The Citizen, Auburn, New York

Community.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

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Lake Life
PORT BYRON
Cayuga County added two additional state-registered historians last month at the annual conference held at Liverpool by the Association of Public Historians of New York State. Please congratuDawn late Cheryl ROE Longyear of Montezuma and Beverly Sayles of Victory for their accomplishment. Both ladies offer a unique approach and work tirelessly to share the history of their townships. Those attending the banquet enjoyed a slide show presentation by Robert Weible, state historian and chief curator (history) at the New York State Museum in Albany. Featured was their exhibit An Irrepressible Conflict: The Empire State in the Civil War, which continues through the end of September. The range of artifacts is impressive: 7,000 square feet of historical relics from the state museum, library, archives and War soldiers buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Pvt. John Dunham of Company H, 3rd New York Cavalry. In the past I have featured soldiers belonging to families other than my own. Dunham is my second great-grandfather, but that personal connection yielded little advantage, since little oral history has been passed down over the generations. Much of what has been Provided learned about him comes from This flag of the 3rd New York Cavalry is provided courtesy of the military pension and service records, as well as published New York State Military Museum medical journals. John suffered in Saratoga Springs. a shot fracture during the war organizations. The name for the and his medical case was wellexhibit was inspired by a quote documented. We will review his made by Auburns William H. surgical case, as well as learn Seward in 1858. The final cost about ballistics and medical trito the state, including pension age of that era. Also, we will visit benefits, has been estimated to many of the sites that would have exceed $125 million dollars; New been familiar to John as we take a York contributed more funds and digital walking tour of New Bern. soldiers than any other state in The 3rd New York Cavalry the Union. Albany welcomes you arrived in North Carolina just a for a thought-provoking glimpse couple months after the Battle of of the Empire States pivotal role New Bern, a battle that resulted in the War of the Rebellion. in Union control of that city for Come join us at the Port the remainder of the war. ReByron Library at 11 a.m. on Sattaining that control had to be a urday, May 18, for a special prochallenge, since New Bern can be gram about one of our own Civil accessed by land and water, be-

DAVID WILCOX, Lake Life editor Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (315) 282-2245 Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . david.wilcox@lee.net Twitter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @drwilcox

Port Byron Civil War soldier subject of interesting surgical case

ing bordered by the Neuse and Trent rivers. Dunham met his fate in 1862 when he was shot on picket patrol, guarding the Neuse road about 10 miles outside of New Bern. Thanks to a skillful surgeon, he was one of the lucky survivors. After the war John settled in Cayuga County, where he served as a junior vice commander for both the Lockwood Post No. 175 Grand Army of the Republic of Port Byron, as well as the Charles H Stewart Post No. 37 of Auburn. His shoulder injury remained unhealed for the remainder of his life, having died in 1909. Three daughters, Nellie Kilmer Ames and Frances Ray of Port Byron, Maude Prosser of Savannah, and one son, Lewis Dunham, survived him. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 18 at the Port Byron Library. Dawn Roe is historian for the village of Port Byron and a member of the Mrs. Benjamin Harrison Tent No. 2 Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. She can be reached at 776-8446 or www.portbyronhistory.com.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Cayuga County Senior Nutrition Program is looking for drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors in rural Cayuga County. Volunteers would need a vehicle, and will be reimbursed for gas. For more information, call 2531427. Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County is seeking volunteers to be trained as basic literacy and English as a second language tutors. Participants do not need any teaching experience or fluency in another language. There is an 18-hour tutor training workshop, and an annual commitment of 60 to 75 hours. Participants are asked to meet with their student for at least two hours a week. For more information, call 253-5241. Westminster Manor Senior Home, 81 South St., Auburn, seeks people to volunteer their time for crafts, Wii bowling, dominoes, bingo and card games. Volunteers are also needed to help periodically with transportation, special events, parties and outings. For more information, call Darcy at 252-0507. The Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency seeks volunteers to help with data entry, customer intake, answering telephones and greeting customers. Volunteers are also sought to help with the agencys food pantry, free clothing program, Head Start classrooms and the Domestic Violence Services Program at its Cayuga and Seneca county offices. For more information, call 255-1703 ext. 129. The Community Soup Kitchen at First Love Ministries seeks volunteers to help prepare and serve food, as well as clean up, for at least one day a week. For more information, call 252-1984. The Seward House Museum seeks dynamic, committed people with passion for history to volunteer as docents and front desk assistants. Docents provide guided tours through the home, and assistants greet visitors, explain tours and complete sales transactions. Computer skills are required for the assistant position. A commitment of twice a month or more is preferred. For more information, call 252-1283 or email volunteer@sewardhouse.org. The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York seeks volunteers to walk and exercise shelter dogs. For more information, visit the shelter at 41 York St., Auburn. Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center is seeking volunteers to pick up residents from their rooms and transport them to: occupational therapy from 8:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m.; physical therapy from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m.; and beauty shop appointments beginning at 9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. The center also seeks friendly visitors to work with residents at any time during the week, as well as volunteers to assist with recreational activities. For more information, call 253-0351 ext. 303. SAVAR (Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource) seeks people to become certified rape crisis counselors, who would help victims of sexual abuse. Training is free. For more information, call 253-9795 ext. 302. Chapel House Homeless Shelter seeks volunteers to fill four-hour afternoon or evening shifts on a weekly or monthly basis. Volunteers would answer the phone, take in residents and assist residents with basic needs. Training will be provided. For more information, call 255-2060. Northbrook Heights, an assisted living community, seeks volunteers to help with activities and to visit one-onone with, teach a craft to, read to or spend time entertaining residents. For more information, call 253-2755. Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes is looking for volunteers to assist staff with answering phones, making copies, filing, cleaning and snow shoveling. Volunteers can work when theyre able. For more information, call Mandy ODonovan at 253-2222 ext. 101. From staff reports

WILLARD MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Classical guitarist Arnold coming to Willard Chapel

Nancy Kramer Special to The Citizen

The Tiffany Sunday Concert Series combines the beauty of Willard Memorial Chapel with wonderful music to add another element of culture, education and just plain fun to historys hometown. For many years Maxine Alberici, the Community Preservation Committees treasurer and event coordinator, has worked tirelessly to secure a diverse lineup of musicians and vocalists to enlighten the community and celebrate music. Our 2013-2014 season has something for everyone! It even includes a series of Civil War talks on medicine, the role of women, a brass band and a jazz tribute to Harriet Tubman. Please visit our website at www. willardchapel.org for all the details. At 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, we are fortunate to have a classical guitar concert by Mark Arnold. Mark promises to provide an Provided interesting variety of music that evokes contemplation. He celMark Arnold will perform May 19 at Willard Chapel in Auburn.

ebrates the connection to music that transcends culture and time. Mark plays a diverse selection of music, including traditional and more modern classical, folk (Appalachian) and South American music. Mark graduated from Ithaca College with bachelors and masters degrees in music both in classical guitar performance. He now teaches at Finger Lakes Community College. He also has a growing private studio at Toth Music in Canandaigua. Besides classical guitar, he plays drums, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. To sample a few songs before the concert, visit his website at www.markarnoldmusic.com. Please join us at Willard Chapel to hear Mark Arnold next Sunday. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds benefit the Community Preservation Committee. Nancy A. Kramer is a teacher at SS. Peter and Paul School in Auburn and a board member on the Community Preservation Committee of Willard Memorial Chapel.

LOOK BACK AT THE LAKES

May 12, 1938
The annual mothers-daughters banquet of the Flower Guild of Mercy Hospital was held on Tuesday evening in the Lounge of the Imperial Annex. Dinner was served at 7 oclock to an attendance of 106. Miss Margaret Lenahan, general chairman and her committee comprised of La Belle Armstrong, Marie Powers, Mary Agnes Brennan, Alice Kirwan, Margaret ONeill and Gertrude Costello received much commendation for having arranged such a successful affair. An entertainment program was presented by the pupils of Miss May Rose Aubins dancing academy, with Miss Elizabeth Reisdorf as accompanist. Mrs. Lee Chapman was the oldest mother in attendance and was presented with a large bouquet of flowers. Mrs. Harold Wright was the youngest mother in attendance and received a lovely array of cut flowers. Auditorium at Northeastern University. This is the first time the conservatory has granted this award. Todd Lattimore, Thommies former student and a conservatory graduate, will present the award to Barbara Walsh, Thommies sister, who will accept it in his name. Thommies mother, Eleanor Cosentino Walsh, will also attend the event. Thommie died June 16, at 57, of cancer. He was working on A Tale of Two Cities when he began having stomach problems. It was eventually diagnosed as lymphoma. Although he was pronounced cancer free a few months later, he passed away shortly after the cancer returned. Walsh had mentored Lattimore and taught him choreography. He was on hand at Lattimores home to watch Todd perform in the televised 42 Street, his Broadway debut. The award is all the more remarkable since Walsh only spent a couple of years at the Conservatory from 1972-74. Walsh left school in hopes of joining the Disney on Parade tour, much to his parents chagrin. Barbara described the call her mother got when Thommie learned he was given a part in the cast of Disneys tour. He called her up and sang, M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! In fact, Thommie was known for his sense of humor. Every card, letter, phone call, and Thommies celebration of his life at Sardis, the theme was the same his sense of humor, Barbara said. Everybody talked about how funny he was and what joyous memories they had of him. Compiled by Jean Bennett

Cayuga County Sunday evening sounded ominous. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for 1800 hours, a county 911 dispatcher announced. About a half-hour later, around 6:30 p.m., the same dispatcher was back on the air, May 12, 1953 saying a funnel cloud had been (Pictured) sighted in Summerhill, and was Miss Bertha B. Adkins (left) of moving north, toward SemproWashington D. C. assistant to the nius. National Republican chairman There was a report in that and principal speaker at todays town of a downed tree across a luncheon meeting of Republican road, and of golf ball-sized hail, women at the Osborne Hotel reheavy rain and strong winds in ceived an orchid corsage before Locke, but no tornado. taking her place at the head table. A dispatcher said the funnel With Miss Adkins are Mrs. Kencloud had apparently moved east neth T. Power (center) of Roches- into Cortland County, but didnt ter, director of the Seventh Juditouch down there, either, and apcial District Republican Women, parently dissipated. and Mrs. Charles F. Kruger of AuAccording to the National burn, Cayuga County Womens Weather Service, a tornado watch Republican Club leader. was in effect Sunday across all of Central New York. A cold front May 12, 2003 approaching from the west, couSUMMERHILL The warning pled with unstable atmospheric that came over police scanners in conditions led to the severe thun-

der and lightning storms and tornado watch, explained Mitch Gilt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton. Warnings were called off by late Sunday evening as the winds died down. In Auburn, Aurelius, Sennett and King Ferry on Sunday afternoon, lightning strikes took down lines, leaving about 2,000 New York State Electric and Gas Corp. customers without power for a few hours. There were also scattered power interruptions in other areas. Power was restored by 5 p.m.

May 12, 2008

Thommie Walsh, performer, director, choreographer, writer and native Auburnian, will be recognized for the accomplished artist he was with a one-of-akind award from a prestigious college. The Boston Conservatory of Music will give Walsh a posthumous Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award at its Saturday, May 17, commencement in Blackman

How to get listed

Volunteer listings can be sent to citizenfeatures@lee.net or mailed to David Wilcox, 25 Dill St., Auburn, NY 13021.

DESIGNER: APRIL B., EXT. 3298