Autumn in the Adirondacks
credit: the author

Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves, and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn... Persuasion chapter 10

Event: JASNA CWNY October Meeting

Topic: "Autumn in Austen" Discussion 

                led by Marie Sprayberry, JASNA-CWNY member

When: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 1 pm EDT

Where:   IN PERSON at Pittsford Barnes and Noble, Community Room

Autumn is in the air. There is color in the trees, a coolness in the air, and a feeling of change coming upon us. For some it is the best time of the year. This month Marie Sprayberry will lead us in a discussion about "Autumn in Austen" 

Marie writes:

"It's been a while since we just sat around and talked about the books in Pittsford--and in considering possible topics, I was struck by the importance of autumn in many of Jane Austen's works. Think about the number of beginnings, endings, and other pivotal scenes that are set in autumn. Please pick your favorites and bring them along, to read aloud if you will (or I'll do the reading, if you like!). And let's also consider possible reasons why autumn plays such an important role."

Marie is a life member of JASNA and has spoken at our regional meetings previously. Two year ago she spoke to us about "Martha Lloyd and Cooking at Chawton Cottage". Last year she presented a talk entitled "Cassandra at 250: An Appreciation"

My favorite quote is presented above beneath the picture. Pick your favorite and please join us to discuss Autumn in Austen.

Meet JASNA's President

 JASNA - CWNY

Jane Austen Society of North America - Central & Western NY Region

After the meeting, join us for an informal meet & greet with tea and cookies at 3:30 pm.

__________________________________________________________

Meet JASNA's President

at our September Meeting!

Saturday, September 16

1:00 pm EDT

Pittsford Barnes & Noble Community Room

Jane Austen’s Reputation: Highlights of Her First Century in American Periodicals.

A talk by Mary Mintz, JASNA President

Here's a short description of the talk from the speaker:

Jane Austen’s repeated appearance in the periodical literature throughout the nineteenth century indicates a strong interest in her biography and her novels.  The latter were interpreted through a nineteenth lens that was very different from own perspective, but nevertheless, we recognize the Jane Austen they describe—in mostly glowing terms.  Their appreciation and interest kept her before the reading audience.

And here is a short bio of the speaker:

Mary Mintz holds two master’s degrees, one in library science and one in English literature with a specialization in nineteenth century British literature.  She is the Associate Director for Outreach at the American University Library in Washington, D.C., as well as the Humanities and Honors Librarian   As a faculty member at the university, she works closely with history and literature students to support their original research.  She has served JASNA nationally as the chair of the Nominating Committee, an at-large-member of the Board of Directors, and vice-president/president-elect.  On December 16, 2023, she became the president of JASNA.  She says, however, that her most rewarding role in JASNA so far has been serving as Coordinator of DC Region.    

After the talk please join us at a reception to meet Mary Mintz

Meet & Greet address & location

The Hahnemann Club at the Highlands At Pittsford 

301 Stoutenburgh Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534

Directions:

From Barnes and Noble, turn right onto NY-31 E/Monroe Ave.

Continue to follow NY-31 E. for 2.4 miles.

Turn left onto Hahnemann Trail (First light after going through Pittsford Village.)

Take the first left. 

Turn left at the stop sign.

Take the first right onto Stoutenburgh Lane.

The Hahnemann club will be on your right.

Parking is available in front of the club, and along Stoutenburgh Lane on the right.

Buffalo Area Janeites - Sense and Sensibility and Starbucks

 

Sense and Sensibility Title Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility

"... and one subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in, ..." Sense and Sensibility Vol. II ch 12 (34)

Event:    JASNA CWNY Buffalo Area Discussion Group

Topic:    A discussion of Sense and Sensibility Vol. 1 led by Susan Harris-Gamard 

When:    Saturday, September 9th from 1-3 pm

Where:  Starbucks on Main Street in Williamsville, Conference Room

JASNA Central and Western NY is delighted to present our first Buffalo area meeting. If you live in the Buffalo area and love Jane Austen's work, please join us for coffee and an engaging opportunity to talk about Sense and Sensibility. As Anne Elliot said in Persuasion, "My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation..." All you need is an interest in Jane Austen's work, and you will find good company. The coffee is optional.

Susan Harris-Gamard is a writer and avid traveler living in Clarence, NY. A JASNA member since 2008, she has had the privilege to attend many AGMs, including last year’s in Victoria. Her love for Austen began at university in 1996 while taking a course called “Gothic Women’s Fiction” taught by Austen Scholar Deidre Shauna Lynch. After returning to graduate school, Susan decided to focus on Jane Austen and completed a Master’s thesis in 2013 entitled “Marianne’s Narrow Escape: Redeeming Female Ruin, Sensibility, and the English Landscape through the Picturesque.” As your new co-regional coordinator, she looks forward to future sojourns into Austen’s novels through a monthly book discussion group held in Buffalo and many future events yet to come.

Spruce Beer

 

Ian Ferguson

"You know of course that Martha comes to-day, yesterday brought us notice of it, and the spruce beer is brewed in consequence." Jane Austen letter to Cassandra, October 7, 1808 https://pemberley.com/janeinfo/brablets.html

Event:    JASNA CWNY May Meeting

Topic:    Spruce Beer, a talk and tasting by Ian Ferguson 

When:    Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1 pm EDT 

Where:  IN PERSON at the Stone-Tolan House. 

               Click HERE for information on the Stone-Tolan House

Registration Details:  Cost $10, space is limited

                                     Pre-registration and pre-payment required

                                     Please click HERE to register.

                                     The event includes a tour of the Stone-Tolan House

                                     Attendees must be over 21

Lunch:

There will also be a group lunch at 11:00 am at Olives in Schoen Place before the talk. Pay on your own. You will need to reserve a spot at lunch by emailing Lisa Brown at jasnacwny@gmail.com. For information on Olives please click HERE

 

Jane Austen enjoyed spruce beer. She mentioned it in her letters. We also find spruce beer in Emma.

"...he wanted to make a memorandum in his pocket-book; it was about spruce-beer. Mr. Knightley had been telling him something about brewing spruce-beer, and he wanted to put it down..." Emma chapter 40

Please join us to find out more about spruce beer and enjoy a tasting. Our speaker is an expert on brewing spruce beer:

Speaker bio:

Ian Ferguson began brewing beer with a friend while living in South Korea back in 2011. After moving to Denver, Colorado, Ian found a home brewing shop just down the road from where he lived and continued brewing simple recipes to share with his friends. When he moved to Paulding, Ohio, in 2017, he began to learn of the county and the history of its founder John Paulding. Combining his love for brewing and history, Ian began brewing spruce beer (which John Paulding certainly drank) and sharing the story of John Paulding and his spruce beer with the community. History is most inviting when it is not only told, but experienced.

We certainly agree with Mr. Ferguson that "history is most inviting when it is not only told, but experienced". So please join us to experience the tale and taste of one of Jane Austen's favorite beverages.

“Weave, Knit, Net, Knot – Textiles and the Regency Era

 

Woman Day Dress, Made in India 1796-1804
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/250437/woman-s-day-dress

Event:    JASNA CWNY April Meeting

Topic:    "Weave, Knit, Net, Knot - Textiles in the Regency Era" 

               A talk by Kate Jorgensen, JASNA CWNY member

When:    Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 1 pm EDT 

Where:  IN PERSON at Pittsford Barnes & Noble Community Room

We are all familiar with Regency fashions. We have seen them in the adaptations and worn them ourselves to Regency balls. But what went into making those dresses and tailcoats? At our April meeting Kate Jorgensen of our region will tell us how those beautiful garments were made.

Kate writes:

Bombazine, muslin, gauze, crape, worsted.  Jane Austen’s books and other writings are full of textile terms but what is behind these terms?  What fibers were used, where did they come from and how were the items produced?  What textile production inventions shifted the British textile production landscape during the Regency Era?  Please join us as Kate Jorgensen provides an overview that touches on each of these questions. During our time together we will look at textiles, fibers, the impact of trade and British Imperialism on textile production and access. and the changing textile production landscape during the Regency Era.

Please join us at Barnes and Noble to learn more about the details of Regency fashion.

Kate is a member of our region, apparently she has worked on mummies:

Kate Jorgensen is a life-long learner, reader, and hand arts enthusiast with an interest in history and how it links to who we are today.  Kate has three bachelor’s degrees (English Education, Chemistry and Textiles and Clothing) from The Ohio State University, an M.B.A. from Capital University, and an M.L.I.S. from Drexel University.  She also holds certifications in project management, Agile product ownership and change management and is a Six Sigma Green Belt.  Kate’s senior thesis was on microscopic evaluation of fibers from wrappings retrieved from mummy bundles and she began her career working with textiles and other artifacts retrieved from trunks from an 1865 shipwreck. Today Kate works on sustainability initiatives, focusing on changing what we are doing today to preserve the planet for tomorrow.  Kate can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejorgensen/. 

March Meeting "The World of Jane Austen Soundtracks"

 

Jane Austen at the Movies
By MGM - source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Event:    JASNA CWNY March Meeting

Topic:    "The World of Jane Austen Soundtracks" 

               A talk by Ruth Mudge

When:    Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 1 pm EDT 

Where:  On-line through Zoom, pre-registration required

Registration: Click HERE to register

Lights, Camera, Action! Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's novels have a long history. They have been at times well loved and at times controversial. In these adaptations, acting, dialog, scenery, costuming and many other things are important in determining the success of the movie. Also of importance is the soundtrack. Please join us as Ruth Mudge discuss "The World of Jane Austen Soundtracks" at our next meeting.

The speaker writes:

"Soundtracks are one of the many vehicles used to portray the emotions, tone, era, comedy and more within films. In listening to and comparing musical themes, particularly from adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, this session will uncover the variety of ways that soundtracks interpret Jane’s stories and explores how music powerfully impacts the telling of these beloved stories."

Speaker bio:

Ruth Mudge is a cello and piano instructor in the western suburbs of the Chicago area. She also freelances regularly with local orchestras and ensembles. Ruth has written and collaborated on several soundtrack analysis projects over the past few years, and more recently began teaching soundtrack classes on Zoom, ranging from Harry Potter to The Sound of Music to a series on Jane Austen adaptations.

Please join us online for this musical look at the world of Jane Austen movies.

Admiral Charles Austen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Austen

 Event:    JASNA CWNY February Meeting

Topic:    "Narratives of a Naval Wife: Fanny Austen in Fact and 

               Jane Austen in Fiction" 

               A talk by Sheila Johnson Kindred

When:    Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 1 pm EDT 

Where:  On-line through Zoom, pre-registration required

               To register click HERE

Please join us on February 18 for a special online meeting where Sheila Johnson Kindred will tell us about the life of Fanny Palmer, Charles Austen's wife. 

Sheila writes:"When Fanny Palmer married Jane Austen’s younger naval brother Charles in 1807, she was thrust into a demanding life within the wartime world of the British navy. This talk will provide a vividly personal account of what Fanny was able to share with Jane about her life as a naval wife, information that was arguably contextual and catalytic for Austen’s creation of the naval wives in Persuasion."

About the speaker:

Sheila Johnson Kindred taught for many years in the Philosophy Department of St Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She has lectured on aspects of Jane Austen’s family and fiction in Canada, United States, Bermuda, Australia and England, and published fifteen articles on Austen related topics. She is the author of the prize winning book, Jane Austen’s Transatlantic Sister: The Life and Letters of Fanny Palmer Austen (2017). (I read this book and found it fascinating).

Sheila blogs on her website Jane Austen’s Naval World at sheilajohnsonkindred.com.

So please join us to learn about someone whose information may have contributed to Jane Austen's work.