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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE SPRING 2022 Complimentary
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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE
OWNER/PUBLISHER Chad Beatty
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ MANAGING EDITOR Chris Vallone Bushee
MAGAZINE DESIGNER Kacie Cotter-Sacala
ADVERTISING DESIGNER Kelsey Sherman
ADVERTISING Jim Daley Cindy Durfey
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Bosshart Peter Bowden Colleen Coleman Jaynie Ellis Nicolina Foti John R. Greenwood Carol Godette George Hanstien Wendy Hobday Haugh Charlie Kuenzel Bill Orzell Colleen Pausley Megin Potter John Reardon Kristen Schultz Theresa St. John Jordana Turcotte Ralph Vincent
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Susan Blackburn Photography The George S. Bolster Collection George Hanstien Keeneland Library Cook Collection King Features Syndicate, Inc Randall Perry Photography Super Source Media Theresa St. John
PUBLISHED BY
SARATOGA TODAY 2254 Route 50 South Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com SimplySaratoga.com Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY, 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 © 2022. Saratoga TODAY Newspaper.
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contributors SAMANTHA BOSSHART 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. PETER BOWDEN 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. COLLEEN COLEMAN 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. JAYNIE ELLIS Jaynie Ellis is a reporter for Saratoga TODAY Newspaper and the Saratoga Business Report. Pursuing her passions in writing, photography, and film, she studied at the State University of New York College at Cortland and graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a concentration in journalism. She very much enjoys her work learning about and sharing inspiring stories in our local communities. NICOLINA VENICE FOTI Nicolina Foti is the Farm to School grant coordinator and agriculture educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County. She has a B.S. in Agriculture and Sustainability from SUNY Empire. She lives with her husband in Galway, NY where she grew up on the family farm. There she developed a love of horses and other farm animals. She says it’s extremely fulfilling to work in agriculture, helping farmers in this important Saratoga County industry. JOHN GREENWOOD 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.
WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH Northville freelancer Wendy Hobday Haugh’s short stories, articles, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications, including Woman’s World Weekly, Highlights for Children, and WritersWeekly.com. Her stories have appeared in 15 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit wendyhobdayhaugh.com. CHARLIE KUENZEL 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. COLLEEN PAUSLEY Colleen Pausley is the writer behind the blog; Life on Kaydeross Creek where she shares unique ideas to decorate your home on a budget, DIY projects, furniture makeovers and thrift store up-cycles. She and her husband have been do-it-yourselfers for 25 years and she believes that creating a warm, inviting home that you LOVE and that reflects who you are can be done on any budget. MEGIN POTTER 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. JOHN REARDON 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!” KRISTIN SCHULTZ Kristin Schultz has been writing about food, beverages and restaurants since 2014. She moved to the Capital Region in 2016 and enjoys scouring the area looking for delicious and interesting eats and drinks. She also loves spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking and has recently made it her mission to perfect the art of waffle making. Kristin will never turn down a glass of bourbon or a bowl of noodles. When she's not eating, Kristin likes to pile into the car with her family and explore new places. THERESA ST. JOHN 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. 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.
CAROL GODETTE 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
JORDANA TURCOTTE 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, 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.
GEORGE HANSTEIN George Hanstein was a photographer in New York City and New Jersey for 20 years. He decided that he had enough of city life and built a small house in the Adirondacks near The Great Sacandaga Lake, in pursuit of a quieter life. He worked in a local school district there, teaching photography to High School Seniors. Since retiring, he has filled his days spending time with his Golden Retrievers, doing photography, taking road trips and writing about things that spark his interest.
RALPH VINCENT 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.
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from the editor Chris Vallone Bushee, Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com • 518-581-2480 ext. 201 SimplySaratoga.com • saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Happy Spring, Saratoga We always start our first issue of the year focusing on PEOPLE, not necessarily the richest, biggest, or best, but people I want you to know. But this year, I’d like to mention a couple people who are NOT in this issue. I lost my mother a few months back and not a day goes by where I don’t think of something I want to tell her. Anybody who’s lost a parent knows that feeling, but we had a wonderful relationship (most days!!) and I couldn’t have asked for a better mom or a better passing for her, as we say… the circle of life. I have been thinking of adding my mom to this letter since she passed in November, but I never would’ve thought I’d also be talking about my co-worker Robin Mitchell as well. As you probably know by now, Robin, who was the General Manager at Saratoga TODAY just recently died of a broken heart, after losing her husband to a heart attack, Robin was not just my co-worker at Saratoga TODAY, we had met 27 years ago when I started at the Saratogian. In addition to road trips, shopping days and pool parties (possibly during work hours!) family get togethers, house parties, trips to the Cape, back yard get-togethers and holidays like you’ve never seen (this woman loved to entertain!) she’s been at my side for my entire professional career. Many of the wonderful messages on Facebook mentioned her mentoring, nurturing ways and I couldn’t agree more. Actually, I think it was her idea that I take over the magazine division (but I’m sure she let Chad think it was his!) We had so much fun in the early days building this brand… covers, themes, recipes, travel, people, wine tours, sushi 101… she would encourage me every step of the way. She was a force, the original Boss Babe : ) I recently found out I’m losing another dear friend, but I’ll never forget that smile, those eyes, that voice… Unfortunately, loss is a part of life, but I wouldn’t trade a minute. I believe the adage goes… ‘tis better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all - and I feel I’ve been so blessed with the relationships in my life. Please tell those you love how you feel about them …do it for me : ) As always… I must close with a big THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU! to our advertisers, without them, Saratoga TODAY couldn’t continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge to the thousands that read them. Please mention us by name when visiting these businesses… Simply Saratoga, the Saratoga TODAY magazine! I wish everyone a blessed year filled with good health, great times and purpose!
Chris 4 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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contents A GOOD READ
Simply... Simply ...
SARATOGA Spring 2022
8 12
Restaurant Feature: Haan Lao at Bound By Fate Preserving Saratoga
Meet... 16 18 20 22 24 26 29 32
Ed Noonan Ty Bolster John O’Conner Andrew Pappas Gary Ashe The Skoolie Patricia Nugent Maureen Hartman
FASHION Caroline & Main, Lifestyles, Mountainman Outdoor Supply Co., Pink Paddock, Spoken Boutique, Union Hall Supply Co., Violet’s Saratoga Springs OUT + ABOUT
Start here...
49 52 54
Road Trip to Jamestown! Northeast Woodworkers Showcase RETURNS the weekend of March 26! Albany Saratoga Speedway
H&G 57 68 72 73 74 76 78 79 Come back for Simply Saratoga SUMMER to see more of Cheryl Chalmers’ hand illustrated watercolors of Saratoga Springs!
Background Photo by Peter Bowden. See story on page 79.
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Architecturally Speaking Colleen’s Picks Life on Kaydeross Creek Jordana Turcotte + Simply You In the Kitchen with John Reardon Entertaining with Ralph Vincent Cornell Cooperative Extension Peter Bowden
HISTORY 81 86 90 92
Charlie Kuenzel Carol Godette John Greenwood Bill Orzell
THE BOOK REPORT saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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o a L an Ha
AT BOUND BY FATE
WRITTEN BY KRISTEN SCHULTZ | PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY
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I
t is a homecoming orchestrated by the fates and everyone’s tastebuds benefit. Located in downtown Schuylerville, Haan Lao at Bound by Fate Brewing successfully combines all the ingredients needed to turn guests into friends and regulars. The food, beer, atmosphere, and service come together for an experience that is well worth the drive (and honestly, it’s not that long of a drive!). Formerly two spaces – Revolution Café (now located at 135 Pearl Street) and an optometrist’s office – founders Pam Pradachith-Demler, her husband Brett Demler and Brett's two brothers, Evan and Ryan opened Bound by Fate Brewing on February 14, 2020. After two years of operating during a pandemic, Pam and Brett decided to open a kitchen in the taproom with Haan Lao. “It’s family affair,” said Pradachith-Demler. The kitchen serves Lao cuisine, the food of Pradachith-Demler's childhood. She was born in a refugee camp after her parents fled Laos and grew up in the San Francisco area. Her family, including her sister, two-time James Beard Award Nominee Chef Sang Luangrath, continued to prepare traditional Lao dishes. Lao food emphasizes fresh herbs, savory, umami-rich sauces, chilis and fermented and pickled vegetables. A variety of rice preparations are also part of the Lao tradition. Laos itself is a landlocked country on the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia and is home to rainforests and mountains. Lao food is also served family style, a tradition that Haan Lao preserves. The menu is curated, tight and showcases seasonal flavors. There are a handful of small plates as well as entrée-portioned offerings that are all meant to be shared and enjoyed together. On our visit, all menu items were gluten-free because the cuisine itself is by nature gluten-free.
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There are also tempting vegetarian items like chuenh phakkad dok. This bright, spicy dish sees rice-flour battered cauliflower florets get a spicy hit from Szechuan peppers in a tamarind sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds and scallions. The lively heat from crispy, coated cauliflower hits mid palate and is complemented by a sip of Lupulion, the brewery’s clean, juicy NEIPA. For a more carnivorous small plate, try the chuenh muu which is bites of meaty, tender pork belly that has been brined in citrus and tossed in spicy tamarind sauce. Accompanying the pork is a mix of pickled apple slices, serrano chilis, shallots and herbs like cilantro and basil. In the ping gai, a dome of coconut rice sits opposite two crisp-skinned, slightly smoky roasted chicken legs and a thigh. Crispy shallots top the chicken, crunch cucumber slices and a tangle of cilantro complete the deeply flavored dish. The light, brickle-like crunch of the chicken skin marries well with the silky, tender meat. Southeastern Asia boasts a variety of curry soups. Haan Lao’s offering is a red coconut curry dish called gaeng phet. Less thick and coconut forward than a Vietnamese or Thai version, this gaeng phet is full of vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Guests can choose from chicken, brisket, tofu and mushroom or shrimp to add to the dish. Comforting and familiar, the curry has a hint of sweetness and spiciness and is satisfying from the first spoonful to the last. No Lao menu would be complete without naem khao. This no-utensils-required (although many Lao dishes are traditionally eaten with one’s hands) main sees the ubiquitous coconut rice get the crisping treatment and is then dressed with a fish sauce-lime dressing that all at once gives the rice a bright kick and a deep umami flavor. Peanuts and herbs round out this balanced dish. Simply tuck some rice into the accompanying romaine lettuce leaves and enjoy. The (tiny) kitchen is manned full-time by Head Chef Tim Wooster; a Jack’s Oyster House alum. Pradachith-Demler's nephew, Opening Chef Boby Pradachith, spends some time in Schuylerville, but is director of operations and coowner of acclaimed Washington D.C. restaurants Padaek, Thip Khao, and Hanumanh.
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“[Haan Lao] gives us the opportunity to showcase the culture in its truest form,” Pradachith said. Many ingredients for the authentic Lao dishes come from local sources up and down the Hudson Valley. Some of the local herbs are served raw in the dishes while other ingredients find their ways into the house-made chili sauces and pickles. “I was drawn to the bold flavors,” said Wooster. “It really is the perfect marriage here – bold flavors and beer.” The trio behind that beer is the brothers Demler. Head Brewer Brett, Evan and Ryan were born in Schuylerville before the family moved to Burnt Hills. From there the brothers grew and scattered, but their love of brewing kept them bound together. Just before the pandemic, PradachithDemler and Brett moved back to Schuylerville to raise their family and pursue their dream of opening a brewery. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Combined, the brothers have more than 60 years of experience brewing, packaging, marketing, and selling suds. Evan and Ryan help with the brewery from Virginia Beach and Buffalo respectively. On site, Brett develops recipes and brews the beer in Schuylerville in the barn-turned-production-facility behind the family home. As a designated, licensed New York State Farm Brewery, the majority of the ingredients in Bound by Fate Brewing’s beers come from New York State. There are eight beers on tap with five of those on rotation. The bright-nosed Kegasus cream ale, clear, light-headed Bronz’r amber lager and the afore-mentioned clean, zesty Lupulion NEIPA are always on tap. “I’ve been privileged to be able to brew what I like,” Brett said. “I consider myself an irreverent traditionalist.”
Future plans include a Chef’s Table. Located adjacent to the kitchen pass, a guest can reserve the table and enjoy a full-service, full tasting menu and beer pairing. In warmer weather, guests will be able to take in the long New York summer days with a beer on the deck. Cuisine, beer, hospitality, and community – all executed at the highest levels – await diners and drinkers at Haan Lao at Bound by Fate Brewing. Hours: Wednesday – Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday Noon to 6 p.m. www.boundbyfatebrewing.com
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His self-description is spot on. Each farm beer is true to form with an intriguing element than enhances, not detracts from the style. The Boat Bridge brown ale has a dense head, nutty nose and a malty but not cloying finish. The Cloud Atlas, a hazy pale ale, is infinitely quaffable with a juicy nose, bright and hoppy taste and a smooth finish. For palates that prefer something fruiter, the Tart'Lit sour raspberry ale delivers with its tongue-puckering taste and clean, crisp finish. The Bettina is an Italian style pilsner which means it is dry hopped. It is an aromatic pour that is pleasantly bitter and finishes cleanly. Rounding out the offerings is the McDermott’s Irish red ale. It’s a classic Irish red with a mild nose and foamy head. More than great food and beer, Haan Lao at Bound by Fate Brewing aims to create community and connection. A large, wraparound raw-edged bar is the space’s centerpiece, encouraging guests to pull up a stool and meet or make a friend. Two and four-top tables are scattered throughout the rest of the dining room, arranged in what PradachithDemler accurately describes as “cozy corners.” Guests order food at the bar and can then settle into enjoy a meal or grab a pint and play any of the board games stacked on the shelf, including the Canadian classic crokinole.
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preserving
SARATOGA
Matthew Hurff:
Respecting the Past, Designing the Future
WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FROST HURFF ARCHITECTS (UNLESS NOTED)
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“The first time I walked down Broadway, I had a sense of a place that I had been looking for my entire life,” Matt Hurff responded when asked about his first visit to Saratoga Springs – a visit he made with his girlfriend, now wife, Karen when she accepted an interview at Skidmore College. One could say the rest is history. Karen accepted the job as an instructor of the Riding Program at Skidmore College, where she is now the Director, and today Matt is a well-respected architect who owns the firm Frost Hurff Architects and has made his own mark on Saratoga Springs, from preservation to new construction projects. Matt grew up in Devon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. “It was a town where I always felt a sense that something beautiful was lost – there were only fragments of buildings from the early 1910s and 1920s that remained,” said Matt, alluding to why he was drawn to Saratoga Springs. Unlike his father and brothers, Matt did not get an MBA. He chose to pursue a fine and studio arts major with a concentration in architecture at Wesleyan University. This different career path should not have been a surprise to his family since from the time he could play with blocks he always had a fascination with buildings and how they were constructed.
Examples of Frost Hurff Architects' residential work.
Caffè Lena entrance and The Spencer Condominium.
After graduating from Wesleyan University, where he met Karen, he attended Harvard University where he earned a Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design. In 2001, Matt was hired by local architect Tom Frost of Frost Architecture, who also is a Harvard alum. (To learn more about Tom Frost see Simply Saratoga Spring 2019). I personally can attest that Matt and Tom’s personalities are complete opposites! Yet they are similar. Both are unpretentious, despite their Ivy League educations. Both are more comfortable at a job site wearing boots and jeans than wearing a suit and tie for a special occasion. Most importantly, both care about the same aspects of design – respect for context, attention to detail, and an awareness of human scale. In 2010, Matt became a partner, and the firm was rebranded Frost Hurff Architects. At the time of Tom’s retirement, Tom said, “Matt is thoughtful. I respect his talent. I’m very happy he is the one to continue the firm.” In turn, Matt said, “I will keep the Frost name on the door because he epitomizes the character of the work of the firm – contextual, but distinctly contemporary – taking tradition and evolving it to changing circumstances.”
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The 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course.
Over the nearly 14 years that I have been with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, I have had the opportunity to work with Matt on several projects throughout the city, including many at the Saratoga Race Course, where the Foundation provides the only required local advisory opinion for proposed capital improvements. It is through the review of those projects at the oldest sports venue in the United States that I came to know Matt best. As the preservation architect for New York Racing Association, he has been involved with preserving the oldest buildings – Barn #76, Ice House, and stables – and designing the newest – the 1863 Club, the Marylou Whitney Pavilion, and the Post Bar. “I appreciate and honor the different layers of historic development and the architecture of the race course, but as an equestrian, I understand that the track is an active facility that must adapt to remain viable,” shared Matt. He ensures that the original character-defining features of the historic buildings are restored and creatively designs new buildings and additions that are distinctive but respect the historic context of the property.
The bridge between 1928 Clubhouse and The 1863 Club.
2020 Travers courtesy of Greg Montgomery and Paula Rosenberg.
His additions are often seamless changes that often may go unnoticed, such as the copper roof of the Grandstand and Clubhouse, the new escalator, and the upgrades and expansions of twenty-three 1950’s dormitories that have improved living conditions for the backstretch workers and the original concrete block appearance. Ultimately, it was Matt taking cues from the 1928 Clubhouse who assured that the exterior of the 1863 Club, largely designed by another firm, integrated into the race course. When he came to me with NYRA’s desire to connect The 1863 Club to the historic 1928 Clubhouse, my initial reaction was “over my dead body!” However, Matt explained that the connector between the two buildings, if designed properly, could bring a ceremonial entrance for the horses to enter on to the track. He was right, so much so that it was featured in the 2020 Travers Poster. In recognition of him being right, I bought him one. 14 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
Barn #76, a Green Revival structure that pre-dates the original 1874 track, under restoration in 2015.
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Caffè Lena Interior before, courtesy of Joseph Deuel.
Caffè Lena Interior after.
Outside the race course, projects like Caffè Lena, The Spencer, and Embassy Suites also illustrate his approach to design. As a trumpet player who performed jazz and blues in college, Matt appreciated and understood the importance of retaining the essential character of Caffè Lena, the oldest folk music venue in the United States, when adapting it to accommodate a growing audience and modern needs – kitchen, restrooms, and ADA accessibility. I think, and I’m certain others agree, Matt was successful in keeping the intimate feeling that was created by Caffè Lena’s founder Lena Spencer and revered by so many. Matt not only designed the renovations for Caffè Lena, but he also designed The Spencer, the condominiums located next door to Caffè Lena. “The redevelopment of the parking lot provided an opportunity to restore a piece of the urban core,” shared Matt. Like many of his projects, it received recognition from the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation because of the thoughtful way it transitions between the downtown urban core and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The Embassy Suites is another example of Matt’s work. While it may seem out of context for some, one must not think of its context as it is today, but what it will be in the future. Urban Renewal resulted in the adjacent plaza and saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
the surrounding parking lots. Someday those sites will be redeveloped. “I wanted to do something different than the typical chain hotel. I wanted to set an example for new buildings with its design, materials, and details,” said Matt. While proud of the high-profile commercial projects he has done, it is always rewarding for him to do residential projects. Matt has done numerous residential renovations, additions, and new builds throughout Saratoga Springs. “I really enjoy working with homeowners. It is those projects that allow for the detail and thoughtful design that often is not possible in commercial projects,” shared Matt. Now I am getting to know Matt from a different perspective, as the project architect for 65 Phila Street, the long-neglected house that the Foundation purchased last year (see article in Simply Saratoga Summer 2021 and visit www.saratogapreservation.org to learn more). Rather than reviewing his plans for other projects, I have the opportunity to develop plans with him, giving me a new appreciation of his thoughtfulness. When asked why he agreed to provide in-kind services for the project, he responded “this city would not be what it is today if it were not for the work of the Foundation, I felt it was important to give back.” Thank you, Matt, for all your thoughtful work to preserve and enhance our city, for it also would not be what it is without you. SS SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 15
Let's Talk Turkey
A Lively Conversation with Ed WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN
The first thing I notice is the walker at the end of the driveway. I take this as a good sign. I'm aware Ed Noonan has been recovering from COVID-19 and that it's been a long road back to health for both him and his wife, Rose, who's spent the last several months helping him get on his feet again. Ed was diagnosed in early January of 2021 and spent two weeks at Saratoga Hospital before being well enough to be discharged and brought home on January 26.
Ed isn't a stranger to hunting, fishing, loving the outdoors. He's been a columnist writer for the Daily Gazette, sharing the lakes and streams, the woods and fields, since August 8, 1988. And his readers eat it up. We sit across from each other in his office. "This is where it happens," Ed tells me. "I sit here and tell my outdoorsy stories." "Believe me when I tell you he has plenty of them!" Rose pipes in, laughing. "It's still hard right now. I have a heck of a time putting thoughts together. Words seem just beyond my grasp sometimes."
Honestly, I've wanted to interview Ed for a few years now - he's such a prominent figure in Saratoga and the The doctor tells him this is Capital Region. Besides that, normal, part of his recovery he's just so darn interesting! from COVID-19. God knows After speaking to his lovely this virus has affected wife, Rose, through emails Ed & Rose Noonan. Photo by Theresa St. John people in all sorts of ways. and over the phone, in an attempt to interview him, it's finally happening. "I only want to get back to writing. And I will." She's waiting for me at the front door with a warm smile and sparkling eyes. I follow her through the downstairs rooms, where she points out photos of the family, several award plaques, and pictures of Ed hunting. She answers the standard questions I have: "what's this, where's this, when's this?"
"Ed's getting settled in the office," she explains. "We'll just give him a few minutes before we head up." We talk about his hospital stay and his slow recovery while we wait. I ask if she is doing okay herself – I was a caretaker for my mom, then my dad, I'm aware it can be exhausting. Graciously, she tells me she is holding up as well as can be expected; thank you for asking. "Are you ready for us?" Rose calls up the staircase. She turns to me and smiles. "We have the green light." 16 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
He points to a large notebook on the shelf behind him. "I still have a book to write." He's feeling much stronger, and Rose assures me that his appetite is returning. I smile and tell them both I am happy to hear it. When we start to talk about hunting, Ed's eyes light up. "I had more hair back then," he laughs. He'd been attending the NYS Outdoor Writers Convention when someone mentioned he might like to try his hand at hunting turkey. Hmmm. "I looked at my friend and shrugged," he grins. "What the Hell? Let's do it!" And the rest, as people say, is history.
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During my conversation with Ed and his wife, I learned that a slam is considered one of the most significant victories in turkey hunting. Take a second – go ahead, I did – and look Ed up on Google. Search for the six recognized slams in turkey hunting; they've listed him in four; Canadian Slam Achievers, Grand Slam Achievers, World Slam Achievers, and Royal Slam Achievers. Pretty impressive, eh? "I would go to bed early and set the alarm for 4 a.m. though I'm not sure why. I'd wake up well before then and wait on the front porch for Neil to pick me up." Ed grins when he tells me he still gets excited in the days leading up to the hunt — even though he's been hunting turkeys for years. "It never gets old." Ed has also spent many years as an accomplished fishing guide. "I'd spend most of July and August taking people - many of them jockeys and their families - fishing, in places along the Hudson River and on Saratoga Lake. My motto was this: If you catch nothing, you pay nothing," He states with a grin. I raise my eyebrows. "That's a mighty big promise." "I was pretty sure they wouldn't leave empty-handed." The three of us laugh at his words. He'd always ask what types of fish his clients were interested in catching, then take them to the appropriate spots where the fish were likely to be. When I ask how they met, both Rose and Ed smile at each other. "Well," Ed begins. "We met during our second year at Hudson Valley Community College." I'm pretty sure I see him wink at her. "I was sitting in the cafeteria, and Ed was standing in the hallway right outside," Rose tells me, a twinkle in her eye at the memory. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
"I asked her sorority sister who she was. I thought she was pretty." Later that same weekend, on Saturday night, Rose attended a fraternity party, and that's where their romance began. On June 29, 1979, Noonan launched his fishing boat at the Mohawk Marina. He and a friend were meeting up near Lock 8 for the afternoon, fishing from separate vessels. After they each shouted 'Hello' and a few minutes of chitchat, Ed decided to turn around and go downriver. After passing under the West Gateway Bridge, he took note of the rocky shore on the river's eastside. "I suggested to my friend that we try our luck fishing there," Ed tells me. "He thought it was a great idea." Turns out it wasn't a good idea. "Within a short time, I noticed something out of the ordinary," He tells me. "I didn't know - was it a log? Or something else floating nearby?" Ed explains how he moved towards the object, circling closer and closer, his throat dry with one thought - "I wondered if it could be a body. I made a couple of circles, drawing closer each time. Soon, I noticed a watch, a pair of glasses, and legs." Ed's kids were in the boat, and he didn't want them to witness what he'd just seen. He steered the boat away from the gruesome discovery, signaling to his friend that they needed the police. I sat with Ed and his wife for nearly two hours that sunny afternoon, laughing at some of their memories and learning about their son, daughter, and two beautiful grandchildren. It was beautiful – basking in their love for each other. If I had more time, I would tell you so much more about this fantastic couple. Suffice to say; it's been quite a while since I've enjoyed such a warm, in-person interview. I left feeling blessed to have finally met them and found myself wishing them both good health, as I drove away smiling. They already have everything else.
SS
…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com! SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 17
Following in His Footsteps Great Grandson of George S. Bolster is Continuing His Legacy WRITTEN BY JAYNIE ELLIS | PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA
Ty Bolster has the same eye for photography that his great grandfather, the famous Saratoga Springs photographer George S. Bolster, had. While looking through the archives of his great grandfather’s photos, the old was bridged with the new. After asking his father for a camera for Christmas one year, Ty began to take a serious interest in photography. He quickly began to gain experience by shooting his sister’s field hockey games. Now a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, Ty splits his time between school, playing on the Varsity Ice Hockey Team, and interning as a photographer with Super Source Media. Already a published sports photographer with the Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Ty is well on his way to continuing his great grandfather’s legacy. 18 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
The late George Bolster was born in Saratoga Springs in 1913. George’s grandfather, a rail worker, appears to be the first in the lineage to pass down a love of photography, letting George take his picture in 1925 – the first of many Bolster photographs. George’s photography career began to take off in the 1930s, and some of his earliest photos were taken on a box camera that he built himself. He perfected his craft at the studio and darkroom at 1 Phila St., a historic home to many Saratoga Springs photographers; he eventually took over the business from fellow local photographer, Harry B. Settle, in 1958. George’s photographs spanning the 30s to the 80s include wedding pictures, yearbook pictures, and numerous photos of local businesses. At one point, he was hired by the city to take streetscapes. George also became wellknown for this hand coloring of black and white images. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
His lifetime of work, known as the George S. Bolster Collection, contains over 300,000 negatives from Saratoga Springs. Over the years, George acquired approximately 60,000 negatives from a handful of renowned photographers, and he named that part of his collection “Old Saratoga.” Primarily from 1900 to 1960 and taken by Harry B. Settle, that series also includes the works of Ballston Spa photographer Jesse S. Wooley, Albany and Saratoga Springs photographer Gustave Lorey, Adirondack landscape photographer Seneca Ray Stoddard, and horse racing/race track photographer C.C. Cook, among a few others. The negatives in “Old Saratoga” show a progression throughout the years of some the city’s most famous historical sites and documents the community at that time. In “Old Saratoga” you can find pictures of the minerals springs and bottling plants, the race track, and the interiors and exteriors of Saratoga’s hotels. “Old Saratoga” makes up about one fourth of the George S. Bolster collection and even includes aerial photographs of the city from as early as 1929. When George passed in 1989, he willed his collection to the Saratoga Springs History Museum. His entire archive of negatives and prints resides inside the Canfield Casino, where a Bolster image is used in almost every exhibit. In January of 2022, Ty visited the Saratoga Springs History Museum to look at his great grandfather’s collection for the first time. With a lesson from Jamie Parillo, Executive saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Director, Ty learned how to find photos in the archive and got to take a look at George’s negatives using a light box. Growing up, Ty’s father had told him about his great grandfather’s career, and some of George’s pictures are even hanging up in their house. Sitting amongst his great grandfather’s work, Ty made many comparisons to his own photography after learning what it was like to shoot before the age of digital cameras. “Generally, most of George’s work is staged,” explained Jamie. “We haven’t come across a lot of action shots in the collection, but there are some.” “It must have been hard having to refocus for action shots when shooting on film,” commented Ty. “Shooting sports today with film would be impossible.” Ty also marveled at how George’s photographs are used as records for how the City of Saratoga Springs once looked, now close to a century ago. “I didn’t know this street used to look like this,” said Ty of a photo from downtown. He intends to learn more about what the City was like during the years of his great grandfather’s photography career, with plans to take a course on the history of Saratoga Springs that is offered at the high school. But much like George, it seems Ty is just happy to be behind the camera, no matter what subject he is shooting. SS …More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com! SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 19
A Life in
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA (UNLESS NOTED)
I
t was hot, the work was hard, and the deadline was always looming in the composing room of The Saratogian newspaper when John O’Connor began as an apprentice there in 1958.
BEING A NEWSPAPER MAN At the time, distributing the local news came with pressures - which today, have been nearly extinguished from memory - with hot metal plates and huge linotype machines. “By 7 a.m., it was already 80 degrees in there. To work in those temperatures all day, it got pretty
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tiring. The heat and noise would get to you,” said O’Connor, whose father spent 25 years working for The Saratogian. O’Connor remembers John Totten teaching him how to walk the paper route when he was just 12 years old. Like O’Connor, Totten started out in the paper business when he was just a boy. “John was always ready for a joke or a prank. I worked side by side with him creating ads and keeping the rest of the printers on their toes,” remembers O’Connor.
GROWING IN THE GRAPHICS WORLD In 1963, O’Connor won for Best Design in the Annual Apprentice Exhibit at the Empire Typographical Conference. His apprenticeship at The Saratogian continued until 1965 when he began working at the Boyd Printing Co. in Albany, but his friendship with Totten continued. O’Connor went on to work at the Saratoga Printing Co. producing programs for the Saratoga Raceway, Skidmore College, and others before becoming the manager of the Graphics Dept. of the United Feature Syndicate at their Glens Falls location. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Remembering John Totten… John Totten worked at The Saratogian for 67 years, the newsprint first gracing his fingertips in the waning days of World War II. His career spanned an era that saw headlines made by 13 different U.S Presidents and a printing press stamped with the stories of the invasion of The Beatles to the assassinations of JFK, MLK and RFK, Woodstock to Watergate, military engagements in Vietnam, 9/11, and the landing of a man on the moon. “He started when he was 11 years old as a paperboy,” says wife Katherine Totten, then he was in charge of the paperboys, but he had always wanted to be a printer, ever since he was a little kid.”
This photo of John Totten was taken by fellow printer Gene Landry, who gave me all his photos before his passing. Photo provided.
In 1977, O’Connor founded Graphic Services, in Glens Falls and moved the business to 30 Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs the following year. They were the first company to offer phototypesetting to the public, and did design work for SPAC, Stewart’s, Genpak, many freelance artists, restaurants and businesses, as well as advertising agency work. A POWERFUL POLITICAL FORCE Local newspapers are a powerful political force and the 1979 race saw O’Connor and Totten’s paths memorably cross again. “John Totten took me aside and revealed that The Saratogian was going to endorse my candidate. I reserved space for a large ad to be inserted the day before the election and delivered the camera-ready ad in time.”
The opponent was furious that an ad could appear so quickly, with the endorsement, just a day before Election Day – as well as by the outcome. “Everything went smoothly, and my candidate defeated his opponent,” said O’Connor. WHEN THE PRESSES STOPPED O’Connor’s career took a turn in the 1980s when he served as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety. In the nineties, he gave up printing and spent the last 20 years of his working life as an Associate Real Estate Broker. Now, in retirement, John and his wife Mary enjoy spending time with their two sons, two daughters, and their grandchildren. A Life Member of Saratoga-Wilton Elks club, John also likes to go hiking, bowling, and to travel. SS
They met in 1978 when she began working in the newspaper’s advertising department. She remembers how John always wore short-sleeve shirts, so it wouldn’t get caught in the machinery. “They still had the printing press then and the composing room was upstairs. He was in charge of the composing room. The ads would go into a dumbwaiter which was in the hallway and then down to the basement,” she recalled. “He’d yell at me and tell me to put them in there, that dumbwaiter,” she says with a laugh. “That’s when we met. Later we got married and were married for a long time. It took him a long time to make up his mind though, haha. Finally, he did, and we were very happy,” she says. John died in 2015. “Sixty-seven years. I remember when he retired, they had a party. He went back to work the next Monday,” she says. “Somebody said to him: ‘I thought we just had your retirement party.’ He said: Well, I came back to work part time.”
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Eniwetok Atoll
Andrew Pappas Remembers Life and the Marshall Islands WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN
"This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave." ~ Elmer Davis
I
've known Andy and his lovely wife Roseann for over six years. We met at the Wilton YMCA, where I worked at the front desk.
A friendly couple, we often chat for a few minutes before their workouts, and Andy never comes through the front entrance without his basketball. He's known for wandering up to the courts to play for a while when he's here.
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Some people say that different generations have little to nothing in common - that it's hard to relate as we come from eras often disconnected. I beg to differ. I've always had a keen love of history and realized early on in life that the older generations are the keepers of amazing stories I want and need to hear, life experiences the world needs to learn about, and listen to. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
One day, Andy walks into the Y wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Atomic Vet' emblazoned on the front of it. He's talking to Roseann, so I remain silent. You better believe it, though – the second she moves on to begin her workout, I motion him over to where I'm standing. "Hey there, wait a second," I ask what the words mean, and Andy turns around. The back of his Tee says 'Eniwetok Atoll' across the shoulders. Huh? I've never heard either term. Thankfully, Andy's more than willing to share. He's that kind of guy. My questions land an invitation to their house, where Roseann makes a cup of Deathwish coffee - their favorite brand. The home is welcoming and cozy, with family photos they're happy to point out and several items of interest collected over their time together. "Funny story," Andy states. "Did I ever tell you about the time I was attacked by birds while running in the park?" Ummm, no.
"Oh, I remember the Hydrogen Bomb, alright," Andy says in a booming voice, eyes growing dark for a moment. "Theresa, the heat was unbelievable! The light was blinding! I remember feeling so small, thinking we'd die – we were so vulnerable in the face of something with such historical significance."
One day, while he was jogging past the dike in the Barney Farm area of South-Wilkes Barre, PA, where he lived at the time, Andy was attacked by a flock of birds. They were a tad bigger than a barn swallow. "There was no warning, and the assault lasted for several minutes," he says, shaking his head. "Man, I was mad. I had to cut my exercise short that day – go home and recuperate." Yikes. His hand gestures and sighs of exasperation make me laugh.
Indeed, reports state a few of these islands remain more radioactive than Chernobyl and Fukushima – even though more than 60 years have passed since the military conducted them.
I ask how these two lovebirds met. Andy's quick to answer. "It was at a Halloween party."
Our conversation moves on to lighter things; photos of his army pals comparing images of their girlfriends to see who had the prettiest one, Andy's 1944 Greek Orthodox communion picture, a few sepia-toned ones of his mother. Roseann shares stories of their two daughters, son, and four grandchildren. It's easy to see that it's a close family, with lots of love to go around.
"And was it love at first sight?" I put the question out there for either one to answer. Roseann grins when Andy pipes in, beating her to the punchline. "More like love at first bite." Did I tell you he's a funny guy yet? Andy joined the army right out of high school. "We didn't have much to choose from back then. Kids either went to college, worked in the factory, or joined the military after graduation." He served from 1953-1956 and was a national guard member from 1982-1986. Eniwetok, a circular Atoll in the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands, is where Andy found himself stationed for several months. "In a way, they were the easiest months I could've asked for," he shares. "It was amazing on the island; we had sun all day, a raft in the lagoon, temps were in the 90s, tradewinds were refreshing, and I got to play basketball – a lot!" Andy remembers sitting with other service members, talking about everyday life. They had an outdoor theater, and every Saturday night, the group enjoyed steaks for dinner, finishing the meal off with chocolate ice cream. Between 1946 and 1958, The United States detonated 67 nuclear bombs on and above the Marshall Islands. The bombs vaporized whole islands, carved giant craters in the shallow lagoons, forced hundreds of families from their homes. According to Andy, the two atomic bombs detonated during his stint on Eniwetok were too small to hear. The hydrogen bombs, on the other hand, were another story. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
They bring out a framed 1864 $100 bill with the photo of Lucy Pickens – otherwise known as the 'Queen of the Confederacy' on the face of it. I am dumbfounded when I catch sight of Andy's YMCA membership card – he's been with the organization for 80 years now! "Look," he tells me. "I started swimming there when I was seven!" The most fun thing they share with me is his love of Ouzo 12. (Yes, I know, something else I've never heard of.) Made from a secret blend of herbs, seeds, and fruits – including aniseed, fennel seeds, and mastic resin, Greek law states that it must be bottled at a minimum of 37.5% alcohol. OMG. "I'd offer you a glass, but you're driving," Andy says with a smirk. Yes, I think I'll pass. He shows me a set of Ouzo 12 corks he made into a necklace alongside a letter he sent to the company speaking to his affection for the Greek Anise Liqueur. It's been a great visit. I feel as if I know the couple a little better than I did yesterday – and that means a lot to me. I'm still standing in the house, getting ready to leave. I turn and ask my last question. "Are you afraid of dying?" Andy looks me straight in the eye. "No more than I was afraid to be born," he says. Food for thought, right?
SS
…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com! SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 23
BIG THINKER WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA
GARY ASHE is an architect of innovation. He’s an inventor who has worked with some of the world’s largest corporations to revolutionize the products you use every day. THAT VITAL SPARK When companies striving to create new products need to inject lifeblood into their brand, they call Gary. “I have a creative head and can look at something a bit differently to see if there’s a better way of doing things. I ask, ‘How can we improve that for them?’,” he said. As the principal at TMP Technologies for 18 years, he travelled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe developing consumer packaged goods (think household items, clothes, etc.) for companies including SC Johnson, Clorox, Sara Lee, and Hallmark, among others. A MAGIC MAN Gary Ashe currently holds 33 patents for his inventions. He developed the applicator for White Out (distributed by the BIC Corporation) and the one used on the Kiwi brand of shoe polish; which he calls his “cash cow” because for years it sold 220 million units annually- mostly to countries in Latin America where they wear leather shoes instead of sneakers to school. The item that put Gary on the map however, was Proctor & Gamble’s Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. “It was breakthrough technology, there was nothing else on the market like it,” he said. 24 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
THE SCIENCE OF CLEAN The “magic” behind the Magic Eraser isn’t magic at all, it’s science. The reason why this sponge only needs to be dampened with water to go to work on stains is because it’s made from melamine, a long fibrous material that acts as an abrasive. As magical as cleaning without added detergent is, the Magic Eraser has a problem: it breaks down much like a pencil eraser as it cleans a surface. THE CHEMISTRY OF CHANGE Gary pondered this problem while staring up at the ceiling in his office. That’s when he suddenly realized the solution was just over his head. He ripped down the steel plate from the building’s cooling system, took it to the science lab and had it analyzed. From those components, P & G developed a material that was twice as strong - and the Extra Power Mr. Clean Magic Eraser was born. NEXT-LEVEL FABRICS Although Gary retired from TMP Technologies shortly after, at age 51, he’s never stopped working. For the past four years he’s been the National Director of Consumer Innovations for Crypton Nano-Tex, a saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
company that transforms fibers at the molecular level. Nanotechnology is used to create a two-part, heat-activated cleaning solution (called the N-Force) that is embedded into the bowels of highperformance apparel and home goods fabrics (not just sprayed onto the surface) to extract and repel stains. “If you can wash it, you can N-Force it,” beams Gary. TO ANSWER WHY? ASK WHY NOT? While others are asking why go to all this trouble, clean is clean, right? Gary is asking, ‘why not?’ “It really helps to offer an element to the consumer that they may be looking for,” he said. “I love developing products and working with companies struggling with a product to help bring it forward. To the question of has science gone too far? I have to answer, I don’t think so. Nanotechnology has a life of its own and it’s going to be here for quite some time.” BEYOND RETAIL Gary and his wife of 45 years, Margaret, moved to the area last year to be close to their family, which includes two children and two grandchildren.
In 2015, they had visited the region for their daughter Mallory’s wedding at the Sagamore. Both were very handson for the event, Margaret (who owned Wilhelm & Ashe Floristry in Lockport, NY) provided the flower arrangements and Gary created the invitations, constructed a pier and an arbor. There were even beach balls flying through the air after the couple’s lakeside ceremony – a unique idea that Gary explains simply by saying, “The reality is, everyone has the ability to think creatively.” NEXT GENERATION INNOVATION Gary teaches creative thinking at corporations, conferences, and colleges to encourage others to think outside of the box. He promotes approaching problemsolving through thought techniques such as brainstorming, divergent and convergent thinking. He also stresses the importance of a group needing to listen and reserve judgement to successfully bring new ideas forward. Throughout his business career (and now by watching shows like ABC’s Shark Tank) Gary said he’s seen a lot of inspiring projects, and is excited by how technology has changed what is possible. SS
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This is Travis & Michelle
and THIS is their home. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORGE HANSTIEN
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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Travis and Michelle live in this big blue bus that Travis built. I drove past this very cool bus many times this summer. It was parked, on the side of the road, in a pull off, near The Great Sacandaga Lake. It is such a unique vehicle, with the deck on the back, which carries a jeep, that my curiosity got the best of me. I finally decided to stop and check it out. I am very glad that I did. I not only got to see a very unique vehicle, I ended up meeting two very interesting people. I walked around the bus and took a few photos of the exterior. When I got to the door, I saw a note, that said "I am a mile down the road, if you need me, call this number.” It was signed, Travis.
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I called the number and told Travis that I thought his bus was quite amazing and that I would love to hear about it sometime. Travis said that he would be right down to take me for a tour. He arrived, a few minutes later, in a red Jeep. He was wearing shorts, a tie dye tee shirt, sunglasses, and a huge smile. It turns out that in addition to the Jeep on the deck of the bus, Travis and his wife, Michelle also tow another Jeep behind the bus. The two jeeps are for Travis and Michelle's hobby, which is off road rock climbing in Jeeps. They often travel to places where they can practice their hobby. They are sometimes joined, on these adventures, by their two grown children who also own rock-climbing vehicles. Some would say that Travis and Michelle were born 20 years too late, because they both, in my opinion, have the heart and soul of someone from the 1960s. Travis and Michelle are the definition of interesting people, living their best life. Travis and Michelle have been living, pretty much, full time in the bus for seven months. In that time, they have put some miles on her. They have been to Florida, Colorado, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, NY, Texas, Missouri, and many other places. Travis told me that the reason they were at the Great Sacandaga Lake, was because they are helping his father in-law who is having some rather serious health issues. Travis used to work for the state of Florida as a highway inspector and his wife has a job that she can do online. Travis was also doing his Florida job online, until his boss said that he had to be in the state of Florida to work for the state of Florida. That didn't fit into Travis's wanderlust lifestyle, so Travis quit. Travis and Michelle are extremely
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affable, and I found myself drawn into their story. The bus, that is named "The Big Blue Hauler,” is not the first bus that Travis built. He had a smaller one before. They traveled the country in that one but didn't plunge into full time Skoolie living until Travis bought and built "The Big Blue Hauler.” The Big Blue Hauler is fully equipped for living off grid. It has WiFi, solar power, a generator, a stove for cooking, a holding tank for water, a mini split heat pump for heat and air conditioning and a toilet. There is even a shower that is outside on the deck. The beautiful stained glass window in the back door of The Big Blue Hauler was created by one of Travis and Michelle's many friends, as was the air brushed cover on the roof that protects the compressor for the minisplit, from branches. Travis has thought of just about everything that they need for living on the road. He told me that he is constantly making improvements to the bus. Travis and Michelle are deeply into the "Skoolie" life. He and Michelle even host a yearly gathering of other School bus enthusiasts called the "Skoolie Swarm.” They invited me to visit the Skoolie Swarm this February in Florida. If at all possible, I will be there. Last year's "Skoolie Swarm" brought 154 fun loving Skoolie enthusiasts to their get together in Florida. As I sat in their bus/home, talking to them, I found myself thinking that maybe I would like to convert a school bus myself and travel in it. When I told Michelle what I was thinking, she told me that they call that "Bus Lust" and that they have seen it before. I think maybe I, now have that affliction. I have to go now, I heard there is a school bus for sale about 50 miles south of here. I may have fallen into a very deep rabbit hole. SS …More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
An Unwanted Gift Brings Spiritual Awakening
. . . AND BOUNDLESS JOY! Dolly Lama and Pat: Lakeside at Great Sacandaga.
WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH PHOTOS PROVIDED
A
s Patricia Nugent prepared to retire in 2009 from a long and rewarding career as a school district administrator, she had two exciting goals in mind: first, to adopt another Golden Retriever, having been without one for four years; and, second, to write the Great American Novel. After eagerly anticipating the search for her next canine companion, Pat was stunned when coworkers presented her with a young female Golden Retriever—a puppy that not only treated Pat’s indoor flooring and outdoor grass as one and the same but indiscriminately ingested everything from basket reeds to carpet fibers.
Dolly Lama and Dolly Mama.
“It was the worst retirement gift ever,” Pat recalls with a laugh, “but it was the Law of Attraction at work: you attract what you focus on. I put it out there that I was going to write the Great American Novel and get a Golden Retriever— and I got the dog! As the saying goes: Be careful what you wish for.” Looking back, Pat realizes she should have been more specific in describing her dreampet. “My intended golden,” she writes, “was to be a fully-grown, rescued, male: housebroken, neutered, calm, and content to lie at my feet while I blithely tap away on my keyboard. Everything Dolly was not.” At their first meeting, Pat affectionately dubbed the pup ‘Dolly.’ But despite the dog’s sweet nature, Pat fiercely resisted becoming her ‘forever person.’ Even after bringing Dolly to the home she’d recently built along the shores of the Great Sacandaga Lake, Pat was determined to find her a more willing adoptive parent. Everything changed, however, when neartragedy struck.
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Dolly finds peace in Pat’s labyrinth.
One day, while attempting to follow Pat down to the water, Dolly took a fearsome fall from a high deck. In the terrifying moments that followed, as Pat cradled the unmoving pup in her arms, she suddenly realized that she already loved this sweet little dog. Desperate to revive her, Pat raced down to the lake and immersed Dolly in the soothing water. Miraculously, the pup recovered, and Pat came to the humbling realization that, in seeking to rid herself of Dolly, she’d overlooked one simple truth: the threads of human-canine connection had already been woven. “After her fall, I realized I really did need her, and she had lessons to teach me,” Pat explains. “I realized there’s more to this experience than meets the eye. There’s something here that I don’t understand yet, but Dolly will help me.” Shortly thereafter, in honor of this spiritual transformation, Pat added Lama to Dolly’s name . . . and the adventure of a lifetime began. Patricia A. Nugent’s latest book, Healing with Dolly Lama: Finding God in Dog, is a beautifully-crafted tale in which this seasoned writer, educator, and reiki master exposes her deepest thoughts, noble and not, about the burdens 30 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
and blessings of the humancanine connection. Drawing extensively from journal entries she penned during their 12-year partnership, it’s the story of a middle-aged woman struggling with her own demons—the deaths of her parents, estrangement from her only sibling, and the end of a lengthy marriage and career. And it’s the story of a strong-willed yet immensely vulnerable dog that helps bring clarity, spiritual healing, divine purpose, and love in abundance to the author’s life. A perfectionist by nature, Pat found herself challenged, initially, by the exuberance of puppy-dom and, later, by the unique battery of health issues Dolly faced throughout her lifetime. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“If you’re a perfectionist, you think, ‘I should be able to fix this. How am I going to manage this?’ But the bigger lesson for me—something I have to learn over and over again—is that we’re not in control. Life happens, life unfolds, and we have to adjust. Life continually challenges me to challenge myself to say, ‘Let it go. This will work itself out somehow.’ And the lessons keep presenting. If you don’t get it now, you’ll have plenty of other opportunities.” Dolly’s many baffling health challenges prompted Pat to delve more deeply into her study and practice of holistic healing modalities such as reiki, visioning, and healing touch. Dolly often responded amazingly well to these and other intuitive approaches Pat employed to ease her dog’s discomfort. Her book includes helpful information, both for dogs and humans, on nutrition, supplements, and holistic healing practices, along with an extensive glossary and bibliography.
created Dolly’s Card Project: a greeting card fundraiser that celebrates the joys of adopting and pet-parenting, and commemorates the loss of a pet. Pat donates one-hundred percent of the price of the cards, which are available at her readings, to the Morris Animal Foundation. To learn more, visit: fundraise.morrisanimalfoundation.org/goldenretriever-lifetime-study/DollyLama Healing with Dolly Lama: Finding God in Dog is available online and locally at Northshire Books, Bella and Lindy’s Pet Boutique, and Pampered Pooch. To contact Patricia A. Nugent, see more of her work, or check her reading schedule visit: journalartspress.com. SS
As a writer, Pat Nugent is passionate about giving a voice to people and social issues that might otherwise go unacknowledged and unheard. “In my first book, They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad, I gave a voice to the elderly by telling my parents’ stories, as well as those of other nursing home residents, in little vignettes,” Pat explains. “My second book, Before They Were Our Mothers: Voices of Women Born Before Rosie Started Riveting—which I edited—gave a voice to women born before Rosiethe-Riveter joined the work force.” Having found her literary niche, Pat Nugent writes with passion and purpose. “But I never anticipated that I’d be writing a book giving a voice to a dog. I didn’t see that one coming,” she admits. “Looking back, though, I think it’s the same kind of thing. I gave a voice to an animal that others could relate to. A pet teaches us so much, even though we don’t always realize it at the time. For me, Dolly filled an emotional void that I didn’t even know existed. The universe truly provides you with what you need when you need it.” Postscript: Following Dolly Lama’s death in February 2021, Pat contacted the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization that studies ways to improve the health and longevity of all pets. Vowing to further honor her beloved companion, the author
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The Hat Lady WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA
Maureen Hartman improves the lives of others with simple acts of kindness. Maureen crochets hats, looping the yarn into a series of chain stitches to form the foundation that the rest of the project is built upon. Those chains are doing so much more than just creating a garment, they are building good will and making a positive difference to the community – as donations to Code Blue Saratoga, the Franklin Community Center, for newborns at Saratoga Hospital, and cancer patients at Albany Medical Center. “I know they need other things too, but I crochet, so that’s what I do to help,” she said. THE WORLD ON A STRING At 89 years old, Maureen Hartman said there’s only one thing that she wants now. “I just want people to be warm, that’s all I want.” Warming heads and hearts is how she pays forward the kindness she has received during her own life. “I just keep making hats. I can’t tell you how many I’ve made. It’s one way I can do something for somebody else.” THE HOOK When it comes to her hats, Maureen has only one condition – that no money exchanges hands – they must be given away for free. To help Maureen on her mission, she has received gifts of acrylic yarn for Christmas, has been given full or partial skeins, and has even pieced together scraps to create hats for infants, older children, and adults. Each hat she donates to charity is received with gratitude and appreciation for the thoughtfulness, care, and attention that has gone into creating it. She is encouraging anyone who crochets and wants to help, who has yarn to donate, or who is in need of a cozy hat to contact her. “The more people who do it, the more people that can get covered,” she said. For more information, call Maureen Hartman at 518-932-1309 32 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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SPRING 2022
FASHION
PGS. 34-47
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CarolineAndMain.com
Florals for Spring… Groundbreaking! Skirt by Sundry
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ROYGBIV Tee’s by Michael Stars
Boating is my Favorite Season
Beach Ready with Sun Jellies
Summer Stripes by Joules
The Scents of Summer by Musee Bath
Denim Kicks by Blowfish Malibu
438 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.450.7350 • CAROLINEANDMAIN.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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Bright Batiks by Lila P
lifestyles {clothing.accessories.shoes} 36 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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lifestyles {clothing.accessories.shoes}
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Color Catcher Pullover by Habitat
Brilliantly British Designs by Bunny Bosworth
Painted Posies Jacket by Charlie B
Summer Shoulders Dress by Moda Posa
Picnic Hamper by Un Pueblo Designs
Watercolor Blooms by Nic + Zoe
436 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.584.4665 • LIFESTYLESOFSARATOGA.COM
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490 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.584.3500 • MOUNTAINMANOUTDOORS.COM
490 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.584.3500 • MountainmanOutdoors.com
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PinkPaddock.com
Martine Dress in Always Worth It
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Mina Bra Tank UPF 50 & Fern Skort UPF 50 both in Always Worth It
Florin Tank in Girls Best Friend with Noble Cardigan
Gulianna Stretch Dress in Always Worth It
Florin Tank, Callahan Short in Resort White & Laylani Denim Jacket
Lessa Top in Last Bud Not Least & Colette Stretch Denim Skort
Seabreeze Eyelet Button Down Top & Buttercup Short in Last Bud Not Least
Martina Polo UPF 50 with Taye Skort on Social Sunset UPF 50
Zalie Midi Dress in Social Sunset Engineered
Greer Top and Weekender High Rise Legging in Social Sunset
358 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • PINKPADDOCK.COM • 518.587.4344 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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SpokenSaratoga.com
Aratta is a contemporary womenswear collection of extraordinarily items including tops, jackets and dresses. Aratta’s look is very distinct, combining knit and woven materials with unique elements inspired by the vintage world.
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Always a customer favorite, our Cino blouses are forever chic in a crinkle cotton that is as easy to care for as they are to wear.
Our Joseph Ribkoff dresses are ready for all your graduations, weddings and other springtime occasions that we are all excited to be attending!
Classic Rip-Tide elastic bracelets on neutral tones. Great for stacking or to wear on their own.
Our classic 5 pocket denim from Dear John with a fun front slit. Come check out all our great fitting denim.
Get ready to carry all your essentials with our beautiful faux leather spring choices
Versatile waffle knit flounce jacket dress, a "Spoken Exclusive"
Dressed up or dressed down, we have perfect statement pieces in gold
525 is our favorite sweater company with amazing details. This fringe fisherman knit is a year-round essential.
A vibrantly floral kimono with a beautiful cascading sleeve from Aratta
27 CHURCH STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.587.2772 • SPOKENSARATOGA.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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Feel Good Do Good Fashion by Brax UnionHallSupplyCo.com
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Kerouac Style by Rails
Built to Survive the Strongest of Storms by Pig & Hen
Light and Soft as a Cloud by Faherty
Heading Out to the Sand “Bar” by Fish Hippie
Things are Going Swimmingly by Fair Harbor
2-for-1 World’s Softest Reversible Crew by Faherty
Put a Spring in Your Step by Pikolinos
Self-Care Summer with Public Goods
Laidback Luxe by Fundamental Coast
437 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.450.7025 • UNIONHALLSUPPLYCO.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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Seychelles Connoisseur Sandal $99
VioletsofSaratoga.com 46 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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Rails Loren Button Down $198
Show Me Your Mumu Annalynne Mini Dress $158
Free People Undone Mini Dress $138
Crush Cashmere Wagga Wagga Cardigan $354
Streets Ahead LeAnne Western Belt $215 (also in Black!)
Free People Harbor Flatform $99
Hudson Denim, Nico Mid-Rise Straight Jean $175
KAANAS Coco Braided Sandal $119
Bella Dahl Frayed Cami $84 and Frayed Shorts $84
494 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS • 518.584.4838 • VIOLETSOFSARATOGA.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com
Feel the Need to Laugh?
Jamestown Has You Covered WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN
"The first purpose of comedy is to make people laugh. Anything deeper is a bonus. Some comedians want to make people laugh and make them think about socially relevant issues, but comedy, by the very nature of the word, is to make people laugh. If people aren't laughing, it's not comedy. It's as simple as that." ~ Trevor Noah Who doesn't love comedy, right? Ohmygosh, I love to laugh, and when the joke catches me off-guard and splits my sides in two, it's the best feeling ever. This past summer, I decided to drive to Jamestown, New York, for the weekend. The venue I was interested in visiting opened in 2018 and has plenty of accolades under its belt already. I'd read that the National Comedy Center was voted "Best New Museum" in the country by USA Today and that Time voted it one of the "World's Greatest Places" in 2019. Besides that, with dual admission, I could access the Lucy-Desi Museum, only a block or two further down the main drag. I mean, how on earth was I going to turn a trip like that down? I wasn't.
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I arrive before the doors open and walk around the property before sitting on a comfortable bench outside. The building is massive, and TV screens entertain the early birds with clips from funny shows while we wait under clear skies and what's proving to be a super-hot day. Let me tell you, the thing that delights me most is how they've planned the entire experience based on what I think is funny. A radio-frequency wristband swiped at one of the interactive kiosks builds a 'humor profile,' depending on your answers. You heard right - each guest takes a little quiz when they arrive. "What TV shows do I find funny?" "What sort of comedy makes me laugh?" "Who is my all-time favorite comedian?" Questions like these make me think for a minute. After I submit my answers, the day leads me through intentional moments in comedy's history - ones geared towards me, and I find the hours I spend exploring each, well, hilarious. The center is immersive and interactive. For instance, The Stand-Up Lounge is a room off to one side, where guests walk up, choose a table and then listen to masters of the craft. Even though comics are projected on the wall, I feel they are in the space alongside me. I love it. Hallways lead me into other rooms, where I'm able to view the extensive archive of George Carlin, spot Charlie Chaplin's cane, try my hand at drawing a cartoon with an artist, to name a few. Cabinets full of costumes, letters, even notes jotted on paper of jokes one would tell during the show grab my attention. Families are seated on sofas grandma would have covered in plastic, watching a TV show from back in the day, laughing their butts off. There were just so many wonderful aspects to The National Comedy Center - I can't wait to go again. There's a "Tribute to Late Night," a "Wall of Connections/Comedy Continuum," even an elevator that takes you upstairs to the "Blue Room," which is all about uncensored comedy - raw but immensely entertaining. You should make a date to visit as well.
After leaving the center, I decide to hunt for Lucy. There are four (that I know of) murals around that general area - humongous depictions of I Love Lucy everyone will recognize. "California Here We Come!" is on 33 Forest Avenue. This mural is the hardest one for me to find - it's off the beaten path and over a bridge, so I wait till I'm back in the car and drive there. The Lucy and Desi Postage Stamp mural is at 300 East 3rd Street, painted on the side of an old brick building, with a guitar hanging from the front entrance. The "Vitameatavegamin" mural is from one of the show's funniest episodes I remember, where Lucy is filmed doing a commercial. Many consider it among the most outstanding performances of comedic history. I stand there for a few minutes, chuckling at the memory of watching the show with my family before I moved away. The last mural I discover is the Lucy and Desi mural. Located at the same address - 115 E 3rd Street, it's a gorgeous image of our beloved Lucy with Desi holding his famed straw hat to his chest. 50 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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While I'm on the hunt for these murals, I come across an alley filled with art - and I mean, filled. Aptly named Potters Gallery, The Downtown Alley Art Gallery showcases artwork created by talented local students. I find myself in front of several pieces, pondering them the same way I would in NYC, Boston, or any number of other indoor museums across the country. The art is that good. It seems surreal, being outside in the fresh air, with blue skies overhead, enjoying the color and design of each artist's eye. From there, I wander down the street, window shopping, sipping on a cup of coffee from a little cafe before entering the museum that honors one of America's funniest couples. Inside, I watch families with a few kids in tow. Even the youngsters seem to know an awful lot about 'I Love Lucy.' And why not? I watched the show over and over and over again during my years growing up in small-town USA. Today, I listen to a young boy calling his father over to admire one exhibit that's caught his attention while a young girl oohs and ahhs over costumes worn by both Lucy and Desi Arnez. The museum even has rooms set up exactly as the show depicted them - it's a blast to see. I spend about two hours here, enjoying every second. A gift shop purchase - or three later, and I'm on my way to the hotel.
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The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is in nearby Celoron. It features 135 deluxe guest rooms and suites - mine happens to face the lake, overlooking landscaped grounds and within sight of the Celoron LightHouse. There's a carousel bar, stunning views of the water, endless walkways with benches tucked into corners, even a mini-golf green! The pools are inviting, with lounge chairs and giant shade umbrellas nearby. At night, fire pits roar, and I find myself sitting outside on my patio drinking wine, listening to the sound of laughter below. I'm there by myself, but I still enjoy a fantastic dinner at the hotel's 'Lakeside Tap and Grille.' Families gather around outdoor tables, and there's a smattering of couples, friends, and other people dining solo, just like me. It's so comfortable, and the service is first class. After a great night's sleep, I wake to fog and decide to take a walk before the temps are unbearable. I can hardly see the lighthouse, but I love the moody photographs I can capture because of the weather. In the park, I find two sculptures of Lucy, and I even stop to chat with some fishermen. Breakfast beckons, then I shower, pack and head home again. It's a road trip I'm anxious to repeat in the spring. After all, Jamestown is Lucy's hometown, and I haven't found her gravestone yet! SS
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Save the Date
WoodWorkers Showcase
Photo Courtesy of John Olenik
RETURNS!
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After a two-year Covid hiatus, the Northeast Woodworkers Association is returning with its 29th annual "Showcase" presentation at the Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs N.Y. on the dates of March 26 & 27, 2022. Showcase Chairman Wally Carpenter added, "Our members have been busy for two years creating exciting works of art - I anticipate this will be our best show ever!” Times are 10 am to 5pm daily. Admission fee is $15, with children under 12 free. This premier woodworking show will be presenting hundreds of exhibits reflecting the art of woodworking, ranging from fine furniture, to exquisite turnings, carvings, intarsia, scroll work, sculpture, toys , accessories, musical instruments, and all other things crafted of wood. In addition to the exhibits, there will be numerous national and regional trade vendors, offering for sale, wide varieties of wood and woodworking related tools and accessories for all skill levels, many of whom will be demonstrating their products. Lectures and demonstrations on a wide range of woodworking topics, presented by nationally and regionally recognized master craftsmen, are held continually throughout the two days, and are free of charge. A traditionally popular demonstration is the Toy Factory where NWA members create wooden toys to pass out free to the children. Exhibits, both amateur and professional, will be judged, and compete for coveted NWA award ribbons in multiple categories, including Best of Show and People’s Choice. Part of the Showcase involves the Totally Turning symposium dedicated to the art of turning wood for which there is a separate charge, and all attendees must be pre-registered. A new attached parking garage is now available. For further information, see www.woodworker.org, woodworker.org/about-showcase, woodworker.org/about-totally-turning. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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Let’s Go! WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA
As a kid, Lyle DeVore remembers being so worn out when he’d go with his dad to the Albany Saratoga Speedway that he’d fall asleep in the grandstand before the main event even started. He even worked there picking up garbage, but this sport had bigger plans for him. “I got into racing and as time progressed, I knew what I wanted to do in the future was run racetracks,” he said Lyle worked at other tracks and then, in 2012, started running the Albany Saratoga Speedway. IN THE KNOW Lyle DeVore knows racing. “There’s a sense of excitement on a dirt track conducive to good side-by-side racing that you can’t get at any other sporting event. It’s got everything: excitement, noise, a lot of unknowns that make for an interesting dynamic. It’s a unique form of entertainment that can’t compare to anything else.”
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He also knows racing fans. “"The fans are crucial to the future of our sport,” said DeVore. THE GOLDEN RULE IN ACTION During the height of the pandemic, the Albany Saratoga Speedway began broadcasting races on a streaming platform, making it the only track in the nation to stay running (and racing an average of 150+ cars/night) without fans in the stands. “It gave people the opportunity to watch races and for advertisers to have commercial spots. It just seemed to work, at least for our track, it did.” So well, in fact, this summer they’ll be fully-open and able to seat 3,500 spectators but are continuing the streaming service. That’s just how DeVore likes to do business. “You’ve got to move business around who you are, pay attention to the details, and treat everyone as fair as possible – treat everyone the way you want to be treated.”
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THE BIGGER PICTURE Although they are only open for 25 weeks a year, DeVore’s family, including his wife, Marcy Mangino and their daughter, Mia are constantly working to make the track a successful part of the community. “We’re always trying to make it more enjoyable. To do that, it’s important not to rest on your laurels and to keep digging,” said DeVore. Recent improvements include pavement upgrades, increased handicap accessibility, and bathroom renovations. There are special nights to honor the military and police families, fireworks, car shows, and product giveaways. Military, law enforcement, EMS, rescue personnel and neighbors use the facility for their dogs to run & play. Firemen train here. “You hope that you’re making it a great place for families to come as a whole. That what you’re doing is going to help someone else,” added Marcy. “THE GREAT RACE PLACE” For the 2022 campaign, the Albany Saratoga Speedway’s ambitious schedule begins on April 1st - the earliest opening day in its 57-year history. “I just want people to come out and try it – to see for themselves what it’s all about. I want to introduce what we have to people, to create new race fans so we can keep the sport alive and well. I want to give everyone memorable moments of having fun at a good, safe racetrack,” said DeVore. There is free parking and camping at the Albany Saratoga Speedway, 2671 U.S. 9, Ballston Spa. For details and the full schedule, go to albany-saratogaspeedway.com SS …Many More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!
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Racers Weigh In: “Everybody is always trying to separate people (because of their political views or skin color) but at the racetrack we’re all one big family.” - Racer and crewman Derrick McGrew Sr. whose son Derrick McGrew Jr. made history when, at 10 years old, he became the youngest driver to win a feature race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Together they’ve travelled the country and started the RaceLife4Real nonprofit group to spread the idea that “it’s not just a race, it’s a lifestyle.” “It was the biggest thrill. I fell in love with the noise, the dirt, the whole thing. It gets in your blood. There’s nothing that compares to it.” – Don Ronca, a racecar driver for 45 years recalls what it was like to visit the Speedway as a kid. “When you go to the races, what you’ll see is lots of families and you’ll see friends that are so close they feel like family. There’s no other place I can imagine being on a Friday night in Saratoga.” - Kim Duell, a Championship racer since 1977, whose son Scott is now also a winning driver.
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H&G Let Us Show You Around… Randall Perry Photography
Rethink the Wine Cellar.
Bella Home Builders proves you don’t have to hide your wine collection away. Floor-to-ceiling tinted glass encloses the temperature-controlled, state-of-the-art wine room located in the middle of the house’s open floor plan and puts the floating iron wine racks on full display.
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Randall Perry Photography
cturally SPEAKING Follow us as we explore some of the area's unique spaces...
Be the Life of the Party.
The custom chef’s kitchen includes multiple islands and lots of comfortable seating, refined gold hardware and pendant lights, a mirrored refrigerator door, and a convenient built-in coffee station.
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The Entertain A breath-taking modern home arouses the imagination. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY
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ner’s Delight
It took about a year for Bella Home Builders to create this fresh, new, custom home on the edges of Saratoga Spa State Park that’s ideal for entertaining. “This is for a couple who likes to have a lot of fun. They have a lot of friends and like to party,” said Bella Home Builders Founder and President David DePaulo. By working with designer Jeff Ture and built with the supervision of on-site manager, Tanner Duguid, the clean, contemporary, three-story, 2,972 sq. ft, 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home became a stand-out at last year’s Saratoga Showcase of Homes. It’s also a National Association of Home Builders double winner; its quality workmanship won it the Best New Kitchen award and its unique wine room received recognition as Best Utilitarian Space. ON CLOUD-NINE The ground floor of this thrilling home is characterized by its open, yet defined, layout. The U-shaped space curves around the concept that the chef should still be able to enjoy his guests. This is accomplished in the light-filled kitchen with white cupboards and countertops, a professional-quality cooking surface positioned within a center island and is topped off with a ceiling-mounted range hood. These features allow the hosts to be in full view of anyone sitting along the 12-foot black-leathered granite island, or while they are enjoying entertainment and the fireplace in the living area just beyond. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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Randall Perry Photography
Black and White All Over.
The alluring sophistication of black and white never goes out of style. Elevate the refinement to new heights with floating black oak shelves, trim, and accents. Then, soften it up with touches of greys. Finally, inject life with some green plants for a well-balanced room.
STIMULATE THE SENSES Perhaps the most unique and talked-about aspect of this home must be its innovative glass-walled wine room. “I don’t know if you can ever overdo glass. It brings the outside in and makes the room look bigger, fuller, and brighter,” said DePaulo. The brainchild of Jeff Ture, from Old Brick Furniture’s Queensbury Design Center, this wine room demonstrates
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the creativity that the interior designer was celebrated for infusing into his work. Sadly, Jeff passed away last month. “He was one of the most dedicated, driven, passionate, talented, and gifted individuals I’ve ever met,” said DePaulo. “He liked what he did and had fun doing it. I enjoyed working with him and knew I could count on him (which is so important in this business). He was someone I knew I could trust.”
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Randall Perry Photography
THE POWER OF A RESTRICTED PALETTE A striking black and white color scheme saturates every inch of this home, showing how stunning simplicity can be. “Black and white is back!” declares DePaulo. “Actually, it’s been around for a bazillion years but it is really becoming more popular again now.” In the bathroom, white glossy flooring and walls are anchored by a bold black ceiling and sleek, hand-painted metallic mural.
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His and hers vanities and a floating soaking tub make this a luxurious, resort-like space. Double-wide sliding glass doors open-up to the comfortable master bedroom – a room warmed by an assortment of plants and a geometric pattern rug.
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Randall Perry Photography
MAKING IT PERSONAL Although the overall design maximizes the idea that the eye doesn’t need to get caught-up in the heaviness of the space, there are still architectural details and personal touches that invite introspection in this house. For instance, because the homeowners can be found at the Saratoga Race Course daily in the summertime and even own horses themselves, the sleek art and décor in this home is punctuated by pieces with an equestrian theme. One such painting, completed by area equine artist Tom Myott, includes special dates, messages, and notes.
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Randall Perry Photography
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Susan Blackburn Photography
Colleen's Picks
A Carefully Curated Selection of HOME DÉCOR ITEMS WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC
Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located in Saratoga Springs. With certifications in Kitchen & Bath Design, Aging in Place and True Color Expert, her curated design extends into all areas of her field including new construction, historical and major renovations. Her passion is in designing & customizing hand-crafted cabinets for all areas of the residential market.
Spring is in the air!
I can hear the birds chirping, the snow has melted and the warm air is starting to find its way to our area of the country. It’s time to dust off the winter and begin thinking new, while preparing for warmer days ahead. With Easter just around corner, there are many reasons to start adding punches of spring color and nature back into your spaces. Even Mother Nature is doing her part in transforming our outdoors into flowering beds and green pastures. Sometimes she’s a little slow with the start-up, but I think we’re beginning to see sunnier days ahead. So put away your winter boots and slide into a pair of walking shoes. We’re going shopping at some of my favorite local stores around Saratoga!!
FINISHING TOUCHES HOME DECOR 450 E High Street, Ballston Spa FinishingTouchesStore.com | 518-584-1490
ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE 2570 U.S. 9, Malta Allerdice.com | 518-899-6222
FINISHING TOUCHES always has décor to “Ew and Ah” about! Like this soft, Natural Pillow layered in 100% Genuine Feathers and luxurious linen! The hidden zipper allows the removable cover to be spot cleaned along with accessing the oversized feathered insert. Available in either a 24” or 26” size, this plush and plumy accent pillow adds a touch of whimsy while offering an organic essence to any room. AND…If you look at fashion for 2022, you’ll also find a surge in feather accents for clothing, earrings and shoes! It’s a fluffy world so pluck your favorites while they’re available!! Just a hop away in Malta, you’ll find ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE has many new items for the 2022 season. A true favorite of the shop’s manager, Linda Avramidis, is this cheerful “Sun Kissed” Yellow Lumbar Pillow that would brighten up anyone’s day upon seeing it. Crafted by using the technique called Punch Hooking or Punch Needle, this sweet pillow is covered in lofty loops to create a casual feel while adding circlets of comfort to the any sitting area. A little piece of sunshine right in your own home!
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CURTAIN & CARPET CONCEPTS 46 Marion Avenue #7, Saratoga Springs CurtainToCarpet.com | 518-886-1389
Back in Saratoga, CURTAIN AND CARPET CONCEPTS is adding a touch of glam with designer printed cow hides in cheetah or giraffe motifs. These hides from Brazil are larger than others offering a spacious 6’ x 8’ from the longest points. Wondering how to use these stunning pieces? The obvious answer is for a throw rug, but don’t be afraid to layer it over a wall-to-wall to create an intimate sitting area in a larger space. Or, hang it on the wall to add texture and color. It’s artwork in its own right! And the irregular shape will add interest on a vertical surface!
EARL B. FEIDEN APPLIANCE 1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215 785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555 EarlBFeiden.com
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Now, you all know that I love to talk appliances…It’s a weak spot of mine next to wine. EARL B. FEIDEN’S has some of the most up-to-date appliances on the market today. One of the newer options is a Wolf handle-less Wall Oven, the 30" M SERIES CONTEMPORARY STAINLESS STEEL BUILT-IN DOUBLE OVEN D O 3 0 C M / S … Yes, you read that right…no handle on your wall oven! It’s touch to open! How marvelous is that!! You have a leg of lamb prepped and ready to go, the oven is preheated and you simply tap the door, insert your holiday feast with the temperature probe, and voila! It’s about time someone thought of this! And before you think that is it, this beauty does so much more! Now I feel like Billy Mays!! Seriously, another big advantage is Wolf’s advanced Dual VertiCross convection system which allows the oven to preheat faster and will cook foods more consistently across all the racks. No more worries about jockeying pans to ensure proper cooking. And for those of you who feel you can’t cook, maybe it’s just your oven that is making all the mistakes and blaming you! With 50 pre-programmed popular dishes with Gourmet features that automatically adjusts cook times and temperatures for you, this new wall oven will be singing your praises along with all your family and friends! Maybe this spring is just the right time to think about upgrading your wall oven to a Wolf!
SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 69
Colleen's Picks EARL B. FEIDEN APPLIANCE 1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215 785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555 EarlBFeiden.com
And if a touch open feature excites you as much as it does me, you should see the Thermador Refrigerators with Touch to Assist! You’ll have to visit Earl B. Feiden’s for more info, I could go on all day! Onto a beautiful stone from GRANITE & MARBLE WORKS with a fiery stone known as Fusion Quartzite! Its name implies the fusion of colors creating a strikingly unique wave of color throughout each slab. With vibrant surfs of intense hues of reds, blues, yellow and greens this ocean of color is perfect to immerse your home into the color palette of 2022 and beyond. With veins of grey and browns highlighted by soft tans, this stone is more than just a countertop, it could be used as a piece of artwork for the back of a bar or a shower stall! And remember, quartzite is harder than granite so no need to second guess its worthiness for durability…it’s already stood the test of time in the bedrock of Brazil! Granite & Marble Works has many options to source in their large, full slab warehouse. Be sure to make appointment to see the future of you next project!
GRANITE & MARBLE WORKS 8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton GraniteAndMarbleworks.com | 518-584-2800
Are you excited?? Let’s get our Spring on by strolling the streets of Downtown Saratoga and keeping all of our local shops and restaurants busy for another season!! It’s time to embrace the sun again. Let the kids play outside and hear the laughter for blocks. Let’s embrace the beauty of flowers as they peep their heads out after a long winters nap. The sun and warmth are back…Let’s Saratoga Together!!
Fusion Fire Quartzite
Until next time my friends,
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Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net #cmcdesignstudiollc “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS
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SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 71
How adding
́ vintage dEcor
unique spring look. can help create a
WRITTEN BY COLLEEN PAUSLEY OF LIFE ON KAYDEROSS CREEK
1
KEEP CLICHÉ SPRING AND EASTER DÉCOR TO A MINIMUM. I know, when you think Spring, you think bunnies and Easter and chicks and eggs. Those pieces can work in moderation but make things easy on yourself and use them sparingly. The less you use Easter specific signs and décor the easier it is to transition from season to season.
Antique and vintage pieces can add warmth, patina, and interest to a space. They add personality and if they’re mixed in with new modern pieces you can create a timeless, one-of-a kind, cozy space. Here are some ideas on how to mix vintage items with new pieces for a fresh, unique spring look.
Instead, use pieces with muted pastels, antique white pitchers with some pretty faux flowers and other accessories which will go well into late Spring or even early summer. You’ll spend less money on decorations that only last a few weeks and you’ll be able to transition to Summer easier.
2
PICK A COLOR PALETTE AND STICK TO IT. Start with a piece of vintage art for inspiration and keep it to a minimum of 3 colors including white. It’s easier to create vignettes this way if you’re only using a few colors and it’s less expensive because you can use things in multiple ways and rooms.
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ADD A POP OF COLOR WITH VINTAGE BOOKS Vintage books are my go-to for adding color, and height to a space. They are an inexpensive way to add interest to any bookshelf or coffee table.
INTRODUCE NEW GREENERY INTO ANTIQUE OR VINTAGE VESSELS Whether you use real plants or faux greenery, these pieces can add life to a space. Use different vintage vessels to display them in such as crocks, tins or antique baskets to add even more color and texture.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX METALS Add even more interest by mixing different metals together. I love using thrifted brass candlesticks for every season and mixing in muted silver adds a unique yet classic look. ADD IN WOOD TONES Warm vintage wooden boxes, crates or cutting boards can add warmth and help ground the space. Mix in some faux greenery or pink flowers and you can create a beautiful spring vignette. Remember to sprinkle these pieces throughout the space because repetition is key for a cohesive look.
Vintage, antique and thrifted pieces can help you create your own unique look and feel in your home. Remember, when it comes to decorating, you should follow your heart and ultimately do what makes you happy. You can find more Spring decorating ideas, thrift store flips and furniture makeovers at mylifeonkayderosscreek.com. SS 72 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE
OF SIMPLY YOU
THE POWER OF
Carving Out Space
Our homes have many rooms Their names typically dictate what the room will function as. A kitchen is for cooking and eating. A living room for hanging out and watching TV. What gets tricky is having a function but no space for it. When you have an activity with no clear space for it, boundaries for the activity or storage for related items, you either crowd other areas for their intended function or you rarely do the activity because getting started is too hard. A great example is hobbies. If you like to paint, where do you do it? Where do you put your brushes and paint and canvases? If you have the paint in a tote in a closet and your canvases in the basement and your easel in the garage, that isn’t conducive to just rolling up the stool and starting a painting. If you have an extra room, great! But that is typically unlikely. Maybe you just need an unused corner, next to a window perhaps, to allow for natural light – even better! A
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small table for your canvas or easel, a small shelving unit to organize your paints and brushes (preferably with doors if in a shared space) and a chair. Tuck your extra canvases under the table and you are set when inspiration strikes. In carving out a space for a function (even if just storing all like items together like an athletic gear corner) it means you can find what you are looking for when you need it. You can also see everything you have to support your activity. Overspending and duplicate buying because something can’t be found are two of the biggest reasons why getting organized for an activity should be done. Imagine if this new space is for a side business you are starting? With it, you could change the rest of your future. In the painting example, setting the space up permanently, provides instant access to your hobby. So, what do you not have space for? How much space to you need to effectively support that function? Walk around and find an unused space that you can carve out …for just what you need! SS
SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 73
In the Kitchen WITH
JOHN REARDON
Hello my Foodie Friends! Spring time brings back many memories of my mother’s ability to make foods taste delicious. Every spring, she would start a family vegetable garden. With five young children to keep busy, the vegetable garden promised to transform our backyard into a space of learning, discovery, and nourishment. Creating a veggie garden was a wonderful way to keep all our tiny hands busy. It also hosted invaluable lessons from life cycles to the responsibility of hard work that were learned inside the garden. How do you get five very different little rascals to love their vegetables? My mother had us working in her garden weeding and debugging her vegetable plants. I did not like weeding, but debugging was fun. After a day of gardening, we would come in to the house and were hit with cumulus clouds of steam and wonderful aromas of all kinds of steaming vegetables. My brothers and sisters would stop in our tracks, and all breathe it in at once. Every one of us wanted a taste of what she was cooking and quickly washed up for dinner without being asked. Of course, we all knew the penalty for not washing up before coming to the table. If she saw dirty hands at the table, there would be consequences and your stomach would continue to growl longer than your siblings. My middle brother was known as Dirty Hands Dan. He would test her every once in a while, thinking he could get his dirty mitts by her. He never did. She would look at him with a stare that she must have learned in “mom school” we thought. Her words were quick and practiced “Daniel, hands, face, neck and ears now!” He would run like the wind but smiling the whole way. I think he loved her saying that. To this day when I see him, I will say “Dan,” and he will recite, “Yes John, hands, face, neck and ears, now!” It puts that little boy smile on his clean face to this day. I also remember that while my friend’s mothers were boiling vegetables, my mother was steaming them. What we didn’t realize at the time was that by steaming them the flavor and aromas were richer. The texture made them melt in your mouth. I now know that she had five children to feed, and she wanted us to eat our vegetables. According to Helen Chen, steaming has many benefits, including the fact that you “accentuate the natural flavor of foods, retain nutrients and vitamins while cooking with less fat or oil.” Foods that are steamed require little or no added oils or fats, and they retain vitamins and minerals and cook quickly and evenly. To assist with your steaming needs; we have several ways to steam food with the use of bamboo steamers and metal steamer baskets inserts. The bamboo steamers are handmade of 100% natural bamboo and are ideal for vegetables, seafood, meats, and fruits. They are also perfect for cooking, reheating, and serving your favorite dim sum. Bamboo absorbs condensation so no water will drip back onto the food.
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FLAVORFUL STEAMED VEGETABLES SAUCE:
INGREDIENTS
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 large steamer pan with 2-3 inches of water
• 1 ½ cups water from steaming vegetables (or unsalted veggie broth)
• 1 medium onion, cut in wedges • 10 Brussels sprouts, trimmed (cut large sprouts in half)
• 2 tablespoons molasses or maple syrup
• 2 carrots, cleaned and cut in 1/4 -inch diagonal slices
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 8-10 large mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups cauliflower florets
• 1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch stirred into 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups green beans, cleaned and trimmed
INSTRUCTIONS • To the steamer basket insert, add the onions and Brussels sprouts. Set your temperature to medium-high. As soon as the water starts to steam, start your timer for 4 minutes. • Next add the carrots and mushrooms. Steam for 2 minutes. • Add the broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans. Steam for 2-4 minutes. • Check for tenderness after 3 minutes, being sure not to overcook. Once tender, remove from heat. Drain the pan. Save the water for use in soups or to sauté veggies. It is full of nutrients and very flavorful.
HOW STEAMERS WORK: A bamboo steamer is designed to sit over another pot containing boiling water (specially designed steaming rings, make it easy to steam on 11" or 13" diameter stockpots). As the water boils, the steam enters the steamer through the open slats in the bottom and is contained in the steamer by the lid. The bamboo steamer absorbs any condensation, keeping water from dripping back onto the food. When heated, it forms a hot container and, with the cover in place, can keep food warm for up to half an hour. Metal steamer inserts are another method of steaming vegetables. Metal steamer inserts are adjustable, collapsible, stainless-steel baskets that expand to 9-inches. Metal vegetable steamer inserts adjusts to fit various-sized pots for steam cooking food and preserving fresh textures, flavors, and precious nutrients. Cook and reheat single or
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SAUCE INSTRUCTIONS: • Set your warm pan (without the steamer basket) back on the burner. • Add soy sauce, water from steaming the veggies (or unsalted vegetable broth), molasses or maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, herbs and garlic. Heat over medium-high heat until simmering. • Add the cornstarch water, stirring until the sauce thickens. • Add the steamed vegetables and gently toss until coated. • Serve immediately. Serves 6-8.
multiple servings; perfect for steaming vegetables, fruit, dumplings, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, desserts, and more. The footed design elevates food above the boiling water; smaller and more economical than electric food steamers and dishwasher safe. This spring, create some lasting memories with your family and eat healthier. Whether you have a big yard to garden, or you have a few pots on a balcony, consider planting a family garden for fresh vegetables. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs. Get steaming towards Spring. Remember, my Foodie Friends that: “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Take Care, John & Paula
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SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 75
Entertaining WITH
RALPH VINCENT
Ideas for relaxed entertaining your guests will love …and you will too!
Celebrate the Season with a Springtime Brunch! Orange Mint Julep
WELCOME TO SPRING EVERYONE! At long last the winter has departed and it is time to celebrate this season of rejuvenation and everything wonderful that comes with it.
• 2 ounces of bourbon whisky • ½ ounce of agave nectar
For me, a relaxed brunch with my friends and family is a most pleasurable way to greet spring. I have put together a menu of new and easy to make seasonal dishes you can use for your own springtime brunch.
• ½ ounce of fresh orange juice • 4 sprigs of fresh mint and more to garnish
We start out with a cocktail (big surprise, I am sure!). My Orange Mint Julep is refreshing and sure to put your guests in a festive mood. Served with the drinks is my Green Goddess Hummus along with crackers or veggies for dipping. This creamy spring green hummus is full of fresh herb flavor. Now on to our main course, Lemon, Ricotta and Asparagus Frittata served alongside a cool, crisp Romaine and Strawberry Salad, drizzled with my Honey Vinaigrette Dressing. Remember, you do not have to make every single thing you serve. So keep your stress level low and serve some purchased foods as well. I have a delicious suggestion to serve with your frittata and salad… Bantam Bagels’ Mini Stuffed Bagels. These cream cheese filled little New York City style bagels go from freezer to oven to your table. How’s that for simple and easy? You can choose from classic plain bagels with cream cheese, cinnamon sugar with cinnamon cream cheese, and my fave, everything bagel with veggie cream cheese! Speaking of keeping things easy, purchase your brunch dessert too. Cupcakes are always a hit. The bakery at the Healthy Living Market and Café has a mouthwatering selection. Or stop by Kelly’s Kitchen in Wilton for delightful and beautifully decorated cupcake choices. I hope you enjoy these recipes. Until next time… have fun in your kitchen, enjoy cooking for the people you love and remember…
it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to taste good! 76 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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• 1 thin orange slice to garnish DIRECTIONS: Place the agave nectar, mint and orange juice in a cocktail shaker, and muddle with a cocktail muddler or long handled spoon. Add the bourbon whiskey and 1 cup of ice to the shaker, secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Strain into an ice filled julep cup or rocks glass, garnish with the orange slice and a mint sprig and enjoy!
Green Goddess Hummus • One 15.5 ounce can of chickpeas drained • 1/3 cup of thinly sliced scallions • 1/3 cup of chopped fresh dill • 1/3 cup of chopped fresh flat leaf parsley • 1 garlic of clove minced • 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil • ½ teaspoon of kosher salt • ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper DIRECTIONS: Place all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse on high till creamy. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper and lemon juice if desired and refrigerate. Serve with crackers and or vegetable dippers. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Lemon Ricotta Cheese and Asparagus Frittata • 1 bunch of fresh asparagus (about 1 pound or so) washed and woody ends snapped off • 12 large eggs • Zest of 1 lemon • 1 & ½ cups of ricotta cheese • ½ cup of grated asiago cheese plus ¼ cup to sprinkle on top • 1 teaspoon of kosher salt • 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper • A pinch of red pepper flakes
the bottom of your baking dish. In a medium bowl combine the ricotta and ½ cup of asiago cheese, lemon zest, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. In a large bowl whisk the eggs till the whites and yolks are well blended, then whisk in the cheese mixture till combined. Pour over asparagus in the baking dish and sprinkle the ¼ cup of asiago cheese over top. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the eggs are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Cut into squares to serve.
DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 350 F. Butter a 9x13 baking dish. Cut the asparagus into bite size pieces and spread over
Romaine and Strawberry Salad with Almonds and Honey Vinaigrette • One 9 ounce bag of prewashed romaine lettuce or another salad blend you prefer • 1 cup of hulled and thinly sliced fresh strawberries • ¼ cup of thinly sliced almonds or more if desired Vinaigrette: • ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil • ¼ cup of red wine vinegar • 3 tablespoons of honey • ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt or more to taste • 1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper or more to taste DIRECTIONS: Just before serving combine the romaine lettuce, strawberries and almonds in a chilled serving bowl and toss to combine. Serve with the Honey Poppy Seed Vinaigrette. Vinaigrette: In a small bowl whisk the red wine vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper together. Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until combined. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 77
PUTTING THE BUTCHER BEFORE THE LIVESTOCK Part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County Homesteading Series
WRITTEN BY NICOLINA FOTI OF CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SARATOGA COUNTY
IN HOMESTEADING or farming, you always seem to be planning today for tomorrow's work. And there is an important reason for that, and it's the adage "up the creek without a paddle." None of us want to get into that situation. But there is one instance that I have found with those who are new to the homesteading/farming lifestyle when they find themselves up that very creek, and that is when people buy livestock for meat. Whether it's a cow, pig, meat bird, it all unfolds somewhat similar; they get the animal, they raise it, and just about when they would like to (or need to), they go looking for a meat processor. After that, to their surprise, they conclude it's not that easy, and those who can process animals are booked for months. Now they have a 400lb pig in their backyard; winter is coming, and there are beads of panic rolling down their face! "What am I going to do?" Let's rewind this story and go back to what they should have done. In this scenario, they have "put the cart before the horse," so to speak. The best way to get livestock for meat is as with everything else in homesteading/farming. Do your homework! Decide what meat you want. How long will it take to harvest or bring that animal to market, and most importantly, where will you bring it for processing? Contact a butcher/meat processor first. Tell them the type 78 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
of animal you want to raise, and ask if they will be able to process it for you. As I mentioned previously, the meat processor will book in advance with an approximate date, and they book months in advance. So, for example, if meat birds take on average 12 weeks to harvest, you would need to plan that and schedule an appointment within that time frame. This is also a great time to ask questions. How long will it take to fully process the animal? How much meat can I expect to get from a 1,200 lb cow? (it's not 1,200 lbs of meat!) How will the meat be packaged? What types of cuts of meat can I get? What is the pricing, how is it figured, will it change? If you are doing meat birds, ask if they have a bird minimum. Many places will only do a minimum number of birds in one order. So partner with a friend or know to raise that number of birds to meet the minimum for processing. The moral of this story is to do your homework and "put the butcher before the livestock." If you are thinking about raising animals for meat and want to explore the idea more, feel free to reach out to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County. We would be happy to speak with you and help you navigate this process, and supply you with the right questions to ask these professionals. Contact me, Nicolina Foti, nvf5@cornell.edu or call our office at 518-885-8995. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Gardening WITH
T
PETER BOWDEN
here’s a lot to look forward to in spring. There is return of so many birds we love who left us to spend their days in warmer places. The first daffodils, crocus and other spring flowering bulbs are always a thrill. Just the appearance of the color green after so many months of grey, brown and white makes the heart swell with spring fever. An event I especially look forward to is the blossoming of the earlyflowering woody trees and shrubs. Their flowering sequence is a regular as clockwork. The first to show color is the native Vernal Witch Hazel. Its small flowers can range form a pale yellow to a rusty red and are often overlooked since they are small and appear even while the last of the snow is melting.
Am al an ch i
Another native early flowering tree can’t be overlooked: the Amalanchier which is also know as Serviceberry. Amalanchier trees light up the forests with their clouds of brilliant white flowers long before there are any leaves on any of the trees. They are an important food for any early pollinators looking for a meal. Later, Amalanchier berries will feed the birds that have just arrived form their migration north.
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A little later, the interesting Redbud trees flower. Unlike most trees, the Redbud’s clusters of tiny flowers appear all along the woody stems rather that at the tips. Its unique appearance always leads to folks flocking to buy then at the garden center during their bloom time.
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As the days rapidly lengthen and grow warmer, the progression of flowering trees accelerates, and we’ll enjoy all the apple blossoms. There are the fruit bearing apples with their pink and white flowers. Along with them arrive their ornamental cousins, the flowering crabapples. Flowering crabapples can range in color from pure white to red and are a sight to behold at their peak flowering. In mid-spring the dogwoods arrive with their odd four-petaled flowers. The petals are actually bracts, or leaves that simulate flowers. At the center of the bract is the true flower that will eventually form the dogwood fruit which is prized by birds and people who enjoy making dogwood jam form them. Late in spring we get to enjoy the large flowers of the Magnolias. The largest is the Saucer Magnolia with its large pink flowers. Star magnolias with their smaller form and pure white flowers are impossible to ignore. Lately, yellow magnolias like ‘Butterflies’ have regained popularity. The sight of a well established 25’ yellow magnolia in full flower is not easily forgotten. Thankfully they are becoming more readily available than they were ten years ago, If you are interested in planting early flowering trees, make sure to start prowling the nurseries in March and April and plant them early in the season to get them off to the best start. If you already have them, remember to do any pruning as soon as they finish their flowering cycle so that the new growth you stimulate will have a whole growing season to produce the buds they need for more flowers the following spring. THANKS FOR THE READ! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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80 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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HISTORY WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION
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SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 81
TEN PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE in Saratoga Springs History WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION
T
PART 1 OF A 2 PART SERIES he following essay is the result of numerous discussions and debates among local historians but most of all between my business partner, Dave Patterson and myself. The exercise was designed to debate and arrive at a list of just ten people who were most pivotal in the development of this great city of Saratoga Springs. The debate had only one ground rule and that was that any person mentioned must have passed away. No living Saratogian could be considered for this list. We wanted the nominated people to have a clear list of contributions and as you might think, the living would still be producing and therefore be harder to judge fairly. So here it is. Due to article space this is my first five of the top ten list. Some may disagree, but it is my list and my attempt to define our history. This is part 1 of 2 articles.
1 & 2:
GIDEON & DOANDA PUTNAM I wanted to list the Putnams as a pair and not in the usual style of only mentioning Gideon. Close examination of Doanda’s life and contributions make her a great person for this list. The Putnams came to Saratoga Springs in 1789 rather poor and rented land to start businesses. When the Putnams first arrived, they built a very productive sawmill on the outskirts of town. Gideon was very good at supplying early residents with lumber for all the construction needs to build a village. As I frequently say, Gideon and Doanda did not have to walk through a corn field in Iowa to understand the saying, “If you build 82 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
it, they will come.” They immediately knew our mineral springs were a huge asset that needed to be supported and advertised. One of the best ways to ensure success was to provide a hotel that would afford visitors a comfortable stay while “taking the waters.” In 1802 the Putnams opened the first hotel in the village called Putnam’s Tavern and Boarding House. It stood on the northwest corner of Broadway and Congress Street. Area peoples laughed at the size of the structure that could house 70 people at a time. The Putnams proved their critics wrong and at the end of the first season they put an addition on the building to accommodate more guests. The Putnams advertised the mineral springs as a cure for
many medical problems and the village grew as a health resort. They cleaned up the area around the Congress Spring and discovered the Columbia Spring at the same time. The accommodations provided by the Putnam family made a visit to Saratoga a delightful experience. The Putnam’s hotel would grow and be such a huge success that they decided to expand by building a very large second hotel across Broadway from the Tavern and named it Congress Hall. The Congress Spring was so well known in the country that it was logical to name the new hotel Congress. Unfortunately, during construction, Gideon fell from the scaffolding and died months later from those injuries.
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The Putnam’s Tavern and Boarding House would last well beyond the early death of Gideon in 1812 under the watchful eye of Doanda. She ran the business and raised the family of nine children to become future village leaders. The original Tavern and Boarding House would become Union Hall and then after the family sold it the name would change to Grand Union Hotel, once the largest hotel in the world. Many historians like to say that Gideon was the “Founding Father” of the village, I prefer to say Gideon and Doanda were the “Founding Family” of the village.
3
JOHN CLARKE Mr. Clark was the first person to bottle the waters of Saratoga Springs. In June of 1811, Gideon posted a list of “rules” concerning the springs. Most were very common-sense based, but one was revolutionary for the village. The rule read, “The water at the springs would always be free” which made for a curious business model for the owners of the mineral springs. Since the water was free at the spring, the only options for revenue would be from the offering of mineral baths and the bottling of the waters for sale beyond the village. John Clarke began to bottle the famous waters in 1823 with business partner Thomas Lynch. Clarke designed the first bottles and determined the quart and pint sizes for sale while opting for colored glass of browns and green. Interestingly enough, the colored glass was slightly less in cost than clear and provided for a higher profit margin and strengthened the belief that the medicinal properties of the water needed to be protected from degradation by sunlight. Clarke’s bottling would continue to grow until in 1880 the village was selling about 8 million bottles of our famed mineral water to most American cities and as far away as China. The raised letter glass bottles displayed the name of the spring as well as the location “Saratoga Springs N.Y.” These bottles become the calling cards for the city. They
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were sold everywhere and reminded people of our fame as the source for the desired waters. I might therefore consider him our first President of the Chamber of Commerce. Clarke also paid for the first water tower in the city as well as starting a depository for donated furniture and household items to help residents suffering from house fires. Clarke also decided to lay out a Circular Street, that was very different in the country. At this time in history most cities were laid out with streets following a “grid” pattern. A curved or circular street was the first of its kind in the country. He began construction but was halted in the shape by land owners west of Broadway who refused to sell land to complete the development of that shape street. Another major impact on the village was that Clarke proposed a 46-cent reduction in people’s highway tax for every tree they planted. This was quickly embraced by residents and the village developed a beautiful tree lined streetscape. John Clarke impacted so much in the early village he must have spot on this list.
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JOHN MORRISSEY John Morrissey helped to make Saratoga Springs a “fun” place for visitors. Morrissey came to the village in 1861 and opened a small gaming house on Woodlawn Avenue. It didn’t take long for him to realize that the wealthy visitors were not always here for their health. In August of 1863 he along with John Hunter, Leonard Jerome and William Travers would open the Saratoga Racetrack. The experiment was short lived that year but was a huge success. That success would have them buy acreage across the street from the original track and lay out the present-day Saratoga Race Course. Morrissey would continue his hand with new ventures when he built and opened a premier gaming house that debuted as the Saratoga Clubhouse to be known today as the Canfield Casino in Congress Park.
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MADAME JUMEL Born in Providence Rhode Island in 1774 as Elizabeth Bowen, she was the daughter of a prostitute and a sailor. A hard and unstable early life lead her to move to New York City at age 18. Seeking stability and acceptance she began a relationship with a Captain Brown who made numerous trips to France. Since France was thought to be the epicenter of culture in the world at the time, she worked to learn many French phrases and know the ways of cultured people. When Captain Brown died accidently at sea, Eliza began to search for a husband of means. She eventually met and married Stephen Jumel, a wine merchant with holdings in France and the USA. After her marriage, the Jumels sought social acceptance in NYC. After hosting a large party for the society of the city, she was still snubbed by them. Stephen died accidently in 1832 from a fall from a carriage and Ms. Jumel took control of the business and became very successful. She again searched for a husband that would provide stability and social elevation. She marries the former Vice-President Aaron Burr in 1835. Aaron Burr sought her money and Eliza sought his social status. The marriage didn’t last long as Burr spent her money and social connections were limited. She manages to divorce Burr on his death bed using a very talented lawyer who was a son of Alexander Hamilton. After Burr killed Hamilton in a duel, Hamilton’s son needed little motivation to win this case. Madame Jumel was a tremendous business woman and was regularly at the center of social gatherings in the hotels of Saratoga. She fostered the daily ritual of carriage rides to Saratoga Lake and upon her death in 1865 she was the largest land-owning woman in the village. She served as a model for other woman and added tremendously to the society of the early village. This is the first five members of my Top Ten People in Saratoga History. I hope you enjoyed it! SS
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Rarely Seen Photos of
OLD SARATOGA Springs WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION
CONGRESS HALL PORCH This is a marvelous image that reminds us of the number of summer visitors to Saratoga Springs in the 1800s. Congress Hall was one of the “Big Four” hotels in the city and was on the east side of Broadway stretching from Spring Street south to the entrance to Congress Park. 84 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
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BANDSTAND IN CONGRESS PARK Congress Park was a magnet for summer visitors. Bands began playing at 7 a.m. in the bandstand to entertain visitors that were in the park to visit the famed Congress Spring every morning for their daily dose of mineral water.
PINE GROVE Pine Grove was the home for the famous Walworth family. Judge Reuben Hyde Walworth bought the building in the 1820s and the family lived there for generations until it was razed in the 1950s. This was the home of Ellen Hardin Walworth, one of the four founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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On SPOT. . This
260 BROADWAY
WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION (UNLESS NOTED)
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andwiched between a ‘50s style motel and a six-story brick condominium building, 260 Broadway's refaced facade can easily be overlooked. However, the skull and crossbones emblem over the dungeon-like glass and metal riveted doors may cause a passerby to give pause and wonder-What goes on at the other side of that door?
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In 1890, the building was unlike any other in the world. At the time, the world wasn't ready for innovator/visionary and idealist Franklin Webster Smith. A devout Baptist and an abolitionist, Smith opposed gambling and horse racing. Instead, he envisioned Saratoga Springs as a cultural mecca, a sentiment today often echoed by Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. Although ridiculed by some, this prompted Smith to build "a reproduction of the house of Pansa at Pompeii; buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D." It remains the sole reproduction of a Pompeian home anywhere in the United States. Finished in 1889, the art-filled Roman-style concrete structure drew an astonishing 60,000 visitors in its first four years. Smith traveled to the ruins of Pompeii three times, spending over $75,000 (2.2 million today) to furnish the house, which also served as his summer home. In keeping with the Pompeian design, the house had two parts— one for the public and one for private family use. The atrium was where Cuspius Pansa, a Pompeiian nobleman, received what Romans referred to as "plebians," or commoners. Today the skylit atrium entrance is the only original feature of "The House of Pansa." Four Roman columns mark the corners where a pool (now covered) once stood. The cleverly designed sloped roof caught rain that drained into the marble pool.
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House of Pansa was a favorite school field trip destination. High school Latin classes and students from colleges such as Vassar marveled at the frescoed walls, bronze busts, life-sized statues, and rich upholstered furnishings. A Westbury, CT newspaper field trip report from 1892 states, "A visit to the House of Pansa was worth the cost of the whole trip. To a student, this house offers an opportunity for many weeks of study." Sadly, Franklin Smith financially over-extended himself with other ambitious endeavors, such as a National Gallery of History and Art in Washington, D.C. Much debate ensued as to the fate of the House of Pansa. Nationwide, preservationists wanted it preserved; locals wanted it to be an extension of its next-door neighbor, Convention Hall. In 1914, prominent local businessman and ardent Free Mason, James Mingay, purchased the building from Franklin Smith's Bostonian sister. So, what went on behind the doors at 260 Broadway from 1914-1952? The Masonic Hall Association It was the most unique Masonic Temple in the world. Knickerbocker Press reporter William Burnham wrote," The home of the fraternity will be unusual because of the fact that the building will contain many relics on which Masonry was founded in early days." Initially, the front rooms and furnishing were kept intact. The Masons spent over $50,000 on lodge rooms and a dining hall in the rear of the building. Occasional open houses allowed the public to enter behind the mysterious doors to view the quaint Roman treasures. Historically known for devastating fires, Saratoga suffered another blow on Christmas Eve of 1926. A fire at 260 Broadway destroyed many of the one-of-a-kind treasures. The doors closed for the Masons in 1952 and reopened later that year as a synagogue and Jewish Community Center for the Congregation Shaara Tfille.
A Program dated July 30, 1892, from an employee at Death Wish Coffee.
1906 House of Pansa Postcard courtesy of Beatrice Sweeney postcard collection.
So, what went on behind those doors from 1952-1989? Congregation Shaara Tfille To the passerby, the heavy wooden doors of the brickfaced synagogue gave no hint of what went on behind the other side of them. Fortunately, Sophie Goldstein's interviews in the public library's Saratoga Room give detailed accounts. And many present and former locals, such as Marci Weinstein Goldgar, remember entering through the huge heavy doors into a large lobby. Loud voices filled the former atrium as members talked before and after services. The sanctuary was Marci's favorite part of the building, where she felt most connected to her present and rooted in her past. During services, she felt the warmth and familiarity of community members she had known all her life. Marci attended Hebrew school on the second floor. Next to the classrooms remained a large auditorium, once used as an art gallery in the Pompeia. Before class students blew off steam by playing kickball. Marci recalls, "Over 50 years later, my Hebrew school memories tend to be more of the kickball games before class than what happened once we settled into the hard wooden desks of the classroom in the late afternoon preparing for my Bat Mitzvah." In the 90s, after Congregation Shaara Tfille sold the building and moved to a new location on Weibel Avenue, the building struggled to find a unique identity. For a while, it housed a furniture store, the Broadway Design Center. Large open rooms had dividers to simulate a smaller living room or dining room area to showcase furniture. Real estate developer Bruce Levinsky of the Merlin Development and Construction Company purchased the former House of Pansa in 1997 for $1.1 million. Under his ownership, which continues today, the building was refaced, and solar panels were added to the roof.
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On the second floor visitors viewed the “Gallery for Illustrations of History, Art and Architecture.” ( Franklin Webster Smith is on the right in this photo.
So, what went on behind those riveted doors from 1999-2016? Palio Communications In 1999, buzz-worthy activity began once again behind the riveted doors of 260 Broadway. Ed Mitzen, Guy Mastrion, and Mike Myers leased the space for their rapidly growing communications and marketing firm, Palio. The average Saratogian walking by the refaced building with its striking green awnings had no idea that creative geniuses were working with Pharma companies like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Johnson & Johnson on their marketing strategies. Guy Mastrion distinctly remembers when he first looked at the space to lease. "We knew if we took down the former furniture store's dividing walls, we could design a space where creative people could think freely. The open space and high ceilings made for a cathedral-like environment. It was a Manhattan loft in the country. I knew the space would become a destination for creativity.” Guy was right-at one point, Palio grew to employ 150 people with over $31 million in revenue. The marvelous atrium was kept original. Patrick and Judy Donovan, faux finish experts, marbleized the tall columns and doorways. Palio sold its business to inVentiv Health in 2016. Today, Guy regrets not keeping a few of the original photos of the historic House of Pansa. So, what happens now behind those riveted doors? Headquarters of the World's Strongest Coffee Franklin Smith's spirit of innovation and uniqueness lingered at 260 Broadway. The atrium's black and white marble floors with red trim - the company colors of Death saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Wish coffee - caught Mike Brown's (founder of Death Wish Coffee) and Eric Donovan's attention. The company’s success skyrocketed after they won a 30 second Super Bowl commercial, valued at $5 million. They needed a space that allowed expansion. "This building has a ton of character," commented Eric Donovan, Vice President of Business Development, on a recent "behind the doors" tour. The space checked all the boxes for the innovative, fastest-growing coffee company in the grocery world. In March of 2020, as the world was shutting down, Death Wish Coffee moved into 260 Broadway, creating a retail space and corporate offices for social media, research and development, marketing, and graphics design and branding. As I dodged a ping pong ball on a recent tour, I realized this was not your typical corporate headquarters. Instead, workers enthusiastically professed their love of coffee, their jobs, and their workspace. Jeff Ayers, Media Master, produced a perfectly preserved 1892 guidebook visitors received with their 50 cent admission fee to the House of Pansa. Jeff's love of the building led him on a search to purchase one of the few original 48-page handbooks in existence. My hands trembled as I viewed this rare relic. Undoubtedly, forward-thinking Franklin Webster Smith would approve of the latest steward of the building he created. Authors Note: Researching this building was all consuming. I couldn’t have done it without the help of fultonhistory. com, Marci Weinstein Goldgar, Guy Mastrion, Eric Donovan and Jeff Ayers, and Elaine McCardle. SS SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 89
“Roadside Stand” This is the author’s favorite Leske original and is now hanging proudly in his home.
CHRIS LESKE: THE ARTIST WRITTEN BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD | PHOTOS PROVIDED
Every day we pass by a familiar face without ever knowing the story behind it. This story is about one of those faces. The first time I met musician Chris Leske was at the Parting Glass over 30 years ago. It would have been a rare Saturday when my wife and I had enough for a babysitter and a night out. After a burger and fries, we'd have a pint and wait for the live music. Luckily, on many occasions, it included some Chris Leske banjo licks. I owned Price's Dairy at the time, so the Parting Glass was also one of my customers. Chris was a fixture there, and I always looked forward to my Friday deliveries and sharing some laughs. Over the next three decades, we'd run into each other in various places around town. In more recent times, we'd bump into one another at the Stewart's Shop near my home. The repartee would consist of, "Hey, how's it going?" "Good, how about you?" then we'd head off in separate directions. In October of 2021, Chris posted one of his watercolor paintings on a Saratoga Facebook page. It was beautiful and soon amassed a long thread of positive comments and likes. I'd only witnessed Chris torching the strings of a banjo with The McKrells. The painting I was looking at dictated a closer look at Chris Leske, the painter. I would soon learn his resume had more layers than a wedding cake. It included everything from banjo champion to an award-winning sculptor, to playing Carnegie Hall. 90 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
Joyce Andersen, Rick Bedrosian, Kevin McKrell, Chris Leske, and Craig Vance. Members of the The McKrells, who played Carnegie Hall in 1995. Photo taken on Caroline St. looking up toward Broadway in Saratoga Springs
Soon after that post, we ran into each other, and I asked him if he had any paintings for sale. We exchanged contact info, and a few days later, I was the proud owner of two Leske Originals. We sat in a booth at that same Stewart's Shop to finalize the deal while a conversation that spanned several decades and an equal number of topics followed. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
During that conversation, there was something familiar in Chris' voice that told me he was at a point in his life where he needed a fresh set of tires. I'd been there; we all have— that time in your life where you need a sign pointing the way. You have a creative itch, but you don't know how to scratch it. I felt Chris needed something to help revive his artistic spirit and bring it back to the surface. If you have ever met Chris, you know his heart is generous. I felt it was time to repay him for years of sharing his music with us. I asked if I could write about him. I wanted to know his story. He agreed, and over the next few months, we talked on the phone several times. He shared photos and stories, each one leading to more questions. Chris was born in Pawling, a few miles southeast of Poughkeepsie. He was only thirteen when he began playing the banjo. Shortly after learning the 5-string "Scruggs" style, Chris started winning contests at county fairs and music competitions throughout New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In 1984 he won 1st Place in the National Bluegrass Banjo Championships in Winfield, Kanas. That same year Alison Krauss was named Old Time Fiddle Champion. Chris also developed an interest in watercolors in high school. The artistic trend continued when he inherited a set of professional carving tools from a great-uncle. The uncle had acquired them from a professional carver for the Barnum and Bailey Circus. In 1978, his senior year, he auditioned for the band ‘Pine Island' and became their "4'10” Banjo Pickin' Gunslinger." On weekends he would catch a train from Poughkeepsie to Port Henry, where he would take the ferry over to Burlington, VT. to play gigs in places like "Hunts." Chris played on and drew the cover for the band's final album. After graduating, he moved to Potsdam and started playing full-time. Here he joined the band "Summit." They played the college circuit of pubs and coffee houses, and times were good. Occasionally they would come to Saratoga to play The Parting Glass. That was when I first saw that mile-wide smile with a goatee. Between The Parting Glass years and today, Chris got to know and perform with names like Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, Mike Marshall, Frank Wakefield, John Hartford, Doug Dillard, and Eric Weissberg. While living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he auditioned for and was offered a banjo seat with "Opryland."
Instead, he declined the offer and chose to tour Europe with renowned banjoist Bill Keith and Nashville Producer Jim Rooney. The following year Bill Keith invited him to teach a guitar workshop in St. Croix au Mine, France. On September 30, 1995, he played Carnegie Hall with the McKrells. They would also go on to tour Ireland together. Chris' music credentials are deep and wide, but he made some of his most rewarding accomplishments with carving tools. In 1998 his bust carving, "Grady Remington," placed third at the Northeastern Woodworker's Expo right here in Saratoga Springs. He handcrafted an F-5 mandolin which he used in several of his CDs. His meticulous pearl and abalone inlays would grace that mandolin and the instruments of fellow musicians along the way. Now back to watercolors, the catalyst of this story. In the 80s, Chris met American Watercolor Society artist Robert Plumb and renowned wildlife artist Michael DiGiorgio while living and playing in the Potsdam area. The friendship and inspiration of both men played an integral role in fueling Chris' love for the medium. One artistic achievement seemed to stir Chris' emotions more than the rest. It was a cradle he'd carved in anticipation of his daughter Amanda's birth in 2001. He used a black walnut log harvested on his family's property in Pawling. He welled up as he showed me a photograph of it twenty years later. In her junior year at NYU Tisch, Amanda is flourishing, and I get the sense her parents would sacrifice anything in the world to see her fulfill her artistic dreams. Everything above begged the question, what next? Chris' paintings and carvings deserve a chance to be seen. I believe there is another chapter waiting to unfold in this artistic journey. I hope to find a place for Chris to showcase his art. If anyone out there can help make that a reality, contact me at jgreenwood3@nycap. rr.com or Chris Leske at chriswleske@gmail.com. Chris and his wife Alison live at the base of the Palmertown Range just up the road in Wilton. You can find his paintings online at fineartamerica.com. Type "Christopher Leske Art" in the search box. "FOLLOW YOUR BLISS." - Joseph Campbell
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Pointing with his ever-present crosier, Saratoga Association President George H. Bull focuses on details with Track Superintendent Ann Clare in the Saratoga Clubhouse. In 1940 Mr. Bull appointed Mrs. Clare to her managerial role, administered the introduction of parimutuel wafering, and received the New York Turf Writers Award for the individual who made the greatest contribution to thoroughbred racing. King Features Syndicate, Inc wire service photo.
The Friendly Bull WRITTEN BY BILL ORZELL
Thoroughbred racing has brought many to Saratoga Springs since John Morrissey, William Travers, John McBain Davidson and other sportsmen erected their original racing plant on Union Avenue. The racing organization officially incorporated a few years later in 1865 under the unwieldy name of the “Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses.” The establishment was an immediate success, and provided the Spa resort an exciting attraction to complement its mineral waters and balneology. The original incorporators had passed behind the impenetrable veil by the end of the nineteenth century, and the Saratoga Association was managed by the sagacious Fred Walbaum, casting a veil of vicissitude over the betting visitors and community. This squalid condition was rectified in the early twentieth century when an investment group headed by William C. Whitney purchased the operations of the Saratoga Association, and installed solid management. Mr. Whitney also purchased the colors of Englishman George Lambton, Eton blue and brown cap, and raced under them until his death in 1904. The reins were passed to Francis R. Hitchcock, and he was at the helm of the Saratoga Association when the racing ban created by Governor Charles Evans Hughes delivered a body-blow to the Saratoga economy, causing recently profitable establishments like the Kensington Hotel to fail. 92 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING 2022
Richard T. Wilson stepped into the breach in 1909, and directed the Saratoga Association beyond the excessive government oversight. Mr. Wilson’s roots were in the Confederacy during the War of the Rebellion, as were others such as Duncan Kenner and David Dunham Withers, who realized the balm to heal Civil War was Thoroughbred racing. Mr. Wilson established Saratoga hallmarks such as the Reading Room, the Jockey Y, the Fasig-Tipton yearling sales and the Turf Terrace. He also mentored the stockbroker George Bull, who was made a director of the Saratoga Association in 1915. Mr. Bull was assigned many tasks that called for tact and professional bearing. In 1920 he became the secretary-treasurer, and later succeeded Mr. Wilson after his death in 1930 as President of the Saratoga Association. George Bull was immediately popular with Clubhouse patrons as he made each one feel they were his guest. His gregarious nature fostered friendship and comradery across the grounds, which developed into fine traditions, such as respecting seating arrangements through nothing more than a newspaper or article left behind. Despite the effects of the Great Depression George Bull stated, “Situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks, a stone's throw from the Saratoga Spa, with its healing waters that are part of Indian lore, this great Mecca of the fashionable, Thoroughbred racing and political world, will again be the nation's summer playground.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Mr. Bull grew up in New York City, was a 1908 Columbia graduate, and a member of their track team. As a youth he always spent August in Saratoga, enjoying the racing with his father and his uncle, David Dunham Withers, a principal in Monmouth Park and a charter member of the American Jockey Club, which operated Jerome Park. Mr. Withers had extensive Confederate interests and operated Brookdale Farm in New Jersey, where he dedicated himself to the breeding and racing of thoroughbreds, which carried his famous all-black silks. The Withers Stakes, which originated in 1874 and is presently run at Aqueduct Race Track, is named for him. Mr. Bull always operated his own small stable, called the Saratoga Stable, with his partner John A. Morris, also an officer of the Saratoga Association, and raced in black and scarlet silks. In the 1920s George Bull leased the Trim Cottage at One Fifth Avenue in Saratoga Springs. There he hosted endless social gatherings during the entire meet, where the party atmosphere placed rest on hold, until after the track season. George Bull inhaled and breathed horse sport and traveled widely as a follower, leading the cheering and rooting section. He never missed a Kentucky Derby, journeyed to Tijuana for the Coffroth Handicap, and Liverpool, England for the Grand National. He frequently spent the frigid season with the hippic set at Aiken, and Miami. Mr. Bull had a fine working relationship with track superintendent Thomas Clare, who along with his wife Ann, were transplanted by position to become yeararound Saratogians. After Tom’s unfortunate demise in 1940, George Bull had the resolve to place Ann in the supervisory position, the first woman to do so and a posting she held until her retirement from NYRA in 1960. Ann Clare and George Bull fostered an esprit-de-corps on the track backside with weekly softball and boxing events featuring jockeys and stable hands. In Mr. Bull’s time, the primary media outlet was newspaper dailies and trade papers. The turf writers appreciated the always accessible executive, and W.C. Vreeland of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle referred to him in print as “Genial George,” and John Kieran of the New York Times as the "Squire of Saratoga." Behind his back, all the turf writers referred to George Bull as “Ferdinand,” as in the children’s book character, Ferdinand the friendly bull. Always humorously retold was when Eddie “World Telly” Galiani, perhaps a bit over-served at a turf writers gathering, called Mr. Bull “Ferdinand” to his face, which drew an explosive guffaw! The Empire State has always had an upstate/downstate divide which George Bull seemed to easily bridge. He held an executive position at Empire City Race Track in Yonkers, and was a governor in the Turf and Field Club at Belmont Park. He loyally patronized Saratoga’s baths, mineral springs and restaurants; he acted as a steward at the New York State Fair racing events in Syracuse; and it was he who suggested the initial idea of bringing Thoroughbred racing into Western New York and was anxious to establish a race track in the Finger Lakes region. However, the Second World War interrupted his future plans. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Saratoga Association President George Bull greeting Governor and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt on Travers Day 1930. That year’s premier stake event at the Spa would be contested by only four entries, Willis Sharpe Kilmer’s Sun Falcon, Harry Payne Whitney’s Which One, William Woodard’s Gallant Fox who had swept the Triple Crown earlier in the year, and Chaffee Earl’s Jim Dandy, who had just shipped in from California. The Governor and First Lady, along with their sons John and Franklin, would watch the Mid-Summer Derby in the company of Association President George Bull, from the Governor’s Box in the Clubhouse. FDR must have felt it likely that he would present the winner’s trophy to one of his Groton Schoolmates, Messrs. Whitney or Woodward, especially as Gallant Fox was undefeated for the season. As it turned out, heavy rains the night before made the track very heavy, and Jim Dandy who had always suffered sore hooves, found the Saratoga mud the perfect tonic to yield the upset of the century, winning at odds of 100-1 and adding his name to the legendary history of racing at the Spa. Photo courtesy of the Keeneland Library Cook Collection.
Racing in Saratoga Springs was disrupted as well by the war, with the Spa’s race dates shifted to Belmont Park in an effort to save gasoline and precious commodities, such as rubber tires on the home-front. Mr. Bull and Mrs. Clare shifted their management responsibilities to the metropolitan track for the duration of the war. Alas, Mr. Bull passed away in the autumn of 1943, and did not witness racing’s return to his favorite strip. Many years later, at the reopening of the rebuilt Aqueduct race track in Queens, where Mr. Bull staged legendary clambakes at his stable, he was memorialized in a caricature mural of New York racing immortals by Pierre Bellocq. PEB repeated this monumental work at Belmont Park, simply look for the buoyant corpulent chap, with a big cigar and radiant smile to identify George H. Bull, as the artist certainly captured his one-of-a-kind nature. Many years later Frank Sullivan, the sage of Saratoga, remembered his jovial elbow-bending friend and his exuberant gatherings. He wrote in the July 27, 1969 New York Times that, “George Bull was a stout, genial and gregarious man who was president of the Saratoga Racing Association in the pre-New York Racing Association era and who was never content unless he was giving a party…“ Mr. Bull certainly was a presence in the past, who helped define the Saratoga Springs we appreciate today. SS SPRING 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 93
Chris' Choice
The Book Report FIRST LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHER LOUIS VALENTI'S SEASONS OF THE PINE BUSH Seasons of the Pine Bush by Saratoga Springs resident, Louis Valenti, is an extraordinary nature photography book that captures both the wonderous beauty and the spirit of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, a National Natural Landmark located in Upstate New York. The Albany Pine Bush is predominantly defined by its gently rolling sand dunes and pine trees that support an extraordinary habitat, home to more than 1,500 plant and animal species, including 75 New York State designed Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The photographs in this book include stunning landscapes, trails, wildflowers, trees, rare plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects including many of its most popular inhabitants such as the Karner Blue Butterfly, Red-tailed Hawk, Green Frog and White-tailed Deer.
WHAT’S WITH THOSE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN NAMES? Retails for $19.99 and is available at the following retail locations: Market Block Books (Troy), The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza (Albany), Open Door Bookstore (Schenectady), Northshire Bookstore and Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company (Saratoga), The Bookstore Plus (Lake Placid), other book venues in the Adirondack Park and on Amazon.com.
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The photographs are accompanied by quotes and poems from famous writers such as Thoreau, Keats, Emerson, and many others. Through his photography, Louis Valenti attempts to inspire an appreciation and deeper understanding of the beauty and uniqueness of places such as the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. His photographs are widely recognized in the Capital Region, and prints and photography cards of his work are available from Louis Valenti Photography. For more information about Louis Valenti Photography, please visit www.facebook.com/ Louis-Valenti-Photography-100175042393390 or LouisValentiPhotography.com
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