TI Life in October

October, when many of us have left the River and are now beginning our winter projects.

Early in September, Judy Wellman, Bonnie Borrello, Trude Fitelson and I had the delightful task of sorting through the incredible collection of books, documents, photographs and drawings all belonging to Paul Malo and donated to the Antique Boat Museum for future researchers. The material - 16 boxes – will first be sorted, catalogued and then available for research. This is a gift of true generosity.  To learn more about the project see Paul’s Legacy, Judy’s Gift, TI Gold.

TI Life will take full advantage of this material. This month we present Castle Rest, Its story. An article written by Paul several years ago and never published. Throughout the winter we will provide snapshots of the Malo Collection.

Regular contributors:

Brian Johnson presents Silent Rapids of Long Sault with more about the St. Lawrence Seaway

Kristen Pinkney returns with May Dewey’s Diary, Part VIII, March 1889

James Rappaport presents Howe Island Vines

Lynn McElfresh describes her adventure with Wedding Flowers

Kim Lunman presents Broomstick Castle in Fairyland and I introduce our October artist, folk artist Prudence Matthews in Hooked on Prudence.

New contributors

	Jeff Streets: Readers Exchange - Shipwrecked on Calumet Jeff Streets, a junior, is majoring in Earth Science at Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio.  His grandmother, Patricia Streets, lived in Clayton, NY until her death in 2007.  Jeff’s father grew up in Clayton, his mother in Cape Vincent.  He writes, “ I have traveled up to the River at least once a year since I was born.  Most of my family still lives in the area.”.   Jeff wrote his story when he was in Grade 9.
	Star Carter: Summer Eco-Tours Star Carter is the naturalist for Clayton Island Tours. Originally from Hawaii, she is now a permanent resident of northern New York. Always drawn to water and wildlife, she feels lucky to be working on the beautiful St. Lawrence River. Star has a degree in Animal Science from the University of Hawaii, and has recently started her Masters program at Penn State.
	John Keilty: A Muskie Jake Tribute A new era in the history of Gananoque's only waterfront resort was ushered in when the Gananoque Inn & Spa was sold to John and Noni Keilty in 1995.  For John this was a return to the town where he had been born and raised. John Keilty remains committed to ensuring the Gananoque Inn as a very special property and to contributing to the revitalization of Gananoque's waterfront.  In 2003, John renamed the Inn’s pub after Muskie Jake – a tribute to the man that John so admired. In John’s tribute we included a photograph of Muskie Jake which is on the cover of Shawn Thompson’s book; River Rats: People of the Thousand Islands. And before you ask what happened to this excellent writer who moved to the Canadian West several years ago, I will tell you that I checked in with Shawn last year when I became editor.

 Updates

Shawn Thompson

Here is his update: “ In 2002, I published a national book with Harper Collins Canada about the lives of prisoners behind bars. That book was critically acclaimed. Then I started a book about orangutans as an endangered species. I wrote that book (and my prisoner book) the same way I wrote my river rat books, by seeking out interesting people to interview, although stylistically those books are very different than my river rat books.

So, to write about orangutans and the people who know them best I tromped around the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra, the only place where orangutans live, and also visited zoos and scientists in Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.S. I had all kinds of adventures, like getting chased by wild pygmy elephants in Borneo (which are also endangered.) That will be the first and most comprehensive popular book ever written about orangutans. I've interviewed more people and been to more locations than any other journalist. That book will be published in the U.S. next year by the largest independent publisher in the U.S. They will also be using my photos for the book.” Shawn is a good friend of the River and we miss him!

Mike Folsom

Last month’s An Island Ghost Hunt received the most readers.  Several wrote about how much they enjoyed the show, while others pointed out mistakes and concerns. Suffice to say it was popular all around.   Mike is taking the month off – he's doing his day job with the Syracuse Hockey Crunch Team.

James Rappaport

Jim’s New Neighbors received the most comments.  If you have a “critter” problem, please go back and see the many hints posted by readers.

Conclusion

I apologize to Kim Lunman for a mistake in September's  Great Lakes Swimmers “get it” article.  I only posted half the article so please revisit.  Have a good month and, as always, our thanks for David Ray's editing help and Ian Coristine's photography and inspiration.

"Can't get much better than this..."

It is October 14th and just before we put this issue to "press" I received this lovely comment on a story published back in March 2008: 

I have been around the River all my life but I live eight hours away. Thanks to Pete and others like him I get to "visit" the River whenever I like. In all my years I have seen the most wonderful sights along the River. I have experienced hoarfrost, northern lights, and the most dramatic storm systems, sun rises and sun sets I have seen anywhere in my life. Through these stories and photographs, I get to "smell" and "hear the River almost as vividly as being there.

I am so grateful to have Thousand Islands Life available to me and my family.