Upstate Life Summer 2018

Dog digs dock diving

Cookin’ with Collins Red, white and blueberry

Dangers down on the farm, Family Day Trips, From there to here & More!

KE T’S

Taking a leap

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TA - I E ON EE FR

S U M M E R 2018

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VOLUME 12

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ISSUE 3

Center committed to farmer safety

Upstate Life Magazine, Winner, New York State Associated Press Association First-Place Award for Specialty Publications, is published by: The Daily Star, P.O. Box 250, 102 Chestnut Street Oneonta, New York 13820 © 2018 - All rights reserved.

Cookin’ with Collins

Publisher Fred Scheller

Taking a leap Dog digs dock diving

Dangers down on the farm

Red, white and blueberry

Editor Joanne Arbogast

Family Day Trips Dawn of the Devonian - A visit to Thacher Park

Advertising Manager Valerie Secor

Thrifty Finds Summer styles reflect society

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Call toll-free, 1-800-721-1000, ext. 235

Only Natural

We invite you to email your comments to: upstatelifeeditor@thedailystar.com

Beauty secrets in the garden

From there to here Blast from the past - Poodle skirts once again the cat’s meow

Business Directory Meet the locals

Callen Brown, 6, swings at a ball during the Oneonta Little League T-ball program at Richard Murphy Field in Oneonta on May 27.

PHOTO BY JULIE LEWIS - THE DAILY STAR

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Graphic Designer Tracy Bender

On the cover

Family Fun

Taking a leap Dog digs dock diving

Kuma does his thing at the Hudson River Air Dogs facility in Hudson.

STORY BY ALLISON COLLINS CONTRIBUTED

T

hree years ago, Otego resident LaRae Maldonado decided to let life go to the dogs – specifically, her German shepherd Kuma.

Kuma was little more than a puppy when Maldonado discovered competitive dock diving but, once his paws hit water, she said, Kuma and his keepers were hooked.

Maldonado, 35, said she learned of canine dock diving while living in Carrow, New York.

“I went to this cancer awareness event,” she said, “and Hudson River Air Dogs had a booth and we got talking. Kuma loved

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Summer 2018

to play and loved water … so, they told me to come and try a session.” Kuma, who will be 4 this September, was a year and a half at the time, Maldonado said.

“We went and he was so excited,” she said. “He was just screaming the entire time.” Laughing, she added: “That first time he kind of just fell off the dock, but then he loved it and the second jump he took was 11 feet.”

The average jump length, she said, is between 14 to 17 feet. In Kuma’s first competitive leap, Maldonado said, he cleared 20 feet.

After that, Maldonado said, she and

Kuma became card-carrying members of Hudson River Air Dogs, a roughly 150-member nonprofit affiliate of the nationally recognized Ultimate Air Dogs.

Go fetch People bring dogs of all breeds, Maldonado said, to regional and national competitions happening every other weekend May through October. Entrants compete in four different disciplines, all involving dogs leaping from the edge of a dock into and over water.

Though outdoor facilities exist, Maldonado said, Hudson Valley Air Dogs’ 1091

County Route 10 facility in Hudson is indoors.

The “Big Air” or “Splash” division, she said, charts the distance of a dog’s jump; “Fetch-It” involves a suspended bumper, which dogs must knock out of the way; “Catch-It” measures the point at which a dog catches a toy being thrown across the water’s surface; and “Chase-It” tests a dog’s swimming speed.

Though Kuma competes in different divisions and began with Fetch-It, Maldonado said, he shines during Catch-It with his teammate, Maldonado’s 15-year-old son, Dakota.

“We started doing (Fetch-It) and he just excelled from there,” she said. Noting that 80-pound Kuma has since competed at an invite-only national level, Maldonado added: “He’s jumping over 23 feet now.

He’s definitely getting stronger … and (he is) the biggest-jumping dog of his breed for distance in the country right now.”

Without a personal practice pool, Maldonado said, Kuma’s off-season routine focuses on everyday exercise.

“He’s so good at it that I really don’t train him,” she said. “It’s more (about) keeping him exercised. He’s from the

working lines of the German shepherd (breed), which means he’s typically more energetic than the American show lines.

He really needs to be mentally stimulated and exercised.” Maldonado added: “He’s the smartest dog I’ve ever owned and so powerful.”

Doggone fun Beyond the thrill of competition and Kuma’s natural knack, Maldonado said, she was attracted to Hudson River Air Dogs for its focus on family-friendly fun.

“Kuma loves it, my kids love it and … where else can I go that I can take my dog, who is a part of my family, and spend between $60 and $100 and have two days of just absolute fun with people who grow to be your family and close friends?” she said.

“People are trying to figure out more things to do with not only their kids, but their pets, too, and this kind of combines the two.

“Kids as young as 4 years old do this, so it’s definitely for the whole family,” she added. “And we don’t care if your dog jumps 2 feet or 25 – we’re out there to have fun.”

President of Hudson River Air Dogs Steve Bimbo echoed, “There are a handful of organizations around the country that do the same thing … but ours is really more of a family-focused atmosphere, where others are more competition-based.

“It’s just a fun way to spend the weekend with your family and your dogs,” he added. “Although we do have competitions … that’s not really the primary goal for our group. We just like to have fun.”

Bimbo said the club incorporated in 2015. Today, he said, membership spans five states.

“There were some longtime dock-jumping folks looking for something different,” he explained, “so they reached out and found Ultimate Air Dogs and formed Hudson River Air Dogs as an affiliate.

“We’re following their governing rules for games and … how we judge and put together events,” he said, “but we are an independent organization.”

The sport itself, Bimbo said, began in the late ’90s and is gaining popularity.

“It started in ’98 or ’99,” he said, “but it took off when ESPN got hold of it with the Great Outdoor Games … in 2001.”

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Kuma, left, will be 4 in September. LaRae Maldonado says she hopes to show Rhythm, pictured at 12 weeks, in the United Kennel Club.

ALLISON COLLINS

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Jumping 20-plus feet, Kuma is “the biggestjumping dog of his breed for distance in the country right now,” LaRae Maldonado says.

CONTRIBUTED

Bimbo, who has been involved in dock diving for 12 years, said, “It’s a relatively new sport when it comes down to canine world, but it’s fast-growing.”

Growth spurt Hudson River Air Dogs was one of the only Ultimate Air Dog clubs in the Northeast for the last several years, Bimbo said, but has recently opened six new chapters.

Naming new or soon-tolaunch clubs in Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Michigan and Canada, Bimbo said, “It’s growing quite rapidly, to say the least.”

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Kuma loves it, my kids love it “ and … where else can I go that

I can take my dog, who is a part of my family, and spend between $60 and $100 and have two days of just absolute fun with people who grow to be your family and close friends?

LaRae Maldonado

The Hudson-area club meets several times annually and membership fees help keep things running, Maldonado said.

To broaden the club’s reach,

Summer 2018

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Maldonado volunteers at sessions similar to the one that got Kuma started. Tryout sessions, she noted, last roughly two hours and take place four or five times a summer.

“In this area, nobody really knows what dock jumping is,” she said, “but I just love to spread the word about it and have other families come see what it’s all about.”

And, proof that she plans to stick with the sport, Maldonado welcomed Rhythm, a female German shepherd, to the family early this year.

Kuma, she said, will teach her the dock-diving ropes.

To learn more, find Hudson River Air Dogs on Facebook, visit hudsonriverairdogs.com or email info@ hudsonriverairdogs.com.

Kuma’s many ribbons, trophies and medallions are displayed proudly in LaRae Maldonado’s Otego home.

When competition time rolls around, Kuma even has a customized, canvas-wrapped catchable toy.

ALLISON COLLINS

ALLISON COLLINS

Try it out Catch Kuma and other diving dogs (or test your own pooch’s prowess) at the following meets and tryout sessions this summer and fall: Saturday, July 7, 9 to 11:30 a.m. – Hudson River Air Dogs will host a free “try-it” session at the club’s 1091 County Route 10 facility in Hudson, New York Volunteers will introduce dogs to dock diving, swimming, pool exit and entry techniques and more. Later that day, the club will host an orientation and Q&A session for new members at 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22 – High-flying competition starts at 10 a.m. at the Hudson River Air Dogs facility.

Saturday, Aug. 11, 9 to 11:30 a.m. – The club will host a “try-it” session, open to all interested dogs and their owners, at the Hudson site. An orientation for new members will follow at 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25 and 26 – The Hudson club will host Ultimate Air Dogs’ “Dash to the Big Splash” Northeast qualifier event, beginning at 10 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. – Enjoy a “try-it” session at the Hudson clubhouse, with orientation and Q&A for new members at 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23 – The “September Splash” competition at the Hudson clubhouse begins 10 a.m. both days.

Saturday, Oct. 6 – This marks the last “try-it” session of the season at the Hudson River Air Dogs headquarters; 9 to 11:30 a.m., with follow-up for new members at 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14 – “Autumn Air 2018,” the season’s last semi-local competition hosted by the Hudson club, begins at 10 a.m. both days. +

Kuma models one of his many ribbons at a past competition.

CONTRIBUTED

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Safety

Dangers farm down

on the

Center committed to farmer safety

S

STORY BY ALLISON COLLINS

ince the mid ’80s, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) has been researching and identifying safer practices for farms and providing farm-focused educational outreach as a result.

The center, an affiliate of the Bassett Health Care Network, is at 1 Atwell Road in Cooperstown and is one of 11 in the country. It is a member of the New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network, which operates under the auspices of the New York State Department of Health.

According to NYCAMH’s inaugural report, published in 2016, the facility got its start when onetime Bassett pulmonologists Dr. John May and Dr. David Pratt collaborated to “address the dangers faced by farmers.” The reports states: “They developed a farm safety program that incorporated education, immunizations and safety programs for small and medium-sized farms.”

The pair proved instrumental, NYCAMH Director Dr. Julie Sorensen said, in specifically addressing the respiratory condition known as farmer’s lung.

“They really did some of the initial work in the U.S. identifying that and understanding how to treat it,” she said. “In that early work, they realized there are a lot of other occupational injuries seen among farmers, so they worked with local legislators (at that time) to identify a center that specializes in conditions confined to agriculture.”

Since then, Sorensen said, NYCAMH has evolved to cover all of New York and thousands of farms, year-round. The center has three full-time trainers, she said, and one industrial hygienist working from the Cooperstown site, along with “seven or eight contract trainers spread throughout the state.”

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Jim Carrabba, right, performs an on-farm equipment demonstration.

NYCAMH farm safety educator Jim Carrabba, right, conducts a farm survey.

Sorensen said NYCAMH’s on-farm presence, paired with state and federal backing, is part of what has kept the center viable for more than two decades.

“Our center is unique in that, as well as getting funding from the federal government to conduct research to identify issues and develop solutions … New York state itself also heavily invests in the dissemination of that research,” she said.

That emphasis on getting out in the field, Sorensen said, also distinguishes NYCAMH from similar regional centers.

“Typically what (other centers) do is confined to developing solutions,” she explained. “And it can be sometimes

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

hard to push that information or those practices out into the farming community.

But we’re on farms almost 365 days a year – we’re out there doing trainings, walking through the barn addressing hazards and farmers can call us up any time.”

Cultivating and tending those relationships, Sorensen said, has proven especially important recently.

Fight for funding “Over the last seven or eight years,” she said, “our federal funding has been threatened. They’ve said they were going to eliminate agricultural research centers but interestingly, farmers and farm bureaus in New York and the Northeast have been

From left, doctors John May and David Pratt, credited with spearheading the center, are seen on a farm in this early ‘80s photo.

very outspoken about the need for the services we provide.” She added: “They’ve been great – proactive, supportive, writing letters. These are partners we’ve worked with for years doing everything they can to make sure we continue to exist.”

Marianne Robinson, a human resource administrator with Sunnyside Farms in Cayuga County, said she’s witnessed the on-the-farm impact NYCAMH can have.

“We use their training resources in both languages,” she said, “and they offer a farm walkthrough for safety that we’ve had them do every year. That’s where they provide feedback, suggestions and ideas specific to our farm.”

Free training sessions According to NYCAMH literature, on-farm safety trainings offered by the center “are scheduled at a time most convenient for the farm, at no cost and are available in English and Spanish.”

Tractor, skid steer, animal handling and hazard communication trainings are among the most requested, though topics run the gamut.

Below are just a few of the areas covered in NYCAMH training sessions.

For orchard and vegetable farms, the center offers safety courses concerning heat, sun and hydration; safe lifting and carrying techniques; personal hygiene and food handling; and safe practices when using pesticides.

To dairy and livestock farms, NYCAMH brings trainings on confined space awareness; manure safety; milking parlor safety; chainsaw safety; and tractor and equipment safety.

NYCAMH also welcomes requests for farm-specific training topics.

The center trains more than 5,500 people annually and performs 60-plus on-farm safety surveys and more than 20 agribusiness trainings each year.

Training videos are also offered online.

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Agriculture is a pretty dangerous “profession, so when we talk about

safety, it encompasses a huge part of what we do. NYCAMH helps us with … machinery and equipment, animal handling, hazardous chemicals and confined space training – there’s a lot of stuff. Every aspect of the farm has a safety component.

Melissa Horsman, right, a personal protective equipment coordinator with NYCAMH, demonstrates how to properly fit a respirator.

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Marianne Robinson, human resource administrator with Sunnyside Farms

CONTRIBUTED

Avoid tractor rollovers Despite fluctuations in funding availability, said NYCAMH Director Dr. Julie Sorensen, the center is advancing its mission of making New York farms safer.

“For the past five or six years, we’ve really been working hard to develop solutions that are relevant, but also easy to implement,” she said, naming the center’s introduction of a tractor rollover bar program as a prime example. Sorensen noted that the most frequent cause of death on farms is tractor rollovers.

“For years, the center provided educational training, but now we’ve developed a toll-free hotline farmers can call with information about their tractor,” she explained. “We tell them where to go to get a roll bar, we price it out for them and we also brought data to New York State and said, ‘If New York is investing money in emergency services and disability when these things happen, why not just invest in giving (farmers) a roll bar?’”

New York State’s Rollover Protection Rebate Program was the result, Sorensen said.

“When farmers call the hotline, if they decide to go ahead and install a roll bar, New York State will now cover 75 percent of that cost,” she said. “Essentially what we’ve done is removed logistical difficulty and provided cost assistance. We do all the processing, we mail the farmer a rebate check and we provide a consulting engineer to help install the roll bar. So, instead of just telling (farmers) this is something they should do, we listened to what they needed to have in place to make this happen.”

By connecting farmers directly to feasible solutions and funding, Sorensen said, lives and money are being saved. According to a recent cost-effectiveness assessment done by the center, the rollover program alone has saved New York State roughly $5 million.

This spring, Sorensen personally introduced a new NYCAMH initiative to bring center staff even closer to farmers.

“Once a month, I’m taking lunch to farmers and having a conversation with them,” she said. “I’ll be asking them: ‘Are we doing a good job? Are there gaps in programming?’ and … that’s just my way of making sure I’m connected with the farm community and ensuring that what we’re doing is relevant.”

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Resources available

OSHA training are common, everyday (things) – everybody knows about it and is on board.

In agriculture, we didn’t have any of those resources to draw upon.

NYCAMH has really provided that connection between the resources that farmers and farm employees can use to help learn about safety and safety culture.”

Like any good farmer, Sorensen said, she and center staff recognize there’s always more work to be done.

“People are still getting injured and getting respiratory ailments,” she said. “Are we providing a spectrum of services the farming community needs to stay healthy and safe? Yes. But we have to continue to make the safe decision the easier decision.”

To learn more, visit nycamh. org. +

“NYCAMH does a ton of work for all size farms, because all farms need to be safe,” Robinson added, noting that Sunnyside is considered a large dairy farm.

“Agriculture is a pretty dangerous profession, so when we talk about safety, it encompasses a huge part of what we do. NYCAMH helps us with … machinery and equipment, animal handling, hazardous chemicals and confined space training – there’s a lot of stuff.

Every aspect of the farm has a safety component.”

By offering diverse and customizable safety measures, Robinson said, NYCAMH is filling an important gap.

“Farms didn’t use to have a lot of resources to draw upon,” she said. “In the construction industry, for example, OSHA and

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Summer 2018 | 13

Food

COOKIN’ with COLLINS

Red, white and blueberry

This ‘cooked cream’ is berry good COLUMN AND PHOTOS BY ALLISON COLLINS

W

hen we did the pre-purchase walkthrough for our house in Unadilla, it was February with two hard-packed feet of snow on the ground.

My husband sniffed around, asking practical questions about the furnace, recent roof work and structural integrity. I wanted to know if there were flowers and fruit trees.

That first summer, what had looked in February like a scraggly row of too-tall bushes planted randomly in the middle of the backyard grew heavy with some of the biggest, best blueberries I’ve ever seen.

Each year, the bushes yield more berries than we can possibly use, and that’s with me making every kind of jam, muffin, crumble and bread I can think of. Or find on Pinterest. And my kids make a tidy profit selling surplus berries at the end of the driveway. There’s even plenty left over for the birds that outsmart every attempt we make at netting off the bushes.

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Now, I can’t anticipate summer without also looking forward to buckets of blueberries. This dish pairs a boiled-down version of that berry bounty with cool, creamy and surprisingly easy-to-make panna cotta and another summertime favorite – strawberries – for a patriotic dessert that’s red, white and blueberry.

Panna cotta, a traditional and simple dessert with roots in Northern Italy, calls for sugar, gelatin and a boatload of heavy cream. (Panna cotta literally translates to “cooked cream.”) There’s really no getting around it, but I like to think this version is made a little lighter by using whole milk with the heavy cream.

And, there is fruit.

BLUEBERRY COMPOTE 2 piled-high cups of fresh blueberries ¼ c. of sugar 2 tbsp. honey Pinch of kosher salt Juice of ½ a lemon Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a slow boil over low heat. Cook down to desired consistency (about 15 to 20 minutes), stirring frequently, and remove from heat.

Allow compote to cool.

Spoon a puddle of compote on the plate where panna cotta will go.

If making the coulis out of season, frozen berries work, too.

Once the berries are bubbling over low heat, you can just let them do their thing. But don’t forget to stir the pot occasionally to prevent the berries from scorching or sticking.

STRAWBERRY COULIS 2 c. strawberries, roughchopped ¼ c. sugar ½ c. water Pinch of kosher salt Juice of half a lemon Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Boil for seven to nine minutes, stirring and mashing berries with the back of a wooden spoon as you go.

Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Once cool, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture or pour into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth.

Force mixture through a finemesh sieve and strain into a jar or spouted vessel, again using the back of a spoon, careful to catch all of the coulis.

Serve at room temperature.

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TIPS Don’t combine the gelatin with the water until just a few minutes before you’re ready to whisk set gelatin into the warm creammilk mixture.

Otherwise, it can become rubbery and difficult to incorporate. 

Do not skimp on the setting time! Panna cotta is not difficult to make, but setting does require some patience, so allow at least six hours (more if it’s hot and humid) or refrigerate overnight. 

Run a sharp knife around the edge of your ramekins before easing out the panna cottas.

Additionally, place ramekins in warm water (keeping the water level below the rim of the ramekin) for 30 seconds before plating. 

For a slightly more grownup twist on the blueberry compote, add ½ tbsp. of good-quality balsamic vinegar as it’s boiling down. 

Just because it’s jiggly, doesn’t mean it can’t travel. If hoping to take panna cotta to a summer party, consider assembling the dessert in individual mini mason jars. This keeps portioning and transporting easy, plus it looks super-cute. Bring along the compote and coulis, and you can set up a little DIY panna cotta bar. 

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Store your leftover compote in a sealed container in the fridge and use on toast, grilled meat or vanilla ice cream.

Leftover coulis is great on ice cream, too. 

Summer 2018 | 15

PANNA COTTA (Modified from a recipe published in a June 2012 edition of The Seattle Times.)

2 tbsp. warm water 1 tbsp. + ½ tsp. unflavored gelatin (This is just over the amount in a standard-issue gelatin packet, but you really need that extra ½ tsp. for stability.)

Neutral oil spray 2 ¾ c. heavy cream 1 ¼ c. whole milk 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar ½ tsp. good vanilla extract Coat eight ramekins or small bowls with oil spray. Set aside.

Ready an ice bath for the panna cotta by filling a large bowl about halfway with ice and water.

In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over the surface of 2 tbsp. warm water and stir to combine.

Set aside for two to three minutes, until gelatin is softened but not rubbery.

Combine cream, milk and sugar in a small saucepan with a whisk and heat over medium until just bubbling, but not at a rolling boil. Be careful not to scorch.

Remove cream mixture from heat and whisk in gelatin and vanilla extract.

Transfer pan to ice bath, being careful not to submerge. Continue to whisk until mixture cools slightly.

Before pouring mixture into greased ramekins, rub a little between clean fingers to check for any grit or undissolved gelatin or sugar. If any remains, continue whisking and repeat.

Ladle cooled mixture into prepared ramekins, cover loosely with plastic wrap and carefully transfer to the refrigerator to cool for at least six hours or overnight.

Once fully set, loosen individual panna cotta from ramekins (see “Tips”) onto plates.

Serve cold with blueberry compote and strawberry coulis. + 16

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Gather all of the panna cotta ingredients before cooking, because once the process starts, it goes quickly.

Heat the cream mixture until just bubbling, then whisk until everything is thoroughly incorporated before transferring to the ice bath.

Using a ladle, spoon about ½ to ¾ c. panna cotta liquid into each prepared ramekin. This recipe makes about 10 panna cottas.

Garnish panna cotta with a fresh strawberry, blueberries or both.

Keep extra coulis and compote nearby when serving finished panna cotta.

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Summer 2018 | 17

Family Day Trips

W

e like to let our imaginations have free rein with us when we visit remarkable geological outcroppings. That is certainly the case when we visit Minelot Falls at John Boyd Thacher State Park.

The park is enormous; it stretches along the top of a great ledge of limestone that overlooks a distant Albany. It’s called the Helderberg Escarpment and the limestone is called the Helderberg Limestone.

You can park in the Indian Ladder parking lot. You stand and gaze into the valley below. That’s apple country down there and you might want to visit it in early autumn.

But today, we have other adventures in mind. We wander off to the right and soon find our way to a staircase that takes hikers down to the Indian Ladder Trail. If you go there and descend these stairs, take a good look at the bedrock walls. These are those Helderberg limestones. They are remarkable rocks.

Whenever we geologists see such strata we are transported into the distant past. These horizons of rock are a bit more than 400 million years old. But it is not the age that impresses us; it is the environments, the ecologies that appear to our mind’s eyes. Limestone always forms in shallow tropical seas. We are transported to one of those seas.

We pause on our way down those stairs and then turn slowly a full 360 degrees. All around us we see a very shallow and very warm sea. We are standing up to our chests in the water. That water sparkles in a beautiful shade of aqua. Our feet are standing on pink sands. All around is the green of seaweed. But a little away from us are what seem to be corals. At

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least they look like corals, but we are paleontologists today and we know better. These are coral-like creatures, but they are properly called stromatoporoids.

They are a mystery to science; today they are entirely extinct, and their petrified skeletons do not tell us much about their anatomies.

We can’t do anything better than put a funny long name on them.

They certainly lived the lives of corals. Think about it: corals, here in upstate New York!

It’s too bad that we are pressed for time; we would like to examine them in detail, but we must move on.

We continue on the Indian Ladder Trail a short distance and then we see the trail open up to display a fine looking waterfall. Well, at least sometimes it is a waterfall; today it is bone dry. Even if it does not have any water, it does have a name; it is called Minelot Falls. It is an important location, known for its important geology.

Take a good look; you are viewing stratified rock. Layer after layer of limestones make up the wall of rock that is the falls. Each horizon of limestone took its turn being the bottom of that shallow Helderberg Sea. Somewhere in there, perhaps about 15 or 20 feet up, is a single stratum that marks the dawn of the Devonian time period and that is the important geology. That dawn occurred just about 419 million years ago. The Devonian stretched on for the next 60 million years.

Here, the Helderberg Sea would be replaced by dry land. It was an important time. Life had been evolving rapidly, but the Devonian would witness the first appearance of abundant life in terrestrial habitats. Before it was over, forests

Summer 2018

Dawn of the Devonian –

a visit to

Thacher Park COLUMN AND PHOTO BY ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS

Minelot Falls at Thacher Park.

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Summer 2018 | 19

would cover the lands of the earth with a great diversity of trees. Those forests would be inhabited by invertebrate animals, including the most primitive of the insects, centipedes, millipedes and even spiders. The end of the Devonian would see early amphibians living along streams in those forests.

All of that is recorded in the geology of the Catskills. Almost three miles of Devonian stratified rock are found in the hills above Minelot Falls and those strata record much of that history. But it all started here.

We gaze at those strata and still wonder which among them records that important moment in time – that dawn. Each stratum represents an instant and, here, a large number of “instants” are piled up upon each other. Again we gaze at the strata of Minelot Falls and raise our hands.

One of us points to one stratum; the other points to another.

Most couples fight over money.

We really don’t know which of these strata is the right one, and we are not alone. This is one of those things that, late at night in geology bars, people debate.

But even if it is hard to decide which stratum is the right one, it is easy to imagine what that “dawn of the Devonian” was like. The strata here record what is called a supratidal habitat. These strata were deposited on a limestone landscape that rose perhaps only inches above sea level. We are transported, once again, through time.

Early morning, Dec. 31th, 419,000,001 years BC – the future Helderberg Front. The eastern sky has been lightening; the sun approaches. First, it had been a dim gray, but now a shining yellow horizon has developed. We stand, facing east -- expectantly. This will be the first day of the Devonian. It’s not as if anything all the important has or will happen; it is just that a new and different period of time is fast approaching. At this time, the New Year is not greeted at midnight; it is the moment when the first speck of sunlight appears, that will begin this new calendar date. We are not decked out in funny clothes, we have no horns; we simply gaze east and watch – in awe.

As the sun rises, its light shines across what is an enormous tidal flat. Here and there pools of saltwater glisten in the new sunlight. The rest is sand; it will soon be

baking in this tropical sun and, when it does, it will turn white. There are a few shrimp-like, invertebrate animals swimming about in those pools. Here and there, on the sand, we see bits of shell material, but mostly this is a lifeless landscape. Evolution will be changing all that.

Some 60 million years ahead this will be a much more interesting ecology.

Contact the authors at randjtitus@ prodigy.net. Join their facebook page, “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.com.”

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m r s e u S m tyles Fashion

REFLECT SOCIETY COLUMN AND PHOTOS BY SIERRA SANGETTI-DANIELS

As summer sets in, we follow yet another array of “looks” passed on from the designer gods during Fashion Week, I want to offer a necessary reminder of fashions contributing role in society.

I know the term fashion may seem like a word used only by inhabitants of Hollywood, but dress can be a crucial form of expression of identity for us all. Often overlooked for its materialism and superficial focus, the verbal and nonverbal messages transmitted through dress may be too commonly ignored.

However, Vogue tells us fashion is often a reflection of the times and consequently a real form of expression of identity.

So, this summer, embrace the runway trends (at thrift shop prices, of course) as they often are saying a lot more than just “buy me.”

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Power shorts This year the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement empowered women to claim their rights. This was seen on the runway and inspired me when creating my first look.

Power shorts were the star of the show at Paris Fashion Week (PFW). Be Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, or Valentino, PFW brought its best power short varieties: high-waisted, cycling and probably my favorite, leather!

Because British Vogue tells us there are really only two ways to go with this look – casual shorts and bike shorts – I decided to go business casual with black, leaving plenty of room for further summer expression.

Power shorts.

Thrift y Finds

Writer Sierra Sangetti-Daniels in her runway rainbow outfit.

Retro sneakers.

Did you know?

The city council of Monahans, Texas, passed an ordinance in 1944 that banned women in shorts from public streets.

I picked up a pair of black power shorts for only 49 cents at the Oneonta Salvation Army during a Monday 49-cent tag sale.

I paired it with another 49-cent item – a metallic flower blouse, embracing the summer staple of floral, because is it really summer without flowers?

This look is great for the office or an evening networking event!

Spicing the look up with accessories, I went for a red hot statement belt (only 99 cents at the Salvation Army). Don’t be afraid to add extra color to a look, as a standout piece can jazz up any outfit.

The total price of this look was a literal $3. I never thought I would say this, but Dolce and Gabbana truly can’t compete.

Runway rainbow With LGBTQIA+ activism at a necessary high, designers took to fashion to support the need for unification. My second look negates the notion of “black being the new black” and welcomes extreme expression through color.

Having trouble deciding between red, blue and yellow? Have no fear, because a collaboration is here.

Although I will miss last season’s pink dresses, I was thrilled to see designers (Thom Browne, to be specific) embracing the “every crayon in the box” phenomenon. This summer, opt out of monochromatic and into polychromatic styling, because in perhaps the most colorful season of all, why should we have to pick?

I opted for a rainbow striped midi bodycon dress from the Salvation Army for $2.50 during one of its half-off Wednesdays – I knotted the side for a little extra sass. This summer remember, if Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini can work all the colors of the rainbow

into a dress, so can you.

As the rainbow look infers, the more colors the better so I paired the dress with a coral mesh hoodie from Shakedown Street in Oneonta. For only $6.50, I added an extra color to the rainbow.

Remembering accessories spice up any look, I grabbed a black fanny pack for $2 from the Salvation Army and draped it across my chest like a cross body bag – Bella Hadid style.

I finished off this look with a pair of open back Nike sneakers for only $3.99. From Kendall Jenner to Hailey Baldwin, the retro (and sometimes clunky) sneaker trend is keeping us all comfy this summer.

Elle Magazine confirms with a headline, “Sneakers are the Trend Everyone is Going to be Wearing this Year.” +

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Summer 2018

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UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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Summer 2018 | 25

Only l a r u t a N

BEAUTY SECRETS in the garden

CHAMOMILE

LAVENDER

NETTLE

COLUMN AND PHOTOS

BY ANNA KRUSINSKI

N

ow that your garden is beginning to reap results, are you happy with what you planted? When it comes time to plan our gardens, we often consider elements like color, height, fragrance, and sometimes even culinary use. But you can do more.

Why not add another purpose to your garden by putting in plants that can be

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used for herbal beauty care? Here are a few of my favorite plants I include in my garden, and some tips on everyday uses to enhance your natural beauty.

Lavender ​Lavender is an immensely popular plant in many gardens, and it’s no wonder why. The flowers produce a beautifully fragrant aroma and the purple blooms are a delight to the eye. Lavender

does best when planted in full sun and well-drained soil.

During the growing season, try using the mature, fresh buds to make a tea or infusion for a gently astringent toner to relieve sunburn and skin irritations. The lavender tea also doubles as a scented body mist; just store it in a spray bottle and spritz whenever you want a burst of floral fragrance!

After a long day of tending your garden, soothe tired muscles with a relaxing bath infused with chamomile flowers.

You can also dry the flowers and continue to enjoy your lavender year-round. To harvest, cut the full flower spikes or strip the buds from the stems.

Dry the flowers by hanging the stems upside down or laying out the buds on a screen. Store in a cool, shaded area to dry. If you didn’t plant any this year, look around and see if you can find some already under way.

The dried buds can then be used in a soothing clay facial mask. Simply combine 1 tablespoon of ground dried flowers with 4 tablespoons of kaolin clay and store in an airtight container.

To use, combine 1-2 table-

Use a mortar and pestle to grind dried lavender buds for at-home beauty recipes, like a lavender clay facial mask.

spoons of the dry mixture with just enough water to form a paste. After washing with a gentle soap, apply the mixture to your face, being careful to avoid your eyes.

Enjoy the opportunity to relax while the mixture dries. After 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water and finish with your favorite moisturizing face cream.

Chamomile Whether you prefer creeping Roman chamomile or the taller German chamomile, both plants are great additions to your garden and have lots of uses for natural beauty care.

Chamomile does well in part

Dry your lavender to use in an easy-tomake calming clay facial mask.

Dry lavender from your garden to use year-round in your beauty recipes, and in the kitchen.

shade and dry soil. It is a fairly low-maintenance plant that requires minimal watering or tending.

You can harvest chamomile quite often — even as much as every day — as the plant will continue to bloom throughout the growing season. To harvest, look for any flowers that are almost open and pop off the blooms. Dry the flowers by laying them flat on a screen and keeping in a cool, dark room with adequate air flow.

(If you don’t have a screen, you can also lay cheesecloth over a rack and place the blooms on the cloth.)

To make a gentle toner for

Dried nettle is a “super-plant” for strengthening hair and keeping locks shiny and full.

sensitive or mature skin, pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile and steep for a few hours or overnight. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator and use as a facial toner to calm break-outs or irritated skin.

When you’re in need of a relaxing bath night to ease tension and soothe tired muscles, infuse the water with epsom salt and dried chamomile buds.

Pair your bath with your favorite candle and you’ll have a spa right in your own bathroom!

Finish off your bath night with a cup of chamomile tea and you’re sure to slip into a restful night’s sleep.

?

Roman chamomile and German chamomile are both great additions to your garden for herbal beauty care.

UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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Summer 2018 | 27

When you’re in need of a relaxing bath night to ease tension and soothe tired muscles, infuse the water with epsom salt and dried chamomile buds.

Pair your bath with your favorite candle and you’ll have a spa right in your own bathroom!

Nettle Stinging nettle is a plant that is rich in minerals, making it wonderfully nourishing and especially useful in herbal hair care. When growing nettle in your garden, choose a sunny area with rich, moist soil and take care to plant it apart from other plants as it is quite invasive.

Stinging nettle certainly lives up to its name and can cause skin irritation, so be sure to always wear gloves when working with the fresh plant. Once dried, the greens lose their sting and can be used in teas, infusions, and more.

One of my favorite uses for nettle is in a hair rinse. In a pan, combine 3 tablespoons of dried nettle and 8 ounces of water. Bring to a boil and cover, then

simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, let the mixture cool, and strain out the plant material. Store the hair rinse in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

This rinse is wonderful for strengthening the hair and boosting shine and fullness. After shampooing, slowly pour the rinse over your hair, being careful to work it into the full length of your hair.

Gently towel dry your hair and style as usual.

If you have chamomile from your garden, you can add the dried flowers to your nettle hair rinse to soothe a sensitive or dry scalp. The addition of chamomile also brightens and enhances the tone of blond hair. +Â

Anna Krusinski has been creating and selling natural bath and beauty products for nearly a decade. Contact her at anna@shopwillowandbirch.com.

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From There to Here

Blast E from the

Poodle skirts once again the cat’s meow

past

ntering The Squire’s Tankard at 438 Main St. in Franklin, one steps into a space filled floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall with relics of another time.

The vintage boutique, housed in an 1860s former tinsmith shop on Main Street, overflows with floral ’60s kaftans, glittering ’20s handbags, beribboned Victorian sleepwear, luxe fur coats and much, much more, all curated by Donna Briggs.

Though the shop has been a

downtown Franklin fixture for 12 years, Briggs said, she’s been hunting vintage curios and couture for more than three decades.

“Tom and my first date was to an antique show,” Briggs said, gesturing to her husband, also an antiques enthusiast. “I started looking at clothing and jewelry and, at that time, there weren’t many people in this area that collected.”

Even before that, Briggs said, hers was a childhood spent fostering a love for fashion.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALLISON COLLINS

Donna Briggs stands alongside dresses of many hues and histories in The Squire’s Tankard.

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Summer 2018

Briggs admires an antique, 19th-century lace-and-floral women’s over-garment.

Whether it’s ’80s heels or pretty-in-pink pumps from Saks Fifth Avenue, Briggs has footwear for every era.

the trend now is … stuff from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.”

“I’d sayLaughing, she added: “That’s the stuff I wore! ” — Donna Briggs

“I grew up as one of five girls in Connecticut,” she said. “And that was back in the day when you wore dresses all the time. I just always loved clothes, and the way vintage clothing is made, you can’t compare. It’s all made so beautifully and … a lot of it is one-of-a-kind.”

Fashion passion Briggs, who called a 35-year career in social work her “real job,” started small, earning a reputation as a clotheshorse and gathering favorite finds.

“Friends of ours … knew I liked vintage clothing and would call me up to ask if I was interested in buying trunks,” she explained. “And I could never say no, so that’s how I started amassing. I used to have (inventory) in my house and we did the Brimfield (Antique Flea Market) in Massachusetts and (Renninger’s Antique Market) in Pennsylvania.”

It was vending at such regional shows, she said, that forged fruitful, sometimes lifelong industry connections.

“I made contacts there because people came from all over … and especially from (New York) City,” she said. “There were costumers from movies and I had

quite a few things in movies. That’s been really cool.”

Briggs’ costuming contributions can be seen in such blockbusters as “Out of Africa,” “The Color Purple,” “Maverick” and many Woody Allen films.

Additionally, she said, Madonna sported her finds in “Bullets Over Broadway,” a 1994 musical.

As metropolitan costumers and designers came to know and trust her “eye,” Briggs said, her pieces became increasingly popular in niche markets.

Purveyors of vintage lingerie; doll collectors seeking period-authentic fabrics, trims and buttons; collectors of Victorian “whites” – whispy petticoats, lacetrimmed shifts and delicate bloomers; re-enactment communities; classic car enthusiasts; and denim diehards have all made Briggs their go-to.

What’s old is new Despite developing decades of clothing clout among costumers and bigname designers (think Vera and Ralph Lauren), Briggs said, a local following came much later.

“When I first started, local people didn’t get it,” Briggs said. “But now,

people realize that they can come here and buy a unique birthday or Christmas present.”

Today, she said, college students and local groups make up the majority of her close-to-home clientele.

“I’d say the trend now is … stuff from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s,” she said.

Laughing, she added: “That’s the stuff I wore!

Most of these people weren’t even born then and they think, ‘Oh, my God. That is so vintage.’ That’s what the college kids are wearing.”

Additionally, she’s outfitted organizations such as Oneonta’s Orpheus Theatre, the Delaware County Historical Association, the Glimmerglass Opera of Cooperstown and the Fenimore Art Museum, where she once sent a bathrobe belonging to the village’s namesake, James Fenimore Cooper.

Finding pieces fitting “homes,” Briggs said, is a satisfying part of a business in which, for fashion-lovers, saying goodbye can be hard.

“When I first started, I said to my husband, ‘Oh, my gosh, I could never sell anything.’ But then you find something you want more,” she said. “Or,

?

UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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Summer 2018 | 31

if someone comes in and (the piece) is going to go to a play or a museum, it’s easier to let it go.”

“That’s part of the fun, knowing where things end up,” she said. “It’s fun for me, if I have a gorgeous dress and someone comes in and it fits them perfectly. I love meeting people, talking with them and finding out what they’re going to do with the things. It’s nice having them appreciate something I appreciate.”

Memorable memorabilia Though there have been many memorable acquisitions over the years, Briggs said, two in particular stand out.

“There was a Coco Chanel Suit and … one absolutely gorgeous French wedding set,” she said. The latter, “handmade with silk and French lace,” was pale green with pink ribbons and included bloomers, a nightgown, brazier and petticoats, Briggs said. “That was fabulous.” Wistfully, she added, “I remember everything.”

Given how long she’s been in the business, Briggs has watched trends come and go. Be-

“

Another trend right now is mid-century, 1950s stuff, like poodle skirts. And when I first started, I couldn’t give away cuff links, but now those are really en vogue, so I sell a lot.

— Donna Briggs

”

yond the collegiate crowd’s current penchant for ’60s, ’70s and ’80s garb, she said, she’s seen specialty jewelry, vintage formalwear and ’50s classics all have their day in the sun.

“There are always these strange little trends,” she said. “One trend from about a decade ago was vintage prom dresses … and, for a while, tuxedo jackets were really big. Another trend right now is mid-century, 1950s stuff, like poodle skirts. And when I first started, I couldn’t give away cuff links, but now those are really en vogue, so I sell a lot.”

A roadside attraction gift shop since 1950!

Briggs, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years ago, said her health will factor in the shop’s future.

“A lot depends on my health,” she said. “If somebody wants to offer me a lot of money, I’d be willing to sell.”

In the short-term, Briggs said, she will concentrate on whittling down a collection that extends far beyond the shop floor (the full-to-bursting backroom and storage spaces upstairs and down are just the beginning).

“I’m trying to cut down,” she said. “I have so much stuff.”

Through summer, typically her busiest season thanks to a downstate contingent of second-homeowners in Franklin, Briggs is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. However, the Franklin resident said she is happy to meet “by chance or appointment.”

With an attitude belonging as much to the past as her wares, Briggs smiled and said, “Just call me at home, I live close by and can be here in two minutes.”

She can be reached at (607) 829-5013.

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www.thetepee.biz • (607) 264-3987 7632 US Hwy 20, CHerry Valley, Ny 13320 32

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Summer 2018

Handbag anyone?

Briggs has hundreds, each from a moment in fashion history.

From fur hats to hand jewelry, The Squire’s Tankard is a curio cabinet of fashion’s finest.

Just ‘Imagine’

Briggs features 1950s formalwear from her Main Street, Franklin shop.

Briggs’ many finds, such as this pair of Victorian-era lace-up boots, span more than a century of fashion.

In between outfitting stars of film and stage, Donna Briggs has also had a few famous clients stop by her Franklin digs.

Perhaps the most famous is returning customer Sean Lennon, son of John and Yoko.

“Oh, Sean comes in on a regular basis,” she said, adding that, though Yoko has only stopped in once or twice, she is “very nice.”

But “Sean’s been coming for about eight years and he brings his band members,” Briggs said. “He’s got a studio at the home and they always come down. They’ll call up and ask to come over.”

Though she’s acquainted with the famous face now, Briggs said, the first time Lennon came around, she had no idea who he was, only that he looked vaguely familiar and like the musician type.

Laughing, she recalled him coming in and attempting to pay with a credit card (which she didn’t accept at the time) for clothes he’d chosen for photo and album-cover shoots.

When he couldn’t pay, Briggs said, she told him to take the goods anyway and just send her a check.

It was during an incredulous (on his part) ensuing exchange of names and addresses, she said, that Lennon commented, “Oh, yeah, my parents are pretty well known.”

“I get a lot of city people and musicians and artists, so I didn’t think anything of it,” she said. Smiling, she added: “I didn’t know who he was, but he looks just like his father … and he’s kept coming back.” +

The Squire’s Tankard features a considerable collection of gowns for the vintage-loving bride-to-be.

Vintage hounds will love the low prices at The Squire’s Tankard.

UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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Summer 2018 | 33

Business Directory Meet the Locals Advertising & Media (Publishers, Public Relations, Marketing)

Construction & Building Services

Entertainment

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| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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34

Eternal Flame

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Hospitality

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Restaurants

Shopping & Retail

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(Full Service, Casual Dining, Fast Food)

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GARDEN CENTER!

OPEN IN APRIL! (weather permitting... call ahead) Get Get AAJump JumpOn OnYour YourSpring SpringClean-Up! Clean-Up! Mulching Mulchingand andEdging Edging Cleaning Cleaning and and Sealing Sealing Services ServicesFor For Walks and Patios, Walks and Patios, Pond Clean-Up And More!

Clean-Up And More!

Visit us Pond online at www.newasburygardens.com Visit us online at www.newasburygardens.com

248 RIVER ST., ONEONTA

Heart of the Catskills Humane Society

248 RIVER ST., ONEONTA 607-432-8703 Pure Catskills 607-432-8703

Lucky Dog Farm Store & Cafe

44 West Street, Walton, NY 607-865-7090 www.purecatskills.com

Yoder’s Quality Sheds, LLC Yoder’s Quality Sheds, LLC

278 Atswell Rd., Richfield Springs, NY 315-858-0841

TREMPERSKILL COUNTRY STORE

P.O. Box 88, 46610 State Hwy. 10 Delhi, NY • 607-746-3080 www.heartofthecatskills.org

Cooperstown Natural Foods

Tremperskill Country Store

35796 State Hwy. 10, Hamden, NY 607-746-8383 • www.luckydogorganic.com

61 Linden Ave., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-8613

1024 County Hwy. 1, Andes, NY 845-676-3244

The Red Barn Clubhouse

Plaide Palette

Clinton Plaza, Oneonta, NY 607-432-4862 www.wolfwilde.com

Susquehanna Animal Shelter

4841 State Hwy. 28, Cooperstown, NY 607-547-8111 • www.thesas.org

Personal Services & Care (Salons & Spas, Funeral Homes, Driver Training, more...)

2322 Rt. 7, Cobleskill, NY 518-254-0275 • www.cobleskillgc.com

Wolf Wilde Goldsmith

Cherry Valley, NY 607-264-3769 • www.celticart.com

Sports & Recreation (Golf Courses & Country Clubs, Sports Facility, Sports Team)

Tuning In - Tuning Up

Oneonta, NY 607-433-2089 www.tuningin-tuningup.com

Tiger Asian Cuisine

195 Main St., Oneonta, NY • 607-441-3396 www.tigerasiancuisineoneonta.com

GOBBLER’S KNOB Gobbler’s Knob

3793 State Rt. 145, Cobleskill, NY 518-296-8008 • www.gobblersknob.us

UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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Summer 2018 | 35