Simply Saratoga Fall 2023 - Showcase of Homes

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Chad Beatty

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ MANAGING EDITOR

Chris Vallone Bushee

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

Kacie Cotter-Sacala

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Kelly Schoonbeck

ADVERTISING

Jim Daley

Cindy Durfey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Samantha Bosshart

Colleen Coleman

Cindy Conaway

Carol Godette

John R. Greenwood

Matt Grumo

George Hanstein

Wendy Hobday Haugh

Charlie Kuenzel

Robert C. Lawrence

Bill Orzell

Megin Potter

John Reardon

Theresa St. John

Jordana Turcotte

Ralph Vincent

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Angel Photography

Susan Blackburn Photography

George S. Bolster Collection

Francesco D’Amico

Peggy Frezon

Roy Gumpel

George Hanstein

Wendy Hobday Haugh

Kate Patterson

Terri-Lynn Pellegri

Randall Perry Photography

Saratoga Springs Public Library

Marilyn Sargent

Theresa St. John

Super Source Media Studios

PUBLISHED BY SARATOGA TODAY

2254 Route 50 South Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-581-2480

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SimplySaratoga.com

Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2023. Saratoga TODAY Newspaper.

SAMANTHA BOSSHART

Samantha Bosshart joined the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation in 2008. As Executive Director, she advocates for the preservation of the unique architecture and rich heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha previously worked at Historic Albany Foundation and Galveston Historical Foundation. Samantha completed her coursework for a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University.

COLLEEN COLEMAN

Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project. Her collaborative efforts with clients, as well as others in the industry, translates to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life” - reach her at colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net.

JOHN GREENWOOD

John Greenwood is a leftover Saratoga Springs milkman who loves capturing stories about the people and places that surround him.

John and his wife Patricia have been holding hands since high school. The couple recently retired and are looking forward to having more time to enjoy the nooks and crannies of the surrounding area.

You can explore more of John’s writing at rainingiguanas.com, where you will find the glass half full and the weather mostly sunny.

CAROL GODETTE

Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Carol Godette’s fascination with neighborhood stores began at age 11 when she frequented Rowland’s. A passionate educator, Godette taught elementary school in the Saratoga School District for 31 years. Carol is a co-owner of the local Ben & Jerry’s franchise. Godette and her husband live in her childhood home where they raised their two children. She welcomes your comments and stories/photos on neighborhood stores via email: saratoganeighborhoodstores@gmail.com

GEORGE HANSTEIN

George Hanstein was a photographer in New York City and New Jersey for 20 years. He decided that he had enough of city life and built a small house in the Adirondacks near The Great Sacandaga Lake, in pursuit of a quieter life. He worked in a local school district there, teaching photography to High School Seniors. Since retiring, he has filled his days spending time with his Golden Retrievers, doing photography, taking road trips and writing about things that spark his interest.

WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH

Northville freelancer Wendy Hobday Haugh’s short stories, articles, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications, including Woman’s World Weekly, Highlights for Children, and WritersWeekly.com. Her stories have appeared in 15 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit wendyhobdayhaugh.com.

CHARLIE KUENZEL

Charlie Kuenzel is a native Saratogian who spent 36 years as a Science educator in the Saratoga School District before retiring 6 years ago. Charlie, along with Dave Patterson are the co-owners of Saratoga Tours LLC who for the past 16 years have educated and entertained thousands of visitors to the city with stories to tell the exciting history of our great city.

ROBERT LAWRENCE

Robert Lawrence, a retired elementary, middle, and college educator, authored What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names? (The Troy Book Makers), which describes over one hundred mountain place name origins. Bob, a Saratoga County resident, enjoys many outdoor activities with his wife, Carol Ann, and their wire-haired Dachshund, Adi (Adirondack). Contact: adkmountainnames@gmail.com

BILL ORZELL

Bill Orzell is a retired Geographic Field Analyst and Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. A fervent sportsman, who resides in DeRuyter, New York, he has a lifelong appreciation of the economic, political, social, and sports history of the Empire State, with a special appreciation of the unique equine, human and geographic narrative which defines the Spa as the place to be.

MEGIN POTTER

Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications and online. A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.

JOHN REARDON

John Reardon purchased Compliments to the Chef in July of 2004 and has enjoyed selling over 6,000 high quality cookware and cutlery items to his Foodie Friends ever since. His wife Paula - as well as being a college professor - helps out along with their son John and daughter Aubrey … and they fit right in to his Foodie Team! If you ask John or Aubrey to cook up a special dish, you’ll see a gleam in their eyes! John reminds us... “Life Happens in the Kitchen” and yes… “Anyone can cook!”

THERESA ST. JOHN

Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good, she says.

JORDANA TURCOTTE

Jordana Turcotte is a lifelong New Yorker and a Saratoga County resident since graduating from RPI. After staying at home for a bit with her children, she decided on the “rest of her life job” as Professional Organizer. Starting Simply You in 2008 fulfills a passion for organizing. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her volunteering at her kids’ school, being Mommy chauffeur or hanging out with her two rescue dogs.

RALPH VINCENT

Ralph Vincent is a lifestyle writer enamored with the Spa City. As an enthusiastic contributor to Simply Saratoga Magazine, he enjoys writing about a variety of topics including home entertaining, cooking, and cocktail crafting. His body of work also includes articles on subjects of special significance to him such as his experiences as a pet parent, gardening, and Yaddo. He resides locally with his partner Steven and their adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SCAN & SUBSCRIBE

Publishers of...

Simply Saratoga

Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

Saratoga Bride

Saratoga Family

Saratoga Home & Lifestyle

Welcome Home

Equicurean

Saratoga Christmas

from the editor

Chris Vallone Bushee, Creative Director/ Managing Editor

Welcome to Simply Saratoga Magazine,

Home… Anticipating it, shopping for it, just being there.

If the word HOME resonates with you too, you’re going to love this Fall issue of Simply Saratoga!

(I’d like to take a moment to mention this is our LARGEST issue ever!)

As the media sponsor of the SBA’s Showcase of Homes, this magazine is filled with beautiful photos, floor plans, builder info, informational stories, and tons of ADS. Yes, ADS, these are the businesses that you need to plan that reno, build your dream home or have those repairs done.

In addition to being THE LOOK BOOK for building / renovation / decorating in Saratoga County, this magazine has all the autumnal feels… farms animals, seasonal decorating, road trips, fashion, and food!

As somebody reminded me on social media last year… just because I know why Liz Bishop is on the cover of our FALL issue each year, doesn’t mean everybody else does, so please see page 86 to read more about this great collaboration between CBS6 anchor Liz Bishop and the Saratoga Builders Association.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together and please keep those comments coming, I love hearing from you!

Thank you, Saratoga Builders Association, for letting us be a part of your annual fundraiser each year - it’s our honor.

And a big Thank You! to all our advertisers, because without them, Saratoga TODAY couldn’t continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge.

Enjoy the mag!

PS… I love stories where people tell me WHY they chose to come to this area – and in our new column Choosing a Home, Cindy Conaway and Chris Whann not only told me why they moved here but chronicled HOW it happened. …oh yeah, I’ll take that! This story was a MUST for me!

Cover Photo by RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

See the house on page 41 and... See how much fun we had doing the cover shoot on page 208!

Be Inspired...

OUT +

For our complete calendar of events, check out Saratoga TODAY newspaper (in print and online!)

Start Here...

144 The (weeklong!!) festivities for the 50th Anniversary of the Adirondack Balloon Festival end Sunday, meaning... it’s not too late if you haven’t been up there yet!

Road

146

H&G

158

SHOWCASE BUILDERS &

WELCOME...

Welcome to the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes! This spectacular annual event is the area’s premiere new home tour, one of the most wonderful traditions in our Fall season. On behalf of the Saratoga Builders Association and the Showcase Committee, I’d like to thank all the corporate and media sponsors for their generous support. Special thanks to all our amazing and talented builders for their commitment to this popular event. Applause to the countless volunteers who staff the homes to help provide for a truly memorable experience. Lastly, we are so very grateful for the tremendous public support through ticket sales - each and every year.

We are excited and proud to present 10 homes in Saratoga County from our area’s award-winning builders over two weekends. As always, you’ll see the most innovative products, beautiful décor, creative interior design, professional craftsmanship and impeccable construction of each of these magnificent homes, inviting you through their doors. NEW this year are two showcase locations in Lake George adding to the event’s allure by taking a drive up north during foliage season. We hope and encourage you to visit these homes.

In addition, don’t miss our “Student Build” promoting work in the trades happening at House #3 Degraff Bloom Custom Builders on Saturday, October 7 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be a BOCES built “Tiny House” on display there as well. Get all the details about these activities on our website.

Best of all, the proceeds from this event go back into our community. The Saratoga Builders Association has now contributed nearly $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS to our local charities from this community event, and this year will be no different. Proceeds from this year’s Showcase of Homes will benefit two local worthwhile organizations: Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties. Both these groups help give back to the community through improving the homes and lives of those in need.

Please take a moment to explore the pages of this official guide for lots of useful information on each builder and their homes, details about the event and to see what’s waiting for you this year at the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes.

We are celebrating 27 years of exceptional homes! Keep a lookout for our classic orange signs guiding you along the tour route and please use our QR Code for easy directions to all these incredible homes.

Enjoy the show!

- BARRY POTOKER Executive Director, Saratoga Builders Association | saratogabuilders.org

Showcase of Homes Proceeds Benefit:

Showcase Judges

Each Showcase home is judged by these industry experts in seven different categories. Look for these builder awards for "Winner" and "Runner-Up" while touring the homes! Landscaping • Workmanship Master Bath • Exterior Design Interior Decorating • Kitchen Interior Floor Plan

Michele Ahl, 2B Design houzz.com

Tim Bonneau, Kiba Studios cliftonpark.kibastudios.com

Nancy Cornell, Nancy Gayle Design

Tim Gallagher, Architex architexny.com

Matthew Hurff, Frost Hurff Architects fharch.com

Peter Loyola, CLA SITE Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Planning clasite.com

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties glensfallshabitat.org

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County rtsaratoga.org

Paul Pipino, Pipino Builders pipinobuilders.com

2023 Showcase of Homes Committee

BARRY POTOKER

Co-Chair & Executive Director, Saratoga Builders Association

LISA LICATA

Co-Chair, Sterling Real Estate Group

DREW AIELLO

Fairway Mortgage

COLLEEN COLEMAN

CMC Design Studio

MARCI FILA

Real Estate Digital Designs

JENNIFER FORTUNE

Fortune Realty Group

MARK HOGAN

Saratoga National Bank & Trust

MARK JOHNSON

DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders

MICHELLE LARKIN

Executive Director, Rebuilding

Together Saratoga County

JAYLENE LEONBRUNO

Tailored Real Estate Group

JULIE MALESKI

JMP Interiors

ANNETTE QUARRIER

Saratoga Living

PAM STOTT

Curtis Lumber

JOVITA WENNER

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren & Washington Counties

Saratoga Showcase OF HOMES

October 7-8 & 14-15

The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event will be held on four days over two spectacular weekends this fall on October 7-8 and October 14-15 featuring the region's finest, award-winning builders showcasing their new construction. This year’s edition has 10 locations from 8 of our area’s finest builders on display in Saratoga County.

Participating award-winning builders in this year’s event are: The BDC Group, Belmonte Builders, DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders, DSG Construction and Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, R & M Homes, Whitbeck Construction and Witt Construction.

Now celebrating its 27th year, the Saratoga Showcase of Homes annual community event has contributed over $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS to local charities Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties

Ticket Information

Saratoga Showcase of Homes tickets are $25 each and are available at the locations listed below.

TOUR HOURS: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:

• Adirondack Trust Branch Locations

• Curtis Lumber Locations: 885 State Rt 67, Ballston Spa and 460 Big Bay Road, Queensbury

• Glens Falls National Bank: 2252 State Rt 9, Lake George

• Saratoga National Bank: 171 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs

• Roohan Realty: 519 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

• Showcase homes during tour hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Online at: SaratogaShowcaseofHomes.com

TOUR DETAILS:

• Tickets are valid for all 4 days.

• Children under 12 are admitted free.

• Please keep your ticket until you have seen all the houses. Homes are numbered to help you find them and may be toured in any order.

• Every ticket purchased will be entitled to receive one free Showcase of Homes shoe bag/tote at the first home you visit while supplies last!

Prize Awards

People's Choice Award

All ticket holders are eligible to vote for the People’s Choice Awards with the ballot on the ticket. You will be automatically entered into our drawing for these prizes:

GRAND PRIZE

$1000 IN KOHLER PRODUCTS FROM WINSUPPLY!

SECOND PRIZE

$1000, $750 & $250 GIFT CARDS FROM JACOBSEN RUGS

THIRD PRIZE

$500 GIFT CARD FROM CURTAIN & CARPET CONCEPTS

PLUS GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM:

• Accents at Allerdice

• Amazon

• Artisanal BrewWorks

• Cookies and Cream

• Comptons

• Cudney's

• Curtis Lumber

• Dark Horse Mercantile

• Dave's Hot Chicken

• Dog Haus

• Dunning Street

• Finishing Touches Home Décor

• Habitat ReStore

• Hello Nails

• Impressions of Saratoga

• Jersey Mike's

• Lakeridge Restaurant

• Moes Southwest Grill

• Neighborhood Kitchen

• Old Smoke Clothing

• Olde Bryan Inn

• Publik House

• Rebuilding ReShop

• Saratoga Auto Museum

• Saratoga Lake Golf Club

• Saratoga Nail Lounge & Boutique

• Silverwood Home & Gallery

• Smoothie King

• Spoken Boutique

• The Furniture House

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the wellbeing and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, subcontractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit their website at saratogabuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518-366-0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org

For more details on the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit SaratogaShowcaseOfHomes.com

Follow us on FACEBOOK and our BLOG for all the updates!

Showcase of Homes Map & Directions

House to House

Directions:

BELMONTE BUILDERS

Waite Meadows

8 Scarlet Street, Clifton Park

Google Maps use:

8 Scarlet Street, Clifton Park

• I-87 to Exit 9, head west onto 146 towards Clifton Park. Stay on 146 for approx. 2.1 miles. Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Route 146W. Drive approx. 2 miles. Right onto Waite Road, Right onto Scarlet Street. Stay to the left to the first finished home.

R & M HOMES

303 Eastline Estates

56 Mallory Way, Ballston Lake

Drive time: 15 minutes

Google Maps use:

56 Mallory Way, Ballston Lake

• Right onto Waite Road, right onto Route 146A, left onto Mac-Elroy Road. At stop sign continue straight onto Longkill Road. At light continue to go straight. At next light stay straight which now becomes Eastline Road. Left onto Mallory Way.

DEGRAFF BLOOM CUSTOM BUILDERS

Luthers Woods

27 Winterberry Lane, Mechanicville

Drive time: 11 minutes

Google Maps use: 27 Winterberry Lane, Mechanicville or Saratoga Springs

• From Mallory Way take a right onto Eastline Road. At the traffic light, take a left onto Round Lake Road. At the roundabout take 2nd exit staying on Round Lake Road. Next roundabout take 2nd exit staying on Round Lake Road and at 3rd roundabout take 3rd exit onto Round Lake Bypass. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Route 67E. Next roundabout continue straight onto route 67E. Left onto Knapp Road, left onto Cold Springs Road, left onto Winterberry Lane.

TROJANSKI BUILDERS

Unfortunately, this home will NOT be open for the tour.

WITT CONSTRUCTION

Old Stone Ridge

30 Old Stone Ridge Road, Greenfield Center

Drive time: 25 minutes

Google Maps use: 30 Old Stone Ridge Road, Greenfield Center

• From Winterberry Lane to a left onto Cold Springs Road, at the stop sign take a left onto Route 76. At the stop sign take a left onto Route 9P. At light take a right onto Route 9 heading towards Saratoga Springs. Continue into Saratoga Springs and pass the State Park. Left onto W Fenlon Street. At light continue to go straight. At the next light, take a right onto West Ave. Cross over Washington Street and at the next light take a left onto Church Street/ Route 9N, left onto Middle Grove Road, left onto Lester Park Road, and right onto Old Stone Ridge.

WHITBECK CONSTRUCTION

180 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center

Drive time: 10 minutes

Google Maps use: 180 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center

• Old Stone Ridge to a left onto Lester Park Road, right onto Middle Grove Road, left onto Route 9N. Right onto Wilton Road for approx. 1.6 miles. Showcase home will be on the left side.

KODIAK CONSTRUCTION

Mulberry Estates II

4 Cerulean Boulevard, Wilton

Drive time: 10 minutes

Google Maps use:

4 Cerulean Blvd, Gansevoort

• Continue on Wilton Road/County

Route 36. Wilton Road becomes Greenfield Road/County Route 36. Right onto Parkhurst Road, right onto Saratoga Road and to a left onto Cerulean Boulevard.

BELMONTE BUILDERS

Forest Grove

2 Daintree Drive, Saratoga Springs

Drive time: 15 minutes

Google Maps use:

265 Jones Road, Saratoga Springs

• Left onto Saratoga Road, left onto Worth Road, right onto Northern Pines Road, left onto Carr Road, left onto Jones Road. Enter Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Forest Grove/Branch Bouleavard. Showcase home is the 1st house on the right.

THE BDC GROUP

The Cove at Lake George

4 Footpath Way, Lake George

Drive time: 28 minutes

Google Maps use:

4 Footpath Way, Lake George

• Branch Blvd to roundabout. Take the 2nd exit onto Jones Road, left onto Route 50, left onto Ballard Road, right onto I-87 North. Take exit 21, right onto Route 9N, at light take a left onto Canada Street/Route 9, right onto E Shore Drive, right onto Bloody Pond Road, left onto Footpath Way/The Cove at Lake George.

KODIAK CONSTRUCTION

Mountains Edge

29 Huna Way, Lake George

Drive time: 2 minutes

Google Maps use:

29 Huna Way, Lake George

• Right onto Bloody Pond Road, right onto E Shore Drive, right onto Michelli Road, left onto Huna Way. Showcase home on the left.

DSG CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING

1181 Hunt Lake Road N, Lake Luzerne

Drive time: 28 minutes

Google Maps use:

1181 Hunt Lake Road N, Lake Luzerne or Corinth

• Huna Way to a right onto Michelli Road. Left onto Route 9L (E Shore Drive), left onto Route 9. At the light take a right onto Route 9N-S. Drive approx. 10 miles, right onto Mill Street toward Hadley. Stay left onto Main Street, right onto Bridge Street. Drive approx. 2.5 miles. Left onto N Shore Road, at the stop sign go left onto N Shore Road, at fork in the road stay to the right. At the stop sign turn right onto S Shore Road. Left onto Parker Road, at the stop sign take a left onto Hunt Lake Road N. Showcase home will be on the left.

Belmonte Builders

Waite Meadows - Castleton

8 Scarlet Street, Clifton Park

2,139 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms

BelmonteBuilders.com

Belmonte Builders has been building high quality custom homes in the Capital Region for over 40 years. A family-owned business, Belmonte takes pride in working closely with each and every customer to personalize their home to meet their unique needs. Visit any Belmonte model home to see the flow of the floor plan, the quality of the fixtures, the integrity of the construction and the loving attention to detail. These are the building blocks that our success stands on today.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

Belmonte Builders – Spencer Lewis

518-512-9646

spencer@belmontebuilders.com belmontebuilders.com

LANDSCAPER:

Heloscaping, Inc. - Dylan Helo

790 Hart Road, Amsterdam

518-210-3028

heloscaping@gmail.com facebook.com/Heloscaping

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

- Denise Palumbo

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

518-306-5283

denise@plumandcrimson.com plumandcrimson.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Curtis Lumber - Heather Bodnaryk

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-5311

heatherb@curtislumber.com

curtislumber.com

8 Scarlet Street is nestled in a picturesque countryside setting, with great curb appeal and a side entry garage. The entry foyer makes a great first impression and opens to a formal study with elegant French doors, the perfect spot for working remotely. The open floor plan lends itself to comfortable living and family get-togethers. A simple color palette utilizing neutral walls and natural wood with pops of black and blue is carried throughout the main living area creating a clean look that feels current. The spacious great room features a coffered ceiling and an eye-catching floor-to-ceiling, cultured stone fireplace. The focal point of the shared space is the kitchen with a bold, art deco inspired, honeycomb tile backsplash that pops against a backdrop of off-white kitchen cabinets. A large working island, painted navy offers more contrast, seating for four and extra space for meal prep. The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances including an induction range with an air fryer mode. A screened porch off the dining area offers additional living space and opens to a paver patio, the perfect spot for cooking out.

The primary suite features a cathedral ceiling, a large walk-in closet and primary bath with a designer geometric tile floor and a tiled shower with a Corian seat and frameless door. The laundry room and mudroom are conveniently located adjacent to a two-car garage featuring natural light from two windows. Two additional bedrooms and a full bath complete the main floor.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• MiraTEC wrapped screened porch with removable plexiglass panels

• Electric induction range with air fry mode

• Floor-to-ceiling, cultured stone fireplace

• Gourmet kitchen with bold, art-deco inspired backsplash

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Zero Energy Ready Home

• Heat pump HVAC system

• Navien on-demand water heater

• In-home fire suppression system

• Energy Star Rated Products

• Garage prepared for future electric car

Peter Belmonte Lindsey Belmonte

Randall Perry Photography

R & M Homes

R-mhomes.com

R&M Homes is the stand out builder with this year’s entry, The Balmoral! Located in their ideal Ballston Spa location of 303 Eastline Estates. One of the area’s most sought after neighborhoods, with homes sitting on over a half to 1+ acre lots.

R&M Homes features their most popular designs and includes all the amenities you would want in a new home, including smartly crafted 1st & 2nd floor primary suites.

For over 20 years, R&M Homes has given each home their individual attention and a commitment to providing homeowners with lasting value.

REALTOR:

Signature ONE Realty GroupCindy Quade

2460 Route 9, Malta 518-376-2965

cmquade32@gmail.com

signatureonerealtygroup.com

LANDSCAPER:

Deschamps Bros

P.O. Box 11173, Loudonville

518-378-2710

INTERIOR DESIGN: Kelly Kisselbrack

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Bellevue Builders Supply - Bill Kanas

500 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady

518-355-7190

bellevuebuilders.com

303 Eastline Estates - Balmoral

56 Mallory Way, Ballston Lake

2,884 Square Feet • 4 Bedrooms • 2.5 Bathrooms

This Classic home gives way to Modern Farmhouse with it’s clean crisp lines and open space. Greeted by gracious double doors, the entry foyer is an introduction to what you are about to see and feel as you tour this spectacular home. From wide open spaces to dramatic ceilings, the character of this first floor primary suite home is evident throughout. Custom hand selected woodwork and lots of natural light flooding into each room, this home is comfortable yet perfect for entertaining.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Full glass rear wall with pocket sliding doors

• Custom kitchen with butlers pantry

• Custom primary bath

Steve Reutter

DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders

Luthers Woods

27 Winterberry Lane, Mechanicville

3,957 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 3.5 Bathrooms

DegraffBloom.com

For more than 30 years, Degraff Bloom Custom Builders has been building some of the finest homes in the Capital Region. Style and character are at the core of every DeGraff Bloom home. Our reputation for building the highest quality home is unmatched. Owners Mark Johnson and Mark Bloom have over 65 years combined experience in building including new home construction, historic rehabilitation, light commercial, HVAC, roofing, framing, remodeling and general construction. Each DeGraff Bloom home features quality construction, attention to detail, and beautiful finishing touches on each house. Underlying our work is a commitment to integrity and loyalty. We take pride in our ability to modify plans, not only to avoid repetitious house designs but also to meet the needs and desires of all our home buyers. Homes built by DeGraff Bloom have character and are unique to each home buyer.

DeGraff Bloom is focused on building neighborhoods with a traditional sense of community. We have built communities throughout the capital district including Clifton Park, Malta, Milton, Wilton, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, South Colonie and East Greenbush.

HOUSE DESIGN BY:

On Point Building Design

REALTOR:

Howard Hanna - Rick Gargiulo

28 Division Street, Saratoga Springs

518-369-7804

rickgargiulo518@gmail.com

howardhanna.com

LANDSCAPER:

Rivage Landscaping - Sean Rivage P.O. Box 1702, Latham 518-331-8061

rivagecompanies@hotmail.com rivagelandscape.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM: Curtis Lumber - Jay Legere 885 Route 67, Ballston Spa 518-885-5311

jay.legere@curtislumber.com curtislumber.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRMS: The Furniture House - Emily DiSiena 518-528-1292

disiena.emily@gmail.com thefurniturehouseny.com

KE Interiors - Kelsey Eaton & Laurie Michaels Cerrone 518-365 -9585

imcerrone@gmail.com

keaton@michaelsgroup.com keinteriorsllc.com

Welcome to Luthers Woods in Stillwater! This beautiful custom designed home situated in the serene woods surrounded by the historic Luther’s Forest features spacious living, ample natural light, interior and exterior fir timbering details, custom designed cabinetry & millwork, accent lighting and specialty design features. Host gatherings in the large gourmet kitchen before you relax in comfort by the Great Room fireplace or one of the three exterior porches. The substantial Primary Suite features hardwood floors in the bedroom, large windows, a barrel ceiling in the Primary Bathroom with a shower suited for comfort. The attached three car garage leads to a detached barn featuring tall ceilings with generous amounts of additional storage.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Custom Timber Frame Trusses

• Steam Shower

• Custom Ceiling Finishes

• Custom Built-Ins: Primary Walk-In Closet

• Custom Designed Kitchen

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Solar Panels

• Spray Foam Insulation

• Smart Wiring

Mark Johnson

1ST FLOOR

2ND FLOOR

Randall Perry Photography

Trojanski Builders

2,458 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 3.5 Bathrooms

TrojanskiBuilders.com

Trojanski Custom Builders is a premier builder in Saratoga Springs, New York. Dave Trojanski has been building exceptional homes throughout the Capital Region since 1998. Dave and the entire Trojanski Custom Builder's team share a commitment to the foundational principles that have made them stand out among other builders. Quality construction, commitment to exceptional customer service, and relationships built on integrity are the building blocks that have shaped their vision and driven their success.

REALTOR:

Sterling Real Estate Group -

Lisa Licata

1487 Saratoga Road, Ballston Spa

518-506-3996

LLicata06@gmail.com sterling518.com

LANDSCAPER:

Thomas Clime Landscapes, LLCThomas Clime

22610 Georgia Avenue, Brookeville, MD 20833 301-943-0953

tom@thomasclimelandscapes.com thomasclimelandscapes.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design -

Denise Rappazzo

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs 518-306-5283

denise@plumandcrimson.com plumandcrimson.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Builder's Kitchens - Michelle Bucciero 1220 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205 518-438-0323

michelle.bucciero@builderskitchens.com builderskitchens.com

THISHOMEISNOTOPENFORTHETOUR

Rich wood grained textural siding with wide trims and battered columns all accented with stone at garden wall height, makes this home a stand out. This home features 9' tall ceilings with an elaborate gourmet kitchen open to an inviting seating area with 18' tall walls and dramatic windows that invite the outdoors in while leading your eyes upward to a beautiful coffered ceiling bearing rich trim and accented on one side by custom rails of the overlooking balcony. Custom built-in shelving create a beautiful backdrop to highlight the owner's favorite collections. Pantry and laundry area easily accessible on the first floor. First floor spacious primary suite with customized closet and easy backyard access to let furry friends out for a quick break. Two zones of heating and cooling and three zones of radiant floor heat means that every guest will be comfortable while saving energy.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• First outdoor floor primary suite

• Outdoor dog run attached to primary suite

• Custom built-in shelving

• Gourmet kitchen

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Spray foam insulation

• 2 Zone High efficiency heating and cooling system

• 3 Zone radiant floor heat

Dave Trojanski

HOUSE DESIGN BY: James Fahy Design

Witt Construction

Old Stone Ridge

30 Old Stone Ridge Road, Greenfield Center

7,379 Square Feet • 4 Bedrooms • 5 Bathrooms

WittConstruction.com

John Witt, president of Witt Construction, Inc., has built hundreds of award-winning, custom homes in historic Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region. Founded by John in 1987, Witt Construction has earned industry, peer, client and popular acclaim for his striking designs, commitment to energy efficiency, attention to signature details and exceptional client services. The gracious homes have become iconic residences, each one uniquely situated in its natural surroundings.

LANDSCAPER:

Gallivan CorporationBrendan Gallivan 518-271-6100

BGallivan@gallivancompanies.com gallivancompanies.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

Studio K.Kennedy Flack & Rachael Gac 518-368-5707

Kennedy@studiokinteriordesign.com studiokinteriordesign.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Joel Lynn Designs - Joel Lynn Ralph 518-409-4968

joellynn@joellynndesigns.com joellynndesigns.com

This ultimate empty nester home is masterfully designed for entertaining and luxury! It is peacefully situated on a ridge overlooking the lights of Saratoga Springs at night with views of Mount Equinox during the day offering a tranquil living experience with its indoor-outdoor connectivity. The home has a thoughtful open floor plan with richly appointed spaces including large gathering areas, a bright gourmet kitchen with full back kitchen and pantry, an inviting dining and family room area with a sunken bar nestled between the three rooms. The bar has seating into the family room, and windows that open to the veranda. The veranda and screened porch include a fireplace, electric heaters, an outdoor kitchen and overlooks the pool and views of Vermont and beyond. The beautiful primary suite includes a soaking tub, walk in shower and large his and her closets with laundry room. An elevator takes you to all three floors of the home. The second floor has two ensuite bedrooms and a large loft area for grandchildren. A large glass wall opens to a second-floor hot tub porch. The lower level of this home includes a guest bedroom suite, exercise room, golf simulator and walk out to the backyard. There are so many wonderful details in this home!

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Lot is nestled into the bluff at Old Stone Ridge

• Primary Suite

• Golf Simulator

• Hot Tub Porch

• Outdoor Entertaining Porch

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• High Efficiency Appliances and Full LED Lighting

• Flash and Batt (1st and 2nd Floors): 2-1/2" Closed cell foam + 3 1/2" fiberglass

• 4-Zone Nest programmable Smart Thermostats

John Witt

HOUSE DESIGN BY: John Witt - Witt Construction & Studio K.

Family Owned & Operated

100 % SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

TESTIMONIAL

“ Your installers represent you so well. You are lucky to have such a great crew. And our doors look wonderful, what a difference it made in our home! We should have done it years ago. We will highly recommend you guys! Thanks again.

Another Satisfied Customer

SPECIALIZING IN SALES AND SERVICE FOR 30 YEARS

Whitbeck Construction

180 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center

3,145 Square Feet • 4 to 5 Bedrooms • 4 Bathrooms

WhitbeckConstruction.com

With over 20 years of experience in many different aspects of custom carpentry, our company works directly with homeowners, as well as other reputable businesses to meet your needs. We genuinely care for our customers and their projects. Whitbeck Construction strives to ensure professionalism and satisfaction for our clients. Our mission is to perform for our customers the highest level of quality construction services at fair, and market competitive prices. To ensure the longevity of our company through repeat and referral business, achieved by customer satisfaction in all areas including timeliness, attention to detail and service minded attitudes. To maintain the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, honesty, and fairness in our relationships with our professional associates, clients, and employees.

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

JMP Interiors with design assistance from Staged Nest Real EstateJulie Maleski Putzel and Melissa Waser Woodcock

195 Ashdown Road, Ballston Lake 570-401-4402

juliannemaleski@gmail.com jmpinteriors.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Zobel & Co. - Arthur Zobel

11 Broad Street, Glens Falls 518-588-1034

arthur@zobelandco.com zobelandco.com

This home was designed to have a low profile from the street view. The rear of the home opens up to a large yard with a beautiful forest to entice any curious minded person with a place to explore and play. The home was positioned and designed to have a great use of the natural sunlight with a passive solar consideration throughout the living environment. The floor plan is open and airy with lots of natural convective air paths to heat and cool the home, while making the communal space feel grand and inviting.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Feature walls in the primary bedroom and living room

• Hidden play rooms for the young at age and young at heart

• Solid surface siding with exterior accent lighting

• Large second story rear deck with stairs leading to the large yard

• Covered front porch to enjoy all the beautiful northern seasons

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• This high efficiency, all-electric home uses no fossil fuel to heat, cook, or make hot water.

• Custom designed insulation package that boasts amazing efficiency

• Solar ready design while allowing the owners the ability to use P.V. units to power the home in the near future

Matthew & Jason Whitbeck

Kodiak Construction

Mulberry Estates II - Cerise

4

Cerulean Boulevard, Wilton

2,394 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 2.5 Bathrooms

KodiakOfSaratoga.com

Founded locally by Saratoga Springs natives Jesse Boucher and Justin Sitler, Kodiak Construction is celebrating 19 years as a new home builder in 2023. We are a full-service residential custom builder, serving clients throughout the Northern Capital District, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Lake George, providing new construction services that reflect our passion for detail. At Kodiak, we partner with you every step of the way to create your perfect home.

LANDSCAPER:

Brookside Nursery - Jesse Marco

824 State Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-6500

jmarco@brooksidenursery.com brooksidenursery.com

NEW HOME SELECTIONS:

Plum and Crimson Fine Interior Design - Denise Rappazzo

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

518-306-5283

denise@plumandcrimson.com plumandcrimson.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

Old Brick FurnitureKaitlynn Johnson & Nicole Conlin

17 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park 518-394-6500

kjohnson@oldbrickfurniture.com oldbrickfurniture.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM: Curtis Lumber - Heather Bodnaryk

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-5311

heatherb@curtislumber.com curtislumber.com

REALTOR: Roohan Realty - Jeana Labas

519 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 208-360-1175

jeana@roohanrealty.com roohanrealty.com

Located in Mulberry Estates II, the Cerise model sits on 0.58 acres with mature trees and a professionally landscaped exterior. The stunning two-story home is finished with Owens Corning architectural shingles and Norandex Cedar Knolls low maintenance “Firebrick” red lap siding with shake accents. Outdoor living space includes a 16’x12’ stamped concrete covered porch and 16’x20’ stamped concrete patio off the family room. The open-concept kitchen, dining room and rear covered porch features built-in smart home speakers with a Sonos Music Amp. A Heat & Glo gas fireplace in the family room is complete with a custom brick inlay surround and handcrafted mantel design. Transitional Timberlake Portfolio cabinetry in “Cherry Amber” with solid wood doors on the kitchen perimeter and a “Painted Vanilla” island give a warm ambiance to the heart of the home. Find custom shelving with ample storage in the walk-in pantry next to the kitchen. The primary suite offers a walk-in California Closet and Scandinavian design inspired ceramic tiled shower with a bench and linear drain. The upstairs is completed with two guest rooms and spacious guest bathroom including a double sink vanity. Work from home in the south facing 12’x13’ study overlooking the covered front porch.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Stamped concrete sidewalk, covered porches, and patio

• Quartz kitchen countertop, granite countertops in bathrooms

• California Closet systems throughout

• Smart home speakers with a Sonos Music Amp

• Finished stairway to lower level

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• 95% efficient forced air heating & cooling system with programmable thermostat

• Energy Star VWD windows and sliding door

• Blower door tested to confirm minimized air leaks

• Led lighting throughout

Jesse Boucher & Justin Sitler

1ST FLOOR

HOUSE DESIGN BY: A Solid Build

2ND FLOOR

Belmonte Builders

Forest Grove - Westerly

2 Daintree Drive, Saratoga Springs

2,956 Square Feet • 4 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms

BelmonteBuilders.com

Belmonte Builders has been building high quality custom homes in the Capital Region for over 40 years. A family-owned business, Belmonte takes pride in working closely with each and every customer to personalize their home to meet their unique needs. Visit any Belmonte model home to see the flow of the floor plan, the quality of the fixtures, the integrity of the construction and the loving attention to detail. These are the building blocks that our success stands on today.

REALTOR:

Howard Hanna - Sharon Byrne

505 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

518-527-4914

sharonbyrne@howardhanna.com howardhanna.com

LANDSCAPER:

Capital District CPI - Chris Gennoy

PO Box 540, Clifton Park

518-383-6385

cdcpi@nycap.rr.com cpilandscaping.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

- Denise Palumbo

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

518-306-5283

denise@plumandcrimson.com plumandcrimson.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Curtis Lumber - Heather Bodnaryk

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-5311

heatherb@curtislumber.com curtislumber.com

This charming cottage/bungalow has great street appeal with cultured stone accents and a side load garage. The large foyer opens to an elegant study featuring French doors and custom built-in bookcases. Hardwood floors extend from the entry foyer into the great room and the remaining common spaces.

The great room features a coffered ceiling and gas burning fireplace and is open to both the kitchen and dining area. A beautiful gourmet kitchen includes white cabinets paired with a linen tile backsplash and earth-toned Quartz countertops. The focal point of the kitchen is a large working island with a rich, bourbon-stained finish, also matching the wood range hood, tying everything together. Three wooden pendant lights with hand woven jute accents over the island add a touch of rustic farmhouse flair. A screened porch is conveniently situated off the dining area providing the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors without the bugs.

The spacious primary bedroom features a cathedral ceiling with an eye-catching 6-light chandelier of cascading wooden beads for an elevated bohemian vibe. The primary bath features an extended double-sink vanity with sage green painted cabinets and quartz countertops paired with a unique Trapezium wood and Calacatta tile floor and a tiled shower with a Corian seat and frameless shower door. Two additional bedrooms and a full bath enjoy the privacy of an alcove off the foyer. A partially finished basement extends the living space of the home, including a game room plus an additional bedroom and full bath.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Formal Study features floor to ceiling custom built-in bookcases

• MiraTEC wrapped screened porch with removable plexiglass panels

• Gourmet kitchen with electric induction range with air fry mode

• Part of Forest Grove with access to a breadth of amenities including a large community center, swimming pool, pickleball courts and 7+ miles of walking trails

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Energy Star Rated Home

• Whole house Aprilaire humidifier

• Thermatru© Insulated Entry Doors with adjustable threshold

• Insulated, Low-E Argon gas-filled windows with grills between the glass

• Tilt-to-clean functionality & screens on all windows

Peter Belmonte Lindsey Belmonte

Randall Perry Photography

The BDC Group

The Cove at Lake George

4 Footpath Way, Lake George

1,737 Square Feet • 2 Bedrooms • 2.5 Bathrooms

theBDCgroup.com

The BDC Group is a team of engineers, architects, and creatives looking to transform land into profitable, aesthetic real estate assets. Our goal is to provide clients and partners with extensive know-how and intelligent solutions to realize profitability across multiple segments of the real estate industry. The BDC Group currently owns and operates an extensive and diverse portfolio of residential, office, retail, and industrial assets throughout the Northeast Region. Each property is guided toward its best use through thoughtful, patient, and focused management, with an emphasis on responsible operation and value creation.

HOUSE DESIGN BY:

Robert Bucher

REALTOR:

Scott Varley - Richard Romand

382 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

518-281-6808

scottvarley@kw.com

scottvarley.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Columbia Cabinets -

Raymond Roberts

489 Broadway Saratoga Springs

518-283-1700

ccabinets.com

Welcome to The Cove at Lake George, where modern luxury meets breathtaking natural beauty!  With peek-a-boo views just steps from iconic Lake George, this enclave of 19 exquisite townhouses features 2- and 3-bedroom options, large windows, 9-ft ceilings, fireplaces, walkout basements, balconies and private garages. The Cove is the perfect blend of convenience, stylish comfort and investment flexibility. Approved for short-term rentals!

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Designed for a bright & modern lifestyle

• 9-foot ceilings

• Loft areas & large windows

• Walkout basements

• Balcony & fireplace in every residence

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Wind barrier house wrap to reduce air infiltration

• Continuous roof venting

• Insulated doors & high-efficiency furnaces

1ST FLOOR

2ND FLOOR GROUND FLOOR

Kodiak Construction

Mountains Edge - Carson

29 Huna Way, Lake George

2,336 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 2.5 Bathrooms

KodiakOfSaratoga.com

Founded locally by Saratoga Springs natives Jesse Boucher and Justin Sitler, Kodiak Construction is celebrating 19 years as a new home builder in 2023. We are a full-service residential custom builder, serving clients throughout the Northern Capital District, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Lake George, providing new construction services that reflect our passion for detail. At Kodiak, we partner with you every step of the way to create your perfect home.

LANDSCAPER:

Brookside Nursery - Jesse Marco

824 State Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-6500

jmarco@brooksidenursery.com brooksidenursery.com

NEW HOME SELECTIONS:

Plum and Crimson Fine Interior Design - Denise Rappazzo

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

518-306-5283

denise@plumandcrimson.com plumandcrimson.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

The Furniture House - Emily DiSiena 1060 Route 9, Queensbury

518-798-0133

emilyd@thefurniturehouseny.com thefurniturehouseny.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM:

Curtis Lumber - Heather Bodnaryk

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

518-885-5311

heatherb@curtislumber.com curtislumber.com

REALTOR: Gerald Magoolaghan, Heather Willig 116 West Ave, Ste 100, Saratoga Springs 518-788-8220 | 518-339-1534 gerry@thecartiergroup.com heather@thecartiergroup.com mountainsedgeatlakegeorge.com

HOUSE DESIGN BY: Harlan-McGee of North America

Like each custom build in Lake George’s premier community, this home incorporates natural materials inspired by its Adirondacks setting with modern design elements and well-appointed finishes. The open-concept floorplan with 10-foot ceilings and ample windows let the outdoors in and are ideal for both entertaining and daily life. The living room features decorative beams overhead and a gas fireplace with shiplap surround and floating mantle. The gourmet kitchen is centered around an expansive island with seating and the walk-in pantry with fixed shelving is both functional and stunning. An open dining area flows out to a covered back porch with decorative stamped concrete underfoot. The first-floor primary bedroom is a true retreat with cathedral ceiling and double closets each boasting custom shelving from California Closets. The striking ensuite bathroom includes an eye-catching full-wall charcoal tiled shower with pebble tiled floor, double vanity with coordinating charcoal quartz countertops, and a separate water closet. The second floor offers an additional two bedrooms, shared full bathroom, and a cozy loft plus an unfinished bonus room that can be completed to add an additional 250 square feet of living space. The stairs to the basement are finished and open leading to more potential living space, if desired. Large, garden-level picture windows overlook the wooded backyard set up for easy-finishing in the future. It was designed to provide a family room, two more bedrooms, and has been pre-plumbed for a full bathroom.

Mountains Edge at Lake George features custom-crafted new construction homes with a modern Adirondack style on private wooded lots just off the south end of Lake George near Lake George Village, Ushers Park, and Million Dollar Beach. Enjoy the lake lifestyle but relish in the quiet setting and take comfort in knowing you’re part of a community of fine homes built by Kodiak Construction.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• 10’ first floor ceilings

• Timber beam accents

• Two primary closets by California Closets

• Large walk-in pantry

• First floor primary suite

ENERGY

EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• 95% efficient forced air heating & cooling system with programmable thermostat

• Blower door tested to confirm minimized air leaks

• Led lighting throughout

Jesse Boucher & Justin Sitler

DSG Construction and Remodeling

1181 Hunt Lake Road North, Lake Luzerne

3,900 Square Feet • 3 Bedrooms • 3.5 Bathrooms

DSGconstructioncorp.com

We are custom, luxury home building company that prides ourselves on delivering a quality product and personalized service.

HOUSE DESIGN BY:

Dreamscapes UnlimitedRobert Flansburg

REALTOR: Julie & Co. RealtyCharles Goodridge

18 Division, St #314, Saratoga Springs

518-409-1218

cgoods@juliecorealty.com juliecorealty.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM:

3 Eleven Home Staging and Design - Andrea Masterson

6 Eton Court, Saratoga Springs

518-226-2488

amasterson@3elevenhomedesign.com 3elevenhomedesign.com

KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM: Richards Building SupplySteve Smith

116 Railroad Avenue, Albany 518-365-6410

ssmith@richards-supply.com richards-supply.com/location/ building-supplies-in-albany-ny

Luxury Adirondack living located in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains on 119 private acres.

UNIQUE HOME FEATURES

• Live Edge Cedar Siding

• 30 Foot ceilings with tongue and groove vertical grain hemlock

• River Rock Fireplace

• 10" wideplank flooring

• Beautiful wraparound porch overlooking streams

ENERGY EFFICIENCIES, GREEN OR SMART TECHNOLOGIES

• Entire home contains sprayfoam insulation

• HRV System

• Radiant heat with zone forced hot air backup

David Gadomski

2023 Showcase of Homes Subcontractors & Suppliers

THE BDC GROUP

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #455)

29 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Best Fire

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Marcella's Appliance Center

560 Broadway, Schenectady

ProSource

110 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Top Tile

836 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham

BELMONTE BUILDERS -

Forest Grove,

2 Daintree Drive, Saratoga Springs

84 Lumber

2403 Route 9, Malta

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #458)

95 Van Guysling Avenue, Schenectady

Adirondack Precision Cut Stone

536 Queensbury Avenue, Queensbury

Albany Mechanical

15 Albany Avenue, Green Island

A.W. Hamel Stairs

3111 Amsterdam Road, Scotia

Barbera Concrete

PO Box 475, Guilderland

Best Fire

1760 Central Avenue, Colonie

Bonded Concrete

248 Watervliet Shaker Road, Watervliet

Brower Electric

41 Joseph Street, Saratoga Springs

Capital District CPI

PO Box 540, Clifton Park

Capital Plumbing and Heating

2001 Winners Cir, Castleton-On-Hudson

Case Paving

PO Box 5345, Clifton Park

Clifton Park Glass

2035 Route 9, Round Lake

Crawford/Pella Windows & Doors

529 Third Avenue Ext, Rensselaer

Curtis Lumber

885 NY-67, Ballston Spa

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Floor Source

1466 Route 9, Clifton Park

Harrison Drywall

262 W. Milton Road, Ballston Spa

Lill Overhead Doors

142 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer

Marcella's Appliance Center

15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park

Morin Construction

2 Greenfield Manor, Porter Corners

PJ Baker Electric

242 S. Central Avenue, Mechanicville

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

Sheft Construction

420 Bockes Road, Porter Corners

The Tile Man

1868 Hexan Road West, Niskayuna

Town & Country Painting

8 Marcel Road, Clifton Park

Ultimate Roofing

207 E. Campbell Road, Schenectady

VP Supply

43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake

BELMONTE BUILDERS -

Waite Meadows, 8 Scarlet Street, Clifton Park

84 Lumber

2403 Route 9, Malta

Adams Heating & Cooling

2088 Curry Road, Schenectady

Adirondack Precision Cut Stone

536 Queensbury Avenue, Queensbury

A.W. Hamel Stairs

3111 Amsterdam Road, Scotia

Barbera Concrete

PO Box 475, Guilderland

BCH Builders

50 Pepperbush Place, Ballston Spa

Best Fire

1760 Central Avenue, Colonie

Bonded Concrete

248 Watervliet Shaker Road, Watervliet

Capital Plumbing and Heating

2001 Winners Cir, Castleton-On-Hudson

Case Paving

PO Box 5345, Clifton Park

Clifton Park Glass

2035 Route 9, Round Lake

Crawford/Pella Windows & Doors

529 Third Avenue Ext, Rensselaer

Curtis Lumber

885 NY-67, Ballston Spa

Floor Source

1466 Route 9, Clifton Park

Harrison Drywall

262 W Milton Road, Ballston Spa

Heloscaping Inc.

790 Hart Road, Amsterdam

Lill Overhead Doors

142 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer

Marcella's Appliance Center

15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park

Morin Construction

2 Greenfield Manor, Porter Corners

PJ Baker Electric

242 S. Central Avenue, Mechanicville

Platinum Tile

1 Primrose Circle, Malta

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

Siewert Equipment

244 1st St, Troy

Tice Electric

470 Church Road, Albany

Town & Country Painting

8 Marcel Road, Clifton Park

Ultimate Roofing

207 E. Campbell Road, Schenectady

VP Supply

43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake

DEGRAFF BLOOM CUSTOM BUILDERS

A. W. Hamel Stairs

3111 Amsterdam Road, Scotia

Bellevue Builders

500 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady

Best Fire Hearth & Patio

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Best Tile

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

Capital Stone

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

Clifton Park Glass

2035 us Route 9, Round Lake

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Duke Concrete

50 Duke Industrial Park, Queensbury

Floormaster Carpet One

102 Quaker Road, Queensbury

The Furniture House

1254 Route 9P, Saratoga Lake,

Highland Home Heating & Cooling

26F Congress Street, Suite #302, Saratoga Springs

Marcella's Appliance Center

15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park

Mountaintop Seamless Gutters

200 Hayes Road, Schuylerville

On Point Building Design

114 Fonda Road, Waterford

Overhead Door

Company of Glens Falls

1584 St Route 9, Moreau

Rivage Landscaping

P.O Box 1702, Latham

Tall Pine Timber Frames

73 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs

VP Supply

43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake

DSG CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING

Best Fire Hearth & Patio

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Concord Pools & Spas

136 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Crandall Construction

10 Stone Clover Dr, Saratoga Springs

Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing & Heating

25 Industrial Park Road, Albany

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Dagostino Building Blocks

1111 Altamont Avenue, Schenectady

Dreamscapes Unlimited

6 Meghan Court, Saratoga Springs

Dwyer Electrical

1975 State Route 4, Fort Edward

Goodson Interiors

253 Plank Road, Porter Corners

Granite & Marble Works

8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton

Gutter Brothers

20 Corporate Circle, Albany

HD Concrete

853 Rock City Road, Ballston Spa

L. Browe Asphalt Services

19 Sun Oil Road, Rensselaer

Mulholland Enterprises

2084 State Hwy 9N, Greenfield Center

Richards Building Supply

116 Railroad Avenue, Albany

RR Fence Co

Saratoga Sod

1670 US-4, Stillwater

Saratoga Masonry

437 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs

KODIAK CONSTRUCTION -

Mulberry Estates II

4 Cerulean Boulevard, Wilton

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #599)

12 Selina Drive, Albany

Adirondack Audio & Visual

1048 US-9, Queensbury

Allerdice Glass & Mirror

120 Excelsior Avenue, Saratoga Springs

A Solid Build Design & Drafting

1007 Elizabeth Street Ext, Apt C2, Mechanicville

B&B Plumbing & Heating

25 Station Lane, Saratoga Springs

Best Fire Hearth & Patio

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Broadway & Spring Restorations

16 Peachtree Lane, Wilton

Brookside Nursery

824 Route 67, Ballston Spa

California Closets

16 Petra Lane, Albany

Capital Stone of Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Custom Decorative Concrete

86 York Road, Corinth

Earl B. Feiden Appliance (Latham)

785 New Loudon Road, Latham

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Everything Under Foot

188 Main Street, Hudson Falls

Granite Excavating

740 Route 9, Wilton

Subcontractors & Suppliers

Hamilton Plumbing Inc.

181 East River Drive, Lake Luzerne

JMK Industries

2 Old Stonebreak Road, Malta

JRS Cement Works Corp.

194 Bogdon Road, Broadalbin

MG Construction & Electric, LLC

97 Edie Road, Saratoga Springs

Mr. Tile

74 Miner Road, Porter Corners

Nick Gray Home Improvements

612 Division Street, Northville

Northeast Stairs, Corp.

1029 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake

Old Brick Furniture

17 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park

O'Leary Overhead Door

1316 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort

Pallete Stone

269 Ballard Road, Wilton

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

Pregent Paving

116 Citation Way, Ballston Spa

Rainbow Sprinklers

18 Fonda Road, Cohoes

Snyder's Drywall, Inc

1555 Saratoga Road, Fort Edward

Thompson Fleming Land Surveyors

12 Lake Ave, #1, Saratoga Springs

VP Supply

43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake

Yunga's Services Inc.

PO Box 14075, Albany

KODIAK CONSTRUCTION

Mountains Edge

29 Huna Way, Lake George

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #599)

12 Selina Drive, Albany

Allerdice Glass & Mirror

120 Excelsior Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Best Fire Hearth & Patio

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Bigelow's Energy

2490 Route 4, Fort Edward

Brookside Nursery

824 Route 67, Ballston Spa

California Closets

16 Petra Lane, Albany

Capital Stone of Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Christopher Hens

24 Walnut Street, Saratoga Springs

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Custom Decorative Concrete

86 York Road, Corinth

Earl B. Feiden Appliance (Latham)

785 New Loudon Road, Latham

Environmental Design Partnership

900 Route 146, Clifton Park

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Everything Under Foot

188 Main Street, Hudson Falls

Flores Mello Construction Corp.

64 Central Ave, Apt 1, Saratoga Springs

Granite Excavating

740 Route 9, Wilton

Hamilton Plumbing Inc.

181 East River Drive, Lake Luzerne

Harlan-McGee of North America

4000 Silver Beach Road, Malta

Hawk Drilling Co, Inc.

354 Stone Church Road, Ballston Spa

Highland Home Heating & Cooling

26F Congress Street, Suite #302, Saratoga Springs

Jason De Benedetti

27 Oak Hill Road, Averill Park

JMK Industries

2 Old Stonebreak Road, Malta

JRS Cement Works Corp.

194 Bogdon Road, Broadalbin

MG Construction & Electric, LLC

97 Edie Road, Saratoga Springs

Nick Gray Home Improvements

612 Division Street, Northville

Northeast Stairs, Corp.

1029 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake

O'Leary Overhead Door

1316 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

Pregent Paving

116 Citation Way, Ballston Spa

Snyder's Drywall, Inc

1555 Saratoga Road, Fort Edward

The Furniture House

1060 State Route 9, Queensbury

VP Supply

43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake

Winslow Painting

198 Howe Road, Greenfield

Yunga's Services Inc.

PO Box 14075, Albany

R & M HOMES

Adam's Heating & Cooling

2088 Curry Road, Schenectady

Alside

45 Industrial Park Road, Albany

Bellevue Builders

500 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady

Bennett Stair Company

1201 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake

Best Tile

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

Capital Stone

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

David Louis Flooring

867 Albany Street, Schenectady

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Security Supply

475 Central Avenue, Albany

Wolberg Electrical Supply (Albany)

35 Industrial Park, Albany

TROJANSKI BUILDERS

ACK Construction and Development

3 Briar Rose Way, Troy

Albany Mechanical

15 Albany Avenue, Green Island

A. W. Hamel Stairs

3111 Amsterdam Road, Scotia

Barbera Concrete

PO Box 475, Guilderland

Best Fire Hearth & Patio

1760 Central Avenue, Albany

Best Tile

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

Bill Ippoliti Construction

PO Box 163, Schuylerville

Bonded Concrete

248 Watervliet Shaker Rd, Watervliet

Builders Kitchen

1220 Central Ave, Albany

California Closets

16 Petra Lane, Albany

Capital Plumbing and Heating

2001 Winners Cir, Castleton-On-Hudson

Capital Stone

2241 Central Avenue, Schenectady

Creative Stone Designs

218 Gilchrist Road, Argyle

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Erie Materials

99 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Floor Source

1466 Route 9, Clifton Park

The Foam Guy & Son

698 Route 29, Saratoga Springs

Frank Webb Home

1 McCrea Hill Road, Ballston Spa

Gilbert VanGuilder Land Surveyor 988 NY-146, Clifton Park

Grantio Construction

14 Low Street, Ballston Spa

ITZ Security Inc

PO Box 100, Cropseyville, NY

J&G Contracting

3372 State Highway 10, Johnstown

James Fahy Design

2024 W Henrietta Road, Suite 3K, Rochester

Lansing Engineering 2452 State Route 9, Suite 301, Malta

Lifetime Seamless Gutters

3 Merchant Road, Gansevoort

Lill Overhead Doors

142 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer

Marcella's Appliance Center

15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park

ML Site Development

115 Vosburgh Road, Mechanicville

Morin Construction

2 Greenfield Manor, Porter Corners

Northeast Wood Coatings

127 County Route 69, Schuylerville

Pella Windows & Doors by Crawford Door & Window Sales

118 Quaker Road, #4, Queensbury

Perfect Cleaning Services

6 Mari-Nol Circle, Halfmoon

PJ Baker Electric

242 S. Central Avenue, Mechanicville

Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design

51 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs

Precision Gate & Fence LLC

PO Box 1303, Clifton Park

RDM Asphalt & Construction

36 British American Blvd, Suite 110, Latham

Steinberger Woodworks

206 Moon Road, Argyle

Thomas Clime Landscapes

22610 Georgia Ave, Brookeville, MD

Tile Pro

PO Box 395, Glenmont

Town & Country Painting

8 Marcel Road, Clifton Park

Towne TV

3125 Carman Road, Schenectady

TP Masonry

5863 Newman Road, Albany

Troy Sand and Gravel

PO Box 171, Watervliet

Ultimate Roofing

207 E. Campbell Road, Schenectady

WHITBECK CONSTRUCTION

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #149)

1 Pruyns Island Drive, Glens Falls

Allerdice Building Supply

41 Walworth Street, Saratoga Springs

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Capitol District Supply

252 Washington St, Saratoga Springs

Colorize, The Paint Professionals

750 Route 9, Clifton Park

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Earl B. Feiden Appliance (Clifton Park)

1771 Route 9, Clifton Park

Independent Contractors Supply

32 Storage Lane, Saratoga Springs

Matchless Stove & Chimney

1581 Route 9, Halfmoon

Northen Hardwoods

2302 Route 9N, Lake George

Pallette Stone Corp.

373 Washington St, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Masonry

434 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Sheldon Slate Products Co., Inc.

143 Fox Road, Middle Granville

Sherwin Williams

226 Washington St, Saratoga Springs

Staged Nest Real Estate

578 New Louden Road, Latham

Winsupply of Saratoga Springs

5 Finley Street, Saratoga Springs

Wolberg Electrical Supply (Saratoga)

60 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Zobel & Co. Kitchens

11 Broad Street, Glens Falls

WITT CONSTRUCTION

ABC Supply Co. (Branch #455)

29 Railroad Avenue, Albany

Adirondack Audio & Video

1048 State Route 9, Queensbury

Adirondack Precision Cut Stone

550 Queensbury Ave., Queensbury

Allerdice Glass & Mirror

120 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs

BCS Construction - Ballston Spa

BDB Paving

831 Route 67, Building 39A, Ballston Spa

Bentwood Luxury Kitchens bentwoodkitchens.com

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

C & C Seamless Gutters

candcseamlessgutters.com

Crawford Door & Window Sales

118 Quaker Road, #4, Queensbury

Creative Stone Designs

218 Gilchrist Road, Argyle

Concord Pools & Spas

136 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs

County Waste - county-waste.com

Curtis Lumber

885 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Snyder's Drywall - Greenfield Center

DyerWorks Construction

72 Dyer Switch Rd, Saratoga Springs

Earl B. Feiden Appliance (Latham)

785 New Loudon Road, Latham

Ferguson Plumbing Supply

612 Pierce Road, Clifton Park

Gallivan Corporation

2702 6th Avenue, Troy

Highland Home Heating & Cooling

26F Congress Street, Suite #302, Saratoga Springs

HT Plumbing - Albany

JMK Industries

2 Old Stonebreak Road, Malta

JM Trackey Custom Finishes - Glens Falls

Joel Lynn Designs - joellynndesigns.com

Laurier Max - lauriermax.com

Lone Pine Construction lpineconstruction.com

Michael Biss Woodworking, LLC michaelbisswoodworking.com

National Seating & Mobility

nsm-seating.com

N. Daigle Construction - Glens Falls

Northeast Custom Closets

2 Peabody Place, Wilton

Northwoods Concrete

6438 State Route 8, Brant Lake

Patricelli Electric

416 5th Avenue, Troy

Pinnacle Roofing, Inc

1101 Wedgewood Heights, Schenectady

Powers Construction

38 Whippoorwill Road, Queensbury

Saratoga Fireplace

437 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Quality Hardware

110 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs

Sherwin Williams

226 Washington St, Saratoga Springs

Squared Away Contracting

97 Fryer Road, Schaghticoke

Steve Herman, LLC

14 Wynnefield Drive, South Glen Falls

Stone Industries

4305 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

Studio K. - studiokinteriordesign.com

Survey Associates

432 Broadway, Ste 5, Saratoga Springs

Timber Build - timberbuild.com

Thermally Yours

149 Plant Road, Clifton Park

Thompson Flooring, Inc.

15 Mennen Road, Schuylerville

Upstate Retractable Screens

Ballston Lake

Valley Engineering

308 Wolf Road, Latham

Viewrail - viewrail.com

Winsupply of Saratoga Springs

5 Finley Street, Saratoga Springs

Wolberg Electrical Supply (Saratoga)

60 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs

THE VALUE OF Interior Design

Interior Design,

a well-known profession thanks to HGTV and superstars like Candice Olsen and Joanna Gaines. But have you ever considered the vast amount of work that happens behind the scenes that makes this glorified vocation a hard day’s work? As you walk through this year’s Showcase of Homes, I want to highlight the work that the interior designers contribute to the homes to make them sparkle! Oh yes, you see the furniture, artwork, and beautiful bedding, but I want to show you the elements that were deliberated over, long before the house was even constructed!

For starters, all the drawings that lay about a construction site are just as important to an interior designer as a builder. It’s the center meeting place of minds and communication. We all draw from the same source to understand where we meet in the middle to make our shared client elated with the outcome. It’s a collaboration of minds, so everyone needs to know how to read the roadmap!

WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

PHOTOS AND DRAWINGS BY CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

Shower Tile complete

Shower Tile layout

Reflective Ceiling Plan

Designers are also highly skilled at Space Planning which considers the purpose of space, who will use it and how. This very important process happens early on with an architect (best time to involve your designer) to ensure the space available is highly functional while honing in on building details best updated at the drawing phase, rather than during construction where the cost of nails and wood exceed that of an eraser.

For plumbing fixtures, a designer not only selects options that look appealing to the eye, but also the elements that make them function correctly. You see, the plumbing you see is only the surface, there are details involved between the 2x4s that are concealed but necessary for the experience the homeowner is looking to achieve. For instance, a shower stall with a rain head, hand-held shower and body spray all need to be choreographed to perform independently, together, or in tandem with other users in the same space. The amount of water all these heads produce must also be considered for proper drainage. The position and height are sometimes thought of as standard, but ask a 6’7” client if they were ever happy showering with a “standard” height shower head! With all these elements lined up, the interior designer must then draft drawings to communicate the location of each plumbing fixture, valves, any required electrical (hands free faucets or digital shower systems) and how they will function.

Tile is a significant portion of a bathroom as well as any wet area or high traffic opening. It’s a decorative element that can create drama, scenery, or simply set a bather at ease. Knowing the difference between tile thicknesses, their composition and installation proves to be very important in the final presentation. Floor tile and wall tile differ in slip resistance and are rated as such. Knowing which tile is best for your shower floor can make or break your daily dipping encounter. Be sure to look down at the tile floors in these homes, the backsplash areas and in the shower. Do you now see that a lot of attention was put into these spaces for performance as well as aesthetics?

Likewise, the lighting is a synchronized ebb and flow of design and materials but it’s so much deeper than that. Lighting can make or break all that has been designed around it. The light fixture itself must be harmonious with its surrounding and complement the overall “story” of a home. BUT…HOW it functions; the light color (Kelvin), brightness (lumens), the wattage of each bulb, beam spread of light, and one that confuses many homeowners…what type or shape of a lightbulb… that alone makes shoppers in the hardware store’s light bulb aisle shrug in frustration. I’ve seen it…I try to help when I can. But I’m not done…once all this is selected, now the designer needs to prepare a “Reflective Ceiling Plan” indicating where each light will live, how it will turn on and with what type of switch to make it function, sometimes down to the color of each electrical device (yes, there are many designer colors to choose from, not just white). Pay attention, you just might see this tiny detail in action!

The kitchens and bathrooms in the Showcase of Homes are sometimes prepared for a specific individual, while others are designed for “a potential buyer.” Many of the Showcase Homes utilize showrooms to facilitate the process, but the interior designer on the project would have input to colors, woods, and details to ensure the space was cohesive with the overall theme of the home. Many interior designers are certified as kitchen & bath designers as well, offering significant input into - or individually designing - the overall layout, function, and cabinet style. In conjunction with this, the appliance selection is key. Each piece is integral to the overall performance of the kitchen…which you all know is the center of a home! Keeping up with the newest options available ensures that your new kitchen won’t be outdated before its completed.

Countertops are the crown jewel of the kitchen. Yes, it’s wonderful to walk the stone supplier’s aisles and see all the beautiful options available and at your disposal for purchase. Your designer, however, has been working with you and understands your habits in the kitchen and how you cook. Knowing this will guide them to helping you make the best selection that will not only make your kitchen shine, but stay shining for years.

Flooring selections such as hardwoods and stain choices, wall-to-wall rugs, and natural stone are all elements that need to stay within the context of the overall project. The number of transitions between areas of a home can also create intimate spaces or make a small home feel large. Flooring is a subliminal technique to create a space without building a wall. See if you notice where a designer may have changed a flooring selection in these homes and how you reacted to that change. It's human psychology wrapped in an interior package.

And you may think choosing a wall color is simple, “I’ll just pick a beige!” Ah…but all colors have an undertone, which is a subtle difference in hue that results from mixing different paint colors together. Next time you have paint mixed, note the colors that were added to the base to create that color…and notice the undertone of the base paint for that matter! Interior designers can “see” these undertones so that when colors are selected, they are harmonious with one another. I had a client struggle with her colors for three months before calling me in. Within three hours we had the entire house selected. At the Showcase of Homes, take the time to see how the balance of color at each location has been carefully choreographed by the interior designer.

And yes, an interior designer can select all the furniture and furnishings that completes a space. Likewise, there are many furniture stores in our areas who hire designers to work with their customers on the showroom floor. The devil is in the details…Having a sharp eye alongside you not only ensures a finished outcome, it takes the stress out of sourcing everything that goes into fashioning a home and allows you, the homeowner, to simply enjoy the ride!

Until next time my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC

Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer

Certified Aging in Place

True Color Expert

colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net

@cmcdesignstudiollc

“Creating Environments for Life” TM SS

Kitchen layout

Flooring: Rugs to denote rooms in open space

Tiny Home HUGE IMPACT

Earning a living while building Americathe innovative way high school students are jumpstarting their future.

The tiny house returns to the Saratoga Showcase of Homes this year –- an intriguing glimpse at careers in the trades built entirely by high school students.

“The Showcase is proud and excited to be able to help promote the trades during our annual premiere showcase event,” said Showcase Co-Chair Barry Potoker, Executive Director of the Saratoga Builders Association.

Built by students in the Washington-Saratoga-WarrenHamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES construction cluster, this year’s 8’ x 24’ single-level tiny house features exterior vinyl siding, shingle roof, Anderson windows, a bedroom, living area, washer/dryer hookup, shower, composting toilet, storage, and mini-split heating and cooling system.

“This is the future coming up, whether we’re ready for it or not, and that’s powerful,” said Bruce Hoffmann, BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Work-Based Learning Coordinator, about New York’s increasing demand for energy efficient ductless mini-split heat pump installations. “This is an important opportunity for students to see how they work.”

“What we do collaboratively in construction clusters is bring students into the trades and into jobs where workers are in high demand,” he explained.

In addition to tiny homes, previous WSWHE BOCES projects have included a she-shed, home office, and hunting cabin. This year’s tiny house is a completely new design developed by WSWHE BOCES instructor Ian Hamilton and students learning construction, electrical, HVAC, and heavy equipment operation. Next year, they plan to have welding students build the heavy-duty trailer (that hauls the structure), as well.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO PROVIDED

KNOWLEDGE TODAY BUILDS EXPERTISE FOR TOMORROW

The well-being and economic health of Saratoga County is fed by well-paying jobs providing hands-on experience to those with a variety of interests and skill sets.

A 2021 US Department of Labor report indicates there are approximately 1.1 million unfilled construction jobs in the nation, and that less than 10 percent of jobs in the field are held by women. To close the gap locally, learning about the trades starts in second grade. Yes – second grade!

“There are misconceptions about working in the trades that go back 30 or 40 years,” said Doug Ford, Vice President of Sales and Purchasing at Ballston Spa’s Curtis Lumber. To change the conversation, Curtis Lumber donates materials (or supplies them at a significantly reduced cost), and lines up additional vendors to help supply the WSWHE BOCES projects. By collaborating with the Saratoga Builders Association and other organizations for more than two decades, this workforce coalition strives to crush misconceptions about the industry. Students learn how local careers in the trades are more lucrative, inclusive, and provide safer working conditions, than ever before through in-school instruction, job shadowing and internship opportunities, as well as site tours and career fairs.

Students visiting Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa learn about careers in product management and what happens in the estimating department; tour the kitchen design and

project center; see how doors and windows are hung; and learn about delivery logistics while exploring the fleet of trucks, forklifts, and repair shop.

Operating for six years as the Capital Region Workforce Development Coalition, the newly designated 501c6 nonprofit has been renamed the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, and has expanded to include more than 40 organizations, including schools, colleges, industry vendors, and a legislative component advocating for the Capital Region trades.

Three years ago, the group teamed up with former Hudson Valley Community College instructor Mike Baron, designer of the Expertise Project, to create a library of 200+ videos deemed the “Netflix of local jobs” to encourage local career investigations.

The industry evolves at a fast pace and everyday more complex building codes are put in place. Displaying the tiny house at the Saratoga Showcase of Homes (and at event locations around the region) is an inventive way to connect students and parents to an exciting new future.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Saturday, Oct. 7th, 10 am – 2 p.m., at 27 Winterberry Lane, Saratoga Springs, will be the Saratoga Showcase of Homes Vertical Garden and Toolbox Building Student Activity promoting work in the trades. Completed gardens will be sold in the spring. Proceeds benefit the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition SS

“Why is Liz Bishop always on the FALL cover of Simply Saratoga?”

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Liz Bishop has been attending the annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes since she moved to Saratoga in 2001.

For the last nine years, the Emmy-award winning CBS 6 Albany News Anchor has also helped promote the Showcase in commercials, the official tour guide - Simply Saratoga magazine, and as an emcee at the annual awards dinner.

She has toured hundreds of exceptional homes, and in 2020, hosted an hour-long virtual event, then in 2021, shared in the revelry of the 25th Anniversary celebration.

This year, Liz is again with us for the 27th Annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes as the Saratoga Builder’s Association expands into new territory with two homes in Lake George.

“The Saratoga Showcase of Homes is a spectacular fall tradition in our area, now celebrating 27 years! Fortunately, Liz Bishop has become the face of our event, providing her passion for our organization, new construction, and helping us to give back to our community,” said Barry Potoker, Executive Director of the Saratoga Builder’s Association, and co-chair of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes.

“Liz is so genuine and locally recognizable, giving us an amazing endorsement in support of this premiere new home tour - and so much fun to work with! She graciously emcees our awards dinner and celebration each year, and we are so very grateful. We applaud her dedication and commitment to our mission. Thank you, Liz!”

People often ask, “Why, Liz?”

“I just love this event –the beautiful homes, the practical ideas I take away from them, driving around from house to house in the nice fall weather, and just being around lots of people who are as excited about it as I am,” she said.

“For me, the overriding value of the Showcase - in addition to seeing and experiencing the beautiful homes,” she added, “Is that it benefits two great charities; Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties; and Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.

“I know there are a lot of people who have been on as many tours as I have, so I am especially grateful to be the one who gets to be directly involved with the Showcasethe photo shoot, the video, and most of all, the really great people who are connected to it.”

BUILDING EXPERIENCE

There’s audible “oohing” and “aahing” as Liz and her friends tour together on the first day, discussing the innovative products, beautiful décor, creative design, impeccable construction, and professional craftsmanship. Ever the trailblazer, Liz finishes out the tour on her own, taking it all in, and making friends along the way.

“I study everything when I go into these homes. There is nothing I miss,” she said. “I’m constantly asking, ‘What can I learn? What can I borrow? What will work for me?”

PUTTING IT ALL TO GOOD USE

In addition to using what she learns in her Saratoga home, Liz utilizes discoveries in the little lake home she recently purchased. Renovations have included updating the heating and cooling systems, installing durable (yet luxurious!) vinyl plank flooring, a new kitchen and bath, and new windows.

“By going on the tour, I’ve been exposed to vendors I otherwise would not have known about and to materials I didn’t know existed,” she said.

The pride these craftsmen take in their work is evident.

“These really are works-of-art that these builders have created. I love art. I’m a great fan. Each one of these houses I go into, I am just awed by the skill and creativity. I’m really wowed by the imagination that goes into each one – from the color selection to the beautiful floors they put in, to the kitchens that just knock your socks off – these builders have given it everything they’ve got.”

EXPERIENCE HITS HOME

When the pandemic made home tours impossible, the Saratoga Showcase of Homes went virtual. The loss of the special feeling that comes from opening the door, putting those blue paper booties on, and appreciating these homes together, was felt by all.

“The virtual tour drove that home because I felt a loss, everybody felt a loss, because they were missing that personal experience - getting to touch and see in person what’s been done,” said Liz.

“Because of that,” she continued, “I give a lot of credit to everyone involved, who did the absolutely best they could to still give a real sense of what the homes were like and to keep the Showcase tradition alive.”

In the hour-long special, Liz sat down with builders as they led us through the homes, which despite the challenges faced by the industry in 2020, were all spectacular! Luckily… we’re back in person. See you on the tour! SS

SARATO GApreserving

605 NORTH BROADWAY: SENATOR BRACKETT HOUSE

Edgar T. Brackett, a successful attorney and businessman, built the large house at the corner of North Broadway and Greenfield Avenue in 1885. He hired prominent local architect S. Gifford Slocum to design the residence for his family.

The Queen Anne style house features a steeply pitched irregularly shaped roof, a three-story tower, a variety of wall patterns and textures, a full-width porch with a solid paneled

wood balustrade and round columns. Making the primary façade of this house unique is the prominently placed decorative brick-patterned chimney and the half-timbered detailing that extends from the second-floor bay into the front gable. This is perhaps the only Queen Anne style residence in Saratoga Springs with half-timbering, which is not surprising since only about five percent of Queen Anne houses built in the United States have this unique detail.

WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION (UNLESS NOTED)

Photo courtesy of the Saratoga Springs History Museum, George S. Bolster Collection

Edgar T. Brackett was born on July 30, 1853, in Wilton, New York. After spending his youth in Iowa, he returned to Saratoga Springs in 1872. That same year, he married Mary Emma Corliss. He began the study of law at the office of Pond & French and was admitted to the bar in 1875. The following year, he became a member of the firm where he had studied. The firm was renamed Pond, French, and Brackett, where he practiced law for 12 years.

In 1888, Brackett formed the firm of Brackett, Butler, and Baucus. Four years later, he practiced law alone. Brackett expanded his career into politics. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1896, serving for a decade. In 1909, he was reelected and served another three years. That same year, Brackett, with financier Spencer Trask, established the legislation that preserved the springs of Saratoga and resulted in the establishment of the State Reservation at Saratoga Springs, today known as the Saratoga Spa State Park. Gates to the entrance of Congress Park were erected by the citizens of Saratoga Springs shortly after the creation of the State Reservation, as an expression of their appreciation for his efforts.

In 1889, Brackett, along with Sidney Rickard and G.F. Harvey, incorporated the G.F. Harvey Company, which became a successful pharmaceutical manufacturer in Saratoga Springs that made hundreds of kinds of pills, granules, tablet triturates, fluid extracts, powders, suppositories, tinctures, syrups and elixirs. In 1901, Brackett established the Adirondack Trust Company where he served as president until his death. In 1921, he built McGregor Links Golf Course.

Brackett Gates at Congress Park

Edgar T. Brackett

Photo courtesy of Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Room

Brackett resided at 605 North Broadway with his wife Emma and their two sons, Edgar Jr. and Charles. Unfortunately, Edgar died at a young age as a result of a Fourth of July accident. Charles went on to have a very successful career as a film writer and producer. Charles was best known for his work with Billy Wilder, which included the Academy Award-winning “The Lost Weekend” and “Sunset Boulevard.” He also won an Academy Award for his work on “Titanic,” and in 1957 won an Honorary Oscar for Outstanding Service in the Industry.

Senator Brackett passed away at his residence on February 27, 1924, after nine months of illness. The following day, the Ballston Spa Daily Journal wrote -

Senator Brackett’s death, (he was always hailed as Senator) will be a real loss to the community, the county, and the state. For a quarter of the century, he has been recognized as one of the big men of the Republican party and as one of the most able lawyers in the state. He was a man firm in his convictions, and once he believed he was right, he backed the opinion with all his dynamic energies. He was long known as a warm friend willing to make any sacrifice; on the other hand, he was a legal and political antagonist who gave no quarter and expected none. He was the veteran of many a hard-fought battle in politics and court.

The house remained in the Brackett family following Senator Brackett’s death until 1935 when it was sold to Mrs. Elizabeth Winde, who converted it to the Beverly Manor Rooming and Tourist Home. She operated the Beverly Manor until 1969 when she defaulted on her mortgage.

In 1970, Nellie S. Gordon purchased it and continued to operate The Beverly until 1980 when Patrick Pease purchased the house and returned it to a single-family residence.

A 1987 advertisement in The Saratogian for the sale of the carriage house, a separate parcel from the main residence.

A circa 1945 postcard of the Beverly Manor.

The exposed timber framing and the original carriage and horse wash can still be seen today.

The floating staircase is a distinctive feature of the interior of the house.

The exterior of 605 North Broadway retains its original design.

Harry Quadracci, founder of Quad/Graphics, purchased the house in 1984 - the same year that his company built a large printing plant in Saratoga Springs at Grande Industrial Park. Harry’s father operated a small printing press behind the family’s Italian grocery in Wisconsin. His father co-founded W.A. Krueger Company and Harry joined his father in 1962. In 1971, he, along with eleven others, founded Quad/Graphics, Inc., which today is one of the largest providers of print and related multichannel solutions in the Americas with many locations, including Saratoga Springs. Harry Quadracci and his wife Betty were generous patrons of the arts, contributing $10 million dollars to construct an iconic sculptural addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. In 1987, three years after Harry Quadracci purchased 605 North Broadway, he acquired the circa 1885 carriage house that at some point had been subdivided from the property and made into four apartments. The original carriage house was much smaller than it is today. The Quadraccis built two additions. The most recent addition, made in 1998, includes the walled garden and a garage, which earned a New Contextual Design Award from the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. The unique space provided a place for Quad/ Graphics to host retreats, special events, and overnight guests.

Following Harry’s unexpected passing in 2002, his youngest son Joel eventually took over the family business. Joel undertook an extensive restoration of the home. The Foundation assisted Joel with the application for federal rehabilitation tax credits, which helped to offset the cost of the restoration. It was then that layers of red paint were removed from the exterior brick and a clear coat was applied; an inappropriate garage addition was removed; the rear porch was constructed; and many of the original fixtures were restored. Supportive of Quadracci’s efforts, residents of Saratoga Springs returned items that had been removed over the years.

In 2021, the house and the carriage house properties were sold to Ed and Lisa Mitzen. Ed is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who in 2008 founded Fingerpaint Marketing, a full-service advertising agency that specializes in biopharma. Today, Fingerpaint Marketing, established in Saratoga Springs, has 800 employees around

the world. In 2020, the Mitzens established the nonprofit Business for Good, whose mission is to invest in people to build better businesses, stronger communities, and a more equitable world. Since Business for Good was established, the organization has supported over 150 businesses and community organizations, including the Bread Basket and Hattie’s where all profits are donated to local charities. Ed recently wrote “Wealthy and White: Why Guys Like Me Have to Show Up, Step Up, and Give Others a Hand Up,” which chronicles the early stages of Business for Good and its mission to build wealth in disadvantaged communities. The Mitzens’ generous support of our community and others in the Capital Region and their continued stewardship of this important historic property is appreciated. SS

Where Mexican Meets Italian in a Great Space

42 Fusion

WRITTEN

BY THERESA ST. JOHN | PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Ballston Spa is a quaint, walkable village known for its rich history, culture, people, and mineral springs. Less than a half-hour from the hustle and bustle of Saratoga, it lends a refreshing view of yesteryear, with plenty of options for participating in community events, shopping at unique storefronts, and enjoying fantastic food venues while in town.

Across the street from Wiswall Park, where what seems like hundreds of hand-painted birdhouses color the scenic area and bring smiles to both locals and daytripping faces, my friends and I decide to share a meal at 42 Fusion, a Mexican-Italian restaurant that opened in May of this year. When we hear this combination of cultures, we figure there must be a back story and feel the need to find out what it is!

Chris Bushee, Magazine Managing Editor of several publications in Saratoga, is the powerhouse who always spearheads these restaurant visits. Susan Blackburn photographs our meals, and I get to write about our taste-bud experiences afterward. It’s an excellent way for the three of us to meet a few times a year – we get to catch up over a yummy lunch or fancy dinner and drinks. The three of us arrive around noon, and we’re the first to step inside this charming eatery. It’s cozy, with black tables tucked into corners or set in front of large windows that allow natural light to stream through. The waitress says they cover the tables with black cloth for the evening crowd, which dresses the room up a bit.

Tino Lopez is the chef/owner of 42 Fusion. He smiles when I ask where he's from. "I moved here from Mexico in March 2006. I fell in love with Saratoga when vacationing here for the first time: I remember thinking, 'I'm going to move here one day!'" He explains that it was a seed dream that kept growing until he made it happen. Once here in America, Tino worked in Italian restaurants for the next 20 years but never forgot his roots and deep affinity for authentic Mexican food.

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

- Cesar Chavez

"I was determined to own my own restaurant but wasn't certain the opportunity would ever happen. When it did," he continues with a grin that turns into an infectious laugh, "I jumped." Although the MexicanItalian fusion was undoubtedly a different culinary idea, he loved both cuisines and couldn't choose between the two. He often cooked the combination in original or modified recipes, and both friends and family praised the dishes. "It took about six months to develop our menu, and we think it's a good fit for what we want to represent."

Alicia Halse is his co-owner and works the front of 42 Fusion. She's friendly and outgoing and manages the day-to-day operations. When we ate there, she was our greeter waitress, and it seemed we'd known her for a long time. During the two hours we meandered through the dishes she served, we watched as she worked the room, greeting everyone and making them feel at home.

We decided on the Charred Poblano for our appetizer. I’ve never had them before, fearing the heat might be too much for me. I’m delightfully surprised. The peppers have a unique flavor – smokey, slightly sweet, and just the right amount of burn. Ours are stuffed with the house blend of cheese, spices, and a mixture of Chorizo and Italian sausage.

Tino Lopez is the chef/owner of 42 Fusion

Their Mexican Cobb Salad is delicious - a little leaf lettuce and arugula topped with crispy Chorizo, red onions, hard-boiled egg, corn, spiced-toasted Pepitas, black beans, perfectly ripened avocado, plump cherry tomatoes, Queso fresco, Cotija, and Kalamata olives. The freshest ingredients are topped with a zesty PoblanoCilantro dressing. These little differences from any other Cobb salad made all the difference.

When I ask what the white cheese is, as the flavor is unfamiliar, I learn that Queso fresco, a staple in many Mexican kitchens, is produced differently than other white cheeses. My friends and I taste a bolder, tangier flavor than mozzarella cheese, but we also note it’s sweeter and a bit saltier than the goat cheeses we’re used to. Whatever the reason, our pallets are happy, and we nod in agreement – it’s a nice change in flavor. We watch a party of four wander in and sit down. Tino walks out of his kitchen, and they greet him with a smile and a handshake. “Look, we came back, and this time we brought friends!” one man says with an infectious grin. They chat with the chef briefly, as if they’ve known him for years. I hear Tino suggest a few items on the menu and then watch as he turns the table over to Alicia. It’s nice to see how smooth the transition is between the two.

So, back to our table… Do I love lasagna? You bet I do –it’s one of my favorite Italian dishes: bubbling cheeses, sweet tomato sauce, perfectly cooked noodles, and ricotta cheese – what could be better? At 42 Fusion, I try Mexican lasagna for the 1st time. The entrée arrives baked with a trio of seasoned ground beef, Chorizo, and veal layered with a blend of Oaxacan cheese and fresh mozzarella simmering between pasta sheets and homemade tomato sauce.

We also tried 42 Fusion’s Short Ribs, baked to perfection – with just the right amount of fresh thyme and other spices. They’re served with a spicy demi-glaze and placed on a bed of creamy polenta. We didn’t even need a knife to cut the meat – it was that tender.

We put our forks down several times to talk about life and things that have happened since our last visit, but mostly to let our stomachs settle so we’d have room for dessert. Who doesn’t like to end things on a sweet note?

The flan reminded me of Crème Brulee; it was a sweet, creamy custard with fresh vanilla beans topped with a caramel sauce, and there was plenty of it to go around. The same goes for the dish of Churros. Chris couldn’t believe I’d never tried this treat before. This Oaxacan dessert is fried to a golden brown and covered in cinnamon sugar. I was hungry again, just looking at it. The plate had a small cup of chocolate sauce, which was so delicious we could easily have drunk it. When I asked how the sauce had been made, Tino grinned. “Uh-uh,” he told us. “It’s a secret recipe; you cannot have it.”

That’s the great thing about chefs who try new recipes on guests – already confident they’ll be a hit. It might have been our first time eating at 42 Fusion, but we left knowing it would not be our last. SS

Appreciating Wine with the Saratoga Sommelier

Nick got his first job as a server in the downtown Saratoga restaurant scene 17 years ago. Since then, he’s been a bartender, caterer, restaurant manager and owner. In 2020, he became a certified sommelier.

“I always had a passion for wine and food,” he said, and the more varieties he was exposed to, the more his experience and expertise grew.

EXPAND YOUR VINOUS HORIZONS

A private sommelier allows you to deepen your understanding of wine in a relaxed, comfortable setting. By adding the Saratoga Sommelier to your guest list, you’ll have the assistance of an experienced palette for food pairing suggestions, tasting notes, and catering services at your next shindig.

“Everyone has a different style, a different reason for wanting to know about wine, and a different concept for what they want the night to be. Every time I host an event, I start with a blank slate,” said Nick.

Each event is as special as each bottle of wine.

“Every bottle is unique – a living product that evolves into different flavors and aromas,” said Nick.

During the pandemic, Nick began offering virtual tastings, and now provides personalized private wine and dinner parties for as many as 10 people, as well. For larger groups (of up to 25), he’ll coordinate with a personal chef or catering company for your themed event and be onsite to pour and provide you with the wine’s unique backstory and flavor profile.

Past tasting themes have included selecting cabernets from different regions of the world, wines at different price points, or sampling all reds or all whites. He even replicated the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris competition where California wines famously won, effectively ending the notion that fine wines only come from Europe.

At the 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, Nicholas Adie invited more than 400 people each day to grab a glass for a curated tasting experience at 28 Granite Street, the DSG Construction and Remodeling home. Serving an inviting rosé champagne paired with strawberries, Effie’s Homemade Oat Cakes, and brie cheese, Nick dispensed masterful pairing ideas and an understanding of the vast number of options available.

“Everybody certainly was delighted,” said Nick. As the Saratoga Sommelier, he specializes in hosting unique personal or corporate events centered around wine.

“As long as you’re not afraid to venture away from the food and wine path a little, you’ll be quite surprised by what you find,” he said.

Whether you’re new to wine, or have a growing cork collection, the Saratoga Sommelier makes tastings fun and engaging instead of stuffy and pretentious. For updates on weekly offerings, follow the Saratoga Wine Exchange at www.saratogawine.com

To book an event or for pairing suggestions, follow the Saratoga Sommelier on Instagram and saratogasommelier.com

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO PROVIDED

constance DODGE

OIL & PASTEL PAINTER EVOKES THE MANY MOODS OF THE WORLD AROUND HER

Constance A. Dodge is a figurative artist, renowned for capturing the fluctuating moods of the Adirondack Mountains and the Sacandaga Valley. Her lakeside home studio in Edinburg, a stone’s throw away from the Batchellerville Bridge, is filled with oil paintings and pastel scenes reflecting the region’s haunting history, rugged residents, and picturesque landscape.

Dodge always knew she wanted to be an artist. “At age 10,” she recalls with a smile, “when I declared to my grandfather that I wanted to be an artist, he replied, ‘No, you don’t want to do that! There’s no money in that.’”

Undeterred, Dodge earned a BS in Art Education from Nazareth College, Rochester, and an MFA with distinction in oil painting from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. She studied art history for two postgraduate years at SUNY Albany and, later, studied pastel painting with several noted artists. Dodge pursued a teaching career for 31years, 23 of them as the high school art teacher at Schodack Central Schools. At the collegiate level, she taught full-time at Adirondack Community College for several years and part-time at the College of Saint Rose, Empire State College, and Goddard College.

WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH AND MARILYN SARGENT

Artist Constance Dodge

Artwork by Constance Dodge: Dorothy Edwards, friend to all.

Like many creatives, Constance Dodge’s artistic journey has been marked by experimentation and innovation, her guiding principle: Never be afraid to change. Dodge’s work is largely figurative today, focused on real-world figures and objects. But much of her earlier, post-MFA work was more abstract in nature. During the turbulent ‘60s, she combined diverse materials, everyday objects, and paints to express her political and social beliefs. “I was drawn to the idea and feel of collage to express my views on the world around me. I was interested in pushing painting to sculpture by combining painting and sculpture in collage or assemblage-like form.”

In 1969, a two-month art history study tour of Europe, Russia, Hungary, and Austria dramatically fueled Dodge’s artistic vision. “Seeing the great monuments of Europe and the Russian icons, and studying the artists’ use of symbolism, was a very powerful experience,” she explains. “It enriched me both as a teacher and an artist.”

Inspired by the icons and symbolism she’d observed overseas, Dodge began working from personal photographs of family members, incorporating their images with objects of intrinsic importance to them.

“Renaissance and Baroque artists used symbolism to express how volatile we are—how short, truly fleeting our lives are. I began using collage elements in my paintings to create a story for the viewer.”

Since the 1980s, Dodge has worked extensively with insets: smaller, separate scenes inserted within larger paintings to convey additional detail. These intriguing paintings-within-paintings enable the artist to express a deeper understanding of the person or scene portrayed. For example, one painting shows Dodge’s once-strong mechanic grandfather, with whom she lived for several years, stooped with age, his deeply-etched face reflecting the weight of time. Inset within this painting are nostalgic objects reminiscent of the man, including his beloved Victrola with “Nipper” listening intently to the music.

Fascinated by the interplay of light and shadow, Dodge frequently employs underpainting in her oil and pastel work. In a scene depicting a dinghy, she begins by painting the vessel an eye-popping yellow and, then, successively adds darker layers. Although the dinghy ultimately appears dark in color, an arresting glow shines through, adding great depth to the scene.

The artist captures the essence of her grandfather.

Interacting with other artists is vitally important to Dodge. She has been a member of the Guild of Adirondack Artists— an assembly of juried artists from the Southern Adirondack region—and the Oak Room Artists, a juried, by-invitation-only group of 24 artists based in Schenectady. In 1997, Dodge was instrumental in the formation of the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN), a group that encourages cultural growth by offering year-round art exhibits and classes, theater presentations, and musical events.

Constance Dodge has exhibited extensively and garnered numerous grants, awards and honors. For 23 years, she exhibited at the Amos Eno Gallery in NYC, and her work can be found in private and public collections both here and abroad, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., and Artpool in Budapest, Hungary. During the pandemic, Dodge spent 15 months illustrating a children’s book, REGARDS, WALTER. Written by her friend and former Schodack English teacher, Warren Applegate, the book was published in 2022. Visiting an artist’s home studio/gallery is always an adventure, affording an up-close glimpse of the environment in which much of the artist’s creativity takes place. On a recent visit to THE DODGE HOUSE, Constance’s lakeside gallery, I was impressed by the many shoe-box-to-sofa-sized oil and pastel paintings adorning the home and by the warmth and interest shown me by Dodge and her partner, Marilyn Sargent.

Sargent pointed out that the entire house is Dodge’s gallery, indicative not only of the artist’s painting prowess but of her visionary architectural sensibilities as well. Dodge, Sargent insists, sees the beauty in everything—even derelict old buildings. In 1987, Dodge purchased her home—then a longneglected “hellhole,” according to Sargent—for $39,000. Although the home, purportedly, had once been the finest in the community, years of rentals and landlord neglect had rendered the place a nightmare.

“I thought she should just plow it under, it was so far gone,” Sargent states emphatically, “but Connie insisted the house had ‘good lines.’ When she said that, I grabbed a sledge hammer and drove it into a wall—that’s what I thought of those good lines!”

After gutting the farmhouse themselves, the women hired contractors to reconfigure the rooms according to Dodge’s detailed vision, restoring its old-time history and charm while, simultaneously, making the space more conducive to its new role as home, art studio, and gallery. This wasn’t Dodge’s first rodeo in the renovation arena. Previously, she’d gutted and restored a four-story townhouse in Albany, with stunning results. But their lakeside home presented the more daunting challenge, and as it evolved into a place of beauty, Sargent was blown away by Dodge’s amazing insight. The home did, indeed, have good lines. This fall, as you head out on a leaf-peeping excursion around Great Sacandaga Lake, consider visiting The Dodge House Lakeside Gallery, meeting Constance, and perusing her exquisite scenes of mountains and valleys, Adirondack chairs and rowboats, waterfalls, lakes, and flowers. It’s best to call ahead, but if you happen to be in the area, do stop in. As the artist’s welcoming roadside shingle reads: BY APPOINTMENT . . . OR BY CHANCE.

The Dodge House, 936 South Shore Rd., Edinburg; 518-863-2201; cdodgeart@gmail.com

Welcome to The Dodge House Lakeside Gallery in Edinburg.

Constance Dodge creates Adirondack paintings, archival prints, and notecards.

alexandra HIGGINS

Alexandra Higgins is an artist that works in several different mediums. I recently met her at her beautiful home gallery in Mayfield to learn about her work and process.

Alexandra’s gallery is called “Window to the Garden.” She has created, at her home, beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to display art. Much of the work is Alexandra’s, however, there is also work by five other local artists on display. It is difficult if not impossible to categorize Alexandra’s art since she has such an eclectic body of work. She paints, sculpts, writes music, and sings.

Alexandra told me that her mother had a big influence on her. Her mother, who was a published writer, worked tirelessly at her craft. Alexandra told me that her mother was always busy doing something. She raised Alexandra and her four siblings and still managed to write and get published. Alexandra describes herself as a worker bee and thinks that she got that from her mom. If she isn’t creating art or working in her garden, she is writing and recording music. You can find much of her music on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, and other distribution sites. She has been a member of five different cover bands, but now mostly concentrates on writing and recording her own songs.

Artwork by Alexandra Higgins

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORGE HANSTEIN

Alexandra Higgins

Alexandra studied interior design at Sage and art history and interior design at SUNY Plattsburgh. She also achieved a master’s degree in painting. Her background in design is apparent in the beautiful spaces that she has created. As you wander through her garden, you will see her cement mosaic sculptures mixed in with beautiful flowers and plants. Her indoor spaces highlight her paintings. Her paintings are very intense and colorful. She uses a type of oil paint stick that allows her to create the colors that you see in her paintings. My personal favorites are women’s faces surrounded by brightly colored flowers. The faces are very expressive and most of the subjects are looking directly at you. They almost make you think you know what the subject is thinking or feeling. That series is called “looking back” since the subject is looking back, directly at you. Alexandra explained that traditionally women have been subject matter to be viewed. In this series, they are the ones doing the looking. She states the inspiration for this series was the, “Me Too Movement” and women speaking up.

Alexandra told me her work is moving towards landscapes and more abstract paintings. The landscapes also are very beautiful and are painted with very intense colors. They depict The Adirondack Mountains and forest scenes along with some more abstract pieces. Some of the paintings are huge and quite impressive. Her method of doing paintings is also interesting. She always has more than one painting

going at once. She says that she does that because she needs to sit with a piece for a while. She will sometimes have four or more paintings going at one time. She says that working like that gives her the opportunity to go back to a painting and see it with new eyes. She told me that the paintings tell her when they are finished.

Whatever her method is, it clearly works. When I asked her about the paintings, she said she wants the viewer to fall into the painting. I took that to mean that she wants the viewer emotionally involved in the work. When you see her work in person, you can feel that. The paintings are quite powerful.

When you speak to Alexandra about her art you immediately know that she truly loves what she does. She had other successful careers before doing art full-time. She sold real estate, flipped houses and at one time even drove buses. What she truly loves to do is create beautiful things and beautiful spaces. When I asked Alexandra why she does what she does, she said “Because I can’t imagine doing anything else.” She has been creating art for 30 years. Alexandra paints because she loves it; if the viewer likes it, so much the better.

“Window to The Garden” gallery is open by appointment, contact her at ahiggins1219@gmail.com. www.alexandrahiggins.com SS

…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

100Years & Counting...

WRITTEN BY MATT GRUMO | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Nestled among towering locust and maple trees on the corner of Charlton Road and Goode Street is a historic Greek Revival farmhouse that dates from the earliest years of Ballston history. The current owners, Matt and Jeannine Grumo, purchased the home in 1995 and Matt has spent a good deal of time investigating the history of the house and the family of Uriah Gregory that originally settled there.

A history of early Ballston, Shadows, written by former town historian, Katherine Briaddy, provided some basic information about the house and Uriah Gregory. Matt’s efforts began with visits to the county clerk’s office to look for deeds, tax records and the like, as well as stops at the local historic societies. An early visit to Brookside Museum of the Saratoga County History Center in Ballston Spa uncovered an unexpected find among the documents in the museum’s “Gregory” folder. A descendant of Uriah’s from Washington state had forwarded some photographs of Uriah and one of his daughters that had been passed down through the generations. The image of Uriah is particularly noteworthy because photography was in its infancy in the early 1840s and images of Revolutionary war veterans would have been quite rare.

Another treasure in the folder was a transcript of a document entitled My Grand Father’s Story-A True Tale of the Revolutionary War written by Sophia L. Satterlee. Sophia was a granddaughter of Uriah’s who composed this story around 1843 based on discussions with her grandfather in the last year of his life. The story begins with Uriah’s childhood in Wilton, Connecticut, and his move with his father up to Ballston District in 1776. It goes on to describe his experiences in the local militia and with the Connecticut militia at the Battle of Saratoga, and provides glimpses into life during those tumultuous years, which included the aftermath of the famous raid of Ballston by the British in 1780. Other pieces of critical source material are the pension application Uriah submitted in 1832 which details his service during the revolution, and the early town records which document the various roles Uriah had (e.g., town justice) during his long residency in Ballston. Using online resources such as Ancestry. com provided access to a variety of records including census data, tax lists, old newspaper stories, genealogical histories and cemetery details that helped add substance to the story. Matt’s research involved trips to Uriah’s ancestral home in Wilton, Connecticut and to the Finger Lakes region where several of his children and grandchildren had lived.

The land upon which their house is located was part of a purchase Uriah made in 1792 and it is likely the first house (north section of current home) built shortly thereafter where Uriah and his wife, Tamer, raised their eight children. This part of the house includes a keeping room and an upstairs bedroom. The South (Greek Revival) part of the house was added in either one or two phases probably around 1830 and includes a parlor and dining room on the first level and additional bedrooms above. The structure features mortice and tenon, scribed joints, large posts and beams, lath and plaster walls and other features typical of the period. Matt has continued to communicate with the descendants of the Gregory family over the years and they have shared other items such as family stories and letters that allowed him to follow members of Uriah’s family through much of the nineteenth century. In turn he has been able to share details about Uriah and photos of the house of their ancestor.

“Originally my thoughts were focused on Uriah’s life and my intent was to develop a short narrative that could be given to the town and county historical societies, local genealogy groups and future owners of the house to preserve a record of this house and the family that lived here. As I proceeded, I found my love of history driving me to learn more about the period in an attempt to put myself in ‘Uriah’s shoes’ and add historical context to his life.” While he did not intend to prepare a genealogical record of the family, Matt extended the story to describe what happened to Uriah’s children and grandchildren since, in many ways, their lives came to represent for him a true “American story” spanning more than a century of the formative years of our nation.

Matt’s research has culminated in the recent publication of the book

Uriah Gregory-A New York Settler in Revolutionary Times SS

SWIFTS

Chimney

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORGE HANSTEIN

One late afternoon - 40 or so years ago - before I lived here, and only had a camp, a friend of mine and I were sitting in a bar in Northville. We were doing some serious beer drinking after a hard day of fishing on The Great Sacandaga Lake. Suddenly at around 5:30, everybody got up from the bar and tables and started to leave. It was a mass exodus.

I stopped a guy and asked him where everyone was going. He looked at me like I was from another planet and said, “The Chimney Swifts are back.” and rushed out. I looked at my friend and said, “Let’s go!” We followed the bar folk out and saw that there were hundreds of people walking in the same direction. It was like a scene from the movie “Time Machine” when the Morlocks turn on the sirens. We walked a couple of blocks and saw everyone looking up at the top of a very large smokestack. Within minutes, the high school band arrived in their best parade uniforms. They played music for about 20 minutes and then…it began.

A few birds appeared and circled above the smokestack. Everyone cheered. They circled for a little while at very fast speeds and then dove straight down into the chimney. More birds followed and did the same. Pretty soon there were hundreds, maybe thousands of these tiny creatures circling the chimney and diving in. First two or three at a time and then 20 or 30 at a time. Everyone clapped and cheered and oohed and aahed at every dive. As it started to turn dusky, it was over.

All the Chimney Swifts were safe at home in their beloved chimney.

The band marched back to the high school playing their best marching music and all the townsfolk went back to their homes. My friend and I and all the rest of the bar folk went back to the bar. The talk was all about the Chimney Swifts and what a great return it had been. I wondered how they knew what day the Chimney Swifts would return.

Some grizzly old guy told me that they had been back for weeks. He told me that they fly out of the chimney during the day and return every night, during the spring. He went on to say that the town always picked a certain day to celebrate their return and acted as though it was the actual day of their return. (I wish he hadn’t told me).

I attended that event every year until they tore the crumbling chimney down for safety purposes. I was sad to see it go, and I know that most of the residents of Northville were sad also.

I often wonder where the Chimney Swifts went. I hope they found a nice new chimney to live in and are doing well. I doubt, however, that they will ever get the nice warm welcome that they got every year in Northville. SS

Hollywood history & Glamour

come to life in hadley, new york

WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN | PHOTOS BY THERESA ST. JOHN (UNLESS NOTED)

The McCarthy Farmhouse sits back from the road, peeking out from the end of a long driveway marked by white fencing and a sign that welcomes guests to The Mountain Airstrip Farm. It’s been recently painted a snappy white with black trim and offers a warm invitation to come inside and sit a while, one I happily accept as I walk up the old stone staircase. At the moment, I only know the property was purchased in 1933 by Joseph McCarthy, a Hall of Fame lyricist and founder of ASCAP, who enjoyed entertaining family and

friends from NYC’s Broadway at his sprawling summer home in Hadley, New York.

I’ve taken a leisurely morning drive from Saratoga to write a story about this fantastic wedding venue (to read more about that and how you can rent the farmhouse and enjoy all it has to offer, please see the 2023 Fall Issue of Saratoga Bride.) When I learned that the famed Florenz Ziegfeld, silent actress Billie Burke, and the dancing Ziegfeld Girls often spent time here, I was intrigued by the home’s history and wanted to know more.

Son Joseph A McCarthy was also a successful lyricist. He’s the man who penned the words to ‘Ramblin’ Rose’ for Frank Sinatra – one of my all-time favorite singers. Joseph eventually inherited the farm from his father and married the legendary Hollywood silver-screen movie actress Veronica Lake.

A few weeks ago, I went to visit a WWII vet friend of mine. He follows my travels, reads my stories and his eyes lit up when I told him I would be writing this for Simply Saratoga. “Veronica Lake!” he exclaimed. “She was my dream girl when I was a teenager! Her acting was so intense – with her golden tresses over one eye and cherry-red lips – she was hard to resist,” he laughs. “Did you know she was in, I think, 28 movies? They

started in 1939 and ended in the 70s. I watched every single one of them – even though it made my wife mad.” It’s surreal to imagine what the farmhouse must have been like when people like Marlon Brando, Debbie Reynolds, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Mickey Rooney, and others stayed and played here. I stand momentarily in front of the long table on the home’s sunny wraparound porch and notice the engraved name tags in front of each chair. “These are some of the guests who ate here with Veronica and Joseph,” owner Chandler Atkins tells me. I smile, thinking about the conversations that must have happened over dinner. “Even the international chess figure, Bobby Fischer, stayed with the couple for a time.”

“My hair kept falling over one eye, and I kept brushing it back. I thought I had ruined my chances for the role. But Hornblow was jubilant about that eye-hiding trick. An experienced showman, he knew that the hairstyle was something people would talk about. He had a big picture, and lots of talk would bring people to see it.”

— Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake, photos provided

We sit together at a table near the ‘speakeasy’ bar. I’m impressed to learn that it’s been restored, and it’s interesting to wonder who sat and enjoyed a drink there, chatting about this and that with their famous hosts. There are several photos of the actress on the walls around me, a print magazine with her face on the cover sits on a side table in the living room, and her penned autobiography is displayed on the dresser in a bedroom named after her, as she’d slept there when residing in the spacious home. When I notice a vase filled with 13 bright red roses, then a stuffed panda bear resting in a big comfy chair in the corner of her room, Chandler tells me he’s been busy picking up things for the house that will somehow honor her life. “Her mother knew how much she loved panda bears and roses,” he says. “After every movie, she’d present Veronica with a bear, 13 roses, and even pennies to celebrate her daughter’s success.”

Chandler tells me he feels he’s not the owner of the property but the caretaker. He feels his responsibility is to honor the couple and their sometimes-volatile life together. “Joe was her third husband, and they divorced after only four years together.” I can feel their deep love for each other as I wander through each room in the house. Everything Chandler has done to bring the property back to life seems to hum with emotion.

“Veronica graduated from St. Bernard’s Catholic School in 1938. Later, when she lived here with Joe, people remember her driving through town in her convertible, waving to them.” When I ask why the sign reads ‘Mountain Airstrip Farm,’ Chandler chuckles. “Believe it or not, she was often flown here – eventually, she became a pilot herself and would land on that strip whenever she could take time away from Hollywood. She loved it here.”

Lake was honest and never sugar-coated her flaws. She suffered from alcoholism and schizophrenia, eventually succumbing to acute renal failure in a Vermont hospital on July 7th, 1973. She was only 50. She was both humble and critical of her talents on and off screen. For a time, after leaving the bright lights of Hollywood, she was a cocktail waitress – a job she states in her autobiography that she genuinely enjoyed. People said she was on a downward spiral and broke – some even sent her money. She never cashed their checks; she was too proud. “I took the job because I like people, I like to talk to them, not because I had nowhere else to turn.” When Marlon Brando sent her a check, she kept it, framing it as a memento of her Hollywood glory days, hanging it in her home to show friends who came to visit.

Although her ashes were scattered over the Atlantic Ocean off New York City by her son Michael so many years ago, you can still feel her larger-than-life presence here in the town of Hadley, in the memories of those who knew her, and on the farm where she found so much solace – the place where she could - be.

“I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s the little things that matter. I’m no longer interested in doing what’s expected of me. I was always a rebel and probably could have got much farther had I changed my attitude. But when you think about it, I got pretty far without changing my attitude. I’m happier with that.” — Veronica Lake

Love’s Calling

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO PROVIDED

“Every child has a purpose and a home to be found,” said Francine Apy, the founder of the Soulfilling by Francine Apy, an Adoption Coach who helps families navigate their adoption journey.

On all sides of an adoption can reside some heartache (just like in all families) but in every situation, good can also prevail, she said.

“Since you can’t rewrite the past, why not focus on how you can write the future? With the right resources, support, and good people by your side, all can get to the other side and live their most vibrant, fulfilling lives.”

“My commitment is that when I connect with someone wanting to learn more about the world of adoption, I will be a beacon of light, a lighthouse, to help them navigate through their adoption journey.”

A HOME FOR EVERY CHILD

For as long as she can remember, Francine wanted to be a mom, “I’m a mom that was blessed through adoption,” she said.

Even before adopting her three boys; now 21,19, and 16, adoption was a big part of Francine’s life. Of her family’s 11 grandchildren, eight have been adopted. She has also been inspired by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s mission to find forever families for children in foster care.

“I knew my mission in life would be giving back to the adoption community in some way,” said Francine.

THE BIGGEST BLESSING

With private adoptions like those Francine has experienced, the process begins with creating a compelling personal profile. Francine, a Catholic, attributes what happened next to prayer and the Blessed Mother: she and her husband, Ray, submitted their request in October, were notified of the match in November, and in December, their son was born. The arrival of their other two children was equally fortuitous.

“They didn’t grow in my belly, but they grew in my heart,” she said.

Francine tells the boys what she can about their birth parents.

“I never thought for a moment my children wouldn’t know where they came from,” she said. “In the ‘nature vs. nurture’ discussion, at the end of the day, both are beautiful pieces of the puzzle brought together equally.”

As an adoption coach, Francine strives to mainstream conversations around adoption.

“I believe family is family,” said Francine.

CHANGING THEIR WORLD

Francine’s adoption coaching guides birth mothers, adoptive parents, and adoptees with powerful questions, unearthing the answers they already possess within themselves, relieving anxiety, stress, and confusion with compassion, support, and encouragement.

Her leadership, coaching and counseling, performance management, and positive psychology skills were crafted and informed by her English Communications degree from LeMoyne College, 25 years of continuing studies in human resources, and her personal experiences. A recent graduate of the CaPP Institute Coach Training Intensive, Francine is coach, facilitator, and private confidant.

“I can talk to those on all sides of the adoption triangle, pre- or post-adoption. I can be that one person they have to talk openly and freely with about what they are feeling and experiencing.”

“I may not have all the answers, but I can listen, speak from my experience, and help them through their process.”

“Share as much as you can about your decision with your children, closest friends, and family,” advises Francine, “so that you can help educate them and you can support each other on the journey.”

“Join me in the adoption conversation.”

And… throw in some bling.

TOKENS OF GRATITUDE

Adoption gifts call attention to how wonderfully special these families are.

Francine celebrates all sides of adoption through SoulFilling's Bright Light Boutique, with unique adoption-related gifts and apparel that she curated herself. The softly whimsical custom triangle and heart pendant (symbolizing the child, birth family, and adoptive parents brought together by love) is available in sterling silver, gold, and rose gold with white gold.

Casual, fun, and pretty come together in SoulFilling's Bright Light Boutique's apparel and gift line, made by Spectrum Designs, a nonprofit creating inclusive employment and vocational training opportunities for all.

Learn more about Soulfilling's Adoption Coaching services, and visit their pop-up store September 17 – December 31 at soulfillingadoption.com.

November is National Adoption Month, for events and more information, follow Soulfilling on Facebook and Instagram.

Francine Apy

A VOICE OF REASON CUTS THROUGH COLLEGE PREP STRESS

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Parents and students wanting to cast a wide net and conduct a national college search are often inundated with stress. With so much information to sort through, it is difficult to decipher how the data relates to the on-campus experience.

“It’s a real eye-opener for those who are confusing the prestige and selectivity of a college with the experience a student will have there. Those things are not aligned,” said Mark Moody, a college admissions counselor since 1998.

As the founder of MSquared College Counseling, Mark is using his more than 20 years of experience at premier independent college preparatory schools to help simplify the process for students (beginning as early as the eighth grade) with services that go beyond what overburdened school guidance counselors can offer.

He personally guides students’ selection of meaningful summer activities; and provides a strategic approach to standardized testing, assembling fine arts portfolios, and preparing for athletic recruitment. Mark walks 11th and 12th graders through the college selection and application process, offers essay-writing advice, feedback, and ensures submissions adhere to deadlines.

New to the area, Mark plans to add independent and boarding school advising for Capital District families to his services soon.

EXCHANGING STRESS FOR JOYOUS CONFIDENCE

The biggest mistake parents and students make is boxing themselves into a preconceived set of assumptions. High school students are still changing at a rapid rate, said Mark. Allowing room for discovery and inspiration is vital. There is no universal definition of “merit,” and bending your high school experience, or padding your narrative, to fit into an ill-informed notion will sound flat and inauthentic in your college essays.

“People suffer from what I call a ‘misdirection of mindset.’ They approach the process with a very narrow definition of what success means, said Mark. “There is not a recipe or formula for success in college admissions.”

Instead of unnecessarily limiting your search based on reputation or cost, learn about yourself, and discover other possible pathways, advises Mark.

“There’s no reason not to find out what’s out there. Let honesty and authenticity carry the day.”

By checking in with clients at least once a month (or as many times as they require) Mark gives students room to begin looking forward to the future with the knowledge they’ve gained about themselves. Most of all, he reinforces the fact that a child’s self-worth is not measured by their college admission outcomes.

For more information, follow MSquared College Counseling on Facebook, Instagram, and at msquaredcounseling.com

When choosing the right college is mired in confusion, student-centered college counseling makes sense.

Mark Moody, founder of MSquared College Counseling

NAME THAT

Mountain Mount Inez

What's With Those Adirondack Women Mountain Names?

WRITTEN BY ROBERT C. LAWRENCE Part of the "WHAT'S WITH THOSE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN NAMES?" Series

While kayaking on beautiful Lake Durant near Blue Mountain Lake, New York, one June day, my wife Carol Ann asked, "Where does Blue Mountain get its name?" So we visited the nearby Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake to buy a place names book. But there was no such publication. So… I wrote What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names?

The book alphabetically lists over a hundred Adirondack Mountain place names or oronyms, but I only found four mountains with women's names in my research. Mount Inez, a 1552-foot mountain, is third in the Simply Saratoga series; What's With Those Adirondack Women Mountain Names?

On December 12, 2019, Mount Discovery was officially renamed Mount Inez for Inez Milholland (Boissevain) by the United States Board on Geographic Names. It had taken over a century for Lewis residents, government officials, and eventually two United States Senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer from New York, to accomplish this feat. Senator Gillibrand said, "I am thrilled that one of our nation's heroic suffragists, Inez Milholland, will be honored in her home state of New York. She is an inspiration to all of us on how to stand up for what is right and is an example of the tenacity needed to do so." Senator Schumer also stated, "This dedication will ensure that New York State never forgets the transformative contributions of Inez Milholland, an extraordinary American and New Yorker whose life and legacy should be preserved for generations to come."

Inez Milholland (1886-1916) was born into a wealthy family in Brooklyn, New York but spent summers on her family land at Meadowmount, which included Mount Discovery in Lewis, Essex County. She graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and received a law degree from the New York University School of Law.

Proposed Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to give women the right to vote

Aside from being a lawyer, Inez is best known for her civil causes. She promoted world peace, prison and labor reforms, African Americans' rights, and a woman's right to vote. She was famous for leading a women's suffrage parade, wearing a white cape and a crown on a large white horse on the eve of President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1913, and became known as the "Suffrage Joan of Arc." She led an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 women who marched from the United States Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

By marrying Hollander Eugen Boissevain on July 14, 1913, she became a citizen of Holland, forfeiting her American citizenship by law. However, by filing naturalization papers, she regained her citizenship. In 1916, she toured the western United States, speaking on behalf of women's rights, despite being plagued by an illness known as pernicious anemia or B-12 deficiency. During a November 25th speech on women's rights in Los Angeles, California, she collapsed. She died that same day at age thirty, before the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, giving women the right to vote. Her last spoken public words were, "Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty?"

What's With Those Adirondack Mountain

Names? (The Troy Book Makers) is available at the following retail locations: Market Block Books (Troy), The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza (Albany), Open Door Bookstore (Schenectady), Northshire Bookstore, Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company (Saratoga), Adirondack Country Store (Northville), St. Andrews Ace Hardware (Queensbury) in many retail establishments in the Adirondack Park and on Amazon.com.

Inez Milholland, Suffrage's Joan of Arc.

Happy (Writing!) HOUR

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO PROVIDED

If putting pen to paper feels like a luxury, setting aside time for meaningful, personal, hand-written correspondence certainly is.

Which is exactly why in June, Ashley Campbell, who spends her days extolling the virtues of writing to youngsters, created Well-Noted Saratoga, an adultsonly note writing club.

The private room at Scallion’s opens an hour early the third or fourth Thursday of each month to serve wine, coffee, and tea to busy men and women who need time away from work, kids, dishes, and distractions for the luxury of writing thank yous, greeting cards, or business notes – by hand.

“I created this group because it is something I wanted for myself (I’m a business owner and mom, with a husband that travels often) and I thought there might be others out there like me,” said Ashley.

SIMPLE AND RELAXING

Much like the design of Ashley Campbell’s nationallyrecognized award-winning Coral and Blue Paper Co. children’s stationery, Well-Noted Saratoga resonates because of the simplicity of it.

“It’s just so simple. People are looking for simple and relaxing,” she said. “It’s really laid back for everyone involved. They can make it what they want it to be.”

Writing, so often a solitary pursuit, benefits from socializing in this agenda-free atmosphere. It can be a space to get some serious writing done, or to jot “bread & butter” notes –quick messages of appreciation for a dinner, holiday, or gift.

For those with writer’s block, Ashley recommends expressing what you’re grateful for and something specific (funny, interesting, or memorable) about the experience. For a gift, explain how and when you use it. “It adds that extra personalization so the receiver knows how much you enjoy it.”

DOES THE BODY GOOD

Ashley says she’s not creative, she’s practical. Creating human connections, she said, and the act of thinking of someone other than ourselves, has been shown to increase serotonin levels in the body. As much as people love tradition, she added, we stick to it because it makes us feel good.

“Putting pen (or pencil) to paper sparks a different part of the brain than typing, or even talking,” said Ashley. In our auto-corrected and auto-filled world, thinking about grammar, spelling, and structuring a letter flexes our intellectual muscles. In the elderly, it can even ward off symptoms of depression, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. Everything is supplied from Ashley’s personal collection of stationary, pens, and mechanical pencils. She even brings the stamps and mails the envelopes!

Well Noted Saratoga is held at Scallion’s, 44 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. the 3rd or 4th Thursday each month. For more information, find Coral and Blue Paper Co. on Facebook, Instagram, and at coralandblue.com

Ashley Campbell SS

QUILTING COLLAGES

Honoring the Women of Gee’s Bend Alabama

WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN | PHOTOS BY THERESA ST. JOHN

When I attended High School in Franklin, Massachusetts, history held little to no interest for me. Now that I’m older, I’m fascinated with all sorts of history from every era, and in talking with others, I find that many people my age feel the same.

So, when I learn that a student’s artwork featuring their interpretation of the Gee’s Bend Quilts was selected as a semi-finalist being considered for the High School Juried Show being held at The Hyde Collection, I’m intrigued – I’ve never heard of Gee’s Bend, Alabama before, never mind the area’s history, people, and their famous quilts.

I quickly contact Nez, who attends Waldorf High School, and ask about an interview for a local magazine editor, who will love this story! We meet in late April at Mrs. London’s for a chat over coffee and pastry, we speak about the inspiration, and I’m taught a bit about the women from this southern rural community.

“Enslaved people worked on the cotton plantation named after its landowner, Joseph Gee. Later, the property was sold to Mark H. Pettway.” Nez tells me. “After emancipation, many families belonging to the original ancestors remained in a new role –as sharecroppers.” When the price of cotton dropped in the 1930s, the community faced more dark days. “Then the Federal Government stepped in, buying 10,000 acres of the former plantation.” Nez continues. “They offered loans, which enabled residents to stay in their homes and keep their land rather than join the over six million other African Americans from the rural south who participated in The Great Migration.”

In the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. visited Gee’s Bend. His message encouraged community members to become involved with the Civil Rights Movement. In his impassioned speech, King said, ‘I come over here to Gee’s Bend to tell you: You are somebody.’ To vote, though, they’d need to take the ferry from Gee’s Bend to nearby Camden. “Reacting to this bold move, authorities stopped the ferry altogether, which isolated the residents and cut off even basic services they needed to live,” Nez explains.

(UNLESS NOTED)

“I count the stitches line by line and watch the thread record the time.”

- Author Unknown

Photo by Kate Patterson

This is when local women banded together and formed the Freedom Quilting Bee. It became a workers' cooperative and offered economic independence as well as political empowerment. Their patchwork quilting techniques and traditions began in the 19th century, passed down through many generations, and have made them a force to be reckoned with today – with some quilts selling for tens of thousands of dollars. They have been shown in museums all over the country. “There’s so much emotion and meaning in their work; I was instantly drawn to the stories each quilt represents.” Nez says, while looking at me over the rim of the coffee cup. “My quilt collage project was created using paper from thick books used for photo albums or scrapbooks. I tore several pages into colorful pieces and tried to structure the pattern like the artists do in their Gee’s Bend quilting. I’m happy with how it turned out.” Nez shares an excitement and feeling of honor to be considered a contender in the prestigious show. “It’s pretty cool, even if I don’t win –I’ll never forget being recognized.” I’m impressed too! For the final project in class this year, Nez decided to make one section of a quilt based on the Amish double wedding ring pattern. “They typically use darker, cooler colors in their designs, and I love cooler colors myself,” Nez explains with a smile Art has always been important to Nez, with showings at the Saratoga Art Center and the fair. Nez hopes to study fiber arts at a design school after graduation. Regarding other plans, a possible internship at Dark Garden Corsetry would be wonderful! In business since 1989, Dark Garden specializes in custom corsets. Nez laughs when I raise my eyebrows in surprise. With shops in San Francisco and New Orleans, Nez says either location would be a great place to work. “I worked on a corset project when I was in 8th grade. It was a lot of fun. I did some research and thought, ‘Why not?’ With chronic back trouble, I needed something with structure and support – corsets provide that. I was happy to learn they can be pretty and functional at the same time.”

When I ask about free time interests, Nez explains it’s all about reading a good book. “My favorite authors/ characters include Rick Reardon’s Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase. Both are from the fantasy side of storytelling, and I’m always excited to turn the pages of their books.”

By the time this story goes to print, Nez might be home, returning from the Brown Ledge Camp on Lake Champlain's banks. “I can’t wait to go,” Nez tells me as we wind down our conversation and prepare to say goodbye. “I’m going to be working on the costume side of theatre while there; It’ll be so much fun to learn more about costume design and then see the actors wear what we make during their performances.” I feel the need to clap gleefully; celebrating joy is a beautiful thing. SS

Golden Retrievers Enjoy Their Golden Years at BROOKSHAVEN

WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS BY PEGGY FREZON AND ROY GUMPEL

Dog-lovers Peggy and Mike Frezon

of Rexford are on a mission to provide love in abundance to rescued senior golden retrievers in their homebased sanctuary, BrooksHaven. Whether the dogs have been lost, forgotten, neglected or abused, the couple provides them with a loving forever home with nutritious food, regular medical care, and enriching playtime—including plenty of balls and ‘stuffies!’

Named BrooksHaven in honor of their very first golden, the Frezons’ sanctuary is currently home to three golden retrievers: Ernest, 14.5, Sophie, 10, and Pete, a relative youngster at age six. Although the couple dreams of expanding BrooksHaven, it’s just a two-person operation at present, and Peggy and Mike are seniors themselves.

“Providing our dogs with a loving home is the easy part,” says Peggy. “Veterinary bills are the biggest expense, especially medications and surgeries. We are considering working toward becoming a nonprofit, which could help allow us to take in more dogs.” In the meantime, however, they’ve chosen to keep things manageable and expand cautiously. Brooks, their first senior, entered their lives 12 years ago. Mike was smitten the moment he spied the downtrodden golden at a parking lot adoption clinic. But Peggy was hesitant to take on the elderly dog, fearing he’d break their hearts all too quickly. “He was scrawny, tired and withdrawn,” she recalls, “with gangly legs and crooked teeth. His golden fur hung in grimy patches.”

“But he needs us,” Mike nudged gently. His words melted Peggy’s heart. “I’d never looked at it that way before,” she recalls, still awed by the revelation. “At that moment, I realized it’s not about what they can do for us. It’s about what we can do for them. We could give this dog a warm, loving home for however long we had together. We could give him the comfort he deserved in his golden years.”

Brooks went home with Peggy and Mike that day, and—although they only had 11 months together—it was a miraculous time for all. “The minute we got him home he began to transform,” says Peggy. “Amazingly, he had no behavioral problems, anxieties, or fears. He was easy and sweet, and just loved being with us. Instantly, he let go of his past and started living in the moment, as if he was thinking, this is where I am right now, and this is good. Really, all he needed was love.”

Peggy Frezon with her trio of golden retrievers.

Photo by Roy Gumpel

Ernest and Pete enjoy the wonders of autumn.

The idea for BrooksHaven was born after Brooks passed away. Peggy and Mike Frezon with their three senior goldens.

Photo by Roy Gumpel

Peggy and Mike were brokenhearted when Brooks passed, but the love they’d shared inspired them to welcome even more elderly goldens into their home. With Brooks, they’d come to realize that older dogs fit perfectly with their own more leisurely, senior lifestyle.

“Older dogs enjoy shorter, slower strolls. They play hard in shorter bursts, and they take more naps,” Peggy says. “But, best of all, Brooks just loved just being with us. If I was reading, or gardening, or working on the computer, he was stretched out beside me.” And, as the busy author of six books about the animal-human connection and a longtime contributing editor to Guideposts and its sister publications, Peggy spends plenty of time at her home computer—which translates to plenty of time with her dogs!

Last year, the Frezons welcomed their “most broken dog yet” into their home and their hearts. “Tenyear-old Sophie had spent her entire life breeding in a puppy mill,” Peggy explains, “living in appalling conditions in a cramped cage stacked upon other cages. After a rescue worker posing as a dog broker got her out, we adopted her right away.

“Initially, Sophie was afraid of everything. She’d never been in a house before, never been out of a cage. She'd just lean against a wall and close her eyes, refusing her meals, just sitting under the table, so dreadfully still.”

Given time, though—sensing that she was finally safe and loved—Sophie blossomed. “Watching her transform was like watching the sun rise,” Peggy reflects. “She just filled more and more space with her beauty. Coming out from under the table, she started running in the yard and playing with toys. I think she still can't get over how much room she has now, and how big her world has grown.”

Over the years, several BrooksHaven senior goldens have become certified therapy dogs, trained to help people in nursing facilities, hospitals, schools, and colleges. This past June, Sophie, too, became a Canine Good Citizen and certified therapy dog. “Imagine the difference in Sophie’s life,” Peggy beams, “going from a breeding dog in a puppy mill to a therapy dog, bringing comfort to others.”

Looking ahead, Peggy says she’d love to take in more senior goldens at BrooksHaven. “More dogs would mean more love all around, but we want to grow smart. My goal would be to never have to turn down a senior golden in need. I can't even imagine that . . . but only God knows what's next.”

Peggy Frezon will be signing her books about the human-animal connection on Saturday, October 14th at The Saratoga Book Festival’s Literary Marketplace, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the City Center. Stop in and say hello!

To learn more and subscribe to Peggy’s Dogs of BrooksHaven newsletter, check out peggyfrezon.com or visit her on Facebook. SS

allo

Saratoga:

The Elephant Mom’s Best Friend

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY ANGEL PHOTOGRAPHY

In the animal kingdom, elephant mothers share the care of their young with other females in the herd. These females are called ‘allomothers’ and are much like birth and postpartum doulas, who ensure that both mother and baby feel physically and emotionally nurtured.

“This is the place for parents to find their village,” said Christine Hernandez, a certified birth doula and the owner of Allo Toga, an indoor play space for babies and toddlers that strives to support parents through classes, workshops, and events.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

Christine, the mother of two children, ages 6 and 3, opened Allo Saratoga in 2021 to give parents like herself a chance to reconnect with others after the isolation of the peak pandemic years.

“I designed this space so children could have that experience of playing and being around other children,” she said.

At Allo Saratoga, children socialize while they climb and tumble, crawl through a ramped tunnel, or learn to stabilize themselves and play on two wooden slides. Soft toys encourage unstructured play, and children have the chance to learn how to take turns and share dramatic play stations that change seasonally; from a coffee shop, to a flower stand, to a market selling carrots for rabbits.

GATHERING THE HERD

Allo is a gathering space for growing families that hosts community events (like a visit from the Easter Bunny) and parties for 10 to 12 children (their first birthday celebrations even include a complimentary smash cake!)

This Fall, Allo’s popular Toddler Playschool for 2.5- to 3-year-olds is already full (but a second class of eight children may be added). There are still spots available in the Tiny Tots Playgroup, a six-week parent and me group that includes circle time, a book, and a craft.

Pregnancy and postpartum support are available from Allo online or in-person. Childbirth education and newborn care classes, parenting support groups, and guest expert events will also be held.

MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

In addition to providing doula services, Christine participates in a postpartum doula collective, to ensure mothers are matched with the best doula for them.

Allo Saratoga also partners with area organizations to spread their support even further. They have teamed up with the Salvation Army, Seedling’s Baby Food, and the New York Milk Bank, among others.

They also joined with iRun Local for Sneaker Fest, held at the Saratoga Winery in August. This FREE familyfriendly event benefitted the Saratoga County Children’s Committee Back-to-School Project, which provides school supplies to students.

Christine is also caring for parents in another way, as the new owner of the Broadway Grind, 493 Broadway, Saratoga Springs.

Allo Saratoga, 25 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs is open every day 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Open play is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. to12 p.m. Drop-in, book a time, or buy a membership online at www.allotoga.com. For updates, follow @AlloSaratoga on Instagram. SS

FASHION

PGS. 128-143

Jessie is wearing: Krimson Klover... Stevie Jacket Krimson Klover... Gradient Top Sno Skins... Plush Leggings

Mitchie’s Matchings... Pom Hat

Rupert is wearing: Krimson Klover... Ski Dog Sweater

Photo by Super Source Media Studios

Cozy Hats & Mittens

Marmot Gloves

Crimson Klover Cleo Turtleneck Sweater

Mitchie’s Fur-trimmed Poncho & Mittens

Obermeyer Ski Jackets

Youth Skiwear

Obermeyer Down Parkas

Smith Ski Helmets & Goggles

Boots from Bos. & Co.

Free People Easy Street Tunic, $128

Velvet by G&S Jonas Poncho, $216

French Connection Harry Suiting Mini Dress, $128

Agolde Parker Long Jean, $218

Brave Leather Kasi Hair On Belt, $115

Billini Ayla Slingback, $75

Billini Zahirah Boot, $90

Soia & Kyo Betrice Mitten, $125

Commando Neoprene Wide Leg Pant, $178

490

Broadway | 518-584-3500

There’s no place like Upstate New York in the fall. Whether your adventures take you to the apple orchard, the local Fall Festival or the mountainside with colors ablaze, we have the finest selection of outdoor gear, apparel and footwear to make your seasonal memories the best.

Formally Known as:

Photo: Bryanna Bradley

Love Compost Saratoga

50th Anniversary Adirondack Balloon Festival

Lily and the Rose has been at the forefront of culinary creativity and sustainability for years. This COMPOSiTion titled Earthly Elegance was created to celebrate their efforts, and as part of Terri-Lynn Pellegri’s new project LOVE COMPOST Saratoga Collaborative

Terri-Lynn Pellegri is exhibiting her newest installation of photographs, Love Compost Saratoga Collaborative at the Saratoga Senior Center this Fall. It is a collection of COMPOSiTions, created of food waste and onceliving matter, then photographed. It is her observation of the composting endeavors happening in our community every day. You will see images and narratives that tell the compost story of Lily and the Rose, The Mouzon House, Skidmore College, Hattie's, and Corina Contemporary Jewelry, and others that reflect her personal composting journey. Although these deliberate, Earth-friendly actions exist independently of one another, there is a shared intention and common energy that flows through these often unseen or unnoticed efforts. She brings them together - to life - and celebrates them in this visual expression.

 AN ARTIST'S RECEPTION

Sunday, September 24th 2023

2 - 4 p.m. in the Dining Room Gallery

Saratoga Senior Center

290 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY

Music by Heard, with light refreshments served Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The photos will be displayed all fall!

The nationally known event (third largest in the nation behind only Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Reno, Nevada!) has been CELEBRATING ALL WEEK…

If you haven’t been up yet – hurry!

Saturday, September 23rd

Morning festivities...

Gates open at 4:30 a.m. at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury.

At approximately 5:45 a.m. DAWN PATROL, a special Anniversary event! 5 to 10 balloons will launch in the dark plus a launch of 70+ balloons including special shapes, at approximately 7 a.m. Afternoon festivities...

 Food vendors, Zonta craft fair, exhibitors, kids’ activities and more. Music performances by The K&O Show, 2-4 p.m. and The Ryan Montbleau Band, 5-7 p.m.

 At approximately 5:30 p.m. half the balloons (70+ balloons) will launch for flight and the remaining half will stay at the airport and prepare for the moonglow to be held between (approximately) 7:30-8 p.m.

Sunday, September 24th

Gates open at 4:30 a.m.

Mass ascension at the airport of approximately 90 plus balloons including special shapes, 7 a.m.

Visit adirondackballoonfest.org or follow the festival’s official Facebook page.

Scan for a video interview with Terri-Lynn Pellegri

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT

The Town of Unforgettable Charm

Woodstock, Vermont – a quintessential town with the markings of a Hallmark movie (we hope!) written all over it. Usually, I choose to drive this route on my way to Maine, passing through Woodstock on my way to Quechee Gorge– always promising to stop and stay ‘next time.’ Last month, I finally made good on my vow and decided to spend a long weekend exploring the area, knowing I’d enjoy every minute. My friend, Sarah, is getting married in late September, and it was a perfect excuse to book our room and spa treatments to celebrate.

DAY TRIPPIN' WITH JUST2FEETANDACAMERA.COM

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

506 On the River Inn

506 On the River Inn sounded delightful when it popped up during a Google search, and I could check off all the boxes; you know what I mean, right? Luxury, comfortable rooms, panoramic views of mountains and water, a pool, and an onsite restaurant/lounge. 506 offered all this and more. It’s petfriendly, kid-friendly, close to town, and provides guests with a complimentary breakfast of eggs, meat, cereals, pancakes, juices, coffee, and various homemade pastries.

On the first floor, every room has a patio, and on the 2nd floor – where we stayed, every room boasts a balcony with rocking chairs that remind you of home. We enjoyed a few hours over the weekend, relaxing outside with a book – or, in Sarah’s case, putting the final touches to her wedding plans. One evening, we looked over the balcony, and there was a blue heron on the edge of a little pond, stalking fish – which he happily caught and ate right in front of us!

Their pool, jacuzzi, and sauna were never crowded. We met a few people while swimming, but for the most part, we had these amenities to ourselves. Another thing I loved was that the pool was 4 ft at both ends, so it was perfect for laps and stretches. Natural light streamed in through a bank of windows that looked out towards mountains and the river –so the whole experience was chill and relaxing.

We had planned to visit Woodstock in July, but then massive flooding happened from storms that had dumped more rain than anyone knew what to do with. The river rose in just a few hours, and when the storms continued over several days, the damage was disastrous. We could still see the evidence –mainly in all the construction - an attempt to repair the washedout roads and remove the trees pulled out from the roots along the way. It was easy to tell where the Ottaquechee River had swelled and made its way up the embankments, over the streets, into the yards and fields on the other side. Seeing the power of nature and the havoc it caused was devastating. It was also apparent that it would take months, with a strong workforce, for Vermont to recover from the catastrophic event.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort lounge spa

We’d never been to The Woodstock Inn and Resort before and decided to try out the spa menu. We chose their Aroma Therapy Chakra Massage, and let me tell you, it was one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long, long time. I could choose a blend of oils that matched one of the seven chakras. The therapist used this during my treatment. It was 75 minutes of bliss, and afterward, we could recline on comfy lounge chairs in a large relaxation room, use the pool, the dry sauna, and their whirlpool for up to two hours! It was just what the doctor ordered!

Downtown Woodstock

Downtown Woodstock is quaint, and a plethora of shopping opportunities presented themselves to us. We had fun wandering into clothing stores, bookstores, country markets, and gorgeous antiques shops. Sarah even found a GF pizza shop with the hands-down best Greek pizza ever. We didn’t notice on the website that it was a curb-side-only pizza parlor, and we, of course, were walking. They were kind enough to take our order at the door, and we ate outside on their patio. It was a perfect summer day for lunch at their picnic tables.

For dinner, we decided to eat back at our hotel. We sat outside on the porch and chose the night’s special – a T-bone steak with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts. During our meal, the chef even came out to check on us, a personal touch that both Sarah and I enjoyed.

On our last morning, we packed our suitcases and went for breakfast. Afterward, we sat with coffee on leather couches in front of the fireplace, chatting about our weekend in Woodstock and our time at the inn. We listened to calming music and marveled at how relaxed we were.

We went for one last swim, showered, and made our way to the front desk to check out. “How was your stay?” a young woman asked when I handed her the keys to our room. I smiled, gave her a big, heartfelt sigh, and told her it was a perfect weekend away. “Oh! I’m so glad to hear that!” she exclaimed, smiling back at me. “You’ll have to come back sometime.” I quickly nodded, telling her not to worry; we’d visit again shortly. I think Christmastime would be beautiful there.

506 On the River Inn is now added to my favorite place list. I hope you get the chance to visit – let me know if you add it to your list as well; I’d love to hear about it!

RUTLAND, VERMONT An Easy Drive to

Treats Visitors to

Street Murals

Since the pandemic made museum hopping scarce for a while, I’ve started looking elsewhere for art.

Just an hour or so east of Saratoga Springs, lies Rutland, Vermont, a town chartered in 1761 and known as one of the world’s largest marble exporters. During the 1850s, Rutland became the railroad center of Vermont. And the railroads came just in time to help grow the marble industry.

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

While researching the area, I discovered that downtown Rutland had commissioned several local, national, and international artists to paint 15-plus unique murals on old, weathered brick, wood, and stone walls throughout the city. I knew it was an easy day trip from Saratoga and thought it could be fun to try and find some of them. And the best thing was this – after parking my car on a side street, I could walk downtown and find nearly all the pieces – bonus! I was thrilled to see elephants, giraffes, monkeys, moose, whales, fish, and birds, to name a few. People walking by would stop to chat, and when I expressed how happy I was to be studying such inspiration here in town, they’d ask, “Did you see this one?” pointing in various directions so I wouldn’t miss any.

The first mural to kick off Rutland’s art project was ‘The Hidden Tunnel,’ by Kathryn Wiegers – I was told she’d created several in town. Designed in 2009, it depicted a young boy standing outside a tunnel where pretty little butterflies floated around him. This was so bright and colorful, adorning an old brick wall on the side of Rutland Co-Op. Her painting was so realistic that I half-expected the child to turn around and wave to me.

Walking down another street, I was flabbergasted to see an old man with gray hair and piercing blue eyes staring back at me from his spot on a bright red wall, also painted by Kathryn and titled ‘Wise Man.’ I can’t tell you how long I stood before him, waiting for pearls of wisdom to fall from his lips.

On the side of Roots restaurant, I admired a large mural of a young girl with the petals of a sunflower being plucked from its center. Painted in 2020 by LMNOPI, its meaning is even more relevant today. The piece, called ‘We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest Until It Comes,’ is a quote from a song by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, inspired by a speech given by civil rights leader and SNCC mentor Ella Josephine Baker.

Some of the art I found was whimsical, all were thought-provoking, and more than a few were profoundly moving. A bright blue and yellow wall greeted me from the side of what looked like a run-down factory, with broken windows and a pot-hole-filled parking lot. On one end, a young Ukrainian child wept for his country and the war it’s embroiled in. I wondered how many family members he’d lost and whether he’d survive the war with Russia. Would he grow up into a man who lived in a free country? I later learned that this mural had just been completed – I was among the first to see it!

You can visit the Downtown Rutland Partnership to learn more about these murals. Ask for a map – it’ll lead you to each of them, but you’ll have to pay close attention – I nearly missed my favorite superhero – Superman, up high on one of the buildings. It was a good thing I turned around!

Rutland also has several marble sculptures – I can’t wait to go back! SS

WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS BY JOSH, LIZZ, AND WENDY HAUGH

Eighteen years ago, Lorraine Lambiase and Sheila Flanagan left corporate law careers in California to pursue their two true passions—cheese-making and animals—on a rustic farm in upstate New York. Upon arriving at Nettle Meadow Farm in Thurman with their four dogs and four goats, the women never imagined that their new home would so quickly evolve into a rescue facility for elderly, neglected, and differently-abled animals.

The farm’s previous owners had run a small cheesemaking operation, so a number of goats were included with the sale of the property. “The sanctuary evolved almost instantaneously when we arrived in 2005,” recalls Lambiase, who manages the Kemp Sanctuary at Nettle Meadow Farm. “Because several of the goats that were already here in the production program were older and had a variety of serious health issues, we retired them that first summer... and the sanctuary was born.”

For many years, Lambiase and Flanagan created their award-winning Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheeses—all made with pasture-fed goat, sheep, and cow’s milk from local farms—in a cramped, farm-based plant. But as their business evolved, and space grew ever tighter, they knew a move was imminent. When The Hitching Post—a massive, historic, log-cabin style restaurant/banquet hall in Lake Luzerne—came up for sale in 2019, the women found the perfect site for their best-in-class cheese-making facility.

And three years later, with Sheila Flanagan at the helm and their new plant up and running, their cheese production increased from 26 to 1000 gallons a day.

Today, 80% of the 14,000-square foot Hitching Post is devoted to cheese production. The remaining space includes the restaurant/tavern, viewing room for visitors to watch the cheese-making process, and farm store/ gift shop. The building’s interior alone—with its mammoth logs, said to be some of the largest in the Adirondacks, and massive stone fireplaces—is well worth a visit. Given its rustic yet elegant dining areas, an intriguing menu which fully utilizes Nettle Meadow’s award-winning cheeses, and a hearty selection of American-crafted beers and wines, The Hitching Post is the perfect venue for parties, events, and fundraisers.

Although Lambiase and Flanagan love all things cheese, they’re quick to point out that their true mission is the animals. Profits from their Lake Luzerne operations go directly toward supporting the extensive needs of their Kemp Sanctuary residents. The women lease their herds of working goats and sheep to local farms with expansive grazing pastures and safe, roomy shelters. Then, they purchase the milk for their creamery from those very same farms. Later, as working animals age out and their milking days end, they return to their forever home at Nettle Meadow.

The goats are always eager to meet you.

Highland cattle

Guided tours of the Kemp Sanctuary are offered Saturdays at noon, and self-guided tours are encouraged seven days a week, 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Lambiase asks that visitors refrain from opening the pens or feeding the animals anything without guidance.

“Feeding the animals something they are not used to can be very dangerous for them,” she explains. “Stand back and don't try to pet the two rams, Harrison and Whoops, and definitely don't try to pet the berserker llama, Foonzie.” [Berserk Llama Syndrome (BLS) is a psychological and behavioral disorder where a llama shows increased aggression towards humans.]

“Yelling or screaming can scare the animals,” she adds, “so use gentle voices, and please don't chase any of the free range birds that may be out and about. This is their safe place, and it’s important to treat all the animals with respect.”

Roughly 75 animals currently live at the Sanctuary, including goats, sheep, pigs, horses, Highland cattle, a llama, pony, peacocks, guinea hens, chickens, cats, and birds. “During a year, we have anywhere from 6500-8000 people come to visit the Sanctuary. We have three workers who regularly tend to the animals, and six of our Hitching Post employees help out as needed. We’re losing a fantastic farmhand soon, though, so we’ll have need of another part-time or full-time animal caregiver and stall cleaner.” If interested, please apply.

The Kemp Sanctuary is a registered nonprofit, and 100% of every dollar donated goes to supporting the animals. In 2022, feed, medications, and supplements alone ran $800 a week. Yearly memberships are available (see website), and cash donations are always appreciated. “We’re also grateful for shavings, hay, fencing, fence posts, blankets, tools, paper towels, cat food for barn cats, and Tractor Supply gift cards,” says Lambiase.

On a sunny, frigid day last January, my husband and I visited The Kemp Sanctuary for the first time. Despite the bitter cold, we had a terrific time. A number of animals ventured outside, curious and eager to meet us. We learned that the Sanctuary had recently taken in a neglected horse and pony. “The horse was in terrible condition,” Lambiase told us, “severely emaciated with three infected hooves. The pony, thankfully, was in better shape.” As Chuck and I approached the horse’s stall, we found him draped in a heavy blanket, happily munching hay, safe and warm in his newfound home.

Lorraine Lambiase wears a favorite sweatshirt made for her by one of her employees.

The farm's stunning barn loft.

This once-neglected horse finds peace and security at the Kemp Sanctuary.

The writer and the goat.

Four months later, revisiting the Sanctuary with our son, Josh, and his wife, Lizz, we were initially concerned to find the horse not in his stall. “Oh, he’s out in the back field,” Lambiase reassured us, smiling, “and doing much better.”

Having heard that Lorraine Lambiase studied psychology in college, I wondered if her background in any way helped, or influenced, her understanding of the animals. “Being a psychology major may be one facet,” she mused, “but, even more, I’ve had many, many years of working with animals in all stages of life and learning to listen to what they are asking for. Young and sick or injured animals may be scared and need reassurance. Some differentlyabled creatures don't know any other way and are happy as can be, even though at times they may be difficult to look at. Similarly, older creatures reaching their geriatric years are often just looking for respect, and not to be forgotten. So many people are quick to want to put these older creatures down because they are frail and their health is a challenge, but the key is to listen to what the animals want and to respect their needs.”

After stocking up on cheeses at Nettle Meadow’s quaint farm store, my family headed south to Lake Luzerne to enjoy a delicious meal at the Hitching Post. Together, the farm/sanctuary and creamery/ restaurant made a perfect pairing, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. If you love animals, artisan cheeses, and terrific food, why not take this two-prong excursion yourself? It’s a daytrip you will never forget.

To learn more, visit www.nettlemeadow.com

The Kemp Sanctuary/ Nettle Meadow Farm: 484 South Johnsburg Road, Thurman, NY - 518-623-3372;

The Hitching Post & Tavern: 1256 Lake Avenue, Lake Luzerne, NY - 518-696-6184.

Watch their cheese being made at nettlemeadow.com/how-it-s-made SS

Randall Perry Photography

FOLLOW US AS WE EXPLORE SOME OF THE AREA'S unique spaces...

Randall Perry Photography

Architecturally SPEAKING

Ed DeRocker’s

1st Masterpiece:

A French Norman retreat in the Southern Adirondacks

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

The storied elegance of this grandiose modern Adirondack lakeside compound put local designer Ed DeRocker on the map.

Edmond DeRocker, the founder of Front Street Home in Ballston Spa, treated clients like family.

“He got to know each and every client personally and his designs were spin-offs of their personalities,” said his sister, Sherrie Fonda, DeRocker Designs’ Director of Operations for more than 37 years.

A self-taught designer with a panache for rescuing historic properties, Ed opened his first firm on Ridge Street in Glens Falls. After moving to a larger building, in the early 2000s, he relocated to a historic 1790 structure known as the “Blacksmith Shop” on Glen Street, then expanded to Nantucket, MA, where he opened a retail shop called The Penelope. The Front Street Home Design Center, 6 Front Street, in Ballston Spa, opened in 2013. Three years later, Ed’s son-in-law, Gregg Kawecki, joined the team as Project Manager.

Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

Within their family, which included nine children, Ed was the second oldest and Sherrie the second youngest. When they were kids, Sherrie gravitated toward her older brother, and as adults, she absorbed all he had to teach her. Within their duo, he was the artistic one, and she; the practical one, said Sherrie. “It was that way for us, it really worked. From day one, I absolutely loved it.”

Because of Ed’s kindness and warmth, DeRocker’s Designs felt like one big family, while his exterior, interior, and landscape designs became highly sought-after. Working up until he was diagnosed with leukemia in April, Ed passed in June.

Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

A Designer’s Dream

Twenty years ago, Ed DeRocker’s design dreams came true.

“He had this internal drive to see how far his talents could go, and his clients loved everything he did. He had a gift. His vision was amazing,” said Sherrie.

Built in a romantic architectural style that harkens back to medieval Europe, Ed designed the interior of this 12,500 sq. ft. French Norman home in the Southern Adirondacks as a comfortable family gathering space.

Situated amid the turn-of-the-century retreats (that were the playgrounds of the Gilded Age elite) this daring new construction takes design cues from the natural world - much like those grand Adirondack camps that have now become National Historic Landmarks.

Blending high-end interior style with natural elegance, this home’s elaborate finishes, furniture, flooring, area rugs, decorative moldings, and fireplace surrounds are reminiscent of those from a French country estate.

Randall Perry Photography

An Artist’s Vision

It took five years to complete the main house, which displays expansive balconies and sprawling walls of symmetrical multipane windows. The gleaming flooring is made of oak, and its interior walls are clad in decorative facades and Tuscan murals by Bill Edwards of 30A Decorative in Santa Rosa, Florida.

Fairytale iron leaf candelabra chandeliers dangle from the red oak and fir wainscotting peaked ceilings in the stately living areas. Modern amenities complete the formal kitchen and dining area that seats 12 for memorable evening entertaining.

A monumental hand-forged bronze banister (made to look like a tree) grows along the staircase, its branches gracing the tips of the upper level, while its trunk and roots support the lower.

Randall Perry Photography Randall Perry Photography

A Steward’s Surprise

In a layout oriented toward a sun-filled outdoor lifestyle, a set-in river rock spa with granite highlights takes center stage in the fully equipped gym under an octagonal ceiling below a central turret capped with cone-shaped roof. The deluxe master suite bath features pillowed limestone flooring, freestanding his and hers dividers, and another octagonal ceiling framing the surprising placement of a mountainous slab of granite, which, on one side, features a regal elevated soaking tub, while on the other, a dozen heads pour down water into the roomy glass shower.

Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

Four tumbled marble fireplaces warm the home’s interior, and outside, another is placed in a comfortable seating area. Recreational opportunities abound on this property, which also includes two guest homes, a double dock, and lakeside tanning deck.

Ever conscious of his environmental footprint, Ed DeRocker was a steward of style who sourced materials locally whenever possible. He watched over his friends like they were family, and the homes he designed like treasures. He had a friendly, adaptable, aesthetic and the unique ability to see beauty in even the most unexpected of places.

Randall Perry Photography

Randall Perry Photography

SS

Colleen's Picks

A Carefully Curated Selection of HOME DÉCOR ITEMS

WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

SHOWCASE OF HOMES…one of my favorite Saratoga events of the year! I love home construction and walking through these spectacularly crafted estates just gets my goose bumps a bumpin’! And to top it all off, this year I was invited to join the planning committee for the Showcase of Homes…a true honor to be a part of this autumnal tradition! As I hunted for this year’s Fall items, I did note that some of them just happen to be in a few of the Showcase homes, so…I will be sure to direct you where to find these treasures so you can see them first hand in an actual setting, inspiring you further for your next home project… the Honey-Do list grows!

Now, where else would I start but at THE FURNITURE HOUSE! You won’t be able to resist this 7173 Renovation Recliner on display at the DeGraff-Bloom house located at 27 Winterbury Lane in Stillwater! With impressive burled wood sides, the tan burnished leather sits atop a maple finish accented with Truscan “R” nail heads. It’s streamline design allows the chair to sit only 17” away from the wall while still offering 67” of pure relaxation when fully extended. I’d say it’s the perfect seat for fall football, wouldn’t you?

And as I stroll the streets of Downtown Saratoga, I had to stop in at COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF to see what owner, John Reardon, had for whipping up delicious Fall feasts! I quickly focused in on his collection of pasta making goodies. As someone who lives with celiacs, I make all my own meals from scratch, and have tried my hand at pasta as well. This Marcato Atlas 150 is my go-to, turning out pasta sheets for cutting into ravioli, hand-crafted fettuccini and so much more. It’s ease of use makes it fun for the whole family to join in and roll out the merriment of a homemade pasta dinner! Don’t worry, it includes recipes for the perfect Italian pasta! And where would we be without the NORPRO Pasta Drying Rack to hang all those luscious laces of pasta until dinner time or for storing for future use? Now, for those raviolis; pick up a few of the Fante’s Grandpa Dante’s Classic Ravioli Forms, allowing you to craft, fill and seal up to twelve 2” square ravioli’s at once! If you prefer to cut your dough and fold, then check out Fante’s Grandma Rina’s Ravioli 2 ½” Round Stamps or 2 ¾” Square Stamps. With the decorative edge, these cutters could double for cookie cutters as well!...Bon Appetit!

Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located in Saratoga Springs. With certifications in Kitchen & Bath Design, Aging in Place and True Color Expert, her curated design extends into all areas of her field including new construction, historical and major renovations. Her passion is in designing & customizing hand-crafted cabinets for all areas of the residential market.

Susan Blackburn Photography

For all my coffee, beer or soup lovers out there, the DARK HORSE MERCANTILE offers this classy Hand-crafted Mug with layers of glaze that beckons you to sit and sip. Its authentic, rustic feel makes your senses recline to cooler days while The Dark Horse emblem always reminds us of our Saratoga seasons that are on their way! Now I admit, I’m a bit of a frame collector. When I spotted this Stitched Leather and Solid Brass Frame, I knew I had to brag about it! Perfect for family photos from the track, favorite horses as they crossed the finish line or adored family pets. Several sizes are available to mix and match…be sure to stop in and feel the genuine craftsmanship made perfect for each special moment. One last item…I have such a hard time choosing! Pair your frames with this Woven Leather Ice Bucket to complete your Fall bar. The stainless steel, removeable liner makes it convenient to fill while the woven leather handled top with brass strappings and tongs finish the allure of this truly Saratoga bar addition. And note, there are coordinating frames as well! So many good finds in this shop…get over there and peak for yourself!

At their sister store, IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA, I immediately spotted their Bourbon Raceday Candle crafted from soy wax. The scent combines bourbon, tobacco & vanilla to arouse the senses of Saratoga racing days gone by. Always a wonderful gift for visitors or just to bring in that all-things Saratoga racing scent to your home. For art lovers, be sure to seek out one of our own Saratoga Spring’s artists, Heather Lacoppola and her Paintings On Recycled Wood Panels. Ingenious in her pursuit of crafting artwork on alternative mediums, her pieces take on the architecture of their structure. These tall door panels come back to life with slender jockey motifs amid rustic backgrounds of old. Heather’s work can also be found on textiles such as Tea Towels showcasing a combination of her paintings. For my peeps who miss an old-fashioned map, you can treasure this Saratoga Springs Wood Relief Map crafted on pine and made in South Carolina! Set on a white background, the map is subtly carved into the surface offering visual details as well as tactile. Search out your favorite street or try to locate your home’s address for fun! It’s available in three different sizes, making the purchase even more effortless for any space!

SILVERWOOD HOME & GALLERY has been well known for offering classic American style and regional vernacular design. They also have a full line of furniture, including this luxurious Green Velvet Madeline Sofa by Rowe Furniture. With racks of fabrics and leathers to choose from, your options are endless. And don’t forget, many of the fabrics are “Kid Proof” performance. Need a different size? No worries, this sofa is also offered in a loveseat or sectional…so Mom…what are you waiting for?

JACOBSEN’S RUGS

543 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

JacobsenRugs.com | 518-583-2044

As we head into cooler weather, a beautiful area rug always brings warmth into a home. At JACOBSEN RUGS, located at the Old Fire House, their showroom is stocked with marvelous hand knotted oriental rugs that take your breath away. For instance, this Hunting Rug features a full array of colors, from deep salmon, ochre, sky blues and hints of eggplant. The varying shades of black perfectly ground this piece to any space. I could look at this rug over and over again, just imagining the “hunting” elements present; I see birds in flight, what might you imagine? And the options and sizes go on from there! Stop into appreciate the one-of-a-kind craftsmanship; who knows, you may just walk out with a find after “hunting!”

FINISHING TOUCHES HOME DECOR

450 E High Street, Ballston Spa

FinishingTouchesStore.com | 518-584-1490

I love the shops along Rt 9 heading toward Malta. FINISHING TOUCHES always brings in delightful items to complete your homes décor. With Fall, those firepits can get heated up and who doesn’t like a good Horse Silhouette Charcuterie Board decked out with meats, cheeses and even some of FT’s Chocolate Moonshine Co. chocolates to nibble on with a favorite beverage? Choose from a variety of woods including walnut and oak. Continue your Saratoga theme with this 40” x 36” “Apple of My Eye” Framed Print showcased in a simple satin black frame with white linen liner. The perfect size for a large entry or over the fireplace! Peter Kreeft once said, “Love gives you eyes,” an ideal reminder to always see the best of those around you. And to warm your lap on cool Fall evenings, wrap yourself in this Faux Fur Blanket of fine black & white “hairs” that resemble a feather from afar but without the quill! They also have an option in warm tones of mocha which richly reflects the plume of a pheasant! Either way, this luscious swathe, with a soft microsuede reverse side, will add a touch of nature to any room.

ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE

2570 U.S. 9, Malta

Allerdice.com | 518-899-6222

Just down the road, ACCENTS AT ALLERDICE has just loaded up their shop for everything Fall! Harvest season is definitely in abundance here with their Crocheted Pumpkins in various sizes, colors and stiches. Make a fun arrangement on your dining table for a centerpiece, line them on the fireplace mantel with Fall family pics between or have fun placing them on a guest bed in front of a mound of throw pillows to greet friends and usher in your leaf peeping excursion for the weekend! To further prepare for visitors, try propping this adorable Seated Gnome on a pile of neatly folded Plaid Cloth Napkins. He’s sure to make your friends chuckle with a Wooden Sign in tow that echoes “I’m Here For The Boos,” wrapping up the Halloween celebrations to boot! Stop in and see all the varieties available to make your Fall travelers feel right at home!

EARL B. FEIDEN APPLIANCE

1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215

785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555

EarlBFeiden.com MARCELLA'S

Onto appliances and the fast-paced industry of change…wider refrigerators have become the trend as many renovations and new builds are now incorporating true counter depth units into the design to maximize space yet maintain an abundance of interior cubit feet. At EARL B. FEIDEN’S, be sure to ask about the new Thermador 48” Freedom® Built-in French Door Bottom Freezer in Stainless Steel, with Masterpiece® Handles or Panel Ready option, offering a wide refrigeration space while keeping your freezer space well organized. The Elevated Dual Ice Maker with signature Diamond Ice, plus all-new cocktail-sized ice in a unique geometric shape, surely adds a je ne sais quoi to your entertaining experience! The ThermaFlex™ Drawer can be adjusted to meet changing needs from freezer, soft freezer, refrigerator, and beverages to meat & fish, deli & cheeses, all way to dessert items like cheesecake! Wi-Fi connectivity offers access to built-in cameras for on-the-spot refrigerator inventory, temperature settings and notifications if the door is left open. Similarly, Thermador has introduced the 36-INCH LIBERTY® Induction CooktopPRO Harmony® Range Professional Series with a black finish cooktop surface. With three large cooking zones, the flexibility is endless starting with HeatShift® which is power control on the move. To increase the power level, move the cookware towards you. To decrease the power level, move the cookware away from you…it’s as simple as that…no buttons to push or controls to locate, just move your pan! MoveMode® allows you to move your pan to another cooking zone and the cooktop setting moves with it! Perfect for busy home chefs! Yet another feature is the PowerBoost® which allows you to increase the heating power by up to 50% to bring soups, stocks and water to boil more quickly. And with three…yes three, Full Access® Telescopic Racks within the oven, your ability to test or retrieve your favorite dishes is made all the easier! The features are endless, be sure to stop into Earl B. Feiden’s at either Clifton Park or Latham for more information.

Microwaves also play a large part in cooking and have become more versatile in their capabilities to prepare food in different disciplines. You’ll find this Frigidaire Professional 2-In-1 Over-The-Range Convection

Microwave, sourced at MARCELLA’S APPLIANCE, at the BDC Group condo located at 4 Footpath Way in Lake George. More than a microwave, it also doubles as a convection oven with PowerSense cooking technology that automatically senses ideal time and power levels. The PowerBright LED lights illuminates your cooking surface with clear LED lighting while the PowerPlus® 4-Speed Fan offers 4 levels of ventilation for the cooktop below, up to 400 CFMs. This compact workhorse can conjure up a full meal or simply warm leftovers, all beautifully displayed in a sleek stainless steel frame with professional handle.

Colleen's Picks

MARCELLA'S APPLIANCE

15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park MarcellasAppliance.com | 518-952-7700

And with cooking, comes cleaning! Located within the island of the BDC Group condo, the Frigidaire Professional 24" Built-In Dishwasher with EvenDry™ System is a must have for a busy home. Showcasing the SpacePro Organization System, the 3rd rack offers easy access with a tray for small cooking utensils; the second rack adjusts in height for larger pots and pans to easily be washed from the lower rack amid dishes and dining silverware which neatly stacks in a removeable basket. Best of all, the PrecisionPro Wash Zones™ target hard-toreach spots on your pots and dishes for a powerful clean in as fast as 30-minutes!

GRANITE & MARBLE WORKS

8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton GraniteAndMarbleworks.com | 518-584-2800

And what would a Showcase home be without beautiful stone? Within the DSG Construction & Remodeling home located at 1181 Hunt Lane Rd North in Lake Luzerne, they installed Taupe White Granite in the kitchen from GRANITE & MARBLE WORKS. I know, the appellation seems quite uninspiring, but don’t judge a stone by its name! Its deep mix of natural tones include green beige, taupe, creamy whites, black and an occasional iron deposit in the veining. A perfect selection to coordinate with woods and a multitude of cabinet finishes. Be sure to stop at the DSG house to see how they have incorporated this stone into their Showcase of Homes property. Over at the Degraff-Bloom home located at Luthers Woods, 27 Woodberry Lane in Mechanicville, be sure to find this celestial Leathered Kosmus Granite centerstage as the fireplace surround! Remarkable in person, with the glitter of mica dancing about a milky way of black, grey, brown and taupe, this homeowner will forever gaze into its mysterious spirals finding endless “stars” to capture their imagination. Natural stone on any surface can add a layer of mystique…finding new details each time you contemplate its unique palette of movement, minerals and majesty!

I hope I’ve inspired you to peruse the Showcase of Homes and take some time to wander our local shops for all your Fall décor needs. If you spot me at the Showcase, be sure to say “Hi,” I love to hear how my readers incorporate these picks into their own homes! You never know…you may just inspire me with YOUR creativity!

Until next time my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC

Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer

Certified Aging in Place

True Color Expert

colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net

@cmcdesignstudiollc

“Creating Environments for Life” TM SS

Taupe White Granite

Leathered Kosmus Granite

ENDLESS

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Caution: Watching your neighbors close their pools for the season from the invigorating comfort of your spa may result in spontaneous giggles.

The evolution of spas and swim spas make them a popular, nourishing, year-round addition to homes and rental properties. Here, in the Northeast, where the summers are short and unpredictable, spas are a wise way to enjoy water’s bountiful health benefits every day.

MAKE THOSE SUMMER MEMORIES ALL YEAR LONG

“Spa and swim spa sales have skyrocketed because they offer year-round swimming – an endless summer,” said Lindsay Cruz, co-owner Sleep & Spas.

During sunny afternoons, lower the water temperature for a refreshing dip, or switch to something more temperate for an energizing hydrotherapy workout. Then, turn things up a notch with a hot 100+ degree soak as the evening cools and the sun sets. Want more of an adventure? Dare a dip during the brisk twilight hours before bed and you’ll sleep soundly satisfied after.

When you add a spa to your property, you gain an asset that takes care of you – and that’s a pretty great feeling.

BOOST YOUR BOOKINGS

More than sheer temptation, a spa can be the deciding factor determining which vacation property a tenant will eventually rent. It has become an amenity so popular that guests filter by this feature in online searches because they know a spa is a luxurious way to spend downtime when on a getaway.

Seduced by the novelty of returning to the warm relaxation of a spa after a day of skiing, hiking, or snowmobiling, tubs entice tenants to spend a little more on winter rental rates, or to choose your property over another.

Plus, with the simplicity of plug and play models, if you ever decide to move, you can just bring the spa (and that vacation experience) with you.

TAKING THE WORK OUT OF WATER CARE

Fully-customizable with options that you may have never even imagined (hello, spa hammock!) Sleep & Spas’ variety ensures you’ll be getting the spa that’s right for you.

The world’s #1-rated Sundance Spas offer features like lounge decks for unmatched comfort and value. With the elegant styling and innovative smart sensor technology of Bullfrog Spas, you can enjoy the most elite spa experience available. For a hydrotherapy powerhouse, choose Caldera, the ultimate freshwater spa experience.

Before you decide, take a moment to think about public pools or communal gym spas and it won’t take long to conjure…that smell. Whether you remembered the burn of chlorine on your eyes or skin, or the musty odor caused by so many people using them, both aromas are an indication that the water wasn’t clean and balanced.

“Spas use much less energy and are much easier to care for now than they have ever been,” said Cruz. Today, worry-free water is easy with set-it-and-forgetit systems such as the Frog@ease sanitizing system or anti-microbial silver ion sanitizers that generate chlorine from salt.

Clean, clear water free of harsh odors and gentle on the eyes – now there’s a thought that restores the mind and body.

SWIM THOSE WORRIES AWAY

With five locations, Sleep & Spas is the largest retailer in our area selling spas, mattresses, massage chairs, and infrared saunas. More than just a soak, sleep, and sit store, they are a family-run home wellness center, said Cruz.

“Everything we sell helps you feel better, take care of your body, and wake up with more energy. When you make a purchase from Sleep & Spas, you’re making an investment in yourself.”

A spa’s hot immersion hydrotherapy reduces inflammation and increases circulation while soothing lighting, music systems, and fountains delight the senses. With an Endless Pools swim spa, features like adjustable currents, and aqua-fitness equipment including treadmills, bikes, and resistance bands, put the fitness benefits of water within reach. In addition to having more top-quality spa variety than other retailers, Sleep & Spas is also the only one offering 0% interest for 72 months, and last year, their service team was installing spas in every season - so even when customers ordered them in the dead of winter, they were in and enjoying them before the first robin sang its spring song.

For more information, visit Sleep & Spas, 46 Marion Ave, Saratoga Springs and go to sleepandspas.com SS

BACK TO Basics

Approachable and inviting - this year’s trend: livable, comfortable, and cozy.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Cheerful and welcoming design that feels effortless. These homey rooms are so soft and inviting, you’ll want to cuddle up under a comfy throw and hunker down for the winter.

Styling for the Saratoga Showcase of Homes since 2012, Kaitlynn Johnson, award-winning Lead Designer of Bennington Furniture, now Old Brick Furniture & Mattress, knows how to create a home that puts Upstate residents at ease.

RELIABLE NEUTRALS

Mixing textures adds depth and visual interest to open spaces when layered in what Kaitlynn calls the “breadand-butter” neutral tones.

“It’s rare that you’ll see us go crazy with color,” she said. “Instead, we go with a base layer that remains very relatable over the course of years and years.”

Creamy whites and tans complement rich chocolate browns, brick reds, and dark jades.

SWERVE TO THE CURVE

Organic, naturally-curving lines lend a softer feel to all areas of the home.

Subtle curves add an element of playfulness to relaxing gathering spaces. Crescent-shaped couches create the perfect setting for conversations, replacing the harshness of straight-backed, 90-degree angled sectional sofas in family

and living rooms. Easily anchored in an open floorplan and paired with luxuriously upholstered chairs, this furniture arrangement puts the emphasis back on socializing. Even when space is at a premium, or the room is oddlyshaped, the re-emergence of these curved silhouettes encourages curling up.

TOASTY WARMTH

Take the chill off by snuggling-up in front of a pleasant fireplace (achieved on-budget with the right materials).

When guided by the utilitarian architecture of a home, a basic tile and wow-worthy molding saturated in dramatic color, or the clean, simple lines of shiplap, offers standout style.

Classic and earthy, stone is timeless but is also the most labor-intensive option, making it the most expensive choice for fireplace surrounds.

For this year’s Saratoga Showcase of Homes, we return to a perennial favorite - brick - in the 2,394 sq. ft. Mulberry Estates II Cerise Model home built by Kodiak Construction,.

Rusty reds are all the rage right now. This home’s exterior “Firebrick” red lap siding and shake accents inspired the interior’s inlaid brick fireplace surround and handcrafted mantel, forming an inviting sanctuary of warmth and wellbeing.

ONE CHAIR, TWO FABRICS

Along with bringing an element of the unexpected into interior decorating, upholstering chairs with two different fabrics is a trendy look that is also practical.

This inside/outside combo often features a dramatic, playful, punchy fabric on the outside with one that wears incredibly well on the inside. The workhorse of any room, upholstered chairs are key investment pieces, so they need to have staying power.

At Old Brick, there are lots of options at price points from $800 – $2,000, and with expert design services to help you choose versatile patterns, this look stays fresh, keeping it as one you’ll love for a long time.

THE OUTLOOK IS GOOD

The first question that pops to mind when arranging a workspace is desk placement, but the solution is simple; position the desk in the center of the room.

Using center placement, you take advantage of natural light, which can boost productivity. In addition to affording you the opportunity to lazily look out the windows, this commanding position also spares your eyes (and computer screens) from the sun’s glare.

Echoed by shelving angled slightly away from the walls, this arrangement creates a better sense of balance and makes meetings feel more intimate when working from home.

Doubling Up on Window Treatments

Adding another layer to your window treatments adds dimension and an alluring final touch to any living space. Multiple window dressings allow for a variety of light and privacy configurations but can also be purely aesthetic, giving you two looks in one.

A home’s essence is as a shelter from the elements. Outfitting windows with both blinds and draperies gives double the reassurance that you’re protected from the cold outside.

CHARACTER ABOUNDS

Successful design schemes layer elements to work together cohesively. When building a room from the ground up, mixing up your accessories’ shapes makes their placement look harmonious within a space.

Rather than taking a purely methodical approach to laying out décor, Kaitlynn creates character through trial-and-error. By bringing in a plethora of items, she can re-tweak a room to optimize its visual appeal. When accessorizing a fireplace, Kaitlynn avoids an overly-intentional look by varying height and dimension, rather than mirroring elements on either side.

Incorporating artificial greenery injects life into the space and clustering antiqued stems into a single vessel gives them a lush, lively, appearance.

SS

Choosing a HOME

WRITTEN BY CINDY CONAWAY | PHOTOS PROVIDED

What we wanted was a mid-century ranch house within walking distance from downtown (or at least a place to get coffee) and a local pool, either in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls or Ballston Spa. What we are buying is... not that. But it is, according to paperwork from our builder, a one-story “Open Concept Split Bedroom Layout” house at a price we can afford, with the interior design style planned to our liking, a potential for aging in place, and as “green” as we can afford.

Let me back up a bit…

I never wanted a house, or even thought about it much. As a kid I always planned to have a loft in Soho and act on Broadway. As an adult, I never really thought much beyond renting, or maybe buying a condo or townhouse. When we started this process, we were engaged Associate Professors at SUNY Empire State University (I have since been promoted to Full Professor). I teach Digital Communication and Media Studies. Chris teaches Political Science and has taught Business as well. We returned to Saratoga Springs from New York City in December of 2020, when the pandemic made living and working in a two-bedroom, onebathroom apartment with no patio or porch in upper Manhattan (in fact, on Broadway—although north of the George Washington Bridge) unbearable.

The lease was up, and Chris, who I had met in Saratoga Springs and had a long-distance relationship with for three years before moving to New York myself in 2012 (and working, ironically, in Soho, but in a very ordinary office building) was moving from an administrative job back to a faculty line. Returning to Saratoga seemed like our best choice.

We were teaching and having meetings fully online, so we each needed a home office and were ready to have two bathrooms again. Outdoor space was a must, and I really wanted a pool. I found a two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment with a den in Saratoga Springs with a terrace and pool, and arranged to move in, sight unseen, with a 15-month lease. Since the rent included a space in a parking garage, cable, internet, and a washer and dryer (all things we paid extra for in the city), it cost about the same as our (rent stabilized) NYC place. Although we did not see much of our old Saratoga friends until after we were all able to be vaccinated, the pool was a great place to socialize with neighbors and I took to strapping on a mask and going to Kru Coffee or Fresh Market, both just a few steps away. We decorated, adding a few pieces to our collection of mid-century and mid-century-inspired furniture, which I’ve been collecting for over 20 years. I love bold colors, particularly red and cobalt blue, which looked nice in our apartment, though it was hard to ignore the worn beige carpet.

When we renewed our lease, our rent went up. I learned at the pool (where I spent more time reading or chatting on the steps than actually swimming) that second summer, that the building had new owners. Some neighbors’ rents had gone up as much as $600 per month. Many were looking to buy. We started discussing it ourselves. We loved the ease of apartment living. Chris, who had refurbished two old houses with his ex (a realtor), one in Saratoga Springs, another in Glens Falls, had told me early in our relationship that he never wanted to do any kind of construction, yard work, or snow shoveling again. I had lived in five previous big cities in apartments and was not anxious to start doing these things at the age of 55. Each night, as we watched Jeopardy! , we’d see commercials for all kinds of things like gutter cleaning and roofing, things I never had to deal with and didn’t want to now. However, given inflation, it made sense for our financial security to find a home where Chris and I could age in place. This meant, among other things, no stairs (even to do laundry).

We are both tenured, and I had saved enough for a good down payment. My parents offered to help with a generous wedding gift. But we wanted to keep to a reasonable budget. We are not rich, but comfortable, and don’t want to become “house poor.” We like to be able to travel in general, and go away to warm beaches in the winter, especially in February, which I call my “stabby” month. Could we find a house in our price range that met our needs in Saratoga?

Evidently not.

Nearby Wilton felt too suburban. It was clear from Zillow that we could get more for our money in Glens Falls. We looked first for condos with pools in their complexes. No sign of them in our price range. The townhouses we saw (also pool-free) were on roads too dark for me to navigate at night. Realtor Lisa Capone steered us away from some newer houses with boring white kitchens and potential drainage issues in “upand-coming" neighborhoods and showed us several older houses that needed repairs and would have taken even more money to decorate the way I had in mind. One had its own pool, which

seemed like more work than we wanted, and an Americana décor theme that I wouldn’t be able to live with. There was one house that was “build to suit,” but any deviation from the standard would be considered a costly “change order” and it seemed overpriced for the run-down neighborhood. Nothing was near a coffee house and only one older two-story house was near the YMCA, so at that point, the distinction between “in town” and suburbs meant a lot less. I began to re-think suburban, as something that was not “country”—If I saw a cow, I knew we would be out too far. Follow their story in our next issue of Simply Saratoga, due out in November, by signing up for free email delivery at SaratogaTODAYnewspaper.com SS

Downsizing Done right

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE OF SIMPLY YOU

Downsizing your living space can be a forced or planned event. Sometimes life issues like health force the decision. For others, it is a planned move to a smaller space with less upkeep and a more amenable layout for the future.

Moving in general is extremely emotional and stressful. Suddenly everything you own is in question. Do I need this? Do I love it? Will it fit? How do I get rid of it? For even the most organized and “together” people, moving is messy.

Depending on how long you’ve been in your current space and if you are a lover of “things” or not – there can be a lot that needs to be culled. We buy things we need and want. We establish new interests. We grow our families. We change jobs. All of these increase our stuff. If you aren’t constantly purging, you’ll fill your space more and more as time passes. If your downsizing has to happen quickly, you’ll be forced to crunch all these put off decisions in quick succession.

Prepare yourself for the fact that the younger generations are minimalists, and not really interested much in antiques. You may “want” to pass down items to certain people but they may state they don’t want or need them. Believe them. They don’t value stuff and items related to memories as much as you do. Your attachment to things is not their attachment. Come to terms that you’ll have to be ok with donating or selling most items instead. In the end though, you will be the owner of less stuff and have a successful downsize.

Another valid and tangible point of the process is moving costs. Moving costs are high. Making smart decisions on the big items before will help. Bringing an item what won’t actually fit will be a nightmare. If you know exactly where you’ll be moving to, make a list of all the rooms, their functions and their dimensions. This will give you an idea of what will fit into the new space. That big piece you want to bring may not fit the same way you had before but may be able to go somewhere else – knowing this in advance is helpful.

If your new space is unknown, make the hard decisions now rather than later. That large desk that never really worked, or the lamp from Aunt Mary that you never liked; get rid of them now and save the money of moving them. Conversely, create a list of all the items you do love and can't live without. Knowing what you will definitely keep makes it easier to let go of the stuff that isn’t your favorite. There are two really big troublesome areas that tend to hang most people up – sentimental items and paper. Not only are these categories hard to do, they take the longest to process. If you are in control of the timing of your move, it is definitely worth it to do a session weekly on these categories. If quicker and you have a few boxes of each, it isn’t worth your time doing prior to moving. The rest of the home's stuff is where you should focus. Sentimental items - we all have something (or many things for that matter) that serve no purpose other than to remind us of someone, some place, or an event – good or bad. How do we decide what is truly worth keeping and what isn’t? Is the memory good or bad? If good, are you honoring the memory? If bad, how does it really feel to still have it? Do I have anything else that is a better representation of the event/time period/ person? Is it useful? Beautiful? Do I LOVE it? What has more value to me… this object, or having less possessions in general?

If it’s just in a box and you plan to keep it there – are you sure you really want it? Answer these questions truthfully. Maybe just remembering while going through to purge is all you need. And if someone ELSE wants an item, give it to them now!

Paper – it never stops coming. Whether it’s mail, work, financial institutions, doctor’s appointments; there is just no way to ever eliminate getting it completely. This won’t change anytime soon. But, let me give you the stat that 80% of what you file you will NEVER look at or need again! Seriously. Consult your financial advisor and accountant on how long to keep things. Then, attack those archives of paper! Boxes of paper are heavy and take up space.

Besides these difficult areas, here are some typical items you have TOO much of that can be a bit easier to downsize: sheets, bedding, towels, containers, drinking glasses, mugs, cleaning products, books, office supplies, vases, socks, hangers, tools, spices and condiments, craft supplies, holiday decorations, magazines, formal dining items such as platters and bowls, cords and chargers for items you no longer have and anything in off-site storage. Remember the stat I listed for paper – guess what – it is for everything else too! You use 20% of your things, 80% of the time. Lastly, purging via the right avenues throughout the entire process helps greatly when the actual move comes. Storing in the garage to deal with again doesn’t help. Recycle, reuse, sell and donate right away. (If you plan to have a garage sale, store sellable items in one spot but have a charity lined up to get all unsold items right after.)

Be true to your future self and future needs; how much cooking will you really be doing? Crafting? Entertaining? Less really is more. Keep your vision handy and/or new space criterion - it is your go-to when evaluating it all. And most importantly, savor the process of sound decisions and starting fresh. SS

In the Kitchen JOHN REARDON WITH

Hello my Foodie Friends!

It is apple time in New York. Wow, apple pies, apple sauce, apple turnovers, apple juice and cider and simply - apples. The smells and sounds of autumn brings back very fun memories of my adventures as a young child. I was always full of energy and creative ambition. One specific autumn memory includes a raid that included a large number of kids from the neighborhood I lived in. To this day, my brothers and I call it “The great army tent camp out and apple raid.”

We grew up in your typical baby boomer neighborhood of 4.7 kids per household. I was eight yrs. old, and my brothers were seven and six respectively. We had just moved to the neighborhood and were hoping to make friends with the other kids. My dad who still had ties to his army buddies, went out and bought an army surplus tent. But this wasn’t just any tent, it was huge. It made the tents on the TV show MASH look tiny. We begged our dad for a camp out and “could we invite some of our new friends from the neighborhood?” He said “sure” so we proceeded to invite every little boy in the neighborhood. But there was one requirement: you had to have a bike. One particular evening at about dusk, there was a convoy of little boys on bikes with their sleeping bags and pillows. My parents were a little overwhelmed when about fifteen little boys of various ages ranging from five to eight years old arrived at the Reardon household doorstep. My parents had to ask each little boy for their phone number to speak to their parents to make sure it was okay with them to spend the evening at our home. That evening, we all bunked side by side in the tent and we fit with ease. I was the oldest by two months so my dad said, “you’re in charge, and I don’t want any shenanigans from you kids.” Later, when my dad left, I looked at my army and said, “oh boy are we going to have fun!” A half mile away, was the biggest apple orchard in town. We waited until we knew everyone was asleep. You see, I had a plan.

I told all the boys to take the pillowcases off their pillows and we were going on a raid to get apples. Now, some of the younger ones were very afraid so we said “if you don’t want to go you can stay here and we will be back soon.” We got on our bikes, wrapped our pillowcases around our necks, and headed out for the local orchard. When we got there, we all started quietly picking apples. We had our pillowcases about half full when one of the boys, I think it was Johnny Babbs or Karl Sobie, started yelling that there was a dog and somebody was coming. Pillowcases started to get dropped and I yelled out “run for it, lets get to the bikes!” We urgently took off for home. I held on to my apples because I didn’t want to let them go. We giggled when we got back until we finally fell asleep. The next day, word of the apple raid got out. My mom demanded that my brothers, Danny, Billy, and I return the apples and apologize to the owner of the apple orchard. It was the longest bike ride of our lives. We rode onto his farm and knocked on his door. An “old” man answered the door or at least I thought he was old, but he was probably only around forty-five, but that was “old” to me back then. We told him that we were sorry, and we returned the apples and that we meant no harm. He was not a happy farmer. He told us that this is how he fed his family and that when you took his apples you were taking from his family’s table. His dog came out to greet us also; it was a small dog but seemed big to us at the time. He let us go and said don’t do it again. To the rest of the kids in the neighborhood, we were heroes because they didn’t have to go back and apologize. The story of that raid is still told today when we get together.

Deep-Dish Caramel Apple Pie

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the crust. In a food processor or mixer, pulse/mix the 1 1/2 cups of flour with the granulated sugar and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal, with some pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Sprinkle the ice water on top and pulse until evenly moistened. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather up the crumbs and form into a ball. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick. Ease the dough into a 9-inch deep-dish glass pie plate. Trim the overhanging dough to 1/2 inch, fold it under itself and crimp decoratively. Refrigerate the crust until chilled, about 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, make the streusel topping. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats and brown sugar. Using your fingertips, blend in the butter until clumps form. Refrigerate until ready to use.

INGREDIENTS

CRUST:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 stick unsalted butter, cubed and chilled

• 5 tablespoons ice water

STREUSEL TOPPING:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

FILLING

• 3 pounds Granny Smith apples (about 6)—peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• Whipped cream, for serving

4. Make the filling Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large bowl, toss the apples with the flour, cinnamon and salt until evenly coated.

5. In a large skillet, combine both sugars and cook over low heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar is melted, and the caramel is amber in color, about 5 minutes. Add the cream, butter, and lemon juice (the caramel will bubble vigorously) and cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 5 minutes.

6. Mound the apples in the crust. Pour the caramel over the apples and bake for about 30 minutes, until the crust is lightly golden. Top the apples with the streusel and bake for about 40 minutes longer, until the apples are tender, and the topping is golden. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Serve with whipped cream.

So that leads to the fun gadgets that you can use for your apple pleasures. The first gadget is a simple corer and removes the core with a simple twisting motion. The next one is an apple corer/ divider. In one motion, you can core and slice your apples into eight pieces. The last one is an apple peeling machine which is quick and easy to use. It works great with apples or potatoes. It can slice and core, or just peel. It is suction mounted and holds securely to smooth surfaces.

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs for your assortment of apple cooking gadgets to help you with your family culinary creations.

Our children are the apple of our eyes. Let’s have fun picking apples and making beautiful family memories together. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen!”

Recipe courtesy of Kay Chun at foodandwine.com

Entertaining

RALPH VINCENT WITH

Ideas for relaxed entertaining your guests will love …and you will too!

A “Souper” Cook off Party!!!

Each year when Autumn arrives, I start thinking of soup – creating new recipes, and cooking my faves for family and friends!

Soup is a warm cozy dish ideal for fall gatherings, and even better, you can make it ahead of time for stress free entertaining. Just add some drinks and a few extras to round out your menu and you have a party!

I have a fun idea for entertaining with soup – a soup cook-off party. Invite a group of friends and ask them to each bring a favorite soup they prepare at home to enter in the contest. Plan to serve a soup of your own along with a salad and some crusty bread. At your party everyone gets to sample each of the soups, and vote for the best one. Have each quest write their choice on a slip of paper, then count the votes and announce the winner. And don’t forget to award a prize to the winner as well… maybe a soup cookbook or even a bottle of wine will do.

Here are some new recipes you can serve at your own soup cook – off party. Of course, every party should start with a cocktail! For you I have a “lower octane” and autumn inspired version of the classic Old Fashioned, sweetened up with apple cider and maple syrup. And don’t put the maple syrup away –you’ll need it for the salad dressing! I love this sooo simple to make and equally delish green salad with pears and toasted pecans dressed up with maple syrup vinaigrette. Of course, you will need a soup recipe too. Make one of you favorites or try out my version of Butternut Squash Soup. This soup is so warm and comforting with a kick of cinnamon, and coconut milk for a creamy mouth feel.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. As I always say, have fun in your kitchen cooking (and making drinks!) for the people you love, and remember…

it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to taste good!

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

• One 2.5-to-3pound Butternut squash peeled and diced

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

• 1 large, sweet onion diced

• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon of black pepper

• 1 teaspoon of dried sage

• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme

• a pinch of cinnamon

• 4 cups of vegetable broth

• 1 and ½ cups of unsweetened coconut milk

DIRECTIONS:

In a Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the onions and salt and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the onions soften. Stir in the sage, thyme, cinnamon, and black pepper and cook for another minute or so more. Add the squash to the pot and then the vegetable broth and increase the heat to medium high. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender. Remove from the heat. Allow the soup to cool a bit then using an immersion blender puree the soup until smooth. Stir in the coconut milk and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper to taste. Gently reheat before serving.

Cheers!

Green Salad with Pears, Toasted Pecans & Maple Vinaigrette

Apple Cider & Bourbon Old Fashioned

• 2 ounces of sweet apple cider

• 1.5 ounces of bourbon

• 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

• Ginger ale

DIRECTIONS:

Pour the first four ingredients into an ice filled shaker, pop the lid on and shake it like crazy. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass and top with a splash of ginger ale, garnish with an apple slice and or lemon wedge, if desired.

MAPLE VINAIGRETTE:

• 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup

• ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil

• 4 tablespoons of cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

• Salt and black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Whisk the first four ingredients together in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

SALAD INGREDIENTS:

• 1 bag of prewashed butter lettuce salad mix

• 1 red pear cored, thinly sliced and sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent discoloration

• ½ cup of chopped pecans, lightly toasted

DIRECTIONS:

Toss the salad mix, pear slices and pecans in a chilled salad bowl. Serve with the Maple Vinaigrette.

HISTORY

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

THE ADELPHI 1800'S

Saratoga Hotels By the Numbers

The history of Saratoga Springs has so many aspects and topics in the long timeline of the city. One of my favorite topics is the discussion of the grand hotels that flourished during the 1800s in the number one tourist destination in the country, Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Springs was initially defined as a health resort because of the vision and work of Doanda and Gideon Putnam. In 1802 they built the first hotel, known as Putnam’s Tavern and Boarding House. That hotel had a capacity to serve 70 guests within its walls and area residents were amused by the venture and laughed thinking that a hotel built in a total wilderness could be successful. But successful it was. After the first season the demand was there to visit Saratoga Springs and the Putnams added additional rooms to prepare for the next season.

Gideon and Doanda also enhanced the area around Congress Spring for easier access, discovered the Columbian Spring and added a bathhouse. These additions and more allowed the visitor to experience the health aspects of the city and the lodging in their hotel made for a more comfortable visit to our village. The Putnams had discovered the key aspects to success in the early 1800s… good food, good lodging and the elements for a health resort experience that allowed Saratoga Springs to begin growing immediately. It took a few years to demonstrate the need for even more hotels, but the Putnam family was ready and when the need for such was demonstrated they started construction of another very large hotel called Congress Hall across the street from their original tavern and boarding house.

WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL PUTNAM’S TAVERN AND BOARDING HOUSE

In the summer of 1832 only the second rail line in the State of New York would begin to bring summer visitors to our city. The increase in transportation speed and comfort because of that train service would cause a need to build more and more hotels in the next few years and begin to define a summer visit to the Spa. Grand hotels would become the norm and truly define this great destination for more than the next one hundred years. The need for the best of everything to be served in Saratoga helped to make this little village attract some of the biggest personalities in our country during the 1800s and beyond. It was all about the hotels and the accommodation and activities they provided.

One interesting comparison between present day Saratoga Springs and the city in the 1800s is the number of hotel rooms. Although difficult to get a true count, we estimate that in the later years of the 1800s Saratoga Springs offered between 10,000 to 15,000 rooms counting all the hotels, boarding houses, and private room rentals. Today Saratoga County has about 4,000 rooms. Why the smaller number today?

Transportation is the answer to the number of rooms today versus 150 years ago. In the nineteenth century transportation was slow and people that had made long trips to arrive in Saratoga spent weeks if not months in the city on vacation. The automobile drastically changed travel habits and the very large hotels had become too large to accommodate this more transient population. The large hotels were taken down and more efficient hotels with fewer rooms replaced them in our landscape. Even though those large hotels of years ago don’t exist today, the numbers associated with them are very interesting to consider as we try to understand the history of this great city. First is the knowledge that for a short time in our history we had four very large hotel properties that eclipsed the many smaller properties. The Grand Union, United States, Congress Hall and the Grand Central were the big four. The last year the big four graced our skyline was 1874. A fire on October 1, 1874, destroyed Grand Central, which was never rebuilt. From 1874 on, the big three anchored the list of visitor options to our city. Many people had favorite properties since each hotel had seemed to attract a distinct demographic. Some hotels were more religious, some more political and the people they attracted seemed to be very loyal to their hotel for repeat bookings year after year.

Those numbers tell a very interesting story, let’s look at the number of hotel rooms… The Grand Union was the largest hotel with just under 1,000 rooms, the United States Hotel at 800, Congress Hall at 600 and the Grand Central at about 500 rooms. Even the so-called smaller hotels were

impressive in room numbers with the Clarendon at 250 rooms, Windsor at 150, Columbian at 125 and the Adelphi at 75. I’m reminded when I travel today that properties that seem large to me usually have 125 to 250 rooms. The size of these Saratoga hotels that don’t even exist today were huge. There were countless boarding houses and private rooms in local residences that rounded out the list of possible lodging spots, as well as many smaller hotels that have not been listed here.

The largest hotels were large in every respect. The Grand Union Hotel had 500 rocking chairs on the front porch alone and had a dining room that could serve 1,500 people in one sitting. The Grand Union Hotel occupied 7 acres of property and had 1.5 miles of interior hallways. When the hotel was remodeled in 1872 it required three acres of carpeting and one and a half acres of marble counter-tops to complete the work. The Grand Union had an Opera House that seated 1,500 people and employed Victor Herbert as its general music director. Not to be outdone the United States Hotel countered by hiring John Phillip Sousa as its music director! All the large hotels offered the American plan which gave you a room but also provided three meals a day. To feed the masses of visitors was a huge daily job. Many locals were in the business of supplying vegetables, fish, livestock, chickens, and more on a daily basis. The railroad brought much needed supplies to the city daily from the Atlantic coast and beyond. We were entertaining the wealthiest people in the country, and they demanded the best that could be supplied at the time. The food demands were staggering. The Saratogian newspaper reported that on one day in August of 1892 guests at the United States Hotel required the following food items for their dining pleasure. The list included 400 dozen eggs, 500 pounds of butter, 700 quarts of milk, 340 chickens, 220 quarts of ice cream, 2,000 ears of corn, 10 barrels of potatoes, 4,000 tea biscuits, 30, 3.5 lbs. bluefish, 10, 30 lb. salmon, 2, 80-pound turtles for soup, and various cuts of beef, pork and lamb. That was consumed in one day, at one hotel.

The Saratoga hotels were the life blood of the city. These large hotels were very much like the cruise ships of today. Once a guest was checked in, they were supplied with their meals, entertainment and sleeping accommodation for their stay. It was a one stop destination for all that people desired daily. But Americans did eventually desire more entertainment and the residents of Saratoga Springs were very kind to provide horse racing, casino gambling, alcohol, and nightly dances that further enhanced their visit to the city. All these elements helped to propel Saratoga Springs to become the number one tourist destination in America in the 1800s. ...And still a great destination today! SS

CONGRESS HALL DINING ROOM

Rarely Seen Photos of Old Saratoga Springs

WRITTEN

CONGRESS HALL

Congress Hall was the second hotel built by Gideon Putnam. This was one of the four largest hotels to ever operate in Saratoga Springs and was located in today’s Congress Park and faced along Broadway between Spring Street and East Congress.

BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

CONGRESS HALL MENU

The large hotels of Saratoga all offered the American plan that provided three meals a day with your stay. This menu shows the volume and variety of foods offered at the Congress Hall.

MONUMENT SQUARE 1907

The area of Broadway near the entrance to Congress Park was called Monument Square because the statue honoring the 77th NYS Regiment was there until almost 1920. A car accident at the base of the monument forced city officials to move the statue into Congress Park where it is today

Preserving This I Call Home. SPOT

A reflection on local environmentalism

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE | PHOTOS PROVIDED (UNLESS NOTED)

"In our human way, we talk about saving the earth. Earth is going to be just fine, with or without us. Our challenge now is to save ourselves," explained environmental activist turned composer John Luther Adams before his work "Vespers of the Blessed Earth," which held its SPAC debut this August 12.

SPAC President & CEO Elizabeth Sobol's opening remarks described the unique program as a "call to action, illuminating the devastation of climate change." She added, "Tonight, we journey from despair to possibility."

Sadness swept the audience as the chorus recited a litany of 193 endangered plant and animal species in the piece's fourth movement.

Before the evening began, Christopher Shiley, VP of artistic planning, cautioned me of the somber program, but also alluded to a ray of hope.

Representatives from ten local nonprofit environmental groups gathered under the Julie Bonacio Pavilion:

• NYS Parks and Historic Preservation (1970)

• Spa City Farmers Market (1978)

• Wilton Wildlife Preserve (1980s)

• Southern Adirondack Audubon Society (1984)

• Agricultural Stewardship (1990)

• Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (1992)

• Saratoga PLAN (2003)

• Sustainable Saratoga (2008)

• Pitney Meadows Community Farm (2016)

• SoBro Conservancy of Saratoga (2021)

Their efforts inspired and challenged me to reflect on and research our community's response to environmental issues and climate change.

Little did I know in the early 1960s, as I amused myself with Barbies and a plastic Etch-a-Sketch, that the second wave of environmentalism, the Recreation phase, was in full swing in Saratoga. I was unaware of the formation of these early environmental organizations in our fair city.

My perspective shifted when I stumbled upon three Skidmore students' capstone senior project for Bob Turner's 2013 Environmental Studies class. In their paper, "The Times They Are A-Changin'- Shifting Environmentalism in Saratoga Springs, New York," I realized how early local efforts in environmentalism began.

The first wave, the Preservation phase, began in 1900 when Yaddo Gardens and the Saratoga National Battlefield were established as public educational spaces. The paper didn't mention the "springs" we are known for worldwide.

This era was also known for Spencer Trask's efforts to preserve our valuable waters, highlighted in our city's 2020 Natural Resources Inventory:

Several historic actions must be noted at the beginning of any history of open space conservation in Saratoga Springs.

• Due to concern about the exploitation of local mineral springs and depletion of the water table, a local Committee of Concerned Citizens successfully lobbied the New York State Legislature for the preservation the mineral springs beginning in the early 1900s. In 1908, the New York State Legislation passed the Anti-Pumping Act of the mineral springs. The gas companies challenged this Act in the courts and continued pumping as the litigation proceeded. The Committee of Concerned Citizens, led by Spencer Trask, pleaded with the Legislature to bring all the springs under State control to ensure their survival. They were successful and as a result, the Saratoga Spa Reservation was established in May 1909 through the Brackett-Whitney Act. By 1915, four parks had been created in Saratoga Springs from state acquisitions including Congress Park, High Rock Park, and Lincoln and Geyser Park (both now within the Saratoga Spa State Park). New York State also received ownership of 163 springs and wells (SEQR Findings Statement, Saratoga Spa State Park Master Plan, 2010). They capped all but 19 of the springs and allowed free, public access to the remaining mineral and freshwater springs (Davis and Davis, 1997). The State’s creation of the Spa Reservation (later the Saratoga Spa State Park) conserving prime real estate on the edge of the historic village has left an indelible imprint on open space planning.

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS

The Philadelphia Orchestra performs "Vespers of the Blessed Earth," composed by environmental activist, John Luther Adams. These group events - by local volunteers - were created in response to the environmental needs of our community.

SPAC Photos by Francesco D’Amico, Ironglass Productions

From 1915-1965, the Recreation phase was described as "an era that nature was able to be enjoyed as another consumer good and not simply for aesthetic values."

The third phase, Conservation and Responses to Development (1965-1990), was "a time for a surge in citizen advocacy." Many grassroots groups, such as the Open Space Project, began. We are still in the 4th wave, identified by the students as Sustainability and Political Activism, which started in 1990. Many of the groups at the August 12th SPAC event began after 1990.

The concert also provided a rich discussion among those attending.

Audience member Mitch Cohen commented, "I realized individual actions are important."

Fortunately, many local individuals agree. Countless residents such as Barbara Glaser, whose list of contributions to local environmental causes is the size of a New York City phonebook, model and encourage the rest of us to do our part to protect our earth and ourselves.

Likewise, journalist and former Saratogian Jeff Goodell is "calling us to action" with his new bestselling nonfiction book, "The Heat Will Kill You First." His description of Saratoga assured me that we are better off than most. He writes, "For twenty years, I lived in upstate New York, which is one of the best places to live in America if you take climate change seriously. It's not too hot in the summer, there is plenty of farmland and water, it's far from the rising seas, it has a politically engaged local population, easy access to the Adirondacks, a strong arts culture, and decent transportation, including one of the great train rides in America down the Hudson to New York City." However, this is not a book that sugarcoats our current climate situation. Many recent news events dovetail with his dire predictions.

Our local efforts that began at the turn of the 20th century will hopefully continue to accelerate. In the meantime, I am grateful for SPAC's recent event and the now historical events highlighted on the next page in the Skidmore project appendix.

Author's note:

Thanks to SPAC, Former Skidmore students Riley Johnson, Gabriella Stern, Sarah Risley, Professor Bob Turner, Tom Denny, and Jeff Goodell

Former Saratogian Jeff Goodell calls us to climate action with his recently published bestseller, “The Heat Will Kill You First.”

Yaddo Gardens entrance. The Yaddo Garden Association was formed in 1900.

Appendix C: Environmental Events in Saratoga Springs

1900 • Yaddo Garden Association formed

1916 • Saratoga Battlefield National Historical Park

1946 • SaraSpa Rod and Gun Club

1957 • Saratoga Lake Sailing Club formed

1964 • Saratoga Lake Association formed

1977 • Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation formed

1978 • Saratoga Farmers Market formed

1981 • Waldorf School Forest Kindergarten Program created

1980 • American Farmland Trust formed

1986, JULY • Proposal for exit 14 development project

“Saratoga East”

1987 • Open Space Project organization formed by Barbara Glaser to protect Saratoga’s land

1991 • Environmental Action Club formed

1993 • Land Trust Alliance formed

1996 • Kayaderosseras Fish and Game Club formed

1999 • Hudson Crossing Park formed

2000 • Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA) formed

2001 • Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park

2003, JULY • Saratoga P.L.A.N. established

2004, MAR. • Friends of the Kayaderosseras formed

2005 • Bikeatoga (formerly SHTN) formed

2008, SEPT. • Lake Ave Garden Project

2008, NOV. • Sustainable Saratoga founded by Joanne Yepsen and Julie Stokes

2009, OCT. • Cool Cities Committee formed at Skidmore

2009, OCT. 24 • Mayor Johnson signs U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

2011, MAR. • Saratoga joins Cleaner Greener Communities Program

2012, MAR. 2 • Complete Streets Policy passed

2012, JUNE • Shared Access Advisory Board established

2012, MAR. 23 • City Council adopts Climate Smart Communities Pledge

2012, MAY • Saratoga’s first “Green Street” created

2013, JAN. • Saratoga Springs awarded Safe Routes to School Grant for Geyser Elementary

2013, JAN. • Urban Forestry Project complete

2013, FEB. • Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Saratoga complete

2013, MAR. • Anti-idling Ordinance passed

2013, MAY • EAC’s Critical Mass ride

host, guests, Locale:

A Memorable Spa Dinner Party

WRITTEN BY BILL ORZELL

Saratoga Springs had achieved a fine reputation as a health resort long before the Civil War.

In fiction, the Scarlett O’Hara of the silver-screen, recalled her visit to the Spa before the War began. Following the bloody engagement which stretched for nearly four years, the upstate community provided a salve for the mental wounds created by the conflict, through the gathering of those with an interest in Thoroughbred racing. The Confederate States had been mostly shut-out of competing during the conflict, but at Saratoga where racing commenced just weeks after the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, a common ground was established for former foes. Saratoga Race Course proved a place where President Lincoln’s vision of “malice toward none” could be practiced.

Image titled “Broadway in front of Union Hall,” captured by Deloss Barnum 1869, courtesy "Robert Joki Stereoscopic Collection" Saratoga Room - Saratoga Springs Public Library.

Governor Oden Bowie was one individual who turned to the Spa for solace and horse racing. The first Governor elected in Maryland following the War, he had long been a committed breeder of Thoroughbred horses. His operation in the Old Line State was known as Fairview Plantation, and had been operated with enslaved persons before the clash of ideologies. His own US Army experience came in the 1840s during the Mexican Conflict, enlisting as a private and rising through the ranks, emerging a decorated Captain. Oden Bowie served concurrently as Maryland’s Governor and Maryland Jockey Club President. He reorganized and revived the oldest Jockey Club in the country, which had colonial roots, and George Washington and Andrew Jackson as participants in MJC events. Maryland Jockey Club members to this day use a distinctive logo created in 1830, crafted from the group’s initials with the “M” made by a combination of two stirrups and webbing, the “J” by a riding crop and the “C” by a spur, forming a distinctive design. At Saratoga, Oden Bowie raced some of the best horses in competition under his red and white silks, and also acted as a track steward. Governor Bowie developed a reputation of being excessively severe in his rulings, to the degree fellow owners would craft negative connotations of his “O. B.” initials.

Several sources agree that the word “Preakness” is derived from a Native American word describing a productive hunting ground near the New York – New Jersey border. Like many terms in use today for geographic locations, which had their origin in the tongues of native speakers, it is highly corrupted in pronunciation. Textile merchant Milton H. Sanford operated a Thoroughbred stock farm in Passaic County and adopted the Preakness name for his operation.

He had a second Thoroughbred breeding center near Lexington, Kentucky which shared the Preakness name, which would evolve into the famous Elmendorf Farm. Mr. Sanford was also a liberal purchaser of Thoroughbred stock, setting some auction records for yearlings bred by Colonel Robert Atchison Alexander, noted owner of Woodburn Farm near Lexington. Milton Sanford had traveled to English tracks, where he met William Hayward and convinced him to come to the United States. Billy Hayward acted as both trainer and rider for Mr. Sanford’s stable and they enjoyed success, winning the 1868 edition of the Saratoga Cup with the bay horse Lancaster.

An elated Milton Sanford threw a celebratory dinner party at the Leland Brother’s Union Hall on Broadway, which under subsequent ownership would become the Grand Union Hotel. Mr. Sanford certainly spared no expense for Lancaster’s Cup winning gala, as Union Hall was the Spa’s premier banquet facility. The Lelands lent greatly to the postwar atmosphere in Saratoga, having recently built an Opera House succursal to the Union Hall, which was inaugurated by none less than General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1865, or the Independence Day after the Union was preserved. The Saratogian of this time would publish a rhyming jaunt about local accommodations by an author known simply as “Jacket,” which allows us to appreciate the sentiments of the time:

“The Union, known throughout the land, From Maine to Texan plains, And o'er the sea its praises come, where Lelands hold the reins. 'Tis in the splendid dancing-room, that fairy footsteps fall, but where the guests delight to meet, is in the dining hall.”

Governor Oden Bowie, who was also President of the Maryland Jockey Club.

Image source: Governors of Maryland, Heinrich Ewald Buchholz, 1908.

Milton H. Sanford, Thoroughbred owner, and founder of the feast at the famous 1868 Dinner Party in Saratoga Springs.

Image source: The History of Medway, Mass. Edited by Rev. E.O. Jameson, published by the Town 1886.

The triumphant dinner party was attended by the foremost turfmen in the country, including the flamboyant Charlie Reed and plunger H. Price McGrath, who seven years hence would furnish the very first Kentucky Derby winner. Under the generous effects of the fine wine and good food, it was unanimously resolved by those in the hall -recently divided by civil war- to make a positive contribution to further racing and renewed social gatherings. John Hunter of New York, whose orange with crimson sash silks were familiar to all in the room, made a novel suggestion. Mr. Hunter’s astute views were sought, as he along with John Morrissey, William R. Travers, John McBain Davidson and other sportsmen had been the original incorporators of Saratoga Race Track a few years earlier. John Hunter suggested during conversation that those at dinner subscribe $1,000 apiece for their best current yearlings, with a race to be run in two years, between the then three-year-olds. Mr. Hunter’s sweepstakes suggestion was strongly seconded by those effused with more than a certain warmth of burgundy at the dinner party. Governor Bowie offered a caveat to the proposed highstakes race: the Maryland Jockey Club would add $15,000 if the race were run there. This track had yet to be built, but he had until 1870 to complete the new venue at what was sometimes referred to as the Pimlyco or Pemblicoe section

of Baltimore. This generous offer to stage a major threeyear-old event, south of the Mason-Dixon Line in what was now termed “The Free State,” would be a new spectacle in Thoroughbred racing. The guests of Mr. Sanford that summer evening at the Spa, designated their newly formulated futurity contest the Dinner Party Stakes. The founder of the feast at Union Hall was very pleased with what he had fostered. He also had some quality yearlings in his barn which had just come his way from Colonel Alexander, and Woodburn Farm in Kentucky. One of his hopefuls was a bay colt, son of the immortal sire Lexington out of Bay Leaf, whom Mr. Sanford would name Preakness. Interestingly, the same Col. Robert A. Alexander, breeder of Preakness, several years before and just prior to the eruption of hostilities at Fort Sumter, commissioned Tiffany & Company in New York to create a race trophy. This was awarded for the first time in 1861 at a Louisville, Kentucky track known as Woodlawn Park, and the special Tiffany creation was termed the Woodlawn Vase. The elaborate competition cup was topped by the figure of his star sire, Lexington. During the Civil War the Woodlawn Vase was buried under the bluegrass, to prevent its interception by Federal Troops.

Jockey and trainer Billy Hayward. Image source: The American TurfAn Historical Account of Racing In The United States, 1898.

Saratoga Springs fixture John Hunter, whose suggestion evolved into the Dinner Party Stake. Image source: The American TurfAn Historical Account of Racing In The United States, 1898.

Word of the Dinner Party Stakes spread around Saratoga Springs -and the racing world- which proved extremely intriguing to other owners. Participation in the Dinner Party Stakes was expanded to accommodate other interested owners, who were not fortunate enough to have been at the imaginative banquet. The brand new Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore was ready in 1870 as Governor Bowie had attested that famous evening at Saratoga’s Union Hall. Milton Sanford’s Preakness was an entry, however still a maiden; his large and gawky form prevented his competing as a two-year-old. Preakness was readily identifiable going to post for the inaugural event by his owner’s all-blue silks. As only luck and fate would have it, Preakness won the Dinner Party Stakes under jockey Billy Hayward before an enormous crowd. The following year, 1871, the race was repeated as the Reunion Stakes, and in 1872 the name was revised again to the Dixie Stakes. In 1873 the Maryland Jockey Club decided to add a feature race for three-year-olds, and they named the event after the first stakes winner on the Pimlico track, Preakness. The Woodlawn Vase had been won by Thomas Clyde, founder of the Clyde-Mallory Shipping Lines in the early years of the twentieth century. In 1917, Mr. Clyde gifted the Vase to the Maryland Jockey Club, of which he was a director and stockholder, to be used as a continual prize for the Preakness Stakes.

As a two-year-old Preakness did not race. As a threeyear-old the colt experienced difficulties at Saratoga and did not race until autumn 1870, when he won at first asking in the Dinner Party Stakes. Preakness proved to be a solid competitor as a four-year-old and up winning multiple stakes races. In 1875, he dead-heated with Springbok in a memorable record-breaking Saratoga Cup. He was exported to England in 1876 where he raced, and was sold to the Duke of Hamilton for stud duty. Image source: Famous

The healing waters of Saratoga Springs and the spirited racing competition there, engendered a reunion of divided peoples in that unique locale, while furthering Thoroughbred breeding and cultivating a new facility in a former slaveholding state, which has perpetuated to our time. Governor Oden Bowie’s influence continued at the Saratoga Race Course well beyond his death in 1894, and he figures into one of those charming “only-in-Saratoga” tales. The many barns at Horse Haven, north of Union Avenue, all carry a sequential number designation, for directional information and differentiation. With superstition naturally high on a race track, triskaidekaphobia is a powerful component, and no one wanted to be assigned Barn #13. Some whose memories stretched back into the previous century, recalled that the structure which would be thirteenth in ordinal progression, was during an earlier time occupied by Oden Bowie and later his son Ogden Bowie. Instead of a numeral designation this barn became listed as “Barn O. B.”

The Daily Racing Form March 4, 1919, reported on a similar situation in the track clubhouse:

“One of the boxes at Saratoga, instead of being numbered, is known as "box O. B.” Secretary McL. Earlocker says the box was originally No. 13 but no one wanted that number, and as the stable in Horse Haven that would naturally be No. 13 was named O. B., so the same symbol was used for the box.”

American Race Horses, Porter and Coates, illustration by C. Lloyd 1877.

Saratoga Club House box holders for the 1926 race season, which includes Box “O. B.” assigned to Archibald Barklie. The Saratogian July 29, 1926.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1954 displays stables/barns on the western turn of the Horse Haven exercise track, which includes Barn “O. B.”

Did He Really Say That?

WRITTEN BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD | PHOTOS PROVIDED

On Father’s Day 1979, my wife gave me a small 5”x7” Hallmark plaque with a photograph of a man and a boy fishing off the end of a dock. The inscription in the bottom right-hand corner read:

“Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of value.” — Albert Einstein

My sons were only one and four then, and I’d just taken a huge leap of faith by purchasing Price’s Dairy from Victor Price. My wife and I were in our early twenties with little money and even less business experience. Basically, it was the Price’s Dairy name, a milk route, and a few old trucks. We had nothing to lose. The next ten years were my most demanding and most rewarding. I amassed a lifetime of friends and memories in one decade, and although it was heartbreaking to see it end, I never regretted one day of it.

The little wooden Hallmark plaque graced my desk throughout the Price’s Dairy years. When I went to work for Stewart’s Shops and earned a management position in the Hauling Office, the plaque came with me. It would remain on my desk until I retired in

2019. It’s in front of me right now as I write this. Although the quote has been my mantra and roadmap whenever I sought the answer to life’s meaning, I always wondered whether Albert Einstein was really the source.

I set out to prove or disprove whether or not old Al was as proficient with his prose as he was in his calculations. Where to start? Google has yet to let me down. When I typed in the quote and asked whether Albert Einstein was responsible, Google directed me to a May 2, 1955 issue of Life Magazine, which contained an article titled “Death of a Genius.” The article appeared just one month after Einstein’s death and a month before my birth. Now I needed to find the quote. Thanks to the power of the internet and Google, I could page through the entire issue. In the process, I was able to locate it. One of Life’s editors, William Miller, his son Pat, a Harvard freshman at the time, and Professor William Hermanns, a friend of Einstein’s from Germany, visited Einstein some months before his death. During the visit, the four men discussed the importance of staying curious.

Einstein explained, “Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day. Never lose holy curiosity. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.”

Finding the roots and context of my mantra for the last forty years helped me understand its significance. As a man constantly searching for signs to guide me, this felt like confirmation that maybe I’d been on the right road the whole time.

Thanks to Zubal Books of Cleveland, Ohio, I now have an original issue of May 2, 1955, Life Magazine, where the quote was born. I couldn’t be happier.

Life’s simple pleasures. SS

Behind the Scenes

FALL 2023 COVER SHOOT

LOCATION

The DeGraff-Bloom Showcase entry (#3 on the tour) was the perfect setting for this year’s COVER SHOOT! After a crazy hectic summer, we all spent the day at this totally serene elegantly rustic custom home, nestled in the forest (yet minutes from the Northway!) -doesn’t that just sound lovely?!

The first time I saw this home, I was WOWED, I’m sure you will be too!

Thank you again Mark for letting us invade your entry for the afternoon!

GUEST STAR

CBS6 Anchor Liz Bishop

HAIR & MAKE UP

Brandon Scott and Nikki Miller of The Company Salon and Spa

WARDROBE Spoken Boutique... with Joseph Ribkoff

COVER SHOT STYLED BY Chris Vallone Bushee

COVER PHOTO

Randall Perry Photography

Thank You EVERYONE for another great Showcase of Homes cover!

- Chris Vallone Bushee, Creative Director / Managing Editor of Saratoga TODAY’s Magazine Division

From left (back): Brandon Scott, Mike Adamec, Nikki Miller, Lindsey Butler, Barry Potoker, Randall Perry, Chris Vallone Bushee, Lisa Licata, and Tina Powell

From left (front): Ashley Santiago Yevoli (Joseph Ribkoff), Liz Bishop, Mark Johnson

Patrice Mastrianni is offering Saratoga Lawn Jockeys for auction during the upcoming Showcase Awards Night celebration!

We love our selfies!

Mark, Barry and Lisa

Barry with his TV and Mag girls