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TABLE OF CONTENTS
may PUBLISHER'S WORD................................................................................6
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KINDNESS COUNTS Putting love & kindness into each plate............................. 8 FASHION Rock that athleisure wear, by day or by night ................ 10
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SPECIAL FEATURE Lisa Matto: The Up Side of Downs...................................... 12 WISE WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR Keonna Yearwood...................................................................... 16 ON THE COVER Jessica Nicholas: Finding the strength to change....... 19
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WOMEN'S HEALTH Screening for colorectal cancer........................................ 24 INSPIRE Lisa Saunders..............................................................................28 Kim Townsend............................................................................. 32 SYRACUSE EATS Salt City Market.......................................................................... 34 UPCOMING EVENTS.............................................................................. 37 MOVERS & SHAKERS........................................................................... 37
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PUBLISHER'S WORD
Time to stop putting it off and get back in shape David Tyler
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ealth and wellness. It’s a topic that’s been on everyone’s mind for the past year and change. For many of us, myself included, we’ve faithfully protected ourselves against COVID-19 while the other aspects of our physical and mental health have largely gone ignored. Obesity and sedentary behavior are up. So is alcohol usage. People joke about adding ‘the COVID 19’ during the pandemic, and during a time of crisis we can largely give ourselves a pass for a short-term lapse in health consciousness, but over the long term, those behaviors will catch up with us. In this May edition of Syracuse Woman Magazine, we’re not putting it off any longer. It’s time to come out of our cocoon, get back in shape and start taking care of ourselves again. Our cover story, Finding the Strength to Change, highlights the story of Jessica Nicholas. As a young woman, Jessica developed an eating disorder that affected her physical and mental health and disrupted her relationships with family and friends. Through fitness and nutrition she was able to turn her life around and now, through her new business, she is trying to instill those same healthy habits and abilities in other women. We also discuss an important subject that is often overlooked – women’s colorectal health. Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer in both men and women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite this, many people fail to take the simple steps to screen for this terrible disease. During the pandemic, hesitancy over in-person appointments have caused people to forgo many of their scheduled screenings for this and other diseases. As both the weather and situation with the pandemic continue to get better, I have made it a priority to improve my own health and I hope you do as well. While I still have not returned to the gym, the longer and warmer days have allowed me to spend more time jogging with our new puppy and with my 50th birthday approaching I had a screening for colorectal cancer. I can attest for anyone who has been putting it off that it wasn’t that bad, and it provided a sense of relief. If you are in the right age bracket, I highly suggest you do this. Of course, there’s also a big milestone day in the month of May – Mother’s Day. In this edition, we share the story of the mother of a child with Down Syndrome who, with wit and humor, has captured the essence of her very special daughter in a new book, The Up Side of Downs. In February, Lisa Palermo Matto published her first book in which tells the story of her daughter, Marlee, through a series of hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes that capture exactly what the title suggests. I hope you enjoy this story and wish all the moms out there a very happy Mother’s Day.
David Tyler
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PHOTOGRAPHERS Nancy Miller Alice G. Patterson David Tyler
CONTRIBUTORS
Chiara Giannuzzi Farah Jadran Lisa Sousou
David Tyler Emma Vallelunga
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KINDNESS
Putting love & kindness into each plate Farah Jadran
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uring the week, Niko and I are always making sure we spend some time together between our work shifts. I work early mornings and he works evenings. Part of that time includes eating lunch together and possibly eating dinner together. I usually cook for us out of convenience between our schedules but recently Niko decided it was time for me to take a break from cooking. This is an exciting and also delicious decision! One of our first dates included Niko cooking me a wonderful dinner. I will never forget that evening because it was such a selfless and thoughtful gesture. Here we are in May 2021 celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary and still doing selfless deeds for one another. Part of “Chef Niko’s” commitment to lunch and dinner creations is to try different recipes and dishes. This has been so much fun. We are looking at old recipe books and of course, surfing different sites touting trendy and healthy meals. We are sending each other different recipes and then taking a list to the grocery store. Buying items for the new dishes was also an enjoyable experience. Part of our new household routine is hearing about what is next up on the menu. One of the first Chief Niko creations was a plate of tasty turkey tacos. Hold back your mouthwatering but take a look at the photo! He did a wonderful job and took the time to make something delicious. From the seasoned ground turkey to the avocado -
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everything was lovely. I came home from work to find a plate ready and a smiling husband excited for me to try the tacos he made. The genuine care made the gesture so much more amazing than I thought it would be. It’s caring actions like this that can change someone’s day. Knowing that a person you love and care for has taken time to treat you is a blessing. Everyone is capable of doing something thoughtful, selfless and genuine for someone else. I feel blessed to have such an incredible husband, best friend and teammate for life. I know we all have someone in our lives we love unconditionally. What will you do for them to show them you care? It doesn’t have to cost money or even time. Dig deep and give it some thought. It will do your mental and physical health some good. For me, I know I have a happy heart and I pray Niko always does to. Kindness can change someone’s heart. It can help others realize there is a world around them and more to life than possessions and petty arguments. Kindness can be the message you wear and walk with because you choose to live life with genuine gratitude for each day you are given. Tomorrow is not promised. Why not spend today being kind and being positive? SWM Farah Jadran is the anchor of CBS5 This Morning and CBS5 News at Noon for CNYCentral in Syracuse. Farah also served as editor of SWM for more than four years after she helped launch it in January 2011. If you or someone you know is spreading kindness in our community -- tweet at her -- @FarahJadran using #BeKindSyracuse.
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FASHION
Rock that athleisure wear, by day or by night Chiara Giannuzzi syracuseny.clothesmentor.com
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ealth and Wellness is a huge part of our everyday life. Fashion always plays into this because we are always looking for the right piece of clothing for our body type and we all have a different shape and a different style. What’s guaranteed, though, is that we all love to be comfortable, right? What better way to be comfortable than the most popular “athleisure wear?” What’s that you may ask? It’s a comfortable and fashionable look that is meant for daily exercise and everyday fashion. Athletic and Leisure! Athleisure wear has been a growing trend in recent years. There are many popular ways to style athletic clothes for the gym or for a night out. Some popular brands to style athleisure wear are lululemon, Nike, Champion, Reebok, gymshark, and many others. Pairing yoga pants with a cute oversized sweatshirt and some statement jewelry is a great way to stay on trend this season. There are many favorite looks but right now in particular is the biker short! Biker shorts are extremely transitional, whether it’s to the gym or a night out. Let’s talk about a night on the town, pair your biker shorts with any oversized T-shirt or crop top, you can layer with a denim jacket thrown over the shoulder or around the waist.
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If you are going to actually wear it make sure to roll your sleeve just a bit! Add a fashionable platform style sneaker or even a high chunky heal. Stack the bracelets and necklaces and grab some thin stackable rings to complete your look! Plain cotton colored biker shorts are extremely comfortable and affordable. After all, they are basically leggings! Remember you don’t have to be heading into the gym to sport your favorite athletic look! But if you are, then know when you look good it’s most definitely going to guarantee a successful workout. Feeling good in what you are wearing is huge! Athleisure is now a part of the everyday fashion world, either by day or by night. Feel confident in your own skin rocking your favorite athletic brands. SWM
Chiara Giannuzzi is a personal stylist with Clothes Mentor. Find her on Instagram: @chiarasconcepts.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
LISA MATTO
Photo by David Tyler
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The Up Side of Downs
LISA PALERMO MATTO CELEBRATES HER DAUGHTER IN NEW BOOK David Tyler
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hen you enter the Matto home in Fayetteville, Marlee, now 20, is at times gregarious and at others a little you know instantly you’re in the home of a loving bashful. She is self-conscious about the way her eyes look, family. Photo collages adorn the walls – pictures but happy to share a smile. She likes to play jokes and has a crush of smiling children on beaches, posing with parents, sharing on the actor Chris Pine (“I’m obsessed with him.”) She’s looking moments of joy with one another. forward to going to Inclusive U at Syracuse University in the fall, For Lisa Palermo Matto, telling the story of her daughter, but at the same time she has apprehensions about leaving home. Marlee, is about sharing her sense of wonder and joy with a In many ways, she’s a lot like other young women her age. “Our kids want to be independent,” Lisa said. “They have dreams broader audience. Marlee has a wide smile, a big heart and and hopes and friends and school – just like everybody else.” mischievous sense of humor. She also has Down Syndrome. The book chronicles Marlee’s In February, Lisa published her first adventures, and at times misadventures, book, The Up Side of Downs, available in a way that all parents can appreciate. on amazon.com, in which she tells ZOOM SESSION It shares the story of family vacations Marlee’s story through a series of with Lisa Palermo Matto with Lisa, her husband Dave, hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes that and Marlee’s brother Casey, and of capture exactly what the title suggests. Hosted by the landmark events that every child “Marlee would get into these Maxwell Memorial Library looks forward to: the school play, situations that were really funny in Camillus playing sports on a team, the prom. sometimes, and sometimes really There was the time Marlee took nerve-wracking,” Lisa said. When she off in a golf cart with a terrified and would recount these stories to family will be featured in a Zoom session unsuspecting passenger in tow. and friends, they would often tell Another time, she wandered from her her that she had to write it all down. to discuss her new book, grandparents’ condo in Florida wearing Eventually, there were enough stories only her birthday suit. Once at the zoo, to compile into a book. she picked up a little girl toddler and That process began about five years May 3, from 7 to 8 p.m. took off with her “because she so cute ago, but when the pandemic arrived, For more information: and I want a sister.” it gave Lisa the opportunity to really maxwellmemoriallibrary.org dig into finishing the book. She utilized It also tells the story of a girl with a the graphic talents of a neighbor, big heart, who makes friends easily Brooke Stratton, for the layout and and finds joy in bringing happiness illustrations that accompany each to others. story. Stratton, she said, was instrumental in helping her through And Lisa is quick to point out that their greater community had the publishing process on Amazon. a lot to do with Marlee’s successes, in particular, their neighbors, “It came together,” she said, “so far beyond what I ever imagined the Donellas, who have been a part of Marlee’s life since a very how well received it would be.” early age. Lisa is quick to point out that this is not a self-help book filled “What I hope people will take away from the book is to see the with parenting tips. Rather it is a celebration of Marlee and of the abilities – the abilities in her, but also the abilities in the people in community that has helped her thrive. the neighborhood that we have, and the community that we have, “I wrote this book to chronicle Marlee,” she said. “But I think and the school district that we have,” she said. “People [should] see what a difference that made.” what I found out when doing the readbacks was how much I grew. And I think that is a hopeful observation for parents that have younger kids than we do.”
Lisa Palermo Matto
The Up Side of Downs
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SPECIAL FEATURE
The Up Side of Downs from page 13
EXCERPT FROM
THE UP SIDE OF DOWNS "Stealing the Show" During the opening scene of the show, the improvisation began. It became apparent that Marlee wanted to be part of the dance number. Thinking back, I did recall a conversation where she asked if she could wear one of the pretty costumes. I didn’t pay attention because we had been sent a letter stating what should be worn. The one hundred or so “chorus” members were to wear jeans and a white tee shirt. The girls performing the dance number were dressed in ballet leotards with sparkly pink tutus. They assembled onto the stage and were waiting for their cue. As they began to glide across the floor, Marlee hopped down from riser. Oh no, I thought. She then inserted herself into their routine. “Dear God,” I moaned. She must have been watching them during rehearsals because she was actually pretty good. No one said a word, and no one removed her from the dance number. Beads of sweat began to build on my forehead. But then I noticed something else. Whenever there was a singing part, whether group effort or soloist, a voice from beyond would belt out the words after the others finished. That voice belonged to Marlee. She would wait for the other kids to stop singing, and then sing the same line of the song. She would sing so loudly, everyone in attendance could hear. Every time this happened, I could hear laughter coming from the audience. At this point, I was praying for her to vomit, make faces, or faint. At least that would get her off the stage. Throughout the night, her classmate in the wheelchair/covered wagon remained in the same spot on the stage. When the storyline involved the wagon, the main characters would gather around it. But for most of the show, he and the wheelchair sat quietly in one place. This was not overlooked by Marlee. Once again, she decided to shake things up. She hopped down from the risers, walked over to the wheelchair, and took hold of the handles. She was going to show everyone what a covered wagon was
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supposed to do. She pushed the wheelchair from one side of the stage to the other, waving at the crowd. She parked the wheelchair front and center, right in the middle of the show. While the teachers looked panicked, I started to laugh. I loved that she did that. I loved that she wanted to show off her friend to the entire audience. It was an innate desire to do something that most people would have ignored. Her classmate playing the role of the covered wagon would have remained a stationary character for the entire production if it had not been for her, Marlee saw it as an opportunity to give someone, who otherwise would have been overlooked, a chance to shine. Many of us try to live in the now. Marlee does it naturally. She always lives her life in the present moment. She does not worry about what other people think. She knows what she wants and why she wants it. She also knows how to compromise. She didn’t have the pretty costume, but she was going to join the dance number anyway. Many times, people view a child’s behavior as impulsive. What I have come to appreciate about Marlee is that her conduct often encompasses the needs of others as well as herself. Pushing her friend in the covered wagon was not about bringing attention to herself, but giving him the attention he deserved. Giving him his moment on that stage. It was more than just living in the now, it was an act of pure goodness A magical scene, unrehearsed, and from the heart. My beautiful girl delivered this to the audience effortlessly. A moment of grace. The other parents loved it. Her final moments on stage would lead to a crescendo of laughter and confirm that she really did steal the show. The music teacher was giving shout outs to the students who had done vocal or instrumental solos. After announcing their names, a voice could be heard from the seat risers. “Hey! What about me?” You guessed it. It was Marlee. The teacher, not missing a beat responded. “Thank you too, Marlee Matto!” It brought down the house. SWM
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WISE WOMAN FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR
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TO DO GREAT THINGS As the region’s medical university and teaching hospital, we unite our hearts and minds to improve and protect your health. Our workforce is dedicated to the mission of education, research and patient care. And, in the midst of demands placed by a pandemic, Upstate earned two national awards. We have been named #35 on Forbes' Best Large Employers in America, ahead of Johns' Hopkins, Cornell and Harvard. We also earned Magnet recognition — the gold standard for excellence in nursing and patient care. As a public trust, we are proud of the work we do and that we do it for you.
WWW.UPSTATE.EDU
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COVER STORY
JESSICA NICHOLAS Finding the strength to change
FROM STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING DISORDER TO LIVING A LIFE OF FITNESS AND NUTRITION
Photo by Alice G. Patterson
Emma Vallelunga
“I really started to become who I wanted to become. I felt better about my body and how I was able to move and have energy and not be so dependent on what I was going to eat next and what that was going to do in terms of weight loss.” — Jessica Nicholas
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Finding the strength to change from page 19
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very woman has strength inside of her. How far she is willing to go and what she is willing to change or sacrifice to see that strength is up to her. But that commitment is something Jessica Nicholas hopes to spark in women everywhere as she begins her business venture into the world of health and fitness. Nicholas is a local fitness trainer and owner of Strength of Change, a personal training business built on the foundation of inspiring women to strive for a healthy and active lifestyle through high-intensity training and clean eating. Growing up in Central New York, Nicholas was active playing lacrosse, volleyball and soccer, but her inspiration for fitness stemmed from a challenging beginning. She struggled with an eating disorder, and her illness only worsened by the time she left college at SUNY New Paltz. “I came home shortly after my first year there, and I had a hard time with everything,” Nicholas said. “I felt like my world was falling apart, and it was all based around myself, my relationship with food, and that spiraled into bad relationships with my family and friends. I found myself pretty alone, and the only thing I had to back me up was my eating disorder.”
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Nicholas realized she wasn’t happy with the direction her life was going and decided to make a change. Working out became one of her stress-relievers, and what began as only trying to lose weight turned into educating herself on better ways to strengthen her body and improve her relationship with food. “Something just clicked one day when I went grocery shopping,” she said. “I got all the whole, nutritious foods for myself, and I was starting to learn more about fueling my body properly instead of just basing it off of counting calories. I really started to become who I wanted to become. I felt better about my body and how I was able to move and have energy and not be so dependent on what I was going to eat next and what that was going to do in terms of weight loss.” Nicholas said she always worked in the restaurant industry before making the switch to focus on fitness about two years ago. She got her American Fitness Professionals Association certification and started working at a gym but eventually decided to start her own business last June. COVID-19 didn’t stop her from starting Strength of Change and establishing a small clientele of women to personally train. During the winter months, Nicholas said there was a lull in business. “It just seemed like one thing after another with people getting sick and not being able to come in, and everything slowed down a little bit,” she said. “It was difficult for me to establish everything at first.” Like a lot of businesses these days, Strength of Change has adapted to the pandemic-world around it. In addition to offering small group classes twice a week for clients inside rented space at Infinity Dance Academy in Baldwinsville, Nicholas livestreams the class on Zoom for those who can’t come down to the studio but still want to follow along at home. She also holds outdoor classes at Gillie Lake in Camillus, which can accommodate more people while complying with social distancing and offer a refreshing atmosphere outside when the weather is nice. Because of her past, Nicholas is also passionate about nutrition. She currently offers nutrition consultations through Zoom for women interested in starting healthier eating habits. She hopes to someday have her own gym to not only host her classes but also incorporate hands-on nutrition education. “Nutrition is super important to me, and it’s what got me into this in the first place,” she said. “So my dream is to have a gym with a small kitchen attached to it, so I can have healthy things for women to eat there, like grain bowls and smoothies, and also have classes where women can come in and learn how to make properly portioned meals with grains, veggies, fruit and protein.” Nicholas continues to market herself, her business and her passion by posting inspiring messages about healthy living, video clips of her workouts from her group classes, photos and recipes of healthy food alternatives and more on her Facebook and Instagram. And her clients know how hard she works. Sue Hanyak knew Nicholas as a childhood friend of her daughter. When she heard Nicholas was starting her own business, Hanyak never imagined how much strength, focus and flexibility she would gain after working with her for almost a year.
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“Growing up with an eating disorder, I never thought I would fully love every part of myself. It's been a long journey to get to this point. But now that I’m here, experiencing how good it feels, I am never going back. — Jessica Nicholas
Syracuse Woman Magazine
Photo by Alice G. Patterson
“I’m 63 years old, and I had never lifted a weight in my life, and this girl pushed me in such a positive way,” Hanyak said. “She’s always kind, engaging and consistently focused on form and body mechanics, which I think is so important when you’re working with someone [like me]. At 63, you’re worried about getting hurt, and when I’m with her, I never worry.” Hanyak and Nicholas have one-on-one sessions three times a week over Zoom, and she’s planning to attend an outdoor class this summer. She said being able to train with Nicholas in the comfort of her own home no matter where she is and still get the benefits of her workout has helped her immensely. “I call her my traveling trainer, because I can bring her wherever I go,” Hanyak said. “I’ve never done the same class twice. Every week is something different. She demonstrates, she does [workouts] with me, she stops me mid-flow if she thinks we can improve on my form, even the way I’m holding a weight. She works with my weaknesses and pushes me within my strengths.” Karen Khanzadian is another one of Nicholas’ clients who enjoys the lifestyle changes she’s made since she started training with her.
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Finding the strength to change from page 21 She goes to Nicholas’ group classes over Zoom and will also attend an outdoor class soon. Khanzadian said having a fitness routine has helped her not only stay physically active but has also kept her feeling good about her overall health. “I couldn’t even do a push-up when I started with her,” Khanzadian said. “But the wonderful thing about her is she’s an amazing motivator. She just knows what to say, and she does different levels. You can keep going even if you can’t do the level she’s at, so that no matter what, you will feel like you accomplished something by the time you’re done. I’ve done all kinds of other workout programs, and this one more positively impacts my day-to-day energy and activity.” As she continues to work with Nicholas, Hanyak said she hopes Nicholas thrives in her new business and every aspect of her life. “Even when COVID hit and things were hard for her, you never knew it,” Hanyak said. “She just kept pressing forward. I hope for the stars for her, because I don’t know anyone who eats, sleeps and breathes her job like she does.” Women interested in gaining strength or changing their lifestyle can learn about class prices, services and more by reaching out to Nicholas on her new website at strengthofchange.com, on Facebook at Jessica Nicholas and on Instagram at jess.strength. By nourishing the body with what it needs, moving it through physical fitness and realizing the selfworth that comes with it at the end of each day, Nicholas said she wants to help other women find self-love within themselves and believes she will empower women with the strength to change. “Growing up with an eating disorder, I never thought I would fully love every part of myself,” Nicholas said. “It's been a long journey to get to this point. But now that I’m here, experiencing how good it feels, I am never going back. Every woman is strong enough to overcome any barrier, the ones that are placed upon us by others and the ones we place upon ourselves.” SWM
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WOMEN'S HEALTH
Screening for Colorectal Cancer Lisa Sousou, RPA-C
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hat do you think of when someone mentions “women’s health” screenings? Most commonly, women may think of routine gynecological exams and Pap smears to screen for uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancer, and breast exams and mammograms to screen for breast cancer. An additional, and just as important, component of women’s health is screening for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer - cancer of the colon or rectum - is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the U.S., and the second most common cause of cancer deaths. A woman’s lifetime risk is about 1 in 25, and it is being detected at earlier ages more and more often. Researchers aren’t sure why, but while 90 percent of colon cancers are still detected in people age 50 or above, there has been an increase of over 50 percent in the number of colon cancer diagnoses in Americans under 50 since 1994. One in five colorectal cancer patients are now 20 to 54 years old, so this issue is important to women of all ages. The traditional starting age for colon cancer screening has been age 50, but in recent times, this is starting to change. Although the recommendations vary among organizations, some, like the American Cancer Society, have updated their guidelines to recommend screening for most people starting at age 45. For some people at higher risk- those with family history of colon cancer before age 60, with inflammatory bowel disease, or with certain genetic syndromes- screening may be recommended even earlier. In general, periodic screening is recommended until age 75, with the option to continue until 85 based on individual factors. For most people who don’t have any symptoms, most organizations recommend a screening colonoscopy every 10 years. This procedure uses a long, flexible, lighted tube to look for polyps or cancer throughout the colon. Many women may feel anxious about having a first colonoscopy. Don’t be! In most cases, you will be completely sedated for the procedure, will not be uncomfortable, and will not remember anything afterward. Between colonoscopies, most recommend a yearly screening test, as well. Yearly screenings can include a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or a guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT). These tests are simple and can be performed yourself in the privacy of your home; they detect blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colorectal cancer. There are other colorectal cancer screening options available as well, including flexible sigmoidoscopy (which examines just part of the colon, and is usually recommended at more frequent intervals), stool DNA tests that detect cancer, or even CT imaging of the colon. The best screening test is one that will get done. Talk to your provider about what screening methods they recommend for you. Because of hesitation regarding in-person appointments and procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many women have put off regular screening appointments during the past year. Is it time for you to catch up? Colon cancer is a preventable illness early detection is key. If you are 45 to 50 years old or older, or have risk factors, call your primary care provider, gynecologic provider, or gastroenterologist, and make an appointment for screening today! SWM
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INSPIRE
LISA SAUNDERS
Fighting CMV one step at a time By Emma Vallelunga
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isa Saunders has vowed to accomplish two things — walk more than 360 miles and raise awareness for a virus that took her daughter 15 years ago. It’s just one of hundreds of steps on her mission to #StopCMV. Saunders, an Auburn native living in Baldwinsville with her husband Jim, is an author, Cornell graduate, former TV show host and parent representative of the Congenital CMV Foundation. The couple is the using the Erie Canalway Trail and New York State’s Canalway Challenge to eventually trek the state from west to east while spreading their message of awareness for the #StopCMV movement. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is one of the most common viruses that affects people of all ages. While most people infected with CMV show no signs or symptoms, about one out of every 200 babies is born with CMV, known as congenital CMV, and about one in five babies with cCMV infection will suffer from birth defects that could develop into long-term health problems over time. When Saunders' daughter Elizabeth contracted cCMV, her case was severe, later developing cerebral palsy and debilitating seizures with gradual vision and hearing loss. Elizabeth died at the age of 16 in 2006, but it wasn’t until after she was born that Saunders realized her risks for CMV were much greater than she realized. Before and during her pregnancy, Saunders ran a daycare out of her home, interacting with not only her older daughter Jackie but also many other toddlers. She didn’t know pregnant women who contract CMV can pass the virus to their unborn child, and people who have frequent contact with young children are at greater risk of CMV infection because young children are common carriers of the virus. By the age of 5, one in three children can be infected with CMV but usually do not show symptoms, according to the CDC. Saunders claimed she wasn’t told the risks by her doctor in 1989, and an article from the New York Times in 2016 stated the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists used to encourage counseling for pregnant women on how to avoid CMV, but later reversed course, saying, “Patient instruction remains unproven as a method to reduce the risk of congenital CMV infection.” “When you’re a daycare provider, you learn how to spray with this and clean up with that, but if you’re trying to save time, sometimes you use diaper wipes to wipe your hands off, and that doesn’t kill CMV,” she said.
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“But if you know that it’s more than just a cold you can prevent, you’re going to more diligently follow the hygiene measures.” Saunders knows the most important step in preventing CMV infections is raising awareness. Prevention methods to mitigate the risk of CMV for pregnant women, parents of young children or child-care providers include avoiding getting a child’s saliva in your mouth by not sharing food or utensils, putting a pacifier in your mouth and kissing a child on the mouth. Saunders said these things can be difficult for them to understand but important for their education. “Nobody really wants to hear that they shouldn’t kiss their toddler on their mouth when they’re pregnant,” she said. “You can’t totally prevent exposure to it, but you can certainly reduce your chances. I used to share cups with my toddler. I didn’t kiss my daycare kids on the mouth, but I was a little lazy with using diaper wipes, and I wasn’t told I was at greater risk for this.” When Saunders and her husband were living in Connecticut,
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she sought more permanent ways to make changes. She helped pass a law in 2016 that required infants who don’t pass hearing tests to also be tested for CMV. “If you find out at birth that the baby has [CMV] and was born with it, then you can give them an antiviral medicine,” she said. “There are [preventative] things you can do to help improve their quality of life [after proper testing].” The Saunders’ returned to New York in 2019, and Lisa continued to advocate for similar laws. She’s been in contact with Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal about improving the current law, which also requires the similar tests but is more passive on prevention education by only listing information on the New York State Department of Health website. “It's just sitting there on the website, and nobody knows to look at it, and you don’t hear about it,” she said. “You’re supposed to be told your occupational hazards, according to OSHA, and that is one for early-childhood teachers and daycare providers. But [people] don’t need to freak out. They just need to know so they can make a decision.”
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INSPIRE
Stop CMV from page 25 Spreading the word through personal experiences and pushing to change laws wasn’t enough, so during April of last year, she and Jim first committed to walking along the Erie Canalway Trail. They began in Erie Canal Park with Camillus as their starting point and traveled along different routes in sections, through Syracuse to Dewitt, Dewitt to Chittenango and Chittenango to Lyons and Port Byron. They’ve walked about 46 miles as of last month, which is roughly 13 percent of the entire trail. For many reasons related to family schedules, physical health, the weather and the pandemic, they plan to walk the trail gradually over time to reach the end points in Buffalo and Albany, but she hopes to complete it in at least three years. “We’re only able to go once or twice a week max, and the most we would walk is two miles, because after we walk two miles, we have to walk two miles back,” she said. “But between my husband losing his prostate to cancer, we [have] our health problems,
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so we’re always having to go to the bathroom. We can’t just do a huge [walk], not yet anyway, but we hope to step it up and get more miles in.” Saunders posts many photos and updates on her blog and Facebook page to document their progress and spread their message on social media. Some of her favorite sights found along the trail, like the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct and the Weighlock building that houses the Erie Canal Museum, are things she calls the 7 Wonders of the Erie Canal, and she hopes to find even more as she completes the challenge. Other supporters for their cause have already rallied behind them. One mother from Buffalo, Tabitha Rodenhaus, has painted rocks silver and white with #StopCMV on them for Saunders to leave along the trail during her journey. Trail Works of Wayne County is hosting a small gathering along the Trail of Hope in Lyons June 5 at 1 p.m. in honor of National CMV Awareness Month and National Trails Day, where Saunders will publicly read a document she wrote titled, “Declaration of Women’s CMV Rights and Sentiments.” The document symbolizes Saunders’ hopes that her movement to spread CMV awareness will spread across the state, just like the women’s rights movement did along the Erie Canal more than a century ago. Saunders is encouraging those who agree with her document to sign it electronically on her blog at authorlisasaunders. blogspot.com. Others can follow her progress on her Facebook page at Author Lisa Saunders, on her website at authorlisasaunders.com or reach out to her and join her on the trail if able. “I just want people to be educated and not be blindsided like I was,” she said. “People don’t realize how prevalent it is. Elizabeth was like a three-month old her whole life, but she was pure love, and she’s worth every minute of this.” SWM
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INSPIRE
KIM TOWNSEND
May 2021
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Lessons in Lifecircle Leadership Emma Vallelunga
O
ne philosophy rings true for those who read the book: Doing good is good for business. It’s the underlying message of how Loretto CEO Kim Townsend hopes readers of her newest book, “Lessons in Lifecircle Leadership,” will embrace pragmatic altruism, seize better opportunities and learn how to invest in themselves. Townsend wrote her first book titled, “Lifecircle Leadership: How Exceptional People Make Every Day Extraordinary” in 2018. It was based on the philosophy of pragmatic altruism: doing good is good for not only your business but also yourself, your company and your community, and how Townsend uses the philosophy in her own life, her work at Loretto and within the Syracuse community. Townsend said her first book gathered attention and curiosity from readers that she didn’t expect about how they could apply pragmatic altruism to their own lives. “People were really interested in that concept and how they could generate solutions that could benefit anyone in any situation,” Townsend said. So in 2019, she decided to start a second book, one that would give people some more guidance to apply her principle to their own experiences. But when the COVID-19 pandemic began the following year, Townsend delayed the release of the book but gained even more material for it than she realized. “There were new lessons that I learned in the application of the philosophy in my own organization and in my own life that I thought would be helpful to others, so I kind of shifted gears,” she said. Compared to her first book, Townsend said, “Lessons in Lifecircle Leadership” continues to teach pragmatic altruism but does so in a workbook-style format. At the end of each chapter are questions readers can ask themselves to stimulate reflection about their own
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lives, communities, work environments and more, with the intention of creating practical applications of the philosophy that Townsend leads her life by. “I am a firm believer that leadership exists at every level,” she said. “Each of us has the seeds of leadership greatness within us. Leadership isn’t a job title. It’s what you bring within yourself when you bring your best self to your life.” In addition to finding leadership greatness, the book also explores topics that reflect issues many people have been facing through the pandemic, such as creating a sustainable life, identifying things that matter most to you, conserving and spending your energy and learning how to say no. “Frequently, we want to do everything, and there are so many opportunities to serve, particularly in our community, that it’s very easy to crowd out the things that matter most to you with things that are good but maybe not essential to you and what you want to do with your life, so I talk about things like the power of positive no,” she said. “[It’s about] investing your life in the things that are most impactful.” For women seeking guidance in pragmatic altruism, Townsend said one topic explored in “Lessons in Lifecircle Leadership” is the significance of self-care. “It’s critically important, particularly as women, that we take care of ourselves to be able to bring our best selves to every situation,” she said. “That’s hard to do when you’re homeschooling multiple children, and you’re working full-time, maybe remotely, and you have other life obligations, but I also encourage women to consider themselves so they can show up for the people that matter most to them.” While writing her book, Townsend said the pandemic was and has been a challenging time for everyone at Loretto, but the hard work and dedication of the organization’s healthcare workers, residents and families has given her another opportunity to contribute to the world by sharing her philosophy once again. “I’ve been so inspired by the people in our community and across the country who are taking the time in the midst of the pandemic to share things that they’re learning, and so I felt a sense of responsibility to do that as well because I think this is a time where we all need to support each other, and I just felt so supported by the other leaders in our community,” she said. Both of Townsend’s books are available through Amazon or on her website at drkimberlytownsend.com as digital versions, and Townsend said an audio version of “Lessons in Lifecircle Leadership” will be available soon. Although the second book has only been out for a couple months, she said she’s already received positive feedback, and she only hopes more people will feel helped through her words. “That was thrilling to me, because that was exactly my hope and intention, to create a book that people would find useful and inspiring, and they would be able to take those lessons and put them into their own lives,” she said. “I’m always so excited when I hear that someone has been able to do that. Writing it was helpful to me as I explore an even more practical application of pragmatic altruism in my own life.” SWM SyracuseWomanMag.com
Photos courtesy Nancy Miller and Salt City Market Facebook page
34 SYRACUSE EATS
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UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, May 1
ONC’s Crawfish and Food Truck Rodeo
What: Operation Northern Comfort.s first Crawfish and Food Truck Rodeo in the Syracuse Inner Harbor. This order and take event will feature our festival favorites including Louisiana Crawfish and Shrimp; Syracuse salt potatoes and clams and seven other local food trucks. There will be music to listen to while you wait. Some of the food trucks are Glazed and Confused, Bold Coast Lobster, Limp Lizard, and Toss & Fire Pizza. COVID safety protocols will be practiced. In October, ONC set a goal of delivering 500 desks to kids in need and is currently very close to delivering its 1,000th desk. When: Noon to 6 p.m. Where: Syracuse Inner Harbor, 328 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse Info: www.operationnc.org Saturday, May 1
Symphoria Kids Livestream: Peter & The Wolf
What: Walk through the woods with Peter and friends during this musical favorite for the young and the young-at-heart. This event is free. When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Info: experiencesymphoria.org
May Day Virtual Pet Paw-Rade and Silent Auction
What: Join the Humane Association for its virtual May Day Pet Paw-Rade and Silent Auction presented by Morgan Stanley and Liverpool Village Animal Hospital live on the HumaneCNY Facebook page. See a Paw-Rade of HumaneCNY’s most adorable adoptables, all looking for their fur-ever homes. A silent auction will take place at : www.Airauctioneer.com/HumaneCNY. When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Info: Facebook/HumaneCNY
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LWV Zoom at Noon
What: The League of Women Voters will host a session entitled Free Speech, Social Media & the First Amendment, featuring Roy Gutterman, associate professor of communications law and journalism and the director of the Newhouse School's Tully Center for Free Speech. He is also a former newspaper reporter and lawyer. When: 12 p.m. Info: www.lwvsyr.org Saturday, May 8
Icescapes and Landscapes of the Arctic
What: Jerry Weimar is a landscape photographer from Madison County and is known for his photographs of Central New York and the Adirondacks. This exhibit of new photographs bring home the colors, textures and light of Greenland and Iceland. This free exhibit runs for the month of May. When 2 to 5 p.m. Where: Cazenovia Artisans Gallery, 39 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 13035 Info: cazenoviaartisans.com Friday, May 21
Road2RecoveryCNY Free Yoga 12-Step Recovery Class
What: Road2RecoveryCNY will host a series of free virtual yoga 12-step recovery classes. The 90-minute online class is open to people in recovery from any addiction, and their families. The sessions will be taught by Colleen LaGasse, studio manager at In Bloom Yoga Studio. Yoga 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR) “connects the dots” between the ancient wisdom of yoga, the practical tools of 12-step programs, and the latest research on trauma healing and neurobiology. The program serves people recovering from all manifestations of addiction, from behavioral addictions to substance abuse – creating a safe place on the mat where trauma can be released. It also supports those who are impacted by a loved one’s addiction. When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Cost: Free
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Joins St. Joe’s psychiatry team
Dr. Jenna Hiestand has joined the inpatient psychiatry team at St. Joseph’s Health. Dr. Hiestand is a board-certified psychiatrist with more than 17 years of clinical experience. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, she served as chief medical officer for Alaska Behavioral Health, a certified community behavioral health center with offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Dr. Hiestand also served as the medical director of behavioral health services at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, where she was responsible for inpatient psychiatry, residential substance use treatment, and outpatient services. Prior to that, Dr. Hiestand spent seven years in Oregon and held supervising roles at Oregon State Hospital in Salem and Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland. Dr. Hiestand earned her Doctor of Medicine from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO in 1999 and her Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She completed a psychiatry residency in 2003 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Hiestand assumed her role in early 2021 and is seeing patients at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital.
Girl Scouts sell more than 1.25 million boxes of cookies
Girls learn financial literacy, practice entrepreneurship and develop essential leadership skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics during the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program. Purchases support local Girl Scouts who use the earnings to power experiences for themselves and their troops. Funds raised always stay local and are used for community service projects, council programming, summer camp adventures and more. Some highlights from this year’s campaign include: • Close to 7,600 boxes of cookies were sold via the first-ever national collaboration between Girl Scouts of the USA and Grubhub. GSNYPENN arranged locations for its troops in select zip codes, including at its Cicero and Horseheads Service Centers and with community partners including Fayetteville Senior Center in Fayetteville, Boys & Girls Club in Syracuse and CNY Family Sports Centre in Syracuse. • 10,953 boxes were sold by troops during weekend drive-thrus during February and March at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse. The council is grateful for the partnership with the Great New York State Fair. • 24,556 boxes sold were purchased by customers through the council’s Sweet Support Gift of Caring annual service project. Cookies are being donated to Meals on Wheels programs (9,585 boxes) and local first responders (14,971 boxes) like fire and police departments, sherriff’s offices and state police. Meals on Wheels experienced an increase in the number of community members requesting services again this year due to the pandemic. The network supports more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger and the Girl Scout Cookies provided an extra special treat to meal recipients.
Crouse OB nursing and staff go above and beyond
Troops in the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Council (GSNYPENN) sold 1,260,493 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies during the 2021 season. “Through the assistance of generous community partners and the public, our Girl Scouts were able to do what they do best this cookie season: lead. We could not be prouder of the ways in which our girls, troops and adult volunteers embraced this ‘new normal’ so that girls could safely take part in an annual tradition that allows them a sense of normalcy during challenging times,” said GSNYPENN CEO Julie Dale. “It’s truly inspiring to see the convergence of leadership, perseverance and strength that took place this cookie season. Our girls further honed real-world leadership skills that will carry them well into the future.”
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The nurses and staff members of labor and delivery recently cared for a patient admitted for complications during her pregnancy, which resulted in an unexpected preterm delivery. The patient and her family recently lost their home and belongings to a house fire; their dog did not make it. The labor and delivery staff came together and raised more than $900 for this patient and her family to help replace things they lost. One of the nurse’s daughters also hand-painted a beautiful ornament of their dog as a gift to the family.
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