A Smile is the same in every language

Marseille, France

Street Art

photo by Patricia King

Welcome all new and returning residents,

It was nice seeing many familiar faces, in person and online, at the June 16 Community meeting . We were fortunate that our attorney, Tony Rupp, was able to join us for the first 20 minutes. Attorney Rupp acknowledged that we are still in mediation and that mediation was taking much longer than expected.

BHVA Board elections will take place in August. we are Volunteers. Please consider filing out a candidates form if you have an interest in being of service.

We have lost two Administrative Assistants with their relocations to Florida. Ashley Christoff continues to work remotely from Florida as a BHVA consultant for our rental program along with various other responsibilities.

Fallon Mitch is our new Administrative Assistant who will be in the office Tuesday through Saturday. Please stop by the office to say Hello. Sawyer Colburn is our new beach attendant. Please welcome Sawyer. He is also here during the week to help with maintenance.

Fallon and the maintenance staff will run the beach shuttle on the hour Wednesday through Friday. The shuttle will be at the Community Center at noon. The last shuttle from the beach to the Community Center is at 4 pm.

Volunteers will drive the shuttle on the weekends. Please consider volunteering for a two hour shift: 12-2, 2-4, and 4-6. Contact Fallon in the office if you are interested. Please make a note of the shuttle phone number: 585-734-8526

Each resident should be receiving emails from the Kenrick staff and Constant Contact from me. Often the emails deal with the same subject. Kenrick’s usually includes a document to download, mine is a PDF created by community members. 

I don’t send out any official information, such as items concerning voting or elections. I’m more the “Party Person” unless there is some emergency and Kenrick is unavailable. We use different computer programs with different data bases. We do our best to try to sync the information, but sometimes an email address is overlooked. If you believe you are not receiving the Constant Contacts that I send, feel free to contact me and I will check my contact information immediately.

The website: www.bristolharbourvillage.org is maintained and kept up to date by Steve Cortese, a Bristol Harbour resident. The Homeowners’ password is BHVA1413. Please look at the website for forms, the meeting minutes, the financials, the list of activities in our neighborhood, and the past Villagers. It’s an amazing resource. 

This has been a year of highs and lows for me.  My younger sister passed away from a long battle with lung cancer in December. There are no words to express the pain, but most of us have had difficulties to deal will at various times in our lives. Then, this spring, I was invited to my girlfriend’s 80th birthday party at the Brasserie Lipp in Paris, France. This brasserie, the oldest one in Paris, was founded in 1880. “Who could ask for anything more?” I added on a trip with Roads Scholar to the Provence area. As a former French teacher, I have been to France before, but this opportunity presented itself as a road to renewal. Life is for the living and I am grateful to be here at Bristol Harbour once again celebrating and enjoying the gorgeous countryside and our picturesque lake with all of you. 

I hope you enjoy this addition of the Villager which includes a health column, an article about Ticks and how we need to be aware of them this season, and an update on the EC. There are many activities to enjoy in our immediate neighborhood, including Consuela's wonderful Zumba classes, but also check the nearby libraries for resources and additional activities.

Consider attending the meetings at the town of South Bristol as they are informative. There is so much to choose from in the Finger Lakes area during the summer. Perhaps you'll have time to get to one of the events listed below.

Music at Heron Hill on Saturdays from 5 - 7

June 27 and 28 Sonnenberg's Arts at the Gardens

July 9 - August 13 - Music on Goodale Road in Cheshire from 6 - 7:30, Thursdays

July 23 - September 3 - Moonlight Strolls at Sonnenberg from 7-9 Thursdays

Remember that it is only as good as the content the neighborhood provides. Please feel free to reach out to me at anytime: Patricia.pking904@gmail.com.

Wishing you all a Happy July 4th with a welcoming smile!

Peace, kindness, and health to you all.

Patricia King (editor)

patricia.pking904@gmail.com

BHVA Board of Directors

Gloria Harrington - President

Ginny Lalka - Vice President, Environmental Committee Chair

Alexis Ortiz Heaney - Treasurer

Patricia King - Secretary

John Schultes - Facilities

Gina Sarkis Cushing - Contributing Member

Dave Richardson - Contributing Member

Robyn Skiff - Contributing Member

Meetings at the Town of South Bristol

July 13, 6 pm - Town Board Meeting

July 15, 6:30 pm - Planning Board Meeting

July 16, 4 pm - 5 pm Town Court DA Night

July 22, 7 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

July 28, 5pm - 7pm -. Community Engagement Meeting

July 30, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm - Finance Committee Meeting

August 10, 6 pm - Town Board Meeting

August 19, 6:30 pm - Planning Board Meeting

August 25, 5pm - 7pm -. Community Engagement Meeting

August 26, 7 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

September 14, 6 pm - Town Board Meeting

September 16, 6:30 pm - Planning Board Meeting

September 17, 4 pm - 5 pm Town Court DA Night

September 22, 5pm - 7pm -. Community Engagement Meeting

September 23, 7 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

October 15, 4 pm - 5 pm Town Court DA Night

October 21, 6:30 pm - Planning Board Meeting

October 27, 5pm - 7pm -. Community Engagement Meeting

October 28, 7 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

For updates and information from the town of South Bristol, go to southbristolny.gov and scroll to the bottom of the screen. You must send them an email to receive these updates.

Important Phone numbers

FF Thompson Hospital - 585-396-6000

Kenrick - 585-424-1540

Bristol Water - 585-204-6754

Bristol Sewer - 585-532-6136

RG&E - 800-743-2112

Spectrum - 888-406-7063

Town of South Bristol - 585-374-6341

Frontier Communication - 800-921-8101

Marine Docks - 585-789-0015

Zumba Classes - every Wednesday and Friday 9-10 downstairs at the Community Center

Recreation Committee Events - 2026 

July 1 - Health RYTHYMS Drumming - Community Center 11 am

July 11 - Summer Beach Party - Beach 

July 18 - Candice Lake Kayak Trip

July 25 - Trivia - Community Center 

August 1 - Movies on the Lawn - Community Center at Dusk

August 15 - Pickleball Tourney and Picnic 

August 28 - Full Moon Kayaking and Bonfire at BHVA Beach

August 29 - BHVA Annual Meeting - Town of South Bristol 10 am

August 29 - Ice Cream Social  

September 6 - End of Summer Picnic - Community Center 

September 19 - Pizza Party - Community Center 

October 17 - Fall Fest Party with Cornhole Contest 

Scout Winery Tasting- Date TBD 

ADDITIONAL EVENT DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED VIA CONSTANT CONTACT AS DATES GET CLOSER 

BHYC Events List for 2026 

June 28 - Welcome Back Brunch CDG Yacht Club, 9am social, 10am brunch

October 3 - Octoberfest - Wilson Lodge, Ontario County Park, gather at noon, lunch at 2pm

December 5 Holiday Party - Community Center 6pm



Photos 1,3, and 4 by Darren Brennessel from the coldest winter of his life last February

Patricia Pasculle took photo number 2 from her Cliffside balcony

See what some of us missed?

Sailing or fishing on a very frozen lake - Scary

Just looking at these makes me cold.

BHVA Environmental Committee (EC) Corner 2Q2026

The Environmental Committee (EC) exists to protect and preserve our shared community, and this purpose is reflected in its mission statement: The EC’s mission is to preserve and enhance the natural character, visual appeal, environmental quality, and property values of our community.

In support of this goal, the EC reviews new construction, proposed exterior modifications, and landscape changes to help ensure they align with our governing documents and long-term vision. In its evaluations, the EC considers potential impacts on neighboring properties, common areas, environmental resources, drainage patterns, vegetation, and community infrastructure. The EC provides recommendations to the Board to support thoughtful, informed decision-making and responsible stewardship of our community.

Environmental Committee Reminders:

• Please use the most current EC Application Form and Rules available on the BHVA website. Please go there for each new application as these are updated periodically. 
• A fillable electronic Application form is currently in development; we will inform you when this is available. In the meantime, you may download the .pdf from our website, print scan and submit via email, or get a hard copy from the BHVA Office, complete it by hand and submit to the admin at the BHVA office.

Selecting the Correct Contractor Status: We’ve found this to be a bit confusing for our Owners. 

• Please select the appropriate box on Page 2: Self, Sole Proprietor, or Contractor with Employees/Helpers. If you are unsure, we recommend confirming with your contractor.
• Please note that a sole proprietor works entirely alone. Any contractor using helpers, including unpaid family members, is not a sole proprietor and must carry workers' compensation insurance.

Contractor Requirements: To help ensure timely processing, please review the contractor requirements below. Incomplete contractor information is the most common cause for decision-making delays.

• BHVA and your Street COA or Condominium COA must be listed as additional insureds on your contractor’s insurance certificates.
• Coverage must remain in-force for the entire duration of the project.
• All required coverages must be included.
• Contractors with employees or helpers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. 
• Both the Owner and each contractor are required to sign the Hold Harmless Agreement included with the application.
• 

Submitting complete and accurate information in your Application helps us review your request efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays. We know your project is important and we want to make our decisions as efficiently and quickly as possible to keep your project on schedule.

Recreation Committee Off to a Great Start

by

Chris Sunter-Holeck

The Recreation Committee is hitting its stride this summer, with two events planned each month to keep our community connected and entertained.

Building on last year's success, our popular Trivia Night returns for its second year — now an established Bristol Harbour tradition. We've also added some exciting new offerings to the lineup, including Pizza Night and a Fall Gathering, alongside all the beloved events our neighbors look forward to year after year.

Music has been a highlight of the season, with community members pitching in to make events even more memorable — including a terrific turnout for our Memorial Day Weekend opener. The response has been wonderful: already this summer, more than 200 neighbors have come out to enjoy our events together.

We're always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join us. Whether you'd like to be part of the committee or are interested in taking on a leadership role with the Rec Committee in the future, we'd love to hear from you.

Kentucky Derby Party - Some awesome hats!!

Wine Night at the Community Center June 19th.

photos by Jon Link

Chris Hunt - in Canandaigua Lake, early May

The water temperature was 48 degrees.

Is he nuts or courageous?

Photo above taken by Gloria Harrington

Kelli Becka attended a presentation entitled: Protecting Ontario County Residents from Tick Borne Disease at the Town of South Bristol, May 11, 2026. This informative talk was given by Douglas Merrill, Canandaigua City Councilmember. At least two people many of us know have been bitten already this year and are undergoing treatment. Please be careful.

Important Facts Specific to Ontario County

•The probability that a tick in Ontario County is infected with

the Lyme disease bacterium is “extreme”—the highest

rating in NYS

•People most at risk are the elderly and children ages 5-9.

•90% of adult female ticks will feed on deer before laying

eggs (deer tick lays 1,500-3,000 eggs)

•Portions of Ontario County have the highest densities of

whitetail deer in the state (DEC data)

Steve Cortese put together the slide below. Kelli added the written information above.

Unhiding our feet and using our legs

by

Diana Gifford Jones

23 May 2026

I grew up observing my father’s adherence to a simple rule. He never took the escalator when stairs were an option. He said, you have two of the best doctors with you all the time, your left leg and your right. Use them, and they will deliver preventative medicine better than most other doctors. Abuse them through inactivity, and the consequences will come – slowly at first, but eventually brutally – obesity, mobility decline, heart disease, and then other chronic conditions.

The legs are nothing without healthy feet. Yet the feet remain among the most neglected parts of the human body. They carry us for a lifetime, absorb enormous physical stress, and are rarely noticed until pain forces attention.

Walking around in the wrong shoes can lead to blisters, my fate on a recent trip. Upon returning home, a reflexology appointment fixed my achy feet – and I accepted assurances of fresh life to my shoulders, liver, and stomach. My mindset certainly felt better. It was a bargain at $40, tax and tip included.

Foot care should not be an indulgence. “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art,” as some claim Leonardo da Vinci said. He could have added that feet can also be the beacon of serious disease. But most people are not modelling their feet for sculpture artists. And if they did, the art would not sell!

Aging feet are rarely attractive, rarely seen, and rarely cared for. For many people, physically reaching them becomes a challenge with age. Arthritis, obesity, spinal problems, and declining mobility make it difficult, if not impossible. Family members are frequently unwilling or unable to help. Few adult children volunteer to trim a parent’s thickened toenails or inspect a suspicious ulcer.

But foot problems are among the first signals of poor circulation, diabetes, nerve damage, vascular disease, or chronic inflammation.

Diabetes alone has produced an epidemic of preventable suffering. Reduced sensation means people may not notice small injuries. Poor circulation prevents healing. Minor wounds become infected. Infection becomes hospitalization. It is a grim medical conveyor belt. Each year in North America, more than 150,000 people undergo lower-limb amputations related to diabetes, ranging from the loss of a toe to the loss of a leg.

But here’s a fact: walking remains one of the most effective, inexpensive, and scientifically validated forms of preventive medicine. Large population studies consistently show that even moderate daily walking improves insulin sensitivity, helps regulate blood sugar, and reduces the risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Movement, quite literally, keeps the circulation system working as designed.

Walking also lowers blood pressure, reduces cardiovascular risk, strengthens muscles, preserves balance, and protects mental health. No pharmaceutical company profits from recommending it, which explains why it receives so little attention compared with the endless advertising surrounding drugs.

Meanwhile, modern society has engineered physical movement out of daily life. We sit at desks. Sit in cars. Sit in front of screens. Then we wonder why middle age arrives accompanied by aching knees, swollen ankles, shortness of breath, and metabolic disease.

Podiatrists lament that people seek treatment only after years of avoidance, denial, or embarrassment. By then, what could have been managed with routine care has become a medical crisis. That is not merely foolish. It is dangerous.

If you have persistent numbness, swelling, ulcers, pain, discolouration, or wounds that refuse to heal, do not hesitate to ask for referrals to podiatrists, chiropodists, vascular specialists, or diabetic foot clinics. Waiting while problems worsen is negligence.

And always, daily, use the two doctors you have.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.