LAKE LIFE C

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

C3
THE CITIZEN, AUBURN, NEW YORK

OMMUNITY

Lake Life Editor David Wilcox ■ 282-2245 ■ david.wilcox@lee.net ■ Twitter @drwilcox

PORT BYRON AND MENTZ

Early reading system has local ties
The new year will bring changes to the office of the historian. Starting in January, I will be stepping down as Mentz historian due to inadequate funding. I would like to thank Peter Marshall and the Mentz town board for supporting my vision as their historian over the past two years. I look forward to continuing Dawn as your village historian and welcome the new Mentz historian once appointed. One of my last projects as Mentz historian was to assist the descendants of Edward Ferguson for their homecoming. They expressed great interest in finding the family farm, which was located at the intersection of Halsey and Henvy roads. The family is often listed as being from Throop, due to being close to the town border. Edward came to Cayuga County from Ulster County. We believe he leased the premises and later purchased the farm from Porter P. Wethey per a deed filed on March 1, 1892. The farmhouse still stands and the oil painting from an earlier date reflects the warmth of this parcel. If you look closely, you can see the family dog waiting at the entrance to welcome you. In working on their inquiry, this family suffered many tragedies. However, I found something very unusual that I would like to share. My search revealed that an author from New York City dedicated a book to this family. Theodore Dwight Kellogg created an early study method to teach children how to read. His first book was a phonetic reader. The second was a transitional lesson to prepare students for leisure reading at home. The home series was known as the “won-

ROE

Photo provided

This lesson contained in one of the “wonder books” illustrates how to learn to read using phonetics.

der books. Their purpose was to promote ” reading at home to become proficient readers without extended classroom instruction. It is the first book of this home series that is dedicated to the Ferguson family. T.D. Kellogg was an advertising agent before developing his reading program. In 1877, he advertised a “reading in five weeks or no pay” class. The program served two focus groups. The first was for pupils between the ages of 10-14 having four to seven years of prior instruction. The second was a primary grade, defined as students with one year or less of lessons. There were no grades between and none after. The program’s goal was to achieve self-teaching of reading using phonetics. Kellogg used his system at his private school on Sixth Avenue in New York. How widely this program was used in Cayuga County is not clear. However, there are newspaper articles reflecting some support of the program in Cayuga

Photo provided

This painting depicts the Ferguson farm, home of Edward Ferguson and family.

County. It is not known how these two gentlemen were acquainted. However, Theodore is related to the Kellogg family of Kelloggsville. What a blessing to find such a wonderful public acknowledgement to one of our local families. The Fergusons will forever be attached to an early reading system that helped to shape education in rural America. I would like to close by wishing everyone a joyous and healthy holiday. I send Photo provided special greetings to all of our servicemen A dedication page from the first of Theodore and women that defend our nation to ensure safety for us all. Many of you may Dwight Kellogg’s “wonder books.” not be able to unite with your loved ones this holiday season, so on behalf of our Dawn Roe is the Port Byron and Mentz historicommunity, we thank you for your tirean. She can be reached at 776-8446 or on the web at www.portbyronhistory.com less devotion. Happy holidays!

ZONTA

January is Earhart Fellowship month
The Zonta Club of Auburn had its holiday party earlier this month. Many thanks to our members and guests who raised more than $1,800 at our holiday auction to help provide local families with holiday gifts and meals. As we move into the new year, we are thinking about the women and families in local shelters and will be bringing personal care products to our January and February meetings for them. For our January meeting, I will be wearing my Zonta hat of District 2 Foundation ambassador and speaking to our club about Amelia Earhart Gloria (our most famous Zontian) and the Stootman fellowships we give in her memory. Since the program's inception, Zonta has awarded 1,333 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling $7.5 million, to women from 65 countries. Here is what one fellow had to say about the fellowships: degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospacerelated engineering. The fellowship of $10,000, awarded to 35 fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited postgraduate courses and degrees in these fields. Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences and aerospacerelated engineering are eligible. Please note that postdoctoral research programs are not eligible for the fellowship. Members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation are also not eligible to apply for the fellowship. Current fellows may apply to renew the fellowship for a second year and will undergo the same application and evaluation procedures as first-time applicants. The fellowship applications are judged by former Amelia Earhart fellows who have become leaders in their fields and who have joined Zonta to give back to other women. The application deadline was Nov. 15, and we look forward to hearing about and meeting a new group of fellows who will go on to improve our world through their studies and research. Meet two Amelia Earhart fellows: • Cecilia Carmen Larrosa, United States, aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University: Larrosa will use her second fellowship to continue to study the prediction and management of the health of aircraft composite structures using embedded sensors. This past year, she designed and conducted experiments to investigate and develop a method to classify and quantify damage from sensor data. She has successfully run 10 tests and is evaluating the data. This integrated health management technology will make aircraft safer and cut maintenance costs significantly. This year she joined the Stanford Young Astronauts program, which is a team of aeronautics and astronautics graduate students who go to local elementary schools and teach thirdgraders about engineering and science. Ms. Larrosa’s long-term goal is to become a professor and have the opportunity to conduct research and promote the importance of science and engineering to students. • Morgan Heath Nunn, United States, chemistry at U.C. San Diego: Nunn is interested in the amount and origin of water on the moon. The existence of lunar water was debated for many years, and in 2009, it was proven to exist by the results of the Lunar Crater Observing and Sensing Satellite mission. Ms. Nunn’s work will be the first attempt to quantify the amount of water and determine details of where it originated. She will do this by measuring the isotopic rations of oxygen in the water extracted from lunar samples using a special high-precision system that she has developed and built. The information obtained will be useful for understanding the origin of the solar system and future lunar exploration. Ms. Nunn volunteers with public outreach organizations that focus on science education. If you’d like to help Zonta help women in our community and around the world, please consider a donation to the Zonta International Foundation. The foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, which makes donations to Zonta deductible to those who itemize their deductions. To find out more about donating or Zonta membership, please write to us at auburn@zontadistrict2.com or visit www.zonta.org. Thank you and happy holidays to all from Zontians and the women we help.
Gloria Stootman Wristen has been a CPA in Auburn since 1982 and a member of Zonta since 1989

WRISTEN

The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is more than a fellowship that helped me financially while conducting my research. I met so many wonderful women in all walks of life that are truly engaged in helping women to advance and succeed, the spirit of which I will appreciate for a long time to come. — Peihua Jing, China, Amelia Earhart fellow, 2002 and 2005 Established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral

LOOK BACK AT THE LAKES
Dec. 27, 1921
No Dec. 25 edition The cancer death rate in the U.S. shows a big increase. There were 73,000 cancer deaths in 1920.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
• The Auburn Hockey Club seeks volunteers for its third annual Pucks on the Pond outdoor tournament. The tournament will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Hoopes Park. Volunteers would help serve refreshments, shovel rinks, set up and clean up. Much of the proceeds from the fundraiser support the club's Learn to Skate program for children. For more information, call Tracey Walsh at 729-6443. • The Cayuga County Veterans Van is in need of a volunteer driver to transport veterans seeking medical treatment from the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center. To donate one day a week of time, call 253-1281 or email veterans@co.cayuga.ny.us. • The Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency seeks volunteers for its Free Clothing Program to help sort donations for sharing with the community. The agency also needs volunteers for its Head Start program. Participants can assist teachers and interact with children by singing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, reading a story or putting to use any other talents that can be shared with children. For more information, call 252-0038. • The Cayuga County Office for the Aging seeks volunteers to deliver lunch meals to homebound seniors in Auburn. Volunteers would work one day a week for an hour and a half. For more information, call 253-1427. • The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York is seeking volunteers to assist at one Spay/Neuter Clinic per month. This clinic will be held on the first Friday of each month (in addition to the regularly scheduled clinics which are held on the second and fourth Friday of each month). Clinics are normally 12 to 14 hours in duration; shifts are available. Training is provided to anyone interested in this life-saving activity.

Dec. 26, 1956
No Dec. 25 edition Five children of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Wilkinson, 123 Chapman Ave., wore smiles of anticipation as they gathered around the guest of honor at the annual Mercy Hospital party for children recently. The boys are Timmy, 3, Jimmy, 9 and Pat, 12. The girls are Kathy, 5, and Mary Ann, 7. Santa (Jack Procino) delivered gifts from a large sack he carried. — Compiled by Linda Simmons

• 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; volunteers to assist with recreational activities; and people to work in the gift shop • Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County is seeking volunteers from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 253-0351 ext. 310. 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 an18-hour tutor • Volunteers are sought to prepare free basic tax returns through the United Way of Cayuga County’s CA$H protraining workshop, and an annual commitment of 60 to 75 hours. Participants are asked to meet with their student for at gram. Volunteers will work three hours per week from least two hours a week. For more information, call 253-5241. Jan. 17 through April 15. Training is provided for IRS certification. There is no personal liability. For more information, call 253-9741 or email kkrasniak@unitedwayof• The SCAT Van service seeks volunteers for the winter cayugacounty.org. months. For more information, call 253-0996.