See what we’ve been up to in 2024!

Composting

Huge shout out to Kelly and Sean McDonald for their interesting composting program! They unraveled the secrets of composting, both inside and outside. The program highlight included venturing outside to explore their incredible worm compost - nature’s very own recycling plant. What an inspiring way to enrich the earth!

Findley Lake Swans

The program unfurled under the elegant theme of swans, the serene creatures that graced the memories of Pam Watrous’s childhood at Findley Lake, and now, poetically, serve as our bicentennial mascots. Pam shared enchanting tales an origins, weaving the past into our present celebration. Lin Baylis complemented the journey with a visual odyssey, presenting a collection of photographs showcasing the diverse beauty of these majestic birds, some captured right on our Findley Lake. Heartfelt gratitude to Pam and Lin for sharing and enriching our understanding and appreciation of our swans!

We WERE geared up for the Total Solar Eclipse!

We soaked in a stellar program that was filled with cosmic insights with Mike Lambert sharing what to expect, delving into the eclipse’s history, what cosmic wonders to anticipate and the art of safely basking in its glory. Lin Baylis also gave insight into how to capture this celestial spectacle through the lens of photography. Thank you Mike and Lin for your excellent guidance!

Also see photos from the day of the 2024 Solar Eclipse!

What’s in the Water We Drink

Kudos to Trent Caster of Caster Drilling for delivering a captivating dive into the world of the water we drink. He presentation flowed, keeping everyone hooked with fascinating facts and information about the water we drink. Thank you, Trent, sharing your knowledge and expertise!

Reducing Social Isolation & lonliness

We enjoyed a program focused on the crucial topic of social isolation and lonliness. Carri Raynor, from the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene truly shined with her insightful strategies to foster connection and combat lonliness. Thank you to Carri for an enlightening and empowering presentation!

Wine Tasting at Toast Wine + Spirits

We had a blast at an afternoon wine tasting event with Chardonnay perfectly paired with delectable cheeses at Toast Wine + Spirits. Owners Nick and Paul along with Crissy, infused the experience with their infectious energy and shared fascinating information. Cheers to Toast and the great memories we created together.

Valentines Day Dinner & Scavenger Hunt

Love was in the air as we enjoyed the Valentines Day Dinner and Scavenger Hunt. Laughter filled the room as we uncovered the hidden treasures, followed by a delicious meal! Thank you to Mary Ford for organizing the very entertaining scavenger hunt and to Alexander’s on the Lake for another fabulous meal!

Service Dogs qualifications

Scott Benza shared an informative presentation on the role of service dogs. He shared information on the rigorous training, tasks they are trained to perform and the positive impact they have on the quality of lives. Bonus: We got to meet the beautiful and sweet Willow and Sierra! Thank you Scott, Willow and Sierra!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

Jo-Ann and Andy Travis shared their bicycling adventure tour in Holland! Thank you for sharing the rich blend of landscapes, history and vibrant culture, along with the beautiful tuplis. The images and story was an interesting mix of charm and delights!

Food for Thought 2024

We had a full house for Food for Thought 2024! Thank you to everyone who participated in the annual Food for Thought event. We gathered great insight and learned of additional ways to further the mission and support the needs of our terrific community.

Not So Silent Night

We reveled in the festive spirit during the “Not so Silent Night” event. Grateful shout out to Alexander’s and team for hosting our event and the complimentary, delicious hot chocolate. We enjoyed the jolly tunes, friendships and the beginning of winter celebrations.

The Spy Who Got Away

Michael Ganske, retired CIA Officer, joined us to share his profound insights with Edward Lee Howard, the “Spy who got away”. Much gratitude, Michael, for enriching us with your wisdom and the captivating experience.

Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers

Thank you to Christopher Bailey, owner and CEO of Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers, for sharing very helpful information on balance. We learned about balance challenges and how to manage them. Thank you for helping us learn how to be healthier and safer.

Second annual Trivia Night

We had a fun filled evening at Alexander’s on the Lake, for our second annual Trivia Night, where Team Pennsylvania Pioneers clinched the victory! Thank you Terry Winfield for your engaging emcee skills and Mary Norcross for sharing your delightful Findley Lake trivia. The evening was truly memorable with great food and company - thank you to Chris, Mimi, Molly and the Alexander’s team for supporting!

Loomis Creek Preserve ospreys

Dr. Jeanne Wiebenga shared a captivating osprey presentation, with the majestic birds taking center stage. The presentation was both interesting and informative, offering insights into the ospreys’ lives, their aerial prowess and the meticulous craftsmanship of their nests. Thank you, Dr. Wiebenga, for inspiring us with a newfound appreciation of these remarkable creatures from Loomis Creek Preserve near Chautauqua Lake.

Alaskan Adventure

We went on an exhilarating Alaskan Wildlife Adventure with Lin and Marlene. Their photos captured the untamed beauty, showcasing their weeks immersed in the company of majestic animals, vibrant birds and awe-inspiring landscapes. They also wove in interesting facts about “The Last Frontier”. Thank you Lin and Marlene for sharing this Alaskan odyssey!

2nd Annual Jack ‘O Lantern Jubilee

The 2nd Annual Jack O’ Lantern Jubilee at the Benza’s home was a touchdown! The catering by Alexander’s was a game-winning play, and the football theme scored big. With games, laughter and fun, the event was was an end zone celebration. A special THANK YOU to Scott and Penny for orchestrating this winning play!

K9 Demonstration

K9 Deputy Jason Beichner from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department gave an enlightening presentation and demonstration with his K9 assistants. He shared information about the dogs, including training, care and more. Deputy Beichner also talked about his law enforcement journey and the reasons behind his commitment to the role of a dedicated K9 handler. Thank you, Deputy Beichner!

Read more in this article published in The Observer Today, December 2, 2023.

Estate Planning Education

Rob Maring and Margo Daud from Freedom Investment Management Group joined us. The provided valuable insights on the intracate art of estate planning. Heartfelt gratitude, Rob and Margo, the insights you shared very helpful in helping guide us through the complexities of estate planning.

How to Marble Paper

A big shout out to Ginny Keim for teaching us how to marble paper. We had fun learning this new technique, and our creative journey was a rollercoaster of “Wow” moments! Thank you for making the art marbling a fun adventure.

Westfield Respite Care Program

Thank you, Gail Boardway, from the Westfield Respite Care Program. Gail shared information about a program that is held once a month - providing support to individuals suffering from Dementia and early stages of Alzheimer’s by giving them an opportunity to participate in a social, supportive and secure environment. This monthly program also supports caregivers!

Travel Adventure - Amsterdam to budapest

Hats off to Rebecca Brumagin, Debbie Emory, Debbie White and Suzi Dunlap for sharing your epic journey — Amsterdam to Budapest! Navigating through three rivers, conquering 68 Locks, and sprinkling in countless moments of pure joy - your tales brought the spirit of the region alive. Thank you for sharing great memories with us.

sunset sounds on the lake with Abbey Road

We enjoyed a beautiful evening at the Gazebo in Findley Lake, entertained with the music from Abbey Road! Thank you to Abbey Road, and to Becky and John Faulkner for providing snack bags, with proceeds going to Community Connections. Thank you all for joining, supporting and enjoying the fun together!

Card Making with Barb Cooper

We enjoyed a fun afternoon learning how to design greeting cards with Barb Cooper. Thank you, Barb!

lake erie salt mines

Thank you to Elizabeth Meeder for sharing a very interesting program on the Lake Erie salt mines!

Felting with Medis Kent

Thank you to Medis Kent! Medis shared great information on the art of felting. She showed us supplies needed, materials to use, plus the history of felting. Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and your art.

Martin Proctor, District 18 County Legislator,
Chautauqua county, ny

Thank you to Marty Proctor, our County Legislator and Findley Lake resident, for sharing information with us on his duties, committees served on and more, on July 27. We appreciate your service and dedication to our community!

Love Blossoms Flower Farm

Jessica Harrington, landscaper and Master Gardener, joined us this summer to share the story of her flower farm, located on Station Road, Erie. Thank you for the entertaining and interesting information about gardening and the beautiful, speciality flowers you grow.

Sunset Sounds on the Lake

On July 19th, we all enjoyed an awesome concert at the gazebo with music by Shadyside. Thank you to Shadyside and all who joined in the fun!

Garden Tour 2023

Summer is here! We enjoyed the annual Garden Tour on June 22, touring four gardens on Shadyside. Each garden was unique and beautiful! Thank you to the garden hosts. It was an awesome day, including lunch at Alexander’s!

Sunset Sounds on the Lake - With Jesse Taylor Smith

It was a beautiful evening in Findley Lake for our first “Sunset Sounds on the Lake”. Jesse Taylor Smith, and his daughter, Ella, entertained with the best music! Everyone enjoyed a fun, relaxing time with friends and neighbors. Thank you Jesse and Ella!

Managing Email

You asked for it! As requested during our 2023 “Food for Thought” event, a class was held to help us with creating new files, organizing email and other challenges we had. Lin Baylis came to our rescue as we asked questions on how to better manage files on our laptops. Thank you Lin, for sharing your computer knowledge!

happy birthday! Community Connections@Findley lake is 10!

We had a wonderful birthday picnic on May 25th, celebrating 10 years of serving the community. Many friends joined, weather was beautiful and Findley Lake’s Ed Hart, local singer and songwriter, provided great entertainment. Thank you to all, for your support!

trivia night

Together with Alexander’s, we had our first Trivia Night! We had five categories, with seven questions each. A fun evening was had by all, with five teams competing for the most points. The winner was…the Red Hot Trivia Peppers!

Visited india with kent & Carol bright

Kent Bright took us on a photo journey from the recent trip he and his wife, Carol, took to India. We viewed wonderful photos as we heard of their adventures in the Taj Mahal, Kathmandu, Varanasi and Ganges River. Thank you, Kent!

mike ganske, former cia officer

This May, we had the pleasure of hearing from Mike Ganske, who shared a presentation of Ana Montes, convicted spy. Mike is a retired CIA officer and engaging speaker. Thank you, Mike!

Met u.s. olympic gold medalist figure skaters, findley lake’s carol heiss jenkinS and hayes alan jenkins

Carol was a 1960 Gold Medal winner and Hayes a 1956 Gold medal winner. They shared their world-wide journey. Read the article published in the Jamestown Post Journal.

Colored Easter Eggs!

We has a great time coloring eggs. Ginny Keim showed us how to use pieces of men’s silk ties to dye eggs. We all participated and they turned out beautiful. Thank you Ginny and Tony Keim!

Bingo 2x every month

Bingo took place in the CommuniTea Room in March. This was also time for our quarterly gift basket give-away. Join us April 7 and 14th!

Cooking with chris

We cooked with Chris Cheronis in the kitchen today, March 23. Chris brought Greek Fasolakis for our lunch and we made Baklava to take home. Thank you, Chris!

“HOW THE MILITARY TRAINS” PRESENTATION

This March, Col (R) Scott Benza talked about “How the military trains". It was such an interesting topic. Scott’s enthusiasm and love of the military is inspiring! Thank you, Scott, for your service!

Rug hooking with Alicia Blakeslee

Held at the Findley Lake Community Center. Beautiful “hooking” is happening here in February and March! Thank you, Alicia!

learning CPR

In February, a CPR course was given by Bob Crane and Jamie Spath at the Sherman Firehall. Thirteen people participated learning CPR methods and using an AED, (automated external defibrillator.) Thank you Bob and Jamie for a job well done!

valentine’s day fundraising dinner 2023

Lovely evening on the porch at Alexander’s for the annual Valentine’s Day dinner and fundraiser. Music by Mac Craffey with appetizers, a delicious dinner and dessert by Alexander’s. Two gift baskets, filled with goodies from local businesses were raffled. Thank you to all who attended. Thank you to Alexander’s for hosting. Thank you to Mac for donating time and talent. Thank you to Mimi, our server, who tended to us with patience and attentiveness.

Annual “Food for thoughts” gathering

We held our annual “Food for Thoughts” event on January 16th. With 35 people in attendance, we enjoyed a lunch catered by Twin Docks (thank you Twin Docks!) and talked about our last year of services, programs and events. We discussed many ideas for an even brighter future. Looking forward to 2023!

2022 “Not so silent” night

Thank you to Alexander’s for hosting our “Not So Silent Night” in December. The caroling was led by Kristine Gleason and Sadie D’Angelo and was accompanied on guitars by Jo-Ann Travis and Lin Baylis. It was a festive evening with Christmas carols, a warm fire (compliments of Scott Porter) and hot chocolate (compliments of Alexanders). Come join us next year!

2nd annual christmas tea 2022

A joyous time was had by all who attended our 2nd annual Christmas tea!

Halloween 2022

Huge thank you to Scott and Penny Benza for hosting our first annual fall fundraiser. It was a beautiful evening filled with good friends, good food and a lot of fun in a perfect setting!