Fall 2013
Music Fills the Air
We are fortunate to have some of the best local musicians delighting our audiences at Amberation’s Fall Festivals. Bob Lyna uses the hard edge side of folk-rock to attract a loyal following in and around Central New York. His wit puts any audience at ease plus he jams with a wide variety of musicians. Look for him to trade solos with most of the other artists present.
The Salt Potatoes is a quartet led by our musical director Harvey Nusbaum. They cover jazz, traditional fiddling (Irish and American), rock, contemporary folk, you name it. Somehow it all comes out with the unique Salt Potatoes sound, irreverent and serious at the same time.
Since 2004 The Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble has played traditional dance music from Zimbabwe on seven marimbas (soprano through bass) and one hosho (aka maracas). Don’t miss them. They have a mellow steel drum sound with different grooves drifting in and out while the melody ties the musical lines together. You’ve just got to hear them.
New to our festival this year is Casual Plaid. What a coup to have this band while they’re still starting out. Their energy is genuine and they expertly apply it to bluegrass and the folkier side of pop. Well known to classmates and parents at Marcellus High School, we are so happy to have them join our line up.
Prepare for an afternoon of talent you won’t want to miss...from start to finish Sunday, October 6th from 1 - 5 at the Otisco Lake Community Center, 2223 Amber Road Marietta, NY.
Gazebo
For years Amberations has dreamed of some sort of covered gathering place in our upper fields. This summer we achieved that goal with the christening of our gazebo.
Anne and Paul Brittenham constructed the eight sided structure with naturally rot resistant, locally harvested, black locust logs.
The roof was constructed by Tim Longmore, the same contractor who supplied our wood and the only one willing to take on the challenge of an eight sided roof on our natural artistry.
Tully Building Supply was kind enough to donate the shingles for our project, an assortment of shades that proved to be the perfect topper for this natural refuge.
Volunteers pulled through to complete the roofing job (see Birds & Bees) and with our leftover shingles we realized yet another of our dreams, a wheelchair accessible path.
Be sure to come and see for yourself, it’s a great place to relax. Our fire pit has been moved to this location and we enjoyed many great campfires this summer.
Dog lovers, there is a wading pool for thirsty dogs a stone’s throw away (under the tree by the giraffe).
Message from the Treasurer
Amberations is the visionary creation of two families; the Wileys and the Brittenhams. It is supported by wonderful and generous-hearted individuals who appreciate the concept of creating a nature experience for people of all abilities. The Fall Festival and Spring Bike Race are great events that help to support our cause but they do not adequately sustain us financially.
Amberations has a budget of about $6,000.00 a year. We spend roughly $2,500 a year on
animal feed and care and about $1000.00 yearly on upkeep and improvements of our grounds and buildings. Insurance is almost $2,000 a year. In addition we have expenses for incidentals like postage and printing, treasures for our chest, tools, etc. The construction of our beautiful new gazebo was made possible entirely by the kindness of
anonymous donors. We are fortunate that the Wileys charge no rent for the use of their property but our expenses are still exceeding our income.
You, our individual supporter, can help us become more sustainable. Please consider adopting an animal, making a pledge, or sending a donation.
— Diana Green, Treasurer
How YOU Can Help
At Amberations we always can use help. People often ask what they can do. As this letter goes to print here are a few ideas. Hopefully some of these tasks will be completed in the very near future, possibly you have suggestions we haven’t thought of. The main idea is that Amberations is here for you to enjoy and in turn we need you to help keep it going.
Small & Medium jobs:
• Rocks & sticks in the pasture need to be picked up
• Branches need trimming almost everywhere
• Picnic table near barn needs to be replaced
• Sign for barn needs to be rebuilt
• Mowing/raking/shoveling
• Lay shingles to create more paths in upper fields
• Garden needs more fencing put up
• Paths need upkeep
• Outhouse needs to be lifted/leveled
• We always need help with animal care
• Endless small carpentry jobs
• Help with outreach/greeting visitors
Big jobs:
• Cut down two trees behind barn
• Level area for composting toilet
• Build a pond
• Solar panels installed on little roof on “duck shed”
B.I.K.E. Syracuse
One of the highlights of this past summer has been the visits of the kids from B.I.K.E. Syracuse.
These kids are enthusiastic and hard workers who thoroughly enjoy all they do. They cleared the highly overgrown garden plot, put up fencing and fed the animals, who love their visits almost as much as this group loves to visit.
Next year we are hoping for more volunteers to help this group maintain and expand our garden site.
Contact us if you are interested. Come see for yourself — it’s a great place to relax.
Thanks
Thank you once again to all who contributed to and supported our bike race last spring. Special thanks goes out to Mary Sager and all the volunteers who prepared food, registered bikers, recorded times and drove the chase cars.
Thank you to Tim Wiley for keeping our upper fields mowed. They look beautiful.
Birds and Bees
Birds and bees and butterflies weren't the only thing in the air at Amberations on June 8th, 2013. Love, laughter, and champagne bubbles were also abundant as Joe Dillabough and Sarah Schwartz were married by Gloria Wiley in the first ever wedding at Amberations.
Many hands went into making this event an astounding success. Thanks go out to Barb Root, Chaz Cassidy, Tim, Gloria, and John Wiley, Chuck Kronen, Karen, Sarah and Paul Schwartz, and Joe Dillabough for slapping roofing tiles on the gazebo just days before the tents arrived. Less than twenty-four hours prior to the wedding, the father of the bride was perched at the very tip of the structure, painting on roofing tar, while the rest of us argued over the best roof topper. The motorcycle rotor won out. The results must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Using local materials, Wendy Brooks, Paul and Karen Schwartz, and Tim and John Wiley all helped construct the rustic and whimsical wedding alter. Gloria Wiley used her impressive chain saw abilities just hours before the ceremony to make the tree-trunk podium. Even the heavy-handed June rain gods helped out by allowing the “kiss” to happen before joining the festivities.
Although the Champagne bubbles have long ago dispersed, the memories and the love still linger, Amberations will always be a magical place for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dillabough.
Volunteer Spotlight
Amberations is enjoying the efforts of two new volunteers this year. Tyler Knapp and Stephanie Dexter are Tully High School graduates that live in close proximity to our barn and have taken over some of the nightly feedings.
Tyler, who is passionate about the outdoors and the environment, is currently in his last year at SUNY-ESF where he is majoring in Wildlife Science.
Stephanie is a senior at Cortland where she is studying Psychology. She would love a job working with children someday.
What do you like most about feeding the animals?
“We love interacting with the animals, especially Joe! We both work on a farm and we love caring for animals.”
What motivated you to volunteer at Amberations?
“We wanted to help Gloria out and we visit Amberations a ton so why not help out a good organization. We love the idea behind Amberations; reconnecting the local residents with the outdoors. It is scary how many children today haven’t ever played in the woods, built a fort, played in the stream, or just taken a few seconds to truly enjoy the beauty that surrounds them.”
How can others enjoy or gain from volunteering at Amberations?
“Amberations is great for interacting with animals and enjoying the beauty of nature. One can gain respect and learn responsibility from caring for the animals.”
