DANIELLE WILLS JOINS ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM STAFF

CLAYTON, New York (July 27, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today the hiring of Danielle M. Wills as Membership and Finance Assistant.

Wills joins the Antique Boat Museum where she will play a key role in both the membership and finance departments, focusing on member and donor relations, as well as general office management.

A North Country native, Wills attended SUNY Buffalo and currently resides in Redwood, NY.

The ABM, now open daily 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is home to North America’s largest antique boat collection with more than 300 boats and over 1,000 boating artifacts. In addition, the Museum is also host of the longest running antique boat show, which will celebrate its 50th year this August 1-3, and is known as the birthplace of the antique raceboat regatta, which will run August 8-10. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

Award-Winning Game Designers Visit Singer Castle - Inspired designing of new game!

Left to right: Brenda and John Romero,

Dan and Kim McAuliffe.

Photo by Tom Weldon, President of Dark Island Tours

Awarding-winning game designers Brenda Romero and John Romero recently visited Singer Castle on Dark Island. The Romeros were accompanied by their close friends and fellow game developers Kim and Dan McAuliffe. While at the castle, the four are drawing inspiration from the Castle’s mystique, beauty and environment to create a new board game.

“Having grown up in the North Country, there is no place more beautiful in the summer months,” said Brenda Romero, a native of Ogdensburg, NY.” This visit home, we decided to fulfill a childhood dream of mine and stay in Singer Castle.” The couple rented the castle for several nights and already has plans to return. According to Scott Garris, caretaker of Singer Castle, the Romeros even requested Jreck’s subs be delivered to the Castle. “The castle provides a wonderful dinner for us, but if I’m home, I want Jreck’s.”

John Romero is best known for creating the first person shooter genre with games like DOOM, Quake and Wolfenstein 3D. He has created over 140 games, founded 10 game companies and won every major game industry award. Brenda Romero, on the other hand, worked on the Wizardry series, Dungeons & Dragons and has recently achieved notoriety with a series of analog board games. One of those games, Siochan Leat (The Irish Game), is in the National Museum of Play at The Strong in Rochester New York. Kim McAuliffe is a senior game designer at Microsoft and is working on the critically-acclaimed game Project Spark, a game which allows people to create their own game worlds complete with quests and stories. Dan McAuliffe is studio director, executive producer and veteran mobile game developer who has worked on dozens of major game titles. He is currently forming his next venture.

“The castle on Dark Island is so beautiful and provides great inspiration for game ideas,” says John Romero. “So, we are all collaborating on multiple game ideas based on the mystery and history of the castle.”

---Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant, Singer Castle

And what would we do without the following update?! ...

 John Romero (right) visits Dave Johnson, 

owner of Jreck Subs, Alexandria Bay NY.

Photo by Cindy Johnson.

Singer Castle Displays Wood Carvings by carver Clifford Yates

Cliff Yates and his latest carvings.

A new collection of wood carvings by noted carver Cliff Yates is on display in the Gift Shop at Singer Castle on Dark Island in the 1000 Islands.  Cliff and his wife NeNe have spent their summers on Elm Tree Island in Chippewa Bay for the past fifty-nine years.  He is a self-taught woodcarver who specializes in birds, fish and wildlife.  In 1997 after a serious stroke left Cliff partially paralyzed and unable to use his left hand, he was unwilling to give up carving. Cliff underwent extensive physical therapy and worked until he was able to walk, talk and carve again.  The new collection shows how well he has succeeded in developing his art.

 ---Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant, Singer Castle

“From Cordwood to Castles” - Judy Keeler - Cornwall Brothers Store & Museum

Cornwall Bros. Store & Museum

Photo courtesy of Jerrye & Roy Klotz MD, Wikipedia

SINGER CASTLE HISTORIAN

JUDY KEELER

WILL MAKE THE FINAL GALLERY PRESENTATION OF THE 2014 SEASON

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014 AT 7:00 P.M.

AT THE

ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

CORNWALL BROTHERS STORE & MUSEUM

36 MARKET STREET

ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY

CALL (315) 482-4586 FOR INFORMATION

Complete Guide for Antique Boat Show/Auction and Raceboat Regatta

GUIDE TO THE 50^th ANNUAL ANTIQUE BOAT SHOW & AUCTION and 12^th ANTIQUE RACEBOAT REGATTA

PRESENTED BY RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Largest show in 50 years expected to draw people from near and far

CLAYTON, New York (July 23, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today a complete guide to the longest running Antique Boat Show in North America, to be held Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3 and the running of the 12^th Antique Raceboat Regatta on Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10.

The 50^th edition of the annual Antique Boat Show & Auction presented by RBC Wealth Management will feature a wide variety of antique and classic boats from near and far. In addition, the Marketplace returns with more vendors than in 2013, unique forums will be held, the popular boat auction conducted by Antique Boat America will take place on August 2 at 1:00 p.m., and the ABM education department has lined up an assortment of children’s activities throughout the weekend. Plus, live music rocks the Museum campus on Friday and Saturday.

Also, the ABM will host the 12^th edition of the Antique Raceboat Regatta, an event that was cultivated in Clayton in 1992.

BOAT SHOW BY THE NUMBERS (as of July 23):

Exhibitors – boats (water and land display) and engines: 117

Cumulative boat lengths: More than 1,950-feet

Oldest registered vessel: Circa 1890

Registrations from across North America: CT, FL, IA, IN, MA, 

ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, TX, VT, Ontario, Quebec    

For a complete guide, including days and times and events, 

click on the following:

Antique Boat Museum Complete Guide PDF

Singer Castle on Dark Island Redesigns Website

Singer Castle's redesigned webpage.

A redesigned Singer Castle webpage was just launched online. The webpage provides information about castle tours and hours of operation as well as weddings, special events and overnight stays in the Castle's Royal Suite. Visit www.singercastle.com and enjoy the updated photos, slideshows and videos.

---Jean Papke, Administrative Assistant, Singer Castle, Dark Island.

Of course, stay tuned to this blog too for quick updates, anecdotes, photos and nature scenes from the Thousand Islands, plus your own stories and photos are welcome.

ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM ANNOUNCES BOARD OF TRUSTEES RE-ELECTIONS/APPOINTMENTS

CLAYTON, New York (July 18, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today re-elections and appointments to the Museum Board of Trustees.

Re-elected to three-year terms, through 2017, during the Museum’s annual membership meeting on Friday, July 18:

Donald S. Ames

Robert G. Easton

Daniel J. French

Edward C. McNally

Mark E. Quallen

Paul J. Regan, Jr.

George C. Textor, Jr.

In addition, Charles S. Crow was appointed to a seat formerly held by Susanne Richter, who has been given an Honorary Trustee position, representing the Thousand Islands Antique Boat Museum Trust and serving as the Director of Strategic Planning for the Thousand Islands Boat Museum in Gananoque, Ontario.

Appointed as Officers for 2014-2015 at the Museum’s Board Meeting on Friday, July 18:

Harold B. Johnson, II – Chairman

Rick W. Tague – Vice Chairman

Kathleen R. Cross – Secretary/Treasurer

The ABM, now open daily 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is home to North America’s largest antique boat collection with more than 300 boats and over 1,000 boating artifacts. In addition, the Museum is also host of the longest running antique boat show, which will celebrate its 50th year this August 1-3, and is known as the birthplace of the antique raceboat regatta, which will run August 8-10. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

Oh, Say Can You See That Beautiful Wedding at Singer Castle?

(Be sure to click on photos to see them larger).

Oh, Say Can You See That Beautiful Wedding at Singer Castle?

Here at Singer Castle on Dark Island, various weddings and events are, while always exciting and unique, a rather common occurrence. On July 5 of our current 2014 summer season, however, a wedding all in its own rite came to our beloved castle. Amanda Nagle, from New Jersey and Cole Streit, from the Canton-Pierrepont area, honored us with their presence for their especially patriotic wedding ceremony. Not only was this wedding delightfully nationalistic due to the couple’s chosen date, just one day after the anniversary of America’s independence, and the groom's graciously appreciated service in the American Navy, but also because of their chosen colors. The groom and his best man, also the groom’s twin brother and fellow Navy member, were dressed in their dress whites. The bride was dressed in a lovely blue dress, with her maid of honor in red. As the bride walked down the rose garden isle to the tune of festive bagpipes magic filled the air. “It was a very patriotic wedding,” says Corbin Clemons, a tour guide at here at Singer Castle, “we were honored to have it here and to help facilitate their special day. It was very beautiful, filled with red, white, blue and love.”

---Meredith Ouderkirk, Tour Guide at Singer Castle.

The minister was my father, Craig M. Streit, he was also in the Navy years ago, the best man was Craig W. Streit my twin brother who is in the Navy and myself. The brides maid was Amanda's (Nagle) sister Brittany L. Nagle and the flower girl was my 2nd cousin Clair Polniak.

---Cole Streit, Groom.

Photos by Scott Garris, caretaker of the castle on Dark Island.

NORTH COUNTRY NATIVE TURNED HOLLYWOOD ACTOR TO APPEAR AT 50TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE BOAT SHOW

Mark Valley, actor: Boston Legal, et al.

CLAYTON, New York (July 2, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today that Hollywood actor and North Country native Mark Valley will appear at the upcoming 50^th annual Antique Boat Show and Auction presented by RBC Wealth Management.

Valley, a native of Ogdensburg, NY is expected to appear on Friday, August 1 from 2 – 4 p.m.

Best known for his role on the hit series Boston Legal, which he played Brad Chase alongside William Shatner, Valley has endured a longtime acting career playing characters on television shows such as Crisis, Body of Proof, Harry’s Law, Fringe, Human Target, and Days of Our Lives.

In addition, to name a few of his movie roles, he was the lead role in Jericho, the voice of Cyclops in the animated movie Shrek the Third, and had an appearance in the 2012 box office hit Zero Dark Thirty.

“It is exciting to welcome Mark back home to the North Country and a pleasure to have someone of his celebrity status eager to be a part of our historic event this August,” Michael Folsom, Director of Marketing and Communications said. “Coordinating Mark’s visit at the show has been enjoyable and we look forward to having him at the Museum.”

As a graduate of West Point and a former military service member, Valley and the ABM will utilize his appearance at the Boat Show as a fundraiser for River Hospital’s River Community Wellness Program, a program already supported by the Museum in various forms. Autographs and photo opportunities will be available and a donation is strongly encouraged.

Valley currently lives in Los Angeles and is active with several veterans advocacy groups including Volunteers of America, GI Film Festival, VFT Advisory Board, and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild Armed Forces Committee.

About Antique Boat Museum

The Museum, now open daily 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is home to North America’s largest antique boat collection with more than 300 boats and over 1,000 boating artifacts. In addition, the Museum is also host of the longest running antique boat show, which will celebrate its 50th year this August 1-3, and is known as the birthplace of the antique raceboat regatta, which will run August 8-10.

For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

About River Community Wellness Program

The River Community Wellness Program (RCWP) at River Hospital provides intensive outpatient behavioral health services for active duty military personnel stationed at Fort Drum. RCWP provides continuity of care for soldiers transitioning from an inpatient stay. It also serves as an intensive intervention option for mental health services locally to reduce potential admissions of service members to an inpatient level of care, focusing instead on building coping skills and supports in the community. It is the only program of its kind in the United States. The program keeps military members close to home while they are healing and learning to cope, using multiple forms of therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Group and Individual Therapy, Movement Therapy, Peer to Peer Therapy, Imaginal and In Vivo Exposure Therapy, as well as Psychiatry and Medication Management.