Inside:
A day at the beach
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
Vol. 1 |AUGUST 2020 | FREE
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
A good year for the Karner Blue Memories of summers past Thoughts on equality
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2 Family Now — August 2020
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Editor’s desk
Enjoy a subdued summer outing
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FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
For every age and stage of family life.
August 2020 Features
s summer wraps up, we find ourselves able to enjoy a muted version of Augusts past. That dream vacation to a far-flung destination will have to wait until another time, but many of us have adapted and found ways to make time off with the family count — closer to home. No theme parks. No crowded airports. No shoulder-to-shoulder crowding on the boardwalk.
Butterfly boom
I have heard from a number of friends and acquaintances their plans to take short in-state getaways with the in-laws or grandparents. Vacation house rentals are in vogue as more people look to have a measure of control over the sanitization of their spaces and meal prep. These are the days to enjoy a quieter getaway within close proximity to the great outdoors because, for the most part, you don’t have to worry about nature closing its doors.
Learning Center
I am reminded of my own family vacation last August to Star Lake in the Adirondacks with my husband, two daughters, my dad, and my mother- and father-in-law. It sounds like a crowd, I know, but it turned out to be an amazing intergenerational experience. The key was, we kept our days unhurried, and people were welcome to join in the activities that were their speed. But we always made time to get together for a big family dinner each night. The other key: Our home rental had plenty of rooms and bathrooms for everyone to retreat to when they needed their space. For those of you who had to scrap plans for a big beach getaway, we’ve got some suggestions on Pages 14-15 for some local beaches that might just fix that craving for sand and sun. Thank you for reading Family Now. Check out our articles and resource listings at www.cdfamilynow.com and mail your story ideas and pictures to Capital District Family Now, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, NY 12054, or e-mail us at robertsk@ spotlightnews.com. Kristen Roberts Editor, Capital District Family Now
Make it a beach day
12 14-15
Hands-on pinball
16
Columnists
Triple Threat
7 8-9
Let’s Cook
13
Social Security Corner
18
Retiring Retirement
21
A Patriot Remembers
22
What’s new Kids fun page
6
Brain teasers
20
publisher - John McIntyre editor - Kristen Roberts editor-at-large - Michael Hallisey advertising sales - Denice Mau art director - David Abbott graphic design - Martha Eriksen Engagement Coordinator - Kaitlin Lembo
The beach at Ausable Point State Park has an expansive view of Lake Champlain. See more local beach picks on Pages 14-15.
Capital District Family Now is a unit of Community Media Group LLC. Published monthly. Deadline for advertising and calendar events is the 5th of the month preceding publication. Display advertising rates are available on request. Capital District Family Now reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. We do not guarantee any of the information, services or products published in this or any issue. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this paper. © Copyright Capital District Family Now. No portion of Capital District Family Now may be reproduced without written permission from Community Media Group LLC.
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 3
Small Classes = Big Opportunities
Out and About
Stretch your legs on a Storywalk Pine Bush project features collaborative story ‘Mister Karner Blue’ A StoryWalk featuring the children’s book “Mister Karner Blue” is currently on display in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
Co-Ed Early Education - Grade 12 Hybrid Course Offerings 9 Varsity Sports Fine Arts & Applied Sciences College Counseling Scholarships & Financial Aid
A StoryWalk is a children’s book that is deconstructed and the pages are laminated. The pages of the book are then posted along a trail so that people read the story as they are walking along the trail. Walk, jump or skip from page to page as you read along the trail. The StoryWalk is currently set up along part of the Karner Barrens blue trail located behind the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road in Albany. A StoryWalk is an exciting and different way to read a book. The StoryWalk Project was originally created by Anne Ferguson of Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. “Mister Karner Blue” is a children’s book, published by
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the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, written for kids by kids, and features the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. “Mister Karner Blue” is the result of a unique collaboration between the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission and the Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland. Although the book was a group effort, the primary author is a student named Natasha Permaul, who was a seventh grader at Farnsworth Middle School when she submitted a scrapbook presentation on the life cycle of the Karner blue butterfly for science teacher Dr. Fiero’s final Pine Bush Project assignment. The book tells the story of Mister Karner Blue and his dependence on the complex and rare habitat of inland pine barrens. It features artwork by the children and their teacher as well as photos by adult volunteers from the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The Storywalk will be on display throughout the summer of 2020. For more information about the Storywalk, trails and other Pine Bush programs call 518-456-0655. — Sara Poggi-Decker, Pine Bush education program manager
An interactive Storywalk in the Pine Bush Preserve will be up all summer.
picture books
On the Bookshelf
Books to keep summer close ‘Summer Song’
‘Dandylion Summer’
By Kevin Henkes;
By Frann Preston-Gannon When two sisters make a wish upon a dandelion, the seeds scatter and bring them Dandylion, a friend to play with all summer long. As the seasons change, Dandylion must say goodbye, but fall is on the way, with new friends to meet and wonders to explore. Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Company
illustrated by Laura Dronzek Bees buzz, birds sing, and children roll in the grass and feel the heat of the summer sun. With striking verbal imagery, repetition and alliteration, Kevin Henkes introduces basic concepts of language and the summer season. Laura Dronzek’s glowing paintings beautifully illustrate the wonders of summer. Greenwillow Books
‘Natsumi’s Song of Summer’ By Robert Paul Weston; illustrated by Misa Saburi Two young cousins who are separated by language, continent and culture meet for the first time when Jill’s family travels from America to Japan to stay with Natsumi’s family during the summer holidays. This tender story celebrates the special pleasures of summertime. Penguin Random House
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• 1875: MATTHEW WEBB BECOMES THE FIRST PERSON TO SWIM ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
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• 1950: PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN ORDERS THE SEIZURE OF U.S. RAILROADS TO AVERT A STRIKE.
2
PERSON TO SWIM ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
What’s the Difference? • 1950: PRESIDENT
HARRY TRUMANdifferent ORDERS There are four things between Picture A THE SEIZURE OF U.S. and Picture B. Can you find them all? RAILROADS TO AVERT
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? A STRIKE.
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2
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• 1609: GALI GALILEI DEMO HIS FIRST TEL LAWMAKERS
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a flow of electricity
Answers: 1.Polka dots missing 2. Extra paw print 3. Left umbrella handle missing 4. Jeans leg pulled down
• 1950: PRE HARRY TRUM THE SEIZURE RAILROADS T A STRIKE.
B ENGLISH: Storm LAKE MARACAIBO IN VENEZUELA IS RECEIVES MORE LIGHTNING STRIKES THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH. ITALIAN: Tempesta ENGLISH: Storm THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FRENCH: Orage LAKE MARACAIBO IN VENEZUELA IS SPANISH: Tormenta STRIKES CAN OCCUR RECEIVES MORE LIGHTNING STRIKES GERMAN: Gewitter IN ONE NIGHT.
SPANISH: Tormenta
ANSWER: LIGHTNING STRIKE
SPANISH: Tormenta ITALIAN: Tempesta ENGLISH: Storm FRENCH: Orage SPANISH: Tormenta GERMAN: Gewitter ITALIAN: Tempesta FRENCH: Orage GERMAN: Gewitter
AUG
25
• 1609: GALILEO GALILEI DEMONSTRATES HIS FIRST TELESCOPE TO LAWMAKERS IN VENICE.
LAKE MARACAIBO IN VENEZUELA IS • 1875: MATTHEW WEBB RECEIVES MORE LIGHTNING STRIKES BECOMES THE FIRST PERSON TO SWIM THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH. ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. THOUSANDS AND • 1950: PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN ORDERS THOUSANDS OF IN VENEZUELA IS LAKE MARACAIBO THE SEIZURE OF U.S. RAILROADS TOCAN AVERT OCCUR STRIKES RECEIVES MORE LIGHTNING STRIKES A STRIKE. IN ONE NIGHT. THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STRIKES CAN OCCUR IN ONE NIGHT. CURRENT a flow of electricity
Answers: 1.Polka dots missing 2. Extra paw print 3. Left umbrella handle missing 4. Jeans leg pulled down
6 Family Now — August 2020
CURR
a flow of e
HTNING STRIKE
ENGLISH: Storm
a flow of el
Answers: 1.Polka dots missing 2. Extra paw print 3. Left umbrella handle missing 4. Jeans leg pulled down
What’s the Difference? There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?
Answers: 1.Polka dots missing 2. Extra paw print 3. Left umbrella handle missing 4. Jeans leg ANSWER: LIGHTNING STRIKE pulled down
GERMAN: Gewitter
What’s the Difference answers: 1. Polka dots missing 2. Extra paw print 3. Left umbrella handle missing 4. Jeans leg pulled down
Coloring Fun
FRENCH: Orage
CURR
GHTNING STRIKE
THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STRIKES CAN OCCUR IN ONE NIGHT.
ITALIAN: Tempesta
Education insight for parents
W
Avoid summer learning loss
e may not know exactly what format school will take this year, but we can be sure it will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. Teachers will be working outside their comfort zone, which means that parent involvement will be more critical than ever. So as we get closer to the beginning of school, parents may want to consider the following: 1. Plan to develop a strong relationship with your child’s teacher. Even if you don’t see your child’s teacher in person often, staying in touch with the teacher is important for your child’s academic success. Don’t be afraid to email the teacher or set up a meeting when you have questions or concerns. When you reach out to a teacher, you
are showing that teacher that you care.
often offer free help and support if your child is struggling. After-school homework help 2. Have realistic expectaand counseling are great tools tions. As a parent, you know to help your child stay on track your child has unique strengths if needed. But the existence and weaknesses. While getof such help doesn’t ting straight A’s might necessarily mean that be a realistic goal by your child will use for one child, it it – you’ll need to might not be reaconfirm whether sonable for anthey need and other. Knowing are using the where your child help, and if not, is academically to discover why. and helping them set attainable goals 4. Get outside is a huge part of helping help when it’s needed. your child be the best student he Some students need more help or she can be. And don’t forget than what teachers and schools to regularly acknowledge your can realistically offer, and many child’s efforts to achieve those students resist learning from goals. mom and dad. If the source of a student’s struggle is a failure to 3. Utilize teachers and master foundational skills from school resources. Schools
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prior grades, outside help is likely necessary. There are many tutors that can provide the personalized academic support that your child may need to succeed. 5. Develop a schedule that works with your child. Kids thrive when they have a balanced schedule of enough sleep, exercise, downtime and quiet time to read and do homework. Work with your kids to come up with a schedule that works for everyone involved, then try to stick to it. 6. Practice goal setting. It’s easier for children to achieve their goals when they set specific goals and know what steps they need to take to reach them. Sit down with your child before school starts and help them
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August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 7
Triple Threat
parenting triplets in the Capital District
Acknowledging privilege
E
The path to equality starts when we accept we have a long way to go
ach time I see a car pulled over and police lights flashing, I slow down and look. I used to do this out of sheer curiosity. Now I slow down and wonder if I should stop completely. I wonder if the person being pulled over really committed an offense worthy of being pulled over. I wonder if this traffic stop is going to result in a battered driver, a by passenger with bruises, or will it end with a fatality? Will this traffic stop be what puts Albany on the map with other cities that have had an officer-involved death?
I saw for a few seconds, that these two men were sizing up one another. Each man was tired of being the bad guy. Were they tired of wondering if this traffic stop was going to be the last for both of them? Uncertainty was palpable in those few moments. I drove by and felt something that, I think, is my white privilege. My middle-aged, white woman privilege is not an absolute power, but it certainly could help me. I saw a young man sitting in the driver’s seat and wondered what he may have done to catch the attention of the state trooper. I wondered if this man has run a red light, was he speeding or possibly was he driving a stolen car. Was I thinking this way because he is Black? Was I thinking this way because I am white, like the trooper? Was all my white privilege oozing out of the minivan as I drove by? Judging the driver and cop took maybe all of five seconds. Judging my actions and reactions is taking me so much longer and is so much scarier.
Jennifer Steuer
On my way home from grocery shopping recently, there was a car pulled over by a New York State Trooper. I slowed down a little and looked; rubber-necked like most of the other cars on the road. I’m grateful that I am not the one pulled over. I’m grateful that I am not the one trying to gauge the officer’s mood. I am wondering how the Black driver feels reaching for his insurance, license and registration. I am looking at the driver of the car wondering if he is as scared as everyone else who gets pulled over, or is he more afraid because of the color of his skin. I noticed a look of desperation driving past the two stopped cars. The driver looked like he was afraid. The police officer was afraid. Neither wants to become the next story to fly across our country (possibly the world) faster than a California wildfire in July.
I am trying to identify what I felt seeing this traffic stop. I’m trying to unpack all the feelings I have about this because I want to believe that I am not racist. I am saying “want to believe” because as much as I am sure I am not racist, maybe there are parts of me that don’t see the light of day. Am I guilty of microaggressions? The pent up emotions start to come forward and I wonder if I have white-
8 Family Now — August 2020
A recent traffic stop was cause for intense self-reflection as the author questioned whether the outcome might be different if the driver had been white. washed my memories. What part of me could I pull out and really study to see if my life was any comparison to a Black person? I had nothing. My memories are white-washed because I am white. I am part of the problem. Those five seconds I was able to see the two cars on the side of the busy road on the hottest and longest day of the year. I thought of something but didn’t act on it: Should I stop? Why would I stop, this is none of my business? My brain whispered: This is your business. I wasn’t sure how to help. Would I make the situation worse? Would I be putting the kids in danger? I drove on. Why would I stop? Again with a whisper: Use your privilege. I have no idea what the whispering part of my mind thinks I could do. I am one person with no idea how to change this world. My middleaged, white woman privilege
is slowing me down because I wanted to bear witness for this young man. I wanted to pull over and start recording the interaction between the state trooper and driver. I wanted to be a witness in case something went wrong. I thought that if I could record what was happening I might be able to help that young man. Was he pulled over for a serious infraction or simply “driving while Black?” Would I have been helping him or would I be making it worse? Back and forth in my mind … this moment lasted all of five seconds … but this uncertainty of my reactions and my behavior keeps overwhelming me. I chose the coward’s way. I chose to spare my kids from seeing what might happen. I chose to keep them away from bullets that might fly. I chose to keep my family out of harm’s way. This is white privilege. The fact that I had
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n Triple Threat continued from Page 8 a CHOICE whether or not I would stop is white privilege. For the next few days I looked in the newspaper and watched the local news to see if there were any reports of a traffic stop gone wrong. I didn’t see anything but that doesn’t mean no one was hurt. It could mean that nothing was reported. Wait and see, maybe it will get better, maybe next year, maybe in the next decade … maybe never. I want to believe that the times are changing, but it is taking too long. The desire to help Black Lives Matter shouldn’t mean we march around about yelling “No justice. No peace” for a few days and then go about our busy lives … until the next time. And we all know that there will be a next time. The very fact that Black children, Black men and Black
women are being shot in their homes, beaten on the street or having their life squeezed out by a choke hold or knee is unacceptable. A pervasive fear of violence by the very people who are supposed to be protecting society must be terrifying. The call to arms for Black Lives Matter should not make the white men, women and children afraid. Black Lives Matter should empower all of us with the realization we continue to need to push for equal rights because the rights of Blacks and whites are NOT equal. “We the people” in the U.S. Constitution is for ALL of us or it is for none of us. When a Black man, woman or child makes the assertions that our society has held them to alternate standards, those in power lay out all that has been done to make our country equal. Our country is not equal. We do not protect all the people. Too often, blame is placed squarely on the shoulders of
Black citizens. Every fatality is analyzed and the victim is blamed in some fashion. When Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president in the United States the world was alive with the possibilities! We thought we were so enlightened and so progressive. We were wrong. For eight years there were challenges about where he was born and roadblock after roadblock was tossed in President Obama’s path. He met each of them with style and pushed them all away. My white privilege encompasses every part of my life. My white privilege follows me when I go to the mall or grocery store. When I lay my head at night, I rest in a cocoon of white privilege. When I put my children to bed for the night, I can bet that no one will enter my home and spray bullets. I can bet that my home will not be on the receiving end of a no-knock warrant. My family goes to bed
with no idea that across town, a family is sleeping on the floor so that stray bullets don’t find them. Mothers, fathers, wives and husbands are burying their loved ones because of the color of their skin. Black Lives Matter. Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca are being raised the same way Harlan and I were raised: Everyone is equal. Black Lives Matter is not just a moment or a movement; it is reality that some folks just don’t understand. We must stand shoulder to shoulder (but 6 feet apart with a mask on!) and fight for equality. We must examine our white privilege and choose how to use it: for the good of the people or to keep oppressing. I choose to keep examining my life, use what I learn to do better and be better. Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 12-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.
To all of our
A Heartfelt Thank You!
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ESSENTIAL WORKERS
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 9
Activism
Let’s talk about this
J
Young adults across the country are schooling up on racism through ARE Project, whose co-founder is a recent Shaker grad
ames Baldwin, an American novelist, poet and activist, once said, “The paradox of education is that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” A group of students have founded The Anti-Racism Education Project (ARE Project) to lean into this paradox. As the group has examined racial discrimination, they have started to question the society that educated them in the first place. The ARE Project, now a global organization, has its roots right here in Albany with a recent Shaker High School alumna. “Our main goal is to make continuously educating ourselves feasible through approachable content,” co-lead founder Hannah Wang, a 2020 Shaker High School graduate, said. Wang added because participants are located in different countries, group members do not assume anyone’s knowledge of anti-Blackness. Along with a palatable way to digest material many would deem hard to
digital age; over 90 percent of the group found out about its existence through Instagram. The ARE Project hopes to aggregate resources on racism from those qualified to teach on it and amplify Black voices through its digital meetings.
At just under a month old, the ARE Project has amassed almost 500 members in 17 countries with over 115 organizers. All are students of the digital age; over 90 percent of the group found out about its existence through Instagram. approach, the ARE Project has people translating content into different languages. The group’s other objectives include giving participants tools to have educated discussions, provide materials to examine anti-Blackness within members’ communities and showing
by
participants how to use their knowledge later in life when they may be in positions of power. At just under a month old, the ARE Project has amassed almost 500 members in 17 countries with over 115 organizers. All are students of the
The ARE Project chooses its monthly content based on a theme. From there, a book, television show episode, movie, podcast episode, article and poem collection is chosen. Wang said the different media are offered to cater to all types of learners; each participant only picks one piece of content to analyze, as more people are able to dedicate time to one part of the picture. After digesting the material, group members meet on one of four hour-long meetings a month (each accommodating different time zones) to discuss the works. The first 10 minutes of the meetings are dedicated to establishing a baseline of everyone’s cultural norms around the topic. From there, members break off into their respective content choices to analyze. For the last
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Kaitlin Lembo and Jackie Gold
We’re online!
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GENERATIONS TOGETHER
Be sure to visit our website…
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10 Family Now — August 2020
n Let’s talk continued from Page 10 20 minutes, group members converge to discuss the theme as a whole. Most content is from Black creators. “Our project is a testament to the power of social media and our generation’s willingness to learn and fight for positive change, Wang said. “Everyone is contributing in their own ways, whether it be using their training in discussion moderating, 3D-printing pins to fundraise, or sharing their premium Zoom account with us. We have over 50 groups working on everything from maintaining our Instagram to developing community guidelines.”
From Media to Movement The ARE Project started as an idea for a book club run by Sasha Ronaghi, a recent high school graduate in Southern California. Ronaghi had posted on her Instagram story about starting a book club to amplify Black voices. “The whole purpose of using [Instagram] is that it is sustainable and approachable,” Ronaghi said. It certainly was approachable for Wang, who saw Ronaghi’s Instagram and was inspired to repost it to her New York followers. From there, it was reposted on several other accounts including those of international students. Today, Wang and Ronaghi run the ARE Project’s meetings and have created a worldwide campaign started with the simple idea of a book club. Anastasia Farronan also tirelessly helps the group in its early stages to create a website. Farronan had never designed or created a website before the ARE Project, but taught herself web design and continues to maintain the impressive website. Her hard work is a testament to the character of the group, who all recognize the need to learn new skills in order
to get their message out. Education and reforming how school curricula address race and issues of racial injustice are some of the main purposes of the ARE Project. However, Ronaghi, a rising college freshman, wanted to make sure the education did not stop at social media. “Social media is helpful with spreading the message, but it can almost feel like a trend or a fad.” The group now provides something social media posts do not offer: discussions. The ARE Project aims to bring people together from all backgrounds to share their own experiences and learn from others. According to the ARE Project’s website, “We are not hoping to learn about the Black experience from our peers, but with our peers because it would provide different perspectives and experiences.” These discussions are what several members have said they learned the most from. Wang said the discussions change participants’ perspectives after educating themselves and listening to others.
‘Pray the Racism Away’ Discussions are a large reason why Amari Parker joined the ARE Project. She said as a Black woman, she wanted to join difficult conversations and develop skills to use in everyday life. Parker also expressed her concerns about social media. She said, “It doesn’t provide much of a space for discussion, but this group provides learning, discussion, and educating yourselves on implicit biases.” The ARE Project’s reach goes beyond the blue states of New York and California. Parker is from Georgia and Luke Akhalaya is from Indiana. Both are current high school students who say even today, they can easily identify racism in their communities. Parker talked about visiting plantations during school trips in Georgia and feeling like she did not get the full picture
in school. Akhalaya spoke of history classes where his white classmates made anti-Semitic jokes and “goofed off” during slavery readings. “The teacher just rolled his eyes,” Akhalaya said. He joined the ARE Project to gain new perspectives and hear viewpoints from outside of his hometown. Parker attends a Catholic School in Georgia. After the death of George Floyd, her school sent out a letter condemning the violence and urging students to pray. Parker said this letter was not what she was hoping for. “I wanted to see they were taking action,” she said. Instead, Parker has been taking action of her own. She is responsible for selecting the films for the ARE Project’s screenings and helps to participate in the group’s activism channel. This channel is used to set up calls and emails to local legislators near the participants. “There’s so many of us, it makes them realize they need to do something,” Parker said. Akhalaya echoed Parker’s thoughts, saying, “We have to put actions behind our words.” Akhalaya believes the best way to make a change is through voting; however, he is under 18 and, therefore, ineligible to do. For Parker, this group has also been a way to learn from her role models. While doing a research paper for school on systemic racism, she found a name that kept coming up: Courtney Cogburn, Ph.D. Cogburn is an associate professor at Columbia University and an award-winning researcher. Her research focuses on how racism and discrimination in society can physically affect minorities that ultimately lead to racial differences in diseases. Parker’s eyes lit up with inspiration while talking about Cogburn. Parker wants to become a cardiothoracic surgeon and was thrilled when
a member of the group reached out to Cogburn about speaking to the ARE Project. Cogburn is set to speak over Zoom on Monday. Through the ARE Project, Parker has been given the chance to educate herself, her peers and further her passion.
‘What We Didn’t Learn’ “While these conversations are happening inside our homes, there is still a lot of anti-Blackness in our community,” Maryam Ahmad, another Shaker student, said. “When I was in India, we had a face cream that was advertised to make your skin lighter because lighter is more beautiful in so many people’s minds. There were advertisements everywhere and so many people never really gave it any thought.” On June 26, Unilever announced in a statement its controversial face cream, “Fair & Lovely,” popular in India and other South Asian countries, would be renamed. “We [recognize] that the use of the words ‘fair’, ‘white’ and ‘light’ suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we don’t think is right, and we want to address this,” Unilever’s president of beauty and personal care, Sunny Jain, said in the company’s statement. “The evolution to a more inclusive vision of beauty that celebrates and cares for all skin tones, and no longer uses the words ‘white/whitening’, ‘light/lightening or ‘fair/ fairness’, will be a policy for all Unilever’s beauty [and] personal care brands,” Jain concluded. Priti Rangnekar, a teen from San Jose, California, has worked behind the scenes since the ARE Project’s conception. A friend of Ronaghi’s and no stranger to activism, she quickly joined to figure out how to market the group. For her, this group is a welcome change. “My school is very much Asian and white,” she explained. “The topic of antiBlackness only really came up in what I would call a ‘graded discussion,’ where it would
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Butterfly boom
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UPCOMING
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“In a laboratory, protected from weather, predation and disease, we have seen that Karners have a high reproductive capacity, with individual females successfully producing hundreds of offspring,” said Conservation Director Neil Gifford. “Conditions in the wild are seldom that perfect, but every once in a while things can line up, and that’s what we believe we are witnessing in the preserve right now.”
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To advertise in one or more of these issues please call: Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email: maud@spotlightnews.com 112396_4
12 Family Now — August 2020
he population of endangered Karner blue butterflies at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve is experiencing something of an explosion, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission (Commission) announced in July. Driven to the brink of extinction by habitat loss, the species was federally listed as endangered in 1992. Local conservation efforts helped grow the Pine Bush population from a few hundred at that time to more than 3,000 in 2013 – the minimum recovery threshold established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Driven by science, the Commission’s programs of controlled burning, forest thinning, restoration seeding and environmental education have helped the Karner population remain above 7,000 for the last seven years. While the current population size cannot be calculated until the season has ended, staff report counting hundreds of butterflies on their surveys.
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Endangered Karner blue population enjoying record numbers this year
The quarter-sized Karner blue butterfly was identified in the 1940s by novelist Vladimir Nabokov at the Pine Bush in the New York hamlet of Karner. The USFWS estimates that when the
Officials say they expect 2020 to be a banner year for the Karner blue butterfly, with staff reporting a major uptick in their numbers. species was protected as endangered 28 years ago, the rangewide population had declined by up to 99 percent. “The Albany Pine Bush proudly protects and preserves one of the last remaining populations of the endangered Karner blue butterfly in addition to acres of land,” said Assemblymember Patricia Fahy. “As a result of the Pine Bush’s expertise and careful hard work, the Karner blue butterfly is seeing a dramatic increase in population – an incredible environmental and scientific accomplishment.” Commission Executive Director Christopher Hawver said he was grateful to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, whose support has allowed the Commission to build the preserve, manage the world’s best remaining example of an inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, and offer unique recreational and educational opportunities. – Neil Gifford, Pine Bush Conservation Director
Let’s Cook! by
Jodie Fitz
Rub recipe: quick with a kick Why not fire up the grill tonight?
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Easy Steak Rub Recipe Ingredients
hat’s on your grill? Check out this steak rub that’s just as delicious as it is easy to make.
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
You can serve your steak straight up with your favorite steak sauce, or you can serve it on a salad – my personal favorite! I paired this seasoned steak with grilled asparagus, my grillroasted sweet potatoes and a beet, goat cheese and pistachio salad.
½ teaspoon dry mustard
This is fantastic for entertaining and the leftovers make life even easier the day after. Get more recipes from Jodie Fitz through the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club at www.pricechopper.com. To learn about her, visit www.jodiefitz.com.
1 teaspoon onion powder ¾ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon white pepper Instructions Stir the sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dry mustard and white pepper together. Generously coat one side of the steak with the rub; rub it in. Flip the steak over and rub the rest of the rub on that side of the steak. Put it on a plate, wrap it with plastic wrap and let it set in the fridge for two hours (or longer) until you are ready to grill. Grill the steak.
Grilling time will depend on the type of steak, thickness and how you like your meat cooked; rare, medium rare or well done.
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
The Capital District family has changed -- and we are changing too. In recognition of the multi-generational nature of the modern household, we are merging Capital District Parent Pages with Senior Spotlight to create Family Now, a monthly publication with timely features for every age and stage of family life. With Family Now, readers will find all the great columns and features they already enjoy every month, plus so much more.
To advertise, please call Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email maud@spotlightnews.com. 112370_4
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 13
Life’s a beach Dreaming of a day at the ocean? Try these local shores instead
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Be early. Some beaches and state parks have limits on the number of people allowed per day to promote adequate social distancing. Plan to get there early or be ready with a backup plan.
Maybe you were dreaming of trip to the ocean this summer, spending the days stretched out on the sand and soaking up the sun as the ocean waves lap at the shore. Maybe you started having second thoughts when a trip to your favorite beach also meant a mandatory 14-day quarantine when you returned home. Or maybe you are simply not ready to be among the crowds that seem to gather wherever stretches of sand and ocean meet.
Be respectful. When you set up your towels and umbrellas, make sure you allow for 10 feet between your party and the others on the beach. Wear a mask when using the facilities or walking among people when you can’t be 6 feet apart.
oronavirus has done a number on our summer plans. With travel cancellations happening left and right and surging infection rates at some of the more popular destinations, many of us have been looking for options a little closer to home.
Take heart. If you temper your expectations a little, you’ll find a number of lovely local beaches in and around the Capital District that make a perfect little summer getaway. Sure, you might miss the briny tang of the sea air, but you won’t miss the squawking seagulls (mostly) or washed-up jellyfish. Some things to remember when you are planning a beach outing during a pandemic:
14 Family Now — August 2020
Be patient. Indoor areas, such as changing rooms and restrooms, will have reduced capacity and may come with a wait.
Kri Rob
Be prepared. Bring your own hand sanitizer, snacks and beverages. Many concession stands are not open, and you don’t want to be caught out in the hot sun parched and with an empty belly. Hangry is not a good look at the beach.
The one that’s close to home A quick drive up the Heldeberg escarpment will bring you to Thompson’s Lake, a campground and
day use area within Thacher State Park. The swimming beach is compact and popular with locals. It also quickly reaches capacity on the weekends. In late summer, the water is pleasant to swim in, but most visitors over the age of 12 seem to be content just relaxing in the sun. A playground at the top of the beach is a great way for the younger set to burn of some energy, but keep an eye out for pandemic-related restrictions.
The one where you can stretch out a little
by
A short drive east will get you to Long Pond, which is a part of Grafton Lakes State Park. The expanse of sand is perfect for strolling and building sandcastles. Or just set up your beach chair, adjust your floppy hat and dive into a fastpaced beach read. In summers past, this beach’s expansiveness made it a great choice for groups and activities like cornhole and can jam, but those are prohibited at this time. You’ll also find a number of picnic tables in the wooded area where the sand ends.
isten berts
The one that feels like you’re on a vacation In any given summer, Lake George’s 51-acre Million Dollar Beach is a bustling destination for travelers near and far. This year, the crowds aren’t as big, but it is still a busy place. At this time, hand sanitizing stations are located along the boardwalk, and social distancing and mask rules are in effect. Million Dollar Beach is perfect for those folks who prefer a beach that is right in the middle of the action. With more shops reopening, you
can get your saltwater taffy and ice cream or shop for tchotchkes just steps from where you set up your beach chair. Keep in mind that while this public beach is free, parking will cost you around $10.
The one that almost seems like the ocean It’s a little bit of a hike up the Northway, but if you’re really craving the big beach experience, head to Ausable Point State Park located on the shore of Lake Champlain just south of Plattsburgh. There is a designated swimming area, but beyond that, there is still so. much. beach. Driftwood that almost looks like it has been weathered by the sea dots the shore. And there are seagulls. Lots of them. The wind can be pretty robust here, which makes it a popular destination for windsurfers, and watching them glide by with their colorful sails is a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon.
The one where the journey is almost as nice as the destination The beach at Glimmerglass State Park, which is about an hour’s drive west of Albany, is tucked at the end of Lake Otsego and framed by the rolling green hills of the Leatherstocking region. There is plenty of sand to claim as your own, and the water is brisk if you’re up for a swim. But one of the most enjoyable things about it is the pleasant drive along Route 20 to get there. Enjoy the pastoral vistas and quaint villages as you pass through unhurried on this historic New York highway. If you finish off your snacks and need to restock before heading home, just take a quick detour into Cooperstown, where you should have no trouble finding what need.
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 15
Entertainment
Blast from the past
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Pinball exhibit at Preservation Hall is a hands-on experience
ver since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball.”
The Who probably best captured how America was once enamored with pinball machines when it released “Pinball Wizard” in 1974. The arcade game was once banned in major cities concerned that it promoted gambling. That changed in the mid-’70s, sparking a bit of a revolution that defined how some teenagers spent their days — slapping buttons and listening to music. Universal Preservation Hall, located at 25 Washington St. in Saratoga Springs, opened the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit “Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball” in late July. The two-month exhibit highlights rock-themed, playable pinball machines and pairs them with artifacts allowing visitors to explore the by art displayed on each case. The marriage between pinball and rock was never a mistake.
UPH has been in the works more than a year as the Saratoga venue sought to develop programming that complimented – rather than competed – with Saratoga’s live entertainment scene in the summer. “It wasn’t clear when COVID-19 came along that we could hold the event but now that museums are reopening in the state we are proceeding with our plans,” said Teddy Foster, director at UPH, prior to the exhibit opening.
The interactive Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit “Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball” is being presented at Universal Preservation Hall. Photo/Alan Levine
along with rock and roll. By 1969, pinball and rock became inextricably linked, thanks to the Who and the group’s opus “Tommy,” which highlighted the skills of the rock opera’s lead character.
Michael Hallisey
“Rock and roll and pinball have a lot in common,” said Karen Herman, Vice President of Collections and Curatorial Affairs, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Loud, colorful and rebellious, it was inevitable that the two would combine to celebrate rock’s icons.” Pinball was banned until the mid-1970s in most of America’s big cities because it was considered a form of gambling. It eventually became a symbol of youth and rebellion, right
“A number of artists and bands have been immortalized in pinball games,” said Herman. “It gives fans another way to experience the energy and power of rock and uniquely connect with their favorite artists.”
On display, along with the classic “Wizard” and “Tommy” pinball machines, is Pete Townshend of the Who’s acoustic guitar used to compose “Pinball Wizard” and several other songs from Tommy. Making its debut as part of the exhibit is Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper’s newest pinball machine – Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle. Cooper’s stage shows are always theatrical, notoriously employ-
16 Family Now — August 2020
ing outrageous stage props including nooses and guillotines. An electric chair stage prop that Cooper used in his 1971 tour across North America and Europe is on display in the exhibit. Fans can also view pioneering pinball machines of their favorite musicians such as Captain Fantastic (1976), based on the album by Elton John and his character in Tommy, and Beat Time (1967), one of the oldest rock and roll tables, which capitalizes on Beatlemania, featuring several mop-topped musicians and a drumhead emblazoned with “The Bootles.” Other rare and sought-after playable machines in the exhibit pay tribute to the Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Guns N’ Roses, Elvis, Metallica, KISS and AC/DC. From Peter Criss of KISS’ drum set to Dolly Parton’s dress that inspired the backglass for the DollyParton pinball machine, fans will find other artifacts on display as they learn more about the popular pinball and rock subculture. Hosting the exhibition at
UPH will follow Center for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State safety guidelines in establishing safety protocol for exhibit visitors. Each visitor, staff person and volunteer will be required to bring and wear a face mask and to wear provided gloves while playing the pinball machines. All individuals will also be required to maintaining proper social distancing. Capacity will be initially limited to 20 guests per time slot and will be re-evaluated regularly. “Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball” is presented at UPH by Adirondack Trust Company. UPH, a partner in the Proctors Collaborative, will sell tickets for 90-minute blocks throughout the run. Tickets will be available for admittance at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day and hours will be extended to include 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. admittance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The event concludes on Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available now at universalpreservationhall.org.
n Let’s talk continued from Page 11 come up in class for an assignment and it wouldn’t go much further than that.”
A lightbulb went off when Ahmad realized how much of civil rights today are to the credit of the Black community. Rangnekar nodded her head in agreement. It struck both women to see how insulated
much of the world is. Ahmad and Rangnekar agreed that much of the group is about unlearning implicit biases people have. The project helps them seek out content from different creators, particularly from POC, to form an expanded worldview. “Our book club has substituted what we should have learned in U.S. history,” Ahmad said.
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Educate To Illuminate One thing these students have in common is passion. Each expressed desire to see true change in their communities, countries and in our world. “It’s mind-blowing to me how many people care,” said Ronaghi when speaking about how expansive the group has become. “Even though it’s the Black Lives Matter Movement, it feels more like a revolution,” said Wang. Akhalaya repeated
The group is open to everyone and those who wish to join can sign up through its website or on Instagram. “Seeing things from different perspectives is really important,” Ahmad said. Outside of the group, the students want to encourage the community to educate themselves. “If you are confused on why something is racist, don’t be afraid to ask,” Akhalaya said.
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Ahmad spoke of her generation’s want to address systemic racism in society. “It goes to show how much our generation wants to solve this issue once and for all.” Parker spoke of their generation, too, and how social media has become a tool for change. “Social media can be powerful in influencing people, movies, and press.” The group has utilized social media since its founding and continues to do so through Instagram and Facebook.
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“I can see the sustainability in this organization because of how diverse we are,” Rangnekar said. “How we do this is motivating members to put forth the effort for good conversations that can be difficult. Since joining, I have made it a point to seek out content from POC creators and be more conscious of the media I’m digesting.”
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Ahmad agreed. Another member of the Indian community, she has seen first hand how racism influences her world. She considers herself lucky enough to have grown up around people who categorically condemned racism from the get-go.
The ARE Project hopes to aggregate resources on racism from those qualified to teach on it and amplify Black voices through its digital meetings.
this sentiment, saying, “I think there is a revolution coming and I think it is long overdue.”
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GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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As a member of the Indian community, Rangnekar testified to the mindset in her school; you focus on your academics and your own life. If it doesn’t affect you, “you don’t get dragged into it.”
For both, the camaraderie the ARE Project has formed is what keeps them coming back.
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 17
Social Security Corner
5 reasons to set up account
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here are countless reasons why you can benefit from using your personal my Social Security account. Here are five that highlight why opening an account today can help you and the people you love.
Saving you time There’s no need to leave your home when using the features of my Social Security. You may think you need to speak with a Social Security representative to check your application status, set up or change direct deposit, or request a replacement Social Security card. All you have to do is log in or create an account at www.ssa. gov/myaccount.
Security
rity account? This allows you to verify if your employers reported When you open an account, your earnings to us correctly. it prevents someone else from This is very important. Accurate possibly creating an account in wage reporting will ensure your name. And, we you get the benefits use the two-step you earned when authentication to by you begin receivverify you are the ing benefits. one logging in to your account. Planning for Your personal information is your Future very important to Retirement planus. You can access ning is essential for a your personal information secure future. The Retiresafely and securely using my ment Calculator lets you enter Social Security. the age or date when you expect
calculating the estimated benefit amount. You can also view your estimated disability benefit on the Estimate Benefits page.
Control
A personal my Social Security account gives you the control to conduct your Social Security business wherever and whenever you want without needing to speak with a representative. You can check the status of your claim, get an instant proof of benefits Home Where You’ll letter or copy of yourisSSA-1099, and more. And people in most states can request a replacement Social Security card. Check to begin receiving benefits to out www.ssa.gov/myaccount and generate an estimated benput yourself control. Home is Where You’llinFind Us efit amount. If you enter your
Elizabeth Pivonka
Reassurance Did you know you can see your entire work history with your personal my Social Secu-
estimated future salary amount, that will be included when
DEPAUL HOUSING MANAGEMENT We Welcome You Home!
The author is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.
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18 Family Now — August 2020
Find
Senior Centers
The senior center remains committed to keeping you moving with exercise and entertainment all in one place on their YouTube Channel with weekly updated content (bit. ly/2OPyl4V). New content is added each week so be sure to subscribe to receive notifications. Visit the webpage (www. niskayuna.org/senior-center) for information about upcoming classes and events. Staff is still available by phone to assist seniors, and have been calling, emailing and sending postcards to seniors in the community each week to stay connected and check in on everyone. If you would like to be added to the list of calls, call or email at 518-372-4969 or lobrien@niskayuna.org. Seniors who need help getting
n Learning Center continued from Page 7 write out his or her education goals and each step required to achieve those goals. Then, discuss with your child a plan for how he or she can achieve them. Keep the list active, checking off achievements and updating check points. 7. Inspire your child to want to learn. Learning can get a bad reputation with kids. For many children, school is difficult, homework is tedious and
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The center initially opened for outdoor activities only in mid-July with plans to open indoors sometime in August with instructor-led activities where a safe 6-foot distance can be maintained. Visit the webpage for the most up-to-date schedule: cliftonpark.org/services/seniorservices/senior-center.html. Remember to call to reserve your spot, since space may be limited. Wear your mask or shield if you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance between one another. There will be picnic tables, but you may also bring your own chair. All groups will meet just outside the main entrance in the shade on or near the patio. Please park in the main parking lot. Bocce players should park in the rear parking lot and meet at the Bocce Courts.
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Current outdoor activities include Bocce Ball, Knitting and Crocheting, Golf and Bingo. In mid-August, planned indoor activities include Soul Line Dancing, Tai Chi, Strong Bones and Balance, Yoga, Watercolor, Latin Line Dancing and Exercise to Tape.
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worksheets are painful. If that is true for your child, see if you can restore your child’s interest in learning by making it fun again. Research fun experiments to do with your kids, find books that make them laugh out loud and/or look for ways to enable them to dig deeper into whatever subject excites them. Patrick McNamara is the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning of Albany and Clifton Park, which provides tutoring services and academic coaching (www. SylvanLearning.com).
Roy F. Bordeau
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The Senior Center partially opened in mid-July for gatherings outside the center. Additional activities are expected to resume this month. All participants must have their temperature check when they arrive by a staff member using a no-touch thermometer, and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 F degrees and above will not be able to attend. The senior bus will be in limited operation, Niskayuna residents can call the bus number at 518-372-4969 to schedule pick up on program days.
groceries can call to be added to the weekly shopping trip. Call for more information. Go to the Facebook page to see daily updated content here: www. facebook.com/NiskayunaSeniorCenter.
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August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 19
Crossword Answers on page 22 Clues Down 1. Mountain Time 2. Int’l political organization (abbr.) 3. Olympic champion Lipinski 1. Social reformer Lucretia 4. March 5. Engine additive 5. Less fresh 8. Where draft beer comes from 6. Reduced in size 11. Skin lesions 7. Garden archway 13. Denoting one or more things 8. Professional translators group 14. Beloved dish (abbr.) 15. Packaging allowances 9. Type of pain 16. Surrounds the earth 10. What to do for the cameras 17. Expresses pleasure 12. Midway between south and 18. “For goodness __!” southeast 20. Liquefied natural gas 14. Bangladeshi monetary unit 21. Paul __, Swiss painter 19. Satisfy 22. Benign tumors 23. Flop 25. In an early way 24. Nearsightedness 30. Covered with wood 25. Parts per thousand (abbr.) 31. Principle underlying the 26. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! universe 27. Midway between northeast 32. Message and east 33. Become dry through heat 28. Swedish castle 38. Printing speed measurement 29. War-ravaged Syrian city 41. One who does not succeed 34. American model Carol 43. Type of agent 35. Bitterly regret 45. Type of waste 36. Grand __: superior grade wine 47. Wings 37. Of she 49. Giants’ signal caller 39. Clergymen 50. Polio vaccine developer 40. Ringwald and Shannon are two 55. Congo native 41. Daze 56. Mortal is one type 42. Scores perfectly 57. Fishing vessel (Naut.) 44. More narcissistic 59. Ethnic group of Thailand 45. Fencing sword 60. Where golfers begin 46. Highest point 61. Western Florida city 47. In addition 62. Belonging to us 48. Hawaiian feast 63. Soviet Socialist Republic 51. Appropriate under the 64. Influential Israeli diplomat circumstances 52. Hillside 53. Metrical foot 54. Winemaking region 58. Someone
CRYPTO F UN
Clues Across
Gone Fishin’
WORD SEARCH
Solve the code to discover words related to FISHING. Each number corresponds to a letter. (Hint: 5 = r)
20 Family Now — August 2020
BASS SHARK DAB SWORDFISH HADDOCK BREAM PERCH DOLPHIN
HAKE PIKE SKATE TROUT
CARP FLOUNDER HERRING SALMON
SNAPPER TUNA COD GOLDFISH
MINNOW SARDINE SOLE WHALE
Retiring Retirement
C
onfidence can be momentum or a wall.
Seniors who have been taught it, grown up with it or learned it, honed and developed it, can parlay it along with a plethora of matured talents that can bless a lot of people. When faced with some of the challenges or inevitable unexpected variables of aging, confidence could wane. Such was the case with a 76-year-old Delmar man who, literally and figuratively, had to get up and dust himself off after a serious motorcycle accident in The Bahamas. With what would later be diagnosed as a fractured pelvis and ribs, punctured bladder and a brain bleed, our man – who wishes to remain anonymous – would be bounced around lying in the back of a pick-up truck that a policeman had flagged down. Alone, in agony and with no painkillers, he tried to rest that night even though he couldn’t turn over. The next morning, his friends got him to the one doctor 50 miles away whose office couldn’t even loosely be called a “clinic.” Eventually, after a few X-rays, another bouncy ride in a 20year-old ambulance with a broken backboard to an airlift to Nassau, this man found himself
without a medical transport to the hospital. A kind cabby got him there, and after a few days, he was discharged so he could fly to Florida to be treated at Tampa General.
List your local event or meeting in our monthly calendar
By now he deemed himself fully recovered from the motorcycle accident he had a dozen years ago. Plus, he had ridden the Queen’s Highway back and forth for many of those years.
But there was a willow shadow across the road as he accelerated to catch up with his buddy. He hit both brakes, skidding over the ragged bump too fast and at the wrong angle. “This should not be happening,” he thought, as he soared over the handlebars, nose pointed to the asphalt.
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Get the word out!
In our rider’s words:
So he should have remembered the last speed bump in the Eleuthera settlement of Lower Bogue.
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Robert LaCosta
Confidence on and off a motorcycle
ÅBeautiful, Renovated 1 Bedroom Apartments u Heat & Hot Water Included in Rent u Weekly Buses to Markets and Offstreet Parking u 24 Hour on Call for Emergencies u Affordable Rent Based on Income u HUD & LIHTC Subsidized u
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Life just got BETTER!
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
YOUR HERO
CARED FOR YOU.
NOW, YOU CARE FOR HER.
TO BE CONTINUED: In Part II, we’ll learn what he learned and how that could possibly contribute to his confidence. Robert J. LaCosta writes a daily blog. Write him at norepcom@ gmail.com or call (518) 4351250. The author is a Hearing Instrument Specialist and has worked with seniors through four decades.
Find the Care Guides you need to care for your loved one at
aarp.org/caregiving 1-877-333-5885
August 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 21
A Patriot Remembers
Old records spark memories
I
recently decided to review my old vinyl record albums and came across one that brought me back to the month of August. As one who writes about things we cherish and reminisce about, the Neil Diamond album entitled “Hot August Night” triggered my recollections about this summer month. As I continued to review my albums, I came across Gordon Lightfoot’s “Old Dan’s Records,” and my mind escaped to the music, events and weather in August. We all had our favorite memories of August concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the recollections of our lawn experiences. Concerts by Lightfoot, Neil Diamond, John Denver, Jimmy Buffett and the Hollies strike a rich chord with me. I recall some of those August events at SPAC while listening to the performers and remembering the vicious thunderstorms that pelted the patrons on the lawn. I do not recall any event not being most pleasant with large satisfied crowds. I then drift off to August and Saratoga Race Track at a time when there was only betting win, place and show. The only exotic bet was the daily double,
August 2020 will bring an end to a World Wide Virus. As I mentioned in prior articles, I was a baseball and softball umpire for 25 years. August brought many summer baseball and softball leagues into their playoffs. As a Little Leaguer in the ’50s, our season might go into August as you competed with other leagues. As these sport seasons ended, the thought of football double session and school beginning emerged. which was picking the winners – Onion. The racing museum of the first two races. This add- in Saratoga is special for the ed rush traffic on the Northway horse fans and resurrects some before the 1 p.m. post time. fascinating memories. There were grandstand seats On the national level, I did at the top of the stretch that not like August for the did not cost anything. Atomic Bomb on There were no TVs Hiroshima, which or any picnic by was reported the area. The horses first week of the were favorites month. In high in books to us school I did a race fans. Dr. term paper on Fager, Damascus, the second bombSpanish Riddle, ing at Nagasaki on as well as the jockey Aug. 9. Among the of Angel Cordero Jr., tragedy we hardly ever hear Bob Ussery, Manny Ycaza of the triumph of VJ Day were worth the money. Un(Victory in Japan) on Aug. 14, fortunately, one of the greatest 1945 that brought an end to horses, Secretariat was beat in World War II in 1945 (the 75th the Travers in 1973 by a horse Anniversary this year). Maybe that brought tears to your eyes
Frank DeSorbo
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Sometime a nice summer evening at a camp site, fishing in the evening or ice cream cones and milk shakes were an August diversion. My wife was a school employee, and she had the summers off so we could spend time in New Orleans with her brother who lives there. New Orleans in August has the proverbial hot August nights. Maybe if you ramble though the old possessions you’ve accumulated, it will bring back a heartfelt memory and it will seem like yesterday. Frank is a freelance writer and guest speaker. Contact fomservice.com The author is a Capital District resident and freelance writer and guest speaker. Contact him at fomservice.com
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A. angler B. rod C. river D. lure
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