Simply Saratoga Holiday

Covering Saratoga County

The Holiday Edition

Compliments of

SS 2012 Nov-Dec Holiday.indd 1 11/6/12 2:39 PM







Simply Saratoga SaratogaTODAYNewspaper.com8

Owner/PublisherChad Beatty

General ManagerRobin Mitchell

Production DirectorRichard Hale

AdvertisingChris Bushee, Jim Daley, Cindy Durfey

Graphic DesignersEric Havens, Jessica Kane

WritersChelsea DiSchiano

Helen Susan Edelman Arthur Gonick

Meghan Lemery Trina Lucas

Andrew Marshall Hollis Palmer

PhotographersMarkBolles.com

StockStudios

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Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Recipes

Holiday Fashion Photos

Holiday Save the Date



November / December 2012Contents

The Story behind Saratoga’s Santa 12

Holiday Gift Guide 16

Holiday recipes 22

The Alpine Sport Shop: Saratoga’s original Ski Shop 30

Holiday Fashion Photos 35

Home made Theater 42

olde bryan Inn: The Go-To Place for relaxed Dining 52

Tom roohan—rainmaker 62

The bracketts 70

orange bikini’s, Night vision Goggles and Smelling Salts, oH mY! 76

Dave Dowling: every Word counts 78

Holiday Save the Date 82

climbing to New Heights 86

16

22

35

82

rr

The lovely display on this month’s front cover could not have been possible without the help of some great local people. We’d like to thank the Flaherty family of Saratoga Springs for the use of their door, Dehn’s Flowers for the beautifully crafted snowman wreath and the Alpine Sport Shop for the snowman’s winter apparel. Cover photo by StockStudios.

Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Recipes

Holiday Fashion Photos

Holiday Save the Date





The Story Behind Saratoga’s Santa

Story by Chelsea DiSchiano Photos provided

Santa Claus’s home looks just how one would imagine it: A quaint little home filled with Christmas trinkets, toy elves and, of course, Santa’s work-shop. It just so happens that Santa lives in a home only blocks away from the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs.

Sitting behind his large wooden desk, Fred Clark is the perfect picture of an off-duty Santa Claus. Wearing his usual red suspenders with “I Love Sara-toga” inscribed on them, he sits back in his chair with his baby granddaughter

resting on his hip, and his long, curly white beard and sparkling eyes per-fectly encompass the universal image of what Santa Claus should look like.

Plenty of people dress up as San-ta Claus during the holiday season year after year, making appearances in malls as children line up for hours waiting to tell St. Nick their Christmas wishes. The difference between those Santas and the Saratoga Santa is that he plays the part every day of his life, no matter what the season.

Clark first got involved in the Santa role when his wife, Carol, encouraged him to play Santa at the Hewitt Garden Center in 1998.

“I had a fake beard back then,” Clark joked. Before resembling Santa Claus, Clark was told by friends and coworkers that he looked just like country singer Kenny Rogers—before the plastic surgery, Clark said.

continued on page 24



Clark is somewhat of a celebrity in the little town of Saratoga Springs, known for his red PT Cruiser with a li-cense plate reading “HoHoHoMC” and wearing red suspenders daily. Saratoga Winery even created a red wine for the holidays that pictures Clark’s face on every bottle, and his appearances at the Saratoga Racetrack in the sum-mertime always intrigue children who are stunned to see Santa Claus in their very own town.

“Some kids are pretty shocked when they see me,” Clark said. “Their wheels are always turning—some kids will ask me outright, ‘Why are you here?’ and I tell them, ‘Santa loves to come to Saratoga because he likes to watch the horses run. This is where I vacation.’ Sometimes if they’re really sharp, they’ll ask me where I live, and so I tell them we own a little house here in Saratoga because we come visit so much.”

Clark said that each summer, he

brings a red and white lawn chair that says “Santa” on the back of it to the racetrack so he can provide more op-portunities for the kids to take pictures with him, though he doesn’t wear the full Santa suit—just shorts and his “I Love Saratoga” suspenders. He also hands out business cards for the chil-dren that read “You have just met the real Santa.”

Clark is already planning ahead for his appearances at the track next season.

“Next year, the racetrack will be celebrating its 150 year anniversary, and my wheels are always spinning,” Clark said. “So I’m trying to offer an idea to the track, I was thinking they could have a little tent set up outside for me and I could take pictures with the children for $5 and the track could donate the money to the Jockeys’ Guild, or something like that.”

Clark had to work several different

jobs before finding his true calling as Santa Claus. His jobs over the years in-cluded being a police officer, a barber, and a prison guard and correction of-ficer before becoming a custodian in Saratoga Springs schools for 31 years. Clark worked in the school district un-til his retirement in 2004.

Now that he is working as Santa, Clark makes appearances for paid gigs, as well as doing plenty of charity work, volunteering in places such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes. His experi-ences have brought him both happy and sad experiences with children.

“There was one little boy in the hospital who had two brain tumor op-erations,” Clark remembered. “I visited him, and he loved Santa. But he died about four days before Christmas that year.”

Clark also told a story about a young boy whose only Christmas wish was for his parents to get back together.



Though there are plenty of sad or bit-tersweet stories, being Santa has also provided Clark with funny stories and experiences.

“When I worked at Maple Avenue, there was a kid who had Down syn-drome and he was my little buddy,” Clark said, smiling. “During Christmas I would wear my ho-ho-ho suspend-ers, and he would see me in the hall

and grab his belly and yell out “Ho, ho, ho,” Clark laughed. “I loved that kid.”

Clark even gets noticed when he is out to eat with his family. Once, af-ter eating at a restaurant with his wife, he got a funny note on the back of his check: “Dear Santa, I want a shiny red car like yours for Christmas,” his wait-ress wrote.

“It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wherever we go, people want to take pictures with us,” Clark said. “It’s not just when Christmas season rolls around—I do Santa every day of my life.”

Clark added that he was recently in Connecticut with his wife when an older woman saw him and asked him if he plays Santa.

“I don’t play Santa, honey,” he told her. “I am Santa.” •



Vintage Golf ClubBottle OpenersFor the perfect, unique gift, try these Authentic Vintage Golf Club Bottle Openers. ($65 - $75) Available at: Homessence 439 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-306-6445

“Maitre-De” Wine & Beverage CenterKeep your favorite wines cooled and on hand this Holiday season with this convenient digital LED, temperature controlled wine showcase. Stainless Steel design/holds up to 6 bottles. Earl B. Feiden Inc. 785 New Loudon Rd, Latham NY, 12110 518-785-8555 www.earlbfeiden.com

Signature Melomel WinesSpice up your Holidays with one of our Signature Melomel Wines along with other unique gifts for everyone on your list! Saratoga Winery 426 Rt. 29 W. Saratoga Springs NY 12866 518-584-WINE

Unique Glass DecantersStore your favorite beverages in style! Beautiful and unique Wine and Liquor decanters starting at $99.23rd and Fourth, One Franklin Square Saratoga Springs NY, 12866 518-584-3700. www.23rdandfourth.com

Frenza Votive HolderLight up any room this holiday season with a spectacular Firenza votive holder. Makes a great center piece…and a great gift. $48 all included Available at: Next Summer516 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-886-8212 www.thelakehouselife.com

Your HolidayGuideGiftBUY LOCAL



Amish Leather RockerHandmade Leather rocker with Secretary Desk. Available in multiple woods and finishes. Available at: The Furniture House 1254 Rt. 9P Saratoga Springs NY 12866 - 518-587-9455

Chair and OttomanAdd comfort & style for the Holidays! Our Best selling Chair & Ottoman available in over 300 different fabrics. Only at Saratoga Signature Interiors, 82 Church St., Saratoga Springs NY, 12866 518-581-0023

“Bear After the Honey” LampLet light into your holidays with this rustic themed lamp. Available at: Furniture Theatre 2789 Rt. 9, Malta NY 12020 - 518-587-9420 furnituretheatre.com

Heirloom Quality BEATRIZ BALL handmade metal ware makes the perfect serving ware for that special holiday party. And the best part…it will not tarnish or lose its shine! Available at: Compliments to the Chef 488 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 - 518-226-4477




Boxwood TreesGood things come in small packages! Each one is unique - available all season - long lasting, perfect for small places - stop in to view all our designs - each one is hand made. Available at: Dehn’s Flowers and Gifts 178 Beekman St. Saratoga Springs NY 12866 518-584-1880

Saratoga - The places and Its PeopleOne of the Many beautiful books on Saratoga Springs history available at: Lyrical Ballad Bookstore 7 Phila Street Saratoga Springs NY 12866 518-584-8779

Votive Candles on a RopeNine different aromas and an assortment of colors available only at: Crafters Gallery 427 Broadway Saratoga Springs NY 12866 518-583-2435

Amish made rocking motorcycleMade of solid oak with faux leather seat. Guaranteed to bring joy to little cyclists! $199.95 More genuine Amish made toys and furniture available at: The Wood Carte, Rt 9 Queensbury NY or visit woodcarte.com

Blessed Birth Pitcher

Hand Painted Raised Ceramic

Pitcher expresses the true meaning of

Christmas. One of two designs available

from a whole line of The Art of Him

giftware collection. The Giver of Life Gift

Shoppe 658 Rt. 9 Gansevoort NY 12831

518-583-3323




Swarovski Crystal & Leather BraceletFor the perfect addition to almost any holiday outfit try this cuff made with vintage leather and Swarovski crystals by Rebel. $138 Available at: Silverwood 24 Caroline St. Saratoga Springs NY 12866 - 518-583-3600

Moon Boots for Kids!The Original Moon Boot for Kids - starting at $79.95Alpine Sport Shop 399 Clinton Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866(518) 584-6290 www.AlpineSportShop.com

Bangle BraceletsGold Cup Bangles, Belmonte Bracelet Collection, Derby Bracelet Collection & Bit Bangles. Prices range between $25-$35 Available at: Impressions of Saratoga 368 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-0666

Equestrian Pendant & PinJewelry artist Dennis deJonghe has added this new pendant and pin to his “Equestrian Collection” to honor the Saratoga racetrack in 14k yellow gold and sterling silver. Exclusively available at deJonghe Jewelry, 470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs NY 518-587-6422

Tacori JewelryA bold fusion of sophisticated, edgy glamour.Available at: N. Fox Jewelers 404 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY - 518 587-7777www.nfoxjewelers.com




Your HolidayGuideGift

Clayton Floor LampBronze finish with marble accent. Available at: Wolberg Lighting Design & Electric Supply. 60 West Ave, Saratoga Springs. 518-886-0446

Radio Flyer My 1St Scooter (ages 2-5) Other Radio Flyer products available. Allerdice Building Supply – Allerdice.com

Essentials Pink Tool KitPink 7-piece Tool Kit with bagAllerdice Building Supply –Allerdice.com

Organic Wool Pillow

Breathe easy with

our Organic customizable

wool pillow. Available at: Green

Conscience Home &

Garden. 33 Church Street

Saratoga Springs.

518-306 5169

Fein Multimaster Start Q Tool Kit

The most important accessories for grinding, sawing and

scraping. Allerdice Building Supply – Allerdice.com

BUY LOCAL





Stracotto di Manzo (Italian Pot Roast)Donna TalleyServes 81 ounce dried porcini mushrooms2 cups beef stock (preferably homemade)Salt & pepper4 pound beef eye of round2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons chopped pancetta1 finely chopped onion1 finely chopped carrot1 finely chopped celery stalk3 cloves garlic, minced2 bay leaves1 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary¼ cup tightly packed chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley

leaves (no stems)3 tablespoons tomato paste5 cups Italian red wine (I like a nice Montepulciano)28 ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and crushed by hand

Soak the porcini mushrooms in 1 cup of hot beef stock until softened, about 30 minutes. Strain the liquid through a coffee filter or sieve lined with a double layer of cheese-cloth. Trim any hard bits from the mushrooms. Set aside the mushrooms and liquid separately.

Season the beef with salt & pepper. In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown the beef on all sides, about 15 minutes total. Transfer the beef to a plate. Pour off browning fat. Add pancetta, onions, carrots and celery,

stirring, until they are golden (about 10-12 minutes). Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Stir in bay leaves, rosemary, parsley and tomato paste. Add the wine and simmer until it is reduced by half (about 20 minutes).

Add the beef, tomatoes, porcini mushrooms, mush-room liquid, and enough beef stock to come ⅔ up the side of the beef. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook at a gentle simmer for 2½ to 3 hours, until the meat is tender. Turn the roast every 30 minutes or so.

Transfer the meat to a cutting board and cover with alu-minum foil to keep warm. Skim off any fat from the surface of the liquid. Strain the liquid, pressing on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the sol-ids and return the strained sauce to the pot. Bring to a boil and let cook, uncovered, for a few minutes to further reduce and thicken the liquid. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Slice the roast and serve with the sauce and soft polenta.



Donna spends the majority of her time as the Regional Editor for Better Homes and Gardens,

but she’s also an avid home cook, and shares this internationally inspired recipe for your holiday meal.

“I first had this dish on a birthday trip to Florence, Italy. I was at this great hole-in-the-wall restaurant near the central market called Mario’s. I went there because they were known for their osso buco. They happened to be out of that particular dish that day,

but they recommended their special of the day, which was the stracotto di manzo. It was absolutely

incredible served over polenta and I decided I needed to recreate it. I tried different variations and it took about four different tries and this is a very, very

close recipe to what I had while in Florence.”



Poached Pears with RisottoMark BollesServes 8Poaching the pears:2 quarts water2 tablespoons honey1 tablespoon pickling spice in a tea ball or cheesecloth wrap1 cup white wine (sweet variety not dry)2 clementines4 bosc pears, peeled and cored

Pour water into a saucepot with pickling spice and cle-mentines, halved and squeezed. Bring to a gentle boil, add pears and simmer for ½ hour then set aside.

Risotto:2 tablespoons vegetable oil⅓ cup finely diced carrot⅓ cup finely diced celery¼ cup finely chopped shallot½ cup crushed walnuts½ teaspoon salt1½ cups risotto½ cup zante currants8 tablespoons bleu cheese (at finish)1 apple sliced thinly (for garnish)Cooking liquid from poached pears, reserve 1 cup

In a saucepot gently sautee in oil carrots, celery and shallot and nuts. When the veggies are soft add risotto to the mix, stirring gently until the risotto becomes translucent on the edged. Add 3 cups of pear liquid and gently simmer the risotto uncovered stirring occasionally. As the liquid is

absorbed by the rice add more pear stock to the rice still stirring occasionally. The trick here is to stir often enough so the sticky rice does not burn but not to over mix so it looks like oatmeal while adding stock in ½ cup increments until the risotto is cooked. Also tricky is the gauging the amount of cooking liquid required. Risotto is a very thirsty grain and will absorb a lot. Add the currants about half way through the cooking process. Sample during the cooking process. You know it is done when the grain is soft with a bit of give. The cooking process should take about 45 min. and should be served within 15 minutes of completion.

Sauce:2 cups red wine (cabernet or zinfandel work fine)1 cup pear liquid1 tablespoon honeyZest and juice from 1 clementine

Combine the ingredients in a sauce pot on medium heat and reduce until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.Warm pears just prior to service and place a pear half onto the plate. Spoon risotto onto the pear allowing to spill over on one side. Pour the sauce around the edges. Top with 1 Tbs. bleu cheese and garnish with fresh apple.



While you may know Mark better for his photography, he offers this tasty vegetarian-friendly

dish as a reflection of another passion, cooking.

“While transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle, I was concerned that the home menu would become boring and bland – quite the contrary. The new

culinary discipline inspired diversity in meal planning and expanded the flavor palate. New ideas are always happening. This recipe is a unique preparation from

the most versatile of the short grains, risotto.”



Holiday BlondiesJenn Savino9 tablespoons (1⅛ sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus

more for pan (recommend Cabot)

1⅔ cups all-purpose flour (recommend King Arthur)

1 teaspoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon coarse salt

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¾ cup coarsely chopped dried cranberries (4 ounces)

¾ cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped (3¼ ounces)

¼ cup coarsely chopped candied ginger (1¼ ounces)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8x8 non stick pan.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a me-dium bowl then set aside. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Reduce speed to low, mix in flour mixture until combined. Mix in cranber-ries, pistachios, and candied ginger.

Spoon batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester (toothpick or butter knife) inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack then cut into squares and enjoy!



Jenn balances her professional life with her popular web series – Bite Me! - and

an accompanying food blog. She shares this easy-to-make Holiday Blondies

recipe to bring to any festive occasion.

“I like to make these for Christmas every year, since the cranberries add a little

red and the pistachios add a little bit of green. The ginger also brings out a real

nice flavor to encompass all the elements of the holiday. This is great for any level

home cook. I had my own gormet cookie business for a few years, but now I focus on my writing and try to promote local

businesses whenever I can.”



Creamy Peppermint PattiesBeth Walsh Beth Normandin

These for those that want a little sweetness after a meal without having a full serving.

1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

9 cups of confectioners’ sugar

¾ cup milk chocolate chips

¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons shortening

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and ex-tract until smooth (with a fork). Gradually add confection-ers’ sugar, beating well. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Flatten into patties. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until chilled.

In a microwave, melt chips and shortening, stir un-til smooth. Cool slightly. Dip patties in melted chocolate , place on waxed paper until firm. Store in the refrigerator. Yields 4 to 5 dozen.



Beth Walsh knows no meal is complete without a little something sweet at the end. These were created for those who want a little

treat after dinner, but maybe not a whole serving.

“It’s a quick, easy recipe that doesn’t force you to spend all day in the kitchen. Mom’s these days don’t have time to do that

anymore. My family loves them. Instead of having a big piece of pie or something similar after dinner, they’ll have some of these

peppermint patties. It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to make it. The batter might take 10 minutes and after they cool for about an hour in the fridge before dipping them in chocolate. I make them

for the holidays every year – it’s a staple in our home.”







Story by Andrew Marshall Photos by of MarkBolles.com

If you’ve ever decided to venture down Clinton Street, beyond the Skid-more College campus and into the town of Greenfield, you’re likely to have en-countered the Bavarian-style building identifying itself as the Alpine Sport Shop.

Then again, if you’re a locally-based skier, you’re likely to know all about the Alpine Sport Shop. Cathy Hay is a second-generation owner and operator of the store, which has been her family’s business for 46 years. The store itself was opened in 1941, mean-ing Alpine Sport Shop has been serv-ing local skiers for over 70 years.

“My parents bought this store from Ed and Jo Taylor in 1966,” said Cathy. “At that time, the business was a rented store front on Spring Street near the old Skid-more campus. In 1968, the campus was in the process of moving over where it is now, and at that time the store was a big campus shop for ladies’ clothing. So my father decided to buy the property here and he designed and built this store.”

The old Spring Street store actually sold women’s apparel on one floor with ski equipment inhabiting a second floor. The store would gradually shift away from primarily selling apparel to skis

after opening their new shop in 1969. Cathy’s father, the late Thurlow

Woodcock, designed and built the store himself. Its unique appearance is in homage to the ski chalets of Austria, one of the world’s premier ski destina-tions. Skiing was a pastime of Thur-low’s, which he naturally passed on to his children as they grew up.

“My dad got us into skiing. I have two older sisters and I was actually four-years-old when I started skiing,” said Cathy.

Skiing also happens to be how Cathy met her husband, Jack Hay, who along with their daughter, Julia Lee, makes up

Back to front: Jack Hay, Shane McClelland, Dan Nyzolek, Cathy Hay, Julia Lee, Connor Worth, Terri Lynn Pellegri and Gilda

Saratoga’s Original

Ski Shop



the core of the store’s current staff. Jack and Cathy were married in 1971.

“We were in high school when we met on the ski team. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met him if he was just another guy in the high school, be-cause he was a year older. We had our own groups of friends. We met on ski team and became friends. He grew up in Saranac Lake an avid skier.”

For a family so intrinsically linked to skiing, that knowledge carries over when it comes to their retail business. In an age where online supersites and big box sporting goods stores are fight-ing for your attention as well as your business, the Alpine Sport Shop re-mains unchallenged in providing qual-ity service with a personal touch.

“I think the customer service you get here sets us apart,” said Lee. “We’re entirely committed to making sure everyone has a good experience and feels welcome enough to come back.

We’ve got so many families who have shopped with us over the years and I think anyone who comes in would have a great experience, even if they don’t find anything they want just based on the service they’d receive. We’re really committed to being both honest and thorough about what we do and we’re all really into what we do. That passion translates into the service we provide.”

The first face you’re likely to en-counter upon arriving is that of the store’s resident mascot, a Golden Re-triever named Gilda. The store has a warm, rustic feel to it which is offset by the racks of this season’s latest ski ap-parel and cutting edge equipment.

The shop offers equipment for both skiers and snowboarders, though they didn’t always mix the two clientele bases.

“The building that’s outside used to be our snowboard shop because the snowboarders didn’t want to be asso-ciated with the skiers,” said Lee. “That

got to the point where that wasn’t really necessary anymore so we moved the snowboard shop back inside the main store about fifteen years ago.”

The emergence of snowboarding as a winter sports alternative to downhill skiing would lead to a chance encoun-ter with a pioneer of the snowboarding world who, at the time, was just trying to get by selling boards.

“When snowboarding got popular in the late eighties, Jake Burton Carpen-ter arrived in our parking lot one sum-mer in an old beat up station wagon and Jack and my father were out working in the yard and he wanted to know if they wanted to buy some snowboards.”

Cathy remembers meeting Carpen-ter, a Vermont native who found work like so many others at Saratoga Race Course during the summer meet. “He used to work at the track in the summer as a young guy and went out on a limb trying to take snowboarding to the next

Ski Shop



level,” remembers Cathy. “It was about two or three years later that we started selling snowboards.”

Burton would eventually grow to unimaginable heights and is consid-ered one of, if not the biggest snow-board companies in the entire world.

The Alpine Sport Shop keeps up with the current trends in both skiing and snowboarding, which Cathy says has changed quite dramatically over the years.

“There’s quite a variety, you don’t just walk in and get a pair of skis and bind-ings. You have a lot of options. It’s really that the physics of skiing has evolved to become even easier. There’s integrated binding systems on a lot of skis. Some are flat with no binding on them and some are made with the binding already there.”

The not only offers apparel and equipment, but services such as ski tuning and custom boot fitting. Cathy estimates they took in over 300 pairs of skis for their August tuning sale alone.

They offer clothing not just for carving down the mountain, but also for sim-ply dealing with the brutal cold and snow of northeastern winters.

“People think of us as just a ski shop, but we really offer a lot of things for non-skiers too,” adds Lee.

This holiday season, Alpine Ski Shop has everything you might be looking for, and even some things you might not know you’re looking for until you realize they carry it. GoPro cameras, which are a hot commodity for the avid skier/amateur filmmaker crowd, were one of their most popu-lar items last year. If you’ve ever been skiing and wished you could film your run, but can’t afford to have a camera crew follow you in a helicopter, a Go-Pro might be your next best option.

“The GoPro cameras that people can wear on their helmets or on their chest are pretty big deals. Every one we ordered last year sold. Those will

be coming in again. You can even wear them underwater. It’s really trendy right now but also incredibly useful.”

When they’re not running the shop, the staff at Alpine have been organizing ski trips to some of the Northeast’s fin-est mountains including Okemo, Gore and Stratton. One of their most popular trips is called “Chicks on Sticks,” which doubles as an all-female bus trip to Bromley Mountain and as a way to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foun-dation for breast cancer research.

While the store’s outward appear-ance itself is a unique feature that is sure to draw attention, the staff backs it up with the knowledge and passion that you could only get from a locally-owned and operated business. When considering a place to look for ski and snowboard equipment or general win-ter time apparel, just remember that the Alpine Sport Shop takes winter time fun as seriously as you do. •

The exterior of The Alpine Sport Shop was built to resemble a traditional Bavarian ski chalet.




Fashion:aratogaSStyle

Photos provided



Light up any room this holiday with all the colors of the season.

Available at: Yellow Boutique

491 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 581-1700


Theia Couture Holiday Collection

Designer, Don O’NeillAvailable at:

Saratoga Trunk493 Broadway

Saratoga Springs (518) 584-3543


For the perfect Holiday outfit, including this Velvet Lulu Dress by For Love & Lemons, come and shop at:Lucia454 Broadway Saratoga Springs (518) 587-7890


Violet’s and Stella’s of Saratoga will help you look stunning this holiday season.

Elegant and comfortable, Chantal is wearing a lovely stretch sequin tank dress by Velvet. A classic style with a smooth lining helps create the perfect

feminine silhouette. Ruby patent-leather pumps by Vince Camuto have

a small platform to add height and beautiful lines while easy to wear and

dance in. You’ll look smoking hot and glamorous wrapped in a rich faux mink jacket by Velvet. Handmade earrings by Jeweliany sparkle in

smoky topaz and silver, yet come in an assortment of jewel tones to match any

festive mood. Available at:Violet’s and Stella’s

494 BroadwaySaratoga Springs(518) 584-4838

Photo provided by Niki Rossi


When you sparkle, you sparkle inside and out. Tasha

Polizzi helps you shine in this gorgeous chamois and

beaded top. Wear it now for the upcoming holidays with your velvet skirt and

belt, then turn around and rock it with your favorite pair of jeans. Either way...be gorgeous...and “shine”!

Happy Holidays!Available at:

Spoken Boutique27 Church Street Saratoga Springs(518) 587-2772





Home Made Theater27 years of reasons to be thankful!Story by Arthur Gonick Photos by StockStudios as credited, others provided

Home Made Theater (HMT) is in the midst of its 27th season, which means that it has long been one of those entities that contribute to the unique quality of cultural life in Sara-toga Springs. It is one of those local in-stitutions that completely outstrip our market size; that much larger commu-nities drool over with envy.

Yet our blessing that HMT is but one of many such entities means that

it often gets taken for granted—at least a little. Make a mental list of unique Saratoga institutions—a top 10 if you will. Maybe HMT makes it, maybe not. With Saratoga Race Course, SPAC, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Mu-seum of Dance and festivals like Hats Off, it’s a crowded field competing for our attention.

In fact, I’ll admit it. This story could, and should have been, written

years ago. As Entertainment Editor at Saratoga TODAY I have been pleased to chronicle HMT’s silver (25th) an-niversary activities and it could have been done then. People like round numbers and big anniversaries. We don’t even assign a gem to a 27th an-niversary. Well, there’s no need to wait to get to pearl (30).




Home Made Theater founders Jonathan Foster, left, and Susan Miller, above.



Perhaps we chose 27 because it’s an everyday number—one that repre-sents the fact that HMT has risen to the ranks of a cornerstone, a building block of cultural life that provides pro-gramming, enjoyment and gives back to the community through its youth programming and in so many other ways. Maybe, it’s something else.

I started thinking about this as-signment and the number 27 when I was having dinner with friends recent-ly at a music venue in a town with a historic downtown similar to Saratoga Springs called Franklin, Tennessee. I was walking through the place, check-ing out the playbills on the walls, when I saw it. It was a black and white poster with the title, “Forever 27.”

Perhaps you’ve seen it. It shows the faces of music idols that passed on pre-maturely, all at age 27. Some of them are so iconic even today that only their first names are necessary: Jimi and Ja-nis for instance. There’s also Jim Morri-son, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones. Also for historians, you can include blues-man Robert Johnson, and of course, the recently passed Amy Winehouse.

All gone; and all gone too soon. Then I thought about Jonathan

Foster. A founding member of HMT and a man who some of you know, but definitely one that all of you should. Jonathan is another who died too soon—at age 38 exactly, but that’s be-side the point.

It is no stretch to say that without Jonathan Foster there would be no HMT, and yet he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia entry. Google his name and you’ll find a short obituary from the Schenectady Gazette, but that’s about it.

I realized that this is the story. There’s no reason to wait another 11 years until the numbers align to tell it. You cannot tell the story of HMT without telling the Jonathan Foster story—for he is the one

who assured early on that Home Made Theater would today be celebrated as an institution that we regard as ‘forever’ in this region—at age 27.

* * * *I have to start by admitting that

I never had the privilege of meeting Jonathan Foster. My knowledge stems solely from the experiences that his colleagues, protégés and friends have graciously shared.

I first heard his name from a tal-ented, accomplished actress/director

(and now writer and producer) named Eva Dolan when I was first getting to know her about a dozen years ago.

“I moved back to Saratoga, my hometown, in 1984 from Boston, where I had been doing a lot of the-atre,” said Dolan. “My husband and I bought a house locally, and at that time there was no theater to speak of in town. I did television and some film work, but really felt a loss at not being able to do theater.”

“I heard about this fellow named



Jonathan Foster who had just come to town and was forming a theater com-pany at Caffé Lena. But I didn’t have very high hopes, having been working professionally in Boston,” Eva said.

“Well, one night as I was tend-ing bar at the beautiful Adelphi hotel, Jonathan walked in. I knew instantly after talking with him, just one time on this very quiet night, that I was meant to work with him. Jonathan and I both knew we were meant to be. It was not a romantic relationship, but he changed my world. When I would get to the theatre each night for rehearsal or performance, on each dressing table would be pages of wonderful notes. I

had been an actress before but it was Jonathan who allowed me to excel,” said Dolan.

“He was a demanding director and I was devoted to him and to fulfilling his vision. After years of working with him, he didn’t write me the long notes. He could just say one word and my en-tire performance would be enhanced and strengthened. Jonathan had been married in his younger days but never had any children, something he regret-ted. So, when Jonathan was terribly sick, I held a christening for my little son, Joe, and named Jonathan his God-father. It made him so happy. That was the last time I saw him,” Eva noted.

“We were so very close. He was my Svengali and my dear, sweet friend. The things he taught me I am passing down as I have been writing my latest play (‘Gutmusik’).

“He was brilliant and volatile and I will always keep his memory alive and help preserve his legacy.” Dolan continued.

Dolan was there at the beginning of HMT. Susan Miller was there be-fore the beginning, meeting with Jona-than at an apartment with a few other people. It was there that Jonathan laid out his vision for a Saratoga theater company. Susan, a local teacher, im-mediately bought in and brought the

Home Made Theater’s production of the rock musical Hair. Photo courtesy of StockStudios.



complimentary expertise to make a vi-sion become reality. As Founding Gen-eral Manager, Susan was the business side “yang” to Jonathan’s artistic “yin.”

“There’s nobody that Jonathan could not direct and get more from,” Susan recalls, “from the novice to the credentialed. He had the gift of envi-sioning and communicating that vi-sion. This extended to all areas of the performance, not just the actors. He was a productive mentor to lighting people; set designers, anything inside the theater. And nothing on the busi-ness side.” she notes, laughing.

“I remember that after our first production (‘Wait Until Dark’ in 1985) we faced the big ‘now what?’ ques-tion. The answer clearly was “one more time” obviously, but we needed to think long-term. The first production was in the Caffé’s 55-seat black box theater, and to bring about what Jona-than wanted to do, that wasn’t even close to the capacity we needed.”

Home Made Theater was nomad-ic in its first year as it searched for a home. But it managed to put together three productions during its first cal-endar year—quite an achievement for a fledgling company. They rented space in the Elks Club on Woodlawn from Michael Steele for HMT’s third offer-ing- ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ’ in April, 1986 “It was during ‘Cat’ that it hit me,” Susan said, “We can make this work.”

During ‘Cat’ that moment of clar-ity led the young thespians to reach out to Herb Chesbrough, Executive Director at SPAC while at the top of his game.

“He came to see us perform.” Su-san said. “This was a major deal.” Even more major, he offered to help—and at the time, an offer like that had mega-weight behind it.

In short order, negotiations with the NY State Parks Department led to a one-year lease at HMT’s current home, the 496-seat Spa Little Theater.



This was followed by a three-year, and then a series of five-year leases.

Susan left the HMT team after 10 years, in 1995, just after Jonathan Fos-ter died. Connection?

“Some,” Susan said, “but mostly it was just time.” But one year ago, the lure of HMT was irresistible yet again. Now retired from teaching, she has been the box office manager, and is de-lighted to be “home” again.

So is Jonathan Hefter, who is back in Saratoga where he lived from age six through his college years.

Hefter first acted at HMT as a 15-year old in “On Golden Pond” in 1987, where he first met Jonathan Foster. “I remember thinking—these are the pros,” he said. More to the point, as the only teen in the production’s adult cast.

“Jonathan was one of the first adults who ever treated me as a peer. As the only youth in the cast or crew, I was fortunate to be surrounded by

Home Made Theater’s production of 9 to 5: The Musical. Photo courtesy of StockStudios.



generous, talented colleagues who en-couraged me to share my voice, liter-ally—on stage and off.”

“This (HMT) is why I moved to New York City, and why I came back,” Hefter said.

“Jonathan modeled that culture of respect, kindness, and the responsibili-ties of choosing a professional path with a craft you love. He saw potential, and knew how to nurture it. He invited me to be my best, and held me accountable when I shrank back. He was one of the first to encourage me to pack my bags and give acting a shot in New York. I have fond memories of him, and am delighted to be back at HMT.”

Since returning, Jonathan Hefter has acted in two HMT productions (Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ and Neil Simon’s ‘Ru-mours’) and joined the HMT Board of Directors last May. He is also a member of HMT’s Artistic Advisory

Jonathan Whitton, right, starring in Home Made Theater’s production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile, February 2005.



Board, and plans to audition for “The 39 Steps,” which will be at the Spa Little Theater in February 2013.

(I like his chances.)Building a legacy means affecting

lives of people you never met. In the case of Jonathan Foster’s spirit, one relevant example but is Dawn Oesch—mega-marketer, businessperson and actress. She just recently performed in HMT’s production of ‘9 to 5’ and is responsible for the awesome promo video, which is a riff from the famous Saratoga ‘lip dub’ video.

“[HMT] is my favorite place to work,” Dawn said. “It’s the whole at-mosphere starting with the drive down the Avenue of the Pines, the Spa Little Theater, the space, the history and the people.”

“I check their calendar before I plan anything else,” she said. Which

is saying something, considering that she runs The Candy Co. on Washing-ton Street, and is a founding member of the Local Actors Guild. The two companies have a collegial relation-ship, borrowing props from each other among other favors.

“I never knew Jonathan Foster, but it is impossible to not feel his spirit and see his influence from the first contact I had with HMT.” Dawn said. “Even though we never met, I feel that he is responsible for a lot of what I do today.”

So does Jonathan Whitton. He comes from a slightly different direc-tion, though.

Whitton is a South Carolina na-tive and member Skidmore, class of 2002. He is also a New York City Resi-dent, where he hosts his own cabaret series at a great club called “Don’t Tell Mama,” and is coming back to HMT to

perform next month as the elf in David Sedaris’ ‘The Santaland Diaries’:

“I got involved with HMT after Skidmore when Professor Alma Becker recommended me to Stacie and it was ‘bang zoom!’ I was struck by sense of community and the chance to do some fantastic projects that couldn’t be pro-duced anywhere in the region,” he said.

Dawn and Whitton are stars, plain and simple. They are representative, yet by no means exhaustive, of the quality HMT is putting out now. The current iteration of excellence built on a foundation 27 years ago:

“I never met Jonathan Foster,” Whitton says. “It’s interesting that one of the founders shares my name.” But the actor/director/choreographer is seen as more than that by people in a position to know. “After we did ‘A Man of No Importance,’ the best comment I

The current HMT staff. Clockwise from left: Kevin Miller, Technical Director; Stacie Mayette Barnes, General Manager; Kathryn Starczewski, Office Manager. Photo courtesy of StockStudios.



received is that ‘It was the kind of work Jonathan Foster would have done.”

“Oh, yes, when Jonathan Whit-ton came to us, we all knew he had the touch… he had that it factor,” Stacie Mayette Barnes said.

Stacie Mayette Barnes was there since day one. From Stacie descends several levels of absolute genius, but my favorite is her ability to push others to the forefront. She, like Susan Miller, has probably hundreds of Jonathan Foster stories, but Stacie’s role today is to pull it together deftly.

“I was stage manager for ‘Wait Until Dark’, our very first production,” Stacie says, “You know, in most shows, once it starts the director is pretty much done. Not Jonathan; he had too much energy, always pacing, popping into the tiny booth at Caffé Lena.” Think expectant father back in the day, complete with smoking in the waiting room (outside in this case).

“I had to good-naturedly chase him out with this hammer I had, but it never lasted long,” she laughs.

“Jonathan passed on June 12, which happens to be Anne Frank’s birthday.” Stacie said. “We had already planned to produce ‘The Diary of Anne Frank.’ It was the first produc-tion of our 1995-1996 season, and the first without him.”

Except they never were without him.

I believe the point to all this is that a life well lived can be of any length. Gone at 38, Jonathan Foster’s impact has certainly out lived his temporal existence. By focusing on excellence, he built a lasting institution that we all enjoy. It was a life well lived. You now know one man’s story.

Arthur Gonick is a contributing writer to Simply Saratoga Magazine. He currently makes his home and lives large in Nashville, Tennessee. •





Olde Bryan Inn: The Go-To Place for Relaxed DiningStory by Helen Susan Edelman Photos by StockStudios

The Olde Bryan Inn is so well loved by Saratogians, so familiar in our af-fection, that it has a nickname—“The O.B.I.”—as in, “Meet you at the O.B.I. for dinner…” The restaurant has been a consis-tent favorite and a long-time best friend for the three de-cades it has been open on the edge of the walkable down-town of Saratoga Springs. The O.B.I. has developed a welcoming personality: reli-able, good-humored, a play-er in important life occasions and always happy to see you for a meal. It’s where I gravi-tate to make a memory, like after my son’s graduation from high school—“Let’s have lunch at the O.B.I.,” I re-member saying to Jacob that morning. “Yes, yes!” he said. And whenever I go in there, I relive that wonderful day.

This crispy night, I am cozy in a booth with Sim-ply Saratoga publisher Chad Beatty and his effervescent wife, Kim. We dine together every eight weeks or so to check out a res-taurant and our conversation waxes

lively—we don’t always agree, and it can get animated (but always respect-ful). Between appetizers and entrée,

we have taken on some big topics: fundraising, complicated relation-ships, loyalty, faith and, inevitably,

whether the O.B.I. is really haunt-ed—a legend that is part of its charm.

The Olde Bryan Inn building on the corner of Maple Avenue and Rock Street has been a fixture in one form or anoth-er on the bluff overlooking the High Rock Spring since 1773. Originally a crude log cabin owned for a year by Dirck Schoughten, of Water-ford, it passed in 1774 to the hands of John Arnold, who operated it as an inn for visi-tors to the spring. In 1777, Sam Norton purchased the property, but fled during the Revolutionary War; his son returned and success-fully operated the inn for 10 years. In 1787, Norton sold the establishment to Gilbert Morgan who, in turn, sold it to Revolutionary War hero Alexander Bryan, who pur-chased it to operate in his re-tirement. In 1825, John Bry-an built a stone house on the site of his father’s tavern and

it remained a single-family residence in the Bryan family until the 1900s.


Left to right: Jason Lynch, Jamie Hamm, and John Capelli





In 1925, the home was purchased by the LaMountain family. A brick addition was added and the famous Burnham’s hand laundry was founded and operated there until 1954. In 1954, the Veitch family bought the home and lived in it until 1979, when Dave Powers and Joe Wilkinson purchased it with the intent of restoring it to the old inn.

In 1981, restaurateur and civic leader Steve Sullivan, a Skidmore graduate, joined Powers and Wilkin-son and together they established the iconic Olde Bryan Inn.

(For details on the fascinating his-tory of the building, visit www.oldebry-aninn.com—click ‘restaurant’ and then ‘history.’ It provides context for the din-ing experience.)

A landmark as well as an eatery, there is nothing quite like the present building—a very expanded log cabin

wrapped in stone, now with additions to accommodate the many patrons of the restaurant, both locals and tourists who hear about the food, the ambi-ance and the service and want to try it for themselves. I’ve been eating at the O.B.I. for decades and have noticed that no matter how many are gathered, no matter what the size of the crowd, there is no “feeling crowded”—just surrounded by folks in a good mood made better by good company. From the bar area, to the main dining rooms, to the side rooms, the restaurant offers remarkably versatile seating: spacious sections to accommodate large par-ties, and booths and tables for small groups and couples. And, very lucky patrons might be placed near the fire-place, a prime location in winter when the crackle of wood and a bowl of soup is pure bliss. The atmosphere is further enhanced by period paintings, candles,

a weathered bar dominating an infor-mal space designed for gathering be-fore a meal or as casual sit-down seat-ing and the pewter mugs on hooks for regulars who recognize each other and share greetings and news. It’s a neigh-borhood unto itself.

Back to the possible haunting: According to a recounting of the his-tory of the building by author David J. Pitkin, in his book “Saratoga County Ghosts,” “Somewhere, in those over two hundred years of history, the building acquired at least one ghost.”

The story goes that the apparition of an elderly woman in a high-necked green Victorian gown wanders the building—not a mean and scary ghost, but spectral nonetheless. There are also accounts of water running in an unoc-cupied lavatory and a colonial soldier on a white horse.

Intriguing as these stories are, I





have to state for the record that din-ner with Chad and Kim was without supernatural incident.

Well, maybe I should take that back—there was something extraor-dinary about the experience: the food.

We started off with three tiers of appetizers, including fried mush-rooms, mozzarella sticks in raspberry sauce and spicy chicken bites. I could have eaten those mushrooms all night. I literally willed myself to stop so I would have some to take home. Delec-table! The mozzarella was just the right balance of crunchy and melted and the chicken bites definitely had a nip to them.

For dinner, Chad and I both had steak, and the more adventurous Kim had chicken cordon bleu. We were all delighted.

Mine was Gorgonzola and

Horseradish Encrusted N.Y. Strip Steak. The hand-cut meat was grilled to a perfect pink, and the topping was mouth-melting.

Chad chose Balsamic Blue Filet Mignon rubbed with a roasted garlic and black pepper blend, grilled to his preference, broiler-finished with blue cheese crumbles and garnished with sautéed balsamic Spanish onions.

Kim’s Chicken Cordon Bleu fea-tured fresh, twin boneless chicken breasts coated with seasoned flour, pan-seared in garlic butter and white wine with thinly sliced Prosciutto, then topped with Swiss cheese, presented in roasted garlic and black pepper cream sauce.

And there were salads and veggies and potatoes—plenty. Life was good.

The Olde Bryan Inn appeals to a broad base of diners, with creative

presentations of soups and salads, chicken variations, uncommonly good pasta, generous pork chops (a univer-sally favored choice) and fabulous fish choices….

…and the appetizers! Whether you begin with Coconut Macadamia Man-go Shrimp, Alexander Bryan’s Crab & Lobster Cake or Guinness Spiked On-ion Rings, you’ve hit the culinary jack-pot. I recommend ordering several for the table to share, so that everyone gets a taste of everything.

If you’ve come for lunch, there will be some standards, such as the half-pound lean ground beef burger, but a Cran-apple Turkey Panini might be more what you’re looking for—the only way to find out is to try.

Dinner is the real wonderland, with a variety of specials, as well as the unfailingly good Triple Citrus Salmon,









Chicken & Pumpkin Walnut Sau-té, Lobster, Crab & Shrimp Portobello, a full selection of steaks, pasta and a fish and chips meal that people report that they crave.

If you eat vegetarian or gluten-free, ask about it—the O.B.I. accommodates.

Room for dessert? You’ve come to the right place. Chocolate mousse, crème brule, chocolate chip pie, Sarato-ga cheese cake. Dessert is serious busi-ness. It’s a course. It’s a commitment.

I want to add that there’s a full bar

and an extensive wine list. If you like to relax with a drink, you’ll like the gen-erosity of the pour. And though this was not a focus of the evening, diners can belong to a rewards club. O.B.I. also caters, and prices are competitive with other fine dining in the city.

The O.B.I. is an event—you want to savor, you want to linger. And you want to come back for the mushrooms.

There’s another fact that’s important to point out, because it enhances the ex-perience of being a customer—owner

Steve Sullivan is one of the most highly esteemed, generous citizens of Saratoga Springs; he sits on boards, caters char-ity events and, behind-the-scenes, is an advocate for organizations and efforts that ensure fair and ethical treatment of human beings in the arenas of housing, food and health care. Thank you, Steve, for the opportunity to patronize your restaurant and support your business the way you support the spirit of our community. •

Olde Bryan Inn 123 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

518.587.2990 • www.oldebryaninn.com-Open 7 Days a Week-

Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. (bar until 11 p.m.)Friday through Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. (bar until midnight)





Tom Roohan— RainmakerStory by Arthur Gonick Photos by StockStudios and provided

To be a rainmaker, you have to be in the right place at the right time.

But that’s not enough. You have to do the right thing.

For generations, in Saratoga Springs, the family name Roohan has been synony-mous with doing the right thing. And we all have benefitted from this fact.

Tom Roohan runs the show now, but he’d be the first to say that he’s just a link in the chain, part of a continuum that spans back several generations, sideways in each, and most assuredly, even more to come in the future. So to begin, a little history is in order.

The first Roohan generation that grew up on U.S. soil was headed by great-grand-father P.F. Roohan, who celebrated 50 years of working at New York Power and Light Company in 1928.

“In those days,” Tom Roohan said, “people would have routes, like paper routes, where they lit the gas lights in the neighborhood each night, and extin-guished them each morning.

The next generation chose the den-tal profession. Tom’s grandfather was Dr. Leo W. Roohan, Sr., who begot Dr. Leo Jr.; daughter Loretta Roohan Towne, a den-tal hygienist and John Roohan—Tom’s father, who took it in (several) different directions.

Coninued on page 64



John sold advertising for the Yel-low Pages, business equipment and worked for local real estate titans W.J. Grande and Son; acquiring his own broker’s license in 1969, and subse-quently founded Roohan Realty later that year. When son J. Thomas “Tom” Roohan was born in 1955, the family lived in Menands and later moved to Loughberry Road, where the Roohan’s had two adjacent houses, each built by Tom Fitzpatrick.

Young Tom’s academic resume in-cludes St. Clements grade school and St. Peters Academy high school. How was the town back then?

“I thought it was all great,” Tom re-calls, “[I] walked to school, [I played] football; I did all the things that young boys do. I had a paper route and even sold eggs to people on my route. They were delivered to me each day- we didn’t have zoning to have chick-ens in our backyard,” he recalls. Tom

also mowed lawns for that same W. J. Grande and Sons.

Despite how bucolic this sounds, these were not the “Happy Days” of Saratoga Springs. Whatever you think about today’s development scenario, the fact is that by any measure things

were worse—a lot worse. Like, future rust-belt city worse.

“I didn’t realize until I got older how much work the ‘elders’ of the city—my dad, the Waits, Grandes and Dakes- had worked to improve things.”

Tom said. John Roohan was part of the select

group that sold shares to fund the Hol-iday Inn, anchoring downtown. Also, John chaired the building committee that was responsible for developing Saratoga Springs’ YMCA, which was first on Broadway (at the site where Park Place Condos now sits) and the revival of Saratoga Springs Catholic Central High School (the former St. Pe-ters Academy). We’re talking fundrais-ing and in several cases, construction.

“This was a lot of sacrifice by many good people,” Tom said.

This same group that John was a part of voted with their time, effort and wallets to help decide where an entity we enjoy frequently would be located. We call it “Saratoga Performing Arts Center.”

John Roohan passed quickly. He was told that he had pancreatic cancer and 60 days to live. He went to Florida



to tie up affairs there before coming home to Saratoga Springs. He didn’t need to spend his last days preparing his son to take over- that was done a long time ago and Tom was ready.

Tom attended Norwich University where he studied civil engineering and went into the construction trade.

“In 1981, on a winter Friday, Alan Cruickshank, my boss, did ev-eryone a favor and laid the crew off.” Tom recalled. “The next day, I went to a basketball game with Mom and Dad, where my father asked me to stop by his office because he had something to discuss with me. I was at work at Roo-han Realty the next Monday.”

Today, Roohan Realty has 40 re-altors; it’s very much a family affair as you might expect, with Sister Kate, Son Trey, and Cousins Stephen Towne, David Towne, Gail Anderson, and Mi-chelle Torres on staff. Even mom (Pep-pie) comes in every Thursday to work.



And the rain keeps coming. Ev-ery garage built in Saratoga Springs, including the most recently dedicated one, has had a Roohan on the com-mittee. There’s so much more. Try the Roohan Building, smack in the heart of Broadway, for starters.

But Tom doesn’t mention that one, at least first on the list. He’ll men-tion St. Mary’s Haven on New Street—a two bedroom home that is managed by Catholic Charities and works with Hospice to help people in the last

months of their life and their families find comfort. It was built on the Habi-tat for Humanity model—with several Roohan associates and friends pound-ing nails and providing foundation.

What ties it all together is Tom and his enthusiasm for the area.

“I couldn’t imagine living any-where else,” he said. “Every other month Saratoga wins an award and with good reason. There’s a reason why Empire State College, with cam-puses all over the state, listened to my

father and chose to headquarter here. Look at what Skidmore is doing. The City Center was good, but not good enough for Saratoga.” (Note: Tom is currently a member of the City Center Authority).

“Most of all, this is a community where people care,” he said. “I remem-ber being part of the contingent that went down to Albany with Concerned Citizens for Saratoga Racing. They looked at us, like, ‘What are you guys doing here? We’d never fool around with Saratoga, it’s our jewel.’ Well, that’s because we do stuff like show up when it’s not necessary. How many Belmont or Aqueduct people do you think were there? Try zero.”

You see the signs everywhere all across the land. Signs for agencies like Coldwell Banker, Realty USA, Merrill Lynch, etc.

What you don’t see everywhere are the distinctive green and white Roohan Realty “For Sale” signs, and one promi-nently-placed moving truck.

Except in one place.“I am proud of the commitment

we make to the greater Saratoga Springs area. Our one and only office is at 519 Broadway.” Tom Roohan said.

That’s the same commitment John made; like P.F. before him, and for generations to come. Roohan is a family name that keeps the flame lit in Saratoga Springs, a flame that burns brightly no matter how much rain they generate. •

Above: Tom Roohan (right) with his father John Roohan. Below: A young Tom with parents.



Left to right: Tom Roohan, Kevin Roohan, Peppie Roohan, Kathryn Johnson, Kristie Roohan, Kristina Cahill, Michael Cahill, Mark Johnson, Mary Hallquist, Derek Hallquist, Dan Roohan and Trey Roohan.



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Tom roohan’s Top Five Favorite ProjectsMary’s HavenMary’s Haven is a project of Catholic Family Charities that began in 2003 with support from community hospice and the community. It’s a home where they care for the terminally ill physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially, during their final days.

Union Gables Bed & BreakfastUnion Gables was purchased in January of 1992 from transitional services. In June of that year, after a top to bottom renovation, it was opened as a Bed & Breakfast.

Van Raalte MillThe Van Raalte Mill was the revitalization of a dormant property into a vibrant and award winning work place in 1999.

433 Broadway (The Roohan Building; Home to Putnam Market)433 Broadway is a mix of retail, office and residential tenants that was built in 2002.

55 and 59 Warren Street55 Warren Street was built in 1879 for John Carpenter, the superintendent of the Red Spring. It was renovated in 2001. 59 Warren is the adjoining pool house which was completed in 2007.

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The BrackettsOne family—Two men with very different legacies: One reflected his city—one changed an industryStory by Hollis Palmer Photos by StockStudios

There are many ways to measure a person’s impact on his or her commu-nity; one is the space the local news-paper devotes to his or her obituary. When Edgar Brackett died in 1924 his obituary took two pages in the local paper, and articles and editorials in the

days that followed would occupy an-other four pages.

The words used over and over to describe Brackett in his memorials are: statesman, an independent politician, philanthropist, brilliant, courageous, a mighty fighter, forceful, witty, loyal,

honest, and amiable. Though there was another side of him, one rarely seen by the public; he was also a sympathetic friend who enjoyed the simple plea-sures that life offered.




The house at 605 Broadway allowed the Bracketts to live a lifestyle appropriate for an upper middle class family during the transition from Victorian to Edwardian society.



Edgar Brackett was born in Wil-ton but moved when he was young to Iowa where he graduated from Cornell College, a Methodist college in Mount Vernon. He would be an active mem-ber of the Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge for his entire adult life. Upon graduation, he moved to Sarato-ga to read for the law under Civil War General Winsor French and lawyer Alembert Pond. He would join their firm upon being accepted to the bar.

Brackett’s first adventure in elect-ed office was as state senator. Fiercely independent from the beginning, he took on the insurance industry, a ma-jor supporter of his party. It would take a decade but eventually the reforms he supported were enacted.

In 1906, Brackett let it be known that he intended to run for gover-nor. In an effort to embarrass Brack-ett and force him out of the race, the

incumbent governor ordered the sher-iff to close the casinos in Saratoga. To some extent, the move worked.

Brackett elected to throw his support to Charles Evans Hughes.

In addition to his political and

The doors separating the double parlors could be closed for intimate family evenings or opened for larger gatherings.



legal career, Brackett created and sup-ported several local businesses. He was the founder and president of the Ad-irondack Trust Company. Even though he had never played golf, he decided Saratoga needed a modern course and purchased land and created McGregor links. He supported the move of Clark Mills (the clothing manufacturer) to Saratoga and the conversion of the ballroom of the former Congress Hotel into the Congress Theater.

There are two delicate local issues

in which it is not easy to determine Brackett’s position. One is the pump-ing of the springs; the second is gam-bling in the village. He defended the gas companies who were pumping the springs, causing a major industry of the city to go dry. Later, while serving as a state senator, he would push leg-islation that would require the state to purchase, by eminent domain, the land owned by those same gas companies; it is now part of the State Park. He did not oppose the big casinos that would

not allow locals inside, while he op-posed the small gambling operations that would allow local children to place a bet. Edgar died in his house in 1924.

In sharp contrast to her husband who cast a long shadow, Mary Corliss Brackett lived a quiet life. A member of the Presbyterian Church, she helped several local charities, including the Saratoga History Museum. Unlike most upper-class women of her time, she was active in only two groups. She died peacefully in 1931.

Clearly a house is shaped by the people who had it built; however, it could also be argued that a house shapes the lives of those who are raised within its walls. If this is the case, the Brackett house did an outstanding job.

Edgar and Mary Brackett had two sons. The elder and idolized son, Edgar Jr., died in 1899 as the result of a tragic accident involving fireworks. It was said that Edgar Sr. never fully recov-ered from the loss. The younger son, Charles, would have several careers, most notably making a major mark on the motion picture industry.

Charles graduated from Saratoga Springs High School, Williams Col-lege and Harvard Law School. During World War I, he was with the Ameri-can Expeditionary Forces serving as a lieutenant and the Vice-Counsel in St. Nazaire, France.

A lawyer by training, wealthy by birth, dashing in appearance and vice president of the Adirondack Trust Company, Charles’ career as a novel-ist started in 1920 when the Saturday Evening Post published his first book, The Counsel of the Ungodly, which appeared in serial form. He also wrote Week-End (1925), The Last Infirmity (1926), American Colony (1929), and Entirely Surrounded (1934).

It was for his work in the film in-dustry that Brackett is most noted. He was the winner of three Academy

The grand foyer, which included a fireplace, was used by Mrs. Mary Brackett’s friends as a place to gather while calling and as a waiting room for Edgar’s clients, petitioners and political cronies. The suspended three-level staircase provided prestige that impressed all who entered the house and still does.



Awards, and the Academy’s award for Life Time Achievement. Writer/pro-ducer Charles Brackett and writer/di-rector Billy Wilder did a series of mov-ies together starting with “Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife” (1938). The pair’s most famous collaboration was “Sunset Boulevard.” On one occasion Wilder described his relationship with Charles as “the happiest couple in Hollywood.” Outsiders saw them as the original odd couple with Wilder’s flamboyant personality tamed slightly by Charles’ scholarly nature.

Even in marriage Charles was unique. In 1919, he married Elizabeth Fletcher, who died in 1948. They had two daughters, Alexandra and Eliza-beth. In 1953, he married a second time, Lillian “Buff ” Fletcher, his first wife’s sister, which of course kept mak-ing connections with the in-laws to a minimum.

The house is now used by Quad

Graphics as a short-term residence for its executives.

Interesting facts about Edgar: In 1897, Edgar spoke on the Senate

floor, “Any government that is worthy of the name should protect the unwary against the wary. Any government that is worthy of the name looks after the interest of the people who are unable to financially look after themselves in their dealings with the stronger and wealthier.”

In 1907, Edgar donated the mon-ey to have the Methodist parsonage in Gurn Springs rebuilt. This was the house where he was born.

The main gateway to Congress Park is officially the Brackett Gateway.

Edgar Brackett prided himself for being a man who only took one vaca-tion, and had to return to Saratoga to rest.

The New York Tribune obitu-ary said of Edgar—that he was too

outspoken and unwilling to compro-mise, feeling instead that he cared more for “perfect freedom to speak his mind, even though this pleasure some-times multiplied his enemies.”

Edgar paid for the college of sev-eral promising young men in Sarato-ga, telling them that their repayment would be to do the same for others.

Quotes from the New York Times March 10th 1969 about Charles:

In remarking on making break-throughs in movies Charles remarked, “…in finding what they want next, you have to fly by the seat of your pants.”

A New York Times writer de-scribed Charles as having “a scholar’s zeal for tracking down basic human foibles.” This had to be a full time job.

Charles abhorred “sunshine, vi-tamins and fresh air.” He did, howev-er, enjoy “shuffling the cards for the only game worthy of a man’s dignity, cribbage.” •



Orange Bikini’s, Night Vision Goggles and Smelling Salts, OH MY!The Gift of Self-Acceptance in Every SeasonStory by Meghan D. Lemery, LCSW-R

Every year my family heads south to Del Boca Vista to enjoy some R&R for the holidays. This year in an effort to spice up my wardrobe, I decided I wanted to get some new bikinis for the trip so I set out for what I knew would be a delightful, relaxing af-ternoon of bathing suit shopping.

Three days prior to “B” day, I drank nothing but lemon water and inserted bamboo shoots under my nails so that the severe pain would distract me from eating. Although I knew how bizarre my actions were, I was sure that these tactics would save me from any humiliation and trauma that bathing suit shopping can inflict on its victims.

When the day to shop arrived, I was prepared. I packed my purse with smelling salts just in case I passed out from starvation. I also packed some tea light candles; after all, it’s no secret that everyone looks better in candlelight. I also threw in a pair of night vision goggles to protect

my eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the dressing room lights. They would also hopefully conceal the sight of the gi-ant pores that had taken over my nose,

and chin hair that had recently grown so long you could use it for dental floss. This year I would, by the grace of God,

make bathing suit shopping a pleas-ant experience. I refused to look in the mirror and despise the reflection star-ing back at me.

Ten hours, five hundred tea light candles and three Xanax later, I decided that I would purchase a floor length cover up that came with air vents to keep from suffering de-hydration and overheating on the beach. When the entire day came to an end, I had to ask myself, why are we so hard on ourselves? Why can’t we just rock whatever body type we have whether it’s an apple, pear or watermelon? Every shape and size is unique, and like fruit, tasty in its own way!

Perhaps the key to growing our confidence isn’t to transform are minds and bodies, but rather, to embrace what we have and learn to sparkle and shine even if we have

some bulges, dimples or wrinkles.I saw this example first hand a

few years ago on a trip to Mexico.



As I basked in the sun in a post-food coma from my burrito and giant mar-garita with salt, I was able to observe a dance contest taking place at the pool’s lounge. As I watched all of the colle-giate spring breakers with tiny waists and giant jugs line up for the contest, I could not take my eyes off of one wom-an who shined like a diamond in the rough. “Ms. Seasoned” had “cankles” you could swing from and a mid-sec-tion that screamed she too had gone through the same buffet line for lunch that I had. She was wearing a bright or-ange bikini and a smile so bright I was sure I would need higher SPF to pro-tect myself from her bright shiny aura.

When the music began to play she let go with such a joy and confidence that the entire place was captivated. By the end of her dance, every person in the joint was up on their chairs danc-ing, smiling from ear to ear and cheer-ing Ms. Seasoned to victory. She won

the contest by a landslide and was even asked for an encore! Her inner spar-kle, shine and enthusiasm served as an airbrush for any flaws that she had physically.

Perhaps it’s time we all take a les-son from Ms. Seasoned and pledge to honor our sparkle and shine over a low calorie meal. In a season that is about gifts, let’s give the gift of self-accep-tance to ourselves and choose to get out the orange bikini and shake it like the divas we were meant to be!

It’s not about being perfect, but being perfectly you, dimples, wrinkles and all.

Thank you, Ms. Seasoned, for teaching us all a valuable lesson. I hope you still have that orange bikini!

Ms. Lemery is a psychotherapist practicing in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. For more information, visit meghanlemery.com or email [email protected]. •



Dave Dowling: Every Word CountsStory by Helen Susan Edelman Photo provided

“By words the mind is excited and the spirit elated.” — Aristophanes

Every word counts for Dave Dowl-ing, a man who’s taken the correct use of language to new heights. The author of “The Wrong Word Dictionary” and “The Dictionary of Worthless Words,” both published by Marion Street Press, is a technical writer by trade, and so precision and accuracy are dear to him.

“Words become a part of your life, every day, all day, when you’re a writer,” said the Saratoga Springs resident, relaxed in his neat-as-a-pin house overlooking a wooded yard. “My commitment is to brevity and clarity.”

As tight as those parameters can be, Dowling communicates his message with lively good humor.

“The climber piqued his inter-est by peeking through his telescope at the mountain peak,” is a sentence example Dowling spotlights to cau-tion readers that words that sound alike can be both confused and confusing.

“I reviewed many books on writ-ing before starting my own book,” he said. “Most have a small section on problematic word pairs, but not one was comprehensive. So, with encour-agement from my son, Tim, I wrote a book based solely on confused word pairs.”

“The Wrong Word Dictionary” has

2,500 entries and is heavily researched. Dowling can cite up to 10 references for each book entry. He doesn’t rely solely on standards like Associated Press (AP), the Chicago Manual, Mod-ern Languages Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA) or GPO (Government Print-ing Office) styles in determining the

“right” use; instead, Dowling sought wide corroboration for his choices.

“I didn’t put an entry into the book unless it was indisputable,” he emphasized. “This is not just based on my opinion but many opinions. Still, I realize it’s difficult to satisfy every-one when authoring a grammar ref-erence and I expect some comment.

Our language is certainly subjective at times.”

The idea for his book originated during Dowling’s long stint (more than 30 years) as a writer of technical manu-als for IBM and Lockheed Martin, in-cluding subjects ranging from large mainframe computers, to aircraft, to submarines. Grasping technical con-

cepts and translating them into a user-friendly language was his typi-cal work routine.

“During the 1990s, I worked in a defense plant with 4,000 people,” he said. “I started producing a Monday column about using the right word for the company’s internal newslet-ter. Reader interest was amazing. Soon employees were printing cop-ies for their college kids and request-ing answers to other confused-word problems. It actually wasn’t part of my job, but I couldn’t turn them down. A few years later, while on a hiatus between jobs, I decided to

transfer my research into a book that is geared for middle-school students and up. That decision paid off.”

He’s had to grow and change with the times, Dowling confessed, not that he always likes it.

“At times language has become more lenient, more forgiving, and more colloquial. You can’t get to a point



where language is so inhibited with rules such as the ending preposition, the split infinitive or verb tense. To that end it may sound unnatural, awkward, or forced. You want the message to be effective, so in some cases you need to stay current. Always remember whom you’re talking to and that the goal is to communicate information effective-ly, correctly, and accurately. In other words, one has to be prepared to adapt, depending on the audience.”

Some of the mistakes people make in word use surprise him: ‘descent,’ ‘dissent’ and ‘decent’ are sometimes mismatched with their context, for ex-ample, as are ‘among’ and ‘between,’ ‘amount’ and ‘number,’ ‘its’ and ‘it’s’, and ‘irregardless’, which is not a word at all.

Then, some words are misused for so long and so widely that the lan-guage czars give in and start making exceptions. Is it “champ at the bit” or “chomp at the bit”? Well, it’s supposed

to be “champ,” and the phrase—which means eager or impatient—refers to an excited horse biting its bit. How-ever, Dowling pointed out, “Because of constant misuse, ‘chomp at the bit’ is becoming more accepted.” Still an-other casualty of misuse is ‘titled’ and ‘entitled.’

Dowling has made excellent use of his obsession with words, even since his retirement from full-time work with Lockheed. Not only does he continue to write and consult for his former employer, he also speaks and trains in the field. In the past, he has been a corporate trainer for compa-nies such as PepsiCo and Quaker Oats, among others.

“I tell my classes about the P.O.W.E.R. principle when getting your writing off the ground,” he said. “That’s Plan, Organize, Write, Edit and Review.” He also preaches another guideline—“C.L.E.A.R.” “Try to make

your writing Clear. Logical. Effective. Accurate. Readable. These are a few tips from my writing bibles.”

Dowling’s resume includes work-ing years ago in radio syndication with TV talk show host Steve Allen and Casey Kasem, of the popular “Ameri-can Top 40 Countdown” radio show. He also wrote a book on American bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves, with whom he established a friendship in the 1990s. Now, when he’s not at his keyboard, reading or playing golf, he often serves as a substitute teacher in local school districts.

While Dowling’s craft was honed for print, knowing how to create con-tent for the Web is necessary for writ-ers, he noted.

“And Web copy is even briefer than what you create for print. But print isn’t going away—the printed page is still easier to read than a screen. Scroll-ing is tiring. And when people link to



something they want, they go ahead and print it so they can carry it with them. I doubt if the screen is going to replace the page anytime soon. And they have been talking about that for years.”

“I never imagined I would be a dic-tionary writer,” Dowling mused. “Ironi-cally, when I attended Catholic school many years ago, the subject I disliked most was English, specifically grammar. We typically spent at least 75 minutes a day on that topic. Yes, back then it was 55 kids in one class with Sister Ma-rie Bernadette going up and down the aisles quizzing students on every exer-cise the book offered—and I dreaded it.”

Dowling remembers the pain that subject-verb agreement, pronoun an-tecedent, and predicate nominatives caused his young brain. “Why do we have to know this?” he wondered. And now, he admitted, “My career in writ-ing depends on it.”

He laughed recalling how his late

wife Mary, a former teacher, reacted to his less-than-stellar report cards of yore: “She told me I was definitely a late bloomer, and I’m a good example of why students should never give up despite a few academic setbacks. She emphasized how all of us have hidden talents and bringing them to the sur-face can sometimes take time, patience and encouragement. I never forgot those inspiring words.”

As far as his evolution as a profes-sional technical writer, Dowling ex-plained he was suited for it in part be-cause, although he sometimes forgets common things, “I have course work in math and a respectable memory for dates and numbers, which aided my professional career. I learned it helps to have a solid English background to be a technical writer, but math also comes into play quite often on the job.”

And he enjoys the different gig of writing dictionaries, which he views as

both vocation and avocation. “It’s a welcome change from being

on the road or working from my home office as a technical writing consultant”, he noted. More broadly, he likes writ-ing because, “You’re creating something that didn’t exist before, not 24 hours ago, not one hour ago, then ‘boom’ – it’s there. With writing you may not write a hit Broadway play, an Oscar-winning screenplay or a New York Times best-seller. But, you may write something one day that affects a person’s life in a positive way. That, too, is success.”

Dowling said he has a real affec-tion for many topics in writing, not just correct word use.

“You grow to love everything relat-ed to words that needs closer examina-tion: verbosity, redundancy, pompos-ity, clarity, etc.”

That is, when you’re not ques-tioning people who don’t use adverbs correctly. He lamented, “Drive safe?



Drive slow? What happened to ‘safely’ and ‘slowly’? Even Elvis is in question. ‘Love Me Tender’? What happened to ‘tenderly’? And what about people who say, ‘You done good!’ It’s just wrong.”

But Dowling was smiling when he said those things, because he realizes that unlike math and science, writ-ing has very few absolutes. Though he admires Shakespeare, he knows a language cannot be ossified and still serve its purpose. He concluded, “Our language will always be changing, and our dictionaries will continue to grow as the language evolves.”

Note: Signed copies of Dave Dowl-ing’s “The Wrong Word Dictionary” are available for purchase from the gifts and home goods store Homessence on Broad-way in Saratoga Springs. “The Wrong Word Dictionary” was also made avail-able in India in its first printing and has been translated recently into Mandarin Chinese. •

Try the Wrong Word Challenge

Do you know all your words? Here is a short quiz that covers just a few of the common everyday word problems we sometimes encounter. Take this chal-lenge and see how well you do. The answers immediately follow.

1. The (principal, principle) objective of this course is better writing. 2. The moderator in a labor dispute should be (disinterested, uninterested). 3. These (continuous, continual) interruptions may prevent the system

from being available. 4. We found (fewer, less) coding errors this week than last week. 5. We feel (bad, badly) about their absence at today’s recognition event. 6. Our (bimonthly, semimonthly) reports are due the 15th and 30th of

each month.7. Two thousand books (compose, comprise) the college’s new computer library. 8. Their letter (inferred, implied) that there was no charge for the extra

hardware. 9. Many sightings continue to fuel the UFO (phenomena, phenomenon). 10. The competition intentionally gave them (disinformation, misinforma-

tion) about their products.

Answers:1. principal, 2. disinterested, 3. continual, 4. fewer, 5. bad, 6. semimonthly, 7. compose, 8. implied, 9. phenomenon, 10. disinformation



Savethe

DateHoliday Happenings

2012

Saratoga AreaThe Nutcracker TeaMonday, November 19, 11:00 a.m. 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs A tea party to top them all: The Nutcracker Tea, presented by SPAC’s Action Council is a holiday tradition complete with Northeast Ballet’s rendition of The Nutcracker, Christmas cookies, and hot cocoa. Tickets spac.org. For more information call 584-9330

Turkey TrotSaratoga Springs City HallThursday, November 22, 8:30 a.m. Each year, on Thanksgiving morning, thousands of runners (and walkers) congregate in Saratoga Springs NY to race in the annual 5K Turkey Trot race, which benefits the Christopher Dailey Foundation. Registration fee is $22 before Nov. 15 and $25 from Nov. 16 – Nov. 21. The Christopher Dailey Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was founded with the goal of constructing a youth recreational facility within the Greater Saratoga Area …a place where local kids could play, learn, and engage in sports activities in a facility bearing Christopher’s name, regardless of their financial resources. For more information call 581-1328.

Holiday Craft SaleSaturday, November 24 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs The 37th Annual Holiday Craft Fair will be packed with vendors selling handmade jewelry, specialty food items and other crafts perfect for the holiday gift giving. The event is held the day after

Black Friday, the date that marks the start of the holiday shopping season. $4.00 donation requested for admission. For more information call 587-7244

Downtown Saratoga Tree LightingWednesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus, caroling, hot chocolate & cookies, fun for children of all ages.

Victorian StreetwalkDowntown Saratoga SpringsThursday, November 29, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk is a holiday event that can’t be missed. As you walk the sidewalks of downtown Saratoga you will see carolers and entertainers in period costumes. Kids can visit Santa and adults can enjoy the decorations at The Festival of Trees.

Saratoga Festival of TreesSaratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga SpringsThursday, November 29 – Sunday, December 2. The Saratoga Springs Festival of Trees is a fun-filled event and craft fair that is great for kids and adults alike, putting the spirit of Christmas in everyone’s heart. Walk amid hundreds of beautifully twinkling trees, wreaths, centrepieces and other holiday items on display for visitors to purchase or simply admire. Santa himself will also be stopping by from time to time for pictures. For more information visit; www.saratogafestivaloftrees.com.

Restaurant WeekNovember 30 – December 6Get a 3-Course dinner for just $10, $20 or $30 at participating Saratoga County restaurants during Saratoga Restaurant Week! Start off with your choice of an appetizer or salad, then choose from a menu of sumptuous entrees, and top it off with a decadent dessert! Plus some participating restaurants are offering lunch specials for just $5 or $10. Saratoga Restaurant Week is the perfect time to get out and try new restaurants in the Spa City! For more information visit www.discoversaratoga.org.

Gingerbread House WorkshopSaratoga Springs Public LibrarySatruday, Dec1 – Saturday Dec 8, various times. Learn how to make a Gingerbread House. For children K-6 grade. Saratoga Springs District Residents ONLY may register in person in the Children’s Room beginning Nov. 3. For more information call 584-7860, option 3 or visit www.sspl.org.

Candlelight House TourDowntown Saratoga Springs, Various Locations Friday, December 7, 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation rings in the holiday season and celebrates our city’s unique architecture with a tour of festively decorated buildings and homes in the historic Marion Place and Court Street neighborhood on Saratoga’s Eastside. Funds raised at this event support the Foundations ongoing educational programs and advocacy efforts to preserve the unique architectural, landscaped, and cultural heritage of Saratoga Springs. A reception follows the tour, and begins at 7:00 and ends at 10:30pm. Tour tickets are $40 for



members, $50 for non members; Tour and reception tickets are $75 for members and $85 for non-members. For more information call 587-5030.

Winter Dance ConcertDance Center Dance TheaterFriday, December 7, 8:00 p.m. & Saturday December 8, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Skidmore Dance Department presents its winter dance concert titled “Wonderland?”. The program features original and classic works by the dance faculty and guest artists, performed by a cast of 35 students. Tickets (sold at the door) are $10 general admission and $5 students/senior citizens. For more information visit: www.Skidmore.edu.

A Saratoga ChristmasHome Made Theater, At The Spa Little Theater Saturday, December 8, 7:00 p.m. Join us for an evening of Christmas favorites, Kevin McKrell’s trademark sound, and their popular rendition of “A Visit from St. Nick” (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.) For more information visit: www.homemadetheater.org.

First Night SaratogaDowntown Saratoga SpringsMonday, December 31, 5:30 – 12:30 p.m. First Night is a New Year’s celebration of the arts and community. Each year, thousands of revelers come to Saratoga Springs to experience a wide-ranging variety of arts and music. It is a true showcase of the diverse and immense talent in the Capital-Saratoga region. Broadway and the surrounding streets of Saratoga Springs will be filled with music, art, comedy and family-friendly entertainment. There’s no better way to ring in the New Year! For more information call 584-4132.

Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Downtown Ballston SpaDecember 7, 6:30 p.m.The parade steps off at 6:30 pm, proceeding on Milton Avenue and ending in Wiswall Park on

Front Street with Santa lighting the Christmas tree. The parade has become a hometown-style holiday tradition, with fire trucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village. Before and after the parade, there will be carolers and musicians on the street corners and many village shops and restaurants will be open with music, demonstrations and displays as part of First Friday, which also falls on this festive evening. If your organization would like to march that night, please contact Ellen at the BSBPA office 885-2772 or [email protected].

Clifton ParkMother Teresa Academy: Super Saturday Vendor ShowMother Teresa Academy, 509 Moe Rd. Clifton Park Saturday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Get a Head start on your Christmas and Holiday Shopping in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Many Vendors will come together in one location for you and your family to shop. There will be a Bake Sale & Concession Stand to keep up your energy! A Silent Auction to add to the Fun and get some great gifts for yourself or your loved one. For the Silent Auction Donations & to register as a vendor contact: [email protected]. Mother Teresa Academy is a Non-profit, Private, Independent school teaching Catholic Christian Values. More information visit: http://www.motherteresaacademy.org/ or call: (518) 280-4227

Fort AnnChristmas in the CountryFriday, November 30 – Sunday, December 2, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Fifteen local artists invite you to our 22nd annual Christmas in the Country open artists studio tour. A get-away for a very special weekend in the country. Follow the Christmas tree signs to find handcrafted specialties at local countryside artists studios.

Refreshments, fun and music at each location. Call me at 518-793-7925 for a brochure and more information.call 793-7925.

Glens Falls 2012 LARAC Holiday ShopLapham Gallery 7 Lapham Place, Glens Falls, NY Nov 16- Dec. 24 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. A festive showcase offering holiday shoppers beautiful, original, and unique gift items from over 50 local and regional artists and artisans. Application, samples and deposit are due by October 12, 2012. For information visit: www.larac.org/ Or Call: 518-798-1144

Tony DeSare “Home for the Holidays”Charles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St., Glens Falls Friday, November 23, 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 24, 2:00 p.m. Tony DeSare returns to the Wood Theater after a triumphant year playing with Symphony Orchestras, at the Carlyle Hotel in NYC, opening for Don Rickles, dueting with Patti Austin, performing a Sinatra Tribute at SPAC with the Philadelphia Orchestra and much more. Tony brings his hometown fans a fresh show every year and also plays some favorites for this family and friends. For more information visit: woodtheater.org.

North Country Festival of Trees Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Street, Glens Falls, NY Friday, November 23 – Sunday, November 25, Kick-off the holiday season and start getting in the holiday spirit. See beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, stockings, gingerbread houses and more from local artisans. The Festival of Trees will be open to the public Friday 11am-8pm, Saturday 11am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-4pm. $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, and $3 for children 12 and under. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Prospect Child & Family Center, a non-profit agency for children and adults with developmental disabilities.



Hometown Holidays Downtown Open House Downtown Glens FallsFriday, November 30 – December 1, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.The Hometown Holidays Downtown Open House stroll and enjoy music and refreshments. There will be trolley rides from 10am - 5pm and Santa arrives at 2pm.

Glens Falls Tree LightingSaturday, December 1, 5:00 p.m.The celebration kicks off with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Watch as the tree is lit for the first time and enjoy carols, hot chocolate, and fun!

Judy Collins Holiday and HitsCharles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St., Glens Falls Monday, December 10, 7:30 p.m. This Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter is drawn to music of hope that speaks to the heart. A modern day Renaissance woman who continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world. Judy Collins will perform her holiday show, mixing seasonal favorites with her greatest hits. For more information visit: woodtheater.org.

Lake GeorgeLite up the VillageShepard Park, Lake George VillageFriday, November 23 See Lake George Village come alive for the holidays! 3500+ holiday lights, Santa, hot chocolate, cookies & Lake George Community Band Concert. For more information call the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce at (518) 668-5755.

Christmas in Bolton LandingRoger’s Park, Bolton LandingSunday, December 2, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hayrides with Santa, caroling, tree lighting, holiday entertainment & refreshments.

Lake George Polar Bear PlungeShepard Park Beach, Lake GeorgeTuesday, January 1, 2:00 p.m.The annual Lake George Polar Bear Plunge has been a popular tradition for years where hundreds of human

polar bears take to the icy winter water of Lake George. For more information call 240-0809.

Albany AreaPalace Theatre19 Clinton Ave. AlbanyVisit Palacealbany.com for tickets and information on these events.Magic of Christmas Saturday, December 8, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. The Capital Region’s favorite festive tradition! Kick off the Christmas Season with the Capital Region’s favorite festival tradition, The Magic of Christmas, at the beautiful Palace Theatre. This concert is bustling with hundreds of talented young performers, glorious musical favorites, and spectacular surprises. Make this concert a gift to your family this holiday season, and enjoy the beauty and splendor of this joyous event. $25-$40. For more information call 465-4755.

Albany Symphony Presents Magic of ChristmasSunday, December 9, 3:00 p.m. The Capital Region’s favorite festive tradition! Kick off the Christmas Season with the Capital Region’s favorite festival tradition, The Magic of Christmas, at the beautiful Palace Theatre. This concert is bustling with hundreds of talented young performers, glorious musical favorites, and spectacular surprises. Make this concert a gift to your family this holiday season, and enjoy the beauty and splendor of this joyous event. Tickets $20-$60. For more information call 465-4755

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Times Union Center, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “The Live Debut of The Lost Christmas Eve.” A Rock Holiday Tradition for a New Generation! Tickets $33-$73. For more information call 487-2000

Mountain Snow & MistletoeThe Egg, Lancaster St., AlbanySaturday, December 15, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, 2:00 p.m.An annual tradition! A down home

concert of holiday songs and stories with Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball that features “The Mountain Snow Orchestra” – fiddler John Kirk, guitarist Kevin McKrell, and percussionist Brian Melick.

Christian Brothers Academy 15th Annual Craft FairChristian Brothers Academy, 12 Airline Dr., Albany, NY Saturday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This will be its biggest craft fair ever this year with over 130 quality vendors offering unique handmade items. Come shop for candles, spices, jewelry, clothing, pottery, art, wood carvings, and more! Win great prizes from our creative vendors, have a hot lunch or snack at our Crafter’s Cafe open all day, and bring home delicious goodies from the renowned CBA Mothers Association Bake Sale. Free admission and post-shopping shuttle. Holiday shopping made simple and fun! More information visit: http://www.cbaalbany.org/craftfair or call: 518-452-9809

New York Vegetarian Expo Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY Saturday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. The NY Vegetarian Expo brings together the global health benefits of green sustainable living, environmental awareness, and compassion for animals and all beings. For more information visit: http://www.nyvegetarianexpo.org/ or email: support@nyvegetarianexpo.

Radio Disney – Colonie Center Welcomes Santa Colonie Center, Albany NY Saturday, November 17, 1:00 p.m.– 3:00 p.m. Kick off the Holiday Season with Radio Disney AM 1460 as Colonie Center Welcomes Santa to the mall on November 17th from 1pm-3pm in Center Court. Join us for Holiday music, dancing and games where you can win awesome prizes as we wait for Santa to arrive! It’s the perfect way to begin the Holiday Season as a family.



Price Chopper Capital Holiday Lights Albany’s Washington Park Friday, November 23 through Friday, January 4, 6:00 p.m. nightly A glowing celebration – lighting the dark winter nights with more than 125 illuminated displays throughout the historic park. At the end of the drive through, the Washington Park Lakehouse features visits with Santa (through Dec. 23), refreshments, crafts, costumed characters and lots of surprises. Proceeds from the lights benefit the youth and programs of the Albany Police Athletic League (PAL) – brightening the lives of some 3,000 young people all year long. For more information call: 518-435-0392.

Great Train ExtravaganzaEmpire State Convention CenterSunday, December 2, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Following a highly successful trial run the last two years, the Roaming Railroad will be returning with train rides for kids and grandkids. The ideal place to do your holiday shopping, there will be more than 200 tables of model trains, train sets, parts & accessories, scenery items, books, videos, DVDs, prints, railroad memorabilia and related items for sale. For more information visit: http://www.gtealbany.com or call 668-9892.

LathamChristmas With ElvisSaturday, December 22, 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.Michael’s Banquet HouseDrew Polsun, Sweet Fascination and Patch It Up Band. $30.00 also includes wonderful Hors d’ oeuvres prepared by Chef Rick, a dessert buffet and drink specials all night. For more information call 785-8524.

SchenectadyAnnual Holiday ParadeState Street, Downtown Schenectady November 17, 5:00 p.m. Join us for the 45th Annual Gazette Holiday Parade in downtown Schenectady. This is the largest nighttime parade in the Northeast Be ready to share in the magic of the Season as we kick off the holidays in style with this year’s theme – Magic and Myths. Over 100 entries including marching bands, floats, marchers and more will for thousands of spectators!

Northeast Ballet“The Nutcracker” Procter’s Theater, Schenectady Saturday, December 8, 7 p.m. and Sunday December 9, 2:00 p.m. It isn’t really Christmas at Proctors without our own Annual Nutcracker. The Sugarplum Fairiy, prancing mice, the Rat King, Clara and of course the handsome Nutcracker Prince himself, are all part of this entrancing holiday ballet. For more information visit: www.Proctors.org. •



Kilamangaro

Climbing to New HeightsStory by Trina Lucas Photos provided

I stopped an old man along the way Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies. He turned to me as if to say, “Hurry boy, it’s waiting there for you.” (Africa, Toto)

The lyrics blared from Ray O’Conor’s car radio as he set out to run errands one ordinary Saturday in the summer of 2011. It was a sign he didn’t even know he was looking for, and he

heeded the message in a most extraor-dinary way.

Just the day before, O’Conor—Chairman, President and CEO of Saratoga National Bank—had been

invited to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. An avid hiker, he was already a 46er, having reached the summit of all the Adirondack high peaks, and planned to work on becoming a Winter 46er,



Kilamangaro

climbing the same peaks between De-cember 21 and March 21. But Mount Kilimanjaro?

It was an intriguing challenge, and he had only the weekend to make his decision. Naturally, he brought the idea home to his wife, Mary, who asked the critical questions any spouse would, primarily about the risks involved when climbing more than 19,000 feet up a mountain with complete strang-ers, in a developing country on the other side of the world. She left the ultimate decision to him, and after his musical inspiration, O’Conor called her from the car to say he was going. Kilimanjaro was waiting.

The journey to Africa’s tallest peak

began almost immediately, despite the climb still being a year away. That weekend, O’Conor told his climbing buddy, Alison Darbee, that he would join her and her boyfriend, Jon Laurin, on the adventure. Two Queensbury teachers and a Saratoga banker were about to embark on the experience of a lifetime. Just a few days later, through a friend of Darbee’s who was coordinat-ing the trip, the trio was introduced to their guide, Protus Mayunga.

Mayunga had launched The Roof of Africa Adventures earlier that year from his home in the Catskills. A na-tive of Tanzania, he had been a porter at age 19 for those climbing Kiliman-jaro. On one excursion, fate paired him

with a 68-year old businessman from the United States. The two became close – conditions on the mountain have that effect – and after returning home, the gentleman brought Mayun-ga to the U.S., offering to pay for his college education. A grateful Mayunga studied hard, graduated and became a drug and alcohol abuse counselor in New Jersey. He met his wife there and the couple now has five children.

Their tour would only be Mayun-ga’s second with the new adventure company, yet from the start, O’Conor was impressed. Over the twelve months that followed, the men connected

Contiued on page 88



through Facebook and email, becom-ing fast friends.

“While Protus has benefited from his new life in America, he has never forgotten his roots,” says O’Conor. “Roof of Africa employs people Protus knew growing up. He is determined to share his good fortune by helping oth-ers in his homeland. And this benefits those on his excursions too, because they experience the true culture of Tanzania.”

After a year of training through running, cycling and of course, climb-ing, O’Conor was as ready as he could be for the trek. On July 21, he, Darbee and Laurin flew from Albany to Wash-ington, D.C., before their 18-hour

flight to Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. Most wouldn’t rave about such a long flight, but O’Conor is quick to interject.

“The crew and attendants were polished and professional,” comments O’Conor. “They did everything they could to make the flight comfortable and even enjoyable. The menu was var-ied, taking into consideration a wide range of dietary needs. It was all remi-niscent of the iconic Pan Am days.”

From Addis Ababa, it was a quick trip to Kilimanjaro, where the three joined the rest of their 22-person ex-cursion, climbers from Buffalo to North Carolina. The agenda called for a full orientation day before starting

the mountain ascent. It was time des-ignated to recover from the trans-continental flight and fully prepare for the climb – packing, checking equip-ment and reviewing plans for each step ahead.

There are six paths to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, varying in length and degrees of ascent. Mayunga was guiding O’Conor’s excursion along the Machame Route, a seemingly longer trip on the map, but with more oppor-tunities to ‘walk high and sleep low.’ This would allow hikers time to accli-mate to the changes in altitude, which in turn, would assure a greater number successfully reached the summit.

At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24, the

All smiles on day one at the Machame Gate



Lava Tower



Sunrise from the summit

More than halfway



group departed Arusha, making the one-and-a-half hour drive to the Ma-chame Gate trailhead, where they met the cooks and porters who would ac-company them on the trip. Day one on the mountain started with a climb through the rainforest and giant heath-ers for 5-6 hours before an overnight at the Machame Camp (5,950 feet).

The hike on day two was shorter, but steeper. Mayunga and his three assistants took it slowly so the group could adjust to the altitude, but the more challenging aspect was the heat. Kilimanjaro is just 3-degrees south of the equator, and even though it is winter in July, the temperatures are still high. O’Conor’s climb to the Shira Camp at 12,600 feet was void of vegeta-tion, so there was little shade. Though, he did see the first of many dedrose-necio kilimanjari, a large, distinc-tive shrub which is indigenous to the mountain. The species evolved more

than a million years ago.Day three began with a climb over

boulders, through high desert terrain toward Lava Tower at just shy of 15,000 feet. From there, however, the route dropped for two hours, ending at the Baranco Camp and 12,950 feet. This mid-point hike was a deliberate effort to encourage acclimatization, before a scramble up the steep Baranco wall on day four. O’Conor, Darbee and Laurin used their hands to pull themselves up for almost 2 hours, a task that felt more like rock-climbing than hiking. The green Karanga Valley was a welcome overnight spot at 13,200 feet.

Anticipation was building as dawn arrived on day five. The group traveled to Barafu Camp with a short, uphill climb across barren landscape scat-tered with boulders. The Southern Ice-land and Rebmann glaciers came into view before they crept along a steep ridge and scrambled hand over hand

again for one-and-a-half hours, arriv-ing at camp around 1 p.m. Their tents pitched on large rocks, O’Conor and his fellow climbers were instructed to sleep, since the final ascent to Uhuru Peak would begin with an 11 p.m. wake-up call.

But sleep did not come easily. So close to the summit, O’Conor was like a child on Christmas Eve. But he knew rest was important in order to recover from that morning’s climb and prepare him for the final steep steps.

Before midnight, the group donned headlamps and set out to take in the most breathtaking sunrise of their lives 6 hours later. It wasn’t an easy climb. In sharp contrast to the earlier heat, winter on Kilimanjaro hit hard with wind chills of 20-30 degrees below zero. The mountain is the only place on earth to experience every climate, from tropical to arctic. Even without the wind, the temperature at



Guide Protus Mayunga embraces the group’s motto, “IMARA KAMMA SIMBA” (Strong like a Lion)



O’Conor, with Laurin and Darbee at the peak, shows off the badge that proudly declares, “I have climbed Kilimanjaro”



A cautious mother keeps her young ones close

An ancient Baobab, Africa’s largest tree



the Uhuru Peak was just 10 degrees. Most of the effort was in the dark; be-tween that, the cold and the extreme change in altitude, it was a slow hike. But the reward waiting at 19,340 feet made it all bearable.

They spent just one hour at the summit before starting the trip back down the mountain. The two-day de-scent was quicker than the climb up. The group camped at Mweka—almost halfway—the first night, and with song and celebration, reached the Mweka Gate at the base of Kiliman-jaro for a picnic lunch the next day. O’Conor admits he actually ran down the final feet, racing one of the por-ters, a young man who struck him as being much like Mayunga must have been at that age.

Having begun the journey with Darbee and Laurin, O’Conor ended the seven-day trek with more than two friends.

“I was amazed how quickly a group of complete strangers could come together,” remarks O’Conor. “We were a team in every sense of the word, sharing supplies, food and most im-portantly, encouragement.”

“There is an expression, ‘Share your courage with others, but keep your fears to yourself.’ That is exactly what we did.”

After a welcome shower and re-laxing evening upon their return to Arusha, the group spent three days on safari excursions, visiting the Taran-gire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara National Parks. They saw ancient Bao-babs, the Great Rift Valley and a lush acacia forest of giant fig and mahog-any trees. Zebras, giraffes, warthogs and hippos were just feet from their vehicles.

“It was a treat to witness all of these majestic animals against the Tanzanian landscape, to see them in their natu-ral habitat,” says O’Conor, pointing to a



Nocturnal lions sleep soundly as the safari rides by Nuzzling zebras in the Tarangire National Park



Dancing at the Maasai huts Building trust and making friends through digital reflections

O’Conor’s favorite photo of the more than 650 he snapped



sea of flamingos in one of his hundreds of photos, and monkeys in another. “I couldn’t have imagined being that close.”

Another highlight was a stop at the Maasai Bomas (huts) near the crater of Ngorongoro. The crater itself is one of the best places in Africa to spot the ‘big five’ – elephants, leopards, lions, buffalo and the rare black rhinoceros. This Maasai village is a unique attrac-tion because it represents the harmony of humans and wildlife living together without harm to each other. In tradi-tional dress, the native people greeted O’Conor’s group with song and dance. And after asking if it was culturally permissible to join them, he jumped in, quite literally.

But as they say, the best was saved for last. On his final day in Africa, O’Conor had the most remarkable ex-perience of his trip. Mayunga took a small group to visit the Oldonyo-Sam-bu Primary School outside Arusha.

“The beauty of Africa is reflected in the faces of these children,” de-clares O’Conor. “I was touched by their smiles and inspired by their

enthusiasm. 1,100 students, and many of them had nothing more than the uniforms on their backs. Several are infected with HIV, and numerous oth-ers have been orphaned because of the disease. They walk miles to school. But there is no self-pity, only tremendous appreciation for what they do have, for the chance to receive an education.”

The students are familiar with white visitors, yet still wary of strang-ers. O’Conor won them over with his camera.

“I snapped a photo and asked if they wanted to see it,” recalls O’Conor. “We take digital cameras for granted. It didn’t occur to me at first that they had probably never seen their own image, on a camera or otherwise.”

“I can’t describe the looks on their faces when they saw themselves…pure awe. And then I was suddenly very popular!”

“Standing at the peak of Kilimanja-ro was a thrill,” continues O’Conor, “But these children affected me. Visiting with them was the best part of my trip.”

Back home in Wilton, what does

one do after the journey of a lifetime? In June, O’Conor announced his plan to retire at the end of the year. He’s reached the pinnacle of his banking ca-reer. There are new mountains to climb now.

He and Mary can enjoy life. Their children are grown, with children. The couple now has the freedom for their own adventures.

With Darbee, Laurin and another local friend, Joe Murphy, O’Conor is also working on the Northeast 115—the 115 highest peaks in the north-eastern United States—including Mt. Washington, which he’s hiked before.

And he’s keeping in touch with Mayunga.

O’Conor is a climber, but more, he’s a doer. Africa left a lasting impact on him. Maybe he will make an impact there in return. In fact, maybe he’ll move mountains.

I know that I must do what’s right.As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like

Olympus above the Serengeti,I seek to cure what’s deep inside… I bless the rains down in Africa. •

Ready to start the day at Oldonyo-Sambu Primary School




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