THE HOMER NEWSVolume IX Thursday, May 23, 2019 Issue 24

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Memorial Day Parade in HomerMonday, May 27, 2019

8:30 a.m. line up by Town Hall9:00 Parade to Glenwood Cemetery for Ceremonies

All are encouraged to participate/attend

2 .May 23, 2019 ð The Homer News

EVENTSCALENDAR

As space permits, The Homer News will print a brief notice of your organiza-tion’s event at no charge in the EVENTS CALENDAR. For more detailed notices we suggest you purchase a display ad. Please keep in mind our publishing schedule and deadlines: May 28, 2019 for the June 6, 2019 issue.

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A gift subscription to The Homer News will help keep your out-of-town friends and relatives informed. $36/year for 1st Class Mail. Call 749-2613

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A six-hour AARP “Smart Driver” refresh-er course geared for drivers aged 50 and older, but open to drivers of any age, is being offered on Saturday, June 8 from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Cortland Community Center located at 90 Central Avenue in Cortland in the former train station at the Pendleton Street intersection . Participants are encouraged to bring a sweater or jack-et and your AARP Membership card for a discount on the class fee paid by check, money order or cash only. A one hour lunch break will be provided.

This course is approved by the N.Y.S. Department of Motor Vehicles for points and insurance reduction.

Preregistration is required by calling the Cortland County Health Department at 758-5509. Class may be rescheduled due to lack of registrations, and walk-ins might be turned away.

This class is sponsored by AARP and Cortland County’s Health Department, Area Agency on Aging, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Driver Refresher Class June 8

It's the official kick-off to summer! St. Anthony’s Festival is Saturday and Sunday, June 8th and 9th, and everyone can enjoy the fes-tivity. Events begin Saturday with the spaghetti dinner from 4-7 PM in the Church Hall (basement) at St. Anthony’s Church. At 5:30 PM, the traditional Italian Mass is an extraordinary experience. Saturday’s musical performanc-es feature Rachel Beverly, Tribal Revival, Dimitri Cosimo, and Tribal Revival. The evening is punctuated with fireworks at 9 PM. Throughout the weekend you can taste the Italian heritage in hot sausage and pepper sandwiches, pasta e fagioli, gelato, pizza fritta, thousands of cookies and so much more. Kids can play lawn games or dance while the adults discover Italian novelties and try their luck at the silent auction, cake wheel, and raffle where there are multiple winners! Sunday's Mass is at 9:30, fol-lowed by the procession featur-ing the Old Timers Band. At 12:30 the food and entertainment begin. Sunday’s musical performance features CHS Jazz Band, Joey & John, Steve Daniels Swingtet, The Speculators, and The Old Timers Band. So grab your family and friends and come out and enjoy the St. Anthony Festival at 50 Pomeroy St Cortland, New York. Visit www.saintanthonyfestival.org for more information or like us on Facebook.

St. Anthony's Festival June 8 and 9, 2019

The Homer First United Methodist Church, 16 Cayuga Street in Homeris holding a Korean Supper on Saturday, June 1st from 4:30-7:30 PM Menu includes: Bulgogi-Marinated Beef, Egg Rolls, Japchae-Stir Fried Glass Noodles, Crunchy Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, HotDogs, Fried Rice, Desserts, Drinks. Donations will be accepted.

Korean Supper June 1st at Methodist Church

On Saturday & Sunday, June 8 & 9, Homeville Museum will host their Fourth Annual Civil War weekend. Live history—see skirmishes, infantry and artillery drills, including formation movements, loading and firing. Watch cavalry, blacksmith and period medical demonstrations. Activities will be on-going throughout the day in the camp plus special presentations in the audi-torium. Look for updates on Facebook and on our website: Homevillemuseum.wordpress.com. Join us for this excit-ing & interactive event!

Vendor opportunities are still available.Hours are: Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sunday 10:00 am - 3:00pm, with Museum open until 5:00 pm

Normal admission rates include the CNY Living History Center and the Civil War Reenactment: $10 for adults; $9 for Seniors and AAA members; $5 for students 6-18 and as always free for

Civil War Re-enactment June 8, 9 at Homeville Museum

members, active duty military and chil-dren 5 & under. Special 2-day admis-sion deals of $15 for adults and $7.50 for students.

Homeville Museum is a component of the CNY Living History Center, located at 4386 US Route 11, Cortland, NY. For more information, contact Kim Walsh at Homeville@CNYLivingHistory.org or (703) 405-8875

A six-hour AARP “Smart Driver” refresher course geared for driv-ers aged 50 and older, but open to drivers of any age, is being offered on Friday, June 21 from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Grace Christian Fellowship Church located at 1250 Fisher Avenue in Cortland. Participants are encouraged to bring a sweater or jacket and your AARP Membership card for

Driver Refresher Class June 21 Grace Christian Fellowship Church

a discount on the class fee paid by check, money order or cash only. A one hour lunch break will be provided.

This course is approved by the N.Y.S. Department of Motor Vehicles for points and insurance reduction.Preregistration is required by call-ing the Cortland County Health

Department at 758-5509. Class may be rescheduled due to lack of registrations, and walk-ins might be turned away.

This class is sponsored by AARP and Cortland County’s Health Department, Area Agency on Aging, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

The Homer News - May 23, 2019. 3

Letter to the Editor

Physical TherapyReturn to what matters most

Mark Williams, PT, DPTEhren Heyer, PT, DPT

Caregivers Support GroupCome join us! And meet with others who are also coping with caregiving issues.

The Caregivers Support Group meetmonthly, every 4th Thursday. (November and December we will meet the 2nd Thursday).Open to those who provide care and support for a loved one, friend or neighbor who is 60 or older.We meet at the Guthrie Cortland Medical Center in the Basement, Conference Room B, from 3-4 pm.

• Walk-ins are welcome.• Sponsored by the Cortland

County Area Agency on Aging’s Caregiver Resource Center.

• For more information call the Caregivers Resource Center at (607) 753-5060.

4070 West Rd. (Rt. 281) Cortland NY 13045

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We Sell Results, Not Promises. Time to Buy or Sell?

Call us at 607-753-6766 SSold on Cortland County!www.hagerealestate.com

email@hagerealestate.com

TO THE EDITOR:Since I’m a year-round turkey eater, I salivated while reading the account of Plummer’s in Martin Sweeney’s most recent column. I would love to be able to patronize an all-turkey or all-fowl restaurant somewhere in this area. They could include a variety of homemade soups, not just soup du jour, and fresh fruit pies on the menu as well. Decades ago when I was attending school at Alfred there was a gentle-man who roasted several turkeys every day and then sold roast turkey hoagies on French bread. He did a booming business out of his small shop. I would be an enthusiastic first patron if a wonderful fowl restaurant opened here.

Ruth Lewis

RememberingPlummer's

Cub Scouts Hold "Raingutter Regatta"

The Girls of Cub Scout Pack 1 and the boys of Cub Scout Pack 85 held a "raingutter regatta" at the Community Building behind the Fire Station on Monday evening.

The scouts built their boats and raced the boats in specially constructed raingutters.

The 2 Scout Packs are sponsored by the Homer American Legion. Cub Scouts are open to all who wish to join, and the new Pack 1 is looking for more young girls to join their ranks. Pack 85 Cub Scouts would love to have you join them! Please contact Stacy Hall at: pack85homer@gmail.com

4 .May 23, 2019 ð The Homer News

A Notable Group of Houses

Homer HistoryBy Martin Sweeney, Homer Town and Village Historian

On the southeast corner is a private residence today, but in Blodgett’s day it was “The Braeside Inn,” a tearoom operated by Nellie Randall, who went on to cook for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. during World War II. The building had been known under different names before this. The most notable was “Wisdom’s Gate.” Blodgett pointed out that it “is a perfect example of Colonial architecture” and that “Homer is to be congratulated that it has been kept in its original lines since 1816, when it was built by Joshua Ballard.” The well maintained house at number five Albany Street has a marker out front indicating it is the birthplace of William Osborn Stoddard, assistant personal secretary to President and Mrs. Lincoln. Stoddard was an inventor and author, but he is best known for making the first two handwritten copies of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. South of “The Braeside” is what Blodgett called “the oldest house in Homer.” It is not. The oldest house in the village, built in 1799, is located on Clinton Street. The house at 87 S. Main is the second oldest house. Pieced together from two other structures, it was the home for a time of Professor George L. Burr, former librarian and professor of History at Cornell University. Across the street from “The Braeside” is a beautiful house once known as “The Hedges” and occupied by Jacob M. Schermerhorn, a staunch Republican and acquaintance of President Lincoln. Three doors north of “The Hedges” is the home once occupied by David Hannum, a figure who gave rise to the fictional protagonist in Edward Noyes Westcott’s novel David Harum: A Story of American Life. The 1898 novel was a bestseller in its day, only being outsold by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Homer’s Jane O'Shea has penned Westcott’s Tale. She has rewritten Westcott's novel in contemporary language and cleverly inter-woven factual material about the author, his motive for writing, and what the folks of Central New York were really like. It is a must read to understand how 19th century Homer was the basis for Westcott’s “Homeville.” You can get your copy at The History Center at Key Bank in Homer. Now, the helpful thing about Blodgett’s book is how she went on to provide young (and not so young) readers with additional, interesting details about the six residential structures -- their architectural styles and past residents. For example, Andrew D. White lived in the house where he was born in 1832 until he was seven years old. At that time, his father, Horace White, moved the family to Syracuse and became “one of its most prominent bank-ers.” The Colonial style house was built in 1819, and according to Blodgett, it “has seen many changes,” including the addition in the 1880s of a mansard roof that altered its appearance. As for “The Braeside Inn,” Blodgett raved that “few towns in the State can boast of so fine a Colonial building.” She wrote, “How fortunate it is that it has been kept so true to its period – the period of 1816, when it was built by Joshua Ballard,…the first school teacher in Homer…[who] possessed good taste.” As early as 1822, it functioned as a hotel. George Washington Sampson was the proprietor when it was called “Wisdom’s Gate” and was known as a “Temperance Tavern.” Andrew D. White recalled being a curi-ous boy and wanting to know the meaning of the hotel’s name. He learned, he said, “that whoever entered that gate would have to drink cold water and no whiskey.” From the ceiling in the bar-room hung an empty flask,

upside down, signifying landlord Samson’s view on the issue of temper-ance. According to Blodgett, Sampson edited a paper once a year called The Bumble Bee, “and it was a stinger.” Blodgett did not find Stoddard’s birthplace at number 5 Albany Street to be architecturally significant. The fact that you can see how Stoddard’s grand-father, John Osborn, had built forward toward the street over the years as his family increased in size and wealth and ended up using expensive brick was not noted in her book. She failed, too, to cite how the Stoddard family also moved to Syracuse when the Whites did, and Andrew and William contin-ued to be childhood friends in the growing community on the Erie Canal. Stoddard, wrote Blodgett, “was the first person to suggest [in an Illinois newspaper editorial] that Lincoln would make a good president…and the article was copied all over the country.” While it is true that Stoddard’s pro-Lincoln article did appear in hundreds of periodicals across the country, in reality, three other editors had beaten him to the punch in endorsing Lincoln as presidential material. Blodgett claimed that “Lincoln recognized the good turn and asked William Stoddard to go with him to the White House and be one of his secretaries.” In fact, the record shows that it was Stoddard who asked Lincoln to take him onto his personal staff in the White House and that Stoddard was first assigned to the Interior Department as a signer of “land patents” before he was “on loan” as an assistant personal secretary at the Civil War White House. But Blodgett got the most important fact correct: “It was William Stoddard who copied the Emancipation Proclamation, fresh from the hand of Abraham Lincoln.” Blodgett called the house just south of “The Braeside” “the Burr Homestead.” This is because it was the home of the grandfather of Professor George L. Burr, once the head of the Department of History at Cornell University. She included Burr’s own recollection of the house:

“All my life in Homer was spent under a roof which was oncethat of the first school and first church (built in 1799). Thisbuilding was on the northeast corner of the Green. My grand-mother, who was a girl of nine when she arrived here fromConnecticut in 1803, used to tell me, remembering it well, howon Sunday the swinging partition was drawn up to turn theschool into a church. The old building stands on the spot towhich my grandfather moved it from the corner of the Greendown yonder, to just beyond Albany Street, next south of whatwas called ‘the Sampson Tavern.’But it is only the lower part of the structure, for the higher front,with eaves to the street (also added by my grandfather), was thefirst public house built in Homer, Major Stimson’s old tavern.There it stands – church, school, and tavern, a strange union….”

Across the street is “The Hedges.” On this property is where John Ballard, one of five brothers to settle in Homer before 1800, built a log cabin. The structure served as both his home and the first tavern on Main Street. Around 1803 he sold it to Major Enos Stimson, who kept it as an inn. Blodgett tells of the time when Homer’s civic-minded Paris Barber set about making the treeless Green into a park. Stimson came along and said, “Golly! Here you are setting out trees and we have just got through cutting them down.” Stimson was old enough to recall when Homer was a wilderness of forest trees, and trees were cleared to make a Common for the early settlers to graze their livestock. And in 1863 Barber was putting trees back into the site.

It was Stimson, says Blodgett, who “made the shingles for the first church which the Congregationalists built on the Green, and they remained in good condition as long as the church stood, which was fifty-five years.” In the early 1800s, the center of commerce in Homer was at the intersection of Main and Albany Street. Stimson’s Tavern was the hub and well situated to handle the traffic and trade that came into the little community via the Albany Turnpike. After Stimson’s Tavern was moved across the street and attached to the school that had been on the Green, Caleb Ballard built the stately residence that stands now upon the original site of the first tavern. In the 1830s, it was owned by Andrew Dickson, the grandfather of Andrew Dickson White. In his autobiography, White said he was brought up at this site with its spacious flower garden and hedges. Thus, the place became known as “The Hedges.” Later, it was called “The Schermerhorn House” because it was occupied by Jacob M. Schermerhorn, who was reported to be the wealthiest man in the county in the 1850s.

Blodgett tells of the time Schermerhorn took his daughter Anna and another Homer girl to the nation’s capital. The trio was standing in line at a White House reception when they spotted President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln, and William O. Stoddard. Stoddard spied his friends from Homer and excit-edly whispered a request to Mrs. Lincoln to be excused long enough to take his Homer acquaintances on a tour of the Executive Mansion. According to Blodgett, Mary Todd “evidently was not so inclined, and young Stoddard was obliged to wait for that pleasure until the reception was over.” Years later, Anna Schermerhorn recalled how she was greeted by President Lincoln. Taking both her hands in his, the President said, “It is always a

see "HOUSES" page 7

“There is a neighborly group of houses in Homer which probably rep-resents more interesting history and personality than any other cluster of houses in New York State.” Thus wrote Bertha Eveleth Blodgett in 1932 on page 176 of her book Stories of Cortland County for Boys and Girls. She was referring to a nucleus of houses at the intersection of Main and Albany Street in the village of Homer. Through the years, inaccuracies have been found in Blodgett’s book, but she admitted in her preface that the book was “merely a collection of old-time true stories strung together on a slender thread of his-tory like beads on a chain” and that “…a scholarly historian might find some inaccuracies in historical detail….” Her commendable goal was to try “to reproduce the spirit of the pioneers who helped to build Cortland County.” As a junior high student living on Albany Street in the village, I unknow-ingly cut my local historian’s teeth on Blodgett’s fascinating tales of Cortland County. Of particular interest to me were the descriptions of the houses I passed by or near every day on my walk to the school over on S. West Road. I found the information appealing…and I still do. On the northeast corner of Main and Albany is the birthplace of Andrew D. White, co-founder and first President of Cornell University, United States Ambassador to Germany, and “Cortland County’s most celebrated citizen,” according to Blodgett. A blue and gold New York State historical marker is out front today.

Andrew D. White's Birthplace

The Homer News - May 23, 2019. 5

6 .May 23, 2019 ð The Homer News

Open Saturday 9 am - NoonOn the Village Green and in front of the

Center for the Arts

GOOD NEWS!!! The Village Offices have been moved to the newly reno-vated north side of the Town Hall Building.

The move was made Friday afternoon, May 17th. While there is still some work to be done organizing the files, the office staff is settling in and getting used to their new quarters.

The Village Clerk and the Mayor have vacated (temporarily) their office at the front of the building while renovations are being done to their offices.

During the renovations at the front of the building, ALL visitors to the Town Hall must use the BACK entrance. The Town Clerk and the Assessor are still located at the "stage" level until the Town Clerk's office is completed.

To reach the Village Offices from the back of the building, take the stairs or the elevator to the main level and follow the signs to the office.

Once the front offices are completed, the front entrance of the building will be opened for public use.

The Town and Village appreciate your cooperation and understanding dur-ing the renovation process. Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Kristen Case and Clerk Donna Kotas getting settled

in at the new offices in Town Hall.

View of the "Town" side of the hallway, looking from the back of the building toward the front. The room on the left is the new Board Meeting room.

Village offices as viewed from the hallway, looking from the front of the building toward the back.

1930 Memorial Day Parade in Homer, from an 8 mm movie found at the Homer American Legion, converted to digital by Francis Riter

The Homer News - May 23, 2019. 7

pleasure to me to meet young people.” She observed how “his face was full of sincere welcome.”

The last of the six Homer houses that Blodgett focused upon was “The David Hannum House.” Since Blodgett’s book was intended for young read-ers, she emphasized how “Mr. Hannum was a great lover of young people.” She wrote of how “he loved nothing better than to have a crowd of boys and girls around him and to tell them stories.” It was well known that “whenever there was a circus in town he would take them to see the show.” His young admirers would ask for his photograph and, according to Blodgett, he acqui-esced to their pleas and sent them to the photographer’s shop to each get a copy. When they arrived, “they found that Mr. Hannum had had his picture taken but only his back was showing.” Hannum loved a good practical joke like this one, and copies of this photograph are still in circulation and of value to collectors.

Hannum, also, liked a good practical joke that could make him some money. The best example of this is, of course, the “Cardiff Giant Hoax.” A farmer in Cardiff, New York, near Lafayette, was digging a well and discov-ered a large stone figure. People flocked to see it. Was this a prehistoric giant that had fossilized through time or was it a stone sculpture from antiquity? Learned men from across the nation, including Cornell’s President Andrew D. White, came to render their opinions. The farmer who “found” the “giant” charged fifty cents for a peek at the curiosity. Recognizing a business oppor-tunity, Hannum headed up a syndicate of men who bought the giant and took it to Syracuse to make money through a public exhibition. By the time the truth had finally come out that this was “only a make-believe man, carved out of stone,” Hannum’s name was firmly attached to the story of “The Cardiff Giant.”

"HOUSES" continued from page 5

The Homer History Center contains many artifacts from Homer’s illustrious past. One of those artifacts is the original ledger from the Windsor Hotel, 1896. This hotel stood near where the Fire House stands today, across from the Green. Built between 1812 -1820, it was known as the “Mansion House” in 1880. The Hotel was advertised as having 52 lovely rooms, a dining room to seat 100,and a large stable to accommodate 100 horses. In 1892, public bathrooms had been installed and were available for a small fee. According to Cortland County Chronicle, Vol 2 (CCHS): “The huge livery barn was a forum where horsemen gathered to discuss wights and merits of mares and studs; its dining room and parlors the scene of public meetings, weddings, and other social events.”

The Landmark Society volunteers at the Homer History Center welcome residents and visitors to the Center. This story and many more with pic-tures and displays await!! For more info: call 315 925 1027 Russ. or 607 345 0608 Kathy

Homer History Center is located in the Key Bank Building, S. Main Street - Open Friday, Sat. 10-2 Museum, Research and Gift Shop

Blodgett tells a story that may or may not be fact about Hannum’s self-promotion. It seems that …

“One day a dapper young man entered a passenger car of a D.L.and W.train and tried to get a seat beside a short, thickset man who refused tomove over. ‘See here, do you know who I am?’ said the dapper youngman. ‘My name is Sloan and my father is the president of this road.’ ‘See here, young man, do you know who I am?’ was the ready reply of the occupant of the seat, who did not stir an inch as he spoke. ‘My nameis David Hannum and I’m the father of the Cardiff Giant.’”

Now, Hannum was not the “father of the Cardiff Giant” but he was one of the perpetrators of the hoax that drew national attention and became a money-maker for him and for P. T. Barnum.

In time, built spaces – both residential and commercial – spread out in all directions from this cluster of six notable houses at the intersection of Albany and Main and formed the community incorporated in 1835 as the Village of Homer. Today, they are six of the 220 dwellings that comprise the Historic District recognized at the State and National level. The Landmark Society of Cortland County, headquartered at the History Center at Key Bank on Main Street, was originally created in the early 1970s to help preserve the well-maintained architecture in the village. Today, the organization has a dual mission that focuses on both local architecture and local history. The Society recognizes that the architectural gems in the village did not build themselves. People did. And the residents have remarkable stories worth sharing and pre-serving. Blodgett shared the stories attached to six notable houses in early Homer. If the walls of the other 194 dwellings could talk, can you imagine the stories they would tell of the lives of past occupants?

Homer History Center News

Guest register from the Hotel Windsor

Homeville Museum Wheels ShowDick Small's 1940

IndianDispatch Tow

Motorcycle

These were often used for small parcel

delivery in large cities.

Jim Price's 1995 Schwinn Beach Cruiser.

This bike resembles the popular Schwinn of the

1950's

8 .May 23, 2019 ð The Homer News

Please make checks payable to: Cortland Breakfast Rotary Club

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Register Online: squareup.com/store/cortland-breakfast-rotary-club/

Drop off or mail to:Ride for Rotaryc/o Complete Construction Concepts137 S. Main St.Homer, NY 13077

Questions: Don Richardsc 607-745-7779 ofc 607-749-7770

The next issue of The Homer News will be June 6, 2019. DEADLINE: for ads and news is May 28, 2019.

FOOD PANTRYThe First United Methodist Church has a Food Pantry for Homer resi-dents, which is open on Tuesdays,

10:00 am until 12:30 pm Walk-ins are welcome.

For information or emergency, call 749-7159

The Voice of the Town

Contributors:Priscilla Berggren-Thomas, Martin Sweeney, Ed Finkbeiner, Anita Jebbett, Harry Coleman

The Homer News is publishedin Homer by The Homer News.

Distribution is every other Thursday to all households and

businesses in Homer.The Homer News is a community-based newspaper dedicated to informing townspeople of current events and issues; serving as a forum for the free exchange

of views of town residents; and celebrating the people, places and happenings that make the Town

of Homer unique.

Editor:Donald Ferris***

Rates:The Homer News is delivered at no cost to

Homer addresses in the 13077 zip code. We now offer subscriptions to The Homer News. Personal or out-of-town subscriptions are available for $36 per year (First Class) Payable in advance. Send check or money order to: The Homer News, P.O. Box 125, Homer, NY 13077 Email your address to: editor@TheHomerNews.com

Signed Articles, Letters, Photographs and Drawings of interest are welcomed to be considered for publication. All articles are subject to editing for clarity and length. Materials not used will be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided.

THANK YOU!Circulation: 4,200 copies per issue. Copyright © 2019 The Homer News

The Homer NewsP.O. Box 125 Homer, New York 13077

Editor@TheHomerNews.com Telephone: 607-749-2613

The Homer News

Published for Homer Residents

Get The Homer News at:Village Food Market, Wall St. Laundromat, Phillips Free Library, Homer Men and Boys, Olde Homer House, Bev's, Lucky Kitchen, Sinfully Sweet Cafe, Key Bank, FNB of Dryden - Homer & Cortlandville Offices, Homer Town Office, Kory’s Diner, Origins, Anderson’s Farm Market, Dandy Mart, Brown’s Garage, Poole’s Drive In, Trinity Valley Dairy, Tops, Walgreen’s, Tyler's Cleaners, Hyde’s Diner, CNY Living History Center, Steve & Lu's Diner, Little Italy Pizzeria, Center4Arts, Antiques on James, Express Mart.

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The Homer News - May 23, 2019. 9

News from the LibraryBy Priscilla Berggren-Thomas

WELCOME HOME TO H

ERIT

AGE

YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE CONNECTION

Books, Authors, Libraries Managing five to six book clubs a year means reading a lot of books. There’s always a need to search for something new – something that covers an important topic, a new young writer that will speak to a new generation, a new book that everyone is talking about. There are also some books that become staples. We use them every year for a certain club, knowing that they’ll be loved, or will generate a lot of discussion. They are books that always give us a world of ideas and issues to talk about. They are books where the writing is guaranteed to capture every-one’s heart and mind. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper is one of those books. Savvy by Ingrid Law is another. And of course, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein is one. I first read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library a few years ago and was captivated by a library that had holograms to answer reference ques-tions, hovercrafts to access books on the top shelves, and a Wonder Dome that can display everything from the constellations to the Dewey Decimal categories. It’s a librarian’s dream and kids kind of like it, too. Our first library lock-in was inspired by Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, along with a host of scavenger hunts we’ve held over the years. Every year, Chris Grabenstein, the author of the Mr. Lemoncello series, waives his fee for a few libraries and schools that offer programs about his books. They also have to purchase a cer-tain number of copies of his books. This year, Phillips Free Library, was lucky to get Mr. Grabenstein to pick Homer as one of the places he would visit. We acquired a grant from the Myrtle Dee Nash Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County to pay for some of the books, as well as Mr. Grabenstein’s travel expenses. The SCAs of the Intermediate and Jr. High pitched in to help pay for books and over 350 children in the Intermediate and the 6th grade received free copies. The school has held programs, children in the library’s book clubs have read the book, we had a lock-in just last week, and now – finally, after planning, read-ing, and prepping– Chris Grabenstein is coming to Homer! Along with visiting the schools, he’ll be here at Phillips Free Library on Monday, June 10th. Youth from 5th grade to 12th grade, who like to write, can sign up for a writing workshop with Chris Grabenstein at Phillips Free Library from 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm on the

10th. Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early. It will be a great chance to finally meet the mind that dreamed up Mr. Lemoncello and his library. There are a lot of us here, at the library, who can’t wait. What’s New at the Library?

New Hours Did you know the library now opens at 10 am on Fridays? Stop by and see us.

Closed Dates The library will be closed on Saturday, May 25th and Monday, May 27th for the Memorial Day Holiday. Toddler Story Time Toddler story time with Miss Ashley is on Wednesdays at 10:30 am. This fun program for children from infants to pre-school age meets every Wednesday morning when school is in session. There is no program on snow days or school vacation. Upcoming themes include:

May 29 – GardensJune 5th – ParadesJune 12th - Berries

Rockin’ Readers Rockin’ Readers, our K-2nd grade story and activity time is every Wednesday from 3:25 pm to 4:15 pm that school is in session. This is a fun program with stories, crafts, games, and songs. Starting in March, the first Wednesday of every month will be science themed. Upcoming themes are:

May 29 – OttersJune 5th – MermaidsJune 12th – Multicultural Celebration June 19th – End of year Party

Teatime at the Library The library has a new podcast, Teatime at the Library. Join us for conversations about the love of reading. You can find a link to the podcast from our website or Facebook page.

Fiction, Food, and Flick This unique, twice-monthly program includes a book discussion, viewing of the movie based on the book, and a chance to try one dish or snack that the characters in the story eat. Come for just the book discussion, just the food and flick, or for both.

The book/movie for May is Coraline by Neil Gaiman. We’ll be discussing the book on May 21st at 6 pm and we’ll watch the movie on May 28th at 6 pm.

Raspberry Pi Classes Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, cred-it-card sized computer. Kids in 5th through 8th grade can come learn about Raspberry Pi and how they can be used to compute and code. This three session program will be on Saturdays, June 1st, 8th, and 15th from 10:30 till noon. Participants will learn what a Raspberry Pi is, how to use it, and how to code with Sonic Pi, a music coding software. Pre-registration starts on May 17th.

Lego Club Lego Club for children Kindergarten through 5th grade will be Monday, June 3rd from 4-5 pm. You don’t have to register. Just come and build! This is the last Lego Club for the school year.

Thinking on Thursdays The first Thursday of each month is a chance for all us adults to flex our brain muscles. From movies, to crafts, to book discussions, and technology, there’ll be something to learn, discuss, or create on Thinking on Thursdays. Thursday, June 6th from 6:00 to 8 pm, we’ll be showing the film If Beale Street Could Talk. Based on a James Baldwin novel, the film “follows a young black couple whose lives are torn apart by a false criminal accusation.” Registration is helpful, but required.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Author, Chris Grabenstein, visits Mark your calendars for Chris Grabenstein’s visit to Homer. Monday, June 10th at 3:45 pm, Chris will be hear at the library to offer a writing

workshop for budding youth authors. The workshop is open to youth from 5th to 12th grade. Students in library and school programs who have read his book Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, in particular, are invited to par-ticipate. Space is limited, so be sure to call the library and register early.

This Summer – There’s a Universe of Stories Registration for summer reading starts on June 17th. Everyone can sign up, keep track of what you read, and win prizes. Plus there are fun programs all summer long. We are exploring stories across galaxies and throughout time and space this summer with programs, prizes, and life size games. Summer reading is open to everyone, so don’t let the kids have all the fun!

Board of Trustees Meeting The Phillips Free Library’s Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, June 17th at 7 pm in our Wonder and Discovery Center. Meetings are open to the public.

For more information about any of our programs call 749-4616 or check out our website at www.phillipsfreelibrary.org. Phillips Free Library Hours:Monday 10 am to 6 pmTuesday 2 pm to 8 pmWednesday 10 am to 8 pmThursday 2 pm to 8 pmFriday 10 pm to 6 pmSaturday 10 am to 2 pm

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The Homer News - May 23, 2019. 11

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Publication ScheduleTHE HOMER NEWS

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VOL ISS PUB DATE DEADLINE

10. It began in 191411. *Al Brown to Al Capone12. Spill the beans14. Hinduism’s divine feminine power21. Kind of pie22. High rocky hills26. Turkey’s hanging neck skin27. Baklava dough28. *Major 1920s electronic device29. “I Dream of Jeannie” actress30. “For ____ a Jolly Good Fellow”31. #5 Across, sing.32. *Prohibition era establishment34. Not stiff36. Feather glue?37. Visual system organ40. Interprets, as in tarot cards43. Product of lacrimation47. Promise allegiance49. Receipt listings50. ____ ____ one’s ways51. Garlic mayo52. Goose egg54. Like a drink in a snifter55. *Rights and liberties org.56. Greek god of war57. Where a bib is tied58. Repeat a passage from59. JFK or ORD postings61. Barker of Tarzan the Ape Man fame

9 25 6/6/2019 5/28/20199 26 6/20/2019 6/11/2019

10 1 7/3/2019 6/25/201910 2 7/18/2019 7/9/201910 3 8/1/2019 7/23/201910 4 8/15/2019 8/6/201910 5 8/29/2019 8/20/201910 6 9/12/2019 9/3/201910 7 9/26/2019 9/17/201910 8 10/10/2019 10/1/201910 9 10/24/2019 10/15/201910 10 11/7/2019 10/29/201910 11 11/21/2019 11/12/201910 12 12/5/2019 11/26/201910 13 12/19/2019 12/10/2019

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THE HOMER NEWSVolume IX May 23, 2019 Issue 24

Hours:Mon.-Fri. 8AM-6PM

Sat. 9AM-1PM orCall For An Appointment!

For a complete list of homesfor sale, visit:

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(CORTLAND, NY): The Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with many local Cortland County tourism part-ners, is pleased to announce a new festival coming this fall: Gears to Corsets, A Steampunk Festival, September 27-29, 2019.

Steampunk is a subgenre that incorporates technology and aes-thetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk is also heavily focused on Victorian-era customs. The extensive histo-ry of mechanical innovation in Cortland embodies the steam-punk spirit. Cortland was built by Victorian industrialists who used new machines and fabrica-tion methods to drive economic development. Companies like Brockway Carriage, The Wickwire Brothers and the Cortland Corset Company created a hotbed of innovation. Join a wide array of creative organizations in Cortland County as we delve into this moment in time through machines, performances, music, costumes, lectures and more.

“Cortland County’s rich indus-trial history makes it the perfect setting for a steampunk-themed festival,” said Meghan Lawton, Executive Director of the Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are very excited to announce this event and cannot wait to see it come to fruition this September.”

Gears to Corsets is unique, not only in being the first Steampunk festival in Cortland County, but

also in its set-up. The festival will feature events at multiple locations throughout Cortland County, and will feature many participating organizations. Events are planned for The Corset Building, the 1890 House, the CNY Living History Center, the Cortland County Historical Society and the Center for the Arts of Homer currently, with more events and locations being finalized. Planned events over the course of the three days include: a promenade, steam-punk-themed happy hour, infor-mational seminars, vendors, a fashion show, and Steampunk music.

More details, and an ever-updat-ing events schedule, can be found on the official event web-site: www.gearstocorsets.com.

The Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s purpose is to enhance the general economy of Cortland County, its cities, towns and villages, through promotion of tourist activities, conventions, trade shows, special events and other directly related and sup-porting activities.

The CVB office is located at 37 Church Street, Cortland, NY. For more information on the Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau, please call (607) 753-8463, visit us on the web at www.experiencecortland.com, or follow us on our social media channels.

ANNOUNCING GEARS TO CORSETS, CORTLAND COUNTY’S STEAMPUNK FESTIVALNew Event Taking Place in Cortland County September 27-29, 2019

Homeville Museum, CNY Living History Recent Events

Some of the items on display at the Homeville Museum. New displays were unvieled in early May in all 3 museums: Homeville, Brockway, and Tractors of Yesteryear.

Several events are scheduled throughout the year at the CNY Living History Center. Visit their website: cnylivinghistory.org

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Where is The Homer News Being Read??

Jane Ireland with an O.E.S.group in Edinburgh.