It’s Not Too Cold for Ice Cream

he ice cream cone cutout has disappeared from the Not My Dad’s sign for the winter and the benches are stacked up in front of Trimmer’s, but Cayuga Lake Creamery in Interlaken still has its doors open for those seeking ice cream.

The creamery, which opened five years ago this April, has shortened hours and is closed a few days a week during the winter but remains open all year long. Judy Gonroff, owner, said things definitely slow down during the colder months but people still come in, especially on sunny days. Local wineries help by sending people who are looking for food to the creamery, she said.

“Even though it’s not tourist time they still come,” Gonroff said. “On the weekend Route 89 is still fairly busy.”

Cayuga, Seneca Wine Trail Host Winter Party

Events where people can hop from one winery on the Cayuga Wine Trail to the next for a day or weekend aren’t out of the ordinary. But an event that doesn’t require a ticket and includes wineries on the Cayuga Trail, the Seneca Wine Trail and vineyards not affiliated with either trail only happens once a year. The seventh annual Between the Lakes Winter Wine Party will be held from 11 am until 5 pm on January 10.

The party is partly the brainchild of Kip Kalfs, manager of the tasting room at Sheldrake Point Vineyard, and isn’t an official Cayuga Wine Trail event.

“It started about seven years ago when me and the former manager at Knapp Winery were talking and saying that there’s nothing [in the winter] to let the people know that we’re still open and the wineries still exist,” he said.

The party now features 31 wineries along Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Kalfs said every winery between Ventosa Vineyards and Atwater Estate Vineyards on the Seneca Trail and between Montezuma Winery and Americana Vineyards on Cayuga is participating this year.

Romulus Bans Puppy Mills

The Town of Romulus passed a moratorium banning the building or expansion of large-scale commercial breeding facilities, which are notorious for breeding sick and poorly socialized dogs. Since then, the town has received congratulations from several humane associations for its efforts and has formed a sub-committee to lay out the final ruling on breeding facilities.

David Kaiser, Town of Romulus supervisor, said the town has gotten “pats on the back” from the New York State Humane Association Legislation Committee and from Animal Rights Mobilization.

“These dog breeding facilities have been known to lead to all sorts of problems with their puppies,” he said. “[The organizations] were just commending the town for their sensitivity to large scale breeding.”

An Eye for the Camera

Photos of flames, sunsets and trees; close ups of spiderwebs on a fence corner; dramatic lighting hitting martini glasses and crystal balls give patients in the Trumansburg Optical waiting room something to look at. Like most art displayed in local shops, the 11 photographs on the wall are for sale and three have already been claimed. Unlike most local artists though, this photographer is only in high school.

Sara Oros, a junior at Charles O. Dickerson High School, began taking photographs three years ago but said things really took off in the past year. Oros opened her first show in early December in Trumansburg Optical on Main Street.

“I’ve really been enjoying photography and thought it’d be fun to share [it],” she said.

It’s Not the 7-11

Bright yellow signs on the door and front desk of the Ulysses Philomathic Library hint at the library’s recent misfortunes. “No cash kept on the premise overnight” is a new policy after two separate burglaries cost the library $100 in cash and more in damages.

On November 1, following a library function, somebody walked through the unlocked door and took about $70 from the late fees box, said William McAneny, president of the library board of trustees.

“Our annual library diner was being held across the street and there were a lot of people going back and for and somebody failed to lock up,” he said. “It was a crime of opportunity.”

Stella’s Barn Expanding

Terry Ferrara originally opened Stella’s Barn, on Route 13, as a county gift shop to see if the location would draw traffic. Now that she has a steady flow of customers stopping by. Ferrara is shifting Stella’s focus from gift shop and restaurant to more of a calm place for food and a few drinks, complete with dining rooms, a new bar and lounge and a private party room in the works.

“It will be more of a full service restaurant, which is what the customers have been saying they want,” Ferrara said.

About three months ago Ferrara added a Sunday brunch menu to Stella’s line-up. The country buffet has classics like sausage and gravy but the restaurant also serves savory items like stuffed French toast. Ferrara said she never planned on serving breakfast but it has been a hit.

School Building Aid Rises with Drop in Local Incomes

The Newfield Central School District Board of Education had a short meeting on Thursday, November 7. The board appointed several new people to positions in the district and received a capital project update from Superintendent William Hurley.

Hurley reported that despite the state’s fiscal crisis, state building aid to the district has increased. The district’s relative poverty has increased, pushing building aid to almost 96 percent.

Because of the increase, the district will be unable to use its $40,000 state Excel aide on the capital project. Hurley said the district might be able to fund a side project with the money.

Schools to Share Software

Underlining text in Microsoft Word is simple, you just click the U button. But what if you want the line to be green and dotted? The Atomic Learning software now available through the Newfield Central School District teaches that skill and thousands of others through quick video demonstrations.

Last month the district subscribed to the online tutorial service that covers 110 popular computer programs with more than 35,000 video lessons. The company is designed specifically for students and teachers but “anybody who pays taxes in Newfield” can use the site. Paul Lutwak, director of informational and instructional technologies at the school, said community availability is an extra perk.

“[Atomic Learning] said when you buy it for the school they’d throw it in for the community also,” he said.

Student Drivers Learn Street Survival

A teenage driver speeds down the road, going 60 miles an hour. She suddenly switches from the left lane to the far right; overshooting the lane she takes out four or five bright orange cones, sending some flying and dragging others under the car. Luckily, this time instead of hitting cars or construction equipment, people laugh, put the cones back and she gets another chance. Thirty young drivers, ranging from the just-licensed to 21-year-olds, attended a Street Survival driving school on November 8 at Watkins Glen International.

Street Survival was founded by the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) Foundation to teach kids how to handle their own cars in high-pressure situations, said Seth Berlfein, of the Genesee Valley Chapter.

“Basically it’s a car control clinic,” he said. “Whereas drivers ed teaches students how to drive a car, we teach them how to handle a car and avoid accidents.”

Village Approves Fire Truck Buy

The Village of Trumansburg Board of Trustees approved two major purchases for the fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) at its meeting on Monday, November 10. The board approved the use of $474,000 from the fire department’s reserve fund for a new truck. It also gave the department approval to purchase a brand new defibulator, monitor and charger.

The fire department will be replacing a 24-year old truck. The new truck, to be delivered in the fall, would cost $499,712 with all the optional features but Jason Fulton, fire chief, said $451,895 is a more likely figure. Because this truck is overdue for replacement, the department’s schedule is off and another truck is due to be replaced in 2010. Fulton asked bidding companies to also include price quotes for the second truck if both are replaced at the same time, but the board opted to purchase only the original truck at this time.

The village’s EMS is also in need of replacement equipment as its monitor, defibulator and charging unit will no longer be upgradeable after next year. The village opted to purchase a brand new unit, costing $19,598. The new batteries are lighter and will last for 20 hours compared to the two-hour life of the current batteries.