March 31 at American Foundry, Oswego -

Sunken Ships, Native American Loyalties Explored at 1812 Symposium
OSWEGO – An Akwesasne Mohawk author and a maritimearchaeologist will add unique perspectives to the Oswego County War of 1812Symposium Saturday, March 31 at the American Foundry in Oswego.
The symposium features several noted historians and guest speakers who will discussthe colorful dynamics of the War of 1812 along the New York – Canadian frontier.

TheIroquois nations played a vital role in the War of 1812. Doug George-Kanentiio,an award-winning journalist, lecturer, author and film-consultant, will presentthe Mohawk perspective and its aftermath As with theAmerican Revolution, the Iroquois nations divided their loyalties with manyelecting to fight alongside their former American opponents, while others,particularly the Mohawk, held to their alliance with the British. The Mohawks took part in several key battleswhich turned aside the American intrusion into Upper and Lower Canada, ensuring the survival of the Canadian colony. George-Kanentiiois nationally recognized as a primary source of information on Iroquoispolitics and culture. He is a columnist for News from Indian Country and IndianTime, a former columnist with the Syracuse Herald-Journal, and the author of“Iroquois on Fire: A Voice from the Mohawk Nation,” and “Skywoman: Legends ofthe Iroquois.” He is chairman of Round Dance Productions, a non-profit culturalfoundation on Oneida Territory, and lives in Oneida Castlewith his wife, Joanne Shenandoah.Dr. Benjamin Ford,assistant professor specializing in historic preservation, maritime andhistorical archaeology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will present hisfascinating research into the sunken ships of the rival naval commodores IsaacChauncey and Sir James Lucas Yeo. “Naval power wascentral to controlling the Great Lakes, and by extension, the interior of North America during the War of 1812,” said Dr. Ford. On Lake Ontario,the naval conflict took the form of an arms race with no major engagements. Althoughfew ships were lost during the war, several were wrecked or abandonedthroughout Lake Ontario following the war. Many of the1812 naval vessels have been located and studied over the past 40 years. Dr.Ford’s paper, “The Sunken Ships of Chauncey and Yeo,” will review the shipsthat have been studied, discuss what can be learned from these vessels, andidentify some of the ships that are still to be found.Dr. Ford has authoredand edited several archaeological publications. His current research focuses ona Revolutionary War era town in Pennsylvaniaand the maritime cultural landscape of Lake Ontario.Otherpresentations will feature Dr. Gary Gibson, Dr. John Grodzinski, Col. ClaytonNans, Anne Davis and Beverly Sterling-Affinati of the U.S. Daughters of 1812,and Susan Gibson.The Oswego CountyWar of 1812 Symposium is sponsored by the Friends of Fort Ontario, SacketsHarbor Battlefield Alliance, Oswego County Tourism Advisory Council, and FortOntario State Historic Site with support from the Daughters of the War of 1812,City of Oswego, The Palladium-Times, H. Lee White Marine Museum, HeritageFoundation, Oswego County Historical Society, Half-Shire Historical Society andOswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.

Registration is $25 per person and $15 with valid student ID and includes lunchand workshop materials. Advance registration is required and may be paid bycredit card through the Fort Ontario State Historic Site. Contact Jon Zella at315-343-4711 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by e-mailat fortontariointern@gmail.com.Checks should be made payable to Friends of Fort Ontario Inc. and mailed toFort Ontario State Historic Site, 1 East Fourth Street, Oswego, N.Y. 13126.

For accommodations and visitor information, go to www.visitoswegocounty.comor contact the Oswego County Tourism Office at 315-349-8322. To follow War of1812 commemoration activities or to learn more about the history of Oswego County,go to http://visitoswegocounty.com/historical-info/war-of-1812/.

War of 1812 Candlelight Tour

Thur. Aug. 16th 6:30pm

Hull Family Home & Farmstead

5976 Genesee St ,

Lancaster, New York

Witness a series of dramatic skits presenting events relevant to Western New York and the War

Tickets $12 per person - presale only phone 741-7032

Paolo Busti Foundation is Peace Garden 'Friend'

BATAVIA — The Paolo Busti Foundation has been named the “Friends of Peace” award recipient for 2012.
Peace Garden Project Manager Barb Toal said it was a natural choice to recognize this group for its commitment to this project and to several other projects in our community.“Just like the Peace Garden committee, the Paolo Busti Board continues to find ways to support our community’s assets,” Toal said. “Through their years of volunteer efforts, the Paolo Busti Board of Directors has nurtured young people’s education through scholarship fundsand education.“That’s exactly what the Peace Garden project intends to do; to educate young and old as to the development of our land and the wondrous resources of Western New York,” Toal said. “This group continues to promote Peace in our community.”Former Congressman Barber Conable was the recipient of the first Friends of Peace award in 2011. Conable was chosen because of his insight and dedication to the betterment of our community and unselfish efforts to move forward in a positive direction.Paolo Busti was the principal agent of the Holland Land Company from 1800 until 1824. He established the Holland Land Company in Batavia. Joseph Ellicott worked for him as one of his surveyors of the Western New York region.“It is fitting to recognize Mr. Busti in this way,” said Paula Savage, president of the International Peace Garden Foundation. “Acres and acres of land were surveyed under his leadership, and the local Paolo Busti Foundation continues to positively promote his legacy.”The Paolo Busti Foundation was also the first local organization to welcome the Peace Garden Project, and make a commitment to purchase a flag.“Their Board of Directors was incredibly supportive of this project when we needed it the most,” said Marilyn Werner, fundraiser for the Friends of Batavia Peace Garden. “They gave us the boost we needed, on a snowy winter night, and it just took off after that. From the research I’ve done, I believe Mr. Paolo Busti would be very proud to promote this project and the Genesee Region.”“Celebration of Peace” dinner is set for April 28 at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia. U.S. Rep. Kathy Hochul is the featured speaker and will honor the Paolo Busti Foundation for its community dedication and speak on the value of volunteerism. Genesee County Legislator Frank C. Ferrando will host as master of ceremonies.Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce or by telephoning Barb Toal at (585) 344-2458.

Posted in News on Thursday, March 8, 2012 12:57 am

WORLD GLOBE under Construction in Batavia

Batavia, NY begins construction on the World Globe that will become a centerpiece for the International Peace Garden, scheduled to be dedicated on May, 6th, 2012. The globe will be dedicated to the armed forces of the United States.

Batavia's on the map — for its peace garden

Daily News OnlinePosted: Friday, February 24, 2012 12:00 am Updated: 11:33 pm, Thu Feb 23, 2012. Batavia's on the map — for its peace gardenBy Joanne Beckjbeck@batavianews.comThe Daily News Online

BATAVIA — Ever since local Peace Garden organizers began their efforts, they were determined to keep the project privately funded, Marilyn Werner says.She and Project Manager Barb Toal were gleeful Thursday that their dream is being fulfilled.“We have enough money to order 20 flags,” Toal said. “The community has come together so excitedly we don’t have any option but to move forward and install these flags. We had planned to go in stages. Since we’ve begun fundraising, the community dove in with such support.”During its Wednesday meeting, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission approved a 6-foot tall steel globe that will be part of the garden alongside Holland Land Office Museum on West Main Street. Remaining plans include illuminated flags placed strategically throughout sections of brick paths, flowers, trees and benches.Close to 100 bricks — some designating farmers and their families — and five benches have been ordered as more individuals and companies are stepping forward to help out, Werner said. The state and Genesee County Farm Bureau has agreed to help promote the project and help draft copy for six interpretive panels that tell the story of Genesee County’s rich agricultural history.“We’re not just talking about the War of 1812 but also about the development of the land in Genesee County,” Werner said. “If you’re driving down West Main Street now, there’s nothing; it’s a piece of land. There will be 20 illuminated flags of 20 different countries all celebrating peace.”Rob Barone of Barone Welding in Batavia will build the globe and the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden have all contributed time and effort to design the whole concept and work on various aspects of its creation, Toal said.She and Werner are hoping that families will commit to a small plot within the garden so they can work the soil and really become part of the volunteer-based project. So that they can say “I have a piece of peace,” Werner said.O-At-Ka and Upstate Milk Cooperatives will sponsor the globe, concrete base and four military plaques representing the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.“They’ve thrown an amazing amount of support into this ... teams of volunteers and financial sponsorship,” Werner said. “It’s a huge satisfaction, it’s going to be an amazing tourism attraction. We’re on the map.”She meant that quite literally, since the city’s impending garden is part of a glossy colored tourism map depicting 22 Peace Gardens from Buffalo to Oswego. Stop No. 13 is Batavia, which served as the rallying point during the War of 1812. While much else in Niagara County and Buffalo lay in ashes from a British attack Batavia residents offered shelter for those fleeing the devastation.This honorary Peace Garden will signify 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States. There is no current War of 1812 display inside the adjacent museum, but “we’re working on it,” Museum Director Jeff Donahue said. He wasn’t certain when it would be up for view. Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden think it would be a “win-win” to have not only such a display but a small office space within the museum staffed by a volunteer.“We certainly hope for it to have a presence in the museum,” she said.”I believe in this project because I know ... that it will bring people into the museum. It’s going to be incredible for Genesee County.”In the meantime, organizers have set a fundraiser dinner for 5 p.m. April 28 at Terry Hills restaurant on Clinton Street Road. Tickets are $25 and will include dinner, dessert and guest speaker Congresswoman Kathy Hochul speaking about the “Value of Volunteerism.”That theme is to continue with a peace weekend April 28 and 29 at county churches and a display of Genesee and Orleans County students’ works of peace April 30 through May 7.A dedication of the flags is set for 2 p.m. May 6. Ghostriders, Mighty St. Joe’s, Batavia High School’s jazz and marching bands and Blue Belles, a 21 gun salute and remarks from county officials will be part of the festivities.“It’s going to be a great big party, a party in the garden,” Werner said.For more information, call Toal at (585) 344-2458; International Peace Garden President Paula Savage at (585) 343-2387 or go to http://www.1812.ipgf.org/.

HISTORIC LEWISTON NEWS

There is alot planned for Lewiston.

Check out the web site below for more information

http://www.historiclewiston.org

Gardenscapes in Peru - more gardening tips

Our resident gardner Nellie recently visited Peru with her son. Dahlias are pictured here growing wild in the Andes of Peru, among Inca ruins. They are native to Mexico and Central America, as are many of our ornamental flowers and shrubs. The cactus in the background indicates dry conditions, and thin, rocky soils. When buying seeds and plants for your garden, consider where they originated to learn the optimum growth conditions.

Nellie and her son are pictured in a central square in Lima, Peru. Towns and cities had formal plantings of bedding plants in central squares and parks. The landscape in the countryside was beautiful and dramatic with crops, fruit trees, and gardens lining the roadways with little need for ornamental plants.