weekend. Give me all the sunshine!

SALES

CARMEN CAMPBELL

CHRISTINE WHITE

CHRISTINE WHITE

DARIA REITKNECHT

DARIA REITKNECHT

KIRSTI JACKSON

KIRSTI JACKSON

LAURIE ABBOTT

LAURIE ABBOTT

MACKENZIE MCGRAIN

MACKENZIE MCGRAIN

Marketing Consultants

Marketing Consultants

EDITORS

EDITORS

SARAH CHRIST

SARAH CHRIST

Designer + Photographer

Designer + Photographer

KARA IVISON

KARA IVISON

Designer + Digital Specialist

Designer + Digital Specialist

WRITING

WRITING

SUZIE WELLS

SUZIE WELLS

Lead Content Writer

Lead Content Writer

KAITLIN DONNAN

KAITLIN DONNAN

Proofreader/Content Writer

Proofreader/Content Writer

HELANA SHUMWAY

HELANA SHUMWAY

SARAH PAVIA

SARAH PAVIA

Contributing Writers

Contributing Writers MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT

STEVE HARRISON

STEVE HARRISON

MANUEL KARAM

MANUEL KARAM

COLLEEN MANN

COLLEEN MANN

CRISTIE LEONE

CRISTIE LEONE

Iced Matcha Latte

local life

pg. 16 Taking a Bite Out of Main Street in Fairport with @FairportFoodandDrink

ARTICLE BY KAITLIN DONNAN

Taking a Bite out of Main Street

SIP, SHOP, + SAVOR with @ FAIRPORTFOODANDDRINK

Known as the “Crown Jewel of the Erie Canal,” the village of Fairport has no shortage when it comes to the local food scene. Perhaps no one knows this better than Christine Montroy, the face behind Fairport Food and Drink, an Instagram account dedicated to supporting local small business and “eating, drinking, shopping, and enjoying all things Fairport, New York!”

A fourth-grade teacher in Fairport Schools, the blog initially began as a way for Christine and her husband, Jim— affectionally dubbed “Hubs”—to keep track of different dishes they enjoyed that grew into a partnership with the Fairport Perinton Merchants Association. Now every so often, Christine goes to a Fairport restaurant, introduces herself, and posts pictures of specialty dishes, favorite cocktails, or a satisfying cheese pull, all with the intention of drumming up interest in local establishments.

“I got into it because it was fun to do and I could give back and help the community,” she says. She highlights the growing expanse of businesses, as multiple owners branch out, collaborate, and adapt, saying, “Restaurant owners tend to help one another out, so there’s a real sense of interconnectivity.” (One such establishment is Clementine, a café and breakfast hotspot by day that transforms into LULU Taqueria + Mezcal by night, with entirely different offerings!)

More than a stop on the Erie Canal, Fairport has become a destination, and Christine is set on exploring every nook and cranny of its food scene! Keep an eye out for her specially designed Fairport Food and Drink stickers on display at local eateries.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Check out Fairport’s parks and trails. Perinton Park's new skate park brings fun, and the Thomas Creek Wetlands Walk offers the perfect spot to observe nature.

Train enthusiasts will love the viewing platform and authentic 1978 Conrail caboose. Stop by Junction361 to get coffee and a snack to enjoy during your train watch.

Spend time on the Erie Canal, walk the path, rent a kayak, or cruise on the Colonial Belle.

JUNCTION361

24 N Main St., Fairport

COLONIAL BELLE, ERIE CANAL BOAT TOUR

400 Packett's Landing, Fairport

Stay A While

Woodcliff Hotel and Spa offers standard rooms as well as luxury suites with a restaurant and wine bar on the premises. Staying in the village within walking distance to various shops is also an option with a slew of Airbnbs, from apartments to whole-house shortterm rentals.

WOODCLIFF HOTEL AND SPA 199 Woodcliff Dr., Fairport

Canal Days is Always Exciting!

Summer kicks off with Canal Days in Fairport with the three-day event taking place the first weekend in June. Friday and Saturday feature Canal Nights, which continue the party after dark with live music throughout the village. Check out wares from local artisans, indulge in dishes from food trucks, and sate your curiosity by experiencing businesses you may not have otherwise. And no day is complete without a journey down the Erie Canal on the Colonial Belle

Christine’s first stop each year is to pick up the current Canal Days poster and have it signed by the artist to hang in her classroom for the kids.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT FAIRPORT?

“The people. Residents have deep roots, and you will often find families going back several generations. The community takes pride in its traditions and has been intentional about repurposing historical elements to fit the needs of the 21st century. It’s both sustainable and leads to preservation.” -Christine Montroy

“It’s hard to narrow it down to one spot!” If they’re craving Italian, the newly-renovated Bocaccini’s is definitely on the Montroys’ list. “Their homemade ricotta with focaccia points is the perfect start to any meal.” As the weather warms, they also offer outdoor seating and bar service.

BOCACCINI’S ITALIAN BISTRO 6720 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Fairport

“For mouthwatering Mexican, it’s LULU Taqueria + Mezcal. Their chef, Lluvia Diaz Sanchez, created a Pork Belly Torta sandwich that is truly exceptional.” On the canal by the historic lift bridge, LULU has prime real estate, and you can’t go wrong with one of their mezcal cocktails.

LULU TAQUERIA + MEZCAL 6 N Main St., Fairport

Thank you to The Cannery

The past three years or so have seen a renaissance in Fairport, becoming a hot spot for food and entertainment in the region. This can, in part, be contributed to The Cannery, a once dilapidated, abandoned can factory now renovated as a destination for those seeking craft beer with several microbreweries, as well as being the home of Iron Smoke Distillery, a nationally recognized whiskey and bourbon brand made in Fairport. The Cannery is also home to Compané, an upscale Italian trattoria, as well as Triphammer Bierwerks, Tin Cup Social, Faircraft Brauhaus, Preservation Beer Company, FairPour Coffee Roasters, the Fairport Pickleball Club, Sew Creative, and a multitude of other spaces.

THE CANNERY 111 Parce Ave., Fairport

Christine's Go-To Eats:

Let the Good Times Rock 'n Roll

Catch live music at one of several venues, including: Iron Smoke Distillery, Faircraft Brauhaus, Preservation Beer Company, Mulconry’s, and B-Side.

IRON SMOKE DISTILLERY

111 Parce Ave. #5b, Fairport

FAIRCRAFT BRAUHAUS

25 Parce Ave. Suites 100-105, Fairport

PRESERVATION BEER COMPANY

75 N Main St., Fairport

MULCONRY’S IRISH PUB AND RESTAURANT

17 Liftbridge Ln E, Fairport

B-SIDE

5 Liftbridge Ln E, Fairport

Coming Soon!

Seeing the trend of Fairport’s growth, several new restaurants are opening in the village, including Bonnie & Clyde, which is coming to the former Fairport National Bank building. Built in 1924, it is a designated Fairport landmark.

Owners, Jodi and Greg Johnson from The Cub Room in Rochester, plan to keep the art deco vibe and some of the original bank features intact, including a private dining room in the old vault.

soon to be BONNIE & CLYDE

58 S Main St., Fairport

Spend the Day

Pick up a grab-and-go charcuterie board from totallyboards (available on Saturdays), a few snacks from Red Bird Market, and a new book from Another Chapter Bookstore before grabbing a spot beside the canal to people and boat watch.

TOTALLYBOARDS

25 Liftbridge Ln., East Suite #2, Fairport

RED BIRD MARKET

130 Fairport Village Landing, Fairport

ANOTHER CHAPTER BOOKSTORE

25 Liftbridge Ln E, Fairport

Explore Town

Walk a self-guided tour using Portals to Our Past, where interpretive signage starts at West Church Street in front of the Potter property and continues north on Main Street. The thirteen signs feature photos and descriptions that allow you to step back in time to the historic origins of the village. “The final sign at Parce Avenue puts you at the Fairport Village Inn, where you can enjoy their FVI Famous Chicken Wings, Kenny Style.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FAIRPORT'S CHARACTER?

“Very friendly… the people are ready to make conversations and suggestions. There’s a real family atmosphere and generational love of community since so many have been here for so long. People are the life blood of Fairport, and they’re excited about what’s coming next. Fairport has become a gathering place, and people take pride in that.” -Christine Montroy

canandaigua living

26

The Boat Houses at City Pier in Canandaigua by @canandaigua_locally

pg.

Q&A with Local Canandaigua Residents

Thomas F.T. Lyon

AICP, Canandaigua City Councilmember at-Large, 4th generation Canandaigua resident

WHY DO YOU LOVE CANANDAIGUA? It's a very walkable City, whether going to the lakefront, shopping downtown or on Eastern Blvd, arts or cultural events at Wood Library, Granger Homestead, Sonnenberg Gardens, or FLCC/CMAC just outside the City limits.

MUST SEE PLACE: The Public Square, the 'heart of the City,′ comprises City Hall, Atwater Park (former site of county fairs, then concerts and speeches), Fountain Park (recreation and play), and the southeast portion of the Ontario County Courthouse. This site has served as a central meeting area for centuries, since the Treaty of Canandaigua, declaring peace between the newly established USA and the Haudenosaunee, on whose land we now live.

FUN FACT OR HIDDEN GEM: The upper story of Bemus Block in downtown was a lyceum during the 19th and early 20th century, hosting concerts, entertainment, lectures, and other social events, including speakers such as Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. One of Douglass' most quoted phrases, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress" was delivered during a speech on "West India Emancipation" on August 3, 1857 in Canandaigua, portending the coming Civil War.

Q&A

CANANDAIGUA LOCALS

What makes their community special, uncovering their favorite spots to visit, must-see attractions, and a fun fact or hidden gem.

Tony Camblin @Canandaigua_Locally

WHY DO YOU LOVE CANANDAIGUA? Canandaigua is one of the best kept secrets in New York. It’s a welcoming, close-knit community with a ton to offer year-round. You have access to the lake in summer, skiing in winter, and incredible fall foliage and grape harvesting in the fall. The city has a great variety of restaurants and an incredible beer and wine scene. It truly has something to offer for everyone.

MUST SEE PLACES: Probably the most iconic “must see” spot when you’re in Canandaigua are the boat houses on the City Pier, all painted different colors sitting on boardwalks that line the north end of the lake. Another “must see” is Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion, with several gardens, a greenhouse, Roman bathhouse, and, of course, the mansion itself sitting on the historic 50 acre property.

FUN FACT OR HIDDEN GEM: On the north end of the lake, just off the pier sits Skenoh Island. Skenoh is only one of two islands in all of the Finger Lakes. It is also the smallest NYS Fish and Wildlife Management area in the entire state. This area was originally inhabited by the Seneca Tribe, and the city’s name comes from the Native American word Kanandarque which translates to “the chosen spot.”

Bemus Block

Sonnenberg Gardens

Court House at The Public Square

Peacemaker Brewing Company

Atwater Park

Skenoh Island

Nancy Yacci

City Supervisor, Wards 2&3 Ontario County Board of Supervisors

WHY DO YOU LOVE CANANDAIGUA? It is home for several generations. We love living here, spending time with our friends, children, and grandchildren, and sharing what we love about Canandaigua with them. Besides being a beautiful city with many older homes and buildings, we have a rich history, and a stunning lake and countryside all around us.

MUST SEE PLACES: In Canandaigua, our community thrives with vibrant arts and engaging activities for all ages. The Sands Family Y fosters healthy activities for all ages, while the Wood Library warmly welcomes visitors with various events. Local artists, including myself, are showcased throughout the city and county with the Ontario Arts Council. The Fort Hill Performing Arts Center is a recent community accomplishment, showcasing music, ballet, and speakers from around the world. Our downtown has many unique, locally owned businesses and restaurants, as well as several festivals year-round. One of my favorites is the Memorial Day parade, honoring our veterans – it is a true Norman Rockwell event.

HIDDEN GEMS: Year-round, my husband, Michael, and I enjoy walking at Kershaw Park, Lagoon Park, the City Pier, and in our neighborhood, often taking in Charlotte Street, where the London Plane trees enhance the beauty of our stroll. Sonnenberg Gardens, just down the street, is another special tucked-away gem. Another somewhat hidden gem of green space in Canandaigua is Atwater Meadows. A long winding path off West Lake Road leads adventurers to the head of the lake with a beautiful view. In warmer months, we bring our kayak to the lake or ride our bikes around the countryside, often stopping at local breweries with friends for live music and refreshments.

Philippe Faraut

HOUSTON LLEW

Richell

garden & blooms

pg. 33 Spring into Sustainable Gardening with Sarah Pavia

pg. 34 Margot Fass Shares Tips on Creating a Frog-Friendly Backyard

pg. 39 Family Time in the Garden with Meaghan Ashworth

Spring into Su�ainable G�dening

BY SARAH PAVIA, SECOND LOOK www.secondlookstyling.com

There’s no better way to “spring” into gardening this season than with a sustainable focus, not only in the type of gardening you’re doing but also the way in which you do it! It is important to garden with the intent of working with, not against, nature – and to think sustainably by reducing unnecessary waste.

ECO-FRIENDLY GARDENING TIPS:

Tools Matter: To be eco-conscious in gardening and lawn management, opt for battery operated and corded tools over gas power to cut down on emissions. And purchase a sturdy set of gardening tools you can use year after year.

Save H2O: Plants need water, and there is a looming water shortage for humans within the next 10-20 years. Invest in a barrel to catch rain water. If possible, put the barrel below your gutter and collect water to use to water plants later.

Bloom on Repeat: Instead of buying new flowers each year, preserve annuals so they continue to pop up (while also reusing your pots!) Dig up flowers and pot them, moving them indoors for seasonal care depending on the type of flower.

Organic Fertilizer: Landfills receive over 10 million tons of leaves, grass, and trimmings each year, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Don’t bag them up (which removes valuable nutrients from your lawn!), but instead use them as mulch in your gardens and flower beds. Or leave grass clippings on the lawn – they decompose quickly and they’re healthy for grass growth.

There are many ways to practice ecofriendly gardening, and these are just a few. April showers bring May flowers, and 2024 can be the beginning of your new environmentally conscious way of gardening!

CREATING A Frog-Friendly Backyard WITH MARGOT FASS

When Pittsford resident, Margot Fass, heard about the extinction of an entire frog species due to human actions, her lifelong love for whimsical frog creations evolved into a passion to advocate for the amphibians and their habitat conservation. She says frogs are essential bioindicators and vital components of the food chain. Frog health reflects the health of the entire ecosystem, and we should all do our part to help preserve our world, she says.

Fass created frog-friendly gardens and ponds in her own backyard and was recently certified as an official Pollinator Friendly yard through Cornell Cooperative Extension. She also actively advocates for wetland restoration and habitat creation at her nearby Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary. Through this activism, Fass envisions an environment healthy for all life, emphasizing kindness and compassion, chemical-free properties, clean wetlands, and nitrogen-restorative native plants. Through art, advocacy, and education, Fass inspires individuals to embrace a harmonious relationship with nature, one frog at a time.

Through her non-profit, A Frog House, Fass spreads the word on conservation to groups large and small, in hopes that we humans can together save species and help protect the world. Fass shares small, meaningful ways we all can make a difference.

TO CREATE YOUR OWN FROG HAVEN BACKYARD

• Avoid chemicals in gardening

• Plant native pollinating plants

• Install small ponds

"I have built and rebuilt three ponds. The first frog was in 2021 in a water dish, and we have had as many as 13 frogs at one time in our small pond!"

NATIVE PLANTS THAT HELP SUPPORT FROGS

I have planted sedges, grasses, Joe Pie Weed, and from the list below, all but the last two:

• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): The vibrant red flowers of the cardinal flower that naturally grows in wet soil attracts insects as a food source and provides cover from predators. (Hummingbirds love it too).

• Milkweed (Asclepias spp.): Milkweed is a host plant for monarch butterflies, but it also attracts a wide range of insects frogs love to eat. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) attracts insects and provides habitat for frogs in moist areas.

• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.): The bright yellow flowers of black-eyed Susans attract insects, which are an essential food source for frogs.

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): This native shrub produces spherical flowers that attract pollinators and provide cover for frogs near water bodies.

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Wild bergamot is a nectar-rich plant that attracts pollinators, benefitting frogs by providing a steady supply of insect prey.

• Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora): This low-growing ground cover provides shelter for small frogs and attracts insects, a vital food source for many frog species.

• Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata): Pickerelweed is a native aquatic plant that grows near the water's edge. It offers cover and shade for frogs and provides habitat for insects and other aquatic creatures.

CARDINAL FLOWER

MILKWEED

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

BUTTONBUSH

TANGIBLE WAYS TO HELP FROGS

If you are excited about helping frogs, but you don’t know where to begin, A Frog House offers these suggestions:

in your home

• Eat organic food, mostly vegetables and plants; if you eat meat, avoid frogs legs

• Responsibly dispose of unused medications; do not flush them down the toilet

• Avoid personal care products containing plastic microbeads

• Avoid purchasing, transporting, or collecting wild amphibians or spawn, and if you have any, don’t release them into the wild or into sewage at school

• Refuse to dissect frogs

• Prepare your own presentation/paper on the importance of frogs

• Plan an educational visit from A Frog House

• Prepare for our 2nd annual Art and Poetry Contest on your property

• Maintain a chemical free property, avoiding unnatural pesticides, fertilizers, and environmental estrogens

• Reduce lawn area

• Create a frog pond

• Create a rain or other garden full of native plants

• Eliminate or avoid non-native plants and animals (including fish)

• Pick up pet waste

• Conserve water

• Leave leaves on the ground and native aquatic vegetation and dead wood near ponds

• Create a compost heap

• Protect amphibians from pets your environmental contribution

• Don’t move spawn from one pond to another

• Reduce use of plastics and fossil fuels

• Watch what you throw away and where you throw it away

• Drive carefully; become a toad patroller

• Join campaigns to stop the frog and salamander trade

• Look, listen, and learn –educate yourself and your family about amphibians

• Visit Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities

• Report signs of disease

• Help us advocate, collaborate, and educate

MEET MARGOT FASS

Favorite Restaurant: Simply Crepes, Aladdin’s

Favorite Vacation Destination: 65 State Street, Pittsford

Favorite Outing with Family & Friends: Erie Canal Tow Path Trail, Erie Canal Nature Preserve, Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary

Favorite Thing About Living in Pittsford & Western NY: I love the people and the landscape

Favorite Warm Weather Drink: Lemon Ginger Kevita

Favorite Plant/Flower in Your Garden: Volunteers, like a geranium that came in a compost load, an American toad that came in another, and a grey tree frog that rode in on a plant from Gallea’s, are so much fun

Favorite Resource You Use to Learn More About Frogs: SAVE THE FROGS! The Amphibian Foundation – savethefrogs.com – founded in 2008, is an international team of scientists, educators, policymakers, and naturalists dedicated to protecting the world’s amphibian species: the frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians

2024 PUBLIC EVENTS AT A FROG HOUSE

May 5th - Oct 31st 1-5 pm: A Frog House opens to the public on Sunday afternoons and by special request

May Date TBD 6:30 - 8:30 pm: Zoom Presentation by Tom Biebighauser of proposed plans for the Village Arboretum

August 11th 1-5 pm: Froggy Family Fun(d)raiser Birthday Party at 65 State Street, Pittsford

Date TBD (Follow A Frog House on FB or sign up for the newsletter for details) 6 to 9 pm: Gala fundraiser, Lindsay’s 60th birthday party, food galore, cash bar

12,

&

In the Garden FAMI LY TIME WITH MEAGHAN ASHWORTH

ARTICLE BY SARAH PAVIA

“Relish

in the simple things. As an adult, you tend to forget the little things that matter to a child. Noticing those moments in nature even right in your backyard is a start – the blue bird on the feeder, the wildflowers growing in the grass… the animal tracks in the mud.”

Meaghan Ashworth has always had a love for nature and gardening. Farming has run in her family for generations – her grandfather was a dairy farmer, and today she has family that owns a local flower farm. For as long as she can remember, she’s been growing flowers and vegetables, budding a deep appreciation for gardening and outdoor living.

A few years ago, Meaghan became a busy mother of two and decided to leave her full-time job to focus on raising her children. She sought to connect with like-minded moms with a love of nature and desire to raise their children with the same passion, so she started a webpage and an online presence to see if anyone shared a similar interest. Many did – Meaghan has amassed an online following of 18.7K on her Instagram channel, @meg_ashworth, finding many other moms with similar goals in homemaking, wellness, and gardening.

Meaghan’s children are very active in the kitchen, and together they experiment with old and new recipes. Her family grows as much food as they can, such as lettuce and herbs, beans, peas, tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, and edible flowers, and buy the rest at local farmers markets whenever possible. Her children especially love coming up with healthy snacks using real foods. With items from their garden and local markets, the family creates their own ice cream, beef jerky, granola, muffins, and more.

"WHY TRY TO EXPLAIN MIRACLES TO YOUR CHILDREN WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THEM plant a garden. "

- JANET KILBURN PHILLIPS

Benefits for children helping in the garden:

Engaging in activities like gardening involves movement, digging, lifting, and bending, all of which help improve strength, coordination, and motor skills

Growing and consuming real, fresh food from the garden provides essential nutrients to support overall physical health

Time spent outdoors reduces stress and anxiety (for both parents and kids!)

Gardening promotes relaxation, mood boosting, and increased feelings of happiness and well-being

MEAGHAN'S TIPS & TRICKS FOR ENGAGING KIDS IN GARDENING AND OUTDOOR LIVING!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

There are many local familyfriendly hiking trails and farms for apple picking, berry picking, and farmers markets to help develop appreciation for organic foods and nature as well as to strengthen family time together.

START SMALL

If you don’t have a garden yet, there are plenty of online resources to learn how to get going! An herb garden or a small planter in your kitchen can be a start – grow something easy you’ll want to snack on.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Involve your children in what you’re doing – whether you’re growing an herb garden, baking cookies, or going on a hike. Allowing meaningful engagement keeps them interested, boosts their self-esteem, and inspires their imagination.

Allow for spontaneity and flexibility in your children’s imagination. Let them lead with their interests and curiosities, and allow time in nature for unstructured play and exploration. This allows children to connect with nature on their terms.

EMBRACE SEASONAL CHANGE

Take advantage of the changing seasons to explore different aspects of nature throughout the year! In Spring, look for signs of new growth and budding flowers, and teach children about the cycles of a flower’s growth. During Summer, enjoy picnics and nature walks while taking in the surrounding nature. In Fall, collect colorful leaves and talk about how leaves make great mulch for budding gardens and growing grass. Show children how to make gardens last by re-potting plants and moving them inside. And during Winter, explore animal tracks on hikes!

MEAGHAN'S HEALTHY

OrangePopsiclesCreamsicle

EQUIPMENT:

Mixing bowl

Whisk

Popsicle mold

INGREDIENTS:

1 can coconut milk

1 cup orange juice

¼ cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl

Pour into popsicle molds

Freeze 6 hours or overnight

Run under warm water or allow popsicle mold to sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes to release popsicles from the mold

It’s important to Meaghan that her children learn where food comes from and how it is made, and building their love of nature and gardening has established a healthy precedent for future living.

FOLLOW MEAGHAN FOR MORE GARDENING, NATURE TIPS & RECIPES: www.meaghanashworth.com meg_ashworth

George Eastman Museum

ARTICLE BY SUZIE WELLS

EXPLORING HISTORY, NATURE,

AND COMMUNITY - withCORN HILL NAVIGATION

RNHILLNAVIGATIONCRUISES //CORN HILL NA

TheRochester area has such historical significance, from its Industrial Revolution days as a key commerce stop along the Erie Canal east to west, its beautiful Great Lakes and access to the Finger Lakes, and its prominence in the suffrage and civil rights movements. Essential to human progress have been the waterways that encouraged and facilitated development.

Our waterways are the lifeblood of the area, and Corn Hill Navigation, a non-profit operating out of Rochester’s Corn Hill neighborhood and Pittsford’s Schoen Place, aims to educate guests of all ages.

Since its founding in 1991, Corn Hill Navigation highlights the history and ecology of the Genesee River and the Erie Canal. For over 30 years, the Sam Patch, a replica packet boat, has been an iconic part of Schoen Place, and since 2023, the Riverie, a modern, accessible yacht, allows guests of all ages and abilities to soak up the beauty of Rochester’s waterways.

SAM PATCH IN PITTSFORD’S SCHOEN PLACE

Sam Patch was America’s first daredevil, amazing audiences in the early 1800s by jumping from waterfalls. He jumped from Niagara Falls twice and then set his sights on the Upper Falls in Roc. According to legend, Patch successfully made the 97ft. jump with his new pet bear once, but when he raised the jump platform to 125ft and jumped a week later in what he advertised as “Sam’s Last Jump” (because he was done for the season), he did not survive. Patch lived on in legend, with the Pittsford boat named in his honor.

Sam Patch tours offer live narrated tours of the region’s cultural heritage and canal history, providing guests with the signature canal experience, passing through a historic lock (with an elevation change of 571 feet between Albany and Buffalo, locks were and are essential for canal travel). Tours often coincide with the 4th grade social studies curriculum of the Erie Canal and the Industrial Revolution.

RIVERIE IN ROCHESTER’S CORN HILL LANDING

Docked on the Genesee River at Rochester’s Corn Hill Landing is the modern vessel, the Riverie, named for the convergence of the words River and Erie, as the Genesee and the Canal converge just south of its dock.

Dr. Lisa Wing, Board of Directors’ Chairperson for Corn Hill Navigation, says,

“There’s no more magical view of the City [of Rochester] than from the bow of a boat,"

and the Riverie gives visitors the opportunity to soak it all in as they learn about the Genesee, the Erie Canal, the Rochester skyline, Mercury and the wings of progress, and the basic landmarks of downtown Rochester. From the Riverie, guests see the city from a new perspective.

The Riverie’s education initiatives focus on environmental science, as students, mostly the 1,500 Rochester City School 5th graders, analyze the river’s health through biological, chemical, and physical assessments.

Wing says students often come with preconceived notions about the health of the river, but on the Riverie, they investigate for themselves. Students see the river from a different point of view (and often board a boat for the first time), helping them understand the connection between human actions / inaction and the waterways.

Executive Director of Corn Hill Navigation, Patrick Russell-Walsh, says when people know the story and history behind something, they’re more likely to appreciate and take care of that treasure. He says “[The Genesee River and Erie Canal are] amazing, and we have to take care of it!”

The Sam Patch and Riverie offer such great opportunities for people to learn about local treasures. As Russell-Walsh says, “You can go anywhere in the world and see the same restaurants … but this is the only place where you can see the canal and the river converge.”

To offset educational programming costs and allow the public to experience the Genesee River and Erie Canal, the Sam Patch and Riverie offer narrated and special event cruises from mid-May through October and offer opportunities for private charters

Sam Patch

LIVE MUSIC SUNSET CRUISES

Sit back, relax, and enjoy live music as you cruise the canal.

LOCK 32 CRUISES

Experience the penultimate canal experience as you go through the centuries old lock system.

ARTS & CULTURE CRUISES

Throughout the season, enjoy in-depth presentations on the Erie Canal and the Genesee River, hands-on art classes and yoga sessions, and other special guest programming as you traverse the canal in the Sam Patch

Riverie

RIVER AND CANAL CRUISES

Explore the Genesee River as it winds from High Falls to Genesee Valley Park, and experience the region’s rich history and stunning scenery on the way.

LUNCH & LOCK 33 CRUISES

Travel from the Genesee River to Lock 33 on the Erie Canal while enjoying beautiful views and learning about the area’s history.

MUSIC CRUISES

Enjoy live music from local artists as you cruise around Genesee River and soak up the stunning views of Rochester’s skyline as the sun sets. Friday nights throughout the season.

DATE NIGHT/SUNSET CRUISES

Thursday and Saturday nights throughout the season.

BIRDING CRUISES

June 15th, July 27th, August 24th, October 26th.

JULY 4TH DOWNTOWN FIREWORKS CRUISE

. . .

Erie Canal Museum Arts & Culture Cruises:

PATHWAY OF RESISTANCE: The Erie Canal and the Underground Railroad, June 19th

THE GENESEE VALLEY CANAL September 11th

WATERWAY OF CHANGE

Women and the Erie Canal, October 16th

Q&A WITH CORN HILL NAVIGATION’S PATRICK RUSSELL-WALSH AND DR. LISA WING

Favorite Cruise Memories:

P: When a student is deathly afraid of boarding the boat because they can’t swim and haven’t been on a boat before, but five minutes into the cruise, they’re all smiles. When students say they are so glad to be away from school and learning, but the entire session here, they’re learning and engaged. It’s all about the hands-on learning.

L: Hearing passengers gasp when the boat rounds the bend and the city skyline comes into view. Or one time when a patron cruised on a private charter and was in tears aboard the boat because of how beautiful the scenery was.

Favorite Cultural Spot Around Rochester:

P: RPO, Strong, RMSC

L: RMSC, of course

Favorite Restaurant:

P: Nosh, Cure, Grace & Disgrace

L: Edibles, and I can’t stop thinking about Neutral Ground’s sandwiches

Favorite Outing With Family & Friends:

Both immediately said, “Cruising around Rochester” of course! But besides that,

P: Corbett's Glen

L: High Falls

Go To Summer Meal or Drink:

P: Margarita

L: Diet Coke, turkey burger

Favorite Summer Hobby:

P: Kayaking

L: Riding bikes – there are so many bike trails, including the canal trail

for the home

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