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February 8
List of Finger Lakes Museum Sites Narrow
First there were nineteen. Then there were five. Now there are two. John Adamski, president of the Board of Trustees of the Finger Lakes Cultural & Natural History Museum, said today that the site selection committee has referred two sites to the board for further assessment. They are the Geneva/Seneca Lake State Park site along the lakefront in Geneva and Keuka Lake State Park near Branchport. Both sites offer lake frontage.
No longer in contention is the Bush Farm in Ledyard, the Wells College campus in Aurora, and Sampson State Park in Romulus. Sponsors of those sites were informed of the decision last Friday and in a show of commitment and dedication, each pledged to continue supporting the project.
Adamski said that a great deal of effort was put into proposals from the five site sponsors and that each had to be fairly evaluated. Site selection committee members logged more than 150 hours in multiple site visits, committee meetings, and deliberations, not to mention the uncounted miles that were driven.
The committee has asked the board to consider a comparative marketing study to help determine which of the two remaining sites would be the most viable due to concerns for the long-range economic stability of the project based on its location.
Adamski said, “The advantage that the Geneva site has is its central location, which is close to the Thruway and halfway between Rochester and Syracuse. The benefit of the Keuka Lake site is its intimate lakefront and wilder setting, which is more conducive to outdoor wildlife exhibits.” Plans call for natural habitats to showcase native wild animals such as bald eagles, beavers, black bears, coyotes, foxes, otters, and the unique Seneca White Deer.
The proposed $40 million is planned to be primarily funded by private donations and corporate grants. A committee is currently working on a fundraising program.
For more information or to make contact, see www.fingerlakesmuseum.org.
February 8
Promise To Be Nice, And Kids Will Let You Play In It Too
Cronise Enterprises, Inc. has announced the formation of a new division, Bristol Shire Cottages, which will be manufacturing and marketing an entirely original design of children's playhouse. The new division will complement the core business, Cronise Landscape & Design, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Drawing inspiration from the literature of J.R.R. Tolkien, and from the hills of Bristol, father and son design team Del and Daniel Cronise have created what they believe is a unique take on a backyard fixture. The sweeping logo of the new company echos the shape of the cottages and reflects the rolling terrain surrounding the company office.
"Most playhouses are just scaled-back versions of conventional architecture" said Del Cronise. "We wanted ours to be more fantasy oriented, a design far different than the typical"
Dan Cronise pointed out that, while the popularity of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy has many people saying "Oh look! A hobbit house," there have been quite a few other descriptives used such as faerie house, igloo, even "boy cave"
The cottages are built to order and delivered fully assembled. While only one style and size is currently available, each cottage can be individualized by the wide array of colors offered. Delivery is currently limited to western New York, in the area between Buffalo and Syracuse.
The business has a website, www.bristolshirecottages.com, where these charming little houses are available to order.
February 8
Canandaigua Classic Antique Show Benefits Granger Homestead
On Sunday, February 14, 2010 the 11th annual Canandaigua Classic Antique Show and Sale will be held at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, 5857 Route 96, Farmington, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be 35 quality antique dealers. Admission is $5.00. To download a coupon for a $1.00 off admission, go to www.CanandaiguaClassic.com. Food will be available throughout the day. Plenty of free parking is available.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Dropped Shop Restoration Studio of Orchard Park, New York will offer restoration appraisals. If you own an heirloom with a flaw, this business specializes in the restoration of all types of damaged china, pottery, porcelain, glass, and gold leaf articles. Ernie Kionke, the restorer, provides appraisal estimates after examining each piece. The price charged varies from $3.00 to $5.00 for the appraisal and will be deducted from any work carried out.
From 1 to 3 p.m. H. Price Prazar will provide a verbal appraisal of antiques and collectibles for $5.00 per item. Bloomfield bookseller Sean Fagan will appraise two books for $5.00. All proceeds will go toward the cost of further upgrades to one of the carriage barns at the Granger Homestead's Carriage Museum in Canandaigua. Go to www.grangerhomestead.org for details of the carriage collection.
Also at the 2010 show attendees can prove their antique meddle by identifying an object from the Carriage Museum’s collection. The mystery item can be viewed at the antique show. The winner, selected randomly from the correct entries, receives the choice of a free horse-drawn sleigh (or carriage) ride for two people.
February 8
Conservation Agreement Secures Lakeshore Woodlands
The Finger Lakes Land Trust today announced that it has acquired a permanent conservation easement on scenic woodlands adjacent to Cayuga Lake’s eastern shore. Located in the Town of Lansing, the Ross/Penhollow property features 47 acres of hillside forest with 2,000 feet of frontage on the Norfolk Southern rail line, which, in turn borders Cayuga Lake.
The Ross/Penhollow property was a high priority for conservation due to the fact that it is located within a county-designated Unique Natural Area and is part of a cherished scenic vista viewed by thousands of visitors each year from Taughannock State Park. The property features several rugged ravines as well as mature hardwood forest that supports a diversity of wildlife.
Landowners Barbara Kelliher Ross and Carol Ross Penhollow donated a perpetual conservation easement that will limit future development to a single additional home in a designated location that is designed to minimize impacts upon Cayuga Lake as well as the property’s scenic character. Forestry activities may be conducted solely with the prior review and approval of the Land Trust, which will be responsible for holding and monitoring the easement agreement.
Ross and Penhollow say that they “are proud of this land which has been in our family for five generations, and we are pleased to have a small part in preserving the beauty and tranquility of the countryside surrounding Cayuga Lake.”
The Ross/Penhollow easement is the 69th to be acquired by the Land Trust. Perpetual conservation easements are legal agreements that limit future development of the land while allowing it to remain in private ownership. They may be acquired through either purchase or donation. Donors of conservation easements are eligible for both state and federal tax benefits.
The Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that is supported by more than 1,900 families from across the region. Additional information about the Land Trust and conservation easements may be found at the organization’s web site – www.fllt.org.
February 8
“Eye of the Garden” is Theme for GardenScape 2010
The area’s most creative landscapers will take up a special challenge as they interpret “Eye of the Garden,” the theme for GardenScape 2010, to be held March 11 to 14 at the Dome Center in Henrietta.
Visitors to GardenScape 2010 will be treated to 20 artistically landscaped gardens that combine color, beauty and an almost mystical aura in this 19th annual flower and garden show produced by the GardenScape Professionals Association. They will also enjoy the breathtaking works of Alien Nature, an artistic exhibit of the macrophotography of flowers by New York City artists Roderigo Pedrolli and Michael Murphree.
“The concept for ‘Eye of the Garden’ is drawn from Trompe l'oeil, an art genre that involves creating realistic images to effect an optical illusion, causing two-dimensional illustrations to appear three-dimensional,” said GardenScape show manager Sarah Burchell. “Inspiration is also derived from the works of M.C. Esher, Salvador Dali and others.
The addition of Alien Nature brings a whole new dimension to GardenScape 2010, presenting works that offer a compelling, fresh photographic look at flowers and nature “manipulated and transformed into pieces that are dynamic, exotic and sometimes erotic – a surreal look at everyday common flora.”
In addition to the garden displays, more than 100 vendors will be on hand, and daily seminars will feature local and national horticultural experts. The show offers a new and improved interactive Children’s Garden, special early bird tours, a Friday evening “Sock Hop into Spring” with live music, and daily entertainment by local musicians and actors.
GardenScape is a not-for-profit organization whose proceeds from the show help support public and educational projects such as the Epilepsy Foundation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Ronald McDonald House. For more information on the show, including ticket pricing, go to www.rochesterflowershow.com or call 585-265-9018.
February 8
See Hawks and Owls Up Close!
Learn fascinating facts about the role and behaviors of these raptors in nature at Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport. Instructors Ron Walker and David Semple will present a different topic – and different birds – each session. All birds in this program have been rehabilitated from injuries and are “non-releasable” (would not survive in the wild because of their injuries). These ambassadors of nature astound us with their awesome beauty and help teach us exciting new things about our natural world.
The dates are Febuary 23 (owls), and March 9 (spring migration) from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is $10 per person, two people is $15, and a family is $20. For more information call 585-223-5050 or visit www.perinton.org.
February 8
Welcome to Viticulture 2010
Viticulture 2010 is a unique educational, commercial, and networking opportunity for grape growers, juice producers, wineries, researchers and others in New York, the Northeast and Midwest, and throughout the country. The February 17-19 conference at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center is the fourth in a series, with Viticulture 2007 drawing nearly 1,000 people from 26 states and four countries, and will include the Unity Banquet for the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
A comprehensive series of seminars with world-class speakers will cover the most important topics for industry members, who will also have the opportunity to "kick the tires" of all kinds of equipment and services at a large trade show. The many meals and free time provide the ideal circumstances for reconnecting with old acquaintances and making new ones to advance your business or just have some fun.
For general questions, call Jennifer Cooper at 585-394-3620 or e-mail jennifercooper@nywgf.org.
January 18
Geneva Newspaper Reports Kinkade Original for Sale in Phelps
A $195,000 original painting by Thomas Kinkade is up for sale at the Thomas Kinkade Gallery on Church Street in Phelps, according to a recent article in The Finger Lakes Times. The painting was completed in October and will be available for viewing until January 30.
“He usually doesn’t sell his originals,” gallery co-owner Dawn Cheney told the Times. “They’re usually kept in a gallery in California.”
While on tour last year, Kinkade visited the Phelps gallery; Cheney told the Times that she bought him a subscription to Life in the Finger Lakes magazine as a token to bring him back to the area.
For more information about this story, visit fltimes.com.
December 30
Saturday Story Adventures at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah
The Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) will present Saturday Story Adventures on January 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children (ages 3 to 7 years) will enjoy a nature based story as well as a puppet show/activity and craft. Each program will give the children hands-on experience with nature both indoors and outdoors. Children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult.
An adult snowshoe hike will be going on at the same time. These hikes are done right from the center and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
The Montezuma Audubon Center is located on Route 89 – approximately two miles north of the Hamlet of Savannah, New York.
Fee: $4/child per story time or $15/child for all four programs. For additional information or to pre-register please call (315) 365-3588 or e-mail cstokes-cawley@audubon.org Visit the Montezuma Audubon Center at http://ny.audubon.org/CentersEdu_Montezuma.html.
December 30
"Precious Nonsense" Returns to Ithaca’s Kitchen Theatre
The Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca is presenting "Precious Nonsense," running from January 13 through February 7.
Using the much-loved melodies and lyrics of Gilbert & Sullivan as a start, Rachel Lampert has fashioned a play so full of plot twists and turns, laughs, and romance-making it seem Gilbert and Sullivan themselves rose from the dead to create it.
Set in 1938, "Precious Nonsense" introduces us to a ramshackle touring company, the Carter Family Savoyards. Mistaken identities, unexpressed love and madcap mayhem combine in this screwball comedy about finding and falling in love.
"I set the play in 1938 when America was struggling out of the Depression and war in Europe had begun - a time that mirrors some our current challenges. And like the Hollywood movies of that time, "Precious Nonsense" is a welcome escape," says Lampert.
Ticket prices are $22 for adults and $11 for youths. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.kitchentheatre.org.
December 30
Website Offers Finger Lakes Artists Free Listing
The Internet-based Finger Lakes Artists Network (www.fingerlakesartists.org) offers free listings for all Finger Lakes region artists, crafters, festivals and events, as well as shops and galleries.
The website, which has provided exposure for hundreds of artists in the Finger Lakes since 2000, is now integrated with six other regional artists’ networks covering Upstate New York.
Artists, shop owners and festival coordinators can create their listing information by going to www.fingerlakesartists.org or to upstateartists.org and signing up. Artists and crafters can submit up to three images of their work to accompany their listing at no cost. Listings and images can be updated at any time.
The nonprofit website also includes listings of arts organizations, museums, calls for artists and links to community and tourism sites in the region.
December 30
New Site Showcases Finger Lakes Designs
After retiring from a career in sales, Peter Bud, of Canandaigua, started creating designs for T-shirts, a hobby he always enjoyed.
Combining his creative flair with his love for the Finger Lakes, Bud began operating www.fingerlakesgear.com last spring.
By marrying fun design work with online technology, anyone can order T-shirts, mugs, caps, stickers, totes and much more. People can choose from the nearly 450 designs, many specific to each lake in the region. Bud's saying, "It's always happy hour on the lake" is fast becoming an early popular design. The mascot for his site is “Crusher,” a grape who allegedly escaped from a wine press.
For more information or to place an order for Finger Lakes merchandise, visit www.fingerlakesgear.com.
December 30
Arbor Hill Introduces New Additions
South Bristol’s Arbor Hill Winery, known for its award-winning wines and gourmet wine-based food products, recently announced the addition of Black Currant Jelly and Seedless Raspberry Preserves to the Healthy Purple product line.
Healthy Purple is an antioxidant-rich line of gourmet products produced from grapes and other fruits. The purple pigment that gives these fruits their brilliant color does good things for the body and the taste buds.
These new additions join other Healthy Purple Products including Blueberry Preserves, Fresh Pressed Grape Juice, Sparkling Purple Grape Juice and Grape Topping and Filling. With this introduction, the entire line of preserves has received a makeover with a new label design portraying the homemade taste and quality. Cindy Harris of Harris Studios, in Fishers, created the labels with a different watercolor depicting each fruit, raspberries, black currants and blueberries.
“I love to create through my paintings, and the watercolors give the products a homemade Finger Lakes look,” said Harris. “They were designed to work together as a group or stand alone.”
All three preserves with the newly designed labels are available online at www.thegrapery.com, the Arbor Hill retail store located at 6461 Route 64 in South Bristol and select specialty retailers throughout the area. The preserves are available as single purchases and in a 3-pack.
December 30
Finger Lakes Museum Gets Site Proposals, Organizes Committees
As the site selection process for the Finger Lakes Cultural and Natural History Museum continues, committees are being organized to bring the museum to reality.
The five site sponsors submitted final proposals on December 3 and the Site Selection Committee, as well as members of the Board of Trustees, met with each group individually for presentations and questions and answers.
The committees were organized at a special meeting on December 5 at the Esperanza Mansion near Branchport.
President John Adamski said the site proposals are “impressive.” “Together, the submissions weigh 21 pounds and include site plans, maps, photos, text, demographics, CDs, DVDs and letters of endorsement as well as offers of financial assistance and potential partnerships from all levels of academia and each level of government.”
Adamski noted that he is “truly humbled by the time, effort and expense that has been put into what was once a daydream that I had presented in a magazine article only 19 months ago. As I read through each proposal,” he added, “I was moved by the efforts put forth by everyone involved.”
Adamski said the site selection committee has already had one meeting to discuss the sites and that the deliberations will likely take at least six to eight weeks. The five sites being considered are: Wells College Campus in Aurora; the Bush Farm in Ledyard near Aurora; Sampson State Park in Romulus; Geneva Lakefront/Seneca Lake State Park in and near Geneva; and Keuka Lake State Park in Bluff Point.
Meanwhile, at the committee organization meeting attended by 45 people, two presenters spoke on museum matters.
Suzanne Kolodziej, art educator at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, talked about “Museum educational program concepts” and outlined potential programs for visitors and students.
Don Naetzker, a Board member and Chair of the Site Selection Committee, presented the organizational framework for the museum project. Naetzker told the crowd that he already has 131 tasks listed and the Museum is still in the project stage.
After the presentations, Board members Rolf Zerges, Jon McKnight, Adamski and Naetzker gave an overview of each committee’s function.
The committees and their functions are:
Programs - Creation of museum program concepts and themes and implementing and updating the Strategic Plan.
PR & Marketing - Presentation of the museum’s public image in radio, television, and print media as well as managing its Internet presence.
Partnerships - Provide liaison to partners such as other regional museums, academia, the Native American communities, tourism organizations, and others.
Facilities - Oversee the development and maintenance of the physical facilities necessary to accommodate the programs and administrative needs of the museum. Facilities is the next generation of the Site Selection Committee, the role of which will cease once a site has been determined.
Finance - Accounting for the income and expenditures of the museum, managing its bank accounts and endowment and filing tax returns.
Fundraising - Creation of an effective capital campaign to bring the project to fruition and sustain itself in the future.
The audience members then broke into committees for discussion of missions and duties. Adamski said the groups discussed ideas and tasks for the committees to pursue and organized for future meetings.
A spokesman for each committee reported on the discussions at the luncheon following the meeting. Committees are still looking for people to help. Contact president John Adamski at mail@fingerlakesmuseum.org.
Adamski said that no general organizational meetings are being scheduled for December or January, but e-mail newsletters will continue and committees may meet.
For more information or to make contact, see www.fingerlakesmuseum.org.
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