By Christine Briel / Skaneateles Design

A couple who were expecting their first child booked a getaway to Skaneateles a couple of months before their due date. They visited us in May of 2006 and judging from Kristi Gaylord’s blog titled Interrupted Wanderlust (she’s the new mom) they had a nice relaxing time. There are some great pics on her blog, but the one that really peaked my interest is the creamsicle cheesecake. Who in Skaneateles makes a creamsicle cheesecake … and when can I get one?

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I have always been very interested in houses and how people live in each room. I am sure this was inspired by the many conversations I have overheard about rooms and furniture design and finishes. When I was in college, my family began to be interviewed about Gustav Stickley and his role in developing the Arts and Crafts design of furniture and homes. Gustav Stickley was the father of my grandmother and the grandfather of my father. I am one of many of his great grand children who lounged around at the camp on pieces of his furniture. We never anticipated the fame which was to come. To me, the couch was square and uncomfortable. However, I was wrong and his design is desired today.

When I was a teenager, the world was discovering how unique his design was. My father and many other relatives were being continually interviewed by those individuals trying to understand the man and his role in the development of the Arts and Crafts design. In the early 20th century, Stickley was searching for a new way to design homes free from the ornateness of the Victorian era. Simple and useful design, good craftsmanship, and aesthetic effect were key elements of his designs.

When you look at homes perhaps you might remember some of his thoughts about houses that can become your home.

David Cathers and Alexander Vertikoff wrote about his influence in their book named “The Stickley Style, Arts and Crafts Homes in the Craftsman Tradition. Gus Stickley is quoted as writing in 1909 “We have, from the first, planned houses that are based on the big fundamental principles of honesty, simplicity, and usefulness–the kind of houses that children will rejoice all their lives to remember as homes.” These homes had big windows with window seats or ledges for plants, rich colors, and strong structural features. The dining room had large doorways connected to the living room or kitchen, built in cabinets with leaded glass windows, and a fireplace on one wall. Kitchens had large built-in cupboards and updated equipment. He was quoted by Cathers as saying that “the very first requisites of a kitchen should be that it be large enough for comfort, well-ventilated and full of sunshine, and that the equipment….should be ample, of good quality and, above all, intelligently selected. We all know the pleasure of working with good tools in congenial surroundings.” It should be “as carefully finished as the rest of the house, and in its way….one of the most beautiful of the rooms.”

According to Cathers, Stickley believed the living room was “a place where work is to be done…the haven of rest…the place where children grow and thrive.” It was to be large, relaxing, and informal. The windows were to frame views from the garden, the beams and posts were visible. However the most important feature was the fieldstone or tile fireplace set in a inglenook. The fireplace gave a sense of intimacy while heating the whole room. It is in the simple but elegant room that Stickley believed we should “be at our best.”

Marion Wiles Krauter and Annette Krauter Pickup

PickupKrauterTeam.com

RealtyUSA

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By Christine Briel / Skaneateles Design

I am very particular about the products I use around our house (candles, soaps, lotions, etc.). I really try to go with natural products and am particular to Lavender. Over a year ago my husband and I walked into the building of a website design customer of ours (who was also a previous computer repair customer) - John McCullough of New Justice Conflict Resolution Services. The building is FILLED with the smells that emanate from a soap factory in the basement Syracuse Soapworks. As much as I love this place, it isn’t really convenient to shop there. We try to make a point of stopping in once month or so and making sure to stock up on our essentials.

Now to the real point of this article … this past Friday I was walking around the village doing some business errands and saw the sign for The Long Rose store in the Village Square building. I walked past it initially but then doubled back and went in. I was really only looking for a natural candle (which they had, I bought a bees wax Lavender one) but the store sells much, much more. I’m going back this week because I visited their website and saw that they carry soaps, lotions, etc. I’m so excited to have a local source for these essentials. As much as I love Syracuse Soapworks, I think The Long Rose will soon take their place.

Stop by the storefront, on Jordan Street in the village of Skaneateles, and check out what Marita Len (the owner) has to offer!! She’s only been open less than a week and according to her website is planning a Grand Opening in May.

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Secret Places

We Live Here and We Love IT! Best of all we willing to show you why!

Secret Places is a customized walking / driving tour FREE to anyone who asks. (Of course if you’re a registered guest at one of our Skaneateles Suites properties, you will get the really good stuff!)

Free for asking, just walk up to any member of the Suite Dreams Team. Then, you tell us about your interests; wineries, history, shopping, outdoor adventure, sitting on bar stools or, well, you tell us.

Then we scratch our heads and give you a walking or driving map of some very cool Secret Places to Go and See or Do. Best of all, it’s FREE!

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By Christine Briel / skaneatelesDesign

The State Street Horizons 5th grade students, Mrs. McQuiggan, Mr. Tom Seeley (Skaneateles Sunrise Rotary) and parent volunteers created a community service group The Early Act Program. Below is a video of the group talking about their Water project at Winterfest 2008 in Skaneateles, NY. The video and information were provided to SkanTalk by Tom Seeley - Thanks so much Tom!!

To read more on the group and their Water Project

(more…)

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This article was contributed by Curt Feldmann / SkaneatelesSuites

Two-fer Response; David vs Goliath (Girl)

In the April 23, 2008 edition of the Skaneateles Press, Ellen Leahy ( eleahy@cnylink.com ) wrote an ‘opinion’ about her fond memory of ‘A Feldmann’. I would reprint the article here, but I cannot find it at their http://www.cnylink.com page. It was a funny, but slammy, rememberance of Ellen and her friend at a local bar (30 years ago) being approached by one of the Feldmann Boys, being offered ‘a beer’, and then 1 beer for 2 girls being delivered. (more…)

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By Christine Briel / skaneatelesDesign

No groceries in the house last night so instead of filling the fridge we opted to fill our stomachs. This time the hubby captured pics of our friend Brian instead of me (I believe I have properly conveyed to him my disgust with his overuse of my mugshot).

We started out at Doug’s Fish Fry - one of my fav places to eat. Love, Love the fish:

We sufficiently stuffed ourselves then left to ride it off (in the car - not much metabolism action going on there).

Later in the night we picked up our daughter at the school (back from track meet) and she was hungry. Soooooo we ended up at Chang Jiang [Wiki]. WOW how many pounds can you pack on in 1 day?

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By Christine Briel / skaneatelesDesign

As anyone in Skaneateles, NY or the surrounding area can attest to, we have been experiencing some AWESOME weather this April. These temps and sunshine make my days very unproductive. I sneak off in the mornings for a bike ride, come back out of breath and sore (still getting back in shape). Find it hard to concentrate on the days when I don’t get out for a bike ride. I generally just want to spend my whole day outside, which of course I can not

I found a local blog today MichaelErb.net and the most recent article is right up my alley. He even created a local biking map (which I intend to bike) through a website where people share their biking routes - Very Cool!! Below is his bike map - get out there and try it or create your own!!

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Wilfred J. Wilkinson Marlene Brown James J. Gascon Marion Krauter

RI President District Governor Asst. District Governor President

UPCOMING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bulletin #2008-16 Date: April 24, 2008

Programs

TODAY

Early Act Presentation

May 1 – Club Assembly

Suggestions for future programs are always welcome. Please forward your ideas to Toni at tonicurt27@aol.com.

News & Notes

Red Rooster Pub: Where a Steak tastes like a Steak

New owner Tom Benedict wants the Red Rooster Pub to offer good food at a fair price in an atmosphere comfortable for the whole family.

Tom purchased the restaurant earlier this year and is in the process of renovating the Skaneateles Falls eatery. His vision for the Red Rooster is to create more of a family atmosphere so people think of it as a restaurant with a bar instead of the other way around.

He plans to rearrange the furniture and add tables. Tom also is looking into replacing the flooring adding historic photographs of the former Rodak’s and hotel and community to the walls. The plans also call for kitchen upgrades so the menu can expand from pub/lunch type food to include more traditional dinners. As for the menu, Tom would like to see basic food – nothing too fancy. He has added prime rib dinners and would like to bring back fish fry Fridays and a good Roast Beef sandwich. So far, Tom says, his best compliment was from a customer who thanked him for the steak, commenting it was the first time in a long time that [the customer] got a steak that tasted like a steak and not some type of sauce or glaze.

Before purchasing the Red Rooster, Tom had worked for the past six years at the Mandana Inn during the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. When the Mandana Inn closed for the winter, Tom frequently picked up hours at the Red Rooster. He considered briefly making an offer for the Mandana Inn when it came up for sale, but backed the numbers didn’t work for him so he approached the prior owner of the Red Rooster. Within a week, he was in negotiations to purchase and the deal was completed earlier this year.

Although this is his first foray into restaurant ownership, Tom is no stranger to the restaurant business. His father owned a restaurant in the Utica area, where he grew up and later in Baldwinsville. He also helped his brother operate the Plainville Turkey restaurant in Cicero.

Tom has lived in the area since 2000. He is married to the former Pat Delaney. Together, they have two children ages 9 and 5.

The Red Rooster is located in at 4618 Jordan Road in Skaneateles Falls across from Welch Allyn. For reservations or more information call 685-2326.

This Month in Rotary History: Rotary in Cuba

The first Rotary club to be organized outside an English-speaking country was established in Havana, Cuba, 29 April 1916, with 22 charter members. The club was admitted to Rotary on 1 June 1916.

During 1923, the Rotary Club of Havana celebrated its seventh anniversary, in what became a very busy year. The club sponsored a carnival attended by more than 1,500 children, won a prohibition against bullfighting in Cuba, worked to get the city’s water sanitized and properly purified, and obtained pavement repairs in certain areas.

By the time the RI Convention was held in Havana, 9-14 June 1940, 42 of the 48 clubs that had been chartered in Cuba were still active. Another 20 clubs would be chartered thereafter, ending with the Rotary Club of San Cristobal, on 16 October 1957.

Rotary clubs in Cuba produced four RI directors – Mario Nuñoz Mesa, 1922-23; Felix Silva Fernandez, 1936-37; Manuel Galigarcia Hernández, 1942-43; and Horacio Navarrete, 1953-54. All clubs in Cuba were terminated by 31 January 1979.

Club Business &

Dates to Remember

Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation

lIntroduction of Guests/Visitarians

lHappy Dollars & Fines

District Major Events

May 10 – District Membership Retention, Harts Hill Inn, Whitesboro

May 29 – District Foundation Celebration

June 6 – Literacy Golf Tournament, Auburn

June 23 – Changing of the Guard

Committee Reports

lClub Administration

President – Marion Krauter

Treasurer – Toni Feldmann

Secretary – John Rooney

l Service Projects

Food Pantry – Daryle Pickering

Sea Scouts – John Paddock

Programs – Toni Feldmann

Early Act – Tom Seeley

Fire Equipment – Chris Bruna

Service Committee – John Rooney

lWinterfest & Craft Fair – Paddock/Krauter

lMembership (& Retention) – All

lSocial Chair – Paul Torrisi

lSergeant at Arms – Daryle Pickering

Evening Club Programs

TODAY –Ruhlman and Gorgette Hoskins – CSIET Global Award Ceremony

May 1 – Kokosa – SRF Nominating Committee Report; Robin Jowaisas – Pancake Breakfast Ticket Sales

Officers & Directors

Officers

President – Marion Krauter

President-Elect – Tom Seeley

Past President – Daryle Pickering

Treasurer – Toni Feldman

Sergeant-at-Arms – Daryle Pickering

Secretary – John Rooney

Committee Chairs

Club Service – John Rooney

Food Pantry – Daryle Pickering

Membership – Daryle Pickering

Program Chair – Toni Feldman

Rotary Foundation – John Paddock

Social Chair – Paul Torrisi

Youth Exchange/RYLA – John Paddock

Members

Sidney Beckwith, Christopher Bruna, Dave Cutten, Robert DeWetter, Toni Feldmann, Paul Frickey, Douglas Hill, Marion Krauter, Michael Krebs, John Paddock, Daryle Pickering, John Rooney, Thomas Seeley, Patrick Taylor, Paul Torrisi, Michael Wahlrab, Rhett Weiss

Exchange Students

Sarah Bierbaum (Germany), Lucas Grob (Switzerland), Eddy Tasia (Belgium), Nico Avalle (Argentina)

TRY OUR ROTARY WEBSITES

Our District Website: http://www.rotary7150.org/

Rotary International: http://www.rotary.org/

RYLA http://www.rotaryryla.com/

Skaneateles Rotary: http://www.skaneatelesrotary.org/

e-club http://www.rotaryeclubny1.com

SUNRISE EDITORS

Thomas W. Seeley 685-2311 Fax: 685-2460 tws@mlsattorneys.com

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By Christine Briel / skaneatelesDesign

I have a Twitter account and it is really convenient for the latest news, etc. and just chatting with others during the work day. I subscribe to the Post Standard Tweets and they just posted the results on the Craig Cordes Trial. You can read the Post Standard news article in its entirety below, or visit their website for more local news:

“Syracuse, NY - A town of Onondaga man pleaded guilty this morning to killing two people in an alcohol-related boat crash on Skaneateles Lake last summer.

Craig Cordes pleaded guilty before Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi to a single felony count of first-degree vehicular manslaughter, admitting he was boating while intoxicated when he caused the death of John Kelly and Heather Wilkins. Aloi promised Cordes a sentence of 3 1/3 to 10 years in state prison. Cordes was taken into custody in court to be held in jail pending sentencing May 14.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Doran said the families of Kelly and Wilkins both agreed to the plea disposition. Defense lawyer James McGraw said Cordes was truly remorseful.

But McGraw also claimed Kelly bore some responsibility for the crash.The defense lawyer said Kelly had a blood alcohol count of .19 and was drifting in his boat without lights at the time of the collision.

Cordes was to have gone on trial in the case next week. McGraw said the consequences of a harsher sentence upon conviction prompted the defense to take the plea deal today.”

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