Professor inspired by natural world

AUBURN - Seating was at a premium Friday night at the Cayuga Museum as laughter, tears, and enthusiastic applause filled its historic halls during the museum's 10th biannual poetry reading.

The tradition began in Spring of 2004 when the museum's board of directors sought a new way to fulfill its mission of promoting the history and culture of Cayuga County. Collaborating with the YMCA's Writer's Voice program to enhance the “culture” aspect, said Eileen McHugh, director of the Cayuga Museum, was “a natural fit.”

Board member Jim Delaney, an English and philosophy professor at Cayuga Community College, agreed. “I enjoy hearing the wide variety of poems,” he said, “from funny to moving.”