2 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 3
contents
Saratoga
Experience
Spring 2010
Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Art Director Tiffany Garland
6 Hiking the High Peaks 14 Summer Camps 24 Up in the Air with Dale Easter 32 Spring Fashions 38 Top 10 Ways to Get Color in Your Garden Without Flowers 44 Saratoga Springs Rotary Home Show 46 A Green Home is a Healthy Home 52 Buy Green Buy Local 54 Green Home Building with the DiAlberto Family 58 Empire Building Products, Inc.
Cover Photo by Šstockstudiosphotography.com 4 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Writers Melissa Downer Yael Goldman Arthur Gonick Kerry Mendez Karen Totino Account Executives Chris Bushee Cindy Durfey Pre-Press Coordinator Sam Bolles Copy Proofreader Anne Proulx Contributing Photographers Carl Heilman II of Wild Visions, Inc Creative Photo & Graphic Stock Studios Photography Printing Brigar Xpress
Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper 5 Case Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: 518.581.2480 fax: 518.581.2487 saratogatodayonline.com Saratoga Experience is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper. News as Local As It Gets. Saratoga TODAY shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher Copyright (c) 2010, Saratoga Publishing, LLC
Saratoga Experience Spring | 5
Hiking the Photos by Carl Heilman Story by Yael Goldman
When I was assigned “Hiking the High Peaks,” I wasn’t quite sure which direction to take. Having hiked a handful of the Adirondack’s highest myself, I’m familiar with the challenge; I know how good it feels to reach the summit, breathe the fresh mountain air and pat myself on the back. But tackling a few high peaks here and there over my 22 years is nothing compared with conquering all 46 of them. Forty-sixers have a unique ambition and dedication; it’s not something that can be accomplished overnight or by accident. There is planning and perseverance involved, motivation is a prerequisite, and the journey belongs only to an unusual breed of person capable of actually doing something they’ve set out to do.
6 | Saratoga Experience Spring
HighPeaks e s d r s d
d t r g , , y n g t
So instead of boring you with the story of how first I hiked Cascade with my father and three brothers – who basically dragged me from trailhead to rocky summit – and matured in my trail savvy, eventually reaching the top of Marcy and even leading hikes of my own as a camp counselor, I’ve got something much better: the story of a local family who knows what hiking the High Peaks really means. The Walshes – Marian Wait, Joe and their two sons Colin and Pete – are 46ers. They’ve been up and over 46 trail heads, covering nearly 600 miles of Adirondack terrain. They started their journey on the summit of Giant Mountain in 1999, when Colin was seven and Pete was just nine years old; after conquering their first peak together as a family, they decided to just
Saratoga Experience Spring | 7
keep going. “Once you start going it becomes a way of life,” Joe said. “And that’s what we did. For a while we were hiking every other weekend, oftentimes more than one peak.” It took them three years, 1999 to 2002, from Giant Mountain to Mount Haystack, and it was one heck of a journey. Although most of the hikes were day trips, sometimes they would have to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to get to a far-away trailhead as early as possible. Some trips were less than six miles, while others meant hiking 18 miles with nearly 20pound packs on their backs, but no matter the distance or the difficulty, the whole family persisted. “Joe is always a man with a mission; he pulled us up those mountains; we knew we weren’t going home until we were done,” Marian said. While all fingers point to Joe as the leader of the pack, each family member contributed to the journey in their own way. The Walshes assigned each other trail names: Joe was named Pack man for his tendency to accumulate the extra stuff weighing down on everyone else’s back; Marian was fittingly named Mudder, as she always finished a trip covered in mud; Pete was the Energizer Bunny for his seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm, and Colin remained Colin on the trail because he felt his name fit him just fine: “He refused to have a trail name,” Joe said. They developed a few trail traditions to keep them going along the way, like a stop at the Noon Mark Diner in Keene Valley, which is actually a popular treat for Adirondack adventurers, followed by a quick jump in Chapel Pond. And at the end of each hike, Colin and Pete wrote a short log, detailing their latest High Peaks adventure. “We wanted them to log their perspective on each trip. We wanted them to have something to jog their memory, for posterity,” Marian said.
8 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 9
Photos Provided
“
I’d like to think we took away the message that you can do a lot more than you think you can do
“
Realizing that Colin and Pete would need some kind of motivation, Marian and Joe settled on two “bribes” (for lack of a better term): a commemorative patch for each High Peak conquered and a box of their favorite cereal, which always meant Fruit Loops. “They really got into collecting patches. Many of their old packs have none of the original fabric showing,” Marian said. Thankfully, the Walshes accomplished all 46 peaks without any major catastrophes or setbacks. Out of all the hiking trips, there was only one occasion when they had to turn around and head home before reaching the top. According to Marian, their overnight hike up Marshall Peak included a lunchtime run-in with a young bear: “We came back to our site and started making lunch when a young bear approached us,” she said. “It was actually kind of funny. We were banging pans, making as much noise as possible and the bear didn’t know what to do; he just kept circling with his nose pointed toward the food and his body pointed away from the noise.” That particular experience taught them to attach bells to their packs, hoping the jingle would scare off any bears likely to approach the trail. “I remember singing the entire way down Marshall. That
10 | Saratoga Experience Spring
definitely scared them all away,” Marian said. Although the family made it a point to stick together, on a few occasions Marian and the boys hiked separately from Joe. As trail leader and Pack Man, Joe typically handled everything; he was the one in charge. But when Marian took Colin and Pete up Marcy while Joe hiked Gray Peak with a friend, she saw how much both boys had grown. “They just stepped up to the plate and took charge. I realized that they’d become self-motivated and I was thrilled,” she said. Although Colin and Pete were initially thrust into the 46er challenge, toward the end of the journey both boys grew increasingly self-driven. Whether it was the Fruit Loops or the incredible feeling of making it to the top of a high peak, the boys never lost sight of their goal. In the Spring of 2002, with only nine or ten peaks to go, Marian and Joe gave the boys the option of stopping. “There were times when we felt terrible because we had to wake them up so early; it was strenuous for them; for all of us,” she said. But after two and a half years of carrying heavy packs and charging forward from peak to peak, there was nothing stopping them. “When you have a goal in mind, you just keep going and they wanted to; it was their goal too,” Joe said. And they reached their goal. After three years of hiking the Adirondacks, the Walshes finished on the summit of Haystack. They become official members of the few Adirondack 46ers, and earned their place on the list of dedicated individuals who’ve met the same challenge: Colin is number 5049, Joe is 5050, Pete is 5052 and Marian is 5051. At the top of the 46th high peak, the boys had quite different “finished goals”: Pete was fired up and ready to conquer Everest, Colin said he was never hiking again.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 11
No matter what mountains they face in the future, the Walsh boys know they have something to be proud of. They know they can face a difficult challenge and see it through to the end, and that applies to all aspects of life, of growing up. Now, Colin is 19, and he’s studying to become an industrial engineer at Binghamton University. Pete is 18 and will be heading off to college at St. Lawrence in the fall. Although life gets more and more hectic as the years go by and it’s not easy finding time for adventure, “always-on-a-mission” Joe is a winter 46er, and he’s confident his sons will someday be as well. So far Colin has finished 21 winter hikes, Pete has done 28 and Marian has hiked 17. “I’d like to think we took away the message that ‘you can do a lot more than you think you can do,’” she said. “And every time we reached the top, I knew it was worth it. I could tell just from looking at the boys’ faces; they’d be all smiles at the summit,” Marian said.
12 | Saratoga Experience Spring
“There are so many positive things that can come from this journey; I guess it just depends on who you are. But the kids just became so strong during those three years; we were all in incredible shape and we grew so close,” Joe said. “I think Colin and Pete learned to have an appreciation for natural beauty, they acquired a sense of environmentalism, and they grew so confident and strong.” Although they’ve certainly earned their bragging rights, there’s more to this story than earning patches and pride, or meeting a goal. It’s about the process; the journey it takes to get there; the handful of photos, log sheets and memories the Walshes have to look back on it all. And when leafing through Marian’s perfectly organized scrapbooks, chronologically stamping every moment along the way to 46, I realized that, like anything else, goals are achieved over time and, if your intentions are right, there’s no need to rush. Only time will tell, but I’d like to think I will call myself a 46er someday, and now I know it’s possible. I just need to take it one step at a time.
Mt. Marcy 5344’ Algonquin Peak 5114 Mt. Haystack 4960 Mt. Skylight 4926 White Face Mtn. 4867 Dix Mtn. 4857 Gray Peak 4840 Iroquois Peak 4840 Basin Mtn. 4827 Gothics 4736 Mt. Colden 4714 Giant Mtn. 4627 Nippletop 4620 Santanoni Peak 4607 Mt. Redfield 4606 Wright Peak 4580 Saddleback Mtn. 4515 Panther Peak 4442 Tabletop Mtn. 4427 Rocky Ridge Peak 4420 Macomb Mtn. 4405 Armstrong Mtn. 4400 Hough Peak 4400 Seward Mtn. 4361 Mt. Marshall 4360 Allen Mtn. 4340 Big Slide Mtn. 4240 Esther Mtn. 4240 Upper Wolfjaw 4185 Lower Wolfjaw 4175 Street Mtn. 4166 Phelps Mtn. 4161 Mt. Donaldson 4140 Seymour Mtn. 4120 Sawteeth 4100 Cascade Mtn. 4098 South Dix 4060 Porter Mtn. 4059 Mt. Colvin 4057 Mt. Emmons 4040 Dial Mtn. 4020 East Dix 4012 Blake 3960 Cliff Mtn. 3960 Nye Mtn. 3895 Couchsachraga Peak 3820
Length of Round Trip 14.8 miles 9.6 miles 17.8 miles 17.9 miles 10.4 miles 13.2 miles 16 miles 11.6 miles 16.5 miles 10 miles 15.2 miles 6 miles 12.6 miles 11.4 miles 17.5 miles 7 miles 13.4 miles 17.6 miles 15.2 miles 13.4 miles 8.4 miles 12.7 miles 13.7 miles 16 miles 14 miles 16.2 miles 9.4 miles 9.4 miles 12.7 miles 8.7 miles 8.8 miles 10 miles 17 miles 14 miles 11.8 miles 4.8 miles 11.5 miles 7.6 miles 10.8 miles 18 miles 10 miles 12.5 miles 13.6 miles 17.2 miles 7.5 miles 15 miles
Typical Hike Time 10 hours 9 hours 12 hours 15 hours 8.5 hours 10 hours 14 hours 8.5 hours 11 hours 9 hours 10 hours 7.5 hours 10 hours 10 hours 14 hours 7 hours 10 hours 13.5 hours 13 hours 11 hours 8 hours 11 hours 11 hours 17 hours 11 hours 13 hours 8 hours 7.5 hours 11 hours 8 hours 9.5 hours 9 hours 17 hours 11 hours 9 hours 5 hours 12 hours 5.5 hours 10 hours 18 hours 9 hours 12 hours 12 hours 12 hours 8.5 hours 12 hours
HIGH PEAKS STATS
Ranking in Height
Saratoga Experience Spring | 13
Photo by Camp Chingachgook
C
Summer
amps by Yael Goldman Photos Provided
Although summer seems light years away, it’s never too early to start planning your child’s break. There is a wide selection of summer camps and summer programs available to Saratoga County residents; there’s something for everyone.
Saratoga Children ‘s Theater For kids who have a passion for performing arts, Saratoga Children’s Theater summer camp is a dream come true. Saratoga Children’s Theater offers performance camps, which means each camper will be working on a full-fledged production throughout their session. Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform in two shows at the end of camp: a matinee show for other campers in the area, and an evening showing that is open to the public. Campers will perform on a real stage in Saratoga Springs, so every aspect of their camp experience will feel like the real thing. Performance camp is divided into three two-week sessions and each session will practice and perform a different show. The first session is all about Annie, the second is about perfecting Oklahoma, and the third session will focus on Seussical. Saratoga Children’s Theater also offers a one-week session of Idol Camp, a mock American Idol experience. Campers will begin their session by picking out a song to perform for their “audition,” they will then sing for the instructors who will assess their voice, dance and movement. From there, each camper will be coached and guided in their performance; they will be trained to breathe, enunciate, dress the part, and maximize their stage presence and will work on their music, timing
Saratoga Experience Spring | 15
and pitch. Campers may also be coupled with another student’s performance. At the end of this week-long session, campers will have undergone a transformation similar to the American idol contestants who make it to “Hollywood.” Any child at any skill level with an interest in performing arts is welcome to join in on the fun. Saratoga Children’s Theater founder, Meg Kelly, aims to give each camper the most rewarding and enjoyable camp experience and every camper will get to perform. The cost for a two-week session is $375 and $170 for the oneweek session. Saratoga Children’s Theater also offers scholarships for performers to attend camp. For more information, visit www.saratogachildrenstheater.org or call (518) 580-1782.
Wilton Recreation Camp Wilton Recreation offers a full day summer camp program for children in grades one through nine. With pre-camp and postcamp care, working parents can ensure their children are having fun in a safe environment before and after the camp’s regular 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours. Parents can drop off their children prior to camp opening and can pick them up at five o’clock. Wilton Recreation Camp offers a full schedule of daily onsite activities, themed events and exciting trips for kids who register for off-site adventures. Daily activities include arts and crafts, sports and playground fun. Field trips to Million Dollar Beach in Lake George, movie days at Proctors Theater, and at least two swimming days per week at Peerless Pool are just a few of the many exciting trips planned for campers. The Summer 2010 camp will open on June 28 and run until August 13. Registration begins on March 15 at Gavin Park and will close on June 4; there are only 300 spaces available, so be sure to mark you calendar! For more information about Wilton Recreation Camp, call (518) 584-9455.
YMCA of Saratoga The YMCA of Saratoga offers two exciting summer camps: Camp Star Hitch at the Wilton branch and Travel Camp which is based out of the Saratoga Springs branch. Both summer programs are founded on the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility with the goal of positively enriching character and individuality. Campers are both taught and expected to treat others as they would like to be treated, therefore bullying and teasing are never tolerated. The YMCA provides a safe and welcoming environment in which respect is a key component. Campers at Star
16 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Photo by Camp Chingachgook Hitch and in the Travel Camp program are guaranteed to be a fun and enjoyable experience as long as these values are kept in mind. Camp Star Hitch is perfect for children in grades one through five. Broken into nine one-week sessions, each camp experience is filled with games, sports, crafts, nature, activities, trips, swimming and much, much more. With the option to enroll in one session or a combination of multiple sessions, children can enjoy the fun and excitement of camp Star Hitch for anywhere from one week to the whole summer. Experienced and responsible counselors will supervise children at a ratio of one-to-ten to ensure that everyone is having a fun, but safe experience at Camp Star Hitch.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 17
Campers will have fun on a variety of themed trips and adventures spread throughout the summer calendar such as: “Tournament of Champions” at the New York State Museum Cultural Education Center of Empire State Plaza in Albany; “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a…Camp Starhitch!” at Treepad Indoor Amusement Center in Malta; “Space Travel” at the Schenectady Planetarium and Museum; “Down the Farm” at Indian Ladder Farms; “Camp on the Range” at Saddle Stables in Lake George; “Welcome to the Jungle” at YMCA Camp Chingachgook; “Escape to the Islands” at WaterSlide World in Lake George; “Need for Speed” Fun Spot/Skateland Indoor Roller Skating and “Under the Big Top” at Congress Park. Every trip is fully supervised and campers are accompanied by a CPR and first aid certified staff member. The YMCA’s travel camp is known for being an experience of a lifetime. Travel camp provides a fun and exciting camping adventure filled with scheduled trips and exciting activities. Also operating in nine one-week sessions, travel camp is broken into three units, or groups based on grade starting with children entering fifth grade and older. For a full list of dates and scheduled events, visit www.ymcasaratoga.org or contact Ilene Leverence at (518) 583-9622, extension 103. Registration began on February 2.
YMCA Camp Chingachgook YMCA Camp Chingacghook, located on beautiful Lake George, has three camping options: summer camp, day camp and adventure trips. Summer sleep-away camp is the experience of a lifetime. The camp is divided into junior and senior boys and girls units; junior campers between the ages of seven and 12 and senior campers are 13 to 15 years old. All Chingachgook counselors go through extensive two-week training and preparation prior to the beginning of the first session. Campers will enjoy a full schedule of skill classes, which they can choose on their own, and special events and programs. Campers can choose from swimming, water skiing, canoeing, nature, arts, outdoor living skills, theater, newspaper, riflery, archery, dance, guitar, outdoor cooking, sports zone, water world, woodworking, softball, soccer, tennis, photography, sailing, high ropes, mountain biking and rock climbing. Each camper sets up their own daily schedule of four skill classes at the start of the session. Two week camp session at Chingachgook also includes a threeday hike, which allows campers to get out and experience the wilderness in a fun and safe atmosphere. Chingachgook also offers a variety of unique adventure camps
18 | Saratoga Experience Spring
for children looking to explore to unique destinations and experience a whole new level of fun, options like sailing, kayaking, boat building, rock climbing, canoeing, community service, white-water rafting, hiking and backpacking, bicycle touring and mountain biking. Adventure campers will benefit from activities with smaller, coed groups of 10 or less. Day Camp at Chingachgook is a fun option for children age five to ten. Campers will enjoy a full day of fun activities from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Day Camp program is divided into eight one-week segments with the first session starting on June 28 and the final session starting on August 16. Each session has a different theme. Spaces are limited at Chingachgook, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible! For more information, to sign up for a tour, or to register for camp, visit www.capital districtymca.com or call (518) 656-9462.
Skidmore College Sports Camps During the summer, Skidmore College’s campus becomes a whirlwind of athletic activity and excitement. Children of all ages can choose from a large variety of sports programs, and have fun in the sun while they learn to develop their skills and technique. Each sports program focuses on core athletic concepts, teamwork, good sportsmanship and dedication. Skidmore College’s Summer Sports program features the following camps: Skidmore’s Baseball Camp is designed to teach boys ages seven to 12 the basics of the sport. Players will learn the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, base running, catching, pitching, and even some more advanced skills and techniques. The Boys’ Basketball Program is designed to teach the sport to boys ages eight through 15. Players will be evaluated and then placed in the program that suits their strength, size and athletic ability, therefore ensuring every player is learning at their appropriate level and pace. The Girls Basketball Program is also an instructional camp for girls in grades four through eleven. Girls will be taught the fundamentals through drills and skills demonstrations. Each camp day will be based around a theme that will be emphasized by all staff members throughout the day. Themes of teamwork, sportsmanship, communication, loyalty, trust, perseverance and, of course, fun will be highlighted throughout each and every camp day.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 19
Girls Elite Guard Camp is designed for girls entering grades nine through 12. This four-day instructional camp is meant for dedicated high school players who are looking to advance their basketball skills to the next level. Players are evaluated and placed in a group based on their grade and skill level. Campers will be divided into groups of nine for specialized instruction in guard play and for competition. Through specialized instruction and individual guard skills development, players will acquire a college-level understanding of the game. The Summer Sports Community Rowing Program is open to rowers of all ages and skill levels, novice or experienced. This 24-week program will focus on technique, condition, instruction, teamwork and racing (which is optional). Campers will also become official members of the United States Rowing Association.
Skidmore’s Field Hockey Camp is split into two separate programs. The first has a structure similar to the rest of the sports camps, one based on education, instruction and skill development. The regular sports camp is meant for girls in grades six through twelve. Campers will be placed in groups based on their age and skill level to ensure a fun experience with an emphasis on skill development and physical fitness. The second program is a three-day camp designed specifically for varsity players. Girls can register along with their teammates in a group of ten or more players; they will develop their individual potential and will get a head start on working with their teammates before the school season begins. The Summer Swimming Program is divided into three different levels: Level one is designed for beginning, or non-swimmers; Level two is all about learning and developing fundamental water skills. Level three is geared toward stroke development. The Boys’ Lacrosse Program is designed for players ages seven to 13. This camp is considered a “teaching camp,” which means each player will receive plenty of general information
20 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Photo by Camp Chingachgook
about the game and how it’s played, along with individual skill and technique instruction and development. Skidmore’s Summer Soccer Program is open to boys and girls ages seven to 13 who are looking to improve their individual soccer skills and athletic ability. Players will be assigned to a group based on their age, ability and experience to maximize their learning experience and ensure that each camper has fun in a competitive but enjoyable atmosphere. Skidmore’s Summer Volleyball Program is geared toward girls who are entering grades seven through twelve. In this program, campers will learn the fundamental skills of the sport. Girls will learn the latest serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking and defense techniques with attention paid to both
team offense and defense. Players will meet at the Sports and Recreation Center. Last but not least, summer sports at Skidmore also includes a Tennis Program which involves group lessons for players ages three to adult along with semi-private lessons which can be set up individually. The tennis program is divided into two sessions that are split into sections based on age and skill level. Lesson Groups: Pee Wee, ages three to four; Tots, ages five to eight; Future Stars, ages nine to 12;
Saratoga Experience Spring | 21
Junior Excellence, ages 13 to 16; Adult beginner and Adult Intermediate. To register for any one of Skidmore’s Summer Sports Programs, visit www.skidmore.edu/summer.
Ndakinna Ndakinna Education Center, located in Greenfield Center, offers a wide variety of summer camp programs and activities that will provide campers with a greater respect and understanding for the Natural World as well as the Northeast’s rich Native American history. Hosted by renowned author and wilderness and survival expert James Bruchac, these programs are ideal for children with a sense of adventure and natural wonder. Summer programs are divided into two groups, children ages three to eight and older campers ages nine to fourteen. Programs range in duration from one to two weeks, each covering a different skill or activity such as animal tracking, basic wilderness survival skills and shelter building. Native American storytelling and games and nature-based arts and crafts projects will teach campers to have fun in the great outdoors. Each camp program promotes teambuilding, natural awareness, patience and confidence. Ndakinna also offers family camp programs, which allow children and their parents to experience the outdoors together. Family programs can accommodate children ages one to 14.
22 | Saratoga Experience Spring
These programs offer the same skills training and teambuilding activities. To view the finalized calendar of programs and events, visit. www.Ndcenter.org.
Saratoga Springs Recreation Camp The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department’s Camp Saradac summer program is geared toward children age five to 12. This day camp, which is located at the new 15 Vanderbilt Avenue facility in Saratoga Springs, runs daily from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. However, parents have the option to drop their children off at 7 a.m. and can pick them up as late as 6 p.m. if needed. Camper groups are coed and divided by age. Each week features a new theme with a variety of fun-filled activities to match it. Recreational activities, arts and crafts, swimming at Peerless Pool and field trips make up the program’s full summer calendar. Although the official theme and trip schedule is not yet finalized, parents can visit www.saratoga-springs.org for updates and information regarding the camp calendar. Registration begins on April 12 and closes on May 14. To register, parents should go to East Side Rec, located at 226 Lake Avenue. There are only 280 spaces available, so be sure to mark your calendar to secure a spot!
Saratoga Independent School Summer Camp Saratoga Independent School hosts a variety of seven week-long summer camp enrichment programs split into two age groups: three to eight year-olds and nine to 12 year-olds. SIS summer programs are staffed largely by their own teachers, so parents can rest assured their kids are supervised in a safe environment with experienced teachers who are knowledgeable about child development and hands-on programming. For the younger group, weekly themed programs run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For the younger group, the staff-to-camper ratio is one to six for kids age three and four and one to ten for children age five to eight. Parents have the option to drop their kids off at 8:30 a.m. for a morning pre-program and pick them up at 12:30 p.m. for the post-camp lunch and free play. Enrichment program themes include: cook your way through the week, super science, the buzz on bugs, superheroes to the rescue, Adirondack living, ocean quest, and “games, games and more games.” The enrichment programs for older campers run daily from 1 to 4 p.m. These specialty programs give children an opportunity to develop new skills and expand on new interests. Programs include: making an animated film using Lego pieces, make your own video game, karate, building a soap box derby car, ballooning and magic and yoga. Registration has already begun and the programs fill up quickly so visit www.siskids.org to secure a space for your child!
Saratoga Experience Spring | 23
24 | Saratoga Experience Spring
UP
in the with
AirDale Photos by ©stockstudiosphotography.com Story by Arthur Gonick Flying has been a part of Dale Easter’s life for as long as he can remember. Originally inspired by hearing about the experiences of his older brother, who was a pilot in the United States Air Force, Dale always seemed to have soaring in the sky as a forefront goal. It never really left his mind. Finally, in November of 1979, he began to make it happen. Success in business had already come to Dale. He had made a mark in the hospitality business in Downtown Saratoga Springs relatively early in life, as one of the owners of the Tin and Lint Tavern at the top of Caroline Street since the beginning of the decade of the ‘70’s. He retained his ownership interest in that legendary establishment until 1991, and meanwhile in the mid-80’s founded another beloved institution, Professor Moriarty’s of Saratoga Springs (on the site of what is now The Cantina restaurant at 430 Broadway,) which helped to anchor the downtown business core as it grew and solidified. So there was plenty of satisfaction to be had on earth, many memorable rich moments of fun, relaxation and friendship.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 25
“
One time I landed in New Hampshire and a young boy came up to me and asked: ‘Do you live on earth?’” he said with a chuckle, “as if I came from outer space or something…” “I told him that I do live on earth, but it’s still a long way from here…
“
- Dale Easter
But at the same time, there was the longing to explore. With success comes responsibilities, and sometimes freedom if you play it right. And there’s wanderlust, which can strike people differently. For some it might be the lure of the open road, of travel to exotic places only read about in books. For Dale Easter, it was all up in the air. He began his journey off the ground in 1979, eventually receiving his pilot’s license the following year. Today, he is a flight instructor out of the Saratoga County airport as part of Argyle Flying Service, where he is thrilled to be sharing his love of flying and to be teach-
26 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 27
“
You see the world as the birds see it.There’s a satisfaction and perspective on life to getting that view of the earth. When you watch the world below, you realize how intricate and fragile everything is… and it makes your world 3-dimensional, not flat 2-D anymore.
“
-Dale Easter ing others to obtain their licenses.
Dick Bovey, owner of Argyle Flight Service commented “Dale has been instructing at our school for the past year. Our students love his patience, knowledge and thoroughness. These are all important qualities to have in an instructor. He puts the students totally at ease so they can absorb and learn.” For Dale, there’s a lot of spiritual fulfillment to leaving the ground and the cares of the world behind. “You see the world as the birds see it. There’s a satisfaction and perspective on life to getting that view of the earth. When you watch the world below, you realize how intricate and fragile everything is… and it makes your world 3-dimensional, not flat 2-D anymore.” But there’s more than the esoteric benefits. You are in a metal object after all – whizzing around, often by yourself. “Flying produces a unique focus that leads to a very ordered, yet tranquil state,” Dale says “It comes from the repetition, the learning to do everything the same way, the right way, every time.” “It’s not regimentation though. It is more of achieving a sharper state of awareness of everything that is going on around you, and the sensitivity to detect the slightest deviation from what should be.”
28 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 29
re o ut o m b r a Fo tion a ng m r info and earni e: s Flying lot’s licen pi your vice r e S ng i y l F e Argyl 38-9723 m 6 o (518) aviation.c e argyl
30 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Some nuts and bolts: For those that want to explore the world of private piloting, an introductory flight is $100/hour, and for about half that time if you wish you can get some (very supervised) experience with some of the controls and instruments. A nice indulgence is a purely scenic flight at $175 per hour, which affords you a unique view of Saratoga County and the Capital Region this way, as can be shown by the pictures in this article. Going for your pilot’s license is a more extensive endeavor, yet surprisingly not much more costly than when Dale got his license in the early 80’s, particularly when inflation is factored in. You should expect to spend about $6,000 to complete the process depending on which aircraft you want to be certified on. The length of time necessary has certainly increased though, due both in part to tighter regulations and the general increased complexity of today’s aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a total of 40 flight hours, 20 with instructors (dual flight) where skills such as turns and landing techniques are first learned, and 20 solo. You are encouraged to supplement your time in the air with time in a simulator to hone your skills, and most flight schools such as Argyle provide these. Five hours of night flight is also required. Getting to the license also requires a lot of book study time; you will be tested on your knowledge of volumes such as the “Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.” Eventually, you will be expected to file your own flight plan, and successfully complete a 300 mile cross-country flight with landings and takeoffs from two other airports in addition to your home base. Instructors are required to re-certify every two years with a combination of refresher clinics, seminars on newest regulations, and new students who complete courses. For Dale Easter, it’s all been a great experience and one he would recommend to anyone who wants to experience the joy of soaring with the birds. “One time I landed in New Hampshire and a young boy came up to me and asked: ‘Do you live on earth?’” he said with a chuckle, “as if I came from outer space or something… but I did realize that in a way, he was right and I had a real privilege.” “I told him that I do live on earth, but it’s still a long way from here…”
Saratoga Experience Spring | 31
P
rom
75 Weibel Ave. • 584-7067 daniellesbridalofsaratoga.com 32 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Hair and Make-Up Compliments of the Broadway Salon 445 Broadway (518) 583-1427
441B Broadway • 581-8386 rockabella-ny.com Saratoga Experience Spring | 33
Going Away?
486 Broadway • 306-5201 34 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Swimwear, Coverups and all your vacation needs...
Scintillating Spring
493 Broadway • 584-3543 saratogatrunk.com Saratoga Experience Spring | 35
36 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 37
Top Ten Ways to
Get Color in the Garden Without Flowers
G Photos Provided Story by Kerry Mendez
Let’s face it. Flowers are beautiful but they are work. Living things are like that. Most flowering perennials need nutrients, water, and some loving kindness to thrive. And their neediness doesn’t stop after blooming. They still need to be deadheaded, tidiedup and watered. Harrumph! Wouldn’t it be nice to have color in the garden with minimal involvement on our part? Below are ten ideas to add pizzazz but let me start by saying mulch is not one of them. I know I risk offending some folks, but I believe mulch should be understated (i.e., not orange), a functional backdrop to plants and not the focal point. There, I said it.
Leave it to the leaves. Admit it or not, leaves are the backbone of your perennial gardens. They play an invaluable, and usually thankless, role. When interviewed by a national gardening magazine about how I design beautiful, three season gardens, I gave foliage much of the credit. Great leaves can complement flowers and bring out their best, just like a beautiful bouquet. Leaves can also hide eyesores and carry the interest when there are no blooms in sight. When designing gardens, I count on at least one out of three perennials to contribute striking leaves. And leaves are little or no work. Some great perennial families with sassy leaves include coral bell (Heuchera), deadnettle (Lamium), Ligularia, Hosta, foamflower (Tiarella), ornamental grasses, lungwort (Pulmonaria), Sedum and snakeroot (Cimicifuga).
Colorful containers and urns help breakup ‘boring’ expanses of flowers. You don’t even have to fill them
Saratoga Experience Spring | 39
G
with flowers. Besides, planting them only defeats the purpose of reducing maintenance time. Tuck interesting pieces among perennials and shrubs or set them by themselves as focal points. I am a huge fan of glazed blue containers, especially in the shade where blue flowering perennials are a rare find. Chairs and benches add pop. They can be made from many different materials, providing both an architectural dimension as well as color. Bright pink, purple, blue, yellow and chartreuse are popular furniture colors. Natural finished wood is less flamboyant, but can make an equally strong impression. I use teak chairs, benches and tables in my landscape. These are especially striking when surrounded by an apron of cool green leaves of various hues, sizes and textures. Very soothing. To keep the wood looking rich and lustrous over the years, I apply an annual application of Penofin, a protective oil. This also increases their longevity. I also rub some on myself. (: Gazing globes, birdhouses, birdbaths and other entertaining pieces are always fun. Let your personality shine. Glowing globes are becoming the rage. They contain a special material that absorbs sunlight, turning them into
40 | Saratoga Experience Spring
solar-powered beacons at night. You can also buy glowing gnomes and fairies. I tend to be on the conservative side and stick with gazing globes. I tuck blue gazing globes of varied dimensions (4”, 6” and 10” diameter) throughout my gardens. Some are placed on the ground, nestled among cool foliaged plants while others sit atop stands or in birdbath basins. These ornaments subtly carry the eye from one garden bed to the next with no handholding on my part. Statuary and fountains are a no-brainer. My favorite. The added bonus of fountains is the soothing sound of running water they provide. My only comment on statuary and fountains is to be careful they are in scale to the surrounding area. If they are too large or tiny for the space, they look silly. Outdoor lighting can be a unique color source. Agreed, we are talking primarily in the evening but this is when many of us actually have time to enjoy our gardens. When locating the lamps, think creatively. Don’t just blast an area with ‘stadium lights.’ Outdoor lighting is an art form and there are landscape specialists in this area. Uplighting, downlighting and backlighting create magical atmos-
Saratoga Experience Spring | 41
pheres. Don’t just think ‘white’ light. Use different colored bulbs to make a light show second to none. And by using LED powered ‘projectors,’ you also will save money. You can direct lighting to focal points, pathways, walls, water features, gracefully branched trees and through special light panels, in decking. Stonework (natural stone or manmade tiles) and stamped colored concrete are solid choices. Concrete acid stains have now evolved from earthy color selections to greens, blues and lavenders.
G
Obelisks, armillaries and sundials add a ‘cottagey’ dimension. I like planting delicate, wispy flowers or foliage around their base that act as ballerina skirts. Theme ‘panels’ that are placed on walls or freestanding can also add punch. Usually these are in sections or they come as folding panels with colorful artwork painted on them. Don’t discount how much interest well-placed pillows and throws are in a garden setting. Of course they work better on furniture than tossed among plants. (: Spray paint can be likened to duct tape. Very functional. I spray spent flower heads of alliums, astilbes and hydrangeas to extend color into the fall (and winter if I don’t whack the plants back). You can spray just about anything to add excitement. Heck, one of my students even spray-painted the tail of a friendly gray squirrel in his yard bright blue. Is nothing sacred? Are you starting to think outside the box when it comes to adding color to the garden? Who needs flowers? Well, okay, if they are silk.
42 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 43
Rotary and BOCES Collaborate on Affordable Pre-Fab Home
(Saratoga Springs, NY) - The 23 students in Art Erbe's Construction Trades class at the F. Donald Myers Education Center of Washington-Saratoga-WarrenHamilton-Essex BOCES are spending a lot of class time outside these days, despite the chilly temperatures, constructing a 26 x 48-foot pre-fabricated home in the parking lot of the Henning Road campus. Through this hands-on instruction, students learn all aspects of residential construction, from safety and materials to blueprints and project management. The project's construction materials are funded by the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, which has adopted this project to further the Club's goals of supporting the local community and youth education. The Club is paying the upfront costs of the construction materials, and will then use the proceeds from the summer 2010 sale of the home to support its community service efforts.
44 | Saratoga Experience Spring
"This is a great opportunity for a landowner to obtain a high quality structure at a very reasonable cost," indicated Vic Cinquino, the Rotary Club's Project Chairman. The price for the structure is expected to be $50,000. "We anticipate that potential buyers may include an individual interested in purchasing a private residence, a builder who already owns land and wishes to complete the finishing details on the residence and then sell it, or even a municipality, business, or non-profit organization that needs a structure of this size for office space."
Local Businesspeople Join Saratoga Springs Rotary Club
The majority of materials for the project are being purchased at cost through Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa. The windows are being furnished by Crawford Door & Window Co. The pre-fabricated home has three bedrooms and two baths, as well as kitchen, living room, dining room and mud /laundry room. The BOCES Construction Trades students will fully complete the exterior of the house, including vinyl siding and fiberglass shingle roofing. On the interior, rough framing for all walls and partitions will be completed, the home will be fully insulated, and it will be rough-wired for all electrical devices. The Mechanical Trades students will install heating ductwork and all rough plumbing. The building, which now can be easily seen while under construction in the parking lot of the BOCES Henning Road campus in Saratoga Springs, will be available to be moved off-site in June. The home buyer is expected to own the land and have already prepared the site. The buyer will be responsible for transport of the structure to the land, a foundation, site work, utilities and interior finishes, cabinetry, and electrical fixtures. While currently designed as a residence, the structure could be made appropriate for commercial use, such as office space. Any potential purchaser of the home wishing more information should contact Vic Cinquino at (518) 584-7520 or info@saratogarotary.com To the extent a purchaser is identified before the end of February, some features in the home can be completed to the purchaser's specifications. A complete display of the project will be available at the Rotary Club's Home and Garden Show.
New members of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club include Charles Wait, Jr., Charles Wheeler, Gina Michelin, William Harrison, Mayor Scott Johnson, with Club President Stephen Heidorn.
The Saratoga Springs Rotary inducted five new members recently to its 85-member club that serves the greater Saratoga region. Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service both locally and internationally.
The new members pledging their time and talents to the Rotary Club's activities are: • William Harrison, a retired businessman and resident of Saratoga Springs; • Scott Johnson, the Mayor of Saratoga Springs, a retired attorney, and resident of Saratoga Springs; • Gina Michelin, the Director of Development at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, co-owner of Harvest & Hearth restaurant, and resident of Ballston Spa; • Charles Wait, Jr., a Vice President at The Adirondack Trust Company and resident of Gansevoort; • Charles Wheeler, the Manager of Planning & Community Relations for the New York Racing Association, and resident of Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 45
46 | Saratoga Experience Spring
A
Green Home is a Healthy Home 7 Steps to create a healthier home when redecorating or remodeling
Photos Provided Story by Karen Totino
In today’s troubled economy, more and more homeowners are considering remodeling their existing home instead of buying a new one. Remodeling your home can be a great investment, not only because it builds equity in your property, but also because it can give you the opportunity to improve function, increase energy efficiency, and provide everyone in your family with a sense of living in a fresh, new environment. Up until recently, homeowners’ choices have been limited to materials that have been manufactured by producers who have been unconcerned with environmental problems or the health impact on the end user of their materials, the homeowner. Fortunately, we are at a time when non-toxic and responsibly-made materials for the home and office are becoming more and more available. Remodeling your home using green or environmentally responsible materials also uses less raw materials, which significantly reduces the amount of waste that could end up in a landfill. Studies continue to demonstrate that toxic chemicals in building materials are linked to asthma, allergies and other health problems. It only makes sense that when redecorating or remodeling you would choose environmentally friendly materials because you and your family will benefit from a healthy interior that won’t cause illness or worsen allergies and asthma. All in all, investing money in a green remodel or renovation is money wisely spent.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 47
There are several factors to consider when choosing interior finishes which include durability, toxicity, aesthetic, cost, and sustainability. Here are my 7 top picks:
1. ‘Eco Timber’ woven bamboo flooring
Bamboo flooring is one of the most versatile and attractive flooring options available to consumers who are interested in replacing thier existing floor and are looking for an environmentally responsible choice. Eco Timber bamboo flooring is available in a wide variety of beautiful, natural shades, colors and patterns, and the density of the wood makes it much more durable and resistant to the wear and tear of an active family than comparable oak or maple floors. Eco Timber bamboo floors are manufactured using no formaldehyde or other harmful chemicals that c a n off-gas once the floor is installed in your home, so it provides your family with a healthy floor that will last a lifetime.
2. ‘Mythic’ paint
Because we spend hours inside, what surrounds us has a direct impact on our health. The chemical compounds or VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) found in regular paints remain toxic for a long time, sometimes years; they linger in the air and can become lung, skin and eye irritants, and affect indoor air quality. Mythic company spent six years formulating its paint so that it performs as well as any high quality paint. ‘Mythic’ offers a high performance quality product without any health hazard and is available in any color.
3. ‘American Clay’ earth plaster
You can add color and texture to your walls without any harmful chemicals by using American Clay, an earth plaster. It is a blend of natural clay, recycled aggregates, and mineral pigments that are mixed with water and applied like a plaster. Once applied, clay emits negative ions that will work as an air filter while also fighting off mold and mildew growth. One of its most unique qualities is that it helps maintain constant humidity levels. It is also easily repairable. ‘American Clay’ comes in 3 different finishes and 43 colors that will give your walls depth and warmth.
4. ‘Savvy Rest’ organic mattress beds
How many hours will we spend sleeping in our lifetime?
48 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Would it then matter what our mattresses are made of? Comfort should be expected of a mattress, of course, but what about what we breathe in, lying down on it, night after night? Studies and clinical evaluations have reported that prolonged exposure to TDI (toluen discarnate, used in visco-elastic and polyurethane foams), VOC’s (volatile organic coumpounds, used in glues and adhesives), formaldehyde (used in mattress fabrics), and synthetic chemical fire retardants (to name just a few) can damage the heart, liver, central nervous system and cause cancer. These toxic components, for the most part, are odorless and cannot be seen. We inhale them, however, and they get so deeply absorbed that toxic concentrations are found in newborn infants. Mattresses made with natural latex (from the rubber tree sap) that do not contain insecticide or petroleum derivatives are available, and they are your best alternative.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 49
Green Conscience Staff L to R: Linda Schmeelcke, Sophie Castro, Karen Totino
Green Conscience Home & Garden 33 Church Street Saratoga Springs (518)306-5196 green-conscience.com
5. ‘Earthshade’ window treatments
Window treatments are often overlooked when considering the impact interior finishes have on the overall health and air quality of a room. They can be a source of air pollution because, once again, textiles are often treated with a variety of chemicals, including finishing agents (lacquers and stains), fungicides, and U.V. p r o tectants. Windows with direct light and more extreme temperature changes make the chemical off-gassing more probable. It is best to use window treatments that are not only made with sustainable materials, but are also free of chemical additives. ‘Earthshade’ products are made with materials that are sun-dried and crafted by hand; they are fairly traded, which means the factory they are made in does not use child labor, pays living wages, and has facilities that are safe to work in. Lacquers, stains and UV protectants are not used.
6. Marmoleum click Marmoleum Click is one of the few interior finishes certified by the asthma and allergy foundation. It is made from rosin, wood flour, linseed oil, lime-
50 | Saratoga Experience Spring
stone and pigments. Its natural anti-static and antimicrobial properties repel dust and dirt and stop the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Marmoleum comes in squares or panels that easily click together in a floating floor without the use of glues or adhesives; easy installation, low maintenance and fun designs.
7. ‘Earthweave’ natural wool carpets
Carpets tend to have bad reputations, both for their negative environmental and health impacts. I’ll summarize why this is: • Buildinggreen.com points out “Once installed, a carpet acts like a filter for anything in the air, trapping particulates and pollutants. Anything carried onto a carpet on shoes or wheels can also become lodged in it. Hydrocarbons from a street or pesticides from a yard can enter the carpet matrix. Outdoors, ultraviolet sunlight eventually breaks down these chemicals, but in the carpet, there is nothing to remove them. Frequent and effective vacuuming can reduce the accumulation of such contaminants, but not even hot water extraction can eliminate them all.” • Some of the chemicals used in the manufacture of carpet include ethylbenzene, which causes eye irritation, azulene, which causes headaches, 2-utyloctanol-1, which causes nausea, 2-methyl-4-tridecene, which is known to aggravate asthma and phthalic esters, which can cause nervous system disorders. These are just a few of many. New to the market are carpets made from recycled prod-
ucts, like water bottles. The carpet manufacturer will take them back when you want to replace them again and recycle what they can. Not the best option, though. Natural wool carpets are the best option for the following reasons: • Wool is resistant to stains, allergens, dirt and is easily maintained. Wool has a breatheable fiber structure that does not promote the growth of bacteria or dust mites. • Wool carpeting has a useful life of 20 to 25 years before it needs to be replaced. Typical synthetic residential carpets will need to be replaced about every 7 years.
• They will break down naturally over time when added to the waste stream. Synthetic carpets could be in the waste stream (landfill) for as long as 10,000 years. Even when synthetic carpets are recycled, there is quite a bit of embodied energy going into the finished product. • Wool carpets are soft and beautiful. Remodeling your house is a fantastic opportunity to improve not only the aesthetics and function of your home but to create an environment that promotes health and well-being for you, your family and the environment.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 51
Protect winter clothes from moths when storing! Effective, natural, non-toxic moth repellent at grillospillows.com or purchase at The Saratoga Shoe Depot, Broadway.
Dimming your lights just 25% saves 20% in energy. A RadioRA Home Dimming System gives you convenient, one-touch control of all your home lighting. With RadioRA, lights can be turned on and off from anywhere, including your car! ASK ALLERDICE ELECTRIC SUPPLY, 120 Excelsior Ave. Saratoga Springs 518.583.3121.
Sustainable clothing from Runway 7 Eco Fashions, Peter Harris Plaza, 952 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham. 518-783-2660
Wood Wick Green Candles - With a wooden wick, they make a homey crackling & sputteruing sound, like a real fire! The large ones burn for 180 hours and the small ones for 100 hours. Available at Crafters' Gallery, 427 Broadway www.craftersgallerysaratoga.com
Nostalgic, Personalized Wood Prints available at Crafters’ Gallery, 427 Broadway or craftersgallerysaratoga.com
Eco-Friendly Washers are up to 83% more energyefficient and use 56% less water.
ENERGY STARÂŽ Qualified means 20% more energy efficient.
These green appliances available at Earl B. Feiden at Rte. 9, Latham - 785-8555. See www.earlbfeiden.com for more info. 52 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Experience Spring | 53
Green Home Building Photos Provided Story by Melissa Downer
54 | Saratoga Experience Spring
Saratoga Springs real estate broker and professional engineer Allen DiAlberto and his wife Stephanie opened Sustainable Design, formerly known as HV North, LLC in February 2009 under the notion that everyone should be able to afford the luxury of an eco-friendly home. It’s not a secret that green home building can be a costly endeavor off the cuff, but in the long run, the energy savings are said to pay off. To DiAlberto, this wasn’t enough. His family set out with a goal to build the truly energy efficient homes that had the smallest impact on the environment, both inside and outside the home. “Green building is expensive, so we streamlined the construction to make it cheaper and better on the earth as a whole,” he said. “A lot has to do with design efficiencies so we created a simplified design, scaled back oddities that are found in some homes like alcoves or small crawl spaces, and we are conscious to work with greener materials.” For example, instead of sending in multiple truckloads of gravel or rock chips as a base before pouring a foundation, DiAlberto uses small pieces of recycled tire, which fills in more space with less truckloads, is using a recycled product and the tire helps to better insulate the home. “We are using a product that is half the weight of stone and uses less gasoline, and that’s just a part of what we are trying do. Sustainable living means making changes you never considered before,” DiAlberto said. “We just want to make sure more people have access to a sustainable lifestyle.” The homes built by HV North are rated at Energy Star Tier Three, the highest rating possible. It is common today for builders to offer Energy Star Certified Homes. Ninety percent of these Energy Star Homes are rated Tier 1, or the lowest possible Energy Star Rating. Only the top three percent of the homes in the country are rated at Energy Star Tier Three, the highest possible rating. Tier One homes exceed the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the minimum standard set by New York State, by about 15 percent. Tier Three homes exceed the IECC by 50 percent. “Our commitment to building sustainable green homes goes beyond the basics. We are not looking to “greenwash” a typical house and pretend it was built with the industries’ best practices. Our homes are built with sus-
Saratoga Experience Spring | 55
tainability, energy conservation and environmental conservation as primary goals, not afterthoughts. If you like the idea of building a home with these principles in mind, call us today and set up an appointment to see what we can offer,” DiAlberto said Allen and Stephanie DiAlberto really started in the building business by buying and rehabilitating old houses. Astonished by the amount of garbage that was created, Allen and Stephanie couldn’t help but wonder if there was a better way to build houses so there wasn’t so much mass going into landfills. “Seeing all that actually made us sad. It really made us start to think: how can we be more efficient and recycle more?” Allen DiAlberto said. “On the backside, we started using more recycled materials, but we knew that there was more we could do.” The DiAlbertos starty their work literally from the ground up, with the recycled tire base and then continue to build the rest of the house using sustainable materials that don’t need to be replaced. As opposed to using vinyl siding for homes, they use fiber-cement siding that rarely needs to be replaced. “Vinyl siding not only contains chemicals that are horrible for the environment, but it shifts as the house heats up and cools down and lets heat in and out,” DiAlberto said. “Our fiber cement siding looks and feels like wood, is durable and will not shift with the changes in temperature making the more energy efficient. The structure as a whole is tighter.” The company has eight models for energy efficient homes ranging from three to five bedrooms and in styles ranging from Adirondack to farm house to Victorian to modern. They also range in size from 2,000 square feet to 3,700 square feet. HV North works with individual land owners and developers to build sustainable green homes throughout the upstate New York area. They have also teamed up with the developers of The Wilton Woods Subdivision to offer a community of sustainable homes in beautiful Saratoga County. The Wilton Woods Subdivision is located in the Town of Wilton on the east side of Edie Road, between New York State Route 50 and Louden Road. There are 22 home sites available ranging from .9 acres to 7 acres, and there are many opportunities to suit anyone’s individual taste. Sustainable Design’s model
56 | Saratoga Experience Spring
We just want to make sure more people have access to a sustainable lifestyle.
“
“
specific needs and budget. The plans presented here are a starting point for structure and style for your new home. Our plans are divided into two categories: Traditional Homes & Modern Homes,” DiAlberto said. For more information on Sustainable Design, call (518) 281-2054. Their office is located at 109 Washington
home is built on Lot 1 and is ready for immediate occupancy. “At Sustainable Design we know every family has its own special needs and desires for their new home. We are committed to building custom homes that fit your
Saratoga Experience Spring | 57
Empire building Products Photos Provided Story by Melissa Downer
For the past four and a half years employees at Empire Building Products, Inc., have been providing customers with the finest quality doors, windows and hardware for the home using only the market’s best products. Empire Building Products, based in Schuylerville, strives to give each customer not only high-quality and high-efficiency products, but the personalized service each paying customer deserves. The customer-supplier relationship begins when the customer enters the 2,000 square foot showroom in Schuylerville and is greeted by either owner Denny Giantomasi or Sarah Foster who together have more than 35 years of experience in door, window and hardware sales. Giamtomasi and Foster speak individually with each customer to see what their specific visions are and help to lead them in the right direction. When the business first opened, Giantomasi said that he wanted to be near Saratoga Springs, but figured he could get the most “bang for his buck” in the showroom he has in Schuylerville. “Our showroom is state-of-the-art in every aspect and we offer many unique styles and can work with most ideas our customers come in with,” he said. “No one ever leaves
here disappointed.” The majority of Empire Building Products’ customers are private residences; however, they have also worked on commercial projects, most recently finishing a project for a doctor’s office on Church Street in Saratoga Springs. Empire Building Products is part of a family of companies, joined by Vermont Timber Frames, Inc., and Timberline Panel Company, Inc. Together these companies assemble modern, efficient and green homes and buildings that can be found throughout New York State from Saratoga to Rochester to Potsdam to Manhattan. “Our reputable vendors and high quality products really speak for themselves; people come from all over to request our products and services,” Giantomasi said. “As a small company, it speaks for itself that we are still here after the past year that saw many construction and building companies shut their doors as the building industry slowed.”
Saratoga Experience Spring | 59
Following the trends of 21st century building, Empire Building Products strive to be as durable and green as possible. “Every company is striving to be greener—it’s our future. If green initiatives aren’t part of building plans, the future as a whole doesn’t look good,” Giantomasi added. “Initially, it’s more expensive to build green, but these products are made to last and will costs less in the long haul.” When Empire Building Products first began operations, it specialized in only wood doors and windows. Over time they have adjusted to the needs of the market and listened to what their customers wanted. They now carry fiberglass, aluminum and brassware products. One of Empire’s newest products, Inline Fiberglass Windows, are made of 60 percent recycled materials and are one of the greenest window options available today. Inline was one of the first companies to introduce fiberglass doors and windows and offers the widest selection
60 | Saratoga Experience Spring
of pultruded fiberglass windows in the world. Fiberglass Pultrusion (the manufacturing process that pulls resinsoaked fibers through heated dies) offers superior stability, superb thermal performance and excellent strength to make for long-lasting quality doors and windows. The material is so strong and stable that it can survive extremes in environments from Arctic cold to the blazing heat of the desert. Inline Fiberglass products come in a huge variety of styles, glazes and colors that can usually suit any customer’s needs. Because of their superior products and green technologies, Empire Building Products was selected to be a part of the building of the first New York Energy Smart multi-family building projects, located in Saranac Lake. The building project was spearheaded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Community Energy Services based in Canton, NY. Through NYSERDA’s Multi-family Performance Program, apartment buildings or complexes five units or more can earn the New York Energy Smart label by reducing overall energy use by 20 percent or more. With the help of Empire’s energy-efficient window packages, the project saw 27 percent reduction in energy use which will help the residents with their energy bills. Empire Building Products’ flagship product line is Loewen Windows and Doors. The windows and doors are made of Douglas fir or clad/wood that offer the very latest in design innovation & energy efficiency technology while maintaining old world craftsmanship and style. Loewen’s high level of thermal performance and the company’s commitment to environmental practices are part of its billing as a green company. “We only deal with vendors who sell products made by manufacturers that embrace sustainable components and green initiatives,” Giantomasi said. “In my 20 years’ experience in the window and door industry, I have come across some excellent products made by dedicated people who have created items for high quality lifestyles. We only carry products that are innovative, extremely well made and have industry-leading service and support.” Empire Building Products is located at 12 Spring St., Schuylerville and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment on nights and weekends. For more information, call the office toll-free at 1-866-700-6373 or visit their Website at www.empirebuildingprodictsinc.com.
Saratoga Experience Spring | 61
62 | Saratoga Experience Spring