Simply Saratoga fall 2013 by Saratoga TODAY

The People. The Places. The Lifestyle. Fall 2013 Edition

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CONTENT Fall Showcase of Homes Issue 2013

Showcase of Homes

Pages 21-73

154

A GOOD READ 78

Restaurant Review

Simple Truths

Book Review

Elliot Masie

106

132

FASHION

Pages 95-101

HOME & GARDEN 105

Saratoga Tableworks

106

From The Kitchen

118

Carriage House Chronicles

126

Hollis Palmer

132

Peter Bowden

ENTERTAINMENT 138

Lake George

146

Saratoga Springs

150

Roadtrip to Manchester

154

Vermont Country Store

158

West Mountain Inn

164

Covey & Nye

171

Battenkill Riversports

176

The Quill Gordon

180 Hildene

78 180 126

Cover Credits The People. The Places. The Lifestyle.

Marcie Fraser’s hair & makeup: Ann-Marie Flores Salon. Her Earrings,

Belt and top from Spoken, Fry Boots and jeans from Violets Compliments of

164

Health and Fitness Expert, Marcie Fraser welcomes us into one of Witt Construction’s Showcase of Homes entries on Oak Street, Saratoga Springs, NY

• Fall decor & wreath: Toadflax • Location: 96 Oak Street, Witt Construction • Stylist: Chris Vallone Bushee • Photographer: Randall Perry

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From The Publisher...

As the days get shorter and leaves begin turning vibrant hues of crimson red, I am already hard at work planning home improvement projects which I have been actively putting off for the past six months. Yes, Fall has arrived bringing with it a crisp snap to the air and the urge to start working around the house. Did you just call me lazy for putting off my spring and summer projects? No, no, no. I have a very legitimate reason...I’ve been waiting all year for the annual Showcase of Homes! Yes, the inspiration behind many a Saratoga home has arrived! The Saratoga Builders Association ‘Showcase of Homes’ kicks off on Saturday, September 21 and there is no better source for artistic inspiration.

Chadwick M. Beatty Whether you are a seasoned home-owner or a newbie looking for a creative spark, the Owner/Publisher Showcase tour has something for everyone and we are proud to be a sponsor. So turn the page and begin your journey into a world of quality craftsmanship. Savor the imagery, read the articles and by all means get out and tour these one-of-a-kind homes. Enjoy!

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Simply

ARATOGA

The People. The Places. The Lifestyle.

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee Creative Director Jessica Kane Advertising Jim Daley, Cindy Durfey Graphic Designers Frank Garguilo Eric Havens Jessica Kane Writers Peter Bowden Brian Cremo Chelsea DiSchiano Yael Goldman Helen Susan Edelman Meghan Lemery Patricia Older Hollis Palmer Kate Towne Sherwin Chelsea Hoopes Silver Photographers MarkBolles.com RandallPerry.com StockStudiosPhotography.com WillCookPhotography.com Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 fax: (518) 581-2487 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Printed By

Fry Communications, Inc. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, 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 a ny means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2013, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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CONTRIBUTORS Fall Showcase of Homes Issue ~ September 2013

Peter Bowden

Meghan Lemery

Brian Cremo

Kate Towne Sherwin

Peter has been the region's go-to garden guy for over 35 years. During his decades of garden center management he has had thousands of hours of conversations with customers. His knack for practical and concise explanations has served him well during his 20-year tenure as WRGB’s garden guy. He is an artist and avid photographer whose images have appeared in textbooks, magazines and travel guides. Peter lives with his wife, Sharon and their pets in an old house in the country.

Brian is a writer from Scotia, who graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in newspaper journalism. He is currently the sports editor for Saratoga TODAY. Brian has enjoyed travels across the United States but has always been at home with the places and people of upstate New York, who all have a story to tell.

Chelsea DiSchiano

Chelsea is a native Texan turned New Yorker. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, she headed north and joined Saratoga TODAY in September 2012, where she writes about education, entertainment, local news and Malta politics. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys watching live music, eating barbecue and Tex-Mex food, going to the lake and reading.

Helen Edelman

Helen writes about other writers, which can be a daunting task. She also writes about education, health care, the arts, and profiles of important and intriguing people she has met along the way. Edelman has been living in Saratoga Springs since 1970, when she arrived as a Skidmore freshman. Since then, she has had incarnations as a writer, journalist, marketer and anthropologist. She is the mother of four children and grandmother to one goat named Ruby!

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Meghan began her career in Boston where she spent five years counseling cancer patients at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She returned to the Saratoga area and started in private psychotherapy practice. She currently has an office in Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls. She is also the author of her first published book, titled “Please Pass the Barbie Shoes” which was published in Spring of 2011.

Kate Towne Sherwin grew up in Saratoga Springs and is so grateful to be able to raise her children here. She and her husband have five boys (ages 1 to 8), and when they’re playing/reading/sleeping she writes, so she’ll always remember these precious days.

Patricia Older

Patricia made the move from Florida to Saratoga Springs in 1973. She currently lives in Middle Grove with her husband, two horses, two donkeys, four dogs, nine chickens, and one cat. In 1998, Patricia was awarded first place for a feature article from the NYPA for a series on a local woman who had survived the Killing Fields of Cambodia along with her seven children.

Chelsea Hoopes Silver

Chelsea Silver owns Silverwood Home & Gallery in downtown Saratoga Springs with her mother, Charlene. She is also a real estate agent for Town & Country Properties and does interior design consulting. She began writing her blog, The Carriage House Chronicles, in 2012, loving the new opportunity to virtually connect with other design-oriented folks amateur and professional, local and afar. With degrees in English and American Fine and Decorative Arts, she is very happy to be combining these two passions in her new endeavor writing for Simply Saratoga.

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Contents Welcome and Showcase Committee Members Schedule of Events and Ticket Information Driving Directions and Map

Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Home”

26–27

Subcontractors and Suppliers 62–65 23

Showcase Sponsors

24–25

Showcase Homes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

R. J. Taylor Builders: Springwood Meadows Townhome Apartments Heritage Custom Builders: Timber Creek Preserve Malta Development: Lakeview Landing Belmonte Builders: McKenzie’s Way Polito Homes: Park Grove Bella Home Builders: Jenna Jo Avenue Bonacio Construction: The Springs Bella Home Builders: Liz Ann Drive Saratoga Builders: Burgoyne Estates Terrace Homebuilders: Phila Street Condominiums Bonacio Construction: The Washington Bella Home Builders: Greenfield Avenue Witt Construction: Old Stone Ridge Witt Construction: Oak Street

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Welcome W

elcome to the 2013 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, the “Greatest Show in Town” this fall. It’s an event that is truly part of the regional fabric in our autumn season. On behalf of the Saratoga Builders Association and the Showcase Committee, I’d like to thank all the generous sponsors and countless volunteers for their continued support. Special thanks to all our builders who are committed to this show and make this annual event a reality. Lastly, we are grateful for the tremendous public support through ticket sales each and every year. The 18th edition of this area’s premier home tour will be spectacular. We are excited and proud to present 14 new homes in Saratoga County from 10 award-winning builders for your enjoyment over three weekends. You’ll see the most innovative products, beautiful décor, professional craftsmanship and impeccable constructiong race each of these magnificent homes, inviting you through their doors. Consider adding a dash of delectable treats to your experience and join us for the Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Home” event taking place on Friday, September 20. Eight homes are participating in what should be a fun and memorable evening. You’ll have a chance to sample comfort food from some of the area’s top chefs and restaurants while touring these exceptional homes. The Saratoga Builders Association has contributed nearly $800,000 to our local charities from this annual event, and this year will be no different. Proceeds from this year’s Showcase of Homes will benefit two worthwhile organizations: Rebuilding Together, Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga,Warren and Washington Counties. Both of these groups help give back to the community through improving the homes and lives of those in need. Many families in our area would never realize their dreams of home ownership or improvement of their living conditions without the efforts of these two terrific organizations. Please take a moment to explore the pages of this official guide and see what’s in store for the Showcase of Homes this year. Also visit our dedicated website at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Where else can you visit 14 incredible new homes over three beautiful fall weekends for just $20? Enjoy the show . . . it is a not to be missed event this year! Barry Potoker Executive Director, Saratoga Builders Association saratogabuilders.org • saratogashowcaseofhomes.com

2013 Showcase of Homes Committee Barry Potoker, Co-Chair & Executive Director, Saratoga Builders Association Lisa Licata-Stoll, Co-Chair & Realty USA Jesse Boucher, Kodiak Construction and President, Saratoga Builders Association Tammy DiCara, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties Marci Fila, Realty USA JR George, Trustco Bank Michelle Larkin, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County Jamie Pietrosanto, Pietrosanto Insurance Rilla Schulte, Bonacio Construction Pam Stott, Curtis Lumber

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Event and Ticket Info Dates for Upcoming Events

FREE! Every ticket holder

Tuesday, September 17 2013 Showcase of Homes Realtor and Judges Tour

Thursday, September 19 2013 Showcase of Homes Celebration and Awards Presentation Vapor at Saratoga Casino and Raceway

Friday, September 20 Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Home” at eight participating showcase homes

Saturday and Sunday, September 21–22 18th Annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes—The Greatest Show in Town!

Saturday and Sunday, September 28–29 18th Annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes—The Greatest Show in Town!

Saturday and Sunday, October 5–6 18th Annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes—The Greatest Show in Town!

Showcase of Homes Proceeds Benefit:

receives a complimentary shoe tote bag at the first home visited.

Ticket Information 2013 Saratoga Showcase of Homes $20.00 each Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Home” $25.00 each Limited quantities—buy early!

Ticket combo includes a Showcase Chefs “Comforts of Home” and Showcase of Homes ticket.

$40.00 Tickets are available at any Adirondack Trust branch location, Trustco Bank locations, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa, Realty USA in Clifton Park and on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, and Roohan Realty on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Tickets are also available online at www.SaratogaShowcaseofHomes.com and always conveniently available at the door at any showcase home during the tour hours of 11 a.m.–5 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at the “Greatest Show in Town” this fall!

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2013 Showcase of Homes Directions 1. R.J. Taylor Builders: Springwood Meadows Townhome Apartments, 27 Springwood Meadows Drive, Ballston Spa From I -87 Exit 12, west on Route 67 to Route 50, sharp left onto Route 50, travel 0.6 miles to left on Springwood Meadows Drive. 2. Heritage Custom Builders: Timber Creek Preserve, 30 Forestbrook Drive, Ballston Lake From 1-87 Exit 11, west on Round Lake Road 1.2 miles to left on Forestbrook Drive. 3. Malta Development Lakeview Landing, 3 Admirals Way, Malta From 1-87 Exit 13S, follow Route 9 south to Route 9P. Turn left on Route 9P, continue to Admirals Way. From 1-87 Exit 12, follow Route 67 east to Route 9, turn left on Route 9, follow to Route 9P. Turn right on Route 9P, continue to Admirals Way. 4. Belmonte Builders: McKenzie’s Way, 9 Maria Lane, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 13N, follow Route 9 north to Crescent Avenue. Turn right on Crescent Avenue, turn left on Jefferson Street, continue 0.5 miles to left on E. Broadway. 5. Polito Homes: Park Grove, 13 Joshua Road, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 13N, follow Route 9 north to Crescent Road (not Avenue), turn right onto Crescent Road to first right onto Joshua Road. 6. Bella Home Builders: 59 Jenna Jo Avenue, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 14 to Rt. 9P south. Turn left onto Route 9P, take 2nd left onto Meadowbrook Road, continue 3/4 mile to right onto Oak Ridge Blvd., follow Oak Ridge Blvd. to Jenna Jo Ave. 7. Bonacio Construction, Inc.: The Springs, 1 Empire Springs Lane, Apt. #102, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 15 to Rt. 50 north, take right onto Weibel Avenue. The Springs will be 1/2 mile on the left. From downtown Saratoga Springs, Lake Avenue / Route 29 East, approximately 2 miles from Broadway, to left onto Weibel Avenue. The Springs will be 3/4 mile on the right. 8. Bella Home Builders: 22 Liz Ann Drive, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 15 to Rt. 50 north, turn right onto Weibel Ave. Continue on Weibel Ave. to its end at Route 29. Turn left on Route 29, make second left onto Old Schuylerville Rd. Follow Old Schuylerville Rd to left on Liz Ann Drive 9. Saratoga Builders: Burgoyne Estates, 1 Anthony Lane, Saratoga Springs From 1-87 Exit 15 to Rt. 50 north, turn right onto Weibel Avenue. Continue on Weibel Avenue. to its end at Route 29. Turn left on Route 29, continue 4 miles to right onto Bryants Bridge Road, right onto Burgoyne Road, first left onto Anthony Lane. 10. Terrace Homebuilders: 54 Phila Street Condominiums, 7 Henry Street, Unit 303, Saratoga Springs From 1-87, Exit 14 turn right onto Route 9P/Union Avenue. Continue to end, turn right onto Circular Street. Take first left onto Spring Street, then first right onto Henry Street. 11. Bonacio Construction: The Washington, 422 Broadway, Apt. #301, Saratoga Springs From 1-87, take Exit 13N or Exit 15 to Route 9. Follow Route 9 into downtown Saratoga Springs where it becomes Broadway. The Washington is located on Broadway between Phila Street and Caroline Street. 12. Bella Home Builders, Inc. 32 Greenfield Avenue, Saratoga Springs From 1-87, take Exit 15 south onto Route 50. Continue on Route 50 approximately 1.5 miles until you intersect with Rock Street. Turn right onto Rock Street, continue as it becomes Greenfield Avenue. 13. Witt Construction Old Stone Ridge, 24 Old Stone Ridge Road, Greenfield From 1-87, take Exit 15, go south on Rt. 50 towards Saratoga Springs, bear right onto Van Dam which becomes Church Street/Rt. 9N. Continue past Saratoga Hospital and Stewarts plant on right. Take a left onto Middlegrove Road, left onto Lester Park Road to first right onto Old Stone Ridge Road. 14. Witt Construction 96 Oak Street, Saratoga Springs From 1-87, take Exits 13N, 14, or 15 and follow signs to downtown Saratoga Springs. From Broadway (Route 9/50), turn west on Congress Street (across from Congress Park). Continue on Congress Street as it becomes Grand Avenue. From Grand Avenue, turn left onto Birch Street, and then second left onto Oak Street. Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. P.O. Box 1063, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Tel. (518) 366-0946 • www.saratogabuilders.org

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Showcase Chefs

“Comforts of Home”

The Showcase of Homes celebrates Saratoga County’s most exceptional homes built by some of the Capital Region’s finest builders. This year, the event will feature and display the latest in building techniques and products, as well as beautiful, high-quality furnishings and fixtures from some of the area’s top suppliers and designers. The event runs three consecutive weekends: September 21-22, 28-29 & October 5-6. The showcase home tour hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. This year, mark your calendar for the exciting Showcase Chefs “Saratoga Style” event being held on September 20 from 5–10 p.m., and will feature Chef Scott Ringwood from Lake Ridge Restaurant at Bella Home Builders; Chef Carla Kuchar from Zest at Belmonte Builders; Chef Sean Comisky of Druther’s Brewery at Witt Construction; Chef Kim Klopstock from 50 South Restaurant and Bar at Heritage Custom Builders; Chef John LaPosta from Maestros at Malta Development; Chef Jason Saunders from Prime at Saratoga National at Saratoga Builders; Chef Franco Rau from Capriccio at Terrace Homebuilders; and Chef Dale Miller from Sperry’s at Witt Construction.

Chef Sean Comiskey from Druther’s Brewery at Witt Construction - Old Stone Ridge

Chef Kim Klopstock from 50 South Restaurant & Bar at Heritage Custom Builders

Chef John LaPosta from Maestro’s at Malta Development

Chef Carla Kuchar from Zest at Belmonte Builders

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Now celebrating is 18th year, this annual community event has contributed over $725,000 to our local charities. Proceeds from the 2013 Showcase of Homes event will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, www.RebuildingTogetherSaratoga. org, and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga,Warren and Washington Counties, www.GlensFallsHabitat.org. For more details on the 2013 Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.SaratogaShowcaseofHomes.com.

About Saratoga Builders Association The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the well-being and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, 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 theirwebsite at www. SaratogaBuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, executive director, at BPotoker@SaratogaBuilders.org.

™

Chef Scott Ringwood Chef Jason Saunders from Lake Ridge Restaurant from Prime at Saratoga National at Bella Home Builders - Jenna Jo Ave. at Saratoga Builders saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Chef Franco Rau from Capriccio at Terrace Homebuilders

Chef Dale Miller from Druther’s Brewery at Witt Construction - Oak Street Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 27

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R. J.Taylor 1 Builders

About the Builder

27 Springwood Meadows Drive, Ballston Spa Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1,625 sq. ft. Make these two and three bedroom rentals your home with two and a half bathrooms, private entrances, attached garages, washer and dryer in each unit, fully equipped gourmet kitchen, stainless steel appliances, cable and internet, abundant closet space, spacious rooms, tile floors, gas fireplace, gas heat and central air. There are five inspired floorplans to choose from, some include a master bedroom on the first floor. Pet friendly with restrictions, and smoking restrictions.

R.J. Taylor Builders Inc. designs and builds custom homes and luxury townhome apartments. Every home is uniquely designed with the individual’s lifestyle, Needs, and budget in mind. While never wavering from the quality craftsmanship, striking appearances, and efficient use of space. We have been building distinctive custom homes for over 34 years creating quality neighborhoods for generations to enjoy. www.springwoodmeadows.com (518) 885-0997

Other Features: • All units are Town Home style with a first and second floor • Rates competitively priced compared to county average for price per square foot • On a dedicated bus route with own stop • Cost and energy efficient gas heat and central air • Cost and energy efficient Gas Heat and Central Air • Energy Star rated efficient appliances • Water saving technology • Whole house fans in attic reduce energy consumption • Low e-windows R21 sidewall and R38 ceiling insulation

Second Floor

First Floor

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Heritage 2 Custom Builders

About the Builder

30 Forestbrook Drive, Ballston Lake Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1,500 sq. ft. This traditional ranch home has clean lines, step roof and inviting porch that make it more than the average design. lnside you will find that the kitchen, dining area and living rooms all work together to create an open floor plan and makes this home feel spacious, yet comfortable. The living room has large windows that let in a lot of natural light. Add the optional fireplace to make it perfect for entertaining. The master suite features a walk-in closet and bathroom while the additional bedroom located at the front of the home could also be converted to a den or study. This plan also features a spacious outdoor living and entertaining area on an optional stamped concrete patio. Landscaper: Surroundings Interior Designer: Lynn Ricci of Classic Interiors Kitchen Designer: Sarah McDonald of Bellevue Builders Supply

Other Features: • Family Room with cathedral ceiling • White custom cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances • Custom woodwork throughout • Energy Star rated home

Heritage Custom Builders, LLC has been built upon a tradition of quality, a dedication to excellence and commitment to fine detail. Our mission is to design and build you a truly custom home, with the best quality possible within your price range, built either on your lot or ours. Our experience is that the process itself can be enjoyable. The unique nature of each of our homes comes from the high level of interaction we maintain with you during all phases of design and construction. We build only a limited number of custom homes each year so that each customer and home gets individualized attention. Our dedication is to creative ideas, planning, unique designs, no-surprise budgets, a keen-eye to detail, commitment to follow-through and focus on completion dates. We make your dream home come true, one we are proud to put our signature on. www.BrooksHeritage.com (518) 348-0931

Realtor Information Deborah Brooks, Realty USA 1547 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 857-3137 dabrooks24@yahoo.com

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Malta 3 Development

About the Builder

3 Admirals Way, Malta Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2,190 sq. ft. Offering grand living all on one level, the “Saratoga” model from the Carriage Home Collection appeals to multiple age groups; not only those dreaming of never having to climb stairs again, but those looking for a highly functional and dramatic space. This unique, single story plan offers soaring vaulted ceilings in key areas without the impediment of another level overhead and 10 ft. ceilings elsewhere with the added grandeur of tall, 96” doors.This artfully crafted home makes excellent use of every bit of space, without sacrificing architectural style—a fine example of less is more. Cleverly constructed built-ins free up space where furniture would otherwise be required. The large, L-shaped porch and stone accents make for excellent curb appeal. Our state-of-the-art Home Technology Package includes front door video intercom, audio system, with wireless home remote as well as remote access via Smart Phone or iPad to lighting, HVAC, and security systems. Landscaper: New Dimensions Outdoor Services Interior Designer: Beverly Tracy of Beverly Tracy Home Design Kitchen Designer: Tim Parks of Curtis Lumber

Since 1988, Malta Development Co., Inc. has been building the American Dream for home buyers in all price ranges and at every stage of life in Saratoga County. We are proud that growing families have chosen us to build their second, third, and even fourth home, as their lives and their housing needs change.

Realtor Information Beth Smith, Beth Smith Realty, Ltd. 31 Jessica Trace, Gansevoort bethsmithrealty@hotmail.com (518) 928-3057

Other Features: • Soaring vaulted ceilings in breakfast room, great room, and master bedroom; 10 ft. ceilings everywhere else • Built-in cabinetry in great room flanking a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace • Gourmet kitchen with double wall ovens and cooktop; granite countertops • Gleaming hardwood flooring in foyer, kitchen, breakfast room, and great room • Energy Star rated and National Green Building Standard certified for healthier living and lower utility bills • Super-efficient spray foam insulation on all floors, including basement • High-tech ZIP System Wall sheathing to reduce air infiltration and moisture-related issues • High-efficiency 95% AFUE forced hot air furnace with wi-fi capable, programmable thermostat.

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Belmonte 4 Builders

About the Builder

9 Maria Lane, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2,116 sq. ft. The Frisco is the first showcase home from our affordable luxury collection and has the appeal and convenience of a suburban home in an urban package. This three bedroom, two and a half bath home has over 2,100 square feet of comfortable living space and features a screened porch on the first floor and a unique sleeping porch off of the master bedroom. The spacious open floor plan in this bright, sunny home offers many unique and interesting standard and optional features. Landscaper: CPI Landscaping Interior Designer: Denise Palumbo of Plum and Crimson Kitchen Designer: Lindsey Belmonte of VP Supply

Other Features: • Sleeping porch accessed from the master bedroom • Convenience center with separate refrigerator, coffee station, nook drawers, phone and tablet chargers, and upper cabinet. • Optional three car tandem garage • Counter height transom windows in the kitchen. • Energy Star rated Pella Encompass windows, low-e argon gas filled • R-21 wall and R-38 ceiling insulation • Energy Star rated 95% furnace with programmable thermostat

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First Floor

Belmonte Builders have been building homes in the Capital Region for over 30 years and is recognized as an industry innovator, bringing custom homebuilding and affordable luxury homes, in a variety of locations, to area homebuyers. www.BelmonteBuilders.com (518) 371-1000

Realtor Information Sharon Byrne, Realty USA 1547 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 527-4914 sharon@belmontebuilders.com

Second Floor

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Polito Homes

About the Builder

13 Joshua Road, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3,100 sq. ft. Our showcase home was desgined by architect Frank Gilmore and features a unique Shaker Style with many interesting elevations. This home is a wonderful three bedroom three and a half bathroom, with a two stall over-sized garage. Our home has two exterior patios, one off the kitchen and greatroom, the other a private patio off the home office. The interior layout provides an open feel with many intimate areas in which to relax. The home is a one of a kind design that has a comfortable feel to all spaces. Landscaper: Matt Baker of GSL Landscaping LLC Interior Designer: Beverly Tracy of Beverly Tracy Home Design Kitchen Designer: Dawn Zarrillo of Zarrillo’s Kitchens

Other Features: • • • • • • • •

First Floor

Polito Home LLC has been building homes since 1990. Daniel Polito and Daniel Lombardi have been co-owners for over 23 years. Polito Homes LLC custom designs and builds to the exact specifications of all their clients. Polito Homes designs are truly unique, no two homes are built alike.

Realtor Information Scott Varley, Realty USA 28 Division Street, Saratoga Springs scottvarley@realtyusa.com (518) 583-7268

Second Floor

Authentic slate roof Natural stone fireplace and foundation Hand-crafted beams Window bed in living room Pella windows Energy Star rated kitchen appliances Energy Star rated furnace Energy Star rated hot water heater

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DESIGNERS STUDIO

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Bella Home 6 Builders, Inc.

About the Builder

59 Jenna Jo Avenue, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms, 4,630 sq. ft. This turn of the century French country style home has an exterior of imported solid stone with a relaxing wrap around porch made of bluestone.The great room boasts breathtaking 20 ft. vaulted ceilings with handmade timber frame custom trusses and a stone fireplace.The room is finished with a 16 ft. glass door leading to a relaxing patio and an inground pool. Custom gourmet kitchen with island make this room inviting.The dining room consists of a one of a kind coffered ceiling and custom raised panel walls.We bring the outside in by using the exterior stone on the interior walls and arches throughout the home.Also features a luxurious first floor master suite with custom bath and shower with spacious walk in closets throughout.A three car garage with handmade 3-1/2 inch solid cedar doors, lush landscaping and outdoor entertainment area make the home a one of a kind retreat. Interior Designer: Nancy Smith of Saratoga Signature Interiors Kitchen Designer: Dawn Zarrillo of Zarrillo’s Kitchens

A solid reputation built on trust! David DePaulo, owner of Bella Home Builders, is a premier, award-winning builder. He creates architecturally grand and luxurious homes that blend imagination, excitement, warm and comfortable environments. His homes are unique to each client.They are known for their rich interior wood, iron treatment, reclaimed material and high volume ceilings. They are also renowned for their grand staircases, elegant fireplaces, pools and lush landscaping. Bella Home Builders’ basic approach is to offer superior craftsmanship, honesty, integrity and exceptional value that equals happy clients. www.bellahomebuildersinc.com (518) 312-8874

First Floor

Other Features: • Bella Home Builders uniquely designed princess girls room with a Cinderella carriage bed • Solid exterior limestone and brick with a blue stone porch • Soaring vaulted ceiling with timbered framed trusses • Custom interior stone curved entryways • Spray foam insulation • 97% high-efficiency furnace and hot water heater • Slate like lifetime roof shingles • Energy Star rated windows

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Second Floor

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Bonacio 7 Construction

1 Empire Springs Lane, #102, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1,071 sq. ft. Designed by Balzer Tuck Architecture, The Springs offers urban living in a park-like setting with a vibrant mix of commercial amenities on-site. Bonacio Construction brings a wealth of mixed-use experience to The Springs with an ideal location convenient to the Northway/I-87 and downtown Saratoga Springs. Each spacious one, two and three bedroom layouts offer the character and the high-quality finishes synonymous with Bonacio Construction. Interior Design: In House Design by Bonacio Construction Kitchen Design: Curtis Lumber – 885-5311 Landscape: Peak Environmental – 899-8011 Sales: Residential – Burns Management Commercial – Julie Bonacio – 701-5080

Other Features: • • • • •

Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and private balcony Full size washer and dryer in every home Attached garage On-site fitness center Cable and WiFi internet

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House Design: Olsen Associates - 583-9004 Kitchen Design:Group The -Signature 580-4546Cabinet Landscape: Peak Environmental - 899- 8011 Sales: Julie Bonacio 701-5080

About the Builder As an award winning builder of residential and commercial structures since 1988, Bonacio Construction has worked on projects large and small and both grand and modest. Inside every structure you will discover the hallmarks of the Bonacio approach: value, integrity, and attention to detail. Our team approach including an audio visual, HVAC and plumbing division, metal shop and design team bring out the best in all our buildings. Bonacio Construction brings a wealth of experience to their mixed-use apartment projects— The Springs, The Washington and Market Center Apartments at Railroad Place. The Springs offers urban living in a park-like setting, with commercial conveniences sharing an address with luxury apartments. In each of the open one, two and three bedroom layouts, you will find character and the high-quality finishes synonymous with Bonacio Construction. Make The Springs your new residence! Make The Springs your new residence! www.springssaratoga.com (518) 584-9007 Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 45

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Bella Home 8 Builders, Inc.

About the Builder

22 Liz Ann Drive, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 3,100 sq. ft. This custom craftsman style home offers many exquisite features. The exterior is made up from a luxurious blend of genuine granite stone, Hardie Board and cedar shake siding. The exterior is finished off with 5/4 cedar trim. When approaching this magnificent home, you are welcomed by a curved mahogany entry along with a solid mahogany door. Once in the home, you will notice custom wood work in every room from interior transoms to coffered family ceiling to custom built-ins and book cases surrounding the wood burning fireplace. The gourmet kitchen has custom made cabinets and island along with granite countertops. This open floor plan brings the family room and kitchen together for all to enjoy. Three french doors in the family room bring the outside in. The spacious master suite hosts a custom glass shower with multiple heads and his and her vanities along with a roomy walk-in closet with custom shelving. A centrally located media room allows children to do their homework and use their computers.

MASTER BEDROOM 18'-4"x15'-5"

GARAGE 20'-6"x23'-1"

CL.

W.I.C.

CL.

FOYER

BATH

BEDROOM #3 17'-2"x11'-2"

LINE OF FLOOR ABOVE

W.I.C.

M.BATH

BEDROOM #2 15'-4"x14'-7"

15'-4"x12'-6"

DINING ROOM

PANTRY DN

LIBRARY 11'-2"x12'-7"

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Gerry Magoolaghan, Falvey Real Estate 268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs gammasm@aol.com (518) 788-8220

Second Floor

KITCHEN 12'-10"x16'-0" FAMILY ROOM 20'-2"x16'-2"

• • • • •

One of a kind, Bella Home Builders design Open floor plan Coffered family room ceiling Custom built-ins/bookshelves surround wood burning fireplace Interior glass transoms Spray foam insulation 97% high efficiency furnace Lifetime roof shingles High efficiency windows

Realtor Information

'L'DRY

• • • •

MUD

Other Features:

First Floor

BREAKFAST 13'-1"x7'-8"

Kitchen Designer: Dawn Zarrillo of Zarrillo’s Kitchens

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Saratoga 9 Builders

About the Builder 518-587-2666

1 Anthony Lane, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Builders is an award winning, custom home builder specializing in building homes of the highest quality and energy efficiency that satisfy the needs of every new home buyer. They build custom homes using their own plans or the customer’s plans. They build on land in their developments or on land owned by the customer.

www.s a ra to g a b u ild e rs .c o m

Home Features: 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3,500 sq. ft. This 2013 showcase home is a one of a kind cottage style, timberframe design with an open floor plan. It includes every design and amenity that home buyers are looking for in a 3,500 square foot home. Landscaper: Blue Spruce Landscaping , 877-8177 Interior Designer: Nancy Smith of Saratoga Signature Furniture Kitchen Designer: Rich Adams and Nikki Stelling of Builder’s Kitchens, Inc.

Realtor Information

Other Features: • Master bedroom suite • Gourmet custom kitchen • Trim and moldings

• Stained Red Oak hardwood floors • Custom fireplace

Janet Besheer, Keller Williams 38 High Rock Ave., Saratoga Springs jbesheer@kw.com (518) 265-9575

• Energy Star rated 40% reduction in energy costs • Energy Star rated appliances and HVAC system

LIN. W.I.C. BATH CL.

M. BATH

'L'DRY

BEDROOM #4

W.I.C

MUD

KITCHEN 16'-2"x17'-1"

FAMILY ROOM 20'-9"x14'-10"

LIN.

14'-10x14'-10"

PANTRY SEAT

BATH

LIN. BATH W.I.C

MASTER BEDROOM

19'-8"x15'-0"

CL. DINING ROOM 12'-7"x14'-4"

STUDY 12'-0"x13'-9"

BEDROOM #3

BEDROOM #2

12'-0"x13'-4"

12'-0"x13-0"

FOYER GARAGE 22'-0"x31'-6"

W.I.C.

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Terrace 10 Homebuilders

About the Builder

37 Henry Street, Unit 303, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2,925 sq. ft. Modern living meets classic charm in this intimate boutique building located in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs. Steps away from historic Congress Park, 54 Phila Street offers six distinctive condominiums ranging from $724,200 to $1,322,250. The 3-bedroom, 3-bath Showcase home features an open living/dining area with spectacular views, an opulent master suite, two covered terraces, a home office, theater/entertainment room, separate on-floor storage and enclosed on-site parking.

A capital Region native and Siena college graduate, Scot Trifilo founded Terrace Homebuilders in 1987. Since then he has been dedicated to building superior homes with simple timeless principles and a meticulous attention to detail. www.terracehomebuilders.com (518) 857-9000

Realtor Information MaryLou Pinckney, Select Sotheby’s 270 Broadway, #103, Saratoga Springs marylou.pinckney@ selectsothebysrealty.com (518) 580-8500

Landscaper: New Dimensions Outdoor Services Interior Designer: Dominic Carota of Blairhouse Interiors Group Kitchen Designer: Dawn Zarillo of Zarillo’s Custom Design Kitchens

Other Features: • • • • • • • •

Hickory hardwood flooring Custom built hardwood cabinetry Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances Mendota gas fireplace Soapstone or granite kitchen countertops Marble bathroom countertops and floors Kohler master shower Built-in sound system

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Bonacio 11 Construction

About the Builder

422 Broadway, #301, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1,777 sq. ft. The Washington located in the heart of Saratoga Springs, NY, offers high-end luxury apartment living. This mixed space building features one, two and three bedroom apartment with GE Profile appliances, private terraces, hardwood floors and ambiance. House Design: Olsen Associates - 583-9004 Kitchen Design: The Signature Cabinet Group – 580-4546 Landscape: Bonacio Construction – 584-9007 Sales: Julie Bonacio – 701-5080

Other Features: • GE Stainless Steel appliances, granite countertops, heated towel racks and private terraces • Full size front load washer and dryer in every home • Attached indoor parking • Wireless Internet and Basic DirecTV Included

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As an award winning builder of residential and commercial structures since 1988, Bonacio Construction has worked on projects large and small and both grand and modest. Inside every structure you will discover the hallmarks of the Bonacio approach: value, integrity, and attention to detail. Our team approach including an audio visual, HVAC and plumbing division, metal shop and design team bring out the best in all our buildings. Bonacio Construction brings a wealth of experience to their mixed-use apartment projects— The Springs, The Washington and Market Center Apartments at Railroad Place. The Springs offers urban living in a park-like setting, with commercial conveniences sharing an address with luxury apartments. In each of the open one, two and three bedroom layouts, you will find character and the highquality finishes synonymous with Bonacio Construction. Make The Washington your new residence! www.washingtonsaratoga.com (518) 584-9007

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Bella Home 12 Builders, Inc.

About the Builder

32 Greenfield Avenue, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms, 3,771 sq. ft. This is a classic Saratoga Victorian style home. The beauty and warmth of a Victorian design, coupled with today’s energy saving equipment and material, truly make this home a piece of art. When approaching this home you see the quality and ornate materials used such as a wrought iron handcrafted front door, genuine granite stone, cement siding and cedar shake shingles. Overlooking the neighborhood is a beautiful covered front porch which features a mahogany ceiling and soffit. The first floor has uniquely shaped rooms such as a curved dining room and octagon shaped study, open foyer and floor plan and a custom handcrafted gourmet kitchen. The second floor consists of cathedral ceilings with hexagon shaped bedrooms, a master suite with a spacious bath and walk-in closet and a reading area that exits to the roof of a uniquely designed carport. Interior Designer: Robin Fusco Kitchen Designer: Dawn Zarillo of Zarillo’s Kitchens

First Floor

Second Floor

Other Features: • • • • • • • •

Fabulous designed carport with a deck Vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows One of a kind iron front door Uniquely shaped rooms and vaulted ceilings throughout Spray foam insulation 97% high efficiency furnace and hot water heater Heated bathroom floors Energy efficient windows

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Witt 13 Construction

24 Old Stone Ridge Road, Greenfield Home Features: 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms, 4,470 sq. ft. This home is situated on a spectacular lot overlooking Saratoga Springs and Vermont. With a cozy front porch to watch the sunset and a rear screened porch which offers a breathtaking sunrise view overlooking a negative edge pool and Vermont. The exterior is a combination of maintenance free vinyl siding, cedar shakes and stone accents on the porches. First floor living includes a private master suite with a reclaimed barn door, vaulted family room, wide hallway with a winding staircase and a window seat on the landing. The staircase opens up to the great room. A gourmet kitchen with breakfast nook connects to the screened porch. Reclaimed beams and Witt signature built-ins throughout. Landscaper: Mandy’s Spring Nursery Interior Designer: Pamela Dorwin Dawson of Dorwin Dawson Associates, Inc. Kitchen Designer: Mary Alice Evans of Designer’s Studio

Other Features: • Built-in window seat in staircase • First floor master suite • Screened porch with stone fireplace overlooking negative edge pool and Vermont • Fabulous custom kitchen with a mix of painted and walnut cabinetry and to die for walk in pantry • Custom walnut drop zone niche in mudroom • Reclaimed wood • Closed cell insulation • Energy Star HVAC • Make up air with Energy Star fan

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First Floor

About the Builder Witt Construction, Inc. designs, builds and renovates homes that are fine in detail, striking in appearance, efficient in use and enduring in value. This national award winning custom design build firm has been featured in many national publications. Building homes which are truly unique in their presence and home design; this is a one of a kind custom company that builds homes from $200,000 up to $1,000,000+ mrobinson@wittconstruction.com (518) 587-4133

Realtor Information Shannon McCarthy, Realty USA 505 Broadway, Saratoga Springs smccarthy@realtyusa.com (518) 858-8820

Second Floor

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Witt 14 Construction

96 Oak Street, Saratoga Springs Home Features: 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 2,312 sq. ft. This home offers privacy on a city lot. The exterior is a combination of maintenance free vinyl siding, cedar shakes and stone accents on the front and back porches. The floor plan is designed for a young family with open space, a custom kitchen and formal dining room for entertaining on the first floor. There is an office off the foyer and a grand mudroom with access to the side yard and a unique open staircase to the kitchen. The second floor includes a private master sweet and two children’s bedrooms. The finished lower level includes a playroom, guest bedroom suite and secondary stairway with access to the garage. Landscaper: Owner Interior Designer: Leah Margolis of Leah Margolis Design, LLC. Kitchen Designer: Amy Van Wie of Columbia Cabinet Works

Other Features: • Designed for in town privacy • Witt Signature built-ins • Custom kitchen, Butler’s Pantry opens to dining room and family room • Curved wall in second floor hallway • Built-in linen drawers and cabinets at top of stairs • Zoned heating • Air to air heat exchange • Closed cell foam insulation

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First Floor

Second Floor

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Subcontractors and Suppliers BELLA HOME BUILDERS, INC.: 32 Greenfield Avenue A.W. Hamel Stairs Albany Marble/Hudson Valley Mosaic Tile All Phase Drywall Advanced Service Group Pella Windows Concord Pools & Spas Curtis Lumber Custom Design Kitchens Drumm’s Turf Service Falvey Real Estate Group Floormaster Carpet One J.B. Asphalt Paving Marcella Appliances Precision Glass Randall Perry Photography Saratoga Masonry

Saratoga National Bank Security P&H Supply The Tile Man Winchell’s Floor Covering BELLA HOME BUILDERS, INC.: 59 Jenna Jo Avenue A.W. Hamel Stairs Albany Marble/Hudson Valley Mosaic Tile All Phase Drywall Advanced Service Group Pella Windows Concord Pools & Spas Curtis Lumber Custom Design Kitchens Drumm’s Turf Service Falvey Real Estate Group Floormaster Carpet One

J.B. Asphalt Paving Marcella Appliances Precision Glass Randall Perry Photography Saratoga Masonry Saratoga National Bank Security P&H Supply The Tile Man Winchell’s Floor Covering BELLA HOME BUILDERS, INC.: 22 Liz Ann Drive A.W. Hamel Stairs Albany Marble/Hudson Valley Mosaic Tile All Phase Drywall Advanced Service Group Pella Windows Concord Pools & Spas

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Curtis Lumber Custom Design Kitchens Drumm’s Turf Service Falvey Real Estate Group Floormaster Carpet One J.B. Asphalt Paving Marcella Appliances Precision Glass Randall Perry Photography Saratoga Masonry Saratoga National Bank Security P&H Supply The Tile Man Winchell’s Floor Covering BELMONTE BUILDERS 84 Lumber ABC Supply Albany Mechanical Services A.W. Hamel Stairs Baker Electric Best Fire Hearth & Patio, Inc. Best Tile BLD Contracting Bonded Concrete Brower Electric Capital Plumbing Crawford Door & Window Cur tis Lumber Earl B. Feiden Floor Source Granite & Marble Works Lill Overhead Door Norm Carlson “The Tile Man” Precision Glass Town & Country Painting VP Supply

Pallette Stone Pinnacle Roofing Inc. Precision Glass & Aluminum QC Concrete Quality Painters & Decorators Sherman Tile Associates Skyworks Snyder`s Drywall SRI Fire Sprinkler TPL Flooring Inc. Tri-Point Stone Waste Management of Eastern New York BONACIO CONSTRUCTION: THE WASHINGTON AJs Masonry Allerdice Building Supply, Inc. Architectural Glass B&B Plumbing, Inc. California Closets Cellu - Spray II Central New York Electrical Contractors Christina Steel, Inc. Crawford Door & Window Curtis Lumber European Stucco

Farina Construction Galusha & Sons, LLC Granite & Marble Works John D. Marcella Kivort Steel Northeastern Commercial Interiors Oldcastle Precast, Inc. Otis Elevator Company Parker & Hammond Construction, LLC Pinnacle Roofing Inc. Saratoga Fireplace & Stove Inc. Sherman Tile Associates The Signature Kitchen Group SRI Fire Sprinkler HERITAGE CUSTOM BUILDERS, LLC Adirondack Overhead Doors Bellevue Builders Supply John D. Marcella Appliances Niskayuna Glass Pallette Stone Realty USA Schenectady Floor Covering Security Supply Corporation Wolberg Electric

BONACIO CONSTRUCTION: THE SPRINGS ABC Supply/Bradco Albany Mechanical Services B&B Plumbing Inc. Budget Blinds C&S Siding, Stackewicz Inc. CNY Electrical Contractors Creative Material Corp. Curtis Lumber Dyer Works Construction LLC Erie Materials Gypsy Hill Stone LLC Joe Wilkins Custom Construction, Inc. John D. Marcella Appliances John Ray & Son Fuels Ken Merchant Masonry Nicholas DiLorenzo Trim Carpentry Northeast Underlayments Overhead Door Co. of Albany saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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MALTA DEVELOPMENT Appolo Heating Friends Lumber Curtis Lumber Alside Supply Pallette Stone David-Louis Floors Sherwin-Williams Security Plumbing Supply Sears Overhead Door Co. of Glens Falls Precision Glass & Aluminum, Inc. Capital Stone Adirondack Plastics Laminates Intelligent Home Solutions, LLC Form-It Construction, LLC Ross Concrete, LLC Tiles by Giuseppe New Dimensions Outdoor Services, Inc. D.S. DiGesare Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Sheft Electric, LLC A.R. Heflin Painting Contractor, Inc. M&R Coulombe Drywall Beverly Tracy Home Design

POLITO HOMES Albany Tile Best Fire Hearth & Patio, Inc. Champlain Stone Crawford Windows The Friends Lumber Klassic Stone Lill Overhead Doors Pro Source Security Supply Towne TV Wolberg Electric Zarrillo Custom Design Kitchens R. J. TAYLOR Builders Alside Supply Appolo Heating, Inc. Bellevue Builders Bonded Concrete Carpet Master Carpet One Lansing Engineering Lill Overhead Doors Precision Glass and Aluminum Security Plumbing and Heating Supply Wolberg Electric Supply

SARATOGA BUILDERS ABC Supply Appolo Heating, Inc. Best Fire Hearth and Patio, Inc. Best Tile Betit’s Electric Service British Stone, Ltd. Builders Kitchen, Inc. Capital District Supplies Crawford Doors & Windows Curtis Lumber Earl B. Feiden, Inc. Granite and Marble Greenough Paving Hart Alarm System Louis J. Bronson P.J. Baker Electrical Contractor, Inc. Precision Glass Rainbow Sprinklers and Lawn Care Saratoga Signature Furniture Sherwin Williams Paint Winslow Brothers TERRACE HOME BUILDERS W.J. Morris Excavation BR Johnson Stonebridge Iron & Steel AJS Masonry Curtis Lumber Best Tile Zarrillo’s Custom Design Kitchens Marcella Appliances Towne TV & Appliances= Capital Stone Witt Construction, Inc. 96 Oak Street ABC Supply Company Adirondack AV Adirondack Carpentry Adirondack Paving AHR Industries, Inc. Best Fire Heath & Patio, Inc. Best Tile, Inc. Bluman Roofing Capitol District Supply Company, Inc. Columbia Cabinet Works County Waste & Recycling, Inc. Crawford Door & Window Curtis Lumber Company, Inc. Dill Sheji Masonry Dyerworks Construction, LLC Earl B. Feiden Appliance Floormaster of Glens Falls, Inc. Jason & Matthew Whitbeck Jeff Arnold, Inc. JM Trackey Painting Leah Margolis Design, LLC Overhead Door Company

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Pat Cherko & Associates, LLC Patricelli Electric Powers Drywall & Insulation, Inc. Precision Glass & Aluminum RJ Powers & Sons, LLC Ross Concrete RSCL Security Plumbing & Heating Supply Steve Herman Stone Industries, LLC The Foam Guys The Signature Cabinet Group The Tile Man VP Supply Corporation Whitbeck Construction Company, LLC Winchell’s Floorcovering Wolberg Electrical Supply Company Witt Construction, Inc.: Old Stone ridge ABC Supply, Company Adirondack Electrical & Home Automation Services Adirondack Paving Best Fire Hearth & Patio, Inc. Best Tile Bluman Roofing, LLC. BT Home Design Builders Insulation Capitol District Supply Co, Inc. County Waste & Recycling, Inc. Crawford Door & Window Creative Stone Design Curtis Lumber DB Carpentry Designers Studio of Saratoga Springs Earl B. Feiden Appliance Family Danz Floormaster of Glens Falls, Inc. Hart Alarm Hoffman Stamped Concrete James Trackey Painting Jeff Arnold, Inc. Mandy Springs Nursery Morins Construction Olde School Woodwork Overhead Door of Glens Falls Pat Cherko Associates, LLC Patricelli Electric Precision Glass & Aluminum Rosick Well Drilling Ross Concrete RSCI Steve Herman Stone Industries, LLC The Tile Man VP Supply Corporation Wells Quality Excavating Winchell’s Floor Covering Wolberg Electrical Supply Company saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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As I sit here writing this, there is a wonderful chill in the air, the days are getting shorter, I have been rearranging my flowerbeds and suddenly I have the urge to cook more on the weekends. I can feel it coming… Autumn! With the start of what I believe to be the most beautiful season in upstate New York, we all look forward to the Saratoga Builders Association’s annual fund-raiser—the Showcase of Homes. Personally, I have been to this event EVERY year—I LOVE this chance to check out the designs of the area’s BEST builders, designers and landscapers. Saratoga TODAY is honored to be a Media Sponsor for the event and we love being able to “showcase” all of the builders and their homes in our fall issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine and with that honor, we always use one of the homes on the cover! This year the lucky house is 96 Oak Street, one of John Witt’s TWO entries, actually I think I was the “lucky one” as I got to style the cover shoot with all those wonderful plants and accessories that Toadflax so graciously offered. Marcie Fraser from YNN is the face of the Showcase this year and she was wonderful to work with and of course Randall Perry is the consummate professional! Check out page 16 to see which downtown shops helped Marcie pull off that killer look for our cover! g

The second half of our fall issue is FABULOUS… yes, I said it! This issue is one of our largest, coming in at almost 200 pages of articles, reviews, advice, recipes, fashion and TONS of things to do… from classics like the Adirondack Balloon Festival and road trips though Vermont to clay pigeon shooting and fly fishing—this issue has something for everyone! We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together and please keep those suggestions coming … we love hearing about the beautiful homes in Saratoga. You can contact me at cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com or (518) 581-2480. I have to close with a big THANK YOU to all of our advertisers, without them, Saratoga TODAY couldn’t continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge to the thousands that read them each month–please mention us when visiting these businesses. Happy Fall - Chris :)

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LAKESIDE FARMS: It’s All Good

Story by Helen Susan Edelman, Photos by StockStudiosPhotography.com

A little bit of this, a little bit of that and a lot of good food–that’s Lakeside Farms in Ballston Lake, a restaurant, cider mill, farm, giftique, grocery and special event space about 20 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs, off Northway exit 11. Chad Beatty, the über productive publisher of Simply Saratoga magazine, his glass-is-half-full wife, Kim (looking fabulous in a Jude Connally), their observant son, Keegan, and I made that quick trip on a crystal clear Saturday morning to find out for ourselves whether the oft-praised Lakeside would stand up to its reputation for excellence, both as a restaurant and a magical retail magnet for food and sundries.

The short answer is: Yes. As always, conversation among us suffered nary a lull, though we found we were in agreement more than usual on topics such as the innate goodness of human beings, the plight of the middle class, the 150th anniversary of Saratoga Race Course and what makes a great vacation. Keegan enhanced the conversation with cool anecdotes about Abraham Lincoln, focused particularly on how our 16th president kept his notes for speeches in his famous top hat. That was news to me and I love knowing it. (I could never beat this kid in a game of Trivia.) Perhaps it was the good vibes of the place, as well as the fare, that made the experience so congenial. There was, for example, a self-appointed docent who approached us as we walked in, made sure we understood the ordering process (you get a number at the counter, which is called at a pick-up window), showed us where we could grab menus and even suggested seating. This was not an employee, but a friendly neighbor eager to spread the word. To begin with, Lakeside is no common eatery. Before you even get to the food line, you swoon slightly in the presence of gorgeous fruits and vegetables, displayed

© 2013 stockstudiosphotography.com This writing is dedicated to the memory of Richard Pearce, owner of Lakeside Farms, who passed away on July 30, 2013. (Pictured above center, with his sons Jeff and Rich).

and for sale at an arm’s length—green and red and yellow and orange and purple and white, appetite-whetting with the colors and scents of the season. Mixed into the aisles are other fun foods—maple syrup and candy, eggs and ice cream, cheese, jam and jellies, milk and myriad unusual, packaged edibles, too many to list—please go peek for yourself, but not when hunger pangs might drive you to over-buy. My advice as a friend is to hold your

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shopping until after you eat, so you have the chance to browse on a full stomach. As well, there are books and toys and assorted treats for children of all ages, including their young-at-heart parents. And that’s just in the main building. There’s also a garden center with all kinds of novelty treasures like containers for displaying plants in every imaginable size, color and shape, bird baths and feeders, fountains, garden stakes, decorative ducks, garden stones, kites and wreaths.

reviews from locals and visitors. The sandwich and pie shop led to the creation of a breakfast menu in 1990. Lakeside’s hearty breakfasts and tantalizing sandwiches have become a ritual for regulars and their visitors, which created the need for a larger indoor dining area, and now patio dining. Not at all limited

Co-owner Richard Pearce shared the history of the business, established by his dad, Robert Pearce, in 1948, when he bought an old barn and cider press. Built in the late 1880s, the 120-ton screw-driven press was the centerpiece of a business launched by Pearce as a mecca for filtered, preserved cider. The success led to a small retail store in 1958, which still stands, in back of the current store. In 1961 the Pearces renovated an old carriage barn on the property, making it the Lakeside Cider Mill & Farm store, where they sold fresh vegetables and apple cider; two years later, pies, salads and sandwiches were added to the menu, Richard Pearce recounted. The store’s continued popularity inspired construction of an apple barn in 1971 to expand service for customers who came to buy apples and cider during the busy fall. Next came beans, tomatoes, corn, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers in the early ‘80s. The home-grown vegetables, made-toorder sandwiches and home-baked pies earned rave

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to breakfast, Lakeside offers a wonderful deli of cold cuts and salads featuring famous local products such as Oscar’s smoked meats and cheeses. “Buy local” is a very strong theme at Lakeside, not surprisingly. In addition, loyal customers began to order platters of sandwiches, salads and desserts for large gatherings. Soon after came suggestions that Lakeside cater special events. In 1998, the farm had another growth spurt, this time in the form of a pavilion for large group meetings, craft fairs and other happenings. Lakeside is a beautiful venue, in fact, and a good place to put on your list if you’re looking for just the right place to host an outdoor event. Still a family-owned operation, three generations of Pearces, their relatives and friends keep it going. Richard Pearce talks candidly about the challenges and advantages of co-owning a business with family members. He owns up to the fact that he works almost 100 hours per week during the season (Lakeside closes for three months in the dead of winter), and has heaps of admiration for his relatives who run the place with him. He says there’s more than enough work for all of them to be in charge of some of it—with the store, the restaurant, the gifts, the events, maintaining the property... I’m sure I’m leaving something off the list, but I’m getting impatient to talk about the meal itself. Before I move on, though, I want to add a special thank you to him here for taking the time to speak so eloquently about the business and family that he loves. Our happy foursome is definitely benefiting from the

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rye bread, finished under the broiler for $8.49. No kidding. There’s an impressive selection of these, in more or less elaborate versions of mixed ingredients. Hamburgers and hot dogs are also available if you don’t like to be fancy or adventurous. Kim Beatty always tells me I’m a wordsmith, but she’s the one who said it best this time when she summed up the morning:

“Abundance.” h

Lakeside Farm

Country Market and Restaurant Serving breakfast and lunch daily, beginning at 7:30 a.m.; kitchen closes at 4:30 p.m.; store remains open 336 Schauber Road Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-399-8359 www.lakesidefarmscidermill.com

A Restaurant Review by Helen Edelman

atmosphere as well as the food. Keegan loves carbs; he went for giant blueberry pancakes packed with good fruit. I kept asking him what he thought of it, but he was busy chewing and has been taught not to talk with his mouth full. The rest of us had variants of eggs and sides, like bacon, potatoes and sausage, all cooked perfectly to taste. (What is that awesome spice on the potatoes? Please tell!) And, I went a little bit crazy and added a slice of light and oozy apple pie to my breakfast. I couldn’t resist that baked goods section. Honestly, it was calling my name. And, did I mention the cider donuts? A little platter of them arrived at the table—the truth is, I had had my fill of sweets with the pie, which I did not share, so I passed on the donuts, but my companions did not, and the pastries disappeared pretty quickly, with much lipsmacking and last sips of whatever beverage was on hand to wash it down. The breakfast menu is pretty traditional—eggs, bacon, ham, home fries, toast, English muffin, oatmeal and so on. The prices are fantastic—for well under $10, you can be utterly satisfied that you have eaten a major meal. The food is first class—so when you see a full order of French toast for $4.49 or a three-egg omelet for $4.49 or the Farmer Dick’s Breakfast Special—a deluxe version of breakfast—for $8.69—it’s like hitting the jackpot. Lunch specials are advertised on the menu as “good food, fair price,” and that’s modest. Again, for under $10, you can have concoctions that would make a butcher weep for joy, such as roasted beef, slab bacon, Cole Slaw, Muenster cheese, and Russian dressing on toasted dark saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Ms. Lemery is a psychotherapist practicing in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Visit meghanlemery.com or email meghanlemery@yahoo.com for more information

After Learning How to Heal and Move Forward to Creating the Love You Want By Meghan D. Lemery, LCSW-R

Much of my work is helping newly divorced individuals navigate their way through the end of a marriage and creating a new vision for a healthy relationship and life in general. There are certain patterns I have come to identify that all of us go through at the end of a significant relationship. When we take the time to heal properly and set our sights on a healthy vision of love, the world is abundant with opportunities for lasting connection and partnership. When we skip the process of healing and learning from our past mistakes, we may find ourselves stuck in the muck of a repeated pattern of relationships filled with drama, confusion and the familiar baggage of the dysfunctional relationship we got out of. Perhaps one of the biggest things I hear repeatedly when it comes to a couple surviving a break-up is the blame game. Too often we are quick to point the finger at the other person and list every fault and blemish they have. This blame somehow justifies us in the anger and pain we feel and anger gives us far more power than dealing with the hurt and pain. When we blame and use anger as a shield we feel much more in control and empowered than allowing the deep roots of sadness to make their presence known through tears and difficult days. The fact is unresolved anger leads

to a bitter, cold, mistrusting heart that has lost all faith in the power of connection and love. When left to simmer this anger will eat away at our spirits and cause our bodies to be heavy with toxic thoughts and feelings. Have you ever been around someone whose anger is so palpable you can feel it in your own spirit? They wear their anger and bitterness like a coat of protection from ever feeling vulnerable again.

The first step in moving on from the anger phase of a divorce is to own it. Take a deep look within and be brutally honest with yourself about the part you played in the demise of the relationship. This process of owning it takes tremendous courage and when through it, you come out on the other side clearer and free er. No one person can be responsible for ruining your life unless you give them the power to. Take back your power

and be willing to admit where you missed the mark in the relationship. Once you know your part, be willing to share this with your former partner and let them know you too are responsible for contributing to the demise of the relationship. This honesty and humility opens up the door to healing for both you and your partner. When someone is honest about their faults it allows the other partner to feel a sense of validation and respect. Be accountable for your actions and have the courage to admit where you could have done better. This step is the only step that will allow you to move forward and heal. Without the proper guidance or counseling through a break-up, we move forward and begin to create the same pattern of dysfunction all over again. When you take the time to own your actions and recognize the allure of the dysfunction you participated in, you give yourself the insight you need to move on to healthier dynamics. After a devastating breakup most of us want an immediate replacement for the pain we feel. It’s easy to find someone else to take away the pain and immerse ourselves in the excitement of the new relationship. Resist the urge to pack your U-Haul and create a new life with someone immediately. If you jump into something else right away you fail to do the necessary healing that

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needs to take place before you can be emotionally available to have a relationship with someone new. If you do decide to date, take your time, have fun and be honest with potential love interests about where you are in the process. Do not pretend to be available emotionally or physically if you are still in the mess of separation agreements, custody issues or a pending divorce. Do not make promises for commitment that you have no room to make in your life. Clean up your past before you plan your future. This will clear up any confusion or expectation that a potential partner has and help you maintain clear healthy boundaries. Another important point to explore before you begin the process of dating post-break-up is your core beliefs about relationships. A very important question to ask yourself is “What is my motive for dating?” The number one response I hear in my office is: “I don’t want to be alone…” If fear is the motive that throws you out into the dating world, don’t do it! You are automatically coming from

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a place of powerlessness and low self- We are unconsciously attracted to esteem which will only attract shallow, someone based on our core beliefs. dramatic relationships into your life. Most of us don’t even know what we believe and you may be astonished to If any of these ring true for you I see how your negative core beliefs are assure you, dating will only complicate hampering you from finding healthy love. your life further. When you date with these core beliefs operating than you Examine your core beliefs, where they attract what you believe. If you believe come from and be willing to do the women are crazy then you will be a work to pull them out from the roots magnet for someone to slash your and set a new set of beliefs that are tires and boil a rabbit in your kitchen. healthy and more willing to bring you a Likewise, if you think all men cheat lasting partnership. you will have your dance card full of If the core belief is to find a partner charming Fabio’s who will prove you who will enhance your life in every right every night of the week. way and inspire you to be a better person, you are ready to date and be emotionally available to another person. Some other core beliefs to examine are your beliefs about romantic Dating post divorce can be relationships. Some common unhealthy overwhelming and anxiety provoking. core beliefs are the following: Get some support, take your time and be willing to explore where you are * All men cheat in the process and where you want * All women are crazy to be. You deserve to have a healthy * Marriage is a death trap loving relationship that enhances your life in every way! h * Never show vulnerability (you will get hurt)

Wishing you success in love today and every day!

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Dancer. Choreographer. Professor. Author.

Denise Limoli Recounts Saratoga’s Long Love Affair with Dance in “Dance in Saratoga Springs” By Helen Susan Edelman, photos provided 84 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

It was a dream come true. In her early days as a young professional ballerina, Denise Warner Limoli shared the stage with superstar ballet dancer, choreographer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov–the wildly popular darling of dance lovers in the ‘70s—when both were performing for NYC-based American Ballet Theater, a company she still reveres. “He was astonishing, the way he could leap,” she recalls. “It was the heyday of ballet. It was a time of exuberance. It was a time of big personalities in the dance world, like Misha [her nickname for Baryshnikov] and George Balanchine [the founder and ballet master of New York City Ballet].” In that acclaimed company for a decade, she performed internationally with some of the most renowned ballet dancers in history, including as a guest artist in Caracas, Venezuela, at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and for numerous companies throughout the country. The world was an oyster for artists–Limoli lived in a Manhattan brownstone with a working fireplace and parquet floors for $350 per month. Since retiring from ABT, highlights of her long list of credits have included stints as ballet mistress and teacher for the Minnesota Dance Theatre, Nevada Dance Theatre and the Cincinnati Ballet; for more than 30 years helping to develop the Nutmeg Ballet/Conservatory for the Arts in Connecticut; and teaching at the University of Cincinnati College/Conservatory of the Music and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Now an associate professor at Skidmore College, where she has been teaching classical ballet and choreographing and staging classical and romantic ballet performances since 1992, Limoli was the obvious expert to author “Dance in Saratoga Springs,” recently released by The History Press. Still, despite her credentials, experience and passion, the project came about as a surprise, almost by accident. “Completely out of the blue I received an email in 2010 from Whitney Tarrella, a Saratoga native with whom I had crossed paths when she was a student at Ballet Regent, a school founded by [now-deceased] former New York City Ballet dancer Michael Steele, who had retired to Saratoga Springs. Whitney, who works for my publisher, asked if I knew someone who might be willing to write a book on dance in Saratoga Springs, why the city has attracted the art form over time. Although I had never in a million years thought about doing such a thing, I decided to undertake the project myself, during my upcoming sabbatical.”

Center, who used to host Balanchine during his summers in Saratoga Springs in the company’s early residencies at SPAC; to Donald McCormack, former dean of special programs at Skidmore College, an active dance advocate and a board member at SPAC; Marylou Whitney (through correspondence with her assistant), founder and first president of the National Museum of Dance; Peter Martins (through correspondence with his assistant), ballet master in chief of NYCB; Leslie Roy Heck, a former dancer with NYCB, a board member of the dance museum and owner of Saratoga Dance and Bunheads, retail businesses devoted to ballet; Mary Ann Fitzgerald, Saratoga Springs city historian, and local historian Field Horne; Raymond Watkin, former mayor of Saratoga Springs during the 1970s, whom she calls “magnificent” in his passion for dance; Edward Lewi, publicist extraordinaire and SPAC board member; Debra J. Fernandez, professor of dance and choreographer at Skidmore; Shawn Banner, the son of the late artist, dance advocate and long-time Saratogian dance reviewer Mae Banner, to whom the book is dedicated; costume designer Kim Vanyo; Mary Daly, director emerita of the New York State Summer School of the Arts; Oleg Briansky and Mireille Briane, of the Briansky Saratoga Ballet Center; Michele Riggi, president of the board, and Susan Edwards, programming director, both at the National Museum of Dance; local dance teachers Phyllis Latin , Peggy Delay, Dianne Carola, David Otto and Raul Martinez; and so many more that it is impractical to name them all. (Note: The partial list here was selected by the writer of this article and does not reflect any statement on Limoli’s part of relative importance or contribution.)

“I was humbled by stories of those visionaries,” she said, citing many of them as “driving forces” in the evolution of dance as an element in the Saratoga arts scene.

Between making the decision and beginning to write, Limoli gave significant thought to the approach she would take, finally determining to conduct in-depth interviews with individuals who had been key in establishing the city as a dance destination, as well as to plumb the archives of articles and photographs. It was an all-consuming task.

But Limoli’s meticulous research does not begin and end with the advent and popularity of ballet in the past six decades. Indeed, she devotes the beginning of her book to the local entertainment scene in the 1800s, an outgrowth of the tourist industry developed to serve the influx of visitors who flocked to the Spa City to partake in the salubrious effects of the natural mineral springs.

The pages-long roster of interviewees Limoli spoke to over a 14-month period ranged from Kay Leach, the wife of the first director of Saratoga Performing Arts

“Summer guests enjoyed elegant accommodations in opulent hotels and a variety of entertainments, including evening balls and gambling,” she notes. “The hotels and

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piazzas were famous…on Broadway guests would promenade and enjoy musical entertainment.’

“

She recounts tales of that entertainment, from Mr. Vilallave, a traveling player who performed acrobatics on a tightrope and established a playhouse in Saratoga, to the introduction of sumptuous theaters, to the construction of Convention Hall, which had a seating capacity of 5,000– the same number of seats that SPAC has in the sheltered amphitheater. Casinos, fine restaurants, the Saratoga

I wanted to explore how dance became and remains central,” says Limoli. “In many ways, the dance scene brought together government and high society, the movers and the shakers who raised money to make it happen and who are patrons today. It was really fascinating to hear the story from the folks who could talk about or represent the passion of those early years.

”

SPAC was built to house the classical performing arts, including dance; and Skidmore College established an impressive, worldclass dance program.

“Dance in Saratoga Springs” details all of these developments in text and glorious images, giving special weight to both SPAC and Skidmore, the great stanchions that secure dance’s ongoing importance in the area, including by underpinning the National Museum of Dance and numerous dance programs.

Race Course and various ballrooms added more venues for entertainment, including dance. More famously (and reintroduced in 2013 as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the track), local citizens founded a Floral Association to produce a Floral Fête, a parade down Broadway of carriages and floats decorated with beautiful flowers, followed by a ball and performances, including several ballets, at Convention Hall. The fêtes continued and dance was entrenched as an element of the Saratoga cultural landscape, a prominence that it has maintained to this day. Other events, such as the marriage of famous exotic dancers Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, in 1914, in Saratoga Springs, complete with elaborate performances, also focused attention on the form. Then, the Spa Little Theater—originally built as a lecture hall–became a venue for dance performances; the Saratoga County Fair highlighted popular entertainment;

She says the book is not meant to be a textbook, but is colloquial and accessible, a reference for those who love dance and a resource for individuals who don’t know anything about dance, but who are curious. “It’s Saratoga through a certain lens,” she points out. “It’s looking at the community as a locus for arts, education and appreciation–a teeny town that had the healing waters, and which otherwise would not have drawn the tourists and the entertainment industry. Of course, with SPAC and Skidmore, the arts have flourished here.” Limoli, steeped in the arts within an academic environment, has strong views and revealing perspectives on where the arts are heading in the current economic climate and in a society pulling away from live performing arts as “holding a clicker in front of a screen allows you to turn performances off if you don’t like them.”

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”

“Venues and companies are disappearing. There are fewer opportunities for dancers to perform, and more are finding other careers,” she says. “At Skidmore, most dancers have academic majors. SPAC created a home for high-level performing arts and I hope dance can be a part of it. The truth is, the venue is too large for modern dance– it wouldn’t fill the stage. But SPAC is a business, it has a bottom line.” Limoli is emphatic on the subject of one specific. She says, “One cost not to cut is live music with dance. No important ballet can be performed without an orchestra. Please quote me.” In her book and in conversation, she praises National Museum of Dance Board President Riggi, whom she calls “dedicated and tireless” in her efforts to ensure the relevancy of dance through the museum, which she supports both in the time she devotes and with her own money. Limoli, who sits on the board, has observed Riggi firsthand in her role and says her relationship with dance is “a real love affair.” Today, though she is signing books and speaking at events, Limoli says she is still surprised to see herself listed as “author”. The mother of a dancer and an electronic musician and the wife of a pianist, she is more likely to think of herself as a dancer, choreographer, a professor, an artist…the “author” identity is a new one. When she points at a recent high point, its having staged sold-out performances of “Swan Lake,” performed with the

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live Skidmore Orchestra, and productions of “An Evening at Ballet Russes.” But, she is deeply pleased to have made a contribution to the vigor of dance in the community and to helping to preserve memories of its history in the Spa City, which she hopes will remain viable. “Saratoga has changed so much from a small, somewhat quirky town to a city with a strong urban influence. We have a beautiful new bookstore and a huge multiplex cinema, along with our wonderful restaurants. My question is: What does that mean for the arts? How can we make it affordable for people across all socioeconomic groups? How can we make sure it continues to be valued? Will the arts thrive?” “The arts have always been nurtured in Saratoga,” concludes Limoli, “from the communitybased entertainment more than a century ago to the performances this week, next month, next year, in five years. That’s what’s important to know. It’s a long history and, I hope, a long future.” h

A Book Review by Helen Edelman

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Elliot masie

Here There and Everywhere

Futurist Elliot Masie Says Your Next Job Could Be Virtually Anywhere

By Yael Goldman Photos by MarkBolles.com

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The MASIE Center, located at 95 Washington Street, is a global think-tank and research center for the intersection of workplace learning and technology, servicing a broad variety of organizations, only a small percentage of which are located in the Capital Region, let alone Saratoga Springs. But still, almost everyone in Saratoga knows it’s there and that Elliot Masie, 63, is at the helm. You can find Elliot Masie, founder and CEO of the MASIE Center, at Uncommon Grounds most mornings when he’s not traveling to some far off country (he’s visited 82, including Antarctica) or working remotely from Manhattan, one foot in the world of workplace/e-learning and the other on a far more iconic Broadway. I used to see him there all the time when I was a full-time writer at Saratoga Publishing and would stop in for a cup of coffee before work or to sit with a good book on the weekend. He was always with the same crowd, engaged in a charged debate about politics, social media or whatever was written up in that day’s New York Times. I would sit nearby—not to eavesdrop, but for the kind of intellectual stimulation I’d been craving since college graduation. It was a great way to start the day. That was before I moved to New York City, or had even put his face to the name. I’m sure you can understand why it was so strange for me to have finally met Elliot Masie on a noisy June morning in Manhattan, in his modest pied-a-terre on the 90 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

West Side. It was a big day for both of us. He was getting ready for the Tony Awards and seemed more curious than anxious about how his 17 nominations, between Kinky Boots and Trip To Bountiful, would pan out. I was moving into my apartment, and taking what felt like a suitable break from unwrapping box after box of my belongings, carefully packaged in three year’s worth of Saratoga TODAY Newspapers. Masie says he isn’t a fan of awards and I believe that. He might be an unusually successful businessman, an international thought leader (some credit him for coining the term e-learning) and now a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer (Kinky Boots won six, including “Best Musical” and “Best Score,” with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper), but Masie is remarkably grounded and unpretentious; he wears T-shirts and khakis, admits to loving McDonald’s and describes his professional achievements with adjectives like “wonderful,” “fortunate” and “delicious.”

“I’m a geek,” he says. As described in his bio, Masie focuses on corporate learning, organizational performance and emerging technology and is sought by some of the world’s most influential organizations for this pronounced expertise. The MASIE Center collaborates with entities in 52 countries, conducts ground breaking learning/technology research, provides innovative leadership training and produces large annual conferences for the corporate marketplace that draw audiences in the thousands and feature high-profile keynote speakers, like Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is participating in Learning 2013 this November.

When Masie entered the field more than 40 years ago, it was a very small niche and the technology was far less exciting. At the time, the overhead projector was cutting-edge. But as new technologies are introduced and evolve, so do their influence on education and the work environment, and the past few decades have been particularly frenetic saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

in that sense. With the emergence of the Internet and then YouTube, so came the idea that you could solve a problem by Googling or by watching a stepby-step video, and, of course, Masie was right on top of it. He began helping organizations create video libraries that employees can consult when they encounter an unfamiliar situation. Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 91

“It’s very freeing to know that when I have a problem I could watch somebody talk me through it,” he said. Masie has also been very involved with promoting video mentoring, an innovative leadership development concept that support the needs of the modern, global executive. Similar to Skype or Google Hangout, this technology allows leaders to connect with other leaders from outside of their company. As Masie explained, “You can be at work, and click and talk to somebody else that does your same job in another part of the world.” For Masie, the next era of workforce education is where “technology gets really interesting.” These days, he is playing with Google Glasses and making predictions about the rise of wearable technology and video connection—“I think we are going to eliminate distance as a factor in how we connect with people, [gain] access to expertise and get coaching and mentoring,” he said. And as this technology makes it easier to build relationships from far away, Masie expects a big shift toward telework and virtual offices. “I believe we are going to see more and more people who will live in places like Saratoga Springs, but work [for companies] in other places,” he explained.

“Increasingly, work is being done outside of the office,” Masie said—and it’s happening at home, Starbucks, or anywhere else you can use your laptop. When Elliot and his wife, Cathy, who is also vice president and co-owner of every Masie venture, settled in Saratoga Springs, they picked a city where not a single one of their clients was located. They have been, in a sense, tele-working for many years, so I can see why Masie is pleased to come across more and more professionals working at Uncommon Grounds. Last summer, he spotted Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, across the coffee shop and called him over to chat, as they often do. Elliot pointed out a few people on a laptop or iPad, identified who they work for and suggested to Shimkus that the chamber find out why they chose to live in Saratoga and what can be done to help them.

“I thought it was fascinating, and, of course, anything Elliot says in terms of a trend you have to listen,” Shimkus said.

When I arrived that morning at Masie’s apartment, he was in his living room, seated at an indistinct workspace with everything he needed to operate remotely (a Mac with a really good camera, Internet access, cell phone), which involves video and virtual connectivity with his colleagues who are spattered across the globe, from Saratoga Springs to China.

Within a week, he said he received a call from Bill Dake, Chairman of Stewart’s Shops, who was noticing the same thing. So Shimkus began working with Masie to gather data about the prevalence of teleworking in Saratoga Springs. They hosted a focus group at the MASIE Center.

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“We had 18 people show up that night and I only knew one of them. I know a lot of people in this community, so that was intriguing on its own,” Shimkus said. The chamber then created a LinkedIn group called “Saratoga Teleworkers Network,” which now has more than 80 members. There are three different types of teleworkers living in Saratoga Springs and, according to Shimkus, each set has its own unique needs. First, there is a group that works for large international companies, such as Dell and Google; their work is typically tech-related. Second are entrepreneurs who base their business in Saratoga Springs, but employ or partner with talent that is located elsewhere. Lastly, there are free agents who work as contractors for firms in multiple regions. Some of these professionals are looking to get more involved in their community, by volunteering or offering their services to area businesses, while others are looking for a local network to plug into—whether it is virtually or at a co-working space, like what you find in SoHo or other corridors in downtown Manhattan. I connected with a handful of Saratoga’s teleworkers through the LinkedIn group, and the consensus seems to be that working remotely is exceedingly flexible compared to a traditional office arrangement, but that it can be isolating without the support of a local or virtual network.

“I am completely portable and can work anywhere, as long as I have my phone and laptop,” said Mame Noonan, a global account executive with Conference Direct, a company she joined three and a half years ago. Noonan, a Saratoga Springs native, said she is happy to be connected to a network of local professionals in a similar situation.

“You get more out of your employees and they’re happier,” he said. Thompson grew up in Latham and earned his masters from RPI and represents what is hopefully a growing group of talent that is able to stay in the area, even if the jobs are elsewhere. Masie is very interested in what global employment looks like, “how we can mix teams that have people in Saratoga, China and Greece and San Diego and get them to work effectively,” he said. For him, it’s not just about “throwing technology at people,” it’s about providing access to technology that makes the workplace more efficient and doing so within a culture that is supportive and collaborative. “I would eliminate the use of ‘friend’ as the Facebook term [for relationship] and change it to ‘connection,’” he says. “I think friendship is clicking with, not at, somebody.” No matter how productive you can be in a virtual context or how global your network is, it is vital to maintain in-person relationships and a strong connection to your hometown, and I think Masie does a good job of balancing that. He is very involved in the Saratoga Springs community, as a longtime member of Skidmore College’s Board of Trustees and a local resource for business owners and the Chamber of Commerce and through horse racing with Masie Stables. Before Masie and Cathy settled on Saratoga over 25 years ago, they looked at 10 other cities. “I could move my business anywhere,” he said, adding that no other place is as rich in education and the arts, or as entrepreneurial as Saratoga. “And it’s a small enough town that I can go to breakfast in the morning at Uncommon Grounds and know an awful lot of people.” h

Chris Thompson lives in Ballston Spa, but works for an Internet startup in Silicon Valley. He’s been teleworking from his home office on and off for the past 10 years and says he doesn’t know why more companies aren’t moving toward the virtual office model. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Fashion: aratoga tyle

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Black and metallic gold jacquard strapless mermaid gown. Designer: Don O’Neill of Theia

SARATOGA TRUNK 493 Broadway Saratoga Springs SARATOGA TRUNK

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Bird Of Paradise 75 Woodlawn Saratoga Springs

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The “Lynn Strap Short” boot from Frye is versatile, yet unique and will be your go-to boot this fall. The soft leather with a shoe polish finish will reinforce your reputation for being the most stylish women in Saratoga Springs!

VIOLETS & STELLAS OF SARATOGA 494 Broadway Saratoga Springs

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Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.

YELLOW BOUTIQUE 491 Broadway Saratoga Springs saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Find your perfect Fall style at Lucia. Shop cozy flannels, sweaters, Blank NYC denim, Fall accessories and more. photo by Visual Recollection

LU CI A ’ S 454 Broadway Saratoga Springs

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Add a splash of color this fall with designs from Desigual. SPOKEN BOUTIQUE 27 Church Street Saratoga Springs

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Pages 104-135

Home & Garden

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SaratogaTurning Table Works: Scrap into Spectacular By Kate Towne Sherwin, photos provided

Rod Bower, Owner/Craftsman

of Saratoga Table Works in Burnt Hills, is a rescuer and a beauty-seer. From his cat Oscar, who he rescued from a ditch as a kitten with a bad leg and nursed back to health, to the converted barn he lives in with his wife and son on old family property, to the business he’s made of reclaiming materials from all over the area and turning them into truly spectacular works of art, Bower takes the time to see the potential in cast-offs and the no-longer-useful.

And people are catching on. Started as his full-time business just two years ago, Saratoga Table Works was more financially successful in the first five months of this year than it was in its whole first year put together. His pieces retail at Homessence in Saratoga Springs, Sutton’s in Queensbury and a location near Bennington, Vermont, and he’s looking into a Colonie location as well. Rod has also been commissioned by Leah Margolis Designs to create seven pieces for the Showcase of Homes in Saratoga Springs this September.

day, and he said he was pouring sweat—but he didn’t mind because, as he told me, “I was doing what I love to do.”

And that, in a nutshell, was the most obvious thing about Rod Bower when I met with him. He is full of joy and enthusiasm for his work and his pride in his craft is palpable. He hopes to continue expanding, and what a boon for our community, to have someone see the meaning and beauty that eludes others, and invite you to enjoy it in your own home. h

For more information, check out Saratoga Table Works on Facebook or its website at www.saratogatableworks.com, or call or email Rod Bower at (518)-466-6722 or RodB@SaratogaTableWorks.com.

In Rod’s workshop—which stands in the same location as his wife’s great-great- grandfather’s workshop from generations ago—hang whiteboards listing his projects and deadlines. Most of his work is custom-order and he delivers the pieces when he’s finished with them.

He’ll also go wherever he needs to salvage materials, responding to the calls and emails he gets with information about barnwood, workbenches, moldings, metal bracings, etc. He told me how one day recently he was back and forth in his truck a number of times to rescue wood meant for the burn pile. It was one of the really hot recent days, it took all saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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 FROM THE KITCHEN A p p e t iz e r s l Rec ip e A n g el a’ s S pi n ac h B al ch – cooked - 3 Boxes Frozen Spina squeeze out liquid (microwave) and cooled,

ng Mix - 2 Cups Herbed Stuffi one box) (if using boxed mix, use ced or finely chopped - 2 Medium Onions – min

Margarine – Melted - 1 1/2Sticks Butter or san Cheese - 1/2 Cup Grated Parme lt - 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Sa yme - 1/2 teaspoon Dried Th

- 5 Eggs Beaten

en for 15 Bake in a 350 degree ov owned. Serve Directions minutes, or until lightly br inach tter or in a large bowl (sp pla a wl. on bo ing mix ge lar feel free Light ly beat 5 eggs in a will not st ick together, so lls ba d lte me the d Ad . to cool slight ly Add the minced onion to stack them up!) Allow d ole co ly ht slig , ine ar butter or marg before eating! St ir in the (so not to cook the egg). salt, and thyme. parmesan cheese, garlic out spinach, Gent ly st ir in squeezed incor porated (no making sure it is evenly big clump s!) herbed stuffing Last ly, gent ly fold in the . Let mixture mix, until well moistened out 15-20 set, refrigerated, for ab e to wash the minutes. (Just enou gh tim the stuffing dishes!) This helps sof ten er better. Using mix which will hold togeth all cookie/ a small spoon (I use a sm mixture into small meatball scooper) form lnuts. Place on balls, about the size of wa ie sheets about ungreased nonstick cook do not grow in 1/2” apar t (spinach balls size). Photo Provid

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A ng el a Le vi tt

Angela Levitt says she has always gotten a lot of enjoyment from cooking, so much so, that when she first moved into her own apartment during college, she began making huge meals. ld go to the “I have always loved cooking. I wou les and etab veg h fres buy and ket farmers’ mar home go ld wou I then d fruits,” said Angela. “An I could than e mor ls— mea e hug e thes and make k.” wee eat—and it would last all

chose her Angela, who lives in Lake Placid, e of its ease aus bec re sha to pe reci Ball ach Spin anyone who to make and that it is a favorite of it. tries s them,” “It’s very good and everyone love e them I am mak I ver ene “Wh ed. lain Angela exp always being asked for my recipe.” nutritious, their She added that not only are they size appeals to kids. are kid“They have such a nice flavor and d. note she friendly,” casseroles Angela’s favorite dishes to cook are d. sala ta pas as h suc and cold salads, ily,” Angela “I love cooking for friends and fam last week for r ove ple peo said. “We just had 35 .” a cookout and I made tons of food

My sister gave me this recipe 20 years ago! It is one of the recipes I have made most often in my life, as it is so often requested by our friend s who have had them before! These delightful little spinach balls are delicious and addicting… and all that spinach makes them a good-for-y ou appetizer choice. Although it seems tedious to roll all those little balls, it is well worth it when you get those rave reviews! If bringing them to a party, bring them unbaked on the cooki e sheets and keep refrigerated until ready to bake . They are most delicious when served very warm right out of the oven!

Provided

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 FROM THE KITCHEN

Bill Weisenfor th

n household, Raised in an Italia ing was Bill’s love of cook other and inspired by his m grandmother. and I cook “I am self-taught id Bill, who with passion,” sa lties are admits his specia d Italian cheesecakes an dishes.

ould taste “I believe food sh s,” he as good as it look that he also ng continued, addi d riety of cakes an loves to bake a va my own recipes, desserts. “I invent ing other recipes along with follow n twist on them.” and putting my ow y he would like to Noting that one da d, aurant, Bill adde own his own rest st y it’s the be “Some people sa d and call me an food they have ha ne ssionate chef. O excellent and pa n ow y m to own day, I would love ople smile with pe e bistro and mak my food.” ests for his Bill accepts requ book. Follow him creations via Face Weisenforth. on Facebook/Bill

Photo Provided

croutons:

- 1 French baguette lted butter - 1 tablespoon of non sa - Fresh parsley Direct ions:

ch to 1 inch cubes in 1/2 to in d ea br be Cu add bread cubes d an t ille sk to er tt bu - Add d crispy - Sauté until browned an coat - Add parsley and mix to

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es ubes

Soups

Billy’s Clam chowder w/ homemade croutons

1.) 1 pound of bacon ( 7 to 8 slices for chowder cut into small pieces , the res t for garnish) 2.) 1 medium sweet onion ( minced ) 3.) 12 to 15 little neck fresh clams 4.) 6 to 7 red potatoes ( skin on for color ) 5.) 2 ( 10 1/2 oz ) cans of cream of celery soup ( I use Campbell’s) 6.) 1 cup of heavy cream ( I use Cro wley ) 7.) 1 cup of whole milk ( I use Crowley ) 8.) 1 cup of water 9.) 2 tablespoons of non salted butter 10.) 1 teaspoon of dried dill weed 11.) Fresh flat parsley 12.) 1 stalk of celery (opt ional) 13.) Celery leaves to garnish 14.) Salt (to taste) 15.) Fresh cracked pepper ( to taste ) 16.) 1 or 2 coffee filters

- Take a strainer and place it inside of a bowl and place a coffee filter inside the stra iner and pour liquid from the skillet and drain into the bowl. This will remove any little bit, if any, sand lef t. Be sure to save the liquid from the skillet, you will use it later - Take clams out of shell and chop to desired thickness Directions:

1.) Cook bacon in a skillet until well don e but not burnt. ( you do not want the bacon to be rubbery )...... This is very important! 2.) Remove bacon and add medium minc ed onion and minced celery (if using ) 3.) Sauté onion and celery ( if using) in bacon grease. 4.) Af ter onion and celery is sautéd, drain bacon grease ( if any is lef t) and add reserved clam juice back to the skille t and add cubed potatoes and cover and coo k for 15 to 20 minutes over low to medium Prepping the clams: heat stir ring occasionally until tender. - In a large bowl cover clams with 4 5.) In the meantime, in a Dutch oven inches pot of cold water and a couple pinches add chopped clams, both cans of soup and 1 of salt and mix with your hand, then can of wate r from soup can, 1 cup of heavy cover with a black or dark towel cream, 1 cup of whole milk, bacon and the dill - Af ter 3 to 4 hours drain clams weed and heat on medium heat. and discard any clams that are not 6). Once potatoes are done, add them and opened juice from the skillet into the dutch ove n, stir - Rinse clams well under cold water all together and simmer for an additional 45 mins. 7.) sprinkle top with fresh parsley and stir in Steaming the clams: along with salt and fresh cracked pepp er to taste. - Add 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of non salted butter *NOTE* to a skillet If too thick, add a little water until des ired -Add clams and cover for about 6 thickness. This recipe should not be watery. to 8 mins, discard any clams that don’t open

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 FROM THE KITCHEN Casserole

Divan n e k ic h C le y t s e Easy Homem in bi te

d cut easts cooked an br n ke ic ch le ho w - Two n) 3 c. cooked chicke size pieces (about s of broccoli floret - One 16 oz. bag n soup n cream of chicke ca . oz /4 3 10 ne -O (do not dilute) m - 1/4 c. sour crea ise - 1/4 c. mayonna ds dar cheese shre - 1 8oz. pkg. ched ) bs (not seasoned um cr d ea br c. - 1/2 tter - 1/4 c. melted bu

oked, 13x9 pan. Put co a in li co oc br d draine eam Place thawed and Mix together cr li. co oc br e th eces over the cut up chicken pi ayonnaise to form m d an , m ea cr sour occoli. of chicken soup, e chicken and br th er ov re tu ix m sauce re. Sprinkle dry sauce. Pour this tu ix m e uc sa er shreds ov ha Lay er the cheese melted butter wit le z z ri D . se ee er ch bread crumbs ov ead crumbs. d, spoon over the br inutes, uncovere m 0 4 – 0 3 r fo es Bake 350 degre ngs) d. (Makes 6 ser vi ne ow br ly ht lig l ti un salad. rice and a green te hi w h it w ve Ser cream ing reduced- fat us by , at -f w lo e mad *This dish can be n-fat yogur t, light no or m ea cr ur light so of chicken soup, cheddar cheese. mayo, and low-fat

Directions

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Photo Provided

Michele Kane en r choice of Chick Michele admits he dish. rt food Divan is a comfo mily generation “I consider it a fa r made it hele. “My mothe ic M id sa ” c, si as cl ere kids years when we w for our family for e tradition.” and I continued th w ce she tries a ne Michele says on e it ak m to lly “tweaks” it recipe, she usua her own. ,” desserts the best “I like baking and e recipes and then llow th said Michele. “I fo n.” ow y m em th to make r her own family, Loving to cook fo orkers, Michele r co-w her church and he n she hears her he w it said she loves dish, for their favorite k as n re grandchild ” “chicken in a van.

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 FROM THE KITCHEN G r il li n g

derloin n e T k r o P d e ill r G ’s n e K ach Slices e P d n a s ie r r e b e lu B / w hwise; add copious Cut the tenderloin lengt peaches, chopped pecans amounts of blueber ries, and basil. with cooking string, Tie it back together again the exterior. add your favorite rub to

s at 350, than turn on Grill (indirectly) 30 minute 15-20 minutes to 450. the middle burners for salads, grilled tomato Choose your sides… slaw, or eggplant, etc. with fruit - A medium Pork loves to be grilled r. sized loin should feed fou

Photo Provided

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Ken Denberg Ken Denberg had an epiphany in 1988. “I came to the conclus ion that I could no lon ger eat the food I ca Ken. “So I bought a lled food,” said grill and took up the art of fire and smoke my life forever.” Self-t an d that changed aught, Ken noted tha t he had thought abou in cooking or studying t taking a course with a chef, but he fel t comfortable cooking with the usual things . “Beginning like steak, pork loins , lamb chops and the out about spices, rubs n I started finding , herbs, sauces, mopp ing and marinades an added. “I used to me d time,” Ken asure but I no longe some herbs and fruit r do—I cook from the grown on his farm, Na hip.” Ken also uses tural Selection Farm which he opened in Winery in Cambridge 2010. , “When I opened the Winery it gave me more latitu de to experiment,” Ken co ntinued. “I became interested in pairing my dishes with wine and in an instant an entire world open ed up.” For the Grilled Pork Loin with Fruit, Ken said he utilized the wines to give the meal an extra zing. “With this dish, I paire d my 2011 Vidal Blanc, a spicy, grape forward white to balance the bold rub and spices-Enjoy!”

Photo Provided

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 FROM THE KITCHEN Leah Stein

Leah opened her own bakery this year–Leah’s Cakery–to fulfill her desire to create desserts that would thrill people outside of her family. “I have been baking since I was a child,” said Leah, who has been a professional baker for the last decade. Leah chose the Chai Spice Cake for Simply because it complements the Autumn season. “I chose this recipe because the warm spices in chai tea are perfect for the fall season,” said Leah. “I think this cake pairs well with a hot cup of mulled cider and it is a perfect complement for those crisp fall afternoons.” Leah said cooking for her family brings her the most pleasure. “I love to cook for my family most of all,” she said, adding that she is mostdefinitely a seasonal cook. “A roast turkey dinner on a fall day with all of the fixings; a classic New England clam bake on a perfect summer afternoon; or chicken and dumplings on a cold winter night.”

Photo Provided

De ss er ts

Co nd en se d M ilk Ic in g - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , room temp. - 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (7 oz)

- 3/4 cup confectioners 3/4 sugar, sif ted. Directions

With an electric mixe r on medium high spee d, whick together butte r, condensed milk, and salt until smooth. Whisk in confectioners

su gar 1/4 cup at a time until combined. Whisk on high speed until thick and smooth . Frost cake immediate ly.

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Desserts C a ke C h a i S p ic e B u n t - 1 1/2 c milk

- 4 bags black tea flour - 2 cup all purpose

- 2 cup cake flour g powder - 3 teaspoons bakin

salt - 1 teaspoon coarse nd black pepper - pinch fresh grou

nd ginger - 1/2 teaspoon grou amom - 1/2 teaspoon card

nd cloves - 1/4 teaspoon grou h grated nutmeg - 1/4 teaspoon fres mp lted butter, room te - 8 tablespoons unsa brown su gar - 1 1/2 cup packed temp - 4 large eggs room

mon - 1/2 teaspoon cinna

Direct ions ur 350. Grease and flo 1. Preheat oven to milk to a simmer a bundt pan. Bring , Remove from heat over medium heat. steep covered for add tea bags and let tea bags, squeezing 15 minutes. remove gs into the pan. excess tea from ba Allow milk to cool Discard used bags. gether both flours, completely. Whisk to pepper, and spices. baking powder, salt,

d to low and add needed. Reduce spee ree batches flour mixture in th inf used milk. alternating wi th tea. g wi th flour mixture Star ting and endin epared bundt pan. 3. Add batter to pr inser ted in center Bake until toothpick x. 40 mins. Cool in comes out clean. Ap then turn out onto pan for 10 minutes, plate.

sed milk mixer on medium cake, drizzle conden 2. With an electric ish fin To 4. butter and brown bundt and let drip high speed, cream Icing over top of in y ff flu d color an su gar until light in down the sides. and e tim a at e on , gs texture. Add eg as tween. Scrape bowl mix throughly in be

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 FROM THE KITCHEN Shari Novak is an er Assistant Manag otel. H s w llo fe at Long ars, Married for 23 ye e re th to Shari is mom , 17 , 21 boys, ages and 13.

“I learned to cook from my mother,” t of said Shari. “Mos out ab d ne ar what I le a as d an H 4taught. I was in for od fo e baking was selfar ep pr d d to cook an ve lo ild ch g un yo people.” Decadent r passion, Shari’s ssert with Calling baking he r de is a must-have fo Chocolate Cake . family and friends eutic for ion, almost therap king “a ss pa y m is g in “Bak ves ta noting that she lo them into me,” said Shari, g in rn tu d an edients at people bunch of dry ingr th us io lic de d ul an something beautif em happy and smile.” e th love and will mak worked at ngfellows, Shari Lo at ng ki or w re Befo recipes were here three of her w n In n ya Br e ld O enu. featured on the m nity to be onderful opportu “I had the most w on the e of my desserts ree recipes able to have thre th e th i, adding that menu,” said Shar Chocolate Cake, a carrot t were the Decaden ke. “That was amazing ca se ee ch e.” cake and a et that experienc rg fo r ve ne ill and I w y cake she has enjoyed ever ings her Adding that she br s es i said the proc has baked, Shar pleasure. something e kitchen baking “I am always in th r my family,” said Shari. l fo tice or creating a mea the kitchen—prac in e tim ur yo “Enjoy makes perfect!

Shari Novak

Photo Provid

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D e ss e rt s

S h a r i’ s D e c a d e n t C h o c o la t e C a ke Ingredients

Mix dry ingredient s-add oil, vanilla and boiling water. Beat until mixed well. Add eggs beat 1 more minute. Bake 350* for 30 - 40 min. This makes 2 round ca kes. I double this to make the triple lay er cake.

2 cups of flour 2 cups of su gar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup cocoa powd er 3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups boiling wate r 1 tsp vanilla

Fill and frost (I pr efer Bailey’s Chocolate Mousse filling) and top wi th butter frostin g.

2 eggs

Photo Provided

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Carriage House Chronicles A Serial Mover Finds a Nest The

Story by Chelsea Hoopes Silver, Photos by StockStudiosPhotography.com

Hi, I’m Chelsea Hoopes Silver... And as some of you may know, I have a blog called The Carriage House Chronicles, where I feature various design, architecture, lifestyle, and art inspirations I find while living in the beautiful and historically rich city of Saratoga Springs. I come by my love of collecting and house obsession honestly— my parents have been flipping and building houses since I was five years old and my grandfather traveled the world collecting art and antiques. I also love a nice, “raw canvas” and I would probably never buy a “turn-key” home. My first and current homes were both big renovations and even my store (Silverwood, Home & Gallery; which I own with my mother), was a total renovation. Although I can certainly see the appeal of buying something that is done, I just love a good project! Now I’ve got a new “project”— adapting my blog into a series for the award-winning Simply Saratoga!

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The monochromatic painting of polo players is by artist Heidi Lanino Bilezikian, who takes the classic horse subject to new levels

Architecturally speaking, Saratoga has many diverse and unique neighborhoods for a small city. This diversity is part of what makes Saratoga so special and this is why I never tire of walking around town. I just love to look at our city’s buildings and homes. And one of my favorite neighborhoods to stroll, with my son and dog in tow, is a small area just west of East and north of Lake Avenues, on Pinewood Avenue.

were becoming more modern and efficient than they were in the nineteenth century but they were still built with charming details and what I like to call “true” materials (no plastics, vinyl or other manmade “products of the moment” that I feel do not tend to age as gracefully as wood or stone—I’m a bit of a purist.) You often find great cottage-like details, like adorable built-in shelves and cupboards tucked here and there, wainscoting and bead-board galore and sweet little swooped roofs and rounded doors. My mother also loves cottage details and charm (really, who doesn’t?), so I was thrilled when she bought her adorable home at 40 Pinewood last December.

40 Pinewood

Although I currently live in an 1888 Victorian-era home, I have always been partial to homes built in the 1920s and 1930s. Pinewood Avenue and several of the streets around it were largely developed during that era. I love homes from these decades because layouts

AVENUE

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“

A huge fan of sunny rooms, Char saw the potential in the back screened-in porch, with its big windows and skylights.

Last November, my mother, Charlene Courtney, sold her large, renovated carriage house on Greenfield Avenue and decided she wanted to finally buy that “little cottage” she’s always dreamed about. Unfortunately, it became a long and frustrating search and there was just nothing on the market that she loved. With time running out, we decided to just throw caution to the wind and put letters in the mailboxes of homes we liked, asking if the homeowners would consider selling, hoping we might just have some luck. Turns out, we did. Diane and Bill Yurkewicz, who just happened to be considering a move closer to their children and grandchildren, were willing to let her come take a look at their home at 40 Pinewood and a deal was made. Only the second owners of the nearly 90 year-old home, the Yurkewicz’s had lived there for almost 40 years. Although it must have been hard for them to see their long-time family home passed on to a new owner, luckily my mom became the third owner of 40 Pinewood

last December and has proven to be a conscientious steward ever since. Although this home was move-in ready when she bought it, Mom always has to put her stamp on things and got busy right away, pulling up carpet and enclosing a former screen porch, so she could accommodate more of her things (Mom has always claimed to want a “little cottage”, but always ended up with something much larger. Faced with the reality of what a cottage really entailed, she needed to make some adjustments, coming from a home more than twice the size of this one.) A huge fan of sunny rooms, Char saw the potential in the back screened-in porch, with its big windows and skylights. The result is fantastic. Bright and airy with its pretty, painted wood floor, charming, practical built-in shelving and stone fireplace, the new “sunroom” is everyone’s favorite room in the house.

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“

entertaining pieces (my mother has a dish, glass and a butter plate for every occasion,) and now the space works perfectly for her. Plus, with her cozy kitchen there’s less to clean.

“

Char was also a little nervous about the kitchen space being too small, so instead of gutting the space and starting from scratch, she simply added built-in cabinets in the “keeping room” (formerly the dining room directly off the kitchen) to accommodate all of her beloved China and

Being in real estate, design and construction, a home is a project and “always for sale” in her mind.

Most of the other changes made to the place were cosmetic, but have made a huge impact in making the little “home” for my Mom. However, my mother has moved over a dozen times since I was born. Being in real estate, design and construction, a home is a project and “always for sale” in her mind. I’m thinking (and hoping) that 40 Pinewood will be home for a long time. She still has a few projects on her wish list, including a small in-ground

pool and a porch for her wicker furniture (she has a bit of an addiction), but in the meantime, it’s just been nice for her to feel settled and in a peaceful place. And hopefully there will be no letters in her mailbox anytime soon. (We love you, Mom, but we don’t want to help you move again! Xoxo, your kids.) h

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Char’s Tips for Moving and Settling #1 - Be prepared! Appropriate boxes, bags, tape and wrapping paper are a must. #2 - Look at packing like a puzzle, there is a place for everything. I like things to be snug and protected and look at it as therapy to try & find the perfect transportation or storage spot. #3 - Make it fun when you are packing and of course, have plenty of yummy snacks and libations! #4 - Like most of us, my home is my sanctuary, my nest. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved “re-decorating” my room. My parents had impeccable taste and I was fortunate to be exposed to many beautiful places and spaces around the world. Although my new “cottage” is quite modest, I love it and have surrounded myself with all my favorite things that either I have picked out or better yet, my family and friends have chosen for me. The cost of a piece is not important, it is the memory that it evokes or that special feeling you get when you glance at it. 124 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Graciousness Maintained By Hollis Palmer

Photos provided by StockStudiosPhotography.com

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“Attention to detail”

describes both James Mingay and the house he had built in 1901 at 100 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. One look at the woodwork, molding and quality of the interior and one can understand why in his professional life Mingay was noted for his accuracy and familiarity of all aspects of the businesses in which he was involved. Born in Yarmouth, England, Mingay migrated to this country with his parents, four brothers and two sisters in 1850. At the time James was six years old. His father and older brother were both boot makers; at 13 James took a different route, becoming a clerk in a drug store owned by Franklin Hill. Only 17 when the Civil War broke out, Mingay waited a year and enlisted in the 115th New York Volunteers in a tent that had been erected at the site of the current

entrance to City Hall. Although he was young and inexperienced in military matters, he was immediately made a sergeant in Company F. Mingay’s administrative skills were recognized by the army and in early January 1864 he was made the steward of a military hospital. After being discharged from active duty in July of 1865, James returned to Saratoga and the apothecary business. In 1874, the year he married,

A Portrait of James Mingay. Photo courtesy of Saratoga Springs Library

Turned sideways, the main stairway is difficult to see from the street; however, the bow in the landing seems to call out for a harpist. Without reservations this foyer with its open staircase is one of the grandest in the city.

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y.com

© 2013 stockstudiosphotography.com Mingay purchased what started as Hill’s drug store, renaming it Mingay & Co. He took the opportunity to move the business to the corner of Broadway and Lake Avenue. When Mingay owned his store, druggists still mixed their own prescriptions from raw materials. Mingay Apothecary gained a reputation for accuracy in its compounds and the freshness of its products. Mingay developed his own line of products, including Mingay’s Cough Balsam and Mingay’s Magic Relief. A true entrepreneur, Mingay expanded the business to include toilet articles (fragrances, soaps, makeup) from France and England, along with products from American businesses. In 1884 Fred Menges became a partner. By 1889, at the age of 45, Mingay’s financial interests had grown sufficiently and he sold the business to Menges and officially retired. At almost the same time, G. F. Harvey and Company (Saratoga’s pill manufacturer) was being organized. G. F. Harvey had a patent on the process of converting powdered medicine into pill form. Pills were a significant improvement over powders since for the first time there was the ability to control dosage and improve the storage of medicine. A man of vision, Mingay invested in the new company and was considered a principal stockholder. In addition to being a director of the company for the rest of his life, at various times Mingay held the positions of secretary and vice president of the G. F Harvey Company. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

At a time when directorships were usually given to those with substantial interest in the company, Mingay was also a director of the Adirondack Trust Company and the Citizen’s Bank, both of Saratoga. In 1873, when he was 29, Mingay married Louisa Hill of Malta, age 24. Louisa was an only child of farmer/ carpenter Benjamin Hill. She and James provided for her parents in their home on Broadway until their passing in 1884 and 1888. Louisa and James would not have children of their own. The Mingays were among Saratoga’s most experienced travelers. Over the course of their marriage, the Mingays vacationed in virtually all the states and territories of the United States. In 1908 they traveled around the world. Mingay often claimed that he had visited virtually every country in the world. Louise was an avid historian with a great fondness for literature. She was the great-granddaughter of General Samuel Clark of the Revolutionary War. Her lineage made her eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1901 she was a Regent of the Saratoga Chapter. In addition to serving on the school board, village board of health and as a trustee for the Saratoga Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 129

Athenaeum, Mingay was a member of the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge where he would serve as the Master and District Deputy. He was also a member of the Knights Templar. In 1908, when the local lodge celebrated its centennial, Mingay compiled its history and, at his own expense, had it published with copies to every member. James Mingay died on January 6, 1918 at 74 years of age, after an illness of less than a week. His wife, Louisa, who had been an invalid for several years, died August 10 of the same year. Both are interred with their parents in the old section of Greenridge Cemetery. When the Mingays passed, the house would first be lived in by a family member. By the 1920s, the number of automobiles was increasing rapidly and parking downtown became a problem. Doctors who originally had offices on Broadway began to move their offices to the larger homes on Lake Avenue so patients could park on the street.

The Mingays’ grand home became a doctor’s office and residence. Still later, it became apartments and the butler’s pantry became the kitchen of the main apartment. Today its owner, Maureen Maloney, occupies the main apartment which consists of all the rooms that the Mingays would have actually used. Although converted to apartments, the house has maintained the status it so richly deserves.

Asked how she feels about the house, Maureen said what the owners of most of these treasured houses know, “The work is endless, but so are the rewards.” She paused before adding, “Her timeless beauty deserves to be pampered.”h

Not willing to waste space, there has always been a bathroom under the landing of the main staircase.

Interesting side notes on the Mingay family: • His brother Henry served in the Civil War then moved to Los Angeles. Henry became a friend of Walt Disney, who portrayed him as a 100-year-old soldier in cartoons. • In 1909 James joined Spencer Trask and 40 other business associates to form the Aeroplane and Dirigible Balloon Racing Association. Their plan was to hold races at the track during July and September of 1910. • Prior to moving to Lake Avenue, Mingay and his wife lived at two other residences on Broadway; first a townhouse at 491, then a major apartment on the south end of in the Algonquin Building.

• The stories of the families that built the grand houses on Broadway can be found in Saratoga’s Great Ladies by Hollis Palmer. His book See and be Seen: Saratoga in the Victorian Era won the Ruth Emery Award for the best regional history book. All of Hollis’ books are available at Crafters’ Gallery and The Saratoga Springs History Museum.

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Mums Chinese

Americ a n

Asters

Peter Bowden

Photos and Article By Peter Bowden

he many petal shapes and colors that chrysanthemums (mums to you, “kiku” to the Japanese) exhibit have made them a fall favorite for years, many, many years. When you decide to grow chrysanthemums, you become involved in a gardening pastime that spans many centuries. History traces the origin of chrysanthemum culture to Imperial China over 3,000 years ago. Chrysanthemums were highly prized by the emperors of China who

considered them to be more valuable than gold. The Japanese also revere the chrysanthemum. In fact, the origin of Japanese culture is wrapped in chrysanthemum legend. It seems that one of the early emperors of China became quite ill. In his quest for a remedy he learned of the “herb of youth” that would restore his health. The search for the “herb of youth” was entrusted to 12 male and 12 female virgins. They sailed out onto the Pacific Ocean with a bamboo basket filled with the Emperor’s beloved “golden daisies” to trade for the “herb of youth”. They didn’t make it far before the quest was ended by a typhoon that left them shipwrecked on a rocky archipelago. With their journey at an end, the survivors planted the revered mums and set about exploring their new home. Over the years, the survivor’s descendants populated the 132 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

islands we now know as Japan. Their reverence for chrysanthemums continued, and they were eventually considered the exclusive property of their Emperor. In 910 AD, the Japanese Emperor displayed his prized plants at the first Imperial Chrysanthemum Show and declared them to be the national flower of Japan. In 1876, another Japanese emperor created the Order of the Chrysanthemum as the highest honor he could bestow on an individual. The Japanese word “kiku” represents both the chrysanthemum and the office of the Emperor. The royal crest is a traditional 16-petal chrysanthemum design. Thousands of years of breeding give us mums of nearly every size and color.

M u ms c ome to Amer ic a European interest in Chrysanthemums budded with the arrival of plants brought back from the Orient by Dutch traders in the early eighteenth century. The Dutch are known to have produced several new varieties from the original plants, but it was the horticulturally adept French Huguenots that are credited with real improvements in flower size and color. The Huguenots developed “Old Purple” which became a favorite all over the continent.

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Pl ant th em A SAP Many folks display their potted mums, waiting until right before frost to plant them. This really doesn’t give the plant much of a chance to get some roots down into their new home. It is best to plant them as soon as you can. Peat moss should be blended into sandy soil to help keep the roots moist, and you know I’ll suggest that some bone meal be added to bottom of the planting hole. Bone meal provides phosphorus for several years helping to strengthen the root system. In spring, you should feed them with Espoma Flower Tone as soon as the ground can be worked.

Pinc h M u ms for More Flowers

Chrysanthemums came to North America in 1798 in the hands of John Stevens, a nurseryman from Hoboken. By 1850, the Chrysanthemum Society of America had been founded, and they held their first show in 1902.

G e tt i n g t h e m o s t f rom yo u r m u m s The first step to success with hardy mums is to make sure that you’re buying winter hardy mums. There are literally thousands of varieties of mums, and not all of them are hardy here in USDA Zone 5. Many mums are grown in greenhouses and sold just about anywhere, including the grocery store. Unless they are labeled as hardy mums, you should assume they are not. The best idea is to buy your garden mums from a local garden center to ensure that they will survive the winter and grace your flowerbed again next spring.

To get your mums to be bushy and covered with flowers again next fall, you’ll need to follow the same pinching procedure that the grower did. It’s pretty simple. In spring when your mums are about 6” tall, pinch each tip just above the top set of leaves. This will force it to branch out from below creating more tips. After it grows another 6”, pinch all the tips again. Continue doing this until the end of the first week of July. You’ll probably be able to get three or so “pinchings” in by then. After that, stop pinching and let them grow. They’ll set buds and flower on each new tip you created. If you desire a taller mum with fewer flowers, pinch less or not at all.

Overwin terin g you r mu ms After the flowers are finished, snip them off but leave the leaves. They’ll provide food to help the roots grow until frost claims them. There’s no need to cut your mums back until spring when new growth appears. In very windy locations, you might cover them with evergreen boughs after several hard freezes. This will protect them in case we have a snowless winter. Snow is the best winter protection for mums and all of our perennial garden plants.

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An Al l - Am e r i c a n Alt e r nati v e to Mu m s Perennial asters have become a popular contender for champion of fall color in the flowerbed. Compared to the venerable chrysanthemum, asters are a relatively recent upstart. Their appeal to American gardeners may have been limited since they were a common sight along the roadside every fall. To early Americans, there was nothing special about this common plant. Soon you’ll see those very same asters painting our meadows.

Native asters are found throughout North America and can tolerate very harsh conditions. English gardeners, visiting their colonial cousins found asters to be quite lovely and brought seeds back to the British Isles with them. So even though asters are a native North American plant, they became a popular fall-blooming plant in the gardens of England long before Americans learned to appreciate them. It’s a classic case of one man’s trash becoming another’s treasure. Asters are an easy-to-grow alternative to mums. They’re now available in an amazing assortment of colors and styles. Asters branch heavily without all the pinching mums need. They’re quite insect and disease resistant (as are mums). Like mums, asters should be planted in full sun in soil that’s been enriched with organic matter like composted manure or peat moss and, as always, bone meal. The area should also be well drained but not excessively dry. You can also pinch them to make them low and full. The fine, dark green foliage of asters is quite attractive, making a lovely background for lower, summerflowering annuals or perennials. Both mums and asters mature quickly and should be divided in early spring every two or three years. Whichever you choose you’ll enjoy great fall color for many years to come. Heck, why choose! Grow them both. Thanks for the read. h saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Fabulous

Fall

Adventures

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Photo provided by WilliamCookPhotography.com 138 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

“TOP 100 Events in North America”

All balloon flights are scheduled weather permitting. The Festival is open to the public - FREE of charge Donations will be accepted for parking, Premiere VIP parking is available for a fee. Pets are not permitted at the festival. Thank you!

Thursday, September 19th Crandall Park - City of Glens Falls

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Musical Performance by the Stony Creek Band 5:00 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies 5:15 p.m.: Launch of up to 20 balloons 6:00-9:30: City of Glens Falls Block Party featuring Walk-about balloon, balloon baskets on display, car show, kid’s activities and FIREWORKS!

Friday, September 20th Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport - Queensbury 3:00 p.m.:Gates Open, Craft Fair hosted by ZONTA, kid’s activities and Food Vendors open for business 5:00 p.m.: Balloon Launch – 80+ balloons including special shapes

Saturday, September 21st Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport - Queensbury

5:00 a.m. - 11:00a.m.: “Big Balloon Breakfast” Airport Hanger 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Food vendors open for business, Craft Fair hosted by ZONTA with 30+ vendors, Kids activities, including bounce houses, rock climbing wall, aircraft static display 6:30 a.m.: Flight of 100 Balloons 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Performance by local bands 5:00 p.m.: Flight of 100 Balloons 8:00 p.m.: “Lighting Up The Night”- Moonglow Featuring 20+ Balloons- Bring Your Flashlights!!

Sunday, September 22nd Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport - Queensbury 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: “Big Balloon Breakfast” Airport Hanger 6:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m.: Food vendors open for business, Craft Fair hosted by ZONTA with 30+ vendors, Kids activities, including bounce houses, rock climbing wall, aircraft display 6:30 a.m.: “Walter’s Mass Ascension” simultaneous Flight of 100 Balloons 8:00 a.m.: Catholic Mass in the Entertainment tent 9:00 a.m.: Protestant Sunday Service in the Entertainment tent

Sunday, September 22nd Crandall Park City of Glens Falls

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Jonathan Newell Band performs 5:00 p.m.: Launch of 20+ Balloons saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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At the World’s Largest Garage Sale, in Warrensburg, New York, you will find treasures from all over the country including antiques, hard-to-find items, old toys, new toys, hats, hardware, vintage clothing, handmade crafts, dollar items and just about anything else you can imagine!

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Fiber Fest 2013

The 5th Annual Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival is sure to delight experienced and beginner fiber enthusiasts alike. Oct 5 & 6, 2013. We are located at the historic Washington County Fairgrounds, in Greenwich, NY. visit adkfiber.com for more details

World’s Largest Garage Sale

October 5 & 6 • warrensburgchamber.com

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Jazz At The Lake 2013

takes place on in Shepard Park, Lake George, NY. All concerts are FREE. This year we celebrate three decades of presenting established and emerging jazz masters!

Saturday, September 14

1 p.m.: Brian Patneaude Quartet 2:30 p.m.: Joel Harrison Anupam Shobhakar Quintet 4:15 p.m.: Michele Rosewoman New Yor-Uba Project

Special Saturday evening performance

7:30: New Gary Burton Quartet, followed by fireworks over the lake!

Sunday, September 15

1p.m.: Christian Howes Southern Exposure 2:30 p.m.: Ben Williams ~ Sound Effect 4:15 p.m.: Dave Liebman Big Band

LakeGeorgeArts.org

Jazz At The Lake

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Leaf Peeping From the Water The Lake George Steamboat Company

To learn more or to reserve a ticket, call (518) 668-5777 or visit www.lakegeorgesteamboat.com.

Lake George ShoreLine

Visit www.LakeGeorgeShorline.com for more information.

Mohawk Maiden Cruises

Visit www.Champlain CanalTours.com for more details or call (518) 695-5496 for tickets and information.

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The Adirondack museum is open for it’s 56th season this year. With Blue Mountain rising behind it and Blue Mountain Lake sparkling below, the Adirondack Museum’s vast campus features displays in 22 modern exhibition galleries and historic buildings. There are lush grounds and sweeping views. The exhibitions tell the unique story of the Adirondacks and its people. You will explore topics ranging from boating to logging, and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for kids, too. For more information about the Adirondack Museum, call (518) 352-7311, email info@adirondackmuseum.org or visit www.adkmuseum.org.

Adirondack Museum Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through October 14 9097 State Route 30 in Blue Mountain Lake, NY

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Fall Festival 2013

Bring the family for some good old-fashioned fun! Pumpkin rolling, costume parade, apple cider, cupcakes and more! For times and schedule, visit www.SaratogaDowntown.com

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Your source for apartment living in Saratoga County

1 and 2 bedroom,1 bath. New Construction. Many amenties, free golf at The Fairways of Halfmoon for as long as a tenant starting at $850 664-5464

1,2, and 3 bedroom luxury apartments New Construction located in Halfmoon. Starting at $925

1,2, and 3 bedroom luxury apartments. Located in Halfmoon. Starting at $925 664-6100

1 & 2 bedroom located in the heart of Scotia. Starting at $875 491-0593

2 bedrooms, 1 bath located minutes from downtown Saratoga. Starting at $775 886-8013

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, several locations in Clifton Park starting at $700

Additional information, including floor plans online @ Brucetanski.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Rides begin after sundown the last weekend in September and continue Thursdays-Sundays until the final ride on Halloween night.This hayride is NOT for the faint of heart – children

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un acc

under the age of 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (518) 884-9122.

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My Vermont Roadtrip... By Chelsea DiSchiano, Photos by Brian Cremo

one of the biggest As a born and raised Texan, I grew up in state, states in the country. Living in such a large in the state of Texas! I could drive for eight hours and ST ILL be ed to New York last year So, you can imagine my surprise when I mov minutes and already be in a and found out that I can drive a mere 45 made since moving up here different state! Most of the friends I have forget just how easy it is to have grown up in New York and can of ten ntures, even if just for travel to a new state and have some fun adve my fellow coworker, a day! With that in mind, I decided to drag ous day trip to Vermont! Brian Cremo, along with me for a spontane Springs to Arlington We had a great time traveling from Saratoga t Mountain Inn for an inter view with the innkeeper of Wes Manchester for (see page 156 for that story!) and then to historic some exploring before ending our trip at the ton, Vermont. Vermont Country Store (see page 154) in Wes s and stores All in all, we had a great day exploring the sight next trip! in quiet, scenic Vermont. I can’t wait for my Now it’s your turn to go! Happy Exploring, Chelsea

(kidding!), 45-minute drive Af ter a grueling rmont! the border to Ve ss ro ac it e ad m we to stop to take Of course, I had e sign. a picture wi th th

ed wi th you are just flood It’s so cool how ees as mountains and tr of s ew vi ul tif au be wait Vermont! I can’t to in s os cr u yo soon as offer. this state has to to see what else 150 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Here I am standing in front of the famous Cheese House, located on Route 7A.

here at some If you are into cheese, you HAVE to stop in se imaginable, point! Along with offering every type of chee p and a variety they also offer a great selection of maple syru e syrup, of gif t boxes that include cheese, jams, mapl souvenir pancake mixes and more! They even have a recommend gif t shop with clothes and smaller gif ts. I ! trying the ‘Ol Rat Trap Cheddar Cheese—yum

As someone who personally loves buying organic and earth-friendly products, I

had to stop when I saw the sign for Earth Advocate. Since the shop doubles as a stained glass studio, the inside is definitely unlike any other store I’ve been to.

fIt has a warehouse feel to it, with concrete floors and plenty of room to walk about. The store features

products like 100 percent hemp clothing, all-natural soaps and lotions, postcards

and even hats made of hemp. The very back of the store is another sight to

see, as works of stained glass hang on the walls. Anyone who is interested in

stained glass should visit Johnny at his studio, right on Route 7A!

erland quick stop at Sund a e ad m o als e W fine This was another Country Shoppes. e, cheese, ing tons of fudg ur at fe t en m sh establi everyone! of souvenirs for sy rup and plent y to stop. other great place an ly ite fin de is This

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Manchester!

fWe made it to downtowntown. What a beautif ul

een Peak a store called Gr to ed ad he we Next It’s a fascinat ing store! Elements. What a antique to the brim wi th led fil op sh e ag vint d customosed creations an collect ibles, repurp says he r Brad Andres ne Ow g. in ht lig e mad ique finds e country for un travels all over th ll ose in his shop. A to sell and repurp ing, his shop is amaz of the light ing in d years sif ting and I could spen you e collect ibles. If through all of th si t s, you HAVE to vi love vintage item ents! Green Peak Elem

fNow it’s time

for a little lunch. We decided to stop in at Christos’ Pizza and Pasta,

and what a good choice that was! I had a Caesar

salad chicken wrap and Brian ordered the classic

American sub. We were both fully satisfied with our meals; delicious and reasonably priced!

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Next, we decided to check out Nor thshire Bookstore since they just opened their new location in

Saratoga Springs. It was cool to walk in the original store and see where all the magic started! The

bookstore really does live up to the hype sur rounding it—the store was spacious, yet filled so nicely

Overall, I had a blast on my road trip to Manchester. There ar e so many unique place s and shop s to visit, an d the best part is that it’s close enou gh to home so I can go back when ever I want! Wi th such beau tif ul scenery, I highly recommend you take a visit this fall. Enjoy!

with thousands of books that you feel cozy and at home. The store’s selection of books is superior,

to making it the perfect bookstore browse through if you are an avid reader. I’m so glad they have a location in Saratoga, too!

~ Chelsea saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Stepping Back in Time at Vermont Country Store Article and photos by Chelsea DiSchiano

As I step into Vermont Country Store, located in the heart of the charming yet small town of Weston, I immediately feel as though I have been transported back in time. The store is crowded with people hovering over fun knickknacks, clothes and shelves beyond shelves of candy. The old wooden floors creak as I slowly walk around the store, cautiously trying to avoid bumping into others who were also browsing with curiosity.

Shelves and bins are filled with sweet, sugary goodness of all kinds—there are the classic circular lollipops, licorice, chewy fruit slices, Jordan chocolate covered almonds, taffy, caramel creams, gumdrops and so much more. It is like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, just on a smaller scale. There is even a section of nuts of so many kinds it is hard for my brain to comprehend. Plain peanuts, almonds, cashews and more are accompanied by sweeter

There is so much to look at, it’s almost difficult to figure out where you should even begin. So naturally, I walk to the old-fashioned candy section first. 154 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

versions of the originals salted nuts, different mixes and even a variety of honey roasted nuts. I decide to move on before I can be further tempted to buy a thousand pounds of candy and nuts. Walking back up to the main floor from the candy section, there is a maple syrup section with a huge variety of different maple syrups and brands, ranging from regular to fancy to dark amber. If you’re looking for a new brand of maple syrup or want to branch out from your normal flavor, this is the place to go.

Further back in the store, my nose is drawn to a section of soaps, scrubs, deodorizers, lotions and everything in between. Most of the products are organic and natural, and all of them smell amazing. A hard-to-miss soap was this large circular bar with “Vermont Country Store” engraved in it. How would you like to shower with that? Across the store is another room filled from bottom to top with handmade rugs of all kinds and colors. There are floral patterns, plain colored rugs and stripes. Grazing the rugs with my hands as I walk through, I can feel the saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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handmade quality and the wool and cotton strings woven ever so intricately. Bundles of hand-woven cotton rugs and welcome mats were spread throughout the room, giving shoppers plenty to choose from. As I’m starting to head toward the back of the main floor, I take a detour into a room with a sign out front that labels it as a scale museum. Antique scales of all kinds adorn a large wooden table in the middle of the room and hang on the walls. There are grocer’s scales, money scales, postal scales, pendulum scales and dozens more.Dozens of antique scales line up a small room that is slightly separated from the rest of the store. Historic mementos and information also adorn the walls of this intriguing room.

shoppers just like me. Though the store’s original owners are gone, the mission and atmosphere of Vermont Country Store have not changed at all since they first opened their doors in 1946, and it is up to visitors like us to continue keeping this charming store’s tradition alive. h

Though looking at the scales is fascinating, large signs which hang on the walls between the unique scales detailing the store’s history grab my attention. The Vermont Country Store was founded by a married couple, Vrest and Ellen Orton, who started out by mailing a catalog of 36 products to friends and family on their Christmas card list. After seeing their catalog was a success, the couple decided to open up a store in Weston, Vermont in 1946 to continue selling practical and hardto-find products. Storekeeping seems to be in the Orton family’s blood—Vrest’s father, Gardner Orton, owned a store with his father-in-law, Melvin Teachout. Vrest grew up there, so it was only natural that he eventually ended up with a store of his very own—Vermont Country Store. He then passed down storekeeping to his own son, Lyman Orton, who now continues to run the family business with his three sons Cabot, Gardner, and Eliot—fourth and fifth-generation storekeepers. I pause for a moment to let the history of the store sink in—here I am, standing in a room that has been here for decades upon decades, filled with pleasant employees and happy, curious 156 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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West

Mountain Inn A Cozy Vermont Getaway By Chelsea DiSchiano, Photos provided

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ARLINGTON, VT

It is a crisp, sunny morning as I pull up to entrance of West Mountain Inn, nestled in the lush green mountains of Vermont. Though it’s only about a 45 minute drive from my home in Saratoga Springs, I feel as though I have entered a new world when I step outside my car.

There is a stillness in the air, a quiet reminder that the Inn is a place of total relaxation—a small break from the noises and stresses ordinary life often brings. Innkeeper Amie Emmons says that’s one of the reasons the Inn doesn’t have TVs in any of the rooms—it maintains that this is a place where guests can get away from their normal routines and take a break from the background noise that surrounds us daily. “Our philosophy has stayed the same ever since [my family] took over the Inn,” Amie says. Her parents, Wes and Mary Ann, bought the Inn from some of their friends in 1978 and handed the reins over to Amie years ago after Wes passed away in 2000. “We want to provide people with a peaceful place where they can really relax—many of our guests say it feels like coming home because the Inn has that comfy feel and it’s not pretentious.” With older hardwood floors, several cushiony couches and small knickknacks and antiques found all throughout the place, it does indeed have the atmosphere of a familiar home. Sitting on 150 acres of land, the Inn also provides plenty of space for guests to explore when they’re not relaxing inside—multiple hiking trails and meditation gardens are abundant on the inn’s grounds. In the large backyard area, a labyrinth garden full of a variety of plants and flowers was planted to celebrate Amie’s late father Wes’ 80th birthday. “We had our friends and family each buy a different plant to put in the garden instead of buying him a typical present,” Amie remembers with a smile. “We planted them in a circle for a labyrinth garden so our guests can walk through and look at each of the plants.” Just beyond the labyrinth garden is a smaller, gated area with four young alpacas roaming around, stopping curiously every so often to look over at us walking toward them. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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“We’ve had either llamas or alpacas at the Inn for about 20 years now,” Amie says as she grabs some plant leaves from the garden to feed them. “These ones are all about four to five years old—they don’t like to be petted, but they’ll come close to you and you can feed them.”

Across the Inn grounds, Amie walks me to the rustic old barn that is most often used for charming wedding ceremonies and receptions, a trend that she says has been booming in popularity recently. Most weddings take place between April and November, though there are the occasional winter ceremonies as well. The barn is large and airy, with small circular tables spread throughout and dainty white lights strung all about the ceiling. The air smells fresh, and the barn is simple yet beautiful enough to have a picture-perfect wedding. It holds up to 200 guests for receptions, though the average is around 150, according to Amie. West Mountain Inn doesn’t just host wedding groups and families; many groups and organizations use it as a space to have retreats and meditate—some groups even come just for yoga retreats. The Inn has such a variety of activities that it is used for retreats and weddings

but also ordinary couples or families who simply want a weekend getaway. “You can be very romantic and independent and just go off on your own for the whole weekend, or you can mingle with the other guests and participate in our cheese plate hour before dinner,” Amie says. “Some people go off the grounds to do other activities or shop in downtown Manchester and some just don’t leave the Inn for their entire stay. It’s really up to the guest and we can accommodate them either way.” Another trend that has become popular lately is farmto-table food, something that West Mountain Inn has done for their breakfasts and dinners since it opened. “Luckily, it’s very easy for us to do here,” Amie says. The Inn gets much of its produce from Handmelon Farm, along with dairy, cheese and “a good portion” of meats from other local farms.

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“All of our rooms are unique, with different views or decks,” Amie says.

“Eating organic food or food straight from the farm is something that has definitely been gaining popularity, but it’s no different for us,” Amie explains. “For over 20 years that’s just been our normal mode of operation, so luckily we didn’t have to change anything to fit the trend.”

Upstairs above the dining room are the quaint bedrooms guests can stay in, along with a special larger bridal suite. Each room (the Inn has a total of 20 rooms and 18 bathrooms) has a nameplate on the door with the name of someone famous (for example, Robert Frost) who has either lived in Arlington or been associated with it in some way, adding another unique flair to the Inn. Though the Inn can often be confused for a bed and breakfast, Amie says that’s not quite the case for West Mountain Inn. “It’s not a bed and breakfast—it’s more like a small hotel, except for more personal and friendly,” Amie

explains. “We try to help our guests as much as possible and help them figure out what they want to do with their days, and we also do stuff like offer a cheese tray social every day at 6 p.m.”

Amie says that the unique setting and the beautiful land are what have made the Inn really successful. “One time we had a Hilton marketing employee stay here, and she told us that even though it was beautiful, we weren’t going to make it as an Inn because we’re not right on the road where you can see us,” Amie remembers. “And so many years later, we’re still here. And I think that she was wrong, I think that our location being off from the main road and being so private is what makes us so successful.” Ultimately, Amie says West Mountain Inn is the perfect place to have a small getaway, wedding or retreat. “Everyone gets so busy with their jobs and their commitments and their kids,” Amie says. “Here, we give you the space to step back from your busy life and just relax.” h

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Covey & Nye:

A New World of Shooting By Brian Cremo, Photos by Covey & Nye, Judy Knope, Lee Krohn, Croots of England, Really Wild Clothing Company

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When

shotgun specialist and historian Lars Jacob opened Manchester’s “Covey & Nye: Outfitters for a Lifetime” gun room and apparel store back in May of 2010, he had the ultimate goal of expanding the business to a shooting ground.

“(Continental shooting) is a very old tradition,” Lars said. “This style of hunt has been going on in Europe for centuries and there’s so much celebration and tradition and honor of shooting this way that you see them dress to the nines.”

Two years later, with the help of some of the most well-known and passionate names in the business, the Covey & Nye Shooting Grounds in Salem was open and ready to release a whole new world of opportunities for both experienced shooters and beginners.

“It’s a lifestyle,” added Covey & Nye president Gary Marmer. “People want to wear that classic clothing and look like they’re dukes and duchesses. It’s an exciting store.”

“It’s not just selling things,” said Lars, who has been in the business of fitting, shooting, instructing and selling guns for 25 years. “It’s educating about this lifestyle. You want to have the ability to create that education. I wanted to have a high-end gunroom and a place to give us credibility and to coach them, teach them and show them once they do buy a beautiful piece of art that has function, show them how to use it and be proud of it. That was the goal. Did I expect to get this big this fast? No I didn’t, but that’s because we have partners who have a huge amount of passion in this sport.” The store in Manchester celebrates country sports with one of the top fine-gun libraries as well as beautiful town and field apparel from top brands such as Filson, Beretta Purdey, Hunter and Dubarry. Whether someone is looking for a pair of Dubarry Boots or shooting gear from either North American and European brands, Covey & Nye has it all. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A symbol of the sport’s long-standing tradition, the gun room shows off an assortment of collectible and vintage guns. The high quality and craftsmanship of the store’s fine guns will catch any sportsmen’s eyes and the vintage pieces are yet another reminder of the history that is such a big part of the sport’s presentday aura. Branching out from the store, the shooting grounds offer a place to use that equipment and clothing. Not just any place, though. The Covey & Nye Shooting Grounds cover 1,200 acres. In just making your way to the shooting grounds and the Dutch River Club on the dirt roads toward 51 Parker Lane, you will begin to fathom the feel of escape. Escape to fertile grounds, with white-tailed deer that can be standing 30 feet away from you and you wouldn’t even notice their presence. And it’s all less than an hour away from Saratoga Springs. In just one year of business, Covey & Nye has carved out and renovated 370 acres of the 1,200-plus Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 165

acre private hunting preserve for walk-up pheasant hunting, continental shoots and clay target shooting areas that simulate different scenarios of live hunts. “I can only describe this as somebody gives you a 1,200-acre sandbox and a whole bunch of toys and says, ‘Go play in it,’” said legendary preserve manager, Gary Hall. “What you’ll see is 370 acres of probably the most beautiful shooting preserve gun club land that I’ve ever seen. When you see what happens on 370 acres, what we’ve all created, it’s mind-boggling. It’s pretty awesome. The land is just spectacular.” Gary has built up a reputation for making his mark on gun grounds ever since he started learning the business in 1978 by studying under a third-generation Australian gamekeeper. Teaming up with Lars at Covey & Nye has proven to establish the same type of legacy.

“You get some of the best in the business, like Gary Hall, with probably one of the easiest pieces of property he’s had to work with, you can only have extraordinary presentation,” Lars said.

Typical attire for a Continental Shoot.

Gary’s work has helped develop the reputation of some of the oldest shooting preserves in the country, whether it was introducing clay courses or being the first to incorporate driven shooting, at places including what is now Orvis Sandanona and the Beretta Shooting Grounds at Dover Furnace. He and his grandson, Tyler, are on the Covey & Nye grounds seven days a week. When Lars, Tyler and Gary are not guiding, they’re making constant additions to the grounds—carving out land for walk-up hunts, creating barriers to make birds exit the tall grass on driven shoots or making camouflaged blinds for cover. The types of birds released at the gun grounds include ringnecked pheasant, as well as red legged “French” partridge, Chukar partridge and Hungarian “Grey” partridge. With about a 48 percent kill rate, all of the birds shot are processed and used for food, or donated to fundraising venues such as volunteer fire departments. None of it goes to waste. In addition to the live hunts, there are 15 trap simulations all together, with eight in one multiple-simulation area and the rest spread out through the remaining acreage. The simulations provide training for the six walk-up hunting fields and seven driven pheasant areas that will continue to see additions and improvements. Tyler has three dogs, two Labradors and an English springer spaniel, that are used on point in the live walk-up pheasant hunts.

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“(The dogs) have a job to do when they’re out there,” explained Tyler, who went on his first hunt when he was 11. “My dogs, I like to give them the best of both worlds. They live in the house with me full-time. When it’s time to hunt, they know where they’re going. The bond can help me out in the field.” In addition to Tyler and his grandfather, Lars can be seen wearing multiple hats at the shooting preserve. Whether it’s acting as a range officer for safety, an instructor for a member of the club in a slump or communicating with other guides over the radio to control a driven shoot, he can help shooters of all levels.

Tyler Hall, Gary Hall and Lars Jacob

Regardless of experience or reason for being on the grounds, the time spent will be rewarding for anyone who shares a passion for shooting or hunting. Visiting Covey & Nye allows you to shoot and learn from the same people who have poured their heart and soul into making Covey & Nye what it is today.

Just a little more than one year since inception, both Covey & Nye and the Dutch River Club have received and will be garnering national attention in national publications, such as…

USA Today Shooting Sportsman Covey Rise Magazine Sporting Classics Shotgun Life Shooting Sportsman Equinox Magazine saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Lars Jacob

“This is a world that no one knows exists,” said Marmer.

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“People can come out here and shoot for two hours and feel like they’ve done a lot and it’s an immediate reward for what they’re doing,” said Lars. “They can get a lot done in a couple hours and that’s a huge reason for this sport.” A beginner will start in the controlled clay-shooting environment with Lars before he approves them to go on a live hunt—a whole different animal in itself.

“(Clay) is a great place for them to learn safety, get comfortable with the gun and make it an extension of themselves and not until then are they ready to go out and shoot in the field where the presentation is unpredictable,” said Lars. The more experienced shooters are offered a five-stand clay simulation venue that features low tower, crossing, quartering, escaping and incoming targets. The uprights on the shooting stands control the swing of the gun. “We can set up the perfect presentation for a novice beginner, first time ever, and we have presentations out here that not only will challenge the best shots, but also the best shots come here for instruction to work on,” explained Lars. “Some of my clients are shooters who have shot for 30-plus years and still come to me for fine tuning.”

private and group clay shooting instruction. After that, someone needs to become a member of the Dutch River Club to do more on the land. The club had 31 members as of August, less than a year after its first event. Members have the opportunity to take part in both driven and continental presentations and have access to seasonal wild hunting on the preserve, the fivestand clay target shooting, fly-fishing instruction and more. This fall’s latest addition is the introduction of the duck hunt and flighted mallard shoot for club members, where Mallard ducks will be released to simulate a wild hunt. One of those simulations will include peninsulas built at the surrounding edges of a pond about 40 yards apart with blinds at the end of each for shooters. A handler with a dog and duck call will attempt to bring the ducks toward the blind, so the hunt is right in front of you, flying above the pond, surrounded by the orange and red of the fall ambiance. “We’ve done a lot in the first year, but it’s still baby steps,” said Tyler, who said there have also been talks of putting in a small sporting clays course near the club lodge. Whether someone is looking to shoot alone or go as a group, whether it’s a bachelor party or wedding party, Covey & Nye can be reached for public reservations at (802) 549-4848. For more information, visit coveyandnye.com. h

The walk-up pheasant hunts with a guide and a dog are one of the options offered to the public, along with both

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Battenkill Riversports Campground:

A Family Friendly Place to Enjoy the Riverfront

By Brian Cremo, Photos provided

The crisp feeling of the fall season in upstate New York is distinct as any. For 40 years, this September, Walter and Veronica Piekarz have provided a place for others to enjoy that ambiance right on the Batten Kill River. Battenkill Riversports and Campground, in Cambridge, has everything you need to fully take in the natural beauty of the fall coloring. Whether someone wants to be fully enthralled in the flowing river reflecting the fall foliage via kayaking, or fishing from the comfort of a riverside cabin, the Piekarz’s have made it easy to enjoy what this season has to offer. “There’s nothing better than looking at the fall foliage sitting in a canoe,” said Walter. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Usually offered through Columbus Day, Battenkill Riversports has canoe, kayak and tube rentals available and will include transportation to one of four different locations up-river depending on the time wished to stay out (1.5, 3.5, 4.5, or 6 hours). Although the fall season tends to be too cold for tubing, they also have tubes with a sealed bottom for those who want to give it a try. “Sometimes we have some really warm weather and the colors are still

there and we will let people come in and it will continue until the end of October,” said Veronica. The kayaking and canoeing experience can be enriched even further than simply enjoying the ambiance of a fall drift down the river. Battenkill Riversports’ customers can also request a guide, who will share knowledge about the area’s landmarks and wildlife, while keeping the group safe. This provides an even further in-depth look at the environment surrounding you as the Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 171

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Follow the yellow brick road, said Walter. The river comes right on down.

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guide points out the different species of wildlife seen along the way. Several fishing guides are also available through reservation. Also, if you have your own equipment, they will transport you to where you want to go, so you can exit at the campground where you left your vehicle. Battenkill Riversports will provide you with a map and let you enjoy the peace and quiet on your own time as you make your way downstream in what is usually a Class I: River-Easy. All of the amenities offered can either be for a day’s worth of activity or longer. A campsite bordering the river, secluded away from the roads, allows campers to either tent or rent one of the two cabins available. Wake up in a fall morning, open the cabin’s riverfront door to see “The Kill” right in front of you. Maybe even take a seat right there and fish for trout, speckled bass or catfish.

“We introduced the cabins a couple years ago and they became really popular,” said Veronica. “At one point, believe it or not, we had teepees. We got as much as we could out of them.”

Also, if you own an RV, you can park it farther away from the river in an open field surrounded by trees and a peaceful view of the mountains. Their camp store has all the camping supplies you would need and it’s right on sight before making

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the short quarter-mile journey down the dirt road to the campsites. Whether it’s hand-made flies, firewood, ice, tarps, snacks, canoes, tubes, kayaks, maps or just a place to get information, that’s where you can find it. Walter is also the President of the Washington County Tourism Association. For all campers, there is a full bath house with hot water and showers as well as a playground area with volleyball nets, a basketball court and horseshoes. It’s through the variety of different campers that has allowed the Piekarz’s to evolve and make the campground as customer and familyfriendly as it is today.

“In order to run this type of business, you have to be creative,” said Veronica. “When one thing seemed like it wasn’t going

anywhere, you have to listen to your customers and then it sparks something and you go. If you weren’t creative, you certainly learn to be. The more creative you can become, the better it is.”

When the Piekarz’s moved to the location permanently in 1973, with their five kids, they began Bakers Country Campground. It was a place where people could camp and eat fresh baked goods made by Veronica and enjoy a “life on the farm” family experience.

experience is educational,” said Veronica. “You learn a lot from the people who come in. It’s kind of like you get your feedback for people who have probably done more camping then I have. We have people that come in from Europe and out of state and it’s just exciting to hear what they

“When you run something for 40 years, the

Ten years later, it was a seasonal camper who suggested the name be changed to that of the river it bordered and utilize all that it has to offer.

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have to say about this river.” That has since turned into Walter, Veronica and their employees offering 14 daily trips down the river as Battenkill Riversports and Campground.

“It becomes like one big family after a while,” explained Veronica, as she reflected on generations of past clients and their families. “The parents and their kids come back and it’s pretty neat to see them say,‘Remember my parents when I was younger?…’”

Their built-up reputation has also been recognized for helping keep the river clean. A manager goes down every Monday to clean up the river after the weekend. September 28 is the annual “River Clean-up,” beginning at 10 a.m. with a barbeque to follow.

“People do respond to that,” said Veronica. “It’s great to see the community see things looking back to as clean and pristine as that river can be. We don’t want garbage put into that river. We really want the river to be kept as clean as possible. What you bring into the river, you bring out. The river belongs to everyone and the better we take care of it, the better it is for all of us.” Celebrate the tradition that is the Battenkill Riversports and Campground and enjoy the natural beauty of Cambridge by making a fall reservation with Walter and Veronica.

“The great part about it is, when the day is done and everybody’s safe off the river, people come by and say, ‘Hey we had a great weekend, or a great week, and we’ll see you again,’” said Veronica. “That’s what it’s all about.” h

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Battenkill Riversports and Campground is located at 937 State Rt. 313, Cambridge, NY 12816. For further information and reservations, visit their website at www.brsac.com or call (518) 677-8868.

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Martin & Valerie

The Quill Gordon

BedRight& Breakfast: on the Batten Kill River Article and Photos by Brian Cremo

When Martin Oakland was 9 years old, his dad told him the family was moving west. “I’m thinking west being Montana, Wyoming and cowboys and Indians,” said Martin. “I was really excited and [my dad] goes, ‘Well, we’re going to West Arlington.’ That turned out to be okay because I had trout in my front yard and deer in my backyard.”

In 1998, Martin and his wife, Valerie, decided to sell their home and move permanently into Martin’s deceased parents’ house on the river so as not to lose the property and to start the business. They would offer their home to people, Valerie would serve breakfast in the morning and Martin could guide fly fishing on the river just in back of the house.

That was back when Route 313 was a dirt road and the area was all about dairy farms.

The Oaklands did just that and they have been going strong for 15 years.

Now, Martin resides in and owns the Quill Gordon Bed & Breakfast, named after Theodore Gordon’s Mayfly pattern, in the same place. But what was once his parents’ small, simple home is now almost three times larger and includes three guest rooms open to anyone else who wants to enjoy time on the Batten Kill River.

Valerie serves a healthy breakfast with homemade muffins, scones, fresh fruit, juice and coffee, which can all be eaten while looking at the river from your window. For anyone staying at the B&B who is interested in fly fishing, Martin will start them off on the lawn. He has all the equipment and knowledge to teach the proper form on land before even setting foot in water.

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“Most people, especially the women, pick it up really fast,” Martin said. “Good enough so they can at least make a halfway decent presentation and that’s all you want. The thing to do is practice on the lawn. You don’t want to start on the river because you’re going to be up in the trees losing flies. Get them on the lawn first to get their timing down and watch you. It’s all timing. That’s why you have to do it on the lawn.” After the lawn, he’ll take you right in front of the house and teach what to do before charging out into the middle of the river. “Because it’s so accessible, it’s a good starting point if you want to get into fly fishing,” said Martin, who said the river in August was as high as he has ever seen it. “The river’s fairly easy where some streams are not.”

Heading into this fall there has been a growing word amongst fisherman worldwide: “The Kill is back.” In recent years, the Batten Kill has made a comeback thanks in part to the catch and release laws going into effect, stopping the overkill of brown trout, and the work done by the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance. “It’s a good feeling,” said Martin, an expert fishing guide. “It’s a success story for what the Batten Kill Alliance has done in the past eight years and it’s worked. We just never thought there was an end to [the brown trout population]. We used to always eat it. Everybody was doing it. I think it was an over-harvest.” In the early 1960s, Vermont let people on the river use live bait for the first time, making “anyone with a spinning rod an instant successful fisherman.” In addition to that, two new lures came on the fishing scene that were deadly to brown trout and eventually made the population decrease dramatically.

“

Fly fishing is great, it’s relaxing and it’s something you can do forever and ever,” Martin said. “It’s just so nice to be in the water. Ninety five percent of my clients could care less if they catch a fish. We see moose, we see bears, turkeys. No cell phone coverage. Just peace and quiet.

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Before The Alliance stepped in, the Batten Kill had grown wider, shallower and warmer—not good for trout. “For years, all you were getting were big fish,” said Martin. “There were no little ones (eight to 12 years ago). It’s coming back. Now we’re catching more of the 9-to-12-inch class. That size was missing for five years or more. Now that’s coming back and it’s fun.” Fly fishing since learning from his father since a kid, Martin knows what to look for. Whether it’s keeping an eye out for birds, or recognizing if the bugs are in the air, he will give you the tools to know if you should use a dry fly or subsurface before you approach the trout facing upstream “like a smorgasbord on a conveyor.” Learning from Martin on his front lawn, where he and Valerie often hold cookouts, you can tell he is passionate about the sport and his hometown. He knows the time to fish and the places to go for peace and quiet when the river gets heavy with tuber and kayak traffic. He knows where to cast and how to read the water, in The old saying is, ‘If you can catch them on the Batten Kill, you can catch part because he them on the moon,’” said Martin. “Even 50 years ago, this river would snorkels the river humble you. Some really good fisherman would come out of here at night, to scout it.

“

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shaking their head saying; I can’t fool them.’

The area also attracts more experienced fisherman who come from all over just to get in the Batten Kill. The Oakland’s have hosted people from Europe, South America, the Deep South and the West Coast. Another thing the Batten Kill has to offer is the fact that all the Eastern Brook and German Brown trout caught are wild. Unlike New York, Vermont doesn’t stock the river. Going to the Oakland’s allows you to keep things simple, while being located in an area that offers unlimited hiking trails, biking and places to kayak and go canoeing—all while enjoying the allure offered by Vermont’s fall foliage. Less than an hour away from Saratoga Springs and 15 minutes from Manchester, customers have more than enough options to choose from, aside from spending time at the B&B. “[The customers] have the run of the place,” said Martin, who often invites people to come sit up on his deck. “We’ve never had any problems. Most people that come here, the kids are in college or out of college and mom and dad are getting away for a week.” But the Quill Gordon isn’t just for adults who are looking to get away, it’s family-oriented as well. “I love to instruct children and I don’t charge anything for that,” said Martin with enthusiasm. “My 9-year-old and 178 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

7-year-old grandchildren, they both have Orvis rods and they can cast and fish.” If you’re lucky, Martin might also show you evidence of him being a model for Norman Rockwell in the 1950s. Rockwell lived in Arlington from 1939 until 1953. Martin and Valerie often go out West to visit their son in Montana, but they both agree there is something about Vermont that makes it all worth the while. “When we come back from Montana, the minute we hit the Vermont state line, we go, ‘There’s something about the green mountains.’ They’re friendly; they’re close together where out West there are these big valleys with 25 miles between them.” “It’s nice to be able to still do what you love,” said Valerie, who has also dedicated her career to teaching at Arlington’s Fisher Elementary. “We’ve met a lot of great people here through the B and B.” h

All of the amenities offered by the Quill Gordon Bed & Breakfast, the prices of the rooms and reservation information can be found at quillgordon.com or by calling Martin or Valerie at (802) 375-6339. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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HILDENE Hidden Gem of History By Patricia Older, photos provided

Misty sunlight

streamed through the forested one mile drive to the spot where three generations of Lincolns had lived. There were no other cars on the dirt road as I made my way to Hildene, a rambling Georgian Revival home nestled between the Green and the Taconic mountain ranges in Manchester, Vermont, when a few yards ahead, a young doe cautiously stepped into the roadway. I stopped my car as she paused and looked my way. She was so close, I could see as her dark muzzle twitched a little, bits of steam drifting as she tested the air. Then slowly, and without fear, she gracefully bounded across, a small fawn with white spots dusting its back, keeping pace at her heels. And as quickly as the pair had appeared, they were gone, vanishing into the undergrowth of the forest.

That beautiful encounter would set the pace for the rest of my day as I toured Hildene, the ancestral home of the Lincoln family. I would be amazed, stare in awe of what is before me and be marveled at how much it has to offer. Hildene, which is an English term meaning hill and valley with stream, is 412 acres of forested lands, pastures, agricultural property and wetlands. It is also the place where for 70 years was home to the descendants of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, built in 1905 by his oldest son, Robert. But there is also so much more to the estate than just the opportunity to walk the same grounds as the Lincolns did, tour their home and gardens and have a glimpse into what their lives must have been like as they spent summers there.

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A few years ago, house museums in this country were faced with a dilemma. Hildene was no different. Lincoln’s great-granddaughter, Peggy Beckwith, was the last Lincoln descendant to live in the home. When she died in 1975, her will stated that Hildene should go to The Christian Science Church as a memoriam to the Lincoln Family. But the church was not interested in maintaining a museum, so when members of the local community learned that this was not their intention, a volunteer group known as the Friends of Hildene was formed to attempt to save the estate. After a three-year battle, the Friends of Hildene raised enough money to purchase the estate. A portrait of Robert Todd Lincoln saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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The first generation

The kitchen in the Hildene family home.

of volunteers

focused primarily on restoration of the home and property. But, in the 1990s, the economy began to falter and house museums, like Hildene, were forced to make some difficult decisions. “House museums were faced with new challenges because of declining visitation,” explains Paula Maynard, press director for Hildene. “We had to either draw a circle around the house, gardens and carriage barn and sell everything else or keep all 412 acres and put them to work, furthering the mission and producing revenue.” Continuing, Maynard said Hildene’s directors and board of trustees to keep it all and turn the entire state into a teaching tool.

“Guided by Hildene’s mission Values into Action, the new approach has consistently proven to have been the right one,” said Maynard. “When you think about museums, you think of history preserved and we learn about the past—Lincoln was one of our most-loved presidents—Hildene believes that by putting Lincoln values such as integrity, perseverance and civil discourse thereby bringing those values into the 21st century.” While Robert was a gentleman farmer, Peggy, had been quite a character about town and was a true handson farmer, the historic estate she left behind offered endless opportunities for learning experiences—there is not only the home of the Lincoln’s, Hildene has the gardens, a small scale sustainable farming operation and a Pullman railway car.

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The Welcome Center is also a gift shop where visitors can buy the cheeses made on sight and much more

To truly understand Hildene,

one needs to understand Robert. Lincoln, known for his quiet and humble nature, brought that gentleness and patience into his family life. Even so, his political ambitions combined with personal losses more than likely created an atmosphere where Robert, who was the oldest, did not get the attention he may have needed as a child. As Abraham Lincoln began to move up on the political scene, he and Mary lost first one child, then another. Their grief was palpable and they struggled in the grips of it as they tried to focus on their daily tasks of life and the remaining children. Accounts from that time tell that while Lincoln kept up with his duties as a lawyer and political candidate, he seemed to wear his grief like a cloak and Mary was overwhelmed in hers. With Robert away at boarding school, Tad, with his physical limitations—he had a cleft palate—became Lincoln’s focus at home. Robert mused later in his life that he felt as though his father and he did not have the time to develop a deep,

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The formal garden looking from the foyer.

Jessie Lincoln tends to the peonies in the formal garden she designed for her mother, Mary Harlan Lincoln.

The design of the garden was influenced by the parterre gardens she had seen while the family lived in Europe. Jessie wanted the garden to resemble a stained-glass Romanesque cathedral window with the panes of colored glass produced by different colored flowers. The hedge was planted to represent the leading between the panes.

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mutual relationship—first he had spent time in a boarding school away from the home life, and then once his father became president, Abraham seemed always immersed in the job. He wrote: “During my childhood and early youth he was almost constantly away from home, attending courts or making political speeches. In 1859, when I was 16, I went to New Hampshire to school and afterward to Harvard College, and he became president. Henceforth any great intimacy between us became impossible. I scarcely even had 10 minutes of quiet talk with him during his presidency on account of his constant devotion to business.”

in 1902 he purchased the neighboring property, pulling together a total of 500 acres, where he envisioned a family summer home where his children, their children and descendants could enjoy the summer pleasures of Vermont. He wanted a home where he could enjoy his family and they could spend quality time with him. On the highest peak of the property, with stunning views of both the Green Mountains and the Taconics, and a mile of the Batten Kill River rambling along its border, Robert built what he called the Lincoln ancestral home—Hildene.

Even so, Lincoln and Mary loved their children and Robert grew up instilled with those values and beliefs. Robert was only 21 years old when his father was assassinated and his mother fell deeper into grief and depression.

While considered a mansion to many, the home is actually warm, modest and comfortable. Visitors to the 24-room home would have entered through the grand foyer where their first views would be of the stunning English garden which Robert’s daughter, Jessie, had designed in 1907 especially for her mother, Mary Harlan Lincoln.

It was, serendipitously, a summer visit the year before his father died that Robert became familiar with the lush and beautiful Vermont landscape. He joined his mother and Tad at the Equinox Hotel in Manchester during the summer of 1864 to escape the heat of Washington.

In it, she planted hundreds of peonies, many imported from France and in mid-June, the blossoms from heirloom plantings fill the garden with color. Perennials of various colors, sizes and shapes provide the color during the summer months.

He later on had a law partner, Edward Isham, who owned property and a home in Manchester, which is now known as the Inn at Ormsby Hill. Lincoln visited often and

In the corner of the entrance hall, in its original location, is a 1,000 pipe Aeolian player organ which was installed in 1908 as a gift from Robert to his wife, Mary.

yer.

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The Hildene dining room is always set for six. During Christmas, the house is decorated like it may have been in 1912.

There are also 242 music rolls, most of which are in good condition. Those rolls were transferred to discs to help preserve the music and the organ is played each day, with the sounds resonating through-out the entire home. Off of the entrance hall to one side is the dining room, where the table is still set for six; and to the other side is the formal parlor where guests would have gathered. Downstairs is the bedroom where Robert passed away in

his sleep at 82 years of age. The safe where the files from the trial to assess the state of his mother’s insanity were found is still standing in a corner closet. The home has many bedrooms, one where President Taft spent the night in several times in 1912, another, still pretty in pink, was Mary’s bedroom; and another, a room whose contents reflect the many interests of the home’s last inhabitant, Peggy .

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Upstairs is also where the Lincoln exhibit is. Since Lincoln is known for his power of speech, the present exhibit was designed to portray the power of the words of his Second Inaugural Address. In collaboration with Brown University, the exhibit features a number of historic artifacts and documents, including a photograph of Lincoln’s second inaugural, the White House diary of John Milton Hay, who was the assistant private secretary to Lincoln and telegrams sent and received by Lincoln showing his complete immersion in the war.

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Other Features of the Estate...

While the family home, complete with its observatory, which was built in 1913, is wonderful to see on its own, the rest of the estate has so much more to offer as well, in keeping with Hildene’s goal to bring Lincoln’s values into the 21st century. An example is the Rowland Agriculture Center at Hildene Farm. The Center was built from timber harvested from and milled on the property in 2008. It is a selfsustainable working farm with 45 goats and a micro operation operated by a small staff. Visitors can watch the entire process of cheese making as they walk along a glass-fronted corridor in which one room is used to milk the goats using modern technology; follow the process to another room where the milk is transferred, and eventually to another where the goats’ milk is turned into fresh and aged cheeses.

In the Rowland Agricultural Center, visitors can watch through plate glass the entire cheese making process from milking the goats to aging the cheeses.

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Powered by solar and heated in the winter with a wood furnace, the Center is also used for summer camps and for educational tours. There is the meadow in the Battenkill Valley sitting 300 feet below the main house and gardens that was once used by Robert as grazing pastures for his livestock and two generations later as an airstrip by Peggy. The farmhouses, outbuildings and an original 1832 one-room schoolhouse can also be found on this part of the property. Those fields, which once were the site of various events through-out the year, are now being returned to agriculture to grow Hildene’s own hay for the farm animals and vegetables to use for the number of private functions held there each year. In addition, a floating boardwalk is being constructed that will enable visitors to walk above the wetlands and see the various fauna and plant life. There are also almost nine miles of walking trails with interpretative signs along the Farm Loop Trail highlighting a variety of plant life and natural habitats. Those trails are used in the winter as well for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. (Hildene is only closed four days a year— Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.)

“

It is beautiful down there,” explained Maynard.

“Visitors will get to see things they might not get a chance to otherwise. There is really no way to truly see how beautiful the plants and wildlife of the wetlands are without the boardwalk.

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There are also the cutting and kitchen gardens where the Lincoln family servants would gather fruit, flowers and vegetables for household use. The paths and arbors were restored and the flower and vegetable beds were replanted. A soft fruit cage was added, as well as two new gardens: an observation garden to assist in identifying and cataloging Hildene’s original peony plants and a butterfly garden used for youth education programs. “Last year our “Plant a Row for the Hungry Garden,” which is tended by Hildene volunteers, enabled us to raise over 600 pounds of vegetables for the local food banks,” said Maynard.

The 1903 Pullman, Sunbeam is used as a teaching tool for Lincoln’s value.

In the front of the 8,000 square foot estate is the only vehicle allowed up to the house—a 1928 Franklin Roadster which once belonged Robert’s daughter, Jessie. She and her then husband, John Randolph, drove the car over 60,000 miles, traveling from their Virginia plantation to their homes in Washington, D.C. and New York and to Vermont to visit her daughter Peggy. In 1948, the car was discovered abandoned in a field at the Randolph’s plantation and after several owners and many years of

restoration later, it was returned to the Hildene where it is on display. There is also the fully restored 1903 Pullman car, Sunbeam. Built as a 10-section luxury car in 1888 by Pullman, the Sunbeam is used as an educational tool at Hildene. The car was once part of President McKinley’s train, as well as used by Teddy Roosevelt when he was running for president, for the press corp. The configuration that is Sunbeam came off the line in 1903. The link of the Pullman to the estate is Robert’s connection with the train manufacturer. During his career and about at the time he was buying the Hildene property, Robert was president of the Pullman Company. Known for their luxury cars in a time when people were travelling by trains, ironically, part of Pullman’s success was because of the porters, many who had learned how to work around wealthy whites in their years as slaves. The car was purchased in 2007 and it was fully restored in South Carolina, shipped to Vermont on two flatbed trailers and set for display on a track next to a platform designed for the car. The “Many Voices” interpretation focuses on the social history of the era, Robert’s years as a businessman, the Pullman porters and the paradoxes in the Pullman story.

“Sunbeam gives Hildene a platform to interpret not only this important chapter in Robert’s life but that of the country during a complex period in U.S. History,” explains Maynard. “The interpretation makes tangible the connection between Robert Lincoln and the Pullman Company and provides a vehicle to teach about the corporation and the society of the day, as well as the Pullman porters and the rise of the black middle class.”

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School children tour the Lincoln exhibit at Hildene. The museum has an original Lincoln Hat.

Continuing, she said, “It serves as a window to an exciting period in American history, a period in our history that gave voice to the labor movement and the rise of the Black middle class with the Pullman porters. The timeline portion of the interpretation marks significant events along a continuum of 100 years between the Emancipation Proclamation 1863 and the March on Washington and ultimately the Civil Rights Act of 1965.” Noting that the estate has everything for visitors to enjoy, Maynard said they are excited about Hildene’s future. “Our admissions are up 25 percent to date over last year. We have programs available for school children, you can walk the trails in the summer and fall and ski and snowshoe in the winter and spring,” explained Maynard, pointing out that for those who can’t walk long distances, trams are available. The tour of the house is self-guided, as well as guided tours twice a day by reservation. In May and June, the peonies are in full bloom and in fall, the rich autumn colors of the surrounding mountainsides greet visitors. “We also have picnic tables, so you can bring a picnic basket and enjoy the day,” said Maynard, adding that as part of their conservation efforts, the welcome center no longer sells plastic bottles of water. “Be sure to bring your own water.”

Hildene is located at 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily every day except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Call (802) 362-1788 for more information. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

“We now view Hildene as much more than a museum,” she said. “This historic site is taking Lincoln’s values and putting them into action in the 21st century.” h Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 | 191

BEHIND THE SCENES Working with Marcie Fraser and Randall Perry on the cover shoot at the John Witt Showcase of Homes House was too much fun- She’s a doll and was willing to do anything we asked of her... As witnessed by the roof shots! I discovered Randall had these great pics of the play-house that Bella Builders donated for the Saratoga Hospital Fundraiser and they were just too cute not to share! Love this place!!

We couldn’t resist the chance to send Texas girl Chelsea to Vermont for this assignment. Looks like she had quite the day! 192 | Simply Saratoga | Fall 2013 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

EDITOR’S CHOICE WHAT: LEAH’S CAKERY WHERE: 3 CURRY AVENUE, ROUND LAKE NY WHY: BUTTER, SUGAR, FLOUR & LOVE! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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