Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

We were all saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Oz-Stravaganza participant Meinhardt Rabbe this past weekend.  Here is a tribute to Meinhardt sent to us from the Oz-Stravaganza committee.












In Memory of Meinhardt Raabe

The Community of Chittenango is saddened by the death of Munchkin Coroner Meinhardt Raabe.  His first visit to Chittenango with his wonderful wife Marie was over twenty years ago. He happened upon an article in National Geographic Traveler about the Oz festival in Chittenango, and he made contact with festival organizers to tell of his role in the 1939 classic MGM film, "The Wizard of Oz". An invitation was extended for he and Marie to attend.

That first visit made him a lifelong family member to every member of the community, and his attendance dramatically changed the festival held to honor Chittenango's native son, L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Fans waited in line to meet him, get his autograph and have their pictures taken with him. He made trips to the schools and Library to talk about the making of the movie. He thrilled thousands as he said his famous lines pronouncing the Wicked Witch "really most sincerely dead".

He suggested others in the Oz world to help the festival grow, first being our weekend host, Oz author and historian John Fricke. Munchkins, Margaret Pellegrini and Fern Formica came the year after. Chittenango Oz festivals continued to grow as more Munchkins and Baum family members joined in. Meinhardt never wanted to stay in a hotel when he came to Chittenango, he enjoyed staying with local families. For the majority of the years he stayed with the Jerome family, who visited Meinhardt many times at his home in Penney Farms Florida.

Meinhardt led a full and interesting life. He was a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, a Master Horticulturist, and a teacher. For thirty years he was "Little Oscar" traveling around in the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile.  His accomplishments are many, and fortunately he was able to tell his story in his book,"Memories of a Munchkin".

To those of us who were blessed to have known him well, we will always treasure the time he spent interacting with our children, the interesting dinner conversations, his gardening advice, and the fine example he set by being a true gentleman.  He will be truly missed, but the legacy he left will leave his friends and fans with memories to last forever.

(Chittenango, NY) The Sullivan Free Library in Chittenango is featuring a display of iconic images from America’s history. The library received a collection of prints as part of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The goal of the grant is to bring notable American art into our communities, teach American history and culture and foster a better understanding of our country’s diverse people and places.

The collection currently on display includes “Migrant Mother,” a photograph by Dorothea Lange, which depicts the desperation of the Great Depression, “Freedom of Speech,” by Norman Rockwell, and the famous portrait of Abraham Lincoln taken by Alexander Gardner.

The display can be viewed during regular library hours, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 2 p.m.

The current group of 18 prints will be shown through April 30.

For more information, call 687-6331 or visit the exhibition's website.

From Yesterday's Syracuse Post Standard:

”The Wizard of Oz,” holds special meaning for many Central New Yorkers. The original story’s author, L. Frank Baum, was born in Chittenango and grew up in Syracuse. Organizers of the annual Oz-Stravaganza, which celebrates all things Oz each summer, hope you too catch the spirit this year. Gearing up for the festival, which is June 4 to 6, the committee is hosting a writing contest. Local writer and former Chittenango English teacher Greg Ellstrom has written the beginning of an Oz-related story, and he wants writers in four age groups (third to fifth grade; sixth to eighth grade; ninth to 12th grade; and adult) to write new endings of 300 words or less to finish the tale. Complete rules are below.

Help finish an Oz-related story based on the classic tale "The Wizard of Oz" for Chittenango's annual Oz-Stravaganza celebration.

Complete rules are available here: oz contest.pdf

The Things One Stumbles Upon

By Greg Ellstrom
Contributing writer

After she returned from Oz and moved back in with Uncle Henry and Auntie Em, life for Dorothy became normal. She went off to school like the other kids of her age, did her homework, helped Aunt Em around the house, took Toto for walks — but always, in the back of her mind, were her memories of her wonderful adventures in the Land of Oz.

As happens to all children, Dorothy quite quickly grew up. And when she was 18 years old, she went off to college at Kansas University in the city of Lawrence. There she lived in what was called a rooming house and met many interesting people.

Dorothy couldn’t figure out just what to study in college. She thought that perhaps she would study writing, so she could tell the stories of her magical adventures. Or perhaps, she would study painting, so she could create great works of art depicting the Emerald City and the lands around it. Or perhaps, she would study to be a veterinarian, so she could help dogs like Toto or even work at a zoo and, maybe, take care of lions.

Sometimes when she was trying to figure just what she would study to be, she would take a walk around the campus or through the city or around one of the nearby parks, and think and think.

One day, while taking one of these strolls, she wandered farther away from her college campus than she ever had before. Just when she was considering going back to the rooming house, she came upon a little bit of a forest, just some trees really, growing around and on top of a little hill.

This was very unusual for the flat lands of Kansas. A little path led through the trees, and her curiosity made her follow it. She went up and down the hill, jumped over a little brook, and went through thick trees and thin trees, as the path twisted along. Then all at once, the trees came to a stop, and Dorothy couldn’t quite believe what she saw in the meadow in front of her.

Greg Ellstrom is a former English teacher at Chittenango High School, where he also served as the chair of the department chairman and drama director for 33 years. He has written and directed nine plays.

Jerry Maren, Lollipop Guild Munchkin from the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz,” turned 90 Jan. 24. Maren, born Gerard Marghengi in Boston, has been in entertainment throughout his life and has played many roles, including popular characters Hamburgler, Mayor McCheese, Buster Brown, and Little Oscar for the Oscar Meyer Co.

He has been a guest of Oz-Stravaganza for many years and has agreed to attend  the 2010 event, which will be held in Chittenango June 4 through 6.

Maren’s biography “Short and Sweet, The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin,” is a memoir of his remarkable life and career. Maren and his wife Elizabeth live in California and travel throughout the country attending Oz events.

2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum.  The museum, located on the Old Erie Canal, is where 90' long cargo boats were built and repaired during the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The all-volunteer museum will incorporate this momentous occasion into the 19th annual Canal Fest to be held on Sunday, June 20th.  Activities and entertainment are being planned around the celebration.
Throughout the six hour day, activities will be offered to children and adults alike.  Being planned are demonstrations on canal boat building, blacksmithing, many children's games, a magic show, wagon rides and a teen play performance.  A chicken barbeque will be served throughout the day.
Time has been set aside for a special ceremony paying tribute to those who had the foresight and fortitude to undertake the excavation, preservation and restoration of this unique historic site.
The museum is located at 7010 Lakeport Road in Chittenango. Visit our website: www.chittenangolandingcanalboatmuseum.com or call (315) 687-3801 for more information.

A story in today's Post Standard says that closing the state parks will have little impact on the state's budget deficit.  Due to lost tax revenue we still think it will have the opposite effect.

Syracuse, NY -- State officials on Friday recommended closing dozens of state parks to fill New York’s budget gap, a move that would affect hundreds of thousands of Central New Yorkers and produce minimal savings.
The $6.3 million saved through proposed park closures would amount to a fraction of 1 percent of the state’s $8.2 billion budget gap.
On the same day state officials said they need to close the parks to make the state solvent, they gave millions of dollars in grants to private companies — more than enough money to save every park.
Gov. David Paterson and parks Commissioner Carol Ash announced Friday they want to close or reduce services at 64 state parks and 15 historic sites statewide. Central New York risks losing six parks, two beaches and two historic sites if the Legislature approves the plan. More than 300,000 people a year use the targeted parks in Central New York alone.
See a complete list of proposed park closures.
“In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and social services, no area of state spending — including parks and historic sites — could be exempt from reductions,” Paterson said.