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On the cover
eDitor’s Corner
At the suggestion of my best friend, I’ve started doing wonder walks.
This is not my phrase, or hers, but one that’s been trending on social media for years. They are touted as an “activity to make space for learners to explore the world around them by giving them time to walk, encouragement to talk, and inspiration to wonder” in a March nationalgeographic.com article. Wellness site thriveglobal.com states, “Finding wonder on a walk … can strengthen your wellbeing. Wonder walks are times of intentionally searching for awe while walking.” And TikTokker Jen Gottlieb said, “They have become my creative outlet, where I escape the noise and clear my head. At first, I considered them only as exercise or a break from work. But then, I realized their true potential. These walks inspire wonder and awe in me, and have helped me generate ideas, solve problems, and even create some of my most successful projects.”
Going for walks is not groundbreaking. Everyone knows walking is good for you. During the pandemic, daily walks to the dairy farm up the road to visit the baby cows with my then-toddler probably saved our sanity. But doing them alone, in this way, with this intent, feels like a discovery.
I have been listening to anti-anxiety podcasts and reading about brain retraining. So many of us get stuck in a fight-or-flight state. “Flight” is inherently mobilizing; it’s the nervous system telling the body to move – flee – so, sometimes, recognizing that mindfully and just moving can be enough to segue from panic toward regulation. Putting the body in motion with the intent of cultivating wonder and gratitude and really noticing only bumps the benefits. It never stops surprising me how much better – more regulated, more open – I feel upon returning from one of these walks.
I’m writing this on April 1; a perfect point in the season for wonder walks. We don’t yet have the glut of greenery and life that comes with late spring or summer. Everything is just beginning to pitch toward vibrance, making the natural world seem especially earnest, each nodding snowdrop that much more affirming. Upstate, there are so many places and ways to get outside and watch spring unfold, to find wonder. It can be as simple – and as powerful – as putting one foot in front of the other.
A Community Favorite: Wayside Cider Celebrates 10 Years
BY ChELSEA FRISBEE JOhNSON
Recently, the demand for locally made, upstate products has taken off, with nearly every town featuring a vibrant farmers’ market, and restaurants regularly highlighting local products. An early name in the local cidery space, Wayside Cider has been a community staple in Andes for 10 years. Now, the cidery is implementing growth-driven changes as the taproom at Wayside Cider continues to provide acclaimed alcoholic cider and a welcoming community space for people to gather year-round.
What makes Wayside unique is their community approach to sourcing their apples.
“We have some older trees here on the farm that we do harvest when we get fruit off them, but most of what we’re using for our cider is a mix of wild and feral apples that we harvest from other properties in the areas,” owner Irene Hussey said. “There are some folks who have as few as three, or more than 50, trees.
We’ve been working with many of these property owners for a long time. In exchange, we usually do some pruning and light maintenance. That’s the majority of what we’re pressing. We’ll occasionally supplement that with stuff that we purchase from the Finger Lakes or the Hudson Valley region.”
feral fruits
“Feral apples” may be a new term for some people.
“I feel weird saying ‘wild,’ because wild, to me, implies that they grew from seed and have never been cultivated or cared for,” Hussey said. “A lot of the trees we’re harvesting potentially were intentionally planted or cared for at some point, but have been let go. Potentially some old home orchards that a previous owner established but current owner doesn’t have a use for. Feral means trees that were cared for at one point, but were allowed to go off on their own for a while.”
Wayside Cider’s taproom is tucked away just off the main drag in Andes. Wayside has an orchard, nursery and production space on High Meadows Farm in Delhi.
i think We’ve built a really niCe spaCe Where people feel pretty Comfortable. both our front-of-house anD baCk-of-house kitChen folks have a gooD vibe, anD they’re very WelComing.”
As is the way with many local food endeavors, Wayside Cider started small, with early production taking place in Hussey’s parents’ garage back in 2014. A few years later, they moved production to Andes when they opened the taproom, but ultimately decided it made more sense to produce the cider on the farm on Webster Brook Road in Delhi. What used to be a horse barn is now the production space for all Wayside ciders. growing roots
Over the years, Wayside grew its staff along with cider production; the company employs eight or nine people throughout the year, from production to bar/kitchen/events at the taproom.
“I used to hire employees seasonally to help pick apples,” Hussey noted, “and many of them stayed on to become permanent staff.”
The taproom in Andes was a highlight for many during the pandemic, with its big, open courtyard and outdoor seating, which Hussey admits saved them in 2020 and ‘21. Since then, they’ve expanded their indoor space.
“We opened up additional upstairs space in August, which has been pretty exciting, and brought Brian (Early) onboard to coordinate events up there, doing a lot of music and movie screenings,” she said. “We did a queer open-mic night a few weeks ago. We’ve been hosting a Winter Olympics, which has been fun. We have a bunch of games upstairs - shuffleboard, darts and pool and that kind of thing.” Wayside has also been hosting more private events, she noted, such as birthday parties and weddings in the new space.
Cheers to food, friends & more
The taproom has a light menu, featuring bar food such as pulledpork sandwiches, chicken pot pie, smoked trout pate, salads and snacks. They also occasionally host a food truck and do pop-ups with other local restaurateurs, including Tiny’s Sandwich (Antonio Mora, Hamden) and Table on Ten (Inez Valk-Kempthorne, previously of Bloomville); the latter, she noted, served a sold-out Valentine’s Day dinner.
This summer, Wayside’s taproom will continue to host outdoor trivia on Wednesday evenings and will continue offering a 20% discount to locals.
“I think we’ve built a really nice space where people feel pretty comfortable,” Hussey said. “Both our front-of-house and back-ofhouse kitchen folks have a good vibe, and they’re very welcoming. Stu and Emily are the bartenders, who you’ll see when you come into the taproom. They’ve built a really nice following.” Patrons also enjoy meeting the two staff dogs, both named Rosie.
Each year, Wayside releases a “Wild Select,” a cider made specially by blending small fermentation batches together to get characteristics of different varieties into one cider. They just released this year’s Wild Select, which Hussey named her current favorite cider.
Spring/summer schedules, ciders, events and more can be found at waysidecider.com, or visit the taproom at 55 Redden Lane in Andes. +
eaCh year, WaysiDe releases a “WilD seleCt,” a CiDer maDe speCially by blenDing small fermentation batChes together to get CharaCteristiCs of Different varieties into one CiDer. they just releaseD this year’s WilD seleCt, WhiCh hussey nameD her Current favorite CiDer.
In 2023, Wayside finished restoring a barn loft above the taproom, where they host events such as concerts and movie screenings.
Wayside Cider’s outdoor space where they host trivia every Wednesday night in the warmer months, often with a pop-up food truck.
Wayside’s taproom offers bar food and snacks.
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
A Place to :
Oneonta Center Offers those 50 & Up Something Special
The Gathering Place in Oneonta has attracted more than 800 members from the 50-plus community, and it only opened Sept. 1, 2023.
A welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff, plus plenty of free parking and a variety of activities in 8,000 square feet of brightly lit space, are just a few of the reasons the Gathering Place is so popular.
Exercise classes are part of the Healthy for Life Wellness Program, addressing mental and spiritual well-being. These classes are geared specifically for older adults and include Tai Chi for arthritis, gentle yoga, chair movement, Qi Gong, Silver Sneakers, table tennis and “Dance Your Heart Out.”
Center director Kimberly Witkowski said the Gathering Place mission is “to provide healthy and active lifestyles for people who are 50 plus.”
But the facility, Witkowski noted, “is not a senior center.”
“It’s an adult learning center,”
BY MONICA CALZOLARI
she said. “We offer estate planning and computer skills to empower people who are 50 plus to plan for their retirements, keep their brains active and avoid social isolation.”
Other activities offered include music programs and singing, crafts, chess, dog therapy, chip casino tutorial and day and overnight bus trips.
“The fall bus trip to Franklin Mountain to see eagles and hawks was very well attended,” Sue Barney, Oneonta programs and activities director, said. “And a really popular class is called ‘What’s for Lunch?’”
A member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension teaches this class, highlighting how to eat healthier. The Oct. 27 session reviewed the calories in fast food meals and healthier alternatives. Participants prepare healthy food and cook on electric skillets during class, then eat what they cook.
In October 2023, a member of Cornell Cooperative Extensive taught a class called ‘What’s for Lunch?,’ discussing how to eat healthier.
from top left, clockwise: Jack and Jann Ewen are pictured with friend, Nan Ferris, in front of the American flag after their Tai Chi for arthritis class at the Gathering Place. Easy access from state Highway 7 and plenty of free parking make the Gathering Place a popular destination for older adults in Otsego County. The Gathering Place has two locations. The one in Oneonta is at 5506 state Highway 7. Deedee House, pictured, brought her mother to an open house at the Gathering Place and landed a job at the front desk. A pleasant atmosphere is something for which the Gathering Place is becoming known.
From left: Peter Enders, from the Gathering Place in Cobleskill, teaches members to play poker and other casino games during a chip casino tutorial. Mary Rab (in orange), Kathy Allen, also from Cobleskill, and Barb (last name unknown) are Gathering Place regulars. Joyce Rowe, a member born and raised in Oneonta, hugs Oneonta programs and activities director Sue Barney.
PHOTOS BY MONICA CALZOLARI
two gathering places
The Oneonta location is the second Gathering Place to open. The first is in Cobleskill and is two years old, with approximately 1,200 members. There is a great demand in both counties.
The Schoharie County Council of Senior Citizens, Inc. runs both locations and is a nonprofit organization with no local, state or federal funding.
A monthly newsletter lists the activities available at both locations. Once a member, you’ll receive phone and email updates on upcoming events. Membership is $25 annually and covers the cost of most classes in two locations, six days per week: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.
Members can also access activities organized by a third nonprofit organization called Connections in Cooperstown, run by the Otsego County Senior Council at the Clark Sports Center two days per week, Mondays and Thursdays.
The two Gathering Places and Connections at Clark Sports Center are focused on bringing older adults together in person for exercise, arts, education and socialization opportunities. meeting a need
Tamie Reed, director of Otsego County Office for the Aging, partners with these organizations.
“We are very fortunate to have champions in our community like Carole Lachance and Kim Witkowski, who saw this need and immediately responded,” she said.
As of November 2023, OFA has staff at the Gathering Place three days a week for Medicare Open Enrollment Period. The Gathering Place provides office space to OFA staff to meet with families.
“Health happens outside the clinic,” Reed said. “If you live well, you age well. A body in motion stays in motion.”
According to the October-December 2023 Office for the Aging’s newsletter, “every 15 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury.”
The vision of the Gathering Place, as printed on the back of its business card, is “to support the 50-plus community to inspire friendships, social engagement and stimulating active living.”
The community center offers free coffee and tea, comfortable couches and many inspirational quotes hung on the walls.
“Social isolation has significant impact to our health, much like a poor diet or sedentary lifestyle,” Reed said. The National Institute
it’s an aDult learning Center. We offer estate planning anD Computer skills to empoWer people Who are 50 plus to plan for their retirements, keep their brains aCtive anD avoiD soCial isolation.”
on Aging found that the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Joyce Rowe became a new member of Oneonta’s Gathering Place in mid-August. She said, “I used to be very social before COVID-19. I love to be out and about. I was president of Senior Council before COVID.”
Rowe hugged Oneonta’s programs and activities director Sue Barney, saying, “Susie is the best, least-selfish person I have ever met.”
Tonya Rowe, an Aging Service Specialist with OFA who frequently works on site at the Gathering Place, said member enthusiasm is widespread.
“Older adults love the atmosphere here,” she said. “The atmosphere is so much more inviting than Office for the Aging facility on Main Street in Oneonta, and there is plenty of convenient parking here.”
The Schoharie County Council of Senior Citizens, Inc. leases the site of the Oneonta Gathering Place at 5506 state Highway 7 from property owner Michael Ranieri. It was previously the site of Bassett Healthcare Network’s call center before COVID-19 caused that facility to close.
Otsego County has a population of 58,952, according to the U.S. Census, with 16,784 over the age of 60. That’s 28.5% of the local population.
“The need and demand for our services is high,” Witkowski said, noting that nearly 17,000 senior citizens live in Otsego County. “About 41% of our seniors live alone.”
For more information, call 607-267-4732 or visit gatheringplace50plus.org. +
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Sweet on Beets
by joanne arbogast
While pondering what your garden is going to be filled with this year, why not consider popping some beet seeds in there. Sow them a month or so before the last frost, then repeat every two weeks until the last frost.
Some like it hot, but not beets. I’ve read, to improve germination, they should be planted at dusk or on a cool, cloudy day. No problem there; we have plenty of those.
This is a vegetable people either love or loathe. I get it. I’ve been on both sides of that fence. Of course, a lot of folks despise them without having ever tasted them. Or tasting them in a way they can appreciate. Others can’t abide by their “bleeding.” Peeling, slicing, grating … however you prepare them, red stains are sure to follow. On your hands, clothes, the counter, the floor. And then there’s the aftermath of consuming a load of them. The red moves through the body and can look downright scary as it moves on out. But that’s a good thing. Beets are known for cleansing the liver, improving digestion, even easing hangovers and lowering blood pressure. If that isn’t enough, they “absorb and store high amounts of boron, which is essential in creating human sex hormones.” (factretriever. com/beet-facts)
The pluses are so worth the negatives. And the good news is you don’t have to settle for just growing red ones. Golden and white beets don’t bleed, and candy-cane striped beets are exceptionally sweet. Non-red beets are harder to find in stores and markets and are generally more expensive, so all the more reason to grow them yourself.
Choose or lose
Once seedlings start coming up, you’ll have to play Grim Reaper. I hate thinning plants. I shed a few tears when perfectly good sprouts need to
be yanked out. But in this case, it must be done, because the seeds themselves are already multiples. Marilyn Dufresne, of Worcester, knows about this. “There are actually like five seeds in just one beet seed,” she said.
And she’s right. I read that a beet seed is a compact “dried fruit cluster,” with many tiny seeds inside. There’s no way all of them, in one seed, can be allowed to live. There won’t be enough nutrients in the ground to sustain them. They won’t grow nice round balls. If left to compete, all will suffer. Thin when sprouts are about 2-3 inches in height and an inch in diameter. Wait until they have a couple “true” leaves on them, not the baby ones that initially appear.
Some advise snipping the ones you are getting rid of at ground level, using scissors. The sprouts are thin and delicate; pulling them out can bring with them the ones you want to keep. If you’re going to pull rather than cut, one source recommends doing it when the ground is damp, which lessens the chance of disturbing the sprouts around it. In addition, do it when the sun is going down so survivors can take all night to adjust before facing sun and heat.
To ease the pain of thinning, you can keep the rejected ones and throw them in a soup or salad. But I don’t know. It seems like a lot of effort to bring scissors to the garden at sundown after a rain, cut down tiny plants and save them for something later, but it might make me feel less murderous.
Joanne Arbogast lives in Worcester with her husband, Fred, who only recently admitted he’s come around to liking beets.
the beet goes on
Another great plus about the beet is you can eat the whole thing. No part of it has to go to waste. Use the leaves in salads, the peels to pickle eggs.
Here is a tasty side dish recipe given to me years ago from a someone I knew for about a minute. He called it a poor man’s steak, maybe because he was fairly down and out and it doesn’t cost much to make. Or maybe because once dished up, it bleeds on the plate like juicy beef. It’s my favorite beet dish. Maybe even the one that turned me, a beet hater, into a beet lover. Choose the amount of ingredients you use depending on your taste preferences and cook it until you like the way it looks. It’s really that easy.
poor man’s steak
Peel and shred beets on coarse-grate (I generally use two large beets)
Melt butter in large pan and sauté shredded beets with chopped onions until onions soften. Add in some salt and pepper.
Mix in shredded cheese, any kind you like or a mixture of different cheeses.
Scrape into a baking dish, top with more cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, more or less. Remove foil and let top cheese melt a bit more. +
PHOTOS BY JOANNE ARBOGAST
Goat with the Flow
BY MONICA CALZOLARI
If petting, laughing, playing with and bottle-feeding baby goats while experiencing life on a 125-acre farm resort appeals to you, then consider NY Goat Yoga’s Baby Goat & Me overnight retreat, May 3 - May 5, at Gilbertsville Farmhouse.
“Goats are curious, mischievous animals,” Vanessa Pellegrino, a certified yoga instructor for NY Goat Yoga in Gilbertsville, said. “Doing yoga with baby goats roaming around teaches participants to be present, have fun and go with the flow.”
Pellegrino has taught goat yoga for seven years and handles marketing and social media for the venue. The yoga is designed for beginners and experienced yogis looking for a fun way to spice up their practice. Children 12 and up are welcome. The farm resort on Coye Brook Road offers a variety of accommodations to visitors.
goats & glam
From a boutique farmhouse inn to a glamping village, the luxurious property can accommodate 62 people. Gilbertsville Farmhouse features 10 farmhouse suites and 21 glamping tents big enough for two people per room.
Each tent has heat, large windows, fans, a high-end king bed and designer linens. The tents are raised on a platform with a roof to protect guests from the elements. A beautiful, modern all-wood bathhouse is part of the village and offers hot showers, bathrooms and sinks along with leather couches, magazines and fireplaces reminiscent of a spa experience.
Glamping suites are also available with private baths if you prefer more creature comfort. All glamping sites are a short stroll from where you’ll be practicing your yoga poses daily in a barn accented with chandeliers.
top: Laughter is a side effect of yoga with the baby goats at NY Goat Yoga. above: NY Goat Yoga instructor Vanessa Pelligrino and a class attendee sit with baby goats during a session at Gilbertsville Farmhouse.
ny goat yoga is ny’s first-ever goat yoga business, bringing joy anD Wellness to the neW york Community sinCe 2017. in 2017, our ChilDren gifteD us With tWo nigerian DWarf goat babies. We fell in love anD bought three more the very next Week. after WatChing our neW babies sprint arounD the farm, jumping happily on anything they CoulD reaCh, the iDea for goat yoga Was born, anD the rest is history!”
Owners Sharon Boustani and her husband, Aldo, have spared no expense in building these luxurious tents on a property that includes a lake, dock, beach and reclining chairs and umbrellas to help you relax. The atmosphere is curated to help you retreat from your busy life to life on their farm, surrounded by goats, alpacas, two farm dogs, cats, kittens, ducks, wild bunnies and deer.
a recipe for relaxation
Meals are included in the price of the retreat weekend. You can expect delicious farm-to- table, family-style meals with the freshest farm ingredients prepared by local chefs.
If glamping is not your idea of luxury, the farm has an inn with 10 private rooms with en suite bathrooms, which are fully heated and air conditioned. The all-inclusive price for the weekend retreat is between $1,900-$2,400, depending on your preference for overnight accommodations.
Aldo and Sharon Boustani have operated Gilbertsville Farmhouse as a wedding and retreat venue since 2014.
“NY Goat Yoga is NY’s first-ever goat yoga business, bringing joy and wellness to the New York community since 2017,” Sharon Boustani said. “In 2017, our children gifted us with two Nigerian dwarf goat babies. We fell in love and bought three more the very next week. After watching our new babies sprint around the farm, jumping happily on anything they could reach, the idea for goat yoga was born, and the rest is history!”
get goating
The popularity of the retreats has grown steadily. Participants come from New York City, Brooklyn and the surrounding areas to practice yoga with baby goats and experience the simple pleasures of rural living.
Jassely Rotolo brought her son, David, to a NY Goat Yoga class. She said, “We have such wonderful memories from petting the goats while stretching our bodies. My son loved showering the baby goats with love and affection.”
is more like a spa and sauna with two fireplaces.
There are approximately 25-30 pregnant goats living on the farm, expected to give birth in April and May, in time for the launch of the NY Goat Yoga season. Each year, the farm invites volunteers to cuddle and nurse the babies with bottles of formula.
During the retreat, participants are encouraged to adopt their favorite baby goat, bottle feed it, walk it, snuggle with it and read it bedtime stories around the evening bonfire.
“We were first to bring goat yoga to New York,” Boustani said. “We are a family of six who were living the rat race in Queens. We were looking for someplace to escape for rest and relaxation. When we found this 125-acre property in upstate New York, we decided to make the farm into a luxurious destination wedding venue and quickly found that people were willing to drive three and a half to four hours from New York City to take a yoga, as well.
“Baby goats like to nibble on your hair, climb on your back and are nurturing and cuddly,” she continued. “Goats are natural climbers, so we keep all of our yoga poses goat-friendly, low to the ground.”
baby benefits
Cass Harrington, president and CEO of Destination Marketing Corporation, enjoyed another of NY Goat Yoga’s offerings. She described the PRIDE class she attended last June as the “antidote for stress.”
“You enter expecting to get a workout for your body, but instead you leave high on serotonin and at one with the world,” she said, adding that it is “an unbridled source of entertainment that you didn’t know you needed.”
Sharon and Aldo Boustani. | CONTRIBUTED
above: This 125-acre farm in South New Berlin on the Gilbertsville line has a lake, a dock, a beach and reclining chairs and umbrellas to help you relax. below: The bathhouse for glampers
from top, clockwise: NY Goat Yoga instructor Vanessa Pelligrino stands with one of the babies in this undated photo. David Rotolo will always remember the yoga class he attended with his mom, Jassely Rotolo, where he got to cuddle baby goats. NY Goat Yoga is looking for volunteers to nursing baby goats with bottles.
After the Baby Goat & Me weekend retreat kicks off the yoga season in May, there are numerous other ways to experience NY Goat Yoga through October, ranging from $30 to $45.
• One-hour yoga, 3p.m., every Sunday
• Sunset Yoga with cocktails, 7 p.m. (three Thursdays in July)
• LGBTQ Pride yoga
• Star Wars-themed yoga
• Baseball-themed yoga
• Disco-themed yoga
• Christmas in July
• A couples-only goat yoga retreat
• Goatoberfest
Pellegrino, too, said the baby goats double as stress-relievers.
“When the goats enter the room strutting their stuff, participants melt and burst into laughter,” she said. “The atmosphere is very fun and relaxed. Goat yoga is a type of animal therapy. It attracts people who are down-to-earth, love animals, are open to trying new things and are a bit adventurous.”
By being cuddled and handled from birth, the goats are socialized to be very people friendly. To prevent injury, the baby goats have their horns removed.
Pelligrino credits Lainey Morse of Oregon with introducing goat yoga to the American public in 2016. Research shows that pets can lower your blood pressure, reduce your heart rate and reduce anxiety.
If a pet can do this, imagine what effect an adorable baby goat can have on your yoga practice. As Pellegrino said, “They bring a lot of happiness to people.” +
• Themed yoga classes, including: Cass Harrington, president and CEO of Destination Marketing Corporation, is pictured enjoying NY Goat Yoga’s
• Family Day and pizza
• Pumpkin and hayride-themed events
PHOTOS BY KROVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Southside Mall to Blossom at
Market
Local crafters and artisans will feature their handmade creations at the fourth annual Mother’s Day Market, returning to Oneonta’s Southside Mall, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 11.
Home to such big-box retailers as T.J. Maxx, JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods and, most recently, Michael’s craft store, Southside Mall will line its center aisle with tables of specially selected, hand-crafted merchandise perfect for shoppers looking to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts this Mother’s Day.
Four years ago, Southside Mall debuted this special craft and artisan event on Mother’s Day weekend. Local vendors turned out for what would become an annual event, driving demand for similar markets at other times in the year. Last December, Southside Mall launched Makers Markets, a series of ongoing craft and artisan events held on the second Saturday of each month.
filling a need
David Kropp, a certified aromatherapist and founder of Essentials by DK, is a regular Makers Market vendor and series organizer.
“The craft markets celebrate creativity, offering customers a chance to meet and talk with local artists, and purchase their work,” he said. “The craft markets are a way in which shoppers can support local talent.”
It was Kropp’s awareness that crafters like himself needed an indoor market that led him to approach Southside Mall management with the idea for a regular series of craft markets.
“Crafters had been setting up at different outdoor markets in the area, where we were subject to the vagaries of the weather,” he said. “We needed an indoor space where we could comfortably showcase and sell our work without the weather-related difficulties of an outdoor setting.”
Mall manager Luisa Montanti said South-
side Mall was a natural fit.
“For over a decade, Southside Mall’s mission has been to serve the community and support small local businesses,” she said. “The mall is not only a place to shop, but a venue for events designed with the community in mind. The monthly Makers Markets are an extension of that commitment, providing crafters with a consistent platform for showcasing and selling their work.” products with a purpose Crafting is a way of life for many of the upcoming Mother’s Day Market participants. Briana Wheeler, of Briana’s Creative Creations in Maryland, New York, has been crafting since childhood.
“Growing up, I crafted with my grandmother and Aunt Marge,” she recalls. “We’d put together puzzles; quilt, crochet or knit together,” she recalls. She now shares this passion with her own children. Her 14-yearold son not only helps her set up at each
BY LEIG
Market
market, but also creates beaded bracelets and decorative items with a galaxy technique that he has perfected.
Early in her career, Wheeler began playing around with epoxies and started applying colorful, eye-catching designs and portraits on tumblers, glasses and picture frames. She customizes T-shirts and will have many Mother’s daythemed T-shirts at the show, as well as decorated pens and phone cases. Her business has grown, and Wheeler now ships throughout the country. She noted that she enjoys meeting customers in person at the Makers Market craft shows.
At Mount Acres Farm in Schenevus, mother and daughter, Theresa and Ryan VanValkenburgh, have been crafting together for 10 years. Their line of all-natural skin care products is made with goats’ milk and raw honey and produced on the farm.
“We raise Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, Finn sheep, laying hens and honeybees,” Ryan said. “It keeps both of us very busy.”
Mall will be full of varied offerings for moms and more on May 11.
pets are a popular item in David Kropp’s line of essential oils and aromatherapy products.
for over a DeCaDe, southsiDe mall’s mission has been to serve the Community anD support small loCal businesses. the mall is not only a plaCe to shop, but a venue for events DesigneD With the Community in minD. the monthly makers markets are an extension of that Commitment, proviDing Crafters With a Consistent platform for shoWCasing anD selling their Work.”
EIGh INFIELD
Aromatherapy
Decorated baked goods will be among the offerings at the Southside Mall Mother’s Day Market.
Quill and quartz earrings by Meg Stoltenborg, whose crafting business is Fey in the Forest.
Briana Wheeler of Briana’s Creative Creations will have mother-themed T-shirts at the Mother’s Day Market.
Southside
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Meg Stoltenborg is pictured at work in her studio, preparing for the Mother’s Day Market, Saturday, May 11 at Oneonta’s Southside Mall. At lower right, Stoltenborg displays a feathered dreamcatcher, a popular accessory in creating boho home decor looks.
i love Doing my Crafting; it’s my quiet time.”
The VanValkenburghs started formulating their skincare products as a solution to a family member’s dry skin problem. They added more items as the business and needs grew.
Mount Acres offers moisturizers, soaps, serums, oils, scrubs, lip balm, salves and other specialty products, including their magnesium and Sore-No-More skincare products. Shoppers will also find healthy, fresh-baked pet treats and pet-care products as well as jars of raw honey. Mother and daughter will tell you, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” when asked about their skincare or pet products.
Every ingredient in their products is included for its health benefit for customers or their four-legged companions.
David Kropp said he, too, started his business was born from personal need. His previous career involved long hours over many days with few breaks, leading to work-related stress. He began exploring aromatherapy as a way to relieve pressure and develop a healthier lifestyle. Kropp enrolled in courses at the Aromahead Institute, earning certification as an aromatherapist.
Kropp began formulating his own aromatherapy products and essential oils, purchasing ingredients from resources worldwide. Attending international aromatherapy conferences, Kropp had an opportunity to meet his suppliers personally and develop strong working relationships. Today, he bottles and ships his line of all-natural aromatherapy products – lip balms, roll-ons for pain, salves, inhalers and essential oils – nationwide. He will also have his popular line of aromatherapy stuffed pets at the upcoming Mother’s Day and monthly Makers Markets.
Charming Creations
Cheryl Goodspeed is another crafter who started at an early age.
“I’ve done crafts my whole life,” said the jewelry innovator, who markets her creations under the business name, Charmed, I’m Sure. As a child, Goodspeed drew and painted. In the ‘70s,
Goodspeed,
Goodspeed’s ‘signature’ bracelet is crafted from bent fork tines and spoon ends. Visit her Charmed, I’m Sure table at the May 11 Mother’s Day Market.
she and her mother had a ceramic business and taught classes. Goodspeed always loved crafting, and dreamt of taking up the hobby upon retirement from a full-time job. She began with metal stamping on pewter and copper, then silverplate.
With a collection of select tools, Goodspeed began handcrafting spoon bracelets and rings from silver-plated spoons and forks, bending fork tines and spoon ends into amazing shapes. She let her creativity flow, using dies and a hydraulic press to cut out hummingbirds, hearts and feathers from silver serving trays found in thrift shops, yard sales and on eBay. These became earrings, key chains, Christmas ornaments and incorporated into wind chimes. Goodspeed noted that each piece is derived from her imagination and crafted with love. She has had fun while building a unique jewelry business that offers one-of-a-kind, affordable pieces.
Goodspeed moved her crafting business into her own little shop just steps away from her house in Garrattsville. She calls it her she-shed.
“It’s actually more of a ‘man-cave,’” she said, laughing. “There is nothing feminine about it, as it is filled with my tools.” Here, lovely glass beads flow from tipped teapots or upended silver-plated bowls. She also collects driftwood from trips to Lake Ontario for her wind chimes, of which she has made hundreds. Each spring, the ceiling in her shop is covered with wind chimes that sell out at area shows.
Goodspeed also conducts make-and-take classes at the Red Barn in Morris, where she supplies everything needed to make an item, then helps students assemble it. Classes are limited to six participants, to give personalized instruction.
Fey in the Forest is the name Meg Stoltenborg has given to her crafting business, now a year old.
“I love forests,” she said. “They are magical. Myth has it that fairies reside in forests. Here in Mount Vision, we have forests all around us. They inspire my work.”
Cheryl
of Charmed, I’m Sure, readies silver-plated rings.
Cheryl Goodspeed’s bracelets. PHOTOS BY LEIGH INFIELD
Oneonta’s Southside Mall is home to crafters and artisans showcasing handcrafted items at Makers Markets, held the second Saturday of each month. | CONTRIBUTED
Mount Acres offers healthy, fresh-baked pet treats for your four-legged friends.
| CONTRIBUTED
Stoltenborg makes varied items from materials found in nature; bone, leather, porcupine quills and even dried mushrooms are fashioned into earrings and tree branches become walking sticks.
Stoltenborg has crafted since childhood.
“I’d color on the walls,” she said. Meg inherited a love of crafting from her mother, Johana, with whom she frequently collaborates on crafting projects. In Stoltenborg’s home studio, beautiful suncatchers made from glass beads and antique crystals sparkle, throwing patterns on the wall. A craft in progress might well be the hat bands that she crafts from leather, beads and agate. And she recently took up quilling, a centuries-old art whereby strips of paper are rolled and coiled to create intricate designs.
“I love doing my crafting; it’s my quiet time,” Stoltenberg, who has been busy raising two boys, said. Her 13-year-old enjoys making key chains; her 15-year-old likes whittling walking sticks, which he will have at the Mother’s Day Market.
The Mother’s Day Market will feature these and other fine crafters showcasing jewelry and art, baked goods, custom clothing, handwoven fabrics, home goods and much more. It promises to be a unique shopping experience.
The Southside Mall is at 5006 state Highway 23, Oneonta. Find more at the Southside Mall Facebook page. +
BUttER BoARD Savory Spring
One of my favorite ways to feed people is by taking something simple and making it feel elegant. Eye-catching, fancy-feeling food doesn’t always have to be expensive or complicated. Bread and butter are two of the simplest, most commonplace ingredients, and everyone knows butter makes everything better.
Butter boards were popularized as the “new charcuterie” on TikTok in 2022, but a good bread-and-butter combo is about as traditional as it gets. The butter board refreshes and reinvents something familiar.
According to farmanddairy.com, what became a viral sensation started as a low-cost way to boost America’s ailing dairy industry.
“It’s a trend that has gained popularity recently,” a February 2023 article on the site states. “Soft butter is spread on a plate or board, with a variety of ingredients sprinkled on top and served with bread or crackers. The idea started with Joshua McFadden, who included the recipe of a butter board in his cookbook, ‘Six Seasons,’ published in 2017. A few years later, social media influencer Justine Doiron created a short video on TikTok. It became a viral sensation.”
by allison Collins
The styling of the butter board means a little bit of everything in each bite.
The idea to popularize the butter board using social media and social media influencers, the site states, “came from the national dairy checkoff program, Dairy Management Inc.”
In the article, DMI Senior Vice President Serena Shaffner says, “We are meeting Gen Z where they are. We didn’t know it would become so successful. This campaign cost absolutely nothing. The TikTok video has over 320 million views and the hashtag #butterboard is now a trend. The concept was to put butter on the lips of people across the country.” The article notes, too, that “there are less than 30,000 dairy farmers in the U.S.”
Beyond views, the TikTok video garnered media coverage by outlets such as Good Morning America, New York Times, CNN and Bon Appetit.
The beauty of the butter board – beyond the fact that it is, actually, beautiful – is its versatility. You can put anything your butter-loving heart desires on a butter board. Make it savory, make
Ingredients:
it sweet. Some of my favorite combos pair salty, cured meats such as bacon or pancetta with pickled onions, dried fruits, jams and honey and fresh herbs.
The only “rules,” I would say, are choosing high-quality butter (I like Irish or Greek, for the high fat content, rich taste and bright yellow color) and excellent bread (my favorite is the rustic sourdough from Five Kids Bakehouse in Gilbertsville, but a crusty baguette, rye, or even sturdy crackers are all good options). And it should all be topped with a pinch of flaked salt.
This board matches the muted bite of roasted garlic with the briny creaminess of Castelvetrano olives. These are a newer obsession of mine and they’re divine. Even non-olive-lovers love these. A scatter of chopped pistachios adds crunch, and a chiffonade of fresh basil brings brightness to the flavors. You could drag just about anything across this butter board and it would taste good.
SAVORY SPRING BUTTER BOARD
(Recipe modified from one found at chicaandjo.com)
8 oz. block of Irish or Greek butter, softened to room temperature
1 head garlic, roasted and roughly chopped
¼ c. Castelvetrano olives, pitted and roughly chopped
¼ c. pistachios, roughly chopped
4-6 leaves of fresh basil
Salt flakes
Fresh-ground black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
tips:
Directions:
Allow butter to soften fully, but not melt.
To roast the garlic, remove outer layer of paper skin from a whole bulb of garlic, leaving cloves in tact and connected. Slice the tapered top (the stem side) of the bulb, exposing a cross-section of cloves, and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap bulb loosely in foil and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes, until cloves are tender. Set aside and let cool.
Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from the bulb when cool and chop.
Spread soft butter across board surface, about ¼-inch thick.
Sprinkle spread butter with roasted garlic, pistachios and olives.
Top with fresh-ground black pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes and salt flakes.
Just before serving, layer basil leaves and roll into a tight bundle, then slice through and top board with ribbons of basil.
Serve with sliced bread.
n leave the basil for last, so the leaves don’t brown before serving the butter board.
n roast multiple heads of garlic at once, then store extra bulbs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks. add to pastas, potatoes, cream cheese, soups and vegetables. also, i’d suggest roasting the garlic well before doing the butter board.
n buy pitted Castelvetrano olives. they come both ways, but trying to pit them yourself is brutal.
n if you have leftover butter after serving the board, it can be scraped off and stored then added to pasta, rice quinoa dishes.
PHOTOS BY ALLISON COLLINS
1. Simple, high-quality ingredients make for a memorable butter board. 2. Gather and prep your butter board toppings before beginning. Vary toppings to your preference. 3. Choosing a rich, full-fat butter makes the base of your butter board. 4. Soften butter to room temperature so it’s easily spreadable. 5. Salt flakes, not iodized salt or coarse kosher salt, add a nice, toothy bite to the board. 6. Once roasted, garlic can be easily squeezed from its bulb before chopping. 7. Begin assembling the board by spreading the butter roughly a quarter-inch thick. An 8-ounce block of softened butter covers one medium-sized cutting board. 8. Layer toppings once butter is evenly spread starting with garlic and then olives. 9. Top olives and garlic with red pepper flakes, pistachios, flaked salt and, just before serving, fresh basil. 10. Serve finished board with sliced bread. +
ISelf-Care with Chelsea CORNER
’m back to my column highlighting wellness practitioners in the region after taking a few months off for maternity leave. It’s no coincidence that this first column upon my return is about pelvic health, which became a focus of mine this winter, following the birth of my son in October. I’m excited to share my interview with Dr. Emily Schmitt, a physical therapist at Connect Physical Therapy in Oneonta, specializing in pelvic health.
BY ChELSEA FRISBEE JOhNSON
Dr. Emily Schmitt of Connect Physical Therapy
tell me about your work as a pelvic floor physical therapist. I currently see a combination of patients; some have pelvic floor-specific difficulties, and some do not. My training and education have focused on the pelvic floor and trunk, so I am more aware of that part of the body. I find the pelvis, hip and spine complex to be fascinating, and so many things can happen in that area.
this might be new terminology for many folks - what is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit at the bottom of the trunk that help with a variety of tasks. They connect the front of the pelvis to the back, as well as right side to the left. Functions include sphincter (so we don’t pee or poop, but also we can do those things), support ( holding organs in place), stability (working with the abdominal wall, back and hip muscles for stability), breathing (works together with diaphragm), lymphatic assistance and sexual appreciation. Who comes to you for help, and what conditions or issues do they present with?
I have seen all age ranges, from 6-year-olds to 95-year-olds. I work with all genders, as well. Conditions include urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain with regular activity or sexual activity, generalized weakness after having a baby, diastasis recti and chronic back and or hip pain. Additionally, I see patients who have been treated for cancer in the pelvis, including prostatectomies.
You recently moved from FoxCare Rehab to Connect Physical Therapy in Oneonta. How’s it going at the new practice, and what are you most excited about moving forward in your work?
It is going really well. The team at Connect PT is great. (Owner) Chelsea (Leahy) has done amazing things getting the foundation of her practice strong. We all have similar treatment methods, yet we all bring something different to the table, which I think is important when working together.
I am most excited about doing workshops and community events. I grew up locally and was raised with parents who worked in health care. I saw the positive impact their care had on the community. I would like to give back to the community that played a role in where I am today.
Dr. Emily Schmitt, PT, DPT, PCES.
| TONI WALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
What are the top 3 wellness practices that you recommend to clients at this time of year?
Winter into spring is really hard for some people. During my yoga teacher training, we touched upon the season changes and the impact this has on the human body and spirit. I would say that, as the days begin to get longer, we should start to prepare the body for spring and summer seasons: Increase walking or activity level gently; start some gentle strengthening exercises; start to organize your goals for the busy season. Coming out of the winter months, we need to be moving and get away from the sluggish winter months safely. This can be accomplished with outdoor activities that slowly improve endurance and strength. So, when spring finally arrives, we are ready for it.
What’s your personal favorite self-care practice during the spring months?
I grew up on a vegetable farm and continue to do a lot of farm work as an adult, so starting to get outside and work the ground, get my hands dirty. I also start to exercise outside. I will be running the boilermaker again in the summer, so in May my training will start for that. Spring cleaning is often my favorite thing. I think starting the busy summer with a somewhat organized home helps. Plus, when it’s nice outside, I am not a fan of inside housework.
What inspires you about your work? What are the challenges?
The small wins that each patient has are my inspiration. The ability to run with their kids and not worry about having an accident. Or not having hip pain while going sledding with their grandkids. Being able to go out to social activities without a fear of an accident. I want to help give back power to the patient, instead of the pain and fear they have been experiencing. Getting a patient to meet their goals after years of difficulties is what drives me. Challenges include the societal obstacles that the world has in regards to the pelvic floor and pelvic floor health. So many times, I am the first person saying to a patient, ‘This is what the pelvic floor is and this is how it works.’ I was listening to a podcast the other day regarding endometriosis by a well-known pelvic floor PT from Ireland. She has a coin phrase:
“People know how to use their phones more than their body.” How sad this is, but it is very true. We don’t teach anatomy and physiology in regards to the pelvic floor. There is a disconnect regarding sexual health and wellness. I would like to think the tide is turning, as I have seen positive changes over the last few years.
how can people learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy, Connect physical therapy or working with you?
It is very hard to articulate on paper what I do as pelvic floor PT, because every patient is different and every treatment is different. I have similar treatment pathways, but every story and every body is different.
I encourage people to come in and see me, where I will ask a lot of questions and examine from the neck down to the mid-thigh, (sometimes other areas, depending on the individual case). One of my goals is to put more content out on Instagram and Facebook, so keep a lookout. If you are interested in getting more information about becoming a patient, go to connectptny.com to fill out a new patient form. You may also email info@connectpny.com or call 607-263-0022. And always stop in and see us, we would love to meet you! +
above: Dr. Schmitt focuses on physical therapy, with a passion for pelvic health. below: The space at Connect Physical Therapy in Oneonta. Connect Physical Therapy’s mission is to empower every person to optimize their health and elevate their physical potential through physical therapy, exercise, activity and nutrition. | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Chelsea Frisbee Johnson is a life coach, writer and spiritual leader who loves helping people find more joy and peace in their life.
The Story Behind the Story of Oneonta’s Roundhouse
railroad town needs to keep its identity, even long after it is no longer a railroad town.
One icon of Oneonta’s railroad glory days that remains is in Neahwa Park: the Delaware & Hudson Railroad caboose. Residents still hear the whistles from trains passing through the city, but they rarely stop here. Many years ago, before 1996, there was much reason to.
In December 2022, a new state historic marker was placed at the corner of Fonda Avenue and Roundhouse Road. Newcomers to Oneonta may wonder about the name of that road, where the marker now sits.
That area was once bustling with railroad workers and managers. In the early 1920s, almost one third of Oneonta’s population was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad. The D&H had a line extending from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area to Rouses Point on the Canadian border.
The original name of the railroad was the Albany & Susquehanna, built between 1861 and 1869 to connect Albany and Binghamton. In the early 1870s, it took on the name of Delaware & Hudson, leased in perpetuity by the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Co., based in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The canal company used to ship coal from the Carbondale area to the Hudson River by canal, built in the 1820s.
The railroad was a faster way to ship coal to more remote places, and the D&H Co. struck a deal with the A&S. Oneonta had only a depot when the railroad arrived in 1865. With this merger with the D&H, the railroad line became much larger, hauling mainly coal from northeast Pennsylvania.
BY MARK SIMONSON
repairs & more at the roundhouse
All those steam locomotives and freight cars needed to be built and maintained, and the company needed a location for the completion of such work. One of the major repair shops on any railroad line was a roundhouse.
The Walls Talk
Villagers were already happy to have the railroad and depot, which brought new trade and travelers to their business center. Attracting the roundhouse and shops had always been on the minds of local business leaders. It was almost located in Colliersville, as Jared Goodyear had obtained a contract with the A&S to donate sufficient land, but two other prominent railroad promoters, Eliakim R. Ford and Harvey Baker, talked Goodyear out of signing. They had a better location in mind: Oneonta. Baker stood to benefit from Oneonta, as he owned a huge tract of land in what is today’s Sixth Ward. Many railroad families later had their homes in this area.
Oneonta looked like a sure thing, until the late 1860s. What led to the D&H lease was a significant struggle for control of the A&S Railroad. Roxbury native Jay Gould and a cast of plenty were the masters of the Erie Railroad, and wanted to gain control of the A&S. Gould began buying A&S stock. He attempted to put the railroad in receivership, and got one Judge Barnard of New York City to help in early August 1869. The A&S leaders in Albany fought back. They also bought more stock, and took the Gould receivership effort to State Supreme Court. The case wouldn’t be heard until December.
Gould was dissatisfied with the delay. Since he couldn’t gain control of the A&S in the courts, he tried another way – force. In August 1869, the infamous “Battle of Belden Hill” took place, pitting the roughnecks of Gould’s Erie Railroad against an equally tough gang from R.C. Blackball’s A&S. Gould’s men outnumbered Blackball’s almost two to one, but the A&S won the battle, with the intervention of the New York State militia. The Supreme
Court finally ruled in favor of the A&S. The D&H then took on the lease in February 1870.
scoping sites
Sites were visited along the line for the proposed shops, including Sidney, Harpursville, Binghamton, Otego, Emmons and Schenevus.
In September 1870, R.C. Blackball sent a letter to Harvey Baker, instructing him to meet with D&H officials, to look over sites in Oneonta. Baker owned a considerable amount of land in what is today’s Sixth Ward, near the present-day Baker Street. The letter read, “You had better be alone as I am not authorized to have mentioned this subject to any person.” The content of this letter was very secret, even years after it was sent to Baker.
Baker complied with Blackball’s request. He showed the D&H a few sites. A wide, level stretch about a quarter mile from the Main Street business district, which Baker owned, pleased the D&H contingent.
Ground was broken on October 4 and, eight days later, the foundation was nearly completed for the first of two roundhouses in the railyard. The structure was finished by January 1871.
Incidentally, the major decision of where the D&H would establish its shops wasn’t going to be made until April 1872. It took until March 21, 1872 for the Oneonta Herald headline to read “Machine Shops to be Built Here!”
Blackball predicted that this was only the beginning of what the future held for Oneonta as a regional railroad center.
An early 1870s view of the D&H yards, where two roundhouses were built for locomotive and car repairs.
| COURTESY OF HUNTINGTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY, ONEONTA
left: A view in the early 1970s of the remains of the roundhouse, following the partial demolition in 1954. | DAILY STAR FILE PHOTO right: A small locomotive is seen in the D&H yards. These locomotives were built much larger in the 1920s, requiring an expansion of the Oneonta roundhouse. | CONTRIBUTED
right: Guests are seen gathering for the unveiling of the state historic marker in December 2022, on Roundhouse Road. The roundhouse once stood in the area where the smokestack is seen in the distance.
| MARK SIMONSON
on track for growth
Population began growing in the village, as did the railroad yards, with the need for additional employees. A small roundhouse was built, for use in repairing and maintaining locomotives along the entire line.
As one-time historian Edwin R. Moore wrote, “Through the years, additional land was acquired, the yards extended and more buildings put up, including, in 1906, the largest roundhouse in the world.”
It was critical that the D&H roundhouse be always operational, as it served as the center of maintenance and repairs for the steam locomotives. By the early 1920s, the steamers were getting larger. An engine was brought in to the roundhouse and placed on a large turntable. The table turned to a certain track and the engine was moved to a maintenance or repair area.
The D&H management decided to install a much larger turntable in the roundhouse in 1924. At completion, the new table would accommodate a locomotive up to 104 feet in length.
The Oneonta job was completed at 3:25 p.m. on Jan. 7 in a phenomenal seven hours and 15 minutes, or 10 hours, 45 minutes over a previously set record of installing roundhouse turntables, according to Jim Loudon’s book, “The Oneonta Roundhouse.”
After World War II, the old steam locomotives were being replaced by diesel engines, which needed far less maintenance. The last steam locomotive was used in Oneonta in 1953. The need for a large workforce in the big roundhouse was no longer necessary, and the site was vacated.
Demolition began on the roundhouse in 1954, taking 36 of 52 stalls out that had been used for maintenance and repair. The remnants were used temporarily for storage by local companies, but the structure remained largely unused and deteriorated until 1993. The Canadian Pacific Railroad ordered the final razing of the roundhouse in December of that year.
In January 1996, the last of Oneonta’s railyard workers was let go, after many years of decline and ownership changes. +
Historian Mark Simonson grew up in Oneonta. He has worked in public relations, marketing and broadcast journalism. Simonson was appointed Oneonta City Historian in 1998. He writes a historical column in The Daily Star and has published books highlighting local and regional history.
Here, Simonson shares stories about old buildings of interest in the upstate region.
above: An aerial view of the demolished roundhouse, showing the footprint of the once massive structure. | COURTESY OF HUNTINGTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY, ONEONTA
Bookmarked with Ash
“I hope you enjoy reading Bookmarked with Ash.”
Ashley Weeden
ImagebyFreepik
the guncle
by steven rowley
Patrick is a self-absorbed, bitter, has-been actor who has shut himself away from the rest of the world. He finds himself as temporary guardian of his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant, after their mother passes away. Patrick steps into the role of Guncle, or GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) and immediately struggles with the responsibilities of “parenthood,” while attempting to provide stability and love for the two grieving children and work through his own battles with grief. As Patrick teaches Maisie and Grant his “Guncle Rules” to help cope with their loss and cherish life, Patrick also finds redemption and healing through hope and the bonds of family.
Rowley masterfully blends loss, remorse, acceptance and humor in his writing. His presentation of unique family dynamics is a great reminder to embrace others for their differences and live life with an open mind. Though the book is filled with whimsical moments and delightfully vibrant characters, it is a story about navigating grief and moving forward.
Patrick shares tender and uplifting moments with Maisie and Grant that will fill your heart with laughter and your eyes with tears. Whether you’re looking for a therapeutic cry, memorable and unique characters or just a genuinely good read, The Guncle delivers.
When you’re finished and craving more GUP, check out the sequel, The Guncle Abroad, for more Guncle feels and fun.
the Women
by kristin hannah
The Women is Kristin Hannah’s highly anticipated new novel. This emotional and riveting story centers around Frances, or “Frankie,” who joins the U.S. Army as a combat nurse to follow her enlisted brother overseas during the Vietnam War.
The first part of the book chronicles her time in Vietnam, working with other heroic nurses and doctors to save lives and help locals amid the violent horrors and tragedies of war. When Frankie finishes her tours and begins her journey home, she assumes the worst is over. However, Frankie returns to a divided America, where the war is being protested and returning veterans are shamed and harassed in the streets. Frankie struggles to adjust to life back home and soon finds herself spiraling into seclusion and depression, as she is repeatedly silenced and dismissed.
Hannah’s ability to tell a hauntingly tragic yet beautiful story is incomparable. Her time and dedication to research and interviews with Vietnam veterans shines through the pages. Her words give insight and recognition to the people who served during the Vietnam War, especially the women heroes who were repeatedly told “there were no women in Vietnam” upon returning home. Frankie and her brave and loyal best friends, two fellow nurses from her first tour, reinforce the narrative elements of strength and courage. The level of support and love between the three women offers hope and light through tragedy and loneliness. Hannah delivers another flawlessly written, raw and incredible story that will stay with you long after you finish.
Trigger warning: This book has depictions of war, depression, drug use, alcoholism and PTSD. If you or someone you know is a veteran suffering from PTSD, depression or addiction, you are not alone. Reach out to a loved one or friend or call the Veteran Crisis line any time by dialing 988 or texting 838255.
Look for more book reviews in upcoming editions of Upstate Life.
Business Directory
Advertising & Media (Publishers, Public Relations, Marketing)
The Cooperstown Crier 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 coopercrier.com
The Daily Star
102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 thedailystar.com
Auto, Motorcycle & Campers
(Automobile Dealers, Auto Body & Painting, Auto Clubs, more...)
Oliver’s Campers Inc. 6460 State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY 607-334-3400 •oliverscampers.com
