The Villager

Bristol Harbour Village Association

July 2024

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator "- Mahatma Gandhi

Pinch me!!! How blessed and lucky I am to live here. Hopefully, all Bristol Harbour residents feel the same. Just look at this amazing photo taken by Jon Link on July 4, 2024. He captured Canandaigua Lake's extraordinary beauty and uniqueness. How could anyone not feel fortunate!

My life in Florida is wonderful as well, but totally different. I have to drive to play tennis or pickleball. I have to drive to swim, take a Zumba class, hike with friends. Here I can walk out my door. Neighbors are always available to join me for a swim or kayak paddle. One can pick up a pickleball game or salsa in Consuela's fun Zumba class. Instant Community is offered at Bristol Harbour.

Kudos once again to the Recreation Committee and the Bristol Harbour Yacht Club as they continue to plan fun events for all residents, including movie night. We have had wine tasting, a drum circle and will have our usual end of the summer party - how sad to even think about that in July, but summer does fly by.

Also, the Kenrick staff works tirelessly on our behalf, particularly in the summer months. Consider thanking them when you have a chance. They deserve our support .

Living in an HOA has lots of advantages and I love the structure and even the rules. I understand some do not, but perhaps changing our perspective may be needed. While some do not like the speed bumps, think of them in a positive way. Perhaps, slowing down saves a child or pets life and avoids a trial or jail time. (I understand that this applies only to a few and you know who you are.)

Keeping the Villager "light" and positive is important to me, so forgive me for the short lecture and the put your focus on photos of community members enjoying the many activities and amenities Bristol Harbour Village has to offer. Thanks to our resident photographers; Darren Brennessel, Jon Link, Gloria Harrington, Nancy Gerstner, Holly Parzych, Fred Muhleman, Mark Moretti, and Cathy Colby for their colorful submissions.

Please remember we have a website: Bristolharbourvillage,org.

One can find information and the address of the town of South Bristol's Transfer Station where residents can take trash that does not belong in the dumpsters! The BHVA amendments, audits, financials, public meeting minutes and various forms are there as well.

Important additions include the revised Environmental Committee Rules and Regulations, plus the new and simplified Environmental Committee Application form. Anyone contemplating exterior changes needs to read the rules and fill out the form available on our site.

The Homeowners' password is: BHVA1413

Thanks to those who contributed to this Villager. This is a community paper and is better with your input. Please send any ideas to me at the email listed below.

Patricia King (editor)

patricia.pking904@gmail.com

____________________________________________________________

BHVA Board of Directors

Gloria Harrington - President

John Constance - Vice President

Alexis Ortiz Heaney - Treasurer

Patricia King - Secretary

Ginny Lalka - Environmental Committee Chair

John Schultes - Facilities

Gina Sarkis Cushing - Contributing Member

Dave Richardson - Contributing Member

Steve Cortese - Contributing Member

Meetings at the Town of South Bristol

July 16, 7 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

July 25, 6:30 pm - Bristol Code Review Advisory

August 20, 6:30 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals

August 24, 10 am BHVA Homeowners' Annual Meeting at the town of South Bristol

Fun times at Bristol Harbour - Please mark your calendars!

Thursday, July 25, 6:30 BHVA Community Meeting at the Town of S. Bristol

Saturday, July 27, 5 pm - 7 pm - Marty's Meats at the Community Center

Wednesday, August 7, 7 pm - 8 pm - Canandaigua Watershed at the Community Center

Saturday, August 17, 2:30 pm - 5 pm Pickleball Tournament and Picnic

Wednesday, August 21 - Art Class with Daisy Case

Saturday, August 24, 6:30 pm - Ice Cream Social at the Community Center

Saturday, September 1, 5 pm - End of the Summer Party with band and Food Truck

Saturday, September 28, 10 am Alzheimer's Walk

Saturday, October 5, noon BHYC Octoberfeast at Ontario County Park

Saturday, October 25, 7 pm Neighbors' Night Halloween Party

Saturday, December 7, BHYC Holiday Party

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

Moonlight Paddle

 by

Dawn Sargent

The Bristol Harbour Yacht Club sponsored the Moonlight Paddle on June 21 to celebrate the summer solstice and view the Strawberry Moon. The day began with some heavy rain, but by early evening the weather passed through and it turned out to be a gorgeous night on the water. The lake was calm and the moonrise was spectacular. About 22 residents from the community paddled out onto the lake and more gathered on the beach to enjoy the bonfire.

Thanks to Rita Izzo for spearheading the event and everyone who helped get kayaks in and out of the water, got the fire going and brought snacks. 

Neighbors Wine and Beer Tasting event

by

Chris Link

On June 28th, the Neighbors Wine and Beer Tasting event was held at the Community Center. It was a delightful evening filled with engaging conversation among both new and long-time neighbors. The impressive selection of beer and wine, including unique varieties, provided a wonderful tasting experience. A special highlight was the opportunity to sample a wine made by BHV residents Bruce and Linda Dinsbury, which was excellent. Thank you, Bruce and Linda, for sharing it with us.

The event saw around 40 attendees, and many continued the evening around a fire pit following the event. Due to popular demand, we plan to host another Neighbors Night this August. Keep an eye out for upcoming communications.

Special thanks to Deb and Steve Cortese, Bella and Kevin Stahl and my husband Jon for their invaluable help with the event.

Drum Circle at Bristol Harbour

by

Ellen Beck

John R. Beck, HealthRHYTHMS∙ drum circle facilitator, conducted a drum circle with Bristol Harbour residents on Friday, July 5, in the Bristol Harbour community center. This event was open to all Bristol Harbour residents, and we had a variety of participants, ages six to 90-plus, some of whom had musical experience and others not.

John and his family were in Bristol Harbour for the week visiting his father, John H. Beck and his wife, Ellen. Following the visit, John was on his way to Michigan to conduct a drum circle. As he was traveling with 22 nested hand drums, we thought it would be fun to hold a drum circle for Bristol Harbour residents. 

With help from Ashley Christoff in the BHVA offices, we sent an announcement and within 24 hours we had organized a drum circle! The group had fun making music together, and we sounded pretty darn good for a collection of beginners. 



We are hoping that we might be able to do something like this again in the future.

Introducing John Beck

by

Jon Link

I recently had the pleasure of a hour's long chat with John Beck, Professor Emeritus of Percussion at Eastman School of Music. It wasn't nearly long enough. Professor Beck's list of bona fides in the world of percussion is long and impressive. I’ll barely scratch the surface here. His accomplishments and contributions to the art of drumming include performance, composition, writing, and, of course, instruction. His career has taken him around the world, and curiously, it was drumming that brought him here. In 1972, John was with a jazz ensemble hired to provide music for a model home showing in the brand new planned development of Bristol Harbour. "I looked around and I said to myself 'I would like to live here.' So, I made a commitment, not loudly, but inside me, to live in Bristol Harbour [someday]."

John Beck, "JB" to his students, is no stranger to commitments. When he was just 10 years old, a new band was being formed in his hometown of Lewisburg, PA and the director needed players. John set his sights on the drums and asked a local house painter and part time drummer in a fife and drum corps to give him lessons. The man obliged and in 10 lessons taught John everything he knew. As John recounts, "I practiced hard, I worked hard" and while still in grade school he was playing in the high school band.  

By his early teens, John, now completely hooked on drumming, sought out increasingly skilled instructors to elevate his playing. This quest eventually took him 225 miles away from home to study in Pittsburgh. John, not yet in high school, would bunk at a YMCA so he could take lessons at Art's Drum Shop. Drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich would hang out at the drum shop when their bands were in town. It was here, you might say, that John truly entered the world of percussion. As he recalls, "I really appreciated my parents allowing me to do something like this. It was a great learning experience for me."

If you read John's bio online, you'll see that in addition to being a professor of percussion, he was a timpanist for the Rochester Philharmonic for 40 years. But if you could go back and ask that young man at the drum shop what he wanted to be, he probably would have said a drummer in Count Basie’s swing band. John pursued drumming with feverish intensity throughout his teen years. A fixture on the weekend circuit, he would play at venues like the American Legion, Bucknell University fraternity houses, and private parties too. A disciplined soul by nature, John will tell you that, unlike his bandmates, he never smoked or drank. So, in his senior year, he listened intently when his band director advised, "If you want to be a musician, you must attend the Eastman School of Music." Taking the suggestion to heart, he enrolled.

As an undergraduate, the young man who had envisioned playing in a big swing band was introduced to the largely unfamiliar names of Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky. John recounts “instead of playing a drum set for Count Basie, I got to play timpani for Beethoven." The two performance artforms are actually similar, John explained. The timpanist in a performance of Beethoven, for example, isn’t there to improvise like a jazz, rock, or swing drummer might, but he can “drive the sound to excitement.”  

After graduating from Eastman, John enlisted in the Marines to satisfy the requirements of the draft. He chose the Corps because, as fate would have it, there was an opening for a drummer in the United States Marine band. The band needed to replace Ollie Zinsmeister, an Eastman graduate who was leaving after a 20 year enlistment. Four years later, when John's enlistment was up, fate intervened once more. His former instructor at Eastman, William Street, anticipating his own retirement, asked John to join him at the school as his assistant. As John puts it "I was in the right place at the right time when these things came along." Less than 10 years later, in 1968, the baton was passed to John when he became the full-time percussion instructor at Eastman.

Chat with John for a little while and he’ll take you on a journey of sorts. “I didn’t know that beating on a drum would take me around the world, but it did.” John has played in every part of the globe except New Zealand and Australia, though he “knows drummers there.” He has been a percussionist in residence, adjudicator, soloist, instructor and clinician in places like Denmark, the UK, Italy, Poland and Brazil to name a few. “Every country in the world has a sort of rhythm, something they do with drums which forms a signature of what they are.” And everywhere John would go, he would find a familiar “fraternity” of drummers eager to help each other just like those early days in the drum shop in Pittsburgh.

For John, drumming has been more than a career; it's been a lifestyle, and he's fully immersed in it. When asked to pinpoint his favorite aspect of his career—performance, composition, writing, or teaching—he couldn’t choose. “I had to do them all,” he insisted. “One couldn’t exist without the other. They all compliment each other. You really have to be part of the whole.” 

 When auditioning prospective students for Eastman, John sought young percussionists with a similar attitude and potential. Over his nearly 50 years at the school, he auditioned over 1800 students, but accepted less than 300. He looked for individuals ready and willing to explore all facets of percussion. He wanted to afford them every opportunity the school provided. Selecting too many students would have limited performance chances for everyone. To “survive” in the music business, John explained, you need to be well rounded.  

I asked John if he thought success as a drummer required innate talent and a natural sense of rhythm. He responded cautiously. “First of all, you have to have a good sense. You have to be someone who's willing to practice, and discipline your life.” There is rhythm in everything, John explained, even the simplest activities of daily life. “If you think about it, everything you do throughout the day is done in a rhythmic pattern.” Coincidentally, John told me that his latest book, though not yet published, is titled A Practical Approach to Understanding Rhythm.

“I couldn't be more happy that I have had a career where I could play music with others, for others” John expressed. “And that’s what music is all about. That’s what musicians do. They practice hard. You never stop practicing. You have to continue practicing, but you are doing something for others and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great standard of life.”  

Today, John with his wife Ellen is enjoying retirement in Bristol Harbour, which they have called home since 2005. Every summer, they will rent a condo to host their children and grandchildren for family gatherings.  His son John R., also an accomplished drummer and educator, recently led a drum circle in our community center.

Professor Beck's talent and spirit enrich our chosen spot, resonating far beyond the beat of his drums.

Update on Naples Open Cupboard

by

Cathy Colby

Thank you for your continued support of the Naples Open Cupboard. Every canned good, box of pasta, article of clothing, small home goods or donation does make a difference.

The Cupboard serves an average of 285 families a month. The number continues to grow. Last year the Cupboard assisted 7,770 individuals. As of last month that number was 6,800, a substantial rise.  Our monthly Pop-up in conjunction with Foodlink hit a record high last month as well. We provided boxes for 212 households. This past Wednesday alone, 50 individuals received the benefit of the Cupboard.

We are kicking off a School supply drive for Naples Central School District students. The objective is to ensure students in need have essential supplies required to start the school year prepared and with the tools necessary for success. The district serves 600 plus students in grades preK-12. 54% are economically disadvantaged.

Donations of essential school supplies such as. Backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, highlighters, folders, binders glue sticks, journals, erasers, loose leaf paper, graph paper are needed. Art supplies, technology tools, and fun items likes stickers, play doh, planners or agendas can also be used.

The collection box is located in the Community Center closet to the left of the main entrance. The school supplies, as well as shelf stable food, clothing, gently used sheets and towels, dishware and small home goods in good working condition are graciously accepted. We can not accept furniture or large items at this time.

Thank you always for supporting our neighbors in need. 

Cathy and Phil Colby and The Naples Open Cupboard team

Movie Night on the beach

by

Dawn Sargent

The Bristol Harbour Yacht Club sponsored its first ever Movie Night on the Beach on 7/20. Approximately 50 residents headed down to the beach to enjoy the summer blockbuster JAWS. The weather was perfect and as soon as the sun went down and the movie started, the gasps and laughs began! A big shout out to Brian Charlton, son of Bristol Harbour resident Joe Charlton, for letting us borrower his system and getting everything set-up and ready to go.

SAVE THE DATE

The Bristol Harbour Yacht Club will hold its annual Octoberfeast event on Saturday, October 5, at Wilson Lodge located in Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill. Our celebration will begin at 12 Noon with a buffet lunch served by Gale-Wyn Catering at 2:00pm. We will enjoy Chicken BBQ, salt potatoes, tossed salad with mixed greens, and pasta salad. An announcement with a registration form will be sent closer to the date. All Bristol Harbour residents are invited. We hope you will be able to join us!

Bristol Library

6750 County Road #32, Canandaigua, NY 14424

585-229-5862; bristollibrarydirector@owwl.org; thebristollibrary.com

Hours: M, W, Th 3pm–7pm; 

Tu & Sat 10am–2pm



Register at www.thebristollibrary.com

• OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY. “Adventure Begins at Your Library” began July 8 and continues to August 3. The program offers a variety of free events and activities designed to inspire and entertain readers of all ages. Sign up today. 

• CHICKEN BBQ @ CDGA Runnings Parking Lot, Sunday, July 28, 11am-3pm. These are the chicken dinners that made Gale-Wyn famous. $13. Proceeds to benefit the Bristol Library. Come early. These dinners go fast.

• BUILD YOUR OWN CRAZY CONTRAPTIONS, Monday, July 29, 3-5pm.  Build your own Rube Goldberg type crazy contraption (or work as a team depending on the number of people). Ages 10 and up. Registration required.

• MUSIC IN THE PARK WITH MYSTIC STEW @ Levi Corser Park,  Friday, August 2, 6-9pm. The Town of Bristol and the Bristol Library proudly present the country rockin' blues of Mystic Stew.

• WILDLIFE ROCKSTARS, Saturday, August 3, 11am-12pm. Hear an animal themed story, read by a Wildlife Rockstar, and meet and greet animals from the story! Wildlife Rockstars are learning to handle and care for live native and exotic animals, birds, and reptiles as part of their rehabilitation from brain injury. They inspire audiences with their personal stories of recovery as they promote wildlife conservation.

• NATURE HIKE WITH TOM STEVENS, Tuesday, August 6, 10am-12pm. Hike through our local parks with Bristol’s Park Supervisor Tom Stevens and explore some of the wonderful native plant species that are growing all around us. Dress appropriately for possible mud and bugs. Meet at the Bristol Library.

• SUMMER READING CELEBRATION, Saturday, August 3, 12-1pm. Join us for outdoor games and snacks. This is the last day to turn in your Summer Reading Bingo Cards.

• SUMMER READING RAFFLE, Tuesday, August 6, 1-1:30pm. Prizes and baskets to be raffled for those who completed their reading Bingo Cards. 

RECURRING EVENTS AT THE BRISTOL LIBRARY

• CHAIR YOGA, Tuesdays in July and August, 9-9:45pm, Free (no class August 20). Yoga is for everybody and for every body. Fall schedule TBD. 

• STORYTIME, Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30. Story Time Adventure on July 30, Campfires! Build your own pretend campfire. More adventures await. All are welcome.

• CAREER COUNSELING, fourth Tuesday of every month, 12:30-2pm. No appointments necessary. This is a free service provided by Amanda Bollinger from Ontario County Workforce Development. Amanda can help you create or update your resume, prepare for interviews, explore careers, or apply for jobs.

• EUCHRE, Thursdays, 3-5pm. Join us for a friendly game of Euchre every Thursday. Don't know how to play? Don't worry! We'll teach you!

• KNIT AND STITCH, first and third Tuesdays of every month. Enjoy some tea or coffee while you knit or crochet, cross stitch or embroider. All are welcome!

 STAY TUNED … RETURNING THIS FALL 

..

• BRISTOL BOOKENDS MEMOIR WRITING CLASS. Starting Tuesday, September 12, 12-2pm. For more information, contact instructor Cat Cohen (catcohen@frontiernet.net).

• WATERCOLOR AND SKETCHING CLASSES WITH HOWARD VAN BUREN. $25 per person includes all materials and Howard will mat the final work. We accept cash or checks at the Bristol Library. Schedule TBD.

• CARD-MAKING WITH DEB OF STAMPIN’ UP, second Thursdays, 5-7pm. $15 includes all materials. We accept cash or checks at the Bristol Library, or can pay $15.45 online via Paypal at paypal.me/BristolLibrary.

• NAPLES WEAVERS’ GUILD, second Saturdays, 10am-1pm.

You can sign up for a library card with a quick visit to the library or online at https://owwl.org/help/register. Be sure and indicate Bristol Library is your home library.  

Follow Bristol Library on their new Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheBristolLibrary)

Visit Bristol Library website (https://www.thebristollibrary.com/)

to sign up for the monthly newsletter

Check out recurring events at www.thebristolharborlibrary.com

Recycling Update

by

Marilyn Noffsinger

Residents are doing a better job with sorting their recyclables, 5 cent redeemable cans and bottles, and their trash! That is wonderful news. Perhaps the Large Pink Sign pictured above is helping.

NO plastic bags or trash should be left in these large bins. 

Plastic bags and styrofoam should be placed in the compactor. 

Most soda, beer cans and bottles are labeled NY and are redeemable for 5 cents. These redeemables go anywhere along the left side wall in any of the trash cans. Please continue to be diligent about sorting your trash bags. 

  PLACE THE FOLLOWING IN BINS UNDER THE PINK SIGN:

• Clean plastic containers, paper, and glass and cans that do not have a 5 cent deposit. Remove them from the plastic bags and place in large bins.  
• Any cans and bottles purchased OUT OF STATE are not redeemable
• Drinks which have no 5 cent deposit : Arnold Palmer, Pure Leaf Tea, Gatorade, High Noon, Snapple and vodka drinks, 
•  WINE and LIQUOR BOTTLES have no deposit.  

ALL CARDBOARD INCLUDING COLORED CEREAL BOXES, SODA PACKS, BEER BOXES, ETC. GO IN THE BINS ON THE FAR RIGHT. PLEASE REMEMBER to empty out any plastic or foam and then CRUSH ALL BOXES.

The redeemable bottle project this year gave the community $1200 used to cover the cost of adding a third color to the non volley zone on the newly resurfaced pickleball courts. This represents redemption of 24,000 cans and bottles by our volunteers. 

Your efforts to recycle help improve our facilities!