Wednesday, July 14 The 2010 Tiffany Summer Concert Series at Noon and Art Market
11 AM – 2 PM Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson St., with organist Hans Hielscher
of Wiesbaden, Germany. Hans has been the principal organist at the Marktkirche
(Lutheran Cathedral) in Wiesbaden, Germany for more than 30 years. He has played for
more than 2800 organ recitals in five continents, including 39 tours across the US. This
concert will be played on the Chapel’s historic Steere & Turner organ. This event is free
and open to the public. Donations accepted. (315) 252-0339 In addition, there will be a
used book sale sponsored by the Literacy Volunteers of America from 10 am to 4 pm.

New Broadway Series Debuts at Springside Inn

Springside Inn and restaurant, owned and operated by Sean Lattimore, plays host to Broadway productions for this new premiere. Tony Award-winning actress Donna McKechnie, celebrated vocalist Julie Budd, and Keith Thompson’s “Kooky Tunes” are among the scheduled performers for the debut season of the Broadway Series.

The new dinner theater series is dedicated to the memory of Auburn native Thommie Walsh, the late two-time Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner. Walsh directed all three performances before passing in June 2007.

Three women have come together to serve as the series’ producers: A Chorus Line legend Baayork Lee, director/choreographer Merete Muenter and Barbara Walsh, sister of the late Thommie Walsh.

The charismatic members of “Kooky Tunes” – a “must-see” according to Billboard – include Patrick DeGennaro, Vanessa A. Jones, Perry Payne, Jay Rogers, and Keith Thompson who will present their own special mélange of comic tales and tunes.
Tony Award and Drama Desk winner Donna McKechnie will bring her one-woman show to the series after sold out performances in London.
A sublime fixture on the New York cabaret season, Julie Budd is renowned for her unique style, show-stopping voice and unforgettable cabaret show.
The first show was “Kooky Tunes,” followed by Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie on April 9th and 10th. The series concludes with celebrated songstress Julie Budd, on April 23rd and 24th.

All tickets are $85, and the price includes dinner, dessert, tax, tip and the performance. Tickets can be purchased online from the Springside Inn website.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Winifred Coleman Community Lecture Series 7:00 pm at
The Athenaeum of Skaneateles, 150 E. Genesee St. 7:00 PM. Become one of
Cazenovia College’s lifelong learners by joining us for an evening of “connecting
through conversation.” The lectures, featuring faculty from Cazenovia College,
will be informative and entertaining. The events are open to the public and free of
charge. Please call me if you have any questions! 315-685-1400.

Wednesday, July 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 Winifred Coleman Community Lecture Series 7
pm at The Athenaeum of Skaneateles, 150 E. Genesee St. Become one of
Cazenovia College’s lifelong learners by joining us for an evening of “connecting
through conversation.” The lectures, featuring faculty from Cazenovia College,
will be informative and entertaining.

Co-authors of the Adirondack Kids book series to make an appearance at Creekside for 1st annual Local Children’s Author Day, Saturday May 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pm.

[Skaneateles, NY]  Creekside Books & Coffee announces that Gary and Justin VanRiper, Father and son co-authors of the well-known Adirondack Kids book series will make an appearance at Creekside’s first local children’s author day on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 pm.  Creekside will be their first venue to introduce the ninth book in the Adirondack Kids series, Legend of the Lake Monster.

“The Adirondack Kids series has been incredibly popular with our young readers; especially during the summer months.  We are so excited to be hosting the Van Riper’s again and we are looking forward to seeing and hearing about their newest release in the series,” says Erika Davis, owner of Creekside Books & Coffee.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The VanRiper’s
Justin VanRiper is an award-winning children’s book author.  He is currently a freshman at Houghton College and has plans to become a high school English teacher.  He enjoys snowboarding; hiking, wowing his friends and strangers with card tricks (hand him a deck at a book-signing and see what happens!); acting, writing and is a drummer for his church’s worship team. 
Gary VanRiper, Justin’s dad, is an award-winning journalist, photo-journalist and children’s book author. His photographs have appeared in numerous publications over the years including Birders’ World, Wildbird, The Conservationist, Farm & Ranch Living, New York Alive, Guideposts, Modern Photography and Petersen’s Photographic. For seven years, he co-published a local community newspaper, The Camden Times & Beach Journal. He is currently the full time senior pastor of Camden Wesleyan Church in Camden, New York.  On his “days off”, his wife, Carol, has him speaking to children in public and private schools and at libraries throughout New York state about the importance of reading.

Julie Cummins is the author of many children’s titles including Country Kid, City Kid and her most recent, Women Daredevils, in which Cummins profiles 14 women ranging in age from 15-63 who, between 1880 and 1929, performed death-defying acts guaranteed to generate thrills and chills and to challenge myths about the proper place of women. Stories have always been an important part of Julie’s life, both true and imagined.  She is a former children’s librarian and now writes children’s books

Marsha Hayles & Donna Farrell make up the author/illustrator team of Here’s a Cheer for Our Childfirst Day. 

Marsha Hayles is the author of several picture books, including He Saves the Day, The Feathered Crown, Pajamas Anytime, and the upcoming Bunion Burt. She also writes poetry for young people and just sold a novel called Breathing Room for mid-grade readers. She is a frequent guest speaker at schools and libraries where she talks to young people about the joy of working—and playing—with words.

Donna Farrell’s lively illustrations capture the fun and spirit of childhood. Her own whimsical, wonderful children inspired her art for her first picture book—Here’s a Cheer for Our Childfirst Day. Donna has created colorful art for everything from gift bags to stickers, from school room decorations to art for mass market publishers. In her interactive school and library presentations, Donna brings art to life as she and her audience create playful characters and creatures together.
Elizabeth Hurley, resident of Skaneateles, has recently authored her first children’s book, Digging Spring.  Elisabeth Hurley was born and raised in Germany. She graduated from Fordham University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature and a Master of Science degree in Education. For an independent study she received special honors. A passionate reader with a love for the written word, she has collected children’s books from different time periods. By writing a book for children, the author fulfilled a long-time dream. Her recent retirement gave her the free time to let her imagination take full reign. Picturing her granddaughter and niece, both of kindergarten age, helped immensely. Yet, Elisabeth’s own love of nature was the start and focus of the story. 

Irene Uttendorfsky love of history and story led to her desire to share history with children as an author of historical fiction. Three historical fiction novels written for middle grade and young adult readers have been published by Spruce Gulch Press: A Punkeyville Girl: A Tale of Old Forestport and the Canals, Hannah and the Two Sisters: An Erie Canal Adventure and When Thunder Rolls, A Story of the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. Her early chapter book, Adirondack Mouse and the Perilous Journey was selected as the 2006 Best Children9s Book by the Adirondack Center for Writing.  Irene is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Adirondack Center for Writing.  Irene and her husband reside in Lewis County, NY.

Elizabeth Weinstein is the author of Shakespeare with Children, a book written for educators that includes six scripts for young players.  Bruce Coville writes of Weinstein’s work, “Elizabeth Weinstein has created an amazing resource for teachers who want to introduce their students to the richness and wonder of the Bard.” Elizabeth lives with her husband and two children in Tully, New York, where she first developed and wrote these scripts for local elementary school productions. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Carleton College and a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota, and writes both fiction and nonfiction.  Elizabeth will be bringing a few young performers with her to this event to entertain the audience using the Shakespearean scripts from her book.

Ann Lee Yankel is the author of Jake in the Box, a story about a young boy and his family who were forced to live in poverty during the Great Depression and learned to overcome many hardships.  Ann has been artist all of her life but also loves to write for children.  She has received many awards, including three national first place prizes for the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Ann lives in a rural area in upstate New York and has reared seven children and many cats and dogs.

“Most of these children’s authors have not been to Creekside yet so we are looking forward to welcoming them and hope that many will come out to experience this gathering of local talent,” says Davis.  “Each visitor to this event will be proud to have connections to Central New York, and will want to learn more from these amazing authors.”
Creekside Books & Coffee is located at 35 Fennell Street in Skaneateles.  The bookstore is the only retail store in the village selling new hardcover and paperback books as well as toys, gifts, greeting cards and other merchandise. The coffeehouse features the freshest roasted coffee in town, a light fare menu and a pleasant atmosphere to relax and enjoy.