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October 3, 2009
A Denton Publication
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Take a hike
Coupon Queen
John Brown
New trail opens just outside of Lake Placid.
Jill answers questions from some of her reader’s mail.
Historian gives lecture about abolitionist Brown.
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Saranac Lake guardsman Sexagenarian says it’s never too late to get in shape lends hand in South Africa By Jeremiah S. Papineau jeremiah@denpubs.com
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — One Adirondack soldier is helping an effort to share ideas and training with overseas allies. Chaplain (Col.) Eric Olsen, a Saranac Lake resident, was among five members of the New York National Guard to travel to Doornkloof, South Africa Sept. 7-13, sharing valuable experience with defense forces there. The multinational event was part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program between New York State and the Republic of South Africa, which has been in place since 2003. “This training came about as an invitation from the South African Ministry of Defense,” said Maj. Patrick Chaisson, the State Partnership Program Coordinator for the New York National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters, who also participated in the symposium. “I think they recognize our experience as a nation that operationalized its reserve components, and see the New York National Guard as a model for their own reserve force in terms of systems and procedures designed to address the unique challenges of reserve-force deployments,” he added. The five reservists met in a series of conferences with South African Defense Forces addressing military training and education, and ways to assist soldiers with the often delicate transition between deployment and life on the home front. Olsen said that in the case of multiple deployments, now common for guardsmen, the need for strong reintegration services, such as counseling, educational benefits, and job incentives are as crucial as ever. “It helps them to re-adjust back to their environment,” he said. Olsen joined the New York National Guard in 2000, immediately following 13 years of active duty in the U.S. Army. A veteran of the Persian Gulf War, he serves as the New York National Guard’s State Chaplain. The recent trip to South Africa was not the first for Olsen, who traveled there in 2007 to assist the home-rule Kingdom of Swaziland in creating chaplaincy services for their troops. “To establish a chaplaincy is big stuff,” Olsen said, especially in an area like Swaziland where roughly half the population is infected with HIV. Fortunately, Defense Forces in South Africa are implementing an innovative program to prevent the virus from spreading further. Olsen described the exchange as excellent, noting how it was a learning experience for both the South Africans and the Americans who participated. “We learned how different nations are dealing with recruitment and the educational component of soldiers, and I learned that we’re doing things pretty well.” said Olsen, “We made a lot of good contacts and learned a lot about South Africa and their struggles.” One of the most meaningful parts of the trip for Olsen was seeing how the brotherhood between he and his fellow guardsmen, both black and white, contrasted with the racial divide still evident in a nation still wounded by Apartheid. He told of an exchange that took place while they were conversing. “Someone came up to us and said, ‘You’re not South Africans, are you?’ We said, ‘no, why do you ask?’ and they said, ‘because you’re getting along too well.’” Olsen recalled. “It helped me to realize that we’ve come a long way.” Exchange visits through the State Partnership Program are ongoing. Sept. 19 and 20, South African Defense Force members came to Saratoga Springs to attend a senior officers conference. Another future visit will allow SADF chaplains to shadow Olsen and other chaplains in New York.
TUPPER LAKE — Stewart F. Mccullouch doesn’t think he’s done anything special. However, the story of how the 62-yearold has worked hard to go from obese to in shape, is one that’s inspired many. Mccullouch was the guest speaker at the annual Plattsburgh Heart Walk, held Sept. 26 at the PARC Oval in the city of Plattsburgh. There, Mccullouch told the audience how he examined his life nearly two years ago, not liking what he saw. “I was 315 pounds, had a 56inch waist and I couldn’t walk a hundred yards,” admitted Mccullouch. “I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol. You name it, I had it.” Mccullouch said he couldn’t explain it, but one day he knew he wanted to change his life for the better. “Something took hold and I just started wanting to do something,” he said. “I figured you have two options — do you want to live and improve yourself or just lay back and throw in the towel? I chose, for my grandchildren and the rest of my family, to improve myself.” In January 2008, Mccullouch began examining how he would lose the weight and improve his health. Initially, he looked into gastric bypass surgery — a controversial procedure which results in reducing the amount one eats to feel satisfied. However, Mccullouch ultimately decided to work with Weight Management, a firm in Plattsburgh which helps its clients with weight loss and weight
Stewart F. Mccullouch of Tupper Lake, center, received recognition for his story of losing 130 pounds in order to get in shape and improve his health. Mccullouch was joined on stage by Star 92.9 FM radio personality Lana Wilder and Fox44 News meteorologist Nick Johnston. Photo by Jeremiah S. Papineau
maintenance. “I made a lifestyle change, and they opened up a door to a different approach of losing weight,” said Mccullouch, who noted his plan included healthier eating options and regular exercise. As a result, Mccullouch said he has lost 130 pounds. “I lost my weight in about six
to seven months. And, I’ve been maintaining it for well over a year,” he said. “I’ve gone down to a 33-inch waist. And now, I’ve gone from not being able to walk a hundred yards to be able to complete three triathlons this past summer.” “I just wanted to prove I could do one, then I did two, then three,” added Mccullouch.
“And now, I’m getting ready for Ironman in 2010.” And, regardless if a person uses programs like Weight Management, joins a gym, or starts their own diet and exercise program at home, Mccullouch said the key to the success of any plan is support. “When you lose your weight,
See MCCULLOUCH, page 6
Highly efficient home holds open house By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com
Richard Kraft’s home in Tupper lake uses some of the latest technology available for building energy-efficient homes. The unfinished house will be one of several across the region to be featured in an open house showcasing green building practices.
TUPPER LAKE — Most people wouldn't open up their home to everyone, especially when it's not finished yet. That's not the case for Richard Kraft. Kraft's 1,662-square foot home near Fish Creek will be one of 38 homes across New York State that will hold an open house Oct. 3 as part of a program that models energy-efficient building practices for cold-weather regions. Kraft, a builder by trade, began designing his home two years ago with low cost-of-upkeep in mind. “From the beginning, I wanted to put my personal building knowledge to work to create a home that was energy efficient as possible,” he said, noting how it was also his goal to educate others about how to build a greener home. To that end, Kraft decided to enter the home in the High-Performance
See HOME, page 5