NNY Living April/May 2013

L I v I ng NN Y

nnyliving.com

APRIL / MAY 2013 Volume 2 No. 2

Take charge of your health Follow tips from pros to live the life you want

$2.95

/nnyliving @NNYLivingMag

HOMES

A retirement dream comes true in Clayton

FOOD

Just dessert: A fabulous flan

WINE

Sweet New York blends that shine

TRAVEL

A fun-filled trip to the Flower City

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>> Inside APRIL /MAY ’13

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44 COVER STORY | 32 ACHIEVING HEALTHY What does it take to be healthy? North country firms answer the question. |

WELLNESS | 19 KEYS TO A HAPPY HEART Maintaining heart health is a priority for men and women. |

THIS IS NNY | 28 ONE FOR THE FANS ‘Fandamonium’ reigns during high school basketball season. |

FEATURES | 36 LIVING A NEW LIFE A lifeguard regains happiness after having foot amputated.

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38 NIGHT ON THE RIVER A preview of an annual event that features unique foods and celebrity chefs.

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40 STANDING ROOM ONLY A busy season lies ahead for the Clayton Opera House as its new director settles in.

FOOD | 44 FIT FOR A SUPERHERO A flan recipe that comes with the backstory of a mother attempting to balance it all. |

CHEF’S TABLE | 46 UNIQUE CHICKEN PASTA Massena’s Vino Vidi Vici is dishing up a new classic.

WINE | 47 THE WINE LADY Kris Allen of Allen’s Liquors and Wines highlights local favorites on the sweet side.

HISTORY | 48 A SCANDALOUS START Oneida flatware originated as a utopian society’s necessity. |

MY NNY | 52 CANINE COMPANION A chilly day outdoors with Max, the German shepherd. |

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DESTINATION | 24 ALL POINTS WEST Culture, food and fun in the sprawling Flower City. |

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CONTRIBUTORS Brian Hallett of Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse in Adams writes about ways to get your garden ready for spring and issues a warning about a flower variety that is off limits this planting season. (p. 30)

Michelle Graham is the wellness director for the downtown YMCA. She lives in Watertown. She writes about heart health and the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle to promote coronary health. (p. 19)

Varick Chittenden is founding director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and a SUNY Canton professor emeritus.

In ‘Modern Folklore,’ he writes about how local eating establishments are a reflection of north country way of life. (p. 16)

Lenka P. Walldroff is a former museum specialist, conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Society.

She writes about a scandalridden utopian nation in Victorian times. (p. 48)

Peggy DeYoung is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. In ‘Homes,’ she writes about an unconventional river home with inventive and unique furnishings. (p. 50)

Katie Stokes is a freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield. In ‘The NNY Life,’ she writes about the possibility of a multi-purpose arena being built in Watertown for events, sports and educational space. (p. 22)

Boo Wells is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. She writes about her hectic life balancing being Wonder Woman and Mom of the Year and provides a fabulous flan recipe. (p. 44)

Kris Allen is the owner of Allen’s Liquors and Wines, Watertown. In this month’s wine column she takes things local and highlights the variety of offerings that north country wineries have to offer. (p. 47)

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MARKETPLACE

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AAMCO Transmissions .......................... 8 A. Cozzi & Co. .......................................49 AmeriCU Credit Union ............................4 Ameriprise Financial ........................... 39 Audio Specialists ................................. 39 Blue Seal Feeds .................................... 53 Bolton’s Pharmacy .............................. 53 Budget Blinds ....................................... 26 C&M Auto ............................................... 8 Canton Potsdam Hospital ................... 21 Cartier Place Suites ............................. 27 Cesario Family Dental Center ............ 10 Cheney Tire .......................................... 52 Clayton Chiropractic .......................... 49 Clipper Inn ............................................ 17 Community Bank N.A. .......................... 2 Community Performance Series ........ 42 Crouse Hospital ................................... 31 Deluke’s Garden Center ..................... 23 Equipment Rentals ............................... 23 Feed the Soul Nutrition ........................ 10 Hands of Ki Holistics ............................ 49 Healey Medical Practice .................... 23 Hospice of Jefferson County .............. 39 Howard Orthotics ................................. 14 Immaculate Heart Central School ..... 35 Innovative Physical Therapy .............. 15

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors......... 9 JoJo’s Purrs and Paws ......................... 53 Johnson Newspaper Corp. ................. 55 JPB Construction .................................. 43 Lake Ontario Pilates ............................ 23 The Little Barn Bulk Foods .................... 49 MJL Crushing ........................................ 43 Morgia Masonry .................................. 43 NNY Community Foundation .............. 17 Nortz & Virkler ........................................ 8 Phinney’s Automotive ........................... 8 Reinman’s Department Store ............. 26 River Day Spa and Salon .................... 10 River Hospital ....................................... 19 River Rat Cheese ................................. 50 River Wellness Center .......................... 10 McCue Dental ...................................... 53 Samaritan Medical Center ................... 7 Smith Housewares ............................... 45 The Three C Limousine ........................ 56 Thousand Islands Arts Center ............. 13 TPACC ................................................... 43 Turning Stone Resort & Casino .............. 3 Watertown Savings Bank .................... 34 Wratten Trailer Sales ............................ 53 WWTI-ABC50 ......................................... 54

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Associate Magazine Editor Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Directors Karen Romeo Tammy Beaudin

Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Photography

Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules NNY Living (ISSN 2165-1159) is published six times a year by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2011-2012. All material submitted to NNY Living becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates Six issues are $10 a year and 12 issues are $15 for two years.

Call 315-782-1000 for delivery.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

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HOMES

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ABOUT THE COVER

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50 KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY A waterfront home on the St. Lawrence River is a retirement dream getaway that has been the site of a family cottage for six generations. |

COLUMNS

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8 EDITOR’S NOTE 16 MODERN FOLKLORE |

DEPARTMENTS

9 10 11 12 13 18 19

22 THE NNY LIFE 30 TODAY’S GARDENER

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UPFRONT BEST BETS CALENDAR BOOKS & AUTHORS SOCIAL SCENE ASK A DOC WELLNESS

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36 HOURS IN ...

THIS IS NNY FOOD CHEF’S TABLE WINE HISTORY MY NNY

For our cover graphic, Johnson Newspapers graphic designer Lauren Harrienger exercised her creativity by compiling a cross-section of healthy living activities. Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to get outside, focus on eating better, staying in shape and living a whole lifestyle. Read more in our cover story on page 32.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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MOST PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE, AT least once, made a New Year’s resolution to tackle the “battle of the bulge” and lose a few pounds, eat better and exercise more. If you’re like me, it’s goal that you set nearly every year. There is nothing wrong with striving to live the life you really want, especially if it delivers positive health and greater happiness.

Personally, I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve started a new year with such resolve to finally take charge of my health. And, while I still have a way to go on my journey to a healthier way of life, I am pleased with the progress I have made.

Much to the Ken Eysaman relief of my family, especially my sisters who work in health care, I am a non-smoker, having kicked the filthy habit for good nine years ago in October. I could blame the Army for introducing me to the Marlboro Man when I was a young enlisted soldier some 20 years ago but, as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. While cigarette smoking was rather ubiquitous in the ranks during my time in uniform, the military was as much to blame for my poor choice to spark up as Al Gore is for global warming. Each of us has a choice when it comes to living healthy. We also have a responsibility to own our choices and act in ways that improve our lives and the lives of those around us.

In this, our healthy living issue of NNY Living, we look at a variety of ways that living well is taking shape in our region.

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As you’ll read in our cover story by staff writer Rebecca Madden, which begins on page 32, there are many people who work hard to make the north country a healthier place by helping countless others to live better lives. From preventative steps to becoming more active and connecting with healthy people who sincerely care about sharing healthy habits, we have plenty of resources to stick to resolutions and achieve positive results. n

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SOCIAL SCENE — This issue’s Social Scene, which begins on page 13, features 38 faces from nearly three-dozen organizations across the north country. On March 23, we joined the North Country Arts Council at Arts on the Square for its annual Muse Multi-Arts Presentation to celebrate the second anniversary of its move to Watertown’s historic Franklin Building.

That same night, we joined Samaritan Medical Center’s Auxiliary for its 11th annual One Night-One Diamond gala at the Commons at Fort Drum. Congratulations to Erin Roshia of Victory Promotions, who was this year’s winner of a half-karat diamond donated by Mark Waterbury of Waterbury Fine Jewelers, Watertown.

The event was a fundraiser to purchase equipment to support Samaritan Medical Center’s daVinci Robotic Surgery program. n

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ONLINE — Visit www.nnyliving.com to view more photos from One Night-One Diamond as well as galleries of past social scene events.

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE n our June/July cover story, we feature 101 things you should know about Northern New York.

Also coming in June/July: n WHAT’S SUP?: We explain stand up paddleboarding, the latest recreational and fitness activity to gain traction in the area. n DESTINATION KINGSTON: We travel across the border for 36 hours of fun in Ontario. n FORGING A MASTERPIECE: The Thousand Islands Arts Center is celebrating mas-

ter forger and Rossie resident John Scarlett Aug. 1 with a 10-day public exhibit. We visit with the artist and learn how he finds his inspiration for his craft. n PLUS: Social Scene, Modern Folklore, Arts, Food, Wine, Wellness, The NNY Life, History, Homes, My NNY and Today’s Gardener. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for updates at @NNYLivingMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NNYLiving. Catch exclusive previews and unique content on our website at www.NNYLiving.com.

[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ]

UPFRONT

Local wines, liquor and beer on the way Save the dates The Clayton Distillery, located in a new 2,560-square-foot facility at 40164 Route 12, opened on April 1. Owned by Michael L. Aubertine, who engineered and led the construction of the micro-distillery, broke ground for the project in July. The distillery will produce vodka, gin, limoncello and what Mr. Aubertine calls moonshine, a bourbon that has not been aged. Mr. Aubertine will set aside barrels of bourbon to age at least three years before they’re sold.

The Cape Winery, 2066 Deerlick Road, Cape Vincent, opened a tasting room at the vineyard on April 5. Cape Winery is the eighth winery to be launched in the north country and a featured destination on the Thousand Islands-Seaway Wine Trail. Cape Winery offers varieties of grapes including Frontenac, La Crescent, Frontenac Gris and a cross between traminette and sabrevois.

St. Lawrence Brewing Co., based on Canton, and operated by Kenneth M. and Katrina G. Hebb of Hermon, is said to be on track to have locally produced beers available by June 1.

Mr. Hebb told the Watertown Daily Times that some ingredients for the beer will be grown locally, including barley. Local maple syrup, honey and rye will be used in the beer recipes as well.

Summer camp not far away

One of the area’s most popular summer camps, Camp Wabasso, has opened registration for Summer 2013 campers, with an early bird price incentive.

Resident campers, who will arrive at camp between June 30 and Aug. 4 and stay for a week, can book their summer excursion for $295 before May 10. After May 10, early bird pricing expires and rates increase to $320. For Cloverbud campers ages 6 to 8, who will stay June 27 and 28, are $100 with early pricing, which increases to $125 after May 10.

Also, new this year, Camp Wabasso is introducing online payment for camp. Visit www.ccejefferson.org and click on “Camp Wabasso” to be taken to the online registration page. Parents who pay for their child’s stay, in full, through online payment will receive a $10 gift certificate toward the purchase of camp merchandise.

Camp Wabasso is located on the shores of Millsite Lake near Redwood. The camp’s mission is to provide educational opportunities and activities for youth in a camp setting and natural environment.

As warmer weather approaches, seasonal offerings throughout the north country come out of hibernation. We’ve compiled a short roundup of seasonal favorites and included their opening days: Horne’s Ferry: Wednesday, May 1 Old McDonald’s Farm: Wednesday, May 1 I Love My Park Day: Saturday, May 4 Antique Boat Museum, Clayton: Friday, May 10 Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Sackets Harbor: Friday, May 10 Boldt Castle, Alexandria Bay: Saturday, May 11 Singer Castle on Dark Island: Saturday, May 18 Fort Henry & Upper Canada Village, Kingston: Saturday, May 18 Clayton Island Boat Tours, Clayton: Saturday, May 18 Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake: Friday, May 24 Tibbett’s Point Light House, Cape Vincent: Saturday, May 25 Almanzo Wilder Homestead, Malone: Sunday, May 26 Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Farmers Market: Wednesday, May 29 Enchanted Forest Water Safari: Wednesday, June 12

Course catalogs online

If your spring and summer calendars weren’t busy enough, the St. Lawrence County Arts Council and Thousand Islands Arts Center are looking to pack it a little fuller with their workshop and class offerings.

The Thousand Islands Arts Center recently completed and uploaded its 2013 class catalog at www.tiartscenter.org. Home of the Handweaving Museum, the arts center has a vast array of fiber arts classes as well as ceramics, basketry, soap making, jewelry design and paper arts classes. The arts center has also developed classes geared toward teens and children, including summer art camps for kids with offerings like plein air painting and River Camp Art weeks, designed to be inspired by the St. Lawrence River.

The St. Lawrence County Arts Council has updated its online course catalog with classes scheduled throughout May, June and into July. Offerings range from the beginning, with “Introduction to Digital Photography” and “Getting Started with Music Theory” to advanced printmaking and Alla Prima painting for intermediate level students.

The St. Lawrence County Arts Council class offerings may be found at www.slcartscouncil.org.

Dream It, Live It, Own It in Northern New York.

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors http://www.nnymls.com

®

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

It is a great time to buy or sell real estate.

The Jefferson-Lewis Board of REALTORS invites you to visit www.nnymls.com, then contact one of our members and let them show you how to

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BEST BETS

Healthy Living CROGHAN SATURDAY, MAY 18

Empowering You To Eat Well, Live Well, & Be Well Nicole Garnsey MA, RD, CDN, CDE

Participating with Most Insurances Including

Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Educator

- Now accepting new patients!

Etosha Farmer MS, RD, CDN

- Now accepting new patients!

WATERTOWN

FRIDAY, MAY 3

CANTON

LOWVILLE

Lewis County Hospital 3rd Floor 7785 North State Street Lowville, NY

“The Really Big Show,” noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena. Sponsored by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. Dozens of venders on site to showcase products and services, sell products and network with other business professionals. Information: Jo Ann Roberts, St. Lawrence Chamber events and promotions manager, jroberts@stlawrencecountychamber.org or 1 (877) 228-7810.

WATERTOWN

Registered Dietitian & Health Coach

215 Washington St. Suite 108 Watertown, NY

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ]

75 Main Street Canton, NY at the Glow Skincare & Spa

315 • 955 • 9998 www.feedthesoul.org

$10 OFF 1 HOUR MASSAGE* EXPIRES JULY 1ST 2013

• Energy Balance • Dietary Consultation • Private Yoga

n Maple Festival, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., American Maple Museum. Celebrating the opening of the 36th season at the American Maple Museum.

Schedule: Pancake breakfast, 6:30 to 9:30 a.m.; outdoor entertainment, 9 to 10 a.m.; opening ceremonies followed by New York State Maple Pageant and Maple Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, 10:15 a.m.; luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to noon. All day craft fair on lawn, museum and gift shop open. Information: 346-1107 or american maplemuseum@frontier.com.

n A Taste of Asia,” 12 to 1:30 p.m., Jefferson Community College’s Walker Instructional Dining Room. Presented by JCC’s culinary students. Reservations due by Thursday, April 26. Cost: $12.

Reservations: 786-2495.

SATURDAY, MAY 4

OLD FORGE FRIDAY, MAY 17-SUNDAY, MAY 19

814 Riverside Dr. • Clayton, NY 315-767-7391 riverwellness.com n Kendrick Lamar in Concert with Five & A Dime, 7 p.m., McVean Gymnasium, Jefferson Community College. One of hip hop’s rising stars, Kendrick Lamar gained attention in 2010 with the release of his album “Overly Dedicated” and has released hits featuring Drake, Lil’ Wayne, Tech N9ne, Dr. Dre and Busta Rhymes. Tickets: $50.

Box office: 786-2431.

CESARIO FAMILY DENTAL CENTER

Dr. Vincent A. Cesario, D.M.D Dr. Charles A. Dibble, D.D.S Accepting New Patients

28800 NYS Route 3, Black River, NY

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315-773-4204

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n Adirondack Paddlefest, throughout downtown Old Forge and centered around the waterfront near Mountainman Outdoor Supply Co., 2855 Route 28. The nation’s largest on-water paddle sports sale. Information: www.mountainmanoutdoors.com or 369-6672.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

POTSDAM FRIDAY, APRIL 26 & SATURDAY, APRIL 27

342 RIVERSIDE DRIVE • CLAYTON, NY

315-285-5048

$5 OFF

ANY SERVICE • Full Service Salon • Manicures / Pedicures • Facials / Waxing / Massage

n Fifth Annual Home, Garden and Business Show

n Jack Hanna’s “Into the Wild” Live, 4 p.m., Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Arena. Sponsored by the Disabled Persons Action Organization and Nationwide Insurance. Part of the DPAO Summer Concert Series. Tickets on sale 8 a.m. Friday, April 19. Information: www.dpao.org/concerts.htm

[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ] ADAMS SATURDAY, APRIL 27 n Arbor Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Jefferson High School. Sponsored by South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Free trees, children’s activities, crafters, Rick West’s birds of prey, Sci-Tech Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension animals, fire trucks and food for sale. Citizen of the Year ceremony at 11 a.m. Admission: $1.

22. Event runs every other Wednesday through May 23. Free and open to all high school students.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 n “For the Trees” Arbor Day Community Event, 10 a.m., Zenda Farm Preserve, 38973 Zenda Road.

Tree planting, workshops, treks and exhibits. Educational children’s activities for kids, guided tree trek and free seedling trees for families to plant at home. Free admission. Volunteers: treks@tilandtrust.org or call 686-5345. Further information: www.tilandtrust.org.

ALEXANDRIA BAY

SATURDAY, MAY 4 & SUNDAY, MAY 5

SUNDAY, MAY 26

n Thousand Island Psychic Fair, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Clayton Opera house, 405 Riverside Drive. A new age marketplace and community food drive. Bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the local food pantry for a dollar off admission. Tickets: $7 at the door.

More info: www.alternativemindscny.com.

n “A Day with a Fishing Guide,” 8 a.m. to noon, boats depart from the Alexandria Bay Village Dock and arrive at the Thousand Island Bridge Authority’s Rift Camp for a shore dinner at noon. All proceeds benefit River Hospital. Hosted by the Alexandria Bay Fishing Guides Association. Tickets: $140 per person. Information, tickets: Jodi Kemple, director of programs and events for the River Hospital Foundation, 482-4976 or jodikemple@riverhospital.org.

CANTON SATURDAY, APRIL 27 n The Local Living Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, 2043 Route 68. Sponsored by the Sustainable Living Project. Speakers, skills building workshops, performances and demonstrations of simple living, rural and do-it-yourself resources and skills. Children’s activities, farm animals, food vendors and a satellite of the Potsdam Farmer’s Market. Admission: $5; children ages 17 and younger, free. Free admission for those arriving by non-gasoline powered transportation. Information: 347-4223, www.sustainablelivingproject.net or locallivingventure@gmail.com.

CLAYTON FRIDAY, APRIL 19 n “The Amazing Kreskin,” 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. A nationally renowned mentalist and magician, the Amazing Kreskin promises to reawaken the spirit that haunts the Clayton Opera House. Tickets: $25-$40. No children under 10. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 n “Karaoke Throwback,” 7 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. Choose your own song from a select list of classic tunes.

Open sing until 8 p.m.; competition follows. Weekly prizes; winners compete in a final round May

n Clayton Community Band, 7 p.m. Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. The band is a mainstay of Clayton’s entertainment at the Opera House, where it proudly performs as resident ensemble under the direction of Gloria Hvizdos Musser. All band members and its conductor are volunteers. Tickets: $5; all seats reserved. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

FRIDAY, MAY 10 n “A Night on the River,” North Country Children’s Clinic 14th Annual Celebrity Chefs’ Event, 6:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive.

A strolling supper and silent auction featuring culinary delights from the recipe files of some of the area’s most notable cooks, including: Bev and Bernie Brown, Karen Clark, Beth and Randy Fipps, Rob and Julie Freeman, Phil and Mary Randazzo and Lisa Weber. Food prepared by Melissa RingerHardy, Bella’s Bistro, Clayton. Event proceeds support programs of North Country Children’s Clinic.

Tickets: $75. RSVP by May 3. Information: Sarah Colligan or Elaine Garvey, 782-9450.

SATURDAY, MAY 18 n “Broadway’s Next H!T Musical,” 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund.

An unscripted theatrical awards show where every song is fresh, every scene is new and every night is different. Tickets: $35-$50. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 n “Livingston Taylor,” 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. A musical storyteller like his brother James, Livingston Taylor performs a wide range of musical influences from his 40 years of touring as a solo act with artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Buffett. Tickets: $25-$40. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

OGDENSBURG SATURDAY, MAY 18 n “Angel of Music,” 7:45 p.m., Ogdensburg Free

Academy, 1100 State St. The world’s longest running “Phantom of the Opera” Franc D’Ambrosio performs with Glory Crampton, who played Christine on Broadway, and an ensemble cast perform some of the most famous Broadway show tunes. Tickets: $15-$37. Box office: www.ilovetheatre.org or 393-2625.

POTSDAM SATURDAY APRIL 27 n Orchestra of Northern New York spring concert, “West Side Story,” 7:30 p.m. Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Conductor Kenneth Andrews. The concert includes a tapestry of American history: Bernstein’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in mid-1950s New York City and a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation with Copland’s powerful Lincoln portrait written for orchestra and narrator.

Tickets: Adults, $22; senior citizens, $20, students ages 13 and older, $10; ages 12 and younger, free.

More info: www.orchestraofnorthernnewyork.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 21 n A Personalized Etsy Shop Makeover, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Downtown Snell Hall Crafts Studio, Room 229. Series runs for six weeks, continuing on May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18 and June 25.

Sponsored by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. Students will learn the opportunity to start, transform, tweak and perfect their own Etsy shops. Cost: Arts Council members, $57; non-members, $60.

Register: www.slcartscouncil.org or 265-6860.

WATERTOWN FRIDAY, APRIL 19 n “A Taste of Italy,” 12 to 1:30 p.m., Jefferson Community College’s Walker Instructional Dining Room. Presented by JCC’s culinary students. Reservations due by Thursday, April 11. Cost: $12.

Reservations: 786-2495.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 n Billion Dollar Trio, 3 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Part of the Trinity Concert Series. A trio formed at the Juilliard School in 2011, this musical act features acclaimed members Alexey Gorokholinsky, clarinet, Adiran Daurov, cello, and Tomoko Nakayama, piano. Cost: $10-$14. Tickets: www.trinityconcerts.org or 788-6290.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 n Orchestra of Northern New York spring concert, “West Side Story,” 7:30 p.m. Dulles State Office Building, Washington St. Conductor Kenneth Andrews. The concert includes a tapestry of American history: Bernstein’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in mid-1950s New York City and a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation with Copland’s powerful Lincoln portrait written for orchestra and narrator.

Tickets: Adults, $22; senior citizens, $20, students ages 13 and older, $10; ages 12 and younger, free.

More info: www.orchestraofnorthernnewyork.org.

TELL US ABOUT IT — Have an event you’d like to include in NNY Living? Email us at NNYLiving@ WDT.net with the details or visit www.NNYLiving. com and click Events.

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n “Runaway Home,” 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. Original retro commercial–Americana sound with a strong three-part harmony over lyrics in an acoustic style reminiscent of ’70s-era radio. Listen at: www.runawayhomemusic.com. Tickets: $20. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

TUESDAY, MAY 7

CALENDAR

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BOOKS

[ MOST READ, LOCAL AUTHORS ]

The titles by checkout at Flower Memorial Library

The current top five book titles by checkout at Watertown’s Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library are: 1) “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn 2) “Guilt: An Alex Delaware Novel” by Jonathan Kellerman 3) “The Casual Vacancy” by J.K. Rowling 4) “A Question of Identity” by Susan Hill 5) “Deadly Stakes” by Judith A. Jance

Top five eBooks at Flower

1) “14” by Peter Clines 2) “The 13th Juror” by John T. Lescroart 3) “27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders” by Nancy Pickard 4) “Agnes Among the Gargoyles” by Patrick Flynn 5) “61 Hours” by Lee Child

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Books of local interest

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Erica Moulton, Adams, has self-published two books. The first, titled “What Happened,” is a story of 12-year-old Virginia who was “robbed of her childhood at the hands of a neighbor.”

The guilt and secrets of what happened that day follow Virginia as she attempts to navigate through her troubled life battling addiction and self-mutilation. The book sells for $2.99 on Amazon’s Kindle store.

The second is “Miss Non-Perfectionist: Stories of Failure to Achieve SuperMom Status,” which is available for 99 cents in Amazon’s Kindle store. This book is a compilation of the author’s best blog posts from her site Penny Pinching Parents, pennypinchingparents.wordpress.com.

Ms. Moulton takes everyday situations and finds humor among the chaos. n

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North Country Books has released “Adirondack Trail of Gold” by Rochester resident Larry Weill.

The book mixes historical fact with fiction. It is loosely based on the saga of Robert Gordon, a British loyalist who fled the violence of the American Revolution

and moved to Canada, where he died in a hunting accident after the Revolution.

“Legend tells us that somewhere en route, he hid a massive cache of gold worth more than six million dollars,” according to the novel’s synopsis.

“Over a century later, the famous woodsman known as Adirondack French Louie was thrown into the middle of a search for Gordon’s treasure.”

French Louie Seymour was a Canadian who went to the Adirondacks and spent about 30 years as a hunter and trapper until his death in 1915.

The novel notes that French Louie found the gold, “only for it to be lost again.” Mr. Weill’s story concerns two fictional friends who go on a quest to find the lost gold.

The book sells for $24.95 and is available at online bookstores and the publisher’s website, www.northcountrybooks.com n

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M. James Daily, Watertown, has selfpublished, through CreateSpace, the collection of stories “Tales From the Campfire.”

“The stories are steeped in drama, nostalgia, humor and romance,” according to Mr. Daily’s book synopsis. “These are stories of lawmen, preachers, rangers, Indians and even a modern-day hermit.

They tell about heroines and heroes in that land of yesteryear.”

Mr. Dailey has published two other books: “Pea Soup for Seniors” and “The Brighter Side.”

“Tales From the Campfire” sells for $13.95 and is available at online bookstores. The author said copies also are available at the Popcorn N More store at Salmon Run Mall. n

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The History Press has released “Wicked Adirondacks” by Dennis Webster, Utica.

The book highlights some “insidious crimes and nasty escapades of notorious lawbreakers.” For example, members of the infamous “Windfall Gang,” led by

Charles Wadsworth, terrorized towns and hid out in the mountains until their capture in 1899. The book also tells of serial killer Robert Francis Garrow and the creative methods crooks have tried to sidestep forestry laws.

Mr. Webster also wrote “Wicked Mohawk Valley” and “Haunted Mohawk Valley.” He is a paranormal investigator with Ghost Seekers of Central New York.

His new book sells for $19.99 and is available at www.historypress.net and other online bookstores. n

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North Country Books, Utica, has released “The Puck Hog: Volume 2” by Christie Casciano, illustrated by Rose Mary Casciano Moziak.

The author, a television news anchor in Syracuse, is the mother of two youth hockey players.

The first volume of “The Puck Hog” was released in 2010. The subtitle of the sequel is “Haunted Hockey in Lake Placid.” It concerns main character Sophia’s team needing a miracle against the “mighty Canadian team.”

The book sells for $11.95 and is available at online bookstores and on the publishers’s website at www.northcountrybooks.com n

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A former Port Leyden resident has selfpublished, through lulu.com, a second book of memories from his years growing up in the Lewis County village. Steve Newvine is a senior program manager for a California utility company. His new book, “Grown Up, Going Home: Reconnecting with My Hometown,” is available at online bookstores for $22.95 or from the Port Leyden Community Library.

Featured in the narrative are stories about the last senior class to graduate from Port Leyden Central School before it merged into the South Lewis Central School District and memories of his uncle, a Vietnam War veteran, who was killed six months after returning home from the conflict.

[ North Country Arts Council Muse ] Arts on the Square, Watertown

From left, Elizabeth and Bruce Smith. Mrs. Smith performed a reading of the original poem “The Composer” at the event.

KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Tim Greening, also known as “Hippy Tim” from the band The Beer Drinkers Society, performs “The Watertown Theme Song” during the arts council event. The North Country Arts Council hosted its annual Muse Multi-Arts Presentation March 24 to celebrate the second anniversary of Arts on the Square.

SOCIAL SCENE

From left, Craig Thornton, Kristina Rusho and Laura Oakes. Mr. Thornton performed a cinematic memoir titled “Imaginary Score” and Miss Rusho read a piece titled “The Magic Stick” at the event.

KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Donald Woodcock and Ray Gardner. The duo performed the musical selections “Listen to the Mockingbird” and “You Don’t Know Me” at the event.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

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SOCIAL SCENE

[ Samaritan Auxiliary One Night, One Diamond ] The Commons, Fort Drum

Mary Doheny and husband, Matt, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

From left, Ed Walldroff, wife, Anne, LaFargeville, Leah Hill and Tim Turck, Watertown. Samaritan Auxiliary held its 11th annual One Night-One Diamond gala March 23 at the Commons at Fort Drum. Waterbury Fine Jewelers, Watertown, donated a half-karat diamond for the event.

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From left, Emily Sprague, Maryann Rondon, husband, Chris, John Williams and wife, Christy, all of Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Laticia Urf, husband, Ed, Lisa Ingerson and husband, Mike, Clayton.

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SOCIAL SCENE

[ Samaritan Auxiliary One Night, One Diamond ] The Commons, Fort Drum

From left, Kathy Cheney, husband, Tom, Watertown, Debbie Gushlaw and Fred Kucik.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Mike Doe, wife, Karen, Krista Kittle and Robert Dalton.

Charles Berkman and Lucy Gerviss, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Clockwise from top left, Heidi Simpson, Katelyne Cedar, Erin Roshia, Faith Allen and Aubrey Trickey, all of Watertown. Ms. Roshia was this year’s diamond winner.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

15

MODERN FOLKLORE

Mac and cheese, please, and a side of personality

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY VARICK CHITTENDEN

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FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL ON THEIR stomachs, food is an important part of discovering a place and what goes on there. What’s popular and special may depend on what grows well there — like beef in the Midwest or seafood on the Maine coast — or who has settled there — like Cajuns in the bayous of Louisiana or Mexicans in the Southwest. The north country isn’t known as a food destination, but there are plenty of places for good food. If fine dining is your preference, there are numerous restaurants with professional chefs and great style. If your taste runs to fast food, the franchisers have surely found us, with their carbon copy menus, cookie cutter buildings and efficient service that appeal to many.

While I like those options, I often prefer places where people gather not only for home-style food they can count on, but also for good talk, for meeting friends and for feeling like part of a place. I like to think they not only feed me well but they have personality. They’re usually family owned and operated and have been around quite a while. The staff and customers are loyal to the place and the owners are loyal to them. A few visits there and it’s easy to feel like you belong.

You can learn a lot about the community if you spend time there. And we have plenty of these diners and small family restaurants in our small towns … and lots of personality.

Within a few minutes of my house in Canton was one such place, where I went for reliably good food since my undergraduate days at St. Lawrence, 50 years ago. On the south end of the village, McCarthy’s Restaurant was home — as their servers’ T-shirts once declared — to “the best buns in town.” That was a reference to their cinnamon buns, oversized yeast rolls with gooey cinnamon and sugar filling and plenty of icing, made daily by their bakers

since well before Phyllis and Ted Lawrence bought the restaurant in 1976.

McCarthy’s opened in 1952, next to the poultry farm where Phil McCarthy raised chickens and sold eggs to customers for miles around. He built a small stand on the roadside and sold fried chicken, later opening a simple lunch counter with a few tables in the building that was part of the restaurant until its recent closing.

From the beginning, his menu featured chickens fresh from the farm, including favorites like chicken and biscuit dinners and chicken sandwiches and salad anytime. Because his wife was known for her baking skills, they started selling pies she made in her home kitchen and toted daily down the hill on the hood of their car to the restaurant, until they became so popular that Phil had to outfit the restaurant properly and hire a baker.

Every day there were great choices. I liked to get there early enough on Fridays for the mac and cheese special and hoped that there was any lemon meringue pie left. A hint from the regulars: If you were smart, you’d choose dessert when you ordered your meal.

In 2002, Kevin Prothal, a passerby from the Albany area who happened to be a food writer for Bon Appetit magazine, wrote: “While we in Upstate New York don’t usually get a lot of press about our restaurants, we are still very well fed. I think the best place for any meal is McCarthy’s Restaurant in Canton. The service is friendly, and the chocolate chip pie is, by itself, worth a trip up from New York City.” For months after its publication, Phyllis got several calls a week from all over the country, asking for help with the recipe that had been printed with an error.

Customers ranged from farmers who arrived very early in the morning for breakfast to salesmen passing through, truckers and, when they were visit-

VARICK CHITTENDEN is senior folklorist and director of special projects for Canton-based Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and Professor Emeritus of Humanities at SUNY Canton. He lives in St. Lawrence County.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

ing, students’ parents. Alumni back for college events inevitably came in, for a well-remembered favorite and a dash of nostalgia. Phyllis and Ted still remember particularly well the visit of Vice President Walter Mondale on a St. Lawrence University Parents Weekend, when his daughter, Eleanor, was a student in the early 1980s. Secret Service agents took over the place, leaving the usual Sunday morning crowd — including the group of regulars for the “Presbyterians’ table” — waiting in the parking lot. He ordered a club sandwich made, of course, with McCarthy’s roast chicken white meat and their “homemade” white bread.

In places like McCarthy’s, the food is memorable and so are the cooks and waitresses who have worked there for many years. They become close friends with the regulars, sharing small talk and stories, almost like family. Phyllis recalls Carol Sayer who worked there for more than 30 years. She describes one woman who once lived in Canton for a few years as an employee of the local Corning plant and would return to town occasionally years later. Whenever she stopped in the restaurant, Carol would deliver an extra large cinnamon bun with extra frosting and a double coffee without even asking for an order, much to the delight of the woman.

I’m sad to say that this north country institution closed in 2011, when Ted and Phyllis began a much-deserved retirement. Ironically, there were no takers for it as a restaurant so the new owners converted it to a funeral home. But there’s good news for longtime McCarthy’s fans (or those readers who never made it there). If you’re longing for a cinnamon roll, a Mac Monster sandwich, a slice of butterscotch pie or one of their celebrated Sunday brunches, you can make your own.

McCarthy’s Restaurant Recipes — a 90-page collection of recipes and favorite anecdotes of customers — has been published as a fundraiser for Friends of the Canton Free Library. You can obtain copies from the library and several Canton shops; or you can order copies at $14 each plus $5 each for shipping and handling from Friends of the Canton Free Library, 8 Park St., Canton, NY 13617 or at www.cantonfreelibrary.org. You’ll be glad you did.

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HEALTH

Good oral health plays a critical role Link to better overall health ‘well supported and undeniable’ How is good dental health and oral hygiene important for good general health?

Study after study has confirmed a link between dental infection and poor dental health with many problems outside the mouth to include but not limited to stroke, heart disease, life-threatening infections, malnourishment and depression. People with healthy teeth have been shown to live longer, happier, healthier lives than people with poor oral hygiene. The connection of a healthy mouth to systemic heath is both well supported and undeniable.

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

What can I do to treat gingivitis?

Poor dental health, not exclusive to gingivitis, is most often due to lack of understanding of what causes the problem. Gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth decay are all caused by a spectrum of bacteria.

Your own immune system launches a fight to kill these bacteria, however the bacteria are not fully exposed to the blood system as they are on your teeth and gums. Instead of giving up, your immune system’s response to the infection that it can’t cure intensifies, creating inflammation. This inflammation in its infancy is gingivitis or swollen gums.

Removal of the bacteria with oral hygiene aids such as floss, water pik, antiseptic rinse and brushing a couple of times a day will minimize the bacteria in your mouth and the inflammatory response will diminish.

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It seems that there is a much greater emphasis on cosmetics today than years ago.

With all that’s on the market for whitening where to I start and how safe is it?

There is no doubt that cosmetics are a big part of many patients’ dental concerns. A nice straight, white smile helps a face light up and is a focus in treatment planning for full facial esthetics.

With regard to whiter teeth, all whitening should be overseen by a dental professional. Period. While there are over-thecounter solutions available, starting with the opinion of the dental professional is important. Whitening can make some dental work look worse and some conditions that cause teeth to be dark are not treatable with whitening products.

Whitening is safe and predictable. The cost associated with over-the-counter alter-

treating the No. 1 disease in children, tooth decay, remains undeniable.

I often get bits of food caught in my bridge work and it’s difficult to get them out. Can you suggest a remedy?

Our hygiene department is recommending that a “water pik” be used. We find that with all patients, including, but not exclusive to those with healthy teeth, complex dental disease, bone loss and/or complex restorative care like a bridge, that a water pik is the best available oral health implement. It has a “water bath” and it’s our recommendation that water, fluoride rinse and antiseptic mouth rinse be cycled through the water pik on a rotating basis day to day. We are finding amazing results with this regimen. A good “water pik” can be bought just about anywhere that tooth brushes are sold, they are about $50 to $60.

BY SCOTT LaCLAIR, D.D.S. natives attracts many people to these products, but seldom do they achieve the results that they are looking for. This poor result is 100 percent related to dosage and delivery of dental-office-based whitening regimens.

Most offices use a whitening product that is up to eight times as strong as over-thecounter products, and the delivery systems used by dental offices are tailored specifically to maximize results.

Does fluoride still play a role in good dental health?

Fluoride is misunderstood. Recent press and debate has brought fluoride to the forefront of concern in many households and its debate is often caustic. Fluoride plays an important role in guarding both children and adults from dental disease. However, the comfort that there are no recognized studies refuting its safety by the WHO, OSHA, FDA, ADA and AMA is not enough to confirm its safety to everyone.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized fluoridation as one of the 20th century’s top 10 achievements in public health and its viability today in

I’ve seen more adults well into their 30s and 40s getting their teeth straightened.

When is it too late for orthodontia?

It is never too late to invest in something that bothers you. While there are many reasons why a person waits until their 30s or 40s to go ahead with straightening their teeth, there are only a couple of reasons why one must go ahead with treatment, for better function and better esthetics. A person is never younger than they are right now and it is never too late to consider all options to make every smile a prideful one.

What kind of diet should I maintain in order to promote dental health?

A diet that promotes a healthy lifestyle will promote excellent dental health. While foods high in sugar tend to feed the bacteria in our mouths, promoting dental issues, it is more that chronic exposure to sugar while in a mouth neglected with poor oral hygiene that is the issue. A mouth that is free of plaque bacteria is the goal; these bacteria unfortunately, love the same foods we do.

DR. SCOTT LaCLAIR, D.D.S., is a north country native who practices dentistry at Clayton Dental Office. He founded the Thousand Island Center of Dental Technology at Clayton Dental Office and LaClair Family Dental in Carthage. Contact him at drscott@claytondentaloffice.com. This column is provided for informational use only and not intended as medical care.

WELLNESS

A happy heart is key to a healthy life Start with simple changes in diet and add regular exercise

BY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

elevated glucose levels and elevated cholesterol each can increase your long-term risk for heart disease.

The plan is complete with an exercise protocol for your mind and body. Find useful ways to control or decrease stress. Stress certainly can increase your risk for heart disease or even a heart attack. Practices like yoga and meditation can exercise and soothe the mind and body. Try to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical exercise most days of the week. A moderate to brisk walk even for 30 minutes is a great way to start or end your day. By engaging in physical activity and exercise you can burn calories, improve fitness and endurance and improve your overall heart health.

The road to excellent heart health is not difficult. Of course you cannot change your genetics, your age or gender. But, you certainly can modify your risk for heart disease by attaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in variety.

Also, engaging in moderate physical activity most days of the week and simply living life in a healthy and mindful way can put you on the road to having a happy and healthy heart. All these tools can bring great health rewards, so put your plan in place today.

MICHELLE L. GRAHAM, MS, is wellness director for Watertown’s Downtown YMCA. Contact her at ymca_mgraham@yahoo.com. Her column appears in every issue.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

IF YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART, your heart will take care of you. With heart disease the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States, it’s more important than ever to care for yourself and your heart.

When you use the right tools, implementing good practices to improve heart health is really not so difficult. It’s all in the execution of a well-thought-out plan of attack.

The plan begins with eating wellbalanced meals that include good healthy choices from all the major food groups. As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat” is absolutely true. Incorporating variety, color and balance into your day is crucial to a healthy eating plan. Simple things like eating more fruits and vegetables, choosing lean low fat cuts of meat and using low fat or nonfat dairy products can move you in the right direction.

Also, consuming half your grains from whole grains is a good idea. I am a firm believer of journaling your foods each day.

Knowledge is power, and when you know what and how much you eat, you can more easily change your behavior. But if you’re not tracking your food intake or eating pat-

terns, how do you know what you actually eat? Meal planning also is critical to the success of any diet plan. Take time to plan healthy meals and your family and your waistline will reap the benefits.

Eat less. Decrease your overall calorie and fat intake to lead to healthier living.

Many Americans take in far too many calories and way too many saturated fats. If you enjoy eating out, choose some low-fat, low-calorie dishes on the menu. Most fast food restaurants have healthy items on their menus now and if you choose something that packs a high calorie punch eat only half. Little tricks also can move you in the right direction. Try using a smaller plate and take smaller portions.

Food preparation also is very important.

Instead of frying foods, prepare them in a healthier way. Grill, boil, broil or bake your favorite foods. Just implementing small changes on your road to heart health can bring great results. Buy a low fat cookbook or search the Internet for some alternate ways to prepare your favorite food fare.

Even adding spice instead of extra fat can enhance flavor.

Know your risk. Do you know your blood pressure, total cholesterol levels and fasting blood glucose or A1C levels? When you know your risk then you and your doctor can determine a master plan to improve your heart health. Elevated blood pressure,

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WELLNESS

Registered Dietician Nicole Garnsey sits with healthy food props she uses to educate clients at her Washington Street office in Watertown.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Going gluten free a growing trend From juice cleanses to natural foods, we ask a nutritionist NICOLE GARNSEY IS A REGISTERED dietitian, certified dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator who owns and operates Feed the Soul Nutrition, Watertown. We asked her about some of the latest health trends, nutrition and healthy eating to help on the path to wellness.

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

NNYL: What are some trendy foods that you’re hearing a lot about lately?

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GARNSEY: I hear a lot these days about quinoa (a grain), chia seeds and kale.

Also, a lot of people are talking about stevia. Quinoa is great because it can take place of processed pastas and rice.

I always talk to my clients about clean eating, whole eating, eating things that aren’t processed. Instead of processed rice and pasta with its chemicals and sodiumpacked flavorings, you can easily throw together a quinoa dish with herbs and spices and it can taste just as good.

Chia seeds are awesome because they swell and leave you feeling full longer.

You can incorporate them a number of

ways. I came up with a chia pudding with chia seeds, almond milk, cocoa powder and a little bit of vanilla. It comes out like instant pudding and nothing is processed.

It tastes like a chocolate tapioca pudding.

NNYL: What is one example of something people buy at a store that they could easily make at home for a healthier alternative?

GARNSEY: Cereal bars, for sure. There is a lot of information out there about healthy granola and cereal bar alternatives. If you can find a recipe, and we post a lot of them on our Facebook page, for granola bars and granola, you can cut out a lot of the sugar and flour that comes with the boxed kinds of cereal bars at the store.

reasons. I’m not a big fan of fad diets; they are short-term fixes for long-term challenges. A lot of people have conditions like arthritis and inflammations that can be better controlled with a gluten free diet. When I put someone on an antiinflammatory diet, it’s not just gluten free, it’s focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, just things that happen to be gluten free. I don’t see anything wrong with being gluten free, for most people.

NNYL: Is it true the gluten free eating isn’t always conducive to weight loss?

NNYL: Gluten free eating is becoming increasingly popular. If you don’t have to be gluten free, is it something you should try anyway?

GARNSEY: For me, going gluten free goes along with clean eating, limited fat, sugar, salt and preservatives. By eating things grown as close to nature as possible, you can go gluten free. However, there are tons of things out there that aren’t the best choices and are, indeed, gluten free. Just because it’s gluten free doesn’t make it healthy.

GARNSEY: People do it for a number of

NNYL: There are increasingly more alter-

WELLNESS natives to cow’s milk, what’s your take on dairy-free living?

GARNSEY: My concern with milk from cows is the amount of antibiotics and hormones we’ve been giving to cows.

Moving to organic cow’s milk is ideal, but beyond that there is soy, almond and coconut milk. Soy milk is OK, except for the estrogen aspect. Almond milk is a good alternative. If you are doing cow’s milk, it’s recommended that you drink eight ounces, three times a day. People are just drinking way too much of it. It’s an issue for diabetics, too, because of the carbohydrates and milk sugars.

NNYL: Detox regimens, cleanses and fasts seem to be popular with the Hollywood set. What is your opinion on them?

GARNSEY: Depending on who you are, and what program you are doing, I think it’s probably not a big deal. Always check with a health care provider first, because certain conditions like diabetes and heart disease can be affected by a detox or cleanse. I’m not sure what a three-day cleanse would do for you, and

Follow the cleanse n To follow Ms. Garnsey’s 30-day detox

journey, visit the Feed the Soul Nutrition Inc. Facebook page by visiting Facebook.com and searching ‘Feed the Soul Nutrition Inc.’

I’m really leery about things like liver and bowel cleanses I am doing a 30-day gluten, wheat, soy and dairy-free cleanse that is meant to kind of reset my system. By cutting out anything that is processed or has chemicals, pesticides and artificial colors and sweeteners, I can get rid of all of that from my system. I’m excited about it.

NNYL: Why did you decide to do a detox?

GARNSEY: For me to give advice, I have to live it myself. I want to be upfront and honest with people about how easy it is or how difficult it is. There are days that I will be busy and it will fly by and I’ll think, ‘That was easy.’ And there will be other days when it’s a challenge. I want

people to learn from that.

NNYL: What will be the most difficult thing to do on the detox?

GARNSEY: Coffee and caffeine. I will be trying to drink more teas. Also, getting a balanced breakfast and lunch. Dinner is easy; lunch will be OK if I can bring leftovers. In the mornings I’m going to do protein shakes and mix them up with things like flax and chia seeds and almond butter for different flavors.

NNYL: Do you have trouble convincing clients to start eating new things, like almond milk or coconut milk and chia seeds?

GARNSEY: A lot of things are an acquired tasted. People are more willing to try things if they are presented well and if they feel like they are coming up with the idea themselves instead of me telling them they absolutely have to do it. If you present the alternative and then give them the reasons why it will change the way they live, eat and feel they are more willing to think it’s a good idea.

— Interview by Kyle R. Hayes

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

21

THE NNY LIFE

If you build it, would they really come to use it?

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY KATIE STOKES

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RECENTLY, I POSED THIS QUESTION to NNY Life Facebook page fans: “In a perfect world, where we all had unlimited financial resources, what would you build to improve the Watertown area and why?”

That simple question drew nearly 1,000 views and more than 40 responses within three hours during the middle of the day in the last half of a work week. In short, people are interested in the topic.

The good news is that, increasingly, this is becoming a conversation we’re hearing in less-hushed tones among decision makers in the community. The bad news is that for every cheerleader to progress, you’ve got at least one naysayer — if you’re lucky. The really bad news for those of us desperate for progress? There is recent history in this community of folks grabbing on to doubt like a drowning man latches on to his rescuer.

At the end of February, Paradigm Economics, a Buffalo-based business management consulting firm, released a report, paid for and commissioned by

by Jefferson Community College and several other area community, economic and business development organizations, that examined the prospect of funding, building and maintaining a multi-purpose events and sports complex at the entrance to JCC on Watertown’s Coffeen Street.

Though there are no specific plans right now, this facility likely would consist of a full-sized indoor turf arena and a 5,000-seat events complex, as well as the classroom space JCC needs to expand its academic programs. The estimated cost of a facility like this would be around $25 million to $45 million.

As with any big decision, Jefferson County and college leaders have to weigh the pros and cons of such an investment: PRO: We need — no, require — more indoor spaces, including updated indoor recreation facilities. In fact, you’d be hardpressed to attract any large-scale employ-

ers that wouldn’t look for things like reasonably sized events and recreation centers before investing in the Northern New York workforce. They’re a sign of a community’s investment in its residents, and, of course, the happiness and productivity of potential employees.

PRO: Organizations like the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson Community College, Disabled Persons Action Organization, and local events promoters need venues to support our growing business and entertainment industries.

But, then again ...

CON: We don’t know if a performance booked for any time between October or November to April would be well attended or even outright cancelled because of a lake-effect snowstorm.

CON: There’s no easy way to predict if enough people would use the space to make its construction, maintenance, programming and marketing worth the expense. The numbers for funding the project rely on drawing people in from across the entire north country and beyond.

The CON that I hope can be transferred to the PRO column to tip the scales?

We know there’s a six-month chunk of the calendar that is a factor for any business in this region. Why not consider that an advantage? I’m not a community organizer. I’m not an economist. But I am a natural marketer as well as someone who is interested in helping people love life in the north country.

So winter might keep people away?

Let’s make winter bring people through the doors whenever possible. Some of the things you could add for daily use are lower-cost features for indoor recreation.

Some ideas from folks who commented on the Facebook post include a climbing wall and climbing equipment, a simple (though please not tiny) indoor traditional or bounce playground (from $5,000 and up), hands-on programs for children,

and a bio-tech center. JCC could groom trails in the wooded area around the college for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing and keep rental equipment on hand. There could be a part-time drop-in daycare center, another underestimated and unmet need in the community which could be incorporated into JCC’s Early Childhood Education program.

With the facility’s close proximity to the residential building boom in the Town of Watertown where two apartment complexes are now under construction, as well as downtown Watertown and Fort Drum, it’s easy to envision ways to draw people in every single day — even on those days when there is snow on the roads. Many amenities wouldn’t cost millions to incorporate, and would be used every minute they were open if they were programmed in useful ways.

I also think building this facility should include, as the report suggests, a community component where people who want to see it happen could donate time, labor, and materials to build and maintain the facility.

I think the naysayers who are whistling at the numbers may have left out some of the human factor and how much the community at large wants to see this happen.

On the whole, north country folks are amazingly resourceful, intelligent and creative. If we pool our ideas and resources, and try to think practically and optimistically, there’s really no telling what we can make happen.

To read the 99-page feasibility study, visit www.sunyjefferson.edu/sites/default/ files/Multi-Purpose%20Feasibility%20 Study-Paradigm%20Final.pdf.

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KATIE STOKES is an Oklahoma native who has called Northern New York home for more than a decade. She is a freelance writer and blogger and the mother of two children, Diva and Hunk.

She and her husband are raising their children in Hounsfield. Visit her blog at www.NNYLife.com.

Her column appears in every issue of NNY Living.

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MAY IRWIN ROAD • CLAYTON, NEW YORK • 686-4769 www.delukesgardencenter.com

• Nursery/Green House • Water Garden • Bulk/Bagged • Outdoor Furniture • Lawn Care Service • Landscaping • Hardscape

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

DeLuke’s Garden Center

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Clockwise from top: The Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden at The Strong National Museum of Play. Rochester’s trendy Park Avenue neighborhood. Eastman Kodak pioneer George Eastman, left. The George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. Big Bird at the National Museum of Play. Pittsford Town Hall.

36 HOURS

&

Go west discover innovation in the Flower City Rochester packs a punch a short drive away

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TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES | NNY LIVING ASSOCIATE EDITOR and shopping and sightseeing that will be worth getting lost in the city’s side streets, there’s something for everyone.

2 P.M. FRIDAY, STICKY LIPS AND FULL STOMACHS When navigating your 36 hours in Rochester, especially if you’re sticking to the city’s eastside, two major routes will get you in and out of the city and to all points in between: East Avenue and I-490.

Before you even check in at the hotel, you’ll be hungry for some lunch. Stay on I-490 after you exit the Thruway to Exit 20/University Avenue and make a right onto Culver Road. Your destination is the original Sticky Lips BBQ Restaurant.

Everything from pulled pork plates to some of the best barbecue chicken that’s ever been made, Sticky Lips is unforgettable. Make sure to start your experience with fried green tomatoes and deep fried pickles. You’ll be glad you did.

Original Sticky Lips Restaurant, 625 Culver Road, Rochester, www.stickylipsbbq.com, 1 (585) 288-1910 3:30 P.M. FRIDAY, ENJOY YOUR STAY If you’re looking for downtown city

living during your stay, go with the Rochester Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. You will be within walking distance of the heart of the city.

However, for this trip, Del Monte Lodge Renaissance Rochester Hotel & Spa is the temporary residence of choice.

Located in the nearby suburb of Pittsford, the Del Monte is tucked away off Pittsford’s Main Street and feels like a big city boutique hotel with the amenities of Marriott brand backing.

The Del Monte Lodge Renaissance Rochester Hotel & Spa, 41 N. Main St., Pittsford, www.marriott.com, 1 (585) 381-9900 5 P.M. FRIDAY, TAKE A STROLL Pittsford is a beautiful little town right on the historic Erie Canal. The entire village is pedestrian friendly, from downtown shops to canal side ice cream parlors and sitting areas. It’s a quiet picturesque village that offers a lot.

Grab a cup of coffee at Village Bakery and Cafe, a true treat, or stroll into Pittsford Pub and enjoy a cocktail before dinner.

Walk down the canal side trail and bike path that winds through the village

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ROCHESTER IS A CITY BUILT ON innovation. A cornerstone of the regional economy, Kodak’s global headquarters, Eastman Kodak, has called this Western New York city home since the early 1900s. Xerox and Bausch & Lomb are among dozens of other companies whose roots are planted in Rochester. Creative individuals who have convened in the Flower City have helped make each tiny neighborhood unique and inviting throughout.

Speaking of neighborhoods — and suburbs for that matter — Rochester has a ton of them. From the uber trendy Park Avenue neighborhood to the affluent Erie Canal village of Pittsford, each offers something different and caters to various clienteles. Want a night on the town without having to drive from a restaurant to a nightclub? Hit the East End. Looking for a good cup of coffee, local foods, hip cafés and shops the cool kids visit? The Southwedge is your place.

For a time-crunched weekend away, Rochester’s east side offers plenty of options. From museums that even children won’t complain about to dining options you’ll want to write home about

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for a perfect way to end a day of travel and take in some new sights.

Village Bakery & Cafe, 5 State St., Pittsford, www.villagebakeries.com, 1 (585) 203-1311; Pittsford Pub, 60 N. Main St., Pittsford, www.thepittsfordpub.com, 1 (585) 586-4650

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8 P.M. FRIDAY, A DON’T-MISS DINNER Hicks & McCarthy restaurant, which celebrates 100 years in business this year, is one of Pittsford’s Main Street attractions. The upscale but down-to-earth menu is eclectic and affordable, which is everything you could ask for on a weekend away. Weekends are often packed, so call ahead for a dinner reservation a little bit past prime time to get an open table.

The approachable menu has some easy entrées like to-die-for simple penne vodka: pasta with meatballs, chicken or shrimp in a spicy tomato vodka cream sauce. Or try some unexpected twists like seasonal grilled rainbow trout or walnut chicken, a walnut panko-encrusted airline chicken breast served with apple-pear brandy sauce and basmati rice. If you’re toting along children, make sure they get a side of macaroni and cheese with broccoli and bacon mixed in. That will certainly get them to eat their vegetables.

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Hicks & McCarthy, 23 S. Main St., Pittsford, www.hicksandmccarthy.com, 1 (585) 586-0938 10 A.M. SATURDAY, A CULTURED BEGINNING Start the day early at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film right when it opens.

Not only will you beat the tourist crowd, but you’ll get free reign of this historic mansion along East Avenue. Pick up a tour guide at the front desk and embark on a journey through the house, which was once split in half and moved back nine feet to enlarge its conservatory that prominently features a massive elephant head, a hunting trip trophy.

A tour through the Eastman House, which Eastman Kodak company founder George Eastman once owned, is a walk through America’s golden age. Lavish furniture, leather-bound books, fine china and an impressive main staircase transport visitors back in time. Much like the tragic tale of Boldt Castle, Mr. Eastman’s story is a tragedy in itself, one that a tour guide will most certainly tell.

If you time your visit right, the impressive gardens that surround Mr. Eastman’s home will be in full bloom.

George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, 900 East Ave., Rochester, www.eastmanhouse.org, 1 (585) 271-3361 12:30 P.M. SATURDAY, GRAB A SPOT You’ll need a stiff cup of coffee before you head to your next stop. SPoT Coffee is a Rochester caffeine emporium. You’d be hard pressed to find a native who hasn’t been to SPoT for a cup of java. The location on East Avenue is a gorgeous, relaxed space and a former car dealership from the 1960s. It was recently remodeled, so the decor has been updated as well as the furniture. SPoT offerings are top notch, as are the delicious baked goods.

SPoT Coffee, 200 East Ave., Rochester, www.spotcoffee.com, 1 (585) 613-4600 2 P.M. SATURDAY, TIME TO PLAY Rochester is a very family-friendly city.

If your party includes little ones for the weekend, hitting up the National Museum of Play at the Strong Center is a no-brainer.

This sprawling campus is packed with fun-filled educational programs and history along with hands-on exhibits and interactive attractions. It’s easy to spend an entire day here or just a few hours. If

your kids are “Sesame Street” fans, they’ll have a chance to jump into a life-size set, just like they use on television. A live coral reef brings you underwater and, for the adults, the National Toy Hall of Fame will take you back to the “old days” when toys were more than plastic figurines.

Don’t forget to stop in to the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, the only yearround indoor butterfly garden in Upstate New York. This 150,000-square-foot museum shouldn’t be missed, especially with admission at just $13 per person.

National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, www.museumofplay.org, 1 (585) 263-2700 7 P.M. SATURDAY, DINNER AND A MOVIE Round out the day with a stop at Little Theatre, an independent theater on the east side that plays independent American and foreign films, visual works and unique musical offerings.

If there’s one thing missing in the north country, it’s a theater that offers a different take on cinema. Instead of box-office smashes, Little Theatre provides an affordable way for viewers to take in limitedrelease films for about $8 a ticket.

Around since 1929, the Little is a historic

piece of Rochester culture. Be sure to visit the café, which has been open since 1994, before your movie screens. It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat and hear what others think of the cinematic offerings.

The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., Rochester, www.thelittle.org, 1 (585) 258-0444 10 A.M. SUNDAY, EAT UP AND HEAD OUT Before taking off for home, head over to Park Avenue. The trendy shopping, eating and people-watching neighborhood of Park Avenue is one of Rochester’s most popular for the cultured set. One-off shops and cafés line the street and Sunday brunch is taken very seriously.

If you can get a table, Jines Restaurant is a Park Avenue mainstay. A neighborhood eatery that offers refined diner classics for brunch, Jines is always a great place to stop and grab a quick bite to eat. If you’re there for brunch, be sure to get the banana bread French toast. It’s the perfect breakfast food to remember Rochester.

Once you’re done with breakfast, visit several of the boutiques and shops that surround Jines. Favorites include A Step Apart, 235 Park Ave., for all the coolest clothing brands, and Parkleigh, 215 Park Ave., for upscale home decor and gifts.

Jines Restaurant, 658 Park Ave., Rochester, www.jinesrestaurant.com, 1 (585) 461-1280 1:30 P.M. SUNDAY, STOP AND SHOP On your way home, be sure to leave a little extra time to hit Waterloo Premium Outlets, located between Rochester and Syracuse off the Thruway at exit 42.

Enjoy some of the best outlet shopping north of Albany, with offerings from Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Bass, JCrew, Ralph Lauren and dozens more.

Waterloo Premium Outlets, 655 State Route 318, Waterloo, www.premiumoutlets. com/waterloo, 539-1100 GETTING THERE From most points in the north country, take Interstate 81 South to Syracuse to the New York State Thruway/I-90 West at exit 25A, toward Buffalo. From Syracuse, Rochester is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Merge off the Thruway at Exit 45/I-490 W. I-490 will take you to all points along Rochester’s east side and straight into downtown, also called “The Inner Loop.”

KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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THIS IS NNY

March

‘Fandamonium’ hi

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

I

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t has been 34 years since about high school boys The Beaver River boy Class C-1 title in early M chance at the state hoops title Along the seemingly unpre trailed the Beavers. In a displ sports teams across the north and proud.

“Fandamonium” runs ram High school basketball teams and state tournaments, pullin who don face paint and pom The Beavers’ chance at the C lost to Moravia in the quarter run with class and dignity an few other activities.

Clockwise from left: A fan g make multiple errors on the c taunt the Moravia team durin make the shooter miss the sho basketball team players cheer fourth quarter of state quarte three point shot against Tully Community College during t fan loses his enthusiasm as he the state finals slip away.

h madness

its Beaver River community

e the Beaver River community was as abuzz basketball as it was this season. ys basketball team took the Frontier League March. That win was quickly followed by a e. ecedented journey, a large following of fans lay not unlike that for other high school h country, Beaver River fans were loyal, loud

mpant during the late winter and early spring. s — girls and boys — advance to sectional ng along with them cars loaded with fanatics poms.

Class C state title came up short, as the team rfinals. Nonetheless, the team completed its nd, in the process, lifted a community like

— Kyle R. Hayes

PHOTOS BY AMANDA MORRISON, TOP LEFT PHOTO BY JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY LIVING

grimaces as she watches Beaver River’s team court at state quarterfinals. Beaver River fans ng a foul shot in hopes that the pressure will ot. Friends and girlfriends of Beaver River r on the boys despite the losing score in the erfinals. Beaver River’s Zack Steiner hits a y as fans and teammates look on at Jefferson the Frontier League Class C-1 title game. A e watches Beaver River’s chance of going to

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TODAY’S GARDENER

Spring planting is time to let your creativity bloom

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY BRIAN HALLETT

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AS I WRITE THIS COLUMN I MUST mention that today — the first day of spring — I have shoveled snow away from the greenhouse twice in order to enter. As any gardner knows, there is nothing quite like the green of new plants or the smell of fresh soil. This alone is why each year I shovel my way inside, turn on the heat, clean the water system and start planting.

We all enjoy spring for the sights and smells after a long winter and I encourage you to take a walk through your garden space. Not a regular walk, a real walk with both eyes and nostrils open, way open.

I will offer some suggestions for some plants that will liven up your space with color and add some fragrance to your garden. In addition, I will share some shade plant suggestions to replace our old and true friend the impatiens, specifically impatiens walleriana.

When I visit my friend, Julie, she puts me to work “dead-heading” her lavender.

Actually, we always take a walk through her small, albeit beautiful backyard garden and end up in front of the lavender.

I am amazed that it grows so vigorously in Northern New York and I always enjoy seeing plants from my greenhouse doing well in someone’s garden. As I trim away dead blossoms, the smell of lavender surrounds me and attracts quite a few bees.

It reminds me how important scent is in a garden and what an integral experience it is to losing yourself in the outdoors. In a small space like a balcony or deck, using plants that give off a scent can make the experience that much richer.

Here are four of my favorite fragrant plants perfect for a small space: There are hundreds of varieties of lavender, but I normally sell and grow hidcote lavender. You can go for whatever your local nursery has available and what smells best. I like hidcote lavendar because it’s very drought tolerant, likes plenty of sun and with some winter

shelter and proper drainage is a perennial in the north country. I plant lavender with some gravel in the bottom of the hole and some good draining soil. It’s also important to remember to cut off the dead flowers — as you cut them off at the second or third node (where the leaf grows from the stem) the plant will be triggered to produce more. And even the dead blossoms keep their scent, so you can collect a bundle and keep it in the house. Hidcote is a true English lavender with a sweet aroma and a gorgeous dark purple flower.

It is cold hardy and easy to dry for crafts.

I plant scented geraniums in pots, window boxes and in the ground. This is what I plant closest to the seating area on my deck so anyone who sits close by is enveloped with the subtle odor that comes from this plant’s leaves. I really like the lemon-scented geraniums. Plant the variety of scented geraniums called pelargonium citrosum “vanieeni,” also known as mosquito plant, in containers on the deck or patio to repel mosquitoes from the area.

Incidentally, marigolds, basil, rosemary and mint also naturally deter mosquitoes.

Geraniums, in general, are easy to grow, are heat and neglect tolerant and the scented ones are no different. Plus, there’s a huge selection. Chocolate, citrus and mint are all strains you can find in many local nurseries.

Honeysuckle (lonicera) is a flowering vine that can give off a powerful scent. Its super sweet fragrance and pretty tubeshaped flowers make for a great fence cover or trellis plant near an open window, porch or walkway. Hummingbirds adore honeysuckle vine and after growing one you will, too. These easy-care climbers will grow in large pots and in the ground. Honeysuckle vine bears strongly scented flowers in mid to late summer as the garden starts to wane and provides birds with colorful red fruits.

Mint is pretty much a magical plant for me. You can eat the leaves, drink the tea

made from the leaves and you can’t really kill it (plant it in a separate pot or plant it in a buried container in the garden). As you brush against it in the garden or in a hanging basket it releases its scent. As you cut off leaves it releases scent, and if you plant it in a place that is on the damp side it will grow where grass and other ground covers fail to thrive. I like having some by the front door. Containers of herbs and scented plants by the front door are nice to walk by, easy to care for and easy to use. The list goes on and on with plants that have amazing scents.

Spring planting will be here before you know it, and many of you can’t wait to get at your gardens. But one plant that is considered a staple of the shade garden is off-limits this year.

Garden centers and local nurseries would normally be filled with impatiens, but now they are, in many cases, not being sold. The hearty staple plant that blooms so beautifully in shade and lines so many gardens suffered a devastating disease last year. Impatiens downy mildew is a destructive foliar disease of imaptiens walleriana that is capable of causing complete defoliation or plant

collapse, especially in landscape planting under moist conditions and cool nights.

Plant experts from Cornell University have said it’s not just a Northern New York problem. Impatiens are the No. 1 flower bed plant in the nation, and the “downy mildew” disease is worldwide. The leaves defoliate, they turn yellow and you see

I suggest people altogether avoid planting impatiens this year. At this point, I am hearing that the big box stores are ordering impatiens the same as usual, essentially forcing growers to produce them even if they are scared to.

They are banking on the public not being aware of the disease, or not being afraid of it if they are.

The good news is there are some beautiful alternatives to impatiens. I would recommend with a good conscious that you plant New Guinea impatiens, sunpatiens, coleus, potato vine, creeping jenny vine, dragon wing begonias, tuberous begonias, wax begonias, torenia, lamium and begonia bonfire. There are many other things you can plant.

It’s a good time to have a conversation with the folks at your local garden center.

Read your plant tags for spacing requirements, what kind of light and water the plants you purchase will need and let your creativity bloom this year.

I recommend that you not plant impatiens for up to three years because the disease survives the winter in the soil and it can spread via wind. spots. You’ll just be left with blank stems.

I recommend that you not plant impatiens for up to three years because the disease survives the winter in the soil and it can spread via wind. If you planted impatiens in window boxes or planters remove and replace the soil before planting this spirng. If you do plant impatiens and you see signs of downy mildew, remove infected plants and apply a fungicide. You should not compost any infected plants.

Instead, either burn them or bag them up.

BRIAN HALLETT is an art teacher at South Jefferson Central School in Adams. His family owns Halletts’ Florist and Greenhouse in Adams, which celebrates 30 years in business this year.

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COVER STORY

Achieving

HEALTHY Building a team of ‘wellness advisors’ an important strategy for success

TEXT BY REBECCA MADDEN

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN HARRIENGER

A prescription for a healthy lifestyle comes with many doses of Northern New York services.

Basic pointers of eat right, exercise and don’t let stress take over your life may be easier said than done, but agencies and organizations throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties continue to evolve in offering guidance in achieving overall improved health.

What it takes to be healthy in 2013 already exists throughout the north country with a multitude of physical, mental and social health services.

It also takes more than one person, organization, idea or goal to improve the health of the entire population, according to Faith E. Lustik,

received a $20,000 grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to survey Jefferson County residents and to help agencies address needs to improve access to fresh produce and expand physical activity programs for low-income families.

The communities-working-together concept has also been adopted in St. Lawrence County, where the Health Initiative has worked collaboratively to improve the health of St. Lawrence County residents and the region’s residents.

Health Initiative Executive Director Ruth A. Fishbeck said eating right and getting physical activity is the main message that won’t change, but the initiative has ways it’s trying to make that standard statement fresh and exciting. Last year, the agency launched FitPix, a program where it helps restaurants develop alternative, healthy food choices on their menus.

“Our goal of the project is to get more gluten-free and diabetic (diet) options,” she said.

While nutrition isn’t the only component, Page Fitness Athletic Club head trainer Jamie S. Wood said it’s most important.

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health planner with the Jefferson County Public Health Service, Watertown.

“We’ve been working with partners on a variety of issues that affect policy and environmental change,” she said. “We designed a snack policy for schools and any youth organization. It’s a ready-made kit and outlines calorie contest you should limit snacks to.”

Jefferson County Public Health Service also is developing healthy fundraisers, because, she said, sending children out to sell a box of chocolates and other goods is conflicting with the message community agencies are trying to spread.

“We want to focus on kids because we can hopefully change the future and our statistics,” Ms. Lustik said. “When we’re working with kids, we’re really working with adults because they make decisions.”

Jefferson County Public Health Service is one of many agencies in Jefferson County participating in the Community Coalition for Children, which aims to fight obesity early on so it won’t cause health problems into adulthood. As part of those efforts, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County

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“It’s a foundation for everything,” Mr. Wood said. “If our clients are following a nutrition program, we typically see 80-to90 percent of those clients losing one-to-two pounds a week in the first 90 days.”

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

Part of that is due to some education about the Paleo Diet, which Mr. Wood described as “kind of what cavemen ate.” People on the diet do not eat grains, dairy products and processed foods. It’s all about lean meat and raw

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greens, he said.

“Highly glycemic carbs are the enemy,” Mr. Wood said. “With Paleo, you’re taking sugar out of your diet.”

Page Fitness Athletic Club also offers monthly grocery shopping trips to the Mustard Seed Organic and Natural Food Store, to help people select healthy eating options. The club’s other focus is fitness.

As a training facility, Mr. Wood said, the club offers a variety of fitness programs for people of all ages and body types.

The latest trend is CrossFit, which he de-

scribed as performing functional movements at high intensity.

“We bike, row, run, lift weights, do gymnastics, and do them at short, medium and long distances,” Mr. Wood said. “CrossFit specializes in not specializing. Because it’s so broad, in general, it has you focus on all your weaknesses.

Ideally, this is something you want to do for the rest of your life.”

Making the commitment is often the hardest part. Rodger A. Hicks, director of operations for Transitional Living

Services of Northern New York, said internalizing decisions, thoughts and questions may lead to more stress, therefore derailing people on the way to healthier lives. The mental health of a person is equal to their nutritional and physical components, he said.

“Typically when things become more stressful, people shut down,” Mr. Hicks said. “We’ve kind of lost the ability to nurture ourselves. I think of it as a fourprong approach: work life, social life, family life and introspective, the one

‘‘

Typically when things become more stressful, people shut down. We’ve kind of lost our ability to nurture ourselves.

— Rodger A. Hicks, director of operations, Transitional Living Services of Northern New York.

REBECCA MADDEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at 661-2375 or rmadden @wdt.net.

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A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

most often missing.”

Important mental health tips, he said, include sharing feelings outward, getting plenty of sleep, keep up on general health care and continue to try to understand who you truly are.

Sometimes, however, people don’t get the choice to wait to determine what is best for them. Their doctor may have to help them develop a rapid plan to change their lifestyle. The Watertown Family Y’s diabetes prevention program has helped dozens of people lose weight and reduce their risk of either getting or maintaining diabetes.

Michelle L. Graham, the Y’s senior director of health and wellness, said the goal of the 16-week program is for participants to increase their physical activity by 150 minutes per week, and reduce their body weight by seven percent.

She also said people don’t have to be alone in their healthy lifestyle commitment. The Y will offer a May 18 family scavenger hunt at Thompson Park and the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park to help families come together for fun and fitness.

WHY IHC?

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FEATURES

A new‘normal’

No regrets for mother of two after life-altering surgery

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY KYLE R. HAYES

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MELISSA R. SHELMIDINE JUST wanted to live a normal life.

“I wanted it done. I practically begged a doctor to do it,” she said, Miss Shelmidine, a mother of two active, young children, a swimmer and a former high school athlete is, at the age of 24, learning how to get back up and running after having her left foot amputated.

Miss Shelmidine was born with an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in her foot, an abnormality called arteriovenous malformation. The condition went undetected for most of her childhood, getting progressively more painful and debilitating into her teen years.

“What would happen is it would cut off circulation to parts of my foot. It was so painful,” she said.

The condition left her toes swollen, numb and discolored, lacking blood circulation. She eventually opted to have her big toe amputated, hoping it would relieve some of the pain. Her foot never properly healed.

“I had my toe amputated, but I also had more than a dozen embolizations done to try to minimize the problem,” Miss Shelmidine said. “Nothing was helping.

So I met with my doctor and talked about having the foot taken off.”

Ninety percent of people with AVM have it in their brains. Though she suffered through her toes dying due to loss of circulation, she considers herself lucky.

Losing one’s foot seems traumatic and scary; Miss Shelmidine is upbeat about the life that follows her surgery. She talks about the amputation surgery as if it’s a dental cleaning. The surgery itself took less than two hours.

“My children understood the pain that I was in, that I couldn’t run around with

them because of the pain in my foot, so they understood when I told them that I was going to be getting a new leg,” she said. “When I was at home recovering, my prosthesis hadn’t come yet and my daughter was a little confused and asked where my new leg was.”

Miss Shelmidine said she does not regret her decision.

“I didn’t have any depression, nothing.

It’s been great. I was just so happy to get rid of it,” she said.

She had two months to prepare for the

‘‘

I didn’t have any depression, nothing.

It’s been good. I was just so happy to get rid of it.

— Melissa R. Shelmidine on her decision to have her foot amputated.

surgery and met with an amputee who had lost part of his leg in an accident.

Roger Howard, owner of Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics, introduced the two.

“I felt like I knew what to expect and I knew it would only get better,” she said.

Prior to surgery, Miss Shelmidine was a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Downtown Watertown Family YMCA, where she worked since 2007. Losing part of her leg didn’t stop her from getting back in the pool.

“I had the surgery in December and a few weeks later Brooke [Jamieson, the Watertown Family YMCA aquatics director] called me and said they were doing recertifications and said that we could try it,” Miss Shelmidine said. “I said, ‘why not?’ and I ended up getting back in the pool and passing my recertification.”

Miss Jamieson said seeing her colleague back in the pool was nothing short of amazing.

“I walked in thinking that I was going to have to help her in the pool or lift her up, but when I walked in she was in there doing laps,” she said. “It was just so awesome.”

The atmosphere at the Downtown Y was invigorating, Miss Shelmidine said.

She recently took the position of front desk supervisor and is walking unassisted, “except for long distances, I use just one crutch still, until my permanent prosthesis is here.”

“The people at the Y are so great. My last day here before surgery I cried the entire day. People, both staff and members, came up and hugged me and wished me luck. They were so encouraging.”

Miss Jamieson said that the Y is happy to have its former swim instructor back.

“Melissa and I grew up with the Y, we went to preschool together, so I was 100 percent behind her and want her to have a better quality of life,” she said.

Miss Jamieson said “Watertown Family YMCA” is more than a name.

“We really are a family here, we support each other every day,” she said.

Miss Shelmidine said that she’s looking forward to her permanent prosthesis, one that is less bulky and stiff than the one she currently has. Recovery from the approximately 90-minute surgery that took her lower leg has gone quickly and effortlessly.

“There’s one thing you have to remind yourself of, which is that you can’t just get out of bed and take off running, you have to put your leg on first,” Miss Shelmidine said with a smile. “If the kids need something in the middle of the night, just remember to put your leg on first.”

KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

Melissa R. Shelmidine sits at the lifeguard station at the Watertown Family YMCA. After being an active swimmer and lifeguard, she had the have her left foot amputated due to complications from arteriovenous malformation.

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FEATURES

A night on the river ‘Celebrity Chefs’ Event’ to benefit North Country Children’s Clinic

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

NNY LIVING

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A POPULAR SPRING EVENT RETURNS to the Clayton Opera House Friday, May 10.

North Country Children’s Clinic will hold its annual Celebrity Chefs’ Event, offering guests a gala river evening that includes a silent auction and food from the recipe files of some of the region’s most notable cooks.

This year’s culinary offerings are some of the favorite dishes of Coyote Moon Vineyard’s Phil and Mary Randazzo, USO’s Karen Clark, Samaritan Medical Center Foundation Director Beth Fipps, Freeman Bus Corporation and Clarence Henry Coach’s Rob Freeman, Timeless Frames’ Lisa Weber, and Bernier Carr’s Bernie Brown and his wife, Beverly.

To add to the festive atmosphere, the evening will feature “celebrity waiters,” including past recipients of NNY Business magazine’s “20 Under 40” honor, Jefferson Leadership Institute alumni, and other influential community members.

One of the evening’s highlights will be a silent auction that includes unique items donated by north country residents and businesses. Of particular note is “River Trees,” a 58-by-27-inch quilted wall hanging created by award-winning Watertown artist Mary B. Knapp.

Mrs. Knapp, 66, said she’s never sold her work, and either donates it or simply enjoys teaching others how to quilt. She began quilting in the 1970s, and has continued into her retirement. She was a biology teacher at Watertown High School until 2001.

Mrs. Knapp has published quilting books and has made many quilts of various patterns for her family, friends and charities.

“I get bored if I sit around doing nothing,” she said. “I’m completely selftaught. Quilts are made to show creativity, and appreciation for the person you’re giving it to.”

Mrs. Knapp has led workshops on learn-

IMAGE COURTESY NORTH COUNTRY CHILDREN’S CLINIC

“River Trees,” a 58-by-27-inch quilted wall hanging created by award-winning artist Mary B. Knapp, is a highlight of this year’s silent auction during North Country Children’s Clinic “Night on the River” May 10.

The rundown CELEBRITY CHEFS’ EVENT WHAT: A Night on the River: North Country Children’s Clinic 14th Celebrity Chefs’ Event WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 10 WHERE: Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive.

ON TAP: A “strolling supper” featuring recipes from some of the area’s most notable cooks with wine provided by Coyote Moon Vinyards.

COST: $75 per person; proceeds benefit Children’s Clinic programs TICKETS: Call North Country Children’s Clinic, 782-9450.

RSVP: Friday, May 3

ing to draft tree quilt blocks and hosted free talks and book signings for her recently published book, “Star Quilts.”

The silent auction also includes a Maine getaway package featuring accommodations and fine food and recreation packages, donated by Martin’s Point Health Care.

Proceeds from the event help support medical and dental care that the Children’s Clinic provides to uninsured and underinsured north country residents. Last year the clinic provided services to more than 31,000 children and families across the

region in its new adult medical clinic and pediatric medical office in Watertown, dental offices in Watertown and Lowville, WIC programs in Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, and school-based health programs in Watertown and South Jefferson Central schools.

Last year’s event garnered a recordbreaking $32,000 profit.

The event is made possible through the generosity of event sponsor Martin’s Point Health Care. Major contributions supporting the event also have been made

by Coyote Moon Vineyards, AmeriCU, AT Matthews and Dier Agency, Bernier Carr & Associates, Carthage Federal Savings & Loan, Exit More Realty, Samaritan Medical Center and Timeless Frames.

Also serving as event sponsors are Cerow Agency, Community Bank, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions/Howard Orthotics & Prosthetics, Lake Ontario Realty, North Country Orthopaedic Group, Oral Surgery of NNY, Peebles Realty, Pepsi Beverages Company, Stephen C. Foy & Associates, Watertown Audiology, Waste Management, Westelcom, WWNY-TV7/ WNYF-Fox28, the Watertown Daily Times and NNY Living magazine.

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39

ARTS

Staging a theatrical

revival

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

Opera house executive traded tech career for the arts

40

J

JOSEPH M. GLEASON HAS FOUND his stride again as a theater manager.

You could see it in the swift way he moved from his third floor office to the first floor stage of the Clayton Opera House on an early March morning as he and a crew prepared for the first show of the spring season. Questions were answered and directions given. Within the hour, students in grades 3 to 5 from three schools were to burst through the doors for Garry Krinsky’s “Toying With Science” matinee. But Mr. Gleason excused himself to his co-workers on stage to talk about his one-year anniversary as executive director of the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund, which runs the 109-year-old opera house. The building has always harbored a sense of community spirit. When it was built, the local Masonic lodge agreed to pay for the roof, provided the Masons could use the third floor for their meetings.

In his office, abandoned by Masons in 1993 before the opera house’s $3.2 million renovation project was completed in 2007, Mr. Gleason noted that last year at this time, he was just starting his job.

“I had been out of the theater business

BY CHRIS BROCK | STAFF WRITER for a long time,” he said. “Part of the routine was getting back into the business and getting my head out of IT work.”

Mr. Gleason, 52, resigned his job as an information services manager at Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington, N.H., to take the job in Clayton. He liked the community and the opera house upon sight, despite the drab January weather that greeted him for his job interview last year.

“I like the sense of the town, and the building facility is a gem,” he said.

Mr. Gleason has extensive theater management and technical director experience, as facilities manager for Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, N.H., director of operations for the Lowell (Mass.)

Memorial Auditorium and technical director for the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Fort Myers, Fla. He said he took a job in information technology to help provide for his growing family at the time. He and his wife, Charlene, have two sons, Aric, 28, and Ian, 16, and a daughter, Alyssa, 23. It’s no secret, he noted, that IT pays a lot more than the arts. His wife is a special-education teacher in New Hampshire and plans to move here permanently in two years

when she retires, Mr. Gleason said.

“Doing theater is really the first love I’ve ever had,” Mr. Gleason said. “It changes so much. Every production is new.”

New things are also happening at the Clayton Opera House.

“I’ve been making some changes,” Mr. Gleason said. “Hopefully, for the better.”

This year will be the busiest ever at the opera house. The season includes 11 summmer-season shows, which range from a concert by Jefferson Starship to a talk by Watertown native and heart surgeon Dr. Toby Cosgrove, president and chief executive of the Cleveland Clinic.

Officials at the opera house have updated its seating layout and ticketpurchasing procedures. Tickets are now available for member patrons first. Also, reserved seating is now available. There will be no need to line up an hour or more in advance to get the best seats.

Patrons also can purchase add-ons to tickets, such as dinner from a TIPAF restaurant sponsor.

“The programming committee has been strong and helpful in getting me situated with the local community and getting to learn the tastes of the commu-

Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund director Joe Gleason sits on stage at the Clayton Opera House last month.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

up the rest of operating costs.

Mr. Gleason said it’s important to host shows year-round. He said he noticed that most of last year’s programming was scheduled during the summer months.

“I was determined that we should have events here every month of the year,” Mr. Gleason said. “That way, I could honestly say, ‘Yes, we are open year-round.’”

Many of those winter-month events are “alternative” ones, Mr. Gleason said, such as the live broadcast of the 12.12.12. concert for Hurricane Sandy relief, a digital cinema series and teen karaoke nights.

“Doing those types of things seem to bring the people out in cold months,” Mr. Gleason said.

The mission in those alternative events, he said, is not to make money.

“Our goal is our mission statement: ‘To foster the appreciation of the arts in the Thousand Islands region,’” he said. “Karaoke qualifies as arts in people singing and having a good time.”

HARBORING OPPORTUNITIES

In a strong-armed stone’s throw northeast from the sidewalk in front of the opera house, an empty lot that once housed Frink America will soon come to life when

ground is broken for the Clayton Harbor Hotel project. It will be a luxury hotel and conference center. Developers hope to have the four-story facility open by Memorial Day 2014.

It’s one of the reasons Mr. Gleason sees some “interesting” years ahead for the opera house.

“That’s going to change the dynamic a little bit,” he said.

He said the project will likely mean more visitors in the summer.

“I also see a lot of opportunity in the off-season in having a motel right next to us,” he said.

He envisions the opera house cooperating with hotel-sponsored corporate retreats or working in tandem to provide entertainment.

But TIPAF and the opera house, Mr. Gleason said, will continue its mission of being a center for the entire community while hosting a wide range of shows.

“There’s lots of opportunities out there,” he said. “It’s nice to have.”

CHRIS BROCK is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2409 or cbrock@wdt.net.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

nity,” Mr. Gleason said.

That word — “community” — gets thrown around a lot, Mr. Gleason said.

“But Clayton is a nice little village and a welcoming place,” he said. “From all strata of socioeconomics, we try to make everybody welcome here at the opera house.”

One of his challenges last year was stepping into a season that was booked by someone else. Mr. Gleason replaced Lisa P. Reiss, who resigned in the fall of 2011 after six months on the job to move back to her native Connecticut. Mr. Gleason booked only two shows last year.

Mr. Gleason made a smooth, successful transition, but he said his first year’s greatest success was the budgetary bottom line.

“I’m big on numbers,” he said. “At the end of the year, we ran a very small surplus. That’s allowed us some flexibility in the coming year. We’re essentially starting even and not having to make up for a huge loss.”

Ticket sales, he noted, make up for 52 percent of the opera house’s costs.

About 28 percent is from individual donations — “anywhere from $100 up to over $5,000” — with support from corporations and foundations making

41

Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund / 2013 summer season

W

hen officials at the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund were planning the summer 2013 season for the Clayton Opera House, some good-natured debate broke out.

“Each year, the shows seem to be getting bigger with more national names,” said TIPAF Executive Director Joseph M. Gleason. “There was some debate whether we wanted to continue that or stick with smaller shows and more of them.”A compromise was struck.

“It was, ‘Yes, we want more entertainment, but let’s continue to do the big names, too,’” Mr. Gleason said. “So we have more big names this year than ever before.”

The 11-act series opens June 20 and runs through Aug. 20. Shows range from Broadway legend Ben Vereen to the Clayton Community Band, which is the opera house’s resident ensemble.

“It’s an ambitious season,” Mr. Gleason said.

“It’s about a 25 percent increase in budget over last year.”

WHERE: All performances are held at the Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive COST: Ticket prices range from $65/$55/$50 for the July 20 performance by Ben Vereen to $25 for a talk by Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove on July 27 and a tribute to Teddy Roosevelt on July 3. People can receive a 5 percent discount by purchasing tickets for at least three different shows and a 10 percent discount for purchasing tickets for at least five different shows. TIPAF also has several “mem-

ber patron benefit” packages available. Benefits include the availability of tickets before summer season tickets go on sale to the public May 14.

MORE INFO: www.claytonoperahouse.com

THE LINEUP JUNE 20 — Comedian Rob Schneider, 7:30 p.m. Mr. Schneider, a veteran of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” has starred in dozens of movies including “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick” and “Grownups.” Tickets: $40, $45 and $55.

JULY 3 — Joe Wiegand as Teddy Roosevelt, 7 p.m. Mr. Wiegand has entertained audiences nationwide with his tribute to President Theodore Roosevelt. He shares stories of adventure, humor and inspiration ranging from bear hunts to adventures about the Panama Canal. Tickets: $25.

JULY 5 — Ben Taylor, 7:30 p.m. Son of music legends Carly Simon and James Taylor, Ben Taylor has way with melody and a mastery of the understated lyric. Taylor’s folk-rock-pop melodies accentuate his smooth and effortless vocal quality and immaculate guitar skills. Tickets: $20, $25 and $30.

JULY 11 — The Kingston Trio, 7:30 p.m. This pioneering folk group emerged from San Francisco’s North Beach club scene in 1957. It was one of the first groups to bring folk music into the mainstream. Hits include “Tom Dooley,” “Lemon

Tree” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”

The trio has kept its original name but with different members over the years. The current lineup is Bill Zorn, George Grove and Rick Dougherty. Tickets: $40, $45 and $55.

JULY 17 — Great Big Sea, 7:30 p.m. Alan Doyle, Sean McCann and Bob Hallett have kept the Great Big Sea going for 20 years. And more often than not, they have performed the folk music of their native Newfoundland with more than a bit of flair. Tickets: $45 to $60.

JULY 20 — Ben Vereen, 8 p.m. Mr. Vereen, a Tony award winner and Broadway legend, will bring his “Steppin’ Out” tour to the Clayton Opera House. The show travels through Mr. Vereen’s stage and television career while also paying tribute to the work of Frank Sinatra and his longtime friend and mentor, Sammy Davis Jr. Tickets: $50, $55 and $65.

JULY 27 — Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, 4 p.m.

Watertown native Dr. Delos M. “Toby” Cosgrove III is a world-renowned expert in the field of heartvalve repair. He also is president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. His July 27 talk will benefit the opera house. Its title: “A Health Care System for the 21st Century: What Walmart, Zumba and the Performing Arts Have in Common.” Tickets: $25.

AUG. 14 — Christopher O’Riley, 7:30 p.m. As host of National Public Radio’s “From the Top,” Mr. O’Riley is known for his eloquent musings on music and popular culture. Joining him will be one of last year’s winners of the 1000 Islands International Piano Competition. This will be Mr. O’Riley’s second visit to the north country in two years. He appeared at SUNY Potsdam last April. Tickets: $35, $40 and $50.

AUG. 15 — Magician Mike Super, 7:30 p.m. Mr. Super was voted America’s “Favorite Mystifier” in 2007 on NBC’s “Phenomenon.” He also appeared at the opera house two years ago. For the past two years, he has been named entertainer of the year by the International Magicians Society.

Tickets are $35, $40 and $50.

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

AUG. 22 — Jefferson Starship, 7:30 p.m. This band has undergone several changes since it was formed in the 1970s, evolving from its predecessor, Jefferson Airplane. Its current lineup includes band founders Paul Kantner and David Freiberg.

Hits include “Miracles,” “Count on Me,” “Jane,” “Layin’ It on the Line” and “Be My Lady.” Tickets: $45, $50 and $60.

42

AUG. 28 — Satisfaction: A Rolling Stones tribute, 7:30 p.m. Satisfaction is America’s top tribute band to the Rolling Stones, offering faithful renditions of the “bad boys of the British invasion.”

Tickets: $30, $34 and $45.

CLAYTON COMMUNITY BAND n The resident ensemble of the opera house will perform at 7 p.m. May 7, July 2, Aug. 20, Oct. 8 and Dec. 3. Under the direction of Gloria Hvizdos Musser, the band was formed in the summer of 2004 in memory of her late husband, Willard I. Musser. All of its members and conductor are volunteers. Its concerts raise money for various causes.

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43

FOOD

Flan a fabulous dessert dish not just for Wonder Woman n Follow this simple recipe for an easy-to-please treat

BY BOO WELLS

and decided to focus exclusively on being “Mom of the Year.”

Little did I know, Mom of the Year is an incredibly labor intensive title to maintain. There are countless school activities that require work: bake sales to contribute to, field trips that need chaperones,

My sole responsibility for this endeavor was to deliver the completed flan to school the next day by noon. How hard could that be?

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

“Keep faith, trust to love. Fight with honor, but fight to win” — Wonder Woman

44

IN THE BOOK I HAVE YET TO WRITE: “THE WORLD According to Boo,” there are two distinctly different types of people. There is the group of people who make New Year’s resolutions to exercise daily, drink more water and avoid dairy products. They also tend to give things up for Lent, like chocolate, wine and coffee. This is the group that promises to “be better” at every chance: they work out, eat right, get enough sleep and are always well put together. Wonder Woman belongs to this group.

Then there is the group that gives up nothing, pledges to change nothing and basically ignores the whole silly mess because they know they will never stick to whatever it is they pledged anyway. This group has come to face the fact that they are unwilling — though incapable might be a better word — to give up the foods they love, sweat in public and be labeled “crabby” because they have a little trouble waking up in the morning.

I’m sure you can guess which group of people I fit into.

I stopped trying to be Wonder Woman several years ago. She is just too much work, so I lowered my expectations for myself

fundraisers that require solicitation of coworkers, family members, neighbors and people you don’t even know or like. If that’s not enough, add in the little darling’s sporting events, plays, musicals, band recitals and poetry readings to cheer at and beam appropriately. Then there are the diminutive items that mostly go unnoticed at home. The clean clothes and matched socks placed on the end of the bed every morning (just kidding), the constant supply of freshly made chocolate chip cookies — usually still warm from the oven when they get off the school bus; homemade lunches with each child’s favorite foods, family dinners at the table with cloth napkins and candles — no TV dinners or paper napkins for the children of Mom of the Year.

I have recently had the chance to rethink my life goals. Wonder Woman, a crown that always seemed so unattainable, so much work, so difficult to maintain, is starting to look like a pretty reasonable gig.

My moment of clarity began with a brilliant school project that required my second born, Patrick, to produce and film a cooking demonstration on how to make the Spanish dessert, flan. Patrick is very capable in the kitchen, so with a moderate degree of difficulty I refrained from micro-managing the project. My sole

responsibility for this endeavor was to deliver the completed flan to school the next day by noon. How hard could that be?

On said flan delivery day, I decided it was time to start a little exercise routine.

Maybe a brisk walk first thing in the morning should become part of my day, I thought.

After driving the darlings to school I changed into walking clothes and proceed to get distracted by the millions of things that needed doing around the house. At 11:45 a.m. it became apparent that if I did not get out for my walk immediately it was never going to happen, so off I charged, music pumping and head held high. I walked a mile or so and at 12:01 p.m. arrived at their school.

That’s when it hit me: the flan was meant to be delivered to the school at noon. Panic ensued and I did what every Mother of the Year would do: I turned around and started running for home. I though about hitchhiking, explaining to whomever picked me up that I was not in the habit of taking rides from strangers but these were desperate circumstances.

No cars passed, so I kept running. In true Mother of the Year fashion I made it back to the school, flan in hand by 12:18, winded, smelly and disheveled.

I realize now that if I had chosen the Wonder Woman route all these years, I would have been in much better shape for life’s little challenges — but then again, maybe Wonder Woman and Mother of the Year aren’t really separate — maybe, just maybe, they are actually the same girl.

BOO WELLS is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. Contact her at sackets farmhousekitchen@gmail.com or www.thefarm housekitchen.com.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Patrick’s fabulous flan (Serves 10)

INGREDIENTS 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons water 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk 5 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract SPECIAL EQUIPMENT 10 four-ounce ramekins (available at Pier One Imports) INSTRUCTIONS In a small heavy saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cook syrup until it is a golden caramel color. Divide the caramel between the ramekins, tilting them to coat the bottom and sides of each ramekin.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, whisk together the con-

densed milk, coconut milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide the mixture evenly among the ramekins.

The flan is baked in what is called a hot water bath. Place the ramekins in a shallow baking dish. Pour in enough boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Carefully place the water and ramekin-filled pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake the flan until just set, but still slightly wiggly in the center, about 30 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the ramekins from the hot water bath to a rack or cookie sheet and let cool. Chill the flan in the refrigerator until ready to serve. The flan can be prepared three days in advance of serving it.

When ready to serve, run a sharp knife around the inside of the ramekin, gently press down the edges of the flan, until the caramel runs up the side, which indicates that it’s loosened. Invert each flan onto a plate and enjoy.

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A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

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45

FOOD

[ CHEF’S TABLE ]

A family favorite for the ages

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY CRISTA AND TAREK MAKDOULI

46

CHICKEN ORECCHIETTE is one of those dishes we love to serve for every reason. It’s a signature entrée that provides guests with a full dining experience each time they order it.

For us, opening a new restaurant in the north country has been a process of both trial and error and slow and steady growth. This dish has illustrated that on many levels. It also has shown the success of what we have worked hard to create in the heart of Massena.

As many permanent menu items begin, it started as a featured special. When Chef Michael Austin first prepared it for us, we knew it was a winner from the very first bite. It had such a unique depth of flavor and captured everything people love about a great pasta dish. The chicken was beautifully marinated and grilled to perfection, and the sauce was perfect — not too heavy and not too light. It is ideal for those times when you’d love the richness of an Alfredo sauce, but don’t want its heavy feel.

The chiffonade of fresh spinach atop the chicken is the fun part of this dish that stands out. It may seem like something insignificant when up against stronger ingredients such as sundried tomatoes and roasted red peppers, but it really does complete the dish.

Fresh spinach has such a unique flavor and texture.

The bite and flavor give just a subtle hint of something

orecchiette pasta 1/4 cup of white wine 1 tablespoon sundried tomato butter blend 1 ounce roasted red peppers 1 ounce baby spinach ½ ounce chopped shallots 1 teaspoon olive oil 3/4 cup heavy cream Dash of salt and pepper

JASON HUNTER | NNY LIVING

different. The sundried tomato butter lends a balanced richness that satisfies without overpowering. It’s not a heavy sauce, but the richness and depth of flavors will impress with that in mind. The roasted red peppers and shallots come into play, too, lending a delicious sweetness.

Chicken orecchiette is surely one of our family favorites. We hope it becomes a favorite for your family, too.

Chicken orecchiette (Grilled marinated chicken breast, shallots, roasted red peppers and baby spinach in a sundried tomato cream sauce with orecchiette pasta.)

INGREDIENTS (Serves one) 8 ounces chicken breast 8 ounces cooked

INSTRUCTIONS Start a sauté of roasted red peppers and shallots in 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a sauté pan set to medium heat. Cook until shallots start to brown. Deglaze the pan with white wine and add salt and pepper. Cook until wine catches up with the heat of the pan, starting to simmer.

Add spinach and pasta. Precooked cold pasta works best as the heat from the sauce will bring it back to temperature. Add sundried tomato butter – a blend of sundried tomatoes and butter.

Once butter starts to melt, add cream and reduce to medium low heat and simmer 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce will tighten from the butter and the starch from the pasta.

Chicken breast should be thouroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Serve chicken sliced over pasta with finely chopped chiffonade of fresh spinach.

— Chef Michael Austin recipe CRISTA AND TAREK Makdouli own and operate Vino Vidi Vici in Massena, serving upscale casual Italian fare. Visit them at 160 Harte Haven Plaza or online at www.

VinoVV.com. Call 769-5050 for delivery or reservations.

WINE

The sweet success of local wines n New York state varieties are changing the world

BY KRIS ALLEN

OTTER CREEK WINERY BROOKSIDE BLUSH from Philadelphia. This wine is a blend of Catawba and Concord with flavors of strawberry and has a clean finish, similar to a white zinfandel. This wine would pair very well with ribs, ham, chicken and mild spicy foods.

OTTER CREEK WINERY ADIRONDACK RED is made with a 100 percent

Concord grape. To quote the winery owner, “it’s a grape juice with a kick.”

This wine pairs well with grilled pork, hot dogs, a Big Mac, Whopper or ribs and is just great for sipping on the deck.

a semi-sweet wine with a refreshing taste.

This wine pairs well with cheeses such as: Swiss, Colby and Monterey Jack. It also pairs well with apples, pears, melon, avocado, crab, baked ham and bacon.

COYOTE MOON VINEYARDS RIVER RUN is a Catawba grape blend grown in Clayton with a strawberry background and flavoring and hints of green apple.

This wine pairs with grilled sweet potato steak, grilled or roasted pork, garlic mashed potatoes, ginger and spicy mustard and spinach.

THOUSAND ISLAND WINERY RIESLING has peach and apricot flavors and is styled very much like a German Spatlese, meaning it’s a sweeter styled Riesling. It would pair well with mint, curry, ginger, capers, coriander, cumin, smoked oysters, scallops, fish with cream sauces, chicken, turkey and fruit desserts.

COYOTE MOON VINEYARDS TWISTED SISTER comes from a new varietal, Frontenac. It has flavors of plum and grape, with a touch of currant and is still able to show raspberry and cherry. It’s an amazing grape. This wine pairs well with cold cuts, barbeque pulled pork, sausage, chicken-fried steak and stews.

The important thing with wine is to keep tasting until you find the wine for you. New York wineries offer a variety of sweet wines, whether you prefer white, red or blush. Visit a local winery, go on a wine tour, taste, taste and taste. Step outside of the box and open a New York wine, there’s something for everyone. As always, take time to know good wine.

Cheers!

THOUSAND ISLAND WINERY LA CRESCENT Grown in the Thousand Islands area, it is an excellent cold-hardy grape with flowery aromas followed by flavors of lime and melon. La Crescent is

KRIS ALLEN, “The Wine Lady,” owns Allen’s Liquors and Wines on Route 342 in Watertown.

Contact her at 785-0431.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

DRINKING A GLASS OF WINE IS A fun and relaxing experience, whether with a meal or sitting on the front porch during a warm spring evening. While picking the right wine can be unnecessarily intimidating, everyone’s taste is as unique as their fingerprint and no one is right or wrong when choosing the type of wine they prefer.

Traditional wine offerings have been categorized as semi-sweet, sweet, dry or semidry; however, sweet wines are becoming more popular while at the same time reigning in new wine lovers. It is so exciting to be a part of the wine industry today. The influx of people trying wine is great to see.

Twenty years ago, New York boasted only 54 wineries, most of which were in the Finger Lakes region. Today there are more than 330, which is one reason why New York has evolved into one of the largest players in the wine world and a leading producer of sweet wines.

Due to its micro-growing climates, New York wineries have produced soft, sweet, fruity wines for years. It’s amazing to watch now that the rest of the world is jumping on the bandwagon and offering a sweet alternative to the masses. As this trend continues, it’s exciting to see that consuming wine is no longer for the experienced, but the novice wine drinker can now feel comfortable exploring new territories. Here are a few of my favorite selections from some local wineries.

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HISTORY

A postcard dated June 26, 1907, shows the Oneida Community Home Building in Kenwood, N.Y., near Oneida

A scandalous past

PHOTO COURTESY WIKIPEDIA

Oneida flatware began as necessity for utopian community

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

BY LENKA WALLDROFF

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THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE TODAY WHO have not used or at least heard of Oneida cutlery. The flatware is ubiquitous in restaurants, hotels and kitchen drawers worldwide. Since its founding in the 19th century, Oneida Limited flatware has become something of an American tradition, although its roots are anything but traditional.

The flatware was originally manufactured by the Oneida Community, a religious utopian commune based in Oneida between 1848 and 1880.

A man named John Humphrey Noyes led the group. He was born in Battleboro, Vt., in 1811 to John and Polly Noyes. His father was a businessman and United States Congressman. His mother was an ardently religious woman who had hopes that her son would one day pursue a religious vocation.

Though he lacked any real interest in religion as a young man, in order to placate his mother, Mr. Noyes agreed to attend a local revival meeting in 1828 led by the great revivalist preacher Charles Finney.

Though initially unimpressed by the revival, within days of his return Mr. Noyes became gravely ill and was convinced of

his imminent death. While he did recover, the experience served as a catalyst for a religious conversion that led him to enroll in Yale Divinity School with the aim of becoming a preacher.

Denied ordination by Yale due to controversial theories he developed regarding the nature of salvation, Mr. Noyes left the school to preach his newly minted religious philosophy. Between 1834 and 1837 he traveled throughout New England and New York looking for converts; he found none. By this time, his religious philosophy grew to include a number of unconventional beliefs, including the denunciation of marriage.

As part of his evangelization effort, Mr. Noyes published articles elucidating his beliefs in a local Vermont newspaper. The articles attracted the attention of a woman named Harriet Holton, the daughter of a well-to-do, politically connected Vermont family. Ms. Holton became interested in Mr. Noyes’s work, which she financially supported. In June 1838, Mr. Noyes proposed “spiritual marriage” to Ms. Holton, explaining that the marriage would have all the trappings of a traditional marriage without the “selfish possession of one another.”

Mr. Noyes’ marriage to Ms. Holton

brought a financial windfall, which he used to buy a small publishing company.

There he published a newsletter called “The Witness”— a tool he used to propagate his teachings.

A handful of students from a Bible school located in Putney, Vt., that Mr. Noyes established joined his religious group in 1840. Calling themselves the “Putney Association,” the group adopted communism in 1844. Members pooled their personal and family assets, including a $20,000 inheritance from Mr. Noyes’ father, to support the community. By this time, the group had grown to 37 members living together in three houses. They ran two farms and maintained a general store in Putney.

It was during this period that the community began to practice some of Mr. Noyes’ more controversial beliefs, including group marriage. While limited to the group’s leadership, the practice was sufficient to draw ire from locals who had Mr. Noyes indicted on charges of adultery. Having no interest in political martyrdom, Mr. Noyes’ quickly moved the community to Oneida, where he purchased 23 acres of land.

Following their relocation to New York, the group renamed itself the “Oneida Community.” In addition to personal

LENKA P. WALLDROFF is former curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum.

She is a former museum specialist and conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She lives in Jefferson County with her husband and daughter. Her column appears in every issue.

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property and assets of incoming members, the group supported itself through various agricultural and industrial endeavors.

These would eventually include such a wide array of businesses as dentistry, the manufacture of leather bags, a silk mill and, of course, silverware.

By 1848 the group had 87 members, most of whom were now openly engaged in the controversial practices that led to Mr. Noyes’ prosecution in Vermont. In the Oneida Community, every man in the community was “married” to every woman, and while cohabitation between two people was allowed, an exclusive mutual attachment was not only discouraged but punished.

Birth control, still relatively uncommon in the Victorian period, was widely practiced among the group. Mr. Noyes justified the practice by citing the numerous difficult childbirths experienced by his wife, Harriet.

During the years of the birth control policy’s implementation, roughly 1848-1868, only 40 children were born to a community that, during the time, had 250 members.

The Oneida Community members also submitted to regular “mutual criticism.” A practice Mr. Noyes championed as a means to ensure moral conformity among the group. Each member would be criticized publically for any perceived deviations from the community’s moral or social code.

The community continued to exist peacefully until 1876 when Mr. Noyes, wanting to retire to Connecticut, conferred his role as community leader to his son, Theodore.

Lacking the charisma and religious conviction of his father, Theodore Noyes’ leadership quickly sowed seeds of discontent among the community.

By 1879 deep schisms within the community had formed. Eventually, opposition from the outside community to the groups’ progressive practices forced members to abandon the complex marriage system altogether. By 1880, the community’s various businesses and manufacturing assets were reorganized into a joint stock venture. By 1881 the community disbanded and Oneida Community Limited, eventually called Oneida Limited, was charged with managing the businesses.

Today, the 93,000-square-foot Oneida Community Mansion, begun in 1861, is both a National Historic Landmark and a museum that houses a collection of artifacts related to the Oneida Community.

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HOMES

A retirement dream comes true

Post-and-beam beauty on cherished family location

BY PEGGY DeYOUNG

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

OVERLOOKING CLAYTON’S FRENCH Bay on Bartlett’s Point, this home is a retirement dream on a stretch of St. Lawrence River waterfront treasured by six generations of owners Rob and Sharron Grant’s family. The new home was built on the site of an original small cottage.

When repairs became too great to tackle, it was torn down and plans for a new river home began.

The couple wanted to build a post-andbeam home, which would allow expansive views down river. They eventually decided to build a Lindal Cedar home.

Lindal is based in Seattle and provides

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a package of building materials that includes posts and beams and windows and doors. Other materials were customized to the owners’ tastes and design needs and could be bought separately.

One of the first challenges was to determine if a full walk-out basement with a living space for their family and guests could be built. The sloping grass hill originally had 11 steps down to the water. The process not only revealed that there was enough height to build the walk-out basement, but just below the topsoil the site had beautiful limestone bedrock that is so prevalent along the river. The family now enjoys large areas of natural limestone defining the outdoor living space.

The living room has a soaring ceiling and angled prow windows that provide magnificent views down river and across the bay. The St. Lawrence River played a very significant and inspirational role in the design of this home. When confronted with the endless choices of building a home, the owner often took materials to the water’s edge to see how tones and colors mingled with natural shades of the river. The result is a careful blending of materials with nature.

Continuity continues into the interiors with slate flooring, soapstone countertops, knotty alder cabinetry and a blend of reclaimed red and white oak flooring in living spaces.

Function and durability were important

Riverfront dream home BUILDER: Al Roy, CHM Construction and Central New York Lindal dealer, 430-1751 CUSTOM WOODWORK: Mark Schwartz, Red Woods Rustic and Hand-carved Furniture, dreammark@msn.com.

FURNISHINGS AND LIGHTING: Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop, Clayton, www. porchandpaddle.com.

when selecting furniture. A deep taupe leather sofa with lots of grain and texture was chosen for the living room. A favorite antique mission-style loveseat was recovered with Pendleton wool fabric.

“I kept returning to the deep blue grays of the river for fabric and rug selections in the bedrooms and loft” the owner said.

They also found an antique hickory twig-style dining table and chairs at the Thousand Islands Art Center antique show. While lighting is too often taken for granted in building projects, the selection of lights are unique and blend with the arts-and-craft style. It’s one of the details that make this home special and personal.

Aside from a river view, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is a focal point in open living areas. It called for a special mantel.

The owners found the solution in Mark Schwartz when visiting a rustic show in Alexandria Bay. Mr. Schwartz likes to work with local timber from newly felled trees or trees cut by power companies. For this mantel, he found the perfect cedar tree on the property that had been cut down during excavation. After letting the tree age, the bark was carefully removed to expose the character left by wrinkles under branch joints, worm holes and knots. Mr. Schwartz was also able to create a oneof-a-kind newel post and powder room vanity from the same cedar tree.

With care and thought, this retirement dream became an efficient modern home deeply rooted in the north country’s heritage and natural environment.

PEGGY DEYOUNG is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. Contact her at deerrun @twcny.rr.com.

Clockwise from above: A cedar wood mantel.

Custom ceiling lighting. The riverfront dock and fire pit. Custom fireplace. The kitchen and dining area. A view of the home’s exterior from the river.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

JA NUA RY /AP FEBRUA RY 2012 VI NG RIL / MAY 201 3 || NNY LI LIVING

51 51

MY NNY

‘Mush!’

BY PATRICK DANFORTH / EVANS MILLS

A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

MEDIA: Digital photograph CAMERA: Nikon D7000, ISO 200f/5.6 1/600 145mm DATE: Winter 2012 PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES: Here is Max, a German shepherd, and Alyson. Max stayed with us at Click to Zen Canine Behavioral Services for training while his rescue searched for a foster home. He was going to be put to sleep in a shelter in Brooklyn. Here he enjoys pulling Alyson on a

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sled. He loved pulling people on skis, a kick sled and mountain boards. He eventually found a foster home and was adopted.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Danforth’s photo won the 2013 Watertown Daily Times Cabin Fever Photo Contest in the outdoor recreation category.

Give us your best image. If you have captured a snippet of NNY through your lens or on canvas, email it to us at nnyliving@wdt.net.

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A PRIL / MAY 2013 | NNY L IVING

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

From left, John B. Johnson, general manager, Northern New York Newspaper Corp.; Harold B. Johnson II, Johnson Newspaper Corp. president and chief operating officer and Watertown Daily Times co-publisher; John B. Johnson Jr., Johnson Newspaper Corp. CEO and chairman of the board and Watertown Daily Times editor and co-publisher; Ann Johnson Kaiser, secretary, Johnson Newspaper Corp. board of directors.

The Watertown Daily Times celebrated 150 years of publishing on April 22, 2011.

F

> Local News. > Local Sports. > Local Views.

A PRIL / MAY 2 01 3 | NNY LI VI NG

amily businesses are the backbone of the north country. Since 1904, when Harold Bowtell Johnson was hired as a Watertown Daily Times reporter, the Johnson family and its many talented employees have been working to deliver news and information to north country residents. Today, Johnson Newspaper Corporation continues its tradition of award-winning journalism with daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, websites, social media, shoppers, commercial printing and mailing. We reach hundreds of thousands of readers in small towns and cities across New York state from Watertown to Malone and the Adirondacks to Hudson-Catskill and Batavia. We are the pulse of your communities that beats in the tradition of family business. Thank you.

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