Author: Marisa Scirocco

She perks up the moment you arrive. 

Quietly watching as you sit down, she slowly comes over, rests her head gently on your knee, and looks up at you with sympathetic eyes. “She naturally took to this job and 99 percent of people who walk through the door are happy to see her,” said Dr. Martin Ferrillo, an Osteopathic Physician at The Albany & Saratoga Centers for Pain Management

Meet Petunia

Petunia is a 3-year-old English Springer Spaniel who has been trained and certified as a therapy dog. 

Growing up with the spaniels his mother trained, Dr. Ferrillo was already familiar with the breed’s amicable nature when Petunia came into his life. 

Because his work as a physician focuses on a whole-body approach to healing, he knew Petunia would be a wonderful addition to his practice. 

“If you let her, she’d just love you until you didn’t want her to anymore,” he said.

She Sees Your Pain

The patients that he treats with neck, back, joint and nerve pain are also under a great amount of stress. 

“She can sense if people are nervous or apprehensive before going into the operating room for injections and tends to gravitate towards those people,” said Dr. Ferrillo.

Pet Petunia’s silky-smooth hair, look into her amazingly sweet eyes, and feel her softly lean against you. It releases feel-good chemicals within the body that help to lower blood pressure and ease a patient’s burden of pain. 

If you’re open to it, she’ll lure you into giving her a belly-rub or to shake hands. She is also allowed healthy treats as a reward.

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Dr. Ferrillo and Nurse Practitioner Julie Cuneo have witnessed many instances when Petunia’s presence has had a healing effect on patients who come into the office.

“They just lit up and I saw a new side of this patient. They were moved to tears. Petunia makes this a warmer environment and takes the chill right away,” said Cuneo.

Play Days

Some days are for work and others are for play. 

On Mondays and Fridays, Petunia works at the Queensbury and Saratoga pain management offices, but three days a week she goes to doggie daycare, and on weekends, she’s usually running around outside.

Playing in puddles and going on hikes are among her favorite off-duty activities. 

Petunia enjoys her time off, but also takes her role as a healer very seriously. As soon as Dr. Ferrillo puts on her vest (which signifies that she’s a therapy dog and carries her business cards), Petunia knows she has a job to do.

“The second the uniform goes on, she’s no longer frolicking around, she knows it’s time to go to work,”he said. 

To find out more about how The Albany & Saratoga Centers for Pain Management are reducing pain in a variety of ways, go to ascpm.com.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”  -John Muir

It is destiny for some people to come into your life to rekindle your spirit, motivate and inspire you. A decade ago, three strangers who discovered an interest in hiking and mountain climbing, found themselves among a group of Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) members at a trailhead at 6:30 a.m., preparing to hike the Santanoni Range. Alison Darbee, Joe Murphy and I would spend the next twelve hours ascending and descending Panther, Couchsachraga and Santanoni Mountains. It is among the most challenging of day trips in the Adirondack High Peaks. 

Joe and I had met once before on a hike, but we were all virtual strangers with little in common.  Joe, a Residence Life Community Coordinator at Skidmore College, was twenty-five. Alison, an art teacher, ten years older than Joe, and me, a banker, twenty years Alison’s senior.
On this morning of June 6, 2009, we never imagined our lives would become inextricably linked. Nor did we foresee that two years later another twenty-something young man, Jon Laurin, a teacher with whom Joe was acquainted in college, would by chance (or fate) come into our lives on a forest trail and complete what would become the MOLD (Murphy, O’Conor, Laurin, Darbee) Mountaineering Society.

It’s hard to say what has kept us connected for more than a decade. Perhaps it’s a common goal or interest. It could simply be a mutual love of ascending to new heights and being in wilderness. None of us can say for sure, except perhaps in Alison and Jon’s case.

Jon and Alison first met on an ADK group hike to Seymour Mountain. It is a long, challenging day, chugging up steep herd paths through thick forest to the summit. 

There is a commonality of purpose in such a task, but there was something more between Jon and Alison. Neither would have predicted that a chance meeting in the wilderness that day would lead to love and marriage. Nor would they have guessed that the officiant at their wedding would be a new hiking buddy, Joe Murphy.

Although the four of us share common values and interests, on occasion the thirty year gap in our ages is evident. While traversing the Willey Range in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, a storm approached as we started the ascent of the final peak in the range, Mount Tom. Hearing thunder in the distance, we debated whether we could reach the summit and retreat to safety before the storm.  “Is it over?” Joe lamented. I instantly responded, “Over? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”

Joe shot me a brief glance, then charged ahead leading us through the mud, roots and rocks up to the summit. We spent only a moment at the peak for a photo before descending quickly as thunder roared, rain poured and lightning illuminated the sky. Once we reached safety, Joe asked, “Ray, you do know the Germans didn’t bomb Pearl Harbor, right?” With an incredulous stare I countered, “Joe, are you serious? You’ve never seen Animal House?”

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It isn’t always fun and romance on MOLD outings. As a foursome, trio or in pairs, we have ascended more than 200 peaks. There was a confrontation with a bull moose; we lost our way a time or two; we’ve fallen into spruce traps and suffered an assortment of cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains and other injuries. When assessing risk, we try not to cross the fine line between bold and stupid, but sometimes the line moves on you.

On an attempted winter traverse of part of The Great Range, blizzard conditions struck as Joe and I crossed the summit of Gothics. Visibility was reduced to a few feet as gale force winds slowed us to a crawl. Sub-zero wind chills and an unrelenting snowfall jeopardized our safe return.  Joe shouted over the deafening howl of the wind, “Are we going to die today?” We may lose a few toes or fingers I thought. But, I assured Joe, and perhaps myself, “No one’s dying today.” We struggled to find a bailout trail and although equipped to spend the night, were grateful that with the aid of map and compass, we battled our way down the mountain.

Alison and Jon’s most challenging ascent was far from the Adirondacks. In 2012, we traveled to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. At 19,341 feet, it is the highest peak on the African Continent. Our guide was Protus Mayunga, a native of Tanzania and the founder of Roof of Africa Adventures. The ascent was uneventful until midnight of the fifth day when we began to climb the last 4,000 feet to Uhuru Peak, the summit of the world’s tallest free standing mountain. The air is so thin that you gasp for air, can experience dizziness and nausea and be overcome with fatigue.

With the summit still 2,000 feet above and miles away, Alison stopped. “I don’t think I can go any farther,” she uttered while resting against a trailside boulder. She suggested to Jon that he go on without her, but he would have none of it. “We came here to do this together. So, whether we go up, or we go down, we go together.” It was at times like these that Protus would invoke a simple Swahili expression, Imara kama simba (Be strong like a lion). By her personal fortitude and strength, along with Jon’s encouragement, Alison fought through the pain and exhaustion. Hours later, exhaustion turned to exhilaration as they stood together and watched the sun rise over the Serengeti from the Roof of Africa.

After summiting all of New York’s high peaks, we set out to conquer all of the high peaks in the Northeastern United States and the New England Hundred Highest. Thousands of road miles would be logged along highways and country lanes. We ventured down rough and often impassable dirt roads, occasionally thwarted by washed out bridges throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Our adventures took us across hundreds of miles of trail and tens of thousands of feet of elevation gain and loss. This past summer, a decade since we first met, we set out to ascend Mount Coe, South Brother and Fort Mountains to fulfill our mission.

We traveled to the far reaches of Maine and set up camp the night before. The cool, crisp night air and the soothing sound of a nearby stream created the ideal environment for a good night’s rest. An early rise had us on the trail shortly after dawn. We knew it would be a long day, having to cross three mountains (Coe, South Brother and North Brother), before beginning a bushwhack to our 100th peak. The sky was brilliantly blue with a scant number of clouds floating by like feathers, ushered by a gentle breeze. 

The steep ascent up Mount Coe challenged us, as sections of the rock slide route were treacherously slick. As we approached Coe’s summit, we marveled at the superb views of Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak. The wooded saunter from Coe’s summit to South Brother’s was gradual, along well maintained trails. What followed was a very steep ascent to the apex of North Brother, the launch point to Fort Mountain.

Fort is one of several New England Hundred Highest trail-less mountains. Jon led us, thrashing through a thick maze of trees, brush and blowdown. Bare arms and legs were nicked, scraped and cut as we rumbled and stumbled along. While some call this rarely trodden upon course a herd path, Jon coined the phrase herdwhack to describe it. I would argue hurt path is a more accurate characterization.

There was some hesitancy during the final approach to the summit. It marked an end to another epic journey for the four of us. However, as we broke through the tree line and crossed Fort’s rocky ridge to its peak, hesitancy was replaced by awe. Standing atop Fort, hundreds of miles of natural beauty surrounded us. Neighboring peaks pierced the sky. Deep blue pristine lakes, with surfaces as smooth as glass, lay below. There is always a bit of magic in the mountains and a sense of feeling so small in such a vast wilderness. Naturalist John Muir said it best, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

Seldom is any worthwhile goal achieved alone and it is most gratifying when accomplished as part of a team. There is an old adage that goes, Get lost in nature and you will find yourself. How fortunate are we four adventurers that we not only found ourselves in the wilderness, but also discovered friends in whose hands we entrust our lives.

When they are by our side, friends give us the confidence to freely follow our own path.

Two years ago, Megan Hale met a friend like this. 

“Her dog is by her side for everything. Hero is awesome! He helps her get around safely. He runs with her. He watches out for her and makes sure she’s okay,” said Tiffany Mitrakos, Director of Camp Abilities Saratoga. 

Finding New Freedoms

Each summer since middle school, Hale has been attending Camp Abilities Saratoga’s week-long program. 

As one of 26 blind and visually impaired campers between the ages of 10 and 16+ in the program, Hale had the opportunity to participate in sports including track, baseball and bicycling, on the grounds of the Skidmore College campus. 

“After camp, I tried out for and got into, the varsity team at school starting in 8th grade. I was able to join and tell them how to adapt things so I could do them, too,” said Hale. 

This summer, Hale was a counselor-in-training at Camp Abilities and is currently a Freshman at Hudson Valley Community College pursuing a physical education degree.

“I have realized, over the years and going to camp especially, that not many students with a disability – any disability – are being included in sports. There are not many teachers out there who know how,” she said. 

A Special Sidekick

Hale’s sense of sight has been substantially affected by Leber congenital amaurosis, a condition that she describes as, “similar to going to see a 3-D movie without 3-D glasses on, and with no peripheral vision”. 

She had primarily been using a cane to get around until high school, when she was old enough to be matched with a guide dog. 

“I was nervous. Growing up, we didn’t have a dog and we’d never had dogs in the house before. This is my first time being around a dog, but I knew the benefits, and that pushed me forward,” said Hale.

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Guiding Eyes for the Blind trained Hale how to work with and care for her guide dog, a yellow Labrador named Hero. 

“He’s like a car and they teach us how to drive the car. I call him my “Lab-orghini,” she said.

Hero has given Hale an inspiring new independence.

“She is the only camper that has ever come to Saratoga with a guide dog. It was really cool for the other campers to see that might be an option in the future for them, too,” said Mitrakos.

Coaching Companion

Together at Camp Abilities Saratoga, Hale and Hero not only participated in sports, but also experienced leading others.

“He will basically be at my side the whole time. They call us; Coach Megan and Coach Hero. On the very rare occasion that I’d need to guide athletes, he’d guide both of us,” said Hale. 

As heros are apt to do. 

“More people will get excited about physical activity if people like them were a part of leading it. I just think that everyone should have equal access to it and it should be open, with opportunities for everyone to participate.” 

To find out more about Camp Abilities Saratoga, go to CampAbilitiesSaratoga.org. 

I’ve always been interested in history – especially WWII coverage and the brave men and women who fought for freedom. I’m a German-Jew, with vivid memories of sitting with my mother in front of the TV as a child, here in America. I can still hear her voice pleading that we never forget the atrocities of Hitler’s Germany – lest they happen again. 

Many of the stories I write today involve WWII veterans willing to speak with me about that time, what they lived through during those years. I’ve met Holocaust survivors and their families, attended ceremonies and celebrations, listened to stories of good people who hid them during the war that encompassed so many different countries throughout the world. 

Chris Carola worked 34 years for The Associated Press, the last 31 as a reporter with the AP’s Albany bureau. His byline appeared in newspapers and on media websites around the world, including The Washington Post, MSN, ABC News, Fox News, The Independent, USA Today, New York Post, Yahoo Singapore, Yahoo India, to name a few.

When he heard about John J. Wilpers Jr. – Jack to his friends and family – Chris knew he wanted to meet and speak with him. “He was born in Albany in 1919 but grew up in Saratoga Springs. His father loved horses and worked as a bookie. Wilpers enlisted in the Army Air Corps during 1942 and then transferred to a counterintelligence unit,” the man sitting in front of me says. I watch as he looks away for a moment, deep in thought. 

Wilpers was one of five men, part of the U.S. Army Intelligence unit ordered to track down and arrest former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo after WWII ended.

It was September 11th, 1945, only nine short days after Japan surrendered. In Tokyo, the soldiers stood outside Tojo’s home, ready to take him into custody. Before that could happen, there was a shot – the Japanese warlord who had approved the attack on Pearl Harbor had tried to take his own life by shooting himself in the chest. 

Wilpers kicked in a door and found Tojo collapsed on a small couch, his white shirt soaked in crimson blood, a pistol still clutched in his hand. Wilpers ordered a Japanese doctor – at gunpoint – to help keep the war criminal alive until an American doctor arrived to take over. 

Nicknamed ‘Razor,’ Tojo was a high-ranking army officer, born into a military family. He’d been minister of war from 1940 to 1941, then Prime Minister until 1944. He was ruthless, blamed for the murder of millions of civilians in China, the Far East and the Pacific, as well as thousands of Allied POWs. 

Tojo survived his botched attempt at suicide. In the end, he was convicted on several counts, sentenced to death by hanging inside the Sugamo Prison just a few days before his 64th birthday, December 1948.

“I was fascinated with the story, from the moment I saw a photograph of Wilpers standing over Tojo’s blood-spattered body,” Chris tells me drinking from a bottle of Orange Juice while I nurse a cup of coffee. “Finding out that this young man was from Upstate, Saratoga no less, blew me away.” 

Chris’s quest to talk to the WWII veteran began in the early 1990s. “I called, left messages, wrote letters in an attempt to reach Mr. Wilpers,” Carola shakes his head at me. “He didn’t want to talk, like so many others who made it through the war, coming home to marry, raise families, start a new life. They just wanted it to be over.”

Once returning to the states, Jack married, raised a family of five while living in a Washington D.C. suburb, and had a successful 33-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency. It would be decades later before he was willing to speak about his wartime experiences. 

Most of the veterans I speak with are humble and shy away from talking about their years of service. I can’t even imagine the things they saw and lived through during times of war. Many say that they were doing their duty, what any good soldier would do. It takes some coaxing to accept any credit for their heroism. 

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In 2010 Pentagon officials held a ceremony to award Mr. Wilpers the Bronze Star he’d earned for his part in Tojo’s arrest. Only a few media outlets covered the ceremony and they didn’t get the details Chris would gather later that same year. None mentioned that Jack was a native New Yorker who had grown up in Saratoga, either. 

According to the award’s citation, however: “Had Captain Wilpers not acted with courage and initiative, Hideki Tojo would have succeeded in avoiding trial and possible execution for his acts.” 

The interview excited Chris Carola. “He was speaking to the press now,” he says while taking another sip of OJ. “I wondered if it was because of his age? Maybe the war was far enough behind him? It made me want to try to reach out again, try to get him to speak with me.”

That Summer, Chris was on vacation in Westport, MA with his brother Barry and his kids. They were staying at a waterfront rental house on Horseneck Beach. Plans for their return home changed a bit when news of a storm brewing hit. Chris decided to check out the other end of the beach before they left to head back to New York. 

He was wearing a khaki 2004 Saratoga Race Course giveaway baseball hat – the free ones they give out at the track during the meet. He watched an older guy make his way up the beach from the surf. The man collected his belongings and Chris laughed when he noticed the hat he was holding was the same one!

“Hey, you,” Chris called out. “Nice hat!” How ironic. The surfer told Chris his family had lived in Saratoga at one time, that they’d owned a couple of different businesses back in the day. Curious, Chris asked what the family name was. Believe it or not, the man replied ‘Wilpers.’

“Tell your old man I’m still pissed off at him for not talking to me about Tojo,” Chris half-kiddingly said.

Once the man introduced himself as John Wilpers, Chris realized they’d actually spoken on the phone in the early ‘90s. John had been the one to explain to the young reporter that his father was never willing to talk about the war – not even with family. 

They shook hands goodbye. John promised to tell his father about the random meeting on the beach, that Chris was going to call in a few days, that his dad needed to talk about the war with this man who’d been trying to get in touch for so many years.

Chris did get to speak with Wilpers after all. They talked on the phone two different times, on consecutive days, for about 90 minutes, but it was enough. I imagine the conversation was warm and open. I’d like to believe that both men spoke about heavy things – the capture and arrest of Tojo, the end of the war, heroism, for sure. Perhaps they also shared stories of family and loved ones, personal aspirations, and dreams of peace. 

“It was a job we were told to do and we did it,” he told Chris. “I just happened to be the one who busted open the door.” The words of a true, humble American hero.

Since April 2017, Chris has been giving one-hour presentations on Jack Wilpers – using family photos, Jack’s own wartime letters and WWII newspaper clippings to tell how a Saratogian helped capture one of WWII’s most hated figures. 

Among the places he has given the talk: The New York State Military Museum here in Saratoga, The Irish American Museum in Albany, Saratoga Central Catholic School, (formerly St. Peter’s, Jack’s alma mater,) and Fort Ticonderoga. He’s scheduled to give his talk at 7 p.m. Thursday,  April 23rd, at the Saratoga Springs History Museum in Canfield Museum in Congress Park.

Made from rugged, waterproof, high-performance Nomex fabric, these coats and pants are super strong.

Matt Varner, a 27-year veteran firefighter with the Schuyler Hose Company, is giving decommissioned personal protective equipment a second life by repurposing it into custom-made tool bags, backpacks and more. 

“We had an abundance of leftover gear and I said, ‘Give me a chance to see what we can do with this’”, said Varner.

2nd Due Turnout Accessories was born. 

Tried and True

With his mom’s help, in June 2019, Varner began making tool bags and donating them to his fellow firefighters to use on the job. 

“I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would be sewing and designing,” he said. 

People were happy with the products he made
and began asking him to create more items from their old gear. 

Now Varner makes just about anything imaginable.

Whether aprons and oven mitts standing up to the heat in the kitchen or as a backpack loaded up to get through a tough school day, when it comes to everyday use, this high-tech fabric is second-to-none.

“The durability of the fabric is the best part of it,” said Varner. 

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Statement-Making Styling

When it comes to creating new items, the distinctive emergency-gear style elements that make first-responders easy to recognize, like light-reflective striping, offer an array of design possibilities.

Varner’s designs cleverly incorporate features like these in everything from wallets to dog harnesses. Every bit of the original garment can be reimagined into something new: including zippers, pockets and even pant suspenders that are remade into pack straps. 

When requested, firefighters’ nameplates and numbers are given a place of honor on these pieces, as well.

“People are excited to see their gear and to be able to use it again on a regular basis as something new. It’s really cool to be able to do that,” said Varner.

Heavy-Duty Everyday

Officially launching his business in September, Varner’s work was mainly known only to others in the fire service until this winter when the 2nd Due Turnout Accessories Facebook page and shop was opened. 

Now, the public can order a variety of products online at reasonable prices, in an assortment of styles and colors. 

“This is a blue-collar product made for a blue-collar customer,” said Varner.

To find out more about what Varner is creating
or to place an order, find him on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/2ndDueTurnoutAccessories.

There’s something special about dining in the Adirondacks. 

Home to agricultural and culinary traditions that are deeply rooted – not only in the soil of our farmland but also in our heart and soul.  Regional chefs are known for drawing on the inspiration and imagination of nature’s bounty, creating dishes that pair flavors of local harvests for unique dining experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

Andy’s Adirondack Grille at Malta Ridge is a perfect example of dining in the Adirondacks, from the moment you step inside to sit at the bar with friends, to dine alone, or grab a few tables with family and children in tow. 

The walls are warm, knotty pine. Large picture windows let in plenty of sunlight.  Dining tables with charmingly mismatched chairs invite guests to sit down and enjoy a meal by the stone fireplace on a cold Winter’s day, or by windows in the porch area, located in the front section of the restaurant.

Once known as Bentley’s, Andy Bentley – the owner – renamed the restaurant a few years ago. Determined to consistently improve the quality of food and service provided to guests, he didn’t want it to be known only as Malta’s ‘pizza joint,’ either.

“I love the new name we decided on. I mean, we’re located in the Southern Adirondacks, stand in my parking lot and look North – beautiful! The place has the feel of the mountains, lakes and wildlife – everything that symbolizes the area. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Andy is married with two children – a boy and girl, eight and ten years old. He hopes they grow up to love the business. “They’ll have hands-on training here, that’s for sure,” he grins at the thought. “I think everyone should have to work in the restaurant business at some point in life. You learn a lot about people.”

Executive Chef Tina Marie Clements knew she wanted to be a chef as early as the sixth grade. She attended Johnson & Wales, earning degrees in both culinary and hotel/restaurant management. She’s well-known throughout the Capitol District as well, working at various establishments over her 30 years in the industry.

The time she spent working on Saratoga Lake, at Panza’s Restaurant, brings back sweet memories. “I learned so much while I was there. My hands-on training taught me more than any textbook ever could have,” Tina recalls. 

Whenever someone asks what brought her to Andy’s Adirondack Grille in May 2018, the chef laughs. “It was something new for me. And I wanted to work less, maybe just two or three shifts a week.” Tina chuckles. “It didn’t work out that way.” Instead, she fell in love with the restaurant and in helping Andy refine – not re-invent – the extensive menu already in place.   

The bartender makes every drink under the sun – we try a refreshingly tart, green apple martini, and a silky-smooth chocolate martini that feels more decadent with every sip. Not surprisingly, local craft beers are served here as well. Our pick, Adirondack Brewery Bare-Naked Ale, a medium-bodied amber ale with a toasty-fruity flavor. 

Tina’s Thai Shrimp is delectable, freshly grilled, tender, and tossed with a sweet-spicy glaze. It has a small green salad off to one side, a perfect-sized appetizer for two. 

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When our waitress, Lisa, walks over, presenting our next dish, we’re pretty sure we’ve died and gone to heaven. The menu’s Caldwell-style little-neck clams – simmered with chopped clams, white wine, garlic, and herbs tastes scrumptious, especially with the thick garlic toast-points we happily dip into the seasoned broth. 

“We always bring spoons with this dish,” she says. “People love to empty the bowl – spoons are easier than slurping.”

Later, when we grab a few moments to visit with Chef Tina, we ask what’s in the Caldwell broth, there’s a flavor that we can’t quite place. She grins, shaking her head back and forth. “Now, now,” she laughs. “I can’t give away all my secrets.” 

If you’re in the mood for handcrafted, gourmet pizza, this restaurant serves three sizes and six varieties. There’s a selection of flavorful toppings listed on the menu. We choose ‘The Godfather,’ a combination of grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, prosciutto ham – topped with fresh basil, a savory balsamic glaze, and white crust. 

Andy’s Adirondack Grille serves four soups every day. White clam chowder, a soup-of-the-day, a savory French onion, and a lobster and shrimp combo. We choose the French onion – a hearty beef-based broth layered with bubbling Swiss cheese that’s melted and oozing over the sides of each crock. 

Don’t judge me when I say we made sure to eat every bit of cheese!

With seasonal menu changes – some heartier choices are now available. One of them, known as Prime Rib Day, is offered on Wednesdays. Guests can order three different sizes. 

Are you kidding?

The slab of marbled meat is thick and juicy. It cuts easily and is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Tina hand-cuts onions into super-thin slices, breading and frying them to serve alongside the rib. It comes with a side of horseradish sauce and au jus gravy. 

Not just the décor has an Adirondack feel, but the menu also… with choices like Cedar River Chicken Parmesan, Minerva Chicken Marsala, Friend’s Lake Alfredo, Long Lake Lasagna, and Sagamore Pasta, you get the full experience. Never forgetting they’re located in Saratoga, (just off Exit 13N, minutes from downtown) their nod to the track is the delicious ‘Whirlaway’ Chicken, which honors an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse who won the US triple crown in 1941. Tina cooks a panko crusted chicken breast, drizzles a maple Dijon sauce with Applewood smoked bacon over the top, then serves it on a bed of fluffy rice seasoned to perfection – divine!

Vegetables at Andy’s are fresh, perfectly cooked and delicious – we dig into mashed potatoes, grilled carrots, peppers, and colorful, buttery squash. 

During our time here, tables fill up with couples, families with teenagers, others with small children. We catch snippets of conversation and laughter around us as we end with dessert – a rich and creamy vanilla pumpkin parfait with more than a hint of cinnamon whipped cream– just like our moms would’ve made. The mingling of voices makes it sound very homey here – as if there are no strangers under this roof.

“We love kids,” Andy tells us. “It’s nice to serve families. Listening to them chat over lunch or dinner is a pleasure. As you can see, we have crayons and paper for the little ones to color with while they wait.” 

We watch as Tina walks from table to table. Even Andy is out on the floor, visiting with guests – most they know by name – making sure everything’s to their liking. “Every guest is our favorite,” he tells us when he comes over to say good night. 

We leave the restaurant feeling full, carrying doggie bags to the car, promising ourselves we’ll be back soon.

It takes some pretty amazing villagers to purchase a burned-out, mid-1800s building and restore it to its original splendor. But that’s exactly what happened in the case of the Vischer Ferry General Store, located at 357 Riverview Road, Rexford. 

After fire swept through the structure in 2013, three local couples—Paul and Joanne Coons, George and Karan Donohue, and Louise and Tom McManus—banded together to purchase the building, comprised of a store and two apartments, and renovate it in a historically accurate and energy efficient manner.

Each of the couples had a personal interest in resurrecting the damaged structure. Louise and Tom McManus live in the historic home to the left of it, the Donohues in the gray farmhouse to the right, and Paul and Joanne Coons have a passion for purchasing historically significant homes and restoring them to their former glory. In fact, they once owned and refurbished the 19th century Greek revival residence that the McManuses now call home. 

“The fire enabled us to see all the original features that had long been hidden behind sheetrock walls, drop-ceilings, and carpeted floor,” says Louise McManus, who now owns and operates the general store portion of the building. “The newer features took the brunt of the fire damage and protected the historic materials. Incredibly, we were able to salvage and refinish most of the original floor planks throughout the building. Replacement boards were sourced from an old barn in Fort Plain.”

Although Louise had never specifically dreamed of owning her own business, she had always aspired to do something creative. When her 10-year career at a Saratoga bridal shop wound down just as the renovation project was materializing, she found herself intrigued by the creative opportunities that might come of bringing an old-time general store back to modern-day Vischer Ferry. In its heyday, the store had been a gathering spot for locals and a popular stop for canallers along the Erie Canal. Given its proximity to the 740-acre Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve, Louise believed that the store could once again become a popular stop for visitors as well as a vibrant community hub for local residents. 

“I’ve always enjoyed curating merchandise,” Louise says, “and I loved the idea of bringing food and retail together.” Each month, she arranges special onsite events like an evening pizza truck, a Saturday outdoor antique market, or a Lebanese afternoon tea. 

Louise’s creative flare is further showcased in her stunning seasonal and holiday displays, both in-store and throughout the grounds. “I love decorating—especially the truck!” she says, referring to the green,1950 Studebaker pickup truck parked out front to welcome visitors to her establishment. 

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The Vischer Ferry General Store is well-known for its scrumptious breakfast sandwich, distinctive beverages, and mouthwatering baked goods. “Our menu varies daily,” says employee Jenna Batchelder, who does some of the cooking and baking, “and we’re always trying new things.” 

Popular items include challah bread French toast, soups, salads, sandwiches, crustless quiches, and wraps. And check out the made-from-scratch sweet treats like sea salt milk chocolate chip cookies, chocolate pecan pie, and maple bacon scones! Gluten-free options are always available.

Property co-owner George Donohue is the kitchen’s head chef. “I’ll find a new recipe online and try it, then play with it, adjusting it ‘til I get it right. Our customers give us ideas, too,” he adds. “We’re always open to suggestions.” 

George, a retired 40-year automobile mechanic, enjoys making people happy. “In my old job, I’d hand someone a $500 repair bill and they’d leave unhappy. Here,” he grins, “I give them a $10 meal, and they leave happy. It’s nice to be on the other end.” 

Louise credits George for locating the store’s crowd-pleasing Studebaker. “One day I told George that I’d really love to have an old green pickup truck parked in front of the store. A day or so later, he walked in and told me he’d found us the perfect truck!” 

One of George’s contacts from his many years as a mechanic not only graciously lent Louise her dream vehicle but allowed her to detail it with the store’s name and catchy slogan: Gather, Shop, Eat. 

In addition to food, the Vischer Ferry General Store carries a distinctive line of gift and souvenir items. A tinier shop out back, christened The Shed, also houses an eclectic array of vintage gifts and curios. In fair weather, four cruising bikes can be found parked nearby. 

“We added the bikes last June,” Louise says.
“We encourage our visitors to enjoy a nice bike ride, explore the preserve, then stop back afterwards for a bite to eat. Our staff is always happy to offer suggestions on where to go or what to do.”

When asked if her initial goals for the store have been realized, Louise McManus beams. “Realized and exceeded! The positive response from our customers and the community has been overwhelming and heartwarming. Looking ahead, I hope to collaborate with even more local business owners and bring in many more special events. The possibilities are endless.” 

Vischer Ferry General Store hours: Thursday & Friday, 8-5; Saturday & Sunday, 8-3. To learn more, visit www.vischerferrygeneralstore.com. 

People who suffer from Parkinson’s disease often struggle with tremors, facial stiffness, slurred speech or difficulties with movement. While the disease is considered incurable and progressive, these symptoms can possibly be alleviated with aerobic exercise and physical therapy focused on balance and stretching.

One of the best ways to maintain a discipline for these exercises is to keep moving with activities such as swimming, boxing or attending a weekly class, such as Dance through Parkinson’s held at the National Museum of Dance every Tuesday afternoon.

“It helps a lot,” said Fred, who’s been coming for about six months to the class as well as attending twice weekly physical therapy sessions in Scotia.

Donald, another Tuesday attendee, has been coming through the summer, said his caregiver Marilyn.

“I take him to a lot of classes,” she said. “If I didn’t, he’d sit home watching television.”

Leading the class is Rachelle Smith-Stallman, a dancer and dance therapist, with a Master’s in Dance/ Movement Therapy from Hunter College, who got involved about six years ago when a cousin and a friend of her husband’s got Parkinson’s.

“It broke my heart,” Smith-Stallman said. “I decided to volunteer and do a dance class.”

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Albany had a Parkinson’s group and the response to her participation was so immediate that she decided to do four to five classes. That’s when she learned about the Dance for Parkinson program that Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group founded in 2001. Dancers were trained to explore movement through different types of music to enhance a participant’s strength, flexibility, and balance for awareness and confidence. The program is now in more than 250 communities and 25 countries. 

Smith-Stallman trained with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Juilliard School in Brooklyn to become Board Certified in Dance Movement. She also recently completed another class. “It’s fantastic!” Smith-Stallman said.

Two years ago, she began giving Thursday classes at Colonie’s Ciccotti Center (30 Aviation Road) and in January 2018 she began the Tuesday sessions at the Dance Museum. While her Thursday classes are large, at 20-30 people, which also includes caregivers and friends, her Tuesday classes are small, at under ten people.

Despite size, she likes to theme her classes. A recent Tuesday class focused on the music of famous television programs. “It’s a dance class. We warm up in chairs, then on to standing with plies and then improvisation and dance sequences across the floor. For those who can’t stand, they are encouraged to join along by using arms and legs while sitting.” she said. “We really have a good time. It’s fun.”

The classes are free, although donations are accepted. 

Tuesday classes are at 1:30 p.m. for an hour at the
National Museum of Dance (99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs).
Call 518-584-2225, ex. 3001; DanceMuseum.org.
Thursday classes are at 1:30 p.m. for 75 minutes at the Ciccotti Center. Call 518-867-8920; www.CiccottiCenter.org.

I have the honor of representing more veterans in my district than any other district in New York State. With this honor comes a huge responsibility. Whether it is introducing and supporting legislation that will protect and serve them, or helping them resolve issues through veterans-focused casework – I am always looking for opportunities to serve our veterans and make a difference in their lives, as they have made an incalculable difference in each of our lives. 

I want to share a truly heartwarming story with you that I was lucky enough to play a small part in.  Mr. Henry “Chief” Bates Jr. is a 92-year-old World War II Veteran and former longtime Fire Chief in Cambridge, NY. Henry had been trying for three years to obtain a headstone for his friend Mr. Leo Vuori, who was also a World War II Veteran. Leo passed away after returning from the war and was buried in an unmarked grave in Woodlands Cemetery in Cambridge.

Leo has no relatives that Henry could find, and when he found out Leo was buried in an unmarked grave, he was deeply upset. Henry and Leo had been friends since their high school days in Cambridge, and Henry rightfully felt his friend’s legacy as a soldier and friend was not being properly honored in an unmarked grave. 

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Henry’s son, Timothy Bates, reached out to my office in January of this year asking for help in obtaining a headstone for his father’s friend. After three whole years of working their way through the system, they were discouraged and pessimistic that they would ever be able to honor Leo’s life. We immediately sent a Congressional Inquiry to the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) and asked them to review and expedite the application for a headstone. NCA requested further information, so my office worked with the Washington County VSA, the Village Clerk of Cambridge, the Superintendent of Woodlands Cemetery, and Henry and Timothy to obtain all the relevant details needed. 

My office resubmitted the completed application to NCA on February 14, 2019. Just six days later, on February 20, we were notified that the application had been approved and the upright marble headstone for Leo would be delivered to Woodlands Cemetery within 45-60 days. After many long years, World War II Veteran Leo Vuori will finally receive the proper and long-overdue recognition that he deserves. 

A 92-year-old World War II Veteran should not have to spend his time working through bureaucracy for three years just to get his fellow veteran and friend a proper gravesite. I was honored that Mr. Henry Bates Jr. and his son reached out to my office and gave us the opportunity to help him fulfill a long-time wish to honor his friend. Speaking to Henry on the phone to notify him that we had secured a headstone for Leo was a powerful moment for the both of us. I am incredibly blessed to have a job that allows me to help veterans and change their lives for the better, because doing work like this also changes my life for the better. I look forward to continuing my commitment and advocacy for veterans across my district for many years to come. 

If you are struggling with an issue that you think my office can help with, do not hesitate to reach out.

Glens Falls: 518-743-0964
Plattsburgh: 518-561-2324
Watertown: 315-782-3150
Washington, D.C.: 202-225-4611

Perhaps you (or your children) remember when life was all about the mall. Shopping, eating, watching movies, meeting up with friends.

The mall was where it was at from the 1970s through the late 1990s. Malls were a key focal point of public life. Like downtowns across the United States, malls brought people together by offering us the things we love: food,

entertainment, things to buy. They gave us space to walk, to sit, to read, to browse, to eat, and to shop.

Online shopping and Internet marketing changed our buying habits in the early years of the 21st century. Malls and their traditional retail anchors struggled as a result. The loss of two retail anchors – Sears and the Bon Ton – along with the closing of such popular stores as Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe at the Wilton Mall are signs of that struggle.

Farmers markets meanwhile have proliferated, as Americans have begun to seek healthy foods grown, raised, and made locally. The crowds that throng High Rock Park on Saturdays in the summers for Saratoga’s oldest and most established farmers’ market are evidence of that.

Now, the market and the mall are joining forces. During this holiday season and into the winter, the Wilton Mall will host the Saratoga Farmers’ Market for its indoor season. The market moves indoors on Saturday, November 2, and will operate at the mall from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Saturday through April.

The partnership marks a transformation for both the market and the mall.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market was established in 1978, as a summer outdoor market. It evolved into a year-round market in the late 1990s, and currently offers produce, meats, eggs, artisanal cheeses, milk, and a wide array of prepared foods and crafts throughout the winter.

But the market, like the mall, has had its share of struggles, particularly in establishing a home for its winter season. As Sandy Arnold of the market’s Pleasant Valley Farm recounts, the market began its winter season first at the Waldorf School, then the Salvation Army building in downtown Saratoga. It quickly outgrew the space at the Salvation Army and moved to the Division Street Elementary School in 2009. School rules prevented the market from staying at that locale, so it moved in the winter of 2013 to the Lincoln Baths Building at the Saratoga Spa State Park where it operated until last spring. Each of these locales presented challenges in terms of vendor space, accessibility, and parking.

The mall changes that. 

“A bus travels twice an hour from downtown Saratoga, Skidmore, and points in between to the market entrance,” says Emily Meagher, market manager. “Entrances and restrooms all are handicapped accessible, and there’s free WI-FI provided by the mall, as well.”

Mike Schaffer, manager of the Wilton Mall, noted that while malls and markets often appear quite different from one another, they also can be quite complementary. “The market board approached us because they needed space,” he said. “We have available space and are thrilled to have them here for the season.”

To visit the Saratoga Farmers’ Market during the holiday season, drive up Route 50 to the mall, or take the bus. Pull in or disembark near the main entrance. From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., you will find Christmas trees, wreaths, and kissing balls from Charles Holub of Scotch Ridge Farm arranged artfully on the lawn outside. Nearby will be Trish Nusbaum’s Food Florist truck and wood-fired pizza from a new vendor. Enter the doors and a bounty of fresh seasonal vegetables, eggs, meats, milk, prepared foods, and other locally grown, raised and made items await.

The market stretches between the DMV to the reflecting pool near Bath & Body Works, with vendor stalls weaving in and out of such mall retailers as the Shoe Depot, American Eagle Outfitters, Kay Jewelers, and Balsam & Birch Adirondack Accessories. Hot dishes will be available for onsite eating or take-out from Euro Delicacies, Daily Fresh, Petra Pocket Pies, Giovanni Fresco, and many others. 

Skylights bring natural light to the vendor tables. In between are chairs and tables, free Wi-Fi, and an opportunity to also shop at Healthy Living Market, which already offers products from many Saratoga farmers. Both the mall and the market are looking forward to creating joint activities with the market through the winter.

“It will be a different experience for the market and for our loyal base of customers,” says market board president Beth Trattel. “But it’s giving us the opportunity to work with the mall to repurpose community space and create something new.”