Self-Sufficiency for Home and Garden

The show was chock full of almost 100 exhibitors and programs for all ages, welcoming many back-to-basics presenters.

So many rooms, so many things to do and see!
View all the demos scheduled for the Home Show at Event List (jpg) or Event List (pdf).

Topics include:

• Advice on Gardening Projects
  • — Frederick Rice is the premier horticultural speaker and lecturer in the New York area, currently renovating a home in Rome, NY. Mr. Rice has lived in the United Kingdom and West Indies, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, and studied art in Italy. He will be speaking at 3PM on Saturday on Dooryards, Gates, and Container Gardening.
  • — Carol Benzing, columnist in the Sunday Sentinel, will present Home Vegetable Gardening on Saturday, at 11am
  • — Denise Szarek, Three Goat Farms, "Now what do I do with all these fruits and vegetables from my garden, CSA, or farmers market?", at 4pm, Saturday
  • — Holly Wise, Consumer Horticulture Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, will be available on Sunday afternoon from noon to 2pm at exhibitor booth #24, to answer gardening questions.
  • — Brenda's Natural Foods Container Gardening Sunday, 2:30pm. Growing of vegetables and herbs organically at home. Brenda will discuss the seasonality of different plants (when to plant and harvest) and different organic soil amendments available locally. Includes a demonstration of container planting of small vegetables and herbs.
• Advice on Do-It-Yourself Home Improvements
  • — On Saturday at 11am, (and on Sunday at 1pm), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will offer Home Energy Efficiency Tips: Save Energy & Money (and the planet, too!)
• Advice on Leisure/Lifestyle
  • — Mid-York Library System and Jervis Public Library will present the Learning Express Library, offering a hands-on computer demonstration for job skills, training, standardized test prep (SAT, AP, civil service), resumes, job searching, interviews, and more, on Saturday at 1pm.
  • — George Mower will share his expert knowledge about Kayaking on Saturday at 1pm .
  • — Mid-York Library System and Jervis Public Library will offer E-book demonstrations on several of the popular devices on which library patrons can download books they choose to borrow at 2pm Saturday and Sunday.
  • — Staff from Jervis Public Library will teach consumers can learn about the Saving, Savvy Shopping ways of a prominent local Coupon Queen on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.
  • — The Red Cross will offer free Blood Pressure Screening all day Saturday and Sunday from their new booth in the Main Exhibitor Room A, courtesy of NBT Bank.
  • — Dr. Keith Keenan, D.C., will present Holistic Healthcare at its Best at 3:30pm, Saturday
  • — CRC Raceway & Hobby will offer a hands-on demonstration of Radio-controlled Cars in Room B in the Interactive Area from 3pm to the Show's closing on both days.
  • — Lynn Robinson of Stash-a-Way Quilts, How to Quilt, Saturday at 2pm
  • — AT&T will show the latest in Smartphone Technology and staying legal with hands-free while driving, Saturday, 3 pm and Sunday 12pm
• The Show's Grand Prize raffle will run during Show hours all day on Saturday (10am-4pm), and on Sunday from 10am until 2:30pm
  
  • — Winning names will be announced on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.
  • — One ticket for $5, three tickets for $10
  • — Winners need not be present to win; they will be notified by phone, and names will be posted on www.RomeChamber.com
  • — Grand Prize: PELICAN Freedom 100 Kayak Kit - 380 Value, courtesy of Herb Philipson's
    Winner: #412 - Jason Paré.
  • — The Nook Color Wi-Fi E-reader with 7-inch touchscreen. Borrow your books from the Mid York Library System, $249 Value, courtesy of a library supporter
    Winner: #372 - David Bearup.
  • — A Container Gardening Package. A planter, topsoil and $150 gift card for vegetables and supplies $225 Value, courtesy of ACE & the Rome Chamber
    Winner: #417 - Bonnie Collins.
  • — Kwik Kut $25 Gift Certificate:
    Winner: #367 - Pat Pitcher.
• 50-50 raffle tickets
  • — will be sold on Saturday, 10am-4pm; and on Sunday from 10am-2:30pm. These were two different raffles for a chance to win half of the day's ticket sale amount; tickets sold on Saturday are not good for Sunday.
    Saturday's 50-50 Blue Ticket Winner: #683822 — $189.00.
    Sunday's 50-50 Red Ticket Winner: #118035 — $166.00.
• Plenty of Activities for Families and Children (Times vary; please consult schedule.)
  
  • — Hop to Room B for Kirby Kangaroo and The Bean Spot (Hands-on Garden projects for kids)
    • – to meet the First Source Federal Credit Union mascot on Saturday from 10:30am - 12:30pm, and on Sunday from 11am - 2 pm.
  • — Child ID Program, presented by the Roman-Hatheway Masonic Lodge, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm
  • — Unplug and Play
    • Board games with a new twist, instruction and guidance provided by Jervis Public Library staff and volunteers, Sunday, 2 pm .
  • — Capitol Costumes
    • Imagine, dress, and for a few minutes, BE...your favorite stage character from Capitol Theatre productions.
  • — Rotary Friends
    • Warm hugs from some of your favorite characters waiting around every corner, as you explore the Home Show with Mom and Dad, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm
  • — A sneak peek at the Rome Art and Community Center's Dinosaurs Rock Fall exhibit.
  • — Cave Kid Workout
    • Out on the front lawn, the Rome Family Y will present two sessions of Cave Kid Workout, at 1-1:30pm, and 3-3:30pm on Saturday.
  • — Story Hour by Jervis Library on Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm
• Angel Row - Rome-Grown Quality for Life, Leisure, Entertainment & Culture
  • Many of Rome's local not-for-profit (NFP) organizations are creative and frugal as they provide necessary and cultural services to the public. They do more with less, struggling to be self-sufficient, yet add value to quality of life and ongoing community improvement.
  • "Angel" sponsors, including First Source Federal Credit Union, AmeriCU Credit Union, and Rome Savings Bank, provided support for the new Angel Row in Room B, where information and activities on Rome-grown quality for life, leisure, entertainment and culture will be available. The Rome Capitol Theatre, Jervis Public Library, the Humane Society of Rome, Rome Art and Community Center, Rome Community Theater, and Rome Historical Society will all have staffed booths in this area.
  • Activities at each booth and in different interactive areas will feature something of interest for visitors of all ages.
• For details, see the Event List (jpg) or Event List (pdf).

"We want to show Central New Yorkers how to 'Love Local'", said Laurie Fusco, chairman of the Rome Home Show Committee. "The Show will feature close to 100 local businesses: contractors, vendors, organizations and agencies that offer products, services, and/or advice on do-it-yourself home improvement, leisure/lifestyle, and gardening projects."

Oneida County Tourism, Mohawk Valley EDGE and Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Oneida County will be featured in the Main Exhibit Room A, participating together in support of the Show's theme. Oneida County Tourism's booth will reflect one of their travel guide themes: Get Away to: Farm Fresh. Mohawk Valley EDGE will use their Call Mohawk Valley Challenge exhibit game, testing the public's knowledge of facts about our region, including agri-business. Cooperative Extension will provide information and expert advice on gardening.

There is something for everyone to enjoy in addition to seeing new products and services from vendors.

This year, it's pretty easy to be "green" at the Rome Home Show!

Those who come to the Home Show will hear lots of conversation about gardens and gardening, local food producers, and conservation: The Bean Spot is using biodegradable cups for the kids' planting activity with Kirby the Kangaroo. Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority will provide containers for bottle & can recycling at the show.

Find out how to spend less for travel — learn about recreation on local waterways, and find ideas at the Oneida County Tourism booth for enjoying an affordable fun-filled family "Staycation" at regional attractions. It's all about affordable and effective self-sufficiency—for home, garden, leisure and lifestyle.

The Committee

The Rome Home Show Committee includes: Laurie Fusco, Chairman (Ridge Street Depot); Jim Cilente (1st Rome Realty); John Mazzaferro (City of Rome); Debbie Adamo (First Source Federal Credit Union); Roberta Cavano (The Printed Word); and Alexa Drake and Sue Jenks (Rome Chamber).

"This year, we tried to do more in spite of the economy and a tight budget," said Debbie Adamo, also Chairman of the Rome Chamber. "We used sponsor support to improve programming, and eliminated aspects that did not work well in past years. There is no shuttle bus service this year because ridership in the past few years did not justify the expense. Holding the Show later in April increases the likelihood of warmer weather for outdoor exhibitors, and allows attendees to park nearby without snowbanks as obstacl...we hope!"

So many rooms, so many things to do and see!
View all the demos scheduled for the Home Show at Event List (jpg) or Event List (pdf).

The Chamber is making every effort to keep the details up-to-date, but is not responsible for last-minute changes or additions to the schedule.