Yht september publicationweb compressed

Page 1

COMPLIMENTARY

SEPTEMBER 2014


YOUR

300 SARATOGA RD. (next to price chopper)

MON to SAT 9 – 9 • SUN 12 – 6

SEPTEMBER • 3 • 10 • 17 • 24

SEPTEMBER SALE yht914

ANY WINE PURCHASE WITH THIS COUPON

Come celebrate with us!

SATURDAY • OCTOB ER 25

3rd Anniversay

To show our appreciation to our customers we will deduct the amount equal to the sales tax from all purchases through September 30th.

Extravaganza Tasting Stations Cooking Demos Discounts & Specia ls Watch for our full page ad with all th e

details!

10% DISCOUNT for Military & Veterans • all items ask about our customer

reward$ program

SORRY... DISCOUNT OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED

518-399-WINE

WWW.PWCGLENVILLE.COM

. igg est. . B h est! t e B e Not t h t Jus

J

2 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


8th Annual

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 3


With life insurance, the benefits live on.

Your Trusted Hometown Jewelry Story

Owned and Operated by the Sosnowski Family for over 60 years

September 18-20

FREE

PANDORA Sterling Silver Barrel Clasp or Bangle Bracelet

Amy Aldrich, Agent 123 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY 12302 Bus: 518-384-2692 www.amyaldrichagency.com

with $100 purchase of PANDORA Jewelry

*While supplies last, limit one per customer

There are also benefits now. I’ll show you how life insurance can come in handy for more immediate family needs, like college. We put the life back in life insurance.™ CALL ME TODAY.

START YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING EARLY

ESTATE, GOLD & DIAMOND BUYERS Mon - Wed 10-6, Thurs - Fri 10 - 8, Sat 10 - 5 7 Glenridge Road, Glenville - (518) 399-3701 549 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham - (518) 785-7898

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL 1311019

824 Saratoga Rd. – Rt. 50 Burnt Hills Chef Specials & Healthy Entrees Enjoy Fresh Made-To-Order Entrees, Prepared By Experienced Owner, Chefs in a Relaxed Atmosphere With Full Table Service and a Full Bar

DINE IN OR TAKE OUT!

LUNCH • DINNER • COCKTAILS • KIDS MENU

MSG & GLUTEN FREE MENU AVAILABLE OPEN FOR LUNCH WED-SUN STARTING AT 11AM • MON-TUES 4-10 • WED-SUN 11-10

384-1997/384-1794

3 OFF

$

Purchase of $20 or More

One Coupon Per Visit.

TSINGTAO BEER, HOT SAKE, PLUM WINE & MIXED COCKTAILS

Cannot be used with any other coupon or offer. Expires 9/30/14

4 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


FULL BODY SPRAY TANNING Back to School Sale

$25 off Liter Duos

$

19

.95

HIGHLIGHT SPECIAL

4

$ .00

(reg $25)

PER FOIL

(UP TO 10 FOILS)

With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

MEN’S CUTS

TANNING SPECIAL

12.95

$

$

INCLUDES SHAMPOO, CUT & BLOW DRY With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

29.95 10 VISITS

With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

WOMAN’S CUTS

SENIOR PERM SPECIAL

INCLUDES SHAMPOO, CUT & BLOW DRY With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

With Coupon. Expires 9/30/14

$

17.95

39.95

$

(longer hair may be more)

www.hsosalons.com

Independent & Proud Owner Kathleen Lowes Sanvidge Licensed Funeral Director 21 Midline Rd., Ballston Lake, NY 12019 (518) 399-5022 www.TownleyWheelerFH.com

Visit

Make your plans today, or let’s re-evaluate and update your existing arrangements to meet your current needs.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Our recently expanded space will comfortably accommodate your family and friends.

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 5


LET US TAKE THE

OUT OF YOUR

SUMMER! WE CAN HELP!

Eliminator

FULL SERVICE EXPERIENCED CERTIFIED INSURED LOCAL

PEST CONTROL 399-6255 • 371-5665

6 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

LOCAL AND DEPENDABLE WATER TREATMENT SALES & SERVICES

FREE ESTIMATES & SERVICE 384.2699 SALES WATER TESTING RESIDENTIAL  COMMERCIAL

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


39

$

95 COLOR

Haircut Included

• Not Valid With Any Other Promotions • Full Service Only • With This Coupon • One Coupon Per Person Glenville Salon Only

Gift Certificates The Perfect Gift For Everyone! GLENVILLE

272 Saratoga Road

518-399-1341

www.fantasticsams.com Open 7 Days A Week! Mon.-Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-5, Sun 10-3

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Expires 9/30/14

3

$ 00 OFF

15

95* $ WOMENS CUT Includes Wash & Style

• Not Valid With Any Other Promotions • Full Service Only • With This Coupon • One Coupon Per Person Glenville Salon Only *longer hair may be more Expires 9/30/14

9

$ 95 MENS CUT

SENIOR CUT

Includes Wash & Style

• Not Valid With Any Other Promotions • Full Service Only • With This Coupon • One Coupon Per Person Glenville Salon Only

• Not Valid With Any Other Promotions • Full Service Only • With This Coupon • One Coupon Per Person Glenville Salon Only

Expires 9/30/14

Expires 9/30/14

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 7


Celebrating 2 Years in Burnt Hills! The Pig 'N Whistle 2 Year Anniversary Party

Saturday, September 20th

on the patio! The popular band Twenty Ninety-Six starts rockin'at 6pm. Offering up a blend of classic and contemporary rock, from The Rolling Stones and Sublime to the Dave Matthews Band and everything in between! There will be complimentary food samples offered throughout the evening, as well as giveaways & drink specials.

"Health and Happiness to You!"

An Irish pub, the Pig 'N Whistle at the Grove has been open in Burnt Hills since October 1, 2012. At one time a speakeasy, it is the former home to Krystal's and The Millstone, the scenic location features a backyard bordering the Alplaus Creek with a majestic waterfall. Todd Bush and his son Jordan own the Pig 'N Whistle with daily operations run by Kristyn Ganim, General Manager. Kristyn is the “glue” as Todd puts it; she runs the bar, books the parties, handles the entertainment and does whatever it takes to make sure the guests at the Pig N whistle enjoy themselves. Jordan is there full time, pitching in wherever needed. Courtney, Todd's daughter is a part time waitress, working her way through college. The beautiful location attracted the Bush family to the property. Since taking on this venture, besides updating the interior, they have more than doubled the size of the patio dining area and installed a large outdoor bar. This area became a popular spot for locals to dine on warm summer evenings, while listening to some of the area's best musician's play.

8 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

THE HISTORY The building and property is steeped in local history, the stream that cascades and flows around the property at one time quenched the thirst of settlers and Indians. In 1624 Henry Hudson explored the area and later Dutch settlers followed, naming the stream Ael Plaats- Place of the Eels. Today we know this tributary as the Alplaus Kill as it flows beneath the bridge on Route 50 on its way to the Mohawk River. A building was erected in 1837 in association with both a gristmill and a cider mill. “High Mills” was established and remained operational for many years. Today we have High Mills Road at the intersection on Route 50. In 1929 the grounds were turned into a Speakeasy, the fireplace you enjoy today is in the original building that customers enjoyed while partaking “spirits” in secret during prohibition. That all changed in 1931 when G-men raided and padlocked the building.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? People always ask from where the name "Pig 'N Whistle" came. While it is a popular name for many British pubs, the origin is a bit unknown. Most proposed origins suggest the 'pig' part of the name derives from the name of a drinking vessel or container with the 'whistle' part harder to pin down. 'Wassail' has been suggested. This is the salutation used in toasting a person's health - the reply being 'drink-hail'. As another story goes, the name "Pig 'N Whistle" goes back to the daily rum rations were issued to men aboard Royal Navy ships. It was the job of junior midshipman to go below to draw the rum for the ship's company from the barrels, called "pigs." After one of the junior officers arrived on deck drunk with the rum for the duty officer of the day, they were all ordered to keep whistling until they returned on deck with the rum. This way, they wouldn't be able to drink while going to get it! Here in Burnt Hills, Pig 'N Whistle is merely a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon saying "piggin wassail," meaning "good health and happiness." So, we always say, "Health and Happiness to You!" WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? Throughout the years, the grounds hosted many weddings overlooking the creek. This past summer, the Pig 'N Whistle welcomed a couple as they renewed their vows overlooking the Alplaus Creek, the same place where they originally exchanged them 30 years prior.

The large pavilion in the backyard provides a perfect private location for all occasions, from formal to casual, weddings, family reunions, graduations or a party “just because”. The view alone is a perfect reason but the menu selection and friendly service will make any occasion special.

Below left to right - Jordan Bush, Kristyn Ganim and Todd Bush

WHAT'S ON THE MENU? There are eight draft beers including Guinness & Harp, a full bar with a large scotch collection and a menu with Irish favorites such as corned beef & cabbage and Shepard's pie. Todd plans to install additional taps soon to feature more craft & local brews. “The Pig,” as it's called by regulars, offers the full menu all day and evening. While they take pride in their Irish specialties, some of the house favorites are the steaks & burgers. There are nightly specials, homemade soups and a variety of sandwiches, wraps, pizza & more! The full menu is available to go, too. It's posted on their website at www.pignwhistleatthegrove.com as well as on their Facebook page. There is always something going on! Monday Nights - Kids Eat Free, Tuesday Nights - Trivia Night, Wednesday Nights - Karaoke, Friday & Saturday Nights - Live Music, Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 4-6 ($1 off draught beer, house wine & well drinks; $5 appetizers). Open daily from noon to midnight; the full menu is available Sunday through Thursday until 9pm and Friday & Saturday until 10pm. They serve a small appetizer menu until closing.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 9


“Where there are no strangers... Only friends you haven’t met yet”

Circa 1787

Enjoy the company of our community in an authentic Irish Pub! Join us Sundays from 5-8pm Relax and experience the soulful and dynamic acoustic expressions of vocalist Bobby Van Detta

With Fall approaching, it’s time to schedule Holiday Parties, Office Forums and Family Celebrations on these select days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays As an added feature we now offer exclusive and private Monday availability for functions of 70 guests or more.

399-9951

745 Charlton Road, Charlton www.charltontavern.com

Intimate Couture Weddings • Bridal Showers • Retirement Gatherings SERVING HOURS: Tuesday-Thursday 11:30am-9pm • Friday & Saturday 11:30am-10pm • Sunday noon-8pm Closed Monday Social networking at the Tavern couldn’t be easier with WIFI

10 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


Make the Right Moves to Leave a Legacy to Grandchildren

O

n Sept. 8, we observe National Grandparents Day. If you have grandchildren, they will hopefully mark this occasion by sending a card, making a call or, best of all, paying a visit. But however your grandchildren express their feelings for you, you undoubtedly have a very big place in your heart for them. In fact, you may well be planning on including your grandchildren in your estate plan. If that’s the case, you’ll want to do the best you can to preserve the size of your estate — without sacrificing the ability to enjoy life during your retirement years. Here are a few suggestions to help you achieve this “balancing act”: 1. Expect market volatility ~ and don’t overreact. If you’ve been investing for a while, you know that volatility in the financial markets is normal. In fact, it’s not unusual for the market to drop 10%, or even more, in a year. Try not to overreact to this type of volatility. For example, don’t immediately sell investments just because they’ve had a down year ~ they may well bounce back the next year, especially if their fundamentals are still strong. 2. Diversify. It’s always a good idea to diversify across a range of investment vehicles ~ stocks, bonds, government securities, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on. While diversification can’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss, it can help reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio.

to maintain a “cash cushion” that’s sufficient to cover six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses. 4. Limit withdrawals from your investments. To keep your investment portfolio intact for as long as possible, set limits on your annual withdrawals. Your withdrawal rate should be based on a variety of factors ~ age at retirement, other sources of income, lifestyle choices, etc. A financial advisor can help you calculate a withdrawal rate that makes sense for your situation. 5. Delay your generosity. It can be tempting to provide for your grandchildren ~ and perhaps even your grown children ~ as soon as you can. But you need to balance this impulse with the financial challenges that two or three decades of retirement can bring. It’s not being “selfish” to take care of yourself first ~ in fact, by doing everything possible to remain financially independent, you will be helping your family in the long run. 6. Don’t delay creating your estate plan. If you are committed to leaving a generous legacy for your grandchildren, you need a comprehensive estate plan. And it’s best to create this plan as soon as possible, while you are mentally and physically healthy. You may never become incapacitated, of course, but the future is not ours to see. In addition to starting early with your estate plan, you’ll need to assemble the right team, including your financial advisor, legal professional and tax expert.

You might enjoy receiving attention on National Grandparents Day. But 3. Maintain a cash cushion. During you’ll get even greater pleasure your retirement years, you may out of knowing that you’re maxface unexpected expenses, just as imizing your efforts to leave the type of legacy you want for your you did when you were working. To help pay for these expenses grandchildren — while still enjoying without being forced to dip into the retirement lifestyle you desire. your long-term investments, try —Christopher Nyhan, AAMS Christopher Nyhan runs the Edward Jones office in Burnt Hills, NY. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Chris can be reached at 399-5087 or chris.nyhan@edwardjones.com.

There’s a book that tells you where you should go on your vacation. It’s called your checkbook. ~Author Unknown yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 11


Lynne’s Candles & Inspirations Not Just A Candle Store... we’re a unique boutique

Tues.-Sat. 11-5, First Fridays 11-9

A MULTI-VENDOR SHOP

SIMPLY THE BEST HAND POURED SOY CANDLES 102 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa

(518) 885-1972

www.LynnesInspirations.com

Now taking Fall Consignments by Appointment

12 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


Paul and I strongly feel that Patrick’s message is more important for you to read than our traditional column. We have dedicated this space to Patrick Ziegler and the Town of Ballston. ~C

Patrick Ziegler

On Leadership This January 1, I took office after 6 tumultuous years in the Town of Ballston. For months prior to my endorsement by the Republican, Conservative and Independence Parties, colleagues and neighbors had been sharing with me their frustration in our local government’s inability to tackle pressing issues due to extreme partisanship resulting in ineffective leadership. Town Board meetings often devolved into pitched battles which occasionally bordered on physical confrontation. Clearly, a change of course was desperately needed and a moderate, reasoned hand at the helm would be required to restore peace in the valley. In the first 8 months of this year, we have made significant progress in this most critical aspect of Town government which will allow us to move forward in a more positive and collegial spirit.

To be clear, this does not mean that my leadership need be excessively forceful or boastful. As a part-time academic completing a doctorate in higher education, I prefer sound, reasoned analysis to overly partisan and ideological position statements which may play well politically but do not promote effective policy-making. Unfortunately, in this era of self-promotion, there seems to be a greater emphasis on continual, shameless self-advocacy than doing the honest, hard work that is required to chart an effective course for a diverse and growing community. Residents should know that I will never be the kind of leader who spends more time drafting press releases than working with my colleagues in Town Hall or meeting residents for coffee to better understand their needs. In fact, I would suggest that this approach affords me more time to achieve our goals, even if those successes come without accolades and fanfare. To illustrate this point, I will share just a few highlights of my brief time in office. Since January, this Town Board has: • Completed our negotiations with the highway department and their new union representation, thus honoring a year of work and positive dialogue with our friends who keep the roads clear and water flowing; • Adopted the Farmland Protection Committee Plan and taken the necessary steps to implement a Transfer of Development Rights program which will help us maintain our rural character and support agricultural production;

• Taken deliberate and aggressive action to purchase the former Hawkwood Estate with funds bequeathed to the Town by former resident Frank Schidzick. These lands will remain forever wild creating a development buffer for the agricultural zone and preventing further development in the Ballston Lake Watershed; • Supported the work of the Clearwater Committee to create a sewer district extension that will prevent further erosion of lake water quality and reduce the threat of a public health crisis in neighboring communities due to failing septic systems; • Launched an Economic Development Committee to study and act upon the needs of our Town businesses in hamlet of Burnt Hills as well as the Village of Ballston Spa; • Increased notification to Town residents on all building applications which come before the Town to ensure that our neighbors are not left in the dark as projects occurring even across the street from their homes move through the approval process; • Addressed several of the most critical items outlined in the NYS Comptroller’s report of 2011 criticizing our management of water funds and affiliated resources, including the Town’s acceptance and approval of a Master Plan to help us better provide clean and reliable water service to our residents. All this has been accomplished under threat of federal sanctions due to our inability to complete year-end audits for 2012 and 2013. The Town’s finances are in such disarray that we are still in the process of rebuilding our

2012 books and will soon begin on 2013. Without a sound and reliable accounting of our financial position, it is impossible to set priorities and allocate funds to various projects around Town. Rest assured that once our financial position has been clearly determined, our positive agenda for the Town will become even more focused and effective. We will complete water district consolidation; we will (finally!) update our Town zoning to reflect the vision outlined in our Comprehensive Plan of 2005; address manpower needs in Town Hall; continue to investigate shared service opportunities with Saratoga County and even our friends in Glenville; and finally, we will create capital project funds to limit borrowing when future needs arise. It has been a whirlwind these past 8 months and I must admit that I am satisfied with our performance and I thank my Deputy Supervisor Tim Szczepaniak, our Town Board, our Town employees, Planning and Zoning Boards and all of our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the cause. Obviously, we have not been perfect but we will be what my friend, mentor and former employer U.S. Representative Chris Gibson, would deem “a learning organization.” We will accept responsibility for our errors, self-correct and learn from our successes and failures alike. In my humble opinion, it is this Truman-esque “buck stops here” approach—not the expected, non-stop politicking— which exemplifies true political leadership. Thanks for the read, Patrick Ziegler

ABOUT THE COVER...

T

his is the 4th year Ryan Carll has provided us with a hand drawn illustration to grace our September cover. He walked us through 9-11 for 3 years, the destruction, the healing and then the birth of One World Trade Center. This year Ryan chose to capture Hometowne America. Every parent, every child can relate to the feelings of the first day back to school.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Shear excitement, sadness of the summer passing, a little fear of the unknown; butterflies in the belly for both parents and children. The first day of school is a rite of passage into a new stage of life. Ryan has once again captured “feelings” with his illustration. Mom looks on anxiously for the bus as her son reluctantly says goodbye to summer. The baby

will now be the center of attention all day and the dog is about to figure out his best buddy isn’t going to be home for a while. Ryan’s ability to render light and form on a two dimensional canvas never ceases to amaze us. If you would like one of Ryan’s drawings to call your own visit his site- ryancarll.com. Email him at ryan@ryancarll. com or call 518.867.1416

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 13


DEER SPRING

ORGANIC GARDEN & LANDSCAPING SERVICE • Fall Garden Tilling • Organic Horse & Goat Manure • Mulching • Cleanups CALL KEN 306-4015

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Your kids struggle in school? Have you checked their vision? We have Childrens Eyewear packages starting at $99 including shatter proof Polycarbonate lenses and 1 year warranty.

SCOTIA OPTICAL 301 Mohawk Avenue • Scotia • 346-2627

COMPUTER SERVICES Reasonable Prices! Great Service!

• In-Shop/In-Home Services • Virus/Spyware Removal • Hardware/Software Repairs

CHEAP GEEK COMPUTER SERVICES 399-8886

699 Saratoga Road, Burnt Hills, NY

Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” ~Henry David Thoreau

14 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


OUTSTANDING EFFICIENCY. UNBELIEVABLE COMFORT. 399-5516 879 Saratoga Rd, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 Installations | Furnace Repairs | Maintenance

Whatever it takes.®

www.ritfondaheatingcooling.com

Hair and Now FULL SERVICE SALON FOR MEN & WOMEN

WALK INS WELCOME

Beautiful Fall Hairstyles! Energy Saving, Eye Appealing Solutions For Your Home… Discover Your Homes Potential With Us!

518-384-7362

a Cut a Highlighting a Color/Color Correction a Foils a Sets a Up Dos a Special Occasions a Permanents a Waxing

SOCHA PLAZA j 123 SARATOGA ROAD 399-9655 KERATIN TREATMENTS

TUESDAY IS SENIOR DAY

761 Rte. 50 Burnt Hills - RMPenaWindows.com

Tuesday-Saturday • Mondays & Evenings by appointment

FLEAS BE GONE! OFFERING SEVERAL FLEA KILLING PRODUCTS

SERESTO COLLARS ADVANTIX NATURAL REMEDIES

ONLY WHAT’S BEST FOR PETS... 518.399.PETS (7387) yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 15


cmkandassociates.com

CMK and Associates Real Estate E nErgy ·I nnovatIon ·r Esults

Featured Properties: view more at cmkandassociates.com

MLS 201416057

MLS 201416859 NEW

648 North Rd, Charlton

15 Church St, Schuylerville

Fully remodeled 2 BR home!

Charming downtown home!

MLS 201416120

MLS 201410285

$164,900

2 Main St, Ballston Lake

$139,000

ng!

i Pend

Summer 2014 Market Update!

T P

he CMK Summer Market Update recently went public. Here is a summary:

erhaps the most obvious trend on the market is that listed properties have increased by 3%, whereas sold properties have decreased by 5.8% since 2013. Simply put, there are more properties on the market this year and less of them are selling. Despite these challenges, CMK is breaking new ground by setting a new record for pending sales volume even with the market demand decreasing.

T

he historical data clearly demonstrated 2013 was the best year for real estate since the recession in 2008. However, many areas still suffer from an oversupply of inventory. A six to ten month supply is a balanced market. That is how many months it would take to sell all the active listing in a market. While there are pockets in the six to ten month range, most areas still have over ten months. There are still too many properties for sale. With high competition for listings, you need to stand out. CMK’s focus on technology, marketing and accurate pricing have proven to bring positive results.

E

3 Bruce St, Scotia

xpect 2014 to be good for buyers as they benefit from high levels of inventory as well as low interest rates. 2014 will also be good for sellers due to the overall market improvement since the years of 2008 to 2012. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate call CMK today!

Call a CMK and Associates Licensed Fully Updated 3BR Townhome! Real Estate Salesperson or Associate Broker Today! Adam Reimers (c) 518.774.5226 MLS 201334460 MLS 201330031 Brian Miller (c) 518.866.9267 D Brian Story (c) 518.857.8771 SOL Christian Klueg (c) 518.332.0218 Christine Gerber (c)518.848.7425 Darci Miller (c) 518.859.8210 ! g n i Elizabeth Perrins (c) 518.986.5960 Pend Eric DuBois (c) 518.506.9982 410 Altamont Ave, Schenectady 6 St Jude Court, Glenville Jamie Sittner (c) 518.866.8698 $99,500 $199,900 Krista Sondrup (c) 518.319.5419 4 Bedroom Cape Cod! Large, Ranch Style Home! Michele VanAlstyne (c) 518.361.1234 Nancy Meunier (c) 518.588.9983 Five Offices to Serve You Better Pamela Rossi (c) 518.528.7571 518.863.8904 518.883.8904 518.399.8903 518.548.8904 518.762.8001 Richard Roberts (c) 518.435.5543 122 Bridge St 3727 State Hwy 30 818 Saratoga Rd 2896 State Hwy 8 3 Church St Sarah Wilson (c) 518. 774.3066 Northville, NY Amsterdam, NY Burnt Hills, NY Speculator, NY Johnstown, NY Scott Barber (c) 518.596.2275

$140,000

Commercial Property!

$174,900

16 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


A GMC TRUCK FOR ANY TASK

MANGINO CHEVROLET

MANGINO BUICK GMC

4477 NEW YORK 30, AMSTERDAM, NY 1210

1484 SARATOGA ROAD, BALLSTON SPA, NY 12020

SALES: (518) 770-1220 | SERVICE: (518) 770-1223

SALES: (518) 490-1275 | SERVICE: (518) 490-1273

WWW.MANGINOCHEVY.COM

WWW.MANGINOBUICKGMC.COM

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 17


• Fully Insured • Free Estimates

Fill your freezer with 100% Grass-fed

Angus Beef

Locally Owned and Operated

CUT TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS

4.25 250 lb $ 4.00

See How Simple Life Can Be!

$ Package (1/4)

per lb

High Quality Residential and Commercial Cleaning Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly cleaning schedules Organizing • Earth Friendly Products • Fully Insured

Package (1/2)

per lb

GET CLEANED UP FOR FALL AND THE HOLIDAYS!

125 lb

hanging weight (plus butcher fees $155) total approx. $950

hanging weight (plus butcher fees $360) total approx. $1,800

SAVE $80

• All Natural • No Hormones • No Antibiotics • Pasture Raised

Call: 357-3315 or email: josh@westwindacres.com Payment and Delivery Options Available

$20 off your first 2 cleanings $40 off your 3rd cleaning

lifemaidsimple.com

Expires: September 30, 2014. For Residential or Commercial Services

518.384.DUST (3878)

Located at 227 Kingsley Rd, Suite 26, Burnt Hills (next to Burnt Hills Hardware)

18 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


F

Decorating Tips from The Speckled Hen

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

all is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect season to showcase your porch! Whether it’s trick-ortreating, admiring the colorful leaves or hosting a party, your front porch is a great spot during fall.

First, you need to prep for the decorating. Make sure your porch is clean: sweep, wash, rinse and dry! Next, you’ll need some inspiration. Rather than choosing typical items from large department stores, look to local antique shops for ideas. Fall lends itself to old items, which correlate with the harvest theme. For example, I love using old farm equipment as a creative piece for the porch. Next to it, fill a shallow rustic iron pot with pine cones, leaves, covered nuts and cinnamon sticks. Sprinkle on some cayenne pepper and mint to keep the animals away. If you need some help, come stop by The Speckled Hen, I sell pumpkins, florals, lanterns and more! The colors on your front porch should complement the colors of nature during the season. Popular fall colors are oranges, reds, gold and yellow, browns, and dark greens. If you like decorating with plants, empty your summer pots and replace them with fall mums. Garnish your porch with bittersweet, pumpkins, mums and cornstalks. If kept whole and in a cool climate, gourds, pumpkins, corn husks and apples will last throughout the season.

Another good tip - choose items that you can changeover into the next season. Decorations like pine cones and berries transition into the winter season very nicely. Dried pomegranates are also great for both fall and winter. If you display plain branches in a stylish container (wooden basket or crock) for fall, you can spray them with white or gold paint for winter. Fall wreaths can also transition by adding berries or feathers. Happy Harvest - I’m looking forward to seeing you during your next!—Maureen Culver

Maureen Culver 38 Saratoga Rd Scotia, NY 12302 Phone: 518 369 8771 thespeckledhen38@gmail.com

The Speckled Hen

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Across 1 Depend (on) 5 Crew members 10 State of matter 13 Continuously 14 Persona non grata 15 Choose (to) 16 Clueless expression 18 Masseur employer 19 Ski-lodge refreshment 20 Clinch 21 Male caribou 22 Ignored, with ‘’out’’ 23 Tire meas. 24 You might step on it 25 Wine-shop display 26 Impassable obstacle 28 ‘’Sounds good’’ 29 Venus and Mercury’s lack 30 Acting credits 31 Sailboat feature 32 Legendary lawman 33 Accommodates, as arenas 35 Carb source 36 Darn things 39 Ineffectual executive 41 Extreme __ (action sport with sticks) 42 Saunter 43 ‘’The Voice’’ airer 44 Perching aid 45 Fraught with danger 46 All Saints’ Day mo. 47 Misdeeds 48 One form of ID 49 Least viable quantity 52 Second of three O’s, maybe 53 Celestial 54 ‘’. . . __ lender be’’ 55 Miner concern 56 Flavorsome 57 The scoop

Down 1 Clergyman, for short 2 One getting away 3 Not much time 4 Slight amounts 5 Clutches 6 Skilled practitioner 7 B vitamin 8 Be bold 9 Cow or sow 10 Become rusty 11 Fills with fear 12 Reenact 14 Publisher of ‘’Our Children’’ magazine 17 Auction signal 21 Top of the head 22 ‘’You can do it’’ 23 Connive 24 Duel tool 26 Domineering 27 Frank topping 29 Unglossy finish 31 Symbol of Canada 32 Sweeping work 33 Training session 34 Adopt enthusiastically 35 Undermine 36 Book of Kings king 37 Google oneself 38 Finished ahead 40 Expresses contempt 41 Italian sandwich 42 Expand upon 44 Trucking measure 46 Astronaut insignia 47 Nothing at all 49 Cricket club 50 Could possibly 51 Warhol portrait subject Answers are on page 28

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 19


LADIES NIGHT! Friday, November 7, 2014 • 6 - 9 P.M. At the Studio

Precise Fitness & Training will be hosting an evening just for women! Come learn how to embrace YOU by focusing on mind, body and spirit. Bring old friends, meet new friends. Come join us and be a part of something special! Discover new products, information and ideas. Giveaways throughout the event. Proceeds will be donated to Guardian House in Ballston Lake. Interested in being an exhibitor or purchasing advance sale tickets?

Call 424 -7878

It’s YOUR TIME NOW!

Women Helping Women

809 Route 50 Burnt Hills, NY 12027

A

Does that hurt? Exercise Injuries

fter putting it off for too long, you commit to get fit—only to find yourself injured the minute you start working out. Whether your injury occurs right off the bat or after years of regular workouts the result is always the same. It is discouraging, painful and downright depressing. The following three ailments occur commonly among active people; let’s explore the cause of each. 1. Strain/Pulled Muscle: occurs when a tendon or muscle is stretched or torn. Many strains occur as the result of an improper warm-up and insufficient stretching. 2. Sprain: occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn. The most common placements of sprains are in the ankle, wrist and knee. 3. Low Back Pain: it is said that 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives—Here are the main reasons for workout related back pain: Improper form: Similar to bad posture, using improper form while performing weight bearing exercises will leave your back sore and aching. Weak muscles: If you have a desk job then chances are your deep back muscles are inactive and unconditioned. When you start an exercise program,

but fail to properly strengthen these muscles, the result is often an aching back. Strained muscles: Another result of sitting all day is tight back muscles. When these muscles are not properly warmed up and stretched before exercise begins, muscle strains occur. Your 5-Step Injury Prevention Plan Injuries don’t have to slow you from meeting your fitness goals. The following 5 steps will dramatically reduce your chance of injury and if you do find yourself injured, but have been following these 5 steps, your recovery will be quick and efficient. 1: Stretch Even though it isn’t exciting, stretching is the best way to increase muscle elasticity and durability. Tight muscles are big contributors to strains—remember? 2: Warm Up Preparing for your workout should not begin and end with putting on your gym clothes. Your muscles need to be coaxed into motion by way of a 10-15 minute warm up in order to prepare them for injury-free use.

shoes. Find shoes that offer support and traction for your exercise of choice, and make sure that they aren’t too tight or too loose. 4: Lifestyle Getting healthy amounts of sleep, eating well balanced meals and staying hydrated will all contribute to your performance during exercise. 5: Condition This may seem like the most obvious step to injury prevention, but unfortunately it is the most overlooked. People who keep their bodies in top condition by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the least likely to injure themselves. The ultimate injury prevention plan is to work with me, your qualified fitness expert! Together we will explore proper technique and will craft a plan for your unique fitness goals. Let’s do this!

3: Proper Gear For most fitness enthusiasts proper gear has everything to do with their

20 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


S

ince our Grand Opening a few weeks ago, we have felt so welcomed by this community and we would like to thank you! Many wonderful people have come through our doors to see what we are all about and we have had several successful classes, including an amazing week of art camp for the local kids. We would like to tell you more about us and what we have to offer It is well known that creating art promotes wellness by stimulating your brain and improving your well being. Art has the power to reduce stress and build self-esteem, while enhancing cognitive abilities and memory. It also makes you more observant, stimulates imagination, enhances problem solving skills, and much more!

Director of Art in Mind, Kathy Hall, has experienced firsthand the power of spiritual health using art expression as her medium, as she manages an illness. She is completing a BA in Art Therapy and has been an elementary art teacher for the past seven years, providing an art curriculum that incorporates art history and multicultural art, while focusing on faith, love, and hope. Prior to this, she taught adult education painting classes utilizing the same values. Kathy’s desire is to provide an expressive art studio with a loving, positive, relational environment to promote wellness for all, regardless of one’s artistic abilities.

An old-time country store Fresh Baked Pizza By the Slice or Full Pie - Dine In or Take Out An- old-time country store

Fresh Baked Pizza - By the Slice or Full Pie - Dine In or Take Out

Classes include: • Coffee & Create (paint & sip w/BYOW option) • Open Studio • Photography • Jewelry Making • Watercolor Painting • Homeschool Art Education • After School Open Studio Club • Birthday/Private Parties • Preschool Sensory Art • Senior Groups • Art Camps • Family Sundays

At Art in Mind Creative Wellness Studio, we provide an artistic space of fun, education, and relaxation, while allowing for expressive freedom in creating art. We believe in promoting wellness through art expression by encouraging the mindfulness of how uniquely each person was created. Inclusive in our programs for all ages, is the instruction of the proper elements, principles, • GO TO ARTINMINDSTUDIO.COM and techniques of art design. We FOR A FULL SCHEDULE and to offer experimentation with a wide register for classes! variety of media in the creation process, in addition to provid- • LIKE US ON FACEBOOK TO STAY UPDATED! ing exposure to great artists and movements in history. Unique to • COME SEE US AT MAALWYCK PARK FOR OCTOBER FEST AND this studio is Expressive Open Art PAINT A CANVAS FOR $10 Studio for all ages. Kathy & Karin, 272 Saratoga Road, Glenville 518-477-3798, artinmindstudio@gmail.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 21


Back to

school complete family eyecare

793 Route 50 Burnt Hills

399-6130

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. ~Edgar W. Howe

22 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

W

BASIC ESTATE TAXES

hat do you need to know about estate taxes? Your taxable estate includes any bank accounts or other assets that you hold in your name only, your IRAs or insurance policies that have beneficiaries named on them, your houses and other assets held jointly and certain gifts. You also need to know your debts. The Federal Government’s applicable exclusion, the amount of assets protected, is $5,340,000 in 2014. The Federal Government enacted portability as a means of doubling the protected estate. As of April 1, 2014, NYS permits a person to protect $2,062,500 from being subjected to New York estate taxes, and the amount protected will reach the federal limit on January 1, 2020. New York has no gift tax for gifts as of January 1, 2000. However, New York now permits gifts made within three years of date of death, to be included as part of the taxable estate. With regards to any gifting you wish to make, these gifts will avoid estate taxation from the Federal Government.

A person may give $14,000 per year to each donee without any estate or gift tax consequences. Married couples may give $28,000 per year to each donee. Effective January 1, 1998, the federal government has indexed the above tax exempt amounts so they increase with inflation. Gift tax returns are required for gifts above $14,000 from a single person and $28,000 from a married couple. Tuition paid directly to a qualified educational organization, on behalf of an individual is excludable from gift and estate taxes. Medical bills paid directly to a qualified medical organization on behalf of an individual is excludable from gift and estate taxes. Please call if you have any questions. It will be a pleasure to serve you. —John A. Fantauzzi, Esq. Englert, Coffey, McHugh & Fantauzzi, LLP Burnt Hills and Schenectady 370-4645

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 23


SALES • SERVICE • REPAIRS • PARTS • MERCURY OUTBOARDS • MERCRUISER • “Ship’s Store” for Marine Parts & Accessories Prop Sales & Repair

• NYS Trailer Inspection Station & Authorized NYS Canal Permit Agent Dockage (Wet & Dry) • Boat Launch and Hauling (up to 36 ft)

• Trailer Parts & Repairs

MERCURY PREMIER WARRANTY & REPAIR CENTER Bait Shop Open Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat./Sun. 6 a.m.-4 p.m.

(Minnows, Worms, Crabs, Tackle, Ice, Coffee, Snacks, Drinks)

Visit

www.mohawkvalleymarine.com

to see our Winterizing Specials for September!

(518) 399-2719 47 Mohawk Avenue, Alplaus, NY (5 Minutes from Clifton Park) boats@mohawkvalleymarine.com

24 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

• Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. • Sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


518-374-3894

MOHAWK

MOHAWKHEAT.COM

HEATING CO. INC

25 OFF Service Call

You Choose with the Purchase of a New HVAC System

MOHAWK

MOHAWK

$

HEATING CO. INC

518-374-3894 • MOHAWKHEAT.COM With paid repair. Excludes cleaning and filters. Not to be combined with any other offer and must be present at time of service. Limit one per customer. Expires 11/2/14.

"5 year extended warranty on equipment or 5 year preventative maintenance checks" HEATING CO. INC

518-374-3894 • MOHAWKHEAT.COM Not to be combined with any other offer and must be presented at time of sale. Expires 11/2/14.

Come see us at The Capital Region Fall Home Show

OCTOBER 17, 18, 19, 2014

SportsPlex of Halfmoon, 6 Corporate Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065

High efficiency rebates from National Grid Check out: www.smartenergy-zone.com/nationalgridny

"Making it Affordable Since 1948"

Fulfill

your dreams...

Custom Cabinetry and Countertops made for you. Featuring Countertops made from • Natural Stone • Pental Quartz • Dupont Zodiac and Corian

Wood-Mode Brookhaven Custom Cabinetry made on site by Glenville Cabinets • Armstrong • Homecrest

All built to suit your style, your taste, your needs.

Kitchens Bars Entertainment Rooms

Visit our New Showroom at 144 Freeman’s Bridge Rd, Glenville yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Locally owned and operated Mon-Fri 8:30 - 4:30, Sat 10 - 4 Evenings by appointment

518.688.0898

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 25


DURACERAMIC TILE WARMER, MORE COMFORTABLE UNDERFOOT THEN CERAMIC TILE

FREE ESTIMATES

3.99 per sq ft

$

PLUS INSTALLATION! EXPIRES 9/30/14

TERRY S FLOORS Where the Owner is the Installer!

399.0307 • 810 Saratoga Rd, Burnt Hills Plaza • terrysfloors.com

• SHAKES • SLUSHIES • SHERBET COOLERS • SOFT ICE CREAM • 16 SUNDAES TO CHOOSE FROM • CHARBROILED BURGERS • EGGPLANT & SWEET POTATO FRIES • OUR FAMOUS FISH FRY • HOMEMADE POTATO SALAD BY THE PINT OR QUART MADE FRESH DAILY

START YOUR DAY WITH A FRESH BREAKFAST SANDWICH!

OPEN YEAR ROUND WITH NEW FALL HOURS

• MON-FRI 7AM-8PM • SATURDAY 8AM-8PM • CLOSED SUNDAY START YOUR DAY WITH A FRESH BREAKFAST SANDWICH! BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS CONTACT US AT DAIRYCIRCUS1@AOL.COM

“Personalized Service At Affordable Prices”

OPEN HOUSE MEET AND GREET September 6, 12-5 p.m.

Stop in while strolling through Schenectady’s Little Italy Street Fest Open for business September 9th Offering Hair, Nails, Pedicure and Waxing Services

(518) 280-6125

For more information visit www.msjssalon.com or email: msjssalon@gmail.com 509A Union Street, Schenectady, N.Y. 12305

26 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


Your Vision....

L

et’s face it, you’ve found a home to raise your family in, you LOVE it, and you have a vision of how it will look when it is all yours. You know how the lawn should look, what plants you’d like to see where, the fence that you will put in (eventually, when you get beyond the sticker shock of what fencing costs!), what color the dining room will be, the curtains you’re going to hang as soon as you can find them (do they even make the ones you have in mind? What is wrong with these curtain making people? Don’t they know what people want???), you know how you’ll arrange the furniture, the kids bedrooms will be adorable (when they are the right colors and your perfect children will of course keep their rooms perfectly picked up and looking cute at all times), the kitchen will be the showplace heart of your home that you’ve always dreamed of....the list goes on and on because you LOVE this house and you KNOW what it’s supposed to look like; you have a VISION for it! AND THEN.... You wake up one day and realize that the house is too small, or you find a neighborhood that you like better, or your life has a dramatic change and now you’re going to sell that home that you love so much. So you call your LOCAL REALTOR and they come over and you are excited and you are going to sell your home that you love so much because the next chapter of your life is exciting and you are ready to move on!!! The paperwork is signed and the REALTOR is about to take pictures of your home. EXCEPT THAT.... You remember YOUR VISION. You get emotional, you start to panic and you say “WAIT...wait....wait a minute, no, no, no! You CANNOT take pictures and you CANNOT put my house on the market just yet. OMG, no! This is moving too fast and I haven’t put in the fence and the kids wouldn’t let me put adorable cartoon characters on their walls, and I never found the curtains that make this room perfect!” (And your REALTOR thinks to herself “here we go again”...) HERE’S THE DEAL.... Believe it or not, the buyer for your house (NO LONGER YOUR HOME) has their very own vision! They will go through all the same emotions and will have their own ideas on flowers and curtains and paint and they probably don’t want a fence! All of the ‘things’ you wanted to

do, but haven’t had the time or resources (or those darn curtain making people didn’t cooperate!) are not necessary! STOP....LISTEN to your REALTOR; she is the professional that you’ve hired and should be building a trusting relationship with. You may end up losing valuable marketing time, and spending a lot of time and money that will not net you any more money for this house. That is time, money, and energy that you could and SHOULD be putting into your new home! Your REALTOR should be your resource for what should be done prior to listing your home and offer guidance to help you see that some of the projects that you didn’t get to are probably not necessary. Here’s the bottom line.... “Your house will never be done.” A trusted REALTOR friend said that to me when I was putting my own house on the market. We ALL have a vision; we ALL become emotionally attached to our own homes and want them to be perfect. (I wouldn’t list my house because the perennial garden that I worked so hard to put in didn’t have the flowers arranged correctly for height and I KNEW what I wanted that garden to look like! The buyers dug it up and seeded over the whole thing BTW!!! - true story) If it’s time for you to sell your house and move, remember, it is no longer about YOUR vision, and it’s not going to be YOUR home much longer. Hire a local REALTOR who understands that this is an exciting but also emotional time for you and your family and is willing to LISTEN to you. Meantime, you’ve hired them to represent you, you should be willing to LISTEN to their advice and expertise and trust them. Way too often I see people putting their time, money, and energy into a project simply because they’ve “been meaning to get to it since they bought the place” rather than a few minor items that will actually add VALUE to their home. If you’re thinking of listing your home for sale; CALL ME FIRST for your no obligation conversation; I look forward to it! Margaret Phillips, CBR Broker/Owner OLDE ORCHARD REAL ESTATE 4 William Street Ballston Lake, NY12019 518-399-2100 office 518-701-1657 cell oldeorchardrealestate.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 27


Back To School Eye Exams

E

xperts say 80 percent of what our children learn in school is presented visually. According to Prevent Blindness America, one in four school-age children have vision problems that, if left untreated, can affect learning ability, personality and adjustment in school. A child who is unable to see the smartboard clearly or has a hard time focusing on the work at his desk will soon become frustrated.

To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to imagine your facts is another. ~John Burroughs

Screenings are designed to alert parents to the possibility of a visual problem, but do not take the place of a visit to an eye care practitioner. Many children’s vision problems go undetected during school vision screenings, so parents and teachers should watch for signs that may signal vision problems. If your child is displaying any of the following symptoms or behaviors, you may want to take them in to an eye doctor for a comprehensive exam. • Dislike or avoidance of reading • Short attention span • Poor coordination when throwing or catching a ball, copying from smartboard, or tying their shoes • Placing their head close to their books or sitting close to the TV • Excessive blinking or eye rubbing • Using finger or pencil to guide eyes • Decreasing performance in school

The most common problems that require a prescription for glasses are refractive issues including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism (causes blurred vision). Convergence insufficiency (eyes don’t turn inward properly while focusing on a nearby object) is also common and requires vision training. School-age children also spend a lot of time in recreational activities that require good vision. After-school team sports or playing in the backyard aren’t as fun if you can’t see well. If your child is prescribed glasses, make sure they fit well, are comfortable and stay clean. For active kids, sports straps and cable temples can help the glasses stay in place. Remember that the earlier vision impairment is detected and taken care of, the more likely treatment will be successful. Eyesight is a key component for school work, without healthy vision, students may struggle not only at school, but also socially. Before school starts this year, make sure your child’s vision is on par!

VIOLINS ♫ SAXOPHONES ♫ FLUTES ♫ VIOLINS ♫ SAXOPHONES ♫ VIOLINS

BURNT HILLS

MUS C SCHOOL BAND INSTRUMENT RENTALS 3 MONTHS FREE! RESERVE NOW FOR SEPTEMBER A MUSIC STORE & TEACHING ACADEMY - SINCE 1991 800 Saratoga Road Burnt Hills, NY 399-6047 • www.burnthillsmusicny.com

All School Band Books • Accessories • Rent to Own Plans • Repairs • School Recommended Brands! M/C VISA | OPEN LATE MONDAY-THURSDAY 10-9 • FRIDAY 10-6 PM • SATURDAY 10-2 PM

GUITARS ♫ RECORDERS AND MORE ♫ VIOLAS ♫ CELLOS ♫ FRENCH HORN

28 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

CLARINETS ♫ BELL KITS ♫ CLARINETS

TRUMPETS ♫ TROMBONES ♫ TRUMPETS

For more information contact Kristen Cameron, Burnt Hills Optical, 793 Rt. 50 Burnt Hills, 399-6130 or visit www.burnthillsoptical.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


Sept 29th - Oct 4th

OPEN

FOOD MUSIC RAFFLES

TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC EVERYONE IS WELCOME

THE RED KNIGHTS NEW YORK CHAPTER 12 ANNOUNCES

16th ANNUAL TOY RUN TO BENEFIT “GIVE-A-CHILD CHRISTMAS” Where and When:

PIG ROAST

Sunday, October 12, 2014 (Rain or Shine) at Eagles Club, Crescent Ave., Saratoga Springs 9:30 AM Gates Open

$20.00 Per Person OR Equivalent in a New Toy Includes Food All Day (Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, etc.) Plus Pig Roast Following Toy Run 11 AM: Guided Motorcycle Ride Departs and Toy Run 3 PM: Returns to the Eagles Club for the Pig Roast and Raffles

PLEASE....DO NOT WRAP YOUR TOY DONATIONS! THANK YOU. For More Info contact Bob Hollner @ balistic@nycap.rr.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 29


Visit Our New Tap Room

FULLY INSURED CUSTOM QUALITY

NO JOB TOO SMALL

10% off

We Now Offer 12 Lines of Draught featuring a New York Beer Station with 4 Dedicated Lines for New York Craft Brews

WITH MENTION OF ADVERTISEMENT

(518) 573-0639 Every Day food for every day people.

952.7177

Free Delivery of weekday lunches from 12-3pm

Sun - Mon - Tues - Noon-8pm, the Bar opens at noon till 9pm Wed - Thurs - Noon - 9pm, the Bar opens at noon till ? Fri - Sat - Noon -10 pm, the Bar opens at noon till ? 17 Main St. Ballston Lake • www.carneystavernny.com Open Daily 12-till everybody’s GONE!

Picture Framing by Gayle Bennett (518) 399-8504 1021 Saratoga Road/Route 50, Ballston Lake innerwoodgallery.com 30 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


25# Canning Tomatoes $16 25# Box Plum Tomatoes $16 52 Ears of Corn $18 Pickles, beans, peaches, peppers and eggplant.

CANNING SPECIALS FALL BOUNTY • • • • •

Succulent Prime Rib Dinner

Fall Mums Pumpkins Pies Cider Donuts Fall Wreaths

399-5931

189 Saratoga Rd (Rt 50) Glenville

Friday and Saturday

MARCELLA’S GIFT CARD, A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ANY OCCASION!

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 31


Doggie Daycare

For Mind, Body and Soul

Socialize Your Best Friend Daycare Available Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

FARM AND PET CENTER

730 Saratoga Road, Burnt Hills, NY 12027

(518) 399-1592

www.countryacresfnp.com

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Gandhi

32 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

DAVE KENNEDY

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


TRASH TALK “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” ~ Dr. Seuss I had no idea this was a Dr. Seuss quote. Good thing Wikipedia is around to keep us informed. I like looking stuff up on the old Internets to see where it takes me. For instance, did you know that the mom of the girl who played Nellie on Little House on the Prairie was the voice of Gumby and also Davey from Davey & Goliath? Very interesting!!! Summer is almost done with making us sweat, tan, laugh, swim, hike, jump and hopefully we all enjoyed some wonderful summer sun. But before we get too nostalgic, it’s time to start looking forward to fall and getting organized before we take those long awaited and much needed long winter naps. Let’s look around and see what might need to be taken away to make room for next year’s household purchases.

Garage: Shelving, cabinets, steel doors, car batteries, bicycles, lawn mowers and tractors, weed whackers, snow blowers, outdoor tools (rakes, shovels, etc.), wheelbarrows, car and truck parts, gas powered and electric motors, ladders, tires with rims.

MoRTENSEN MOTORSPORTS MARK WINS THE DANNY ODY MEMORIAL RACE AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY LAST SAT., AUGUST 2, 2014

Scrapster, LLC, is the Capital Region’s premier NO COST scrap metal and appliance removal and recycling service. We are a local family owned business and cover the entire Capital Region. We are fully insured, convenient, and reliable and always provide top Quality work to get the job done safely and correctly. Everything is properly recycled, disposed of or donated. Additionally services include LOW COST JUNK REMOVAL and CLEAN OUTS. Scrapster is an official New York State DEC approved location for business or personal computer and electronics recycling. We are also fully EPA608 certified for all types of Freon (refrigerant) recovery from refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

O

n Danny Ody Memorial Night at the Fonda Speedway on Saturday evening August 2, Mark Mortensen won the Danny Ody Memorial sportsman feature event for his second win of the 2014 racing Inside: Air conditioners, large or season at the “Track of Champions”. small household and kitchen appliOdy was not only a great friend of ances, pots and pans, computers, the Mortensen family but to the electronic or stereo equipment, Please call us anytime at (518) racing community and all those who 505-5055. Scrapster will remove file cabinets, extension cords, knew him as well, as he would give the items from exactly where they the shirt off his back as they say vacuum cleaners. are located-you don’t need to do to help someone out, sometimes Basement: Tools, dehumidifiers, a thing. “Don’t Worry...We Can putting his own issues aside to help water heaters, water softeners, Take It!”tm Please visit our web- some else with theirs. That was the furnaces, boilers, cast iron, steel site at scrapster.com for more kind of guy that Danny was. or copper pipes and pipe fittings, information or to schedule an Saturday evening August 2 at Fonda wire, power cords, extension appointment online. many of Danny’s family and friends cords, lights, fans. were in attendance to honor him and to present awards and money to the Outside: Lawn and patio furniture, current racers at Fonda. In honor of aluminum storm doors/windows, Danny O as he was always referred metal gazebo, beach chairs, grills, to, the starting field in each of the fire pit, cookers, swing set, basketVincent Coppola, feature events went four wide on the ball poles, fencing, gates and fence Owner of Scrapster, Scrap track in a parade lap to salute him. posts, gutters. Metal Removal/Recycling Service The Danny Ody Memorial sportsman feature event saw Ray Zemken lead at the start from his outside front row starting position. Chris Schaffer and Mortensen who started on the outside in the second and third rows respectively moved up front quickly with Schaffer second at the completion of lap one while Mortensen was third. When Zemken got into lap traffic on lap 12 it allowed Schaffer and Mortensen to close in and on lap 14 Schaffer was the new race leader after getting by Zemken. Shortly afterwards the yellow flag was out for Schaffer who was in the turn one wall and while the duo of Schaffer and Zemken were heading for the wall in turn one to bring out the caution, For more information: Mortensen had his car almost totally sideways and managed to avoid Call Mail ‘N’ More: 3993279 contact with anyone as he inherited or R.M. Penna: 384-7362 the lead on the restart. The final caution flag of the event came out with only two laps to go and on this restart Mortensen maintained the lead with Dave Constantino

The 7th Annual Community Garage Sale

It’s happening in neighborhoods all around Burnt Hills and Ballston Lake! Saturday, September 27th - 9am - 4 pm Register by Wednesday, September 18th at Mail ‘N’ More

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

getting close as the two entered turn three but after that Mortensen pulled away on the final lap for his second win of the season and the 14th of his career in the division which tops the all-time win list at the track in the Your Hometowne sponsored #1M Teo car. Along with the regular winner’s trophy Mortensen was also presented with one of Danny Ody’s championship trophies from the past along with a special glass plaque and lap sponsorship money which was collected for the event. Mortensen Motorsports car owner Bonnie Mortensen would like to thank all of the sponsors for their support in 2014 including Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In, Benjamin Moore Paints, Mortensen Electric, Socha Plaza, Countryside Stove & Chimney, 1st National Bank of Scotia, Broadalbin Manufacturing, Your Hometowne Paper, Chris Kelley Carpentry of Galway, Schenectady Unit Parts NAPA, Howard Mack, Esquire, Minick Kitchen of Scotia, Bill McGaffin Photography, Bill Terry, Iwinski Excavation, Gabriele’s Supermarket of Scotia, Meridian Construction Co of Scotia, BC Designs, Brent & Kelly Harvey, Tom Coughlin, Justin & Cheryl Cappon, The Cooper Family, Lenny Weiss Construction, Adirondack Feed Center, Amsterdam NY, Best Bet Band, B & H Auto, Bonded Roofing of Scotia , Bobco Video, Mike Crispin Power Equipment, Joey Budka, Gloria Lockhart & Ed Krzysko, R3 Graphics, Boyd’s Motorworks, DeMarco Pizza of Scotia, Village Paint and Decorating of Scotia, Riverside Pizza of Amsterdam, A-1 Remodeling and Bestline Lubricants. Along with the sponsors she would also like to thank the pit crew including Brett, Bob, Alisha, Brenden, Erik, and Ron along with anyone who may have stopped in to the pit area to help out in any way during the 2014 racing season.

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 33


School pictures

I

stepped off the curb and headed across the street, looking down to keep my footing. Low and behold, there they were, a bit damp with dew, tainted with brown tips that curled up from their still vibrant green colors of summer. The LEAVES... having fallen from their summer homes. I looked at them for some time, not realizing how fast the summer had gone. When I continued to walk, the warm sun was shining on my face and the cool air was at my back. A big smile came across me, thinking of the fun we have had over the summer. When the evening seems to come earlier each night and the chill in the air lingers into the mornings, we know fall is around the corner. And with that comes a new school year. I think we are ready, looking forward to it actually. There is something to be said for a routine and packing a lunch in a brown paper bag. No more buses for us, as the boy drives himself to school now. Allowing both of us a few

extra minutes in the morning. As with summer, the fall has many privileges of its own. The windows are open allowing the gentle breezes to cool our home. The flower boxes have started to wilt, almost knowing their season is done and to make room for the colorful orange and yellow mums. The Black-eyed Susan’s are still in full bloom and make the perfect back drop for the “first day of school” photo. Yes, even at 6’1” and a senior, the boy will have his picture taken in front of the house next to those Black-eyed Susan’s just like he has for the past 12 years. As with everything, there is a time. I have always tried to enjoy all the moments as I experience them. Breathing them in to the fullest. For as much as I revel in them, some are harder to let go than others. When I sit quietly and look through our old school pictures I see those Black-eyed Susan’s have stayed the same. Blooming with bright mustard colored petals and tall stalks that rise above the picket fence. It’s the boy that has changed. Now, towering over the fence. It seems like yesterday he was knee high to a grasshopper. Well, maybe not a

34 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

grasshopper, but definitely no taller than that old picket fence. I believe that this school picture will be the one that I remember the most. It may not be the last. I will try and get him to stand there one more time before he heads off to college. I hope the flowers will be as bright as they are today and I can revel in that moment for some time as well. Well, that is all I have for now. I am going to open up my windows and let the cool breezes in. I may head outside and cut a few of those Black-eyed Susan’s to keep on my kitchen counter. Just in case I want to stay in this moment just a few minutes longer. —Pattie Rakvica As always, I wish you peace, joy and moments that bloom year after year. Pattie Rakvica idriveaware@gmail.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


MAKING FACES SKIN CLINIC • Facials • Peels • Dermabrasion • Micro-rolling • Makeup Artistry • Airbrush Tanning • Massage

NEW CLIENTS RECEIVE

10% OFF 1ST SERVICE

Want discounted services? Join our membership.

(518) 399-9200

123 Saratoga Rd Socha Plaza Glenville, NY 12302

Ye Olde Farmhouse Gift Shoppe is Open

www.makingfacesskinclinic.com

10am to 4pm

THE BEST WAY TO STAY WELL GROOMED Take that step you’ve been thinking of and CALL ME to set up your FREE CONSULTATION and COMPLIMENTARY FIRST TREATMENT! Gift Certificates Available!

Only FDA Approved Method of Permanent Hair Removal!

470-5358 www.electrolysisbybeth.com

124 Saratoga Road, Glenville - Across from Socha Plaza

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 35


GET READY FOR FALL

Library Programs: Board Meeting Wednesday, September 24th, 7pm - Open to the public. Computer Classes: *Registration Required for all computer classes Windows 8 Demo Wednesday, September 10th—6pm Ancestry Genealogy Wednesday, October 1st—6pm Introduction to the iPad Tuesday, October 7th—6pm File Management Wednesday, October 8th—6pm Preschool Programs: Fall Session 1 Sept. 2 – Oct. 11 Baby Bookworms Tuesdays at 9:30 AM & Fridays, 9:30 AM - For children birth to 23 months with a caregiver; sibling are welcome. *Registration required. Family Story Time Wednesdays at 10:30 AM & Fridays, 10:30 AM - This program is designed for two and three-yearolds accompanied by a caregiver. Drop-in program, siblings welcome. Preschool Story Time Mondays at 1:30 PM & Thursdays, 9:30 AM - For children ages 3, 4, or 5 who are accompanied by a caregiver. Registration is required, siblings are welcome.

Thursday, October 9, 4pm A brand new book club! In September we’re discussing Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo. For grades 1-2. *Registration required, please pick up a copy of the book at the desk in the Children’s Room. Booking Through Fiction Book Club Thursday, September 18, 4:00 PM - A fiction book club just for kids in Grades 3 & 4. In September we’re discussing Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. For grades 3-4. *Registration required, please pick up a copy of the book at the circulation desk. Clay Creations with Dragonfly Design Tuesday, September 2, 6:30 PM - For grades K-5. *Registration required. Recycled Books Wednesday, September 3, 1:30 PM - Repurpose old books into book marks and beads! For grades K-5. *Registration required. Star Wars Reads Day

Tuesdays 10:30 AM - This class is for preschoolers of all ages. Drop in program, siblings, parents, grandparents and friends are welcome!

Saturday, October 11, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM - Celebrate Star Wars Reads Day and master the art of reading! This event for the whole family includes games, trivia, giveaways, and a chance to win great Star Wars prizes.

Fall Session 1, Sept. 2 – Oct. 11 Read To Leela Thursday, September 4, 4pm Thursday, October 2, 4pm Drop in program for all ages.

Tween & Teen Programs: Fall Session 1 Sept. 2 – Oct. 11 Book Buzz Book Club

Wednesday, September 24, 4:00 PM - This is an inclusive program for children of all levels of ability in Grades K-1. *Registration required.

Friday, September 19, 4:00 PM - In September we’re discussing Wonder by R.J. Palacio. For grades 5-7. *Registration required, please pick up a copy of the book at the circulation desk.

Lego Club

Monster Design

Wednesday, September 24, 4:00 PM - For grades 2-5. *Registration required.

Thursday, September 25, 1:30 PM - For grades 6 - 12. *Registration required.

Scribbles & Tales

36 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

Thursday, September 11, 4pm

Music Medley

Elementary Programs:

35 Saratoga Road, (Pedricks) Rt 50 in Glenville

Brown Bag Book Club

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


?

Why Support Business Growth In

Supporting local business growth provides tax revenue that helps offset property taxes. That in turn allows us to improve our roads, sewers, safety services and infrastructure to accommodate population growth while keeping our one-of-a-kind personality and farming districts unspoiled.

Put your money where your house is. To advertise in Your Hometowne call 265.1105 Email: yourhometowne@gmail.com Join the conversation on our Facebook View past issues at Your-hometowne.com

“with Olde Orchard you have friends in the business” LocaLLy owned • LocaL agents • area expertise • gLobaL innovation

Whether you’re buying, selling or just thinking about it, give me a call. No obligations, just a good conversation to share my knowledge of the local real estate market and help you come to an informed decision. MARGARET PHILLIPS, CBR Owner/Broker Olde Orchard Real Estate 4 William Street Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-701-1657 Cell 518-399-2100 Office 518-312-4789 Fax

www.oldeorchardrealestate.com

Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, Love gives us a Fairytale.

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 37


KID’S PAGE

School Word Search

autumn migration maze

school days sudoku

Answers on page 28

38 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


In

Loving Memory A Wonderful Dad and Grandfather William W. Rohling September 14, 1930 – August 14, 2014

~ Forever in our Hearts ~ Ken, Gerry, Jenn, and Evan

This month Cheryll and I chose to dedicate this space to our friend, photographer and colleague, Ken Rohling. Ken has provided us with spectacular cover shots that fit our publication perfectly. We are blessed with talent from several local photographers and truly struggle to have to “pick” thru the amazing contributions from those we consider our friends first and colleagues second. In July, the article I painstakingly penned was a dedication to my father, a man whose strength and sheer will to never back down was reflected in my admiration and love for all he did- on his terms- to the very end.

doubt... a genius. He wasn't a scholar and he didn't have formal degrees. But, he had a creative and ingenious streak in him that spanned so many technologies, he could tackle any challenge given to him at work or home. Any design project, amazing new and cool toys, and somehow he would succeed in building something unique, something like no one had ever seen before. It seemed magical that he could create anything he wanted, with seemingly nothing but some random parts stored in a million little drawers, and with all of those special tools that he had.

We wanted Ken to have an opportunity to do the same for his Dad-in his words...

For me, as a kid walking into his basement shop was a wondrous thing. His tools looked like glimmering jewels. I often “borrowed” some of them, even though he had given me my own. Mine, although identical... did not have the lure of the magic that were within his. He brought his work home with him, so you never knew what he would be working on. He always let me watch and try to learn. He would always answer all of my

W

hen I was a young boy, all of my friends had lots of heroes, baseball heroes, football & basketball heroes, movie heroes, astronaut heroes, and super heroes. Me, I only had one. He was a soft-spoken, gentle, and humble man, and without any

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

questions, no matter how many there were, or how stupid they may have seemed. He was part of a team of creative people that were given the name "The Skunk Works" by the CEO of the General Electric Company, referencing Kelly Johnson's incredibly successful aircraft design team. They could accomplish amazing design feats and technical innovations, and in incredibly short periods of time. Dad always said: "Of course we can do the impossible too, we do it all the time. It just takes a little longer." He creative wizardry, whether directly, or by the way his work pushing the technologies forward, has impacted and improved most of our lives. But, his name is virtually unknown. This was just the way he was, and wanted it. "You can achieve great things in life, if you don't care who gets credit for it." He worked on early sonar systems, homing torpedoes, avionics, rockets, radar systems, the first solar cells that showed up on early satellites, systems

that ultimately made their way to the first lunar rover, GE's first electric car in the 1960s, ingenious, and super-secret listening devices that wound up in Russian embassies during the cold war, computers, integrated circuits, camera and flash technology, prototype electronic light bulbs in the 1970s that wouldn't make it to the public for another forty years. It took technology those forty years, to catch up enough to make them in a cost effective manner. And, he did a lot of it in our BASEMENT, right in front of my eyes. Growing up in his shadow had such a profound impact on my life of 58 years. He taught me not just how to learn, but to learn to understand. My appreciation for wildlife and photography came from him. He gave me my first camera when I was in Kindergarten, and photography became a life-long passion. Yes, it was so wonderful having your own private super hero for all of your life, and even if it were for only 58 years... It was the greatest gift. I love you, Dad. Rest in peace.

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 39


Featuring Fresh Ingredients From GAROFALO & COMPANY 16 NORTH CENTER STREET SCHENECTADY | 374-1478

SOUTHWESTERN RIBS

Aunt Mary’s Sauce

W

e are NOT done Barbequing! Try out this Rib recipe for a September cookout! And use Mali’s Gourmet Hardwood Charcoal available at Garofalo’s SOUTHWESTERN RIBS 4-6 lbs. ribs in uncut racks from Garofalo’s* ** Ingredients: 1-teaspoon liquid smoke 1/4-teaspoon ground coriander 3/4-teaspoon ground cumin 1/4-teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 - 3 tablespoons ground chili 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 cup dry white wine

W

hen I lived over Garofalo’s store, the smell in my apartment was delicious, with cheeses and spices permeating the building it was mouthwatering to say the least!

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Those who have shopped at Garofalo’s back in the day and remember “Aunt Mary” know what a great cook she was. At least once a week I could count on her sending up her breaded cutlets and sauce- her sauce was to die for! It would be cooking all day filling the building with an aroma that still lingers in my mind each and every time I visit. So I dedicate this recipe to Aunt Mary.

Your Choice of meatballs or Sausage or BOTH from Garofalo’s

2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomato - your choice at Garofalo’s

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 (28 ounce) can plum tomatoes - your choice at Garofalo’s

5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1+ 3/4 cup ketchup

2 cloves garlic - diced thin

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

1 medium onion, finely chopped

*Place ribs on large rimmed shallow pan with a rack- add water- sliced apple cover tightly with foil and bake slow in oven set at 275 degrees for a good 2 hours- remove and let cool

3-4 Fresh basil leaves chopped finely Palm full of “Essentials” from Garofalo’s* 1 teaspoon sea salt

Hot or Sweet; Rope Style or Patties... Our product is 100% Gluten Free and contain no MSG

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup grated cheese

*Aunt Mary blended herbs for the sauce that you can now buy as “essentials” In a large pot add the olive oil and slowly sauté the garlic and onions until tender then add your selection of meat- turning until browned and cooked thru- remove to a plate then stir all the caramelized meats that may have stuck to the bottom until loose. Add the tomatoes, basil, essentials, salt, sugar and cheese, then add the meat back to the sauce. Reduce to a slow simmer, set the cover loose and go about your day- occasionally stirringthe longer the better- no less than 4 hours. Served over your favorite pasta-with a side of Italian bread with butter and garlic grilled under the broiler, this one will be sure to remain on your list of sauces to make, freeze and have throughout those chilly fall days when comfort food saves the day.

Garofalo’s, the taste people travel for!

** Place ingredients in a saucepan and simmer. Once the charcoal is ready- load the ribs and slather generously allowing the sauce to caramelize before turning. Since they tenderized in the oven, take care when turning – these ribs will fall off the bone! GAROFALO’S SIGNATURE ITALIAN SAUSAGE; PROUDLY CRAFTED SINCE 1904

2 tablespoons sugar

Stop in and visit the 4th generation, serving QUALITY ITALIAN PRODUCTS since 1904. www.garofalosausage.com

CUSTOM CUT BEEF Filet Mignon Rib Eye Steaks Choice NY Strip Steaks Choice PORK Pork Chops Center Cut Bone in or

40 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

Stuffed* • Pork Tenderloins Pulled Pork • Smoked Ribs POULTRY Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts Chicken Cutlets or Stuffed Chicken Breasts*

COLD CUTS Featuring Battistoni Salami, Capicola, Soppresata & Abruzzi *Our own bread crumb & sausage stuffing Don’t forget the Homemade Salads!

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


Sam Speaks...

BY SAM CAPUANO

L

The Boys of Summer

ike many, I spent the last few weeks watching the Little League World Series. A ball player my whole life, I had dreams of playing in the Series, and during my last year in Pennsylvania in 1975, at age 12, I was on a team that went quite far in the tournament, but fell short. My family moved to the BH-BL the next year, so in the spring of 1976, I was ready to play in a new league. Although there were two leagues, and neither one was, officially anyways, Little League. The first league I played in that year was essentially sandlot ball. We didn’t even have full uniforms. Now, in Pennsylvania, we had complete uniforms, but, alas they consisted of more flannel than Al Borland wore during the entire run of “Home Improvement.” I was a catcher, and having those heavy flannels on, while in catcher’s gear on a hot, humid dusty night made for a sweaty mess. Still, they were uniforms. My first Burnt Hills team, like every other in the league, had only shirts and caps. The shirts were a ugly green color, with our sponsor’s (Log Cabin Hobby) name scripted across the front. Most of us wore cheap blue jeans with them, although a few, unfortunately thought checkered Health-Tex trousers would look good on a baseball field. The games were played at Jenkins Park. It wasn’t a bad place to play, except for the fence. It wasn’t a baseball fence, as it had long planks of wood running horizontally across it, and there was ample space between the wood. As such, sometimes you couldn’t tell if the ball went over the fence or through it. Speaking of which, I remember a time I tried, quite unsuccessfully to go through said fence. I was playing center field, and a ball was hit over my head. As I was going back on it, I saw my mother and grandfather getting out of their car in the parking lot behind the fence, turned my attention back to the ball, and next thing I knew there were a few dozen people surrounding me as I was on the ground with a gash across my forehead. So much for that league. The other league was a little more like it, the Amateur American Baseball Congress. The leagues were

named after former major leaguers. We had the Pee Wee Reese League for 12U, Sandy Koufax for 14U, and Mickey Mantle for 16U. I just took a look at the national website for the AABC, and they have since added the likes of Don Mattingly, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Nolan Ryan to their ranks of league names. First and foremost, this league had full uniforms. And, they weren’t flannel. They were the skin-tight polyester garments most major league teams had switched over to. My team, sponsored by the Burnt Hills Rotary, were bright, really bright, red. And, of course the red stirrup stockings to go with them. The games were played at Indian Meadows Park. Now, kids, the Indian Meadows facility you now play in is a jewel. Hope you know how good you have it. Back in 1976, well, not so much. Not that we knew any better at the time, but it was a field. What did we care. I also got to umpire some Pee Wee Reese games, and I remember riding my bike to Elmer Smith Park in Charlton for those contests. By the time I was old enough for the Mickey Mantle level, the games were played behind the high school. That was more like it. And, speaking of the high school, no discussion of Burnt Hills baseball in the 1970’s would be complete with a mention of Pete Barden, who for years coached the varsity team. Coach Barden was known as the “Leo Durocher of the Suburban Council.” This moniker can be taken a couple of ways. Durocher is a National Baseball Hall of Fame manager, and Barden certainly had baseball smarts in spades. Years later when I coached my son’s teams, I used many of his methods. Durocher was also known for a fiery temper on the field, and Barden was certainly no slouch in that regard. He was an impressive, very loud presence as he coached third base, complete with the fungo bat which never seemed to be out of his hands. One time he got so mad, he slammed the fungo to the ground and split the thing in two. It looked quite different patched up with duct tape the next game. Play ball!

THEY’RE BACK! Please be Careful and Watch out for our Children

Remember, they are kids, they are excited.

Keep them Safe, Watch for Buses and Crosswalks.

Remind Your Teen-Age drivers too!

From all of us at Olde Orchard, have a Safe and Happy School Year! Olde Orchard Real Estate, 4 William Street, Ballston Lake, NY 12019

(518) 701-1657 • www.oldeorchardrealestate.com

To have and to hold, from this day forward...

Gina Sabatini and Joe Malik August 9, 2014

See you next month, in the mean time you can catch up with my blogs at http://samspeaks21.blogspot.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 41


Creativity and Discipline

I Helping your eldest to pick a college is one of the greatest educational experiences of life — for the parents. Next to trying to pick his bride, it’s the best way to learn that your authority, if not entirely gone, is slipping fast. ~Sally and James Reston

try early on to help young dancers understand that self discipline is a very important and desirable characteristic for dancers. I instill this wonderful, life enhancing trait in very creative ways. I often have parents ask me, “How do you get your students to accomplish so much and have so much fun at the same time?” There are two parts to that answer. The first part is creativity. I am constantly working on ways to appeal to a student’s sense of wonder and curiosity. This not only happens through the development of new choreography, new improvisational scenarios and floorwork combinations, but also through thoughtful, sensitive, insightful introduction of these things to students. Creative, intelligent approach to a creative activity is as important as the creative activity itself. The second part is respect. I remember being a child. I was shy, reserved and unsure a lot of the time. I turn myself inside out to make youngsters feel comfortable so that they can gain the strength they need to develop in wonderful ways. When a child is engaged and not bored, when a child feels comfortable

and not intimidated, when a child feels motivated and positively challenged, they are experiencing instruction that is grounded in the most wonderful example of self discipline and hard work. They automatically desire to give that back. Some students survive and respond to instructors who carry a heavy stick of intimidation thinking that they are fostering discipline. Many do not. Most students respond to instruction that waves, what I call, the magic wand of creativity and respect. Creative, age appropriate curriculum is my strength. It’s what I love to do. I’m never done. It’s completely consuming and rewarding in multiple ways. I expect children to respond in beautiful ways to all that I offer them and so it happens. My new dance season begins on September 13. I still have openings in some classes. If you are looking for a respectful, highly creative, unique dance experience for your child, call and talk to me. I would be most happy to answer all of your questions. Ginny Martin Modern Dance with Ginny Martin 518-399-5802 www.ginnymartindance.com www.danceclassathome.com

“Dancing with Ginny Martin is a unique, creative experience unlike anything else!”

Modern Dance • Creative Movement for 4-6 year olds

• Beginning II Modern Dance for 9-13 year olds

• Beginning Modern Dance for 6-8 year olds and 7-10 year olds

• Intermediate I, II, III, IV Modern Dance for 11-18 year olds

• 44th Dance Season begins Sept.13 in Glenville

Parents all over the Capital District consider Ginny an impeccable role model for their children as well as an incomparable dance magician. 42 l Your Hometowne l September 2014

91967_4

with Ginny Martin &D Dana Wojcik

399-5802 www.ginnymartindance.com

www.danceclassathome.com

yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105


ENJOY RELAXING IN FRONT OF A COZY FIRE

WITH GREENSMART TECHNOLOGY STARTING A FIRE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

COLUMBUS DAY SALE OCT. 8 - 14

*18 Months No Interest *(if paid in full within 18 months)

Check out the newest Greensmart Technology Lower Costs • High Efficiency

GAS • PELLETS • WOOD

Classic to Contemporary, We Have A Style To Fit Your Home

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Wednesday: 9-6 Thursday: 9-8, Friday: 9-6 Saturday: 10-4

839 Saratoga Rd, Rt 50, Burnt Hills, New York, 518-384-0598 - countrysidestove.com yourhometowne@gmail.com l 518.265.1105

Your Hometowne l September 2014 l 43


1

ECRWSS

Postal Customer

OVER 3,500 VEHICLES SOLD THIS YEAR TO DATE!

#

Volume Honda Dealer in the Capital Region Based on 2013 new vehicle sales per AHM

Mohawk Honda is proud to be the recipient of the 2013 Honda President’s Award for outstanding customer relations in sales & service.

Nicole, Tiffany and Noelle Mohawk Honda Vehicle Exchange Specialists

If you’d like to drive a new Honda for the same or better monthly payment, stop in and let us show you how.

175 Freemans Bridge Road (at Route 50) in Glenville 518-370-4911 • mohawkhonda.com

YEARS


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.