Short on space? Try patio gardening…

Gardening doesn’t require acres of land to produce a substantial amount of food, and with the cost of groceries these days, every family should consider a backyard garden. In fact, one of the best gardens I ever had was grown in cinder blocks on the patio of an apartment complex. So it doesn’t take a lot of supplies.

Every year in February and March, I plan my garden, and I set my goals. This year the goal is simple: to produce enough vegetables on my back porch to feed my family through the summer. From the time of the first harvest until the first frost, I don’t want to purchase vegetables from the grocery store. I’ll still have my large garden for canning, and in order to get special vegetables and extra snacks (kale chips, carrot sticks, etc.) we will get weekly vegetables from the Fledging Crow co-op. But I want to prove that for day to day use, a family can grow enough food on a back porch to get through the summer.

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Fiddles, Viddles and Ale

ARC Event for St. Patrick's Day

Ask around and there are many a foodie who knows what wine to pair with a specific meal. But if you were to ask that same foodie what beer would go best with a meal, they may be at a loss for words.

“We as Americans are just beginning to expand our palate; our taste for beers that are brewed in different ways,” said Theresa Garrow, executive director of Clinton County Advocacy Resource Center.

She notes that many locals are beginning to try new beers, like lambics, and some are even brewing their own beers at home. This trend has inspired ARC to host Fiddles, Viddles and Ale, a dinner event sponsored by Stafford, Piller, Murname, Plimpton, Kelleher, & Trombley, PLLC, to raise funds for autism screenings and for the organization’s Saturday Social Group. The group meets the first Saturday of each month to give children and parents who are living with autism resources and activities.

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Kelly Chilton: Plattsburgh’s Computer Artist

Sometimes, the most amazing talent lives in your own backyard.

Local artist Kelly Chilton has traveled the world learning about his craft, but now he’s back home in Plattsburgh. He finished his BFA at Oswego and traveled to Glascow School of Art to obtain a Master’s Degree in Visual Communication, and his artwork hangs in the permanent collection at SUNY Oswego - two of his pieces in the office of the college president. What’s unique about Kelly’s craft though is that the medium for his art is the computer and his artwork is generated on a screen instead of a canvas.

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Learn to sing A Cappella

 

Men, do you like to sing? Do you sing in a Church Choir or community group? Or, like most of us, do you just like to sing along with the radio or howl in the shower?

If you can answer “yes” to any of these, then the “Learn to Sing A Cappella” workshop being offered by the Cumberland Bay Barbershop Chorus is for you. No previous organized singing experience is necessary and you do not have to know how to read music!

The term “a cappella” comes from Italian and literally means “in the manner of the chapel.” Over the years however, it has come to mean simply singing without accompaniment. Although many religious groups continue to favor a cappella music in their services, in today’s use of the term, there is little to remind us of its rich religious history. With shows such as American Idol, Sing Out and America’s Got Talent, a cappella singing is enjoying a resurgence of popularity with the average American.

In an effort to preserve and encourage the a cappella style, the Cumberland Bay Barbershop Chorus is sponsoring a free four-session workshop for men of all ages who want to learn more about this unique style of singing. The sessions will be conducted by William Verity, a graduate of the Crane School of Music, Choral Director for the Plattsburgh City School District and adjunct faculty member at SUNY Plattsburgh, and who is widely known for his musical expertise.

Verity will cover the gamut from basic vocal mechanics such as posture, diaphragmatic breathing, pitch and resonating chamber to finer points of producing a high quality sound. Four-part harmony selections such as Auld Lang Syne and, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, The Irish Blessing will be used to reinforce the instruction.

Each evening will begin with a review, so even if you cannot attend all the sessions, you will be able to catch up and follow along just fine.

The workshop will be held at the Northern Alliance Church, 7 Northern Rd., Plattsburgh, NY 12903 (former PAFB) on Tuesday evenings, Feb. 28, March 6, March 13 and March 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information or to register call Dave Hurd at 593-3686 or visit www.cumberlandbay.org

Unfortunately, seating must be limited to insure a quality experience, so register early.

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‘Earth & Wind on Fire’ at the NCCCA Arts Center in Plattsburgh

Well-known Adirondack potter makes music out of clay at the Arts Center

As the youngest of five children, well-known local artist and potter, Sue Young, has no problem acknowledging one important benefit of being the “spoiled baby” of the family, “You don’t think twice about pursuing your dreams and desires,” she says.

To the delight of the many fans of her creative work, the Adirondack native followed her dream and became a world-class potter. Young will bring her talent and artistic inspiration to the Jackie Sabourin Clay Studio on the lower level of the NCCCA Arts Center in March for a five-week class called “Earth & Wind on Fire.”

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Dewey Mountain Staff Set To Celebrate End of Season At Family Event

About a mile west of Saranac Lake, there is a place that locals have been flocking to for years for the well-groomed trails, night skiing and a spirit of community.

“We try to cater on a small scale to everybody. We have trails for skate skiing, we have ungroomed trails, we have snowshoe trails. We have trails that go to the top of Dewey Mountain. For Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, we’ve got a little bit of everything for all skiers,” said Jason Smith, Manager of Dewey Mountain Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Center.

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Save The Date: March 2012

Ongoing Events:

Performance: “Almost Maine”
Presented by Pendragon Theatre
Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Lake Placid
Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 at 2 p.m.
www.lakeplacidarts.org

Performance: "On the Verge"
Play by Eric Overmeyer, directed by Erika Grayson
Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts, SUNY Plattsburgh
Thursday, March 1 – Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m.

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North Country Regional Blood Center Gears Up for Busy Blood Donation Season

“The word needs to get out more that we do need blood,” said Jeannine Yanulavich, supervisor of the North Country Regional Blood Center (NCRBC).

According to the NCRBC webpage, it is estimated that 60 percent of New Yorkers are eligible to donate blood, though only about 4 percent actually donate annually. While some blood is used for emergency situations, the majority is used daily by both inpatients and outpatients in hospitals.

“Most of our blood goes to chronically anemic patients who need blood; Surgical patients, cancer patients, cardiac patients – you never know when they are going to need blood,” Yanulavich said.

Oncology patients, those with cancer, can get infusions of blood anywhere from two to three times per week. One patient can go through a lot of blood during treatment. The time of year also plays a part in the dwindling supply of donated blood. Colds and other illnesses are common, preventing donors from making their regular deposits, so it is critical for members of the community to roll up their sleeves and donate blood at a local drive.

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Pasquale’s in Peru, repeat customers drive growth

PERU-- Jerry Johnson is the Head Chef of Pasquale's Restaurant in Peru-- a restaurant that seems to just keep expanding. The growth makes Johnson thankful for the loyalty of his customers and the support of his co-workers.

"This place has expanded twice now, most recently last fall," Johnson said of the Peru restaurant, which also features a separate building to handle take-out orders. "And we've opened up another Pasquale's in Dannemora."

The second establishment is in addition to the expansions at the original location on Peru's Main Street.
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Local Nature Center Combines Animals and Art at Family Event

Tucked away in the woods in Tupper Lake you’ll find a collection of living things that inhabit the wilds of the Adirondack Mountains. If you haven’t visited already, perhaps a trip to The Wild Center is in order?

“Our mission is to get people excited about the Adirondacks and what’s in their backyard,” said Kerri Ziemann, interpretive naturalist at The Wild Center.  

Ziemann noted that today, many children are spending less time outdoors and more time indoors.  Exploring the Wild Center allows children and their families to learn about the natural environment that surrounds them.

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“Duet II” features Husband and Wife as Partners in Art and Life

Local Artists, Carol and Frank Hochreiter exhibit work together at NCCCA Exhibit

At age 18, Carol Duggan was excited to be going to SUNY New Paltz as an Art Major. Her mother disapproved of both Carol’s chosen major and her boyfriend, Frank, at the time. Now married 43 years, Carol and the “boyfriend,” Frank, are still together.

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Save The Date: February 2012

Ongoing Events:

Carnival: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Celebration
Friday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 12
Saranac Lake
www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com

Saturday, January 28

Carnival: Clarkson Winter Carnival
Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington
www.whitefacelakeplacid.com

Event: Chartwells/Cardinal Hockey Charity Dinner
Warren Ballrooms, Angell College Center, SUNY Plattsburgh
5:30 to 11 p.m.
518-324-9348
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