The Snowflake festival offers activities and demonstrations, indoors and out. It is set up as a family event and everyone will find an activity that will interest him or her.

The day’s activities include
· 10 am-2 pm: Face Painting
· 11 am: Snowshoe Hikes (snowshoes provided) begin and continue all day
· 11 am-3:30 pm: Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
· 11:30 am: Birds of Prey (hawks and owls) presentation by Paul Fehringer, wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Wild Spirit Rehab and Release Center, followed by a meet-and-greet
· 1 pm: Owl Ecology presentation by Paul Fehringer, followed by a meet-and-greet
· 2:30 pm: Feeder Bird presentation by Audubon Program Director Jennifer Schlick
· 12, 1, 2, 3 and 4 pm: Kick sled Demonstrations outdoors by Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue
· Warren County Master Gardeners giving a demonstration on starting seeds and answering any of your questions. The Warren Master Gardeners are also accepting applications for their upcoming class, which will begin March 3, 2011.

Door prizes, the raffle of a beautiful quilt handmade by Martha Danielson, including a Chinese auction and the raffle of a handmade quilt made by Martha Danielson will add to the festivity.

And as always Chili, hot dogs, sausages, brownies, kettle corn, hot chocolate and Stedman Corners coffee will be among the treats available.
This is the perfect time if you are new to the center to visit the Nature Store and view the selection of hand crafted items, bird seed, edible treats, and more.

Admission to the Snowflake Festival is $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. Sleigh rides are $5 for ages 13 and over and $2 for 5-12 year olds; $5 covers materials for building a bluebird house.

The Audubon Center and Sanctuary is at 1600 Riverside Road, off Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Winter hours are 10 am-4:30 pm Mondays and Saturdays, and 1-4:30 pm Sundays. The trails and Bald Eagle viewing are open dawn to dusk daily. For more information, call (716) 569-2345 or visit jamestownaudubon.org.

The legend of winter prediction is a holdover from European folklore. Since early medieval times, people watched hedgehogs, badgers, bears or wolves to see if they saw their shadows on Candlemas, which is February 2. Many carried this tradition to America. The only difference is that before many animals predicted the weather. In America, the Ground Hog prevailed.

Dunkirk dave

According to the National Climate Data Center (NCDC), the tradition became publicized in 1887 when a newspaperman wrote about local hunters who celebrated February 2 by going on a groundhog hunt, followed by a festive groundhog barbecue. The reporter embellished the story with tales of the forecasting skills of Punxsutawney Phil. The rest is history and to this day Punxy Phil remains king of Ground Hogs day… but don’t tell Dunkirk Dave this.

Dunkirk Dave will be predicting his forecast at his residence at Farmlane drive in Dunkirk NY. For family photos and more Ground Hog trivia check out Dave’s homepage.

With the winter Chautauqua County, Warren County and the US east coast has experienced this winter everyone is rooting for an early spring.

Nuclear power and weapons is a topic you listen to almost an a daily basis. It shapes our government and world policies. The decisions made today will influence our world for many years to come.

The following your tube will give you a better idea of the morning lecture topics and speakers. The president of the Chautauqua Institute, Tom Becker, gives a brief rundown of the planned program.

Week 4 At Chautauqua Institution

Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons: The Right to Have and to Hold

Monday: Sam Nunn “The Race Cooperation and Catasrophe”

Tuesday: Graham Allison, “Nuclear Terrorism: Who Could Imagine?”

Wednesday: Jim Rogers

Thursday: Molly Williamson “Getting Beyond the Politics of Petroleum”

Friday: Joseph Cirincione

The theme for the week is “From Asia to the Middle East: Energy, Capital, and Conflict.”

The following you tube, presented by Tom Becker who is the President of the Chautauqua Institution will give you an idea of what the theme will offer in the way of lectures.

Chautauqua Institution is located on the shore of Chautauqua lake and minutes from Lake Erie.

At the time this photo was taken the Chautauqua Belle was being refurbished. It is now offering sight seeing tours of the lake and is often seen docked at the Chautauqua Institution.

Each year Chautauqua has a week devoted to the topic of applied ethics. This weeks topic applies to ethics in leadership. Speakers for the 10:45 am lecture are:

Monday – David Brooks
Tuesday – David Boren
Wednesday – Cheryl Dorsey
Thursday – David Weston
Friday – Joseph Riley

The following you tube gives more information on the daily morning lectures.

The lectures are set up to encourage public discussion and debate during the day and week. As you head to a workshop, art show or afternoon lecture you will hear people debating the morning lecture on porches or Bestor Plaza.

The Religious Department or Women’s Club also presents other lectures in the afternoon or weekends.

The following list is the remaining themes for the 2010 Chautauqua Institution program:

Week 3 – July 11-17, 2010
From Asia to the Middle East: Energy, Capital, and Conflict

Week 4 – July 18-24, 2010
Nuclear Power & Nuclear Weapons: The Right to Have & to Hold

Week 5 – July 25-31, 2010
Picture This: Photography

Week 6 – August 1-7, 2010
Excellence in Public Education

Week 7 – August 8-14, 2010
Sacred Spaces

Week 8 – August 15-21, 2010
Powering the Future

Week 9 – August 22-28, 2010
The Supreme Court

The following you tube has captured the fireworks that took place in Mayville, which is county seat of Chautauqua County. This was from 2009.

In the video you can see a small section of red on the left hand side of the image. This is part of the traditional” lighting of the flares.” Flares are lit around the entire beachfront of the lake. No small task, but its taken place for many years. The eerie red light from the flares adds a beauty and mystery to the night.

My only experience of fireworks on Chautauqua Lake were at the Chautauqua Institution. I could barely see the fireworks from mayville but the red light of the flares along the lake and the sounds of music floating down to the lake shore were an image that I will remember for a long time.

There are many sights and views in Chautauqua.

Photographs and copyright by Denise Grant. All rights reserved.

And with each season hopes are high that the goals set by Chautauqua to reach out and influence and shape lives through lectures, workshops and entertainment will be reached.

Week One at Chautauqua Institution is “Roger Rosenblatt and more friends. ” The following you tube goes into more detail about the theme and morning lectures.

The rest of the Chautauqua Institutions weekly themes are listed below:

Week 2 – July 4-10, 2010
The Ethics of Leadership

Week 3 – July 11-17, 2010
From Asia to the Middle East: Energy, Capital, and Conflict

Week 4 – July 18-24, 2010
Nuclear Power & Nuclear Weapons: The Right to Have & to Hold

Week 5 – July 25-31, 2010
Picture This: Photography

Week 6 – August 1-7, 2010
Excellence in Public Education

Week 7 – August 8-14, 2010
Sacred Spaces

Week 8 – August 15-21, 2010
Powering the Future

Week 9 – August 22-28, 2010
The Supreme Court

Often after a lecture you will hear people sitting on the porches in the small homes that line the narrow and winding street debating the topics that were discussed that day and previous days.

photo credit: WIlly Volk

The 131st season opened June 25, 2010 and will close August 29, 2010. And although the summer season closes in late August the community is open all year round. It just operates at a quite pace without a gate fee and planned activities. For further information on off-season activities check the Lily Dale off-season link.

The lily Dale summer programs include lectures, workshops and other activities featuring best-selling authors.  Leaders in academic and scientific research into psychic phenomena, as well as the world’s most powerful mediums, teachers and healers participate in the programs and activities offered.

Lily Dales Daily Summer schedule for June 25, 2010 – August 29, 2010

8:30 am Meditation Service in the Healing Temple
10:00 am Healing Service in the Healing Temple Saturday only
10:30 am Healing Service in the Healing Temple Monday – Friday only
11:30 am Video Presentation in the Library
Noon Healing Service in the Healing Temple Sunday only
1:00 pm *Message Service at Inspiration Stump
2:30 pm Guest Speaker and Clairvoyant in the Auditorium
4:00 pm *Message Service at Forest Temple Monday – Saturday
5:30 pm *Message Service at Inspiration Stump
7:00 pm Healing Service in the Healing Temple

* In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held in the Auditorium.

There are also weekly events scheduled. Further information can be found at the Lily Dale home page.

One other attraction of Lily Dale is the beautiful architecture and winding paths and gardens on the grounds. Cassadage Lake also lines one section of the grounds.

Whether you visit Lily Dale for spiritual reasons or to enjoy the scenery and businesses located on the grounds it’s day that you will remember.