NNY Living February/March 2013 by NNY Business

COVER STORY:

Volunteers enrich region

{p. 28}

PLUS:

FORMER ALASKA RESIDENT AT HOME WITH SLED DOGS {p. 32} NORTH COUNTRY ON ICE : DROP A LINE FOR WINTER FUN {p. 34}

$2.95

/nnyliving @NNYLivingMag

HOMES

New year, new trends in design

FOOD

Dollar dinners offer comfort food for soul

WINE

Get to know some new blended reds

TRAVEL Saranac full of surprises

FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NN Y LIVING

>> Inside FEB /MAR ’13

32 34 COVER STORY | 28 LOVE FOR HUMANITY Volunteerism remains a life staple for thousands of north country residents each year. |

DESTINATION | 20 LAKE ESCAPE Head for the mountains and experience Saranac Lake. |

THIS IS NNY 24 WINTER TEXTURES Capturing a more beautiful side of winter life in NNY. |

FEATURES | 26 SEEING THE VISION New executive director takes the helm at SLC Arts Council.

32 MUSH! At Cupcake Mushing, the dogs are family and business is about passion and love.

34 AN ICY TRADITION Ice fishing is more about the fish tale and the camaraderie than about catching dinner. FOOD | 36 COMFORT FOOD CLASSIC If food is the best love of all, then a recipe for traditional meatloaf will truly please. |

CHEF’S TABLE | 38 RED WINE RIBS The duo at Jose O’Connors dishes up a new favorite dish. WINE | 39 SWEET OR DRY? Mary Miles of Arsenal Wine & Liquor offers options for any wine drinker. HISTORY | 40 THE DOCTOR IS IN How a Sackets resident changed modern medicine. |

MY NNY | 46 JUST AN iPHONE Taking the first steps down an untouched winter path. |

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WELLNESS | 16 A NEW, IMPROVED YOU Total wellness comes from achieving balance in life. |

CONTRIBUTORS Kyle R. Hayes is associate magazine editor for NNY Living. In ‘36 Hours,’ he visits Saranac Lake. In ‘Arts,’ he meets the new executive director of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council and shares her vision for the organization. (p. 20, 26)

Michelle Graham is the wellness director for the downtown YMCA. She lives in Watertown. She writes about five important steps for people to take in order to gain balance in their lives on the path to total wellness. (p. 16)

Varick Chittenden is founding director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and a SUNY Canton professor emeritus. In ‘Modern Folklore,’ he writes about the legacy of former north country Congressman David O’Brien Martin. (p. 14)

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-saving discovery of Sackets Harbor’s Dr. Samuel Guthrie. (p. 40)

Katie Stokes is a freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield. In ‘The NNY Life,’ she writes about the challenges of explaining to young children that bad things happen to good people in the wake of a Connecticut school shooting. (p. 18)

Peggy DeYoung is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. In ‘Homes,’ she writes about new trends in home decor and design that debuted at a North Carolina furniture trade show. (p. 42)

Joleene DesRosiers is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. In ‘Women’s Wise,’ she writes about how to cope with life’s unexpected struggles when disease strikes. (p. 46)

Boo Wells is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. She shares a simple recipe for classic meatloaf while writing about traditional north country dollar dinners that take place in many towns. (p. 36)

Allyson E. Stone is an amateur photographer and sophomore at Georgia Tech, where she studies science, technology and culture. With family ties to the north country, she spent last summer in Saranac Lake. We feature her images in ‘36 Hours.’ (p. 20)

Mary Miles owns Arsenal Wine & Liquor, Watertown. In this issue’s wine column, she recommends some blended reds just in time for Valentine’s Day that will make any sweetheart blush. (p. 39)

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MARKETPLACE

AAMCO Transmissions ......................….. 6 A Cozzi & Co. ...................................….. 22 AmeriCU Credit Union …......................... 2 Ameriprise Financial ….......................... 41 C&M Auto …............................................. 6 Canton Potsdam Hospital …................. 17 Cleaning Maniacs …........….................. 19 Clipper Inn ….......................................... 19 Community Performance Series …...... 27 The Community Store …....................... 22 The Computer Guys ….......................... 13 Cranberry Lake Ice Fishing Derby ...… 35 Crouse Hospital …..….…..….…..….......... 5 Dr. Vincent Cesario …............................. 8 Feed the Soul Nutrition …........................ 8 Gerald A. Nortz Inc. ….......................... 12 Gold Cup Farms …..…..….…...…..…..... 19 Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley …....... 29 Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors …...... 7 JPB Construction …................................ 35 Lake Ontario Pilates ….......................... 17

Macars …................................................ 42 Mary Kay Cosmetics …......................... 19 Morgia Masonry …................................ 35 NNY Community Foundation .........….. 15 NNY Living …...................................... 8, 47 O.D. Greene Lumber …......................... 35 Park Motel ….......................................... 22 Phinney’s Automotive …......................... 6 Reinman’s Department Store …............ 33 River Hospital …...................................... 19 River Wellness Center ….......................... 8 The Sawyer’s Cottage …....................... 22 Smith Housewares …............................. 37 St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce ….................... 23 The Three C Limousine …...................... 48 Thousand Islands Arts Council …......... 11 Watertown Daily Times ....….................. 45 Watertown Savings Bank ….................. 45 Wratten Trailer Sales ….......................... 41 WWTI-ABC TV50 .....................…............. 31

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Associate Magazine Editor Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Directors Karen Romeo Tammy Beaudin

Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Photography

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

Ad Graphics, Design

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

Subscription Rates Six issues are $10 a year and 12 issues are $15 for two years. Call 315-782-1000 for delivery. Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. Please recycle this magazine.

HOMES

ABOUT THE COVER

42 WHAT’S HOT IN 2013 Interior designer Peggy DeYoung highlights some trends that are sure to be on the home decor shelves as the year progresses.

COLUMNS

6 EDITOR’S NOTE 14 MODERN FOLKLORE |

DEPARTMENTS

7 8 9 10 11 16 24

18 THE NNY LIFE 46 WOMEN’S WISE

UPFRONT BEST BETS CALENDAR BOOKS & AUTHORS SOCIAL SCENE WELLNESS THIS IS NNY

20 26 36 38 39 40 44

36 HOURS IN ... ARTS & CULTURE FOOD CHEF’S TABLE WINE HISTORY MY NNY

For our cover photo, Photographer Amanda Morrison spent some time in Winona State Forest with dog sled musher Nancy Stark and her lively brood of dogs. A former Alaska resident, Mrs. Stark cares for 15 dogs on her Oswego County property, where she operates Cupcake Mushing, a sled dog tour company.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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IT’SDIFFICULTTOIMAGINEOURNORTH country way of life continuing without the hundreds of people who dedicate thousands of hours of personal time volunteering to improve the collective whole of our region. For starters, emergency services would take a major hit as the more than 100 volunteer fire departments that protect lives and property across Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties would be void of manpower. Not to mention how much more challenged our schools would be without the hundreds more parents who spend hours volunteering to aid classroom teachers, organize fundraisers and give their Ken Eysaman time to enhance the educational experience of our children. Consider also our churches. As fewer men and women are called to serve in the religious life, clergy must rely more actively on volunteers to deliver services that in years past were handled by ordained ministers. Now think of our nonprofits and not-forprofits. Organizations and agencies like the Volunteer Transportation Center, the United Way, the YMCA, our hospitals, auxiliaries and foundations, the Salvation Army and American Red Cross — the list could continue for some length. What about the civic clubs and organizations that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to bolster our quality of life? Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, Lions, Eagles and the like? Add to that list our museums and cultural organizations and institutions. I think by now you get the picture. Indeed, were it not for volunteers in areas

like ours, we would be forced to face a set of challenges that would dwarf some of the problems that confront us today. In our cover story, which begins on page 28, Johnson Newspapers staff writer Rebecca Madden examines the impact that volunteers have on the north country and its way of live. But before you flip to her story, think of at least one person you know who volunteers their time so the rest of us can worry a little bit less about how things get done. After a name pops into your head, write it down so you can remember to thank them the next time you see them. n

SOCIAL SCENE — This issue’s Social Scene, which begins on page 11, features 30 faces from more than two dozen organizations across the north country. On Dec. 8, we joined the Frederic Remington Museum for its 29th annual Holiday Gala that supported museum programs. On Jan. 26, we joined the North Country Arts Council at Maggie’s on the River in Watertown for the council’s annual dinner. n

ONLINE — Visit www.nnyliving.com to view more photos from our day spent ice fishing on Black Lake (story, page 34). You also will find a list of upcoming ice fishing derbies posted on our site. If you know of any derbies not listed, drop me an email at keysaman@wdt.net. Also online, you will find “5 Things Friday,” posted each week, a sort of weekly “Best Bets” for the weekend put together by Associate Editor Kyle Hayes. Warm regards,

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE n our April/May issue, we talk with experts in the health and wellness fields who offer some “best practices” to take control of your health for healthy living.

Also coming in April/May: n TODAY’S GARDENER: Columnist Brian Hallett returns with some tips for spring planting as the season of renewal nears. n DESTINATION ROCHESTER: We travel to “The World’s Image Centre” to dig up some fun in 36 hours in western New York.

n A HEALTHY FLOSSING: We connect with Clayton Dental’s Dr. Scott LaClair for some secrets to keeping those pearly whites bright. n PLUS: Arts, Food, Wine, Social Scene, Modern Folklore, Wellness, The NNY Life, History, Homes, My NNY and Women’s Wise. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for updates at @NNYLivingMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NNYLiving. Catch exclusive previews and unique content on our website at www.NNYLiving.com.

[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ] NCAC almost there

Michael C. Miller, president of the North Country Arts Council, announced at the Arts Council’s annual dinner on Saturday, Jan. 26, that the organization is $50,000 short of funds to launch Screen on the Square. The multipurpose facility project that the Arts Council is spearheading will bring independent and foreign films and a local theater to downtown Watertown. If all goes according to plan, Mr. Miller told the Watertown Daily Times, the construction phase of the project would begin in approximately six months. Screen on the Square will also serve as a distance-learning and telecommuting facility and a local for local schools to use to bolster their humanities curriculum. Mr. Miller said that the Arts Council is not eligible for New York State Council of the Arts grants because its staff members are not paid, despite being a nonprofit organization. Jo Reid, Arts Council volunteer coordinator, was also honored at the event as the Volunteer of the Quarter.

Destination guide available online

Looking forward to summer? Can’t wait to get out on the river? The 1,000 Islands Clayton-Area Chamber of Commerce has planned ahead and published the 1,000 Island Clayton 2013 Official Visitor’s Guide online, available at www.issuu.com/claytoncham ber, or through the chamber’s website, 1000islands-clayton.com. Locals can keep the visitor’s guide handy for its extensive calendar of summer events and to keep tabs on what’s coming up in the Clayton area throughout the year. Not to mention, the guide features an array of businesses to visit and activities to do in the river region, perfect for any weekend when the kids get antsy during summer break.

Cooking classes in Sackets

Winter is the ideal time to hone your cooking skills and try some new, experimental dishes that no one has time for come outdoor barbecue season. The Farm House Kitchen in Sackets Harbor is hosting two winter classes in late February to help diversify the inner chef in everyone. From 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, is “Dim Sum 101,” a class perfect for garnering ideas for party starters and small bites. The class includes lessons on Asian inspired treats like asparagus straws, pork rice balls, shrimp shiu mai and spring

UPFRONT

rolls.From 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26 is “30 Minute Meals,” featuring recipes like blackened tilapia with cilantro-lime slaw, enchiladas with salsa verde and vegetable curry, all perfect for the working professional looking for something different, but quick, at dinner time. To register, email sacketsfarmhousekitchen@gmail.com. Classes are $40, all supplies included. Come with your appetite and a bottle of wine, if you prefer. But you may have to share. Future classes will be posted at Facebook.com/sacketsfarmhousekitchen or www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

Free art classes for children

The Kid’s Place at the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg has launched a “Make a Masterpiece” program, which features free art classes for children ages 5 and older. From 3 to 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month from February through May, the art museum will utilize a children’s book to take a look at a famous artist and discover what types of materials and subject matter the artist enjoyed working with. Artists covered include Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso and several others. A guided art activity based on the artist being studied will be lead by Lauren Gilmour, the museum’s educator and a state certified art instructor. For information, call Miss Gilmour at 393-2425 or email lauren@ fredericremington.org.

One for the snow birds

The Thousand Islands Land Trust is hosting a winter gathering in Naples, Fla., for north country natives who have retreated to the sunny depths of the south from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 1. Hosted by Dick and Carol Munro, the “Wine, Dine and Delight” auction will benefit TILT’s Summer Land Steward funds. Auction items include custom wine tasting with Wendy Matthews, a wine educator and founder of Wine & Vine, a gourmet dinner for eight with Susan and Tim Lauraine of Two Friends on the River and a fishing trip and shore dinner for six people with fishing guide Jeff Garnsey. Cost to attend the event is $75. Reservations may be emailed to events@tilandtrust.org or by calling 686-5345 by Friday, Feb. 22. The auction event is open to the public, no matter if you’re wintering in Florida or looking for an excuse for an early spring break and a trip from Wellesley Island to Naples. FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

BEST BETS ALEXANDRIA BAY

SACKETS HARBOR

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, MARCH 17-18, MARCH 23-24

n 23rd Annual Polar Bear Dip, registration, 9 a.m. to noon, dipping starts, 1 p.m., Bonnie Castle Resort. Sponsored by Friends of River Hospital in support of the River Hospital Foundation. Dippers must be 18 years old or older. Information: www.riverhospitalfoundation.org or Facebook. com/RHFInc. Register: 482-4976.

CRARY MILLS SATURDAY, FEB. 9 n 2013 St. Lawrence County Arts Council Transition Gala, 5 p.m., Crary Mills Grange Hall. Evening begins with potluck dinner and annual meeting followed by live music from local favorites, including “Minor Swing” and “Northbound.” Event is open to the public, proceeds go toward the arts council’s Transition Campaign, welcoming the incoming executive director, Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton. Tickets: $20. Register: By Feb. 2 preferred, 265-6860 or arts@slcartscouncil.org.

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KINGSTON

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ]

n Great Lakes Seaway Trail Beauty of the Byways Quilt Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Sackett Mansion Visitors Center, Arts Center and other venues. Special exhibits include Route 66 Traveling Quilts, 80-piece Hoffmann Challenge Quilts, Jefferson County Historical Society historic quilts and show entries depicting byways across the United States and Canada. Also featuring speakers, demonstrations and vendors. Admission: $7-$12, free with military identification. Information: www.seawaytrail.com/quilting.

WATERTOWN SUNDAY, FEB. 17 n Trinity Concert Series, 3 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Performance by Olga Caceanova on violin. Cost: Preferred seating, $14; general admission or preferred seating for senior citizens and military, $12; general admission for senior citizens and military, $10; students, free. Tickets: www.trinityconcerts.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 — SATURDAY, APRIL 20

n Carrie Underwood, doors open, 6:30 p.m., showtime, 7:30 p.m., K-Rock Centre, 1 The Tragically Hip Way. Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away Tour” comes to Kingston with opening act Hunter Hayes. Cost: $51-$71.50. Tickets: www.k-rockcentre.com.

n MUSE 2013: A Multi-Arts Presentation, opening reception at 6 p.m. March 23, with live performances from 7 to 9 p.m., Arts on the Square, 52 Public Square, the Franklin Building. Celebrating the second anniversary of the North Country Arts Council’s Arts on the Square. Light refreshments, cash wine bar by the Paddock Club. Free and open to the public, $5 suggested donation. Information: www.nnyart.org.

[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ] CLAYTON FRIDAY, FEB. 15 n Phantom of the Opera: 25th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall, 7 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. “Phantom of the Opera” is Broadway’s longest-running show and has been seen by more than 100 million people worldwide. This event features more than 200 cast members, orchestra musicians and luminaries involved with “Phantom” over the past 25 years. This is broadcast from Royal Albert Theater in London in HD5.1. Cost: General admission, $15; students, $8. Tickets: www.claytonoperahouse.com.

meal and access to hot tub and showers. Pledge sheets available at www.ogdensburgny.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 n Frederic Remington Art Highlights and Tea Series, lecture, 2 p.m, tea, 3 p.m., Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St. Featuring Sue Longshore, collections manager at Silas Wright House, Canton, presenting on Martha Summerhayes and her memoir “Vanished Arizona,” which features Remington illustrations. Lecture is free, tea is $10 per person for museum members or $12 per person for nonmembers. Reservations: the museum, 393-2425.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16

OLD FORGE

n Eighth Annual Catch and Release French Bay, Carrier Bay, Clayton Fishing Derby, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., local closed boundaries only. Sponsored by Clayton Fire Department and Knights of Columbus 350. Register at Knights of Columbus, James Street, Friday, Feb. 15, beginning at 3 p.m.; Clayton Fire Department, Graves Street, Saturday, 5 to 7 a.m. Prizes awarded at 5 p.m. Saturday at Clayton Fire Department. Information: Terry Fox, 771-3533, or Charlie Stage, 767-4497.

n Sixth Annual Chili Bowl Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The View Arts Center, 3273 State Route 28. Homemade meat and vegetarian chili, stews and soups, served in handmade bowls. Eat your fill and take home the bowl of your choice, which are created by Old Forge potters participating in the arts center’s pottery open studio. Cost: $16-$20 in a handmade bowl; $8 without bowl. Information: www.viewarts.org or 369-6411.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 n “Taste of the Town,” 4 to 8 p.m., Clayton Opera House. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clayton. A social event celebrating the Clayton’s unique regional businesses. Cost: $5 for five samples; military, $4; military couples, $7.50.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 — SUNDAY, APRIL 14 n 1,000 Islands Spring Boat Show, 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Cerow Recreation Park Arena. Featuring runabouts, fishing boats, pontoons, docks, lifts, personal watercraft, marine insurance and more. Boater safety course from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Registration for course required by April 11, call 686-3771, cost is $30 per person. Admission to show: $4; children, $2; children ages 8 and younger, free.

OGDENSBURG WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13

SATURDAY, FEB. 16 n Polar Bear Plunge, registration 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., plunge begins, 1 p.m., Dobisky Visitor’s Center and Municipal Marina. Proceeds benefit the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. Minimum of $35 pledge to participate, jumper with the most pledges wins 10 percent of the purse. Concessions available and a 50-50 raffle. Jumpers receive a free

n SnoFest 2013, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, North Street Pavilion. Sponsored by the Central Adirondack Association. Meet and greet freestyle sno-cross performers from Treeline Sled Style on Friday. Freestyle shows both days with back-flip fireworks finale at 7 p.m. Saturday. Ski Doo, Yamaha, Polaris and Arctic Cat will premiere the 2014 snowmobile models, offer demo rides, weather permitting. Admission is free. Information: Old Forge Visitor Information Center, 369-6983.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15 n St. Paddy’s Parade, 5 p.m., down Main Street. Billed as the “only Irish parade in the Adirondacks,” featuring the Synchronized Snowplows, Old Forge Redheads, Old Forge Irish Setters Club and the Precision Shopping Carts. Following the parade, at the Old Forge Fire Hall, sample Irish stews made by local chefs, soda bread and green beverages, all free of charge. Information: www.oldforgeny.com.

POTSDAM TUESDAY, FEB. 12 n “Thinking Outside the Gallery Walls,” 6 to 8 p.m., Room 229, Downtown Snell Hall, 41 Elm St. Sponsored by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. Last in a series of programs aimed at helping artist market their products. Workshop taught by Hilary Emerson Lay, Canton, who discusses alternative ways to display and sell artwork, including cafes, craft fairs, local businesses and home-based galleries. Cost: $20. Register: www.slcartscouncil.org or 265-6860.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22 n Terry Lyne Carrington’s “Mosaic,” 7:30 p.m.,

Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Sponsored by the Community Performance Series. Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. Jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington performs her Grammy Award-winning “Mosaic Project,” a celebration of female artists, which includes female instrumentalists and vocalists. Cost: $24-40. Tickets: www.cpspotsdam.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 n CPS MTA/Family Concert: “Peter and the Wolf,” 7:30 p.m., Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Performance by the Orchestra of Northern New York with the winner of the James and Katherine Andrews Seventh Annual Instrumental Young Artist Competition 2013. With selections of “Peter and the Wolf,” “Night on Bald Mountain” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Concerto.” Cost: $22; senior citizens, $20; students ages 12 and older, $10; children ages 12 and younger, free. Tickets: www.onny.org.

THERESA SATURDAY, MARCH 16 n Seventh Annual “Chili for Dodge Pond” Fundraiser, 2 p.m., judging at 4 p.m., The Sportspage Pub. Proceeds benefit Jefferson County Rotary Camp for children with disabilities. Live auction. Entry fee: $10. Information: 783-5783 or 921-5070.

WATERTOWN THURSDAY, FEB. 21 & SUNDAY, MARCH 3 n “The Foreigner” by Larry Shue, 7 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. Sunday, Black River Valley Club Cabaret Room, 131 Washington St. Performed by the Little Theatre of Watertown. Directed by Sarah Hovey, assisted by Georgia Gagnon. Dinner theater shows offered Feb. 22, 23, 24, 28, and March 1, 2 and 3. Admission: $12; dinner theater shows, $30. Information: www. littletheatreofwatertown.com. Reservations required for dinner theater shows, call 782-2347.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17 n Amernet String Quartet, 4 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Part of the Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Preferred seating, $14; general admission or preferred seating for senior citizens and military, $12; general admission for senior citizens and military, $10; students, free. Tickets: www.trinityconcerts.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22 & SATURDAY, MARCH 23 n 48th Annual Antique Show and Sale, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street. Benefits Credo Community Center Foundation. Free parking in the parking garage. Admission: $5, good for both days. Information: Sherry M. Wilson, 782-8356. TELL US ABOUT IT — Have an event you’d like to include in NNY Living? Email us at NNYLiving@ WDT.net with the details or visit www.NNYLiving. com and click Events.

FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

n Frederic Remington Art Highlights and Tea Series, lecture, 2 p.m., tea, 3 p.m., Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St. Featuring Mark McMurray, library archivist at St. Lawrence University, presenting on wood engraving and half-tone printing as done in Remington’s time. These processes were used when readying Remington’s illustrations for mass reproduction in publications. Lecture is free, tea is $10 per person for museum members or $12 per person for non-members. Reservations: the museum, 393-2425.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 & SATURDAY, MARCH 9

CALENDAR

BOOKS Top titles by checkout at Flower Memorial Library

The current top five book titles by checkout at Watertown’s Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library are: 1) “The Casual Vacancy” by J.K. Rowling 2) “Merry Christmas, Alex Cross” by James Patterson 3) “The North Country Murder of Irene Izak: Stained by Her Blood” by David C. Shampine 4) “The Lost Years” by Mary Higgins Clark 5) “Winter of the World” by Ken Follett

Top five eBooks at Flower 1) “Agnes Among the Gargoyles” by Patrick Flynn 2) “Quarantined” by Joe McKinney 3) “Heartbroken” by Lisa Unger 4) “Heart of Evil” by Heather Graham 5) “Paris Wife” by Paula McLain

Books of local interest

SUNY Press has published “The Untold Story of Champ” by Robert E. Bartholomew. Champ is the “legendary” monster of Lake Champlain.” Mr. Bartholomew embarks on a search to find the truth behind the mythical creature,” according to the publisher. He finds the trail obscured by sloppy journalism, local leaders motivated by tourism income and bickering monster hunters. Mr. Bartholomew, a native of New York state, teaches history at Botany College in Auckland, New Zealand. “The Untold Story of Champ” sells for $24.95 and is available on the publisher’s website, www.sunypress.edu. FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NN Y LIVING

Dave Stoodley has written a book about the first Watertown professional baseball franchise, dating back to 1945. Titled “Chronicle of the Watertown Athletics and the Border Baseball League,” the book traces the roots of the former city professional team and minor team since its inception in 1945 to their demise in 1951. Mr. Stoodley, an Adams Center resident, conducted research in libraries in Watertown, Ogdensburg and Geneva, along with Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario. He also visited Flower Memorial Library, the Watertown Daily Times and Ogdensburg Journal archives.

[ MOST READ, LOCAL AUTHORS ] The book tells the story of the baseball industry in Watertown, which drew 43,769 fans in its first season, and its vibrant history leading into the 1950s. The book is $10 and available at the Watertown Daily Times Courtesy Desk. A copy is on hand at the Flower Memorial Library. Three hundred copies of the book were printed by Coughlin Printing. n

North Country Books Inc., Utica, has published “Women on Water: Paddling the Adirondacks and Central New York.” Ruth Dandrea, Kathy DeLong, Carol Moseman and Bonnie Sanderson chronicle the experiences of a group of paddling friends. Part guidebook and part journal, each of the 25 chapters describes a trip and includes a map, directions and other things to do in the area. Trips include the Erie Canal, Goose Pond on Lake Ontario, Blue Mountain Lake, Big Moose Lake, Mud Lake and Salmon River Reservoir. The books sells for $18.95 and is available at www.northcountrybooks.com. Fifty percent of net royalties of the book will be donated to the Women’s Fund of Oneida and Herkimer Counties Inc., which seeks to create economic, educational and personal growth opportunities for women of all ages. n

Syracuse University Press has released “All in a Day’s Work: Scenes and Stories from an Adirondack Medical Practice” by Dr. Daniel Way. More than 100 color photographs portray the people and places of the southeastern Adirondacks as seen by Dr. Way, a Glens Falls family physician who has practiced medicine for more than 30 years in such places as Bolton Landing, Warrensburg, Long Lake and Indian Lake. The book is a collection of Adirondack landscapes from Dr. Way’s travels mingled with portraits of patients, who range from trappers to transplanted “flatlanders,” taken in their homes. The book sells for $24.95 and is available at ww.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu.

Three Mile Bay resident Ashley Oxenford, a senior at SUNY Potsdam majoring in Spanish, has self-published, through Publish America, the poetry collection “A Jarful of Pebbles.” The book is a collection of 36 poems. “At times shocking and almost brutally frank, this diverse first volume will take the reader on a roller coaster of a journey through pain, joy, loneliness, love, and fear,” according to a synopsis of the book. “A Jarful of Pebbles” sells for $19.95 and is available online at www.publishamerica.net/product48175.html. n

“Adirondack Mysteries and Other Mountain Tales — Volume 2” has been released by North Country Books Inc., Utica. The book, a work of fiction, contains stories from 14 authors. Stories include the mystery following a plane crash outside Lake Placid, paranormal activity at Fort Ticonderoga and the continuing adventures of Dr. Angela Patterson and the “Adirondack Detective.” The stories were compiled and edited by Dennis Webster, Utica. The book sells for $19.99 and is available on the publisher’s website at www.northcountrybooks.com. n

Canton resident Chris Angus has self-published, through Iguana Books, “London Underground.” The novel concerns the “many secrets” under London, including “hidden laboratories and government offices from World War II” and “looted Spanish galleon.” Carmen Kingsley, in charge of London projects for the British Museum, and Scotland Yard inspector Sherwood Peets race to unravel some mysteries before London succumbs to a frightening disease. Added to the mix are genetically altered “super rats” that threaten to invade London and the British Isles. “London Underground” is available from iguanabooks.com as an ebook at $9.99 and print edition for $28.99.

[ North Country Arts Council Annual Dinner ] Maggie’s on the River, Watertown

From left, Deltra Willis and Stan Niekras.

KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Karen Walton, Martha Brown and Ann Sudduth. The North Country Arts Council held its annual dinner on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Maggie’s on the River, Watertown.

SOCIAL SCENE

From left, Kari Robertson and Nova Schenk, both members of the NCAC education committee.

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From left, Jamie Peck, Mary Compeau, and Ashley Compeau.`

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SOCIAL SCENE

[ Frederic Remington Annual Gala & Silent Auction ] Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg

From left, Dyan Mallette and Angela McRoberts, both of Ogdensburg.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

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From left, Scott M. Wright, Frederic Remington Art Museum Board of Trustees, and wife, Amy, Ogdensburg. The Frederic Remington Art Museum held its 29th Holiday Gala on Saturday, Dec. 8, to support museum programs.

From left, John Brandy, wife, Kiri, Debby Piercey, all of Ogdensburg, and Linda Brandy, Naples, Fla.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Jason Bell and wife, Cristy, Lisbon, and Nick Bertrand and wife, Andrea, Ogdensburg.

[ Frederic Remington Annual Gala & Silent Auction ] Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg

From left, Sandy Duprey, Ogdensburg, and Erica Webster, Hammond.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Jeff Proulx, owner, Save-A-Lot, Ogdensburg, and wife, Melissa.

SOCIAL SCENE

From left, Susan Duffy and John DeCanio, Off the Hook Bed & Breakfast, Lisbon.

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From left, Manu Jaitly and wife, Rashmi, Ogdensburg.

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MODERN FOLKLORE

Sir David: ‘Please pass the chicken and biscuits’

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BY VARICK CHITTENDEN

WORD OF THE DEATH OF FORMER Congressman David O’Brien Martin this past November was received back here in the north country with both sadness and praise. As both a loyal son of the region and a dedicated military man, at his passing he was particularly celebrated for his successes in Washington as the driving force behind creating Fort Drum as we know it today. A decorated combat Marine veteran of Vietnam himself, David Martin truly appreciated the military. Early in his life in Congress, he seized the opportunity to lobby higher-ups — including President Reagan — who were looking to station a whole new division of Army troops. That was no easy task, since the north country was not the first choice of the Department of Defense and other posts around the country were working hard to be selected, too. A natural politician, he began a wellorchestrated campaign of community and government leaders at every level to persuade the Army differently. Obviously, it worked and the reactivated 10th Mountain Division has since put our region on the map. The billions of dollars and the tens of thousands of soldiers and their families in the years since have transformed both the economic and cultural landscape of our region. It all started with the enthusiastic leadership of this man. Mr. Martin’s career in Washington had other notable accomplishments as well. In his obituaries, he was credited with sponsoring legislation to establish a medical clinic for area veterans, to block winter navigation on the St. Lawrence River, to curb acid rain in the Adirondacks and to help solve the fluctuations of water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. He fought cuts in federal aid to our local schools, worked with dairy farmers and helped leaders in Clinton County when the Air Force base was closed and plans to redevelop it for local benefit began.

For a young politician with a huge, sprawling rural district, these were certainly great successes. There was one of his earlier legislative achievements, however, that wasn’t mentioned that I happen to think has had an even greater social impact for all of the north country — all of New York State even — and that was his championing of a community tradition so strong in America that it goes back, at least, to the First Thanksgiving. Before Congress, Mr. Martin served in the New York State Assembly from St. Lawrence County for only four years, from 1977 to 1980. It was during that time that the issue of “covered dish suppers” became a hot topic in the state. Since 1957, one little noted regulation of the New York State Sanitary Code stated that, as “temporary food establishments”: “All organizations, to include the grange, political and civic clubs, or religious organizations, may not hold functions wherein members prepare and bring food to a particular location to be shared by other members of the organization or the public at large, unless a permit is obtained from the Department of Health [DOH].” Requests for permits must be submitted at least 21 days in advance of the event and an inspection by department representatives was required. While on the books, the regulation was not regularly enforced except for emergency situations and, for community groups all over the state, serving homemade food for their own group or to raise funds from the public was a common practice. In 1979, a well-meaning and energetic DOH commissioner and his staff announced their intentions to put the law into effect. What followed in public action and in the legislature’s reactions was remarkable. The covered dish supper is an important social tradition especially in rural communities This custom was being infringed upon by unaccustomed paper-

Gov. Hugh Carey, supporting the decision of his appointed health commissioner, vetoed the bill. A subsequent rare attempt to override the veto failed, but not before the DOH decided to “enforce” the regulation by keeping its options open. In the next few months of 1979, the DOH, working with Assemblyman Martin’s office, developed a policy which for all intents and purposes relieved community groups of most of the demanding expectations of the general regulations. Every few years, the issue comes up again. The code is occasionally updated and newer DOH commissioners and

inspectors still require permits and inspections. It’s always a political hot potato. We all know the need for protecting public health; but many of us still appreciate the tradition of gathering for food and socialization in our communities. It’s a balancing act that still needs champions like Mr. Martin. VARICK CHITTENDEN is senior folklorist and director of special projects for Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and Professor Emeritus of Humanities at SUNY Canton. A version of this column previously appeared in Voices: A Journal of New York Folklore. Reprinted with permission of the New York Folklore Society.

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work and intimidating inspections; its continued existence was being threatened by forces outside the community who couldn’t — or didn’t seem to — realize its importance to local people. After the announced intentions of the DOH were more widely known and a few permits denied until inspections could be undertaken, Assemblyman Martin fought back. He had grown up with covered dish suppers and had attended many while campaigning for office. With the encouragement of a few other legislators from rural districts, he introduced a bill to exempt local rural groups from having to obtain permits and otherwise comply with the indicated sections of the 28-page code. The response from around the state to Mr. Martin’s proposed bill was immediate. His mail showed enthusiastic support for the legislation and almost unanimous opposition to, even outrage about, the regulations. At the time, besides my own love for good food at pancake breakfasts and bullhead feeds, I was impressed how community members rose up in defense of their traditions. Martin’s office graciously let me study his files; there was a stack at least six inches thick of documents on this subject. The letters from fire chiefs, scout leaders, ministers and church leaders were amazing, powerful testimonials to the significance of their community traditions. One woman from Mechanicville wrote: “I have not heard of anyone getting sick at a church supper and I have been going to them for 75 years and still going strong. Church suppers are clean, wholesome food and the best food ever cooked and all cooked with great care.” Editorials in newspapers across the state lambasted the sudden demands by the DOH for new equipment in church kitchens and finetooth-comb inspections of food preparation and consumption. One editorial elevated the Assemblyman to the title of “Sir David,” in a satirical mythical battle against the giant Dragon of Big Government. The correspondence among legislative committee chairmen and the transcripts of hearings revealed much of the political infighting and vote trading that went on within both houses of the legislature. Eventually, only the hotel and restaurant owners association and 11 legislators from New York City vehemently supported the department. After considerable debate in the legislature, Mr. Martin’s bill to exempt was passed overwhelmingly by both houses.

WELLNESS

Change self-focus to maintain balance Wellness is a state of mind that involves several areas of life BY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

WELCOME TO THE AMAZING 2013. I often think of a new year as a new start that, with a new focus, could mean a whole new you. Life is crazy and wonderful and a fresh start can take you in directions that you never dreamed possible. As a health and wellness director at the YMCA, I see many people start the year with goals of fitness and weight loss. Unfortunately, some never realize their true potential because they fall short of understanding how to achieve and reach their goals. Instead of covering the usual, I thought I’d share some steps to achieve balance in all things. Around 1976, a very bright man wrote about the six dimensions of wellness. Through his own research, he discovered that wellness was not just about being physically healthy. Dr. Bill Hettler was co-founder and president of the board of directors of the National Wellness Institute. He interpreted wellness as social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intel-

lectual and emotional health. He considered all components vital to achieving complete wellness. Each one, he believed, has a direct influence on the other. Of course, to acquire these and find balance is a work in progress. We can think of wellness not just as being without disease but, according to the National Institute of Wellness, “an active process through which people become aware of and make conscious choices toward a more successful existence.” When we examine each facet of complete wellness it’s amazing how they all work in harmony. Dr. Hettler separated the six dimensions of wellness in the following ways: SOCIAL WELLNESS is about how well we interact and communicate with others in society. It’s about understanding your role in your community and surroundings and understanding your contribution to the world in which you live. Thinking about your role in your community and moving focus away from oneself is an-

fine who you are, and what you’re willing to share in your own community. Be active and get involved in the daily process. Sharing your own point of view may be the greatest gift you give to someone else. SPIRITUAL WELLNESS has to do with our true search for meaning in life. Living life for oneself and being tolerant of other beliefs is part of this component. Living to stay true to oneself while understanding and living by inner values is a key. Do your actions follow what you truly believe in? Are you living your life in a way that is true and meaningful? Do you feel fulfilled at the end of the day with your own beliefs? PHYSICAL WELLNESS is the component with which we are most familiar. This can be described as our need to engage in regular physical activity. It also has to do with simply practicing good overall health. Eating well, exercising and not engaging in the use of drugs and tobacco play a role. Taking care of oneself has a direct correlation on how we feel and look. In physical wellness, it’s best to strive for physical fitness and a healthy, balanced diet. Let this guide your path. Have you made healthy eating and being physically fit a habit? Is it who you are and what you do each day? Building healthy habits requires time, attention and focus. INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS is part of your mental and creative self. A person well in this area understands their talents and readily shares them. Is continual learning part of who you are? Do you challenge your intellect in your daily life? With intellectual wellness, it’s best to solve problems based on information rather than simply letting things pile up. How will you choose to practice intellectual wellness each day? By practicing your creative endeavors can help balance this component. EMOTIONAL WELLNESS is being aware

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Embark on a bold adventure this year. Get your whole self well. Pure health and wellness in your life is about having balance in all things.

other aspect of social wellness. It is best to live in balance of your surroundings and nature than to have conflict in it. Where do you find true balance on a social level? How can you improve your complete sense of social wellness? OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS describes how happy and content you are with your work or career path. Sharing your talents, gifts and skills can lead to true wellness in this area. Does what you do have meaning? Are you working in a way that stays true to who you are and your beliefs? Are you feeling fulfilled with what you share? Finding occupational wellness may take many years. It’s the journey that helps de-

and understanding your feelings. How do you feel about yourself and others? Having positive feelings about yourself leads you closer to emotional wellness. Acceptance plays a major role with oneself and in others. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to accept and understand our feelings and to evolve and grow with them. Gaining optimism and perspective also is a key. Someone who is emotionally well has useful, meaningful relationships and can cope and deal with them. Their life is optimistic and satisfying. Where do you fall in the scope of emotional wellness? This may be the hardest facet of wellness to balance. Embracing a healthy lifestyle is about much more than just eating well and maintaining physical fitness. It is a great journey of self-discovery. Understanding the complete wellness picture can bring you closer to your goals. Perhaps leaving out one or more facet of wellness has stood in the way of you achieving your goals. Embark on a bold adventure this year. Get your whole self well. Pure health and wellness in your life is about finding balance in all things. Wellness is a state of mind. 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.

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THE NNY LIFE

Peeling back the curtain takes a very gentle hand BY KATIE STOKES

MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT WITH friends recently to see a “Disney on Ice” performance in Syracuse. It was wonderful, as you can expect from pretty much anything Disney. But, as with many things these days that have to do with delighting my children, being surrounded by happy kids made me inexplicably sad, too. Like many parents, I often get misty eyed during those benchmark parenting moments, like when our “Elf on the Shelf” made his first appearance of the holiday season, and Diva and Hunk greeted him like a long-lost friend. Or when my daughter found the dollar bill I had spray painted with glitter in place of the tiny tooth she’d stashed under her pillow. And don’t forget those “firsts” — the best for me were the time I gave Hunk his first cupcake after I’d

blood humans in costumes and ice skates trick her into believing she was witnessing something magical, and I cried so obviously that I had to look away so she wouldn’t see. She is still asking me how they made Violet, the character from “The Incredibles,” disappear (spotlights traced empty ice during Violet’s “performance” while the skater hid behind a curtain). Dec. 14, 2012, now stands out for me like 9/11. New kinds of fear entered my world on those two dates. It was like suddenly catching a glimpse of what is behind the curtain when all you want is to believe in the magic. It’s hard to believe in the magic — that good will ultimately win, just like in all those Disney movies — when a flesh-andblood killer takes the lives of 26 people, a number that is mostly made up of flaw-

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We are a society that values our children’s innocence, and most of us would do anything in our power to protect that. Still, I know I can’t completely hide the truth that bad guys are real, and that bad things happen to good people.

spent months researching and testing ingredients that he could eat (read more at NNYLife.com about Hunk’s first two years of life with a disorder called FPIES). And the time I watched Diva and her friends play dress up together at her first birthday party sleepover. But since Dec. 14, the day of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., my happy tears are very often mingled with feelings of bonedeep sadness. It’s a weird and uncomfortable set of emotions. That day at the “Disney on Ice” show, I saw the joy on my 6-year-old’s face as she watched flesh-and-

lessly innocent children. Why did he do it? Even if we knew his reasons, I don’t think we’d be able to explain why. Despite that and despite wondering how such a thing could happen, I am working hard to teach my children that the world is full of good things and good people. I plug away at my productions, sneaking into my daughter’s room to trade her baby teeth for glittery dollars, stuffing stockings to the brim in the dead of night and scuffing the snow around her reindeer food. Despite the hell that was unleashed in Connecticut on Dec. 14, I believe the

world is still a good place. My sense of hope that things will be OK comes from the sacrifice of the teachers at Sandy Hook. Because, just as inexplicably as that man became evil, those teachers transformed from educators to bodyguards in the time it took him to shatter the glass in the front doors. Why did they do that? It’s another unfathomable question, but this time with a concrete answer — because it was right. We are a society that values our children’s innocence, and most of us would do anything in our power to protect that. Still, I know I can’t completely hide the truth that bad guys are real, and that bad things happen to good people. Because I didn’t want someone else to make my daughter fearful with information she didn’t need, I sat her down on her pink bed and I told her what happened. I veiled it slightly, of course, tried to soften the blow. I told her that a bad guy who had a very bad disease in his brain did a bad thing. I told her some children got hurt in a town far away from here. I assured her it was over, that her school is safe, that her mommy and daddy are keeping her safe, and that she didn’t need to worry. And yet, against my wishes, there it is — the first flicker of the skater behind the curtain. My 6-year-old doesn’t yet understand completely what she’s seeing, but one day very soon — too soon — she will. That is why these days there are times I cry when my children are delighted. It’s because, eventually, the curtain I have up around them will be torn down. 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. FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

Regardless of the season, the bucolic Saranac Lake and the Adirondacks make for the perfect day or weekend trip from most points in the north country. Clockwise from top left: The sun sets over Saranac Lake. Rays of sunshine break through the clouds over Saranac Lake. A view of downtown Saranac Lake. Creative camp signs are a familiar sight on many back roads in the Adirondacks. A wooden canoe is pulled ashore. Donnellyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soft Ice Cream is a Saranac Lake tradition like no other. Inside Saranac Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adirondack Carousel. The exterior of the Adirondack Carousel, which opened in 2012.

36 HOURS

Saranac a slice of heaven on higher ground Take a short drive to the Adirondacks for year-round fun

TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES | PHOTOS BY ALLYSON E. STONE

5P.M.FRIDAY,IT’S EASY BEING GREEN To get a true Adirondack experience,

it’s important to surround yourself with the beauty of the mountains, the lakes and the land. That immersive experience is well within reach at the Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat. Just a stone’s throw from Saranac Lake, the lodge is located right on Lake Clear in a compound-like facility that features an authentic Great Camp-style main lodge with hotel-quality accommodations, or separate chalets and guest houses for a more romantic or private setting. The lodge’s property features nature trails for sleigh rides or moonlit walks, a restaurant, wine and beer cellar and water sports during the summer months. Lake Clear Lodge has continually been recognized for its effort to be a “green” and environmentally friendly operation, including achieving the 2012 Audubon International 4 Green Leaf Award. The lodge also is committed to holistic living, with farm-to-fork cooking practices and a focus on healthy living with plenty of outdoor activities. Check in, grab a bite to eat, and maybe a glass of wine or two from a massive selection, and take a wander around the

lake shore. Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat, 6319 State Route 30, Lake Clear, 1 (518) 891-1489, www.lodgeonlakeclear.com 10A.M.SATURDAY,IT TAKESA VILLAGE It may have taken 12 years and $1.3 million, but last summer Saranac Lake’s Adirondack Carousel came to life in the historic downtown area. Located in William Morris Park, the carousel and accompanying playground were developed as a community initiative to promote the Adirondacks and offer education workshops, art exhibitions and Adirondackrelated children’s programs, according to its website. All of the animals that grace the carousel were hand carved by specially selected artisans who each created an animal that can be found in the Adirondack Park. Children can ride on the red squirrel, named “Red Storm” or “Lucy” the loon and “Beethoven” the moose. Lucy, Beethoven and Red Storm are part of the 25 animals that complete the carousel. Through May 31, the carousel is only open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and

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T H E N AT U R A L B E A U T Y O F T H E Adirondacks is easily enjoyed during summer months, but can be just as breathtaking during the winter, making it a year-round destination that is always evolving. The evolution can come from the flora and fauna that reside in the mountains and forests, or the people who live in the quaint, quiet towns and villages strategically placed throughout the Adirondack Park. Saranac Lake comes alive during the summer months, with water races by boat and thousands of hikers scaling nearby mountain tops to get a view unlike any other. However, the winter is when the true personality of this small village of 5,000 comes to life. With Winter Carnival countdowns beginning in July to community-funded projects like The Community Store and Adirondack Carousel representing the true sense of pride that Saranac Lake residents feel for their community, it almost feels like home when you may only be in town for a few short days.

Sundays. Admission is $2 per ticket, three tickets for $5 or seven tickets for $10. Adirondack Carousel, 2 Depot St., Saranac Lake, www.adirondackcarousel.org.

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11:30 A .M . S AT U R D AY, A TRUE COMMUNITY STORE As evidenced by the Adirondack Carousel, the Saranac Lake community is not only proud of its village, but it constantly finds ways to improve it. So when corporate pressures closed the village’s only department store, the community banded together to keep big box stores out of its beloved hometown. Dozens of people donated money to help fund The Community Store, 97 Main St., across from the Hotel Saranac. Filling the need for a shopping location that locals can take advantage of, when they previously had to drive to Plattsburgh to buy the basics, The Community Store also adds a welcomed dash of nostalgia to downtown Saranac Lake. It’s a gathering place for tourists and locals to share stories and experiences while picking up a little memento of their stay or a new set of bed linens. Also at The Community Store, regional

artists and authors showcase their work for sale, allowing visitors to take home something that is quintessentially part of the Adirondack experience. The Community Store, 97 Main St., Saranac Lake, www.community-store.org.

fish and oysters. Mr. Vargo also sounds off, and shares a recipe or two, on his “New ‘Dacks” blog at www.newdacks. blogspot.com. Eat ‘n Meet Grill and larder, 139 Broadway St., www.eatnmeet.com.

2 P .M . S AT URD AY, ‘A RE STAURAN T FOR THESE TIMES’ Eat ‘n Meet Grill and larder is a gem of Adirondack life. A true farm-to-table operation, concepted long before the farmto-table movement was trendy, chef and owner John Vargo always keeps things interesting at this down home eatery. It might take a little longer than expected to get food at Eat ‘n Meet because all of the dishes are made from scratch. The restaurant’s website advises that customers allow a minimum of 30 minutes preparation time for most meals. Don’t mind the wait though, because the food is certainly worth it. From locally sourced meats and vegetables to seafood that Mr. Vargo catches himself to bring back to his patrons, there’s a little bit of everything at Eat ‘n Meet Grill. Even in mid-January, Mr. Vargo was featuring snow crab, mussels, sardines, cat-

4 P.M. SATURDAY, TAKE YOUR PICK If you’ve decided to venture into the mountains in search of outdoor winter activities, you’re in luck. Although, if you’re more inclined to get a more cultured look at the Adirondacks, there are just as many opportunities. For the adventure lovers, the backcountry-style trails of Dewey Mountain should keep you entertained, with more than 13 kilometers of trail for skiers, and four kilometers for snowshoe enthusiasts. The mountain even features a 440-foot vertical drop on one of its most advanced trails. To go at a more leisurely pace, Mount Pisgah Ski, Snowshoe and Tubing Center has 100 acres of park with 15 acres of Alpine skiable land. A smaller-than-average elevation difference means that things move at a slower pace at Mount Pisgah. On a positive note, the trails are fully lighted and the mountain

features nighttime skiing. If it’s arts and music you’re interested in, pay a visit to BluSeed Studios, where there is always something going on. BluSeed is the brainchild of Carol Marie Vossler, who in 2001 began transforming a 7,000-square-foot neglected warehouse into a cultural hub of the Adirondacks. What she developed is a place where traditional and emerging arts come together. Every month, BluSeed invites musicians to play on the BluStage and allows local artists to use the ceramic and letterpress studios on a rental basis. BluSeed has turned from a labor of love and a vision of one artist into a veritable playground for others. Bluseed Studios, 24 Cedar St., Saranac Lake, www.bluseedstudios.org; Dewey Mountain, Route 3, one mile west of downtown Saranac Lake, www.deweymountain. com; Mount Pisgah, 92 Mount Pisgah Lane, Saranac Lake, www.saranaclakeny.gov. 10 A .M . S U N D AY, G E T W I L D When the New York Times calls a facility “stunning” and the Wall Street Journal encourages visitors to “linger in this glorious place” it’s hard to pass it up on the drive

home. When you’re headed out of Saranac Lake for all points west, leave time for a pit stop at The Wild Center. The Wild Center is located in quiet Tupper Lake, where the award-winning center houses live exhibits and multi-media shows inside its state-of-the-art facility with the mission of celebrating the wildlife and ecosystem that is the Adirondack Park. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday during the winter and spring, the center brings to life parts of the park that may otherwise go unnoticed, including interactive films and an otter exhibit. From Feb. 16 to Feb. 24, The Wild Center is hosting the “Wild Week of Winter Events,” with daily guided snowshoe walks, live animal programs, warm wintery beverages and a different signature event each day. If you can’t make it in February, stop in on March 2 for a winter birding expedition or March 24 for the “Otter Birthday Party.” Admission to the center is $17 for adults, ages 4 to 14 are $10 and ages 3 and younger are free. The Wild Center, 45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake, www.wildcenter.org.

GETTING THERE From Watertown: Take State Route 126 east to Carthage, follow Route 126 until it becomes State Route 3. Follow Route 3 east on the scenic drive through the Adirondack towns of Star Lake and Tupper Lake. Continue on Route 3 for approximately 80 miles. Total drive time: Approximately two-and-a-half hours. From St. Lawrence County: Follow State Route 458 east until you approach State Route 30 south. Turn right onto Route 30 south until you reach Paul Smiths. At Paul Smiths, turn left onto State Route 86 east. Follow Route 86 until you reach Saranac Lake. Total drive time: Approximately one-and-a-half hours from Canton. From Lowville: Follow State Route 812 North into Harrisville, where it will become State Route 3. Continue on Route 3 through Star Lake and Tupper Lake until you reach Saranac Lake, approximately 63 miles. Total drive time: Approximately two hours and 15 minutes. KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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THIS IS NNY

NORTH COUNTRY PHOTOS BY JUSTIN SORENSEN, AMANDA MORRISON AND NORM JOHNSTON | NNY LIVING

Winter textures

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ARTS

Growing

community through the arts New St. Lawrence County Arts Council director ready for challenge with a ‘world of experience’ behind her

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BY KYLE R. HAYES | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

COLORADO, TEXAS, IDAHO, nearly nonexistent. Alaska, New York and China: “Hilary grew the arts council Rebekah L. Wilkins-Pepiton has from nothing,” Ms. Wilkins-Pepitseen them all. on said. Although she’s been across “Hilary held the creative vision the United States and the globe, since [the council’s] origin,” said Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton has most St. Lawrence County Arts Counrecently settled in as a St. Lawcil board President Mary Sharon rence County resident. She brings Ryan. “She had just decided it was her worldly travels and all of the time to step aside.” experiences that go with them to Ms. Ryan said that she and her new post as executive director her fellow board members are of the St. Lawrence County Arts enthusiastic about welcoming Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton. Not only will she Council. bring a wide range of experience “It’s been great, the community in the arts, but new ideas and a here has been incredibly welfresh take on things. coming; it’s probably the most “It was challenging,” Ms. Ryan welcoming place I’ve ever lived,” said about finding a new executive she said. “My perspective is a director. “[Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton] bit skewed, because I was just in brought her background and viSouthern China.” Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton, who now sion to the arts council. We knew lives in Canton, served with the she could continue on with a U.S. Peace Corps in China, where vision for the organization and PHOTO COURTESY ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL she said the ethnic culture is “sort expand our resources.” of limited, because of the way the Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton, new executive director of the St. Lawrence On Feb. 9, Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton’s County Arts Council, began at her new position in January. Chinese government has supfirst major task came to life, in the pressed some of the people.” form of the arts council’s “Tranthe position she held since 2005. She In September the arts council sition Gala” at the Crary Mills joined the arts council in December 2001 announced that longtime director Hilary Grange Hall. The gala also served as the M. Oak would be stepping down from as board president, when the council was council’s annual meeting, but allowed

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Sometimes as leadership changes people expect the same. The transition campaign helps temper those expectations in some way.

— Rebekah L. Wilkins-Pepiton, executive director, St. Lawrence County Arts Council arts. That was something we could pull together and do relatively quickly, and it’s a cool resource for the community.” Longtime arts council supporters need not worry about annual programming that has become tradition for the arts council. Events like the annual studio tour and programming like the Special Arts for Special Needs series will not go away. In fact, Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton said that she will work closely with her network of arts professionals to help diversify those programs and encourage new interest in them. “The studio tour in the fall will be changed in some ways, it will have a lot of the same elements that we will expand on and there will be some cool innovations on that front,” she said. “Right now we are looking at projects we already do and making sure they meet the needs that we determine.”

The arts council’s vision is to understand on some level that the idea of community development comes from the arts. Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton said that in order to foster community growth it is important to involve the artists, let them in on decision-making processes and give them ownership of the arts council that represents them. When she’s not busy planning her next adventure, Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton said that she spends most of her time outdoors, backpacking, hiking and skiing with her husband, Charlie. “Northern New York is a part of the country we had never explored, she said. “I’m big into outdoors, so that’s one of the reasons why it was such a draw for us.” KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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council members and supporters to come together and share in the plans for 2013. The underlying mission for the gala is fundraising and exposure for the “Transition Campaign,” with a goal of raising $100,000 by April for the council. As of January, more than $10,000 had been raised. “The gala serves as a visible, tangible transition in the New Year and new leadership,” Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton. “I think sometimes as leadership changes people expect the same. The transition campaign helps temper those expectations in some way. We do have some fundraising needs. We have, like a lot of nonprofits, a budget shortfall that we are trying to somehow reconcile. It seemed like the right time to do that.” How does one world-traveler bring her experiences into play at the arts council? Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton said that she has learned some lessons the hard way. Not everything works. “In some ways, I’ve tried getting ahead of myself and push the community where it might not be ready to go,” she said. “We have over 400 members and membership grows every week. We want to meet their needs and the needs of the area. We want to do the right thing.” Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton emphasizes the necessity to listen to the community’s needs as well and fill that need when possible. She noted that the arts council offers monthly workshops for both community members and council members to meet their creative aspirations, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional arts as well as performing arts classes. Given the arts council’s proximity to college students, with local colleges including SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University, Ms. Wilkins-Pepiton has identified a new target for recruitment. “We are working with community assets and working toward a summer arts festival to draw in young talent,” she said. “We want to make that a cool, fun thing that is a collaboration of multiple organizations.” Not only will the summer arts festival draw in the interest of local youth, but it will be an event for families as well, with some focus on children ages 7 to 11. Beginning in April, an “Art Café” will be held at the Blackbird Café in Canton to bring together artists and art enthusiasts in a relaxed setting. “It’s modeled after Clarkson’s ‘Science Cafe,’ we will bring in a local speaker and it’s a great way for people to get together in the evening and talk about the

COVER STORY

Volunteering for a brighter north country Hundreds work to bolster quality of life in region BY REBECCA MADDEN | STAFF WRITER

VOLUNTEERISM PAINTS NORTH COUNTRY COMMUNITIES INTO PERFECTION AS

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THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SELFLESSLY GIVE UP FREE TIME TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. NONPROFIT AGENCIES, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, RESCUE SQUADS, HOSPITALS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RELY ON HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THOUSANDS OF HOURS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION WITHOUT LOSS OF IDENTITY.

With volunteerism comes love for humanity for Watertown resident Benjamin P. Coe. The octogenarian has dedicated more than half of his life to serving others. “I think for me it goes back to why we are here on earth,” he said. “I draw from my religious beliefs that we’re called to love God and our fellow man. The best way of loving our fellow man is to give your time for those who need help, and that’s service through volunteerism.” He has given himself to Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown Rotary, the Tug Hill commission, the United Way of Northern New York and the Volunteer Transportation Center. Impossible to count decades worth of his own volunteerism hours, Mr. Coe said the total would never surpass the need for people to help raise their own community. Without help, volunteer-driven agencies would suffer without a crutch. Programs and services would diminish, or their cost could increase to a price many struggling

families could not afford. “It would look pretty bleak,” Mr. Coe said. “When you think of the number of organizations that rely on volunteers to help people in need or to enrich lives, it’s sort of the flesh that fills the skeleton.” That flesh equates to 17,000 hours for the Watertown Family YMCA, over 12,000 hours for Lewis County Opportunities, 23,000 hours for Samaritan Medical Center, and 38,000 hours for the Watertown Urban Mission. Minimum wage to pay employees for those hours alone would be $652,500. That doesn’t begin to put a dent into volunteerism throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Laura A. Foster, curator at the Frederic Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg, said volunteers for small agencies have the biggest impact. One man, she said, dedicates his spare time to frequently changing exhibits. Between that, the annual gala, program and education, tours, outreach and other

functions, about 40 volunteers help run every facet of the museum. Although volunteers cannot replace work done by staff, Samaritan Medical Center’s Director of Volunteer Services Jane V. Schmitt said they’re a perfect supplement to about 20 hospital departments, Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan’s clinic operations. “It’s all about matching personalities and skills,” she said. Whether young or old, opportunities exist for people of all ages to volunteer. Mrs. Schmitt said Samaritan hopes to capitalize on future residents of assistedliving beds at Samaritan Summit Village to volunteer. Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville, recognizes that volunteerism is often a thankless job, so it puts a small program each year to simply say, “thank you” to its 100 active volunteers that help with the gift shop, the mail room, adult daycare, hospital departments, nursing

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Volunteer Benjamin P. Coe takes a break during the 2013 North Country Chili Cook-Off held Feb. 3 at the Dulles State Office Building. Mr. Coe, the founding director of the Volunteer Transportation Center, helped start the annual mid-winter event to benefit the center in 2000. It attracts roughly three-dozen teams of cooks and hundreds of tasters. More than $40,000 was raised at the cook-off in 2012, about $8,000 more than the previous year.

How to get involved VOLUNTEER CONNECTIONS n It isn’t difficult to get started as a volunteer. Several north country organizations and agencies regularly need help with daily operations and staffing for special events. Simply call an organization that interests you to get started. n Many local organizations seeking volunteers post requests on Volunteer Match, an online directory at www.volunteermatch.org.

that, as volunteer musicians, artists, retail workers, transcriptionists and event planners remain committed to making sure TAUNY remains open. With as much help that’s given, she said, more is always needed. The same is the case at many churches, including St. Patrick’s and St. Anthony’s Catholic churches in Watertown, according to the Rev. Donald A. Robinson. A decline in the number of Catholic priests has meant an increase in parish

support. Rev. Robinson serves as pastor at both churches. “The days of Father doing everything are long gone,” he said. “For the future of the church, lay involvement is crucial.” Lay ministry, religious education, rosary society and parish governance volunteers share a bulk of parish responsibilities. Watertown Family YMCA Executive Director Peter W. Schmitt said without volunteerism there’d be extremely expensive programming, no swim team and no policies to govern the organization. Volunteers have become embedded into the north country, and volunteerism is what several people live and breathe. At the Watertown Family YMCA, volunteerism and social responsibility is something the Y instills in its members. Recruitment, Mr. Schmitt said, is simple: just ask someone directly to volunteer. So long as you ask someone personally, and have a good reason or

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home and visiting patients. “That’s nothing compared to what they give back to us,” said Jessica A. Skiff, human resources assistant. Sometimes life’s most delicate situations require tenderness and a confidential open ear. Scott P. Mathys, chief executive officer of Lewis County Opportunities, said it takes a special person to volunteer to become trained for the Lowville-based agency’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline. Volunteerism goes beyond busy officerelated tasks, he said, because it also saves lives and solves crises. Commitment to community means organizations would continue to exist, but there would be a drastic, grotesque future without it, he said. “They’re working as hard as regular, full-time staff,” Mr. Mathys said. Hanna S. Harvester, program director of the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, Canton, said she’ll never forget

Mary M. Parry, 89, who has been a volunteer with the USO since 1941, laughs with Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin D. Sharkey at the USO’s 70th anniversary party in February 2011 at Fort Drum. Many north country organizations rely on people like Mrs. Parry to serve the community. JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

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benefit, people are less likely to turn that opportunity down. Watertown Urban Mission development Director Andrew G. Mangione said he’s excited about the future of volunteerism. Evolvement has already begun at the mission through its annual Run for Recovery, food pantry, critical needs program, Impossible Dream Thrift Store, Dollar Dinners program and other functions. “There are a lot of young people who reach out, be it from their church, school, or anything independent of that, who want to give back,” he said. “Generosity of time given by younger volunteers is a

huge blessing. It compliments what we get from older volunteers.” The next generation of volunteers is already here in north country communities making a difference. The Northern New York Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Council is one of the youngest examples, as over a dozen Watertown High School students set aside their social and sport calendars to make grant recommendations for community improvements. “I think a lot of it is supply and demand, as the need becomes more urgent we’ll have people, I think, to step in

place,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Even as someone whose served on and been involved with organizations, there’s the expectation that there was a generation that would take care of our community. The reality is in 10 years, they may not be able to.” Youth Philanthropy Council members, along with Jaycees, the Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization, Jefferson Leadership Institute St. Lawrence Leadership Institute, and the Lewis County Leadership Academy are the north country’s future of volunteerism. Mr. Coe said as he moves toward an advice-giving role more so than a major decision maker, the dynamics of volunteerism continue to change. More families struggle, so more people are unavailable, or so they think. Life, he said, should be a balance of personal, work and community duties. “There’s great satisfaction in helping someone who needs it,” he said. “Life is more personal in a rural region. The more personal it is, the more people are willing to help with their time and their money.” REBECCA MADDEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at 661-2375 or rmadden @wdt.net.

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FEATURES

Cupcake Mushing owner and musher Nancy Stark, Lacona, gives one of her lead dogs, Wiggles, a kiss.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

An ice-cold passion Former Alaska resident at her best behind dogs in fresh snow

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BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY

N A N C Y S TA R K I S N ’T A F R A I D O F the cold, or of physical activity. At 70, she has more passion and energy than most people her age. She is a musher. And there is no place she would rather be than with her 13 Alaskan-bred dogs running hard on a cold, snowy trail. “It is hard work but I absolutely love it. Learning how to be a musher was very difficult and very challenging,” Mrs. Stark said. “Mushing isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. Mushers are very dedicated to what they do.” Her adventure in running dogs began more than a decade ago when she was in her late 50s and she and her husband, Ray, were living in Alaska. After years of mov-

ing from state to state, the duo decided to slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery. Mr. Stark said their decision to take a three-month vacation turned into a ninemonth vacation that ultimately landed them in the icy peaks outside Anchorage. “Before we ever considered living in Alaska I was an [information technology] professional,” Mr. Stark said. “A work opportunity came up in Atlanta, so we moved there from New York. We were there for 20 years before we got relocated to Florida by the company.” Mrs. Stark wasn’t a fan of the warm weather, and with Mr. Stark wanting a career change, they decided to move on. “I wanted do something else,” Mr. Stark said. “We were taking trips to Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, all sorts

of places, trying to find the next spot where we would live. As we were going through this process, we decided to take some time for ourselves. We spent nine months on the road in a camper traveling from state to state before we landed permanently in Alaska. “We had been there with friends on a vacation in the past and really enjoyed it. The more we talked about it, the more we realized there was nothing holding us back. So we sold our house, our summer house and the cars.” That was in 2000. Because it was September, living in a camper in one of the coldest place in the country wasn’t an option. Mr. and Mrs. Stark found a rental home and began to settle into the landscape. Little did Mrs. Stark know that her

Cupcake Mushing n Nancy Stark offers dog sled tours in the winter through her business, Cupcake Mushing. Her tours take people and families on hour-long sled rides with a kennel tour and hot cocoa and cake after the run. Call Nancy and Ray Stark, 387-5798, to schedule a tour or learn more.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Nancy Stark stops to chat with one of her dogs while cleaning up their living area. The dogs stand on top of their shelters to try and get her attention.

one is from Alaska (one from Germany). Most of them are named after different towns in Alaska. While she runs 13 on the trails, they own 15, all of which made the trip from Alaska to New York with them nearly three years ago. “I have a passion and I love it,” Mrs. Stark said with deep emotion. “Those

dogs give me more than I could ever return. If you are passionate about something, you know it’s something you simply must do. And I simply must do it.” JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. Contact her at joleene@joleenespeaks. com. Visit her at www.joleenespeaks.com.

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future passion was just a few cities down the road. “The woman from whom we rented the house had a daughter who ran a bed and breakfast in Willow, Alaska,” Mrs. Stark said. “Willow is considered the hub for mushers. Her daughter also ran sled dogs. We went up to the bed and breakfast for a weekend and went dog sledding. That’s when I fell in love with it. I looked at Ray and told him that this is what I wanted to do.” An extensive love for the sport ensued and a year-long apprenticeship with Lynda Plettner, one of nine recorded women to participate and place in the Iditarod — an annual 1,050-mile long-distance dog sled race run in early March from Anchorage to Nome. The Iditarod, also dubbed the “Last Great Race” on earth, is what mushers live for. And while Mrs. Stark didn’t participate in the intensive race, she did find that running dogs was something she is very passionate about. With six dogs already part of their family in Anchorage, the Starks recognized that yet another move was necessary, this time to accommodate Mrs. Stark’s love for the sport. “We made the decision that this is what Nancy wanted to do and to do it she needed more dogs and we needed to live in a more rural area,” Mr. Stark said. “That meant moving farther north in Alaska where we could be on a trail system, or finding another location. Because of our age and my work, we decided on another location. We looked in many different areas across the U.S. We ended up in Oswego County, close to a trail system, near family and it accommodates our work.” The couple’s home and property is adjacent to Winona State Forest in Lacona, an area loaded with trails. Today Mrs. Stark spends nearly 40 hours a week caring for her dogs and running them as often as possible. All this while maintaining a part-time job as a mental health therapist in Watertown. Both her job and her hobby give her great fulfillment, countering one another enough so she can serve others as a therapist and serve herself with her dogs. Her dogs are unique to the area, as all but

FEATURES

Left, an old-fashioned tip-up sits near a makeshift shanty as fishermen wander off to check on a variety of tip-ups scattered across the north end of Black Lake. A variety of tip-ups ranging from the 1950s style seen here to more modern, spring-loaded versions are used. Below, a sample from the day’s catch — three northern pike and 13 perch — lay on the ice next to an ice skimmer that doubles as a measuring stick to check the thickness of the ice. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Friends, fish and frozen fun Ice fishing a north country favorite to beat the winter blues

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BY KEN EYSAMAN

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, WALT Savichky has made the trek from New York’s Southern Tier to Black Lake on the south side of St. Lawrence County to catch fish in the dead of winter. And while Black Lake and many other north country waters offer some of the best ice fishing around, it’s not the lure of a prize-wining northern pike that keeps Mr. Savichky coming back to bore holes in ice that often freezes to more than a foot thick. Like most people who don heavy winter clothing and drag a seemingly endless supply of equipment onto the ice, the catch is exciting, but not as rewarding as the camaraderie that ensues while waiting. “Fishing is just an excuse,” said Jim Savicky, Walt’s cousin, whose last name is pronounced the same but spelled differently. “This is our annual guys’ weekend. If you catch a fish it’s a bonus.” Judging from what lay on the ice next to where the men were hunkered down

in their makeshift shanty, “bonuses” were in good supply. Most common this day in Black Lake were perch, which the men acknowledged would be good eating, but most in the group were angling

for pike to freeze and take home where they’d pickle them in a recipe of spices, sugar and vinegar — a lot of vinegar — to soften the bones. “They pickle really well,” said Jason Smith, who at 33 was the youngest family member in the group. “They come out a lot like pickled herring.” Despite an early January thaw that weakened ice across the region and made fishing a bit riskier than usual, this particular Saturday Mr. Savicky, his cousin and four other men were well on their way to capping off another annual winter sojourn. By late afternoon, the men had been on the ice for three days, starting each morning at 7 a.m. and continuing until dusk, monitoring a swath of holes that covered at least a half a square mile on the lake. “We shut down at dark and go in for a big meal,” Mr. Savichky said. “Tonight is prime rib.” While the idea of sitting for hours on a frozen lake, waiting for a fish strike might

Larry Sheppard, Huevelton, left, and Ron Higgins, Richfield Springs, share a laugh about their friend, Jim Savicky, as he returns to the ice from the cottage after he couldn’t find the Syracuse University basketball game on television. The men are sitting in a makeshift shanty. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

be for some the last thing that spells fun, when the action does hit, it sends everyone flying to see what they might reel in. In the case of Mr. Savichky and crew, the rush of tip-ups popping flags to signal a fish strike happened often enough to keep enthusiasm up. With six men on the ice holding state fishing licenses, each was permitted to drop five tip-ups, devices that suspend a line from a rig that allows it to be left unattended in the water. When a fish strikes, a spring-loaded flag is released and alerts the fisherman to a bite. That meant the six-man crew was watching some 30 holes in the iced-over lake. “We have some friendly contests when we’re out on the ice,” Mr. Savichky said. “Our flags are different colors so we can tell which ones belong to whom.” The largest catch that day: a 33-inch northern pike too large to pickle so it lived to strike a jig another day. At roughly 26 miles long, Black Lake is the largest of the region’s many Indian River lakes and is often referred to as “nature’s fish hatchery” for its diverse habitat and naturally clean ecosystem. It also is the largest lake in St. Lawrence County and boasts a reputation among anglers as a preferred year-round fishing spot. For Mr. Savichky, the tradition of Black

Lake dates back nearly a half-century when his father, Walt Sr., built the family camp near Sitts Bay on the southeast shore of the lake in 1965, about five years before the younger Walt’s days as a forestry student at the New York State Ranger School in Wanakena. His father paid only $1,000 for the land at Black Lake. Today, the nearly four-hour drive from the Southern Tier is the only drawback to the trip north. Besides some basic equipment that includes tip-ups or jigs, an ice auger and a skimmer, dressing well, being prepared with a good shelter, or shanty, and knowledge of ice safety is most important for any winter fisherman. Most experts advise at least five to eight inches of good, clear ice to ensure a safe outing. Ice shanties run the gamut from the winter tent variety that can be found at most sporting goods stores to the more creative makeshift styles like the shelter Mr. Savichky and crew used. The latter was an improvised structure built from an old swing set, chicken wire and covered with a heavy burlap tarp. “Our shanty does the trick,” Mr. Savicky said with a chuckle. KEN EYSAMAN is editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2399 or keysaman@wdt.net. FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

FOOD

Classic meatloaf is perfect comfort food for the soul n At north country ‘Dollar Dinners’ food is best love of all BY BOO WELLS

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“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him ... the people who give you their food give you their heart.” – Cesar Chavez

IN MOST CULTURES,PREPARING FOOD FOR OTHERS symbolizes affection and caring. We bring casseroles to families who have suffered a loss, we give gifts of food at the holidays, deliver boxes of food to those in need and make soup for our friends when they are sick. When you cook for people you are not only feeding them, you are giving them your time and your heart. Now, more than ever before, our time is precious. Between work, chauffeuring children, housekeeping, errands, helping with homework, Cub Scout activities — the list goes on and on — taking the time to prepare a home-cooked meal speaks volumes. My boys have always gone to school with a lunch that I have made for them. Occasionally Tucker will ask to buy lunch, but generally both boys prefer to brown bag it. One morning we were all running a little behind (read: totally overslept). While frantically shoving breakfast at the boys and barking at them to move faster, I suggested that this might be a good day to buy

lunch at school. Silence, and then “don’t you love us?” I am not so naïve that this Mommy Torture went unnoticed. But at the same time, it did ring true. I make them their lunches because I love them and want them to feel that love even when they are sitting in a noisy cafeteria watching their friends spray milk out of their nostrils. Six or seven years ago, Hope Presbyterian Church in Watertown started a program in conjunction with Watertown Urban Mission called “Dollar Dinners.” The program was created to help families stretch their food budgets during the winter months when utility costs are at their peak. The Rev. Fred Garry, of First Presbyterian Church, saw the value in helping offset utility bills during the winter months, but he also recognized an opportunity to use food to welcome and care for members of the community. You see, Rev. Garry loves to cook and he is the supreme master of my “food is love” theory. I have had the privilege to help cook on the First Presbyterian Dollar Dinner team since the program began. For the past six or more years, on the third Sunday of every month, from November to April we have fed an average of 400 guests a warm home-cooked dinner. Roast pork loin with scalloped potatoes and mixed vegetables, barbeque pork sandwiches with coleslaw and baked beans, baked ham with mashed potatoes and peas, and my new personal favorite: meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes and vegetables. The people who attend the dinners are as different from one another as they could be. There are people who are a little down on their luck, families with young children looking for a night out and people who live alone and enjoy the company of new friends. The common thread is that they come to eat a warm meal and be treated as guests. At First Presbyterian we use food to say: “We care about you.” Feeding people is how I nourish my soul. Whether it’s my children, guests at a catering job, friends or the pack of ravenous teenage boys who take over my house on the weekends, I am happiest when I am in my kitchen using food to tell the world that I care. 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 sacketsfarm housekitchen@gmail.com or www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

AMANDA MORRISON PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Classic meatloaf (Serves four to six)

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS ½ cup finely chopped onion 1½ teaspoons minced garlic 2 pounds ground beef ½ cup tomato ketchup 1 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 3/4 cup fresh plain breadcrumbs 2 eggs, beaten 1½ teaspoons salt 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper GLAZE INGREDIENTS 1 cup tomato ketchup ½ cup brown sugar INSTRUCTIONS Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the meatloaf ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula or your hands just until the ingredients are combined. Don’t overwork the meat or the meatloaf will be too dense. In a separate bowl, combine the glaze. For easier clean up, line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Turn the meat mixture out onto the pan, and shape it into a large loaf. Spread the tomato and brown sugar glaze evenly over the meatloaf. Bake the meatloaf until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees Fahrenheit, 50 to 60 minutes. Before slicing, let the meatloaf rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow some carryover cooking and to let the juices redistribute. To serve, slice and spoon some of the pan juices over the slices, if you like. FEBRUA RY / MA RCH 2013 | NNY LI VI NG

FOOD [ CHEF’S TABLE ]

Melt-in-your-mouth braised ribs

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BY JOSE ALVARADO

RED WINE BRAISED SHORT RIBS HAVE become indispensable in my collection of hearty winter fare. It amazes me how popular they have become in the culinary world, taking a once undesirable cut of meat and transforming it into a melt-inyour-mouth delicacy. There are several techniques to go about cooking them, which I have learned in my 13 years as a culinary professional. They all use a basic slow-cooking practice and my favorite is the sous-vide method. A French term for “under vacuum,” it cooks food in airtight sealed bags in a water bath at a controlled temperature. You control the temperature using a thermal immersion circulator, which has become readily available and known to the public in recent years thanks to numerous cooking networks and reality television shows that glorify chefs. The intention of using this method is for even cooking, never overcooking and allowing the juices, flavors and other ingredients to remain inside the bags and constantly marry with the protein. Typically I would use this method for the red wine braised beef short ribs, as at the restaurant we have a professional immersion circulator. However, for the home cook this recipe uses the traditional slow cook braising method at a low oven temperature. It is worth the investment in an immersion circulator as anything can be cooked using it. From fresh garden carrots to summer fruits to custards.

Red wine braised beef short ribs

(with celery root puree, honey glazed carrots and peas) MARINADE INGREDIENTS 4 each, beef short ribs (English cut) 2 shallots, peeled and sliced 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns 2 Bay Leaves, fresh 4 sprigs fresh thyme 4 garlic cloves, smashed

not to overcrowd and prevent temperature loss. Place seared short ribs on a tray and reserve. Add chopped vegetables to same roasting pan and cook until caramelized. Add tomato paste and cook an additional 3 minutes. Deglaze vegetables with reserved red wine marinade and reduce by half. Remove from heat and reserve. In a large Dutch oven, place short ribs, vegetables, red wine reduction and veal/beef stock. Place in oven with lid and cook for 2 to 3 hours or until short ribs are fork tender. Once done, take short ribs out of pot and let cool down on a tray. Place pot on burner and reduce by half. Skim off excess fat and impurities while reducing. Once reduced, place short ribs back in pot and check seasoning, add salt and pepper to taste.

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY LIVING

Chef Jose Alvarado and Aimee O’Connor, owners of Jose O’Connor’s restaurant in West Carthage, photographed with red wine braised beef short ribs and celery root puree, peas and carrots. 1 bottle dry red wine INSTRUCTIONS Place all the ingredients in a large enough container, non-corrosive. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. BRAISE INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons oil 1 onion, peeled and chopped 1 carrot, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 fresh sprigs of thyme 1 fresh bay leaf 1 cup of Red Wine Marinade from above 4 quarts of veal or beef stock INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Take marinated short ribs out of liquid, pat dry. Set aside at room temperature. Heat a large roasting pan over burners, add oil and heat until smoking. Season ribs with salt and pepper, carefully place in pan with hot oil and sear 2 to 3 minutes on all sides until crust is formed. Do this step in several batches, depending on size of roasting pan, as

CELERY ROOT PUREE INGREDIENTS 2 heads celery root, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 medium Spanish onion 1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 fresh bay leaf 2 fresh sprigs of thyme ½ quart heavy cream ½ quart chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth INSTRUCTIONS Place all ingredients in a non-corrosive pot (stainless steel). Bring to a simmer and cook until celery root is tender. Remove from heat, remove ingredients with slotted spoon and place in blender. Add enough cooking liquid to help blender puree ingredients to a smooth consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. HONEY GLAZED CARROTS & PEAS 5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 sprig fresh rosemary ½ cup water ¼ cup honey 1 cup frozen peas, thawed and drained salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS Place carrots, butter, rosemary, water, and honey in a large sauté pan. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until carrots are tender and glazed. Add peas when ready to serve and season to taste. JOSE ALVARADO & AIMEE O’CONNOR own and operate Jose O’Connor’s restaurant, offering artisan style lunches and dinners at 15 Bridge St., West Carthage. Visit them online at www.joseoconnors.com or call 493-0081.

WINE

For the love of all good wines n A handful of blended reds will impress any sweetheart BY MARY MILES

EVEN THE MOST PARTICULAR WINE consumers can be a little overwhelmed when presented with the many choices offered at any wine store. Much like a kid in a candy store, the selections can be exciting at first but overwhelming when trying to match one’s personal preference. Trying to determine what wines will be most pleasing by pairing what we know about wine with what most appeals to the taste buds is the best way to not overwhelm. Simply put, the wine world consists of two types of consumers: those who are seeking a sweet and fruity flavor and those who desire a drier, more subtle experience. Fortunately, we live in area that produces some of the best wines, especially for those who prefer sweet and fruity wines. In fact, Northern New York wineries have produced some of the toprated dry and sweet rieslings in the world. Sweeter reds and moscatos have been a favored choice over the past few years. Blends are starting to become more and more popular and the selection of blends available locally continues to grow. Red blends have become a fast-growing category, and wine specialist Rodney Misch at Arsenal Wine and Liquor, Watertown, recommends a few of his favorites. Dreaming Tree Crush, a blend of mer-

lot and zinfandel (67 percent merlot, 33 percent zinfandel) is one of his favorites. The smoky berry, raspberry jam blend makes it a great pairing with beef or a salad with a citrus mixture. Troublemaker, a blend produced by Austin Hope, is a mix of syrah, mourvedre, grenache, and petite sirah. The result is a wine with a complex depth and a rich, lush body. Troublemaker has set the bar for both quality and value. Ménage A Trois Red, a zinfandel-merlot-cabernet mix, is a great blended red wine even if red wine is not your speed, you need to give Ménage a Trois red a try. This wine exposes the fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Ménage a Trois Red brings together three strange bedfellows. On top we’ve got zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship; merlot with its generous mouth feel and red fruits fits in the middle, and

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY LIVING

Dreaming Tree Crush, Troublemaker and Ménage A Trois Red are some of blended red varietals that aim to please.

hearts in the bottom of a glass and choose a sparkling wine like Banfi Rosa Regale. The color of bright pink adds to your Valentine Day color scheme and accompanies chocolate very well. It is a red sparkling wine that is sweet and subtle with the lush flavors of ripe raspberry and juicy strawberry. For the cozy and comfort, throw a log on the fire and cuddle up to a bottle of Three Brothers Local winery Lonesome Jazz Infusion. A blend of chamborurcin, cabernet franc,

Expose your palate to an entirely new brand or variety that you may really enjoy.

merlot and pinot noir give aromas of ripe cherry and vanilla that will permeate the glass of this wine. Every now and then, you should step outside your comfort level and choose something different. Simply trying a wine from a different region or moving from a sweet wine to a semi-sweet, for example, can expose your palate to an entirely new brand or variety that you may really enjoy. Enjoy life and drink good wine. MARY MILES is the owner of Arsenal Wine & Liquor, Watertown. Visit her at 940 Arsenal St.or online at www.arsenalwineandliquor.com.

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rich flavors and firm tannins of cabernet sauvignon make it ideal. Looking for a great blend to enjoy for Valentine’s Day? 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red (merlot, syrah, cabernet, mourvedre) from Chateau Ste. Michelle is a red blend from Washington State that opens with generous aromas of crème de cassis and sweet blackberries. Notes of wild huckleberries and pie crust nuance join dark fruit flavors. Balanced by soft and velvety tannins, this smooth easy-drinking wine finishes with hints of toast and mocha. For the fun and romantic, drop some

HISTORY

The Dr. Samuel Guthrie home on County Route 75, Sackets Harbor. Below, this drawing of Dr. Guthrie appeared with a 1905 newspaper story. JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS ARCHIVES

A life-saving discovery Sackets’ Dr. Samuel Guthrie credited with chloroform application

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BY LENKA WALLDROFF

MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING IN THE water? That’s one possible explanation for the long list of entrepreneurs and inventors who have called Jefferson County home. Safety pins, bed springs, tile drains, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (better known as the S.P.C.A.), and the concept of the five and dime were all invented or created within Jefferson County’s borders. Tyler Coverlets are native to the county as are percussion caps and a mechanism for their ignition that made flintlock muskets obsolete. But perhaps one of the best known inventions is that of chloroform. Chloroform was a popular 19th century anesthetic discovered by Dr. Samuel Guthrie of Sackets Harbor. Until Dr. Guthrie’s discovery in 1831, the anesthetic of choice among surgeons was a combination of herbal extractions and opiates. The formularies were not standardized, however, and these sedatives were bitterly denounced as either being too weak to be effective or too strong, resulting in the death of the patient. While nitrous oxide and some other chemical anesthetics had been discovered before 1831, they were

not used in surgical applications until almost 1850. In this context, the discovery of chloroform almost two decades before other anesthetics were popularized was a windfall for doctors and patients alike. Dr. Guthrie was born in Brimfield, Mass., in 1782. In 1804, he married Sybil Sexton

and together they had four children. During the winter of 1810-1811, Dr. Guthrie studied at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, known today as Columbia University, and in January 1815, sat in on medical lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. This was the full extent of his formal medical education. Nevertheless, in 1817 Dr. Guthrie moved his family to the relative wilderness of Northern New York, choosing the village of Sackets Harbor in which to open a medical practice. Dr. Guthrie discovered chloroform in February 1831. Within months, the process to create chloroform was dually and independently discovered in Europe by a French scientist named Eugène Soubeiran and again one month later by Justus Liebig, a German chemist. The question of which scientist should be credited with the original discovery was debated for most of Dr. Guthrie’s life. What finally settled the debate was an article that Dr. Guthrie had written for Yale University’s chemistry department discussing his successful 1831 experiment. The article was published in July 1831 and, as it predated the discoveries of both of his European contemporaries, finally

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

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settled the question once and for all. In a letter written to his daughter eight months before his death in October 1848, Dr. Guthrie stated that newspapers were only then beginning to give him exclusive credit for the discovery of the anesthetic that was at the time already widely in use. An excerpt from an article published by a local newspaper shortly after Dr. Guthrie’s 1831 discovery said the following about the experiment: “With the whiskey to the amount of two gallons he purchased at the tavern, Dr. Guthrie added three pounds of chlorinated lime he had been using as a disinfectant round the henhouse. Great fortitude and self-denial on Dr. Guthrie’s part were necessary, it is said, before he could bring himself to the point of consenting to spoil so much excellent whiskey. But resistance and courage won.” The article goes on to describe the distillation process in detail. An interesting side note: in addition to his work as a physician, Dr. Guthrie also was an accomplished distiller. While today the professions of physician and distiller may seem incongruous, during the 19th century liquor was commonly used to treat ailments of all varieties, making the distillation of spirits a convenient skill for any doctor. There is no doubt that Dr. Guthrie’s home distilling was not entirely for medical purposes as he was reputed to have brewed an alcohol that was unequaled in all of Jefferson County, as much enjoyed by the healthy as the sick. A replica of the still Dr. Guthrie used for the distillation of chloroform is currently in the collection of the Jefferson County Historical Society. With the independent discovery of chloroform in Europe only a few months after Dr. Guthrie’s successful February 1831 experiment – and apparently again a decade later in Boston as news traveled slowly in the early 19th century – its use in medical procedures on both sides of the Atlantic spread rapidly. By the 1840s chloroform was widely used to numb the pain of childbirth and, in fact, was considered so safe that it was used by Queen Victoria of England during the birth of her last two children. Eventually, however, as some of the side effects became known — including its toxicity — at higher doses, ether and nitrous oxide replaced chloroform.

HOMES

Hot — and cool — new design trends Bold patterns, colors all the buzz for the new year BY PEGGY DeYOUNG

on sofas and chairs. It is a natural fiber that is durable, comfortable, and easy to live with. Linen’s natural color varies in shades of beige, but it dyes well and is commonly shown in grays and blues. Linen also hangs well, making it a wonderful fabric for drapery, allowing just enough sunlight to pass through an open weave. The fabric softens and mellows with age and will always have a slightly wrinkled texture.

design is created in the dyeing and weaving process. These patterns look great in both contemporary and traditional settings. On furniture, old wood is given new purpose as it is reclaimed and carefully turned into new furniture. The beauty is in its naturally weathered and aged appearance. Most pieces are left rough to the touch as on the pictured coffee table. Wood boards have a hint of old red and black lacquer, graffiti

Linen is the upholstery fabric of choice on sofas and chairs. It is a natural fiber that is durable, comfortable and easy to live with.

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EVERY OCTOBER,NORTH CAROLINA is host to the largest furniture trade show in the country. For one week, every building in the city of Highpoint’s downtown district is a showplace for the furniture and home interiors market. Here, manufacturers unveil their latest collections, new fabrics, and colors to the trade. Touring the showrooms, distinct themes emerge. This year my visit to the market found trends based on natural textiles, traditional patterns and recycled materials. Linen is the upholstery fabric of choice

Linen is also non-allergenic. You can add colorful patterned throw pillows to a solid linen sofa to reflect your personality. New colors for this year are teal, blue and emerald green. Another trend is new bold patterns taking their cue from old designs. Geometric designs are based on lattice or iron grill work. A popular circular motif shown is called a “Suzani.” This is a decorative tribal pattern with petals of a flower radiating from the center. In Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Suzanis were traditionally made by brides as part of their dowry and given to the groom on their wedding day. Ikats are another historic geometric pattern with a blurred edge. The

and stress marks. The boards might have come from railroad tracks, or from the beams or floorboards of an old warehouse. No two pieces are alike when it comes to reclaimed wood, so if you like a piece of furniture, you might want to purchase it quickly — the next piece will look entirely different. Decorating a room can be a good winter activity. Painting a room and moving furniture around are a great physical workout. When completed, you will have a new room to hibernate in for the rest of the winter. Enjoy. PEGGY DEYOUNG is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. Contact her at deerrun@ twcny.rr.com.

New year, new trends Clockwise from above: Linens and a rug that feature Suzani â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an accent pattern based on garden tussles and gates. Linens placed on a table made of reclaimed wood. A dining set that includes a table made of reclaimed wood and chairs that appear weathered. The designer and writer outside her cottage shop, Porch and Paddle, on James Street in Clayton. A coffee table and cabinet made of reclaimed wood and a linen-upholstered couch with accent pillows. Linens placed on a table made from reclaimed wood. JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

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MY NNY

‘The path forward’ BY HOLLY BONAME / WATERTOWN

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MEDIA: Digital photograph CAMERA: Apple iPhone DATE: December 2012 PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES: I took a trip to Black Pond, just outside of Henderson. The road and path were not plowed and the snow was

fresh with no footprints. While walking I was blown away at the brilliant sun shining through the trees and the untouched path in front of me. Give us your best image. If you have captured a snippet of NNY through your lens or on canvas, email it to us at nnyliving@wdt.net.

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WOMEN’S WISE

The love of another is often all the right fuel

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BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi M A RY L O U G U I N D O N D O E S N ’T know how to slow down. She rides her bike 10 miles a day, writes a weekly news column called “Positively Parish,” is a member of a handful of organizations throughout Oswego County, and a Parish Town Board member. She is a woman grounded in faith and a giver through and through. But she wasn’t always that way. There was a time in her life when things seemed very “dark,” and it took the love of one little boy to brighten it. Mary Lou said the darkness started when she lived in Florida. She was in her early 20s when she got news her father passed away. He was only 49. “I recognized in that moment that life was too short,” she said. “So I divorced my husband and moved back to New York. I started drinking. I went through a four-year period where I drank. And then, two years after I moved back, I got into a bad car accident. I survived that accident for a reason.” That reason was a little boy named Jeremy. He was her nephew and, at 8-yearsold, he was without a family. The boy lived with various foster families, some, she said, who treated him poorly. But she said that little boy never gave up hope. “The last foster home he was in brought the Lord into his life and he had such passion and such hope and I said, I want to be a part of that. So I started going to church and finding my faith. With

The love of another can be the fuel we need when we feel all is lost. Love is the core of everything. Giving love is the answer to self-sabotage and selfhatered. It fills us with self-worth and self-love. faith, you don’t need to worry about the darkness. ”I lost my sister two years ago. She was 57. I’m 55. So now I’m doing what I need to do to live strong and healthy. I have a passion for everything I do, or I wouldn’t be doing it. I’ve tried to cut back but I guess I love it because I thrive on it.” The love of another can be the fuel we need when we feel all is lost. Love is the core of everything. Giving love is the answer to self-sabotage, self-hatred and self-denial. It fills us with self-worth and self-love. Fall in love with yourself. That’s really where it all begins. DO YOU KNOW OR are you a Northern New York woman who has done something inspiring? If so, reach out to us. We want to share your story. Email us at nnyliving@wdt.net. JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. Contact her at joleene@joleenespeaks. com. Visit her at www.joleenespeaks.com.

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