November 2014 by Barbara McSpadden

november 2014

special feature

THE GINGERBREAD GALLERY

fitness IT’S A

sw inspires

WONDERFUL RUN

JUANITA CRITZ KATHLEEN STRESS HEATHER WALLACE

Kate D. Mahoney more to the miracle w w w. s y r ac u s e wo m a n m ag . c o m

syracuseWomanMag.com :: november 2014

November Letter from the Editor

Out & About 7

Platter Chatter: Inn Between Restaurant

Fashion Forward 10 Fabulous Finds: Au Chocolat

Special Feature: Sandra Bargainnier

WISE Women 20

14 12

In Her Own Words

Fitness: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Wonderful Run

New in the Cuse: Syracuse Crate

Cover Story: Kate D. Mahoney

I Am That Lady 34 Special Feature: Gingerbread Gallery

WBOC Leading Woman 38

Menopause Minutes 40 Snap Out of It 42 For a Good Cause: CNY Bike Giveaway

Queen of Arts 46 Syracuse Women Inspire 49 Healthy Woman: Vitamin D

SWM Main Events 56 SWM Calendar 57

38 42

Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow Do you want that healthy, natural-looking glow just in time for the holidays without a surgical procedure? Dr. Dean DeRoberts has an answer. There are many options available, but not all are created equal. The most appropriate option for you will depend on your individual goals. Recovery time and degree of improvement are large factors. For a brighter and smoother appearance with quick results and no downtime, select an erbium laser resurfacing, professional strength glycolic acid facial or a microdermabrasion. These treatments will help remove the superficial outer layers of damaged skin, which often look like dry skin or mild blemishes. Many patients want to remove sun damage, fine lines or brown spots from their face. In these cases, a TCA chemical peel or fractional CO2 laser resurfacing have been shown to make significant improvements in the deeper layers of skin. A TCA peel can be administered in various strengths to adjust the depth of the peel, but most providers use at least 20 percent strength to obtain significant results. A Fractional CO2 laser penetrates deep into the skin with millions of

micro-holes to increase collagen production to reduce fine lines, and remove sun damage and brown spots. Both treatments result in three days of downtime as the face will look very red and irritated, but most patients feel the long-term results are worth it. Deeper lines will require other treatments. The lines in the forehead between the brows and around the eyes are caused by muscle contractions. These require an agent like Botox or Dysport to relax the muscles. These procedures take five minutes in a physician’s office with no downtime, and usually last for about four months. The deeper lines on the lower face and around the mouth are caused by aging, and can be minimized using injectables like Juvederm or Radiesse, which are also applied in a physician’s office with no downtime, lasting six months to a year. My best advice is to be proactive and prevent damage to your skin as early as possible by using sunscreen liberally, avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To a glow-filled holiday,

Dean DeRoberts, M.D.

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1992, when she was 14, she was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer, and eventually her major organs began to fail. Local nuns and community members began to pray to Mother Marianne Cope, a Utica native and Franciscan leader who ministered to leprosy patients in the 19th century, in Kate’s honor. Two weeks later, Kate made a miraculous recovery. Kate shares her story with SWM not only to remember this time, but to share the person she’s become and stress the miracle of life that is each day we are given.

FROM THE EDITOR

Keeping Awareness, the Spirit Alive this Holiday I’m having a hard time recovering from last month’s issue — the Breast Cancer Awareness Edition. So many women — and men — opened themselves up to me to share their story for the sake of spreading awareness, with the hope to influence just one person to do a self-exam and discover a lump early enough that he or she doesn’t have to go through all the hellfire and brimstone cancer creates. I promise my whole letter isn’t going to be about cancer, because, well, I’ve discovered that it can get overwhelming. It starts as a thought and easily festers into something obsessive. But the truth is, that’s exactly what happens to people who have had cancer and fear its return. My point is this: Just because it’s no longer Breast Cancer Awareness Month — or any cancer awareness month for that matter — don’t stop paying attention to the signs. Whether you’ve had cancer or not, know your body. See your doctor regularly. Ask the tough questions. Cancer isn’t just a month, unfortunately; it’s a lifetime of awareness. On the contrary, for the sake of men and women who feel consumed by cancer daily, I present you with an SWM issue that will hopefully distract you — if just for a moment. November is the Holiday Edition, and each year SWM strives to feature women who have a special tie to this time of year. Cover woman Kate Mahoney spends the early winter months reflecting on all that has happened in her past, and how it meshes with her life going forward. In December

November is an important time for Junior League of Syracuse (JLS) President Heather Wallace, one of our Inspires, because of the Holiday Shoppes — the organization’s largest fundraiser — as well as the copious amounts of volunteering that takes place during the holiday season. She shares why she’s passionate about volunteering, and what influenced her to spend a second year as JLS president, which is typically a one-year position. Sandy Bargainnier, a Special Feature this month, will always have a place in her heart for November. It was in November last year that she welcomed Jean Paul Mboyo, a Fowler High School senior and Congolese refugee, into her home to live. Today, her home bustles with life as nine boys from Africa siphon in and out her front door to spend time with Jean Paul and her family. The more she got to know these boys, the more she learned about their aspirations. After rigorous college visits and information sessions with the boys, Sandy has started a GoFundMe site to help raise money to send them to college. My dad’s birthday is in November. If you read my last letter, you know he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013. His surgery went well last year, and there’s currently no evidence of disease. Now, each November, I am just thankful that my dad has another birthday to celebrate. Forever thankful and aware,

Alyssa LaFaro ON OUR COVER... Kate Mahoney was photographed by Cindy Bell of Focus Studio Inc. at Saint Lucy’s Church on Gifford St. in Syracuse. Cover woman makeup artistry provided by Julianna Pastella, hair by Jillain Pastella-Salomone of J. Luxe Salon, and earrings provided by Welch & Co. Jewelers in North Syracuse.

OUR TEAM Publishers

Kelly Breuer Barbara McSpadden

Editor-in-Chief

Barbara McSpadden

Editor

Alyssa LaFaro

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Farah F. Jadran

Creative DIRECTOR Kelly Breuer

Photography Cindy Bell Gerard H. Gaskin Jussara Potter Chris Szulwach

Contributing Writers Susan E. Brown, Ph.D. Diana Goodsight Lauren Greutman Kayla Isaacs Farah F. Jadran Kailyn Jennings Alyssa LaFaro Margaret Madigan Samantha McCarthy Amari D. Pollard Elizabeth Warner, M.D. Dr. James Woods Linda Young

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Renee Moonan Linda Jabbour Please contact Renee Moonan (315) 657-7690

AUnlike d vanye rother t i spublication e w i tinhthe Syracuse u s . . . area, our feature articles address major topics that interest local women.

Each issue includes articles on health, fashion, fitness, finance, home matters, dining, lifestyle and personal perspectives, as well as a spotlight on local Syracuse women. Ads are due on the 15th of the month prior to publication. The print magazines will be distributed locally in over 350 locations and will be in your inbox electronically by the middle of every month. The publication is available free of charge. Contact our home office 315.434.8889 2501 James Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13206 info@syracusewomanmag.com Download our media kit at www.syracusewomanmag.com The magazine is published 12 times a year by Syracuse Woman Magazine, llc. and Eagle Publications, 2501 James Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206. Copyright © 2014 Syracuse Woman Magazine, llc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without the consent of the publishers. Syracuse Woman Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photos or artwork. All such submissions become the property of Syracuse Woman Magazine, llc. and will not be returned.

o&A

MOVIES

Foxcatcher – Nov 14 The story of Olympic Gold Medalwinning wrestler Mark Schultz is summoned by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont to move onto his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Du Pont begins “coaching” a world-class athletic team and, in the process, lures Mark into dangerous habits, breaks his confidence and drives him into a self-destructive spiral.

Dumb and Dumber To – Nov 14 Twenty years after Harry Dunne and Lloyd Christmas set out on their first adventure, they head out in search of one of their long lost children in the hope of gaining a new kidney.

Mockingjay: Part 1 – Nov 21 Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice, but even though she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. President Snow makes it clear that no one is safe either -- not Katniss’s family, not her friends and not the people of District 12..

The Penguins of Madagascar Discover the secrets of the most entertaining and mysterious birds in the global espionage game: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private now must join forces with the chic spy organization, the North Wind, led by Agent Classified, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, voiced by John Malkovich, from taking over the world.

OUT & ABOUT Junior League of Syracuse Holiday Shoppes — Nov. 14-16

Jumpstart your holiday shopping at the Junior League of Syracuse’s 19th Annual Holiday Shoppes on Nov. 14 through 16 at the Horticulture Building at the New York State Fairgrounds. This three-day holiday marketplace attracts more than 5,000 shoppers annually, seeking the unique offerings only boutique shops can offer. Founded in 1920, the Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. strives to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community. The organization likes to say, “We wear work gloves, not white gloves,” to reflect its interests in partnering on a hands-on basis with local organizations to together improve the greater Central New York community. “Our members come to the JLS with many talents, and through their membership develop even more skills, making them ideal candidates to volunteer with and lead other local non-profits.” The Holiday Shoppes will commence on Friday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and continue into Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and wrap up on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit jlsyracuse.tumblr.com/holiday-shoppes.

SyracuseFirst Buy Local Bash – Nov. 24

Join SyracuseFirst for an authentic taste of Central New York at their annual fundraiser, the Buy Local Bash presented by AmeriCU Credit Union, on Monday, Nov. 24, at 5:30 p.m.

The event is celebrating its fifth year of creating a cultural shift in CNY that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, the community’s uniqueness, and recognizes the critical contributions of locally owned, independent businesses, artists and farmers. The Buy Local Bash brings together community members and local merchants for a one-of-a-kind social, shopping and tasting event to highlight the locally owned, independent businesses of Central New York. This festive fundraising event helps to spread awareness and support for SyracuseFirst’s mission of educating the community about the importance of buying local while also kicking off Buy Local Month, an effort to increase support for local independents during the holiday season. This year’s event will be held at the Landmark Theater on Monday, Nov.24, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Last year’s event attracted approximately 800 people with more than 70 vendors! Tickets are available for purchase in advance for $20 and $25 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit syracusefirst.org.

Vera House “New Beginnings” Gala – Dec. 6

End your year with “New Beginnings,” a gala hosted by the Vera House Board of Trustees to benefit the programs and services of Vera House, Inc. Join 500 guests on Dec. 6, from 6 to 11 p.m. at The Oncenter to celebrate the season and support the agency’s mission to end domestic and sexual violence. This year’s gala will showcase a silent auction featuring high-end items like vacations, artwork, sporting event tickets, jewelry and more. Music will be provided by “Atlas” and catering will be provided by The Oncenter. Special tribute will be paid to David and Lynn Horowitch, the 2014 gala honorary chairs, who have a long-standing commitment to Vera House. Last year’s gala raised more than $144,000 for Vera House programs and services. Gala tickets cost $195 each, donor tables are $1,950 and patron tables of 10 cost $2,250. If you can’t make it to the gala, Vera House encourages community members to consider an underwriting gift, purchase a program ad or donate a unique item for the silent auction. For more information or to donate, visit verahouse.org.

chatter ::platter

Travel Back in Time at the

Inn Between

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

::platter

by Kayla Isaacs I photos by Chris Szulwach When you get to the end of Route 5, you won’t come across an empty road. Instead, you will be transported back to the 1880s, in the form of a colossal beauty known as the Inn Between Restaurant. Originally built as a working dairy farm before becoming a family home, the restaurant was named for its prime location as the halfway point on the Erie Canal. Since it’s opening in 1972, the Inn Between has held onto the historic, white house for all these years. “The building speaks of Americana. It’s a classic, federal period building. It speaks of a bygone era that people wonder about, and it has that kind of charm,” said Christopher Cesta, owner and executive chef of the restaurant. It is this charm and timelessness that continues to draw people in today. When Christopher took over the restaurant eight years ago, he continuously evolved the cuisine to fit customer tastes while remaining upscale. He began working at the Inn Between at 18, picking cooking up as a hobby. Developing his culinary skills, Christopher has now found the perfect balance of specials for the Inn Between menu, which consists of seafood and poultries. Though the menu items rarely change, the Inn Between rotates through about six nightly specials that add some individuality to the meal. “The thing we do is provide a dining experience that’s unique — it’s just all of the necessary elements of classic dining, which is kind of becoming a lost art,” said Christopher. “It’s dining the way it’s meant to be, to sit and relax and converse face-to-face with human beings.” The Inn Between easily allows for this kind of experience, whether sitting at a quaint table tucked in a cozy corner next to a fireplace radiating warmth; or beside one of many windows overlooking acres of farmland, which provide much of the food served six nights a week. It’s the kind of restaurant you come to for a celebration or special occasion; it’s also the place you go to for a Friday night dinner. You come knowing you’re going to get served quality food at a restaurant that is also giving back. The hydrangeas that sit atop every table are picked from the garden outside; the watercolors along the inside walls are painted by local artists, and are displayed as sale items that customers can buy. On the 16 acres of land that the Inn Between sits on, Christopher grows fruits like plums, figs and cherries; produces honey, herbs and tomatoes; and even has a trout farm. The items that he cannot grow himself are bought locally, to stay within the community. It’s this attention to food and local ambition that makes dishes so appealing. Best-selling plates like the beef wellington (a dish originally selected for the menu because the area used be called Wellington) — which consists of a seasoned and seared tenderloin that is topped with mushrooms and wrapped in a puff pastry, with the addition of flavors like rosemary, garlic, onion and cream — will be baked to order. The lobster bisque, which is full of lobster, cream and New York State Sherry wine, is the one to compare all others to, based on its raving reviews. Each dish comes with a gourmet salad and chopped vegetables, and there are options for appetizers and desserts as well. Whether you choose the roasted duck or the seafood chambertine, or one of the other carefully selected and mastered items, the small, local Inn Between Restaurant has the atmosphere to set aside the fast-paced, day-to-day grind over a great meal. “It’s a classic for sure,” admitted Christopher. “It’s classical, yet contemporary. And really guaranteed to impress.” For more information on the Inn Between Restaurant, visit inn-between.com.

chatter

by Amari D. Pollard

::fashion

forward

The revolution has begun — hats are officially back in style. No one really knows what spurred the sudden uprising. It could have been the Royal Wedding in 2011 or the extreme popularity of “Downton Abbey,” but no matter the cause, hats of all different shapes and sizes can be found in stores everywhere. For a while it seemed as though many women had forgotten that the hat could be worn for reasons other than health concerns or warding off inclement weather. After all, the hat was originally a fashion statement, stepping into the spotlight on the heads of noble women during the Middle Ages. This winter presents the perfect opportunity for women to combine the practical with the fashionable. Washington pediatrician Dr. Howard Bennett explained that one of the best ways to keep the cold air away on chilly days is to cover your head. In fact, it’s vital, especially since “the part of your body that is most often exposed to the elements during the winter is your poor defenseless head,” said Howard. The beanie is the classic head apparel for the winter. It can be used as purely a fashion piece, but this style is geared more toward warding off the Icelandic temperatures of Syracuse. The soft knit cap is cozy, and it’s the perfect throw-on-andgo hat. Another great dual-styled hat to take advantage of during the wintertime is the floppy knit cap. It’s oversized so it covers the whole of your head, and although this type of hat is great for keeping your head warm, most women wear it for stylistic reasons (or to cover a bad hair day). It adds a relaxed and casual feel to any outfit. The perfect way to rock this hat is by positioning it slightly off your hairline so there is enough room for your fabulous hair to peak out in the front and in the back. It’s really easy to get into the habit of throwing on everyday knit caps, but wintertime is the best excuse to experiment. Try bringing Paris to Syracuse for the day by wearing a wool French beret, but make sure to stay away from black and white — that’s stepping dangerously close to mime territory. Instead, go for a brighter look like teal or yellow. It’ll add a pop of color to the mundane colors of winter.

On It

Put a HAT 10

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

Although Syracuse is definitely not Russia, that doesn’t mean women can’t borrow from its well of fashion sense. Step out of your comfort zone and experiment with fur pillbox hats that bring you back to the ski slopes. They’re snuggly and soft, and perfect for when the snow starts to fall. If you attempt to pull off this look, however, make sure to pair it with something equally gentle like a cashmere cardigan. And if you want to get extra fancy and go “old school,” wear a muff to keep your hands just as warm and decorative. Winters in Syracuse are brutal, and sometimes the only thing you can focus on is surviving until spring. It’s easy to let the gray days get you down, making your wardrobe suffer as a result. So try to challenge yourself this winter. See the cold weather as an opportunity to expand your fashion horizons rather than stifling them. It may be corny, but when you look good you really do feel good — so allow the hat to do that for you this winter. Check out @SyrWomanMag and @AmariPollard on Twitter to find more on fashion and what’s happening this month.

Au Chocolat

::fab

finds

Delectable Holiday Shopping at

by ALYSSA LAFARO Each fall in mid-November, chocolate and shopping come together at Au Chocolat in the Village of Baldwinsville. This village-wide open house features 20 of Baldwinsville’s specialty boutiques, each featuring wonderful holiday shopping deals, hospitality and prizes — and a delicious chocolate snack. Some boutiques offer small treats like Hershey kisses or miniature candy bars, while others feature products like Stonewall Kitchen’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Carmel Sauce and Funky Chunky artisan-crafted confections. This year’s fifth annual Au Chocolat takes place Thursday, Nov. 20, from 3 to 9 p.m. Each participant receives a passport to get stamped at each shop visited. A limo bus service is available for inclement weather, and will transport attendees from store to store. The following six vendors are both old and new to the event, and offer a wide array of unique gifts, from country crafts to cupcakes! To learn about the other 14 participating boutiques, visit page [39]. 12 november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

Gifts for men and women at The Gift Shop at Village Hardware

Ready your holiday buffet table with Deborah’s Sweet Treats Decadent, brightly colored cupcakes immediately catch the eye of sugar enthusiasts who enter Deborah’s Sweet Treets at 52 Oswego St. A variety of breads, cookies and cakes also entice visitors — and the best part is they’re all gluten-free. Deborah Fuller opened her sweet shop in Jaunary 2013 to give people with Celiac Disease a delectable option for breads and sweets. “I want people with Celiac to know that eating can still be fun,” she told me. “I hope that by participating in Au Chocolat, people will discover that we are here and open.” For more information, visit deborahssweetreats.com.

Crafty gifts for loved ones at Kiwi Country Rustic, wooden signs with quaint sayings cover the walls, while lamps, candles, soaps and a variety of other trinkets fill the shelves. There’s no doubt that Kiwi Country on 2 Mechanics St. is a country store, but what makes it unique is that all its wooden products are handmade. Owner Linda Savacool has been located in what’s known as the “little red house” for more than 10 years, and has participated in Au Chocolat since 2009. “It’s great, because even though people may have come to the event to visit someone else’s shop, they’ll find mine along the way.” For more information, visit kiwi-country.com.

Relax and rejuvenate this winter at La Tresse by Renee

“We love Au Chocolat because it brings so many people through the salon who wouldn’t normally come in or find us because we’re tucked around back,” shared Renee Newton, owner of La Tresse by Renee on 20 Oswego St. This salon and spa, which celebrates five years of participating in the event, prides itself on hand-selecting employees right out of beauty school, and is “constantly continuing education so that no bad habits are formed.” On the eve of Au Chocolat, visitors can take advantage of a discounted, $25 spa pedicure certificate, which normally costs $40, that is good to use up to six months after the event. For more information, visit latressesalon.com.

Home for the holidays at a la Maison It’s no surprise that a la Maison at 25 Syracuse St., carries home décor, accents and gifts. The name, after all, is French for “at home.” Owner Michelle Graham was inspired to open a home décor store after working in ad sales for Southern Living magazine. Her store is known for both its distinctive décor, and accessories and gifts for the home, such as wall art, lighting and giftware items like pottery, wine accessories, and bath and body products. She has been participating in Au Chocolat since 2011. “I really love the energy of the event,” she told me. “It’s really festive, and the village of Baldwinsville comes to life. For me, personally, it’s a chance to meet with established customers and friends, and share the store with new ones.” For more information, visit alamaisonaccents.com.

Find beautiful and festive centerpieces at DeVine Designs

Devine Designs by Gail joined the Baldwinsville community just one month ago on Oct. 1! Located at 52 Owego St., this florist offers an array of floral and novelty creations, plants and balloons of all varieties, custom gift baskets and more. An Au Chocolate newbie, store owner Gail Holmes says she is “looking forward to letting the community know I am there and what I offer. I am happy to be a part of something for the greater good of Baldwinsville.” Gail opened this second location after having much success at the original, which opened in September 2009 on East Broadway in Fulton. For more information, visit bvilleflorist13027.com.

finds

Find the drill he’s been begging you for, along with a scarf for your girlfriend all at one place this holiday season — Village Hardware on 43 East Genesee St. Several years after the opening of Village Hardware in 1980, the store inserted a gift shop to offer unique gifts for all ages. The gift shop features an everchanging selection of women’s accessories, children’s gifts, Irish novelties, greeting cards, and wine and entertainment gifts. “Over the years our shop has been a unique place for our community to come and shop for all-season gifts,” said Joanna Ferguson. “We’ve been participating in Au Chocolat since it started. I love bringing people out to our Baldwinsville community in the spirit of the holidays and sharing good times with friends.” For more information, visit acevillagehardware.com/giftshop.

finds

::fabulous

::fab

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November 20th 3-9pm Join us for “Au Chocolat” fun and festivities A Jolly Holiday Surprise awaits you on the front porch! 49 Oswego Street, Baldwinsville 315-638-1981 • thenantucketcat.com Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm

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::special

feature

home

weet

Sandy Bargainnier teaches nine boys from Africa what it means to have family in America

by Alyssa LaFaro I photos by Gerard H. Gaskin

“It all started with soccer,” Sandy Bargainnier told me. About two years ago, Sandy’s son Morgan — a Jamesville-DeWitt (JD) soccer player and member of Soccer Central — was asked to play for the Fowler High School indoor soccer team. “Chris Pelligra coaches soccer for both Soccer Central and Fowler. He’s also a JD soccer parent, and noticed Morgan wasn’t getting much play time as goal keeper during the club season, so he asked him if he’d like to play for Fowler.” Little did Sandy know, that one decision of her son’s would change her entire life. Last fall, Sandy invited the whole JD soccer team over to her home for a party. “You have a big house,” said Coach Chris Pelligra. “Yeah, I’ve got too many bedrooms,” laughed Sandy. “How many bedrooms?” he asked. “Six.” “Really? I need a bedroom. I have a kid who needs a place to live.” Since coaching at Fowler, Chris has done so much to help his players, most of whom are refugees or immigrants. At the time, Chris had a player named Jean Paul Mboyo living with him. Jean Paul had been separated from his mom a few years ago when she decided to go to Iowa for full-time work. Jean Paul could have joined her, but he opted to stay in Syracuse. His mother left him in the care of a friend. The arrangement presented many challenges and it did not work out. To survive, he lived on and off with Chris, and couch-surfed throughout his friends’ homes. So on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, Jean Paul moved in with Sandy and her husband Steve, along with their two sons Morgan and Casey. “Morgan said he didn’t mind because he was going off to college, and Casey said he was fine with it.” Moving Jean Paul in was the easy part. “Jean Paul has never really had a lot of boundaries,” she told me. “He was on his own from a very young age, with very little supervision. So all of a sudden here’s this Congolese refugee boy who’s been in the Syracuse city north side, pretty much unsupervised. So after four years in America he moves in with a white, suburban soccer mom. He had boundaries and had to go to school and had to get up and had to be on time. There was never an issue of time and schedule before.” Sandy helped him obtain Medicaid and struggled to get access to his records at the school so she could have him tested. The problem was that Sandy wasn’t his legal guardian; she wasn’t his foster parent. Sandy spent five months going back and forth with the school, and was finally able to get him tested. Jean Paul may be in his last year of school, but at least he finally gets the help and attention he needs. Today, Jean Paul is part of Sandy’s everyday routine. “We drive him every morning at 6:45 a.m. to Westcott Street. He takes a bus downtown and has to make a transfer. He’s got an hour on the bus every day, to and from home. That’s been tough. During soccer season, his coach picks him up and drops

:special

feature

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him off. Chris has always driven the team around and gets them where they need to go. But Jean Paul’s life is on the west side and the north side.” And that’s where the other half of this story comes into play — the other eight boys besides Jean Paul that have become part of Sandy’s family. Once Jean Paul moved in, Sandy wanted to know who he was hanging out with. “He doesn’t talk much, and I needed to learn about this kid. I am an incredible Facebook and social media investigator. So I got on Facebook, and sat there with an urban dictionary and texting dictionary in order to understand who he was talking to and what they were talking about. I figured out who he shouldn’t be with and who was okay to be with. I wanted to surround him with good people, and I knew the soccer team was good people.” She started learning more about the boys he played on the team with, and encouraged Jean Paul to bring them into her home. “Titan was the first friend of his we opened our home and hearts to,” she said. “He is Jean Paul’s second cousin. Then there’s Rafiki. The three of them were at all three of the same refugee camps as kids. They’re basically brothers from another mother. They all grew up together.” Then Sandy met Bonnke, Nyezee, Adan, Karebo, Chris and Kofi. Since getting to know the boys, Sandy has really influenced them to look at continuing their education. Both Sandy and Steve are professors, Sandy at SUNY Oswego and Steve at Syracuse University (SU). During April break, she took six of the boys for visits at Onondaga Community College (OCC), SUNY Oswego and SU. And they took Bonnke to Hobart College this fall. Since then, she’s helped send Titan and Rafiki to OCC. Once they started the process, she realized how much it was going to cost. They needed laptops, various deposits, books and food, outside of tuition. Grants only cover so much. Even though she helped Rafiki get a job at Wegmans by conducting mock interviews with him, as a commuter student he still needed help with transportation from OCC to work and home. So, she set up a GoFundMe site. “I raised $5,500, and was able to get them both laptops and pay deposits,” explained Sandy. “We outfitted Titan’s dorm room and helped them rent books. We did the same for Nyezee who was at SU in a six-week engineering program this summer. But now that money is gone. I feel like I’ve tapped out my friends and family, and I’m getting nervous. How are we going to help the rest?” Each boy has such wonderful aspirations, too. Titan wants to be a lawyer, with a focus on peace/conflict studies and immigration law. Rafiki would like to get into the radiology imaging program at Upstate. Bonnke is “very gifted in math and science,” said Sandy, and will probably go into engineering or medicine. Nyezee and Adan are looking into mechanical engineering and programs at ESF, and Kofi is interested in chemistry. Jean Paul hopes to learn a trade through Job Corps, and is currently training to become a barber. “That week I took them for college visits, Nyezee said, ‘I learned so much that I didn’t know, but I know it’s about who I know.’ It was sort of this epiphany of, Wow. There’s a lot in the world I didn’t know about and special people can help you make connections. I felt really touched that he had this amazing week that opened his eyes to things he didn’t understand or know about. That people are there to care about him. These boys are hard workers and good kids, and deserve a good future.” If you are interested in helping these boys with funds for college, please visit the GoFundMe site at gofundme.com/Wisdom-is-Wealth. syracuseWomanMag.com :: november 2014

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november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

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words ::in her own

Advocate

for Animals this Holiday Season by Linda Young I photo by Chris Szulwach

Sometimes folks do a double-take when they see an Animal Alliance of Greater Syracuse (AAGS) member wearing an AAGS cap or shirt — it reads, “I’m into S and N!” While the whimsical cat and dog beneath the slogan flaunt BandAids on their bellies, AAGS’ message and mission are dead serious: Neutering pets drastically reduces pet homelessness and euthanasia. AAGS’ response to the fact that only 10 percent of pets living in lowincome households are neutered is to create a high-volume, high-quality, very low-cost spay-neuter clinic that would operate five days a week, 50 weeks a year. Capable of sterilizing 9,000 pets each year, our clinic will provide transportation for those without a vehicle, can relieve our space-strapped shelters, and will work closely with our dedicated but overwhelmed local rescues. Spay-neuter surgery is the single most effective weapon against pet suffering and euthanasia, a tiny fix that solves a big problem. Syracuse alone has one of the highest euthanasia rates in New York State. AAGS has been accepted into the training program at the Humane Alliance in North Carolina, the premier training center for high-volume, high-quality, spay-neuter clinics. We are pursuing grants with which to purchase a site and equipment and to train staff. We also must raise $30,000 locally to cover additional start-up costs. Founded in 2010 in response to the trial of a local woman being held responsible for the alleged act of spaying and neutering two feral cats in a colony she was caring for, the Animal Alliance expanded our advocacy to promoting laws that benefit all animals. We are supporting a bill in the NYS legislature that would move the weak animal-related statutes currently in the “Agriculture and Markets” section of our state system into the penal code to better empower law enforcement to enforce cruelty laws. To strengthen the safety net for animals, AAGS supported the creation of the Syracuse Police Department’s Cruelty Investigator position, now filled 22 october 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

admirably by Officer Becky Thompson. We are a founding member of the newly formed CNY Animal Cruelty Task Force, a perfect fit for our “Court Watch” initiative. Victims of animal cruelty are often punished twice — first by the abuser and then by a system that impounds them for sometimes more than a year if they are not surrendered by their owners. Court Watchers (members of AAGS and partner organizations, along with interested citizens) attend every hearing from arraignment on through the trial, if there is one, submitting respectful letters to the judges and assistant district attorneys on behalf of the victims. While Court Watchers do follow court proceedings in county towns and villages, the bulk of the abuse cases are prosecuted within the city. In an attempt to ensure victims’ future safety and possible adoption, Court Watch members also advocate for abusers to relinquish their animals. Acknowledging the documented “link” between violence done to animals and violence to humans, Court Watchers speak for the voiceless and for the community-at-large. A founding member and ongoing supporter of the Animal Welfare Coalition, AAGS was actively involved in the birth of the Healthy Pet Clinics, currently spearheaded by the Shamrock Animal Fund. We were also instrumental, with the cooperation of the City Clerk’s Office, in bringing dog licensing to the clinics. Licensing is the means by which numerous other municipalities across the country fund their animal care and control programs. AAGS welcomes volunteers! Contributions to the spay-neuter fund may be sent to PO Box 94, Liverpool, NY 13088. Donations may be made by credit card at rally.org/AAGS, or by credit card or PayPal on the Facebook page at facebook. com/AnimalAlliance, or on the website at animalallianceofgreatersyracuse.org.

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RUN

IT’S A WONDERFUL by Alyssa LaFaro

Imagine you’re on the bridge from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Snow slowly drifts downward from the sky, kissing your already red cheeks as you admire the view of Bedford Falls. “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,” exclaims ZuZu. And then — you’re off! Decked out in your spandex leggings and winter jacket with your sneakers tied tight, you’re running down the streets of Seneca Falls, what locals call “the original Bedford Falls,” in the It’s a Wonderful Run 5K.

For the past five years, runners near and far have traveled to the small town of Seneca Falls to run in a race themed after one of the most beloved holiday movies of all time, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Karolyn Grimes, who played ZuZu in the movie, really does say her above famous line, signifying to runners that it’s time to take off. The bells tied to the 4,000-plus runners’ shoes reverberate throughout the town, alerting nearby neighbors that it’s time to step outside their homes and cheer them on. “The community really comes together to support the runners for this event,” explained Tina Rook, one of the race organizers. About six years ago, Tina’s husband Jeff was on his way to run a race with his best friend Kevin Korzeniewski, when he came up with the idea for the race. He wanted to organize a local race to raise money for charity and tie it to the Bedford Falls theme. “Kevin, his wife Jolene and I all thought he was crazy,” laughed Tina. “But we told him we’d help him do it. We figured we could get 200 people to do it, most of which would be family members. We had 400 participants that year, and couldn’t be more shocked. It really was just this grassroots project.” 24

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

This year marks the sixth anniversary for the race, which will be held on Dec. 13. The race directors have decided to cap the run at 4,000 entrants — “to maintain the intimacy,” said Tina. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to charity. The House of Concern, a local organization that helps those in need with basic necessities like food, clothes and household items, receives most of the profits, but money also goes to 20 to 30 other charities. The Red Cross, local parent teacher organizations, Seneca Falls VFW Post and Downtown Deli, which hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for people without families each year, are a few of the organizations that also receive money from the race. “Every year we say it can’t get bigger, and then the following year it does,” laughed Tina. “And we’re shocked each year. I couldn’t ask for more from the runners and walkers who come. They really get into the spirit. They dress up and are always in a good mood. It’s absolutely contagious. People walk with their kids in strollers; people walk their dogs. But people can still be competitive and achieve a personal record. We just wanted to do something that makes people feel good about the holiday, and start the Christmas season on a good note.” For more information about the race, visit itsawonderfulrun5k.com. The 5K is held in conjunction with the “It’s a Wonderful Life” Festival held each year in Seneca Falls, and participants are encouraged to stay the whole weekend. Enjoy roasted chestnuts, a craft fair at “Bailey Park,” a festival of wreaths, the Bedford Falls Gingerbread House Contest and more. Visit therealbedfordfalls.com for more information.

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SKILLED NURSING

REHABILITATION

cuse ::new in the

Crates Full of Memories by Alyssa LaFaro

Salamida State Fair Spiedie Sauce. Hinerwadel’s Famous Salt Potatoes. Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans. These items aren’t just Central New York staples — they’re jarred, bagged and canned memories.

state. “Companies can make it their corporate gift for the holidays or give it to new employees who move into the area. I’m really trying to do more business-to-business work.”

“When I was a kid, every Saturday I’d watch football with my dad and have Hoffman’s hot dogs and chocolate milk,” explained Tommy Connors. “That was every Saturday. It was a ritual. Now, 30 years later, when I go to a game with my dad, we have a hot dog. Life gets kind of crazy sometimes, but you have little moments like that where you can go back to a time when life was a little easier. And if I didn’t live in Syracuse, I would pay a good dollar to have one so I could go back and relive that feeling with my dad.”

Tommy wants Syracuse Crate to expand beyond the holidays — it’s a gift that can be given 365 days out of the year. For the month of October, in honor of Columbus Day, he discounted the “Northside Crate,” which is full of Italian items. “And during football and basketball season I’ve created a ‘Tailgate Crate.’ It has plates, napkins, SU cups, and all you need is a grill and some alcohol and you’re good to go. Plus, people are constantly moving into new homes and celebrating weddings and birthdays. I really think it can be a yearround business.”

That’s exactly why Tommy purchased Syracuse Crate this past June. The business, founded by native Luke Naughton in 2008, strives to keep Syracuse staples alive for those who have moved away and, for those new to town, introduces them to the flavors of the area. Tommy purchased the business from Luke with the hope to continue its legacy. Each “crate” has its own theme and features an array of local products. The “Northside Crate,” for example, contains Italian favorites like Pasta’s of Armory Square Hot Tomato Oil, Joey’s Famous Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce and Salt City Hungarian Peppers, while the “Breakfast Crate” showcases items like New Hope Mills Buttermilk Pancake Mix, Skaneateles Sugar Shack Pure Maple Syrup and Recess Coffee Westcott Blend Beans. “There’s a pretty strong demand for it,” shared Tommy. “One of the first things I did when I started taking it over was create a Facebook page. I was surprised to see all the feedback I got.” Syracuse natives who have family abroad aren’t the only ones who love the concept — local business owners like to send crates to new clients from out of 26

october 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

He’s not against taking special requests, either. He’s picked up items like pumpernickel rye bread from Harrison Bakery and a Nike Syracuse Football shirt from Dick’s Sporting Goods at Destiny USA, to name a few. Tommy also tries to incorporate new local items into his crates. “I’m trying to use the coattails of the old-school items to introduce the newer ones, like Stick Boy Coffee, Better Brittle and Groovy Granola in Baldwinsville. “If you love what you do, it’s easy to be passionate about it, and it’s easy to be successful,” concluded Tommy. “I absolutely love this job. I love all the interaction I get to have with people. You know, the 80-year-old woman that calls me because she doesn’t have the Internet and wants to book some crates over the phone. Or the guy that will call to order a crate, and talk to me for 20 minutes about his connection to Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans. I’m bringing good memories back to people.” For more information about Syracuse Crate, visit syracusecrate.com.

story ::cover

mira

more to the 28

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

::cover

BY FARAH F. JADRAN I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CINDY BELL

As soon as the cool Central New York autumn air turns into a cold and blustery winter, we start to do, think and feel the holiday spirit. Although we might complain about the chill, we are certainly warmed by the events that lie ahead. We are looking forward to gathering with family and friends, and enjoying the annual grand traditions of the region. The holiday season incites our spirit to give and inspires us to be grateful for all that we have instead of focusing on what we want. But what happens when you have been given “so much” — yet you still continue to want or wonder? No matter how many positive events or blessings we may receive, we will always be human and we will always wonder what else is out there and ultimately, we will always want more. That is the reality of life — we are always living for today and wanting tomorrow. It is up to us to find our purpose, establish a balance and remember to be grateful for what we have been given.

LIVING MIRACLE

“I was supposed to be happy.” While our human nature would only leave us wanting more, it also leaves us assuming that someone touched by a miracle would be forever grateful and living with unending joy. This just isn’t the case. “I didn’t believe I deserved to want or need the things I wanted and needed,” said Kate D. Mahoney. “I felt I shouldn’t use words like ‘fight’ or ‘battle’ because with so much illness and crisis, the fight was supposed to be behind me. It was supposed to be easier. I paced around my house lonelier than I’ve ever been but couldn’t pick up the phone or go outside.” Kate’s “miracle story” may be a familiar one to you, but her reality is most likely a lesser-known journey.

After many weeks of praying for intercession from Mother Marianne — a former Central New York woman known for her ministry to patients with leprosy — Kate was released from Crouse Hospital on March 18, 1993.

Kate’s recovery is a miracle, according to the Roman Catholic Church. “Traditionally reserved for the Christmas season the lights [at Crouse] were turned on in February of 1993 when I was out of the ICU and recovering,” Kate shared. “The switch board received over 600 calls/inquiries as to why the lights were on and they were told that it was because a little girl (me) missed Christmas and her family and friends were celebrating now.” A miracle — a beautiful thought, but also an immense responsibility, one that Kate would take on for the rest of her life. “Maybe you don’t think a ‘miracle girl’ could have so much doubt, fear, or pain,” Kate said. “You might even be thinking, right now, ‘She doesn’t deserve to feel sadness after being given so much!’” Kate was given the gift of life more than once, and she has been grateful for this miracle, the support of family and their prayers, and also the prayers from the Sisters of the St. Francis convent. However, Kate was struggling to live as the “miracle girl” when she was still learning how to do this each day. “There was a time, not so long ago, I lost my message. I lost my purpose. I suffered from severe depression and anxiety, panic attacks that took away my ability to breathe let alone function,” she described. “It crept in and took over slowly, gently almost. Before I knew it, I couldn’t face what I felt was total failure. I believed I had let everyone around me down.” For a long time, Kate tried to continue on in numerous directions, but only to feel she came up short once again. She wrestled with her thoughts — did she have the best job, was she pretty enough, was she thin enough, was she grateful enough, was she humble enough? Kate shared these doubts with me, among others, and with complete candor. “There wasn’t an answer I could give that would be what anyone wanted to hear,” Kate admitted. “I didn’t make sense to anyone anyway. So I stayed silent. It truly terrified me. And it almost killed me.”

acle... Her story includes intense moments going back more than 20 years. In December 1992, Kate’s health was in the hands of prayers and ultimately — a miracle. Kate, at the age of 14, was experiencing organ failure after an adverse reaction to chemotherapy that was meant to treat germ cell ovarian cancer.

story

At age 14, Kate was in a “strange place” altogether, and her illness brought on so many more challenges when she was trying to just be a normal kid that went to school. Instead, Kate said she had a role created for her and she would begin each day knowing she was indeed a living miracle. Now, she has come a long way from days of confusion and struggle. It was never an easy battle. “With the support of my mom and multiple healing practitioners, I slowly started to crawl out of the nothingness,” Kate said. “I wake up every day. In between deadlines, work obligations and even the mundane I fight, battle, harness happiness. I actually put it in my planner. By the time I go to bed it has morphed into gratitude.”

syracuseWomanMag.com :: november 2014

::cover

story

While working through her thoughts, Kate had these written words to share with me, and of course, the readers of Syracuse Woman Magazine:

always been. I learned this especially from my grandmother and mother.”

We work so hard to achieve what we think we want, what we think we’re supposed to have, but in this fast paced, instant-gratification world we live in, there are still simple things that we need to survive which exist inside ourselves and within reach. Honesty is a slippery slope. It’s imperative to me, but not everyone is deserving of my deepest fears, wildest dreams.

Although Kate was once pursuing her acting career in Chicago, she returned to Syracuse to take on the role of caregiver to her parents — a role she took on for a period of time before even heading to the Windy City in 2006.

So why publish this in a magazine? If one person reads this and feels comfort, courage, empathy, hope… that’s the one who needed me to share this. I can’t give people a belief system any more than I can make them believe in miracles. I can tell a story, share my faith journey and offer support depending on the circumstance. The goal is always letting everyone who comes along my path know that they matter.

In 2009, her mother, Mary Speno Mahoney, had a hip replacement and her father, John Francis Mahoney, was very ill with ailments that included liver cancer, and he was projected to have only a few months to live. “That was a very clear and effortless decision,” said Kate of her return to Syracuse.

My happiness, my survivorship philosophy might not be yours — but for me surviving cancer, the death of my father, my mother’s illnesses and surgeries, lots of loss, life in general — surviving a “bad” day or creating a great day — it’s the same tool kit. Music brings me joy. Whether it’s an impromptu dance party in the car or my living room to pop music from any decade or cooking while listening to Fellini, Verdi, Strauss. Animal love, snuggles, wagging tails... yes I am the girl who answers “puppies and kittens.” The kindness of strangers will likely bring tears to my eyes until the day I die. Writing, storytelling, putting on characters: That’s the stuff that really fuels the adventurous part of my spirit — where, why, how, what, when — everyone matters. Everyone. “Yes, and...” It’s a phrase from my improv training, but it makes sense in every part of life. Memories — my parents were/are activists and from the time I could comprehend emotions, let alone intellect, I was aware of the impact we could have on our community — whatever shape it took. But they always made room for silliness. One of my most cherished memories of my dad, and mom, all of us together, is when he would be telling a joke or a story, unable to complete it or hit the punch line because it made him laugh so hard he couldn’t speak. The sense memory of that ripple effect is a gift. Saying, “thank you,” out loud. As a culture we spend a lot of time and energy using defeatist language on ourselves and others. Imagine if in one breath, we could just wipe that all away with gratitude, elevating us all, if only for a moment.

BEING REAL

Kate has spent a lot of time thinking about who she was when she was sick. She has given many talks and speeches on the miracle, but mainly that — the miracle. Now, Kate is on a mission to continue to educate others about the miracle and what it means in terms of her faith, but also, she looks forward to sharing the “realness” of what she actually endured. “The whole story isn’t the miracle,” Kate said. “Having life doesn’t mean it’s easy.” Kate’s genuine smile reflects her newly realized perception. “We shouldn’t just smile and say. ‘I’m OK,’ when we are not,” Kate said. “I work from a place of caring for the narrative and not judging a book by its cover. As soon as you think you know what you’re talking about, you have shut yourself off from growth. We are lifetime learners — that’s how my family has 30

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

However, Kate began to struggle with her “purpose” and what would become of her future. Although her father was sick, they still had their misunderstandings and their bad days, like all families. “Everything is not beautiful,” Kate said. “We have love and honesty in our home. There is being present…10 times out of 10 that is wonderfully satisfying, deeply.” John Francis Mahoney passed away on Nov. 24, 2012. A week after he was buried, Mary Speno Mahoney was alerted that she had a tumor on her brain. “We viewed it as a gift. We never had time to come down from the numbness after my father died.” Kate and her mother made a collective effort to make the most of what they believed would only be one month of time left together. “We had fancy parties and enjoyed fancy meals,” said Kate as they prepared for her surgery. “We’ve had years of experiencing crisis and getting through it. There were years I couldn’t do it. I am not super human. No, I am just human.” Her mother recovered after a successful procedure that took place on Dec. 31, 2012. And again, the Mahoney women would go on living. Although her father passed away the week of Thanksgiving, the holiday itself continues to be her favorite because it has always been about being grateful — truly grateful — it’s not about the “stuff,” she said. “I am the recipient of a miracle, but I am just a person,” Kate said. “Mother Marianne humanized saints for me. It’s not a coincidence she was elected to the Women’s Hall of Fame. She was a force to be reckoned with. She was a teacher, a sister, a mother and a friend, and a medical administrator…and you can aspire to be all of this. The medical crisis requires faith and science — Mother Marianne embodied that in her role as medical administrator.” Yes, Kate, like everyone else, has struggles, but it has only amplified her gratitude. “If I had never been sick I wouldn’t have been so well versed as a caregiver for my parents and by extension feel such a strong sense of identity in my role of advocate,” Kate said. “The depression came when my purpose was lost because for the first time in my life I was neither a patient nor a caregiver.” Now, there is more to the miracle — there is Kate. To inquire about Kate D. Mahoney as a speaker and her soon-to-be published work, please email her at mahoneykated@gmail.com for more information. About the author of this article: Farah F. Jadran is the former and (first editor) of Syracuse Woman Magazine. You can find her on Twitter at @FarahJadran. She is now the social media manager for all of Time Warner Cable News, TWC SportsChannel and TWC Community.

::i am that

lady

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november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

n a Budget

liday Dinner

lady

::i am that

by Lauren Greutman The holidays are a time for getting together and sharing conversation and food with the ones you love. My husband and I spend the holidays with 24 of our family members, and 14 of those family members are under the age of 9. It can get expensive and stressful to cook and entertain for that many people during the holidays, so we have come up with some non-traditional ways to still be able to cook a big family holiday dinner, but on a budget.

1.) Thanksgiving Dinner. In order to keep the cost down for Thanksgiving

dinner, we have a few strategies. Here is what we do: The host prepares the turkey, and all of the other family members bring the sides and desserts. This helps keep the cost down for everyone. We send out a Google Doc the month before, and everyone signs up for a dish or two, which makes it very easy to guarantee that we have all of our traditional sides covered, and add in any additional ones we want to try that year.

auren’s Easy ognese Sauce

Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 45 minutes Serves: 8

Ingredients

ef, 1 lb ground sausage,1 celery stalk, medium-sized carrots, finely chopped, ced 4-6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced, h, 6 oz. tomato paste, 1 can crushed oz.), 1½ tsp oregano, 1½ tsp basil pepper, 1 tsp salt, ½ cup whole milk

Directions

n, combine sausage, beef, onions, carrots y and cook over medium heat. then cook for another 10 minutes or so to soften vegetables. nd cook for an additional 2 minutes. Drain meat. her ingredients, bring to a boil and mer for about 10 minutes.

2.) Christmas Dinner on a Budget. We decided a few years ago that instead of cooking a big Christmas feast, we would opt for something less expensive and much easier to prepare. We now make our family homemade sauce recipe and serve chicken parmigiana for dinner. We can prepare the chicken the night before, and this creates an easier and less expensive meal option. 3.) Another thing that we do to keep the cost down during the holidays as a

large family is skip the big meal and opt to do hors d’oeuvres all day instead. With 14 kids under the age of 9, it is not a very enjoyable time to sit down and eat dinner together. It probably is more stressful than fun. A few weeks before Christmas, we send out an email asking for everyone to sign up for a few appetizers. We serve these all day long, so people can eat as they want throughout the day. This makes for a very enjoyable day, free of stress.

4.) Shop at Aldi. Aldi is a fantastic place to get the baking and cooking

essentials at almost half the price. Check out the Aldi meal planning page on my website (iamthatlady.com), which features a holiday meal plan that teaches you how to cook a holiday meal, plus 20 other dishes for under $150 at Aldi.

5.) Use things you already have around the house. Growing up, my mom used to take the heels off the loaves of bread and stick them in a bag in the freezer. Then, at Thanksgiving, she would take out the bag and use those pieces of bread to make our Thanksgiving stuffing. A very simple tip saved her time and money every year. Most of all, you want to make sure that you plan ahead. One hour of planning saves four hours of execution. If you plan ahead the entire month before that big holiday dinner, I guarantee that you will save a lot of money! Lauren Greutman is the owner of THAT Lady Media LLC. For more information, visit her website iamthatlady.com, like her page at facebook.com/iamthatlady or follow her on Twitter at @iamthatlady.

::special

feature

isions of Gingerbread at the Erie Canal Museum by Diana Goodsight

Yum! The smell of Gingerbread is wafting through the Erie

Canal Museum as the holiday season approaches. With Central New York’s leaves changing colors and getting ever so close to that first snowflake falling from the sky, the Erie Canal Museum is preparing for the 29th annual Syracuse tradition. Celebrating 29 great years of helping our community celebrate the holiday season while showcasing the wonderful talents of so many local bakers is exciting. If you try really hard, you, too, will get a whiff of the most delicious aroma to ever please your senses.

Amateur bakers, kids, seniors and pros must all follow the rules of the competition — simply that the entire entry must be edible. That’s right, edible. Not that you would want to eat one after it’s been on display for a few months. But this one very simple rule brings out the most creative streak in our local residents as they use pasta for holding up the structure, graham crackers for walls, potatoes for animals, and food coloring to make the whole thing delectable and colorful. You would never guess how many types of candy and icing/fondant are used to build these awe-inspiring scenes.

During the holiday season in the early days of the Erie Canal Museum, the Weighlock Guild held annual exhibits and demonstrations featuring a variety of holiday traditions. In 1985, the restoration of the Weighlock Building’s weigh chamber and construction of the Frank B. Thomson canal boat inspired a new holiday tradition at the museum. It was a celebration of architecture and historic preservation. The theme of the first Gingerbread Gallery was “Victorian Architecture,” and the gingerbread houses on display were replicas of the local landmark buildings. “Gingerbread” referred not only to the building material, but also the Victorian gingerbread architectural detail.

When we say “gingerbread,” people often think of houses, but some of the most unusual entries have been things like Airstream Trailers, scenes from the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “The Wizard of Oz” tornado scene, the Onondaga County Court House, an Arabian castle, a sailing pirate ship, Crouse College, the White House, the Sherwood Inn, a cuckoo clock and even the Weighlock Building itself. There is no end to the creativity of our busy bakers, who have so much fun outdoing themselves each year for the amusement of so many.

Ever since that time, the museum’s second floor exhibit gallery has been transformed into an 1800s era Victorian village, with gingerbread creations on display in storefront windows. The houses are displayed and judged in various categories including “youth,” “group or family,” “corporate” and “confectioners.” Local judges are selected to choose the very best of each category with ribbons and awards presented to the best of show. The judge’s range from professional bakers to TV anchors — and even the mayor, on occasion. What a lovely job it is to study and rank about 40 of these fantastic creations.

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

The Gingerbread Gallery will be on display Nov. 21 through Jan. 4, 2015. The entrance fee is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for children 12 and under. A grand opening complete with cookies and cocoa will follow the tree lighting in Clinton Square the evening of Nov. 28. Special holiday hours for the event are Sunday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is located at 318 Erie Blvd. East, and parking is free at the Visitors Center parking lot on Erie Boulevard. For more information or directions, call 315-471-0593.

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women ::wboc’s leading

Crafting a new beginning

by Alyssa LaFaro I photo by Cindy Bell

There are two types of people in business. First come the veterans, who have owned their business for years, survived the woes of the economy and may have even become mentors to the second group — the newbies, who are just starting out, like a baby in the womb. Kathy Hastings is both. About 30 years ago, Kathy opened a country store called Goose & Gander Gift Shop. Just last December, however, she decided it was time to close. “I wanted a new start, something fresh,” she told me. “I decided I still love retail and working with the public and creating stuff.” She decided to give it another go and start a completely brand new business. “I wasn’t sure how to go about as an all new business again, so I met with the WISE Women’s Business Center,” she continued. “They helped me develop a business plan and ways for me to jump back into business.” For the first time in 30 years, she spent three months closed. She used that time to reinvent her brand and the entire store. Sweet Salvage was born. Today, it’s a women’s boutique. Kathy sells clothing and inspirational items, along with an array of handmade products created by local artisans. “I make a lot of the items, too, and do a lot of repurposing and upcycling. There’s also a studio next door, and I teach classes there on things like decorative painting.” In the midst of her reinvention, Kathy decided she also wanted to change the way she represented herself as a business owner in the community. So she joined WBOC (Women Business Opportunities Connections). “When I had my first shop, you didn’t do this. You didn’t network with women,” she admitted. “You were on your own, and there wasn’t really anywhere to get advice or encouragement.” Although Kathy just joined WBOC in September, she said she’s already “crazy loving” the organization. “WBOC — and WISE — are so empowering. You’re not alone. These women are just like me in many ways. They want to be successful entrepreneurs.” She strives to get involved with younger members of the organization, who are just starting out in business. They can help her learn the ins and outs of all the “new tech info,” and in return, she can offer up her 30 years of experience in the form of advice. Her best piece of advice? “Be successful, but always have fun — have fun, feel good and leave happy. Surround yourself with the things you love. That’s my mantra.” And although she didn’t say it directly, I think Kathy would advise everyone to keep an open mind. It can’t be easy starting all over again, but she’s doing it — and doing it fearlessly, by not only trying new things in business, but by changing the way she does business through outlets like WBOC. “I don’t know everybody, but meeting and going there and hearing other people’s stories, for me, is invaluable. It’s those experiences that make me a stronger individual and entrepreneur.” Here’s to another 30 years, Kathy. Women Business Opportunities Connections (WBOC) is a non-profit organization that has been supporting the Syracuse and CNY area for more than 20 years. To become a member, visit wboconnection.org or follow the organization on Twitter at @WBOConnection. Syracuse Woman Magazine is a signature sponsor of the WBOC.

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

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minute ::menopause

What’s SEX Got to Do With It By James Woods, MD and Elizabeth Warner, MD

Many women reach menopause and wonder what happened to their sex lives. They feel decreasing desire for vaginal sex, but crave partner intimacy and trust. Sexuality evolves as we age. Intimacy is defined in this context by Webster’s Dictionary as a close personal relationship marked by affection and love. It has also been used to denote sexual intercourse. Intimacy in menopause does not necessarily involve sexual intercourse. Anthropologists tell us that the driving purpose of sexual intercourse is to reproduce the species. Humans are in a rare group of primates in their desire for sexual monogamy. The human desire for sexual intercourse and intimacy continues throughout the lifespan of men and women despite the fact that a woman’s ability to reproduce rapidly declines after age 40 and ceases by about 50. Hormone blood levels, unfortunately, do not provide a clear picture of why sexual desire and satisfaction change over time for many women. Blood levels of androgens (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and androstenedione) decline by two-thirds between age 30 and 70 reaching a lower but stable level during menopause. Unfortunately, women with low libido and those with normal libido can have similar levels. We do know that removal of the ovaries in premenopausal and peri-menopausal women can precipitously cause many menopausal symptoms including decreased desire. Some antidepressant medications also can reduce libido. A recent AARP survey indicated that more than 70 percent of baby boomers said sex was still important and 54 percent were satisfied with their sex life. Yet 76 percent indicated that sexual desire had declined in the past 20 years and by age 75 to 85, only 16 percent of women and 38 percent of men were sexually active. Many emotional changes impact intimacy and sexuality around the time of menopause. Children leaving home, elderly parents becoming more dependent, job stresses, and relationship stresses all can effect sexual feelings. Women more than men often need the right “frame of mind” to have increased desire and sexual intimacy. The willingness to become aroused occurs first followed by sensing the emotion of desire which can then usually lead to pleasurable sexual intercourse. Emotional and physical obstacles, however, can interfere anywhere along this path. Sexual dysfunction can result from any of the following symptoms; loss of desire, difficulty in arousal or orgasm, or occurrence of discomfort or pain, AND personal distress about the problem. At the end of the day, each woman needs to decide how intimacy and sexual intercourse fit into her life. For many, partner intimacy and sexual satisfaction are not defined by genital function alone, but complimented by friendship, loyalty, history and trust. Is intimacy reflected by one’s sexual activities or instead the unanticipated flowers for no reason; the hand that holds yours during the darkest moments of cancer therapy, or the comfort of knowing that the foot touching yours in bed late at night loves you for being you? You choose. James Woods, MD is a practicing gynecologist and a regular contributor to Rochester Woman Magazine. Elizabeth Warner, MD, is a retired gynecologist living in Rochester, NY. For questions regarding this menopause minute or other menopausal issues you would like to see addressed in future editions, please call him at (585) 271-7800 or email him at james_woods@urmc.rochester.edu.

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

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it ::snap out of

Suck!

how to make the holidays not

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

::snap out of By Margaret Madigan

I’m Madge Madigan and welcome to my column. I will be planted here on a regular basis dispensing knowledge and useless facts and imparting words of wisdom that I obviously learned from someone else. You can find more stories that will make you smile and realize you’re not alone in wading through the crap in life in my book, “When Life Gives You Lemons… At Least You Won’t Get Scurvy!” What better time than November to discuss the ensuing holiday marathon that we will all try to endure? If you don’t manage to stress yourself out in some way, shape or form, someone else will. Oh I can pretty much guaran-damntee it. Between Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Festivus, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Mawlid Un Nabi, the Epiphany, and any other thing I left out… something is going to set you off. First and foremost, I would just like to make my stand on the holidays perfectly clear…

IT’S NOT A COMPETITION, PEOPLE! IT’S JUST A HOLIDAY! A DAY TO BE ENJOYED! I see so many Facebook and Twitter posts every holiday season that state how stressed out people are with the holidays. I was about to call the suicide prevention hotline for one woman, she seemed so on edge. I also saw another post that was so smug about how far ahead she was of the game with all her shopping and wrapping, I wanted to throw a shoe at her. There’s so much talk on social media and in real life about who’s going where and who’s making what. The whole week before Thanksgiving is all food talk, all the time. I don’t get myself worked up, ya’ know why? Because I… don’t make much. Best way to handle it. And I do everything on Thanksgiving Day. I’m not making homemade this and homemade that all week, I just do the turkey with my special basting slop, I do make homemade mashed potatoes (how hard is that?), I cut up a yam, and I make that green bean casserole because the kids love it. Hey, don’t judge! It’s about making the comfort food that my kids like that have become traditions. If I wanted the froo froo asparagus and pine nuts and junk, I’d go eat out. (which I love, by the way). Between the wine and the hot flashes, I sweat enough that day, I’m not doing any more than I have to! And that is why I buy my pies too. Then Christmas, oh my God with the Christmas! You know, I’ve never heard any of my Jewish friends stress out about Hanukkah. Okay, I’ve only heard one Jewish friend complain, but it was mostly about having to get on a plane to see her parents that happen to be at the further end of the AARP spectrum, who like to eat the early bird at Howard Johnson’s then go to bed at 7:30 every night while she’s there. But her complaining is usually just purely for comedic value anyway. However, she never complained about buying presents and decorating. Jewish folks make it simple, no tree, no decorations, one simple light fixture, eight days of presents so in case you forget something the first few nights... no pressure. Well, except there is a bit of food, but nary do I hear any complaining about all the schlepping to make it. So back to the Christmas. Enough already! Enough with the buying and the wrapping, and the baking, and the decorating and the parties… no wait, the parties can stay. It’s one thing if you really love this stuff, then do it, just

don’t be a martyr all over the place about it. Trust me, nobody likes a martyr. You know how to survive these holidays? Just chillax. What gets done, will get done. No one will notice that you forgot to put out your Wayne Newton dressed as Santa statuette. No one will notice that you only made a batch of sugar cookies and not peanut butter cookies. The kids won’t care if you wrapped their stocking stuffers or not. Just try to enjoy the spirit of Christmas, family and friends (yes, even if you hate your family). And speaking of that… what if you are thrust into a situation where you have to be with people you don’t particularly care for, nay even hate? Suck it up and deal. Be nice and civil. Remember you’re not the only person in the room. I know you have your pride but why ruin everyone else’s holiday as well as yours? Don’t be antagonistic, stay away from touchy subjects and hold your tongue if you are provoked. That will beat the hell out of having to post bail on Thanksgiving night for aggravated assault. I know some women have fantasies about exacting revenge on their mother-in-law that might look like Alexis and Krystle from “Dynasty,” rolling around slapping and ripping out shoulder pads. But most of the time those things end up looking like Snookie and Angela pulling out weaves on “Jersey Shore” with their skirt over their head showing their butt in a thong. Not pretty. Next thing you know you’re on an episode of “Cops.” As matter of fact, even if you like the people you will be spending the holiday with, just stay away from controversial topics all together that might start arguments---religion, politics, sex, and Grandma’s will. Back to the overdoing it and not being a competition with every other parent or homemaker in town. You might say, “What about the kids? It’s important for the kids.” Guess what? The kids will get over it; they don’t need every gift under the sun or to live in a winter wonderland every day of the holidays. I believe you might be teaching your kids a far more valuable lesson in life if they don’t get everything they want this year. I kid you not, there were years when things were rough being a single parent and my kids got construction paper or earrings or mittens from the Dollar Store. I cried and cried. Yes, I felt terrible that I couldn’t give my children everything I wanted to, but my children have learned that life isn’t fair and to be thankful for what they do get. I’d like to think I won’t be raising a bunch of spoiled ingrates. However, as a loving mother, I wish I had the means to raise spoiled ingrates just so they could have nice things, but I realize the life lesson and not having ingrates is better and will last a lifetime, unlike an iPad or Beats by Dre. Hey, didn’t that Christmas angel say, “Peace on Earth, good will toward men”? THAT’s what it’s about! Please everyone, spread peace and good will to others, and accept peace yourself. That’s really the key, peace within yourself; it feels wonderful and it’s uncanny how it spreads to others. Take a deep breath and relish the simple joys. And remember, you will not be put to death by lethal injection if the silverware isn’t polished or the stuffing is dry or the kids wouldn’t sit for the Christmas card photo. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, Happy Kwanza to all and to all a good night! And most importantly… Peace! Margaret “Madge” Madigan is the associate editor of Rochester Woman Magazine, and author of the best selling book, “When Life Gives You Lemons…At Least You Won’t Get Scurvy!”

cause ::for a good

Freedom causegift of the

::for a good

by Alyssa LaFaro I photos courtesy CNY Family Bike Giveaway

“A bicycle is a ticket to freedom.” Jan Maloff’s sentiment comes from a childhood spent in the ’60s, when he’d ride his bike back and forth from his house near Lemoyne College to Charles Andrews Elementary School. Along the way, he’d pass Elmcrest Children’s Center, which, today, offers residential and community-based services to families and children in need. “There were probably 100 kids — mainly boys — housed in these cottages up there, and after school, some of my friends and I would stay around and let them ride our bicycles because they didn’t have many. I think there were maybe one or two bikes available for all 100 kids.” Young and idealistic at the time, Jan thought to himself, If I ever become rich, I can give every kid a bike. “I never became rich,” he admitted, “but I try to give away as many bikes as I can.”

Each year, Jan — who is the funeral director at A. Dewitt Memorial Funeral Homes on South Salina Street — successfully doles out anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 bikes. Most of them are given away one week before Christmas at the CNY Family Bike Giveaway held at Fowler High School. The giveaway began almost two decades ago at a car detailing garage near St. Joseph’s Hospital. “The first year, I had 125 bikes to give away. I called Channel 9 news and the local paper, and told them what I was doing and when I was going to do it. When I arrived at the garage that morning, there was a line around the block. After 20 minutes we were completely out of bicycles. So, I put a plea out to the media, and within 10 days I had another 175 bicycles ready to give away. It set the tone for what the future would bring.” As the amount of bikes Jan collected each year grew, he knew he couldn’t do it all on his own. That’s when retired insurance agent 44

november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

Will DeSain stepped in. “He makes sure we have enough volunteers to help,” said Jan. Now, each November, the New York State Fair’s Center of Progress bursts to life as community members drop off old bicycles. On any given day, 10 to 15 volunteers will be there pumping up tires, changing tubes and brake cables, and making any other necessary repairs. Then, with Stephanie Miner’s blessing and a helping hand from the Department of Public Works, the 2,500-plus bikes are transported to Fowler High School. “Using the school as a giveaway site helps us get people out of the weather and into a hallway, where we allow groups of people to come in and select a bicycle. It’s interesting because it’s usually a pretty nasty day with snow, yet you’ll see kids riding away from the school on bicycles.” Jan also gives a handful of bikes away during the summer, and has a fully equipped utility trailer that he uses for onsite bike repair. He can be seen often driving around the south and west sides of town, offering bike repair services. “It’s important to note that I could not do this unless I had a community of volunteers,” said Jan, “a community that recognizes the program and donates bikes. If we didn’t have good people in this community, our program would not succeed. “I, personally, have very fond memories of riding bikes with my dad,” he concluded, “and I hope this program can replicate that for thousands of years to come. I really feel that I’ve done something good; that I’ve given some kid somewhere joy. I feel that I have had a blessed life.” For more information or to donate a bike, contact Jan Maloff at 315446-7570.

MARY T. SORRENDINO LMHC CASAC , BCPC

Mary is a licensed mental health counselor, a motivational speaker and a certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor. Her specialty is treating those who suffer from mental health and dependency issues. Mary provides therapy for individuals with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, anger management issues, relationship issues and for those who have been sexually abused. Mary utilizes different modalities of treatment specifically targeting the needs of each individual. Mary also offers group counseling for individuals who have PTSD and substance abuse issues. Mary has worked in ministry at her church as a counselor; she is well versed in scripture, and is able to provide therapy for clients who seek a Christian based approach. Recently, Mary published her memoir, Misery to Ministry, sharing her journey from a life of abuse and self-loathing to a victorious life in Jesus Christ.

If you wish to make an appointment, contact Mary at: (315) 436-6877 or marysorrendino.com

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arts ::queen of

R-E-S-P

Female performers of CNY pa by Alyssa LaFaro I photos courtesy Joanna Jewett

Joanna Jewett woke up one morning with a brilliant idea in her head — an evening of women paying tribute to women. “Central New York has a really rich and diverse music scene,” she explained. “It just came to me that it would be really dynamic to have some very well-known female performers get together for one night, and pay tribute to the female artists who inspired them to get into music.”

So Joanna developed the concept for Respect: CNY Celebrates Women in Music. The event will showcase 18 female performers from Central New York, each of which will perform two songs from the female musicians that inspire them. The proceeds from the event will go to The Centers at St. Camillus, a not-forprofit organization dedicated to caring for life through a broad range of health care services. Joanna is The november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

Center’s director of marketing, communications and public relations.

With 25 years of professional singing experience, Joanna will be one of the 18 who goes up on stage at The Palace Theatre the evening of Nov.13. “I started out singing at weddings and did a lot of theatre when I was young. I was part of the group called The Critics for almost 10 years. Their music was party/dance. I took a break from that, and played with the Cortini Brothers and J.A.K.K. Now I have an acoustic duo called the Mixed Tapes, and am the lead singer of Funkadelphia. I never thought I would get into event planning, but it goes with music so well.” The female artists singing alongside Joanna range in sound, talent and genre — from smoky blues to alternative rock to upbeat country. “We are a very diverse group of women, and the list of songs that will be played is very dynamic.”

P-E-C-T

ay tribute to women in music All performers except one are local, and include Donna Colton from Donna Colton & the Troublemakers; Ashley Cox from Professional Victims; Leila Dean from Honey Spoon; Miss E. from Miss E. and Off the Cuff; Marcia Hagan; Maureen Henesey from The Mere Mortals and The Easy Ramblers; Carolyn Kelly from The Carolyn Kelly Blues Band; Nancy Kelly; Terry Kohut from Pour Whyte Trash Band, Kate Kolb from Kat Tale; Letizia from Letizia and the Z-Band; Syracuse New Times music writer Jess Novak from Golden Novak Duo; Joanne Troy Perry from Joanne Perry and The Unstoppables; Sue Royal from The Shakedown and The Barndogs Plus; Robyn Stockdale from Lunachick Fringe; Anna Vogel from Anna Vogel Jazz; and Kat Dooley-Wandersee from Kat Tale. “A couple of the women are actually married to musicians,” added Joanna, “so we’ll have some husbands who are going to get up on stage and back up their wives. Robyn

Stockdale’s husband Bob Cane and Leila Dean’s husband Kevin Dean are both going to jump on the drums during their performances. We also have some women who are backing up others. Jess Novak, who is a singer/songwriter, is also a violin player, and she is going to accompany some of our performers. A couple of women are also backing up performers vocally. It’s all just coming together really well.” The response to the show has been phenomenal, Joanna told me, and people “can’t believe that all these performers will be on the same stage for one night. Everyone also keeps saying it’s kind of like the ultimate girls’ night out, which I agree with. There is definitely a real spirit of sisterhood about the event. I was hoping that would happen.” For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, visit respectcny.com.

Inspire syracuse women

Heather Wallace

President of the Junior League of Syracuse

by Samantha McCarthy I photo by Gerard H. Gaskin

“I need to be doing something all the time,” admitted Heather Wallace. Perhaps that’s why the Bailey Bags owner became president of the Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. (JLS) last year, and constantly strives to make a difference in the Syracuse community. Heather began Bailey Bags, an online retailer that sells women’s handbags, purses, totes, diaper bags and more, about five years ago. “I was interested in creating when I was growing up, and handbags started out as a hobby,” she explained. Heather knew creating handbags was a great idea when her son told her he’d been invited to a girl’s birthday party, and she made one for him to give as a gift. All the mothers at the party loved it. Nine years ago, Heather and her family moved from Philadelphia to Central New York. Heather has always had a passion for helping out and volunteering in her community. She had learned about the Junior League in college, and eventually decided she wanted to do more in Central New York. “I wanted to go beyond volunteering in my kids’ schools,” she explained. Upon seeing an ad in the local paper for the Junior League of Syracuse, she decided to join. “My drive was I wanted to improve and strengthen my skills,” she said, adding that volunteering in the community was also part of her decision to join the organization. The JLS president’s term is, typically, only one year, but Heather was asked to serve a second. “The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. (JLS) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable,” explains the organization’s website. Heather wants JLS to be seen as a “role model women’s organization” for all women. Currently, the group is discussing the issue of human trafficking. JLS members are educated about current women’s issues and ways to help to resolve the issue in the Syracuse area. The biggest fundraiser, the Holiday Shoppes, is going on this month from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16. The event will be held at NYS Fairgrounds in the Horticulture Building. On Friday, Nov. 14, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. This year marks the 19th anniversary for the holiday event, which attracts more than 5,000 people each year. JLS looks to bring in vendors who are unique artisans. There are a few goals Heather and JLS hope to achieve this year at Holiday Shoppes. First, they hope to raise money “to fund the JLS’ community impact and leadership development efforts in the greater Syracuse area.” Second, JLS wants to support the community by giving back during the event, and develop leadership within JLS. The organization is not simply hosting the event for high attendance rates, but to educate the community. JLS wants people to know who (continued on page 52)

inspire

“I try to remember to count my blessings every day when I look out the window at the beauty of the land.”

::sw

Juanita Critz

Co-Owner of Critz Farms by Amari D. Pollard I photo by Jussara Potter

Every child loves to dream about what they’ll be when they grow up — an actress, a doctor, the President of the United States. Most of the time, life is planned around those dreams. But no matter how hard people try to design their lives, the future isn’t always something you can anticipate. The co-owner of Critz Farms, Juanita Critz, can attest to that. She never imagined herself becoming a farmer and owning a farm, but almost 30 years later, Juanita can’t picture herself anywhere else. “I never imagined it at all,” said Juanita. “But I met and fell in love with my husband.” At the time Juanita met her husband Matthew Critz, he was a Christmas tree farmer who had recently purchased an out-of-use dairy farm in Cazenovia. There was little on the property except a few falling down barns and a petite old house. The two, who are first-generation farmers, reworked the land and essentially built Critz Farms from the ground up. Established in 1985, Critz Farms is comprised of 325 acres of land located less than 30 minutes outside of Syracuse. It offers a variety of produce, but its primary crops include pumpkins, apples and conifer trees. While it’s fun working with her husband, Juanita says there are challenges that come with work with your spouse, mainly because you work together 24/7 — even at dinner you talk about work. However, Juanita said, “It’s nice because we really complement one another in terms of our styles and skill sets.” For Juanita, the farm stands for so much more than just work; it represents family. Critz Farm is truly a family affair. For the past few years, Juanita’s youngest son has worked on the farm full-time as a farm manager, while her other two children and granddaughter pitch in whenever they can. Besides being surrounding by her family, Juanita said her favorite things about owning a farm are living on the land and customer interaction. “It’s a very beautiful place. I try to remember to count my blessings every day when I look out the window at the beauty of the land.” When it comes to work, there’s nothing more Juanita loves than the relationships she builds with visitors. Although Critz Farms may not always have a constant influx of visitors due to the changing seasons, Juanita loves to see people when they do come to the farm, have a great time and are able to give positive feedback. She said that aspect is very rewarding. While fall (mid-September to the end of October on the farm) is the busiest time for Critz Farms, they remain relatively busy during November as preparation for Christmas begins. The Christmas season officially starts on Critz Farms the day after Thanksgiving. Visiting the farm on Thanksgiving weekend is a part of a lot of families’ holiday traditions. If they’re not ready to buy a Christmas tree, Critz Farms offers numerous attractions for families to enjoy. There is the cidery — which also produces hard cider — wagon rides, a restaurant that is open on the weekends, and a gift shop. Juanita says a lot of folks look forward to buying some of Critz Farms’ New York cheddar cheese and maple syrup when they come to visit.

(continued on page 52) november 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

::sw

“I thank my parents for showing me the human side of caring and the reward that it brings.”

inspire

Kathleen Stress

Executive Director of Food Bank CNY by Kailyn Jennings I photo by Jussara Potter

Kathleen Stress’ parents instilled a sense of caring for others in her and her sisters, Jeanette and Richelle, at a young age. Growing up, her mother was a nurse and her father a manager for the Department of Labor. Their work guided her and her sisters into the human services field. Jeanette is a special education teacher; Richelle manages the RSVP senior care and case management services for Bucks County, Pa.; and Kathleen is now the executive director for the Food Bank of CNY. Kathleen began by advocating for those who do not have a voice, especially children. “My career began in child development and working with low income families. From there, it broadened to overseeing compliance and accreditation for a human services organization that provided a vast array of services: child care, adult day care, case management, preventative services,” she said. She directed afterschool services and two local childcare programs. Kathleen oversaw the facilities and managed the curriculum, meals and center budgets. She also taught a 3-year-old class at Clifton Springs. When she moved to Syracuse, she ran a new daycare center and then moved to become the director of the Salvation Army’s three afterschool programs. “There were times when a few kids would come into the center and tell me they did not eat that day or over the weekend,” she explained. “That broke my heart, so I always made sure they had something to eat while at the center. “That foundation led me to the Food Bank,” she continued. “My work through the Food Bank provides me with the opportunity to feed children nutritious, high-quality meals.” Tom Slater and his team recruited Kathleen to work on the Food Bank agency’s strategic plan and implement policies and procedures. “I have been provided with training and relationships that allowed me to prepare to become the executive director,” she explained. “I love it because I am one of the many who work together to make the world a place that is better than we found it,” Kathleen said. “Every day I am rewarded, whether it is a check from a funder, a grant proposal accepted, a call from a company wanting to help us, or most importantly, the thank you from an emergency food receipt — that is when I know I am making an impact.” The Food Bank donates approximately 36,000 meals each day throughout its 11-county service area. It works with a network of emergency food programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters. Last year, the Food Bank supplied 13.4 million meals — 16 million pounds of food — to the community, as the primary supplier to 365 programs. It couldn’t reach as many people without volunteers. “The Food Bank is blessed to have approximately 470 volunteers that help us throughout the year,” Kathleen said. “We have begun to build our volunteer opportunities, and I look forward to providing a rewarding experience to all of those who want to become involved.” (continued on page 52)

syracuseWomanMag.com :: november 2014

Heather Wallace

Juanita Critz

Kathleen Stress

they are and strives to teach the public about current women’s issues. They hope to gain some new members in the process.

Most people tend to look forward to the holiday season because of time off from work and presents. The Critz Farms co-owner said, however, that the holiday season is all about work, and when work becomes an innate part of one’s holiday, so do the customers.

The holidays and winter are upon us, and it’s a busy time for the Food Bank, because when the cold weather sets in, families have to decrease their food budget to pay for heat and utilities. It’s a great time to volunteer or donate. The Food Bank provides 3.5 meals for each dollar donated.

When asked what her favorite part of the holidays is, Juanita replied, the visitors. “Enjoying the company of the visitors and making them happy and being a part of their traditions, and hearing their stories,” said Juanita. “When I hear stories about people coming with their kids and now they’ve got three generations standing in front of me saying ‘I remember coming here when I was little, and now I’m here with my own children and my parents;’ that’s nice.

There are also events to check out to help give to the Food Bank. On Nov. 14, Wonderworks in Destiny USA will host Wine & Dine with Wonder. The event is for guests 21 and over, who can enjoy unlimited food and beverage sample stations, as well as more than 100 interactive exhibits and rides. The las-er tag arena will be open, too. Presale tickets are $50. For more details, visit foodbankcny.org/events/wine-anddine-with-wonder.

::sw

inspire

(cont)

There are two groups of people that inspire Heather to keep going and achieve her own goals. She says her two children and husband are her biggest inspiration, and admitted that she’s “developed a passion to improve the community for her kids.” Teaching them to be involved in their communities and solving important issues is what Heather hopes her children learn from this experience. She added that her husband is a huge support system for everything she does in life. The second group that inspires her are the women of the Junior League. JLS is a diverse group of women, and Heather learns something new every time the group meets. “I am working with talented women who teach me so many different things,” she said. These women strive to give back in their community and inspire Heather as the president of the organization. Heather enjoys both her roles as entrepreneur and JLS president, and wants to volunteer and give back to the community as much as possible. “Helping out and volunteering is just something I have always done.” Visit jlsyracuse.com to learn more about the Junior League and Holiday Shoppes. For more information about Bailey Bags, visit baileybags.net.

(cont)

Critz Farms has fulfilled Juanita in so many ways, and she can’t wait to see where it goes in the future. “I would like to see it stay healthy — at the plateau where we are now. We have room to grow for our summer visitor traffic, and we would like to grow that a lot,” said Juanita. So, although Juanita doesn’t anticipate any big changes on the farm, like the hard cider winery that was put in place three years ago, she plans on continuing the hard work to make sure Critz Farms continues to grow and stay healthy and fresh for its customers. For more information on Critz Farms, visit critzfarms. com.

Also, TOPS Friendly Markets, News Channel 9 and iHeartMedia will help with Food for Families. TOPS customers can purchase a Little Brown Bag of Hope, which is filled with staple food items and will be donated to the Food Bank. Its newest public relations campaign is Stick a Fork in Hunger. “One in six of our neighbors are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from,” Kathleen said. “With that alarming statistic, we are asking community participants within our service area to consider giving their time, talent or treasure to helping provide food resources to our emergency food partners.”

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woman

Vitamin D How to Maintain Winter Levels by Susan E. Brown, Ph.D

This last decade has witnessed a virtual explosion of vitamin D research, defining a multitude of new health benefits from the “sunshine vitamin.” More than a vitamin, however, vitamin D is a substance produced in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which the body then turns into a hormone. And receptors for this hormone have been discovered on an impressive array of tissues and organs throughout the body. An optimal blood level of vitamin D is now known to provide wide-ranging health benefits, including the following short list.

Selected benefits of vitamin D • Prevents osteoporosis, reducing fractures and falls • Decreases the risk of 12 cancers, and improves survival of cancer patients • Enhances heart health, reducing hypertension, stroke and heart attacks • Enhances immunity and helps prevent auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes • Alleviates depression and seasonal affective disorder • Reduces risk of developing diabetes • Provides resistance to influenza • Helps prevent periodontal disease So what is an optimal vitamin D level? While a blood level of 40 ng/mL is acceptable, a more optimal blood level of vitamin D is 50 to 60 ng/mL as measured by the 25(OH)D blood test. Aside from oily fish and fortified dairy, there are few food sources of vitamin D, and most of the vitamin D we produce comes from sunlight exposure. Winter is a “vitamin D desert” up here in the northern latitudes, 54

october 2014 :: syracuseWomanMag.com

and unless you head south, below Atlanta, Ga., to be exact, you will need to take vitamin D supplements to maintain an optimal blood level of vitamin D throughout the winter. How much vitamin D to take, however, can vary greatly from person to person. On average we can use about 3,000 to 4,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day and taking this amount during winter months generally provides for at least a minimal protective level (which is around 32 ng/mL). However, many individuals need more than this, and a few who absorb vitamin D better might be able to get by on 1,000 or 2,000 IU per day.

Vitamin D testing to the rescue

The best way to determine exactly how much vitamin D supplementation you should take during the winter is to have your blood level tested. And a good time to do this is during the fall. Remember your vitamin D level might look good now due to stores built up from summer sunlight exposure, but it will decline substantially over the darker, shorter winter days. So take your 2,000 to 4,000 IU a day and, if possible, get your vitamin D level tested. As we say here at the Center for Better Bones, assuring that you and your family have adequate vitamin D levels is the simplest thing you can to do prevent disease and enhance health. Even winter colds and flu are much less common among those with adequate vitamin D on board! Susan E. Brown, Ph.D, author and clinical nutritionist, directs the Center for Better Bones in East Syracuse, New York. Her website is betterbones.com.

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Syracuse Woman Magazine is your exclusive women's magazine of the 2014 Holiday Shoppes!

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events Syracuse Woman Magazine

SWM’s Events Celebrating Style at Syracuse Fashion Week

Syracuse Woman Magazine partnered with Syracuse Fashion Week organizer Lisa Butler to stay stylish and support local businesses this fall. The week kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the Landmark Theatre Window Project. Local businesses “purchased” the windows on Clinton Street, and filled them with color and live models to represent their various wares. On Thursday, Sept. 17, a handful of local stores and designers strutted their fashions down the runway at the Syracuse Style Fashion Show. August cover woman Stefanie Heath Higgins walked down the runway wearing Inspired Designs (Lisa Butler’s design company), accompanied by pit bull Linus to spread awareness for Cuse Pit Crew. Shauna Diliberto, our September cover woman, also made her way down the catwalk, along with former editor Farah Jadran, both of which were wearing Shauna’s line of maeflowers vintage clothing. Photos courtesy of James Bass Photography.

Breast Cancer Awareness at the BCRF Gala & Fashion Show

Approximately 100 people attended the BCRF Gala & Fashion Show on Saturday, Oct. 4. Host Nikki Macris reported that “it was so much fun — a night of great music, fashion and people.” Nancy Pasquale emceed the event, and her husband Mark Re, who is vice president of RealtyUSA, spoke about his personal experience with breast cancer — when Nancy was diagnosed. “You could tell how happy he was to be there,” said Nikki, who spoke about the BCRF and what it’s accomplished. Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer founder and SWM October 2013 cover woman Ann Marie Gianinno-Otis spoke about moving past cancer awareness and using October as a gateway to education and research to learn more about metastatic and male breast cancer.

SWM Ladies’ Night at Saunacuse and Green Beauty Bliss

We partnered with Saunacuse and Green Beauty Bliss at their Hiawatha Boulevard location to host one of our famous Ladies’ Nights. Women who attended enjoyed wine tastings from New Zealand winemaker Decibel Wine and munched on light hors d’oeuvres. The night was filled with shopping and included a lululemon trunk show, jewelry from Stella & Dot, natural salon beauty products and sauna sessions.

november 2014 EVENTS CALENDAR

Miss Syracuse Scholarship Pageant

9 YWCA Spirit of American Women

WHEN: 7:30 to 9 AM WHAT: Spirit of American Women is a YWCA fundraising event that celebrates the power of women in our community and global initiatives. The event is celebrated by presenting a dynamic motivational speaker who embodies the “Spirit of American Woman.” WHERE: Ramada Syracuse, 1305 Buckley Road, North Syracuse INFO: For more information, visit ywca-syracuse.org.

Au Chocolat

WHEN: 3 PM to 9 PM WHAT: The fifth annual Au Chocolat features an evening of hospitality, sweet indulgences and holiday shopping all in one place — Baldwinsville! Visit more than 20 vendors, each of which features a chocolate treat and special promotions. WHERE: Village of Baldwinsville INFO: For more information, visit b-ville.com.

20 The Mad Hatter’s Mad Banquet

WHEN: 3 to 7 PM WHAT: Help crown the next Miss Syracuse! Competitors ages 17 through 24 will undergo a private interview and an on-stage question, and they will also be judged for their talent, lifestyle, and fitness swimsuit and eveningwear. The event recognizes girls who are role models within their communities. WHERE: The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse INFO: For more information, visit misssyracuseny.com.

WHEN: 6 to 10 PM WHAT: Travel down the rabbit hole and celebrate Syracuse fashion. This night will be filled with mayhem, models, insanely delicious food and fashion fit for a queen. WHERE: The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse INFO: For more information, visit facebook.com/SyracuseFashionWeek.

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