Simplicity and creativity behind Creekside in Trumansburg’s 10-year run

In the midst of their 10th anniversary celebration, the family behind Creekside Cafe reflects on what’s made their restaurant one of the best-known staples in the village of Trumansburg. The answer? Simplicity and execution.

“It has been very strong since the beginning and it continues until now, but we really lean into self-expression,” said Charlie Stadtlander, who founded the restaurant alongside his wife, Cathy Koken. “We know what we want things to look like. We want to do our thing.”

Creekside, located on West Main Street, serves up some of the best breakfasts and lunches the village has to offer. The restaurant is open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Stadtlander, a former construction superintendent hailing from New Jersey, and his wife, a former chef at the Cafe DeWitt, bought the building at 4 W. Main St. 16 years ago. They then spent a year building and designing Creekside, which was at one point occupied by Sundrees Gift Shop and Lawrence Reverby’s law office. Once Sundrees found a space better suited to its business, Stadtlander and his family got to work establishing the cafe.

“We just wanted to do something, and it really turned out nice,” Stadtlander said. “This is a nice thing that means a lot to people.”

Now, after 10 years, Stadtlander, Koken and their daughters, Lily and Katie Koken — who help cook and have had significant input on the menu — are celebrating the milestone in the way they know best: focused and low key. They have decorated the cafe with some festive balloons and are selling $10 shirts to celebrate the anniversary.

“It feels really good to celebrate this,” Stadtlander said. “People have come to us to give us a hug and tell us about their memories here.”

Ulysses Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

Events venue to host eclipse party

Cedarwood, at 9632 state Route 96, will host a solar eclipse watch party April 8 from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The family-friendly event will center around the total solar eclipse occuring that day. 

Free protective glasses

The Ulysses Philomathic Library has been offering eclipse glasses free of charge since March 15. Interested parties may contact the library at 607-387-5623 to check for availability.

The library will be closed April 8 due to the eclipse.

Free well testing

Some residents who use a private well to supply their homes with drinking water may be receiving free testing.

The NYS Department of Health (DOH) is assisting the New York Rural Water Association (NYRWA) and the Ulysses Water Source Protection Plan Committee in developing a Source Water Protection Plan for the town of Ulysses. To support these efforts, DOH will do a limited number of well tests for a suite of water quality parameters. The town is looking for volunteers who are not connected to the municipal water system and are interested in getting their well tested for contaminants.

Interested parties can apply by sending their name, address and contact email to private.wells@health.ny.gov by April 22. The DOH will be scheduling a limited number of tests over the course of two to three days in early to mid-May. 

Property owners will receive a report and explanation of the results. Individual household results will remain confidential with the DOH. The town will receive a summary report of the findings without any location identifier. This data helps the town and the state to understand potential health concerns that may be present in drinking water wells and to focus on developing solutions in Ulysses.

First responder mental health survey 

First responders in the town or the village can participate in a new, anonymous survey backed by the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Institute for Disaster Mental Health and the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz. The survey aims to gather input from first responders on mental health issues.

Participation will help inform future mental health programs and services for first responders.

Questions include:

• What parts of a first responder’s job cause the most stress?
• How do these stressors impact the mental health and wellness of the first responder community?
• What are the barriers to receiving mental health and wellness care?
• What are the best services and programs to address these challenges?

The survey can be found at https://newpaltz.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b4p1H1Bj3FFSHQi.