Saratoga Family Summer 2018

family SARATOGA

Summer 2018

Complimentary

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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family SARATOGA

Hello, Summer Summer weather is a beautiful thing, soaking up those rays of sunshine is a breath of fresh air, especially after the winter we’ve had.

I think you will find some great advice, activities, and trips in this summer issue. And as always there is something for everyone!

Are you looking to pick up a new hobby this summer? Why not try fly fishing? I know I’m going to give it a go this summer! (Page 14) Wondering about those cute goats on our cover?

The Dalton family had a blast at Into the Woods Farm and Tracey Buyce was amazing at photographing the day!

Learn more about the farm on page 20.

Looking for family-friendly events in Saratoga this summer?

Check out our save the date section starting on page 60 with Circus Smirkus (returning to Saratoga July 9th & 10th).

Are you going on a summer vacation this year? We have got all sorts of travel information for you! Learn how to travel with little ones (and still stay sane!) on page 27. Maybe you’re not taking a vacation, but just looking for a day trip - we’ve got that too! (Page 50) And lastly, if you don’t want that vacation to turn into a disaster, check out Dr. Randy Cale’s travel secrets when it comes to parenting on page 44.

Putting together this issue of Saratoga Family has been a true labor of love, especially since it will also be my last issue. My husband and I have made the decision to move across the country to Jackson Hole, WY! While my time here as Managing Editor of Saratoga Family has been brief, I have loved every minute of it. I am excited to start this new chapter in my life and see where this adventure takes my family.

Chris Bushee will be taking over as Managing Editor of Saratoga Family (once she recuperates after mourning my move). Send her all your story ideas! cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com Have a marvelous summer, enjoy this magazine and take great adventures!

Samantha

Samantha Nock

Managing Editor & Graphic Designer

» DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A COMPLETE DIGITAL EDITION? Want to show a friend the article you saw - or an event you’d like to go to together? Easy, sign up for our digital edition at saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com using the link in the top left hand corner of our homepage for free online delivery to your inbox!

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Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Managing Editor/ Graphic Designer Samantha Nock Advertising Designer Morgan Rook Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers Chad Beatty Tim Blodgett Dr. Randy Cale Crystal Cobert Giddens Jodie Fitz Megan Harrington Lori Mahan Megin Potter Casey Reeder Jason Spector Theresa St. John Katherine Morna Towne Maureen Werther Rebecca Whalen Photographers Ken Wright Lea Monroe Madison County Tourism Theresa St. John Timothy P. Riley Tracey Buyce Photography Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Saratoga Family is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2018, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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50

travel 50 DAY TRIPS to the west of Saratoga Springs 54 TAKE A TRIP with the Saratoga Senior Center

furry friends 56 GET THEIR BACKS Animal Chiropractic Care 57

LOCAL DOG PARKS

58 READER SUBMITTED PET PHOTOS

save the date

Local Spotlight

Tips and tricks

10 A "GROWN UP" MAKE-A-WISH KID Christian Gizara

33 GOOD MANNERS and Dining Etiquette

12 ENTREPRENEURIAL TEEN Riley Walz

Health and wellness 14 THE PERFECT CAST Learn about Fly Fishing 19 SR. CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Laura Clark 20 INTO THE WILD with Into the Woods Farm

New Parents 27 HOW TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS and still Stay Sane!

30 A DAY IN THE LIFE through the eyes of Tracey Buyce Photography

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60

CIRCUS SMIRKUS

62

SUMMER EVENTS

64

FARMERS' MARKET

34 DAD HACKS with Chad Beatty

30

36 FIGHTING TEEN ACNE with 10 Simple Tips

food 40 THE BUSY MOM'S GUIDE to Meal Planning 42 FIVE MUST-HAVE GARDENING TOOLS 43

RECIPES WITH JODIE FITZ

parenting 44 TRAVEL SECRETS Tips from Dr. Randy Cale 48 PARENTING PERSPECTIVE with Sweethearts & Heroes' Jason Spector

20

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Dr. Randy Cale

Megan Harrington

Kate Morna Towne

Dr. Cale is a Clifton Park-based parenting expert, author, speaker, and licensed psychologist who offers practical, no-nonsense parenting advice for all ages.

His website, terrificparenting.com, features hundreds of articles and dozens of parenting products that will help you achieve your goal of happier children and a peaceful home. Additionally, Dr. Cale works with couples and provides individual counseling. Submit questions to DrRandyCale@gmail.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Megan is a toddler mom and freelancer writer living in Cambridge, NY. Megan writes for a variety of local, regional, and national magazines and websites. She also writes about running and mom-life on her blog www.runnerskitchen.com

Katherine Morna Towne is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Saratoga TODAY. She loved growing up in Saratoga Springs, and feels so blessed to be bringing up her children here as well. Kate and her husband have six sons, ages 3 to 13, and another on the way.

Crystal Cobert Giddens

Lori Mahan

Jason Spector

Crystal Cobert Giddens is a wellness curator specializing in skin therapy and nutritional esthetics; literally teaching her clients how to eat for beauty. Crystal is a Licensed Esthetician, Holistic Acne Specialist, Certified Oncology Esthetician, and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with additional certifications from Columbia University and the American Academy of Drugless Practitioners. Crystal combines hands-on skin expertise with lifestyle and nutritional coaching. She can be found helping clients in her studio, FACES on Beekman Street, in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Lori Mahan is a tv writer in a sports and education reporter’s body. She enjoys working with kids and supporting their accomplishments via Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, watching Netflix, and taking spontaneous weekend road trips.

Jason Spector is a 20-year veteran physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, wrestling coach, speaker, husband and father. He's also a “Sweetheart” and a real life “Hero.” He works hard to save and change lives daily everywhere he goes through H.O.P.E. and Action. He's a cocreator of Sweethearts and Heroes, which is both a message and a movement that fights bullying through bystander empowerment, and empathy activation. It also educates parents, teachers and children on hope and hopelessness.

Jodie Fitz

Megin Potter

Theresa St. John

Jodie Fitz is the creator and personality of the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club and currently travels in a six-state region cooking with children to encourage taste-testing fun through a hands-on cooking experience. She is a wife, mother of three, and currently authors several monthly columns. You can always find what she’s up to in her kitchen at jodiefitz.com.

Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications, and online. A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places, and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.

Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. Last year she traveled to Ireland on assignment, which, she states "was a trip of a lifetime."

She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good.

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Maureen Werther Maureen Werther is the owner of WriteForYou, a professional freelance writing service specializing in business writing, web and blog content, and creative non-fiction. Her articles, essays and white papers appear on the pages of businesses on the web and around the globe. She is also a regular contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines and journals throughout the Capital Region. Currently, she is working on a memoir detailing her roller-coaster adventures as owner of Pie ala Moe, a gourmet pie and tart company she started in 2008, in the midst of the recession.

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Rebecca Whalen A Capital Region native, Rebecca Whalen is a wife, mom of one, and the Communications and Development Manager for local food-access nonprofit, Capital Roots.

By night she is a yogi-in-training and a freelance writer for publications in and around Albany and the Knoxville region of Tennessee, her former home. Her work spotlights innovative nonprofit and philanthropic work as well as local people, businesses and places.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs NY 12866 (518) 581-2480

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

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CEO Bill Trigg, Dr. Porter, Christian Gizara, Assemblywoman Pat Fahey and COO Bob Bullock at the World Wish Day event.

CHRISTIAN GIZARA

A “Grown Up” Make-A-Wish Kid WRITTEN BY LORI MAHAN // PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY P. RILEY

A

t only eight years old, Christian Gizara, a Ballston Spa resident, was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor that completely turned his and his family's world upside down. Now 22, Gizara survived with the help of two major brain surgeries and three months of radiation at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.

“To this day, it has been 14 years since his diagnosis, and that has still been the hardest time of my life. Like many brain tumor patients, Christian woke up one day vomiting and having severe headaches, so we called our pediatrician, and we dragged him to the doctor who said he probably had a virus. We brought him home and my wife, who had been a NICU nurse at Albany Med for nine years, had come home to be

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with Christian, and it only took her about a day before she said, ‘no this doesn’t make any sense to me.’ So, we brought Christian to Albany Med to get blood work and a CAT scan and that is how our journey started,” his father, Paul Gizara, explained.

Gizara was an active kid, becoming a competitive swimmer at age six and was homeschooled all 12 years.

After his three months of radiation, Gizara’s swim team welcomed him back with open arms. He swam competitively for 13 years.

“When we came home the doctors thought it would be good for him to exercise and go back to swimming, just for fun. The season was a quarter of the way done; Christian ended up going back and making it to the Adirondack Gold Finals and winning two gold medals,” Paul said. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Aside from swimming, Gizara loves basketball and baseball. He later became a certified lifeguard, WSI swim instructor and swim coach, continuing those side jobs as he attends FultonMontgomery Community College in Johnstown, NY.

Rockefeller Center with Marlo Thomas three times, gaveled in the Nasdaq, appeared on The Today Show multiple times, and has been featured in television commercials with comedian Ray Romano and actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

Locally, you may remember Christian’s face from his long-standing participation in Price Chopper’s Autumn Campaign for St. Jude’s.

“He has always been very active with our local church ministry throughout the years and now he attends Victory Christian Church in Colonie with Pastor Charlie Muller,” Paul explained.

“Our Make-A-Wish story is this: we were at St. Jude’s about a month into the Gizara has been a national radiation treatment, and poster boy for St. Jude’s Christian was going through Children’s Hospital ever a rough time.

Going through since his family’s Make-Achemo and radiation really Wish trip after he finished Dr. Joanne Porter and Christian with Make-A-Wish just drains the life out of supporter John Cena’s cardboard cut-out. his radiation. Now grown, your child, and that was after he continues his work as two brain surgeries, so the spokesperson, this time for nurse at St. Jude, though it wasn’t really a common thing to do, they Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. The Gizara family were given a thought it would help him knowing that he could have a Make-ADisney Cruise in 2004, provided through the efforts of Wish trip.

It was our nurse there who actually put in for the trip and Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. got it approved,” Paul said.

“My best memory from the Disney Cruise would be breakfast in They normally don’t tell you that it’s been approved until you’re the morning. All of the characters would come down and eat with through with treatment and at home recovering; however, his you, however the neat thing about us – usually the characters medical staff thought that knowing about his trip in advance would would just go around and say hi to the guests – but we got the help him.

They were right, it did! table where the characters would sit with us, that was a really great experience,” Gizara reminisced.

“Him knowing about the trip really was therapeutic for us all,” Paul said.

“

The Gizara family also got to visit some of the surrounding islands, ride on jet skis, and go scuba diving.

“Scuba diving was a really amazing experience for me and my dad.”

MY BEST MEMORY FROM THE DISNEY CRUISE WOULD BE BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING...WE GOT THE TABLE WHERE THE CHARACTERS WOULD SIT WITH US, THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE!

In so many ways, Christian has been inspiring people from Amsterdam and the world since his initial diagnosis of a brain tumor. Not only an example through how he has lived his life, Christian was selected by St. Jude’s to be a national spokesman for other young people in similar circumstances. Consider this - in his relatively young life - Christian has lit the Christmas Tree at saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

“To know that my wish was granted early, every day when I wasn’t feeling good, the nurse and my parents would say, hey you got a Make-A-Wish,” Gizara said.

Gizara plans to go to school for radiation therapy and he credits the healthcare workers he has met throughout his journey for inspiration. f For more information on Make-A-Wish Northeast New York, go to their website, www.neny.wish.org.

The Gizara family enjoying their Disney Cruise! photo provided

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

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Riley with his mom, a Google employee and a representative from the Mentor Foundation. visiting YouTube Space in CA

CIVIC-MINDED. ENTREPRENEURIAL. HUMBLE. TEENAGER. WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER // PHOTOS PROVIDED

Riley at a cross country meet ©Ken Wright

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T

hose are just some of the words that come to mind when talking about local Ballston Spa teen, Riley Walz. In his 15 years short years on the planet, the Ballston Spa High School sophomore already has an impressive list of accomplishments under his belt, both philanthropic and entrepreneurial. But none of this has gone to Riley’s head. The impossibly tall and skinny teen is about as humble, modest and unassuming as they come.

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When he was in the third grade, Riley spearheaded a bottle drive to raise money for cancer research after learning that a friend had been diagnosed with leukemia. At the time, he was living in Germany with his family and he explained that bottle returns there are 25 cents. Realizing that his efforts would generate a good return, he raised 500 Euros, or $800 with the help of family and friends. Pretty savvy for a third-grader.

Riley said his German teachers focused a lot on the importance of making a difference. “They taught us about how people can get involved in different charitable causes.”

Riley was obviously listening, and he brought those lessons back with him to Ballston Spa.

Riley as a third-grader in Germany

For the last five years, Riley has shaved his head to help raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research on behalf of St. Baldrick’s Foundation. To date, he has independently raised more than $7,000 for the cause.

In addition to his strong desire to support important causes, Riley is already a budding entrepreneur. Before he turned 14, Riley developed his own podcast, called Random Facts. One of his podcasts was devoted to raising awareness of the problem of bullying. He also earns money on the side by doing voice-overs for companies around the world.

Last year, Riley won a national contest sponsored by YouTube called “Living the Example,” with the grand prize being an all-expense paid trip for him and his family to the La Playa offices of YouTube and Youtube Space, plus a $500 gift card.

His latest endeavor, Routeshuffle, is a website (www.Routeshuffle. com), that creates a variety of routes for runners, walkers and cyclists anywhere in the world. Users simply enter their city or town, choose whether they want to cycle, walk or run, and add the distance in miles or kilometers. Using a nifty little trigonometry equation Riley learned in his Algebra class, the program sets up three main points and triangulates a route around them.

Riley, who is also a member of Ballston Spa High School’s cross-country team, thought of the idea when he began to get bored running the same routes. One of the requirements of being on the team is to run at least 200 miles every summer, in advance of the Fall season.

“It can get pretty boring, running the same route every day, and I was spending about 20 minutes each day planning my route,” said Riley. He began to think about creating a website that would do the planning for him. In November, Riley went to work on Routeshuffle. com and, by February, he was – quite literally – up and running.

In addition to understanding what equations were necessary to develop the algorithm, he also had to know how to write the software language. While a computer programming course he took the previous year was a big help in getting Riley started, he had to teach himself the bulk of the program-writing. Riley told me he will be taking another computer programming course in his junior year and it’s highly likely that he already has a leg up on his final project for that class.

After running a beta launch test in January and getting feedback from people he knew on Twitter who were also knowledgeable in building websites and writing computer programs, Routeshuffle was ready to run by February.

Since then, Routeshuffle.com has created more than 35,000 routes on its homepage alone, with more than 5,000 users. The site is free for everyone. But ever the entrepreneur, Riley has developed a subscription version called Infinity, which will allow subscribers

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The Google Office

to develop a weekly schedule with a different route for each run, as well as daily reminders to help people stick to their routine. The cost is $5 per month and subscribers can pay online using Stripe.

Since going live with Routeshuffle, an article about it that appeared in a local paper was linked in Runner’s World email newsletter.

“This was a huge deal, because Runner’s World is the website for runners,” said Riley, adding that he didn’t even know it was in there until his track coach told him.

Routeshuffle was also featured in Lifehacker Japan, MakeUseOf, and on a radio program generated through CBS. Smaller websites have also published articles about it in Spanish, Japanese, German and Portuguese.

Riley is already making plans to revamp the website’s design and improve the Routeshuffle algorithm once school ends in June. He said the improvements will increase the site’s accuracy. He also plans to add information about weather and air pollution levels for the routes, as well as a map overlay that will highlight streets that are not as “runner-friendly,” as well as roads that have less traffic.

He has already created a basic version of a new feature, “Trackshuffle,” which will provide random workouts on the track.

“Anyone can go to the site, enter whether they want a distance or sprinting workout, and enter the information and it will spit back a workout,” said Riley.

Runners aren’t the only ones keeping track of Riley’s website. He has already talked to someone from Google Marketing Solutions for Startups, asking him to join their program.

Riley explained that Google works with brands that have “high growth potential” and they will pay for, manage and optimize its ads on the site. “I got on a call with them and I don’t think they realized how small of a business Routsehuffle is. Ultimately, I didn’t join the program, but I’m still pleased they reached out in the first place.”

Not surprisingly, Riley is also part of his school’s “TEC-SMART” accelerated learning program, focusing on STEM subjects. When he completes the program, he will have one year of college credit from HVCC all while still in high school.

Riley has another big hurdle coming up: he will turn 16 in August and hopes to have his driver’s license by February 2019.

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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THE PERFECT WRITTEN BY TIM BLODGETT

Volumes have been written about fly fishing.

Some poetically extoll the virtues of connecting with the natural environment in artful solitude.

Others provide concise technical descriptions and instructions about where to go, what to use and how to use it. Everything you need to know about how to fly fish and why you should is out there, waiting for you to read it. This article is not about those things. I have neither the space, nor the knowledge to give you proper instruction. Luckily, I know someone who does.

The Presentation I accepted the challenge and made my first cast to a fellow angler and expert fly fisherman that I’ve known for years. From the still waters to which I cast, Paul Sinicki rose to the challenge and took the bait. Paul is a friend of all anglers and a deep pool of knowledge about both the art and the science of fishing with long limber rods and tiny flies. He is a member of the Capital District Fly Fishers and a 4-H volunteer instructor who gives generously both his time and knowledge to all who have an interest in learning.

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Father & Son enjoy fly fishing together

CAST Finding a Mentor Getting outfitted for your new addiction (that’s what it will become) can be a daunting experience. You will find that you can spend as little as the cost of taking your family to the movies or as much as a used car just acquiring the basic tackle. Paul’s advice is to talk to a fly fisherman you trust who can advise you on your purchase. Go to a fly fishing seminar and get some hands-on instruction. Paul often puts on free demonstrations and seminars at the Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs and at Moreau State Park in Moreau. He also holds free demos at Field and Stream in Latham and heads up a popular fly fishing club at the 4-H training center in the Town of Milton.

Paul also recommends looking into seminars presented by Orvis and L.L. Bean. There is often a fee involved with the last two options, but they are very instructive and can be well worth the expense. The internet also offers countless videos, blogs and suggestions to whet your appetite. Paul encourages people to research all these avenues to see and compare different types of equipment and hear the advice of many different anglers. He cautions that you don’t just run out saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

and buy the gear that you saw advertised; not every rod is good for every person or the type of fishing you wish to do. Paul says to avoid the inexpensive packaged combos and set your starting budget in the $100 to $200 range. That may sound like a lot, but, the aforementioned packages, while costing less than $50, will cost you more in the long run and may cost you the chance to learn and appreciate what fly fishing can offer. They’re heavy, far more difficult to cast and they steepen the learning curve. I’ve been penny wise and pound foolish often enough to affirm that Paul’s advice is wise.

You are probably asking yourself, “Who can I turn to for guidance?” You can do what I did and contact Paul Sinicki! As I mentioned earlier in the article, Paul spends a considerable amount of his time mentoring budding fly fishermen and has given me permission to provide his contact information. Paul can be reached at flyfloat@aol.com. Just type “interested in fly fishing” in the subject box and he will help you get started on the right track.

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Start simple Thinking about fly fishing brings to mind images of wild mountain streams teeming with native trout, rising to sip hapless mayflies from the surface. You, standing waist deep in the current, making the perfect cast, watching your fly settle delicately onto the water’s surface then disappear in a swirl. The struggle that ensues ends with you briefly admiring then releasing the noble fish.

Someday, that dream will come true, but as they say, you must first walk before you run. With that in mind, try reaching for some lower hanging fruit and have some real fun as you learn and your skills improve. The goal (and most anglers agree) to fishing is to catch fish. Start by honing those skills on the local population of hungry panfish. Bluegills are always willing to take your bait and will put up an admirable fight. Hook into a few of those scrappers and you will be hooked to fly fishing. Virtually any of the species of fish found in our home waters can be caught on fly tackle. Bass will blast deer hair frogs, Pike will slash at streamers, even Carp will take a fly and if one does, you will be in for an unforgettable battle that will test both your skill and equipment!

Last cast Take a class as a family and practice your skills

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In conclusion, fly fishing is an activity the whole family can enjoy this summer and for all the seasons to come. Enter “fly fishing” into your favorite search engine and dive in. Be sure to check out Capital District Fly Fishers at www.cdFlyFishers.org for events, fly tying classes and inspiration. Finally I would like to thank Paul Sinicki for his sage advice. Be sure to contact him if you want honest guidance. f

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

Independent living offers seniors an independent lifestyle with the peace of mind that comes from living in a professionally managed setting. The Embury Apartments and Independent Living at Woodlawn Commons are designed for aging adults who have decided to trade the responsibilities and worries of home ownership for the advantages of living in an attractive, maintenance-free apartment. The senior living apartments provide easy access to shopping, dining, special events, the arts and all sorts of leisure activities.

STAYING ACTIVE with the Wesley Community

IT’S WELL KNOWN that senior

communities offer a bevy of support services for aging adults.

However, did you know that they also provide important activities and services to keep seniors socially and physically active?

It’s common for aging adults who reside at home or with a member of the family to have too much solitary time. Seniors living alone often struggle with issues such as loneliness and difficulty securing transportation, which ultimately impact their ability to partake in regular activities synonymous with a healthy lifestyle.

The Wesley Community, a 36-acre, not-for-profit agency in Saratoga Springs, offers a unique solution to this problem through its continuum of care model, which serves the diverse and changing needs of active seniors and the elderly.

Those residing or using services in a senior living community have bountiful opportunities to socialize with others, attend community events with ease, and partake in a wide range of weekly activities on and off campus.

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Senior care communities such as The Wesley Community create activity calendars with a variety of options based on the recommendations of residents, which often include the necessary logistical needs such as transportation and even purchasing tickets for a special event.

The Wesley Community hosts numerous events to meet the many interests of a diverse adult population, including exercise classes, cultural events, games, crafts, live musical entertainment, public outings to various restaurants or entertainment venues, and special lectures from guest speakers.

Those looking for more options can also visit Georgia's Restaurant and the Embury Cafe to have a restaurantstyle experience with family and friends while remaining on campus.

Additionally, The Wesley Community holds regular religious services and offers on-site access to a country store, hair salon and fitness room.

The Wesley Community provides seniors with a variety of levels of care, including independent living, enriched living, long-term care, outpatient therapies, short-term rehabilitation and home care. f

ENRICHED LIVING

The enriched living option offers seniors the comforts of home combined with the support and services offered by The Wesley Community’s professional staff, including three freshly prepared meals a day, housekeeping and laundry services, scheduled transportation, and enhanced security. Residents utilizing this program enjoy the privacy and comfort of apartment living, while receiving the support and services that gives both residents and families a sound peace of mind.

OUTPATIENT THERAPY

The Wesley Community’s outpatient therapy program is the only free-standing service in the area to incorporate physical, occupational and speech therapy in one unified program.

The outpatient rehabilitation program provides patients with exceptional treatment by skilled and caring professionals. The Wesley Community understands that for rehabilitation to be truly effective, it must address the needs of the whole person.

HOME CARE

Many aging adults now prefer to receive health-related services in the comfort of their home. Wesley Senior Solutions provides an alternative option beyond the traditional residential care available on campus and brings the same level of service to clients who wish to remain in the comfort of their own home. Wesley Senior Solutions offers a wide array of comprehensive home health care services to meet the needs of individuals on a 24-hour basis.

SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION

Wesley Health Care Center’s short-term rehabilitation program combines quality individualized care with a deep understanding of the need for a friendly and nurturing therapeutic approach. The program is designed to support, encourage, and give confidence to patients as they work toward returning home.

LONG-TERM CARE

Wesley Health Care Center has earned its reputation for excellence by providing superior long-term nursing care with a personal touch for over 40 years. Health care services at Wesley include skilled nursing for the aging adult who has significant chronic medical needs and adults of other ages who require daily medical attention because of their chronic illnesses.

The Wesley Community’s unique blend of community living, caregiving and regular activities ensures the highest quality service at every stage of life. The continuum of care model provides a distinct resource to aging individuals and their families in Upstate New York.

For more information, call The Wesley Community at (518) 587-3600 or visit www.TheWesleyCommunity.org.

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Laura Clark

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

SARATOGA SPRINGS ROTARY CLUB 2018 SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Laura Clark

Northumberland, NY Nominated By: Jacky Gilchrist “Laura Clark has made it her life’s work to serve her community. She loves to lend a helping hand to assist, and at times, to direct fundraisers for charitable organizations.” Jacky Gilchrist

Q. A. Q.

St. Peter’s Keys Run: 20-year co-director of a road race benefitting hospice and other charities.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

helping people, whether they are seeking a new book friends at the Saratoga Stryders Running Club who don't to read or wish to experience the Ainsley’s outdoors Angels more fully.

I of America: Participated as a “pusher” of special needs racers/riders for mind hanging around to wait for me to finish my races! think it's a shame that folks today three are soyears. tied to their devices that the media becomes their primary source Jailhouse Rock Race: 5 years helping supportHAS organization race benefitting the Brookside WHAT BEENof THE GREATEST of entertainment. It is rare today toMuseum. see kids engaged in outdoor, unstructured play, making their own stories as LIFE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED? Saratoga Stryders: President of local running group for 9 years. they go along.

One that my Dad always told me, "The truth lies somewhere in between." Also, "If you don't want to know, Other Honors: AT 71-YEARS-OLD WHAT Parks & Trails New York Trail Heroes don't ask," has come in handy!

“Get Outdoors Award” for organizing races, hikes,

Q.

A.

DO YOU DO TO KEEP FIT?and group runs; 

A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.

grandchildren who keep me young! My colleagues in the

Children's Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Winterfest (20 years) and Camp Saratoga (15 years): Organized, and ran snowshoe raceLibrary As a librarian and a volunteer, my primary motivation is events benefitting parks in Wilton andare Saratoga Springs. my friends and sounding board, and of course all my

Q. A. Q.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE

2017 World Snowshoe Federation World Snowshoe Racing Champion in Age Group;

In the summer I run. I prefer the trails, as they are more Federation North American Racing Champion in AgeGroup.  2018 World Snowshoe unstructured and engaging. You have to pay attention!

FOR NEW GRANDPARENTS? Age:every 71. Queens, NY,Inative; St. Agnes Academic High School and Queens College graduate; In the winter, I snowshoe race almost weekend.

Enjoy!

25-year Saratoga Springs also enjoy gardening, biking and cross-country skiing.

As Area Resident.

I have gotten older, I make it a point to work on my core Employer: Saratoga Springs Public Library, she has DO been aYOU Children’s Librarian since WHATwhere BOOKS KEEP strength and balance and use the1993. spring to take a 6-week 18-year columnist for Adirondack Sports and Fitness magazine. Book reviewer for PT session at Wesley Health Care Center.

American Trail Running Association. ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? varies.

But perennial picture books Night Animals by Married for 44 years to the late Jeff It Clark, a 22-year Army veteran, and formerare President of WHAT HAVE BEEN Gianna Marino, Toys Meet Snow by2014.

Emily Jenkins and The the Saratoga Downtown Business Association, who passed away in March, YOUR BIGGEST OBSTACLES? A. Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry

Children: Julie Suarez, Assistant Dean of by Governmental Relations at Cornell Bear Don Wood.and ForCommunity adult books: Flow by Mihaly My biggest obstacle I would haveUniversity’s to say would be the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Jill Wooley, Police Officer in Columbus, Csikszentmihalyi, Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales and death of my husband, Jeffrey Clark, who died of cancer OH, Jacky Gilchrist, writer, Northumberland; four granddaughters and one grandson.

Forest Forensics by Tom Wessels. due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. We were each Hobbies: Running, gardening, running, cross-country skiing, running, snowshoeing, and other's best friends and were looking forward to exploring running.

WHAT DO YOU EAT IN A TYPICAL DAY? retirement together.

I eat pretty muchthat anything except on my pizza.

“Living a nomadic military life, our family learned the best way toanchovies feel comfortable love going Farmers' Market for -fresh WHAT KEEPS YOU GETTING UP situation is to volunteerI even in a new before to thethe boxes are unpacked.”

Laurafruits Clarkand veggies—home grown tastes so much better! There are few AND GOING EVERYDAY? things in life that ice cream and cookies can't cure!

The alarm clock! I guess I just like to keep busy and feel WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO I've contributed. As a military family, you move frequently and quickly learn not to waste new opportunities.

Q. A. Q.

WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS? Not so much mentors as a support group at this stage of my life. I rely deeply on the help of my three girls (now grown!) and their husbands and take pride and joy in my

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A.

IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Free time is debatable, but I do enjoy reading, writing and watching movies. I write for Adirondack Sports & Fitness and do book reviews for American Trail Running Association. f

summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 19

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

f

20  SARATOGA FAMILY

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Walking

Into the Wild WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY TRACEY BUYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

W

hy does a chicken bob its head in that peculiar way when it walks? What makes a goat leap and jump, springing back and forth so jubilantly? Who cares if a beaver passed through here on its way to the lake? How does the movement of any of these animals relate to me?

The interconnectedness of the world is amazingly easy to forget.

Into the Woods Farm has opened to help you remember.

IF YOU DO NOT LOVE IT, WHY DO IT? When she first entered into this region from suburban New Jersey, Phaedra Zoe Stasyshyn spent her days waitressing and her nights in a sleeping bag staring up at the stars. Enthusiastic about nature in the northeast, she then spent 18 years at the Ndakinna Education Center in Greenfield Center, teaching children ecology, wilderness and survival skills.

  21

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

f Now, she has opened up her own energy–efficient home, farm and the conservation lands adjacent to it, just up from Lake Desolation, so that others can rediscover their own place in the wilderness - and

perhaps a bit more about their own purpose within this ecosystem in the process.

“My hope is that you leave with a little bit more than you came up with,” said Phaedra.

Phaedra, Drake and Rhedyn with their goats

22 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

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The Daltons enjoying their visit to the farm

LEARN, OBSERVE, FEEL

CHALLENGE BY CHOICE

There are so many different ways to interact with nature. Phaedra’s own curiosity is contagious to those she interacts with. She asks questions and inspires others to look a little deeper. Wondering why a certain bunch of branches has been chewed off or what kind of bird left behind it’s feathers, she transforms each individual into an investigator while sparking their innate skills for exploration.

As a single mother raising two children, Phaedra needed to balance independent living with responsible, well-thought-out decision making.

“The more you learn and the more you know, the harder it is to ignore what’s around you,” said Phaedra.

She points out that it is the forest that holds everyone accountable for their actions – giving them something to be proud of, or to endure. Its roots teach you coordination and to pick up your feet. The threat of stepping into a bees nest teaches you why it’s important to respect nature and to stay on the trail. Into the Woods Farm is also cell phone-free.

“Pulling technology out of their lives allows them to communicate with one another again,” she said.

Walking with herds of Nigerian Dwarf Goats down to the breathtaking waterfall just minutes away, Phaedra creates an interesting point of observation.

“Everyone sees that interconnectedness where prey and predator walk together,” she said. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

In 2005, she built their passive solar home with her baby daughter, Rhedyn strapped to her back. As Adirondack Alternate Energy delivered the basic frame, she was building the sandbox that her son, Drake would be playing in.

“This is where I wanted to be. Its elevation is 1,650 feet and there’s a waterfall just eight minutes from the house, that’s what makes this a different world,” said Phaedra.

Once they were nestled into the woods, when her children were in elementary school, Phaedra decided to introduce a flock of chickens and then a handful of goats into the family.

“That started the adventure. I said, ‘This isn’t a goldfish, so everyone needs to be vested in this adventure’.”

Fresh to the experience and feeling their way through, the family found that goat’s milk was fantastic.

“Nigerian dwarf goats produce a huge amount of milk for their tiny package – up to a quart a day per goat,” said Phaedra.

Once the family lost their fear of the goats running away, they summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 23

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

f found they were terrific companions, naturally nibbling on the forest’s beech trees, pine boughs and sticker bushes while they walked, as well as when they were sledding and snowshoeing through the property’s 15 acres of groomed trails.

In 2015, Into The Woods & Under The Sky 4H, a group of up to 20 children, enjoy the property with them year-round.

The Stasyshyn family raising their baby goats!

Photos by Phaedra Zoe Stasyshyn

“We knew what we had up here and wanted to share it. We wanted to involve and interest others while fostering their love of the outdoors,” said Phaedra.

Teaching them outdoor preparedness and to record the satisfaction of stillness in their journals, she has allowed the children a rare luxury not often afforded to them today – an chance to take the edge off.

“If you’re prepared when in the outdoors, it’s absolutely fantastic. You’re never uncomfortable no matter what the weather is because you’re mentally and physically prepared for it,” said Phaedra.

Into the Woods Farm, at 7222 Kilmer Road in Middle Grove is offering a variety of outdoor education opportunities to families in 2018. In addition to providing full-day camps offering education through experience for middle-schoolers in nature studies, farm-life, animal tracking and wilderness training, these include: NY Goat Yoga In the Woods, 7222 Kilmer Road, Middle Grove.

Thursdays, 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., May 31st through October 18th. Extend your experience with animal-assisted therapy in an all-natural setting. $30/person (Fees go to upkeep and care of goats) Wild Walks with the Kids beginning in June. Meet at the farm on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. for an hour and a half recreational guided hike with the goats. Climb rocks and see the waterfall. $20/person, $15/adult with child.

Sunday Mornings on the Farm are being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 24th, July 22nd, August 26th, September 30th, and October 21st. Take the mystery out of farming goats and chickens with this FREE educational event.

Donations welcome.

24 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

For tickets and more information, go to www.IntoTheWoodsFarmNY.com f

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summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 25

Be a part of our award-winning publications in 2018!

Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.581.2480 | saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

26 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

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f NEW PARENTS

How to Travel with Kids (AND STILL STAY SANE!) WRITTEN BY MEGAN HARRINGTON // PHOTOS PROVIDED

I

t’s summer time and for a lot of families, that means vacation. If you’ve got kids and are ready for some adventure, this article is for you. Anyone who travels with children will tell you that it can be tiring and different than your pre-kid travel days. But different isn’t always bad. Spending time together while experiencing new things is a great way for families to bond!

I’m not a travel agent or a parenting expert in any way, but I do have quite a bit of experience in being away from home with a baby. In my son’s first year, we spent nearly 30 nights in hotels and Airbnb rentals, so I quickly figured out some tricks and tips. And a few months ago we braved a long flight and some jet lag to visit Europe as a family. We’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but isn’t that part of the fun? Itching to explore with kids in tow? Start here...

Flying during naptime!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

No matter what mode of transportation you use to arrive at your destination, advance planning is key. When planning car trips or flights, I like to try and coordinate them around a nap. Once we’re in motion, I know my son will likely snooze for an hour or so, making the trip just a little bit easier. Some parents find success with late night road trips or overnight flights – it all depends on what type of sleeper your child is and it might take some trial and error.

In addition, I always pack plenty of snacks (more than you think you’ll need!), baby wipes, and a change of clothes in a re-sealable plastic bag. If an accident happens en route, you’ll want to be able to change your kiddo and contain the dirty clothes ASAP.

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NEW PARENTS

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Where to Sleep & Eat

Before I had kids, I often chose a hotel based on amenities like a spa or lobby bar. But these days, it’s less about luxury and more about convenience. Some hotels and resorts cater to families and will provide items like travel cribs, high chairs, and baby bathtubs. Just be sure to check in advance!

If you’re staying for more than a few nights, you might want to consider an apartment or house rental. These can provide more space and flexibility for your growing family. If your kids go to bed before you, it can be nice to have the separation of space. After one too many nights watching muted TV in a darkened hotel room, I learned this the hard way!

Don’t feel like dining out for the third night in a row? A place with a kitchen will allow you to prepare foods at home. Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, ask about microwave and fridge availability wherever you’re staying. When my family travels, we like to make breakfast or lunch our “big meal out” for the day. Our moods and energy levels are generally better before the sun sets. As for dinner, we might just order a pizza or pick up some sandwiches to have back at the hotel or rental.

We bring our baby carrier everywhere!

What to Pack

Every family and trip will result in different needs, but these are some of my favorite travel essentials:

A BABY CARRIER Strollers have their place, but when it comes to taking babies and toddlers on the go, a soft structured carrier (we love our Ergo360 carrier!) is indispensible. Strap on your little one and they’ll have the best seat in the house while you’ll have two free hands. The carriers work best when your child is smaller (and lighter!), but our Ergo360 was still helpful in getting my 20-month-old/30-pound son to sleep on an overnight flight.

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Check out these other must-have items when it comes to traveling with kids...

LIGHTWEIGHT TRAVEL CRIB There are many different brands of travel cribs, so I gravitated toward the type that was easiest to assemble. After a long day of driving or flying, the last thing you want is to struggle with complicated assembly instructions. We used the Baby Bjorn lightweight travel crib and as my son gets a little bigger, we’re planning to try the PeaPod travel bed (it looks like a small tent).

PORTABLE WHITE NOISE You can purchase a stand-alone noise machine or download an app on your phone, but whatever you do, have a white noise option available! You never know when you’ll need to drown out raucous hotel neighbors.

DISPOSABLE PLACEMATS Most restaurants have high chairs and booster seats, but dining out with a babe can get messy. I always keep a few disposable placemats in my purse to keep the table clean.

The placemats even come in fun designs

BEACH TENT If your plans include a day on the sand, a pop up beach tent is a great way to provide shade as well as privacy for nursing, diaper changes, and naps.

KINDLE FIRE, KIDS EDITION We try to keep screen time to a minimum, but there are certain situations when only Daniel Tiger or Peppa the Pig will save the day. The great thing about the Kindle Fire is that it’s virtually indestructible, but if it does get broken, Amazon will replace it.

If you’re ready to take the plunge with family travel, start small.

Consider an overnight trip and as you gain confidence (and experience), plan some trips farther afield. A decade from now your kids probably won’t remember the toys or video games they owned, but I guarantee they’ll remember the first time they saw the ocean or got a stamp in their passport. Happy travels! f

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NEW PARENTS

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A Day in the Life OF KRISTEN, ANDREW, ILA & WILLOW THROUGH THE EYES OF...

TRACEY BUYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Ila feeds the cats one of her daily chores

Snuggling with Daddy

Ila kisses Mommy's belly, baby Nova arrived a few months later!

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Ila & Willow play while Dad plays guitar.

They call this “The Buyce Sandwich” and have a big family hug!

Reading time with Mommy

Bath timeWillow helps mom get the tub ready!

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32 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

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f

to

Learn Good Manners

Manners matter and it is never too late to learn good

manners. To be fair, you can only do what you've been taught.

If children see good manners in adults, they are more likely to adopt good manners themselves. You are never too young, or too old, to be polite.

Having your children help out at dinnertime by setting the table becomes part of the mealtime ritual, and helps them feel a part of the preparation. Even your younger children can

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TIPS AND TRICKS

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE...

help out. With the proper table setting comes proper table manners. Whether eating at home, a restaurant, or a relatives house, children should know the basics of dining etiquette and table manners. They should know how to politely ask for someone to fill their plates or pass the dinner rolls. Children should learn to keep their napkins in their laps, their elbows off the table, and their mouths closed while they chew. I know, life is busy and table manners are probably not on your list of to-do's, but good manners matter. f summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 33

TIPS AND TRICKS

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DADHACKS WRITTEN BY CHAD BEATTY

Welcome to… Dad Hacks,

your one-stop-shop for random ideas and advice for the average dad. Yes, I said average dad. Don’t worry, I know that none of us are average. We are all unique in our own way, and the roles we play leave an indelible mark on every member of our family.

By ‘average’ I simply mean the common bond we all share as we work our way through one of the trickiest jobs on the planet...

Being a Great Dad!

Know Your Knots 34 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

As I mentioned in the Spring edition, knowing a few basic knots is a valuable skill that will last a lifetime. So far, we learned about the simple square knot. In this edition of ‘Know Your Knots’ we will explore the figure 8 on a bight. What is a ‘bight’ of rope? It is simply a bend in the rope, looping the rope over itself.

Some basic uses for the figure 8 on a bight are: securing items, climbing, and hoisting, to name a few. Strengths of the figure 8 on a bight are: it is one of the stronger knots, it is almost fail safe and it is easy and quick to tie.

Have fun practicing this knot with your children and teach them skills that will last a lifetime!

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Never too young...

Safety begins at home

There are some things that are synonymous with childhood: Insects, Legos, Dinosaurs, Super Heroes and, of course…

Nerf Guns. Whether they are shooting at a pyramid of red solo cups or having Nerf wars with their friends, those soft projectiles provide never-ending fun.

But they also provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to teach responsible and safe firearm guidelines. Yes, it may seem like an odd time to instill life lessons, but they are lessons that will last a lifetime.

If you are hesitant talking about real firearms, I can assure you it will be worth the extra effort.

I am happy to say that at 13, whenever my son picks up a firearm, real or toy, his finger is always outside of the trigger guard until he has acquired his target, and he knows what is behind it. In our home there are never accidental misfires, but it didn’t start that way. In the early days there was plenty of complaining: “Dad, it is only a toy.”

“Dad, we are only playing.”

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He quickly learned that if he wanted to play with his Nerf guns, he had to develop the muscle memory required to prove he was mature enough to handle a firearm, even if it was made by Nerf.

So take the time now, be a pain in their butt, put in the extra effort and make sure they follow these simple firearm safety rules by the NRA:

• ALWAYS

Keep The Gun Pointed In A Safe Direction

• ALWAYS

Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until Ready To Shoot

• ALWAYS

Keep The Gun Unloaded Until Ready To Use

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TIPS AND TRICKS

f

fighting teen acne

10

Simple Tips

with

WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL COBERT GIDDENS // PHOTOS PROVIDED

I have a little skin therapy and nutrition studio in the historical art district of Saratoga Springs. Many clients come to me for help with their skin, but also for help with their children’s skin. Problem skin tends to take time, hands-on care and patience to resolve and clear.

I had acne on my back that started in 9th grade. I wouldn’t wear tank tops, swim suits or anything that showed my skin. My mom would scrub my back and then “pick” at my pimples and apply an over-thecounter acne product that would dry out my skin.

My back was a mess.

Many over-the-counter and prescription topicals are unnecessarily aggressive and can cause the skin to become overly dry, imbalanced and irritated. The skin responds as though it is being “attacked” by producing more oil, increasing inflammation and laying down additional skin cells to protect the angry skin.

There is another way. I have been treating acne clients for almost a decade using a holistic approach to skin health. Here is a list of ten things you can do for your teen to help heal and balance their skin.

Make sure they eat a healthy, balanced diet full of clean protein, vegetables and fruit whenever possible. They should be drinking mostly water and avoiding sugary drinks like soda and artificially sweetened sports drinks.

Your daughter shouldn’t be playing sports while wearing makeup because her skin can’t breathe and the sweat and bacteria becomes trapped on the skin’s surface. Have her cleanse or use an all natural cleansing wipe to remove her makeup prior to going out on the field.

Washing our faces and flossing and brushing our teeth before bed is an absolute must!

Moms and daughters - please don’t sleep with makeup on your skin! Everyone should be using a gentle cleanser and then hydrating with a light moisturizer or oil (yes oil) that won’t clog pores.

Your teen probably won’t eat that balanced diet every day so a multivitamin is important.

Make sure it has healthy minerals like Vitamin A and Zinc. Zinc is crucial for the balancing of hormones and skin health.

Everyone should wash their face after going to the gym or participating in any sport. The sweat and toxins from the workout will sit on the skin and mix with bacteria and make acne worse.

Have you ever heard of PCOS? Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is actually quite common and often goes undiagnosed for years. Does your daughter have horrible cramping, erratic periods, intense cravings, acne and weight gain? Ask their pediatrician if this is a possibility.

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Use toxin free shampoo, conditioner, body wash, makeup, hair products, laundry detergent and fabric softener. Sometimes this is all it takes to help clear up skin issues caused by product sensitivities or unknown allergies.

Make sure they sleep with clean pillow cases.

We sleep on our pillow and anything that’s growing on our skin overnight, stays on our pillow all day and then we sleep on it again, and again. I have parents buy inexpensive pillow cases and keep 4 or 5 in their teens’ room. Your teen can change their own pillow case several times throughout the week.

I believe in the power of health and beauty. I believe we look beautiful when we feel beautiful. We feel beautiful when we are strong, our bodies nourished, and our skin is glowing and healthy.

Recipes for Better Skin Care Oily, Acne Prone Skin:

Is your face a little oily and tends to break out? Take a cleansing cloth and soak it in raw, organic, apple cider vinegar. Apply it to your clean face, shoulders, or other areas that tend to break out. Chances are your protective acid mantle has been stripped away by using aggressive, lab created face washes and you no longer have any protection. The vinegar will balance out your skin’s pH and will help absorb excess oil. The main substance in vinegar, acetic acid, can kill bacteria and Beta-carotene helps to protect you from future environmental damage.

Blackheads:

Have them use a mild enzymatic exfoliant once or twice a week (it takes 5 minutes) to help reduce dead cell buildup and oxygenate the skin. Stay away from harsh scrubs! I would be happy to make a recommendation based on their skin.

Use a gentle facial cleanser and pat dry. Mix equal parts clean, distilled water with bentonite clay in a ceramic, glass or wooden bowl to form a paste. Do not use a metal utensil to mix. Bentonite clay has a strong negative charge and bonds to the positive charge in many toxins. Any metal messes with this charge and makes it less effective. A wooden spoon or disposable plastic spoon works fine. Apply paste to affected areas, avoiding the eye area. Steam your face using a bowl of hot water and drape a towel over your head. You can put 1 drop of an essential oil in the water to make it a calming treatment at the same time. Try eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, clary sage, or rose oil. Be careful you don’t get too close to the water or allow the steam to cause you any discomfort. Also, make sure you are not allergic to or have experienced any adverse reactions to any essential oils before adding them to the water. Sit and relax for about 10 minutes and rinse the mask off with tepid water.

Breakouts with dryness:

Gently wash your face, rinse and pat dry. Take a fresh papaya, cut in half and scoop out 1/2 of the flesh. You can use the rest in your smoothie. Mash the pulp in a small bowl and apply to your skin for 20 minutes. Rinse completely with warm (not hot) water. Papaya naturally contains an enzyme called papain which reduces inflammation and helps remove dead skin cells. You can follow up with one of the hydrating treatments below: Contrary to popular belief, acneic skin needs moisture and oil. Here are 2 healthy recipes you can make at home to help balance and hydrate your skin:

Make an appointment to see a licensed esthetician once every 4-6 weeks for deep cleansing, extractions, deeper exfoliation and calming and hydrating treatments. An esthetician can help clear the skin safely and provide tips and tricks for home care.

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Aloe Vera looks like a cactus, but it is actually a member of the lily family. You probably know someone that has recommended it as a burn remedy and it is widely used in products to reduce the discomfort of sunburn. It helps to reduce inflammation and increases the amount of collagen your skin produces to promote healing. The gel also has moisturizing properties that can assist in wound healing and reduce the production of melanin (think age spots). The leaves have this thick, gel-like liquid inside that is 96% water. You can drink 2 ounces of pure aloe vera gel or you can apply it directly to the skin.

Organic, plain yogurt and raw honey mask: Raw honey has antibacterial properties and yogurt is soothing and contains lactic acid, which is a mild exfoliant.

Mix equal amounts of raw honey with the plain yogurt (1-2 Tablespoons) Apply to the face, making sure to pay special attention to the hair and jawline. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then gently remove with a damp cloth. summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 37

m

tions fro

enda Recomm

ire h s h t r o N re o t s k o o B

SUMMER reading list

LITTLE YELLOW BEE: GARDEN LIFT-A-FLAP

By Ginger Swift

Baby & Toddler

A sweet little chunky book with durable cardboard flaps and bright cheerful pictures. Explore the garden with your baby! Ages 0-2

HELLO, LIGHTHOUSE

By Sophie Blackall

Caldecott-winner Blackall shares the enduring appeal of seaside lighthouses, in a book cleverly proportioned to echo tall towers. The illustrations are full of captivating details, and the text offers a window into the world of a lighthouse family. Ages 4-7

l

Preschoo

BABY MONKEY, PRIVATE EYE

By Brian Selznick & David Serlin

Lower Elementar y 38 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

Baby Monkey is on the case! He can solve any mystery - stolen gems, a clown’s missing nose… but only if he can put on his pants!

Hilarious early reading chapter book, with simple text and amazing full page illustrations! Perfect for ages 4-7.

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RESCUE By Jessie Haas

Upper Elementar y

Saratoga in the summer means horses! Twelve-yearold Joni has a new neighbor who is passionate about animal rights and soon gets Jodi thinking and involved.

They want to make changes in the world… but maybe “rescuing” a farmer’s miniature horses was not a good place to start! Full of drama and friendship this is a great read for animal lovers. Ages 9-13

DREAD NATION

Tweens & Teens

By Justina Ireland

Alternate-history Civil War with zombies, AfricanAmerican girls trained as elite killers of the undead, and a fanatical government intent on security: you won't be able to put this one down. Instead of taking in a horror flick at the drive-in this summer, teens and tweens can get lost in this high-concept novel for 14+.

Adults

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THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS

By Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar

This heartbreaking debut novel shifts back and forth between contemporary Syria, and the Middle East of the Middle Ages, weaving the stories of two girls trying to find their place in their respective chaotic worlds. Even with eight hundred years between them, their lives parallel - full of epic battles, metaphoric and real…. Beautifully written!

summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 39

FOOD

f

The Busy Mom's Guide to

Meal Planning WRITTEN BY KATHERINE MORNA TOWNE

“My kids are clamoring to eat again-can you believe it? I just fed them a couple hours ago!”

So many of my mom friends and I have said something similar to each other since having babies, many times, and we all laugh every time, exactly because keeping children appropriately fed is no joke—if we didn’t laugh, we’d cry at the frequency and stress of feeding little ones.

In my experience, the stress of feeding my kids comes from three places: first, that I want them to have good, nutritious meals and snacks; second, that I want the possibility of them actually eating the food to be fairly high; and third, that the busy-ness of life makes actually sitting down and thinking about what constitutes good, nutritious food that my boys will actually eat—and then stocking the fridge/pantry in a timely manner—a sometimes seemingly impossible (or at least exhausting) task.

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I’m not an expert at this by any means—at least a couple times a week I find myself in a panic over what we’re going to have for dinner, never mind making sure we have the necessary food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks for all the members of our family and our various daily schedules.

But I’ve absolutely found that if I take a few minutes—maybe as much as a half hour—once a week to look at the calendar and make a plan, every meal of every day goes so much more smoothly. These are the things that I try to keep in mind when I do so...

1. Evening activities Dinner is the one meal I really strive to make balanced and nutritious, so for me, dinner is the meal that requires the most planning. Right now, I have five boys playing baseball, so there’s a practice or a game on most of our weeknights; and of course they’re all scheduled during dinnertime, so my meal planning for baseball nights (or basketball/meeting/doctor appointment/summer beach nights) looks different from nights when we’re home. Whether you prefer to pick up something while you’re out, or bring dinner to the field, or bring a snack to the field and eat something heartier when you get home, I find that having a plan is crucial—otherwise, if you’re like me, you’ll get home with a bunch of dirty, tired, starving kids (and parents) and stand staring in the fridge, wondering what you can pull together quickly while everyone else has a meltdown.

2. Quick fixes Speaking of pulling something together quickly, sometimes I need to grab a snack on the go for the little ones (and me), or something to tide all of us over until we get home. Snacks for school also fall into this category, since I’m packing lunchboxes

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during our morning rush (not recommended, but it’s the way it is). Taking a few minutes to plan means I’m not caught without options when I need them. Our favorites are individual applesauces, yogurt, string cheese, goldfish, and fruit, and my supply diminishes so quickly that I need to constantly be aware of how much we still have and when I need to restock.

Kate and her husband have six sons ages 13, 11, 9, 8, 6, and 4; they’re expecting their seventh baby in the fall.

Follow her at on Facebook at kmtowne23, or email her at kmtowne23@gmail.com.

3. General sense of good nutrition This is one of the hardest ones for me. Eating healthy foods doesn’t come so naturally (or happily) to me in my own diet, so figuring out good foods to give my children is a challenge— especially since I’d rather them eat than not eat, and many healthy options fall in the “won’t eat, can’t make me” category for my boys (obedience issues aside—that’s a story for another day). Over the years, I’ve refined my basic hope for meals down to a carb and a protein, plus a vegetable or a fruit; I find it more difficult to make this happen at breakfast and lunch, so I really focus on making dinner a good, nutritious meal. Keeping that general formula in mind helps me put together meal options both for home and at the ball field, or wherever. And in our house, for those who are just really having a hard time with that evening’s dinner, cereal (with or without milk) is their only other option.

In summary, my advice for busy moms (including myself) is to take a half hour on a weekend day (or whenever works best for you) to make a meal plan for the week, taking into account your desire for healthy, balanced meals and snacks, as well as your family’s upcoming schedule. Success favors the prepared! (And lack of planning can render Mom a frazzled mess.) f

summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 41

FOOD

f

Gardening Tools A

MUST HAVE

WRITTEN BY REBECCA WHALEN

As seasoned gardeners pull out their tools to see what needs replacing and new gardeners begin to purchase their first, the Saratoga Family team thought

RadiusPRO Stainless Transplanter

A veteran gardener raved about this one, calling it a must-have for any seasoned gardener, or new gardener at that. The sharp, narrow head allows gardeners to separate and transplant perennials, shrubs, and other plants without disturbing the other plants surrounding them.

It’s precision is only matched by the height of the shovel, 41.5 inches. And there’s nothing quite like that odd round handle.

Tomato Snaps This is a simple one, yet a great tool that can be used season after season. The straps are easier on your tomato plants than other straps (made of lightweight polypropylene webbing) and the snaps won’t ever rust. And while the name guides you to what they can be used for, the snaps can honestly be used for just about any veggie or flower that needs the support.

Where to Find It: www.TomatoSnaps.com

we’d lend some help. We asked a few local gardeners, both seasoned and new, to fill us in on their favorite tools, and the below five are it!

EZ Digger

Another go-to by local gardeners, this unusual-looking hand tool helps you dig small holes when planting but it’s also a great tool to use to scrape those weeds away that are getting far too close to your perennial beds. The tool can be used to loosen any type of soil and it seems these tools last a lifetime!

Garden Weasel A newer gardener fell in love with this tool.

This cultivator is perfect if you want another one of those all-in-one tools. You can till, cultivate, aerate, even bring weeds to the surface with this tool. The tines detach, so if you want to weed around planted rows you won’t have any problem. This is also another tool that will not rust if left out, key for any busy or young family.

Where to Find It: Ace Hardware

*For the Kids: Briers Kids Hand Tool Set A recent trip to TJMaxx yielded an introduction to this adorable children’s set. A fork, rake and trowel, together with a waist belt to carry them, younger kids will love getting into the dirt with these bright colored hand tools. Metal on the bottom, wood at the handle, and easy loops at the top make this a perfect pick for your budding mini gardener.

Where to Find It: TJ Maxx

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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

WRITTEN BY JODIE FITZ

Summer Recipes

Quick, Easy & Tasty!

Looking for a few new recipes to keep life fun & delicious?

Check out this issue's tasty dishes that are quick and refreshing during the summer months!

Follow along with Jodie for more recipe bites at www.jodiefitz.com

Butterfly Quesadillas • • • • • • •

2 – 6” flour tortillas 1/8-cup mascarpone cheese 1-tablespoon honey Strawberries Blueberries 1 green grape 1 carrot stick

DIRECTIONS 1. Wash and dry your fruit.

2. Mix the mascarpone cheese together with the honey. Spread half of the mixture onto one of the tortillas and then the other half onto the other tortilla.

3. Thinly slice the strawberries.

Lay the slices onto one tortilla. Note: The number

of strawberries you use will depend on the size of your strawberries.

4.

Lay the other tortilla on top to create a sandwich.

5. Melt a very small amount of butter in a frying pan over medium heat.

Place the quesadilla into the pan and toast one side. Then flip to toast the other side. Remove the quesadilla from a pan to a cutting surface to cool for a couple of minutes, but still warm.

6. Add blueberries to a small skewer and top it off with a green grape. Add two slivers of carrots cut from a carrot stick to the top of the green grape to serve as antennae. Note: The

number of blueberries will depend on the size of the blueberries and skewer used.

7. Cut the Tortilla into quarters. Following the picture, lay out the cut quesadilla like butterfly wings. Add the fruit skewer to the center & decorate the tip of the wings with extra blueberries.

S'more Freeze Pops Additional Supplies needed:

• •

3 – 7 oz. paper coated cups Wooden Craft Sticks *

Layer 1 •

6 oz. vanilla Greek yogurt

Scoop 2 oz. of the yogurt into each cup.

Layer 2 • Mini marshmallows • 2 honey graham crackers 1. Place 8 mini marshmallows into the vanilla yogurt.

2. Place the graham crackers into a mini saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

chopper, food processor or blender & crush.

3. Equally distribute the crumbs on top of the marshmallows & slightly press down into the vanilla yogurt. .Layer • • • • •

3

6 oz. vanilla Greek yogurt 2 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. peanut butter 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder ½ tsp. vanilla extract

1. Stir the yogurt, cocoa powder, honey, peanut

butter & vanilla extract together. Evenly distribute the mixture into the cups.

Add a wooden craft stick to the center.

2. Place the cups in the freezer for several hours before serving.

Note: The best way to remove the freeze pops from the cups is to clip the edge of the open top with scissors & peel the cup away from the pop. * Wooden craft sticks can be located in the school supply aisle at your local Price Chopper & Market 32 Stores.

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PARENTING

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Travel Secrets

FOR THE JOYFUL, EASEFUL & GRATEFUL VACATION WRITTEN BY DR. RANDY CALE

Vacationing with children can be a nightmare or it can be a joy. The trip to the beach can be loaded with fun, and just as quickly it can turn to a battleground where no one is getting along.

Sometimes, we can even plan the trip of a lifetime, only to discover that we are ready to go home before we are halfway done.

Th e Big Four...

Why Vacations Can Turn to Disaster

Dr. Cale is a Clifton Park-based parenting expert, author, speaker, and licensed psychologist who offers practical, no-nonsense parenting advice for all ages.

His website, terrificparenting.com, features hundreds of articles and dozens of parenting products that will help you achieve your goal of happier children and a peaceful home.

1. Complain ts and Whining

Children often go on vacation expecting everything to go their way. This doesn’t happen, and often they complain. In fact, many parents find kids complaining more on vacation than at home because their expectation of ongoing, incessant fun and enjoyment can rarely be met. This is particularly the case when activities are balanced with different sibling interests. One child is happy when the other is unhappy.

2. Sibling fighting

This is one of the most common sources of vacation frustration. Siblings who struggle getting along at home often have breaks from one another, and yet this may not be the case on vacations. Thus, bickering and fighting can escalate, and close quarters often means that the frequency rates climb with each passing day.

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3. Lack of Appreciation

For many families, much is in invested in the big vacation. Not only time and financial resources, but also mom and dad may be looking forward to a much needed ‘break.’ With the stress leading up to the vacation, and the sacrifices made, many of us expect just a bit of appreciation for those repeated meals out, the tickets and the constant entertainment. When we get complaints instead, we can become deeply disappointed with the lack of appreciation.

4. No Behavior Plan

For many families, they struggle to manage behavior within the context of a regular daily structure.

However, with little of the same structure in place, behavioral problems often escalate, and parents do not have a clear plan for dealing with this.

Increasing behavioral issues can quickly suck away all the joy from a great day.

What’s the Summertime Solution for that Great Vacation?

There is no magic that suddenly shows up on vacation when there are regular problems at home every day with behaviors. However, if the vacation is sitting right in front of you, these solutions will save the day. However, please realize that these are essentials to also bring into everyday life, so more ease and joy can abound at home.

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Vacation Rules...

Travel Rule #2

Explain to your children, “There will be new rules this year for vacation. Listen carefully, as there will be no negotiation of these on vacation.” Then explain the three main rules.

Always let your actions teach more than your words.

Travel Rule #1

You can spend $400 for tickets for that amusement park, and two of the kids are complaining before you get through the entrance gates.

At this point, most of us use our words to battle against their words.

The tone can escalate quickly, and it can get ugly quickly. Bad idea.

Only Travel in Peace Make this commitment to your children: “We will only keep moving forward, if we travel in peace. Thus, the car will move if there are calm and respectful interactions. If we get distracted by your conflicts and fighting, it is really unsafe to drive or continue and the car will stop.”

That's right. You just pull over. Don't remind the kids to be quiet or to calm down. Instead, pull over as soon as possible. Turn on some classical music and wait. Wait until all is quiet, and then start a five-minute timer. Sit and wait until there is five minutes of peace and quiet. In other words, the timer only starts when there is silence, and is reset to five minutes anytime there is noise. The car will only begin moving again after five minutes of calm.

Will this be painful the first time? Yes, remarkably so. But the lessons learned will be invaluable for the rest of your vacation.

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Solution:

Lead with action, and not your words.

Here’s how that translates to real life: Regardless of where you are, let the kids know you are willing to leave and go to the car or bus or hotel, and sit there for a time out. Use the same five-minute rule, where there will be five minutes of silence before returning to the activity.

Be willing to leave any activity, no matter how enjoyable or how expensive. Extreme behavior warrants the immediate action. This means you walk out - and usually you come back shortly. But sitting on that bench or baking in the car usually teaches the powerful lesson.

Again, don't talk about doing it if you are not going to do it. Treat your kids as if they are brilliant, and they will quickly learn from your actions. Remember, you play fair. You lay all this out in advance, so your kids will know why you are doing what you are doing.

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PARENTING

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Do this once - and it's likely you won't have to, again. If two kids are behaving well, and one is out of control, one parent can walk out with the difficult child.

adult time, if desired. Prepare them as best you can, but make sure it's clear that not everyone gets everything they desire. It just won't happen that way.

Don't discuss "inappropriate behavior." Simply leave the activity and go sit in the car for a time -out. If too far, find that bench or hilltop to sit it out for the five minutes of silence.

Don't make changes based on whining and complaining - only on reasonable input offered in advance. Ignore all complaints.

Ignore whining. Ignore repeated questioning. Ignore ugly comments. Ignore nasty verbal response as if it's just not worthy of your attention. Give no energy to this pattern of negatively focused expression.

If you are at the pool, and it's out of control, you take the kids to the room for the time out. If one child hates Sea World, see how much he complains after sitting in the car for 30 minutes with no one listening to him. Suddenly, Sea World will seem much more appealing.

It may be boring for you, but it's even worse for your child. The closer you can connect a poor choice with a clear consequence, the more effectively your action will teach. Repeated requests for cooperation, prodding or encouragement on your part only makes things worse.

Become that parent who uses behavior (your setting of the consequence) to effectively teach better behavior. This is the underground secret to building responsible children who honor limits and do so joyfully.

Travel Rule #3

Let gratitude pull your interest, while complaints are ignored.

Before the day begins, share the agenda with the children. Take their wishes into account as best you can, but present them with a clear game plan. They will have lots of child-focused time. Build in some

46 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

When the children begin to behave more positively, then re-engage them. Don't offer discussion or reprimands like "I've heard enough.

Can't you be quiet and enjoy this?" or "Do you know how much money this cost? Be grateful!" or "What's wrong with you? Nothing seems good enough!" or "Don't you know how hard it is for us to get time off from work for this?" Statements like these typically make things worse, not better. (And if you notice, it’s now YOU who is the complainer as you complain about your child’s habits!)

Instead, if you want your kids to show appreciation and gratitude, then you must show appreciation. You must be a leader for your kids, showing them how to be grateful when others may not be. Talk about the fun you're having. Enjoy the taste and look of good food, and perhaps grateful for not having to cook. In other words, be what you want your children to be. Simply put, mirror back to them how you wish them to act.

Finally, become obsessed with smiling and acknowledging even the slightest of positive moments. Not praising your children… but simply smiling or nodding in those moments. This is the path of the wise, and happy vacationer! Have fun this summer. f

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PARENTING

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Parenting

PERSPECTIVE WRITTEN BY JASON SPECTOR

Jason Spector

I

Co-Creator of Sweethearts & Heroes

n the last edition I focused on shifting perspectives and assigning some basic definitions to the terms bullying, sweethearts and heroes. In this segment, my focus will be on three of our most commonly shared parenting strategies, which are: modeling, growth mindset and the immature brain. I’ll start off by saying I am no parenting expert. I have two sons, ages 10 and 13, so I’ve had many opportunities to make mistakes, which my wife could certainly attest to.

However, one advantage that I have over the average parent is that I have known thousands of kids from my over 20 years in the most socially and emotionally challenging space in a school, the gymnasium. I am a Physical Education Teacher. I’ve worked at every grade level and have known thousands of kids and families and their stories.

or self-assessment. I challenge anyone reading this to take a simple test for at least a week. I believe this works especially well for teachers and parents, but it can work for any interest we are pursuing in life. This test is called “The Pillow Test.” Every night, when you rest your head on your pillow, take a few moments to think and reflect on your day.

Think about the things you would say: “I am glad I did” as well as those things that you would say: “I wish I had.” Your goal is to have more “I’m glad I dids” than “I wish I hads.” If not, get motivated to achieve a higher performing tomorrow.

It’s that simple!

Now let’s focus on the areas of modeling, growth mindset and the immature brain, for your first week of pillow testing.

I am glad I did... h s i w I ...

I had

Before we dive into the three parenting strategies mentioned above, I think it is important to do some self-reflection

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Modeling Modeling is one of the simplest and most effective strategies one can use in trying to make an impact on others. Young people are much more likely to do what we do than what we say. In other words, actions speak louder than words. If you want your child to be more present and stop burying their head in their phone or device, then you need to do the same. If you desire more respect and kindness of a young person, then you must demonstrate respect and kindness toward others you encounter. This can be very challenging, but I regularly find ways to show patience and respect to some of my most challenging students. On occasion, I make it a point to apologize to them. They appreciate and find comfort in this kind of human connection.

We can no longer teach the way we were taught, or parent the way we were parented.

It is a different time and a different world, one which is intrinsically linked to cell phones and technology. Their brains are literally wired differently than ours. It is said that today’s generation will have held a technology device in their hand more than they will have held another person’s hand in their hand. What consequences will our children face for this lack of human touch and connection due to technology?

For all the “old school” parents out there, don’t give up on limiting usage of

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technology or creating young people who value physical and mental toughness. Keep in mind, I was an All-American college wrestler, mixed martial artist and kid from the 80’s that never wore a helmet. Times change, so consider allowing some shifts in your parenting perspective. Take heroic action when most won’t, and don’t forget, model behaviors you want to see in others.

Growth Mindset We speak to parents all over the country and every parent agrees their most prized possession is their child. Isn’t it ironic that we invest at least 12 years of education and training preparing them for work, but virtually zero years invested into education and training in parenting? Most of us just wing it as we go. It’s time to get back to some self-reflection.

This brings me to the growth mindset. It has been proven that mindset is 60 percent of an elite performer’s results. As parents we need to foster a growth-oriented mindset by providing growth-minded feedback. This focuses on the process and grit that the young person has put into their challenge or task. Attention and praise is paid to the effort and attitude, regardless of the outcome. This fosters a mindset that takes risks, rarely gives up, and fails forward, all while recognizing opportunities to improve.

The Immature Brain There is a reason that we can’t rent a car until we are 25, consume alcohol until we are 21, or drive after 9:00 p.m. until we are 18. The reason is the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex in the brain that is not fully formed until your mid-twenties.

It is this underdeveloped prefrontal cortex which triggers the irrational and immature behaviors that every parent has come to know and dread. So, before you holler “what were you thinking,” tap into your patience, understanding and nurturing side. Remember, at one point you also had an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex.

Don’t forget to end the conversation with a healthy dose of accountability, responsibility and discipline.

In closing, there is no greater responsibility or challenge than being a parent. Likewise, it has never been harder in human history to be a child. According to studies, empathy has seen a 40 percent decline since the 1980’s. While we are the most technologically “connected” society we’ve ever seen, we are also the most personally disconnected we’ve ever been. As teachers, community members, mentors and most importantly, parents, our jobs have never been more important. So, as parents, let’s start investing our skills and begin to study the strategies and techniques that will help create safe, happy, and successful children. f

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TRAVEL

f

And then there's to the West of it

- Saratoga Springs, that is!

2 IN THE SERIES...

#

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

S

ome people say New York State is one of the country’s most desirable vacation destinations. From parasailing and horseback riding to hiking and whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks to wineries and museums, theater and haunted history, why wouldn’t they?

And Saratoga is in the center of everything. No matter which way you turn, there’s bound to be something interesting to see or do with the family, friends, or even alone. Aim the car in any direction– a plethora of cultural, historical, or food experiences are sure to assault your senses.

Heading to the West of it - Saratoga, that is!

“I’VE GOT AN OLD MULE AND HER NAME IS SAL, FIFTEEN MILES ON THE ERIE CANAL. SHE’S A GOOD OLD WORKER AND A GOOD OLD PAL, FIFTEEN MILES ON THE ERIE CANAL.” -T homas S. Allen The Erie Canal and rich history surrounding it continues to fascinate people. At one time, miles of stark wilderness, swamps, mountains, and waterfalls made it difficult for travel. And when discussions first began, most people doubted that building a nearly 350-mile canal was even a possibility.

But, it was. And catching sight of The Erie Canal in all of its glory must have been overwhelming; after all, it began in Albany, snaked its way across the entire state of New York, and ended in Buffalo.

Many claimed it was an engineering marvel.

The length of time it took people to travel from one place to the next was suddenly cut in half. The cost for shipping freight was no longer exorbitant.

The Erie Canal was responsible for the first westward movement of American settlers, transforming Rochester into a thriving community, and making New York City the busiest port in the U.S.

THE CHITTENANGO LANDING CANAL BOAT MUSEUM

helps breathe life into the Canal and its 200-year-old history.

From the weathered stone dry docks servicing boats in need of repair to replicating a family’s typical day traveling up and down the Erie Canal, this interactive museum helps ensure that future generations understand the canal and its importance to our country.

The site includes a country store, working sawmill, boat shop, blacksmith shop, mule-stable, the remains of a sunken canal boat, a nature trail and visitor center. The living history museum offers educational programs that allow hands-on training and is on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

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Brae Loch Inn “IT’S PART OF ME, SCOTLAND. I’M STILL IMMERSED IN IT EVEN THOUGH I’M NOT THERE.” -Irvine Welsh Brae Loch Inn is a charming restaurant and family-run inn, tucked into the woods along the picturesque shores of Cazenovia Lake.

“Brae Loch” is Scotsman’s Gaelic and means “Hill Lake.” The story itself is of a Scottish lad who dreamed of coming to America, receiving his citizenship papers, and making a life for himself and his family.

And everyone wants to come to Brae Loch Inn. From tourists passing through to life-long residents celebrating a special occasion, the restaurant and inn welcome both, offering good food and friendly people.

The restaurant waitstaff wears tartan dresses and fancy Balmorals. A polite gentleman dons his kilt and spends a few minutes here and there, speaking with patrons as they settle in for a dinner of Scottish fare. Scotch Smoked Salmon, Haggis, Chicken Inverness, The Prime Minister, and Guinness Steak Pie are just a few tempting selections on the menu.

Not surprisingly, Brae Loch prides itself on offering more than 120 different single malts and blended Scotch whiskeys.

The Inn’s 12 rooms promise each guest a comfortable overnight stay.

Some boast fireplaces and jacuzzis, and a variety of packages are available.

“The gift hoose” is charming. The shop carries an assortment of genuine Scottish gifts, any of them a delightful keepsake for someone wanting to remember Cazenovia’s pride and joy – ‘as close to a Scottish Inn found this far west of Edinburgh.’ –Brae Loch Inn

©Madison County Tourism

Celebrating T he Wonderful Wizard of Oz a Weekend for Childhood Nostalgia “THEN THIS IS A DAY OF INDEPENDENCE FOR ALL THE MUNCHKINS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS! YES, LET THE JOYOUS NEWS BE SPREAD! THE WICKED OLD WITCH, AT LAST, IS DEAD!” ~ Mayor of Munchkin City Remembering the village’s most famous resident is easy when his name is L. Frank Baum, author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” During the first weekend of June each year, Oz-Stravanganza takes place in the charming village of Chittenango. And the meticulously planned itinerary is beyond amazing. Tens of thousands of Oz fans descend on the area during the week. Guests travel here from all over the world to enjoy every moment of this highly anticipated party.

The multi-day event is orchestrated by the International L. Frank Baum & All Things Oz Historical Foundation. As far as festivals go, this one happens to be the longest-running, largest Wizard of Oz celebration in the world. And the non-profit, 100% volunteer organization is comprised of members who adore all things Oz. That love shines through in their hard work and dedication. No matter how young or old the fan, everyone’s bound to delight in the child-like universe of Oz. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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TRAVEL

f ©Madison County Tourism

With special guests, live music, costume contests, parades, fireworks, and a museum dedicated to all things Oz, there’s plenty of magic to go around. Visitors can shop from vendor carts, gamble inside The Yellow Brick Road Casino, try a slice of Wicked Good Pizza, or relax over a meal at Dorothy’s Farm House Restaurant.

The 41st anniversary weekend will more than proof to anyone asking, We’re nowhere near Kansas, Toto, not anymore.

And for the History & Architecture Buffs Looking for a Unique Museum Experience The Oneida Community Mansion House might fit the bill. At their high point, the community had nearly 300 members.

The house was built in phases by the utopian community between 1848 and 1880. It measured 93,000 square feet. Today it remains a living testimony to the core beliefs surrounding communal living.

The architecture’s breathtaking; and although catching sight of the brick and stone façade can be quite overwhelming to onlookers, its humongous scale served well for the social practices of a 300-person commune choosing to live as one family.

The Oneida Community Mansion House existed for 33 years under the leadership of John Humphrey Noyes, whose beliefs were controversial to many.

Built on the core principles of life-long learning, vigorous health, advancing the good of not one but the whole, this family’s work ethic eventually steered them into one of the most impressive and successful manufacturing companies of the 20th century – Oneida Ltd. Today, interested visitors can stroll expansive grounds, visit colorful gardens, take a self-guided tour through the mansion, even rent themselves a comfortable room for an overnight stay.

This National Historic Landmark runs various educational programs throughout the year. It invites members and nonmembers alike to attend classes that teach what it must have been like to live as a utopian community under the roof of the Community Mansion House.

The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Brae Loch Inn, and Oneida Community Mansion House are all on the Haunted History Trail of New York State. You can find out more about their haunted history by visiting https://hauntedhistorytrail.com The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Well, that’s in a class all by itself.

Hopefully, you’ll make plans to attend the festival this year – it promises to be a great time. f

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Take a Trip with the Saratoga Senior Center The Saratoga Senior Center is a non-profit, non-residential community center located at 5 Williams Street in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs. At the Center, we offer a variety of programming, including intergenerational programs, games and fitness classes to engage members, cultural events and activities, computer assistance programs, and much more.

Additionally, Saratoga Senior Center members have access to a full schedule of trips, including van trips, one-day bus trips, multi-day bus trips, and excursions across the U.S. and overseas.

Dining options are also included, with monthly dinners held at the Center, offering a taste of local restaurants, along with weekly to-go dinners provided by

Three Vines Bistro with pick-up at the Center. Additionally, we offer a monthly breakfast, “Soup”er Social Fridays, which includes a café and snacks paired with a social activity, and a daily lunch provided by the Office For the Aging.

The Center also offers Senior Support Services, including our Community Connections program. Our advocate and social work interns meet with individuals, provide information and referrals, and assist with any questions or concerns that might be had. Community Connections is a volunteer match program that matches seniors in need with volunteers from the community to help them get to the doctor, grocery store, friendly visits, household chores, and much more. The goal, once again, is to help seniors age

ONE DAY BUS TRIPS

MULTI-DAY BUS TRIPS

Burlington & Von Trapp House Thursday July 12, 2018 $45/Members, $70/Non-Members Spend the morning touring Burlington on your own and stopping to enjoy lunch. Then meet back up with the group for an exciting tour of the Von Trapp house, including a guided history, documentary viewing, and a Q&A with a Von Trapp family member.

There will also be an option to do a brewery tour and tasting ($15) after the actual house tour.

Niagara Falls (Canadian) & Toronto (5 days, 4 nights) June 11-15, $539 Trip Highlights: 8 meals - 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners, guided tour of Niagara Falls and Toronto, visit to Casa Loma, Niagara on the Lake and Queen Victoria Park, a journey to The Falls on a Hornblower Niagara Cruise, and much more!

Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg, & Historic Norfolk (7 days, 6 nights) October 14-20, $815 *$75 Deposit due by June 14, 2018 Trip Highlights: 10 meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 dinners, Virginia Beach Boardwalk,

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in place and maintain an independent lifestyle. To complement these services, we offer support groups that give support to our seniors on various aspects of the aging process. We strive to give back to the seniors in our community who have given so much to us. You can visit SaratogaSeniorCenter.org for information on membership, classes and activities, trips, and more, or call (518) 584-1621.

The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Our mission is to encourage and support those working to maintain an independent lifestyle and provide them with the social interactions that are so important in bettering their overall physical and mental health.

guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg, dinner cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk, admission to the Nautilus & Battleship Wisconsin, and more!

COLLETTE EXCURSIONS Start planning early for these amazing excursions across the U.S. and overseas!

Imperial Cities (Prague, Vienna, and Budapest) September 3-13, 2018 ($3859) Spotlight on Rome October 4-10, 2018 ($3,399)

Colors of Morocco October 31-November 10, 2018 ($4159)

Tropical Costa Rica December 1st-9th, 2018 ($2,899)

Americas Music Cities (Nashville, Memphis, & New Orleans) December 7-14, 2018 ($3199) Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights March 13-19, 2019 ($3599)

For more information, stop into the Center or visit our website.

Trip scholarships are also available for those in need, so please don’t hesitate to inquire. Bus trips and excursions are open to the public regardless of age and residence. f saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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f FURRY FRIENDS

Get Their Backs WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER // PHOTOS PROVIDED

Hidden Health Problems Daily activities can be hurting your animals without you even realizing it.

Always walking your dog on a leash on the same side may wrench their neck. Small dogs or cats that constantly jump on the couch are creating wear and tear on their joints. If animals are overweight or have long nails, it can put pressure on their backs.

The symptoms that would be signs of a problem aren’t always easy to see.

O

ur animals are there for us.

Whether they’re doing work, winning races or simply cuddling companions, it’s our job to take care of them like they care for us.

Chiropractic care benefits animals in the same way it does people.

“Anything that was a minor issue for so long is now a major issue if you don’t do anything about it,” said Dr. Tamara Baroody Wolpert.

When she was 25 years old, she was walking bent over from back pain. A chiropractor helped her regain a normal posture and range of movement.

“He helped me out so much. I knew I wanted to study therapeutic medicine in veterinary school and because of what had happened to me, I wanted to start with chiropractic,” said Dr. Baroody Wolpert.

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“Healthy animals may look healthy but you may not be able to see them hurting,” said Dr. Baroody Wolpert.

They may pace, compensate, have limited movement or be suffering from digestive ailments. Because the body’s core component of the nervous system is located within the back’s vertebrae, correcting the bone’s movements can correct the nervous system.

Back to Being Themselves “She’s just not acting like herself,” explained a cat’s owner when they saw Dr. Baroody Wolpert.

Upon further examination, Dr. Baroody Wolpert discovered the cat wasn’t climbing, jumping or clawing furniture like she once did.

Dr. Baroody Wolpert began a 4-week program of once-a-week chiropractic care.

that not only did the cat seem happier; she had returned to acting like her old self.

“She said, ‘Oh my God! You’re a miracle worker.

My goal and dream was for her to jump on my bed and sleep with me again, and now she can’,” recalls Dr. Baroody Wolpert.

A Combined Approach to Care Chiropractic care is a preventive addition, not a replacement for traditional Western medicine. It can help restore a normal range of motion and prevent future alignment problems when done regularly. Appropriate for any animal with a spine, the first animal Dr. Baroody Wolpert adjusted was a sheep.

The gold standard for wellness care is to schedule animal chiropractic maintenance care for once a month. Depending on age and injury, this amount may vary. Dr. Baroody Wolpert uses hands-only techniques, finding them more accurate and intuitive than instruments. She also performs and teaches owners complementary massage methods they can use at home.

“Care starts with me. It does not end with me but with the owner,” she said.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tamara Baroody Wolpert of Animal Wellness Veterinary Services, call (518) 633-4340 or go to AnimalWellnessDVM.com f

After the first week, movement improved.

After the fourth session, the owner reported

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Local

Dog Parks WRITTEN BY CASEY REEDER

SARATOGA STATE PARK DOG PARK

tables, playgrounds, a skate park, and an enclosed Dog Run. This is the perfect place for your dog to safely enjoy the weather.

Rt. 9 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs The Saratoga Spa State Dog Park features a half an acre area for small dogs to enjoy and be protected, and a remaining fenced in area for all dogs to enjoy. Small dogs can use either area upon an owner’s discretion.

Walking trails outside of the fence allow owners and dogs to enjoy each other and nature any time of the year.

EASTLINE ROMP AND PLAY

KELLEY PARK DOG RUN Ralph Street Ballston Spa Run by the Ballston Area Community Center, this community park features picnic

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584 Eastline Road Malta This dog park sits on 20 acres. Aspects such as membership applications, park enhancement, development and maintenance are overseen by The Eastline Romp-and Play Committee.

More information on entry fees and memberships can be viewed online at eastlinerompandplay.weebly.com. f

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from our readers...

FURRY FRIENDS

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58 SARATOGA FAMILY // summer 2018

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summer 2018 // SARATOGA FAMILY 59

SAVE THE DATE

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Returns to Saratoga Springs th th July 9 & 10 Circus Smirkus,

the acclaimed international youth circus, returns to the outdoor soccer field at the Saratoga Casino Hotel for four performances this summer. On July 9th and 10th families can gather under the “Big Top Tent” as the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs proudly presents the Circus Smirkus 2018 “Big Top Tour.”

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This year’s tour continues the tradition of Smirkus theme-based shows with “Vaudeville!” – a celebration of the grand American tradition of variety entertainment! All are invited to enjoy a spectacular lineup of unforgettable acts, with amazing acrobats, mystifying magicians, jaunty jugglers, and wondrous wire walkers.

Awe, delight, and side-splitting laughter await!

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Thirty budding circus stars ages 10 to 18 bring youthful exuberance and polished circus skills from across the country and Canada. The 2018 performance troupe, comprised of 30 troupers, hail from fourteen states – California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington – as well as Canada. The show is full of talent and spectacle, with aerials, acrobatics, wire walking, juggling, clowning, live music and an array of brilliant costumes.

The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs first brought Circus Smirkus to Saratoga in 2007 as a fundraising and outreach event.

“Presenting Circus Smirkus in Saratoga allows us to bring something truly wonderful and extraordinary to the larger community beyond our enrolled families, and that is consistent with who we are as a school, citizen and neighbor,” said Anne Maguire, Administrator of the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. Ms. Maguire continued, "In addition to being an amazing event, it's a wonderful way for our school to give back. Through our 'Magic Matinee' program we donate tickets to local not-for-profits that serve underprivileged families so they can attend the circus too!”

Astrea Ravenstar, a faculty member and lower school chair of the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs commented, “The skill and agility of these young circus performers is inspiring for the children of our community! It demonstrates the power of practice and setting your mind to a task that you will see through to the end. It is collaboration and confidence, very much in the same spirit with which we teach at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs."

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Circus Smirkus is a non-profit, award-winning international youth circus founded with the mission of promoting the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus and inspiring youth to engage in life-changing adventures in the circus arts. This is the International youth circus featured on the Disney Channel, the circus that The New York Times called "exuberant" and "joyful." Circus Smirkus is the only American youth circus to put on a full-season tour under its own Big Top, a 24-meter, 750-seat, one ring tent in the European style. Now in its 31st year, the Vermont-based organization has raised over $2.5 million for non-profit partners.

Performances are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Tickets are $25 for adults 13 and older and $19 for children 2-12. Children younger than two are free on an adult’s lap. All proceeds raised will go directly to the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.

Tickets can be purchased locally in Saratoga Springs at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga on 69 Caroline Street and at G. Willikers at 461 Broadway. For information on group rates, call (518) 365-3459. f

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SAVE THE DATE

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JUNE 6/3 11TH ANNUAL CANTINA KIDS FUN RUN

Congress Park ∙ 268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs ∙ 8 – 11 a.m.

This is the only run in Saratoga that’s designed especially for kids.

Participating kids are raising money for children's healthcare at Saratoga Hospital. A run for kids, all about kids, that benefits kids…a great family event right in downtown Saratoga Springs. Two course options: a ¼ mile course that is a short loop recommended for kids ages 7 and under or a 1-mile course recommended for kids ages 8–12. Strollers are welcome, so families can run together.

The school with the highest participation (by percentage) wins the Healthiest School Contest and Trophy. For more information, contact Klare Ingram at kingram@saratogahospital.org or (518) 583-8765. Registration Fee: $20

6/3 2018 SARATOGA ANTIQUE BOTTLE SHOW & SALE

Saratoga County Fairgrounds 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa ∙ 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Antique Bottle Show and Sale featuring old bottles, stoneware and related items from dealers and collectors across the United States.

Educational exhibits & free children's grab bag. The show and sale benefit the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa. The show serves as the Museum's chief fundraiser for the year and gives the Museum an opportunity to promote the fun and interesting hobby of bottle collecting. We feature a free bottle grab bag for all students and provide research materials to learn about bottles. Attendees are encouraged to bring in their old bottles (bottles with contents please bring in a picture & brief description) for identification.

6/3 2018 FESTIVAL OF YOUNG ARTISTS

Saratoga Performing Arts Center 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs ∙ 2 – 5 p.m.

As part of Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s commitment to fostering artistic collaboration and providing free access to enriching arts programs for local youth, it has partnered with Empire State Youth Orchestra, Northeast Ballet Company, and the Capital District Youth Chorale to present the first-ever “Festival of Young Artists.” The festival will celebrate the collaborative creativity of more than 400 of the Capital Region’s brightest young dancers, musicians, singers, poets, and visual artists. This event is free to the community. However, reservations are recommended; visit spac.org for details.

6/10 2018 CAPITAL REGION TOUR DE CURE

Saratoga County Fairgrounds 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa ∙ 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Tour de Cure is an event where no matter what road you take, you will be joining thousands of people from around the country who have the same passion as you to fight diabetes and its burdens All riders, runners and walkers will be treated to lunch and a fantastic celebration party for all to enjoy. The Tour de Cure is bigger and better than ever with options for everyone. Help the American Diabetes Association in joining our fight against diabetes by signing up today. Registration fee is $15, fundraising minimum is $200. To register visit: main.diabetes.org/site/TR/ TourdeCure/TourAdmin?fr_id=12302&pg=entry

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6/10 6TH ANNUAL BEEKMAN STREET ARTS FAIR

Beekman Street Art District ∙ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Join us for a one-day fun day on Beekman Street. Enjoy a juried art and craft show, musical groups, open mic, street performers, makers’ spaces for kids and adults, and food trucks all in the Beekman St. Arts District from Grand Ave. to West Circular, which will be closed to traffic. Produced by the Arts District on Beekman, Inc, our 6th Annual Beekman Street Art Fair will kick off summer in Saratoga Springs.

6/13 – 6/17 SKIDMORE COLLEGE SARATOGA CLASSIC I HORSE SHOW

White Hollow Farm ∙ 28 Brickhouse Road, Stillwater ∙ 8 a.m.

This event is held over two weeks, Saratoga Classic I on June 13-17 and Saratoga Classic II on June 20-24. The top-level competition attracts many of the country's best horses and riders to Saratoga.

Over the past 20 years, the show has attracted more than 13,000 horses and participants from 49 states and seven countries; and has raised more than $4 million for financial aid/scholarships for students of Skidmore College. Events begin each day at 8 a.m., except for Saturday, June 16 and June 23, when events begin at 7:30 am. Admission is free and open to the public.

6/22 – 6/24 SARATOGA BALLOON & BBQ FESTIVAL

Saratoga County Fairgrounds ∙ 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa This family-friendly event celebrates the best of the Capital Region with food, live entertainment, shopping, kid’s activities, and balloons.

Event highlights include 30 hot air balloons with four liftoffs and one of the best balloon glows in the U.S., 75 marketplace exhibitors, 5 BBQ chefs firing up the smokers and grills, live entertainment and music, a beer and wine garden, activities in the Stewarts Kids Zone including face painting, a walkabout balloon, pony rides, petting zoo and a magic show. For more information and a full festival schedule, visit balloonandbbq.com

6/28 BALLSTON SPA CONCERTS IN THE PARK BEGIN

Wiswall Park ∙ 39 Front Street, Ballston Spa ∙ 6 – 8 p.m.

The BSBPA presents the 2018 Concerts in the Park summer concert series in Wiswall Park. This free concert series is a great family-friendly event made possible by our sponsors each year.

Bring your blanket & chairs to the park for a great evening of live music in the village! The concerts are held on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. directly following the Thursday afternoon Farmers’ Market. This year’s concert season runs from June 28 through August 30 and we once again offers a diverse line-up of talent.

JULY 7/7 PARKFEST 2018 AT GAVIN PARK

Gavin Park ∙ 10 Lewis Road, Saratoga Springs ∙ 1 – 9 p.m.

In 2018, the Town of Wilton's annual July 7th Parkfest Celebration will take on a Bicentennial flair with period characters, crafters, games, music, photos and more. You won't want to miss this annual summer celebration "kicked up a few notches" in honor of their 200th birthday year. Admission is free.

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7/15 SARATOGA DOG & PONY SHOW

Saratoga Polo ∙ 2 Bloomfield Road, Greenfield Center ∙ 4 – 7 p.m.

Join us for this fun family event and bring your dog. The Dog Show is open to all dogs, big and small. Categories include: Dog that looks most like its owner; dog that looks least like its owner; best trick; happiest dog. Prizes will be awarded to winners. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $100 for VIP. For details visit, www.aimservicesinc.org/events/saratoga-dog-pony-show

7/20 SARATOGA RACE TRACK OPENING DAY

Saratoga Race Course ∙ 267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs ∙ 11 a.m.

The highlight of summer in Saratoga is the summer racing meet, featuring world class Thoroughbred horse racing. Get ready for another thrilling season of racing in Saratoga Springs.

7/24 – 7/29 177TH SARATOGA COUNTY FAIR

Saratoga County Fairgrounds ∙ 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa Classic carnival fun is just around the bend in Saratoga County!

The 177th Saratoga County Fair is sure to be a hit with every member of your family. For details visit, www.saratogacountyfair.org

AUGUST 8/4 – 8/5 SARATOGA SUMMER MALL EXPO ARTS, CRAFTS & LIFESTYLE

Wilton Mall ∙ 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Artists, crafters, vendors and local businesses of all varieties! Great selection of pottery, ceramics, hand-forged jewelry, stained glass, seasonal decorations, home décor items, herbal products, body care products, silk and dried floras, and more. Prizes and Raffles throughout the 2-day show.

8/18 – 8/19 10TH ANNUAL SARATOGA ARTS CELEBRATION

National Museum of Dance ∙ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The 10th Annual Saratoga Arts Celebration is a juried fine arts and fine crafts festival of visual and performing arts featuring 100 invited artists. The Festival includes live musical performances on both days with local celebrities - Umbuntu, as well as free hands-on children’s arts activities and a variety of food temptations.

Sunday there will be a Farmers Market to enjoy as well. It all happens rain or shine, inside and under tents. Admission is free to both the Saratoga Arts Celebration and the National Museum of Dance. There is plenty of free parking.

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Look for our complete calendar of events and activities online at saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com!

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SAVE THE DATE

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FIND A FARMERS' MARKET Saratoga Farmers’ Market

Clifton Park Farmers’ Market

Outdoor market runs from May through October Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

High Rock Park Pavilions 105 High Rock Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

July through October Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m.

Shenendehowa Methodist Church parking lot 971 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market June 14 to September 29 Thursdays, 3 to 6 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon Wiswall Park Corner of Front St. and Low St. Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Greenfield Farmers’ Market June 22 to September 7 Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m.

Middle Grove Park Corner of Middle Grove Rd. and North Creek Rd. Middle Grove, NY 12850

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Spa City Farmers’ Market

Outdoor market runs from May through October Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lincoln Baths 65 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Glens Falls Farmers’ Market

Outdoor market runs from May through October Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon South Street Pavilion 25 South St., Glens Falls, NY 12801

Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market

Outdoor market runs from May through October Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monument Square Corner of River St. and Broadway Troy, NY 12180

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ONE LAST THOUGHT

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T ake a Walk PHOTOS BY LEA MONROE

Saratoga Spa State Park is home to some of Saratoga's most popular attractions: the mineral springs, SPAC, and the beautiful Victoria & Peerless pools. These popular attractions are often what draw so many people to the park, locals and visitors alike.

right off of Geyser Loop Road, the Mineral Springs Trail is a half-mile loop.

During the summertime you'll see people of all ages hiking along this nice flat trail. Try it out and make sure to soak it all in by taking a moment to dip your toes in Geyser Creek.

The next time you visit Saratoga Spa State Park take some time to explore the trails.

At the beginning of the loop, you'll see both Hayes Well Spring and the epic Geyser Island Spouter. The rest of the walk is sure to amaze you and your fellow walkers.

The Mineral Springs Trail is great for all ages and levels to explore. Located

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The flat walk is great for everyone of all ages, but it is recommended that you wear footwear with good traction - some areas of the trail can get slick!

The trail is easy to follow and also well marked.

Get outside this summer and enjoy all the park has to offer. f

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