Small but Mighty Keuka Lake

WXXI News | By Racquel Stephen,

Veronica Volk, Julie Williams

Published July 25, 2025 at 6:57 AM EDT

1 of 2 — (foreground) Sam Crastner, (background) Kyle Anne Pallischeck and Angela Mattoon with host Racquel Stephen on "Connections"

(foreground) Sam Crastner, (background) Kyle Anne Pallischeck and Angela Mattoon with host Racquel Stephen on "Connections" on Thursday, July 24, 2025

Gary Pudup / WXXI News

2 of 2 — Tricia Noel

Tricia Noel

Provided

Racquel Stephen guest hosting "Connections with Evan Dawson"

We continue our summer tour of the Finger Lakes with a trip to a place that's a little less traveled, a little less hyped... but that's part of what people say makes it magical.

Keuka Lake is known as the "Crooked Lake" for its unusual Y shape, and its the only lake in the country that flows both north and south. It's ringed by small, proud communities -- Penn Yan, Hammondsport, and Branchport -- each with their own stories.

We get into them with our guests:

Sam Crastner, metalwork artist at Ironvine Studios LLC
Angela Mattoon, office manager for Weis Vineyards
Tricia Noel, executive director/curator of the Yates County History Center
Kyle Anne Pallischeck, director of programs for the New York State Wine and Grape Foundation