your hometowne december issue

COMPLIMENTARY

DECEMBER 2011

THIS MONTH’S BUSINESS IN FOCUSMOHAWK HEATING

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"I never lack material for my humor columnwhen Congress is in session."

- Will Rogers

ARE YOUR RECORDSORGANIZED FOR AN EMERGENCY?If you were incapacitated, would anyone be able tofind your important records and take care of yourfamily’s financial or business matters? Havingimportant papers organized and accessible in advance

can be very important in an emergency or crisis situation. Consider thefollowing for organizing your important records.Location: Options for storage might include a home safe, fire-security boxor off-site location such as a safety deposit box. The storage containershould be securable and fire resistant. Shoe boxes or cardboard boxes inthe closet or under the bed are not appropriate.Who knows? Does someone in addition to your spouse know where thesepapers are kept? Consider making a list of such papers and records, and onthe list state where these documents can be found. Then advise a trustedthird party – an attorney, CPA, relative, or family friend – where this list iskept. The general idea is that someone not living in your residence knowsabout this list and how to access it. This decision requires a certain comfortlevel, and you alone are able to make that determination.Which papers? Regardless of who knows what, organized records arealways a plus. The following items might be part of your “importantdocuments” list:• safety deposit box key• life insurance policies• deeds, contracts, leases, titles, mortgage(s), loan notes• banking, savings, investment and retirement account(s) records• will• burial arrangements• all other insurance policies (health, auto, home, etc.)• birth certificatesBeyond however you decide to store your personal records, and whateveryou decide to include, one fact is clear. If important legal, business andpersonal documents are organized and accessible, the handling of a crisissituation is made much easier.

Amy M. Aldrich • 123 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY 12302518-384-2692 • www.amyaldrichagency.com


The NEW definition of family!With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmasapproaching quickly Paul and I once again dothe juggling act to be sure we get to spendtime with all the members of our combinedfamilies. 25 years ago family meant kin,relations, ancestors. Today I think manyfamilies are more like a tribe. No less loyal orloving, just not necessarily blood related. Eachyear during the holiday season Paul and me are blessed with a mixed bagof relatives, step children, step grandchildren, even some step- steps alongwith a myriad of significant others that have hung in for the long hall.Each year we carve out time for each other, making sure we all connectand make the memories of the future. Our family photos are a virtualwho's who of people we love that make up our family unit; our tribe.

Paul's side of the tribe is a mix of excellent cooks and talented individuals.During our gatherings the array of homemade food is incredible! Paul'sMom's Swedish meatballs, Danielle's famous bread dip, Kate's awesomepastries, Jamie's deviled eggs, my husband's incredible stuffed mushrooms!Couple that with a variety of talent and personalities and you get somevery lively conversations. Paul's Mom is the retired VP of Nursing at Ellis.My sister-in-law (Janice) just received her Master's degree - in her 50's.My other sister-in-law (Joanne) holds down a FT job and takes care oftheir parents so they can be comfortable during their Golden Years. Paul'sson builds high rise scaffolding in NYC, Jaime his oldest daughter is afantastic hair stylist - I have dubbed her with the name “Color Queen”.Stacy his younger daughter is a hard working mother of 2 with her eye onthe future.

On my side I have 2 step-daughters from a previous marriage; a sister anda brother. My one step daughter (Lea) rushes up from New York duringthe holidays, always at the mercy of the weather. Lea is in marketing andadvertising which I find very flattering since that is my background aswell. She frequently stays with Paul and I while she is here and I just lovehaving her here! My other step-daughter (Beth) is a new Mom and wife.Being a Mom is the best thing that ever happened to her! The girls have ahuge family yet they always make it a point to spend time with me on theholidays and throughout the year. How lucky am I? Two wonderful youngwomen want to be with me because the bond we made as they grew upcould not be broken by a divorce. Even their Dad (John) and Pamela (hisgirlfriend) spend time with us as we cross paths at family functions. And ifI may digress back to food, Pamela is one of the best cooks I know!Whether it's a christening or a wedding I always make sure I seek outPamela's food!

This year my sister (Jonnie) and my brother-in law (Charlie) hadThanksgiving dinner together for the first time in 25 years. We sat andtalked, ate too much and laughed for hours. It was really nice; the onlything that could have made it better is if our brother (Craig) and his wife(Patty) were there.

I love my tribe and wouldn't trade it for the world. Even if one of thenatives strays a little we all come back together for the holidays to feast.During our tribal feast stories of the past are sharedbetween the adults while babies and children play. I praythat when they become adults with theirown babies they willunderstand the meaningof family, it's not aboutblood, it's about love.

Comments and Input – Paul and Cheryll 280.5260Advertising – [email protected] or 265.1105

Photography – [email protected] – [email protected] or 883.3872

A message from

WHAT OUR EXPERTS ARE SAYING...Amy Aldrich, State Farm Insurance - Are Your Records Organized foran Emergency?Burnt Hills Optical - They Say Your Eyes are the Windows to the SoulCheap Geek - Tips on Buying a Personal ComputerChris Nyhan, Edward Jones - Do Men And Women Invest Differently?Christian Klueg, CMK and Associates Real Estate - Why Isn't MyHome Selling?Dr. Roy Oyangen, DMD - Are you ready for a Smile Make-Over?Locust Grove Designs - Put A Little Ho, Ho, Ho in Your HolidayDecoratingPrecise Fitness - Ready Or Not... It’s Here!Summit Construction - Keeping Your Hot Air To Yourself

ABOUT THE COVER...You are viewing a perfect Christmas setting at The Charlton Shop in theheart of Charlton. A special thank you to Ethel Maloney for setting thestage for Santa (aka Paul) and Dave Crudele, local photographerextraordinaire to capture the essence of Christmas for our cover shot.Dave’s son Freddie posed patiently for a long period of time and was reallyinto his role as the happy child in this Christmas picture reminiscent ofNorman Rockwell. You can read more about Dave above. Visit theCharlton Shop if you like what you see, all of those items are for sale.

Dave Crudele is a New York artist focusing on nature, fine art, and sportsphotography. He lives and works in NY's Capital District and although henow calls Charlton NY home, he has also lived in the far northern reachesof NY as well as the Mid-Hudson Valley. It was during his time in Potsdam,NY that he developed a love for the Adirondack Park and all the beauty andenjoyment it has to offer. Dave, along with his family and friends, spendscountless days photographing, backpacking, canoeing, and generallyenjoying life in the Adirondack Mountains - which is handy since the Park isoverflowing with excellent photographic opportunities. He also greatlyenjoys photographing the Capital District, with particular interest in thebarns and farmland of southern Saratoga County.Dave is a self-taught photographer with a passion for photography reachingback more than a decade. While working towards a degree in electricalengineering at Clarkson University, Dave was fortunate enough to have thefriendship and guidance of professional photographer Tom Watson.Although Dave still primarily makes his living through engineering, his artwork is available at showings, craft fairs, select retail outlets in thenortheast, and directly from the photographer.

Artist's Statement:“I practice photography mainly because I find it tobe an extremely pleasurable endeavor. There issomething very satisfying about creating an imagethat captivates one's attention. Images have thepower to illicit strong feelings and to transport theviewer to another time and place. I use these basicideas to create images that I hope others will find asengaging as I do”.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO OCCUPY WALL STREET...

SHOP AT A SMALL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS THIS HOLIDAYS SEASON!


WHY ISN'T MY HOMESELLING?The reality of today's market is that it's a little rough.However, the common question, "why isn't my homeselling?" actually has several answers. While manytimes a property won't move due to its high or non-competitive sale price, many factors outside of the

general real estate market affect a property's value, and how quickly it willsell.One of the biggest reasons a property won't sell is because of obsolescence.Obsolescence is a term in real estate which refers to “negative valueeffects” - factors which decrease a property's value. The term is commonlybroken down into two types: functional and external.A functional obsolescence is a negative aspect found within the propertydesign, sometimes having to do with the floor plan. A common example isa layout where you must walk through one bedroom to get into another.Another might be having the bathroom (in a one-bath home) on a differentfloor than all the bedrooms. A buyer may not consider buying a home withfunctional obsolescence.The good news is that many times, a functional obsolescence is curable!However, before you spend thousands of dollars on curing these issues youneed to see if the “cured price” of the home is high enough to justify thenecessary money spent. It might not be a cost effective solution. Oftentimes, a seller's best bet is to lower the price in order to counteract anexisting negative factor. This can mean less time, less hassle, and lessmoney lost at the end of the day.A buyer will see the negative functional obsolescence - and if they arewilling to deal with it (or cure it themselves) they will buy at a price thathas that negative aspect factored into it.The other negative factor we encounter is external obsolescence.Unfortunately these are almost always incurable. Most common examplesof this is a property/house located on a busy road, next to high noise,pollution, commercial centers, major highways, flight paths etc. When youown a property with a negative external obsolescence there is typicallynothing you can do about it. The only action you can take is to price theproperty with those negatives in mind. The buyers will pay less due to anyexternal factors that can't be cured - but with a lower price, at least theywill buy from you.At the end of the day any negative obsolescence can be solved inmost buyers' minds, by lowering the price to a point where thenegative is accepted. Having a realtor who understands these issues isone of the best ways you can accomplish your real estate goals in today'smarket as quickly, and smoothly as possible. Whether buying or selling, agood Realtor can help you through complex real estate issues.

CMK and Associates Real EstateChristian C. Klueg, NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker

and NYS Certified Residential Appraiser518.332.0218 • cmkandassociates.com

818 Saratoga Rd. (Rt. 50) Burnt Hills


Gather around the table

and relax, step back

in time with us for an

Old Fashioned Christmas

full of Wonderment

and Warmth,

a Charlton Christmas...

Cozy Rooms full of American Made Sofas, Chairs & Wood FurnitureCountry-Style Curtains & Rugs Woven Table Linens

Lamps, Lighting, Shades Everlasting Florals & WreathsGifts, Jewelry & Scarves... ALL AT AMAZING PRICES!

Holiday Hours: Tue-Wed-Fri-Sat 11-5pmThurs-11-6pm • Sun -11-3pm

Social networking at the Taverncouldn’t be easier with WIFI

Customer Club Memberships

Entertainment Wednesday

and Sunday

New Years Eve sittings are available by reservation only.

399-9951745 Charlton Road, Charltonwww.charltontavern.com

TIS THE SEASON...

745 Charlton Road, Charlton

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KEEPING YOUR HOT AIR TO YOURSELFThis is the last of a three part series on homeenergy efficiency. The past articles discussedbasic building science, insulation, and windows.This installment will explore air sealing and icedams.

A building has a correct amount of air leakage needed for a healthy livingenvironment. Houses with excessive air leakage are uncomfortable andexpensive to heat. Too little air exchange creates poor indoor air quality,and potential issues with mold. A home energy professional can calculatethe correct amount of air exchange your house should have, then measureit with a blower door, which is a large fan installed in an exterior door andcontrolled to a specific pressure. Most houses are too leaky and need tobe sealed better. Air sealing is usually the least expensive type of energyimprovement that yields the greatest fuel savings.Houses with excessive air leakage sometimes need to run humidifiers inthe winter time. Tight, energy efficient houses need mechanical ventilationsystems to remove excessive humidity. When our company performsenergy assessments, we view the use of humidifiers as a red flag thatindicates the need for air sealing. You can also detect air leakage by thepresence of cob webs. Spiders build their webs in an air current. Theywant their food to float by and get caught in the web.The air leakage of a house has a direct relationship to the formation of icedams. There are three conditions needed to form ice dams: 1) snow on theroof, 2) outside temperature below freezing, and 3) temperature of theunderside of roof above freezing. In our experience most ice dams formwhen heated air from the house escapes into the attic area, melting thesnow on the roof. The snow melt flows down the roof, then re-freezeswhen it hits the cold roof overhang. Thick ice forms on the edge of theroof, creating a pool of water behind it until the water backs up under theroof shingles and leaks into the house.The solution to ice dams is not re-roofing. Re-roofing helps minimize thechance of water getting into the house, but does not stop the ice formationand water pooling. You need to address the root cause of the heat in yourattic to minimize the chance of ice damming.Summit Construction has been resolving tough air sealing and icedamming issues for the past three years. Contact us to determine yourhome energy efficiency problems, lower your heating bill, and minimize thechance of ice damming.

(518) 399-2438 • Email: [email protected]

The Town of Ballston is currently purchasing water solely from the Town of Glenville. We have ceased purchasing water for the Saratoga

County Water Authority until they have consistently reduced theirdisinfection by-products to an acceptable level and provide assurances

that these levels will remain within acceptable limits in perpetuity .

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR TOWN OF BALLSTON

WATER USERS


READY OR NOT... IT’S HERE!It's here-whether you're ready or not. Weight Gainseason begins now and runs straight through NewYear's. Of course the choice is yours.

Now is your opportunity to plan for the weeks ahead.Once the craziness begins, you'll be too busy to put aplan into action.

So let's take this calm before the storm, to outline a two-part plan that willsave your waist from unwanted holiday inches.

1) Part One: Your Exercise Plan. Exercise is the first thing people cut whenthey get busy, and the holiday season is notorious for empty gyms. This yeardo something different-obligate yourself to exercise. Promising to yourselfwon't do it, you need to promise to others so that you won't drop the ball.

• Sign up to work with a fitness expert - I'll give you the attention andassistance that you need to power through the holidays in better shape thanever - talk about motivating!

• Join one of our classes - You won't be as effective exercising on yourown during the busy holiday season, so join our classes for accountability.

• Get a serious exercise buddy -When looking for an exercise buddyconsider the following questions:

- Do they share your fitness goals? - Do they give up easily? - Are they at your fitness level?

2) Part Two: Your Diet Plan. The holidays offer ample opportunities toindulge, so you need to hammer down some guidelines before hitting thatbuffet line. I'm not saying that you shouldn't indulge in any seasonal treats,but use moderation.

• Don't bring edible treats to the office or to parties. You know that theleftovers will come home and you'll end up eating far more than your share.

• When faced with a buffet line, load your plate first with greens,vegetables and lean meats before breads and heavier foods. Also drinkwater with your meal and keep alcoholic beverages to a 2-drink maximum.

• Beware of holiday drinks - most are brimming with calories. Stick withhot tea or unsweetened coffee.

• Everywhere you go during the holiday season brings you face-to-facewith a plate of sweets. Each time you're in a social situation that involvessweets just eat one, and enjoy your treat slowly.You don't have to gain weight this holiday season. If you approach theholidays with the mindset of, 'I deserve to indulge and I shouldn't have toexercise' then you'll enter 2012 a few pounds heavier, a little less healthy,and with lower energy than ever before.

I believe that you deserve better and that you should enter 2012 in bettershape than you are today. I'm here to help - call to set up a fitnessconsultation with me. I'd love to show you how to transform your body overthe weeks to come.

Call 424-7878 or email [email protected] get started today with a free consultation.


1. GIVE MOM AND DAD A NIGHT OUT If there are any parents on your Christmas list - especiallyif their kids are young - chances are they don’t get out asoften as they’d like. So why not give them a night out ontheir own? Offer to babysit for a night, then pair thatwith a gift certificate to their favorite local restaurant. Tomake the “date night” complete, throw in tickets to amovie or a live show.

2. GIVE THE GIFT OF “ME TIME”With busy work schedules and hectic lives, sometimes it’s hard for peopleto carve out any time for themselves. Most salons and spas offer giftcertificates for their services. Maybe that hardworking person in your lifewouldn’t normally take an hour out of the day for a relaxing massage - buthaving a gift certificate in hand will give them a reason to schedule time totake care of themselves.

3. FIND SOMETHING ONE-OF-A-KIND Many local organizations sponsor craft shows during the holiday season.Why not check out a few of them and see what unique handmade itemsyou come across? Some holiday fairs also have make-and-take craftstations where the kids can make something by themselves.

4. MAKE AN ALL-LOCAL GIFT BASKET Do you have relatives who have moved out of the area?Give them a taste of home by assembling a gift basketfull of nothing but items made locally. Locally we havechocolate makers, wineries and a variety of otherspecialty food manufacturers, browse the shops righthere in your hometowne and see what you can find. Youcould also throw in a T-shirt or sweatshirt from their almamater!

5. PRESERVE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES...Old photos, collected and assembled in an attractive package, can make agreat gift for relatives or old friends. Some places will scan your old photosor negatives for you, allowing you to create a DVD slideshow of memories.Or you can head to your favorite card or craft store and buy the materialsfor a homemade scrapbook.

6. ...OR HELP MAKE SOME NEW ONES If someone on your Christmas list loves new experiences, let the sky be thelimit! Maybe a flight school or skydiving service? Or for those who prefersomething a little more down-to-earth, try a gift certificate for a parent andchild bowling, skiing/tubing, movies, skating or even a laser-tag outing, allof these will add to family memories that will last a lifetime.

SIX IDEAS FOR LOCAL SHOPPING

THIS


UNDER NEWOWNERSHIP

DAILYSPECIALS

KARAOKE DEC 2ND & 9THCHRISTMAS PARTY DEC 23RD

15 Prospect Street Ballston Spa885-6861

BALLSTONSPA

The National Bottle Museum Visitors to the museum can learn about early bottle

making methods, view surviving hand tools, and see a miniature model of a typical 1800's glass furnace.

76 Milton AvenueBallston Spa

885-7589Mon - Fri 10am-4pm


STAY TUNED with Paul Hill

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

...Just ask Dan FosterI have heard this man sing while playing the piano at Burnt Hills Music solet me say this; Dan Foster has ONE powerful voice. It is not often thatone gets to meet someone who is about to perform at Carnegie Hall; I'mglad I did and I'm here to share Dan's long line of musicalaccomplishments. .Locally Dan is known as a well respected teacher in various disciplines atBurnt Hills Music owned by Rick Werblow. Dan was trained in SacredMusic at Westminster Choir College as a singer, pianist, organist, andconductor. Rumor has it he knows his way up and down the neck of aguitar as well! Dan sang for three years in the Spoleto Festival International inCharleston, South Carolina as a tenor. He returned two years ago and iscurrently the organist and pianist with the Antioch Chamber Ensembleone of the finest professional choral music ensembles in the UnitedStates. Dan also performed for two years at the Pitten Festival, Austria,quite the resume but I'm not done yet!Dan has sung on concert tours in Taiwan, Korea, France, Holland, and Italyand has performed and recorded extensively with the New YorkPhilharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke'sas well as recording with the renowned early music ensemble FumaSacre.Most recently, Dan led the choir he founded, Aoede Consort, in thepremier of a large body of new Orthodox Liturgical music by renownedRussian pianist and composer Vladimir Pleshakov.Dan will premiere more new works by Vladimir Pleshakov with the AoedeConsort Sunday January 22nd, 2012 at the Stern Auditorium / PerelmanStage at Carnegie Hall. Tickets are available online at the Carnegie Hallwebsite www.carnegiehall.org

Tickets: $99, $85, $60, $45, $35, $17.50 www.carnegiehall.org | CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800

Box Office at 57th and Seventh, New York City, New York

Additional information available at www.AoedeConsort.org…and THAT'S how you get to Carnegie Hall. Stay Tuned!

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We wouldlike to wisheveryone avery, very

Merry Christmas!

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THEY SAY YOUR EYES ARE THE WINDOWS TOTHE SOUL They say your eyes are the windows to thesoul. They are also the windows to your healthbecause they allow your eye doctor to seewhat's going on inside you. Your eyes are theonly part of your body where doctors can look

directly at internal, functioning blood vessels.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a painless procedure in which an eyecare professional examines your eyes to look for common vision problemsand eye diseases, many of which have no early warning signs. During aneye exam, your doctor uses special eye drops to cause eye dilation. Thedrops cause the black portion at the center of your eye (iris) to widen,allowing your doctor a good view of the back of your eye. Pupil dilation canhelp your doctor diagnose many diseases and conditions, such as: diabetes,eye tumors, high blood pressure, infectious diseases, macular degeneration,and retinal detachment. Many diseases and conditions can be detected attheir earliest stages during an eye exam. For this reason, most eye doctorsrecommend eye dilation as part of your routine eye exam schedule. Adilated eye exam also allows your doctor to check for damage to the opticnerve that occurs when a person has glaucoma.

In determining whether eye dilation is necessary for you, your eye doctormay consider your age, your eye health, your overall health, your reason foran exam, and results of previous eye exams.

Pupil dilation is not uncomfortable, but it does represent a loss of part ofyour day, as the drops take approximately 30 minutes to work, and you willhave difficulty seeing for around an hour after your exam, until the dropshave stopped working. Having your eyes dilated does not substantially bluryour vision, but it definitely will be noticeable. You will still be able to seemost objects and navigate with relative ease. Remember to bring a pair ofsunglasses along to your eye exam, so that the bright light outside will nothurt your eyes after the examination. The optometrist's office will usuallyhave several pairs of disposable sunglasses as well, just in case you forget.Because you may feel disoriented after pupil dilation, you may also want toconsider asking someone else to drive you to your eye appointment, oraccompany you on public transportation. Getting regular eye exams is animportant way to monitor your optical and general health.

For more information contact Kristen Cameron, Burnt Hills Optical

793 Rt. 50 Burnt Hills, 399-6130or visit www.burnthillsoptical.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from


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Founded in 1948 by Fred Spezza Sr., Mohawk Heating waslocated on Albany St. in Schenectady for 55 years. Fred Sr.passed the business on to his son, Fred Spezza. Now,Mohawk Heating will be a third generation business, withhis grandson, Kris Spezza, taking over the reigns at their newcorporate headquarters, built in 2003, located at 1694Duanesburg Rd.

Mohawk Heating is a Premier Lennox dealer, featuring thefull line of Lennox heating and air conditioning systems forhomes and businesses. For over 60 years, they have pridedthemselves as your total comfort craftsman, featuring solar,geothermal, radiant, forced air and hydronic systems, as wellas whole house generators. Mohawk Heating pioneered theair duct cleaning business with their exclusive SANI-VACduct cleaning equipment.

For total indoor climate control, Mohawk Heating is yourone-stop shop. Their fleet of radio dispatched service trucksare piloted by NATE certified technicians who will guideyou in repairing or replacing your equipment. They operate24/7, 365 days a year.

374-3894 or 725-4464 • www.mohawkheat.com

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATEDNow in our Third Generation

Albany St,Schenectady

Corporate HeadquartersDuanesburg Rd.


Did you know?Every time it erupts, Old Faithful in Yellowstone

National Park spurts up to 8,000 gallons of

199-degree water about 140 feet into the air.

DO MEN AND WOMEN INVEST DIFFERENTLY? Several years ago, the book titled Men Are From Mars,Women Are From Venus was quite popular. As the titlesuggests, the book argues that men and women arevastly different from each other, particularly in theiremotional needs and in the way they communicate.

While not everyone agrees with the notion that men and women might aswell be from different planets, most of us would probably concur that thetwo genders frequently behave differently - and this divergence in behaviormay also show up in the way that we invest.In fact, various studies and anecdotal evidence suggests these differences inthe way that men and women invest:Men tend to trade more often than women. Men seem to buy and sellinvestments more frequently than women. This difference could result in anadvantage for women investors. For one thing, if women do trade less, theymay incur fewer commission charges, fees and other expenses, all of whichcan eat into investment returns.Also, by holding investments longer, womenmay be able to take better advantage of market rallies. During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, for example, men were more likely than women to sellshares of stock at market lows, which led to bigger losses among maletraders - and fewer gains when some of the stock values began to rise again- according to a study by Vanguard, a mutual fund company.Men tend to invest more aggressively than women. Perhaps notsurprisingly, men seem to be more willing to take risks with theirinvestments. This trait can be both positive and negative. On the positiveside, risk is associated with reward, so the more aggressive the investment,the greater the potential for growth. On the negative side, taking too muchrisk pretty much speaks for itself. Ideally, all investors - men and women -should stick with investments that fit their individual risk tolerance.Women are more likely to look at the “big picture.” Although bothmen and women investors want information, women seem to take a more“holistic” approach - that is, instead of focusing strictly on performancestatistics, they tend to delve deeper into their investments' background,competitive environment and other factors. This quest for additionalknowledge may help explain why all-female investment clubs haveachieved greater returns than all-male clubs, according to a study by theNational Association of Investors Corp., which represents thousands ofinvestment clubs across the country.Men may be more optimistic about the financial markets. Somestudies show that men are more optimistic about key economic indicatorsand future stock market performance. Optimism can be a valuable assetwhen it comes to investing; if you have confidence in the future, you're morelikely to invest for it, and to continue investing. On the other hand, falseoptimism may lead to over-confidence, which can have negative results forinvestors.Neither men nor women have a monopoly on positive investmentbehaviors; each gender can probably learn something from the other.Ultimately, of course, it's your decision-making, not your x- or y-chromosomes, that will determine your ability to make progress toward yourlong-term goals. So educate yourself about your choices, and get the helpyou need from a financial professional, as you invest through the years.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Christopher Nyhan is a

Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Burnt Hills, NY.He serves as President of the BH-BL BPA and the BH-BL Rotary

Club. He can be reached at 399-5087 [email protected].

Ski Vacation Rentals on Gore Mountain.Visit the Quaint Ski Village

of North Creek!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALREALTOR!


DECEMBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answ

ers

can

be fo

und

on p

age

35

ACROSS1.Fabric for jeans6. Existed10. Overtake14. Dwelling15. "Smallest particle"16. Assist17. Pillar

18. Impolite19. Scarce20. Adversary22. Largest continent23. N N N N24. Have in mind as a purpose26. Accompany30. Movie prize

32. Boyfriend33. Gawk at35. Models39. Leases41. Lyric poem42. Work out43. Classical music theatre44. Where a bird lives46. Duo47. Set straight49. Swindle51. Pictures54. Owns55. Blemish56. Wipe out63. Jump up and down64. "Backwards room"65. Unit of capacitance66. Jacob's brother67. Coastal raptor68. Flip over69. Bottom of the barrel70. Marsh plant71. Porous

DOWN1.Information2. Black, in poetry3. Nothing (British)4. Inspiration5. Amalgamation6. Alerts7. Decorative case8. Poles

9. A medicine that induces vomit-ing10. Airborne infantry11. Humiliate12. Small finch13. Place21. Not tricked by25. Short sleeps26. A river in Spain27. Leak slowly28. Walking stick29. Horrific30. Bygone31. Views34. A large chime36. Strip of wood37. Wickedness38. Arid40. A period of discounted prices45. Not this48. Chemical cousin50. Beneficial51. Push52. Bullwinkle, e.g.53. Seaweed54. Employed57. Drill58. Solitary59. Sexual assault60. Region61. Armored vehicle62. Swirl


"There are two kinds of people,

those who finish what they start and so on."

- Robert Byrne

BURNT HILLS UNITED METHODISTCHURCH

Experience the Christmas Story, A Live Nativity.

Celebrating Our Saviors Birth, December 17, 1022.

Service times 5pm & 7pm All are welcome to bring friends and family!

Burnt Hills United Methodist Church Christmas Eve Worship Serviceswill be 5:00pm especially for the children Carol singing, Christmas Storyand Pageant Procession. All children are invited for the pageantprocession. 7:30pm Sunday School Youth will present "A Christmas toBelieve In". The Youth Players will celebrate in Music. We will celbratethe gift of love revealed in the Christ. 10:00pm Candle Light Worshiptogether. We will sing carols and hear the Christmas story from theBible. Music is by Harpist, Karlinda Caldicott, Flutist Yvonn Hansbrougand the Chancel Choir in joy filled honor to our Saviors Birth.Christmas Day Worship 11:00am Come and Worship in Word, Carols,music and prayer.

The tradition of the Christmasstockings began by a story told since

ancient time about a kind noble manwho had three daughters. The wife of

the nobleman expired and the daughtersand their father were left in a state of

sorrow. The daughters hadto do all the work in the

house. When thedaughters becameyoung and eligiblefor marriage, the poor

father could not affordto give the huge dowries

to their husbands.

One evening the daughters, after washing their stockings hung them nearthe fire place to be dried. Santa Claus being moved by the plight of thedaughters came in and put in three bags of gold one in each of thestocking hanging by the chimney. The next morning the family noticed thegold bags and the nobleman had enough for his daughter’s marriage. Thedaughters got married and they lived happily ever after. Since then childrenhave been hanging Christmas stockings.

THE TRADITION OFTHE CHRISTMAS

STOCKINGS


TIPS ON BUYING APERSONAL COMPUTERBuying a computer is a major purchase and youshould study the options carefully. The two maintypes of computers and operating systems arethe PC (Windows) and Macintosh.

Factors to Consider:How will you use the computer? Knowing how you'll use yourcomputer will help you determine what type of minimum requirementsthe computer needs to have. For example, computers that run graphicdesign programs generally need more memory (RAM) than computersused for simple word processing operations, such as email and searches.

How Much Should You Spend? Depending on your needs, be preparedto spend between $400 to $600 for an entry-level average PC desktop orlaptop computer. A Netbook, which is a small limited laptop costs under$300. A new monitor will cost between $110 to $200 for an LCD screen.Printers vary from $39 on up depending on the functions it provides.

Buy from a Reputable Dealer. Before you buy your next computer,check the warranty. One year is average and that is usually fine for adesktop, but with laptops you should take out the extended warranty fora couple more years. Will the technician come to you or do you have tobring the machine in?

Here are some basic computer terms that will help you understand whatthe salesman is talking about:CD/DVD RW-ROM Drive: CD's and DVD’s store lots of data and are usedto install new programs, and back-up personal data. Be sure to keep inmind how important it is to back-up your files and pictures regularly!!

CPU: The CPU, or central processing unit, is the brains of the computer.The higher the numbers the faster the computer will run. The latest PCintel chips are core i-3, core i-5, core i-7.

Operating System: This is the software that is needed to run thecomputer. Today’s latest is Windows 7. Home premium is a good choice.If your new PC comes with re-install disks… great! If not, when your PCtells you to burn recovery disks…DO IT!

Hard Drive: The hard drive also is called the hard disk. You'll probablynever see it because it is nestled inside your computer. It's the computer'selectronic filling cabinet, and it stores the computer's operating system,files, programs and documents. Average size today is 250 to 500 gigs ofspace.

RAM: Computers save data in two ways: on the hard drive (permanently)and in random access memory (temporarily while the software isrunning). New computer buyers should look for models with at least4Gigs of RAM. Make sure that the computer can be upgraded.

Make sure to install or have installed an anti-virus and malware/spywareprogram that runs daily as soon as you start using your new PC.

With the holidays fast approaching, a new computer may be on your wishlist. Be sure to check our prices on Dell Laptops and desktops first. Our instock, Dell laptops start at $299 and desktops at $399. And our used,reconditioned PC's from $100. BEWARE: Know what you are buying!!! Bevery careful of big box stores selling cheap PC's and monitors boxed forunder $400. You get LESS then what you pay for!

Mention you saw us here to receive $25 OFF of a back-up with a reformat!!

Offer expires 12/31/11

As always, Safe computing until next time.

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THE VILLAGE IS BUSTLING!The stockings are hung on the fire place with careand our Christmas village is bustling. My son and Ispend many hours creating the perfect village eachyear. Our canvas is a five-tiered shelf in our kitchen.Each year we venture out to find a new piece toadd. We lay the "snow" and decide who has whatshelf. He takes a few and I take a few. As we

unpack the village, we line up the houses. The Laundry mat, theChinese Restaurant, and Taco Shack go on Main Street. The tree withlights is in the town square next to the church and bakery. As we lineup the street lights and add some fake snow, our little village takes onthe holiday spirit. My son makes sure that the people with mugs, areplaced near the hot cocoa stand and the ice fisherman need to be nearthe pond, NOT the river. He says, "Mom, they can't ice fish in a river!"I guess he is right. If you're going to do a village it may as well be anaccurate one!

The new mountain lodge sits in the center. People snowshoeing andmaking snowmen. Deer nestled near some far off trees. The icefishermen huddle near their fire. People are strolling on the cobble stonewalkway through the center of town with gifts in hand. The cocoa standis busy with children waiting for a hot cup with extra marshmallows.

As the scene draws you in, I remember...I have to get this whole thingto light up! I gather the cords so they are out of sight and plug themin to a huge electrical "bus". As I work my way through each shelf, ziptying each cord to the side, I find my way to the bottom. I plug themall in and pause to take a deep breath. Hoping, we don't blow a circuitor even worse, suck all the power from our entire neighborhood as Iflick the switch. Mind you, this is quite a village. As I apply thepressure to the big red button, my son waits in anticipation. The villagecomes alive. The tree in the town square is bright with twinkling lights,the cobble stone walks are lit by old fashioned street lights. Thebakery's lights are on and the Chinese Restaurant is open for business.We stand back and look, and keep looking. We say to each other..."THIS is the best village ever!"

We live in the best village as well. I look forward to the hustle andbustle of our town. We may no longer have the cobble stone walkwaysor the old fashion street light, but the spirit of the holiday is here withall of us.

As always, I wish you peace, love and a joyous holiday with extramarshmallows in your cocoa.

Pattie Rakvica • [email protected]


DECEMBER SCHEDULE

518-399-8174 E-mail: [email protected]

LIBRARY HOURSMonday -Thursday 10AM - 8PM

Friday 10AM - 5PMSaturday 10AM - 2PM Closed Sunday

ONLINEhttp://catalog.sals.edu or http://toblibrary.sals.edu

YOUTH SERVICEShttp://toby.sals.edu

E-mail: [email protected]

There is no December meeting of the Library Board of Trustees. TheJanuary meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 25th, in the librarycommunity room.COMPUTER CLASSES - free, but please call 399-8174 ext 2 to register.Picasa Part 1: Monday, December 5, 6-7:30PM. Take your photos furtherwith Picasa. Find out how to view, organize, edit, share and backup yourdigital photos.Facebook for those over Fifty: Tuesday, Dec 6, 2011, 10:30AM-12PM.Learn about Facebook and find out what everyone is talking about!Surprise your family by setting up your own Facebook page. Join us for thiseasy, basic discussion and demo.Picasa Part 2: Tuesday, December 13, 6-7:30PM. This class is for theperson that has either taken Picasa 101, or already has digital experience.You are encouraged to bring your own digital pictures with you on a flashdrive. You will be shown how to edit your own photos using Picasa as wellas adding and creating web albums, collages and movies.File Management: Monday, December 19, 6-7:30PM. This course willteach you how to save and organize files and folders to make it easier tofind them. This course will show you how to drag and drop while usingwindows explorer.Toddler Time - Wednesdays and Fridays 10:30AM. Read and sing with usto promote early literacy and social skills, then stay and play. For ages threeand under accompanied by an adult.Pre-school Story Time - Wednesdays 1:30PM/Thursdays 10:30AM. Enjoy

books, songs, finger plays and a craft with us, with play time to follow. For3-6 year olds accompanied by a caregiver.Art & Movement - Tuesdays 10:30AM November 29-December 20. Forpre-schoolers with a care giver.Read to Casey - Wednesdays 4PM.Casey is a certified therapy dog whovisits our library and loves to listen to stories. Kids and families of all agescan attend. No registration needed.2,3,4 Book Club - Thursday, December 15 4PM. Each month we’ll readbooks of the same genre or theme, talk about them, do a craft, and playwith Legos. Please sign upCelebrate the New Year with Dragonfly Design - Thursday, December29 1:30PM. Make a creation and ring in the New Year with DragonflyDesign. Please sign up, for grades K-5.Teen Program - Tuesday, December 27 1:30PM. Sew a sock monster withus! Bring out your creative side and create your own monster. Please signup - for grades 6-12.The Saratoga Program for Arts Funding Computer Montage GrantProject is almost ready for the grand unveiling. All are invited to come andsee the tiles created by community members depicting their favorite booksat 12:30 on Saturday, December 10th in the library's reading room.Refreshments will provided by the Friends of the Library. This program wasmade possible in part with funds from the Saratoga Program for ArtsFunding (SPAF) part of the Decentralization regrant program of the NewYork State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), administered by Saratoga Arts.

HANUKKAH TRADITIONSHanukkah is the story of a great victory of the Jews over the Syrian-Greeks.In 165 BCE, led by the Hasmonean family of Mattathias the High Priest andhis youngest son, Judah, the Jews succeeded in evicting the Syrian-Greeksfrom Israel and restored the Temple.According to the Talmud, after the Temple had been cleaned and the Priestswere ready to light the Temple menorah, they could find only one jug of oilthat was fit to use. This was only enough for one day, but it lasted for eight.This is why Hanukah is eight days long. For eight days beginning on thetwenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev we light the menorah to celebratethe victory and the miracle of Hanukah.Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word "Khanu" meaning 'and theyrested,' and from the Hebrew date Kaf Hey which equals 25. That is why wecelebrate Hanukah beginning on the 25th of the month of Kislev.


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PUT A LITTLE HO, HO, HO INYOUR HOLIDAY DECORATING I love beautiful things, and in case this is the first timeyou've read my article, I will tell you my secret: I'mcheap. Clearance sales make my pulse pound andfinding ways to repurpose things I already have fornew and different uses completely makes my day. I

never have the same “look” two years in a row and if you follow my tipsfor beautiful, budget decorating, you can have a fresh look every year too.Bring the Outside In

1. Place natural elements like acorns, pinecones and evergreen branches in large bowls or platters and insert candles for a beautiful,unique centerpiece (use glass hurricanes to keep it safe).2. Spray evergreen branches with silver or gold paint and place in tree as decoration or in vases around your home.3. Bump up the beauty factor of your store-bought garland by weaving evergreen branches and other pretty natural elements throughout.

Think Beyond Red and Green1. Sapphire and silver, magenta and amethyst, and silver/gold and white are great alternative color palettes for Christmas.2. Use a theme - Adirondack, Victorian, modern or country.3. Mix it up - use a different palette or theme each year so you don't have to look at the date on your photos to recall when it was taken.

Decorate the Everyday1. Weave glass or evergreen garlands in and out of the arms of your chandelier and hang glass balls with silk ribbons at different levels to add interest.2. Place cards and garlands on TV units, coffee tables, and artwork.3. Fill bowls with balls and leave in bathrooms and hallways.

If you don't have time to create the perfect holiday display, don't worry!With my One Day Makeover, you can have a beautiful winter wonderlandwithout spending a lot of time or money. But with less than three weeksbefore Christmas, don't wait to book your in-home appointment! I can re-arrange your space for a party, decorate for that special Christmasmorning or create a one-of-a-kind outdoor display. Be sure to find me onFacebook and my website: www.locustgrovedesigns.com. I'll be givingout 12 days of decorating advice (for free!).Happy Holidays!

Locust Grove Designs • Dawn DiLorenzo • 222-9551

Chicken Breasts with Sun-DriedTomato-Chile Cream Sauce

OUR SIGNATURE ITALIAN SAUSAGE SINCE 1904

Hot or Sweet; Rope style or PattiesMeatballs and Bragoiles

Kielbasa, Chorizo,Andouille, Bratwurst, Daisy Hams

& Thick Sliced Bacon

CUSTOM CUT BEEFFilet Mignon

Rib eye steaks choiceNY Strip Steaks choice

PORKPork Chops Center Cut Bone in or Stuffed*

Pork Tenderloins

POULTRYSkinless boneless Chicken breasts

Chicken Cutlets or Stuffed Chicken Breasts*

COLD CUTS Featuring Battistoni

Salami, Capicola, Soppresata& Abruzzi

*Our own bread crumb and sausage stuffing

Don't forget the Homemade StuffedCherry Peppers or Freshly Grated Parmesan

to complement our large Selection of Pasta & Casa Visco Sauces.

A variety of Olive Oils as well as blocks of Sharp Provolone, Fontinella, Asiago,

Extra Sharp Canadian Cheddar, SmokedCheddar, Danish Blue Cheese, Pecorino

Romano and Parmesan Reggianito.

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed),coarsely chopped (1/2 inch)1 dried chile, coarsely chopped (1/2 inch)1 cup boiling water4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves fromGarofalo's3/4 teaspoon salt, divided1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided2 tablespoons olive oil, divided1/3 cup minced shallots4 garlic cloves, minced3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil1 cup heavy whipping cream

Soak sun-dried tomatoes and chile in boilingwater in small bowl 20 to 30 min or until softened. Drain, reserving soaking liquid (about1/4 cup). Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon ofsalt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chicken 8 to 10 min or until browned, turning once. Removechicken; cover loosely with foil. Heat remainingtablespoon oil in same skillet. Cook and stir sun-dried tomatoes, chile, shallots, garlic and basil4 min or until soft. Add cream; bring to a boil overhigh heat, stirring to scrape up any browned bitsfrom bottom of skillet. Simmer 3 min or untilthickened. Stir in reserved 1/4 cup soaking liquidand remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.Serve sauce over chicken.

Garofalo's Offers a WideVariety of Meat Specialties

Garafalo's, the taste people travel for! Stop in and visit the 4th generation, serving QUALITY ITALIAN PRODUCTS since 1904.

www.garofalosausage.com

Italian Roast Beef with Tomatoes and Kalamata Olives

1 (2 1/2- to 3-lb.) hand cut boneless beef roastfrom Garofalo's2 teaspoons coarse salt, divided1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided2 tablespoons Garofalo's flavored olive oil1 cup chopped onion1 tablespoon minced garlic1/2 cup red wine 1 (28-oz.) can tomato puree 2 bay leaves1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil1 teaspoon dried oreganoDash crushed red pepper1/2 cup halved & pitted Kalamata olives freshfrom Garofalo's

Sprinkle beef with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4teaspoon of the black pepper. Heat large pot orDutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add oil;heat until hot. Cook beef 10 to 12 min or untilbrowned on all sides. Remove beef; cover looselywith foil. Cook onion in same pot over medium-lowheat 8 to 10 min or until soft and golden brown, stir-ring occasionally. Add garlic; cook and stir about aminute or until fragrant. Add wine; increase heat tomedium-high. Boil 1 minute. Add tomato puree, bayleaves, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper andremaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon blackpepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-lowto low; simmer 15 min. Return beef and any accu-mulated juices to pot; cook, covered, 1-1/2 to 2hours or until beef is fork-tender, adjusting heat asnecessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Removebeef; cover loosely with foil. Add olives to sauce;increase heat to medium. Boil, uncovered, 10 min oruntil slightly reduced and thickened ,slice beef; topwith sauce.



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- Chinese Proverb

The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas,Bishop of Myra, an area in present day Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholaswas a generous man, particularly devoted to children.After his death around340 A.D. he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors purportedly stolehis remains and removed them to Bari, Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas'popularity throughout Europe. His kindness and reputation for generositygave rise to claims he that he could perform miracles and devotion to himincreased. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, where he wasknown by his red cape, flowing white beard, and bishop's mitre.In Greece, he is the patron saint of sailors, in France he was the patron oflawyers, and in Belgium the patron of children and travelers. Thousands ofchurches across Europe were dedicated to him and sometime around the12th century an official church holiday was created in his honor. The Feastof St. Nicholas was celebrated December 6 and the day was marked bygift-giving and charity.After the Reformation, European followers of St. Nicholas dwindled, butthe legend was kept alive in Holland where the Dutch spelling of his nameSaint Nikolaas was eventually transformed to Sinterklaas. Dutch childrenwould leave their wooden shoes by the fireplace, and Sinterklaas wouldreward good children by placing treats in their shoes. Dutch colonistsbrought this tradition with them to America in the 17th century and herethe Anglican name of Santa Claus emerged.


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