NNY Living Autumn 2014 by NNY Business

L I v I ng NN Y

AUTUMN 2014 Volume 3 No. 6

nnyliving.com

Theater

sets the stage $2.95

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BEST OF NNY

FASHION

FOOD

TRAVEL

Cast your ballot in our first Best of Autumn

Discover designer labels on a budget

Taste the fall with braised apples & butternut squash

Fall into fun with a trip to the Berkshires

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>> Inside AUTUMN 2014

36 38

COVER STORY | 30 CULTURED COMMUNITY Community theater deepens the cultural offerings of our region for a stronger NNY.

SOCIAL SCENE | 12 NNY SOCIAL LIGHTS Networking for a cause at premier local events.

BEST OF NNY 23 BEST OF AUTUMN VOTE Cast your say in our first Best of NNY Autumn in 25 categories of fall-time fun.

ON THE RIVER | 14 PLENTY OF FUN LEFT Much to do remains on the calendar for a fun-filled fall.

FEATURES | 34 PURPOSE-DRIVEN SHOWS Watertown’s Stage Notes has donated more than $26k to worthy causes since 2009.

NNY LIFE | 16 LEARNING TO LET GO Parents will always worry but it’s still safe to relax.

36 A SILVER ANNIVERSARY Community Performance Series has been bringing the arts to NNY for 25 years.

WELLNESS | 18 OWN YOUR HEALTH Make taking charge of your health should be a priority. |

37 SHOWS ON THE ROAD Ogdensburg Command Performances hit the road. GARDEN | 20 PREP FOR SPRING NOW The autumn harvest is an ideal time to prepare your garden for spring planting. |

FOOD | 38 A SWEET HARVEST DISH Braised apples with fresh butternut squash and maple syrup is a sweet taste of fall. |

HISTORY | 40 A BELOVED RABBI Rabbi Menachem Schneerson had a profound impact on many in the north country. |

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CONTRIBUTORS Chris Brock is a Watertown Daily Times reporter. In this issue’s cover story, he writes about how community theater deepens the cultural offerings in Northern New York and builds a more vibrant north country. (p. 30)

Michelle Graham is the wellness director for the Downtown Watertown YMCA. She lives in Watertown. She writes about how people can to take charge of their health to avoid a diagnosis of pre-diabetes. (p. 18)

Katie Stokes is a blogger and freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield with her husband and two small children. In ‘The NNY Life’ this issue, she writes about parenting. In features, she writes about Ticia Marra’s Stage Notes. (pgs. 16, 34)

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 the life and work of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. (p. 40)

Boo Wells is a chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. She shares a tasty autumn recipe for braised apples and roasted butternut squash with maple syrup. (p. 38)

Brian Hallett is an art teacher at South Jefferson Central Schools and an avid gardener. His family owns and operates Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse in Adams. He offers tips for fall garden maintenance to help prepare for next season’s planting. (p. 20)

Gabrielle Hovendon is a veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer. In this issue, she writes about the 25th anniversary of Potsdam-based Community Performace Series (p. 36)

Michael Folsom is the director of marketing and communications at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton. In ‘On the River,’ he writes about opportunities to enjoy the autumn season along the St. Lawrence River and beyond. (p. 14) Jennifer Smith is a reporter and community engagement editor for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass., and a freelance writer. She’s a native of Berkshire County. She writes our travel feature in this issue: Destination Berkshires. (p. 26)

Katie Machia is a fashion blogger and Watertown resident who is finishing her last year of high school. She also models part time for print and runway shows. In this issue, she writes about how to find brand-name wares for less at thrift stores. (p. 42)

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MARKETPLACE

Americu Credit Union ............................ 2 Ameriprise/Ken Piarulli ........................ 41 Bach & Company ................................ 10 Bayview Shores Realty ........................ 15 Center for Sight .............................. 17, 48 Cheney Tire .......................................... 45 Clayton Dental Office ......................... 12 Clayton Opera House ........................... 8 Clipper Inn .............................................. 8 Community Bank ................................... 4 Community Performance Series ........ 32 Crouse Hospital ..................................... 7 Development Authority of the North Country ............................ 39 Farm House Kitchen ............................ 17 Fuccillo Automotive ............................ 33 House No. 12 ........................................ 47 Hospice of Jefferson County .............. 19 Immaculate Heart Central Schools ...... 19 Jefferson Lewis Board of Realtors ....... 15 Marzano Real Estate ............................ 15

Meade Optical .................................... 35 NNY Community Foundation .............. 35 NNY Living ............................................ 10 Nortz & Virkler Ford .............................. 33 Phinney’s Automotive ......................... 33 Rainbow Shores ................................... 29 Reinman’s Department Store ............. 45 River Day Spa and Salon .................... 19 River Hospital ....................................... 19 River Rat Cheese ................................... 9 Roberts Automotive ............................. 33 The 1000 Islands Cruet ........................ 32 Thousand Islands Realty ..................... 15 Upstate Cancer Center ....................... 21 Waite Motor Sports .............................. 13 Waite Toyota ........................................ 46 Watertown Daily Times ........................ 22 Watertown Savings Bank .................... 22 Watertown Spring & Alignment .......... 33 Wratten’s RV’s ...................................... 28 WWTI-TV 50 ............................................. 3

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Publishers

John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II

VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Staff Writer / Editorial Assistant Lorna Oppedisano

Magazine Design / Production Lauren M. Harrienger

Photography

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

Director of Advertising Michael Hanson

Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino

Ad Graphics, Design

Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules, Rick Gaskin

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

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. © 2011-2014. 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 mhanson@wdt.net, or call 661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail bward@ogd.com, or call 661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. Please recycle this magazine.

36 HOURS IN ...

ON THE COVER

26 DESTINATION BERKSHIRES Western Massachusetts holds a treasure of fun during the autumn season. From acclaimed museums to brilliant fall foliage, it’s all within a quick drive.

COLUMNS

8 EDITOR’S NOTE 14 ON THE RIVER

DEPARTMENTS

9 10 11 12 18

16 THE NNY LIFE 20 TODAY’S GARDENER

UPFRONT BEST BETS CALENDAR SOCIAL SCENE WELLNESS

26 42 38 40 46

36 HOURS IN ... FASHION FOOD HISTORY MY NNY

For our fall cover shot, Photographer Justin Sorensen styled a portrait of Ticia Marra, director of Stage Notes, at Jefferson Community College’s Sturtz Theater. Our cover story about how theater deepens the cultural offerings in the north country begins on page 30. Justin used a Nikon D700 with an 70-200mm lens, ISO 400, f/2.8.

Oct 16 l Nov 3 l Nov 20

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EDITOR’S NOTE

IN THIS, OUR AUTUMN ISSUE OF NNY Living, veteran writer Chris Brock looks at how community theater helps to broaden the cultural offerings for all who live in Northern New York. From Watertown Little Theatre to Lyric Theater, Stage Notes and Grasse River Players to the 50-year-old Ogdensburg Command Performances and Potsdam-based Community Performance Series, few should doubt that the arts are alive in the north country. Thanks to talented group of amateur thespians, north country residents have more opportunities to enjoy live theater Ken Eysaman than residents in many other rural parts of the country. We also visit with Ticia Marra of Watertown’s Stage Notes. Just five years ago, Ticia was struck with the idea to present shows that would raise money for worthy organizations. Since, her group’s “performances with a purpose” have raised tens of thousands of dollars, resulting in Stage Notes donating more than $26,000 to local causes. Writer Katie Stokes’ story about Stage Notes begins on page 34.

n our holiday issue, coming in November, we offer a wide range of things to do to make the season brighter and more fun.

n PLAYERS TURN 40: St. Lawrence Countybased Grasse River players marks 40 years. n DESTINATION CAPITAL REGION: We head to Albany for some fun in our capital.

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n n n BEST OF NNY — On page 23, you’ll find a ballot for the second installment in our best of NNY series – Best of Autumn. Don’t miss your chance to help us pick the top of our towns. Our series of seasonal “bests” will culminate in an annual “Best of NNY” edition later this year. Keep checking in with us online at nnyliving.com or visit our Facebook page for updates. Meanwhile, complete your ballot and return it to our offices by Nov. 3 or, if you’d rather vote online, visit nnyliving. com and name your picks. As always, if you have any suggestions, feedback or story ideas for NNY Living, email me at keysaman@wdt. net or call me direct at (315) 661-2399.

Warm regards,

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

Also coming in our next issue:

SOCIAL SCENE — This issue’s Social Scene section, which begins on page 12, features nearly three-dozen faces from across Northern New York. On July 31, we joined the Thousand Islands Arts Center for an opening reception for artist Viva Hoffmann’s show, “Viva, Viva! Landscapes and Seascapes East to West.” On Aug. 2, we joined Hospice of Jefferson County for its annual Charity Cup Regatta at the Henderson Harbor Yacht Club.

n PLUS: Social Scene, On The River, Arts, Food, Books, Wellness, The NNY Life, History, This is NNY, Today’s Gardener and My NNY. 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.

Open Tuesday - Sunday For Dinner

[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ] Adirondack writer releases new titles

William J. O’Hern, Camillus, has simultaneously released three new books that focus on the Adirondacks. The selfpublished books are “Adirondack Memories and Campfire Stories,” “Adirondack Wilds” and “The Hermit and Us: Our Adventures With Noah John Rondeau.” Mr. O’Hern’s interest in the Adirondacks began more than 60 years ago when his family camped each summer around Eighth Lake and Brown’s Tract in the Adirondack lake country. His love affair with the mountains accelerated in his 20s when he began backpacking and bushwhacking through the wilderness and climbing the High Peaks of Essex County. The retired Camden teacher has written several books about the Adirondacks and the people who live there, with an emphasis on hermit Noah John Rondeau. Mr. Rondeau moved to the High Peaks around 1916 and lived there for more than 30 years. “The less contact one has with urban society, the more idiosyncratic one’s character becomes,” Mr. O’Hern said. “This is true with communities as well as with people.” He said the books teem with eccentric characters and unusual places. The books are available at adkwilds. com for $25.99 each.

Novel explores veteran’s post-war PTSD struggle

Annual Autos on River benefits food pantry

The Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 16th Annual Autos on the River car show in August on the Village Green on Broadway Street. Awards were given in the 1900 to 1954, 1968 to 1972, 2001 to present, street rod/ modified to 1954/1955 and up, truck and “best of” categories. Best of Show Overall was awarded to Joe and Donna Montgomery, Wolfe Island, Ont., for their 1957 Chevy BelAir. A 50/50 raffle was held to benefit the Cape Vincent Food Pantry. Event sponsors were George Kuhn, F.X. Caprara, Alexandria Bay, Phinney’s Automotive Center, Clayton, and Thousand Islands Trophy Services, Clayton.

Crane School of Music alumna wins contest

A Crane School of Music graduate is on her way to Hollywood, after winning the national “I’m Miss Incredible” contest. Becki Ronen Walenz ’12 was chosen out

MILITARY DISCOUNT!

of entrants from across the country to be featured in a music video alongside singer/songwriter Mark Ballas, well known for his years on “Dancing with the Stars.” Mr. Ballas announced the “I’m Miss Incredible” contest in conjunction with the launch of his new single, “Miss Incredible.” The contest invited American women of all ages to submit one-minute video entries, describing why they are incredible. Ms. Walenz found out about the contest on Twitter, and sent in a short video, talking about her passion for trumpet performance. As the contest winner, Ms. Walenz joins the music video shoot for “Miss Incredible,” alongside Mr. Ballas. Visit immis sincredible.com To learn more about the contest and view the winning entry.

Two bugs teach children about friendship in book

Oswego native and author Kathy Taber-Montgomery, who wrote “We Live in a Zoo,” has released a new children’s book titled “The Fabulous Friendship of Bumble and Bug.” The story is a tale about the power of friendship. Set on a campground, “The Fabulous Friendship of Bumble and Bug” tells the story of two unlikely friends. Bumble, a bumble bee, and Bug, a lady bug, are always getting shooed away by people, but all they really want is to fit in and make friends. “The illustrations bring the characters and story to life,” says Taber-Montgomery. “The story itself leaves a lot of room for conversation between parent and child or educator and child on what true friendship really means.”

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Cara Hoffman set her acclaimed new novel, “Be Safe I Love You” in Watertown mainly for the area’s fighting spirit in face of economic adversity. “I thought it was a perfect setting for the book metaphorically and in reality,” she said. The book’s main character joins the Army to help her economically distressed family, but comes out of the service with an emotional deficit fueled by post-traumatic stress disorder. The Clay family in “Be Safe I Love You” is the new American working poor, she said — educated people who must live very frugally. But “Be Safe I Love You,” published by Simon & Schuster, is more than about

economic survivors. It’s about a soldier who must find a way to blend in with civilian society and to survive after coming home to Watertown following a combat tour in Iraq, a tour punctuated by one incident that leaves an emotional wound the soldier tries to hide. The soldier, Lauren Clay, faces struggles quite different from her male comrades’. Ms. Hoffman said the novel was inspired by the fact that she has not seen much fiction about women veterans.

UPFRONT

BEST BETS

SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE

LOCAL BUSINESSES

IN NNY LIVING MAGAZINE’S

SYRACUSE

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ] CLAYTON

BEST OF NNY

AUTUMN VOTING ENDS AT MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY, NOV. 2

Visit NNYLiving.com to cast your ballot online or turn to page 23 for a paper ballot printed in this issue. Vote for your favorite things about NNY, including Best Pancakes, Best Church Supper, Best Happy Hour, Best Bakery, Best Fall Festival and more!

SATURDAY, NOV. 8 n It Was A Very Good Year: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra Starring Tony Sands, 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. General admission. Cost: $25. Information: 686-2200, boxoffice@claytonoperahouse.com.

THURSDAY, OCT. 16

WATERTOWN

n An Evening with David Sedaris, 7:30 p.m., Course Hinds Theater, 800 S. State St. Sedaris’ sardonic humor and incisive social critique have made him one of NPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, he was named Humorist of the Year by Time magazine and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor. In April 2013, Sedaris released his newest book entitled Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. Cost: $49.50, $57.20 or $65.85. Information: davidsedarisontour.com.

MONDAY, OCT. 27 n Big Wreck; With Joe’s Band, doors open, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, The Ballroom, Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St. Cost: $20; advance, $15. Information, tickets: www.ticketweb.com.

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SATURDAY, NOV. 29

FRIDAY, OCT. 24 & SUNDAY, OCT. 26 n “Die Fledermaus” Presented by Syracuse Opera, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, Crouse Hinds Theater, Mulroy Civic Center, 800 S. State St. Tickets: Box office, 476-7372, www. syracuseopera.com.

n Small Business Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Watertown. The event is designed to encourage shoppers to think about Watertown first when making holiday purchases. “Why Shop Local and Support Local Business” 500 word essay due to the Greater Wa t e r t o w n North Country Chamber of Commerce by Nov. 1. “Shop Local and Support Local Business” decorating contest entries due to the Chamber by Dec. 1. More information available closer to date: watertownny.com, 788-4400.

CALENDAR

[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ] CANTON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS THROUGH THURSDAY, OCT. 31 n Canton Farmers Market, celebrating its 40th year. Village Park, Main Street. Information: gardenshare.org/content/farmers-markets.

CLAYTON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15 n Fall Raku Firing, 5 to 8 p.m., Thousand Islands Arts Center, 314 John St. Cost: pieces range from $5 to $30. Information, registration: 686-4123.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18 n Third Annual Punkin Chunkin and Kansas City Style BBQ Contest, hosted by Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 9 a.m., throughout the village. Benefits nonprofits in the community. Punkin chunkin contest and Kansas City style barbecue, children’s activities. Admission free, cost for barbecue. Information: 686-3771, info@1000islands-clayton.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25 n Canning with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Thousand Islands Land Trust, 1 to 3 p.m., Clayton kitchen location TBD. Planting a garden offers healthy choices during the harvest season, and learning to preserve the food we grow helps extend healthy eating into winter months. Cornell Cooperative Extension will join TILT to host a series of two classes that will teach the two safe ways to can seasonal foods — hot water bath and pressure canning. Register in advance; free event. Information: Corinne Mockler/TILT, 686-5345.

FRIDAY, NOV. 14 n Decorate like a pro with Jeff Garnsey. Thanksgiving cake, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Christmas cake, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, Thousand Islands Arts Center, 314 John St. Cost: $20 per class. Register at least one week in advance. Information, registration: 686-4123.

GOUVERNEUR THURSDAYS THROUGH OCT. 23 n Farmer’s market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Village Green, Main Street. Information: gardenshare.org/ content/farmers-markets.

n FALL into Nature Photography Trek with the Thousand Islands Land Trust, 1 to 3 p.m., Macsherry Trail, Crooked Creek Preserve. TILT and local photographer Sarah Ellen Smith present another opportunity to “get out on the land” with your camera. Participants must have a working knowledge of their cameras and should dress comfortably. Sarah Ellen Smith has previously partnered with

OGDENSBURG FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS THROUGH OCT. 25 n Alice Isn’t All There, 7 p.m., St. John’s Conservatory Theater, 500 Caroline St. A musical comedy spoof of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Cost: suggested donation of $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Information: aliceisntallthere.brownpapertickets.com.

OLD FORGE SATURDAY, OCT. 18 n Third annual Running Colors 5K, Check-in, 9 a.m., run/walk, 11 a.m., beginning and ending at Old Forge Lakefront. 3.1-mile course, first 100 people to register will receive filled Running Colors drawstring bag. Cost: By Friday, Oct. 17, $30; day of race, $35; children 9 and younger, free with paying adult. Benefits the View (Arts Center) Old Forge. Information, registration: 369-6411, ext. 201, or viewarts.org.

POTSDAM SATURDAYS THROUGH OCT. 25 n Potsdam farmers market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., south of municipal lot near Ives Park. Information: Laura Popielski, 261-8054 or laura@gardenshare.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25 & SATURDAY, NOV. 8 n Acting for Teens and Adults, 1 to 4 p.m., SLC Art Academy, Downtown Snell Hall, 41 Elm St. Students should come with basic understanding of theater terms and be prepared to memorize lines and perform in front of a group. Preregistration required. Cost: members, $29; non-members, $36. Information: 265-6860, slcartscouncil.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 22 n Community Performance Series: Anonymous 4, 7:30 p.m., Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave. World famous singing group performing medieval chant and polyphony. Cost: adult, $40, $32, $25; senior, faculty, staff, $37, $29, $22; student, $25, $22, $15. Information, tickets: Box office, SUNY Potsdam Performing Arts Center, 267-2277, potsdam.org, facebook.com/cpspotsdam.

SYRACUSE SATURDAY, NOV. 8 n Masterworks Series, Northern Lights 7:30

p.m., Crouse-Hinds Theater, Mulroy Civic Center, 800 S. State St. Conducting, Carlos Miguel Prieto; Allan Kolsky featured on clarinet. College students, $5; 18 and younger, free. Information, tickets: ExperienceSymphoria.com, 299-5598, ext. 201.

FRIDAY, NOV. 14 n The Spark series kicks off at the MOST at 7:30 p.m., with Music of Machines. Conducted by Heather Buchman, the program features pieces by Barber, Haydn, Anderson, Beethoven and Honnegger. College students, $5; 18 years and younger, free.

WATERTOWN FRIDAY, OCT. 31 n Ninth Annual Halloween Costume Party, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Paddock Club, 1 Public Square. Featuring DJ Big Daddy, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Kitchen open until 9 p.m. No cover. Information: 786-6633.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7 n Arts. Beats. Eats. A night of local art, music and food. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. The evening marks the opening of the 66th Annual Fall Art Show presented by the North Country Arts Council in conjunction with the Lyric Theater of Watertown production of South Pacific. Fall Art Show runs through Sunday, Nov. 23. Tickets, information: 662-6361.

SATURDAY, NOV. 15 n Twenty-fifth Annual Craft and Antique Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive. To benefit North Country Spouses’ Club scholarship fund, and community outreach grants. Cost: $3; free, 12 and younger. Vendor applications accepted through post mark date, Wednesday, Oct. 15. Information: NCSCCraftFair@gmail. com, northcountryspousesclub.com.

MONDAY, NOV. 17 n Watertown Musicales, 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 403 Washington St. Michelle Martin-Atwood, professor of music, Crane School of Music, organ. Information: potsdam.edu, 782-1750.

FRIDAY, NOV. 21 n Documentary screening, 6 p.m., WPBS Studio, 1056 Arsenal St. Presented by WPBS-DT and Cinema Six. Painting with Wilson Bickford. Painting demo and giveaways. Free. Information, RSVP: Andrew jones, ajones@wpbstv.org or 7823142, ext. 244. TELL US ABOUT IT — Have an event you would 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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HAMMOND SUNDAY, OCT. 12

TILT on a year-long photo and video documentation of TILT’s 25-mile Sissy Danforth Rivergate Trail; find it on the land trust’s YouTube channel. Meet at the trailhead on Indian Point Road at 1 p.m. Register in advance; free event. Information, registration: Corinne Mockler, 686-5345.

SOCIAL SCENE

[ Viva,Viva! Landscapes and Seascapes East to West] Thousand Islands Arts Center, Clayton

From left, Paige Garnsey and Julianne Rhinebeck, Clayton.

From left, Doreen A. Garrett, Clayton, Kristen Taylor and husband, Jonathan, Clayton.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

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From left, artist Viva Hoffmann, Bill Danforth and Anna Price, Clayton. The Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton held an opening reception July 31 for the show, “Viva, Viva! Landscapes and Seascapes East to West.”

From left, Leslie W. Rowland, Thousand Islands Arts Center executive director, Mary Hannah Arust, Clayton, Frederick H. “Fritz” Hager, executive director, Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, and Penny Partlow, Wellsey Island.

A nice white, straight smile helps a face light up. Call today to experience a dental care approach like no other.

[ Hospice of Jefferson County Regatta ]

SOCIAL SCENE

Henderson Harbor Yacht Club, Henderson

From left, Diana Woodhouse, CEO, Hospice of Jefferson County, Peter Hrabchak, Pillar Point, Claudia Quinn, Hospice board member, Champion.

GRACE E. JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Sylvia J. Buduson, Watertown; Clayton Jank, Watertown; Sally Grzesiak, Watertown; Sonya Gale, Watertown. Hospice of Jefferson County held its annual Charity Cup Regatta at the Henderson Harbor Yacht Club on Saturday, Aug. 2.

GRACE E. JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Corliss Kaiser, Henderson, Nicole Paratore, Hospice Foundation marketing and events coordinator, Canaan Leonard, Liverpool, and Deirdre Reidy, Liverpool, Henderson Regatta committee chairmen.

MOTORSPORTS

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315-583-5680

HOURS: MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 8-5, THURSDAY & FRIDAY 8-6, SATURDAY 8-2

WWW.WAITEMOTORSPORTS.COM

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Come See the All New Polaris Brutus at Waite Motorsports

From left, Shannon Wood, Watertown, Penny McCrea, Henderson, Liz Fleury, Brewerton.

ON THE RIVER

Hold off on hiberating, there’s fun on tap for fall BY MICHAEL FOLSOM

JUST BECAUSE SCHOOL HAS ALREADY started, doesn’t mean that summer has to come to such an abrupt end. There is this engraved mindset that once the calendar flips to September and Labor Day passes us that we all need to forget about relaxing and enjoying the nice weather of what could be an “extended summer.” Technically, summer didn’t end until Sept. 22. And winter ... well, that doesn’t begin on paper until Dec. 21, which leaves a beautiful three months of fall for us to enjoy in the great north country. So, stop your mind from thinking that it’s time to go into hibernation and get out and enjoy the events and activities that

Saturday, Oct. 11, while across town, the Antique Boat Museum will display unique workboats on that very same day. Plus, the popular Punkin Chunkin festival returns to downtown Clayton on Oct. 18. If you are just looking for leisure activities to occupy your day, walk to the village streets and visit the shops or grab a bite to eat in the restaurants. Hop aboard a tour boat and check out the scenery and changing of the leaves along the water’s edge. There is so much to see and do. If you do believe the Farmer’s Almanac, we could be looking at a few wet weeks ahead, so plan a visit to a museum and take in some local history. Or, forget about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and chal-

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There is no reason to hide just because the calendar changes. Get out and explore because there is much more to experience in the islands before the snow flies.

continue despite the change of seasons and the flip of the calendar. In September and October alone, the St. Lawrence River communities of Alexandria Bay, Cape Vincent, and Clayton have had and still have plenty to offer. Vintage and classic cars rolled into Clayton for the annual Street Meet on Sept. 20, jazz music invaded the Clayton community during the last weekend of September, and many celebrated German Oktoberfest in Cape Vincent Sept. 27 with great beers and wines. The fun didn’t end there. In October, Coyote Moon Vineyards will host its annual Harvest Festival on

lenge yourself to jump in the river before it turns to ice. All joking aside, there is no reason to hide just because the calendar changes. Get out and explore because there is much more to experience in the islands before the snow flies. MICHAEL J. FOLSOM is director of marketing and communications for the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton. Michael grew up visiting the Thousand Islands in Cape Vincent at his grandmother’s camp. He is the creator and organizer of the annual Clayton waterfront event Sailing Seaway Clayton/ Seaway Splash. He also runs the blog The ShipWatcher. He and his wife, Christie, their daughter, Lucy, and dogs Polly and Franklin spend summers in Clayton. Contact him at michaelfolsom@abm.org.

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THE NNY LIFE

Don’t let the worst-case scenario overwhelm you BY KATIE STOKES

THIS SUMMER I STUMBLED ACROSS an article from The Atlantic that was headlined “The Overprotected Kid.” The feature is about how today’s children aren’t allowed true childhood freedom. And yet, despite being under constant parental surveillance, kids get hurt just as often, and are abducted and abused just as frequently — almost always by family members or people they know — as they were in the ’70s when the phenomenon of “safety paranoia” cropped up with milk cartons emblazoned with photos of missing children, and worstcase scenario accidents in the headlines. Today, parents aren’t just in charge of the basic care and feeding of their kids, they’re also expected to control their minute-to-minute safety.

In “The Overprotected Kid,” readers are assured by statistics, studies, interviews, and anecdotes that things like freak head injuries on concrete playgrounds and kidnapping by strangers are exceptionally rare, and that “a child from a happy, intact family who walks to the bus stop and never comes home is still a singular tragedy, not a national epidemic.” After ardently consuming every fact and figure, every interview and assurance in the piece, I made a concerted effort to remember that “failure to supervise” was not synonymous with “failure to parent.” I even began to allow myself not to check on my children every 30 seconds while they played outside. After all, the odds of anything at all happening to my kids within the half

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The only thing that will continue to help me let go little by little as my children get older is that there are apparently many more of the good ones in the village to help than we tend to believe.

I can tell you from my brief experience: it’s exhausting. There are outlet covers, cabinet locks, wall anchors, safety warning tags as big as pillowcases attached to every mattress. We almost never take our eyes off our children in public for fear that we will never see them again, and we are taught by our culture that if we let this guard down for even a moment, not only are we putting our kids in harm’s way, we might even be criminally negligent if the worst-case scenario does happen.

an hour while I was folding laundry by the window, where I could hear them playing, were slim. Plus, I told myself, it’s healthy for them to make their own choices without always having me around for consultations. Those blissful play times were like being liberated from a straightjacket. My children found new critters in our backyard that I would have probably instinctively told them to leave alone. My daughter even managed to rescue

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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a drowning chipmunk. Every one of us lived to tell the tale, and we all felt good about relaxing the boundaries. But then, in August, news broke that one of those extremely rare kidnappings by a stranger had occurred in a place as close to the innocent pre- “face-on-amilk-carton” ’70s than any other place in the United States: a rural Amish neighborhood in Northern New York. The abduction of two girls from their family’s roadside vegetable stand was not just shocking, it violently threw into reverse my cautious exploration of a world I had just begun trying to trust — the world of a parent who wants her children to experience and discover on their own. Yes, it is still statistically unlikely that a stranger will abduct my kids. But the numbers I can’t help paying attention to at the moment are the odds — based on proximity alone — that those monsters could have taken my children while I folded laundry in my house. With this cliché-riddled real life nightmare so fresh (lured into the backseat of a stranger’s car with a puppy?), I have to wonder, is it really just as safe out there now as it was when my own mother was a child? When I was a child? A few days after the Amish girls’ abduction and their return home, I left behind my wallet in a shopping cart at Target. When I realized what I had done, I immediately called the store, fully expecting the thing to be gone forever, but hoping and praying I could catch a break. It wasn’t gone. It was right there, safely tucked away in a drawer at customer service. A stranger had picked it up and returned it, complete with cash, credit cards, ID — everything. We know now, without a shadow of a doubt, there are literal monsters wearing human faces out there. And not in some faraway nebulous place. They’re right here. The only thing that will continue to help me let go little by little as my children get older is that there are, apparently many more of the good ones in the village to help than we tend to believe.

WELLNESS

Take charge of your health Increase physical activity and reduce your risk for diabetes BY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

IS BEING HEALTHY A FRAME OF MIND or are we fooling ourselves? Does the manner in which we live our lives expose us to certain diseases? Can we change our course or do we take up the gauntlet and fight for better health? We are a society spiraling out of control. Many diseases are truly moving into epidemic proportions. Look at obesity rates in our country not just with children but with adults, too. More than a third of adults are obese in our country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carrying excess weight increases our risk to many diseases. Needless to say, those individuals who are obese are at an increased risk for many diseases like certain types of cancers, cardiovascular events, elevated blood

you are throughout the day may also increase your risk. Most people do not even know they are pre-diabetic. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to find out if you are at risk. Take the simple test at the end and also ask your physician to run some simple blood work. Knowing this information could move you in a direction that might compel you to make some much-needed lifestyle changes. Behavior change is never easy but may be necessary to change your course. The early stages of diagnosis as a type 2 diabetic may seem like no big deal. Perhaps you take a pill and continue to go on. In fact, being at risk or having elevated levels may not pose an immediate threat to how you live your life. But trust me, not talking care of yourself in the early stages

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With a little direction, some will power and a whole lot of heart and dedication you can enhance your overall wellness picture.

pressure and even type 2 diabetes. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is on the rise and, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, one out of three people have what is known as pre-diabetes. They predict that 90 percent of individuals do not even know they have it. Pre-diabetes means that fasting blood glucose levels are at levels between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl or an A1C of 5.7 to 6.4 percent. Not only do high levels put you at risk, but height and weight ratios, family history, genetics, age and how physically active

can set you up for trouble later on. You may suffer complications like elevated blood pressure, memory loss, heart attack, diseased kidneys, eye issues, nerve pain, especially with the extremities and even amputations to name just a few. This all seems pretty daunting for sure. Perhaps even bleak. Here is the best part, however. You no longer have to sit back and let type 2 diabetes take over your life or be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at all. Wake up America, and take your health into your own hands and do some-

thing about your risk profile. Did you know that by changing your weight by 5 to 7 percent and increasing your physical activity to 150 minutes a week individuals categorized as pre-diabetic can change their glucose profile? For many people at risk it can really be that simple. Move a little more and simply eat less. Decrease your overall caloric intake, cut back on saturated fats and, of course, eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Small changes throughout your day and your life can move you closer to better health. I have had the privilege of teaching the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program for more than four years and have seen people make amazing changes with their health. The reality is that they are not just decreasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, they are truly improving their overall health profile. I have seen individuals not just lose weight in the program, but also be taken off blood pressure, cholesterol and a multitude of other medicines. Anyone is capable of change. With a little direction, some will power and a whole lot of heart and dedication you can enhance your overall wellness picture. What will you do today to give you a healthy tomorrow?

If you score a 9 or higher this indicates that you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes. Follow up with your physician for additional tests and insight. MICHELLE L. GRAHAM, MS, is wellness director for Watertownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Downtown YMCA. Contact her at ymca_mgraham@yahoo.com. Her column appears in every issue.

Expires 11/30/14

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Take this simple test to see if you are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes: YES NO Are you a woman who has had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth? 1 0 Do you have a parent with diabetes? 1 0 Do you have a brother or sister who is diabetic? 1 0 Do you have a BMI greater than 25? 5 0 Are you younger than 65 and get little to no physical activity in a typical day? 5 0 Are you between 45 and 64 years of age? 5 0 Are you 65 or older? 9 0

TODAY’S GARDENER

Fall harvest an ideal time to prepare for spring planting

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BY BRIAN HALLETT

BEHIND EVERY GREAT COOK IS A great food producer. This relationship between farmer or gardener and cook inspires the best farm-to-table cooking. Each fall north country gardeners can enjoy their hard work and walk into their garden to pick their dinner and enjoy fresh tomatoes, broccoli, corn, lettuce, beets, squash, and other wonderful vegetables with a flavor so and intense and pure it cannot be easily matched in a store. Canning and freezing can certainly help you bring that taste of summer to a winter meal. Perhaps you are taking stock of your garden and realizing that certain plants did not produce the way you would have liked. As you prepare your fall meals or prepare to can and freeze you might need an extra pepper for the salsa or you might want to to try a vegetable variety you did not grow yourself. I encourage you to visit many of the seasonal and local roadside stands that are still active. The families and gardeners who run seasonal stands are a great source of information on gardening, processing and cooking fresh fruits and vegetables. Many are open well into the fall months and welcome your visit. In addition to connecting with local growers, fall is a good time to evaluate the success of your own garden and make some plans or changes for next year. Many local garden centers have fall sales and offer discounts on gardening tools, soil and fencing, which makes fall an excellent time to evaluate and make changes to your spring garden. Fall gardening helps get spring planting in the dirt that much sooner. Growing vegetables is a unique form of gardening and there are some things to consider when you are evaluating your harvest and planning for next season.

First, most vegetables are annuals, so you’ll be starting plantings from scratch every year. Then there’s design. Designing a vegetable garden is more about which vegetables grow well near each other than about how things look. Some vegetables will excrete substances that can inhibit other plant growth. Tall vegetables can shade out shorter vegetables. Vegetables in the same family will attract the same pests and need to be moved around each year. Vegetables are sun lovers and herbs enjoy part shade. Most vegetables grow their best with six to eight hours or more of direct sunlight. Leafy greens like lettuce, Swiss chard, and kale can handle less sun and prefer cool weather but, like other cool weather plants, will continue to grow throughout the summer if shaded by taller plants. But you will still want to choose a full sun location to site your vegetable garden. If your garden did not produce as well as you would like maybe you need to move it to a full sun location. Ideally your vegetable garden should be close to both a source of water and your kitchen. I have found close proximity to your kitchen just makes it easier to water, weed and pick produce. Vegetables will need water on a regular schedule. If they get watered erratically they will exhibit all sorts of problems like cracking open, not setting any fruit at all or becoming prone to cultural problems like blossom end rot. Proximity to the kitchen or at least accessibility from some entrance to the house will give you the incentive to remember to water and check on your garden every day and you’ll be more tempted to run out and pick something fresh while you’re cooking. As I have mentioned in past columns, soil is the most important factor in any garden and perhaps more so in a veg-

level, you’ll need to create runoff barriers. Similarly, you don’t want water from less favorable sources like a driveway running into your vegetable garden. One last thing to consider is fencing. Fencing can be an eyesore and a hassle, but you’re not the only creature who enjoys eating vegetables. You will be amazed how fast animals can eat through not just the fruits of your efforts, but the whole leafy planting. Protecting your vegetable garden without a fence is an endless battle. In fact, you might need fencing above and below the garden.

Many animals will burrow under a fence and some, like woodchucks, will pop up anywhere. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but I highly recommend some type of fencing to protect your harvest. As you evaluate your garden’s performance and plan for next year’s season please be sure to enjoy some of the wonderful vegetables, herbs and fruits the north country’s fall harvest has to offer. BRIAN HALLETT is an art teacher at South Jefferson Central School in Adams. His family owns Halletts’ Florist and Greenhouse in Adams, which celebrated 30 years in business last season.

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etable garden. Annual vegetables spend their entire season producing flowers and fruits. They are very heavy feeders (they like nutrients and fertilizers) and a rich soil will not just keep them growing strong, it will also help ward of disease and pest problems. So for starters, the soil in your vegetable garden will need to be rich in organic matter. You will be replenishing your garden with organic matter every year. Compost and composted manure can be added in spring or fall. I prefer to put composted manure on the garden in the fall. It allows the compost to break down completely and be ready to be worked into the spring garden. Add compost or new soil to your garden after cleaning up any dead plant matter or debris. Healthy plant matter can be composted, but if you have concerns about disease such as mildew or blight you should burn or bag your unhealthy plant matter and never put it in your compost pile. I also strongly recommend you have your soil tested when starting a new garden. The test results will tell you if any other amendments need to be added and if the soil pH needs to be adjusted. Soil test information can be accessed through Cornell Cooperative Extension or your local High Schools FFA program. Probably the easiest way to ensure great soil for your vegetable garden is to create raised beds. A raised bed simply means the soil you are growing in is higher than the ground level. Raised beds allow you to control the soil in the planting area, the soil never gets stepped on and compacted, the soil drains well and, best of all, the raised beds warm up faster in the spring, so you can plant earlier. There are many popular kits sold to create your own raised beds and many are just not deep enough. Raised beds for vegetables should be 18 to 22 inches deep. Lack of soil depth will cause plants to under produce or to not produce at all. So simply add additional height to your existing raised beds and fill with quality soil or compost. One final consideration when looking at your soil is to be aware of drainage and runoff. Vegetables don’t like to sit in wet soil. If your soil is heavy, you’ll need to improve its texture. Hopefully the organic matter will make a dent. Sand will also help sometimes with heavy clay soil. You don’t want all the nutrients you add to simply run off elsewhere. If your site isn’t

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Return by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 1. Five choices for voting per category. Photocopies of blank ballots, completed as if original, will be accepted. Photocopies of completed ballots, however, will be disqualified. Businesses are encouraged to post a sign asking customers to vote for them. 3. Voting is open through Monday, Nov. 3. Paper ballots must be received at NNY Living Magazine, 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 2014. 4. Online voting closes at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, at www.nnyliving.com. 5. Results will be published in the November/December issue of NNY Living Magazine and posted online at www.nnyliving.com and on www.watertowndailytimes.com 6. Businesses that win a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Readers Choiceâ&#x20AC;? distinction will receive a plaque suitable for display.

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Clockwise from top, Berkshire County is home to various serene waterways including Pontoosuc Lake, seen here at sunset in Pittsfield, Mass. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge is home to a vast collection by its namesake, best known for his illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post. Hikers are silhouetted on Stony Ledge, one of the many interesting features found on Mount Greylock State Reservation in Berkshire County. Zinnias grow tall in the community garden at Herman Melvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arrowhead in Pittsfield. The Red Lion Inn is a Main Street institution in Stockbridge and Berkshire County. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ideal place to stay, eat, drink and relax.

36 HOURS

Fall into fun in the Berkshires Western Massachusetts a treasure to discover

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JENN SMITH | SPECIAL TO NNY LIVING

Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield. And in the summer, this Western Massachusetts region becomes a playground for locals, visitors and celebrity types alike, offering world-class theater, dance, art, music, cuisine, film and more against a stunning backdrop of historic steeples, rolling hills and serene waterways. Here, you can hike up the highest peak in Massachusetts (Mount Greylock) or deeply steep yourself into a captivating history of the region that includes legacies of civil rights leaders like Elizabeth “Mumbett” Freeman and W.E.B. Du Bois; literary legends like Herman Melville and Edith Wharton; and artists like Norman Rockwell and Daniel Chester French. Whether you visit for one weekend a year or once each season, the ever-evolving identity of The Berkshires means there will always be something new to discover. FRIDAY, 1 P.M., START WITH ART Northern Berkshire offers a trifecta of institutions that offer a wide-ranging palette of classic and contemporary art. Start at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) in North Adams, which sits on 13 acres of industrial history, economic and cultural develop-

ment. Now in its 15th year, the museum and performance venue offers more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, outdoor performance areas and courtyards, as well as on-campus mixed retail, office and dining spaces. Here, you can take in everything from the sounds of Wilco and colors of Sol LeWitt to upside-down trees and the family-friendly Kidspace. With all that stimulation, you’ll be sure to work up an appetite. Downtown offers a range of lunch options within walking distance, from pan-Asian to pub food. Located almost right across from the museum is Brewhaha!, an eclectic cafe that offers home-baked goods, fresh soups and grilled sandwiches that highlight the use of regional produce and flavors, in addition to breakfast all day. It’s also vegan and vegetarian approved. massmoca.org cafebrewhaha.com FRIDAY, 3 P.M., VISIT THE ‘VILLAGE BEAUTIFUL’ Cruise just a few minutes south on Route 2 and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Williamstown, home of Williams College, which has garnered the nicknames of the “Village Beautiful” and “Billsville.”

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WITH MORE THAN 30 CITIES, TOWNS, villages and hamlets, Massachusetts’ Berkshire County — or The Berkshires — as it’s more commonly called, is home to many things: mountains and lakes, farms and museums, theaters and even James Taylor. New Yorkers have for decades made this vibrant yet peaceful place a second home, or have relocated here altogether. Culture, business and menus change with each of the four seasons. Autumn attracts leaf peepers to Mother Nature’s annual fireworks display, as fall foliage turns from hues of green to rich red and gold. Chefs and diners alike are treated to a bounty of harvest flavors, from fresh apple cider doughnuts to savory pumpkin bisque. Though many snowbirds fly south for the winter, others flock to the region’s mountains and trails for both Alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or finding a warm, rustic inn with a fire to cozy up to. Spring is a time to venture out, whether to watch the baby animals come alive at Hancock Shaker Village or to explore common and elusive spring ephemerals along the 329-acres of preserved nature at

If you’d like to complete the art trifecta, start with the Williams College Museum of Art on Main Street — just look for the sprawling “Eyes” sculpture on the front lawn. The collection boasts more than 13,000 artifacts, from Assyrian reliefs to contemporary photography. Further down the road and around a rotary — roundabout or traffic circle for the uninitiated non-New Englander — is The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, recently reopened with new and renovated spaces. Stand before the architecture of Tadao Ando or masterworks by French Impressionists. Catch a lecture, film or concert. Wander the rich libraries or adjacent wooded trails. Before or after, browse locally owned shops or people watch on Water and Spring streets for some cheap entertainmnet. wcma.williams.edu, clarkart.edu FRIDAY, 5:30 P.M., DINE WITH A FARM-TO-TABLE FEAST Mezze Bistro + Bar combines the farmed and foraged with the chic and cosmopolitan. Its seasonal menu offers creative plates, big and small as well as signature cocktails, and a handcrafted list of fine wines, craft beers and reputed and regional spirits. Start with the kale Caesar salad or a sea-

sonal ragout, then taste what CIA-trained Chef Nicholas Moulton has in store. Expect a wild twist on classic meat, seafood and pasta dishes. mezzerestaurant.com FRIDAY, 7 P.M., CINEMATIC NIGHTCAP Check out the latest independent flick at Images Cinema. The single-screen art house offers local art and worldly film, and a concessions stand where the popcorn is made with local butter. Other snacks and beverages include both natural and commercial labels. Special events range from director’s talks to wine tastings. imagescinema.org. FRIDAY, 9:30 P.M., ANTIQUE SLEEP Find rooms with one bed or two in the cozy Victorian House on Main Street where President Woodrow Wilson once slept. This bucolic bed and breakfast of a bygone era offers a quiet stay within walking distance to many attractions. Like their blueberry cake or poached apples with cinnamonpumpkin butter sauce? The owners are said to be kind in sharing their recipes. houseonmainstreet.com SATURDAY, 9 A.M., GET FRESH Inspired by your local meals, get out and browse the farmers markets. Saturday mar-

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kets can be found in Williamstown, North Adams, Pittsfield and Lanesborough. Pick up local produce, flowers, meats, jams, wines, cheeses, breads and other artisan goods, as well as the local gossip. Places like the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market on First Street also offer demos, live music and special events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. berkshiregrown.org/farmers-markets SATURDAY, NOON, TAKE A HIGH ROAD Pack a picnic from your farmers market goods, and follow Route 7 into Lanesborough and turn onto Rockwell Road. Follow the signs to Mount Greylock State Reservation & Visitors Center. There, you can pick up a trail map and some tips from rangers, join a tour, or continue to drive the 9-mile road to the summit. At 3,491 feet, you’ll find impressive panoramic views of the county. The iconic Massachusetts War Memorial Tower looks like something from a Tolkien tale, and alas, it’s closed for repair until 2016. But the summit’s Bascom Lodge offers seasonal dining, lodging, entertainment and workshops, from May 15 to Oct. 31. mass.gov/dcr, bascomlodge.net SATURDAY, 4 P.M., CALL HIM HERMAN Explore the life and times of noted author Herman Melville at Arrowhead, his family estate in Pittsfield. Here, it is said, that the view of Mount Greylock from the author’s study window inspired him to write about the pursuit of the white whale in “Moby Dick.” This homestead also houses the collections of the Berkshire Historical Society, and is grounds for a walking trail and new community garden. mobydick.org SATURDAY, 5:30 P.M., LENOX DESSERT Eat it now or save it for later, but a treat from Chocolate Springs is a must. Located in the Commons shopping plaza, about a mile and a half away from the center of town. Escape into chocolate with the creations of chocolatier Joshua Needleman. He starts with a dark or milk chocolate base and infuses them with various fruits, herbs, nuts, teas and candies. The cafe menu also includes teas, coffee, juices, gelato and sorbet and pastry items. Why not try a Celebration Bar for the occasion? Champagne cognac is infused in a rich dark chocolate ganache and enhanced with gold dust for good looks. chocolatesprings.com SATURDAY, 6 P.M., SUNSET AT THE SPA The Spa at Cranwell Resort in Lenox offers a menu of 50 services and treatments, along with amenities like a

60-foot-long indoor pool, fitness and wellness classes, and a salon. Try one a spa sampler package that includes a massage and foot treatment to ease any tensions from a day of walking, or go for a full treatment for serious relaxation. Stay on site for dinner in the main dining room or the tavern and a good night’s sleep. Or head to the Main Street area, which is lined with greenery, eateries and local lodging options. Nightlife includes bars, lounges, theater at Shakespeare & Company and music at Tanglewood, home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a contemporary artists series during the summer season. cranwell.com SUNDAY, 9 A.M., BACK ROADS BECKON Take Route 183 South into the town of West Stockbridge. Park on Main Street or follow signs toward the lot near the post office, and have a walk around this quaint former mill town. Just off the beaten path, along Route 102, you can find a homestyle breakfast at the Nook & Cranny. Or enjoy a locally procured brunch in a renovated historic train station at No. Six Depot Roastery & Cafe. Explore downtown art galleries, the flowered bridge and the good old-fashioned feel of the local hardware store and Charles H. Baldwin & Sons, which has been producing and peddling culinary extracts for more than 125 years. Grab a cup of one of several international, fair trade coffee blends from Shaker Dam Coffeehouse, before heading on down the road to Stockbridge. sixdepot.com

author/illustrator Alex Ross, and fantasy artist Ruth Sanderson. The grounds include historic buildings and gardens, and a terrace cafe. nrm.org SUNDAY, 3 P.M., MOSEY ON MAIN Norman Rockwell himself could help but capture on canvas this picturesque thoroughfare. On the far end, there’s the Stockbridge Cemetery and a family burial plot known as “Sedgwick Pie.” Here lies the loved ones and descendants of prominent New Englander Theodore Sedgwick, arranged in concentric circles. In addition to the family, freed slave and civil rights leader Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, is also buried here. The rest of the street includes retail spots like Yankee Candle and a mix of artisan items and bric-a-brac at the Seven Arts Gift Shop. There’s also the site of the former Alice’s Restaurant, immortalized in a song by folk icon Arlo Guthrie, and Once Upon A Table, an American bistro affair. SUNDAY 5 P.M., LURE OF THE LION For dining and lodging, the Red Lion Inn has been a Main Street institution in The Berkshires since the 18th century. Enjoy a drink and the comfort of a

rocking chair on the front porch before deciding whether to eat in the decadent main dining room, the courtyard, the Widow Bingham’s Tavern or the classic pub atmosphere of the Lion’s Den, where there’s always live music in the evenings. Chef Brian Alberg is known for building a menu rooted in New England tradition with a modern flair and Berkshire-grown ingredients. Stay an extra night, or hop on the nearby highway to head home. redlioninn.com GETTING THERE To enter The Berkshires through North Adams, follow NY-12 south and I-90 east to NY-7 east. Take exit 7 from I-87 north to continue on NY-7 east. Then take NY-2 east to US-7 north/Mohawk Trail to Williamstown, Mass. Follow the trail/MA-2 east into North Adams. To enter The Berkshires through Stockbridge, follow NY-12 south to NY-49 east in Utica. Take the NY-5 east exit to I-90 east. Then follow I-90 east to I-87 south to I-90 east into Canaan, N.Y. From there, take exit B3 to MA102 east and follow signs to Stockbridge. n JENN SMITH is a reporter and community engagement editor for The Berkshire Eagle and freelance writer. She is a native and current resident of Berkshire County, and an alumna of Syracuse University. Follow her on Twitter: @JennSmith_Ink.

SUNDAY, 11 A.M., GROW YOUR GARDEN The display gardens at Berkshire Botanical Garden are open May 1 through Columbus Day weekend, and the site offers gardening classes, workshops and special events year-round. More than 3,000 species of trees, shrubs and flowering plants can be found on the 15 acres of cultivated land, located at the intersection of Routes 102 and 183. berkshirebotanical.org

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SUNDAY, 1 P.M., THE ART OF LIVING Just around the bend on Route 183, is the Norman Rockwell Museum, a fine tribute to the life, times and work of the American illustrator and painter, best known for his many works featured in the Saturday Evening Post. Through his art, Rockwell gave insight into history and daily life, from wars and civil rights movements to fishing trips and Thanksgiving dinner. His works appear alongside rotating exhibitions of other illustrators, which have included American realist Edward Hopper, comic book

COVER STORY

Enriching our communities Community theater ‘levels the playing field,’ ‘adds to the signature of the culture of the area’

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J 30

JONATHAN P. COLE IS CENTER STAGE these days in displaying the kind of energy that drives community theater in the north country If, as Shakespeare wrote, “all the world is a stage,” Mr. Cole is an extra in a dedicated community of volunteers who do the grunt work for that stage locally. That work is noticed only by a few nowadays, but when the curtain rises on Watertown Lyric Theater’s production of “South Pacific” on Nov. 7 to 9 at the Dulles State Office Building, the audience will see the results of the sweat and labor logged by dozens of performers and those who work behind the scenes, all volunteers, to make a smooth production. Mr. Cole, a 2003 graduate of Indian River Central School District, is a relative newcomer to Lyric Theater. His first performance with the group was in 2010 when he had two roles with “Man of La Mancha.” From then on, he was hooked. “I got bitten by the bug,” he said. The resulting symptoms of that bug require people to give up hours of personal time to community theater. Mr. Cole is a paid emergency medical technician for

TEXT BY CHRIS BROCK | NNY LIVING

the Evans Mills Volunteer Ambulance, town of Watertown Ambulance and Lewis County Search and Rescue. He also volunteers for Indian River Ambulance and he’s the second assistant chief of the Antwerp Fire Department, as well as the village’s deputy mayor. But for five nights a week, in a routine that began last month, he joins a cast and a production staff of about 40 others, including co-director Scott Taylor of Smithville, preparing “South Pacific.” Mr. Cole leaves his home in Antwerp in the late afternoon and takes Route 11 to Watertown, stopping at a fast food joint along the way for a bite on the go, which gives him fuel for the approximate three-hour rehearsals held either at Dulles State Office Building or Trinity Episcopal Church, depending how close they are to show time. “You work on a show for two months, you sometimes see more of the cast than your family,” Mr. Cole said. Why the sacrifice? “I’ve always liked to give back,” he said. And those who do give back by vol-

unteering in community theater bring a wide range of talents, from the set painter to the leading lady. “You can’t really begin to understand how much work goes into a community theater production until you get involved in one,” said Barry Pratt, a Lyric Theater veteran who turned professional earlier this year when he went on tour with the show “Four Play, The Musical.” Many who volunteer would be hardpressed to call it work. “If you are doing something you really enjoy, it’s not work,” said Jane Bowman Jenkins, a 1951 graduate of Beaver River Central School, Little Theatre of Watertown veteran and charter member of the former Carthage Little Theater. Mrs. Bowman Jenkins, 80, first acted at an early age for live theater shows held at the Riverbank Grange in Croghan. “I got my first laugh and was hooked,” she said. That “hook” has ensnared a dedicated community as its players also pursue their real-life professional careers. For example, Mrs. Bowman Jenkins, who has either performed in or directed dozens of

3 JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

From left, Jane Jenkins as Raynelle, Terry Burgess as the Rev. Hooker, and Colleen Bennett as Delightful, rehearse a scene from Little Theater of Watertown’s production of “Dearly Departed” on April 2 at the Black River Valley Club in Watertown. Community theater deepens the cultural offerings of the north country.

the scenes when Lyric Theater produced “The Sound of Music” in 1974. Mr. Kitto’s parents, Floyd C. “Duff” Kitto and Susan Kitto had roles in the production. “As a young boy, I was amazed by all the costumes, sets, the orchestra and the actors getting ready and seeing it all come together,” Mr. Kitto, a 1980 graduate of Watertown High School, said. “I just thought it was really cool.” Mr. Kitto and his wife, Marietta, have performed in several Lyric Theater productions and also have either directed shows or produced them. Theirs is one family in the community with at least three generations involved with the group. Their son, Braedon, 13, has been in 15 shows since age 4. The couple’s two other sons, Cedrick, 19, and Kevin Jr. (“Rusty”) also have been in several productions. “It’s a passion. I love it,” said Mr. Kitto, who owns Sherwood Florist on Washington Street. “It’s something I know I can do outside of what I do already with other things.” For the past five years, that passion for theater has extended to summers, when

Mr. Kitto and his wife managed Watertown Lyric Youth Theater. This summer, the youth troupe staged “The Wizard of Oz.” The 80 who participated was the youth theater’s largest group in its fiveyear history. The mission of Lyric Theater is to raise money for college scholarships for local students. Many of those scholarship recipients are former participants in Lyric Theater’s youth program. “Besides the skills they learn acting and singing, performing and dancing, it’s how we affect them as individuals; creating good people who are part our community as they grow up,” Mr. Kitto said. “Theater enriches life in general,” Mr. Cole said. “I was taught, and I’ve always thought, that when you do theater, whether it’s straight plays of musicals, it has a way of changing peoples’ lives.” “There’s no doubt that it adds to the signature of the culture of the area,” said Lisa Vroman, a 1975 graduate of South Jefferson Central School District who went on to star in Broadway and who is now in demand around the country and world as a singer. “So many people grew up with

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Little Theatre shows, is a retired Jefferson County treasurer. “It’s all life-encompassing,” said Richard R. Haynes, president of Gouverneurbased North Country Players and a teacher in the Gouverneur district. “It’s something where once you develop those skills, you keep them going, unlike some sports, where at a certain age, it falls by the wayside.” “We can’t do shows without that dedication,” said Daniel J. Allington, president of Watertown Little Theatre. “We are 100 percent volunteer. They are there for the love of theater.” “One of the magical things about community theater is it levels the playing field,” Mr. Pratt said. “You take a big bowl and toss in all the Ph.Ds with all the no degrees, mix them all up and pour them out onto the stage and watch as they all interact and become one big community theater family.” In many aspects, it is an actual family, with more than one generation involved in local community theater. Kevin R. Kitto of Watertown was 12 when he witnessed the action behind

these movie musicals and to be able to see them live is an incredible treat.” Ms. Vroman said that when she performed “Fiddler on the Roof” in a Lyric Theater production in the 1970s, she had no idea she would pursue a career that would eventually take her to Broadway and make her a frequent guest soloists with theaters, opera companies and orchestras. “But we were very comfortable in the situation,” Ms. Vroman said. “We knew what we were doing and we had a ball.” n

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The area’s Watertown Lyric Theater, Little Theatre of Watertown, Canton-based

Grasse River Players and North Country Players are made up of volunteers. It’s common for the groups to donate proceeds to community causes. Stage Notes, based in Watertown, is a nonprofit organization but differs from other theater groups in several ways: its purpose is educational, director Ticia Marra is paid, students in grades 7-12 pay a tuition and its mission is to give back to the community. Each musical benefits a local organization. The north country also has professional groups. Ogdensburg Command Performance in October opened its 51st year of bringing professional touring shows to

the area. Saranac Lake-based Pendragon Theatre is an ensemble of artists dedicated to professional theater through performance and educational programs. Potsdam-based Community Performance Series is a semi-professional organization that as part of its yearly entertainment series, hosts Broadway shows, usually in the summers. Carole A. Berard, who co-founded Grasse River Players in 1974, said camaraderie is a key part of community theater and especially her group’s success. “We’ve been really lucky to have a lot of people who like each other, and want to do theater in any form,” Mrs. Berard said. “A number of our people have gotten married from performing in some of our plays. If you are new to the area, it’s a nice way to get to know people quickly.” Mr. Haynes said that in a world of social media and instant communication, community theater is a refreshing change of pace for its participants. “From a performer’s standpoint, it certainly keeps you in touch with people and the community, especially nowadays when more and more things are digitized and interactions are via the web, e-mail or whatnot,” Mr. Haynes said. “It kind of links you back to people actually getting together face-to-face.” That human interaction is the main reason why Little Theatre of Watertown was formed 82 years ago. The first president of the group, Harold W. Conde, stressed that aspect in 1932 when he spoke at the Northern New York Federation of Women’s Clubs. He lamented the prevalence of the popularity of newfangled motion pictures. “It has been impossible to bring road companies here and compete with movie prices,” Mr. Conde told federation members. “Thus all the dramatic expression has been through the medium of the movies. Few of the children in our part of the country have ever seen a legitimate performance. They are not theater conscious. Most of us enjoy a good movie, especially since the advent of the talkies; however, I think a large percentage of you yearn, as I do now and then, for a chance to see real people.” Joan M. Jones saw a similar vacancy when she founded Watertown Lyric Theater in 1962. There was a lack of opportunities for local adults who wanted to sing Broadway tunes on stage. Mrs. Jones, who retired in 1988 as coordinator of music in the Watertown City School District, taught many of those adults as school students. “I thought, if the kids can do this kind of thing, just imagine what a community adult group could do,” she said.

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

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Mrs. Jones said she is “delighted” with the way Lyric Theater and other theater groups locally have progressed. “It’s wonderful to see these things growing, and to see the kids growing with it,” she said. Craig P. Sirianni, a 1979 graduate of Watertown High School and internationally acclaimed operatic tenor, said there’s a way for local theater to improve on its successes. “There needs to be more reaching out, communication, between companies,” he said. Mr. Sirianni in 2012 began offering private vocal instructions in Watertown and has a roster of several students, many of whom went on to prestigious vocal academies. “I’ve found there’s tremendous interest in community theater,” said Mr. Sirianni, who performed in Lyric Theater’s “Oliver” in 1975. “There’s probably no student that I have who doesn’t show interest in wanting to find out when the next audition is.” He said he’d like to see more notice about auditions for upcoming performances. “There needs to be a little bit more connection going on and a little bit more cooperation between all the factions,” Mr. Sirianni said. “It would be a synergy. The addition of all the parts would be a greater whole than just the small, isolated individual companies.” In the past few months, that “synergy” has stalled for Watertown Lyric Theater and Little Theatre of Watertown. Both groups used the Black River Valley Club either to host shows, store equipment, as a location to build sets or to rehearse. The club was sold and both troupes had to move out. Lyric Theater hosts its shows at Dulles State Office Building but built most of its sets at the club. Little Theatre is looking for a new permanent home for rehearsal and shows. It will stage the one-act “Dear Ms. Personals” early next year at Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St. The troupes may be displaced but they are not down-and-out. And in the dreams of local theater veteran Mrs. Bowman Jenkins, she sees the curtain rising on a solution: “It’s so unfortunate that we don’t have a performing arts center,” she said. But then again, as Shakespeare also wrote, “We are such stuff as dreams are made on.”

FEATURES

‘Performance with a purpose’ n Stage Notes builds

a better north country through local theater

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BY KATIE STOKES

IN 2009, TICIA MARRA COULDN’T have had an inkling as to what impact the idea that suddenly struck in her kitchen would have on the lives of the people in her community. “When I think back to that decision back in my kitchen when I said, ‘Hey, let’s do a musical and let’s do it for a cause,’ and the people who have supported my heart’s work, it’s overwhelming. I can’t even put it into words.” Five years later, Ms. Marra’s dream has taken shape as Stage Notes, a nonprofit theater organization for 7th- through 12th-graders whose motto has been, from its light bulb-moment inception, “Performance with a Purpose.” It all started simply enough: Ms. Marra, owner of a vocal studio in her hometown of Watertown, invited her students to craft their talents and performance aspirations around annual musical performances. Proceeds from those performances would then be given to local nonprofit organizations in the community. The goal was twofold, Ms. Marra said. Not only would the idea bring an exciting youth-driven theater culture to the artspoor Northern New York community she called home, she also wanted to fold in her experience as a veteran chorus member, and as the director of liturgical music at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church to “teach the kids that they can give back.” “I want my students to know that their passion for musical theater can be a gift to others. Performance can be selfless.” Ms. Marra had experienced many times getting the call to perform or plan music for her fellow parishioners’ momentous life events. “It took me a long time to realize that what I had to give was not only to myself, but to others. I always tell the story, when somebody dies, I don’t make the lasagna and take it to their house. I get the call:

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Ticia K. Marra and Tom F. Anzalone aim for laughs in a scene from the 2010 production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Ms. Marra is the creative force behind the Watertown-based Stage Notes.

‘Will you sing, or will you help me pick out the music for my mother’s funeral?’ That’s a gift. You don’t always realize that because it’s just what you do.” Ms. Marra’s passion to help others through music fit with her love of working with young people. The goal to teach youths the same thing evolved into a goal beyond teaching kids great performance alone. “It really is beautiful to watch the kids work through the process of a show, and then know in the end that they’re going to give back. And they’re not only giving back by doing a great show. They’re also giving back financially.” Through five years and six performances, all staged by students who range in age from 6 to 18, and with the help of a all-volunteer board of directors who help to produce the shows and many more volunteers, Stage Notes has a triedand-true system that each year inspires budding performers, audiences, and this year, even Broadway VIPs like Watertown native and “Phantom of the Opera” alum Ted Keegan. “Every year there’s something different that all of a sudden throws us for a loop.” But Ms. Marra seems to be just hitting

her stride. In 2013, she announced that the Stage Notes cast would stage a production of the musical “Les Miserables,” based on the Victor Hugo novel, and ranked as one of the top five longest-running, and most celebrated, shows in American and British theater. The group got to work, learning half the show before they attended a Les Miserables-based workshop in New York City. At the workshop, Ms. Marra said, “the kids just started singing, and the workshop instructor just threw out the music. There were tears in his eyes. The woman who runs the workshop came in — and by then they had gotten to “Do You Hear the People Sing” — she just started crying. They just couldn’t believe how great the kids were. Our students just have a lot of heart. They have a passion. You can see it.” Another Broadway performer, Stanley Joseph, a current cast member of the Broadway production of “Les Miserables,” witnessed the group’s impromptu performance at that workshop. He was so taken with the Stage Notes group that he volunteered to spend his spare time in Watertown to help coach the Stage Notes

Stage Notes / Giving back n Stage Notes productions have raised more than $26,000 for community organizations including the Watertown Urban Mission, the Delaney Bay Fund, and the Heather A. Freeman Foundation. Stage Notes students also volunteer their time to support various community events, including for the United Way and the Heather A. Freeman Foundation. In the past five years, Stage Notes has donated: 2009 “Once On This Island,” $3,000 to the Heather A. Freeman Foundation (HAFF) 2010 “Grease,” $5,000 to the HAFF 2011 “Bye Bye Birdie,” $2,600 to the HAFF 2012 “Godspell,” $2,000 to The Delaney Bay Fund; $1,000 to the HAFF 2013 “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” $2,500 to The Watertown Urban Mission 2014 “Les Miserables,” $10,000 to the Watertown Urban Mission

KATIE STOKES is a freelance writer and blogger who lives in Hounsfield with her husband and two children. Visit her blog at www.NNYLife.com.

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cast to a Broadway-worthy production. Under Stanley Joseph’s tutelage, and the aid of volunteers, including past cast members, some of whom have gone on to budding careers in musical theater, Stage Notes put on four performances of “Les Miserables” at jefferson Community College’s Sturtz Theater to sell-out crowds. The production raked in enough cash to donate $10,000 in proceeds to Watertown’s Urban Mission, a donation nearly 50 percent higher than what they’d managed to give to organizations in previous years. The novelty of a blockbuster musical staged by youths inspired to give back to their community was is something Northern New Yorkers whole-heartedly embraced. “There were so many compliments from the audience at Les Mis,” Ms. Marra said. “They thought the kids could be on Broadway, and they’d seen it on Broadway seven times, that this performance moved them more than any other.” The performance also helped grow support from the community. “I think that the community really supports what we do, and I think it’s because it’s young people and that they’re the future, and that one of the important things is to encourage them.” More than anything, Ms. Marra said, she hopes that the experience of working on a Stage Notes production will continue to inspire the student performers well after a performance has ended, even if they don’t choose a life in theater. “These young people can change the world in a lot of ways,” she said.

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FEATURES

JASON HUNTER | NNY LIVING

Amy Flack, executive director of Community Performance Series, center, with Jason Dominie, box office Manager, left, and Matthew Morris, education coordinator, at SUNY Potsdam’s new Performing Arts Center. The arts organization is celebrating its 25th season this year.

The show goes on Potsdam’s Community Performance Series marks 25th season of the arts in Northern New York BY GABRIELLE HOVENDON | NNY LIVING

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FOR 25 YEARS, THE SHOW HAS GONE ON.

Since 1989, Potsdam’s Community Performance Series has brought top-notch performances to the north country. This year, the college-community partnership celebrates its silver anniversary with a combination of old and new talent. “We decided that the best way to celebrate this anniversary was to put all our resources behind our program,” said CPS Executive Director Amy L. Flack. “Instead of doing any parties that were outside our mission of presenting and producing quality entertainment, we

wanted to put the focus on the artists.” This season, CPS’ Guest Artist Series will honor the careers of several performers at the heights of their fields: Twenty-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Chick Corea performed on Sept. 20, renowned female vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 will perform on Nov. 22, and six-time Tony Award- and two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Audra McDonald will perform on April 11. At the other end of the spectrum, CPS will also honor newly rising stars: Fulbright Scholar and classical musician Caroline Robinson will be featured in the annual Ranlett

Organ Recital on Oct. 19, while pianist and YouTube sensation Scott Bradlee will present his Postmodern Jukebox — contemporary pop songs arranged in cross-genre settings — on Oct. 21. Finally, to provide a mix of established and new talent, the legendary Béla Fleck will return to Potsdam with an up-and-coming 30-piece chamber orchestra, The Knights, on Feb. 3. “It’s exciting to watch the fields evolve,” Ms. Flack said. “We’re looking at music, we’re looking at theater, we’re looking at dance. You always want to find that artist that’s hot and fresh and new, but we’re

Please see CPS, page 45

Local stage, big players Ogdensburg Command Performances takes its shows on the road for 2014-15 season BY LORNA OPPEDISANO YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY THE BIG Apple bucks to get the Broadway experience. Go no farther than Ogdensburg Command Performances for a taste of the big stage in the north country. Began as the Ogdensburg Community Players by eight residents in 1963, OCP has grown into an organization with the mission “to present the finest professional touring productions … [and] to provide educational opportunities that will foster a greater understanding of the performing arts and their power to enhance and enrich the lives of the residents, adults and youth, of northern New York and eastern Ontario,” according to its website. “When it was Community Players, we had a lot of local performers and not as much professional theater,” explained Cynthia I. Wilson, a staff member at OCP. Mrs. Wilson has been deeply involved with the organization, helping to restructure the Ogdensburg Community Players into OCP and serving as past president of OCP. “When we reorganized, Sally [F. Paolo, current administrator and artistic and technical director,] suggested that we have a volunteer base to help out, and that was incorporated,” Mrs. Wilson said. Last year the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary. “A great deal of that credit belongs to the volunteers,” Mrs. Palao said. Mrs. Wilson echoed that sentiment. “Without the volunteers, we could never man the office. It’s an enormous job. To run an organization without the volunteers would be impossible,” Mrs. Wilson said. A small staff, with the help of volunteers, manages the organization. “They do everything from usher to fundraise to box office,” Mrs. Palao said. “I think it’s a great testament that they believe in this. We have 60 volunteers who keep it afloat and keep it affordable. We want this to be available to everyone.” In past seasons, OCP has offered an assortment of Broadway favorites from national touring companies. A complete archive of the last four seasons can be viewed on the organization’s website.

Along with the Broadway shows, OCP runs the “Youtheater” program, offering professional theater shows for the younger generation. “[These shows] usually relate to a book because we like to have that connection and make books come to life,” Mrs. Wilson said. “It provides something different for children up here. It’s really a gift for these kids to be able to experience that.” This season, due to construction at OCP’s home venue, Ogdensburg Free Academy, the audience is being offered a slightly different selection of shows in two temporary venues, Gouverneur High School and Massena Central High School. “Our season this year is a little different. Typically we present Broadway shows,” Mrs. Palao explained. “That wouldn’t be possible in these venues because we’re visitors.” Mrs. Paolo knew she would have to select less lavish shows for this season away from their home stage. “I picked music that would appeal to a wide variety of people,” Mrs. Palao said. The first show this season is “Beach Party Boys — Tribute to the Beach Boys.” The performance is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in Gouverneur. Then audiences get a taste of comedy with “Brad Zinn in ‘The Great Comedians – Those Felt Hat and Big Cigar Funny Man.’” The performance is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in Gouverneur. “Then I thought, ‘Now what?’” Mrs. Paolo said. “I need to have something for country.” So on Wednesday, Nov. 5, OCP audiences can go to Gouverneur to attend “A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline.” The show is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. The second half of the season moves the shows to the Massena venue, beginning with “Red, Hot … & Blue!” at 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 10. “There are people who like dance, so I found this production. It takes favorite dance scenes and reenacts them,” said Mrs. Paolo. “A little of that Broadway dance feeling.” The next show is “The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra.” The perfor-

Please see OCP, page 45

A U TU M N 20 14 | N N Y LI V I N G

also looking at the careers and legacies that established artists are building. It’s an exciting opportunity, to be able to say ‘the world is our oyster, who do we want to bring here to Potsdam?’” The Guest Artist Series may be what CPS is best known for, but the organization also offers several other opportunities to the community each year. This summer, for example, it staged Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” and Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” with its semi-professional theater company, which was established in 2004 and features a mix of professional and local talent booked from auditions in New York City and Potsdam. Since 1995, CPS has also hosted an annual four-performance Meet the Arts series to introduce local children to the performing arts. Through kid-friendly shows, free study guides, lesson plans that meet state curriculum standards and professional development days for teachers, Meet the Arts integrates its work with the needs of local schools. This year’s Meet the Arts lineup includes “Miles Davis and the Blue Flame Incident,” a multimedia presentation about trumpet legend Miles Davis, on Nov. 7; “Toying with Science,” a circus-like production that explores science concepts such as gravity and simple machines, on Feb. 8 and 9; a children’s concert and annual “instrument petting zoo,” presented in partnership with the Orchestra of Northern New York, on March 13; and a theatrical adaptation of “To Kill A Mockingbird” for the high school “Page to Stage” program on May 7. “We’re really selecting programs with an eye to providing support for the curriculum,” Ms. Flack said. “It’s getting increasingly hard for teachers to take students out of the classroom, both in terms of the finances required and in terms of the time commitment. We really have made an effort to ensure that each of the events support the curricula that kids are already learning in the classroom. Instead of a frivolous field trip opportunity, they’re valuable educational experiences.” Meet the Arts is produced through the efforts of many experts, including a grantfunded education coordinator position and various professionals on the SUNY Potsdam campus. In order to suit the needs of its schools and students, the series constantly updates its shows and auxiliary resources. “It’s really an adaptive program,” Ms. Flack said. “Over the course of time since this program began in 1995, we’ve developed really strong ties with the educators, and I think they feel pretty comfortable reaching out to us to say ‘this is what we need, this is what is or isn’t working.’”

FOOD

New rules for fall as families gather round the dinner table n Harvest time ideal for apples and butternut squash BY BOO WELLS

evening meetings, salespeople dropping by, the phone constantly ringing and the cacophony of barking dogs every time the UPS man pulls in the driveway. The cycle of our lives continues and it

Go at your own pace and pick and choose your battles as the blow back from a couple of these rules might not be worth the struggle.

A U TU M N 20 14 | N N Y L IV IN G

“The act of cooking for others, making dishes they especially like and sharing your own favorites, is an act of love. It says to those we cook for that we revere and bless them for being part of our lives.” — Art Smith

IT IS WITH MIXED FEELINGS THAT I WATCH THE LEAVES start to turn crimson and bronze. As they begin to float down to the ground, the vegetable garden starts its decline and Burrville Cider Mill is in full swing. We waited so long for summer to arrive. After an interminable winter full of lake effect snow and freezing rain it feels like a lifetime ago. Catering has slowed down to a crawl, cooking classes are starting up again and the boys are all back in school. Summer is now over. There will be no more sleeping past nine, no more late-night dinners, skipped meals and food on the go; it’s time to regroup and find a sensible rhythm for daily life. Yes., it’s time to resume a chaotic daily life with children dashing in and out, racing to school before the last bell rings, soccer games and after school activities, adults running late for appointments and

is time to get back into a groove. As I searched for order, for some direction to get us back on track, I reached for a book that has been sitting next to my bed for months, “Back to the Table — The Reunion of Food and Family” by Art Smith. It was a start — a reminder about the importance of food and family. How sitting together over dinner allows us to reconnect with each other at the end of a busy day. A meal cooked with love has the power to calm and soothe. It allows us to relax and share our thoughts and feelings, slowly beginning to unite us once again. Laurie David, the author of “The Family Dinner” has turned dinner time into a family bonding experience with 10 rules that must be honored by both children and parents. No exceptions. 1. Dinner is at the same time every night 2. Everyone comes to the table at the same time 3. No phones, no electronics 4. One meal, No substitutes 5. Everyone tries everything

6. No television 7. Tap water only, no individual plastic bottles, no juice 8. Friends and family always welcome 9. You’re excused…after dessert, when dinner is truly over 10. Everyone helps clean up Take some advice from a mother who has almost been desperate enough to enforce all of these rules: Go at your own pace and pick and choose your battles as the blow back from a couple of these rules might not be worth the struggle. At my house, we have implemented a few of them, including “no phones,” “one meal — no substitutes” and “everyone helps clean up.” These were not that difficult. “No television” and “friends and family always welcome” have always been how we roll. The more the merrier is the best rule of all. “Dinner at the same time every night,” however, is just pure lunacy. I feel like I have won the battle if dinner is served before bedtime. Then again, it is possible that my quest for order still has some room for improvement. Enjoy the fall. Enjoy your family. And make dinner a time when you sit down and reconnect with the people you love most of all. Eventually the struggles disperse and we all begin to drift back into our regular schedules while calm seems to take over and once again family life feels like a well-oiled machine. That is until the FedEx man pulls into the driveway and all hell breaks loose again. Food is love. 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 visit www.thefarm housekitchen.com.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Chickens and fresh produce frame a dish of braised apples and roasted butternut squash with maple syrup.

Braised apples and roasted butternut squash with maple syrup INGREDIENTS 3 pounds butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 4 cups) 4 tablespoons butter, melted ½ cup maple syrup, more for drizzling 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt (divided) 4 tablespoons butter 1 small red onion, diced (about 1 cup) ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 Gala apples cut into ½-inch dice (about 2 cups) 1-cup chicken stock 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet tray with *parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, toss the squash with the melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Transfer the squash mixture to the prepared sheet tray. Spread the cubes evenly on the sheet tray to allow for consistent cooking. Roast in the oven until golden and fork tender, approximately 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Melt the remaining butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the onion, ¼ teaspoon salt and the freshly ground pepper. Cook until the onion is soft, and then add the diced apple, chicken stock and fresh thyme leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer, cooking the apples until they are barely tender. Remove the pan from the heat. Using a spatula or slotted spoon loosen the butternut squash from the sheet tray; add the squash to the sauté pan with the braised apples and onions. Lightly drizzle maple syrup over the pan and gently coat the all the ingredients with the syrup and remaining cooking liquid. Serve warm. *Parchment paper is available at most grocery stores in either the baking aisle or the plastic bags, waxed paper, foil and plastic wrap aisle.

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HISTORY

A compassionate leader Beloved Rabbi touched thousands of lives near and far BY LENKA WALLDROFF

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Author’s note: Turmoil in Israel has been in the news for weeks. Each report is more heartbreaking than the last and equally unbearable to watch. With the destruction that hate and violence cause in our world so prominently displayed, this issue’s column is dedicated to love.

WATERTOWN’S DEGEL ISRAEL Synagogue has been part of the fabric of Jefferson County since the early 1890s when the small congregation began by meeting in private homes for services. While Judaism has a local history, generally speaking, Jewish representation is a bit light on the ground. Given the small Jewish demographic of the north country, it may be surprising for some to learn about the presence of a number of Hasidic Jewish community centers throughout the area. Surprising, that is, until learning about the mission of the centers’ founder. This year commemorates the 20th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, widely considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century. The seventh leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement called Chabad, Rabbi Schneerson was often referred to simply as “The Rebbe.” While a rabbi is a teacher of Jewish law, a rebbe is something a bit different. It’s believed that the word is an acronym for Rosh B’nei Yisrael, which means “a head of the Jewish people.” To many, a head is a person who directs others, but the Chabad Jews saw the head in a different context: that of the body. While it certainly has managerial functions, the head is first and foremost a part of a living organism and is therefore primarily concerned with the health of its parts; you see, a head is no good without a body. In that sense, a rebbe is first and foremost a servant of his people. In an interview, the Rebbe Schneerson expounded on his role in Chabad, using the

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, or “The Rebbe,” had a profound impact on thousands of people across New York, including many in the north country. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his death. PHOTO SPECIAL TO NNY LIVING

example of the first Rebbe — Ball Shem Tov — who founded Chabad Judaism in 1775. “[Baal Shem Tov] would not go to sleep at night as long as he had anything of value left in his house. Whatever he had, he gave away to those who needed it. That’s what it means to be a rebbe. Whatever you have, you have for others.” That’s a very different example of leadership than what is commonly seen today. The Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, was born in the Ukraine in 1902. His father was a renowned Jewish scholar and at an early age, Menachem displayed phenomenal insight into scripture. By the age of 13, he was widely considered to be a prodigy in the Jewish Torah — the first five books of the Old Testament. By his mid-

teens, Menachem was exchanging letters with well-known Jewish scholars of his day. In 1928, at age 26, he married the daughter of the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson. In 1929, the Rebbe and his wife, Chaya Mushka, moved to Berlin and then on to Paris where Rabbi Schneerson studied engineering at the Sorbonne. During his studies, Rabbi Schneerson taught classes on the Torah and facilitated the practice of Jewish observances among the local Jewish communities despite unabashed public anti-Semitism. In 1940, on the heels of the Nazi occupation of Paris, the Rebbe and his wife boarded a ship for New York City where his father-in-law was living. It was during this period that the Chabad headquarters was set up in the

were once hunted down in hate; to reach out and try to mend the “God-shaped hole” in the heart of the world. The Chabad house project may have been born from that desire. The very first Chabad house in the world was founded at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1969. Although Chabad houses are common near college campuses, not every Chabad house is associated with a university. There are a number of Chabad houses throughout New York, and the north country is home to four: in Oswego, Ithaca, Plattsburgh, and Syracuse. Each house is run by a Rabbi and his wife who are emissaries of the Rebbe and together administer the outreach programs. They are volunteers who are there to give of themselves and to do good for others, sharing the Rebbe’s belief that it is through love that we move forward. Typical programs include visitations, holiday activities, counseling and social services, Jewish studies classes, lectures, seminars, kosher meals and, notably, at least in the case of the Oswego Chabad house, free matzah ball soup delivery to sick students. Matzah ball soup has the same cultural currency as chicken noodle soup and has been dubbed the “Jewish penicillin” — it’s Jewish comfort food at its

finest, and certainly a consolation to sick college students far from home. Chabad houses can be found worldwide, in 48 U.S. States and 81 nations. They’re a living reminder of the work that the Rebbe devoted his life to love, education, and the good formation of moral character. During his 43 years of leadership, Rebbe Schneerson improved the lives of many people, near and far, and did so usually without ever leaving Brooklyn. The Rebbe created a ripple effect by reaching out in love to those around him, and inspired others to do the same. The Rebbe Schneerson died in 1994. That year he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the first Rabbi and one of fewer than 100 people to ever receive the distinction. “Evil is simply the absence of good; it has no real existence of its own, and is instantly dispelled in the light of goodness.” — Rebbe Menachem Schneerson 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 two children. Her column appears in every issue.

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Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, where it remains to this day. Rabbi Schneerson worked with his father-in-law until the latter’s death in 1950. In 1951, Rabbi Schneerson took over leadership of Chabad. During his instatement ceremony, he remarked on the importance of love. He said “The three loves — love of God, love of the Torah, and love of one’s fellow — are one. One cannot differentiate between them. Each one embodies all three and having one will lead to the other two.” Love and compassion were central to the Rebbe’s character. The Rebbe worked tirelessly for the good of his people, near and far. Every day for decades, postal sacks full of letters would be delivered to his desk in Crown Heights — letters seeking blessings, advice, explanation, or validation. The Rebbe personally read each letter. Throughout the years of his leadership, the Rebbe expressed complete and unconditional love for every person, Jew or Gentile. It was through loving God’s creation, that he loved God — a sentiment echoed by Mother Theresa and many of the world’s holiest people from across different religious traditions. Beginning in 1951, Rabbi Schneerson started to receive visitors in his office three nights a week from 8 p.m. to the early hours of the morning. By the 1980s, the demand on his time was so great that it became impossible to see everyone privately. So, at the age of 83, the Rebbe began the practice of a receiving line on Sunday afternoons. He stood outside of his office for hours, blessing each visitor, and offering advice to those in the midst of a personal or spiritual crisis. In addition to a personalized blessing, each visitor was given a dollar bill to promote charity. An elderly woman waiting in line one Sunday exclaimed with some wonder at his ability to stand for such long periods without tiring. He responded: “When you are counting diamonds you don’t get tired.” A fitting analogy, as the Rebbe firmly believed in every person’s innate ability to shine and reflect the light and love of God to others. Tikkun olam is a very powerful Hebrew phrase used in Jewish texts — it means “to mend this fractured world.” It has been speculated that with his life, the Rebbe had undertaken a daring spiritual feat, that of tikkun olam. The Rebbe’s world was a post-Holocaust world, where nearly six million Jews, including 1.5 million children, were killed. It’s been posited that the Rebbe was searching out every Jew everywhere — even in the far reaches of Northern New York — in love, as they

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A plaid earth-tone jacket was found on the rack at Impossible Dream Thrift Store, Watertown, while a black button-up skirt, beige top, and black sandals were on the rack at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Watertown.

FASHION

Discover designer wares on a dime For the fashion conscious, thrift stores offer plenty of high-end labels just waiting for a second life

TEXT BY KATIE MACHIA | PHOTOS BY AFM PHOTOGRAPHY

would find them in a retail store. “We’re big on keeping prices low, we want to be shopper friendly,” said Drew Mangione, the agency’s development director. “We want everyone to shop here, regardless of income.” After items are donated to the Impossible Dream Store, an average of six volunteers sort through the stacks of clothing, and they will often pull out larger brand name items to display on a separate shelf or rack. But thrift store shopping is not all about just finding the high-end brands. Shoppers can also find a lot of unique pieces of clothing they wouldn’t otherwise find anywhere else. For example, the Watertown Urban Mission receives a lot of 1960’s and 1970’s

clothing, and has even sold clothing dating back to the 1920’s. The thrift store staff has seen everything come through their doors, including pink high heel boot sneakers, a long faux fur jacket and even old gold-plated stamps, said store manager Tammy Kirch. You can find staple pieces at a thrift store that you might not find anywhere else, simply because they’re just not being sold anymore. Some examples include pairing bold colorful items with more plain shirts and pants, or even striving for a more “busy look” by pairing together two prints. Denim is a huge trend for the fall season, and pairing denim on denim is a great way to create a casual outfit. A printed jacket always looks good with

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WHEN HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF someone getting a real authentic Michael Kors handbag for only $1? You could find a story like that at the Impossible Dream Store, operated by Watertown Urban Mission, 247 Factory St. The expensive handbag is an example of the many surprising designer clothes and accessories that have been donated to the nonprofit organization. Your first thought for designer clothes may not be to look in a thrift store, but there are actually a lot of hidden treasures to be found there. Shoppers can sometimes find “high-end” brands such as Dolce and Gabbana, Michael Kors, and Coach. Although these items are sometimes priced a little higher than most, they will never be priced nearly as high as you

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Harem-style beige pants and a black lace crop top are from the Impossible Dream Thrift Store, Watertown. Black Birkenstock sandals were found at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Watertown.

A “denim-on-denim” combination of jeans and a shirt come from the Impossible Dream Thrift Store. The jean jacket and purse are from the model’s closet.

a simple shirt, pants or skirt. If you want to layer for the fall season, you can go for an oversized sweater with a long flowing top underneath or a more fitted sweater with a collared shirt under it. Another great bargain — shoppers can find pieces that were popular in the ’80s and ’90s that have come back into style again, such as high-waisted denim pants or shorts. Not only will you find them for a much lower price than you would at a retail store, but yours will actually be vintage. Popular fall colors that you can find in the thrift stores include plum, maroon, mustard yellow, dark blue, and earth tone green. A thrift store such as the Impossible Dream not only gives you the opportunity to find items of clothing that you often can’t find anywhere else, but also gives you the chance to save a lot of money in your clothing budget. There will always be new items put on the racks, and it’s a lot of fun to look through all the clothes. When you find something you really like at a bargain price, you get a real sense of satisfaction. You also get the satisfaction of knowing that supporting thrift stores like the Impossible Dream helps to meet the critical needs of so many people in the community who struggle financially. Money raised through the sale of donated items supports

several Watertown Urban Mission programs, including its food pantry, assistance with shelter and medical expenses, and rehabilitation services, Mr. Mangione said. The store also provides a place for those with limited incomes to shop and select their own clothing items paid for with a voucher from the agency. When you shop at a thrift store, you not only help the community, but you also help the planet by conserving the energy and water it takes to manufacture clothing products. About 75 percent of the clothes that come through the doors will make it onto the racks, while the remaining items are either resold to other thrift stores or recycled for those living in other areas. Thrift stores receive the most donations during the spring and summer seasons, Ms. Kirch said. This is because many people do spring cleaning or have leftover things from yard sales that are dropped off at the Watertown Urban Mission. There are always new items being put out for sale, and most won’t stay out on the racks for more than a few weeks. Whether you like preppy, sophisticated, vintage, hippie, modern, or grunge clothing, thrift stores like the Impossible Dream and Salvation Army sell it all. n KATIE MACHIA, 17, is completing her last year of high school and writes about fashion on her blog www.theaisleofstyle.com. She also models part time for print and runway shows. Contact her at theaisleofstyle@gmail.com.

CPS / Tickets, more info n To purchase CPS Guest Artist Series tickets or to volunteer, call the box office at 2672277 or visit www.cpspotsdam.org.

CPS, from page 36

GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and a freelance writer. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com

mance is scheduled for at 7:45 p.m. Monday, April 27, in Massena. The group’s website calls the orchestra “the most popular and sought after of the big bands in the world today.” Closing the season will be “Liverpool Legends: The Complete Beatles Experience!” at 7:45 p.m. Friday, May 15, in Massena. “It’s considered to be the best [Beatles tribute shows] in the country,” Mrs. Paolo said. Despite the challenges of executing the seaosn on the road, Mrs. Wilson said the lineup is an exciting one.

“It’s going to be challenging to be on the road,” Mrs. Wilson said of the upcoming season’s venue changes. “We’re very excited; we’ll be in the position that people who have never come to theater in Ogdensburg will be able to experience it.” Mrs. Paolo agreed. “I look at it as ‘glass half full,’ rather than ‘we don’t have a stage,’” she said. “It’s an opportunity for people who don’t come to Ogdensburg to see the quality of shows we offer.” LORNA OPPEDISANO is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at loppedisano@wdt.net or 661-2381.

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Just in time for its anniversary, CPS has moved its box office and administrative offices to SUNY Potsdam’s new Performing Arts Center. However, most of its shows will continue to be held in the 1200-seat Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, which accommodates CPS programming better than the smaller, more individualized performance spaces in the Performing Arts Center. SUNY Potsdam doesn’t just provide concert space, though, and the university has been an inextricable part of CPS’ operations for 25 years. In fact, the performance series was originally designed to support the curriculum at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music and only later broadened to focus more on the community. “I think that’s what really key about our being on the college campus: There are resources here that are allowing us to benefit the community. We wouldn’t be able to do the work we do and offer this breadth of program if we didn’t have the support of our partners both on and off campus,” Ms. Flack said. “In addition to the space, we are very fortunate to have colleagues who are creative and see the value of introducing the arts to both the community and our young people. They help us come up with creative and clever ways that help us offer work that remains fresh and relevant. If we didn’t have the support of the college, we might not be able to be as adventurous in our programming.” This adventurous programming is something that CPS hopes to uphold in the future. By being mindful of budgetary constraints and maintaining a healthy mix of ticket sales, community support and grant money, the organization has come through the recession as strong as ever. It’s also survived its fair share of theater near-disasters — opening night power outages, bats swooping through the concert hall and more — because, after all, the show must go on. “We’ve been successful because the community has continued to support the work we’re doing here,” Ms. Flack said. “They’ve continued to see the relevance of our work and to encourage us through their comments and attendance at the events. If the community members weren’t supporting us and asking for these performances, we wouldn’t be here anymore.”

OCP, from page 37

MY NNY

‘Milky Way rising’ BY DOUGLAS DAY / WATERTOWN

MEDIUM: Digital photograph DATE TAKEN: June 8, 2014, 3:23 a.m. LOCATION: Southwick Beach State Park, Henderson. PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES: This shot became possible from studying the movement and location of the milky way. Once I knew the time and location I set the alarm for 2 a.m., grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to Southwick Beach. Upon arrival I knew all my planning had paid off. SHOT WITH: Canon 6D with a 24105mm lens. F-stop: f/4.0, manual exposure. Shutter speed: 25 seconds. ISO speed rating: 2500 Give us your best image. If you have captured a slice of life in Northern New York through your lens or on canvas, email us a high-resolution image to nnyliving@wdt.net.

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