Posted on 06/23/2002 5:56:28 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
SPRINGPORT - The message of those who didn't attend Saturday's SHARE Fest was as potent as the celebration that took place on Truesdale Road.
"They haven't made themselves known to anybody down here," said Jeanne Herst, who owns a home on Route 90, near the SHARE farm and chose not to attend the celebration. "I wouldn't know them if I saw them, and they don't live that far from me."
Herst echoed the sentiment of many of her neighbors. They're unsure what the SHARE farm is about, why it's here, and what its goal is. But enough people attended the SHARE Fest in the afternoon to nearly deplete the event's 100 hot dogs, 100 pieces of chicken and 28 quarts of strawberries.
Julie Uticone of Seneca Falls, one of the event's organizers and the farm's president, said that was the point of the SHARE Fest, an open house event of live music, food and cultural exchange.
"We wanted to open our home and open our land up to the people," Uticone said.
The farm was purchased last April for $240,000. At that time, the 70-acre farm was designed to re-establish a homeland for displaced Cayuga Nation members.
The farm was built amidst a bitter Cayuga Nation land claim that's polarized the community. The farm, Uticone said, is designed to ease that bitterness. And the name itself - Strengthening Haudenosanee-American Relations through Education - fosters understanding, she said.
But they've been extremely quiet neighbors, those who live near them say.
Not in attendance
Some of the farm's closest neighbors, people who live between Aurora and Union Springs on Route 90, didn't attend Saturday's SHARE Fest.
"I didn't hear anything about it," said Francis Lacomb of Union Springs. "I can't be the only one that didn't. I'm not sure how much good (SHARE Fest) will do."
The idea of the SHARE farm, though, is admirable, he said. "I think they have to do something. People are very polarized on the issue. If they just do nothing, it's not going to get any better."
As for now, Lacomb said he is "just kind of hoping I didn't put all that money down (on his home) to lose my house. That's pretty much the only opinion I have."
His views were echoed by Jane Barner, also of Union Springs.
"I've never been up there," the 75-year-old said. Her only experience with SHARE organizers was when she went into the village and noticed that they were being targeted by those who don't like the idea of the SHARE farm.
They were very rude to them," Barner said. "That's a shame, because they are just as good as we are. There should be no difference."
Taking an interest
Herst said she was disappointed she didn't know about the event ahead of time.
"If I had known, I certainly would've taken an interest in it," she said. She wanted to get to know her neighbors. "I heard that someone bought it for them and that's all I really know. I haven't met any of the people."
High school student Adam MacDonald of Ithaca, who attended the event, said he took an interest for a specific reason.
"My mom made me go," he said. "It was all right. I sat on some hay bales."
Others, like Julie Uticone's son, Jamin Uticone, found that the best part of the day's events was a performance by Cornbred.
"I'm not a blues man," Jamin Uticone said, "but he was really good."
Cayuga Nation Heron Clan Mother Bernadette Hill, who had planted corn at the farm earlier, also enjoyed Cornbred's performance. "That corn's going to come up rockin' and rollin'."
The high interest in the event caught organizers by surprise, Julie Uticone said.
"I am amazed," she said. "There's way more here than I expected. It's been excellent."
Typical media puffery of the attendance at a liberal event.
"Nearly" depleted could mean anything, I figure, from 80 to 99 hot dogs/chicken were eaten. When you consider that many people probably ate seconds, or even thirds...well this could have been a very sparsely attended event.
The farm was purchased last April for $240,000. At that time, the 70-acre farm was designed to re-establish a homeland for displaced Cayuga Nation members.
The farm was built amidst a bitter Cayuga Nation land claim that's polarized the community.
High school student Adam MacDonald of Ithaca, who attended the event, said he took an interest for a specific reason.
"My mom made me go," he said. "It was all right. I sat on some hay bales."
Translation: his liberal Ithaca mother was trying to indoctrinate him.
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
Yeah boy. You tell 'em ,granny. :op Speaking of which, how is the corn you planted (and the rest of the farm's crop) coming along, granny?
The high interest in the event caught organizers by surprise, Julie Uticone said. "I am amazed," she said. "There's way more here than I expected. It's been excellent."
Lol! Well, duh. What they expect her to say, "Good grief, where on earth is everybody?? I thought there'd be more people than this."
Yup Good Old Time Rock and Rollers!!!!
"City of Evil" big time bump!!!
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