August 25, 2012 
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Each summer, hundreds of high school- and college-aged young people travel to Chautauqua to work. Their reasons for coming vary, but family ties and traditions play a large role for many. The allure in the region of working at the Institution is a significant attraction. Early career professional development counts for some.
Each has a story to tell.
Here are some of them.
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August 25, 2012 0 Comments
Leaves are faintly stirring on the mature trees in St. Paul’s Grove, the setting for the Hall of Philosophy. The sun’s rays filter through the leaves, dappling the dirt and lawn below. Humidity is at a reasonable level. It is a comfortable, pleasant summer Chautauqua afternoon.
Scattered around the upper grove and the Alumni Hall front yard across the street are exactly 52 lightweight and oddly insubstantial-feeling green plastic chairs, seven picnic tables, and several trademark slat- and-metal-frame Chautauqua benches, more portable than they look.
Professional opera singer, architect and Chautauquan Jane Foster is enjoying the serenity.
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August 25, 2012 0 Comments
Here is something potentially quite important to add to that lengthy list of to-do items for after the season: Make certain your street address is visible from the street.
The Institution’s fire, police and operations departments, as well as all emergency service providers, join in this exhortation. Director of Operations Doug Conroe said there are several incidents each off-season where emergency or other service providers waste precious time hunting for addresses that have been removed or covered by canvas awnings.
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August 24, 2012 0 Comments
The Chautauquan Daily reported earlier this month on the discovery in Chautauqua Lake of the highly aggressive, invasive water chestnut plant. It is different than the Chinese restaurant item and is regarded as dangerously insidious. County-led flotillas have been organized on weekends to identify and uproot the invader before it spreads further.
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August 21, 2012 0 Comments
As many on the grounds face the bittersweet inevitability of the end of another summer season, Chautauqua postmaster Laurie Lindquist has a suggestion that will help maintain a tie to the Institution in the upcoming off-season.
“I’d just like to remind everyone that the U.S. Postal Service’s budget troubles are not over,” she said.
Indeed, The New York Times reported this month that the postal service reported losses of $11.6 billion for the first three quarters of 2012. That compares with $5.7 billion in losses during the same period last year. Congress is expected to do something about the issue after the November elections.
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August 16, 2012 0 Comments
Two weeks ago, Buffalo landscape architect and frequent Institution consultant Dean Gowen shared with a very engaged Chautauqua audience his assessment of the shoreline separating the grounds from Chautauqua Lake. Today at 4 p.m. in Fletcher Music Hall, he will take it to another level.
Gowen plans to highlight potential enhancements along the Institution’s lakeshore and provide the audience with an idea of the general direction he will recommend to Chautauqua planners. And he wants to get feedback.
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August 11, 2012 0 Comments
In the dazzling sunlight, she surveyed the scene before her. Kids were everywhere. Mothers were nearby, as were some dads and a couple of dogs. Bicycles overflowed the racks and spilled out along the road. Underscoring the happy cacophony on the beach and in the water was the steady chatter of cellphone conversations. It was a summer afternoon at Children’s Beach.
Dark hair framing her deeply tanned face, head beach lifeguard Melissa Long was satisfied.
“Contrary to what some people say, lifeguarding isn’t boring,” she said. “Most of the time, there are lots of people to watch, and we’re trained to stay attentive and alert.”
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August 4, 2012 0 Comments
The day dawned bright and clear Tuesday of this past week. It was a good day to start a military-style campaign to protect Chautauqua Lake.
The place was Stow, south of the Institution and near the ferry. Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Jeff Diers, who has held that job for 18 months, was already organizing his battle plan almost a half hour before his troops were expected to arrive.
Diers’ foe is an invasive aquatic plant called water chestnut, which is botanically different from the Chinese takeout staple. This unwelcome water chestnut, a particularly difficult challenge for naturalists and water managers throughout the northeastern United States, was first spotted by accident in Chautauqua Lake earlier in July during a dredging survey.
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Chautauqua Institution is a community on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York state that comes alive each summer with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. Over the course of nine weeks, more than 170,000 visitors will participate in programs, classes and community events for all ages—all within the beautiful setting of a historic lakeside village. Learn more →
