Chamberlink | September 2026 | | Promote. Support. Engage. | | FEATURED MEMBER OF THE MONTH | | |
Wager's Cider Mill: A Wager Family Legacy
Celebrates 25 Years of Chamber Membership
The Wager family are fourth-generation apple farmers and have run their seasonal store selling apples, cider, cider donuts, and now hard cider for three generations since Harold Wager purchased the mill in 1977. Harold sold the cider mill to his son Craig in 1993. Craig Wager, who continues to grow apples on Craig Wager Farms, sold the cider mill to his son Geoff in 2020. Geoff Wager and his wife Kaylee now run Wager’s Cider Mill and have added a variety of new offerings.
For the first time, the Wager family is offering u-pick apples on their newest generation of orchards located on Hoyt Rd. Join them for the u-pick season offering Honeycrisp, Autumn Crisp, and Empire (more varieties are still growing and will be available in the coming years, as well as other seasonal u-pick fruits). The orchard also offers an apple-themed corn maze. Both the u-pick and corn maze are currently open Friday through Sunday this fall season.
Between Geoff and Kaylee’s fully functional farm and Craig Wager Farm’s orchard, all of Wager’s Cider Mill New York apples are homegrown and handpicked. Brought straight to the store for you to enjoy, as they have been for the last 50 years, the mill offers over 26 apple varieties throughout the harvest season, plus plums, peaches, grapes, and cherries. Open daily from mid-August through the end of December, the mill also offers breads, pies, River Rat, Cuba, and Muranda cheeses, seasonal grape juice, honey, and pancake mixes and syrups.
Wager’s 3rd Annual Apple Festival will be held at the Cider Mill on Saturday, September 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. The festival will feature more than 20 vendors, offering fall-themed food and merchandise. Festivities include family-friendly fun with balloon art, slime making, and free face painting. Wager’s will offer free apple and cheese tastings, plus hard cider sampling.
Geoff and Kaylee are proud to continue the Wager heritage while offering customers new experiences at the mill and on the farm. They are committed to preserving the agricultural heritage of Yates County while growing the business.
As they celebrate 25 years of Yates County Chamber of Commerce membership, the Wager’s shared their gratitude to the community and the value of being a Chamber. “Being a member of the Chamber is important because it provides local networking and exposure in and around Yates County. Membership aids in boosting individual business credibility, offers links to resources within our community, and can help to expand and grow the area, along with local businesses through connections and relationships. We are proud to be a member of the chamber, and we are proud to be members of this community."
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Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Yates County (CCE)
417 Liberty Street, Suite 1024
Executive Director: Sandi Bastedo
(315) 536-5123
Website | Facebook
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Scarecrow Display and Annual Contest 2026
We are excited to announce the details of the 2026 Scarecrow Contest! This event is intended to bring harvest fun and an array of color to an already beautiful season - Autumn! Open to all ages, individuals, clubs, organizations, groups, and businesses locally in Yates County. Entry is FREE.
Please note the updated schedule to align with this year's Downtown Fall Festival on Saturday, October 3.
ENTRY DUE DATE IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
Scarecrows must be on display by Friday, October 2.
All scarecrows must be removed by Tuesday, November 3
Voting will be on the Yates County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page beginning Tuesday, October 13th and ending on Thursday, October 29th.
To be included in the social media judging, you must send a photo by Friday, October 2nd, to jody@yatesny.com
Winners are announced on Friday, October 30th.
There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
1ST PLACE: $125 | 2ND PLACE: $100 | 3RD PLACE: $75
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Jody Tyler Recognized by Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association
Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association (Pure Waters) is proud to recognize the volunteers, community partners, and continuous supporters whose dedication makes the work to protect Seneca Lake possible. Over 170 volunteers contribute their time and expertise to water quality monitoring, environmental stewardship, education, outreach, and other programs throughout the Seneca Lake watershed.
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Rich Adams Memorial President’s Award
Recipient: Jody Tyler
Presented at the discretion of the President of Pure Waters, William Roege, the Rich Adams Memorial President’s Award recognizes extraordinary leadership and service to Seneca Lake Pure Waters. This year, Jody Tyler was honored for her many years of dedicated service to the organization and the Pure Waters community.
For well over a decade, Jody has been a dedicated and versatile contributor to Pure Waters. Early in her tenure, she provided essential administrative support that helped keep the Association functioning and moving forward. As Pure Waters has grown, Jody has continued to find new ways to strengthen both the organization and the community surrounding it.
Jody is perhaps best known for her leadership of Pure Waters’ fundraising and special events. For many years, she has led the planning of the organization’s annual summer gathering, now the Summer Soiree, bringing together more than 100 members and friends of Seneca Lake. She helped establish the auction that has become an anticipated part of the event and has championed the Summer Business Guide, which raises funds for Pure Waters programs while strengthening relationships with the local business community.
Throughout her years of service, Jody has continually found creative ways to engage members, supporters, businesses, and neighbors. Her commitment has helped strengthen the sense of community that makes Pure Waters’ work possible.
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Ribbon Cutting & Open House Skylarc Studio
The Yates County Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of Skylarc Studio’s new art gallery with an official ribbon cutting and open house on Wednesday, September 30, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 235 North Ave., Penn Yan.
An art program of Mozaic, Skylarc Studio supports people with disabilities and other barriers in exploring their creativity, developing artistic skills, and expressing themselves through art. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists, tour the new gallery, enjoy light refreshments, and shop one-of-a-kind artwork.
The Chamber looks forward to celebrating this exciting new space and the artists who make it special.
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Ribbon Cutting and Open House at Moore Sweets
The Yates County Chamber of Commerce was joined by community members, local officials, and a large crowd of supportive locals gathered on Thursday, August 27th, to celebrate the official ribbon cutting and open house for Moore Sweets, a new bakery and café located at 17 Seneca Street in Dundee.
Moore Sweets is owned by Alysen and Shelly Moore, who bring a passion for homemade treats and warm hospitality. The bakery offers ice cream, homemade desserts, a full lineup of coffee and specialty drinks, fresh donuts made daily, breakfast dishes, and more.
The Yates County Chamber of Commerce congratulates Alysen & Shelly Moore, and their team on this exciting milestone and welcomes Moore Sweets to the local business community.
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On Friday, August 28, the Yates County Chamber of Commerce, owners Matthew and Alicia Henderson, their lovely family, and members of the community celebrated the opening of Keuka Harvest with a ribbon cutting and open house. Keuka Harvest is a family-owned farm dedicated to creating memorable seasonal experiences for residents and visitors in the Finger Lakes.
Throughout the growing season, guests can enjoy u-pick strawberries, explore a sunflower maze while taking home a fresh-cut sunflower bouquet, and experience the corn maze complete with u-pick pumpkins in the fall.
The celebration ended with a fun-filled exploration through the butterfly-shaped sunflower maze filled with beautiful blooms and sunflower facts to discover along the way. Keuka Harvest corn maze and u-pick pumpkins are now open for the season.
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Yates County Employer Toolkit
This Employer Toolkit is a guide to help local employers and business owners explore the wide range of services, programs, and resources available to support their businesses. Together, these organizations provide a network of support for businesses at every stage, from starting and growing a business to finding and developing employees, accessing funding and financing, navigating regulations, and strengthening operations. Use the overview below to learn more about what each organization offers, and visit their websites to explore their services in greater detail. Watch your inbox this fall for additional emails from the Chamber that will take a deeper dive into each organization and highlight how their resources can help your business.
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2027 Yates County Tourism Grant Applications Now Available
The Yates County Tourism Grant Program is now accepting applications for 2027! Organizations, municipalities, and businesses with projects that promote tourism and draw visitors to Yates County are encouraged to apply.
Continuing into 2027: The application process has been updated to improve clarity and ease of use. All applicants must use the new 2027 application form, which is now live online.
The deadline to apply is Friday, September 25, 2026.
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Lead the Future with Leadership Yates 2027
Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the next cohort of Leadership Yates County, a premier six-part executive series hosted by the Finger Lakes Economic Development Center in partnership with Intent. Hosted at Keuka College, this program equips established executives and rising leaders with the practical tools, strategic insight, and regional perspective needed to lead with purpose and clarity.
Led by Intent leadership experts Allison Whiting and Jackie Sax, this program is designed for every tier of leadership, from company executives to emerging talent. Master strategic thinking, team alignment, DiSC behavioral assessments, feedback frameworks, and organizational change during five in-person morning sessions at Keuka College and one virtual session. The application deadline is Saturday, October 31. Program start date is Thursday, January 28.
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Seneca Lake Pure Waters Annual Report
Seneca Lake is a living, changing ecosystem, and protecting its health requires science, collaboration, education, and action. Throughout 2025–2026, Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association continued to build on more than three decades of stewardship, expanding its water quality monitoring, watershed education, community engagement, and hands-on restoration efforts.
This annual report highlights the people, partnerships, programs, and resources that made that work possible. From volunteers collecting critical data to students discovering the importance of their watershed, Pure Waters is bringing people together to better understand Seneca Lake and take meaningful steps toward protecting it for generations to come.
We are grateful to our members, volunteers, donors, partners, staff, and supporters whose commitment makes this work possible. Together, we are building a healthier and more resilient Seneca Lake watershed.
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Rainbow Junction Celebrates Mary Jo Covert’s 50 Years of Service
The Board of Directors, staff, families, and children of Rainbow Junction are proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: Mary Jo Covert is marking 50 years of dedicated service to the center.
Mary Jo began her career at Rainbow Junction in 1976 and has spent the past five decades caring for children and becoming a valued and familiar part of the center’s community. Today, she continues to share her experience, warmth, and dedication as the Lead Teacher in the Yellow Room.
Mary Jo has touched the lives of countless children and families. She has been a consistent and caring presence through the many changes that have taken place over the years, helping provide the nurturing environment that families have come to know and trust.
Congratulations, Mary Jo, on 50 incredible years of service! Thank you for the countless children you have cared for, the families you have supported, and the lasting impact you have made on our community. We are truly grateful for all that you have given to Rainbow Junction.
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2026 Coolest Thing Made in NY Competition
Help support a local business that helps members of our community thrive! Mozaic (Finger Lakes Textiles/Arctic Gear) is down to the final two companies in the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in NY Competition hosted by the Business Council of New York State. Vote daily now through September 24. Finger Lakes Textiles (FLT), a division of Mozaic, works with small start-up companies, army surplus stores, retailers, as well as state to large federal government military contracts to produce various textile products. Learn more about Finger Lakes Textiles and Arctic Gear.
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Fall Favorite Events
Fall events in and around Yates County are kicking off this weekend. Welcome the season of pumpkins, spice, and warm family and friend gatherings in the cool autumn air as we welcome Fall this coming week.
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6th Annual Celebrate Cascade
Saturday, September 19, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate one of Yates County's most beautiful outdoor spaces at the 6th Annual Celebrate Cascade! Spend an afternoon along the Keuka Outlet Trail enjoying live music from the John Bolger Band, delicious food hot off the grill, local food, and beverage sampling. And as always, the beauty of Cascade Falls.
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Mill to Mill 10K/5K
Saturday, September 19
10K starts at 10:45 a.m.
5K starts at 11:00 a.m.
Run the Mill to Mill 10K/5K before the Celebrate Cascade Annual event. Willow Running USA and the Friends of the Keuka Outlet Trail are excited to bring you the 4th Annual Mill to Mill 5K/10K. This 5K/10K event will take place on the Keuka Outlet Trail starting/finishing at Cascade Falls.
Day-of-race registration available. All registrants will receive a custom short-sleeve shirt and a finisher medal. Sign up today!
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On the Trail of the Friend:
A Bus Tour of Public Universal Friend Sites
Saturday, October 3, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Universal Friends by the Public Universal Friend. Follow the pathway of this enigmatic religious leader through Yates County, On the Trail of the Friend: A Bus Tour of Public Universal Friend Sites
Schedule: Check-in and lunch will begin at 11:30 AM at Penn Yan Methodist Church, 166 Main Street, Penn Yan.
The bus tour will depart from the Yates County History Center, 107 Chapel Street, at 1:00 p.m. and will last approximately 1½ hours. Some voluntary walking will be included at select sites.
Cost: $50 per person, including lunch and the bus tour.
Limited seating is available. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.
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Yates County Community Gift Card
Shop Local. Support Local. Give Local.
It is time to start preparing for the holiday shopping season. One of the easiest ways to attract new customers while encouraging people to shop locally is by joining the Yates County Community Gift Card Program.
This fall, we are focused on building enrollment in the Community Gift Card Program. The program is exclusive to Chamber Members and keeps spending local this holiday season. The all-digital program is easy to implement and works with your point-of-sale systems, including tap-to-pay.
Interested in participating? Chrissy Kramer, Information Specialist, is available to visit your business, answer your questions, and help activate the program on your POS system.
Scheduling now for visits on Wednesday, September 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Wednesday, October 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Other dates are available upon request.
Call the Chamber office at 315-536-3111 or email Chrissy directly at christine@yatesny.com. Help support local businesses — one gift card at a time!
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LOCAL EVENTS - CHECK OUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE & DYNAMIC FREE LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR FOR YATES COUNTY!
How to Guide for event listings & effective event promotion
Submit events to be included in the Yates Event Calendar
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