Letter: A worthy cause reaches a milestone

I can’t believe it has been five years since the first shovel of dirt was turned! Wow! The power of empowered women!

I am speaking of two incredible Batavia residents who I have had the honor of knowing for a combined 100-plus years. That would be Paula Savage and Barb Toal. Two ladies whose love of peace and history brought them together to bring the beauty of the International Peace Garden to home in Paolo Busti Park at the Holland Land Office site. This is now become a jewel in New York state tourist attraction booklets as well as our own Chamber of Commerce booklets.

Paula Savage is the founder of the International Peace Gardens, now over 25 years in existence in countries around the world spanning five continents including Ireland, South Africa, Poland, Italy, Canada and 19 other countries, not to mention the 19 gardens in New York state alone. All of these gardens established with donations raised through Paula’s efforts, no government funding or tax dollars!

Just as Barb Toal has done with our garden, our $200,000 of in-kind donations, free donations to our garden, all from local donors throughout Genesee County. I am afraid to name them here in fear of not naming them all. They are so precious to us. They are our friends! That is in our name!

I am proud to stand not only with these women but also with the very small army of volunteers that have tirelessly worked in this garden for the past five years.

The United Way Day of Caring helps us do all the Master Gardeners and all the stop-by volunteers.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our wonderful community.

Most of all to Paula and especially Barb for getting me involved in yet another project in the community I love so much!

Mary Ellen Wilber

Batavia

Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum Open May 1

                                               

Sodus Point, NY — The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum, located at 7606 North Ontario Street in Sodus Point, is opening for its 31st season at 10 a.m. onFriday, May 1. Built in 1870, the beautiful, historic lighthouse was used to guide ships on Lake Ontario to safe harbor in Sodus Bay.  Use of the light was discontinued in 1901, having been made redundant by an outer light on the bay’s west pier.  The building now houses a museum, operated by the Sodus Bay Historical Society.  Exhibitions focus on local and maritime history and include displays about lighthouse keepers’ tools, railroads and trolleys, the Erie Canal, and the War of 1812. Visitors can stroll through gardens on the bluff overlooking Lake Ontario, shop in the museum’s store, and climb the 52-step spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse tower for breathtaking, panoramic views of Lake Ontario and Sodus Point. The museum has planned many exciting events for 2015, including several in May: Thank You, Mom! To celebrate Mother’s Day, all mothers visiting the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum on Sunday, May 10, will receive a free gift with paid admission. History Alive! Presentation The museum’s “History Alive!” Lecture Series begins on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sodus Point Village Hall (8356 Bay Street, Sodus Point).  Rob Edelman will present “From Rosie the Riveter to Harriet the Happy Homemaker:  Women on Screen During and After World War II.”  Using film clips from 1940s and 1950s movies, Mr. Edelman will show how women’s roles in society changed as a result of the war.  This free program is made possible by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities with additional support from the Lighthouse Events Sponsors. Memorial Day & Blue Star Museums Program The Museum will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), which is also the start the Blue Star Museums program, administered by the National Endowment for the Arts.  Active-duty military personnel and up to five family members receive free admission at hundreds of museums around the United States, including the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum.  This program runs until Labor Day. The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum is open Tuesdaythrough Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students (grades K-12).  Preschool children and Sodus Bay Historical Society members are free. For more information, including a full list of upcoming events for 2015, visit the museum’s website at www.sodusbaylighthouse.org or call (315) 483-4936

Dedication of Peace Garden in Albion New York

Beautiful Day in Albion New York as another Peace Garden is Dedicated

The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Garden Dedication

What a Beautiful time was had by everyone as the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens Society dedicated their Perennial Peace Garden as an Honorary International Peace Garden
Many thanks go out to Erin Grajek and Betsy Webster for putting together such a beautiful event
We want to recognize Paula Savage as she is responsible for bringing to New York her dream for International Peace and being a big part of many International Peace Gardens and the Bicentennial War of 1812 Peace Gardens.  Also we want to again thank Rich Products and Ellicott Development for their leadership in the beautification of this serene and peaceful garden,  If you have not yet had the change to see this garden, you need to make it a priority to go and visit it.

        

2014 Special Programs @ Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Save the date: Summer camps and programs Hair-itage: A Body Beautiful Program APRIL 19 Come to BNHV for a girls' day out! Enjoy a short lecture at 11AM and again at 12:30PM on popular women's 19th century hairstyles with demonstrations following. Make a hair appointment for you and/or your child to get an authentic 19th century updo from our experienced staff! Bring your cameras - photography is encouraged! While waiting for your appointment or while enjoying some light refreshments afterwards, take a walk through our Body Beautiful exhibit to explore how society's changing views on beauty have influenced women from the mid-19th century until today. The rest of the museum's exhibits will also be open. Attendance is limited so call the museum to reserve your appointment! Appointments start at 11:30AM after the first lecture and continue in 15 minute increments until the second lecture at 12:30PM. The rest of the appointments continue in 15 minute increments until 2PM. Once you have made your appointment, a reminder card will be sent to you and will serve as your ticket in to the event. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 11:00am - 2:00pm Adults $8.00, Children $5.00 Behind The Scenes Tour: Historic Preservation JUNE 28 Special guest lecturer and architectural historian, Andrea Rebeck, will guide you through a few of our historic buildings on the museum's grounds and discuss preservation philosophy and producing the historic structure reports for the houses, all while sharing stories about how the buildings were moved to our grounds and what was discovered during her investigations and subsequent work on them. It is sure to be a memorable tour that will change the way you see BNHV's historic homes! Reservations are required in advance. Once your spot is reserved, refunds will not available. Call 689-1440 to reserve your spot today! 1:00pm - 3:00pm Members $15, Non Members $20 School of the Soldier: Civil War Day Encampment JULY 12 A special feature of our Americana Days weekend, BNHV offers School of the Civil War Soldier! During this day camp event, unit commanders will instruct young soldiers (boys and girls welcome!) aged 8 - 14 in the structure, skills and customs of the military during the Civil War. Throughout the day, Civil War reenactors and students will be arranged in groups and will take part in various activities including taking a loyalty oath, learning what's in a haversack, how to make hardtack and campfire food, learning about artillery, seeing a firearms demonstration and participating in a battalion formation drill. Near the end of the day, all students and reenactors will conduct a final military muster and battlefield scenario in front of parents and other spectators at BNHV. This event will open a unique window into our past and allow students and visitors a feel for the life, experiences and hardships of the soldier during America's epic defining moment, the Civil War. Students should dress comfortably in blue jeans, button down shirts, sneakers or shoes with ties (no shorts, t-shirts or sandals, please!). Non-firing wooden muskets, battle flags and free kepis will be provided. Parents are welcome to stay for the day at the museum and enjoy the activities associated with BNHV's Americana Days, which will be from 10:30AM to 4:30PM also on this day. To register, please call 689-1440 10:30am - 4:30pm Ages: 8-14 $25 per child Heritage EDventures: Summer Day Camp JULY 22 & 23 This is a two day program where children will explore how children in the 19th century lived and played. This program is packed full of activities and excitement! Children will play historic games as well as make toys and crafts to take home and share with family and friends. Some activities will include learning the game of croquet, making balance and parachute toys, tin punching, churning butter and much more! Lunch is NOT provided; please bring a bagged lunch. Space is limited to 8-10 children. 9:00am - 5:00pm Ages: 8+ $85 Members, $100 Non Members Fun with Fibers: Summer Day Camp AUGUST 21 & 22 This is a two day program that will give kids an interactive experience with natural fibers. They will explore where they come from, how they are processed and what they are used for. Some of the fibers explored will be flax, sheep's wool, alpaca and hemp. Children will also get hands on experience using a drop spindle, a loom and will learn to felt. An introduction to dying fibers using natural and synthetic dyes will also be provided. Lunch is NOT provided; please bring a bagged lunch. Space is limited to 8 children. 9:00am - 5:00pm Ages: 8+ $85 Members, $100 Non Members Behind the Scenes Tour: Woodworking and Building Styles SEPTEMBER 27 Come learn about the nuts and bolts of building historic structures with the Village's own woodworker, Scott Schotz! He will show you how logs are felled, hewn, how plank and log structures are built and much more! If you love woodworking and historic structures, you won't want to miss this special tour! Reservations are required in advance. Once your spot is reserved, refunds will not available. Call 689-1440 to reserve your spot today! 1:00pm - 3:00pm $15 Members, $20 Non Members

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.

Evergreens susceptible to foliage burn

With the advent of winter, we are concerned about the drying out of evergreen trees and shrubs. Lack of water, drying winds, and salt spray can all result in foliage burn and plant decline. If you have small evergreen trees or shrubs, boxwood,  or evergreens along the road you can minimize damage by making sure they are watered well(soil is not dry), wrap the plant with burlap, or if it is is small, spray with anti-desiccant such as wilt-pruf. If you still have foliage burn, trim off branches in the spring and fertilize.