Simply Saratoga Holiday 2015

Complimentary

SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Holiday 2015

Happy Holidays...

from our family at Saratoga TODAY to yours! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty

General Manager Robin Mitchell

Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee

Creative Director Alyssa Jackson

Advertising Design Morgan Rook

Graphic Design Shawn Lockwood

Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey

Contributing Writers Tim Blodgett Makayla Boden Peter Bowden Jenna Burger Nancy Castillo Dave Delozier Ashley Dingeman Arthur Gonick Megan Harrington Charlie Kuenzel Meghan Lemery fritz Megin Potter Jordana Turcotte

Photographers Heather Bohm Tallman MarkBolles.com Tracey Buyce Alice Corey Margaret Kuenzel Deborah Neary Ian Parker SaratogaPhotographer.com John Seymour Gail Stein

Published by

Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 fax: (518) 581-2487

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Simply Saratoga 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 © 2015, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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FROM THE EDITOR Chris Vallone Bushee Managing Editor

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR… I’m already planning for company and looking for new recipes for Thanksgiving dinner (Luckily, I now have JODIE FITZ in my life!!)

Anybody that knows me, knows I LOVE the holidays and luckily, this issue is full of great ideas… For shopping, cooking, decorating, gift giving and helping others. And yes, we have all your favorites… restaurants, advice, great shops, fashion, history and of course H&G, but this issue marks a milestone for us.

We’ve never had a man on one of our covers and what a pleasure it is to bring you Officers Glenn Barrett and King Tut of the Saratoga Springs Mounted Patrol Unit on our Holiday cover.

The Saratoga Springs Police Department was wonderful to work with on this story and I think they were as excited to talk about this program as we were to tell it. I hope you enjoy meeting King Tut and Jupiter and all the Officers of the Mounted Patrol…

Jay Cadoret, John Sesselman, Aaron Moore and our COVER MODEL, Glenn Barrett.

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We’ve been working on some new page designs and features, and I was going to wait till the NEW YEAR to roll them out, but my 23 year old magazine designer, Alyssa, said that would be so PREDICTABLE (yikes – we wouldn’t want that!!) and NOW would be so much better – hope you like them!

I have to congratulate Arthur on the wonderful job he did with his piece on Dee Sarno – wow, what a life she has lived! (page 73) I love hearing about how much you enjoy our publications… and when you suggest stories we should cover and houses we can feature, I LOVE having the freedom to do that, since we have Saratoga TODAY to cover the weekly NEWS of the region… leaves the fun stuff for me!

As always, I have to close with a big THANK YOU to all of our readers and advertisers, without them, Saratoga TODAY couldn’t continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge to the thousands that read them each issue – please mention us when visiting these businesses.

You can contact me at cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com or (518) 581-2480 x201

I WISH YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR!

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CONTRIBUTORS TIM BLODGETT Tim Blodgett and his wife, Rose own Saratoga Tackle & Archery, he can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is now located on Route 29, just before Schuylerville. Visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

MAKAYLA BODEN Makayla Boden is a senior at Schuylerville High School, and is excited to be interning at Saratoga Today through her school’s internship program. She intends to study graphic design and merchandising in college, and has gained great insight through interning.

Makayla has been involved in writing and the arts for many years, and is very happy to be able to put her skills to use by being involved with the publication.

PETER BOWDEN Peter has been the region's go-to garden guy for over 35 years. His knack for practical and concise explanations has served him well during his 20-year tenure as WRGB’s garden guy. He is an artist and avid photographer whose images have appeared in textbooks, magazines and travel guides. Peter lives with his wife, Sharon and their pets in an old house in the country.

JENNA BURGER Jenna Burger is a local Interior Designer, Blogger, Bargain Hunter, and avid DIYer who strives to inspire and empower others with her high-end look for less design approach. She shares daily inspiration and DIY projects on her blog, and delivers smart, stylish, and sophisticated design solutions to fit the needs and visions for each client’s space.

Visit Jenna at jennaburger.com

NANCY CASTILLO Nancy is a co-owner of our local Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, located off Exit 15 of the Northway.

She writes The Zen Birdfeeder blog and has had her writing and photography published in BirdWatcher’s Digest and Watching Backyard Birds. You can occasionally hear her answering questions about birds on the WAMC VoxPop call-in program. Nancy and her spouse enjoy watching birds at their feeders from their log home west of Saratoga.

DAVE DELOZIER Dave is known as the eco-local guy around town, as he published the "eco-Local Living mag from 2008-13. Dave and his wife Brenda "walk the walk" having converted their small suburban Saratoga Springs residence into a Permaculture homestead, integrating elements such as edible landscaping, PV solar power & micro-farming. Dave is now a certified Permaculture Design Consultant and looks to help others who are seeking a more healthy, grounded and resilient lifestyle. ecolocal@gmail.com.

ASHLEY DINGEMAN My name is Ashley Dingeman and I can’t deny it – I’m in love with food. As a Saratoga Springs native, it has always been a dream of mine to have the opportunity to do the two things I do best: eat & write.

JODIE FITZ Jodie Fitz is a wife, working mother of three and the creator of the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club.

She will be releasing two cookbooks in 2015; The Chaotic Kitchen; a collection of recipes to help make the lives of busy families just a little bit easier when it comes to mealtime & Cooking Up Fun; designed to get kids taste testing & experimenting with foods.

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MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ Meghan began her career in Boston where she spent five years counseling cancer patients at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She returned to the Saratoga area and started in private psychotherapy practice. She currently has an office in Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls. She is also the author of her first published book, titled “Please Pass the Barbie Shoes” which was published in Spring of 2011.

ARTHUR GONICK Arthur’s story about Dee Sarno in this issue pleased “the Chris Bushee” so much that she immediately gave him an early holiday gift… another assignment… or as she would put it – ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT! Anyway, it’s a surprise, so he will say no more.

MEGAN HARRINGTON Megan is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of publications including national magazines, local newspapers, and websites. When she’s not writing, she enjoys training for marathons and coaching fellow runners. After spending the previous seven years in New York City, Megan and her husband recently relocated to Saratoga Springs and are loving their new community at the base of the Adirondacks.

DENNIS G. HOGAN Dennis G. Hogan was born in New York City and his story is a common one: his dad took him to Saratoga Race Course as boy as he’s returned every year since. He is a writer and photographer with an appreciation for Thoroughbreds. He has previously written for Thorofan and is a regular contributor to Equicurean. He lives in Westchester County, NY.

YVONNE MCEACHRON Yvonne McEachron is the founder/blogger of layered. design, llc., a styling company offering services in interior decorating, wardrobe styling, and wedding planning.

Follow @layeredny | www.layeredny.com

MEGIN POTTER 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.

SARATOGA TOURS Dave and Charlie are co-owners of Saratoga Tours LLC and are both retired award winning educators with a combined 70 years of service to the students of Saratoga Springs High School. Over the last 15 years they have excited and educated thousands of visitors with their depth of knowledge and appreciation for the history of the city of Saratoga Springs.

JORDANA TURCOTTE Jordana Turcotte is a lifelong New Yorker and a Saratoga County resident since graduating from RPI. After staying at home for a bit with her children (now 10 and 8), she decided on the “rest of her life job” as Professional Organizer. Starting Simply You in 2008 fulfills a passion for organizing. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her volunteering at her kids’ school, being Mommy chauffeur or hanging out with her two rescue dogs.

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SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

HOLIDAY 2015

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Meet King Tut, Jupiter and the officers of the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit

Officers John Sesselman and Jupiter

For our Holiday Features...

Behind the scenes of our cover shoot on page 146!

See Page 13

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A HolidayTradition…

Christmas Trees and Model Trains

44

Ice Fishing anyone?

46

Wait till you see what’s been happening at West Mountain!

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Eating Out in Saratoga

64 Meghan Lemery Fritz

suggests HEALTHY BOUNDARIES 66

Do ADULTS really color? YES!!

68

The Parellas…

A Saratoga Family

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Meet the Massage Therapist who takes GIFT GIVING seriously

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Arthur Chats With…

DEE SARNO

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Artist Spotlight – Nancy Magnell

84

The High Rock Spring… a year in the making

87

Post Time Memories with Dennis G. Hogan

135

Life in Saratoga

142

Save the Date

Thirty pages of HOME & GARDEN

Starting on page 103

Fashion pgs.

90-99

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…THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US AND WE HAVE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR! 14 - HOSTESS TIPS & ADVICE 16 - RECIPES FROM JODIE FITZ FOR THANKSGIVING DAY … AND THE DAYS AFTER! 31 - ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALLOW YOU TO GIVE BACK DURING THE HOLIDAYS GIFT IDEAS GALORE: 36 - THE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE 50 - STOCKING STUFFERS FOR MEN 70 - WHAT YOUR PET WANTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS 88 - WHAT YOUR TEEN WANTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS 100 - STOCKING STUFFERS FOR WOMEN 116 - WHAT YOUR KID WANTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS 144 - BUY LOCAL EDITOR’S PICKS

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Cool Drink Idea

Festive Garnish

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Hosting Thanksgiving

This Year?

• For every tried & true recipe… try something new and different to possibly add a new family favorite (but you might want to do your experimenting BEFORE the big day!)

• It’s OKAY to start with a boxed stuffing mix.

• Starting the night before, is not just a good idea, it’s a necessity.

DIY Decor

• Buy extra timers for when putting multiple items in the oven… label and leave on the kitchen counter.

• Make a non-alcoholic beverage for the whole family to toast together: Simmer in a crock-pot all day... equal amounts of cranberry juice and cider with a couple teaspoons of allspice and cinnamon.

• Have your knives professionally sharpened ahead of time (make that call now, before you forget again!)

• Google HOW TO CARVE A TURKEY so you’ll look like a pro!

• Speaking of “the turkey” …check out some new garnish ideas on Pinterest.

• Pies can be made ahead of time, frozen and then thawed.

• Read your recipes… twice… so you have all the ingredients and the equipment needed.

• Buy extra disposable take home containers for the leftovers - everybody loves a doggy-bag …and if you’re like me and save all those cute shopping bags from your trips downtown… you’re all set!

• Do you know where your meat thermometer is… does it work?

• Break your shopping list into two trips… non-perishables can be purchased earlier, fresh stuff on Tuesday.

• Try making your own apple and cranberry sauce… totally worth it!

• Lists! lists! lists!

• I’ve always labeled my bakeware and serving pieces… (little slips of paper inside, along with the serving utensil) I know what size pieces I have, what I need, and I don’t forget anything.

• DIY holiday decorating… it’s fun, easy, and you’ll be so proud of yourself… and if you still need ideas after looking at this HOLIDAY issue of Simply Saratoga… google Jenna Burger + Thanksgiving (LOVE Jenna!)

• Crock pots are a great way to keep your potatoes warm (although they might need extra milk and butter.)

• And yes, your thermos can keep your gravy warm!

• These are oldies, but are worth repeating… Wash as you go and set the table before your guests arrive.

• When cooking for a crowd (I learned this one from my mother-in-law) the turkey can be cooked and carved ahead of time and the slices can be kept warm… floating in the juices… convenient and super moist!

I feel like my tips should’ve been called…

"How to survive Thanksgiving in a little kitchen!"

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Recipes

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ENTERTAINING Made Easy!

NO BAKE DESSERTS Acorn Bites

Mini No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites • Mini Filo Shells

• 7.5 oz. 100% pumpkin

• Melting Chocolate (or morsels)

• ¼ cup light brown sugar

• Pecans, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 oz. whipped cream cheese

• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons milk

• ½ teaspoon all spice

• 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar

• 4 oz. whipped cream

1. Place the chopped pecans in a bowl or plate.

2. Melt ¼ cup of the melting chocolates at a time in a glass bowl in the microwave by following the directions on the package.

3. Dip the top edge of the mini filo cup into the melted chocolate and then immediately in to the chopped pecans. Continue this process until they are all rimmed with chocolate and pecans.

4. Let them set on a flat surface until the chocolate has fully set.

5. Note: This can be done the day before you plan to serve the Acorn Bites.

6. Mix the whipped cream cheese, milk and confectioner’s sugar together. Then add in the pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and all spice. Mix all of the ingredients together.

ipe for great rec This is a ist in making, ss kids to a it’s quick and e s u a c e b s can most age easy and process from e handle th ing to end. n in g e b

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7. Fold in the whipped cream.

Note: You can make the filling ahead of time & let it set in the refrigerator, but don’t fill the mini filo cups until you are ready to serve.

8. Place the pumpkin mixture into a Ziploc lunch –sized bag and seal it. Clip a corner with a pair of kitchen shears and pipe the filling into each cup just before serving. The filling will fill approximately 30 mini filo shells.

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HI, I’M JODIE FITZ! I’m so excited to be sharing some of our family favorites with the readers of Simply Saratoga magazine!

I have spent the last six years traveling in SIX (!) states cooking with kids & families…

I can relate to the BUSY COOK : ) As my recipe collection continues to grow, I am starting to share some of the recipes that you will find at our house for meals…

Enjoyed by both family… and friends!

I am always experimenting & creating tasty bites, finding the simplest way to do it & love sharing great flavor and time saving finds along the way.

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream • 15 oz. 100% pure pumpkin

• 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon

• 14 oz. fat free sweetened condensed milk

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

• 8 oz. light whipped topping, frozen 1. Thaw the whipped topping.

2. Fold together the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, cinnamon and vanilla until the ingredients are fully mixed together.

3. Pour the entire batch into a freezer friendly storage container and freeze over night before serving.

TOPPINGS:

This pumpkin pie ice cream is tasty on it’s own or topped off with Price Chopper’s chocolate syrup and/or caramel sauce that can be found in the baking aisles in the ice cream serving section.

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DISH IT UP:

If you are looking for a little added fancy for your Thanksgiving table, you can make Filo (phyllo) dough bowls to serve it in ahead of time. And here’s how; 1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Cut approximately 3 sheets of filo dough so that you can gently lay a strip in a muffin tin and then cut several layers to fit crisscrossed on top so that in the end you fill the muffin tin.

4. Repeat this process until you have filled all 12 cups.

5. Baste the filo dough with a very light layer of canola oil.

6. Bake the cups for approximately 5 – 7 minutes. The filo will be lightly browned.

7. Remove the pan and let the cups cool completely before removing them from the pan.

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SENSATIONAL SIDES

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries, Mangoes & Walnuts • 6 cups of peeled, diced sweet potatoes

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1 cup dried cranberries

• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 mango, diced and removed from the rind

• 1/2 teaspoon all-spice

• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

• Sea Salt

• 1/2 cup canola oil 1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Stir the sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, walnuts, cinnamon, all-spice and mango together.

5. Pour the mixture into a 13 x 9 glass baking dish that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray.

6. Add a light coating of sea salt.

3. Add in the canola oil and mix until it is evenly distributed.

7. Top the mixture with a sprinkle of the remaining tablespoon of Brown sugar to lightly coat the top.

4. Toss in all of the brown sugar, holding back 1 tablespoon.

8. Bake the mixture for approximately 40 - 45 minutes.

9. Stir half way through the baking time.

Quinoa Crusted Zucchini Bake

TOPPING

• 2 Large Zucchinis

• 1 large clove of garlic

• 2/3 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese

• 1/2 cup onion, finely diced

• 1 tablespoon freeze dried basil

• 1/4 cup light olive oil

• 1 - 14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes

• 1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

with basil, garlic & oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper

• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa

• 1/2 teaspoon salt 1. Wash the zucchini, remove the ends and cut it into large chunks.

5. Place the uncooked quinoa into a grinder until all of the quinoa has been ground into a bread crumb texture.

2. Stir the cut zucchini, onion, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil together.

6. Mix the ground quinoa, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and parmesan cheese together until it's mixed well.

3. Add in a clove of crushed garlic and mix the ingredients together well.

7. Add in the olive oil and continue to mix the ingredients together until the quinoa is evenly coated.

4. Pour the zucchini mixture into a 13 x 9 glass baking dish that's been coated with a non-stick cooking spray.

8. Add the moistened quinoa to the top of the zucchini mixture and bake the entire dish, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 35 - 40 minutes.

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LEFT-OVER = TWICE AS YUMMY! BBQ Turkey Pizza

• 2 – 3 cups cut, cooked turkey (left-over from Thanksgiving, of course!)

• 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese (room temperature)

2. Cut the turkey into small, diced pieces and mix with a BBQ sauce of your choice; our favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s.

• Pinch of black pepper • BBQ sauce (your favorite) • 1 pre-made pizza crust (round)

• 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1. Mix the cream cheese, onion powder & garlic powder together and spread the cream cheese layer on the pizza base of your choice.

• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

3. Add the BBQ turkey onto the cream cheese layer and top it with 4-6 oz. of freshly grated sharp cheese.

4. Heat your oven to 400 degrees and bake for about 20 minutes; until the cheese is melted and all of the ingredients are heated through.

BBQ Turkey Mini Bagel Bites 1. Take the left-over BBQ turkey (from above).

2. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of finely chopped onions or scallions to the leftover BBQ turkey and mix it with a little bit of mayonnaise.

3. Spread it on some mini bagels and top it with lettuce and serve a whole new kind of Thanksgiving left-over sandwich.

You can always catch what’s going on in our lives at www.jodiefitz.com and www.facebook.com/jodiefitzcooks, or check out my new cook books coming soon! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Jupiter

Officer Glenn Barrett Tracey Buyce Photography

Officer Jay Cadoret King Tut

Meet Jupiter and King Tut

A COMPELLING COMMAND

Photo by John Seymour

Officer John Sesselman and King Tut on graduation day from the New York State Saratoga-Capital District mounted patrol training program

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WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

C

uriosity creates a crowd. Excitement and anticipation grow. People push forward, squeeze in, and press ahead to see what’s happening.

Whether you gladly join into the surging, fluid mass of people that congregate, or view it as a necessary inconvenience; the intense force and energy that make up the anatomy of a crowd are undeniable, and often unpredictable.

The crush of the crowds that swell Saratoga’s size are controlled, in part, by the commanding stature of the beasts that help attract the people here in the first place; horses.

After retiring from racing at the Saratoga Harness Track, the standard-bred trotter Jo Jo Geronimo started his service career. Training with the New York State Park Police in crowd and traffic control techniques, he was renamed Jupiter and partnered up with Saratoga Springs Police Department mounted patrol officer Glenn Barrett.

Horse and rider learned together techniques like the sidestep, which allow them to push back a line of sightseers with just a shift in weight and a tug on the reins. Barrett stressed that in the mounted patrol, being effective takes special communication between horse and rider.

“Mainly it’s about building trust between myself and the horse. Every time we hit the streets, it’s a training experiment,” said Barrett. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The practice of peacekeepers using horses has been around for centuries and one of the largest mounted patrol units in the country is only a few hours south of here in New York City. Having a mounted patrol division in Saratoga didn’t become a reality however, until 2004 with the donation of Jupiter by former owner, Ballston Spa resident Joanne Hamilton. A natural fit for the city, horses afford officers the advantages of expert maneuverability, visibility and respect.

“He makes me look good,” said Barrett.

Looking good is, in fact, a key component to why the mounted patrol is such an effective tool in the police force’s arsenal.

Simply seeing the sheer size of Jupiter, and the 1,800 pound black Percheron King Tut, cantering down Caroline Street, is enough to make people stop and take notice.

Perched atop the backs of these massive beasts, mounted patrol officers have the extreme advantage of enhanced visibility; allowing them to split apart the sea of people and watch over fellow officers on the ground.

They can be seen improving community relations at school functions, helping at track events, parades and festivals.

Officers John Sesselman and Aaron Moore graduated in May from the New York State Saratoga-Capital District mounted patrol training program at the Upstate Equine Medical Center in Northumberland and have already

Photo Provided saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Photo by John Seymour

"

They can be seen improving community relations at school functions, helping at track events, parades and festivals."

experienced hundreds of people coming up to them while on horseback to say, ‘hello’. Because of their training, the public is able to approach and even pet the front half of the horses without fear, but are asked not to feed them.

“It’s a good feeling with the horses. It’s a great way to promote the positive aspects of the police department and it’s nothing but smiles,” said Sesselman.

Patrolling the city streets to prevent potential incidents during the early morning hours between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. is another of the mounted patrol’s main duties.

“Many people are surprised to see a horse on the street and don’t know what to do, but even if they are horse people, they think, ‘Well, I don’t know this horse,’” said Barrett.

Beyond their curiosity and interest in the horses, the public’s intrinsic cautiousness around these large animals can do a lot to diffuse extreme situations.

“During fight calls, if there is a fight between two people, I can put the horse between them and

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that’s it, the fight’s over,” said Barrett.

Able to stand his ground, Jupiter was once punched in the face by a belligerent drunk during a routine call. Without ever leaving his mount on the horse’s back, Barrett was able to grab hold of and handcuff the offender.

While he has been able to experience some epic moments, including racing Jupiter across the track on a beautiful sunny summer day to get to a call, Barrett emphasized that he and the other officers on horseback aren’t out for a joyride.

“When they’re working, they’re working,” said Sergeant Jay Cadoret, who took over running the division this year.

At the end of the night, the snow shovels come out and the manure piles are scooped up, hopefully before someone steps in them or money is dropped in by pranksters looking for a laugh by goading their friends into fishing it out.

“We do our best, but they’re animals,” said Cadoret, whose matter-of-factness can be partly attributed to an upbringing that included raising horses when he was young. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Photo Provided

Officers John Sesselman and Aaron Moore at New York State Saratoga-Capital District mounted patrol training program

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"

It’s a good feeling with the horses. It’s a great way to promote the positive aspects of the police department and it’s nothing but smiles,” John Sesselman.

Tracey Buyce Photography Tracey Buyce Photography

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Tracey Buyce Photography

Returning to their barn within the city limits, the hardworking horses cut loose at the end of their shift, running free and bucking in their paddocks, each with their own distinct personality shining through. They are hungry for extra hay, carrots, and sweet peppermint candies.

Tracey Buyce Photography

“It warms my heart to see that they really do care about the horses,” said Tami Wolpert, who owns the farm where they are boarded with her husband Ryan.

Working together, or in shifts, and housed together all winter long while they are off duty, the horses have bonded like brothers.

Curious and protective of each other, they are sweet and personable to families with children but can be aggressive when they need to be, said Wolpert.

“Seeing him, I think, ‘Wow.’ I know now why he’s a good police horse,” said Wolpert of her experience with Jupiter. The normally calm and stoic King Tut whinnies and rears when Jupiter is away, while the slightly mischievous Jupiter makes a point of brushing up against and dirtying the officer’s crisp, clean uniforms every chance he gets, said Cadoret. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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There is a friendship here, for which everyone is grateful, supported by the administration, city, private and community donations that make the program possible.

“If it weren’t for the community being behind us, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” said Cadoret. SS For more information contact Sergeant Jay Cadoret at 518-584-1800.

Blue Eyes is snuggling with Tut, while jealous Bali is trying to get in the middle!

Tracey Buyce Photography

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It feels

Good to Give

& we have suggestions

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Holiday Assistance at The Franklin Community Center

Looking for ways

To Give Back

?

Adopt-A Family/ Chamber Angels The Chamber Angels has partnered with local agencies including the Southern Saratoga YMCA, Franklin Community Center, Mechanicville Community Center and Captain Youth & Family Services to provide holiday assistance to approximately 2,000 local children each year whose families are enduring financial hardships. They provide clothing, toys, toiletries and daily necessities to these families. For more information call 518-371-7748 or email info@chamberangels.com

The Toy Shop This organization collects toys from the community and creates a free toy shop for families in need. These families are then able to choose from a variety of toys and stocking stuffers for their children. All donated gifts stay in the community. If you or your business would like to host a collection box, please contact Mary Duclos at 518-371-1185 or visit captaincares.org/index. php/get-involved/holiday-giving

“Happy Hands” Mitten Tree The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center is sponsoring its annual “Happy Hands Mitten Tree” program through December 31.

Donations can be placed on the Mitten Tree in the Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scarves, gloves, hats and muffs are all needed. Those in need of warm gear are invited to come into the Visitor Center during the holiday season. The center is collecting toys for the “Toys for Toga” program as well.

For more information call 518-587-3241.

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The Franklin Community Center provides holiday gifts to children ages 2 to 14 years old. Gift requests are taken and are then matched up with generous donors from the area. General gift donations of toys and personal care items for the Holiday Store are appreciated anytime. For more information, please call 518-5879826 or email Kristen@franklincommunitycenter.org, Debbie@ franklincommunitycenter.org or visit franklincommunitycenter. org/programs-services/holiday-assistance

The Open Door Mission The Open Door is a Christian ministry dedicated to reaching out and serving the needs of the poor and homeless in the community. This is accomplished through the daily provision of hot, nutritious meals served in a friendly, welcoming environment and by providing shelter during the coldest nights of the year.

For more information, call 518-792-5900, email admin@opendoor-ny.org or visit opendoor-ny.org

Operation Adopt A Soldier This organization collects supplies and gifts for packages that are then sent out to thousands of men and women serving overseas. Families of soldiers are also served with the help of the local community. For more information or to get involved email wiseeagle1@yahoo.com or visitoperationadoptasoldier.org

The Empty Stocking Project Saratoga Children’s Committee’s largest project provides holiday gifts and necessities to approximately 1,000 children in Saratoga County each year. At the heart of the project are the “friends” who generously sponsor a child, fulfilling their holiday wishes. Gifts are collected, checked, and any last minute shopping is done before they are given to the referring agency. Please contact the Committee if you are interested in sponsoring a child or contributing to this endeavor. For more information call 518-484-1236. saratogachildrenscommittee.org

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An Orchestra of Action WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED

The jingle of the Salvation Army bell brings the joy of caring and sharing during the holidays.

It is a signature sound of the season that aids 30 million people worldwide.

T

he Salvation Army helped out Steven Martin’s family during World War II and today he “pays it forward” by being a bell-ringer himself… “If someone helps you, you help them back in any way you can, no matter what.”

Even on really, really cold days he’s out there, bundled up in layers, experiencing first-hand the generosity of people willing to give. Apologetic that they can’t do more, people have brought him food and hot chocolate while he reassures them that every little bit helps. He also remembers last year as someone unceremoniously placed a $50 bill in his bucket before walking away.

Created 150 years ago, the Salvation Army is a Christian charity that began in England.

Started in Saratoga in 1886, it was here in 1912-1913 that the British and American divisions were united into the organization that we know today.

With hundreds of iconic red kettles positioned throughout the region from November 13 until Christmas Eve this year, donations are an integral part of the program in Saratoga, said Captain Amber Boone.

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The 2014 Christmas campaign garnered $103,000 which is combined with their summertime and mailing appeals to fund their year-round programs, which include breakfasts, a food pantry and afterschool programs. Additionally, they offer disaster response services, clothing, shelter, senior, health care, counseling, financial and holiday assistance.

“It goes right to the kids and that’s why it’s so amazing,” said Boone.

“We are making a difference in people’s lives and doing so faithfully for so long that it really attests to why we’ve been a part of the community for 150 years.”

One child explains exactly how it is the Salvation Army helps.

“The center, for me, is so much more than an afterschool program. It’s there that you can walk in and see nothing but love surround you.” SS For more information call 518-584-1640 or visit empire.salvationarmy.org/EmpireNY/Home HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 33

Thank you Heidi for Leading by Example...

Photos by Heather Bohm Tallman

Giving back is Always in Style

34 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

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HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 35

Your HOLIDAY GIFT

Guide

great suggestions from some of our advertisers

CATHEDRAL PENDULUM TABLETOP CLOCK $48.00 Accents at Allerdice Accents Gifts, Décor & More 2570 Rte. 9 Malta (518) 899-6222 AccentsGifts.com

BLANKET SCARF This season is Mad about Plaid. . .

This cozy blanket scarf by Shiraleah is the perfect holiday gift. It's super-chic, one size and priced right at $31.00!

Lifestyles 436 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4665 lifestylesofsaratoga.com

REUSABLE GLASS BOTTLE Give the gift of glass! Glass--made from silica sand, the world's most plentiful solid natural resource.

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A great gift for even the most discerning beverage drinkers.

Photo by Gary Ziroli (Four seasons staff member)

Four Seasons Natural Foods 120 Henry Street Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4670

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LOCAL ONE OF A KIND IMAGES Commissions, originals.

Ornaments $15. Trivets $20. Coasters sets $20.

Pill Cases $10. Credit Card Cases, Keepsake Boxes $45, prints and framed art.

JC Parker Fine Art 7 May Apple, Malta, (518) 899-7311.

Studio open 11/21, 1-7 p.m., 12/15, 3 – 7 p.m. and by appointment.

BIRD FEEDERS Birds Love a Seedy Character!

Meet Rascal, Buttons and their friends. . . solid characters made of seeds and nuts your birds will love. An exclusive at Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop. Located in the Shoppes at Wilton on Route 50 next to TJMaxx.

(518) 226-007, wbu.com

Arts

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Can be used towards art and culinary programs for children, teens and adults.

50.00 Ray 684 From ______________________________________GC Code ____________ Tina

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CORK TRIVETS Cork trivets from Hudson, NY are an absolute delight! These handcrafted works of art will add whimsy to any table setting. $21.99 ea.

Northshire Bookstore 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 682-4200 Northshire.com

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Choose from traditional and gourmet cooking classes, pottery, glass fusion, beading and more. Visit www.SerendipityArtsStudio.com for calendar.

26D Congress St. (In Congress Plaza behind CVS), in Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: (518) 866-9553. Email: serendipityartsstudio@gmail.com Private parties available.

Please redeem within one year from date of purchase.

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GIFT CERTIFICATES Serendipity Arts Studio 26D St. Congress (near the UPS store) Congress St, Saratoga Springs (518) 886-9553 SerendipityArtsStudio.com HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 37

WOODCARTE Amish Made Solid Wood Blanket Chest, Available in many finishes! $199.95 The Wood Carte 1063 State Route 9 Queensbury, NY 12804 (518) 793-7655 woodcarte.com

KIDS CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR FOR ADVENTURE Visit our new Kid's Department for great outdoor clothing and footwear from names like Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, Bogs, and more. Oh yeah and we've got a great selection for adults too.

SPIRIT OF LIFE ETCHED DISC CHARM "The elegance of Saratoga Spring’s The Spirit of Life statue is fully captured in The Spirit of Life Etched Disc Charm, photographed here in sterling silver.

The charm is also available in yellow or white gold and is part of our Saratoga Collection" Sterling Silver: $90 14k gold: $210

Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company 490 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-3500, mountainmanoutdoors.com

deJonghe Original Jewelry 470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-6422 djoriginals.com

BOOTS The Frye Company 'Veronica Strap Tall' Violet's.

494 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4838 violetsofsaratoga.com

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THINKING OF HEARTS HOODY $28.99.

Stinky Dog 488 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518-450-1939, Stinkydog.com

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YOKO SWEATER BY LAUNDROMAT FAIR TRADE FASHION Alpine Sport Shop 399 Clinton St, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-6290 AplineSportShop.com

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS $30.00 each 23rd and Fourth One Franklin Square, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-3700, 23rdandfourth.com

12” X 12” GLOW IN THE DARK CAMERA DRONE Video/picture camera. 2.4GHz radio technology with 4.5 channel remote control. Includes memory card and adaptor.

931983. $99.99

SKIN CARE PRODUCTS Premium award winning skin care products that are guaranteed to combat everyday skin concerns.

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Allerdice Ace Hardware & Building Supply Downtown Saratoga, Milton, and Malta

HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 39

A long running Tradition

L

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WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED

ying in bed, silently listening for the sound of the most powerful thing that rolled through town, their excitement grew. A behemoth beckoned, the incessant clattering of metal on metal approached from the distance, carrying with it the promise of travelers and goods from a far-away place. Wooo-wooo! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Since their creation, people have been fascinated with trains. This large scale symbol of ingenuity still circles the Christmas trees in many of our homes in model form, linked by tradition, to the feelings of miracles and magic that comes with the season.

“There’s something about the sounds, lights and music that attract them,” said Elena Grotto, co-owner of Adirondack Train and Hobby. As the weather cools off, customers come into the shop looking for something to do. No longer a daily occurrence for many, children still experience majestic trains through popular culture references including the Thomas the Tank Engine cartoon series, the magical Hogwart’s Express from Harry Potter, and the holiday favorite; the Polar Express. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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“Parents come in and say, ‘I’m tired of watching him do this,’” said Grotto while moving her hands as if operating a digital device. “’I want him to do something with his hands and have something to show for it when he’s done.’”

' Didn t Everybody have one of these in their basement?!

Playing for hours while actually interacting with the toy and the people of all generations that can relate to and enjoy it, explains the continuing lure of model railroading. With the “HO” gauge all-inclusive power scale models priced right around $100 and the larger “O” gauge power models starting at $200 with cars that have been built to fit together since the 1940’s, the new blends with the old in this timeless gift.

Adirondack Train and Hobby provides repair services and encourages everyone to pull out their boxes of cars and tracks from storage.

That’s what Rob Sgarlata did when his son Tyler was born in 1991. At two months old, he had his baby seat propped up so that he could watch his dad play with a rare copper rail model train from the 1960’s. The exploding box car, rocket launcher and cop and hobo car may be politically incorrect according to today’s standards, but serve as a moving scrapbook of sorts. Once Sgarlata saw how much Tyler got into it, each year the set grew.

“I ended up taking up all the space under the tree so there was no room left for presents,” he said. They found so much enjoyment in model railroading that they even ended up building a ride-on version and running it every Saturday with a group of like-minded enthusiasts at the Adirondack Live Steamers club in Wilton.

“It’s one of the best clubs of its kind in the country,” said fellow member Ken Nelson.

“This is the hotbed of model railroading. It’s one of those areas in the country that collects model railroaders.”

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Adirondack Live Steamers Club in Wilton... They really know how to "play with trains" saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Rodney LaFlamme is passing his love of trains down to his grandson Austin,

First introduced to trains by his uncle when he was 8 years old, he’s been “hot and heavy” for them ever since, he said. Being the owner of a 25’ x 22’ walk-around set complete with scenery, you know it’s become a passion for him!

That seems to happen a lot with this kind of hobby.

“It’s something that fascinates a lot of people and something that has always been a fascination of mine,” said Rodney LaFlamme.

He has built an addition onto his home for his 30 foot model to have the space that it needs.

“I just love watching them and hearing the whistles blow,” he said. SS For more information locally, go to AdirondackHobby.com and AdirondackLiveSteamers.org. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 43

The Icemen

Cometh WRITTEN BY TIM BLODGETT, PHOTOS PROVIDED

L

ike it or not, winter is on its way. If you’re not planning to hibernate or migrate any time soon… there’s fun just ahead.

Many people enjoy winter sports like skiing, skating, snow shoeing and snowmobiling. They plan their vacations around and spend thousands of dollars on these pastimes and enjoy every second spent partaking in them. Many of those same people who will drive through a blizzard in search of fluffy virgin powder or tear down a trail on their high performance machines will gaze across a frozen lake at a man sitting on his bucket, fishing rod in hand and declare, “Look at that guy, he must be nuts!” Sounds pretty hypocritical doesn’t it?

This is the cross the misunderstood ice fisherman must bear, and willingly, it is borne.

Ice fishermen are sometimes charitably thought of as a different breed, but most of the time, the aforementioned judgment is the best they can hope for. Why do people ice fish anyway? Are they gluttons for punishment?

Do they have nothing better to do with their time? You can get all the fish you want at the supermarket, why would you sit out in the cold and try to catch fish through a hole in the ice? The answer, Grasshopper, is in the doing of the deed.

As a purveyor of fine fishing bait and tackle, I’ve met a lot of ice fishermen over the years. The young and the old, trophy hunters and fish fry seekers, dabblers and the deadly serious. They are all hooked on the same lure.

They all place their hopes on the temptation they dangle below the ice and experience the same rush of excitement when a tug from below sets their flags flying or drags their rod tip down. The cry; ”FLAG!” will turn the heads of all within earshot and send the lucky owner sprinting to the scene of the crime. The curious often join the fisherman, who is now on bended knee, and offer words of encouragement, advice (often unwanted), congratulation or condolence as needed. When the excitement is over they scan their spread of tip ups hoping they’re next or concentrate on the rod in their hands while they expertly jiggle their offering to the fish below.

44 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

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The young and the old, trophy hunters and fish fry seekers, dabblers and the deadly serious. They are all hooked on the same lure. They all place their hopes on the temptation they dangle below the ice and experience the same rush of excitement when a tug from below sets their flags flying or drags their rod tip down.

I wanted to talk to an ice fisherman and persuade him to share his views on why we venture forth on the frozen lakes. I would have been more than happy to talk to a lady ice fisher, but I didn’t have the phone number of any. I dialed the number of Fred Harrington, a local fisherman I’ve known for many years and he picked up on the third or fourth ring. Fred is one of those guys that loves to fish and is happy to share his time and knowledge with others.

He also laughs a lot so it’s fun to talk about fishing with him. Fred told me about a recent fishing trip he had taken with fishing buddy and outstanding automobile mechanic, Gary Childs, on Cape Cod. Many Striped Bass fell victim to the two anglers as well as a 7½ foot blue shark that tipped the scales at over 150 lbs.

I asked Fred how he got his start as a fisherman.

“When I was 4 years old, my Grandfather took me fishing on the Kaydeross Creek in Rock City Falls. I caught a 3½ pound sucker on a Mickey Mouse rod. I was hooked right then”.

I’ve asked the same question of many anglers over the years and always find it fascinating how clearly they remember that first experience.

“I think it’s important to teach kids how to fish. They need to learn and to be outside.

It’s not a survival thing, they just need to be out in the fresh air”.

We turned the conversation to ice fishing even though we both agreed that neither of us were quite ready for winter to start.

My first time ice fishing was with my uncle Glenn on Saratoga Lake. I figured that Fred would have had a similar start with an older relative but I figured wrong.

“A younger friend took me ice fishing for the first time when we were kids about 30

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years ago. He took me out on Loughberry Lake”. We both laughed at that because Loughberry Lake is now off limits to fishing of any kind. “We had the cheapest tip ups we could buy and used buttons as line markers but we caught at least 6 big Northern Pike and had a great time”. “It’s too bad that Saratoga Spring doesn’t issue permits to fish there like other towns do for their reservoirs”. I have to agree with that sentiment.

Fred is one of the few ice fishermen who uses a shanty he built himself on Saratoga Lake where he spends much of the winter.

I remember when there used to be villages of shanties on the lake, but times have changed and most ice fishermen are using lightweight, folding, portable shelters they take home with them when the day is over.

“It can be a real pain getting the shanty on and off the ice, but it’s nice having a home base. My shanty is a community shanty and people are welcome to use it as long as they respect it and don’t leave a mess or abuse it.

I’ve gone out to my shanty and found people I don’t know using it and that’s OK”.

That kind of generosity is rare these days.

Fred enjoys meeting people on the ice that hail from warmer climes and will take the time to show them his equipment and demonstrate its use.

“I’d rather take a new fisherman out and teach him or her how it’s done than an experienced fisherman”.

I asked what advice he would give to a beginner. ”First, get the warmest clothes you can! I like the Ice Armor brand. It’s a little pricey but it keeps you warm in the worst weather.

Wear insulated rubber boots. They will keep your feet dry even if you’re standing in 6 inches of slush all day and take several pairs of gloves and a towel to keep your

hands warm and dry. You won’t last long if you get cold and wet”. Sound advice if I may say so myself.

“Buy ‘medium shelf ’ equipment to begin with. You don’t need the best to get started, but don’t buy cheap unless you don’t intend to use it more than once. You can always upgrade later if you want better. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you. I like fishing for northerns and walleye with tip ups so it’s important to take the time to put them away properly so they don’t tangle”.

“Most important is to have fun. What I like the most is that you never know what you’re going to catch until you pull it up through the hole. It might be a big pike or a bass or anything else. It really doesn’t matter, I like catching all kinds of fish”.

We both had things to do so we said our goodbyes. Fred Harrington will soon be checking his equipment, getting it ready for the coming ice fishing season. Ice will be forming on the local waters soon, so if you have a sense of curiosity about ice fishing and the people who spend their time on the ice, head out onto Saratoga Lake when you see shanties on the north end. You may meet Fred Harrington out there and learn why the ice men do what they do. SS

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West Mountain is Given a WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED

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LIFT UP

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T

he changes are adding up, making a mountain of difference to skiers this year.

It’s clear as soon as you pull into the parking lot. The trees and brush have been cut away and the trail widened, so now when you look up, you can see all the way to the top of West Mountain, instead of just its face.

“It was always a great mountain, but you couldn’t see it,” said co-owner and general manager Spencer Montgomery.

“Holy Mackerel” is no longer just the name of a trail at West Mountain, but what people will be saying once they experience all the changes that have taken place. Most noticeably, this year is bringing the installation of a new triplechairlift. Robert Smith, a mechanic who has been maintaining the mountain’s

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summit double-chairlift for 22 years, took the last chair ride in May before demolition began on the old equipment, which dated back to the mid-1960s The dry, dusty weather provided a firm footing for the lifts’ 16 towers, which were delivered by helicopter and have been positioned closer to the lodge for easier access.

It was like getting one and a half lifts for the price of one, said Montgomery because the refurbished lift purchased from The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain is larger than was required.

The extra towers, chairs and cable will be combined with additional purchased parts; including more towers, chairs, a matching “drive terminal” and a newly fabricated “bull wheel” to form another lift that will be installed next season.

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“This is super exciting for everyone. West Mountain is such a gem for this area. It’s such a blessing to have nice lifts. It’s something we’ve wanted and been hoping for, for such a long time,” said spokeswoman Paige Sidler.

Expected to be open and running by December 5, the new lift will elevate families’ experience of skiing at Queensbury’s West Mountain. Estimating an average 25 percent faster ride, the new chairlift offers the advantage of hydraulic tension cables for a smoother feel. The new pads and foot rests in the chairs make it more comfortable and the loading obstacle of the center post has been eliminated, as well.

“It really was a monumental moment for West Mountain to get the new lift in. It’s almost an emotional moment. It feels really good where we are now,” said Montgomery.

Additional improvements to the property this year include the beautiful rocky terrain exposed in the Gnar-Wall trail. Characterized as “gnarly” by Montgomery’s children, the name stuck.

Always with the intention of being a family-friendly resort, prices will remain 30 to 40 percent lower than what customers will find elsewhere, said Montgomery.

With approximately $4 million invested into the property since 2013, other improvements include revamping the main lodge and restrooms, the installation of 275 LED light fixtures, and a 100 percent increase in snowmaking capacity thanks to thousands of feet of pipeline and new high-volume snow guns. SS For more information go to www.westmtn.net

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7

Smartwatches are a big wish-list item this year

3

Stocking Stuffers

look for unique candy flavors like Bacon and Tabasco!

FOR MEN 1

20

23 19 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Gum/Mints Gift Cards Watch Body Spray Boxers Headphones Candy

Must-reads for men 8. Deck of Cards 9. Bottle Opener 10. Wallet 11. Belt 12. Small Tools 13. Chapstick 14. Beef Jerky 15. Golf Balls/Tees 16. Whiskey Stones

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17. Wool Socks 18. Cigars 19. Deodorant 20. Books 21. Bow Tie 22. Local Ground Coffee 23. Gloves 24. Lottery Tickets 25. Car Air Fresheners

26. Guitar Picks/Strings 27. Travel Coffee Mug 28. Undershirts 29. Disposable Razors 30. Shaving Cream 31. Pens 32. Hair Gel 33. Ice Scraper 34. Crossword books saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Personalized golf-balls!

15

18

13 Try some fun flavors like this Sriracha lip balm!

8

16

How cool are these Whiskey rocks

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The ins & outs of...

Christmas Tree Shopping …thank you Bob’s Trees for your help in putting this together!

BALSAM FIR –

YES

THE BEST SMELLING CHRISTMAS TREE

Many families buy and decorate their tree on Christmas Eve.

Sing Carols

What you do while taking a wagon ride!

YES

Fraser Fir –

15’

A GOOD SIZE TREE FOR A ROOM WITH A VAULTED CEILING.

YOU CAN BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE BEFORE THANKSGIVING!

The best needle retention.

3 Months

the longest time they’ve ever heard of somebody keeping their LIVE tree up!

The FIRST weekend of December –

usually the busiest weekend to buy a tree

WAGON RIDES

A GREAT WAY TO WANDER THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS TREE FIELDS TO FIND YOUR PERFECT TREE 52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

Hot Chocolate Goes great with a slice of pies and will warm you up nicely!

• Wreaths • Kissing Balls • Centerpieces • Ornaments • Home Décor • Pies • Fudge • Candies All items available in the gift shop after you pick out the PERFECT Christmas Tree saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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E AT I N G O U T

in Saratoga I'm Ashley Dingeman and

I can’t deny it – I’m in love with food.

As owner of SaratogaFoodFanatic.com, I’d like to invite you, the readers of Simply Saratoga magazine, to join me in savoring everything delicious in Saratoga!

SaratogaPhotographer.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SaratogaPhotographer.com

# FamilyFriendly

Growing up, all I knew was Italian food. I guess you could say I was spoiled, because my grandmother made the absolute best Sunday gravy I’ve ever tasted, and probably ever will. From meatballs to eggplant parmesan, her recipes are coveted greatly in my family, as is the tradition to come together around the dinner table every week.

It’s for that reason that Augie’s Restaurant became a favorite in my family many years ago. Since the time I was a young teenager up until now, I’ve enjoyed countless birthdays, celebrations, graduations, and everything in between at Augie’s. With big family style dinners and classic Italian dishes, dining at Augie’s has had a way of bringing me back to a place that I miss so much – spending precious time around my grandmother’s dinner table.

Augie Vitiello, the owner and chef behind Augie’s Restaurant, was born and raised in the Bronx, where he learned the secrets of old fashioned home-style Italian cooking from his parents. 13 years after opening Augie’s Restaurant in Larchmont, NY, Augie

brought his talents to the Capital Region, and settled in Ballston Spa, NY to open the Augie’s Restaurant we know and love today.

This year, Augie’s Restaurant is celebrating a milestone of 25 years in business, something that the restaurant is very proud of. This past spring, they introduced a small banquet room that fits up to 60 people for their own celebrations. Additionally, they’ve made a big push for their take out and catering services, which is a huge part of what they do.

What I find the most challenging about dining at Augie’s comes down to actually placing my order, whether it’s when I’m dining in or taking out. Because there are so many great menu items and portion sizes that feed 2-4 people per dish, over time I’ve developed my own list of “must haves.”

For starters, the baked eggplant rollatini which consists of slices of eggplant rolled and baked with Italian sausage and ricotta cheese ($14.95), is one of my absolute favorite dishes. Thinly sliced eggplant that’s lightly deep fried and then given some

SaratogaPhotographer.com

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creaminess from the ricotta and a little texture from the juicy sausage is the perfect way to start a meal.

For entrees, this is where the selection gets really complicated. There are two specific menu items that make my taste buds go wild. First and foremost, “The Kitchen Sink”, penne with shrimp, sausage, prosciutto, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and a tomato cream sauce (29.95). No wonder it’s called the kitchen sink, you could find pretty much everything in there. The creamy tomato sauce is slightly sweet, and with the salty prosciutto and sausage and the neutrality of the chicken and shrimp, it’s a phenomenal dish.

Additionally, I couldn’t write about Augie’s without talking about their Penne alla Vodka. The Penne alla Vodka is an al dente penne with a creamy vodka cream sauce and prosciutto ($22.95), and in case you were wondering, it’s outstanding. This penne alla vodka has been invited to all of my birthdays growing up, as well as my high school AND college graduation parties. These days, a celebration doesn’t feel right without it.

Did you know that Augie’s is making their own fresh pasta from scratch in the back? That’s right – and they’re only going to get more creative from here on out. “We have a couple of fresh pastas that we currently feature on our menu, including the spinach fettucine, whole wheat SaratogaPhotographer.com

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fettucine, red pepper linguine, and rigatoni,” said Augie Vitiello. “We’ll also be trying out different shapes and creative cuts to be featured as dinner specials moving forward.”

When I visited the restaurant recently, Augie invited me into the kitchen to take a look at some fresh rigatoni being made. It was magical, as many of you could imagine. Even better was later seeing that fresh rigatoni being served to me topped with marinara. I couldn’t believe how much the texture of this fresh pasta varied from a traditional dried pasta, which many of us are used to having at home or even while dining out.

And then, there’s dessert. Because honestly, an Italian dinner isn’t complete without a sweet ending. At Augie’s Restaurant, it should be a crime to leave without a bite of their tiramisu, delicate lady fingers soaked in coffee,

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layered with a whipped mascarpone, and sprinkled with cocoa ($6.95).

If there’s such thing as love at first bite, this is it. If you haven’t tried this tiramisu, you’re doing yourself a great injustice. It’s somehow light and heavy at the same time, and the upfront coffee flavor almost wakes you up from the food coma you’re most likely in when you’re eating it.

It’s creamy and smooth, and the perfect way to end your meal at Augie’s Restaurant.

Whether you’re planning a celebration or just want to gather around the dinner table with some of your closest friends or family, there isn’t a better option than Augie’s Restaurant. Eat, laugh, drink, and enjoy yourself, because dining at Augie’s is just like eating at home with your family, but better.

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Diners Saratoga

How many restaurants in the area do you know of where folks line up starting as early as 9am just for some eggs and toast? Well I know of just one in Saratoga, and that is the Triangle Diner.

It’s safe to say that Triangle Diner has a cult following, serving some of the best breakfast in the area. On any given Saturday or Sunday, you’re lucky if you can get through the door in less than 30 minutes. But guess what? Waiting is no big deal when it comes to this diner. That’s how good it is.

From the traditional booths to the single bar stools around the counter with black and white checkered floors and Formica countertops, there’s nothing else like it in Saratoga.

Situated at 400 Maple Ave on what appears to be a triangle between Maple Ave and Route 9, the diner itself seats approximately 50 people.

Once seated, you’re bound to be greeted by one of the always polite members of the wait staff within a minute or so, which is often a member of the Diggins Family, who own the joint. Four daughters and their parents have been running Triangle Diner since 2009, when Lora and Pat Diggins decided to transition the previous Sarge’s Triangle Diner to 60 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

Triangle Diner. With a minor facelift after the previous diner had been in operation for over four decades, Triangle Diner continues to carry on the diner feel, years later.

The restaurant offers your typical diner fare, such as pancakes, eggs whichever way you want them, home fries, hash browns, etc. But what you really need to pay attention to at Triangle Diner is their amazing selection of daily specials.

For starters, there’s always a flavored coffee, and I’ve never had one that I didn’t love. Banana bread, s’mores, caramel pecan coffee – you name it, they’ve probably offered it at some point.

What caught my eye on this particular Sunday for breakfast was the Annette’s Benny; Bacon, apple, poached eggs & cheddar on biscuits topped with hollandaise and served with home fries ($11.95). I know it’s not a lot to ask, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered eggs a certain way and had them prepared incorrectly. It brings me so much joy that you can count on Triangle Diner to cook your eggs perfectly, every single time.

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For those who prefer dessert for breakfast, Triangle Diner is very creative with their sweet offerings. The Apple Crumb French Toast caught my attention recently, featuring three slices of thick cut French toast topped with sautéed apples and a soft, sugary crumble ($6.95). It was sweet enough to be a dessert but totally okay to eat for breakfast, leaving you with a comforting and satisfying feeling, just like a freshly baked apple crumble during the holidays.

Thinking back to my first time at Triangle Diner, I ordered the French Toast Club Sandwich, not really knowing what I was in for. When it arrived at the table, I found myself with three pieces of maple french toast, separated by a stack of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and American cheese. The ultimate breakfast sandwich? I think that’s a given. If you have a hearty appetite, this is the breakfast for you.

The four daughters...Jennifer Grandy, Anne Kelley, Melissa Fitzpatrick and Katie Lomaestro

While we’re surrounded by plenty of breakfast spots in Saratoga, Triangle Diner stands out above the rest. If you desire a true diner experience from décor to food, Triangle Diner is THE place to go. Don’t let the line out the door deter you. I promise; it’s worth the wait.

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HEALTHY BOUNDARIES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON Learning to Honor your Peace of Mind in all Seasons

MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ,

LCSW-R

Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. Email meghanlemery@yahoo.com for more information

The holiday season is fast approaching and while the season can be a magical time of the year, for some the holidays are a trigger for stress, exhaustion, anxiety and depression. Learning to set boundaries and have a strategy in place to get through the holidays is the key to keeping yourself healthy and sane.

BE PROACTIVE

and enjoy our day-to-day lives, we have to honor the basics of self-care.

Before you rush out to begin frantic days of holiday shopping, take a few minutes to stop and reflect on years past. Are you always rushing to buy last minute gifts? Do you dread visiting certain family members but torture yourself spending time with them because it’s “the holidays”? Do you wake up frantic worrying about finances and the expectations of your children?

Good sleep, healthy nutrition, exercise and spending time with close friends and family are the basics to looking and feeling great. The basics are the first thing to go when we feel stressed and overwhelmed. Don’t abandon your dayto-day routine to accommodate a few days of holiday celebrations.

Take some time to think about how you can change your approach and come up with a holiday strategy that leaves you feeling more in control and clear headed.

Take the time you need to think about what matters most to you and your family during the season and take action steps to honor your vision of a peaceful enjoyable holiday.

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Take the time you need to plug in and refresh so that you avoid hitting the New Year with exhaustion and an unhealthy body and mind set.

Know what recharges your batteries and make a commitment to honor your self care plan daily.

It only takes a few days of neglect to feel the affects of stress and anxiety. Safe guard yourself from the holiday hangover by taking small steps daily to refresh and recharge.

SAY NO The holiday season brings endless opportunities to socialize and get together.

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Don’t put pressure on yourself to attend every invitation you receive. Take the time you need to sort out your schedule and attend the gatherings that work best for you.

If you have to attend the office holiday party, but are dreading an evening with colleagues, make a plan to go for a short time and have an exit strategy in place. Don’t put yourself in situations with people that will drain your energy and cause you to feel uncomfortable.

Say no when you need to, and attend gatherings that will be fun and lift your spirits.

TELL THE TRUTH The holidays are all about spending time with family and the people we love.

Unfortunately, for many, the holidays can be a trigger for negative feelings that may lead to a downward spiral of major depression.

If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, the holidays may represent chaos, insecurity,

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loss and feelings of hopelessness. Likewise, if you are going through a divorce the holidays can bring on paralyzing fear and dread. Many of us plow through these uncomfortable feelings and put on our survival suits just hoping to make it through the season.

distress. Your peace of mind and sense of security is far more important than someone’s reaction to it.

Be real about any feelings of depression that may creep into your heart and talk it out with a spouse, friend or therapist. Do not avoid or minimize your feelings if you are struggling and feeling blue.

Be real about what your triggers are and take the steps you need to honor your well being.

If we never stop to acknowledge a traumatic time in our lives we never allow ourselves to heal and move forward to emotional and spiritual health.

If there are certain family members that can be a trigger for depression and anxiety, be honest with yourself about these triggers and do what you need to do to feel healthy.

Don’t be bullied into putting yourself in a situation that will cause you emotional

Anytime you override your peace of mind to accommodate someone else, you are putting someone else’s agenda and comfort ahead of your own.

Self care is not being selfish, it’s about making your health and well being a priority in EVERY season.

As we get ready to enter the holiday season in full swing, take a deep breath, stick to the basics, have a strategy in place and ENJOY! Let the joy, peace and fun that the season brings lift your spirit and bring light into your heart! SS

WISHING YOU A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON!

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Color Me

Social

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED

“

It’s a way to feed our brains in a positive way, a type of artistic expression, through our choice of color… and you can’t really mess it up."

W

hen the soul screams out, “I want to express myself!” creativity is born. In a surge reminiscent of the Sudoku trend that hit its peak in popularity in 2005, 2015 is the year we are seeing adults across the country sharpening their colored pencils and flexing their creative muscles with coloring books made especially for them.

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Advanced coloring books used to gather dust at Northshire Bookstore. There were only a few in stock, shelved up in the kids activities section, but last Christmas customers started requesting Johanna Basford’s Secret Gardens and Enchanted Forest coloring books, and then it snowballed from there, said Northshire’s Event and Community Outreach Coordinator Rachel Person.

The books found a new home on the first floor by the stairs and now there are as many as 80 different titles in stock. The high-quality books are printed on thick paper and feature intricate designs offering a relaxing mindful or mindless meditative experience, depending on how you approach it. Prices range from less than $10 to nearly $25 each, and patrons are leaving with whole stacks of them, said Person.

“It’s a way to feed our brains in a positive way, a type of artistic expression, through our choice of color… and you can’t really mess it up.”

Seemingly a solo pursuit, people are instead forming adult coloring groups that parallel other trendy stress killers such as the paint and sip studios that have popped up in the last few years. Dover Publications sponsored the first national Coloring Book Day on August 2 and encourages a sense of creative comradery with a link from their website to the popular Meetup.com to find or start a coloring party near you.

“A big part of what we’re about is building community and something like that is what we want to do,” said Person, who has joined up with Saratoga Springs Public Library to host a Mom’s-Night-Out Coloring Book group.

Since October 2, the library has been providing sample adult coloring sheets available for free, in two locations; near the newspaper & magazine sections on the first and second floors. SS

For more information: Google or Facebook search ADULT COLORING, or visit northshire.com, coloringbookday.com

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Saratoga Families...

WRITTEN BY MEGAN HARRINGTON, PHOTOS PROVIDED

All parents are busy, but as a full-time working single mom of five kids, Elizabeth Perella might take the cake. The clan consists of 21-year-old Madison, who is active in the Saratoga restaurant scene; 19-year-old Lindsay, a student at Keene State College; 17-year-old Coleman, a student at Saratoga Central Catholic, 15-year-old Regan, a student at Saratoga Springs Central School, and 13-year-old Charlotte, a student at Maple Avenue Middle School.

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he family moved to Saratoga in 1999 and Elizabeth says she couldn’t be happier with their hometown. She remarks, “My kids have really loved growing up in Saratoga. Whether it’s attending SPAC events in the summer, hiking, or going to the track, we’re always doing something.” And the fun doesn’t stop when the seasons change; as winter approaches, the family looks forward to ski season. They are season pass holders at Gore Mountain and Elizabeth says, “We completely embrace winter and ski almost every weekend.” They love this activity because skiing is something the whole family can enjoy, even Regan who has special needs. Elizabeth explained that Regan learned to ski at Double H Ranch’s adaptive ski program. Regan also attends Double H Ranch summer camp and Elizabeth says its one of the things he looks forward to most.

Although raising five children is a job in itself, Elizabeth also juggles a busy career as Director of Business Development for Premiere Transportation. Elizabeth studied marketing while at Mitchell College and Central Connecticut College and has many years of experience in the field. When she joined Premiere a few years ago, she was initially managing both the marketing and business development departments.

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Elizabeth now focuses her attention solely on business development, reaching out to new customers and maintaining relationships with current clients. Premiere is a full-service transportation company that does everything from college athletic transportation to corporate transportation to medical transport services and Elizabeth loves the challenge. And for her, working at Premiere isn’t just another job. Elizabeth also values their commitment to the community. “They donate generously to many gala events in the area,” she explains.

Despite a packed schedule, community involvement is something Elizabeth is passionate about. She finds time to serve on the board for the Wildwood organization, a non-profit that helps adults and children with special needs. She also enjoys going for runs and cheering for her daughter, Charlotte, at Saratoga Rowing Association (SRA) events.

The family calls the west side of Saratoga Springs home and Elizabeth says the nearby forever-wild land is a beautiful place to run, hike, and play.

“Saratoga has been a great place to raise a family,” she says. “My kids have really embraced the area and all that it has to offer.” With its natural beauty, gourmet restaurants, and family-friendly community, the Spa City is a perfect match for the Perellas. SS

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What your

PET wants for the Holidays 8

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1 1. Herringbone Tank Mini Me Pups Pet Boutique $22.50 2. You & Me Sisal & Seagrass Orb Cat Scratching Post Petco.com $19.99 3. All Living Things® Bird Activity Center - Petsmart $11.99-$32.99 4. Happy Howlidays Pup-PIE - Lazy Dog Cookie Company $8.99 Composed by Makayla Boden 70 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

5. Black Spike Collars Mini Me Pups Pet Boutique $40.00 6. Essential Calming Oils Mini Me Pups Pet Boutique $12.00 7. KONG® Puzzle Slow Feeder Dog Bowl - Petsmart $12.99 8. Kitty Shack Bed Petsmart.com $19.99 9. Hyper Pet K9 Kannon Amazon.com $31.00 10. Jolly Apple The Cheshire Horse $11.95

11. "Like a Boss" Hoodie - Mini Me Pups Pet Boutique $25.00 12. Rounders® Peppermint Horse Treats Dover Saddlery $7.95 13. Anti-anxiety wrap Amazon $17.99 14. North Fetch Winter Parka Hooded Coat Petsmart $49.99 15. Top Paw® Travel Pet Water Bottle - Petsmart $5.99 16. Blueberry Dog Collars Amazon.com- $15.45 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Caring

Impressions W WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED

hat would we remember of Benjamin Franklin had he not been a printer? A wise scientist and entrepreneur, it was through his printing press that he earned his popularity and the means to make an indelible mark on history.

This idea ignited Nick Pavoldi’s dreams of learning the letterpress. Energized by the desire for extraordinary invitations to a techno-contra dance event he was spearheading at the time, five years ago he found Lori Hansen and her 1887 Golding #7 printer housed at the Historic Albany Architectural Parts Warehouse. Weighing approximately 2,000 pounds, the vintage machine requires a certain focus, patience and perseverance to operate safely.

“People do it because they can’t stop themselves from their hobby,” said Pavoldi.

After that first project, he didn’t stop either. For the last handful of years, he has been printing out gift certificates to his business, Bodywork Professionals, located in Latham and Saratoga Springs. He recently purchased the letterpress and print shop equipment, as well.

Hand-selecting the cotton paper, setting the type upside-down and backwards and then printing each card three times takes a lot longer than going to Staples, he said.

It also communicates a lot more. It’s a difference you can feel. The ghostly smooth ink leaves a slightly varied impression on each high-quality card, endowing each with its own unique character that elegantly suggests what Pavoldi and his business are all about.

“When you feel the quality in your hand, our subtle signal is that we’re going to care about you as much as we care about making the gift certificates,” said Pavoldi.

Printing 500 gift certificates takes about eight hours, even with the time saved by special ordering 3D acrylic plates to replace the painstaking typesetting process. The feeling of the machinery clicking into place,

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“

When you feel the quality in your hand, our subtle signal is that we’re going to care about you as much as we care about making the gift certificates,”

the pumping rhythm of the press, and the intimate interaction he has with each one is something he truly enjoys.

“Being a massage therapist, it’s to touch – vibe out – we think with our hands,” he said.

Attracted to the honesty in the ancient arts, Pavoldi’s passion is reflected in the framed art and solid wood furniture in his offices, and in the healing techniques that he practices. Along with a total of 14 therapists specializing in deep tissue, Swedish and Thai massage, among others, he has even set up a dedicated gong room in Saratoga for clients to experience enhanced full-body well-being. A pioneer in ROLF structural

integration techniques, Pavoldi’s goal is to assess and address the root of pain problems by working the body.

“I bristle at the term pampering or luxury, because I never though that’s what we were doing,” said Pavoldi.

A work of art that gives the lasting gift of health, Bodywork Professional gift certificates are a graceful expression of Pavoldi’s commitment to his craft.

“This is who we are,” he said. SS To see Pavoldi at the press, to order gift certificates and for more information go to www.bodyworkprofessionals.com

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Arthur chats with...D Sarno intro Arthur Chats with...

Dee Sarno

An Artistic Life Alice Corey Photography saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Written by Arthur Gonick

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Alice Corey Photography

"

I’m just out and about, doing my thing,” Dee Sarno said the other day when we were trying to arrange a meeting.

Here’s the thing about Dee’s ‘thing’: Saratoga has become an artsfriendly mecca… worthy of year-round attention, worthy of a mayoral arts commission (of which she is a member), worthy of all the accolades it receives – in large part because Delores (Dee) Sarno chose to do her ‘thing’ here.

The networker, the coalition-builder in Dee would say that she is one of many who have made contributions to the arts scene over the years, and there is no doubt that this is true. Saratoga would still have an arts scene, but there is certainly no doubt it would not be the vibrant, diverse scene we enjoy today, without Dee Sarno’s hard work and joy for the arts that has enhanced and enriched its landscape.

As the retired Executive Director of the Saratoga County Arts Council and the Founding Director of The Arts Center at 320 Broadway, in downtown Saratoga Springs, you continue to see evidence of programs she initiated, such as Art in the Park, and Art in Public Places, which still continue to this very day.

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It’s a little bit of symmetry to note that the Arts Council took over the building that had housed the old Saratoga Springs Public Library. Long-timers may recall that Dee found time to host a local access cable-show on CVI (a precursor to Time Warner Cable) called Saratoga People. The tapes from these shows have been preserved and are available at the Saratoga Public Library – modern edition – for those who want to see what pre-dated their arrival, perhaps, or for those who wish to reminisce.

Another very visible example of her impact on the arts scene occurs when you attend any film or stage performance at the Arts Center – for you walk through the doors of The Dee Sarno Theater, ladies and gents. This is an honor that was bestowed on Dee when she announced her retirement from the Arts Council in 2005.

She didn’t actually retire from there until 2007; in fact, she didn’t actually retire from the scene – she’s still involved and vital – serving as Board Chair for SaratogaArtsFest, and a host of other activities. “Nobody should ever retire totally,” Dee said. “Perhaps professionally. But you don’t retire from life.”

In other words, she’s still doing her ‘thing.’ And Saratoga continues to be enriched because of it.

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Photo provided

AG: So we had an office pool. Some people think you have been here all your life, but I think I hear the ‘downstate’ in your voice. Who wins?

DS: (Laughs) I grew up in New Hyde Park on Long Island. I actually lived in the same house I grew up in until I got married in 1959 (to her husband – A.J. They have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.) You don’t see that kind of thing much these days.

AG: Tell me about your early life and what got you interested in the arts…

DS: When I was young, I was really shy and unsure of myself. My fifth grade teacher, Miss Gilfoyle – Miss, mind you— was a real inspiration – she put on a play called: Polly, Put the Kettle On. I was fortunate to be chosen to be, of course, the kettle! There I am: Whistling, sputtering and twirling on stage – a real ham! I remember thinking how great this was. Miss Gilfoyle helped me to learn that on stage you could be anything you want. I guess I’ve been whistling ever since.

Presenting Bob Conant, Artistic Director of the Foundation of Baroque Music, with the SCAC Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1992.

Photo provided

Photo provided

There were some plays in High School, when I graduated in 1955, most women didn’t go to college – they went to work. I was fortunate to find time to take classes at The School of Dramatic Arts in Roslyn.

I was in summer stock, and got my first exposure in musical theater – and singing!

– I still sing. Mostly in the shower now…

AG: What brought you to Saratoga then?

DS: Well, I was a stay at home mom, and during that time we first moved to Virginia; I was able to pursue a degree in early childhood education, and then taught in Roanoke. We moved to the Syracuse area in 1976, most people don’t know that I ran two successful businesses – called “Triples Ice Cream Parlor” in Syracuse and Ithaca, from 1980-85! I was active with the Syracuse arts scene - the Stage and Symphony – at that time.

So, in 1986, A.J. came to Saratoga for a business conference and I went along. I remember we stayed at the Holiday Inn… it was summer and I went to the pool where I saw a collection of long-legged women who I learned were members of the New

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1997: State Senator Joe Bruno, who had procured a big grant for the Arts Center's renovation, visits the gallery.

York City Ballet, which led me to learn more about SPAC. It was all so exciting!

I remember saying: “…if ever we moved again” this would be the place.

Then in 1988, A.J. took early retirement from his company and started a consulting business, which could be anywhere… so we just did it!

AG: What was the arts scene like in those days?

DS: Well, you had the spectacular summer stuff, including the opera at the time, Home Made Theater and a few art galleries. Not

Carol Channing in the late 90's: She came because of interest in Art into Schools programs...she wasn't there to perform, but did manage a soliloquy from "Hello Dolly".

a lot of other things, really. Skidmore was not as involved with the community as it is today, for instance.

I got involved with Home Made Theater, which had a call for volunteers. I got to meet Jonathan Foster (Founding Director), who was a force – an inspiration. There I also met Scott Lyons, who at the time was Development Director at Skidmore. He had written a play called Mabeline, and was looking for a stage manager. I thought, “Ooh, this is something I’d like to do” and went for it. I never had anything but onstage experience before.

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DS: Those early days were a trip, I had a revolving desk at the Chamber; files in my car… a key event was when we wanted to apply for a “Jump Start” Grant from NYSCA (New York State Council on The Arts) – the thing was: we needed to have a named Executive Director for the grant. I remember saying to Linda Toohey at the Chamber and the Board ‘I believe I can make some things happen.’ And they told me to go for it – it was that simple!

So, we got the grant, which was $5,000, which eventually would lead to others, but in the first five years, the support of the Board, Chamber and definitely the volunteers was crucial… we operated out of a small, third floor office at 511 Broadway…I remember a big thing was when we hired an Office Manager in 1991, that was the beginning of building an organization, with finances, more grants, and membership – which grew from about 50 to 1,200 during this time and allowed us to take over the Library building in 1996… all this started with one grant.

(Note: Eventually, Dee was asked to join the Board of Home Made Theater - one of many Boards she has served on. A partial list of those boards include BOCES Arts in Education Council, Capital Area Committee for the Regional Approach to Arts in Education, Caffe’ Lena, SPAC and the Alliance for NYS Arts Organizations.

I said this was a partial list – here’s some more: The NYS Partners for Arts Education, Saratoga Springs Heritage Area, Saratoga NAACP and Saratoga Vital Aging Network.

Trust me: This list is still partial.)

AG: So, eventually you make your way to the Arts Council…

DS: Yes, it actually came into existence in the 1970s, but had sort of gone dormant.

It was the Chamber of Commerce that wanted to re-establish it… they started out looking for an administrative assistant, a liaison between the Chamber and the Arts Center Board, someone who could write grants. The job at the time was considered part-time – about eight hours a week – ha!

– So I remember thinking: “Well, while I go looking for something else, this is a good interim position…”

(Note: It was 1988. This ‘interim position’ began Dee’s association with the Arts Council, which lasted nearly 20 years.)

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"

And in life it’s all about passion.

I don’t care what it is you are passionate about – be passionate!"

AG: This may be like being asked to pick your favorite child, but tell me some of the Arts Center programs and highlights you are most proud of…

DS: Looking back, I’m amazed. At both the quality and volume of programs. It built up slowly, but kept growing. I’m very proud of all the Arts in Education Grants we were able to give out, Art in the Park, First Thursday and our Art in Public Places programs. One thing I look back on fondly was our summer concert series at Alsop Hall that began in 1997 – it was a combination of great music and a great fundraiser. The Alsop’s were great to work with – we felt a shared passion.

And in life it’s all about passion. I don’t care what it is you are passionate about – be passionate!

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passed; Bob Conant (Artistic Director, Foundation of Baroque Music) in 1992… also, NYSCA brought their conference to Saratoga in 1992, which we helped organize and brought Kitty Carlisle Hart to town.

They enjoyed the experience so much they came back the next year as well.

And of course, when David Hyde Pierce came in for a fundraiser in 1997 – he performed in a fundraiser for the Arts Center – a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta called “Trial by Jury” in which he played a Judge. David rehearsed in California, flew in on a Thursday for a dress rehearsal and performed in a show that night that rocked the house! What a pro! The Friends of Musical Arts, a wonderful local group led by Gordon Boyd, performed with him.

And, then in 1999, it was a thrill to go to Lincoln Center in NYC to receive an award from the NYS Arts Councils in recognition of the our economic development plan to renovate our building….

AG: Tell me about one of your current passions: ArtsFestFridays…

DS: SaratogaArtsFest, from the beginning, has been an amazing gathering of people and volunteers. When I became Board Chair a few years ago (in January of 2013), we decided to take a look at things and have a freshened approach to what began as an annual festival.

We decided to organize a once-a-month event, organized around a different theme and genre, and at a different location each month. But there are some common elements: the time always starts at 5 p.m.

That start time allows us to program for multi-generational appeal. I’m particularly excited about the “discovery stages” at each event; I think this has tremendous potential to expose young people to the arts.

We’ve had two of these so far (on Beekman Street and at Universal Preservation Hall) and we are encouraged by the response, and two more scheduled at this point (a Vaudeville circus at Skidmore’s Tang Museum and a backstage look at Home Made Theater. See SaratogaArtsFest.org for the schedule and programming).

AG: So, all in all, very little to keep you busy these days…

DS: Yeah, right! (Laughs)… Well, I’m very proud of being a member of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s Spirit of Life Restoration Committee – it came out so wonderfully. I’m always involved with Soroptimist International of Saratoga; I’ve been a long-time member of that organization, which does great philanthropic work. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

I am very involved in senior issues. Today’s senior population is crucial to the volunteer ranks in this community and others.

Seniors today remain active and involved well into their 80s and beyond. They have lived through many explosive and important generations and generously share their expertise and experiences with various art and human service organizations in Saratoga. I have been very involved with The Saratoga Springs Senior Center as they celebrate their 60th Anniversary. It’s important as a senior to stay active, involved and give back!

Of course, very important in my life is my family. My husband A. J. is a real survivor, having battled 3 different cancers over the last 15 years…I have 3 children and 8 grandchildren who are all smart, hard working and really good people who make a difference at their schools, their professions and in their communities.

And since they are don’t all live close by, I have learned how to text, which I thought I would never do. That is a really great accomplishment for people from my generation – trust me! I’m a phone talker!

That reminds me of my favorite quote, from Picasso: He said: ‘Every child is an artist. The challenge is to remain an artist when you grow up’. SS

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Artist Spotlight: Nancy Magnell

Photo Provided

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WRITTEN BY MAKAYLA BODEN, PHOTOS BY JOHN SEYMOUR

pon meeting Saratoga native and renowned reverse-painted glass artist Nancy Magnell, I was immediately entranced. Her warm, wood-floored studio at the AMP Gallery on Broadway was filled with the soft, luminous glow of colored glass. Three colored sconces adorn the wall above a light table, and two large lamps adorned with painted shades rest in the corners of the room. The piece she is currently working on – a large glass window hanging about three feet in diameter – leans against a backlight, instantly a focal point in the room.

“I taught myself how to do this,” she noted with a friendly laugh, setting down a brush next to the vividly-hued glass. Having fallen in love with the technique over twenty years ago, Magnell applied her landscape and oil painting skills she acquired from a family friend on to sand-blasted glass. This creates a captivating stainedglass effect, providing her pieces with depth and vibrancy unlike any other art form I have seen before. Life-like flowers bloom beneath the layers of paint, tropical birds peek out around life-like foliage; it is hard to believe they are only two-dimensional. It took her about five years to master the technique, and “Even today,” she smiled, “I’m still learning all the time.”

As she painted a few more luminous strokes on the glass and stripped away swirls of paint to let the light shine through the layers, she turned and handed me the brush, overcoming my initial claim that I might potentially mess up her masterpiecein-progress. Instantly I understood why she was so attracted to reverse-glass painting: as soon as the paint hits the glass,

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Photo Provided

the backlight gives it a faint glow and an entirely new appreciation for paint is achieved. To put it simply, it was magical. More than once we found ourselves trailing off into silence, gazing at the glass in wonder.

Experiences much like the one I just had are something Nancy wishes to share with the public. This previous summer, she set up on the sidewalks of Broadway with the intentions of painting a glass globe, but found it much more gratifying to let the public take over instead. “I like watching people paint- It’s about being able to share what I experience as an artist.” she explained, and added that she loved seeing people’s reaction when they put the paint on the glass. They felt something almost immediately- much the same way I did when I had my own hands-on experience. “It’s instant gratification, in a sense.”

As gallery visitors drifted in and out of the studio, Nancy worked quickly on her wall hanging, working with the paint as it dried in the warm air. “You should have seen this two hours ago- you wouldn’t recognize it now,” she laughed, pointing out areas she had changed and intends to work with on the piece. It was then evident an hour had passed, although it seemed like far less time.

I had never been so entranced watching paint dry- but then again, I had never seen paint quite like the kind Nancy Magnell was able to master. SS

For more information Facebook: Nancy Magnell Studio

However, Nancy still devotes much of her time to painting pieces in her studio and at home, where she not only paints on sand-blasted glass, but also on canvas and boards. Her ability with oil paints translates well to Hudson River-style landscapes, and also Polo balls. In July, she hand-painted ten polo balls to be presented as trophies by the Saratoga Polo Association – one even went to Ms. Mary Lou Whitney herself. The whimsical trophies were adorned in bright colors and captivating patterns full of movement and life, a trophy anyone who appreciates art would be more than thrilled to receive.

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HIGH ROCK SPRING

A CENTENNIAL YEAR PROJECT TO BRING BACK THE WATER

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WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL, PHOTOS BY MARGARET KUENZEL AND THE SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM

As you probably know by now… this year marks the Centennial of Saratoga Springs officially being granted status as a city from a village. 2015 has seen many wonderful events that helped to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Saratoga Springs becoming that city. The Centennial started, as it should, at the stroke of midnight at the Saratoga Springs First Night Celebration when Mayor Joanne Yepsen announced the beginning of a yearlong celebration. A Centennial Committee had been formed by the mayor about mid-year in 2014 to help coordinate and facilitate the many events scheduled for 2015. The Centennial Committee was co-chaired by Eleanor Mullaney and Steve Sullivan. With direction from the mayor the committee identified that the re-drilling of the High Rock Spring was a major priority for 2015. Steve Sullivan, History Museum Director Jamie Parillo and I were the members of the sub-committee to direct this project.

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n the late 19th and early 20th century the overuse of our mineral springs caused the High Rock to stop flowing. In April of 1911 the Saratogian reported that the High Rock no longer flows. This was a tremendous set back to Saratoga Springs to have the founding element of the city lost from use.

The idea to bring back the waters at High Rock was a need expressed by many Saratogians over many decades. In 1967 I remember that a committee was formed by the city to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the visit to High Rock spring by Sir William Johnson. Sir William was given the job as agent for Indian Affairs in North America for the British Crown. Acting in this capacity, Sir William became a trusted friend of the Mohawk tribe and even married Molly Brant, a Mohawk woman. This trust allowed an ill Sir

William Johnson to be carried to High Rock by the Mohawk on a liter and therefore be the first European to be shown the location of the highly prized High Rock spring. After four days of drinking and bathing in the waters he felt strong enough to walk most of the way back to his house in the Mohawk Valley. He wrote to friends to explain the healing effects of the waters and soon under pressure from those friends a deal with the Mohawk was brokered to allow settlement in this area to begin in earnest. Therefore we can trace the roots of development for the City of Saratoga Springs to the visit of Sir William Johnson to the site of the famed High Rock spring.

Research after 1967 supported the fact that Sir William Johnson’s visit was actually in 1771, four years later than what was celebrated in July of 1967 by that select committee. Even though the date was adjusted the purpose of the celebration was important to highlight the events that helped to start our city’s development. What is an important part to saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

our re-drilling of the High Rock was that it was reported that at the event of July 9, 1967, former Mayor Benton said; “We should work to re-drill the High Rock and bring the waters back to the cone”. The need was there in 1967 but lacked action. Many years have passed since these words were spoken but the efforts of many now allow the water to flow again at the famous High Rock spring.

Our sub-committee began initial plans in the fall of 2014 and established a proposed budget to complete the project. We received the needed funds for this project from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust. The trustees of the Solomon Trust saw the need and the importance of bringing the waters back to the founding location of Saratoga Springs. In the late fall of 2014 I made contact with Hawk Drilling Company. Since Hawk Drilling has been drilling and servicing the mineral springs of Saratoga Springs since 1927 this was a natural contact to make. After describing the vision of the project, Hawk Drilling was quick to sign on to the project and then offer the donation of their labor to help complete the project. At the same time many meetings were scheduled to discuss the project with Department of Public Works Commissioner Skip Scirocco and architect Mike Ingersol from the LA Group of Saratoga Springs. In these meetings we agreed that the High Rock should be re-drilled and water brought to the cone as it did in the time of the Mohawk.

We further agreed to provide on-site signage that would describe High Rock’s role in the development of the city as well as a fountain that would allow visitors to taste the waters of this new mineral spring. Mike Ingersol was able to provide the vision of how these

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IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS’ DEVELOPMENT AND REMIND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS’ ROOTS AT THE HIGH ROCK SPRING.

efforts would be integrated into the existing High Rock Park.

The drilling of the spring was done over two days, May 18th and 19th. The first day of drilling ended without hitting a supply of mineralized water at a depth of about 220 feet.

On the second day of drilling, Jeremy Baldwin and his crew, hit water at a depth of 440 feet.

The water had iron content but lacked high carbon dioxide content like many springs in Saratoga Springs. We were very happy to learn that tests showed a sufficient flow to supply water to both the cone and the new drinking fountain. Hawk Drilling then set the pump and valves at the well so the water could be brought to the two desired sites. The donation of labor to this project by the Hawk Drilling Company was instrumental in the completion of this project on budget.

The next phase of this project was completed by the people of the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works under the direction of Commissioner Skip Scirocco.

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DPW connected power to the site, trenched and buried the piping, stabilized the mineral cone and poured a new concrete floor in the pavilion covering the cone. Our committee secured a new fountain and created three signs that were erected by DPW on the site to tell the story of Saratoga Springs. This hard work was done by a great DPW crew who helped to allow this great project to be completed on time and under budget.

On Saturday September 12, 2015 at 2:00 PM High Rock Spring was re-dedicated. Many people spoke at the event, but the highlight of the day was a blessing of the waters by Mohawk chief, Tom Porter. The blessing was delivered, not in the traditional language of the Mohawk, but in English for the comfort of those in attendances. The blessing reminded all there that day, that the Mohawk had always considered the High Rock Spring to be the “gift of the Creator”. The events further reinforced that it was the Mohawk who were the first visitors to our great city.

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Now the waters at the High Rock Spring flow again. The lower mineral content water coming to the fountain has proven to be a favorite among many locals and visitors alike.

I have also realized that the signage provided a “teachable moment” to spread the word to visitors to the spring about the mineral water that helped to shape the development of this great city. As with all major projects, the efforts of many were needed and all deserve credit. As you study the history of Saratoga Springs there are many stories of the efforts of people in the past, who secured the support and hard work of numerous groups to make Saratoga Springs a better place to live. It is our hope that this project will help to preserve the history of Saratoga Springs’ development and remind future generations of Saratoga Springs’ roots at the High Rock Spring. The next time you visit the Farmers’ Market or the 911 memorial, Tempered by Memory, take a few more steps to discover the importance of the High Rock spring. SS

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Post Time Memories with Dennis G. Hogan

Ghost Tail

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n 1952, a gray colt by Polynesian, out of Geisha, began a flawless two-yearold season, winning all nine of his races – including four at Saratoga: the Flash, Saratoga Special, Grand Union Hotel, and the Hopeful. In ’53, he added the Travers, and in ’54, while prepping for the Whitney, he carried a staggering 137 lbs. to victory in the Oneonta. Soreness kept him sidelined that Whitney day, yet he was a perfect six-for-six at the Spa. He was bred and raced by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr. Born in 1912, and raised in Massachusetts; Vanderbilt was the heir to Maryland’s Sagamore Farm. His passion was breeding and racing horses - and his masterpiece was the unforgettable Native Dancer.

Dubbed the ‘Gray Ghost’ in the press, he was more affectionately known as just the Dancer, according to Alfred, Jr’s son, Alfred G. Vanderbilt III.

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DGHPhoto

“I think my fondest recollection was pulling on his tail.” Said Vanderbilt. “I was a boy at the time and my dad took my sister and I up to Saratoga, and Dad said, ‘Go pull his tail.’ Well, I knew not to stand behind a horse and pull its tail but the Dancer just loved it. My sister Heidi and I would have it draped over our shoulders and we’d pull on it with all our might. And he would just turn around and look at us; always as sweet as could be.”

Native Dancer became a television star way before Mr. Ed, as fans gathered ‘round newly-minted black and white T.V. sets to witness the rangy colt flash his brilliant speed and tremendous stride; his rivals left lengths behind in the dust.

“He was the boss of every paddock he ever stepped in. I think Dad would agree that he was the best horse he ever bred or raced.”

Racing produces great runners or great sires though the combination of the two is a rarity, and Native Dancer exemplifies such amalgam like no other. One would be hardpressed to find a modern-day champion or Classic winner on either side of the Atlantic that does not carry the Dancer’s bloodline.

And to honor the 100th Anniversary of the city of Saratoga Springs, his likeness now permanently resides at the intersection of Circular St. and Union Avenue, in Centennial Park. The life-sized statue was commissioned by local patrons Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, and crafted by Kentucky-based equine sculptor Gwen Reardon.

“It’s beautiful. It has an incredible sense of motion and a wonderful rendering of jockey Eric Guerin. My father would certainly be touched by it.”

All told, Native Dancer won 21 of 22 races; his only loss came in the ’53 Kentucky Derby, to Dark Star. Roughed up going into the first turn he was taken back, yet came flying in the stretch; a single stride separating him from perfection.

Alfred Vanderbilt, Jr. believed the Dancer was perfect and he reportedly took umbrage at seeing Secretariat’s statue enshrined in Belmont’s paddock. Certainly, he’d be comforted in knowing that the ‘Gray Ghost of Sagamore’ is again the boss - and this time upon racing’s grandest boulevard, Saratoga’s Union Avenue. SS HOLIDAY 2015 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 87

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Polaroid Camera (mini) – Best Buy 69.99 Mac Book Pro – $1,500 iPhone 6s - $749.99 Fitbit – target $129.99 9 Piece Truffle Assortment Kilwins $14.50 Lily Pulitzer Infinity Scarf Pink Paddock $78 Composed by Makayla Boden

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7. Horse Post Earrings Impressions of Saratoga $9 8. Portable charger – Best Buy $17.99 9. Book store giftcard – local bookstore, about $25 10. Table Topics card game – Amazon.com $25 11. Graze box www.graze.com $11.99/box

12. The Cravory box www.thecravory.com Teaser box: 6 cookies/month for 6 months, $90 13. Fun socks / art socks – Amazon.com $9.00 14. Concert tickets 15. Spotify Premium – Spotify.com $ 9.99/month

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Styling the Winter Trends

During this transitional period, we spend the majority of our time in outerwear. Instead of accessorizing over our tee and jeans we turn to our outerwear as a “blank canvas”. We throw our accessories atop our layered sweaters, cozy turtlenecks, and zipped up jackets.

This season’s ‘trend spotting’ piece is all about accessories and how to work them into your Winter wardrobe. Follow me as I peruse through a handful of downtown Saratoga boutiques in search of the perfect accessory.

Lifestyles

Blanket Wrap

A blanket wrap is an accessory we want to live in from October to March. It’s the perfect everyday item that can be paired with anything from casual to semi-formal pieces. It makes a cozy travel companion and can even be styled as a throw over the wingback chair in your guest room.

This particular wrap is extremely large in size and has a nice weight to it. The added fringe around the hem softens the overall feel of the piece. If you are in need of a scarf or wrap this holiday season, Lifestyles is the place to be.

Lucia

Round Shades

We don’t stop wearing sunglasses once Summer is over {sigh}. They are needed all year long and in my opinion, you can never have too many pairs! One of the “it” shapes this season is the round frame. They offer a West Coast 60’s-inspired carefree style, which is refreshing during the cold days of Winter.

Lucia is not lacking in its selection of fashion forward shades at reasonable prices. Go and check them out! While you are there, scope out the hats. A wide brim black hat can get you through the worst of hair days.

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Spoken Boutique Belted outerwear

Belting your outerwear is both on trend and figure flattering. It cinches at the waist, offering an hourglass shape.

Wide belts work great for belting a trench or a long car coat. It works on a coat that does not have a belt or if there is one, you can remove it and place the wide belt on top of the belt loops, clasp it and go.

The belts featured here are from the Canadian-based company, Brave. The quality of leather and craftsmanship is impeccable. Go and check them out!

You will not be able to leave without purchasing one.

Exposed socks – yes, please! Showing a small portion of your sock can go a long way. An exposed sock whether it is a thin trouser sock, a bold printed sock, or a wool calf sock can be stylish if paired with the right footwear.

For this look, these nubby wool socks from Free People peek out over the top of the Pajar Winter boots. The exposed sock paired with the boots and casual sweat suit evokes this “Apres-ski” vibe.

Keep in mind to pair like socks with like footwear. For instance, thick wool socks should be paired with chunky Winter boots whereas a thin trouser sock works well with patent oxfords.

Violets Alexis Aida

The exposed sock

The Ankle Boot

The black ankle boot is a wardrobe staple. Though this time of year, they start to look less than desirable. The waterproof sprays will hold up, to a degree, but we usually end the Winter with one or more pairs covered in the dreaded white salt stains.

The boots featured here, from the brand Melissa offer both style and function. This black ankle boot is comprised of water resistant material with a treaded sole. You can throw them on with jeans or a dress, tights or socks, and trek through the rain and slush worry free.

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Hosting, Black Tie, Mardi Gras Elegant, Chic and Comfortable...

THEIA, by Don O'Neill Exclusively at Saratoga Trunk lady's finery "Where Your Style is Our Pleasure"

SARATOGA TRUNK 493 BROADWAY SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 584-3543 SARATOGATRUNK.COM

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Celebrate your holiday season with chic, sophisticated fashions including James Jeans and Melissa Shoes

ALEXIS AIDA BOUTIQUE 437 BROADWAY SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 788-8545

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Winter Clothing for the whole family!

SPORTS PAGE 138 QUAKER RD. QUEENSBURY (518) 792-1304 SPORTSPAGESKI.COM

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Women's clothing, jewelry and accessories.

LUCIA 454 BROADWAY SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 587-7890 LUCIABOUTIQUE.COM

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Sail to Sable Feather Dress Perfect for any Holiday Party!

Also available with a Red top!

PINK PADDOCK 358 BROADWAY SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 587-4344

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"This cozy look from Lifestyles of Saratoga features a black and white plaid tunic by CP Shades, matching 'love' hat and scarf set from Wooden Ships and trendy lace up winter boots

by Ilse Jacobsen."

LIFESTYLES OF SARATOGA 436 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 584-4665 LIFESTYLESOFSARATOGA.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Model Holly Lee is ready for a snowy day, apre ski or around town!

She is wearing an Alp-n-Rock duck down Alpina Jacket, Sunice Apre insulated Ski skirt, a beautiful zip cardigan sweater from Krimson Klover and heather grey leggings from Hatley.

Accessories include Mitchie's rabbit fur neckwarmer and beanie.

Keeping her feet warm in rabbit fur boots by Regina and her hands are kept toastie in style with Astis mittens… trimmed in fur, beaded and hand sewn in the U.S.A. Volkl women's Charisma ski with Marker binding Alpine Sport Shop celebrates 75 winters in business ...since 1941

ALPINE SPORT SHOP 399 CLINTON STREET SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 584-6290 ALPINESPORTSHOP.COM

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EMBRACE THE RACE® “It’s the worldwide brand with hometown roots.”

EMBRACE THE RACE® speaks to the discerning enthusiast, celebrating and promoting The Horse Racing Lifestyle®.

The Brand, founded and based in here in Saratoga Springs, ultimately combines an inspirational logo with an impassioned phrase to captivate customers. t A refined necktie for the man who loves the life! Featuring the iconic and striking EMBRACE THE RACE® Logo in a variety of vibrant and elegant colors. You’ll look classy and sharp with a suit or a sport coat. Handmade and constructed of fine silk and featuring a matte surface.

q Just released in time for the season, EMBRACE THE RACE® is proud to unveil their exclusive line of ladies pendants. Wonderfully elegant, and simple yet striking - in silver, 18 k white gold and 18K gold. Handmade with care to reflect the allure of the brand, it’s ideal for the woman who knows what it means to EMBRACE ...

The Passion of Horse Racing® It’s the core fabric woven throughout a world that celebrates its personalities, participants and unforgettable moments.

With EMBRACE THE RACE®, The Apparel for The Horse Racing Lifestyle®, express your passion for horse racing without saying anything at all.

From generation to generation, from on track to off.

Celebrate in style.

Visit the EMBRACE THE RACE® flagship retail location at 12 Circular Street (across from the Holiday Inn with private customer parking), select Saratoga retailers; online at embracetherace.com or call for a private shopping experience (518) 580-4500. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Anything for the bath is a must-have item for women

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Return address labels Small notebooks High quality tea bags Gift card Make-up brushes Cosmetic bag Nail file

8. Nail polish 9. Phone cover 10. Head massager 11. Pumice stone 12. Loofa 13. Perfume 14. Journal 15. USB drive 16. Bath bomb

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17. Gardening gloves 18. Tissue packs 19. Pens 20. Wine pearls 21. Hair accessories 22. Massage oil 23. K Cups 24. Hand sanitizer 25. Book light

13 26. Lotion 27. Earrings 28. Bookmark 29. Book 30. Ornament 31. Chapstick 32. Gloves/mittens 33. Socks 34. Candle

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cturally

SPEAKING

Follow us as we explore some of Saratoga's unique spaces...

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WRITTEN BY DAVID DELOZIER, PHOTOS BY SARATOGAPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

Time Pieces

reclaiming the past to make a house a home Saratoga Springs couple Radka and Martin Ferrillo walk us through the process of creating their dream home.

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For Martin Ferrillo, the English Tudor style was always his dream home. Growing up on Long Island, he had always admired the grand homes that lined Stewart Avenue in the town of Garden City. Several English Tudor homes adorned the stately boulevard; this old world architectural style in particular captured the fancy of the young Ferrillo. Their bold, dark timbers with contrasting white stucco in between, framing diamondglazed windows, had a special appeal to him, with a harkening back to the architecture of old England. As many a young man dreams of a perfect house in which to raise a family, to Ferrillo, the English Tudor was it.

While many a dream from youth can remain unfulfilled, the serendipity of chance and opportunity was to strike for Martin Ferrillo in 2008, when he caught wind of a foreclosure auction of a house in the Meadowbrook Estates in Saratoga Springs. It happened to be an English Tudor that he and his wife Radka had been oogling while visiting friends in the neighborhood.

SaratogaPhotographer.com

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An auction was scheduled at the Saratoga County Courthouse, so Martin seized upon the opportunity to bid on the house. He was thrilled when his bid was accepted by the foreclosing bank. However, there was a problem – the previous owner had apparently done some creative financing to where there were two first mortgages on the house; the bank that was doing the foreclosing did not have the proper assignment documents, which meant that Martin’s purchase would be null and void.

Hopes dashed and emotions smashed, the Ferrillos retreated back to their home in Wilton; their dream home was just that, a dream. However, Martin Ferrillo is not one to give up easily, so he continued to keep an eye on the property, patiently waiting for the other mortgagee (the one that had the proper paperwork) to initiate a foreclosure.

Radka told him to stop obsessing over the place, and to work on remodeling their Wilton farmhouse to better accommodate their growing family of two young children.

But Martin couldn’t walk away from the Tudor that slipped through his hands. After two long years, the proper originating bank finally stepped up to foreclose. Ferrillo pounced upon the opportunity, once again, showing up at the courthouse steps to bid on the property. He bid two cents higher than the bank’s offer… it was accepted, and with that, the Tudor was once again his.

Lightening can indeed strike twice in the same place!

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Being a foreclosure, the Ferrillos got the house for a great price.

But being vacant and neglected for nearly five years, the place had suffered from some water damage and had acquired a rather unpleasant odor. Not the best situation to move into, for sure. Plus, the interior had a kind of an 80’s rendition of modern that had long expired in the good-taste category. But as Martin likes to point out, the house had “good bones” and presented an opportunity for him and Radka to make over this house to be the home that would be a reflection of their lifestyle and passions.

SaratogaPhotographer.com

Both Martin and Radka are busy doctors, and they knew they would need some help to apply their signature to this new home. They hired interior designer Luciana Samu early on to assist in making their vision a reality. The couple was very fond of the nineteenth century farmhouse that they were now putting up for sale, and they wanted to carry over some of the elements of the old house into the new.

Luciana listened to the couple carefully, and began to integrate their different (and at times conflicting) ideas into an action plan. The open beamed ceiling of the old farmhouse was reproduced in the kitchen.

Martin acquired some old barn siding and commissioned a broad farm table fashioned out of the wood.

A unique feature of the old farmhouse was that the walls were filled with old Dutch shipping ballast bricks acquired from the port of Albany where they were free for the taking some two hundred years ago. So in the Dining Room, an angled veneer of bricks was placed in between exposed wooden beams, duplicating the look of the dining room in the old Wilton farmhouse.

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Tilesmith Roger Sherman was hired to makeover all the bathrooms; his integration of natural stone into the shower floors is reminiscent of a river bottom. The kids’ bathroom has adaptability built, so as they grow into teenagers, the playful splash kingdom that is the deep tub can be abandoned for a walk-in shower already in place.

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The original floor plan of the Tudor was somewhat maze like, with many small rooms and connecting passages. The main staircase was hidden behind a wall, the kitchen was separated from the living room. The Ferrillos decided they wanted to open things up so that the family could spread out without disappearing. Walls were torn down, the staircase opened up from basement to second floor and adorned with iron balusters, creating a dramatic vertical feature at the entrance. The kitchen and living now join together to create a broad open space, integrating the working place with the relaxing space.

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One of the most unique features of the Ferrillos remodel is the triple-floor adult entertainment room. An old sliding barn door adjacent to the entrance reveals the entertainment room. A full bar is setup in the corner, complete with his and hers beer taps, a speed rack and dual sink below the bar for glass wear cleaning. A small stage occupies the far wall, where Martin and his young son Aston and friends jam with a drum kit and guitars. An adjacent spiral staircase takes one either up to the pool room or down to the wine cellar. Upstairs is an authentic pool table, acquired from a bar in Lake George. The register within the table shows evidence of some 15,000+ games played.

Oh, if this table could talk, what a tale it could tell!

There’s even an authentic beer stain on the felt surface to prove it’s the real deal. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Head down the spiral staircase to the basement and you’ll come upon Martin’s pride and joy – the wine cellar, where he has quite a collection of fine wines from around the world. “New World” wines from the US occupy one side, “Old World” wines from Europe fill up the rest of the place.

Martin is a member of several wineries’ reserve clubs, where he acquires limited edition vintages.

With a constant temperature of sixty degrees or so, the wines sit quietly, aging with grace, refining in taste.

Outside of the wine cellar is the kids’ zone where whimsical lighting and a big comfy couch make a perfect play place for the kids. The walls at the bottom of the staircase are adorned with pictures taken

by Radka on the family vacations to Nantucket. A collage of black and white photos show Aston and daughter Lola playing on the beach. Their beaming smiles are evidence of the good times had and memories made.

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The Nantucket nautical theme carries on into Aston’s bedroom, where there is even a crow’s nest loft accessible by a ladder.

Mementos are scattered throughout the house, each holding a story of discovery while visiting the island.

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When the Ferrillo family first acquired the house, its grand exterior was hidden from the street, shrouded in a dense grove of trees. Martin quickly set about clearing much of the overgrowth; the proud Tudor framing and stonework are now in full view, as it should be.

What the Ferrillos have done with this once abandoned, stinky house is nothing short of an extreme makeover. But it’s not just another pretty designer home; it’s a very personal space where the memories and experiences of the past meld with the new ones of the present, and create the setting for future memories yet to be had. SS 116 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2015

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Nature Inspired

Hi there, I’m Jenna

Designer, Blogger, DIYer, Bargain Hunter, Thrift Store Junkie, Wife + Mom of 3.

HOLIDAY DÉCOR

My design mission... to create + share+ inspire through DIY creations and decorating ideas & tips to achieve a high-end look for less.

W

ith the holiday season upon us, it’s that time of year again when we transform our homes from the everyday to our festive favorites. The sentimental treasures once again make their debut as we layer in the vintage heirlooms with new fun finds.

Along with the many lights and ornaments, one element that is simple, free, and apropos to incorporate into holiday decorating is… nature. What’s more beautiful than bringing the outdoors in and decorating with natural elements to evoke an organic elegance?

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WRITTEN BY JENNA BURGER PHOTOS PROVIDED

Cut greenery From garland to wreaths to a table centerpiece, incorporating greenery cut from trees around the home is the most easy and inexpensive approach to layering nature into your holiday décor. Cut greens, from a fir, pine, and/ or cedar, can be perfect for the mantel, table, or door. Use one type of greenery in a vase or blend several together to mix with other things from nature like pinecones and berries for a simple-to-create classic vignette.

Whether a traditional style or contemporary setting, magnolia leaves are also

seasonal favorite that can beautifully compliment a holiday vignette. The large leaves of a magnolia are reversible; the brown side is just as beautiful and can be a gorgeous compliment when layered against a contrasting background.

Branches & B erries

Birch branches are another easy-to-find element in nature. Arrange tall branches in a vase to hang small ornaments. Take it a step further by creating a natural

woodland scene using a clear vase and filling it with artificial snow to anchor the branches. Add in berry sprigs and a few faux cardinals for a festive arrangement.

Branches from the outdoors can also be paired with evergreens and twigs of red winterberries (real or artificial) to instantly create a beautiful all-natural bouquet.

Gather the three elements, wrap them with ribbon, add a few small simple ornaments, and a festive arrangement is complete to adorn the front door. Make many to create something similar for the spindles on the staircase.

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Fruit

Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges are the perfect pairing with seasonal décor. Dry out lemons to hang on the Christmas tree or use fresh fruit to make a pretty tablescape. A simple bowl of green apples can make a beautiful focal point for the entry or holiday table.

Against the bright hue of the fruit exterior, cloves can be added to make interesting and unique patterns. Combine fruit with greenery to create a dynamic and festive arrangement.

Pomegranates, cranberries, and cinnamon are other food-related ideas to incorporate into holiday decorating. Fill a bowl with dried pomegranates. Make a cranberry garland for the Christmas tree.

Add cinnamon sticks to a front door wreath. All accessible ideas that take minutes to implement with a sophisticated, festive result.

Wood

Adding cut wood can truly bring the outdoors in to create a rustic, organic aesthetic. Wood slices, small or large, can be a beautiful layering element. Instead of the traditional placemat, add a large wood slice for each plate to sit on. Use smaller cut wood slices to create a wreath. Use multiple wood slices to create a blessings banner. The natural beauty of wood can be used in many ways throughout your seasonal decorating.

As much as we may love our seasonal favorites, bring the beauty of nature indoors for the holidays. SS

For more do-it-yourself ideas and seasonal décor tips, visit me at JennaBurger.com

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Photos by Nancy Castillo

Birdwatching with Nancy Castillo

Count the Birds for Project FeederWatch Would you like to watch the birds in your yard and help them out while you're doing it? Project FeederWatch is a season long citizen science project in which casual birdwatchers count the birds they see and submit the counts to the scientists at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Scientists use the data to track movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.

To participate, it's as easy as putting up a feeder, counting the birds, and entering your data online.

FeederWatch is open to anyone regardless of skill level and is a great activity to do with children, classrooms, retirees, or youth groups.

And don't worry if all you ever see are "common birds" like chickadees and titmice - according to the Cornell Lab, those reports are crucial to monitoring bird populations.

To find out how to participate, visit www.feederwatch.org.

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Get Ready for Winter Bird Feeding Just as we are turning our attention to the coming winter holidays, birds are busy preparing for the winter as well. Chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, and jays are forming winter flocks. These mixed flocks serve to have more eyes searching for food sources and watching out for predators. Listen for jays to sound a warning when there's danger in the area, his loud call summoning others in the flock to find shelter or to freeze in place until the danger passes. You can help by leaving a brush pile or two for small birds to chick-ause when fleeing from predators like Sharpshinned or Cooper's Hawks. dee-dee!

Birds are also searching for reliable sources of food that they'll return to throughout the winter months. Make sure your bird feeding station is well stocked now with high quality seeds, nuts, and suet. Birds will remember and continue to visit your feeders all winter long. Your offerings provide an easy source of protein and fat to help birds conserve precious energy during cold winter days.

perchick’o-ree!

Nothing reminds me more of the difficulty wildlife has finding a source of open water during the winter than seeing a friendly chickadee hanging from an icicle for a drop of drinking water. Store your clay and fragile birdbaths away for the winter, but in their place offer a heated birdbath.

Birds will appreciate some open water when other sources are frozen over.

Fall clean-up in the yard should include a thorough cleaning of your bird feeders. Soak feeders in a weak bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part bleach), scrub and rinse well, then let them dry in the sun. Rake up a summer's worth of seed shells under your feeders and add the debris to cheercheer-to a no-mess blend of birdseed so your compost pile. Consider switching cheer! this job will be easier next spring. A clean bird feeding station is healthier for both you and your birds.

A little preparation now will reward you with a yard filled with beautiful birds adding color and movement to an otherwise still winter landscape.

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Give the Gift of Bird Feeding

Gardening WITH

PETER BOWDEN

THE URBAN LEGEND OF THE POISONOUS POINSETTIA Every year I encounter someone visiting the garden center who will not consider purchasing a poinsettia because they believe that their cat or dog is going to eat it and die. This belief is so ingrained that there is no convincing them otherwise. I've come to believe that some people just love to believe the worst.

Naturally, there are some plants that are toxic to animals, but poinsettias aren't one of them.

I've had cats and dogs my entire life and they've all been exposed to poinsettia plants at Christmas time. Many of the other plants on the list above can be found growing in my flowerbeds. My cats spend a great deal of time among the deadly lilies and daffodils.

They'll nibble on grass at times, but have never expressed any desire to taste the toxic plants.

I think the animals, which have a much better sense of smell than we do, can tell that some plants should be avoided. If this weren't the case, there'd be dogs and cats dropping dead every day. Clearly they aren't, so we have to assume that animals aren't stupid and have a way of knowing what can be and what shouldn't be eaten.

THE HAWAIIAN CONNECTION. It all started in Hawaii in 1919 when the 2 year old toddler son of an army officer was found dead. Some reports indicate that the child was found near a poinsettia bush which is a common garden plant in Hawaii. It was supposed that the child had eaten some of the poinsettia and died. There was no proof of this - no autopsy nor toxicology test - it was simply assumed that the poinsettia was to blame. The rumor spread throughout the islands and it became common knowledge that "poinsettias are poisonous" and will kill if eaten.

Twenty five years later the rumor was so well-entrenched that it was published as fact in a book called ‘Poisonous Plants of Hawaii’.

At that point there was no stopping the rumor and it went viral. Soon poinsettias were being incorrectly listed as poisonous plants by even

such illustrious institutions as the USDA. All this without one shred of evidence of any person or animal ever being harmed let alone killed by eating poinsettias.

Eventually tests were conducted and it was found that poinsettias aren't toxic at all. If eaten, it is a gastrointestinal irritant and can cause intense salivation and vomiting. Even with this evidence the toxic legend of the poinsettia didn't die and, almost 100 years after the rumor began, most people still believe that poinsettias are killers.

Naturally the poinsettia growers have done everything they can to try and dispel this gross bit of misinformation. I still remember watching Paul Ecke of the Ecke Poinsettia Ranch munching on poinsettia leaves on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It didn't do much to dispel the rumor though.

It is amazing and amusing what people choose to believe. A survey a couple of years ago revealed that about 70% of the population still believes that poinsettias are poisonous. I'm sure it doesn't help that the word poinsettia resembles the word poison.

How did the poor poinsettia become the focus of all this angst?

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" " A SURVEY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO REVEALED THAT ABOUT 70% OF THE POPULATION STILL BELIEVES THAT POINSETTIAS ARE POISONOUS.

A boy who came to the church on Christmas was so poor that he had nothing to offer the Christ child. In shame, he fell to his knees and prayerfully asked God to forgive him. When he stood up, the first 'flower of the Holy Night' appeared from the soil at his feet so he would have a gift to offer.

German immigrant living in California, thought that the easy-to-grow poinsettia might make an interesting cut flower. Its habit of producing bright red leaves, or bracts, just before the solstice seemed to make it a natural for the holiday season. His idea caught on, especially in California and the Southwest. Over the years, Albert and his son Paul began breeding poinsettias for larger bracts and bracts of different colors. They eventually developed varieties that performed well in small pots, and the modern poinsettia plant was born. Years of hard work and experimentation blossomed into a huge business with the Ecke family at the center. Most of the poinsettias grown today are from cuttings produced at the huge Ecke Poinsettia Ranch in California. They continue to develop new varieties. We now have white, pink, speckled, bi-colored and new yellow poinsettias, all thanks to the efforts of the Ecke family. Maybe they should be called "Eckeias"?

POINSETTIAS IN AMERICA

GROWING YOUR OWN

Around 1830, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, saw the plants and sent some home to South Carolina. Poinsett, like so many early Americans, was a respected amateur botanist. He propagated his plants and shared them with friends and botanical gardens throughout the U.S. From that time, English speaking countries have known the poinsettia. Around 1906, Albert Ecke, a

With proper care, poinsettias can be grown year after year and reach heights up to 3 feet even as a potted specimen. The colorful bracts are actually a special set of leaves that change color, simulating giant flowers to attract insects to the small yellow flowers at their center. During the blooming stage, poinsettias should be kept in a warm, sunny spot with the soil just lightly moist. The small yellow flowers at the center of the bract should be pinched off.

THE AZTEC CONNECTION

There was a time when the poinsettia wasn't found among our holiday plants. They've only recently arrived on the holiday scene.

The poinsettia was cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico. Called Cuetlaxochitl, it was a symbol of purity and was highly prized by the Aztecs. Later, the flowers were adopted by Franciscan priests and were included in nativity processions in colonial Mexico. Mexican folklore holds that the poinsettia or 'flower of the Holy Night' appeared during a miracle that occurred on Christmas.

THE POINSETTIA MIRACLE

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Don’t feed the plant. Maintain the poinsettia this way until midsummer. At that time, cut it back by about 1/3, removing whatever colorful bracts that remain. Increase watering and feed every other week. A high phosphorus soluble plant food like Jack's Classic Blossom Booster is a good formula to use. If you move the plant outside for the summer, be sure to bring it back in when nighttime temperatures approach 50 degrees F.

The trickiest part is getting the poinsettia's bracts to turn color at the right time. It needs to follow the natural cycle of shortening daylight as it occurs outdoors. This means that when the sun goes down, the poinsettia MUST be in a TOTALLY DARK AREA. This critical period starts about the first of October. Light from even one 40-watt bulb after dark is enough to prevent the poinsettia from changing color… Many people think it needs to go into a closet for the entire month of October. Not so.

It still needs light in the daytime. The best thing to do is keep it in a room where there are no lights on in the evening or at night. Once you notice that the bracts have begun to change color, you can move the plant wherever you wish. Once the color starts to change nothing will stop it. As the bracts reach their peak of color, the true flowers will appear and the cycle begins again.

THANKS FOR THE READ

SS

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Streamlining the Holidays.

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE, PHOTO PROVIDED

The Holidays...

yes the whole season is an event.

Even for those that LOVE and LIVE FOR them as well as those that are extremely organized (like me) the thought of shopping for all those gifts, decorating, entertaining and more, has their head spinning. Add that on top of the regular day-today activities and you have a recipe for stress.

Being organized and planning it all out keeps things straight and gets things done. I find party planning and gift buying to be the areas of most stress.

My first recommendation is to have two key tools. The first is a small 5x8 notebook; a flat, small one will be easiest to tote around throughout the season to keep you organized.

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and events. You can find them on the internet or in Microsoft Word to print out.

Take the notebook and make some sections (post-its work just fine.)

Make sections for gifts, parties, and to-do lists to start with. You may want more as you go based on what you have going on. Next, comes the calendar… fill in all you have scheduled, such as travel, parties you are going to, church services, school events, work parties, theatre events, when you will have guests and such.

Doing this visually shows you your commitments so you can then plan out when you will do all of your own things. Use pencil so if something changes you can adjust immediately.

I am always surprised how little time is left!

It's party time!...

Decide what you can really do this year. Dinner? Multiple Dinners?

Holiday Party? Cocktail Party?

Open House?

Planning Tips • Pick what parties you want to host and the type.

• Select dates / times for all and put on your calendar.

• Have a page for each in your notebook; write out all the specifics, such as menu and guest list.

• Draft your guest lists for each.

• Do invitations for each, (e-mailing out at least 2-3 weeks prior (put this on your calendar). A save the date email or call may be in order if you are planning late and want to ensure all know.

• Plan the menu adding paper product supplies with it and start buying each week; checking off as you go so just consumables and fresh items are the last minute purchases.

• Enjoy! Really…enjoy the party.

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Other holiday-related calendar items to mark are due dates for making or filling out cards, dates to mail cards, book travel, get tree, time to decorate indoors and outdoors, shopping time(s), time for wrapping, due dates for gift shipping, events you need to bake for, and major cleaning times just before parties or hosting guests. An ongoing holiday to-do list may have these calendar items as well as… prep for company, getting items dry cleaned, and so on. It is all in the details and remembering them.

And now for those gifts...

Gift buying should be fun but it is a daunting task; who to buy for, what to buy and how to afford it all. I read a stat in Real Simple that you should spend no more than 1.5 percent of your pretax annual income on gifts; that means on $65,000, you wouldn’t spend more than about $1,000. You should budget for wrapping supplies, stamps and shipping too. Streamlining the gift buying will be the biggest de-stresser of all.

In your notebook, make a comprehensive list of each person you need to buy for (maybe separate pages for each grouping); family, friends, colleagues, service providers, teachers, babysitters, neighbors. I would give those that you will buy a lot for several lines in between the next so you have space to document things. At a minimum, fill in the name and budget for each. If you have ideas for them, jot them down. Setting this up in the beginning gives you a true picture of what you need to get. Once you buy something, document item and price. Also, grab an envelope to stash in the back of the notebook to keep all receipts in – try to put the person’s name by the item.

Consider the same gift within a group if possible; like all teachers get movie tickets attached to a $1 store candy. It helps to streamline the shopping trips. My personal favorite gifts with the most meaning (and are clutter-free!) is to give an experience, such as taking that person out to eat or to an event. The memories will last longer than any item. You can get creative and make up a small coupon to enclose in the card.

Lastly, don’t forget the miscellaneous purchases...

Create a general holiday shopping list with wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbon, tissue paper, bags, cards, stamps, shipping boxes and more. Check your stock on all of these items as soon as possible and add specific quantities to the items so you don’t overbuy.

But the real last point is to savor the holidays, really concentrate on what they mean to you and how you want to enjoy them. Doing this will bring clarity and focus while you get things done. SS

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4 3

7

What your

8

KID wants for the Holidays

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10 1.

2.

3.

Nerf Modulus – Toys R Us $49.99 Lego Dimensions – Walmart $99.96 Tumbling Stewart Walmart $34.47

4.

5.

6.

Little Live Pets Clever Keet Toys R Us $48.99 Zoomer Chomplings Dinosaurs - Toys R Us $29.99 Toasty Toez Horse Boots – Impressions of Saratoga $22.99 7. Make Your Own Lipbalm G. Willikers $21.99

8. Quadrillion – G. Willikers $21.99 9. Baskeball Hoop Mug – uncommongoods.com $24.00 10. Breyer Horses Stablemates Playset - Amazon.com $29.99

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6

2

5

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13 17

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11. Lego Frozen Elsa’s Sparkling Ice castle -Target $39.99 12. Lego Minecraft Walmart $59.68 13. Pie Face Game - Walmart $16.88

14. Bright Beats Dance & Move 18. Magna Tiles BeatBo - Babies R Us $36.99 G. Willikers $51.99 15. Minecraft gameband – 19. Doc McStuffins Take Care of me Target $79.99 Lambie - Just Play $49.99 16. FurReal friends JJ jumping pug 20. Bathtub Ball Track playset – Walmart $32.87 amazon.com $18.99 17. I-Que intelligent Robot21. Barbie Saddle and Ride Horse Amazon.com Walmart $38.88

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20

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Meet the Cook Who Uses

that Kitchen

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS BY SARATOGAPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

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SaratogaPhotographer.com

...in the

kitchen

with Dave DePaulo As a third generation builder, Dave DePaulo knew what he wanted to build into his own kitchen.

D

ePaulo is the owner of Bella Home Builders and a guy who likes to cook up massive amounts of pasta sauce. He knew firsthand what was important to include, and what to avoid, when creating a kitchen. It’s in the small details, the ones that come from experience, that make a huge difference in a high-end kitchen.

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As a result, function coexists with beauty in the DePaulo home. The refrigerator door opens up fully because it wasn’t installed too close to the cherry cabinets. The twotiered island is positioned a comfortable 42 inches from the opposite countertop, making it an easy workspace to maneuver around when there is more than just one cook in the kitchen.

“My kids love to cook,” said DePaulo. Whether he’s strapping his daughter into an apron and pulling up a stool, cooking up gallons of sauce to freeze, or feeding a group of more than 10 people (as can happen), DePaulo has made a kitchen that is ready for the challenge.

From the elegant pot-filler, an arm that siphons water directly into his pasta pots; to the 60-pound mixer that springs up and locks into place simply by opening a cupboard door; to the quarter-sized air-switch garbage disposal; superb functionality exists seamlessly among the old-world Tuscany look of the space.

Unmarred by what DePaulo considers to be the ugliness of a microwave, he built this essential modern item into his classic wooden pantry. Accentuated by aged flooring boards, 200-year-old beams and wrought iron details carried over from the nearby staircase, the home’s visual charm is evident.

The custom-made copper hood positioned above the fourfoot stove complete with six burners and a grill, make an imposing feature into an inviting one. SS

“It really is pretty spectacular,” said Depaulo. Local judges agree, voting it as a 2010 Showcase of Homes winner.

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in Saratoga John Seymour

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Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumbler, Linkedin, Facebook, Vimeo, Skype, emails, faxes, text messages…

Too often the virtual world blurs our view of the real world and we miss the everyday beauty around us.

Who better to capture the simple pleasures and iconic moments in life than our local photographers.

With an eye for art and their finger on the trigger, they are the pictorial biographers of life.

We hope you enjoy these snapshots in time…

Gail Stein

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John Seymour

in Saratoga

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Ian Parker

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Gail Stein

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in Saratoga Gail Stein John Seymour

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Ian Parker

Ian Parker

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2015

Date

Save the

N OV EM B ER - DECEM B ER

Deborah Neary

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 9th Annual Lake George Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Shepard Park Beach, Lake George, 10 a.m.

Hundreds of people take the plunge each year in Lake George and at different locations around the state to raise funds for the Special Olympics New York. These daring participants’ help by showing their support for the Special Olympics and raising money for the organization. For more information call (518) 388-0790 x 109.

Family Saturdays at the Tang Tang Museum at Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Tang offers children ages 5 and older a chance to express their creativity in the museum through its Family Saturday’s programs. These free programs use current exhibitions as a starting point to give children (and their adult companions) the opportunity to express their creativity in fun and inspiring ways. Each program includes a brief tour followed by a handson art activity, with all materials provided.

Space is limited. Reservations can be made starting one week before the program by calling the Tang’s Visitor Service Desk at 518-580-8080.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 3rd Annual Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade Historic Downtown Greenwich, NY

Join us for the 2nd Annual Lighted Tractor Parade in Downtown Greenwich!

Proceeds will support a GCS Scholarship in Agriculture and GGCC activities.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 South Glens Falls Holiday Parade Rte. 9, South Glens Falls, 1 p.m.

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The Annual South Glens Falls Holiday Parade will take place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. There will be community groups, bands, floats, costumed characters, and of course, a very special guest, Santa Claus! For more information call (518) 761-1220.

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Santa's arrival

Chowderfest THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Christopher Dailey Turkey Trot

The 11th Annual Saratoga Restaurant Week

Saratoga Springs City Hall, 8:30 a.m.

Each year, on Thanksgiving morning, thousands of runners and walkers congregate in Saratoga Springs NY to race in the annual 5K Turkey Trot race, which benefits the Christopher Dailey Foundation.

For more information call (518) 581-1328.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 40th Annual Craft Marketplace Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saratoga Center for the Family's 40th annual Holiday Craft Marketplace will host over 100 crafters offering unique creations including pottery, stained glass, quilts, dolls and much more. For more information call (518) 5878008.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Gingerbread Workshop Saratoga Springs Public Library, Various Times through December 12

Learn to make a gingerbread house. For children in grades K-6. Register for one session only. Saratoga School District residents only. In person pre-registration required, beginning November 7th. For more information visit www.sspl.org.

Participating Restaurants in Saratoga Springs, December 4 – December 10

3 course meals for just $10, $20, or $30 and lunch for $5 or $10. For more information visit discoversaratoga.org/ restaurantweek.

Candle Light House Tour Union Gables Bed and Breakfast, 55 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 5 – 10:30 p.m.

Tour festively decorated homes celebrating our city's unique architecture and historic East Side. Party and silent auction held at the historic Union Gables Bed & Breakfast. For more information call (518) 584-1558.

2015 Saratoga Festival of Trees Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 6 p.m.

For more information call (518) 587-5000. *For full coverage of the Festival of Trees, the Victorian Streetwalk, the Tree Lighting and Santa’s arrival, please pick up a copy of A SARATOGA CHRISTMAS, due out on November 25th

Deborah Neary

Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting/First Friday Downtown Ballston Spa, 6 – 9 p.m.

Join us for one of the area's favorite hometown traditions. The Ballston Spa Holiday Parade steps off at 6:30 pm with the village Christmas Tree lighting to follow in Wiswall Park. Shops, restaurants and museums will be open for a holiday-themed First Friday. For more information visit www.ballston.org.

Winter Dance Concert Dance Center Dance Theater, Skidmore College, 8 p.m.

Skidmore Dance Department presents works choreographed by the faculty and guest artists. Students & Senior Citizens $5; Adults $10; Box Office opens 45 minutes prior to the performance. cash/check only. Arrive early for best seating.

For more information call (518) 580-5392 or visit: skidmore.edu/dance/.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 The 28th Annual Victorian Street walk, Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival!

Downtown Saratoga Springs, 5 – 10 p.m.

Music, magic, gingerbread house displays, the Festival of Trees, choral groups, Victorian Costumes, Santa & Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, lots of venues with entertainment, all free and open to the public. For more information call (518) 587-8635. *For full coverage of the Festival of Trees, the Victorian Streetwalk, the Tree Lighting and Santa’s arrival, please pick up a copy of A SARATOGA CHRISTMAS, due out on November 25th saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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2015

Date

Save the

N OV EM B ER - DECEM B ER

Victorian Streetwalk SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

12th Annual Center Crafts Show

Miracle on 34th Street

Saratoga Arts Council Center, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs

A Saratoga Christmas with The McKrells

Come get inspired for the Holidays and Celebrate the Arts in Saratoga. Handmade jewelry, fine woven garments, hand crafted leather belts and sculpted buckles, sculpture, functional stoneware and raku pottery, handmade bow ties, quilts, mixed media paintings and much more will be available for sale. Admission is FREE and refreshments are served. For more information visit gordonfinearts.org or call (518) 852-6478.

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Sometimes we all need a reminder of how wonderful it is to believe! Just when a weary world needs it most, a white-whiskered, kindly old man calling himself Kris Kringle appears to remind a little girl and her skeptical mother that the holidays are still a magical time of humor, generosity, and faith in the goodness of others. Join us for this uplifting yuletide classic! Offering shows up until December 19th. For more information visit homemadetheater.org

Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, 7 – 9 p.m.

Home Made Theater continues their tradition of hosting Christmas shows with Kevin McKrell and his merry musicians.

Join Home Made Theater for an evening of Christmas favorites, Kevin’s trademark sound, and their popular rendition of A Visit from St. Nick (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas). For more information visit homemadetheater.org.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 18th Annual First Night Saratoga 5K Skidmore College Athletic Complex, Saratoga Springs, 5:30 p.m.

Start and finish on the beautiful Skidmore campus. The first ¾ mile is a gradual uphill on the perimeter road. The course exits the campus at Clinton Avenue and continues to Greenfield Avenue, continuing up North Broadway and back to campus.

This is a moderately challenging course, including both hills and downgrades. For more information visit saratoga-arts.org/ firstnight/5krun.

First Night Saratoga- 20th Anniversary Downtown Saratoga Springs, 5:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

First Night is a New Year's celebration of the arts and community. Saratoga's First Night is the largest New Year's event outside of New York City. Each year, thousands of revelers come to Saratoga Springs to experience a wide-ranging variety of arts and music. It is a true showcase of the diverse and immense talent in the Capital-Saratoga region. For more information visit saratoga-arts.org/firstnight.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 21st Annual Frost Faire Saratoga National Historical Park, 648 Route 32, Stillwater 11am-3pm

Snow, or no snow…come enjoy the 21st Annual Frost Faire. If there’s snow, bring your snow tube or plastic sled for spectacular rides on the “Big Hill.” If there’s no snow, escape cabin fever with winter nature trek, contra-dancing, special exhibits, games, plus hot chocolate and cookies by the bonfire. The event is free.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH Chowderfest Saratoga Springs, NY 11am-4pm

Each year during the Saratoga Springs Winterfest, the popular event called Chowderfest brings thousands to downtown Saratoga. Come join local restaurants in Saratoga as they offer samples of their best chowder all afternoon long, brought to you

by The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau.

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l a c o L y u #B

s local item be ld that shou r on you t lis g n i p p o h s

Editor's Picks 2015 Impressions of Saratoga

Mare, Dave & Maddy dreamed up this line of products, and considering the DARK HORSE celebrates overcoming the odds and beating the champion. (Like Keen Ice beating American Pharoah) I’d say their timing was perfect!

Homessence

I just LOVE these pillows and when I heard that Kristi designed them and they are made right here in NY (you know we are all about LOCAL!!) I had to include them!!

Death Wish Coffee

Produced in Round Lake, using a blend of the strongest and BEST TASTING coffee beans they can find – seriously! Not only will this coffee get you through the day with peak performance… it may expose Saratoga County to oh, maybe 120 million viewers IF they won commercial time during THE BIG GAME in February!

Saratoga Sweets Candy Co.

When I first met Dawn…

SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO… she probably didn’t dream that someday, she’d be making her delicious fudge with combinations such as Dark Chocolate, Sea Salt and Caramel, but oh wow… she does it so well!

Of course, if that’s not your flavor combo… she makes 17 other flavors for you to try out! PS… my husband says this is all he wants in his stocking this year!

Lather Bar

How cool is this… locally made soaps using your favorite beverages…

Love this idea!

Waterwheel Village

You see it… right there on the label… they age their own cheese!!

This place may be 15 minutes from Broadway, but it’s worth the drive from anywhere!!

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Raina’s Jewlery & Gifts

Lorri Birmingham, the owner / designer, makes much of the jewelry herself…. Beautiful, unique work that captivates us every time my daughter and I go in there!

Stinky Dog

Stinky Dog may not have been birthed in Saratoga, but we love having him here now!

Look at that face… too cute!!

Saratoga Courage

I feel like I’ve known Sege forever, and his Greenfield based distillery not only produces hand-made, fine quality spirits (that taste great!) but they do it without using ANY electricity… everything from the blending, filtering, bottling and labeling is done by hand.

This is definitely a business worth supporting.

Sundaes Best

Saratoga Gelato

It’s hard to think of this company as LOCAL as they are probably in over 500 retail locations by now, but I remember when Katie and Jeff started this almost 15 years ago… and yes, it’s STILL made by hand!

I can’t imagine anyone NOT knowing about Saratoga Gelato’s HOMEMADE, all natural, local, organic (and delicious!) old-world style Italian gelato, but just in case you didn’t know it was made locally… I’m here to tell you. …and yes, it’s appropriate to bring a quart of Saratoga Gelato to your next holiday get together - the hostess will love you for it!

Saratoga Tea & Honey

Locally produced honey AND the coolest place in town to stop for a drink… I had to include my new favorite place!

Textile Studio

Clothing and accessories HANDWOVEN on looms, using tactile friendly materials like silk, merino, alpaca, and chenille, with a special emphasis on ecofriendly fibers from bamboo, hemp, and soy… oh yeah, this is a MUST-HAVE in the BUY LOCAL section : ) saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Thank you E EVERYON

l r successfu for anothe a g to Simply Sara ot! o h S r e v Co

Behind the Scenes Holiday 2015 Cover Shoot

…cover credit

LOCATION: Wellness Farm, 2 Ruggles Rd., Saratoga where Officers King Tut and Jupiter are boarded (lucky horses!)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tracey Buyce… of course!

STYLING: King Tut’s garland provided by Native Farm Flowers and his green HOLIDAY halter was graciously donated by the Vollkommers of High Strung Acres

Thank you Tami & Ryan for letting us take over your barn for an afternoon… or two!

And to all the officers who answered a million questions and got the horses to stand EXACTLY where we wanted them!!

The lucky horses that live here…Embraceable Blue (Blue Eyes), Balalaika (Bali) and the baby-Autumn's Apple (Apple)

Yes... this is Blue Eyes!

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Tracey chatting with the owners of Wellness Farm…

Tami Wolpert, DVM of Animal Wellness Veterinary Services and Ryan Wolpert, DDS of Wolpert DDS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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