The Oneida Community Mansion House invites the public to an opening reception for the exhibition “View From the Tower” on Tuesday, August 17 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Revealing the look of the landscape in Victorian times, this photographic exhibit documents many of the buildings once clustered near the Mansion House, residence of the Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Structures illustrated include barns, industrial facilities, tenant houses, and places where the business, service, and educational tasks of the famous utopian group took place. 

The centerpiece of the exhibition is a remarkable photographic panorama taken from the Mansion's North Tower in about 1874.  In addition to over thirty historical photographs, the exhibit includes an 1869 map of the grounds and two 1868 architectural drawings of the Mansion House.   

“View From the Tower” is located in a second-floor gallery funded by a Gorman Foundation grant and dedicated to exhibiting the Oneida Community Mansion House’s photographic collection.   

The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the building houses a museum with permanent and changing exhibitions, residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  Guided tours are available Wed. through Sat., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m. for a nominal fee.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org. 
 
 
The Madison County Courier featured this great review of the Lorenzo Driving Competition held in Mid July at Lorenzo State Historic Site.

By Linda J. Haley

(Cazenovia, NY) I have family in Cazenovia providing me the opportunity to drive past Lorenzo during the annual Driving Competition. Yes it’s gorgeous and the horses and carriages are amazing, and no, that’s OK, I’ll pass.

I’ve never entertained the idea of attending. Why? Because everything about it reeked of exclusivity, privilege and wealth, obviously something I would hardly feel welcome at, let alone enjoy.

I WAS WRONG.

My friends in Fenner asked if I was attending. I gave them The Look telling them the above. They gave me The Look, insisting it wasn’t at all like that, and to get my butt down there to see for myself. They said it’s an excellent opportunity to learn about driving and competition, plus see different styles of carriages and horses. They also mentioned there would be food and vendors, food and mini-horses to pet… and food.

I am easily swayed by food, er, horses, so I went.

THEY WERE RIGHT.

I had a blast! I only planned on going for a few hours on Saturday and ended up staying later than planned and went all day Sunday too! Go figure! Now I feel the need to educate everyone out there like me to get their butts down there for the next year’s competition.

First, I have to say I am SO not competitive. Unless it’s for the last pair of shoes or bra available in my size, I could care less about competition or winning. That’s why I’ve never been a big fan of horse shows where people are brutal in the quest to win. I’ve not attended hundreds, but the few I have were enough for me to say it’s not my thing.

I appreciate the huge amount of work invested by people who show. The training, hauling, handling, massive time and financial investment they dedicate to their passion. I respect the devotion to their animals and sport, just not the “vibe” I feel among the competitors.

Brrrr!

So I wrongly assumed all competitions would feel like that. Lorenzo looks like it would be like that, but EVERYONE I came in contact with was friendly, helpful, down-to-earth and ridiculously happy to share their hints and secrets to competitive driving.

WOW.

 
 
Alaini Potrikus, the Madison County beat reporter for the Post Standard had a good news story today about $200,000 that could be coming to Cazenovia College to support Equine Alley today. 

Cazenovia, NY -- U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is following through with his promise to deliver federal money for a think tank at Cazenovia College to spur the growth of the state’s equine industry.

Schumer attended the debut of the New York State Center for Equine Business Development at the school’s 243-acre Equine Education Center last August.

On Wednesday, he announced that a $200,000 funding request for the project has been approved by a Senate subcommittee and is on its way to approval as part of a federal spending bill.

Supporters of the effort believe Cazenovia College is ideally located to house the center. The Route 20 corridor was termed “Equine Alley” in recent years by local enthusiasts looking to capitalize on the horse-raising culture from eastern Madison County to LaFayette in Onondaga County. The area includes hundreds of miles of riding trails, a proximity to big events such as racing at Vernon Downs and competitions at the New York State Fairgrounds, and the star power of Olympian Beezie Madden, who brought home gold medals in 2004 and 2008.

The area is also rich in educational opportunities, including Morrisville State College, where officials are raising money to build an Equine Rehabilitation and Physiology Center with a therapy pool and a hyperbaric chamber for the recovery of injured horses and the conditioning of healthy ones.

Schumer said the equine industry accounts for 35,200 jobs and $169 million in wages in New York, from training and lesson facilities to tack shops, feed stores, equipment dealers and veterinarians.

“We already have the basic economic infrastructure in place,” Schumer said in a news release. “Now, we just need to expand it.”
 
 
If it’s the end of July, it must be  time to prepare for Antique week in Madison and Bouckville. Many people attend the weekend show the 21st and 22nd, but few realize that the show really begins on Sunday the 15th. This is one of the biggest antique shows in the Northeast and it has quite the reputation of being one of the best among antique dealers and collectors.

During the week, dealers line Route 20. These dealers set up shop in between the local antique shops so it becomes a continuous flow of antiques. There is no admission cost to browse during the week which makes it a great time to check out what antiquing is all about. Attending the show during the week offers antique collectors a chance to discover exactly what they’re looking for in a relaxing, slower paced shopping environment. There will be food vendors placed along Rt. 20 to take care of the hungry antique shopper. 

There are many places to park throughout the village, some parking lots closer to the main area charge a small fee but there are a couple places that have free parking. The Madison County Visitors Center, located on Rt. 20, offers free parking for up to 200 cars and 20 onsite antique deals to get you started. So get there early and stay all day. 

Take advantage of attending the early show during the week, beat the weekend crowds and come experience the largest outdoor antique show in New York State.

For more information on the August Madison-Bouckville Antique Show, visit www.bouckvilleantiqueshows.com/ or call (315)-824-2462.

 
 
The culmination of Madison County’s Buy Local Week 2010 is the third annual Open Farm Day on Saturday, July 24, from 10 am to 4 pm at 37 farms and 3 farmers markets throughout the county.  Buy Local Week's feature event is an opportunity to experience first-hand the work that goes into the food we eat and the local products we consume.
 
Hosted by Madison County's Agricultural Economic Development Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, Open Farm Day showcases the broad variety of “local” available to Central New Yorkers – organic and hydroponic produce; elk, sheep, goats, alpacas, and llamas; chickens and eggs; perennial and annual greenhouse vegetables and ornamental plants; grains milled into flour and cereal; cider and honey; Angus and Kobe beef; milk, yogurt, cheese, and butter.
 
An Open Farm Day “Passport” can be downloaded from http://madisoncountyagriculture.com/buylocalweek/2010passport.pdf and provides everything you need to visit the farms of your choice, including a full description of each farm, as well as address, phone number, and owners’ names.   Once en route, “Open Farm Day” stop signs will identify participating farms, which are divided into four regions:  Region 1 – Sullivan, Lenox, Canastota, Wampsville, Oneida, Chittenango, and Lincoln; Region 2 – Fenner, Cazenovia, Nelson, DeRuyter, and Georgetown; Region 3 – Stockbridge, Smithfield, Munnsville, Eaton, and Madison; and Region 4 – Lebanon, Hamilton, Brookfield, and Earlville.
 
Participating farms will offer tours and rides, free samples, farm stands and stores, and supervised interaction with and observation of a variety of animals. Collect a stamp from at least three farms to qualify for a special Buy Local prize at the last farm visited. Visitors to farms in all four regions will be eligible for the Grand Prize – a weekend stay at Endless Trails Farm Bed and Breakfast in Hubbardsville.
 
Local sponsors of Buy Local Week include Price Chopper, Cazenovia Equipment, National Grid, Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension of Madison County, Central New York Bounty, Madison County Tourism, Shapna Tea and Coffee, Off the Path Media, and Serendipity Catering.
 
Complete information on Open Farm Day 2010 can be found online at http://madisoncountyagriculture.com/buylocalweek.  A printable map of farm locations is available at http://madisoncountyagriculture.com/buylocalweek/2010map.pdf.  For more information on Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program, visit www.madisoncountyagriculture.com.

 
 
Summer is in full swing and so are all the fun events that make Central New York such a great place to live and visit.  Here are a few events that you don't want to miss this weekend:
1. Fresh Gala-- The FRESH! Gala will be held on Sunday and it is a fund-raising event that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Madison County agriculture. The Fresh! Gala will be held at Endless Trails Farm in Hubbardsville with local food prepared by Serendipity Catering, live music, a silent auction, and beer from the Empire Brewery made with Foothill Hops Farm hops. You can still get tickets for the event at Price Chopper and a few will be available at the door.
2. Cazenovia Counterpoint--A festival of contemporary music, art & writing featuring regional artists, CNY natives & guests, presented by the Society of New Music. This 30th year of the festival features The Arts & the Natural World 'ear to the ground & eyes toward heaven'
3. Lorenzo Driving Competition --Join us for the 32nd annual driving competition. Horse and carriage driving competition featuring tests of skill, timing, and style. Exhibits, sales, refreshments, demonstrations. The show runs 8am until 5pm both days and admission is free.
4. Farmer's Markets-- The bounty from Central New York's fields is on full display at farmer's markets in Oneida, Cazenovia, Canastota, and Hamilton this weekend.  Find a ton of fresh produce and support your local farmers.
5. Family Day of Croquet -- Abolitionist Gerrit Smith liked to play a game or two of croquet daily during the summer. In honor of Smith’s summer recreation on a court near his house, the Grounds Squad of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark has planned a Family Day of Croquet on Sunday, July 18 from 2 – 6 p.m. on the grounds of Smith’s 19th Century home. The event will be attended by local croquet enthusiasts and a group dressed in croquet outfits. Croquet can be played by amateurs of all ages, and is enjoying a national resurgence. The public is urged to join in reviving this tradition. Croquet attire of the 19th or 21st Century is encouraged but not required.
Now you have no excuses when someone tells you there is nothing to do this weekend.  Don't forget our event page for a full listing of things happening in and around CNY this weekend.
 
Links to Share 07/15/2010
 
It has been a busy week leading up to a busy weekend.  There is a lot of news about great things happening in Madison County.  Here are some links to what's going on in the interwebs regarding Madison County:

What's better than Fried Dough and Demolition Derbies?
Loving Local Foods in Madison County
Speaking of local food, sweet corn is ready and good this year.
A local farm gets ready for the Lorenzo Driving Competition
 
 
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Click to Enlarge Full Event Schedule
Back by popular demand! Slater Brothers Entertainment’s Hamilton International Film Festival, founded by brothers Wade, Grant and Todd Slater, whose father, Terry Slater, was the head hockey coach at Colgate University for 15 years, is returning with an impressive all star line up of films, music, charity themed events and parties set to take place August 5 – 8, 2010.
Through the Film Festival, the Slater brothers aim to bring a piece of Hollywood back to the area they proudly grew up in and provide a platform to recognize local area talent and advance the careers of aspiring filmmakers. Supported by the town of Hamilton, NY and Colgate University, this year’s festival will have some of the biggest filmmakers and entertainment companies in attendance. The first film will be screened at 7pm on Thursday night at the Hamilton theater and events will continue throughout the weekend capped off with a film makers festival closing night party and live performance that includes the Mark McKay Band happening at The Palace Theater in downtown Hamilton.  
Todd Slater’s announcement of the line up and scheduled filmmakers set to appear came with great excitement, “My brothers and I started this festival and awareness weekend to give back to the area we grew up in. We couldn’t think of a better way to promote the festival and the arts of Central and Up State New York than by hosting this annual event. This year we have been able to secure not only great films and film makers who will all be in attendance and accessible to the people who attend the weekend events, but we are also lucky enough to have great sponsors who have made bringing in musical acts like the Mark McKay Band and others possible. Our company is aimed at putting on special events with a charitable focus. We thought, why not include music and a great closing night party along with a line up of great films to make for a fun weekend for everyone. “
 
 
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Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program is hosting the Fresh! Gala this coming Sunday, July 18th from 3-6pm at Endless Trails Farm in Hubbardsville.  Endless Trails Farm and Guesthouse, owned and operated by Dave and Pam Williams is located at 8856 Larkin Road in Hubbardsville.  The farm raises grass fed beef, which is marketed under the Sunnybrook Farm label.
The Fresh! Gala at this unique venue promises a great time for everyone with its beautiful setting in the outdoor covered pavilion, featuring: a local foods dinner prepared by Serendipity Catering with seared Meadows Farm Kobe beef, Meadowood Farm lamb kabobs with sheep’s milk yogurt tzatziki, and Drover Hill smoked ham with Split Rail Farm apple chutney; beer made by the Empire Brewing Company with hops grown in Madison County at Foothill Hops Farm; live music by Larry Hoyt and the Good Acoustics; and, a silent auction. Funds raised will be used to support the mission of the Agricultural Economic Development Program.
Ticket prices are $35 per person or $65 per couple and are available at ten Price Chopper stores: 142 Genesee Street in Oneida; Madison Marketplace on Route 12B north of Hamilton; 1917 Genesee Street and the North Utica Shopping Center in Utica; 1790 Black River Blvd. in Rome; 4535 Commercial Drive in New Hartford; 2525 Erie Blvd and 4713 Onondaga Blvd. in Syracuse; 3863 State Route 31 in Liverpool; and, 5701 East Circle Drive in Cicero.  Tickets are also available online at www.MadisonCountyAgriculture.com and must be purchased prior to the event. For more information, including a map and directions, visit www.MadisonCountyAgriculture.com.

Sponsors of Buy Local Week include Price Chopper, Cazenovia Equipment, National Grid, Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program, Empire Brewery, Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension of Madison County, Central New York Bounty, Madison County Tourism, Shapna Tea and Coffee, and Serendipity Caterers.

 
 
The Madison County Historical Society in Oneida, NY has a summer program for children ages 9-12 that explores the day in the life of a nineteenth century child.  The summer camp will be held August 17 through August 20 from 10 am to 3 pm each day.   The program consists of a series of workshops. From making scrapbooks, to working with primary resources, to learning and practicing Victorian etiquette, baking, candle making, and role-play.  Snack will be provided. Participants must bring a bagged lunch each day. Tuition is $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers.  For more information, or to register a child call Sydney at the Madison County Historical Society at 363-4136, or 361-9735. Space is limited, and advance registration is required by July 23.