Seneca White Deer just added several new photos to our gallery and reorganized it into two sections.

Instead of one large gallery, we have created one filled with pictures of the white deer and other wildlife on the former Depot.

The other gallery has pictures of military buildings, installations and historical photos of the Depot.  We have selected the best of our pictures in both categories.

Take a look at the new entries and spread the word to your friends and other fans of the white deer and the Seneca Army Depot.  Special thanks to our contributing photographers!

Seneca White Deer to participate in “ROC the Day,” a 24-hour, online event to support area not-for-profit organizations on December 8, 2011.

Seneca White Deer will take part in an epic one-day giving event, “ROC the Day,” on December 8, 2011. “ROC the Day” will be the first of its kind in the Greater Rochester area and all of New York State. On this day, thousands of community members will be able to make an end-of-year gift to help advance their philanthropic passions.

Visit ROCtheDay.org for an easy, one-stop way to make a real difference in our community and to contribute to any participating not-for-profit organizations. “ROC the Day” will begin at 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. Early risers, night owls and everyone in between are welcome!

You can really “ROC the Day” (and our world) by giving to one or multiple organizations that support your own personal philanthropic passions—it’s an easy, one-stop way to fill your “cart” with causes that matter most to you. Tell your friends, family, co-workers and social networks about the causes you’ve chosen to support and encourage others to ROC the Day, too!

“ROC the Day” is powered by United Way of Greater Rochester with sponsorship support from ESL Federal Credit Union. Additional “ROC the Day” community partners include Ad Council of Rochester, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Genesee Valley Chapter, City of Rochester, Council of Agency Executives, County of Monroe, The Farash Foundation, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, The Jewish Federation, RocCity Coalition and Rochester Area Community Foundation.

Heron Hill Winery presented a donation in the amount of $5,700 to Seneca White Deer, Inc. at their 2nd Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, October 5th. Beginning last fall, Heron Hill Winery partnered with Seneca White Deer, Inc. in an effort to raise awareness and funds to benefit the preservation of these unique and treasured animals. This collaboration helps to protect the special herd of White Deer that reside at the former Seneca Army Depot located on the eastern side of Seneca Lake.

During the promotion, a portion of the proceeds from every bottle of Heron Hill’s Semi-Dry Riesling sold at the winery on Keuka Lake and from their two tasting rooms on Seneca and Canandaigua Lakes was collected to directly benefit the Seneca White Deer. This is the winery’s most popular wine as it exemplifies the bright fruit flavors, crisp acidity and the mineral characteristics that make the Finger Lakes the premier Riesling region in North America.

Heron Hill Winery’s owner and grapegrower, John Ingle, is an avid conservationist and animal lover, saying “We were very pleased with the promotion to help support the Seneca White Deer. It’s a great cause and we enjoyed working alongside Dennis and his staff to help bring awareness to these unique animals.”

Seneca White Deer, Inc., a not for profit organization, will set aside the donation to promote ecotourism to parts of the Seneca Army Depot.

SWD President, Dennis Money, stated, “Heron Hill Winery is the leading winery in New York State with an environmental stewardship heart. From the days of returning river otters back to Western New York in the late 1990′s and Heron Hill’s commitment to support that project with funding generated by sales of Otter Spring wine, to the more recent partnership with Seneca White Deer in the Riesling project is a clear statement of their concern to be much more than an ‘ordinary’ winery. Owner John Ingle not only talks the talk but he walks the walk for the environment and for that Seneca White Deer Inc. is deeply grateful.”

For more information about Heron Hill Winery on Keuka Lake and two tasting rooms on Seneca and Canandaigua Lakes, visit www.heronhill.com. For more information about Seneca White Deer, Inc., go to www.senecawhitedeer.org.

Seneca White Deer to Honor FLCC President Barbara Risser

Download registration form

Finger Lakes Community College President Dr. Barbara Risser will receive Seneca White Deer’s 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award at our second annual award luncheon on October 5, 2011 at The Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua. Dr. Risser has established herself as a leader in environmental education and conservation since arriving at FLCC in 2007.

According to SWD President Dennis Money, Dr. Risser, since joining FLCC, has initiated an institutional program of sustainability at the college. These programs include emphasis in the areas of conservation, ecology, climate change, plus several green initiatives– key components in both the vision and strategic goals of the college.

The luncheon theme “Beyond the Fence” reflects Seneca White Deer’s interest in preserving the several thousand acres of prime, open wildlife habitat and the existing infrastructure within the former Seneca Army Depot, as well as the facility’s fascinating military history. The area offers tremendous promise as a world-class tourist attraction.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Seneca County Historian Walter Gable. Mr. Gable has organized a series of highly popular and well-attended presentations on the history of the former Seneca Army Depot in recognition of the Depot’s 70th anniversary. Beside the buffet luncheon, there will be a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction of local wines and other great products, and tables laden with popular Seneca White Deer merchandise for sale.

Sponsors of the event include Young Explosives, Finger Lakes Technology Group, Heron Hill Winery and Seneca Meadows Landfill.

Tickets are available through SWD. Individual tickets are $40. A table of 10 is $350, a half-table of 5 is $175. You can print and mail the form on our website at www.senecawhitedeeer.org to register. The deadline for individual tickets is September 27. For table registration, it is September 2.

Doors open on October 5 at 10:30 a.m. for the silent auction. Serving begins at 11:45 a.m. The Inn on the Lake is at 770 S. Main St. in Canandaigua.

Download registration form

Seneca White Deer, Inc recently committed $500 in matching funds to the Romulus Historical Society to place historical markers at the former Depot.

Seneca Meadows quickly took up the challenge and matched SWD’s donation with $500 of their own.  Additional funding from the Seneca County Board of Supervisors and private donations made the markers possible.  Exact locations are still to be determined, but one will be located on Route 96A, while the other will be on Route 96 near the Main Entrance to the Depot.

Seneca County Historian, Walter Gable, will present the third in a series of programs marking the 70^th anniversary of the Depot in Hadley Hall on the former Willard Psychiatric Center in Willard, NY at 2 PM, Sunday, September 18.

This program will focus on what has happened at the Depot in the decade since its closing and the prospects for future of the 10,000 acre facility. Participants will include Dennis Money, President of Seneca White Deer, Inc and Robert Aronson, Executive Director of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency, which is responsible for developing the former Depot’s land.  There will also be presentations by representatives of organizations currently operating on the former Depot — Finger Lakes Technology Group and the Advantage Group.  County Historian Gable invites anyone with stories or information about the Depot and its history to come to the meeting and share with the attendees.

Scott Lockwood is organizing a unique way to have a great day and benefit the white deer, check out the Seneca Lake Whirlpool on Saturday, August 6. Participants will circumnavigate Seneca Lake, counterclockwise. Check out the details on his website.

April 27 at 6:30 PM
Macedon Public Library, 30 Main St., Macedon
Sponsored by: The Friends of Macedon Public Library
Call 315-986-5932 for reservations. Seating is limited

May 16 at 7:15 PM
Mt. Rise UCC Church, #2 Mountain Rise, off of NYS Rt 31 in Perinton, between Kreag Road and Rt 250.
Public Welcome

No tours of the former Seneca Army Depot to view the white deer and military artifacts have been scheduled for 2011. We are hoping to receive permission to conduct more tours in the future, but any tours are contingent on approval from the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency.

The annual hunt at the Seneca Army Depot is administered by the US Army. Seneca White Deer is not involved. For more information contact Steve Absolom at stephen.m.absolom@us.army.mil