Archive: Around Town

When Bob Baker passed away just over a year ago he completed a lifetime of high standards, professional achievement, and service to his community.  He was a no nonsense personality, but with a friendly interest in people around him.  He was instrumental in founding many of the institutions that we now take for granted in Lansing, believing in not only giving and raising money for civic projects, but rolling up his sleeves and helping to build them himself.  That's why the Lansing Housing Authority is planning to create a memorial garden commemorating Baker.  "He's the one who organized it almost 30 years ago," says the Housing Authority (LHA) President George Gesslein, who says Baker was the driving force behind Woodsedge, Lansing's retirement community that is nestled behind the town ball fields. 

"He spent five or eight years doing the groundwork," Gesslein explains.  "And getting the approvals, and getting the financing, and going to Washington, and getting guarantees from the Home Administration.  Bob worked very hard to put together a nice team to get it started.  And he kept it going.  He was the chairman of the housing authority up until just a couple of months before he passed away."

The 'Robert C. Baker Memorial Garden' will be on the south side of the Woodsedge building, incorporating an existing pavilion that was  built by Robert D. Mitchell, Jr. for his Eagle Scout project in 1998. 

	Tax deductible checks made out to Lansing Housing Authority, noting Memorial Garden on memo line, may be mailed to LHA, c/o George Gesslein, President, 118 Sharpsteen Road, Locke, New York 13092 or droped off in a special collection box at Woodsedge or the Lansing Town Hall.

LHA hired landscape architect Rod Kearl to design the garden that will include about 1000 square feet of concrete surrounded by low maintenance plants and trees.  "It will be the kind of plants that he would have wanted to have, basically plants that are suitable for seniors," Gesslein says.  "Woodsedge was probably, in his mind, at least, one of his biggest accomplishments."

Baker was world renowned for his contributions to the chicken industry, creating more than 50 innovations including chicken nuggets and Cornell Sauce. Baker had a long and successful career at Cornell, and was dubbed "The Edison of the Chicken Industry" by the New York Times.  He and his wife Jackie started 'Bakers Acres' nursery in 1980, and it is now run by their daughter Reenie Sandstead.  It has become one of the largest herb and perennial growers in the region, which also boasts a tea room and gift and antiques shop.

Gesslein says LHA expects the final cost to exceed $15,000, and so far $4,000 has been raised through over 40 donations.  But he says the garden will be constructed this fall while the organization continues their fund raising efforts.  LHA will have a booth at Lansing Harbor Festival next week, and also plans to solicit local businesses.


"Jacoba Baker and Reenie Baker Sandsted have helped identify Bob's garden philosophies, i.e., low maintenance, modest costs, hardy native plants, safety, comfort and beauty for seniors' enjoyment," he says.  "Thus both the garden and the pavilion area will feature some of Bob's favorite flowering plants, comfortable outdoor tables and chairs, arbors, and smooth underfoot surfaces."
 
The cost was more than expected, so the design had to be pulled back.  But this was in line with what Baker would have wanted.  "Jackie is a very strong supporter," Gesslein  says.  "She was originally concerned that it was getting too elaborate, so we toned it down and made it much more practical and cost effective.  That's Bob's way.  He liked things practical and not overly costly." 

Aside from additional funding the housing authority will need volunteers to help construct the garden.  That approach is in the spirit of what Bob Baker did all his life.  "That's exactly what the whole thing is all about," Gesslein says.

----
v3i31