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December 2008 Archives
Editor's Note: The following is a list of the top stories of 2008 as compiled by our editorial staff - Eric DeGrechie (Executive Editor) and reporters Adam T. Rossi, Melissa Downer and Daniel Schechtman.
James P. Bowie, 61, of 292 Pondersosa Pines, Hadley, was sentenced to five days in Saratoga County Jail and five years probation after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated.
Robbery suspect caught in Saratoga Springs
The first phone call came at 10 a.m. My grandmother, recovering from a recent procedure at the hospital, picked up the receiver.
Saratoga Springs -- Adam A. Klingele, 23, of Circular Street, died unexpectedly Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 at his home.
Saratoga Springs - Calvin R. McQuigge of West Circular St. passed away peacefully at his home Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. He was 78.
Saratoga Springs - Esther M. Pellot, 96, formerly of Watkin Apartments died Sunday evening, December 21, 2008 at Saratoga Hospital Nursing Home.
Ballston Spa -- Thomas W. Green, 79, of Grove Street, passed away Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, at home, surrounded by his family.
Born Nov. 11, 1929 in Leesburg, Va., he moved here in 1943.
Tom worked at Saratoga Race Course and owned a Studebaker dealership in Saratoga Springs. He later worked construction for DA Collins for many years, retiring in 1985.
He enjoyed bowling, playing cards, camping and taking rides around the area. His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara J. Green, and two brothers.
He is survived by his children, Pamela Schrade (Robert) of Ballston Spa, Thomas Green (Andrea) of Saratoga Springs, and Jeff Green of Saratoga Springs; stepchildren John Stephens of Ballston Spa and Sandra Gratton (Frank) of Saratoga Springs; five grandchildren, Marie, Michael and Kathleen Gratton, Samantha Stephens and Danielle Schrade; three great-grandchildren, Erica Mulvaney and Michael and Nicholas Gratton; two great-great-grandchildren, Brooke Mulvaney and Andrew Theriault; and several brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was held on Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, at St. Mary's Cemetery, Church Avenue in Ballston Spa.
There were no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff on D-1 of Saratoga Hospital, and Danielle for the loving care she gave her grandfather at home.
Gansevoort -- Evalyn Selig, 86, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, passed away Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, at her home in Gansevoort with her family by her side.
Saratoga Springs -- Francis (Frank) J. Whitby, 89, of Collins Terrace, a longtime General Electric Co. manager, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 at The Wesley Health Care Center after a long illness.
We have many spontaneous visitors this time of year and it makes me smile from the inside out to hear them arrive with cheer in their voices of greeting.
Recently, while enjoying the great outdoors with a good friend, I got a chill as the result of my clothes being wet from perspiration.
The Dec. 11 ice storm that ravaged Saratoga County and left thousands of people without power over the past week has brought to light the danger of winter storms and the need to keep ourselves safe during such disastrous events.
Voters within the Ballston Spa School District made their choice to turn down a renovation for the middle school last week, but the decision has not discouraged school officials.
Governor releases initial 2009-10 fiscal budget
'Tis the season for giving and Saratoga Gaming and Raceway did just that at the fourth annual Make a Difference Charity Event on Monday, Dec. 15.
I had been looking forward to this interview for a while, having scheduled my meeting with Mrs. Georgia O'Connor, a medium whose website promised she could see, hear, and speak with the spirits of the dead, almost a week and a half in advance.
The Saratoga Springs visitor center employee who had her job eliminated causing backlash from residents earlier this month appeared at Tuesday's City Council meeting to voice her displeasure to city officials who cut her position for the first time.
Lake Katrina, NY - Thomas L. Woods, 61, a former resident of Victory Mills, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 at the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY.
Saratoga Springs - Kevin J. Fittipaldi peacefully passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 to be
with our Lord, after a short illness. He was 61.
Queensbury, NY - Barbara Ann Reese, 57, of Queensbury passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 at the Glens Falls Hospital.
Saratoga Springs - Delia G. Stortz passed away Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 at Saratoga Hospital. She was 94.
Saratoga Springs - Shirley T. Wilkinson, 82, died peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 at Wesley Nursing Home. She was a long-time resident of Saratoga Springs.
Ballston Spa - After a brief struggle, Logan Jacob DeLoriea entered eternal rest on Friday Dec. 12, 2008. Logan Jacob was born earlier the same day at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY.
This evening marks the first night our family has been together in seven months.
The Big Johnson Blues Band has been offering a high energy assortment of blues classics to audiences throughout the Capital Region since forming in 2001.
Do you know Larry Gordon? Many people in the greater Saratoga area would answer that question with a "yes" and be unable to keep from smiling at the same time. Larry was born and raised in the Saratoga area and has been very active in a host of positions, both professional and voluntary, for most of his life.
Over the course of the past year, New York State politics has undergone a drastic change with Democrats controlling the house, senate and governor's office for the first time since 1935. This coupled with the loss of upstate advocate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet and upstate's most notable political guardian Joe Bruno to retirement has created seismic changes in the state's political spectrum leaving many people wondering if this area will be forgotten in the future.
As the holidays are getting closer, now is the time to give back to communities, and local businesses are doing just that.
With the holiday season upon us local organizations are preparing a variety of events to get people in the holiday spirit.
Joseph F. Dagano, 36, of 272 Second St., Apt. 1, Troy, was arrested and charged with petit larceny following an investigation. He allegedly stole items from the X-tra Mart in Clifton Park. He will appear at Clifton Park Town Court at a later date to answer to the charges.
AMD receives sales tax exemption
Ballston Spa has been named the first community in New York State to become a fair trade zone, joining only eight other communities nationwide who can boast the same. Led by Kim Andersen, owner of The Mango Tree Imports in Ballston Spa, the fair trade cause will be taken up by several other local businesses, including the Coffee Planet, the Wild Thyme Whole Foods and Tea Company, and the Strolling Village Artisans.
Glens Falls - Esther Dill, 88, a former resident of Lake Lauderdale, died Sunday,
Dec. 7, 2008 at the Pines in Glens Falls.
Born June 29, 1920 in Grangerville, NY, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Helen Clement Pratt.
Mrs. Dill was a former employee of the VanRaalte Co. in Saratoga Springs and was a member of Old Saratoga Reformed Church in Schuylerville. For a number of years, she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Cambridge. She enjoyed bowling.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Frank Dill, 2 sons, Robert and Richard Galusha, and her sister, Irene Pratt.
Survivors include her son, William Galusha and his wife Dolores of Argyle; 7 grandchildren, Dennis and wife Colleen, William, Tammy, Edward, Jerry, Michael, and Dean Galusha;
12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild and several cousins.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 at
Flynn Bros. Inc. Funeral Home in Schuylerville with Rev.
Joyce deVelder officiating.
Interment was in the Greenwich
Cemetery.
Friends gathered on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 prior to the service.
Memorials can be made in Esther's memory to the Old Saratoga Reformed Church, Schuylerville.
Online remembrances can be made at www.flynnbrosinc.com.
Saratoga Springs - Paul J. DeGearo of Nostalgia Lane passed away Friday morning, Dec. 5, 2008 at his residence. He was 88.
Born on Sept. 16, 1920 in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late Joseph and Margaret (Manilla) DeGearo. Paul was a lifelong area resident and attended School No. 1 in Saratoga Springs. He was an apprentice with Design & Coleman Construction of Saratoga Springs and worked there for 20 years as well as Wade Lupe and many other area contractors. Paul served in the US Army from 1942 to 1945 in the European Theater of Operations. He was a member of Dominick Smaldone ITAM Post 35, serving as post commander from 1971 to 1973 and also Deputy Junior Vice Commander for the New York State Chapter of Italian Americans. He was a communicant of the Church of St. Peter.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sisters,
Rose DeGearo, Anna Ferrara, Nicoletta Capone and Margaret
Colamaria.
Survivors include his wife, Anna T. (Debitetto) DeGearo; one son, Joseph DeGearo (and wife Carol) of Ballston Spa; two daughters Paula DeGearo and Margaret Senecal (and husband Mark) of Malta; one sister, Madeline Phillips of Saratoga Springs, three grandchildren, Joseph and Michael DeGearo and Justin Senecal; three great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Morgan and Riley Ann DeGearo; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Relatives and friends gathered on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes in Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 in the Church of St. Peter in Saratoga Springs by the Rev. Neil Draves-Arpaia. Burial with military honors followed in the family plot at St. Peter's Cemetery, West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
Memorials may be made in his name to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Saratoga Springs - Gwendolyn (Hodges) Vogel of Bryan Street passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Baptist Retirement Center in Scotia, N.Y. She was 96.
Born on March 3, 1912 in Saratoga Springs, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Linda (Palmer) Hodges and was a lifelong resident. A graduate of the Saratoga Hospital School of Nursing in 1932, she served her entire career as a registered nurse at Saratoga Hospital prior to her retirement. She was a member of the Saratoga County Retired Nurses Lunch group and was a member of the Church of St. Peter.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her grandmother, Emma Freebern Hodges, who had raised Gwendolyn, and was the widow of the late Clarence J. Vogel who died in 1988, and mother-in-law of John Calvert.
Survivors include two daughters, Margaret (and her husband, Andrew) Keefe, both of Saratoga Springs and Carryl Calvert and one grandson, Keith Calvert, both of Lutherville, MD.
Relatives and friends gathered on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of Saratoga Springs. A funeral service followed at the funeral home.
The Rite of Committal followed in the family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
Memorials may be made in her name to the Saratoga Care Foundation Emergency Room Fund, 211 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Greenfield Center - Raymond R. Desjardins Sr. of Hickock Road died Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at Saratoga Hospital. He was 86.
Born on August.2, 1922 in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late Remi Raymond and Lucy Weed Desjardins. A lifelong area resident, Raymond served in the Army during WWII and worked for 38 years for International Paper Mill in Corinth. He loved working on crossword puzzles and spending time in the outdoors. His greatest joy was his loving wife and family.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife Cassie A. Desjardins who died Jan. 5, 2007, his daughter Casrae Desjardins and two sisters, Agnes Folsom and Lena Allard.
Survivors include his children Linda Desjardins of Greenfield Center, Cassie Miller of Greenfield Center, Ray Desjardins of Malta, Jackie Wilkins and her husband Floyd of Rupert, VT, Yvette Sacco and her companion George Weber of Saratoga Springs, Rene Desjardins and his wife Marilyn of Cardington, OH, Andy Desjardins and his wife Prudence of Greenfield Center and Annette Vaughn and her husband Craig of Greenfield Center; eighteen grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call this morning, Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the family plot at North Milton Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Saratoga Springs Emergency Corp., PO Box 4456, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Marian LaBrum Marinelle
Saratoga Springs - Marian LaBrum Marinelle of the Home of the Good Shepherd passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 at Saratoga Hospital. She was 91.
Born on Aug. 30, 1917 in Cohoes, NY, she was a daughter of the late Joseph I. and Marie A. (Trahan) Maisonneuve and moved to Saratoga Springs in 1924. She attended Saratoga Springs High School and then moved to Florida in 1949. She had managed apartments for 19 years in the Miami Beach area and was an accomplished musician as a professional.
Returning to Saratoga Springs in 1990, she joined the Green Thumb organization, where she was employed until her retirement in November of 1990.
In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by one son, L. James LaBrum, and her husband, Frank D. Marinelle.
Survivors include her grandchildren, Eric LaBrum of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Michelle Fletcher of Orlando, FL and Nicole Merriott and a daughter-in-law, Dorothy LaBrum, both of Charleston, SC; seven great-grandchildren, Jamie, Casey and Jacob Fletcher, Matthew, Trevor, Hunter and Cory Merriott and many cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 in St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church in Saratoga Springs by the Rev. Francis E. Sullivan, C.Ss.R., associate pastor. Spring burial will be in Middle Grove Cemetery. There were no calling hours.
Arrangements were under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of Saratoga Springs.
Memorials may be made in her name to the E.O.C. Food Pantry, 40 New St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Anthony M. Costanzo
Saratoga Springs - Anthony M. Costanzo died Wednesday, December 3, 2008, after a brief illness. He was 85.
He was born April 17, 1923 in Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in the lower Hill District of Pittsburgh during the Great Depression. As a professional musician, he toured through all 48 states as a drummer during the Big Band era, most notably with Blue Barron and his orchestra.
He served his country with honor and distinction as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. After his service, he enrolled at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a journalism student under the G.I. Bill. While at Duquesne, he was the photo editor and later the news editor of the student newspaper, the "Duquesne Duke." Following his sophomore year at Duquesne, he transferred to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. While at Northwestern, he became a member of the Pi Alpha Mu international professional fraternity for publishing, advertising and management.
He graduated from Northwestern in 1955 with a B.S. in journalism, and worked for the Chicago Sun Times as a reporter, department editor and columnist. He left the Sun Times to embark on a public relations career in New York where he managed advertising accounts and public relations at Benton & Bowles, Grant Advertising, Fuller & Smith & Ross, Allied Public Relations, and Dunwoodie Associates in Garden City, NY. In 1963, he was graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University, with an M.A. in Education. At New York City Community College, he taught Public Relations and lectured on Marketing. He served as Public Information Officer for the U.S. Department of the Navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard until its closing in 1967. For 20 years, Mr. Costanzo was the Public Relations Director and Public Records Access Officer for the New York State Department of Civil Service in Albany, retiring in 1988. In his retirement, he formed a jazz trio and for many years played well-attended jobs at clubs in the Capital District.
He was devoted to his family, and is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie; his daughters Paula, Christina, Anita and Andrea; sons-in-law Charles Neuner and Alan Edstrom; a sister-in-law, three nieces and a nephew in Pittsburgh; and neighbors and friends the Leakakoses, the Perrys, the Hamms and the Di Matteos, all of Saratoga Springs.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs. Burial with military honors followed at the Gerald B.H. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home in Saratoga Springs. In lieu of flowers, contributions toward the endowment of a scholarship in his memory are requested by his family.
Coming from three generations of business owners, Nadine Draves felt it was only natural to follow in her family's footsteps even though she was already one year into her retirement.
On Nov. 7, Draves opened Saranade's Gift Shop on Excelsior Avenue-a dream she said she has always had but never carried out.
No wonder the Dalai Lama is always smiling. He knows, among other things, that Yoga is a key to inner transformation and outer glow. If the first tenet of Buddhism is, "Life is difficult"--surely the second tenet should read,"...But you can still enjoy the ride."
Looking to get in shape for the holiday season? With the New Year right around the corner, you may be weighing the possibility of finally following through with this year's resolution.
Whether you'd like to lose a few pounds in the weight room, join a recreational sports team, or even sign up for dance classes, the West Avenue Branch YMCA located at 290 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs may be your answer.
"Our goal is always looking at how we can create a healthier community," Jim Letts, CEO for the West Avenue Branch YMCA, said.
Currently 14,500 members strong, the West Avenue Branch, soon to be named the Saratoga Springs Branch on Jan. 1, offers a wide array of programs for adults and children alike to get into shape and stay healthy.
One of the largest programs run by the YMCA is known as Activate America, a multifaceted, nationwide effort to deal with America's rising health crisis. According to their website, Activate America looks to "support healthy lifestyles by reaching out and engaging all those who seek well being of spirit, mind and body. We will create and sustain healthier communities by actively participating in our communities...to influence decisions that impact health."
"People are coming to the YMCA from all walks of life as health seekers," Letts said of Activate America. "It's all about listening to our members and meeting their varied needs."
The YMCA in Saratoga has many different programs for members to take advantage of during these winter months. For adults interested in getting involved with a recreational sports team, the YMCA runs a basketball league, volleyball games, and tennis matches. Teams vary in skills and age groups, so don't be afraid to head on out to the court, even if you feel your game may be a little rusty.
For adults less interested in team sports, the YMCA hosts many different wellness classes, ranging from cardio and strength-focused workouts, mind and body classes, dance classes and combo classes to help you get fit and stay in shape.
The YMCA also runs several programs to help young kids develop and maintain healthy habits. For kids as old as 3 years old, Play and Splash classes offer children a chance to use the indoor pool where they learn some of the basics for swimming at an early age. A program for toddlers called Roc-N-Tots focuses on encouraging dance, singing, and even marching in a group setting designed to stimulate your child's imagination and get them moving. For kids a bit older, the West Avenue YMCA offers a Twinkle Toes Ballet class where children between ages 4 and 6 will be introduced to the basics of dance, currently taught by Dance Majors from Skidmore College.
"For kids 10, 11, and 12 we have a youth fitness certification course that teaches kids how to use the exercise equipment safely and properly," Letts said.
Once they've been instructed on the proper usage of the gym equipment, the kids are allowed to use the gym to exercise and stay fit.
Looking for something fun for the whole family? The Groovin' Fusion program is open to all ages, and combines aerobic exercises with dancing and drumming that promises to energize anyone who joins.
Membership for youth and teens starts at $13 and $15 a month, respectively, college students at $22 a month, and adults at $41 a month at the West Avenue Branch. Seniors get a discounted rate of $32 a month, and a special package for families starts at $66 a month.
"Healthy habits begin at a young age and stay with you through adulthood," Letts said. So don't put off that New Year's resolution any longer. Check out your local YMCA for details on programs and pricing, or visit their website at www.YMCA.org.
In this season of gift buying, it is easy to take for granted many of the precious gifts we already possess. I am sure it is the result of my profession but personally, I am always grateful for my ability to have my vision corrected to 20/20. When I remove my glasses or contacts for the day, I am quickly reminded of my inability to see my clock or television, etc, without them.
Working with many patients over the last 20 plus years, it is very
difficult to witness a patient who experiences permanent, uncorrectable vision loss. The worst cases are those which were preventable. Sometimes a thoughtful gift poses unthought of hazards.
Recently, there was the case of the 15-year-old boy who was given a gift of a B B gun. He literally shot a perfect bull's eye through the center of his eye, straight through his lens and lodging in his retina. Needless to say the vision was not restorable and he will spend the rest of his life relying on one good eye to get him through. This means he will need to avoid activities which may compromise that good eye and will wear protective glasses, even though he does not require a prescription. Think about the gifts you are purchasing, especially for the children on your list and the various hazards they may pose. Emergency Departments are filled post-holidays with children who have suffered injuries from gifts they received.
Equally difficult to witness is the patient who presents for their long, overdue eye exam only to discover they have advanced stages of glaucoma. They claim that they have no symptoms and state that they are seeing great! Glaucoma is the leading cause of "preventable-blindness" in the United States. All that is required to prevent glaucoma is an annual eye examination routine be established and maintained. Sadly, by the time a patient is aware of glaucoma symptoms, the damage done is irreversible. On the other hand, glaucoma caught early and treated easily need never result in vision loss! Consider having your precious eyes examined annually as a gift to yourself or as a New Year's resolution.
Children need you to schedule their annual appointments for them. Most children do not complain of vision symptoms; rather they assume they are seeing the way everyone else sees. School screenings and pediatric screenings do not test your child's ability to see at near range, which is where 80 percent of learning occurs. It is necessary that all school-aged children receive annual eye examinations. Keep in mind that vision changes typically accompany growth spurts--so if your child has suddenly "shot-up" and is squinting or complaining of strain or headaches, don't wait for their yearly visit. Most insurance companies will cover when there is a change even when it is sooner than one year. Prior to entering kindergarten is another critical exam time for your pre-school child. The doctor can provide you with detailed information about your child's vision system readiness and even recommend specific tasks to strengthen them.
As you are considering the perfect gifts to give to friends and family members this year, remember the gifts already possessed that
need care and protection to be maintained.
Susan Halstead, ABOC, FNAO is a Nationally Licensed and New
York State Licensed Optician at Family Vision Care Center at
205 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Susan can be reached for comments or questions by calling (518) 584-6111 or through the practice web sight at www.saratogasight.com.
I recently told Gabe that Santa says, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" and for some reason he's fascinated by this. He sits on my lap and watches my mouth as I say it, and then squeals and hugs me when I say the "Merry Christmas!" part. So I've been saying it a lot, because, really, it's just the best Christmas present I could ever ask for -- my darling boys sitting with me and hugging me (and letting me hug them!). But if you're looking for something for a mom that can be boxed and wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree, I have a few ideas for you.
I think most moms love things that make mothering our little ones easier, so here's a small list of some favorite must-haves for taking care of the kiddos:
Baby sling (or other carrier). This is one of my favorite things, and I couldn't manage all three boys by myself outside of the house without it. (See sidebar for more information.)
Fabulous diaper bag. If you ask me, you can never have too many diaper bags. My current favorites are the ones that look sophisticated and even elegant -- I bought a great black one for special occasions at Target. Or, my friend Joanna loves her big roomy purse -- it's cute and cool, but has enough room for diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for the baby, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and anything else you might pick up on your travels.
Bumbo Seat (I received one as a gift when John was born -- very cool!).
Diapers and wipes! A friend recently told me that, when her son turned one and people asked her what they could give him for his birthday, she said diapers! I can't imagine any mom not loving that as a gift. And a friend of mine gave me a package of fancy wipes when John was born, which was a perfect gift because I usually make my own -- I felt so pampered to have ready-made wipes in those newborn days!
Butt Paste. Yes, you read correctly! I've been loving Boudreaux's Butt Paste for diaper rashes since a friend introduced me to it a couple of years ago.
Of course, before becoming a mother, I never would have imagined having such things on my wish list (diapers? wipes? Butt Paste?!), but I guarantee most moms would love at least one of the things mentioned above (even if just as a stocking stuffer). And if you'd rather get something Mom-specific (that is, not baby-related), the following were suggested by some mom friends:
Her favorite candy, for when she needs a pick-me-up.
Good hand lotion (all that hand washing after diaper changes can wreak havoc on her skin; some favorites are Bag Balm, Lubriderm, and Cetaphil)
Gift card for a haircut or a facial.
Gift card for coffee or a lunch out with friends.
Time! Time to sleep in, to get the aforementioned haircut or facial, to email friends, to talk on the phone, to read a book or magazine, to grab that cup of coffee or lunch with someone. (Do note that some moms don't always feel comfortable leaving the kids, particularly when they're very young [I fall into this category], in which case the gift of time for her to read a book while you play with the kids in the same room might be better than the gift of time for her to get out of the house alone for a haircut.)
Any one of these things would surely be appreciated, and a few of them together in a bag or basket would make a great larger gift that a few people could chip in on.
No matter what else you give the mom in your life for Christmas, be sure to also tell her what a great job she's doing. The husband of a friend of mine recently told her what a great mom she is, and how happy their son is as a result. "I know he always thinks that," she said, "But to hear him say it made my day so great." Or try writing such thoughts in a card -- that way, the special mom in your life could be reminded again and again of how much you appreciate all she does. Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones!
Kate Towne Sherwin is a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) living in Saratoga Springs with her husband, Steve, and sons Thomas (4), Gabriel (2), and John Dominic (5 months). She can
be reached at sksherwin@hotmail.com.
It is that time of year again when we do all we can to prepare for the intense holiday bustle while battling the elements and often times damaging our bodies in the process.
In a losing effort against the clock, we are typically guilty of performing physically difficult tasks such as shoveling snow, moving heavy boxes, setting up awkward trees and decorating the house beyond even the Grandchildren's wildest dreams. And all needed to be done yesterday!
Each year these tasks become more and more difficult as the snow, the boxes, the tree and even the little decorations are seemingly becoming heavier and harder to handle. Finding that we are out of time and unable to perform simple exercise seems to be the rule and not the exception. But, it doesn't have to be. In fact, the daily maintenance of our bodies physically via simple exercise enables us to accomplish these tasks with increased ease and without injury.
The fact is muscles and tendons in our bodies are 'elastic' in nature, but become increasingly 'plastic' and more likely to be damaged as we venture further from our early adult years. So what do we do? Maintain That Flexibility! Maintain That Strength!
These simple tips for stretches and gentle exercises, as recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association, can help you maintain your flexibility and strength sustaining your daily routine without injury. 1. Don't stretch too hard, too fast. You'll pay for it later with muscle pain. 2. Avoid bouncing. Maintain a gradual gentle pressure when stretching. Five reps of 10 to 30 seconds in sufficient for most people. 3. Move through a pain-free ROM (range of motion) at a slow and stable speed. 4. Don't over-do it. Typically 2 to 3 sets of 10 reps are a good start when strengthening. 5. Breath! Exhale when straining, inhale when returning to resting position.
Stretches:
1. "V" Exercise: Sitting in good posture, begin with your arms crossed across your lap and thumbs pointing towards your hips. Then raise your arms up to assume the "V" shape. Hold and repeat again.
2. Calf Stretch: Standing up straight at the kitchen sink, begin with one leg behind and one forward. Keeping the rear leg straight and locked move your hips forward, bending the front knee while keeping the rear foot flat on the floor. Feel a gentle stretch up the back of the leg.
3. Forward/Backward Bends: Standing with feet apart and secure balance, slowly lower your hands down along your thighs reaching for the floor. Pause and return to standing erect. Then, with hands on the back of your hips slowly bend backwards a comfortable distance. Pause and then return to standing erect.
Strengthening:
1. Punches: Holding onto a light weight, or even a can of canned vegetables punch forward alternating arms while sitting or standing in good posture.
2. Sink Squats: Stand at the kitchen sink and hold on. Place a chair behind you for safety. Squat down touching your rear to the chair and raise back up.
3. Calf/Toe Raises: Again at the sink, hold on while advancing up onto your toes, and then back onto your heels.
By maintaining your strength and flexibility you can absolutely avoid injuries to your spine and extremities throughout the holidays and all year long. Try to do these simple exercises each day in an effort to maintain and avoid problems down the road. Slowly progress your repetitions or weights for increased intensity if you desire. However, if you are unable to perform any or all of these due to pain, weakness or tightness don't hesitate to consult with your Physician and/or local Physical Therapist. You don't have to live in pain as there are professionals trained to help you. Be Well!
LaMarco Physical Therapy, PC (417 Geyser Road Ballston Spa - 587-3256)
Growing up I was never much of a fan of pork, unless it was drowned in my mother's homemade applesauce or smothered in her wonderful mushroom gravy. So as an adult I tended to avoid this meat...until I had the wonderful opportunity to feast on one of Arnold Grant's boneless pork loins, cooked in an apple marinade with fresh fruit and then served, covered in a thick maple gravy. The meat was a tasty treat, perfect for a family gathering on a cold winter night.
Ingredients
2 tsp. dried or fresh rosemary
1 tsp. dried or fresh thyme
1 tsp. dried marjoram
1/4 tsp. pepper, freshly ground
3/4 tsp. salt
1 12 oz. bottle of fresh apple
cider (Saratoga Apple or
Bowman's do well)
1 3 lb. boneless pork loin
(from S&A Farm)
2 large tart cooking apples cut
into chunks (Saratoga Apple
has great choices)
2 medium Bosc Pears, cut into
8 wedges
1 medium red onion, cut into
thin wedges
3 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/3 cup maple syrup (Sheldon
Farms)
Directions
1. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large shallow glass dish or large zip-top plastic bag. Pierce pork several times with a fork, and add to marinade. Cover dish or seal bag; marinate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pork from marinade, reserving marinade. Place pork in a shallow roasting pan; add apple, pear and onion; sprinkle evenly with brown sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until meat thermometer reads 155 degrees. Place pork on a serving platter and let stand for 10 minutes. (Standing allows for the meat to reabsorb juices and to finish cooking to recommended eating temperature of 160 degrees).
3. While the pork is standing, put roasting pan on top of stove burner and turn heat to medium high. Sprinkle flour into pan drippings, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Stir in syrup. Bring to boil and reduce heat immediately. Simmer until gravy thickens to desired consistency.
4. Slice roast; serve with fruit, onion and gravy. Garnish with rosemary sprigs if desired.
This dish should yield 9-4 ounce pork servings. I recommend serving this with creamy fresh squash soup and spinach on the side. Most of the ingredients can be found locally and fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saturdays 9-1, and Wednesdays 3-6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Building on Woodlawn Ave.
Note: this recipe, according to the chef who prepared the dish I ate, was adapted from the 2006 Weight Watchers Annual Recipes for Success book.
The Frederick Allen Lodge which houses one of only three Black Elks Club lodges in the capital district will hold a fundraiser featuring soul-jazz musician Melvin Sparks on Friday, Dec. 12.
Sparks, one of the early pioneers of soul-jazz and the creator of jazz genre's like acid-jazz, will perform with his band, which includes Matt Orchestra on the B3 organ and Bill Carbone on drums, as the featured entertainment for the lodge's holiday fundraising benefit to be held at The Parting Glass.
Sparks' visit to Saratoga Springs will be paid for by The Golub Corporation, who also owns the local supermarket chain Price Chopper. Sparks previously became popular throughout the area for recording Price Chopper's "House of Barbeque" jingle.
One of the event's various organizers, Robert Mills said the decision to bring in Sparks had to do with rekindling a time at the lodge when the group would hold a yearly Black Elks Ball at the Canfield Casino and bring in such popular jazz musicians as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington to perform.
The fundraiser is one of three annual events that are held to help raise money to pay for renovations to the building located at 69 Beekman Street. Saratoga County Supervisor Joanne Yepsen has been working on the restoration project at the lodge for two years now and is also hosting the night's event.
"This is part of a larger cultural revolution and revitalization that is happening on the West Side," she said. "We want to preserve not only the facility, but the Elks tradition and their contributions to our community."
Phase one of the restoration project started two years ago and included the addition of a new roof, securing its foundation and renovating the kitchen area. Phase two which will be paid for through various fundraisers like the one being held Friday will go toward renovating the inside of the lodge and replacing the aluminum siding with the building's original natural wood façade. The group also hopes to bring back the building's second floor balcony that was destroyed in a fire decades ago.
Yepsen said the group still needs to raise more than $30,000 in order to complete the renovations. She said the group hopes that the revitalization work will help to drive new membership and create a revenue stream by enticing local groups to lease the space for private functions.
The group itself has seen dwindling membership numbers over the years going from a club of more than 125 members to less than two dozen in recent years.
"It is important historically to recognize the role these kinds of clubs played in Saratoga Springs' history," Mills said. "First the area was an Irish neighborhood, then it was an Italian neighborhood and then in the 60s and 70s an influx of black population came in and grew in the area. Now the demographics have changed again leaving very few members left in the club."
Mills added that the group was important to African Americans settling in Saratoga Springs at that time because of its significance as a social, networking and community function spot. As the times have changed the group has gone from solely an African American membership group to one that is open to anyone interested in joining.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are priced at $10. For more information or to order tickets prior to Friday's benefit call (518) 879-2835.
"We hope people come out and have a good time," Mills said. "A lot of people moving into town might not be familiar with the city's history, so maybe it is a way for them to get caught up on what the town used to be like."
Throughout my life, as I write about my experiences in the great outdoors or when I try to verbally express myself or tell stories about different adventures and different people, I have been asked "why?" Why, for me, is there such a strong draw, such magnetism, such magic to the outdoors? Why have I hiked mountain trails for days on end in the blistering hot North Carolina sun and the sub-zero Adirondack winter? Why would I sit in the woods for hours upon hours during deer hunting season in all sorts of weather knowing that the prospects of success are slim? Why would I choose to punish my body in all these ways taking part in all types of activities just to be outdoors?
I have never been satisfied that I have ever found the words to adequately answer these questions. I find it very frustrating to feel as if I had thoroughly transferred my feelings to the person asking me the question to the level of equal understanding and acceptance particularly when I have tried to write my thoughts and feelings as opposed to verbalizing them. To write about and have the reader understand and accept something is so much more difficult because of the lack of voice inflection and tone supported by facial expression.
Well, I think I have found a way of getting a bit closer to where I want to be with this effort. I recently completed reading a book entitled "The Last Season" by Eric Blehm. It is about a back country high Sierra park ranger named Randy Morgenson. It is a story of his life and his 28 years as a back country ranger told only because of his death.
His life as a ranger, his writings, his photographs, his adventures didn't seem to mean enough to be told. His death, however, gave Mr. Blehm reason to write his story. It's a story of a man...flawed like all men...imperfect by any standard...a husband...a friend...and a companion who shared with those in his life the same feelings and frustrations that I have felt when asked...why?
The book tells about his years and the duties he carried out from search and rescue efforts to hauling trash out of the high mountains to issuing camping and hiking permits. It tells of his marriage and the strains his job placed on it because of the months away from home while on duty in the Sierras had on him and his wife. It tells of the low regard others had for the work of he and his fellow rangers. It tells of his disappearance and the five-year mystery that surrounded the event and the effort that went into the search for him and ultimately, the discovery of his remains and yet more unanswered questions.
But on page 269, there is a passage that Randy wrote that was read at his memorial service. In the book, one of the people at the service said that "after that quote, you could have heard a pin drop." Before I read that line, I was already stopped by the words Randy had written.
They hit me and I unconsciously took a deep breath. He had successfully carried me to him and into his world like I have tried so often to do. He wrote:
"An extremely clear, perfectly cloudless day. Fall has definitely come to the High Country. The air is clearer and cooler, night time temperatures are close to freezing, the sky is much bluer in the afternoon, very deep and dark in the east, blending into lighter color in the west - and the caressing summer breezes have become gusty afternoon winds. The whole atmosphere seems quieter, so the animal sounds seem louder and more clear, and the wind more hollow. Tis a beautiful time of the year, but a somewhat sad one, for it brings the end of the Sierra season."
I felt his words. I could taste them. They embraced me as I put my arms around them. I wonder if his words make me feel this way because of my love of the outdoors or if they would draw everyone into their bosom in the same way. I wish...I pray that some day I will feel as if I have written words for you to read that call to you in the same way. If I ever do, as a writer, I will have touched the sky.
See you outdoors!
You can reach Dick at rtotino@nycap.rr.com.
The popular Saratoga New Year’s celebration, First Night, will bring in approximately 14,000 revelers to the Spa City on Dec. 31 to take part in upstate New York’s largest New Year’s Eve event.
Now that the vetting process is over and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) has been chosen as the next secretary of state, the hot stove is heating up for who will fill her vacant Senate seat.
Shoppers hit the town last week for the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season, and this year’s Black Friday proved to be a successful day for many downtown shops.
With protests taking place all over the nation in recent weeks refuting the passage of Proposition Eight in California, some employers may see some absences from work on Dec. 10.
AMD transfers funds for future Luther Forrest project
After passing the 2009 Saratoga Springs city budget at a special meeting last week, City Council members were unable to agree on a number of financial issues still facing the city at Tuesday’s meeting.
Dorothy Margaret “Dottie” Vogt
Mary Helena (O’Malley) Kmen
This week marks the kickoff of the fourth annual Saratoga Restaurant Week in downtown Saratoga Springs.
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Kasandra Isaacson and the RE/MAX Premier office is hosting a benefit for Fertile Hope at 90 East Ave, where the public is invited to join her in a wine tasting event with donations going towards helping cancer patients deal with infertility issues that arise after treatment.
At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market we are lucky to have a winter vendor supplying fresh goat cheese on a weekly basis.
Singer/songwriter Forrest Jenkins has been performing music for 35 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
Last week, when I was getting ready to leave hunting camp to sit in my stand for the morning hunt, one of the other guys said “See you between nine thirty and ten o’clock for breakfast,” and he headed for the door.
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