Town Shop Youth Center

After a busy and successful summer schedule that filled the calendar right up to the doorstep of Labor Day weekend, the Town Shop will be mostly shut down from September 8 to October 5 (reopens 4pm) so that staff can vacate, recreate, and rejuvenate. There will be some activities in September… Seva every Wednesday (Samaritan Center) at 3pm, Chenango Colorscape Arts Fest September 12 and possibly 13, kayak down Onondaga Creek on Sunday, October 4 (an urban adventure). Contact Cheryl or David at 635-6495 if interested. A rich and robust autumn schedule will be posted soon and will include more seva opportunities (Samaritan Center and Sunshine Horse Rescue), dodgeball, Town Shop overnight, “Eating our way around the world” (Chinese), apple picking, autumn hiking along the Finger Lakes trail and Chimney Bluffs, more kayak trips, and a weekend trip to the Big Apple (NYC). Stay Tuned!

Meanwhile…

Former Town Shop participant and longtime friend Travis Sky Ingersoll has been busy. A few years ago he bought a home in Philadelphia, married Mindy Massaro (Director of International Studies at LaSalle University) this past July, has acquired two masters degrees and is close to earning his PHD from Widener University, and has created an online business that raises money for worthwhile youth development programs. Check it out, and start to peruse your own book collection. Later this year the Town Shop may organize a book drive as a fundraiser.

Well, it took us awhile to plan it all out but this is a longer summer than usual (school doesn’t restart until September 8th), plus it was important to carefully consider staff capacities in the midst of knee replacement surgery recovery. That’s a long process.

The building will be open Mondays and Tuesdays 4-10pm, unless otherwise posted. Summer building hours are greatly reduced to allow for a variety of quality outdoor experiences.

A Few Highlights

• Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Mondays
• Kayak (South Sandy Creek) 7/16, 8/9, 8/29
• Kayak (Seneca River) 8/3
• Kayak (Tioughnioga River) 9/1
• Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Tuesdays 6:30pm
• Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
• Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 7/18
• Green Lakes State Park 7/9, 7/21, 7/30, 8/25
• Taughannock Falls/Blue Sky Mission Club Concert (Blue Sky Mission Club) 8/1
• Ithaca Gorges 8/27
• Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 7/23-7/26
• Whale Watch 2009 8/15-8/20

Cheryl is slowly but surely recovering from May 26 knee replacement surgery, and the Town Shop is reopened with an abbreviated June schedule (July and August will be loaded with experiences).

A Few Highlights

• Building opens at 4pm and closes at 10pm, Mondays and Tuesdays, but is closed during volleyball.
• Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Mondays
• Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Tuesdays 6:30pm
• Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
• Picnic (Onondaga Lake Park) 6/11, 6/18 3:30pm
• Picnic (Green Lakes State Park) 6/25 12pm
• Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 6/13, 6/20 9am
• Chimney Bluffs State Park 6/28
• Kayak (South Sandy Creek) 7/2 10am

Coming This Summer

Falcon Ridge 2009 July 23-26, Whale Watch 2009 August 18-23, Ithaca Gorges, more South Sandy Creek trips, moonlight hikes, lots of volleyball, kayaking, and seva opportunities.

Congratulations to White Picket Fence for all their success in 2009 starting with Top Ten list and culminating with two Sammy Awards! Good people get what they deserve.

This year saw a great turnout for Earth Day. We say thank you to the following people:

• Mikey Stephenson
• Billy Stephenson
• Cassidy Elhage
• Abby Moynihan
• Ashley Dening
• Monika Vanderkloet

• Nicole Cunningham
• Chris Newton
• Mike Pekala
• Trevor Grant
• Sahra Roberts
• Amanda Doxtetor

• Sam Stamp
• Melissa Stepien
• Kira Caputo
• Tabby Hill
• John Spears

• Adults
• Frank Carroll
• David Vermilya
• Cheryl Vermilya
• Al Chamberlain

Special thanks goes to Mike Pekala, Trevor Grant, Sahra Roberts, and Amanda Doxtetor for volunteering four years in a row! Amazing!

As central New York weather warms, the Town Shop shifts program focus from indoor activities to outdoor experiences.

A Few Highlights

• Rosamund Gifford Zoo Date: 4/14 12pm
• Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Date: 4/16 12pm
• Eating Our Way Around The World Date: 4/17 12pm
  Next stop, Puerto Rican food at Don Juan Café!
• Vegetarian Cooking Class Date: 4/23 6pm
  Pierogies & Potato Cabbage Soup with guest cook Nikki Cunningham.
• Earth Day Date: 4/25 9am
  A Seva opportunity, rain or shine, plus Mexican food after at El Canelo.
• Hiking (Highland Forest) Date: 4/26 12pm
• Dodgeball Tournament (Shove Park) Date: 4/30 6-9pm
• Seva (Samaritan Center) Date: Wednesdays 3pm
• Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) Date: Saturdays 9am
• Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Date: 5/4, 5/11, 5/18
• Kayak (Onondaga Creek) Date: 5/17
• Kayak (Clyde River) Date: 5/23
• Kayak (Sterling River) Date: 5/31
• Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Date: Tuesdays 6:30pm
• Picnic (Onondaga Lake Park) Date: Thursdays 3:30pm
• Classic Movie Night Date: 5/28 6pm

Cheryl is scheduled for knee replacement surgery on May 26th and will be in recovery for many weeks after. This will significantly impact Town Shop scheduling for June. Check the site for updates.