Southern Tier Life - August 2021

Southern Tier

Life

Covering Your Friends & Neighbors

WATKINS GLEN TRACK PRESIDENT CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME FANS BACK EX-PATS CAMERON COLLINS VIBING WITH CAT WHITE: FOND MEMORIES OF CAMPING AT THE GLEN TRACK CHEF’S BEST: SENECA LAKE BREWERY TOUR

WAT K I N S GLEN

THIS SMALL TOWN HAS IT ALL.

Volume 07. August 2021

ISSUE 007

SOUTHERN TIER LIFE MAGAZINE STAFF

Editor In Chief Randy Reid Editorial Assistant Dee Reid Advertising Randy Reid Contributors A’Don Allen, Chris Brewster, Sheri Hughey, Sky Moss, Bob Thomas, Cathy White Contact news@southerntierlife.com Address P.O. Box 704, Elmira, New York 14902 Publisher Reid Media Group, LLC

Reid Media Group LLC is a NYS Certifed Minority Business Enterprise Southern Tier Life is published by Reid Media Group. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved

TABLE OF CONTENTS WGI President Speaks 06 Watkins Glen is Gorges

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Upstate Geechie 10 Elmira Jazz Fest 12 Vibing with Cat White 18 Chef’s Best -Seneca Brewery Tour

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ExPats 24 For the Love of beer

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Hot Shots 28

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Seneca Lake

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Editorial This month we highlight the Town of Watkins Glen, a small town with a lot to do.

From camping at the state park to walking the gorges like I did as a kid there is something for everyone.

The big draw each year is the NASCAR races which will be held this year on August 4th - 8th.

Our Chef Best series takes flight with a tour of Seneca Lake breweries.

We are always on the lookout for your stories please contact us let us know what your neighbors are up to.

RANDY REID SOUTHERN TIER LIFE MAGAZINE 2021

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WGI PRESIDENT WELCOMES RACE FANS BACK Written By: CHRIS BREWSTER

WGI, perennially one of the most popular venues for both fans and drivers, hosts four races starting Friday, Aug. 4, and culminating in the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at the Glen on Sunday, Aug. 6.

That race marks the return of NASCAR’s biggest series, and the key word for Printup is excited.

“Our team’s excited, the fans are excited, everyone’s ready,” he said. “We’re working with a short window – usually these take 6-8 months – but our team feels excited.

“When you talk to the drivers, owners, corporate sponsors every year, they can’t wait to get to Watkins Glen. We always hear the same things – it’s so pretty, the track’s great, the fans are great.

Everybody missed that last year, so the resounding statement is that they can’t wait.”

The short turnaround time from the announcement by New York State allowing full attendance has accelerated the timetable, which has been felt more in one area than the others.

MICHAEL PRINTUP WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

When you say someone wears their heart on their sleeve, it means they show how they feel rather than keeping them hidden.

“The hardest part has been recruiting help,” Printup said. “Staffing has been going through a very difficult period, and that’s everywhere. It’s been that way since January, and we just didn’t have a long enough runway to recruit.

It’s fair to say that Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup fits that description when talking about both the return of NASCAR to the track in 2021 and missing out on the race and its festivities in 2020.

The solution: Bringing in outside help. Printup said workers will be bussed in from as far as New York City and Buffalo, to make sure everyone in attendance – from fans to corporate sponsors – gets the experience they’ve come to expect at WGI.

“Obviously it’s a great feeling,” said Printup, track president at WGI since 2009, “because honestly, last year was borderline depressing.”

“The important thing is that we are not going to short-change the fans,” Printup said. “We’re not going to have 100% of the revenue but you’re

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not going to notice a difference.

“We know we were missed but we missed the fans just as bad. Our mantra is welcome back, not just to the fans but the media and corporate sponsors.”

Unlike many of the regional tourism destinations, the pandemic and recovery has not forced WGI to condense its marketing circle to a more local one.

“We’re actually in the opposite situation,” Printup explained. “Our circle is four hours and out. Those are the people looking for something new and exciting. Our locals are great and Canada’s open now so we won’t lose them, which we’re excited about.

“But our fans in New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, they’re our big players here.

We know they’re itching to get back.”

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When asked what he’s most excited about, Printup didn’t hesitate.

“For me, No. 1 is that I love getting out with the fans,” he said. “We do free coffee and donuts for the campers on Friday morning, and I just can’t wait to get out there. That’s when I know we’re back.”

It’s that love for the fans, and theirs for the track in return, that makes a race weekend at WGI special, according to Printup.

Weekend Racing Schedule

Friday, Aug. 6 – Clean Harbors 100 at the Glen ARCA Menards Series race, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 7 – United Rentals 176 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 7 – NASCAR Xfinity Series race, 4 p.m.

“It just doesn’t get any better than Sunday, Aug. 8 – Go Bowling at the this - this is one great neighborhood, Glen NASCAR Cup Series race, 3 p.m. and we’re welcoming you back.”

For more information, visit https:// www.theglen.com/events/go-bowling-at-the-glen/ “I always say, and I’m a true believer, that our community is our neighbors and our neighbors make up the community,” he said. “This is a place to be, where you want to visit and hang your hat.

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Waktkins Glen is Gorges

Written by: Sheri Hughey

Responding to an invitation, I returned to Watkins Glen State Park after more than 40 years (that’s probably under-cutting it, but I was never good at math). Upon arrival at the entrance, almost immediately, time travel took place in my mind and my “fifty-something” adult surrendered to the mesmerized youngster in the 1970’s, gawking in awe at the magnificence of nature, and feeling as if I was in a feature story in the National Geographic Magazine (not the digital version). What on God’s green and “gorge”-ous earth had kept me away for so long?

until 1906 when it was purchased by New York State,which was granted full state control in 1911. The Finger Lakes Region of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation obtained management responsibilities of Watkins Glen State Park in 1924.

It is recorded that Watkins Glen State Park is the geological formation resulting from a large sheet of ice that covered the area over 2 million years ago; during the Ice Age! The glacier melted and moved leaving behind the gorge, beautiful waterfalls, and caverns that we enjoy today. On July 4, 1863, the park opened to the public and operated as a resort, privately owned,

one can climb or descend the gorge. The South Rim and Indian Trails branch along the gorge’s scenic wooded rim; the Gorge Trail is closest to the stream and branches over, under and along the park’s 19 waterfalls, encompassing stone bridges and more than 800 stone steps. The stone steps bring back a different kind of memory. I’ll admit it-- as a child I was a big “fraidy cat”, and I couldn’t truly enjoy the amazing

Watkins Glen State Park hosts comfortable camping sites, tent and trailer sites, pavilions, picnic sites, a playground, a pool, and other desirable amenities. Open year-round, the park is a hiker’s paradise featuring three trails, where

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views above for concentrating on every single step I took to avoid falling. Yes, I said FALLING and, YES, I was a wussy wimp!

However, during this visit, some 40 years later, and at “fifty-something,” I worked those stone steps like Rocky Balboa! Well, kinda.

At “fifty-something,” I choose to gingerly do fifty-something steps and I’m good. Another childhood memory of Watkins is my attraction to Cavern Cascade; how magical is it to actually walk behind a waterfall? The magic and the thrill remains. It is my absolute favorite part of the park. It will never get old and like a cherished strand of pearls, it will never lack luster. In other words, it’s my jam.

in their “Bests” feature article, declared Watkins the best State Park in New York. In the April 2021 article, Traveler writes, “Towering cliffs and a series of 19 rippling waterfalls will leave visitors spellbound…” While trekking, and retracing the “stepping stones” of my childhood at Watkins, I encountered families, individuals, couples, and tourist groups -- all adventurers, in exploration, appreciation, and amazement of this natural wonderland, just like me. After 40 years, it doesn’t change.

Tagging Watkins Glen State Park, “an incredible park to visit year-round,” Conde Nast Traveler Magazine,

Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival Friday September 10,2021 Click for More Info

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1980: Route 17

by Sky Moss

I cannot remember if I was seven or eight. I do remember there was gas drama. It had something to do with OPEC. On the weekends we drove arbitrarily throughout the Southern Tier.

We coined the brown station wagon, Bertha. She was accommodating, spacious and reliable. Usually it was me, Schir, rendab, Arabara, occasionally Acerett. (love).

We drove to leave the house. We drove to explore seldomly traveled roads…

The back roads were captivating. The bends through Lowman, Millport, Lodi….. they all transfixed. We used to play this game, turn left, turn right. Six hours later we tried to find our way home.

Memory and maps, memory and maps.

There was a stretch of route 17 near Wellsburg, east bound, that had an inexplicable off ramp.

It drove like it was built by someone who lived locally.

After curved right and crawled to a stop the sign read: Left Sycamore (2 miles), right Cedar (? miles). We always went left. The road was smoother and more open, the sun shined there even in January. Sycamore was an abandoned town.

Its remnants sat along the Chemung River. My mom told me it was originally a Shaker community. It was actually celebrated as a needlepoint destination. In 1979 there were only five buildings left. The four outer buildings were sturdy. Each one had different roofing techniques. One thatched, one shingled, one domed and the other roofless, just open. It seemed to have been built to causeway snow and rain and funnel it underground.

The one time mom let me stop I examined it. The lilac floor boards were contorted downward. That said the floor was level. Do not question me. I was eight and this is honesty.

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The largest building appeared to be a communion Hall.

It had a dug out basement, that was evident from the brick lattice soil based columns. Spaced purposefully 12 feet apart.

am not sure when, who or how that was adorned. It had an elegant drape. There were three stories and the sashes on the top tier had faces. They moved without wind.

The entire structure measured 25 by 50 by 25 by 50, farmer’s arms. To clarify, I only rode by here like threefour times in my childhood. The roof had tin on it? I

That is the most vivid memory I have. Four serpentine faces and one was brown…

Creeped me out, I was eight.

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ELMIRA JAZZ FEST

AUGUST 20TH-21ST

FOR TICKETS CLICK

www.elmirajazzfestival.com Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of scenic upstate New York, the Elmira Jazz Festival is the Elmira-Corning area’s premier regional summer jazz festival. Since its inception in 2012, the festival has expanded into a two-day event celebrating both local and international artists, supporting area organizations and businesses, and strengthening the community. Check out our artists & events to see who we have featured in the past and who we are excited to host in the future. The purpose of the festival is to empower agents of change in our community. All of the proceeds from the events benefit the Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung & Schuyler Counties (EOP), an organization that has been a pillar in our community for over 55 years serving over 5,000 community members annually.

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Elmira Jazz Festival is a two-day festival in Upstate NY. On Friday August 20th at the Clemens Center in Elmira, NY beginning at 6:00pm, Day 1 of the Festival features guitarist Adam Hawley and local favorite band Top Shelf. Tickets are $50. Early Bird tickets are $40 (June 1-July 16).

On Saturday August 21st Jazz Fest moves outdoors to Thorne Street Park in Horseheads, NY, beginning at 12noon (doors open at 10:30am). Day 2 of the Festival features guitarist Paul Brown, flutist Althea Rene, and Festival staple Marcus Johnson. Saturday’s event features lawn seating with food and beverage provided by the EOP CFJP Bistro. You may bring your own cooler with food and drinks (alcohol is permitted for those 21 and over - you may consume your beverages out of plastic, no glass, please).

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14 Advertiser Content

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SUNY Corning Community College: A Pathway to Success

By Jeff Macharyas, Director of Marketing, SUNY Corning Community College “Community colleges are our most powerful engine of prosperity,” first lady (and community college professor) Jill Biden said in a February USA Today article.

Dr. Biden is right — starting an educational journey at a community college can lead to a bright and prosperous future for those who embark upon it.

Community college is a great way to start or return to college — and in many ways, better than jumping right into a four-year school. Why? Community college offers students a fast start right into post-secondary education. There’s a lot to get accomplished in that short time and it can be challenging. But, it does prepare students for the workforce — and for life. Community colleges are affordable and convenient. Financial aid, grants and scholarships are widely available and prospective

students are encouraged to research and seek out every opportunity. The financial aid office at the college is a good place to start.

Being in “the community,” students have the flexibility to work and study around their own schedules.

It doesn’t matter if high school is a recent memory, or you’ve been in the workforce for years, community colleges are right here in your community to help you meet your full potential and prepare you for your next great career and for life.

Community College offers students a fast start right into post-secondary education as well as flexibility and affordability. (Faith Rodriguez, photo by Jeff Macharyas)

In a 2015 AOL.com interview, Biden said, “Because of the flexibility that community colleges afford, many students do not have to choose between an education and fulfilling other responsibilities — they can do both.”

SUNY Corning Community College, offer many pathways, such as health care, engineering, business, computer sciences and more.

Community Colleges offer many programs including health care, engineering and business. Students many take classes in person, online, or both.

(Madison Cunningham, by Jeff Macharyas)

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Consider, for example, engineering. You can get started at community college, earn certificates, transfer, head to graduate school and enter very high-paying and in-demand fields.

Principles of Selling – It’s Not Just for Salespeople Taking a class or program degree in just about any subject can prepare you for opportunities in many fields you may not have even considered. Selling is a good example.

SUNY Corning Community College is offering Principles of Selling (MKTG 2058) this Fall, fully online.

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create the value proposition that will get the results you want. That’s selling!”

Sweeney adds.

with industries in the community. At community college, you’ll focus on learning, not just “going to college.”

Building Relationships

Live & Learn Right on the Campus of SUNY CCC

Selling is more than pushing products onto customers, it’s about relationship-building. Building relationships takes time, but it is a crucial component of the sales process. You can learn and use these techniques when you are “selling” in your job search, your career or anytime you want to convince a “buyer” that your “product” is necessary.

SUNY CCC offers plenty of clubs, activities, theater, music, recreation, trips and sports. Community colleges may offer greater opportunity to stand-out athletes because they won’t have to compete with juniors and seniors for parts or positions.

“Use sales tactics with your kids, with sports teammates and coaches and apply these techniques to a broad spectrum of subjects,” Sweeney concludes.

Community colleges offer first-rate education and hands-on learning. Courses often involve actual work in labs and may include workforce partnerships

Not all community colleges offer on-site housing, but SUNY CCC does.

Living & learning on campus in Perry Hall is convenient, with all the college has to offer only steps away, including opportunities to meet new and diverse people from different cultures and different areas. Even if your home is close to the college, choosing on-campus housing gives

Denis Sweeney is a Marketing and Public Relations Consultant and has been an instructor at SUNY CCC for 14 years and will be leading Principles of Selling, starting this Fall.

“This course is not just for business students, but for everyone, because everyone is a ‘salesperson,’” Sweeney explains.

“Consider your job search. You have to be marketable to hiring managers. You have to “sell” yourself, in effect. Or, say, you are pitching an idea at your job. Your director isn’t convinced your idea Students may choose to live at home, in an off-campus apartment or in residence halls. has merit, so you have to “sell” that (CCC) idea, overcome objections and

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them the opportunity to live independently and explore the world away from home — and still be close enough to visit family and friends when they want. On-campus living is safe, convenient and fun. Pennsylvania residents can live & learn on campus as well. Through the Keystone Scholarship, our friends in the Northern Tier can attend SUNY CCC at affordable NYS rates.

Get Started Soon Students can enroll at just about any time of the year. There are options for on-site, online and hybrid classes. The fall semester at SUNY Corning Community College begins Aug. 16, and late-start classes in early September. Contact the admissions office at 607-962-9151 to find out when you can enroll in the program you choose, whether it’s cybersecurity, health sciences, engineering, welding, sustainability or anything else.

“Community colleges are fundamental to the success of American workforce training. We are able to be agile because we are closely connected to our local community needs,” Laura H. Clark, SHRM-CP, Director of Workforce Education, CCC. Check out SUNY Corning Community College. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll learn. To find out more, visit corning-cc.edu or call 607-962-9151.

Click to Learn More:

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Summer is one of my favorite seasons. It signified freedom, adventure, and tons of fun in the sun. In the late 1980s and early 90s, summer also meant Watkins Glen NASCAR racing and camping on the infield in the “Esses”.

For three or four years, I camped with my best friend’s family – The Woods – who had an annual ritual of meeting up with extended family, longtime friends, and racing fanatics for three days of rumbling engines and raucous partying.

I was best friends with the youngest daughter of this well-known Irish-Italian family from Elmira and, while we weren’t all that interested in the actual races, for a few years the NASCAR races at Watkins Glen was a summer event not to be missed!

Those days were WILD! I mean, not as insane as The Bog days of legendary race camping lore, but still pretty crazy for a young girl just entering adulthood. While me and my girlfriends were always well-protected, it was quite a heady experience filled with lots of libations, laughter, and unexpected adventures on the inner fields of Watkins Glen International.

Vibing w/Cat White

field to sing and dance to live music before heading back to our campsite (or someone else’s) for more drinking and laughing around a crackling fire.

Although, Watkins Glen isn’t too far away from Elmira, it always felt like a completely different world to me. That laid back, languid vibe typical of “lake life”.

For being such a small town, there’s a lot to do in and around Watkins Glen.

For those less interested in the races, they could visit Finger Lakes wineries and craft breweries, check out the ducks waddling along the lakeshores, work up an appetite hiking the Gorge, hitch a ride on a schooner and sail the cool lake waters, or just spend the day checking out the unique local

Despite the Bacchanalian atmosphere and raging libidos, camping at the Glen during the races was really about camaraderie and cars.

We’d spend our days floating from our campsite to the stands to catch time trials to the sales trailers, which had something for everyone.

In the evenings, we’d gather in the small inner

Me and my racing at The Glen Camping Crew.

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businesses in town and dotted along the back roads of the surrounding Finger Lakes.

It’s funny, back then we were always in that first wave of rabid race fans eager to get to WGI and grab a choice camping spot. But my friends and I were also part of the first group to leave the racetrack, usually before the race was even over! Four days of public restroom bathing was about all any of us could take! I can still remember how amazing that first hot shower felt after spending three or four days camping and drinking and eating and dancing and living life to the absolute fullest.

I was sad when NASCAR stopped holding races at WGI for awhile and was glad to hear that they had returned. While my experiences camping at the racetrack were more about the people than the sport, there’s something very cool about waking up to the deafening rumble of race car engines screaming as they careened around the track, while the ground shook beneath us.

Thinking back on those “good ole days” feels like a lifetime ago and, I guess, they were. It makes me realize how lucky I was to grow up in such a beautiful region with so many options of things to do. Those memories also drive home how fortunate I was to be surrounded by so many fantastic, caring, FUN people. In addition to spending four fun-filled days with my besties checking out the cute boys, we rolled with a very cool, very funny crew who knew how to keep us entertained with their antics. We feasted on tasty camp food and drank tons of

Fun with Friends Camping at The Glen

booze (sorry, liver). We experienced an incredible sense of freedom to sample the fun, hedonistic side of the races with the safety of back-up adults that always watched out for us, no matter how inebriated they got!

As I looked through the pictures from those experiences, I couldn’t help but smile – even laugh out loud at some of the silliness we engaged in during those carefree days. It was a simpler time and I’m

Me and my bestie enjoying live music and libations during Race Wknd at The Glen

incredibly grateful to have grown up in the Southern Tier during that moment in time with the people I encountered.

The memories are bittersweet - the connection to the past almost palpable.

Aaaahhhh, to be young and unaware of the heartbreaks the future holds! Or a rabid race fan!!

Enjoy Go Bowling at the Glen weekend this month! Have a little debauchery for

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Seneca Lake Brewery Tour on the Eastern side of Seneca Lake.

Instead of the Chef picking my meal, I simply asked what beer I should sample at each stop. Marisa was by my side sampling her own picks as well.

by Bob Thomas

The Finger Lakes is home to one of the best Wine Regions in the USA. Visiting the wineries is something my wife Marisa and I make time for at least once a month. We were missing another great reason to tour the Lakes, the breweries.

This month’s edition of Chef’s Best is not about the food, it is about some of the best beer you can drink,

Prior to our adventure, we did the responsible thing. We found a driver.

I can not stress this enough. Those 4 or 5 ounce beer samples add up.

By our count, almost 100 ounces of beer was consumed in the research for this feature.

Find a designated driver, or do what we did. We hired a driver to drive our car.

Free plug to our friends at MainStreetDrivers.com. We have used their services a couple of times. The process is simple, log onto the website, click on the Make a Reservation link and fill out a form with your trip info. You will be contacted with availability and pricing. The driver shows up, drives your car and brings you back. You and your car are safe and sound at home when the trip is over.

Now, back to the tour. We

decided to start at the farthest point from our home, and work our way back. Wagner Valley Brewing Company is a short 15 mile drive from Watkins Glen up the eastern side of Seneca Lake. The parking lot at Wagner seems to always be full, but don’t let that deter you from stopping.

The tasting room features a dozen tap lines, and the first recommended beer for a tasting flight was the Trippelbock. Just two days before our visit this Bavarian-style lager was designated the “Best Strong Ale (Non-Belgian) in New York State at the New York State Craft Beer Competition.

The flight of four was rounded out with Wagner’s Dockside Vienna Lager, the Seneca Sol and their Sled Dog Doppleback. This selection really did have something for every-

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one. The smooth Dockside was my favorite of the four, but each stood on its own and is worth trying.

I did break from the format slightly at Wagner. Their Cloudbank Hefeweizen was calling my name, so I had to add a sip on my way out. I never really thought I had a “style” of beer, but the Cloudbank was it.

There is something different about the texture of a Hefeweizen that I enjoy. This version had subtle flavors of banana and clove. It was my pick for beer of the day.

Only three miles south on Route 414 was our next stop, at Lucky Hare Brewing Company. A nice departure from the oversized venue at our previous stop. Lucky Hare’s Hector Taproom is a quaint joint with a

great deck, perfect for sampling the best this Farm Brewery has to offer.

The pre-selected flight included my first IPA of the day, their Falcon Punch. All I can say is Hip HOP Hooray for that IPA. No, I am not a ‘hophead’ by any means. The first sip was a hopped-up assault of the senses, which calmed down on sip two, and became every drinkable. If you are into hops, this beer is for you.

The flight also included their London Gentleman, Blonde Moment

and the Upper Class Wit of the Year.

The Blonde Moment was the class of the field for me, although all three of these beers were near the top of my list at the end of the day. The Blonde Moment had a light coffee aroma, was smooth as can be, with an almost nutty background. It was amazing.

Take a half mile hop south from Lucky Hare and you will find our next location, Scale House Brewery. We had ear-marked this spot before the trip as our late-lunch stop. My boss raves about the beer and pizza here, and he was on the money. Food first. We ordered the Insalata Caprese and the Margherita - Prosciutto Pizza. The caprese was simple, yet perfect; just as it always should be. The pizza was fresh and light, all the flavors were balanced. Pizza and beer, how can you go wrong?

Scale House Brewery was named the 2021 Finger Lakes Brewery of the Year at the New York International Beer Competition, so I was looking forward to the beer selection. I have heard about the stouts, specifically the chocolate and the peanut butter which are sometimes featured. While the chocolate was not on tap, I was very happy to see their Peanut Butter Stout was one of my selections.

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Marisa always picks dark beer, while I typically stay on the light side.

This Peanut Butter Stout would be the exception for me. It goes down smooth, with coffee undertones and of course peanut butter. The beer

had just the right balance of sweetness.

Summer Jam, Lake Monster Lager and the Cream Ale were lined up next to the stout on my flight dance card. For the hop drinkers out there the Summer Jam is a nice entry level hoppy beer. The Lager and Cream

Ale were both smooth and very enjoyable. The comfort of the Cream Ale lands it at the top of my list from the Scale House.

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Three miles south from Scale House and on the lake side of 414 is where you will find Two Goats Brewing. This

pub style foods and enjoy an afternoon overlooking Seneca Lake.

lucky enough to get another hefeweizen and it did not disappoint.

Traditional in style, the Wolke was smooth, slightly sweet, with notes of banana and clove.

The B.O.B. was a refreshing ale, with just a bit of bite from blood orange puree. The dry hopped Citra Pilsner had a thirst-quenching snap to it.

While the Campfire was light and crisp, perfect for sitting around… you guessed it, a campfire. Again, why pick up anything mass-produced, when a local micro-brewery can do a better job?

lively, eclectic spot was stop number four on the tour. This small brewpub has great views, an amazing atmosphere and yes, great beer.

The pre-selected flight featured their Go Easy Blonde, Hector Logger, Peach Hefe and Brown Ale. I mentioned previously that I am a hefeweizen fan, and the Peach Hefe was a unique twist on the classic. The peach flavor was subtle. It was a perfect summer version of a hefeweizen.

The Hector Logger, described by Two Goats as a “great craft beer intro for ‘domestic’ drinkers” lives up to the billing. Light, clean, smooth… you don’t have to head for the mountains. Head for the Lake, drink great local beer right in our own backyard.

Less than a half mile south from Two Goats, perched on the hill is the last stop of our tour, Grist Iron Brewing Company. I have been here a few times before. Grist Iron is always bustling with activity with a brew hall type feel. You can pair the beer with

The four picks for my flight included the Campfire Lite Lager, Citra on the Dock of the Bay Pilsner, the B.O.B. (Blood Orange Blonde) and their Banana Wolke Hefeweizen. Yes, I was

The best part of this tour is the fact that it is still just a small sample of breweries surrounding the Finger Lakes. Try one at a time, or you can make a day or weekend of it. Don’t stay stuck in one lane. The best thing about a flight is that you can explore

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what each brewery has to offer. Ask questions and learn about the beer making process. Who knows, you might stumble onto a new favorite style. Please remember, always do so responsibly.

When you sample, just ask for the Brewer’s Best!

Featured in this Article: Wagner Valley Brewing Company 9322 NY-414 Lodi, NY 14860 www.wagnerbrewing.com Lucky Hare Brewing Company 6085 Beckhorn Road Hector, NY 14841 www.luckyharebrewing.com Scale House Brewery 5930 NY-414 Hector, NY 14841 www.scalehousebrews.com Two Goats Brewing 5027 NY-414 Burdett, NY 14818 www.twogoatsbrewing.com Grist Iron Brewing Company 4880 NY-414 Burdett, NY 14818 www.gristironbrewing.com

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Cameron Collins

“I’ve always been amazed at the amount of talent Elmira has produced!” Cameron Collins, 50, formerly of Elmira, says. “There’s no place with a 28,000 population that is pumping out talent like Elmira. It’s incredible.”

Cameron Collins currently lives, works and writes in St. Louis, MO, but he’ll always consider himself an upstate New Yorker.

He grew up on Logan Street and attended Booth School, Ernie Davis Middle School and Elmira Free Academy throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Then Cameron left the Southern Tier to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio, majoring in Fine Art Photography and American History.

Although, he wanted to return to his hometown after college, his parents discouraged

him.

“There were no jobs for a photography/history major in Elmira,” he explains. “I planned to eventually move to Chicago or New York City, but St. Louis is very affordable with lots to do, and so many great people, that I fell in love with the area. Between me, my roommate and another friend that moved in, we were able to rent a 4-bedroom house for about $200/month each.”

So instead, he settled in St. Louis, rooming with a couple of college friends. After observing that his friends who moved to Chicago were spending their entire paycheck on a cramped apartment, while he shared an entire house with two friends and STILL had enough money for a few pints at the neighborhood pub and tickets to a baseball game, Cameron ended up making St. Louis his home.

“I fell in love with the city and its history,” he says.

Cameron had a brush with history of his own when he met future POTUS, then-Senator Barack Obama, in 2006 while volunteering for Claire McCaskill’s campaign. As a volunteer he got invited to a rally and got to shake Obama’s hand.

When he first moved to St. Louis in 1995, Cameron bounced around the city getting acquainted with his new home and finding out what he wanted in life, apropos of most twenty-something’s trying to figure out their place in the world. Eventually, he became interested in the city’s wealth of interesting history, especially related to one of his favorite pastimes, drinking. In 2012, he started the online column Distilled History, A Drinking Blog with a History Problem, to explore some of St. Louis more colorful legends related to libations. Although the blog focused on regional history, he was able to include a couple of popular posts about some really interesting hometown history about Langdon Mansion and the water therapy spa on Elmira’s Water Cure Hill, that he researched and wrote during his visits home to see his mother, Susan Collins.

“The two blog posts I wrote about Elmira history … about Langdon Mansion and the Water Cure resort – are among my favorite blog posts of all time,”

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Cameron says. “Those two posts are a delight for me. Elmira has some really cool history.”

Cameron was particularly excited to hear from some of his former Elmira Free Academy teachers who, having read his blog, reached out to confirm that the student they knew was, indeed, the blog’s author. “Even today, I still get emails from Elmirans telling me they remember stories about those historical places.”

The blog resonated with St. Louisans, and after winning a Riverfront Times Web Award in 2012 for best personal blog, his readership went crazy and Cameron started getting requests to doing presentations about St. Louis history all around town. Eventually local publisher Reedy Press took notice and contacted him in 2015 about writing a book on St. Louis history.

Cameron’s first book “Lost Treasures of St. Louis,” is a menagerie of long-gone places, events and items once identified with the Gateway City that includes rarely seen photos and artifacts, and was well-received. His skillful and engaging prose, as well as some glowing reviews from regional periodicals like St. Louis Magazine, helped make it one of the best-selling hard copy books Reedy Press has published to date.

After the success of his first book, Cameron was asked to co-author two other books on the region, “St. Louis Brews: The History of Brewing in the Gateway City, 3rd Edition,” and “Scenes of Historic Wonder: St. Louis.”

He’s currently working on his fourth book, an as-yet-untitled book about St. Louis birds, scheduled to come out in spring 2022. One of his recent hobbies has Cameron exploring the region, taking amazing pictures of the birds he encounters in a variety of urban and natural habitats. His stunning shots of regional birds will be available in paperback, and he thinks it’ll be a great gift for all audiences.

“I think this one’s gonna sell big,” he said, chuckling. “Nobody can get mad at birds.”

Cameron’s day job for the past two years has been as a Process Analyst at Centene, a multiline managed care enterprise that serves as a major intermediary for both government-

sponsored and privately insured health care programs. He’s an analyst who creates workflow processes that instruct medical claims analysts what to do. For example, Cameron helped write the workflow instructions to process COVID claims across the country. He particularly enjoys working for Centene because of its progressive, forward-thinking policies like the fact that, of approximately 80,000 employees, 75% are women and 50% identify themselves as people of color.

It’s been three years since Cameron last visited Elmira, when he had returned to help his mom pack up the 17-room Victorian house where she resided to move with him to St. Louis.

“We love this town,” he said, wistfully. “We both miss it dearly.”

“I miss hills. I miss driving up around the Finger Lakes. Elmira is filled with so much great history!”

He also mentioned, with fondness, the people of his hometown, that remind him of the wonderful community spirit Elmira has always had. People like Katie Boland, Elmira businesswomen and philanthropist, who hosted Cameron’s father’s wake at Horigan’s after his death in 2008. “It was an epic celebration,” he reminisced.

Folks like Boland, and her mother Bunny, and stepfather Carl Vallely, who’ve continued to nurture and build interest in community preservation of its history, give Cameron hope that his hometown can overcome the economic and social issues that continue to plague the area.

While he imagines returning to live in his hometown someday, Cameron’s pretty content with his current life in St. Louis.

For the past three years, he’s lived in a blended household with his mom and their three cats Wu Zhao, Noko and Ivan Grayslacks, in St. Louis, MO. And, while they may sometimes drive each other crazy, they were grateful to have been together throughout the pandemic.

Most recently, Cameron’s developed a habit for gardening. With his mother’s supervision, he and an experienced gardener, Jasmin, have created a serene outdoor garden space to enjoy with family and friends.

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Southern Tier Life // ISSUE 06

Re-Run from April’s Edition

For the LOVE of Beer A’Don Allen Rieslings. Chardonnay. Cabernet.

Catawba. Concord. Niagara. These are all the vernacular of the Finger Lakes Region of the Southern Tier. The Finger Lakes Region is Wine Country and home to over 100 wineries. Finger Lakes Wine Country is well renowned and known across the world. In fact, some may say only Napa Valley in California is more well-known for American wines, than here in the Southern Tier. If you travel in the Finger Lakes Region these days however, you are beginning to see a new explosion joining Wine Country. With new terms to add, such as IPA, Hops, Rice, Lagers, Barley, Flights and so many more. Beer, Craft Beer to be exact has exploded across the world and especially here in the Southern Tier with over 75 micro-

breweries in the Finger Lakes alone.

Now if you think craft beer is a new thing, think again. In 1979 then President Jimmy Carter signed legislation making home brewing legal. Cam Lavallee, co-host of “What’s On Tap”, says that most of the pop-up breweries did indeed, begin at home. “Everywhere we’ve gone to we’ve heard different stories about people taking their love of beer, as well as the creating process, and starting out in their homes or at a similar small scale then, they realized what they were making was actually a really good product.

Typically, they had a lot of positive feedback from those who tried it and convinced them it might actually be a worthwhile endeavor to try and brew on a larger scale.”

So what makes craft beer so appealing?

Why is it so different from your traditional beers (Budweiser, Miller, Coors, etc.)? The traditional beers are mass produced. Whereas Craft Beers focuses more on flavors and nuances and often has higher alcohol content than regular beer. Does this mean that craft beers are becoming more popular than traditional beers? Numbers suggest maybe. According to brewersassociation.org, overall U.S. beer volume sales were down 2% in 2019, whereas craft brewer sales continued to grow at a rate of 4% by volume, reaching 13.6% of the U.S. beer market by volume. Craft production grew the most for taprooms.

Retail dollar sales of craft increased 6%, up to $29.3 billion, and now account for more than 25% of the $116.0 billion

Southern Tier Life // ISSUE 06

U.S. beer market. So will we see a day didn’t turn a profit for the first 3 years.” where craft beers a more popular than Upstate is one of the first local brewersay, Budweiser? “I mean, you’re still ies and they currently have their beers always going to have those guys in the in bars and restaurants across the state. game. Says Lavallee, They’ve gotten to that level for a reason. You’re always With the growth and the opening of so going to have people who swear by many breweries, Cam Lavallee and his Bud, Coors, or Miller. Now, it seems co-Worker Eric Webler, decided they like they just need to find a way to wanted to try different local beers. So adapt to the beer scene and its constant in the summer of 2020, Cam and Eric changes. I feel like that’s why you’re premiered their Vlog, “What’s On Tap”, seeing such a strong push for the hard Cam and Eric want to showcase the seltzers from the major brands now. breweries and the beers that they make.

They’ve realized that selling one style They have visited different breweries won’t cut it any more. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the next few years, you start to see those companies begin experimenting more in the IPA game, or another easy-to-drink style. Nothing crazy, but something to keep everyone happy.” Tom Brown, CEO of Media Barker and host of the 2020 Beer Festival, says that while Seated (L)Cam Lavallee, (R) Eric Webler he doesn’t see craft beers overtaking the big dogs, taste and diversity is the big game changand reviewed different beers and the er. “When you try something like a stories behind them. “Eric said he had Budweiser or Coors or Miller Genuine been watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Draft, yeah…that gets you there, but Dives the night before and wondered if you have something that’s an interwhy there weren’t any shows in that esting challenge to your palate, and it style for breweries. ”Says Lavallee. “We happens to be local, that’s going to pull had only recently found out how much off from the others.” we liked beer and became friends, but he was about two or three sentences in While the Craft Beer Explosion is pick- and I was sold. And from there, we just ing up steam, it’s not relatively new, and started mass emailing any breweries we it definitely wasn’t overnight. Upstate could find through Google in the area.

Brewing Company opened its doors in We wanted to start in the Binghamton 2011 and at the time was brewery num- area, so we were thankful to be able to ber 1650 in the United States. There get Farmhouse, Water Street, Beer Tree, are now currently over 8,000 breweries and The North all onboard very early in the country. Mark Neumann, owner on. And once other places started to of Upstate says it’s definitely been a see what the show was about, it became labor of love. “We started in 2011 with easier to pitch it to places, and we even 2 beers; we now have over 60 different started to see suggestions from viewers beers. But it wasn’t overnight. We about where to go next, as well as hav-

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ing a few places reach out to us, which was pretty cool.” Lavallee says the best part has been meeting the people.

Hearing the stories about how they got started in brewing, and how they were able to open up their own shops, and many of them said they went into it with a “betting on themselves” mentality. It inspired the co-hosts to try and brew their own craft beer! “Well, as of now, we’ve only brewed one beer, a Holiday Ale, and while it may not have come out exactly as it should have, it was a really fun experience. We spent several hours going through the whole process, learning little tricks to help make things work better and faster.”

Lavallee went on to say… “The biggest thing we struggled with was getting the wort to cool down quickly. We had it on my back porch in about 15 degree weather, with the pot surrounded by snow, and it still took close to 2 hours to get to the temperature we were looking for. So, a really big lesson learned on the first try.”

Cam and Eric have caught the Craft Beer Bug! They are a part of the Craft Beer Phenomenon, which is right here in our backyard. You can see Cam and Eric and What’s On Tap on YouTube, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Southern Tier Life // ISSUE 06

WAT K I N S G L E N F I R E D E PA R T M E N T The month we feature the Watkins Glen Fire Department is a 100% Volunteer Department founded in 1862. The Department covers a 58 square mile response district out of one station, located at the southern end of Seneca Lake in the Village of Watkins Glen NY. The Department answers an average of 700+ alarms a year throughout Schuyler County, including Fire, EMS, Auto Extrication, High Angle Rescue, and many other types of alarms.

The Watkins Glen Fire Department Officers are: Fire Chief, Jason Hudson 1st Assistant Chief- Rob Gruver 2nd Assistant Chief -Charlie Scaptura

The Watkins Glen Fire Department Fleet consists of: 1999 75’ Ladder Truck and 2015 Tanker 2007 Heavy Rescue Engine and 2011 Engine 2010 F-350 Brush truck and 2015 F-250 Utility truck 1998 Tahoe Duty Chief Response Vehicle 2017 Chevy Suburban 2007 Polaris 6x6 and Fire Boat Tech Rescue Trailer and Incident Command trailer 2017 Ford Escape EMS Vehicle

3rd Assistant Chief - Tyler Moore Deputy Chief- Dominick Smith Deputy Chief- Jud Smith Deputy Chief- Rob DeDominick EMS Captain- Anthony Nieves

For More information: http://www.wgfire.com/ Facebook Link

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The Watkins Glen Fire Department has deep tradition and values not hampered or held back by time. They are very aggressive in providing state of the art training to all members to ensure safety at every alarm. In addition, the Department offers fire extinguisher training at the fire house on Monday nights at 7pm, and at public events throughout the year.

Corporate training is also available, call the Department for more information.

The public is always welcome to stop by the firehouse on Monday nights from 7pm to 9pm to meet the volunteers hard at work. Also, everyone is encouraged to stop at one of the many events in the community to learn more about the fire department.

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