Chapter Achievement Awards
News from the Chapters...
Colonel Aaron Ogden
Comfort Tyler
This past February, Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter Regent Leslie
Dimmling and Chapter Vice Regent Isabelle Smith worked
together to construct the Stamp Act exhibit, which was on display
at the Garden City Public Library in honor of American History
Month.
Comfort Tyler Chapter presented their Good Citizen Award
to Mary Madelyn Locastro on December 5, 2015, with State
Regent Martha Crapser in attendance. A check for $1,000
was also given to the State Regent’s Project for the wallpaper
restoration in the New York State Room at DAR National
Headquarters in Washington D.C. Members donated gift cards
and linens for returning soldiers at Fort Drum in Watertown for
the Project Patriot committee.
Passage of the Stamp Act in 1765 enraged colonists, who reacted
with boycotts, smuggling, and physical violence directed at Stamp
Act agents and other British authorities. They believed this was
taxation without representation, and united to act on that belief.
Their opposition gave rise to the organization of the Sons of Liberty
in most colonies, laying the framework for future Revolution. Ben
Franklin, speaking on the issue to Parliament, suggested the British
could not force a person to buy a stamp if they did not want one.
Of the previously friendly colonists, Franklin remarked, "You will
not find a revolution there, but you might make one."
Among the items in the exhibit were two reproduction tea pots like
those actually used during the Stamp Act controversy. The slogan
on the tea pots reads "No Stamp Act." In addition, there was a
tea caddy containing 100 year-old tea, a tricorn hat, mob cap, and
copies of sketches from the period.
A picture of the famously hated stamp, quotes from figures in
Parliament like Pitt and Grenville, and a spotlight on Virginia
patriot Patrick Henry were included in the exhibit.
(l. to r.) Mary M Locastro, Comfort Tyler Chapter and District V Good Citizen
Award winner; Martha Crapser, State Regent; Karen Balman, Chapter Regent
Mary Fellows Penfield
Milk and cookies for our homeless Veterans
The Mary Fellows Penfield Chapter decided to turn its
annual holiday meeting into something special. They usually
meet to attend a holiday program and conduct a sharing
of holiday cookies, but his year was different. They heard
from staff at the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center that
the men at their homeless shelter love milk. This is a luxury
item for them. The chapter brought them ten dozen cookies
and funds to have milk throughout the holiday.
(l. to r.) Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter Regent Leslie Dimmling, Chapter Vice
Regent Isabelle Smith
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
Everyone is encouraged not to forget the homeless vets,
men and women at area shelters. They were so delighted
with this small gesture of the chapter’s gratitude. For
them, any gesture to demonstrate they are valuable and in
our hearts is a gift.
9
Saratoga Chapter
Jerusalem
Saratoga Chapter Regent Corinne
Scirocco presented a DAR Historic
Preservation
Recognition
Award
certificate and pin to Douglass “Tim”
Mabee at a meeting at the Holiday Inn in
Saratoga Springs. The award was given
in recognition of his countless hours
of restoring and cataloging headstones
in local and statewide cemeteries
plus his research and preservation of
historical documents. In addition to
restoring headstones, Tim is researching
and identifying every soldier buried
in Greenridge Cemetery, Saratoga
Springs, from the War of 1812 and Civil
War. He wants to make sure they are
recognized along with the details of
their service record.
Jerusalem Chapter member Mary Wagner
was nominated Woman of Wantagh. Mary
has lived in Wantagh for almost 50 years
and during those years, has dedicated her
life to giving back to the community.
Mary has always been involved in
community organizations. When her
children were younger, she was a substitute
teacher in Wantagh and was co-president
of the Wantagh Elementary School PTA.
(l. to r.) Saratoga Chapter Regent Corinne Scirocco,
Historic preservation Recognition Aware recipient
Douglass “Tim” Mabee
Olean
On Sunday, March 13, New York Daughters celebrated the successful revitalization of
Olean Chapter with the installation of seven officers and seven Daughters at a ceremony
held at the local public library. The locale, by coincidence, was the former site of the
chapter’s first meeting held at the home of Olean member, Mrs. J.B. Strong.
For six years, she served as Co-President
of "Friends of the Wantagh Library" along
with her husband. She now serves on the
Board. Mary has worked hard to make
the Wantagh Library a central focus of
the community. Her book fair efforts have
helped the library to purchase needed items
and offer a variety of programs. Mary is
also actively involved in the Christ Luthern
Church, and is a Trustee of the Wantagh
Preservation Society. Each year she has
organized the DAR History Essay Contest,
which has sparked an interest in history for
many Wantagh children.
Organized in 1897, the 119 year-old chapter seeks to embrace the NSDAR cornerstones of
Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism with plans that include cemetery documentation,
ROTC medal presentations, and renewed recognition of local historic events and sites.
The ceremony was attended by family, friends, municipal officials, and New York State Board
members Vice Regent Nancy Zwetsch, Organizing Secretary Wilhelmena Kelly, and District
VIII Director Kay Green. Volunteer genealogists who assisted in the preparation of the new
member applications, Barbara Hill, Canandaigua Chapter, and Sharon Terwilliger, Jamestown
Chapter, also attended, along
with many members from
other DAR chapters. Newlyinstalled chapter officers
included Regent Diane Stigler,
Vice Regent Martha Tillinger,
Chaplain Elizabeth Woodhead,
Recording Secretary Michiko
McElfresh, Corresponding
Secretary Diana McElfresh,
Treasurer Emiliy Woodhead,
and Registrar Cynthia Keeley.
Newly installed Chapter
Daughters included Anna
Augostini, Joyce Augostini, (l. to r., seated): District VIII Director Kay Green, Regent Diane Stigler,
Sondra Augostini, Sharon State Organizing Secretary Wilhelmena Kelly, and State Vice Regent
Nancy Zwetsch. (back row) attendees flanked by (standing - left in blue):
Lowe, Cynthia Snyder, Brianna Jamestown Chapter genealogist Sharon Terwilliger (standing - right in
Stigler, and Laura Stigler.
red): Canandaigua Chapter genealogist Barbara Hill
10
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
(l. to r.) Jerusalem Chapter member Jennifer Turcinovic,
Chapter Registrar Regina Pinto, Chapter Treasurer
Mary Wagner, Chapter Regent Sandy Leonard, Chapter
Vice Regent Ellen Cook
Jerusalem Chapter recently had a program
“Blue Star Mothers of America” Honoring
those who serve. They are the mothers
of children who are serving or who have
served their country in the Military.
(l. to r.) Treasurer Mary Wagner, Registrar Regina
Pinto, members of the Blue Star Mothers of America,
and Vice Regent Ellen Cook
Colonel Josiah Smith
New York City
Colonel Josiah Smith Chapter was pleased
to host a Genealogy Workshop at the
Patchogue Medford Library on Saturday,
March 12, 2016, entitled, “Discovering
Your Early American Ancestors.” The
presentation, given by New York State
Chairman Lineage Research Gretchen
Maresco, was open to the public. Over
50 participants including DAR members
from District X attended. Gretchen shared
stories about finding her Revolutionary
War ancestors and distributed informative
handouts listing sources/websites for
genealogical research.
New York City Chapter Commemorated its 125th Anniversary with the CELEBRATE
AMERICA! Award to Frances Hesselbein, President and CEO of the Frances
Hesselbein Institute.
To wind up, Gretchen took questions
from the audience, including those about
becoming a member of DAR and SAR.
Young members of the newly reinstated
Captain Austin Roe Chapter C.A.R.
handed out patriotic ribbons that they'd
made to commemorate the event.
After the presentation Colonel Josiah
Smith Chapter Regent Nancy Wierzbowski
hosted a luncheon at her home to thank
Gretchen for making the trip to Long
Island. This gave chapter members some
time to get to know Gretchen better and to
ask their own questions.
The presentation of the award, originally scheduled for the Chapter’s Luncheon at
the Colony Club on January 23, was postponed when President General Lynn Forney
Young, New York State Regent Martha Crapser and the honoree, among others, were
unable to attend due to the snow storm that blanketed New York City.
The CELEBRATE AMERICA! Award was belatedly presented to Mrs. Hesselbein, by
Chapter Regent Jane Campbell and Chapter Media Chairman Lois Lazzarino, on March 3,
2016, in her offices at the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute in New York City.
At the bestowal, Ms. Lazzarino remarked that the Celebrate America! Award, “registers
Community Service by DAR members outside the DAR purview; it recognizes what we
do with our lives in addition to our commitment to the DAR.”
Herewith her remarks in their entirety:
“Frances Hesselbein, a long time
member of DAR and a New York City
Chapter Daughter, is one who does
“more” than any of us. This Award
today recognizes only a small part of
what her life has been in Celebrating
America! Starting with her many
years serving as a Girl Scout leader in
Pennsylvania, followed by her years as
the CEO of Girls Scouts of America,
the first chief executive to come from
the field in 67 years, she is credited
with leading a turnaround, increasing
that membership to over two and a
quarter million and enlisting more
than 780,000 Volunteer Leaders. For
her service to the Girl Scouts, Frances
Hesselbein received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
However, Frances did not stop with
the Girl Scouts or the Presidential
Medal. She has been the recipient of
every illustrious award in the United
States; she serves or has served on
many non-profit and private sector
corporate boards, received over twentythree honorary doctoral degrees,
been recognized by an extensive list
of lifetime achievement awards and
her best practices are immortalized in
publications and videos.
(l. to r.) Colonel Josiah Smith Regent Nancy
Wierzbowsk, New York State Chairman Lineage
Research Gretchen Maresco
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
(l. to r.) New York City Chapter Regent Jane Campbell,
award recipient Frances Hesselbein, New York City
Chapter Media Chairman Lois Lazzarino
She is listed in Fortune’s 2015 World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (in the good company of
Pope Francis, Joanne Lui of Medicine without Borders and Bill and Melinda Gates).
Additionally, she has been named Woman of the Year by the Boy Scouts of New York.
However, she has not … until now … received a NSDAR Award!”
11
Hudson River Patriots
Oneida
The Oneida Chapter gathered at Oneida County Historical Society (OCHS) on
Saturday, November 14, to recognize area high school students selected to receive
this year’s “Good Citizen Awards.” Six area high schools participated in the award
program. Kelly Fam of Thomas R. Proctor High School won first place, Alexandra
Marino of Sauquoit Valley High School won second place, and Kaelee Cleary of
Waterville Central School won third place. Also honored were Stephanie Salerno
of Notre Dame, Courtney Tramacera of New York Mills and Avery Crosley of
Clinton High School. Lou Parrotta, Local History Teacher and Board President
OCHS was the main speaker. His topic was “Early American Cars made in Utica.”
Hudson River Patriots started 2016
celebrating a Women’s Christmas. As part
of the celebration, a Community Service
Award was presented to Dawn Evans
Greenberg for her service in developing
Little Free Libraries as well as a children’s
book festival in her town.
In March, the chapter held their meeting
in Sarah Gray Case Parlor at the Historical
Society of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.
Mrs. Sarah Gray Case was Organizing
Regent of Tarrytown Chapter. It was a
wonderful talk on the Lighthouses along
the Hudson given by local historian Scott
Craven. Tarrytown Chapter merged with
the Keskeskick Chapter of Yonkers, and
General Jacob Odell Chapter of Hastings
to form Hudson River Patriots Chapter in
2001. The chapter is celebrating 15 years!
(l. to r.) Courtney Tramacera, Avery Crosley, Kelly Fam, Alexandra
Marino, Kaelee Cleary and Trudy Kennedy, Chairmen of Good Citizens
Committee
Public broadcasting station WCNY was pleased to announce the 2016 Makers
Award winners. The names of the winners were unveiled at the March 4, 2016,
award ceremony held at the Women’s Rights Historical Park in Seneca Falls.
Among those honored was Oneida Chapter Daughter Mary Q. Chapin.
Mary was nominated by
Chapter
Regent
Mary
Cardinale. Mary Q. Chapin
has been a defender of women’s
rights and a women’s rights
historian for 40 years. She
has authored articles, books,
and plays on women’s history
and suffrage, taught a Women
Leaders of the World class, and
hosted a long-running television
program called “Close Up On
Aging” on WUTR. Mary is past
president of the Utica-Rome
League of Women Voters, a
member of the Oneida Chapter
National Society Daughters of
the American Revolution, and
founder of the Mohawk Valley
Women’s History Project.
Sarah Gray Case Parlor at the Historical Society of
Tarrytown
Canandaigua
(l. to r.) Mary Cardinale, Regent of Oneida Chapter,
2016 Makers Award winner and chapter member Mary
Chapin
12
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
(l. to r.) Philomena Dunn, Dawn Greenberg, and Kari Weis
At Canandaigua Chapter’s March meeting,
members brought sewing machines, rotary
cutters and mats, irons and ironing boards
along with lots of material to make cooling
neckties and helmet liners for military
personnel serving in hot climates. Each tie
or liner contains water absorbing crystals.
Ninety helmet coolers and 46 neckties
were completed at the meeting. Another 73
helmet liners and 14 neckties were stuffed
with the crystals after the meeting.
White Plains
The White Plains Chapter has had several exciting chapter events:
On a beautiful Saturday in March, the Chapter hosted a Meet and
Greet at the Rye Library to welcome new and prospective members.
Twenty women were received by the White Plains Chapter and
honored Daughters, New York State Corresponding Secretary Libby
Baker and District IX Director Joan Steere. They learned about DAR
projects and policies, watched the National Society’s New Member
videos and saw a slide show of the chapter’s activities from the past
ten years.
On Saturday, March 19, the Chapter hosted a discussion on the
theft of America’s national treasures and ways to prevent such
thefts in the future. Mitchell Yockelson, an Investigative Archivist
with the National Archives Archival Recovery Team, Office of the
Inspector General, presented to a full house of Daughters, local
historians, librarians, and museum staff, and guests including Mrs.
Denise Doring VanBuren, Organizing Secretary General.
LeRay de Chaumont Chapter
The LeRay de Chaumont Chapter members, including New York
State Regent Martha M. Crapser, held their Annual Holiday
Luncheon at the Watertown Hilton Garden Inn. Special guests
included the Thousand Islands Sons of the American Revolution
Chapter members, Past Rhode Island State Regent Marcia Grenier,
family and friends. A lovely buffet luncheon was enjoyed by all
and four new chapter members were installed and presented with
their first DAR pin. Diana Page Jordan, the new Director of the
Paddock Museum and the Jefferson County Historical Society, was
guest speaker for the event. She shared with the group her love of
history and discussed recent changes to the museum, as well as her
plans for future events. Everyone found her talk interesting and she
entertained many questions from the group.
January and February brought some unpredictable weather to the
North Country but the chapter was able to hold two meetings. In
January, Chapter Regent Anne Davis gave a presentation entitled
“The Paddock Mansion and Mrs. Cruikshank - Regent 19141916,” which everyone found very informative. The February
meeting, after a weather re-schedule, included a talk by Tamara
Plantz entitled, “Famous Women in American History- Mothers
of our Founding Fathers.” We are very proud of our members
who brave our crazy weather to get together.
(l. to r.) Dr. Steven Guy, Thousand Islands Chapter SAR; Martha MorrisCrapser, New York State Regent; Jim Eagan, District Director Rochester SAR;
Anne Davis, Chapter Regent; Tamara Plantz, Chapter Registrar; Bruce Coyne,
Registrar TI Chapter SAR
Fayetteville-Owahgena
(l. to r.) White Plains Chapter Regent Brook Hanna, Organizing
Secretary General Denise Doring VanBuren
For the third year in a row, members of the Chapter crossed state
lines and participated in a Friendship Luncheon with the
Putnam Hill Chapter in Greenwich, CT. Carol Levison of the
Greenwich Historical Society, presented Sarah Scudder Isaacs
Bush, a most prominent women in the history of Connecticut
during the Colonial and Revolutionary eras.
13
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
Fayetteville-Owahgena Chapter member
Jane Pickett and members of her
chapter recently attended the 112th
Annual Heritage Luncheon in
commemoration of the 284th Birthday
of President George Washington. The
event was sponsored by the Syracuse
Chapter, Empire State Society Sons of
the American Revolution. Jane was (l. to r.) Medal recipient Jane
Pickett, Bob Gang
the recipient of the prestigious Martha
Washington Medal in grateful recognition of her outstanding service
to the Sons of the American Revolution, presented by Bob Gang,
president of the local chapter. Speaker for the event was Hal Flickinger,
who provided a very informative program titled, “Washington and the
American Soldier at Valley Forge.”
Colonel William Prescott
The Colonel William Prescott Chapter held its annual DAR Good Citizen Recognition Program
on November 18, honoring 11 Wayne County High School Seniors who received the prestigious
DAR Good Citizen Award.
Joining in recognizing the Class of 2016 recipients for their Dependability, Service, Leadership
and Patriotism were more than 40 guests, including school administration and DAR members.
The Good Citizen Program began in 1917 in Wayne County and was not open to male applicants
until 1975. This year’s essay title was, “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for
Preserving It” focusing on the question, “Of our American rights and freedoms, which one would
you choose to celebrate and why?” Essays were submitted along with the required criteria and
judged by a panel of non-DAR affiliates from the Wayne County Retired Teachers Association.
Ticonderoga
Members of the Ticonderoga
Chapter of the National Society
Daughters of the American
Revolution congratulated Carolyn
Ida on her 25th anniversary in the
NSDAR. Regent Deanne Dresser
presented Mrs. Ida with a 25th
Anniversary certificate from the
National Society.
The Colonel William Prescott Chapter presents three awards to the first, second and
third place winners in the scholarship contest. This year’s winners were Craig Adriaansen
(Marion), Megan Hand (Red Creek), and Madeline Donegan (Gananda). First place
winner, Craig Adriaansen, was also presented with an American Flag which was
ceremoniously flown over Congress. Mr. Adriaansen’s application will be forwarded to
the District level of competition where he will compete for a $50 award and chance to
advance to the State and National levels of competition.
(l. to r.) Ticonderoga Chapter member
Carolyn Ida, Ticonderoga Chapter
Regent Deanne Dresser
(l. to r., back row) Craig Adriaansen (Marion), Travis Anstee (Lyons), Justin Roof (Palmyra-Macedon), Megan
Hand (Red Creek), Kelly Crane (North Rose-Wolcott); (front row) Tylea McCarthy-Walker (Williamson),
Sabrina Marie Bosch (Wayne), Madeline Donegan (Gananda), Laura Grace VanAuken (Newark)
Mohawk/General Peter Gansevoort/Tawasentha/On-Ti-Ora
New York State Regent Martha Crapser was the honoree and guest speaker at an April 2
luncheon held at the Albany Country Club. Four Albany area chapters, Mohawk, General
Peter Gansevoort, Tawasentha and On-Ti-Ora, joined to honor Mrs. Crapser and each
Chapter presented her with a donation to her State Regent’s Project.
Before her presentation, Mrs. Crapser spent a few moments with Elizabeth Moore,
Registrar of the C.A.R. Schuyler Society, which is sponsored by the Gansevoort Chapter.
14
Empire State DAR News • April 2016
(l. to r.) Elizabeth Moore, Registrar C.A.R.
Schuyler Society; New York State Regent
Martha Crapser
AN OPEN LETTER TO NEW YORK DAUGHTERS
Dear Ladies,
As many of you already know, the Broadway musical, "Hamilton," is a smash hit in New
York City, and is also the 2015 Grammy award winner for Best Music Theater Album.
Through the use of different musical genres - including blues, classic British rock, and
rap - the winning 2-CD set tells the story of Alexander Hamilton’s life, and has
additionally ignited a renewed interest in American history for students of all ages.*
To celebrate this phenomenal new learning tool, which also celebrates Hamilton - the
Patriot, War Hero, founder of the Coast Guard, and 1st Secretary of the US Treasury May I ask you to please contribute "an Alexander Hamilton" to our National Society's
Guardian Trust Campaign?
If each of our New York Daughters contributed $10, we will have donated nearly
$70,000 toward the daily operation, upkeep, preservation, and necessary repair of our
DAR home in Washington, DC. That would be a remarkable feat for our state.
If you have already contributed to the campaign, we thank you! In an additional step,
perhaps you might be willing to encourage a chapter Daughter or friend to help fund the
present and future needs of our 3-building complex in our nation's capital?
15
Empire State DAR News • April 2016