NNY Living Jan/Feb 2012

L I v I ng NN Y

J AN. / FEB . 2012

www.nnyliving.com

North country parents strive for balance with tech

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Homes

FOOD

CULTURE

HEALTH

An escape to Hannawa Falls

Cold-hearty winter soups

The Cosmopolitan Club cuts a rug

Keys to making a fitness plan work

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

The new modern family

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JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

>>> Inside JAN/FEB ’12

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| COVER |

| THIS IS NNY |

| FOOD |

| destinations |

| ARTS & CULTURE |

26 A FULL DANCE CARD Celebrating 50 years, the Cosmo Club began as an elite ballroom dance club.

40 A FEAST OF FLAVOR For the 1844 House’s Brian and Jenny Walker, simple recipes and fresh ingredients do it best.

16 ASK A HEALTH PRO Should I be worried about joint health? We have some answers for you in health.

| FEATURE |

| MY NNY |

| WELLNESS |

| HISTORY |

| WOMEN |

30 MODERN FAMILY 2.0 North country families search for balance between the tech realm and reality.

| HEALTH |

17 GUILT-FREE HOLIDAYS ‘Top 10’ ways to get New Year’s resolutions on track.

34 PRESERVING HISTORY Two opera houses see renewed interest in the arts.

36 CRASH LANDING How a hot air balloon ended up in Public Square.

38 SOUL SAVER Ward off the winter blues with a warm soup made from homemade stock.

44 YOUR BEST SHOT A Carthage photographer captures winter’s first frost.

46 VISUALIZING SUCCESS Learning how to picture a positive result for the future.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

20 A CITY DISCOVERED 36 hours of outdoor fun and history in the Canadian capital.

24 VIBRANT SKIES Our photo team captured the spectacular north country sky in all of its colorful beauty.

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C o n tr i b u t o r s Norah Machia is a veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter who lives in Watertown. She writes about how historic opera houses in Clayton and Edwards are using new technology to attract patrons to topquality performances close to home. (p. 34)

Joleene DesRosiers is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. In Arts & Culture, she writes about how Watertown’s Cosmopolitan Club is still going strong at 50. In Women’s Wise, she writes about the power of visualization. (pgs. 26, 46)

Kyle R. Hayes is a Johnson Newspapers staffer and magazine editorial assistant.

In our cover story, he writes about how north country families deal with the demands of the digital world. In 36 Hours he visits Ottawa for a Canadian capital excursion. (pgs. 30, 20)

Lenka P. Walldroff is 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. In History, she tells the little-known story about a hot air balloon crash. (p. 36)

Katie Stokes is a freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield. In The NNY Life, she reveals some secrets of ‘Book Club’ for stay-athome moms who need an outlet for stress. (p. 18)

Varick Chittenden is founding director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and a SUNY Canton professor emeritus. In Modern Folklore he shares some stories behind the unique names of many north country places. (p. 14)

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

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Mixed Company Hair Studio One ….... 32 Mountain Brook Lodge ……................... 41 Netto Fire Equipment …......................... 23 NNY Community Foundation …............ 15 Orchestra of Northern New York ....….. 37 Painfull Acres Amish Furniture .........….. 41 Pleasant Night Inn ….............................. 44 Quik Med Urgent Care …...................... 17 River Hospital Foundation ….................. 19 State Farm Insurance …......................... 41 T.F. Wright and Sons ….............................. 6 The Diane Rehm Show …........................ 41 Thousand Island Arts Center …............. 10 Truesdell’s Furniture ….............................. 7 Watertown Savings Bank …................... 29 WPBS-TV ….............................................. 37 WWTI-50 …................................................. 2 Yesteryears Vintage Doors …................ 48

IN OU R N E X T ISSU E n our March/April issue, we examine the state of the arts in Northern New York in an era of lean budgets and lagging economic recovery.

Also coming in the March/April issue:

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

MARKETPLACE Ameriprise …........................................... 23 A New Attitude …................................... 13 Arsenal Wine and Liquor …................... 39 Brigadoon Restaurant …........................ 22 Budget Blinds …...................................... 23 Cartier Place Suite Hotel …................... 22 Center For Sight ….................................... 5 Clarence Henry Coach …..................... 11 Clayton Opera House …........................ 37 Community Performance Series …....... 45 Essenlohr Motors …................................. 23 Farah Dermatology …............................ 19 For Pete’s Sake Entertainment …............ 8 Gerald A. Nortz Inc. …........................… 12 Lee Buick GMC ….................................... 6 Lisa A. Sawdey .................................….. 23 Macars …................................................ 33 Mary Kay Cosmetics ….......................... 19

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II

what this Midwest metropolis has to offer. n EASTER BANQUET: Food writer and Chef Boo Wells offers tips on preparing a perfect Easter dinner spread.

n GASTRIC BYPASS: A surprising number of north country people are electing to have weight-loss surgery and doctors say it’s no longer a last resort.

n PLUS: Chef’s Table with Italian-American Club Executive Chef Geoff Puccia, Social Scene, Modern Folklore, Ask a Health Pro, Wellness, The NNY Life, History, This is NNY, Homes, My NNY and Women’s Wise.

n DESTINATION WINDY CITY: We travel to Chicago on an American Eagle flight from Watertown International Airport to see just

n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for updates at @NNYLivingMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NNYLiving.

Editorial Assistant Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Director Karen Romeo

Advertising Specialists

Clarissa Collins, Katie Nelson, Connie Campany

Circulation Director Cindy Werner

Photography

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

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Julia Keegan, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules NNY Living, (ISSN 2165-1159) is published six times a year by Johnson Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Copyright 2011, Johnson Newspaper Corp.

All material submitted to NNY Living becomes property of Johnson Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates Six issues are $10 a year for Watertown Daily Times and affiliate newspaper subscribers and $15 a year for non-subscribers.

Call 315-782-1000 for delivery.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson County, email ccollins@wdt.net In Lewis County, email ccampany@wdt.net In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. Please recycle this magazine.

| HOMES |

| ON THE COVER |

42 A FAMILY CLASSIC Interior designer Peggy DeYoung and architect Diana Grater take us inside a family fishing camp in Hannawa Falls.

| COLUMNS |

6 EDITOR’S NOTE 14 MODERN FOLKLORE

18 THE NNY LIFE 46 WOMEN’S WISE

| DEPARTMENTS |

UPFRONT BEST BETS Calendar BOOKS & AUTHORS 11 SOCIAL SCENE 16 ASK A HEALTH PRO 17 WELLNESS 7 8 9 10

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36 HOURS IN ...

THIS IS NNY ARTS & CULTURE HISTORY FOOD CHEF’S TABLE MY NNY

Photographer Amanda Morrison captured the excitement on 7-year-old Trevor J. Kellar’s face as he surfed the Web on an iPad while under the covers of his bed. Many north country parents say technology has given rise to new challenges for children who years ago were more physically active less dependant on digital gadgets.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

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EDITOR’S NOTE As an uncle to 11 nieces and nephews who range in age from 9 to 22, I am continuously impressed — and sometimes frightened — by their seamless grasp of modern technology. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve returned home from a visit to my sister’s house in Canton only to find three or four new “apps” downloaded to my Android Ken Eysaman phone, most of them games with high scores that I would never dream of hitting.

Once, my 9-year-old niece, no doubt with some help from her older brother and sisters, converted the default language of my old cellphone to French.

Since I studied Spanish for several years, it might well have been Greek that scrolled across my screen as I glanced at my phone while stopped at a traffic light a few miles from her house. Then there is my 9-year-old nephew in Georgia who, in a single weekend, conquered all levels of Angry Birds with such grit and determination that I thought he was unlocking the mysteries of the universe, his head buried in the four-inch screen of my Android.

I often find myself scratching my head wondering when I got so old that I can no longer keep pace with grade-school children who can crack a game on a cellphone faster than anyone in my generation figured out the Rubik’s Cube. Years ago, I would poke fun at my own father’s lack of fluency with technology, chiding him for his VCR that flashed 12:01 a.m. for more than a year after every power outage. Indeed, technology was to him what kryptonite is to Superman. (He could do some mind-blowing things with duct tape though.)

As technology advances at a pace that baffles most adults, children more quickly than ever discard last month’s gadgets in favor of the faster, newer, shinier thing that comes along. Sometimes I find myself waxing nostalgic for the days when I physically was my father’s television remote control and call waiting meant you

had to wait for the cute girl in your class to call you at home.

For all our modern technology with its many positive applications, being a child is certainly a whole lot more complicated today than reading a street map or calling your best friend back 13 times before you break through the busy signal because his mother was tying up the phone line.

The pressures on children to be, well, children, are exponentially greater today than the days when premium cable meant 13 channels. Not that I am an advocate for a return to a low-tech society. But, thanks to the Internet and other advances, children now worry more about what their friends are doing on Facebook, MySpace, and countless other social networking sites while they text one another nonstop on handheld devices that are still primarily meant for talking.

In this month’s cover story, which begins on page 30, staffer Kyle R. Hayes explores how some north country families manage technology without letting it rule the roost. The challenges are many, and what Kyle reports just might surprise you as much as it did me to learn how hard it is to switch your cellphone from French to English.

 Since the first issue of NNY Living premiered in November, a fair number of readers have opted to subscribe. For those readers who also subscribe to our monthly business magazine, we are now offering NNY Living as a value-added subscription for only $8 a year. Otherwise, subscriptions for six issues a year start at $10 for those who subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times or an affiliate newspaper and $15 a year for non-subscribers.

As always, if you have any comments or news to share, drop me an email at keysaman@wdt.net or call me at 661-2399.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm regards,

[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ] Watch hockey, win a Jeep

On Saturday, Feb. 18, a limited number of hockey fans that attend the Clarkson University vs. Colgate men’s hockey game at Cheel Arena will have the chance to win a Jeep Wrangler during the second intermission.

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, Clarkson University and Blevins Motors have teamed up to provide the chance for up to three individuals to shoot a puck on the ice at Cheel Arena to win a Wrangler. The chamber is selling tickets to the 7 p.m. game and three contestants will be chosen from those ticket holders to partake in the contest. The chamber will also be giving away Potsdam gift certificates to randomly selected ticketholders. To purchase tickets, visit the Potsdam Chamber office at 24 Market St. or call 274-9000.

Pitch Slapped locally

The North Country Arts Council is carrying CDs from the Berklee College of Music, Boston, a capella group “Pitch Slapped” at their location on Public Square. The group features Tracy L.J. Robertson, son of former Arts Council President Kari S. Robertson and her husband, Tracy L., Rutland.

Formed in 2006, “Pitch Slapped” has performed throughout the country and perform songs ranging from pop and rock to R&B. Their music is also available on iTunes. CDs are $10.

For more information about the group and their upcoming event dates visit www.pitchslappedacappella.com.

Chili Bowl Luncheon slated

Winter in the north country lends itself well to many chili cook-off events, but the View Arts Center in Old Forge is setting itself apart by offering a unique souvenir to its patrons.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the View will host its sixth annual Chili Bowl Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Homemade meat and

UPFRONT

vegetarian chili, stews and soups will be served in handmade bowls provided by the arts center’s Pottery Open Studio with clay provided by Clayscapes Pottery. Once you eat your fill of food, you may take home the bowl of your choice. The cost for the luncheon is $16 to $20 in a bowl or $8 without the handmade bowl.

The View is located at 3273 State Route 28 in Old Forge. For more information, visit www.viewarts.org.

Fred’s birthday celebration continues

For those who couldn’t make it to the Dec. 10 gala celebration of the 150th birthday of Frederic Remington, don’t worry, the celebration is continuing.

The “Fred’s 150th Birthday” exhibit in the Addie Priest Newell Gallery at the museum will continue until Sept. 9.

The museum is located at 303 Washington St. in Ogdensburg.

Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and students ages 16 and older, and free for residents of Ogdensburg and children ages 15 and younger. Museum facilities are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.frederickremington.org.

Carving critters and knitting mittens

Traditional Arts in Upstate New York is sponsoring a contest and exhibit that showcases two popular north country winter pastimes: Knitting and wood carving.

North country residents are invited to submit their best pair of knit mittens or carving of an animal native to the north country for judging. Entries must be delivered to the TAUNY Center, 53 Main St., Canton, by noon Saturday, Feb. 4, with a $5 entry fee.

All entries will be displayed at the TAUNY center from Saturday, Feb. 11, through Saturday, March 17.

For contest guidelines, visit www.tauny.org or call the TAUNY center at 386-4289.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK For regular updates about upcoming features, north country arts organizations and news, visit us at Facebook.com/NNYLiv ing or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/NNYLivingMag.

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BEST BETS Alexandria Bay

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ] ter, Main Street. Featuring Globetrotter rookies, Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest professional basketball player, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox of Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa. Cost: $17. Tickets: www.tickets.com.

Wednesday, Feb. 1 to Sunday, Feb. 5 n 32nd Empire State Winter Games, events

Saturday, Feb. 4 n 1000 Islands Privateers vs. Akwesasne War-

riors, Bonnie Castle Recreation Arena, Holland Street. Tickets: $10; adults with military identification, $9; students ages 13 to 17, $7; children ages 5 to 12, $5; children younger than 4, free.

Tickets available at the door or by calling Privateers box office, 382-5656.

begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday and conclude at 3 p.m. Sunday, throughout Lake Placid. Torch run, sponsored by Stewart’s Shops, arrives at the Olympic Center at 6 p.m. Thursday followed by opening ceremonies in 80 Rink, Olympic Center, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Information: www.empirestatewintergames.com.

Saranac Lake

Saturday, Feb. 25 n 22nd Annual River Hospital Polar Bear Dip,

registration, 10 a.m. to noon, dipping starts at 1 p.m., Riveredge Resort, 17 Holland St. Benefits River Hospital Foundation. Registration fee: $100.

All monies must be turned in at registration, checks must be made payable to “Friends of River Hospital.” Prizes for most money raised by individual and team, best dip technique and best costume.

For information or to obtain a pledge form, contact 482-4976 or visit www.riverhospitalfoundation.org.

Lake Placid

ForPetesSakeEntertainment @gmail.com

Thursday, Feb. 2, to Sunday, Feb. 12 n 114th Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, daily

events throughout Saranac Lake. Lighting of the ice palace and the Guide Boat Realty fireworks display at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, state boat launch. This year’s theme is “space alien invasion.” Carnival buttons with illustration of Sir Zonker by “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau, $2. Information: www. saranaclakewintercarnival.com.

Watertown

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Saturday, Feb. 4

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n 13th Annual North Country Chili Cook-Off,

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street. Cost: $50 per team. Prizes for people’s choice, best decorated booth and more.

Benefits the Volunteer Transportation Center. Contact: 788-0422.

Sunday, March 4

Pete Souch IV Owner

n Trinity Concert Series, 3 p.m., Trinity Episcopal

Tuesday, Feb. 21 n Harlem Globetrotters, 7 p.m., Olympic Cen-

Church, 227 Sherman St. Featuring Singing Boys of Pennsylvania, boys ages 10 to 14 performing repertoire from chant to contemporary from sacred music to international folk tunes. Tickets: $10 to $16; tickets in advance, $2 less; $2 discount for military and senior citizens; students, free. Tickets, information: www.trinityconcerts.org or 788-6290.

[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ] Alexandria Bay Friday, Feb. 24 & Saturday, Feb. 25 n 1000 Islands Privateers vs. Delaware Feder-

als, 7:05 p.m. both nights, Bonnie Castle Recreation Arena, Holland Street. Tickets: $10; adults with military identification, $9; students ages 13 to 17, $7; children ages 5 to 12, $5; children younger than 4, free. Tickets available at the door or by calling Privateers box office, 382-5656.

Carthage Saturday, Feb. 11 n Winterfest 2012, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Carthage Park. Winter activities for families and children.

Sponsored by Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce. Free. Information: 493-3590.

Lowville Saturday, Jan. 28 n Sixth Annual Lewis County Bridal Fair, 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m., Lowville Elks Club, Shady Avenue.

Sponsored by All Things Beautiful Photography and R&H Creations. Vendors include caterers, cakes, photographers, decorators, florists, music services, local venues and personal grooming.

Information: 346-6915.

Saturday, Feb. 11 n Martha and Dennis Gallagher Concert, 7:30

p.m., Lewis County Historical Society, 7552 S. State St. Part of the Black River Valley Concert Series and sponsored by and supporting the Lewis County Historical Society. Mrs. Gallagher, also known as the “Adirondack Harper,” will perform on harp with her husband on guitar. Tickets: Advance, $18; at the door, $20. Advance tickets may be purchased at the historical society, Café Z, 7594 S. State St., Lowville, and Dr. Guitar, 154 Court St., Watertown. Information: 376-8957.

Saturday, Feb. 25 n Mark Black Trio Concert, 7:30 p.m., Lewis

Massena Saturday, Jan. 28 TO Sunday, Feb. 5 n Massena Winter Carnival, variety of activities

daily throughout Massena. Sponsored by Massena Chamber of Commerce. Parade and fireworks on Friday, Feb. 3, at Bushnell Field. Dog sled races, children’s activities, 5K walk/run, chicken barbecue and horse rides on Saturday,

Ogdensburg Sunday, Feb. 12 n “Celtic Fire,” doors open, 7:15 p.m., curtain time, 7:45 p.m., Ogdensburg Free Academy Auditorium, 1100 State St. Cost: $15 to $35, discounts for senior citizens and students ages 22 and younger. Tickets: www.ilovetheatre.org, 393-2625 or ocp@ogdensburgk12.org.

Saturday, Feb. 18 n Polar Bear Plunge, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dobisky Visitors Center. Sponsored by the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce. Jumpers begin at 1 p.m. at the City Marina. Children younger than 18 must have written consent of a parent or guardian. Person with the most pledges wins 10 percent of the purse.

Pledge forms available at the chamber office, 1 Bridge Plaza, or call and have one emailed to you. Cost: $35 in pledges per person. Contact: 393-3620 or chamber@gisco.net.

Potsdam Saturday, Jan. 21 & Sunday, Jan. 29 n “The Enchanted Island,” 1 p.m., Roxy Theater,

20 Main St. The Met Live in HD. Music by Handel, Vivaldi and Rameau. Tickets: $18; senior citizens, $15; students, $12; children ages 18 and younger, $9. Box office: 267-2277.

Saturday, Jan. 28 n “Gourmet Guys and a Gal!,” cocktails, 5 p.m.,

dinner, 5:30 p.m., Thatcher Dining Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Sponsored by Community Performance Series. Music by local jazz artists “A Fine Line.”

Cost: $75 per person. Reservations: 267-2277.

For dinner selections, www.cpspotsdam.org.

Thursday, Feb. 2 n “Present Beauty” by ETHEL, 7:30 p.m., SUNY

Potsdam. Community Performance Series Guest Artist Series. Cost: $6 to $50. Tickets: 267-2277 or www.cpspotsdam.org.

Saturday, Feb. 4 n Northern Symphonic Winds concert, 7:30 p.m.,

Snell Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Free. Contact: Brian Doyle, 267-2428.

Sunday, Feb. 12 n Baroque Orchestra Bach Concert, 3 p.m., St. Mary’s Church. Sponsored by the Baroque Orchestra of the Orchestra of Northern New York. Featuring Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Orchestral Suit No. 1 and Concerto in E Major for Violin and solo-

ists John Lindsey on violin and Kenneth Andrews and Jill Rubio on flute. Tickets: CPS Box Office at SUNY Potsdam, 267-2277, or online at www.onny.org.

Cost: $18; senior citizens, $16; students, $10; children ages 12 and younger, free. Information: Tiffany Conn-Soricelli, 267-3251.

Syracuse Wednesdays to Sundays, Feb. 1 TO Feb. 26 n “Caroline, or Change,” shows at various times, in-

cluding matinees, Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St. A story set in 1963 during the civil rights movement tells the story of Noah Gellman who struggles with the loss of his mother and the arrival of a stepmother. He maintains one constant in his life: A set of rituals he shares with Caroline, his family’s AfricanAmerican maid. Cost: $28 to $48. Box office, show times: 443-3275 or www.syracusestage.org.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 TO Sunday, Feb. 26 n “Les Miserables,” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday,

8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Mulroy Civic Center Theater.

Cameron Mackintosh presents a new 25th anniversary production of the legendary music with new staging and reimagined scenery. Cost: $35 to $80. Information: www.oncenter.org/event/lesmiserables. Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.

Watertown Saturday, Jan. 28 n Trinity Concert Series, 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Featuring Sebastian Baverstam, cello, and Constantine Finehouse, piano. Tickets: $10 to $16; tickets in advance, $2 less; $2 discount for military and senior citizens; students, free. Tickets, information: www.trinityconcerts.org or 788-6290.

Thursday, Feb. 2 n 60th Annual Israel A. Shapiro Dinner and

Award Presentation, cocktails, 6 p.m., dinner and program, 7 p.m., Ramada Inn. Cost: $45 per person. Reservations required by Wednesday, Jan. 23. Tickets must be paid for in advance. Register: www.watertownny.com.

Saturday, Feb. 11 n Baroque Orchestra Bach Concert, 7:30 p.m.,

Trinity Episcopal Church. Sponsored by the Orchestra of Northern New York. Featuring Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Orchestral Suit No. 1 and Concerto in E Major for Violin and soloists John Lindsey on violin and Kenneth Andrews and Jill Rubio on flute. Tickets: 267-2277 or www.onny.org. Cost: $18; senior citizens, $16; students, $10; children ages 12 and younger, free. Information: Tiffany Conn-Soricelli, 267-3251.

TELL US ABOUT IT! Do you have an event you’d like to include in NNY Living? Email your event information nnyliving@wdt.net.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

County Historical Society, 7552 S. State St. Part of the Black River Valley Concert Series and sponsored by and supporting the Lewis County Historical Society. Tickets: Advance, $18; at the door, $20. Advance tickets may be purchased at the historical society, Café Z, 7594 S. State St., Lowville, and Dr. Guitar, 154 Court St., Watertown. Information: 376-8957.

Feb. 4. For most up-to-date event listings, check www.massenachamber.com.

CALENDAR

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BOOKS

[ MOST READ, LOCAL AUTHORS ]

Top eBooks at Flower

The current top 5 eBook titles by checkout at Watertown’s Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library are: 1. “Port Mortuary” by Patricia Corwell 2. “Cure” by Robin Cook 3. “Maine” by J. Courtney Sullivan 4. “The Enemy’s Son” by Kristen Bailey 5. “Dangerous Depths” by G.K. Kruszka

Top titles by checkout

1. “Tick Tock” by James Patterson 2. “Once Upon A Time There Was You”

by Elizabeth Berg 3. “Toys” by James Patterson 4. “Turn in the Road” by Debbie Macomber 5. “Goodbye Quilt” by Susan Wiggs

Books of local interest

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Laura Gleason, a former WWNY-TV health reporter, has written a novel titled “Stay Tuned,” a fictional story about the behind-the-scenes drama in a television newsroom.

In December, Ms. Gleason, who writes under the pen name Lauren Clark, offered the eBook version of her novel for free for Gleason one day and 16,000 copies of the book were downloaded.

For information on the author or to purchase the book, visit www.laurenclark books.org.

History Press has released “Adirondack Roots: Stories of Hiking, History and Women” by Sandra Weber, who lives in the Adirondacks and Lansdale, Pa. “Adirondack Roots” contains stories

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exploring women’s feats, the fight to save forests and the naming of mountain peaks. She also explores nature’s secrets and Adirondack legends.

“Adirondack Roots” sells for $19.99 is available online at www.history press.net Matthew J. Glavin, Cranberry Lake, has self-published, through Xlibris Publishing, the eBook “Adirondack Treasure: The Bonaparte Legacy.”

Mr. Glavin takes the true story of Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Spain and older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, and develops a legend that has been rumored in the Adirondack Mountains for more than 180 years. The book involves a person who has a 200-year-old Bible handed down from his famous ancestor, Joseph Bonaparte. Inside the Bible is a cipher that family legend says

leads to treasure stolen from the Spanish Royal Treasury when King Joseph fled Spain. A treasure hunt, with murder and romance, ensues. The book is available for $9.99 at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble. com/Nook and other eBook outlets.

Potsdam resident Carroll W. Boswell has self-published, through AuthorHouse, “Caleb’s Eye: A Spy’s Journey Through Genesis.” Mr. Boswell, a theologian, takes an insightful look into the Bible’s first book. The book, which is written in the form of a journal, is available for $17 in hard copy and $9.99 as an eBook at author house.com.

Martin Podskoch, East Hampton, Conn., has self-published “Adirondack Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: History, Memories & Legacy of the CCC.” The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public works program that operated from 1933 to 1942 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. It targeted young men and veterans in relief families who had difficulty finding jobs during the Great Depression.

The book sells for $20 and is available at www.cccstories.com, or by calling Mr. Podskoch at 1 (860) 267-2442.

Syracuse University Press has released “Monumental New York: A Guide to 30 Iconic Memorials in Upstate New York”

by Chuck D’Imperio.

The author details not only the particulars of each historical site but their special characteristics and untold stories.

North country sites profiled are the Trudeau memorial in Saranac Lake and the John Brown statue in Lake Placid.

Mr. D’Imperio is an award-winning broadcaster at radio station WDOS in Oneonta.

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[ New York State Zoo at Thompson Park Zoo To Do ] Black River Valley Club, Watertown

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Top, from left, Denise Miller, Otis Technology, Lyons Falls, and husband, Glenn, Foothills Photo. Above, from left, Tom Scott and Cara Peebles, both of Otis Technology, Lyons Falls. The Black River Valley Club hosted the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park’s Zoo to Do fundraiser Nov. 30 to benefit the zoo’s educational outreach programs. The event raised $31,855.

SOCIAL SCENE

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Top, from left, Kate Fowlow and Kurt Hunt, New York State Zoo at Thompson Park.

Above, from left, Allison W. Bowman and Jeremiah S. Osborn. The Nov. 30 zoo fundraiser marked a return to the Black River Valley Club for the first time since 2005.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

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SOCIAL SCENE

[ Frederic Remington 150th Birthday Bash & Annual Gala ] Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Top, from left, Ed LaVarnway, executive director, Frederic Remington Art Museum, and wife, Karan Cross. Above, from left, Sarah M. Montana, Julie M. Jerdo, Julianne W. Backus and Mary Ellen Adams, all of Ogdensburg. The Frederic Remington Art Museum held its 28th Holiday Gala, “Happy 150th Birthday, Fred!” on Dec. 10 to support museum programs.

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KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Top, from left, Cristy A. Bell, Lisbon, and Andrea L. Smith, Ogdensburg. Above, from left, Kim A. Snyder and husband, George H., Ogdensburg.

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[ Frederic Remington 150th Birthday Bash & Annual Gala ] Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

SOCIAL SCENE

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Top, from left, Joniece M. Harradine and husband, Andrew A., of Ogdensburg.

Above, from left, Dr. Sonya L. Wu, Brockville, Ont., Dr. Patricia P. Mahoney, Ogdensburg, Marita Lewis, Morristown, and Lynn A. Jock, Morristown.

Top, from left, Joan K. Caruso and Sarika Shah-Sekhon, both of Ogdensburg.

Above, from left, Diane M. Stromgren and husband, Daniel R., Canton, and Laura A. Foster, curator, Frederic Remington Art Museum.

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MODERN FOLKLORE

What’s in a (street) name?

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY VARICK CHITTENDEN

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For Christmas a few years ago, an old friend couldn’t resist giving me a copy of a book called “Passing Gas ...

And Other Towns Along the American Highway!” Gas, it turns out, is a town in the heartland of Kansas. The rest of the book offers profiles of other notable place names, like Left Hand, W. Va., Embarrass, Ill., and Rough and Ready, Pa. I have read that, in the vastness of America, there are several million names for places — cities, towns, counties, rivers, mountains, roads and more — that are official. But there are estimates of millions more that are known only to locals and many of them are already lost to time.

Onomastics is the name given to the study of proper names of all kinds; toponymy is the study of place names. Mapmakers and historians utilize such study to be more definitive in their research. Folklorists are most interested in the local origins of such names, for meaningful, and often amusing, stories abound.

When traveling, I’ve often been curious about the colorful names I’ve run into along the way. But I’m convinced that, like so many other things folkloric, we can usually find some really good examples right around us. I’ve discovered that St. Lawrence County is a great source. As the largest county in area in New York and fifth largest east of the Mississippi, there has been plenty of land to settle and names to put upon it. For much of this piece, I’m indebted to a couple of old friends, Mary Smallman and Kelsie Harder, whose diligent scrutiny of local maps, records and local talk produced “Claims to Name: Toponyms of St. Lawrence County,” a serious and thorough study published in 1992 by North Country Books.

Right here, there is evidence of all the major categories for naming places: for founders and settlers like Flackville,

Ogdensburg, Hopkinton; for historical and otherwise important persons, like Rooseveltown for Teddy Roosevelt, Fort Jackson for Andrew Jackson, Remington Circle for native son, artist Frederic Remington; and names from faith, St. Regis from the French priests who established an early mission for Mohawks and St. Lawrence from the explorer Jacques Cartier, who is said to have named the river on his favorite saint’s day, Aug. 10.

There also are numerous Old and New Testament names, including Jerusalem Corners, Jordan River, Galilee, Mount Pisgah, even Sodom. That one I’d really like to know more about.

There are descriptions of physical geography, like Dismal Swamp, Haystack Rock, Lazy River, and Ironsides Island; nods to our richly diverse geology, Iron Mountain Road, Copper Falls, Lead Mine Road, and Pyrites (pronounced: PY ri tees), probably a sardonic reference to “fools gold”; and lots of references to flora and fauna. There are scores of ponds, lakes and streams called Trout, Bear, Deer, Buck or Beaver. There’s Grasshopper Hill, Cranberry Lake, Gooseberry Mountain, Balsam Brook and Potato Street.

And of course Native American names, so ubiquitous in New York State, are here, too: Oswegatchie, Wanakena, Wyanoke Island and Chippewa Bay are a few.

Podunk seems to have originated as “Amerindian,” and I’m happy to report we have one.

Perhaps most fun to the curious, however, are those places that locals have given colorful names, with interesting stories attached. Relying on old accounts and some local memory, Smallman and Harder gave us a sample of a few: Bingo Road: Many people attempted to farm here but all failed, so “Bingo!” they were gone.

Hardscrabble and Pinchgut roads

century, each town had a “pest house” where locals went when they had communicable diseases or were quarantined.

Whiskey Brook: In the old days, when Parishville had a distillery, patrons used to stop to add a little volume to the fiery liquid by diluting it a bit with some clear sparkling water from this little stream, and one day a man dropped his jug and broke it. Another man came along, saw the broken jug, and called the stream Whiskey Brook.

In the last few decades, official designations for American places have changed considerably. ZIP codes make our mail more efficient; 911 emergency numbers

make our lives safer and more secure.

But Robert Louis Stevenson once said of American names: “There are few poems with a nobler music for the ear, a songful, tuneful land.” Podunk is now 13652.

And just around the corner from me in Canton, what was once Gypsy Lane was for a while Tupper Road. Now it is State Highway 310. What’s in a name?

Varick Chittenden is a folklorist, the founding director of 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.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

share the same connotations of a struggle for survival.

California Road: A family on the road announced they were going to California for a better life but they never left, so mild derision by the locals followed for years.

Caravan Road and Gypsy Lane: Where itinerant gypsies were allowed to camp.

Crackerbox Road: A house shaped like an old time crackerbox at the end of the road.

Cream of the Valley Road: Site of a one-time cheese factory.

Flatiron Street: A family disturbance in which a wife threw a flatiron at a husband.

Eel Weir: A natural dam in Black Lake outlet where eels are caught.

Horseheaven: An area in the sandbanks along the Grasse River near Canton where horses were once buried because it was easy to dig graves there, more recently the site of the village dump.

Hen Island and Pig Island: Small islands in Trout Lake where local character Pliny Gardner kept his chickens and pigs to supply food for his Old Trout Lake Hotel.

Pulpit Rock: A 70 foot high natural rock formation used as a pulpit by early settlers who held services at the rock.

Sunday Rock: A 43 ton glacial boulder used to mark the limit of formal civilization beyond [south of] which lay the region where only logging crews and hunters ventured. Beyond this point, it was said that law and Sunday did not exist.

Sally’s Rock: Small rocky island in Big Tupper Lake said to be setting for the first wedding of Sally Cole, daughter of Tupper’s first settler, and Zibe Westcott had decided to set up housekeeping together. There was no clergyman then [1850] within many miles, so when a timber cruiser who was also a justice of the peace from St. Lawrence County happened by, they seized the opportunity. The wedding party rowed out to the island–nearest point in St. Lawrence County–to tie the knot within the justice’s jurisdiction.

Mount Alone: The romantic story is that a mean man married a woman and left her about two weeks later; thereafter, she lived on the mountain alone.

Slab City: A crossroads hamlet where a large sawmill once operated, producing numerous huge piles of slab wood, the outer layers of wood left after lumber was milled. Usually the bark was left on and then cut into short pieces for woodstoves and fireplaces.

Pest House Road: In the nineteenth

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HEALTH

Is it a cold, or something worse?

From managing stress to clarifying gluten-free eating, ask a local health professional I’m a healthy 32-year old who only goes to the doctor as a last resort when I’m sick. At what age should I consider getting an annual checkup or physical?

The benefits of annual physicals have recently been debated; however, seeing a health care provider annually provides an opportunity to discuss age-appropriate preventive medical services, to develop a comfortable rapport and to address nonurgent questions about your health. If you have any new health concerns arise, you will have an established relationship with your provider to be sure it is effectively addressed.

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

I’ve had a cough and some sinus pressure for a week or two now, but I thought it was just a cold. How do I know when it’s time to see a doctor?

Most colds are caused by viral infections.

They usually last for a week to 10 days and respond to care focused to relieve the symptoms. They can include a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, post-nasal drip and malaise. Symptoms that prompt need for immediate medical care including severe headaches, prominent neck stiffness, high fevers or severe abdominal pain. Bacterial infections can present with fever and more severe symptoms. If initial symptoms aren’t improving, see a doctor.

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What are the benefits of getting more vitamin D in my diet? Vitamins play an important role in vital functions in our bodies. The essential vitamins and minerals have been assigned an RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance is set by the National Institutes of Medicine) to be sure we avoid symptoms of deficiency. Severe deficiency of vitamin D can cause softening of the bones of children and adults.

These are printed on the labels of most supplements. Recently there have been some changes in the blood tests levels that are considered to be consistent with

I am concerned about joint health as I age, is glucosamine and chondroitin my best bet to protect my joints in the future? Joint health is best maintained by overall body health with appropriate diet and exercise. There is no evidence that specific supplements maintain joint health. As women age, there are suggested intake of vitamins and minerals for optimal bone health, for example calcium and vitamin D. Individuals with healthy diet and low impact exercise stand the best chance of having healthy joints.

BY DR. JASON WHITE, M.D. optimal health. If you are concerned about a potential need for additional vitamin D speak to your health care provider further about your situation.

Every winter I see advertisements for medication to treat seasonal depression, what’s the difference between the normal winter blues and actual depression? The difference is the severity of symptoms and length of time affected.

Symptoms of depression may include sleep difficulties, loss of interests, excessive feelings of guilt, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, appetite changes and thoughts of hurting oneself or others. If these symptoms accompany the blues and last beyond one or two weeks, medical attention is appropriate. Suicidal thoughts should never be taken as normal and always should be fully evaluated by a health care professional.

I hear a lot about gluten-free eating and celiac disease, what is the disease and how is it diagnosed? Celiac disease is a very specific condition in which our immune system attacks the small intestine and impairs our ability to absorb nutrients from our food. Although a blood test can suggest the condition, the gold standard for diagnosis is a small bowel biopsy during upper endoscopy, when a small tube with a camera on the end is passed in to the stomach. In this condition, a gluten free diet is necessary to allow absorption.

I find myself worrying about balancing work and family, what’s the best way to alleviate stress? Stress is best managed when an individual participates in a healthy lifestyle. This not only includes eating right, getting adequate sleep and exercising, but also nourishing the mind and spirit. Making time for oneself can be a difficult task. Outlets for stress can be diverse. Many activities such as meditation, Yoga, Tia Chi and prayer have all been shown to help relieve stress.

Dr. Jason F. White, M.D., is a Watertown native who returned to the north country after completing his medical education and residency.

He is a board-certified family physician with Internal Medicine of NNY. This column is provided for informational use only and not intended as medical care. See a licensed medical provider to address any health concerns.

WELLNESS

Jump-starting fitness in New Year

BY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

It’s that time of year again when we make New Year’s resolutions.

Even with the best intentions, sticking to those resolutions can be trying and sometimes very difficult. Making exercise and healthy eating a priority always tops the list for such resolutions. With that in mind, I put together a 10 point primer for getting you started with a program and actually sticking to it.

10. Start out slowly. Often individuals who embark on an exercise program start out doing too much too fast. Gradually ease into a structured, well-rounded exercise program. There should be a cardiovascular component, a weight-training

component and a stretching component in your routine. Also, remember results take time. Added weight does not appear overnight and you will not lose it overnight.

Slow and steady weight loss of one or two pounds per week is realistic.

you can be.

9. Set short-term and long-term fitness goals. Setting fitness goals helps to keep you focused and motivated. Write down your goals and share them with a friend or loved one who can help keep you on track. Short-term goals can be anywhere from a week to a month and long-term goals up to one year. Be realistic with yourself, set goals accordingly.

3. Mix up your routine. Variety is the spice of life. Do not get stuck doing the same old thing day after day. Your body will adapt. Keep your routine fresh and interesting. Try getting outside of your comfort zone and do something new and different.

8. Make exercise part of your daily routine. Even a quick 30-minute workout can do your mind and body wonders.

Exercise can improve self-esteem and lift your mood even on the worst of days.

7. Find a workout partner to keep help keep you motivated. A good friend or spouse who will be honest and supportive is the key to long-term success.

6. Try a group fitness class. It is amazing how a good instructor can motivate you to do more than you ever thought possible. Such classes as ZUMBA and Drums Come to Life can make exercise fun and not seem so much like work.

Try a class in the water; things like aqua Pilates and aqua yoga can really challenge your body in ways you never imagined.

5. Focus on yourself. Do not compare yourself to others and be the best that

4. For extra motivation, hire a certified personal trainer. A trainer can take your workout to whole new level. Often hiring a trainer can re-motivate you and bring new focus to an old routine.

2. Don’t get discouraged, good things come to those that work hard. Progress takes time and energy. Put in the appropriate time and energy to get the results you want.

1. Change how you eat. If you really want to change your body, be aware of how and what you eat in a day. Keeping an eating log, decreasing portion size and watching sodium and fat intake can really make a difference. Small changes in your diet can lead to big results with your body. Check out the USDA Food pyramid for further information at www. mypyramid.gov.

Always consult your physician before starting an exercise program, especially if you have a known disease or underlying pathology.

Michelle L. Graham, MS, is wellness director for Watertown’s Downtown YMCA. Contact her at ymca_mgraham@yahoo.com.

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THE NNY LIFE

An opportunity to use your big girl brain

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY KATIE STOKES

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Because taking our toddlers to even the cleanest and most reputable of bars to unwind after a long month of SAHM’ing (that’s the acronym for “Stay at Home Mom” for those of you not in the know) is socially unacceptable, my mom friends and I have invented Book Club.

Most of our husbands believe Book Club is woman-speak for a bunch of ladies sitting around, drinking wine, and talking in sentences so preposterous and nonsensical, our voices shrill as the squawks coming from a chicken coop, it shouldn’t be allowed. I am harassed every time I utter the words “Book Club.” My husband thinks it’s funny I’m trying to make yapping with my girlfriends while consuming expensive alcohol sound like something educational. I think he’s just jealous he didn’t think of it first.

My husband will never let me live this down, but he’s absolutely right. We don’t just talk about books. We talk about everything. One of the most satisfying aspects of our group is the diversity represented in our usual gathering of around a dozen women. Despite the fact that we’re all on the same career path at the moment, living near a military base like Fort Drum, most of us came from different parts of the country and represent a slew of backgrounds, religions, interests and parenting techniques. There are women in Book Club with tattoos, there are some who would never get a tattoo, and there are one or two who — even with their intimate knowledge of what age and stretch marks can do to a body — are considering getting tattoos. There are women who never speak, and there are some who talk too much. We all laugh a lot. There are runners, yoga enthusiasts, Weight Watchers members (both past and present), and a few who have had to cut out entire portions of their normal

Even the most put-together and intelligent woman who becomes a stay-athome mommy will one day find herself exhausted, confused and smelling of baby powder. diets for their nursing infant’s various food sensitivities. Some of us love non-fiction.

Others are more the romance novel type.

Somehow, it’s working.

We do, indeed, talk about the books, too. We do. I say this so adamantly because I’m the one “in charge” of the whole scheme, and as a former English and writing major, you bet I make it a point to discuss the books we have spent six weeks of our small slivers of quiet time reading. I am truly interested in the craft of writing and the art of critical reading, so I’m a stickler about the question and answer portion of our sessions. I custommake (or choose) questions targeted to the “audience” — a group of moms of young children, most of whom are still coming to terms with just how we should filter the world for our kids’ daily consumption.

Maybe that’s why we’re all so passionate about our Book Club. These books and our discussions (as well as our get-togethers) are a bridge back to the “real world.”

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,” who have helped her carve out a unique niche in the north country. Read more about why she lives in Northern New York despite her Okie roots by clicking on the “Welcome” tab on her blog at NNYLife.com.

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We SAHMs spend our days trying to maintain a majority of the balance of power over the tiny tyrants who have made our brains function at only about 40 to 70 percent of their optimum levels.

No one is exactly sure why we all developed temporary brain damage soon after the births of our first children, and we’re all flummoxed as to why that damage has multiplied by at least 20 with subsequent additions to our broods; dear Lord, shouldn’t it only multiply by two?

But, in a mommy’s world, logic really only enters the picture as the inspiration for “Alice in Wonderland”: white rabbits, Cheshire cats and mad hatters that look like Johnny Depp.

Oh, ye young, happily childless women, or plain old male readers, please don’t judge. I assert that even the most puttogether and intelligent woman who becomes a stay-at-home mommy will one day find herself exhausted, confused, smelling of baby powder, sweat and Vicks, surrounded by mountains of tangled, stale laundry, trying to remember if there’s a frozen pizza in the house because dinner is in five minutes. And, speaking from experience, the women who most adamantly assert this won’t happen to them are the worst off.

Anyway, we in Book Club can all whole-heartedly agree that something mind-bending happens during all that time alone with our kids when they’re little. I would bet a good third of us aren’t sure what day of the month it is unless it’s approximately three days before a major holiday. We have no idea what is going on in another state, much less halfway across the world. But with our little oasis of Book Club, or what I like to think of as a place where I get to use my Big Girl Brain in the presence of people other than my husband, we can plunge into the ordered universe of a narrative.

The moms in Book Club have all discovered that our brain cells aren’t really gone. Dormant, flabby, or slightly damaged, maybe, but still there.

The fact that, to a woman, we can switch back to our old selves for awhile to read, assess and discuss — based on what we think because of who we still are — frankly, it’s much more intoxicating than the wine.

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Clockwise from top: Ottawa War Museum, Ottawa National Gallery, Byward Market, Parliament Hill, Ottawa Convention Center and the Fairmont Chateau.

36 HOURS

[

A capital connection is calling

]

Canada’s fourth-largest city beckons cross-border fun

A

TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES | PHOTOS COURTESY OTTAWA TOURISM

A winter visit across the border to the Canadian capital of Ottawa is just the way to cure the winter blues while visiting a major metropolitan hub and diverse culture that is about two hours from most points in the north country. Ottawa hosts more than 35 major festivals a year, including the Tulip Festival, Bluesfest, International Jazz Festival and Winterlude.

Alongside the year-round activities, Ottawa is packed with nearly one million residents, making local shopping and dining as diverse as the people that call it home.

2 p.m. LIVING LIKE ROYALTY It’s impossible to miss the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel when touring the Canadian capital. Situated next to the Parliament buildings on Rideau Street, this 100-year-old hotel is centrally located for prime activities, shopping and eating. Built in 1912, the hotel is filled with grandeur, a sweeping lobby and classically appointed guest rooms. The inhouse restaurant, Wilfrid’s, has one of the best brunch menus in town, and the Zoe Lounge offers an ever-popular afternoon tea. www.fairmont.com/laurier 3 p.m. A WORK OF ART Just a short walk from the chateau is the National Gallery of Canada. A striking architectural landmark in the city, the gallery is host to hundreds of works of visual art, from sculpture to photography.

A “Made in America” exhibition runs

through April 1, featuring photographs from the gallery archives from 1900 to 1950. Also exhibiting is a unique musical experience by Canadian artist Janet Cardiff. Dubbed a “sound sculpture” the “Forty-Part Motet” is a reworking of “Spem in Alium” by 16th century English composer Thomas Tallis. Forty separatelyrecorded choir voices are played back through 40 speakers positioned around the gallery’s Rideau Chapel, a true artistic and musical feat. www.gallery.ca/en/ 6 p.m. GO FOR THE GOLD When heading back to the hotel, and next door to the National Gallery, is the Royal Canadian Mint, where commemorative coins made out of gold, silver and platinum are made alongside gold bullion coins, medals and medallions. Visitors on a guided tour can see $1 million in gold up close and hold a solid gold bar. www.mint.ca SATURDAY 10 a.m. SNOW FUN There is no better way to take in downtown Ottawa than to skate the Rideau Canal Skateway, which opened for its 42nd season this winter. The canal is equivalent in size to 90 Olympic-sized ice rinks, mak-

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

FRIDAY, 1 p.m. Got AN APP FOR THAT? Before setting out for a day in the city take advantage of the apps that have been developed solely for visiting Ottawa at www.discoverthecityofottawa.ca. Ottawa, and other Canadian cities like Toronto, have developed apps that help users learn more about the city and its attractions.

By visiting the aforementioned website and downloading the “Discover Ottawa” app, users will learn facts about the city, be able to track flight times and arrivals at the airport and send virtual postcards to friends and family. In 2010, the Canadian Museum of Civilization became the first museum in the world to develop a free

mobile app for iPod, iTouch and BlackBerry. The museum app features schedules, museum information, maps and audio tours of the Grand Hall and Canada Hall in both French and English. To download the Canadian Museum of Civilization app visit www.civilization.ca.

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ing it the Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest naturally frozen skating ring. The canal is the centerpiece for Ottawa’s Winterlude celebration. From Feb. 3 to Feb. 20, Winterlude takes over Ottawa with events like the Winterlude Triathlon, annual bed race, ice sculptures in the Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park and a snow playground, called the “Snowflake Kingdom,” at JacquesCartier Park. www.canadascapital.gc.ca/ celebrate/winterlude

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

2 p.m. CUPCAKE BREAK Take a break from skating up and down the canal and bring the kids to

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ThimbleCakes on Bank Street. In the heart of downtown, this cupcakery and coffee shop serves homemade chai lattes and hot chocolate or coffee from the locally roasted Happy Goat Coffee Company.

ThimbleCakes offers dozens of flavors of homemade cupcakes and makes everything with local and organic ingredients in a nut and egg free environment. For those with dietary requirements, they offer cupcakes free of sugar, gluten, rice, corn or soy and several vegan options. www.thimblecakes.ca 3 p.m. SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP Take an hour or two to explore the vast Rideau Centre and ByWard Market, two unique shopping experiences. Be sure to take home some fashion labels that aren’t available any closer to Northern New York, like Benetton, Zara and Club Monaco from the Rideau Center. Across the street, the ByWard market averages more than 50,000 visitors a weekend that take in more than 88 restaurants, 39 health and beauty salons and 19 boutiques. From the shopping center you can walk over a bridge to the Ottawa Convention Center, billed as “Canada’s Meeting Place.” The center has more than 1,000 panes of glass that overlook the Rideau Canal, National Arts Centre and Parliament Hill. The spherical, modern

structure, which cost $180 million to build, opened last summer. www.rideaucentre.net, www.byward-market.com 7 p.m. FOODIE FRENZY After a day filled with skating and shopping, a proper dinner, and few glasses of wine or beer, is in order. Head over to the Wellington Gastropub on Wellington Street West for a three course fine dining experience. From gnocchi parisienne for appetizer or a moulard duck breast for the main course, the gastropub has a menu and wine list, especially for the red wine drinker, for every foodie in the family. www.thewellingtongastropub.com SUNDAY, 11 a.m. WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? Opened in 2005, the Canadian War Museum is the newest national museum to call Ottawa home. Another architectural landmark, the war museum has an angled copper roof with small windows on the sides that spell out a message in Morse Code. The museum has a diverse collection of tanks, military vehicles and a jet fighter suspended from the ceiling, but also has a gallery of 330 original artworks from famous Canadian artists. Coming this summer is an extensive exhibition centered on the Four Wars of 1812. www.warmuseum.ca

36 Hours TELL US WHERE TO GO n ‘36 Hours’ is a regular feature of NNY Living. To recommend a destination you’d like to learn more about, email Editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net or tell us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NNYLiving.

Getting here Driving distance from Watertown: Approximately two-and-a-half hours. Cross the Thousand Islands Bridge where Route 81 turns into Route 137N, merge onto Route 401 East toward Ottawa/Montreal for 36 miles before merging onto Route 416 North toward Kemptville/Ottawa. Drive 46 miles before merging onto Route 417 East and take Exit 118.

Driving distance from St. Lawrence County: Approximately 2 hours, depending on location. From Massena, take the Seaway International Bridge to Route 138 North then Route 417 West, Exit 118. From Canton/Ogdensburg, take the Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge to Route 416 North, merge onto Route 417 and take Exit 118.

KYLE R. HAYES is editorial assistant for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2496 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Heavens

24

T

place Clo Adam roll i Cent Onta hopi We favo them com/

This is nny

ens above

Clockwise from top left, photos by Norm Johnston and Amanda Morrison.

Background photo by Norm Johnston.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

T

he north country’s skies produce some of the most brilliant hues and formations in the Northeast. We asked our photographers to give us their best photos of the Northern New York sky.

The result is a mix of reds, oranges, yellows, whites and blues that few places in the country can duplicate.

Clockwise from top left, sunset just north of Adams Center in Jefferson County. Thunder clouds roll in atop a hill on Wright Street Road in Adams Center near Route 177. The sun sets over Lake Ontario on Pillar Point as fishermen cast their lines hoping for an evening bite.

We’d like to see your best shot. Email us your avorite north country sky photos and we’ll post hem to our Facebook page at www.Facebook. com/NNYLiving.

25

ARTS & CULTURE

Dancing with the north country stars At 50, Cosmopolitan Club still cuts a rug

D

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

TEXT BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS | PHOTOS BY JUSTIN SORENSEN

26

Dancing might be the last thing you think about as you buzz around your home trying to balance a busy life in between dinner, work and keeping up with a New Year’s resolution.

But here’s the good news: dancing with Watertown’s Cosmopolitan Club can actually remedy stress, while nailing that resolution to get in shape.

The brilliance of the social dance club has glimmered throughout the north country for 50 years. Started in 1962, the Cosmopolitan Club was a private ballroom dance club, often held in the large ballroom of the old Woodruff Hotel that once stood on the northwest side of Public Square.

Geoffrey Burghardt, club vice president, said the only people who joined in the early days were those who were considered “elite.”

“Basically it was the who’s who of Watertown who joined,” Mr. Burghardt said.

“It was set up for Watertown residents only, so it was very exclusive. Before I became a member, I thought at one time it was strictly a social club where the elite

of the area would get all dressed up in formal attire and tuxedos and have dinner and drinks with the occasional dancing event. But I found out later it really was a dance club.”

Prominent doctors, lawyers, bankers and socialites graced the scene five times a year during club dances. As the club’s popularity grew, so did its membership.

By 1976, more than 100 couples were a part of the Cosmopolitan Club, which forced board members to cap membership, as too many participants meant there would be too little room to dance.

Today there is no cap on membership and the word “elite” is a thing of the past.

The club is open to anyone who loves to jitterbug, salsa, foxtrot or cha-cha, including those who have very little dance experience. The idea is for members to have fun, regardless of their level of dancing.

“You don’t have to be a dancer to join the club. Some members take lessons, but some do not. All are welcome. But the majority of people who get involved with the Cosmopolitan Club nowadays are people who have taken dance lessons at Jefferson

Community College,” Mr. Burghardt said.

Tracy and Dan Gyoerkoe have been members for the past two years. After moving to the area from Albany, the duo decided to take dance lessons at Jefferson Community College. That’s where they met the Burghardts.

“We were looking for ways to meet new people and get together and socialize,” Mrs. Gyoerkoe said. “We had taken dance lessons in Albany and wanted to keep going with it. So we signed up for lessons at JCC. [The Burghardts] invited us to come to a Cosmopolitan Club dance. We went as their guests and found it was great fun.”

Mr. Burghardt points out that the popularity of dancing has increased over the years, thanks to hit TV shows like “Dancing With the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Latin dances are especially popular, and Top, Mellodee Doull dances with her husband, Bill, during a Cosmopolitan Club outing at the Black River Valley Club.The couple has been dancing for about 10 years. Right, Cary Derrigo and his wife, Jackie, dance.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

27

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Above, Walt and Kris Majak dance during a Cosmopolitan Club outing at the Black River Valley Club. The couple has been dancing for about five years. Below, Maria Cesta dances with her husband, Tom, at the Black River Valley Club. The couple has been dancing for about 10 years.

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are more than welcome at a Cosmopolitan Club dinner dance. The club organizes five Saturday night dinner dances a year, starting their functions with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner is from 7 to 8 p.m.

The real fun begins shortly after 8 p.m.

“People just dance the night away, no holds barred. And it is phenomenal exercise, as well as mental. One of the things they say wards off Alzheimer’s is mental activity. And ballroom dancing requires mental cognizance,” Mr. Burghardt said.

One routine is anywhere between a dozen and two-dozen moves. So you’ve got to remember what you’re doing.”

Mental activity melts away stress while dancing the merengue melts away pounds.

The club also is a great way to network with people in the area. Mr. Burghardt said members can only benefit when they join.

There is one catch, however: You’ve got to come dressed for the occasion.

“Men are required to wear a dark suit or tuxedo, and ladies wear a long ball gown or cocktail dress. It just adds to the fun,” Mr. Burghardt said. There is no age requirement, either. This club is about enjoying your life, bottom line.”

Mrs. Gyoerkoe couldn’t agree more.

Cosmopolitan Club FOr more information n Visit www.cosmodanceclub.com for more information or contact Karen and John Hall, club presidents, 788-5636, or Cranda and Geoffrey Burghart, club vice presidents, 788-3019.

Dance lessons n Need dance lessons before joining the Cosmopolitan Club? Check out the workshops and seminars for personal enrichment at: www. sunyjefferson.edu/conted/personal.html with dance instructors Tom and Maria Cesta or Doug and Bonnie Johnston.

One of the things she likes best about the club is there is no stress when it comes to the dancing. Members dance the way they want to in a judgement-free zone.

“There is absolutely no pressure,” Mrs. Gyoerkoe said. “Some people might be worried that they have to be a great ballroom dancer and know every step.

But you don’t. You can enjoy dinner and if you know a couple of steps you can get out there and do them. And if you don’t, somebody will take you aside and show you. You can really do whatever you want on the dance floor and nobody is critical of you. The dance police don’t

exist at the Cosmopolitan Club. No one will pull you from the floor if you do something wrong.”

The Cosmopolitan Club is seeking new members. If you’re curious about how the club functions, contact the club president or vice president and attend the next dance as a guest. Membership dues are $110 a year per couple. The next time they shake things up in Watertown is Feb. 24 and March 25.

Joleene DesRosiers is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski.

Contact her at myddes@hotmail.com. Visit her at www.jddesr.webs.com.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

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‘‘

My biggest concern for children spending too much time on the Xbox or in front of the computer is the lack of interpersonal communication.

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

— Heidi L. Abbey, licensed clinical social worker, Danser and Knudsen Psychological Services

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Trevor J. Kellar, 7, logs on to his new laptop.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Cover story

Taming technology Families strive to narrow digital divide

It’s the evening of Dec. 25 and after a day of pure holiday madness Stephanie J. Kellar is home, sitting on the couch, enjoying a moment of silence.

But it’s too quiet.

“I was sitting there and I couldn’t hear what Aidan was doing,” Mrs. Kellar said.

She turned around and her son, Aidan A., 4, was seated at the dining room table, coloring with a black crayon on a plain piece of paper. No Nintendo 3DS, no Leap Frog LeapPad, no Wii remote in hand, just one crayon.

“It was a little weird,” Mrs. Kellar said. “We spent all day that day opening presents, video games, toys, and all he wanted to play with was a crayon.”

In 2012, even a 4-year-old might need a digital detox from time-to-time. However, occasions when toddlers and children take a moment to draw with pen and paper are becoming rare with advancing technology and gadgets in play by a younger demographic.

Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, conducted a nationwide survey of parents with children ages 8 and younger in May and June of 2011 and found that media use in the American household is more pervasive than ever.

The survey concluded that 52 percent of children under the age of 8 have access to a mobile media device at home, whether a smartphone, video iPod or tablet device, such as iPad. Also,

approximately 53 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 4 have used a computer. Ninety percent of 5- to 8-year-olds have used a computer, with 22 percent of them using a computer daily.

Lori A. Wells knows what chaos is like. She and her partner, Lisa A. Reed, own the fine dining restaurant, Café Mira, in Adams and have four children younger than 15 who take dance classes, play tee ball and all share two bathrooms in their Rodman home.

“Sometimes it just gets really crazy,” Ms. Wells said while sitting at the bar of her restaurant catching up on work on her laptop before a week of holiday parties, school concerts for the children and fitting dance classes and haircuts in, too.

Her enthusiastic daughter Ella, 6, runs in and out of the dining room, showing off the holiday dress she wore for a Christmas program earlier in the day. Shuffling Ella to dance class is her older sister, Madison, who calls out to Ms. Wells from the hallway with a beckoning “Yaya!,” the kids’ nickname for her.

The Wells-Reed household is not unlike hundreds of other north country homes. Northern New York parents are constantly trying to find a balance between calm and bedlam, with the added pressure of career responsibilities and a constantly packed social calendar.

Technology is something neither Ms. Wells nor her family is unfamiliar with.

“This year for Christmas the kids got tablets,

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

I

STORY BY KYLE R. HAYES | NNY LIVING

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JASON HUNTER | NNY LIVING

North Country Library System employee Matthew D. Corey recently held a technology workshop at Canton Free Library to help people with their digital devices.

not iPads or anything like that, but tablet computers,” she said. “We did get our son, Jonah, a Kindle Fire though. He likes to read and look at maps and learn new things. He excels in school.”

As the youngest children grow up, Ms. Wells said their technology use will be regulated. She keeps 14-year-old daughter Madison’s Facebook password and frequently checks her account.

“I think when the younger kids get older, we’ll do the same thing with their accounts,” she said. “When they get cell phones, we’ll restrict their use to calling people like Lisa and my phones, or the restaurant, and make sure they know when they can and can’t use them. We want them to go outside and play, they have to be kids.”

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Heidi L. Abbey holds a master’s degree

32

in social work from Syracuse University and is a member of the staff at Danser and Knudsen Psychological Services, Watertown. Specializing in psychotherapy for children, adolescents and families, Mrs. Abbey works one-on-one with children ages 4 to teenagers, and their parents, to address psychological issues that affect them.

“My biggest concern for children spending too much time on the Xbox or in front of the computer is the lack of interpersonal communication,” Mrs. Abbey said. “When they’re only talking to people through a video game or online, they don’t know how to interact with one another in person.”

There’s also the problem of developing addictions to video games, television shows and tech devices.

“You see it everywhere; the younger ones need it all the time and the teenagers go on Xbox Live and that’s where all their friends are,” Mrs. Abbey said. “That’s

when I have to recommend putting limits on things, depending on how old they are. I tell my clients, ‘When time is up, we need to turn it off.’”

According to the Common Sense Media survey, television and video games are among the most popular ways to consume media. The average age children first use video games is just under 4 years old.

Among 5- to 8-year-olds, 17 percent play console video games at least once daily. In a typical day, it was found that 47 percent of babies and toddlers under the age of 1 watch TV or DVDs for almost two hours.

In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization with more than 60,000 primary care pediatricians as members, issued a recommendation to parents and caretakers to limit the time that infants and toddlers spend in front of video screens. In the AAP statement it cites that infants ages 2 and younger get no educational benefit from television or even self-described educational programming.

Mrs. Abbey notes that the biggest struggle for parents is trying to understand how to address the use of technology and social media with their children when they themselves don’t necessarily understand it.

“I think that’s where stress comes in for parents,” she said. “They don’t always know how things like Facebook operate, so they can’t determine the best way to address a problem when they see it.”

Though there are certainly positives when it comes to new technology, Mrs. Abbey said. The use of applications, called “apps,” to teach younger children or children with developmental disabilities is a new use for devices like iPods and iPads.

“There are kids with autism that it helps them communicate in ways they couldn’t before,” she said. “They can hit the picture and you can track their progress through these programs and apps.”

Dr. Debra A. Koloms, a board certified ophthalmologist at Watertown Center for

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Sight, said that time spent in front of a screen won’t negatively affect eyesight in children or in adults.

“If you need glasses, you need glasses, but spending time in front of a computer screen isn’t going to affect that, genetics will,” she said. “What might happen, though, is eyestrain and headaches caused from prolonged time reading off a screen.”

Dr. Koloms, who has been in practice for more than 20 years, said that she doesn’t make recommendations to her patients of a specified amount of time that should be spent in front of the television or computer, she leaves that to the parents.

But what about the adage, if you sit too close to the television your eyes will fall out?

“It’s whatever the parents are comfortable with, it’s like what your mom used to say about swimming after you eat,” she said. “Sitting in front of the television for too long isn’t going to do any damage to your eyes.”

Just days after Christmas, the Canton Free Library sent out an “emergency” press release announcing a workshop for anyone who received a tablet or e-reader as a gift and needed help learning how to use it.

“We had gotten some calls over the weekend asking how to set tablets and e-readers up and how they work with our Overdrive system,” said Lyn J. Swafford, executive director of Canton Free Library. “There was no way we could sit down with all these people individually and teach patrons how to use them, so we put together a quick workshop where people could drop in whenever they wanted throughout the day and get a quick tutorial.”

Overdrive is an audio book and eBook vendor that the North Country Library System has contracted with to allow patrons to access electronic media. Mrs. Swafford said

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

While playing a Nintendo 3DS, Trevor J. Kellar, 7, sneaks a peak at the iPad his brother, Aidan A., 4, is playing with.

that in the short amount of time the library system has been using Overdrive, the usage has grown exponentially.

“The catalog of books that patrons can access has been slowly growing, but we’ve had more and more people young and old asking about it and using it,” Mrs. Swafford said.

From a librarian’s standpoint, Mrs. Swafford said that e-readers and tablets are beneficial for every reader, be it a child or adult.

“You have to go with what patrons want. You can’t ignore one segment over another,” she said. “But it’s really great to have the younger generations around and reading, and also educating the rest of us on how this technology works.”

Mrs. Swafford noted that soon ereading will be available to every patron through a grant program and donations from Friends of the Canton Free Library,

as the Canton Free Library has purchased three Barnes and Noble Nook tablets.

“We are getting these Nooks ready to use and in the future they’ll be available for people to use and even check out and take home with them,” she said. “There is a digital gap, and there are communities that are digitally underserved, we’re going to help bridge that gap through this program.”

Meanwhile, Aidan A. Kellar and his brother, Trevor J., 7, sit on the couch after the cover shoot for this story. Aidan is intently playing his Nintendo DS and Trevor logs onto his favorite Christmas gift, a blue HP laptop.

In a definite sign of the times, Trevor looks over the top of his screen and asks: “What’s the WiFi password?”

KYLE R. HAYES is editorial assistant for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2496 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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MACAR’S

33

FEATURES

A cultural renaissance AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Technology draws new patrons to historic NNY opera houses

A column on the second floor of the Clayton Opera House seating area shows ornate architectural detail.

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY NORAH MACHIA

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Historic opera houses in Northern New York restored to their original luster are drawing audiences from throughout New York State and even Canada through the use of technology.

The Clayton Opera House, Riverside Drive, and the Edwards Opera House, 161 Main St., are using the Internet to reach people closer to home, telling them they don’t have to travel far for high-quality performances.

Both opera houses have rich histories, and performances are staged by nonprofit organizations that have established good working relationships with their respective town and village officials.

The Edwards Opera House seats up to 275 people. It’s located in the town office building’s second floor, and through a long-term use agreement, the Edwards Arts Council stages a variety of shows at the opera house, said Brigitte Clark, arts council chairperson. In 2007, town and village officials combined offices in the building to make room for a second bathroom to be built to accommodate a growing number of patrons coming to the

opera house.

The historic Clayton Opera House on Riverside Drive dates back to 1903 and underwent a more than $3 million renovation in 2007 that added a new heating and air conditioning system, access for handicapped guests and new dressing rooms. The renovation helped to return the two-story performance hall and third floor ballroom to their original historic appearance, said Erin McCarthy Greene, vice president of the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund and interim director.

The Clayton Opera House, which serves as a year-round center for performances and community events, is owned by the town of Clayton and managed by the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund. The town of Clayton and TIPAF formalized their partnership in March 2007, she said. The town offices are in the ground floor level, while main hall and upper levels are used mainly by TIPAF. The nonprofit organizations that oversee performances at the historic opera houses also maintain websites that draw people from near and far to their venues.

TIPAF established its own Facebook

page as part of an effort to increase the “number of people we connect with through social media,” Ms. Greene said.

“If someone is a fan of a particular performer, they will search the Internet to follow the schedule of shows,” said Ms. Clark. “They may not know where Edwards is located, but they will find us.

It’s been fun to get people from all over the place to come to our tiny town.”

Edwards has a population of about 1,100, Ms. Clark said.

Out-of-town patrons are directed to nearby bed and breakfasts or hotels to stay, while the performers often stay at seasonal cottages along Trout River in Edwards. The cottages are offered by their owners for overnight use. Volunteers have pitched in to make great home-cooked meals for the performers as well, Ms. Clark said.

“We offer small town hospitality,” Ms. Clark said. “Thousands of people have come to Edwards over the years for the entertainment at the opera house. These people probably would not have come otherwise.”

The 450-seat Clayton Opera House has been referred to as a “leading cultural institution in the Thousand Islands region.”

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Erin McCarthy Greene, vice president of the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund and interim director of the Clayton Opera House, stands above the stage.

ficials, according to the TIPAF website.

The Clayton Opera House cornerstone was set in August 1903 and the building completed in July 1904.

The three-story brick structure was built on the corner of Water Street, now Riverside Drive, and Merrick Street, the same location as the former Johnston Shipyard where the famous steamer St. Lawrence was built, according to the opera house history. The architect was Frank T. Lent and the builder was George Kenyon.

Steam from a pumping station across the street heated and powered the structure in its early days.

The ongoing partnership with the town of Clayton has provided the “needed stability for the physical facility,” over the years, said Mr. DeYoung.

TIPAF also depends on support from patrons, business sponsors for ongoing operations and programming, along with revenue in the form of ticket sales and rental income that is generated by a variety of groups.

“Careful management from an active board of directors and dedicated staff keep the operation constantly moving forward, without overextending itself,”

Mr. DeYoung said.

Support has also been provided through the New York State Council for the Arts, said Ms. Greene.

Last year, TIPAF created an endowment fund through the Northern New York Community Foundation. The foundation has generously supported TIPAF in the renovation phase, with technology improvement projects, and with annual operating support through the Sidney T. Cox Memorial Concert, she said.

Over the past few years, TIPAF has gradually expanded its seasons to include late-winter/early spring programming with such artists as author David Sedaris last May, singer Jonathan Edwards in November, and pianist David Benoit in mid-December, Ms. Greene said. These are in addition to the performances during the busier summer seasons, which draw nationally recognized artists.

TIPAF also offers an “Arts in Education” program, an important component of its mission, she said. TIPAF works with area schools to give students of all ages an opportunity to experience dance,

Please see OPERA, page 45

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

The Clayton Opera House, a nationally registered historic place, has been credited as a source of local pride drawing thousands of visitors each year to the Thousand Island region and promoting increased local economic benefits.

“A key goal is to make the Opera House a point of pride in the 1000 Islands Region,” said Gary S. DeYoung, TIPAF’s treasurer. “The Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund offers the community access to high quality programming in a beautiful historic venue.”

Mr. DeYoung said that the impact on the arts community is obvious, but there are other benefits to bringing in business to the region.

“The audiences come from much larger geographic area than Clayton, which has a nice economic impact for other local businesses,” Mr. DeYoung, who is also executive director of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, said. “For Clayton itself, the opera house is also a community center that hosts public meetings, school events and things like “Santa Central” during the Christmas season.”

The original plans for the opera house were drawn up by town of Clayton of-

35

history

The hot air balloon Atlantic beginning to inflate for its ascent on Sept.

22, 1859. The event attracted an estimated 10,000 people to Watertown’s Public Square that day.

Jefferson county historical society

Up, up and away JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

Hot air balloon adventurers crashed in Henderson tree on way to NYC

36

There is an unusual picture in the photographic archives of the Jefferson County Historical Society. Stored in a lone folder simply marked “Public Square: Hot Air Balloon” the photograph shows a semi-inflated hot air balloon set against the backdrop of the old Baptist church.

This incongruous scene is crowded with horses, carriages and thousands of people.

The only identifying information is a date of “1859” written across the back in sprawling handwriting. This is the history of that photograph.

On July 1, 1859, John Wise and John LaMountain left St. Louis, Mo., in a hot air balloon named the Atlantic. Their objective was to set a new distance record for hot air balloon travel: St. Louis to New York City, a distance of approximately 950 miles. Two days later, on July 3, the balloonists found themselves in a large oak tree in the town of Henderson, narrowly

missing a water landing in Lake Ontario.

Jefferson County was ablaze with excitement as word spread of the crash landing, with many of its citizens traveling to Henderson to see the hot air balloon first hand. The local weekly newspaper, the Watertown Reformer, sent its young junior editor John Haddock out to cover the story. Mr. Haddock interviewed Mr. LaMountain who gave him the details of the voyage from St. Louis − a riveting story that left Mr. Haddock fascinated with the idea of ballooning.

Mr. Wise left immediately for New York City and Mr. LaMountain was left behind to rescue the hot air balloon from the oak tree and transport it to Watertown for necessary repairs. In the meantime, Mr. LaMountain and Mr. Haddock became friends. Mr. Haddock was able to persuade Mr. LaMountain in the coming weeks to delay his trip to Kingston, Ont.,

where he was scheduled to make another ascent, in favor of testing the balloon in Watertown, while incidentally giving Mr. Haddock a ride.

The Watertown Reformer advertised that the Atlantic would ascend from Public Square on the afternoon of Sept.

20, 1859. After a two-day delay because of rain, an estimated 10,000 people packed into Public Square on Sept. 22 to watch the 110 foot tall, pale yellow hot air balloon make its ascent. Wearing an overcoat that was loaned to him at the last minute by a friend and carrying a thermometer for weather recordings, a bag of apples, and a few pieces of cake, Mr. Haddock joined Mr. LaMountain in the basket of the Atlantic. At 7:40 p.m., Mr. LaMountain untethered the ropes of the balloon and it began to gracefully rise into the dusk.

Mr. LaMountain and Mr. Haddock were scheduled to return to Watertown the

n Lenka P. Walldroff is 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.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

next morning. By 8:30 p.m., the pair was floating over Antwerp. By sunset, they had passed Rossie, and then the balloon disappeared from sight.

The next morning, people crowded into Public Square to welcome Mr. Haddock home. He did not arrive. The next day passed without word. Anxiety was growing and speculation was running rampant. Newspaper editorials opined that Mr. Haddock and Mr. LaMountain were blown off course and were being swept over the Atlantic. Almost a week passed without word. The town had almost lost hope of Mr. Haddock returning alive when his family received a telegraph from Canada. Mr. Haddock and Mr. LaMountain were indeed alive.

After night had fallen on the two adventurers on the evening of Sept. 22, they lost their orientation in heavy cloud cover and rain. Temperatures dropped into the low 20s and the two spent an uncomfortable three days huddled together in overcoats and scarves. Finally, the sun appeared clearing away the cloud cover and they finally saw ground − a vast expanse of heavy forest. They spent the night in their balloon which was now entangled in the forest canopy and in the morning set out to find civilization. After a day of bushwhacking, the pair stumbled upon a cabin of a Scotsman who informed them that they were in Quebec. After eating their first real meal in four days, Mr. LaMountain and Mr. Haddock began the two day journey to Ottawa where Mr. Haddock found a telegraph office and contacted his family. All of Jefferson County was relieved and overjoyed to find that the two were alive. They received a hero’s welcome when they returned to Watertown at 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, eight days after the beginning of their adventure. The whole village came out to greet them, complete with cannon fire and a reception.

While this was perhaps one of the more colorful chapters of his life, Mr. Haddock went on to become a valued citizen of the county and a well-known newspaperman.

Before enlisting in the Army at the beginning of the Civil War, Mr. Haddock, who by then had become part owner of the Watertown Reformer, sold his share of the company to Beman Brockway. Mr. Brockway eventually changed the paper from a weekly to a daily paper: that newspaper became the Watertown Daily Times.

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FOOD

Warm winter soups: comfort for the soul A great soup starts with a good homemade stock

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY BOO WELLS

38

The snowflakes have finally started to fly and the urge to make soup has taken hold. Most people have a favorite soup recipe. Whether it’s your mother’s, grandfather’s or best friend’s, it is undoubtedly the best version of that particular soup and tastes better than anyone else’s.

The way a song can evoke memories from a specific time and place, the aroma and taste of that soup can do the same – this is called the taste of memory. My mother’s minestrone will forever remind me of sledding on a cold winter day, wet mittens and a kitchen full of damp snow clothes.

Mom made her minestrone from memory so there is no written recipe to duplicate. I have repeatedly tried to recreate the soup that soothed, nourished and comforted me through my childhood with very little success. The funny thing about the taste of memory is that the memories don’t always have to be warm and comforting. In addition to minestrone, my mother regularly made enormous quantities of split pea and ham soup.

To this day, the sight and smell of split pea soup reminds me of the scene in the ’80s psycho thriller “Amityville Horror” where green slimy stuff is oozing from the home’s walls.

Unlike baking, which requires painful accuracy and adher-

ence to strict “rules,” making soup does not need to be a rigid process. A quick inventory of the refrigerator’s vegetable drawer and the kitchen’s pantry shelves will often times produce enough supplies to create a unique and memorable meal.

A great soup must start with a good stock, a broth made by simmering a whole chicken in water with two carrots, two celery stalks and an onion. Homemade stock has the best flavor. If that’s not an option, choose a store-bought stock with the fewest additives — especially ones you can’t pronounce.

The next step is to select and sauté the flavor foundation of your soup. Carrots, celery, onions and garlic, called aromatics, all are good choices. Cut your aromatics into ¼ inch dice and sauté in a little olive oil until they are softened and lightly caramelized.

Add your choice of herbs or spices, a bay leaf, fresh rosemary, a sprig of thyme or a teaspoon of ground cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add your stock and simmer until the vegetables are tender and the flavors of the herbs and spices have infused the stock. Add a starch, like wild rice or kidney beans, and your choice of vegetables.

Allow your stock to simmer, stirring once in a while until the vegetables are soft. This is a good time to taste your soup and adjust the flavors with freshly ground pepper and a little lemon juice. Adding an acid, like lemon juice, is a great way to enhance the flavor of almost any soup.

A few years ago, I made a batch of soup for a catering job. As is often the case when I make soup, into the pot went a little of this and a little of that. The clients loved the soup and asked to have a copy of the recipe to use in a cookbook they were producing.

Since I had not taken notes while I was cooking, we were both out of luck. Similar to my mother’s minestrone, there was no recreating that recipe.

There may not be many hard and fast rules for making soup, except to remember to make a few notes while you are opening the cans and sautéing ingredients for your creation.

Boo Wells is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. Contact her at sacketsfarmhousekitchen@gmail.com or www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

Tuscan peasant soup with rosemary and pancetta.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

Tuscan peasant soup with rosemary & pancetta

Yield: 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1¼ cups small-diced pancetta 4 cups large-diced Savoy cabbage 2 cups medium-diced onion 1½ cups medium-diced carrot (about 4 medium carrots) ½ teaspoon kosher salt; more as needed 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary 1 teaspoons ground coriander 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained 7 cups chicken broth 2 15½ ounce cans small white beans, rinsed and drained 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup grated Parmigianino INSTRUCTIONS Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a 4 to 5 quart Dutch oven over

medium heat. When hot, add the pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until quite shrunken, golden brown, and crisp, about six minutes. Remove the pan from heat and with a slotted spoon transfer the pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off and discard all but two tablespoons of fat from the pan.

Return the pot to medium-high heat and add the chopped cabbage. Cook the cabbage, stirring occasionally, until limp and browned around the edges, about three minutes. Remove the pot from heat again and transfer the cabbage to another plate.

Put the pot back over medium heat and add two more tablespoons of olive oil. When oil is hot, add the onions, carrots and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and the vegetables are browned around the edges, eight to nine minutes. Add the last tablespoon of olive oil, garlic, one tablespoon fresh rosemary and ground coriander. Cook, stirring until the garlic is fragrant, about one minute. Add tomatoes, stir together, and cook the mixture two to three more minutes.

Return the cabbage to the pan and add the chicken broth.Stir well, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes to infuse the broth with vegetable flavor. Add beans, bring back to a simmer, and cook for a minute or two. Remove the pan from heat, stir in the remaining teaspoon fresh rosemary and let rest a few minutes.

Taste the soup and add lemon juice to brighten it — you’ll want at least a teaspoon. Season with more salt if necessary and a few grinds of fresh pepper. Serve the soup hot, garnished with reserved pancetta crisps, and the grated Parmigianino.

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39

FOOD [ CHEF’S TABLE ]

Simple, elegant crab cakes Jumbo lump cakes with shaved fennel slaw an all-occasion treat Jumbo lump crab cake with shaved fennel slaw

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY BRIAN & JENNY WALKER

40

Everyone can appreciate a great crab cake. I am sure we have all had our fair share of good, bad and the ugly when it comes to sampling the many different versions that are available. From region to region the differences are vast.

This dish dates back to America’s colonial days and is thought to have been introduced by English settlers.

To create a wonderful crab cake, you must start with the freshest and best quality ingredients. It is absolutely vital to get the main ingredient right. The quality of the crab meat will either make or break this dish. So, know your grades. Commercial crabmeat is generally separated into four grades. Jumbo lump, back fin/or lump, special and claw. Jumbo lump crab meat is what you are looking for in this dish and can be found in most higher end supermarkets.

Although we are both trained chefs; we have our own distinct cooking styles.

Brian uses classical French and European techniques combined with fresh regional foods from around our county, state and country to produce the elegant bistro style cuisine that we serve at 1844 House.

Jenny’s style, while similar, tends to focus more on simple, elegant, and comforting home-cooked type dishes that you will want to enjoy over and over again. This is one of those dishes.

Having spent many years as chefs in southern coastal regions, this dish reflects one of our favorite foods from the sea. To create our recipe, we have combined the sweet delicate flavors of crab and crisp fennel with its subtle anise undertones.

This is further accented by the light tartness of a Dijon-tarragon vinaigrette which provides a hint of Parisian flair that does

Yield: Four 6-ounce cakes

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons hot sauce 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 egg 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 pound jumbo lump crab ¹/³ cup and ¼ cup for coating bread crumbs, dry

INSTRUCTIONS

JASON HUNTER | NNY LIVING

not overpower the key flavors but instead adds the complimentary acidity that is normally added to seafood dishes via lemon juice. The finishing touch of fresh basil and roasted red pepper purees adds a pleasant layer of complexity to the overall flavor.

The simplicity of this dish will allow you to add your own little touches and customize this recipe to fit your family’s tastes. We are sure this will become a regular fixture at your table. Try the crab cake recipe as a stuffing for shrimp or fish.

You can also make smaller cakes and top them with finely shredded fennel slaw for a wonderful hors d’ oeuvre.

BRIAN & JENNY WALKER are chef and proprietors of the 1844 House, 6885 U.S. Route 11, Potsdam. The restaurant is an American Bistro with an emphasis on fresh, locally grown produce and meats. Visit their website at www.1844house. com. Call 268-1844 for reservations.

Blend first set of ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Gently fold in the crab meat. Fold in ¹/³ cup bread crumbs. Mixing gently so you don’t break up the crab. Let rest for 30 minutes. Divide mixture in quarters and form into individual cakes. Place extra bread crumbs on a plate and gently pat each side of the cakes with dry crumbs. Pre-heat a medium size sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons oil.

Cook cakes on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat. Place cakes on a small oven-proof pan and into a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.

SHAVED FENNEL SLAW

3 bulbs of fennel 2 tablespoons fennel tops, finely chopped ¼ cup tarragon vinaigrette Salt and pepper as needed

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut tops off fennel where green stems become white. Reserve 2 tablespoons of fronds for garnish.

Cut fennel bulbs in quarters and cut out root stock.

Cutting across the fibers, slice fennel very thin.

Blend ingredients together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE 1 1 1 3

tablespoon tarragon vinegar teaspoon Dijon mustard teaspoon salt tablespoons olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

In a jar with a tightly fitted lid, add ingredients and shake until emulsified.

PRESENTATION

Spoon slaw in the center of four plates. Place warm crab cake on top of each pile. Serve with roasted red pepper puree.

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41

HOMES

Classic design meets modern comfort A family fishing getaway is born from long-time camp traditions

BY PEGGY DeYOUNG & DIANA GRATER

Hannawa Falls ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: Diana Grater, Grater Architects, Clayton INTERIOR DESIGN, LIGHTING & FURNISHINGS: Peggy DeYoung, Porch and Paddle, Clayton LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: AJ Miller and Associates, Syracuse

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BUILDER: Robert Hayes, Town Line Woodwork, Canton SUBCONTRACTORS: Avery’s Custom Masonry, North Bangor; G. Monnat Woodworking, furniture restoration and repair; McGregor Electrical, Potsdam; Scanlon Home Care Service, Potsdam; Roberson Plumbing and Heating, Canton; Thousand Island Property Service, Clayton; Rishe’s Custom Hardwood Flooring, Ogdensburg; Roll Lock Truss, Waddington; The Tile Company, Potsdam; TF Wright and Sons Granite, Carthage; Chips Place Lunch in Hannawa Falls.

42

The owner of this family compound grew up in Potsdam through high school, as his four brothers before him.

When the brothers left for college, his parents retired to the family fishing camp on the Raquette River in Hannawa Falls.

Through the years the camp became the site for family reunions.

It was remodeled and renovated to accommodate an increasing number of in-laws and cousins. When water damage and the ensuing structural deficiencies proved too significant, the house was torn down and rebuilt on the existing footprint.

Unlike the original camp with its dark interiors, the new design became a light-filled, two-story retreat with a strong connection to the landscape. Large operable windows and an open plan provide water views from the main living spaces.

French doors provide easy access to outdoor living on the balcony, screen porch and terrace. The living areas benefit from windows on two adjacent walls maintaining ample natural light throughout the day.

The new design also is configured to provide a variety of living spaces for residents. There are five bedroom suites, a billiard room, entertainment room, breakfast room and a great room located on three levels to allow maximum privacy for varying family needs.

Like the traditional fishing camp, the house is built of indigenous materials: pine, fir, cherry, cedar, sandstone and slate.

Stained cedar shingles and warm reddish-brown stone make up the exterior finishes. The colors and textures reflect the surrounding woods. The stone, although not locally quarried, recalls the Potsdam sandstone found on many historic structures in the north country.

Interior wall finish is sugar pine wood paneling; wood because it is a very forgiving and low maintenance material and sugar pine because it is a soft, warm color. Builder Robert Hayes cus-

tom milled all the wide tongue and groove wall boards.

“I consider the tone and texture of the wood species when I design a wood room,” said Diana Grater of Grater Architects, Clayton. “The tone of the wall should be different than the floor and ceiling. The same goes for the trim. I play the varying tones and textures to define the planes, much like one would use paint colors. The ceiling here, for instance, uses clear pine trim and beaded fir to break the ceiling into smaller elements.”

Camp furnishings are an interesting blend of old and new.

When designing interiors it is important to incorporate the family’s lifestyle and preferences in a cohesive way. By using selected furnishings from the original camp, the new camp takes on a sense of personality and history.

A collection of antique rocking chairs and family photographs are used throughout the home. Whether enjoying the fireplace or the water view, new wicker sofas and chairs are used for flexibility, they can easily be moved.

The selection of new American-made furnishings was based on classic style combined with comfort and durability. Rich colors are used in every room to complement wood interiors. Every room has its own unique style while blending with the overall design. All of the lighting used throughout the house is hand forged in Vermont. Each wall sconce and chandelier is an artistic interpretation of the arts and craft style. In the bedrooms, Pendleton wool camp blankets add warmth to the beds handcrafted in native cherry and ash woods.

The combination of classic design and modern comforts reflect the traditions of camp living and will be enjoyed by this family for many years to come.

PEGGY DeYOUNG is a National Council for Interior Design Qualification certified interior designer. She owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. Contact her at deerrun@twcny.rr.com. DIANA GRATER is a New York state registered architect and an Officer of Grater Architects, P.C. of Clayton and Rochester. Visit her website at www.graterarchitects.com.

Clockwise from top, wall sconces frame a bookcase. Douglas fir beadboard lines the ceiling of the dining room. Light fills the master bedroom. The walkway from the house to the garage incorporates unique architectural design. Granite countertops and an exposed brick backsplash highlight the kitchen.

JASON HUNTER PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

43

MY NNY

‘Frostbitten’

BY Timothy Thornton/ Carthage

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

DATE: 10:14 a.m., Dec. 18, 2011 INFO: Despite a mild start to winter, the first bite of cold and frost could be seen along the banks of the Black River in mid-December. Taken from the fishing access in Deferiet.

44

SHOT WITH: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7.

SETTINGS: F-stop: f/4.9; exposure time: 1/200 sec.; ISO speed: ISO-80; focal length: 49 mm; max aperture: 3.44; No flash; 35 mm, focal length 300.

Give us your best shot. Email it to nnyliving@wdt.net.

OPERA, from page 35

JASON HUNTER | NNY LIVING

The main stage at the Edwards Opera House, 161 Main St., Edwards.

established Celtic music group, Northbound, which performed an eclectic mix of folk, acoustic and classic rock, and Johnny and The Triumphs, classic R & B, Motown, old time rock.

The Edwards Arts Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year and

is finalizing its schedule for the upcoming season. Details will be posted on the website, www.edwardsoperahouse.org, at a later date.

Norah Machia is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She is a 20-year veteran journalist.

Contact her at nemachia@yahoo.com.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2 012 | NNY LIVING

music, and theater that they would not be exposed to without an organization such a TIPAF to facilitate the events, Ms. Greene said.

Upcoming spring performances at the Clayton Opera House include Judy Collins on April 12 and Open Hand Theater, a puppet theater for young people, from Syracuse on May 3, with additional spring acts being lined up, she said.

Details for the spring and summer 2012 seasons are being finalized and will be announced soon on the opera theater website: www.claytonoperahouse.org.

TIPAF is working on a major upgrade to the sound system in the opera house.

A high definition movie projector was donated by a patron late in 2010, and a committee has been working with sound consultants since last year to recommend and install state of the art audio upgrades for the hall, Ms. Greene said. This year, the organization also purchased and installed a remote-controlled high resolution screen for use with the projector.

The Edwards Opera House was finished in 1896, according to its website.

A massive fire in 1894 had destroyed the previous town hall, along with several other buildings in Edwards. The opera house was designed by Samuel Williams, an Ogdensburg architect who also designed several St. Lawrence County buildings including the county courthouse in Canton, the Masonic Temple and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.

The opera house’s trademark painted stage curtain was done by traveling performers in 1897. During its early years, the opera house served as a location for silent films, local pianists and was a movie theater into the 1950s.

The Edwards Arts Council has received support in the past from the Sweetgrass Foundation and Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, both in Canton. The entertainment program is primarily self-supporting from ticket sales, along with donations from private citizens, Ms. Clark said.

The opera house has staged a variety of comedians, many who have appeared on the Bob & Tom Show, a nationally syndicated radio share that airs on 101.5 The Fox in Massena.

“That provides a built-in audience,” Ms. Clark said.

The organization has also sponsored concerts and family events, including an annual Halloween party for families that is offered free to children younger than 12.

Other past performers have included the Fraser Family of Harrisville, a well-

45

WOMEN’s wise

Conjuring a clear path to positivity

JANUARY / FEBR UARY 201 2 | NNY LIVING

BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS

46

To visualize a positive outcome for a particular experience that’s up and coming in your life is to accept that the power of the mind is more profound that you ever could have imagined. That means you are the architect for any given experience in your life and you get to create the outcome any way you like.

Scientists have been investigating Mental Imagery Research for decades; publishing profound studies showing that the brain doesn’t know the difference between real action and imagined action.

Here’s a visual exercise for you to do right now to show you what I mean: Imagine you’re in the kitchen preparing a cold glass of iced tea. You want lemon to go with the tea. You head to the refrigerator and pull out a nice, fat, juicy lemon.

You set it on the cutting board and slice that plump, aromatic lemon right in half.

Then you pick up one half, lift it to your mouth and take a giant bite out of it.

What just happened? Did your mouth water a bit at the very thought of the extreme tartness of the lemon? Did the sides of your jaw tense up as you visualize it?

That’s because the brain can’t distinguish between the real you taking a bite from the lemon and the visualized you biting it.

Now drop the lemon in the garbage and use this visualization for something you really want.

I used the power of visualization to prepare myself for the very first time I ever stood in front of an audience to present a motivational speech. I had presented a hundred times in my living room with my black lab staring at me like I was a nut-job.

It was at night that I really used the technique of visualization. I would close

It’s very possible to program our mind and body to act in ways that produce positive results. my eyes and let my two very fat cats curl up around me as I imagined my presentation. I was confident, inspiring and funny and looked smashing because I was having a really good hair day. When I was finished, the audience applauded wildly. I did this visualization exercise every night for weeks and weeks.

So, when the big day finally came and I walked out on stage in front of 422 women, my brain couldn’t really tell the difference between my visualized presentation and what I was about to deliver.

My kneecaps and my eyes sure could, but I rolled through my presentation and I was confident, inspiring and funny and I looked smashing because I was having a really good hair day — just as I had imagined.

It’s very possible to program our mind and body to act in ways that produce positive results. So give it a shot. It can bring you things that you only ever imagined. Literally.

Word of advice: skip the lemon.

Do you know a Northern New York woman with an inspirational story? We want to hear it. Email us at NNYLiving@wdt.net.

Joleene DesRosiers is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski.

Contact her at myddes@hotmail.com. Visit her at www.jddesr.webs.com.

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