LIfe in the Finger Lakes March/April 2024

Mr. Waterfall and His Website, p. 28 • Flint Creek Otters, p. 46

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LIFL

Life in the Finger Lakes Volume 24, Number 2 • March/April 2024

features

28

Mr. Waterfall Meet the creator of the ultimate waterfall web guide – nyfalls.com

by Derek Doeffinger

36

46

Sights from Seneca Lake

Flint Creek Otters

The Finger Lakes Photo Guild captures all aspects of life on and around the lake.

A prime wetland area provides a habitat for otters to thrive.

story by Melody Burri

story by Sue Norris photos by Helen Heizyk

Front Cover: Colorful kayaks at the Canandaigua City Pier are just waiting to be enjoyed for a springtime paddle.

Photo by Joann Long

M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­3­

contents

SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE!

departments 4 5 6

my own words

70

advertisers

scrapbook

72

finger lakes map Editorial & Production

happenings

Editor..................................................................... Mark Stash .........................................mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

12

24

Graphic Artists........................................Maia VanOrman

Outdoors

............................................................................Tammy Spear

Make Your Own Sponge Candy

Bell Station – A Lakeshore Jewel with an Unexpected Past

Associate Editor.......................................... Victoria Ritter

Do It Yourself

16

Making a Difference Aging: A Time to Evolve and Grow

25

Dining

42

Contributors.......................................... Derek Doeffinger

Product Picks

............................................................................. Helen Heizyk

48

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

The Rollin’ Rust Band

.................................................................... Jennifer Morrisey

54

................................................................................... Sue Norris

Musical Notes

People in the Know

.............................................................................Madis Senner

Ivan Horning Jr. of Horning Woodworking in Geneva

18

Off the Easel Still Life Painter Trish Coonrod

Assistant Editor.............................................J. Kevin Fahy

....................................................................................Rich Testa

58

.................................................................................. Andy Zepp

Lifestyle Climate Migration – Is Change in Store for the Finger Lakes?

Editorial Office.............................................. 315-789-0458

For Advertising Inquiries - 315-789-2475 Darlene Ryan............darlene@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

For Subscriptions ...............................fingerlakesmagazine.com/subscribe Business Office.............315-789-0458, 800-344-0559 Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • Geneva, NY 14456 FingerLakesMagazine.com Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes Region

56

Home Showcase Loon Lake – A Finger Lakes Gem

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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© 2024 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, visit our website at FingerLakesMagazine.com.

MINDS meet the GREAT where

FIND YOUR FLOW WITH WATERFALLS FOR EVERY TYPE OF ADVENTURER. Pictured: Ithaca Falls by Erik Lax Studio

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my own words

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Where Reasoning and Emotion Meet

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or those of you that know me well on a personal level, you realize that I’m more of a passionate emotional man who relies on my gut and feelings on a lot of things, yet I have an analytical side to me as well. I have to admit that the emotional side can sometimes get me into trouble when dealing with relationships – business, family and romantic. And then I try to use my logical side to make better decisions for balance. I am learning to use agility to negotiate the ups and downs that life brings to all of us.

I’m an artist. That usually requires some sort of passion and emotion in order to be good and successful at some level. The logical and practical side of me knows what kind of paint and canvas and subject matter to create while the emotional side makes the paint strokes beautiful and expressive and – artistic. I am especially inspired by the Finger Lakes Region in which I live. I want to capture the emotions I feel when I witness the beauty of light upon the landscape and communicate those feelings through a painting.

I’m a friend. Since I don’t have any family near me geographically – with the exception of my grown children – I tend to look at my friendships as family as well. Loyalty and consistency and support are all things that make up a friendship, along with a sense of comradery and shared interests and activities.

I do believe that true happiness in life comes from our connection with other people. Being a part of a close-knit community gives us the sense that we matter to ourselves and other people around us.

I’m a business person. I take great pride in being part of a company that values people and strives to make great and valuable products in the print publishing industry. One of my greatest joys is being a part of Life in the Finger Lakes magazine and knowing that, with my partner Tim, it is a creation from our ideas. Along with amazing freelancers and coworkers, I feel we have put together a first class publication that brings some sort of joy to readers.

I’m a father. No greater joy in my life has surpassed the birth of my children and watching them grow into incredible adults. Sometimes I get a little too corny in my communications with them, but that’s me and I won’t apologize for how I feel about them. And I will tell them on a regular basis how I feel. That’s my darn emotional side coming out again.

I felt compelled to write these thoughts today, perhaps because I’m feeling a little introspective. Perhaps I’m at a personal crossroads. I’m not really sure.

I do know that curating the articles for each and every issue inspires me to be a little more adventurous, a little more creative. The stories within these pages are about unique, passionate people that take their talents and energies and make something greater than themselves. And the people who choose to write the articles are equally inspiring to me. They make me think how passionate and logical people can make beauty in this life, which in turn inspires joy and dreams for others.

Thank you for joining me in my thoughts. And I am always grateful for living in such a beautiful part of the country – the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Life decisions have led me to this place in which I have found a true home.

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

scrapbook Share your photos at lifeinthefingerlakes.com/ user-submitted-galleries

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M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­7­

happenings Contact event for details

April 1-9, 2024 LIVCO SOL Livingston County will be in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse. LivCoSol.com is your information hub for the 2024 solar eclipse and will serve as a resource for locals and visitors to have a safe and enjoyable eclipse viewing experience. livcosol.com

A Few

Solar Eclipse Viewing Events

Embrace the Dark April 6-8 Geneva will be holding a three-day series of events, dubbed Embrace the Dark, from April 6-8, culminating in the total eclipse of the sun at 3:21 p.m. on Monday. Embrace the Dark includes offerings all over the city, including wine tastings, downtown events, eclipse merchandise at retailers, local vendors, music and movies, astronomy art exhibits, historical and astronomical tours, lectures and activities for kids. eclipsegeneva.com Small Town Astronomical Event April 6-9 The Phelps Library & STEAM Lab Makerspace, BSA Troop 46 and the Phelps Fire Department are excited to invite everyone to a special, multi-day event celebrating the April 8, 2024 total eclipse. Event organizers will be handing out certified eclipse glasses, have two telescopes with solar filters, two sun spotters for safe indirect viewing, multi-day camping available, vendors, concessions and several fun contests. rochestereclipse2024.org/event/small-town-astronomical-event ROC the Eclipse 2024 April 6-9 The Rochester Museum and Science Center will be offering events and activities which include exhibitors, solar telescope viewing, planetarium shows, live stage entertainment and more. Join experts such as Dr. Phil Plait and Cate Larsen AKA Groovy Geologist at stages and auditoriums to explore the topics such as astronomy, the geology of the moon, science education and other subjects.

Rochester favorite foods and merchandise will be on site. RMSC Members receive free admission to the festival. Register in advance by calling 585-271-4320 to receive the member discount.

657 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607 rmsc.org/roc-the-eclipse-festival

April 8, 2024 The 1812 Solar Eclipse Viewing 12 to 5 p.m.

Come to view the solar eclipse. The 1812 Store will be open for the weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Enjoy a food truck and shop at the 1812 Store; customers who make purchases of $10 or more over the weekend will receive a pair of eclipse glasses.

4270 North Main St., Livonia, NY 14487 Finger Lakes Community College Wine Social Eclipse 12 to 5 p.m.

For advance registration and payment of $40 per person, this option provides free parking at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva, indoor access, hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages, tickets for two glasses of wine, a pair of eclipse glasses, access to the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center with educational tours from 1 to 4:45 p.m.

100 Empire Dr., Geneva, NY 14456 Visit flcc.edu/eclipse to register.

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Total Eclipse of the Park 12 to 6 p.m.

Celebrate this once in a lifetime event at the Perinton Community Center with food trucks, music and plenty of fun activities. Fun pass grants you access to Star Wars bounce houses, swimming and a pair of eclipse glasses.

1350 Turk Hill Rd., Fairport, NY 14450

Viewing Together in Wonder and Transformation 12 to 6:30 p.m.

Free event. Visit the First Unitarian Church of Rochester for eclipse viewing followed by a service of music and celebration, then a potluck.

220 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14610 rochesterunitarian.org The Great American Eclipse- Lyons, NY 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Free event. Eclipse viewing, activities, entertainment, exhibits. A NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador will be on hand to guide and answer questions.

9 Manhattan St., Lyons, NY 14489 scimuze.com/lyons Solar Eclipse/Euchre Tournament 1 to 5 p.m.

Come watch the solar eclipse at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Course. Take part in a luncheon and/or a euchre tournament. Cost is $50.

7030 Bayview Dr., Sodus Point, NY 14555 sodusbayheights.com Under The Parma Sun 1 to 5 p.m.

Hilton-Parma Rec will be hosting a free Total Solar Eclipse Party at Parma Town Park.

There will be food trucks, music, games, crafts, snacks and more. Make sure to come early to get your viewing spot.

1300 Hilton Parma Corners Rd., Hilton, NY 14468 Bourbon, Beer and BBQ Walk 4 to 8 p.m.

Main Street businesses in Mount Morris will host a brewery or distillery for tastings including Iron Smoke, Black Sheep, Iron Flamingo, Old Scotland, Buried Acorn, Krooked Tusker, Windy Brew and Grist Iron. Enjoy food from BBQ trucks along the street as well as live entertainment.

Main St., Mount Morris, NY 14510 visitlivco.com/event/bourbon-beer-and-bbq-walk/2781 Alpacalispe - Lazy Acre Alpacas View the 2024 eclipse in a pasture with alpacas! Each person will get a cup of food to feed the alpacas and a pair of eclipse glasses. The gate will open at 1:30 p.m. and close at 4:45 p.m. The eclipse is scheduled to start at 2:07 and end at 4:30.

You should bring you own chair or blanket. Dress for the weather. There will be a beverage truck and a lunch cart, or you can bring in your own food and drinks – what you bring in you take out.

8830 Baker Rd., Bloomfield, NY 14469 lazyacrealpacas.com

Where to Buy Eclipse Glasses Eclipse Glasses can be found throughout the Greater Rochester Region. Visit below to find locations. rochestereclipse2024.org/ eclipse-glasses-buying-locations

BAY VIEW TERRACE, GENEVA, NY

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happenings

EVENTS Contact event for details MARCH

March 8-11...Saunders Finger Lakes Museum’s Snowshoeing Weekend Adventure The museum is offering a self-guided program to allow you to explore on your own time and leisure. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own snowshoes as the museum will provide them for you. This program offers use of Saunders Finger Lakes Museum snowshoes for three evenings, with pick up from the SFLM office in Branchport by Friday at 5 p.m. and return to the SFLM office by noon on Monday.

Snowshoes are sized according to weight limits as listed in the ticket description.

3369 Guyanoga Rd., Branchport, NY 14418 fingerlakesmuseum.org

Through March 29 ...More Glass Return Pass Purchase a paid adult admission ticket to The Corning Museum of Glass and receive a More Glass Return Pass at check-in. This pass grants you one free return visit between your purchase date and March 29, 2024, when you provide a valid email address. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Corning Museum of Glass 1 Museum Way, Corning NY 14830 info@cmog.org 607-937-5371 March 1-30...Fourth Annual Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt at Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural and Country Living Museum in Auburn There are 50 Easter Eggs hidden throughout the museum for each of the three age categories. For each category there are a list of clues to help you find the eggs. Read the clue and locate the egg. On the line at the end of the clue write down the location of the egg. When you have found all 50 eggs and have written down their locations on the entry form, hand in your entry to the Museum Aid in attendance. The Museum Aid will give you your special Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt prize. Every participant is a winner and will receive a prize. Free admission and parking. Open seven days a week 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

6880 East Lake Rd. Rt. 38 A Auburn, NY 13021 wardwoharaagriculturalmuseum.org

APRIL April 13...Yellow Brick Joel: A Face to Face Tribute Concert David Clark performs as Billy Joel along with many special guests. Elton John performers from around the world include Bill Connors (“American Elton”), Canada’s own Jeff Scott (“Epic Elton”), the unstoppable Ronnie Smith and Long Island’s Lance Millard (“Sir Elton”) in this thoroughly entertaining and faithful tribute to the Face To Face/Face 2 Face tours of the 1990s and 2000s! 8 to 10 p.m.

The Smith Opera House 82 Seneca St., Geneva, NY 14456 thesmith.org

For more information call 585-374-8413 anotherworldbnb.com

BED AND BREAKFAST We invite you to stay with us here in Naples, situated in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Trail.

Here you will enjoy warm hospitality, a scrumptious breakfast, and all the amenities of home and then some. Naples is a charming village in the scenic valley at the south end of Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes regions of New York. Another World Bed & Breakfast is located just 2 miles “up the hill” from the center of the village, yet still close to everything. Surrounded by nature and magnificent mountain views you can experience the most relaxing and quiet get-away.

8404 French Hill Road, Naples, NY 14512 M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­11­

happenings

Bluff & Vine announces horror-themed issue open for submissions

F

ollowers of Bluff & Vine, the Finger Lakes’ premier independent literary magazine, know that its founding editors, Alex Andrasik and Bethany Snyder, love things that go bump in the night. Though each of their seven issues has included a few pieces that lean into the dark side, they’ve never unleashed an all-creepy edition on the unsuspecting world — until now.

“Our next issue, launching in October 2024–of course!–will be our first themed issue. We’re calling it Issue Eight: In the Shadows,” Snyder said.

What does that mean for writers who would like to submit their work this year? “First, know that all submissions—including cover art—must still have something to do with the Finger Lakes,” Snyder said. “That part of our vision hasn’t changed. We still want words and artwork that capture what this region means, what it has been and what it might be. But this time, we want you to check under the bed first.”

Andrasik added, “We want to read things that are macabre and mysterious, bone-chilling and spine-tingling, supernatural and suspenseful, ghoulish and gothic, weird and wild. Do you have a ghost story that’s been passed down through the generations? Know a local legend just itching for a fresh retelling?”

If horror and the macabre aren’t in your wheelhouse, the editors promise that things will soon be back to normal. “We will return to our regular open theme next year,” Snyder said.

Submissions for Issue Eight: In the Shadows are now open, and will close on July 31, 2024. Email the editors at bluffandvine@gmail.com with any questions.

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­­­­­­­­­­­­12­ ~ L i f e i n t h e F i n g e r L a k e s . c o m

do it yourself

See recipe on page 15

A Popular Make Your Own Confection Sponge Candy story and photos by Jennifer Morrisey, homeinthefingerlakes.com

I

am so excited to finally have a recipe for sponge candy to share with you! I have been testing out recipes and techniques for months now. I have had many failed batches and have spent quite a bit of time scrubbing scorched sugar out of pans. I am a total new to candy making, and I tried at least four different recipes twice before I found one I was happy to share with you.

But, before we jump into the recipe and all that fun candy making stuff, let’s talk about sponge candy. If you are from Upstate New York there is probably no explanation needed. This sweet Buffalo treat has been expertly crafted by longtime confectioners such as Watson’s, Fowler’s, Alethea’s, and Parkside, While many confectioners make and sell sponge candy, this popular confection can also be found in the bulk foods section of Wegmans.

These chocolates have a light-as-air crispy “sponge” of aerated toffee; you can find dark chocolate and milk chocolate sponge candy. If you have never had sponge candy, maybe you just know it by another name. The crispy “sponge” interior is not exclusive to our part of the country. In fact, it is known by a wide variety of names in different regions.

• Sea foam in Maine, Washington, Oregon, Utah, California, and Michigan • Sponge candy in Milwaukee, WI; St. Paul, MN; Northwest Pennsylvania; and of course, Western New York • Sponge toffee in Canada Ok, let’s get back to the candy making, First off, I am a novice candy maker. Terms like hardball and soft-crack are all foreign to me. I started with a recipe that had “easy” in the title and required no candy thermometer. I actually attempted this recipe a few times before moving on; it resulted in a flat candy with little aeration and was a no go for me.

The second recipe I tried using vinegar, I thought that would combat the “flatness” of the first few batches. It did, and that is putting it mildly. It is shocking is how long sponge candy can and will continue to expand, even after it has been poured in a pan. Big mess would be an understatement for what happened in my kitchen that day.

With each and every attempt I was beginning to grasp the concept of candy making, and also discover where my challenges were coming from. I quickly realized with each and every single attempt, though, was that my smooth top electric stove lacked precise temperature control and even heating, which was where the majority of my problems stemmed from. All of my problems were easily fixed with a cheap candy thermometer. If sponge candy is your first venture into candy making, I can not strongly enough suggest picking up a thermometer, especially if you have an electric stove. I can also see where an induction cook-top would be very handy in this process if you have one. I had a NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop, but sadly, it mysteriously just quit working before I began my quest to make sponge candy. Has anyone else had this problem?

(See recipe on page 15)

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Quail Summit Canandaigua’s Premier not-for-profit Senior Living Community.

Fill your days as you please with luxury retirement living nestled in the beautiful hills overlooking Canandaigua.

Quail Summit offers residents a variety of services and amenities including: • Maintenance-free living

• Chef prepared meals

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• Courtesy transportation

• Wellness programming

Quail Summit residents also enjoy priority access to a higher level of care in our assisted living or memory care communities if it’s ever needed.

Quail Summit is a St. Ann’s Community Partner housing logo.pdf

1/8/2009

11:33:44 AM

Why wait? Call Stephanie to schedule a tour today!

(585) 396-1010

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Sponge Candy

Yield: 12 • Prep time: 10 minutes • Cook time: 30 minutes These chocolates have a light-as-air crispy “sponge” of aerated toffee and are especially common in the Western New York area.

INGREDIENTS • 1/4 tsp gelatin unflavored • 1 tbsp cold water • 1 1/2 cups white sugar • 1/2 cup light corn syrup • 1/2 cup water • 1 tbsp baking soda sifted • 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate, melted and tempered for dipping INSTRUCTIONS 1. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper, with extra paper hanging over the sides. Alternatively, butter and dust the pan with flour.

Tapping out the excess flour.

2. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1 tablespoon cold water and allow to bloom.

3. In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan with high sides, mix sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 cup water together. Heat on medium and stir until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Clip on candy thermometer onto the side of the saucepan and cook without stirring until the syrup reaches 310° F. 4. Remove from heat and let sit for 2 minutes undisturbed. The bubbling will subside, and the temperature will drop. Add gelatin and whisk, be careful, the sugar syrup will bubble up. Sprinkle baking soda over syrup and whisk vigorously. Return mixture to the heat and whisk for 30 seconds. The sugar will expand in the pot, a lot!

5. Quickly pour into prepared pan; it should come out in a big blob.

Do not spread the mixture, just let it settle into the pan. Leave the pan undisturbed, and allow the candy to cool completely (about 2 hours or overnight) before removing from the pan.

6. Either break into odd pieces or cut into squares. This is an incredibly messy process, but fun! To cut into squares - using a serrated knife, score the candy at 1-inch intervals. Snap the candy apart at the score lines. Then score and break into squares.

7. Melt chocolate melts in a double boiler (or bowl sitting above a pot of boiling water). Dip sponge candies in chocolate, tap off excess. Chill in the fridge to set the chocolate shell.

To subscribe to Jennifer’s blog about getting back to basics and living a simpler life, visit homeinthefingerlakes.com M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­17­

making a difference

Aging A Time to Evolve and Grow with Dani Chontey, director of marketing and community relations at Kendal of Ithaca

W

ith its natural beauty, small towns and plethora of recreational opportunities, the Finger Lakes Region is an appealing place for older generations to retire. One such place that some retirees call home is Kendal at Ithaca. Located just a couple minutes from the southern end of Cayuga Lake, Kendal at Ithaca is a senior living community that believes growing older can bring new opportunities for growth and development.

“Living at Kendal of Ithaca has been excellent in every way,” said Mary, a resident. “Getting old isn’t easy. Being here makes me feel safe and secure. It’s the best long-term health insurance plan.”

What is Kendal at Ithaca? How does this senior living community make a difference in the lives of residents and their families?

Kendal at Ithaca is the premier Life Plan Community of the Finger Lakes. A Life Plan Community, also called a Continuing Care Retirement Community, provides a complete continuum of health

­­­­­­­­­­­­18­ ~ L i f e i n t h e F i n g e r L a k e s . c o m

care services designed to meet the changing lifestyle needs of residents as they age.

Kendal at Ithaca offers several housing options on 105 acres with trails, tennis courts and easy access to the Ithaca area. Residents have full medical care including assisted living, skilled nursing and physical therapy. Through this range of services, residents can be assured that they can age in place and they can comfortably predict the financial resources needed as physical and medical needs change.

Can you expand on that approach?

We do not believe that aging is a time of decline – we believe that individuals continue to evolve and grow, even when they may be dealing with physical or cognitive challenges. Kendal at Ithaca provides many educational opportunities, social programs and activities. Residents can also engage in planned trips to many fun and interesting places throughout the Finger Lakes.

We have a robust fitness center and fitness classes that include balance, strength training and yoga.

Kendal at Ithaca has their own chorus, a history readers club, woodworking club, sustainability group, bridge group, billiards group and pickleball.

There are many opportunities to pick up an old hobby or learn a new one.

Most of the groups originate and are organized and run by the residents, so they reflect the

interests of the residents. The specific interests and activities continue to evolve over time as resident interests change.

What is the “Kendal spirit?”

The Kendal spirit is rooted in our Quaker values of respect, care and trust. Those values are alive in our community. Residents and staff are deeply committed to the community and to one another. Residents are looking out for their neighbors and the sense of community is very strong. When conflict arises, we value respectful dialogue and a discernment process where all voices are heard to find resolution.

Can you tell us about any of the volunteer programs in which residents can be involved (both on and off campus)?

There are so many opportunities to volunteer, it’s difficult to pick just a few to highlight. Again, most of these are

identified and organized by residents. The sustainability committee collects hundreds of pounds of plastic a year that would otherwise end up in landfills. The downsizing committee helps fellow residents who are moving to smaller living units donate and sell furniture and household goods. The proceeds from those sales are used to support employee education and hardship funds. One group of residents works with a local nonprofit to provide swim lessons as part of an after-school program. Residents also self-publish a monthly newsletter as well as an annual collection of residents’ literature and art called the Zephyr.

Many residents donate their time to organize lectures, book groups and painting groups. We also have a community garden that is organized and run by resident volunteers.

We are fortunate to be able to offer an option such as Kendal and very much want people to feel good about working and living here.

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off the easel

Still Life Painter Trish Coonrod

Coonrod’s “Heirloom Tomatoes” painting, sold through the Principle Gallery, depicts tomatoes grown in her garden.

An Artist

by Nancy E. McCarthy

I

Blossoms

thaca artist Trish Coonrod was living in NYC 20 years ago when she stopped to admire an art gallery window display. The window was filled with stunning still life paintings with “sold” signs on each one. It was one of a series of subliminal aha moments that led Coonrod to choose still life as her own preferred subject matter a decade later.

She is now a highly regarded still

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life painter. Coonrod’s award-winning oil paintings have been exhibited several times at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester and Arnot Art Museum in Elmira. Her paintings – lifelike depictions of artfully arranged objects such as fruit, flowers and everyday items – are also represented by West End Gallery in Corning and galleries in Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“When we saw Trish’s paintings for the first time, we recognized the sheer quality and technical skill in her creations,” said Jesse Gardner, West End Gallery owner. “Last year (2023) marked our 10th year representing Trish and it has been an honor to be a part of her artistic journey. Her talent is unmistakable and undeniable.”

Michelle Perricone of Vestal is a gallery client who owns three of

Right: “Ford Gumball Machine” won the Jury Award in the 2023 Regional Exhibition at Arnot Art Museum.

Coonrod’s works with plans to acquire more. When Perricone first viewed a Coonrod painting, the objects were so vivid that she felt she could reach in and lift them right off the canvas.

“Trish Coonrod is a contemporary photorealist, yet her paintings have the charm and warmth of works by the old masters,” said Perricone. “She paints with absolute clarity and precision without sacrificing the soul of the subject she is painting.”

Aspiring artist Coonrod grew up in Danvers, MA, the youngest of 10 children. “Our parents encouraged us to follow our own interests,” she said. Hers was art.

With so many siblings, there were always random art supplies around the house. From an early age, Coonrod

explored various mediums: drawing, watercolors, acrylics, sculpting and collage. Her great-uncle was an oil painter, and she first tried oils while in grade school. “I didn’t commit to oil

painting until I was in college,” she said.

Coonrod was drawn to representational art, particularly realism, which was not in vogue when she attended college. Coonrod earned

“Wine and Water in Roemers” was sold at Fineline Designs in Door County WI, one of the galleries representing Coonrod’s work.

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off the easel

Trish Coonrod painting in her studio.

The Artist’s Process

a BFA with a split major in painting and photography from Washington University (WU) in St. Louis in 1989. Soon after, WU awarded Coonrod with a prestigious three-month artist residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France.

She drew, painted and visited museums daily. “At that time, I was mostly interested in figure compositions and thinking about how to visualize human interactions,” Coonrod said.

Still life objects also remind her of relationships which humanizes the subject matter. For instance, she can arrange a bunch of cherries to lean with individual stems reaching out toward, or pulling away from, each other.

T

he amaryllis flowers Coonrod grows at home are one of her favorite subjects to paint. “When my amaryllises start to bloom, I observe them several times a day to look for stages of development that might be visually interesting,” she said.

Coonrod takes photos until she finds a composition she likes. Its basic form is drawn in pencil on an aluminum panel. She references the living flowers for colors but refers to photos for shapes (the plant grows and changes faster than Coonrod can paint it!).

She paints in two layers. First, Coonrod determines the colors she will use by pre-mixing three to four values for each color. Values are how light or dark a color is. She paints the entire background and blocks in the forms but not the fine details. “It’s more about finding the color and value relationships in the subject matter,” Coonrod said.

After the first layer is dry – usually the next day – Coonrod starts the second. She pre-mixes all the selected colors before applying them to the panel. “I’m trying to be very specific now and including many details at this point,” she said. This step goes more slowly and Coonrod works on small areas of the painting each day.

For a 9 x 12 inch painting, this stage can take three to four days. Larger paintings take more time.

“Rainier Cherries” was one of the paintings featured in Coonrod’s 2023 Fall Spotlight exhibit at West End Gallery.

She stayed in St. Louis for three years painting, drawing and showing her work while waitressing. Coonrod’s goal was to be a working artist, have gallery shows and support herself through sales. “I often felt very frustrated because I didn’t know how to make this happen,” she explained. The internet and social media would later provide new tools to promote her work and make connections with galleries and customers.

In 1993, Coonrod moved to NYC to pursue an MFA at the New York Academy of Art. It was a two-year program with a focus on figure work. She graduated in 1995 and accepted a position as an artist’s assistant in NYC. Later she painted for a mural company. Coonrod loved living in the city and continued to create her own paintings in a shared studio space.

Living in the Finger Lakes In 2003, Coonrod serendipitously met her future husband Scott while having coffee with a mutual friend. They married after a short, whirlwind courtship and started a family. In 2007, Left: “Amaryllis Buds,” a commissioned painting, won the “Outstanding Achievement in Still Life” award in the 2022 American Women Artists’ Spring Online Juried Show.

off the easel

the couple was living in a one-bedroom apartment with their two children, 1 and 3 years old. They were ready to move out of Manhattan when Scott accepted a science professor position at Cornell University in Ithaca. Coonrod had some family in Rochester, but neither had previous ties to the Finger Lakes Region.

When their children were young, Coonrod rose early to paint. In 2011, they were in school and she painted full-time: portraits, florals, still life and landscapes. Coonrod participated in Ithaca Art Trail events, sold her work on the Daily Paintworks platform and taught painting classes at a Michaels crafts store. She used still life as subject matter because it was a good way to teach fundamentals. “It also got me thinking more about still life painting for myself.”

Coonrod was selling her paintings and gaining confidence when she approached West End Gallery in Corning about representation in 2013. She had just begun to focus exclusively on still life. “Something clicked for me when I made that decision. I had more enthusiasm and purpose in my work, and my career started moving more quickly once I committed to one genre,” said Coonrod.

Her paintings sold well at West End. A couple of years later, Coonrod contacted the Principle Gallery which focuses on contemporary realism art. It began to represent her work in its Alexandria, VA and Charleston, SC locations. As Coonrod’s reputation grew, other galleries sought her out.

Coonrod began submitting her paintings for consideration in regional juried exhibitions at Arnot Art Museum in 2011 and the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) in 2013.

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Above: “Still Life with Starfruit, Tea Pot and Blue Vase” won two awards during MAG’s 2015 Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition.

Her work was accepted in three of MAG’s annual RochesterFinger Lakes Exhibitions and garnered three awards. Her paintings were also accepted three times in the Arnot’s annual Regional Exhibitions and also won awards – most recently the Jury Award for Ford Gumball Machine in 2023. This painting was purchased by a private collector during the exhibit’s opening reception.

“Trish Coonrod’s precise and alluring offerings – be they blooms or produce, candy or eggs – always entice,” said Rick Pirozzolo, Arnot’s executive director and chief curator. “The Arnot specializes in the contemporary realists, and Trish rightly holds a place amongst the leaders in the movement.

Technical precision combined with a romantic eye makes for a magical combination every time.”

Coonrod has met and exceeded her vision of being a working artist. “I’m pretty happy to have met several of my goals, but there’s always the next challenge. In painting there’s always more to learn,” she said. Next up, she wants to participate in more museum shows and have her work selected for permanent museum collections. On the home front, Coonrod, an avid gardener, is dreaming about this year’s harvest and hopes she’ll have homegrown cherries to paint.

Visit trishcoonrod.com for more information. View Coonrod’s paintings in person at West End Gallery, 12 West Market Street in Corning.

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outdoors

Bell Station

A Lakeshore Jewel with an Unexpected Past

by Andy Zepp photos by Bill Hecht and Peter Carroll

A

shaded path that provides access to a pristine stretch of Cayuga Lake shoreline. The occasional glimpse of a resident bald eagle, merganser or mink. Waterfalls and hidden glens punctuating a line of forested bluffs. Meandering lanes through towering oaks, hickories and maples. These are some of the sights one can experience at Bell Station, a natural area located 15 miles north of Ithaca.

This remarkable place is now conserved and accessible to the public thanks to a collaborative conservation effort involving local citizens, elected officials, grassroots activists,

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the Finger Lakes Land Trust and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

While it is today cherished as a public conservation area, Bell Station first got the public’s attention back in 1968. That was the year that New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) proposed the location as the site for a nuclear plant. NYSEG had already acquired the land from several lakeshore cottage owners and farm families and already owned the adjacent (and now defunct) Milliken Station coal fired power plant.

(Continued on page 26)

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outdoors

The proposal initially gained support from Tompkins County’s board of supervisors, and NYSEG proceeded with the blasting and excavation of an underground chamber at the site. A grassroots effort to oppose the plant soon emerged, however, with a particular focus on how the plant’s discharge of warm water might harm the lake and its well-known fishery.

Opposition to the project soon included what was described in the press as “a bristling platoon of Cornell faculty.”

NYSEG announced its decision to abandon plans for a nuclear plant at Bell Station in 1973. For decades after that, the area was known for its wild stretch of shoreline and as a good place to go fishing or lounge on a boat.

In recent years, Bell Station has again been the focus of conservationists as the region’s undeveloped shoreline has dwindled. This 480-acre parcel soon became recognized

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for the natural resource and recreational values associated with the largest stretch of privately owned shoreline remaining in the Finger Lakes.

The FLLT and DEC forged a partnership to pursue acquisition of the land to create a public wildlife management area. A decade of courting NYSEG yielded lots of conversations, but no deal. Then, a shock to those seeking conservation of the area – in 2021, NYSEG announced its intention to sell the entire property to the highest bidder through an internet-based auction.

As the auction date of October 11 drew near, local citizens, activists and elected officials all implored newly ascended Governor Kathy Hochul to convince NYSEG to cancel the auction. Just a few weeks before the auction date, the governor announced that she had secured an agreement from NYSEG to cancel the auction and negotiate

directly with the FLLT for a sale of the property that would lead to the creation of a wildlife management area on the shoreline portion of the property.

Just two months later, a deal was in hand and the FLLT completed the purchase of the property during the first part of 2022.

Improvements to the site’s existing trails were completed and Bell Station was subsequently opened to the public. It has rapidly become a popular destination for hikers, fishers, hunters, paddlers, wildlife watchers and those seeking a quiet spot to look out over Cayuga Lake.

Since the initial acquisition, the Land Trust has acquired 110 adjacent acres that will be added to the wildlife management area in the future. This property includes the former Cedar View Golf Course – now a habitat for grassland birds that has been enhanced through a partnership with

the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. On several agricultural fields that are part of the Bell Station property, the FLLT is exploring the feasibility of developing a research site to test alternatives for accommodating both agriculture and solar energy production at the same location.

In the 55 years since a nuclear plant was proposed at Bell Station, a lot has changed in the Finger Lakes – undeveloped shoreline has become rare on our lakes, and communities like Ithaca have grown considerably.

But thanks to all those who spoke up for this special place, a visit to Bell Station can still provide the timeless thrill of startling a flock of ducks in the early morning or catching a fish at sunset.

For information about visiting Bell Station, visit gofingerlakes.org/bell-station.

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Meet the creator of the ultimate waterfall web guide – nyfalls.com

M

atthew Conheady worried that one day he would fall down a gorge. It’s a thought common to waterfall enthusiasts and an eventuality for many.

The problem is they like to get up close and personal. That means treading on the most precarious surfaces: wet crumbly shale that’s as slippery as ice. It’s the construction material underlying many of our waterfalls.

But Conheady had a rapidly growing website to feed. He was its keeper, and it had a ravenous appetite for attractive waterfall photos.

When he awoke one spring morning to a steady rain, he knew there was a good chance that a waterfall that had been drooling during his last visit might now be gushing. That some spectacular photos could be waiting for his website to snack on.

So, he packed up and drove east on the thruway and then south.

Two hours later, Conheady was tramping down the wet, slick trail. He knew that the strong flow of the main stream 30 feet below him didn’t mean the tributary waterfall he pursued would be roaring.

But it was. Gloriously.

Excited, he decided the only good vantage point to photograph these falls was not from the safety of the gorge trail but from the recipient streambed 30 feet below. There were no steps. He had to negotiate a steep, dripping, crumbling shale bank. He took his time and found what he thought was a good route to descend.

He secured his camera gear so it wouldn’t sway and unbalance him. Carefully, he edged down the bank, testing each foothold before putting his weight on it.

Then it happened. A third of the way down. His foot slipped. Gravity yanked.

He was falling. Instinctively, he leaned back and managed to avoid a tumble and instead was able to slide down the remaining 20 feet of sharply edged shale that scraped and sliced at his legs until he sprawled in a puddle on the streambed. Soaked, bloodied and stunned, Conheady checked himself.

Nothing was broken, but rivulets of blood streamed down one leg. He checked his camera gear. It, too, survived. Eventually he got to his feet and struggled back up the bank to the trail.

When he reached the car, he realized three things. One, from here on out he needed to pack a first aid kit. Two, he wouldn’t take any more big risks. Three, despite being stunned, he had managed to gather himself and get a good picture of the waterfall for his website.

It’s still one of his favorite pictures.

Obsession drives people to do things. Perseverance helps to achieve them.

Obsessive perseverance describes Conheady. And so far, that combination has served him well in developing a rich and comprehensive website overflowing with glorious Finger Lakes waterfalls.

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Mr. Waterfall

by Derek Doeffinger web pages and photos

by Matthew Conheady outdoor photos of Matt

by Derek Doeffinger

Matthew Conheady often returns to one of his favorite childhood waterfalls at Grimes Glen in Naples.

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Each waterfall webpage provides driving directions, a map, detailed hiking and waterfall information, several photos of the waterfall, a history, photo tips, and more.

In the beginning Long before his spill, Conheady had spent years exploring and documenting the waterfalls of the Finger Lakes. His interest began as kid when his father took the young family to the state parks filled with waterfalls.

But it didn’t blossom until he took a stream ecology class in the late 1990s at Nazareth College.

He found himself sloshing through area streams with “our ecology professor, Dr. William Hallahan, who often brought his film camera to capture impressive waterscapes.” Soon Conheady was bringing his own camera on class trips. Eventually he began making his own photographic forays to falls.

He didn’t realize it, but an obsession was taking hold.

By the time he started a very basic waterfall website in 2006 he had lots of pictures and facts about the popular waterfalls but no idea what he was getting into.

“I was not aware of how many waterfalls there were,” Conheady stated. “I was mostly aware of the larger locations like Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls. A few years in, I started going through USGS maps, and came to the realization that this could take years just to get a mostly complete listing.”

He now speculates that if you count the smaller falls that more than a thousand falls could be awaiting him just in the Finger Lakes. Since that time, he has spent thousands of hours creating, expanding and updating a free resource crammed with information about waterfalls – emphasizing those in the Finger Lakes but now covering the entire state.

(Continued on page 32)

Technical details on the website onheady creates the website with WordPress, a program originally created for bloggers but now vastly improved to make it a favorite of solo website creators. He still uses his coding skills to further refine the website’s appearance and functionality.

Multimedia content comes with a price. One of the Google search criteria to get a high search listing is that the website, when clicked on, responds quickly. But the more multimedia stuff (bigger file sizes) a website has, the slower it responds, which lowers its search ranking.

Conheady decided to pay more for a website provider with powerful servers (computers) that could quickly deliver his multimedia to users so that he’s not penalized by search engines. In other words, he chose a NASCAR pit crew to change his tires rather than the corner service station. He pays about five times more than he would for a normal website provider.

To try and pay for his costs, and maybe one day even make this a profitable effort, he allows a small number of ads and promotes sales of his fine art photography of waterfalls, nature and the environment. He includes some paintings by his wife and waterfall-illustrated gifts like mugs, stationery, tote bags, puzzles and t-shirts.

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Mr. Waterfall

The website is filled with beautiful photos like this one of Cascade Mill Falls on the Keuka Outlet Trail.

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Mr. Waterfall

The funny side of waterfalling

“I

went with an old friend to hike up to a waterfall south of Owasco

Lake. We parked at the rear of a cemetery and located the gorge falls without any issues. The return journey was up a muddy cliff. By the time we reached the car, we were soaked and caked in mud. Fortunately, we had come prepared with a change of clothes. Using our open car doors as makeshift changing rooms, we began to change. Given our long history of playing pranks on each other, I should have seen it coming. At the opportune moment, he grabbed both my dry and wet clothes and threw them down the cliff. To this day, I cringe recalling how I darted from one tombstone to another, seeking cover as I made my way to retrieve them.”

— Matthew Conheady

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What the website offers When he started the waterfall website in 2006 it offered a bare-bones presentation of only six waterfalls. The year 2006 was fairly early in the internet days (Facebook started in 2004). Creation tools were limited. So, he created it the geek way – by writing the self-taught html code that would set up its appearance and functionality.

Today his website, now created with the WordPress app, has become a polished resource that’s a windfall for outdoor lovers and scenic sightseers.

Do you want to know if there’s a waterfall near you or near a place you’re visiting? Do you want to know how to get there? How tall it is? What it looks like? Is it near a road for quick viewing? Is there a trail to it, and if so, what’s the hiking difficulty? Is it on public or private land? Is it photogenic or ordinary?

Did it power a mill or a turbine? Was it a vintage tourist destination or movie site? Is there another waterfall or other attraction nearby to take a look at?

At nyfalls.com, Conheady reveals all this and more. Nearly two decades of incremental development and improvement has transformed the website into a tour de force of waterfall information. And as a website optimized for display on a phone, it’s an invaluable real-time reference for hikers already on the trail or for day trippers who spontaneously decide to find the nearest waterfall.

In a typical year, it receives about 500,000 unique visits with the majority coming from residents of New York and nearby states; it also receives nearly 25,000 views from around the world. Just listen to some conversations in the parking lots of Taughannock Falls or Watkins Glen and you’ll realize that people from France, Germany, Spain, China and Japan have come not just to sample our wines or watch our car races but also to admire our waterfalls.

The Ken Burns of waterfalls Conheady’s documentary approach incorporates multiple perspectives that seem to be inspired by Ken Burns. By presenting photos, videos, interactive maps, historical illustrations and facts, geological development and personal interactions, he creates a biographical approach that brings the waterfalls to life and gives them a personality.

It’s also clear that his personal experiences of standing in the cool mist and watching and hearing the ruckus of tangling and tumbling waters have inspired him to try and convey the full sensory waterfall experience to others.

He strives to achieve that by using a multimedia approach.

Go to the website and search for Letchworth. You’ll find audio files of roaring waterfalls. Now search for Lower Falls, Rochester and look for the videos highlighting the autumn salmon migrations that have made this Genesee River waterfall fisherman-famous in the Northeast. The video reveals people hauling in these giant fish, and gleefully and joyfully struggling to hold onto the squirming 3-foot, 40-pound behemoths they’ve caught.

Go to the Taughannock Falls page and you’ll find a firsthand report and photo of the 2009 rock fall when a portion of the cliff collapsed into the waterfall pool, creating a splash half as high as the 215-foot falls. You’ll also find a history of the falls along with an 1878 photo of four men sitting at the then primitive cliff overview.

For the more famous falls, such as those at Watkins Glen and Letchworth, Conheady provides entire guides. Did you know there are more than two dozen waterfalls in Letchworth State Park?

To pay for website costs, Conheady sells photo décor and a variety of photo decorated accessories, including mugs, T-shirts, phone cases, and more.

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Yet the bedrock of the website contains the words and thorough details that cover nearly every aspect a waterfall visitor could ask for.

What can easily get lost in this massive wealth of practical information are the nuggets of his environmental writing: “These hidden gems, reservoirs of tranquility and scenic splendor, provide refuge for wildlife and solace for humans seeking respite from modern life. By safeguarding these environments, we protect the intricate web of life they support and preserve our deep connection with nature.”

Putting it all together It’s no easy task to create a compelling multimedia website. Usually, like a football team, it requires a group of specialists, each taking on a different skill role and adding their efforts together. Now 46, Conheady has accumulated and honed enough skills to do most of it himself.

He does everything from content creation (writing copy and taking photos and videos) to the design, maintenance, troubleshooting and promotion of the site. He does get some help. “A good friend of mine, also a photographer, Kelly Lucero, has been serving as my ever-patient editor, and lately has been helping to cover Hudson Valley-region waterfalls.”

His background Conheady’s skills for conveying information began when his parents denied a request. Like many kids of the early electronic media era, Conheady became fascinated with video games. He loved Sim City, Nobunaga’s Ambition and Actraiser. But when he asked his parents to buy him some video games they said no, unwittingly setting the stage for his future interests.

Not to be denied, he decided to create his own video games – on paper.

He started plotting, drawing and designing the games he thought he’d like to play. He reworked and improved them. He was unknowingly teaching himself the fundamentals of game design and story development. Wen he eventually began to pick up coding skills Conheady had the basic tools for electronically implementing and communicating information.

His technical skills leapfrogged in 2014 when chance smiled on him.

What could have been a large step backwards instead carried him forward. The translation company he had been working for was

Mr. Waterfall bought out and Conheady was laid off.

As he approached the door of the local employment office, activity across the street caught his eye. He walked over.

They were too busy to talk, but what he saw encouraged him.

When he got home, he researched the company Workinman Interactive and found out they produced video games and interactive computer displays, often for education markets.

He emailed them. After the manager learned Conheady was a gamer who had management work experience, he hired him as a producer, a role that honed his multimedia skills. Just a few months ago, Conheady became a part owner.

Other influences Conheady has taken five long trips to China and Japan. His wife, SeikoYoshioka-Conheady, is from Japan. She is a freelance art director and concept artist for several high-end animation studios in Japan. She’s also a landscape watercolorist. Her hybrid East-West approach to art has influenced him.

“I’ve started paying more attention to the small scenes and natural interactions right in front of me instead of just the big impressive singular subjects,” Conheady said.

But the biggest influence remains the outdoor beauty surrounding him.

“There’s something magical about how humankind reacts to waterfalls.

The roaring sound, ionic mist and bright white waters are a multisensory experience and arguably a very powerful one.”

With over 2,000 waterfalls on the website, Conheady is now documenting other outdoor wonders, such as lakes, beaches and trails. To expand his environmental message, he promotes nyfalls.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. He says, “This is something I love doing. It takes up almost all my free time. But if it really gets people involved with nature and the environment, then it’s all worth it.”

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2

3

1

1 Hansen Point - A picturesque view of hops from Climbing Bines

by Joy Underhill

2 An evening on Linden Street with entertainment by Corey Comer

by Paul Yarnall

3 Watkins Glen takes its name from the famous gorge formed by Glen Creek over the millennium

by Paul Yarnall

4 Xarika Seffredini performing at Geneva on the Lake

by Paul Yarnall

5 Seneca Lake Sunset admirers

sights from seneca lake 4

by Charles Cappellino

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7

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6 Two Mennonite men hitching a ride

by Paul Yarnall

finger

7 Walking along the lake in Sampson State Park

by Joann K. Long

8 Glenora Falls, Town of Starkey, Yates County

by Robert W Snyder

lakes

9 Farm just outside of Dresden on Hopeton Road

by Paul Yarnall

10 Blue Heron on the boat dock at Seneca Lake State Park

photo

by Diane W. Dersch

guild

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sights from seneca lake

12

by Melody Burri

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11 Watkins Glen State Park

by Diane W. Dersch

12 This view from Rt 14 looking east takes in a vineyard on the lake

by Paul Yarnall

13 Entering Watkins Glen from the north, one is greeted by the grand Schuyler Iron & Agricultural Works

by Paul Yarnall

14 View from the Welcome Center walk

by Joann K. Long

15 The Smith Opera House in downtown Geneva

by Dwight Folts

he Seneca Lake views are as vibrant and diverse as its people. Last summer and fall, members of Finger Lakes Photography Guild set out across its four counties — Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca and Yates — to capture some of its many colors.

At 38 miles long, Seneca Lake is not only the largest and deepest of the glacial Finger Lakes, it delivers an impressive range of vibes and textures — city bustle, academia excellence, fine art and culture, historic architecture, world class wineries, breweries, fine dining destinations and street food vendors. Adding further dimension to the Seneca Lake experience are its breathtaking glens and waterfalls, character-filled small towns, sprawling farmland, picturesque rural backroads and thriving wildlife.

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On the hunt for images that conjure the Seneca Lake memories were FLPG members Joy Underhill, Paul Yarnall, Joann K. Long, Robert W Snyder, Diane W. Dersch, Dwight Folts, Charles Cappellino and Regina Muscarella.

The Finger Lakes Photography Guild is a supportive group of photographers who create digital imagery as a form of fine art.

Its members are from various walks of life and many have been recognized in local and regional juried shows. Together they pursue photographic excellence through ongoing training from guest experts, monthly educational programs, peer reviews, and by sharing tips and experiences.

FLPG is a member club of the Photographic Society of America, and can be found online at fingerlakesphotographyguild.org, and on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

16 Glenora Falls is visible from the public road but located on private property

by Paul Yarnall

17 Craft brew houses with food and great views have become very popular in the Finger Lakes

by Charles Cappellino

18 Linden St. alley entrance

by Paul Yarnall

19 Approaching Dundee, we happened upon a motorcycle rally raising money for veterans

by Paul Yarnall

20 Restaurant delicacies and wine tasting opportunities are abundant in the Geneva area

by Joann K. Long

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sights from seneca lake

22 21 The Welcome Center walk outside to the west provided for beautiful views and a comfortable walk in the fresh air. by Joann K. Long 22 Young Mennonite women enjoying Seneca Lake on a Sunday afternoon

by Paul Yarnall

23 Linden Street by Paul Yarnall

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24 The window of the Ovid Historical Society Museum by Regina Muscarella

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product picks Lazy Acre Alpacas

Billsboro Winery Billsboro Andante is a medium bodied dry red blend that offers up aromas of raspberry and cherry, giving way to cocoa and a slight smokiness on the palate.

These cute Alpaca Buddies are handmade by a local artisan and are made of 100 percent alpaca wool. They’re available in many colors and two sizes, and are $15 and $20 each. lazyacrealpacas.com

billsborowinery.com

Zugibe Vineyards Stop in today to pick up a four-pack of our Dry Red Blend or Dry White Blend cans. $23.99 and $19.99, respectively. zugibevineyards.com

Artizanns Horning Woodworking Check out this maple kitchen with whitewash finish and a maple onyx finish island with quartz tops. Horning Woodworking helps create custom kitchens, baths and libraries.

Contact Ivan Horning Jr., 585-526-6100

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Donnna Patrick makes exquisite clothing of all sorts, from hand-dyed bamboo socks to embroidered silk jackets. This jacket is entirely handembroidered for only $175. artizanns.com

Fingerlakes Bell Co. These handmade steel bells create beautiful tones. There is one for each Finger Lake and lakes of New York.

Ring on! flxbells.com

Antique Revival Find this antique Renaissance Revival carved walnut and burl enclosed bookcase and more at Antique Revival. Circa 1880. antiquerevival.com

Crown Jewelry Let the new year begin with this serpentine piece. The snake symbolizes the eternal circle of life and regeneration. mycrowndowntown.com

FLX Goods These Finger Lakes varsity crewneck sweatshirts are printed in Rochester and are perfect for staying cozy during the cool nights or on a Seneca sail. flxgoods.com

Long Point Winery Petite Sirah 2018 (Barrel Select) contains flavors of blackberry, fresh roasted coffee beans and a hint of black licorice with a deep toasted oak finish. Aged 22 months in American Oak. $50. longpointwinery.com

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product picks Fireplace Fashions Add beauty and efficiency to your home with a Fireplace Xtrordinair gas insert. Stop into Fireplace Fashions today. fireplacefashions.com

Vinifera Spending too much on too many different wine clubs without enough variety? Experience many of the best wineries every shipment with our Vinifera Wine Club membership. fingerlakeswineshop.com

Cricket on the Hearth CabAve Cabinets CabAve provides quartz countertops for kitchens, bathroom vanities, showers and more! Visit our Sample Center in Canandaigua.

Cricket on the Hearth, Inc. makes every day comfortable with an Oslo wood burning stove from Jotul! The F500v3 qualifies for the Biomass Tax Credit up to $2,000. cricketonthehearth.com/stoves

cabave.com

Morgan Marine Go fishing, go wakeboarding or just simply go with the Boston Whaler Montauk. The Montauk’s time-tested design, trademark unsinkability and a host of comfort-minded details make it all possible. morganmarine.net

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The Furniture Doctor Find the perfect midcentury touch with the Axel recliner from Omnia Leather. The angular wood frame is available in several finishes, fabrics and leathers to bring a timeless charm to any living space. thefurnituredoctoronline.com

Green Heart of the Finger Lakes Our 12, 15 and 19 oz wine glasses, printed at “Déjàbrew” in Fairport, NY, truly are the best way to enjoy your favorite Finger Lakes wines.

Available at shops throughout the Finger Lakes Region and online. greenheartflx.com

Lamoreaux Wine

The Jewel Box These Dilamani “Confetti Bands” feature 14k golds and multi-color sapphires. Choose from an array of colors, gems and custom options.

Prices available upon request. ithacajewelbox.com

Blended from select barrels to offer a delicate balance of oak and fruit, the 2021 Reserve Chardonnay is a small-batch wine that begins with fragrant notes of mandarin orange and toasted coconut. lamoreauxwine.com

Lamplighter According to President Ronald Reagan, “That Printer of Udell’s had an impact I shall always remember... it set me on a course I’ve tried to follow even unto this day.” lamplighter.net

Reed Homestead Brimming with spring, Reed Homestead has an array of delightful Easter basket fillers. Shop at their Honeoye Lake location or online. reedhomesteadshop.com

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F

K EE

T C N I R L

OT

few years back, I was privileged to meet the Flint Creek otters. I was walking the dogs by the creek and a chorus of snorting and blowing assailed me from the water. Four heads were poking up and letting me know that I was not welcome on their territory. Once they had made their point, they disappeared, leaving me surprised and feeling very privileged to have seen such lovely but elusive creatures.

Fast forward a few years and the otters have made a firm claim to the area. They can frequently be seen swimming up and down the creek, or romping along the creek side either searching for food, mud sliding or being playful with each other – they

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are very social animals.

The area is prime real estate for them, being mainly wetland.

My neighbor Helen Heizyk has the best seat in the house for watching these shy, playful creatures. They can frequently be seen coming from the creek to her stocked pond for a snack or two. As an avid wildlife photographer, she takes full advantage of the opportunities they present to her.

They will often inhabit old deserted dens of beavers or muskrats; otters may even share accommodations with beavers. They

will winter in them and raise their young when the time approaches.

Spring is the time to raise their pups which are born blind and dependent. They will be fully dependent on their mother for the first three months of life. After that, they will stay with the family group for about 10 months before the kits set out in search of their own territory. The kits may travel up to 100 miles to find a new, suitable habitat.

OTTERS story by Sue Norris, photos by Helen Heizyk

During the winter months we can often spot their tracks or see “slides” where they have been ice sledding. Otters can travel a significant distance relatively quickly and easily by sliding and running over the ice and snow. You can occasionally find a hole where they have broken through the ice. Scent piles can be found, which contain important information for other otters.

They are crepuscular by nature, so the best time to spot otters is around dawn and dusk, although we have seen then at other times. They are more active during daylight hours in

the winter months. When diving, they can submerge and stay under the water for eight minutes and may dive as deep as 60 feet.

These Flint Creek otters are possibly offspring from the otters that were introduced into the West River during the 1990s’ capture and rerelease program in Western New York.

The program was a way of introducing these creatures back to areas where they had become almost unknown.

Otters are sentinel creatures of river health. Where they live you can be sure the waters are low in pollution.

Pollution and over-hunting in many

areas were some of the reasons for their decline in the western Finger Lakes. Since they eat mollusks, crayfish, fish, turtles, insects and a variety of other tasty morsels that are bottom feeders, they also ingest any heavy metals or chemicals that are present in the water.

The otters have come to accept Helen and me as an occasional minor interruption in their lives; the older members of the clan do not even bother to dive when they see us. That kind of wary trust makes for great photos, as you can see.

We hope these beautiful creatures will continue to live among us for many years to come as they provide joy and hope to all that see them.

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musical notes

Rockin’ and Rollin’

From left are James VanDeuson, Kyle Dennis, Jim Hearn and Nash Robb Photo by Rebecca Girouard

with

The Rollin’ Rust Band

by Nancy E. McCarthy

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I

n 2018, Cortland native James VanDeuson and his girlfriend Rebecca Girouard were living in South Lake Tahoe, CA. VanDeuson, a singer/guitarist, was chasing a music career, and Girouard booked his solo club gigs. He was performing Americana covers and some original tunes when a show patron complimented his song “Black Sheep.”

He encouraged VanDeuson, then 24, to write and record an album around it. Then he took it a step further and offered to fund the recording.

It was an astonishing offer.

VanDeuson was stunned but gratefully accepted. “It felt like a movie plot,”

The Rollin’ Rust playing at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg on July 21, 2023. From left, Jim Hearn and James VanDeuson. Photo courtesy Allison Marie Photography

said Girouard. After recording sessions wrapped up for “Dilation” in 2019, the couple moved back to Manlius, NY and then hit the road. VanDeuson played out songs from his album as they traveled from New England to Georgia.

When Covid hit in 2020 and live performances shut down, they returned to New York. It felt like an end, but there was a second act. VanDeuson would form and front a band, record more albums and play to large festival audiences while Girouard managed their music business.

First act VanDeuson hadn’t planned to play

professionally, but music was a big part of his early life. His father and an uncle, both guitarists, taught VanDeuson the guitar. At 11, he played alongside his dad in bars.

Traditional band and chorus programs at Cortland High School didn’t interest VanDeuson. His musical influences were country-folk artists like John Prine and Townes Van Zandt.

He and friends, Jim Hearn and Kyle Dennis, jammed and sang together before, during and after school. “I was 100-percent intimidated by them,” said VanDeuson of Hearn, a guitarist and Dennis, a percussionist/singer. “They were, in my eyes, way better at what M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­51­

musical notes

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they did than me.” They bonded through music but went separate ways to different colleges.

VanDeuson graduated with a BA in renewable energy and ecological design from Green Mountain College in Vermont in 2016. At school he met his future life partner Girouard, an English major and music lover, from Fairfield, CT. They clicked right away.

After graduating, the couple stayed together. VanDeuson worked for an architecture firm in Syracuse but didn’t enjoy it. His happy place was playing local weekend gigs.

Meanwhile, Girouard was waitressing. “There were too many career options and any one of them could be the right one,” explained Girouard. “Honestly, I still feel that way. Life is too short to just do one thing.”

It didn’t occur to VanDeuson to pursue a music career.

But when his best friend died in a freak accident in December 2017, he gained a new perspective. VanDeuson decided to play music full-time. “If Dustin were alive, I would not be a professional musician,” said VanDeuson. “I basically decided to live when he wasn’t able to any longer.”

Girouard was all in. Together, they impulsively moved to Lake Tahoe. This led to the surprising opportunity to record an album, travel and perform before moving back east to wait out Covid.

Second act: The Rollin’ Rust The couple settled back in Manlius. VanDeuson had written songs on the road and wanted to make a second

The Rollin’ Rust stopped their school bus/RV to take in the view near Thomas, WV. Photo by Rebecca Girouard

album. In April 2021 he reached out to Hearn and Dennis to help him flesh out and record new material.

“James approached me about writing and recording drums for his second record. I was living in Cortland and working a sales job at the time,” said Dennis. Hearn was relocating back home. “Literally the day I moved back from Colorado, within an hour of pulling into Cortland, Kyle asked if I wanted to go play some music with him and James,” said Hearn. He had quit his job, came back to help his mother move and was still figuring out his next steps. “This fell into my lap.”

VanDeuson’s songs were more robust with their input. He still wrote the lyrics and melodies, but Dennis contributed vocal harmonies and instrumentation while Hearn created the guitar riffs which gave some tunes their final direction and sound.

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The Rollin’ Rust’s sound check at Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake, NY. The band opened for Donna the Buffalo in December 2023.

Photo by Rebecca Girouard

UNBREAKABLE PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY AT CMOG.ORG M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­53­

musical notes

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Interior rendering of The Rollin’ Rust Room in Manlius, NY. Perspective from behind the bar, looking at the stage.

Image by James VanDeuson

Entertain your guests in style at the Granger Homestead.

DINNERS WEDDINGS RECEPTIONS SHOWERS BIRTHDAYS REUNIONS TEA PARTIES Open year-round for private and corporate functions. Reasonable rates.

Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum 295 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-1472 • www.grangerhomestead.org

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The friends decided to showcase the songs live as a band. They were experienced musicians but unaccustomed to playing gigs as an ensemble. “We decided to say yes to everything in the beginning,” VanDeuson explained. “We had some rust to clean off.” Not ironically, they named themselves The Rollin’ Rust (TRR). After about 30 shows under their belt, they rolled out a Kickstarter campaign and raised $20,000 in December 2021 to fund what was now the band’s debut album.

TRR ushered in 2022 with a high-profile New Year’s Eve gig opening for Driftwood (a national touring band from Binghamton) at the Center for the Arts of Homer. VanDeuson was a longtime fan of the band and befriended its bassist, Joey Acuri.

“James is a beautiful songwriter. He really knows how to craft meaningful and catchy music,” Acuri said. “He is a great lyricist and guitar player as well.”

The group traveled to out-of-town gigs in a school bus that they retrofitted into an RV (more “rollin’ rust”). Girouard, the band’s manager, traveled with them. She booked shows and interviews, handled social media/marketing, photography, videography, merchandise and is often their sound or IEM tech.

“Rebecca is the CEO, built into our business plan like butter in a cookie recipe,” said VanDeuson. “Our relationship gave my music and the band a place to grow from. The collateral beauty in that is beyond words for me.”

The Rollin’ Rust Room: A Community Built Project

“W

e’ve seen how venues can change the culture of an entire community through our travels,” Girouard said.

“In Manlius there isn’t a single place to go to just listen to music and hang out.” It was the impetus for the couple to create a music venue in Manlius. “There’s a real void in this town,” said VanDeuson. They are renovating a vacant space on Wesley Street to include a state-of-the-art stage, a bar, seating areas and kitchen. They envision The Rollin’ Rust Room (TRRR) as a community hub serving light bites and beverages while presenting local and touring bands plus other acts.

“I think a listening room venue like the one they’re creating will be well-received and welcomed by the town of Manlius and the greater Syracuse area,” said Chris Merkley, a music venue manager in Cortland. “And if they approach it in a way that even remotely resembles their approach to The Rollin’ Rust, it will have a ton of heart.”

The project is funded by the couple (plus their handson sweat equity) with additional assistance from grants and community investment through a GoFundMe campaign. They hope to open TRRR in summer 2024.

Visit therollinrust.com/therollinrustroom for more information.

They recorded their LP, “Road Rats,” in February 2022.

It was produced by Ben Brodin at Another Recording Co. in Omaha, NE. Brodin had also produced VanDeuson’s solo album. After sessions wrapped up, TRR toured from Cortland to South Carolina and then continued playing shows in New York, Pennsylvania, the New England Region and Ohio.

They were excited when one of their songs “I Never Needed a Good Reason to Go” was added to Spotify’s “Campfire Songs” playlist. “That got the number of plays into the thousands quickly,” said Girouard. Then, in summer 2023, the band performed for large audiences at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in Trumansburg, NY and Stony Fork Music Fest in Wellsboro, PA. VanDeuson is a longtime friend of guitarist Chris Merkley who manages Rose Hall, a concert venue in Cortland. Merkley booked TRR to play there several times. “It’s been great to watch the progression of James and of TRR as they’ve matured as musicians individually and grown together as a band,” Merkley said.

Bassist Nash Robb joined TRR in November 2023 and the band just keeps rolling. “We all have a constant buzz and excitement about the future and can’t wait to see where this next year takes us,” Dennis said. TRR is recording a second album with a spring release planned. They look forward to playing their new tunes locally, on the road and at more summer music festivals in 2024.

Visit therollinrust.com for more information.

Follow The Rollin’ Rust on Facebook and on Instagram @therollinrustband.

M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­55­

people in the know

Ivan Horning Jr. Horning Woodworking, Geneva

Ivan Horning Jr. demonstrates how braces are used in the construction of a cabinet.

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North Star Fine Art

Donegal Coast October-with Two Rainbows, oil on canvas, 30” x 34”

Brian Keeler

I

van Horning Jr. is the second generation to manage Horning Woodworking. The company specially crafts cabinets and furniture, focusing on Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties while also expanding across the state.

Horning Jr. recently sat down with Life in the Finger Lakes and shared his part in the company’s history and what he enjoys most about his job and the area.

How did Horning Woodworking get started as a business, and what was the inspiration?

My dad established Horning Woodworking in 1980, so I pretty much grew up around woodworking. I started working with my dad full-time in 1993, and in 1999 I took over the cabinetry part of the business. My oldest son Chris works with me now and has shown interest in continuing the business someday.

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Horning Woodworking can customize and transition a floor space to a useful custom kitchen.

Why did you choose the Geneva/Hall area to open your business?

I was renting shop space from my dad which was closer to Penn Yan. When this property became available, I purchased it and set up my own shop space.

What are some of the highlights of Horning Woodworking?

Since we specialize in custom size kitchens and baths, we are not limited with stock or semi-custom sizes. The cabinets and furniture are built right here in the Finger Lakes. This allows clients to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing local-made products and not have them freighted in from anywhere across the country. Additionally, our cabinets are delivered to our clients wrapped in a shipping blanket and not a cardboard box.

(Continued on page 66)

Finger Lakes Properties, TLC

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We will visit your property once a month, or whatever frequency you desire. We will alert you to any needs, and help with services.

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home showcase

Loon Lake A Finger Lakes Gem

by Rich Testa

M

ost people know of the 11 major lakes in our area.

However, there are other gems in the Finger Lakes Region that are great to search out and find. As a local resident as well as a real estate agent who sells properties on all of the Finger Lakes, I appreciate all of these natural beauties of water. Still, there is one particular lake that stands out to me.

Some time ago, a client asked me to sell their home on Loon Lake. Upon seeing their special property, they gave

me a tour of the lake. Situated just southwest of Canandaigua Lake with an easy drive from Naples – near the charming village of Wayland – Loon Lake is an idyllic setting that makes you think you arrived at Walden Pond or a lake in the Adirondacks.

Loon Lake is steeped in history, dating back to the 1800s. Clyde Shults wrote an article on loonlakesteubenny. com that states, “When the early settlers came to Loon Lake, they found three islands in the lake.” One of those

islands currently has the American flag on it. Shults goes on to say that the lake gets its name because “each year Loon Lake is visited in the early spring and the late fall by migrating loons.”

The lake is shaped like a new moon and is fed by underground springs. This is truly a nature paradise!

Along with the loons, nearby residents and families of Wayland and Cohocton visit Loon Lake during the summer season. With the addition of cottages and permanent homes along

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the shore, the community proves to be a popular place to live seasonally or year-round. Loon Lake, in my opinion, is a secret nature gem and overlooked by potential buyers of other Finger Lakes.

There are small roads and hiking trails around the lake. Fishing and ice fishing are a favorite activity of many of the locals. The lake is home to a variety of fish including smallmouth bass, perch and yellow perch, pike, grass pickerel, rock bass and bullheads.

When your stomach starts rumbling, diners can stop in at LafA-Lot, a restaurant that’s right on the water. It has a small-time local feel yet serves one of the best hamburgers I’ve ever had. An added bonus is that the restaurant is open year-round with limited hours in the off season.

Families on the lake know one another and grow up together. It is

this intimate bond that is one of the strengths of this welcoming lake community. From simple cottages to grand estates, potential new residents can find their perfect waterfront home here. For example, I sold a property with 100 feet of waterfront in a special cove with a newer home and guest quarters. I also recently sold another property on the lake that was an amazing designer showcase “lake style” with a contemporary flair on 75-foot waterfront with beautiful sunsets.

I believe Loon Lake is one of the best lakes to invest in and enjoy. Along with easy access via Route 390 from Rochester, Loon Lake is truly in the heart of the Finger Lakes.

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M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­59­

lifestyle

Climate Migration Is a change in store for the Finger Lakes?

by Madis Senner

I Specialty Shops ~ Restaurants ~ Services

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don’t think many of us were surprised to learn that the last 8 years were the hottest on record. Or that we recorded the highest ocean temperature ever last year. What did surprise many of us were the Canadian wildfires last summer that filled our air with smoke for weeks. Clearly climate change is beginning to affect us in unimaginable ways.

How are we in the Finger Lakes going to be affected?

Like most places, our temperatures will rise, weather patterns will become more erratic and there will be a decrease in the biodiversity of flora and fauna.

The biggest change may be a large influx of climate migrants looking to escape stifling heat and flooded coastal areas. For them, the Finger Lakes Region is a climate haven.

Five years ago, I wrote a piece for Life in the Finger Lakes, “Is Population Growth Coming to Upstate New York?” The article predicted a rise in our population from an inflow of climate migrants. So far there continues to be a net outflow of residents from New York State. However, prognosticators and national media have since begun to tout our area as a climate haven.

In his book How to Prepare for Climate Change, CBS correspondent Daniel Pogue recommends moving to cities along the Great Lakes such as Buffalo. “Cold, snowy Syracuse and Buffalo could be shelters from the storms,” Pogue said in an interview. He added, “Florida and Arizona are the worse places for you to retire.” Several other organizations believe the Great Lakes Region will be a climate haven, such as Wisconsin Public Radio, Crains Detroit, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and NOAA. Gaia Vince, in her book Nomad Century, How Climate

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Migration Will Reshape Our World, feels the Great Lakes Region in the USA and Canada are climate havens that will see a “huge influx of residents … as the vast bodies of water should keep the temperature fairly temperate.” Believing the 45° N parallel (the very northern tip of NYS) and above will become the 21 century’s “booming haven.”

We need only look to our neighbor to the north of Lake Ontario to see how large inflows of immigrants can flood an area and change its complexion. It seems like there is one housing development after another from Niagara Falls to well on the other side of Toronto, approaching the Thousand Islands. In 2021 Toronto was ranked the 21st most congested city in North America; it spiked to being third in 2022. If we act now this does not need to be our fate.

The case for the Finger Lakes as a climate refuge is compelling. Our temperature is more moderate and we have an abundance of water, both from the Finger Lakes and our proximity to the Great Lakes. There are several factors that are creating climate migrants and drawing them to our area.

First, life is becoming increasingly challenging in the south.

Second, support networks sustaining hot areas are beginning to fray. Thirdly, the pool of northern havens is not as large as believed.

Climates are not friendly in the South and West Consider some of last summer’s heat records. Miami, FL; Austin, TX and Phoenix, AZ each had several weeks of temperatures at 100 degrees or more. July was the hottest month on record.

A study by the First Street Foundation in 2022 predicted

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that the heat index will reach 125 degrees, what it calls “Extreme Danger,” at least once per year within the next 30 years in most Texas counties. As for the rest of the country, it said that 8 million residents in the U.S. experienced Extreme Danger Days in 2022; by 2053, that number will reach 107 million.

Rising temperatures will encourage people to move to cooler climates.

The National Ocean Service predicts that sea levels could rise by as much as a foot by 2050, overwhelming coastal areas. Large swaths of Florida and Louisiana will be below annual flood levels.

Additionally, rising sea levels will pollute fresh water estuaries close to the coast with salt, ruining the source of drinking water for many coastal areas. Then there is the surge of wildfires and the resulting smoke. Last year the UN forecast that wildfires will increase by 50 percent by 2100, and they will be more intense. Higher temperatures will provide more fuel for hurricanes and tornadoes, increasing their intensity, season length and most likely their frequency.

All of which will disproportionately affect areas already hard hit by climate change.

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Support networks are beginning to fray Climate change is putting pressure on support networks that make home ownership possible in climate-stricken areas.

Consider homeowners insurance. Farmers just joined about a dozen other insurance companies that will no longer underwrite homeowners insurance in Florida. The average cost for insuring a home in Florida jumped 42 percent to $4,200 in 2023, compared to $1,800 the national average. Allstate and State Farm are no longer underwriting homes in Texas and California. Similarly, insurers are leaving Arizona and Louisiana.

Eric Andersen, head of AON, the largest reinsurer (reinsurers help insurers absorb catastrophic losses), testified before the Senate in March 2023. He said there has been a crisis of confidence in predicting losses, particularly for wildfires and floods. Comparing the current state of underwriting risk to the financial crisis of 2008, Anderson stated “Just as the U.S. economy was overexposed to mortgage risk in 2008, the economy today is over-exposed to climate risk.”

Rising temperatures in the South is making it unsafe to work outside during heatwaves. OSHA recommends extra precautions be taken when temperatures reach 95 degrees.

This will reduce when workers can work, and possibly the pool of workers, and raise the cost of home repairs.

Diminishing support networks will add to the climate induced pressure to have people move.

(Continued on page 62)

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Climate Impact Map

Average annual temps under moderate emissions (SSP2-4.5)

1986-2005

2040-2059 Courtesy Climate Impact Lab / impactlab.org

Climate haven locations are nuanced Finding a climate haven is more than just moving north. Changing weather patterns and other factors may alter perceptions of where a safe area is located. The Pacific Northwest’s 2021 heat dome, earlier departure of snowpack

and infestation of pine beetles (which increase the chance of wildfires) showed it might not be the climate haven many of us thought.

Last summer, New England saw heavy rainfall that led to flooding. The southern tier in New York is the most

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(Continued on page 64)

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flood prone area in the state and has been flooded on several occasions. By 2100, New York City could experience a sea rise of 5 feet, give or take a foot. In August 2014, Toledo, OH faced a water crisis due to algae blooms in Lake Erie.

The good news is that we have time. People continue to leave New York. Surprisingly some of the states experiencing the highest inflow of new residents are also the most vulnerable states to climate change, such as Florida and Texas.

Preserve and protect the earth Vince believes the world can handle the coming surge of climate migrants. In her book she points out that if we allow 20 square meters of space per person – more than double English planning regulations – 11 billion people would need 220,000 square kilometers. No doubt Vince has compassion for people and the environment, but her perspective is about how we can save ourselves, not how we can save our environment. I would argue that if we instead focus on how we can save the earth, we will in the process save ourselves.

The coming inflow of climate migrates provides an opportunity to help us focus on climate change, do something about it and attract resources.

We should try to protect and preserve as much land as possible.

Fortunately, the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has been doing so for years, as have the Central New York Land Trust and the Ontario Land Trust whose mandate includes a few areas in the Finger Lakes. Besides acquiring property, their use of conservation easements prevents the development of the land they have underwritten – meaning large swaths of land cannot be developed.

The more land we can lock up and protect from development, the more of our identity we can keep and the less we will look like one

massive suburb.

President Biden signed an executive order when he took office that looks to preserve 30 percent of America’s land and water by 2030. Likewise, Governor Hochul signed legislation December 2021 to preserve 30 percent of NY’s water and land by 2030. The state will rely on a variety of measures to secure its ambitious goals from land purchases, to offering grants and encouraging conservation easements.

It will be a challenge to preserve 30 percent of the Finger Lakes by 2030. Max Heitner of the FLLT believes that the current amount of land preserved in the Finger Lakes as a percentage is in the low teens.

The state is beginning to prepare for the inflow of climate migrants.

On March 29, 2023 Senator Rachel May (whose district includes part of the Finger Lakes) introduced Senate Bill S6106, the Climate Relocation Planning and Preparation Act, to the finance committee. This is a start.

But more needs to be done.

Businesses will also look to move to the Finger Lakes. Politicians need to realize we are a climate haven and not give them all sorts of tax breaks. Instead, they need to start thinking like Tom Sawyer who got his classmates to pay him for the privilege of painting a fence.

Fortunately, the inflow of climate migrants has yet to begin in earnest, so we have time to prepare. I expect very shortly we will see large pools of money looking to invest in our area; possibly even competing with land trusts for property.

Please donate to, or volunteer for, one of our land trusts. If you are a landowner, consider signing a conservation easement.

Madis Senner is an author who lives in Syracuse. You can read his musings at motherearthprayers. blogspot.com. His latest book is Everything Has Karma: Learning to Embrace Our Interconnectedness.

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(Continued from page 55)

Ivan’s son Chris has shown interest in continuing the business into the future.

What is the favorite part of your job?

I enjoy meeting with clients to discuss plans for transforming their space into a cook-friendly kitchen.

Designing a kitchen using a CAD program is another enjoyable part of the whole process.

What are your roots? Are you a Finger Lakes native?

My parents moved to this area in the late 70s when I was 4 years old. Although I am not a Finger Lakes native per se, it is the only home I ever known.

What do you enjoy most about the Finger Lakes Region?

It really is a very diverse area with many small businesses; we have everything we need here. The beautiful fall foliage we have in the Finger Lakes area is hard to beat, especially when it’s viewed out on Keuka Lake.

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A Ahwaga Paints & Coverings.........................................ahwagapaintandfloorcovering.com...................................68 Another World B&B.............................................................anotherworldbb.com.........................................................................9 Antique Revival.......................................................................antiquerevival.com...........................................................................68 Antique Wireless Museum............................................antiquewireless.org.........................................................................65 Apple Country Retreat.......................................................applecountryretreat.com............................................................. 61 Appleridge Senior Living.................................................appleridgeseniorliving.com..........................................................7 Artizanns......................................................................................new.artizanns.com...........................................................................66 Arts Council for Wyoming County...........................artswyco.org.........................................................................................59 Avant Gardens Landscape Design..........................avantgardensdesign.com............................................................57 B Billsboro Winery.....................................................................billsborowinery.com.........................................................................71 Brewery Ardennes................................................................breweryardennes.com................................................................... 41 C CabAve Kitchens....................................................................cavesmillwork.com...........................................................................27 Cherry Grove Campground...........................................cherrygrovecampground.com...............................................63 Clifton Springs Chamber of Commerce...............cliftonspringschamber.com......................................................58 Clute Memorial Park/Campground.........................watkinsglen.us....................................................................................63 CNY Living History Center..............................................cnylivinghistory.org.........................................................................65 Colonial Motel..........................................................................colonialmotelkeuka.com.............................................................. 61 Complete Construction Concepts...........................completeconstructionconcepts.com................................ 52 Corning Museum of Glass..............................................cmog.org................................................................................................... 51 Cortland County Historical Society........................cortlandhistory.org...........................................................................65 Cricket on the Hearth.........................................................cricketonthehearth.com..............................................................34 Crown Jewelry.........................................................................mycrowndowntown.com.............................................................67 D Design Build Geneva Bayview/GJM Engineering INC...........................team-designbuildinc.com.............................................................8 Diamonds Limousine & Sedan Service, LLC...diamondslimo.com..........................................................................50 Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines..........................................drfrankwines.com...............................................................................71 E Early Owego Antique Center........................................pickowego.com..................................................................................69 Eastview Mall...........................................................................eastviewmall.com.............................................................................26 F F. 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Howard Hanna - Brighton Office..............................soldbyrichtesta.com................................Inside Front Cover Howard Hanna Lake Group The Moorings on Keuka............................................nothnaglehtc.com................................................................................5 I The Inde Design Studio....................................................theindestudio.com..............................................................................11 Ithaca/Tompkins County CVB.....................................tompkinschamber.org...................................................................... 3 J The Jewelbox.............................................................................ithacajewelbox.com........................................................................60 Johnson Furniture Restoration...................................jfrestoration.com................................................................................69 K Kendal at Ithaca.....................................................................kai.kendal.org.................................................Inside Back Cover L Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars...........................lamoreauxwine.com.........................................................................71 Lamplighter Ministries......................................................lamplighter.net....................................................................................50 Lazy Acre Alpacas................................................................lazyacrealpacas.com......................................................................64 Long Point Winery................................................................longpointwinery.com.......................................................................71 M Manchester Mission Furniture...................................manchestermissionfurniture.com.......................................68 Mark’s Leisure Time Marine..........................................marksleisuretimemarine.com..................................................10 Miami Motel...............................................................................motelmiami.com.................................................................................57 Milly’s Pantry............................................................................millyspantry.org..................................................................................69 Morgan Marine........................................................................morganmarine.net............................................................................40 Morrell Builders......................................................................morrellbuilders.com......................................................................... 14 Mr. Twistee’s...............................................................................mrtwistees.com...................................................................................67 N Naglee Fine Arts....................................................................nagleegroup.com...............................................................................67 New Energy Works TimberFramers........................newenergyworks.com............................................. Back Cover Nolan’s on Canandaigua Lake....................................nolansonthelake.com....................................................................62 North Star Art Gallery........................................................northstarartgallery.com...............................................................55 P Pastel..............................................................................................pastelcookies.com...........................................................................69 Pittsford Fine Art....................................................................pittsfordfineart.com.........................................................................68 Q Quail Summit............................................................................quailsummit.com................................................................................13 The Quiet Place.......................................................................thequietplace.com............................................................................ 61 R Rasa Spa......................................................................................rasaspa.com.......................................................................................... 53 The Red Bird Cafe & Gift Shop....................................redbirdcafeandgiftshop.com...................................................68 Reed Homestead...................................................................reedhomestead.com......................................................................66 RJ Cars Inc..................................................................................rjcars.com................................................................................................68 Route 96 Power & Paddle..............................................powerandpaddle.com................................................................... 22 S Signlanguage Inc..................................................................signlanguageinc.com....................................................................58 Simply Crepes Canandaigua.......................................simplycrepes.com............................................................................35 Smith Boys - Conesus NY...............................................smithboys.com.......................................................................................4 St. Ann’s Community..........................................................stannscommunity.com...................................................................21 Studio Sales Pottery Supply Co.................................studiosalespottery.com................................................................35 T Timber Frames Inc...............................................................timberframesinc.com..................................................................... 51 U Unique Toy Shop....................................................................uniquetoyshop.com.........................................................................67 V Vinifera...........................................................................................44linden.com..........................................................................................71 W Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum.........................wardwoharaagriculturalmuseum.org...............................34 West End Gallery...................................................................westendgallery.net...................................................................15, 23 Z Zugibe Vineyards...................................................................zugibevineyards.com.......................................................................71

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T A S T I N G S B Y R E S E R VA T I O N

M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 2 4 ~ ­­­­­­­­­­­­73­

wine, spirits & brews

Get to the Point

For four generations the Frank family has produced wines of the in the tradition of the Dr. Konstantin highest in the Eastern United States.

Frank,

Areas of Interest in the March/April 2024 issue 1 Cortland (p.49) 2 Dresden (p.37) 3 Dundee (p.39)

4 Geneva (p.38, 54) 5 Ithaca (p.16, 18) 6 Lansing (p.24)

7 Loon Lake (p.56) 8 Naples (p.28) 9 Ovid (p.40)

10 Potter (p.46) 11 Starkey (p.37) 12 Watkins Glen (p.38)

From Oswego

Lake Ontario

Hilton

104

Sodus Bay

Sodus Point

MONROE Webster Brockport

104

Sodus

Baldwinsville

Rochester

490

E. Rochester Macedon

490

From Buffalo

Caledonia

Honeoye Falls

390

5

Avon

Manchester Shortsville Canandaigua

Geneseo

20A

Mt. Morris

1

20

Clifton Springs Phelps

ONTARIO

5

5

Waterloo

5

Seneca Falls

20

Cayuga

7

5

81

20

20

Auburn

ONONDAGA

11

20

11

9

8 Aurora

10

5

Penn Yan

8

3

Cohocton 390

5

SCHUYLER

11

McGraw 81

Dryden

Cayuga Heights

Ithaca

Burdett

12

Bath

Hornell

1

6 Lansing

Watkins Glen

86 17

Canisteo

11

Lamoka Lake

Hammondsport

CORTLAND

Trumansburg

Waneta Lake

6

Avoca

Homer Cortland Groton

Dundee

Prattsburgh

Moravia

CAYUGA

Ovid Interlaken

Branchport

Wayland

7

9

2

YATES

Naples

From Jamestown

Manlius

Skaneateles

Union Springs

SENECA

20A

390

Dansville

Fayetteville

Syracuse 481

10

4

Geneva

Honeoye

4

2

Solvay 690

Weedsport

3

LIVINGSTON

Nunda

90

90

20

Livonia Hemlock

90

Jordan

Newark

From Utica

481

Marcellus

Victor

Bloomfield

Lima

Clyde

Lyons

Palmyra

90

90

North 11 Syracuse

WAYNE

Fairport

490

Oneida Lake

81

104

104

Spencerport

From Watertown

Wolcott

Marathon

From Binghamton

Montour Cayuta Lake Falls TOMPKINS Odessa

N

STEUBEN

17

Painted Post

Horseheads

Corning Elmira C H E M U N G Heights

Rexville

Candor

Spencer 86

Elmira

Addison

Van Etten

TIOGA

Owego

15

Waverly

The Finger Lakes Region The York Finger Lakes Region of New State of New York State

­­­­­­­­­­­­74­ ~ L i f e i n t h e F i n g e r L a k e s . c o m

Finger Lakes Finger Lakes 1 Conesus 1 Conesus 2 Hemlock 2 Hemlock 3 Canadice 3 Canadice

4 5 6 7

Newark Valley

Honeoye 4 Honeoye Canandaigua 5 Canandaigua Keuka 6 Keuka Seneca 7 Seneca

86

17

8 Cayuga 8 Cayuga 9 Owasco 9 Owasco 10 Skaneateles 10 Skaneateles 11 Otisco 11 Otisco

From Binghamton

It’s a new age in aging T

oday’s aging adults are pursuing more activities and living healthier lifestyles than ever before. At Kendal at Ithaca, we are committed to a supportive, caring environment that creates opportunities for each resident to maximize their potential.

Kendal at Ithaca is a premier life care community of the Finger Lakes. Residents participate in dozens of activities that range from the physical such as tennis, pickleball and yoga, to the more cerebral like poetry, and creative writing to creative pursuits like quilting and woodworking. See more information on our website, www.kai.Kendal.org.

Kendal residents are creating a new age of aging. Come join us!

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30 YEARS BRINGING DESIGN & BUILD PROJECTS TO LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES 800.486.0661 | NEWENERGYWORKS.COM/JANUARY-2024 TIM TYSKIEWICZ, ARCHITECT

| LOUIS J. GROSSI CONSTRUCTION | R3D MEDIA