The Canastota Canal Town Corporation located at 110 Canal St. Canastota, NY, is very excited about the latest addition of a Watson Wagon to the extensive collection of items already displayed.  Watson Wagons were manufactured in Canastota in the latter 19th and early 20th centuries.  The wagon purchased from a private party in Meadville, PA, is temporarily stored at Kime¹s Do It Best Hardware and has generated quite a lot of interest from customers as they visit the store.

Please help the community celebrate this magnificent addition by joining us on Halloween Sunday, Oct. 31st for coffee, cider and donuts from 1:00-3:00 PM at 500 South Main St. in Canastota.  There will be opportunities to ask questions and to take pictures with children on or near the wagon with its team of mules.  Also, if children of any age under 100 would like, they can bring their own wagon for others to observe.

As part of the semester-long focus on issues surrounding the death penalty, Cazenovia College will present the Central New York premiere of "Dead Man Walking," adapted for the stage by Tim Robbins from the Academy Award winning movie starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. 
The production will have performances at the Catherine Cummings Theatre on Nov. 12, 13, 14, and Nov. 19, 20 and 21. Curtain times are 8 p.m. for the Friday and Saturday performances, and 2 p.m. for Sunday performances. 
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. ($3 for Cazenovia College students.)  Tickets will be available at Cazenovia Jewelry and by calling the Catherine Cummings Theatre Box Office at 655-STAR.  Tickets will also be available at the door and seating is general admission.  Doors will open one half hour prior to show time.   
Call Colleen Prossner at 655-7238 for additional information.
The play is directed by David Lowenstein, artist in residence at Cazenovia College, and produced by Colleen Prossner, theatre manager at the Catherine Cummings theatre at Cazenovia College. Cast and crew are comprised of Cazenovia College students and area residents. 
The play, written by Tim Robbins in 2002, is based on the experiences of Sr. Helen Prejean as the spiritual advisor of a death row inmate at Angola prison.  Rather than producing the play professionally, Robbins offered it to schools and colleges across the United States as part of a project designed to foster discourse and discussion about the death penalty. The project, titled The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project, is managed by the Death Penalty Discourse Center (www.dpdiscourse.org) where Sister Helen now bases her work. 
The Cazenovia College discussion of the death penalty went far beyond the campus community when Sr. Prejean was the fall semester Reisman Lecturer, speaking to more than 800 people in Cazenovia.  Sr. Prejean says, "Broad discourse is especially important on the issue of the death penalty because executions take place as almost secret rituals behind prison walls with only a few witnesses, so most people are never going to get close to state killings — unless the arts take them there."

Annabel (and SU cast) leads the Palace Theater Halloween Parade after performing Annabel Drudge and the 2nd Day of School.
Annabel Drudge has a lousy first day of school, but after traveling on a magical journey to Istanbul with her Nana, she discovers she is truly special. Syracuse University Drama Students are back to perform this original Gothic Fairytale about a young girl with a disability, afraid to return to her new school.
Annabel Drudge and the 2nd Day of School is the second live theater performance in The Palace Theater Family Series. The show is Saturday, October 30 from 11am until noon. Bring your camera to capture a photo of your child(ren) with the cast after the show. Tickets are only $3pp/$10 for a family (mom, dad, children) of 4 or more, and are available when the doors open at 10:30am that morning. The show is appropriate for ages 4+.
March in the Parade! After the live production join Annabel, Nana and cast from Annabel Drudge and the 2nd Day of School to march across the stage (in costume) for the Palace Theater Halloween Parade. Enjoy Halloween candy. Correctly guess what director Patricia von Mechow is dressed up as for Halloween and get an extra goody!
The Lorax and Winnie the Pooh are next in the Family Series line-up, coming in January and April, 2011. The Palace Theater, an intimate performing arts center, presents their 4th season of live national acts, Deep Blue (11/20/10) and Step Afrika (3/25 & 26/11)and Act Now-Educate Forever (school field trips).  It is nestled in downtown Hamilton within easy strolling distance of fine casual dining, boutiques, village green and parking. Visit www.palacetheater.org or call 315.824.1420 to learn more about ONStage and to order tickets.

It is always with sadness that we type this report.  That means the beautiful fall foliage season has come to an end.  The southern part of the county has progressed well past peak conditions, but that doesn't mean you won't find a pocket or two of brilliance as you drive through the countryside.
The areas in the northern part of the county, especially along the NYS Thruway have retained their leaves better.  While the foliage is definitely past peak, there are many place where the gold of the sugar maples is quite stunning still.  Take a drive along Route 5 or Route 31 and you will see what we mean.  Thanks for checking in with us all fall and we hope to see you in Madison County again soon.

In 1998 the Governor of New York created Heritage NY Trails to increase recognition of New York State’s rich history and to boost heritage tourism. The second trail, the NYS Underground Railroad Trail, developed in three stages: designation, site development, and site interpretation. 26 sites became part of the UGRR Trail. At 11:00 a.m. Sunday, October 24 two sites on the trail will celebrate the completion of the three stages with people and agencies who assisted the accomplishments.  Cordell Reaves, Historic Preservation Program Analyst, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will describe the Underground Railroad Project. Following a presentation of the colors by the 12th U.S. Infantry Co. A (Reenactors), Steve Joeckel, President of the Smithfield Community Association, and Rick Bargabos, Town of Smithfield Supervisor, will welcome those in attendance to Peterboro and the special occasion. John Reinhardt, Board of Madison County Supervisors, and Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian, will describe the county’s role and value of the project. Assemblyman Bill Magee and Senator Dave Valesky will present a legislative citation for the eventful weekend. Ivy Biswas, representing the Central New York Community Foundation, will describe the PACE grant received by the Smithfield Community Association. Max Smith, a Steward of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark will sing songs of patriotism, slavery, and freedom.  After the symbolic ribbon cutting, CNY Bounty will provide refreshments from local producers.
Following the ribbon cutting there will be open houses and tour. The exhibits at the Smithfield Community Center will remain open hosted by members of the Cabinet of Freedom for the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. Stewards at the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark will be at The Lodge / Visitor Center, The Barn, and The Land Office. Beth Spokowsky, President of the Peterboro Area Museum, will conduct a tour of the Gerrit Smith Estate at 1:00 p.m. and Norm Dann, Gerrit Smith biographer, will conduct a tour at 2:00.  Donna Dorrance Burdick, Town of Smithfield Historian, will also host the Peterboro Area Museum until 4:00 p.m.
The public is encouraged to attend – and to wear mid 19th Century clothing if inclined. All events, programs, exhibit, and refreshments are free.