New Publication Establishes Roots

“The idea came out of recognizing there was absolutely nothing like this in the Central New York area,” said Michael Dates, general manager of CNY Home and Garden. “There was no monthly publication that relied on the wisdom and insight of area professionals, so I thought about putting a publication together to use these people’s insights to educate homeowners by giving them little bits of info they can use to increase property value and have a better home life.”

This new monthly will include information on not just landscaping and home improvement tips, but also ways to save on mortgage payments as well as saving on utility bills by providing different solar and wind “green” tips to cut costs.

“One of the major aspects of the magazine will be to elaborate on what homeowners can do to help themselves out in trying times,” continued Dates. “We’ll have two to three feature articles per issue, but the majority of the publication will be filled up with quick hitting tidbits by professionals as well as readers.” 

Especially interesting, according to Dates, is that aside from the feature articles, CNY Home and Garden will be interactive in the sense that the readers themselves will be engaging one another, as he said the paper will be almost like a “blog in newsprint form.”

He encourages readers to mail (CNY Home and Garden, c/o Syracuse New Times, 1415 W. Genesee St., Syracuse, 13204) or e-mail (michael@cnyhomeandgarden.com) any “secret” household or gardening tips that other readers might find useful and may want to try themselves. From interior design to landscaping to fiscal suggestions, no topic of everyday living is off limits.

“It’s really going to be a forum for readers to send us little things they know to help around the house,” continued Dates. “You might see a lady from Cicero sending us pictures of her prized gardening, followed by a gentleman from Cazenovia sending photos and instructions on how to make wicker chairs.”

As a monthly, CNY Home and Garden will be distributed along with The New Times’ other sister publication, Family Times, on the last Friday of the month. A full-color magazine, it will generally be 40 to 44 pages per issue, and be available at libraries, doctor offices, salons and, of course, home and garden stores. Any business owners who wish to carry this publication should call 422-7011.

Garden spot: Michael Dates and Lois Gridley will keep things green. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

Exclusive to CNY Home and Garden is retired WSYR-Channel 9 meteorologist Dave Eichorn, who will provide monthly insight into the role weather plays in attaining the ideal yard and garden to suit the season. “He’ll be providing information regarding landscaping and gardening and the way the weather kind of does things you otherwise may not know,” said Dates.

A former mason, carpenter and roofer in his roaring 20s, as well as a resident of a more bucolic neighborhood outside the ’burbs of Syracuse, Dates looks forward to combining what has always been a favorite hobby of his with, well, work. “I’ve always enjoyed being able to take care of these things, which was just a way of life,” he said. “And hopefully readers will find the same enjoyment in their own leisure time.”

CNY Home and Garden will have a booth at the Blooms CNY show at OnCenter, as well as at the Home and Garden show at the New York State Fairgrounds, taking place Thursday, March 19, through Sunday, March 22. Shortly after the OnCenter event, Dates said the CNY Home and Garden Web site, www.cnyhomeandgarden.com, will be up and running. It will feature a flip format: even though you can’t physically hold the magazine in your hands, you can point, click and read page-by-page.

—Tom Kahley