July, 2017

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

WE’RE SAVING YOU A SEAT!

Save the Date 2

Study Group Reviews 3 & 8

Celebrating Silver Update 4

Prestwick Chase Cocktails 5

Ice Cream Social - The Summit 7

Annual Meeting 9

Academy Extra Total Recall 10

Inside this issue:

Points of Interest

1. Aug. 1 deadline for Silver Anniversary Third Age Press sub-missions

2. Post mark Fall Term Registrations/Applica-tions JULY 17!

3. Have a great sum-mer!

Shout Out!

New Executive Council!

Welcome!

NOTES FROM

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Academy’s new fiscal year July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018, as we kick off our “Celebrating Silver” 25

th Anniversary. If you haven’t al-

ready noticed our 25th anniversary logo featured in earlier issues of A.L.L. the News on the page dedicated to Celebrating Silver, please take note of it above! Thanks Office Manager Vera Kasson for designing and pro-ducing the enhanced logo!

The 2017 fall brochure has been dis-tributed with 34 study groups from which to choose.

New this term: Immigrants All: Writing and Storytelling, Law & Morality, The-ater Games, Katherine Anne Porter: Geography Genre and Fools, Major Naval Battles, Smithsonian Ingenuity, Let’s Get Oily, Costume Jewelry Work-shop, Marriage and the Plight of Sin-gle Victorian Women, US Constitu-tion: Myths and Misconceptions, Su-preme Court 2016-2017 Cases, and Farm Tours.

Back by popular demand: Walking with Saratoga’s Health and Wellness

Community Series (new speakers), Great Decisions (new, current topics), Intro to iPhone Photography, Discov-ering Amazing Me (all new topics), Making Sense of Investing, Enjoying Poetry, Painting Lab, Writers Circle, the Monday and Wednesday Speak-ers Series (all new topics), Hikes at Mo-reau State Park, Science Series (all new), History Art & Science day trips to new locations, History in Our Capi-tal Region Towns (all new). Doodles Drawings and Designs, Hollywood, Italian, Economics for Beginners, The Exotic East, Local Museum Tours, and new Tang Museum Exhibits.

Please send your study group registra-tion form in the mail NO EARLIER THAN July 17. Class registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis after July 17. Applications will be accepted for open classes throughout the term.

Please welcome our newest A.L.L. the News Sponsor: The Wesley Commu-

nity and their compassionate care at home. Their ad appears on page 2.

HAPPY

ANNIVERSARY!

Continued on page 2

25 Years

A.L.L. Celebrates 25 Years!

P A G E 2 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

Upcoming

Events Save These Dates!

July 3 & 4 - Office closed in observance of the

4th of July Holiday

July 12 & 13 - Office Closed

July 15 - Luncheon @ Hall of Springs followed by

Ballet at SPAC

July 17 - Post Mark your Academy Membership

Application & Fall Registration today!

July 26 - Academy Extra: Total Recall (see back

page for flyer and details)

Aug 7 - A.L.L. Picnic at the Race Track (see Cele-

brating Silver on page 4)

FALL 2017 MEMBERSHIP KICK-OFF BRUNCH

Wednesday, September 6, 10:30 a.m. Saratoga Springs Knights of Columbus, 50 Pine Road

Come to meet fall study group/class leaders, new friends, renew friendships from past years and learn more about the Academy’s

fall programs and volunteer opportunities. .

Annual Membership $60.00 Membership is for the fiscal year, July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 (Study Group Leaders receive a free annual membership valued at $60.)

Academy Membership entitles you to the following benefits:

Eligibility to enroll in classes for the fall 2017 and spring 2018

terms

Participation in the Academy’s Special Interest Groups

Participation in all special events, trips, and programs

(Academy Extras)

Discount cards to local businesses and restaurants

Free subscription to A.L.L. The News monthly newsletter

Free copy of the “Celebrating Silver” edition of “The Apple

Tree.”

Copy of A.L.L. Member Handbook

Opportunity to be an Academy volunteer and serve on Acad

emy committees

Eligibility to submit work to “The Apple Tree,” the Academy’s l

iterary and art journal

Have a vote at the annual meeting June 14, 2018

NOTES FROM

THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know? Fundraising events help to keep membership and class fees reasonable for all Academy members. The fees charged for social affairs such as the Afternoon Tea, the Ice Cream Social and Lunch and Learn contribute to paying our staff and balanc-ing the annual budget of A.L.L. while giving new and long-time members a chance to get together in an informal gathering.

So watch for the announcements of social events at locations throughout the area that are being planned and consider at-tending. Your participation is very much appreciated.

Submitted by Resource Development Committee Chair Alice Martin

Continued from front page

P A G E 3

History in our Capital Region Towns

Study Group Review

Article submitted by A.L.L. Member and Historian Pam Fabry

Leo Kellogg led a most interesting study group called His-

tory in our Capital Region Towns during the spring of

2017. For 30 years, Leo worked for the state of New York

in an administrative position - first in Plattsburgh, then

Glens Falls and finally, Saratoga Springs. Since 1989, Leo

has been active in the Torch Club and started the local

chapter in Saratoga. He is married with two grown chil-

dren living nearby, and Leo not only leads the study

group for A.L.L but also volunteers for the History Muse-

um.

The History in our Capital Region Towns included nine

sessions by different presenters that included historians,

authors and even the police chief in Saratoga Springs.

Each session was interesting and unique. Europeans be-

gan settling the area in the 1700s, but towns became

more prevalent in the 1800s. The spring water drew peo-

ple to both Ballston Span and Saratoga, and by 1830,

there was a spring water bottling factory. The downtown

area was once booming and included large hotels to ac-

commodate individuals seeking health remedies through

the waters but also to accommodate out-of-town gam-

blers.

By 1860, the Saratoga area became known for its gam-

bling establishments in town and in the area of Saratoga

Lake, even though gambling was illegal. During the

1930s, gambling and crime was a concern, and a local

man, Adam Parillo died after being shot. Police chief Greg

Vertich wrote a book about this murder that was never

solved but was thought to be related to Canadian gang-

sters. By the 1950s, gambling was in a decline and the

area began becoming more economically depressed.

One interesting session described the Metropolitan Life

Corporation’s tuberculosis sanitarium that opened in

1913 to provide a quiet and open air environment for Met

Life employees. The facility finally closed in 1945 with a

history of successful treatment. Despite an overall survival

rate of 25% nationally, the Mt. McGregor Sanitarium was

able to successfully discharge 66% of those admitted, with

77% of those patients were healthy enough to be still

working for Met Life ten years later. During the period of

treatment, employees were paid their salaries so families

weren’t stressed by the illness. The facility followed a strict

and regimented schedule, served locally grown food and

had patients from all over the country, including some

who didn’t have tuberculosis. Once the program closed,

the facility became a veteran’s home and then a home for

the developmentally disabled.

One study group session focused on the town of Milton,

that recently had its 225 year anniversary. The early histo-

ry of that area included farms, factories and hamlets.

Many of the original town members came from Connecti-

cut and because of the Kayaderosseras Creek, the town

previously had many mills including saw, grist, cotton,

carpet, carding and even an ax factory. Fires destroyed

businesses and some were sold or repossessed due to

financial problems. Another session focused on Amster-

dam and the manufacturing that took place for 100 years

and until 1960.

Rick Reynolds presented on a present day dig in the

Ballston area in the area of a mansion that was built for

the Walton family in 1790. The land is now owned by the

town of Ballston, and recently, 70 volunteers worked at

the area of the mansion and discovered various artifacts

such as remnants of plates from various periods and eat-

ing utensils. Another dig took place on another property

that was thought to be a burial site for orphan infants

during the late 1890s. but no remains were ever found

and that area is now developed. Rick discussed the nature

of archeological digs and how community members can

participate by learning standardized dig procedures and

by working together in future digs in the area.

Both the northern and southern areas of the Adirondacks

had many ski areas that were once developed, and rem-

nants can be still be seen in the mountains. Jeremy Davis,

a meteorologist from Glens Falls, wrote two books about

lost ski areas, said he there are 39 lost ski areas in the

southern Adirondacks and 47 lost ski areas in the north-

ern Adirondacks. Many of the areas were developed

around the period of the great depression when there

was a need for inexpensive recreation for individuals and

families, and in 1934, there was a Snow Train that came

up from Albany to the Gore Mountain area. Some ski are-

as were small and family run while others were large and

well developed. WWII impacted ski resorts due to men

being called to service, rationing and the lack of fuel, and

many of the areas closed. Over the years, ski areas also

closed due to vandalism, and the 1970s was a peak time

for skiing.

Leo indicated he planned to continue the study group in

the fall and is already planning a session devoted to the

history of the Adirondack Park. Study group members

agreed this was an interesting and informative series.

P A G E 4 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

ACADEMY FOR

LIFELONG LEARNING

CELEBRATING SILVER!

Celebrate with Empire State College our 25 years (starting Sept, 2017) of collaborative efforts to create

an outstandingly successful lifelong learning center in Saratoga Springs!

Celebrating Silver out of Starting Gate with picnic at Saratoga Race Track

(submitted by Scheryl LoMonico)

SAVE THE DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017 AT 11 A.M.

Join your fellow Academy members at the Saratoga Racetrack to celebrate the beginning of A.L.L.’s 25th

year of excellence in learning.

Bring your own lunch and beverage (no glass) and a treat to share (optional). Parking is available at the track for a fee. Free parking on side streets. Entrance fee at Union Avenue is $5. Tables will be saved, but you may want to bring your own chair. The Celebrating Silver committee will be there early to re-

serve tables and assist in setup.

Walking tours of the track are at 11:30 and 12:30 at $3 per person. Dave, a handicapper, has offered to give us a 15-30 minute talk on what he thinks are the best bets of the day. POST TIME: 1:00. Please RSVP

Carol Alexander at carollee@nycap.rr.com AND type “Racetrack Picnic” in the subject line.

Whether you bet the horses or just want to watch, there is so much to see and do at the Saratoga Race-

track, and we want you to join us at this first event of the 25th season.

New Third Age Press Silver Submission Deadline

(Submitted by Third Age Press Chair Sue Valaitis)

Get out the lap tops and cameras and your paints and pens. Third Age Press will publish a special edition

to help celebrate the Silver Anniversary of The Academy and we need your help. We need your submis-

sions by August 1st so that we have time to prepare for publication in November.

What ever you send does not have to be new. A poem, a drawing, a photo or memoir. You decide. Your submission does not have to be the result of participation in an A.L.L. study group. Your membership,

past or present, is enough. We do ask that the piece you send has never been published elsewhere. All submissions will be reviewed by the Third Age Press Board and you will be notified if your work has

been accepted.

Please send your submissions to Val Ayers at vsayers23@gmail.com. The best way for us to receive print documents is in Microsoft Word. You will find copies of the complete submission guidelines at the A.L.L.

office.

If you have questions, please contact Sue Valaitis at 885-8091 or vavisme@hotmail.com. We look forward

to hearing from you soon.

Memories . . . Tales to Share . . . Unforgettable Moments!

(submitted by Pat Rohstedt)

Join us in celebrating 25 years of A.L.L. next year by sharing your memories of past study classes, special events or,

even committees. Got a memory in mind to share? Thought of an anecdote from a special class? Remember what happened when…? With all these memories we could fill a book! For now, we’ll sprinkle them throughout the 25th

year like silver stars.

Did something come to mind? Send your anecdote to prohstedt@aol.com, or leave it at the ALL office addressed to

me, Pat Rohstedt, with Vera.

Please share your special A.L.L. memory, funny, sweet, or surprising, as we look back on 25 years of A.L.L .(formerly

A.L.R., remember?) growth. The Celebrating Silver committee thanks you.

SAVE THE DATE! - Our Celebrating Silver Banquet is Friday, December 1, 2017 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel, Spa

State Park in Saratoga Springs!

We welcome your input and ideas for the 25th Anniversary. Send your ideas or comments to me at scher-yl@roadrunner.com. I invite you to join the Celebrating Silver Committee and work with a wonderful team! Our next Celebrating Silver Committee meeting is Tuesday, August 1 at 10 AM, location TBD. Watch A.L.L. the

News and your e-mail for updates !

FALL STUDY GROUP

CHANGES The Evolution of Classical Music scheduled for Thurs-

day’s with Study Group Leader Marjorie Gibbs at

10AM has been cancelled for this semester.

PRESTWICK CHASE

END-OF-SEMESTER

SOCIAL

Prestwick Chase hosted the Academy’s End-of-Spring Term Social on June 8 with great food, drink and weath-er! Members enjoyed the sounds of local vocalist Becky Walton on the patio as we sipped complimentary bever-ages from the bar. The amazing hors d’oeuvres included

shrimp, oysters on the half shell, egg rolls, and sushi. Thank you to Fred McNeary and his staff at Prestwick for providing the Academy with this special afternoon event. If you were there, you know how fabulous it was, if not, below and to the right are a few photos so you’ll

know what you missed!

111 West Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-6069 Phone : 518-587-2100, x 2415 E-mail: vera.kasson@esc.edu Academy.Lifelonglearning@esc.edu www.esc.edu/ALL

A.L.L.

We’re

Saving

You a

Seat!

A.L .L . ’s Future

& Your

Legacy The Academy’s future depends on fi-nancial sustainability. Please consider making a difference that will serve oth-ers through your legacy by making a bequest to the Academy for Lifelong

Learning at Saratoga Springs in your will. This is a meaningful way to sup-port the life-changing work at the Academy. Please also consider sug-gesting to those wishing to offer re-membrances to direct them to the

Academy.

SHOPPING

AT THE ACADEMY!

Now that summer’s here, cool down your look with A.L.L.’s handy and

attractive tote bag. If you think it’s attractive now, see

how good it’ll look hanging from your shoulder! Note

cards? A box of 10 all-occasion cards and envelopes

is only $6! It’s a thrill these days to receive a thoughtful

hand-written note in the mail; write one today! Don’t

forget Apple Trees, the A.L.L. Journal, just $7 for the

newest issue! We have Academy gift certificates, too,

Contact Vera at the A.L.L. office for any of these pur-

chases. The Academy Office can accept checks or cash

(exact change is appreciated).

Shout out to

android users!

To enhance his

upcoming fall

study group on

s m a r t p h o n e

photography for

iPhone users,

study group

leader (and offi-

cial A.L.L. Pho-

tographer) Ber-

nie Fabry is looking for a co-leader who uses an android-

based smartphone! If you do and are willing to share your

knowledge, this study group can be opened up to every-

one wanting to improve their photography skills using the

cameras built into their smartphones! Contact Bernie at

bdfabry@aim.com.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

On the morning of June 2, members of the Resource De-velopment Committee joined the staff of The Summit to pre-pare for an afternoon Ice

Cream Social, a fundraising and social event for members of the Academy and their friends. Plans to use the beau-tiful outdoor patio adjacent to the community room were abandoned as the sunny day

turned cloudy and cool. But the warm and welcoming staff and residents of The Summit more

than made up for the lack of sun, and all enjoyed ice cream sun-daes in the comfort of the Sum-

mit’s lovely community room.

Thank you to Christy Durant, Di-

rector of the Summit, for her sup-port of the event , Ann Vander-werker for contributing her time and talent at the baby grand pi-ano and Executive Director Jeff

Shinaman for supply-ing all the ridiculously yummy Sundaes Best

Hot Fudge Sauce!

Copy submitted by Resource Development Chair Alice Martin and photos by Carol Baker and Jeff Shinaman

Article submitted by Cathy Firman; photos by Nora Cheek and Irma Somich

During our spring term, Chair of the Curriculum Committee Roy Hansen arranged tours of eight Saratoga Mu-seums for an enthusiastic group of A.L.L. Members. Knowledgeable guides provided stimulating experienc-

es at each of the tour sites. The result-members gained quite a knowledge of the fascinating history, arts, and cul-

ture of Saratoga Springs.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum in

Saratoga Springs State Park was A.L.L.’s first stop. Special, changing exhibits provide quite an overview of American automobiles. Originally a cottage in-dustry, car manufacturing included Buffalo’s remarkable Pierce Arrow cur-rently on display. Buyers of early auto-mobiles could actually select any color for their vehicles, an option resulting in

some distinctive early cars.

On to the history of dance at the Route 9’s National Museum of Dance, the g r o u p l e a r n e d about the relationship

b e t w e e n dance and athletic skill, viewed costumes of renown ballet dancers as well as a Michael Jackson guitar. A video room provided high-lights of famous film dancers like Ann-

Margret and John Travolta.

Third on the itinerary was the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Founded in 1950 and now located on Union Avenue, this museum honors race horses, jockeys, and trainers asso-ciated with racing. Inductees include familiar names like Seabiscuit, War Ad-

miral, Eddie Arcaro, and Angel Cordero. Galleries include a history of the Triple Crown and the anatomy of a

thoroughbred.

The Saratoga Springs History Museum in the center of Congress Park presents a tumultuous history of the mineral springs and gambling. Over 200 springs with varying minerals provided the basis for growth of a resort be-

tween 1750-1850. A city always cen-tered around entertainment, Saratoga opened its famed race course in 1861. The museum and Canfield Casino also clearly reflect the importance of gam-bling. A second floor has a high stakes room; a third floor has bedrooms set

aside for club members.

During a full day, A.L.L members be-came acquainted with Saratoga Springs Historical Park, located near Schuylerville. Known as the turning point of the American Revolution, the battle won by General Horatio Gates against British General John Burgoyne on this site in the fall of 1777 allowed

Americans to gain control of the war. Today this national museum in our backyard offers guided tours, bike tours, living history, and children’s pro-

grams.

The tour group continued through American history to 1885 and Grant’s Cottage in Wilton where General Ulys-ses S. Grant died on June 16. While suffering from throat and tongue can-

cer, Grant spent his last days here writ-ing memoirs, later published by Mark

Twain. Known for his ability to remain calm in battle and defeating Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, Grant never humbled his foes. Volunteer guides offer an encyclopedia of information

relating to President Grant, Mt. McGregor Correctional Institution, and

Saratoga.

Next came The New York State Military Museum and Veterans’ Research Cen-ter on Lake Avenue. A.L.L. Members found a museum dedicated to relating

stories of New York soldiers from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm.

Over 10,00 artifacts include more than 1700 flags from various wars. Available to the public is an extensive research

facility.

This new course for A.L.L. Members

concluded on Union Avenue at Yaddo, a retreat offering time and space to

individual artists like Saul Bellow and Flannery O’Connor, since 1926. The tragic lives of Spencer and Katrina Trask, who lost all of their four children to death and a home to fire, did not deter them from civic mindedness in providing opportunities to writers, an action resulting in a Pulitzer Prize, Na-tional Book Award, and a Nobel Prize

for Literature winners. In a persistent rain, members viewed Yaddo gardens, a lovely combination of fountains, ros-

es, pergola and stone.

Fortunately, thanks to Roy’s efforts and

the museums’ enthusiasm, more A.L.L. members will have an opportunity to visit each of these sites in our Fall 2017

term.

STUDY GROUP SARATOGA MUSEUM TOURS

A HIT!

ANNUAL MEETING June fifteenth’s annual meeting at Longfellows featured

artwork on display from study groups: Doodles, Drawings

& Designs and Painting Lab and entertainment by A.L.L.

writers: Janice Cutbush (On Turning Seventy) and Joyce

Rubin (Hides of March). Curriculum Chair Roy Hansen rec-

ognized study group leaders Bernie Fabry, Norm Facklam

and Gerald Stulc for having led at least 5 study groups and

Daureen Caiazzo, Francesca Cichello, Ginger Ertz, Ron

Ramsey and Lou Tirelli for having led at least 10!

During a short business meeting, nominations for the

2017 - 2018 executive council were voted upon and

passed. (Please see box below of the incoming executive

council.) Special thanks to outgoing executive council

members:: Judy Tirelli, Event Planning, Joe Peck, Event

Planning, Sue Jorgensen, Membership, and Kathy Crumb,

Membership.

Margret Duval and Connie Curtis won the 50/25/25 raffle

and each received $90. Connie won last year’s raffle, too!

Below are photos of the fun taken by official A.L.L. Photog-

rapher Bernie Fabry.

All this, plus the collection by the membership committee

of almost 50 pounds of much-needed items for donation to

the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC)

(for which we have already received a most gracious

thank-you note!) and another delicious meal in the lovely

indoor court yard at Longfellows!

Chair: Louise Young (for 2nd

one-year term)

Vice Chair: Scheryl LoMonico (for 2nd

one-year term)

Secretary: Marsha Fagan

Financial Officer & Chair of Finance: Mary Ann Johnson (for 2nd

one-year term)

Chair of Third Age Press: Sue Valaitis

Chair of Curriculum: Roy Hansen (for 2nd

one-year term)

Chair of Resource Development: Alice Martin (for 3rd one-year term)

Co-Chair Membership Liz Marcinko (for 1st one-year term)

Co-Chair Membership Nancy Bell (for 1st one-year term)

Chair of Event Planning: Helen Lucas (for 1st one-year term)

Member-at-Large Tom Davis (for 1st one-year term)

Member-at-Large Rick Hasenauer (for 1st one-year term)

SUNY Empire State College Liaison Susan McFadden

Academy Executive Director Jeff Shinaman

2017 - 2018 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Academy for

Lifelong Learning

presents an

Academy Extra:

Total Recall: Take a look at the mechanism of

memory and relieve the concern that changes are unavoida-ble as we age. Learn easy techniques to improve your

memory, what foods can help, and how to stimulate your brain to keep it sharp now and in the future.

Presented by: Stacie Hebert, M.Ed., CWPM

Community Health Educator, MVP Health Care

Wednesday, July 26, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

SUNY Empire State College

113 West Avenue

Saratoga Springs, NY

Room 137

Free and Open to the Public, compliments of MVP. To Register: Call MVP Medicare Community Health Promotion at

386-7936 Academy for Lifelong Learning, 111 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, 587-2100 x2415, ww.esc.edu/all