150 athletes, 300 spectators expected at Belgian-style, fan-based
bicycle race and expo on Sunday



SARATOGA SPRINGS - Beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25,
cyclocross racers from across New York State and New England will
converge on the Columbia Pavilion in Spa State Park for the
first-annual Saratoga Spa 'Cross.

I took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and road my bike to downtown Saratoga Springs to make my sales calls for the upcoming Harvest edition of the new eco-Local Living magazine, when I saw the signs at the City Center for the Adirondack Living Expo.  Being a big fan and supporter of all thing Adirondack, I had to stop in and check out what was going on.  The event is now in it's eighteenth season, and the promoters are taking advantage of the excitement that is downtown Saratoga in August to showcase the best of Adirondack craftsmen, green building technology and outdoor adventure.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Need a day to enjoy the outdoors?
The eighth annual "Adirondack Spintacular", a 5K, six or twelve-mile cycle/run/walk event is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by Positudes, Inc. and the Center for Donation and Transplant. The purpose of this event is to raise Hemophilia and Organ Donation awareness and raise money for the Lawrence Madeiros Memorial Scholarship fund.  The scholarship is awarded annually to high school seniors living with a chronic disorder and continuing their education at an accredited college or university. Five-one thousand dollar scholarships were awarded this summer, and the recipients will be honored at this years' event. Over $30,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded since 2003.

With daily rain showers, planning outdoor activities this summer has been sketchy.  So when a day comes along like last Saturday, with sunshine and no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours, it's an opportunity to get Up and Out like no other!  There's one place in particular, that draws us and many others out on a bright summer day.

I'm talking, of course, about Hadley Mountain, in the northern corner of Saratoga County.  A mere forty five minute drive from Saratoga Springs, Hadley Mountain is a nearby adventure that will release all those pent-up endorphins and give you that warm fuzzy feeling you've been missing.

by Sophie Gillet Castro & Karen Totino


Time outdoors in the summer and the beauty of nature may inspire us to beautify our interior. It's a great time to bring into the home colors and textures that will sustain us in the months to come.

It might not be financially sensible however to re-decorate the entire house. So why not focus on wall treatments this summer?

The Saratoga County Fair is wrapping up this weekend, so if you haven't had a chance to go yet, now's the time.  The rain has passed and the sun is out, so head on down to Ballston Spa and check it out!  The Fair may conjure up images of cheese fries, dizzying Midway rides and tractor pulls, but the Fair is also a showcase of the locally made and locally grown.  I went into the Townley building and found displays featuring an amazing array of food and other products made right here in our region.

By: Pamela A. Gibbs
       Contributing Writer

WILTON - Asked if she could be described as a woman with a lot of junk in her trunk, sculptor miChelle Vara hooted with delight.

"You could definitely arrive at that conclusion," said miChelle, her laughter continuing. "But then again, the stuff really isn't junk to me."

The "stuff" in her trunk, and all around the grounds of her Wilton studio, includes antique metal tools, pipes and chains, bicycles, long-retired farm equipment, old car bumpers, a huge assortment of keys, and hundreds of other interesting metal objects rescued from a slow death-by-rust and now slated for new relevance in one of the artist's sculptures.

By Stacey Morris
Contributing Writer
Photos by David DeLozier
 
TROY - When Larry Schepici moved to Troy from Boston ten years ago, one of the first things he did was hop in his car and check out the farms in his new neighborhood.

"Where I come from, I was used to dealing with farmers," said the long-time chef. "It's just part of the restaurant scene in Boston."

A bicycle safety instructor is teaching Capital Region cyclists how to "drive" their bikes.

"Every time I'm out on the road I see people making dangerous choices," said Tamara Flanders, a cycling instructor who is certified by the League of American Cyclists. "Some mis-educated people behind the wheel don't respect the right of cyclists to be on the road. On the other hand, some mis-educated bike riders don't follow proper road etiquette and make car drivers nervous or upset."