JUNE, 2023 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

Elana Mark, The Ins and Outs of a Landscape Artist

pg. 4

PUBLISHER / FOUNDER

Stephanie Sittnick

COPY EDITOR

Elisabeth Allen

WEBMASTER

Tony Graveheart

ADVERTISING SALES

Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Sales

( 860) 227-8199 advertising@518mag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Carol St.Sauveur Ferris, Karen Richman, Rona Mann

Chandler Stevens, Lawrence White, Kirsten Ferguson, Alan B. Richer, Crystal Cobert Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Kristina Watrobski

Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

Summer is finally here! Today's the day to take advantage of the warm weather and extra-long daylight, so ring in the season with a few cocktails al fresco, a fresh summer salad, or a fun outdoor activity. We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful and vibrant area with limitless opportunities right at our fingertips.

Welcome to the June issue of 518 PROFILES! Each story within these pages are perfect examples of “Must Visit’s” Reserve a day to view Elana Marks gallery which is covered in beautiful art on the inside as well as the outside. Sit back and enjoy an exquisite glass of wine at Flight Wine Bar. Or…. plan a day trip with the family to The Strong National Mu seum of Play and the National Soaring Museum. All worth the trip. The pages within 518 PROFILES give you endless possibilities!

As always, our goal at 518 PROFILES, is always to focus on the good, the beautiful and the positive by publishing stories with heart and soul. We strive each month to deliver authentic and unique content about creative people and inter esting destinations. Enjoy!

Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher

518

587 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

“Hey, Mom, Dad! Can I Go In and Play?” At The Strong National Museum of Play

pg. 14

Sip. Dine. Relax. Enjoy. Repeat Good Times Take Flight at Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant

pg. 24

National Soaring Museum

Where your spirit will soar like a bird!

pg. 34

Sweet Nostalgia pg. 42

Winky Dink and Me

LIFEspa pg. 44

8 Ways To Improve Flexibility

Culinary Brew & Wings Destination: pg. 46

Buffalo, NY (Birthplace of the Buffalo Chicken Wings) - Part Two

June Events pg. 48

Events throughout the Capital Region

Profiles LLC

rights reserved. All content of this publication including but not limited to text, graphics, and photos may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent f rom the publisher. 518 Profiles is not held responsible for graphics or images submitted for contribution to this publication. Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

EVENT SCHEDULE

June 8 Create-a-thon @ the Elks

June 11 Display and Demos @ the Cottage

June 16 Display and Demos @ the Cottage

June 17 Workshop @ the Cottage

July 21 Marilyn Ramsdale Display @ the Cottage

Aug. 5 Workshop @ Saratoga Arts

Aug. 18 Display and Demos @ the Cottage

Sept. 22 Display and Demos @ the Cottage

Oct. 26 Collaboration Group Show @ Beekman

Elana Mark, The Ins and Outs of a Landscape Artist

By Alan B. Richer

photos by Stephanie Sittnick

Whoever came up with the expression that you can’t judge a book by its cover never met Elana Mark. As you head east on Main Street in Cambridge, NY, just prior to entering downtown, you will come across a large five-bedroom home on the right side at the corner of Myrtle Avenue. It’s a former doctor’s home and office, now the home of Elana Mark. It’s quite regular for those driving through Cambridge to do a double take, turn around and stop at the house when they notice large paintings, carefully preserved in varnish to protect them against the climatic elements, affixed to the outside of the house. The three rooms comprising the former doctor’s office suite, consisting of an examination room, a waiting room and an office, have been transformed into an art gallery, a studio, and a classroom.

Mark says the exterior art is “fun” art in contrast to the “fine” art in the interior of her home. The paintings on the exterior combine farm animals with humorous themes. These exterior pictures include alpacas, chickens,

cows, ducks, goats, horses, pigs, roosters, and sheep. If, at a quick glance, the paintings were mistaken for windows, one might think the large house was Noah’s Ark.

There is also fun on the inside. One six by twelve-inch interior painting depicts a barn in the forefront with a house in the background. A group of cows is crossing the street in a straight line, in the spirit of the cover of the Beatles Abbey Road album. Mark titled the paint “Pedestrian Crossing.” In another interior painting, a group of cows are lying on the ground. She titled this painting “Gossip Girls.”

“Pedestrian Crossing.”

Until age seven, Mark lived in South Buffalo in an upstairs apartment in her grandmother’s house. The family then moved to Hamburg, NY, a small town on Lake Erie near Buffalo. Even when little, loved drawing and painting, and drew animals, people, and flowers.

I have been drawing ever since I could first hold a crayon in my hand and move it across the paper. From that time on, I never stopped drawing.  I moved on from crayons to pencils and paints.  I was hopelessly hooked on the creative process. When I was in second grade, I announced that I was going to be an artist.  I never wavered!  When I was a child, the best gift you could give me was art supplies.  When I was old enough to save up my own money, my favorite place to shop was in an art supply store. supply store.

Mark’s parents refused the school’s decision to have their daughter skip third grade. Since she has already completed most of the third-grade work in the second grade, her third-grade teacher

allowed Mark to draw in the back of the classroom and that was one of the most fun years she had in school.

When Mark was about twelve years old, her aunt gave her a very expensive art program containing large workbooks of great contemporary artists and advertisement drawings that Mark studied to further develop her technique. In high school, she concentrated on art, and used her artistic talents to actively participate in the decoration committees for all the school events.

Mark applied and got a full ride (tuition, room, and board) at Syracuse University. Even though she applied to the College of Art, the school only looked at her high academic grades and didn’t even ask to see her art portfolio.

Although Mark did pottery and sculpture, her true love was drawing and painting. She painted in oil and did illustrations using water-based paint. In order to increase her chances to

get a job as an art teacher after graduation, she took some education courses. Mark received a bachelor’s in fine arts in studio art.

After graduation, Mark got married and moved to Westchester County, New York where she taught art. While living there, she earned a master’s in fine arts in both studio art and art education from the College of New Rochelle.

Four years after her marriage, Mark gave birth to a son, Jeffrey, who was later diagnosed with development challenges. Although the delay

“Gossip Girls”

“End of the Road”

Je ffreys first job in Israel, at the Steiner Program, was feeding the animals. This piece is titled "Good Friends"

“Chautauqua - Sunrise Cottage”

“Napping Piggies”

in reaching various development stages began when Jeffrey was only two and a half, the diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome was not done until he reached nineteen years of age.

While teaching and raising her son, there wasn’t much time, other than the summers, for her to work on her own art. Mark sometimes visited a local park along the waterfront to paint ships on the Long Island Sound. She also began her fascination with barns by painting some in watercolors.

After Mark and her husband divorced, in 1983, she and her son moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where she lived for the next 21 years, painting and exhibiting her work. She was a painting and drawing instructor at the prestigious Charles Smith High School for the Arts.

I am drawn to old buildings and objects.  While living in the Baka neighborhood of Jerusalem, I painted the old neighborhoods that surround the Old City, many of which are now gone.

In Israel, the great amount of sun light demands a transparent medium like watercolors. Jerusalem has many small stone buildings with red tile roofs. When the sun hits Jerusalem white stone towards sunset, the stone looks like gold inspiring the Hebrew song “Jerusalem of Gold.” Mark painted these stone houses, even when broken, as she is attached to older items that have a history. She sup plemented her income by selling most of her Israeli art.

Her son lived with Mark before she discovered a special kibbutz-style village for developmen tally challenged individuals where he would be surrounded by good people. In 2013, Mark and her son returned to the United States. Mark purchased her Cambridge, NY home and

“Reflections”

“Behind the Cornfield'

found Jeffrey another special home in an agriculture community in Kimberton, Pennsylvania.

She currently teaches and paints landscapes with a particular focus on old barns. Now I paint the beautiful landscapes of New York’s North Country. They have such character, and they are a vanishing part of our history. Many

“Broad Side of a Barn”

of the barns that I have painted have fallen or soon will fall because several of their farmer owners have fallen on hard times and can’t afford to maintain them. Each barn has a story to tell. As long as they are still standing, I will try to tell their stories.

Mark likes to portray the barns in “as is” condition showing their flaws such as loose boards. A lot of the barn paintings are done with dramatic (before wicked storms) skies. Mark has given the barns names such as “Witness” and “Sentinel” as she contemplates all the events that that they would have been able to testify about if human. In a way, she is Dr. Doolittle to these barns.

Her style is realistic. For example, the raised letters on a mailbox in one of her paintings are clearly depicted.

Now, when I draw or paint something, I become intimately involved with the subject for that brief period. Through the creative process, I come together with that object or place in a most personal way. This process is a meditation in which I am so totally engaged that I lose track of time and become centered and at peace. This tranquility is the core of each work.

She is particularly proud of her watercolor painting of the covered Rexleigh Bridge over the Battenkill Creek in Salem near her home.

Mark also does photography (has her own darkroom), ceramics (has her own kiln), and pottery (has her own wheel), and has done caning. She has taught at the elementary, secondary and high school level as well as

“Sentinel”

“Rexleigh Bridge in Winter”

“Witness”

“Lunch for Two”

instructed private courses throughout her ca reer. Mark has served as both a watercolor and drawing instructor at the Chautauqua In stitute southwest of Buffalo. She has done fashion illustrations. Her art has been exhibited in both Israel and the US.

She describes herself as “Waiting as Fast as I Can.”

As she ages, Mark lives by the words she wrote to a friend who is a decade older than her:

Mark has devoted much of her life to ensuring that her son was placed in caring facilities both in Israel and the US to ensure his happiness. Her devotion includes still doing family events with her ex-husband to maintain a sense of family.

My son Jeffrey is surrounded by love. He is safe. He is happy. The three things that I wished for him. There in his community he is

“You’ve Got Mail”

much more than the things he cannot do. He is not defined by his limitations.

Mark is the author of Mark on Paper: A Memoir in Poems, Prose, Pencil & Paintings (2016) as well as several art instructional books in cluding Draw That. You can learn more about her at her website: https://elanamarkpaintings.com

“Hey, Mom, Dad! Can I Go In and Play?” At The Strong National Museum of Play

by Rona Mann

“Life must be lived as play.”

...Plato

All play and no work make Shane a very happy guy. Yes, Shane Rhinewald is one of those rare individuals who loves his work because every day he’s on the job he’s engaged at one of the world’s largest playgrounds. In his position as Senior Director of Public Relations of The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, Rhinewald promotes this worldwide treasure appealing to children and adults of all ages. A museum of “play?” What exactly do people do there? Well, in a word, they “play.” And they learn. And they have more fun doing so than in any other museum in the world. First, we must share the backstory because it’s so much a part of this story.

Once upon a time in 1897, a little girl named Margaret Woodbury was born into a family of great wealth and privilege in Rochester, New York. Her grandfather, Henry Strong, had made his fortune selling buggy whips, but when au tomobiles came upon the scene at the turn of

Margaret Woodbury

the century, he turned his attention and talents elsewhere eventually partnering with George Eastman, and subsequently that attention was directly invested in Eastman Dry Plate Company, later under their successful partnership to become Eastman Kodak. Margaret’s parents were, therefore, among the largest and earliest shareholders and investors in Kodak, and the legacy of great wealth in the family not only continued, but flourished.

As a child, Margaret was extremely privileged to travel the world with her parents and along the way fell in love with collecting and amassing collections. Dolls, toys, and especially miniatures from every country she visited quickly became cherished possessions, and as Margaret grew, so did her vast collections which she carefully cu rated. The heiress went on to marry attorney Homer Strong, the couple would be blessed with one daughter, and Margaret became the mistress of a 30-room mansion in a Rochester suburb filled floor to ceiling with the objects of her prized collections. She called it her “Museum of Fascination” because her coterie of

guests would frequently remark how “fascinated” they were by the tens of thousands of objects, treasures, and priceless mementos she had collected all her life.

Sadly, both Homer and daughter, Barbara pre-deceased her, and Margaret died in her sleep in 1969 just one year after procuring a provisional charter from the New York Board of Regents to build an actual museum for her toys and collections. Margaret had not left an actual roadmap of any sort in her will other than the wish she had to turn her collections into a real museum. Ultimately, an estate body and group of curators got together and in 1982 The Strong National Museum of Play opened.

...Kay

“This kind of a museum was unheard of,” Shane Rhinewald says. Initially, it was merely a host of Strong’s collections of toys, dolls, and miniatures. It was a display of mass production and industrialization of all objects, most of which were showcased behind glass or in “untouchable” displays. “People came,” Rhinewald added, “but they didn’t return. There was nothing inter-active about it at all. If you saw it once, there was really no need to return.”

That was then, but this is now! In the mid-1990s an investment was made by the museum into market research, and the results showed that rather than just displaying collections specific to the interests of children, there should be a move toward the family as a whole. By 2003, the focus had greatly shifted, and The Strong National Museum of Play had a new mission. Margaret loved to play. She loved to play as a child, maybe even

more so as an adult, so the museum had to truly be a place where every demographic could come and play. This would not be a “do not touch” sterile building, this would instead be, “Please touch, please climb, please get up, under, and around all that we have here. In short, PLAY!

“Play is not a luxury, it is a necessity.”

Redfield Jamison

“It’s a happy talent to know how to play”

...Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today, The Strong National Museum of Play is 285,000 square feet and stretches for more than a city block on the outskirts of downtown Rochester. If 285,000 square feet doesn’t get you excited, consider this: an expansion is currently underway that should be completed by early summer with yet another 90,000 square feet that will be part of the Neighborhood of Play and

in clude the World Video Game Hall of Fame! This expansion will also feature a welcome atrium, electronics, and more technology with which to play, plus a parking garage that will connect to the expansion and allow the visitors to go straight from their cars inside to play without going outside, which can be a real bonus during Western New York winters.

Parking garage connects directly to the expansion building.

Hasbro Game Park expansion - 17,000 sq ft, larger-than-life landscaped park, inspired by classic board games

The Strong 90,000-sq-ft expansion will include a welcome atrium and gift shop, second floor will have 24,000 sq ft of exhibit space (Opening June 30, 2023)

What a family or a couple of a playaddicted individual will find in this museum is hours of fun, a healthy dose of education, and a yearning to return again and again.You won’t see it all in one visit, you can’t play with it all in one visit because you’re going to be overwhelmed. Where do we go next? Ooh, I want to try that! I want to climb the beanstalk, I want to play with the oversized board games and puzzles. Look over there! It’s pinball! Oversized Chutes & Ladders! Dungeons & Dragons!

While the museum is very well laid out, try containing yourself or your children in one area at a time when this beckons and that calls out. Shane informs that while the second floor of the museum is 50% artifacts and 50% interactive, the main floor has more of the interactive exhibits so there is so very much to see and do no matter where you begin your experience. There’s also a 290seat theatre where lectures, music programs, and more are scheduled.

The main building is two floors high and is also home not only to the to the World Video Game Hall of Fame but also to The Strong National Toy Hall of Fame. In short, there is little in the world of toys, games, maker space, arcade games, construction vehicle toys, Legos, Hot Wheels, and more that is not contained here with plans for even greater expansion. Additionally, an outdoor game park with input from worldwide toy and game conglomerate, Hasbro, is currently being built ad jacent to the museum.

There is no way we could even begin to scratch the surface of all that is contained within these happy, loud, creative walls. The rest is up to you, and even if you live at a distance, the Capital Region to Rochester is only a three-hour car ride, with plenty of hotels and restaurants within easy access of this giant place of fun. Feel free to call ahead and someone at the museum will be happy to make suggestions for lodging and dining.

A trip to The Strong National Museum of Play offers each visitor a different experience each time they visit. It might be something in dividual, nostalgic, a new discovery, a sense of wonder, delight, a bittersweet memory, or the remembrance of a delicious time in their own personal history. The one common denominator, however, in any and every visit is a recapturing of one’s childhood and what it means to play with wild abandon, to shut out for a few hours everything else, and be surrounded by plush and plastic and porcelain and metal and talking dolls and trains and beams to climb, and most of all, just complete and utter joy.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

The Strong National Museum of Play is located at One Manhattan Square in Rochester. www.museumofplay.org (585) 263-2700

...George Bernard Shaw

Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, the only year-round indoor butterfly garden in upstate New York

Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden - Walk among hundreds of brilliantly colored, free-flying tropical and native butterflies. A paved path leads guests through tropical foliage, a turtle pond, and a cascading waterfall.

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

Sip. Dine. Relax. Enjoy. Repeat Good Times Take Flight at Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant

by Rona Mann

You can have a glass of wine most anywhere these days. A chain restaurant, your neighborhood bar, even the bowling alley.

But when you want to appreciate what’s in your glass, when you want to share the moment with others, it’s got to be special. That doesn’t have to mean a stuffy, snobby place. It means a place that is as worthy of the wine you drink as the place is of your being there to drink their special wine. If this sounds like your idea of a relaxing, unique experience with none of the stuffiness and all of the full-bodied enjoyment, then come join the fun and step into this very special place in Glens Falls...Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant.

Although wholly owned by local businessman, John Homkey, he is quite content to stay in the background and allow his trusted General Man ager/Wine Expert, Calanne Van Laeken with more than 20 years experience curating wine lists and working in the hospitality field, in charge of running the show. And what a very successful show this is!

You don’t have to be an oenophile (knowledgeable wine enthusiast) to enjoy Flight, there are plenty of willing staff members on hand to ask you questions, inquire of your preferences, make suggestions, and make sure your flight is a

peasant one without turbulence. Yes, when you step into Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant you’ll feel as though you’re indeed going on a journey. The theme of flight is more than a play on words as it refers to the selection and sampling

of more than one wine. This theme is consistently maintained throughout the restaurant in design, in staff uniforms, and in the total ambiance of the venue.

East Asia Flight- Chilled Sesame Noodles, Edamame, Peas, Carrots, Scallions

Chef Denver Grover-Semons, Calanne Van Laeken, Ernie, John Homkey & Sous Chef Jack Filion

Circumnavigator

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

The foods are largely international in scope with a high emphasis being put on the flavors and authenticity of a specific country or region. This is a well-deserved nod to the executive chef, Denver Grover-Semons who prides herself on researching and then incorporating the exact flavors of a country or region and presenting them to her willing “audience” of diners who appreciate her creativity and the suggestion of wine pairings. Van Laeken works diligently at presenting “wine classes” for her staff each time a new wine is introduced. “I start with Wine

101,” she laughs, “and then I tell my staff they should learn to sell what they like. They should ask questions of our customers as to what flavors they appreciate and what they enjoy drinking at home, then build on that. We don’t use big wine industry words here because we don’t want to make people feel in any way intimidated. We listen to them and then take their lead. This is not an uppity place, ours is a relaxed and fun experience.”

The wine selection at Flight is generally composed of about 20-26 wines by the glass and 40-60 bottles at any one time, a selection that has been as carefully curated as the paintings in an art gallery and is offered by the glass, the bottle, or in

c oncert with other selections by the flight. Wines represent both old-world and new-world selections and are Europeani n spired featuring wines from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal as well as South America, Australia, New Zealand, California,

Middle Eastern Flight - tabbouleh, fresh herbs, lemon, grilled marinated baby octopus

Black Pepper Tuna Minute Steak - Cucumber, avocado and mango salad, passion fruit chili glaze

Charcuterie Board

Flight Espresso Martini

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

Oregon, and of course, New York State. Even Asian-inspired selections are available in-house including sake. If you or someone in your party is not a wine drinker, c‘mon in anyway! Van Laeken is happy to share that the restaurant offers both beer on tap as well as craft beers and additionally boasts one of the largest selections of spirits in all of Glens Falls including single malt scotch, small batch bourbon, upscale vodka, and unique and satisfying cocktails. Calanne is always present in service in the restaurant, so if a diner wishes to speak directly with her about their wine selection, she is more than happy to oblige.

Both Van Laeken and Chef Denver originally hail from the Finger Lakes region with the chef being classically trained at the famed Culinary Institute of America (CIA). “But Denver elevates her dishes by taking it a step further and putting a twist on the classics,” Calanne says. “Her fla vors are incredible, and we are especially known for our charcuterie boards, probably the best in the region.” Even these boards are constantly curated to highlight a specific region of the world. In addition to the restaurant’s classic menu, special dishes are changed every six to eight weeks including the addition as well of international food flights that rotate throughout the seasons.

Fresh baked pastry and a hot Cappuccino

Flight Cafe

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

Next door to the wine bar and restaurant is Flight Cafe on South, a casual breakfast and lunch cafe specializing in a variety of signature coffees with internationally sourced beans, cold brews and healthy drinks, sweet and savory crepes, breakfast, a variety of toasts from avocado to peanut butter and banana; and the very popular paninis from “Here” (the United States) and “Away” (International delights). There are also salads incorporating the freshest vegetables and fruits of the moment, a la carte items like soup du jour, a fruit and granola parfait, pastries, and dessert. All food items, both in the cafe and at the Wine Bar, are always homemade, right down to sauces, dressings, syrups, and herb blends

Ask Calanne Van Laeken what she’d like readers to know, and she im mediately says, “Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant is value offered. We have quality food, wine, and service, but that doesn’t mean we’re uppity. Glens Falls is a blue-collar area, and we welcome the guy who wants to come in after work for a beer and a snack as well as we do the people who come to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a classic night out. You do not have to spend a lot to enjoy this experience. We’re just nine tables in the dining room and 10 seats at the bar. That gives us a quaint and cozy feel. People like that.”

Who wouldn’t? It’s beautiful, simple, cleanly designed, and decorated. Mid-century modern riffing off a most definite Pan Am vibe. The people who staff the restaurant are all pros, but neither wooden nor cold. Smiles come easily, as do the compliments for the food as well as the service. As the bottles are uncorked, those who imbibe get a bit of education to sniff and sip and swirl right along with their glass. Those who prefer a crafted cocktail, a beer, or a hot cup of coffee with those international delectable beans are enjoying just as much, for Flight is more than the wine and the food, it is about the experience and intensely so... an experience that has been as carefully curated as the food and drink with good conversation, much laughter and en joyment, and reminiscent of this chestnut from Ernest Hemingway

Flight Wine Bar is located at 11 South Street in Glens Falls (518) 502-1627 www.flightwinebarandrestaurant.com

“Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult - it was as natural as eating, and to me a necessity.”

Mexican Chorizo Corn Chili

Fruit and Nut Salad - Spinach with Blueberries, Basil, Goat Cheese and Pecans topped with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Truffled Mushroom & Bacon with Provolone Stuffins

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

National Soaring Museum

Where your spirit will soar like a bird!

by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris

When listening to the Steve Miller band sing Fly Like an Eagle, it’s hard not to think back to those carefree days of childhood summers. Do you remember the fun times of running, jumping, and swinging on swings, daring each other to go faster and faster and higher and higher?

Or perhaps the quieter times when you’d lie in the soft grass with friends mesmerized by the clouds above, excitedly searching for fa miliar shapes and images together. Everyone would call out what they could see and someone would wonder aloud how cool it would be to soar around in those clouds, just like a bird.

But if you were Trafford Doherty you already knew you could soar like a bird because flying was in your DNA. In fact, you actually happened to have a grandfather who was a test pilot for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in Hammondsport, NY and a father who became a glider pilot as well. So, by the time you were 13, it was no surprise that you began to work at the Schweizer Soaring School in Elmira, NY, ultimately spending 10 years as an instructor and tow pilot with thousands of hours of flying time under your belt at the soaring school.

Today, Doherty is not only a pilot, flight instructor, and aviation enthusiast, he is also the Executive Director of the Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY. Prior to joining the soaring museum, he served as Director of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport for 14 years. His passion for soaring is real and just like the proverbial postal service saying that “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night” will keep them from their job, Doherty has flown in all kinds of weather.

And what exactly is soaring? By definition, soaring is a sport that involves flying a motorless aircraft and is described as thrilling and challenging at the very least, attracting men and women of all ages, some as young as 13 and a few as old as 90. But the sport itself is relatively young with an interesting and storied past whose history is well documented and preserved at the National Soaring Museum.

Soaring was pioneered by a long list of many fearless and curious inventors dating back to the 19th century, including Otto Lilienthal, Octave Chanute, and Sir George Cayley.

“I want to fly like an eagle - To the sea - Fly like an eagleLet my spirit carry me …”

Trafford Doherty, with one of his favorite vintage sailplanes, the Schweizer 126-D

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are also on that celebrated list of those advancing the field of aviation. Their research, work, and designs are an integral part of the museum's amazing story of soaring and gliding.

Beginning in 1900, the Wright brothers tested many dif ferent glider designs as they worked toward their dream of building the first motor-assisted flying machine. By 1902, their gliders were making lengthy flights under positive control, and in 1911, Orville Wright returned to Kitty Hawk with a specially-designed glider. He wanted to see if soaring (staying aloft on air currents) was possi ble, and he stayed up for 9 minutes and 45 seconds. It was the world’s first successful soaring flight. A replica

of the Wright brothers’ 1911 glider hangs in the Soaring Museum along with a replica of their 1902 glider. As Doherty explained, “gliding was a stepping stone to powered flight,” and the Wright brothers’ research, design, and fearless experiments made significant contributions to aviation history.

While the Wright brothers have been recognized for avia tion firsts, the Schweizer brothers made their mark in aeronautics as well and helped establish Elmira as the s oaring capital of America. Ernest, William, and Paul Schweizer founded Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company in Peekskill, NY in the 1930s. In those early days, they designed and built gliders in the family barn. But with glider-building success came the need for more space so in 1940 they re located the company to the second floor of the Elmira Knitting Mill Building in Elmira, incorporated the busi ness, and renamed it Schweizer Aircraft Corporation.

The Schweizer’s first commercial glider, the SGU 1-7 serial number 1, flew for the first time in 1937 and was followed by the SGU 1-7 serial number 2, which was completed in 1939. Their work caught the attention of the US Army Air Force (USAAF) officials whose wartime strategy now included the use of commercial gliders as part of their campaigns in WW2. In 1941 they contracted the Schweizers to supply them with gliders for their pilot training program.

After completing glider training, glider pilots and their gliders were successfully deployed at Normandy on D- Day to transport equipment and infantry troops be hind enemy lines. As opposed to soldiers and supplies parachuting from airplanes and landing scattered i n un predictable locations, a glider pilot could coast quietly for miles and land the glider at a precise location which enabled troops to regroup and advance quickly during battle.

Today, to become a licensed glider pilot, most countries require 30-40 hours of flight time including a number of solo flights. In the United States, a student must complete a minimum of 40 flight hours with at least 20 solo flights. They must also pass a practical flight exam demonstrating the ability to fly a glider properly and safely. In addition, there is a written exam covering glider aerodynamics, navigation, weather patterns, and more.

As for the design of gliders, they have changed dramatically over the years. A key component of a glider or sailplane is its wing design which provides sufficient lift at lower speeds. This wing design generates lift as

it moves through the air. Some sailplanes also have special features, such as longer wings, retractable landing gear, and water ballast tanks, which can improve their performance in certain conditions. Early gliders were mainly made of wood and metal but today, most are made from composite materials such as fiberglass. Modern-day sailplanes fly at speeds of 40 to 100 miles per hour, but the largest aircraft to fly as a glider was NASA’s 1981 Space Shuttle which re-entered the earth’s atmosphere and began to glide at Mach 25, making it not only the largest but the fastest glider ever in aviation history.

crew. In 1969, the Soaring Society of America (SSA) determined that Harris Hill was the perfect site for the National Soaring Museum (NSM).

Despite a terrible fire that burned the original museum to the ground in 1977, today an impressive 32,000-square-foot building stands in its place. The expansive NSM houses an incredible collection of motorless aircraft displaying over 30 vintage and modern gliders and sailplanes. In addition, there are many special exhibits, photos, and other memorabilia that preserve and tell the story of soaring.

The NSM also hosts an array of special events in cluding the International Vintage Sailplane Meet, silent auctions of sailplanes, book signings, concerts, and even an annual dollhouse and miniatures exhibit. There’s also a museum store for those wishing to purchase a keepsake from their

Gliders utilize and depend on three different types of lift to keep them flying: thermal lift, wave lift, and ridge lift. Thermal lift occurs when a glider pilot finds a column of warm air rising up from the ground and rides it until they find another thermal and then another, re peating the jump from thermal to thermal to stay aloft for hours at a time and going hundreds of miles. Wave lift occurs at very high altitudes over tall mountains and can carry a glider upwards of tens of thousands of feet in altitude. Ridge lift occurs when wind blows against a hill and air is pushed up and over the top creating a band of rising air that a glider pilot uses to maintain height. The pilot then goes back and

forth in the rising air as long as the wind keeps blowing.

El mira was known for ideal gliding conditions due to numerous hilltops and valleys with farmers’ fields for landing purposes. Since 1930 it has drawn soaring hobbyists and competitors from around the world. Coupled with the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation’s significant contributions to the design and manufacture of gliders and sailplanes, Elmira was soon recognized for its importan ce in the history of gliding. Harris Hill Gliderport opened for operations in 1934. The glid erport included an administration building, runway, hangars, and cabins to accommodate competing pilots and

visit, including drinkware and clothing with the NSM Logo as well as books on soaring plus toys and puzzles. Of course, should you wish to give the gift of gliding to someone special, gift certificates for Harris Hill Soaring Corporation glider rides are available for purchase as well.

No doubt the sport of soaring is a thrilling and challenging pursuit, combining the breathtaking joy of flight with the incredible excitement of competition. So whether you are a seasoned glider pilot or a newbie con sidering your first ride, that kid in you will still be looking to the sky wanting to

“Fly like an eagle - To the sea - Fly like an eagle - Let my spirit carry me …”

The National Soaring Museum is located at Harris Hill, 51 Soaring Hill Drive, Elmira, New York 14903.

For more information, visit their website at www.soaringmuseum.org.

Winky Dink and Me

by Karen Richman

When I think back on it now, it really wasn’t my fault.

I didn’t think so then when I was seven, and I can still see the validity of my childhood reasoning. It’s not my fault I was born without a single artistic gene, at least not when it came to drawing, coloring, or painting. Some of my friends were really good, they stayed within the lines of a coloring book, and could draw freehand. They’d take a plain piece of paper, a box of Crayolas, and get oohs and aahs from adults. I’d just sit there looking at the blank paper, not having a clue as to what to draw; and moreover, having not one iota of interest in it. But one Saturday morning with cereal bowl in one hand and little fist clutching the TV dial, I found a friend. Winky Dink. He was a cartoon character on a weekly show called “Winky Dink and You,” hosted by a smarmy-looking guy named Jack Barry. There was something about Barry that I didn’t like. His smile was fake, his manner insincere, and he didn’t really seem to like Winky, but nevertheless, I watched. It wasn’t a typical cartoon show which was the fodder of Saturday mornings and never appealed to me, although I liked Mighty Mouse and sometimes Casper the Friendly Ghost. But this was different. Winky and Barry were urging me to have my mom send away for the Winky Dink kit with a plastic screen that stuck to the TV tube with static electricity. Soft crayons included in the kit were then used to draw directly on the screen. This would not only serve to ensure accuracy, but when a character needed special help, children would be directed to draw on the screen to help assist and free the character in trouble. If Winky needed to cross a river without a bridge, I could merely draw a line so he could escape whatever peril might befall him. It didn’t take too much cajoling on my part to get my mother to send

in the fifty cents for the kit, and soon I was an artist! My plastic screen firmly in place, crayons at the ready, suddenly I could draw! Jack Barry and Winky cheered me on weekly as I would draw vertical lines, then horizontal ones to extract a secret message. Bill Gates says this was the first interactive TV program.

Then one day, Jon Gnagy entered the picture. He was a self-taught artist who broadcast from the Empire State Building on the NBC network. His program became a national hit, and he sold over 15 million drawing kits, but I didn’t need one. I still had my Winky Dink set. Gnagy’s basic prin ciple was that by learning to draw a simple cube, ball, cone, and cylinder, you could draw anything. So I put my plastic screen up...and, I couldn’t do it! I didn’t have a hand like Winky’s to follow. I didn’t have Jack Barry telling me how to do it. All I had was Jon Gnagy whose hands flew as he created landscapes repeating, “If you can draw these four sim ple forms, you can draw a real picture the first time you try.” Oh yeah? I couldn’t! Jon Gnagy made me cry, so I decided to show him! I took the plastic screen down from the TV, picked up my crayons, and started trying to follow his hand. The next hand I felt was on my bottom!

My career ended almost before it began. The Winky Dink kit disappeared, I was made to scrub the TV screen with something my father got from the hardware store, and my TV-watching privileges on Saturday morning were taken away for a whole month. So there I’d sit at the kitchen table with my bowl of Rice Krispies and nothing to watch, nothing to draw, my friend Winky Dink a distant memory, and Jon Gnagy off my list.

It was all a long time ago, but Saturday mornings were still special to me as they were to so many kids back then. We didn’t have all the electronic diversions and devices that occupy children today, but we had people, even imaginary cartoon characters on a screen looking right at us, capturing our attention. I didn’t have to get up early for school. I could watch TV in my pajamas listening to my morning meal go “snap, crackle, and pop” all the while. I can still hear the familiar theme song in my head. It was simple but sweet, telling me I had a friend. Back in the 50s when you had a friend you liked and trusted and looked forward to seeing every week, you counted yourself one of the lucky ones.

“Winky Dink and you! Winky Dink and me

Always have a lot of fun together!

Winky Dink and you! Winky Dink and Me!

We are pals in fair and stormy weather!”

8 Ways To Improve Flexibility

by: Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE

One of the best things you can do for your long term health is to maintain your flexibility. Good flexibility not only allows for a greater range of motion, it also improves balance and decreases your risk of injury. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to improve flexibility through simple lifestyle choices.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FLEXIBLE?

It’s not uncommon to lose some flexibility as we age. But getting older doesn’t mean that we have to accept stiff joints, pain and decreased range of motion. Being flexible is all about our joints moving easily and without pain through a full range of motion. Of course, our range of motion is influenced by the mobility of the soft tissues that surround our joints. These soft tissues include: muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and skin.

Many experts agree that decreased flexibility can negatively affect our body in three significant ways:

1. We may experience pain in weight bearing joints such as the hips and knees.

2. Our muscles may tire more quickly, causing us to feel fatigued.

3. We may experience more physical injuries, such as falling.

BENEFITS OF BEING FLEXIBLE

Over time, our bodies may lose some flexibility due to a sedentary lifestyle, continuous stress, improper posture, bad movement habits, and the aging process. Once we incorporate a few minor changes, we may experience:

• Less injuries and pain

• Improved posture and balance

• Enhanced strength and stamina

• Increased physical performance

• Boosted confidence

Here are 8 lifestyle tips that support or increase flexibility no matter your current age or fitness level.

HOW TO EASILY IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY

1.

Stretch Regularly

Stretching at least three times a week can help your muscles recoup their elasticity. Stretch your muscles until they feel tight but not painful. If it hurts — ease up. Hold your stretch position for 10 to 30 seconds. Remember, stretching too much and too quickly can cause serious injuries like strained muscles and torn ligaments, so go easy.

2.

Try Yoga or Pilates

Yoga is a great way to improve your flexibility and strength. Yoga involves slow-paced flexible movements that are adaptable for all fitness levels. Yoga works on breath and holding static poses whereas Pilates uses movement with strength training to challenge your stability.

Pilates encourages you to identify and work within the limits of your body while working on increased strength and stability. There’s also an inherent mindfulness to it with a lot of breath work, which can help relieve tension and stress. As a result, you’ll feel less stiff, tired, and awaken some of those muscles you may have forgotten with typical gym training.

3. Get Up, Move and Stay Hydrated

Let’s face it…we spend a lot of time in front of computer screens. If you sit at your desk all day, it’s time to get moving. Set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to get up and move every 90 minutes. Get up and walk around a bit or throw in a few quick stretches. Spending 5 minutes a few times throughout your day will help you create a more flexible body and actually improve your productivity. Make sure you drink water during those quick movement breaks. Hydration helps your muscles and ligaments op erate at peak performance.

4. Get Regular Massages

Scheduling a massage every month may feel a little frivolous in the begin ning, but its actually quite therapeutic and can help eliminate body aches and discomfort.

5. Choose Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Food high in sugar, processed carbs, and unhealthy fats can trigger inflam mation in the body. You can fight inflammation by eating more anti-inflammatory foods like:

• Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, arugula, and collard greens.

• Walnuts, almonds, cashews, and Brazil nuts.

• Oily fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines.

• Berries like strawberries and blueberries.

6.

Add Some Turmeric

Turmeric’s main active compound is curcumin, which has powerful anti- in flammatory and antioxidant properties. Although it’s been used medici nally for thousands of years in Asia, we’re just catching onto the fact that turmeric helps reduce inflammation which can promote healing.

7.

Collagen is the protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity. But as you age, your collagen production naturally decreases causing sagging skin, stiff tendons and ligaments, and of course, reduced flexibility. Try adding a collagen supplement to your coffee or morning smoothie.

8. Practice Mental Flexibility

As we get older, we tend to become a little more rigid, or set, in our ways. Practicing mental flexibility is nothing more than learning to take a deep breath, and trying something new. Order a new dish from your favorite restaurant. Walk along a different path or take a detour on your way home. Tune into a different radio station just so you can listen to new music. Talk to someone with a different mindset or point of view. You may find that practicing mental flexibility will keep you feeling YOUNG.

Becoming more flexible requires daily practice and a bit of patience. It’s important to choose lifestyle adjustments that you know you can stick with so you can enjoy the best results. Remember, positive change doesn’t happen overnight. Stick with these tips and be patient as your body adapts. You’ll be glad you did.

Crystal

www.facesofsaratoga.com

Supplement With Collagen

Cobert-Giddens, LE FACES of Saratoga

Culinary Brew & Wing Destinations: Buffalo, New York, USA (Birthplace of Buffalo Chicken Wings) Part 2

By Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

In 2007, Iron Chef and Food Network personality Bobby Flay appeared at the Wing birth place” the Anchor Bar” for a Buffalo Wing "throw-down" with "Wing King", Drew Cerza. In April 2003, the Anchor Bar was given the “James Beard Foundation Award.”- given to restaurants “that have timeless appeal and reflect the history and character of the community.

Fast-forward to 2002, I am seated as an official Chicken Wing judge next to Anchor Bar owner Ivano Toscani, Buffalo Wild Wings founder Scott Lowery, Stan Friedman and Buffalo News

columnist Donn Esmonde who wrote a piece asking why Buffalo had no wing-fest based on a movie called Os mosis Jones. Actor Bill Murray sta rred as a compulsive eater with a goal of attending the Super Bowl of junk food- The Na t ional Buffalo Wing Festival. In spired by the article, Buffalonian Drew Cerza, now fondly known as the Wing King decided to make the festival a reality back in 2002. Buffalonians who know Drew Cerza call him “a guy who get things done.”

Today the festival is an international draw with 80,000 visitors each Labor Day weekend. From 2002 on, festival founder Drew Cerza and myself, became ambassadors for the festival with appearances on the Food Network’s “All-American Festivals,” “Unwrapped,” “Emeril Lagasse Live;” the Travel Channel’s “NBC’s “The Today Show,” ABC’s “The View” and “Regis and Kelly;” CBS’ “Morning Show “Fox and Friends”, PBS, Fuji Japan, BBC, and the Harry Connick Jr. Show.

It was a thrill to be featured as a co nsultant for the national paper “USA T oday” article” Best Chicken Wings in Am erica, 2012” and a fea-

tured co- host on the PBS Mountain Lake pro duction show” Roadside Adventures” while filming a show about the Buffalo Wing festival and the Anchor Bar.

The U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship at the festival is a great draw and is a sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (I.F.O.C.E.).

For years massive crowds have been adoring the serious eaters with hilarious names and characters alike pro-wrestlers. Under the watch ful eye of I.F.O.C.E judge and founder George Shea- famously recognized from the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York-the wing-eating contest sets sail. While TV camera’s roll, preceded by music of house band Heavenly Chillbillies (Earl Irving) with Wing-fest/house photographer David Marino capturing timeless moments,

Cooking contest judge team

Wing King , Drew Cerza

National chicken wing eating contest with Joey Chestnut in center, red shirt

the eaters ferociously stuff themselves with as many wings humanly possible in 12 minutes cheered on by tens of thousands. Many of these eaters are now celebrities such as Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo and Eric Badlands Booker.

A Hall of Flame (Fame) was eventually instituted by Drew Cerza, chairman/ franchise guru Stan Friedman, Donn Esmonde (Buffalo News) and Bryan Wittman (Disney Parks & Resorts) to honor people and institutions who have contributed to

the Chicken Wing movement such as Buffalo Wild Wings, founder Scott Lowery and the Anchor Bar. In 2019 I was humbled to inducted into the hall as Festival Ambassador and Wing author.

Founder Drew Cerza received many awards from the city of Buffalo and bureau of tourism for bringing the city of Buffalo back on the map. The city’s revitalization reached its top level in 2017 as media across North America and Eu rope fe atured over 130 articles about the city’s redeveloped waterfront, restored architecture and new restaurants, hotels, and breweries.

Publications like USA TODAY and Lonely Planet all agreed Buffalo earned the No. 1 spot on last year's list of America's friendliest places. Buffalo is packed with micro brews beer and unique foods, such as Big Ditch Brewing Co., Lafayette bros., The Flying Bison’s Brewing co., Buffalo Brewing co. and Gene Mc McCarthy’s Brew Co. in downtown. The notorious wing favorite Gabriel’s Gate, Duff’s, Cole’s, Allen Burger Ven ture, Fat Bobs Smokehouse are must try in hip ster/restaurant heaven neighborhood Allen town. Noteworthy is Founding Fathers Pub, one of Esquire's best bars in America. A tangible” Buffalo Ale Trail” and “Buffalo Wing Trail” is on www.visitbuffaloniagara.com.

Head down to Canalside to enjoy festivals, a river cr uise and the many restaurants and bars on the water, notwithstanding checking out the bat tlesh ip museum for an authentic naval experi ence. Stroll along the Bird Island Pier for a great view on the Niagara River. The evenings are wonderful with the Niagara lighthouse lighting up the waterside. Speaking of Niagara, many visitors also drive a short 40 minutes north to admire one of nature’s great wonders-Niagara Falls.

In closing, other noteworthy typical Buffalo foods to try is authentic Polish cuisine at Polish Villa on Union Rd for Pierogies, stuffed Cabbage and Strudel. Buffalo has a big Polish heritage and great European bakeries such as Chrusciki bakery. The worldfamous Beef on Weck, a German heritage feature, can be found at Charlie the Butcher. Follow the famous Buffalo “Fish Fry Trail” at Bailey Seafood, Wiechec’s, Swannie House, Curry’s, or Hayes Seafood House!

Buffalo is a great food and brew town, and those who pay a visit will be forever bonded with this magical city and its residents.

In loving memory of Ivano Toscani who left us in 2018.

Chicken winners at Gabriel’s Gate

Flying Bison Brewing Company

JUNE EVENTS

June 1 - July 23 Canajoharie

Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show at the Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library. Juror Eden Compton of Saratoga Springs selected 42 pieces of contemporary and traditional work by artists from across New York State. Free and open to the public. Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie, NY 13317. For more information, please visit arkellmuseum.org or call 518-673-2314.

June 1 Glens Falls

Art in the Twenty-First Century: “Everyday Icons” Free Film Screening of Acclaimed PBS Series by Art21, in tro duced by Hannah DeGarmo, Art21 Manager of Communications The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, is partnering with Art21 as a member of their Screening Society, to offer a free screening of “Everyday Icons,” the first episode of the 11th season of Art in the Twenty-First Century, the acclaimed broadcast series on PBS, on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 7 pm in the Library’s community room. The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801

June 11 Saratoga Springs

A one day fun day Sunday on Beekman Street! Visit the Beekman Street Art District this June Sun day June 11, 10 am - 5 pm. Juried fine art and craft show, street performers, live music and food trucks from Grand Ave to West Circular which will be closed to traffic. This event is family friendly with free admission.

Beekman St Art Fair- Friday Art Market- June 16, 5 - 8 pm, outdoor artist displays and demos, live music, galleries open late with refreshments

June 16 - July 14 Albany

Albany Center Gallery (ACG) presents Organic Im pressions, featuring the work of three regional artists: Jessica Fallis, Iain Machell, and Leslie Yolen. An Artists’ Reception will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 5 - 8 p.m. Organic Impressions is free and open to the public; Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. With a focus on the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the rhythm of life-cycles, Organic Impressions provides a contemplative examination of our position in the vast workings of na ture and the universe. Learn more at al banycentergallery.org

June 17 - 18 Glens Falls

LARAC's 52nd Annual June Arts

June

1 - July 29th Clifton Park

To everything there is a season… The Blooming Artist celebrates this wondrous time here with our newest exhibition, In Season. A visualization of this miraculous season and all of its manifold attributes, this show features the works of all local artists. We warmly invite you to experience this collection of seasonal testimonies with us and our community from  May 30th to July 29th.Please celebrate with us and our artists on Friday, June 02nd, during our Community Opening Art Reception (6-8pm). As always, please expect live music & light provisions. The Blooming Artist Gallery, 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065. (518) 280-4928. www.thebloomingartist.gallery

Jun 4 Saratoga Springs

Chris Smither is known for his unmistakable guitar sound, spare, b rilliant blues /folk songs, all delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice. Having distilled his own signature sound of blues and folk for over 50 years, Chris Smither is truly an American original. A profound songwriter, Chris continues to draw deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and philoso phers. Sunday, June 4 · 7 - 9pm EDT. Doors at 6:30pm. Tickets $26.80. Caffe Lena 47 Phila Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

June 8 Rock City Falls

Joe Posa is Joan Rivers: A 90th Birthday Show! We open the 2023 Mansion 801 Concert Series with Joe Posa, Award Winning actor and celebrity impersonator, as he returns to The Mansion on the evening of what would be Joan Rivers 90th Birthday for his hilarious 90-minute Tribute, Joe Posa as Joan Rivers “The B**ch is Back for Her 90th Birthday!” Thu. Jun 8, 2023 at 6:00pm. Visit www.themansionsaratoga.com for tickets. The Mansion of Saratoga, 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, NY

Fes tival. The biggest juried fine arts fes tival in the Adirondack Region is back for its 52nd year! LARAC's An nual June Arts Festival will be hap pening Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th in Glens Falls City Park. Featuring over 150 artists from around the country, live music, and an array of food and drink options, this festival is fun for the whole family. June 17th, 10am - 5pm / June 18th, 10am - 4pm. This event is rain or shine.

June 17 - August 12 Glens Falls

"Point of View" at North country Arts Gallery in The Shirt Factory, suite 120, 71 Lawrence St. Glens Falls, NY hours Thurs.Sat. 12-5. Featuring artwork in all media by regional artists. Opening June 17, 5-7pm info@northcountryarts.org

June 26-August 4

The Guild of Adirondack Artists. NCA's 2nd floor Gallery, 42 Ridge St. Glens Falls, NY info@northcountryarts.org

June 22 Lake George Lake George Arts Project presents: Disco Fever Summer Cruise. Dress up in your best disco attire and get ready to experience the ultimate throwback party on the water! Thursday, June 22nd Aboard Waterfront Cruises’ Adirondac Boarding starts at 6:30pm Cruise from 7pm – 9pm. Absolute Sound will be playing all your favorite hits, we’ve got lots of contents and raf fles, a dance floor for you to show off your best moves, and plenty of food and drink to keep you bo ogying all night! $35 early bird tickets are available (below) through June 20th or $40 at the door. Lake George Waterfront Cruises, 2 Kurosaka Ln. Lake George

June 24 - July 30 Schuylerville

Flight. Featured Artist: Allen Grindle & Wendy Williams. Opening Reception: Saturday, June 24, 5pm – 8p. m. Exhibit

Dates: June 24 – July 30. Current Exhibit

Constance Kheel. Exhibit Dates: May 13 – June 18. Gallery Hours: Thursday –Sunday 12pm – 5pm. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad St, Schuylerville, NY 12871 www.thelaffergallery.com.