Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

It began as a simple thank-you from village merchants to the Skaneateles community. Now, 15 years later, Dickens Christmas provides cherished holiday memories for thousands of families regionally and nationally.

Dickens Christmas—which opens the Friday after Thanksgiving and runs noon to 4 p.m. every weekend until Christmas—is improvisational street theater. Costumed Victorian characters wander the village streets, interacting with each other and with the public.

Horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, concerts, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, refreshments, children’s activities, free costume rentals, locals night—all were there from the start and continue, in expanded form, as attractions today.

Dickens Christmas was the brainchild of Karen Foltz, owner of Pomodoro and Pomodoro Too, who had seen a similar production in Minnesota and—as a board member of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce—was looking for ways to boost business. “A lot of people now bring their family and friends—it’s (more…)

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

Mr. Dickens, Scrooge, Tiny Tim and company won’t be arriving in Skaneateles until the day after Thanksgiving. But you don’t have to wait until then to get a taste of Victorian England. Starting Nov. 1, and running through Dec. 20, Grammie’s Pantry Tea Room and Gift Shop will offer its traditional Dickens Christmas Tea.

The menu includes tea or gourmet coffee, fruit compote, scones with lemon curd and Devonshire cream, Grammie’s Garlic Herb Feta Spread with crackers, tea sandwiches, quiche and dessert. (more…)

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

Effective leaders are adept at resolving conflicts and managing work groups.

If you’d like to hone your skills in either of these areas, check out the new videos available on the website of Skaneateles resident Kenneth A. “Buzz” Shaw, chancellor emeritus of Syracuse University. They can be found at http://whitman.syr.edu/shaw.

“These are two of the most important skills to learn—no leader can be effective without them,” says Shaw, who has spent more than 30 years studying, practicing and writing about leadership. Shaw is now a University Professor at SU and teaches leadership to both undergraduate and graduate students.

The videos, which are unrehearsed and unedited, contain scenarios acted out by Shaw’s graduate students.

In the conflict resolution videos, Shaw outlines a four-step approach to conflict resolution and introduces six conflicts: (more…)

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

‘Meet the Teachers Day’ scheduled for Sept. 6

Want to discover a new hobby? Improve your sewing, quilting or knitting skills? Learn to make dried-flower wreaths? Patchwork Plus Quilt & Yarn Shop, Route 20, Marcellus, will offer 30 daytime and evening classes this fall for crafters at all levels of proficiency.

Some classes are a single session; others run several weeks. Fees range from $10 (for a two-hour program on free-motion quilting) to $210 (for a monthly series on hand-piecing that runs September through June).

Among the other offerings are:

• Heirloom Baby Quilt (Sept. 23 and Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m., $60)
• Machine-Applique Tablerunner (Sept. 27, noon to 5 p.m., $30)
• Small Knitting Projects (Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $55)
• Sew-Easy Quilted Tote Bag (Nov. 14, 1 to 4 p.m., $25)
• Geisha Girl (Nov. 15 and 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $45)
• Hydrangea Wreath (Nov. 25, 4 p.m., $35)
• Holiday Wreath (Dec. 2, 4 p.m., $30)

Crafters and would-be crafters are invited to visit the store Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. for Meet the Teachers Day, when instructors will display samples and answer questions about their classes. In addition, anyone purchasing fabric or supplies for a class will receive a 10 percent discount.

For the full class schedule or more information, go to http://www.patchworkplusquiltshop.com or call 673-2208.

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

Linda Smith, owner of Divinitea, one of the nation’s first all-organic tea companies, pours tea for guests at a tea-tasting that was held on August 27th, 2008 at Grammie’s Pantry in Skaneateles, NY. The event drew about 35 people.

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

Want to learn more about the health benefits of tea, and experience new flavors and tastes from around the world?

Then check out the tea-tasting Aug. 27 at Grammie’s Pantry Tea Room and Gift Shop, 1126 Woodworth Road, Skaneateles. The program, which will run from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., will feature a presentation by Linda Smith, founder and owner of Divinitea, one of the nation’s first all-organic tea companies.

Smith will speak on “What You Ever Wanted to Know About Teas and Health But Were Afraid to Ask.” Eight teas will be sampled, including white tea, green tea, black tea, Oolong, Rooibos (South Africa), Yerba Mate (South America) and other herbals. Also featured will be iced teas and autumn teas.

The program includes a “cream tea”—scones, lemon curd, Devonshire cream, fruit cup marinated in sherry cream sauce, cheese spread and crackers.

Cost is $15, and reservations are requested. To reserve your spot, call 636-8111 by Aug. 25.

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

From antique and classic boats, to polo and opera, to blues and barbecue—Skaneateles has it all during the last weekend of July.

Antique and Classic Boat Show – July 25-27

The Antique and Classic Boat Show, hosted by the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Finger Lakes Chapter (FLC) of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with displays on water and land (in Clift Park), musical entertainment, and activities for the entire family.

Among the land displays will be one depicting a slice-of-life from the early 1940s, when the boats were popular.

The backdrop of the display—created by FLC member Arnie Rubenstein—is an 8-foot-square photo of the Skaneateles Boat Co. and its staff members, marking production of the 1,000th Comet sailboat. A workbench in front of the photo contains a 1941 telephone, a 1941 radio and a mannequin dressed as one of the boat company’s craftsmen. Visitors who pick up the phone will hear gossip about costs of the day. The radio station will be “tuned” to five channels—one with a recording of the news bulletin announcing the attack on Pearl Harbor, two with period music, and two with old radio shows. The display will be on view in the lobby of M&T Bank, 33 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles, for a few weeks prior to the show. Following the show, it will be donated to the Skaneateles Historical Society. (more…)

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Contributed by Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

During July, all things boating will be celebrated throughout Skaneateles, marking 100 years of boating tradition—a tradition that encompasses steamboats, rowboats, yachts and canoes; Lightning boat-building and racing; and the preservation, restoration and display of antique and classic boats.

The month-long commemoration will be anchored on one end by the 70th Anniversary Lightning Regatta, hosted by the Skaneateles Country Club, July 4-6, and on the other end by the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show, hosted by the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, July 25-27.

In between will be educational programs, displays, book-signings and nautical-themed activities, all highlighting Skaneateles’ rich boating heritage.

(more…)

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Contributed By Sandi Mulconry / Group M Communications

Grammie’s Pantry, 1126 Woodworth Road, Skaneateles, has been serving lunch for the past decade. To celebrate that anniversary and to thank its customers, the English-style tea room is offering all items on its a la carte menu for $10. The offer is good through Oct. 31.

A five-course English afternoon tea—featuring beverage, fruit cup, a scone with lemon curd and devonshire cream, Grammie’s Garlic Herb Feta Spread with crackers, tea sandwiches, and dessert—is also available, for $17.95. In addition, from June 7 through Labor Day, Grammie’s Pantry will offer a gourmet breakfast on Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Grammie’s Pantry is located 11 miles south of the village of Skaneateles, off Rt. 41. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or reservations, call 636-8111 or visit their website here.

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