Welcome to Bristol Harbour

photo by Jean Fisher

Partial Eclipse

photo taken by Julie Held from her Cliffside Balcony

Hello from Tarpon Springs, Florida

I arrived in Florida September 24 after an uneventful drive. Not much rain and not a lot of traffic either. Quite unusual.

Tarpon Springs holds a triathlon the last weekend in September at a nearby park. This year, I wandered into Howard Park just as the event was finishing. Diamond Fitness, a Sponsor of the triathlon, had signs everywhere; this one caught my eye:

Happiness is a choice, a life changing one. While I love Florida and feel especially blessed to travel back and forth, Canandaigua is my peaceful, happy place. Those of us who were brought up in this area know that the Chosen Spot really is magical. Newer residents hopefully feel the same. And Bristol Harbour Village is unique because of our amenities, our helpful residents, and the Kenrick staff. People care. With the world in chaos, it is a blessing to know that this community strives to make life fun, pleasant and joyful for all.

In my opinion, The Village has never looked lovelier, thanks to our talented, capable staff. Matthew Spears has a knack for choosing the perfect flowers to adorn the village, whether the flowers are on the beach, on the signs to the entrance of Bristol Harbour proper or to the condos. Did you notice the red, white, and blue flag motif upon exiting the elevator at the beach? The Bristol Harbour entrance signs had a red and white theme as well for the summer months. Now fall chrysanthemums are everywhere. I've included photos of the Butterfly garden and the Flag Pole area.

These two beds have a gotten much needed face lift.

I decided it would be nice to know a bit more about the BHVA staff. I asked Fallon, Matt, Nathan and Sawyer to tell me about their background, their favorite hobbies and what they liked best about working in Bristol Harbour. Their photos and answers are below. Their hard work is evident. We have a new bathroom in the maintenance barn, the kayak dock, the gazebo on the beach, and the Zumba room floor due to their efforts. Sawyer has been the most visible this summer as he spends many days on the beach checking residents in and out and helping with the kayaks.

The condos have four additional employees headed up by Site Manager Andy Morey, They are: Tim VanLare, Superintendent, Logan Trautman, and Hayden

Fitzgerald. They are invaluable and continually work on improving conditions for condo owners.

.

A big thank you to the Recreation Committee, headed by Chris Sunter-Holeck. Chis and her committee arranged two activities per month, photos of many of these events are below.

Things to look forward to: Buffalo Bills games aired in the Community Center, and movies beginning January 7, 2027. Zumba most Wednesdays and Fridays.

Please note that early voting begins October 24. Steve Cortese has written an article which should answer many of your voting questions.

Bristol Harbour continually needs volunteers. Here are a few ways you can help your community:

• Deliver deposit cans to the Redemption Center in Canandaigua  
• Drive the Beach Shuttle 
• Join the Rec Committee 
• If you have a special skill, teach a class at the Community Center – computer skills, arts and crafts??? 
• Volunteer to serve on the BHVA Board or your HOA 
• Organize a game night 
• Write an article for the VILLAGER 
• Volunteer at the Naples Open Cupboard/Closet 
• Bake cookies as a thank you to our Staff! 

Part-time Employment opportunity: If you or someone you know is looking for part time employment, the Bristol Library needs a Manager, 25 hours a week. All particulars are at the end of this Villager.

A Community meeting will be held November 23, 2026 to discuss the upcoming budget. Please save the date to attend in person or via Zoom

There is a dog park in Canandaigua. Please visit this site for more information. .

https://www.canandaiguanewyork.gov/226/Dog-Park

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. 

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 marvelous fall. Enjoy the colorful leaves, that's one thing I really miss.

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

Consider attending the meetings at the town of South Bristol as they are informative.

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

November 9, 6 pm - Town Board Meeting

November 18, 6:30 pm - Planning Board Meeting

December 9, - 6:30 pm - Zoning Board of Appeals (Time Change)

December 14 - 6 pm Town Board Meeting

December 16 - 6:30 pm Planning Board Meeting

December 17 - 4 pm - Town Court DA Night

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

Fallon Mitch has had many years of management experience - 5 years in retail, 3 years in construction, and most recently14 years in Childcare.

On her days off, Fallon loves spending time with her 3 children and watching football. Her middle child plays sports in high school (Football, basketball, and baseball) and she's a big Bills fan!

I asked Fallon what she likes most about working in BHVA. She said "the people". She loves meeting new people and having the opportunity to talk with them.

Fallon encourages residents to stop by the office and say hi!

Matt Spears has worked in hardscape and landscaping for almost 20 years and prior to that did mechanic's work. Outside of work, Matt watches football and Nascar races and also likes to hunt, and spend time with his family.  When asked what he likes about working in BHVA, Matt said he enjoys being a big part of maintaining a historical property.

Sawyer Colburn grew up in South Bristol, went to Herkimer College for Forensic Science. In his spare time Sawyer enjoys reading, hiking & camping with friends and playing the guitar. Sawyer who is twenty years old, likes working for BHVA because there is always something to keep him busy. He is never bored here.

Nathan DeNeff is engaged and has a 4-year-old child. He went to Boces for masonry and construction and he's lived in 3 states (NY, SC, MA). He moved back to NY in 2013. When Nathan is not working, he enjoys hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and spending time with his family. Nathan agrees with Sawyer:

there's never a dull moment at Bristol Harbour.

THE FLAGS AT BHVA 

by

Ginny Lalka

You will note as you drive down Cliffside Drive that BHVA has displayed three different flags. One is the U.S. flag. The second is the flag of NY state and the third is the flag of Haudenosaunee Confederacy.  

The Haudenosaunee Flag is a deep purple banner featuring a central white pine tree symbol connected by a horizontal chain of four white squares.   

The flag’s design is an adaptation of the historic Hiawatha Wampum Belt, created centuries ago from purple and white shell beads. The purple background represents the deep purple wampum shells traditionally used in confederacy records and belts.  The Central Tree represents the Great Tree of Peace – where former warring nations buried their weapons. The Four Squares and Tree represent the original five nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy 

• Seneca 
• Cayuga 
• Onondaga 
• Oneida 
• Mohawk 

WHY ARE WE FLYING THIS FLAG? 

The town of South Bristol stands on the historic, ancestral homelands of the Seneca Nation of Indians who are known as the “Keepers of the Western Gate” within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

There is a great deal of history within our small community. For more information, please visit the Bristol Hills Historical Society at: https://bristolhillshistory.org and the Ganondagan State Historic State at 7000 County Road 41 in Victor, NY. 

Upcoming Events: 2026

October 3 - Walk to raise money for Alzheimer's research - Community Center 9:15 am

October 17 - Fall Fest Party with Cornhole Contest 

November 23 - Community Meeting to discuss the upcoming budget

December 5 Holiday Party - Community Center 6pm



ADDITIONAL EVENT DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED AS DATES GET CLOSER 

Ice Cream Social Volunteers

Marcy, Wendy, Marilyn and Linda

 Pickleball Tournament

by

Marilyn Noffsinger

A total of 30 residents were involved in planning or participating in the annual Bristol Harbour round robin pickleball tournament held on August 15. Steve Grose scored the most points for the men and Krista Grose had the top score for the women. A picnic followed with over 40 in attendance on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Good food, good conversation and games were enjoyed by all. 

Note: pickleball participants above

The winners and Tim in the photo below

A Fabulous End of Summer Party!

by

Chris Sunter-Holeck

Great band, great friends, great food — what a fabulous summer party! Held under sunny skies on the Community Center grounds, this year's End of Summer Party brought out a wonderful crowd for an evening of visiting, dancing, bountiful BBQ, cornhole matches, and a cozy fire circle as the night wound down. 

The grill turned out hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage and peppers, and savory baked beans. Attendees rounded things out with an abundance of side dishes and desserts.

Music was provided by Keys to the Caddy, fronted by Tony Infantino. The band fed off the crowd's energy — and with everyone dancing, they ended up playing well past their scheduled set.

A party like this doesn't happen without a lot of support behind the scenes, and I have so many people to thank.

First, a huge thank you to our grillers: Steve Cortese, Jim Fierro, John Hauck, Jon Link, and John Matrachisia. Great job, gentlemen — your talents and organization never cease to amaze me.

I'm also proud to lead our Recreation Committee, a group of volunteers who work all year long to bring events for everyone's enjoyment. A truly amazing team:

Lynn Buzzell

Deb Cortese

Linda Didsbury

Bev Fierro

Jean Fisher

Teri Hauck

Deb Bryce Holtz

Kim Infantino

Chris Link

Terri Matrachisia

Marilyn Noffsinger

Karen Pallies

And I would be remiss not to mention Tim Noffsinger, who is always there to help move tables, gather supplies, and lend a hand wherever needed.

Last but not least, thank you to the Board of Directors for continuing to support our community activities.

Here's to a fantastic summer, but remember activities continue in the fall.

See you at the next event!

Upcoming Town of South Bristol, NY Election — Summary

by

Steve Cortese 

EARLY VOTING BEGINS on OCTOBER 24. 

The Town of South Bristol will participate in the 2026 General Election on November 3, 2026, as part of Ontario County’s regular election cycle. All registered voters in the town vote at their assigned local poll site, with early voting available at countywide locations in Canandaigua, Geneva, and

Victor.  

Voter information forms are available at the entrance to the Community Center.  

You can vote 

• Absentee 
• Accessible Voting 
• Early by Mail 
• Early in Person  
• Election Day 

Key Points for South Bristol Voters 

• Election Date: November 3, 2026 (polls open 6 AM–9 PM).  
• Early Voting: October 24–November 1 at county early‑voting sites. 
• Mail / Absentee Ballots: Applications due by October 24, 2026.  
• Registration Deadline: October 24, 2026.  

Local Offices & Ballot Items 

Ontario County’s Sample Ballot was released September 10th 2026 and contains all of the candidates, Local, State and Federal, running for office on November 3rd.

You can see it here:  

Town of South Bristol Sample Ballot November 3rd, 2026 

The Town Supervisor Race 

Two candidates are running for Town Supervisor: Republican Meghan Fuller and Democrat Lisa Moore. Note that Lisa is the current Town Supervisor but was elected to only a 1-year term in 2025 due to realignment of election dates to even numbered years. Therefore, the Town Supervisor seat is up for election in 2026 after only one year served. There is a Proposition on the ballot to increase the Town Supervisor term from two (2) to four (4) years.  

What You Can Do Now 

• Check your registration status via the NYS Voter Lookup Tool here:  

https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ 



• Monitor the Ontario County Board of Elections website: 

https://www.ontariocountyny.gov/2220/2026-General-Election 

for any changes that may occur. 

For additional information on voting, contact the Board of Elections at 74 Ontario Street in Canandaigua. Phone is 585-396-4005. 

Naples Open Cupboard

by

Kelli Becka

As the crisp autumn air settles in and we prepare our homes for the changing season, please consider donating shelf stable food, gently used clothing and small household goods to the Naples Open Cupboard. Fall is a wonderful time to clean out pantries, closets and pass along items that are no longer needed but could be useful to someone else in our community. Your gently worn coats, sweaters, shoes, blankets, kitchen items, and other small household goods can help make a meaningful difference for local neighbors.

Monetary donations are always welcome and may be mailed to:

Naples open Cupboard, Inc.

P. O. Box 174

Naples, NY 14512

Phone number: 585-531-0011

Physical address: 24 Mill Street

website: www.naplesopencupboard.org

Position Available: Library Manager at the Bristol Library

The Bristol Library Board of Trustees seeks an experienced, creative, community-minded Library Manager to oversee the continued growth of our library.

The Library Manager directs all of Bristol Library's activities, such as the acquisition of new materials; reference, circulation, and collection, development; cataloging; community programs; all facets of social media; special event programming; and day-to-day management of library expenses. Duties include staff management, budget preparation and monitoring, interaction with the Board of Trustees, and cooperation with the Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston (OWWL) Library System.

Bristol Library

The Bristol Library is a member of the OWWL Library System. We serve a population of 3,881 people in the Towns of Bristol and South Bristol.

Position Overview

We are a small library, serving a rural community. We are looking for a person who can help us meet the community’s needs with enthusiasm and innovative ideas. 

This position requires the ability to apply current library trends and practices as well as exercise effective management, communication, financial, and interpersonal skills. Ability to demonstrate or learn technology, including social media skills, is necessary to be successful in this position. 

This position also manages the library’s day-to-day finances within the Board-approved budget and supports the Board’s efforts to secure funding through budget allocations and grants. The Library Manager assists the Library Board in budget and policy decisions, prepares the library’s annual report, provides other relevant reports, and participates in monthly meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Education and Experience

At least two years of academic experience from an accredited college or university and bookkeeping experience are preferred.

Previous library and QuickBooks experience is a plus.

Compensation

The position is for 25 hours per week, $21/hour. Hours may include evenings, and weekends.

How to Apply

Email a cover letter, resume, and three professional references as a PDF to the Bristol Library Board of Trustees at: librarydirectorsearch@owwl.org

Review of applications begins October 6, 2026. The position is open until filled.

Behold BHVA's newest amenity - a kayak dock. I used it this summer and found it very stable. A wonderful addition to our beach.