Simply Saratoga Home & Garden 2021 by Saratoga TODAY

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SARATOGA ™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

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Simply... Simply ...

SARATOGA ™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Creative Director/ Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee Magazine Designer Kacie Cotter-Sacala Advertising Designer Kelsey Sherman Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers Michele Ahl Samantha Bosshart Peter Bowden Colleen Coleman Carol Godette John R. Greenwood Wendy Hobday Haugh Jessica Holmes Meg Homicz Charlie Kuenzel Meghan Lemery Fritz Barbara Lombardo Bill Orzell Colleen Pausley Barry Potoker Megin Potter John Reardon Theresa St. John Jordana Turcotte Ralph Vincent

Photographers Susan Blackburn Photography Samantha Bosshart Brian Hoffman Julia Luckett Photography Randall Perry Photography David Straight Photography

Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: 518-581-2480 | fax: 518-581-2487 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2021.

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FROM THE EDITOR Chris Vallone Bushee • Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com • 518-581-2480 ext. 201 simplysaratoga.com | saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Welcome to the Spring H&G issue…

June 5 • 10 a.m.-3p.m. Craft Fair at Brookside

The Year of the Home continues!

I think this is one of the prettiest H&G issues we’ve done, and I’m not sure if that is strictly from the content (Decorators, Bloggers and Influencers… Oh My !!) or the fact that we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. This magazine is full of inspiring stories, beautiful homes, lush gardens - and events - yes, we are promoting events again! I was so excited to be able to put something on my calendar (Secret Gardens Tour, July 11th) and “make plans with friends” such a small thing, but it means so much after this past year. As you may know… We’ve been the magazine media sponsor for the Saratoga Builders Association’s Showcase of Homes Fund Raiser for about ten years now, so to say that we’re excited about their 25th Anniversary, is putting it mildly… As a matter of fact, we are starting early and bringing you THREE ISSUES of Showcase of Homes coverage, starting with this one! And… Since a printed magazine can hold just so much, and a website is endless, if you’re looking for even more dining and décor inspiration, check out www.SimplySaratoga.com.

Save the Date ! The familyfriendly free event will be held at the beautiful Brookside Museum. Open to the public, rain or shine. Guests will be able to shop a wide variety of locally handcrafted collectibles, antiques, and farm products. Moreover, the event is juried, and vendors will be judged on their originality, creativity, and craftsmanship. No massproduced or commercially made items will be permitted. Please see the SCHC website brooksidemuseum.org and our social media accounts @SaratogaCoHistory for news and announcements.

I must close with a THANK YOU! to my readers (I LOVE your emails!!) and a THANK YOU! to our advertisers for helping us provide these beautiful magazines to you – free of charge – as always!

June 12 • 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

We couldn’t print and distribute our publications without them, so please mention us by name when supporting their businesses…

By the Heritage Garden Club of Saratoga Springs. Italian American Center: 247 Grand Avenue, Saratoga Springs. An assorted selection of perennial plants and a variety of herbs will be sold. Also, there will be garden decor items available to gardeners to enhance the beauty of your garden. Please feel free to contact theheritage40@gmail.com

Simply Saratoga, the Saratoga TODAY magazine.

s i r h C Cover Credit: Photo of one of this year's SECRET GARDENS by Brian Hoffman. See page 87 for more!

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Herb, Perennial Plant & Garden Decor Sale

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CONTRIBU TOR S M E GH

CO RE

SA S T. J

Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. Last year she traveled to Ireland on assignment, which, she states " was a trip of a lifetime." She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good, she says.

A T UR

Jordana Turcotte is a lifelong New Yorker and a Saratoga County resident since graduating from RPI. After staying at home for a bit with her children (now 10 and 8), she decided on the “rest of her life job” as Professional Organizer. Starting Simply You in 2008 fulfills a passion for organizing. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her volunteering at her kids’ school, being Mommy chauffeur or hanging out with her two rescue dogs.

TTE

JORD A

IE KUE

H VI N CE

Ralph Vincent is a lifestyle writer enamored with the Spa City. As an enthusiastic contributor to Simply Saratoga Magazine, he enjoys writing about a variety of topics including home entertaining, cooking, and cocktail crafting. His body of work also includes articles on subjects of special significance to him such as his experiences as a pet parent, gardening, and Yaddo. He resides locally with his partner Steven and their adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

SA MA

T PE

C OL

John Reardon purchased Compliments to the Chef in July of 2004 and has enjoyed selling over 6,000 high quality cookware and cutlery items to his Foodie Friends ever since. His wife Paula - as well as being a college professor - helps out along with their son John and daughter Aubrey … and they fit right in to his Foodie Team! If you ask John or Aubrey to cook up a special dish, you’ll see a gleam in their eyes! John reminds us... “Life Happens in the Kitchen” and yes… “Anyone can cook!”

T HE

REARD

Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications and online. A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.

UGH

Colleen Pausley is the writer behind the blog; Life on Kaydeross Creek where she shares unique ideas to decorate your home on a budget, DIY projects, furniture makeovers and thrift store up-cycles. She and her husband have been do-it-yourselfers for 25 years and she believes that creating a warm, inviting home that you LOVE and that reflects who you are can be done on any budget.

J OH

IN P OTT

W E NDY

EN PAU

B DAY

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GREENW OO

Northville freelancer Wendy Hobday Haugh’s short stories, articles, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications, including Woman’s World Weekly, Highlights for Children, and WritersWeekly.com. Her stories have appeared in 15 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit www.wendyhobdayhaugh.com.

Charlie Kuenzel is a native Saratogian who spent 36 years as a Science educator in the Saratoga School District before retiring 6 years ago. Charlie, along with Dave Patterson are the co-owners of Saratoga Tours LLC who for the past 16 years have educated and entertained thousands of visitors to the city with stories to tell the exciting history of our great city.

L G ODE

John Greenwood is a leftover Saratoga Springs milkman who loves capturing stories about the people and places that surround him. John and his wife Patricia have been holding hands since high school. The couple recently retired and are looking forward to having more time to enjoy the nooks and crannies of the surrounding area. You can explore more of John’s writing at rainingiguanas.com, where you will find the glass half full and the weather mostly sunny.

Meghan is a native of the Glens Falls Saratoga region. Her passion is to provide her clients and readers with the tools necessary to live a life grounded in peace and emotional well-being. She is an author and writer for various publications in Upstate NY and State College, PA. She is also the co-host for a monthly radio segment focused on how to improve relationships. She currently resides in State College, PA where she enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

N C OL E

Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Carol Godette’s fascination with neighborhood stores began at age 11 when she frequented Rowland’s. A passionate educator, Godette taught elementary school in the Saratoga School District for 31 years. Carol is a co-owner of the local Ben & Jerry’s franchise. Godette and her husband live in her childhood home where they raised their two children. She welcomes your comments and stories/photos on neighborhood stores via email: saratoganeighborhoodstores@gmail.com

LE MER

FRIT

B OW D

Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project. Her collaborative efforts with clients, as well as others in the industry, translates to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life” - reach her at colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net.

A RT

=Peter has been the region's go-to garden guy for over 35 years. His knack for practical and concise explanations has served him well during his 20-year tenure as WRGB’s garden guy. He is an artist and avid photographer whose images have appeared in textbooks, magazines and travel guides. Peter lives with his wife, Sharon and their pets in an old house in the country.

B T H A OS

Samantha Bosshart joined the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation in 2008. As Executive Director, she advocates for the preservation of the unique architecture and rich heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha previously worked at Historic Albany Foundation and Galveston Historical Foundation. Samantha completed her coursework for a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University.

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Simply... Simply ...

SARATOGA ™

Home

Garden

Photo by Brian Hoffman. See more from this year's Secret Gardens Tour, starting on page 87!

contents

The Saratoga Builders Association’s Showcase of Homes Is Celebrating their 25th Anniversary this Fall

…and We’re Starting the Celebration Early!

H&G 2 0 2 1

HOME & GARDEN 31 Architecturally Speaking 46 A Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen 52 Round Lake Forge 54 Instagram Worthy Houseplants!

Pages 2 – 140 …Really, the whole magazine!

78 Entertaining with Ralph Vincent 81 Colleen's Picks 87 Soroptimist’s 26th Annual… Secret Garden Tour is back! 94 Homesteading

56 Jordanna Turcotte

96 Gardening with Peter Bowden

57 Hen & Horse

SPRING FASHION

64 The Revived Home

99 Meghan Lemery Fritz Kicks Off EIGHT PAGES of the Hottest Spring Looks!

70 Life On Kaydeross Creek 72 Saratoga Consignment Studio 74 GOODWILL Makes the World Go ‘Round 76 In the Kitchen with John Reardon 10 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

Caroline + Main Lifestyles of Saratoga Lucia • Pink Paddock Saratoga Trunk • Spoken Union Hall • Violet’s

OUT & ABOUT 108 Star Farm Blueberries SUMMER CAMPS 113 Seven great options for your children (or grandchildren!) to do this summer! HISTORY 121 Charlie Kuenzel 126 Carol Godette 130 Preserving Saratoga 134 Bill Orzell 136 John Greenwood

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TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF

Reflections

AS TOLD BY BARRY POTOKER ON THE EVE OF THEIR SILVER ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS PROVIDED

he area’s premiere new home tour, the Saratoga Showcase of Homes, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary this coming fall.

It is truly part of the fabric of our fall season. For the record, there were two occasions when a showcase event did not take place. Back in 2009, due to the great recession, the showcase was cancelled, but it roared back in 2010 with 16 locations on tour. And last year, due to the pandemic, the 2020 “live” event was reimagined virtually into a televised special event featuring saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

twelve builders, each filmed at their home locations. We are optimistic that this year’s silver milestone will include many beautiful, and even extraordinary homes for our region to enjoy!

My involvement as the Executive Director of the Saratoga Builders Association and Co-Chair of this event began in 2010. I was an avid fan and attendee back in the early 2000s, fascinated with how this unique event came together. Little did I know that one day, this wonderment would lead me to become deeply connected to it. My hat’s off to the past Executive

Director, Kate Ferris, for her inspiration heading up this event from its inception through the first 15 years. This show is a labor of love for everyone involved. There are countless details and special elements that make up the success and longevity of this event including the builders, suppliers, sponsors, media, volunteers, committee, judges, realtors, visitors and of course, the charities. The goal is to blend all these moving parts seamlessly together presenting a world-class show for the community.

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Showcase planning each year begins during the cold doldrums of winter, at our first committee meeting in February. We generally have around twelve members. Our dedicated committee is the heart and soul of this event. The people and the dynamics do change from year to year, but several folks have been the foundation serving on this team for a long time – Lisa Licata, CoChair (on the committee for over half of the showcases!), Pamela Stott, Drew Aiello and Mark Hogan have all provided a continuous thread of commitment to this effort. Always in the spirit of camaraderie and purpose, this close-knit group pulls together every activity associated with the showcase. Whether coordinating the Realtor and Judges Tour or inspecting showcase homes or planning awards-night festivities or even stuffing mailings, this committee is hard at work making it happen for eight months before the event. I think we have the most fun together creating and developing the showcase theme every year, from “There’s No Place Like Home” to the “Magic of the Showcase” to “If You Build It, They Will Come.” In fact, the “Taste of Showcase” preview was introduced some years back to kick off the event with chefs cooking at showcase homes the Friday night prior to the opening of the tour. It was a hit and so we incorporated this “chefs” evening into three of the subsequent showcases. The committee innovated years ago by providing all attendees with “shoe bag/totes” to put their shoes in while walking through the newly finished homes. The bags have become quite popular, and I see them around town from time to time. And we have a blast lining up the entertainment for our lively showcase awards presentation ceremonies at the Vapor Club. We’ve had a Beatles tribute band, The Rat Pack, comedians, a speed painter and even a world-renowned sword swallower. In the end, serving on the showcase committee is a rewarding and always stimulating experience. The first Showcase of Homes was unveiled back in 1997. It was the brainchild of John Witt, considered the “father” of this now annual tradition. In fact, Witt Construction has been in EVERY showcase since then. There have been over forty different builders who have participated in the show over the years, with the perennial mainstays appearing nearly every year like Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, Bonacio Construction, Heritage Custom Builders and of course Witt Construction. And in recent years, some talented newcomers have showed their stuff

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like Caruso Builders, Kodiak Construction, McPadden Builders, Trojanski Builders, and more. The builders are indeed the “Stars of the Show” wowing us with their creativity and craftsmanship with each new edition of the showcase. The builders are center stage in this production, even when they are rolling out the green carpet (AKA: those beautiful lawns!) the day before the tour opens!

Let’s talk showcase volunteers,

because it takes an army. Our two designated local charities - Rebuilding Together Saratoga and Habitat for Humanity - staff and organize ALL the volunteers for this event. And it is a monumental task for the two Executive Directors Michelle Larkin (RTSC) and Adam Feldman (HFH). Each home has a dedicated house Captain and two folks at the door assisting visitors, selling and checking tickets, handling cash and managing crowd control. Each shift is three hours long. It literally takes hundreds of volunteers to make this work and they do an incredible job no matter how many home locations we throw at them. In 2019, there were 19 homes on the tour (the largest showcase in our history), which meant that over 400 volunteers were needed! I see so many of the same friendly faces year after year, and it appears that they truly enjoy being much more than “greeters” and mingling with the nearly 4,000 visitors who pass through the homes. Their outstanding efforts over three weekends each fall is second to none. These two important charities are at the core of this event. In the end, it’s one of the primary reasons we put the show on. The proceeds each year are donated to these organizations that do so much good for our community. And thankfully they have received over $1,300,000 since this event began! Over the years, there have been many individuals who played key roles in helping the showcase become what it is today. Two individuals have gone above and beyond to spread the showcase magic merely by the contribution of their time and talent. The first is Randall Perry. He is the one that has been taking hundreds of amazing photos of the showcase homes from the beginning. His imagery and devotion to perfection is second to none. The showcase is better off because of Randall. Second is Liz Bishop. She has brought her flair, passion and energy helping us broaden our exposure. As our “face and spokesperson,” Liz has eloquently spread the word on our mission taking us to higher levels over the past 10 years.

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We have been so very fortunate to have many marketing and media partners throughout the years providing an abundant source of dazzling materials heightening consumer awareness - Magazines like Simply Saratoga, Capital Region Building & Design and Saratoga Living; Newspapers like the Daily Gazette, Post Star, Times Union, Saratogian, Saratoga Today & Saratoga Business Journal; Agencies like Brawn Media, Mannix Marketing, Marci Fila (Real Estate Digital Designs) and Shannon Rose; Networks like Spectrum and CBS-6; And talent the likes of Liz Bishop, Marci Fraser, Donna Pennell, and Yvonne Perry.

It goes without saying that this unique, hometown fundraising event would not be possible in any way, shape, or form, without the generous support of our many corporate sponsors. We have about seventy-five each year, companies from the building industry to mortgage lenders to interior designers to construction suppliers to real estate brokers. You all know who you are and the Saratoga Builders

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Association, Showcase Committee and especially our two charities applaud your commitment to the Saratoga Showcase of Homes.

Lastly, special congratulations to all the attendees (our FANS!) of the showcase who support this annual self-guided tour with your enthusiasm and especially by purchasing tickets. We are indebted to you. Yes, the showcase event is a fundraiser, but it is also a very enjoyable, social experience. Where else can you meet the builders and their suppliers face to face, get the latest decorating and interior design ideas, and learn about trends in construction… while enjoying yourself and supporting a great cause?! I can’t think of a more splendid way to spend a crisp, fall day than taking a ride to visit each house. And as with the volunteers, I see many of the same smiling faces each year wandering about these brand-new homes. My wish and hope is that this spectacular local event will remain strong and vital to our community… Here’s to the next twenty-five years!

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According to Habitat, Volunteering at SOH is a Family Affair! Each home requires 25 volunteers (across all three weekends) 10 homes = 250 total volunteers!

Michelle and Scott have volunteered for 5+ years as husband and wife. Kelly and Sandy have volunteered for 3+ years as mother and daughter. Newport News Shipbuilding has volunteered as a corporate volunteer for 3+ years.

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Rebuilding Together Saratoga County Recognizes Some of their Volunteers Jean and Jeff McLellan have volunteered every year to be Showcase House Captains, which means they oversee all the volunteers for a Showcase Home and typically coordinate for a John Witt home. Jeff is a retired school superintendent and former staff member of Rebuilding Together Saratoga. They have both been recognized as a Volunteer of the Year. Marla and Kathleen, close friends and coworkers at Howard Hanna, have multiple years of volunteering with Rebuilding Together. Volunteering to be a Showcase greeter is a great opportunity for a husband and wife, good friends or a parent and teenager to have a fun day together, help a charity raise money and bonus-they even get a free ticket to go on the Showcase of Homes Tour!

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Cabinet Roll-Out Shelves

Mixer Lifter

Swing-Out Shelving

ZobelAndCo.com

Pull-Out Cabinets & Pantries

Now more than ever

we are spending a great deal of time in our kitchens. For many of us it is no longer just the place to make great food and memories with the people we love -it has also become a classroom and/or a home office. For some, their newly acquired home needs a kitchen that meets their lifestyle. Regardless of what inspires you to upgrade the most important space in your home, your cabinets are an excellent place to start the process. If you are looking for ways to truly enhance the time you spend in your kitchen, here are a few cabinet features to consider.

One-Touch Access

Drawer within a Drawer

518-588-1034

Lighting

Twenty-Five years ago, a shovel was placed into the ground.

en volunteers met every Saturday for an entire year to build a home. A family committed 100 hours of sweat equity for their down payment. Twenty-Five years ago, volunteers from around the region united around a common mission.

Builders donated their time to help a hard-working Saratoga family. A family purchased a home and started making monthly mortgage payments. A pathway to affordable homeownership was made. Twenty-Five years ago, and every year since, Habitat for Humanity families earn the right to become a Habitat Partner Family and purchase an affordable home in our amazing community.

AND Twenty-Five years ago, the Showcase of Homes and the Saratoga Builders Association made a commitment to

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promote and support the growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County.

That commitment has led to $1.3 million donated and hundreds of families improving their lives. Habitat for Humanity is humbled by the commitment of the many volunteers who put on this annual event and to all the guests who show up to see the distinguished work of our local builders, interior decorators and landscape architects. THANK YOU, Showcase of Homes, for supporting a pathway to homeownership for so many Habitat for Humanity families!

Twenty-Five years ago, the cycle of poverty was broken.

THANK YOU, Showcase of Homes’ volunteers and their commitment to helping to provide everyone with a decent place to call home.

Twenty-Five years ago, the stability of homeownership planted the seed for generational change.

THANK YOU, Showcase of Homes’ builders, for volunteering their labor and materials towards building strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter for Habitat’s hardworking families.

Twenty-Five years ago, a family began their journey of the American Dream.

THANK YOU, Showcase of Homes, for not only building beautiful homes but also building a beautiful community. Twenty-Five years ago, a family found their forever home! This year we celebrate TwentyFive years of Showcase of Homes. And this year we burn the mortgage and celebrate a final mortgage payment for one of the many hardworking Habitat for Humanity families!

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THANK YOU to the Saratoga Builders Association and Congratulations on the 25th Anniversary of The Showcase of Homes!

ince 2004, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County has been a nonprofit beneficiary of the Showcase of Homes, and this tremendous support from the Saratoga Builders Association has been invaluable to our efforts to help our neighbors in need live independently in safe and healthy homes. The Saratoga Builders Association’s commitment to supporting low-income homeowners in our community means that more seniors can safely bathe in walk-in showers. It means more low-income homeowners receive replacement roofs and windows, ensuring their homes are protected from moisture damage, and it means more veterans living with a disability receive exterior ramps for safe and independent egress from their homes.

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Rebuilding Together Saratoga County works year-round to build healthy neighborhoods and ensure homeowners in need can live independently in safe and healthy homes. When qualified homeowners are not capable of making needed home repairs or accessibility modifications, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County coordinates the volunteers, contractors, tools, and supplies necessary to fix the homes. These services are provided at no cost to the homeowner. Rebuilding Together Saratoga County also works to rehabilitate properties that house qualifying nonprofit organizations serving our community. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of each individual homeowner and we focus on older adults, individuals living with disabilities, active and retired

members of the armed services, and families with children. In the 18 years since our founding, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County has repaired 1,379 homes, revitalized 103 nonprofit centers and community spaces, and replaced 20 substandard manufactured homes with the help of more than 10,672 volunteers who have dedicated over 81,847 hours of their time.

We are so grateful to everyone who comes together to make the Showcase of Homes possible each year. The support provided by the Saratoga Builders Association has been critical to our ability to provide repairs and accessibility modifications for our neighbors in need. Together, we are helping lowincome homeowners remain safely and independently in their own homes and communities!

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Join Us in the Next Two Issues of

as we continue looking back on the history of the Saratoga Builders Association’s annual fund raiser and the area’s premiere new homes tour…

The Showcase of Homes! The area’s most well attended fund raiser has truly become a part of the fabric of our Autumnal Season… Come “Behind the Scenes” as we hear from the Builders, Designers and Vendors on our way to Celebrating their

25 ANNIVERSARY! TH

NEXT DEADLINE SIMPLY SARATOGA SUMMER EDITION: May 28, 2021 PUBLICATION DATE: June 25, 2021

Call TODAY to Reserve Your Ad Space!

518-581-2480

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com | simplysaratoga.com Five Case Street · Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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Randall Perry Photography

H&G Step Inside...

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cturally SPEAKING Follow us as we explore some of the area's unique spaces... Randall Perry Photography

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Wonderous Ranch Redo WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Randall Perry Photography

Downsizing without compromising. A fabulous remodel transforms this 1953 ranch home into a contemporary, open space with lots of light and an outdoor area that dials up the drama.

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Randall Perry Photography

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Streamlining Sentimentality

As delightful as it was to be returning to retire in a residential Albany neighborhood remembered from childhood, for a couple who wanted a luxurious, comfortable space requiring minimal maintenance, this formally red single-family home with white shutters left much to be desired. The Saratoga design firm Sensory Six was tasked with the mission of tailoring the property into a modern high-end masterpiece.

“It is rare in the Capital Region to find residential clients that truly have a contemporary design style, so it was fun to work with them. I love working with the design aesthetic of clean lines, contemporary lighting and modern eclectic artwork. This was also a renovation in which the interior was gutted, and the exterior completely overhauled. So, in many ways, it was like starting from scratch (although renovations have their own challenges versus a new build). We love a good challenge and developing solutions to make something work,” said Sensory Six Founder and President Sandra Fox.

The Future is Now

To introduce the exterior of this home to the future, the roof was replaced, coordinating siding, stone and custom-designed entry doors and garage doors were added. Working within a white, black and gray color palette, more substantial front columns, distinctive double-doors, glass panes and recessed soffit lights come together to form a statement-making entranceway.

There’s no sign now of the low ceilings and closed-off rooms that once sectioned-off this home’s dated interior.

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Randall Perry Photography

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Passion Project

It seems as if almost every inch of this home’s 2,800 square feet has been completely redone.

This already huge renovation took longer than expected because the team lost their contractor part-way through. With their passion for the project undeterred, the owners and Sensory Six took over the job of general contracting together. “This challenge did not change the final product because it was a labor of love, and we were all passionate about detail and quality,” said Fox.

Reaching Great Heights

To change the feel of the house and open everything up, modifying the ceilings became a key component of the renovations.

Vaulted ceilings in the great room make the house feel larger, provide beautiful sight-lines and give it that “wow” factor. Here, the eye is instantly drawn toward the towering fireplace of stacked white marble and a fantastic oversized modern light fixture.

Walls were removed from the previously enclosed staircase to make room for its modern replacement. Beefy wood treads have been placed down the length of the staircase’s metal stringer (which was fabricated by the homeowners’ daughter) and its glass and stainless handrails allow it to blend seamlessly into the overall design.

Sophistication That Speaks for Itself

Common elements in the furnishings, lighting, and accessories give this home a cohesive feel that appeals to the senses. Artwork and furnishings with touches of gold were chosen from the homeowners’ collection to unify the interior design.

Unique recessed and decorative light fixtures in every room showcase the extensive art collection and add visual interest to the sleek interior.

Highlighting what you want to see and cleverly hiding what you don’t is another hallmark of this design – just take a look at the built-in floating media cabinet and hidden bar in the den.

Spotlight a Gourmet Kitchen

When there is a passion and a talent for cooking, having a highly-functional but beautiful gourmet kitchen is a top priority. Light shines in from the skylight overhead onto the meticulously-selected counter tops and finishes in this high-end kitchen.

Custom cabinetry reduces clutter while offering appealing storage solutions and a clean look. The upper cabinets are lit underneath and linear vertical lights illuminate the glass cabinets from within. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Randall Perry Photography

Beautiful Bedrooms

Randall Perry Photography

One of the most appealing features of this home are the oversized windows that extend through the great room and into the master bedroom. There, a long tray opens up the ceiling to emphasize the natural light pouring in from the backyard through the glass. Soffit lights are integrated into the ceiling and a modern fireplace has been added.

Locating the master bedroom and bath on the first floor also allows for the couple’s two adult daughters (and a very adorable dog!) to enjoy the expanse of the second floor privately at their leisure.

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Crafting Luxurious Bathrooms

Despite its small size, the master bathroom is a shining example of how to create a smart, luxurious spa retreat.

To achieve a look that is simultaneously airy and functional, there is a skylight above the double floating vanities (with undercabinet lighting), a wall-mounted toilet and a curbless shower with frameless glass door. Large format tile (24”x 48”) was used to cover the heated floor and vertical lines of glamorous mosaic glass tile was used to accentuate the bathroom’s other-worldly plumbing fixtures. The tiling here mimics what is used extensively throughout the house to pull together the design’s contemporary aesthetic. A favorite material of Sensory Six, tile is easily customized and cared for.

Randall Perry Photography

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Its versatility is also utilized in the laundry room, where a unique layout creates a functional area for linen storage and a stacked washer and dryer.

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Randall Perry Photography

An Outstanding Outdoor Area

When you love four-season entertaining, making use of outdoor space is of vital importance.

Because of the large wall of windows in the back of the house, the outdoor area has to be both beautiful and fun.

Working in collaboration with the Gallivan Corporation, Sensory Six has created a backyard that feels like a resort. Just steps from the back door is a rectangular modern pool by Concord Pools surrounded by chaise lounge chairs for sunbathing. A covered living area off of the pool house offers the choice to sit out in the sun or enjoy the shade. There’s a large outdoor television in the ample conversation area, as well as outdoor dining, grilling, and kitchen areas.

Beautiful landscaping, square stepping stones and a waterfall with fire features on each side add stunning drama to the space. From the inside out, this ranch has undergone a complete transformation worthy of a standing ovation.

Randall Perry Photography

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Scandin INSPIRED

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navian KITCHEN WRITTEN BY MICHELE AHL OF 2B DESIGN, LLC PHOTOS BY DAVID STRAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Homeowners

Naseer Chowdhrey, a native of India who moved to New York in his twenties and his wife, Greta, whose family immigrated from Aland Finland.

They have three teenage sons, Iaith 17, Saif 15, and Sami 13.

Naseer, a neurologist and Greta, his technician, have worked together in their medical practice since 2010 in Upstate New York.

Growing a family with three very active boys put a lot of wear and tear on their home, but especially the kitchen where they spent the majority of their time when they weren’t running to the next sporting event for one, if not all three of them!

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The Mission: Their original builder-kitchen had white cabinets, black countertops, and wood trim. By the time they employed Michele Ahl of 2B Design, LLC to redesign their kitchen, the doors were being held on with rubber bands and bungee cords! Speaking with Michele about her dream kitchen, Greta says she really had no idea what she wanted other than a brighter space. Prior to the kitchen remodel, Michele had been hired by Greta to do a surprise “Indian Lounge Room,” for Naseer which incorporated rich deep colors, prints and textures. The adjoining dining room received new wall and ceiling treatments and light fixtures, as the rooms were open to one other. When speaking about the kitchen, Michele suggested using color in another way. This time to represent Greta’s heritage and to find a way to marry their global family history.

Greta allowed Michele and 2B Design, LLC to have free reign with material and color choices. Michele remembers hearing that Naseer was nervous about the cabinet color choice once they began the install. Michele encouraged them to trust the finished product once every element had been added, and their trust and patience paid off.

“

They both love their new kitchen and Naseer has taken over the long bench with rolling table for his evening chats with Greta. He now says it is his favorite place in the house. The clean, bright aesthetic is represented with a pale blue-green Benjamin Moore color on the custom cabinets by Ridgewood Cabinet Shop. Beautiful solid alabaster pendant lights, white picket-fence style tile backsplash, natural red birch island with a shiplap finish and the Thibaut wallpaper backing up the bench really bring the look home! And what Scandinavian home would be without natural wishbone chairs topped with real lambswool?!

Working alongside Michele to make the kitchen remodel a complete success, were Ridgewood Cabinet Shop, Contractor Chris Motler, and Granite & Marble Works. Michele credits these kinds of success stories to her great group of professionals that she has chosen to work with.

“It is a true team effort, and I am so grateful for the wonderful people I have met and worked with since moving my business to Upstate New York fourteen years ago.” “With such a diverse and layered history of immigrants here in New York, it is a real privilege to have the opportunity to represent some of that history in my interiors.” SS

You made my dream kitchen! You knew better what I would like than I did. Absolutely exceeded my expectations! I remember you saying that I couldn’t have just plain white cabinets when the other rooms you created for me were more unique,” Greta beams when asked about their new space.

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THE ART OF BLACKSMITHING IS ALIVE & WELL AT

ROUND LAK E FORGE WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS PROVIDED

For centuries, the welcomed sound of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out in communities large and small where people relied on these skilled iron workers for everything from cookware, cutlery, carpentry tools, and farming equipment to horseshoes, locks, nails, and musket barrels. And that’s just a partial list! Community blacksmiths are a rarity today, but Saratoga County is fortunate to have one of its very own. Colin Roy, proprietor of Round Lake Forge in Charlton, spends his days doing what he loves, a mix of blacksmithing, metal fabrication, and architectural design.

Roy’s interest in iron working began in high school when he joined the FIRST Robotics Team at Shenendehowa High. “That’s where I learned to work with metal using a milling machine and metal lathe. I was also taught how to weld. That’s when I really started to figure out what I wanted to do in life.”

At Clarkson University, Roy earned a dual undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering, followed by a graduate degree in engineering and business management. Afterwards, with money he’d earned doing college internships, Roy decided to look into purchasing some welding equipment. Then he stumbled upon a blacksmithing video on YouTube.

“After watching that video, I decided blacksmithing looked even better,” he recalls. “So, instead, I bought my own anvil, built my own propane forge, and started out doing it in my parents’ garage in Round Lake.”

Several years later, Roy relocated to Jockey Street in Charlton where he built a large barn to house his forge. “I hired the Amish to do the framing. They do great work, and they move very fast. With my engineering background, I did the design for the building, coordinated all the contractors working here, and did a lot of the insulation, drywall, electrical, plumbing, and heating myself to save money.” Today, Round Lake Forge is a thriving two-man business. 52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

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Roy and his full-time helper, Chad Sherman, offer welding, forging, precision machining, finishing, and engineering design. As Roy’s website states: “At Round Lake Forge we specialize in custom. Most companies want to sell you what they want you to have. At Round Lake Forge we want you, the customer, to get exactly what you want, and at a fair competitive price. Whether your project is new construction, working on upgrading your home, or just having some custom plant hangers made, we are here to turn your vision into reality.”

Roy enjoys traveling to potential job sites and observing different methods of building. “I’m often called in to do railings, and I learn so much by going to different sites and seeing all the different ways things can be done. I’m then able to share these ideas with my clients. Sometimes there’s a new way of doing something that would save a client a bunch of time and money. When building a home, doing the proper design up front can save tons of money in the long run.”

“The show was filmed in Bethlehem, PA, a very cool area with a lot of big, old industrial blacksmith shops,” Roy recalls. “My episode aired in November of 2018, and I wound up winning that competition.”

At Round Lake Forge, Colin Roy welcomes all kinds of projects. “Sometimes people come to me with a picture or a design, knowing exactly what they want. Other times, I’ll be asked to design an entire project.”

Whether your project is big or small, requiring a simple design or a more ornate, creative one, Roy is open for business and eager to please. So, check out his website for more examples of his work. Then, let your imagination soar! Colin Roy may be reached at www.roundlakeforge.com or 518-860-2473. SS

Blacksmithing is a highly skilled art form. “The essence of blacksmithing is not so much strength as it is control,” Roy says. “Accuracy is critical and takes a lot of practice to achieve.”

Roy frequently demonstrates traditional blacksmithing techniques at craft fairs and historical events. He also teaches blacksmithing courses at the Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne. Although Roy does plenty of traditional handhammering, he’s quick to point out that it has its drawbacks. “I’ll swing a 3-3.5 pound hammer when I’m working over the anvil. But my power hammer has an 88-pound hammer on it that hits much faster and with much more force — and it doesn’t get tired like I do! If I have a very big piece of metal that I’m trying to work, it would take me hours and hours to do it by hand whereas with the power hammer, I can do it in minutes.”

In 2018, Roy was a contestant on the Discovery Channel’s MASTER OF ARMS ‘Fire & Forge’ competition. Throughout history, blacksmiths—as skilled creators of weaponry—played a huge role in determining the outcome of battles. In each ‘Fire & Forge’ episode, three master craftsmen competed in two challenges requiring them to build carefully-researched weapons from a specific era in history. The finished products were then tested by a highly trained military marksman and judged by three weapons experts. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Grow!

Let’s

Instagram Worthy Houseplants WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

There are an unprecedented number of people showcasing their plant prowess all over Instagram, Facebook and other social media sites right now. Popularity isn’t a problem for Dehn’s Flower’s. They have 3,000 sq. feet of greenhouse space filled up with an impressive selection of houseplants. To help plant parents tackle common problems and unusual mysteries, everyone is logging on to social networking groups for advice, like 518 Green Thumbs, said Dehn’s owner John Mishoe.

For growing inspiration, stop by Dehn’s in downtown Saratoga or Ballston Spa, and pick up one of these top 10 trendy choices.

#Philodendron – This simple plant is popular because it isn’t too fussy. The Philodendron family includes upright and climbers in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Place philodendrons in a spot with moderate to high light, give them something to attach to, and keep the soil moist for reliable green foliage.

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#Pothos – Also known as Devil’s Ivy because it’s so hard to kill, it’s easy to snap a pic of this trailing vine’s heartshaped waxy leaves with contrasting stripes of white, yellow or pale green.

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#Fiddle-Leaf Fig – The sultry green violin-shaped leaves of this plant make it an Instagram favorite. Just be careful not to over water this big beauty – too much water is the most common mistake that houseplant owners make. #Succulents – With their interesting shapes and fun colors, these little darlings will inject some natural interest into your posts without a lot of work on your part. Great choices include aloe’s attractive spikes and jade, with its small coin-shaped leaves symbolic of wealth. #Peace Lily – Relax your mind and improve your mood with the easy-togrow peace lily. Most commonly seen with dark green leaves and proud white flowers, these beauties don’t mind low light conditions. #Ferns – Fun, fabulous greenery that’s also pet-friendly. Boston ferns are popular because they’re so resilient and staghorn ferns, with their funky foliage, make for an unusual wallmount. #Sansevieria – Commonly known as the snake plant or the mother-in-law’s tongue (because of its sharp, swordlike leaves), is good at absorbing indoor-air pollutants. #Bonsai – These little trees let you show off your uniqueness in a big way. Caring for these creations is an ancient pastime that may be just the mediation you’ve been yearning for. #Bird of Paradise – Stunning and unusual, this brilliant beauty brightens up any space. #Orchids – Captivating with their delicate petals, Dehn’s antique varieties can live up to a decade with the right kind of care. SS

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SPRING

Change Up WRITTEN BY

JORDANA TURCOTTE

Change can be powerful. It may feel uncomfortable if not on your terms, but it can lead to good things. We’ve been forced to change a lot over the last 12 months. Some things we can’t wait to change back to the way they were and others we can’t imagine going back.

Spring is the perfect time to make changes. Changes within the home. Changes in schedules and habits. Changes in work. As the snow leaves us and green starts to emerge, what do you want to change?

Within our homes, changing things makes us feel excited about our space. It makes you love your space more, or again. Here are just a few things that can completely change how you feel about your space and how you feel in general: • Paint a room a fresh new color.

• Rearrange a room and in the process of letting go of clutter, give everything a thorough cleaning.

• Re-purpose something you love i.e. that childhood desk could be an entryway command center. • Buy all new matching bins, to create a simplified look and feel.

• Create a space for an activity you want to do more of, like a reading corner, crafting center or home gym. A quarter of a room could be just enough space to do this!

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out at home to get healthier and save money; that half a room where you placed your treadmill, weights and mat are ready to go when you are. Chances are other family members want and/or need these spaces too.

COVID had made significant changes in how we work. Many, many people were immediately thrust into working from home. Some of you are finding out that this is now a permanent change because your company not only realizes it works, but that they can let go of their costly building overhead. Have you set up a spot to work effectively? What do you need to change, to support what you do daily? Maybe some of you have changed jobs and careers completely. With both changes, a change in wardrobe may have taken place. Going through your clothing to support the now is a great activity to do.

Lastly, what can be changed in how you manage your days and your time? Which activities or commitments would you like to eliminate? What time sucks can you let go of? Or, what can you add into your schedule that you want to get done? Mapping out your time in a week can give you the visibility to make changes. Then, making a comprehensive list of all of your ongoing to-dos and responsibilities will give you your commitments. Be tough and assess each for what your passion is NOW. Do you want to do it? Do you need to do it? We go through seasons of involvement and interests, changing your schedule to meet where you are now serves you better but also serves the group you may be leaving too – it gives the chance for others to step up! Assess what you can and want to change and make it happen. The changes could be big or small, but you will notice them. Happy Spring! SS

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M E E T

Susan

Scampini Lifestyle Influencer Hen & Horse

WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

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“There are two things that make a room timeless: a sense of history and a piece of the future.” Charlotte Moss

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ring the doorbell, and it chimes a warm welcome from somewhere inside the home of Susan and Andrew Scampini. A petite woman opens the front door – her long blonde hair pulled to the side. She ushers me in, takes my coat, and grins.

A wall of colorful plates is the first thing that draws my eye. Instantly, I wonder where they came from; Did the family travel to other countries and pick them up along the way as a souvenir? Were the plates handed down from different generations? Were they gifts from friends?

I can see several tables throughout the open area of her dining room, kitchen, and breakfast nook tucked into a sunny corner. Each one is set with colorful placemats, table runners, and yesteryear dresser scarves that remind me of my mom’s house. Floral and chintz-patterned dishes are a favorite of mine, but here, in Susan’s house, they’re over-the-top gorgeous. She tells me she’s been working on her spring dinner table design and, man, does it show. “These are tablescapes,” Susan explains. “I’ll blog about how to create the look later so my readers can do the same.”

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“these are tablescapes” Susan says people should live their life with a ‘colorful style.’ And she loves sharing daily tips on her blog, Facebook page, and Instagram feed.

In the back of my mind, I’m wondering if this is an everyday table setting or if she’s spruced it up for our interview and photographs. I’m not sure if she can tell what I’m thinking, but it sure seems like it. “I believe we should surround ourselves with beautiful things that make us happy, things that make us feel good and bring us joy. Why not serve dinner on silver platters, eat off fine china, drink wine out of our best goblets, sip tea poured into delicate bone china cups?” I have to agree. We talk about how much I adore tea for a few minutes – how oolong is my favorite, ever since I tried it at a ‘tea 101 class’ held at Saratoga Tea & Honey last year. Hayley, the shop’s owner, also happens to be Susan’s niece. I laugh, mentioning how I’ve always enjoyed drinking tea in the afternoon – from whatever cup I happened to grab. Last summer, I visited a tea and sandwich shop with a girlfriend and fell in love with the place. The owner had covered every table in the dining room with patterned place-mats, dishes, and teacups set on matching saucers.

Someone had painted a forest scene around the edges of my light green cup and saucer. I admired it – a lot. When I discovered I could purchase the set to bring home with me, I did just that. And I drink my teas in it all the time now.

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When I ask Susan where the name ‘Hen and Horse’ came from, she smiles. “My husband’s always loved horses. Both of us have dreamt of owning a small horse farm, complete with all sorts of barnyard animals, especially roosters, hens, even a few goats.” It’s easy to picture when I look around the cozy rooms filled with decorative horses, rabbits, and roosters. “We have a bunny named Cannoli,” Susan laughs. “He’s just hiding at the moment. Who knows, you might get to meet him.”

Susan’s always loved decorating – from the time she was a little girl. “I remember spending hours in my bedroom.” She tells me with an engaging grin. “I’d rearrange everything, over and over again, till I was happy with it.” We walk in and out of several rooms – the office, bathroom, a guest room, master bedroom, living room, and kitchen. Susan stops and tells me a story about anything my eyes settle on. And I soak it all in.

I’ve always been interested in how easy it is for some people to mix old history with newer pieces in their home, without things clashing. I believe it takes a certain creative flair – one I sorely lack. Over the fireplace, I stare at a framed portrait of a woman. “Wow!” I exclaim. “She’s beautiful. Who is she?” Susan laughs, then begins to tell me a story.

“It used to frame a pretty little cherub.” She watches my expression. “About twenty years ago, I bought it from the Round Lake Antiques Festival. It hung in my last home for many years but never here.” At this point, we both laugh. I mean, what guy wants to see angels hanging on the wall above the fireplace, no matter how much he loves you? When Susan decided to reframe her mom’s portrait, she thought the cherub frame would be perfect. Why not? It was beautiful. What she discovered behind the cherub was a surprise; a painted portrait of a woman she didn’t know – one that an artist had painted on wood, no less!

“It was such a shock – I’m trying to do some digging to find out who she might be,” Susan says, a thoughtful look on her face. “Until then, her name is Mary Madeline.” Besides her incredible eye for home decorations, her belief system of surrounding ourselves with beautiful things we’ll use – Susan also makes bath salts, soaps, fullbody creams, and pizzelle cookies. I’ve bought many of her items from Saratoga Tea & Honey when shopping for unique gifts throughout the year. And eight other shops across the state carry her brand as well. Listen, I could’ve sat and talked with this woman for another hour; it seemed as if we had a lot in common. And I could write another 1,000 words about musings in her everyday life she was kind enough to share with me. But I won’t. I think you should pour yourself a cuppa tea and discover them yourself. You’ll feel like you’ve met a new friend. Promise.

If you’d like to learn more about Susan, you can find her here: henandhorse.com, instagram.com/henandhorse or facebook.com/henandhorse SS

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THE

Revived HOME

Bringing Life to Every Space WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEG HOMICZ, THE REVIVED HOME

Decanting food into clear containers gives a clean look and keeps baking and other items sealed and fresh. Don’t forget to label!

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Hi, I’m Meg and I want to help!

Use clear containers in a refrigerator. Spills are inevitable and you want something that is easy to clean.

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Turntables are so versatile (and fun!). You can easily see what you have and items are not getting lost in the back of your pantry. It’s a must for spices! SPRING H&G 2021 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 65

To maximize space, use acrylic risers to raise your shoes. Boot shapers help keep your boots upright making them beautiful to display.

Think vertically when organizing. I put baskets on the top shelf to store items like hats and scarves. Matching hangers also help provide a uniform look.

For deeper cabinets, installing gliding shelves allows you to access your items with more ease. Divided organizers are a great way to store lids and baking pans

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stress.

It is manageable, even if you are raising young children, pursuing a career and have a household to care for. When COVID-19 arrived, instead of being just a mom to my children, I became their tutor as their education continued remotely. I am luckier than most, having a background in elementary education, but your kids don’t listen to you quite like they listen to their teacher. We were fortunate to have close friends in the neighborhood for the kids to play outside with although parks, playgrounds, the library, museums, and other kid friendly venues were all closed.

therevivedhomeco.com • @therevivedhome Info@therevivedhomeco.com

My husband started working primarily from home as well. Now a family of four was huddled in our house, all trying to find adequate space to work and play. Oh, did I mention our two dogs? I imagine for most households, anxiety rose, and stress was tougher to combat. I wondered what I could do to minimize the chaos and simplify life at home. I have always been an organized person but as we all know, life happens, and it can be difficult to maintain an orderly home. From the tumult of the pandemic was born a mission to declutter, organize and create a simple, functional, and manageable system for all of us. It is remarkable what an organized home can do for you. The less organized your home is, including your pantry, refrigerator, cabinets, and closets, the more anxious you may feel. Every space in your home should feel like a breath of fresh air. Having an organized home allows for more leisure time as a byproduct of the added efficiency of everything from stowing away groceries and freshly laundered clothes to finding exactly what you are looking for with ease. My husband Chris and I have owned our home for nearly ten years and have always loved it, but this transformation has brought an ease to our life that we did not have before! At that moment, I knew it was time to start helping others do the same and The Revived Home was born. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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sponsored content

Relax and Recharge Opportunities to feel good have been high-demand. “The challenges of the last year have offered new stresses and a lot of people are not aware of all the lifestyle changes that have taken place. I’m now working a desk job, for example, and so many others are like me.

Bennington Mattress is now being called Sleep & Spas while Bennington Furniture is changing its name to Old Brick. Sleep & Spas is also in the process of opening three new locations. Their Latham store opens in May, they’ll be in Kingston this summer, and then in North Greenbush.

They’re doing a lot more sitting, which can be really hard on your back, but there are small ways to improve your health,” said Cruz.

Satisfaction the Easy Way

“It’s not just a mattress, it’s therapeutic. It’s not just a spa, it’s a different kind of massage with every turn of the dial,” she said of the products for sale at Sleep & Spas.

Despite the recent surge in demand, they have not inflated their prices. There is also interest-free financing.

New Name, New Stores Originally called Bennington Mattress and Spas of Saratoga Springs, Cruz and her husband decided to change the name of their store at the same time their sister store, Bennington Furniture is launching a rebranding, as well. The timing is simply a coincidence, said Cruz. “Our name was really long and cumbersome. We wanted something catchy and quick to say that just rolled off the tongue.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

While saying Sleep & Spas is easier, so is buying one of their spas or mattresses.

“We spend one third of our lives on our mattresses – it’s an investment worth making now. There’s no need to wait for a sale weekend,” said Cruz. Sleep & Spas gives people the relief of staying home with their family – and feeling satisfied. “It can be the most wonderful time spent together. We can detach from everything; disconnect, turn off our cell phones and spend some quality time together.” For more information, go to SLEEPANDSPAS.COM

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Tips for Decorating Shelves Like a Pro Decorating shelves can sometimes seem overwhelming Here are some tips and tricks to make it easier and help you

decorate like a pro COLLEEN PAUSLEY is the writer behind the blog; Life on Kaydeross Creek where she shares unique ideas to decorate your home on a budget, DIY projects, furniture makeovers and thrift store up-cycles. She and her husband have been do-it-yourselfers for 25 years and she believes that creating a warm, inviting home that you LOVE and that reflects who you are can be done on any budget.

“I LOVE the feeling of getting my hands dirty working on a project and the satisfaction of saying ‘I did that!’ I hope by sharing our projects on the blog you feel inspired to do it, too.” Life on Kaydeross Creek has been featured in Country Sampler Farmhouse Magazine, HGTV.com, The Huffington Post and HouseBeautiful.com.

You can find Colleen at www.mylifeonkayderosscreek.com.

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Start by clearing off the shelf or shelves and grouping all your things together.

Pick a theme (like spring/early summer) and have enough things on hand to choose from to be creative but not too much where you will have too many choices and may over think it.

Have a color scheme planned out.

Too many colors can overwhelm the eye so keep it to 1-2 and neutrals. What is your inspiration piece for the room? Is it a piece of art you can pull colors from or will you use seasonal colors like pink or yellow.

Place larger items first and then fill in with smaller pieces.

Don’t crowd the space – you need to give the eye a rest as it moves from one thing to another. You can also give your eye a break with one large item. If you are doing just one shelf, start with an anchor piece and although I like to center it most of the time, you can also do something asymmetrical.

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Use books for height.

I also use them for color, layering and as a site line to draw your eye around.

Add in artwork or family photos.

Why not hang a picture on the back of the cabinet or bookshelf?

Use a “personality piece.”

Be sure to use a “personality piece” or something with meaning. Think of it as a conversation piece.

Most importantly, don’t take it too seriously. There really are no rules. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you should decorate with what makes you happy. SS

Vary heights and sizes and layer pieces front to back.

Use the triangle approach – avoid having multiple pieces the same height in one line across on a shelf (unless it’s one item). When you vary the heights, your eye has something to bounce around to.

Group similar items together.

Group similar items together like having all white pitchers in a hutch for a clean look.

Use pieces in odd numbers.

It helps establish the triangle and, for some reason, always seems to look better.

Mix in textures. Mix in textures like baskets and faux greens.

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When Designers Become Consignors:

a haven of heavenly finds. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHYV

WHY COVET? CONNECT TO ALL POSSIBILITIES “Things come into your life and you think, awe, I want that, I wish I could take that home with me. That’s what I think when things come in. How could I make that work in my own home?” said Bonnie Grolley, co-owner of Saratoga Consignment Studio with her husband, Michael.

Since no one’s home is that big, Bonnie created the Saratoga Consignment Studio to channel her gusto for great design.

“This way, I get to enjoy it and live with it myself, too. I curate it in a manner that feeds my soul,” she said about this space. Aptly named a studio rather than a shop, this is a place where creativity happens. A CURATED COLLECTION Once tunneled into her own desires and tastes, Bonnie says she is now more open and grabs everything she feels has an opportunity to provide pleasure to someone else. 72 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

“What I’ve learned in the 13 years of being in this business is that I have to be very open to a wide spectrum of design and I have to take myself out of the equation,” she said. Hundreds of consignors bring in rustic, antique, vintage, contemporary and modern pieces of furniture and décor to the Saratoga Consignment Studio to be resold.

“My days are spent maneuvering and massaging the inventory. I never say no to good inventory. I love all of it,” she said. THE ART IS IN THE EDIT As the curator of the Saratoga Consignment Studio, Bonnie’s own voice is mixed with the items’ previous owners to give them new and meaningful futures.

There are all sorts of reasons people no longer want gentlyused, but cherished, good-quality furniture – decease, divorce, down-sizing. The Saratoga Consignment Studio is also a destination spot for the area’s interior designers who are regularly bringing in a variety of high-end brands. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Challenge your beliefs about what you thought was possible. Since they only look new, these big names are available at small prices, making them within reach for more people. “Because of interior designers being inside the home of someone and seeing how things come together, they know when something is just not quite right for a home. It eases that homeowner to know they can receive a good price for these things and make room for something else that’s a good fit. That’s a win for everybody,” said Bonnie. IT’S ALL IN THE MIX Organizing an enjoyable consignment shopping experience resembles skill akin to that of every good mixologist – it’s more than what’s on the shelf, it how you mix it together. Last year, when concerns about COVID caused more people than ever to shop from home, the Saratoga Consignment Studio added an online store into the mix.

“We didn’t just jump in the day things got crazy but the online sales were helpful to us because it prevented things from being completely interrupted. That’s when panic sets in,” said Bonnie. In addition to consigned furniture, they also introduced new items into their inventory that customers can buy remotely for curbside pick-up. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

THE HEART OF THE HAVEN Seeing, touching, and experiencing a piece close-up and in-person is how the Saratoga Consignment Studio usually does business, so joining the online marketplace has been a challenging departure. “Our business has been a success because we offer the opposite of that,” said Bonnie.

Often, customers stay for hours. The Christian music that’s playing adds an intimacy to the air here. “It’s just a place of peace somehow. It’s a culmination of not letting myself fall into the mainstream model and a response to how I want people to feel during the day.” These emotions inform Bonnie’s memory for not only names but the preferences of even those who only visit occasionally.

“In this crazy world we live in, people are seeking value and they really enjoy that there is a connection. It has an impact on people. The more affirmation that comes, the more I know, this is what I was meant to do. I really do believe that in my heart.” Saratoga Consignment Studio, 3306 South Broadway, in Saratoga Springs, is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Find them online at www.scsdecor.com. SS SPRING H&G 2021 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 73

GMakes o theo World d WGoi‘Round l L ReShop for the Good

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County Renames Store and Relaunches as “ReShop for the Good” Rebuilding Together Saratoga County is thrilled to announce a new name for their store in Ballston Spa. ReShop for the Good sells new and gently used furniture, household goods, and decor, and the proceeds support Rebuilding Together Saratoga County’s work to provide critical repairs and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners in our community. ReShop for the Good

originally opened in 2017 and has continued to see increased business year-over-year. “We opened our store in 2017 and the business has continued to grow online and, in our store, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Executive Director Michelle Larkin. “It’s clear that the community understands the value of being able to both donate and shop to support our work. With this growth, our team saw an opportunity to rename our store so we can build a brand around the mission of the

ReShop and Rebuilding Together. Our motto is ‘When you do good, you feel good’ and the new name of our store really reinforces that message. Every item you donate and every dollar you spend at the ReShop helps us help our neighbors in need live in safe, healthy, warm, dry, and affordable homes.” ReShop for the Good is planning a ribbon-cutting in Spring 2021 with details to be shared at a later date. For more information about ReShop for the Good: reshopforthegood.com.

The ReStore with Habitat for Humanity

Find great Treasures and help support Affordable housing! The ReStore is a unique retail shopping experience driven by volunteers and donors who are passionate about building affordable homes in our area with the Northern Saratoga Warren and Washington Counties Habitat for Humanity. A diverse group of community donors ensures that there is always something for everyone. Corporate donors donate new items 74 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

that are sold at drastically lower prices. The ReStore carries a wide variety from jewelry, collectables, antiques, and furniture, to cabinets, doors and windows. Donations come from drop off appointments, pickups, and even estate clean ups. You can also find exquisite collectibles and jewelry on the ReStore Curated Etsy Shop which lets us find shoppers from coast to coast. ReStore Instagram and Facebook followers are the first

to read about in store announcements and photos of the newest furniture, antiques, china, and decor to hit our sales floor and the Etsy store. The ReStore is located at 1373 US 9 in Moreau, NY just off of exit 17N. To donate, volunteer, or for information go to glensfallshabitat.org/ReStore or email restore@glensfallshabitat. org. The ReStore is open Wednesday through Saturday 10am-5pm. Donations are being accepted by pick up or drop off appointment. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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In the Kitchen WITH

JOHN REARDON

H ello my Foodie Friends! With the arrival of spring time comes a burst of childhood memories. Spring is also a time when we celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day. Each holiday reminds me of the “simple” things that I took for granted when my parents were in my life. Spring was a time when my father would have me paint fences, help him in cleaning up the lawn from the winter, and playing ball in the yard. Many of my childhood memories also include my fussiness in eating what my mother was making for dinner. She would often times explain why she was making a particular meal choice. Making five children and a husband happy and all agreeing on the meal choice would often end with her stating; “It’s because I am the mother and I said so, that is why!” Part of our meal preparation included the insistence that all five Reardon children were to wash our face and hands before dinner. My father would tag team with my mother instructing us to race to the sink. My mother’s meal creations were always delicious. During dinner there wasn’t a lot of conversation but my father would look at my mother with a very tired smile and say “you are the best.” These memories remind me of the importance of sitting down and having that meal together every night. Have you ever walked into a place and smelled your favorite memories? Smells of cooking can trigger memories so strong and real it feels like you’ve been transported back in time and brings a picture as sharp as a photograph of a special time in your life. Through food we exchange stories of ourselves and our families. Spices were an important part of my mother’s cooking. My memories bring me back to a time when our Sunday dinners were a time of gathering around a table crowded with all of the mothers, aunts and grandmothers as they presented their cooking and discussed the ingredients and spices they used. Spices have a way of transporting you to another place and time. Whether it’s memories of smelling basil or mint from the garden for the first time, or the favorite dishes that you remember cooking with them. Each spice or collection of spices has a story, and a wonderful, beautiful one at that. Spices are flavor enhancers. That might seem rather simplistic, but it really sums up how to think about spices and get the best from them. Rather than seeing these strange little bits of bark, seeds and roots as something to be used only on special occasions, or just when a recipe calls for them, look at your spice shelf as flavor enhancers to be added to your cooking (or even drinks) in small quantities at any time. You can add pretty much any spice you like to anything you cook - you’ll soon find there are NO RULES to making something taste delicious – the only way to really understand it is through trial and error. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store. We carry an assortment of spices to add flavors you have yet to try. Meal time is family time. Look at each other, listen to each other, tell stories, and talk about life. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

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WHITE BEAN AND SPRING VEGETABLE STEW INGREDIENTS • 1 lb. dried white beans (or Lima beans), soaked overnight and drained • 1 onion, trimmed, peeled, halved through core • 3 ribs celery, trimmed, halved • 1 oz. dried shiitake mushrooms (about 10 large caps) • 8 sprigs parsley, plus ¾ cup parsley leaves with tender stems • 1 head of garlic, halved, plus 1 garlic clove, finely grated • 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more • ¾ cup plus 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling, divided • ¾ cup mint leaves • 1 bunch radishes • 1 bunch medium-size asparagus (about 1 lb.) • 1 -10-oz. bag frozen peas, thawed • 8 thick slices country or sourdough bread • 1 - 4" piece fresh horseradish root, peeled • 1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300°. Combine beans, onion, celery, mushrooms, parsley sprigs, halved head of garlic, 1 Tbsp. salt, 3 Tbsp. oil, and 2 qt. water in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, cover, and transfer to oven. Bake until beans are fully cooked, tender, and creamy through and through but as intact as humanly possible, about 1 hour, depending on the type, brand, and age of beans; start checking every 10 minutes after the first 45 minutes. (When checking beans for doneness, stir gently and taste at least 3 beans—it isn’t finished until they’re all tender!) 2. Using tongs, fish out aromatics and discard. Season with salt. Be generous! Under-seasoned beans are barely worth eating. Let sit on stove top, uncovered, until ready to serve. 3. While beans are cooking, make your pistou and prep the vegetables and garnishes. Using your sharpest knife, finely chop mint and ¾ cup parsley leaves. (A dull knife will just mash your herbs and cause them to turn dark around the edges.) Transfer to a small bowl. Add ¾ cup oil, grated garlic, and 1 tsp. salt and stir to combine; set pistou aside. 4. Trim and wash radishes, then slice as thinly as possible into coins (a mandoline really helps here). Transfer radishes to a small bowl, cover with cold water, and chill until ready to use. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

5. Wash asparagus and trim woody stems by bending each spear near the cut end until you find the place where it wants to break naturally. Cut off tips, then cut each tip in half lengthwise. Slice now-tipless stalks crosswise into thin coins. Toss asparagus coins and tips and peas in a medium bowl; set aside. 6. When you’re almost ready to serve the stew, return beans to a gentle simmer over medium heat, taking care not to stir too much—you don’t want to bust up those beans! 7. Generously drizzle oil into a large cast-iron skillet and heat over medium until shimmering. Working in two batches, fry bread slices until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Season with salt and transfer to a plate. (You may have to add more oil between batches, as the bread will soak some of it up.) 8. When beans are simmering, add reserved asparagus and peas and cook, stirring gently, until asparagus coins are barely cooked but still bright green and crunchy, about 2 minutes. 9. Drain reserved radishes. Place horseradish root on a plate with a Microplane (the way you’d serve Parmesan). Bring Dutch oven full of stew directly to the table. Serve with fried bread, pistou, radishes, lemon wedges, and horseradish alongside. SPRING H&G 2021 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 77

Entertaining with Ralph Vincent A Springtime Luncheon Party… served with ease Spring is here with its promise of rebirth and better days to come. It is comforting to remember the possibilities of this season as we face continued challenges and safety restrictions during the COVID 19 pandemic. For safety, springtime celebrations should be limited to our household members. Nonetheless small family gatherings can still be festive. To celebrate this special time of year, I have taken an informal easy-to-prepare luncheon menu and dressed it up a bit. Inspired by the classic club sandwich, Egg Salad Triple Deckers are served alongside Potato Salad with Dill and Shallots. An awesome cocktail will make things even more festive. Pineapple Prosecco Rum Punch is a fun and refreshing tipple you can make in batches ahead of time. Cherry Cocoa Tiramisu with Amaretto Liqueur and Almonds wraps up lunch sweetly. I hope you enjoy preparing this menu. Have fun in your kitchen, enjoy cooking for the people you love and remember…food doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to taste good!

Egg Salad Triple Deckers

Pineapple Prosecco Rum Punch • 1 and ½ cups of white rum I prefer classic Bacardi • 1 and ½ cups of pineapple juice • ½ cup of fresh lime juice • Spumante sparkling wine I like Brut Prosecco • Garnish with pineapple & lime DIRECTIONS: Pour the rum along with the pineapple and lime juices into a pitcher, stir to blend and chill in the refrigerator. When it is time to serve, fill 6 wine glasses ¾ with ice and divide the rum and juice mixture among them. Top off each drink with enough Prosecco to fill the glass, and garnish with a few pineapple chunks and a lime slice and enjoy!

• 12 hard cooked eggs, cooled and peeled • 2/3 cup best quality mayonnaise and additional for the bread • ½ cup thinly sliced spring onions or scallions • 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, minced • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained well • ½ teaspoon white pepper • Salt to taste • About 12 to 18 thin slices of tomato depending on size, drained on paper towels • Arugula leaves • 18 slices of lightly toasted sandwich bread of your choice

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DIRECTIONS: Coarsely chop the eggs and place in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, place the mayonnaise, scallions, parsley, horseradish, white pepper and salt, stir until the ingredients are well blended. Scrape the mayonnaise mixture into the bowl with the eggs and stir gently until combined. Spread additional mayonnaise to taste on 12 bread slices, place 2-3 tomato slices on 6 of the bread slices and place arugula leaves on the other 6 slices. Divide egg salad among the bread slices, on top of the tomatoes and arugula. Stack each bread slice with tomatoes on top of each bread slice with arugula. Top each sandwich with a third slice of bread. Cut each sandwich diagonally and secure each half with 4-inch frilled toothpick. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Cherry Cocoa Tiramisu WITH AMARETTO LIQUEUR AND ALMONDS • One 7 oz package of lady fingers • Two 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened • 1 cup heavy cream • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar • ½ teaspoon pure almond extract • 13-oz jar of cherry preserves, I like “Bonne Maman” brand • 1 cup of sliced almonds • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

confectioner’s sugar, cherry preserves and almond extract and mix until well combined. Set aside. Divide the lady fingers evenly to make 2 layers. Place the amoretto liqueur in a pie plate and working quickly dip half the lady fingers in the liqueur and line the bottom of an 8 inch by 11 inch serving dish with them. Spread half the filling over the lady fingers. Sift 1 ounces of the cocoa powder over the filling and sprinkle with half the sliced almonds. Dip the remaining ladyfingers in amoretto liqueur, and place in a layer over the almonds, spread the remaining filling over the ladyfingers and sift one ounce of cocoa powder over the filling and sprinkle with the remaining almonds. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

• 1 cup of amoretto liqueur DIRECTIONS: For the filling, in the bowl of a mixer combine the cream cheese and heavy cream until smooth. Add the

Potato Salad

WITH DILL & SHALLOTS • About 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes scrubbed and cut into bite sized pieces • ½ cup minced shallots • ½ cup finely minced fresh dill • ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar • Juice of ½ lemon • 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard • Kosher salt and black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium to high heat and lower the heat to medium to keep the water bubbling. Cook for about 12 minutes or until fork tender. Carefully drain the potatoes into a colander and place them back into the pot to cool. Add the shallots and dill, add salt and pepper to taste, stir gently to combine. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar and Dijon mustard together and pour over the potatoes, stir gently to combine and pour into a serving dish. Garnish with chopped parsley and dill if desired. Chill until time to serve. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Susan Blackburn Photography

Colleen's Picks

A carefully curated selection of HOME DÉCOR ITEMS WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located in Saratoga Springs. With certifications in Kitchen & Bath Design, Aging in Place and True Color Expert, her curated design extends into all areas of her field including new construction, historical and major renovations. Her passion is in designing & customizing hand-crafted cabinets for all areas of the residential market.

I was recently at GRANITE AND MARBLE WORKS consulting with a client and was mesmerized by the beauty of nature in their stone offerings. Rather than feature one or two complete slabs, I really wanted to impress on you this sense of AWE that comes over me each time I walk in there. Even in current trend reports, the word “biophilia” appears again and again. It suggests that as humans, we possess an innate tendency to seek a connection with nature; its calming effect on our mental health, the ability to relieve stress and an overall feeling of increased wellbeing. These stones offer their owners the chance to touch the outdoors right from inside their own kitchen, bath, or even as a table top. Frequently, I express to my clients that they will never look at their stone tops the same twice. Are you ready to have these magnificent gems at your fingertips?!

GRANITE AND MARBLE WORKS

A Celebration of Summer, Togetherness and Moving Forward

Spring has sprung, which means that our Saratoga Summer is right around the corner, and what a great summer it will be! We have come out of the starting gate and made it over hurdles TOGETHER…reaching the finish line in a true Saratoga Fashion! So, lets keep a good thing going by continuing to support our local shops as we prepare for our summer BBQs and even celebrate birthdays, showers and graduations together!

CALACATTA VAGLI MARBLE

FUSION WOW LEATHERED QUARTZITE

Speaking of gems and nature, I couldn’t resist chatting about this organically striking upholstered piece from the FURNITURE HOUSE on the Lake. The Glimmer of Hope Chair stretches our imagination of sitting among the branches in luxury while gold brushed limbs gently wrap you in accents of shimmering white enamel. The performance, neutral fabric creates a calm in a storm of spills and allows you to rest in opulence surrounded by the quiet of natural surroundings…Calm fills the air… If you are already in love as I am, be sure to head over to the Furniture House to experience this chair in person! FURNITURE HOUSE 1254 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs TheFurnitureHouseNY.com 518-587-9865

LEMURIAN BLUE

ONICE BLACK ONYX

8 Commerce Park Dr, Wilton GraniteAndMarbleworks.com 518-584-2800

WHITE SOUL

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Colleen's Picks

ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE continues to awaken our souls with lawn jewels that speak to both the wild and whimsical! Look at this stunning Bird Bath Art Pole crafted from handhammered, copper-plated stainless-steel resting majestically upon a delightfully decorated, fade-resistant base. And to keep your feathered friends nearby all summer, why not offer a little real estate in the yard with a Birdhouse Art Pole! Each home is crafted with ventilation and drainage holes with a removable rooftop for end-of-the-season housecleaning! And the installation, no worries, there is no digging required. All the hardware to quickly install these fledgling accommodations is included!

ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE 2570 U.S. 9, Malta Allerdice.com 518-899-6222

SARATOGA CONSIGNMENT 3306 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs SCSDecor.com 518-450-1363

And how is YOUR seating at home? SARATOGA CONSIGNMENT is definitely a shop to browse if you are in need of main furniture pieces, side tables or decorative accents. In fact, they just acquired this Sofa and oversized Chair by Swedish designer Jonas Wagell. The feather filled cushions with eased edges encourages you to relax as the gently arced arms cascade down to slender, yet lofty metal legs. The lucerne blue fabric is reminiscent of the compact city of Lucerne Switzerland which rests amid snowcapped mountains. Who knew furniture could evoke such a setting as this? There’s only one set…I suggest you don’t delay!

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Just last weekend, my husband and I were in downtown Saratoga and loved seeing all the people walk amid shops and dine at local bistros. It was a comfort to see so many of our shops aglow with new items for the Summer Season. SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY is just one of the many shops that caters to our fanciful love of unique ideas for the home. Imagine your next brunch on the patio with Stoneware Tumblers adorned in vintage images of garden insects or perhaps as a fun accent in the bath for toothbrushes or small utensils in the kitchen! Let your mind wonder as these color neutral vessels can add a touch of summer in any décor! Compliment your space with these Canvas Scrolls of Fern, depicting the delicate fronds of leafy blades in varying shapes and texture; each unique as only nature can impart.

SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs SilverwoodGalleries.com 518-583-3600

And if you are looking for something special for your summer guests, be sure to head over to IMPRESSIONS for these Camp Craft Cocktails, packaged in mason jars which set the tone for a summer day of relaxing in the sun! Each jar contains everything you need to make 16 delicious infused shots. Just add alcohol! So flavorful you can drink them straight or mix them into your favorite beverage, like iced tea or sparkling water. And, what would be better to serve this beverage in than a set of Saratoga Glasses etched with a map our city. Buy a set for yourself or pick up a few to give as a memento to visiting friends. IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs ImpressionsSaratoga.com 518-587-0666

DARK HORSE MERCANTILE 445 Broadway, Saratoga Springs ImpressionsSaratoga.com 518-587-0689

Just down the street at their sister store, DARK HORSE, you’ll find great ideas for Father’s Day. The Barbour Performance Polos and Cascade Caps are both perfect for any outing with the original Dark Horse, “Upset,” embroidered on each. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Colleen's Picks Just around the corner at SARATOGA SIGNATURE, you will find all your lawn ornament needs including this stunning Cast Aluminum Colt. Standing at four feet long, this gentle foal is finished in black with a brown dry brush, ready to adorn any lawn for the upcoming track season. Need to spruce up your front porch or patio, choose from their vast array of Cast Aluminum Urns on display, ranging in various sizes, some with traditional handles or set upon a base for a look of grandeur. Be sure to use urns of different heights to allow your eyes to see a cascade of color throughout your display of summer flowers!

SARATOGA SIGNATURE INTERIORS 82 Church St, Saratoga Springs SaratogaSignature.com 518-581-0023

Onto outdoor entertaining, something we have been waiting months for! Over the past year, we have definitely witnessed an increase in outdoor entertainment spaces, again, this idea of biophilia. Even here in upstate NY, there has been a huge upswing in outdoor kitchens with all the amenities! At MARCELLA’S, they offer True Residential Outdoor Kitchen Appliances ranging from grills to outdoor, ULrated refrigerator drawers. True believes in a “point of use” philosophy which means that where food and drink are enjoyed is where food and drink should be stored, and for many of us, that’s out at the pool or patio! Why miss out on the fun of friends when all your entertaining needs are where you are…in your outdoor kitchen! For instance, the 15-inch Undercounter Beverage Dispenser – Single Tap will give you the perfect serve, ideal for the home brewers or beer connoisseurs. To top it off, it can be converted to a Beverage Center, wine cabinet or even into an all-refrigerator mode, customizable to your needs each and every gathering! Not a beer lover, then take a look at the 24-inch Undercounter Beverage Center, with its exclusive balanced refrigeration system with the ability to maintain a temperature as low as 33˚F, keeping your drinks icy cold even on the hottest of poolside days. Forgot to fill the fridge before the party, the rapid cool down mode will rescue the day and have your drinks ready when the party begins!

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MARCELLA'S APPLIANCE 15 Park Ave, Clifton Park MarcellasAppliance.com 518-952-7700

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And the Big Green Egg BBQ Cooker is still a hot item for many outdoor enthusiasts. Why? Because this avocado beauty has the capacity to grill, smoke or even bake. The kamado-style design is noted by the domed lid and ceramic construction that creates a convection-style cooking, just like in your main kitchen. Heat is distributed evenly around your food allowing you to be the Culinary King or Queen of your BBQ gatherings! The time is now! Get your summer on! Prepare your outdoor spaces…get ready for entertaining, dancing and swimming the summer away! I can already hear the laughter, the kids as they play amid the chatting adults and grandparents taking in the surroundings of their loved ones. We are back and stronger than ever! Let’s get our Saratoga On! Until next time my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net

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Five Case Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Secret 26th Annual Soroptimist

GARDENS TOUR

WRITTEN BY BARBARA LOMBARDO | PHOTOS BY BRIAN HOFFMAN

Save the date

Sunday, July 11

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Mary Martin calls her backyard “The Garden of Love.” Everything she plants or places – flowers, rocks, iron works – is there to make her happy. “My garden philosophy is: You like it, you plant it!”

It’s taken 20 years to get her garden to where it is now, and Mary estimates it will take another 10 to complete it to her satisfaction. No rush. After all, she says, “It’s a labor of love.”

Lucky for us, Mary is sharing the love – for one day. Hers is one of 11 gorgeous gardens the public can experience on the Soroptimist Secret Gardens Tour slated for Sunday, July 11. The photographs on these pages taken by Brian Hoffman last July are a small sampling of what awaits tour-goers this year. This year’s gardens are in Ballston Spa, Saratoga Springs, and Schuylerville. Visitors will find a wide variety of designs and plantings for both shade and sun. Some include water features, and others offer landscapes that incorporate oneof-a-kind mosaics and sculptures in both stone and metal. You’ll stroll through pergolas, follow a path to a monarch butterfly way-station, wander along a pond, meander past fruit trees and brush past grasses.

The Secret Gardens Tour is a major fundraiser presented by Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, the local branch of a 100-year-old nonprofit international service organization committed to improving the lives of women, girls, and their communities. Last spring, the group canceled what would have been its 26th annual Secret Gardens Tour 88 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

in 2020 in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Now there is light at the end of the tunnel. People are expected to be able to safely enjoy a lovely Sunday in July (rain or shine, it’s always a beautiful day to visit gardens), while adhering to precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing. “The owners are excited to be a part of the Secret Gardens Tour, and we are so grateful for their generosity. We’re thrilled to be presenting a truly stunning variety of gardens,” says tour committee co-chair Cheryl Martin (no relation to gardener Mary). Three of the five Saratoga Springs gardens on the tour are adjacent in-town properties. The owner of the middle house, Heather Madigan, says she has been “blessed with wonderful neighbors on each side.” They enjoy greeting passersby on their morning walks, she says, “many stopping to bathe their senses in the aromatherapy from the lavender in the front beds.” Heather’s chemical-free gardens are water conscious and mindful of the sun and elements. She strives to create spaces where something is blooming at all times, while supporting indigenous species. A portion of Heather’s backyard space is intended for urban farming, with herbs, vegetables and organic free-range chickens housed in quarters made primarily out of up-cycled and recycled materials. “The quirky birds have provided an amazing learning experience,” she says, for her own and other neighborhood children.

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Heather’s home is in between Mary Martin’s Garden of Love and the home of master gardener Kimberly Purdy and her husband Eric. The Purdys’ move five years ago from a large property in Greenfield to a typical city plot brought the challenge of creating a garden in a concentrated space. Their garden evolves each year, and has included the incorporation of edible elements, such as apple and cherry trees, blueberries and herbs. Kim shares plants and ideas with her neighbors, one of her favorite parts of living in town. “There are elements of Zen and controlled chaos,” says Kim about her holistic approach to gardening.

There seems to be a theme here, as Richard Hasenauer and Patricia Nugent describe their Saratoga Springs secret garden as “Zen in the City.” Mature trees, such as cypress, Japanese maple, dogwood, oak, and mountain pine, create a wooden canopy alongside a mahogany half-circle deck. Sitting and meditative areas are accessible throughout the yard, and natural paths lead through trellises to inspirational adornments. Bird baths, stone cairns, and soft solar lighting contribute to the peaceful ambiance. Intentional plantings, such as tall Shasta daisies, black-eyed susans, phlox, lilies, and lavender, and bushes, such as multi-hued roses, rhododendrons, dwarf lilacs, hydrangea, and spirea, co-exist with free-range wildflowers, including red trillium and goldenrod. Friends, neighbors, and former residents contributed many of these, creating a sense of continuity and community.

Among the four stops in Ballston Spa is the garden of Glenn and Barbara LaGrone. They moved in 2005 to what Glenn describes as “a blank slate, with the house looking like it had been dropped in the middle of a golf course sand trap.” He says they had 11 dump trucks of topsoil delivered and “dug in.” Through the years they’ve learned to embrace the acidic soil and shade rather than fight them.

Creating a welcoming habitat for birds and small animals is high on the LaGrones' list of goals, so visitors will find many shrubs and trees that provide both shelter and food while providing a lovely show of blooms, color, and multi-textural foliage. Two oversized pergolas are distinctive backyard features. The shade gardens on the north side of the house are their personal favorite, very textural and soothing with a babbling water feature and a winding pathway to draw visitors into a little sitting area. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Down the road a bit is the fairy-tale garden of Chris Burghart, which she describes as not only a habitat for plants but “a magical ecosystem for all of Mother Nature’s creatures.”

Except for a week in May 2016 when her husband, Karl, borrowed a backhoe from a buddy to dig the hole for the pond, and that Memorial Day weekend when a small group of awesome friends came to help lay the stones, Chris has done it all herself. Over the years she has brought in tons of plants, mulch, stone and compost via the trunk of her small Nissan. Compost/mulch is acquired from local garden supply stores or by shoveling buckets from the town’s free compost pile. Earlier plant selections came from clearance sales, Craigslist offerings, plant divisions and donations from generous veteran gardeners. Chris now enjoys giving plants away to new gardeners. Visitors are encouraged to peruse “Chris’ Garden Guidelines” upon entering the backyard. Then tough decisions must be made about what to do first. Admire the glass mushroom patch that Chris has “grown” in her indoor studio during the winter months. Listen to the babbling stream that draws you to the home of koi, goldfish, little green frogs, and shimmering dragonflies. Meander the path to the shade-loving perennials to glimpse birds joyfully bathing in the stream or bird bath. Head to the sunny “Pollinator’s Playground at Mosaics Crossing,” a registered monarch waystation that boasts the largest bouquet of Chris’ home-made mosaic steppingstones and her magnificent totem pole. Or reflect upon the signage at the potting shed and discover which words speak to you. Decisions, decisions! No matter which direction you wander there is much to observe among the more than 200 genera of plants and

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colorful butterflies, songbirds, squirrels and chipmunks, lively frogs, bees and birdhouses, and a wide variety of statuary from slugs to angels. Keep looking and you’ll discover another hidden treasure in the Burgharts’ secret garden. Chris is happy her hard work has paid off. “Not that I consider this work,” she adds. Also in Ballston Spa is the property of Liz Kormos and Sander Bonvell, whose garden has matured significantly since being on the tour several years ago. Swamp milkweed, tussock sedge, turtlehead, Louisiana iris, blue flag iris, cardinal flower, arrow arum and various ferns compete with one another in a bog garden livened up with decorative glass and statues. The native shrubs and trees planted eight years ago are now good-sized and include clethra, spicebush, Nanking cherry, oak leaf hydrangea, winterberry, inkberry, ninebark, lilac, Swiss stone pine, October glory maple, Carolina silverbell, red bud and fringetree. Native grasses, prairie dropseed and switch grass planted behind the driveway turnaround have been divided twice. Liz confesses to being a “plant fanatic” who keeps adding new plants from garden club sales and local nurseries to tuck into any empty space she can find.

Their vegetable, fruit and herb gardens supply produce all summer long; their berry plants yield strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries. An arbor supports three varieties of grapes and hardy kiwi, and a small fruit tree orchard is now producing peaches, quince, cherries, Asian pears and pawpaws. Visitors will find 13 raised beds, each built by Sander, who has become an expert in composting and has started a local-restaurantto-gardener composting initiative. A plus for visitors: Almost all the plants are labeled.

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This year’s tour also features two special stops in Schuylerville: Cathy and Neil Roberts’ Fiddle-i-fee Farm and Susie Kane-Kettlewell’s ever-evolving garden. Fiddle-i-fee Farm is a melange of fields, woodlands and wetlands rolling to a bluff above the Hudson River. Arborvitae, larch, bald cypress, sycamore, sweetgum, tupelo, magnolia, pawpaw, persimmon, and many willow species enrich the hedgerows and swales. A tulip tree, the tallest hardwood species in North America, that they planted four decades ago now rises south of the house. Its flowers, which buzz with bumblebees in June, have seeded descendants of varying ages around it. An oriental Katsura tree, its nearest neighbor, strives to grow as tall.

A prairie reconstruction was seeded with native flowering plants and grasses 20 years ago. It shares a former hayfield with an orchard and vegetable garden. Head-high native Coreopsis, Goldenrod, Helianthus, Joe Pye and Ironweed add textural variety as well as feeding bees, wasps, and butterflies. An expansive informal garden billows around an Arts and Crafts style house, borrowing views from nature. Daylilies erupt throughout, many chosen for their extra height and lateness of bloom. “Foliage is as important as flowers,” says Cathy, and leucosceptrums, hydrangeas, and hostas provide both. Shrubs, both evergreen and flowering intermixed with perennials, provide structure. A mature Stewartia pseudocamellia anchors the house at the north. Cultivars of vining honeysuckle and species Clematis add further connection as well as fragrance. Variegation is used as a source of light in shade. Plantings are encouraged to frolic and merge, providing interest in every season. “I’m naturalistic. I like things to blend with the woodlands. It’s not just gardens that surround a house. We sort of made our own park,” Cathy says. Their entire 140 acres is protected from development and subdivision by a conservation easement maintained through the nonprofit organization Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature). “We love this land,” she adds.

Keep going...

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A quick ride brings you to yet another unique garden that is the creation of Susie Kane-Kettlewell, an artist, horticulturalist, and garden designer. Susie’s garden has been on the Secret Gardens Tour before, but gardens evolve and hers is no exception. It is full of familiar plants as well as unusual or hard-to-find specimens. It also features a parterre, several sun rock gardens, an experimental shade rock garden and a moss garden. In addition to taking in the variety of flora, visitors will discover an eclectic mix of contemporary sculptures by regional artists: ceramics by Leslie Ferst and Hannie Varosy, metal pieces by Michelle Vara, and sculpture by Paul Schneider, who tends to use a wide array of natural materials in his work, often incorporating native plant material. In addition to enjoying nine diverse private gardens, tour-goers are invited to reflect in the mostly shaded Memory Garden tended by parishioners of the Church of St. Peter in Saratoga Springs, and take in the fragrant plantings of the Thymly Herb Group at the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa.

website, where more about Soroptimists, its mission and how to get involved can be found. One of Saratoga Soroptimists’ major local partners is Wellspring, which provides support services for victims of domestic violence and assault.

Garden tour tickets are limited. They are $20 in advance and $25 on day of tour, if still available. The club provides suggested driving directions and descriptions of the gardens, which will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour is self-guided, and you go at your own pace. The tour is geared for adults, but there is no charge for children 12 and younger. Pets are not permitted. Questions can be emailed to soroptimistsaratoga@gmail.com. Volunteers – and sometimes the gardeners themselves – are at each location during the tour to answer questions. Soroptimists and the gardeners hope to see you on July 11!

The church garden courtyard, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway, is punctuated by a mix of unusual trees, notably a Ginkgo-Biloba and a Catalpa, a descendent from seeds brought to Saratoga Springs by late 19th and early 20th century Italian immigrants, plus mature Black Walnut and Spruce specimens. Benches and chairs provide comfort to visitors as they take in the colors, smells, and textures of the garden provided by a collection of shrubs, perennials, and annuals. To the west of the courtyard is a small but colorful planting area that welcomes church visitors. Parishioner and devoted gardener Tim Burtman explains that the current garden designs were inspired by Dr. James Noonan and Rick Dunn, two dear friends of the church who are now deceased.

At the Brookside Museum, the Thymly Herb Garden is divided into four sections — culinary, medicinal, fragrance, and dyers’ herbs — separated by a cruciform pebble walk. Each section features herbs that were commonly used during the postcolonial period; many are still used today. Tickets for the July 11 tour can be pre-ordered at www. soroptimistsaratoga.org and, later this spring, purchased at retail locations that will be listed on the saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Crop Rotation

e h

c l r i C e of

G a r r d u en o Y

WRITTEN BY JESSICA HOLMES, MASTER GARDENER COORDINATOR-WARREN COUNTY HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR-SARATOGA COUNTY

Many of us love to garden, especially vegetable gardening, but not thinking about the importance of crop rotation leads to problems. Crop rotation is a practice in which you move plants around in your garden and change the location each season. This helps to reduce plant disease; insect issues and manages soil fertility. Typically crop rotation is based on the vegetable families. Many times, even though the plant is different, the family is the same. To truly do a crop rotation, you need to rotate the families. One example is tomatoes and peppers. They are in the same family called Solanaceae; therefore, you should plant something in a completely different family, like beans from the Fabaceae family, in the area that grew tomatoes or peppers the previous year.

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Graph from Washington State University

A partial list of plant families includes the carrot family (Apiaceae), which includes carrots, celery, and parsley; the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) includes cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash; the mustard family (Brassicaceae) includes broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and more; the nightshade family (Solanaceae) includes eggplant, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes and finally, the pea family (Fabaceae), includes bush beans, pole beans, and more. If you plant the same families in the same location year after year, the nutrients in the soil will deplete. For example, corn and tomatoes both deplete the soil of

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necessary nitrogen, but legumes produce nitrogen. Therefore planting beans in that location the following year will add nitrogen back into the soil, making the overall garden healthier and more able to resist pests and pathogens. If you are unsure about the nutrient or pH levels in your soils, you can get it checked by contacting the Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension. If you have other questions pertaining to crop rotation, vegetable gardening or companion plants, please contact our office as well! The graph (above) shows an example of how the crops could be rotated each year. SS

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Gardening WITH

PETER BOWDEN

DON'T JUMP THE GUN WHEN APPLYING "STEP 1” IF YOU HAD CRABGRASS LAST YEAR THEN YOU'LL NEED TO USE A LAWN FOOD WITH CRABGRASS PREVENTER.

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CRABGRASS, UNLIKE MOST LAWN WEEDS, GROWS FROM SEED THAT THE MOTHER PLANT PRODUCED THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. The mother plant dies completely over the winter never to be seen again. In early spring (starting soon since the season is running a little behind this year) the seeds germinate and start to grow. Crabgrass preventer is an agent that dissolves and forms a thin barrier on the surface of the soil. ANY seeds that try to sprout and push a root through that barrier are killed by crabgrass preventer. This barrier is very fragile and, if applied too early, heavy rain and the passage of time breaks the barrier down and it won’t work. There is no advantage to putting crabgrass preventer on very early since it doesn't kill the seed until the seed is actually sprouting. The best time to apply crabgrass preventer is at the end of the forsythias’ flowering cycle...just as the flowers are falling to the ground. This is the same time you'll see the lilac flowers just starting to open. Spring weather can be fickle, but if you use the forsythia and lilac as your guide, your crabgrass preventer will always go on at the right time. Remember that crabgrass preventer forms a thin film on the surface of the soil so make sure that all your raking is done before you apply it. If you rake afterward, you will scratch up the barrier and crabgrass will be able to grow. And, if you didn’t have crabgrass last year there are no seeds present to grow in your lawn this year, so you can skip this process. If you want to use an organic crabgrass preventer, there's Corn Gluten. You'll need to apply corn gluten twice a year and the effectiveness increases with each application. After a couple of years, you won't get crabgrass in your lawn. As an added bonus, any dandelion seeds that blow onto your lawn won't sprout. More and more people are enjoying the benefits of corn gluten weed preventer. THANKS FOR THE READ.

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spring spring

into action

Small Steps to Creating Healthy Habits This past year has left us all feeling depleted, defeated, and in a constant state of change. I think it’s fair to say many of us were surviving not thriving. When we are depleted, and exhausted healthy habits tend to be hard to stick to. We use food, alcohol, TV and other forms of escape to get through our days and this leaves us feeling more tired, more depressed and more hopeless. As we enter a new season full of warmer days, more sunlight and the possibility of hope in a new normal we may find it hard to let go of unhealthy habits that got us through the year. One of the easiest ways to work on letting go of unhealthy habits is to create new, healthier ones. If the habit is the end-of-the-day-cocktail that has turned into several, make it a point to exercise for 30 minutes before you have that drink. BY MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ,

LCSW-R

Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing at Fritz, Stanger & Associates Email meghanlfritz@gmail.com

If the habit is eating comfort food every night to dull the anxiety, eat a bowl of vegetables and some high protein food before you go for the comfort food. If you have used television and social media as a crutch or have become obsessed with following the news for hours each evening, do a quick mindfulness meditation before you zone out. The key to dropping unwanted habits is to keep adding a healthy one. This is a less cold-turkey way to make doable changes that set you up for success and keep you motivated. Some people thrive by going cold turkey on unhealthy habits and if you are one of those people that is a wonderful quality! I do think however, most of us do better by making small changes daily and taking our time to get used to new healthy habits. A year of pandemic living has made self-care seem like a luxury instead of a necessity. It’s going to take time, patience and lots of compassion to process what we have all been through emotionally, physically and spiritually. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all of the things you need to work on. Keep adding healthy habits and slowly but surely the unhealthy habits will fall away. If you feel like this past year has left you in a dark place emotionally, get some help. Do not suffer alone. Working with a therapist can help you have a solid plan in place to improve your mental health, heal and experience more joy in everyday life.

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2021

SPRING FASHION PGS. 100-107

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The Taunton Raincoat by Joules, as we head into the season of more frequent showers, be prepared with the Taunton Waterproof coat. It's easy fitting, fully waterproof and has a hood with storm peak so will keep you perfectly dry.

438 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.450.7350 • CarolineAndMain.com 100 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

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The Block Print Flutter Sleeve Dress by Lilla P. This is the perfect "throw on and go" dress, and it goes from day to night with ease. We love that it's lined and so easy to wear!

436 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.584.4665 • LifestylesOfSaratoga.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Celebrate the change of seasons by giving your wardrobe a Spring refresh at Lucia! Avery is wearing the Aria Top by Gentle Fawn, Perfect Places Denim by Blank NYC, Caty Boots by Matisse and our Tan Felt Hat.

454 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.587.7890 • LuciaBoutique.com

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Lilly Pulitzer Rosie Stretch Dress in Toucan Party

358 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • PinkPaddock.com • 518.587.4344 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Saratoga Trunk

Photo by Super Source Media. Photographed in GALLERIA JONIAH. Triptych "The Great Sky Series" by Joni Sarah White.

CELEBRATE SPRING... in a scintillating sequin halter gown by Badgley Mischka!

493 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.584.3543 • SaratogaTrunk.com "Where Your Style is Our Pleasure" 104 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

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27 Church Street Saratoga Springs 518.587.2772 SpokenSaratoga.com Our vintage inspired tank from Cino is 100% crinkle cotton with embroidered eyelet and a sassy peplum. A true one-and done when you are choosing that special piece to wear. See all that Spring has to offer at Spoken Boutique

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The French Riviera Polo in Sea Pine by Grayers. This French Terry Polo is the summer uniform for scoundrels and bon vivants.

437 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.450.7025 • UnionHallSupplyCo.com 106 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

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Photo by Super Source Media.

Hanna (Left): Free People Park Slope Maxi Dress $148 Agolde Blanca Jean Jacket $298 Free People Anya Gladiator Sandal $98 Lucky Collective Deco Statement Earrings $22 Mackenzie (Right): Velvet by Graham & Spencer Mirella Dress $198 Free People Santa Fe Boots $178 Jonesy Wood Aria Hoops $63

494 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.4838 • VioletsofSaratoga.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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In 2016, the Fetters planted 2,817 blueberry bushes in one day! Chuck designed and built this trailer (pulled by a 4-wheeler) especially for the marathon event.

STAR FARM…

A Peaceful Paradise with Blueberries Galore 108 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

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WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS PROVIDED UNLESS NOTED

f you’re looking for something fun to do with the family this summer—something that gets you out in the country and immerses you in the beauty of Nature—why not go berry-picking at Star Farm Blueberries in Galway? Situated one-half mile off the beaten track on a peaceful, wide open parcel of land with five ponds, wooded hiking trails, a farm store, and several lovely wedding sites, Star Farm truly is a Saratoga County ‘must-see.’

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Star Farm’s beautifully restored 1937 International D-50 vintage truck greets visitors. “We grow seven different varieties of blueberries, one of which grows to be the size of a quarter,” says JoAnn Pulaski-Fetter, who runs the farm with her husband, Chuck Fetter. “The varieties bloom in different intervals, too, so we have early, mid, and lateblooming berries. If we only had early berries, we’d only have a onemonth season. This way, we’re able to stay open from about the second week of July through the second week of September.” The Farm Store is the heart of all Star Farm operations. “Upon arriving, customers enter the store to get their buckets and their picking directions,” JoAnn explains. “Then they go into the berry field to the designated rows that are ready to pick. Afterwards, they return to the store where we gently transfer the berries to paper bags and weigh them to determine cost. The buckets are then washed, dried, and reused.” The Farm Store carries many local

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goods, including honey harvested from hives located on the property, maple syrup, Smith’s baked goods, and a unique selection of jewelry handcrafted by JoAnn. The store also sells quarts and pints of blueberries, fresh-picked that morning.

to go fishing in the pond.”

“The Boogie Barn is a wonderful space for all kinds of events,” JoAnn says. “It has a brand new wood floor, a sound system, a large stage, and stage lighting. That’s where we have many of our weddings. It’s located in a very wide open area beyond the pond, so there’s plenty of space and privacy. The barn itself isn’t that big, but people rent tents. At one wedding, the guests even made time

Given the thriving rows of blueberry bushes at Star Farm today, it’s hard to imagine that just five years ago the field consisted of clay, shale, truckloads of rocks, and a soil pH level that was anything but blueberryfriendly.

After the Farm Store closes for the season, the space is transformed into a Saturday morning yoga studio. Yoga classes are offered year-round. During berry season, however, classes are held in another part of the property known as The Boogie Barn.

When blueberry season isn’t in progress, the Farm Store is available for smaller weddings. This rustic structure—built largely with weathered wood from old barns—offers a small stage, a kitchen, and all the climate-controlled comforts of home. Ceremonies often take place in the blueberry field’s picturesque gazebo. Star Farm even has its own iconic Honeymoon Suite for couples wishing to spend their wedding night in a tranquil woodland setting.

“Neither of us had any farming background,” JoAnn admits, “but Chuck and I knew we wanted to put our land to good use.”

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A beautiful wedding day for Michaela Martin & Josh Smith. Photo by Julia Luckett Photography; JuliaLuckett.com

Grandson Dylan enjoys a day of berry-picking.

After deciding to grow blueberries, the industrious couple set about removing rocks and reconditioning the soil with sand, peat moss, and nutrients.

a lifetime of practical mechanical knowledge, I was able to design and build many helpful things that allowed me to do most of the work myself.

“Blueberry farming involves a lot more than just planting bushes and watching them grow,” says Chuck, who abides by the timeless quote: ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ “Being a farmer means being resourceful and creative. With vision, determination, common sense, and

In the spring of 2016, after receiving a delivery of 2,817 blueberry bushes from Michigan, Chuck and JoAnn and a handful of friends planted every single bush—in just one day! Two years later, Star Farm Blueberries opened its doors for business. The rest, as they say, is history—or rather, history in the

“You have to know this about my husband,” JoAnn says. “Chuck is a true believer, and he doesn’t give up once he comes up with a plan. He is a visionary. He took down five old barns on our neighbor’s property and then used some of that beautiful wood to build our Farm Store. Chuck does it all!”

“But I couldn’t have done it without JoAnn. We’re a team of two. JoAnn can drive and operate any tractor. When she isn’t running the Farm Store, she’s mowing eight acres of grass weekly and putting hours in on social media doing farm promotion. Like I said, it definitely takes two.”

Three generations enjoy a day at the farm.

making! Because when it comes to Star Farm, the Fetters, undoubtedly, will always be dreaming up new and exciting plans. More than anything else, Chuck and JoAnn enjoy meeting the many amazing people who visit their farm. “It’s usually so quiet around here,” JoAnn reflects. “It just fills our hearts to hear the happy laughter of children.”

Chuck recalls one day when he was waiting on an elderly woman at the drive-thru store. “At the end of our conversation, she said to me, ‘God bless you for being a farmer.’ For me, that was the greatest compliment.”

For more information, visit starfarmblueberries.com; phone: 518-882-6963. SS

An overview of Star Farm and the Farm Store.

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r e m Sum S P M A C

2021

Summer is Coming... It’s time to start thinking about summer camps!

Our Saratoga Summer Camp Guide highlights some excellent area options! PGS. 114-120

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CAMP LITTLE NOTCH

AN AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION ACCREDITED CAMP

IS A SUMMER HOME WHERE CAMPERS CAN EXPERIENCE FUN, FRIENDSHIPS, CHALLENGES, AND ADVENTURES. Camp Little Notch (CLN), provides the chance to practice living in harmony with nature, each other, and themselves in an authentic wilderness experience. Within five minutes of arriving, campers have half a dozen new friends who often become friends for life. There are so many things to do at Camp Little Notch—swimming, canoeing, cookouts, stargazing, singing, wilderness skills, creekwalking…the list goes on. Campers sleep in a platform tent, watch the sun come up over the mountains, and listen to the sounds of the forest at night all combined to make an unforgettable summer experience.

Camp Little Notch brings people of various backgrounds together through activities that break down barriers and create a community where campers value themselves and each other. We consciously and deliberately use a variety of tools to create a camp community in which we celebrate diversity, encourage community building, teach conflict resolution and communication skills, facilitate sharing of traditions between people, and confront all forms of discrimination, prejudice, and exclusion in our interactions, operations, and activities.

From 1939 to 2008, the Girl Scouts owned and operated Camp Little Notch as a summer camp for girls. In 2015, Friends of Camp Little Notch reopened CLN to the public, and then invited boys to camp for the first time in 2018. We felt that camping is such an important part of growing up that everyone, girls and boys, should be able to experience the magic of CLN.

This year to safeguard against COVID-19, Camp Little Notch will be offering 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week camp sessions all in a safe environment. CLN will become its own bubble, and therefore campers will be able to experience a typical camp experience without worry. Camper parents will be able to contact their campers via snail mail or email. Our first session begins July 3, 2021, with the last session ending August 7, 2021. For the first time, Camp Little Notch will also be offering family camping this summer to those looking for a fresh-air escape from home. Families will be able to come to CLN in a COVID-19 safe environment.

For those looking for financial aid, Friends of Camp Little Notch (FoCLN) offers camp scholarship aka campership. FoCLN can cover partial or full campership for campers - and it is simple to apply! For more information and to fill out the campership application, visit camplittlenotch.org/campership.

Summer camp provides an opportunity for children to learn and practice important skills which they can use throughout their lives as they grow into happy, confident, creative, and inspired adults. Summer camp is great fun, but we feel the most important gains are made in these areas all while making lifelong friends. Visit camplittlenotch.org or email info@friendsofcln.org for more information. Use promo code ST2021 to save 25% on summer camp registration. Coupon expires July 3, 2021. Reserve your spot today!

CAMP LITTLE NOTC H Camp Address: 744 Sly Pond Road, Fort Ann, NY 12827 | 518-793-9700 | Info@FriendsofCLN.org

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CAMP SARADAC is a NYSDOH licensed summer day camp for children ages 5-12.

JUNE 28 - AUGUST 20

For over 75 years, Camp Saradac has offered campers creative recreational & educational programs, intriguing arts & crafts, and memories that last a lifetime!

Monday-Friday

Three Locations!

For summer 2021, Camp Saradac will be now be offering two half-day camps in addition to the traditional full-day camp held at the Recreation Center.

The half day camps will be held at East Side Rec Park and Veterans Memorial Park.

Families may choose the most convenient location for them. Each site offers outdoors space, an interactive splash fountain, and playgrounds. Summer Camp runs weekly Monday-Friday starting Monday, June 28 through Friday, August 20.

The before and after care program will only be offered at the Recreation Center. Children who are registered may be dropped off at 7:30 a.m. and picked up as late as 6 p.m. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit our website at www.SaratogaRec.com.

• Saratoga Springs Recreation Center 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ages 5-12 • East Side Recreation Park 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Ages 7-12 • Veterans Memorial Park 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Ages 7-12

REGISTRATION Begins March 1: City Residents Begins March 22: Non-City Residents Registration Ends 5/10

518-587-3550, ext. 2300 Register Online: www.SaratogaRec.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER 15 Vanderbilt Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-3550, ext. 2300 | RecReservations@saratoga-springs.org

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GREENFIELD

Summer Camp is a Go!

Town of Greenfield Officials Redesign Summer Camp for 2021 After 2020’s quiet and mostly cancelled summer, Greenfield children are sure to welcome a reimagined summer day camp centering on old-fashioned country fun. The Town of Greenfield redesigned its popular summer camp with a new location and curriculum to meet the challenges of 2021. Camp will take place daily, weather permitting, at the Middle Grove Town Park for five weeks beginning June 28 from 8:30-12:30 p.m. Sign ups begin March 1 for Greenfield residents only at www.greenfieldny.org. Changes began with moving the 30-yearold camp from Greenfield Elementary School to the Middle Grove Town Park, at 428 Middle Grove Road in Middle Grove, N.Y., which just underwent a major overhaul in November including state-ofthe-art playground upgrades, a renovated large pavilion, as well as basketball and tennis courts. The park also features 8 acres of open space with tree-lined fields and a 1.5-mile wooded walking trail. The camp will adhere to all state safety regulations this summer including masks and social distancing, where necessary. Students ages 5 to 14 are welcome. Campers will be supervised with a 2:10 counselor/camper ratio featuring more than 30-trained camp counselors. Children will be grouped in pods of ten and each group will have a private tent for their convenience.

The camp will be led by Eric Hayden, a popular Saratoga Springs School District Physical Education coach. There will be an easy, contactless drop off and pick up loop for parents. Camp activities include rotating stations of fun, featuring such things as: obstacle courses; wiffleball, soccer, flag football, kickball, basketball and other sports; hiking; gardening; Taekwondo; and other organized games. Three times a week an art director will lead a myriad of projects involving painting, spin art, tye-die, chalk art and more. The camp will have themed days like “Super Hero” or “Hat Day.” Each Friday will bring free ice cream from an ice cream truck or Stewart’s Shops. Uncharted Wild LLC will visit weekly with live wild animal demonstrations.

JUNE 28-JULY 30 WEATHER PENDING Monday-Friday | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LOCATION: Middle Grove Town Park 428 Middle Grove Rd., Middle Grove, NY DROP OFF AND PICK UP AT CONTACTLESS LOOP REGISTRATION: Begins March 1 for Greenfield residents at www.greenfieldny.org or by calling 518-893-7432, ext. 307.

“Our schedule will be ever-changing and kids are sure to come home exhausted and dirty from an action-packed morning at the park with friends,” said Rebecca Sewell, Town of Greenfield Recreation Director. “We have adapted to meet the community’s need for simple outdoor summer fun.” The Town of Greenfield is home to 7,500 residents and spans more than 41,000 acres of land, including Brookhaven Park and Golf Course in Porter Corners, NY. Other summer activities sponsored by the Town of Greenfield include golf camp, tennis camp and a PGA Junior Golf League.

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UNPLUG & GET DIRTY!

Kids&Clay Summer Fun Week 1 – July 12-16 AM – All things Dragons PM – Wheel Boot Camp Week 2 - July 19-23 AM – Table for Two PM – Wheel Boot Camp Week 3 - July 26-30 AM – Clay Castles PM – Wheel Boot Camp Week 4 - August 2-6 AM – Ice Cream You Scream PM – Wheel Boot Camp Week 5 - August 9-13 AM – For the Birds PM – Wheel Boot Camp

SCHOOL’S OUT, SUMMER’S HERE, IT’S TIME TO RAMP UP THE FUN AT SARATOGA CLAY ARTS CENTER!

Summer 2021 brings an exciting series of clay programs for ages 6-16, taught by professional local artists/teachers and ranging in themes and techniques. Camps are open to all skill levels, beginning and up. Pinch pots, slab projects, wheel throwing, glazing, and firing techniques come together to provide each student with exciting new experiences, new skills and their clay creations to take home to use and share with friends and family. What could be better than playing with clay all summer?! Come unplug, make art, and make friends. Choose from 14 themed half-day week-long summer camps, with the option to put morning and afternoon camps together for a full day experience! Classes run July 12 – August 27. Come for one week or all seven.

Week 6 - August 16-20 AM - Under the Sea PM – Wheel and Raku Week 7 - August 23-27 AM - Woodland Sprites & Fairies PM – Wheel Boot Camp

Visit Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s website at www.saratogaclayarts.org for more details on programs, registration dates, fee details, and while you are there, take some time to check out the rest of their site see all that is happening at the center.

Register TODAY For Some Messy, Exhilarating, Creative Fun This Summer! SARATOGA CL AY ARTS CENTER 167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871 • 518-581-CLAY (2529) • info@saratogaclayarts.org

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TRAIN LIKE A NINJA!

WHERE FITNESS IS ALWAY FUN!

S W I N G , CLIMB, C L I M B , LEAP L E A P &&SSOAR OAR SWING, your way into summer while building self-confidence and learning skills that will last a lifetime. As one of our Ninjas, your child can expect our skilled coaches to guide them through increasingly challenging obstacles, resulting in increased strength and stamina.

Ninja Lab Summer Camps run Monday through Friday in one-week, half day or full day sessions. Ninja Campers can choose between the morning session: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or afternoon session: 1- 4 p.m, or full day session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Campers will be put into groups of similar ability.

Age-appropriate drills will always be used, with a heightened emphasis on skill and long-term athlete development. Every child will be engaged and having fun, while building strength and self-confidence and finding their inner-ninja! Class ratio is 8-1 (8 campers to 1 coach), and all our coaches at The Ninja Lab are CPR certified and background screened. Make sure your ninja gets a good night’s sleep, because every child will be engaged, moving, smiling and coming home tired!

Sample Camp Day Schedule: 8:45-9 a.m. • Arrival and Registration 9-9:10 a.m. • Welcome and Warm-up 9:10-10:20 a.m. • Station-based Ninja Training 10:20-10:40 a.m. • Break 10:40-12 p.m. • Course Runs and Challenges 12 p.m. • Pick up

Summer Camp Pricing $50 for single half day and $220 for half day full week $80 for single full day and $340 for full day full week

9 Stonebreak Road, Malta • 518-289-5942

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HISTORY WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

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SARATOGA’S STORY

Shaped by Transportation WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL IMAGES FROM THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

he history of any area can look like a patchwork quilt. Even though there might be many small intricate pieces in the quilt, the broad overview usually gives great visual pleasure. A close inspection of a single patch usually tells a small but interesting story. These are my thoughts on one small patch of our History: transportation. Although a small topic, it had a huge effect on the direction of the city of Saratoga Springs. The story of Saratoga Springs has always been the story of a resort destination. In 1802 Gideon and Doanda Putnam built the first hotel that was to provide accommodations to summer visitors coming for the healing mineral waters. One of the hardest parts of visiting Saratoga Springs in the early 1800s was how to get there, easily. In the early years of the village, it was a slow process for visitors to travel to Saratoga Springs mainly because of the available forms of transportation.

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“The past doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.”

A diary of a woman from Mobile Alabama described her visit to the village in the early 1800s… Her trip started with boarding a sailing vessel in Mobile that took a great number of days to sail to New York harbor. She then took a steamship up the Hudson River to Albany where she then boarded a horsedrawn coach to make the last leg of the journey to Saratoga Springs. Her diary reflections were eyeopening when she described the journey as long and arduous, and that the easiest part of the trip was the 30-mile coach ride that took only eight hours. As a result of slow travel early visitors coming to the city were not in a hurry to leave and spent the majority of the season in the city. Slow transportation would change in the summer of 1832 when a rail line from Schenectady was connected to Saratoga Springs. At the time it was only the second rail line to be built in the State of New York, showing the importance of Saratoga Springs as a summer destination. Even though the rail trip was slower than one of today, it was a much faster and more comfortable form of transportation for the time. The concept of building a rail line to the village was the brilliant idea of a few citizens who wanted to increase tourism. Henry Walton, John Clarke, John Steele, Miles Beach, Gideon Davidson and Rockwell Putnam were the organizers. A special act was passed in the New York State legislature on February 15, 1831 to issue bonds to pay for the construction of the rail line in the amounts of $100/ share with a maximum of $300,000 to be raised. The group eventually raised $180,000 to pay for the 21.5 miles of rail line, and construction started in the spring.

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- Mark Twain

Passengers were welcomed on the train in July of 1832 to travel from Schenectady to Saratoga Springs. Newspapers reported that by the summer of 1833 the railroad was fully operating, transporting passengers and freight. This radically changed the dynamics of the village of Saratoga Springs. Hotel registers show that the years before the operation of the railroad the total summer visitors were a few thousand. Once the railroad was operating, the number of visitors became a few thousand a week. This helped to ignite a boom in the village in the summer months. The railroad also brought diverse supplies of food to the hotels and new products to the shops on Broadway. In the mid to late 1800s railroad travel increased as well as the steamships on the Hudson River. Many railroad advertisements showed how the evening southbound train from Saratoga got passengers to Albany in time for an overnight sail down the Hudson to arrive in New York City by morning. What a great improvement- you could leave Saratoga after dinner and arrive in NYC by breakfast! Life had changed because of the ease of transportation. Accounts also show that the price had also dropped which allowed more members of society the convenience of a faster, affordable mode of transportation. Visitors came in huge numbers and the village exploded in activity every summer. In response, we built many hotels, some of which were some of the biggest in the country. Mark Twain once said “The past doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” This is the truth for the history of our city when considering changes to the forms of transportation. In the early 20th century, the invention of the automobile would change the

city again and cause widespread change. We had built a village in the 1800s that had thousands of hotel rooms that would be filled for the entire summer season because of the form of transportation. The invention of the automobile would give us an even faster, more independent form of transportation, but that increased speed and independence would cause new problems for Saratoga Springs. As the use of automobiles exploded in the country, visitors could now split their vacation time between Saratoga Springs and other desirable destinations in the area. Niagara Falls, Cape Cod, Maine and the Jersey shore all were now attracting summer visitors away from the “Queen of American Spas,” Saratoga Springs. In time it was evident that we had over built our hotels to accommodate a different visitor population. People wanted their vacation time to be fast paced and diverse. By the 1940s with the occurrence of World War II and antigambling legislation, Saratoga would no longer fill her huge hotels and change was happening that would be drastic for the city. Saratoga’s economy began to slump. By the early 1950s all of the city’s enormous, renowned hotels were gone. These huge hotels, rarely filled, made it hard to operate in the black, and were eventually razed. It was during this time that the city began to re-think its position as a resort destination. Over time our great city changed again to meet the demand of a new America. The power of Saratoga Springs has always been to adjust and reimagine itself. In the future other factors will probably change, and challenge our city. It’s the creativity and foresight of its people that will allow us to continue making Saratoga Springs a great small city. SS

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Rarely Seen Photos of OLD SARATOGA Springs WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL IMAGES FROM THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

CONGRESS PARK This is a very popular image from the Bolster Collection. The image shows two men enjoying Congress Park on a warm summer day.

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TOWN HALL 1887 Today we would call this location City Hall but in 1887 we were a still a town. A close look will show the original bell/clock tower that has been removed. In the early years of the twentieth century, a similar tower was struck by lightning in Chicago and insurance companies demanded the removal of these towers for safety reasons across the country.

SARATOGA VICHY WAGON In the mid twentieth-century Saratoga Vichy was a very popular drink and mixer at bars and restaurants. The name “Vichy” comes from the belief that some of our mineral waters were very close in taste to the very popular water from Vichy France. This is an iconic picture of the horse-drawn delivery wagon in the front of the famous Grand Union Hotel.

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In This SPOT

in Time

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE

or the past year, I’ve selected a physical location and looked at it over time in a column called On this Spot. Rather than look at a place, “in this spot” will explore the phenomenon of Covid- Zoom.

Last February Zoom was as foreign as an international longdistance call in the '70s. Now it’s as much a part of my daily routine as brushing my teeth. We can thank Covid for that. Someday we'll look back on our early zoom calls as clumsy and archaic. But for now, Zoom has changed my relationship with distance, time, and ceremony. May this column inspire you to jot down your zoom experiences. How are you making history? Share them with us at CBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com

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ZOOM FUNERAL Growing up in the funeral business, I’ve always appreciated a good funeral. My family appreciated a heartfelt ceremony, celebrating a life well-lived. Even if I didn’t know a person, the mere act of seeing them laid out in a casket on the way to my parents' living room, would cause tears to well up. My father often joked he wanted to hire me as a professional mourner. This was especially true when my neighbor and good friend Jim died last May. His death, so unexpected, was painful enough, but Covid, an accelerator of emotions, threw me into a tailspin. New York was two months into a lock-down as we tried to stem the rising tide of the Covid-19 virus. The streets were empty. Starbucks closed. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

ILLUSTRATION BY DOMINIKA GODETTE

Jim had passed away unexpectedly in the night. I called close friends in disbelief, sharing raw feelings of loss. How would we comfort his wife Deb and each other? They had been wintering in Florida, which may as well have been Mars. We weren’t even allowed to gather together in our backyards to commiserate. Within two days Deb called with her “Zoom solution.” Friends from all walks of his life would virtually gather for a Memorial Service. If we wished to send photos, there would be a pre-service slideshow tribute. Being a traditionalist when it comes to funerals, I had a few reservations. Who would replace the capable behind-thescenes funeral director? No long snaking lines of mourners? No casket or body to say one last goodbye to? Fortunately, the meat of a Memorial Service -- stories and photos that warmed my insides, would be front and center. Memorializing a good friend on Zoom was foreign to me. Nightmarish images ran through my head: rambling stories from people I barely knew; the sound cutting in and out; scrambled pixels; my wrinkled neck appearing front and center for all to see-just to name a few. NYS restrictions forbade even my closest friends to gather and watch together. My husband would be my sole consoler. On Saturday at 3, we logged onto Zoom. Greetings took the form of Jim’s impish, gracious smile in a looped slideshow set to Chris Botti’s music. Before I focused on saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

each shot, I scanned the mic-muted crowd of virtual faces, imaginarily waving to friends from California to Florida just as I would have in person. So close, yet so distant. I chuckled at the shot of Jim, my husband, and friend Tom dozing, half open-mouthed on a sun-drenched rock in Lake George. I was delighted in the bike photos depicting Jim in far off destinations of Vietnam and Cambodia. And I teared up at the wedding shot of him and my longtime friend Deb, so happy in the knowledge they had found each other late in life. Five carefully selected speakers shared the progression of Jim’s 77-year-old life. His brother detailed life in the ‘40s in Saugus, Mass. A colleague shared exploits of teaching Social Studies in Richmond, Virginia. Miles, his 8-year-old grandchild, ended with a poem simply entitled “Jim.” Several screens worth of small rectangle mourners laughed, cried, and shared a collective sadness. None of us would be able to create more “Jim stories.” The best part was when my friend Deb sat close to the camera as if she were letting us in on a secret and shared their unique 13-year love story. She invited us inside their private world. When she finished, I felt better. After a few brave Zoomers shared one-minute comments, it was over, leaving me warmed with the knowledge that Jim had been part of my life. We clicked the red “leave the meeting” box and stared at a blank black screen. Speechless and fulfilled. SPRING H&G 2021 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 127

PHOTOS PROVIDED

PANTS OPTIONAL My goddaughter Bond’s Zoom wedding invitation stated both in French and English “Dress code-Zoom formal, pants optional.” She was marrying a blind Frenchman, boosting the likelihood her unmet fiancé wouldn’t notice my attire. Precocious from birth, the very Bond-like invitation began, ”Since you know us, you know we are not the type of people who would let a worldwide pandemic prevent us from gathering our friends to celebrate a happy event.” And so, at 11 a.m. EST, ninety-four friends and family virtually entered the sheer white curtain-draped living room of the couple’s Brooklyn apartment. Since the groom, his brother, and a few attendees were blind, the bride began with a detailed description of both the setting and the bride and groom’s attire-much like the Stage Manager 128 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

provides the audience essential information in Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town.” The officiant, aware of the multiple distractions a home offers, asked us to take a deep breath, turn off all phones, and center on the couple on the screen. That simple act focused me on Bond and Charles. No longer I was drawn to the small image of the brides’ parents. I had been assessing their facial expressions knowing how they longed to be standing next to their daughter. The bride was radiant. No bridesmaids to stand by her side in support, no flower girls to steal the show -- just a 36-year old’s glowing face gazing at her life’s partner. Vows exchanged; we toasted the happy couple. No crazy drunk uncle at the reception to look forward to. No Macarena. No DJ spinning “Proud Mary.” Just the satisfaction of witnessing love in the age of Covid.

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DAD’S JUST IN THE NEXT ROOM

PHOTOS PROVIDED

A mere 3360 miles away, I virtually babysit my six-year-old granddaughter and three-year-old grandson. Their stir-crazy mother pronounced, “I have a chance to go to the Shard with my ONE friend. So, Gigi, you’re in charge. Their father has an important conference call in the next room.” Just an hour to keep them amused, reasonably quiet, and contained in 6-year-old Bara’s room. A melee in the making. Move over Savannah Guthrie. Bara was born to address a screen. Put her in front of a camera and she can wax for hours. In sharp contrast, threeyear-old Davey behaves like an errant missile. His sole motivator is food. When we’re physically together, a handful of blueberries solves any crisis that arises. I realize virtual food is my only weapon. And so begins my parody of Davey’s favorite song, “We’re going on a Bear Hunt.” Instead, we hunt in my garden. Zucchini close-ups capture Davey’s rapt attention. Peppers, eggplant, kale, and tomatoes all become phrases of our song. His face strains close to the camera, willing his body to reach through the screen and pick the vegetables off the vine.

Only 50 minutes left! We play school. I am the student and they bark out orders as Mrs. Pink and Mrs. Black. Mrs. Pink opens with her favorite game, Two Truths and a Lie. Davey’s clues revolve around food: 1. Daddy puts cereal on the table on Sunday Fundays. 2. Daddy makes sausages. 3. I don’t like Gigi. Hoping I am still in his favor, I correctly guess number three. He claps with delight. I am quizzed on phonic flashcards; tested on arithmetic and am asked to read lots of books aloud. Correct responses earn “dojos,” their reward system. Music class brings British renditions of familiar classics -- “Eensy Weensy Spider” replaces my “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Snack in the garden is dangled in front of me. An intimate insight into their day-to-day school life is revealed through our role play. I learn the mundane details of their day-to-day life. Silence is not billed at $1 a minute. Zoom has become my stabilizer in an out-of-control world.

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New Li�e �or Lodge:

687 North Broadway

preserving

SARATOGA WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

et back behind large pine trees is a rather imposing brick building at 687 North Broadway. One may wonder if it is a large residence or if it was built for some other purpose. Most in Saratoga Springs remember it as the Masonic Lodge. It, like many other masonic buildings across the country, seems so mysterious. A place for the fraternal organization, the Freemasons, to conduct business. However, that was not the first chapter of this property’s story nor is it the last. The property of 687 North Broadway was originally part of the property that was owned by William A. Shepard, a village leader who was one of the founders of the Historical Society

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of Saratoga. His summer residence, known as “The Gables,” was located at 677 North Broadway, no longer extant. The deed records that Henry G. Ludlow purchased 687 North Broadway from the estate of William A. Shepard in 1902. Henry is noted for inventing the Ludlow valve, a straight-way stop valve with sliding gate and separate wedge that was useful in regulating the flow of gas, water, steam, or oil. He founded the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Company in 1861. Located in Troy, it was one of the largest valve and fire hydrant manufacturers in the country. Henry and his family would spend summers in Saratoga Springs, often staying at the Rickard Cottage at 632 North Broadway. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A 1939 historic photograph of 687 North Broadway, provided by the George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum.

Ludlow Valve Manufacturing 1874 Letterhead of Annual Company Meeting from FireHydrant.org (above); Original fire suppression system at 687 North Broadway (right).

Due to failing health, he asked his son Henry S. Ludlow, also known as Harry, to abandon his ministerial ambitions and return to assist with the management of the company. Harry held several different positions at the company until Henry sold the business. Henry’s health declined due to his age and in 1900, “he fell and sustained a concussion of the brain, which resulted in a giving way of the mind,” according to his obituary in The Troy Times on December 27, 1904. Most likely due to his father’s failing health, it was Harry who hired R. Newton Brezee, a prominent architect in Saratoga Springs, to design a new 26 room summer Historic photo of and the Ro-Ed Mansion showingAccording the rear additions, residence carriage house. to tax records the including thewas dining room, and gardens. Photo: S. Bolster Collection, house completed in 1903 andGeorge the carriage house the Saratoga Springs History Museum

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following year. The Saratogian dated November 29, 1904, noted “Harry S. Ludlow, of Troy, a well-known Summer Saratogian, today visited the village and inspected his North Broadway property.” The two-and-half story house is unique because of its Gothic Revival influence – steeply pitched cross-gables with shaped parapets and pointed-arched windows with unique decorative moldings made of brick. The carriage house, today 228 Woodlawn Avenue, has the same decorative features, but is clad in wood shingles. Understanding the importance of fire suppression, may explain why the house is constructed of brick, the basement has tin ceilings, and there once was a system of valves and fire hoses. SPRING H&G 2021 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 131

In 1896, Harry founded The Troy Record newspaper with a group of business men. He was the paper’s first treasurer and later served as president for 32 years. Harry was loyal and generous supporter of the Young Men’s Christian Association. He served on the state board and was a director of the Troy YMCA and later the Saratoga Springs YMCA. He also built Camp Van Schoonhoven, in honor of his wife’s family, on Burden Lake, and Camp Dudley on Lake Champlain. He was also instrumental in establishing a YMCA in Havana, Cuba. In addition to being dedicated to the YMCA, he was a director of three banks. In 1908, he married Margery Nash and had two daughters, Dorothy and Margery. He later married Mary Van Schoonhaven in 1916. Various newspapers shared that he and his wife Mary loved to entertain at their summer residence and travel around the world. Harry passed away in 1938. Mary married Harrie M. Levengston in 1940. Harrie, who was credited with building the first therapeutic mineral baths in Saratoga Springs and a pioneer auto dealer with locations in Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and Utica, moved from his home at 115 Circular Street to 687 North Broadway. The year after Harrie passed away she purchased the former famed singersongwriter Chauncey Olcott estate, Inniscarra, at 251 Clinton Street and sold the property to the Masonic Hall Association in 1953 for “approximately $10,000” according to The Saratogian.

One set of pocket doors. A similar set was discovered in the walls.

At the time of purchase, the Masonic Hall Association was comprised of members of Rising Sun Lodge 108, F & AM; Rising Sun Chapter 131, RAM; Saratoga Chapter 131, OES; Saratoga Court 55, Order of the Amaranth; Cryptic Council 37, R & SM; Washington Commandery 33, Knight of Templar; and Masonic Club. Prior to purchasing 687 North Broadway, the Masons were considering constructing a small new building on Broadway. The Freemasons is one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the world. Their origins date back to the fraternities of stone masons that supported one another as craftsmen in the Middle Ages. Members uphold strong values and community service. Lodges were constructed throughout the world. The Freemasons have been in this area since 1809, occupying several buildings on Broadway. History, rituals, and symbolism are important to the organization. 132 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

Original fireplaces remain throughout the former Masonic Lodge. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Notable Freemasons include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock as well as prominent locals Reuben Hyde Walworth and Edgar T. Brackett. Upon purchasing the building, the Masons made extensive alterations: installing a commercial kitchen, enclosing the twostory porch at the south, reconfiguring the main staircase, and constructing a large, second floor rectangular meeting room. In order to accommodate high ceilings in new gathering space, bedrooms on the second floor and rooms on the third floor were removed.

Bedrooms on the second floor were removed to create the large meeting room for the Masons.

Masons have a reputation of being “secretive” because of their rituals and the grips and passwords that they share with one another. However, the biggest secret is the good work they do which includes medical research, blood drives, and identification program for children and seniors. For 65 years, the Masons held meetings, blood drives, and dinners at 687 North Broadway. In April 2019, the Masons listed the property for sale. At that time their plans were to relocate to a smaller building that would be more accommodating to members, potentially constructing a new building to suit its purposes. The attic shows remnants of the rooms that existed prior to the ceiling being raised for the meeting room.

Original hardware remains throughout the house.

The grand entry hall with fireplace, decorative columns, and the existing staircase. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

In November 2019, the building was purchased by new owners who plan to restore it. “We are honored and excited to return it to its original grandeur,” said the new owner. “We hope that our plans, developed by Balzer & Tuck Architecture, will return the interior and exterior to the inviting space that it once was,” the owner continued. Beautiful interior details – pocket doors, hardware, fireplaces, and windows – will be preserved. One mystery remains – the original configuration of the staircase, which the owners hope will be uncovered when they undertake the construction. However, a project of this magnitude would not be possible without willing owners and the use of historic tax credits, which offsets 20% of the rehabilitation costs. This rehabilitation is one that will certainly be worth the wait! To have the rare opportunity to see the interior of the Henry S. Ludlow residence on North Broadway prior to its rehabilitation as well as other historic buildings, please attend the virtual Historic Homes Tour hosted by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. The event will take place Mother’s Day weekend, May 8 & 9. To purchase tickets, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org.

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Spirits Past OF THE

WRITTEN BY BILL ORZELL

believe that the safest bet in Saratoga Springs is that the centerpiece of creativity is the “Spirit of Life” Fountain in Congress Park. This masterpiece by Daniel Chester French and its installation in the niche and reflecting pool designed by architect Henry Bacon so perfectly combine to memorialize Spencer Trask. Mr. Trask had dedicated himself to the conservation of the naturally flowing waters of Saratoga Springs from commercial exploitation and ruin, and died tragically in a railroad collision, while traveling in the interest of their preservation. His widow, Katrina, sought to preserve his altruistic spirit with a proper monument, which included flowing water. She also requested a seraph figure, the premier level of winged angelic being. Messrs. French and Bacon visited the Spa to examine and review the site and discuss their design options in situ. The memorial sculpture was dedicated the same year Saratoga Springs transitioned from a village to a city, 1915.

outstretched to the side in gentle benediction, while her legs and feet brace her stance. Daniel Chester French used considerably less classic draping in this first design, and the figure is framed by her very large angelic wings.

The Library of Congress has the papers of Daniel Chester French in their collections. This repository contains the correspondence between himself, architect Henry Bacon, and Katrina Trask, detailing the evolution of the monument. Details revised from the original design were the elimination of two stairways, flanking either side of the reflecting pool, running through the balustrade behind the sculpture, which were deleted before construction began. The sculpture was made more buoyant with uplifted arms, shorter length of hair and an elevated gaze. Spirit of the Waters. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Additional changes made were the Museum, Bequest of Grenville L. Winthrop. Accession # detailing on the urns that border 1943.1361 ©President and Fellows of Harvard College. the sculpture and incorporating a personal favorite decoration of Spencer Trask at Yaddo, a pine branch, added to the proper right hand of the figure. It is widely accepted that Daniel Chester French modeled The original concept also was to carve the “Spirit of Life” his allegorical female form of the “Spirit of Life” using the from marble, but the details added and the contact with real-life form of Audrey Munson. Many other artists besides water, shifted to the use of bronze. Mr. French had turned to Audrey Munson as well, and Mr. French modeled the clay at his summer residence, she realistically became a super-model at the beginning known as Chesterwood, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. of the twentieth century. The appealing likeness of this This model was scaled up to a plaster cast which Mr. French upstate New York native is recognizable on coins and public could wheel outside and adjust using the same natural buildings across the country in many stirring examples of light the final product would be viewed in. The plaster was civic symbolism. The New York Sun on June 6, 1913 reported shipped to the Gorham Foundry in Providence, Rhode that, “In recent years many men and women have made the Island to be cast in bronze. The foundation stonework and acquaintance in picture and sculpture of this young woman. pedestal were prepared by the legendary Piccirilli Brothers She is Miss Audrey Marie Munson, and it is said she has in the Bronx. Katrina Trask incurred all expenses for the posed for more public decorative works than anyone else.” monument construction, and on June 26, 1915, graciously Loose folds of fabric, or classic draping, was employed by Daniel Chester French to attire the shape of the “Spirit of Life,” and Katrina Trask approved of the expressive physique and position of the figure. This was the second design that Mr. French presented to Mrs. Trask, who had rejected his first submission, which he had titled the “Spirit of the Waters.” This first design also was modeled by Audrey Munson, and she is even more recognizable with her long hair more realistically reproduced. Her eyes are downcast in a demure sadness and her arms are 134 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021

donated everything to the City of Saratoga Springs.

Daniel Chester French, who until his death in 1931 was a member of the Board of Directors of Yaddo, was very pleased with the outcome of the “Spirit of Life” memorial. He did not, however, abandon his “Spirit of the Waters” design, and had two castings made in bronze. The first was bequeathed to the Fogg Museum at Harvard University; the second is at Chesterwood, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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The house in the 1950s. Note the Old Wilton School #1 in background behind vintage station wagon.

HOME WRITTEN BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LAURIE WESTCOTT UNLESS NOTED

Prior to 1953. Notice the wallpaper border running along the top of the wall. The wall to the right of the television had two overhead doors added and is now the front of the garage.

Prior to 1953. The Westcotts' garden in the foreground; the strawberries still come up every year.

Smaller house (current garage) the Westcotts lived in while building the main house in 1953. Note palletized stacks of lumber on the left used to build the main house.

I have always been sentimental about the roof over my head, regardless of where it was.

the Westcotts purchased a set of plans and a mountainous stockpile of lumber. First, they constructed a small building, which they lived in before building the larger house in 1953. After moving into the main home, they converted the original building into a two-car garage.

That sentimentality has always included the community and people within it. Even after we were married, my wife and I remained within a few miles of where we grew up. Whether it was Saratoga Springs, Greenfield Center, or Wilton, we have always embraced that sense of 'place.' While others dream of moving south to avoid a thermometer drop and snow shovel, I relish in the feeling that I am right where I belong. That feeling leads me to the soul of this story.

A few years ago, the Westcotts’ daughter Laurie contacted me and shared some of her fondest memories of growing up here. When her mother passed in June 2019, Laurie and I had an opportunity to reminisce about her parents and the home they had built. We began to share stories and photographs of the property. I had recently retired and become more involved in local historical societies. Knowing Lorraine Westcott had served several years as Wilton Town Historian only increased my desire to learn more about the property. I discovered that the Wilton School #1 once stood just north of our home.

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A shared story emerged when I sent Laurie a photograph of her mother and father's initials, I had found carved in my basement's cement floor. The initials had white lines painted over them. I explained that when my sons were little, I painted imaginary roads all through the basement so they could ride their Western Auto pedal tractors on them. She was excited to tell me that she also spent many hours riding her older siblings’ 50’s era peddle cars down there. Last summer, I was replacing windows in my garage when I found some old wallpaper border that remained. I snapped a picture and sent it to Laurie. She remembered the design and was delighted to know those remnants of her family's past still existed in the recesses of my garage. I found additional wallpaper traces recently while renovating the room where I'm currently writing this piece.

"H&LW 9-3-53." Hubert and Lorraine Wescott. September 3, 1953

The spirit of sharing these photos and reflections is personal yet universal. History buffs embrace the past and savor the warmth it provides us. We create our home's history in our actions and our choices. Bringing others along for the ride is fun and rewarding.

Discovered wallpaper. Photos by John Greenwood.

One of Laurie Westcott's brothers playing in the basement. The cement floor had not yet been poured.

Home improvement is an infinite project. It took me twenty years to appreciate the DIY factor. In the early years, the primary reason for cringing at every turn was either time or money. Plumbing issues, electrical upgrades, and contractor-phobia all dictate that next chess-move when it comes to repairing or replacing something. It took forty years to get to a point where I had the resources to enjoy the homeowner experience in full. I never had everything worked out at once. Now that I have it all figured out, my coffee breaks exceed the allowable limits. The best lesson I've learned with forty-plus years of homeownership is how to handle surprises. Now that I know the complete background of our home, I have a deeper appreciation for the physical and mental fortitude it took to build it from the foundation up. Having that history makes finding a crooked wall or a foot-long wood screw more of an archaeological discovery rather than an inconvenience. I want to thank the Westcotts’ past and present for adding good karma and fond memories to our home's foundation. My family and I have done our best to ensure the historical and optimistic aura of our half-acre lives on.

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Simply Saratoga Home & Garden 2021

Articles inside

John Greenwood

Preserving Saratoga

Bill Orzell

Carol Godette

Charlie Kuenzel

Seven great options for your children (or grandchildren!) to do this summer

Star Farm Blueberries

Soroptimist’s 26th Annual… Secret Garden Tour is back

Gardening with Peter Bowden

Entertaining with Ralph Vincent

Meghan Lemery Fritz Kicks Off EIGHT PAGES of the Hottest Spring Looks! Caroline + Main Lifestyles of Saratoga Lucia • Pink Paddock Saratoga Trunk • Spoken Union Hall • Violet’s

Homesteading

Colleen's Picks

In the Kitchen with John Reardon

GOODWILL Makes the World Go ‘Round

Life On Kaydeross Creek

Saratoga Consignment Studio

Jordanna Turcotte

The Revived Home

Round Lake Forge

Instagram Worthy Houseplants

A Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen