Rome, Oneida County
Laurie has lived in the Town of Rome in Oneida County for almost 30 years. In 2010, she purchased a camp in Ava which consists of a small year-round stream, woods full of white pines and hemlocks, ponds that are home to Canada geese and
mallard ducks and wildflowers that dot the landscape. In 2018 when a neighbor wanted to buy and develop the land next to her camp, she purchased that piece of property which is home to vernal pools, a pond, mosses, ferns, and beautiful wetlands where she has discovered Canada lilies and delicate purple fringed orchids growing.
As a special education teacher with the Rome City School District, Laurie creates her own materials to use with her students to help further their knowledge of the Tug Hill region. During COVID, each day her students learned about a flower, plant, animal, or amphibian that can be found in Tug Hill, using her own photographs and information about the subject.
Laurie takes much pride in educating the importance of being a good steward of the land and all that the Tug Hill region has to offer.