The Gardener’s Weekend Committee of the The Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce – Spring 2012

Dear Community Member,

The blooms are forming on many of the lilacs we planted in the last few years as part of the effort to create an annual “Lilac Walk” here in Schuylerville.  It is exciting to see this project developing, and the cooperation, support and enthusiasm we continue to receive from the community is truly heartening.  This year’s Gardener’s Weekend will be held May 11^th and 12^th.   All of the details are available on the chamber website Schuylervillechamber.org. A Lilac walking tour map is available on the events page of the website and at Schuyler Sweets, Olde Saratoga Wine and Spirits, and Old Saratoga Books, all in the heart of the Village, and the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center.

THE PROGRAM CONTINUES…

Our goal is to make the Schuylerville Lilac Walk a Spring spectacle that will attract visitors from a wide area.  In order to fulfill this goal we need to expand our plantings each year.  We are looking for individuals and groups to sponsor new lilacs. We are asking for donations of  $50 for each dedicated planting .  The committee will take care of acquiring and installing all plantings, locations will be designated by consensus, and botanical markers will be installed.  The goal is to create a collection of true specimen plantings, duly marked so that this “walk” will appeal not only to those who simply admire the beauty of the annual lilac bloom, but also those who wish to observe the characteristics of a wide variety of cultivars to judge for their own planting purposes.

WON’T YOU JOIN US IN THIS GREAT COMMUNITY EFFORT?

Please contact Mary Roberts 168 West River Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871,  518 695 6923 mhrobert@nycap.rr.com. Please make checks out to “The Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce.”

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to our Lilac Sponsors and The Future Farmers of America from the Schuylerville Central School for their enthusiastic efforts in planting and maintenance.

Dr. Roger Hangarter, Professor of Biology at the University of Indiana and nationally known speaker, will give the featured presentation at the annual Gardener’s Weekend in Schuylerville on Saturday, May 12.

Dr. Hangarter is best known for his dynamic exhibit “Slowlife” which debuted at the National Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. in 2009.  His artistic presentation will open a window onto the almost imperceptible movements of plants that often go unnoticed by the casual observer.   Entitled Secrets in the Garden –“Plants: they whisper, they talk and even move!”, his talk will include
award-winning time-lapse photographs that formed the basis for his “Slowlife” Exhibition.

Dr. Hangarter will speak at 11:30 A.M. Gardener’s Weekend, always held on Mother’s Day weekend, celebrates the beauty of the lilac season.  Sponsored by the Schuylerville Chamber of Commerce and local garden centers, the two-day event includes talks and activities to appeal to gardeners of all ages and interests.

Perennial favorite Jeff Young, Curator of the University of Vermont Lilac Collection. will introduce the public to the “Lilacs of Schuylerville” with a virtual tour.  These lilacs include over 30 specimens that were planted throughout the village over the last four years.  Plants were sponsored by individuals or by one of Schuylerville’s civic or business organizations and planted by the Future Farmers of America from the Schuylerville Central School and the Schuyler Farms Garden Center.   Although still young, all the plants have buds and are ready to bloom.  Mr. Young’s virtual lilac tour will begin at 10 am with slides of each variety, capturing everything but their scent.

Saturday’s events begin at 9 A.M. at the Youth Center in Fort Hardy Park, Route 29 in Schuylerville.   In addition to the presentations by Dr. Hangarter and Mr Young, activities include a plant sale by the Schuylerville Garden Club, an opportunity for children to plant a surprise for Mother’s Day, a lilac sale, “Hands on Planting and Care of Lilacs” by Mr. Young at 1:30, crafters and other vendors.   Admission is free.  Tea and scones will be available for purchase from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M.

Gardeners Weekend concludes on Sunday with special sales and events at the four Schuylerville area garden shops: Schuyler Farms at 1124 Route 29, The Olde Saratoga Home and Garden Center, 934 Route 29, Phillips Garden Views, 1033 Route 29, and The Fish Creek Garden Shoppe, 33 Saratoga Street.

CONTACT:  Mary Roberts 518 695 6923 mhrobert@nycap.rr.com

Lilac lovers are encouraged to get to Schuylerville soon.  Any day now, over thirty lilac specimens will be in bloom in the Village of Schuylerville.    “How do you know when to come?  If lilacs are in bloom where you live, they’re in bloom here too,” is the advice of Mary Roberts initiator/coordinator of the “Lilac Walking Tour.” This entire project, sponsored by the Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce, is  a community effort to bring something unique to our area – a lilac collection and walking tour.

Each variety was chosen for its combination of color, floret shape, fragrance and bloom time under the direction of Jeff Young, curator of the Vermont Horticultural Farm collection.  The plantings were sponsored by individuals and Schuylerville’s civic and business organizations.  The Future Farmers of America from the Schuylerville Central School and the Schuyler Farms Garden Center did the planting and aid in the maintenance.

Lilacs originated in the Balkans and in Asia.  They are not native to North America, but came to this continent with its earliest settlers.  References to lilacs can be found in the writings of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  What is believed to be a lilac dating from the Revolutionary War is located at the Schuyler House in the Village. Since then there has been a tremendous amount of breeding new cultivars.

Maps of the Lilac Walking Tour are available at Schuyler Sweets, Olde Saratoga Wine and Spirits, and Old Saratoga Books, all in the heart of the Village, and the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center.

The Lilac Walking Tour grew out of the Gardener’s Weekend, held every year in Ft. Hardy Park on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend.   As part of the program this year Mr. Young will give a virtual tour of the Schuylerville lilacs, sharing interesting tidbits and lore of the many varieties on the tour, in addition to tips for planting and pruning.

The weekend will also be headlined by nationally known speaker, Dr. Roger Hangarter, Professor of Biology at Indiana University.    He will give his presentation, entitled Secrets in the Garden –“plants:  they whisper, they talk, they even move!”  at 11:30. “His stunning photographs will open a window onto the almost imperceptible movement of the plant world.  You won’t believe what you never noticed,” concluded Mary Roberts.

Maps of the Lilac Walking Tour, and information on the 2-day Gardener’s Weekend  and plant sale can be found at www.schuylervillechamber.org.

CONTACT:  Mary  Roberts for more information: 518 695 6923 mhrobert@nycap.rr.com.

Does this warmer weather make you think of Spring?  It will be time to plant before we know it.  Start planning your gardens now so you will be ready to purchase your plants during Schuylerville’s annual Gardeners Weekend, May 12th – May 13th 2012.  There will be informative talks and other exciting activites.  Check back as the details continue to grow!

Village of Schuylerville expands home repair grant program to include owner-occupied rental units.

The Village of Schuylerville is proud to announce the continued availability of housing rehabilitation grant funds through the NYS Office of Homes and Community Renewal.

Income eligible homeowners residing in the Village of Schuylerville can receive grant assistance to address health, safety and energy efficiency issues. In addition, owner-occupied 1 to 4 unit rental properties are
now eligible for grant funds. All village homeowners are encouraged to apply.

Grant funds are typically used to repair or replace heating systems, roofs or electrical wiring, as well as upgrading windows, doors and insulation to make homes more energy efficient.

Applications are available from the Village Office at 35 Spring Street, Schuylerville or online at www.marvinandcompany.com.

For more information please contact Marvin & Company at 518-695-3344 .

Come join us for a Dutch Tradition in Schuylerville on Saturday December 3rd.  St. Nicolaas will arrive on his white horse and lead a children’s lantern walk with caroling through the village to light the village Christmas tree.  Families should gather at the corner of Broad & Spring Streets where lanterns will be distributed.  St. Nicolaas will arrive at 4:15pm – Childrens Lantern Walk at 4:25pm – Tree lighting ceremony at 5pm.  This event is sponsered by the Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Other events this weekend include the Lighting of the Memory Trees on Friday December 2nd at 6pm and the Festival of Trees on Saturday December 3rd from 10am to 4pm at the Saratoga Town Hall.  Besides the lovely trees there will be a story and crafts for the children.  Please see the events calendar for more details

The Dutch tradition of St. Nicolaas is a blend of many legends from different parts of the world.  Wherever he is known there are tales of the kindness and protection he gives especially to children, sailors and the poor.  The Dutch account tells of St. Nicolaas arriving from Spain on a steamboat bringing with him his white horse and his many mischievous helpers who are called Piets.

Youngsters believe that his horse will carry St. Nicolaas over the rooftops to listen at the chimneys.  This is his clever way of finding out who has been naughty and who has been nice.  On the evening of St. Nicolaas children leave their wooden shoes near the fireplace along with carrots ro hay for St. Nicolaas’ horse.  It is the job of the Piets to climb down the chimney, gather up the snacks and fill the little shoes with treats to be discovered the next morning.  The trip through the chimneys cover the Piets with black soot while St. Nicolaas’ red robes stay spotless and brilliant.

S.A.F.E.R.

Schuylerville Area Food and Emergency Relief, Inc.

12 Spring Street

Schuylerville, NY 12871

November 2011

Dear Christmas Community Fund Donor,

This letter is being sent to introduce you to our organization and to explain briefly our recently established association with the Christmas Community Fund.

S.A.F.E.R., Inc., a nonprofit, is a combination of two of Schuylerville’s longstanding community outreach programs– the food bank, in operation for more than 30 years at the Old Saratoga Reformed Church, and the Greater Schuylerville Community Emergency Fund. In June 2010, S.A.F.E.R. incorporated and relocated to a central location behind the Saratoga Town Hall and next to the Schuylerville  Central School complex on Spring Street. It is governed by a 17-member board, serves residents of the Schuylerville Central School District, and has 501(c)3 status pending. S.A.F.E.R. is affiliated with the Northeast Regional Food Bank.

In the past, the Christmas Community Fund (CCF) has served select Schuylerville  Central School District families with holiday food boxes and toys made possible by monetary, food, and toy donations from local families and businesses. Effective this 2011 holiday season, the food effort of the Fund has been acquired by S.A.F.E.R.  The treasuries of S.A.F.E.R. and the CCF will continue to maintain separate entities, ensuring that all donations made specific to the Christmas Community Fund food drive will serve that specific purpose.

The toy drive has been acquired by the National Honor Society of the Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School under their “Caring & Sharing” Program.   If you would like to support this effort, you can send your contribution to:   Schuylerville Central School  District, “Caring and Sharing”, 14 Spring Street, Schuylerville, N.Y.  12871, Attn:  Pam Driscoll.  Checks should be made out to:  “Caring & Sharing”

It will be S.A.F.E.R.’s pleasure to carry on the hard work and good will of the previous Christmas Community Fund volunteers. Donations for the CCF food boxes may be sent to: Christmas Community Fund, 60 Ferry Street, Schuylerville,  NY 12871, Attn: M. Sherman-Czuhanich.  Your check should be made out to:  Christmas Community Fund

Thank you for your attention, your consideration.

Sincerely,

S.A.F.E.R. Board of Directors

S.A.F.E.R. CCF Food Drive Committee Members:

Martha Sherman-Czuhanich, 695-4867, meshermc@nycap.rr.com

Denise Zdobnikow, 695-3582, nzdobnik@nycap.rr.com

Jan Peterson, 695-3054, KJPThree@wildblue.net

Rev. Joyce de Velder 695-3260  joycedv@nycap.rr.com

Last year, SCT sponsored the village Memory Trees, decorated trees in honor of loved ones and displayed on the lawn of the town hall. They were very well received by the community and visitors to the village. For the 2011 holiday season, there will be a total of 18 trees available for purchase. Trees are available for $40 each and will be in place on the lawn and ready for decorating during the Thanksgiving Weekend. A tree lighting ceremony will take place on Friday evening, Dec. 2nd at 6:00pm on the front lawn of the Town Hall memorializing the loved ones honored by the trees. They will remain lit every evening during the month of December until the weekend of January 7th. A reception will follow the tree lighting ceremony in the Schuyler Room of the Town Hall and guests will be invited to an early preview of the Festival of Trees and Craft Fair. Anyone interested in purchasing a memory tree for 2011 should contact Anna Welfley at 695-4732 or annawelfley@yahoo.com to reserve a tree.

Schuylerville Community Theatre is looking for volunteers to decorate artificial lighted Christmas trees with decorations of your choice to be displayed at the Festival of Trees on December 3rd at the Saratoga Town Hall. Trees for decorating are available from SCT or can be purchased and donated by the volunteers. Trees will be received between 6 PM Thursday evening until Friday at 3 PM at the Town Hall in preparation for the Festival. All trees will be available for purchase with proceeds to benefit the SCT Production Fund. If interested in participating in the Festival of Trees by decorating a tree, please contact Michele Peters at 695-5332 or Lorraine Thompson at 695-3349.