Mother Earth Prayers: Macedon’s Gathering Place--Books, ETC.

Books Etc. in Macedon rests on a Field of Consciousness as does the Butterfly Nature Trail. Had I known about them before I would have included them in my book Sacred Sites in North Star Country.

Macedon’s Gathering Place

Books, ETC. in Macedon, NY started out as a bookstore and a coffee shop. It wasn’t long before it became a community gathering place for groups like Wayne County’s Writer’s Guild. But the transformations did not stop there. According to co-owner John Cieslinski Books, ETC. has become a “community.”

To understand what John means by “community” we need only look to the Butterfly Nature Trail that was conceived and built by the community he speaks of. Located within the Canal Park-Lock 30 area the Butterfly Nature Trail occupies a quarter mile stretch of the Erie Canal in Macedon NY. It consists of trails, flowers, meadows, sculptures and more. Kudo’s to the “community” for its vision and effort in creating this delight for all to enjoy.

The genesis for Books, ETC. began decades ago. While visiting their families’ camp in Deposit, NY (30 miles east of Binghamton) John Cieslinski and his sister Maryanne Miller would spend hours at the Black Kettle bookstore, an old garage with a few shelves behind someone’s house. They relished chatting with owner Remus and other patrons as well as having a few cups of coffee. Not surprisingly Remus had a twin brother named Romulus. They were shattered when they visited their families’ camp one day to learn that Remus had died and the Black Kettle was no more.

They missed their hangout and wanted to have another one to go to. It would take a few years, John retiring from teaching seventh and eight grade English before they decided to make their own Black Kettle. Maryanne wanted a coffee shop and John wanted a bookstore so they combined the two.

They were so committed to their plan that instead of renting they were going to buy a place. And to fund their purchase they decided to sell their families’ camp. Now that is passion.

Books, ETC. is a warm and welcoming place. You can count on either Maryanne, or John being there when you visit. The reviews on their facebook page are glowing,

John writes. “Conversation with anyone who stops by is one of the perks you can’t put a cash value on. Visit enough times and friendships are formed. Come by and you will find a new place to visit where you are appreciated.”

Carrie writes. “I stopped into this beautiful little gem yesterday and was greeted by such wonderful and amazing people and I even made a new cat friend!”

Books, ETC. Calendar contains a listing of upcoming events, displays etc. It includes regular meetings of Spirituality and Philosophy; Several health classes, Transition to a Healthy Lifestyle and Healthy Aging—Healthy Dinosaurs; Shamanic Drumming and Journeying; Abundance class, to get you into thinking positively. Psychic night where a medium looks to the future is the only event that charges.

And of course there are books, new and used, as well as gifts. There are coffee, treats, and healthy beverages you can purchase.

Books, ETC. regularly houses Art Exhibits. Currently featured is art by Larry Wood, Larry DeKock, and Mike Kraus.

Books, ETC. actively supports local authors. That is how I learned about Books, ETC. I will be there Saturday December 8^that 2 PM discussing my book Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World and our region’s unique history that shaped the world.