Arboretum Targets Crossgates Mall for Weekend MINI Cooper Raffle Sales

ESPERANCE, NY (11/10/2007)(readMedia)-- In a bid to raise operating funds – and attract a new generation of visitors to its spectacular 548-acre site in Montgomery and Schoharie counties -- the Landis Arboretum, in concert with Keeler Motor Car Company (Latham, NY) will raffle a 2007 Mini-Cooper.

Landis Trustees and volunteers will be selling the tickets at Albany’s Crossgates Mall (www.shopcrossgates.com; (518) 869-9565) on Saturday, November 10; Sunday, November 11; and Friday, November 30. The Landis booth will be located near Friendly’s within the mall complex. Only 350 tickets will be sold at $100 each.

Drawing of the winning ticket will take place on December 8 at the annual Arboretum Holiday Festival Dinner Auction at The Crossings of Colonie (Loudonville).

Raffle participants are invited to view the Mini-Cooper model at the Keeler Motor Car Company showroom at 111 Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7), Latham, NY (www.Keeler.com) or get details at www.landisarboretum.org.

MINI and More… Instantly recognizable by its unique styling, the car is considered to be a compact powerhouse whose near-instant and widespread popularity has made it a break-through highway icon. With its bravura bulldog stance, the handsomely equipped MINI features six airbags and side protection, an Ultra-Rigid body, 1.6 L 16-valve Alloy Engine, and 118 horsepower @6000 rpm. The popular MINI includes an array of active and passive safety features, a boot-load of personal options, and impressive gas mileage of 32 MPG city/40 MPG Highway – making it one of the highest smiles for miles rating of any car in its class. MINI fans take pride in owning a car reputed for its huge impact on driving fun -- not the environment.

Buy Now and Take the Wheel to a Cleaner Environment In addition to the sales effort at Crossgates, tickets may be purchased in person at the Landis Arboretum at 171 Lape Road in Esperance. Tickets also are available by mail: Send self-addressed, stamped envelope with check or money order payable to Landis Arboretum PO Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066. Indicate Keeler Mini-Cooper on the memo line. For credit card payments, phone the Arboretum at 518-875-6935. www.LandisArboretum.org. .

Kudos for Keeler The Keeler Motor Car Company on Route 7 in Latham showcases six manufacturers: Honda, BMW, MINI, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz are all available for sale and lease along with a large assortment of quality pre-owned vehicles from a variety of auto makers. Each Keeler showroom offers complete Service and Parts departments with highly qualified technicians and informed, courteous personnel. Attention to detail is a Keeler hallmark.

Migrating Geese and Cobblestones, Too! Each year the Arboretum offers a quilt sponsored and created by member-volunteers. This year’s offering is titled Migrating Geese and Cobblestones. The beautiful 64 x 85 hand-sewn, cotton quilt with batting will be unveiled at the Plant Sale. Volunteer Toine Wyckoff (Niskayuna) assembled the pieces that comprise the comely quilt and well-known Voorheesville craftsman Lew “Quiltsmith” Schedlbauer combined and stitched the pattern to backing.

“This is more than a mere wall hanging,” says Toine. “Because of its size, the more utilitarian among us might just as easily use it for as a bed cover; and its colors – ranging from woody greens to florals include golds, greens, yellow, red and blue -- and animals in fine detail – expand its possibilities for any home’s style.”

Visitors can see for themselves – and greet friends and neighbors as well. The quilt will be on display at the Arboretum’s MINI Cooper sales booth at Crossgates.

The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic-designated Route 20 in Esperance, an easy and beautiful ride from everywhere. . Visitors to the Landis Arboretum will find themselves within minutes of the adventures of Howe Caverns (518-296-8900, www.HoweCaverns.com), the 25-acre Old Stone Fort Museums Complex (518.295.7192), and historic Sharon Springs (www.sharonspringschamber.com).