Published in The Post-Star (D1)
10/25/06
Most people know the basics: white goes with fish, red goes with steak, and wine in a box should simply go.
But it's a little tougher when the menu includes things like pumpkin gnocchi, grilled wild boar chop, and foie gras ice cream.
Uncorking the full potential of fine wines means pairing them with the proper flavors in food, according to Steven Kahn, director of wine services at Sargo's restaurant in Saratoga Springs.
"We, as an American society, drink what we like as opposed to what makes the food taste better," he explained. "But you go to Europe, you don't buy a bottle of wine with dinner, they give you a different glass with each course."
Following the European model, Sargo's and several other local restaurants offer monthly wine-pairing dinners, offering a chance for the culinarily curious to explore the marriage of vineyard and kitchen.
Most pairing dinners include four to six courses, from appetizer to dessert, and the wines generally progress from lighter whites to heavier reds throughout the evening. Some dinners exclusively feature wines from one winery, while others have a regional or seasonal theme.
At Friends Lake Inn in Chestertown, for example, the next pairing dinner is all about Italian wines.
"The goal is to have a little fun, and maybe provide a little education along the way," explained John Phillips, who bought the inn with his wife, Trudy, about 2-1/2 years ago. The pairing dinners had been in place for several years already, so Phillips decided to keep the tradition.
The dinners usually attract about 45 people, and at least a dozen are regulars who attend nearly every month, he said.
"Part of it is sort of an exploration, and I think that's why some people come -- they get to try things they might not try anywhere else," he said.
At this month's dinner, for example, the menu starts off with a delicate white Soave matched with saffron-marinated seafood salad, moves to a robust red Amarone for the main course of grilled wild boar chop, and concludes with a sweet white Moscato and foie gras ice cream glazed with caramel and fig.
"Most people's first reaction when they see the menu will probably be -- Uh, foie gras ice cream?" Phillips said, acknowledging that liver isn't a typical dessert flavor. "But it's actually very, very nice."
Exploring can mean challenging people's assumptions. As Kahn pointed out, chicken typically goes with white wine, but the pairing should be based on the sauce rather than the meat -- chicken marinara calls for red wine.
Even with perfectly paired courses, not every palate will always be pleased, but that's OK, Kahn said.
"Palates can differ, so it is hugely different what people taste in a wine," he said.
For example, he's considering serving Grappa with a bombolini dessert at Sargo's upcoming Italian wine pairing dinner, because it is a traditional after-dinner drink in Italy.
Grappa is a grape-based liquor that Kahn jokingly calls "the hot dog of wines" because it is made from leftover skins and stems. Distributors say it has flavors like licorice and roses, but Kahn's tastebuds aren't buying it.
"To me, it tastes like kerosene," he confided.
IF YOU GO
--Friends Lake Inn in Chestertown hosts wine pairing dinners once a month (except July and August) featuring specific wineries, themes or regions in five paired courses.
Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.: Tour of Italy, with commentary by Joe D'Arienzo and Italian wines from distributor Frederick Wildman.
Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.: Wines and commentary from Napa Valley winemaker Joseph Carr, formerly the sommelier at The Sagamore Resort.
Dec. 15: Holiday-themed dinner featuring Italian, German, French, Spanish and American wines paired with traditional holiday dishes from those countries.
Cost: $85 per person plus tax/tip, reservations required. For more information, call 494-4751. View schedule at www.friendslake.com/wine/index.html
--Lanci's Ristorante in Saratoga Springs offers monthly communal Italian dinners with paired wines featuring specific regions, as well as occasional women-only wine and food tastings.
Nov. 15, 7 to 9: 30 p.m.: Women of the Vine: The Aging Game. Class will taste five wines paired with finger foods, while learning about aging in the winemaking process. Cost: $55 including tax/tip, reservations required.
Nov. 28 and 29, 6:30 to 9: 30 p.m.: Friuli Venezia Giulia communal dinner, wines paired with four courses of northeast Italian cuisine. Cost: $80 per person including tax/tip, reservations required.
Dec. 4: White truffle dinner, paired with Barolo wines, more details coming soon on Web site.
For more information, call 581-1973. View schedule at www.lancisristorante.com/wine_food_classes.htm
--Sargo's, at Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs hosts monthly five-course pairing dinners featuring wines from a single winery.
Nov. 17: Italian wines from the Gallo Family winery in California.
Cost: $85 per person plus tax/tip ($125 in summer months, $200 for Silver Oak winery dinner), reservations required. For information, call 583-4653, ext. 2. View menus and schedule online at golfsaratoga.com/sargos.html
-- Saratoga Rose Inn and Restaurant in Hadley offers monthly five-course pairing dinners featuring wines from a single winery, region or theme.
Nov. 11: Californian wines from the Montevina vineyard, which specializes in zinfandels.
Cost: $70 per person plus tax/tip, reservations required. For more information, call 696-2861. View menus and schedule at www.saratogarose.com/restaurant_special_events.asp
-- Trillium bis, at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing hosts seven-course pairing dinners on the third Thursday of each month from May to October, featuring wines from a single winery.
Cost: $95 per person plus tax/tip, reservations required. For more information, call 743-6110. Schedule for next season will be online by early 2007 at www.thesagamore.com/dining/wine.php
Friday, October 27, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Plane dumps fuel over county
Published in The Post-Star (B6)
10/20/06
Approximately 1,500 gallons of jet fuel sprayed into the air over southern Saratoga County on Wednesday morning when a New York State Air National Guard plane was forced to lighten its load for an emergency landing.
The C-130 cargo plane was heading for a support mission in Antarctica when one of its engines began leaking fuel shortly after takeoff from Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia around 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to Kent Kisselbrack, a spokesperson for the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs.
After shutting down the malfunctioning engine, the pilot took the plane up to an altitude of about 11,000 feet and dumped 10,000 pounds of fuel into the atmosphere before returning to the base for an emergency landing.
"Dumping fuel like that is not uncommon in the aircraft business," Kisselback said, "At such an altitude, it just evaporates."
The plane landed successfully, with no injuries to crew members.
The Air National Guard reported the fuel release to the DEC, because state law requires the immediate reporting of all petroleum and hazardous chemical spills that could impact state waters.
In this case, the fuel never reached the ground, so it had no discernible impact on the surrounding soil or water, said David Winchell, a regional spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation.
"Jet fuel is very volatile, so even in cases when it spills on the ground, there often isn't a lot to clean up because it evaporates so quickly," he explained. "It may ... have a minimal impact on the air quality."
The DEC will not fine the Air National Guard for the spill because it took place during a declared emergency, he added.
__________________________________________________
10/20/06
Approximately 1,500 gallons of jet fuel sprayed into the air over southern Saratoga County on Wednesday morning when a New York State Air National Guard plane was forced to lighten its load for an emergency landing.
The C-130 cargo plane was heading for a support mission in Antarctica when one of its engines began leaking fuel shortly after takeoff from Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia around 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to Kent Kisselbrack, a spokesperson for the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs.
After shutting down the malfunctioning engine, the pilot took the plane up to an altitude of about 11,000 feet and dumped 10,000 pounds of fuel into the atmosphere before returning to the base for an emergency landing.
"Dumping fuel like that is not uncommon in the aircraft business," Kisselback said, "At such an altitude, it just evaporates."
The plane landed successfully, with no injuries to crew members.
The Air National Guard reported the fuel release to the DEC, because state law requires the immediate reporting of all petroleum and hazardous chemical spills that could impact state waters.
In this case, the fuel never reached the ground, so it had no discernible impact on the surrounding soil or water, said David Winchell, a regional spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation.
"Jet fuel is very volatile, so even in cases when it spills on the ground, there often isn't a lot to clean up because it evaporates so quickly," he explained. "It may ... have a minimal impact on the air quality."
The DEC will not fine the Air National Guard for the spill because it took place during a declared emergency, he added.
__________________________________________________
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Angels drink scotch?
Published in The Post-Star (G1)
10/12/06
Anyone who steps inside the classy, wood-paneled warmth of 9 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs can see that the owner has an obsession.
On the backlit shelves behind the bar, more than 150 varieties of single-malt scotch, 40 bourbons, and 28 Irish whiskies wink and gleam at patrons, waiting for someone to ask them out.
"Yeah, I've got a problem collecting whiskies," admitted Mike Sirianni, owner and manager of the 16-year-old establishment. He thinks he might have the largest scotch collection of any bar in the state, outside New York City.
"I've pretty much bought everything that New York state has to offer," he said. "It's a lot of fun to see people out enjoying it."
He hosts a two-hour tasting session at the bar on the first Wednesday of each month, dubbed "The Angels' Share Society" after the roughly 2 percent of alcohol that evaporates from a barrel of wine or liquor during each year of the aging process.
For $25 each, patrons are treated to three shots -- a scotch, a bourbon and an Irish whiskey -- and a unique cocktail, usually set to the soundtrack of a hand-picked jazz recording.
Sirianni said he doesn't make much profit at that price, but it doesn't matter. He sees himself as an educator, maybe even an evangelist, when it comes to good whiskey.
"Some poor guy can get stuck drinking Dewar's and water for the next 10 years, when the bottle next to it on the shelf could be his best friend if he tried it," he said. "I'm giving him a chance to try it."
Twice a year, the event also includes a cigar tasting courtesy of Smokin' Sam's Cigar Shop, as it did this month. (The state's ban on smoking in public places allows an exception for any two days per calendar year.)
"Cigar nights are usually our biggest turnout," Sirianni said, working up a sweat as he poured about 50 shots in rapid succession.
Only two female faces could be spotted in the crowd that night, although regulars at the event said there have been a lot more in the past.
"I've definitely seen a fair amount of women at these," said Jay Teta, trying to reassure the female reporter that she was not out of place.
"But I'd say it's 20 percent or less," added his friend, Alan McWilliams. Next to him, Ed Hanlon nodded in agreement as he sipped the first of the night's heavenly offerings, a Clontarf classic blend Irish whiskey.
"Mmm," he said.
The three men have been Angels -- so to speak -- for most of the four years the group has existed.
In the daylight, Teta is an IT engineer, McWilliams sells pharmaceuticals and Hanlon is a middle-school teacher. But they look much more mysterious and macho in the murky light of 9 Maple Avenue, with a cigar in one hand and shot of whiskey in the other.
But it's not about image, the Angels explain. It's about taste.
"Some people like the activity itself, like, 'Hey, I'm drinking a scotch. Hey, I'm eating a lobster. Hey, I'm smoking a cigar,'" said Jim Fauci, who selected the cigars for that night's tasting. "But after a while, you get over the sort of stature of it, and get down to the taste."
Herm Greenfield of Wilton discovered the Angels' Share Society through a girlfriend a few years ago. He's since lost the girlfriend, but kept his passion for scotch.
"This was a real education. I found out why I really like scotch, and as you start learning more, you hone your taste," he said.
The taste is tricky to put into words, though.
"Scotch is a hard drink. It's not sweet, not friendly," Greenfield said, after struggling to describe it for a minute or two.
He looked down at his glass and grinned.
"Until you get into it. Then," he said, giving the air a big bear hug, "it's your best friend."
~~~~
IF YOU GO
The Angels' Share Society meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at 9 Maple Avenue bar in Saratoga Springs. $25 admission, ages 22 and older. For more information, log on to www.9mapleavenue.com or call 583-2582.
~~~~
Whiskey Wisdom
-- Whiskey comes in many varieties, depending on its country of origin, the specific ingredients and type of still used, and the aging process. Bourbon and scotch are types of whiskey.
-- The term whiskey comes from a Gaelic word meaning "water of life."
-- Bourbon, an American whiskey which originated in Bourbon County, Ky., must contain at least 51 percent corn.
-- The proper spelling for whiskey made in Scotland is "whisky." It is traditionally made with malted barley heated over a peat fire.
-- Whiskey is born clear, and acquires color from the cask as it ages.
10/12/06
Anyone who steps inside the classy, wood-paneled warmth of 9 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs can see that the owner has an obsession.
On the backlit shelves behind the bar, more than 150 varieties of single-malt scotch, 40 bourbons, and 28 Irish whiskies wink and gleam at patrons, waiting for someone to ask them out.
"Yeah, I've got a problem collecting whiskies," admitted Mike Sirianni, owner and manager of the 16-year-old establishment. He thinks he might have the largest scotch collection of any bar in the state, outside New York City.
"I've pretty much bought everything that New York state has to offer," he said. "It's a lot of fun to see people out enjoying it."
He hosts a two-hour tasting session at the bar on the first Wednesday of each month, dubbed "The Angels' Share Society" after the roughly 2 percent of alcohol that evaporates from a barrel of wine or liquor during each year of the aging process.
For $25 each, patrons are treated to three shots -- a scotch, a bourbon and an Irish whiskey -- and a unique cocktail, usually set to the soundtrack of a hand-picked jazz recording.
Sirianni said he doesn't make much profit at that price, but it doesn't matter. He sees himself as an educator, maybe even an evangelist, when it comes to good whiskey.
"Some poor guy can get stuck drinking Dewar's and water for the next 10 years, when the bottle next to it on the shelf could be his best friend if he tried it," he said. "I'm giving him a chance to try it."
Twice a year, the event also includes a cigar tasting courtesy of Smokin' Sam's Cigar Shop, as it did this month. (The state's ban on smoking in public places allows an exception for any two days per calendar year.)
"Cigar nights are usually our biggest turnout," Sirianni said, working up a sweat as he poured about 50 shots in rapid succession.
Only two female faces could be spotted in the crowd that night, although regulars at the event said there have been a lot more in the past.
"I've definitely seen a fair amount of women at these," said Jay Teta, trying to reassure the female reporter that she was not out of place.
"But I'd say it's 20 percent or less," added his friend, Alan McWilliams. Next to him, Ed Hanlon nodded in agreement as he sipped the first of the night's heavenly offerings, a Clontarf classic blend Irish whiskey.
"Mmm," he said.
The three men have been Angels -- so to speak -- for most of the four years the group has existed.
In the daylight, Teta is an IT engineer, McWilliams sells pharmaceuticals and Hanlon is a middle-school teacher. But they look much more mysterious and macho in the murky light of 9 Maple Avenue, with a cigar in one hand and shot of whiskey in the other.
But it's not about image, the Angels explain. It's about taste.
"Some people like the activity itself, like, 'Hey, I'm drinking a scotch. Hey, I'm eating a lobster. Hey, I'm smoking a cigar,'" said Jim Fauci, who selected the cigars for that night's tasting. "But after a while, you get over the sort of stature of it, and get down to the taste."
Herm Greenfield of Wilton discovered the Angels' Share Society through a girlfriend a few years ago. He's since lost the girlfriend, but kept his passion for scotch.
"This was a real education. I found out why I really like scotch, and as you start learning more, you hone your taste," he said.
The taste is tricky to put into words, though.
"Scotch is a hard drink. It's not sweet, not friendly," Greenfield said, after struggling to describe it for a minute or two.
He looked down at his glass and grinned.
"Until you get into it. Then," he said, giving the air a big bear hug, "it's your best friend."
~~~~
IF YOU GO
The Angels' Share Society meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at 9 Maple Avenue bar in Saratoga Springs. $25 admission, ages 22 and older. For more information, log on to www.9mapleavenue.com or call 583-2582.
~~~~
Whiskey Wisdom
-- Whiskey comes in many varieties, depending on its country of origin, the specific ingredients and type of still used, and the aging process. Bourbon and scotch are types of whiskey.
-- The term whiskey comes from a Gaelic word meaning "water of life."
-- Bourbon, an American whiskey which originated in Bourbon County, Ky., must contain at least 51 percent corn.
-- The proper spelling for whiskey made in Scotland is "whisky." It is traditionally made with malted barley heated over a peat fire.
-- Whiskey is born clear, and acquires color from the cask as it ages.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Logging on at lunchtime
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
10/18/06
For many restaurants, paper menus and chalkboard specials are no longer enough to lure customers inside — appetites are whetted online.
"People expect restaurants to have a Web site. They don’t say, ‘Do you have a Web site?’ They say, ‘What’s the address of your Web site?’" said Sara Mannix.
She owns Mannix Marketing, a Glens Falls firm that specializes in designing Web sites for restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses.
"I think the Internet is the new Yellow Pages," she said. "For a long time, I’ve been saying I think it’s becoming that. But I think it finally is."
When Mannix founded her business 10 years ago, it had just a handful of restaurant clients. Now, it has designed sites for about 100 restaurants in the Capital Region and beyond.
"There’s been more and more traffic to the sites every year," she said.
In the last five years or so, both locals and tourists have increasingly turned to search engines like Google to check out dining and catering options, she said, sometimes just typing in "Glens Falls restaurants" and clicking on the most prominently displayed results.
This trend has forced many local restaurants to either launch a Web site or spiff up their existing one.
Developing a more sophisticated Web site was one of Colleen Holmes’ first goals when she and her husband bought Wheatfields restaurant in Saratoga Springs two years ago.
"It’s a very powerful marketing tool, and a great source of information for our guests and potential guests," Colleen explained. "Many people today go to Web sites to get purchasing information and make decisions, and just because we’re a restaurant doesn’t make it any different."
It took almost two years to find a designer whose work matched her vision of what the site should be, but she finally settled on Pete Brandenstein’s Schoolhouse Designs.
"I needed someone who could convey the energy and excitement of a busy restaurant," Colleen said. "A Web site could potentially be very boring, so how do you make it fun and upbeat?"
Apparently, with artful photographs, elegant fonts and high-tech tricks like scrolling animation.
The site has definitely generated business, Colleen added.
"I’ve received phone calls from people saying, ‘I’m on your Web site right now, can you tell me more about this or that?’" she said. "People e-mail us their reservation requests, or request more information about catering, on a regular basis."
Other local restaurants have taken a more casual approach, but almost all have some sort of online presence.
The Log Jam in Queensbury started out with a very basic page, but upgraded to its more comprehensive current site about four years ago, said manager Tony Grecco.
"It’s definitely a big help," he said. "People that don’t know us find us, and people that do know us can see what’s on the menu this week."
Rick Davidson, co-owner of Davidson Brothers’ restaurant and brewery in Glens Falls, rarely uses computers, and didn’t even know what Google was until his teenage son explained it to him recently. But even he sees the benefits of tangling with the Web.
"It’s done a great deal for our business," he said. "The longer we’ve been around, the more tourists we get, and a lot of them tell me they found us by Googling restaurants in the area ... Five years ago, you wouldn’t have heard one party a month mention a Web site."
Mannix Marketing designed the site, and Davidson’s 17-year-old son, A.J., keeps it updated. It’s very basic and text-heavy, but Davidson said that’s OK.
"It’s not snazzy, and that’s Davidson’s. We’re just a family-owned, small, independent restaurant," he said. "We’re not that slick."
--
An abridged look at what a few local eateries have put online:
The Log Jam Restaurant in Queensbury has a Mannix-designed site, www.logjamrestaurant.com. It is easy to navigate and includes everything from menus with prices to directions to the men's room.
Davidson Brothers' Restaurant and Brewery in Glens Falls has www.davidsonbrothers.com, a which focuses more on content than style. It includes menus (without prices), merchandise (with prices) and an up-to-date calendar of events. The "Our Story" section offers an interesting look at the origin of this family-run local business.
Jake's Round-Up in South Glens Falls has rounded up a useful collection of menus and pricing information at www.jakesroundup.com, which has over 3,800 visitors, according to the hit counter. Unfortunately, it's hard to find directions or a phone number for this self-proclaimed "not hard to figure, not hard to get to" place, and the event listings are out of date.
Chianti Il Ristorante, an Italian fine dining restaurant in Saratoga Springs, has www.chiantiristorante.com, a seductively sleek site that gives a sense of the place's ambience through artsy, low-light photos. The comprehensive site even includes instructions on applying for a job at the restaurant. The only thing it doesn't include? Prices.
dine, an upscale American/Asian/French fusion restaurant in Saratoga Springs, has a fun, snazzy site at www.dinesaratoga.com
Visitors will need Flash software and a bit of Web-savvy to navigate this clever page, which includes animation and hidden text that pops up as the mouse scrolls across an image. It needs an update, though -- the "happenings" page lists events for Nov. 2005.
Then there's www.menumart.com, owned by Mannix Marketing, which dishes the basic info -- menu and location -- for most restaurants in the Capital Region, and links to the restaurants' own Web sites where one is available.
--
10/18/06
For many restaurants, paper menus and chalkboard specials are no longer enough to lure customers inside — appetites are whetted online.
"People expect restaurants to have a Web site. They don’t say, ‘Do you have a Web site?’ They say, ‘What’s the address of your Web site?’" said Sara Mannix.
She owns Mannix Marketing, a Glens Falls firm that specializes in designing Web sites for restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses.
"I think the Internet is the new Yellow Pages," she said. "For a long time, I’ve been saying I think it’s becoming that. But I think it finally is."
When Mannix founded her business 10 years ago, it had just a handful of restaurant clients. Now, it has designed sites for about 100 restaurants in the Capital Region and beyond.
"There’s been more and more traffic to the sites every year," she said.
In the last five years or so, both locals and tourists have increasingly turned to search engines like Google to check out dining and catering options, she said, sometimes just typing in "Glens Falls restaurants" and clicking on the most prominently displayed results.
This trend has forced many local restaurants to either launch a Web site or spiff up their existing one.
Developing a more sophisticated Web site was one of Colleen Holmes’ first goals when she and her husband bought Wheatfields restaurant in Saratoga Springs two years ago.
"It’s a very powerful marketing tool, and a great source of information for our guests and potential guests," Colleen explained. "Many people today go to Web sites to get purchasing information and make decisions, and just because we’re a restaurant doesn’t make it any different."
It took almost two years to find a designer whose work matched her vision of what the site should be, but she finally settled on Pete Brandenstein’s Schoolhouse Designs.
"I needed someone who could convey the energy and excitement of a busy restaurant," Colleen said. "A Web site could potentially be very boring, so how do you make it fun and upbeat?"
Apparently, with artful photographs, elegant fonts and high-tech tricks like scrolling animation.
The site has definitely generated business, Colleen added.
"I’ve received phone calls from people saying, ‘I’m on your Web site right now, can you tell me more about this or that?’" she said. "People e-mail us their reservation requests, or request more information about catering, on a regular basis."
Other local restaurants have taken a more casual approach, but almost all have some sort of online presence.
The Log Jam in Queensbury started out with a very basic page, but upgraded to its more comprehensive current site about four years ago, said manager Tony Grecco.
"It’s definitely a big help," he said. "People that don’t know us find us, and people that do know us can see what’s on the menu this week."
Rick Davidson, co-owner of Davidson Brothers’ restaurant and brewery in Glens Falls, rarely uses computers, and didn’t even know what Google was until his teenage son explained it to him recently. But even he sees the benefits of tangling with the Web.
"It’s done a great deal for our business," he said. "The longer we’ve been around, the more tourists we get, and a lot of them tell me they found us by Googling restaurants in the area ... Five years ago, you wouldn’t have heard one party a month mention a Web site."
Mannix Marketing designed the site, and Davidson’s 17-year-old son, A.J., keeps it updated. It’s very basic and text-heavy, but Davidson said that’s OK.
"It’s not snazzy, and that’s Davidson’s. We’re just a family-owned, small, independent restaurant," he said. "We’re not that slick."
--
An abridged look at what a few local eateries have put online:
The Log Jam Restaurant in Queensbury has a Mannix-designed site, www.logjamrestaurant.com. It is easy to navigate and includes everything from menus with prices to directions to the men's room.
Davidson Brothers' Restaurant and Brewery in Glens Falls has www.davidsonbrothers.com, a which focuses more on content than style. It includes menus (without prices), merchandise (with prices) and an up-to-date calendar of events. The "Our Story" section offers an interesting look at the origin of this family-run local business.
Jake's Round-Up in South Glens Falls has rounded up a useful collection of menus and pricing information at www.jakesroundup.com, which has over 3,800 visitors, according to the hit counter. Unfortunately, it's hard to find directions or a phone number for this self-proclaimed "not hard to figure, not hard to get to" place, and the event listings are out of date.
Chianti Il Ristorante, an Italian fine dining restaurant in Saratoga Springs, has www.chiantiristorante.com, a seductively sleek site that gives a sense of the place's ambience through artsy, low-light photos. The comprehensive site even includes instructions on applying for a job at the restaurant. The only thing it doesn't include? Prices.
dine, an upscale American/Asian/French fusion restaurant in Saratoga Springs, has a fun, snazzy site at www.dinesaratoga.com
Visitors will need Flash software and a bit of Web-savvy to navigate this clever page, which includes animation and hidden text that pops up as the mouse scrolls across an image. It needs an update, though -- the "happenings" page lists events for Nov. 2005.
Then there's www.menumart.com, owned by Mannix Marketing, which dishes the basic info -- menu and location -- for most restaurants in the Capital Region, and links to the restaurants' own Web sites where one is available.
--
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Sustaining in Siberia
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
10/15/06
Jen Kretser, education director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, often discusses land management issues -- but she's usually in an office, not sitting around a sacred fire in a yurtlike structure called an ail.
And while she's used to helping spruce up camp sites and remove trash from park land, there are usually pickup trucks involved, not packhorses.
Kretser and three other Americans traveled to the Altai Republic of Russia to help lead workshops about familiar Adirondack principles like "leave no trace" land use and interpretive visitor's education.
The Altai Republic, a mountainous region of southern Siberia that borders Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan, is new to the park management business and eager to learn from those with more experience.
"They're really starting from ground zero -- all their nature parks have been established in the last eight years, since the fall of the Soviet Union," Kretser explained.
Staff members from the Altai parks and related nongovernmental organizations have traveled to the United States for the past two summers to study the way its parks are managed. They settled on the Adirondacks as a model because it has sustained a balance between preserving and utilizing the land's resources, explained Kretser.
"We have the same sort of mosaic of small communities existing within park land," she said. "And they really liked the work we were doing, in terms of promoting responsible recreation and educating visitors about the natural and cultural history of the park."
When Kretser was invited on the trip -- co-sponsored by the Altai Assistance Project and funded by private grants -- she was honored, but unsure what to expect.
"When you think of Siberia, you think cold. You think gulags. I mean, that's what I was originally thinking, 'Siberia? What?'" she remembered, laughing. "But it was absolutely amazing."
Kretser traveled with Adirondack Mountain Club botany steward Julia Goren; Karen Boldis, a professor of ecotourism at Paul Smith's College; and Susan Cutting, director of the Altai Project. French, Russian, and native Altai participants joined them for workshops in the foothills of Siberia's highest mountain, the 15,000-foot Mount Belukha.
The geography in that region looks similar to the American West, Kretser said, with a lot of "sweeping mountains and valleys" covered in a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, some already turned to autumn gold when she arrived in early September.
"We were staying in these traditional ails...with mountains all around outside, right on the banks of this incredibly blue glacial river," she said. "In the little village across the way, you'd see people going out in the morning with their livestock."
The indigenous people of the Altai region view their land from a spiritual perspective that she found foreign, Kretser said, but fascinating.
"They have a lot of sacred sites in the park -- petroglyphs, standing stones, springs, and mountain passes," she explained. "There's one valley we visited that they believe is the birthplace of the whole world! And then you start talking about developing a land use plan for something like that. How do you do that?"
One way to start, the group decided, was expanding the core "leave no trace" principles developed by the Adirondack Mountain Club to include an eighth precept: Respect local traditions and cultures.
After two weeks, Kretser went home feeling she had received as much education as she had given.
"There's a lot to be learned from experiences that make the familiar strange," she said. "It really gave me an appreciation for what we have here, and what we can do with it."
It took nearly three full days of travel for the American delegation to reach its destination in the Altai Republic's nature parks, but Kretser said she would "absolutely love" to make the trek again.
"I feel like I just kind of barely scratched the surface of understanding their perspective," she said.
LOGGING ON:
The Altai Assistance Project: www.altaiassistanceproject.org
Adirondack Mountain Club: www.adk.org
LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
(More details on www.lnt.org)
__________________________________________________
10/15/06
Jen Kretser, education director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, often discusses land management issues -- but she's usually in an office, not sitting around a sacred fire in a yurtlike structure called an ail.
And while she's used to helping spruce up camp sites and remove trash from park land, there are usually pickup trucks involved, not packhorses.
Kretser and three other Americans traveled to the Altai Republic of Russia to help lead workshops about familiar Adirondack principles like "leave no trace" land use and interpretive visitor's education.
The Altai Republic, a mountainous region of southern Siberia that borders Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan, is new to the park management business and eager to learn from those with more experience.
"They're really starting from ground zero -- all their nature parks have been established in the last eight years, since the fall of the Soviet Union," Kretser explained.
Staff members from the Altai parks and related nongovernmental organizations have traveled to the United States for the past two summers to study the way its parks are managed. They settled on the Adirondacks as a model because it has sustained a balance between preserving and utilizing the land's resources, explained Kretser.
"We have the same sort of mosaic of small communities existing within park land," she said. "And they really liked the work we were doing, in terms of promoting responsible recreation and educating visitors about the natural and cultural history of the park."
When Kretser was invited on the trip -- co-sponsored by the Altai Assistance Project and funded by private grants -- she was honored, but unsure what to expect.
"When you think of Siberia, you think cold. You think gulags. I mean, that's what I was originally thinking, 'Siberia? What?'" she remembered, laughing. "But it was absolutely amazing."
Kretser traveled with Adirondack Mountain Club botany steward Julia Goren; Karen Boldis, a professor of ecotourism at Paul Smith's College; and Susan Cutting, director of the Altai Project. French, Russian, and native Altai participants joined them for workshops in the foothills of Siberia's highest mountain, the 15,000-foot Mount Belukha.
The geography in that region looks similar to the American West, Kretser said, with a lot of "sweeping mountains and valleys" covered in a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, some already turned to autumn gold when she arrived in early September.
"We were staying in these traditional ails...with mountains all around outside, right on the banks of this incredibly blue glacial river," she said. "In the little village across the way, you'd see people going out in the morning with their livestock."
The indigenous people of the Altai region view their land from a spiritual perspective that she found foreign, Kretser said, but fascinating.
"They have a lot of sacred sites in the park -- petroglyphs, standing stones, springs, and mountain passes," she explained. "There's one valley we visited that they believe is the birthplace of the whole world! And then you start talking about developing a land use plan for something like that. How do you do that?"
One way to start, the group decided, was expanding the core "leave no trace" principles developed by the Adirondack Mountain Club to include an eighth precept: Respect local traditions and cultures.
After two weeks, Kretser went home feeling she had received as much education as she had given.
"There's a lot to be learned from experiences that make the familiar strange," she said. "It really gave me an appreciation for what we have here, and what we can do with it."
It took nearly three full days of travel for the American delegation to reach its destination in the Altai Republic's nature parks, but Kretser said she would "absolutely love" to make the trek again.
"I feel like I just kind of barely scratched the surface of understanding their perspective," she said.
LOGGING ON:
The Altai Assistance Project: www.altaiassistanceproject.org
Adirondack Mountain Club: www.adk.org
LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
(More details on www.lnt.org)
__________________________________________________
Monday, October 16, 2006
Magic comes back to life
Published in The Post-Star
10/16/06
Arto Monaco may not be a household name, but his work touched many households in this region over the past half-century.
His "Land of Make Believe" amusement park in Upper Jay fascinated kids growing up in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Around the same time, his creations added whimsical wonder to other theme parks in the region, including Santa’s Workshop, Storytown, USA (now the Great Escape), Frontier Town and Gaslight Village.
He made or helped develop hundreds of unique toys and games over his 70-year career, from simple wooden pull-toys to mass-market board games like Othello.
Yet somehow, Monaco never got particularly rich or famous. When the master toymaker and artist died in 2003 at age 90, there was no official home for his work, save a building in Upper Jay where he stashed many of his models and prototypes. Some of his outdoor projects had already been decaying for years.
The Arto Monaco Historical Society, a newly formed nonprofit organization started by a few of Monaco’s close friends, hopes to change that.
"We’re hoping, long-range, to really keep Arto’s story alive, and educate people about who he was and what he did," said Jane Mackintosh, the society’s planning director.
Right now, the group is focusing its efforts on purchasing and restoring the fairytale castle that was once a main attraction at the Land of Make Believe. The three-story stuccoed building, complete with turrets and towers, has been largely ignored since 1979, when Monaco closed the park because perpetual spring flooding from the nearby AuSable River had made it difficult to maintain.
Over the years, the castle has nestled more deeply into the surrounding woods and begun to crumble, giving it an even more authentic fairy-tale look — though perhaps more Brothers Grimm than Disneyland.
The long spell of disrepair was broken last month, when a group of volunteers spent several days clearing brush and debris from the grounds, fixing the roof, and inspecting the building.
The group included two University of Vermont graduate students who had selected the castle as their hands-on project for a course in historic preservation. Julie Weisgerber and Michaela Ann Hutchins helped photograph, measure and create drawings of the structure to contribute to a needs assessment.
The society expects to complete a purchase of the castle property "any day now," Mackintosh said, and then will focus on raising funds to continue the restoration project and acquire more of Monaco’s works. Their vision is to acquire a collection of his physical works, while also building up a digital archive of stories, memories and photos related to Monaco and his creations.
"One of the things we hope to do once we acquire these collections is develop exhibits and work with museums and other historical societies to display his work," she said. "This is what he would have wanted."
When he was alive, Monaco didn’t seem to want much, as his friends remember it. He was "a happy-go-lucky guy," although he could be a perfectionist about his work, said Dean Miller, a Queensbury resident.
Miller spent 30 years working for Charles Wood, Monaco’s contemporary in the theme-park industry. Wood developed Storytown around the same time that Monaco was building the Land of Make Believe. The men could have been competitors, but became friends instead, and Wood hired Monaco to design many of his park projects over the next several decades.
"Charlie had all the flair and flash, and nothing against him, but he didn’t have a lot of his own ideas ... He had people like Arto who could make ideas and designs into something," Miller reflected. "Arto was a really talented guy, but he didn’t seem like much of a business person."
For an artist whose work thrived on imagination and fantasy, Monaco’s personality was very down-to-earth, Miller added. Monaco had his own private studio at Storytown, but often chose to join the park employees for lunch in the cafeteria. He welcomed visitors to his studio in Upper Jay, often giving them small toys or models as parting gifts.
"He enjoyed real people, the way I looked at it," Miller said.
SHARE YOUR STORY
The Arto Monaco Historical Society invites people to share their memories, pictures and artifacts related to Arto Monaco at "Arto-fact Days," scheduled periodically at the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay. For more information, go to www.artomonaco.org or call planning director Jane Mackintosh at 793-4220.
10/16/06
Arto Monaco may not be a household name, but his work touched many households in this region over the past half-century.
His "Land of Make Believe" amusement park in Upper Jay fascinated kids growing up in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Around the same time, his creations added whimsical wonder to other theme parks in the region, including Santa’s Workshop, Storytown, USA (now the Great Escape), Frontier Town and Gaslight Village.
He made or helped develop hundreds of unique toys and games over his 70-year career, from simple wooden pull-toys to mass-market board games like Othello.
Yet somehow, Monaco never got particularly rich or famous. When the master toymaker and artist died in 2003 at age 90, there was no official home for his work, save a building in Upper Jay where he stashed many of his models and prototypes. Some of his outdoor projects had already been decaying for years.
The Arto Monaco Historical Society, a newly formed nonprofit organization started by a few of Monaco’s close friends, hopes to change that.
"We’re hoping, long-range, to really keep Arto’s story alive, and educate people about who he was and what he did," said Jane Mackintosh, the society’s planning director.
Right now, the group is focusing its efforts on purchasing and restoring the fairytale castle that was once a main attraction at the Land of Make Believe. The three-story stuccoed building, complete with turrets and towers, has been largely ignored since 1979, when Monaco closed the park because perpetual spring flooding from the nearby AuSable River had made it difficult to maintain.
Over the years, the castle has nestled more deeply into the surrounding woods and begun to crumble, giving it an even more authentic fairy-tale look — though perhaps more Brothers Grimm than Disneyland.
The long spell of disrepair was broken last month, when a group of volunteers spent several days clearing brush and debris from the grounds, fixing the roof, and inspecting the building.
The group included two University of Vermont graduate students who had selected the castle as their hands-on project for a course in historic preservation. Julie Weisgerber and Michaela Ann Hutchins helped photograph, measure and create drawings of the structure to contribute to a needs assessment.
The society expects to complete a purchase of the castle property "any day now," Mackintosh said, and then will focus on raising funds to continue the restoration project and acquire more of Monaco’s works. Their vision is to acquire a collection of his physical works, while also building up a digital archive of stories, memories and photos related to Monaco and his creations.
"One of the things we hope to do once we acquire these collections is develop exhibits and work with museums and other historical societies to display his work," she said. "This is what he would have wanted."
When he was alive, Monaco didn’t seem to want much, as his friends remember it. He was "a happy-go-lucky guy," although he could be a perfectionist about his work, said Dean Miller, a Queensbury resident.
Miller spent 30 years working for Charles Wood, Monaco’s contemporary in the theme-park industry. Wood developed Storytown around the same time that Monaco was building the Land of Make Believe. The men could have been competitors, but became friends instead, and Wood hired Monaco to design many of his park projects over the next several decades.
"Charlie had all the flair and flash, and nothing against him, but he didn’t have a lot of his own ideas ... He had people like Arto who could make ideas and designs into something," Miller reflected. "Arto was a really talented guy, but he didn’t seem like much of a business person."
For an artist whose work thrived on imagination and fantasy, Monaco’s personality was very down-to-earth, Miller added. Monaco had his own private studio at Storytown, but often chose to join the park employees for lunch in the cafeteria. He welcomed visitors to his studio in Upper Jay, often giving them small toys or models as parting gifts.
"He enjoyed real people, the way I looked at it," Miller said.
SHARE YOUR STORY
The Arto Monaco Historical Society invites people to share their memories, pictures and artifacts related to Arto Monaco at "Arto-fact Days," scheduled periodically at the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay. For more information, go to www.artomonaco.org or call planning director Jane Mackintosh at 793-4220.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
New churches sprouting in region
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
10/9/06
Dave Shacket isn't a farmer, but he believes he has something important to plant.
He and his wife, Penny, moved to Saratoga Springs last year to start a nondenominational church called Life Christian Center, an offshoot of Cornerstone Community Church in Albany.
The church is one of many nondenominational congregations that have sprouted in this region in recent years, following a national trend. Most tend to feature a casual atmosphere with modern music, often in warehouse-style buildings that favor function over aesthetics. The emphasis is
usually on practical preaching and Bible study, with little or no ritual.
Shacket, 34, was teaching music in the Schenectady school district when the idea of a career change took root six years ago.
"The very beginning of the process is that you feel like God wants you to lead your own church, and others in authority around you recognize it," he said. He joined Cornerstone's staff as an associate pastor, and soon began to sense it was time to start something new.
He believes he is called to Saratoga Springs, specifically, because this is where he and Penny feel they received the same message from God as they were out for a drive one day a few years ago.
"You're leaving home," was the thought that came to Dave's mind. He kept it to himself, so he was startled when Penny turned to him and said, "This is it, isn't it?"
He's never been to seminary, but said he doesn't think that's important.
"The way we see it, pastoring is a gift more than an education," he said. "And I've heard it said, if you can do anything else besides be a pastor -- do something else! You have to know that God is calling you."
That call is gender-exclusive, in his opinion.
"The position of a pastor, as we see it in the Bible, is for a man," he said, adding that women can "perform pastoral functions" like teaching children and other women.
But his conservative theological stance on female pastors is mixed with a liberal view of the church's role in society.
The name Life Christian Center comes from a verse in the book of John, he explained.
"It says Jesus came to give people more abundant life," he said. "So we're thinking, what can we bring to the community to help people live better lives?"
Establishing a new congregation of worshippers isn't easy, especially in a city that already has at least 20 existing congregations. Shackett began by looking at demographic studies and talking to local pastors to determine what types of churches already existed.
"I don't mean to imply that there aren't already good churches here," Shackett said. "But our vision is just different from theirs."
So different, in fact, that Life Christian Center inspired a new category in The Talking Phone Book's yellow pages.
It didn't fit in under "Churches -- Catholic," "Churches -- Methodist," or even "Churches -- Various Denominations, Non-Denominational."
Life Christian Center is the sole entry under "Churches -- Community."
Shackett wants to create a church that's an outreach, not an enclave.
"Most people's experiences with church are, at best, 'I got it, it's OK, but it has nothing to do with my life during the rest of the week,'" he said. "But if we're really talking about God, capital 'G,' then church should be fun, relevant and enjoyable -- and it should apply to your whole life, not just Sunday mornings."
While most pastors receive a salary drawn in part from members' contributions, the Shacketts have an independent income through Dave's Web site design business.
And while most churches are centered in a building, Life Christian Center rents space from the high school to hold Sunday morning services. Throughout the week, church members host classes and discussion groups that are open to anyone in the community. Video-based courses on topics like financial management, leadership development, and parenting are part of the mix, as well as more traditional Bible studies.
"Churches are generally looked at as 'We're us; you're you, join us if you want,' and I think that's incredibly ineffective and unbiblical," Shackett said. "A church is supposed to be a shining light in the community, with no expectation of return."
LOGGING ON: www.saratogachurch.com
History of churches in the region
The Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopals, Methodists, Congregationalists and Catholics all established churches near the centers of Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls during the 19th century.
"As in everything else, the village has never been backward in the worship of God, and the village today can boast of nine churches supported by a large and prominent congregation," declared an article in the Dec. 25, 1889 issue of the Saratoga Union.
Newer denominations like the Assemblies of God, Christian Missionary Alliance and Pentecostals moved in during the next century, and there are now at least 75 churches and three synagogues in the region.
Many new, mostly nondenominational Christian congregations have formed in the last two decades. These include Saratoga Abundant Life, Saratoga Springs (1986); Church of the King , Queensbury (1995); Adirondack Christian Fellowship, Gansevoort (1999); New Horizon Church, Wilton (1999); New Life Fellowship, Wilton (2000); New Hope Community Church, Queensbury (2000); Northway Christian Fellowship, Malta (2002) and Clifton Park (2006); Fruitful Vine Christian Church, Fort Edward (2002); Life Christian Center, Saratoga Springs (2005).
10/9/06
Dave Shacket isn't a farmer, but he believes he has something important to plant.
He and his wife, Penny, moved to Saratoga Springs last year to start a nondenominational church called Life Christian Center, an offshoot of Cornerstone Community Church in Albany.
The church is one of many nondenominational congregations that have sprouted in this region in recent years, following a national trend. Most tend to feature a casual atmosphere with modern music, often in warehouse-style buildings that favor function over aesthetics. The emphasis is
usually on practical preaching and Bible study, with little or no ritual.
Shacket, 34, was teaching music in the Schenectady school district when the idea of a career change took root six years ago.
"The very beginning of the process is that you feel like God wants you to lead your own church, and others in authority around you recognize it," he said. He joined Cornerstone's staff as an associate pastor, and soon began to sense it was time to start something new.
He believes he is called to Saratoga Springs, specifically, because this is where he and Penny feel they received the same message from God as they were out for a drive one day a few years ago.
"You're leaving home," was the thought that came to Dave's mind. He kept it to himself, so he was startled when Penny turned to him and said, "This is it, isn't it?"
He's never been to seminary, but said he doesn't think that's important.
"The way we see it, pastoring is a gift more than an education," he said. "And I've heard it said, if you can do anything else besides be a pastor -- do something else! You have to know that God is calling you."
That call is gender-exclusive, in his opinion.
"The position of a pastor, as we see it in the Bible, is for a man," he said, adding that women can "perform pastoral functions" like teaching children and other women.
But his conservative theological stance on female pastors is mixed with a liberal view of the church's role in society.
The name Life Christian Center comes from a verse in the book of John, he explained.
"It says Jesus came to give people more abundant life," he said. "So we're thinking, what can we bring to the community to help people live better lives?"
Establishing a new congregation of worshippers isn't easy, especially in a city that already has at least 20 existing congregations. Shackett began by looking at demographic studies and talking to local pastors to determine what types of churches already existed.
"I don't mean to imply that there aren't already good churches here," Shackett said. "But our vision is just different from theirs."
So different, in fact, that Life Christian Center inspired a new category in The Talking Phone Book's yellow pages.
It didn't fit in under "Churches -- Catholic," "Churches -- Methodist," or even "Churches -- Various Denominations, Non-Denominational."
Life Christian Center is the sole entry under "Churches -- Community."
Shackett wants to create a church that's an outreach, not an enclave.
"Most people's experiences with church are, at best, 'I got it, it's OK, but it has nothing to do with my life during the rest of the week,'" he said. "But if we're really talking about God, capital 'G,' then church should be fun, relevant and enjoyable -- and it should apply to your whole life, not just Sunday mornings."
While most pastors receive a salary drawn in part from members' contributions, the Shacketts have an independent income through Dave's Web site design business.
And while most churches are centered in a building, Life Christian Center rents space from the high school to hold Sunday morning services. Throughout the week, church members host classes and discussion groups that are open to anyone in the community. Video-based courses on topics like financial management, leadership development, and parenting are part of the mix, as well as more traditional Bible studies.
"Churches are generally looked at as 'We're us; you're you, join us if you want,' and I think that's incredibly ineffective and unbiblical," Shackett said. "A church is supposed to be a shining light in the community, with no expectation of return."
LOGGING ON: www.saratogachurch.com
History of churches in the region
The Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopals, Methodists, Congregationalists and Catholics all established churches near the centers of Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls during the 19th century.
"As in everything else, the village has never been backward in the worship of God, and the village today can boast of nine churches supported by a large and prominent congregation," declared an article in the Dec. 25, 1889 issue of the Saratoga Union.
Newer denominations like the Assemblies of God, Christian Missionary Alliance and Pentecostals moved in during the next century, and there are now at least 75 churches and three synagogues in the region.
Many new, mostly nondenominational Christian congregations have formed in the last two decades. These include Saratoga Abundant Life, Saratoga Springs (1986); Church of the King , Queensbury (1995); Adirondack Christian Fellowship, Gansevoort (1999); New Horizon Church, Wilton (1999); New Life Fellowship, Wilton (2000); New Hope Community Church, Queensbury (2000); Northway Christian Fellowship, Malta (2002) and Clifton Park (2006); Fruitful Vine Christian Church, Fort Edward (2002); Life Christian Center, Saratoga Springs (2005).
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Profile of a local "dog whisperer"
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
10/01 /06
There's a thin line between crazy and gifted, and it looks a lot like the scars criss-crossing Dan Rossignol's arms and hands.
"I earned each one. Each one gave me a higher alpha status," he explained.
In the same nonchalant voice, thick with the unhurried vowels of northern Maine, he told a tale of climbing into a cage no wider than his shoulders with a massive stray dog that was recently trapped.
"Boy, did he give me the three-minute warning," he said, demonstrating the sideways, slit-eyed glare of a dog debating whether to attack. "I had to work quick."
His uncanny self-confidence is based in a simple belief.
"I like to think God has given me a gift," he said. "I can get inside most dog's minds."
Rossignol is a former fast food executive-turned-dog trainer who specializes in dealing with biting dogs and other tough canine cases, advertising his formula as "love + persistence = success."
Often, he's the pet-owner's version of "Supernanny," helping humans re-establish authority in households where they have allowed their dogs to rule.
"You guys have to put yourselves in the alpha position," he told a recent pair of clients, Richard and Carol Kenny of Lake George. They called Rossignol because their 9-month-old German shepherd, Dugan, wasn't obeying them.
"He's a good dog, but he thinks our hands are chew toys, and he doesn't listen to commands," Richard said.
Obedience is especially important to them, he explained, because their last dog survived a fall through the ice by responding to a call to "come."
Rossignol began the lesson by walking Dugan around the yard on a short leash, teaching him to heel -- or, as he says it, "fooz," using the German word (spelled "Fuss") for foot.
He later explained that he always uses German commands because the hard consonant endings "penetrate their ears more."
"Sitz," he told Dugan, using the word for "sit."
Apparently, the German shepherd was an English speaker. Dugan remained standing, his head cocked in curiosity.
"I don't say it tough enough? You see me as a wimp?" Rossignol asked the dog, laughing. Then he grew serious and barked out the command again:
"SITZ!"
Dugan sat.
Later in the lesson, Rossignol recommended putting Dugan in a crate sometimes during his owners' absence or at night.
"A crate gives him a place to defuse and really rest," he said, explaining that most dogs are relieved when they're taken out of the "alpha" position in a household.
"It's all about establishing control," he said. "As soon as you do that, the dog's gonna be calmer, because they feel there's someone sharing the responsibility. They don't have to be guarding all the time."
Later, the Kennys said Dugan was doing much better.
"He's still a puppy, but when we give him the commands, he listens right up," Carol said. "It's not a miracle overnight, it's a work in progress, but it's helped us a lot."
Dog whisperer?
It's impossible not to compare Rossignol -- with his neatly groomed silver hair and mustache, slightly foreign accent, and knack for canine impersonation -- to celebrity trainer Cesar Millan, star of cable television's "The Dog Whisperer." Rossignol said he's a fan of the show, and falls asleep watching it some nights.
"I like Cesar because he brought sensibility back into dog training," he said. "And when his show came out, my business doubled!"
Rossignol got into the dog business in 1988, after many years of running McDonald's franchises with his wife, Dolores. He was looking for a new challenge when he responded to an ad for a handler to work with police dog trainer Judy Sherman in Westfield, Mass.
She scoffed at his lack of experience, but he passed her test, which involved wearing a thick leather sleeve and an angry Rottweiler on his arm for several minutes. And he was willing to work for free.
Four years later, Rossignol was ready to start his own business, Ausdauer Dog Training. He makes house calls all over northeastern New York and western Massachusetts, sometimes bringing the toughest cases back to his home for a few weeks of intensive training.
Last month, he traveled farther than usual after a surprising phone call.
"I need you," the female voice said, introducing herself as Katherine Glanker.
"I said OK, where do you live?" he remembered. "She said, 'Memphis.'"
The next few days were like one of the episodes of "The Dog Whisperer" that feature wealthy celebrity clients. Katherine is a successful hotel executive whose husband, Frank, made his fortune as Elvis Presley's lawyer.
"Elvis wasn't really a pure kid," Rossignol reflected later. "There were many times when Frank would have to get him out of trouble."
In this case, Frank and Katherine were in trouble. They had recently taken in a young female Labrador retriever and their older dog -- also a female Lab -- had greeted the newcomer with alarming viciousness. Desperate for help, they discovered Rossignol on the Internet.
"Can you be here tomorrow?" Katherine asked. She bought his plane ticket and sent a driver to pick him up at the airport.
"We drove down this road, and there's a big fence for a couple of blocks, I figured it was a park or something," Rossignol said. "Turns out, it's their yard!"
He spent the next two days at the Glanklers' mansion, achieving a fragile peace between the dogs by the end.
"The older one was definitely not accepting any competition as the alpha female," he said. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd bring her here, teach her some manners from my dogs. There's only so much you can do in 48 hours."
Katherine eventually decided it would be best to find another home for the younger dog, but sent Dan a letter of praise.
"I don't see it as something that didn't work out, but something that ended like it was supposed to," she wrote.
"I have never been been treated so well in all my life," Rossignol said of his Memphis trip. "They were just beautiful people."
Back to business
Most of Rossignol's clients aren't wealthy socialites -- sometimes, they can't pay at all. He takes one free case a month from animal shelters, usually "a biter" that would be unadoptable without training.
"I am the only trainer in this area who takes biting dogs, but I tell you what, it's worth it," he said. "About 99 percent of them can be turned around."
Sometimes, the problem is as simple as leash-training and can be resolved quickly. Cases like that have more to do with the owner than the pet, Rossignol said.
"I'd say about 70 percent of what I train is humans, and 30 percent dogs."
On a recent weekday afternoon, he made a first-time visit to the Hudson Falls home of Angela Fagan, owner of a 2-year-old Staffordshire terrier named Gunner.
"He's the best dog I could ever ask for, he's not aggressive at all, but he just doesn't listen to me sometimes," she explained. "But I'm told I baby him, so maybe I'm part of the problem."
Rossignol took Gunner for several walks up and down the street, keeping the dog on his right on a fairly short leash. With every turn, he angled his body toward the dog, showing dominance.
Then he coached Fagan as she tried it.
"See -- now you're the alpha leader! You hot shot!" he told her. "Don't look at him. Nose up in the air like you own the whole world. Relax, 'cause you're the boss."
After about 20 minutes, Rossignol decided the lesson was over.
"Look at him," he said, gesturing at Gunner. "He's had enough. He needs a break."
The next day, Fagan said she was impressed.
"When Dan left, I was apprehensive that what he was teaching wasn't going to stick after such a short time," she said. "But I can definitely see a difference today."
There's only one breed that Rossignol said he still hasn't figured out -- chows.
"They think more like," he paused, his face registering distaste at the next word, "cats."
--
To read more about Dan Rossignol's dog-training business, visit www.dantrainsdogs.com
10/01 /06
There's a thin line between crazy and gifted, and it looks a lot like the scars criss-crossing Dan Rossignol's arms and hands.
"I earned each one. Each one gave me a higher alpha status," he explained.
In the same nonchalant voice, thick with the unhurried vowels of northern Maine, he told a tale of climbing into a cage no wider than his shoulders with a massive stray dog that was recently trapped.
"Boy, did he give me the three-minute warning," he said, demonstrating the sideways, slit-eyed glare of a dog debating whether to attack. "I had to work quick."
His uncanny self-confidence is based in a simple belief.
"I like to think God has given me a gift," he said. "I can get inside most dog's minds."
Rossignol is a former fast food executive-turned-dog trainer who specializes in dealing with biting dogs and other tough canine cases, advertising his formula as "love + persistence = success."
Often, he's the pet-owner's version of "Supernanny," helping humans re-establish authority in households where they have allowed their dogs to rule.
"You guys have to put yourselves in the alpha position," he told a recent pair of clients, Richard and Carol Kenny of Lake George. They called Rossignol because their 9-month-old German shepherd, Dugan, wasn't obeying them.
"He's a good dog, but he thinks our hands are chew toys, and he doesn't listen to commands," Richard said.
Obedience is especially important to them, he explained, because their last dog survived a fall through the ice by responding to a call to "come."
Rossignol began the lesson by walking Dugan around the yard on a short leash, teaching him to heel -- or, as he says it, "fooz," using the German word (spelled "Fuss") for foot.
He later explained that he always uses German commands because the hard consonant endings "penetrate their ears more."
"Sitz," he told Dugan, using the word for "sit."
Apparently, the German shepherd was an English speaker. Dugan remained standing, his head cocked in curiosity.
"I don't say it tough enough? You see me as a wimp?" Rossignol asked the dog, laughing. Then he grew serious and barked out the command again:
"SITZ!"
Dugan sat.
Later in the lesson, Rossignol recommended putting Dugan in a crate sometimes during his owners' absence or at night.
"A crate gives him a place to defuse and really rest," he said, explaining that most dogs are relieved when they're taken out of the "alpha" position in a household.
"It's all about establishing control," he said. "As soon as you do that, the dog's gonna be calmer, because they feel there's someone sharing the responsibility. They don't have to be guarding all the time."
Later, the Kennys said Dugan was doing much better.
"He's still a puppy, but when we give him the commands, he listens right up," Carol said. "It's not a miracle overnight, it's a work in progress, but it's helped us a lot."
Dog whisperer?
It's impossible not to compare Rossignol -- with his neatly groomed silver hair and mustache, slightly foreign accent, and knack for canine impersonation -- to celebrity trainer Cesar Millan, star of cable television's "The Dog Whisperer." Rossignol said he's a fan of the show, and falls asleep watching it some nights.
"I like Cesar because he brought sensibility back into dog training," he said. "And when his show came out, my business doubled!"
Rossignol got into the dog business in 1988, after many years of running McDonald's franchises with his wife, Dolores. He was looking for a new challenge when he responded to an ad for a handler to work with police dog trainer Judy Sherman in Westfield, Mass.
She scoffed at his lack of experience, but he passed her test, which involved wearing a thick leather sleeve and an angry Rottweiler on his arm for several minutes. And he was willing to work for free.
Four years later, Rossignol was ready to start his own business, Ausdauer Dog Training. He makes house calls all over northeastern New York and western Massachusetts, sometimes bringing the toughest cases back to his home for a few weeks of intensive training.
Last month, he traveled farther than usual after a surprising phone call.
"I need you," the female voice said, introducing herself as Katherine Glanker.
"I said OK, where do you live?" he remembered. "She said, 'Memphis.'"
The next few days were like one of the episodes of "The Dog Whisperer" that feature wealthy celebrity clients. Katherine is a successful hotel executive whose husband, Frank, made his fortune as Elvis Presley's lawyer.
"Elvis wasn't really a pure kid," Rossignol reflected later. "There were many times when Frank would have to get him out of trouble."
In this case, Frank and Katherine were in trouble. They had recently taken in a young female Labrador retriever and their older dog -- also a female Lab -- had greeted the newcomer with alarming viciousness. Desperate for help, they discovered Rossignol on the Internet.
"Can you be here tomorrow?" Katherine asked. She bought his plane ticket and sent a driver to pick him up at the airport.
"We drove down this road, and there's a big fence for a couple of blocks, I figured it was a park or something," Rossignol said. "Turns out, it's their yard!"
He spent the next two days at the Glanklers' mansion, achieving a fragile peace between the dogs by the end.
"The older one was definitely not accepting any competition as the alpha female," he said. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd bring her here, teach her some manners from my dogs. There's only so much you can do in 48 hours."
Katherine eventually decided it would be best to find another home for the younger dog, but sent Dan a letter of praise.
"I don't see it as something that didn't work out, but something that ended like it was supposed to," she wrote.
"I have never been been treated so well in all my life," Rossignol said of his Memphis trip. "They were just beautiful people."
Back to business
Most of Rossignol's clients aren't wealthy socialites -- sometimes, they can't pay at all. He takes one free case a month from animal shelters, usually "a biter" that would be unadoptable without training.
"I am the only trainer in this area who takes biting dogs, but I tell you what, it's worth it," he said. "About 99 percent of them can be turned around."
Sometimes, the problem is as simple as leash-training and can be resolved quickly. Cases like that have more to do with the owner than the pet, Rossignol said.
"I'd say about 70 percent of what I train is humans, and 30 percent dogs."
On a recent weekday afternoon, he made a first-time visit to the Hudson Falls home of Angela Fagan, owner of a 2-year-old Staffordshire terrier named Gunner.
"He's the best dog I could ever ask for, he's not aggressive at all, but he just doesn't listen to me sometimes," she explained. "But I'm told I baby him, so maybe I'm part of the problem."
Rossignol took Gunner for several walks up and down the street, keeping the dog on his right on a fairly short leash. With every turn, he angled his body toward the dog, showing dominance.
Then he coached Fagan as she tried it.
"See -- now you're the alpha leader! You hot shot!" he told her. "Don't look at him. Nose up in the air like you own the whole world. Relax, 'cause you're the boss."
After about 20 minutes, Rossignol decided the lesson was over.
"Look at him," he said, gesturing at Gunner. "He's had enough. He needs a break."
The next day, Fagan said she was impressed.
"When Dan left, I was apprehensive that what he was teaching wasn't going to stick after such a short time," she said. "But I can definitely see a difference today."
There's only one breed that Rossignol said he still hasn't figured out -- chows.
"They think more like," he paused, his face registering distaste at the next word, "cats."
--
To read more about Dan Rossignol's dog-training business, visit www.dantrainsdogs.com
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Boxing beauty.
Published in The Post-Star (G1)
9/28/06
A visitor to an evening workout session at the Saratoga Youth Boxing Association’s gym could be forgiven for doing a double-take.
Some sights seem typical: Sweat-drenched guys smacking the speed bags. Eager kids learning to shadow box. A couple of coaches, pacing the concrete floor and barking out encouragement.
And then there’s the gorgeous blonde pummeling a heavy bag with hot pink gloves, ignoring the sweaty smears of mascara and eye shadow forming on her flawless face.
That’s 17-year-old Astrid Strydon — beauty school student by day, boxer by night.
"I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the way I look, yeah," she said with a shrug. "I usually come straight from school or work and I just don’t have time to wash my makeup off. And I wear pink because I like the color and just because I’m boxing doesn’t mean I have to stop."
Her trainer, Dave Wojcicki, has been involved with boxing for more than 30 years. He’s used to wiping blood and sweat off boxers between bouts — but mascara? That’s a new one, he said.
"I told her, ‘I’ve been a cut-man in the corner, but never a makeup man!’ " he said, beaming like a proud parent as Strydon practiced her punches.
"She trains pretty good. She’s one of the ones who you can tell her to do anything, and she’ll do it — run through a wall, climb a mountain, whatever," he said. "If we had a whole gym full of hers, we’d have a heck of a gym."
Strydon grew up far upstate, in rural Chateaugay, where a combination of boredom and curiosity got her hooked on boxing soon after her birthday last November. She received a CD by one of her favorite punk bands, Dropkick Murphys, and noticed that the album was dedicated to a Massachusetts boxing legend named Mickey Ward. She did some research, discovered that "he was cool; a real fighter," and was inspired to try the sport herself.
"I thought it looked like fun, despite getting punched in the face," she said. "And I never really had anything to do growing up."
So she joined the Uncle Sam Boxing Club in Altona, where she trained with Bob Miller through her senior year of high school. When Strydon moved downstate this fall to attend the Orlo School of Hair Design in Albany, she joined the Saratoga boxing gym on Miller’s recommendation.
"He told me he wanted me here because it’s clean, and full of nice people," she said.
Wojcicki said he doesn’t expect any more or less from her than he does from the other boxers at the gym, male or female.
"I always tell them it’s not about winning; it’s a learning experience," he said. "And we might not have any champions of the world here, but if we can get one kid on the straight road in the world, I think we’re champions."
Strydon is preparing to make her amateur debut next month in Amsterdam at a benefit match for slain State Trooper Joseph Longobardo. Wojcicki is still searching to find her a suitable female partner; if he does, Strydon isn’t necessarily expecting to win.
"My goal? Not to die, I guess," she said, laughing.
She practices sparring at the Saratoga gym with Rocky Carey, a wiry young woman almost twice her age who has nearly four years of boxing experience. Carey will compete in the "open" category — a few levels above Strydon’s "sub-novice" status — at the upcoming Amsterdam fight.
"I love boxing, it keeps me sane," Carey commented as she and Strydon strapped on protective headgear for a practice bout.
For the next several minutes in the ring, the two looked like boxers — throwing uppercuts, dodging jabs and delivering some heavy hooks.
But when the bell rang, they did something that would terrify most male boxers.
They hugged.
--
IF YOU GO
The 21st Century Boxing Club Tournament will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 21, at the Elks Lodge on Fourth Avenue in Amsterdam. Twelve bouts are scheduled, featuring local boxers from many experience levels. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the family of Joseph Longobardo, an Amsterdam native who was recently killed on duty as a New York State Trooper.
Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For tickets or more information, contact Dave Wojcicki at 577-6945.
9/28/06
A visitor to an evening workout session at the Saratoga Youth Boxing Association’s gym could be forgiven for doing a double-take.
Some sights seem typical: Sweat-drenched guys smacking the speed bags. Eager kids learning to shadow box. A couple of coaches, pacing the concrete floor and barking out encouragement.
And then there’s the gorgeous blonde pummeling a heavy bag with hot pink gloves, ignoring the sweaty smears of mascara and eye shadow forming on her flawless face.
That’s 17-year-old Astrid Strydon — beauty school student by day, boxer by night.
"I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the way I look, yeah," she said with a shrug. "I usually come straight from school or work and I just don’t have time to wash my makeup off. And I wear pink because I like the color and just because I’m boxing doesn’t mean I have to stop."
Her trainer, Dave Wojcicki, has been involved with boxing for more than 30 years. He’s used to wiping blood and sweat off boxers between bouts — but mascara? That’s a new one, he said.
"I told her, ‘I’ve been a cut-man in the corner, but never a makeup man!’ " he said, beaming like a proud parent as Strydon practiced her punches.
"She trains pretty good. She’s one of the ones who you can tell her to do anything, and she’ll do it — run through a wall, climb a mountain, whatever," he said. "If we had a whole gym full of hers, we’d have a heck of a gym."
Strydon grew up far upstate, in rural Chateaugay, where a combination of boredom and curiosity got her hooked on boxing soon after her birthday last November. She received a CD by one of her favorite punk bands, Dropkick Murphys, and noticed that the album was dedicated to a Massachusetts boxing legend named Mickey Ward. She did some research, discovered that "he was cool; a real fighter," and was inspired to try the sport herself.
"I thought it looked like fun, despite getting punched in the face," she said. "And I never really had anything to do growing up."
So she joined the Uncle Sam Boxing Club in Altona, where she trained with Bob Miller through her senior year of high school. When Strydon moved downstate this fall to attend the Orlo School of Hair Design in Albany, she joined the Saratoga boxing gym on Miller’s recommendation.
"He told me he wanted me here because it’s clean, and full of nice people," she said.
Wojcicki said he doesn’t expect any more or less from her than he does from the other boxers at the gym, male or female.
"I always tell them it’s not about winning; it’s a learning experience," he said. "And we might not have any champions of the world here, but if we can get one kid on the straight road in the world, I think we’re champions."
Strydon is preparing to make her amateur debut next month in Amsterdam at a benefit match for slain State Trooper Joseph Longobardo. Wojcicki is still searching to find her a suitable female partner; if he does, Strydon isn’t necessarily expecting to win.
"My goal? Not to die, I guess," she said, laughing.
She practices sparring at the Saratoga gym with Rocky Carey, a wiry young woman almost twice her age who has nearly four years of boxing experience. Carey will compete in the "open" category — a few levels above Strydon’s "sub-novice" status — at the upcoming Amsterdam fight.
"I love boxing, it keeps me sane," Carey commented as she and Strydon strapped on protective headgear for a practice bout.
For the next several minutes in the ring, the two looked like boxers — throwing uppercuts, dodging jabs and delivering some heavy hooks.
But when the bell rang, they did something that would terrify most male boxers.
They hugged.
--
IF YOU GO
The 21st Century Boxing Club Tournament will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 21, at the Elks Lodge on Fourth Avenue in Amsterdam. Twelve bouts are scheduled, featuring local boxers from many experience levels. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the family of Joseph Longobardo, an Amsterdam native who was recently killed on duty as a New York State Trooper.
Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For tickets or more information, contact Dave Wojcicki at 577-6945.
Monday, October 02, 2006
One-year anniversary of Ethan Allen tragedy
Published in The Post-Star (A1) and on poststar.com
10/3/6
It's been a year since 47 Midwestern tourists, full of lunch and ready to relax in the sunshine, boarded the Ethan Allen tour boat to enjoy a scenic cruise around Lake George.
Ann Beamish, a 79-year-old woman from Sterling Heights, Mich., leaned on a cane and on her daughter, Carol Ann Marsh, as the pair climbed aboard and chose a seat in the back of the boat.
Fred and Mary Helen Metz, an elderly couple from Warren, Mich., held hands as they cruised across the calm waters and admired the handsome homes tucked into the shoreline.
In a nearby motorboat, Mounir and Joanne Rahal and their five children were enjoying the gorgeous day so much that they hadn't even bothered stopping for lunch.
"It was meant to be, for us to be where we were," Mounir reflected later. "If we had stopped somewhere, we could have missed the whole thing."
The Rahals weren't far from the Ethan Allen when it suddenly flipped over and began to sink, making them some of the first civilian rescuers on the scene. They threw lifejackets into the water and pulled people into their own boat.
As Marsh told investigators the next day, she survived by swimming "toward the light" to reach the surface of the lake. Twice, she was pulled back down by the desperate hands of other passengers before reaching the Rahals' boat, where Fred Metz and several others had also made it to safety.
Marsh looked back and saw her mother's body being pulled out the water by another rescuer.
"They were hitting her chest and trying to give her mouth-to-mouth, and I said, 'she's dead,' " Marsh remembered.
Next to her, Fred Metz was also staring at the lake.
"My wife's dead," he said. "I can see her floating."
The Rahals wrapped the survivors in towels, and hugs.
Facing the lake
For most of the past year, Marsh has been sure that she wanted to return to Lake George for the anniversary of the tragedy.
"I really don't know why I have to go back; all I know is, I have to," she said. "I know I've got to face that water."
Marsh has battled a fear of water ever since the accident, but has achieved small victories, like going on a paddleboat at a recent family reunion.
A few days before she and her husband planned to start the drive east from their home in Sterling Heights, Mich., she said she was having second thoughts.
"All of a sudden, I've been up nights, thinking, 'Oh my God, can I really face this lake again?' " she said last Wednesday. "But I'm not going to let it beat me."
She stood beside Lake George yesterday, clutching a picture of her mother in a heart-shaped frame as she hugged Joanne Rahal.
"I knew you would be here," she said.
The Rahals still enjoy boating on the lake, but things will never be quite as carefree, Mounir said.
"It took me a while to get the kids back on the boat, and you can still sense a little fear in them whenever it rocks," he said. "They respect the boat, and the water, a lot more now."
His family has kept in touch with several survivors of the Ethan Allen accident, and they have a stack of thank-you notes, some from complete strangers.
In one of his first letters, Metz addressed them as "my son, daughter and grandchildren." Marsh called them "angels on earth."
Mounir said he doesn't think he's a hero, just a God-fearing man who lives by a simple rule.
"I believe in treating people the way you would like to be treated," he said.
At yesterday's memorial service in Lake George, a year after the accident that brought them together the first time, the Rahals got a chance to reconnect with some survivors and family members of the deceased.
Mounir said he was disappointed that Metz didn't attend, but was glad to see Marsh and other familiar faces.
"I'm glad this event is taking place, because it puts the people back together with a little more happiness," he reflected. "Now they can see that this area means more than tragedy. Hopefully, it gives them some closure, and us too."
After the ceremony, Joanne gazed thoughtfully at the granite monument to the 20 people who died in the accident, and shook her head.
"Life is way too short," she said.
~
10/3/6
It's been a year since 47 Midwestern tourists, full of lunch and ready to relax in the sunshine, boarded the Ethan Allen tour boat to enjoy a scenic cruise around Lake George.
Ann Beamish, a 79-year-old woman from Sterling Heights, Mich., leaned on a cane and on her daughter, Carol Ann Marsh, as the pair climbed aboard and chose a seat in the back of the boat.
Fred and Mary Helen Metz, an elderly couple from Warren, Mich., held hands as they cruised across the calm waters and admired the handsome homes tucked into the shoreline.
In a nearby motorboat, Mounir and Joanne Rahal and their five children were enjoying the gorgeous day so much that they hadn't even bothered stopping for lunch.
"It was meant to be, for us to be where we were," Mounir reflected later. "If we had stopped somewhere, we could have missed the whole thing."
The Rahals weren't far from the Ethan Allen when it suddenly flipped over and began to sink, making them some of the first civilian rescuers on the scene. They threw lifejackets into the water and pulled people into their own boat.
As Marsh told investigators the next day, she survived by swimming "toward the light" to reach the surface of the lake. Twice, she was pulled back down by the desperate hands of other passengers before reaching the Rahals' boat, where Fred Metz and several others had also made it to safety.
Marsh looked back and saw her mother's body being pulled out the water by another rescuer.
"They were hitting her chest and trying to give her mouth-to-mouth, and I said, 'she's dead,' " Marsh remembered.
Next to her, Fred Metz was also staring at the lake.
"My wife's dead," he said. "I can see her floating."
The Rahals wrapped the survivors in towels, and hugs.
Facing the lake
For most of the past year, Marsh has been sure that she wanted to return to Lake George for the anniversary of the tragedy.
"I really don't know why I have to go back; all I know is, I have to," she said. "I know I've got to face that water."
Marsh has battled a fear of water ever since the accident, but has achieved small victories, like going on a paddleboat at a recent family reunion.
A few days before she and her husband planned to start the drive east from their home in Sterling Heights, Mich., she said she was having second thoughts.
"All of a sudden, I've been up nights, thinking, 'Oh my God, can I really face this lake again?' " she said last Wednesday. "But I'm not going to let it beat me."
She stood beside Lake George yesterday, clutching a picture of her mother in a heart-shaped frame as she hugged Joanne Rahal.
"I knew you would be here," she said.
The Rahals still enjoy boating on the lake, but things will never be quite as carefree, Mounir said.
"It took me a while to get the kids back on the boat, and you can still sense a little fear in them whenever it rocks," he said. "They respect the boat, and the water, a lot more now."
His family has kept in touch with several survivors of the Ethan Allen accident, and they have a stack of thank-you notes, some from complete strangers.
In one of his first letters, Metz addressed them as "my son, daughter and grandchildren." Marsh called them "angels on earth."
Mounir said he doesn't think he's a hero, just a God-fearing man who lives by a simple rule.
"I believe in treating people the way you would like to be treated," he said.
At yesterday's memorial service in Lake George, a year after the accident that brought them together the first time, the Rahals got a chance to reconnect with some survivors and family members of the deceased.
Mounir said he was disappointed that Metz didn't attend, but was glad to see Marsh and other familiar faces.
"I'm glad this event is taking place, because it puts the people back together with a little more happiness," he reflected. "Now they can see that this area means more than tragedy. Hopefully, it gives them some closure, and us too."
After the ceremony, Joanne gazed thoughtfully at the granite monument to the 20 people who died in the accident, and shook her head.
"Life is way too short," she said.
~
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