Contributed by: Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

One day in November 1999, Toni and Curt Feldmann were driving west on Route 20, heading to Auburn to buy steamed clams. They passed the dilapidated Anchor Motel and noticed it was for sale.

Neither had experience in the hospitality industry. Toni was a controller/accountant who had lost her job to a corporate buyout; Curt sold hardware.

No matter. The couple bought the motel the following morning. Within six months, they had converted 12 small rooms into six “savvy traveler bungalows,” offering super-premium bedding, kitchenette, private patio, ceramic baths, stereo and cable TV; WiFi was added later. Many of the rooms have two-person Jacuzzi tubs.

Now, 10 years later, the motel has grown to become Skaneateles Suites & Boutique Hotel http://www.skaneatelessuites.com , and the Feldmanns have hosted more than 15,000 guests at their properties on Route 20 and at 12 Fennell St. Toni is innkeeper and Curt is captain of the Suite Dreams Team, vice president of guest relations and “the laundry guy.”

Contributed by: Tom Seeley / Skaneateles Sunrise Rotary Club

UPCOMING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bulletin #2009-29                 Date:  April 23, 2009

Contributed by: Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

Tim Green’s Middle Reader Novel Hits 10th on the New York Times Bestsellers List
Local independent bookstore, Creekside Books & Coffee, plays roll in getting it there

[Skaneateles, NY] Tim Green, Skaneateles resident, former NFL player, TV and radio commentator and prolific author, is hitting the “big time” with the release of his newest middle reader book, Baseball Great, which hit number 10 on the New York Times Bestseller List last week.

“Tim began an extensive school tour across the nation last month to introduce middle grade students to Baseball Great and to speak to them about the joy of reading,” says Creekside owner Erika L. Davis, “Tim has an important message to share with kids and has been working incredibly hard to get his message out there.  It is wonderful that all of his hard work has now paid off.”

Tim has been traveling as far and wide as Bangor, Maine, Houston, Texas and numerous points in between as well as making local appearances at places like Frazer School in Syracuse and Allen Road Elementary in N. Syracuse. He has also visited several north country schools such as Copenhagen, Mannsville, and General Brown. He continues to use all the money he receives in speaking fees to buy books for kids or libraries who can’t afford them.

Contributed by: Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

[Skaneateles, NY]  Creekside Books & Coffee announces its first local children’s author day on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 pm.  Meet children’s authors from the region and learn about the variety of topics and genres penned for children in the Finger Lakes region. Authors will spend 10 minutes each presenting their work. Following the author presentations, children and adults can enjoy refreshments and time to linger, chat with the authors and get books signed.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Julie Cummins is the author of many children’s titles including Country Kid, City Kid and her most recent, Women Daredevils, in which Cummins profiles 14 women ranging in age from 15-63 who, between 1880 and 1929, performed death-defying acts guaranteed to generate thrills and chills and to challenge myths about the proper place of women. Stories have always been an important part of Julie’s life, both true and imagined.  She is a former children’s librarian and now writes children’s books.

Contributed by: Holly Knott / Skaneateles Artisans

Artist Opening – Stoneware and Stone ‘Wear’: Skaneateles Artisans, 11 Fennell St., Skaneateles. First Friday, 5/1, 6:00 – 9:00pm. Skaneateles Artisans is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit featuring Sallie Thompson, ceramics, and Dee Ann VonHunke, fine silver and semi-precious gemstone jewelry. Music by Chris Molloy and his electric blue harp. Through 5/31. The gallery offers off-street parking and accepts major credit cards. Visit their website at www.skaneatelesartisans.com. For more information, call 315-685-8580.

Contact person:
Holly Knott
315-673-9074
email:  hollyknott@hollyknott.com

Contributed by: Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

[Skaneateles, NY] Creekside Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and coffeehouse in Skaneateles, is honored to be hosting local poets Rachel Guido Devries, Mary Gardner,  Heidi Nightengale and Elizabeth Patton on Saturday, May 9th at 7:00pm in the coffeehouse.  They will be reading from their recently published books.

“We are really looking forward to hosting these talented local poets and this local poetry reading,” says Erika Davis, owner of Creekside Books & Coffee.  “This event featuring poetry of very interesting and varied topics is one you won’t want to miss.”

About the Poets

Rachel Guido deVries is a poet and fiction writer.  She continues her book tour of Central New York venues reading from her newest publication, The Brother Inside Me, published by Guernica Editions in 2008.  This collection of poems considers with characteristic clarity and honesty the early death of her brother, her father’s life with dementia and the changes and wisdom that come with age. 

Contributed by: Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

Special Events in April
Thursday, April 30th, 6:30 PM
Thom Filicia at Anyela’s!
Laura’s List: Books for Women in conjunction with Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts PRESENTS An Evening with Thom Filicia, on Thursday, April 30 at 6:30pm at Anyela’s Vineyards in Skaneateles, NY.
A portion of ticket price will support local breast cancer organization, Positively Pink Packages, www.positivelypinkpackages.org in honor of Thom’s mother. Join Erika L Davis and Laura Ponticello for a Cocktail Reception and Book signing party, including Creekside’s Espresso Bar.  Sponsored by Dr. Robert Kiltz- CNY Healing Arts, Anyela’s Vineyards, She Takes the Cake and Skaneateles Town Square/Ace Hardware. Creekside Books & Coffee- a proud media sponsor of the event.

Live Music in the Coffeehouse

Saturday, April 18th-Sarah Horner & Greg Carroll. Tickets are $5 at the door

Contributed by: Tom Seeley / Skaneateles Sunrise Rotary Club

UPCOMING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bulletin #2009-27          Date:  April 9, 2009

Contributed by: Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

Hello from Creekside Books & Coffee! An independent bookstore and coffeehouse in Skaneateles, NY.

Here’s what’s happening in the first part of April ALL events are FREE, unless otherwise noted.

Please contact 685-0379 with questions or if you’d like more information about potential interviews with the authors or about covering the events.

SPECIAL EVENTS & AUTHORS VISITS

Wednesday, April 1, 6-8 pm
Tracy Higginbotham
“A Golden Glow”
Presentation, Conversation
& Book Signing
Local woman entrepreneur Tracy Higginbotham, President of Five Star Events and Women TIES, announces her story “A Golden Glow” will appear in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms edition arriving in bookstores on March 24. Women entrepreneurs, stay at- home moms, and work-at-home moms are invited to this special event at Creekside to celebrate the powerful choices women make to improve their families, themselves and the world. For more information, visit www.WomenTies.com.

Contributed by: Tom Seeley / Skaneateles Sunrise Rotary Club

UPCOMING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bulletin #2009-26               Date:  April 2, 2009