Schuylerville Turning Point Newspaper 2012 by Campus News

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ylerville

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Standing still and moving on

Volume 1, Issue 2 Free! Tell Your Friends! Mid-June 2012

From the Editor Village Board Clubs

Letter

Environment

Ask the Doctor The Standard

Serving the People, Villages, Schools and Towns in What Is Olde Saratoga.

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

When I was scoping out whether or not to start this newspaper, meeting with various 3 groups and people in Schuylerville to gauge interest and community need this past winter, 4 one article kept getting mentioned by local residents – a piece called “Schuylerville 8 Stands Still,” which was published way back on March 25, 1990, in The New York Times 9 Magazine, and written by James Howard Kunstler. It for sure is a long piece, 4500 words, 17 written in a news-essay, first-person format, and definitely has enough savory details to 20 make it effective; but for a story that the rest of the world has forgotten to still have a sting locally over 22 years later seems amazing. Especially in this modern era, where people don’t take what’s in the media as seriously as we once did. I have written thousands of things, and, while I am sure some of the articles adorned refrigerators until yellowed, or maybe a few were framed and still hang on walls in some small mom-and-pops, I doubt any of the pieces resonate YEARS later like

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Clipping, 4

E co , 6

Not for Long, 9

Broad Street.

C o m m en t a r y : T h e v il l a g e h a s g r o w n p as t an ol d ar ti cl e .

“Schuylerville Stands Still.” Maybe I am doing something wrong. It would seem that there never was psychological, or even literary, closure for the piece and Schuylerville. The local newspaper, The Schuylerville Standard, had called it quits by the late 1980s, after over 100 years of service,

so there was no published local response. A couple of limp letters to the editor made it to The Times, but hardly had the word power, let alone the word count, of Kunstler. Someone recently and anonymously added on the Schuylerville Wikipedia page, after the mention of “Schuylerville Stands Still”: “Reaction to the article from members of the community was strongly negative, and

school district. Marie DeFillipo, Valerie Collins and Amy Frolish gave a presentation to the Village Board on April 11th. Amy Frolish also attended the Village meeting again on May 9th to give an update prior to the vote. Similar presentations regarding the library proposal were made on several other occasions in an effort to inform and educate taxpayers about the proposal and encourage them to vote. “We want the public to understand the process and clarify any misconceptions that may be out there,” says Martin. The approval of the proposal will mean a few changes to the way that business is done. “This is a process and we want to do it properly,” says Martin. It will take a handful of months before the effects are in full swing. Robert Schofield is a partner with the law firm of Whiteman, Osterman

and Hanna LLP. He has been hired to assist the board through the process of closing out the library as a village library and reopen it formally as a school district library with a set of bylaws and board of trustees. Schofield is versed in library practice and will help the library iron out the details of the new charter. There will also be a voting schedule designed to identify length of service for trustees. The new charter, once in effect, will expand

After vote, library expands its reach

Christine Barton Schuylerville Turning Point

On May 15th taxpayers voted yes to the proposal to change the Schuylerville Public Library, currently a village library, to a school district library. The number of yes votes was 740 as opposed to the 248 no votes, recalls Julia Martin, director of the library. The library proposal had the largest margin of victory of the four elections that day. Taxpayers recognized the benefits of the change in charter. The library will now be able to draw from the entire school district for trustees, says Martin. While the library meetings were always open to the public, as a village library, the trustees could only be elected if they lived in the Village of Schuylerville. The new charter changes things. “Now we are able to expand our reach to other surrounding areas such as parts of Wilton, Northumberland, Ganesvoort and other areas within in the school district,” says Martin. In the months prior to the vote, board members made efforts to inform taxpayers about the proposal and the benefits that it would have to the entire

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True confessions of a 42-year-old paperboy

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 2

Darren Johnson Publisher

The reason why I usually deliver most of the issues of Campus News myself – people I mention this to scoff at me, as if a 42-year-old with advanced degrees should be above such mundane work, they huff – is because of a kid I knew growing up in Utica, N.Y., about a year older than me, who went to the local public school and, because I went to the local Catholic school, I only associated with through Little League baseball. Many of us kids, including me, had paper routes back then – an idea foreign to today’s kids and even college students – and this kid gained instant notoriety by doing what a lot of us kids could relate to. He was a Norma Rae to the pubescent set in town. He grabbed his weekly bundles of Pennysavers, which he was supposed to deliver – hump around like the rest of us for hours for a mere $10 or $12 per week – and just dumped them in the Sauquoit Creek. This story spread like wildfire in my part of town. Yeah, he stuck it to The Man. And the Pennysaver wasn’t a real newspaper anyway. Fact is, the publisher was too cheap to pay US Postal rates so they took advantage of the youth workforce of the day. I had one of those routes -300 houses; pay, $9. (I also had the more traditional type of paper route as a kid. One where one would go collecting after; that averaged about $1215/week, if tips were included.) But, from a First Amendment standpoint – even though the Pennysaver offers nothing of journalistic value, it still is a publication – let alone from an environmental standpoint (the paper, as we delivered it, was wrapped in plastic), this was a hostile act to the Bill of Rights and Mother Nature by a kid not known as one of the area’s brightest, anyway. Even though we were 12 or so (12 year olds are allowed to work in news delivery -- it’s one of the few exceptions to state child labor laws, along with child acting/modeling), my fellow paper carriers and I knew what he did was wrong. No one duplicated it. But it was a hot topic. And it has always made me paranoid about the placement of the newspapers for the companies I’ve worked for. I watch them carefully. Recently, I was at one of the downstate community colleges, carting a box of my Campus News newspapers to some courtesy racks the college puts out for non-student publications, encouraging the students to read more. All of the newspaper companies who used to give free papers to the campuses, such as The Voice, USA Today, The New York Times and some smaller regional publications, have abandoned that idea, so I find the racks totally clear. Campus News gets swiped up each month, so I know Campus News, like this paper, is filling a vacuum.

But when I teach journalism at colleges, or when I advise student newspapers, I barely ever mention distribution. Mainly because the concept goes over students’ heads. Writing and editing, they can grasp. Layout, sort of. Advertising, to a degree. But, they shrug, why concern oneself with how the paper makes it to the stands? Into people’s homes? There are no college classes on newspaper circulation, because it’s easy, they figure. But it’s the difference between success and failure for a publication. It’s why a Long Island version of The Voice failed. It’s why papers like The PostStar have a monopoly. Even free papers need to be easily found to be read. Distribution is the hardest part of the equation for a paper like this one or my Campus News paper – 20 community colleges? Are we serious? Yeah, we are. And I can do it because, when I was writing for my high school paper and in journalism Explorers, I had those traditional door-to-door paper routes. I’d read the paper, too, between stops. One time, on the cover was a

I deliver my own papers because of a bad paperboy I knew as a kid.

photo of a crunched up car that had slammed into a garbage truck. Dead – one of my favorite customer’s sons. Should I deliver that paper? I did. It was my duty. But I didn’t collect for weeks. I didn’t know what to say. I felt for him. When I finally did come asking for money, he seemed his usual jovial self. Though his unusually boy-crazy daughters weren’t bounding to the door in their make up and tube tops as they had in the past. Life had changed in that house. Another time, the 10-speed Huffy I’d bought for $100 (many weeks’ pay) to help move faster with collections was totally crushed when I was struck by a driver with no insurance, mental disorders and Coke bottle glasses. I literally flew 20 feet in the air and landed on the hard pavement in a roll (I’d been taking judo at the time, and my landing was classroom perfect, sans mat). Somehow, I was totally uninjured. My collection book was in pieces. A priest showed up at the accident scene – to counsel the poor driver! A chiropractor, whose office was about where I’d landed, looked me over and seemed a bit disappointed that I was all in one piece. The cops came. After I refused medical treatment, I put the crumpled up bike on my shoulder and carried it home. I got no money, no apology, nothing. Then in college, while I studied Writing before embarking on a whole career revolving around the printed (usually newsprinted) word, I had a 7day-a-week route – I’d get up at 4 a.m. every day, even Christmas – to deliver New York Times to the mansions in the Hamptons. My route would double in size in the summer, but Christmastime tips were incredible. Enough to buy 30

Huffys. I landed a reporting job at The Sag Harbor Express newspaper after college and the delivery guy just upped and quit one day. The Editor in Chief seemed surprised when I volunteered to add the route to my duties. Why not? The black ink had been on my hands throughout the ’80s, and now it was the

’90s. I didn’t deliver anything significant in the first decade of this century, but here I am in the 2010s, clearing racks, counting a few returns, eyeing best placement, making sure people who seem less in love with the First Amendment don’t sabotage my racks. Like that kid in Utica and the creek. And I rather enjoy it. It’s a part of me.

Baby me delivering a paper. Ink is in my blood.

THE

About to deliver newspapers from Greenwich Town.

TURNING POINT

is published monthly and distributed throughout Greater Schuylerville and into the parts of Saratoga and Washington counties where we also visit.

Publisher/Editor: Darren Johnson.

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Village DPW offers an array of services

Christine Barton Schuylerville Turning Point

A safe, clean community does not just happen by chance. The Schuylerville Department of Public Works (DPW) provides an array of services to the Schuylerville community, many of which the public might not be aware of. Departments of Public Works across the country include a very broad spectrum of services to municipalities, which are financed and organized by the government. These services may vary depending on the municipality. In general, the DPW responsibilities include the upkeep and maintenance of resources that range anywhere from recreational, health, safety and public facilities and are used by the larger community. Trees, parks, beaches, docks, water systems, roadways and other physical infrastructures are just a few of the facilities in a town or village, which are used by everyone in the community. The upkeep of these falls under the umbrella and responsibly of the DPW. The loss or disrepair of these facilities or services could impact the quality of life of the community. In Schuylerville, the DPW maintains the upkeep the village owned properties and resources. “The work we do often depends on what emergency might arise such as a pop up water break; many of our other responsibilities depend on the season,” says Hugh Bruce, Supervisor for Schuylerville DPW. The Schuylerville DPW consists of five individuals who are solely responsible for a multitude of functions that maintain the health, safety and comfort of the Village of Schuylerville. Services such as garbage pickup, lawn care, tree removal and general village maintenance are just a few of services that fall under their scope of responsibility. The annual Spring Cleanup is just one of the services that is specific to the village of Schuylerville. “It is appreciated, as not every municipality offers this service,” says Anna Welfley, Village Clerk/Treasurer.

Spring Clean Up Specifics Spring has indeed sprung and the dates for Spring Clean-Up Week 2012 for the village have been announced. Monday June 11th through Friday June 15th is this year’s spring clean up week. The DPW asks that residents be aware of a few guidelines to ensure a smooth spring cleanup process. No tires, household garbage, construction debris, hazardous materials such as paint cans or solvents, will be accepted during spring clean up week. Appliances will be picked up, however, coolants must be drained and doors must be removed before leaving them out for pickup. Covered electronic equipment (CEE) will be

looking to take it to a scrap yard or recycling center to exchange it for cash. Locals have noticed that if metal is left out on garbage nights, it is generally gone within a few hours. Spring clean up week pick up will start on the West Side of the village at Clancy St. and work East. The cleanup crew will be making one pick up in each area and will pick up acceptable items that are properly separated. Once the trash has been picked up according to the scheduled route, the crew will not be making second pickups. If trash is set out after the clean up crew has completed the pickup, homeowners will be responsible for removing this. Tickets may be issued if this is not removed. The regular recycling schedule and household trash

If people put metal out with the trash, it is swiped up quickly.

A flyer circulated

acin the Village. cepted for recycling. The DPW will pick up metals but this must be separated from other trash. The price for scrap metal has gone up making it a sought after item that will generally be picked up by people

to facilitate garbage pickup. The village sells garbage stickers at the municipal offices and at Byron’s market. One garbage sticker must be placed on each 13-gallon kitchen garbage bag and two for a 33-gallon bag. In addition to household trash, junk mail, magazines and tin cans, plastics, glass and dry newspapers are also picked up at the same time. The sticker program in the village of Schuylerville has been in use for many years now. “It is a self-sustaining program,” says Bruce. Recycling is done for the purpose of reducing waste and turning old products into new ones. Some municipalities do not offer recycling programs or offer programs that include very few acceptable items. Recyclables in the Village of Schuylerville are picked up on the first Monday of each month. In April of 2011, the DPW began accepting covered electronic equipment (CEE) for recycling without charge. Because these items can’t safely be disposed of in the landfill, arrangements were made to include these items in the regular recycling program. CEE includes computers, televisions, faxes, scanners, printers and some small electronic equipment such as VCR and DVD players. An all-inclusive list of items for pickup can be found on the website at http://villageofschuylerville.org/index.asp.

pickup will also be in effect the week of the spring cleanup. According to Welfley, the spring cleanup process goes very smoothly. “If there is anything that comes up that is a problem, the board will discuss it and take action.”

Using Village Services is Cost Effective While some village residences have private garbage service pickup through private vendors such as County Waste or Casella, this is at an additional cost to them. The village provides these same services. The sticker program is a cost-effective way to provide village residents with residential garbage pickup service at a very low price. The sale of stickers does provide some revenue to the village, which helps to maintain

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Garbage Pick and Recycling Regular garbage pickup and recycling is done on Tuesdays in the Village of Schuylerville. The village uses a garbage sticker process

All yesses, Wood in school voting

By a margin of 725 to 292, Schuylerville residents approved Schuylerville Central School District’s proposed $30.97 million budget for the 2012-13 school year. The budget is projected to carry a 2.74 percent tax levy increase for property owners, which is below the district’s maximum allowable tax levy of 3.21 percent. The proposal represents a spending decrease for the second year in a row. In the Board of Education election, Veronica Wood was elected over incumbent James Burkett by a vote of 597 to 390 to take the one available board seat. The term for this unpaid position is five years. Residents also approved the dis-

trict’s proposition to purchase two large buses (vote was 696 to 281). A proposition to change the public library’s charter was approved (740 to 248), as well. The following residents were elected to the Schuylerville Public Library board of trustees: Maria DeFilippo, Amy Frolish, Sean Kelleher, Valerie Collins, Dennis Kagel, Whitney Colvin and Ken Mark. Schuylerville Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman and members of the Board of Education were pleased with the budget vote results. “We’re thrilled at the high turnout this year and our community’s continued support of

Veronica Wood Schuylerville’s budget,” Sherman commented.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 3

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Schuylerville Coupon Club sees big savings

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 4

Christine Barton Schuylerville Turning Point

To use or not to use coupons is a personal choice, but the truth is that it does save money; how much is really up to the individual and the coupons they acquire. Anita Ruff, a Town of Greenwich resident and one of the founders of the Schuylerville Coupon Club, has been couponing for 40 years now. On average, she saves about 70% on health and beauty items with coupons. “Its hard to tell between store sales and coupons, but I might also save up to 50% on groceries,” says Ruff. Most of the general population has used coupons in one form or another in their lives. A coupon is nothing more than a document that can be exchanged for a financial discount. Coupons will always equal savings when used properly. Coupons are more accessible and available than we might even realize. Some coupons come in the paper, some are handed to us at the grocery store with our receipt, some come in the mail and others are gently glued right onto the product that we purchase at the grocery store. Coupons today take many forms and can save us a few bucks when and if we use them. If couponing can save us money, why don’t we all do it? The newly formed Coupon Club in Schuylerville makes the whole concept of couponing much easier. Ruff is one of the founders of the Schuylerville Coupon Club. The club formed in December of 2011 when one of the employees at the library was asked about extreme couponing by a patron. The inquiry took on a life of its own when others also expressed interest about couponing and from there the

Extreme couponing is the practice of trying to get the most savings that you can on items using coupons. Extreme couponing does save people money but also takes a great deal of time. Some people may not be so inclined to spend their time doubling and matching coupons or going to several different stores even it does save 90% off of the grocery bill. There are some people who do engage in Extreme coupoing to the extreme and do save a great deal of money doing it. Others may be interested in more traditional methods of obtaining and using coupons. The Internet is another way to locate coupons. There are several sites on the internet that offer printable coupons or give information on what stores have sales or will be offering two for one deals or discounts. www.couponmom.com and thekrazycouponlady.com are two of the sites that offer information on coupons and other ways to save money. Groupon is another site that has gained popularity Anita Ruff with her coupon folder. most recently. After signing items that we need in our household up for a membership with the site, such as food, or heath and beauty supmembers will be emailed a deal of the day by different companies. These deals plies. Here are a few tips that will maxiare significantly discounted but individu- mize your couponing experience: The goal for using coupons is always als who sign up for them will only be savings. Some items are still more expenable to get them if the vendor gets sive than others, even with a coupon. enough interest from a group of memWhen you buy things that you don’t bers. If there is need just because you have a coupon, it not enough interwon’t result in savings. est, the deal is Be careful purchasing in bulk if you gone and a new don’t have adequate storage space. one will be introThere are rarely coupons offered duced to for meat products. Groupon members. There are abundant coupons availIn-store rewards programs are another form of coupons and can offer significant savings. Many stores, such as CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreen’s, offer rewards books and in-store deals that may be combined with other coupon options for maximum savings on products sold in these stores. Unsolicited coupon books and newspapers and grocery store flyers that come in the mail might be easy to toss, but if you take a look through them, they do offer some good deals on name brand products. RedPlum and SmartSource are a collection of coupons that often come in the mail in the form of a booklet or flyer. They offer savings on a variety of food and health and beauty products. Newspapers are still a very common and easy way to acquire coupons.

The group is up to 10 members and growing.

Coupon Club was formed. The group decided to get together once a month on Fridays for about two hours. Currently there are approximately 10 people that actively attend the Coupon Club meetings. The meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at the Schuylerville Public Library at 52 Ferry Street. The purpose of the meeting is to share ideas and tips about savings and to swap and share coupons. The coupons that are not swapped during the Friday meetings are left at the library for other members of the community to use. The Friday meetings are also a time when members organize coupons and dispose of any outdated ones. “Anyone can help themselves; it is really a benefit for the whole community,” says Ruff. The coupons are stored in a plastic storage box and left right in the vestibule entrance of the library. Anyone who comes into the library should feel free to help themselves to any of the coupons or to donate any coupons to the box for the public to use. Coupon Options We have all probably heard of the television shows that profile people who take regular couponing to the next level.

Couponing Tips You can’t go wrong saving a few dollars that we might be able to put to better use someplace else. “Couponing does save me a lot,” says Ruff. “I only buy what is on sale and what I have a coupon for.” The truth is that couponing in the non-extreme form does not take long, does not cost much and can save us significantly on those routine

able for dairy products, eggs, cheese and yogurt. Coupons are expiring much more quickly than they have in the past; be sure to use or share these before they expire. The Schuylerville Coupon Club is open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend the monthly meetings or participate by taking or leaving coupons at the library. More information can be obtained by calling the library at 695-6641.

Library director Julia Martin shows the coupon box near the library entrance.

Book chronicles the lives of WW2 reporters

Janiece Peterson Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

Flying in bombers, ducking into foxholes and dodging bullets were everyday occurrences for many World War II correspondents, including five who later became famous and awardwinning journalists. Walter Cronkite, then of the United Press wire service; Andy Rooney, of the U.S. Army newspaper Stars and Stripes; A.J. Liebling, of the New Yorker; Homer Bigart, of the New York Herald Tribune; and Hal Boyle, of the Associated Press, were all notable war correspondents. Timothy M. Gay wrote about their lives and what they had to go through to get their stories out to the public in his book, “Assignment to Hell: The War Against Nazi Germany with Correspondents Walter Cronkite, Andy Rooney, A.J. Liebling, Homer Bigart, and Hal Boyle.” In May, Gay, along with Walter “Chip” Cronkite III, son of longtime CBS News journalist Walter Cronkite; Tim Wendel, former Gannett/USA reporter and editor; and David Maraniss, associate editor at the Washington Post, talked about the book at the National Press Club. They spoke about the importance of these reporters to the war and how they affectedthe future of journalism. “I am lucky to be paid to write something I care about as passionately as World War II journalism and to follow these five great correspondents,” Gay said. Throughout World War II, these

war correspondents put themselves in harm’s way on a dayto-day basis to cover stories first-hand. Cronkite flew on bombing missions over Nazi Germany and was the only American correspondent to fly in a bomber over the D-Day invasion in 1944. Rooney earned a bronze star for his coverage of the great seige at Saint-Lô in Normandy, France, after D-Day and was the first correspondent at the capture of the bridge at Remagen, Germany. Liebling fled Hitler’s storm troopers when Germany blitzkreiged across France. Bigart was trained by the 8th Army Airforce to fly a plane Walter “Chip” Cronkite III and Timothy M. Gay. on combat missions. And Boyle was the first they could cover a global conflict,” he “This book has taken some names American said. that are somewhat commonplace and newspaSecond, he said, the reporters some other names that we may have perman on needed physical and mental courage to not have heard about, but you realize the scene cover dead and wounded soldiers on a the synergy and kinship between all of after the daily basis. them,” he said. massacre And the third theme is the legacy In their later careers, Cronkite anof unthat these correspondents left to postchored “CBS Evening News” for 19 armed war journalism. years. Rooney became part of the CBS G.I. pris“These journalists made journalNews program “60 Minutes” for 33 oners at Malmedy, Belgium, during the ism an essential and an honorable pro- years. Liebling continued to cover stoBattle of the Bulge in 1944. fession,” Gay said. ries for the New Yorker until his death Whether on the front lines, in the The discussion that followed Gay’s in 1963. Bigart went from the New air or at sea, war correspondents reading focused on Cronkite and BiYork Hearld to the New York Times placed themselves in the line of fire to gart. in 1955 and remained there until his report the war to Americans. “One is the voice of God, and the retirement in 1972. Boyle continued to Gay said he wants readers to unother is a voice I wish I had as a writer. write for the Associated Press for 30 derstand three themes in his book. Cronkite’s voice had clarity, sensibility, years. The first is how these reporters sense of humor and everything about it “These guys came back after the rose to the challenge despite being seemed perfect,” Maraniss said. He war and created the greatest era of “wet behind the ears” when the war said Bigart, who later covered wars in press independence and integrity in began. Korea and Vietnam, was his hero. American history,” Gay said. “There was nothing about their Wendel spoke about the group of backgrounds that could suggest that correspondents as a whole.

Along with the troops, reporters needed physical and mental courage.

Library (cont. from cover)

the number of trustees from five to seven. “We are thankful for all those from the Village of Schuylerville who have served as trustees over the years, and now we encourage other people from the school district to step up and consider running,” says Martin. The term “school district library” simply means that the library shares the same tax map as the school district, not that it will be a formal part of the school. Essentially, the library is funded by the taxpayers. A part of voting yes meant that taxpayers would see an increase in their property taxes, which will fund the library. Currently the yearly budget is $75,000 with an increase of $25,000 proposed for the upcoming year, raising the budget to $100,000 yearly. Prior to the vote a series of focus groups were held in the community asking the public what changes they wanted to see with the library. Based on that feedback a plan was put in motion in anticipation of the charter change. “A lot of what we decided to do was based on feedback from the focus

groups earlier in the year,” says Martin. The library will expand their Saturday hours, increase programming for youth and purchase Nooks and Kindles that people will be able to check in and out like a book. The library also anticipates a busy summer filled with book clubs and field trips. The NYS summer reading list that comes out each year is sure to increase the use of the library when school is out of session. In May the library hosted a first grade field trip for students from Schuylerville elementary. A movie night at the library was also held on May 18th with a showing of the movie “Hugo.” The library also recently purchased five copies of the popular teen series the “Hunger Games,” offering a wait list for interested readers. “We are very grateful to the public for supporting the library in the vote. We seek to optimize the use of this library,” says Martin.

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DPW (cont. from page 5) the ongoing services provided by the DPW. It was noted at a recent Village Board meeting that there was a slight decrease in revenue from 2010 to 2011obtained through village garbage services. Using garbage services that are provided by the village as opposed private companies does have a cost-effective benefit to the community as well as individual village residents. While the village offers the opportunity for regular garbage pickup, some materials considered hazardous are the responsibility of residents to dispose of properly, according to New York State regulations. Construction debris, tires, paints, solvents and some electronic equipment requires specialized handling and disposal. Questions relating to spring clean up, garbage pick up, recycling or disposal of hazardous waste can be directed to the village office at 695-3881or the DPW garage at 695-3675.

June 1st marks the start of the new fiscal year. The DPW, with the approval of the board, is looking at prices to replace some of the old equipment that is currently being used by the DPW crew. A new lawnmower, mower deck and spill kits are on top on the list of purchases for 2012. The DPW also proposed to the board at the May meeting the possibility of looking into grants for green initiatives. There are grant options that could be taken advantage of by the village to obtain recycling equipment and some other more modern equipment such as a John Deere loader that would be a benefit to the taxpayers of the village. “The board has been very proactive in replacing dump trucks and other equipment that was starting to become costly over the last year,” says Bruce.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 5

Black and orange go green

Among all the black and orange around the district, you’re bound to see a little more green emerging as a group of parents and community members dedicate themselves to a Green Ribbon Schools initiative. The goal of this long-term project is to recognize and support the many ways that the school community promotes environmental literacy, encourages outdoor learning and exploration, incorporates positive health and fitness decisions and promotes efficiency and reduced consumption on the campus. Members of Schuylerville’s Green Ribbon team are also dedicated to expanding the district’s green initiatives.

Four cornerstones The Green Ribbon Schools initiative is designed to be inclusive, to reinforce environmentally conscious behaviors and foster a movement toward sustainability, all while positively impacting students’ education and wellness. This also presents a great opportunity to integrate health, environmental and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills into educational programs that promote sustainability. Schuylerville’s activities will follow the four national Green Ribbon cornerstones, which are: Environmentally Friendly Campus (Eco-campus): conserving natural resources and creating green spaces for a healthy, en-

ergy-wise school. Planned activities include expansion of the district-wide recycling program and installation of more efficient lighting. Additionally, the team will organize locker and classroom clean-out programs that focus on reusing supplies. Nature Adventure: encouraging outdoor recreation, skills and play during and after school. Schuylerville’s Green Ribbon Schools team is already in the process of planning a butterfly garden and a vegetable garden. Local experts, including business owners, have stepped up to offer their expertise. Health and Fitness: providing wholesome nutrition, fitness opportunities and life-long learning habits. Continuation of this year’s successful health fair is among the activities planned for this cornerstone. Future events under consideration include organizing a bike rodeo and a family fun run. The group is also dedicated to expanding outdoor recess activities for students. Natural Classrooms: integrating nature and natural systems to facilitate learning across the curricula. Schuylerville’s Green Ribbon Schools team is working with teachers and other experts to develop an outdoor classroom on the campus, along with a bird-watching trail. Thanks to a Stewart’s Holiday Match Grant awarded to the Green Ribbon School Project, second-

grade teachers will enhance their “Birds in Your Backyard” program with new birdhouses installed by students and participation in Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology Project NestWatch. Numerous other activities are taking place, as well, including student-centered “green tips” on the Elementary School morning announcements and distribution of reusable water bottles to the Board of Education. The team will also set up a transparent compost exhibit, which reinforces ecoWorking on a birdhouse. ideas by allowing students to make side-by-side comparTeam at Schuylerville or to join the team, isons of the decomposition process of send an e-mail to three items – for example, a Styrofoam schuylervillegrs@gmail.com. The district’s cup, a plastic bag and a banana peel. In ad- Green Ribbon Launch Team members indition, Mr. Shea and Ms. Foesher’s fourth- clude district parents Deborah McGloine grade art students and Art Club members and Betty Gifford, as well as Hudson created artistic sculptures using recycled Crossing Park’s Green Ribbon Schools materials. The works were part of the reProject Director Cindy Wian. For more incent Recycled Art Show sponsored by formation on Green Ribbon Schools on Hudson Crossing Park and the Saratoga the national level, go to http://www.greenNational Historical Park. ribbonschools.org/news. Join the green team For details about the Green Ribbon

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Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 6

Easier immigration up for scientists, others

Silvana Ordoñez Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

The ticket to a better economy and higher employment rate in the United States is to issue more visas to foreign experts in math and science, House lawmakers say. A new bill aims to create two types of visas: one for up to 50,000 foreign students who graduate from a university in the United States with a master’s or doctorate degree in science and math fields such as technology and engineering. Foreign graduates currently have to be sponsored by a company, but there are quotas for visa applications for each country, which reaches its limit very quickly. The second type would offer permanent residency to immigrants who start new companies that generate jobs. House Republicans Kevin Yoder, Kan.; Michael Grimm, N.Y.; Robert Dold, Ill. and Devin Nunes, Calif., joined Democrats Loretta Sanchez, Calif.; Jared Polis, Colo., and Russ Carnahan, Mo., to introduce the Startup Act 2.0 in the House. In May, a bipartisan group of senators introduced it in the Senate. Supporters of the bill say the United States needs more workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as STEM, who can come up with innovative ideas that lead to job creation. “We are a proud nation of immigrants, and we want to make sure that we’re giving them the opportunity to make sure that we can grow our jobs here,” Dold said. A study by the Partnership for a New American Economy and Partnership for New York City found a shortage of

STEM graduates in the United States. “We face a projected shortfall of 230,000 qualified advanced-degree STEM workers” by 2018 the report says. The report also points out that more than 40 percent of U.S. Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants. But others oppose this bill. The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national group that advocates for stricter immigration reforms, says that STEM immigrants will put Americans’ job opportunities in jeopardy. “Startup Act 2.0 is a solution in search of a problem,” Kristen Williamson, a spokeswoman for FAIR, said. “It will further depress wages because foreign students and workers are willing to work for lower wages.” A FAIR report says the overabundance of science and engineering degree holders in the United States has caused graduates in these fields to search for jobs in other fields. “There is no evidence that there is, or will exist in the foreseeable future, a shortage of qualified native-born scientists and engineers in the United States,” the report states. “Less than one-third of S&E degree holders are working in a field closely related to their degree, while 65 percent are either employed in or training for a career in another field within two years of graduating.” Grimm said the bill addresses the wage issue to ensure that immigrants wouldn’t put Americans out of work. “There will be fair-market wages,” Grimm said. “It’s going to be fair. He said there is language in the bill to ensure that someone coming from another country will not be paid much less than someone else.

New York Rep. Michael Grimm speaks.

The bill seeks to keep foreign graduates in the U.S. instead of letting them return to their countries to work for companies that compete with U.S. companies. “We have some of the best talent coming from around the world to U.S. universities,” Carnahan said. “Right now, we give them the best education in the world and then send them home. It doesn’t make sense.” A study by the National Science Foundation says that students on temporary visas make up one-third of students pursuing master’s degrees in science and

engineering. Nearly two-thirds of all foreign graduates in these fields come from India and China. The bill would eliminate the countrybased quotas for employment-based immigrant visas and offer tax breaks for small companies to help them expand and hire more workers. “We are a proud nation of immigrants, and we want to make sure that we’re giving them the opportunity to make sure that we can grow our jobs here,” Dold said. “This is still the land of opportunities.”

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 7

Go ahead, make my Instant Queue!

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

is now, so there was no easy way Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be able to locate the other titles in this series. Perhaps they should have called them â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harry I,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;II,â&#x20AC;? etc.? Now, enter Netflix with the help of google and not only did the original 1971 movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? show up recently, but also the 1976 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Enforcerâ&#x20AC;? and the little-remembered finale to the series, the 1988 box-office dud â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Dead Pool,â&#x20AC;? which has a then-unknown Jim Carey (â&#x20AC;&#x153;James Careyâ&#x20AC;? in the credits) over-acting and lip-syncing to a then littleknow Guns N Roses, Patricia Clarkson as a TV journalist and a younger Liam Neeson as a sleazy horror film director. What casting! So, considering I saw â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sudden Impactâ&#x20AC;? with a zillion other people before, the only movie in the series Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve yet to see is Magnum Force (1973). Maybe that will pop up on Netflix, soon, or I can just spend the $3.75 to get it off half.com and get some Dirty Harry-style closure. Go ahead, take my Paypal! Of the four movies Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen, the two best-known ones, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sudden Impact,â&#x20AC;? are the best in a mainstream way. The others are directed more like detective TV shows of past eras. Even the cliched car chases with cars going airborne over the hilly streets of San Francisco or foot pursuits with jumping over rooftops from building to building. During any chase, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sure to be bow-chicka-wowwow funky music. And while the directors from movie to movie changed, the formulas are similar. The movies usually start with Harry happening upon a crime in progress and shooting up a place cowboy-style, saving the day, only to be cursed out at the precinct for costing the city money for all the

Just some helpful advice before I get into this installment of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New to You,â&#x20AC;? my column on finding relatively old gems on Netflix that, because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen them before, are â&#x20AC;&#x153;new to youâ&#x20AC;?: Be sure if you see something of interest to put it in your Instant Queue so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready for you when you want it. Movies get refreshed on the service all the time and seemingly at random, so putting them in your queue keeps them visible for you. This column will review a set of films that many of us say we know, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever met someone who has really viewed them all â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? series. Unlike the five similarly retributionminded â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death Wishâ&#x20AC;? series, which have had marathons on the major cable networks, the five â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? films donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the same unity. Perhaps because the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? films all have different titles, unlike â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death Wish I,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;II,â&#x20AC;? etc., making the latter easier to market as a whole. Perhaps, also, it would be more marketable for a cable network to do a universal â&#x20AC;&#x153;Clint Eastwood Marathon,â&#x20AC;? as he has done lots of great films, while Charles Bronson really only found modern relevance as vigilante Paul Kersey. (Yeah, both Eastwood and Bronson did famous Westerns, but Westerns are pretty much on the other side of the dividing line between the older and newer movie eras. Rogue cop/vigilante films, that became popular in the high-crime 1970s as societal mores loosened, are the start of the newer era of films.) But, while â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death Wishâ&#x20AC;? employs a formula -- Kerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kid and/or love interest is killed by inner-city thugs at the start of each movie, and he goes on a killing spree -- the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty Harryâ&#x20AC;? films have a very engaging and successful formula as well. I did see the 1983 muchhyped â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sudden Impactâ&#x20AC;? (with its famous line, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go ahead, make my dayâ&#x20AC;?) on VHS back in the 1980s. The hype was that Eastwood was back in the role after so many years doing other projects. Though video stores (remember them?) didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t typically carry nonOscar, non-blockbuster movies Charles Bronson films donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t from the 1970s and before, and mature as well as a fine wine. the Internet wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the resource it

L e t te r t o t h e E d i t or

To the Editor: I read with some interest Marie Franksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;History: Schuylervilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the Revolution.â&#x20AC;? I enjoy reading about local history and have some knowledge of the Saratoga National Park, Schuylerville Monument and Schuyler House as well as the battles fought in and around this area in 1777. In her article in the first paragraph she indicates that the battles of Freemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farm and Bemis Heights took place â&#x20AC;&#x153;in modern day Schuylerville (named for General Phillip Schuyler), which is a part of Old Saratoga.â&#x20AC;? I feel a correction is needed. The battles of Freemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farm and Bemis Heights were fought in the modern day Town of Stillwater, not Schuylerville. Those two battles were not near the present day village of Schuylerville but more closely located near the present day Village of Stillwater in the Town of Stillwater. There was a rear guard defensive action fought by BurTurning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 8

Clint Eastwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only series is mostly on Netflix.

damage his rampage caused. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an oldstyle, tough-guy, politically incorrect cop in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most progressive city -- in the ultra-liberal 1970s, no less. Eventually in each film, Harry will get punished for breaking the rules. To him, San Francisco is a city where the lunatics are running the

and who eventually will get shot, perhaps killed, and he goes off, blowing away thugs. They call him â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dirty,â&#x20AC;? he reminds us, because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do the dirty jobs no other cop will. But even though you know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to happen in each film, they are all

asylum. The punishment is usually some type of desk duty. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually a point where a killer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; usually male, blond with blue, crazy eyes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; kills a bunch of citizens and then demands money from the city to stop. Politicians get involved and fear that this will hurt their reelection chances. So they bring back Harry, give him some partner he grudgingly accepts (an Hispanic, an Asian, a woman)

riveting and satisfying. Eastwood is the king of the retribution genre. Put some of these titles in your instant queue, before they get snuffed out. If you prefer your vigilantism with a New York flavor, the original â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death Wishâ&#x20AC;? just hit Netflix as well.

Harry reminds us that they call him â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dirtyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do the jobs no other cop will.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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goyneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army in the area above the Village of Victory Mills and present day Village of Schuylerville. This action was undertaken to defend the British as they retreated and contemplated escape to Canada. When that became impossible, the British surrendered and laid down their arms near the present day Village of Schuylerville. I do not want to diminish Schuylervilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role, but I do want to see Stillwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role recognized correctly as well. In addition to the above error in the historical recognition, Ms. Frankson made some grammatical errors in her article repeatedly refering to the British armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left or right â&#x20AC;&#x153;plank.â&#x20AC;? I believe she meant the British armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left or right â&#x20AC;&#x153;flank.â&#x20AC;? Thank you for the opportunity to call these minor errors to your attention. Best of luck in your new venture, The Schuylerville Turning Point. I look forward to future issues. Sincerely, Steve Ropitzky Stillwater, NY

Hudson Crossing news: ‘The Cow’ gets a name

Mike Bielkiewicz Contributor

You may recall in last month’s issue of this newspaper we noted that the Saratoga National Historical Park in partnership with Hudson Crossing Park held the Second Annual Recycled Art Indoor Show at the Battlefield’s Visitor’s Center. The show ran through May. Hundreds of visitors viewed the art show, and visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorites, which resulted in a number of People’s Choice awards. One of the outdoor entries was simply titled “The Cow.” It is a lifesized cow crafted from used metal parts, tools, sprockets and almost anything that could be welded into shape. The artist, Jenny Horstman, asked the art show committee to help her give a name to the cow. People went to www.hudsoncrossingpark.org and voted. Now a winner has been named. After considering entries for a month, Horstman chose “Elsie” as its new name. Andy Collins submitted the name on Hudson Crossing Park’s web site and Jenny said, “Well, it’s got to be Elsie; that is as good a cow name as there can be. That’s probably the only real cow name anyone knows.” After spending the month of May at the Park’s Outdoor Recycled Art Exhibit, Elsie will return to Fort Ann to be with a horse, mule, moose and all the other creatures Jenny has so artfully assembled.

Dix Br idge Rehab ilit at i o n P r o j ec t U p d a t e According to Saratoga County sources, design contractors are presently completing the final design plans that will be submitted to Region 1 NYSDOT in early June. NYSDOT will review plans and make any design changes necessary by early July after which time the project will be advertised for bid. Bids will be opened in early August and evaluated by Saratoga County, its engineering firm, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., and NYSDOT. It is expected that a bid award will be made to the successful contractor by resolution of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors in early fall. Once the successful bidder is on-board, numerous in‘Elsie’ field measurements and drawings will be completed so that structural materials can be ordered and shipped to the Dix Bridge site so that initial rehabilitation efforts can be initiated early in the 2013 construction season. The rehabilitation of the Dix Bridge will be completed by the end of the 2013 construction season. This project is being funded by a $3.125 million federal

Transportation Enhancement Grant. When completed, the bridge will provide passage over the Hudson River joining pedestrian, bicycle and snowmobile trails in Washington and Saratoga counties. The bridge will become a connection for the Champlain Canalway Trail segments in both counties as a major link in the 62-mile chain of trails from Waterford through Hudson Crossing Park to Whitehall. Like the Erie Canalway trail, the Champlain Canalway trail utilizes historic tow-

paths, the Champlain Canal shoreline, existing local and regional trails, onstreet bicycle routes and links to regional and community attractions. Back in September of 1895, The Schuylerville Standard newspaper announced the opening of the bridge. Based on the rehabilitation project schedule, we will all be able to cross the bridge once again in 2013.

The Dix Bridge connects the park with Greenwich Town.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 9

Netflix goes to town with midlife movies

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 10

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

Welcome back to “It’s New to You,” the column about hidden gems on services like Netflix. You can find my older columns on www.nu2u.info. There’s a lot to wade through on Netflix, and practically everything on the service is rated three-and-a-half stars. Many of the titles on there did not really do much box office in their day, so you likely missed them and they are thus “new to you.” Recently, I came upon a new category on the site – “Understated Mid-Life-Crisis Movies.” Yikes! But in this era of blockbuster superhero movies and over-the-top reality programming with trashy housewives, pregnant teens and people in New Jersey, it’s no wonder that many of us are seeking out films with a slower pace, aimed at the silent majority. It was Thoreau who said: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Well, in mid-life crisis movies, that truth is already known to the audience. But the protagonist decides to do something

radical. In “Lbs.,” now on Netflix, we not only get the mid-life crisis theme, but also the body-tranformation theme – Neil Perota (Carmine Famiglietti) loses 100 pounds after escaping from his enabling ItalianAmerican family – and we also get the move-from-the-City-to-Upstate theme. After suffering a heart attack, 300pound Perota tries to diet, but there are too many temptations in his Brooklyn neighborhood. He goes for a ride up north to clear his head, ends up in a diner and picks up a local newspaper. He spots a real estate ad where he can “own his own piece of paradise” for $5000 in Schoharie County. Who hasn’t been tempted by such ads? OK, the place is a dump, but he makes a go of it, spending a year in the woods, bicycling everywhere. When he eventually heads back to the City, people don’t recognize him he is so transformed. He recreated his own life in this inspirational, well-written tale. Of course the ultimate move-Upstate movie is “Funny Farm” with Chevy Chase,

which was a box office bomb in 1988 after his “Vacation” success. OK, technically the film was shot just a little over the border in Vermont, but the exact location of the film is never named in the story and most viewers assume it’s Upstate New York. This is also on Netflix. While “Lbs.” paints Upstaters as more three-dimensional, I have to say some of the carictures in “Funny Farm” ring a bell, as, like the Chase character, I’m a writer who moved from downstate up north. I even started a smalltown paper, as Chase is seen at the end of the film doing some‘Lbs.’ thing similar after his dreams of writing a great novel are son’s most recent tirade was just hitting the dashed by nosy neighbors, weird local laws, media, which surely didn’t help. a crazed postman, wild animals and many Now, I wouldn’t say that “The unexpected expenses. Beaver” is a gem, but what makes a good A bit older than “mid-life,” sitting-at-home-on-a-rainy-day-while-also“Lovely, Still” recently hit Netflix doing-something-else movie is much differand some of the movie chanent than what you would pay to see in a nels. Dealing with a man with crowded theater with an $8 popcorn. So alzheimer’s who thinks he has you have to remember, when you read onfound a new love, even a curline reviews, they were written at the time mudgeon like me had a tear in of the theater release most often. “The my eye at the end. Such diseases Beaver” definitely fits into the understated never end well. type of genre that works on TV, where you On Showtime, which a lot can also surf the Net and play online Scrabof people get for free now as a ble at the same time without missing much. part of their cable service, the This is even an unsual quality for a Gibson movie “The Beaver” just hit and movie as often there are subtitles in his is available on-demand. This flicks and one is forced to pay attention. also fits into the mid-life cateIf you want to investigate any of the gory. Netflix movies I mention, use the search Considering that Showtime (magnifying glass) feature on the service rarely gets movies with A-listers and type in the movie name. Not every anymore, when I read the brief movie will just show up by browsing. You synopsis – a man has a nervous have to seek out titles sometimes. breakdown and when he comes If you don’t have Netflix yet, what are out of it, he can only speak you waiting for? For eight bucks a month, through a beaver hand-puppet – it covers all of your devices everywhere you I was expecting a low-budget go. You can stream it through your Wii or indie film, but instead got Mel Playstation 3, as well. Some people even Gibson, who seems to get mentioned a good deal in “It’s New to You,” and Jodie Foster and even one of the actors from “The Hunger Games.” When I saw Now that’s a genre! Gibson and Foster, I at first thought it was an older film I cancel their cable or satellite service and must have somehow missed just live off a combination of Netflix and a back in the day. It looks like a handful of local broadcast channels they late-’80s, early ‘90s kind of film get from the antenna. (Foster directed it), but upon reHere’s a summer project – watch the search, I realized that this movie first few seasons of “Breaking Bad” on Netwas just released last year – and flix. That show starts up live again on AMC it totally bombed, losing practiJuly 15. I think it’s the best TV show ever cally its whole $21M budget. made. This was around the time Gib-

Standing still is OK (cont. from cover)

his article was reacted to with much irony, given Mr. Kunstler’s birth into a world where putting food on the table was never a problem. ... Indeed, for Mr. Kunstler, Schuylerville was as easy a drive from Saratoga Springs [where he had lived] as it was a cheap and easy target.” In 1990, I was a college student. I had left a shrinking Upstate town – the kind Kunstler decries – to go to Long Island and study Writing. I ended up finding work after college and making a go of things down there for over two decades. The strip-malled, congested world of Downstate was a major peeve of mine, and something I would protest a good deal politically through a minor party I created and through writing. The openness of (most of) Upstate was a factor in drawing me back. How could Kunstler, who was raised Downstate, have this so mixed up? I had studied the same ideas as him. For a while, I was the chief communicator at a college campus focused on Sustainability. Ideas like “smart growth” were commonly talked about in lectures and in the halls. But maybe we are both right. Maybe Schuylerville did have serious challenges 22 years ago as the town transitioned from being a self-sustaining, busy village, with mills along the Hudson and Battenkill for jobs, trollies, a movie theater and a newspaper office (every vibrant community should have a local media presence). Along the route to and from Canada before the Northway was built, there used to be a lot of traffic here, along with hotels and bars for passers-through. River/canal traffic was also bigger back in the day, and

the canal at one point did go through the heart of the village. In the MidMay issue of this newspaper, we had an article that noted that an aqueduct was recently unearthed that likely took apples from the area around where Saratoga Apple is today down to the canal. Those surely must have been different times. So, perhaps, the Schuylerville Kunstler saw in 1990 looked like “The House of Usher” to him, even down to the family dysfunction he’d noted. Or maybe it’s a good thing that Schuylerville has “stood still” while the rest of the world has seemingly gotten worse. But I would Historical markers are everywhere. tend to think the place has gotten better. On a school ranking site, Schuylerville oldest people could remember. While Schuylerville itself isn’t as selfranks an 8 out of 10, in line with Saratoga Springs and Greenwich, areas that Kunstler sustaining as it once were, meaning local people could find decent, local jobs withbelieves are more ideal, and among the out having to commute long distances – best in the state. It’s really hard to find a 9 someone could live in the village without a or 10. Most car and be able to walk everywhere and live schools are a well enough – the quality of house some5. one could afford is better than in other The 30 parts of the country. On Long Island, we or so meslived in a smaller house that was on a sages I got in postage stamp, and utilities and cost of livmy inbox ing were much more. And commuting after the first long distances is a way of life there. issue of this OK, the median family income in newspaper came out were all well written Schuylerville is about $12,000 less than and well said; and there seems to be a genSaratoga Springs, but that number was eral acceptance in this area of new people and new ideas. On Long Island, multi-gen- $22,000 10 years ago. The gap is narrowing. eration locals dominated most towns, to As far as out east goes, median family the point where it was impossible to get acincome was $10,000 less than Greenwich cepted, let alone elected, unless one’s family had lived in the region for as long as the Town in 2000. Now, it’s $14,000 more. So Schuylerville has made great

Staying the same isn’t so bad. Schuylerville didn’t end up all sprawled out.

strides. (And for Lord’s sake, one the most influential battles in the history of the world was fought here! We’re famous!) I wrote to Kunstler, who has a Saratoga Springs PO box for his seemingly successful writing and multi-media business, but now lives in Greenwich. He responded: “The title (headline) was not my idea, and it really pissed me off at the time. In case you never worked for the NY Times, the editorial staff of the Sunday Mag operated like a Soviet Politburo, mashing everything the writers did into middlebrow mush or worse. That story was simply an economic report on the towns of the upper Hudson Valley, which was then becoming a sort of mini-rust-belt. The locals took it way too personally.” He added that he believes that Schuylerville has improved some since the article was published, but is still “very de-

Events at the National Historic Park

The following is a list of coming events at the Saratoga National Historical Park. The Saratoga National Historical Park (the Battlefield) is located between US Route 4 and State Route 32 in Stillwater, N.Y. For more information, call the Visitor Center at 518-664-9821 ext. 1777, check their website at www.nps.gov/sara or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/saratoganhp.

R a n g er - G u i d e d E v e n i n g B i k e T o u r s 6 p . m . , W e d n e sd a y s , J u n e 1 3 & 2 7 ; J u l y 1 1 & 2 5 ; A u g u s t 1 , 1 5 , 2 9 – B at t l e f i e l d Gentle rides along 5-mile sections of the park. In case of inclement weather, an inside ranger program will be offered. Please bring water and insect repellant. Helmets required. Independence D ay at Sar atoga Battlefield W e d n e s d ay , J u l y 4 – V i s i t o r C e n t er Morning citizenship ceremony is followed by Park Ranger Joe Craig portraying a 1776 town crier with news of American Independence. Join fellow citizens in toasting the 13 “new” states! • Citizenship Ceremony — 10 a.m. • Readings of Declaration of Independence — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. C h i l d r e n ’s P r o g r a m S e r i e s 1 p.m., Thur sdays, Ju ly 5 , 1 2, 1 9, 2 6 Sc hu yler H o us e

Children ages 5-12 enjoy different 18th century activities each week such as playing games, dressing up in colonial clothes, cooking and dancing! Sponsored by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield.

G u i d e d E a r l y M o r n i n g H i s t o r y W a l ks 9 a . m . , W e d n es d a y s – B a t t l e f i el d Join Park Volunteers Ray Palmer and Dick Farrell on a series of walks. Participants should be able to walk 2 miles over uneven ground and should bring water and insect repellant. July 11 — Why Saratoga? July 18 — September 19: The First Battle July 25 — October 7: The Second Battle August 3 — Why Saratoga? August 10 — September 19: The First Battle August 24 — October 7: The Second Battle Artificers’ Weekend 10 a.m . to 4 p.m ., S atu rday and S und a y , J u l y 1 4 - 1 5 – B a tt l e f i e l d ( N e i l s o n H o u s e) Armies in the American Revolution were towns on the move, and included important craftspeople like blacksmiths, farriers (horse-specializing blacksmiths), tailors, chandlers (soap and candle maker),

continued on page 13

and tinsmiths. Learn “how it’s made” 18th-century style! P r o g r es s i v e E n c a m p m en t S at u r d ay a n d S u n d a y , J u l y 2 8 - 2 9 – B a t t l e f i e l d Re-discovering the daily lives of soldiers in the American Revolution is always in progress. Find out how the men slept in camp — without tents — and what army rations were like. Ongoing camp activities include building brush shelters, musket drills, food rationing and mess demonstrations, making and repairing uniforms, and knapsack inspections.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 11

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 12

clothing 123 Broad Street, Schuylerville NY

www.BlueElmClothing.com

follow us on facebook Learn about the CCC at SNHP If you’re curious how the early 20th century farmscape was transformed into a battlefield park and especially if you are a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) alumni or family member, consider attending an event at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, in the Saratoga Battlefield visitor center where authors Ren and Helen Davis will showcase the remarkable accomplishments of the CCC at Saratoga Battlefield and in many of America’s National Parks. An exhibit of CCC artifacts from the Battlefield will complement the program and light refreshments will be served. In their book, “Our Mark on This Land” (www.mwpubco.com/titles/ourmarkonthisland.htm), Ren and Helen Davis bring the CCC era to life, including the difficult challenges of the Great Depression and of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vision to put unemployed men to work on FDR projects that restored and enhanced our nation’s natural resources. The CCC also restored the men themselves – the bodies, minds, and spirits of more than three million men who served in the Corps. In addition to establishing the CCC, President Roosevelt was instrumental in making Saratoga Battlefield a national park, personally citing the location of today’s visitor center. The CCC camp at Stillwater was tasked with restoring the battlefield by removing 19th century farms, stonewalls and orchards and returning the battlefield landscape to its pivotal time in history – the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, a Revolutionary War victory that was key to winning America’s independence. For more information on this or other events at Saratoga National Historical Park, please call the Visitor Center at 518-664-9821 ext. 1777.

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Standing still is OK (cont. from page 11)

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 13

pressed economically.” I’m about 20 years younger than Kunstler and have had a similar life trajectory with similar views on the changing media and how to market oneself as a writer in this era, along with similar social views – and I actually have freelanced for The New York Times, as he had asked me above – so I do believe he was trying to be constructive with his story. I wrote a rather harsh, longish essay on the last town I lived in, Riverhead, NY, and even had published it there. However, I did not get angry responses from “the locals.” I got a lot of responses to the tune of: “You said it straight. We’ve been thinking the same thing. Help!” So, did The Times mash Kunstler’s words, as he said? I went on half.com and picked up a copy of his 1993 book, “The Geography of Nowhere,” which does have a chapter on Schuylerville as well as many other places, positively written about and negatively written about, large and small. In it, Schuylerville falls somewhere in the middle. At least there is hope for Schuylerville, the book notes, as it has remained intact as a village without with going the routes of suburbia or urban decay. Plus, he loves that we are on the Hudson River, and thinks we should market that better. Looking around, it wouldn’t take much to tie up some loose ends in the vil-

lage. Maybe demolish the old Stan’s building that seems to be crumbling, for example. But otherwise, the village seems to be vibrant, with many newer facades and signage. Most Upstate towns have faded old shops with yellowed Canada Dry and such signage from the days (40 years ago?) when the soda companies use to go halfsies with business owners on their signs. I don’t see the teen moms pushing strollers or people with tattoos and bad teeth walking pit bulls on rope leashes down cracked sidewalks as one would assume after reading “Schuylerville Stands Still.” The book was more even keeled than The Times article. The book also has a nice historical primer on the village. It seems when Route 4 was what the Northway is today, perhaps Schuylerville was more like what Wilton is

In the book, practically every town is a target. The article was out of context.

today; except the modern town along the highway features strip malls instead of mom-and-pops, with national chains that suck the money out of a region and send it to headquarters out of state. Wilton is horrible in that regard. I wouldn’t want to live there. I like the fact that we don’t have a McDonald’s, or even a Dunkin Donuts. Every town seems to have at least one of those. The people in Schuylerville seem to “get it” when it comes to eschewing what Wilton wholeheartedly accepted.

In his book, Kunstler also isn’t so kind to Saratoga Springs. He notes how the Wilton expanse killed a lot of the more practical stores, such as hardware stores, there, and the little city had to refocus on the tourist population for its revenue. The only places that seem to get a free pass in “The Geography of Nowhere” are Portland, Oregon, and Eu- Broad Street. rope. So maybe to understand the impetus behind “Schuylerville Stands Still,” we need to focus on Kunstler. He is polarizing, for sure. I listened to one of his podcasts, where he was broadcasting from the Colonie Center Mall, and he notes the presence of people who are “land whales,” shaking the earth as they head to the food court. One needs a thick skin with this guy. Ultimately, he hates what America has become because of post-WW2 highway expansion and the automobile. He worries what will happen when we run out of gas. OK, “Schuylerville Stands Still” is rough, but it was written a long time ago. It still appears high in google searches because the village hasn’t had much of a

media presence since then, and no one is writing long pieces about the area. Over time, as this paper adds to the dialogue, the old New York Times piece will fall further and further down in the rankings. It seems, the story was meant to be a cautionary tale, and Schuylerville did not go in either the direction of urban blight or suburban sprawl, as most of the towns Kunstler looks at eventually do. We have maintained an identity while other places have lost theirs. Schuylerville is not quite standing still, but moving slowly, and carefully, the way places should.

Pieper gets national honor; school ranks high

Schuylerville senior Kristofer Pieper has been selected as a National Merit Scholar. He is in an elite group, as less than one percent of high school seniors from across the nation received this honor in 2012. This is the first time in more than 12 years that Schuylerville Central School District has had a National Merit Scholar. Kristofer was chosen from among a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. A $2,500 scholarship is part of the honor; Kristofer received an additional college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship from Tufts University, where he will go in the fall to study international relations. NMSC scholarship winners in each state are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Finalists compete for the awards. To select scholarship winners, a committee of educators appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools, such as academic records (including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned), recommendations from high school staff and an essay written by the finalist. This year’s competition for National Merit Scholarships began in October 2012 when approximately 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of entrants. Last fall, the highest-scoring participants in each state were named semifinalists. Only these 16,000 semifinalists had the opportunity to continue in the competition. From the semifinalists, Kristofer was among the 15,000 students who met the very high academic standards and other requirements to advance to the finalist level of competition. By the conclusion of the

program, approximately 8,300 earned the “merit scholar” title and received scholarships. Congratulations are extended to Kristofer, who is also the Schuylerville Class of 2012 valedictorian.

Schuylerville Ranks S econd in Region Schuylerville Central School District ranked number two in the region for percentage of students graduating within four years, according to a report released by the New York State Education Department (SED). The ranking takes into consideration the graduation rates of more than 65 districts in seven counties (Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties). Schuylerville’s graduation rate for students who entered 9th grade in 2007 (students that SED terms the “2007 cohort”) was 95.6 percent — just a few percentage points from the region’s leading district, Voorheesville, which had a 98 percent graduation rate. “This is a significant accomplishment, especially considering the fact that Schuylerville requires students to graduate with 24 credits, rather than the state’s minimum of 22 credits,” said Schuylerville Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman. “We credit the hard work of our staff and students and the supThe Piepers port of parents and commu-

nity members for this achievement.” Statewide, 74 percent of the students who started 9th grade in 2007 had graduated after four years (by June 2011). The previous year’s graduation rate for the 2006 cohort was 73.4 percent; the rate for the 2003 cohort was 69.3 percent. The graduation rate is defined as the number of students in a cohort who earned a Regents or local diploma divided by the total number of students in that cohort.

Disney to cut advertising of unhealthy foods

Kathryn Kenny Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

The Disney Co. announced in June that it will ban ads for unhealthy foods from its TV channels and other outlets by 2015. First lady Michelle Obama joined Disney CEO Robert Iger at the Newseum in Washington, DC, to announce the program. “Our kids are constantly bombarded with sophisticated messages designed to sell them foods that simply aren’t good for them,” Obama said, noting that children see an estimated $1.6 billion dollars worth of food and beverage marketing each year. “As parents, we know that whatever is on TV is what our kids are going to want.” Part of the program is the “Mickey Check,” a new nutrition label that will appear on Disney-licensed products in grocery stores across the country. “When kids point to their favorite characters on the shelf and moms see the Mickey Check label on the box, they can say ‘yes’ and actually feel good about it because they know its one of the healthier options available,” Iger said. Obama said the new program

meshes with her Let’s Move initiative launched in 2010. The program helps children live healthier lives and seeks to reduce the number of overweight and obese children. The Disney Magic of Healthy Living initiative will apply to all food and beverage products advertised or sponsored on Disney programming. By 2015 advertised products will need to meet Disney’s nutritional guidelines. Food ads appearing on Disney programming on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney and Disney U.S. Parks and Resorts will be required to include more fruits and vegetables while reducing fats, sodium and sugar. “This new initiative is truly a game changer for the health of our children,” Obama said. “This is a major American company, a global brand, that is literally changing the way it does business so that our kids can lead healthier lives. … When it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell, they are asking themselves one simple question: ‘Is this good for our kids?’” In 2006, U.S. Disney Parks and Resorts began selling well-balanced kid’s meals that automatically come

A major American global brand is changing the way it does business.

Michelle Obama helped announce it. with healthy sides and drinks such as carrots and low-fat milk, which parents may decline. The company said in a statement that, out of 12 million children served at its parks and resorts, parents chose healthy meals for children six out of 10 times. “We are proud of the impact we’ve

had over the last six years,” Iger said. “We’ve taken steps across our company to support better choices for families, and now we’re taking the new important step by setting new food advertising standards for kid.”

Ode to Notepad: Using Old Technology to Write

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

I’ve gotten a lot of writing done over the years -- thousands and thousands of pieces of all types -- but when I think back to times when I was most prolific, I find that I had to put blinders on to the distractions of technology as much as possible. At the same time, the instruments I had used to create the pieces did have an effect on the flow of the compositions. Perhaps you get that now. You want to write. But every other sentence, you’re getting an IM or compulsively checking your Facebook newsfeed. The plainness of simple words on a screen is overwhelmed by that colorful browser in your background and alert beeps and buzzes. I’m no technophobe. I own and have hand coded web sites that have gotten millions of hits. I used to even handle a three-credit section of HTML for a few semesters when I’d first started teaching at the now defunct Southampton College. Math is my friend. But when it comes to composing something original, when I have to use the other half of the brain, I look to scale down the distractions. In my world, there’s an order to the technology I use when it comes to writing. A press release – fairly easy. I go straight to Word on any PC. Even a laptop works. A journalism story – Word is OK, but no formatting. No autocorrect. I did suffer a bit in the 1990s when my black-and-white Mac SE was replaced by a color Power Mac at the newspaper I was working for. Somehow, the black and white display conveyed a sense of seriousness better; perhaps like black and white photography and art does vs. color. An essay? A poem? Fiction? Now we’re getting more serious. Here’s where I go into the program you may not know existed on your PC. It’s called Notepad and is located under Accessories. Notepad has been bundled in PCs since the days of DOS. (Macs have a similar program, TextEdit.) Give it a Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 14

try. I’ll wait for you to find it. ... Have it open? Be sure to click on Format-Word Wrap. It’s beautiful in its simplicity. Just black and white. Want to separate your paragraphs? Just hit Enter twice. No red and green squiggly lines under your words. No dancing paperclip or scratching dog. No fonts. No indents. No spacing. No tracking. No need to use the mouse. Notepad takes me back to those days when I was most prolific, writing novels on: An Apple IIc in a little, windowless room, with a monotone amber monitor. The whir of the 5.25” floppy

Who needs a dancing paperclip, anyway?

disk when I hit Save helped me feel at-one with the final product, not to mention the clack-buzz-squeal of the dotmatrix Imagewriter printer. The Bank Street Writer Plus program I’d use to write was about as Spartan as Notepad, though files had a size limit of just a few thousand characters. This made me write short chapters. I could fit about a dozen chapters or so on a 128k diskette. The spellchecker was on Side 2 of the BSW+ diskette. Just flip it over. We were used to flipping things over back in the day -- records and cassette tapes worked the same way. Notepad doesn’t have a spell checker. (If you are spelling/grammatically concerned, free write in Notepad, and then copy/paste into Word to edit.) I keep an Apple IIc clone in my basement -- just in case! -- though I’d have to use an RF switch to hook it to a TV to use, as I don’t have a monitor for it. (Did you know, in the olden days, computers had the option of being hooked up to a TV, for those who couldn’t afford then-$1000 monitors?) Before the Apple IIc, during my freshman year in college, I only had a typewriter, but it did have an autocor-

rect feature with a type of White Out built in under the ribbon. In high school, I had a funky Type-o-Graph machine made by Sears that used little pens of black and blue and green and red. An added feature of the machine was that it made pie charts and bar graphs, per request. It could also run on five D batteries, so, thus, was portable. I recently picked up a Type-o-Graph at a thrift store for $7. Maybe it was the exact one I had in high school? Surprisingly, the pens still worked and hadn’t dried up. The font is really strange, though, making it useless by today’s standards. If I used it to write a letter, the person on the other end would think I were mad. It may appear like those ransom notes where the hostage-takers cut the letters from magazines and glue them on a page. The Type-o-Graph font, because it uses pens, looks almost like it’s very carefully hand-printed, and only a nut job carefully hand prints things. Google “Anthrax Letters 2001.” If I were to type, say, a novel on this thing, and then try to Scan to Text, I don’t think the scanner’s OCR software would recognize this unique font. Ultimately, if I did want to publish something written on the Type-o-Graph, I’d have to retype it in a modern word processor for submission. I guess there are people who retype manuscripts cheap, as I’ve seen in web ads, if I wanted to go that route. Maybe a buck a page or so, though not practical. The last issue is, I’m down to just a blue and a green pen with ink for the Type-o-Graph and refills are nowhere to be found. I’ve searched and searched. Say I were to start the Great American Novel and really get on a roll and then run out of ink? That would affect the whole flow of the novel. I’d have to use a different instrument to finish it and the tone would surely change -- the sentences may be a word shorter or longer, on average; the adjectives more or less abundant -- and the novel would be ruined. These are the things writers worry about. At least with Notepad, if my printer were to explode, I could hit Save. Perhaps email the file to a different computer and print from there. Yeah, it’s Notepad or nothing for me!

What will life be like in the year 2099? Hot!

Maulana Moore Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

Extreme heat due to climate change could cause 150,000 deaths in the U.S. by the end of this century, a new study found. Larry Kalkstein, professor of geography and regional studies at the University of Miami, and a team of researchers conducted the research, which predicts dramatic increases in heat-related deaths in major cities. The study is called “Killer Summer Heat: Projected Death Toll from Rising Temperatures in America Due to Climate Change.” Louisville, Ky., with 18,988 expected heat deaths, would have the greatest increase, followed by Detroit, with almost 18,000, and Cleveland, with almost 17,000. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, climate change is a long-term shift in the statistics of weather. It happens over time, due to a variety of factors, including carbon emissions from vehicle pollution. “Cities can contribute to minimizing the extent of climate change by evaluating building structures and public transit that releases carbon,” Kalkstein said during a recent conference call. The study was conducted over 12 months, ending April 30. It found that those 12 months were the hottest on

record in the U.S. The District of Columbia is likely to have an additional 2,000 deaths by the end of the century, far from the worst, but also far from the best. D.C. resident Toni Goodin, 29, a law student and Coast Guard intern, said she likes hot weather and has air conditioning at home. “I’m not worried, personally, for myself. I worry more about the homeless people who don’t have access to even just cold water,” Goodin said as she rode her bike on a hot day. Kalkstein and Daniel Lashof, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council climate and clean air program, led the discussion of the study and its findings. Population growth among the elderly, the obese or those taking medication – groups that tend to struggle most in warmer months – was not included to keep the study conservative. Kalkstein and Lashof acknowledged the missing variables but wanted to avoid getting figures that seemed outrageous. “With any projection, the figures can be high or low,” Lashof said. “We think the figures in this one are low.” Medical examiner reports often do not attribute heart attacks and strokes – which increase during high temperatures – to extreme heat. Kalkstein said this means heat-related deaths are likely underreported. In the South and West, where warm

temperatures are the norm, residents are more likely to adapt to increases in temperatures than residents of states with cooler temperatures. That explains the higher projected number of heat-related Like a ‘Twilight Zone’ deaths in northern states. Kalkstein and Lashof urged cites to develop better heat-awareness plans to prevent the increase in deaths. Kalkstein cited Philadelphia as the model city for its heat preparedness. “There is a cost, but cities like Philadelphia rely on faith-based groups and block captains that do a good job of getting people off the street during extreme temperatures,” Kalkstein said. The city has taken a number of steps to be ready, a spokeswoman said. “We have it all: cooling stations, recorded telephone conversations, newspaper and TV alerts for residents,” said Phyllis Carter-Henderson, administrative assistant for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services Division of Commu-

help cut down on fraudulent claims of abuse by illegal immigrants, who can earn citizenship if they have been abused. “Republican men and women both abhor violence against women,” Rep. Virginia Fox, R-N.C., said in the House debate. “I would say that we are more concerned against violence against women. ... We want to see the money spent better.” The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center wrote on its Facebook page, “If Congress cannot stand up for all victims, we cannot stand up for our representatives.”

Many Democrats argued the bill would end the U visa that gives victims of certain crimes temporary legal status and permission to work for up to four years. They believe the bill will take away confidentiality requirements, discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims and create hardship for women who wish to report domestic violence crimes. “H.R. 4970 takes direct aim at immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault by removing critical protections currently in law,” the Obama administration said in a state-

Northern cities will have it worse.

nity-Based Prevention Services. “Our mayor always alerts the community during heat advisories.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, activities such as burning oil and gas increase concentrations of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which contribute to the gradual warming of the Earth, leading to extreme climate variations. Kalkstein commended Philadelphia’s power companies, which will not turn off residents’ power during extreme heat even if they have not paid their bills. Many states have temperature-related utility shut-off policies that typically protect senior citizens, chronically ill patients and families with infants in extreme weather. Lashof said that cities with plans can reduce the number and cost of hospital emergency room visits.

Congress passes bill to protect women

Kathryn Kenny Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

The House of Representatives voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act recently. The bill has caused an uproar among both Democrats and women’s domestic protection programs. The Senate approved a different version of the bill last month that extends protection to same-sex couples, American Indians and illegal immigrants. The House debate took most of the afternoon and ended with a 222205 vote for the bill. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Fla., introduced the bill that would provide $660 million over five years to help prevent domestic violence and protect victims of abuse. Republicans believe their bill will

It was a close vote, 222205, as critics worried about its fairness.

ment. The administration has said the president is likely to veto the bill if it is not revised because it would “undermine the core principles of the Violence Against Women Act.” A survey done by the National Organization for Women revealed that 24 people become victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States every minute. Democrats argued that the House bill is focusing more on visas than on the actual violence issues. The Senate bill passed on a 68-31 vote. All of the female Senate voted for it, as did a third of the Republicans.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 15

‘Blue Owl’

Mosaic workshops

$5K for Preservation

Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) announced that it has received a $5,000.00 grant from the RBC Foundation–USA, in order to help the organization’s building of a two-mile interpretive trail on Cold Brook Preserve in the Town of Northumberland in Saratoga County. Saratoga PLAN focuses on conserving farmland, natural areas, and trail networks, helping local communities with smart

growth planning, and providing outdoor recreational and educational opportunities throughout Saratoga County. “We’re thrilled to receive this funding in order to help us accomplish our mission of opening the Cold Brook Preserve to the public for hiking and nature study, and to permanently buffer the Cold Brook, its wetlands, and habitat for two rare turtle species,” said PLAN’s Maria Trabka.

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Jane Austen group

The Jane Austen Society of North America announces the formation of a new region, the New York Capitol Region. There will be a meeting of any and all interested in becoming a member on June 24 at 2 p.m. with the meeting place to be determined. For additional information, call Pat Friesen, Regional Coordinator of the JASNA New York Capitol Region, Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 16

at 518-450-1079 or email mcfriesen2@gmail.com. Visit www.jasna.org to become a member and review the many Jane Austen related activities throughout the country. This year the annual national conference will take place in Brooklyn, October 5-8 .

In the working studio of the Canal Crossing Mosaic Workshop, neatly arrayed, brightly colored glass tiles in an assortment of shapes and sizes line customized shelves along the back wall. To the right and left finished work is on display, in orderly rows on easels and hung on the walls. On the individual hand built oak tables are projects in varying states of progress along with the tools and adhesives used to create them. If you stop in during open studio on Saturdays (10-3) chances are you will be shown down the long hallway that acts as a gallery for member work, where the door jambs have been adorned with a geometric mosaic design. The hallway leads to a large carefully arranged

classroom where additional work is on view. This classroom will be home to a number of mosaic workshops being offered in July (for more information please visit canalcrossingmosaic.com). Past the classroom and through the rear door, the tour ends with the 16 site specific mosaics the workshop was commissioned to create as part of the renovation of the building. These mosaics, crowning the windows facing the canal, were uniquely designed to complement each other as well as the color and architecture of the building. The studio always welcomes visitors and is eager to share their knowledge and appreciation of mosaic with the community.

Three students from Dorothy Nolan Elementary School in Wilton, recently presented Saratoga PLAN with a check for $150 raised from cupcake sales. Maddie Macy, Megan Shawver, and Maggie Farr are the cooks behind “Cupcakes for a Cause.” The three girls bake and sell cupcakes for $1 at school events and donate the proceeds to various non-profit organizations each month. According to a press release: “Saratoga PLAN is grateful for the girls’ efforts and will be

using the donation to help conserve farmland, natural areas, trail corridors and historic places in Saratoga County.” Saratoga PLAN is a not-for-profit land trust offering conservation services to landowners, developers, organizations, and government partners.It has protected over 3,433 acres of farmland, natural habitats, and water resources locally.

Cupcake kids

From the Doctor: Antidotes for worry

Lee S. Shapiro, MD, FACP Schuylerville Turning Point

Worry. This is the unhealthy, negative message we receive in many forms. We spend time unproductively worrying about family, finances, security, and health. Worry never prolongs life, but it has shortened many. Too many of us are “sick with worry.” In my office, I see the negative effects of worry all the time. This can take many forms, the more common include headaches, sleeplessness, eating disorders, back and abdominal pain. Worry can exacerbate an underlying disorder, whether it be asthma, diabetes, coronary artery disease, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. When it comes to issues of health, we can worry about ourselves or those we love. It is easy to worry and an action difficult to avoid. But, there is no value or virtue to it. Ill family members take no comfort from our worry about them. Instead, knowing their sickness has caused worry only deepens their suffering. Whenever we experience worry, the only positive response is to quickly convert worry into something else. When it comes to our own health, worry should be a call to action. If we are losing sleep over a persistent pain, a cough, or abnormal bleeding, we have only ourselves to blame for failure to seek an answer (at least that would be the case if we all had equal access to health care). The first step in seeking medical help is to accurately and completely report the symptoms. Worry can be greatly reduced simply by sharing our concerns with someone trained to interpret and act upon our complaints. Further relief comes from answers and treatment plans, long before the symptom itself is eliminated. On the other hand, unguided internet research too often has the opposite effect. Our minds may be overwhelmed by the diagnostic possibilities and we may latch onto the most alarming. Of course sometimes our symptoms may stump or confuse the physician we have con-

sulted. Blood tests and other diagnostic studies are ordered. Any delay in this process runs the risk of letting worry grow. If the physician has generated a differential diagnosis but given us no answer and no treatment plan, transient worry may prove inescapable. This is particularly the case if the physician has presented the diagnostic possibilities in an alarming way. A sense that we are facing something catastrophic, rare, unknown, or untreatable can be overwhelming, especially if we face this alone, with no one in whom to confide. If our family or close friends choose to

ication side-effects, to work around physical limitations, or to find sources of help in coping with any chronic disease. Speak up, because unspoken needs are less often addressed. When it comes to dealing with illness afflicting those you love, remember that worry is not a source of solace for you or your loved one. Filling a hospital room with worried and tearful faces has no healing power. On the other hand, expressions of love, touch, and simple non-mournful presence have great power to calm and to heal. If you were that patient in that hospital bed, wouldn’t you rather hear “I love you so much” than “I’m worried sick about you.” Yet, too often we burden those around us with our own grief and sadness. We forget the negative power of a few ill-chosen words, words that may leave the sick individual with guilt or a sense of impending catastrophe. Often, too, we open up a divide that leaves the sick isolated and fearful of expressing themselves lest they worry their family and friends. Expressing worry discourages communication in a way that expressing love does not. The opposite of worry is an outlook constructed out of love, confidence, and faith. Confidence can be derived from many sources. Those who have known and overcome adversity time and time again are rarely if ever worriers. They do not allow themselves inaction or fear-induced paralysis. They exude optimism, resilience, and inventiveness. They are our best role-models. Love starts with self-esteem. Those who love themselves and value life will not perish from inaction or worry. Such individuals are rarely if ever isolated. They are surrounded by those who love them, too: the family that nourished them, the family they created, and the friends drawn to them. Such links engender great security. Isolation does not.

‘In my office, I see the negative effects of worry all the time.’

voice worry, too, then our agony may be deepened. So, it is incumbent on the physician to recognize the dangers of diagnostic and treatment delay. The empathetic and skilled physician must expedite the tests, rapidly report and interpret the results, and develop and explain the treatment plan. Often this means referral to another physician with greater expertise. Here too the referring physician can help by expediting and explaining the process, informing us what the consultant can offer that he or she cannot. There is great comfort in being guided by someone in whom you have faith. If you trust your physician, you will trust him or her to deliver you into equally caring and knowledgeable hands, to someone who recognizes your concerns and fears and addresses them. But few physicians can read minds fully. You must verbalize the concerns which if left unspoken would perpetuate worry. Knowledge has great power in vanquishing worry and in minimizing unpleasant surprise. There are often ways to minimize or effectively address med-

Faith takes many forms. Part of it comes from recognition that none of us is entirely self-sufficient or in possession of all answers. Those few who feel this will never seek help nor receive it. They may not know worry until their own answers and resources fail them. Then they are ill-equipped to escape it. They die prideful but fearful and alone. Thankfully, life usually brings some form of revelation that takes them off that lonesome path. Faith in any form means connection, the most powerful antidote to worry.

About the author: Lee Shapiro, MD, FACP, sees patients at The Center for Rheumatology, LLP in Saratoga Springs, NY, and is director of the Steffens Scleroderma Center. He is co-director of the Pulmonary Hypertension/Scleroderma Clinic operated jointly with Albany Associates in Cardiology. Dr. Shapiro serves on the Medial Advisory Board of the Tri-State Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation. He is clinical professor at Albany Medical College and an adjunct instructor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. His research activities are currently focused on vascular aspects of scleroderma and related disorders. He resides in Saratoga Town.

Portugal/Austen trips

Saratoga Arts and Soroptimist International of Saratoga County host a presentation at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, at the Arts Center, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, to learn about their exciting overseas travel program to Portugal. The itinerary for Portugal: Glorious Eden features stays in both Lisbon and Porto with day trips that capture the essence of the country’s diverse history, culture and people. Imagine whimsical castles, tiled fortresses, wineries tumbling down steep hillsides, and brilliant blue skies set against red tile roofs. Travelers will leave November 3 and return November 11, 2012. The trip cost, including air, is $3470 per person based on double occupancy. J a ne A u s te n T o u r P r e v i e w Saratoga Arts and Soroptimist International of Saratoga County also will hold a a presentation at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, at the Arts Center, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, for information on their upcoming Jane Austen Tour. To bring the world of Jane Austen to life, the

group will travel to areas central to Austen’s life and fiction. The visit will take travelers to the communities that were important to Jane’s personal development and provided inspiration for the characters and enduring novels readers have come to love. Villages, cathedrals, sea sides, parks, Georgian tea rooms, and country walks will be the backdrop for this informative and enjoyable experience. The tour, January 3-12, 2013, will be led by Dr. Catherine J. Golden, Professor of English at Skidmore College where she teachers courses on Victorian literature and culture and Jane Austen. The trip cost, including air, is $3399 per person double occupancy. For additional information on either program, visit goedventures.com or call 607-387-3322 or email goedventures@gmail.com.

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 17

Students rally to fight doubling of loan rates

Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 18

Kathryn Kenny Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

Michele Miliante, 21, estimates that by the time she graduates from college she will have more than $150,000 in student loan debt. Miliante, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a junior at George Washington University, is among the 7.4 million college students across the country who have amassed $1 trillion in debt. If that isn’t enough, students now face the possibility that interest rates on federal loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent for the 2012-2013 academic year. Congress has until July 1 to decide about interest rates on the subsidized Stafford loan, a federal loan awarded to students based on financial need. “I think the hardest thing is trying to find the loans,” Miliante said. “There is such a large gap between my financial-aid package and my actual amount that I have to pay for tuition. I need private loans as well as Stafford loans and, honestly, the Stafford loan and any of those government loans isn’t enough.” If the interest rates double, most students will owe $1,000 more each year. “We can’t afford the $1,000 interest rate going up,” Tiffany Loftin, vice president of the U.S. Student Association, said. “That’s rent for somebody, that’s a computer cost for somebody – books for a semester, travel to and from campus. That’s a bunch of things students have to pay for, and that’s a lot of money for an 18-, 17-, or 16-year-old to take out before they go to school.”

Students rallied at the Capitol on June 6, demonstrating that college loan debt is approaching $1 trillion. In a study, the Center for American Progress found that, since the recession,

sity of California, Santa Cruz spoke at a rally at the Capitol attended by hundreds of college students from across the country to mark Student Debt Day. Students lobbied members of Congress to ask them to prevent the interest rate from increasing. “The hope is here, the voices of the students will be the only change on the interest rates” Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said at the rally as he pointed to the students behind him. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told the students it will be difficult to work with Republicans to find a solution for the interest rate. Democrats have proposed taxing high-income earners to finance the interest rate cut, and Republicans have proposed eliminating a preventive health-care program.

‘There is such a large gap in my financial aid package and the actual amount I have to pay.’

Historical tour of Rogers Island

Enjoy a walking tour of Rogers Island in Fort Edward and view the many exhibits in the Visitors Center on Thursday, June 28, at 7 p.m. This event, open to the public free of charge, is hosted by the Old Saratoga Historical Association. Exhibits at the Visitors Center, opened in 2001, highlight the history of the Fort Edward area from the earliest Native Americans through the Revolutionary War. According to the Rogers Island website, “Fort Edward and adjacent Rogers Island was once the third largest ‘city’ in colonial North America.” The site continues, “The history that was made from this place at the bend in the Hudson River in the 1750s would lay the foundations for the nation that would be born two decades later.” There are picnic tables for those who would like to enjoy supper at the Visitors Center before the 7 pm tour begins. Sturdy shoes are advised for the walking tour of the island. Rogers Island is just off Route 197

the total amount of student loans has risen 8 percent per year on average at the same time that mortgage and credit card debt have declined. Economic experts fear that with the increase in federal loan interest rates many students will turn to risky private lenders who will market very low introductory interest rates to students who don’t understand that the rates are not fixed. Loftin, a recent graduate of Univer-

(Bridge Street) between the two bridges just west of Route 4. For more information call Historical Association president Deb Peck Kelleher, 698-3211 or visit the website, www.rogersisland.org.

“It’s because they want to defeat President Obama that they are playing this game with students and families around the country,” Harkin said. “They want the interest rates to increase so they can blame Obama.” The Senate considered the interest rate bill in May, but even with support from both Democrats and Republicans, not enough senators voted to begin debate. Though students have loan debt, many believe they will fare better in the job market because of their degrees. “Despite the high debt that I have incurred, I have no regrets” Kristofer Dowdell, 20, of Landover, Md., a junior at Frostburg State University, said, “I think my college education will help give me more opportunities than if I didn’t go to college.”

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Print newspapers hang in there

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

Right next to me is a copy of the worst newspaper in America, perhaps the world. No, it is not THIS paper! (That would be impossible, anyway, as this paper couldn’t possibly be published at the time of this writing, unless I had some sort of space-time media power, like in the old show “Early Edition,” where the protagonist got tomorrow’s paper today – and why would you think that anyway?) I have a thing for bad papers. Like some movie aficionados must see Ed Wood films – so bad, they are good – I stop at out of the way pizzerias, gas stations and delis when on the road, and I am on the road a good deal, delivering newspapers, and pick up whatever local pubs I can find. I read through all of the stories and get into the heads of the people who live in these towns. I try to imagine what life might be like there. Every year for the past decade, my wife, daughter and I do practically the same trip mid-winter. We fly to either Vegas or L.A. via Southwest Airlines (I wait for the bargain fares to pop up), visit Disneyland (no serious lines there in the winter; I hate lines) and while driving across the desert (I can do Disney to Vegas in three hours), we stop at this nowhere gas station with overpriced gas and get two things: Chocodiles, a Hostess pasty that no longer is available in the Northeast for whatever reason, and a copy of a horribly schlocky newspaper called The Nickel Shopper. It is based out of Victorville, Calif. Even the ads have misspellings. Many look like

they were made on a 1980s style Commodore 128 with a dot matrix printer. I have kept a copy of this paper. I am unsure exactly why. Somewhere in my psyche in a dream-analysis kind of way there is an interpretation for my attachment to this paper. But that is not the newspaper sitting next to me. My recent find was when I was in Putnam County, N.Y. While the ads in what’s called Our Town look professional, and there are lots of them, the editorial copy is totally ridiculous. The editor of this free publication just takes anything that is sent in and prints it. The cover story of the April 16 edition is some horrible fairy tale that is impossible to follow. After the writer’s byline – I won’t name him – it says Copyright 2003. So this story, adorned

with clipart of a dragon, a wizard and a princess around a castle, titled, “And They Lived Happily Ever After,” was first written nine years ago?! The author didn’t rethink this story (and delete it!) in all this time? He has not written something better? The story is not only bookended by copyright notices, but also a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction, all characters are coincidental, it may not be reprinted, etc., etc. What a sad way to go through life, worried that someone will steal your nine year old, two-page fairy tale. That someone might mistake a story with dragons and wizards as non-fiction and sue. Believe me, Spielberg isn’t reading it thinking BLOCKBUSTER! Anyway, that this is a cover story in a publication that hits dozens of grocery

stores, diners and delis, is a total slap in the face to the advertisers, who bought space in this thing. The rest of the stories just seem to be copy-pasted jokes from the Internet. I was in a pizza place when I picked this up and wondered, Who would read this? And if the content is not only unreadable, but an actual deterrent to picking up the publication, the ads certainly aren’t being read. But it must be the only game in town, as there are lots of ads in it. It would seem a competitor could easily swoop in, publish a few readable stories, and steal all of the Our Town advertisers. I Especially this one. used to know an ad seller who would call that Certainly, more than five people “prospecting.” have read this article. And perhaps But people aren’t starting new publi- many even waded through “And They cations anymore. The trend is momLived Happily Ever After.” Some peoand-pop publishers going to the web and ple just need to read when they eat or opening Patch franchises or sites like wait for a barber or doctor. I’m in that them. The only problem is Internet ads club, and apparently you are, too. don’t really work. Phone books are mostly gone, many Maybe some types of digital ads places, including New York City, are work – say for attracting either really taking down billboards as they are eyecheap purchases, like McNuggets, or for sores, and we’ve already realized that Inonce-in-a-lifetime purchases, like a ternet ads are a waste, so, for many small swimming pool – but for most items and communities publications like The services, people just ignore Internet ads. Nickel Shopper and Our Town are the GM recently abandoned Facebook citonly game in town for advertisers. ing this. The national click-through rate So maybe I hang on to these publifor Internet ads is a measly .08%. That cations because, warts and all, they hang means less than one person out of a on. thousand clicks on an Internet ad. In I’m thinking this publication may do most readership areas, that’s like five the same. clicks! If you’re an advertiser, you’d have better luck tacking Xeroxed flyers on telephone poles.

Aging recently held a hearing Tuesday focusing on finding solutions to reduce longterm unemployment among older workers. Sen. Herb Kohl, D–Wis., chairman of the committee, discussed the many challenges older dislocated workers face, such as loss of Social Security credits through long-term unemployment periods, retirement funds, receiving affordable senior housing and paying for health care expenses. “I moved into a smaller apartment with cheaper rent.” Whitelaw said “I applied for food stamps, and never in my lifetime did I think I would have to do this.” A Government Accountability Office report says employers’ reluctance to hire older workers is primarily because they will have to provide costly health benefits. Employers also fear that older workers aren’t able to use up-to-date computers. The GAO report said that the unemployment rate for workers 55 and older has risen from 3.1 percent in 2007 to 7.6 in 2010. Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project, testified that prolonged periods of unemployment may have a severe impact on

older workers’ retirement prospects and well-being in later life. The committee addressed the issue that the majority of workers age 55 or older who lost their jobs in the recession are now experiencing a significant decline in savings. Few can afford to stop looking for work and retire. Owens said the best way to reduce unemployment among older workers is for Congress to pass two bills, The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 and The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. “This is a real problem. I wish we didn’t need legislation to correct it, but it is not self-correcting.” Owens said. The fair employment bill would prohibit discrimination against long-term unemployed Americans seeking employment. Witnesses said many employers prefer to hire people who already have jobs. Early this year, Sen. Tom Harkin, DIowa, and Sen. Charles E. Grassley, RIowa, introduced the second proposal. It reacts to a Supreme Court ruling that said if employers lay off older workers for mixed reasons, not just because they were older, the burden of proving age discrimination shifts to the worker.

No matter how outlandish, a paper publication just does a better job of being found.

Recession leaves older workers behind

Kathryn Kenny Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

Sheila Whitelaw, 71, spends her weekdays filling out job applications. The Philadelphia resident lost her job during the recession two years ago after working for 13 years as sales associate and manager at a clothing boutique. Whitelaw is among the growing number of elderly long-term, unemployed Americans who desire to continue working but say they are illegally discriminated against because of their age. Today she is left unemployed with no hopes of a comfortable retirement, trying to make ends meet with a monthly Social Security payment and $35 a month in food stamps. Her husband is in a nursing home. “I look for work every day, including the weekends.” Whitelaw said. “I can work, I want to work and I need to work. My age does not define my ability, negate my work experience or reduce my dedication to the job at hand.” The British native has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the London Academy and training in makeup application. The Senate Special Committee on

Sheila Whitelaw. Joe Carbone, president of the Workplace Program in Connecticut, said older workers have long suffered negative perceptions of their capabilities, particularly “in the area of training, where employers see older workers as slow learners, computer illiterate, as disinterested in training and hankering for retirement.” The WorkPlace helps workers of all ages find jobs. The committee website states that 80 percent of baby boomers are expected to work past their traditional retirement age. “At this point, I don’t really expect to retire, even if I am able to find a job.” Whitelaw said. “I plan to keep working as long as I am physically able, am I am blessed to be in good health. Contrary to what many employers think, age is just a number.” Turning Point | Mid-June 2012 | Page 19

Looking at The Schuylerville Standard

Darren Johnson Schuylerville Turning Point

Ah, The Schuylerville Standard newspaper was THE newspaper in the village for over 100 years until the late 1980s, published on Thursdays for an eager audience. You have to remember, back then, the newspaper was it as far as how people got their news – and gossip. No microlocal TV channels, no blog sites, no Tweets. Let’s go into the vault and see what we can turn up. Today, we find several blurbs from The Standard dated September 13, 1928: Resigns from Board of Education Leon M. Layden, serving as surrogate of Washington County under appointment, last week resigned as president of the Whitehall board of education, to take effect immediately. Mr. Layden resigned because the board recently voted to hire a married, teacher, after previously deciding that it would hire no more married teachers. Twelve married women were released from their contracts last fall because of the board’s decision.

Wilbur Slade, president; Helen Hughes, vice-president; Jennie Sulli, secretary; Beth Carhart, treasurer and Dominic Corsetti, business manager. There are twenty members in the class; in addition to the officers named above, the following are members of the class of 1929: Rita Boivin, Beatrice Brown, Donald Burnett, Ernest Coffinger, Linden Davis, Anna Hunt, Harry Hughes, Edith Lindani, Helen Miller, Elmer Mosher, Kathleen Mullen, Caroline Milligan, Carroll Reed, Mary Ross. The class plans to take the Washington Trip next spring, and already they are making plans to add funds to their treasury to cover the expense of the trip. Drowned on Sunday School Picnic Mrs. Lydia C. McDonald, fifty-three,

the back and two ribs separated from the spinal column; John Bralahoski, a broken collar bone, and Helen Bralahoski, both knees lacerated; John Marshall, Wayville, internal injuries, and Celia Raymond, Mechanicville, R.D., a wound over the left eye and both knees lacerated. The car, driven by Marshall, was entering the main highway from a side road when struck by the oncoming Buick. The smaller car turned over several times and the Buick proceeded on its way without lending any assistance to the injured people. All five were removed to the Tumble Inn where they were treated by Doctors F.F Gow, E.J. Callahan and M.D. Duby of Schuylerville. They remained at the Tumble Inn all night and Monday morning were removed to the Marshall home at Wayville. Marshall did not regain consciousness until late Monday night, but his condition is now described as hopeful, and the other members of the party are resting comfortably. It was stated at the sheriff’s office in Ballston Spa that the statement made following the accident that the driver of one of the cars involved left the scene without making a report, is erroneous. The driver of the car, a Ticonderoga man, made a full report and was not held.

A German immigrant forced to make moonshine, and death by indigestion and a rampant tire.

Obituary George Elliot, son of the late George Elliot of this village, died suddenly at his home in Argyle Friday evening of acute indigestion. Mr. Elliot was born at Ausable Forks and for a time resided in this village. His survivors, besides his widow, are nine sisters, Mrs. George Lacky of Hempstead, L.I., Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald of New York City, Mrs. Frank Wallace of Saranac Lake, Mrs. John Ryan of Victory Mills, Mrs. Arthur Howland of Mechanicville, Mrs. Harry Green of South Glens Falls, Mrs. Grant Johnson of Glens Falls and the Misses Grace and Lucy Elliot of Schuylerville; five brothers, Grant of Troy, Walter of Plattsburg, Robert of Lexington, Arthur and Philip of Victory Mills, and Charles of Stillwater. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at one o’clock from the late residence in Argyle, and the body brought to Schuylerville for burial in Prospect Hill cemetery. The Masonic service was conducted at the grave. Twenty Members in Senior Class Beginning the first active week of the school year, the senior class of the local high school met in the auditorium on Monday afternoon for organization and election of officers. Their choices made

of Schenectady, was drowned last Thursday afternoon when she stumbled and fell while wading in Fourth Lake, two miles north of Luzerne on the Luzerne-Lake George Highway. Mrs. McDonald was one of a party of fifty women on a Bible class outing from the Dutch Reformed church at Schenectady. Pays Heavy Fine for Robbery Valentino Demarci, arrested by officer Harry E. Myers for being implicated in the recent robbery of the W. S. Wilcox store, was arraigned Wednesday morning before Police A.F. Tefft. A sentence of three months in jail was imposed upon the youth, but this was suspended on the condition that he pay a total of $75.00 to Mr. Wilcox, $20.00 in court and the balance in weekly payments of $5.00. William and Leon Delconte, Edward Fosmire and John Petralia, held for participating in the same robbery, were given a hearing by Judge Lawernce B. McKelvey in the children’s court at Saratoga Springs last Friday evening. They were placed on indefinite probation, after being reprimanded by the judge. Five Occupants Hurt When Ford Crashes When the Ford car in which they were riding was struck by a rapidly moving Buick Sunday evening on the Schuylerville-Mechanicville state highway near the Tumble Inn, the five occupants of the car were seriously injured and the car totally wrecked. Anton Bralahoski of Quaker Springs has a possible fracture of

Story of Peonage in Saratoga County A strange story of imprisonment and forced labor amounting to virtual slavery has been revealed in Saratoga County by the arrest of William Kruger who lives in the town of Wilton. Kruger is accused of having brought his nephew here from Germany and kept him a prisoner for several months. According to City Judge F. Andrew Hall of Saratoga Springs, who represents the plaintiff in an action in supreme court which brought about Kruger’s arrest, he sent for his nephew, Hans Kruger, about twenty-two years old, in the spring of 1927, and induced him to come to this country. He arrived in August last year. When the youth arrived in Saratoga County, unable to speak a word of English, and totally unfamiliar with his surroundings, he was at once set to work by his uncle in the cellar of his Wilton home. There, according to Judge Hall, the youth was forced for long hours every day to operate a still which he said was being used for the manufacture of illicit liquors. Hans was kept imprisoned in the cellar for nearly ten months. His jailer, so Judge Hall declared, gave him very little to eat, and the dampness of the cellar and the fumes from the distillations broke down his health. Driven by his desperate plight, Hans broke out of his cellar in May of this year, and made his way on foot to Albany. Authorities there picked him up and turned him over to the local Humane Society. Here his statements

were verified, and a settlement agreed upon between William Kruger and Hans for his services and damages to his health while imprisoned. This would have yielded Hans enough money to aid him to return to Germany. William Kruger, however, according to Judge Hall, never paid the settlement agreed upon therefore, to force Kruger to make this settlement, Judge Hall brought suit to recover for injuries sustained by the boy’s imprisonment and the alleged inhuman treatment accorded him. On September 4 Justice Goldsmith issued an order of arrest. After much effort, and many attempts, Deputy Sheriff Wilson apprehended the defendant Tuesday afternoon in Saratoga Springs. He was lodged at once in the Saratoga county jail.

Local People Injured in Car Crash Thomas McCune’s new sport model Pontiac car was badly smashed and his wife and mother who were with him sustained cuts and bruises Sunday evening when they were hit by a car owned and driven by Rockwell Farmer of Whitehall. The accident happened at the west end of the Hudson River Bridge at Northumberland. Mr. McCune was returning to Greenwich about ten o’clock in the evening. As he drove off the bridge he saw a car approaching from the south. He pulled to the right and stopped to see which way the other car was going, and the driver swung toward the bridge but made too wide a curve and crashed into the McCune car. Mrs. McQuade suffered a cut in the forehead and one in the knee. Her daughter-in-law also suffered an injury to one knee. The car was badly smashed up, and the Whitehall man’s car was also considerably damaged. Farmer, it is reported, admitted that his car ran to the wrong side of the road and that he was responsible for the collision. Truck Wheel Causes Death Vera La White, five-year-old Whitehall girl, died in the Glens Falls hospital Tuesday night after an unusual accident in which she and Francis Volvolca, also five, were injured. The children were standing at a street corner when a truck driven by Eugene LaMay rounded the corner. As it made the turn a wheel came off and rolled to the sidewalk, striking the children with great force. Both were thrown down and rendered unconscious. The little girl was believed to be seriously injured and was taken to the hospital, where she died about eleven o’clock. The boy, whose injuries were less serious, was taken home.