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for our first “ACTS FESTIVAL” (ACTS - Artists, Craftspeople and Collector of Things). Yes, we’re having our very own festival on Sunday, June 1 from 2p.m. to 5p.m. at the Community Center. We thought it would be fun to showcase our “very own local talent” living here at Bristol Harbour by having an arts and crafts event to showcase their handi-work. We already have Sally Eldon of Harbour Drive and Evie Adams of Cliffside Drive who presently have some of their art work displayed in our community center. Well known local artist Skippy Raines, who has lots of friends here at Bristol Harbour, also has graciously agreed to exhibit some of her paintings for our event. I know the quilt category will grow once the word gets out, but for now, we have Carolyn Hotchkiss of Lochcrest Circle, Marilyn Thomas of Lower Spy Glass Hill, Mary Jane Fondack of Cliffside Drive and Betty Kislinger of Hagen Trail who took “Third Place” last year at a quilting conference in Vermont that she and Mary Jane attended. I too will be displaying some crewel work that I’ve done over the years. Hopefully, I’ll have finished one I’ve had since 1975 that I finally got around to starting after joining the “Quilt Club”. Now, I know you men like to collect things as much as the ladies, so do we any have guys out there who collect baseball cards, coins, stamps or the like who would like to show-off their collections? So far, Commodore Roger Kessler of Harbour Lane has offered to display his fantastic antique lantern collection. I also have it on good authority that we have a couple of gentlemen who painstakingly build model ships from kits and another who does beautiful wood carvings. I’m not at liberty to mention any names because I haven’t yet asked them to participate. I’m hoping they take the hint and volunteer. I would love to see those collections. In the jewelry category, we have Cathleen Finley of Andrews Way who will be displaying her beautiful creations. I just want to remind everyone Cathy is again singing with the Finger Lakes Chorale, sponsored by Finger Lakes Community College, in their spring concert featuring “The Creation” by Haydn. The dates are Saturday May 3rd at 7:30p.m. and Sunday May 4th at 3:00p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Main Street, Canandaigua. If you haven’t been to one of these presentations, you’re truly missing a wonderful concert. A small donation of $5.00 is suggested to help with the FLCC scholarship fund. Our resident musician, the renowned John Beck of Lakewood Trail, whom I hope you had the opportunity to hear on Friday nights last month at the Lodge, has graciously agreed to play the drums for our festival if someone would be kind enough to accompany him on the piano or any other musical instrument that would go well with drums. Now, we know personally, there is at least one very handsome and talented piano player out there because he serenaded us at the Yacht Club holiday dinner in December. Hint! Hint! By the way, did I mention this event is open to everyone - that goes for you young people out there. Do you have any school projects worth seeing? And you “Snow-birds” don’t get nervous; we haven’t forgotten about you; you’re definitely included. Why do you think we waited until June to hold this event? Just don’t forget to pack whatever you want to showcase when you come north. Please give me a call at 394-8845 or e-mail Shelly Gerstner at SGERSTNER@FRONTIERNET.NET to reserve space. The Ladies Luncheons held on the second Monday of each month at 12:00 noon in the Lodge have had a wonderful turn out for the winter months. Speaking about the Ladies Luncheon, a big thank you to Muriel and Bill Coleman who provided all the food and homemade soup for February’s luncheon that had to be held, at the last minute, in the community center. The lodge forgot to inform us until two days before our luncheon that they were under construction and wouldn’t be able to have us there. Muriel wouldn’t take any money for the food but asked that we contribute something to purchase a new set of luncheon plates for the center. So the next time you’re eating at the center on the new dishes, thank the “Ladies Winter Luncheon Group”. Now I know there are some of you who wait with bated breath for your issue of “The Villager” (of course, I’m under no illusion that it’s because of my column Ha, Ha) but I have some news regarding our little community newsletter. It has been decided, due to the expense of mailing and the time involved in getting it together, it’s only going to be printed every other month starting with this issue. As you know, this is a volunteer operation and like any other volunteer position here at Bristol Harbour, whether it be on the board of directors, president of your street association or any of the numerous committees, it all takes time, effort and lots and lots of dedication. I, personally, have volunteered for the “Visitation Ministries” from St. Mary’s Church in Canandaigua and will be attending training sessions at St. Patrick’s in Victor from April to June. These sessions are designed to teach the skills and insight needed when visiting the sick or dying, whether in the home or hospital. I have already been attending classes every other month since September but will start the intense training in April. Because of the time it takes to do this column which does not come easy for me and the time the Visitation Ministry will take, I’ve already had to put something else on the back burner that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and that was to teach in the Literacy program. But because of the warm, sincere compliments and lots of encouragement I’ve been getting about this column, I’ll keep at it for a little while longer or until you tell me to stop you’ve had enough. Starting with this issue, I will be highlighting different people who so generously volunteer their time here at Bristol Harbour and make living here very special. I thought it appropriate to start at the top with our President Sally Eldon. She has lived at Canandaigua Lake for 50 years. She grew up in New Jersey, but her family spent every summer at the lake where her family owned a cottage for many years. Sally is a retired teacher who graduated from Kean University with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education. She started living in Bristol Harbour around 1990. She and her husband Dave have seven children and 11 grandchildren. To quote Sally, “Bristol Harbour is a great place to live”. I’ve gotten to know Sally through the Art Class held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Center from 10 to 12 noon. Shelly Gerstner brought her two daughters to one of the art classes. I hope Alex and Megan display some of her art work at our “ACTS” festival on Sunday, June 1. Did I mention you don’t have to be an artist to join the art club? The first two sessions I attended, I made Valentine cards; the next two times, I did my crewel work trying to get it ready for our festival. Carolyn Hotchkiss and Betty Kislinger, who also both paint, will occasionally bring quilting projects to the “art class”. I’m going to let you in on a little secret; we had a gentleman attend our first art class, but he never came back. A little bird told me he thought we talked too much. I don’t know how he could say that about a group of women getting together. Us talk too much? Never!! Perish the thought! So if you are not able to attend the “Wednesday Coffee Hour” held from 9:30 to 10:30 at the center, think about stopping in on a Tuesday or Thursday to “hang” with the artists. (Oh what a bad pun). Next up in our bio series is none other then our very busy Vice-President Richard Booth. Richard was quite accommodating and even brought his bio over to my house. Did I mention he only lives across the street from me on Andrews Way? It seems Richard was born in Plainfield New Jersey but spent most of his life in Brockport, New York. He attended Syracuse University and graduated from University of Rochester with a BS. He moved to Bristol Harbour in 1995 and in 2005 purchased Bristol Hills Realty in Canandaigua changing the name to Bristol Realtors. He has held many positions here at Bristol Harbour and has been on the Board of Directors since 2005. He spent two years as Commodore of the Bristol Cliff Yacht Club, two years as President of Andrews Way Association and is currently our Vice President. He served on the Environmental Committee for three years being chairman for two. Besides his involvement here at Bristol Harbour, he has found time to be on the board of directors for the Sweden Clarkson Foundation, Lakeside Health Services Foundation, and Bristol Valley Theater Advisory Committee. No wonder he’s never home when I call! Neighbors Night held on the last Saturday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. has been very popular this winter. January’s was held at the community center with a great crowd. February’s at Dave and Sally Eldon’s of Harbour Drive was jammed packed as was March’s hosted by Bill and Candace Ryan of Lochcrest Circle. April will be hosted by Bob and Carolyn Hotchkiss, also of Lochcrest Circle. Mark your calendars for May’s Neighbor’s Night. It will be the annual “Memorial Day” bonfire on May 31 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the beach. Music will be provided by the band Meyer and McGuire. Shelly Gerstner has assured me s’mores will be served. June’s neighbor night is scheduled for June 28 at John and Ellen Beck of 5561 Lakewood Trail and July 26th’s will be at John and Betty Kislinger of 5531 Hagen Trail. There is always lots and lots of good food. That’s fine with me as long as I don’t have to cook. I’ve come to the conclusion, in the short time Steve and I have lived here, the residents of Bristol Harbour love to eat. I knew you were my type of people. If you would like to host a Neighbors Night, please e-mail Shelly Gerstner. There are still months available. We really have a lot of fun, and you never know who you will meet or who may know someone you know. For example, I just met Janet Starowitz for the first time at the Eldon's, and she mentioned she had read in the last issue of “The Villager” that my son, Stephen, graduated from Syracuse Law School in 2000 the same year as her daughter, Lorri Antolick who is now an attorney with New York State’s Sales Tax Division. The next time Jan spoke to Lori, she mentioned the blurb about Stephen and her daughter said, “Oh, I knew Stephen in Law School!” The coincidences don’t stop there, it seems Lorri has a daughter 18 months old; my son has one 17 months old. Lorri is expecting another daughter in July, as are my son and his wife in September. Do I see four future lady attorneys in the making? You go girls! It just goes to show you what a small world it is. Dave Eldon who is charge of the Community Center Committee wants everyone to know that you are still able to make a contribution by purchasing a large paver - with a four line inscription for $135.00. Also available are indoor/outdoor rocking chairs with a brass plate and a four line inscription for $250.00, and indoor/outdoor benches with brass plate with a four line inscription for $450.00. There are also special areas of the Community Center that can be designated as a contribution from you with a minimum gift of $1,000.00. And last but not least, don't forget the coffee mugs for $10.00. My husband Steve and I took a paver for our first granddaughter Addie and had it inscribed with her name and the words “for our future grandchildren”. Now that there is another granddaughter on the way, we’ll definitely have another one inscribed with her name when she’s born. I think the girls will love seeing their name etched in the paver when they use the children’s playground. What a nice way to remember the grandkids. Give Dave a call at 394-2295 or Bill Ryan at 393-0326 if you have any questions We are happy to report that you will have two new columns to read in the next issue just in case you get bored with mine. The first is “Dock-Lines” by our very own Roger Kessler of Harbour Lane and Commodore of The Bristol Cliffs Yacht Club; he will be writing about boating and safety issues. Roger also wanted me to mentioned that the Yacht club will be having their annual “Brunch” Sunday, June 8, 2008 with speaker Bernard Osseroff from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The yacht club will be sending out flyers to its members with the time and menu for the brunch and a list of all the events they have scheduled for the summer. If you wish to join the Yacht Club, look for the application in this issue. After much coaxing, I was also able to convince Candace Ryan to do the second column. It will focus on inexpensive places to eat and the newest trend - places to pick up ready made foods to bring home and cook yourself. We haven’t come up with a name yet, but trust me, we’ll come up with something you can “chew on”. (Oh another bad pun!) I think I’ll quit now while I’m ahead. See you in two months! |
