Life in the Finger Lakes Fall 2007

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THE REGION’S PREMIER MAGAZINE

Fall 2007

Picture

Perfect

Fall Naples Grape Pies: A Labor of Love White Deer Find Refuge Plums Like You’ve Never Tasted

$3.95 US/$4.95 CAN

www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com DISPLAY THROUGH DEC. ’07

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Volume 7, Number 3 • Fall 2007

F E A T U R E S

36 44

54 60 68

D E P A R T M E N T S 2 3 10 14 16

MY OWN WORDS

20

MADE IN THE FINGER LAKES Grape pie season

26

OUTDOORS Taking wild animals under her wing

WHAT’S THE CRUSH?

30

Ah, the life of a winery owner. It’s a tough, tough job. Especially when it’s time to “crush” Story and photos by Kristian S. Reynolds

FRUIT OF THE VINE Wine judge for a weekend

34

HISTORY George Weidman’s big tree

52

WILDLIFE PROFILE Loons in our lakes

Geneva leads the nation in developing new varieties of European plums

By Paul Grebinger and Jay Freer

74

HUMAN INTEREST A tribute to American women

80

CULTURED The Naples Open Studio Art Trail

PICTORIAL: A SORT OF HOMECOMING

83

DOWNTOWN Naples FINGER LAKES SCRAPBOOK PHOTOGRAPHY How to shoot the fall CALENDAR: FESTIVALS & EVENTS INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

THE PLIGHT OF THE WHITE DEER An agreement between industrial developers and environmentalists is good news for a rare herd of deer

By John Adamski

THE REVIVAL OF THE STATE Downtown Ithaca was once home to 17 theatres.

Now there is only one left: the charming State Theatre on West State Street

By Stacy Majewicz

HEALTHY, DELICIOUS & OH, SO SWEET

The fine art photography of Larry Blair

Below: Adirondack chairs are just waiting for someone to sit down, relax and enjoy a nice fall day on Keuka Lake.

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

Cover: The village of Hammondsport is nestled among the autumn hills on the south end of Keuka Lake. Photo by Steve Knapp

84 88 96 97 104

LETTERS NEWSBITS OFFBEAT LIFESTYLE The power of sunshine

OFF THE EASEL The art of Amy Colburn

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M Y

O W N

W O R D S

Handy History Taughannock Farms Inn Memorable Dining and

22 Exquisite Guest Rooms with a spectacular view of Cayuga Lake • An Evening Out • • A Special Occasion • • An Overnight Getaway • • Banquet Facilities •

READER ACTION NUMBER 135

S

tarting September 9, the largest museum exhibition ever of Bugatti automobile miniatures and related items will be on display at the Ontario County Historical Society (OCHS) in Canandaigua. The exhibit is being held to celebrate a gathering in Ontario County of members of the American Bugatti Club, scheduled for September 1 through 10. Ralph Lauren and Jay Leno own Bugattis, as does Canandaigua resident Stephen Hamlin, who spearheaded the exhibit.

“We see it as an opportunity to serve our audiences, especially those who have an interest in model building, miniatures, and European race cars,” said Edward Varno, OCHS executive director. “On a more practical note, it’s a good way to get people to visit us and see how much we have to offer.”

For residents of the Finger Lakes, local historical societies offer a lot, everything from photos of our towns’ original Main Streets, to models of the exotic cars visiting our community. For tourists and others just visiting, an historical society can be an insightful stop.

The quantity and quality of information available, whether it be free or for a nominal fee, is amazing.

Long considered bastions of information dating back to the origins of a community, historical societies are like family photo albums, except the family is an entire community. I live in Rushville, and we’re excited that our local historical society is expanding and moving into a bigger building that used to house the Rushville Volunteer Fire

Department. The new space will allow for large displays of photos and other artifacts from the Rushville area. I think it will give residents, both longtime and newly acquainted, a place to share memories and possibly make new ones.

That sentiment is reflected in the mission statement of one nearby historical society, the Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center in Syracuse. Their website states that the organization “exists to inspire people’s understanding that the history we share as a community is the foundation for our future together. Our purpose is to encourage a diverse audience from the neighborhoods of Syracuse and the communities of Onondaga County to explore, appreciate and utilize their past. To do so, we offer engaging exhibits and programs, pursue partnerships with other cultural organizations and community groups, and develop and care for a definitive collection related to local history.”

On a side note, I want to remind all interested photographers that the deadline of September 30 is fast approaching for the Life in the Finger Lakes annual photo contest. If you have any questions, you can visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com, send an email to mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com or view our advertisement about the contest on page 30. Thanks, and have a great autumn.

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Areas of interest in this magazine issue Seneca Falls Geneva

NEW YORK S TAT E

Ovid Dansville

Naples Ithaca

Hammondsport READER ACTION NUMBER 164

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The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

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L E T T E R S

A Great Vacation

Dear Mark, Historically, although we enjoy your magazine and its promotion of the region, my family and I have never vacationed in the Finger Lakes area. However, this year we decided to try somewhere different and with the help one of your advertisers we were able to locate and rent a property at Seneca Lake. In short, one could not ask for a more perfect family vacation. The lakefront home was spectacular; the owner Steve Williams, his mom (who lives next door to the rental property), went out of their way to make sure everything was just right. Their neighbors were very courteous also. Most importantly we all (especially my three daughters) had a great time with plenty to do and in fact, expect to return next year. Many thanks to your magazine for helping us experience a vacation to remember.

The Cawley Family Shavertown, Pennsylvania

100 STORES FEATURING Ann Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Gap Outlet, Guess, J.Crew, Nike Factory Store, Nine West, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Zales Outlet and more AT SAVINGS OF 25% TO 65% EVERY DAY. WATERLOO, NY • RTE. 318 BETWEEN EXITS 41 & 42 OFF THE NYS THRUWAY • (315) 539-1100 VISIT PREMIUMOUTLETS.COM FOR HOURS • CHELSEA PROPERTY GROUP*

A READER ACTION NUMBER 138

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L E T T E R S

Wind Turbines Generate Heated Correspondence

In a word:

QUALIT Y

An editorial that appeared in our Summer Issue, “Can the Wind Provide an Answer?” by Life in the Finger Lakes Editor Mark Stash, drew a number of passionate responses, both for and against the construction of wind turbines in the Finger Lakes region. What follows are excerpts from those letters. To read them in their entirety, visit LifeInTheFingerLakes.com.

quiet rural neighborhood.

For all who truly value the Finger Lakes and the preservation of their unique beauty, it comes with such disappointment that there are those who support the construction of dumps, prisons, ethanol plants and wind turbines along the Finger Lakes countryside. What is more disappointing is Life In The Finger Lakes has jumped aboard the “blight the Finger Lakes” bandwagon with its promotion of wind turbines.

David M. Roach, Chicago

“Winery of the Year” New York Wine Classic 2006

“Greatest Producer in the Atlantic Northeast” Wine Report, 2007, 2006 & 2005 Wind turbines in Madison County.

“Best of the East” International Eastern Wine Competition 2006

“Four Star Rating” Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2007

New York’s Most Award Winning Winery Since 1962! www. dr frankwines.com 9749 MIDDLE ROAD HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK 14840 (800) 320-0735

Look for our Award Winning, Value Priced Line of Salmon Run Wines

Photo by Ryan Williamson

Mark: As we were reminded in “Can the Wind Provide an Answer?” there is no question the “high tax situation” in upstate New York is a problem that deserves scrutiny, reform and perhaps the ouster of a few politicians. There is, however, an equally alarming problem in the extreme and shortsighted measures New York politicians have taken during the past decade or so to address the stagnant economy in the Finger Lakes region.

Take a Sunday drive down Seneca Lake and you will see within a 20-mile distance how the quick-fix approach to jump-starting the local economy has taken its toll on the Finger Lakes landscape. Here is an area stripped of so much potential by an ever-expanding landfill, county jail, maximum-security prison, and a minimum-security prison located directly across the street from a

READER ACTION NUMBER 113

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I was very discouraged by your account of the pros and cons of the industrial wind turbines published in your magazine recently. In summary, this entire proposal for supposed “green energy” and economic contribution is nothing short of another Enron scandal bilking the public of taxpayer dollars falsely based on these two very important issues. I am continually astonished at otherwise intelligent people being duped by this perversion of facts.

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Robert C. Strasburg II

I can’t believe that you, an intelligent person, can really believe in these industrial wind turbines. If you think $600 toilet seats and hammers were a rape of our taxpayer dollars, hang onto your butt. When you find out how much of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money has been funneled out of the country, you will be appalled.

These turbines have been in Europe for 20 years with no impact on reducing fossil fuel energy plants. Many are not operating and obsolete. Even when they are not operating they are continually using electricity. Where do you think it comes from? From a fossil fuel energy plant, of course.

Charles Kota -A Finger Lakes resident

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Life is good in the Finger Lakes!

Enjoy a rich community life in a spacious and beautiful setting with fine dining and all residential services.

With life-time health care on site, you'll also enjoy a precious sense of security and freedom.

Come join us.

KENDAL

®

AT ITHACA a not-for-profit life care retirement community

E Q UA L H O U S I N G OPPORTUNITY

2230 N. Triphammer Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 266-5300 • 1-800-253-6325 www.kai.kendal.org READER ACTION NUMBER 121

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A Garage Door Can Make A

Statement.

L E T T E R S

Mr. Stash, Kudos on your wind power article.

My husband and I are very interested in wind power and have talked with Mr. Pittman many times. My husband is the town supervisor in Sodus, New York, and very much would like this wonderful benefit for our town. It is a great solution to a growing problem.

I look forward to reading more.

Our carriagestyle inspired doors appear to swing out, swing up, accordion to the side or bi-fold, integrating into your home's design, whether significantly older or newly designed.

Make a statement

Debbie LeRoy, Sodus

Raynor Overhead Door Sales Offices in Syracuse and Watertown 315-457-9439 • 315-788-0012 • www.raynorsyr.com

Niles Gourmet Country Market READER ACTION NUMBER 170

An exciting European-style shop and bistro specializing in natural and organic specialty foods and Mediterranean delights nestled between Skaneateles and Owasco Lake All foods are made from scratch.

Specializing in handmade ravioli & quiche.

Seasonal desserts and cheesecake.

Local and international beer and Finger Lakes wines.

Rare and hard to find products such as specialty foods.

Gluten-free and sugar-free foods available.

Niles Gourmet Country Market is open Wed - Sun, Noon - 7PM The bistro serves Trattoria-style dishes Wed - Sun 1 - 7PM??

Inquire about their live music schedule and other special events.

“All foods are handmade in our cucina!�

This same debate has raged (and continues to rage from what I understand) in the pretty mountain state of West Virginia, where my brother is a resident.

The windmills won, and in the area he lives there are 100 of them strung across the mountains. I do not find them offensive to look at; they are much more attractive than any communication tower residing on the same mountaintops. And I don’t totally understand the noise concern: As I stood next to three of them, the sound was not much more than the wind rustling the trees, and could not be heard above the sound of the motor in my car. Folks continue to flock to the Canaan Valley, the premier tourist spot in West Virginia, despite having to endure the sight of the windmills along the way.

KR DO

/D

Cindy, Tioga County

Hometown articles strike a chord

4588 Grange Hall Road, Niles, NY 13118 • 315-784-5015

Just a big thank you for making the summer issue such a delight. First, a big surprise to see our much-loved Dundee elementary school principal Bob Del Bono enjoying his retirement on a porch in Penn Yan. Then, on the same day, I received notice that my sister will be stopping in with the motor home on her way to the Lodi bluegrass

READER ACTION NUMBER 182

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READER ACTION NUMBER 141

: : : 3 , ( 5 6 2 1 5 ( $ /7 2 5 6 & 2 0

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EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Stash mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com ART DIRECTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Williamson GRAPHIC ARTIST . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Srmack ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Manzer ASSISTANT EDITORS . . . . . . . . . . . Kari Anderson

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Kevin Fahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stacy Majewicz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol C. Stash CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Adamski

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsay Adler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Banaszewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Cannon-Crothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Freer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Frisbie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Grebinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristian S. Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Townsend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurel C. Wemett EDITORIAL OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458 DIRECTOR

OF

ADVERTISING . . . . . . . Tim Braden tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

CUSTOMER RELATIONS . . . . . . . . . . Bob Sherman bob@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Jason Hagerman. . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 jason@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Rhonda Trainor . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-344-0559 rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS Tricia McKenna. . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com BUSINESS OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-0458

800-344-0559 BUSINESS FAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315-789-4263

Life in the Finger Lakes is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. and owned by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. Co-owners: Mark S. Stash; Timothy J. Braden. Copyright© 2007 by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

TO SUBSCRIBE, RENEW OR CHANGE ADDRESS: write to Life in the Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 1080, Geneva, New York 14456, or call 315789-0458. Subscription rates: $12.95 for one year.

Canada add $15.00 per year. Outside North America, add $30.00 per year. For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue of Life in the Finger Lakes.

For gift subscriptions, include your own name and address as well as those of gift recipients.

Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

READER ACTION NUMBER 169

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Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes region

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Lifting ,000 lbs requires fingertip control. introducing

SHORESTATION DIRECT DRIVE.

®

The push-button, remote control benefits of Direct Drive are now available from the most trusted name in waterfront systems. Our new, fully integrated Direct Drive system is available on ShoreStation® lifts with capacity to 6,000 lbs and features all drive components protected in a weather-resistant, maintenance-free winch case. With a ShoreStation Direct Drive system shouldering the load, raising and lowering your boat has never been faster or easier. And, because it’s a ShoreStation, you get the very best in quality, service, warranty and support.

Exercise control with a Direct Drive boat lift from ShoreStation. See your ShoreStation dealer or visit www.shorestation.com.

READER ACTION NUMBER 133

© 2007 Midwest Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

800.859.3028 shorestation.com

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New Facility Being Built for Thoroughbred Adoption Program

On June 29, the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program personnel and Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack management and horsemen broke ground on a new 10,000-square-foot thoroughbred adoption facility. It will take approximately 10 weeks to construct the facility, which will be completed by mid-September.

Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program was established in the fall of 2004 as a result of a joint effort between Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and the Finger Lakes Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association. The mission of the program is to assist in the placement of former Finger Lakes race horses with equine adoption agencies or approved private individuals, giving these horses a second chance at productive lives.

Base funding for the program was established by both Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and the Finger Lakes Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association agreeing to each donate $1 each time a horse races at Finger Lakes. This arrangement marked an industry first where track management and horsemen joined together to fund an organization that would help transition racehorses into retirement. Over the course of a year with 160 race days, nine races each day and up to 12 horses in a race, this mechanism generates over $20,000 annually.

The new facility will be named the Purple Haze Center in honor of Purple Haze Stables, one of the project’s major donors. The 10,000-square-foot center with 14,000-square-foot outdoor paddocks will feature 16 stalls, an indoor exercise area, a horse wash bay and support and storage areas. It is anticipated that the center will raise public awareness for thoroughbred retirement and attract individuals of all ages who have an interest in learning about horses.

Gone With the Breeze Addendum Released

STAYHGI ST STA TAYH YHGI HG H GI

Writer Larry Dickens announced the release of an addendum to Gone With the Breeze, his nonfiction chronicle of the Spirit of Ontario I, the high-speed ferry that traveled Lake Ontario between Rochester and Toronto beginning in June 2004. The five-page addendum summarizes the period where the book left off, from August 2006 through the ferry’s sale in April 2007. It is available for either reading or downloading at the author’s web site, www.LarryDickens.com. The download is a PDF file that is formatted for printing and is aimed primarily at the more than 1,000 book owners, though it is free to the public as well.

READER ACTION NUMBER 120

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Artists Support Preservation of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes

The lands surrounding Hemlock and Canadice Lakes have been preserved by the city of Rochester for more than 100 years. The lakes have received several awards for water quality, and the threat of water scarcity with global warming makes their waters increasingly valuable. However, as Rochester continues to expand southward, the land surrounding these lakes is being threatened with commercial and residential development.

Area artists Christine Sevilla, photographer, and Gloria Betlem, pastel painter, have collaborated on an exhibit to offer their views of the unique qualities of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes.

They have invited noted photographer Kent Divers, who has a large body of work on the lakes, to exhibit with them.

They have also asked environmental consultant and poet Stephen Lewandowski to provide opening remarks to set the context and history of the watersheds. The exhibit will feature pastels by Gloria Betlem that reflect her spiritual and emotional response, with playful recognizable imagery of the areas she often visits. Christine Sevilla will exhibit photographs and a set of artist books that convey the range of emotions around the tentative state of the lakes. Kent Divers’ photos appeal to a meditative and focused experience of the quietude of the lakes.

The exhibit will be at the Williams Gallery in Rochester from August 31 to October 9.

READER ACTION NUMBER 168

Rustic by Nature,

Elegant by Design

www.thefurnituredoctoronline.com Design your Old Hickory Kitchen & Bath at

The Furniture Doctor

7007 Rtes. 5&20 • Bloomfield, NY 14469 • 585.657.6941 READER ACTION NUMBER 117

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K

Founded in 1974

N

E

W

S

B I T S

Gregory L. Schultz D.M.D., P.C. A Passion for the Profession.

A combination of excellence in skills and enthusiasm for patients’ care.

KEUKA FAMILY DENTISTRY 209 Liberty Street, Bath, NY 607-776-7656 E-Mail: gls@keukafamilydentistry.com READER ACTION NUMBER 122

Geneva On The Lake Wine Country Villa & Resort A Luxurious Getaway & Executive Retreat

“The food is extraordinarily good.”

– Bon Appetit

1-800-3-GENEVA RT. 14, GENEVA, N.Y. WWW.GENEVAONTHELAKE.COM

A view of the fuselage and cockpit of the America before the last stages of completion.

The America Will Fly Again

Twenty-five enthusiastic, dedicated and hard-working volunteers in the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum Restoration Shop in Hammondsport are undertaking a massive but meaningful project. They are building a reproduction of the America, a Curtiss twin-engine flying boat. Designed to take off and land on water, the original last flew over Keuka Lake in 1914.

Constructed largely of ash and spruce, the flying boat will be as close to the original as possible. One change that has been made was to add rudder and elevator trim tabs for better control. Also, modern adhesives and finishing materials are being used throughout. Covering fabric and other associated materials were donated by Consolidated Aircraft Coatings. When the last fabric is in place, the entire aircraft will be painted dark red, as was the original. The America’s hull is 35 feet long, the upper wing spans 72 feet and, when complete, it will weigh more than 3,000 pounds. Final assembly will have to take place elsewhere in the museum due to the aircraft’s large size.

Not all of the work is being done at the museum. The radiators and propellers are being built by specialists and the 100 hp engines are being completely rebuilt

by MacQuillan Engines in LeRoy. Another local firm, Mercury Aircraft of Hammondsport, offered its metal working expertise to the project by assisting on the fuel tanks.

The original America was intended for the 1914 trans-oceanic attempt. She was the world’s first twinengine flying boat with good enough engines and the fuel capacity to complete the flight. But the outbreak of the first World War quickly put a stop to any such attempts. The America was eventually sold The original America last flew over Keuka Lake in 1914.

READER ACTION NUMBER 119

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Lee Sackett adds copper reinforcements to the joints on the tail assembly of the America.

Sackett, a retired airline pilot who lives in Penn Yan, will copilot the flying boat on September 15.

to Britain’s Royal Navy and became the prototype for anti-submarine patrol aircraft. In all, about 60 improved versions of the America were purchased by Great Britain but none exist today.

“Rebuilding America” is the theme for a seaplane weekend slated for Friday through Sunday, September 14 through 16 in Hammondsport.

Seaplane rides will be available all three days. Food and refreshments will be on hand at the Depot at the south end of Keuka Lake where all the flying festivities will take place.

On Saturday, September 15, at 1 p.m., pilots will present a “Salute to Glenn Curtiss” with a parade of seaplanes around Keuka Lake over Curtiss’ resting place. The inaugural flight of the America is scheduled for between 2 and 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Penn Yan residents Jim Poel and Lee Sackett will be serving as pilot and copilot. Both men are retired professional pilots and restoration shop volunteers.

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READER ACTION NUMBER 179

Invest in the Best E njoy the view and all

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A true and lasting investment.

STATE OF THE ART INCLINE ELEVATORS 888-334-4666

www.marineinnovations.com READER ACTION NUMBER 127

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O F F B E A T O F F B E A T O F F B E A T

A Distinguished Old Lady There aren’t many vessels that have lasted for 100 years, but licensed captain and sailboat enthusiast Ray Coleman is the proud owner of one. According to Ray, Mistress is the oldest wooden sailboat in the Finger Lakes. “She’s a very distinguished old lady,” Ray said.

The boat was designed in 1898 by Nathaniel Herreshoff, a famous and prolific yacht designer, and built in 1907 at the Herreshoff yard in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Ray purchased the boat in 1974, brought her to Watkins Glen and renamed her Mistress. “My wife says she’s aptly named,” Ray joked.

Every three years, Ray hauls Mistress out of the water to repaint her and do any needed repairs. In the winter, he protects her with a wooden framework and canvas cover. Ray leaves her in the water all winter, though, because the planking is so thin that it would dry out if the boat didn’t stay moist.

Ray has put so much work into the boat and spent so many good times aboard her, Mistress has become a part of his family. He even named his daughter Rebekah after the boat’s original name.

“Because they’re built from living things, I believe that old wooden boats have a soul, and they will find their rightful owners,” Ray said. “Mistress found me.”

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It’s a Gem Finger Lakes musician Rob Lane released his latest CD, Sparkling Diamonds: Songs of the Finger Lakes, in May. For Rob, inspiration abounds in the region that he calls “one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

In his more than 20 years of writing and recording, Rob has released 12 collections of songs in the rock, country, blues, folk and spiritual genres. He is also the creator of the Finger Lakes Weekend Wino website, which has news, reviews and discussions about Finger Lakes wines and wineries. Check it out at www.FingerLakesWeekendWino.blogspot.com.

Sparkling Diamonds: Songs of the Finger Lakes is available at Dr. Frank Wine Cellars, Arbor Hill Winery, Artizanns Gift Shop, Barrington Cellars Winery, Lakewood Vineyards and Fulkerson Winery.

The Finger Lakes in 3-D When Finger Lakes artist June Szabo saw a piece by sculptor David Smith titled “Hudson River Landscape,” she was inspired. It was made from welded steel, and it was the first sculpture she had ever seen that depicted a landscape. She immediately began considering ways she could represent the Finger Lakes in three dimensions.

That was nine years ago. Since then June has created wooden sculptures depicting Myers Point, Glenora, Long Point, Lodi Point and many others. Using the elevation lines on topographic maps to guide her, June cuts shapes out of lumber board with a scroll saw and stacks them to create dimension. Although some of the dimensions in the sculptures are accurate, the height and depth are not. “I intentionally exaggerate to give the piece more of the feeling that we have in the landscape,” she said.

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READER ACTION NUMBER 143

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The Power of Sunshine

Builders Best Design Center 2309 N Triphammer Road, Ithaca 607-266-0949 Fax 607-266-0968 www.BuildersBestDesign.com

Workers adjust a field-mounted solar array in Trumansburg.

by Jason Townsend

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READER ACTION NUMBER 104

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hroughout the Finger Lakes region, more and more residents and businesses are turning to the sun to generate their electricity. Arrays of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have appeared on city homes, rural farms, municipal buildings and businesses ranging from animal shelters to wineries. But for anyone who knows the many varieties of Finger Lakes weather – where sunshine is not always the feature event – the obvious question arises: Is solar worth it?

“We have plenty of sunshine to get the job done,” argues Art Weaver, founder of Renovus Energy, an installer of solar PV systems throughout the Finger Lakes region. A modern solar system generates electricity on anything from a sunny day down to a brightly cloudy day. When the sun really shines, Weaver says, the home’s electric meter will actually turn in the opposite direction, sending electricity back to the grid rather than taking it in.

The real measure of the viability

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of solar power in upstate New York seems to be in the satisfaction of local home and business owners who have installed systems.

“We think solar is a great thing and would encourage anyone to do it,” say Roy Luft and Nancy Emerson of Ithaca.

Two years ago, the couple worked with Performance Systems, a Finger Lakes installer of solar PV, to install a 6.5 KW system mounted in a south-facing field behind their early 20th century home on Trumansburg Road. Solar PV arrays can be either roof-mounted above a house or barn or ground-mounted on a steel frame. Ground-mounted systems have the advantage of easy snow removal, which can improve winter efficiency by about 5 percent.

“All day we’re off at work while the house, rather than consuming electricity, is actually generating it,” Luft says.

“We get a thrill from watching the meter spin backwards. We are currently putting twice as much energy into the grid as we are taking off.”

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Aurora, NY 13026 315.364.8888 866.364.8808 www.aurora-inn.com

A unique getaway in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country. Exquisite lodging, fine lakeside dining and gracious events.

An incentive for change

In order to actually send energy back to the grid, Luft and Emerson have entered into a “net-metering agreement” with New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). Under this contract, electricity from their solar panels is tied directly into the home’s existing grid connection – no batteries required – and the utility company agrees to purchase the excess electricity generated by the panels.

Such agreements have become common and help to provide the utility company with extra kilowatts of electricity during times of peak-demand while at the same time providing savings for the homeowner.

In the face of steeply rising energy costs, such savings can be expected to pay for the cost of solar PV installation within 10 to 15 years. A healthy New York State incentives program also helps make solar an economically viable option. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) currently offers a $4000/KW rebate on installed systems, the third best in the nation.

This incentive typically cuts 50 percent off the up-front cost of installing a PV system for New York businesses and homeowners, and can cover up to 80 percent of the cost on township and municipal buildings.

“We want the incentives program to make people aware of PV and what a good, long-term investment it is,” says Colleen Ryan, assistant director of communications at NYSERDA. “The state feels it is important to encourage the development and use of renewable energy resources to lessen our dependence on foreign fuels and help preserve the environment. PV is simple to select and purchase, and with the incentives available it’s more affordable than ever.”

Gail Steinhart and Joe McMahon of Ithaca seem to agree. This summer they installed a 2.7 KW system on their home in the city of Ithaca. “We couldn’t have done this without the incentives,” says Steinhart. “We love our house, we love the area, and we’re committed to staying here. So basically

Introducing the newly renovated E.B. Morgan House

An historic lakeside mansion perfect for special events, executive retreats and intimate weddings.

READER ACTION NUMBER 100

READER ACTION NUMBER 140

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The National Tour of Solar Homes, organized locally by Cornell Cooperative Extension, will be held Saturday, October 6, and will feature homes like this one in Ithaca.

we’ve just bought the next 15 years of electricity up front and the incentives made this possible.”

Worth the wait

READER ACTION NUMBER 181

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However, Steinhart and McMahon warn that the total process – including application for incentives, contracting with an installer, electrical inspection and a net-metering agreement with an energy provider – is a long one. Wait times of up to six months are typical.

“In addition to all the permitting, the worldwide demand for solar panels far outstrips supply,” says Rebekah Carpenter, a local NYSERDA-certified installer and founder of Finger Lakes Renewable Energy. “The rest of the world – Japan and Germany particularly, where there are huge federal incentives to convert to solar power – is moving fast into solar. I often have to wait four to six weeks for supplies. That’s just the nature of things right now.”

Finger Lakes area installers like Carpenter find themselves extremely busy these days and are constantly at some stage of putting a system in. “The NYSERDA incentives are really what is driving the local industry right now. I wouldn’t have a business without them.”

Without businesses like Carpenter’s, local homeowners and businesses would not be able to take advantage of the

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NYSERDA incentives. “The incentives program applies only to PV systems that are grid-connected and installed by those of us who have been through NYSERDA’s training program,” says Carpenter. “This creates accountability. I have to give a five-year warranty on parts and installation, and if anything goes wrong with a manufacturer’s warranty on parts, I deal with the manufacturer. NYSERDA has created a system of checks and balances so that a PV system has got to perform the way it’s supposed to. Twice yearly performance reporting insures a well-functioning system.

“The perception that solar is something just for the back-to-the-lander is a false one,” continues Carpenter. “PV technology is state-of-the-art, solid and proven. People who are putting off getting into solar because of the computer mentality, where software changes make models obsolete, are missing the boat.

There is no guarantee that PV technology is going to get any better than it already is, but you can bet that energy prices are going to rise.”

This argument appealed to Bob Madill, general manager and partner at Sheldrake Point Vineyard in Ovid. Two years ago, the vineyard installed a 15 KW system on its winery building. “We tell other businesses that by installing solar panels, there is everything to be

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gained and nothing to be lost. We have the ability here in the Finger Lakes area to make solar energy – it’s not like we’re stretching ourselves. With an industry like ours that typically uses enormous energy for both heating and cooling, we feel it’s our obligation to generate this energy in a sustainable way.”

Learn more

By turning to the same sunshine that produces the Finger Lakes’ famous wines, businesses and homeowners alike are finding a more sustainable way to generate local electrical needs. The future of solar in the Finger Lakes is a bright one – NYSERDA’s incentives program is solidly funded and business is booming for local NYSERDA-certified installers.

To find out more about solar in the Finger Lakes, Luft and Emerson recommend the National Tour of

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Solar Homes. “For us, the whole process was really demystified by going on the tour. We visited many local homes and came to understand the simplicity of PV systems and the sound economy of the incentives program.”

The National Tour of Solar Homes, organized locally by Cornell Cooperative Extension, takes place on October 6. Solar-home owners will be available to explain to the public the technology and the economics of solar installations. For more information, visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension website at www.cce.cornell.edu or contact Tania Schusler at tms23@cornell.edu. To learn more about NYSERDA’s incentives program visit their website at www.powernaturally.org.

Here’s a list of NYSERDA-certified solar system installers in the Finger Lakes area.

Jason Townsend is a writer and graduate student living in Ithaca.

Renovus Energy, Inc. www.renovusenergy.com 607-277-1777

DCE NORTHEAST

ETM Solar Works www.etmsolar.com 607-785-6499 Finger Lakes Renewable Energy www.flenergy.com 607-327-0053 Natural Power and Light www.naturalpowerandlight.com Performance Systems Contracting www.pscontracting.com 607-277-1472 Prime Energy Solutions, Inc. www.prime-nrg.com 866-893-5606

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Grape Pie Season Story by Angela Cannon-Crothers, illustrations by Darryl Abraham

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tuck my head and hands behind wide leaves that shade me from the morning sun. There, clusters of dewy shining orbs, in shades from gray-purple to lavender-red, droop from their vines. It’s grape season, and these are what we’ve been waiting for: Concords, ripe for picking.

Grape season in Naples, New York, means different things to different people. For some it merely ushers in a time of lengthening shadows, shorter days and bright fall colors. The season debuts with the Grape Festival’s crowds of visitors and artisans and closes with the final leaf-peepers. For those involved in the juicy pulp of the harvest, it means picking grapes, slipping skins, or making world-famous grape pies. For me, it is all about grapes, from the first fruits to the sales of flaky-crusted pies.

From picking to slipping

The picking begins early in the day. After I take my children to school, I grab a straw cowboy hat, pull the short pruning shears from my glove box and head down a long

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vineyard row where several orange trays are waiting on a wooden table. I push up vines and begin to steadily clip as I chat with the farm’s matron, an 87-year-old woman who has been working with all sorts of berries her whole life.

We all pick quickly as the sun grows hot overhead, only slowing to debate the ripeness of a particular spot. “Are these grapes too green?” “Are they too red?” I taste test along the way, sucking on skins, often crunching the seeds whole in my mouth. Midmorning bells chime out a hymn from the St. Januarius Catholic Church across the road, which is also fittingly called The Shrine of Our Lady of the Grapes. As I glance up from the vineyard to the forested hills of Hi Tor, I imagine being transported back in time or to another country across the sea. But this is the Finger Lakes region with provincial beauty in all its finest. No ancient ruins required.

Sometimes I talk incessantly with a picking partner; maybe I’ll sing or hum. Eventually we all reach a place in tune with the symmetry of the vineyards, the rise of the hills, the sweetness of the grapes, and an occasional birdsong over the lull of traffic along Route 21. We are silent,

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ORTHOPEDIC CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES

“The team at Finger Lakes Health did more than give me new knees — they gave my business

a new leg to stand on.”

MICKEY LAPRESI, PHELPS, NY

[ PEOPLE

IN PHELPS KNOW MICKEY LAPRESI. ] Since 1945, he’s run Lapresi’s Pizza Emporium & Deli — a real local favorite. So when Mickey’s knees made it hard to keep going, he made an easy choice … the Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes.

More than just a Joint Center, the Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes offered Mickey what he wanted — respect and patience. A true partner in his healthcare, Mickey’s doctor, Olaf Lieberg, offered both a thoughtful ear and guiding hand. And when Mickey and his wife, Beverly, needed new hips, Dr. Lieberg was their only choice.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AND RESPECTFUL PARTNERSHIP.

Welcome to the Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ORTHOPEDIC CARE AT FINGER LAKES HEALTH, PLEASE CALL 315-787-4058.

WWW.FLHEALTH.ORG

READER ACTION NUMBER 176

Orthopedic Center of the Finger Lakes MY COMMUNITY. MY CHOICE.

EXCEPTIONAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS • CARING NURSES • UNPARALLELED RADIOLOGY & ANESTHESIOLOGY SERVICES • EXPERIENCED REHABILITATION STAFF • SATISFIED PATIENTS

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Earthworks

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FLAdMay20

Earth Works Art Gallery

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Fine Arts & Jewelry

230B Lake Street Plaza, Penn Yan, NY

Phone: 315-536-6007

www.earthworksartgallery.com READER ACTION NUMBER 114

bent to the task at hand and fully immersed in just being.

School gets out mid-afternoon and I leave work in time to pick up my children. On these hotter autumn days we go to Grimes Glen to cool off. The children and I splash in the creek or climb a waterfall before we head home from town.

Although my hands are sore, I stop at Pie Making Mania Central where a dear friend is working on her porch pouring five-gallon buckets of cooked grape pie goop into a sieve to remove seeds. After the goop is clean of seeds, she mixes the steaming mess back in with the skins to give the pie its traditional color. It all smells wonderful.

My friend varies the amount of sugar she adds based on the amount of sugar content, or “brix,” the grapes already have (Concords typically have a 16-brix count when ripe). Her final test, however, involves an actual taste. She asks me to sample a batch and see if it needs any more sweetness. I like the sweet-and-tart flavor and smile back to her. It is perfect.

I take two 28-pound trays of

READER ACTION NUMBER 115

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grapes (maybe some of the same I picked today) along with six large buckets and pack them into the back of my Subaru. Tonight I will pinch grapes. Grape pinching, or “slipping,” involves popping out the grape innards from the skin in just such a way that it doesn’t go shooting across the room, but rather makes a nice “pling” sound as it hits the inside of the bucket. I pinch a bunch as fast as my little grape-stained fingers can go until I have a palm-full of skins and a bucket of slowly rising grape guts. I drop the skins in a separate bowl and grab a fresh bunch of grapes, while making sure the skins are clean of stems and seeds. I repeat the process at least another 200 times, or so it seems.

Because I get paid by the tray and not the hour, I try to go as fast as possible.

It takes me between two and four hours to completely slip a tray. Not great timing, really. I’m told that some of the local woman can pinch a tray in 45 minutes flat. I’m dumbfounded.

How could that be possible? I pinch as fast as I can! I’m beginning to think this is some John Henry story, or

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If you want to catch big fish...

you have to

fish where the fish are

From the producers of the critically acclaimed Adirondack Living Shows comes

THE FINGER LAKES SHOW

May 2 – 4, 2008

FAIR & EXPO CENTER 2695 East Henrietta Road

Henrietta, NY 14467

Summer begins this May at the Finger Lakes best new attraction! Hundreds of Exhibitors.

Thousands of products and services. Industry Experts. An unparalleled marketing event!

If you’re a log home builder or timberframer, furniture maker, real estate broker, marina, camp service provider or artist catering to the lucrative camp, cottage and lake house consumer, then you can’t afford to miss the Finger Lakes Show and meet your customers, face to face.

Why should your company participate?

• Be affiliated with Great White Productions, one of the most renowned production companies in the country • Benefit from a staggering $75,000 marketing campaign • Meet an anticipated 12,000 targeted customers face to face, in a one-stop-shop environment PRODUCED BY • Jumpstart your summer season with sales (not oohs, ahs or ribbons) SPONSORED BY

Preview the show concept this August in Lake George New York August 17 – 19 and online at www.adirondackliving.com Call today for Exhibitor rates and availability.

Sponsorships also available. Space is limited.

518-371-6363 x101 | fingerlakesshow.com READER ACTION NUMBER 177

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M A D E

READER ACTION NUMBER 155

Lakes, Spectacular Scenery, Wineries and Charming Villages Located near the heart of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga County’s towns and villages are perfect for sightseeing, shopping, dining, wine tasting, and enjoying the lush Finger Lakes region . . .

in the company of friends!

Request a FREE Visitors Guide

To learn more, visit

www.TourCayuga.com or call 800-499-9615 READER ACTION NUMBER 173

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maybe these ladies have figured out a secret method involving stomping on grapes in a child’s wading pool.

In the late afternoon I slip a tray of grapes out on the front porch with my 5-year-old daughter. I figure if she starts now, she’ll be an all-star grape pincher by the time she’s a teen, and she’ll have a sizable seasonal income to start saving for college, or maybe a pie shop.

After the kids are in bed I drape a tablecloth over the sofa table and begin a second tray. It’s a long day and getting longer. If I don’t finish the tray before bedtime, I’ll have to get up at 5 a.m. and finish it before my morning chores. The week goes on like this. Only 12 more days until Grape Festival.

I slip one more tray on Saturday, my day off. I spend Sunday helping box and sell pies at a stand on the corners of Main Street and County Road 36. The pie stand has a comfortable awning and big purple signs that advertise “Jeni’s Pies: 3-Time Winner.” I must admit, it really is the best grape pie I’ve ever tasted. It has a slightly sugared top crust with just the right amount of filling, a gentle tartness that leaves only a subtle impression, and that fresh, sweet aroma of Concord grapes.

Selling pies is like a day off for me.

After all, I’m not the one who spent

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weeks cooking up all that pie filling, made all that crust, and got up long before dawn this morning to make fresh pies for the day, rolling out about one pie every three minutes and baking them 16 at a time in double ovens.

Selling pies this time of autumn, on such a fine sunny day, is a charming activity. Later in the season, I will likely contend with freezing rain and winds that threaten to blow open all the pie boxes and roll the tent down Main Street with me inside.

A woman in a T-shirt and shorts comes to the stand. “Nine dollars!” she says. “For a grape pie?”

I begin to tell her how these really are winning pies and how the stores sell pies for more. She shrugs her shoulders and says she’ll purchase a cheaper one someplace else. “It’s easier,” she adds.

Easier? I wonder what could ever make a home-baked, handmade grape pie easier? There are vineyards to tend and manage, picking to be done in the fields, tray upon tray of grapes to pinch, grape innards to cook, goop to strain, batches of filling to mix just right, pie dough to make and roll out and bake, boxes to stamp and fold.

And they are all baked fresh in slightly modified home kitchens. It is slow food, made by the effort of farmers, pickers, pinchers and bakers.

To me, the pies – and the season – are priceless.

In addition to reporting for the Naples Record, writer Angela Cannon-Crothers has completed a contemporary novel, The Wildcrafter, available at Jeni’s Pie stands. Her nonfiction story about working in atmospheric science is featured in the book, A Mile in Her Boots: Women Who Work in the Wilds, published

by Solas Pres.

Naples native Darryl Abraham is a nationally recognized artist who works in wood, clay, lost wax, metal and paint. His creations are permanently displayed in Tokyo, New York, Philadelphia and at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Post and Beam Homes

Locally crafted in our South Bristol New York shop 5557 Rt. 64, Canandaigua, NY 14424 Phone: 585-374-6405 • Fax: 585-374-8090 www.timberframesinc.com • timberframes@msn.com

Building the Finger Lakes since 1977 READER ACTION NUMBER 136

want ‘‘I THAT look.’’

We can do that.

315.531.8178 churchcreativeflooring.com Lake Street Plaza, Penn Yan, NY 14527 READER ACTION NUMBER 153

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O U T D O O R S

Leave the highway, take the BYWAY.

Taking Wild Animals Under Her Wing

Enjoy the ride!

Story and photos by Lindsay Adler

In the heart of the Finger Lakes

CayugaLake.com

Visit the 16 wineries along the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway.

www.fingerlakescentral.com 1-800-732-1848 READER ACTION NUMBER 132

Wildlife rehabilitator Barbara Cole examines a rough-legged hawk that has been brought to her with a fractured wing.

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he bobcat was perched in the top of his corncrib cage, peering down at the beaver carcass that had just been placed there for dinner. As he made a deep, guttural growl, Barb said, “I love that sound. It’s like the wind blowing through the pines on a cool winter night.”

As a wildlife rehabilitator, Barbara Cole has cared for many beautiful, dangerous and fascinating creatures. One year, she treated and fed over 400 animals by herself. Currently, she’s tending to the needs of deer, great horned owls, vultures, snapping turtles, pigeons, red-tailed hawks, geese, a bobcat, possums and squirrels.

Before she became a rehabilitator, Barb spent 28 years teaching nursery school in Endicott. When the school closed, Barb had the opportunity to embrace her lifelong passion for helping animals. Her college training as a biology teacher proved to be extremely helpful, but as she pointed out, “Rehabilitators are not wildlife biologists or veterinarians. They’re hybrids who need skills in both areas to do their jobs well.”

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Barb cares for many baby squirrels; at least a dozen each year. They must be fed every four hours.

While she was still teaching, Barb had made friends with a wildlife rehabilitator who lived right across the street from her in the small, rural town of Owego. One day, she approached Barb excitedly and invited her over to see something that would change her life: a litter of baby squirrels she was caring for. “People do this and are successful?” thought Barb at the time, remembering her own failed attempts to save animals during her childhood.

“It was a revelation.”

Soon she was working with the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (NYSWRC), where she networked with other rehabbers and earned her license in 1984. Today, Barb is licensed in several animal rescue categories including migratory bird, oil spill training, and “to collect or possess,” which allows her to keep the animals that cannot be released, for education and training purposes.

The animal lovers who are trained to care for wildlife are quick to say that being a rehabber is no easy job, emotionally. “Rehabilitators care so much,” said Barb. “They can get involved too intensely. I’ve seen it lead, in some cases, to burnout, bankruptcy, and divorce.”

She added: “The hardest part of the job is determining if an animal is releasable or not. If not, I have to decide if it will do well in captivity, or if euthanasia is the best option. It is an especially difficult call for begin-

ning rehabbers.

“In 23 years of rehabilitating animals, I have met the very best of people and the very worst of people,” said Barb.

“There was a man who brought in a possum that he had shot in the head nine times with a nail gun. Another man, a big burly construction worker, came in with a tiny baby squirrel in his hand, and asked, ‘Can you name him Roy?’” Barb continues to train with the NYSWRC, and served as its president for six years. New York State’s council, the oldest of its kind in the country, sponsors an annual Wildlife Rehabilitation Seminar designed to support rehabilitators in the field.

The weekend-long educational event features wildlife rehabilitation experts from throughout the United States and abroad. Typical programs cover nutrition/husbandry, diseases, rehabilitation techniques and medical management and medications.

Animal rehabilitators are unpaid volunteers. They receive no funds from the government, and all costs for food, medical supplies, facility upkeep and training come out of their own pockets or from personal donations. The work can be extremely demanding, from delivering medical attention to feeding the animals several times a day. Despite the challenges, Barb feels that it is all worth it.

“I’ve met the most amazing animals,” said Barb. “I am very grateful to have gotten to know them.”

READER ACTION NUMBER 161

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O U T D O O R S

Barb leaves the bobcat to his dinner. While many of her animals are from the wild, others were exotic pets the owners could no longer care for.

READER ACTION NUMBER 139

COUNTRYSIDE SHOPPING & FUN EACH SAT. 8 - 4:30 Open thru Dec. 15th

Amish & Mennonite Goods, Quilts, Pottery, Jewelry, Wine Leather, Clothing, Baskets, Antiques, Photos, Art, Food, Collectibles, Footwear, Flags, Dips, Flowers, Produce, Tools, Garden Items, Furniture .....

LEVEL WALKWAYS • ATM –ENTERTAINMENT–

thewindmill.com • 315-536-3032 Thruway Exit 44 - Canandaigua East on 5&20, South on 14A Five Miles South of Penn Yan READER ACTION NUMBER 144

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According to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, thousands of wildlife orphans are placed in the care of licensed rehabilitators in New York State each year. The animals are raised by these dedicated volunteers, who provide them with appropriate and balanced diets, warm and clean homes, and veterinary care when needed. Their goal is to release each animal back into the wild.

The council offers the following advice if you discover an orphaned or distressed animal in your backyard.

• Baby mammals often stray from their parents to explore and investigate their new world.

• Many baby birds leave their nests before they are able to fly, but remain under the supervision of their parents. It’s part of their learning process.

• If you see a wild animal that you think has a problem, don’t interfere. Watch patiently from afar. Often an animal’s parents will appear.

• Keep your own pets inside as you observe the animal.

• Do not attempt to care for an animal yourself. It is illegal to keep a wild animal without a license. Instead, contact your local Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) or the nearest wildlife rehabilitator.

For a statewide directory, visit www.nyswrc.org.

Lindsay Adler is both a photojournalist and a studio photographer. She enjoyed the challenge of photographing the variety of animals under Barb’s care.

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READER ACTION NUMBER 184

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F R U I T

O F

T H E

V I N E

Wine Judge for a Weekend Travel with the author as he becomes a Golden Nose judge, samples champagne at a Keuka Lake winery, and tastes the new Macanese menu at a Chinese bistro.

2•0•0•7

PHOTO CONTEST Extended Deadline: September 28, 2007 Categories: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for: • Best Color • Best Black-and-White • Grand prize to best overall photograph.

• Photographs may also be selected for honorable mention.

Submit photos as prints, slides or digital images. Please do not send color negatives.

Entries are limited to five for Black-and-White and five for Color. When sending digital images, the minimal size of the image should be 2304 x 1536 pixels.

Include the photographer's name, address and identification of the image on each slide or photo print. Also include a list of each image and where it was taken. All photographs must be taken in the Finger Lakes region.

Photographs may not have been published elsewhere and must belong to the entrant, and photographer can not be a paid freelance photographer who has already had worked published in Life in the Finger Lakes magazine in the past 2 years.

Send entries with a sturdy self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Only entries with a self-addressed stamped envelope will be returned. Also include a stamped, selfaddressed postcard for acknowledging receipt of your material.

When sending digital images, please burn to CD and send through postal mail.

Send submissions postmarked no later than September 28, 2007 to: Life in the Finger Lakes Photo Contest P.O. Box 1080 Geneva, NY 14456 MORE INFORMATION & FORMER WINNERS LifeintheFingerLakes.com • 315-789-0458

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©20

Story and photo by Richard Frisbie

I

’ve sipped wine with fancy labels, in exotic It is important to be a locales, and out of very expensive stemware, good judge of wine and but I’ve never been called a “wine judge” until now. This year I attended the Golden Nose people, but not always Wine Judging Weekend in Corning because it is in that order.” the one place I know where the best of both – Anonymous wine and people come together in truly fabulous venues. There I became a wine judge.

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art and the Corning Museum of Glass provide the setting for the Golden Nose Wine Judging event. Their participation is based on the belief that any publicity for wine-related tourism gets people to the area.

The museums are a short walk, or free shuttle bus ride apart, on opposite banks of the Chemung River. They are also good neighbors to the large community of wine makers and growers who populate the Finger Lakes region. I’m betting that you will be pleasantly surprised by both museums when you visit them on your next wine tour.

This year’s Golden Nose Weekend started with a cocktail party at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, which is located on the edge of the shop- and restaurantfilled historic Gaffer District in the heart of Corning. A classical guitarist performed while corks popped and wine flowed. It was a good opportunity for the judges and vintners to meet in a relaxed setting surrounded by fantastic artwork. Folks came from as far away as Michigan, Iowa and Vermont, some for the second time, to take part in this great weekend. We got to know each other over remarkable wines and

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READER ACTION NUMBER 128

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Amish Country Store Weaver-View Farms

F R U I T

O F

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READER ACTION NUMBER 162

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At the Corning Museum of Glass the next morning, we attended an informal series of instructional lectures and demonstrations to educate us, the “amateur judges.” The reason we amateurs were invited was this: Who better than a wine consumer (and therefore a wine buyer) to assist in judging what are arguably the best wines in New York State?

Our first instructor was Lorraine Hems, an incredibly knowledgeable wine judge as well as a certified sommelier and a certified specialist of wine.

She taught us the six “S”s of wine judging: sight, swirl, smell, sip, spit (or swallow) and savor. She had an engaging, affable nature that made it all seem so easy. In fact, all our instructors were so nice that I didn’t feel lectured to at all.

Next came Chris Stamp, a food scientist and winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards. He walked us through our first “tasting,” although it wasn’t of wine. He filled our glasses with different compounds (remember, he’s a food scientist) to simulate the wide spectrum of smells and tastes we would encounter when we graduated to wine judging. He then explained how they might combine into complex aromas and flavors. It was fascinating! From him I learned that only 3 percent of the wine contains all of the taste. That is, the other 97 percent is simply water, sugar and alcohol.

Throughout the afternoon’s judging I was amazed at how flavorful and aromatic that 3 percent could be.

Along the path to wine judge status, my confidence was bolstered when our education was completed by Steve DiFrancesco and David Whiting.

Steve, whom I know as a great vintner from the Glenora Wine Cellars, dis-

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cussed the types of grapes and the wines made from them. David, an extraordinary wine maker and friend from Red Newt Cellars (see Life in the Finger Lakes Spring 2007), led us through a tasting of wine flaws and off flavors. By then we were all ready to get down to the business of judging.

Time for tasting

Our panel judged six flights of wine, with three to five wines in each flight.

All around us other panels had their own flights (none were duplicated) so that a total of over 150 wines were judged that afternoon. By the end of the day, I was exhausted. Drinking fantastic wines all day long is not as easy as it sounds. Fortunately there was plenty of great food to help keep my energy up.

For the early risers, there was a continental buffet at 8:30 a.m. Lunch was squeezed in between judging wine flights, with chicken breasts, ratatouille and fresh salad almost overlooked in the rush to get back to the panel. Then, for the awards banquet, chef Holland pulled out all the stops. He hand-carved an ice sculpture of a wine bottle and glass, and surrounded it with so many magnificent edibles I forgot how tired I was. There were steaming trays of pork tenderloin, duck breasts, sea bass and scalloped potatoes, with new lettuce salads and a cornucopia of chocolate desserts to tempt even the strongest-willed among us off their diets. While we were all sampling the delicious food, a contemporary trio played in the background. During their break we even had a surprise performance by Rob Lane, The Finger Lakes Weekend Wino, premiering his great new CD of Finger Lakes songs.

Throughout the meal, all of the wines from the day’s judging were available on a separate buffet table. While I wasn’t able to sample them all, I did get to taste all the Best of Class and Double Gold winners. I have to tell you, based on that taste, I know we did a damn good job!

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A champagne morning and a Chinese lunch

No good deed goes unpunished, however. The next morning was foggy, and it wasn’t because of the weather.

That’s probably why I got lost going to Keuka Lake to experience the extraordinary wines of Dr. Konstantin Frank.

Or, it might have been the detours and closed roads. Whatever the case, I had to follow my nose, or rather use my Golden Nose judge training to sniff out Dr. Frank’s, because my preconstruction maps just weren’t up to the task. That got me safely to his circa 1830 stone mansion in the middle of 170 acres of lush green vines.

Next door, in the elaborate tasting rooms, George Ditomasso made my day when he opened all five of Dr. Frank’s award-winning champagnes for me to taste. Suddenly I wasn’t on the heights overlooking Keuka Lake’s bluff, I was in heaven!

It seemed criminal to spit out those dreamy champagnes, but I had a long drive in front of me and no real idea which way to go with all the closed roads and detours. You see, I was headed to Victor to have lunch with the PF Chang’s China Bistro chefs, with whom I had traveled to Macau. This was my chance to taste some of the dishes they developed from the Yunnan region, and get my first look at the Macau menu premiering in October.

Owner/manager Al Pagliano and Chef Dave Keiter walked me through their PF Chang’s. I toured their tiny freezer, a walk-in cooler bigger than a NYC apartment, and photographed their whole kitchen process. That was before I videotaped Chef Dave cooking my meal (wok-charred beef, shrimp with candied walnuts, and oolong-marinated sea bass). Then I sat down to share, family-style, the entrees with them, while we talked about food and wine and the new Macanese dishes. I was glad to hear that my favorite, Macanese chicken,

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will share the new menu with garlic prawns, citrus-glazed pork and curry beef samosas. I can’t wait to try each of their versions of the great dishes we experienced in Macau.

The PF Chang’s at Eastview Mall in Victor is located in the northwest section of the Finger Lakes region, where there are at last count over 200 wineries.

That makes it the second-largest wineproducing region in the United States.

As a nationwide chain, PF Chang’s lists wines from all over the world, but in the Finger Lakes, they are committed to serving New York wines, with five always on the list. The Victor restaurant also features one or two additional New York labels each month, and even more during the summer.

The New York vineyards that were featured when I was there included Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Salmon Run label, Casa Larga’s Lilac Hill and Knapp Vineyards. Even with that selection, I would have been hard-pressed to pick one bottle of wine to go with the smoky, sweet and tea-flavored collection of dishes I ate there, so I just had water with a lemon wedge.

(Remember, I was driving, and it is so rude to spit out one’s wine at the dinner table.) However, the wines are available by the glass, so an adventurous soul could mix and match a great Finger Lakes wine flight from PF Chang’s comprehensive list.

Next year the Golden Nose Wine Judging Event will be held on May 31.

Follow the links on SenecaLakeWine.com to sign up for your own judging experience. You’ll taste great wines, meet wonderful people and eat fantastic food in one of the grandest locations in the Finger Lakes: the Corning Museum of Glass. Who knows? You might even meet me there!

Richard Frisbie is a Hudson Valley bookseller and publisher, who writes culinary travel articles.

READER ACTION NUMBER 174

A Taste of Wayne County

Apple Tasting 10th Annual Tour

Kick-Off Weekend October 6 & 7, 2007

Special Weekend Events in October!

Apples Baked Goods Mums Fresh Produce Pumpkins Gift Items Door Prizes Cider Crafts Apple tasting tour challenge with Bed & Breakfast giveaway For a brochure about this exciting self-guided tour, please call 800-527-6510

www.waynecountytourism.com READER ACTION NUMBER 147

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H I S T O R Y

George Weidman’s Big Tree Story and Photo by John Adamski

I

n 1975, The Conservationist published an article by John Nellis entitled “Giants in the Earth,” which listed the American Forestry Association’s Social Register of Big Trees. Among the giants on this list of national champions was a black locust tree owned by William Waise of Coeymans, New York.

It boasted a trunk circumference of 20 feet 3 inches, a height of 74 feet, and a crown spread of 44 feet.

When George and Mary Weidman’s neighbor, the late Carl Senger, read the article, he went to the Weidman farm on Geiger Road in the Town of Ossian, Livingston County, to ask whether they had seen it.

“Yeah, what about it?” George recalls asking.

“Your black locust tree is a lot bigger than that one!” Carl responded. The two

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men measured the tree and sure enough, it was. A lot bigger! George notified The Conservationist of their discovery, and the magazine dispatched New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forester Billy Morris to investigate.

“God, it is bigger,” was the forester’s reaction when he measured the tree. Its trunk taped 23 feet 4 inches in circumference, with a height of 96 feet and a crown spread of 92 feet, making it 18 percent larger than the previous record holder, using the formula that calibrates big trees.

Black locust trees seldom live long enough to attain those proportions. It’s not that they are necessarily short-lived, although they are susceptible to storm and wind damage. Rather, they are usually planted – often in groves – to provide farmers with a ready supply of fence posts. The wood’s resistance to decay enables a black locust post to last 30 years or more in the ground, three times longer than cedar. Trees are usually harvested and split into posts when they have reached a trunk diameter of 12 inches or so.

At the time, Morris estimated that the Weidman locust was well over 100 years old and felt that it lasted so long because of its location in a protected hollow. It could be that the tree was planted around 1861 when Elias Geiger built the house that the Weidmans bought in 1952. However, George feels that the tree is closer to 200, predating the Geiger Homestead.

The giant tree occupies a prominent place in the Weidmans’ front yard, alongside another, somewhat smaller – but nonetheless impressive – black locust. About 6 feet above ground, the behemoth splits into twin trunks, one of which leans precariously to the southeast. The tree has survived an unknown number of catastrophes, including a 1935 barn fire, which left it badly

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scorched, and the devastating ice storm of 1991. A third large black locust, destroyed in that ice storm, was removed.

George’s concern for the health of the aging tree has prompted his exhaustive attempts to locate some public or private agency funding that could be used to stabilize and brace its weakening condition. It is unlikely that the tree will grow any larger, but sooner or later heavy snow or wind could take a toll. Despite its position on the National Register of Big Trees, no source of funding has yet been found. The tree survives at George Weidman’s expense.

Mary Weidman passed away in 1996, yet the giant locust continues to bloom each spring, filling the air with a sweet fragrance that seems to attract every honeybee within miles.

Thousands of blossoms are alive with thousands of bees, each collecting a special brand of pollen for a very unique blend of honey. Some of the bees have even taken up residence in the Weidman barns.

George Weidman’s big tree has achieved its fair share of notoriety.

Beginning with a pictorial in the Rochester Times-Union in 1975, the giant black locust has been featured in the Genesee Country Express, the Democrat and Chronicle, American Forests, even The New York Times.

The publicity resulted in fan mail, a note from a New York state senator, and even requests for seeds from a number of nurserymen. George has obliged and is pleased to collect seed pods whenever he’s asked. After all, he owns the biggest black locust tree in America. He says, “the world.” And since black locust only grows in the United States, technically – he’s right!

John Adamski is a freelance writer who specializes in wildlife and outdoor subjects.

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Lake Ontario • Finger Lakes Region

in Wayne County

New York’s Ghost Walks Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, Oct 6, 13, 20 & 27 The Museum of Wayne County History ushers in fall with spiritually charged ghost walks through Lyons. They begin at the Courthouse, 26 Church St. in Lyons. 3pm. $10 Adult / $5 Child.

(315) 946-4943 • www.waynehistory.org

Bicentennial Tour of Homes, Landmarks and Businesses Sept. 8 Tour ten homes, many landmarks and businesses to celebrate the 200th Birthday of Ontario. Town of Ontario. 11am to 5pm.

(315) 524-9056

Great Lake

getaway

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

Lumberjack Festival

A Taste of Wayne County

14th Annual Wayne County

Sept. 8 & 9

10th Annual Apple Tasting Tour

Bed & Breakfast Open House Tour

October 6 & 7, 2007 Experience Wayne County’s Apple Country this fall.

15 Local businesses participate in a wonderful Apple Tasting Tour.

Sunday, Nov 11, 2007 Drive yourself tour Visit beautiful Wayne County Bed & Breakfasts decorated for the Holiday season. Refreshments served.

For a brochure about this exciting tour, call 800-527-6510

12pm-5pm. For more information call 800-527-6510

Competition starts 9am on Sat. & 11am on Sun. Pancake Breakfasts.

20th year. Food & Exhibits @ Macedon Center Fireman’s Field.

Pultneyville Community Garage Sale Sept. 15 Annual sale, flea market, farm market, pie sale, food. 9am to 5pm. (315) 589-9892 www.pultneyvillehistoricalsociety.org

In 2007, Fields of Fun for Everyone!

Jumping Pillow

Palmyra Canaltown Days New York’s Original Maize Maze

Sept. 15 & 16

Special Moonlight Mazes: Sept 28, 29, Oct 5, 6, 12, 19, 26, 27

Arts & Crafts, Flea Market, Classic Car Show, Parade, 5K Race, Live Music.

Potato Fest 2007

Pumpkin Harvest Festival

315-986-4202

Every Weekend in October; Hayrides, BBQ, Pumpkins and More

Eddy Rd. Macedon longacrefarms.com

Sept. 21, 22 & 23 Arts & Crafts, Amusement Rides, Classic Car Show, Children’s Activities, Fireworks & Potato Cooking Contest @ Savannah Festival Grounds.

For a complete listing of events 800-527-6510

www.waynecountytourism.com

Explore the Past, Reconnect with Nature, and Restore Your Soul.

800-527-6510 www.waynecountytourism.com READER ACTION NUMBER 150

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The Plight

of the

White Deer

An agreement between industrial developers and environmentalists is good news for a rare herd of deer.

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Photo by Bill Banaszewski

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by John Adamski

I

n April 1941, to prepare for our country’s engagement in World War II, the federal government used eminent domain to seize 10,600 acres of mostly productive farmland from 105 landowners atop the hill that separates Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. The War Department approved the munitions project in June, and by July construction of the Seneca Ordinance Depot was well underway. By the end of that year, 8,000 workers had built nearly 500 concrete storage bunkers, called igloos, six aboveground magazines and 70 miles of roads.

Although some phases of work took two more years, the depot was ready to begin its primary mission of “receipt, storage, maintenance, and supply” of military ammunition by the end of 1941.

To secure the area – nearly 4 miles wide and 8 miles long – the Army erected 24 miles of 12-foot-high chain link fence. It not only served to keep intruders out but also to keep unintended captives in. Among those captives was a small group of whitetail deer, one or more of which carried a rare recessive gene for all-white coats. By 1950, that gene became dominant and began to propagate a herd of snow-white deer that numbers around 300 animals today, the largest herd of white deer in the world. The Army, realizing that something unique was taking place, issued orders protecting the white deer. They have since become the unofficial symbol of what was later called the Seneca Army Depot.

The captive deer population began to expand dramatically after the base was fenced, but hunting was not permitted until the fall of 1956. During the previous winter, more than 1,000 weak and sickened deer succumbed to the combined effects of an overbrowsed range and severe winter weather conditions. In an effort to maintain a healthy and stable population level, the Army developed a deer management plan in collaboration with Cornell University and the New York State Conservation Department, forerunner of today’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Recommendations included an annual deer hunt by servicemen to keep the population below 900 animals, which was determined to be the maximum carrying capacity of the range.

Initially, only brown deer were hunted, but more recently some white deer were being harvested as well. A population census is taken by helicopter twice each year, counting brown deer during winter and white deer after the snow melts.

According to John Cleary, base transition coordinator and chief of security, “The Seneca Depot herd is the most-studied group of deer in the world.” Because they are captive yet still wild, the animals have provided unique opportunities for scientific experiments ranging from genetic studies and population dynamics to contraceptive testing. In the latter study, fertility control was determined to be too costly and impractical to be an effective method of managing the population; regulated hunting has proven to be the best option.

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A lesson in munitions storage

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

Photo by Lee Brun

Each bunker or “igloo” is built of reinforced concrete 4 feet thick. They were designed to store “all classes of ammunition and explosives except chemical ammunition other than smoke,” according to GlobalSecurity.org. Munitions were issued and reconditioned there for the First and Second Service Commands and for the Boston Port of Embarkation during World War II. Uranium was also stored there before it was shipped to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the Manhattan Project.

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The depot supported military operations during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. But following a recommendation by the Department of Defense in 1995, the installation was decommissioned in 1999 and finally closed in 2001. At that time, plans for reuse projected that “most of the property will be transferred to the state for a wildlife refuge; some parts of the base will be transferred to various prison and correctional authorities.”

Aside from endless rows of Quonset-shaped storage igloos and their surrounding buffer area, which together occupy three-quarters of the installation, the Army’s major development impact had been concentrated in the southeast quadrant of the base along NYS Route 96. Each of the 519 aboveground igloos, built of reinforced concrete 4 feet thick, is buried under an additional 3 feet of soil to help contain any accidental explosion from within. These bunkers – 26 feet wide, 60 feet long, and 13 feet high at the center – were originally used to store munitions, small arms and anti-tank mines; and more recently, rockets and missiles. By design, vegetation, brush, and trees freely grow wild on top of the earthen mounds, enabling them to blend into the landscape in an eerie sort of way. The buffer area is even more heavily wooded. Deer, turkeys, coyotes, foxes, beavers, and other wildlife, even bald eagles, have free range in this 7,500-acre enclosure, known as the Conservation Area.

Deer, both brown and white, can be seen bedding on top of an igloo from time to time.

Creating jobs Since 2001, a 750-cell maximumsecurity prison has been built and is operational, but the wildlife refuge part

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of that plan has yet to happen. Cleary said both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York DEC looked at the property but stepped aside for different reasons. Except for the “Q” Area, a 700-acre section contaminated by over 40 years of munitions demilitarization, the Army has given title of the depot property to the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA). The “Q” Area is currently being decontaminated by the Army Corps of Engineers, and will be handed over when those operations are completed.

The mission of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) is to attract and encourage economic development that results in the creation of employment opportunities and enhances the quality of life and general prosperity for Seneca County residents. With a variety of financing and funding options at hand, the agency can assist in developing both public and private sector projects that fulfill the needs of the local business community. Right now, an economic shot-in-the-arm is precisely what Seneca County needs. According to Glenn Cooke, SCIDA’s executive director, “When the base closed, onethird of the county’s workforce opportunity was lost, creating a major economic challenge.” The depot, once the county’s largest employer, provided 1,200 civilian jobs. Cooke plans to reverse those job losses by encouraging industrial developers to make maximum use of the immense site, according to SCIDA’s master plan.

Complicating SCIDA’s master plan is the military infrastructure left behind by the Army. The agency intends to demolish the Army’s complex of warehouses, which are in disrepair, to make room for new industrial projects. But removal of 519 igloos at an estimated cost of $50,000 each is not in the cards, which is why the state walked away.

Any developer considering the site

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READER ACTION NUMBER 102

B READER ACTION NUMBER 149

Cedar Log Playgrounds 7625 E. Main Rd., Lima NY 14485

877-807-PLAY (7529) 585-624-5694 e-mail: info@bearsplaygrounds.com

Locally Manufactured in Lima, NY READER ACTION NUMBER 185

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Photo by Bill Banaszewski

would have to somehow deal with the igloos, disregard them, or put them to use. Another issue is the deterioration of the 66-year-old perimeter security fence and internal road system.

Photo by Lee Brun

A variety of habitats can be found at the former Seneca Army Depot: wooded areas of mature softwoods, hardwoods and evergreens; open fields, and expanses of secondary growth featuring rich plant life. A 60-acre pond supports four resident pairs of osprey that subsist solely on fish. As a whole, it provides a unique environment for the white deer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are captive, yet still wild. As such, they provide scientists with a unique opportunity for study.

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Saving the white deer Dennis Money, chairman of the board of directors and one of the six founders of the non-profit group Seneca White Deer Inc. (SWD), envisions a different plan, one that would more closely match the original projection to turn most of the base into a conservation area. Best known for his success stories with the Rochester Peregrine Falcon Project and the New York State River Otter Project, Money has undertaken a challenge that is monumentally larger and logistically more complex than both of those combined. Together with another SWD group member, conservationist, wildlife photographer, and former DEC staffer Lee Brun, Money is spearheading a movement to turn the base into the Cold War Museum and Conservation Park. The park would

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Visit Beautiful Belhurst showcase both the military installation and white deer herd as an eco-tourist attraction. Their theory is that tourist dollars generated by their plan would equal or even exceed the industrial revenue sought by Cooke’s plan. The park would provide local jobs, too. Bus tours of the depot that the two men guided as a tourism experiment over two weekends last October were sold out.

Money and Brun are passionate enough about their proposal to have personally invested thousands of dollars to make it happen. So has the rest of the group.

Empire Green Biofuels, a Newarkbased firm whose parent company is in Goshen, California, reached an agreement with SCIDA to purchase 362 acres to build an ethanol plant. That agreement includes an option to buy another 4,500 acres, more than half of the Conservation Area, after the company fulfills an initial investment condition of $75 million. Corn, willows, switch grass, and other organic materials needed to fuel the facility would be grown on land between the igloos.

Empire Board Chairman Edward Primrose plans to begin construction of the plant later this year.

Responding to the concerns of SWD, Cooke says that SCIDA is equally concerned with the welfare of the white deer. He says that final agreements will include a wildlife management plan, which Empire Green Biofuels would be bound to maintain, along with 75 percent of the perimeter fence. Cornell and Syracuse Universities are each contributing to the preparation of that plan. Cooke sees this as “a terrific opportunity, providing a significant investment for Seneca County while preserving the white deer herd.” The company’s investors said that they would be willing to consider allowing wildlife tours.

In fact in April, Empire entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with SWD to conduct public wildlife

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The Ghost Deer

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Photo by Lee Brun

Photo by John Adamski

Native American lore has always held that an all-white animal like a bear, a bison, or a deer, has been given spiritual significance by its Creator and should be revered and protected. A Chickasaw legend says that a white deer is indeed sacred, and a white deerskin – rare and priceless – would be the bridegroom’s ultimate gift for making his bride’s wedding dress, if he could only obtain one. The Lenape, or Delaware Among whitetail deer, piebald, or brown and white spotted deer, are more Indians, consider any white deer to be a sacred common than melanistic deer (nearly black) and albino deer (which lack spirit, or Ghost Deer. any color pigmentation whatsoever). Seneca white deer are not albino.

Whitetail deer are normally brown and white, with some differences in the brown colmander issued orders for their protection and the propagaoration based on seasonal changes between their summer and tion of white deer at Seneca Depot was underway. The herd winter coats. But on rare occasions there are more distinct grew from seven white animals in 1960 to 135 by 1968. The color variations that can range from all black to all white and present population numbers around 300, with limited hunteven include an irregular spotted pattern of brown and white. ing allowed. If not for the protection afforded by the Army The black color phase is called melanism; the spotted descripand its security fence, these deer would probably not exist tion is known as piebald. All-white coats are the result of today. Some scientists consider the mutations to be inferior either of two conditions: albinism or genetics. and feel that they should not be protected.

Melanism is the result of an over-production of melanin, The adult white deer at Seneca Depot are truly snowthe chemical that determines the degree of an animal’s color white. Fawns are usually blond or cream-colored, or somepigmentation. Melanistic deer are very dark, or nearly black, times even pale gray, but they display the same pattern of and do not have the whitetail’s typical white face, throat, and white spots that are typical in fawns born of normal brown tail markings. Albinism is just the opposite; an albino deer prodeer. They become pure white after shedding their first winduces little or no melanin and therefore lacks any color pigmenter coats during their second spring. Antler development tation whatsoever. In addition to its pure white coat, the albiamong white bucks is also noteworthy. A young buck’s first no’s eyes, nose and skin are pink and its hooves are gray. Its eyes growth often produces spikes of differing lengths, which are sensitive to daylight and its vision is poor. Not all white deer sometimes form unusual curves or angles. In following years, are albinos, however. Piebald is a more common occurrence growth is more normal. However, white bucks do not seem among whitetail deer than either melanism or albinism. These to be capable of producing the magnificent racks sometimes partially white deer differ from albinos because at least some of carried by trophy brown bucks. their cells produce melanin, which is responsible for their pintolike brown and white spotted coats.

The Seneca white deer are not albinos. Their coats are the result of a genetic mutation and possess the same white color pigmentation as polar bears, mountain goats and Alaskan Dall Sheep. Their white coats are inherited as a dominant trait and can occur in either sex. Unlike albino deer, the Seneca white deer have brown eyes and hooves. Some have brown fawns. It’s common to see a brown doe with white fawns as well; or any doe with one brown and one white fawn. Unlike albinos, which are ostracized and rejected by the regular members of whitetail deer society, the white and brown deer at Seneca Depot freely co-mingle and interbreed.

According to records, a single white deer was spotted on the base in 1951. Two more appeared in 1956. The base comThe white deer and brown deer freely co-mingle and interbreed at the Seneca Army Depot.

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Wide

John Adamski is a freelance writer who has been following the story of the white deer for many years. He has been published numerous times in Life in the Finger Lakes magazine.

Open

SPA C E Contact the Independent Representative nearest you: Fred Forbes Photogroupe

tours on the premises. The tours, which will run mostly on weekdays and holidays, will begin after the construction of the ethanol facility is nearly completed, sometime in 2008 or 2009. The tours will be coordinated between Empire and SWD. “It is important to develop this project as one of the ‘greenest’ ethanol plants in the country, while also maintaining the ecosystem and wildlife habitat within the depot,” said Ejnar Knudsen, executive vice president of Cilion, Empire’s parent corporation. In the press release announcing the Memorandum, Knudsen said that Empire has been in negotiations with SCIDA to develop a viable plan to maintain the wildlife habitat and to conduct research on various types of grasses and trees that serve as feedstock for the ethanol plant.

Dennis Money noted that the plans do, indeed, include SWD. The organization will be a coalition partner when Empire builds its proposed visitors center, and will assist in providing educational and wildlife programs. “We are pleased to be selected to partner with Empire Biofuels on eco-touring within the depot,” he said “We believe that opening up this unique habitat to the public will create a renewed interest in wildlife and green area conservation, with the added bonus of viewing one of America’s treasures, the Seneca white deer herd.

The coalition agreement between Empire and SWD is conditioned upon Empire’s successful receipt of all necessary permits to undertake construction in 2008 or 2009 of the ethanol plant, biomass steam production and biomass plantings.

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READER ACTION NUMBER 137

READER ACTION NUMBER 118

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the revival of

T HE THE

STATE S TATE

Story by Stacy Majewicz, Photos by Jon Reis owntown Ithaca was once home to 17 theatres, including the Lyceum, the Crescent and the Strand.

These theatres offered Ithacans everything from live comedians, dancers and singers to the latest cinema creations. Now there is only one left: the State Theatre on West State Street. It may have lost some of its grandeur over the years, but it has not lost its charm. A restoration plan is in the works, but the theatre’s Executive Director Dan Smalls feels the first step in bringing life back to the State doesn’t involve tools and paint; it involves a solid slate of talented performers and captivating shows to build an identity for the theatre as a reputable, viable performing arts center.

“The State represents what theatre has meant to this town, as well as what it will mean in the future,” he said.

D

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STATE S T AT E

1928: A car dealership gets a facelift

Although the street and cars look different, the outside of the State Theatre hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed drastically over the past 60 years. The theatre remains an historic landmark. Top photo courtesy Jon Reis

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The original building was designed by local architect Henry N. Hinckley in 1915. It housed the Ithaca Security Company auto garage and dealership until the business moved out in 1927. The Berinstein family, who owned several theatres in upstate New York, purchased the former auto showroom in 1928, envisioning a place where people could have a magical entertainment experience.

They hired architect Victor Rigaumont, a theatre specialist from Pittsburgh, for the job.

The influence of nearby Cornell University led Rigaumont to renovate the building in the Collegiate Gothic style, a popular design on American college campuses from 1900 through the 1930s. It emulates the buildings of Cambridge and Oxford in England.

He also incorporated elements of the Moorish and Renaissance Revival styles of architecture. Inside, a cloud machine and painted constellations with twinkling lights scattered across the deep blue ceiling added to the enchantment.

The theatre opened on December 6, 1928, and has evolved with the times, presenting vaudeville acts in the beginning, then films in the early 1930s. When television and suburban movie houses gained popularity after World War II, downtown cinema halls struggled with declining audiences.

The owners of the State Theatre adapted by separating the balcony from the main house and adding a second movie screen in 1976.

Financial difficulties and the need for significant repairs forced the theatre to close in the 1980s. In 1997, it was condemned by the city of Ithaca due to roof damage, failing heating and ventilation systems, falling plaster and out-of-date electrical systems. The owners considered demolishing the theatre.

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With support from the community, Historic Ithaca, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve historic structures, purchased the theatre in 1998. The group began Phase 1 of the State Theatre Restoration Project, which included replacing or repairing the main roof, the plaster walls, the outdated electrical systems, the fire detection system, and the heating and ventilation systems. The project was completed with funding from municipal, foundation and private donors. The theatre regained its occupancy permit and reopened on December 5, 2001.

The vertical blade sign was redone this past May and work on the marquee began in early July. Smalls feels these renovations are important because they are visual symbols of the theatre’s rebirth. “Although the restorations done in Phase 1 were necessary to regain our occupancy permit, they were primarily non-visual,” he said. “We wanted to give people something that they could actually touch and see.”

READER ACTION NUMBER 183

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STATE S T AT E

The man for the job

Smalls took on the position of executive director of the State Theatre in April. His experience in the live entertainment industry began right in Ithaca as manager of the Haunt, a nightclub that features live music. Along with local impresario John Peterson, he formed Two Just Men and Topspot Promotions, which presented many shows at the State and other regional theatres in the early 1990s. Eventually he moved to Boston, where he worked as a booking agent for local and national acts and later for Great Northeast Productions. Smalls returned to his hometown of Monticello, New York, to take over his family’s mechanical contracting business. His break from the live entertainment business didn’t last long.

On a visit to Ithaca, Smalls met his future wife, and made the decision to sell the family business and return to the town in which he had started his career in the music industry. When the opportunity at the State Theatre came along, he couldn’t pass it up.

“I think my knowledge of Ithaca combined with my experience in theatre, music and promotion gives me a unique understanding of what it’s going to take to reach this market,” Smalls said.

More than a rental house

Executive Director Dan Smalls feels that the State Theatre is essential to the vitality of downtown Ithaca.

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Now that the theatre is in working condition, Smalls believes the best course of action is to garner recognition for the theatre as a respectable performing arts center.

Once the theatre has obtained that identity, he can begin the capital campaign for a complete overhaul.

“We need to show Ithaca and the Finger Lakes what the State Theatre is going to become before we can ask people to invest in us. That’s why our focus today is on presenting quality shows,” Smalls explained. “Once people believe in us as a performing arts center, securing the funding we need will be much easier.”

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When the State reopened in 2001, it served as a space that outside promoters and local community groups could rent for acts they represented.

Last year was the first season the theatre operated as a “presenting performing arts center.” “We offered a slate of talent in four different series: Family, Classic, Comedy and Broadway. We presented the shows, so we had to take care of all the details: the talent, lights, sound, tickets, catering, the whole nine yards,” Smalls explained. “We took the risk on the shows ourselves, as opposed to just renting the space to outside promoters.”

Although the season was not financially successful, it was a chance to test the waters and see what kinds of shows would work best in the Ithaca market. “Every theatre has what’s called an income gap. It’s the difference between earned income, which is the money from ticket sales and sponsorships, and unearned income, which is the money from donations and grants,” explained Smalls. “The slate of shows that the theatre presented last year was more advanced, one that a theatre in its fifth or sixth year would be able to handle. Usually by the fifth year, the donations and grants have risen to a point that they can offset the cost of producing more and bigger shows. We weren’t at that point yet, so we ended up in a tough financial situation at the end of the season.”

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READER ACTION NUMBER 108

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READER ACTION NUMBER 156

More of what worked, less of what didn’t

Smalls has been able to put together what he feels is a well-rounded, albeit slightly less ambitious season for 20072008 by focusing on the shows that were successful last year. “When I took over in April, the last director had started programming the 2007-2008 season. He left me with a stack of unsigned contracts,” Smalls said. “The beauty of coming into that situation was that I could

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STATE S T AT E

The State Theatre 2007-2008 Season September 11 ........................................................................................................Nanci Griffith October 4..................................................................................Michael Franti and Spearhead 5 ......................................................................................................Yungchen Lhamo 6......................................Enchantment Theatre Company – The Velveteen Rabbit 6 ..............................................................................................................Brian Regan 10 ..................................................................................His Holiness the Dalai Lama 27 ............................................................................Jay Johnson: The Two and Only November 3 ..............................................................Second City in “One Nation Under Blog” 10 ..........................................Vieux Farka Toure/Tinariwen “Festival of the Desert” 11 ..................................................................................The Glenn Miller Orchestra 13 ..........................................................................................................Arlo Guthrie 18 ........................................................................The Avett Brothers and Will Hoge 30..................................................................................................Vienna Boys Choir January 20 ......................................................................Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey 25 ....................................................................................Ladysmith Black Mambazo February 9 ..................................Cleveland Signstage Theatre – James and the Giant Peach 21 ................................................................................................................Taj Mahal 23 ..............................................................................................Nobodies of Comedy March 2..............................................................................................Dan Zanes and Friends 5 ..................................................................................................................Los Lobos 8..............................................................................Mad Science: Newton’s Revenge 9 ................................................................................................................Love, Janis April 3 ..............................................................Angelique Kidjo with special guest Samite 6 ........................................................................................Sonos Handbell Ensemble 20 ......................Shakespeare at the State: The Acting Company in: The Tempest May 3..........................................................................Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood

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look back at the numbers from 2006, look at the offers he had on the table and weed out the ones that I knew weren’t going to work.”

For instance, last season’s Broadway series contained three productions, but none of them broke even. One of the problems was the size of the State’s stage – it’s too small for many of the bigger, flashier Broadway productions such as “The Producers” and “Chicago.” This year the series only contains one show, and from there, it will grow slowly as Smalls discovers productions that fit well on the theatre’s stage.

Although the season will still contain big names, strong talent and award-winning shows, Smalls has chosen to scale things down overall.

“We’re going to do more of what worked, less of what didn’t, and make sure that everything we do is tailored to the Ithaca and Finger Lakes markets,” he said.

This year, joining Comedy, Classics, Family and Broadway will be World Beat Music and the Grassroots Music series. World Beat Music will feature acts from around the world, including several from Africa. The Grassroots Music series was created thanks to a partnership with the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg. It will feature acts that have either headlined or played a significant role in the festival over the years.

In addition to the 23 shows that have been set for the season, Smalls plans to add others as they come through the area. “I can save a lot of money by buying a tour as it’s routed through here rather than trying to set up a whole season in advance around that date,” Smalls explained. “By adding shows as the season goes on, we’ll be able to make better buying decisions and keep ticket prices low.”

The State will continue to be available to outside groups and individuals that want to rent it for their performances. Working with commu-

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For tickets, call the State Theatre Box Office at 800-919-6272.

nity organizations like the Ithaca Ballet, Light in Winter, and Ithaca College and Cornell University groups also helps to keep ticket prices lower.

Guaranteeing the future of the State isn’t an easy job, and it certainly won’t be done in one season, but Smalls is confident that it can and should be done. From a financial standpoint, the State contributes a great deal to downtown Ithaca. On nights of theatre events, local restaurants and bars are booming and the parking garages are full. Surveys have determined that each theatre ticket sold contributes an influx to the local community of $27 from residents and over $40 from visitors to the area.

Music, theatre and the arts have always been significant aspects of downtown Ithaca, and Smalls feels the theatre is key in maintaining that. “I took this job because I truly believe in the theatre and its importance to the community. We live in a society where downtowns are disappearing as the big box stores on the outskirts of town are growing. I think the theatre is an integral piece in keeping downtown Ithaca alive and vibrant.”

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P R O F I L E

Loons in Our Lakes Story and photos by Bill Banaszewski

I Because they’re so awkward on land, loons nest as close to the water as possible. Instead of walking, they can literally throw themselves out of their nests into the water.

The loon’s dagger-like beak is apparently perfect for long underwater fishing trips. In addition, it has sharp, rearward projections on the roof of its mouth and tongue that help it keep a firm hold on slippery fish.

Loons are very territorial, preferring only one family to a small body of water.

52 ~

f the call of the loon “were of human origin,” author John McPhee once wrote, “it would be the laugh of the deeply insane.”

Although I understand why McPhee and others have described loon sounds as crazy laughter, sad wails, or a mournful yodel, to me there is no sound more hauntingly beautiful and symbolic of wilderness than the “oo-AH-ho” followed by the loud ringing “kee-a-ree, kee-a-ree” of the common loon.

More prevalent in the Adirondacks than in the Finger Lakes, loons are increasingly seen in our region during their seasonal migrations. If the lakes do not freeze, some stay all winter, feeding on perch and, as I once witnessed, undersized trout that fishermen release.

Most loons nest in wilderness areas to the north of us, but in 1824 Audubon noted that loons were breeding on Cayuga Lake. Loons have nested on the quiet waters of Canadice and Hemlock Lakes, despite the presence of one of their predators, the bald eagle.

Much to my surprise, they have bred at least twice on Keuka Lake during the past four years.

The common loon is as stunning in its appearance as it is physically unusual among flying birds. It has iridescent red eyes and what resembles a white necklace around the back of its neck, a white breast, and white spots on a dark black back and sides.

Its glossy black head dulls to dark grey in winter.

Loons are the only flying birds with heavy, solid bones serving as ballast when they dive under water.

Before diving, they swim with their heads under water searching for fish.

Once a school is spotted, air is

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

expelled from internal sacs, enabling them to dive to depths of 200 feet. I have watched them stay underwater for nearly two minutes.

However, what makes loons agile underwater – webbed feet and legs that are located toward the back of their bodies – makes them look quite comical walking on land. Because they are so heavy, their wings alone cannot lift them. To gain flight, they run along the surface of the water.

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Expert divers, loons can focus their red eyes both in air and underwater.

Unfortunately, this magnificent symbol of the wilderness is declining.

Acid rain has diminished its food supply, and botulism has taken its toll of loons on Lake Ontario. Because loons nest so close to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, waves from motorboats wash their eggs away. Lakeside development limits nesting sites, and ingestion of lead fishing jigs and sinkers have caused deadly poisoning.

Despite declines, loons can still

be spotted on calm autumn and spring mornings on most of the Finger Lakes. During their migrations to and from the Chesapeake Bay, an average of 8,000 to 10,000 loons have been counted flying over or resting on Cayuga Lake. Recently, while I kayaked on Keuka Lake on a foggy spring morning, the haunting wail of loons sounded like a beacon in the fog. For several minutes they magically appeared and disappeared

in the fog. Even though this was just off my dock, it was a pleasant reminder of many such morning encounters in the Adirondack wilderness.

Photographer Bill Banaszewski is owner of Finger Lakes Images and professor emeritus of environmental conservation at Finger Lakes Community College. A sample of his photographs can be viewed at TheFingerLakesImages.com.

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what’s the crush?

Story and photos by Kristian S. Reynolds

“Most wineries now use huge mechanical harvesters that straddle the vines and gently shake the grapes off onto a conveyor belt leading to a gondola that follows along in the next row. A machine can harvest in one hour what a crew of four hand pickers might do in a day.”

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

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h, the life of a winery owner. What could be better than spending your days sipping wine and chatting with guests, while overlooking a sparkling Finger Lake? Next you’re jetting off to some international wine competition, rubbing elbows with the industry elite while graciously acknowledging your recent awards. In reality, it’s a tough, tough job.

Especially when it’s time to “crush.”

When September rolls around, winery owners get down and dirty. Like major league baseball coaches contemplating a call to the bullpen, they pace the vine rows taking samples to determine when to start picking. They check the rising sugar content with a refractometer, but the most sophisticated measurement is still taken with the tongue. They track evolving fruit flavors until experience tells them it’s time to pick. Then out goes the call: “Time to crush!”

Although many Finger Lakes vineyards still pick by hand, most now use huge, mechanical harvesters designed by Cornell University research engineers in the 1970s. These giant machines straddle the vines and knock the grapes off onto a conveyor belt and then over to a gondola that follows along in the next row. A machine can harvest in one hour what a crew of four hand pickers might do in day. The choice between options depends upon quantity and variety of specific grapes, as well as personal preference.

As soon as the redolent bins and baskets of grapes arrive at the winery, the winemaker’s adrenaline starts pumping, and it’s a good thing. It will carry him or her through weeks of exhausting work when long days can extend into half the night.

Today’s vigilant owners inspect nearly every bin as it is delivered, knowing their reputation and their future depend on the quality of those clusters.

Gone are the days of stomping grapes by foot.

Instead, grapes are separated from their stems in whirling, perforated drums called destemmer/crushers.

The result is a mush of juice and skins that are directed to one of two routes: for white wines, the juice goes directly to press; for red wines, the juice and skins ferment together in vats before going to the wine press (the wine’s red color comes from the skins).

The next time you’re sipping that great bottle of Finger Lakes wine on the deck overlooking the lake, remember and appreciate your winemaker’s experience and effort that put the best of the Finger Lakes into your glass!

Special thanks to Richard Figiel.

Workers at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars bring in baskets full of ripe grapes on a beautiful October day. Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

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Kristian S. Reynolds is a professional photographer and writer, specializing in travel and tourism photos of the Finger Lakes region. His two coffee table books, Finger Lakes Panoramas and Wine Tour of the Finger Lakes (written

by Grady Wells), continue to be local favorites. (www.kristianreynolds.com)

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Kate Thomas, owner of Shalestone Vineyards, prefers handpicking for the varieties she grows.â&#x20AC;?

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

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Workers at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars dump baskets full of ripe grapes into the destemmer/crusher.

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

Rob Thomas, winemaker/owner of Shalestone Vineyards, checks a sample cluster in his vineyards overlooking Seneca Lake.

Grapes are separated from their stems in whirling, perforated drums called destemmer/crushers.

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

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At Lucas Vineyards, Nicole Waters constantly monitors the grapes going from the mechanical harvester into the redolent bins.

Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds

Jeff Houck, winemaker at Lucas Vineyards, checks the fermenting juice. Photo by Kristian S. Reynolds FALL 2007 ~

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The Castleton Plum is one of many with European origins developed by pomologists in Geneva.

Photo courtesy New York State Agricultural Experiment Station

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HEALTHY, DELICIOUS OH, SO SWEET

&

Geneva leads the nation in developing new varieties of European plums

by Paul Grebinger and Jay Freer

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Y

ou’re probably familiar with the story of apples. You may know that Johnny Appleseed passed through western New York on his way to Ohio. You may even be aware that popular varieties of apples, from Cortland to Jonagold and Empire, were developed at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

Thanks to the station’s pomologists, scientists dedicated to fruit culture, New York is second only to Washington State in apple production. In fact, the word “pomology” is derived from pomme, the French word for apple.

In our opinion, the plum is an even more noble fruit, and its local story has yet to be told. For more than a century, Geneva has been home to pomologists devoted to improving and propagating knowledge of new varieties of this diverse, elegant and flavorful tree fruit. Your familiarity with plums may be limited to those offered at the local supermarket. These are Asian varieties, such as Santa Rosa from California, or prunes, the dried variety of European plum also grown and processed in California. Imagine now fresh fruit with European ancestry and varietal names reflecting their country of origin, such as Reine Claude from France, Gras Ameliorat with roots in Romania, and Cacak’s Best developed in the former Yugoslavia.

What’s so great about plums?

A European plum at the height of its bloom in early May. Photo by Mark Stash

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Plums are more varied than other stone fruits. As pointed out in Ulysses P. Hedrick’s landmark publication, Plums of New York (1911), they “give a greater range of flavor, aroma, texture, color, form and size, the qualities which gratify the senses and make fruits desirable, than any other of our orchard fruits.” In the English language the word “plum” is synonymous with something excellent or desirable.

We hear of visions of sugar plums,

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plum jobs, political plums, and plum pudding dating back to Tudor times and made popular as a Christmas treat

by Prince Albert in the 19th Century.

We believe that these uses of the word “plum” relate back to the high quality of many European plums used both for eating fresh and for cooking.

Recent research at the Experiment Station has demonstrated the health benefits of plums. They are an excellent source of antioxidants, mainly phenolics, which are especially useful in natural body defenses against cancer. The levels of these antioxidants are higher than in an apple, banana, orange and tomato. Phenolics also influence the color, flavor and taste of fresh fruit, which may explain the special pleasure in eating European plums. Flavor is intense, and different varieties have distinct tastes, more pronounced than in the more familiar varieties of apples.

Beyond the health benefits, there is what pomologists at the Experiment Station refer to as the brix value, or the level of sugar, which can approach 20 percent. For this reason, European plums are now officially designated as “sugar plums” in the California Tree Fruit Agreement. You may soon see plums from California marketed under this name here in New York state.

However, we suggest that you begin looking for European plums developed and grown right here in our own region.

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The plum experts

Let’s step backward in time to the early 20th century. Richard Wellington, who joined the faculty of the Experiment Station in 1906, assisted Ulysses P. Hedrick in preparing Plums of New York. Collectors prize this volume for its color prints. It is also a generative work in the history of pomology. When the idea for the volume was first conceived (around 1900) there were 1 million plum trees in production in New York state.

(585) 383-4030 Charles B. Smith, AIA

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READER ACTION NUMBER 112

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Four new cultivars, attractive in both name and appearance, were released last year from the elite breeding trials at the Experiment Station. They are Rosy Gage, Blues Jam, Jam Session and Geneva Mirabelle. Unless you subscribe to the New York Fruit Quarterly, you would not be aware of the debut. Each of these new varieties is a star in its own right. These are only the most recent releases from a plum-breeding program of historical depth and distinction at the Experiment Station.

Name: Blues Jam Lineage: Originated from a hybrid

Name: Rosy Gage Lineage: From heirloom plum Imperial

of Furst

Epineuse

Color: Skin is purple-blue with a

Color: Yellow-green skin under a

greenish-yellow flesh

pink/rosy blush Use: Eating out of hand

Use: Excellent in blends for preserves

and jellies Name: Jam Session Lineage: Hybrid of Late Muscatel Color: Dark blue skin becomes deep

purple-red during processing Use: Processing into jams and jellies

Name: Geneva Mirabelle

Lineage: Derived from Mirabelle plums best known in France and Germany Color: Golden skin with orange-pink blush and amber flesh Use: Excellent for compote, jam and brandy

Jay Freer and recently retired pomologist Bob Anderson check a bloom for frost damage at Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva.

Photo by Mark Stash

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Wellington was hired at a time when the Experiment Station was riding the crest of a wave of forwardthinking research and development, especially in pomology. Wellington has been recognized with many awards, but none more significant than the Marshall P. Wilder Medal of the American Pomological Society for outstanding achievement in fruit breeding.

During his tenure at the Station, Wellington developed Stanley, the European plum introduced in 1926.

Stanley has been described by pomologist Roger Way as “the most widely grown plum cultivar in the world.”

When John Watson joined the Experiment Station in 1950, his assignment was to hybridize plums for processing in order to improve on Stanley. John Watson had a special knack, or second sense, for selecting parents with potential for the future.

Ken Livermore, a close friend and coworker of Watson’s, says, “John had foresight and could see characters that many would miss.”

Before his retirement in 1987, he named four European plum cultivars.

They were Iroquois, Mohawk, Oneida and Seneca. The latter was among the New York Plum Picks for 2006 and was featured in the New York Fruit Quarterly Spring 2006 issue, where its eating quality was described as “unsurpassed.”

From John Watson’s collection of elite plums, pomologist Robert (Bob) Andersen was instrumental in bringing several others to release, including Castleton, Polly and Longjohn in 1993. The latter, a large, oblong, blue fruit, was named in honor of John Watson. Andersen, who recently retired from the Station, devoted a major portion of his career in bringing these plums along to release. Bob would be the first to point out, however, that he has been carrying to completion the work of his predecessor John P. Watson, whom he refers to

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as “the foremost plum breeder at the Station.”

Andersen began his life in pomology at the Michigan State University Experiment Station in South Haven and ended his career at the Experiment Station in Geneva. In a recent conversation Bob pointed out: “I am proud of a career in fruit breeding that has led to the release of many varieties although none were hybrids that I initiated.”

Of the three phases involved in the development of new fruit cultivars, Bob Andersen was instrumental in the final two. The first phase involves choosing the parents. Then there follows a long process, season after season, of culling and rejecting, sometimes thousands of progeny, in order to preserve the most promising.

Finally, as Bob Andersen points out, “there is a yes-or-no decision to release on the basis of traits of value to fruit growers and with future market potential.”

The dedication and careful work of Richard Wellington, John Watson and Robert Andersen have produced more releases of European plums from the Experiment Station in Geneva than from any other in North America.

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C READER ACTION NUMBER 159

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The future of plums

Now that Bob Andersen has retired, plum research will be carried on under the direction of Courtney Weber. He will continue to manage the current elite selections in order to identify and release further useful cultivars.

His hope for the future, resources permitting, is to set out in a new direction.

By crossbreeding Japanese plums with indigenous American varieties, a largely untapped genetic resource, he may be able to improve cold hardiness and disease resistance. (It was American plums such as these that were growing in the orchards surrounding the Seneca Indian community of Canadasaga, the site on which the Experiment Station now stands. These orchards and vil-

Visit the Cinnamon Stick this fall, and enjoy all we have to offer! Choose from items for autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving decorating, or something special for yourself, like a new pair of Crocs footwear or a beautiful piece of Annaleece jewelry! Be sure to ask about hosting a shopping party so that you and your group can shop leisurely during special evening hours!

There’s always something new at The Cinnamon Stick!

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Convenient Parking • Worldwide Shipping • Distinctive Giftwrapping READER ACTION NUMBER 107

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Where can you try some of the plums mentioned in this article? Here are some places to visit Red Jacket Orchards

Cornell Orchard Store

Routes 5&20, just west of Geneva Phone 315-781-2749 Find Castleton, Bluebyrd, Early Italian, Empress, Autumn Sweet, President and Oneida, available in that order from late August through mid-October.

709 Dryden Road/Route 366 in Ithaca Phone 607-255-4542 Look for Rosy Gage and Seneca, both of which are outstanding as fresh fruit for eating. In addition, look for Castleton, Longjohn, Empress and Valor in season.

Wegmans on Holt Road in Webster Wegmans at Ridge and Culver Roads in Rochester Baumanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farm Market at Five Mile Line and Plank Roads in Webster

These three retail outlets carry plums grown

by Bill Schwarz in Wayne County. Look for Castleton, Longjohn and Victory.

Italian plums have a yellow pulp and bluepurple skin with a frosty or dusty coating.

Plum tree blooms are ornamental in character. The bloom is prominent before it fully leafs out. Photo by Mark Stash

Longjohn produces large, long, teardropshaped fruit.

Seneca plums are large and reddish blue.

Reportedly, they are resistant to cracking and to brown rot.

The Experiment Station in Geneva includes eight research farms totaling 850 acres of prime fruit and vegetable soil. Photo by Mark Stash

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Stanley plums are dark red, medium-sized ovals, with greenish yellow flesh that is juicy and fine grained.

Plum photos courtesy New York State Agricultural Experiment Station

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2359 Route 414 Waterloo, NY 13165 lages, however, were destroyed during the 1779 Sullivan Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, when the Continental Army attempted to harm the British by attacking their Native American allies.)

The color, texture and taste of fresh plums and the color and taste of processed fruit, as well as disease resistance, have all been enhanced by research at the Experiment Station.

When new cultivars are released, fruit processors and fruit growers may adopt them. In the Finger Lakes a successful grower with a passion for expanding consumer knowledge of European plums is Joe Nicholson and family. Joe says, “I enjoy the challenge of bringing treeripened fruit with historical roots as deep as Ancient Rome to recognition among consumers in the East.” He and his two sons and daughter own and operate Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva.

Ken Livermore is spending his retirement busily planting his “orchard of dreams” on Preemption Road, three miles south of Geneva. Ken says, “I really enjoy the evaluation and decision making involved in discovering exciting new varieties of plum.” At the same time he will be selling fruit from the more than 100 trees he has already planted.

Remember that any fruit purchased locally will be superior in flavor, aroma and nutrition because it is picked at a peak of ripeness. Those “sugar plums” from California mentioned earlier, may spend as many as eight days in transit.

Discover, perhaps for the first time, the joys of the noble European plum grown right here in the Finger Lakes!

Jay Freer is with the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, where he began working on stone fruits with Bob Anderson in 1996. Currently Jay is working with plum root stock orchards. Paul Grebinger is an instructor of anthropology at Rochester Institute of Technology. He lives in Geneva and is interested in the history of the nursery industry.

Phone: 315-539-9246 Fax: 315-539-0879

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A SORT OF HOMECOMING The fine art photography of Larry Blair Fall is upon the hillsides and grape vineyards that overlook Keuka Lake near Pultney.

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L

arry Blair grew up in Horseheads, with a great fondness for the Finger

Lakes region. As a youth, he spent summers on Keuka Lake and continues to return to the region with his family each summer and fall.

A former student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and employee of Eastman Kodak for 10 years, Larry developed an appreciation for photography. It wasn’t until Larry retired from the fastpaced world of Silicon Valley startups, where he co-founded a company that developed the world’s first Ethernet switch and served as VP marketing for various networking companies, that he pursued his interest in fine art photography.

Photographing the majestic beauty of the Finger Lakes region is both a fascination and passion for Larry, capturing a moment of nature’s beauty to share with others. He is inspired to use photography to stir the emotions and senses, much like a composer does with music, to create a visual relationship with nature.

Grapes from the Heron Hill Winery on the west side of Keuka Lake are waiting to become a fine bottle of wine before the harsh winter settles in.

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The 100-foot falls of Eggleston Glen, located on the east side of Keuka Lake, glow with the yellow leaves of fall.

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In the fall, just after sunrise, a grape picker above Keuka Lake begins the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work of harvesting the grapes.

Just leaving Hammondsport, the Keuka Maid begins an afternoon tour of Keuka Lake.

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The Village of

Honeoye Falls H

oneoye Falls, located about 13 miles from Rochester, was founded in 1791 by Zebulon Norton who purchased 1820 acres of land for 12-1/2 cents per acre. From the time of the Seneca Indians residing in this vicinity through the pioneer days and into the present, Honeoye Falls, originally known as Norton Mills, has maintained a particularly familyoriented atmosphere in spite of the changing times.

The shopping area of the village boasts a variety of shopping, from drug stores and dry-cleaning establishments to gift shops and furniture stores.

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H U M A N

I N T E R E S T

A Tribute to American Women Harvest Festival

The National Women’s Hall of Fame Honors Nine Inductees

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Picked to be the Best!

Photo by Laurel C. Wemett

by Laurel C. Wemett

W Open year round, 7 days/week

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hether it is the ability to develop a camera for use in outer space, or the skill to teach people how to prepare a fine meal, the accomplishments of the nine women to be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame this fall are impressive and wide-ranging. On October 6 and 7, 2007, Dr. Judith Pipher, an astronomer who worked on experiments leading to the design of a camera in the Spitzer Space Telescope, and Julia Child (19122004), the culinary expert, author and television personality, will join seven other women to become the Hall’s newest inductees.

In addition to Dr. Judith Pipher, this year’s four living honorees include engineer Dr. Eleanor K. Baum, philanthropist and social reformer Swanee Hunt, and environmental advocate Winona LaDuke.

READER ACTION NUMBER 148

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Along with Julia Child, the five historic figures inductees are: Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004), advocate for the rights of the terminally ill; Catherine Filene Shouse (18961994), founder of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts; Henrietta Szold (1860-1945), founder of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America; and Martha Coffin Wright (1806-1875), one of the five women who organized the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention How it came about

The National Women’s Hall of Fame was created in 1969 by men and women who believed that the contributions of American women deserved permanent recognition.

Originally hosted by Eisenhower College (now the location of the New York Chiropractic College) in Seneca Falls, the Hall of Fame has been housed in an historic 1870 bank building at 76 Fall Street since 1979.

The 5,000 square feet of space is divided between exhibits, archives, and offices. A gift shop and research library is located at 78 Fall Street.

“People are always intrigued by these evening slippers,” says the Hall of Fame’s Acting Director Chris Moulton, pointing to a pair of Amelia Earhart’s evening shoes, which are ornamented with rhinestones. Earhart, who was inducted into the Hall in 1973, and Dr. Sally Ride, America’s first female astronaut inducted in 1988, are some of the better known of the 217 women inducted since the Hall’s founding.

Others, like Stephanie Kwolek, are less familiar. Kwolek discovered the fiber that led to the development of Kevlar, a bulletproof material five times stronger than steel. That material saves lives every day, points out Moulton.

The biographies and accomplishments of these women are on perma-

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nent display panels, divided into broad categories like “art” or “science,” representing the fields in which these individuals made their Photo courtesy National Women’s Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, NY contributions. Moulton, who has been at the hall for seven years, says to display more artifacts when the many of the women who are inducted Hall moves to the 1844 Seneca while they are living continue to Knitting Mill on the Cayuga-Seneca make a contribution to society late portion of the Erie Canal system. The into their lives. “It speaks to finding a building will provide 36,000 square passion,” says Moulton, giving the feet of space and will be particularly example of Ruth Johnson Colvin of appropriate to the Hall of Fame’s subSyracuse who founded Literacy ject matter. According to Moulton, Volunteers of America in the 1960s. early owners of the mill signed the The 1993-inductee continues to travDeclaration of Sentiments. Modeled el throughout the world to promote after the Declaration of literacy.

Independence, this document, which demanded women have the right to A big move planned vote, was passed at the historic Moulton looks forward to addiWomen’s Rights Convention held in tional education space and being able Seneca Falls in 1848.

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The selection process

How are the women selected to be inducted into the Hall? Moulton explains that to be considered for induction, a woman first must be nominated. Both living and deceased American women are eligible.

Quoting from the Hall’s guidelines, “Women are chosen for inclusion on the basis of the change(s) they created that affects the social, economic or cultural aspects of our society; the significant national or global impact and result(s) of change due to their achievement, and the enduring value of their achievement(s) or change(s).”

Anyone can nominate an outstanding American woman using a form available by mail or on the

Independent Living at Appleridge is designed for mature adults who want to make choices about their lifestyle. Choose to participate in our fabulous meal program or cook in your own fully e q u i p p e d k i t c h e n . Ta k e a d v a n t a g e o f o u r housekeeping services or do it yourself. You decide what is right for you.

Enjoy life

The flexible service options coupled with the long list of apartment and community amenities make Appleridge a delightful place to call home.

Unique to Appleridge: an onsite medical suite.

Ask about our “Snowbird” apartments available for those who would like to enjoy the Finger Lakes Region for a few summer months or over holidays.

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Hall’s website, before selection,” explains GreatWomen.org.

Moulton.

Nominations are reviewed What if someone on a continuing basis. has a female family member, However, a cutoff date is set a colleague, teacher or approximately 12 to 18 friend who hasn’t exactly months prior to the inducmade a contribution of globtion ceremony. Nominations al significance but still received after this date are deserves to be recognized?

The National Women’s Hall of Fame offers a variety of merchanconsidered for the following For a $100 contribution, dise that celebrates women’s rights.

Many, like this set of induction. special places in the Knowledge Cards introducing 48 eminent African-American Selection falls to a National Women’s Hall of women, are “creatively educational.” panel of judges made up of Fame building and on its Photo courtesy National Women’s Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, NY “experts in their fields, both website have been created male and female,” located across the induction ceremony. Members of the to honor women of achievement and country, according to Moulton.

Hall’s board and its three full-time significance. This special program, Names of the nominees are masked to and six part-time staff are not permitcalled “Book of Lives & Legacies,” ted to serve as judges. If unsuccessful “make it as objective as possible.” includes a tribute page written about on the first nomination, a nominee is Several women already inducted into the woman being honored. Over rolled over to the next time. “Many the Hall serve as judges, and the 1,000 women have been recognized people are nominated multiple times judges’ identities are revealed at the in this way.

READER ACTION NUMBER 129

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Seneca Falls Stat e

Hours: (May through September) Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. (October through April) Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is closed in January.

5

Stre et

Visiting the National Women’s Hall of Fame

Street Water

414

National Women’s Hall Of Fame 20

Admission: Adults – $3; Students/Seniors – $1.50;

Family Rate – $7; Members and children under 5 – free.

To schedule a group tour, call 315-568-8060 or e-mail greatwomen@greatwomen.org.

2007 Induction Weekend Events Inductions take place every other year; the last induction ceremony took place in 2005 and attracted nearly 1,100 people.

The induction ceremony and related activities are open to the public. Contact the National Women’s Hall of Fame at 315-5688060 by September 22 for tickets to any of the following events.

Gala Welcome Reception Saturday, October 6, 7-9 p.m.

Seneca Falls Country Club

Induction Luncheon Sunday, October 7, 11:30 a.m.

New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls

READER ACTION NUMBER 103

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Induction Ceremony Sunday, October 7, 1:30 p.m.

New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls

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Not to be confused with …

Only a short distance from the Hall is another Seneca Falls landmark, the Women’s Rights National Historical Park at 136 Fall Street.

Moulton admits that visitors sometimes confuse the two even though they are separate entities.

“We try to work collaboratively,” explains Moulton, citing projects like Convention Days held each July to commemorate the first Women’s Rights Convention.

The 1848 convention and women’s struggle for equal rights is the main focus of the park, which is part of the federal government’s National Park Service. The National Women’s Hall of Fame is an independent, not-for-profit, educational, membership institution.

Photo I courtesy National Women’s Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, NY

Laurel C. Wemett owns a gift shop named Cat’s in the Kitchen and lives in Canandaigua.

Your Destination of Choice…

The Inn on the Lake is located in the heart of New York State’s fabled Wine Country along the north shore of scenic Canandaigua Lake. Whether you’re staying for the weekend, in town for a meeting or dining at Max on the Lake, The Inn on the Lake is ready to exceed your expectations.

Offering both casual and elegant dining, every meal at Max on the Lake is a tasteful celebration of local flavors and gourmet cuisine, perfectly complemented by a spectacular waterfront view and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Restaurant Wine List.

Call for info on our packages, corporate rates, and group rates or visit our website at www.visitinnonthelake.com

770 S. Main St. Canandaigua, NY 14424 • 585.394.7800 • www.visitinnonthelake.com READER ACTION NUMBER 165

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C U L T U R E D

The Naples Open Studio Trail Step Into an Artist’s World

by Stacy Majewicz

Visit

Bristol Views Bed & Breakfast 6932 County Rd. 12 Naples, NY 14512

585-374-8875 www.bristolviews.com Henry and Barb Owens

N

aples is home to a diverse and talented group of artists, and the Naples Open Studio Trail allows members of the public to see and learn about their work in the most intimate settings. On Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, natives and visitors to the area will be allowed into the home-based studios of 22 artists and craftsmen to watch the creative process and ask questions. The event’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all artists are required to be in their studios during those times.

“People love watching the artists create their work,” said Lynda Carlson of Carlson Glassworks Studios. Lynda and her husband, Kurt, have been participating in the trail since it first started six years ago. “Kurt hot sculpts molten glass from the furnace into a face for the Kurt Carlson is blowing with a soffietta to form a bottle. demonstration. People enjoy that.”

Trail-goers may want to begin at the South Bristol Cultural Center in Canandaigua. Here they can pick up a brochure map and stop into the Susanne Kennedy Gallery and Gift Shop to preview artists’ work or make a purchase. Trail maps are also available at area stores, restaurants and B & Bs, or people can simply follow the signs directing them to the next studio.

Natives and visitors to the area can progress along the trail at their own pace, enjoying the fall foliage along the way. While viewing the live demonstrations at each studio, members of the public can talk to the artists and ask questions. They will also have a chance to purchase one-of-a-kind art pieces.

“We are a diverse group, yet we maintain a common goal,” Lynda said.

“We want to encourage tourism in the Finger Lakes by providing a unique opportunity for people to get a glimpse into the creative process.” Those who participate in the trail also hope to expand the public’s understanding of artists’ roles in both the local community and the world. (continued on page 82)

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Located high above Canandaigua Lake with breathtaking views. Our seven landscaped acres offer access to hiking trails, waterfalls and relaxation. A recent letter noted “20 years of B&B’ing and we finally found the BEST.”

Let us prove it ... to YOU!

Home of the Finger Lakes Finest Gourmet Foods & Award-Winning Wines •Wine & Cheese Tastings Daily •Gourmet Food Sampling •Grape Pies Offered Year Round Hours: Mon-Sat. 10:00am to 5:00pm Sun. 11:00am to 5:00pm 6461 Route 64, Naples, NY 14512

1-800-554-7553 www.TheGrapery.com “Where You’ll Find Everything Grape & More”

N

sit

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NAPLES

Theaters, Wineries, Artists and More Naples & Finger Lakes souvenirs available here!

103-107 South Main St Naples, New York 14512

Phone: (585)374-2080

Brown Hound Bistro

Monica’s Pies Pies, Pies, Pies

Unique, tasty, fresh cooked fare in a cozy, casual atmosphere tucked into the gorgeous hills of South Bristol!

Our Famous Grape Pies Available Year Round Several Varieties Available Daily

Current Hours: Dinners served Tuesday-Sunday from 4:30, Brunch on Saturday & Sunday 8-1

Open Every Day 7599 Route 21, Naples

585-374-2139 www.monicaspies.com

6459 Route 64 in Bristol 4/18/07 Springs, Naples, NY 14512 MP-MonierManor 11:44 AM *Reservations Recommended*

(585) 374-9771 www.brownhoundbistro.com

Elements

Monier Manor

Boutique & Gifts

Bed & Breakfast

A unique shopping experience, featuring unusual jewelry & clothing, novelty toys, antiques, garden decor & windchimes. A little something for everyone.

154 N. Main Street, Naples 585-374-6719 Come visit our first class B&B and enjoy our luxury accommodations and amenities.

Bruce & Donna Scott

Special Packages Available Wine Tour Packages § Romance Packages WidmerFW 4/27/07 1:16 Packages PM Page 1 In Room Massage § Golfers’

197 North Main St. Naples, NY 14512 Open Daily:11-5, Sat:10-5

www.MonierManor.com

585-374-9140 • www.elementsboutique.com

JOSEPH’S WAYSIDE MARKET 201 S. Main St. Naples, NY 14512 Gifts from the Finger Lakes

Featuring two floors of over 175 of the finest Finger Lakes artisans.

Quality Fresh Fruits & Veggies of the Season The Largest open air produce market in the Finger Lakes Breads, Pies & Cookies Baked Fresh Daily 100’s Of Kinds of Jam’s ‘N’ Jellies...

(Visit our Sampling Area)

With pottery, glass, wood, jewelry, photography, paintings, fabric and more.

OPEN YEAR ROUND ... daily now through December 118 North Main St, Naples, NY 585-374-6740 • www.artizanns.com • handicap friendly

Come and visit us! Taste our award winning–Double Gold Medal– Widmer Solaira Cream Sherry

~ N.Y.S. Honey & Maple Syrup ~ N.Y.S. Cheddar Cheese ~ In Store Bakery ~ Browse Our Gift Shop...Handcrafted Gifts From Across the U.S.

Handmade Amish Lawn Furniture OPEN MAY-NOV•DAILY 8A.M. TO 7P.M.

585-374-2380 www.josephs-wayside.com

Widmer Wine Cellars is home to: ˜ Brickstone Cellars ˜ ˜ Manischewitz ˜ ˜ Lake Niagara ˜ Open All Year • Tours and Tastings Daily Buses Welcome

Widmer Wine Cellars 1-800-836-LAKE (5253) www.widmerwine.com 1 Lake Niagara Lane, Naples, NY 14512 A member of The Canandaigua Wine Trail

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C U L T U R E D

Participating Artists, the Naples Open Studio Trail Carl and Mellissa Neubauer – New

to the trail this year, the married couple creates their sculptures individually. ake it a day in the country. From fine furniture, gifts and fresh flowers to casually elegant luncheon dining, our shops offer a unique shopping experience. Relax and enjoy the country.

The Loomis Barn - Fine home furnishings and accessories Corn House Cafe - Open for lunch specialty sandwiches, homemade soups Colonial Bouquets - Fresh flowers, dried arrangements, wreaths The Back Room - Unique accessories, gifts and accent items Store Hours Tues. - Sat. 10 - 5:30 • Sun. 12 - 4 Closed Mon. • Cafe open for lunch Just a 10-15 minute drive from Canandaigua, Penn Yan or Geneva. Call for directions.

4942 Loomis Road • Rushville

www.loomisbarn.com

800-716-2276 • 585-554-3154 READER ACTION NUMBER 125

Tour our farm and browse our gift shop.

Brent Gillette – Also new to the trail, this signmaker uses neon, wood, metal paint and gold leaf for his work.

Jo Krajci of Me and My Shadow Studio – With simple materials such as

Ben Bennett of Blue Heron Glassworks – A glass blower whose

paper, pencil, scissors, a craft knife and glue, Jo has perfected the art of traditional Chinese papercutting.

work includes Christmas ornaments, perfume bottles, vases and other colorful glass pieces.

Paul and Suzanne Frazer of Frazer Studios – Together they have been cre-

Stephanie Marshall – A long-time

ating ceramic sculpture and pottery for over 20 years.

member of the trail, Stephanie combines her love of ceramics with her love of Chinese paintings to create pottery that is beautiful as well as functional.

Carol Battle of Falling Waters Studios – One of the original founders

of the trail, Carol’s studio in the Naples hillside is a source of inspiration for her watercolor paintings.

Kurt and Lynda Carlson of Carlson Glassworks Studios – This husband-

and-wife team create contemporary and elegant glass sculptures through a collaborative effort.

Albie Alliet of Grape Moments Studios – His paintings, both tradition-

al and contemporary, depict everything from seascapes and sailing ships to rustic European villages and old lighthouses.

Alpacas are cousins to camels and llamas, raised for the fiber they produce. Alpaca clothing and home products are pure luxury.

Come visit our herd - they’d love to meet you!

trail, Becky is a professionally trained glass lampworker. Each piece of glass is handmade, and then she anneals, cleans and assembles it into her designs.

Patrick Smith, owner of West Hollow Boat Company – He builds, repairs

and restores traditional cedar-canvas canoes using carefully selected trees.

Lacey Kotlik – Her oil paintings and

woodcut prints are influenced by the lights and shadows of the natural world.

Jeanette Klute of Woodland Studios – Her photographs and

paintings display her vision of the natural world. Jeanette is best known for perfecting the process of dye transfer to enhance the vibrancy of color in photographs.

Peter Secrest – His hand blown

glass creations include vases, vessels and bowls.

John Dodd – A studio furniture design-

Bob Fladd of Fladd’s Creative Stone – Bob’s stone and wood creations

er whose contemporary pieces enhance residential and commercial spaces.

include sculptures, fireplaces, chimneys, walkways, benches, steps and pillars.

Charlie Kingsley – A glass blower and

Paul Willsea and Carol O’Brien of Willsea O’Brien Glass Studios – Paul

sculptor, Charlie creates colorful and whimsical yard ornaments.

Kit Corti – Her drawings and paintings

and Carol combine blown and cast glass to create classic contemporary bowls, vases and platters.

abound with color, texture and emotion.

Kindly schedule your visit as this is a working farm.

585-455-1203

www.lazyacrealpacas.com

Suzanne Larysz, owner of S&G Imaging – Her graphic designs and

photography depict her trips around the world.

8830 Baker Rd., Bloomfield READER ACTION NUMBER 189

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Rebecca Congdon – New to the

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

Darryl Abraham of Abraham Studios – He uses his sculpture and

illustrations to portray the “unsung heroes” of rural America.

To learn more about the trail, visit www.NaplesOpenStudioTrail.com.

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D O W N T O W N

Naples

by Stacy Majewicz

L

ocated four miles south of Canandaigua Lake, Naples is one of the smallest communities in the state, yet it has so much to offer. Although it’s best known as the grape pie capital of the world (it is estimated that nearly 70,000 grape pies are sold in Naples each year), one will also find shops, restaurants, theatre, wineries and gorgeous scenery in this quaint town among the hills.

A unique geographic location and fertile land make Naples an ideal spot for growing grapes. Get a taste of what the area has to offer at Widmer Wine Cellars, Arbor Hill Winery or the brand new Imagine Moore Winery on North Main Street. After touring these, grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants, such as The Naples Hotel, Bob & Ruth’s, The Grainery, Luigi’s Italian Cuisine, Middletown Tavern, The Redwood Restaurant,

China City or Monica’s Pies.

Athletic types will find plenty to do in Naples, including skiing and snowboarding at Bristol Mountain or Hunt Hollow to hiking at Grimes Glen, golf at Reservoir Creek, and biking, hunting and horseback riding at the Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area, which encompasses about 7,000 acres of state land. If shopping is more your thing, find original artwork, unique gifts and home accessories at Artizanns, or fresh produce, flowers and baked goods at Joseph’s Wayside Market.

After a day of activity, sit back, relax and enjoy an evening performance at the Bristol Valley Theatre.

Professional artists from throughout the region and the New York City area provide a variety of entertainment, from comedy to dance to family programming. continued on page 85

READER ACTION NUMBER 152

THE CHESHIRE UNION Gift Shop & Antique Center

Located along the

Canandaigua Wine Trail.

The classrooms in our 1915 schoolhouse are filled with a mix of unique merchandise to meet all your gift-giving and decorating needs.

• • • • • •

Lang Center Webkinz Jewelry Candles Books Framed Prints

• Throws • Mailbox Covers • Crystal Wine Glasses • Local Gourmet Foods

VISIT OUR SCHOOLHOUSE DELI

4244 Rt. 21 So., 5 miles South of Canandaigua

Open 7 days 10-5

585-394-5530 www.cugifts.com Naples maintains a charm that evokes memories of villages from yesteryear. Photo courtesy of Michael Joseph

READER ACTION NUMBER 106

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F I N G E R

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L A K E S

S C R A P B O O K

Readers show us their favorite Finger Lakes photographs

Please send photos to: Finger Lakes Scrapbook P.O. Box 1080 • Geneva, NY 14456 e-mail: Mark@LifeintheFingerLakes.com View more Finger Lakes Scrapbook photos on our website: LifeintheFingerLakes.com

“Our two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Logan, starts this year’s ‘Life in the Finger Lakes’ by fishing on Seneca Lake.” – Cheri Nowicki, Rochester

“An aerial view of red table umbrellas on the verandah at the Aurora Inn on Cayuga Lake.” – Nicole Moss Underwood “Little Italy Hill Road, outside of Naples, 1982.”

– Joy M. Tompkins, LaFayette

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“Looking towards Pickerel Point on Honeoye Lake, Easter morning” – Sara Goff, Honeoye

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D O W N T O W N

Founded in: 1789 Population: 3,513 A little bit of history: Naples was once the site of an ancient Seneca Indian Nation named “Nundawao.”

Because it was so barren and mountainous, the area was not a desirable territory, and the first settlers purchased land for only $.12 an acre.

The big event: The Naples Grape Festival will be held this year on September 29 and 30. Over 80,000 visitors will attend the annual celebration, which features juried arts and crafts, local and national entertainment, and the World’s Greatest Grape Pie Contest, where over 20 Naples pie bakers compete for the coveted title.

The Grape Festival is the place to find everything grape, jellies, kuchens,

cookies, ice cream, sauces, tarts and fresh picked grapes. This year for the first time, the fesstival will feature a wine tent where people can sample Finger Lakes wine The first Grape Festival took place in 1961, when grape growers and community members decided they wanted to celebrate the bountiful grape harvests. About 15,000 visitors showed up for the festival, which included a twohour parade and street dancing.

The grape pie queen: In the fall of 1959, Irene Bouchard began a bakery out of her home in Naples selling Concord grape pies and other goodies.

Since then she has sold about 300,000 grape pies and helped Naples earn the title of grape pie capital of the world.

For more information: naplesvalleyny.com C READER ACTION NUMBER 151

ON THE

HEARTH

“We’ve got a warm spot for you!”

SEPTEMBER SALE! Extend your comfort zone with a Wood, L.P. or Natural Gas Stove 900 Panorama Trail Rochester, NY 14625 cricketonthehearth.com • (585) 385-2420 Photos by Bill Banaszewski

READER ACTION NUMBER 111

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REAL ESTATE

NEAR CAYUGA LAKE

Lovely Victorian combining period details with modern comfort. Wood floors, ceilings, and wainscoting, elaborately carved mantels and staircase, tall windows.

Substantially updated wiring, plumbing, insulation, windows, kitchen, and baths.

Excellent choice for a large household or one that loves to entertain, or retirees looking for a first or second home in the Finger Lakes…

219 Genesee Street, Cayuga • $212,000, MLS 124596 Falcon Realty.doc

8/15/07

10:41 AM

Victorian Mansion on 2200 Ft. of Seneca Lake Waterfront 37 acres, 4560 sf. restored w/9 bdrm., tennis court, gorge with waterfalls, stream, woods. A treasure! $2,500,000 Ad# 33887 on www.lakehouse.com or www.powersrealtors.com

Page 1

Margaret Hobbie • Associate Broker • 607-220-5334

Bonney Powers, Realtor, Broker, GRI

Audrey Edelman & Associates RealtyUSA

Falcon Realty 63’ of West side Owasco Lakefront 4987 West lake Rd. 5+ BRs 2 bath year round home. 1930 lake home with many updates.

Including Cherry Kitchen, Downstairs Bathroom, Family Room with gas Fireplace, 2 1/2 car Garage, new Windows, New Furnace, New Electrical. The list goes on and on. Priced at $324,900

66 South St., Auburn, NY • 315-730-1446 jefflcre@aol.com • www.jefftrescot.com

585.394.1111 Beautiful Home on Skaneateles Lake 2450sq ft home located on the east side of Skaneateles Lake, has 190 feet of private frontage, permanent 1000 sq ft dock with cabana and one acre of land. There are 4 bdrm, 3 baths, large kitchen with oak cabinets, solid surface countertops, and ceramic floors. A huge 1000 sq ft wrap around deck, sun room, stone fireplace in living room and a windowed wall over looking the lake.

The lower level features family room, office, extra closets, a full bath, and leads out to spacious patio. There is a 2 1/2 car garage with a full upstairs and a large lawn.

Located about 9 miles from Skaneateles village on a private road, it backs up to a state forest. This secluded home is the perfect getaway. $1,450,000.00.

For Sale By Owner Call Jon @ (315)374-1338

www.coldwellbankershaw.com

“One of Keuka’s finest”, 200’ of shoreline, new constr., 3200 sq ft, fireplace, screened porch, ALL THE EXTRAS, and priced at $899,000.

Mark G. McHugh SHAW REAL ESTATE

413 North Tioga St. Ithaca, NY 114850

607-272-4777

“Your Finger Lakes Realtor & Trusted Advisor”

myagentmark@aol.com

Mark Malcolm II Keuka’s Top Agent www.markmalcolm.com 315-536-6163

NY WATERFRONT REAL ESTATE YOUR EXCLUSIVE BUYER’S AGENT

PRUDENTIAL FIRST PROPERTIES

Specializing in Lakefront Homes & Residential Real Estate Services Covering the Finger Lakes Region

www.prudential firstproperties.com

View photos, prices & details of all lake listings at

www.FingerLakesWaterfrontHomes.com.

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Manlius/Corp. 315 682-7197 North Regional 315 622-1700 West Regional 315 488-2926 Alexandria Bay 315 482-5000 Jordan Elbridge 315 252-2511

DeWitt 315 446-4681 Cicero 315 699-3200 Chittenango 315 687-6109 Oneida 315 363-5533 Cazenovia 315 655-8300

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MP-Lake Country Real Estate

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CAYUGA LAKE

PageLandimere 1

10/31/06

3:05 PM

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Opening Doors To Your Future

HISTORIC BRICK ITALIANATE 3500 sq.ft., located in quiet lakeside village, tall ceilings, fireplaces, cupola w/reading room, 28x30 heated workshop, 30 mins to Ithaca.

A must see! $245,000

Find any waterfront property on our website.

It’s user friendly and easy to set up appointments to view your favorites.

For Personal, Professional Service You’re “#1” with Us!

315-331-1111 ext.111 • GAIL VANDERBROOK

Buying, Selling & Superior Service Canandaigua Lake - Bristol Hills

REAL ESTATE

LANDIMERE REALTY

Year round privacy in this 3BD, 2 bath contemporary.

Prime level lakefront, 1hr to Rochester or Syracuse, great sunsets. $295,000

Contact Midge Fricano, GRI, CRS. Broker/Owner

www.LakeCountryRealEstateNY.com E-Mail: info@LakeCountryRealEstateNY.com

Lake Country Real Estate, Inc. 121 North St., Auburn, NY Tel: 315-258-9147 • Fax: 315-258-3194

GREENHOUSE/NURSERY AND ICE CREAM STAND HOUSE, ACREAGE - BATH, NY

Wonderful opportunity, established, very popular business, pristine home, acreage, spacious greenhouses, busy ice-cream stand and active clientele, all situated in commercial district, with interstate access nearby $850,000 #4644

607-776-2468

Anne Caprini

www.CapriniRealtors.com 8/14/07 12:02 PM Page 1 (585)330-8258

THE EDMOND AGENCY Professional Real Estate Service with a Hometown Touch

1496 Whiteman Gully Rd, Wayland, NY

Makitra Real Estate Inc. www.makitrarealestate.com Senecayuga-FW 2/9/07 11:19 AM

MP-Edmond Agency

Page 1

Artistically built home with unique architectural style. 1st floor features full eat-in kitchen with ornate wormy soft maple cabinets, concrete countertops and sink overlooking picturesque stream. Breakfast counter leads to great room with hand picked flagstone fireplace. 3+ acres with 2 ponds, stream and waterfall. $299,000 Call Robbin Smith 585-721-4771

11465 Mendoleine Road, Dansville, NY LAKE PROPERTY Cottages, farms, homes, estates on and around Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, the largest of the Finger Lakes; List and sell.

Member of the Ithaca Board, Greater Rochester, Greater Syracuse, and Elmira-Corning multiple listing services including 3000+ agents and all eleven Finger Lakes.

Mel Russo, Licensed Real Estate Broker www.senecayuga.com • (315) 568-9404 • Senecayuga@aol.com

Scenic Finger Lakes Wine Country setting with over 52 acres of panoramic views. 4 streams and beautiful trails throughout the woods. Custom designed and built home in 1999. Spacious 3200 sq. ft. offers 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths and many amenities. $490,000. Call Terry Kelley 585-703-9477

The Edmond Agency 202 Main St., Dansville, NY 14437 585-335-2070 • www.TheEdmondAgency.com FALL 2007 ~

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P H O T O G R A P H Y

How to Shoot the Fall

by Tina Manzer

“Move around. Taking a photo straight on at six feet offers you few possibilities.”

Ithaca photographer Monroe Payne laid down on the floor of the forest and pointed his camera up to give this photo its circular shape.

“Geometric shapes lead your eye to the subject,” says Payne. “In this case, it’s up and out.”

S

cenery in the Finger Lakes can be overwhelmingly beautiful in autumn, “overwhelmingly” being the operative word here, especially if you’re a photographer. Everything looks so good, thanks to the crisp, cool air and vibrant colors, that it’s often difficult to choose subjects and scenes that, when translated photographically, impact viewers the most. The impulse is to simply capture whole panoramas on film. While that’s okay – big broad landscapes can be wonderful – expert photographers recommend finding a focal point.

“Actually, taking shots like that is almost always not okay,” cautions Monroe Payne, a professional photographer based in Ithaca. “Yes, you’ll get a pretty picture of leaves, but the eye needs a path to follow to the subject.

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The geometric shapes in your composition – the diagonals, obliques and circles – serve as that path. Focus on one thing and bring it into the composition. The rule of thumb is ‘simplify, simplify, simplify.’

You can choose a subject based on its texture, colors, unique shape and/or notable size. If you put it in the foreground, a little off-center, you can use foliage as your backdrop. Doing so adds depth to your composition and provides “the story” of your picture. “The leaves in the Finger Lakes are beautiful in the fall, but they have to be put in context,” says Payne, “They’re not as interesting or exciting on their own compared to, say, leaves in a puddle and the geometric shapes they form.”

Featuring distinct contrasts in both color and in

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brightness should also be your goal.

As an example, Payne mentioned the vivid colors of autumn leaves set against the deep blue of Keuka Lake.

“If you don’t have contrast, your picture will look muddy,” he said. “The only time in which low contrast is good is when you want a picture of a foggy morning.”

In addition to taking photographs set against the lakes, Payne recommends taking advantage of the area’s lesser-known parks. He listed Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area in Newfield, Hector Land Use Area, Havana Glen Park in Montour Falls, and Myers Point Park in Lansing, “a Mecca for sunset photographers.”

Canandaigua photographer Steve Chesler looks forward to using fall scenes as backdrops for his unique portraits and wedding photographs.

The change of seasons gives him a second wind. “First of all, it’s simply more comfortable to work outside, compared to the heat and humidity of summer,” he noted. “Toward the end of August, colors are lovely.

Grass has gotten progressively darker green since spring, and the blue of the sky is so much more noticeable.

In the summer, it’s too hazy to shoot the sky – it just looks white in photographs. In the fall, I extend the scenery to include the sky because we can get deep blues contrasted with fluffy white clouds.”

On the downside, fall weather in the Finger Lakes can make outdoor shoots unpredictable, and an overcast day can flatten a picture right out.

“In the summer, direct sun creates weird shadows and makes people squint, among other things. We can work with a cloudy day in the summer, but in the fall we want the sun

Driver Guided Tours & Tastings in the Finger Lakes Wine Country

Seneca Lake Canandaigua Lake Keuka Lake Cayuga Lake

The Finger Lakes #1 Source for Wine Cabinets

(877) 424-7004

585-554-5409

(585) 455-8294 • (585) 455-8291

www.rosesandoak.com

Serving the Finger Lakes 7 Days a week C all year round. Scenic, fun and tasteful.

4169 Ferguson Corners Rd. Rushville (10 min. south of Canandaigua)

READER ACTION NUMBER 188

READER ACTION NUMBER 116

Home Away From Home Vacation Rentals in the Finger Lakes.

3 Bedroom Cottages, 2 Bathrooms Sleeps 6-8 People

Tel: 315-789-1144

www.cobtree.com

COBTREE Enquiries@cobtree.com

Circle Reader Service Number 109

Circle Reader Service Number 154

FALL 2007 ~

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P H O T O G R A P H Y

to light the leaves nicely,” said Steve.

Bad weather can actually work in your favor during what photographers refer to as “the magic hours,” the time before sunrise and again before sunset when the sun is within a few degrees above or below the horizon.

A magic hour/storm combination can result in a strong and dramatic oncein-a-lifetime shot.

Because the days are shorter in the fall, the ideal lighting of the magic hours occurs later in the morning and earlier in the evening. Also, depending on your location, they may become longer or shorter. When the sun sets, don’t be too quick to put away your camera. The best light of the day sometimes happens shortly thereafter.

Photo by Steve Chesler

PHOTOGRAPHERS Photography by

Portrait • Wedding Commercial Studio • Location

E

315.789.1082 • Geneva, NY www.chameleon-systems.com/sjoblom

Life in the Finger Lakes magazine is a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, housewarming gifts and other special occasions. Give a gift today!

800-344-0559 • www.LifeintheFingerLakes.com

90 ~

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

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C AMPING • DINING • GOLFING • MARINAS C L Clute Memorial Park & Campground 155 S. Clute Park Drive Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Ph: (607)535-4438 • www.watkinsglen.us

M

www.lockviewmarina.com

Summer Dockage • Winter Storage Boat Transport M 6655 State Route 90, Cayuga, NY 13034 315-255-2936 • 800-513-2936

Montour Falls Municipal Campground

Montour Falls Municipal Marina

607-535-9397 (As of May 1st)

607-535-9397

Marina Road, Montour Falls, NY 14865

Marina Road, Montour Falls, NY 14865

(As of May 1st)

4 Authentic Log Cabins Pool • Laundry • 3 Pavilions • Frisbee Golf • Camp Grocery Store • 30-50 Amp Service • Seasonal Sites • Wireless Internet Access • Planned Activities • Water and Sewer Hookups

M

Family Fun for Everyone!

3 mi. west of Waterloo Premium Outlets.

Call for directions.

82 Slips, Gas, Boat Launch, Storage, 2-travel Lifts

1475 W. Townline Rd., Phelps

607-535-2671 • Fax 535-2671

315-781-5120 www.juniuspondscampground.com

40 Fairground Lane • PO Box 242 Watkins Glen, NY 14891

The Perfect Gift!

18 hole par 3. One of The Finger Lakes’ most challenging and fun to play!

A Subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes,the region’s premier magazine

A Subscription BDeesatl for YOURSELF

GIFT Subscriptions 1st Gift ......................................$12.95 2nd Gift......................................$10.95 Each Add’l ..................................$8.95

315-672-8677 westhillgolfcourse.com

3 Years (12 issues) ..................$25.95 2 Years (8 issues) ....................$19.95 1 Year (4 issues) ......................$12.95

Canada, add $15. Overseas, add $30.00 postage per year. U.S. funds only.

Four GREAT issues a year!

Call Today! 800-344-0559 subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Order by December 14 and recipient will receive a Gift Card in the mail, just in time for the holidays!

The Restaurant at Elderberry Pond Fine Dining on a Certified Organic Farm Offering seasonal workshops on the growing and culinary preparation of fresh organic produce and meats.

For details visit www.elderberrypond.com “Gracious service, organic ingredients, and straightforward food ... a sign of things to come” Gourmet Magazine Located Between Auburn and Skaneateles

3712 Center Street Road

• Phone 315.252.6025

Route 5 in Camillus, just 15 minutes from Skaneateles M

Play Croquet & lawn Bowling on the largest courts in CNY.

Pierce’s 1894 Restaurant Discover Pierce’s interpretation of excellence in American/Continental cuisine and their outstanding selection of New York State Wines as well as wine selections from around the world. We feature casual bistro food available in our lounge, new and interesting cocktails and martinis, and of course, our traditional and contemporary dining room menu.

Reservations Recommended.

228 Oakwood Ave., Elmira Hts. 607-734-2022 • www.pierces1894.com FALL 2007 ~

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ATTRACTIONS

National Memorial Day Museum Waterloo, NY Open Tue-Sat 1-4pm, 15 May-23 Dec & By appointment

4 Faces of War June-September

Museum Downstairs Exhibition Room.

Wayne ,1+056/ history in war since the War of 1812.

(315) 539-0533

The National Memorial Day Museum commemorates the founding of Memorial Day through period rooms (1866) and exhibits that highlight the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

Necropolis Rising: Cemeteries of Wayne County October & November Wayne County Student Photo Exhibit

www.historicpalmyrany.com

Ghost Walks!

3pm Saturdays in September & October Meet at Court House $10 Adults, $5 Students

Haunted Jail Oct. 26 &27!

Come get your fright on! 6pm-9pm $3 Museum Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10am-4pm Closed Sun. & Mon. Admission Adults $4, Students $2 Take a stroll through yesteryear along the Erie Canal. Alling Coverlet, Wm. Phelps General Store, Historical Museum and Palmyra Print Shop

You’ll Have a Great Time! • (315)597-6981

The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum

Canandaigua Tour of Homes For the first time, this bi-annual tour will be held on the East side of Canandaigua Lake, on Saturday, September 15.

35th Anniversary

Changing Exhibits of Regional Artists

A variety of home styles await you, from a charming artist's cottage to a stately Southernstyle mansion, including a neoFrench chateau and Dutch Colonial with a modified A-frame. Breath-taking vistas and extraordinary interior designs will inspire you.

Check-in will be at Thendara.

A fleet of ongoing shuttle buses will take you along the tour. Lunch will be available at Thendara.

Still a welcoming site more than 130 years later.

7606 N. Ontario St., Sodus Point, NY 14555 315-483-4936 www.soduspointlighthouse.org OPEN: May-October, Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5pm.

Closed MOndays (except holidays) This organization is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, which is administered locally by Finger Lakes Arts Grant and Services Inc.

92 ~

For more information and locations offering advance ticket sales, call or visit the Ontario County Historical Society's website. Ticket sales are limited to 1000.

For information

585-394-4975 • www.ochs.org

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

Detail of Moose Antler carved by local artist Bill Gittens.

15 Church St. Phelps, NY (315) 548-2095 Summer Hours: M, F, Sun 1-5 p.m.

Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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SF Historical Society.doc

2/17/06

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ATTRACTIONS Historic Maritime District

Celebrating 25 Years!

Open Daily 1-5pm, Mid May-Dec. Daily 10am-5pm, July-Aug.

West 1st Street Pier, Oswego

315-342-0480

Since 1982

www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com

Seneca Falls Historical Society We maintain a 23-room Queen Anne Style Victorian Mansion circa 1890, as a home of a wealthy Victorian family.

P

55 Cayuga St., Seneca Falls (315)568-8412 â&#x20AC;¢ www.sfhistoricalsociety.org

Patterson Inn Museum

Yates County Genealogical & Historical Society Museums 200 Main Street, Penn Yan

59 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY 607-937-5281â&#x20AC;¢www.PattersonInnMuseum.org Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm

The L. Caroline Underwood Museum and the Oliver House Museum, home of Yates County history. Research center, period rooms, changing exhibits.

Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-4pm, Saturdays 9-1

Museum complex features a tavern c1796, log house c1850, schoolhouse c1878, agricultural barn and blacksmith.

Upcoming Events: Sep 8-Whingblinger-a family heritage festival See the website for more information

315-536-7318 www.yatespast.org

Wayland Museum

The Rose Hill Mansion is a National Historic Landmark and considered one of the finest examples of Greek Architecture in the United States.

Cr. S. Main & Washington Sts. â&#x20AC;¢ Wayland, NY 585-728-3610 or 728-5108 Early 19th century kitchen, bedroom, parlor.

Barber shop, one room school, post office and Gunlocke exhibit.

Open Sun 2-4PM â&#x20AC;¢ Mon 10AM-Noon â&#x20AC;¢ By appointment

Wolcott Historical Society Carriage House Museum

5994 Jefferson Street Wolcott, NY 14590 315-594-9494 Hours: Wed & Sat 10am to 3pm or by appointment.

Glenn H. Museum 8419 State Rte 54 Hammondsport, NY 14840 Ph: (607)569-2160 www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org

Housed in the 1829 Prouty-Chew House, the Geneva Historical Society Museum explores the history of Geneva and its diverse people and enterprises. The Museum features period rooms, a library and archive, and local history programs and exhibitions.

543 South Main St., Geneva, NY 14456

(315)789-5151 www.genevahistoricalsociety.com

Not your usual small town museum!

Open

10-5

ys 7 da

Over 30 varieties of Pumpkins and Gourds.

...and experience the magic of silent flight!

V Q W E J N KU V G P F KU E Q X G T K P + V J C E C

Tours â&#x20AC;¢ Hands-on simulators â&#x20AC;¢ Sailplane rides Ask about our Overnight Soaring Encampments

. Q QM

At the north end of the Cayuga Wine Trail

51 Soaring Hill Drive (607) 734-3128 Elmira, NY 14903 soaringmuseum.org

W

315-568-2379

Buses welcome â&#x20AC;¢ Rt. 17/I-86 Exits 48 & 51

Colonial Belle

THE GRANGER HOMESTEAD AND CARRIAGE MUSEUM

Seward House

295 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, New York (585) 394-1472 www.grangerhomestead.org

We invite you to visit Seward House, the historic home of statesman William H. Seward and his family.

864 Gravel Rd, Seneca Falls, NY

Cruising The Historic Erie Canal bout Us A ruises Ask C eme ur Th

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Come visit the

Fun Enti for the re F ami ly

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We Make History Fun! Open June â&#x20AC;&#x201C; October

rs arte e Ch t a iv Pr able Avail Enjoy a 11/2 to 3 Hour Narrated Cruise on the Most Picturesque Section of the Waterway â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢ Season from May thru October 3 Cruises Daily Tues thru Sat â&#x20AC;¢ 2 Cruises on Sunday Lunch, Dinner and Full Service Bar Available â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢â&#x20AC;¢

Call for Reservations 585-223-9470 â&#x20AC;¢ www.colonialbelle.com 400 Packettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing â&#x20AC;¢ Fairport, NY

â&#x20AC;¢ Horse-drawn Carriage Tours of Historic Neighborhoods â&#x20AC;¢ Guided Tours of 1816 Federal Style Mansion and Carriage Museum â&#x20AC;¢ 19th Century Law Office, Museum Gift Shop and Special Events Jazz Brunch - August 12 Civil War Encampment - September 28 & 29 Hours: Tues & Weds 1-4pm â&#x20AC;¢ Thurs & Fri 11am-4pm Weekends June-September 1-4pm Closed on Mondays

July 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Garden Party Seward House features an extensive collection of Civil War memorabilia and early Alaskan artifacts.

33 South Street Auburn (315)252-1283 www.sewardhouse.org FALL 2007 ~

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WINERIES V

BELHURST WINERY Visit one of Seneca Lake’s newest wineries!

Within its Tuscan setting, Ventosa offers a friendly atmosphere, premium wine tasting and a café serving lunch daily. The elegant décor & breathtaking view of Seneca Lake makes Ventosa the ideal place for your reception or party. Open daily year ’round

315-719-0000 www.ventosavineyards.com

A

HOME OF CRANBERRY BOG with over 4,000 Unique Ite t Sh op ms Gif fine wines for the everyday celebration of life

Federweisser - Sept 15th, 12-5pm Live Music, beverages and German-inspired foods A fee applies for food & beverage.

2981 Auburn Rd, Seneca Falls, NY 13148 315-568-8190

Also featuring Riesling, Strawberry, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Blueberry, Rhubarb and Mead (Honey) Wines Open Daily 10am-6pm www.montezumawinery.com

94 ~

Overlooking Seneca Lake’s west side 10 miles south of Geneva, just off of Route 14 You are invited to our visitors’center tasting room and gift shop: Mon-Sat:10am until 5pm Sundays: Noon until 5pm Open all year.

1020 Anthony Road, Penn Yan 315-536-2182 • 800-559-2182

www.anthonyroadwine.com

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

On the Shores of Spectacular Seneca Lake.

Taste the Award-Winning, Beautiful Bouquets of Belhurst Winery as You Browse our Spacious Wine & Gift Shop.

Wine as Unique and Beautiful as the Castle Itself.

Lodging • Dining • Receptions • Winery

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Join us for a tasting of our premium wines and enjoy the spectacular view of Cayuga Lake.

Fall Business Hours Monday –Thursday: 10 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m – 5:30 p.m.

Order Wine Online www.LongPointWinery.com 1485 Lake Road • Aurora, NY (315) 364-6990

Lamoreaux Landing WINE CELLARS

Taste our European style awardwinning wines while enjoying the beauty of Seneca Lake Tours, tasting, sales and receptions Mon. - Sat. 10-5, Sun. noon-5 Route 414 on the east side of Seneca Lake, 3 miles south of Lodi 607-582-6011 www.lamoreauxwine.com

Make White Springs Winery your first stop!

• Tantalize your senses with Wine Tasting • Enjoy our view of Seneca Lake while relaxing on the patio • Delight others with Gift Baskets and Wine Related Items 4200 Route 14 South, Geneva NY 315-781-9463

www.whitespringswinery.com

FALL 2007 ~

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The Country Porch

C A L E N D A R

Featuring Primitive Collections and touches of country for your home.

You must stop in to see the new merchandise arriving daily!

SEPTEMBER

Treenware, Pottery, Candles, Nesting Boxes, Signs & Samples, Unique Primitive Items, York Borders & Wallpaper, Country Furniture & Lighting and much, much more...

Located at: 1431 Route 5 & 20, Geneva, NY 14541 • 315-789-8562 Sun: 12 - 4 • Mon-Wed: 10 - 6 • Thu: 10 - 7 • Fri-Sat: 10 - 5 **Hours are Subject to Change**

8-9…M&T Bank Clothesline Festival Rochester’s oldest arts and crafts festival takes place at the Memorial Art Gallery http://mag.rochester.edu 585-276-8900

READER ACTION NUMBER 116

FINGER LAKES DERMATOLOGY Pamela L. Foresman, M.D., Jeffrey R. LaDuca, PhD., M.D. and Jessica L. Corey, M.S., P.A.-C

BOTOX® Injections, Chemical Peels, Laser Hair Removal, Massage, Diamondtome Microdermabrasion, Laser Surgery, Skin Products, Restylane & Radiesse Facial Fillers

General Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, Cosmetic Dermatology 100 Genesee St., Suite 108, Auburn • (315) 252-7539

Visit Our New Location - “reflections” 14 West Genesee St., Skaneateles • (315) 685-1100

$50 off first microdermabrasion with this ad – new clients only.

8…Corning-Painted Post Historical Society Whingblinger Heritage Festival Traditional pioneer craft demonstrators, antique machinery, a country store and more 607-937-5281

Free laser hair removal consult with this ad – new clients only ($100 value).

READER ACTION NUMBER 116

15…Native American Heritage Days at Letchworth State Park Traditional dances and food, plus athletic and craft demonstrations www.nysparks.com 585-493-3600 16…ARTWalk Alive!

Music, dance and spoken word performances, as well as visual artists demonstrating the artistic process www.rochesterARTWalk.org 585-234-6670 21-23…Great Syracuse Oktoberfest German music, food, dancing and beverages 315-470-1910 22…Harvest Festival at Springdale Farms Scarecrow displays, crafts, a petting zoo, live music and garden tours www.springdalefarm.org 585-349-2090 27-30…Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival Apple cider, candy apples, apples by the bag and an apple pie eating contest 607-277-8679 29…Experience the Crush See harvesting equipment and taste freshpressed grape juice at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery www.cayugaridgewinery.com 607-869-5158 29-30…Spirit Wind Farm Open House Discover the magic of alpacas; spinning and fiber demonstrations 315-926-5427

Gault Auto Sport

OCTOBER www.guybmw.com (607)748-8244

The Ultimate Driving Machin e®

Gault Auto Sport BMW 2507 North Street • Endicott, NY • 800-428-1970 • www.buybmw.com

READER ACTION NUMBER 187

96 ~

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

5-7…Rochester River Romance A celebration of the Genesee River with hiking, boating and entertainment www.cityofrochester.gov 585-428-6767 6…The Falls Harvest Festival in Montour Falls A farmer’s market, a grape-stomping contest, storytellers, a ghost walk and more. www.schuylerny.com 607-535-4300

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

C A L E N D A R

FREE information by mail. Life in the Finger Lakes offers you the opportunity to request free brochures and information from our advertisers. Simply circle the numbers on the adjacent postage-paid card and mail.

The advertisers will send information directly to you.

6-7…National Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Astronomer Judith Pipher and culinary expert Julia Child join seven other women as the Hall’s newest inductees www.greatwomen.org 315-568-8060

For a quicker response, visit www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com/vendorinfo.php and request information from advertisers online.

Pg. 49

Ameriprise Financial ..........................Info #156

Pg. 5

Kendal at Ithaca ................................Info #121

Pg. 49

Antique Revival ..................................Info #105

Pg. 83

Ketmar Development Corp. ................Info #152

Pg. 17

Aurora Inn..........................................Info #100

Pg. 85

Ketmar Development Corp. ................Info #151

Pg. 39

Bears Outdoor Play ............................Info #185

Pg. 12

Keuka Family Dentistry ......................Info #122

Pg. 17

Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes Info #140

Pg. 75

Keuka Lake Wine Trail ........................Info #180

Pg. 41

Belhurst Castle ..................................Info #101

Pg. 74

King Ferry Winery Inc. ......................Info #123

Pg. 39

Best Western Vineyard Inn ................Info #102

Pg. 63

Lane’s Yamaha ..................................Info #124

Pg. 76

Bethany Village ..................................Info #172

Pg. 82

Lazy Acre Alpacas ..............................Info #189

Pg. 24

Bristol Builders ..................................Info #155

Pg. 82

The Loomis Barn ..............................Info #125

Pg. 78

Bristol Harbour ..................................Info #103

Cover 3

Lyons National Bank ..........................Info #126

Pg. 16

Builder’s Best Design Center..............Info #104

Pg. 13

Marine Innovations ............................Info #127

Pg. 24

Cayuga County Tourism ....................Info #173

Pg. 31

Marvin Windows & Doors..................Info #128

Pg. 26

Cayuga Wine Trail ..............................Info #157

Pg. 7

Mitchell Pierson Jr. Inc. Realtors ......Info #141

27-28…Family Halloween Party at Strong National Museum of Play Crafts, entertainment, family activities and trickor-treating www.strongmuseum.org 585-263-2700

Pg. 15

Chemung Canal Trust Co. ..................Info #143

Pg. 8

Morrell Builders ................................Info #169

Pg. 83

The Cheshire Union Gift Shop ..........Info #106

Pg. 77

New Energy Works TimberFramers....Info #129

Pg. 25

Church Creative Flooring....................Info #153

Pg. 18

New York Wine & Culinary Center ....Info #181

Pg. 65

the cinnamon stick ............................Info #107

Pg. 6

Niles Gourmet Country Market ..........Info #182

Pg. 33

Clear Spring Publishing ....................Info #174

Pg. 51

Old and Everlasting ............................Info #146

NOVEMBER

Pg. 49

Clifton Springs Hearing Center ..........Info #166

Pg. 47

The Produce Place ............................Info #183

Pg. 32

Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic........Info #108

Pg. 6

Raynor Overhead Door Sales Co Inc. Info #170

Pg. 89

Cobtree Corporation ..........................Info #109

Pg. 89

Quality Wine Tours............................ Info #124

Pg. 67

Community Bank................................Info #110

Pg. 74

Red Jacket Orchards ..........................Info #148

Pg. 96

The Country Porch............................ Info #186

Pg. 47

Rex Simpson Architect ......................Info #130

Pg. 85

Cricket on the Hearth ........................Info #111

Pg. 89

Roses and Oak Ranch........................Info #142

Pg. 19

DCE Northeast Upright Bathing..........Info #175

Pg. 26

Seneca County Tourism ....................Info #132

Pg. 63

Design Works Architecture P.C. ........Info #112

Pg. 9

ShoreStation ......................................Info #133

Pg. 4

Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines................Info #113

Pg. 51

Spa Apartments ................................Info #134

Pg. 41

Earle Estates Meadery........................Info #145

Pg. 2

Taughannock Farms Inn ....................Info #135

Pg. 22

Earth Works Art Gallery & Studio ......Info #114

Pg. 2

Thomas Hartwell Photography ..........Info #164

Cover 2

Elm Croft Manor Bed & Breakfast......Info #171

Pg. 25

Timber Frames Inc ............................Info #136

Pg. 22

Esperanza Mansion ............................Info #115

Pg. 43

Timberpeg East Inc ............................Info #137

Pg. 67

Finger Lakes Conveyors Inc. ..............Info #158

Pg. 27

Tompkins County Trust Co.................Info #161

Pg. 96

Finger Lakes Dermatology ................Info #116

Pg. 41

Torrey Ridge Winery ..........................Info #145

Pg. 21

Finger Lakes Health............................Info #176

Pg. 3

Waterloo Premium Outlets ................Info #138

Pg. 65

Finger Lakes Premier Properties........Info #159

Pg. 33

Wayne County Tourism ......................Info #147

Pg. 89

Finger Lakes Railway ........................Info #154

Pg. 35

Wayne County Tourism ....................Info #150

Pg. 23

The Finger Lakes Show......................Info #177

Pg. 32

Weaver-View Farms ..........................Info #162

Pg. 63

Five Star Bank ....................................Info #160

Pg. 29

Western OTB / Batavia Downs ..........Info #184

Pg. 75

Floors & Walls ..................................Info #167

Pg. 28

Wilderness Log Homes......................Info #139

Pg. 47

Foster Custom Kitchens ....................Info #163

Pg. 28

The Windmill Farm & Craft Market ..Info #144

Pg. 11

The Furniture Doctor Inc. ..................Info #117

Pg. 43

Gateway Commons LLC ....................Info #118

MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING

Pg. 96

Gault Auto ..........................................Info #124

Accommodations ................................................Pgs. 98-99

Pg. 12

Geneva On The Lake ..........................Info #119

Attractions ............................................................Pgs. 92-93

Cover 4

Hart Hotels ........................................Info #178

Pg. 39

Heat-Line Corp., Div. of CML ............Info #149

Pg. 10

Hilton Garden Inn ..............................Info #120

Photographers ............................................................Pg. 90

Pg. 11

Holtz House of Vehicles ....................Info #168

Real Estate............................................................Pgs. 86-87

Pg. 13

Holtz House of Vehicles ....................Info #179

Shop Here! Retail & Business ........................Pgs. 100-103

Pg. 79

The Inn on the Lake ..........................Info #165

Wineries ..............................................................Pgs. 94-95

13…Scarecrow Festival in Fairport Music, food and scarecrows of every description www.fairportpartnership.org 585-377-6010 26-27…Adult Mansion Mystery Guests work together to solve a mystery at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion www.sonnenberg.org 585-394-4922

3-4…Champagne & Dessert Wine Festival At Swedish Hill Winery www.cayugawinetrail.com 800-684-5217 7-12…High Falls Film Festival Rochester celebrates the work of women behind the camera www.highfallsfilmfestival.com 585-228-0480 9-11…Christkindl Market at the Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum Fine crafts, musical entertainment, and traditional and ethnic food vendors www.grangerhomestead.org 585-394-1472 10-11…Keuka Holidays See the wineries decorated for Christmas and receive an ornament at each one www.keukawinetrail.com 800-440-4898 16-18…Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale Over 150 exhibitors at the Rochester Museum & Science Center 585-271-4320 17…Seneca Lake Wine Trail Deck the Halls Receive a grapevine wreath and a new ornament at each winery www.senecalakewine.com

Camping, Golfing, Dining and Marinas ......................Pg. 91 Visit Honeoye Falls! ..................................................Pgs. 74

24-25…Syracuse Thanksgiving Antiques Show 200 exhibit booths featuring an eclectic collection of antiques and collectibles. Held at the Empire Expo Center, NYS Fairgrounds.

315-686-5789

Visit Naples! ........................................................Pgs. 80-81

FALL 2007 ~

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ACCOMMODATIONS

20 years of hosting domestic & foreign visitors to the Finger Lakes 9404 State Rt. 414 â&#x20AC;˘ Lodi, NY 14860

S

(607) 582-6248

Visit Beautiful Belhurst

THE CLIFFS AT SODUS POINT A BED & BREAKFAST ON LAKE ONTARIO

Premier Attraction of the Finger Lakes 2 Exceptional Restaurants 3 Luxurious Hotels Wine & Gift Shop 2 Magnificent Ballrooms

This is just one of the views from our Bed & Breakfast which is situated on 5 plus treed acres with 340 feet on the water.

Restaurants, marinas, golf, gift shops, fishing, and galleries surround the Cliffs. Spend some time with us and we guarantee you will leave relaxed.

7961 Lake Road, Sodus Point â&#x20AC;˘ 315-483-4309 info@thecliffsatsoduspoint.com www.thecliffsatsoduspoint.com

Rte 14 South, Geneva 315-781-0201 www.belhurst.com

Finger Lakes Mill Creek Cabins

The Hound & Hare Bed and Breakfast Recapture the Romance

2382 Parmenter Road Lodi, NY 14860

Jacuzzi â&#x20AC;˘ AC Fireplace Antiques Romantic Breakfast by Candlelight

(607) 257-2821 â&#x20AC;˘ 800-652-2821 1031 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 AAA Approved

www.HoundandHare.com

607-582-7673 Two, fully furnished, pet friendly cabins nestled on 42 secluded acres near the national forest and wine trails. Available year round.

www.fingerlakescabins.com

The Glenmary Inn

6 ,"

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,AKEFRONT $R 'ENEVA .9

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Spectacularly renovated 1840â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italianate Inn. Seven beautifully appointed guest rooms, each with private bath, television, telephone and high speed Internet access.

Jacuzzi baths in our Bridal Suite and Groomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room. Elegant breakfast.

5 Star Service. Children welcome.

537 Glenmary Drive Owego, NY 13827 607-687-8819 www.glenmaryinn.com

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

Glass Magnolia Bed & Breakfast Historic early 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s country estate nestled in the peaceful rural charm of the Finger Lakes Wine region

English Tea Room Restaurant (open May-Nov) Red Hat Ladies Welcome 8339 N. Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ Interlaken, NY 14847 607-330-2809 www.glassmagnolia.com

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ACCOMMODATIONS W

e ce im en e t ell r re xc ne Th ty E Win li d ua ar Q Aw

Wayne County 14th Annual Auburn 6004 Route 21 Naples, NY 14512

Cheshire Inn Bed and Breakfast

Tel: (585) 721-2824

Relax, put your feet up, and rest awhile.

Peace and quiet await you at the Cheshire Inn

Bed & Breakfast Open House Tour www.waynecountybandb.com

W

Sunday November 11, 2007 12 Noon-5PM

$10.00 advance sale ticket price â&#x20AC;˘ $13.00 Nov. 9-11, 2007 Informationâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Call Wayne County Tourism (800) 527-6510

Featuring the finest meeting and banquet facilities for 6-600 people.

www.cheshire.com Email: desk@cheshireinn.com

Group and extended stay rates available. Pets and children welcome!

Close to Owasco, Skaneateles and Cayuga Lakes

75 North Street â&#x20AC;˘ Route 34 â&#x20AC;˘ Auburn (315)253-4531 â&#x20AC;˘ www.hiauburn.com

Travel Lodge

AVON CEDARWOOD

A Victorian Bed and Breakfast

290 North Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ Canandaigua 585-393-9937 â&#x20AC;˘ 800-508-2134 www.bellarosebb.com

Route 15, East Avon, NY 14414

585-226-3630

Your hosts: Renee Scorsone & Chris Miller Affordable luxury at its finest!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where each visit is another timeless vacation.â&#x20AC;?

Westridge B&B

The Candlelight Inn

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Victorian Charm with a European Touch.â&#x20AC;? An 1896 Eastlake Victorian â&#x20AC;&#x201C; elegantly quaint and comfortable.

Overlooking nearby village, lake & country sunsets.

3143 West Lake Road â&#x20AC;˘ Skaneateles, NY 13152 www.thewestridgebandb.com

Bed & Breakfast

A unique bed and breakfast located in the wooded hills of Canandaigua.

Choose from three luxurious suites with fireplaces and private baths.

Your Chalet B&B experience...

Beyond Breathtaking!

Antique furnished c.1828 Federal/Greek Revival, subtly elegant, not pretentious.

Charming rooms with private baths, TVs, AC, fireplace/jacuzzi suite, delicious breakfast. Small village inn near the Finger Lakes, Ithaca, Cornell, Ithaca College. www.candlelightinnny.com

3770 State Route 21 (585) 394-9080

www.chaletbandb.com

THE QUIET PLACE Spend a night or two in peaceful rustic luxury.

With a maximum occupancy of two, The Quiet Place offers complete privacy. One bedroom, living room, fireplace, kitchen, jacuzzi & bath.

V the

Vagabond

Located in the Bristol Hills

4343 Routes 5 & 20, Canandaigua, NY

Comfortable * Affordable * Centrally Located

Your home away from home!

For reservations or Information 585-394-2800 or 800-727-2775 On the webâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; www.fingerlakesinn.com

(800) 579-4629 or (607) 844-4321

STAYHGI

inn

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Switzerland of Americaâ&#x20AC;?

(585) 657-4643 www.thequietplace.com

Dryden, New York Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Imagine a haven of tranquility, nestled deep in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Quiet elegance on a mountain top in complete seclusion and ultimate luxury. Fireplaces, hot tubs, pool, gourmet candlelight breakfast overlooking our panoramic views known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Swizterland of Americaâ&#x20AC;?. A haven you will return to again and agianâ&#x20AC;Ś The Vagabond Inn at Black Pearl Freisan Stables 3300 Sliter Road Naples, NY 14512 www.thevagabondinn.com www.blackpearlfresian.com (585) 554-6271 â&#x20AC;˘ (585) 943-0340 Give your pets a vacation too!! www.hitor.com

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SHOP HERE! Heluva® Good Cheese Country Store

MAKE YOUR OWN WINE

6152 Barclay Road, Sodus, NY

www.fallbright.com

Stop in for a visit and a sample.

Heluva Good products, cheese cut off the block, country gifts, and in store specials.

Not Just Good...Heluva Good.

800-445-0269

Secure online shopping Winemaking Information Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe • Keuka Lake 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY • 607-292-3995

finger Lakes soap co.

Seneca Moon, Cayuga Mist and Keuka Amore’ Soaps available at wineries and gift shops, or online at:

www.fingerlakessoap.com

J

Wanted WWII Style Army Jeep Any Condition Jed Rotella 315-247-0336 jrotella@twcny.rr.com

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

Call for Monthly OPEN HOUSES

www.loghomeguy.com www.realloghomes.com

Call Ed Schoen 800-736-4360

The Carpet Rack

LAKE COUNTRY GARDENS AND FLORISTS, LTD.

Furniture Center Three Floors of: • • • • •

Specializing in

Fine Furniture Flooring Mattresses Window Coverings Gifts & Accessories

Weddings at Belhurst & Geneva on the Lake Flowers, Gifts, Candles and Plush

“Downtown Cohocton’s FAVORITE place to shop for Home Decor”

Linda Tate & Susan Peck

Finger Lakes from Space

POSTER Take the Finger Lakes home with you with this stunning poster of the Finger Lakes Region from Space! The photograph, taken by satellite, consists of high-detail satellite imagery with overlaid map information. The map detail consists of cities, towns, main and secondary highways as well as airports, the Erie Canal, state parks and many other features of interest. There is no other poster of the Finger Lakes as beautiful and informative as this one. Poster size - 25˝ x 39˝.

Paper Poster: $22.95 • Laminated Poster: $29.95

Exit 2 off I-390 8 Maple Ave, Cohocton, NY (585) 384-5507

100 ~

744 PRE-EMPTION RD GENEVA, NY 14456

315-789-1866 • 800-564-5182

W W W. L I F E I N T H E F I N G E R L A K E S . C O M

Call 1-800-331-7323 to order.

Dealer inquires invited.

www.atwatervineyards.com

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SHOP HERE! New building design, renovation, urban planning. â&#x20AC;˘ B&W and Color Photocopies â&#x20AC;˘ Printing - Newsletters, Stationary, Business Cards, Business Forms, Tickets â&#x20AC;˘ Mailing Services â&#x20AC;˘ USPS Delivery & Postal Permit www.keukalakeenterprises.com â&#x20AC;˘ 315-536-1274 226 Sheppard Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Lost Lake Gallery

2099 West Ridge Road Rochester, NY 14626 585.225.4310 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax 585.225.5336 www.nharchitecture.com

One of a Kind Events (OKE)

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tradition with a Twistâ&#x20AC;?

Antiques â&#x20AC;˘ Fine Arts â&#x20AC;˘ Handcrafted Items by Local Artisans For sale and display

Professional Bridal Consultant Specializing in Winery Weddings www.1ofakindevents.com â&#x20AC;˘ 607-661-3985

Travel the Finger Lakes in the Safest Vehicle on the Road. The All Wheel Drive Subaru.

Call Julie, who will put your needs first.

Open Mon thru Sat 9-5 & some evenings 147 Main St., Dansville, NY 14437 585-335-8480

Headquarters for

American Girl Doll Clothes And unique sewn items

Sewing Joys 102 Main St. Phelps, NY (315)548-8736

Hours: T-Th-F 10-1, 2-6 Sat 10-1

Julie Rotella Moore 800-887-7277 ext.281 / 315-729-8191 wmoore6@twcuy.rr.com

Gallery & Cafe´

Burnet Ave. & Thompson Rd., Syracuse 13206

An artsy, renovated barn with a two story tree in the cafĂŠ, surrounded by gardens, a labyrinth and farm animals, all of this overlooking Seneca Lake. SkyLand boasts over 300 local and regional artists There is something new every single day! â&#x20AC;&#x153;A FANTASY LAND of HIGH ART, EXQUISITE CRAFT, and FUN & FOODâ&#x20AC;?.

Customized Getaway Planning/Activities for Women.

585.393.9365 www.SimplyJustForTheGirls.com

7 miles north of Watkins Glen Directly on Rte 414 in Hector

Fall Sept. 7-Dec. 9 Fri, Sat, Sun 11-5

607-546-5050 â&#x20AC;˘ www.skylandfarm.net

ROUTE 96

8 4UBUF 4USFFU *UIBDB /:

5VFT o 4BU o " #FBVUJGVM .JӹVSF έ "SUJTUJD 'VSOJTIJOHT GPS :PVS )PNF

100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Kayaks & Small Boats Kayak Trailers & Roof Rack Systems A Finger Lakes landmark for classic gifts, extraordinary accessories for home and garden, handcrafted jewelry, apparel, fine stationery and whims w h i m ses! ie s!

VISIT OUR SHOE OUTLET Specialty Fitting â&#x20AC;˘ Large Sizes Special Orders & So Much More!

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to see it ALL to believe it!

Lawn & Landscaping Equipment Logging Supplies â&#x20AC;˘ Sales & Service 1035 Owego Road (Rte 96), Candor, NY

56 South Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ Downtown Canandaigua Open Daily â&#x20AC;˘ 585-394-6528

Call 607-659-POWER (7693) Toll Free 866-70-KAYAK powerandpaddle.com

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SHOP HERE!

Fine Women’s Clothing ...where your favorite outfit is waiting!

378 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026 (315) 364-7715

• David Brooks • Spanner •

• 600 West • Sigrid Olsen •

Susan Bristol • Vera Bradley • Fat Hat

Mon.-Sat. 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Sun. 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

Brighton • Elliott Lauren • Andria Lieu

Pat Rini Rohrer

Gallery

117 EASTERN BLVD. • PARKWAY PLAZA CANANDAIGUA, NY 14424 PHONE 585-394-7840 • FAX 585-394-7644 canandaiguaspiceco@yahoo.com • Over 350 herbs, spices & seasonings • NEW Finger Lakes Meat Rub Collection & BBQ Rubs make great gifts • Specialty gourmet items as seen on the Food Channels • Locally roasted coffees & over 40 loose leaf teas, some very rare • Large organic and locally grown section • Gluten Free Room including home baked breads and desserts

71 S. M ain S t . C anandaigua (585)394-0030 www.PRRgaller y.c om

See our Spring Classes Schedule on our website www.canandaiguaspice.com

F

Call or visit website for current store hours

TREEFORMS Furniture & Giftstore

Well worth the trip from anywhere!

Since 1966

Folks from the beautiful Finger Lakes Region have enjoyed millions of cups of coffee from Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters for over seven years. Our travels and roasting experience allow us to locate the highest quality beans from all over the globe. Freshness is guaranteed. Please visit us or purchase a bag of beans online!

-Diningroom 607-272-2913 -Occassional -Home Office Autumn -Bookcases -Bedroom -Futons going on now!

-Webkinz -Yankee Candle

SALE

www.fingerlakescoffee.com 800-420-6154

Solid Oak & Cherry Furniture

Visit our locations.

treeformsfurniture.com Layaway-Financing-Delivery Available

1302 Dryden Road Ithaca NY 14850

corner of Route 13 & 366 between Ithaca and Dryden

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Farmington Pittsford Plaza Corner of Routes Monroe Ave. 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) (Next to Michael’s) 585-742-6210 585-385-0750 Strong Memorial Hospital Elmwood Avenue Rochester, NY 585-273-4169

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SHOP HERE!

continued from page 6

P

festival. There was a photo in your article about the festival, and I know she is in as they were there last year.

What an issue! Keep up the good work, as the Finger Lakes area is a great place to live and to visit.

Discover...

Maxine Radcliff, Dundee

THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE The Charm of an Old Fashioned Christmas Awaits You… 361 Maple Avenue • Elmira, NY 14904 (Rt. 17/I86, Exit 56, Left on Madison, Left on Maple)

www.christmas-house.com • (607) 734-9547

Two Floors of Distinctive Gifts, Including Our Year ’Round Seasonal Shops Visit During Normal Business Hours.

Open Sundays in Nov. & Dec. 2 West Main Street, Clifton Springs 315-548-4438

Plug for Ontrak

I enjoyed the article and intend to visit Armory Square the next time I am in Syracuse. I was a bit dismayed there was no mention of Ontrak, www.syracuseontrack.com, a local rail service linking The Carousel Mall with Armory square and Syracuse University. I know the service is sparse but it does open Armory to the vast crowds at Carousel. If promoted, it could be good for both, and also give the area a potentially valuable transportation alternative that is struggling at present. Maybe this is worth a future article?

James Griepenburg, Pittsford

Something of interest for everyone

Your summer issue was wonderful.

I give my three children a subscription every year and this issue had articles of interest for each of them.

Every story and picture was outstanding, especially one exciting account of an event in my home town.

I enjoy every publication, including the colorful advertisements. We live in a beautiful are of the lovely state of New York.

Mary T. Berry, Watkins Glen

Let Us Introduce You to the World of Clematis • Clematis Specialists – Over 100 Varieties • Annuals & Perennials – Grown Locally in Our Own Greenhouses • Trees, Shrubs & Walk-through Display Gardens • Indoor Shopping

Spring Valley Gardens “Quality Growers since 1975” www.springvalleygreenhouse.com TWO GREAT LOCATIONS 3242 Daansen Rd. Walworth 315.597.9816

3100 County Rd. #10 Canandaigua 585.396.1460

32 YEARS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE & SATISFACTION

Cornell Sheep Program Blankets Created from wool of Cornell Dorset and Finnsheep, each blanket is serially numbered on the Cornell Sheep Program logo and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Red stripes at each end and red binding accent the 100% virgin wool.

Lap robe (60 x 48 inches, 1 stripe) $75 Single (60 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $101 Double (72 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $112 Queen (78 x 104 inches, 3 stripes) $139 8% tax (within NY)/8$ per blanket shipping

Cornell Orchards, Cornell Dairy Store, or the Department of Animal Science

607-255-7712 www.sheep.cornell.edu (click on blankets)

cspblankets@cornell.edu

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T H E

E A S E L

Floors, Ceilings and Everything in Between Amy Colburn creates one-of-a-kind illustrations on unlikely surfaces.

by Stacy Majewicz

T

ool trunks found on the side of the road, discarded cigar boxes, old metal pitchers – most people look at these things and see junk; Finger Lakes artist Amy Colburn looks at them and sees art. Everything has a surface on which she can paint.

Similarly, when others see an unpainted room as four bare walls, Amy sees a big blank canvas, or in the case of a certain child’s bedroom, an underwater fantasy.

Amy began her career as a freelance illustrator after she earned her degree in fine arts, majoring in visual communication design, from the University of Dayton. She worked for art studios, design firms and advertising agencies in the Rochester area, and created promotional pieces and commissioned portraits in her own studio.

Eventually, Amy got tired of painting on boards and canvases, and she decided to combine her love of illustration with her love of antiques. “At first I started painting on old trunks, chairs, rolling pins and other things people were going to throw away,” Amy said. “Once my friends and family got wind of that, they started asking me to paint other surfaces like cabinet doors, mailboxes and furniture.”

From there, painting murals seemed like a natural progression, so she decided to take the plunge. “I remember I was so nervous when I painted my first mural, but I thought, ‘It’s just paint. I can always paint right over it if it really looks awful!’” Amy said.

The major factor that sets murals apart from traditional framed work is obviously scale, but now, after having painted dozens of murals in homes and businesses, Amy is comfortable with the process. Inspiration for her work sometimes comes from the most unlikely sources, so Amy always carries a camera. “My family gets embarrassed because I’ll be driving along and just have to stop and take a photo of something that I find irresistible,” Amy said. The Finger Lakes region is full of inspiration, and Amy believes it’s one of the most gorgeous and culturally rich areas in the country.

In addition to collecting her own ideas, clients will often come to her with magazine clippings, greeting cards, a menu from a vacation spot or photos that hold sentimental value for them. “I really like the diversity of being able to personalize my work for each client,” she said. “Each mural presents a host of unique challenges, and that makes me grow exponentially as an artist.”

Amy has painted murals of trains and swing sets in children’s bedrooms, trees and faux tiles in bathrooms, a jungle scene in a pediatrician’s examining room, and a tropical scene in a restaurant.

She has painted floors, ceilings and all kinds of furnishings in between. She truly believes that any surface can be painted. Amy welcomes the challenges, and she does not intend to stop her work any time soon. “I will keep painting until I’ve run out of blank surfaces!” she said.

See more of Amy’s work at AmyColburn.com.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT...

BUILDING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP! LNB & YOU!

Trust the people at LNB At LNB, we’re neighbors in your community. We live here... we’re raising our families here... and we share your dreams for the future. That’s why you can trust the people at LNB to provide financial solutions that save you money, build your wealth, and help you afford virtually anything you need to make your dreams a reality. Call or stop by your LNB office and talk to the hometown people who can help.

Main Office 35 William St. Lyons, NY 14489 (315) 946-4871

Geneva 399 Exchange St. Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 781-5000

Lyons Routes 14 & 31 Lyons, NY 14489 (315) 946-4505

Newark 750 W. Miller St. Newark, NY 14513 (315) 331-0296

Penn Yan 205 Liberty St. Penn Yan, NY 14527 (315) 536-2300

Clyde 4 Williams St. Clyde, NY 14433 (315) 923-2100

Jordan 2 North Main St. Jordan, NY 13080 (315) 689-9530

Macedon P&C Supermarket Macedon, NY 14502 (315) 986-9681

Ontario 6256 Furnace Rd. Ontario, NY 14519 (315) 524-9661

Wolcott 5996 New Hartford St. Wolcott, NY 14590 (315) 594-6002

READER ACTION NUMBER 126

www.lyonsbank.com

Member FDIC

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READER ACTION NUMBER 178