Simply SARATOGA - Showcase of Homes Fall Edition 2020 by Saratoga TODAY

Simply... Simply

Fall 2020

SARATOGA Complimentary

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Don’t Miss Our Showcase of Homes TV Special! For more information see page 19 brought to you by

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Knowledge, experience, and a true commitment to the Saratoga Community.

Sharon’s Featured

New Construction Listings:

Whether you’re buying for the first time, upsizing, downsizing, or even investing,

Sharon can get you to the next place! REGATTA VIEW Lakeside Community, where Saratoga Lake and Fish Creek join. Carriage homes now available. Plans include 1st floor masters and ranches. Maintenance free, sidewalks, walking path along the water, beach, racks for kayaks/canoes, boat marina/docks only a few feet away. Price starting in the $400’s. Minutes to Downtown Saratoga.

Sharon Byrne

Licensed Associate R.E. Broker

cell.

518.527.4914

CITY SQUARE Brand New Luxurious townhomes, multiple level with private en suite. Single family home sites also available, only 1000’ from Downtown Saratoga. Maintenance free. Open Saturday & Sunday 12-4pm located at our furnished model home at 106A Division Street. Prices starting in the $900’s.

sharonbyrne@howardhanna.com web. www.sharonbyrne.com

Your Neighbor. Your Realtor.

MEADOWBROOK

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505 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

As Saratoga Springs most prestigious address, Meadowbrook has become a desirable location to many of the areas exclusive homes. Located off Meadowbrook Rd (from Union Ave). Heavily wooded and very private home sites, ranging from 1 3/4 to five acres. Design your dream home from our portfolio series or bring us your own unique plan. Prices beginning just under $1million.

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Fall2020

contents SHOWCASE OF HOMES Pages 2 – 58 Provide all the Inspiration and Direction You Need for Your Home! A GOOD READ 59 Saratoga’s Al Fresco Dining 64 Preserving Saratoga 68 Meet the Artist… Elana Mark 72 Upstate Coffee Collective 75 Respect 90 Honors Ira Thomas 76 Meghan Lemery Gives Good Advice 85 Memories of Pop FALL FASHION 77 Union Hall Supply Company, Violet’s, Lifestyles of Saratoga, Saratoga Trunk, Spoken Boutique, Lucia, Caroline & Main, Alpine Sport Shop OUT & ABOUT 88 Travel… It’s Good for the Economy 89 Colonial Little Theater 91 The Local Five & Dine 94 Antiques at Packer’s Pond 98 Head East… to Schuylerville! 100 Local Vineyards? …YES! HOME & GARDEN 107 Architecturally Speaking 132 Colleen’s Picks 136 Meet... Designer Brendan Flanigan 144 Repurposed... with Colleen Coleman! 152 Finishing Touches 154 In the Kitchen with John 156 Entertaining with Ralph Vincent 157 Jordana Turcotte Organizes Us 158 Planting Garlic 159 Gardening with Peter Bowden HISTORY 161 Charlie Kuenzel 166 More Dark Horses 169 John Greenwood 171 Carol Godette BEHIND THE SCENES 174 Come inside our cover shoot!

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pg. 72

From the Editor Chris Vallone Bushee • Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com • (518) 260-3325 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

As always, Saratoga TODAY is honored to be the “official guide” to the Saratoga Builders Association’s annual fundraiser, the Showcase of Homes! And, as we all know… Nothing has been the same this year, including the Showcase of Homes event, or even this issue, but we are trying our best to adapt to the “new normal” and we hope you are too. No, you will not be able to tour the homes, but you can DVR the Showcase of Homes TV Special (see page 18) and keep that inspiration around for quite a while – that’s a major plus if you ask me! And you can still donate to your favorite charities, just like every other year. So, yes, we can still enjoy the Showcase of Homes this year, we just don’t have to wear booties to do it! Knowing this is undoubtedly the source for renovating / building and home décor ideas in Saratoga County, we didn’t skimp on a thing… in addition to this print issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine, please join us online for additional home décor inspiration and all your favorite contributors! www.SaratogaTODAYnewspaper.com In our Out & About section we found some great activities for beautiful, crisp Fall days. It is truly our most beautiful season – please get out there and experience all that autumn in the Northeast offers! I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together and please keep those comments coming. If you know of people living interesting lives, living in amazing houses and doing awesome things, contact me cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com or (518) 260-3325 I must close with a big Thank You! to all our advertisers, without them, Saratoga TODAY could not continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge to the thousands that read them each issue – please mention us by name when visiting these businesses… Simply Saratoga, the Saratoga TODAY magazine! Enjoy the mag!

Love, Chris Colleen and I enjoying our time at Victory View Vineyard. See page 100!

In Print & Online. Sign up TODAY for FREE email delivery of our publications!

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Photo by Randall Perry Photography. Come behind the scenes... page 174. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

10 1

REASONS TO SELL YOUR HOME NOW SOLD

INVENTORY IS LOW

Number of homes for sale is at a “generational” low.

BUYERS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME

PRICES HAVE INCREASED

MORTGAGE RATES ARE EXTREMELY LOW

BUYERS’ NEEDS HAVE CHANGED

VIRTUAL TOURS MAKE IT EASY

Because showings and open houses were limited during quarantine, buyers are eager to finish what they started.

Demand is high and inventory is low, meaning sellers are able to get a higher price for their homes.

Freddie Mac’s most recent report on July 2, 2020 stated that interest rates reached a new record low for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

Many people have been working from home. They’re now seeking versatility, home office space and spacious backyards.

Homebuyers start their search online. People have even bought homes from looking online without ever seeing it in person.

OFFERS COMING IN FASTER THAN EVER

REDUCED COMPETITION

COURTESY MOVING VAN AND FREE BOXES

Homeowners are seeing offers come in on their homes faster than ever. The people who need to buy a home are moving quickly.

As a home seller you tend to hold more leverage in negotiations and have a better chance of raising your sell price.

Roohan Realty is the only Real Estate Company in the area that offers you a moving van and boxes free of charge.

STAR AGENTS WATCHING OUT FOR YOU Roohan Realty has been voted “The BEST Real Estate Company” for the past 18 years by readers of the Saratoga Today & the Saratogian.

519 Broadway | Saratoga Springs | 518.587.4500 | RoohanRealty.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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CONTRIBU TOR S W M E GH

E M JO

JORD A

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.

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.

H VI N CE N

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.

A T UR

TTE

T HE

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!”

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.

J OH

N P OTT

REARD

IE KUE N

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.

GREENW OO

LE MER

L G ODE

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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.

E GORD

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.

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

Anne Gordon is the owner of Live Life Travel, which is the only Virtuoso, Luxury Full Service Travel Planning Agency in Saratoga Springs, NY. They specialize in Honeymoons, Family Travel, Destination Weddings and Luxury Cruise. Anne is a devout travel enthusiast herself with a genuine passion for helping others make their travel dreams come true. To get more info on your next vacation, email Anne today: anne@ livelifetravel.world. To find out more about Live Life Travel: www.livelifetravel.world

A native of Burnt Hills, 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. Fourteen of her stories have appeared in 12 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit www.wendyhobdayhaugh.com.

FRIT

N C OL E

DY H AU

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.

B OW D

=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 A RT

SA MA

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

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Creative Director & Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee Magazine/ Advertising Designer Marisa Scirocco Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers Samantha Bosshart Deborah DePasquale Peter Bowden Colleen Coleman Barbara Garro Carol Godette Anne Gordon Barbara Garro Wendy Hobday Haugh Charlie Kuenzel Meghan Lemery Fritz Megin Potter Barry Potoker John Reardon Theresa St. John Jordana Turcotte Ralph Vincent

Photographers Susan Blackburn Photography Colleen Coleman Lindsay Fish Wendy Hobday Haugh Theresa St. John Keiran Mangels Randall Perry Photography Nick Rovozzini John Seymour Super Source Media

Published by

Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 | fax: (518) 581-2487

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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 © 2020, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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Complete Coverage!

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Beechwood homes Oak Ridge by Beechwood

An upscale single-family community designed to reflect the charm of old Saratoga

Single-family homes with old world charm and new world amenities

Steven Dubb and Michael Dubb saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Founder and CEO Michael Dubb, joined by son and principal Steven Dubb in 2008, is renowned for his innovative and forward thinking in “not just selling a home, but a lifestyle” with signature quality construction and design for the way sophisticated buyers want to live today. Beechwood holds dear its commitment to thoughtful land planning and design, repurposing underutilized land, building in harmony with nature and creating a benefit for all residents. FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 21

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BELLA HOME BUILDERS Park Grove: 7 Shaw Drive 3 BEDROOMS, 2.5 BATHS, 2600 SQ FT

elcome to 7 Shaw Drive located in Park Grove, just as you enter Saratoga Springs. As you walk up to this beautiful home you see the crisp white board and batten siding, matte black standing seam metal roof, beautiful stonework and custom timber frames. The inviting open concept first floor features a gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry and gorgeous quartz counter tops. The family room has cathedral ceilings, a custom fireplace with wide ship lap and decorative brass accents. The first floor master suite boasts a large spa-like tile shower, his and her vanities and a large walk- in closet. Two additional bedrooms and full bathroom round out the second floor.

Randall Perry Photography

For more than three decades, Bella Home Builders has been remodeling and constructing award-winning, quality homes in the Capital Region. Every house is constructed with Bella Homes impeccably high standards and unique, one of a kind designs, which are suited to each client's needs. “I pride myself on quality,” says Founder and President David DePaulo, a third-generation builder. “It's a real passion of mine to develop and design, and we never build the same house twice.” DePaulo believes in hard work and attention to detail, and with his incredible team of experts (with decades of combined experience), Bella Homes builds dream houses for families, couples, individuals and young professionals alike. bellahomebuildersinc.com 518.583.1833 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Randall Perry Photography

David DePaulo

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belmonte builders 106A Division Street, Saratoga Springs 3 BEDROOMS, 3 FULL-BATHS, 2 HALF-BATHS

his charming & spacious luxury townhome makes a great first impression from the moment you enter with 10 ft. ceilings and 6 ½” French oak hardwood floors extending throughout the main floor. The Entry Foyer opens to a handsome Formal Study featuring an eye-catching brick accent wall, bay window, and double glass pocket doors. The open floor plan seamlessly blends the kitchen, dining, and living areas together. The Great Room features large windows that provide an abundance of natural light to the shared living areas. The Gourmet Kitchen features a large working island painted black to match the range hood. Together they provide contrast to the white cabinets and white Quartz countertops with gray veining and the matching backsplash to create a clean, contemporary look. The cabinets extend to the ceiling and feature soft-close doors, undercabinet lighting & electric. A 2nd brick accent wall in the Dining Area adds even more style to the shared living areas.

Upstairs you’ll find the Master Suite along with a Guest Bedroom Suite and Laundry Room. The luxurious Master Bedroom enjoys lots of natural light and a cozy sitting area perfect for relaxing or reading. The Master Bath features a double bowl vanity paired with a black granite countertop and a tiled shower with a frameless glass door. The Guest Bedroom also boasts a private full bath with tub/shower and tiled walls. Large egress windows and 9’ ceilings provide light and height to the lookout basement. The open floor plan creates a fun and functional space complete with a game room, custom wine room, home theater, and half bath. A Guest Suite above the attached rear-entry 2-car Garage enjoys the privacy of a dedicated staircase off the Mudroom and could be easily converted into a home office. The spacious suite features a cathedral ceiling, charming eave closets as well as zoned thermostat control and a full bath. Home Features: • 10’ first floor ceilings; 9’ second floor and basement ceilings • Formal study with double glass pocket doors • Brick accent walls in the dining area, great room, and study • Spacious owner's suite with sitting area and large bonus space • Finished basement with game room, custom wine room and adjoining home theater • Separate bonus suite with full bath over the garage • Attached rear-entry, two-car garage • Unique, period-appropriate Victorian exterior

Since 1977, Belmonte Builders has been building high-quality homes in the Capital Region. A family-owned business, Belmonte takes pride in working closely with each customer to personalize their home to meet their unique needs. Visit any Belmonte model home to see the flow of the floor plan, the quality of the fixtures, the integrity of construction, and the loving attention to detail. These qualities are the building blocks that our success stands on today. Peter Belmonte belmontebuilders.com

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Energy Efficiencies • Energy Star Rated Home • Thermatru© Insulated Entry Doors with adjustable threshold. • Insulated Thermopane Low “E”, Argon gas-filled, grilles between the glass windows • Wireless Sonos speakers in the kitchen, great room and basement with Sonos mobile app control • Smart TVs with streaming capabilities in both the great room and home theater Landscaper: Peak Environmental Terry Hubbard, (518) 899-8011 Interior Design Firm: Liberty Design Group Chris Kwarta, (518) 260-1141 Kitchen Design Firm: Builder’s Kitchens Michelle Bucciero, (518) 438-0323

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Caruso Home Builders Oak Ridge Community, Saratoga Springs 23 Jenna Jo Avenue 4 BEDROOMS, 3.5 BATHS, 3,700 SQ. FT.

ur model home is located at 23 Jenna Jo Avenue in the Oak Ridge community of Saratoga Springs, NY. It is roughly 3,700 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bath, and 1st floor master suite, as well as an additional upstairs bonus space. You will find custom wood-work and trim details through out this home including an upstairs lounge space with a custom built-in wet bar. The gourmet kitchen, fitted with high-end finishes and energy efficient appliances, is opened to the 2-story great room that features a contemporary floor to ceiling fireplace. This home is equipped with ‘Control 4’ smart technology to make your home safer and customized to your daily lifestyle.

The Oak Ridge community is nestled within the City of Saratoga Springs. Each home is exclusively designed by our award-winning team. Bounded by natural beauty and walking trails, Oak Ridge is sure to impress. Only first class finishes to choose from. Quality, custom and hands-on building process. Multiple .5(+/-) acre lots to chose from. The Oak Ridge community is located approximately 3 miles from Downtown Saratoga, 2 miles from the Saratoga Race Course, and right around the corner from Saratoga Lake.

Caruso Home Builders has teamed up with Plan Architecture to create full custom designs unique to each one of our customers. Smart Home details: 'Control 4' is a standard in all our homes in the Oak Ridge community. Realtor Natalie Caruso 518.380.0442 nataliecaruso@kw.com

uilding and maintaining relationships has been at the heart of Caruso Home Builders, LLC since its founding in 2008. Providing high-quality, custom-built from blueprint to beyond completion Mr. Caruso brings vision and determination to every project whether it is a spot lot development, building on your own land or in a subdivision, Caruso Home Builders is dedicated to excellence, commitment, and service.

Anthony Caruso

CarusoHomeBuilders.com 518-478-8596

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degraff bloom CUSTOM BUILDERS Windsor Oaks of Colonie 44 Secluded Single Family Home Sites 2 STORY COLONIAL, 4 BEDROOMS, 2.5 BATHS, 2288 SQ. FT. Home Features: • Custom Kitchen • Custom Trim Work • Custom Master Shower

Landscaper Pro-Cut Landscaping Services Realtor Scott Finsrud c: 518.424.5465

or more than 30 years DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders has been building some of the finest homes in the Capital Region. Style and character are at the core of every DeGraff Bloom home. Each DeGraff Bloom home features energy efficiency, quality construction, attention to detail, with beautiful and unique finishing touches on each home. The collaboration of the two builders; Mark Johnson and Mark Bloom bring over sixty-five years of combined experience in new home construction. Our reputation for building the highest quality standard home is unmatched. Mark Johnson DeGraffBloom.com 518-289-5771

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the Earth source company 11 Richard Avenue, Saratoga Springs

5 BEDROOMS, 4.5 BATHROOMS, 3220 SQ. FT.

he most successful homes are a reflection of their owners, and this has truly been achieved at the ‘J House’ in Saratoga’s Southside neighborhood. Commissioned for a young family of four, the house needed to be robust but also accessible and playful. Assiduously designed with four bedroom suites, two living areas, recreation room, music room and office space - all nine feet tall - along with a rooftop deck and elevator shaft, it’s composed in a small but efficiently used lot. On the ground level, the cubic shapes of the kitchen, living and dining blend seamlessly to create the core of the home and are linked to the outdoors with oversized glazing oriented to maximize natural light.

Upstairs, the colors and textures reminisce of Cape Cod and New England landscapes, with custom artwork and finishings to tie it all together. An upper living area connects to a rooftop deck, creating a delightful space that’s all set for an informal gathering. Moving downstairs, a surprisingly bright and sunny finished basement space yields the fourth guest suite along with music room and recreation room. Small and tall, this house combines a lot of function with a sleek and efficient design.

Home Features • Sound proof music room • Four en-suite bedrooms • Elevator ready • Rooftop deck Energy Efficiencies • Low-waste building methods • Footprint-optimized design • Lean building schedule Architecture In house Interior Design In house / Karen Willmott Kitchen Design In house

hile one’s quality of life goes well beyond the quality of one’s home, an inspired dwelling serves as the foundation for a greater possibility. The Earth Source Company was founded with a motivation for providing ecologically responsible and sensible solutions to our modern lifestyle without compromising on the finer details. Residential design and build - one of the many facets of our budding venture - has long been a passion of this engineer/ architect, husband/wife duo. earthsourcecompany.com 203-794-2301

Anu and Ross Kenyon saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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A home that feels like a retreat, a space that welcomes light, that feels open, that allows you to breathe and rejuvenate has become all the more relevant …

…. to find the calm within the chaos.

Take a moment to embrace the different aspects of design – after all, it’s put together to be lived in, not looked at.

Randall Perry Photography

ESC was founded by an architect and engineer duo, with a motivation

For the very same reason, it is not just a conventional firm. It functions as a hybrid between a design build company and a workshop for meticulously curating the timeless finishes that give every home a unique personality.

sensible and conscious solutions to our modern lifestyle without compromising on the finer details.

ESC works globally with individuals, companies and designers to source materials and furnishings, and takes pride in serving the expectations of the clientele.

for providing ecologically responsible,

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earthsourcecompany.com

Randall Perry Photography Most of the time we walk in and out of spaces or rooms and they leave no lasting effect. We may notice a thing or two but the space is instantly forgotten. But then there are those that live on within us. These spaces have a way of positively influencing our lives. That is the hallmark of a successful design. Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

The vision is to create inspired homes that have the capacity to transform. Spaces that create a profound impact on many levels infused with the sensuality of natural woods, stone textures, beautiful artifacts and artisanware from all over the world that tell the rich story of diverse cultures and people. This is achieved by connecting the dots - integration – in contrast to the traditional siloed approach, where one aspect is compromised for another. A holistic design methodology is utilized that combines the architecture, engineering and interior design into one process. Elegance and authenticity need not be mutually exclusive. You do not have to sacrifice a soulful design to enjoy modern luxury. Creating a home is a process of discovering who we are – and perhaps more importantly, who we are becoming. It is a journey filled with pleasure.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Randall Perry Photography

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earthsourcecompany.com Anu Krishnan-Kenyon - an architect and a management professional by training - is the creative force at ESC, infusing each project with her deep passion for design. Ross Kenyon, a multidisciplinary engineer, brings a practical balance to turn the abstract into reality. Please contact ESC for a variety of home sites available in the Saratoga Springs region. We can guide you through whatever questions or concerns you may have.

Randall Perry Photography

Anu Krishnan-Kenyon | 203 794 2301 | anu.kenyon@gmail.com 38â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020 Ross Kenyon

| 203 770 3674 | ross.kenyon@gmail.com

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Artist Rendering

Saratoga - Home of Legends. Beechwood - Legendary Homes. Sitting in the middle of 135 acres of pristine land, Oak Ridge is ideally situated 2 1/2 hrs from New York City & less than 10 minutes from downtown Saratoga, the race course & Saratoga National Golf Club. Opportunities to own in this desirable location are now being offered. Thoughtful design, luxury finishes and comfortable layouts are the foundation of every Beechwood home. You’ll get all the benefits of new home ownership & award-winning craftsmanship, against the backdrop of a historical & established landscape. Year-round or seasonal, welcome to uncommon homes by Beechwood. Pre-construction pricing starting from $875,000 - $2,000,000+* Visit us now for this limited opportunity.

BEECHWOODHOMES.COM

OakRidgeBeechwood.com

518.306.1399

27 Oak Ridge Blvd, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

*Estimated pricing, renderings, and availability subject to change without notice. The complete terms are in an Offering Plan available from Sponsor. File No. CD19-0284. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Heritage Custom Builders LLC Palmetto Model: Timber Creek Phase 4 6 Tamarack Street, Ballston Lake

2 STORY HOME, 4 BEDROOMS, 3 FULL BATH, , 2714 SQ FT Home Features: • Surrounded by forever wild areas • Decorative ceiling in dining room crown molding

• 9' basement walls • 14x14 3 Season room • Tray ceiling in master suite • All custom drapery & blinds

Energy Efficiencies • Energy efficient windows, appliances & furnace • Security System

Realtor: Howard HannaJaylene Leonbruno - Licensed Associate RE Broker CSP, RENE, e-Pro, 518-744-0654 Denise DeSalvatore - Licensed Associate RE Broker CBR, 518-469-0757 Kitchen Provided and Designed by: Bellevue Builders, 518-355-7190 Interior Design Firm: Classic Interiors, Lynn Ricci, Lynn@classicinteriors.cc Landscape: Craigs Landscape, Craig Monroe, Cementerprise1@gmail.com

n the early 1950s, Arthur J. Brooks began a business relationship by remodeling and restoring homes. Along with his wife Laurie and daughter Deborah; a truly family-based, quality-oriented building company was started. Geoffrey C. Brooks continues his family’s tradition of building custom homes in the Capital District. Heritage Custom Builders, LLC has been built upon a tradition of quality, a dedication to excellence and commitment to fine detail. Heritagecb.com 518.348.0931

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Dining room with beautiful decorative ceiling.

Bright kitchen with 2 toned cabinets for a dramatic effect, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

Open flow layout perfect for entertaining.

Family Room with tile fireplace. Custom window treatments throughout the home.

Large Master Suite with Coretec hardwood style flooring & custom remote-controlled blinds.

Enjoy peaceful nights on a large, screened in porch.

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KODIAK CONSTRUCTION Greenfield Center

Goose Hollow Ridge

ocated in Greenfield Center, Goose Hollow Ridge offers 21 beautiful homesites with 1-8 acres, wooded with northwest view lots in the Saratoga Springs School District. Offering 2,200 minimum square feet designs customized for each client. First and second floor master suites and open concept living. Less than 6 miles to downtown Saratoga Springs.

Energy Efficiencies • 95% efficient forced air heating & cooling systems • High efficiency windows • Blower door tested to confirm minimized air leaks • LED lighting throughout Realtor Roohan Realty Darlene Chorman (518) 496-6564 darlenechorman@gmail.com

Founded locally by Saratoga Springs natives Jesse Boucher and Justin Sitler, Kodiak Construction is celebrating 16 years as a new home builder in 2020. We are a full-service residential custom builder, serving clients throughout the Northern Capital District, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Lake George, providing new construction services that reflect our passion for detail. At Kodiak, we partner with you every step of the way to create your perfect home. Jesse Boucher & Justin Sitler saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

KodiakOfSaratoga.com 518.587.4847 FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 47 FALL 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 47

ANTHONY M. GUCCIARDO UPSTATE NYʼS #1 RESALE AND HIGH END AGENT FOR 15 YEARS 162 HIGH ROCK AVENUE SARATOGA SPRINGS • $819,800 4 BDRM • 4 BATH • 3,181 SQ. FT. 3 STORY BRICK TOWN HOME Stroll to Downtown Saratoga. Enjoy local shopping & award-winning restaurants Open ﬂoor plan, 10ʼ ceilings, custom moldings, HW ﬂrs, 2 car garage and much more!

Bright & Open, Upgrades Galore, Custom Built Ins. Amazing walkout basement with a full in-law suite, 5 car garage. 800ʼ private road. Stocked trout pond. 48 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

! Vote ion d eg

e Capital R th

4 BDRM • 5 BATH • 4,032 SQ. FT. CUSTOM HOME ON 8.49 ACRES

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425 WILTON ROAD GREENFIELD CENTER • $999,800

Anthony M. Gucciardo has garnered an excellent reputation and counts some of the Capital Region's most inﬂuential people as clients. Building that reputation through hard work, client advocacy, and innovative thinking, Anthony sets his expectations high. His friendly demeanor est Rea lE eB and unwavering dedication to clients is one of the keys th to his success. Gucciardoʼs real estate business has grown to include twelve seasoned agents, allowing him to service clients all over the Capital Region 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Handling sales and leasing for individuals and developers, Anthony Gucciardo and his agents are a dynamic group of only the most competent and qualiﬁed brokers.

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McPadden Builders Olson Farm: 2 Easton Court 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHROOMS, 2128 SQ. FT.

aston Court is the epitome of a modern farmhouse. All the characteristics from an old farmhouse outside with all the amenities for today's living inside. A large front porch defines the home clearly while providing ample space for sitting and a porch swing. The white board and batten siding works as a perfect backdrop for the black windows and doors throughout. Once inside, the vaulted ceilings, chef's kitchen with an enormous island, walk in pantry with extra cabinets/counter space and the open floor plan make for the ideal home to entertain in. The rear

porch is large enough to host two separate sitting areas and looks into a private rear yard. The large owner's suite is nestled behind the garage and consists of a stunning free-standing tub and private shower along with a walk in closet the size of a bedroom. Both guest bedrooms work for that function or a home office space if needed and are split by a Jack and Jill bathroom.

Home Features: •Bonus room in second floor for future finishing. Energy Efficiencies • Cellulose insulation and Nest Thermostat Realtor: Rick Gargiulo 518-369-7804 rickgargiulo@howardhanna.com

McPadden Builders, LLC is a residential builder focused on delivering homes with exceptional quality, as promised, on time. We are currently building in Craw Farm and Olson Farm in Saratoga County as well as undertaking custom off site builds as well as full house renovations. mcpaddenbuilders.com 518.583.6097 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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west saratoga West Ave Development 34 luxurious, high-rise condos designed by award-winning architects with state-of-the-art features and one of the only roof-top pools between NYC & Montreal! Brand new condos, all 2 bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms with covered parking, fitness center and elevator. Perfect as summer residence, year-round or an investment!

Features: • Roof-top pool, • Abundant parking • Fitness center, • Butler's pantry, • Over-sized balconies • Walking distance to Broadway & train station. Realtor: Scott Varley, Keller WIlliams Capital District, 518-281-6808, svarley13@gmail.com

West Saratoga's Mission is to build high-end, moderately priced condominiums in Saratoga, walking distance to downtown. Scott Varley, 518-281-6808 Zack McCamy, 518-229-2754 TheWestSaratoga.com

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Home + Comfort WRITTEN BY DEBORAH DEPASQUALE, PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

o matter where life has taken me, the draw of Saratoga Springs has always led me home. I grew up in the region and my personal history is speckled with remembrances of Saratoga. While I may have grown up as a local, I moved away for college and my early career and I know what it feels like to be a local at heart, too. When I set out to build TOGA Heritage, I knew the sentiment of Saratoga had to translate for both people familiar with the many attributes our city offers and those who are setting foot here for the first time. Our products are designed to elicit a feeling of home and comfort that a special destination can bring. We call it, “love where you live,” and it is how we communicate faith, family, and home as the core beliefs of the business. Health, History, and Horses are the creative avenues for sharing those beliefs and dictate our design principles. Our new flagship store at 322 Broadway, which dates back to 1884, is a physical embodiment of those ideals and elements. The address is the storied former Congress Theatre and Congress Hall building, at the corner of Broadway and Spring Street, and has its own history as home to several purveyors of fine goods, a grocery store and a pharmacy. TOGA Heritage’s goal to be a good steward of the space is reflected in images that hang in the large windows that line our shop. I chose each image to capture our building’s history and highlight Natural spring water bubbling throughout the city felt symbolic to how our community pushed forward during the pandemic. The spirit of Saratoga flows from deep within our core. These photos were intentionally chosen as a reminder of how strong we all are in Saratoga Springs.

Where we’ve been and where we are going is a theme that resonates at TOGA Heritage. The photos chosen for this window are a visual representation of this idea. Historic details and photos for the space at 322 Broadway were gleaned with the help of the History Museum and Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.”

the touchstones of Saratoga’s legacy. These images continue within our store, as the story of Saratoga greets you as you walk through our doors.

I spent several weeks redesigning the interior to feel like an extension of home. The antique brick walls, patinated doors and exquisite architectural details evoke a feeling of nostalgia and coziness. While I’ve added TOGA Heritage touches to the space, I feel a sense of history still resonates throughout the building. The pandemic shifted for each of us what a sense of home and history mean. Time stopped, suddenly, and we were unable to engage with our world as usual. Keeping traditions alive (and forming new traditions) was top of mind when I opened this new space and it became more important than ever to weave the threads of culture, customs, pride and history of Saratoga together in each product I design and curate for TOGA Heritage. Those are the elements that brought me back to my Spa City roots and what keeps others coming back to our city, for just a visit or for a lifetime. It is best experienced with our bespoke TOGA Heritage Tartan collection, which we craft with local artisans, and allows our customers to keep a piece of Saratoga close wherever they find themselves stationed during these times. As we transition into the slower days of fall, we hope you will stop in to visit us and share your memories and visions of Saratoga. We keep the traditions alive by sharing our Saratoga stories with each other. SS

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whitebeck construction LLC Building Science Education Center 4728 Route 50, Gansevoort

Home Features: •Our intention is to build a long lasting, net zero, low carbon print education center. This build will be able to show clients, students, manufacturers, and designers how to detail a practical and classically designed home with little interruption to create comfort, while operating at a net zero or net positive standard.

Energy Efficiencies • This is a sustainable design that is both net zero, as well as off-grid capable. Between partnership and development with several manufacturers, it will be outfitted with the most advanced technologies available in today's market. We are proud to know that this building's embodied energy usage will be 30-80% less than a comparable build of its class. The key to our green selections lie in the understanding of embodied energy, thermal dynamics, and sustainable assembly practices. These three things, combined with good material selection, make all our products as green as they can be.

Whitbeck Construction, LLC is a custom builder in upstate New York's, Saratoga Springs. We have a passion to serve our clients with our experience, professionalism and integrity. Our custom homes are built and remodeled with attention to detail, energy efficiency, sustainability and quality craftsmanship. Whitbeck Construction is also dedicated to educating our community of tradesmen in building science through lectures, workshops and thorough training. Thank you to all our staff, clients, and family members that participate in making Whitbeck Construction more than just a dream. Matt and Jason Whitbeck saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Witt Construction Downton Walk

27 Jumel Place, Saratoga Springs

his unique neighborhood consists of 7 upscale English-style single family homes which will be sold as condominiums.

Owners here will own and maintain their individual homes and have an exclusive right to their designated yards. The front yard is designed with beautiful English gardens, paver walks and driveways. The brick lane, driveways, and walks are heated with snow melt radiant system. This striking group of homes features both privacy and community, within a neighborhood setting. Each spacious, elegant home offers unique Witt signature details and

features, both inside and out, as well as private back yard. These freestanding, detached homes range from 2500+ square feet – 4000+ square feet and pricing starts in the $900,000’s and ranges up to $2,000,000+-. There is a Homeowners Association which will maintain the private road as well landscaping in front of the homes. Each owner will have the option to design their rear yards and each year have the option of having the neighborhood landscaper bid to maintain the rear yards. Home Features: • Witt custom kitchens • Reclaimed beams • Limestone hearth • Private fenced backyards • Radiant heated paver driveways & walkways, radiant heated brick road • Exteriors are mixed materials; stucco, local natural organic copper and knotty cypress. Energy Efficiencies • Smart lighting throughout the neighborhood that comes on at dusk and turns off at each homeowners designated time • Blown in foam insulation Energy efficient heating systems Interior Design Firms: 23rd & Fourth Elizabeth Tanny

We would like to thank all the homeowners at Downton Walk as well as the surrounding neighbors for their support and patience throughout this project.

Landscape: Sunny Hill Landscaping C&C Gutters Billy Morris Excavating

Witt Construction, Inc., builds award-winning, custom-designed homes that are striking in appearance, energy-efficient, and enduring in their value. Witt Construction, founded in 1987, builds custom and semi-custom homes in the historic city of Saratoga Springs, NY and the surrounding Capital Region. The company is recognized in the industry and by clients alike as the prominent custom-home builder in Saratoga and is noted for constructing homes that are rich in spirit of space and designed to enhance the unique character of each home Equally notable is John Witt’s passion and gusto for crafting homes solid of structure, stunning in design, and inspired by an elegant sense of style. WittConstruction.com 518.587.4113 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Saratoga's loving al fresco dining PHOTO ESSAY BY THERESA ST. JOHN

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preserving

Attention to Detail:

302 Nelson Avenue WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION PHOTOS PROVIDED

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302 Nelson Avenue as it appeared in 2017 prior to when Susan and Mitch Cohen purchased the house.

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SARATOGA “

I always wanted to live in an old house in the Northeast,” said Susan Cohen, a former IT project manager for the Federal Aviation Administration. “Where we chose to retire had to be located in a historic neighborhood within walking distance of a viable downtown with restaurants, live music, access to theater, and outdoor activities nearby” continued her husband, Mitch Cohen. In 2018, after visiting Middlebury, Vermont; Northampton, Massachusetts; and Hanover, New Hampshire, they planned a visit Saratoga Springs, where Mitch attended a wedding in 1991 and recalled it being a “cool” place. His memory was correct, and they decided to retire in Saratoga Springs.

Mitch, a software architect, is a self-proclaimed “data geek” so when looking for the perfect home, it was only natural for him to do a deep dive into the tax assessment and deed information to find it. His search parameters were that it be a two-story house with at least three bedrooms, two baths, and a garage within one mile of downtown. The challenge was that none of the houses that met all those criteria were on the market. The couple was about to undertake writing owners of homes that met their criteria to see if they would be willing to sell.

Description To learn more about the House History & Plaque Program visit SaratogaPreservation.org.

However, it was through a bit of luck that their realtor had friends who were planning to move after retiring. While 302 Nelson Avenue was not on the market, they were able to convince the realtor to ask the owners to show them the house. “Upon seeing the stained-glass Queen Anne kitchen window, I immediately fell in love with the house,” smiled Susan. “And, so to speak, the rest is history. We made arrangements to purchase the house,” continued Mitch. It was with that same attention to detail that once Susan and Mitch found the perfect house, they meticulously undertook a rehabilitation of the two-story Italianate townhouse. Working with Robert West of Old Saratoga Restorations, they planned the rehabilitation, which included new wiring and plumbing, as well as installing a new roof, rebuilding two chimneys, and restoring exterior trim details of the cornice and the four porches. When asked what made them most proud of their rehabilitation, it was a unanimous response – “the windows!” both exclaimed. Mitch and Susan, with the assistance of Old Saratoga Restorations, painstakingly scraped, re-glazed, painted, and removed paint from the hardware to restore the original finishes. Again, Mitch’s research skills proved useful. He learned that there were four different types of sash balances and found L&L Concepts in Maryland, a company specializing in restoring hardware. “Opening the windows for fresh air is such a joy!” said Susan with a big smile.

The arched stained glass window that caused Susan to fall in love with the house.

With the same fastidiousness as the search and the rehabilitation, Mitch also undertook researching the history of their home. Mitch has done extensive research on his ancestry, much of it through Ancestry.com, so it was instinctive for him to start there. Mitch Cohen restoring the stained glass bedroom window. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Before and after photos of the window sash pulley and detail photo showing the patent date February 10, 1874.

1876 window sash lock.

Before and after photos of the window sash locks.

Mitch determined that the house was constructed in 1861 by Michael and Mary Ann Cogan. Michael was an Irish immigrant and merchant. They had one daughter, Sarah. Mary Ann passed away a year after the house was constructed and is buried at Greenridge Cemetery. Michael had a daughter, Mary, with his second wife, Ann, also an Irish immigrant. In 1868, Michael and Ann conveyed the house to prominent attorney, Cornelius A. Russell, who one year later conveyed the property to Louisa M. Fay. It is the Fay family that Mitch was able to uncover a wealth of information. Louisa was married to Barnabas Maynard Fay, a graduate of Yale College who while studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York City taught at the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. “It seemed that he had not the preacher’s 66 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

gift, for after a fair trial of his powers he gave up the work of a pastor for that of a teacher,” according to the History of the Fay Family. In 1850, the Fay family moved to Indianapolis to teach at the Institution for the Blind. Following that success, he was asked to establish an institution for the deaf and blind in Flint, Michigan. In 1863, Barnabas was called to serve as Chaplain for the 23rd Michigan Infantry. While traveling to Tennessee to join his regiment he suffered from rheumatism and dysentery and had to resign his commission. Following his return, he moved to Saginaw City, Michigan where he started the Saginaw Valley Bank. Unfortunately, that business failed, and he lost all of his savings. His only consolation was that “no one lost a penny.”

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In 1869, the Fay family moved to 302 Nelson Avenue. Barnabas and Louisa had three children – Edward Allen, George Mills, and William Wolcott. Edward followed in his father’s footsteps, teaching the deaf. He taught the deaf at The National Deaf-Mute College, today known as Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. He is memorialized at the Hall of Fame at Gallaudet University – “No history of this college can be complete without an account of Edward Allen Fay... He was considered, at the time of his death, the foremost authority in the world on the education of the deaf.” Furthering the Fay family legacy of teaching the deaf, Edward’s son, Allen, is also memorialized in the Gallaudet University Hall of Fame. Following the death of Louisa in 1880, Barnabas resided at Kendall Green, where Gallaudet University is located, and spent his summers in Saratoga Springs until his death in 1885. Two years later, his two surviving sons, Edward and William, and their wives, Mary and Sallie, respectively, sold 302 Nelson Avenue. The property then had a series of owners including Sarah Maher and her son from 1910 – 1929 and Rose Vogel and her mother Rachel Peskovsky, who resided in the home with their husbands from 1933 – 1940. In 1940, David Serotta, a Russian immigrant and the proprietor of Serotta Furniture, and his wife Charlotte, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, purchased it. David and Charlotte married in 1933 after the deaths of their first spouses. David had six sons with his previous wife, Sadie, and Charlotte had three boys with her previous husband, Zelig Schonberger. Together they had one daughter, Iris. During their ownership, rooms were offered for rent. In 1956, the Serottas sold the house to Charlotte Brookes, an assistant pastor at Dyer Phelp AME Zion Church. Not long after acquiring the house, she and her husband passed away. In 1962, David Goodman purchased the property. It was an income-producing property as evidenced by the list of residents found in the city directories. “This house was home to many Skidmore College students over the years. I have been told that there were many parties held here,” shared Mitch. In 1998, William Finlay and Patricia Culbert acquired the house. He was the Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at Union College and she was a Senior Artist in Residence in the same department. William and Patricia agreed to sell the house to Mitch and Susan in 2018, contingent that they could stay in the house until they retired in June of 2019.

On August 3rd, Susan and Mitch were recognized with a Preservation Recognition Award by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation for their rehabilitation efforts. To see them receive their award and thank those involved, please visit SaratogaPreservation.org.

After attending a tour of the Saratoga Race Course, hosted by the Foundation, they invited me as Executive Director to visit their home while work was in progress. “We appreciated the input and insight that Samantha Bosshart provided us – we learned new things about the house.” It was during that visit that I learned how much Mitch enjoyed researching his home. I then described the House History & Plaque Program and shared that the Foundation was in need of volunteers to do research. Since that time, Mitch has helped research eight properties. “It is fun. I really enjoy learning about the people who live in these homes – they are interesting and it keeps me busy!” Mitch cheerfully answered when asked why he volunteers. The Foundation not only thanks Susan and Mitch for their thoughtful rehabilitation, but also thanks Mitch for the meticulous research he does that helps us to learn about the histories of the historic houses of Saratoga Springs. SS

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Elana Mark

Meet the Artist

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

Elana Mark began her artistic career when she was in second grade by announcing to everyone that she was going to be an artist.

After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the College of New Rochelle, she worked as a teacher, and her son, Jeffrey was born. Jeffery, who was later diagnosed with a developmental disability called Fragile X Syndrome, would come to teach Mark an amazing skill - to let go of her expectations and to appreciate the small miracles in life.

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The first time Mark visited Israel; she immediately fell in love with the place. She never imagined moving there, but when Jeffery was 12 years old, he was aging out of his special school. A new program was opening in Jerusalem that sounded perfect for him. He was accepted and they made the move to a new life. “He blossomed there,” she said. She did, too. Awarded a prestigious teaching position as a junior high and high school art instructor, Mark created her own curriculum and took her students to paint the historic stone buildings filling the ancient city of Jerusalem. She also exhibited her work in the many art galleries there. “The light in Jerusalem is incredible. It is so beautiful. Jerusalem is called the “City of Gold” because when the sun hits Jerusalem stone at a certain time of day, it turns the city to gold,” said Mark. Spending 21 years in that inspiring landscape, she perfected her own watercolor painting techniques, while also encouraging her many students (including adults working in a range of different styles) to explore and expand their artistic horizons. HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL After 21 years of living in Jerusalem, family matters forced a move back to the United States. Jeffrey was accepted into a Camphill Village in Pennsylvania, a progressive farming community following Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy. Mark set up a studio and gallery space in her Cambridge home and began teaching and exhibiting locally. For five years, she has been photographing the region’s barns and using oil paints to capture their unique beauty. “Many of the barns I’ve painted have since fallen, so I’m hurrying along trying to paint them before they’re gone. Barns have stories – you can see it in the boards with all colors of knotted, weathered wood, nail holes, and shreds of what remains after years of use. They are an ever-changing fleeting witness to the area’s vanishing history,” she said. Mark’s work has previously been included in the Agricultural Stewardship Association’s Landscapes for Landsake show and virtually at this year’s Cambridge Valley Fine Art Tour. To schedule a private gallery viewing of available pieces, or to get a copy of her memoir, Mark on Paper, go to ElanaMarkPaintings.com SS

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Riding Coffee’s Third Wave WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

In recent years, educated consumers have been creating artisanal coffees right under our noses. Coffee’s popularity surged, in what has become known as the “first wave,” when pre-roasting and freeze-drying techniques transformed coffee into a convenience beverage. Then, the “second wave” emerged when the café culture sprung up, inspired by industry giants like Starbucks. Now, coffee consumers are moving forward into the “third wave” and are elevating coffee into a new world.

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Photo by Keiran Mangels

CRAFT COFFEE: FROM SUBCULTURE TO CELEBRATED The Upstate Coffee Collective is at the forefront of this movement locally. Officially formed in March 2019, they had been mining the Capital Region’s underground specialty coffee culture for its tasty nuggets since long before then. “I drank coffee all through my childhood. It started with my parents giving me decaf, so I could have something like what they were having. It was my bridge to the adult world,” said Upstate Coffee Collective’s co-founder Kevin Miner. Photo by Nick Rovozzini

For him, pouring a cup of coffee has become an honored ritual – and a profession. Working at Saratoga’s Kru Coffee, he’s developed a deeper feeling of gratitude for the drink and the community behind it. “When I like something, I ask everyone about it, and that’s just expanded,” he said. THE PERFECT BLEND Miner introduced his longtime friend, Matt Pfeifer, to all the things that make coffee special.

Photo by Keiran Mangels

Traveling around on weekends, they sampled everything from the $10/bag brews to the exclusive varieties costing $100 or more. They also met a range of enthusiasts; from the people who were brewing beans in their popcorn poppers, to those who had invested thousands of dollars into specialty brewers and education from the finest minds in the market. Realizing that the availability of, and appreciation for, specialty coffees was steadily growing in the area, but that the information about it had never been consolidated into one place, the two teamed up to form the Upstate Coffee Collective.

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Photo by Nick Rovozzini

COFFEE WITH A TWIST Originally focused on organizing meet-ups for their group of 50 to 100 members, once the pandemic hit, the collective made a successful switch. They put their $530 of event funds into the virtual tip jars that popped up online to help support unemployed baristas, upped their social media presence, packaged specialty roasts for mail delivery, and started a podcast. “The podcast is arguably my favorite part of what we do. We have people on who are being creative, who are inspired, and who are talking about the role of coffee in their lives. We’ve done about 15 episodes so far. It’s been a really incredible journey,” said Pfeifer. Recently, they have also been seen at the Washington Park Farmer’s Market in Albany where they handed out five gallons of coffee in three hours, including to people who don’t normally consider themselves coffee drinkers.

Photo by Keiran Mangels

“We were able to meet so many wonderful people who were so excited to try what we had and said, ‘Wow! I didn’t know coffee could taste this good!’,” said Nick Zigich, Upstate Coffee Collective’s Director of Business Operations. “Since joining with them, it’s been an amazing ride,” he said. Find the Upstate Coffee Collective on Facebook, Instagram, where ever you get your podcasts, and online at www.UpstateCoffeeCollective. com. Subscribers get exclusive information and a discount code for the fast-selling packages of limited-availability monthly specialty coffee. SS

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RESPECT 90 HONORS BALLSTON SPA’S IRA THOMAS WITH DONATION TO SARATOGA BRIDGES Ira Thomas is best known as being the only

Ballston Spa native to play in the major leagues. Thomas spent parts of ten seasons as a catcher with the Yankees (then known as the Highlanders), Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics from 1906 to 1915. He won World Series rings in 1910 and 1911 with the A’s and became the first player to get a pinch hit in a World Series game. But it was something else about Thomas that caught the eye of the Respect 90 Foundation, the charitable foundation of Los Angeles Angels Manager Joe Maddon and his wife, Jaye. After his playing career ended, Ira was living in Philadelphia and working as a scout for the A’s under legendary Connie Mack. The year was 1918 and it wasn’t just World War I that brought fear. There was also the horrific influenza pandemic that infected 500 million people–about a third of the world's population at the time– and killed somewhere between 20 and 40 million. Philadelphia alone would lose 20,000 to the virus. The city was reeling following its’ ill-advised decision to host a downtown parade that spread the infection to thousands. Bodies piled up in homes, on porches and in the streets. Funeral homes could not keep up. With many Philadelphians unable or afraid to help, Ira, by all accounts, a man with a big heart, did not stand idly by. Neither did his wife, Katherine. While Katherine made masks at the Philadelphia Hospital, Ira selflessly saw to it that seriously ill, highly contagious patients got to local hospitals. “He would drive to people's

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houses and pick them up without regard for his own health and safety,” said Catherine King Eddy, a relative and family historian. That, got Respect 90 Foundation Director Rick Vaughn’s attention as he read of the Jacobs’ volunteer heroics in John Barry’s The Great Influenza. For each of the previous 32 months, Respect 90 had honored an active volunteer through their Volunteer Spotlight feature, posted on the foundation’s website. “Joe Maddon is a big believer in volunteerism, we try and shine a light on an inspirational figure each month,” said Vaughn. “Ira’s story was something we couldn’t pass up. We decided on going retro to honor a volunteer who happened to be a ballplayer who happened to serve during a pandemic…just over 100 years ago.” Along with the volunteer spotlight distinction, the foundation awards a $1,000 donation to that volunteer’s non-profit. In Ira’s case, Respect 90 made a donation in his name to Ballston Spa’s Saratoga Bridges which has provided the highest level of quality of care to people with developmental disabilities and their families for more than 60 years. Their innovative and effective programs foster independence by promoting their residents’ abilities and achievements. “Saratoga Bridges is grateful to Respect 90 for their generosity,” said Kelly Armer, Saratoga Bridge’s Development & Foundation Director. “It was a wonderful surprise to obtain this donation as we have incurred unanticipated, ongoing expenses due to the COVID-19 crisis. We truly appreciate their willingness to support our individuals, dedicated team and organization as a whole.” To find out more about Respect 90 and Saratoga Springs SS go to respect90.org and saratogabridges.org.

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Dating MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ LCSW-R Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. for more information: email meghanlemery@yahoo.com

DURING A PANDEMIC

ating during a pandemic can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking. Instead of stressing about the process use this as a time to reset! If you have never taken a pause to examine any negative patterns or trends in your dating history, now is the time to stop and reflect.

1) Be aware of bad dating habits. As a former crash-and-burn dating junkie I can relate to this. When you first meet someone, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and newness of a new relationship. The beginning is a time where people are usually on their best behavior so any red flags or character flaws can be masked with charm and chemistry. By the time these red flags do reveal themselves it can be harder to exit the relationship. Social distancing and safe practice behavior for Covid automatically slows down the dating process. Before you make time to meet in person you may spend a month talking over text messages or meeting on video chat. This gives you more time to pause and observe instead of jumping in fast and furiously. Not meeting up physically and being forced to date through face time and video chat helps you to make the dating process a marathon not a sprint. As a former sprinter myself, I had many experiences where I minimized red flags because I was too busy letting myself be bamboozled by the excitement of a new beginning. Resist the urge to speed through the getting to know you process and embrace the slow and steady route. Now is the time to identify any bad dating habits and take some time to practice healthier strategies that will set you up for success, empower you to trust your intuition and boost your confidence in every area!

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2). Date/Talk to People You are Not Attracted to I know this seems counterintuitive, but it helps you practice being your true authentic self in a relaxed way. Often times when you immediately feel attracted to someone physically you may alter your personality to impress the other person. You may find yourself trying hard to impress them or feel that you have to prove your worth immediately which alters how you come across. When you practice talking to people you don’t necessarily feel attracted to, you are not preoccupied trying to impress them. You may feel more relaxed and comfortable. This helps you practice resisting the urge to showboat and impress, helping you be your true authentic self. This is always the best version of you! When you eventually do feel a spark with someone you have some practice under your belt and will feel more comfortable being yourself!

3). Have Fun! If the thought of dating during a pandemic is too overwhelming, don't do it! Commit to only doing things that bring you a sense of joy. If it makes you feel anxious and stressed out, wait until you are in a better head space and get back in the game. Do not force yourself to participate in something that makes you feel anxious or fearful. Don’t put pressure on yourself, do what works for you and revisit the possibility when you are more open to it.

YOU ARE WOR TH I T !

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Local legend Stewart White dons dapper duds! Tyler Boe Mineral Wash quarter zip pullover layered over a playful pug print 100% poplin shirt. Denim by 34 Heritage offers all day comfort and a modern fit. Bed Stu ethically hand-crafted boots in rustic suede. Feather Capped Fedora tops off the look.

437 Broadway, Saratoga Springs UnionHallSupplyCo.com • 518.581.9955 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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on Mackenzie: Free People Sweetheart Sweater, Hudson Nico Midrise Skinny Jean, Gola Coaster Sneaker on Rena: Free People Ottoman Slouch Tunic, Hudson Holly High Rise Cropped Bootcut Jean, Gola Super Court Sneaker

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

Announcing LIV by Habitat. We are excited to partner with designer Suzanne of Habitat clothes as she launches her new line LIV featuring exciting contemporary pieces with interesting textures and silhouettes.

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

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" Make your essential style statement with original art" - Joni Sarah

One of a kind denim jackets along with dresses and artwork by artist Joni Sarah White. Now available at Galleria Joniah, exclusively at Saratoga Trunk, "Where Your Style is Our Pleasure"

photo by SuperSourceMedia.com 80â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

493 Broadway Saratoga Springs SaratogaTrunk.com (518) 584-3543 Please follow Saratoga Trunk on Facebook saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

27 Church Street Saratoga Springs SpokenSaratoga.com 518.587.2772 Cozy weather is on it's way and this is one way to look not only warm but super chic!! Pullover by Joseph Ribkoff

Alex is wearing our best selling Eva Varro tank paired with a classic accordion skirt by 525 America in dove gray. Transition from summer to fall in these staple pieces with a basic cardigan and booties in the cooler weather.

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27 Church Street, Saratoga Springs SpokenSaratoga.com • 518.587.2772 FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 81

454 Broadway, Suite #8 Saratoga Springs LuciaBoutique.com 518.587.7890 Complete your Fall wardrobe with cozy sweaters, jackets, denim and Fall accessories at Lucia. Lucy is wearing the plaid Rain Check Blazer from Blank NYC, black top by Gentle Fawn, black denim by Daze Denim and the Astoria Boots by Matisse.

Sweaters and winter accessories at Lucia this season. Tucker Sweater by Gentle Fawn

All accessories available at Lucia. photo by SuperSourceMedia.com

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454 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 18.587.7890 • luciaboutique.comsaratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • @luciaboutique

Sisters Madeleine and Bella Bokan sport Hand Dipped Tie Dyed pieces made in New York State, Michael stars layering Tee’s and their favorite denim by Just Black Denim.

438 Broadway, Saratoga Springs CarolineAndMain.com • 518.450.7350

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Jessie is wearing Snoskins Crinkle Button Shirt $119.95 Mitchie’s Knit Wrap with fur $224.95 Kuhl Harmony Jegging Bos. & Co. Hudson Boot $214.95 Mitchie’s Fur Pom Snowflake Hat $70.95

photo by SuperSourceMedia.com

399 Clinton Street, Saratoga Springs AlpineSportShop.com • 518.584.6290

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Growing up, Pop never mentioned the war. He kept it all inside. It came out when my oldest daughter, Victoria Lynne, got a grade school English assignment to interview someone about World War II. It was 1978 Pop was 67, she was 13, and I was 35. Pop always said, “The Devil is in the details.” He remembered a lot of details.

Memories of Pop…

DOMINIC GARRO ON HIS WWII SERVICE AS TOLD BY BARBARA GARRO

ut came the beat-up leather suitcase with the German Luger, binoculars, all the medals, five European Battle Stars, the Purple Heart, snapshots of Auschwitz, the coins, ribbons, Honorary Discharge papers, along with the stories.

wanted to know how it was. Your Mom started smoking because she was so worried about me. Her sister, Ann, told her smoking would calm her nerves down. (What it ended up doing was taking her from me with lung cancer at the age of 67.)

ON FIGHTING FOR AMERICA:

I volunteered my ass off in the Army. I didn’t know why everybody was so damn mad at us over there. I fought like a tiger and gave it 120%! I was scared to death. There were a lot of people. Everybody can’t stand that action. You have to have courage, so you don’t get your ass peppered. You have to have some guts. I did a lot of things that put my life on the line as an Army Combat Engineer, Service I.D. 302-633-5415 They inject all kinds of needles in you and it makes you an animal. Every couple of days, they were giving you shots. When you got those needles, you didn’t care if you shot your own father.

“You have to defend the country where you are living. I fought a war and have been happy to have been a part of preserving our freedom and our principles. Thirty-one, nearly thirty-two when I went, married with a kid and John, my stepson. “Your Mom never forgave me for enlisting when I could have stayed working for the Shipyard, out of danger. I put her through the torture. I was a jackass. I didn’t know what I was doing. If I didn’t go, I would have always felt that I was left out, that was not my style. I didn’t want everybody to tell me how it was, I saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Dominic Garro, an Italian immigrant in his 30s enlisted to fight for America and win. When he tried to get proof of his birth, he discovered the church in Sicily where he’d been Baptized had burned down and no records were available. But, Uncle Sam wanted this enlistee and made it happen, even with fourth degree flat feet. Winning stayed uppermost in his mind throughout the European Campaign, including the First Wave of ground troops landing at Omaha Beach at Normandy (Garro was Army Combat Engineer) and the Battle of the Bulge. Dominic Garro was born in Sicily on June 30, 1911 to parents born in the late 1800s. He and his mother, Mattia, came in 1913 on the French ship Sant Anna through Ellis Island. The time between 1880 and 1930, saw one third of Italy’s population of 3.6 million flee government oppression and taxation for freedom in America. Follow along as Barbara Garro tells us about her Pop.

arro minic G

You don’t know what you are talking about the first time you hear shots fired. Every son of a bitch and his brother is trying to blow your head off. You certainly wish that you were someplace else. War is hell whether you are in it or out of it. People back home, they have heart failure, because they do not know if you are going to cross over or are going to make it back. Much more dramatic for the people back home.” Pop talked about the delousing stations, the ragged clothes and shoes, low rations. One time, he refused to eat mess (that’s what they called meals in the Army, Pop said it was for a good reason) and got put on KP. Another time, as a Sergeant, he and another soldier were charged with transporting a prisoner by train. When the prisoner asked to go to the bathroom, Pop let him go in by himself and the prisoner jumped the train out of the window. Pop got busted back to Private First Class. Pop’s unit went into one of the concentration camps to liberate those prisoners still alive. He brought back pictures of the skin and bones prisoners, mostly men, and there were also pictures of the hills of the dead skeletons. “I am not sorry that I went. The experience is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was a terrific experience. The danger you were in, how you got out of it. It had its thrills. Some days you wish you were dead, like when I laid propped against a tree wounded for three days and nights in the woods in France waiting to be transported to a hospital, maybe.”

bullets, bomb blasts and dead soldiers, wondering if he’d soon be floating, life jacket up, head and feet under water or make it to shore. Thoughts of his family back home swam in and out of his mind. He reached the beach. His mission? Find the buried bombs and dismantle them. His challenge? One wrong step, one faulty disconnect and he’d be blown to bits. Blocking out the peck, peck, peck of shelling, detached heads, arms, and legs flying by from battered comrades staining the white sand red, Pop worked with the speed of need so the allies could take Normandy Beach. They secured the Beach, but the nightmares battled on for the rest of Pop’s life. That’s war-- one soldier, one at a time, fighting the war focused on survival in the shadow of the Angel of Death. While Nick Garro survived Normandy Beach without a scratch, he was wounded in Paris, France on November 14, 1944. The shrapnel cost him the sight in one eye, part of his trigger finger and left shrapnel in his head and legs for the rest of his life. PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS IN DREW, FRANCE:

FIRST WAVE OF GROUND SOLDIERS LANDING ON OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY:

“We were setting up a water point. We were a big attachment, with a 10-man squad deployed to bring in the supply truck. I was driving the camouflaged truck through the black woods, trying to get the truck out of the wooded area with no room so that we could have something to defend ourselves with. Behind the lines, you could not hear a shot fired. The truck windows were down and it was covered with burlap. When the grenade hit the corner of the truck, I got it in the eye, nose, leg, arm, and finger, like 200 bullets going in all different directions. Trigger finger almost got sliced off and infection set in. The shrapnel stung, swelling my eye and nose. Steering is hard with a severed trigger finger and the foot pedals become noticeable when one leg carries shrapnel. I brought the truck through. Wounded, they left me under a tree in God’s hands and left. Three days and three nights before I was picked up. No food or water, I put two stones in my mouth to keep my mouth moist. If they do not get through, you die. A lot of guys would have lived if anyone could have gotten to them. For some, the only thing you can do as an act of kindness was to blow their heads off so that they did not suffer.”

Pop’s Unit landed on Normandy Beach in France, June 6, 1944, where all but about 10% died. I listened to Pop and wrote his account. First Wave--trouble-shooting Combat Engineers. Pop climbed down the ship’s knotted rope into the bloodied red sea amid

“They told me in the hospital in France that the Army erred in sending that letter to my mother and father. ‘We regret the error and you should write a letter and confirm that it was an

A LIFE-THREATENING 2ND LIEUTENANT’S COMMAND: “Building a bridge in Austria. Here I am up on a hill. The ground is soft and I’ve got a 50-ton bulldozer that is sure to go over the edge. I don’t care about the bulldozer. It doesn’t belong to me, but I’m not about to commit suicide. I’m worth more than a $10,000 bucket of bolts. This 2nd Lieutenant tried to get me to keep bulldozing over soft terrain. I called 2nd Lieutenants ‘90-day wonders.’ I told him, ‘If you force me to go on, we’ll lose a valuable piece of equipment and maybe one soldier that has a brain left.’ I refused and took it up the line. The higher ranked officer said to the 2nd Lieutenant, ‘Soldiers are expendable, but this equipment can’t be replaced.’”

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PARENTS TOLD HIS WIFE HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION:

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error.’ I wrote the letter and your Mom got it weeks later. As soon as I healed enough, they sent me right back onto the front lines.” My parents were shocked when the Army called Pop back into active service after his injuries. Where did he go to fight after they called him back? The Battle of the Bulge from December 16, 1944 to January 2, 1945, the biggest, costliest, and bloodiest battle in United States history, 16,000 killed, 60,000 wounded. FIGHTING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: “I didn’t get a scratch on Normandy Beach. Then, they sent me into the Battle of the Bulge, seven days and nights in the open field with snow and a sleeping bag. I called up to God, ‘God you know I’m down here. Boy, God, it’s getting nasty down here.’ I don’t think hell could be any worse. War is really a test of endurance trying to keep from freezing to death. Temperature was below 0, two weeks, first ten miles with the 83rd Infantry. Out in the wind like being out in the middle of the ocean- no trees, nothing. Then, we lived out in the woods, foxholes 30-50 yards apart, couldn’t melt the snow, could not build a fire. There we were murdering machines, men going mad. I had frostbite on my feet and rubbed snow on them to keep from losing my toes. This guy from Brooklyn who didn’t believe in anything. They started shooting at his foot. ‘They are shooting at me!’ He asked me how to pray. I told him that there are no set rules for prayer. The only rule you go by is your faith. If you believe with all your heart when (you) are asking, nine times out of ten, you will get it. This battle speeded the end of the war, helped end the thing.”

experience. In Austria, I had a horse and broke three ribs jumping it.” I have a photograph of Pop on his horse singing and playing a guitar. “We used to drink a lot and play cards fully loaded. One night I won a big pot, put it in my shoe, went to sleep and when I woke up, the money was gone.” ON COMING HOME FROM THE WAR: Home November 23, 1945, after another injury, breaking an ankle. With him were medals for Sharpshooter, Good Conduct, Purple Heart, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaigns and Victory World War II. “You leave years of fighting for your life every minute of every day and come

home to put your life back together while trying to get a job to support your family. I left one Hell and came back to another one. I came home from the Service with the clothes on my back and I began a marathon. I rolled up my sleeves, started to work, didn’t stop ‘til I was 68. I was burned out, didn’t realize how beat I was until I started feeling better.” Mom’s younger brother, Andy, also Army, came to live with us when he came home. Whenever we went out, whenever an airplane flew over, both Pop and Uncle Andy would drop instantly to the ground. No mention or help for post-traumatic stress syndrome back in 1945. SS

GERMANY PRISONER OF WAR ESCAPEE: “During the war, both the German Secret Police and Japanese military used waterboarding, while US. Generals did not. I was a prisoner of war in Germany, escaped and then had to find my Unit again. Spent a bit of time with General Patton’s unit. With six other men, we had taken down a bridge in Germany. General Patton’s comment was, ‘You took down that one, now you can go after number two.’ “ GOOD TIMES AT WAR: “I also had a lot of fun along with everybody else. It was a fabulous

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Safe. Local. Responsible.

TRAVEL SUPPORT STAY

WRITTEN BY ANNE GORDON, OWNER, LEISURE TRAVEL ADVISOR, LIVE LIFE TRAVEL, LLC,

raveling responsibly is not only proving to be mentally essential to the people who are taking close, local vacations, but also economically essential to the many local businesses involved and the overall travel industry. The North East is absolutely breathtaking this time of year and has so much to offer. Don’t be afraid to travel, just be responsible and count on the experience of a trusted travel advisor to steer you in the right direction. Of the many remarkable destinations within driving range… Maine, Cape Cod, Vermont, The Poconos, New Paltz, Lake Placid, Montauk and of course, Lake George, they can all be made better with the help of an industry professional. We recently had clients up at The Sagamore on Lake George (everyone’s favorite!), and are thrilled with the level of professionalism in adherence to safety protocols, but don’t just take our word:

Amanda and Daniel Bowman at The Sagamore on Lake George

“I grew up on the lake and it always feels like coming home. We were very pleased with all the precautions that the hotel took when it came to safety and cleanliness. There was hand sanitizer available everywhere, all the guests were abiding by the rules and wearing masks in public and nothing felt crowded. The views, pool, lake, spa. and boat ride on The Morgan were all beyond amazing and we really enjoyed our stay so much. I would encourage anyone looking for a fall get away to call Anne at Live Life Travel and book with her – great service and you’re supporting a local business.” - Amanda Bowman

We do hope that you do book with your local travel advisor when you plan any travel (even an overnight at a local hotel). The travel industry is one of the hardest hit industries and will likely be one of the very last to recover, so when you book with your favorite advisor, they will always go the extra mile to make sure that you get the upgrade or are greeted with a special amenity and/or get that early check in. They are also the small business owners in your community who care about you and who need your support right now. Travel Advisors are your advocates and work hard to make sure that your vacation is always 10x better than it would be without having them involved. Please continue to be responsible and wear a mask so we can all continue to travel locally. This is a privilege that we have all earned together. Thank you! We like to say at Live Life Travel, that we are your travel partner for life. Thank you for supporting local business, please feel free to contact us at anne@livelifetravel.world www.livelifetravel.world, #nytough SS 88 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

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Colonial Little Theatre… A Safe Haven Since 1938

WRITTEN BY ANTHONY BUBBICO JR. PHOTOS PROVIDED

hile reorganizing old props and costumes from previous productions, Justin Newkirk, vice president of Colonial Little Theatre, finds a hand painted poster from a production performed in 1941. The poster may come off as an artifact of a long-gone time, but it resembles a reminder, one of history and family. Established in 1938, the Colonial Little Theatre resides in Fulton County, on Colonial Court in Johnstown. Better known as CLT among its board of directors and performers, the theatre has not stopped performing for 83 consecutive seasons until now. “This is the very first time the theatre has been dark since 1938,” said Newkirk. The theatre originally operated out of Knox Middle School in Johnstown. In 1963 the theatre company acquired its own building, a church which was moved a few city blocks to a foundation at Colonial Court. The show Lies and Legends was scheduled to open in April. During rehearsals in March, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country and forced CLT to shut its doors. Mama Mia was the next show, scheduled to open in August. Newkirk was set to direct the stage classic. However, as the pandemic grew in intensity, the board of directors had no choice but to cancel the show. “Unfortunately, we can’t make any plans until we’re allowed to open,” Newkrik said. “We are hoping to mount a production as soon as possible.” However, the board of directors took advantage of the impossibility of live theatre. Over the past 11 weeks, Newkirk and Beth Vanevery, president of the board, painted the theatre top to bottom. “This time is bittersweet for the theatre,” Vanevery said. “However, having this time has given us the chance to check off so many of our wish list ‘to do’s’.” Vanevery and Newkirk reorganized, cleaned, sorted props and costumes, and refurbished the dressing rooms. “I am so excited for our theatre family to be back in the space,” Vanevery said. “I hope they are just as excited to be back at CLT as we are to have them!” While being historical, the theatre also represents a close community and family. Every fall productions are offered to children. In November, the children’s group performed Disney’s Frozen. Over 100 children auditioned from Fulton County. “We are the only community theatre in our county that has its own building,” Newkirk said. “We have a lot of pride in our small area.”

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STEP BACK IN TIME

AT THE LOCAL FIVE AND DINE WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH

THE MARCH 12TH GRAND OPENING

of Northville’s newest restaurant, The Local Five & Dine, was a long awaited and eagerly anticipated event. Located at 132 South Main Street in a newly renovated 1890 building, the eatery offers an ever-changing menu of tantalizing fresh food options in a Victorian setting with contemporary touches. “We tried to keep as many of the building’s original features as possible,” says owner/manager Nicole Sikorski, whose mother, Susan Correll, oversaw the renovation. “But we also added a crisp, clean, modern look. The radiator glass actually came from the Five & Dime next door,” Nicole adds, referring to the vintage variety store also owned and operated by her family. Four days after opening, The Local Five & Dine was forced to close its doors due to the coronavirus outbreak. It could have been a devastating blow for the new business. But, thanks to an outpouring of community support for its takeout, the restaurant thrived. “Many people had never dined with us or tasted our food before,” Nicole recalls, “yet they were willing to give our takeout a try. Takeout hadn’t been part of our original business plan, so initially we had none of the necessary supplies.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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The newly refurbished storefront glistens on S. Main Street.

Nicole’s quick-thinking husband, Jeremy, immediately hit the stores, grabbing every possible container and bag he could find to get their ‘new’ business up and running. “Despite everything, we made great use of the COVID time,” Nicole says. “It gave our staff the opportunity to grow together as a team and make a few beneficial changes in our kitchen. The greatest thing we have going now is our team. We all love working here, and we have a lot of fun—most of the time,” she adds, grinning. “And our wonderful chef, Evan Luey, and our souz chef, Noah, create the most amazing dishes, all made with fresh ingredients.” Nicole Sikorski’s community ties run deep. Throughout high school and college, she worked at her family’s Five & Dime, the oldest continuously operating dime store in the country. “From the start, my mother gave me the freedom to make a lot of decisions,” Nicole reflects. “Whenever I showed an interest in something, I was allowed to take ownership of that responsibility. It was my favorite job by far, and my mother knew that. She always wanted me to come back into the family business.”

The establishment’s second most popular soft-seating nook.

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An up-close look at the bar created by Adirondack master woodworker Russ Gleaves.

The hand-rubbed bar, made of local cherry wood and brass, beckons to patrons.

This Victorian-era rolling bar inspired the design for the restaurant’s new bar.

After earning her business degree, Nicole spent thirteen years raising and homeschooling her four children before deciding to reenter the business world. She credits her mother, Susan Correll, for being the creative force behind both the Northville Five & Dime and The Local Five & Dine. “My mother had her grandchildren in mind when she did all this. She wanted to offer them opportunities and give them a start, should they wish to go into small business. My kids all help out in different ways,” Nicole adds proudly. The Local Five & Dine offers inside and outside seating. Masks and social distancing protocols are followed, and AeroMed blue lights—the same infection-control lights being used in many medical settings today—are installed. “I want to give a big shout-out to AeroMed,” Nicole says. “We were one of the first restaurants to use their lights, and we’re so grateful to have them!” Nicole Sikorski invites readers to visit Northville and experience everything this quaint, friendly village has to offer. While there, of course, be sure to stop by The Local Five & Dine! You’ll be glad you did.

HOURS: Thursday, 4-9 (dinner). Friday-Monday: 11-2 (lunch); 4-9 (dinner). Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Call (518)863-3478 or visit www.thelocalfiveanddine.com

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Owner/manager Nicole Sikorski stands ready to serve.

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Variety Abounds

AT ANTIQUES AT PACKER’S POND WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Wendy Haugh.

ix years ago, when Bob Wemple was hired to fix up an old general store in Barkersville, he had no idea that he and his wife, Sue, would soon be operating that quaint storefront as a business of their very own: Antiques at Packer’s Pond.

The store, which dates back to 1893, is part of the Packer Farm and Barkersville Store, a historic site which includes a 19th century farmhouse, the store, two barns, an old mill pond, dam, and waterfall. This gem of a rural landmark was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, thanks to the tireless efforts of property owners Joan and Robert Gerring. “I did a lot of restoration work on all of the buildings,” Bob Wemple recalls. “But after I fixed up the general store, Sue and I decided to open it as an antiques shop. We’d been collecting things ourselves for years, so it seemed like a good fit.” In addition to running the store, Bob is caretaker for the entire site, dam included. “The millpond was built by the Barkers in the 1780s and 90s,”says Bob, who works full-time as a logger and also serves as Providence Town Historian. “It’s still the original dam, laid up in stone. I may have to replace a few stones each year, but the dam is in great shape.”

Proprietors, Sue & Bob Wemple. Photo by Melissa Heritage. 94 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

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Sue Wemple, too, leads a very busy life. In addition to scouting out new merchandise for their shop and helping to run it every weekend, Sue works as the Providence Town Clerk. “But Bob’s the real workaholic,” she chuckles. “He doesn’t like idle moments.” In his spare time, Bob also enjoys dismantling old barns. The weathered wood is then added to the antique shop’s eclectic inventory. When asked what they love most about shop-keeping at Antiques at Packer’s Pond, Bob doesn’t hesitate. “The people! Sue and I love to engage with everyone and see what interests them.”

Antiques galore at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Sue Wemple.

The couple’s warmth is infectious. Talking to the Wemples for the first time is like talking to old friends. Their community roots run deep—Sue is a lifelong Providence resident, Bob “a transplant” from nearby Galway—and their knowledge of history and antiquities runs equally deep. Since 2015, the Wemples have leased the general store and the small nearby barn from the Gerrings. Both buildings overflow with treasures, including cast iron cookware, old advertising and political memorabilia, metal milk cans, porcelain sinks, vintage doors, quilts, kitchenware, old local maps and pictures, and one-of-a-kind primitives. Primitives, Bob points out, are rustic homemade items like furniture, cabinets, and cupboards, “designed and built by a homeowner to serve a specific function in a specific spot in the home.”

Treasures abound upstairs at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Wendy Haugh.

Vintage toys at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Wendy Haugh.

Overflow barn at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Sue Wemple. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A stunning selection of cast ironware. Photo by Sue Wemple. FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 95

Lucy greets visitors at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Photo by Wendy Haugh.

Adirondack chairs beckon beside scenic Packer’s Pond. Photo by Wendy Haugh. Historic Packer farmhouse, c. 1825-1859. Photo by Sue Wemple

The antiques store and barn may appear small, but they’re well-stocked with an ever-changing array of great merchandise, neatly organized and reasonably priced. “Most people are very surprised by what they find here,” says Bob, “and we love to bargain. We treat everyone to a discount.” Great merchandise isn’t the only thing you’ll find at Antiques at Packer’s Pond. Visitors are invited to sit down and relax on the back deck overlooking the pond. Stroll around the grounds. Have a photo op by the waterfall. Go fishing. Take the oared boat for a spin around the pond—or bring your own boat! And be sure to check out the homemade pierogis in the barn’s freezer, made by local bakers David and Inez Houston.

Packer’s Pond dam and waterfall. Photo by Sue Wemple.

In the middle of nowhere, by an idyllic pond and rushing waterfall, an old farmhouse, rustic shop, and two weathered barns speak quietly of simpler times and days gone by. If you’ve been hankering for a break from real time and a heady dose of nostalgia, take a ride out to rural Barkersville. Savor the ambiance of Antiques at Packer’s Pond, and feel your worries slip away. SS Antiques at Packer’s Pond, 7206 Barkersville Road, Middle Grove, NY 12850. (518) 421-8300; Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM-5 PM. 96 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

Old wagon wheels and milk can, enjoying the sunshine. Photo by Wendy Haugh. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SCHUYLERVILLE A Cornucopia of Country Pleasures WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTO BY LINDSAY FISH

It’s been quite a year, but somehow, things seem a little different out here. You don’t have to do a lot of driving to enjoy a relaxing day in the country. For a bounty of bucolic charms, travel just 10 miles from downtown Saratoga Springs -to Schuylerville. TIME TO GET AWAY After just 10 minutes of driving through the cornfields and cheerful fall foliage along Route 29E, you’ll come to your first stop, Stitches & Time. Here, several small buildings are stuffed full of fantastic finds. It’s an amazing collection of salvaged and handmade furniture pieces - including formidable farmhouse tables, cabinets and rustic seasonal décor. Five minutes down the road, you’ll come to Just Meats Deli and Market. This “Little” gem of a butcher shop has meat unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else. The Little family has been butchers for more than 100 years, and it’ll soon be clear to you what a difference that experience makes. Choose from an array of breakfast and lunch sandwiches (named for local lakes) and let the taste of the good life wash over you. GROWING THE GOOD Then, just minutes away is Old Saratoga Mercantile, a country store that carries a curated selection of items from 120 vendors; including locally-made foods, a plethora of craft beers, and quality CBD products. Their on-site high-tunnel greenhouse extends the growing season with a hefty harvest of greens and other vegetables. Next on the itinerary, is a relaxing romp through the rows of Saratoga Apple’s well-groomed orchards. Distract yourself from 98 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

your worries with the unforgettable deliciousness of freshlymade donuts, sample the delights found in their tasting room, and stock up on autumn staples like apple cider, apple butter, and other treats. SPORT & SPICE IS SO NICE! Just over the hill, there is a special find for outdoor enthusiasts. Saratoga Tackle and Archery is a friendly spot to talk about hunting and fishing with shop owner, Tim Blodgett. Have your archery equipment serviced, get supplies that will give you an edge over the competition once ice fishing season starts, and get the gifts that sporting guys love. Next, it’s time for some sunshine in a bottle. Turn right onto Broad Street, then take a left into the spacious parking lot of Olde Saratoga Wine & Spirits. Locals love their selection and reasonable prices. A stop here is sure to spice up your autumn evenings. NEED I SAY MORE? Now that you’ve spent the day delving into some of Schuylerville’s special shops, it’s time for dinner. Amigos Cantina is a longtime local favorite that hasn’t lost their festive feel. They have adapted their menu so you can get your fix of fresh Mexican foods and cocktails under their outdoor tent (while the weather allows), or order easy takeout dinners the whole family will love. If you have more of a hankering for hearty Italian-inspired dishes, feed the beast at Sweet Lou’s Delicatessen. Serving up heaping plates of pasta, seafood, steak and chicken, as well as dinner-fortwo specials, you’ll be sure to end your day in the country satisfied and dare I say, content. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Visit Schuylerville... It's worth the trip!

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Saluté WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN

Welcome to Autumn

and all the splendor and beauty that our great northeast has to offer both residents and travelers alike. Leaf peeping will be the “must-see” but what if I told you that along the way, you could find lovely wineries right here in the Saratoga Region to enhance your fall travels…would you believe me? You should…you know how much I love the bounty and bouquet of nature’s best fruit ever! So, to help you all out this Fall, I’ve taken it upon myself to visit each winery and see what they have to offer. I know, it’s a big ask, but I am up for the challenge! AND…I brought our magazine editor, Chris Bushee, along with me! Double trouble I’d say! Are you ready…let’s travel!

Galway Rock Vineyard

e began a little out of order in terms of location, but with our busy work schedules, we found ourselves first meeting at Galway Rock Vineyard, located at 998 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake …just as you come to the end of Middleline Road and Route 50. This new winery hit the spot for an end-of-the-work-week jaunt. As I pulled up, the view took my breathe away. Forever views of the Vermont mountains, a lovely patio and a splendid old tree trunk which sets the tone for hanging with friends, sipping and savoring one (or more!) of the many wine offerings. Kate and Ryan Taylor began their journey of wine making in a small garage and have grown into their new location with plans to cultivate both Cayuga White and Rougeon grapes on the 15 acres just beyond the tasting room. Don’t worry, the vineyard will only compliment the mountainous view beyond! As they grow, the Taylors have become very connected to their guests, learning about who they are and how they enjoy spending their time. This past summer, they combined the love of wine with yoga on the patio, appropriately entitled “unWINEd” -too cute! After an instructor lead class, each participant receives a complimentary glass of wine or mimosa. Namaste! By October of this year, they will be offering guided tours of their winery with a finish in the tasting room. And if you’re a wine member kind of buyer, they have several options to suit any collector from the Full Case Club to Half Case Club along with Wine of the Month Club to Season’s Best. They all have generous benefits for making your wine experience exceptional! These events, membership details and more can be found on their website at galwayrockwines.com or follow them @galwayrockwines for updates and registration. As for our personal wine tasting, we both very much enjoyed the Semi-Dry Pale Rosé which was clean to the palette. For me, the Sparkling Vino Rosso was a pleasant surprise as I had never had a sparkling red wine before. Abounding with notes of cranberry and strawberry, the sweetness was just right for an afternoon on the patio! And my personal favorite was the 2018 Barrel Aged Riesling, with a warm floral and hints of dried fig (this caught my attention) and honey. I am not a white wine lover but the barrel aging process made me slowly sip and savor every last drop before moving on to my next selection. I just had to take it home for an evening around the firepit! And the Chardonnay Riseling, dry yet refreshing with hints of green apple, put a big smile on Chris’ face as she perfected her swirl technique! Ah, an afternoon of wine tasting…a true labor of love!

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Loving this new place in Ballston Lake! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The Thirsty Owl Outlet & Wine Garden

ur next stop was at The Thirsty Owl Outlet & Wine Garden, located at the intersection of South Broadway & Lincoln in Saratoga Springs. A short stroll from hotels and local Inns featuring a wide variety of wines masterfully crafted since 2001. The family business was born out of the love of wine, establishing its roots in Ovid, New York -along the Cayuga Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes. As a previously established vineyard, many of the Vitis vinifera varieties, those originally from Europe, have been grown on the property since 1973! If you’re looking for a well-established winery, you don’t have to go far! The Saratoga location is the family’s Bistro and Outlet for their many prestigious award-winning wines, including their Pinot Noir. Last year it was rated the highest North American Pinot at the Tasters Guild International Competition. And to further its prominence, it received accolades from wine connoisseurs in the book “Red Wine, The Comprehensive Guide to the 50 Essential Varieties & Styles.” Wow - I think I need to buy a case! And if you ask the General Manager, Josh Cup, he’ll tell you he even hand planted the Cabernet Sauvignon vines as a young boy growing up in the family business… “I am well invested in my guest’s happiness!” and I can’t agree more! With almost a decade of serving wine and fine foods here in downtown Saratoga, the Thirsty Owl has become known for its informal atmosphere with plenty of dining options whether on the porch, rear garden patio or in the main dining room. If you simply want to stop in to taste a variety of wines, there are 25 options to choose from between reds, whites, sweet, dry…something for everyone…five 1oz. glasses for $5! Among the wines we sampled, one of my favorites was the Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Malbec with its hint of black pepper and a dark berry finish…barrel aged for 15 months…I see a recurring theme here! And their port-style Vinte was heavenly…angels singing and all… for a cool evening liquid dessert of honey, raspberry and cranberries. Chris, on the other hand, loves her whites and quickly acclaimed the Snow Owl as her favorite.

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The Thirsty Owl Outlet & Wine Garden w The combination of Cayuga white and Seyval grapes, with its cheerful semi-sweet fruity finish, sealed the deal as we dined on Shrimp and Chicken Lettuce Wraps for lunch. The asiago cheese was all we had to see on the menu before ordering. If you love keeping your wine collection full, becoming a member of The Parliament Club would keep you well stocked! Did you know that a group of owls is called a parliament as they are noted for their wise disposition? Now, if only our government could…no politics…back to wine! Joining is easy with a single purchase of one case of wine…oh that is so do-able! And the perks are fabulous, from Tastings and Offerings of new releases before they are made available to the public, exclusive special releases and so much more. Sign me up! You can find out more about their membership by visiting their website at www.thirstyowlsaratoga.com or the main vineyard at www.thirstyowlsaratoga.com/the-winery. With the fall season ushering in the holidays, I asked Josh for a recommendation for wines, he graciously replied “Wines that I could happily recommend for the holiday season are some tasty dry whites such as Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, and if you are more of a reds person, our Pinot Noir and Merlot will do the trick. Gewurztraminer has a nice spice to it which will cover for any potential mistakes in the preparing the bird department at Thanksgiving, and keeping the reds a little lighter/gentler is always a good idea when serving less intense proteins like fowl and pork, etc.“ If you ‘ve never experienced the Gewurztraminer, well I think you are due for a wine tasting!

Oliva Vineyards

N Josh, we couldn't love your place more!

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ow, I know many of you have heard of the Racing City Brewery located at 250 Excelsior Ave in Saratoga Springs, but did you know they own a winery too? The owners of Oliva Vineyards, Tony and Debreen Oliva, have been producing their own wine since 2012 in their Fort Edward location. In 2016, they relocated to the Saratoga Springs area and have become family to so many here! With a joint tasting room for both beer and wine, there is something for everyone! Even our own Saratoga Today poll voted them the Best After Track Party! Giving back is part of who they are in this community as well. This summer they partnered with The Saratoga Special for their 20th Anniversary to create a new Spiked Cocktail of beer, wine or Prosecco infused with your choice of fruit flavors to benefit backstretch workers at the Saratoga Race Course. Now that deserves a “Cheers!” Known for their hugs and taking extra time with visitors and regulars, they love sharing their passion for wines, beers and of course… horses! Even with today’s elbow bumps, you’ll still get that feeling of being home when you visit! They even name their wines after their horses and grandkids! Take for instance the Nathan’s Select…Named after their grandson…It was my choice of the day with its blend of Merlot and Cab Sav grapes; hints of blackberry with a peppery finish. Bold and in charge, just like their grandson! And if you enjoy a mid-day wine with friends on the weekend, you’ll want to sample the Sparkling Hannah…you guessed it, named after their granddaughter…a semi-sweet sparkling red which is on the lighter side featuring strong fruit flavors, mostly strawberry, with a refreshing crisp finish. Chris described it as a “bubbly personality as I imagine their granddaughter to be!” Tony agreed we were spot on with saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

both! And we were not going to part ways until we had an opportunity to try The Saratoga Special! We both had the Prosecco infused with blueberry…an absolute delight that I wished I could have bottled and taken home! The Saratoga Specials, for wine and Prosecco, are only prepared at the tasting room, so be sure to head on over for your tasting! And as we look to the future, Oliva Vineyards is counting on seeing you all back in full swing as the gathering place for friends and family events in 2021. Be sure to follow them at #olivawinery for tasting room days and times for both wine and brews year round or check out their website at olivavineyards.com! I just love the fact that each of their wines are so personal. Whether named after a horse, a reference to Saratoga Springs or their grandchildren, each wine tells a story of who they are. So be sure to stop in for a tasting or stay for a few hours…you can even bring in your own food…be sure to make Oliva Vineyard wines part of your Fall experience!

Bye Tony, we'll see you again soon!

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Victory View Vineyard

ur last outing brought us to the hamlet of North Easton NY, just south of Greenwich where you’ll find acres of flourishing grapes and an eye-catching blue barn where Victory View Vineyard welcomes its guests. The owners, Gerry and Mary Barnhart, established their vineyards as they combined their passion for teaching and the outdoors. With exterior seating on the front lawn overlooking the pastoral view, it was a worthy 35-minute drive to experience this, let alone taste their handcrafted wines. Chris and I could have stayed until the stars came out. With a gentle breeze and the abundant sounds of wild life, it was the perfect setting for sipping and learning about the art of owning a winery. You see, educating their guests about their wines, the grapes, the aging process and parings is all part of their friendly atmosphere. As we began our wine tasting…accompanied by local cheese & fresh farm blueberries, I began to appreciate the intricacy of white wines that grow here in New York. Chris and I both learned the difference the wood of the barrel can make in the wine aging process along with reveling the scents which brought me back to my travels in Italy. Their 2017 Charlotte, a German-Style dry white, received the Gold Medal at the 2020

Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. It gave me a whole new meaning for white wine! Two of their reds were produced with Marquette grapes offering a full-body, yet dry, experience. The Turning Point hinted with notes of blackberry while entangled with my favorite wine finish of tobacco and pepper. The Independence, although crafted from the same grape, was buttery…a reflection of the French oak barrel which offers a tighter grain and thus slows down the interaction between the wine and barrel over the aging period. Chris, too, experienced a broader appreciation for the reds. She began to thoroughly enjoy the process of swirling, sipping and discovering each element of different grapes and the wines they produced. If you're looking for the true “vineyard” experience, Victory View Vineyard is a trip worth taking! This winery is open from April through December so be sure to stop in this Fall after your leaf-peeping adventures! Looking ahead… the Barnharts will be developing a wine club to premier for next year’s season. Be sure to follow them @victoryviewvineyard or on their website at www.victoryviewvineyard.com to find out more about their wines, the history and what’s ahead for 2021! Until next time my friends…Salute’

Yes, we will be back, totally worth the drive!

Well, our journey is complete. Both Chris and I are well stocked on our fermented favorites for a while! We so enjoyed our time together and the fun of learning the different characteristics to each winery’s blends, passions and pursuits for the future when we can all gather again for family events, merriments and celebrating life!! We do hope we have inspired you to grab a few friends, hop in the car and take a day’s trip discovering the fall foliage, catching up on lost time and of course…WINE!

Until next time my friends…Salute’

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H&G Randall Perry Photography

Cast iron pot rack designed to show off the 1800's timber frame construction; made with framing from one of the 1700's section walls (repurpose & reuse)

See the rest of this house on page 98!

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Archite Randall Perry Photography

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cturally SPEAKING FOLLOW US AS WE EXPLORE SOME OF THE AREA'S UNIQUE SPACES...

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The House That Time Built WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

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“Great buildings that move the spirit have always been rare. In every case, they are unique, poetic, products of the heart.” ~ Arthur Erickson

’m on my way to a sprawling estate in Saratoga. “Look for the big gray barns with blue roofing on the left – you can’t miss us.”

puppy having fun digging in the dirt at their feet. We stand next to an impressive home built in the late 1700s, expanded in the 1800s, and renovated in the 1990s.

Man – Arthur Zobel and Ginny Brandreth are telling the truth. The gorgeous barns are off to one side, their roof the striking color of classic blue skies overhead.

“Believe it or not,” they tell me, “we were in the market for an old barn we could convert into our living space. We’d been out scouting the area every chance we could, confident our dream project was out there. We just had to find it.”

The couple greets me in the driveway, a rambunctious saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Arthur is the owner of Zobel & Co. Kitchens – an award-winning kitchen design partner to builders and homeowners alike. His company believes every home is a sanctuary, its heartbeat the kitchen. With over 40 years of design expertise under his belt, Arthur and Ginny were confident this was just what they had been looking to buy. Ginny looks over at Arthur, grinning. “The funny thing is that he fell in love with this property and wanted to put an offer on it, while I had my eye on another place and told him I wanted to put a bid on that.” The couple decided whichever seller bit first, they’d seal the deal right then and there.

The 1800's kitchen with the Rumford-style fireplace now serves as a cozy dining room.

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Ginny’s seller didn’t even acknowledge her offer. Arthur’s seller accepted his. And there you have it - the home, which had been vacant for about five years, along with three acres of land became their own.

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We enter through the front door, and I catch my breath. The home was built by/for John T. Livingston – a member of one of the most prominent families in the settling Albany county. Here, in the original front section, the ceilings are 10-feet high, the floors made from warm-toned, 6-inch milled pine, and one of the doorways’ construction features exposed millwork – all signs of a well-to-do owner. I was under the impression I’d be visiting a farmhouse. Ginny explains they believe the majestic home is, instead, a Georgian Colonial – due to the high ceilings, symmetrical layout, chimneys on both ends, triangle block on the front porch, and decorative design of brackets on the staircase leading to the 2nd floor. “The Livingstons were wealthy merchants, rather than farmers,” she tells me. My eyes try to take everything in during those first few moments. “The farm came about in the 1800s when the Brisbin family lived here. We believe they added the second section of the house, with lower ceilings and hand-hewn rather than milled woodwork, sometime after 1811 when James Brisbin, Jr. bought it. Besides that, experts note the barn’s construction is from that period, not before.”

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I admire the gold-framed portraits and landscapes hanging on the walls of the home. Ginny explains how most of the artwork is from her family – there was a terrible fire that destroyed most of Arthur’s historical pieces. Arthur hands me a steaming-hot cup of coffee and explains that they both love antiques, which I can see as we wander in and out of each room. The downstairs bathroom showcases an antique sink they discovered in the barn. It’s an early 20th Century cast iron lavatory sink by Standard with heavyduty decorative detail. Because the exterior is so decorative, it’s meant to be exposed. Arthur had fun designing the vanity surrounding it. There are two large rooms in the front end of the house – one on either side of the staircase, with a smaller one behind them. The master and guest bedrooms are upstairs, where the layout is the same. Can I tell you – the tastefully designed closets and bathrooms are to die for?! Natural light floods the entire area of both floors, streaming in from numerous windows.

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“Even as we decided to move walls or doors around, we were already envisioning where we could repurpose windows someplace else in the home,” Arthur states with a smile. “Why throw them away – the older ones are beautiful.” Ginny has fun pointing out different places in the house where they did just that. When they pull out an old weathered album, and I begin to turn the pages, I’m amazed at past owners, how meticulous they were in chronicling work done on the house in the 1990s using photo essays. For instance, I can see the old bee-hive oven in one image, in what once was the 1800’s ‘summer kitchen’ and Arthur is quick to point out it still works, that they use it often as a pizza oven. The open area here in the kitchen is impressive; everywhere I turn, there’s something I want to study. Let’s mention the wicked cool backsplash tiles on one wall, fashioned from 50 million-year-old fish fossils embedded in the surface.

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Once the door to the stove that heated a large copper pot that served as the 1800's hot water heater next to the bee-hive oven - now is the focal point of the back splash.

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Or, how about the nearly 12-foot-long gleaming wood dining table set in the great room, an inviting place to sit and relax for a while. The open design encourages people to unwind in the living room, talking with others preparing a meal in the kitchen. Gorgeous cabinets and drawers open with the slightest touch. There’s a place for everything at your fingertips. Tucked into one corner, I can’t help but admire the built-in bar. I could go on and on and on. Suffice to say, if this couple dreamt it – Arthur designed it and made it happen. One of my favorite places is up a curving flight of stairs. A bedroom and sitting room overlook the kitchen. Two beds wait for the kids to come home to visit, and a comfy space invites Ginny to practice yoga. My other favorite place is off the kitchen itself. “I always wanted a butler’s pantry,” Ginny tells me, sighing with delight. As soon as her husband heard the words, he started planning the perfect room for her. We walk into a long, narrow space, and I’m in awe. They get a kick out of my reaction. Seriously - everything you can think of is in there; from cabinets to a sink to the gleaming refrigerator, a place for silverware and open shelves for Ginny’s china sets, to exposed beams that showcase the age and craftsmanship in building the home.

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There’s even a corner specifically designed to hold heavy cast iron pots, pans, and skillets often used in cooking. Ginny walks me through one room and says,” Go ahead, run your hands along the wall.” I do. I cannot describe how smooth the walls are. I have felt plaster before, but it’s usually rough. Not this. Soft as a baby’s bottom? Yes! Which brings us back to the album. The album chronicles the extensive renovations the Riebels did in the early 1990s. They gutted the walls down to the studs and re-plastered them, updated the electric and plumbing, added a great room, and re-roofed and re-sided the property’s barns.

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50 million year old fossil tiles make the bar a conversation piece.

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In one photo, a young man and woman stand at the top of the stairs. The man is Jim Post, a master at plastering. Jim and Petra, his girlfriend at the time, straightened walls and ceilings, utilizing the art of veneer plaster both up and downstairs. “We were surprised to look through these pages and find Jim’s picture,” Ginny states. “I tracked him down, thrilled to meet with him and talk about plaster. It was great to speak with someone who’d done so much work on our home.”

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Likely once used as a parlor with its etched glass door to a sitting porch is now the couple's home office.

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“It took us a good year to complete our work,” Jim tells me when I catch up to him on the phone. “I was proud of this job, as it was one of the first big jobs I’d done on my own.”

especially the two youngest, became great friends.

“How’d you two meet?” I ask Arthur and Ginny, who share a grin at the question. Speaking of heartwarming love stories…

Arthur chuckles. “But, I’m persistent.”

“Arthur is a close friend of my first cousin,” Ginny smiles as she tells me this sweet anecdote. “He and his girls would come to our family camp in the Adirondacks every summer. The girls,

“After his wife passed, Arthur invited me on a date, out of the blue. My answer was a resounding NO!” They look at each other, grinning before they continue. “We took all four girls on a trip to Maine. At breakfast that first morning, they had an announcement for us.” ‘We’ve decided where we’re going for the honeymoon.’

Bathroom in the guest suite with soaking tub.

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The antique sink, a wedding present, sits on a counter made of a 1700's wall section; ceiling mounted drying rack takes advantage of the ceiling height.

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The Arthurdesigned vanity showcases the beautiful historic sink found in the barn.

I find myself laughing out loud. “That must have been interesting.” “What?!?,” Arthur reiterates their long-ago sentiment. “That’s what our reaction was.” “Yeah, you’re going to get married, and we’re all going on the honeymoon so we can keep bonding.” That conversation happened about three years before Arthur proposed, and Ginny accepted. “We’re so grateful that the girls continue to be very close.” “Here’s the thing,” Arthur finishes our interview back in the kitchen. “All of this?” he spreads his arms to encompass their home. My eyes wander around once more, taking it all in, this breath of fresh air that’s moved over the centuries with such grace. “Every owner has been the caretaker for the next generation, leaving their mark and personality on the house and farm. Now it’s our turn, simple as that.”

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The large barn remains in excellent condition, with its solid beams.

Interesting facts about the property and house: • The property deeds go back to the 1684 Saratoga Patent, when Pieter Schuyler, Robert Livingston, and others bought 150,000 acres from the Mohawk Indians. Robert Livingston gave a parcel in the Great Lot 26 to his nephew John T. Livingston and this is where the house stands.

• The house was extensively renovated in the early 1990s by David and Joan Riebel.

• The Brisbin family owned the property the longest (18111896.) They were farmers who had settled in the area from Scotland. At the time James C. Brisbin died, women were not allowed to own property, and his widow, Ella, lost the home when it sold through an auction on the steps of the Schuylerville Hotel to Hiriam Cramer.

• Beginning on page 256 in David J. Pitkin’s book “Haunted Saratoga County,” you can read about the house and its suspected ghostly occupants. Yup, rumor has it, there’s more than one!

• The second-longest ownership was Charles Ketchum (1945-1989.)

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• The property is known as ‘the ‘Brisbin’ House, the ‘Ketchum Farm,,’ and now ‘Brobel Farm,’ – a combination of the couple’s last names.

• Country Living Magazine, January 2019 issue highlighted a small piece about the bathroom sink and its historical importance. SS

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Colleens Picks ’

A carefully curated selection of

HOME DÉCOR ITEMS to add

an Autumnal touch to your home!

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN GROUP LLC Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located at 6 Franklin Square 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.

Falling leaves and a coolness in the air…a true sign that Autumn has arrived! It’s an exciting time of year with the kids returning to school, all the wonderful bounty we are harvesting from our gardens and of course…the fall décor around and within our homes! Mums are bursting with gold, red and auburn hues with skies of silver blue; many of the colors we love to bring into our homes to create a festive celebration of our Northeast change in the seasons! It’s time to decorate for Fall and where better to go than our own local shops and boutiques here in Saratoga Springs!

THE FURNITURE HOUSE At THE FURNITURE HOUSE on the Lake, I found the Reflect Chair, fashioned with a geometric frame in a pale-blue tinted acrylic…A brilliant reflection of a fall evening sky! Inspired by the glass pyramid entrance of the Louvre, its smokedmetal brackets in-turn embodies the sky’s reflection on the iconic glass form. The blend-down cushion offers a comfortable seat at 26” wide and 33” in depth! Upholstered in a oneof-a-kind fabric, this accent chair feels visually light & airy, much like a fall breeze on a perfect autumn day! For accessories, I always love heading over to ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE. I must admit, the one thing I do update every year is my fall wreath. I loved the Harvest Florals throughout, but this wreath caught my eye with its array of vivid foliage from pinecones and berries to harvest grains and corn husks. A touch of nature all woven into a dazzling display for your home! For gatherings, don’t forget a “Thank You” gift for your host! Wrap up this Pumpkin Shaped Paddle Board, perfect for serving a selection of local cheeses and crackers! Of course, I’d advise you bring a bottle of wine for the chef…here’s a tip…be sure to read my article “ Salute’” on page 90 for wineries in our area…you’re sure to find something everyone will like!

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1254 Route 9P, Saratoga Springs (inside the Allerdice Ace Hardware) thefurniturehouseny.com• 518.587.9865

ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE 2570 Route 9 Malta, (inside the Allerdice Ace Hardware) Allerdice.com/divisions/accents-at-allerdice 518.899.6222

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ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE And with that glass of wine, who wouldn’t love a cozy Wool Hooked Pillow to cuddle up with as you chat the night away with friends. This darling 8” x 18” lumbar features man’s best friend in a truck with the treasures of the season… Pumpkins! You know they will go quickly! And to top off my finds, you won’t want to leave the shop without a collection of these whimsical Fair-Trade Wildflowers. Crafted of felt, these blossoms will last far longer than our beautiful display of leaves throughout our mountainous ranges. Collect an array of colors to decorate your home office or the kid’s workspace… a splendid way to bring the outdoors…in!

2570 Route 9 Malta, (inside the Allerdice Ace Hardware) Allerdice.com/divisions/accents-at-allerdice 518.899.6222

FINISHING TOUCHES 450 East High Street, Malta FinishingTouchesStore.com 518.584.1490

And have you been to FINISHING TOUCHES’ new location at 450 East High Street in Malta? A beautiful presentation of everything you need for your home including this Roosevelt Sofa upholstered in worn cognac leather. I can see this piece near a fireplace, book on the side table and… you guessed it…a glass of cognac. The distressed leather is classic, one of my favorites, with slim tailored arms to compliment any modern décor. To add a bit of the fall fruitage, this oversized Corrugated Metal Pumpkin adds a spark of charm for the porch amid multi-colored mums. Add a bit a height to the arrangement with this 40” high Wooden Wagon Wheel! The distressed wood and corrugated edges of the pumpkin add a rustic atmosphere and create a feeling of relaxation on a cool Autumn evening.

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Colleens ’ Picks

SILVERWOOD GALLERIES 398 Broadway Saratoga Springs SilverwoodGalleries.com 518.583.3600

With our Saratoga downtown bustling for the fall, its wonderful to stroll the sidewalks and take in all the beautifully decorated windows for the season. SILVERWOOD GALLERY always seems to have eye catching home goods that draw you into their shop. For instance, to illuminate the evenings, these Glass Floating Tea-Light Hurricanes are perfect to create an atmosphere of warmth and coziness. With five different sizes to mix and match, you can find an arrangement that works in any space of your home! And what about this adorable wool and cotton velvet “Upstate of Mind” Throw Pillow! We may not all love the cooler weather ahead, but we can cozy up with the one we love as the temperatures start to drop! I’d say this sounds like the start of wonderfully, romantic evening! In your travels, I know stopping at LAKESIDE FARMS is a must for cider donuts! And you know I love their Ye Olde Gift Shoppe filled with treasures and one-of-a -kind pieces! Look at these Handmade Glass Sculptures of Owls and Harvest Gourds! The details are impeccable…from the owl’s honeycomb belly and finger-like facial details to the pumpkins textural curly stem. A vase or simple décor on a console table with scattered leaves…they are bound to be treasured for generations!

LAKESIDE FARMS 336 Schauber Road, Ballston Lake LakeideFarmsCidermill.com 518.399.8359

Last, but certainly not least, it has been a privilege to watch TOGA HERITAGE blossom into its own location at 322 Broadway and the corner of Spring Street. We all know Toga Heritage for their Signature Tartans, the flags on Broadway for National Tartan Day and more. For your fall outings, be sure to stop in for their Signature Tartan Serving Platter, perfect for small bite-sized sandwiches, fruit and a variety of cheeses. And don’t forget to pick up a package of their Linen Napkins to make any outing a special day to remember! Oh, the wondrous leaf peeping, the warm soups and stews, cuddly sweaters and fashionable boots…it’s all back! Let’s greet nature with open arms as she transitions us into the next season…both through the change in weather as well as a new outlook for where our own personal season in life may lead!

TOGA HERITAGE 322 Broadway, Saratoga Springs TogaHERITAGE.com

Until next time my friends.

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS

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Full spectrum Design WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

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Sound design speaks volumes. The spaces that Brendan Flanigan designs have an audible energy. They are interiors of significance, born from a place where intent is informed by experience and intuition. He calls it a New Design Paradigm. “As a designer, you do need to work from a point of view or a perspective that brings in a range of experiences and information. That range really is my trademark,” said Flanigan.

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DISTINCT DESIGN Far from being a frivolous endeavor, interior design has the power to determine how you feel about and use a space. In the hospitality and retail industries, it can also have a measurable impact on profits. For Flanigan, the foundation of this realization began when he was a teenager working at his parent’s restaurant, Emma Dux, in Malta. The kitchen and dining room had to be crafted for efficiency, because with each wasted step, the business would be losing money.

“A furniture order sheet with a list of specifications isn’t a design. I spend more time up front with a client, asking questions, so I don’t just find something they like, I find something they love,” said Flanigan.

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Years later, Brendan Flanigan Interiors is redesigning restaurants like the Butcher Block in Plattsburgh and The Bishop in Albany with profitability in mind. Step inside however, and you’re too captivated by its compelling elements to notice. Dive in and explore the daring

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wit and wisdom that led Flanigan to remove walls to expose brick walls, and place oversized brass sconces (sourced from Hudson, NY) above The Bishop’s timelessly sophisticated 25-foot copper bar (a metal that is naturally antimicrobial).

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DISTILLED STYLE Brick, a mix of metals, and woods also define the Union Hall Supply Co. menswear shop that he designed in Saratoga Springs. These items feel as old as they are new, complimenting each other in unexpectedly and deeply pleasant ways. “I’m weaving it all together – who a client is, where they are, and where they are going,” said Flanigan. As a full-spectrum interior designer, he not only shops the marketplace, he also has a number of local

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artisans who will create his original design pieces, from metalwork to millwork, including dramatically angled countertops and cocktail tables, for a finished room that is stylish, comfortable and functional. In his residential designs, as well, there is a rhythm of line and form that is entirely unique to each homeowner. “When you walk into your house, it won’t look like any other house because it shouldn’t – it should look like you,” said Flanigan.

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Brendan Flanigan Interiors is a finalist in this year’s Lux magazine design awards, and the National Kitchen & Bath Association awards. He won Best Kitchen Design at the 2019 New York Innovation in Design Awards, both the 1st and 2nd place awards for Best Residential Design from the American Society of Interior Designers, numerous Best of Houzz awards,

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Create spaces energized with intentional style. Award-winning interior designer Brendan Flanigan is here to help.

Give it Space to Breathe:

“The mistake I see that happens all the time is people use oversized furniture that is too large for a room, and at the same time, they undersize the art. Think of the gallery concept and all those white walls: they could easily fill every wall but they don’t because they want to frame a piece. Use your home in this way to celebrate design,” said Flanigan. Don’t be afraid to leave a space empty. Vary the size and scale of art for an intriguing look.

Make the Old New Again:

Out of sight means out of mind - for the moment. “Just because you own it, that doesn’t mean you have to look at it all the time,” advises Flanigan. Use just what you truly love in your space right now and pack away the other items for a new season. Then, when you need a change, pull those things back out to refresh and switch things up.

3 Turn Up the Dial on Color: Many color schemes are too basic, said Flanigan. Using the same two swatches of color, and all the same finishes makes a space look tired and too manufactured. There’s a psychology behind color: yellow stimulates learning, and red increases the appetite, for instance. and was on the panel of judges at the 2020 Times Union Home Design Contest. You can also see the Sag Harbor home he designed in the September issue of Cottages & Gardens magazine.

Try something new, like accent pillows in a shade you’d never try and see if it’s a ‘go.’ Many items are low commitment and give you a glimpse into a unique palette. SS

For more information, find Brendan Flanigan Interiors on Facebook, Instagram and at BrendanFlanigan.com

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REPURPOSED…

WRITTEN BY AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

In an era where we tend to throw so much away… always wanting the next best thing that comes along… I have some treasures-from-trash stories to enlighten your thinking! I myself have always loved picking up an old chair or table curbside and turning it into something special. It’s about seeing the “form,” the bones of someone else’s discarded fragments, and imagining the diamond buried deep inside. A challenge of sorts to make something out of nothing! Take for instance this simple tray table with foldable legs. A $5 find at a thrift shop turned coffee table. With a little elbow grease, a new print centerstage to set the mood (The Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano), some brass paint artistically applied and voila! ...An artful centerpiece with a new purpose!

BEFORE

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Katherine Cumming Photography

And what about all the porcelain china sets like Lenox, Mikasa & Noritake that we just had to have on our wedding registry…Did you know Lenox was the first company to develop a bridal registry?…and our kids have NO use for them! They are being donated to Habitat Restores and found in garage sales for pennies on the dollar! I don’t know about you, but I love my set…my boys are just going to have to find a spot in their homes to display them when I’m gone! Anyway… here is a fabulous idea from my brother’s wedding...Thank you John and Gina for the pics! Their caterer, Green Zebra Catering LLC, collects all sorts of china patterns and uses them for table settings. A mix-andmatch that sets the tone for a formal event

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Katherine Cumming Photography

yet offering a casual twist by not having the entire place setting from the same collection...Genius!! ...And the head table was a true masterpiece! A vintage drop leaf side table borrowed from a dear friend…You know the saying…Something old, something new! Both were magnificent touches to their outdoor wedding reception under the stars! With all the upcoming fall weddings being simplified and many with smaller, casual receptions… what are you waiting for…get yourself to Habitat Restore and Rebuilding Together…your guests are going to love this!

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Now, if you’re planning on updating your old patio, don’t discard the pavers. My husband and I had a pool installed a few years back and decided to remove our smaller courtyard area, making room for a larger entertaining space for outdoor dining and gatherings pool side. The pavers were moved to a corner of our lot in hopes of being used again one day. Well this summer, some of them found a new life as the boarder for our vegetable garden. We dry-stacked the bricks in an alternating fashion, giving the garden a traditional vibe while keeping the surrounding grass at bay!

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We didn’t stop there…Our row of triangular trellis’ for the beans were old pieces of wood from a crate. To craft the “trellis,” we inserted a screw at the top of each pole and four more in alternating positions about half way down the posts. We tied twine to each of the screws and created a web for the beans to climb on by securing the rope to the ground with our old tent stakes. Simple and easy …and we used what we had on hand! And don’t stop at your own surplus...Hey, when my friends ask “Does anyone want old bricks?” I’m there with my car loading them up! ...Yeah, I have a thing for old bricks...I use them as a short retaining wall for my hidden garden path. Most of them are from historical homes in Saratoga and the surrounding lake areas. A little piece of history...if bricks could talk!

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BEFORE

And when you are renovating your home, be mindful to think about the architectural elements, like windows, doors and moldings, you are removing. Last year I worked with a couple to design their garage addition which included a pool house. The old mudroom was reworked with a staircase to the new garage below eliminating one of the original 1800 French windows. While one panel had to be stored for another day, I designed a custom barn door for their pool house bathroom entry out of the other. My woodshop cleaned up the original hardware and replaced the glass with mirror for privacy. The panel was then set into a handcrafted door, original brass surface bolts and all! Integrating this element from their original home into their new addition brought old and new together. Offering a view into the past while maintaining a modern take on an architectural remnant.

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Or how about the old dresser your mom gave you for one of the kids…yeah, they didn’t want it either… And that color! Well, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water just yet! This clever, local decorative artist and muralist, Stephanie Salway of Starlily Design Studio, transformed an old chest of drawers from a tired green leftover into a bright and cheery cabinet for her client’s collection of board games. Easy-Peasy… Okay, so this isn’t in your wheelhouse of talents but you are beginning to see the vision! Stephanie is a great resource; from small items up to giving your kitchen cabinets a facelift…all with paint!

BEFORE

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BEFORES

And talk about repurposing items from your home. Look at this beautiful greenhouse! Everything except the roof was repurposed. The homeowners, Rilla and Mike Schulte, designed and built this dreamy escape using many items from their past and present home renovations over the years… Rilla explains, “On the front of the building we used three windowed doors from our existing farm which now matches the sliding door on our garage. The windows on the entry side were found on the side of the road.”… see what I mean!…“The one gabled end has a transom window repurposed from here on the farm. The side windows were given to me from a friend and the large paned window was a handmade original from our 1880’s dairy barn home. The countertops, sink and faucet are repurposed as well. When we moved here, we replaced what was in the kitchen. Hoping someday to have a greenhouse, I opted to keep the old pieces on hand. And get this, on the back side are atrium doors from our old house inserted with the glass top from our first dining room table from the 80s!”…Their greenhouse is so much more than repurposed items…it’s a collection of life well lived; of memories, friendships and finds. And now…it’s a retreat for the soul! So, the next time you think you’re going to give the garbage man that “whatever,” think twice; call a crafty friend or try imaging it as something else. Just think, you will have created a pearl from sand…A cherished artifact with stories a store-bought piece just can’t tell. Happy treasure hunting my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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In the Kitchen WITH

JOHN REARDON

Compliments to the Chef Hello my Foodie Friends! I love the scents of autumn.

Everyone has a favorite season. It’s the one that makes them feel energized or serene. For me I have a favorite smelling season. While spring is my favorite part of the year visually, autumn is my favorite smelling season. My nose hits overdrive when September rolls around, and it has nothing to do with allergies. There’s a reason we love the smell of autumn. Think of all the spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. This is also why we covet fall themed desserts. Cinnamon is the earthy spice that we all love in the fall -and winter! I take it to the next level and add cinnamon sticks to the slow cooker with sliced oranges and a good amount of water. They simmer all day, and my home smells like a warm hug. Pies and autumn go hand in hand. Taking someone a pie represents love and comfort and pies are a wonderful way of bringing people together. Pies seem to generate a nostalgic longing for days gone by and simpler times. During the end-of-the-year holiday time, pie is a seasonal reminder of nature’s bounty and even though there is a pie to celebrate almost every month of the year, the fall is when they shine the brightest.

and the differences aren’t just aesthetic—a pie plate’s material, thickness, and color all affect the final product. A pastry brush is the easiest way to apply a thin, even egg wash over pies with a double crust, like a classic apple pie. Choose between the natural (or thin nylon) bristles or the thicker silicone style. If you’ve always felt anxious about rolling out pie dough, it’s worth playing the field to find a rolling pin that makes you feel confident in the kitchen. While choosing the best rolling pin is a highly personal process, I love the simplicity of a French pin, which is lighter and more maneuverable. After you’ve rolled out pie dough, a sturdy bench scraper will make quick work of any mess. It will scrape up all the flour and stubborn dough scraps left behind, helping you clean up in a few easy swipes. Plus, it’s handy for dividing blocks of dough without scratching the counters.

Who doesn’t love the smell of a pie baking in the oven!! Having the right tools to bake a pie is important. Virtually all pie-making equipment will prove useful for other baking chores as well, so each piece will be sure to earn its keep. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, these are the pie-making essentials. It is difficult to make a great pie without a great pie plate. Pie plates come in a variety of styles,

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Hopefully, trying out fall pie recipes is at the top of your list of things to do this season. Making pies is a classic way to enjoy the season’s best flavors while pleasing your sweet tooth. Not much can beat the tastiness of a homemade pie! Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place. Pick up the cool tools for cooks to help you with your Autumnal delights. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. Take care, John and Paula

Autumn Surprise Pie Ingredients: • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 3 tablespoons sugar • 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon baking powder • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed • 1/3 cup fat-free milk • 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar FILLING: • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves • 5 cups sliced peeled apples • 2 cups sliced peeled ripe pears • 1/3 cup raisins • 3/4 teaspoon rum extract TOPPING: • 1 large egg, lightly beaten • 1 teaspoon coarse sugar saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Directions: 1. Mix first four ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Mix milk and vinegar; add gradually to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough into two portions, one slightly larger than the other. Shape each into a disk; cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. 2. Preheat oven to 425°. On a lightly floured surface, roll larger portion of dough to a 1/8-in.thick circle; transfer to a greased 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust even with rim. Refrigerate while preparing filling. 3. Mix first five filling ingredients. Place apples, pears, and raisins in a large bowl. Add sugar mixture and extract; toss to combine. Spoon into crust. 4. Roll out remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into 3/4-in.-wide strips. Arrange over filling in a lattice pattern. Trim and seal strips to edge of bottom crust; flute edge. Brush lattice with beaten egg. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. 5. Bake on a lower oven rack 15 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°. Bake until crust is golden brown, and filling is bubbly, 30-35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. SS FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 155

IDEAS FOR RELAXED GATHERINGS YOUR GUESTS WILL LOVE... And you will too! TAPENADE – a simple to prepare and appealing cocktail time nibble.

Tapenade

Ingredients 1 cup of coarsely chopped pimento stuffed green olives drained of brine.

hat could be simpler and more fun than inviting a few friends over for a few cocktails and some yummy finger foods served al fresco? The September weather is still warm and sunny so it’s a great time to host a small relaxed gathering outdoors.

½ cup coarsely chopped pitted Kalamata olives 1 two-ounce tin of flat anchovy filets and the olive oil they are packed in. 4 tablespoons of capers drained

To make your preparations easy, do like I do and purchase some pre-made goodies to serve. Keep things simple too in relation to snacks you make yourself and stick to easy to prepare recipes.

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

When I think of simple to prepare but delicious cocktail foods Tapenade quickly comes to mind. Traditionally made with olives, capers, and anchovies, this appetizing spread can be whipped up quickly with a food processor and minimal prep work. This nosh presents well and can be served in a variety of appetizing ways. It looks great piled into an oversized martini glass alongside a basket of crackers and crusty baguette slices. Fill Belgian Endive leaves with tapenade and you have a delicious finger food with minimal effort. Arranged on a serving plate, the filled Endive leaves make an impressive presentation as well!

A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for garnish

1 large or 2 small garlic cloves coarsely chopped ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste. 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley Instructions •Place all ingredients except the extra virgin olive oil and parsley into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. • Secure the lid and pulse on high speed until the ingredients are finely chopped and the mixture has the consistency of a coarse paste. • Transfer the tapenade to a serving dish and drizzle lightly with the extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the parsley to garnish. • Alternatively fill washed and dried Belgian Endive leaves and arrange on a serving platter. ENJOY!

In my recipe I use a combination of stuffed green olives and Kalamata olives. Instead of traditional ground black pepper I use crushed red pepper flakes to give it a little kick, and white wine vinegar helps point up the dishes’ flavor. A note about the anchovies – please give them a chance. These muchmaligned little fish are disliked by many, that is until they try Tapenade. In this recipe the anchovies are ground and incorporated into the other ingredients, thus contributing a deliciously salty flavor without the texture and visual issues that turn many people off.

Watch Ralph in action!

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Yearly: Your home at a Glance WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE

s a homeowner, we have the daunting task of taking care of it ALL. I know I feel like I am behind and forgetting some stuff that needs to be done. Here is a snapshot that covers most of the things needed and triggers for culling each area yearly.

On the area for cleaning each month - remember to clean top down and move all furniture to get underneath! This is a deep clean, not the regular wipe down. If curtains and bedding are in

the area for the month, consider doing those too because if you don’t, it will be another year before you think about it. Vacuum blinds and lampshades in the room you are doing too. Deep clean flooring as needed for the space. For organizing, this means touching each item once and making sure you want it. And if it belongs where you have it. You should make donations ongoing but I added in one month to get out donations if you have been putting it off!

Ja nuary

February

March

What to clean: Kitchen – cabinets – in and out, appliances, everything on surfaces

What to clean: Closets

What to clean: Bathrooms

What to inspect for repair: Fitness equipment

What to inspect for repair: Leaks under sinks Plumbing in general

What to inspect for repair: Change batteries in the smoke detectors Remove Christmas outdoor What to organize: Paper – cull to get ready for Taxes and start new year files Pantry – fresh year, get fit Kitchen small appliances

What to organize: Electronics (Recycle items) Cleaning Products

April What to clean: Laundry Room Winter tools What to inspect for repair: AC unit(s) Car – remove winter items

What to organize: Meds and Beauty products Towels

What to organize: Winter clothing – purge/pack Winter Coats/hats/gloves+ Winter/Summer bedding (switch if you do this)

May

Ju ne

July

What to clean: Yard, Porches/Driveway Windows

What to clean: Garage

What to clean: Kids Bedrooms

What to inspect for repair: Electrical System Home tools – vacuums, so on

What to inspect for repair: Furniture – scratches, upholstery, stain clean-up Tree/Tree limbs

What to inspect for repair: All yard tools, outdoor furniture, planting pots and tools, pool items, etc Gutters/Siding/Foundation What to organize: Kids toys/clothing Sporting items

What to organize: Garage Camping gear Outdoor rec – bikes, +

Septe mber

October

What to clean: Master Bedroom – wipe down furniture in and out, all décor

What to clean: Guest Room(s) – for hosting

What to inspect for repair: Heating system Chimney Seals on Windows What to organize: Gifts to give Accessories – Jewelry, hats, + Shoes saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

What to inspect for repair: Car for winterizing items Paint touch-ups or redo within the home What to organize: Storage areas – Attic/Basement Boxes – for shipping/storage

August What to clean: Office(s) Donations – get out piles What to inspect for repair: Rugs throughout Mattresses/Pillow What to organize: Linens Reading material Wrapping supplies

What to organize: School supplies roundup Papers from the school year Craft items

Nove mber

Dece mber

What to clean: Dining Room Garage – again to get cars in!

What to clean: Living/Family Room - wipe down furniture in and out, all décor

What to inspect for repair: Christmas outdoor items

What to inspect for repair: Serving kitchen items – crockpot, plug in dishes, etc

What to organize: Summer clothing – purge/pack Hangers Kids toys/clothing Decorations you will not use

What to organize: Games, Movies, Music Entertaining dishes/supplies SS

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101 PLANTING

Home Steading

WRITTEN BY JESSICA HOLMES,

MASTER GARDENER COORDINATOR-WARREN COUNTY HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR-SARATOGA COUNTY CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | WARREN COUNTY

Garlic

Garlic has so many uses in cooking from the clove and beyond, why not grow it in your own garden?!

elieve it or not, fall is actually the best time to plant garlic, after the first frost through November. You can plant garlic early in the spring but will have a much smaller crop than if planted in the fall. It typically takes about eight months for the garlic plant to reach maturity when planted in the fall. Before planting, always check your pH to see if your soil needs to be amended. Garlic prefers a pH of about 6.2 through 6.8 with well-drained and fertile soil. Place garlic in direct sunlight consisting of six or more hours a day. Purchase bulbs from your local garden center, as grocery store cloves are not recommended. Break them apart, making sure to keep the paper skin on the outside. Plant the tips up, two inches deep, and about five inches apart. Make sure throughout the spring that the garden beds stay weeded. Consider adding two or three inches of mulch where the garlic is planted to help suppress weeds. Once summer rolls around, you can harvest the scapes of the garlic to use it as flavoring to any dish, or you can make garlic scape butter, pesto, and more! When cutting the

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scapes, make sure to leave one or two remaining on the plant so you can determine when the garlic needs to be harvested. Trimming the scapes not only is a great way to keep fresh flavors in the kitchen, but it actually helps the garlic to produce a bigger bulb. One thing to keep in mind is not to plant garlic where anything from the onion family has been grown in the last couple of years. There are a few varieties of garlic. Softneck, which is called this because the neck is soft at harvest time. It has a strong flavor and stores well. Stiffneck has a stiff stem in the middle of the cloves, and it curls as it grows. Stiffneck is the most cold-hardy, but doesn’t store as well and has a mild flavor. There is also elephant garlic, which has a mild flavor and is a larger bulb with fewer cloves. Don’t think planting time is over and put away all of your tools! This fall, get out there and plant some garlic! For further questions, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County at 518-885-8995 or email jmh452@cornell.edu. SS

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WITH

Gardening PETER BOWDEN

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY PETER BOWDEN

othing brightens up the winter home like giant Amaryllis flowers and now is the time to get them started.

Amaryllis flowers range in color from pure white to wine red and every variation in between. Banded, striped and bordered have been developed, transforming an already striking plant into an extraordinary specimen indeed! It isn’t uncommon for the flower spike to rise 2 1/2’ above the top of the bulb and produce flowers 7” across...real show stoppers! When you’re purchasing one, be aware that Amaryllis bulbs can vary greatly in size....and size does make a difference! The bigger the bulb, the more flowers you get. When you’re ready to plant your Amaryllis bulb, inspect the bottom and remove any dead roots. Dead roots will be withered and dry. The pot you choose should seem too small for the bulb. It should only be an inch or two wider than the widest part of the bulb. Plant so that 1/2 to 1/3 of the bulb is exposed above the soil and water thoroughly. Place your potted Amaryllis in a warm spot (on top of the refrigerator works for me). Don’t water it again until you notice the flower stem starting to emerge from the top of the bulb. This will take some time so be patient. When a shoot emerges it’s time to move your Amaryllis to a bright location. Keep the soil just lightly moist. The flower spike will grow very quickly with noticeable growth each day. When the huge flowers open, you may want to move your Amaryllis to a cooler location (as low as 50 degrees) to prolong the show of flowers. After the flowers are spent, cut off the flower stem. By now leaves have probably started to emerge from the bulb. To get your Amaryllis to flower again, it’s important to promote this leaf growth. Think of the leaves as solar collectors that convert sunlight into energy that’s stored in the bulb for the next flowering cycle. Bright light (but not direct sun) is the source of next year’s flowers. Keep the soil lightly moist and feed with a soluble plant food at half strength about every two or three weeks. The best way to strengthen your Amaryllis is to sink the pot in a semi-shady flowerbed outside when things warm up in mid-May. Sink the pot into the soil so that the exposed part of the bulb is almost covered. In fall before frost, bring your Amaryllis inside and allow it to dry out completely. Keep dry and store at 60 to 65 degrees for at least a month. This dry storage period is necessary to stimulate your Amaryllis to begin its next growth cycle. Remember, Amaryllis like to be potbound, so you can keep it in the same size pot for two or three years. Thanks for the read. SS

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HISTORY

Our

WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE BOLSTER COLLECTION

Rarely Seen Photos of Saratoga Springs

The Rail

The 2020 summer season at Saratoga Race Course has been very different due to the COVID-19 protocols with just a few select people allowed to attend. This picture of a different time reminds us of the excitement “at the rail” means and what will be allowed to return in the future …with or without straw hats. For the rest of Rarely Seen Photos turn to page 160. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE STREETS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS

The story they tell

WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE BOLSTER COLLECTION

he history of a city can be told in many ways. I have always thought a fun way is to look at street names and work backward to find the story behind each street and why it was so important that it was added to the list of streets in that city.

When discussing the names of city streets in Saratoga Springs, I generally start with the one that gets the most attention, Broadway. This thoroughfare was laid out by the founders of our city, Doanda and Gideon Putnam. When Doanda Putnam put an “X” of whitewash paint on the trees in the forested area of today’s downtown, she was marking which ones would be cut down to make a broad way in this new village. Her husband, Gideon was a lumberman by trade and operated a sawmill in the northern section of the soon to be village. She marked them and he cut and hauled them away to be made into useful lumber for construction of houses and barns. The first maps of the village described the street as Broad Street. Over time Broad Street was described as Broad Way and eventually spelling changes made it Broadway on future maps. It was by far the widest street planned in the village at 122 feet wide while the other streets planned by the Putnams were to be a mere 66 feet from curb to curb. It was a real “vision” for the Putnams to make the central street of this new village so wide that it would years later support four lanes of car traffic with parking on each side.

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Another curious street that has a unique story is Circular Street. In the early 1800s almost every city in America that was laying out new streets did so in a grid pattern that had straight paths. To make a street “circular” in shape was a very different proposition. It was so unique that once a gentleman living in a western state addressed a letter to Fredric Menges, Circular Street. No city or state was listed on the envelope. In time the letter was delivered to Mr. Menges and the story was told that it made it to Saratoga Springs N.Y. since it was the only city known to have a “Circular” Street. The circular path of the street was the vision of John Clarke. Unfortunately, as the street made it to the intersection of Broadway, landowners of the westside of the village would not sell land for this unique purpose. Today we have Circular Street and a West Circular but without the required shape of a true circle around the city. Another curious street name is found in Phila Street. Named after a daughter of Gideon and Doanda Putnam it was many times incorrectly reported that it was a shortened form of Philadelphia and not named in honor of their daughter. I have even heard visitors of today think that it is a shortened version of Philadelphia. Some street names have their history lost from clear view in present day Saratoga Springs. Lake Avenue, today, does not go to Saratoga Lake and Church Street does not have a single church on it, but they used to be the path to the lake saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

and also had many early churches. Maple Avenue was originally named Front Street until Thomas Haywood Tompkins planted a large number of Maple trees on the street and the name was changed in the 1850s to reflect those plantings. During the same time period new streets on the westside of the village were being named after other tree species such as Elm, Ash, Oak and Walnut. Those names reflected the types of trees that were originally part of the landscape in the village. In the same theme of name changes, Spring Street was originally named Bath Street. Near the site of today’s carousel was a bathhouse operated by Gideon Putnam called the Hamilton Baths. In 1868 the Hathorn Spring was discovered when they were building the ballroom for the Congress Hall. The owners of Congress Hall asked permission to move Bath Street 60 feet north to its present location and renamed it Spring Street. It made more sense to name the street Spring Street since the bathhouse had disappeared from operation and the Hathorn was a popular mineral spring. Marvin Street reminds us of the Marvin brothers, Thomas and James. The Marvin brothers were very instrumental in the early development of the village and were so loved that one of the first upscale sections of the village was suggested to be called Marvin Square. The humble Marvin brothers suggested that a more fitting tribute to a true American hero would be to call it Franklin Square and therefore Franklin Street. Jumel Place is named to honor Eliza Jumel, who lived on Circular Street but was one of the largest landowners in the village in the mid-19th century. After the death of her husband Stephen Jumel she remarried Aaron Burr only to divorce him as he squandered her fortune. Jumel was smart to use Alexander Hamilton’s son as her divorce attorney. Many other streets were named after famous figures in early city history. Bryan Street was named after Alexander Bryan who was the first permanent settler in Saratoga Springs and operated a tavern and boarding house near the site of today’s Old Bryan Inn. Walton Street was named after the largest landowner in the early settlement, Henry Walton. Walton originally owned all the land in the city north of Congress Street and east to the Yaddo property. Walworth Street was named after the last Chancellor of the State of New York, Reuben Hyde Walworth who lived in a house on Broadway called Pine Grove. John Clarke was the first person to bottle and distribute mineral water from Saratoga Springs in the early 1800s, and his fame lives on with a spelling change to get Clark Street near Union Avenue today. White Street intersects Clark and is named after the other early family involved with bottling mineral water. When Mr. White died, John Clarke married his widow and the bottling business was called Clarke and White. Warren Street was named after Judge Warren who was the son of Captain John saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

and Betsey Warren. Captain Warren was a figure in the American Revolution and his brother General Joseph Warren had died at the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. It is said that Betsy danced with Washington at the Victory Dance in 1783 at Newburg N.Y. Thoughts of George Washington might help us to understand the naming of Washington Street, but in this case is was named for Washington Putnam, son of Gideon and Doanda Putnam. George Washington visited Saratoga Springs’ famed High Rock Spring with Governor George Clinton (Clinton Street), Alexander Hamilton (Hamilton Street) and General Phillip Schuyler (Schuyler Drive) in 1783. Washington was so impressed with the water that flowed from the High Rock that he made an attempt to buy the spring and surrounding property. That offer was refused in 1783. Washington’s visit also helps to remind us of the many “presidential” streets in the city like Lincoln, Madison, Jefferson, Adams, Monroe and Harrison. Benjamin Harrison visited Saratoga Springs many times as a guest of the Walworth family and his first wife was the first President of the Daughters of the American Revolution, founded by Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth also of Saratoga Springs. Many streets don’t tell a fact of history as much as being selfexplanatory such as South Street, North Street, Middle Avenue, and East and West Avenues. These streets helped to define the extent of the city in earlier days. Greenfield Avenue was the original road to Greenfield and Nelson Avenue was a road to the Nelson Farm. Union Avenue and Federal Street were named after the Union during the Civil War. Division Street was a boundary of farm property and also divided Broadway when it was shorter in length. Rock Street was named to denote the location of the High Rock Spring, but later the area known partially as Willow Walk would become High Rock Avenue. A lesser known passage in the city is Gardner Lane. Gardner Lane connects Broadway to Putnam Street on the north side of N. Fox Jewelry. This lane was named after Robert Gardner who bought property on Putnam Street in 1830. As Gardiner walked from his property to spots on Broadway, he wore a path. For many years others used the path as a short cut to Broadway until it eventually became Gardner Lane. Van Dam Street and Beekman Street were named after Rip Van Dam and Johannes Beekman who were two of the original 13 recipients of land in 1708 from Queen Anne in a royal land acquisition called the Kayaderosseras Patent. The queen bestowed on loyal subjects and friends of the crown over 800,000 acres of land in this area of New York in an effort to get settlers to build homes and by claiming ownership it helped to keep the French out from the north. The streets of any city tell a history. The older streets of Saratoga Springs tell the unique history of this area while new ones are added for different reasons. Our local history is so rich that as Saratoga Springs continues to grow there is no worry that we will run out of names for new streets. SS FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 163

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

Walworth Mansion 1954

The Walworth Mansion was located on the westside of Broadway directly across from the present-day City Center and the location of a Stewart’s Store today. The building was torn down shortly after this image was taken. This mansion underwent many renovations in its life span. It started as a smaller white home built in 1815 by Henry Walton and purchased by Judge Rueben Hyde Walworth, last Chancellor of the State of New York in 1823.

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Congress Spring/ Grand Central Hotel

This is an interesting image in the collection that lacks an exact date the image was taken. It’s easy to give a range since the Grand Central Hotel can be seen in the rear and that was built in 1872 and burned in October of 1874.

Congress Hall Dining Room

Congress Hall was one of the four largest hotels that was part of the village in the 1800s. The Congress Hotel stretched down Broadway from the corner of Spring Street to the entrance to Congress Park. Society demanded the best of food, drink and entertainment in these hotels and as we can see in this image the dining room was quite elegant. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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STYMIE

customer stopped in at the Dark Horse Mercantile last fall and mentioned a horse that his grandfather was connected to back in the 1940s named Stymie. I had never heard of him before this and became fascinated with his amazing Dark Horse story and I began doing a little research to learn a bit more about him. There is a lot of information available on Stymie and his trainer Hirsch Jacobs and it made me want to know even more. This searching lead me to a book “Out of the Clouds, The Unlikely Horseman and Unwanted Colt who Conquered the Sport of Kings” by Linda Carroll and David Rosner. I purchased and read the book cover to cover that weekend, fascinated by the story of this unlikely duo and their associates. It was a look back in time to a very different world of horse racing back in the mid-1900s. I can’t talk about Stymie without also telling you about his trainer, Hirsch Jacobs. They were both classic underdogs and Stymie became known as “The People’s Horse” and Hirsch Jacobs “The King of the

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Claimers.” Claimers are considered the blue-collar class of the horse racing world. Stymie was foaled April 4, 1941 at the King Ranch in Texas. He was carefully bred by Richard Kleberg Jr. who was well known for his creation of the hardy Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle. He also bred fine Quarter Horses and eventually tried his hand at Thoroughbreds. Stymie was a result of this breeding experimentation. Stymie was a 15.2 hand, well-bred chestnut Thoroughbred, with a distinctive high head carriage. Stymie did not perform well in his early career with the King Ranch and their trainer did not have high hopes for him. He was a difficult and ornery horse that was eventually claimed in 1943 for a mere $1,500 by Hirsch Jacobs for his wife Ethel. Hirsch was making his name as a trainer of horses running in claiming races who were not expected to amount to much.

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Hirsch Jacobs was another “Dark Horse” who started out life in Brooklyn training racing pigeons and eventually moved over to racehorses. Quite a switch! All his horse sense was self-taught and one of his nicknames was “The Voodoo Vet.” Stymie and Trainer Jacobs were quite a pair of unexpected winners that are now both in the Racing Hall of Fame! Stymie was inducted in 1975 and Hirsch Jacobs in 1958. Hirsch Jacobs and his partner, Izzy (Isidor) Bieber ran a profitable racing stable B.B. Stables known for claiming horses that caught Hirsch’s eye, giving them the attention they needed to get them winning and repeating the cycle over and over. It was not a partnership that should have worked but a mutual respect for each other made them a force to be reckoned with. Izzy, also known as Kid Beebee (a nickname he hated), was a big-time gambler who was known to bet every penny he had on almost anything. They truly were a very unlikely pair. Stymie, Jacobs, and Bieber were regulars at Saratoga Racecourse winning the Whitney Stakes in 1946. They were often joined on the backstretch by the prolific writer Damon Runyon and though Jacobs focused only on the horses and their races, Runyon and Bieber were both well known in the clubs and casinos that made Saratoga infamous. Stymie finished in the money 96 times out of 131 career starts with 35 wins, 33 second and 28 thirds winning over $918,485. He was the richest racehorse of his time. He didn’t start winning until he was a 4-year-old in 1944 and became a crowd favorite. The crowds at the tracks in those day were mostly $2 bettors and appreciated the

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humble origins of both Stymie and Jacobs! Stymie was retired in 1949 as a result of an injury and he was put out to stud. He was sent off to retirement with a farewell ceremony that 30000 attended at the now defunct Jamaica Race Track. In 1956, the inaugural Stymie Stakes was run at Aqueduct Racetrack and continues in his honor during March each year. He stood at stud until 1961 with many talented offspring most notably to me, Hail to Reason and Affectionately. He passed away in 1962 of a heart attack at 21 years old. Stymie was a grandson of the remarkable Equipoise and great grandson of the extraordinary Man O’ War. Equipoise was a part of the Whitney string of horses (yes that Whitney family, like Marylou!). “As a yearling, Equipoise, another “Dark Horse,” was “an unimpressive individual. C. V. Whitney thought so little of the ugly duckling that he sent him to his second-string trainer” according to American Classic Pedigrees. Now that’s a tale for our next Dark Horse story! SS

Marianne Barker and Maddy Zanetti are Co-Owners of The Dark Horse Mercantile and Impressions of Saratoga in Downtown Saratoga Springs. The Dark Horse brand is all about overcoming the odds and believing in yourself even if you are not the favorite. There are so many interesting Dark Horse stories both in and out of horse racing we wanted to share them with our friends who read the Saratoga TODAY family of publications.

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SNOWMAN

A RAGS TO RICHES DARK HORSE STORY

orn in 1948 Snowman was a 16 hand grey horse of undetermined breeding that spent his early life as an Amish plough horse. As the farming community made the switch from horse to mechanical powered vehicles he eventually ended up in a horse auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania. There were no bidders for Snowman and he was on his way to slaughter in 1956 when he caught the eye of Dutch immigrant and horse trainer, Harry de Leyer. He saw something in Snowman and purchased him for a mere $60, plus an additional $20 to transport him home to St. James on Long Island. He started a new life at 8 years old in the de Leyer’s riding lesson program for children at the private Knox School. Snowman was sold to a neighbor for twice his investment as a beginner horse for a child. Snowman however had other ideas and kept jumping the fence between properties to go back home to de Leyer! It was then decided that Harry would never sell him and started teaching him to jump. After three or so months of training, Harry decided to enter Snowman in a local jumping event. Two years after being bought off a slaughter truck he started winning prestigious events beating the bluebloods of show jumping and well on the way to making show jumping history. He became known as the “Cinderella Horse” and attracted spectators to watch this working man’s horse become a legend during his 5 year career as an elite show jumper! In 1958 and 1959 the pair of unlikely champions won the US National Open Jumper Championship and the pinnacle of show jumping, The National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden in NYC. He was the first horse to win Horse of the Year two years running. He and Harry put the de Leyer’s Hollandia Farm on the horse showing map! When Snowman wasn’t on the show circuit jumping his heart out, he was a pet and playmate for the de Leyer kids. They would swim on him, use him as a diving board and use him for sledding in the winters. Harry would jump him over all sorts of obstacles, including another horse! He would often ride Snowman with no use of the reins at all and nothing but a soft rubber snaffle bit.

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In 1969 Snowman and de Leyer were invited to the National Horse Show for an official retirement ceremony. Harry and Snowman made many public appearances, including one on the Johnny Carson Show, where Johnny actually mounted Snowman. Snowman was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1992. There have been numerous books written, movies made and Breyer models created to celebrate this amazing horse and his Dark Horse story! He was retired in 1962 and lived out his years with Harry. He passed away at age 26 with Harry by his side and is buried in his favorite corner of his pasture at Hollandia Farms. Marianne Barker and Maddy Zanetti are Co-Owners of The Dark Horse Mercantile and Impressions of Saratoga in Downtown Saratoga Springs. The Dark Horse brand is all about overcoming the odds and believing in yourself even if you are not the favorite. There are so many interesting Dark Horse stories both in and out of horse racing we wanted to share them with our friends who read the Saratoga TODAY family of publications.

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A Shed Named WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD

here aren’t many people who have backyard sheds dedicated to their memory. You may feel naming a shed after someone is not a fitting tribute. This story may change your mind.

In 1961, Ron “Pete” Bishop and his wife Shirley opened a hot dog stand on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. It later became a restaurant. You’d be correct if you guessed where they derived the name. *The couple’s son Lee took over the reins in 1968 and over the next several decades grew a successful business with a dedicated staff and loyal customers. There were no frills or fancy menus. What you could depend on, were good homemade meals at a fair price. The portions were as big as the hearts of the people who worked and ate there. As the owner of Price’s Dairy in the ‘80s, I delivered milk to Shirley’s three days a week for ten years. It was during those years I became familiar with Lee’s parents, Pete and Shirley. They were in the restaurant regularly, sharing stories and laughter with everyone who walked in the door. Their outgoing personalities and blue-collar work ethic permeated the place. It infected their families. It even seemed to be a common quality of their customers. Right next door and only a few feet away, Pete and Shirley’s son Ron operated Humpty Dumpty Ice Cream in the same vein. I was honored to service both businesses all those years. Now, back to the shed. Pete was a retired builder. He’d built his home and the homes of his grown children. After retirement, he downsized and began building backyard storage sheds for friends and neighbors. I’m guessing it was more a hobby than a necessity. He did not work alone. Never known to sit idle, Shirley was the second half of saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Shirley

their two-person crew. At the time, I had a growing family and a need for more storage. I remember approaching the Pete and Shirley construction crew at the restaurant one morning and asking if they would build me a shed. A price was quoted and agreed upon. A firm handshake was the only contract needed. Pete’s experience securing supplies made it easy for me. All I had to do was stake out the location. After two full days, the two-person construction crew had completed the shed from floor joists to roof shingles. 35 years later, Pete and Shirley would be pleased to know their craftsmanship has stood the test of time. In the spring of 2020, we had a new roof put on our house and garage. As the contractor was writing up the estimate, I asked him to include the shed. Its roof was as old as the others, it deserved a little TLC too. Now that the old shed had a new hat, maybe a new coat was in order, so out came the painting supplies. A fresh layer of Drizzling Mist Grey was a start, but it didn’t seem to be enough. I replaced all the old trim and added new door hardware. Now the old girl looked like she just rolled off the new-shed lot. I think we both felt ready for another 35 years. Since 1985, every time I open those shed doors to pull out a rake or shovel, I think of Pete and Shirley, and my milk delivery days. All three have passed on, but they left me a rich man. No amount of money could replace the memories and friendships I collected during those days as a Saratoga milkman. I think Shirley would enjoy knowing a little backyard shed in Wilton has been named and dedicated to her memory and more… * Lee Bishop sold Shirley’s Restaurant in 2011. The current owner retained the Shirley’s name. SS FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 169

COMING SOON.....

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On B R O A D W AY 262-268 This SPOT.. SPOT

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE PHOTOS PROVIDED

Credit - Bonacio Construction

“

On This Spot:

A SERIES THAT PEELS BACK THE LAYERS OF TIME AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN SARATOGA SPRINGS TO REVEAL THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OUR CITY HAS UNDERGONE

Say what you want, but we wouldn’t be anything with-

Sept 17, 1893, a piece from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Credit- Beatrice Sweeney postcard collection

out the Springs,” often quipped lifelong Saratogian Minnie Bolster about her beloved hometown. Minnie always stressed the importance of water shaping Saratoga Springs into the beautiful city we treasure today.

Water played the lead role in obvious and not so obvious aspects of the evolving landscape of 262-268 Broadway. “This entire area is loaded with both mineral and pure springs,” reports Charles Kuenzel, president of the Saratoga Springs History Museum. The curative powers of our springs drew tourists “to take the cure” and led to the development of world-class hotels such as The United States Hotel, which became headquarters for political conventions of the 1800s. Soon the demand for large convention sites surpassed the capacity of these hotels. This led to the 1892 construction of a convention hall described below in the August 11, 1893 issue of The Baltimore Sun :

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The interior of Convention Hall had seating for 5,000 people. Credit- Beatrice Sweeney postcard collection.

Nicknamed the “Madison Square Garden of Upstate New York,” this site hosted a myriad of sporting events from boxing to basketball; concerts ranging from Victor Borge to Liberace; and most notably hosted NYS political conventions. Theodore Roosevelt, FDR and Thomas Dewey were all nominated for NYS governor on the floor of the well-known hall. Convention Hall flourished for 72 years. In April of 1965 the Saratoga Springs’ Jaycees published a report favoring the demolition of the structure for a newer, more modern convention site. Local preservationists opposed the move and it was briefly tabled for a few months until fate took over. Sunday, November 14, 1965 was a cool 39 degrees with winds gusting up to 25 mph. Early that afternoon, two teenage boys decided to sneak a cigarette smoke at the vacant, abandoned Columbian Hotel.

High School senior Pam Stone and her friend Dianne Murray were walking thru the Woolworth’s Plaza when flames from a round metal trash barrel behind the Columbian Hotel caught their attention. The Columbian Hotel was in a mass of fire. In a matter of minutes, they witnessed flames from the Columbian Hotel literally jump across the street to the roof of Convention Hall, burning the landmark to the ground in 35 minutes. Several factors led to the destruction of the historic building-most notably the lack of water pressure. Then Public Safety Commissioner John T. Roohan described the water pressure as being “so low it was not as much as from my garden hose.” As early witnesses on the scene Pam and Diane, like many others, watched the spectacle in disbelief. They recalled all the special high school basketball games they had attended in the historic center. “No other school in our area had that kind of arena. It was special,” stated Pam.

The three story brick hall burned quickly on Nov. 14, 1965 leaving only two blackened towers. Credit- George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga History Museum.

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YMCA on Broadway, 1972

Jeri Janicelli’s daughter Hannah and grand daughter Dillon look at the pond of Congress Park from their 5th floor condominium. The loss of this landmark structure left a gaping hole in the landscape for two years until it was finally filled in by Saratoga’s DPW in May 1967. Water played a different role in structure to follow on this spot. Until 1971, Saratoga Springs’ lacked an indoor public pool and any sort of athletic facilities at our YMCA. Thanks to efforts of many local leaders, that changed on June 14, 1970. Ground was broken at 262 Broadway for a new YMCA, complete with an olympic-sized pool, steam and sauna rooms, a gymnasium, and meeting rooms. The new facility was dedicated on December 5, 1971 before an appreciative group of 1,000 citizens. By today’s standards we would consider it a small, intimate facility, but then it was the envy of surrounding communities. A big draw were the diving boards.“Kids loved the diving boards and learning to jump off them. Watching them ‘beam’ when they met the challenge was so sweet,” recalls Gail Capobianco, part of the swimming staff. As our community grew, so did the demand for a larger YMCA facility. The YMCA put out a 2006 call for proposals and as reported in the Glens Falls Post Star, “ YMCA Jim Letts said the Realtor Tom Roohan and builder Sonny Bonacio won the right to redevelop the propriety with an offer of $1,465,000. YMCA officials were seeking proposals for the site that would be acceptable to the city and would bring $1 million or more to the YMCA for construction of its new building. Letts said the Roohan-Bonacio plan offered the most money and the best development of the four plans submitted.” Construction of Park Place Condominiums at 268 Broadway was completed in 2009. It featured 43 residential condominiums with commercial space on the ground floor. Of course the sound of water and fountains in Congress Park was a draw to prospective occupants of the six story building. Locals Jeri Janicelli and her husband chose to sell their country property in Greenfield for a stunning fifth floor unit at 268 Broadway. She shares, “I have a deep connection to the water, and this spot in particular. I grew up hearing my grandmother talk lovingly about their weekly Sunday drives from Schenectady to Congress Park for picnics and the water in the springs.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Jeri adds,” My favorite part of living here is hearing the laughter of children below my terrace chasing after or running from the ducks. My granddaughter’s favorite part of visiting me is that I have fountains and ducks in my backyard.” Denise Dubois, owner of Complexions Spa located in the ground floor, was also drawn to the water. In the basement is a spring and we were fortunate to have it piped up to our three hydrotherapy tubs,” she states. “Just before we opened our Spa I sat on our terrace and was so soothed by hearing the sounds of the park’s fountains,” Denise adds. Undoubtedly Minnie was right. We wouldn’t be anything without the SPRINGS! SS FALL 2020 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 173

Behind the Scenes Fall 2020 Cover Shoot

Our first MASKED selfie!

LOCATION Witt Construction’s Downton Walk luxury condo (actually, an enchanting English-style single family home, with all the conveniences of a condo!) was a delight to shoot in -and that back courtyard- omg! Lynn Roche was a delightful hostess and let us all drool over her Lap Pool and sitting area : ) See page 55 for information on this lovely home, and don’t miss the Showcase of Homes TV Special for even more! GUEST STAR Liz Bishop

HAIR & MAKE UP Professional Hair & Make Up by Diane Palma ps.. she does my hair too!

Homeowners Lynn and Doug Roche

WARDROBE Lifestyles of Saratoga

Can you tell... Randall, Liz and I were in no hurry to leave this charming backyard?!

INTERIOR DESIGN E Tanny Design, LLC PRODUCED BY Chris Vallone Bushee COVER PHOTO Randall Perry Photography SWEET EXTRA TOUCHES! Saratoga’s favorite market tote from Lifestyles, with a fall fresh bouquet from Dehn’s Flowers!

Thank You EVERYONE for another great Showcase of Homes cover! Chris Vallone Bushee Creative Director, Saratoga TODAY

The perfect thank you gift! 174 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

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176 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | FALL 2020

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