The Trees Come Marching In...

Ring in the holiday season this year at the John Wells Pratt House Museum in Fulton! Friends of Fulton History presents its annual Parade of Trees, a two-week event that features a dozen Christmas trees trimmed with festive handmade decorations by members of local schools, businesses and community organizations.

The trees display a variety of themes such as “The Christmas Story” by the Fulton Public Library, “Puzzle Pieces Big and Small, a Very Merry Christmas to One and All” by ARC of Oswego County, “A Sweet Christmas” by Lanigan Elementary in Fulton, and “The Wizard of Oz” by Kathy’s Cakes in Fulton.



Lanigan Elementary students Joey Blair, Isabella Jodway and Khloe Bergman

proudly display their Christmas tree decorated with sweet treats!

 


Melissa Wells of Kathy's Cakes decorates the Christmas tree

with clever handcrafted ornaments to showcase the world of Oz.



Sandy DeSantis and Kathy King trim the tree with handmade decorations by the

Fulton Public Library's Tuesday After School Crafters, Tuesday-Wednesday Story Hour,

and Thursday LEGO Club.



ARC of Oswego County presents,

"Puzzle Pieces, Big and Small, A Very Merry Christmas to One and All!"

 

Other groups participating in the event include: First Step Universal Pre-K (UPK) in Fulton, G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, Girl Scouts in Fulton, Noah’s Christian Nursery School in Oswego, Oswego Industries Day Hab Program in Fulton, Towpath Towers in Fulton, Uniforms, Etc. in Fulton, and the Woman’s Club of Fulton.

The parade begins with an open house from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 1. Wander among the colorful trees and historical displays as you enjoy holiday music and refreshments. Bring the kids for the show as Imaginations Unlimited presents the Marionettes Magic Theatre between 2 and 3 p.m.

The parade continues Monday, December 2 to Friday, December 13. Visit the Pratt House Museum, 177 S. First St., Fulton, and choose your favorite Christmas tree display. Throughout the event, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 7.

John Wells Pratt House Museum in Fulton

A little history about the museum…

Timothy and Hannah, parents of John Wells Pratt, were among the earliest settlers of Fulton. Their son had an extensive boat-building business and transported goods between Oswego and Albany. A successful farmer, businessman and civic leader, Pratt was a leading donor to Fulton’s Falley Seminary and served as its superintendent for six years. He was also a director of the Citizens National Bank of Fulton for more than twenty years.

This historic home was built in 1861 for Pratt and his wife Harriet, and remained in their family for more than 100 years. In 1975, the property was acquired from the Pratt family and the carriage house was razed to make way for a restaurant. Through the efforts of several community leaders, the house was saved from demolition and the Historical Society of Fulton was formed, naming the Pratt House as its museum and headquarters.

The museum contains a beautifully carved staircase, two marble fireplaces, antique musical instruments, early framed maps and an original telephone switchboard. There is also a detailed period kitchen from the early 1900s with Mrs. Pratt’s combination coal and gas stove. Other exhibits highlight local history including agriculture, industry, the Oswego canal and residents’ daily life.

Pratt House Museum’s exquisite marble fireplace

Pratt House Museum’s exquisite marble fireplace

The John Wells Pratt House Museum is open year-round, either by appointment or with seasonal hours. Regular admission is $2 for adults and free for children under age 18. For more information about the museum or the Parade of Trees, call 315/598-4616. To learn more about Oswego County’s history, go to www.visitoswegocounty.com.

Cheers,
Kelly

Bringing Art to Life

ARTSwego welcomes students and the community back to the SUNY Oswego campus as it launches its 2013-2014 Performing Arts Series with The Cashore Marionettes!

Master puppeteer Joseph Cashore leads this widely-acclaimed company, enthralling audiences across the globe with his life-like creations and graceful movements. His remarkable collection of enchanting pieces demonstrates his unparalleled artistry. For more than 30 years, Cashore has designed and given life to these unique works of art.

The marionette first caught his eye when he was a boy on a family vacation. Upon seeing the suspended puppet, his imagination took flight. Cashore went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Notre Dame and later studied portrait and figure painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His many accomplishments include the Henson Foundation Grant and the Pew Fellowship for Performance Art. He was also named a PennPAT Roster Artist and awarded the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest honor a U.S. puppeteer can receive.

Here are samples of his brilliant talent, courtesy of the Cashore Marionettes:

Cashore shares his craft with audiences through an extended four-day residency program which will include visits to three local communities in addition to his performances on campus.

The first “meet-and-greet” takes place on Thursday, September 5 at 7 p.m. at the H. Lee White Marine Museum  in Oswego and the second is scheduled for Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m. at the CNY Arts Center in Fulton. Adults and children ages 8 and above will enjoy meeting the artist as he discusses and demonstrates his inspiration and passion for puppetry. For both of these events, admission is free for children accompanied by an adult, and adults are asked to make a $3 donation to the host organization.

Then, on Saturday, September 7, the Cashore Marionettes present two performances in Tyler Hall’s Waterman Theatre on the SUNY Oswego campus.

At 2 p.m., “Simple Gifts,” a short matinee for families begins. This performance entertains children through a series of acts that highlight characters and actions from everyday life. Families will delight in the theatrical illusion of Cashore’s masterful puppetry, set to a backdrop of classical music. This program is best suited to children age 8 and older. Admission is $5 for both children and adults with open general seating.

At 7:30 p.m., the troupe offers older audiences their full-length feature, “Life in Motion.” This show welcomes adults and young adults as the artists demonstrate the very essence of humanity, from the comedic to the tragic, through a series of short but powerfully entertaining portrayals with engaging characters and evocative music. Admission is $18 for adults and $5 for students.

Cashore wraps up his residency with a marionette master class for adults and art students who are interested in learning more about his technique. The session takes place on Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski. For admission details, call the center at (315) 298-7007.

The Cashore Marionettes’ community residency program is made possible by grant funding from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, and the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by CNY Arts. It is also made possible by the partnering host organizations.

Committed to artistic excellence, ARTSwego presents diverse cultural programming to enrich and entertain students and the surrounding community. For more events, visit www.oswego.edu/arts. Advance tickets for SUNY Oswego performances can be purchased at any SUNY Oswego Box Office. Parking for these shows is included in the cost of the ticket and is available in lots E-6 (in front of Culkin Hall) and E-18 (behind Hart and Funnelle halls).

Join ARTSwego for this truly one-of-a-kind experience and enjoy the show!

Cheers,

Kelly

Into the Wild…

This weekend, let’s go into the wild with the Fulton Art Association (FAA) as they hold their annual art show and competition. The special category theme for this year is “Wild Big Cats.” Thank you to Kathy Mihalek, president of the FAA, for giving us a preview of some of the pieces in the show.

The exhibit features FAA artists from Fulton, Baldwinsville, Central Square, Hannibal, Liverpool, Mexico, Oswego and Phoenix. They will be competing for first-place, second-place and honorable mention ribbons in a variety of mediums. There will also be awards for Best of Show and Viewer’s Choice. The latter is given to an artist who receives the most votes from the public for its favorite piece.

There will be prizes for the public as well. FAA members have donated several pieces to be raffled at the show. The winners will be announced on Sunday; however, ticket holders do not need to be present to win. The proceeds from the raffle benefit the FAA’s annual high school invitational in February.

Some of the entrants in the FAA’s show this weekend are also participating in the exhibit, “On My Own Time,” a program co-sponsored by the Everson Museum of Art, the Cultural Resources Council and several area companies. Its mission is to foster a closer relationship between the business community and the arts.

Pictured below are two FAA members who have works exhibited in both shows:

Rhoda Cunningham of Oswego

Diane Shumway of Mexico

Two framed prints donated by FAA artists for raffle

The Fulton Art Association is open to all artists regardless of age, experience, and artistic style or medium. The group’s roster includes children, seniors and everyone in-between, whether they are full-time artists or dabbling Picassos, shutterbugs and ceramicists.

Now in its 37th year, the FAA is a vital component of the arts community in Fulton, New York and its environs. The organization strives to promote awareness and education as well as to provide encouragement, support and advocacy for the arts.

Come to the FAA’s annual art show and competition in the Community Room of the Fulton Municipal Building at 141 South First Street. Vote for your favorite piece in the exhibition. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 and from 12 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. A reception is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about this show or the Fulton Art Association, call 315-532-3803.

Cheers,
Kelly

A trail by another means…

Exploring yet another sort of trail, we recently traversed the Oswego Canal; taking in the rich fall colors and historical sights along the way. A very special thank you to our friend Richard for being our tour guide and canoe captain.

We began our journey just north of Battle Island, named for a skirmish of the French and Indian War. It was in July 1756, after delivering supplies and reinforcements to Fort Ontario, that a small British troop was ambushed by warriors of the Five Nations. Led by Captain John Bradstreet, the soldiers quickly made their way to the small island, where they took refuge in the thick underbrush and made their stand against multiple attacks. For decades, the hasty strongholds and trees bearing marks of the battle could be seen, a reminder of the island’s one important day in history.

We rounded the island, listening to calls from a gaggle of geese. On the south side, we discovered a landing site for picnic-goers and briefly enjoyed the company of a blue heron. As we next glided past Factory Island, we found the ruins of an old starch factory; built in competition to Oswego’s Kingsford Starch Factory. We then passed Battle Island State Park where late season golfers were playing the beautiful fairways and greens of the 18-hole course.

We continued on toward the former Van Buren estate, first settled in 1796 by John Van Buren, a first cousin to past President Martin Van Buren. Built in the 1820s, the tavern provided a place for visitors to eat, drink and sleep. “The Pillars” was constructed in 1847 as the personal residence of the patriarch’s son, David. Today, both buildings are private homes and not open to the public.

On our return, we followed the old Oswego Canal, which was open from 1828 to 1917. The canal runs from Oswego to Syracuse, where it joins the Erie Canal. In a few places, canoers and kayakers can see vestiges of the old canal and its towpath along the east side the Oswego River.

The ride was, at turns, an easy glide and a hard slog. Regardless of the effort, it was serene and refreshing – a welcome retreat to the scenic beauty in our “backyard”. The trip provided us an opportunity to closely view our local heritage and natural world along the smaller waterways, and take in the panoramic views along the great expanse of the Oswego River.

Here are a few images of our adventure:



Canoers and kayakers of all skill levels will find a vast network of picturesque waterways in Oswego County. To ensure a memorable and enjoyable paddle, be sure to follow these tips:

• New York State law requires that all boaters have access to a personal flotation device, which should be worn at all times.
• Do not use intoxicants while boating.
• Do not approach dam areas too closely on either the up- or down-stream sides.
• Standing up in a canoe is not advisable.
• Remember that once you reach your destination, you may have to paddle just as far in the opposite direction, perhaps against the wind or heavy current.
• Know your limits and abilities. Use good judgment at all times.

The nearest launch sites for this bit of the tour are: Indian Point in Fulton and the Minetto Boat Launch in Minetto. However, if you would like to visit other waterways, or would like more information about paddling or canalling, please visit our Web site at http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/.

Cheers,
Kelly

Exploring history and nature off the beaten path…

We recently discovered a remarkable trail system in Oswego County. Rich in history and natural beauty, Great Bear Springs is made up of over 300 acres along the east side of the Oswego River; owned in part by the City of Fulton and the Town of Volney.

According to Native American legend, a young brave (some say the father of Hiawatha) was attacked at the springs by a large bear. In honor of his victory over the animal, the brave named the springs “Mishemokwa”, meaning great bear.

From Great Bear Road, we began our hike on Alec’s Trail. Along the way, we found an abandoned (filled) well and pump house from a time when the springs of Great Bear provided water for commercial sale. Continuing on our path, we followed the former tow path toward the historic Hinsmanville Lock that was once part of the Oswego River Canal.

After stopping at the lock, we backtracked to Root Hill Trail (not for the faint of heart, by the by). At the summit, we turned onto the “Ifster” Trail where we learned to identify the red pine tree. What a delicious smell! Our path then took us through the quarry where we finished our journey along Upper Quarry Road.

Here are some of the sights and trails of Great Bear Springs…

There are six miles of diverse trails in the Great Bear Springs Recreation Area. Some are level and easy, while others provide a bit of a challenge; some are out in the open sunshine and some provide shelter from the heat of summer. You’ll find your way by following the trail markers (color-coded circles) on the trees along the trail. You can obtain a trail map at the entrance of Great Bear Springs or online at http://www.friendsofgreatbear.org/.

The trail system is open year-round for non-motorized activities such as hiking, mountain-biking and cross-country skiing. You can find Great Bear Springs on County Route 57 between Fulton and Phoenix, New York. The entrance is a bit obscure, so look sharp… it is well worth your discovery!

Friends of Great Bear was formed by residents of Oswego County interested in the conservation and protection of the Great Bear Recreation Area. With help from the local community, they have built bridges, marked trails and developed and posted a trail map of this unique area.

For more information about Oswego County Green, visit
http://web.mac.com/oswegocountygreen.

Cheers,
Kelly