To become a hang glider or paraglider and enjoy the freedom of sailing through the skies is not terribly difficult – but it may take years to become accomplished.
Story and photos by Derek Doeffinger
Rural Roads
“I never met a rural road I didn’t like.”
Story and photos by Bill Banaszewski
200 Years of the Erie Canal –What Comes Next
As the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary is observed, New York is embracing the complexity of that history – and looking forward with clear eyes and open hands.
Right at Home in the Finger Lakes
John Casey can approach a project from multiple perspectives – that of a builder, town insider and long-term resident.
Front Cover: Twilight falls upon the Erie Canal as it winds its way through Fairport, NY. The canal is the center of interest throughout much of the region. Read more about the Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversay on page 46. Photo by Derek Doeffinger.
Seneca Lake designed by Woodhouse.
Editorial & Production
Editor Mark Stash
mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
Associate Editor
Victoria Ritter
Graphic Artists
Maia VanOrman
Tammy Spear
Contributors
Bill Banaszewski
Christopher Bennem
Lauren Chamberlain
Sara DeAngelis
Derek Doeffinger
Ray Levato
Nancy E. McCarthy
Jennifer Morrisey
Chris Sharman
Karen Jean Smith
Richard Testa
Robert Testa
Darlene Ryan darlene@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
Business
Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal
“LowBridge, Everybody Down” is the title of the famous Erie Canal song that most children who have been educated in New York State, and across the United States, probably learned the lyrics sometime in their youth.
There’s a phrase within the song that goes “I’ve got a mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.” In my research for this issue’s editorial, I came across the fact that when the song was originally written around 1910-1911 by Thomas Allen, he used the term “Fifteen years on the Erie Canal.” In 1926 a folk song book was published by Sigmund Spade that changed the lyrics to “Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.”The song was made more popular by the folk singer Pete Seeger in 1954 when he first recorded it. I really don’t know why the words were changed, but I always associated the number 15 to be synonymous with the fact that when barges were pulled by mules and horses along the original Erie Canal, they were able to travel about 15 miles in one day. I’m not sure this is fact, but it’s my romanticized version of it.
This year, we are celebrating the fact that the Erie Canal was completed 200 years ago, a major engineering feat for
its day, and a huge influence on populating the midwest and western parts of the United States. Being able to move goods and people more efficiently and less expensively in a boat on a canal rather than in wagons on rutted roads and trails meant that the speed in which everything moved west increased exponentially.
Today I love to visit the canal. I’m not a boater per se, but I do enjoy the occasional kayak paddle. I’d love to get on the canal and experience a paddle sometime. I have been on boat cruises, like the Sam Patch out of Pittsford. I love riding my bicycle along the canal, and enjoy a nice drink every once in awhile at the end of the day in hotspots like Fairport and Pittsford adjacent to the canal. It’s a real gem in the region, and even though it’s not a major route for transporting goods any longer, we can still make use of it for recreational purposes, which doesn’t diminish its influence on the Finger Lakes Region.
mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com
Ithaca Falls by Eric Lax Studios
Iwasdelighted to read Lauren Chamberlain’s article “Historic Markers” in the March/April 2025 issue of Life in the Finger Lakes.
Several years ago I found a website waymarking.com. It started me on a fabulous journey. You may already know of it. People around the world submit pictures and descriptions of millions of markers. Some historical, some just things like McDonald buildings. But what they do is post the coordinates where these markers can be found. Most markers sit lonely besides a road, with no mailing address. But this website makes it easy if you have GPS.
I started in my own Village of Canaseraga, Allegany County. I found two markers. And from there systematically branched out in all four directions. At this point I’ve found over 3,000 markers from Syracuse to Binghamton, from Jamestown to Buffalo. I’ve visited them, where they still exist and have taken a picture of them.
Many people do a similar hobby which is called geocaching.
— Bill Finch, Arkport, NY
Iama longtime subscriber and major fan of your magazine. I grew up in Canandaigua and now make my home in Portland, OR. When I saw the cover of the March/ April 2025 issue, I have to confess that I teared up just a bit. It took me immediately back home – quite literally. I have tried to find a way to communicate with Andy Reddit, the artist who illustrated the front cover of the boathouses on Canandaigua, about this. I really want to talk with him – I have stories to share.
— Rick Stiggins
This is absolutely incredible! Thank you so much for writing such a heartfelt and beautiful piece about Madelyn (Country Singer Madelyn Rose, March/April 2025). You’ve perfectly captured her journey in such an authentic and inspiring way.
— Christie, Business Manager and Madelyn’s mother
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July 18 - July 25
Jason Vieaux & Friends
FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025 • 7:15 PM
COBBLESTONE ARTS CENTER
Grammy award winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux has been lauded for his eloquent and vibrant performances, placing him among the elite of today’s classical guitarists. Vieaux will be joined by Amy, Kevin, and members of the RPO.
The Music of Wine
SUNDAY, JULY 20 • 2:00 PM VENTOSA VINEYARDS
A Night To Remember
TUESDAY, JULY 22 • 6:00 PM THE LAKEHOUSE
Rhythm & Rapture
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 • 7:15 PM
FLCC - STAGE 14
Time For Three
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025 • 7:15 PM
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY ARTS CENTER
Grammy and Emmy award winning ensemble Time For Three de es conventions with a repertorie spanning classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles.
MAY
May 2...Amy Wheeler’s Nostalgic Oil Paintings at First Friday in Pittsford
Amy Wheeler is a Finger Lakes artist whose still life oil paintings, done in a contemporary realistic style, evoke a sense of nostalgia from her depiction of vintage objects. Meet Amy on First Friday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. Pittsford Fine Art
4 N. Main Street, Pittsford, NY 14534 pittsfordfineart.com
May 4…Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes Season Finale Concert Pianist Svetlana Smolina will perform one of the most famous piano concertos in film music, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. An afternoon of film music would not be complete on this day without a tip of the hat to film score composer John Williams, as we perform the theme from Star Wars. From the movie “Roller Ball,” Symphony No. 5 by Shostakovich closes the season with the musicians’ choice of favorite piece to play. On this Star Wars Day, we welcome movie fans in costume, dress to impress, or come as you are. 3 to 5 p.m.
Corning Museum of Glass
One Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830 cmog.org
(Continued on page 10)
It’s a real clay extravaganza at the 13th Annual Western New York Pottery Festival
The WNY Pottery Festival is the perfect showcase for accomplished ceramic artists to display and sell their stunning creations. But that’s not all – the festival is also a hands-on, interactive experience for visitors of all ages. Witness live pottery-making demonstrations, engage in friendly clay competitions and try your hand at shaping your very own masterpiece. Experience this age-old techniqune in a whole new way at the festival. Admission is free, and there’s no shortage of activities to keep everyone entertained. Kids will love our hands-on experiences, while adults can participate in a raffle, observe a Noborigama wood kiln opening and marvel at the mesmerizing Raku firing process.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 14 to June 15 at Studio Sales Pottery, 5557 East Avon Road, East Avon, NY. For more information, visit wnypotteryfestival.com or call 585-226-3030.
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Data Driven Decisions, Experience Driven Execution
happenings
EVENTS Contact event for details
May 9-10…Civil War Days at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State
Historic Park
Step back in time and experience history come to life. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the 1860s as reenactors bring the Civil War era to vivid reality. Explore authentic period encampments, watch leatherworking, witness a live working forge and attend educational seminars. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
250 Gibson Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 sonnenberg.org
May 9-18… CCE Monroe County Master Gardener Volunteers Tent Sale at the Highland Park Lilac Festival
Featuring a variety of lilacs, greeting cards and specialty item teacups for sale. Plus an opportunity to “Ask a Master Gardener.” Located in the vicinity of the Lilac Adventure Zone children’s playground. 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620
May 13-October 29…Live Music Wednesdays at Ventosa Vineyards
Free, local, live music happens year-round every Wednesday (and select other days), along with a buy one, get one happy hour. If the weather is nice, music is out on our terrace, which comes with a beautiful view of Seneca Lake and sunsets that will take your breath away! BOGO happy hour 5 to 6 p.m., music 6 to 9 p.m., and Café Toscana serves until 8 p.m.
3440 Route 96A, Geneva, NY 14456 ventosavineyards.com
May 17-18…Thunder on the Glen
2025 marks the 72nd anniversary of the Corvette, designed and engineered by General Motors chief stylist Harley J. Earl, who was inspired while attending the 1951 races at Watkins Glen. The first Corvette, quickly dubbed “America’s Sports Car,” thrilled onlookers at the races at the Glen two years later. Corvette Thunder in the Glen celebrates Harley Earl’s legacy with two days of activities at Clute Park on the shores of beautiful Seneca Lake, on the Village’s main street, and at the historic Watkins Glen International racetrack.
586 E 4th Street, Watkins Glen , NY 14891
May 22… Underground Railroad Walk & Talk
Join Historic Palmyra for an informative discussion about the Underground Railroad. The event will begin at the museum with a brief lecture, followed by a walking tour that includes several “stations” within the village. During the tour, you will hear inspiring stories that bring this important history to life. Admission is free to members of Historic Palmyra, $10 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at https://square.link/u/Cqb2tM9r, by calling 315-597-6981, or at the door. 7 to 8:30 p.m. 122 William Street, Palmyra, NY 14522
May 31…
FREE Community Paddle with the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum
Come to the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum to speak with staff and volunteers while enjoying some time out on the water and in the wetlands. Kayaks and paddles, canoes and paddles, and life jackets for children and adults are available to use at the museum. Or bring your own. 9 to 11:30 a.m.
3369 Guyanoga Road, Branchport, NY 14418 Visit fingerlakesmuseum.org to register.
(Continued from page 9) (See
“We take the fear and anxiety out of dentistry & provide a clear path to solving problems.”
Becoming a dentist isn't easy. It takes years of study, the ability to pass rigorous exams, and a steady hand to match a sharp mind. But for Dr. Gabriela Carranza, becoming a dentist wasn't the end of the road. She continued to study advanced dentistry for an additional eight years, specializing in prosthodontics and implant surgery.
Dr. Carranza's addiction to learning more to better serve her patients fueled her to become a Prosthodontist. Since 2015 she has served as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Rochester's Eastman Institute for Oral Health. In 2018 she became the owner of Victor Prosthodontics.
PROSTHODONTIST
If you've never heard of the term 'Prosthodontist' before, not to worry, you aren't alone. The title itself is a mouthful. However, in the world of dentistry, Prosthodontists are dental specialists who have completed at least 3 years of a prosthodontics residency program after completing the initial 4 years of dental school.
Experts at cosmetic and restorative dentistry, they are often referred challenging cases by other dentists and closely collaborate with them. Services Prosthodontists provide include crowns, hybrids, dentures, implants, bridges, veneers and TMJ solutions.
Q& A W I T H T H E
D O C T O R S
WHAT HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME I SEE A PROSTHODONT I ST?
" At the first visit to Victor Prosthodontics, either Dr. Carranza or Dr. Kahn will begin by completing a full review of your medical and dental history, including evaluating your diagnostic images. They will also spend time with you to understand your treatment goals - learning more about the outcome that you are looking to achieve. This allows the doctors to create a a customized treatment plan according to your needs.
As a patient at Victor Prosthodontics you can take comfort knowing that Dr. Carranza and Dr. Kahn are highly trained specialists who are skilled at treating even the most challenging cases."
HOW IS A PROSTHODONTIST DIFFERENT FROM A GENERAL DENTIST?
"We tend to go beyond the standard 'bread and butter' dentistry. "We treat patients who have genetic disorders, trauma or neglect, and instead of focusing on a single tooth we evaluate the whole mouth – and thus provide solutions to complex problems."
WH O NE EDS A PROSTHODONT I ST?
“In addition to difficult cases we also see patients who ha ven’t had a great dental experience in the past and are in need of a second opinion.
We take the fear and anxiety out of dentistry for our patients and provide a clear path to solving their problems."
Corning Museum of Glass Organizes Special Exhibition Celebrating the Full Spectrum of Colored Glass
The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) will host Brilliant Color, an exhibition that will illuminate how glass designers and manufacturers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries created vibrant and luminous, never-before-seen colors in glass. The exhibition will feature works of every color of the rainbow from the leading artists and brands of the era including Tiffany Studios, Lalique et Cie and Steuben Glass. Organized by Amy McHugh, Curator of Modern Glass at CMoG, the show will run from May 10, 2025, through January 11, 2026.
“Consumers around the turn of the 20th century were wildly enthusiastic about colored glass,” said Amy McHugh, exhibition curator. “Glass manufacturers met that demand with extensive experimentation in the medium, resulting in bold new colors and iconic designs.”
Between 1880 and 1930, in response to the invention of brilliantly hued synthetic dyes used to color fabrics, glass designers and manufacturers worked to push the limits of glass colors. These glass designers, some of whom trained
as chemists, experimented with new techniques to push the boundaries of what was possible at the intersection of glass and color.
Visitors will explore more than 100 historical and modern objects from CMoG’s permanent collection and the Rakow Research Library—each selected for the unique stories it tells about capturing color in glass.
The Corning Museum of Glass is the foremost authority on the art, history and science of glass. Live glassblowing demonstrations are offered at the museum and on the road. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-theart glassmaking studio. Visit cmog.org for hours and more information.
(Continued from page 10)
JUNE
June 4 and June 11…Wheel Throwing/Raku II
This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to learn and or develop their wheel throwing/pottery making skills. Build the first week. The following week the bisque pottery will be fired using a variety of quick firing techniques such as Raku-reduction firing and Obvara, an eastern European process of baking flourbased batter. Instructor is Tim Williams. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunny Point, 868 East Lake Road, Dundee, NY 14837
June 5-October 30…Corning Farmers Market
This bustling market is a treasure trove of delights — from the sweet allure of homemade doughnuts, the vibrant array of freshly-picked flowers and the rich, comforting taste of specialty cheeses, to the robust, high-quality local meats. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Riverfront Centennial Park Corning, NY 14830 607-937-6292 info@gafferdistrict.com
June 8-11… Feast, Farm, and Ferment: Exploring FLX Food, Wine, Beer and Agritourism
Join Hobart and William Smith Colleges for an immersive multi-day experience in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region. This program is designed for lifelong learners eager to explore the captivating stories behind the region’s wineries, breweries, cheeses, ice creams and more. The program is limited to 16 participants on a first-come, firstserved basis. 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York 14456 Register at hws.formstack.com/forms/labtl_feastfarmferment
June 13-September 12…Live, Outdoor Concerts Return to Downtown Ithaca! Free and fun for the entire family, the CFCU Summer Concert Series in Downtown Ithaca will be taking place outside and live starting at 6 p.m. each Thursday at the Bernie Milton Pavilion.
Local and national acts perform music in genres including jazz, blues, reggae, folk, hip hop, country, bluegrass, rock and more.
198-100 N Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
June 20-29… Rochester International Jazz Festival
Every June, the joy of music brings the world to Rochester to see legendary performers, familiar favorites, rising stars and new discoveries. The multi-dimensional nine-day festival presents more than 1,750 artists annually from around the world in 300+ shows at 20 diverse venues. Enjoy all genres of creative improvised music and unique musical sounds from many countries, highlighting international artists’ take on the only truly American art form – jazz. With the festival’s European-style format, you can park once and walk to and from all venues. 3 to 11 p.m.
See rochesterjazz.com for tickets on sale now and the full lineup.
June 23-August 15… LeTourneau Summer Camps
Christian-based LeTourneau Summer Camps is looking forward to all that is planned for this summer and can’t wait to see how God will move in the lives of their campers. Each week, in addition to the primary activities, campers will enjoy a variety of fun and engaging experiences, including group games, swimming, Bible time, Gaga ball, visits to The Purple Moose snack shop and more. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch and a mid-morning snack provided.
4950 East Lake Road, Rushville, NY 14544 letcc.org
Two of a Kind:
The Muse Duo
by Nancy E. McCarthy
Luke Benedict, a classical pianist/composer from Florida and Collin Holloway, a classical guitarist from Oklahoma, first crossed paths in 2017. They were sophomore college students at Eastman School of Music in Rochester and attended the same German class.
“We bonded over an appreciation of chess and cigars and quickly became very good friends,” said Holloway. “Eastman is an intense place. Everyone in undergrad is going through very trying classes, juries, weather and bad cafeteria food together which produces some deep bonds with your classmates.”
Benedict and Holloway’s friendship developed into an unconventional musical partnership. There wasn’t much existing repertoire written for piano and guitar instrumentation, so the compositions they discovered were often obscure. “We were hungry to perform then – and still are – and began organizing concerts after performing
together for only a few months,” said Holloway.
More than eight years later, the friends are still playing, performing and recording together as The Muse Duo. And it turns out that the lack of material for piano and guitar was not a permanent roadblock. Benedict, now also a professional music composer, composes contemporary works tailored to their instruments.
Prelude
Benedict, 28, grew up in Wesley Chapel in the Tampa Bay area. He began playing piano at 5 but got serious about it in high school. Benedict attended Howard W. Blake High School which offered a dynamic performing and visual arts magnet program.
At the recommendation of his piano teacher Rebecca Penneys, Benedict selected Eastman to pursue a piano performance degree. Penneys, an acclaimed classical pianist
Experiments, The Muse Duo’s debut album, was released in 2023.
Off the Dock Chamber Festival The Back Story
After recording the Experiments LP in the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles in July 2022, The Muse Duo played a community concert in the church. “It’s a gorgeous concert space,” said Holloway.
It was a shared program. The first half featured The Muse Duo showcasing Benedict’s compositions which included a solo guitar sonata, piano preludes and works for piano and guitar. Hagen (viola) and Pang (piano) performed in the second half with traditional repertoire and contemporary pieces composed by Hagen.
would provide performance opportunities for new and mid-career musicians and ensembles. Programming would encompass a variety of genres: classical, jazz, Baroque, contemporary and folk. Their chosen festival title was also meaningful to the locals: Skaneateles Central High School seniors have an annual tradition of jumping off the dock into the lake after their graduation ceremony at Cliff Park.
That inaugural OTD festival in July 2023 was held at the First Presbyterian Church with four concerts and two lecture recitals over four days. The program featured the co-founders plus Skaneateles natives Katherine Krebs (soprano), Matthew Payne (baritone), violinist Jimmy Drancsak, and bassist Sam Smith and other artists and ensembles not local to the Finger Lakes Region. The 2024 festival grew to five days and offered eight concert events in two venues and also included musicians with regional roots.
and music educator, split her time between Florida and New York. She was an Eastman School faculty member, and Benedict would be able to continue to study with her. Benedict liked meandering around Rochester. “There was a certain ‘ground floor’ or ‘grassroots’ quality to the place, and the music that attracted me to it initially,” he said. But there was also the culture shock of the cold and gray winters to adjust to.
Forming The Muse Duo was a bright spot, but when Penneys retired, Benedict transferred to Boston Conservatory at Berklee to continue his studies. In his senior year, Benedict developed a severe case of tendonitis and couldn’t finish his degree. He went home to rest.
Recording and performing in Skaneateles was the impetus for the four musical colleagues and friends to brainstorm about launching a new chamber music festival there. “The town itself is picturesque, especially in the summer, and there is an established audience of music lovers thanks to the renowned Skaneateles Festival,” said Holloway. The Skaneateles Festival, a well-established annual fourweek summer music festival, is entering its 46th season. There was also a high level of musical talent: Hagen knew of multiple professional musicians from his hometown who were classically trained at prestigious music conservatories such as Eastman, Berklee and Juilliard.
The Off the Dock (OTD) Chamber Festival made its debut the following summer. “Our vision was to create a platform for emerging artists to jump ‘off the dock’ into their careers while contributing to the rich musical legacy of Skaneateles,” Hagen explained. The festival
Hagen is the festival’s executive director, Holloway plays the role of artist and event manager, Benedict is communications strategist and Pang is digital content specialist. “The festival is truly a collaborative effort. Each of us have slowly but surely found out what we are best at contributing to the team and solidified our roles,” said Hagen. The organization anticipates attaining nonprofit status by the end of this year which will boost their fundraising efforts.
The 2025 festival, set for June 24 to 28, continues to grow. The Muse Duo will showcase new repertoire. Hagen and Pang will perform in collaboration with other artists. Other highlights include a Skaneateles Alumni concert featuring professional musicians who are Skaneateles Central High School graduates and Room to Spare, a Boston-based violin/ piano duo.
For full program and more festival details visit offthedockchamber.com. Follow the festival on Instagram @offthedockchamber.
Benedict, who was already composing music, went back to school in 2019 and switched majors. He achieved bachelor and master’s degrees in music composition from Lynn University’s Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton. During his time at Lynn, Benedict composed his first work for The Muse Duo.
Holloway, also 28, was born and raised in Oklahoma City. He began classical guitar lessons at 9 and as a teenager studied with Matthew Denman, a nationally recognized guitarist and music educator. Holloway attended the Classen School of Advanced Studies High School where he excelled at classical guitar through the school’s visual and performing arts program.
“Being in such a positive and supportive environment facilitated a deep interest and passion in classical guitar and its repertoire,” Holloway said. It eventually led to his acceptance to several conservatories for his undergrad degree. After visiting the Eastman School, Holloway knew immediately that this was where he wanted to go.
He attained two guitar
Off the Dock Chamber Festival co-founders (L-R): Joe Hagen, Collin Holloway, Natalie Pang and Luke Benedict.
performance degrees: his bachelor’s in 2019 from Eastman and his master’s from the University of Kentucky’s College of Fine Arts in 2021. After graduation, Holloway recorded A Musical Portrait, an album of classical guitar repertoire that he felt a personal connection with and showcased his artistry.
The album was mastered by Joe Hagen, a Skaneateles native who also attended Eastman School. Hagen (with a dual degree in viola performance and audio engineering) had previously recorded Holloway’s performances to
use as audition tapes.
Holloway moved to Boca Raton in 2021 to pursue the development of The Muse Duo with Benedict who was already living there.
A dynamic duo
In July 2022, the duo traveled to record their debut album, Experiments, at the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles. They recorded in Skaneateles at Hagen’s suggestion. The church had very good acoustics and a quality grand piano. Hagen engineered,
(Continued on page 22)
Left to right: Collin Holloway
The Muse Duo Luke Benedict
mixed and mastered the album which featured entirely original compositions by Benedict. Benedict characterized these works as melodically focused and neo-classically inspired with a modernistic rhythmic drive.
Hagen’s hometown of Skaneateles proved to be an inspiring locale for the project. Conversations sparked between Holloway, Benedict, Hagen and Natalie Pang (another Eastman alum) which led to the decision to collaborate on a new annual chamber music festival in Skaneateles (see page 18).
After Experiments was released in April 2023, The Muse Duo promoted the album with an 11-date tour in Florida, Oklahoma and at the inaugural Off the Dock Chamber Festival in Skaneateles. Their concert program was a mix of traditional repertoire and Benedict’s original works.
Holloway and Benedict continue to perform, and they anticipate another album in their future. Until then, they will be releasing live recordings of single compositions
on YouTube. In addition to Holloway and Benedict’s commitment to the development of The Muse Duo and the Off the Dock Chamber Festival, they both pursue solo careers. Holloway teaches guitar in his private studio and at the South Florida Conservatory. He performs as a solo artist and in various chamber groups.
Benedict teaches piano privately, performs and composes works for The Muse Duo and other ensembles. Most recently, his compositions were premiered by the Lynn Philharmonia and the Oklahoma City University Classical Guitar Ensemble.
Holloway can’t imagine doing anything else. He finds his music career engaging, exciting and fulfilling. Benedict sums it up this way. “I love to play, listen and create and I get to do that for a living. I couldn’t be happier doing the thing that I enjoy most on a day-to-day basis.”
Find out more at themuseduo.com. Follow them on Instagram @muse_duo
New York State Yoga Fest Returns to Letchworth State Park
Celebrate community, nature and wellness at the eighth annual New York State Yoga Festival. The festival is set to take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 at Letchworth State Park in Mt. Morris.
Organized by Hikyoga, an organization dedicated to helping people de-stress through time in nature and yoga, the New York State Yoga Festival is known as the “happiest day of the year.” This year’s festival, themed “90s,” will include all-day outdoor yoga classes led by certified instructors, local vendors, workshops, live music, food and multiple Hikyoga sessions that combine hiking and yoga.
“Every year we look forward to coming together with the community for a day of peace, movement
and connection surrounded by the natural beauty of Letchworth State Park,” said Nicole, a representative of Hikyoga. “This festival is about recharging your soul, supporting local talent and reuniting with yourself and others.”
Parking is available at the Highbanks Recreation Area; park entrance fees are waived before 9 a.m. Families are welcome, and children under 12 can attend for free.
Tickets are available for general admission as well as premium packages which include limited edition festival merchandise and pre-registration for a Hikyoga class. There are also vendor spots available. Tickets and vendor applications are available at nysyogafestival.com
A Revolutionary War General’s Visit to Geneva
by Ray Levato
“The welfare of America is closely bound up with the welfare of all mankind.” – Gen. Marquis de Lafayette
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the completion of one of the world’s great engineering marvels of its time: the 363-mile-long Erie Canal. It also marks the 200th anniversary of one of the last surviving heroes of the American Revolution’s visit to the Finger Lakes.
But let’s back up for a moment.
In 1775, young French nobleman Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to lend his support to the fledgling 13 colonies in their quest for liberty from the king of England. Lafayette was trained from a young age in the family’s long, distinguished military tradition and was commissioned an officer by the age of 14. He became interested in the American colonies’ revolt against the British, whom he blamed for his father’s death in the Seven Years’ War.
Lafayette soon rose through the ranks of the Continental Army and became a key aide to Gen. George Washington. He also lobbied France to give key support to the American Revolution. Lafayette distinguished himself on the battlefield at Brandywine in Pennsylvania, where he was wounded in the leg.
“Lafayette’s baptism of fire” by E. Percy Moran. Halftone photomechanical print. Courtesy Library of Congress
Lafayette was with Washington at Valley Forge, PA in the harsh winter of 1777-78. Other battles ensued, and Lafayette would eventually be awarded the rank of major general of the Continental Army. He played an important role in the war’s decisive victory in the battle at Yorktown in 1781.
Fast forward to 1824.
Lafayette, now an old man who for decades played various roles in French politics, returned to the U.S. for a year-long farewell tour at the invitation of President James Monroe. It would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the start of Revolutionary War in 1825. Lafayette was accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette, whom he named in honor of his old friend. Lafayette was the last surviving major general of the Revolutionary War. A crowd of about 80,000 people turned out for a welcoming parade on August 16, 1824 in New York City.
But the 13 original states had grown to two dozen. Now age 67, Lafayette began an ambitious journey to visit all 24 states, which eventually brought him to Buffalo and the newly opened Erie Canal. The planned trip across New York
“Lafayette was riding in a carriage drawn by six horses. They stopped under a balsam poplar tree on Bean’s
Hill in Geneva.
It was there that Lafayette was able to catch his first glimpse of the majestic Seneca Lake.”
— Longtime Seneca County historian Walter
Gable
by water afforded him a well-deserved rest from the arduous journey over thousands of miles of dirt roads by carriage.
But fortuitously there would be a change of plans that brought Lafayette to the Finger Lakes. He received a letter in Buffalo from James Rees of Geneva, who invited the aging general to take a side trip to his Ontario County city. So, Lafayette left the canal in the then-small village of Rochesterville and traveled again by carriage on the old Indian trail to Canandaigua and Geneva.
At One Exchange Street in downtown Rochester, a memorial plaque marks the exact spot where he spoke. It says: “On June 7, 1825, Lafayette met Revolutionary War veterans at Silvius Hoard’s Tavern.”
Lafayette’s relationship to Rees (1763-1851) dates to the early days of the Revolutionary War. Rees was the confidential clerk to Robert Morris, the wealthy Philadelphia businessman who is considered the “financier of the American Revolution.” It’s thought Lafayette may have witnessed negotiations between Morris and George Washington.
Rees first came to the Finger Lakes in 1797 when he was
secretary to the Commissioner who negotiated the historic treaty with the Senecas at Big Tree in Geneseo.
Longtime Seneca County historian Walter Gable wrote of Lafayette’s visit to Geneva, June 8, 1825: “Lafayette was riding in a carriage drawn by six horses. They stopped under a balsam poplar tree on Bean’s Hill in Geneva. It was there that Lafayette was able to catch his first glimpse of the majestic Seneca Lake. A signal gun’s firing announced Lafayette’s arrival, and nearly a dozen military companies marched to the tree all in full uniform. It is believed that as many as 2,000 people greeted Lafayette. After his reception at the tree, the general visited a nearby house that had been built in 1820. It became the Lafayette Inn for many years.”
Marquis de Lafayette engraving 1894
Auburn and Skaneateles that afternoon and evening. LaFayette Park in Waterloo is one of more than 150 places – cities, towns, parks and public squares –named after him.
Gable wrote Lafayette arrived in Auburn at 4 p.m. “where they were greeted by the firing of 24 cannons. The welcoming party included the young William Henry Seward and the festivities included a dinner for 200 invited guests and then a ball that lasted until 11 p.m.”
Lafayette set out for Syracuse that night to rejoin the Erie Canal and his journey to Boston, where he would help lay the cornerstone of a new monument to mark the 50th anniversary of the pivotal Battle of Bunker Hill.
Gen. Lafayette’s party left Geneva at 1 p.m., and similar grand welcoming ceremonies were held in Waterloo,
During his demanding but enjoyable 14-month tour, Lafayette visited more than 120 cities and was treated to a hero’s welcome and festive celebrations everywhere he went. Besides president Monroe, Lafayette also met with
SERVING THE FINGER LAKES FOR OVER 45 YEARS
“Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge” painting by Dunsmore.
Photomechanical print, halftone, color. Courtesy Library of Congress
three other Founding Fathers still living at the time: former presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Adams.
Lafayette celebrated his 68th birthday in the nation’s capital in September 1825 before returning to France onboard a newly built American warship – the USS Brandywine, named in honor of his heroic service in that Revolutionary War battle – courtesy of the new president John Quincy Adams.
Lafayette died May 20, 1834 at the age of 76. His historic trip in the United States was chronicled in a two-volume memoir published in 1829 by his private secretary Auguste Levasseur, and was translated into English, Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Journal of a Voyage to the United States.
Biographer L.G. Unger wrote Lafayette was “the last leader and hero at the nation’s defining moment.”
Ray Levato is a retired reporter/anchorman at WHEC-TV, Ch. 10 in Rochester.
people in the know Dick Murphy and Mary Worth
Howard Hanna Lake Group – The Moorings on Keuka
Full-time and seasonal residents can connect with nature at The Moorings on Keuka. The lakeside luxury homes, located on Keuka Lake, are located on a site once occupied by the Penn Yann Boat Company. The community has a wide array of amenities including 1,000 feet of shared docks, a communal clubhouse and fitness center and easy access to local attractions.
Howard Hannah Lake Group oversees home sales at The Moorings on Keuka. Licensed real estate broker Dick Murphy and licensed real estate salesperson Mary Worth share what drew them to the area and what makes The Moorings on Keuka Lake unique.
How did you get started in the real estate business, and what was your inspiration?
Dick: After years in a corporate management role that had me constantly on the move, I hit a point where I needed to change it up. I wanted something that would allow me to settle into a community – not just relocate every few years. The positive experiences I had with realtors during those moves inspired me to jump into the real estate world myself.
Mary: I had several moves in the past and found I absolutely loved the hunt! I think one of my favorite features in the New York Times is the “What You Get” real estate column that looks at residences for a certain amount of money in three different locations. Every person has a story and a quest, and I love learning what that is. It became a passion for me, and I started a career in real estate later in life. It was great because I had to learn the new ways of doing everything electronically. No old habits to get rid of! And I love that you can excel in real estate regardless of age.
How did you become part of The Moorings on Keuka?
Mary: It was completely organic. We were walking through the property to check out the progress and immediately fell in love with it. Herons, eagles, osprey ... it’s so quiet and expansive. We felt as though we’d stepped back in time. The place just has this magical energy –calming and energizing at the same time. While Keuka Lake can be busy, here it’s as though you’ve entered a peaceful oasis. We ended up buying a condo and became the project’s biggest fans.
What is unique and special about The Moorings on Keuka?
Mary: When we had our lake house, we spent most of our downtime working – yard work, tree cleanup, beach maintenance. It’s been such a treat at The Moorings to have all that taken care of. We get to actually live on the lake, not just maintain it. The homes are beautifully designed, with high-end finishes, and everything feels so spacious. Nothing taller than two stories, so you’re never overwhelmed by the surroundings. Plus, every home comes with a 30-foot boat slip, and the clubhouse is incredible whether you’re hosting a party, working out or just relaxing on the deck. This is a really wonderful place to be. And the HOA takes care of it all.
Are there other real estate developments in the Finger Lakes on which you are also focused?
Mary: Yes! The Water Street Condos in the Village of Penn Yan are a terrific option for people who may want to be snowbirds or full-time residents. The price point is attractive and it puts you right smack in the village a block from Main Street with a view of the outlet. Public boat docks, a kayak launch, pickleball courts and a fabulous bakery are across the street, along with shops, restaurants and history.
Financially both projects have great perks with low taxes (about one third of a single-family home in the same area) and very low municipal electric rates in the Village.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Mary: People! Advising people. Encouraging people. Having fun with people. We both connect deeply to what a person is going through in what can be a complex process. We are rock solid in making sure they are heard and that we are providing actual service. So many clients become friends. It means a lot to us. We love selling property whether it’s on one of the lakes, has a view of the lakes or is nestled in a village. It’s all good when we get to bring people to the next phase of their lives.
What are your roots? Are you a Finger Lakes native?
Dick: I was raised in a Rochester suburb, very close to my grandparents’ 100-acre farm. I lived elsewhere for about 20 years, and moved to the Keuka Lake area 25 years ago, where I proceeded to buy a vineyard and build a home. I love the outdoors here.
Mary: I was born and raised on the east side of Keuka along with nine siblings. When our home burned, we moved into what is now the Wagener Estate Bed and Breakfast in the Village of Penn Yan. So, I’m definitely a native but could not wait to leave Penn Yan to see what the world had to offer. I left for about 40 years. I have lived in glorious cities (NYC, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Tucson, Rochester) and loved it all but have been thanking God daily for my return to the most beautiful land and lakes to be found anywhere. I love being home on Keuka – the shale, the clean water, the air! These elements get into your DNA, your bones, and no other place feels as good as this.
Discover Historic
OWEGO
Owego, NY, the gateway to the Finger Lakes – where history, shopping, and great food meet! Whether you’re hunting for one-of-a-kind finds or enjoying a delicious meal, there’s something for everyone. Take a stroll through our historic town nestled on the banks of the Susquehanna River and filled with unique shops, local art, and cozy cafes.
Don’t miss the 43rd Annual Strawberry Festival on June 21 –join the fun with live music, great food, and plenty of family friendly activities!
lifestyle Freshwater is Life Saunders Finger Lakes Museum Celebrates
Local Ecology
by Sara DeAngelis
This is first in a series of three articles discussing the importance of water in the Finger Lakes Region. Look for Part 2 in the July/August issue and Part 3 in the September/October issue.
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” This Loren Eiseley quote has always inspired me. Late spring showers soften the soil, stimulating the growth of vines, leaves and flowers. Without freshwater, the essence of life, none of this would be possible.
Consider the miracle of freshwater: Each drop of rain flows into gushing gullies and meandering streams to finally reach the monumental wonder of our Finger Lakes. Water’s journey links the lakes and the landscape. For a moment, imagine being a droplet of water suspended in your favorite lake. Dawn breaks and sunlight warms its mirror-like surface. As the sun warms the lake, you and every molecule around you transform from a liquid to a vapor, rising into the air. You are still water, yet no longer confined. Now you float, weightless and wandering on the air’s invisible currents. Maybe you condense into fog, a pale veil hovering over the water or moving with the gentle breezes up the hill and among trees and vines. Or you might precipitate as dew, a momentary jewel before rejoining the earth’s thirsty soil. On a warm day, you may rise on air currents, along for the ride, and coalesce with millions of others into a floating vaporous cloud. You move, propelled by global circulation patterns. Your journey as water is one of transformation from solid ice to liquid to vapor, from surface to sky, from individual molecule to collective cloud. It is an eternal and intricate dance.
While I am still learning about the Finger Lakes, water has been instrumental in shaping this region and its landscape for millennia. As a consultant for the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport, I’m helping their team plan and write content for new exhibits. That process has opened my eyes to how the area’s ancient history is written in its rocks. Underlying the region are rocks of the Devonian period (400 million years ago), known as the “age of fishes,” when most of New York was a shallow saltwater sea. Like pages in a book, these sedimentary rock layers tell stories of creatures preserved as fossils, evidence of the distant past.
More recently, 10,000 years ago, massive mile-high glaciers shaped the region’s iconic features. They carved
out river valleys, smoothed mountains and left behind features that showcase their impact: a legacy of spectacular waterfalls, sculpted gullies, rolling drumlins and, of course, the lakes. The landscape surrounding us is a keeper of memories. The land and waterways give voice to the area’s ancient history, shaped by the movement of water, both fresh and frozen. As we explore the area’s rivers, swim or paddle on one of the lakes, we know that water is the very fabric of the Finger Lakes.
Freshwater is essential to life, yet on our blue planet, 97 percent of all water is saltwater, while only 3 percent is fresh. Of that, a small fraction – just 1 percent – can be found at the surface in rivers, ponds and lakes. We rarely think about water when it is abundant. Yet, as freshwater moves through our soils and subsoils like an invisible thread, it binds our landscapes to visible water ecosystems. Smaller streams, tributaries and marshes function as nurseries for fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Nearshore shallows and wetlands teem with life critical to the complex food webs that link microscopic organisms to lake trout and soaring eagles. These living networks are critical to the health of the lakes.
Water is our planet’s circulatory system, connecting organisms across scales. The branching patterns of watersheds distribute life-giving freshwater from sky to
land to lake, and back again. Humans tinker with the natural balance at the peril of future generations. Finger Lakes residents recognize the importance of in caring for the region’s freshwater resources through community stewardship. Many take their role as guardians of the lakes very seriously, and their positive impact compounds as lake associations and larger groups collaborate.
Appreciation and recognition of our connection with freshwater can be found across cultures. In the Thanksgiving Address, the Haudenosaunee people say in part, “We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms.” Caring for the lakes means making sure that we view them not as isolated bodies but holistically,
as land and water sympathetically and symbiotically interconnected.
Our freshwater sources serve as a mirror; our treatment reflects our values and choices. Freshwater systems are both delicate and resilient. While fragile, I’ve learned that our lakes and landscapes respond positively to restoration and protection efforts. Clean freshwater – this magical resource – belongs to all of us. It also belongs to future generations and the wildlife that call this region home. Let its importance guide us; we can all be its defenders, protectors and allies.
Sara DeAngelis is an exhibition and experience design consultant specializing in crafting compelling narratives for cultural institutions. A Fulbright Specialist and graduate-level educator on exhibition history, she brings scholarly expertise to her work with museums and nonprofits. Drawing on her training as a naturalist, she has spent the past decade studying ecological landscape principles and advocating for native plant gardens.
Andrea Nadel
Down to a Fine Art
by Nancy E. McCarthy
Penfield artist Andrea Nadel has loved drawing since childhood and painted for pleasure as an adult. But she really focused on her art after her 2013 retirement. By 2019, her techniques took a quantum leap with a boost from group classes with acclaimed Rochester artist Brian O’Neill. “I was a big fan of his work, and it took me two years to get the nerve to take his class,” Nadel said laughingly.
“Andrea quickly absorbed the program which requires patience, precision and a dedication to skill building that opened a new world of creativity for her,” said O’Neill. While he doesn’t limit students to specific subject matter, O’Neill encourages them to implement the knowledge learned from his class exercises into their
“Family Recipe,” oil on panel, 12” x 16”
Life-long memories and strong bonds are created between grandmother and granddaughter as they make cookies together in this commissioned painting. Reference photo provided with permission by Anna Hofer.
Right:
“Center Stage,” oil on panel, 7” x 9”
This small vase of flowers was spotted by the artist in a hotel lobby in Nairn, Scotland.
“This sweet thing is not too big but it packs a powerful punch” said Nadel.
“Stream of Life,” acrylic and metal leaf on canvas, 16” x 20” Merit Award from Penfield Art Association
“For many years I have walked the trail in Linear Park in Penfield, NY often drawn to the branch of Irondequoit Creek that runs through the park,” said Nadel. “The view and sound of rushing water over the rocks are captured in this abstract painting.”
work. “Andrea excelled in this area by creating magnificent landscapes, portraits, florals, still life and ultimately grew into exploration of abstract work. Andrea’s greatest creative asset is her enthusiasm tempered by her dedication to honing a craft.”
Nadel has hit her stride as an accomplished artist in her own right. She is a signature member and former president (2020-23) of the Rochester Art Club plus a member of Penfield Art Association, Main Street Artists’ Gallery & Studio and Railroad Street Artworks. She regularly participates in the art
The Artist’s Process Painting a Landscape
“Scottish Dream,” oil on canvas, 36” x 36” Juror Award from Penfield Art Association
“There is nothing more beautiful than the Highlands in Scotland. While visiting Ballachulish, Scotland, this was a view from the hotel,” Nadel said. This is the largest painting she has painted to date.
“Thefirst step is to find a subject that speaks to me on an emotional level,” Nadel said. “Since I can spend months working on a particular painting, the subject has to be appealing and something I want to spend time with.”
Flowers, landscapes and waterscapes are recurring themes in her representational paintings, and oil is her medium of choice. “The beauty around us provides such a reservoir for artists. Whether traveling abroad or in my own backyard in Western New York, there is an abundance of beauty that makes it challenging to choose a reference.”
Nadel takes photos of her selected subject and references the images on her tablet to make decisions about size, surface and medium. Nadel grids both the photo and the surface so the proportion and perspective are correct. Using the grid as a guide, she draws the image with a pastel pencil on her chosen surface. She then selects and mixes colors and begins to paint each section of the painting. Along the way Nadel photographs her progress – a useful visual tool to stay on track.
After completing the entire piece, Nadel makes adjustments and corrections such as adding highlights or darkening a section to increase contrast.
“Birkett Mills,” oil on panel, 16” x 20” The inspiration for this painting was the artist’s view of Birkett Mills in Penn Yan while hiking the Keuka Lake outlet trail.
Inset: Andrea Nadel at Penfield Art Association awards ceremony in February 2025 holding her Juror Award for “Birkett Mills” (painting top right). Nadel also won the Body of Work Award for all four paintings displayed behind her.
shows these organizations sponsor and won nearly 20 awards over the past five years. Her most recent two honors were a Juror Award and the Body of Work Award from the Penfield Art Association’s 2025 winter show.
“The Body of Work Award is highly meaningful as a recognition and appreciation of the years of work I have put into my art,” Nadel said.
A long and winding road
Nadel and her two siblings grew up in Cleveland, OH. Her love of art began at an early age, but she did not pursue an art career. Nadel graduated from ClevelandMarshall College of Law in 1978 and began practicing family law. Her art shifted to the backdrop of her life.
In 1981, Nadel moved to Rochester to accept a position with Thomson Reuters (then called Lawyers Cooperative Publishing). As an attorney editor, she wrote in-depth, analytical articles on a broad range of legal subjects. In later years she managed numerous publications and worked with renowned attorneys and judges. “The best part of my career was the many relationships that developed with my coworkers who I consider as family,” said Nadel.
She also met her future husband, John Alligood, through a mutual friend in 1981. The couple married in 1987 after moving to Penfield and welcomed their daughter Kimberly the following year.
With a full, busy professional and personal life, Nadel painted only when time permitted. She took a few Memorial Art Gallery art classes but was largely creating without benefit of formal instruction. Nadel’s early subject matter was
Andrea Nadel
primarily still life and landscapes.
Alligood, a mechanical engineer at Kodak, also had an art degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. He was a talented artist and particularly knowledgeable about perspective and composition. “He was my best friend and biggest art critic,” said Nadel. “I valued his opinion.” In the earlier years of Nadel’s art journey, Alligood sometimes left Post-It notes on her work, alternately praising or gently critiquing. Alligood passed away in late 2024.
“Though it’s been difficult finding motivation to continue my art, I know John would want me to keep painting and I plan to honor his wish,” Nadel said.
Art in focus
After Nadel retired from her 32-year career at Thomson Reuters, she took some classes at Art Stop, a fine art supply shop. In 2014, she unintentionally made her first sale after showing her landscape of Keuka Lake to a friend who asked to buy it. Nadel has sold numerous paintings since. Currently her work can be purchased at Railroad Street Artworks’ cooperative art gallery in Fairport, during art shows or from her website and social media.
Nadel’s go-to representational subjects are landscapes and figures
and are created using photo references of real people, animals, objects or landscapes. Abstract paintings don’t have that “road map,” and the end result is unplanned. She finds this both freeing and challenging. Though she starts with a nature-inspired image, such as rushing white water rapids or a tranquil fiery sunset, she doesn’t refer to it once she begins painting. “I try to capture the feeling of the piece,” Nadel explained.
Acrylics are her medium of choice for abstracts, but they dry fast so she works quickly. “I don’t draw anything on the canvas but rather start painting the entire piece in one session,” she said. Nadel often uses an acrylic gel and metal leaf to build texture in these paintings.
Some artists develop a recognizable, consistent style, but Nadel eschews labels or being pigeonholed into a certain art category. Though she gravitates naturally toward bright colors and high contrast, versatility is the hallmark of her wide range of work.
“Over the years, I have witnessed Andrea’s growth as an artist,” said her friend Dara Donaghy of Pittsford. Donaghy owns four Nadel paintings which exemplify the artist’s range: an abstract, a landscape, still life and a pet portrait. “Andrea’s art isn’t limited to one genre. She is brilliant with portraits and abstracts, and her landscapes are beautiful. Andrea is comfortable with a paintbrush, a pencil or chalk in her hand.”
Utilizing different mediums to capture countless captivating subjects, Nadel continues to perfect her skills down to a fine art.
To view Nadel’s work, visit andreanadel.com. Follow the artist on Instagram @andreagnadel.
“Bacchante,” oil on panel, 12” x 16” Merit Award from Penfield Art Association
“This is a painting of the beautiful sculpture by Francis de SaintVidal at the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, in Briones, La Rioja, Spain. She has that classic beauty that defies time,” said Nadel.
Rustic Charm Waterfront on the
oodhouse first designed and built a timber frame home on the east side of Seneca Lake for David and Faye in 1992. They loved their home, and so, when the opportunity arose to build a new home on the property a few miles south, they contacted Woodhouse and arranged a meeting.
“Woodhouse owner Pat Seaman met us on the building site with the company architect and a potential builder,” recalled David. “It was a perfect collaborative listening session which they turned into a rendering within two weeks. Two timely revisions later, we had our design and budget.”
As dusk settles, this timber frame home glows warmly against its wooded backdrop. Expansive glass walls invite the beauty of nature indoors, while the wrap around deck provides breathtaking views of the landscape. A gently lit pathway leads to a private dock, perfect for enjoying peaceful waterfront moments.
Rustic Charm Waterfront on the
Above: Inside, the home’s ceilings and exposed timber trusses create a spacious yet intimate ambiance. Soft natural light pours in through large windows. As the light shifts throughout the day, it highlights the warmth of the wood interiors and brings out rich textures and subtle tones, enhancing the home’s natural beauty.
Below: This lakeside home seamlessly blends modern luxury with organic architecture. It features dramatic overhangs, exposed wooden beams and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Both the upper and lower levels offer shaded outdoor spaces, thereby creating the perfect spots to take in the breathtaking surrounding property.
Above: This stunning home merges contemporary design with rustic charm. Wide, low-profile rooflines and warm wood accents harmonize effortlessly with the surrounding landscape. A lush, untamed garden frames the entrance, its wild beauty creating a serene and inviting pathway to the front door. Vibrant blooms and cascading greenery soften the architecture.
Below: This inviting kitchen balances functionality and charm with rich wood cabinetry, exposed beams and a cozy atmosphere. The large island provides ample space for cooking and gathering, while expansive windows frame stunning outdoor views. A handcrafted chandelier adds a unique artistic touch and enhances the rustic yet refined aesthetic.
That meeting introduced design concepts like Asian influences, 19th century train stations and a focus on how light moves through a building. The result is a contemporary timber frame aesthetic surrounded by terraced gardens and dominated by Seneca Lake views.
“We wanted to see the lake from every room and get as much light inside as we could. The design team accomplished that and added a large clerestory that created dancing shadows which brought the rooms to life all afternoon long.”
The Woodhouse building system consists of the timber frame (southern yellow pine interior timbers and white oak on the exterior), polyurethane structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the walls and roof and Andersen 400 series windows and doors. Finishes include low-maintenance fiber cement siding and high-definition architectural shingles on the roof.
“The natural beauty of the posts, rafters and beams created a warmth to the open spaces during every season of the year. And, we admire the architectural framework of our supporting timbers every day.”
Contact Woodhouse, The Timber Frame Company by calling 1-800-227-4311, emailing sales@timberframe1.com or visiting timberframe1.com.
Beyond the Ordinary
What Comes Next 200 Years of the Erie Canal
The packet boat Sam Patch crusies the canal in Pittsford.
by the New York State Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Erie Canal Museum and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
n 1825, New York State opened the Erie Canal – a bold engineering feat parting forests and hills to link Albany to Buffalo, a whopping 363 miles away at the time. In one of the most significant shifts in the young nation’s development, New York transformed from a frontier into a force. The canal shortened shipping times, catapulted New York City into global prominence and helped new towns across the state spring up almost overnight.
It also reshaped the land and the lives that had long existed here. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, who had used these waterways for centuries, were pushed further from their lands. The canal was built largely by immigrant and child laborers, many of whom never saw the wealth their work enabled. As we mark the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary, New York is embracing the complexity of that history – and looking forward with clear eyes and open hands.
This bicentennial isn’t just about memory. It’s about momentum.
Across the state, the Erie Canal is being revitalized – not just as a remnant of the past, but as a living system that supports communities, ecosystems and economies. It’s a living museum still writing its story – a moving, evolving system of waterways and trails that still connect people, places and ideas.
From freight to festival: A canal reinvented
The days of mules and weighlocks may be over, but the canal’s spirit of movement lives on. In the last decade, canal leaders have reshaped how communities interact with the canal. The once-industrial waterway is now a destination for recreation, heritage tourism and environmental stewardship.
The Empire State Trail, completed in 2020, follows much of the canal’s historic route, drawing walkers, runners and cyclists from around the world. In the Finger Lakes Region, the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, which connects the Erie Canal to Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, offers a stunning entry point for boaters, paddlers and those looking to dip a toe into canal life – without ever leaving the water.
Programs like On the Canals provide free, inclusive excursions – from accessible kayaking to guided hikes – designed to get more New Yorkers exploring their canal system. Festivals, markets, concerts and local art installations are finding their homes along the corridor.
(Continued on page 48)
The Erie Canal will be covered throughout 2025 in Life in the Finger Lakes magazine. Look for this icon to signal similar articles.
Photo courtesy Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Photo courtesy Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Photo courtesy BoatUS
A canal lock in Waterloo on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, which leads to the Erie Canal.
This is what revitalization looks like: not just repairs, but relationships. Not just infrastructure, but invitation.
200 years, 200 miles, countless stories
The canal has always been a stage for change. It became a current of ideas as well as commerce, carrying abolitionists, suffragists, preachers and reformers across the corridor. Today, the Canal Corporation and its partners are working to bring those stories forward, especially the ones that were too often left behind.
At Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, interpreters are deepening the narrative around the land’s original stewards, highlighting how the canal disrupted Haudenosaunee territory. Sites like the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park offer glimpses of the canal’s evolution across time while embracing new uses for modern visitors.
This honest reckoning with history is part of a broader mission: to preserve what matters, and to invite more people into the story. That’s why the Canal Corporation is focused on expanding accessible recreation, supporting small businesses and local tourism and planning long-term improvements that account for climate resilience and environmental protection.
In other words, the canal’s next century will be defined not by what it moves but by how it moves us.
The Erie Canal winds through Pittsford and other small and large communities across New York State.
Travel the canal – from NYC to Buffalo
For those looking to experience the canal’s evolution firsthand, the Erie Canal: America’s Gateway Tour offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hosted by the World Canals Conference (but open to the public), this guided tour runs September 16 to 20, taking participants on a curated journey from New York City to Buffalo.
You’ll visit national and state historic parks, travel by boat and motorcoach, and explore the sweeping cultural, culinary and natural landscape of the canal corridor. Stops include:
• Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, where so many immigrants first entered the U.S.
• The Walkway Over the Hudson, with its breathtaking views of the river that inspired generations
(Continued on page 50) 200 Years of the Erie Canal
Want to get involved?
• Find events, festivals and volunteer opportunities at eriecanalway.org.
• Follow the Seneca Chief, which will make stops across the system this fall.
• Take the Canalway Challenge and earn a commemorative patch.
• Plan a day trip along the Empire State Trail or explore a nearby historic site.
• Watch for performance dates from the Albany Symphony along the canal this summer.
• Join a free On the Canals excursion – or just grab a paddle and make your own memory.
Photo by Mark Stash
Flower City Rowing participated in the 2024 Pull the Plug Regatta on the Erie Canal in Pittsford last fall.
by Cheryl Longyear
Thisyear marks the completion of building the Erie Canal, America’s grandest and influential manmade waterway, first known as Clinton’s Ditch. To honor this extraordinary event, an epic drama, “Clinton’s Ditch,” will be performed in the Finger Lakes Region.
The play chronicles the creation of the canal from the moment it was conceived by Jessie Hawley, a Western New York flour merchant. “Clinton’s Ditch” depicts the canal’s setbacks as well as its effects on area residents, including Governor Dewitt Clinton, who championed the canal’s construction.
Playwrights Anne Paris and Hugh Pratt from Buffalo spent five years researching and writing the play. The play is directed by retired Port Byron School drama director and Conquest Town Historian, Joni Lincoln. Merlyn Fuller will provide accompanying music.
“Clinton’s Ditch,” sponsored by the Old Mentz Heritage Center in Port Byron, is set for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 21, 7 p.m. June 27 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 28 at the Canal Society of New York State’s Samuel Center for Canal History, 38 Rochester Street in Port Byron. Tickets will be $10 at the door. Visit old-mentz.org/events for more information.
200 Years of the Erie Canal
• A canal lock experience on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal
• A visit to the original site of a 17thcentury Seneca town, to better understand the impact of canalbuilding on Native communities
• Curated meals, local craft beverage tastings and stories woven through the trip
This is not your average group tour. It’s a deep dive into what the canal was, what it is and what it still can be.
Tour details and registration are available at wcc2025buffalo.com/tours
A living, working waterway
Despite what some may think, the Erie Canal is far from a relic. Each spring, the canal reopens for navigation, welcoming boaters from across the world. For the bicentennial, the 2025 navigation season will begin earlier and run longer – from May 16 through November 3 – giving visitors
even more chances to explore.
While many see the canal from the towpath or the deck of a boat, others see it as a classroom, a job site or even a stage! In 2025, the Albany Symphony Orchestra will be performing along the canal corridor as part of a new partnership, turning locks and lift bridges into sites of sound and celebration.
The Canal Corporation continues to invest in innovative programs like Canal Clean Sweep, where volunteers help prepare the trails and waterways for summer visitors, and the Canalway Challenge, a pick-your-distance milestone challenge that invites New Yorkers to walk, run, cycle or paddle their way into the canal’s history.
Or join cyclists from around the world as they ride from Buffalo to Albany for the annual Cycle the Erie guided bicycle tour.
In short? There’s no one way to experience the canal. And that’s the point.
A bicentennial built for everyone
As we celebrate the Canal’s 200th birthday, the goal isn’t to look back with nostalgia. It’s to look around – and forward – with purpose.
The work of revitalization is ongoing. It includes
rethinking how infrastructure can support small towns. How trails and boats can be made accessible to everyone. How storytelling can elevate truth without erasing pride. And how a 200-year-old waterway can still inspire wonder in a child skipping stones beside a lock.
So, whether you’re signing up for a 200-mile ride, taking the Gateway Tour or simply watching the Seneca Chief replica boat sail through your town, know this: you are part of the canal’s story. You always have been.
The next 200 years are ours to shape.
New York’s Exclusive Moomba Dealer
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product picks
the back by the motor for pontoons and other boats without swim platforms. REEF DECK makes the water accessible – the way it should be. $1,599
Crown Jewelry
Check out “Reach for the Stars.” mycrowndowntown.com
Airy Acres
Jump into warm weather with the 2023 Crosswind, a blend of Riesling, gewürztraminer, and rkatsiteli. Off-dry and full of fruit, this wine brings summer to your mind! $20 airyacresvineyard.com
Pettis Pools
Volare by Mallin dining set includes nine pieces –six dining chairs, two swivel chairs and one 42-by-76 slate table. If it’s patio, it’s Pettis! $5,199 pettispools.com
German Brothers
Enjoy the wave and that smooth Cobalt ride with the Cobalt R4 Surf germanbrothers.com
Billsboro Winery
Saluti is our version of sparkling wine, delightfully bubbly with notes of Meyer lemon and green apple. It’s perfect for your large, small or everyday celebration! $25 billsborowinery.com
CabAve Cabinets
CabAve Cabinets can help with your kitchen and more. Whether you’re renovating, refacing or building a new home, it’s easy to get what you want with our simple step-by-step process. cabave.com
Wine Country Wearables
Crafted in Upstate NY of solid 14K gold and sterling silver, our unique and versatile jewelry is made to be seen! winecountrywearbles.com
Ventosa Vineyards
Saggio XIII won gold, silver and bronze awards! Our Bordeaux blend is fruit-forward, with notes of caramel, supple leather, hints of black cherry and strawberry, with warm, silky tannins. A crowd-pleaser! $39.95 ventosavineyards.com
Fireplace Fashions
Introducing the Heat & Glo 6KX gas fireplace – the pinnacle of modern hearth design and performance. Say goodbye to chilly nights and hello to the captivating glow of lifelike flames, all at the touch of a button. fireplacefashions.com
Fingerlakes Bell Co
Bells, bells, bells. We have a bell for each of the Finger Lakes and lakes of New York. Visit us Saturdays at the Windmill Market in Penn Yan or order online. flxbells.com
Artizanns
Susan Huedepohl makes enchanting ceramics like this birch tree” house to add whimsy to your décor. artizanns.com
Long Point Winery
The 2023 Sweet Lissy is a sweeter style Riesling with notes of peach, apricot and apple. Serve chilled. longpointwinery.com
Lukacs Pottery
These hand-thrown stoneware bowls are available in a variety of sizes and colors. They are safe for everyday use in the microwave, oven and dishwasher. $30 to $50 lukacspottery.com
product picks
Silver Lake Marine
The Crest Caribbean Upper Deck 250 pontoon boat features Mercury 300hp engine and an upper deck with a water slide and diving board. On sale for $129,990 silverlakemarine.com
Rasa Spa
Give the gift of wellness with a Rasa Spa gift card! Available in any amount and instantly delivered, they can be used for any service or product in our boutique. Available online or in-spa! rasaspa.com
Milly’s Pantry
Invented in Dansville, granola has been a famous breakfast food since 1863. The Dansville Granola Co. granola, found at Milly’s Pantry, uses top ingredients to start your day. 19 Main Street, Penn Yan
Seager Marine
With the Freedom Boat Club, you get to spend your time where you’re meant to be – on the water enjoying boating adventures. freedomboatclub.com/franchises/freedom-boatclub-of-canandaigua/seager-marine
Pettis Pools
Cape Cod by Kingsley Bate is a two-piece deep seat collection. Includes a Cape Cod cushion sofa and Cape Cod cushion lounge chair. If it’s patio, it’s Pettis! $2,699 pettispools.com
Rt. 96 Power & Paddle
Hit the water with the one-of-a-kind Hobie Adventure Island kayak. Spend the day paddling, pedal hands-free or sail to the end of the lake with this amazing 17-foot sail and outrigger combo. $4,999 powerandpaddle.com
Lazy Acre Alpacas
Alpaca capelets offer a touch of elegance. These symmetrical summer-weight 100-percent baby alpaca knit capelets come in turquoise, denim, purple, black and burnt orange. lazyacrealpacas.com
Reed Homestead
Reed Homestead has your summer covered with home and fashion! 8728 Main Street, Honeoye reedhomestead.com
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of sparkling wine made at Dr. Frank with the 2021 Brut. This traditional method sparkler is aged for at least 24 months in our historical underground cellar. $34.99 drfrankwines.com
Rural
For as long as I can remember, the natural world fascinated me.
When I was 5 years old, I played in a patch of sand under a large oak tree in our yard – I called it “Billy’s Pond.” Sitting at the edge of the pond with a stick-and-string fishing pole, I pretended to catch enormous fish. After telling my parents about my catches, they began to worry about my all too creative imagination.
Years later, we moved close to a park which was my new sanctuary – fields, wetlands and a forest with dirt roads. I caught frogs and salamanders with friends. My first real fish were large carps caught with hook, line and nets. I explored the forest and the fields alone.
As I grew up, I dreamed about what my future would bring. Was there such a job where I could both learn, fish and teach about the natural world?
There was. After graduating college, the newly established Finger Lakes Community College hired me to teach and to develop a new environmental conservation degree program. I was in heaven.
Starting my new job, I reminisced to the days I would say to myself, “I never met a forest, stream or country road I didn’t like.” Now more than 20 years into retirement, I am still drawn like a magnet to these environments.
Roads
story and photos by Bill Banaszewski
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.”
– Angela N. Blount
My teaching position started in 1968, and I moved with my young family to Naples just south of Canandaigua Lake. It was no accident that our home was surrounded by forests, streams, lakes and rural roads, all of which would require exploring in my free time and on field trips with my students.
Now, back to “I never met a rural road I didn’t like.” One beautiful morning, an early spring thaw awoke the earth. It was time to explore a dirt road near my home. Against the best advice of my wife, off I went.
Ignoring that the thaw was quickly turning the road to mud, I motored on, and up the hill I went. In no time the car was bogged down so deep in the mud that I couldn’t open the car door. Mind you, I wasn’t driving a fourwheel drive truck but foolishly a totally ill-equipped Corvair. My short-lived adventure was over. I climbed out the window, dropped deep into the mud and trudged down the hill back to my house to call for a tow.
The tow truck driver suggested we wait a few days until a predicted freeze would harden the road. So, two days later as we were towing the Corvair, he said, “I thought college professors were supposed to be smart.” My best retort was I’m just an instructor not a professor yet. After that episode, I admit that I had found one rural road that I really didn’t like. But I wasn’t
Rural Roads
going to let one muddy road interfere with my calling to explore the back roads of the Finger Lakes.
My kind of rural road passes through sparsely populated areas with no commercial development and is unpaved with no traffic, no stop lights and few stop signs. Inspired by my memories of some of the country roads I had explored years ago, I revisited some of them. My first stop was the “old stuck-in-the-mud” road, now completely paved. Next stop was Maxfield Road where I had lived for nearly 30 years; it, too, is paved.
One of my favorite roads was Monkey Run, a rather rugged, narrow unpaved road that meandered from Naples through hardwood forests south of Honeoye, Canadice and Hemlock lakes, eventually ending near the old Conesus Inn on the east side of Conesus Lake. Even though the road was rugged, it was well worth the trip to enjoy the inn’s renowned prime rib dinners. It took me awhile to find Monkey Run again. No, it’s not paved, but now it’s a private road, restricting access to the property and its hundreds of forested acres. I can’t blame the owners for wanting the land for their own enjoyment.
Driving along the winding, curving country roads of the Finger Lakes reminds me of the days I fished meandering streams. One bend after another prevented me from seeing
much ahead. Of course, I had to keep going a little further just in case there would be a large hole full of brown trout, just waiting to take a juicy night crawler.
Some roads are undulating ribbons with dips and ridges that can also hide what is just ahead. Coming to the top of one dip, a doe and three fawns were crossing the road right in front of me. It was a close call!
I have great memories of riding along a roller coaster road. “Over the river and though the woods to Grandmother’s house we go” at Thanksgiving. If the weather was good, my dad would take a little side trip on undulating country roads. He would accelerate, and the car would go airborne. I would get a queasy feeling in my stomach, even as we all yelled, “Do it again!” My mom warned him that his shenanigans would spoil our Thanksgiving celebration, but they never prevented me from having seconds or even thirds.
Driving down an unfamiliar road back in the boonies, one sharp turn followed another. Breaking out of the shaded woods into sunlight, a fawn stood in perfect light along the roadside. The nervous but curious deer kept rotating its ears and head, raising and twitching its tail, and stomping a back and front foot at the same time. After nearly five minutes, it bounded off.
and eventually decay. Around the abandoned properties, old axes left in tree stumps, scattered pots and pans and old shoes are the only evidence I found that people once lived there.
Nevertheless, Finger Lakes family farms continue to operate even in the middle of nowhere. I came upon several farmers during my travels, and the ones I spoke with were very friendly and seemed content with their rural life.
I have encountered many attention-
I followed along that winding road and again broke into sunlight; green, ripening cornfields covered acres and acres as far as the eye could see. Further on down the road, another scene unfolded that I won’t easily forget. Massive wind turbines, some turning slowly others silent, towered over fields of wheat, clover, potatoes and corn in every direction.
Abandoned homes, barns and cabins are a common sight. Behind each of these forgotten buildings is a story. I can’t help but wonder why they were deserted. Was it poor health, old age, a tragedy, harsh weather or the inability to handle the hardships of rural life? It is well documented that starting in the late 1800s and continuing into the 1950s the older children of farm families moved into towns seeking an opportunity for better wages. With their children gone and no longer able to handle working from dawn to dusk, six or seven days a week, the older folks packed their meager belongings and headed to town for a simpler life. In no time the forces of nature – wind, rain, ice and snow, as well as the invasion of vegetation – caused the buildings to crumble into the ground
swallowed by the tree. It’s likely that a family named Deusenbery lived on that road at one time. Once I came upon an electric coffeepot, full and plugged in, hanging from a roadside telephone pole! I’m not sure it works any more or if it ever did, but clearly someone was hospitable and has a good sense of humor. Bring your own cup.
No matter the season, there are some very special scenes to be found on rural roads throughout the Finger Lakes Region. Pick up a good map, don’t rely on GPS and turn off the highway onto a dirt road. One last bit of advice: If you come upon a sign saying “Seasonal Road,” listen to your wife!
Hang out with vultures and hawks Surfing the Sky
story and photos by Derek Doeffinger
p there, it’s liberating.
Up there, you can see for miles.
Up there, everything down below becomes small and insignificant. Up there, frustrations fade, worries fall away.
Up there, you are flying. All on your own, dangling under 10 pounds of fabric.
Up there, thousands of feet high, searching and seeking the right wind. Up there, it’s a thrill. And it’s all up to you to get back down there. It’s an adventure unlike any other.
“As a child, I marveled as I watched hawks soar in slow rising circles above our farm in Pennsylvania,” said paraglider Bob Slebodnik, recalling why he became a paraglider. “I wanted to do that. Now I get to fly alongside hawks and other soaring birds as I look down upon the shining lakes. Talk about a dream come true.”
To become a hang glider or paraglider and enjoy the freedom of sailing through the skies is not terribly difficult. It will cost a few thousand dollars and take a month or two of training to get you started – it may take years to become accomplished.
Prepping for takeoff
What’s the biggest issue in soaring the skies of the Finger Lakes? Probably the weather. It can be problematic.
Pilots take off only when the wind is right. And the window for the right wind is fairly small. The right wind comes in at a steady 5 to 10 mph stream blowing slightly upward but directly at the face of the launch area. The design of a paraglider demands a nearly head-on wind to power its wind-catching pockets. Hang gliders, with their fabric wing stretched over a stiff metal frame, offer a bit more tolerance for wind direction and can launch in higher winds.
To compensate for the need of head-on winds at
launch, area flying groups, including Rochester Area Fliers and Free Spirit Flight Hang Gliding Club, maintain several different hilltop launch areas, each facing a different direction.
Today, the wind is out of the west, so Stid Hill in Bristol is the site of choice. It faces west and overlooks the ski resort.
At a parking area at the base of the ski resort, the fliers pile into two vehicles and drive up to the remote launch site. A 10-minute walk through the woods leads us to a steep half-acre opening looking down at the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort. I put down my camera gear while the others shrug off their paraglider rucksacks and began evaluating the wind.
The forecast called for diminishing afternoon winds. It was now noon and they weren’t diminishing. It took a few more hours for the right wind to arrive.
Around 3 p.m. the winds slow and the pilots begin flight preparations. The pilot first in line begins spreading out his all-fabric paraglider wing. It has no supports. Shaped like a slightly squashed banana, he carefully arranges it so all the surfaces are smoothly extended and the leading edge is partially open. He then checks the support and control lines connecting him to the wing.
With the wing ready, he moves downhill, stretching out his lines. He is poised for launch. The wind now has to cooperate.
Waiting, anxious, he stands and watches the wing. He watches for the slight fabric ruffles that would arise from a tickling wind. He turns and looks down the precipice. He feels the wind refreshing, and when he looks back at the wing, it almost seems to be quivering in anticipation. When a series of puffs become a steady stream, inflating the front edge wing openings, he leans downhill into the wind and tug on the lines to lift the wing overhead.
Almost before I can put the camera to my eye, the pilot
The hot summer sun generates abundant thermals that can lead to a ride that lasts for hours.
Surfing the Sky
Bottom:
Top: Just south of Macedon, Bob Slebodnik pulls his paraglider into takeoff position.
The windsock at the back of the picture shows the wind direction is perfect for a launch.
The harness of a paraglider provides a reclining or sitting position that’s comfortable enough to fly for hours.
has raised his wing straight overhead to the takeoff position, pushed forward, taken a few steps downhill and sprung skyward into the wild blue yonder. Away from the stubble of the ground, over the shrubs, away from the mountain top, over the trees, and, although still only a few hundred feet from us, a simple shift of his body position turns the glider to catch a ridge wind that lifts him to 1,000 feet above the valley below.
Technology makes flying possible
Soaring in the air, zooming upward on a strong thermal – modern technology makes all these thrills possible.
Paragliding began from crude predecessors created from 1960s parachutes. Burgeoning space research included developing new types of parachutes that led to more modifications of the infant paragliders. By the mid-1980s, designs for powerless, open-air flight using just fabric had turned into paragliders being flown around the world but especially in Europe.
As our paraglider pilot circles around us and becomes a distant speck headed northwest, he knows that the materials, design and construction of his craft could keep him aloft for hours – if he found the right wind.
Strong lightweight materials put together in efficient aerodynamic designs have been combined to make flying possible for almost anyone. A paraglider pilot hangs from an all-fabric wing (no structural supports) made of nylon or another high-tech descendant. A wing typically weighs 8 to 12 pounds, about the same weight as an adult eagle, but with a wingspan of 25 to 40 feet. The width of the wing consists of 40 to 80 side-by-side cells or pockets whose ends are open at the leading (front) edge to capture the incoming breeze. The breeze inflates the cells and creates lift for flying.
A harness cocoons and connects the paragliding pilot and his controls to the wing. During flight, it becomes an
turn favorable.
Tim Lewis is just one of many pilots willing to take off year round if the winds
Surfing the Sky
aerial version of an all-purpose LaZ-Boy that serves as a comfortable and padded recliner, control center, refreshment lounge, emergency parachute holder and, should the need arise, a restroom (of course, there are how-to YouTube videos about this).
Total weight of the wing, lines and harness is about 30 pounds. A hang glider with its fabric stretched out on an aluminum frame weighs two to three times as much. A hang glider pilot stretches out prone in a sack and reaches out their arms to a control bar. They tend to fly in a less comfortable, more horizontal position that requires a lot of head turning and neck stretching to chart their course.
Choosing the days with the right weather conditions can prove frustrating. Fortunately, technology also helps here. Specialized weather aviation websites provide detailed information for fliers, including most launch locations. Even better, most launch sites feature a wireless weather station (not much bigger than a football) that fliers can log onto to see the wind speed, direction, temperature and more at the actual site. Before driving an hour or two to a launch site, fliers will consult both resources for current conditions as well as those arriving in a few hours.
These gliders are designed to be operated with simple controls and simple changes in body position and posture. Learning and operating them is easy. But the controls determine how your craft will interact with the wind. Developing the finesse to use your controls to smoothly interact with the air you’re in, the air you want to be in and the air that you don’t want to be in because it might collapse your paragliding wing, is more difficult. Especially because you can’t actually see what the air is doing until it interacts with your wing.
Mastering the art of reading the air can take years.
The joy of flying
The fliers I have talked to all have stories. Several are about bird encounters. Others are about surviving
Inset Photos: Bob Skinner sits and waits for the right wind while Bob Slebodnik stretches his wing out for flight and then, flight completed, packs it into the rucksack.
Bottom: Swinging by rope from a gymnasium ceiling, pilots are pushed and twirled so they can practice yanking out and deploying their emergency parachute. None of the pilots I talked to have ever had to use it.
Surfing the Sky
wing collapses. All the pilots become animated when talking about flying.
Rick Brown recalls the day he was flying out of the Hammondsport launch site when he saw a white bird below him. “I’m thinking, wow, it’s a snowy owl, the only thing I could think of that would be white like that, right? So, I’m flying along and I look at it closely. It was a hawk flying upside down, showing me its claws saying, ‘I’m tougher than you.’ It flew upside down under me for 50 to 100 yards and then just flipped over.”
Another flier recalls the day he was flying competitively and, because he couldn’t find an uplifting thermal, he was sinking downward, heading toward a landing which would end his race. “A flock of buzzards saved me. I was on my way down, and there was a whole bunch of pilots that had just landed. Then I see there’s like six or eight turkey buzzards, just maybe 200 feet off the ground starting this lazy circle. So, I flew right over the top of them and got in with those turkey buzzards and shot up to the cloud base.”
Without a rigid structure to support it, a soaring paraglider wing can collapse from careless piloting or unexpected downdrafts and side winds.
“I’m flying at 4,000 feet, and the wing just shoots out in front of me. I’m thinking I’m going to fall into the wing and get gift wrapped,” said one flier of his experience. “I fell twice the length of the lines and had the hardest opening I ever had in my life, but it just popped open and all was good.” It’s a surprisingly safe sport. One frequently cited statistic is that it’s safer than driving a car. Wings for fun fliers are designed to reliably selfrecover from a collapse.
For the fliers I encountered, the joy of solo flying and the thrill of having the skills and self-reliance to do it, is a major motivation. But not far behind is the camaraderie they share afterwards in taverns or in car conversations when they travel to distant famous gliding locations, such as the Shenandoah Mountains.
To learn more about paragliding and hang gliding, visit rochesterareafliers. com or freespiritflight.com
John Casey was “born to build.”
As the president of John Casey Construction, he has shared his experience with friends and local boards. His excellent relationships with architects, engineers and regional subcontractors make a naturally stressful process run as smoothly as possible.
“I can approach a project from multiple perspectives – that of a builder, town insider and long-term resident here,” Casey stated.
Casey recently sat down with us to share how he founded John Casey Construction, challenges he’s faced and how he continues to persevere.
Right at Home FINGER LAKES in the
How did John Casey Construction come into existence? What are its origins?
My father, John Casey Sr., and his brothers were carpenters in Rochester, and my earliest memories involve helping my dad with projects. I have a business degree from the University of Arizona, and my first job was with a painting contractor in Rochester. I spent most of my professional career growing Christa Construction, a major commercial builder in the region. I was the chief operating officer there for 25 years, and we grew from a small masonry subcontractor to a major general contractor in Upstate New York. My favorite project was Rochester’s baseball stadium, called Silver Stadium at the time. My last five years at Christa were spent in Miami developing major condominium projects in that area. After moving back to Canandaigua in 2009, I was Chief Operating Officer for Manning, Squires & Hennig in Batavia.
In July 2013, I was riding my motorcycle on West Lake Road in Canandaigua, about a mile from home, when I was hit and run over. After almost four months in the hospital, my life had changed; I was now a paraplegic rolling in a wheelchair versus a motorcycle. This brought an end to my business career but started me on a new path to help others.
I gave my time to Rochester Spinal Association and several boards in the Town of Canandaigua, including running and winning a seat on the Town Board. In 2023, a close friend asked if I’d take a look at his plans to build a cottage on Honeoye Lake. I made some suggestions, and he then asked if I could go ahead and build it. He ended up buying a lot in Pittsford and asked me to build his retirement home there, too. And that’s how John Casey Construction was born! We’ve assembled a solid team and are growing literally every week.
FINGER LAKES
How have you turned your challenges into a plus for your company, employees and clients?
Becoming a paraplegic definitely changed my and my family’s lives forever. If this hadn’t happened, I’d probably still be working as a construction executive; I truly loved my work. But I learned I could still give back and use my skills.
I think I brought a unique perspective to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where residents go to present their reasons for needing something outside the Town’s building codes. I am also head of the Town’s Ordinance Committee, where we try to chart our town’s future. As a member of the Town Board, I also can bring a builder/developer’s perspective to decisions we make that represent the will of our residents. Knowing how this town and other communities work, being a resident and raising a family in this region, I help bring great value to our clients, saving them a lot of time and money during the home-building process.
Tell us more about the showcase home that you’re presenting. What was the inspiration for its style and creation?
I purchased my first home in Canandaigua in 1991 as a bachelor who was starting to make a little money and loved boating. After getting married and living in Miami for five years in the early 2000s, my wife and I quickly realized we wanted to raise our family at home. Because I was busy at work, we hired someone to build our new family home on the same lot as my bachelor cottage. Six months after moving in, I had my accident. While that home was our dream home, there was little room for expansion.
We jumped on an opportunity to purchase 50 acres of mostly undeveloped property on Canandaigua Lake. Because some family activities like traveling are challenging for me, I wanted to bring the world to our twins, John and Marlena, now age 15. We have a great backyard with an outdoor kitchen and pool, and the larger lot allowed me to have a “man cave” as well. Because I was now “retired,” I decided to build the house myself.
What’s in the future for John Casey Construction?
John Casey Construction is growing and here for the long term. There are currently more than half a dozen projects in various phases of design and construction, including a couple of spectacular lakefront/lake view homes in Canandaigua.
We recently purchased a building off of Main Street to set up our own offices, which I hope to be in by the time this article is published.
Even though the company name is my name, it is by no means all me. A key partner in helping grow the business is Craig Ross, who has an MBA and is a genius when it comes to streamlining our processes and budgets. Dan Smith and Erik Duryea are two of our field managers who are on site at projects all day every day.
(Continued on page 72)
Creating Homes, Not Just Houses
John Casey Construction, LLC, specializes in building custom homes in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. The full-service general contractor has handled jobs ranging from brick patio installations and restaurant renovations to multimillion-dollar custom homes overlooking the lakes.
Founder John Casey has built two homes for his family in Canandaigua. His current residence is what he calls “a family home;” while the Caseys, including John’s wife, Christina, and 15-year-old twins, John and Marlena, occupy the main level, John’s adult nephew and mother-in-law reside in the home as well. The project took nine months to complete, from excavation to move-in.
The Caseys chose to side the house in a darker color and add cedar columns in order to blend in with the natural surroundings. The den, which the family calls the Adirondack Room, is a favorite gathering place, featuring a fireplace mantle made from an original foundation beam for a home on the property. The wall paneling is reclaimed wood from an
abandoned barn they found out back.
“Besides my garage, my favorite spot is our front porch overlooking stunning Canandaigua Lake,” Casey said. “I’ve been to a lot of places, but there is no place I’d rather live.”
BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
For 45 years, Foodlink has worked alongside hundreds of community partners to address both the symptoms and root causes of poverty and food insecurity. We are in the midst of major infrastructure improvements to fuel our mission. Visit FoodlinkNY.org/NourishingTomorrow to learn about the big changes coming to Foodlink.
Christina and John Casey enjoying family time in their home.
How does your company complement the Finger Lakes Region?
My love story with Canandaigua began a long time ago, and the more I see of the world, the more I know this is my Chosen Spot. I have heard my children express an interest in raising their families here, too. At the heart of the Finger Lakes are these pristine lakes that are accessible to us for tourism, recreation, sustenance, and appreciation of their beauty. We take all of those things to heart when we break ground for each family –they, too, love this area so much they want to create their own legacy here.
To learn more, visit johncaseyconstruction.com or call 585-315-8218
Delicious Dishes
Lobster Roll
Nolan’s Nolan’s Lakeside Snack Shack is back for the 2025 season, opening Memorial Day Weekend! Dive into one of our famous lobster rolls — your choice of warm, butter-poached lobster or a refreshing cold lobster salad, served on a toasted roll. nolansonthelake.com
Salmon
Plum Point Lodge
Simply Strawberry Crepes
Simply Crepes
Enjoy these crepes with fresh Strawberries, whipped cream, brown sugar and pure maple syrup, served cold. simplycrepes.com
This spring run salmon is served with celery root puree, brown butter root vegetables and parsley oil. plumpointlodgeflx.com
Key Lime Pie
The Red Bird Café
Don’t forget to order Red Bird Café’s refreshing key lime pie for dessert! redbirdcafeandgiftshop.com
Going Native in the Garden
by Jennifer Morrisey
As a farmer, I think a lot of people assume my green thumb extends to my flower gardens, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. I have killed more rose bushes than I care to admit, and I’m pretty sure hydrangeas hate me. I’ve struggled to keep some perennials alive and spent a lot of time trying to figure out why my gardens never looked like I envisioned in my head.
For years, I thought that a beautiful garden required constant watering, disease monitoring and a strict fertilization routine. These tasks felt overwhelming after long days tending to crops. I was ready to give up on flower gardening entirely, but then as a last-ditch effort I decided to try some native flowers.
Why native plants?
Unlike some finicky perennials that I had been trying (and failing) to grow, native plants are made for our climate and, once established, will tolerate a little neglect. These plants tend to thrive with minimal fuss, attract pollinators and butterflies, and fill my garden with low maintenance color year after year. And the best part? As they mature, many native plants form clumps that can be dug up, divided and used to expand a garden or gifted to friends.
Native flowering plants have been growing in our region long before gardeners like me started fussing over flower beds. These plants have adapted to New York’s climate, soil and pests, which means they don’t need coddling with extra water, fertilizer or constant pest control to thrive. These are the plants that know how to handle our unpredictable weather. They’ve been doing it for centuries.
Easy-care native flowers
Once I started adding native plants to my garden, I realized I had some favorites. These flowering perennials bring longlasting color and plenty of pollinator and bird visitors. I think these minimal effort plants are perfect for both beginner and seasoned gardeners.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) really opened the door to native flowers for me. Coneflowers are an absolute workhorse in the garden, blooming from early summer to fall, with each flower lasting several weeks. Butterflies love coneflowers, and if you leave the seed heads standing after the flowers fade, they provide food for small birds in the winter. If you’re looking to attract both butterflies and birds, coneflowers are a great choice.
Is there a more iconic wildflower than the cheerful
Purple coneflower
black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)? These charming perennials are incredibly resilient and practically thrive on neglect, making them a staple in low-maintenance gardens. The bright yellow, daisy-like blooms add a sunny pop of color from midsummer through fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. I planted a couple in a stony, dry patch where little else has been able to grow, and they are happily thriving and even reseeding.
Beebalm (Monarda didyma) is a must-have to bring hummingbirds to your garden. Its bright red, pink or purple blooms are loaded with nectar, making it a favorite for both hummingbirds and pollinators like bees and butterflies. It usually blooms July through August. It’s deer-resistant, fragrant and easy to grow in full sun to part shade with average soil. While it spreads by rhizomes, it’s not overly aggressive and can be divided to keep it in check.
If your garden starts to fade by late summer, a New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) will add a pop of purple that can last well into fall. This native perennial is a powerhouse for pollinators, providing a crucial nectar source when many other flowers have finished blooming. Monarch butterflies love New England asters, and it’s a good source of late season nectar for their migration. With its tall, upright habit
Beebalm
Black-eyed Susan
and dense clusters of daisy-like flowers, this plant adds height and structure to garden beds and is really well suited for the back of the garden. It thrives in full sun and is a great alternative to mums.
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) deserves a spot in your garden if you’re looking for a native plant that’s as useful as it is beautiful. Its tall spikes of purple flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The leaves smell just like licorice and can even be used in teas. Drought-tolerant, deer-
resistant and incredibly easy to grow, it’s a fuss-free favorite of mine that adds color to a full sun garden.
Tickseed (Coreopsis tripteris) deserves a special mention for being a true champ when it comes to thriving in poor soil. This tough, low-maintenance perennial doesn’t mind a little neglect, and daisy-like blooms will grace the plant from early summer into fall. It is drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators, and even shrugs off deer and rabbits, making it a must-have for any fuss-free garden.
Anise hyssop
New England aster
Where to find native plants
If there wasn’t already so much to love about native flowers, here’s one more reason: you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started. I love browsing garden center; most now offer a great selection of native plants. But many native plants can be found for free or at a very low cost through plant swaps, garden clubs and gardening groups.
Because native plants tend to spread as they mature, gardeners often have extras to share. Plant swaps are a great way to pick up divisions of purple coneflower, black-eyed Susans or anise hyssop without spending a dime. Many local gardening groups offer seasonal plant exchanges where gardeners share what’s thriving in their own yards. It’s a win-win: you get hardy, locally adapted plants,
and other gardeners get to pass along their extras.
While native plants are lowmaintenance in the long run, they do require some patience in their first year. Many – especially those with deep roots or spreading rhizomes – may appear slowgrowing or even struggling at first. But don’t be discouraged! Once established, they flourish with minimal effort, rewarding you with years of vibrant blooms.
Switching to native plants has changed how I feel about gardening. Now, instead of constantly worrying about what’s struggling, I get to enjoy a colorful garden that practically takes care of itself. If you’ve ever felt like gardening is more work than reward, give native plants a try. You just might find, like I did, that they make all the difference.
Tickseed
Art
Connects Us to Nature
at Baltimore Woods Nature Center
by Karen Jean Smith, Art Gallery Coordinator
Connecting communities and nature in wisdom and wonder
Baltimore Woods Nature Center is a leader in facilitating opportunities for people to build personal connections to nature. Through engaging experiences and place-based exploration, we envision communities united in stewardship and love of the natural world.
Nature inspires art, and art celebrates nature. At Baltimore Woods Nature Center (BWNC) in Marcellus, the creation and appreciation of art fulfills our mission to connect people to nature through wisdom and wonder. Indeed, when visitors enter the John A. Weeks Interpretive Center at Baltimore Woods, they are immediately greeted by large colorful murals of the forest and other habitats. These paintings, created by the Interpretive Center’s namesake, set the tone for a space where art and nature have gone hand in hand from the beginning.
The heart of the building is the Program Room where visitors can find the Weeks Art Gallery and nature displays. Bi-monthly art exhibits by professional artists and hobbyists are showcased September through April, with a member-only exhibit in November and December. These exhibits provide opportunities for guests to enjoy a variety of artistic interpretations of nature in Upstate New York and perhaps be reminded of a special place or Often, visitors will learn something new about flora and fauna or a new-to-them place to experience the beauty of nature. Each exhibit begins with a reception, a casual social affair that often brings newcomers to Baltimore Woods. Educational games such as nature bingo
“Phillips Pond” photograph by Guy Swenson - one of the many inspiring natural features at Baltimore Woods
are part of the art gallery experience for visitors, especially children, when they align with the theme of the exhibit. All of the artwork is for sale, so admirers may choose to take nature art home to enjoy.
Children’s artwork is displayed on the walls of the art gallery each May. The reception includes a ceremony to celebrate the nature-related artistic endeavors of students from kindergarten through 12th grade from local school districts. Family members and art educators are among the enthusiastic attendees who fill the room to cheer on their young artists and view the vibrant display.
Visitors to Baltimore Woods Nature Center this summer will discover that the staff also participates in a gallery show. Both full and part time employees, including environmental educators and summer camp counselors, exhibit favorite nature moments that they have photographed. Accompanied by text, these images serve to delight, educate and build community among the staff, campers, their families and other visitors.
While the exhibits in the art gallery are temporary, permanent artwork is also on display. Large paintings of the four seasons in the forest by Daniel Shay are displayed one at a time, according to the time of year. “Beyond the Bend,” a pastel painting gifted to BWNC by local artist Wendy Harris, adorns a wall. A wreath-themed quilt by a group of thirteen
“Carpenter Falls,” watercolor painting by Eric Shute. Local scenes are often depicted in the art gallery displays.
Mural by John A.Weeks in the entryway of the Interpretive Center
fiber artists hangs prominently in the Program Room. A number of realistic porcelain bird sculptures from the Boehm collection are available to see as well.
Not only is art displayed at BWNC, it is also created here. The preserve is an ideal place for artists to come and find new ideas for their work. Like John
Weeks, artists may be inspired by the woods, pond, brook, fields, plant and animal life. Photographers can often be seen along the hiking paths, camera in hand, searching for that elusive pileated woodpecker or intriguing fungus array. With easy access, benches along the trails and no entry fee, it is a welcoming space to sit and sketch, set up an easel or simply gather creative thoughts.
For those desiring a guided art experience or even a bit of instruction, activities and workshops are available throughout the year for individuals, local schools and homeschool groups. For example, educational field trip programs at BWNC may include nature journaling, a blend of drawing and writing. Nature camp, held in the summer and on many school holidays, often has an art component.
Drawing and painting workshops for adults and children, both out
on the preserve and inside the Interpretive Center, are conducted by environmental educators including artist Anna Stunkel. Development of art skills and nature education happen simultaneously when participants study a leaf, a landscape or one of the animal mounts on display.
Because art is a way for many humans to process their knowledge and emotions, it is an especially important outlet as our planet changes. Programs like Stunkel’s “Illustrating Climate Change” combine science, the humanities and visual art for an interdisciplinary approach that includes how the participants feel. In this program, information was provided about climate change with a focus on helping the planet, and participants were then prompted to write, draw or paint their responses.
Joy is an important byproduct of the creative process that connects
people to nature. An informal family program offered by Environmental Educator Katie McLaughlin encourages adults and youngsters to have fun outside using found materials. This past fall, participants used leaves, sticks and natural clay to make imaginative faces on the tree trunks, thereby sparking laughter in the woods.
The preserve is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year. The Weeks Art Gallery is available to view whenever the Interpretive Center is open to the public: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Please call 315-6731350 to be sure that the program room will be open when you visit. Left: A child paints a leaf during a nature art workshop. Below: A nature clay face sculpture created during a family program offered by Environmental Educator Katie McLaughlin
Informal hands-on creative experiences are often available to visitors in the Program Room. When Wendy Harris gifted BWNC with one of her paintings of a natural area, it was prominently displayed on the gallery wall along with colored pencils and paper on a nearby table. With this as inspiration, adults and children were encouraged to create their own nature-themed drawings. Another example would be Stonework Play, a method for inspiring creativity and storytelling through nature, developed by author and artist Diana Suskind. Materials, including stones in a variety of sizes and colors, were offered for experimentation.
The future promises to bring even more opportunities for people to connect to nature through art at BWNC. Come and see what we have to offer! Descriptions of our programs and art gallery offerings can be found
at baltimorewoods.org
The “Fourth” FLX Wine Grape: The Contenders
story and photos by
Christopher Bennem
et’s talk vitis vinifera.
If you’ve been following this series of articles (and even if you haven’t) you probably know that vitis vinifera are the great wine grapes of Europe. When we started this project of establishing “The Wines that Define the Finger Lakes” we found that local winemakers and tastemakers readily agreed on the
quality of three varietals produced in quantity in this region: Riesling, cabernet franc and chardonnay. On these, there was a strong consensus among local experts that Finger Lakes wines compete on the world stage.
But what would be the fourth best FLX wine grape? Trying to settle on just one is a challenge.
Thera Clark was a beverage director in NYC restaurants for years before coming to the Finger Lakes Region. She has served as Resident Somme at Wiemer and at Pintxo, teaching wine courses at NY Kitchen. She is currently on staff at Forge Cellars.
Naturally, when trying to choose, some look for regional comparisons. Wine educator Thera Clark, has a unique take: “Traditionally, the Finger Lakes [Region] is described as being ‘like Germany’ or great for Austrian varieties, but the way I see it, as the climate warms, and our winemakers improve, I’ve seen us gradually move into all of the great cool climate varieties made by France.” Indeed, the three key, undisputed FLX varietals all flourish in French winegrowing regions: Alsace, Loire and Burgundy. Additionally, two other wine types coming in this series – sparkling and rosé – are also traditionally associated with France.
This article is dedicated to what we have dubbed The Contenders: rivals for the crown of “Finger Lakes Wine Grape #4.” Consulting numerous friends and colleagues in the Finger Lakes wine industry, the effort to condense the many possible claimants down to a reasonable number mimicked the larger effort: three quickly emerged, while a fourth became much harder to pin down. This might prove to be a repeating pattern ad infinitum, but for now we settled on the
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Fox Run Vineyards has 45 acres under vine on Seneca Lake. A hub of innovation and collaboration in the Finger Lakes wine community for decades, Fox Run hosts a monthly roundtable where local winemakers blind taste each other’s vintages.
Forge Cellars was founded in 2011 by partners Rick Rainey, a wine industry veteran and French vigneron Louis Barruol, whose family has been making wine in the Rhone region since the 1500s. Their wines have been featured in multiple “Top” lists including Wine Spectator and Decanter.
Red
Among all of the Contenders, one does edge out the others in terms of its growing popularity throughout the Finger Lakes. The Austrian grape Blaufränkisch, called Lemberger in Germany and by some local vintners, is gaining momentum as our most exciting red wine after cab franc. At Fox Run Vineyards near Penn Yan, winemaker Craig Hosbach makes oaked, unoaked and “Old Vines” versions, as well as red and rosé blends. His personal discovery of the grape occurred when he first encountered it in Eger, Hungary. “It blew my mind!” he said, forming a memory he’s been trying to recreate ever since. Serendipity eventually brought him to Fox Run, which produces some 2,500 cases in all its varieties – second only to Riesling.
For Hosbach there is no question that Lemberger/ Blaufränkisch is the next key grape for the region. “We’re not chasing anybody else’s identity,” he said of Finger Lakes winemaking. “We’re chasing our own.” According to him and many like him, this wine is a key part of that identity. Will it ever take hold outside the region beyond a few, specialized supporters? It’s hard to say. But if the worst that happens is that it remains a local cult wine enjoyed primarily by those who come here, is that such a bad thing?
When it comes to the fourth-most planted vinifera grape in the Finger Lakes – pinot noir – notoriety is not its principle challenge. Pinot noir is a famously challenging grape to cultivate, and while hopes were high that its success in the cool climate regions of Burgundy and Champagne would make it suited to our long winters, many local vintners still refer to it as the “heartbreak grape.” Success is contingent on having both excellent vineyard
management and a savvy winemaker accustomed to accommodating pinot’s fitful moods.
Despite these challenges, the team at Forge Cellars in Burdett remains focused on pinot noir, not as their fourth most important cultivar, but as their second. Léana Godard, who leads the winemaking effort at Forge and co-manages their vineyard, agrees with Clark’s assessment on climate. “We are producing pinot noirs here that are like those from Burgundy twenty years ago.”
In addition to their “Classique” version, Forge produces multiple single vineyard entries, one of which – Leidenfrost – they refer to as being of Grand Cru quality. For Godard, the goal is nothing short of greatness: “By challenging ourselves, we can showcase the potential of the Finger Lakes to the national and international scene,” she said. “Pinot Noir is one of the best grapes to translate the beauty of the shale, and it has a spectacular aging profile.”
Whatever the future may hold for pinot noir here as a red still wine, its plantings will remain significant for two other reasons: its role in making rosé and sparkling wines, both of which Finger Lakes producers make at a world-class level.
White
It should come as little surprise that in the arena of white wines, the Finger Lakes thrums with potential. Every year new varietals (and new winemakers) elicit excitement, capturing some degree of national attention. Of the many white vinifera which thrive here, gewürztraminer has the most acres planted after chardonnay, and the greatest number of vintners experienced with it. Often thought of as
Standing Stone Vineyards is located on the southeast shore of Seneca Lake. Including vines planted by Charles Fournier in the 1970s, it was originally founded in 1991. It was acquired by Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in 2017.
sweet, it is most prevalent here in a dry style that leverages the acidity which comes from the slower ripening process in our cool climate.
Standing Stone founders Marti and Tom Macinski planted their first major block of gewürztraminer in 1993. It would eventually become synonymous with their brand. Their elevated approach is maintained today by the Wiemer winemaking team and Dillon Buckley in particular. Like pinot, gewürztraminer is challenging to grow, Buckley explained, but the Standing Stone site in Hector offers good winter protection, providing consistent yields. The majestic County Line Dry Gewürztraminer we tasted was well-rounded, Buckley nodding appreciatively at its distinctive spice notes. “More vanilla than clove,” he observed. Such varietal characteristics have made it a strong seller in New York State.
After gewürztraminer, we have an abundance of high-performing whites. Both pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, which thrive in France’s Alsace and Loire regions, have achieved excellence in the hands of astute Finger Lakes winemakers. Recently, however, it is the Austrian varietal Gruner Veltliner which has begun to capture critical attention. This white wine often presents as a lighter-bodied wine, but can achieve a fuller expression as it does in the hands of winemaker Kelby James Russell, who worked at Red Newt for years but launched Apollo’s Praise last year with his spouse, Julia Hoyle, winemaker at Hosmer in Ovid.
It’s a grape “that can be difficult to make an interesting wine from,” says Russell, calling it the “donut effect.” It might begin with beautiful aromatics, and finish with elegant acids, but the bottom falls out on the mid-palate. Russell counters this first in the vineyard, thinning the yield to create more
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Apollo’s Praise burst onto the Finger Lakes scene in 2024, quickly gathering accolades in the wine press including high scores from VinePair, Vinous, Decanter and more.
Standing Stone 2023 County Line Dry Gewürztraminer $25
Zugibe 2020 Pinot Noir
$25
concentrated fruit at harvest, which he pushes into October. “The sugar development stalls in late September, but if you give it another couple weeks, it completely changes.” Cold-soaking and fermenting in neutral oak give the wine additional body. The result is a wine that VinePair named among its top 50 of the year.
The urge to experiment has been a part of Finger Lakes winemaking since modern pioneer Charles Fournier first began to work with hybrids in the 1930s, teaming up with Dr. Konstantin Frank on vitis vinifera in the 1950s. Whatever our “fourth” grape turns out to be, it will emerge due to continued trial and error by local winemakers.
This tireless innovation is what excites Thera Clark most about the Finger Lakes: “We have the benefit of only being 50 years old, but with a wide diversity of soil and mesoclimates and a burst of talent and experimentation. The Finger Lakes is possibly the most diverse, unique and unencumbered wine region on the planet right now. And that is something to behold. It’s full steam ahead. We can do whatever we want.”
Christopher Bennem is co-owner of Glen Hollow, a vacation rental, writer’s retreat and winery launching its first vintage in 2025. Follow him on Instagram @glenhollowflx.
Visit Sonnenberg
day trip Serious Foods at Shoreless Acres General Store
Meet Laurie Ames Fontaine, owner
How did you become involved with Shoreless Acres? Did you create the store yourself, and when did that all happen?
It all happened when I bought the store on April 20, 2017. It’s a neighborhood store; it’s right by my house on Hartson Point.
I’ve named each section of the store after one of my 12 grandchildren: McKaleigh’s Milkshakes, Kristy’s Krawlers and Tacoma’s Tackle for fishing, Kash Out Here for the register, Olivia’s Donuts for the apple cider
donuts – the customers really love those on the weekends – Emerson’s Eats where we make the food, Quinley’s Quick Energy for energy drinks, Gavin’s Games where we sell toys for the kids, Harper’s Hots, Connor’s Candy where we keep all the candy in an old-timey porcelain cooler, Jane’s Java and Cole’s Clothes.
Since my ownership, I’ve added a bunch of additions to the store, including where I make our fresh, homemade, old-fashioned apple cider donuts.
What is Shoreless Acres is all about? What makes it special and unique?
Shoreless Acres and Serious Foods have become staples for life on Conesus Lake; it’s hard to imagine the lake without them. It has this timeless charm, and people of all walks of life feel comfortable here. I make food for customers, help them with what they need, make people feel at home no matter where they’re from or who they are. It’s not easy, especially during the summer, but it’s worth it to know that my friends and family have a place to be.
Illustration by Jeff Moores
Serving you Since 1986
I read that the store is a market and also has serious food offerings. Tell us more about that.
The store has all of your needs for living on the lake –like eggs, milk, ice, beer and fishing equipment. During the winter, we sell a lot of sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, and on Friday we sell fish fries, Saturday we’ll do a prime rib, and on Sunday we sell a lasagna, all freshly made at the store. Serious Foods, which opens up in the summer, has everything from our Serious Trash Plates, chicken wings, hot Italian sausage, hamburgers, hot dogs, and any kind of fries (though we are known for our curly fries!). We also have an ice cream stand right next door, all situated around our pavilion with plenty of seating around the year, including the patio which is heated in the winter. Even when it’s raining or snowing, there’s always a place to eat, even if it’s just around the fire pit.
What are some of your customers’ favorite things?
Customers love to have their Coffee Club here. It’s sort of a wellness check for the neighbors that live alone through the winter. Every week, they get together and hang out, drinking their coffees on the patio. They’ll celebrate their birthdays together, and sometimes they ask for special dinners which I’ll oblige. We’ve got each other’s backs here, especially during the winter when business is slow. I always make sure that the coffee is on for them. If you ever need a plumber or an electrician or anybody that can help, they’re the ones to ask. I try my best to foster a community here where we all support each other, and the customers appreciate that about me and my business.
People also love the apparel here, Cole’s Clothing. It’s got all this Conesus Lake branding all over it. Tourist and locals like to get the shirts and remember their time on the lake.
Laurie Ames Fontaine prepares fresh-baked donuts for her customers.
What is your favorite part of being the owner of this unique establishment?
As the owner, I get to interact with all kinds of people, especially during the summer when the boat launch here on the lake opens up and everyone roams in from anywhere. I consider them a part of the community, too. We offer propane, batteries, firewood and air for their tires. I just like helping people, and I think of it as a privilege to meet a variety of people.
Where do you hail from? Are you a Finger Lakes native?
I’m originally from the Adirondacks, in Tupper Lake. I moved to the Finger Lakes Region more than 40 years ago, and I just love it so much. I’ve had three homes in Livonia, on East Lake Road, Hartson Point, so I would say that in 40 years I’ve grown to know the area pretty well.
What do you enjoy most about the Finger Lakes Region?
What comes to mind first is July 3. On July 3, we have the Ring of Fire around the lake – every home, every property around the lake lights flares at 10 p.m. and set off fireworks. It’s a huge event. Everyone comes out onto the lake and celebrates all day and night, it’s beautiful. I love everything that the Finger Lakes has to offer: boating, tubing, kayaking, skiing, paddle boarding, hiking. The parks around here, Letchworth, Stony Brook, hiking is huge around there. Even on Conesus Lake we have Vitale and all the other campgrounds. Everyone here is friendly. How couldn’t you be friendly, in a place like this?
Shoreless Acres General Store is located on the east side of Conesus Lake at 5006 E Lake Rd, Livonia, NY 14487. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Visit them at facebook.com/seriousfood.
Do you have any favorite local activities you enjoy? Of all of them, I think boating is my favorite. Hiking is important to me, too. I’m a member of a biking group based in the area, and we ride around the lake three times a week. Shoreless Acres is the only place around East Lake Road where bikers can fill up their tires or their water and use the bathroom. I believe in staying active, and there’s no better place to do all that than here on Lake Conesus.
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Sound Discover the of the Finger Lakes Sound
By Lauren Chamberlain
The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing and the first notes fill the air – there’s nothing quite like the energy of a local music festival. These festivals bring communities together through the universal language: music.
In the Finger Lakes, we not only have some of the best views, wine and food; we routinely top the charts for community events. Our music festivals are no exception. ChamberFest Canandaigua, Skaneateles Festival and the Geneva Music Festival are the best examples of the power of community and true talent.
Pulling off a successful music festival year after year takes a strong vision, dedication and a whole lot of support. With these festivals right around the corner, local event directors share how they take shape, what excites them and what the future holds.
Geneva Music Festival
This year marks the 15th Geneva Music Festival. Festival Founder and Director Geoffrey Herd and his team shared some of their original goals for the festival. Fifteen years ago, as a student at Yale University, Herd was looking for more opportunities to perform chamber music as a dedicated violinist. “I realized that my hometown of Geneva had many of the same characteristics to these festivals,” Herd said.
Geneva is a community-centric, picturesque location with a rich musical history. When the event started in 2011, “the immediate response from the
Geneva Music Festival
community was overwhelmingly positive,” said Herd. “Over the years, it has blossomed into a really prominent festival.”
The ultimate goal was to bring world-class music to the Finger Lakes and become a culture ambassador for the city of Geneva. Herd wanted to provide an opportunity for the next generation to have access to high-level music education in Geneva. “We just wanted to connect with people through music,” he explained.
This festival continues to grow and evolve. “What started out as a small group of student musicians launching their careers has grown into a festival that now hosts Grammy Award-winning and some of the most accomplished musicians in the field,” Herd commented.
Planning the festival is a year-round feat to make sure everything runs smoothly. “We pack a tremendous amount of activity into our festival. We have also expanded in recent years to include additional concerts throughout the year,” Herd said. “It’s a tremendous undertaking that requires a large and dedicated team, but it’s truly a labor of love.”
For Herd and his team, the most rewarding part of the festival is, “feeling the warmth of the response we receive. The Geneva Music Festival truly belongs to the community. It has been built collectively over the years with the support of musicians, local businesses, volunteers and our dedicated board of directors.”
Attendees should be able to feel the sense of family among musicians. “Geneva has become a home away from home,” Herd said. “We’ve all grown together and experienced so much together as a community, and that makes our festival particularly meaningful.”
The 2025 season will feature classical artists, Grammywinning jazz musicians and a bluegrass band. The kickoff concert is W4RP Trio on May 15, with the season’s grand finale on June 8 featuring Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. Visit genevamusicfestival.com to check out a full schedule.
ChamberFest Canandaigua
ChamberFest Canandaigua Co-Artistic Directors Amy Sue Barston and Kevin Kemur are particularly looking forward to this year’s series, set for July 18 to 25.
In 2004, two musicians wanted to match inspiring music to an equally stirring place of natural beauty. “We started playing concerts in small venues – everything from local churches on Main Street, living rooms, Wegmans, bank lobbies,” stated Barston and Kemur. “Through word of mouth and support from new friends, we grew steadily from an audience of dozens to hundreds. And now, we’re beyond proud to be recognized on the map of world-class chamber music festivals.”
There are exciting new debuts in store. Not only is this year’s ChamberFest Canandaigua bookended by two Grammy-winning artists, guitarist Jason Vieaux and Time for Three, but Barston and Kemur will be collaborating with Ventosa Vineyards as a venue for certain performances.
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ChamberFest Canandaigua
What is better than top-tier music matched with equally top-tier wine?
Barston and Kemur expressed how humbling it is to realize how much effort is needed to produce even a single concert, much less a festival. “We usually begin planning the next season even before the last note is played.”
Some dream projects take years to come to fruition. A lot of effort goes in to make sure the community and artists alike feel welcome. “We have several events where the artists and attendees get to sit at a table together and share a meal or drinks in the course of the event,” said Barston and Kemur
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Guitarist Jason Vieaux & Friends kicks everything off on July 18 at Cobblestone Arts Center, followed by “The Music of Wine” on July 20 at Ventosa Vineyards. A Night to Remember is set for July 22 at The Lake House on Canandaigua. The second half of the season showcases Rhythm and Rapture: the Brahms Effect on July 23 at Finger Lakes Community College, a children’s concert on July 24 at Wood Library, and the Time for Three, Grammy- and Emmy-winning ensemble, at Nazareth Arts Center to end the season.
Witness it all firsthand at chamberfestcanandaigua.com
Listen to the Wind at the Skaneateles Festival
Skaneateles is a must-see music destination. The 2025 Skaneateles Festival’s lineup will feature renowned banjo player Béla Fleck’s BEATrio with harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez, fiddlers Mark and Maggie O’Connor, bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding, and jazz great Bill Charlap.
“The idea for a Skaneateles Festival came together quickly in the spring of 1980 in discussions between musician Lindsay Groves and Skaneateles residents Beth Boudreau and Louise Robinson,” shared Susan Mark, festival executive director. “Initially, the goal was two-fold: to bring music to Skaneateles and give local musicians a chance to perform.”
At the foundation, the heart of the festival remains with the Robinsons. After 46 years, their hospitality still extends to concertgoers, continuing their legacy as the “spirit of the festival.”
“Through the generosity of David and Louise Robinson, their home, Brook Farm, soon became the festival’s center,” Mark said. “There, musicians would live, eat, rehearse, relax and perform.”
Co-Artistic Director Julie Bruskin
Time for Three will play at ChamberFest Canandaigua.
Skaneateles Festival
expressed how much their team enjoys, “creating these richly textured mosaics of different artists and musical experiences for our audiences.”
This year’s theme of the Skaneateles Festival is Listen to the Wind, which Bruskin expressed is to
Asto bring some artists who are at the peak of their careers and others just beginning that trajectory,” Bruskin explained.
the last song comes to an end and the crowd cheers one final time, what remains is more than just the echoes of music – it’s the sense of community that makes small festivals so special.
This summer, be sure to explore some of the top music festivals in the Finger Lakes as each one is unique. Whether you’re a performer, a volunteer or just a fan soaking in the sounds, these festivals leave a mark that lasts far beyond the final encore.
The festival’s team works hard to honor the mission of community and hospitality for both musicians and audience members alike for a more intimate concert experience. Whether you’re at the church or the Robinson Pavilion at the Vineyards, “there’s a palpable sense of community in the air – a feeling that says, ‘We are all experiencing this together,’” said Mark.
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“celebrate the natural beauty of Central New York through music, outreach and educational programming.”
The festival will feature “Seasons” by both Vivaldi and fiddle sensation Mark O’Connor and a new work being written by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. “We strive
This 2025 season runs July 31 to August 23, encompassing 13 mainseries concerts, two KidsFest performances, a free music lecture series with Juilliard professor Aaron Wunsch and several free community outreach performances. Chamber concerts take place at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday and Friday nights, as well as at Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyards on August 1, 2, 9, 16 and 23.
Tickets range from $35 to 70 and are available for purchase at skanfest.org
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Join more than 47,000 of your friends and neighbors who are achieving life at Reliant.
The Skaneateles Festival will host Ruckus, the “world’s only period instrument rock band.”
lifestyle
Live the Lake Life at Hotel Canandaigua
by Richard and Robert Testa
Imagine waking up to peaceful lake views every morning in Canandaigua. Does that sound like a dream? Owning the ultimate condo just got real. Unit 419 at Hilton Tapestry Collection Hotel Canandaigua is a two-bedroom, twobathroom, 1,476-square-foot condo situated at the top of Canandaigua Lake. It’s an ideal place for those looking to downsize and not have to worry about maintenance.
It comes with a custom kitchen with beautiful cabinetry, quartz countertops, a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances –all open to the great room and balcony. It also features a spacious owner’s suite with immediate lake views and another balcony. A second spacious bedroom and adjacent bath can accommodate family and guests.
One can enjoy the lake lifestyle by
sipping coffee on the lake-view balcony, roasting s’mores by the outdoor fire pit or lounge by the waterside. The hotel’s pool, hot tub, exercise room and other amenities are at your disposal. Outside, the Canandaigua Lady steamboat, Freedom Boat Club and Kershaw Park and Beach are just steps away. A short drive will take you to world class entertainment at CMAC and the many shops, art galleries, restaurants and more in Downtown Canandaigua. Plus, this condo provides a front row seat for annual events such as Fourth of July fireworks and the Ring of Fire on Labor Day weekend.
Listing agents are licensed associate real estate brokers Rich Testa and Robert Testa with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Contact Rich at 585-7393521, richtesta@gmail.com or Rob at 585739-1693, robert.testa3@gmail.com to get a tour of this one-of-a-kind condo, other condos and Canandaigua Lake and Finger Lakes properties!
Rochester author Randi Minetor has added two more titles to the Best Easy Day Hikes series. The guidebook to 20 best Rochester hikes was written during the 2020 quarantine. “The opportunity to get out and explore one park or preserve after another for weeks turned out to be critical for my well-being during a dramatic time in our history,” she writes.
The book is organized into best spots for birders, water views and panoramic views. It adds an additional category of “best hikes for history buffs.” Birders are encouraged to visit Mendon Ponds, while those seeking water views might opt for the Erie
Canal Heritage Trail or the waterfalls of Letchworth State Park.
The latest guidebook is a collection of 20 hikes around the Syracuse area. Similarly organized into the categories of best hikes for birders, waterfalls, water views, fall views and panoramic views, Minetor writes compelling short descriptions of easily accessible scenery.
Birding areas include Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Howland Island. Waterfall seekers will find descriptions of Chittenango Falls
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Get to the Point
Breathtaking vistas. Award-winning wines.
Experience one of the premier locations on the Cayuga Wine Trail. Enjoy our premium selections and stay for lunch at our on-site eatery, Amelia’s.
1485 Lake Road • Aurora, NY 13026 (315) 364-6990 • mail@longpointwinery.com
and Fillmore Glen State Park. The author highlights Highland Forest for its beautiful fall foliage. She invites us to hike Stone Quarry Hill Art Park and Chimney Bluffs State Park for the panoramic views.
The author has published more than 90 books, many with her husband and nature photographer Nic Minetor. Other titles include Backyard Birding, and Birding New England, and Historic Rocky Mountain National Park among many others.
Ithaca Farmer’s Market: A Seasonal Guide and Cookbook Celebrating the Market’s First 50 Years
Michael Turback and Izzy Lecek North Country Books – Globe Pequot - Rowman & Littlefield michaelturback.com
2024
Nearly every weekend, you’ll find the Ithaca Farmers Market in full swing. This book celebrates the 50th anniversary of this institution with a guide to drinks, appetizers, main courses and desserts. The recipes are grouped by season, with some set aside for year-round enjoyment.
The spring section has drink suggestions like rhubarb gin sour, and dishes including slow poached eggs and stinging nettle soup. The summer section tempts us with strawberry milkshake with basil whipped cream, cucumber picnic salad and Dr. Baker’s Cornell barbecue chicken. How about maple-apple French toast or pumpkin pie pancakes with cinnamon butter for favorite fall dishes? You can then ward off winter with an old wives tale hot toddy and vegetable pot-au-feu as your entree. Recipes like toasted walnut farm cookies are a great year-round dessert option.
The book is illustrated with color photographs showing fresh, locally produced food and many long-time vendors. It highlights the many benefits of locally sourced food. “Farmers and growers engage in sustainable practices to produce healthy food for those of us who are concerned with not just what we eat, but how and where it’s produced…eating locally is better for our health, the environment and the economy,” the authors write.
Turback operated Turback’s of Ithaca for nearly three decades where he combined local ingredients with inventiveness to create unique dining experiences. He helped spark the “locavore” trend now seen throughout the food industry. He is the author of many previous titles ranging from cocktail recipes to histories and local guidebooks. Lecek is also part of Ithaca’s vibrant food culture. Her experience includes Ithaca Youth Farm and Moosewood Restaurant.
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Old-Fashioned sodas, smoothies,
& coffees lunches & desserts
Customized gift baskets Featuring Finger Lake Artisan Foods & Handcrafted Gifts
Looking beyond food for things to do in and around Ithaca? This new guidebook covers the additional categories of music and entertainment, sports and recreation, culture and history and shopping and fashion.
19 Main St., Penn Yan, NY 14527
Tuesday– Saturday 10am-4pm
19 Main St., Penn Yan, NY 14527 315-694-7350 www.millyspantry.org
Open Tues - Sat 10am - 4pm Geneva 758 PreEmption Rd 315-781-0858 Drive Thru Available
Sales benefit Yates County children!
Under music and entertainment, the author guides us to Hangar Theater, encourages us to “meet the Bard” at Ithaca Shakespeare Company and enjoy the annual Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance. Outdoor enthusiasts will learn about the Cayuga Waterfront Trail or be directed to Cornell’s Botanic Gardens.
Hard & Soft Serve Meet Your Dietary Needs
Ithaca abounds with culture. Champion tells us how to get involved with Ithaca’s Pride March, held rain or shine each June and to support local artists by exploring the Greater Ithaca Art Trail. No visit to Ithaca is complete without a walk on The Commons to experience its shops, and restaurants. Browse the stacks at Buffalo Street Books or mark your calendar for the Tompkins County Library book sale held each spring and fall.
This compact guidebook doesn’t skip over Ithaca’s many food offerings either. Ithaca Bakery and College Town Bagels are listed as must-visit spots. Readers will also find an overview of the amazing international cuisine offered throughout the Collegetown neighborhood.
With so much to do in Ithaca, the author admits the difficulty of creating such a list. “In a list of 100 things, there is no way to capture all the amazing artists, volunteers, activists, entrepreneurs, businesses, events and icons of Ithaca, ” she writes.
In 2000, Champion arrived in Ithaca and soon learned all the area has to offer. The author’s newest book was released this February, In My Boots: A Memoir of Five Million Steps Along the Appalachian Trail.
The Lucky Six
Gordon Cooper
Preston Woods Publishing gordoncooper.com 2025
This newly published book is a work of historical fiction, though the author took great pains to base the setting and characters on the “real world” of 1874. By that time, Watkins Glen had become a tourist attraction served by the growth of railroads that connected our young country. The setting and time frame for Cooper’s historical mystery also allowed for the inclusion of events from the Civil War and the Elmira Prison Camp.
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SPRING PLANTINGS HAVE ARRIVED!
The plot centers on Annie Anderson, a recent graduate of Elmira Female College, home for the summer and sorting through the limited life choices open to women of her age. Our protagonist then discovers a dead man lying on her mother’s grave. She calls for the sheriff, though the body disappears before he arrives. Annie decides to investigate the mysterious murder herself with the goal of finding the body and identifying the killer.
The novel has the look and feel of a book printed in the 1870s. The author picked fonts, layouts and illustrations to achieve this effect. Throughout the novel, readers will find wood block illustrations from and inspired by our region. The hard copy edition contains a detailed list of the illustrations and their origins. Cooper’s first book was Watkins Glen Tour Guide in 2009, a history and travel book dedicated to the region that he first experienced at the age of three. His guidebook includes five self-guided tours in and around the village.
Check out our Pavilion! Car cruises, live music and food on Wednesdays through the summer! Check our Facebook page for details Drive-thru Service Available
Opening for the Season Friday, May 2, 2025
11am - 9pm Sun-Thurs • 11am - 10pm Fri & Sat 8665 State Rte. 21 South, Naples 585-374-5980
Produce “Always the Freshest!” Spring Features Beautiful Flowers & Veggie Plants from our Greenhouses! Pies, Cookies & Specialty Breads from our Bakery NYS Maple Syrup Honey & Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2.5 yrs.)!
Gift Shop, Jams, Jellies & Hunt Country & Arbor Hill Wines!
Family Pride Since 1955
Come Walk through History with Us …
4 Unique Collections ~ 1 Price ~ Something for Everyone
Brockway Trucks & Memorabilia Military Memorabilia Local History
Model Trains Railroad History Agricultural Heritage Tractors
Antique Firehouse Apparatus History First Responder Display
OPEN: TUESDAY - SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Last Admission at 3:30 PM
Handicapped Accessible Wheelchairs & Scooters Available Memorial Garden & Veranda, Meeting Rooms, Theater & Venue Rentals Buses & Groups Welcome with Prior Arrangements 607-299-4185 info@cnylivinghistory.org
4386 US Route 11 Cortland, NY Halfway between Binghamton & Syracuse 1/2 mile off I -81, exit 54 607-299-4185 www.cnylivinghistory.org
& BROWSE OUR
TOUR OUR FARM & BROWSE OUR GIFT SHOP
TOUR OUR FARM & BROWSE OUR GIFT SHOP
Our alpaca farm is the largest in the Finger Lakes area. You will have the opportunity to meet our herd of 60+ alpacas. Learn alpaca history & care while touring the vintage barns. Individual and group tours.
Our
Our alpaca farm is the largest in the Finger Lakes area. You will have the opportunity to meet our herd of 60+ alpacas. Learn alpaca history & care while touring the vintage barns. Individual and group tours.
while touring
is a wonderful time to visit us here on the farm. The cooler temperatures and Fall colors make for an enjoyable visit with our alpacas and the most gorgeous photo ops. We are open Tuesday through Sunday for tours and/or a visit to our store. We also offer yoga with the alpacas if you are looking for a new and fun way to interact with our friendly alpacas. Register on our website for a tour or yoga. Preregistration is required to insure we have the correct staff available to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT: SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT: (585) 455-1203 www.lazyacrealpacas.com
