$2.95

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@NNYLivingMag FASHIONA look at this fall’s trends and colors

FOODWarm your home with roast chicken

FEATURESLocal bands develop sounds all their own

TRAVELDiscover history,

horses in Saratoga

Vol. 2 No. 6 nnyliving.com

OCT. / NOV. 2013

Local music scene hits a

high note{p. 30}

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>> Inside OCT /NOV ’13

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| COVER STORY |32 PIANO PROWESSFrom Cape Vincent to Potsdam, piano opportunities for young people are plentiful in NNY. | FOLKLORE |14 FAMILY FANFAREHarrisville’s Fraser family is a folk music powerhouse. | HEALTH & WELLNESS |16 TOGETHER FOR HEALTH Rural communities need tofight obesity pandemic as one. 18 TAKE THE FIRST STEPAmerican Heart Association’s BetterU campaign is helping 11 women improve heart health.

| DESTINATION |22 SUMPTUOUS SPA CITYSaratoga packs history, art music and outdoor adventure. | HISTORY |26 BENEATH THE SURFACEGreen Lake is one of New York’s six meromictic lakes. | THIS IS NNY |28 ROCKING FOR A CAUSEWhen others need help, the north country strums a tune. | FEATURES |34 THIS MUSIC WON’T DIEThe Orchestra of Northern New York has been a vibrant cultural gem for 25 years.

37 A MAN OF PASSIONWHS music director Russell J. Faunce inspires excellence.

42 NO AVERAGE TEACHERSThe story behind the “Eds” in local band Fred and the Eds.

45 AN AMBITIOUS AGENDARock band Wagner’s Agenda is building quite the buzz.

| FASHION | 48 FALL TRENDS, COLORSWhat you must know, have in ’13 for a lasting impression.

| FOOD | 52 A SIMPLE ROAST CHICKENRoast chicken with vegetables makes an easy, versatile dish.

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Chairman of the BoardJohn B. Johnson Jr.

PuBlishersJohn B. Johnson

Harold B. Johnson II

VP news oPerationsTimothy J. Farkas

magazine editorKenneth J. Eysaman

magazine staff writerLeah Buletti

PhotograPhyNorm Johnston, Justin Sorensen,

Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

magazine adVertising managerMatthew Costantino

slC adVertising direCtorTammy Beaudin

ad graPhiCs, designBrian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules, Rick Gaskin

CirCulation direCtorMary Sawyer

NNY Living (ISSN 2165-1159) is published six times a year by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St.,

Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2011-2013. All material

submitted to NNY Living becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp.,

publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

suBsCriPtion ratesSix issues are $10 a year and

12 issues are $15 for two years.Call 315-782-1000 for delivery.

suBmissionsSend all editorial correspondence to

keysaman@wdt.net

adVertisingFor advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email

mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 661-2305In St. Lawrence County, e-mail

tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 661-2512

Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y.a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

MARKETP LACE

CONTR I BUTORS

Justin Sorensen is a Johnson Newspapers photographer. For this issue’s cover shot, he caught the reflection of a young pianist during the Thousand Islands Interna-tional Piano Competition for Young People in Cape Vincent last month.

Leah Buletti is a staff writer for NNY Magazines. In this issue’s cover story, she writes about the many opportunities youths have for classical piano. She also writes about a wide range of music and those who perform in the north country. (p. 32)

Michelle Graham is the wellness director for the downtown YMCA. She lives in Watertown. She writes about the importance of garnering support from the entire community to promote healthy lifestyles, diet and exercise to combat high obesity rates. (p. 16)

Lenka P. Walldroff is a former museum specialist, conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and curator of col-lections for the Jefferson County Historical Society. She writes about the history preserved in New York’s six rare, beautiful meromictic lakes. (p. 26)

Varick Chittenden is thefounding director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and a SUNY Canton professor emeritus. In ‘Modern Folklore,’ he tells the story of the Fraser family, north country folk musicians who recorded an album in 2010. (p. 14)

Katie Stokes is a blogger and freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield with her husband and two young children. She runs the blog www.nnylife.com. In ‘The NNY Life,’ she provides fun, creative strategies to keep children occupied during long road trips. (p. 20)

Boo Wells is a chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. She provides instructions for a simple roast chicken stuffed with fresh garden vegetables, a perfect and versatile fall dish. (p. 52)

Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Sackets Harbor. In her debut column, she writes about fall fashion trends for 2013. (p. 48)

A Cozzi & Co. ................................................ 46Adirondack Scenic Railroad ....................... 21Allen’s Liquors and Wines ............................ 51AmeriCU Credit Union .................................... 2Behling Orchards .......................................... 39Budget Blinds ................................................ 24Burrville Cider Mill ......................................... 21Dr. Vincent Cesario, DDS ............................. 17Clayton Opera House .................................. 38Community Performance Series ................. 32Cornell Cooperative Extension .................... 24Crouse Hospital............................................... 5David A. Card ............................................... 27DANC ............................................................... 7Dr. William Dingman ..................................... 17Farm House Kitchen ..................................... 35Feed the Soul Nutrition ................................. 17First Class Auto Glass.................................... 55Fuccillo Automotive ..................................... 55Howard Orthotics .......................................... 17Innovative Physical Therapy ....................... 17JCC Women’s Organization ........................ 19Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors .......................................... 12Jojo’s Purrs N Paws ....................................... 25Karla’s Christmas Shoppe ............................ 44Ken Piarulli ..................................................... 25Little Barn Bulk Foods .................................... 35Mary Kay Cosmetics .................................... 17MJL Crushing ................................................. 27Morgia Masonry............................................ 27

NNY Business ................................................... 6NNY Living.com ............................................ 51NNY Community Foundation ....................... 15North Country Paving ................................... 27Nortz & Virkler Ford ....................................... 55Gerald A. Nortz ............................................. 55Number One Speed ..................................... 55Orchestra of NNY .......................................... 39Pain Solutions Management........................ 17Phinney’s Automotive .................................. 55Redfox Construction ..................................... 27Reinman’s Department Store....................... 33Ren Rumble ................................................... 27River Day Spa and Salon ............................. 17River Hospital ................................................ 19River Rat Cheese .......................................... 39River Wellness Center ................................... 17Robert’s Automotive ..................................... 55Rusty Johnson Masonry................................ 27Stratton Hardware LTD .................................. 36Three C Limousine ........................................ 56Waite Motor Sports ....................................... 13Waite Toyota ................................................ 53Watertown Auto Repair ............................... 55Watertown Daily Times ................................. 54Watertown Family YMCA ............................ 17Waterbury Fine Jewelers ................................ 8Watertown Savings Bank ............................. 47Watertown Spring & Alignment ................... 55Wratten Trailer Sales ..................................... 46WWTI TV 50 ..................................................... 11

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NOV. 5 • NOV. 21 • DEC. 3 • DEC. 19

| THE INTERVIEW |40 MUSIC INNOVATORCrane School of Music Dean Michael R. Sitton on how Crane attracts the cream of the music crop and stays abreast of the changing musical marketplace.

| DEPARTMENTS |

9 UPFRONT 8 BEST BETS 9 CALENDAR12 SOCIAL SCENE22 36 HOURS IN ...

26 HISTORY28 THIS IS NNY52 FOOD54 MY NNY

| COLUMNS |

6 EDITOR’S NOTE14 MODERN FOLKLORE

18 WELLNESS 20 THE NNY LIFE

| ABOUT THE COVER |

For our cover photo, photographer Justin Sorensen captured the reflection of Benjamin Gittens, 17, Cincininnati, warming up before playing in the 11th annual Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People in Cape Vincent in September, in which 15 young pianists performed. Justin used a Nikon D700 with a 60mm lens, 320 ISO, f/2.8.

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Ken Eysaman

EDITOR’S NOTE

IN OUR NEXT I SSUE

In our December/January issue we present ultimate winter getaways. We’ve found 13 places in NNY and beyond that will keep

you sane when the days are short and dark.

Also coming in December/January: n LAST-MINUTE GIFTING: With just two weeks to go before Christmas, we have a few ideas that are guaranteed to please. n DESTINATION BUFFALO/NIAGARA: We travel to New York’s second-most populous city in search of a cure for the winter blues.

n WINTER FUN: Winter is right around the corner. Don’t miss our guide to must-do events to help you plan ahead. n PLUS: Social Scene, Modern Folklore, Arts, Food, Wine, Wellness, The NNY Life, History, Homes, My NNY and Today’s Gardener. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for updates at @NNYLivingMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NNYLiving. Catch exclusive previews and unique content on our website at www.NNYLiving.com.

IN THIS, OUR MUSIC ISSUE, YOU’LL FIND a wide range of features about music and the people who perform across the north country. From our conversation with Michael R. Sitton, dean of the internationally acclaimed Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, to a look at how Watertown High School music director Russell J. “Russ” Faunce inspires excellence in his students to the story behind the band after 17 years of local favorite Fred & the Eds, we cover ground that you might not expect. We also spend some time with the Orchestra of Northern New York and its veteran conductor, Ken-neth B. Andrews, a Crane professor who’s led the group since it started 25 years ago. Now in its 26th season, ONNY continues to delight audiences with performances of classical mas-terpieces that rival big-city ensembles. And, as if that’s not enough, we introduce you to Wagner’s Agenda, a band that came together after the death of a friend and musi-cian. Known for lively and energetic shows, we learn from current band members exactly what keeps them going. Finally, in our cover story, which begins on page 30, staff writer Leah Buletti looks at classical piano oppor-tunities that have grown in recent years for youths, including an annual competition in Cape Vincent that draws talent from as far away as South America and China. Also this month, Lynn Pietroski debuts a fashion feature in time for this fall’s colors and trends. Lynn heads to Sackets Harbor with local model Katie Machia to show off some of this year’s best threads.

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SOCIAL SCENE — This issue’s Social Scene section, which begins on page 12, features nearly two-dozen faces from about as many

organizations. On Aug. 24, we joined the River Hospital Foundation for The Gala at Boldt Castle: An evening of French elegance on Heart Island. Congratulations to the foundation on a successful and classy event that raised $41,425 in a single night to benefit River Hospital’s River Community Wellness Program. On Sept. 18, we joined the Sacred Heart Foundation for its 40th Annual Benefit Dinner at Hilton Garden Inn. Nearly 300 people turned out to support the foundation that helps those who are studying to become missionaries of the Sacred Heart pay for their education.

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BEST OF NNY — We close to revealing details on our series of seasonal “bests” that will culminate in an annual “Best of NNY” edi-tion next year. Later this month, we will share information on how you can help us pick some of the finest that Northern New York has to offer in a variety of categories. Keep checking in with us online at nnyliving.com or visit our Facebook page for updates.

n n n

THE NNY LIVING CHANNEL — NNY Living magazine has entered the video age. When photographer Justin Sorensen went to photo-graph Chef Boo Wells’ mouth-watering roast chicken for this issue, we sent Leah with video equipment. For some time, we’ve talked about shooting video to complement several of our regular features and food seemed like the best place to start. We look forward to developing future content that will enrich your experi-ence, no matter what the platform. Mean-while, visit nnyliving.com/?p=3323 to learn how Chef Wells manages to create a tasty roast chicken. I will warn you, though, that if you aren’t hungry now you will be at the end of the video.

Warm regards,

Savethe date.

20 UNDER 40 NORTHERN NEW YORK’S

EMERGING LEADERS

Join us for a luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown,

from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, to recognize the 2012 Class of 20 Under 40.

Look for profi les of this year’s class in December’s

issue of NNY Business.RSVP to Editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net by noon,

Wednesday, Dec. 4. Luncheon is $18 and includes a house salad, fresh baked rolls, cranberry and walnut

stuffed chicken with sage infused cream sauce, red skin potatoes, green beans,

N.Y.-style cheescake with raspberry sauce and coffee, tea, decaf or water. Vegetarian option is available. Need

a hotel room the night before? Mention the 20 Under 40 event for a discount.

www.nnybizmag.com

Sponsored by:

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[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ]

www.NorthCountryRecycles.org

Your Regional Recycling Resource A partnership of the

Development Authority of the North Country and

Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence Counties.

Canton band releases CD Canton-based Waydown Wailers, which performed its first gig at the Made in New York festival in Sackets Harbor in 2011, had its first album released by Woodstock Records, Woodstock, in early September. The album, “State of the Union,” was dis-tributed digitally to online outlets includ-ing Amazon and iTunes prior to its national release. The band’s style has been described as a combination of blues, rock and Ameri-cana. It self describes its style as outlaw jam rock and song’s lyrics range from present day observations of national happenings to past relationships. The title song on “State of the Union” refers to a country that has lost its pride. Members of Waydown Wailers are: Michael R. “Scruffy” Scriminger, drum-mer, David Parker, rhythm and lead guitar, mandolin and vocals, his brother Christian on rhythm and lead guitar and Conner Pelkey, bass and backing vocals. The eight-track album is available on amazon.com.

Seaway Trail publishes guide Sackets-Harbor based Great Lakes Sea-way Trail tourism has published a travel guide that focuses on War of 1812 historic sites in New York and Pennsylvania. “Waterways of War: The War of 1812” by Steve Benson and Ron Toelke is a 72-page, full-color guide to the battlegrounds stretching from Plattsburgh in northeastern New York to the shores of Lake Erie in western Pennsylvania. The book provides insight into the key battles fought on American and Canadian

soil as well as on the strategic waterways separating the two countries. It is sold at historic sites along the Seaway Trail and through www.seawaytrail.com. It is a companion to the guidebook the group published in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War.

Frederic Remington Art Museum presents awards The Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St., Ogdensburg, has awarded the 2013 Public’s Choice Award to Denny Morreale for his 2011 work Raurri at the Sandbanks following the 2012 Mem-bers’ Juried Art Exhibition that ran from mid-May to early September. Mr. Morreale received a framed print of Frederic Remington’s 1890 painting, Antoine’s Cabin. The award was based on votes by the public in person or online during the exhi-bition, which was open to any artist who is also a member of the museum. It included 49 works of art by 44 artists. Juror Gregg Fedchak also selected the following prize winners at the opening of the exhibit: John Elwood Cook for Ice House, 3rd place; Lutz Scherneck for Two Fish Blue Pond, 2nd place; Judy Andrus Toporcer for Rear Window, best in show. Three paintings were also sold during the show, with one third of the proceeds benefiting the museum and two thirds go-ing to the artist. The museum opened its 2013 Interna-tional Juried Art Exhibit in late September. The exhibit is open to artists within 100 miles of Ogdensburg and can be viewed online at www.fredericremington.org. The Frederic Remington Art Museum was founded in 1923 is home to an ac-

claimed and comprehensive collection of original Remington paintings, sketches, sculptures and personal artifacts.

Watertown native directing narrative film Watertown native Colin L. Riendeau is directing a narrative short film, “The Fish,” this fall in Montreal. A veteran film direc-tor, this is his first narrative short film. It tells the story of “Jimmy and his unlucky adventures into the underground world of illegal betta fish fighting when by chance he ends up with a prize winning fish that he bought in a pet store.” The film is sched-uled to be released in June. Mr. Riendeau graduated from film school at Concordia University, Montreal, in June. He is a 2007 graduate of Watertown High School and is president and founder of No Water Studios, www.nowaterstudios.com. Mr. Riendeau, who is best known in the north country for his documentary film “Las Mil Mascaras,” a coming of age story about a group of Watertown teenagers who travel to Mexico to build houses for the impoverished inhabitants of Tijuana, has worked on “The Kidnapping,” which was screened at the 2011 Montreal Interna-tional Film Festival and “It’s All About the Music,” which was broadcast on CBC in August 2010.

SLC Arts Council selling 2014 calendars The St. Lawrence County Arts Council is selling 2014 calendars featuring the fine art of local artists for $12. The “Fine Art Up North” calendars can be purchased online at www.slcartscouncil.org and will ship this month.

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T HE M ARK O F A P ROFESSIONAL

J EWELER Jewelers of America, Inc.

T OP O F T HE S QUARE 105 C OURT S T .

W ATERTOWN , NY 788-5287

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ]BEST BETS

n Haunted Walk of Sackets Harbor, Sackets Harbor Battlefield, Hill Street. Tours leave approximately ev-ery 15 minutes, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday is children’s night, with trick-or-treating at each stop from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn about the dark secrets of Sackets Harbor, includ-ing ghosts, graves, bloody battles and a mansion’s mysterious presence. Rain or shine. Admission: $5; high school or younger, $3. More information: www.facebook.com/HauntedWalkOfSacketsHarbor.

n Holiday Festival, 7:30 p.m., Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. The Orchestra of Northern New York will celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year with a special concert of classics, including White Christmas, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. The audience will be able to join along in the singing of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from

CLAYTON

n Rocky Horror Picture Show, 9 p.m., Clayton Op-era House, 518 Riverside Drive. The rock and roll classic and the longest running film in history comes to the Opera House for the first time. Sponsored by Music for the Mission and Community Broadcasters. Tickets: $10 at the door. Show benefits the Water-town Urban Mission. More information: www.clayto-noperahouse.com or 686-2200.

Messiah and other selected carols. Features the Potsdam Community Chorus under the direction of Tammara Madeja and the Northern Choral Soci-ety under the direction of Sara Gleason. Tickets: $22, www.onny.org or 267-3251.

n Halestorm, 8 p.m., McVean Gymnasium, Jeffer-son Community College. Local band Lake Effect Mud will open for heavy metal band, Halestorm, which won its first Grammy Award in February 2013 in the Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance category for its song “Love Bites (So Do I)” from its 2012 album “The Strange Case Of…” The Pennsylvania-based band also released two other albums in 2012, “Hello It’s Mz Hyde” and “Re-AniMate.” The band is composed of siblings Are-jay and Lzzy Hale, Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith. Tickets: $35; JCC students, $20. To purchase in advance: www.sunyjefferson.edu, “Tickets Box Office” tab under Quick Links, or 786-2431.

WATERTOWNSATURDAY, NOV. 16

POTSDAM

n Street Beat, 7:45 p.m., George Hall Auditorium, Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State St. A pro-duction of urban rhythm using household items for drums and percussion similar to “Stomp.” Featuring hip-hop moves, break dance acrobatics and African, Cuban, Latin and jazz influences. Tickets: $14-37. Box office: 393-2625 or www.ilovetheatre.org.

OGDENSBURGSUNDAY, NOV. 3

n Holiday Shopper’s Poker Run, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., participating businesses in Clayton, Cape Vincent, Alexandria Bay, Watertown and Depauville. Hand in cards at O’Brien’s Restaurant, Clayton, at 5 p.m. Live auction, free snacks and entertainment. Proceeds benefit local food pantries. More information and list of participating businesses: www.1000islands-clay-ton.com or 686-3771.

SACKETS HARBOR

SATURDAY, NOV. 30

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

FRIDAY, DEC. 13

THURSDAY, OCT. 24 TO SUNDAY, OCT.27

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[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ]

TELL US ABOUT IT — Have an event you’d like to include in NNY Living? Email us at NNYLiving@WDT.net with the details or visit www.NNYLiving.com and click Events.

CALENDAR

ADAMSSATURDAY, NOV. 16

n South Jeff Taste of the Town, 6 to 9 p.m., Adams Fire Hall, 4 N. Main St. Enjoy a taste of food prepared by some of Six Town’s best chefs and cooks. Sponsored by South Jeff Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Ad-ams Revitalization Committee. $15 admission benefits the Adams Volunteer Fire Department and the South Jeff Rescue Squad. Information: www.southjeffchamber.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 30n South Jeff Christmas Parade, 4 p.m., downtown Ad-ams. Parade theme “Home for the Holidays.” Village Christmas tree lighting in Veterans Memorial Park follow-ing parade. Parade applications: www.southjeffcham-ber.org. Information: 232-4215. Rain date: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.

CANTONWEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

& WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20n Living Writers Series, 6:30 p.m., Kingston Theater, SUNY Canton. Melissa Febos, author of the memoir Whip Smart and assistant professor of creative writing at Monmouth University and MFA faculty at Sarah Lawrence College and the Institute of American Indian Arts, will speak on Oct. 30. Chris Fink, author of the Midwestern Gothic Farmer’s Almanac and professor at Beloit College in Wisc., will speak on Nov. 20. Lectures are free and open to the public. Information: www.canton.edu/writers.

SUNDAY, NOV. 10n SLU University Chorus fall concert: A Hymn Sing, 2 p.m., Gunnison Memorial Chapel, St. Lawrence Univer-sity. Hymns and chorales in their original a cappella form along with arrangements and extended works based on hymns. Free admission. Information: 229-5171.

CLAYTON

SATURDAY, OCT. 26n Tunes for Turkeys Revue 2013, 7 p.m., Clayton Op-era House. Featuring electric blues band Lisa Vee & The Roosevelts, Erin Greene, Bev Azar and Sam Hopkins & His All Friends Band. All proceeds benefit local food pantry in Clayton. Tickets: $15. Box office: 686-2200 or www.claytonoperahouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6n Putting it Together, 7 p.m., Clayton Opera House. A musical review celebrating the songs of Stephen Sondheim. Tickets: Adults, $12; seniors, active mili-tary and children, $10. Box office: 686-2200 or www.claytonoperahouse.com.

FRIDAY, NOV. 15n Ballroom dancing with Tom & Maria Cesta, 7 to 10 p.m., Clayton Opera House. Cosmopolitan Club members Tom and Maria Cesta sponsor a series of ballroom dance lessons and open dancing open to everyone regardless of skill level. Dancing lessons 7 p.m., open dancing 8 p.m. Tickets: $10. Information: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

MONDAY, NOV. 18 TO FRIDAY, DEC. 27n Festival of Trees, Thousand Islands Museum. Stop into the museum to vote for your favorite tree deco-

rated by local businesses, groups and families. Bas-ket raffles with items including River Rate Cheese and Coyote Moon Vineyards products, small Christmas trees decorated by local artisans to benefit the mu-seum and an original painting by local artist Faye Ingerson. Donations of $1 to add a name in remem-brance or honor of a loved one to the Memorial Tree. Information: 686-5794 or www.timuseum.org.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20n Jekyll and Hyde, 7 p.m., Clayton Opera House. The musical brings new life to Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of the battle between good and evil as imagined by com-poser Frank Wildhorn and writer Leslie Bricusse. Tickets: Adults, $12; seniors, active military and children, $10. Box office: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

FORT DRUMTHURSDAY, NOV. 13

n “Prince Among Slaves,” 6 p.m., Robert C. McEwen Library. Film screening and discussion of the historical documentary that tells the story of Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, a prince from West Africa who was sold into slavery in the U.S. Free and open to the public. Part of JCC’s Muslim Journeys program. Information: 786-2225.

LOWVILLEFRIDAY, OCT. 25 &

SATURDAY, OCT. 26n Halloween Towne, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, downtown Lowville. Ghoulish games, food and family fun. Sponsored by the Lowville Business Association in conjunction with local charities and organizations. Information and schedule: www.facebook.com/HalloweenTowne.

OGDENSBURGSUNDAY, OCT. 20

n Say Goodnight Gracie, 3 p.m., George Hall Audito-rium, Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State St. A mul-timedia presentation of a humorous love story that tells the story of George Burns. The show was Broadway’s third longest running solo performance show. Tickets: $14-37. Box office: 393-2625 or www.ilovetheatre.org.

MONDAY, NOV. 18n Broadway Rox, 7:45 p.m., George Hall Auditorium, Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State St. Songs from 20 hit Broadway shows, including Mama Mia, Smokey Joe’s Café, Rent, Hair, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rain, Movin’ Out, All Shook Up and more. Tickets: $14-37. Box of-fice: 393-2625 or www.ilovetheatre.org.

POTSDAMSATURDAY, OCT. 26

n Autumn Serenade, 7:30, Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. The Or-chestra of Northern New York will perform an array of pieces featuring its strings as well as the Simple Symphony in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth. The show will also take place on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 403 Washington St., Watertown. Tickets: $22, www.onny.org or 267-3251.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26n Shostakovich’s “The Nose,” 12:55 p.m., Roxy The-ater, 20 Main St. Part of the 2013-14 season of The Met: Live in HD, which brings 10 live transmission pro-ductions from the Metropolitan Opera to the screen via robotic cameras. Encore performance on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: Adults, $18; senior citizens, $15; students, $12; youth ages 18 and younger, $9. Box office: 267-2277, Roxy Theater, Northern Music & Video, Sara M. Snell Music Theater or www.cpspots-dam.org. Information: www.metopera.org/hdlive.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30n Idan Raichel Project, 7:30 p.m., Maxcy Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Members of the Idan Raichel Proj-ect released their first album in 2006 and have be-come global ambassadors. The project’s latest album, “Quarter to Six,” features Portuguse, Palestinian, Ger-man, Colombian and Israeli musicians. Part of the 2013-14 Community Performance Series. Tickets: $15-25. Box office: 267-2277 or www.cpspots-dam.org. Tickets also on sale at Northern Music and Video, 29 Market St., Potsdam.

SACKETS HARBORSATURDAY, NOV. 23

n Arts & Crafts Holiday Sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sackets Harbor Arts Center. Shop for unique holiday gifts, includ-ing handcrafted and original pieces of pottery, ceramics, jewelry, soap, note cards, prints, silk and artwork. Free admission. Information: 646-7226.

WATERTOWNSATURDAY, NOV. 16

n European Pastries and Desserts, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Jefferson Community College. Learn to bake traditional delicacies including traditional tiramisu, eclairs, crème puffs and fruit tarts. Tuition: $89. Information: 786-2233 or www.sunyjefferson.edu.

SATURDAY, NOV. 16n Chinese Acrobats, 7 p.m., Sturz Theater, McVean Center, Jefferson Community College. High-energy acrobatic performance. Chinese cultures and cus-toms will be narrated while contortionists perform and will be accompanied by an interpreter. Part of JCC’s Cultural Arts Series. Free admission. Informa-tion: www.sunyjefferson.edu.

FRIDAY, NOV. 22 & SATURDAY, NOV. 23n Ted Keegan: Songs My Father Taught Me, cocktails 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Savory Downtown, 300 Wash-ington St. Friday is sponsor night and Saturday is com-munity night. Ted Keegan, a Watertown native, spent years playing the phantom in “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway and on the road. Tickets: $100 for table of 10, sponsor night; $50 each, community night. Benefits Hospice of Jefferson County. Information, res-ervations: Nicole Paratore, 788-7323 or nparatore@jeffersonhospice.org.

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[ MOST READ, LOCAL AUTHORS ]BEST BETSBOOKS

Top titles by checkout at Flower Memorial Library 1) James Patterson: Second Honeymoon 2) Dan Brown: Inferno 3) David Baldacci: The Hit 4) James Patterson: Mistress 5) Elizabeth Hadler: Please Don’t Tell

Top five Ebooks at Flower 1) Lee Child: Never Go Back 2) Jeanne Glidewell: Haunted 3) Susan Beth Pfeffer: Life as We Knew It 4) Bronwyn Scott: A Lady Dares 5) Lia Romeo: Dating the Devil

Books of local interest Lost Pond Press, Saranac Lake, has released the suspense novel “The River’s Tale,” by Michael Virtanen, a political re-porter in Albany for the Associated Press. The book is a prequel to Mr. Virtanen’s first novel, “Within a Forest Dark,” which in 2007 won the Adirondack Center for Writing award for best fiction. “The River’s Tale” centers on a woman who flees New York City and abandons an academic career to live with an aunt in a cabin on a remote stretch of the Hudson River in the Adirondacks. She lands a job as a whitewater-rafting guide and falls into a summer romance with her charis-matic boss. Life is good until she discov-ers that the Adirondacks are not the safe haven she thought they were. The book is $14.95 and is available at lostpondpress.com.

n n n

Hungry Bear Publishing, Saranac Lake,

has released “Saranac Lake Winter Carni-val Memories” by Andy Flynn. The book includes interviews, essays and more than 300 photos. The book is told in the oral history tradition, meaning the interviews were printed as they were spoken. The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival dates to 1897, when the Pontiac Club held a one-day festival. It now includes a communi-tywide celebration with an ice palace, two parades, three fireworks displays and a number of sports and cultural events. It is held annually in early February. Mr. Flynn is the author of the six-vol-ume “Adirondack Attic” book series and is assistant managing editor for Denton Publications in Elizabethtown, where he also serves as editor of the North Creek News Enterprise. He is co-founder of Hungry Bear Publishing. “Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Memo-ries” is $24.95 and is available at www.hungrybearpublishing.blogspot.com.

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Glenn L. Pearsall, Johnsburg, has self-published, through Pyramid Press, Utica, “When Men and Mountains Meet: Stories of Hope and Despair in the Ad-irondack Wilderness After the American Revolution.” References to Northern New York include the importance of the LeRay family in winning the American Revolution, sto-ries of Gouverneur Morris, for whom the village of Gouverneur is named, and David Parish’s massive sheep venture around Og-densburg. One chapter details “Napoleon’s Plan to Escape to the Adirondacks.”

The book is $18.95 and is available at online bookstores.

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R.M. Doyon, an Ottawa resident who has a summer home on Howe Island across from Clayton, has self-published a follow-up to his 2010 novel “UpCountry.” In “Thou Torturest Me,” Mr. Doyon focuses on Old Order Amish. The tale ranges from fictional Morgan County, N.Y., to Syracuse and the Tug Hill Plateau. In Mr. Doyon’s new book, Hubie Schumacher’s clan has returned to Mor-gan County to celebrate a milestone in his life and to possibly bring closure to the events of nearly four years previous. “Immediately, we meet a couple of young lovers from completely disparate walks of life, spawning an affair that sets in motion a violent clash of cultures fueled by prin-ciple and prejudice,” Mr. Doyon writes in a synopsis. Mr. Doyon has been a journalist, writ-er, publicist and entrepreneur for more than three decades. He began his career with the Ottawa Citizen before serving as a political reporter and Parliamentary bu-reau chief for United Press International. He has also served in senior roles in the Canadian government, writing speeches for two prime ministers and officials. “Thou Torturest,” is $15.69 in paper-back and $5.99 in a Kindle edition, and is available at Corbin’s River Heritage in Clayton, the BookStore Plus in Lake Placid and online through amazon.com.

— Compiled by Johnson Newspapers staff writer Chris Brock

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[ River Hospital Foundation Gala ]Boldt Castle, Heart Island

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Dr. Lauren Roman, Black River, husband, Maj. Christopher Ro-man, Dr. John Brandy, Ogdensburg, and wife, Dr. Kiri Vrady.

Paul Passino and wife, Felicia, Adams. River Hospital Foundation held The Gala at Boldt Castle: An evening of French elegance on Heart Island Aug. 24. The event raised $41,425 to benefit River Hospital’s River Community Wellness Program.

Heather Carr and husband, Dr. Brian Carr, Carthage.Edith Amsterdam, Cherry Island, and son, Phillip.

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Dream It, Live It, Own It Dream It, Live It, Own It in Northern New York.

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[ Sacred Heart Foundation 40th Annual Dinner ]Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

Joseph McCabe, Watertown, and Sylvia J. Buduson, Watertown. The Sacred Heart Foundation held its 40th Annual Benefit Dinner Sept. 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown.

Tammy Sharlow, vice president, Sacred Heart Foundation Council, Wa-tertown, and father, William Jesmore, Sacred Heart Foundation Honorary Council, Watertown.

From left, the Rev. Richard Kennedy, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and Christopher Hornbarger, executive system administrator, Immaculate Heart Central Schools, Watertown.

From left, Huguette Roux, Quebec, and Gabrielle Aubin, Watertown.

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MODERN FOLKLORE

BY VARICK CHITTENDEN

Fraser family of Harrisville a folk music powerhouse

IT WAS THE WINTER OF 2005 WHEN I first met the Frasers. To write a story with a St. Patrick’s Day theme, John Golden, at the time a Watertown Daily Times columnist, had been invited to the Fraser home in Harrisville for a rehearsal for the upcoming St. Patrick’s dinner at the St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church. For nearly 10 years, the Frasers provid-ed the entertainment, their gift to their home parish. John knew of our interest at Traditional Arts in Upstate New York in all kinds of traditional activities in our region. Shortly after his visit, he called to urge me to see and hear the Fraser family as soon as I could. On the night of the dinner, my old friend and music enthusiast Paul Fischer and I trekked to Harrisville to do exactly that. “Wow!” I said to Paul, as we left the church basement after a good meal and lots of good music. “These folks are the real McCoy. Aren’t they great?” New to both of us, we com-pletely agreed that these musicians were no ordinary home-grown talent. This was the extended Fraser family, all 15 or so of them, and they had regaled the 200-plus of us diners for a couple of hours with songs they clearly loved to sing. There were sea chanteys, work songs, tragic and comic ballads, barroom ditties—a collection that reflected genera-

tions of the family’s fidelity to their Scot-tish and Irish roots, as well as their love of both the Adirondacks and their ancestral home in Cape Breton. Paul and I were convinced that we had found another north country treasure and we wanted to know more. Later that year, on a warm summer evening, I once again had the chance to see and hear them, this time when they were getting together just for the fun of it. It was the first of many to follow. We gathered in the large room ap-pended to Don and Ethel Fraser’s mobile home on Lower Maple Street in Harris-ville, just across from the big old house where they grew up. Known to all as “Dad’s den,” it had

been Don’s favorite place of all. Kim Fraser Young has told me: “When Dad wasn’t out there playing music, he was listen-ing to it. There have been so many different people gathered in that room, I couldn’t name or count them all. His friend, Art Hill, played the fiddle, and they spent a lot of time out there.

His brother, Rod, sang and wrote songs, and he was also a regular. Of course, all of the kids, grandkids, friends of kids, etc. flocked there as well. My parents loved to have people around.” The room is big enough for a great party and there have been lots of them — fish fries, birthday

“Home of our Hearts: Fraser Family and Friends” can be purchased at TAUNY in Canton or online at tauny.org.

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VARICK CHITTENDEN is senior folklorist and director of special projects for Canton-based Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and Profes-sor Emeritus of Humanities at SUNY Canton. He lives in St. Lawrence County.

celebrations, and, of course, music. For me, that night was magic. Not only was the singing and playing wonderful, but great stories and spontaneous danc-ing filled the evening. Joy and laughter flooded the room and spilled out into the night air. Under the watchful eye of octogenarian Ethel, three generations of Frasers, and a few musical in-laws and friends, were keeping the family heritage alive and well and really enjoying it. Like the concert for friends at the church, this was the relaxed atmosphere they love best. They sang for at least three hours and I’m convinced they could have gone on all night. I was hooked on their music and on them. This remarkably musical family is most at home at home. For the Frasers, home or the houses or camps of nearby family and friends is their den. So also is their church in Harrisville, the local Grange Hall and Historical Museum, and, as time has gone on, the senior citizens center and nurs-ing homes in nearby Lowville. For many years now, home has also been the fishing camp they visit for a few weeks each sum-mer on Meat Cove in Nova Scotia, where they renew their musical heritage with old family friends who live by the sea. In the years since our first meeting, the family has gathered occasionally to sing and play for the public — at the Edwards Opera House, St. Lawrence University, the Clayton Opera House, and, for several years, the annual North Country Goes Green Irish Festival in Watertown. With their busy lives and the complications of getting such a large group together for rehearsals and performances, they can’t do such performances often. But to everyone’s delight, in 2010 the family finally recorded an album of 16 of their favorite songs, called Home of our Hearts: Fraser Family and Friends, pro-duced by TAUNY. It includes traditional gems like “Farewell to Nova Scotia” and “Loch Lomond,” and several composi-tions in the traditional style, including

one, “Cape Breton Breeze,” written and sung by the eldest brother, Rod. That willingness to share their music with others, their deep commitment to

the traditional music of their ancestors and the interest they’ve engendered in their children and grandchildren for these traditions go right to my folklorist’s head. But it’s the delicious lyrics and music of their repertoire, the sweetness and rich harmony of their voices and the charis-matic charm of their group gatherings that go to my heart.

That willingness to share their music with others, their deep commitment to the traditional

music of their ancestors and the interest they’ve engendered in their children and grandchildren

for these traditions go right to my folklorist’s head.

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WELLNESS

MICHELLE L. GRAHAM, MS, is wellness direc-tor for Watertown’s Downtown YMCA. Contact her at ymca_mgraham@yahoo.com. Her column appears in every issue.

Healthy change takes a villageBY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

I RECENTLY BECAME PART OF A coalition of individuals trying to make a difference in the health of children in our communities. The first meeting was an eye-opening experience. We reviewed the rate of overweight and obese chil-dren in our area, statistics that continue to be alarming. The coalition brainstorms areas of weakness and tries to devise plans to get into these communities and bring sup-port and resources to improve the health of their children and families. Nationally, on average, one in three children are ei-ther overweight or obese. In some of our rural communities, the rate is actually close to one in two. I find these statistics heart-breaking, but I believe we can help on a local level. It’s true that getting our communities healthy takes a village. When we pull all of our resources together, incredible things really can happen. No one has all

the answers. That is why collaborating and using all of our resources can truly put you and your children on the path to better health. We have many amazing resources right at our fingers. Cornell Coopera-tive Extension offers ongoing classes for families and children. CCE will even come into your home to offer help and guid-ance. They provide a nutrition series that teaches healthy eating, cooking, grocery shopping and ways to incorporate physi-cal activity into your daily life. Jefferson County Public Health Service has many resources as well. They recently offered a series of free nutrition education classes focusing on healthy eating and healthy living. Many local providers will happily give referrals for a nutritional consult as well. We have some very dedicated and willing registered dieticians in our area. Nicole Garnsey at Feed the Soul Nutrition, Theresa Intorcia at Samaritan Medical Center and Mary Beth Knowlton at North Country Family Health Center will all do nutritional evaluations and are equipped to develop the right plan for you and your family. The YMCA also continues to offer a variety of programs like gymnastics, soc-cer, lacrosse, dance, fitness, hockey and many other active and fun programs. This fall, the YMCA will continue to offer open gym and open gymnastics at the Fair-grounds YMCA and open gym time and open swims for families at the Downtown YMCA. They are currently developing a plan to make at-risk families a prior-ity and will soon roll out their plan to continue the effort to engage families on the path to good health. The YMCA also offers scholarships for individuals who

need financial assistance. There are wonderful agencies that are more than prepared to offer help and guidance to at-risk families. But the reality is that helping at-risk families is all of our responsibility. Why, as community mem-bers, do we not step outside our comfort level and simply offer help? I realize that not everyone wants our help, but offering is still a great and responsible thing to do. Some individuals simply will not ask. Think about making a plan in your school, office or community to offer healthy foods at gatherings and other social events, instead of serving or selling unhealthy items. Find members in your community and gather families for social walks, bike rides or other activity-based social events. The small things that we do matter and can lead us toward healthy, life-long change. Making any change is never easy, but the journey can be both rewarding and educational. Our children deserve a healthy life. We all serve as role models to the children in our communities. Be active and engage in healthy habits. Set yourself and your children up for a successful and healthy life. One person can have a ripple effect on many others. Invigorate, motivate and inspire others. Our at-risk families need us now more than ever before. As Mahatma Ghandi once said: “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the at-titude of the world change towards him…We need not wait to see what others do.”

Together, rural communities can combat alarming obesity rate

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WELLNESS

ELEVEN NORTH COUNTRY WOMEN have committed to making healthy lifestyle changes and improving hearth health through the American Heart Association’s north country BetterU campaign, which commenced on Sept. 20 and runs through Dec. 17, with the participants sharing their success stories at the annual North Country Heart Walk Kick-Off in January. The participants, who range in age from 25 to 60, were chosen from a pool of nearly 50 applicants this summer by a panel that included personnel from the American Heart Association, Samaritan Medical Center and the YMCA, according to Kristy Smorol, AHA communications director. The panel took into account fac-tors including applicants’ goals, back-ground, heart disease risk and personal motivation, she said. Samaritan and the YMCA are sponsors of the event, along with media sponsors WWNY-TV, Froggy 97 and the Watertown Daily Times. To start the campaign, all participants

had their blood pressure, glucose level and cholesterol checked at Samaritan as a baseline. The women have all received free memberships at the Watertown YMCA, where they have access to a personal trainer; professional nutritional advice and counseling from Nicole Garn-sey of Feed the Soul Nutrition; supermar-ket shopping outings; life coaching from motivational speaker Joleene Moody of Joleene Speaks; smoking cessation help if needed; and support from fellow partici-pants to stay the course. Heart diseasea is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., responsible for the death of one in three women, but much research has shown that lifestyle changes with diet and exercise can signifi-cantly reduce risk. This is the first time that the campaign has been held in the north country after seeing success as a pilot program in Central New York, and Ms. Smorol said she would like to see the AHA sponsor BetterU here again after it sees this year’s realization. “We invite all local women to join the

BetterU participants in making healthy lifestyle changes,” said Peter Schmitt, CEO of the Watertown YMCA. The participants have taken up that decree, helping to spread their newfound knowledge and progress to their families and community members through a blog on which 11 participants detail their suc-cesses and failures with the week’s exercise regimen and healthy eating initiatives. One of the women, Laurie A. Donohue, 54, of Watertown, said that because her mother and her mother’s mother died at a young age, she lacks personal family history and hopes the campaign will fill in the black with insight into her health problems so she and her family can better combat them going forward. “I really want to be able to give my sis-ters, nieces and daughters some answers about their family history,” she said. “I want them to know—mom has a history of high blood pressure. I want to give them some things [they] can use.” She also plans to take her husband along to the nutritional counseling, which

On a path to a ‘BetterU’North country women commit to healthy lifestyle challenge

BY LEAH BULETTI

Participants in the North Country BetterU campaign from left: Patricia Howell, Angela Alpaugh, Deborah Biondolillo, Debra Farmer, Patricia Hovorka, Shawna Rich, Laurie Donohue, Chelsea Bango, JoEllen Heukrath, Michelle Swike and Krista Kittle.

COURTESY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

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Enter to win a $250 Drawing With Just Your Admission Ticket! www.jccwocraftfair.bravehost.com

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will run for six weeks from Oct. 16 to Nov. 13 and said she is looking forward to a cooking class aimed at helping partici-pants avoid overeating around the holi-days, something that has been a struggle for her in the past. Ms. Donohue said her primary goal is to reduce her blood pressure and cho-lesterol. Last spring, she said her bad cholesterol score was 195, while healthy levels are typically below 100. “It seemed like a good idea to get together with people who knew more about it than I did,” she said of her deci-sion to apply. At her baseline assessment at Samari-tan, she said her blood pressure was fine, but that she has room for improvement in the diet and exercise departments. In only the second week, she called it an “awesome program,” composed of amazing people providing “such a wall of support” and encouraged everyone to educate themselves on healthy eating and exercise using the AHA’s online resources regardless of any existing heart prob-lems. She said she had never been to the Y before, but thanks to the membership had already worked out on the equipment and participated in a boot camp-style yoga class. She is also being monitored for hydration, fitness and diet goals by the Y’s wellness director. She also said she benefited from the motivation speaker conference call, which focused on emotional eating and how to slowly make lasting and mean-ingful changes, by focusing on each mo-ment at a time. “I’m enjoying the process a lot,” she said. “I like change, I like trying new things.” Chelsea A. Dango, 25, of Oxbow, said she attempted to kick-start a healthier life in January, setting a goal of losing 40 pounds, but struggled with changing her eating habits. She’s already lost 25 pounds, and hopes to lose the remainder by the end of the BetterU campaign. By the second week, she said she had already attended two group fitness

classes at the Y and had implemented more fruits and vegetables into her diet, with plans to try the healthier recipes the program provided. “It’s the first step in the right direction,” she said. And with the group support, hopefully there will be many more successful steps. The participants have their own Facebook group where they coordinate group walks and workout sessions. “It goes so much faster at the Y when you have someone to talk to,” Ms. Dono-hue said. Ms. Dango agreed.

“It’s very important to have someone who is going through it with you, to share similar struggles,” she said. “You’re there to help push them and they push you.” The other nine BetterU participants are: Angela Alpaugh, 38, Evans Mills; Deborah Biondolillo, 51, Calcium; Debra Farmer, 52, Chaumont; JoEl-len Heukrath, 58, Deer River; Patricia Hovorka, 60, Adams; Patricia Howell, 68, Watertown; Krista Kittle, 44, Water-town; Shawna Rich, 28, Carthage; and Michelle Swike, 38, Carthage.

n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

Progress reportsBETTERU CAMPAIGNn Follow the stories and progress of 11 north country women on their BetterU paths at www.northcountrybetteru.blogspot.com or on Twitter @HeartCNY.

n Visit americanheart.org for more re-sources and information on heart health.

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THE NNY LIFE

BY KATIE STOKES

Long car rides with kids require creative strategies

LAST YEAR, MY FAMILY AND I MET up with my sister and her family in Indianapolis, a midway point between Northern New York and Oklahoma. We rented a house and cooked our own turkey dinner with groceries we brought from our own homes. But to get there, we had to first endure a 14-hour cross-country road trip. My kids were three and six, and inexperienced at sitting for long intervals in a car. We’ve flown many, many times, but the thought of having them strapped in for longer than the hour ride to Syracuse, or even the nearly three-hour trip to Rochester, was intimidating. As is my way, I fretted and planned for sev-eral weeks before the road trip. I read articles and blogs for tips, downloaded books and games on our Kindle, rented DVDs and audiobook CDs from the library, created an entire Pinterest board of ideas on how to keep young kids occupied during the 14-hour trip and assembled personalized binders for the kids with age-appropriate print-able games, coloring sheets and puzzles. The planning worked out beautifully, and despite the fact that I spent at least 13 of the 14-hour drive twisted around to face the backseat, we all made it to

Indianapolis with minimal histrionics (and only a couple of episodes of “Magic School Bus.”) This year, we’ll be embarking on an even longer trip—24 hours split between two days, as we drive down to my home-town for the holidays. Having done my homework last year, I’m not nearly as panicked about this trip, mostly because I’m not above using a pool versus no

pool hotel stop-over as a bribe. In case your holiday plans in-volve travel, here are some of the things we found helpful and will certainly use again after figuring out how to fit all our baggage and the kids into the car: n Don’t overuse the DVD player. Technology is a beautiful thing, but we’ve found that the more our

kids look at a screen, the more likely they are to fight and whine. When we do fire up the devices, it’s for brief spurts, and we have the kids use headphones. The less noise pollution, the happier we all are when we arrive. n Mommy-Clown Game Face Time. The goal? To keep the tone buoyed like an oxygen-inflated balloon on a bed of hot coals. If one child starts a petty argument—the “She’s LOOKING AT ME FUNNY!” moments—turn to the backseat with a set of Groucho glasses on, or some

But when you live in Northern New York,

long car rides or plane trips come as part of the deal, and it’s important to find a way to try and enjoy those as much as you enjoy the NNY life.

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KATIE STOKES is an Oklahoma native who has called Northern New York home for more than a decade. She is a freelance writer and blogger and the mother of two children, Diva and Hunk. She and her husband are raising their children in Hounsfield. Visit her blog at www.NNYLife.com. Her column appears in every issue of NNY Living.

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Live the magic of the classic Polar Express story with the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Depart from U tica’s Union Station and travel north, interacting with Santa’s elves and listening to Liam Neeson’s reading of The Polar Exp ress, by Chris van Allsburg. When you arrive at our North Pole (Holland Patent, NY), Santa will board the train, spending time wi th each and every family

during the return trip and giving children the first present of Christmas (a silver bell, just like in the book or movie)! Children (and parents!) are encouraged to come in pajamas.

Don’t forget your camera- you’ll want to capture the memories of your time with Santa! When you get back to the station, we’ll have hot chocolate and cookies ready for you. Join the many families who come back to see us every y ear! In order to ensure

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straws stuck up your nose (Yes, un-sanitary. Still, hilarious). Tone is the point from whence all good, or tortuous, things come. If things turn sour, it can be tough to get back on track. You don’t necessarily have to be a fool the entire time, but you certainly shouldn’t rule it out. Nothing makes a kid laugh like a silly mom. n Mess-less crafts. Even if you have raised a bookworm, don’t expect your kid to spend blissful hours with his nose bur-ied in a book. To make the limited DVD player rule work, you’ve got to give them something to do besides read. Some of the ideas I found for in-car activities included creating things out of pipe cleaners, mag-netized “dress up” dolls and the biggest hit of all: some Melissa and Doug sticker books that were basically big, blank faces with eyebrow, eye, nose and mouth stick-ers that the kids could arrange in any way that struck their fancy. For older kids, break out the cheesy (read: timeless) car games, like the Alphabet Game, I Spy, even 100 Bottles of Pop on the Wall. If you want new ideas, there are some great car trip activity books available on Amazon. n Snacks and drinks. ’Nuf said. I pack large quantities of fruit and other healthy snacks so I don’t have to limit boredom snacking, although we do occasionally have to drive several miles with the win-dows cracked after Hunk ingests more than his fair share of granola and grapes. n Divide and Conquer. The absolute best idea I found on Pinterest was to bring along some tape or Velcro and tack up a blanket or sheet (I used a pillowcase) between the kids. They were the same distance apart, but the offensive “looks” were disarmed, and everyone was happy. Parents included. My children have seen their fair share of patchwork fields from high above the ground, and billboards flying out of the night beyond the highway as we speed down the Interstate toward loved ones with much higher zip code numbers. But when you live in Northern New York, long car or plane trips come as part of the deal, and it’s important to find a way to try and enjoy those as much as you enjoy the NNY life.

Clockwise from top: Saratoga Racetrack; Saratoga National Historic Park, the site of one of the15 most important battles in world history; a welcome sign touts the city’s top attractions; crepes at Ravenous on Phila Street; a summer concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

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36 HOURS

TEXT BY LEAH BULETTI | PHOTOS COURTESY SARATOGA CVB & SARATOGA.COM

Journey east packs history, arts, culture

Sooth your soulin ‘Spa City’

Saratoga Springs

FAMOUS FOR ITS RACETRACK, outdoor summer concerts and mineral springs, the city of Saratoga, less than four hours from the north country, makes a great getaway year-round. Known for a robust arts scene that includes the Opera Saratoga and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the city’s downtown also bustles with art galleries, boutiques and restau-rants. And, only about a 30 minute drive from the Capital Region, a weekend trip to Saratoga will also make it easy to jaunt into the state’s capital for a wider range of shopping or to take a detour for a hike in the Adirondacks coming to or from.

FRIDAY, 4 P.M., ARRIVE AND SETTLE IN Start your weekend off with a stroll through Saratoga’s quaint downtown dis-trict, which offers a range of unique shops, eateries and boutiques. Of note is Lyrical Ballad Bookstore, which has eight rooms that house more than 100,000 new, used and rare books, antique prints and maps, many on New York and local history; Crafters Gallery for a variety of unique gifts, many of which are Saratoga-specific; Spoken Boutique for designer clothing; and Saratoga Olive Oil Co. where you can sample more than 60 different flavors of olive oils, balsamic vinegars and sea salts.

If you’re looking to unwind, the Saratoga Winery & Tasting Room, four miles from downtown, is worth the visit and has live music and food every Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m. Its Melomel wines are made with 12 percent local honey and 88 percent grapes and have no added sulfites or preservatives. A good option for quaint lodging with spacious bedrooms and breakfast is Longfel-lows Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Cen-ter, a former dairy barn in a pastoral setting, located at 500 Union Ave. Longfellows’s res-taurant is also a popular eatery known for its seafood and steak, with a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Saratoga Arms, a 31-room concierge-style hotel located at 497 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, is an elegant, historic place to stay that makes another good option for a place to stay within short walking distance of the downtown district. If you’re looking for something on the less expensive side, the Saratoga Down-towner Motel has relatively cheap, nice rooms in a two-story brick building around an indoor pool atrium, as well as a free continental breakfast. Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant and Confer-ence Center, 500 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, (518) 587-0108. Saratoga Arms, 497 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, (518) 584-1775. The Saratoga Winery & Tasting Room, 462 Route 29 West,

Saratoga Springs, www.thesaratogawinery.com

SATURDAY, 10 A.M., TALK A HISTORIC WALK The Saratoga National Historic Park of-fers beautiful rolling hills with spectacular views, and is rife with the history of one of the 15 most important battles in world his-tory. The battlefield Visitor Center overlook-ing the battlefield, about two miles from the entrance on U.S. Route 4, is open year-round. Inside you can watch an orientation film, read about the battle, search a database for ancestors who fought at Saratoga and buy souvenirs in the gift shop. The center also has maps for a self-guided tour of the battlefield, which includes 10 exhibit stops spread over nine, tree-lined, cannon-dotted miles. The battlefield’s walking paths are also a fantastic place to cross-country ski or snowshoe in the winter months, as the hills are not too steep. About a 15-minute drive from the battle-field is the Saratoga Monument, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays during the summer season and commemo-rates the place where British General John Burgoyne surrendered. Here you can listen to a ranger talk and climb to the top of the 155-foot granite monument for spectacular views of the picturesque countryside.

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SATURDAY, 12 P.M., PLACE YOUR BETS If you visit Saratoga in the summer, braving the crowds at the hallowed grounds of the Saratoga Racetrack is well worth it, especially on special days like the annual hat contest. The six-week season begins in mid-July and runs through Labor Day weekend. Some of the most accomplished thoroughbreds have raced on Saratoga’s track, which is the oldest racetrack in the U.S. and also the oldest sporting venue of any kind nationwide. Even if you’re visiting in the off-season, a stop at the track is worth it just to bask in the grandeur of history and, of course, make you want to visit again in the summer. You can also grab a late lunch at Beek-man Street Bistro, known for its signa-ture clam appetizer and located in what’s known as the Art District on Beekman Historic West Side. The restaurant, which is known for its “farm-to-table” philoso-phy, is open seven days a week in track season and Tuesday to Saturday the rest of the year. Saratoga Racetrack, 267 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, www.saratogaracetrack.com. The Beekman Street Bistro, 62 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs, www.thebeekmanstreetbis-tro.com, (518) 581-1816

SATURDAY, 3 P.M., A LUXURY SPA OR TAKE A RIDE ON THE WILD SIDE It wouldn’t be a visit to Spa City with-out visiting Saratoga’s famous mineral springs and spas. Saratoga has seven public, naturally carbonated mineral springs in various locations, each of which has its own flavor based on its mineral composition and all of which are said to have famed health properties. You can pick up a brochure with a locater for the springs and self-guided tour (bring your own cup or bottle) at the Saratoga Visitors Center or online at www.saratoga.com. The State Seal Spring in Spa State Park is the most popular place to fill up bottles, using drawing thongs of locals. If you want more than just a sip of the healing draught, however, Saratoga also has two remaining open locations for bathing in effervescent mineral baths: Spa State Park and Crystal Spa on South Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. The bath houses have individual rooms for private soaking in the spring’s 55 degree waters. Spa State Park is also a great place to enjoy the outdoors and has numerous nature trails, tennis courts, two pool complexes (one of which, the Victo-ria Pool, was the first heated pool in the U.S.) and picnic sites. The state took over the state 800 acres of Spa State Park in

an effort to preserve the mineral springs, which were being tapped by more than 200 private springs at the height of the bottling boom in the early 1900s. If you visit Saratoga in the warmer months and are feeling in the mood for more aquatic fun, Saratoga Lake, about five miles long and two miles wide, is only a few miles south of the city of Saratoga Springs and offers numerous op-portunities in the way of boating, rowing or ice fishing. The boat launch on Route 9P has parking for up to 100 trailers. The shoreline also has an abundant supply of cute restaurants where you can refuel after the outing, including Harvest & Hearth for artisan pizza or Mangino’s Ris-torante for numerous Italian and seafood dishes and lake views. If spring water and bathing isn’t your thing, you could also consider taking a train ride on the Saratoga and North Creek Railway, which two years ago started ser-vice between Spa City and North Creek, a small, quaint Adirondack village where Gore Mountain ski resort is located. The two-hour ride is well worth it, especially in the fall, if you have the time. The train runs seven days a week July 1 through Oct. 31 and also has a meal service that makes the scenic trip that much more en-joyable. Once you arrive, you can hike or

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LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY Living. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

take Gore’s gondola to the top of the peak for more scenic vistas of the High Peaks and Southern Adirondacks. Check its sea-sonal hours at www.goremountain.com. In the spring, the train runs Saturdays and Sundays March 23 through May 30 and May 24 through June 30. Spa State Park, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, www.nysparks.com/park/saratogaspa

SATURDAY, 8 P.M., DINNER & OPERA While Caroline Street is peppered with bars and pubs, check out PJ’s Bar-B-QSA at 1 Kaydeross Ave. West and sample the best in regional barbecued cuisine, includ-ing NY “State Fair” chicken and Saratoga chips — fried chips topped with cheese and bacon bits. Entertainment opportunities abound in Saratoga, particularly in the summer when you can see productions ranging from frequent performer Dave Matthews and rap acts like Lil Wayne to the New York City Ballet at SPAC, whose sloping lawn and amphitheater makes it a truly unique and fun venue for outdoor concerts. Opera Saratoga also has numerous fantastic performances, including the upcoming 54th Summer Opera Festival in June at the Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park featuring productions of The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti and The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A good way to experience Saratoga’s arts scene is the three-hour monthly “First Saturdays” that allows visitors to attend artist receptions or openings on Broad-way, Spring and Beekman streets via a free trolley service. Local businesses and restaurants also often offer drink and din-ner specials. Call the Saratoga Arts Coun-cil at (518) 584-4132 for more about the event. A list of art galleries can be found at www.saratoga.com/hotspot_galleries.cfm. Opera Saratoga, www.operasaratoga.org. Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, (518) 584-9330, www.spac.org

SUNDAY, 10 A.M., TAKE IN BRUNCH AND A MUSEUM A good brunch spot is Ravenous, lo-cated at 21 Phila St., a family-run business that serves a huge variety of delicious and creative sweet and savory crepes. Saratoga County is home to 10 muse-ums, which means there’s something to appeal to the whole family before you skip town. Particularly pertinent to the area is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, 191 Union Ave., which has a col-lection of equine art, trophies, silks and

racing memorabilia. The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, 69 Caroline St., is also a fun way to kill a few hours with children, and has unique and fun exhibits for children to play and learn in, including a tree house, Saratoga trolley, grocery store, post office and school house. On a more specialized note, the Na-tional Museum of Dance & Hall of Fame, created in 1986 and located in the historic former Washington Bathhouse in Saratoga Spa State Park, is the only museum in the nation focused exclusively on dance. A hub for research on all types of dance, the museum is home to a collection of pho-

tographs, videos, costumes, biographies, artifacts and more. Ravenous, 21 Phila St., www.facebook.com/pages/Ravenous/30021187140, (518) 581-0560

GETTING THERE From all points north, take Route 12 south to Utica, then take Interstate 90 east to Albany. Use exit 27 for NY-30 toward Amsterdam, then take NY-67 East for about 20 miles. Follow Ballston Avenue to Broadway and into downtown Saratoga Springs.

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HISTORY

History lurks below the surfaceNew York is home to six of nation’s 36 meromictic lakes

BY LENKA WALLDROFF

FROM THE RUGGED MAJESTY OF THE Adirondacks to the labyrinthine depths of the subterranean cave system, the serenity of Lake Ontario’s shores to the quiet whispering of the St. Lawrence River, chances are good that no matter where you stand in Northern New York, breathtaking views or interesting natural formations are just a stone’s throw away. While much of the beauty here is obvi-ous, there are some formations that are not exactly what they seem. Surface and bottom waters mix season-ally in traditional lakes, delivering oxygen to the bottom, which in turn allows fish and plant life to survive. A meromictic lake is one whose waters do not mix. They are rare, especially in temperate climates like that of New York state. There are only 36 known meromictic lakes in the world. New York state is home to six of them, and three of the six are located just out-side of Syracuse in the towns of Fayette-ville and DeWitt: Green Lake, Round Lake and Glacier Lake. Meromictic lakes are Mother Nature’s time capsules. Because their waters do not mix, the sediment along the lake bottom is not disturbed. This undisturbed sediment forms a natural record of environmental and aquatic conditions that often predates recorded history. Not surprisingly, this sediment is of particular interest to geolo-gists and environmental scientists. At a depth of 195 feet, about the height of Watertown’s Dulles State Office Build-ing, Green Lake is the deepest of three local meromictic lakes. The rocks sur-rounding the lake are rich in natural salts that leach into the water and create a layer of brine on the lake floor. While this oxygen-poor and corrosive environment is inhospitable to fish or plants, Green Lake is home to bacteria and rare forms of algae that give the lake its blue-green color and thus its name. Near Green Lake is its sister lake, Round Lake. It is the shallower of the two, measuring 180-feet deep, although early settlers and local Native American tribes

believed it to be bottomless. It was desig-nated as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1975. Green Lake was the first meromictic lake identified in the nation. It was named Lake Sodom by American geologist Lardner Vanuxem, who discovered the lake’s prop-erties in 1839. By 1849, the lake had already been extensively studied and widely reported on in the scientific community. While Mr. Vanuxem was the first white man to study the lake, Green Lake was well known to the native Onondaga tribe whose ancestral homeland stretched from what is now the New York-Pennsylvania border up through Watertown and toward Canada. Green Lake was most likely formed by retreating glaciers during the last Ice Age that vanished between 14,000 to 10,000 years ago. Popular geological theory suggests that Green Lake was originally located in an ancient river basin. As the glacier retreated, melt water formed a

waterfall that slowly carved a depres-sion into the soft limestone basin, form-ing what is called a plunge pool. As the glacier retreated further, the waterfall eventually dried up, leaving behind the deep plunge pool that is now Green Lake. Green Lake is located in Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, just outside of Syracuse. The land that now makes up Green Lakes State Park was originally part of the Military Tract, so named because after the land was surveyed in 1792, it was di-vided into lots and given to American Revo-lution veterans as compensation for their service. The land that makes up the park today was held by the same family from 1817 until the park was formed in 1928. Two of the heirs still own adjacent land.LENKA P. WALLDROFF is former curator of col-lections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She is a former museum specialist and conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She lives in Jefferson County with her husband and two children. Her column appears in every issue.

PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Deadman’s Point at Green Lake in Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville, is home to one of New York’s six meromictic lakes, of which there are only 36 nationwide. Chalky shoreline formations created by bacteria are visible in the foreground.

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MUSIC’S HEALING POWERTHIS IS NNY

AALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A hand, community members in the north country come together around music for numerous concerts every month at venues ranging from backyards to the North Side Improvement League to the Paddock Club to the lawns of the winer-ies that dot the St. Lawrence River. Music

has brought all walks of life together to benefit causes ranging from the New-town Memorial Fund to scholarships in the names of fallen firefighters or youths lost too young at the hands of drunk drivers to neighbors confronting stagger-ingly high medical bills. Regardless of the cause, though, it’s the music that pro-

vides levity and enjoyment during other-wise grim remembrances and that unites the north country’s generous citizens around a common cause through a me-dium that resonates universally, bringing everyone out of their own sphere of ex-istence into something greater and more meaningful than themselves.

PHOTOS BY AMANDA MORRISON AND MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY LIVING

MUSIC’S HEALING POWER

Clockwise from left, a photo of Newtown, Conn., shooting victim Emilie Parker flashes on a screen behind Kenny Booth as he plays guitar for the band Hat Trick during a benefit concert for Newtown at the Northside Improvement League in January. Students in Potsdam light candles dur-ing a memorial concert last October to remember Garrett J. Phillips, who was found slain in his family’s Potsdam apartment in October 2011. Kev Marcus performs at Jefferson Community College before Martin Luther King III spoke in February. Concert-goers watch Hat Trick perform during the Newtown benefit show at the Northside Improvement League.

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COVER STORY

Performers from as far as China travel to Thousand Islands for elite International Piano Competition for Young People

Classical piano opportunities

abound for youth

TEXT BY LEAH BULETTI | NNY LIVING STAFF WRITER

OON A STEINWAY PIANO INSIDE A white tent feet from the banks of the St. Lawrence River, 15 talented young pianists spent a weekend in early Sep-tember performing repertoires ranging from Baroque to modern during the 11th Annual 1000 Islands International Piano Competition for Young People, a compe-tition as unique as it is prestigious. Two weeks later, another 12 young pianists from across the country and Canada took the hallowed stage at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall for the sixth year of the Julia Crane Interna-tional Piano Competition and Festival. Every day, inside the private homes of dedicated piano instructors or in groups at Comet Music Studio in Watertown or the North Country Arts Council or even the YMCA, young pianists clear their minds and turn to the piano, learning self-discipline, a work ethic and a universally beautiful, lifelong art form.

CAPE VINCENT BRINGS TALENT, PRESTIGE TO A PICTURESQUE SETTING

The pianists at the Cape Vincent com-petition ranged in age from 14 to 25 and hailed from cities across the U.S., China, Canada and South America, with most now studying in renowned music schools in the states. “It’s amazing to be able to bring the community together with music for a weekend in this unique environment,” Brian M. Preston, artistic director for the competition and one of three judges, said at this year’s competition. “The fact that it’s outdoors — it’s charming, it’s folksy, it works really well.” Mr. Preston, who received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and now teaches piano in Rochester, at-tended the competition for three years as a teacher before becoming a judge four years ago. As the artistic director he helps hone the rules and musical programming

each year. “It’s very different from any other competition I’ve ever judged,” said Wil-liam R. Wolfram, a New York City-based piano performer and a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music who judged the competition for the first time this year. “It’s more community friendly and the setting is beautiful.” The outdoor, “home-spun” setting also gives participants the opportunity to overcome distractions such as bugs and noises from the nearby road, he added, experience that can be useful for future outdoor performances. The competition has been held at the Maple Grove Estate at 596 W. Broadway for the past five years. It was started by the late Dr. William J. Grant, a Watertown native who loved classical music and sum-mered in Cape Vincent after his career as a physician, and is now sponsored by the Chopin Society of the Thousand Islands and the Cape Vincent Arts Council.

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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Belinda Chen, 20, Bellevue, Wash., practices before her performance at the 11th Annual 1000 Islands International Piano Competition for Young People this September at the Maple Grove Estate in Cape Vincent.

Fundraisers and donations help cover the $20,000 yearly cost of the event, said co-chairwoman Elisabeth P. Brennan. Contestants compete in two divisions, under 19 and 19 to 25, and perform a full three rounds, with programs of approxi-mately 20 minutes Friday, 23 minutes Saturday and 18 minutes Sunday. Friday and Saturday’s programs must include work from the Baroque Era, the Classical Era and the 20th or 21st Century, while Sunday’s program must be one major Chopin work or several shorter works. Judges can award $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second and $500 for third fol-lowing a shorter slate of performances. A prize is also awarded to the audience favorite in both divisions, which started last year. Mr. Preston said the judges pro-vide contestants feedback and offer them the opportunity to talk with the judges. He called the judging process “very involved,” taking into account everything from the basics of the pianist’s rhythm

and clarity of notes to the way the pianist balances the tradition of the piece and composer with his or her own personality. Constants primarily learn of it through word of mouth; Mr. Preston said about 20 pianists typically apply and the competition accepts the first 15, placing the rest on the waiting list in case someone drops out. The com-petition’s requirements of a substantial repertoire and high-level of playing by memory are sufficient for a self-selecting form of audition, but Mr. Preston said he anticipates that the competition could become well-known enough that auditions might be necessary within the next decade. “The level of playing is incredibly high here,” said Gary R. Fisher, the third judge, who also judged in 2008 and teaches in Rochester, where he earned a doctoral degree from the Eastman School. He considers the invitation to judge gratifying and a “very meaningful

sign of respect” from colleagues. “This competition is really remark-able and continues to be more and more,” he said. Vivian Ni, 14, from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, said her teacher, who sent another student in the past, recom-mended the competition. “It’s really interesting — usually compe-titions are held in churches or big halls,” she said. “It’s really relaxing, it doesn’t feel like a competition.” Ms. Ni, who has been playing since she was five and has competed in three other competitions including the Canada Music Competition, said she “would love to come back.” Her mother, Wendy Hu, said that it “doesn’t feel like a competition to the parents” either, noting that her and her daughter’s host family prepared their meals even though they aren’t required to. “It’s like a vacation for us,” she said. “It’s too touching.”

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All but one of the 15 contestants is staying with a host family in Cape Vin-cent; one family is even hosting four, Ms. Brennan said. The competition encour-ages participants to get to know each other and stay in touch, and a picnic for contestants and families was held the first night of the competition. Ms. Brennan praised the support of the community and volunteers, as well as do-nations of the main piano and two others for practicing. “There are things that are tearing Cape Vincent apart, but this is bringing people together,” she said. To further reach out to the commu-nity, one participant, Chao Tang, 25, of Shanghai, China, who started studying for a performance diploma at Indiana University this fall, spent the Monday after the competition playing at the Thousand Islands middle and high school, inspiring students and teaching them about what he does. “The town is very generous and sup-portive. It’s a really great experience here,” said Kaori Y. Azzi, mother of Nadia Azzi, 15, of Palm Harbor, Fla. who began studying at the Juilliard School Pre-

College Division last September and is one of two contestants who returned for a second time this year. Most competitions have elimination rounds; preparing for three full rounds before “very credible judges” is valuable for young pianists and makes the com-petition unique, she said, and “it doesn’t matter if you win or not.” The competition is also valuable in its opportunities for friendship; competi-tions in larger cities often have a “cold” atmosphere where “you show up, you’re in and you’re done,” she said. The setting on the river also resonated with performers. Clayton B. Stephenson, 14, of Brooklyn, who also studies at the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division and learned of the competition through a friend who came two years ago, said he walked down to the river before each performance. “I think it calms me, it helps prepare me,” he said. Parts of two of his pieces describe a river at night, though he said he did not choose them specifically for that reason. “I want to represent the river so I have to go down and look at it to be able to

impersonate it,” he said. “Since it’s here, I had to represent it to its full extent.” Mr. Stephenson has been playing the piano since he was seven and practices daily for three to four hours, he said. He spent about three months preparing a repertoire for the competition. Margaret G. Hinchliffe, 17, and a senior at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey who studies at the Pre-College Division of the Manhattan School of Music, said she “basically spent the whole summer prac-ticing and preparing” for the competition. She learned two of the seven pieces she played specifically for it. “It’s really beautiful,” she said of the setting. “I probably would never have come here if not for this.” Claudio Espejo Araneda, 21, of Temuco, Chile, and a senior studying piano perfor-mance at the Eastman School, agreed. “This place is amazingly quiet and I love it,” he said.

METHODS VARY, BUT LOCAL TEACHERS CREATE TANGIBLE SUCCESS

Only three local students have ever competed in the Cape Vincent competi-tion, and all have been under the tutelage of the same instructor, Janine M. Johnson, who teaches from her home in Water-town. Noah P. Landers, now a junior at Carthage High School, performed in 2012 at age 15. Isaac J. James, then of Cham-pion, performed in 2004 and Timothy S. Lanigan, Watertown, performed in 2005. Mrs. Johnson has instructed Noah since he was five years old. Last March, he won the seventh annual James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition hosted by the Orchestra of Northern New York, which is open to high school students from St. Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren and Hamilton counties and is one of the few competi-tions in the nation that offers cash prizes and a chance to play with a professional orchestra. ONNY accompanied Noah as he performed the first movement of Camille Saint-Saens’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall during the orchestra’s presentation of the classic 20th Century Russian fairy tale “Pe-ter and the Wolf,” which Mrs. Johnson said was a “huge thing to do at 15 years old.” Noah also frequently performs at various churches in the Watertown area. Mrs. Johnson, who has been teaching for 20 years and received her master’s de-

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gree in piano pedagogy from Ithaca Col-lege, has about 50 students at any given time, most of whom start at a young age, and has had upwards of 80. She said she doesn’t encourage any of her students to consider the Cape Vincent competi-tion unless they are highly motivated, but supports any students who want to attend competitions. She also puts on two recitals a year for her students, and called the Cape Vincent competition “a wonderful showcase.” “When you hear the caliber of playing, I ca n’t imagine there’s anything harder than that except for really high-caliber events,” she said. “It’s a tough regiment. It’s three days of playing and it all has to be memo-rized. It’s a huge, huge requirement…you have to be really serious and motivated and want to do it.” Noah spent six months to a year preparing a repertoire for it, she said, and decided to take this year off to have additional time to prepare the challenging repertoire he expects of himself in hopes of competing again in 2014. It was also his first major competition, she said, though he had previously competed in smaller ones in Syracuse. “He did a wonderful job. It was a big step for him,” she said. “From an early age, he loved music. He did know that this was something he wanted to do.” He’s considering such renowned schools as Eastman, Oberlin College in Ohio, and Indiana University, she said. Thirty of Mrs. Johnson’s students have gone on to music school in large part because of her approach to teaching. She uses the Suzuki method, which entails starting with ear training and pattern development, then teaching the student to read music once they are playing well, similar to the idea that language is acquired through spoken word before reading. “By developing the ear first and learn-ing to play by method, they internalize the music. It becomes part of them,” she said. “Students who start with the Suzuki method can play at any time and play with great depth and feeling.” Without having to read music from the start, students can focus on their hands, developing impeccable technique and sharp listening skills, she said. Mrs. Johnson said she has high demand for lessons, and typically has a waiting list, but acknowledges that she requires a

lot of students and that her classic training and method is not for everyone. Mr. James, who studied with Mrs. Johnson for nearly four years after mov-ing to Watertown with his parents in 1998, said his performance was a great experience for a young performer and credits the experience with shaping the pianist he is today. “It made a big impact,” he said. “If it wouldn’t have happened, I can’t say where I would be right now.” Mr. James now lives in Vermont, where he teaches and repairs piano and works as a choral conductor, and also performs throughout the Northeast. He is returning to the north country, where his parents live, for his first solo perfor-mance in the area at Jefferson Commu-nity College on Dec. 6. Even though he went through what he describes as a “rebellious stage” in his late teens where he tired of classical mu-sic and started studying with a jazz and blues teacher in the area, he credits much of his success, particularly during his time in the north country, to Mrs. John-son’s instruction, who he said believes in the importance of performing. He said he

found numerous great opportunities for that during his time in the area, though, as in every community, there could have been more. “Janine Johnson is a phenomenal teacher—she’s one of those teachers that comes out very harsh and strict, but at the same time it pays off,” he said. “She’s something that you’d find in a large metro area. She was a great teacher to be with.” Mr. James is in the process of starting a yearly piano competition, possibly to be held in the north country, and has garnered substantial interest but been held up by administrative issues. The competition is named for the late P. Owen Willaman, a former president of New York Air Brake Co. and Israel A. Shapiro Award recipient who died in 2009. Mr. James befriended him at the Cape Vincent competition and along with his wife, Dorothy, the three would attend Syracuse Symphony Or-chestra concerts and the Willamans would attend Mr. James’s concerts in the area. Other piano teachers in the Watertown area take a slightly different approach to teaching. Jason D. Comet, owner of Comet Music Studio in Watertown, has modified

Please see PIANISTS, page 47

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MUSIC

ONNY maintains vibrancy after 25 years of performances

A quarter century of

classical brillianceBY LEAH BULETTI TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, ORCHESTRA of Northern New York conductor Ken-neth B. Andrews and a few fellow Crane School of Music faculty spent several nights until 4 a.m. drawing up a lists of musicians who might be interested in playing in a professional orchestra, driven by his three-pronged vision: creating a professional orchestra for the Northern New York public, providing opportunities for the professional players in the region so they didn’t have to travel such great distances for similar expe-rience and giving young high-level musi-cians at Crane the chance to perform with a professional orchestra. He then visited each and every one of the musicians’ houses, talking about what he wanted to create, before approaching SUNY Potsdam and Crane to find out if they would be willing to help sponsor and bring to fruition such a bold idea that many thought wouldn’t last more than a season. What started “on a shoestring,” driven by Mr. Andrews’ singular vision and passion, has turned into a thriving cultural gem in the north country that has not only been able to provide the opportunities he origi-nally envisioned, but, because of a wealth of volunteers and donors, stay viable at a time when many orchestras across the country are folding from financial pressures. The Syracuse Symphony and the Utica Sym-phony ceased operations in 2011.

“We have a few people that wear a lot of hats, and great volunteers and a great board — that’s the only reason that some orches-tras are making it,” Mr. Andrews said in an interview last month. Mr. Andrews, a professor at Crane since 1986 who was in May named a Distin-guished Service Professor by the SUNY

system, has conducted the orchestra, now in the midst of its 26th season entitled “Artistry and Passion,” since the beginning. But he at-tributes much of its continued vibrancy to its dedicated members, about 15 of whom have played with the group since the beginning. The majority of the other members have also been with the orchestra for five, 10, 15 and 20 years, he said. “This orchestra is an expression of his heart and soul, and his blood, sweat and tears,” said Timothy L. Savage, president of ONNY’s board of directors, Crane School visiting jazz instructor and band director at Canton Central School District. “We feel most fortunate to have someone like Ken Andrews with his vision and sustained pas-sion for what he’s done. We have musicians in the orchestra that travel from a long way away to play for this guy.” Charter trumpet player and Crane profes-sor James T. Madeja also credits much of the orchestra’s success to Mr. Andrews. “I think if the music director did not have the passion and perseverance that Ken has shown, it would have been easy for the or-chestra to fold over time,” he said. “Ken has the determination to make things happen even when the outlook isn’t so promising.” Mr. Andrews said he feels “blessed” to be able to work with so many talented musicians, some of whom are Crane faculty members, but many of whom are profes-sionals who journey from as far away as Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Rochester, Bur-

n “Autumn Serenade” Oct. 26 at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall and Oct. 27 at First Presbyterian Church in Watertownn “A Holiday Festival,” Dec. 13 at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall, Dec. 14 at Dulles State Office Building, Watertown, Dec. 15 at Mas-sena Central High Schooln “Sound the Trumpet,” Feb. 8 at Watertown’s Trinity Episcopal Church, Feb. 9 at Potsdam’s St. Mary’s Churchn “A Symphony of Dinosaurs,” March 8 at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall, featuring “Tyran-nosaurus Sue: A Crestaceous Concerto” by Bruce Adolfn “Romantic Giants,” April 26 at SUNY Pots-dam’s Hosmer Hall and April 27 in Watertown (venue TBA)n “Bravo Broadway!” July 2 at Thompson Park, Watertown, July 3, SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall

TICKETS $22 for adults, $20 for senior citizens, $10 for students and free for children 12 and younger. Season and group tickets are also available. Purchase tickets at www.onny.org.

2013-14 concert lineup

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lington, New York City, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Syracuse, Ithaca and Buffalo. “My job is to put things together, but I feel very strongly that the conductor is no more important than any other person in the or-chestra,” Mr. Andrews said. “The conductor has their ideas and has to bring their ideas to it, and has to meld everyone into one mind-set, but the people who are really sweating are the people who play.” Mr. Andrews originally considered a variety of titles for ONNY, but said he didn’t want to call it the orchestra of the north country given the wide geographic region it serves — from the St. Lawrence River all the way to Plattsburgh, and as far south as Watertown. As a regional professional orchestra, ONNY is, unlike professional orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, not a full-time occupation. For ONNY’s general concert series, typically six to seven shows per season, musicians drive in on a Thurs-day, rehearse for three hours that night, another three Friday night and another three Saturday morning, then play in Potsdam Saturday night and do a “run-out” on Sunday, traveling somewhere in the north country and returning the same day. Accordingly, Mr. Andrews said the orchestra couldn’t hope to survive without the support and use of facilities provided by Crane and SUNY Potsdam, the friends of the orchestra and business donors and the half dozen regular volunteers who coordinate the efforts of another few dozen. Mr. Savage said the 25th season was an expensive one to produce, but the orchestra saw an increase in ticket sales, individual donations and foundation funding.

“We came out better than we could have possibly hoped as a result of that increase in support, so things are on an upswing,” he said. The Northern New York Community Foundation has given ONNY a $17,000 grant for this season — a $2,000 increase

over last year — and has provided grants both for the orchestra’s July 4 concert and Watertown series totaling $45,000 over the past three years. The foundation previously provided ONNY grants totaling $30,000 for various other programs, including perfor-mances in Lewis County.

COURTESY ORCHESTRA OF NORTHERN NEW YORK

Crane School of Music profes-sor Kenneth B. Andrews has conducted the Orchestra of Northern New York for all of its 25 year history.

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ONNY has built up a $120,000 endow-ment over the last two years, which Mr. Andrews hopes will help provide a buffer to grow staff and increase musician compensa-tion going forward. “It’s about artistry and sustainability,” Mr. Savage said. “Our first mission without a doubt coming from the heart of the conduc-tor is the desire to have the highest level of artistic realization possible, the thing that we grapple with as a board is how do we retain the greatest sense of that while at the same time operating in a way that is sustainable in the market that we’re in.” To that end, ONNY has managed to keep

ticket prices down, in the last 10 years only raising prices $4. The most expensive indi-vidual ticket is $22, while tickets to orches-tras in metro areas can often be as high as $120. Catering musically to such a broad area can also be a challenge. “To keep a symphony orchestra alive in a county of 125,000 when it’s mostly rural means that we have to try to be as eclectic as our listeners’ tastes are,” Mr. Andrews said, adding that he is always open to sugges-tions for new literature and often premiers compositions by Crane faculty and world-renowned composers.

ONNY also tries to incorporate some-thing everyone will love not only in each concert, but in the structure of a season, Mr. Andrews said. Seasons typically include three classical concerts—two large orchestral concerts and a specialty baroque concert—a family and children’s concert and two pops concerts—one holiday and one summer—in addition to occasional specialty concerts. The orchestra kicked off its 26th season with a “Mostly Mozart” program in Septem-ber performed in conjunction with the final round of the Julia Crane International Piano Competition, the first year the orchestra has partnered with the competition, which has brought young pianists from around the world to Crane since 2002. ONNY also sponsors its own competition for young people, the James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Instrumental Compe-tition, that Mr. Andrews started with funds from his father who passed away in 1996 and is now in its eighth year. The competi-tion is one of the few nationwide that offers cash prizes and the opportunity to play with a professional orchestra, Mr. Andrews said. Following the January competition, this year’s winner will join the orchestra at its March family concert “A Symphony of Dino-saurs” in Potsdam. And for the most talented college musi-cians, ONNY provides apprenticeship opportunities. Mr. Andrews used to hold professional-level auditions but because of time, now bases admission on students’ chair auditions for Crane and teacher recom-mendations. “The purpose is to give students the opportunity who are at that point,” Mr. Andrews said. “If I don’t feel that there are students at that time who are capable, we don’t use any in that section.” Mr. Andrews hopes that in addition to garnering more funding to ramp up the orchestra’s “infrastructure” and staff and increase musician compensation, to do more recording and work to attract well-known rock or jazz ensembles to play with ONNY at pops or specialty concerts, or possibly add another classical concert. He also hopes to expand programming, possibly newer works and more premiers. “We are looking to some really great con-certs in the next three years and expanding some larger works,” he said. Moreover, with ONNY’s high level of musicianship, he believes the orchestra can weather a tough economic climate, even in a diverse and rural area. “The artistry of this organization is on par with orchestras with budgets ten times what our budget is,” he said.n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

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The music manWHS music director Russell Faunce leads dynamic, successful program

Members of Watertown High School’s Select Choir rehearse their production of “Forbidden Broadway” under the direction of Russell J. Faunce, who has been a powerful force in students’ success for more than 30 years.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

BY LEAH BULETTI

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO smile in the presence of Russell J. “Russ” Faunce, director of music at Watertown High School and a stalwart of musical and theatrical productions both in the district and in the community for the past three decades. Maybe it’s because he himself seems to be perpetually smiling. Or that, even carrying a stack of Scantrons and a red pen through the music department on a recent Friday afternoon, he seems easy going and exudes his philosophy, with an encouraging yet serious demeanor: that, simply, with hard work and dedication, success will come. And come it has to the students in his choirs, though Mr. Faunce himself is quick to self-deprecating laugh off almost every mention of his role in it. In his 32 years of teaching at the high school, he’s never not had a student make it to the New York State School Music Association All-State Confer-ence for choir, the most prestigious and competitive competition for a high school band, chorus or orchestra student. Selection requires a near perfect score on the highest, most grueling level of NYSSMA solo — even three points below 100 usually doesn’t make the cut. And it’s not just one student. In 2003, he sent a record eight. Last year, he sent four. “Part of it is that I know the process so well,” he said. “I know the music really well, the sight-reading parts. I’m such a stickler for teaching that stuff.” Mr. Faunce served as the All-State chorus chair for from 2005 to 2009. But knowing the music and the process is only half the battle; Mr. Faunce begins NYSSMA solo preparation with students four to five months out, in the beginning rehearsing once a week, then four to five times per week one to two months out. Given that he typically has 75 students prepare solos, one third for All-State, that preparation is no small time investment. “The preparation shows off more than

the actual performance—you can be com-pletely prepared and not have a good day and do a better job than people who are not nearly as prepared and have a good day,” he said. “I don’t do unprepared. We just don’t do that here.” Senior Rachael M. Coon was one stu-dent who invested hours in preparation and came up heartbreakingly short last spring, narrowly missing the All-State cut with a score of 97. She worked with Mr. Faunce on four different solos, which he does with most students, choosing the student’s strongest as the date draws near. Mr. Faunce said the two speculated that she would have been in the 99-100 range necessary for All-State in the week before the competition, even though they changed the key of her solo in the days prior. Ms. Coon, who also studies pri-vately, said she was singing the song six to seven times a day in the last two months. “She was disappointed, but she had no reason to be disappointed because what she learned from the experience was far greater

than the 97,” Mr. Faunce said. “She worked so hard.” Ms. Coon, who is playing the lead role in WHS’s fall musical Anything Goes, is also a member of Select Choir and has traveled with the group to Disney World and New York City. She’s planning to study music education in college. She said Select Choir, which has 32 primarily upperclassmen members on average, is sometimes intense, but mainly just fun. “It’s something you look forward to every day,” she said. The choir practices every day 7th period and every Monday night. About 40 to 50 students vie for about 10 to 20 openings each year, Mr. Faunce said. Admission usually requires a 97 or higher on a Level 6 NYSSMA solo. Despite Ms. Coon’s own clear self-moti-vation, she credits much of her success to Mr. Faunce’s tutelage. “He pushes us, he pushes us definitely,” she said. “He always sets the bar

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high for us and he always finds a way, even when it seems like we’re never go-ing to make it, we always make it. I don’t know how he does it, but he makes it hap-pen for us.” And even though she’s involved in various other school activities, she credits the music program with making her who she is today. “As a person, I’ve grown a lot,” she said. “When I came my freshman year, I was a very shy person and I didn’t talk much, but now I got a little bit sassy and I’m pretty loud. I think the music program here has definitely made me who I am and given

me the confidence I need to be successful.” Mr. Faunce, who studied piano at the Crane School of Music, Potsdam, credits becoming a choral instructor with his experience student teaching in the Water-town School District, after which he was hired to teach full-time in the district. “When I student taught, that’s kind of when it all turned around and I got really excited about teaching,” he said. “I wasn’t a musical theater person either until I student taught.” He now directs and plays piano in an average of two musicals per year, which have been immensely popular with the community.

He’s teaching a beginning piano course at the high school this year after several years of hiatus and said he loves seeing the students go from frustrated for the first two weeks then suddenly “get it,” the most rewarding part of his job. “Rarely if ever do I say you should have worked harder,” he said. “We just don’t have that here. The kids that I work with here are hard-working kids.” He also characterizes his approach as one of honesty, about all facets of a stu-dent’s performance. “I’m all about praise, but not until it’s earned,” he said. “If it’s not good or something’s wrong, I really take a real responsibility in fixing it and making it better.” As with the doctor and most things in life, there’s always something about one’s singing that can be improved upon. “The voice is like muscles in your arm — if you don’t continually practice with them and use them, it’s going to fall back,” he said. “Even if you’re excellent when you come in in 9th grade, there’s still room for growth. I really live my life that way. It’d be nice to think my house was perfect and the car was clean all the time, but it’s just not.” Mr. Faunce has taken Select Choir to Disney about seven times, and will be returning with the group this year. The group has always placed in the top three, and a few years ago won first place for attitude and behavior while in California, an award he said was a true testament to the type of students he has. Select Choir is also active in the community, includ-ing singing and performing at the annual Senior Citizen Luncheon in December. Mr. Faunce himself is also active in local stage productions. He produced the Miss New York State Scholarship Pageant for five years while it was held in Watertown along with co-producer and choreog-rapher David A. Simmons. The two are also involved with the annual Miss Italia Pageant at the Bravo Italiano Festival. While Mr. Faunce said the music depart-ment typically has five to six students a year go on to some form of music career, he believes the values of discipline, prepa-ration, commitment and perseverance that students learn through preparing for NYS-SMA, choir and musicals prepare them to be successful in a broad range of careers. “I don’t have Broadway stars or an American Idol, but what I do have is a lot of kids who have gone on to a lot of suc-cessful careers—doctors, lawyers, teachers. I think in order to be successful in those

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high-powered careers ... I like to feel that I’ve helped them in those,” he said. And past students, many of whom he stays in touch with, glowingly say that indeed he has. “Among all of my primary and second-ary school educators, Russ stands out as one of the three or four teachers who so greatly made an impression on me that I still recall his guidance today in my career and everyday life,” Shelby Cohen, a 1995 WHS graduate and Select Choir member, said. She also participated in All-State, after acing a song she says she still re-members 20 years later, and over the years has returned to help Mr. Faunce with his NYSSMA work to give back. Ms. Cohen, who now works in public relations in the Ithaca area, traveled nu-merous times with the choir. Mr. Faunce was able to get the choir a gig performing for the Miss America Convention of state volunteers in the city, for Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford at the famous Sar-dis Restaurant, an experience she called “unforgettable.” At the other competi-tions, she said all of the choir’s members performed with immense pride in WHS because of his leadership and the way he had prepared them, she said.

And she said Mr. Faunce’s mentorship led her to her career choice. “From my interactions with him, I learned that I have a voice that can lead,” she said. “I was never the strongest vocal-ist in the choir—Russ knew it and I knew it — but he developed me as a character actress, leader and public speaker.” That individualized attention, coupled with his balance of fun and hard work, demanding toughness and compassion, is what makes Mr. Faunce and the program

he’s built and sustained so unique, she said. “Through classes, choirs, rehearsals, musicals and trips, he gets to know each student better than they know them-selves at that age,” she said. “He then knows how to reward the positive as-pects of someone’s character while doling out appropriate discipline to discourage the negative ones.” “He’s remarkable, in a word.”

Watertown High School music direc-tor Russell J. “Russ” Faunce ac-companies the WHS select choir during a 2006 rehearsal.

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS FILE PHOTO

n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

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INTERVIEW

Dean Michael Sitton on the school’s unique learning approach

Crane front and center on music

education stageJULIA CRANE FOUNDED SUNY Potsdam’s renowned Crane School of Mu-sic in 1886 as one of the first national in-stitutions dedicated to preparing students to teach music in public schools. Crane continues that mission of superb music instruction today, with 590 undergradu-ate and 30 graduate students and a faculty of 70 teachers and professional staff. The campus hosts more than 300 vibrant recit-als, lectures and concerts by faculty, stu-dents and guest artists each year at three prestigious concert venues. We sat down with Crane’s Dean, Michael R. Sitton, who was appointed to the position in 2009, to find out how the school continues to attract high-caliber students and perform-ers and position students to be at the fore-front of the music world as educators and performers. Mr. Sitton previously served as dean of fine arts at Eastern New Mexico University and as a faculty member and ad-ministrator at Hollins University in Virginia. He is also an accomplished pianist and com-poser who holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and literature from the University of Illinois, a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree from Mars Hill College, in his home state of North Carolina.

NNYL: What percentage of Crane students are studying to be music educators versus perform-ers? How much do those curriculums align? What about music business?SITTON: Crane began as “the birthplace of music education in America,” and continues to hold the preparation of music teachers as critical to its mission, while it has added other programs over the years. Roughly 60 to 70 percent of our students are pursuing degrees in music education, with the next highest percentage, in the 20 to 30 percent range, in performance. Music business is next, a growing program now that well over 10 percent of our students are pursuing. Those numbers may not seem to quite add up correctly; that’s because a significant number of our students choose to double major, for example in music education and performance or in performance and music business. Music business has been at Crane for almost 15 years and it is enrolling, through different major and minor options, an annually increasing number of students. Many students in the music education or performance majors are recognizing that busi-ness skills are to their advantage in the competi-tive marketplace, so are adding music business as a double major or as a minor.

NNYL: How does a focus on learning to be a musical educator help with studying to be a performer and vice versa?SITTON: I believe that Crane has always

been a school where a strong connection has been made between excellence in teaching and a high level of musical performance. Students in all our programs engage in many aspects of performance and have high performance expectations—as soloists and as participants in a variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles. Performance, after all, is simply making music and the goal of a music teacher is to engender that in others. I have been at other institutions where there seemed to be a sharp division in performance expecta-tions between students studying performance and education. While our performance students are required to meet certain specific performance-related goals, all our students at Crane are deeply engaged in all levels of per-formance, and many music education students are extremely strong performers who happen to have chosen the career path of teaching.

NNYL: Does SUNY Potsdam’s test optional ad-mission policy cater well to Crane students who may have more applicable musical experience not reflected in test scores? What factors are particularly prized in admission to the school and have you seen admission grow more competitive in your tenure as Dean?SITTON: The admission process at Crane is competitive, and has been fairly consistent in terms of competitiveness during the time I have been Dean. While we certainly have some

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COURTESY CRANE

Crane School of Music Dean Michael R. Sitton.

applicants who are seeking Crane admission as their primary goal, over time we have seen high-achieving applicants who are looking at a group of schools and auditioning at several institutions so the competitiveness is not only on the part of our students, but on our own part. I feel that SUNY Potsdam’s test-optional policy has been valuable for the institution as a whole, but it’s hard to isolate its impact on Crane. Admission to Crane is focused strongly on the audition process, through which we seek the strongest students in each studio area so that we have a consistent and balanced enrollment to fill our studios and create an array of ap-propriately balanced ensembles. The audition focus was true before the test-optional policy went into effect; we feel that we focus strongly on each applicant’s musical ability and on their potential to succeed in our program. Faculty work very hard to make a judgment based on the “whole picture” of an individual, which is what the test-optional policy seeks to do.

NNYL: How does Crane work to attract such high caliber performers to the school? Are there any challenges to attracting such guests and teachers to the school given Potsdam’s location?SITTON: Our premier guest artist series, the Community Performance Series, engages high-level performers through professional bookings, working with Crane faculty to obtain recommendations about artists to seek each year. Other performers come to us through con-nections with our artist faculty, who invite them to perform as guests or as collaborators. Oc-casionally our location poses some challenges, usually related to transportation, but it does not prevent us from attracting a strong roster of guest artists each year. Our reputation rests largely on the continuing strong achievements of our faculty, alumni and current students. Our alumni are very loyal and frequently take op-portunities to make their connections to Crane known in the wider world. We’ve had alumni who have achieved tremendous success in per-formance, as music educators and education leaders, and as leaders in music industry; all of these add to Crane’s reach and reputation. We also take advantage of opportunities to take our current students out from Potsdam in perfor-mance, conference and other opportunities.

NNYL: How specifically do you work to inno-vate Crane’s curriculum to stay abreast of chang-ing teaching styles? What are some particularly unique aspects of Crane’s method of teaching?SITTON: In addition to a strong level of one-on-one engagement in studio instruction, stu-dent/faculty research, and other experiences, a few other things seem distinctive to me about music study at Crane. One is an emphasis on real-world experience. Examples include a wide range of practicum teaching experiences, where, under close Crane faculty supervision, our students are actively engaged in teaching themselves. These include work with children from the community in our National String Proj-ect program and piano pedagogy program, work with St. Mary’s School in Canton, work

with the New Horizons Band program, among others. Our music business program places its students in short practica in various businesses, and then requires a very substantial intern-ship, which often has led to job opportunities for successful students. Our network of music teachers throughout the state and beyond also provides some unique curricular experiences, including ones where alumni teaching in schools across the state link back via Internet 2 to our Crane classrooms, offering our students a window into a real-world classroom. Our recent graduates have continued to be successful in finding employment, despite the challenges that everyone knows about; our last survey of recent graduates indicated that more than 95 percent of music education graduates were either in jobs or enrolled in graduate school. It is now more important for students to cast a wide net for job opportunities. Music teaching jobs are available, but they may not be available in specific locations. Music business majors have been remarkably successful in obtaining em-ployment across a wide range of companies, from products to publishing, arts management to retail, in large part because of the music busi-ness internship program and the connections it forges with companies. We also take a group of students every year to serve as floor interns at the main music industry trade show, the NAMM Show, in California, which also produces many connections that lead to jobs.

NNYL: This summer the school installed equipment for streaming live video of concerts. How does that benefit students and audience members?SITTON: The technology makes Crane perfor-mances available anywhere in the world where the Internet is available. Families of our current students can see and hear performances of fam-

ily members, and our alumni across the country and beyond can remain connected to us. Prospective students can experience a range of faculty, ensemble and guest performances. The technology also allows students on the streaming crew to learn about video production and other useful skills. We have just started exploring and using this exciting technology so we have not yet fully realized its potential.

NNYL: What percentage of Crane students are foreign versus from the U.S. or from New York state?SITTON: The majority of our students are from New York state, although they truly represent the entire state, including strong representation from Long Island, which goes back many years and relates to our alumni presence there. We have a strong group of out-of-state students and some international students each year. We are continually look-ing for new opportunities to engage interna-tional students and to send our students to other countries for educational experiences.

NNYL: Crane purchased 141 Steinway pianos in 2007 in the largest single acquisition of new Steinway pianos in the company’s 154-year history. Did that change anything either in terms of the school’s reputation or instruction?SITTON: The identification with the Steinway brand and its unique level of artistic prestige has been an important asset for the school. We are now listed along with other elite American institutions on Steinway’s advertise-ments about All-Steinway Schools. With that status has come a number of special opportu-nities, including annual recitals that our faculty have presented at Steinway Hall in Manhattan for the past three years, and our ability to hold piano auditions there, which we did for the first time last year. Crane is in good company as an All-Steinway School.

NNYL: As someone who has worked all over the country, what drew you to Crane and the area?SITTON: I was drawn to Crane by the profile of the school and the opportunity that this posi-tion represented, in terms of helping build on Crane’s tradition and contributing to its future. It is tremendously rewarding to be at Crane, with its dedicated, high-achieving faculty and energetic, bright and talented student body. I’m especially gratified to have been involved in SUNY Potsdam’s ongoing “Take the Lead” comprehensive campaign, where a number of very significant Crane gifts have pushed the campaign toward its $27 million goal. I also love the north country and have enjoyed getting to know the community, both in its cultural and human resources, and in its spectacular natural setting. For me, living in a village like Potsdam and having access both to the four-season rec-reational opportunities in the Adirondack Park and to the urban attractions of Montreal and Ottawa is just about ideal.

— Interview by Leah BulettiEdited for length and clarity.

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AMANDA MORRISON PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

A sound all their ownNorth country favorite Fred & the Eds stands test of time

Frederick H. “Fred” Lanham, the Fred in the band Fred & the Eds, starts a song while members of the crowd begin to move closer to the stage on a recent Friday night at the Pad-dock Club, Watertown.

BY LEAH BULETTI

DISCO MIGHT SUCK, TO USE THE expression in vogue in the early 1970s when rock and rollers began to feel their genre was being infiltrated by a less pure form of music, but seven-piece rock bands that just want to play songs that keep people dancing all night long most certainly don’t. At least not in the north country, where local favorite Fred & the Eds has made a name for itself on the dance floor and through its unique story over the past 16 years. As most locals know, the “Eds” in the band’s name doesn’t stand for a member’s name, but for educators; the band’s original members were all teachers at Indian River

School District who got together to play at a talent show to teach students a thing or two about real rock and roll. Frederick H. “Fred” Lanham, who is one of three original members still in the band’s seven-member lineup today (it’s had 29 different

members since forming in 1996), was the token non-teacher in the group. “It was supposed to just be a one night thing and it turned into 16 years,” Mr. Lanham said on a recent Friday night while preparing for a performance at the Paddock Club, a Watertown venue the group frequents, transforming the bar’s static armchair and table setup into a pulsating, blinking, vibrant dance floor. He adds with a laugh: “I’m still the uneducated one.” From its inception, Fred & the Eds, or FATE, wanted to be a dance band, ac-cording to Mr. Lanham, who is a retired police officer and has been playing guitar since he was 11 when he moved to a new neighborhood and “had to play it if I wanted to fit in.” He also plays

Frederick H. “Fred” Lanham performs with Fred & the Eds at Watertown’s Paddock Club recently.

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harmonica, mandolin and banjo in the band, and sings lead vocals. “There are songs I don’t like, but they get people on the dance floor,” he said. “If the song doesn’t get the right reaction, we drop it in a heartbeat.” Dance music makes the night go by faster for its members as well. “It makes us feel accomplished—like our ideas are working, our song selection is working. It gives us the confidence to keep going,” he said. FATE has about 80 songs in its reper-toire, but has learned more than 300 in its impressive run, primarily music from the 60s and 70s, with a little 80s and 90s, Mr. Lanham said. The band typically prac-tices a few times per month and as often as two to three times per week when it has upcoming gigs. It usually plays around 44 gigs a year, including about four to five weddings, though this sum-mer it played seven times in 10 days, and it’s booked for the next three New Years straight, a demand the band attributes to its focus on dance music. “Our secret is that [other bands] play what they want. We play dance music,” said bass player Michel D. Rainville, a retired TV producer who joined the band in February, 2009. Such a focus on fun dance music seems in some ways like an odd juxtaposition for teachers — all current members except Mr. Lanham have some tie to academia—but the band members shrug off questions about how their professions impact their playing; it’s no longer an explicit part of the band’s identity, but more a quirky anecdote about its beginnings. “Once you get in with a bunch of people with the same interests in music, you forget about their other occupations,” Mr. Lanham said. “You’re part of a crew.” J. Thomas Murray, who plays drums and percussion and sings lead vocals, is another original member who still teaches art, photography and computer graphics at Jefferson Community College. He was chairman of the art department at Indian River schools, where he worked down the hall from current trombone player Jim Oxenford, and also taught at SUNY Empire State College. “Educators tend to be good at commu-nicating, which is important because you need to be able to talk to each other,” he said of the impact of the teaching profes-sion on the band.

Teachers also tend to be good at compartmentalizing, which he said is important in their band. With families and other commitments, band members have their own specialties and areas of responsibility: Mr. Rainville does the books, Mr. Lanham is the music historian and choses most of the band’s music (“If it gets by Fred we’ll probably play it,” Mr. Murray says), Mr. Oxenford is the music director, making play lists for every concert and saxophone player Shannon M. Whitney is the social chair. Mr. Oxenford, also an original mem-

ber, is an English teacher at Indian River, while Ms. Whitney, of Adams Center, was previously a special education teacher at Indian River and is now a special educa-tion administrator at Watertown School District. Jeffrey A. Wood, trumpet and percussion, was born in Alexandria Bay. He previously taught computer network-ing at JCC and now works in information technology. Steve Martin, lead guitar, key-boards, percussion and vocals, a graduate of SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Mu-sic and a music teacher at Indian River, completes the band’s lineup.

Top, Steve Martin provides backing vocals while playing lead guitar for Fred & the Eds. Above, the band — a local favorite since 1996 — plays a four-set gig at the Paddock Club on a recent Friday night.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

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Ms. Whitney joined the band in 1999 after Mr. Oxenford’s wife told her about the musicians and she attended a Tuesday night rehearsal. One rehearsal was all it took to hook her, despite a busy schedule with family and competitive horse show-ing nationwide. She’s one of only a few women to play with the the band, including bass player Christine Bach who left at the end of 2008 after several years with the group. Ms. Whitney said she loves the cama-raderie of FATE, as well as seeing people dancing and having a great time. “The core group of guys, they just love every piece. They’re fun to be around,”

she said. “It’s almost like a second family.” Her love for the group has also impas-sioned her son, Seth, who is 8 years old and has been taking guitar lessons for two years. He “absolutely loves the band,” she said, listening to their music and trailing her to every gig not held in a bar and reli-giously attends Tuesday night rehearsals. Despite the fact that many of the members are retired, they have no plans to stop playing and have managed to bounce back from member losses and sickness in remarkable fashion, in 16 years only ever cancelling two shows: Once when Mr. Lanham was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He was playing

again in just three weeks. “I do believe we have a lot of time to play,” Mr. Lanham said. “There’s so much resiliency in this band.” Though FATE currently practices in Mr. Murray’s cellar in Brownville, they once for a time rehearsed in a milk barn in Chaumont, where the heat was “like a volcano,” resulting in frigid instruments closer to the floor. Neither do any of FATE’s members do it for the fame — all say that you join a seven-piece band with the knowledge that you’re not doing it for the money and while they could travel to perform in a larger geographic radius for gigs and have been invited to do so, they’re content with what they make here in their north country home. And with all the obstacles and familial sacrifices, more than the fulfillment of seeing people get on the dance floor and have a good time, the members agree that the band is a way to keep up their own spirits, through friendship and laughter. “The only reason I do this and I keep doing this is because I laugh all the time,” Mr. Murray said. “We just rag at each other constantly. We laugh all the time.”

Fred & the Eds perform at the Paddock Club, Watertown, while the crowd dances on a recent Friday night. The band has been playing for nearly 20 years.AMANDA MORRISON | NNY LIVING

n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

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Music is their ‘agenda’Inspired by loss of friend, musicians come together

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, ROCK band Wagner’s Agenda has made a rapid rise to fame in the north country, now a mainstay at such popular venues as O’Brien’s Restaurant, the John Hoover Inn and Time Warp, and a frequent face at benefit concerts, known for their ener-getic and lively performances. The band formed after a benefit concert for friend Keith E. Brabant, a Clayton resident and lifelong musician, shortly after his death at the age of 33 in April 2010. Wagner’s Agenda still performs at the summer benefit, now called KeithFest and in its fourth year, which raises money for the Keith Brabant Music Scholarship for students who live in Jefferson County. Wagner’s Agenda was originally com-posed of Ian Wagner, who left shortly after its inception and now plays acoustic guitar locally under the name Ian Wag-ner Unplugged, Robert Perkins, still the band’s guitar player and violinist, Tom Contino, Justin Reynolds and Gino Cap-puccetti—all members of the jazz fusion band Queen August, through which Mr. Cappuccetti and Mr. Perkins have been playing together for about six years. Current member and percussionist Mark Getman joined the band in late 2010, and last month bass guitarist An-drew Willis replaced longtime singer An-thony Ubriaco and Josh Allen, who had replaced Justin Reynolds, bringing the band’s current lineup to Mr. Getman, Mr. Cappuccetti, Mr. Willis and Mr. Perkins. Mr. Wagner, originally of Fairbanks, Alaska is a veteran and said he played throughout his military career but wasn’t known in the area upon his return until

serendipitously getting together with Wagner’s Agenda following the Keith Brabant benefit. He attributes much of his solo success to his association with the band, though he said the two acts draw different crowds and frequent different venues now, “each doing our own thing.” “Wagner’s Agenda has really become

quite big,” he said. “A lot of my success has to do with them. I wouldn’t be as well known in the community especially being an outsider if my name hadn’t been attached to that band all along.” Mr. Cappuccetti, the band’s keyboard-ist, who also serves as the band’s book-ing agent, said Wagner’s Agenda is

BY LEAH BULETTI

Wagner’s Agenda performs during the 2013 KeithFest at Coyote Moon Vineyards, Clayton. The music festi-val is a benefit concert for Keith E. Brabant, a Clayton resident and lifelong musician who died at the age of 33 in April 2010 and a friend of the members of Wagner’s Agenda. Now in its fourth year, KeithFest raises money for the Keith Brabant Music Scholarship for students who live in Jefferson County.

PHOTO COURTESY MELODY BRABANT

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unique in that it provides opportunities for the entire music community to get involved, which fans like to see. “You can get up and play with us—no other bands really do that,” he said. “You want to do a harp solo and you know how to jam, then get up and play. I think that’s why we have a good following.” He also attributes the band’s fairly rapid rise to success with the fact that Wagner’s Agenda “started playing from the bottom,” in backyards and at the De-pauville Hotel—still their “hub,” where the band got its start during Thursday

night jam sessions and frequently still plays. Both Mr. Cappuccetti and Mr. Getman were classmates at LaFargeville High School, where they both say they discovered their love of music, with Mr.

Cappuccetti originally playing tuba, trombone and baritone in the district’s music program. “We didn’t turn down anything,” Mr. Getman said. “We played multiple benefits. As soon as we got into places—O’Brien’s started having us—we just played a lot.” Wagner’s Agenda plays a broad variety of music — the 60s through the 90s primarily, but also up to today — and typically plays two to three gigs per week, and as many as four to five. The band also plays numerous benefits both large and small in the area, including one held for the Newtown Memorial Fund last winter, one this summer for Water-town resident Todd Gilpin, who passed away suddenly from a brain aneurysm in May, and an upcoming one on Jan. 18 for deceased Sackets Harbor firefighter Garrett Loomis. The band members all agree that their popularity is due in part to their antics and energy that make all shows, includ-ing benefits, which Mr. Cappuccetti notes the north country “rocks,” fun. “That’s the name of the game for us as far as music goes—just get out there and have fun, have a big variety of music to play,” he said, adding with a laugh, “and showoff.” Mr. Cappuccetti in particular is known for wild, sometimes clothes-less, antics on stage. “A lot of people of all ages see us and feel part of us,” he said. And Wagner’s Agenda has made a name for itself in the north country. This summer the band was invited to jam at O’Briens with two founding members and brothers of the band Blue Oyster Cult, Joe and Albert Bouchard, who re-turned to their native Clayton to play at the Clayton Opera House. With the addi-tion of Mr. Willis, the band also hopes to soon expand its performance reach into Central New York and the Southern Tier, Mr. Cappuccetti said. “You’re going to see a little bit of a different side of Wagner’s Agenda,” Mr. Perkins said of the addition of Mr. Willis, a Watertown native who has been play-ing in various bands for 19 years. “But I think it’s going to be all positive…people see it as a breath of fresh air.”

You can get up and play with us. No other bands really do that.

— Gino Cappuccetti, keyboardist, Wagner’s Agenda

‘‘

n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

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a group approach he used to teach organ to adults for teaching piano to groups of children, using the Mayron Cole Piano Method based in Texas. He began experi-menting with it this summer, through classes at the North Country Arts Council, the Carthage YMCA, the Fairgrounds YMCA and Double Play Sports Com-munity Center in Lowville, and had more than 60 students take part. He teaches using a fleet of seven digi-tal pianos, each about 4 feet long, and

also uses games and other age-appropri-ate activities. This September he told the Times that “as far as I know, I am the only teacher offering group piano les-sons for kids in the north country,” add-ing that he believes his method results in higher retention rates in attendance and knowledge than more traditional private lessons. But the method, in the end, is of second-ary importance to the benefits of exposing and immersing children in music. Mrs. Johnson said she thinks all chil-dren should study music, and started

piano with her own daughter at the age of two (it was a little too young, she acknowledges, and they began again “in earnest” at four). “I think music education is really im-portant,” she said. “Music and the arts are what transcend life, what helps us find joy and beauty. I think it’s so important, even if a student doesn’t become a performer, to have an understanding and apprecia-tion of music.”

PIANISTS, from page 33

n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY maga-zines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti@wdt.net.

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Fall colors your wardrobe with a splash of fun this year

Fall fashion: The must-haves

& must-knowTEXT AND PHOTOS BY LYNN M. PIETROSKI

function. This transition can be seamless if you have the suggested trends for fall within arm’s reach.

THE MUST HAVES A few basic necessities should always be in one’s closet.

MMOST KNOW OF THE FAMOUS American clothing designer Ralph Lauren, who built a fashion empire from his sportswear line that continues today as a centerpiece. He was once quoted about style and his words ring true for many of us: “Style is very personal. It has noth-ing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” Nonetheless, trends each year are made public and the “who’s who” of the fashion industry highlight those “must haves.” But is fashion really about what a person “must have” or is it more about what a person wants and feels more comfortable with, and is socially accept-able depending on the venue? A person’s wardrobe and fashion sense really can tell a story about an individual.

FALL COLORS According to Pantone Fashion and Home, colors trending for 2013 are Emer-ald, Linden Green, Mykonos Blue, Acai, Samba, Koi, Vivacious, Deep Linchen Green, Turbulence and Carafe. Not only do they look good, but they also sound fun. Most people make several transitions during the course of a day from an office setting to an evening dinner or social

Left page, model Katie Machia is wearing black leggings, a simple black turtleneck sweater with a gray wool poncho-style jacket and a long beaded necklace, all from California-based apparel company Ya Los Angeles at New Attitude Boutique, Sackets Harbor. Above, colorful pashmina by Ya Los Angeles wraps the warmth around Katie, as her look is all about accessory. An over-the-shoulder purse, fingerless gloves and large colorful earrings complete the ensemble.

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A simple black blazer that can be worn to the office or with skinny jeans, and a simple tee for those weekend getaways are among them. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Rich, colorful flowing scarves are also must-haves and can be worn year-round, depending on the material, of course. Scarves can change the look of an outfit and can be worn in so many ways. Staying with accessories, statement necklaces should be big, bold and beauti-ful. Necklaces can add such character and style to a person. They can dress up a simple T-shirt, a little black dress — which is another absolute must-have — a suit or even a sweater. Don’t forget to pick up an oversized watch to complete the look. Take yourself back to Oz and add some red shoes to your list. Red heels or flats are taking style and fashion by storm. If you want to add a pop of color to an outfit, bring out the red shoes. Not only are hot colors trending, but they are fun and make a statement. Want to add a little more style to your collection? Layer various lengths of drape-style clothing to add volume and then cinch the look with a nice belt. White in the fall and winter was once taboo, but it’s back and it adds a crisp, tailored and polished look. As with all fashion and styles, there are so many factors to consider. The venue, the season, the color goes with a person’s skin tone, age and, most importantly, whether it is your style. THE LOOK: A jacket and blazer never looked so ... chic. THE KEY: A cropped trouser cut and emblazoned T-shirt give the traditional suit a whole new spin. THE LOOK: Print-on-print can work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. if it’s in a more con-servative silhouette. THE KEY: Go for an outfit that’s busy in pattern but not in color. A uniform white or neutral background grounds multiple prints and gives them cohesiveness. THE LOOK: A full skirt goes pro with the right pairings. THE KEY: The mid-calf length is ideal for more conservative settings; add a slim blouse or blazer to balance out the volume down below. THE LOOK: A family of neutral knits is an excellent alternative to a traditional suit. THE KEY: Play with varying lengths, but cinch those drape-style fabrics with a belt. THE LOOK: Tried-and-true mono-chromatic always works, but a little detail offers a twist on the classic. THE KEY: Add something: a broach, a state-ment necklace or an accent detail on the shirt to elevate the classic pairing. As I have visited local businesses, the Salmon Run Mall and other north country

Model Katie Machia is wearing print leggings, a simple black sweater with a colorful neck-lace and large earrings by Ya Los Angeles at New Attitude Boutique in Sackets Harbor. With a few minor adjustments, it’s easy to quickly change your look.

shopping venues, I realized these trends and styles are right at my finger tip. There is a quaint boutique in Sackets Harbor, New Attitude Boutique, that had all the pizzazz I was looking for – infinity scares, Pashminas, clutches galore and statement piece jewelry. This became the one-stop shop for trendy clothes seen on New York City fashion run-ways, but clearly more favorably priced.

New Attitude Boutique brings a nice twist of trendy, yet professional. Within a few steps of New Attitude Bou-tique, another Sackets Harbor hotspot is home to names such as Vera Bradley, Brighton Jew-elry and charm-ing items that

will have you spinning with excitement. Katie Machia, 16, a Watertown model, joined me on an adventure to local shops and talked fashion with me. Katie stayed true to the trends of layering, accessorizing and wearing outfits that were her style.n LYNN M. PIETROSKI is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Sackets Harbor. Contact her at lpietroski@watertownny.com

Pantone 2013 fall fashion colors EMERALD MYKONOS BLUE SAMBA ACAI TURBULENCE

KOI LINDEN GREEN VIVACIOUS CARAFE DEEP LICHEN GREEN

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FOOD

BY BOO WELLS

I LOVE LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE’S LIFE STORIES, especially those that involve family and food. Most of us have at least a few wonderful memories involving food and if you are re-ally fortunate you have a couple of hysterical memories.

We use food to celebrate all types of occasions. We have certain dishes that define our holiday table, family recipes, newly created tradi-tions and ones that are passed down from generation to generation.

When my sister and brother-in-law got married, they started one of their own food traditions. On Christmas Eve for the last 30 years their fam-ily has celebrated by eating pancakes for dinner. Now, these are not your everyday, run of the mill, same old-same old pancakes with boring butter and ho-hum maple syrup. These people really take pancakes to a whole new level, no box mix here.

The tradition is that everyone in the family gets to pick their favorite pancake toppings. My brother-in-law: smoked salmon

and caviar. My sister: vanilla bean ice cream and fresh berries. My nephews: lemon custard and powdered sugar.

I have a friend who makes a pilgrimage to Paris now and again to visit friends and family. She has a culinary tradition that rekindles memories of her life in France. It begins with classic flan from Poilâne, chewy nougat from La Reine Astrid and fin-ishes with delicate macaron from Ladurée. While she can’t easily transport these delicacies back to the north country, the memo-ries of these delicious treats and the lovely pâtisseries that serve them is with her forever.

Of coarse, not all food memories or food traditions are fabu-lous. The memory (and smell) from a rotten tomato fight with his older sibling has prevented my middle son, Patrick, from eating tomatoes for the past seven years. The putrid tomato slime dripping down his face created a food memory that he may never forget.

The traditional family meal in my house growing up was a roast chicken, boiled white rice and frozen baby peas. This was the meal that said: “Welcome home,” “Congratulations,” “Don’t worry,” “Feel better,” “I’m sorry your boyfriend dumped you” and “I love you.”

The meal conveyed a message through perfectly golden, crispy chicken skin, moist dark and tender white meat. The pan drip-pings glisten when poured over the buttered and salted white rice. The baby peas appear crisp, barely cooked, and roll around on the plate. The entire

house smells of roasted chicken. But it is more than just the smell of cooked meat, it is the smell

that feels like a down quilt wrapped around you on a cold win-ter day. It is a difficult scent to describe. It is a feeling more than it is a smell. It is the feeling and the memory of home.

Let the aromas of fall, home waft with simple roast chickenn Stuffed with fresh vegetables, roast chicken is a versatile fall meal

BOO WELLS is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. Contact her at sacketsfarm housekitchen@gmail.com or visit www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

It is more than just the smell of cooked meat, it is the smell that feels like a down quilt wrapped around you on a cold winter day. It is a difficult scent to describe. It is a feeling more than it is

a smell. It is the feeling and the memory of home.

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18406 U.S. Route 11 Watertown, New York

Phone: (315) 788-6022

WWW.WAITETOYOTA.COM

COME VISIT THE ALL NEW REDESIGNED WAITE TOYOTA. SALES SERVICE Serving NNY Since 1929.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

Simple roast chickenSERVINGS: Four

INGREDIENTS1 tablespoon kosher salt½ teaspoon pepper1 (3½ to 4 pound) whole chicken3 to 4 tablespoons butterAromatics for stuffing the cavity:1 large onion, quartered1 lemon, thickly sliced4 garlic cloves, smashed1 bunch sage

INSTRUCTIONSAdjust oven rack to middle position, heat

oven to 350 F.Combine the salt and pepper in bowl.

Thoroughly rinse the inside and outside of the chicken under cool running water. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and rub the entire surface with butter. Sprinkle the exterior surface of the chicken evenly with the salt and pepper mixture.

Stuff the cavity with the aromatics and then tie the legs together with cotton cooking twine. Tuck the wing tips under the cooking twine. Place the chicken, breast side up, in a roasting pan on a rack or create a rack with peeled carrots, celery or onions.

Transfer roasting pan to preheated oven. Roast the chicken approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The internal temperature of a prop-erly cooked chicken is 165 degrees in the thigh meat. The juices should be clear.

Transfer chicken to carving board and let rest, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Carve and serve.

To view an instructional video of chef Boo Wells, owner of the Farm House Kitchen, preparing her simple roast chicken, visit www.nnyliving.com/?p=3323 or scan the QR code with your smartphone below.

Above, roast chicken makes a perfect, simple meal that can be stuffed with a

variety of aromatics, including sage, apples, celery and other fresh herbs and

vegetables that will spread the irresistable scents of fall throughout your house.

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Call 315-782-1012 or (800) 724-1012 for details on how you can get delivery started today!

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LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL SPORTS • LOCAL VIEWS W W W A T E R T O W N A T E R T O W N D A I LY T I M E S D A I LY T I M E S

‘Moving target’BY TOM BRUYERE / OGDENSBURG

MEDIUM: Digital photograph

CAMERA: Nikon D7000, ISO 200, f/8, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 18-55mm lens

DATE: May 2013

PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES: “I used HDR to capture both the sky and the foreground with

exposures of 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 sec at f8. The photo was done in late May from a moving boat while trolling for walleye near Crossover Island on the St. Lawrence River.”

My NNY: Give us your best image. If you have captured a snippet of NNY through your lens or on canvas, email it to us at nnyliving@wdt.net.

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