eco-LOCAL Living Winter 2010

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On the Cover

Winter 2010

Our cover story for the Winter of 2010 features Bonacio Construction of Saratoga Springs. Sonny Bonacio and his team have been getting a lot of attention lately for their construction of high rise (for Saratoga Springs, that means 5 stories high) condominiums along some of the corridors downtown. His latest project, Park Place, has just been completed, adjacent to Congress Park. The sales pitch for this new building exclaims, “Live Next To Everything!” Given its parkside address and proximity to the downtown amenities, the pitch is right on. This project, and the others like it around the Spa City are perhaps the driving force behind the vibrant scene that has reinvigorated the growth and success of downtown. Bonacio Construction is putting feet on the street by building mixed use buildings that combine residential and commercial space, accessible at the sidewalk level in the core of the city. This is in stark contrast to the scene from 30 years ago, when vacancy and blight had plagued the old city. Early in his career, Sonny Bonacio saw the abandoned factories and the dilapidated street-fronts not as blight, but as opportunity. He saw the potential of breathing new life into old buildings, and began to rehabilitate some properties around Saratoga Springs.

The Van Raalt Factory on Excelsior Ave. is a shining example of this renewal.The old complex is a now vibrant mix of commercial and office space, and has spawned a whole new row of town houses along the once rundown corridor.

Bonacio ran with the success of this project and then moved onto others, leveraging each once to expand his scope and opportunity for the next. Now, in the midst of a recession, the Bonacio team is taking on perhaps their biggest project yet – an apartment and retail complex on the site of the old Price Chopper on Railroad Place. It’ll preserve downtown’s grocery store, and ad residential apartments that will bring even more people in to live the downtown experience. Seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) Certification, Bonacio wants to this to be a model for green construction and sustainable lifestyles. It’s a big project, with a lot of risk. But the folks at Bonacio Contruction never back down from a challenge. In fact, it has their motivation from day one. And selfishly, they want to make Saratoga Springs even better, because it is home. Because of their dedication improving our sense of the place we call Saratoga Springs, we are proud to salute Bonacio Construction as the eco-localizer for our Winter edition!

The late 1900’s were bad for upstate New York’s old cities. The new highways and mobility of the car culture took money and investment out of the city in favor of the new suburban landscape. Instead of being hemmed in by city blocks, developers could expand onto acres and acres of open land, creating the malls and suburban cul-de-sac neighborhoods that are now ubiquitous in modern America. Many of the old factories that supported the old cities closed, left behind in the march for progress out to the exit ramps and the strip malls. The Geography of Nowhere, a book by local author James Howard Kunstler makes the case that our “happy motoring” lifestyle that is built upon cheap fuel, cheap money, and cheap imports, has in fact, cheapened our very existence. Despite the expanse of sprawl in our midst, there is a movement back to the city, most exemplified in Saratoga Springs. People want to live and work downtown and there’s a renewed sense of community. Some call this New Urbanism, the catch phrase for creating a sense of place that makes for happy human habitation. The New Urbanism is a reaction to sprawl. A growing movement of architects, planners, developers, and others, the New Urbanism is based on principles of planning and architecture that work together to create human-scale, walkable communities. One of the key players in the New Urban revitalization of Saratoga Springs is the team at Bonacio Constructtion. They are responsible for the rehabilitation of many of the old buildings in Saratoga Springs, as well as the residential and commercial spaces that has recently sprouted up around town. Sonny Bonacio’s vision is for Saratoga to be a vibrant blend of old and new urbanism, where history blends gracefully with the present, and sets the stage for a sustainable future. Bonacio has done more for re-localizing Saratoga Springs than practically anyone else, so we are proud to feature he and his team are our eco-localizers for this Winter edition.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE GREEN TEEN……………………………………..…Page 6 CATERER AND THE CANINE………………………………………………Page 7 WINTER Eco LOCALIZER Bonacio Construction – Saratoga’s New Urbanism Visionary……………Page 8 MONEY MATTERS 2010 Financial Sustainability Action List…………………………………………Page 11 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT………………………Page 12 THE WELLNESS DOC………………………………Page 13 A PLACE FOR PEACE Pompanuck Farm…………………………………Page 16 BUY LOCAL – It’s Our Choice……………………………………Page 19 Lean & Mean Ice Cream…………………………Page 21 OLD SCHOOL EDUCATION………………………Page 22 LONDON’S CALLING Max-imizing Taste…………………………………Page 24 Agricultural Impact of Diet………………………Page 27 4 ecolocalliving.com

Also in this issue, we also take a look an alternative idea for education.

Education has been in the news a lot lately – it always seems to need more money and more teachers. There’s one school however, that seem to get by with less of both, yet delivers on the promise of what education is all about – nurturing and developing the creative spirit in our children. It’s an old school principle, finding new life at the Adirondack School, located out in the middle of Nowhere, but not far from Greenwich in Washington County.

Speaking of out in the middle of nowhere, have you been to Pompanuck Farm? This one of a kind “eco-retreat” is way out there, and not just in the measure of miles. Scott and Lisa Carrino are your host of this remarkable escape in the woods near the border of Vermont. They are on there own educational mission, rehabilitating broken lives, inspiring greatness in children, and providing a real life example of sustainable living. Scott and Lisa believe that a good teacher is really a good listener. Their agenda-free workshops flow with creativity and love, and the teaching moments are everywhere.

2010 promises to be a year of transition. We are seeing the old economy crumble all around us. While it is painful to witness and experience the strife this is causing, the good news is that we are moving towards a better way.

The sooner we accept it, and embrace it, the sooner we will reap its blessings. Like Winter gives way to Spring, there is opportunity for new growth in this new, emerging decade.

Be sure to stop look, and listen for the signs. They will come to you, if your heart is in the right place. Be Still. Be Quite, Be Local. Be eco-Local!

- David DeLozier Publisher

OUR MISSION To gather and share reliable resources and information which will assist this and future generations to make conscious choices that will lead to healthful, sustainable lifestyles.

To provide benefit to all those who seek a vibrant, living local economy by promoting our neighborhood businesses that are committed to whole ecology thinking and practices, and the healthy food options available by supporting our local farming community.

Winter 2010 • Issue 12 PUBLISHER / SALES / MARKETING David Delozier 518-858-6866 advertise@ecolocalliving.com DESIGN / PRODUCTION Centerline Design 518-883-3872 COVER PHOTOGRAPHER stockstudiosphotography.com Bonaciao Construction, clockwise from left, Julie Bonacio, Sonny Bonacio, Larry Novak, Bill Willard CONTRIBUTORS Amy Stock, Stacey Morris, Jonathan Greene, Mary Beth McCue, Pat Maloney, Harry Moran, Vanessa Baird, Diane Conroy LaCivita ARTICLE / EVENT SUBMISSION advertise@ecolocalliving.com ADDRESSES 38 Tamarack Trail Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 ecolocalliving.com By reading and supporting Ecolocal you become part of our team - and help the greater community of the Upper Hudson Valley become a healthier place to live, work and play. Please tell our advertisers you saw them here.

We use recycled-content paper and water-based ink.

PLEASE RECYCLE! Ecolocal Living is published bi-monthly & distributed free of charge to over 300 locations within a 50 mile radius of Saratoga Springs, NY. Ecolocal Living does not guarantee nor warranty any products, services, of any advertisers nor will we be party to any legal or civil proceedings to do with any advertisers. We expect advertisers to honor any advertised claims or promises. Ecolocal Living will not knowingly accept any advertisement that is deemed misleading or fraudulent. We reserve the right to revise, edit and/or reject any and all advertising with or without issuing a reason or cause. We will not publish any article or advertisement that is contrary to the best interest of this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles if needed for content, clarity and relevance.

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GREEN TEEN A Green 2010 This year as part of my New Year's resolutions I'm including some greener goals.

One thing I really should work on is recycling paper. Sometimes I get lazy and throw paper out instead of bringing it to our recycle bin.

I am also forgetful when it comes to turning off my lights, as well as my iPod, computer, and cell phone charger. I leave them on just for a minute because I know I'll be coming right back, but that minute turns into a half hour and that's not really a good thing.

A goal that I am going to really work on this year is buying more locally made goods.

Maybe that'll mean more pizza!! For instance, when I'm out with my friends, I'll suggest we go to the locally owned pizza shop instead of the chain burger place. It'll keep the money in the local community and odds are good that some of the ingredients and products used to make the meal are local.

Besides pizza, this year I'm not going to buy jewelry unless it's one of a kind. When I buy jewelry from a place like Target or Wal-Mart, I know someone else might have the same thing, and I know it was probably manufactured overseas. I really like finding different pieces that I know no one else will have. I also like making jewelry myself and I like to buy beads locally that look cool and then I can make things exactly the way I want them.

When I have a special occasion, instead of buying a new dress, I'll go to a place like Finders Keepers, which is a consignment store.

I got my homecoming dress there this year and I knew no one else would have one like it.

I don't always want to wear something used, though, so this year I'm on the lookout for some store that sell locally made clothing. If you know of one, email me so I can check it out!

VANESSA BAIRD is a local teen living green. She thinks that's just great as long as having a green life doesn't mean giving up 'having a life.'

She'd love to hear what other teens are doing to be green. You can email her at 1greenteen@gmail.com.

Something in Tow

By Dancin’ David Levesque

Did you know We have something in tow?

The next generation is on its way have you thought of them today?

They want to be happy healthy and strong with dreams of lives lived long Are we doing them justice or just thinking of just us?

Are we making way for them or making mayhem?

The earth is strong and mighty but we are not keeping it tidy Our children are saying whoa remember, we have something in tow.

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CATERER and the CANINE

one day, SHE came. Cue the music, brother - I just KNEW. They let me out of the cage, and I bowled her over, literally knocked her to the ground and let loose with the pooch smooches. Every inch of her smelled like heaven! There was a faint whiff of cinnamon on one wrist, butter-yummy smell on her face, the memory of chili in her hair and turkey gravy by her pockets.

The woman was a walking buffet.

I was in love - and you know what?

So was she!

In the Holiday Ecolocal we featured the Dog Gone Smart article, about local dog treat and accessory entrepreneurs. Carole Newell of Samantha's Café in Glens Falls, creator of Toby Treats, has written a book entitled “The Caterer and The Canine,” a collection of recipes and quips about her 17 year love affair with her dog, Toby. Here is an excerpt from this charming collection: As recalled by Toby the Dog: The day I was rescued, I'd been hanging around in a field just smelling all the great smells.

Beatles, worms, some old skunk punk - great stuff! I was hungry, and maybe - (guys hate to admit this) - even lost, but then the man in the van came. A bumpy ride later found me with a water dish, a big bowl of scrumptious food, and the sound of one heck of a lot of barking going on around me. Dogs barking - for dogs who, of course, can hear absolutely everything - is downright excruciating. It's like having Ethel Merman cranked to the max on your car stereo. Oy! and Ow-Ow from all the bow-wow!

As recalled by Carole the Caterer: Toby, as we named him, was the happiest, most bedraggled-looking wretch you'd ever want to come across when I first met him at the animal shelter; big and jet black, and totally goofy. I needed goofy at that point in my life. A 30-year marriage was slowly disintegrating, our children had grown and moved away, and my café and catering business, Samantha's Pantry, was struggling in a difficult market. To add to that litany of mid-life woe, our dog had died several months before, and losing my treasured "Lolly," in the middle of a grey, cold winter added one more layer to my deepening gloom.

But now it was spring, and here came a clown, dancing and mugging his way into my heart. Our journey together would last 17 years.

Squash Apple Bisque For many, many years, we were the only ones to serve this original creation - and then imitation, seen by us as flattery, saw our soup show up in lots of venues around the area. I can tell you, in all modesty, ours is - and will always be - the best!!

4 lbs butternut squash, cubed 1/2 cup dried onion, or 1 cup fresh chopped onion 1 1/2 qt milk 2 T ground ginger 1 qt heavy cream Anyway, it was noisy, but I was cool Two 18-ounce jars applesauce with it . Smiling faces - would lean Salt & pepper towards my cage and make funny kissey noises, which inspired me to In a large soup pot, add the squash, jump straight up and do half gainer milk, onion & ginger. Cover and - twirls to impress any lady Lassies simmer until squash is cooked. Add applesauce, cream, salt and pepper. who might be watching.

Cover and simmer again for 20 I was a carefree guy - and heck, minutes. why not? I was alive, my stomach The Caterer and the Canine and Toby's Treats was full, and under all my matted are both available at Samantha's Café, located at 11 Broad St., Glens Falls, NY. black hair I knew I was cute. How Call 792-5839 you gonna beat that combo? Then ecolocalliving.com 7

Winter Eco-Localizer

Bonacio Construction- Saratoga’s New Urbanism Visionary

By Amy Stock l Contributing Writer

Sonny Bonacio heard the call to keep a local skipped every other building - because they grocery store downtown, and he responded. were boarded up or vacant. This was the early 1970's, and since then a lot has Now, a few years after a major community changed in downtown Saratoga. Numerous outcry at the Golub Corporation's citizens, business and community leaders announcement of a possible closing of their stepped up to make changes and downtown Price Chopper, Bonacio investments, both financially and personal, Construction has teamed up with Price to bring the life back to downtown.

Chopper to build a new, state-of-the-art grocery store in the empty lot next to the Sonny clearly remembers those times. And, existing structure. A unique mixed-use for his own part he's worked hard to bring structure, the six-story building includes an even more people and 18,000 sq ft grocery store on the first floor businesses with five stories of apartments ranging from downtown.

1-3 bedrooms above. The building will be constructed as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, and provide a variety of pedestrian-friendly improvements to the surrounding streetscape.

According to Bonacio, “these are the first apartments to be built downtown in ten years.”

Sonny, who was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, knows something about living and working downtown.

Growing up on the west side, in his youth he helped his father with his window-washing business. When he asked his father why they never cleaned the windows on the upper floors, his father replied, “because they're vacant.” Same was true for why they

Sonny got his start working construction in the summers during high school. After high school he graduated from SUNY Canton ATC, and in 1988 he started Bonacio Construction, building decks and roofing.

Said Sonny, “I always enjoyed creating things. At the end of the day you could always turn around at the end of the day and see what you created that day.”

His business evolved as the needs of his clients, many of whom were repeat customers, changed. They got into framing and remodeling, and eventually into new construction and investing in existing structures downtown. One of his trademark projects was the adaptive reuse of the old Van Raalte Mill on High Rock St. In 1999 he and Tom Roohan purchased the old boarded up mill and converted it into the complex of commercial offices it is today. According to Sonny, this was really his first effort at converting an outdated structure downtown into useable space. He continued to focus on urban in-fill projects, following the trend in “new urbanism”, driven mostly by the city's comprehensive plan.

“In the 2000's was when we focused our efforts to follow the current comprehensive plan”, which basically was designed to drive urban in-fill and preserve the city's outer green belt.

Many communities around the country have embraced this trend in “new urbanism” designed to revitalize downtown cores and create livable, walkable communities while protecting outlying green spaces from suburban sprawl. In Saratoga Springs, our green spaces, open fields, farms and wetlands equally attract people to the region. Urban in-fill helps protect those areas while providing accessible, scaleable places to live in our downtown.

Commented Sonny, “I believe that the downtown core is where we need to focus development. One of the key concepts of urbanism is to bring people - living and working - downtown, and make the lifestyle less vehicle dependent.”

©stockstudiophotography.com

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Today the Lofts at 18 Division Street stands as a testament to Sonny's commitment to developing our downtown core. In his office hangs a picture of downtown Saratoga

condos attract retired school teachers, local restaurateurs, people from the horse industry, local business people who work downtown, and people who have decided to retire here. People who want to live and work downtown.”

Downtown revitalization also provides economic benefit. Sonny commented, “In the last 10 years we've brought $3 million dollars to the tax base in projects that we've built, $300,000 worth of Park and Rec fees, and endless charitable donations. You can't do everything.”

Springs in it's hey day as a tourist destination for the wealthy (and not so wealthy) seeking cures for their ailments at the famous healing springs.

According to Sonny, most people don't realize how drastically different this city looked 150 years ago. Broadway was lined with tall hotels. The Grand Union Hotel took up a full block on Broadway and four city blocks along Congress Street and Washington Street, from the corner of Broadway all the way up to Franklin Street.

Except, he's trying. His latest project, Market Center at Railroad Place, has downtown helps keep businesses that received accolades from a variety of groups provide essential goods and services in the community as well as the Planning downtown as well.

Board, which in October approved the Said Sonny, “The downtown core is the spine project to move forward. of our community. We have a vibrant Said Sonny, “This project needed to be done. downtown. It's what defines us from most Obviously they had a dated store. The need other communities in the region. When for more residents downtown is also people have the ability to live, work and apparent. Our focus now is keeping a support the downtown without vehicle market downtown forever while providing dependency, that improves their quality of 125 new apartments downtown.” life.”

Bonacio Construction is working with According to Sonny, he's seen a shift in the Saratoga Hospital to provide a portion of last decade in people's interest in living those apartments as reduced-priced housing downtown. “People want smaller footprints for their employees, through an agreement and less to maintain. They want to enjoy with their Human Resources Department. their lives and not spend every Saturday mowing their lawns and cleaning out their Since both Bonacio and Price Chopper have gutters.” committed to construct a LEED certified building, figuring out which components of His Franklin Square Condominiums on LEED will work for the structure and the site Railroad Place provide needed and desirable has been a complex process. Bonacio has housing downtown. According to Sonny, his worked closely with The Golub Corporation condos attract a wide range of individuals, to identify ways they can share resources. not just those unwanted “outsiders.” “Our

Above image is courtesy of the Saratoga Springs History Museum.

Copies of this and other historic images are available by visiting www.saratogahistory.org.

Though many don't like change, building businesses and housing downtown does contribute to a more vibrant downtown core, reduces reliance on automobiles, encourages walking and bicycles, and contributes to the overall quality of life in our community. Keeping people living ecolocalliving.com 9

One of the more unique green features of the building, which exemplifies the level of cooperation and planning the two companies have committed to, is Bonacio's use of the byproduct heat generated by Price Chopper's refrigeration to heat the outside sidewalks and hallways in the building.

mid-street crosswalk further north on Railroad Place. His goal is to create a safe accessible walkway from Broadway at Putnam Street Market, up through the back parking lot, and to the new market store. Eventually he hopes to see that extend beyond to Clinton St. This is already a heavily used pathway by many who live downtown. However, currently it's Encouraging safe foot traffic to and from the not very safe nor is it an officially designated market and apartments is also a key element walkway in most places. of the building design. The northeast corner crosswalk at Division and Railroad Place will Visually, the building and grounds will be reduced from 67 ft to 33 ft, creating a safer include “tree-lined streets, ornamental crossing. In addition, Bonacio has proposed a lighting and the staging of all

deliveries/servicing to the rear of the building.” A long covered arcade stretches down the length of the building. Price Chopper hopes to offer outdoor food vending and eating areas here in the summer months. Parking for the store and apartments will be on a two-level deck parking structure behind the building.

However, the hope is the improved street safety combined with the close proximity to Broadway will encourage more foot traffic.

Among other LEED elements, the building will include bicycle racks and is accessibly by Public Transportation - important for residents without automobiles. Recycled materials and materials manufactured in the region will be used in the construction. The building will utilize controlled heating and lighting systems. Storm water runoff, often a problem for large buildings of this size, will be treated with a state-of-the-art sand filtration storm treatment device.

According to Sonny, they've received hundreds of calls from people interested in the apartments. These numbers are a testament to the level of interest in people living downtown. “This project gives people the great ability to see if that's (living downtown) the type of lifestyle they want.”

-See VISIONARY, Page 18

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Money Matters

By Harry Moran

Financial Sustainability 2010 Action List At the risk of presenting what may seem like just another list for the New Year, I'd like to offer some specific actions we can take to move toward a more sustainable society. This is intended to be a straightforward, real world guide for creating meaningful change, not just another batch of hopeful New Year's resolutions that will be forgotten before the end of the first quarter. Here we go: 1. Define and prioritize your social, ethical and environmental goals and beliefs. Terms like “socially responsible”, “sustainable” and “green” mean very different things to different people so it's important to define what this all means to you. This will allow you greater control and flexibility and make it more likely that your actions will create the impact you seek.

2. Once you've got your basic, personal social/environmental profile in place, take a look at what investments you own and whether they're aligned with your priorities.

Calvert Investments “Know What You Own” program (http://calvert.com/sri-kwyo.html) allows you to enter the name of stocks or mutual funds, select specific issues you're concerned about and determine if these holdings are in concert with your views. You can also search to see if a particular company is held in a mutual fund you own. While investment decisions shouldn't be made based on this information alone, and you may have investments which aren't in their data base, this can be a great place to start.

directory of organizations based on their missions and geographical area. Since many of these institutions are, by their nature, not insured, sound financial management is extremely important so be sure to do your homework before investing.

output is associated with power use. While this is of course much more than a financial issue, without meaningful progress on this front, many financial matters will become relatively insignificant in the overall scheme of things.

With any of these items, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good! Everything we do counts and we don't need to achieve perfection to make a real difference. While reducing our high consumption lifestyle as a society is certainly a major part of any sustainability action plan, it's clear that we can still lead happy and fulfilling lives by emphasizing people, relationships and connection over short-term profit, consumerism and material possessions. I believe we have a much greater probability of success and have much to look forward to if 5. If you participate in a company-sponsored we remain positively focused on the more retirement plan, see what green investment peaceful, prosperous and healthy world we options are available. If they're insufficient, can create. make a request to your employer to add some of these choices. It is in your employer's best Please drop me an email if you have any interest as a fiduciary to offer a broad range of suggestions or feedback regarding this list or options and they often just need a bit of have personal stories you'd like to share on gentle prodding to make it happen. If you're how you're using your financial resources to self-employed, consider incorporating green create positive change. I wish you all the best options in your IRA, Roth IRA or other in 2010 as we continue this journey together. individual account.

Harry Moran helps socially conscious investors define and achieve their highest goals by aligning their money with their values. A 23-year veteran of the financial services profession, Mr. Moran has held the Certified Financial Planner® designation since 1991. He is a network member of First Affirmative Financial Network, a national 3. Look at how the cash reserves portion of your savings is currently invested. Do business 7. Along with being aware of the impact of professional organization dedicated to meeting the with financial institutions who have your investment dollars, remember that every needs of the socially conscious investing demonstrated a real commitment to your dollar you spend as a consumer is in effect an community. Mr. Moran can be reached directly at Cornerstone Financial Advisors at community. Emphasize local and regional economic vote for a company and their way of hmoran@cornerstonefinancialny.com or 518-877banks and credit unions whose success doing business. Whenever possible, support 8800. Mention of specific securities, funds, or depends on the long-term health of your businesses who are aligned with your values companies should not be considered an offer or a community. and who act responsibly toward all recommendation to buy or sell the security, fund, or stakeholders in the community, not just their company. To determine the suitability of any 4. Consider investing a portion of your particular investment, please consult with your shareholders. savings with Community Development investment adviser. Remember, past performance is Financial Institutions (CDFI's) which support 8. Since global climate change may be the no guarantee of future results and no investment affordable housing, women and minority- greatest single challenge facing this strategy can assure success. The opinions expressed owned businesses and essential non-profit generation, identify 3 things you can do this are those of the author and may change without organizations in your area. The Community year to reduce your “carbon footprint”. notice. Harry Moran is a registered representative Investing Center (www.communityinvest.org), Selecting one of the renewable, clean energy offering securities through Cadaret, Grant & Co., a joint project of the Social Investment Forum options from your local utility for your home Inc., member FINRA SIPC. Cadaret, Grant is not Foundation and Green America, offers a and/or business is one high impact way to affiliated with Cornerstone or First Affirmative.

6. Encourage sustainable and responsible practices in your workplace. Exercise whatever influence you have re: materials purchased, energy choices, encouraging use of car pooling and public transit, etc.

wealth of resources including a searchable accomplish this since so much of our carbon ecolocalliving.com 11

Ask the Energy Expert

By Patrick Maloney l Energy Management Solutions

Keeping out the Cold Visualize an inflated balloon. Now I want you to keep the air inside not notice, such as in attics, basements and crawl spaces, under and it warm. What are your options? You could put a blanket over it and above porches and in garage walls. Following are some do it yourself the air would stay warm for awhile. One thing for sure is you don't tips. want any holes in it. All it takes is one and all is lost.

First, survey the exterior of your home. You will find many This balloon is your home. The more holes you have the more your penetrations leading into your living space. Look for holes for electrical heating system is working and the larger the hole in your checkbook! outlets, dryer vents, outside water faucets etc. Are the holes sealed In many instances air infiltration is more costly than inadequate around the perimeter? Next, look at where your wood framed walls insulation. meet the foundation. Gaps and spaces may not be readily visible but rest assured they are there! These areas can be easily addressed. For Is your home drafty? Do you see condensation on your windows? gaps or holes _” or less fill with caulking. If the area you are sealing is Does it appear a cobweb manufacturer has taken residence in your going to be painted in the future get a paintable caulk. home? All these are indications of air infiltration. So, what to do?

If the holes are larger than 1/4" then a spray foam is recommended.

A common belief is that windows and doors are the biggest A high expansion foam is good for large holes where a large void problem when it comes to air leakage. Chances are this is not true in needs to be filled. You want to use a low expansion foam around your home. Some of the most significant losses occur in areas you may windows and doors to prevent excess pressure that could interfere with their functionality.

Here's a big one. During construction many pathways were created for electrical and plumbing purposes. Many of these start in the basement and end in the attic. This creates a chimney effect in which warm air and your cash freely flow in a direction you may not like, unless of course you want to leave your mark on the world as a large carbon footprint! So, get dirty and save by climbing around your attic and basement and sealing openings around wiring and plumbing.

CAUTION; many of these caulking and foam products are flammable so don't use them around heating exhaust pipes, recessed lighting or ANYTHING THAT COULD GET VERY HOT! Let the pros handle those areas.

A professional Home Energy Audit will provide you with a thorough assessment of problem areas, a plan to resolve them and a projection of your savings.This in conjunction with the services of an accredited Home Performance contractor can save you up to 40%+ on your energy bills.You can also get some great tips from “Cut Your Energy Bills Now,” by Bruce Hurley.

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Positive Thinking, Positive Lifestyle, Positively Healthy!

By Dr. Michael Quartararo I The Wellness Doc

The mind body connection is powerful and we try to teach our patients to use that to improve thier health and lead them toward healthy lifestyle choices.

UNDERSTANDING POSITIVE THINKING AND SELF-TALK Self-talk is the endless stream of thoughts that run through your head every day. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information. If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you're likely an optimist -- someone who practices positive thinking.

There is no mistake, positive thoughts create positive things.

Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else.

Examples of typical negative self-talk and how you might apply a positive thinking twist include: NEGATIVE SELF-TALK • I've never done it before.

• It's too complicated.

• I don't have the resources.

• There's not enough time.

• There's no way it will work.

• It's too radical a change.

• No one bothers to communicate with me.

POSITIVE SPIN • IIt's an opportunity to learn something new LIVING LONGER AND HAPPIER THROUGH POSITIVE THINKING • I'll tackle it from a different angle.

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and • Necessity is the mother of invention. optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide • Let's re-evaluate some priorities. include: • I can try to make it work.

• Decreased negative stress • Let's take a chance.

• Greater resistance to catching the common cold • I'll see if I can open the channels of communication.

• A sense of well-being and improved health • Reduced risk of coronary artery disease Have fun being more positive, you will feel and function better. For • Easier breathing if you have certain lung diseases, such as more information go to aacfamilywellness.com emphysema • Improved coping ability for women with high-risk pregnancies • Better coping skills during hardships YOU CAN LEARN POSITIVE THINKING Instead of giving in to these kinds of negative self-talk, weed out misconceptions and irrational thinking and then challenge them with rational, positive thoughts. When you do this, your self-talk will gradually become realistic and self-affirming -- you engage in positive thinking. You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it takes time and practice -- you are creating a new habit, after all.

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By David Delozier

Winter is upon us, and the snow that is all around can either depress us or enliven us. Choose to be enlivened and get up and out and enjoy the cold and snow! One of the best spots to take on a winter adventure is Moreau Lake State Park. Easy access to the Northway exit 17 makes this destination super convenient, and easy to get to from anywhere.

NEAREST TOWN: South Glens Falls GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Moreau Lake is a glacial kettle lake that is surrounded by bluffs and the Palmertown Ridge to the West. The campgrounds and beach area can be crowded in the summer, but in the wintertime, you've got the place practically to yourself. Now frozen, one can traverse across the lake with ease, or choose from the extensive trail network around the main lake and up to Mud Pond to the north.

This park is big; there is plenty to discover here.

ACTIVITIES: At this park there is cross country skiing and snowshoeing on the basic trail network that surrounds the lake and through the camping areas. Ice fishing is popular on the lake. Those seeking high adventure can travel further up into the Palmertown Range that lies north and west of the main park.

This area involves a steep ascent to a high plateau with north views out onto the Hudson River flowing out of Corinth. This area is for experienced snowshoers and telemark skiers only, as the return descent will challenge even the best!

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MOREAU LAKE STATE PARK UPWARDS OF 30 MILES OF TRAILS DIFFICULTY: Easy skiing and snowshoeing around the campground roads; intermediate on the trails up to Mud Pond; expert on the trails up the Palmertown Ridge. A trail map is available at the camp store.

Snowshoes are also available for rent. Use caution and don't exceed your own capabilities.

SURFACE: The lake area trails are generally wide and open trails, or the snow covered roads that lead to the campsites. Trails up to the ridge are steep and narrow, and recommended for experts only. Underneath that snow may be loose gravel, rocks and other obstacles (snowsnakes). Avoid the lake surface during the spring thaw.

RENTALS: Yes, Snowshoes for $5 fee.

WHAT YOU MAY SEE: This is a beautiful setting for any wintertime activity. The frozen lake surrounded by hills creates an idyllic setting. Bird life is ample and active; you will see tracks of deer, raccoon, fox, squirrel, and if you are quiet, you may see some of these critters scurrying about.

HOW TO GET THERE: From I-87 take Exit 17S which will put you onto Rte. 9 South; look for Old Saratoga Rd. just off the highway bridge on the R. Travel about .5 mile and turn R. into the park entrance, go through the gate and park on the R. CAUTIONS: Know your own limitations. Dress warmly and bring hydration.

Don't go further than your stamina can provide for a return trip.

Upland trails to the Palmertown Ridge are wilderness in character.

Be prepared for anything. Be safe, travel with a buddy.

SEASON-HOURS-FEES-PARKING: Open year round for a variety of activities, but only during daylight hours. There are no fees and there is plenty of parking.

FACILITIES: You can find a porta-john at the north end of the parking lot. Aside from the ranger headquarters at the entrance, all the buildings in the campground are closed.

WHAT WE FOUND: This is a great resource and park for winter use. It is pretty, generally quiet and we found many friendly people along the trails all willing to discuss snowshoeing and skiing, as well as what a beautiful day it was to be out there. The snow was fresh and wonderful to ski upon. There is a map of the trail system at the headquarters for a $2 fee. It will help you find you way around the extensive trail network. ecolocalliving.com 15

A Place for Peace Out past Cambridge, in Washington County, on a quiet back road that straddles the Vermont border, lies an oasis for the human spirit.

Known as Pompanuck Farm, it is sometimes referred to as an eco-retreat.

By David DeLozier

The unique buildings of cord-wood, strawbale, yurt and green roofs, almost appear to be something out of Tolkien's Middle Earth.

It's hard to nail down exactly what Pompanuck Farm is. Part children's fun camp, part rehab center for social misfits; it can be an art venue or music showcase; or an idyllic setting for a green wedding, or family reunion. We sat down with residents and hosts Scott and Lisa Carrino, to find out what goes on under the green roofs at Pompanuck Farm.

EL: What is the name “Pompanuck: derived from?

PF: This piece of land was known as “Pumpkin Hook” from way back. When we purchased the land, we did some research about the area. Apparently Pompanuck was a Pequock Indian chief from the Connecticut River Valley in the 1600's. The people were tired of warring with neighboring tribes, so they migrated to this area to seek a more peaceful existence. The Pompanuck name shows up again when the Dutch arrived in the area. They really did not know how to live in the wilderness, so the Indians, now know as the Pompanucks, taught them how to survive. The Dutch named the creek running through the property “Pumpkin Hook” as hook means small stream. So that is the name that became associated with 16 ecolocalliving.com

this highland area where we are located. It was really inspiring for us to look at this history and find out that what we are trying to do here is to live in harmony with nature and with people, and that was happening here a long time ago as well.

EL: So it turns out that this place, both now and in the past, is a place where people can find peace!

PF: Well we just found ourselves here, in a way. We weren't necessarily seeking peace, but we were following our intuition, and it found us. The project we started here began with three couples, all who were teachers, artists, and what the original idea was to live together and live off the land, and build structures that were in harmony with nature. Initially there was this idea all of us living together and it hasn't quite worked out that way. There was discussion of being an intentional community, but it never really worked out that way. The other owners visit on occasion, for events and family reunions, but we're the primary residents and caretakers of the property. It's a more loosely based community of friends commonly owned with this purpose of having a place where we can teach.

EL: The Buildings here at Pompanuck are certainly unique. The one we are sitting in is round and made of cordwood, and has a

green roof. You've got several yurts on the property, and even a couple of buildings made of straw bales. Are these structures part of some intentional plan?

PF: Were these buildings intentional from the beginning? Not really. The inspiration for this building came from a book. When I lived in Connecticut, I was involved in the building trades, while there was a building boom going on, and it was all about how fast and how cheap. That really didn't strike me very well. Lisa was in a book store and picked up this little book, on a cordwood construction technique. She wrote a note in it, “For your inspiration.” Well, I became obsessed by it! I was able to meet the fella that wrote the book, and his goal was to try to get this technique back into practice. This is an old technique. One of the things we were thinking about back then was local materials. So this building itself, almost all the materials, the beams the wood for the walls, the glass bottles, it all came from within a 25 mile radius. The window actually came from a building in New York City, but there are recycled. In 1990 we were thinking about the idea that materials for building can be acquired locally, and should be acquired locally, so we're not shipping things 3000 miles to use Doug Fir, for instance, and it's much less expensive.

All these logs came from the trees on the

property. Our kids were little at the time, and they even helped strip the bark off of them. We were using a leaf spring, sharpened in the middle, and we'd strip an 80 foot log all at once. What we didn't know at the time is that there were these fibers, like fiberglass that we were releasing from the bark and they get caught up in our clothes. It was a disaster!

are. This building in particular, we had a lot of support from the local community. We developed wonderful relationships with the people at Hubbard Hall, and the Village Coop, and so when we built this building, a lot of folks from the community came out to help and support our efforts, much like an Amish barn raising event. People put a lot of nice energy into it.

One of the things that was important to us was that we weren't creating an isolationist or survivalist mentality here; it's not who we

These windows came from a NYC apartment house that I lived in. They were changing out the windows, and these were going to be landfilled, so they gave us the windows for free. We rented a truck, and bought restoration grade hanging systems, and built storm windows for them, so even with all the cash we put out to get them here and fix them up, it would have only bought us two new windows. So we saved these windows from the landfill, and got decent windows for this structure. All of the doors are from other buildings, and the toilets, the sinks, all are recycled from some other place.

There's also the fact that using old things from somewhere else gives the building immediate age, immediate history. I mean, people have been looking through these windows for decades. The doors - how many people have walked through these doors before? There's a history that is immediately imbued in a new building when you recycle things.

EL: That brings up another interesting thing about what you are doing here. You are kind of like human being recyclers. Your brochure states that you are rehabilitating people who have found some sort of trouble in our society. Can you tell me how that plays a part here at Pompanuck?

PF: For us, we think of it as a mentoring responsibility, that we've made a lot of mistakes in our lives; some of them are more serious than others, and yet, this gives us an opportunity to share on some level, the things that we've learned from our mistakes, in terms of relationships, or in terms of relationship with society. And so for us, we don't approach any of these programs that we do with an agenda; that this is the way you should things, or your life will be better if you do this; it's more, for us, a process of listens, and seeing where communication can take place, where the teaching moments are.

We don't necessarily have a philosophy or a dogma, where we say “This is how it must be -See PEACE, Page 28

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-From VISIONARY, Page 10 Perhaps his largest and most complex building to date, Sonny is enthusiastic about the project and the opportunities and benefits it will be bring to residents in the community, and especially the downtown core. “ Said Sonny, “This is a great community of diverse businesses and diverse groups.” His motivation for this and his other downtown projects is “keeping the stores and restaurants full downtown, keeping our schools with high quality teachers, and keeping our quality of life.”

One thing is for certain, Sonny Bonacio is the one builder in Saratoga who has done the most to bring people downtown - living and working.

For more information go to www.bonacio.com.

©stockstudiophotography.com

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BUY LOCAL

Localism vs. Globalism - It's Our Choice

By Jonathan Greene

Search the term “Shop Local” on Google and you'll find over 2.5 million references.

Supporting mom and pop stores has always been an American value, but not until the last couple of years have communities fully embraced campaigns advocating on behalf of the lil' man.

Search the term “Shop Local” on Google and you'll find over 2.5 million references.

Supporting mom and pop stores has always been an American value, but not until the last couple of years have communities fully embraced campaigns advocating on behalf of the lil' man.

The movement has exploded: at least 130 communities have 'buy local' campaigns, with over half of them founded since 2005.

This growth is fueled by the concern that an unbalanced economy-where big box stores flourish and local, independents struggle to survive-is destructive to our local communities. In many cases, locally owned businesses are banding together to form what are in effect, marketing cooperatives, to compete with the billions of dollars of advertising messages from corporate behemoths that bombard us each year.

We are lucky to have three organizations in the capital region dedicated to promoting these principles: Capital District Local First, the Eco Local Living Magazine and the Local Living Guide. These types of organizations are central to the well-being of our communities.

Maintaining a healthy balance between local and non-local businesses may be the difference between a surging local economy and a downwardly spiraling economy. According to Michael Shuman, critically acclaimed economist, author, and business owner, the most successful economies will be the ones with highest degree of local ownership.

However, a strong, vibrant and locally-rooted economy is not just about economics. Some of the most progressive thinkers of our day from every background imaginable are acknowledging the importance of this movement. The thinking goes like this: Change has to happen. Real change happens at the local level. And a healthy, functioning community-economically, politically and socially-is necessary to realize the change we envision. Thus, a world that is equitable, healthy and prosperous requires relationshipdriven economies, where businesses operate locally, and are not managed from thousands of miles away.

Photo provided; Jonathan Greene, founder of the Local Living Guide

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At present we, as residents of this community, have two choices in before us: we may choose to be proactive, or to do nothing.

The following best and worst case scenarios illustrate the potential consequences of either action: It is the year 2025 and Capital Region communities have chosen not to shift spending or policy since 2010. Where there were once thriving locally owned businesses, there are now mostly empty storefronts.

Where there was once farmland, there are now more shopping centers. Mega shopping centers have expanded and now draw business from a wider region. Local wealth has dissipated, real estate markets have contracted, and our population is shrinking, as people seek employment opportunities in other communities. The tax base has eroded resulting in fewer funds to support our local governmental services. Non-profits are financially struggling, as fewer people are able to donate and less money is coming from business (locally owned businesses give 3.5 times the amount to charity as compared to their non-local counterparts). In the case of social service non-profits, they now have even more people to assist. And worst of all, there seems to be no way out. Big box stores have a complete lock on the economy and politics, making it increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs to bring their dreams of launching a business to fruition.

It is the year 2025 and the people in the Capital Region have embraced this movement. Back in 2010 we decided to shift more of our spending to locally owned business. Policy makers acted in the best interest of its residents, and re-examined its policies that unintentionally favored big, non-local business. Big box stores still play an important role in our communities but now people have further embraced the value of supporting a rich diversity of locally owned businesses that meet the needs of locals and tourists. We see increased re-circulation of the dollar within our local economy (locally owned businesses have 2-4 times the local economic effect as compared to big box

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stores)-schools are well-funded, non-profits are supported, the arts are flourishing and individuals in the community have the capital and political will to conserve our local resources. Today, there is less need for a car, because of the foresight of those in 2010.

Citizens, businesses, government and nonprofits worked together to design vibrant mixed-use downtown communities, where many necessities are now procured just down the street. With the price of oil tripling since 2010, trips to strip boulevard central are no longer as convenient or affordable.

Sound extreme? Well, these scenarios are not out of the realm of possibility. In fact, it's happened before‌ hundreds of times.

As you travel through the United States you notice that more communities are comprised of the same franchise businesses clustered next to major highways or interstates, and nearby is a depleted downtown with vacant storefronts. Some rural communities in this region have even recently lost their neighborhood grocery store, forcing the entire community's population to travel further to acquire food.

Despite the surging momentum of the localization movement of today, there are far fewer examples of communities that are realizing their vision. This is mostly a reflection of a new movement fighting an avalanche of divergent forces.

However, the good news is that we created these forces and we can undo them. Plus, the shift that is required to reverse the trend may not be as great as we think.

The movement's message is all about balance; it's not an anti big-box center campaign. The goal is not to rid our communities of all big box stores-that is unnecessary and unrealistic. But simply by shifting just 10% of our spending we may begin to see powerful results within our communities. Based on studies conducted in similar communities, this conscience shift in spending could result in nearly $200 million in new economic activity and 2,269 new jobs for the Capital Region.

The choice is ours to make.

According to Michael Shuman, nationally acclaimed economist and author, banking with a locally owned bank is one of the most critical first steps to localizing your own capital.

Flip through the Local Living Guide, find a coupon for the Adirondack Trust Company and set up an account.

Also check out www.moveyourmoney.info for entertainment purposes.

Jonathan Greene is a 25 year old social entrepreneur.

Jonathan founded the Local Living Guide-a new kind of coupon book that rewards healthy and vibrant reciprocity between residents and locally owned businesses. The book is designed to be a results oriented tool for community stakeholders wishing to engage in the creation of a restorative local economy that values prosperity, people and the planet. The 2010 edition is now available for $15 and provides $3,500 worth of incentive to shop with your values. For more information, visit www.locallivingguide.com or you may contact Jonathan directly at jonathan@locallivingguide.com

Lean and Mean Ice Cream

Lean Mean Ice Cream is available online at leanandmeanicecream.com.

An 8 ounce container sells for $6.99.

Photo and Story by David Delozier

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is the old axiom for solving problems with a new idea. Jeff Miller of Malta was inspired to improve upon that favorite treat of young and old, ice cream, not out of necessity, however, but because he wanted to get something more than just a satisfied sweet tooth.

It all started 15 years ago, when Jeff was looking for different ways to get nutritional supplements into his diet. Being a fitness buff, Jeff was taking a lot protein powder and amino acid supplements as part of his daily regimen. “But then at night, my sweet tooth cravings would kick in and I would always end up eating ice cream for a dessert,” explains Jeff. “I love ice cream,” he said, “but there isn’t anything on the market that that tastes good and has any real nutritional value.” Taking matters into his own hands, Jeff started the mixing whey protein powder that he was already using for shakes, in with plain vanilla ice cream. “For me, it was a way for me to satisfy my craving for a real dessert, but mentally it was accomplishing good, so it was OK for me to eat it at night,” said Jeff. The hand mixed protein powder into the cold ice cream left the texture a little gritty, but for Jeff, he had had achieved success. Now he could rationalize eating ice cream without the guilt trip.

The hand mixing option became tedious over time, so Jeff decided to invest in a do-it-yourself ice cream maker. Now making his protein-laced ice cream from scratch, Jeff found that the ingredients blended together perfectly, with no grit nor inconsistency of flavors. Inspired by the results, Jeff began sharing the concoction with friends and family. One family member was his brother, who was a competing tri-athlete. Also into a strict dietary regimen, he too could rationalize eating this ice cream without the guilt. Jeff’s brother shared the dessert with some of his friends, and, to Jeff’s surprise, he began getting request for more. And people would pay for it! “I got a call from a complete stranger, a friend of a friend of my brother’s, who had lost so much weight training for triathlons that his doctor told him to eat ice cream just to avoid more weight loss,” Jeff said. “He was thrilled to find my product” With the new enthusiasm that profits can bring, Jeff decided to create a business out of his healthy ice cream creation. Jeff branded the product as Lean and Mean Ice Cream, bought some packaging and labels, and began sharing his cool new product with local gyms and fitness centers. The reception, so far, has been good. “It’s a great treat to cool down with after a hot workout in the gym,” explained Jeff. Jeff currently makes his ice cream at home on the weekends. Packaged in 8 ounce containers, consisting of whey protein, skim milk, and less sugar than regular ice cream. He now makes chocolate, peanut butter and coconut flavors in addition to the original vanilla.

Surprised, yet delighted with the demand, Jeff is ready for the big time. He is already negotiating with a commercial kitchen to expand production, and there’s been some interest in the product from small grocers and convenience stores. When asked if he’d have to quit his day job to deal with the increased demand, Jeff smiled and said, “That would be a good problem to have!” ecolocalliving.com 21

Old School Education The Adirondack School of Northeastern New York is a small 7th through 12th-grade college-preparatory school with an emphasis on the arts. It is located in an intimate country setting on the banks of the Hudson River.

By David DeLozier

It's a school that offers unique opportunities to both teachers and students to be creative and experiment. Adirondack School offers a stimulating and integrated curriculum blending critical thinking, artistic expression, and practical achievement. Its mission statement says, in part, “Adirondack students will work in an atmosphere of mutual respect, enhancing the development of their leadership and communication skill.”

The School was founded in 1996 by a group of parents who were looking for a school that placed an equal emphasis on the arts as well as the sciences as part of the regular curriculum. The original group of students came out of the Waldorf program in Saratoga Springs. At the time there was no high school program at Waldorf, so the parents were looking for something similar for their children. When no alternative was found, they decided to start their own

the public sector Her real love was the arts, and she really wanted to start with that emphasis. The opportunity to join the Adirondack School came along when one of the parents called and asked if she could help out. “I thought, here's my chance,” recalled Douglass, ands she joined as a founding member. “The whole idea was to build on the whole idea of satellite school for the theater and the arts. It hasn't become that specifically, but we do have a strong theater and arts program because of my involvement,” she said. program, which is what became the Adirondack School.

Pat Douglass, Executive Director of the School, is one of three founding members of the original six who founded the school.

Douglass had spent several years in the public school system, but became discouraged after many years of working in

Early on it was decided that the school would be a welcoming community, not discriminating in employment or admissions against persons of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or religion, respecting the dignity and worth of all individuals. During the first year, the school met in the parish house of the Episcopal Church in Schuylerville, with the early intent to balance academic and arts based curricula. “There were six student and five teachers,” said Douglass. “It was like this big home school thing.”

A school building in Thomson, a small hamlet on the banks of the Hudson in the nearby town of Greenwich, became available, and the founders made the purchase. The current school building dates to 1915, and was known as the Schuyler Prep School for boys, which was a private school for the wealthy to discreetly send their sons to. Later, the school became part of the public school system; know as the Battenkill School, it and was part of the Schuylerville Schools District, used for teaching kindergarten and first graders.

After the construction of the Schuylerville School Campus, the building became the home of the Schuylerville Academy. Known as the “lock-down in the woods” it was where some unruly kids were sent to get straightened out.

Three years after the initial purchase of the school's main building, the property across the street became available. Formerly the farm estate of Governor Dix, the beautiful riverfront property with several buildings was

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Kaitlyn Titus and Julie Mahay

added to the School campus. Not long after the addition of the riverside property, two of the riverfront buildings were converted into a science lab and a small theater, and in 2003 - 2005 a large tractor and vehicle structure was converted into a facility for the arts, with several classrooms, a darkroom and equipment for various arts and crafts. In 2006, the School expanded to include a sixth grade.

Adirondack School is also ideal for students who want to focus on the arts or music.

Whatever talents students might or might not have, they are required to take foundation courses in music and the visual arts, and electives are provided in chorus, theatre, mosaics, drawing and painting, jewelry making, metal sculpture, photography, ceramics and stained glass.

“Art is a requirement here,” said Douglass, “We want to include right brain thinking.” In many school districts, budget shortfalls often result in the cutting of arts programs. At Adirondack, they feel that the arts are what

stimulate creativity and discipline. “That's where you get all those” explains Douglass.

“The discipline of music, the discipline of theater. - that's what helps you become a stronger individual,” she said. “And so we teach to both the left and right brain. We have a very strong math and science program,” Douglass continued. “It's a well rounded curriculum.”

Adirondack School has chosen not do the State Regents tests. Douglass explained that there is too much emphasis on teaching to the test, and education is lost in the process.

“To go to college, admissions looks at SAT's, ACT's; our kids take all of those” said Douglass. “Our kids have been accepted to colleges all over the country, and that's something we're very proud of”.

Adirondack School provides a friendly learning environment with knowledgeable staff who are always willing to help. This school is a real 'community' in action.

Students, teachers and parents work hard to ensure the school is not only a safe place for

all, but provides an atmosphere that supports learning through creativity, environmental consciousness and respect for all who participate in the school life. The School operates on a shoestring, with teachers being paid little in money, but much in the joy they find as the students grow and develop into young adults. The School has no endowments and is chiefly maintained with tuition payments. Parents and friends of the School often provide volunteer help; and teachers and staff, because they enthusiastically believe in the School, devote much time to administrative and maintenance tasks, as well as teaching and tutoring students. It's a school where the education is designed to meet the students needs, develop their abilities, and prepare them for college or any other career they choose in life. It is truly a team effort, one whose investment of time, energy and passion produces a learning environment like no other.

The Adirondack School is located at 5158 County Route 113, also known as River Rd., in the town of Greenwich, NY. For more information, call 695-5294. www.adirondackschoolneny.org.

Vacation Art Camp For The Senses at The Adirondack School A variety of visual and performing art classes for children of all ages February 15-19 and April 5-9. Come join us for an opportunity to create, explore, and connect with the seasons.

Classes include yoga, photography, eARTh, drumming, drawing, painting, multi medium art, and food art.

February 15-19 Winter Wonderland and April 5-9 is Springy Spring. Age groups are: 5-10 and 11-18 Monday - Friday 9:00-3:00 $200.00 for the week- includes materials.

Please contact Daniele Ippoliti 885-6922 or Pat Douglass 695-5294.

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LOCAL FOOD

London’s Calling – Max-imizing Taste

By Stacey Morris, Contributing Writer

Max London's formative years spent around food were irrevocably influenced by what he did not experience.

Raised in Washington County by a Parisiantrained pastry chef and meticulous bread baker, London missed out on the allAmerican staple of fast food, limp with grease, that was cooked and bagged at lightening speed and pushed through a drive-thru window. Meals weren’t topped off with cans of carbonated corn syrup, and he never did know the challenge of trying to digest hydrogenated peanut butter sandwiches enveloped in disintegrating white bread.

“I just remember being around good food and good ingredients,” he recalls. “And I ate a lot of bread….I lived in a bakery.”

His parents, Wendy and Michael London, opened Mrs. London’s patisserie in Saratoga Springs before he was born, and it was there that the youngster got a first-hand education in the art of fine food preparation.

“It’s where I learned to make desserts,” he says.

“But I realized savory was more my thing.”

The Londons closed their downtown patisserie in 1985 and operated Rock Hill Bake House in Greenwich for eight years.

Michael was using biodynamic flour in his baguettes before it became part of the vernacular, and sold his bread around the region and to establishments such as Le Bernardin and Dean & Deluca in New York City.

When Wendy and Michael moved to Paris for

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two years to hone their pastry-making skills (in preparation for the reopening of Mrs. London’s on Broadway in 1997), Max began sharpening his own skills by becoming chef at Eartha’s restaurant in Saratoga Springs, followed by a tenure in Manhattan working at Aureole and Bayard’s.

When restaurant space became available

next door to his parents’ patisserie in late 2007, he jumped at the chance to open Max London’s at 466 Broadway.

In the restaurant’s open kitchen, where the wood-fired oven is the focal point, the 29year-old chef puts a savory twist on the London legacy with his menu of salads, handmade pasta, grilled meats, as well as wood-fired pizza.

Much of the tapas, chorizo-infused dishes, and pizzas were inspired by Max’s travels through Spain and southern Italy. Witness the imaginative Chickpea Polenta Fries, Bleu Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Serrano Ham, and olive platters layered with Salumi and Manchego.

Max says that the core of the menu was inspired by his travels to Spain and southern Italy.

“After working in fancy New York restaurants, I wanted to do something more rustic and approachable,” he explains. “The ingredients of Spain and the way they eat inspire me.”

He says the most popular menu choice are his pizzas, which he modeled after the masterpieces he tasted in Naples.

“I use a special kind of flour that makes a crust that’s crispy outside and chewy-soft on the inside. The flavors of the pizza are simple, but strong and distinct.” The varieties range from the traditional Margherita (tomato,

to be a place for everyone – and relishes the idea of initiating the unfamiliar into the local food movement.

“I would hope people don’t judge us by our ambience or location,” he said with a smile.

“We have something for everyone. Our small plates and pizzas are extremely affordable.Our medium plates range from $10 to $15, and then there’s our marketdriven menu and large plates.”

Happy Hour, which is from 3 to 7 p.m.

Tuesdays through Thursdays features something different everyday: Tuesdays, buy one small plate, get one free; Wednesdays, basil, and house-made mozzarella) and Sausage (fennel sausage, caramelized onions, and smoked mozzarella) to the more adventurous Shrimp and Chorizo (rock shrimp, chorizo, mahon cheese and fresh chiles) and Mushroom (mushrooms, taleggio cheese, a baked local egg and truffle oil).

The menu’s entrees are featured in three sizes: small, medium, and large plates. Max says it’s common for groups of people to order a table full of small plate selections and share them.

Most important to Max, however, is the origin of his menu ingredients. Though some are imported from Spain and Italy (olive oils, salumi, cheeses), he makes an effort to buy local and organic whenever possible.

Many of the cheeses, such as the chevre from Coach Farm in Pine Plains are local. Eggs are procured from a flock of Heritage chickens at American Masala Farm in Hebron; rabbit is from WannaBea Farm in Shushan; potatoes, fava beans, squash and beans are from Sheldon Farms in Salem; and H. Childress and Sons supply the microgreens for the salads; the grass-fed beef for Max’s signature hamburgers is supplied by Mack Brook Farm in Argyle.

Wendy and Michael haven’t let their patisserie get in the way of making the restaurant a family operation. While Michael works the floor and serves as host and sommelier,Wendy provides signature desserts of Chocolate Mousse Cake, Lemon Meringue Tartlettes, and Butterscotch Budino.

“Each day Max creates new small and large plates for the menu,” said Michael. “He just informed me that for tonight’s menu, he has 16 special items: shaved local asparagus salad red wine vinaigrette Parmesan, Quinoa Mint Feta Salad, Morel mushroom bruschetta, grilled ricotta salata frissee with cherry compote guinciale and aged balsamic.”

Though the crowds at Max London’s are often well heeled, he says he really wants it

all pizzas for $9; Thursdays, $3 for draft beer, and $6 glasses of wine and house cocktails all night. Max’s also puts on a popular Sunday Brunch from 11-3.

“We get a lot of families coming in for the first time who are pleasantly surprised,” he said. “Our BLT is the most popular pizza.

Depending on what’s ordered, you probably wouldn’t pay any more than at a chain restaurant.”

Suvir Saran and Charlie Burd of American Masala Farm aren’t just suppliers to Max London’s, but are true-blue fans.

“Charlie and I often go to Max London’s with our friends from the city, and some of our favorite meals ever eaten anywhere on the planet have been served there,” said Saran, who is also chef/owner of Devi restaurant in Manhattan and American Masala Restaurant in Jersey City, N.J. “Max London’s fare is at once local, sustainable as can be, organic when possible, and always deliciously addictive. A huge rarity for this area, or for most parts of the country.” ”It’s called real food,” said Michael of his son’s menu. “The institutional food truck does not back up at Max London’s. The pigs and rabbits almost walk through the door.”

For more information, call (518) 587-3535, or visit maxlondons.com.

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462 Route 29 West, Saratoga, NY 12866 • 518-584-WINE (9463) www.thesaratogawinery.com

Open Year-Round Wine Tastings Daily. Select from 15 Handcrafted Wines including all natural Melomel – made with local honey

Along with our wines…

We offer a growing selection LOCAL-crafted specialty products, plus gifts for the wine lover, accessories and gift certificates.

CHARDONNAY, RIESLING, WHITNEY'S WHITE, MERLOT, CABERNET FRANC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, ROBERTS RUN, SARATOGA SUMMERTIME, BLOOD ROOT, SARATOGA SPIT FIRE, HILLBILLY MOUNTAIN MASH

Winter Farmers’ Markets BALLSTON SPA • First Saturday only, 9 AM-noon, Cornell Cooperative Extension auditorium, 50 W. High St., Nov.-May, www.ballston.org

SALEM • Saturday, 10 AM-1 PM, Courthouse Community Center, www.salemcourthouse.org

CAMBRIDGE Saturday, 10 AM-1 PM Lovejoy Building in the Cambridge Freight Yard, Nov. 15-Dec. 20

SARATOGA SPRINGS • Saturday, 9 AM-1 PM, Division St. Elementary School (Take Division St. about .75 mi. from Borders Books), Nov-April, www.saratogafarmersmarket.org

DELMAR Saturday, 9 AM-1 PM, Delmar Presbyterian Church, 585 Delaware Ave., Nov. 7- Dec. 19, www.delmarmarket.org

SCHENECTADY • Thursday, 9 AM-1 PM, ground floor of City Hall, Nov.-March 4 or Sunday, 10 AM-2 PM, inside Proctors, State St., free parking in garage,, Nov.-April, www.schenectadygreenmarket.org

GANSEVOORT Saturday, twice monthly, Gansevoort Town Hall, 518-792-0198

TROY • Saturday, 9 AM-1 PM, Uncle Sam Atrium, Broadway at 3rd & 4th Sts., Nov.-April, www.troymarket.org

GLENS FALLS • Saturday, 9 AM-noon, Christ Church United, 54 Bay St., Nov. 22-April, www.glensfallsfarmersmarket.com

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• = Market runs all winter

New York State tests

Agricultural Impact of Diet

By Mary Beth McCue RD LDN CDN Integrative and Functional Nutritionist

We are hearing more and more about the connections between local food systems and their positive impact on improving health, sustainability and our economy. Have you ever wondered what your agriculture footprint is, based on the diet you consume?

New York State is involved with a groundbreaking study on the agricultural impact of diet. Researchers estimated land requirements for 42 isocaloric diets varying from 0 to approx 12 oz per day of meat and eggs, and 20 – 45 % of calories from dietary fat, such as nuts and seeds.

A low fat diet was very efficient in land use, but adding some meats and daily could increase efficiency even more. The reason is that fruits, vegetables and grains must be grown in high quality land environments and soil. Meats & dairy can be and are produced on lower quality land, but more widely available land that support pasture and hay.

With the current trends of highly consumed amounts of meat and dairy, the state can support only 22 percent of the current population. The study indicated that if everyone in NY State followed a low-fat, vegetarian diet, the state could directly support approximately 50 % more people or about 32 % of it’s population, agriculturally.

One of the research nutritionists in this study reported that: “The key to conserving land and other resources with our diets is to limit the amount of meat consumption we eat, and for farmers to rely more on grazing and forages to feed their livestock.” This creates a very healthy and sustainable outcome for all whom is involved.

A plant-based diet with small to moderate amounts of protein; which on average is between 50 – 70 gm/day, is now recommended by the majority of professional health organizations. These diets are predominately made of vegetables, fruits, grains, beans and nuts. Minimal, if any, processed foods are included and a modest amounts of meat or fish.

This style of eating helps prevent many chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. This diet is rich in antioxidants, fiber and naturally low is fats. The inclusion of protein also helps avoid many common nutritional deficiencies experienced by people that do not eat ample amounts of meats and or proteins. Two of these common deficiencies are vitamin B 12 and folate.

When farmers put their animals out to graze naturally on plants grown on grazing land, verses being feed high amounts of corn and other grains, animals develop leaner and healthier bodies. This intern translates to a higher percentage of healthier fats on the animals, and a lower amount of total amount of fat.

Learning the difference between nutrient content of foods and the amount of resources required to produce them can help make a positive difference in conservation, health and economics. Every step each of us can take, no matter how small it may seem, will lead to a healthier earth, land, and people.

RECIPE FROM KRIPALU IN THE BERKSHIRES Creamy Vegan Ginger Squash Soup 1 whole butternut or buttercup squash 1 yellow onion, sliced on the grain 1 carrot, diced 3 stalks of celery, diced 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 or more tablespoons fresh ginger, minced Sea salt to taste Organic vegetables are recommended.

Begin by peeling, deseeding, and cutting the squash into large pieces. In a large pot, sauté the onion in the olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Add the carrots, celery, and squash pieces and stir until all the vegetables begin to sweat. Add a pinch of salt and the ginger, and cover with water or stock. Allow to simmer until squash is soft.

Using an immersion blender (if you have one) or a regular blender, blend the vegetables into a puree. Adjust seasoning as needed, adding more ginger and/or salt. For a little flavor, color and flair, consider adding pomegranate seeds to sprinkle on each serving top. 6 servings.

Nutritional Advantages Ginger has been found helpful in expelling phlegm and is used to treat asthma, bronchitis and colds, coughs and respiratory congestions. Ginger can help reduce inflammation by acting as a prostaglandin inhibitor, in much the same way as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) work.

Pomegranates are estimated to have three to seven times as much antioxidant value as green tea. Antioxidants are important to the human body because they help reduce the harmful effects of oxidants, or “free radicals,” and can help repair damage already done to cells in addition to fighting against aging.

Pomegranates are also high in Vitamin C and fiber, and contain the minerals iron, potassium and calcium. Other nutrients include Vitamin A, Vitamin E and folic acid.

They also may prevent heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. This is because pomegranates have the potential to thin the blood, increase blood flow to the heart, reduce blood pressure, reduce plaque in the arteries, and reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol.

Mary Beth McCue RD, LDN, CDN is an Integrative dietitian recognized for her work in Holistic and Functional Nutrition. She is a certified and licensed Nutritionist in NY and MA. With more than 20 yrs experience in clinical, wellness and Integrative/holistic nutrition, she offers Corporate and Community programs, speaking engagements, and private consultations with individuals at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa in Saratoga Springs. Mary Beth has successfully assisted many people to the recovery of many chronic conditions, health & vitality - including herself. For more information: www.SIPN.edu. To contact: SaratogaNutrition@earthlink.net or ph 518.257.6530.

Original article of study: Peters C, Wilkins J, Fick G. Testing a complete-diet model for estimating the land resource requirements of food consumption and agricultural carrying capacity: The New York State example. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.

2007; 22(2);145-153.

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-From PEACE, Page 17 done,” and the people realize, “wow, this person is here for me.” SO I feel that the teaching comes from what they are asking for and we can fit the bill, we do it, and if we can't, we ask for help form others.

It comes from that value really listening to people, and seeing what they're asking for. It's not really what we think is right for the situation.

EL: So, what type of people come to Pompanuck?

PF: We've made a lot of contacts with youth programs in the region. A lot of the kids have heard about Pompanuck, and they actually ask if they can come and participate in things that we do.

Then we were contacted by the Washington County mentoring program and then they asked us if we'd take on some of their kids that had to do community service hours. And then they asked us to take on adults, who also had to do some kind of community service to avoid incarceration. We've also had a long time relationship with a St. John's Orphanage in New York City, and those kids come up every year as a kind of retreat. It's turned into a reward for those kids who behave and stay in school. They make the trip 3 or 4 times a year for 4 days. They realized that it's not just frolicking in the woods; we have the ability here to mentor these young men and to inspire them, and so that came from realizing these boys are hungry for more than just being baby sat, that there's a greater opportunity here. And then when we were asked to be part of the programs for the County, it came from the person who ran the mentoring for young people, moving into an alternative sentencing program, and saying, “hey, We should use Pompanuck for this program as well.”

From there it went into drug court, which is for felony cases, and that lead to the directive for the offenders to take life skills workshops. Now, apparently, because of the support we offer, Washington County has a model program. The only requirement is that they learn something from outside their realm of experience. It could be baking, or tending the garden, tai-ji, or using some element of nature to ground themselves so that they can make better decisions. There's different things we can offer here, and again, it's without going: “Here's this program, and here's the steps…” It's this idea of staying tuned in and being able to flow and dance with each individual to help THEM find their way. Not necessarily for them to find our way; because our way does not necessarily work for everybody.

EL: So you adapt your mentoring to the needs of each participant.

I'm sure that a lot of the people that you deal with have never been treated this way. Whatever they gravitate towards, that is your signal to teach, right?

PF: Yes, even taking silent hikes in the woods. A lot of people who come here have never been in the woods before, and for them to go silently in the woods and ask themselves, “What is my experience?” We prime them to be aware of certain things, like “Hey, you might want to look at this, or, you might want to get a sense of how you feel safe in the woods, or, how do you feel about being silent?” And that's a hard thing for a lot of people, is to be silent. So much of what we do is try to help people. And maybe that's our agenda, is top help people learn how to observe, and how to listen, and to learn how to tune into their own wisdom, and not necessarily someone else's wisdom. What's the wisdom inside you?

EL: You are obviously making a positive impact in peoples' lives. It must be life changing for you as well.

PF: Every single relationship that we have had with anyone who 28 ecolocalliving.com

has come here for community service has been successful.

For the most part, if we haven't kept in contact with them we will be in contact with them. Again, they are people in our community, and it's exciting for us to get to know all these people. We just love it. When we can do this kind of teaching and have it be something that everyone enjoys, it's great.

The only down side, is we don't get paid enough for it.

We don't get a lot of time off, because a lot of stuff happens on weekends. We work ridiculously hard, but thank goodness, we love it, and we love each other, so it makes it all worth it!

Pompanuck Farm is located at 494 Chestnut Hill Road, outside of Cambridge, NY. Call 518-677-5552 or visit pompanuck.org for more information.

Baked - Balsamic Potatoes

By Diane Conroy-LaCivita, Harmony House Marketplace

Potatoes can be divided into two categories - waxy and starchy. Waxy potatoes, such as Red New, are low in starch, have a creamy texture and hold their shape when cooked. Starchy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold and Russets, contain much more starch and are fluffy when cooked. Waxy are best when used within a week of purchase.

Starchy potatoes can be kept for months.

All potatoes, regardless of category, provide nutritional value to a meal.

1 1/2 pounds of waxy potatoes, rinsed, halved, or quartered (depending on size) • 3/4 vegetarian broth • 1/4 balsamic vinegar • 10 pressed garlic cloves fresh thyme (several sprigs) Salt and pepper to salt Arrange cubed squash in a 12”x8” baking pan. Top with apple wedges. Combine remaining ingredients; spoon over apples. Bake at 350o for 50-60 minutes or until tender.

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A floydwarriors.com follow-up…

Meanings behind the name are always interesting. Whether it is a new baby being born, a rock album hitting the charts or a new business starting up, it is always intriguing to find out what the creator used as inspiration for a name. Often times the grapevine, though may be a great source for word of mouth advertising, can be a little less than reliable as a factual source for information.

Recently, a new local organization ‘Floydwarriors.com’ was featured in Eco-Local Living and unfortunately experienced the grapevine effect. The name ‘floydwarriors’ was inspired yes, from Pink Floyd, but not for the reasons one might think. The founder, Lisa Morahan, recalled the band’s music and movie ‘The Wall’ from her high school years and remembered the famous Hammers scene. She found the movie’s many references to Nazi Germany seemed to mirror our Nazi of today killing millions rather silently- cancer. The sound of the marching Hammers reverberated in her mind as she prepared herself mentally to get into battle mode. She connected especially with the Hammers because during her journey through cancer she became a born again Christian and quickly adds, ‘Jesus was a carpenter!’ Pink Floyd’s tune ‘When the Tigers Broke Free’ reminded her of her Mom who always said ‘Go Get em’ Tiger!’ to her and the family’s annual tradition of the Peppermint Pig and silver hammer also seemed part of Floyd’s ‘Pigs on the Wing’. She realized Pink of Pink Floyd was the signature color of her own breast cancer and thus, the name was born.

Ms. Morahan established floydwarriors.com, a local organization whose mission is ‘Dinner is Done… Dishes are Clean…The Kids are OK!’ and strives to help local Capital District families get basic life necessities in the home while undergoing cancer treatment. Her on-line day timer system helps family and friends coordinate schedules to easily volunteer their time in the home of a loved one. Ms. Morahan truly believes she was spared the brunt of typical side effects to show the greatness of God and to inspire others to pursue their God given talents, even after a cancer diagnosis.

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