New York's Heritage Areas New York's Heritage Areas

Summer is vacation season --- at least for some! New York's Heritage Areas offer a great vacation resource, fairly close to home, starting with Whitehall in northern Washington County. For more information about the Heritage Areas throughout New York, check out the Heritage Areas Brochure (pdf).

Whitehall, once known as Skenesborough, was settled in 1759 as an early trading center. Benedict Arnold built his fleet for Lake Champlain here in 1776. Whitehall served as a home base for Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain fleet during the American Revolution and as a prosperous port on the Champlain Canal. In 1775, Skenesborough was captured by American forces in the first aggressive action of the American Revolution in New York.

The Skenesborough Museum in Whitehall, established in 1959, tells the story of Skenesborough since its settlement in 1759. The building that houses the museum, built in 1917, was originally a canal terminal building. The Skenesborough Museum is located on Skenesborough Drive off US Route 4 (Poultney St.).

How to Make Rhubarb Wine How to Make Rhubarb Wine

How to Make Rhubarb Wine

By Ted Kooser
Go to the patch some afternoon
in early summer, fuzzy with beer
and sunlight, and pick a sack
of rhubarb (red or green will do)
and God knows watch for rattlesnakes
or better, listen: they make a sound
like an old lawnmower rolled downhill.
Wear a hat. A straw hat's best
for the heat but lets the gnats in.
Bunch up the stalks and chop the leaves off
with a buck-knife and be careful.
You need ten pounds; a grocery bag
packed full will do it. then go home
and sit barefooted in the shade
behind the house with a can of beer.
Spread out the rhubarb in the grass
and wash it with cold water
from the garden hose, washing
your feet as well. Then take a nap.
That evening, dice the rhubarb up
and put it in a crock. Then pour
eight quarts of boiling water in,
cover it up with a checkered cloth
to keep the fruit flies out of it,
and let it stand five days or so.
Take time each day to think of it.

When the time is up, dip out the pulp
with your hands for strainers; leave the juice.
Stir in five pounds of sugar
and an envelope of Red Star yeast.
Ferment ten days, until the cloth,
sniffing of it from time to time,
then siphon it off, swallowing some,
and bottle it. Sit back and watch
the liquid clear to honey-yellow,
bottled and ready for the years,
and smile. You've done it awfully well.

Recipe from John Keat's Porridge: Favorite Recipes of American Poets, Edited by Victoria McCabe. (1975). Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press.

Pets: Charlie Pets: Charlie

Our dog Charlie is a 2-year old Bouvier de Flandres; this is a Belgian breed of herding dog. He's a rescue dog who was kept in a basement most of the time his first year, and treated badly, but now he's made a home with my husband and me, here in New York, where he has a big yard to roam. Charlie has spent the past year taking Obedience classes, Levels I, II, and III. He adores squeaker toys --- it's almost as if he's playing a musical instrument. Charlie is full of energy and curiosity; a canine teenager. He loves to play with other dogs. And when he sees a leash, he goes into ecstasy at the prospect of an outing.

During World War I and II, Bouviers helped the Belgians relay messages as they fought and resisted against their German opponents. In WWII, Hitler wanted to select a breed of dog to represent the Third Reich. He had heard of the Bouvier, so he asked to see one. But when that dog came before Hitler, it bit him. So after that, the Nazis tried to kill the Bouviers. After the war, the Belgian people brought the breed back from the edge of extinction. Today, Bouviers serve as herders, guard dogs, police dogs, and family pets.

CambridgeBuzz is starting a feature celebrating our pets. Do you have a pet that you want to tell us about? Send a photo of your dog, cat, or other pet, with a short story about your pet to Debra Pearlman at debra@pearlproductionsllc.com.

Classic View for the Hil Classic View for the Hil

Home of Pie

Cartoonist Hilary Allison adores your comments and can also be reached at hilaryallison@activist.cc.

Regional Treasures: Mary Kellogg Regional Treasures: Mary Kellogg

Mary Kellogg, who lives in North Hebron, NY, has recently published a book of poetry, "My Place on Earth," illustrated with photographs by Jon Katz. Mary, who is now 78 years strong, has been writing poetry since she was eleven. She explains, "My first poem was about World War II. It helped me to try to understand some of what was going on." She writes poems about her childhood on a farm during the Depression, her life in the country, gardening, animals, memories, friends, the seasons, love, and more. This is Mary's first book, the work of a lifetime.

Mary Kellogg will be at the Book House, 1475 Western Avenue, in Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22nd, to talk about her new book, "My Place On Earth." I recently attended one of Mary's poetry readings; it's a rewarding experience. Mary Kellogg will have other poetry readings in the coming months at bookstores in the region.

Photo credit: Jon Katz

NOT TO BE MISSED - Wild Tribe Performance NOT TO BE MISSED - Wild Tribe Performance

While doing my monthly shift at the Village Store Co-op last night, I could hear the rehersals for tonights performance at Hubbard Hall. It sounded amazing. This is one show you will Not want to miss!

Cambridge Life: 6/17/08 Cambridge Life: 6/17/08

Photos by John Carlson and June Mohan

When I moved into my house in 2003 I had great plans for the garden. There was much to do-- cleaning out of overgrowing irises, discovery of hidden treasures, and deciding exactly where to plant what. The following summer, my brother sent me 3 peonie roots as a birthday gift. I always thought of peonies as "my" flower because they bloomed on my birthday in early June. So plant the roots I did, and wait a year I did...and another year, and another. Finally, last summer (2007) I thought I'd see some blooms, but alas, over zealous weed-whacking took down the one plant that looked productive. I'd have to wait another year...


Fuchsia peonies brighten my day (Photo:Debra Pearlman)

As you can see, patience paid off. I have wonderful blossoms this year. To my surprise, all of my plants have produced lushes blooms from white to deepest pinks. And I am not the only village resident with lush peonies. All along East Main Street houses are awash with the heavy flowers.

Now I eagerly await the fruits of my labors....astilbee, coral bells, tomatoes, herbs and lettuce all are looking promising. If these rains keep up and the days get warmer, it should be a bumper crop year. I'd love to know how your garden is doing. Send me a photo and email: Debra Pearlman so I can see the other green thumbs that reside in and around Cambridge, NY.

Cambridge Life 6/12/08 Cambridge Life 6/12/08

Photos by John Carlson and June Mohan

Summer is just about one week away from it's official start date and we've already had a heat wave. I don't know about all of you, but I am so happy to see this lovely, cool weather return to our region.

Last Friday I went to watch the balloons launch over the the High School. Nine pilots drifted overhead and sailed away on the evening breeze. It was lots of fun and I managed to reconnect with some town and village residents that I have not seen in a long, long time. That's what's so much fun about going to these events.

So what's coming in the Cambridge area for the rest of June?

June 13-15: Whipple City Festival - Village of Greenwich on NYS Rt. 29
Three day festival beginning with a parade Friday evening, then continuous live entertainment, great food, Craft Fair, Family Carnival, Free horse & wagon rides. Saturday am Whipple City 5K Race, Live animal exhibits and demonstrations, clown and more. See our featured events page. Information: (518) 692-7979

Cost: FREE ADMISSION

June 14: 5K Run & Run Walk (8:00 AM) - Greenwich Central School
Part of the Whipple City Festival in Greenwich; for more information, call 518-692-7979 or email
info@greenwichchamber.org

June 15: Hubbard Hall Annual Garden Tour (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
For more information, call (518) 677-2495 or go to www.hubbardhall.org

June 15: To Russia With Love (8:00 PM) - St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Greenwich
Battenkill Chorale Pre-Russian Tour choral concert of American Jazz, Classical, Spirituals, Shape Note and Popular music. Plus Russian liturgical and folk music. Reservations call (518) 677-8233

Cost: $12

June 22: Music From Salem Gala & Silent Auction (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
Celebrate MFS 22nd season with music by the renowned Lydian Quartet. A mouthwatering, locally grown Mediterranean gourmet dinner and silent auction will follow. Cost: $50 per person

To be a part of the fun, please R.S.V.P. by June 16 to:

MfS,
25 East Main St.
Cambridge, NY 12816.

The weekend promises to be a good one here in Cambridge, NY.

Cambridge Cooks: Howard's Baked Beans Cambridge Cooks: Howard's Baked Beans

Photos: Debra Pearlman

My birthday was this past Sunday. To celebrate, I invited some friends over for my now famous dry-rub BBQ ribs. I requested that my brother make his baked beans. These are not your usual baked beans and folks could not get enough of them. All asked for the recipe so here it is:

HOWARD'S BAKED BEANS:

What you need:

1 Lg. Onion, chopped ( 1 cup)
1 Clove Garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp. Butter
1 Bottle Chili Sauce
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup water, more if needed
3 Tbsp. Dark Rum or Bourbon
1 Tbsp. Cider Vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp. Dry Mustard
1/2 tsp. Curry Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Freshly Ground Black Pepper
4 16- ounce Cans Assorted Beans, Drained ( now only 14.5 oz)
MIX AND MATCH : WHITE BEANS, RED BEANS, PINK BEANS, PINTO BEANS, KIDNEY BEANS, LIMA BEANS, BLACK BEANS, BUTTER BEANS
3-4 Strips Bacon

What You Do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

2. In a large skillet, saute the onion and garlic in butter over medium-low heat for three minutes until softened

3. Add the chili sauce, maple syrup, water, rum, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, curry powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes to blend flavors.

4. Put the beans in a casserole. Pour the sauce over them, and stir gently to combine. The beans will look very soupy at this point, but the sauce thickens a lot as it cooks.

5. Lay 3 or 4 strips of bacon over the top of the casserole and place in the preheated oven.

6. Bake for 1 hour, or until the sauce is bubbly and the bacon is cooked.

Any combination of beans works so experiment with lots of different combinations. Vegetarians and Vegans can adjust the recipe by eliminating the bacon and using soy butter. Enjoy at your next BBQ.

BALLOON FESTIVAL REMINDER! BALLOON FESTIVAL REMINDER!

Official Logo Design by Laura Reynolds

The 2008 Cambridge Balloon Festival kicks-off tonight, June 6th at 5:30 PM -Cambridge Central High School.

Weather permitting, balloons will launch at 7:00 PM - come watch these beautiful flying machines fill with hot air and take to the sky.

If you've never watched the balloons filing-up, it's really something to see. It's a great lesson in physics and art as hot air rises to inflate these majestic balloons that then rise skyward on invisible air currents. Not bad for a Friday evening in June!

The Cambridge Balloon Festival, just one more thing to enjoy in Cambridge, NY.

Views from the Hil 30 Views from the Hil 30

The what festival...

Cartoonist Hilary Allison adores your comments and can also be reached at hilaryallison@activist.cc.

Cambridge Life 6/3/02 Cambridge Life 6/3/02

There is so much happing in Cambridge, NY this weekend and over the month of June it's amazing.


Official Logo Design by Laura Reynolds

June 6-8, 2008 Cambridge Balloon Festival.

You can find a complete listing of events by visiting the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce or visiting their booth at the launches.

Here are some of the highlights:

Friday, June 6

8:30 a.m. Inflation Demonstration for elementary students at Cambridge Central School
Sponsored by Adirondack Trust Insurance
5:30 p.m. Official Opening Ceremonies at Cambridge Central School
Sponsored by Adirondack Broadcasting – Froggy Country 107.1 FM
7:00 p.m. 1st Balloon Launch at Cambridge Central School

Saturday, June 7

6:00 a.m. 2nd Balloon Launch at Cambridge Central School
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Balloon Festival 5K Road Race, Cambridge Central School Start & Finish
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Balloon Festival Classic Cycling Race, Broad Street Start & Finish
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Craft & Vendor Fair in VARAK Park, Cambridge Youth Commission
3 p.m.-8 p.m. Carnival Rides and Games, Cambridge Central School
7:00 p.m. 3rd Balloon Launch, Cambridge Central School

Sunday, June 8

6:00 a.m. 4th Balloon Launch at Cambridge Central School
2 p.m. Concert by The Cello Seminar – Music From Salem, Hubbard Hall, 25 East Main

You can also purchase a copy of this year's Official Balloon Festival Poster


Balloons Over Cambridge by Evan Wilson

Local musician and performance artist Athena Burke will be playing a fun 30 minute outdoor set from 3:30-4 PM this Saturday, June 7th during the Music and Entertainment Fair at Cambridge Guest Home Park behind the IGA, West Main St. Cambridge. You can sit outside, buy some delicious food and watch the music. Musicians will be performing from 12-5 PM. And it's free!!!

June 14, 2008

The Dance Program of Hubbard Hall invites you to an exhilarating program of works produced in the classes of Irish Step dance, Hip Hop, Jazz, Belly Dance & Fitness, Creative Movement, and ballet/tap as well as demonstrations of Foil and Tai Ji. Call 518-677-2495 for tickets.


June 20, 2008

Reserve your tickets to the show, WILD TRIBE, June 20th at Hubbard Hall! This unique performance of music, dance, drumming and song is an amazing experience. The audience is invited to participate and "get their groove on!" Get your tickets before it sells out!!! Call 518-677-2495 for reservations and tickets.

Sunday's in June is time to visit the Cambridge, NY Farmers' Market. Vendors are ready to sell their tasty items from 10 am - 2 pm, rain or shine. Come and support our local farm economy each and every Sunday throughout the summer.