It's Not Just About Backpacks

Zucchini Around Keuka

Experience the Hammondsport Festival of Crafts

Stewards of the Past - The Weston Schoolhouse

Steuben County Fair ... A Tradition

Welcome to Keuka Roots, my little corner in the universe. As many know, Keuka Lake is nestled in theheart of the Finger Lakes. I was born in Penn Yan on the northern tip of Keuka but spent my childhood in Steuben County, about 15 miles from the southern end of the lake. This is where my roots were planted, though looking back, I didn’t realize how deep they were. After raising my children, I was hit with a gypsy spirit and some would say I ran away from home, landing in Nashville, TN. I’ll admit it was a bit of a culture shock at first for this small-town gal. I’m not sure if it was my mid-life crisis or if I was just totally naïve that I believed I could jump right into the production end of the entertainment world with zero experience, but I did. My first production job was on Tanya Tucker’s realty show, Tuckerville as an Associate Producer. I literally googled what the position entailed after I got it! From there, I wrote and produced a documentary on homelessness in Nashville that aired multiple times on the local CBS affiliate. After we finished the documentary, I got the music bug and produced a weekly multi-genre music show for a bit. From there I was introduced to a wonderful woman who had a small publishing company, and I became her marketing and publicity director. One of my greatest pleasures there was orchestrating the marketing and publicity for the Oak Ridge Boys’, Joe Bonsall, and his book, “From My Perspective.” (On a side note, don’t let zero experience stop you. Sometimes just believing you can and a willingness to try is all you need!) I’ll be forever grateful for my time in Music City. The people I met, the friendships that developed, and the experiences I had will forever be a part of me. It was a very different life. One far from the small towns that surround Keuka, hundreds of miles from my children and their own ever-growing families. Hundreds of miles from my roots. I’ve heard it said, “you can’t go back,” and honestly the thought of coming home was actually scarier than the decision to leave. Yet I found the changes subtle. The roads I had traveled since childhood were here, with merely a new coating of pavement. You could still kick up dust on old dirt backroads. Many of my tried-and-true favorite places still operated exactly the same as they did 10 years before I left. Family farms encompassed acres of land, with cattle and livestock grazing. And the corn was knee high by the 4 th of July just like my dad had told me for decades. Our Mennonite neighbors still traveled by horse and buggy. Corning remained the home of Corning Incorporated, and they were still blowing molten glass into beautiful works of art at the Corning Museum of Glass. The changes that had come somehow embraced the spirit of Keuka and added even more charm to the place I call home. Wine Country took on a new meaning, as more wineries appeared. A mix of breweries and distilleries followed suit. What perfect sense it made, after all we are a county rich in working the land. New restaurants brought us farm to table and international delights that our tastebuds savor. The ways of yesterday met today with grace and harmony. Perhaps the biggest change was seeing how rapidly the Finger Lakes were becoming a tourist destination, and for those of us who call Keuka Lake ours, it was no different. The world has discovered what locals always knew, and over the years our visitors became friends. If you’re a local, you know … we all lay claim to Keuka Lake. She is ours, whether you live on her shores, overlooking her from a hillside or live down the road or over the hills 10, 20 or 30 miles. She is our gem. With her distinctive Y-shape and warmer waters, she is as unique as us who live here. It’s where we go to swim, fish, boat or simply picnic beside her. Keuka Lake is the heart of the Finger Lakes because she is our heart. So here I am, I have come full circle, rediscovering and embracing my roots. I’m thrilled to announce that I will be freelance writer for the KeukaSun.com, while blogging my way around the heart of the Finger Lakes and having the time of my life! What will you find here on Keuka Roots? A hodge podge of life. A blend of culture, lifestyle and homespun stories. You will meet chefs, winemakers, brewers and keepers of our history. I will feature the best eats, drinks, places to go, and “not to miss” events from Keuka to Corning and the communities in between. We will sit down to talk with local artists, authors, and musicians, who help color our world. You’ll go down country roads to meet farmers and homesteaders. I’ll be hopping over to explore the northern tip of Keuka in Yates County, with its rich Mennonite community and, of course, we will stop by Seneca Farms! There will be feature articles on locals who make our communities a sweeter place to live. I am always open to suggestions! Whether you are a local or one of our treasured visitors, If you have a favorite spot you’d like me to check out, an event that is a “must” to cover, or even a homespun tale, shoot me an email and let’s chat. It is never too late to rediscover one’s roots!