Saratoga Family Summer 2020 - Congrats Grads! by Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga Family Summer 2020 | Complimentary

Congratulations to our area graduates!

On the front & back cover of this Saratoga Family pullout, we have the graduating class of Saratoga Springs High School! Flip the pages for all area schools. Brought to you by

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SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Saratoga Family Brought to you by

PUBLISHER OF: Simply Saratoga • Saratoga Bride Saratoga Family • Welcome Home • Saratoga Christmas and of course... Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 Phone: 518-581-2480 Fax: 518-581-2487 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Saratoga Family is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2020, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

CONTENTS Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty

Saratoga Springs High School Graduates

General Manager Robin Mitchell

Saratoga Central Catholic High School Graduates

Ballston Spa High School Graduates

Creative Director / Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee

Schuylerville High School Graduates

Magazine / Advertising Designer Marisa Scirocco

Laughing Matters

Biking Safety Tips

A Sister Act is Born

CDPHP Breaks Ground!

OrthoNY

How to Make the Most of Your Telehealth Appointment

Snacking News You Can Use!

Plant Based Family Favorite Recipes

What’s New with Jodie Fitz!

Freezer Jam – Quick and Yummy!

Preschool During the Pandemic

Kids Doing Good Things!

Grant Cottage

The Pet Section

Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers Deb Czech Richard Frank Jodi Fitz Joel Goodman Ann Hauprich Aimee Heidt Lily Neher Christine Potash Megin Potter

Diane Whitten

Photographers Mary Hauprich Reilly

Local news never looked this good!

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Congratulations Class of 2020! Dear Seniors, You made it through four years of high school, countless challenges and now a global pandemic. You also missed out on a traditional graduation, senior prom, and your final games. If adversity builds character, the class of 2020 should be all set. As a small acknowledgement of a job well done, Saratoga TODAY decided to publish all your names and as many photos as possible in this keepsake section. As you head out into the real world, or on to college, we hope you remember all the good times, and learn from the bad times. Go follow your dreams and remember: Adversity is just opportunity in disguise!

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Congratulations! SARATOGA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL TOP TEN

1. Elizabeth (Ellie) Siebeneck 2. Nicholas Dahlen 3. Danielle Geils Anthony Cammisa Samantha Canter James Capone Madison Caravella McKenna Carley Tessa Carminucci Caleb Carpenter Sydney Cassidy Julie Catanzarita Anthony Cavotta Milo Chambers Hunter Chandler Tyler Charnik Jackson Cherry Conor Chivers Luke Clark Madison Clark Jordyn Clarke Xavier Clarke Zoe Clarke Tyler Clute Gianna Cognetti Alanah Cohen-Tigor Jasmin Colon Autumn Companion Luke Connolly Amber Connors Sophia Cook Jack Cooper Logan Cope Reese Cousineau Jackson Cox Eve Crossett Amalia Culpepper-Wehr Ainsley Cumming Kathryn Cuneo Alex Czajkowski Jack Czajkowski Joshua Czech Joshua D’Addio Aidan Dagostino Matthew Dahlen Nicholas Dahlen Joanna Dalton Mia D’Andrea Julianne Dardis Grace Davis Jakobie Davis Rian Davis Ryan Delaney Sydney DeLeonardis Jaydan Delgado Anna Dennett James Dennis Abbigail Derlinga Mikayla Descisciolo Dylan DeSimone Alexander Deutsch Emily DeVries Ethan Dietz David Diloreto Colin Dingmon Skylar Dinsmore Cassandra Donaldson Bethany D’Onofrio Luke Doran Skyler Dorr Alyssa Downey Michael Drabkin Noah Dragoon Aaron Dressel Liam Dreyer Madeleine Duchaussee Grayson Dumortier Stephanie Duscher Robert Dybala Matthew Dys

4. 4. 5. 6.

(tie) Anna Lansford (tie) Kate Manor Renee Maslak Orion Goodemote

Robin Dzurica Robert Edmiston Samuel Edwards Patrick Egan Gabreel ElSawi Bryce Emery Elizabeth Emmich Liam Enright Liam Epstein Patrick Erway Kyla Fahy Ronak Fansiwala Lindsie Farley Adysen Farrell Shawn Farrell Dakota Fayette Rocky Fayette Adelle Feeley Mara Fenton Kaylee Ferro Kyra Fiber Dartanian Fichtner Sofia Figliomeni J. Fignar Braden Flanders Noah Flanders Schuyler Flansburg Spencer Flansburg Cole Flynn Joshua Foley Kylie Folts Ashton Fox Kirk Francis Kurt Fredette Corwin Freedman Lilia-Pualani Fuimaono Amethyst Gallo Destiny Gardner Nicholas Garlock Nicholas Gebo Ronan Gecewicz Danielle Geils Hudson Geistfeld Ryan Genter Zachary Gerhardt Sydney German Abigail Getz Jasmine Gialil Eliza Gifford Foster Goff Lindsey Goguen Maxfield Goldman Ricardo Gonzalez Grace Goodell Orion Goodemote Avinash Goss David Gottschalt Caroline Grabowski Payton Graham Madeline Grant Autumn Green Jeffery Green Wayne Green Camilla Greene Mark Gregory Quentin Grieco Ethan Griffis Eric Griskowitz James Groseclose Jenna Guthinger Abigail Guyon Lauren Haese Ray Harrington Devon Harrison Edward Hart Demi Hartz Austin Haskell

7. Grant Travis 8. Nicholas Gebo 9. Megan Bissonette 10. Zeph Watkins Ellie Hassey Marley Hawthorne Emily Heck McLaren Heck Lauren Hegener Elizabeth Herman Luke Hertik Jayden Hickey William Hill Matthew Hogan Jr Griffin Hogben Harrison Hogben Trinity Hogben Aidan Holmes Hailey Holmquist Jacob Horn Madison Hudson Taylor Hudson David Hunter Allison Hurt Issabella Hussey Mark Irish Jr Sarah Isopo Samuel Jacob Caroline Jarosz David Jenks Natalie Jillson Alec Johnson Allyah Johnson Nathanael Johnson Paden Johnson Carter Jones Aniyah Jones-Dowling Brendan Joyce Devon Juda Saskia Kamerling Clare Kelly Emma Kelly Sean Kempf Hannah Kern Avery Ketcham Brian King Jason King Evan Klotz Madyson Kolligian Christian Kondo Ethan Kopraski Jackson Kosek Elliot Kramer Kathryn Krupa Olivia Kvinlaug Catherine LaCoppola Amanda Lamonda Anthony Lamonda Caroline Laniewski Elliot Lanne Anna Lansford Jennifer LaPlanche Josef Laurer Andrew Leal Jade Leal Charles Leary Cameron Lebed Jude Lee Rachel Lee Sophie Leidig Emily Leys Michael L’Hommedieu Ayden Lipscomb Robyn Lloyd Rosemary Lockrow Marco Lopez Campos Cadylin Loveday Jennifer Lowe Alexander Ludwig Timothy Luse Miranda Lynch

Class of 2020

Rebecca Lynch Ripley Lynch Clark Lyons Madigan Lyons Heidi Mackrodt Meaghan MacLellan Karleigh MacMillan Maia Mahar Kate Manor Lorenzo Marcolin Nicholas Marron Phoenix Martens Lucas Martinez Ana Martinez Guzman Joseph Martuscello Zachary Marx Renee Maslak Michael Masten Natasha Mather Kimberlie Mayette Kaylee Mazurek Connor McCabe Kelly McCormick Mya McFarland Elizabeth McGinn Matthew McGourty Julia McGowan Thomas McKiernan Jaelyn McMillon-Barnes Jessica McNeil Katherine Mebert Jacob Meehan Analiese Meidenbauer Karl Meidenbauer Keith Meidenbauer Kurt Meidenbauer Christian Mercado Gavin Merton Jordan Mesquita Kaija Mevissen Isaiah Meyre Aidan Millens Nathaniel Miller Morgan Millington Diego Montes Caroline Moran Saajid Muharis McKenna Mulholland Ryan Mulvey Sam Munro Andrew Murauskas Maxwel Murauskas Joseph Murphy Shane Murphy Garrett Myers Johanna Nally Casey Navin Sebastian Nemer Cabrera Kaitlyn Nero Sutton Nichols Jared Nightingale Alexander Nikola Clarissa Nokes Cian Nolan Daniel Novik Kathleen O’Brien Charlotte O’Connell Emily O’Connell Makaela Oehler Connor Ogden Mack Ogden Catherine O’Hara Madelaine Oke Ross Olsen Madeline O’Malley Robert Ott

Ella Ouimet Laura Paladini Robert Palermo Jr Melvin Palma Bronwyn Palmieri Guadalupe Pantoja Nicholas Paolone Greydon Parker Thomas Parrish Kiernan Patterson Michael Pazderski Megan Peckham Emily Pecora Lukas Pelletier Nicole Pelliccia Charlotte Perella Megan Phelps Riley Phillips Natalie Piro-Felder William Poland II Casey Powers Jacob Pratt Troy Prehn Vincent Prime Darson Providence Caleb Quackenbush Leah Radovic Ryan Ragaini Briggs Ragan Alexa Rahman Joshua Ralston Jason Ramos-Montanez Caroline Reals Luca Reeder Hannah Reese Katelyn Reome Samuel Resue Aidan Reynolds Meghan Reyome Connor Richards Maecy Rickman Spencer Ripchik Tessa Rivenburg Alexa Roberts Kristen Rodecker Abigail Rodriguez Olivia Rose Isabella Rossi Christopher Rothaupt Molly Ruff Jasada Rutigliano Vincent Sablich Yotham Sage Katelynn Saltzgaver Isabel Sartin Angelica Sawka Anna Bella Sawka Rebeka Sawka Victoria Sawka Margaret Scala Gavin Schaap Jaya Schalberg Joseph Schiavo Evan Schmid Megan Schorpp Sydney Schumaker Schuyler Scirocco Abigail Searles Shamir Shaffe Luke Shapiro Samantha Shapiro Skylar Shea Matthew Sherlock Elizabeth Siebeneck Luke Siewert Sarah Signor BillieJean Simonson

Joseph Sklenarik Molly Smack Elijah Smith Faith Smith Autumn Soukup Arleigh Soule Chloe Sova Jillian Sparano Daniel Spillane Mia Staley Cameron Steuer Evan Steves Jade Straus Ethan Stuthmann Sophia Sulkin Caroline Susko Mckenzia Suttle Phillip Swenor Melissa Swiers Jacob Szymanski Shaun Taber Brady Taylor Kendra Teator Daniil Teteryatnik Lily Tetreault Maximus Tetu Michael Theobald Shannon Thomas Kathryn Thompson Walter Thompson Ashley Toote Shay Tracy Grant Travis John Trimmings Brian Truax Clayton Trumbull Xearia Tufino Luis Uribe Hernandez Grace Usack Anthony Valastro Kristian VanAvery Cade Varcoe Olivia Vavasour Mark Verra Jackson Vick Skye Vilca Caleigh Wagner Aidan Waite Dakota Walker Eloise Walsh Sylvie Waters Zeph Watkins Caleb Weber Olivia Weeden Chelsey Wertans Emily Whalen John Wheatley Jack Whitaker Lily White Connor Wickert Kristia Wiegand Shaun Wiggins Jasmine Willey Abe Williams Jake Williams Gramarian Wilmot Jordan Wohl Emma Wrobel Maya Yefimenko Hunter Yourch Abby Zacharias Tyler Zieker Matthew Zihal Samuel Zimmerman Wendy Zimmerman Arlo Zwicker Olivia Zwickle

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

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Congratulations!

SARATOGA CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S 2020 GRADUATES! Saratoga Central Catholic’s 31 graduates have been offered over $7 million in academic scholarships to college! We are planning a graduation ceremony in July; details will depend on the specifics of the “NYS on Pause” executive order at that time… stay tuned! SCC’s 2020 Valedictorian is Isabella Marie Ares.

Isabella Marie Ares

Isabella will graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors with Science and Math Designations. SCC’s 2020 Salutatorian is Nyah Bella Lamarre Blanc. Nyah is an unusual Salutatorian, she skipped 11th grade and still is at the top of her class! She plans to attend Howard University. OUR TOP 10 RANKED SENIORS ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Isabella Marie Ares Nyah Bella Lamarre Blanc Faith Elizabeth McKenna Thomas John Frankowski Ronan Timothy Loftus-Graney Jarrod Kent Martin Grace Margaret O’Reilly Lauren Sarah Maher Caroline Joyce Motler Joseph Vincent Peter LaFiura GRADUATED SENIORS

Luke H. Apy Isabella Marie Ares Micaela Lynn Barbolt Fiza Violet Bhatti Samuel Bouchard Jordan Tyler Catone John Costantino Thomas John Frankowski Brandon Raymond Karam Aidan Anthony Khoury Joseph Vincent Peter LaFiura II Nyah Bella Lamarre Blanc Ronan Timothy Loftus-Graney Andrew C. Macpherson Lauren Sarah Maher Dante Thadeus Marin Jarrod Kent Martin Faith Elizabeth McKenna Caroline Joyce Motler Emyleigh Rae Murray Tyler Ransome Orsini Grace Margaret O’Reilly Madelynn Elaine Rohne Rachel E. Smero Abby Rose Stinton Matthew John Terleckey Lindsay Greta Towle Benjamin C. Urbaetis Ria Jean Walsh Anna Elizabeth Wengert Nicholas Patrick Winslow

Nyah Bella Lamarre Blanc

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Congratulations!

BALLSTON SPA HIGH SCHOOL’S 2020 GRADUATES!

BALLSTON SPA HIGH SCHOOL TOP TEN STUDENTS - CLASS OF 2020 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Caitlin Doyle Alexandra Nicolaus Benjamin Matzel Katelyn Hilko Madelynn Barnum Kiana Pearson Oliver Mathison Lucas Bennice Alexandra Lumley Carleigh Wachtel

TOP STUDENTS ANNOUNCED IN BALLSTON SPA Ballston Spa High School Principal Gianleo Duca recently announced Caitlin Doyle as the Valedictorian and Alexandra Nicolaus as the Salutatorian for the Ballston Spa High School Class of 2020. Caitlin Doyle has excelled in a very rigorous course load and will receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors with Mastery in Mathematics and Science. While advancing herself as a well-rounded student, she has earned an honorable cumulative GPA of 99.6. Caitlin will be pursuing a major in the field of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Caitlin’s accomplishments include serving as Co-Captain for the 2017 National Science Bowl Team, being a member of both National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society, earning first chair for the viola, participating in two NYSSMA Majors Gold Orchestras as well as both Suburban Council and Area All-State, accomplishing a Level 6 NYSSMA solo, performing in numerous All-County Festivals, having two original pieces of writing selected for Young Writers USA publications, and being awarded the Young Writers Creativity Award two years in a row.

Alexandra Nicolaus has excelled in a rigorous course load and will receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors with Mastery in Mathematics and Science. Alexandra’s cumulative GPA is an outstanding 99.3. Alexandra is a well-rounded individual who will be pursuing a degree in the field of Pre-Med at Union College. Alexandra is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, President of Science Olympiad, Vice President of Physics Club, and Junior Board President of Buddy Blankets & Bears. She was also selected as a Junior Sergeant of Arms on Executive Board and is a class of 2020 delegate. Additionally, Alexandra has been a passionate dancer since the age of three and has had the opportunity to perform at the New York City Ballet Gala, New York State Summer School of the Arts Summer Intensive, and lead roles in the Nutcracker. The Class of 2020 is currently completing their final days of their senior year virtually and preparing for their future endeavors. Please visit the school website for additional information via bscsd.org or call (518)884-7150.

BALLSTON SPA HIGH SCHOOL LIST OF GRADUATES JUNE 2020 John Adriance Ethan Ammon Kaia Andersen Shaylee Andress Kayla Arnold Alexyss Badillo Alyssa Baker Madisyn Barber Kayla Barbera Madelynn Barnum Juliet Belanger Lucas Bennice Tyler Beverly Robert Bodien Tayton Bowen Michael Boylan Austin Brand Jordan Brand Alexis Brewster Samantha Bright Austin Brooks Jared Brown Brianna Burch Abigael Burke William Burkert Lucas Busold Gavin Butler Kyle Camilli Hunter Campion Angela Capuano Gabriel Carr Sabrina Carrigan Connor Cecala Jayden Chojecki Rachel Cline Zarah Costigan McKenzie Coulombe Kolby Cox Mallory Cox Ryan Crandall Hayden Curley Alexa Dabek Cierra Daniels Sabrina Daniels Jack Davis Paige Davis Justin Dawes Coleman Debiec Ian DeFilippis Caleb DeGregorio Gianna DellaPorta Faith DeMars Jared Denisulk Michael Devaul

Samantha DeVito Anthony Devizzio Ashley DiGuardo Natalie DiStefano Kai Dixon Hailey Dolsen Caitlin Doyle Lorelei Druckenmiller Ryan Dussault Michael Duval Angelina Emmi Camden Esposito John Evans Jason Faizy Lauren Farbent Alexander Finkey Jordan Fitzpatrick Austin Flynn Grace Foti Jessica Fowler Evan Fox Madison Franco Isabella Fredericksen Dylan Freeman Ariel Fuller Caitlin Fuller Kira Furman Madison Galvin Patrick Garland Yann Gaudin Alexander Gerber Jenna Gold-Wienk Mecenzie Gonzalez Julia Grasso Morgan Graves Madison Gray James Gregorian Benjamin Guerin Christopher Hall Brady Haraden Savanna Hardt Lila Haskell Abigail Hayes Blake Heflin Emily Heim Soren Heitzman Sarah Helly Malachi Helm Gennaro Helwig Adrianna Hemby Kaia Hemming Makayla Herald Hunter Hiegl Tyler Higham

Katelyn Hilko Coleman Hinman Mark Hoffman Lela Hughes Savannah Ingram Hannah Ives Lauren Jacobs Mira Jaeger Nathan James Yony Jimenez-Preza Lillianna Johansen Cassidy Jourdanais Zachary Justin Dylan Kearney Michael Kelley Mikayla Kelley Lindsey Kelly Lauren Kersch Ryan Kettner Maddison Kieper Kasey Knickerbocker Travis Kniskern Christopher Kolodziejski Jacob Koszelak Cody Kwiatkowski Chase Lacijan Cade LaGoy Ashley Lammardo Jacob Lebediker Noah Lee Trent Leng Madison LeRoy Kristen Lewza Adrianne Liedel Meradith Liedel Mason Livingston Hunter Lombardo Joshua Loucks Evan Loveland Katie Lovelass Alexandra Lumley Michael Lupo Mackenzie Lyman Renee Madcharo Shannon Mahoney Brandon Maiello Zarina Mango Tianna Marte Harrison Martinez Vincent Mascardi Gianna Mason Oliver Mathison Xavier Matos Jeffrey Matthews

Benjamin Matzel Erin Maul Sarah McCabe Christian McCarthy Emma McCarthy Liam McDonough Noah McGrath Robert McKeon Conor McLaughlin Timothy McQuade Chase Medley Katherine Melamed-Henning Anthony Mero Mason Messina Sophia Micare Cassidy Milanese Pratt Brianna Millard Alexandria Miller Morgan Miller Stephen Miskovsky Lindsey Mitchell Jacob Monast Joshua Moore Nicholas Morrison Isabella Moryl Corbin Mull Jacob Newsom Alexandra Nicolaus Meghan Nicolaus Alexander Nistico Gabriella Oates Andrew O’Connor Keira O’Connor Riley O’Donnell Logan Oropallo George Ortega Jordyn Ostrander Caleb Padula Eric Parente Sophia Parisi Tyler Parlapiano Gabriella Payant Kiana Pearson Stephen Pellegrini Anna Peltier Elijah-Juan Perez Isabella Petrillose Ethan Phillips Payton Phillips Jersie Pondillo James Prastio Caleb Pratt

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

BALLSTON SPA HIGH SCHOOL LIST OF GRADUATES JUNE 2020 (Continued) Jesse Quay Princess Elaihza Quimada Jack Rath Charles Raymond Caitlynn Reohr Ariel Reynolds Jessica Reynolds Rouchelle Rhodes Grant Rice Alexander Riley Jocelyn Roberts Michael Robyck David Rodak Isabella Romanzo Vincent Romeo Horatio Rose Sarah Rule Jessica Russell Samantha Russell Morgan Ryan Alyssa Santiago Toni Santiago Nicholas Sassone Nicholas Scavone Nathaniel Schin Matthew Schutte Jordyn Seror Alison Sgambati Justin Sheehan Aidan Shephard Eric Shuda Ethan Shuhart Vivian Siciliano Chelsea Simmons Joshua Simmons

Forest Smith Caroline Srokowski Benjamin Staulters Maegan Stewart Makayla Strack Alyssa Swett Adrianna Tedesco Aidan Thomas Lydia Totino Jessica Tupper Drelyn Van Deinse-Diaz Kiera VanBuskirk Timothy Tyler VanDusen Mason Villnave-Malpass Regan Virkler Lilian Viscusi Artur Wachala Carleigh Wachtel Shasha Wallis Thomas Walsh Riley Walz Conor Weldon Madison Wert Corrina Whelan Saade White Catherine Whitfield Riley Willard Gregory Wilson Ceren Yalcin Demetri Yerou Anneke Ypma Bogdan Zabolotnyy Alexander Zielinski Keegan Zoller Mackenzie Zoller

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Congratulations! SCHUYLERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SCHUYLERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL’S TOP TEN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Kaela Ellis Audrey Sickles Sydney Alexanian Emma Nesbitt Abigail DeLor Charles Luzadis Meghan Clark Devon Dunkle Hannah Koval Eva Drohobycky

Sydney Alexanian Derek Anderson Teagan Andrews Justin Aschauer Jonathan Bakken Isabella Baldwin Alana Beaubriand Jenna Benware Conner Bilinski Alexis Bousquet Tyler Bowen Maikela Boyce Devin Brimmer Emma Brizzell Morgan Brown Jeremy Brownell Jr. Kyle Burnham Sebastian Calo-Samoza Olivia Carozza Dylan Carpenter Olivia Cartwright Meghan Clark Saige Clarke Mackenzie Coleman Andrew Conklin Cassandra Cooper Abigail Danna Abigail DeLor Ashley DeLuca Holly Deyoe Samantha Diehl Averi Doyle Eva Drohobycky Ethan Dubrey Andrew Dumas Devon Dunkle Myra Edgar Aidan Edwards Molly Elder Kaela Ellis Brady Eugair Madison Eugair Haleigh Eustis James Fisher Amber Flynn Jolie Freebern Michael Gale Lillian Gardner Erika Gifford Dante Gijanto Skyler Hartnagle Makylee Haviland Kalli Hewitt Evan Jeffords Chloe Kapsa Brooke Keefer Joshua Kelly Kasandra Kesterson Adam King Emaline King Hannah Klingebiel

Class of 2020

Hannah Koval Sunni LaBounty John Lewitinn Christian Lofgren Isabella LoPresti Charles Luzadis Madelyn Macdonald Matthew McCarthy Jose Antonio Mendoza-Gomez Lydia Mewton Morgan Michalski Isabella Morabito Noah Morris Jasper Morrison Hollie Munson Maxine Murray Jack Nemer Emma Nesbitt Emma Grace O’Rourke Julia Odasz Brody Parillo Abigail Parnham Tanner Peek Hunter Phillips Dominic Pompilio Nathan Preston Sydney Quinn Cayden Renner Sophia Reuther Marcus Richardson Gracelyn Risenhoover Krystal Rogers Nicholas Rowinski Zachary Saddlemire Saydi Sargent Tyler Senecal Audrey Sickles Skylar Sisson Sydney Sliva Jamie Sousie Ethan Sowle Logan Steele Reese Tavares Brooke Thomas Dahlia Thomas Isaias Torres Guzman Alexander Vallee Jacob Vanderhoof Ryan Viele Andrew Vito Sydney Warmt Jenna Watson Colton Weatherwax Charles Welsh Steven West Ian Winchell Paul Wood Ryan Yandow Sarah Yule

A socially distant graduation will be held on Friday June, 26th at 9am, on the football ﬁeld (subject to change).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H8rXrbTrRA&t=16s Determined to keep high school seniors united, Principal Ducharme spent an entire day ringing doorbells. In hand, a personalized Schuylerville High School Class of 2020 lawn sign for every student. Encouragement to stay strong through an unexpected end to their senior year. It was a great initiative appreciated by all!

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Laughing Matter Biking BY JOEL GOODMAN

t Jes he t for lth Hea t... of i

In the days before “Google” became a verb, we at The HUMOR Project were delighted to receive 50,000 calls and letters a year from folks around the world interested in the positive, healthy power of humor. Since then, we have received thousands of emails containing humorous goodies that we include in our free Laughing Matters e-mail newsletter.

As we all know, the coronavirus pandemic that surrounds all of us has definitely not been a laughing matter. If we are to maintain our health, sanity, and humanity, then we need humor now more than ever to help us keep our balance and perspective.

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house and told my dog… we laughed a lot. Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom. I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone.

You thought that dogs were hard to train? Look at all the humans that can’t sit and stay. Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under.

Quarantine Day 13: Preparing to take out the garbage... so excited I can’t decide what to wear.

I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I’m getting tired of Los Living room.

My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee, it cleans the toilet. Homeschooling is going well. Two students suspended for fighting and one teacher fired for drinking on the job.

We’re all gonna become so bored by the end of this that everybody is gonna know how to fold a fitted sheet. Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.

To all of the grandparents who are missing their grandchildren... when this is over, you can have them for a month!

The empowering principle is that we can choose which contagion we want to set in motion-- the contagion of misery and fear... or the positive contagion of love and laughter. Don Nilsen, Linda Nyquist, Carol Mante and Emma Aliwalas, M.D., think the Rx for dealing with the very unfunny COVID-19 is to get 19 laughs a day. Here is their humor vaccine to get us started... Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said “I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year”.... I’m offended.

I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.

I need to practice socialdistancing from the refrigerator.

We have all heard the expression that “Misery loves company.” That is very true-- it’s nice to know that we are not alone, that we are all in this together. Very few of us have heard or used the expression that “Laughter loves company.” In fact, I dare say that laughter loves company even more than misery loves company.

Does anyone know how long toilet paper will last if you freeze it? I don’t know who needs to hear this, but today is Wednesday.

Remember that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” “an onion a day keeps everyone away,” and in a difficult situation, “laughter is the jest medicine.”

Readers, if you have anything that tickles your funny bone, you can send it in an email to Joel@HumorProject.com so that we can share it in the future. Laughter is a healthy way to add years to your life… and life to your years!

for recreation and transportation can be an empowering, freedom filled addition to your life. However, like many other things, without certain knowledge or skills, it can be frustrating or even terrifying. Parents: • BicycleSafe.com and CyclingSavvy.org are the best resources out there. Read up and take your knowledge to the street. • Be visible. Riding on the sidewalk and on the edge of the road may seem safe but make you and your kids less visible to motorists. On roads that do not have comfortable shoulders, it’s important to operate your bike in the travel lane. Hi-vis clothing will ensure that motorists see you & lights are required after dark. • Be predictable. Ride in a straight line on the right side of the road. Act (in most ways) as if you were driving a car. • Communication is key. Good communication helps any relationship. Use body language, road positioning and hand gestures to communicate with motorists. Indicate when you are turning, changing lanes or when it’s unsafe to pass. • The best roads to drive on are not always the best to bike on. Become a route-finding master. Older Kids: • Get off the sidewalk. People who are making turns and pulling in & out of their driveways will not see you. It may irritate your neighbors as well. Only ride on the sidewalk if the road is NOT an option & you are moving at a slow speed. • Kids should pick out their own helmet...if you want them to wear it. Make sure it fits correctly, covering their forehead & not their eyes. • Learn best practices with your parents and share with your friends. Car Drivers • Always remember, bike riders DO NOT have metal cages to protect them. Do not use your 2,000-pound vehicle to intimidate or put riders at risk. • When overtaking a person riding a bike, be patient, wait for the oncoming lane to clear and provide a full 6-10 feet of passing clearance. Hop on a comfortable bike this year and explore the area on 2 wheels. This will allow you to experience or reconnect with the challenges, joy, and sensation of riding a bike! SUBMITTED BY

IAN KLEPETAR, BIKEATOGA

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

A Sister Act is Born...

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Meet the sibling pair behind a heritage preservation project devoted to preserving Ballston Spa’s past & present for future generations.

Budding author Ann Hauprich at age 10 daydreaming about the possibility of a baby sister named Mary in her future. At the time this “Kodak moment” was captured for posterity at the dawn of 1963, Ann already had eight siblings – five of them in the form of little brothers. Multi-talented Mary recently digitally inserted the portrait of herself as a tiny tot into a cartoon bubble within the vintage black and white snapshot of her Big Sis with her favorite childhood doll.

Bridesmaid Ann and flower girl Mary at a family wedding in June 1971. Following the older Hauprich sister’s July departure to serve as a Rotary International exchange student in Scandinavia, the sisters became pen pals who depended upon Air Mail services to stay in touch.

again!

Santa had just departed in December 1975 when Mary (then a Ballston Spa Middle School student) and big sister Ann (then a college journalism student in Canada) unwrapped Christmas presents together inside the Church Avenue home purchased in 1968 by parents Audrey and Donald so their 10 children could experience “Happier by the Dozen” living.

Artistic rendering of Ballston Spa Living Webmaster & Publisher Mary Hauprich-Reilly and Editor Ann Hauprich. The sisters sometimes joke they have taken social distancing to an extreme since Mary relocated to New England a few years ago. “You can take the girl out of Ballston Spa, but you can never ever take Ballston Spa out of the girl,” beams Mary.

WRITTEN BY ANN HAUPRICH DIGITAL ARTISTIC RENDERINGS BY MARY HAUPRICH REILLY

hen I knelt down to say my bedtime prayers as a child, I almost always ended them with this petition: “Please send me a baby sister.” Although I (Hauprich Baby #4) doted upon the five little brothers my parents brought home from the maternity ward leading up to my 10th birthday in the early 1960s, I wanted a sister I could play with like a doll. Alas! By the time my prayers were finally answered, I was a tweenager whose rare spare time was spent giggling with gal pals who shared my unbridled fervor for the performing arts and fashions that were being heavily influenced by Beatlemania. Please don’t get me wrong. Baby Sis Mary was absolutely adorable, and I enjoyed dressing her up in frilly outfits before taking her out for strolls around the neighborhood in a vintage pram. Gently pushing Mary on a backyard swing and watching her drift off to sleep when I sang lullabies at night are among my other fond memories of this now long-ago time. But the notion that we would ever have much of anything in common outside of our family circle was about as likely as me marrying Paul McCartney! Fast forward half a century and you’ll find this seasoned journalist seeking her kid sister’s guidance and expertise on all things involving electronic and digital publishing. As the decades have passed, Mary has

consistently made the grade not only as a Webmaster, but more recently as co-founder of Legacies Unlimited. Despite taking social distancing to an extreme with our home-offices being spaced 200 miles apart after Mary moved from Ballston Spa to New England a few years ago, she remains the upstate New York village’s unofficial goodwill ambassador. It would be an understatement to say that Mary, who also recently designed a collection of holiday mugs and greeting cards depicting village landmarks, is passionate about our mission to preserve the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future. Countless are the hours Mary has devoted to building an expansive, ever-evolving website called BallstonSpaLiving.com as well as designing pages for what promises to be an exquisite companion literary Time Capsule to be treasured for generations to come. Much of our content documents history-in-the-making set against the unprecedented backdrop of the pandemic. But just as it took a whole village to build Kids’ Creekside Village (a project both Mary and I were involved in promoting in 2008), it will take a whole village to make the limited edition volume the best heritage preservation keepsake it can be. To this end, residents and visitors as well as members of the business and professional community are being invited to contribute images and captions that capture The Spirit of Ballston Spa during 2020.

As a holiday gift to the community, a digital copy of the title, which will include special sections honoring Spirit of Ballston Spa contributors and sponsors, will become available on December 24 for viewing free of charge via BallstonSpaLiving.com. And while professionally printed and bound copies will be donated to several public and school libraries, those wishing to purchase copies for private collections may soon arrange to do so via our site. Meanwhile, in the spirit of Christmas in July, Mary recently posted a digital copy of Mornings with Morley (the fifth of my book titles to be delivered with her technical coaching assistance since 2006). The web version of the literary labor of love honoring the life and legacy of late Village History Consultant and old-fashioned wooden toy-maker Maurice “Christopher” Morley is accompanied by a familyfriendly multi-media presentation. The videos recorded by Mary prior to Morley’s passing at age 89 in 2011 capture some of the playful demonstrations that once brought untold joy to children of all ages. Among them were my three and Mary’s four now adult children. We hope sharing clips of the man Mary dubbed “The Macgyver of Toys” will keep his memory alive long into the future. In hindsight – which, of course, is 20/20 -- it borders on the miraculous that the curtain ever rose at all for the stars of this Sister Act play which

has known its fair share of comedies and tragedies. Although my opening passages document that our debuts on the world’s stage were spaced far apart, it wasn’t until I began penning this account for Saratoga Family magazine’s FUN-derful Managing Editor & Creative Director Chris Bushee that I experienced an epiphany. I’d somehow forgotten to mention that Mary and I had been little more than pen pals from the time she was in elementary school until she became a busy young Mom in the 1980s. From the day I left home in July 1971 to represent the Rotary Club of Ballston Spa as an international exchange student in Denmark (birthplace of famed Viking warrior Ragnar Rothbrok and beloved Fairy Tale author and story-teller Hans Christian Andersen) until I returned to my American roots with two Canadian born-daughters and a journalism portfolio spanning 15 years in my car, my Baby Sis and I had communicated using Air Mail services. In that now bygone era, long distance telephone calls were a luxury and social media did not yet exist. PARTING REFLECTION: Mary and I are proof positive that miles cannot ever truly part those who are close at heart. May the Silver Lining to the recent months during which social distancing was mandated to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 be that you and your loved ones come out of this crisis with bonds that are closer than ever!

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Construction Begins at State-of-the-Art Medical Facility in Upstate New York

“This will be the doctor’s office of the future, and CDPHP will be the glue that holds it together.”

forward to redefining the patient experience in the Capital Region and beyond.” added Bennett.

Shovels are in the ground along Route 9 in Clifton Park, the future home of a multi-specialty medical center spearheaded by health insurer, CDPHP, and four of the area’s preeminent specialty medical practices. Construction is underway at the state-of-the-art facility, which promises to provide patients with the highest level of care and customer service.

Over the last 12 months, CDPHP and its physician partners have worked diligently to design the medical facility with a focus on patient-centered care. The complex – combined with Community Care Physicians and Ortho NY nearby – will make Route 9 a hub for medical innovation.

The project – a partnership between CDPHP, Albany ENT & Allergy Services, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants, Capital Cardiology Associates, and Capital District Renal Physicians – will provide a unique patient experience with the following features: • Valet parking and centralized patient check-in • On-site café • On-site pharmacy and lab services • Patient education center and community room • Telemedicine hub for connected care “This will be the doctor’s office of the future, and CDPHP will be the glue that holds it together,” said CDPHP president and CEO, Dr. John Bennett. “The past three months have been a difficult time for our community, and we are grateful this project has moved forward. Together with our physician partners, CDPHP looks

While each practice will remain independent, the goal is to create a unified patient experience that will utilize the latest technology and forward-thinking business practices. “This is a remarkable opportunity to transform healthcare delivery in the Capital Region to optimize the patient experience, lower-cost, improve access and efficiency, and most importantly, improve outcomes, driven by a clear vision and collaboration to support quality, independent medical practice,” said Gavin Setzen, MD, FACS, FAAOA, FAR, Albany ENT & Allergy Services. “Albany Gastroenterology Consultants is thrilled to partner with CDPHP on this unique and exciting project. Our physician partners are committed to bringing the patient experience to the next level, and we are excited to better serve residents of the greater Clifton Park community,” said James V. Puleo II, MD, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants. “Capital Cardiology Associates is excited to team up with CDPHP, Albany ENT &

Allergy Services, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants, and Capital District Renal Physicians on this innovative effort to improve the health of our patients in Southern Saratoga County. We are proud of our role as cardiologists, advanced practitioners, and health care professionals, collaborating to create this community health resource,” said Dr. Augustin DeLago, President and CEO, Capital Cardiology Associates. “Through the union of our physician partners, Capital District Renal Physicians is excited to be able to better service the health care needs of the growing greater Clifton Park community. We believe this unique building, location, and collaboration with CDPHP presents an opportunity to improve nephrology care in this community,” said Dr. Thomas Schumacher, DO, Capital District Renal Physicians. CDPHP had planned a formal groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction. However, those plans were canceled in light of the COVID-19 crisis. The health plan is looking to recognize the occasion at a future date. The medical office is expected to open in spring 2021. About CDPHP® Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physicianfounded, member-focused and communitybased not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 26 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

OrthoNY

s New York continues to reopen and elective surgeries resume, OrthoNY can offer patients a new option for total knee replacement, the first of its kind in the state. Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA® Knee System is now available at both OrthoNY Surgical Suites in Clifton Park and Albany’s new Everett Road Surgery Center.

One of the most commonly performed elective surgeries, total joint replacement has become increasingly more popular as an outpatient procedure. OrthoNY physicians started introducing the option to eligible patients within the past year. ROSA® Knee will enhance the possibilities for same-day total joint replacement, getting patients home and on the road to recovery faster.

“We understand joint replacement can be a difficult decision for patients,” remarked Dr. Frederick Fletcher, an OrthoNY surgeon specializing in care of the hip and knee. “The distinct advantages of robotically-assisted technology – a more precise, more comfortable implant fit – have the potential to make that decision easier and improve our patients’ experience.” To schedule an appointment with an OrthoNY physician and learn more about ambulatory surgery options, including outpatient total joint replacement, call 518-489-2663, or visit www.orthoNY.com.

How to Make the Most of Your Telehealth Appointment

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 18

Dan Eldredge, DO, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Primary Care – Wilton

elehealth appointments are particularly appealing these days when we’re required to wear masks and keep our distance due to COVID-19. But how do you know if a telehealth appointment makes the most sense for you? And are there steps you can take to make the most out of your virtual visit?

Julie Demaree, PA, Director, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Informatics and Data Integrity, was instrumental in implementing telehealth services for the multi-specialty Saratoga Hospital Medical Group. She views video visits as an excellent option for many routine provider-patient visits. “Patients see their medical providers for a lot of reasons that don’t necessarily require a hands-on physical exam,” Demaree says. “If you want to discuss new symptoms, risk factors, medications, or test results—these are all things we can do in a telehealth appointment. That’s important, particularly when we’re assessing you for symptoms of COVID-19. “With the addition of video,” Demaree adds, “we are even able to evaluate minor injuries and illnesses.” She offers some tips on how to prepare for your telehealth visit. •

Test the technology. Most providers will send a link to your cell phone or email address, and advise which browser works best. Make sure your microphone and camera are enabled. Don’t hesitate to call the office to walk you through the process.

•

Write down questions and topics you want to cover just as you would for an in-person appointment. Don’t leave any of your concerns unaddressed.

•

Make a list of your medications. Better yet, place them next to you so you can show your provider. If you’re asked to keep a log of blood pressure readings or similar information, have that handy, as well.

•

If you haven’t already, consider signing up for the patient portal, if one is available to you. It’s a great way to fill out forms and update information.

•

Remember, you’ll be on camera. Choose a quiet, well-lit place so your provider can see how you are doing, and you can talk privately—free of distractions from family members and pets. Dress appropriately.

Two important reminders: 1. Don’t wait to seek the care you need. If you have a medical emergency—stroke symptoms, severe or sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or other serious symptoms—call 911 or get to an emergency department as quickly as possible. 2. If you’re not feeling well, but you do not have urgent or emergent symptoms, call your provider as soon as possible. Staff will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate. In the event they ask you to come into the office, rest assured your provider is taking every safety precaution: requiring masks, following social distancing, limiting patient and visitor access, and disinfecting surfaces in between patients. To learn more about telehealth services at Saratoga Hospital, visit www.saratogahospital.org/services/telehealth.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Snacking News You can use! WRITTEN BY RICHARD FRANK OF FOUR SEASONS NATURAL FOODS

o article would be complete these days without the mention of Covid-19. Okay, now that that’s done...let’s talk about the important stuff--the latest and greatest in some new favorite, healthy snack foods and beverages! No matter how many there are out there--there’s always room for new and innovative choices.

We are what we eat. Finding the balance between our modern living and healthy lifestyle is a challenge for pretty much everyone no matter how easy it may look for some people. Everybody has something--it’s the human condition--and how we negotiate through our issues makes a difference over time. Any one lifestyle decision may be insignificant--it’s the added decisions time after time, day after day that add up. Thus, the dilemma is always lurking since we feel that there’s always tomorrow to begin a new start. No matter where you are with your health and diet choices, looking at healthy and satisfying, quick and easy foods probably makes sense. Here’s a few newer things we like:

Kraut Krisps-Cabbage Chips.

Tosi Superbites-Energy, snack bars.

These are pretty dang good. Kind of Kind Bar, but organic, and even simpler ingredients. They taste real and just good. Varieties include--blueberry, original, cocoa and more! Vegan, GF, Organic

While we’re not sure that anyone actually follows the keto diet for real, following it a little does lead you to some good choices. Like a lot of keto foods which ditch the highly refined vegetable oils for better versions, these bars combine simple ingredients of nuts, seeds and fruits with coconut oil. Vegan GF, NON GMO.

Vital Eats Zen Jerky. There’s quite a few good vegan jerky out there these days, but Vital Eats stands out and not just cause it’s made in the Saratoga/Albany region... though that’s pretty cool. With simple ingredients and a straightforward feel and taste, this plant based jerky is kinda hard to put down. Fortunately, with its good ingredients, a little (over) indulgence isn’t the worst thing. Vegan GF, NON GMO.

Recently rebranded and better than ever. Cauliflower may be the vegetable du jour, but don’t forget our tried and true friend, good ole’ cabbage! Mixed with corn masa, these chips make the grade around these parts. Vegan, GF, Organic. Vegan Robs. Robert Ehrlich started Pirate’s Booty snack food empire over 30 years ago, sold it for a pile and then introduced Vegan Rob’s a couple of years ago. Clearly, some people have the touch and he somehow managed to make these updated snacks different and delicious, despite a ton of competition. With good ingredients and flavors, get rid of even more processed versions and check these out as a great start to changing it up! Vegan GF, NON GMO.

Mom’s Organic Munchies-Kid’s cookies.

No Cow Plant Based Protein Bars.

Gotta Love the letter M.... Maine Made Mom’s Munchies. Mom’s has been making, (healthy!?) decadent desserts for some years and recently came out with kids cookies. These cookies take oats and vegetables and mash them into delicious cookies. Please don’t eat the whole bag at once even though they are healthy, especially for cookies. Vegan, GF, Organic.

Yeah, they do have pretty refined pea and rice protein as their base, but we like their combination of natural sweeteners and good ingredients for a great consistency and flavor. Think kinder, gentler 21st century Powerbar. Vegan GF, NON GMO

Skout Energy Bars.

Runa Energy Drinks.

These guys care about their ingredients. We like their original bars and now they have new kids bars. Of course these bars are so simple you could make them at home, but since you’re unlikely to do it, try these. They taste wholesome and fresh made with organic nuts, fruits and seeds..that’s it. Vegan, Organic.

Why this one from the overcrowded natural energy drink field? It stands out for it’s low and no sugar options and good flavor choices. And compared with other choices in the quasi-healthy energy drink arena, its ingredients are wholesome and organic!

Goldthread Plant Based Tonics.

Aura Bora Natural Sparkling Beverages. The soda landscape has changed a ton of late and new sugar-free, satisfying beverages abound. Be sure to check out these newcomers in their standout packaging and

Munk Pack Keto Nut and Seed Bars.

flavor profiles. Sometimes different does matter--highly unusual flavors like Lavender Cucumber and Basil Berry with zero sugar and calories.

Developed by an herbalist and Acupuncturist, these beverages combine good flavor with vegetables and herbs to give a great combo. With unique and delicious varieties, these drinks inspire change in our choices and give us a fresh start on doing so.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Plant-Based Family Favorites WRITTEN BY DEB CZECH, PLANTED PLATTER

Ready to try something new for dinner? Many people are branching out as they eat more meals at home this year, often seeking something a bit different than their standard fare. Here are two teen-approved dishes – fast, easy, tasty and…plant-based! Teach your kids to make them and you’ll have an answer to that perpetual question of, “What’s for dinner?”

BUFFALO TOFU If you are unfamiliar with tofu but you like chicken wings, give this recipe a try. (If you don’t like the spicy Buffalo-style sauce, you can finish it with BBQ sauce instead.) Tofu has a soft texture and is made from soybeans, making it high in protein and also a good source of calcium and iron. While tofu does have some fat in it, this is a much healthier, lower-fat choice than chicken wings. You can usually find water-packed tofu in rectangular packages in the produce section of the supermarket or in refrigerated cases elsewhere in the store. You can serve this as a snack, though we often eat this as a main meal with brown rice and cooked vegetables or a salad.

Ingredients 1 block firm or extra firm tofu 1/4 cup cornstarch or arrowroot 3/4 tsp garlic powder 3/4 tsp dry mustard (the spice, not the kind in your fridge) 1 Tbsp canola or safflower oil Prepared Buffalo-style hot sauce (I use Frank’s)

Directions • Put tofu on a plate and place a heavy pot lid on top to press out water. (Or put a second plate on the top with a few cans on it.) Let sit 10-15 minutes and drain off excess water. This step helps keep the tofu dry as you cook it. • Place block of tofu flat on cutting board and cut the block the long way into 5 slices. Then turn the whole block (all 5 slices) on edge and cut again into 3 pieces. Then turn the whole block back to its original position and cut crosswise in half. This will yield 30 small “logs” for easy cooking. • In zip-type plastic bag or a large lidded container, blend cornstarch and seasonings. • Place tofu blocks into bag/container and gently toss in the blended cornstarch mixture. Slowly turn over the bag or container multiple times until pieces are coated. • In a large non-stick skillet, put 1 T. oil and place on medium heat, spreading oil around. • Place tofu pieces side by side in skillet. Ideally, keep a little space between the pieces and don’t stack them. • Allow tofu to cook roughly 5 minutes until underside is golden brown. Turn pieces over and again allow to brown slightly. • Turn off heat and let skillet sit a few minutes so it cools a bit, then pour in desired amount of Buffalo sauce, just enough to coat the pieces and toss them around. (If you put the sauce in when the pan is very hot, you will get a splattering cloud of vinegary, hot sauce in your face and on your stove!) Serves 3-4.

ASIAN NOODLES WITH TAHINI SAUCE This is a filling meal that can go in many different directions depending on what you add to it. If you don’t have Asian-style noodles on hand, traditional pasta also works fine. The recipe calls for tahini (a creamy ground sesame seed paste, used in hummus and many other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes) to lend a robust flavor, and then adds common Asian seasonings: soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce, and rice vinegar. If you are making this with more than 11 oz of dry pasta, make additional dressing, either by adding an additional 1 tsp for every 1 Tbsp below, or by doubling the sauce quantities.

Ingredients 1 package soba or rice noodles (usually 9-11 oz) 3 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari 2 Tbsp tahini (find this with Middle Eastern or Mediterranean foods in supermarket) 1 Tbsp chili garlic sauce 1 Tbsp rice vinegar * Optional: 1-2 tsp grated fresh ginger ¼ cup chopped scallions ½ cup chopped cilantro

Directions • Cook noodles according to package directions. While the water is boiling for noodles, combine soy sauce, tahini, chili-garlic sauce and rice vinegar in bowl. (If you open a new container of tahini, you will have to stir the separated oil into the solids and blend it well before using.) • When the noodles are cooked, drain and rinse briefly with cold water to stop cooking process. Then toss with dressing. • Serve in bowls with desired vegetables on top: Diced red, orange, yellow or green pepper Grated carrot Green beans Peas Zucchini/summer squash Spinach Sliced radish Steamed broccoli Finely chopped red cabbage Serves 3-5, depending on noodle portion size.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

MEET JODIE FITZ'S new characters LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND ALL OF HER ACTIVITIES AT HER SITE: JODIEFITZ.COM

MEET SIP “Want your kids to drink more H2O? Meet SIPTM. Jodie’s character SIP encourages children to drink more water. You can download a FREE water tracking chart. The kids keep track, stay hydrated and You can find educational links to articles and interviews, along with tips from the experts!

MEET CLICK Trying to keep the kids active? Meet CLICKTM. Jodie’s character CLICK encourages kids to stay active. CLICK wants all kids to move at least 60 minutes a day. You can download a FREE movement tracking chart and follow along with CLICK’s fun activity releases. CLICK likes to demonstrate that movement can be easy and fun!

NOTE: If you have questions about how much water you should drink personally each day, consult your health provider. This chart is designed to encourage water as the drink of choice.

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY LEMONADE BY JODIE FITZ 4 cups ice 2 lemons, whole 2 cups water 1 cup fresh sliced strawberries ½ cup honey or organic agave nectar 2 teaspoons vanilla extra Prepare and measure the strawberries by washing them, hulling them and then slicing them before measuring. Cut the lemons in half to create four halves. Squeeze the lemon juice from the lemons. Add the ice, water, strawberries, agave nectar and vanilla extract together with the fresh lemon juice in a blender. Blend the mixture well; until the ice is crushed. SERVE AND ENJOY!

Kids and Slicing: When making this recipe with younger children, or children who have not sliced before, begin cutting soft fruits with a plastic knife until they become confident and understand safety procedures. Always remind them to be mindful of where their fingers are and to always make sure fingers are clear before cutting anything. Extracting the Lemon Juice: If you have a citrus squeezer simple squeeze it right into a blender pitcher, because it will catch the seeds. If you do the lemon squeezing by hand, simply squeeze the juice into a liquid measuring cup so that you can extract the seeds from the juice before pouring the freshly squeezed lemon juice into the blender. Don’t forget to check out Jodie Fitz’s book Fidget Grows a Pizza Garden At Jodie’s site you will find all kinds of fun activities with the book that includes; story time, pizza garden growing activities, pizza making activities, apron making activities, pizza fraction activities, fun pages and more....

MEET RECIPE GIRL &

TEENY THE TINY TASTE TESTER Recipe GirlTM and Teeny the Tiny Taste TesterTM like their friends to know that a recipe is a very powerful tool. They help to teach kids that recipes often can be a healthy way to help us eat healthy foods we often won’t eat alone! Recipe Girls’ recipes are always filled with fresh fruits and veggies. And, if you meet one of Recipe Girls fruit or veggie friends and you try it this summer and want to practice your letter writing skills, send a note to Teeny. She loves to hear from taste testing friends and will send an email back. Find FREE Printable Teeny notes at Jodie’s site.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Make Freezer Jam with your kids WRITTEN BY DIANE WHITTEN, NUTRITION EDUCATOR,

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SARATOGA COUNTY

fter picking berries with your kids there’s nothing more rewarding than making your own freezer jam. This way of making jam requires little or no cooking, so it’s an activity even preschool children will enjoy. Since it’s not cooked, it retains its beautiful color and fresh berry taste even out of the freezer in January. Most jams are processed in a canner to make them shelf stable, but since this jam is preserved in the freezer, no canning is necessary. Simply make the jam, store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, or freeze for longer storage. Another nice thing about Freezer Jam is that you can store it in any type or size packaging, as long as it is freezer quality. You can purchase special 8 oz freezer jam plastic jars or use 4 oz, 8 oz or larger freezer containers you have at home. Glass jelly jars are not recommended as these are more likely to break in the freezer. Your kids will love making freezer jam and making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with their own homemade jam! Let them help stock your freezer with the preserved goodness of local berries. A list of You Pick farms can be found at SaratogaFarms.com. For more information about food preservation contact me at dwhitten@cornell.edu.

No-Cook Blueberry Freezer Jam Makes: 2 half pints*

1 2/3 cups crushed berries (any berry can be used) (about 1 pint fresh berries) 2/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons powdered instant pectin (for no-cook freezer jam)** Crush berries one layer at a time to make 1 2/3 cups crushed berries. Combine sugar and pectin in a bowl, stir to combine. Add crushed berries, stir for 3 minutes. Ladle jam into clean plastic containers leaving ½ inch headspace. Let jam stand for up to 24 hours for gel to form. Refrigerate if consuming within 3 weeks, or freeze for longer storage. *Recipe may be doubled or tripled. Batches larger than 6 half pints may not gel properly. ** Look for pectin made specifically for Freezer Jam, it may be stated on the label, such as Ball’s Freezer Pectin, or the label may say No Cook Freezer Jam, such as Mrs Wages brand, other pectin brands refer to freezer jam recipes as Quick & Easy Recipes. An insert in the package of pectin includes recipes. Recipe provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension. For more information go to ccesaratoga.org/nutrition-food/ food-preservation.

Free Food Preservation Classes Offered on Zoom BY DIANE WHITTEN, NUTRITION EDUCATOR, CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SARATOGA COUNTY

If you’ve got a garden, or you like to preserve local produce you might need to learn the finer points of food preservation. As a certified Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver, I’m offering a series of home food preservation classes on Zoom. These 45-60 minutes classes will include an introduction to canning, plus how to use a canner, the different types of canners, making pickles, canning vegetables and meat, canning salsa and tomatoes, dehydrating fruits and vegetables, and making meat jerky. More details and a link to registration can be found at our website: ccesaratoga.org/events. Contact Diane Whitten for more information, dwhitten@cornell.edu. Schedule of Food Preservation Classes on Zoom: ALL CLASSES ARE FRIDAYS AT 11 AM July 17- Canning at Home: Introduction to water bath, steam and pressure canning

July 31- Quick Pickling August 14- Pressure Canning Vegetables, Meats & Soup

September 11- Canning Salsa & Tomatoes September 25- Dehydrating Fruits & Vegetables October 31- Making Meat Jerkie

Pre-registration Required

When Canning Vegetables or Meat, Pressure is

ESSENTIAL WRITTEN BY DIANE WHITTEN, NUTRITION EDUCATOR, CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SARATOGA COUNTY

If you’re planning to can vegetables (not including tomatoes) pressure canning is essential to prevent the threat of botulism food poisoning. In June of 2018 three related women in NYC were hospitalized with botulism food poisoning. The source of the botulism toxin was traced to home canned peas that were processed in a boiling water bath, not pressure canned. All three women survived, but required prolonged intensive care and rehabilitation. Safe canning guidelines must be followed, so beware of canning recipes found on the internet. The National Center for Home Food Preservation, homefoodpreservation.net, is the USDA clearing house for research-based, safe food preservation directions and recipes made available through the Cooperative Extension System, a national network of research and educational outreach. Locally Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County has a list of food preservation resources at ccesaratoga.org/ nutrition-food/food-preservation. Before pressure canning, get your dial gauge tested, the USDA recommends that the gauge be tested each year. If your pressure canner has a weighted gauge, it’s not necessary. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ballston Spa will test your gauge for free, call 518-885-8995 or email Diane Whitten at dwhitten@cornell.edu.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 24

During the l o o h c s e Pandemic Pr WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

ven in tough times, there are places where children can go to be in an environment where they feel safe, eat well-balanced organic meals, and are encouraged to play …and learn!

“We are taking the steps in our program to keep everyone safe, following both the state guidelines and following our own best practices,” said Ashley Tyler, owner of Jumper Bean Daycare and Preschool in Ballston Spa.

Prepared for a New Normal Because of the way they do business, Jumper Bean only closed for a week in March before they were ready to reopen. “We reopened and stayed open by putting new steps in place,” said Tyler. They already had a staff member position designated as a “floater” – someone who was free to move around, sanitize and thoroughly clean during the day. They clean everything – toys, tables, bathrooms, doorknobs, even the pens parents are using. Early on, when others weren’t, Jumper Bean was prepared and never experienced a shortage of hard-to-find items including cleaning supplies, soap, hand sanitizer, gloves, and toilet paper. Already a member of two CSAs and an established patron of other local food producers, Jumper Bean always had fresh, healthy food available. “We never had a problem getting meat, vegetables, and dairy – even when local farms were having an influx of requests for new orders. What’s nice about our program is we had great resources already in place,” she said. Open, one-on-one communication paired with signage, and an up-todate illness policy informs parents of precautions that have been put in place. These guidelines include the stipulation that children must stay home if they have a fever or cough (unless they have a doctor’s note) and monitoring the children and staff’s body temperatures throughout the day.

Reinforcing Resilience Preparation for the preschoolers’ daily needs has been reinforced by a careful consideration given to their emotional well-being. Answering kids questions about why the staff was wearing masks (and other concerns the children are having about local and world events) has been incorporated into a curriculum of age-appropriate books, circle time talks, activities, and scenarios to help them understand and process their emotions. Jumper Bean’s large yard, garden beds, and playground has also been an asset during these difficult times. “We have lots of outside time. We get them into the fresh air as much as we can. It helps the kids really relax and get a lot of that energy out,” said Tyler.

Creating Bright Futures Bringing even more fun and light into their program, Jumper Bean recently had a mural painted by artist Gretchen Louise Tisch, owner of Feathered Antler in Saratoga Springs. Friendly animals frolic among wispy cattails and perch upon a tree budding with pink blossoms. “Our vision has always been that this is a place for children to come in and feel safe and at home. No matter what is going on in the world, here, they’re in an environment where they can love what they see, have fun, and relax. They can say, ‘Wow! I love my school’,” said Tyler. Jumper Bean Preschool is actively enrolling children ages 3 through 5 years old in their 2, 3, and 5-day programs. Short-term, flexible scheduling is also available. For more information, go to JumperBean.com

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

4-H Seniors

ou might be seeing a few more signs around Saratoga County as 4-H is celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of 4-H Seniors. Saratoga County 4-H and 4-H Teen Council recently delivered yard signs to 30 4-H Seniors throughout the county. These members will also be recognized with a 4-H Senior Spotlight on the Saratoga County 4-H Facebook page: Facebook.com/SaratogaCounty4H/ Many of these members have spent more than a decade as 4-H members, and several have taken leadership roles in their clubs and the 4-H program as a whole. “These young people have worked so hard throughout their 4-H career, whether

ornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County is ensuring all members of our community are feeling “connected” during this pandemic. Residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at high risk at this time and can feel isolated from family and friends. Saratoga County 4-H Project Joy is a Community Service Project designed to help bring smiles to their faces. Leland Bunting, 4-H Club Coordinator, and Julie Curren, 4-H School Outreach Coordinator collaborated with 4-H’ers from across Saratoga County to create a video comprised of individual video submissions. The media used for the video is designed to share a message of hope and joy. Many 4-H’ers introduced us to their project animals and pets, while others created signs to support the project’s message.

it is raising 4-H project animals, learning and building project skills, or becoming true leaders, we really just want to recognize that hard work and dedication. With the 2020 Saratoga County being canceled, we felt it was important to let these young men and women know how proud we are of their accomplishments.” –Leland Bunting, 4-H Resource Educator. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Saratoga County 4-H are excited to recognize and congratulate our Senior 4-H Members! For more information about Saratoga County 4-H, please contact: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County 518-885-8995

Leland Bunting, 4-H Resource Educator with Saratoga County 4-H says: “Our kids really stepped up to support the goal of this campaign. Many of these young people are active in community service projects throughout the year with 4-H, so it comes as no surprise that they would want to help bring a little joy to their community. 4-H Youth Development’s motto is ‘To Make the Best Better’ and this project shows the best of 4-H in Saratoga County. We hope that this project can help local residents feel a little more connected to the world and to our 4-H family.” The final video has been shared with activities directors at local nursing, assisted living and retirement homes. If you know of a facility that would like access to this project, please contact Leland Bunting at 518.885.8995 or email glb76@cornell.edu

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020

Teens Helping Seniors:

An Organization Committed to Our Community

WRITTEN BY LILY NEHER

s more and more concerns are raised about the high risk that senior citizens demonstrate when it comes to contracting the novel Coronavirus, it becomes clear that help is very much needed for tasks like running errands and grocery shopping. That is when Maya Dhinesh and Rajani Nimma, sophomores at Niskayuna and Shaker High Schools respectfully, stepped up. Together, Dhinesh and Nimma started an Albany regional chapter of Teens Helping Seniors, a volunteer organization founded in Maryland just after the national pandemic took over. With Area Leaders in Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties, the young volunteers deliver groceries free of charge to local senior citizens. All deliveries are completely contactless, and the groceries are sanitized on each recipient’s front porch. The organization leaves a card with each delivery, thanking the seniors for staying safe and allowing them to help. Senior citizens can leave a check for the cost of the groceries, but the teens also accept Paypal and Venmo. With school, activities, and social events no longer possible, these young students were available to redirect their time and energy back into their community, and have been a huge part of the growth of the national organization; one of 13 chapters ranging from Los Angeles, California to Montreal, Canada. When Dhinesh and Nimma brought their chapter to Upstate New York, they were truly able to make a difference. They were able to aid the Teresian House for the Elderly in a time of great need. “Especially with

the staff not being able to go out all the time to get groceries, we wanted to be able to help them get what they need so [the staff] can stay contained.” States Nimma, who feels that using her free time to help others has been incredibly rewarding, “We’re just trying to find ways to help people, and this is a great opportunity at a time like this.” Maya Dhinesh also expressed her thoughts on how quickly everything changed, “It has definitely been stressful but I think Teens Helping Seniors has really taken my mind off the crisis, and not being able to see my friends, or teachers, or go to school. Helping people definitely makes you realize that even if you are struggling, you are definitely not in the worst circumstance possible.” In just one month, the Albany chapter of Teens Helping Seniors gathered 56 student volunteers across three counties, largely due to the social media and outreach efforts of Amira Salem, a sophomore at Niskayuna, Head of Outreach. Seniors can contact the organization and one of the local Area Leaders will direct the list to available volunteers. Isha Citnis and Madeline Swayne are the representatives for Saratoga county. If you know a senior citizen in need of Teens Helping Seniors’ services, be sure to visit teenshelpingseniors.org, or email: teenshelpingseniors@gmail.com. Young volunteers can reach out to @teensforseniorsny on Instagram and fill out a volunteer form.

GRANT COTTAGE SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 28

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE POTASH PHOTOS PROVIDED

n our home refrigerator there is a magnet of the sitting room at Grant Cottage. My daughter bought it at their gift shop after a school field trip almost ten years ago. I keep it on the fridge because it reminds me of her and how that visit introduced us to the cottage, one of our favorite places.

The small and unassuming cottage is located on Mt. McGregor in Wilton, NY. It is where President Ulysses S. Grant spent the last six weeks of his life, surrounded by his wife and children and grandchildren. Suffering from throat cancer, Grant’s doctor recommended he move from New York City to a place with fewer crowds and fresh air. The cottage fit the bill. It is also where he wrote his memoirs in a hopeful attempt to provide for his wife and family after his death. Different from other museums, there is little under glass at the cottage. Everything is as it was 135 years ago when the family lived there. From the threadbare quilt on the bed where Grant slept to his favorite chair, to the clock that Grant’s son stopped the minute he died. Stepping into the rooms, experiencing it as the family did, makes the history come alive like few museums do. “While there are other museums and exhibits that examine Grant’s public life, visitors to the cottage get a glimpse of Grant’s life with his family - as a loving husband and father,” remarked Ben Kemp, Operations Manager for the cottage. And this foundation of family is inspiring a new focus for the cottage in 2020. “Encouraging more families to visit the cottage is one of our priorities this year,” said Kemp, “Our visitor center is being remodeled with interactive exhibits geared for kids. There will be artifacts to touch and use, videos about Grant’s children and grandchildren and what it was like to live in 1885.” After spending time at the visitor center, guests take a short walk to the cottage. The guided tour takes only about 30 minutes. It includes some unusual artifacts like a jug of water mixed with cocaine (given to Grant for pain) and the original flower arrangements used at Grant’s funeral. “Giving tours is very rewarding,” said Elizabeth, one of the young adult tour guides, “I especially love to share Grant and the cottage with kids - they have the best insights!” According to Kemp there are also plans for a once-a-week living history tour and there is an app that can be downloaded for a virtual guided tour of the grounds. If guests would rather

Fast facts about Grant and Grant Cottage • Grant’s given name was Hiram. • Grant was supposed to be at Ford’s Theater the night Abraham Lincoln was shot. • Grant’s memoirs earned him $450,000 for his family; close to $12 million in today’s dollars. • Grant loved horses. • The cottage was actually owned by Joseph Drexel, who offered it to Grant and his family to live in. • Grant Cottage is featured in the miniseries “Grant” airing on the History Channel in late May.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 From left to right: Dr. Douglas’ daughter, Ulysses III, Julia, Dr. Douglas’ daughter, Nellie

explore the grounds on their own, they can take a short trip through the woods to the overlook. Visitors can bring a picnic, sketch or just enjoy the picturesque scenery. Other outdoor exhibits are in the works including one about the train that ran from Saratoga Springs to the cottage, and another about the Balmoral Hotel. The hotel was open nearby while Grant was living at the cottage and provided the family food and even electric lighting! Historically open from late May to early October, the cottage packs in other special events for all ages including a ceremony on July 23, the day Grant died. “I think a lot of people don’t know what to expect when they visit for the first time. But they end up really connecting with the story of facing hardships as a family. It’s something that a lot of people can relate to,” said Kemp. For more information on the cottage and the 2020 season, please visit GrantCottage.org. Our interactive touch displays will be postponed until next year for health reasons. We will have a slideshow about the Grant family though. We are not hosting public programs onsite this year but we are recording presentations to premiere online throughout the season. We are strongly suggesting that anyone who wants a tour purchase their tickets ahead of time on our website or Facebook (Tours are strictly limited to 5 visitors each).

Grant Cottage is preparing for a July 1st opening at limited capacity with safety protocols, and some of our planned exhibits have been postponed until next spring… stay tuned at GrantCottage.org.

Four generations of the Bowman family

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 30

What you need to know about… Heartworm Disease

WRITTEN BY AIMEE HEIDT, DVM WHISKERS 2 TAILS MOBILE VETERINARY CLINIC

ormally when we hear about worms in our dogs, we think about the gross wigglers that we see in their poop and why we must test a fecal sample every year. But there is another very important worm that can infect our pets, and that is heartworm! Adult heartworms live inside the chambers of the heart. They give birth to many baby heartworms (larvae) who live in the blood. If a dog who has these babies is bitten by a mosquito, some of them will get sucked up while it eats. While living inside the mosquito, the larvae will mature into an infectious stage which allows them to spread to new dogs when the mosquito bites them. These larvae will grow up in the new host dog for around 6 months until they become adults and the cycle starts all over again. Symptoms of heartworm disease can include mild cough, fatigue, exercise intolerance, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Heart damage from the adults can be severe, and even deadly, if left untreated. So, what is the good news? You can easily test for and prevent heartworm!

Veterinarians can test for heartworm with as little as 2-3 drops of fresh blood and it is recommended every year for all dogs, including mainly indoor pets. Most newly infected dogs will have a positive blood test before they have any symptoms, so we want to find it early and treat them quickly before any damage is done. Your veterinarian will prescribe heartworm preventative medication after testing. It is very

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effective in preventing heartworm if given as prescribed and should be used all year round to make sure no worms make it from larvae to adulthood. Also, it has the added bonus of preventing most intestinal worms when given regularly. There are various forms of preventative, such as monthly pills, topicals, or long-acting injections, so please talk with your veterinarian first about the best and safest option for your pet.

SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020