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Author: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan

Camp Abilities: Connecting Kids

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Sports.

Staying active when you’re not able to go places and gather together is tough enough, now add not being able to see well into the equation, and you’ve got an even trickier problem to solve. Camp Abilities Saratoga (CAS) has figured out a solution.

“Everyone is struggling with isolation due to COVID. This issue is compounded for children who are blind or visually impaired.  CAS is focused on reducing isolation by keeping these children connected with their peers and counselors,” said Joe Brady, Vice President of Communications. 

TRANSFORMING VACA’S INTO VCAS
The week-long CAS educational sports camp, sponsored by the Saratoga Lions Club, is like a very special and educational, vacation. 

It’s a one-on-one VACA that typically offers guided activities including baseball, soccer, horseback-riding and more to its campers. To comply with social-distancing guidelines, they decided to adjust their program and instead go virtual this past summer – transforming a VACA into a VCAS (Virtual Camp Abilities Saratoga).

“In 2020, we had a couple months to prepare, develop programs, send equipment and technology to the campers and counselors so we could conduct our annual camp – transforming it from a physical camp to a virtual camp while keeping and strengthening CAS’s mission,” said Brady. 

“Our camp directors and counselors did a masterful job of creating a wonderful, meaningful, and educational experience for our campers.”

The online campers, ages 10 to 16, were invited to log-in three times a day for six days of activities including yoga, strength-training, and pound fitness (a high-intensity cardio workout that combines yoga with rhythmic drumming). 

“What I’m hearing from them is that their week with us it the highlight of their year, so I thought, why can’t we connect with our campers throughout the year and keep those relationships going?” said Camp Director Tiffany Suppes. 

MINI-CAMPS HAVE MAJOR IMPACT
The success of the August 2020 virtual camp was the impetus of the CAS mini-camps that are now happening every other month. 

The first, in December, featured a Body by Dottie workout, a yoga class, and as a special treat – cookie making. In addition to empowering the 16 campers to find ways to be physically active on their own at home, these activities are geared to help them improve upon their daily living skills. 

These activities are also a chance for families to get involved like never before. 

“Some things are a blessing in disguise. Now we’re able to work with families closely which we were not able to do before. We show campers’ parents and siblings how to adopt and modify activities for them, and the options they have at home,” said Suppes.

An easy, socially-distant outdoor activity that she suggests is disc golf – just have a sighted companion set up a cell phone or an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker at the target and you’re ready-to-play. 

The next mini-camp will be held on Saturday, February 6 and will include a HIIT workout, a virtual scavenger hunt, and a game of Family Feud. 

“I feel very fortunate to be able to connect with the campers and to find ways that we can all come together during this time,” added Suppes. 

Follow Camp Abilities Saratoga on Facebook for more information. 

Game Day Super Snacking

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

With The Big Game quickly approaching, football fans might be thinking about the field, but we’re all looking forward to the snacks! 

The array of creamy dips, bite-sized snacks, and decadent desserts are certainly something to anticipate, even for those who aren’t big sports fans. Appetizers and finger food are the traditional spread for most, making for easy snacking between plays or the much-anticipated commercials. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has options to meet all your snacking needs for next Sunday. Get your shopping done at the Saturday market to incorporate fresh, locally made ingredients into your Sunday spread. 

Whether you are cooking for a crowd or keeping it lowkey this year, we put together a few recipes that are sure to impress, using fresh ingredients from the market. And for the hardcore football fans looking forward to more traditional snacks, you can, of course, pick up plenty of wings or spinach and cheese for artichoke dip at the market too!

FM FriedPickles

FRIED PICKLES
Kick off the game with some savory and sweet fried pickles. Mix 1 cup flour with 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp Cajun spice, and ½ tbsp cayenne pepper. Preheat an air fryer to 400. Grab 2 cups of your favorite flavor of pickles from Puckers Gourmet (we’re using the Dilly Sweet pickles, but you can substitute whatever you like) and coat with the flour mixture. Place in a single layer in the fryer and spray with olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 more minutes. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. 

FM BuffaloGoatCheeseBalls

BUFFALO GOAT CHEESE BALLS
If you’re craving something cheesy and a little unique, make some fried buffalo goat cheese balls. Add ⅓ cup of flour and a pinch of pepper to a medium bowl. Add one large beaten egg and 2 tablespoons of water to a separate shallow bowl. Add 1 ½ cups of panko breadcrumbs to another medium-sized bowl. Then your favorite flavor of goat cheese from Nettle Meadow or R&G Cheesemakers and roll it into 20-24 balls. Roll each ball in the flour, then dip in the egg mixture, and then cover in the panko mixture. Place the balls on a baking sheet and freeze for 20 minutes or until firm. Then heat 1-2 cups of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the goat cheese balls in batches for 1-2 minutes until crispy brown. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined surface. Serve hot with spicy buffalo dip from Argyle Cheese Farmer!

FM AppleNachos

APPLE NACHOS
For dessert, try making apple nachos, which are easy to customize to your taste and perfect if you’re looking for something a little lighter after all the afternoon snacking. Just cut Fuji apples (or apple of choice) from Saratoga Apple into thin slices and arrange on a plate. Then drizzle about ¼ cup of melted peanut butter (we’re using Plain Jane creamy from Saratoga Peanut Butter Company) and ¼ cup of melted semi-sweet chocolate over the apples. Top with a handful of chocolate chips or some granola to serve. 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For online pre-ordering and curbside pickup, visit localline.ca/saratoga-farmers-market.

You’re My Everything

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Hello my Foodie Friends!

Who doesn’t love a good bagel? Once you find that place that makes the perfect bagel, it is difficult to avoid making a bagel a regular event especially when thinking of the crusty outside and chewy interior along with the amazing flavors that are now available. If you only think of bagels in terms of breakfast and the occasional pizza, you’re missing out on using a surprisingly versatile weapon in your kitchen’s arsenal. Not only are there more things you can do with bagels than you’re thinking, it is a perfect recipe start for those with a hectic schedule. Keeping an extra sleeve of bagels in the kitchen cupboard can be surprisingly useful. 

Whip up a batch of Bagel French toast with a hint of cinnamon, some amazing egg custard, and whatever fresh fruit is in season, and you’ll never use bread again. How about Mac n cheese? Bagels are the last thing to be added to the mac n’cheese (and you can definitely use your own favorite recipe or cheesy combination) before it’s baked for ten minutes to finish it off, giving the top of the cheesy, flavor-filled casserole a crispy brown crust. It will be filled with bubbling cheese underneath and all the flavor of your favorite bagel and will change the way you make mac n’ cheese. How about adding it to your salad? Whatever bagel you choose is going to turn into the perfect salad garnish. After just a few minutes in the oven, your shredded bagel pieces will crisp up as they cool, and your Caesar salads will never be the same when they’re topped with croutons. Get creative with breakfast. Rather than making a hole in a perfectly fine slice of bread for the egg-in-a-hole recipe, use the hole that’s already in a bagel for a heartier morning egg. If you’re already updating this favorite by swapping in a bagel, spread your toasted bagel with smashed avocado — seasoned just the way you like it — and then add your egg.

Is you mouth watering yet? When you are attempting to slice a bagel with a knife, you understand the difficulty, as well as the potential safety issues. You need a safe tool to easily slice bagels. Choose a bagel slicer. 

It is designed for heavy-duty usage made with high quality bases and guards and solid handles to prevent breakage. Never worry about cutting yourself.  The guillotine blade safely slices the bagel behind the protective finger guards. It is dishwasher safe in the top rack only. It is engineered for safety and performance.  All you have to do is insert the bagel, push down, and remove the perfectly sliced bagel. There are so many delicious dishes to make with bagels. 

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery for a bagel slicer to assist you with slicing your favorite bagel. Let the one you love know that they are your “everything.”  Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

 Take Care,
John & PaulaREARDON BagelPudding

Burbank’s Advice

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Home & Garden.

We take the introduction of a new plant cultivar or variety as nothing too unusual but there was a time when such progress took years. 

A hundred years ago, there was one man, Luther Burbank, who stunned the world with his plant breeding genius. Burbank introduced over 1,000 plant varieties that had never been seen before. His achievements were so astounding that he was initially considered a fake by the established scientific community. 

In 1871, he used an inheritance from his father’s estate to buy a 17 acre farm in Lunenberg, Massachusetts where he took up vegetable farming for a living. A forward thinker, Burbank was fully convinced by the writings of Charles Darwin and his theories on evolution. When a potato plants in his garden produced a seed ball (rare for potatoes), Burbank realized that it would have seeds that would NOT breed true to the type of potato that had produced them. He let the seed ball ripen produced 23 seeds. He grew the seeds hoping for a new variety.  Indeed, one of the seeds produced a white skinned potato much larger than its red skinned parent. It was the famous “Burbank Potato” which was far and away the best variety ever produced. Burbank sold the potatoes he’d produced to a seed producer for $150.

With his newfound funds and tempted by tales in letters from his two brothers in California, Luther sold the farm and took ten of his new potatoes and set out.  Burbank’s new potato variety provided him funds to travel and a bit of a name in the agricultural community. It also led him to believe that there were new discoveries to be made. Burbank arrived in Santa Rosa and shortly after read Darwin’s “The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom” which further inspired him to the possibilities of plant breeding. 

Refrigerated transportation hadn’t been invented yet so farmers in California concentrated on crops that could be dried before shipping. A banker in Santa Rosa wanted to get in on the boom and offered $6,000 to anyone who could provide 20,000 prune trees in 9 months; a feat considered impossible.  Burbank devised a plan to graft plum buds onto faster growing almond seedlings. The idea was a success and Burbank stunned locals and earned the $6,000; a tidy sum in 1882. With this money, Burbank purchased land and a cottage and began plant breeding in earnest.

Ten years later, Burbank had enough new stock to offer plants for sale in a mail order catalog. When his catalog came into the hands of eastern and European botanists, it created quite a stir. Burbank’s catalog offered over 100 plant varieties from fruit trees to flowers that had never been seen before! Burbank offered an apple that was sweet on one side but sour on the other, a new giant form of daisy (Shasta), and even a cross between a strawberry and raspberry.  The offerings were so outlandish that most believed the catalog to be a hoax.

A Dutch botanist, Hugo De Vries, was so intrigued that he traveled all the way to Santa Rosa to see for himself. Even before De Vries reached the front door of Burbank’s cottage, he knew that there was something special going on. De Vries had expected a much larger facility with a great deal of scientific research going on. Instead, he found Burbank in his cottage with sparse notes scribbled on bits of paper scattered about. 

What amazed all that did visit was Burbank’s uncanny ability to select one plant from among thousands that would suit his goal. A county agricultural agent commented, “He’d go along a row of gladioli, yanking out the ones he didn’t want as fast as he could.  He seemed to have an instinct that told him if a tiny plant would grow up to bear the kind of fruit he wanted. I couldn’t see any difference in them, even if I stooped and looked closely, but Burbank did no more than glance at them.”

Gradually, the world embraced Burbank for the genius he was. He seemed to have a special communication with plants and admitted that he talked to them to offer encouragement and his love and admiration. He believed that they could sense his feelings and desires. Helen Keller, after visiting Burbank wrote, “He has the rarest of gifts, the receptive spirit of a child. Only a wise child can understand the language of flowers and trees.”

Burbank expressed it this way, “Listen patiently, quietly and reverently to the lessons, one by one, which Mother Nature has to teach, shedding light on that which was before a mystery, so that all who will may see and know. She conveys her truths only to those who are passive and receptive. Accepting these truths as suggested, wherever they may lead, then we have the whole universe in harmony with us.”

Luther Burbank was an amazing man whose philosophy could be easily dismissed were it not for the fact that he achieved results that advanced agriculture decades in a few short years.  If you follow Burbank’s advice, you may find yourself sitting quietly in your garden listening to the wisdom of a flower.

THANKS FOR THE READ!

Who Was Saint Isaac Jogues?

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in History.

Before we address this question, we should acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land when I write this article – the Iroquois Confederacy and the Algonquians – and pay our respect to their elders’ past, present and emerging. 

One answer is that Saint Isaac Jogues is the statue up on Lake George.  He is honored as one of the first white European men to gaze upon a most beautiful and pristine body of water.  He named the lake “Lac Du Saint Sacrement,” which means the Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. That name remained for the lake for more than 100 years until British General William Johnson renamed it for his King, George II.

Another might know Saint Isaac Jogues as a French Catholic missionary and martyr who traveled and worked among the Native American (First Nations) populations in Canada and New York.  What most do not realize is that he was one of the first Europeans to venture into and record his travels in Saratoga County and beyond in the Mohawk Valley. 

Isaac Jogues was born in Orléans, France, into a bourgeois family, on 10 January 1607. He was educated in Jesuit schools and entered the Jesuit novitiate at age of 17.  The Jesuit community had a strong missionary focus. Twelve years later, he was ordained a priest and soon after embarked to New France (Canada).  Jogues was assigned as a missionary to the Huron and Algonquian peoples (allies of the French) in Quebec.  For six years, Jogues lived in the village of St-Joseph and learned the ways and language of the Hurons. Jogues was then charged with building a new mission at Fort Sainte-Marie in modern Ontario, Canada.

On August 3, 1642, Jogues, Guillaume Couture, René Goupil, and a group of Christian Hurons were heading back from Quebec City when they were ambushed by a war party of the Mohawk Nation, part of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Mohawks beat and tortured Jogues and the others.  The war party then took their captives on an over 100 mile journey to the Mohawk Valley. Jogues and the others were brought to various Mohawk villages to be tortured.  Throughout his captivity, Jogues comforted, baptized, heard confession from, and absolved the other prisoners. Joques was given to an older Mohawk as a slave to perform menial tasks.  In March 1643, Jogues accompanied his master to Saratoga Lake for a four-day spring fishing trip.  He is the first European to record his trip to Saratoga Lake.  The Dutch in Albany heard of Jogues plight and tried unsuccessfully to secure his release.  Ultimately, the Albany Dutch helped Jogues to escape.  Jogues was the first Catholic priest to visit New Amsterdam (New York) on his journey back to France. 

On his arrival back in Europe, Jogues was received as if he had risen from the dead.  He was an object of curiosity and reverence.  Jogues even had an audience with Queen Anne of Austria, who kissed his mutilated hands.  Pope Urban gave him permission to celebrate Mass despite these mutilated hands. “A Martyr of Christ should be allowed to drink the Blood of Christ”, the Holy Father said

Within a year, Jogues was back in Canada. In 1646, Jogues was sent to the Mohawk country to discuss a peace treaty with the Iroquois.  Jogues traveled along the traditional pathway including the Hudson River through Saratoga County to visit those who had helped him escape slavery in Albany.  Then Jogues was on to the Mohawk Valley for a successful peace mission.   Peace was not enough for Jogues.  He was determined to start a mission to share his Catholicism with the Mohawks.  He returned later that year.  But on this visit, he was blamed for a crop failure.  As a result, Jogues was seized by the Mohawks at Ossernenon (now Auriesville, N.Y.). After a cruel beating, a blow from a tomahawk gave him the crown of martyrdom. He died on October 18, 1646.

Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf and six other martyred missionaries, all Jesuit priests or laymen associated with them, were canonized by the Catholic Church in 1930.  They are known as the North American Martyrs. A shrine was built in their honor at Auriesville, New York, at a site formerly believed to be that of the Mohawk village. 

Sean Kelleher is the historian for the town of Saratoga, NY. He writes a daily blog at historianatsaratoga.wordpress.com. He is a board member of the Saratoga County History Center. Sean was a member of the New York State French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission. He can be reached by email at historiantosaratoga@gmail.com.

Back to the Old Grind

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Hello my Foodie Friends!

So many foodies are getting back to the basics with using the mortar and pestle as part of their food preparation. The mortar and pestle is one of the most primitive kitchen tools. You place ingredients in a bowl usually made of stone or ceramic and then pound them with a tiny club. In an era of specialized kitchen gadgets, mortars and pestles have maintained their relevance remarkably well. The mortar and pestle is versatile, easy to use and provides more control than its electric counterparts, allowing for both rustic and refined preparations. It is an excellent addition to any kitchen, and who can resist the allure of using an ancient tool to create something truly handmade? This tool adds fun and flavor to any kitchen. Grinding herbs and spices in a mortar and pestle releases their delicate natural oils, something an electric appliance cannot do. It is perfect for making healthy dips like guacamole (the Mexican version of a mortar and pestle is called a molcajete) and fresh tomato salsa as well as flavorful pastes and pesto from fresh herbs and olive oil. Mortars and pestles are also ideal for grinding spices into rubs and toppings to sprinkle over your favorite dishes.

You can choose the best mortar and pestle for your kitchen by anticipating how it will be used most frequently. Smaller mortars and pestles are perfect for grinding spices, whereas larger versions are better suited for grinding large leafy items and nuts, or for mashing avocados.

Here’s a list of cooking tasks you can accomplish with a mortar and pestle:
• Grind your own peppercorns and spices including cinnamon sticks, coriander, and cloves.
• Remove cardamom seeds from their pods and then crush to use in Indian cooking.
• Grind sea salt to the fine texture of popcorn salt and season your movie night treat.
• Crush whole dry chilies into flakes. Crush capers to use in homemade tartar sauce recipes. Smash fresh peeled ginger to use in Asian recipes. Crush some flax seeds to release their benefits and add to yogurt for a nutritious breakfast or snack.
• Crush lavender to use in baking or potpourri. Crush herbs and seeds to make medicinal teas. Make fresh, homemade nut butters. Turn fresh garlic cloves into a paste and spread on Italian bread with olive oil for some intense garlic bread. Crush some fresh basil, garlic and pine nuts together in the larger sized units. Then mix in some olive oil to make super fresh and flavorful pesto.

One of the most classic uses of the mortar and pestle is for pesto. Combining the flavors of basil, pine, nut, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil can make a wonderful pesto to add to pasta, spread on a sandwich, or eat by the spoonful. When it comes to making pesto, you can’t go wrong with a pestle and mortar. You could make it in a food processor, but you just won’t get the same flavors as when you’re pounding and crushing all that lovely basil by hand. 

Cooking can be fun! No matter how long you have been cooking, there is always something new to learn. The mortar and pestle may take a little elbow grease, but it is the tool that will not fail you. Go back to the old grind for a while, stepping away from modern technology and use the mortar and pestle for your incredible culinary creations. Stop into Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to get your “cool” tools for your favorite foodie. Remember, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

 Take Care,
John & PaulaREARDON BasilPesto

Students and Schools Agree Support Is Needed!

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Education.

On January 22, school and student representatives came together to share their need for educational support in the 2021-22 school year. 

The districts are looking for financial support to pay for significant unbudgeted expenses, while the student panel talked about needing mental and emotional support to navigate through this year’s unique challenges. 

The students, school superintendents and board of education members from 31 districts, legislators, WSWHE BOCES staff, educators, and key stakeholders all came together for the 6th Annual WSWHE Chief School Officers Legislative Breakfast. 

OUTLINING DISTRICT NEEDS
Because the breakfast was held virtually this year, ahead of the meeting, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Culinary Arts students from both BOCES centers prepared boxes of baked goods, which were then sent to some meeting attendees. The occasion gave the CTE students a chance to practice catering skills and follow Serve Safe COVID-19 protocols. 

At the meeting, Andrew Cook, the Superintendent of the Hartford Central School District and speaking on behalf of the WSWHE Chief School Officers Legislative Committee, urged legislators to make every effort to preserve financial support for public school districts in the coming school year. The committee’s three key priorities are that the state;
1. Fund 2021-22 School Aid to the Greatest Extent Possible;
2. Support a Long-Term Solution to Small Group Health Insurance Protections; and
3. Address Dramatic Cost Increases Related to Unemployment Insurance

STUDENT INPUT
The meeting followed these requests with questions to a small panel of elementary, middle and high school students from Queensbury, Fort Edward, Schuylerville, and Hartford. 

The students talked about what challenges they’ve faced this year, what they missed out on, and what they were excited about. 

A common thread was woven through their responses. 

They missed not seeing friends and family, sports, and school events. When school is remote, they struggle to pay attention and to stay motivated. 

Landon Cook, a 6th grader at Hartford, said that he appreciates when there are breaks during remote-learning so that he’s not staring at the computer screen all the time.

Assemblyman Robert Smullen asked the students about their access to broadband internet. (He has been championing the need to strengthen high-speed internet options to rural areas of the state as critically-important for education.) The students said that getting work done online isn’t easy for everyone. 

All the students talked about the need for more connection and communication. 

When asked what advice the students would give to elected officials and school administrators about how to best support them now and when they transition “back-to-normal,” the youngest voice on the call gave the most unforgettable answer. 

“I think a lot of third-graders need someone to tell them that everything is going to be OK,” said Mitchell Mulder, a third-grader at Queensbury School.

Tips to Manage Your Mental Health in 2021

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Families Today.

The surging pandemic and recent attack on the United States Capitol has increased the levels of discomfort, stress and anxiety felt by so many in our country. In fact, 78% of adults in the U.S. site the pandemic as a major stressor and 60% found the increasing number of stressors affecting Americans overwhelming in 2020 according to the American Psychological Association.

While recent data shows that Saratoga County residents’ mental health has improved over the past few years, this trend is likely changing. As civil unrest continues to unfold and the pandemic worsens, many are finding their day-to-day lives disrupted by uncertainty. Additionally, the winter months have brought shorter and colder days, limiting people’s time spent outside coupled with increased levels of stress and loneliness from isolation. While 2021 brings new hope of a COVID-19 vaccine, its slow distribution has made many people weary and look to new ways to cope. 

As a mental health professional, I regularly recommend coping mechanisms and mindfulness practices for stressful and uncertain times like these. For those in Saratoga County and across the state, there are four tips that are key to coping with stress, feelings of depression, and anxiety:

1. GET LOTS OF SLEEP
Anxiety and stress can keep our minds racing throughout the night. Before going to bed, choose a regular time to turn off all electronics and allow yourself to unwind prior to falling asleep. This should help to leave you feeling refreshed the next day. 

2. LIMIT YOUR CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL INTAKE
Caffeine can cause restlessness at night or jitters during the day, while alcohol tends to heighten emotions. Ditch these beverages and replace them with water. When you are stressed or sad, you tend to sweat more and cry. Both these responses can lower your hydration levels, so it is important to drink more water to replenish your system.

3. DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY
Every day, dedicate some time to a leisure activity or a hobby that makes you happy. Step outside, exercise, spend time with those in your immediate household, listen to music, or watch a light-hearted TV show or a movie. Often the best way to combat stress and sadness is by occupying your mind with other activities. 

4. VIDEO CHAT OR CALL YOUR LOVED ONES
Schedule time to speak with those closest to you. For a more personal connection, utilize video chat. While this will not replace seeing friends and family in-person, it will offer comfort and an opportunity to catch up with those you are not seeing on a regular basis. 

During times of uncertainty, it is important to find time for self-care. Be sure to prioritize your physical and mental health. By practicing these four self-care routines daily, you can decrease stress and increase your health, which will trickle into other aspects of your life.   

If you need more support or if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, reach out to your primary care provider, mental health professional, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or NY Project Hope’s Emotional Support Helpline (1-844-863-9314). 

Additionally, if you are an MVP Health Care member, you can book a same-day appointment with a health professional through Gia at GoAskGia.com or mvphealthcare.com/goaskgia. Members can also call 1-877-GoAskGia (1-877-462-7544) or the MVP Customer Care Center at the phone number listed on the back of the MVP Member ID card.