March 2006 Archives

By Mary Beth DeCecco

We jitterbugged in the 1950s, discoed in the late 70s, freestyled in the 80s, and started swinging again in the 90s.
Dancing has always been a social event. But these days, with television shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “Ballroom Bootcamp”, it seems to have exploded.
Given all this hype, it seemed fitting that I spend the day with a dance instructor and see what the craze is all about.
The only formal dance training I had was when I was six and took tap and ballet classes. My dance career ended shortly after my first recital for reasons I’m still unaware of. Though, I have to admit, I loved wearing the pink tutu. There’s nothing more girly than a tutu. Unless you’re Lara Flynn Boyle walking down the red carpet, there is (sadly) no other reason to ever don one again.
These days, the only dance opportunities I encounter are at weddings. Though I’m certainly not the first one to jump up and hit the dance floor, I’m also not the poor soul being pointed at and laughed at, if and when I finally make my way out there. Before taking this assignment, my mother told me: “If the instructor tells you that you have two left feet you get it from your father; if you’re a natural you get it from me.”
I arrived one cold Monday afternoon at the Arthur Murray studio in Latham to meet instructor Chad Czelusniak. He works Monday-Friday from 1pm-10pm (with a 45-minute break). I immediately found him to be quite friendly and he had a great sense of humor.
He gave me a brief tour of the 3,000 square foot building and ran me through his typical day. Each day, the staff (a total of eight instructors and counselors including owner/instructor Jennifer Girard) meets for 45 minutes to discuss their clients’ needs. A counselor can also teach, but primarily helps the instructor and student develop a program based on the level of dance he or she wants to achieve.
A former interior designer, Chad took one introductory lesson at Arthur Murray four years ago and exhibited such natural talent that he was asked to become a certified instructor. (In order to become certified, you have to know up to a certain level the men’s and lady’s part of 10 dances.)
Chad currently has about 35 clients and teaches between 25-30 lessons a week.
His first client of the day was Mary, a beginner, who appeared to be in her late 30s. She was taking lessons for an upcoming vacation with her girlfriends and so she could go out and dance socially with them.
“Always start with your right foot,” Chad told her, as he taught her the basic box step, the basis for most dances. “Back, side, together... forward, side, together.”
He walked her through the basics of a few different dances such as the jitterbug, which can be turned into the hustle by making it quicker.
“Back, side, together…forward, side, together” became “step, switch, together…step, switch, together,” as it turned into the salsa.
Chad has an interesting piece of advice for women. “If your husband or boyfriend uses his turn signal when driving, he will be a good dance leader.”
A man’s right hand should rest across a woman’s left shoulder blade and his left hand and her right should be held in the air, as if signaling a turn.
I noticed that Mary stayed up on her toes, which, said Chad, is common for women and those with dance backgrounds to do. He reminded her to keep her heels down and said, “When you’re up on your toes you can’t control your body movement.”
I also watched another instructor, Pearl, give advanced bolero lessons to a man who has been taking lessons there for a couple of years. Bolero is an advanced rhythm dance that incorporates a bit of tango, rumba and waltz.
After 45 minutes, the lesson was over and Chad was able to sit down and answer my many questions.
Q: Who is your typical client? Our students range in age from their 20s to their 70s. But typically they’re between 30 and 50, have college educations and expendable cash. They’re doing this because they want to be good social dancers. Or, sometimes it’s a way of reconnecting with a spouse or partner. Once the lessons move up to the social level with group lessons, it’s also a way of meeting people without having to going to a bar.
Q: During the first lesson, what are you looking for? Rhythm, posture and balance. Many times the balance is shaky because a person’s head is down looking at their feet or because they’re just nervous. I use consistent pattern repetition and establish a conversation with the person so that the movement becomes second nature. If a person gets to that point within the first lesson, it’s good potential for learning.
Q: Do you think the majority of people have rhythm or have two left feet? Everybody has rhythm. But, I think most people have the wrong interpretation of what rhythm is. Many think it’s banging your feet to a band. The next stage of rhythm is trying to get your body to move. You have to find a consistent beat in the music and react to that beat
Q: Which dances do most people want to learn? The main dances are the cha-cha and salsa, which are Latin dances and the hustle, a rhythm dance. Big band dancing such as swing and the jitterbug are popular because of the style of movement. There are people who also want to learn the waltz and the foxtrot.
Q: Can any music be used when teaching dances from decades ago? Yes, in fact, most of the current music can be used. For example, you can waltz to Norah Jones and most country music, you can cha-cha and merengue to Ricky Martin and do the hustle to Madonna and Britney Spears.
Q: How much are lessons? It depends on how many dances you want to learn. It’s $10 for a 30-minute introductory lesson. Four private lessons are $199. From there we develop a program tailored to a clients’ needs
Q: What kind of commitment is necessary when signing up? If someone can commit to once a week for a month they will learn how to dance.
Q: What kind of positive reaction do you think dancing has on people? I’ve seen people who are very shy or have low self-esteem break out of their mold.
Q: What advice do you give to those just starting lessons? In the beginning you can’t take it too seriously. I keep it simple. If the moves are too technical, clients might get scared off.
Q: Are there any particular times of year that are busier than others? The colder months bring a lot of engaged couples wanting to learn their “first dance” and in September we get a lot of empty nesters. In general, there is a mix of single and married females.
Q: How many students are enrolled in Arthur Murray and how many of them go on to competitions? We have about 125 students and about 20 percent compete.
Q: What is your absolute favorite dance? The cha–cha and rumba because of the movement involved.
Q: Are there places in the Capital Region where people can go and dance other than clubs? Danceland Boomers and the Polish Community Center in Albany and Rollarama in Schenectady are a few that come to mind.
Q: How old is your oldest/youngest client? My youngest clients are in their 20s; oldest are in their 70s. We require parental consent for ages 16-21.
Q: Do you continue to take lessons yourself? All of instructors still get coaching lessons. In fact, last month we went to Connecticut to train with one of gentlemen who wrote the curriculum for Arthur Murray.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? I like to work on my house, read, and spend time with my niece and sister-in-law. Occasionally I go dancing at clubs with friends.
Back to dancing.
Chad’s next two lessons were back-to-back with a young woman, who also happened to be his good friend. They were practicing a routine that Chad choreographed for a competition in Mystic, CT, this month. They flawlessly moved across the studio floor, doing a “mini routine” that mainly consisted of the samba and the cha-cha.
Coming from the basic lesson earlier to the experience of these two was entertaining to watch. Since most of my afternoon was spent sitting and watching Chad and the other instructors, the least I could do to help was push the “play” button on the radio each time they started their routine.
Around 3pm, it started to get busier in the studio. A couple in their mid-to-late 50s came in for their very first lesson, appearing quite timid. The man, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a Harley Davidson cap, seemed the least likely candidate you’d find in a dance studio. But, he seemed to pick up the basic steps easier than his wife.
I was starting to get a bit antsy. After sitting all day watching Chad and the other instructors give lessons and bopping around in my seat to the music, I was eager for my 3:45pm lesson.
Finally, my turn had come. Chad put on a CD and started me off with the box step—back, side, together... forward, side, together...back, side together...
By positioning our arms in a more elegant way and changing the timing, we were waltzing. Then we moved a little quicker, turning it into the samba. With a few different positions of our feet, Chad had me doing the meringue, the cha-cha, the rumba and the fox trot. My confidence was boosted when he said I had talent.
For article purposes only, Chad showed me a little of everything. During a typical introductory lesson, the students will learn three to five dances depending on time and how quickly they pick it up.
One thing I had to be constantly reminded of was where to place my right hand. I can tell you where it doesn’t go—the shoulder. A woman’s left hand (the space between her thumb and index finger) is supposed to rest on the side of a man’s upper arm. It got to the point where Chad just glanced at my hand and I’d snap to attention and quickly move it. Not without us bursting into laughter, of course, which is something that frequently happened during the lesson.
When Chad took me through a few advanced Tango moves and told me that I had “natural talent” for it, I couldn’t have been happier. And neither could my mother.
It became obvious while observing Chad and dancing with him that he has chosen the career path meant for him. He’s very much a people person and has the one thing needed to be a great teacher—patience.
“I never thought of myself as someone who could be a natural born teacher,” he said. “So many people start out dancing thinking they can’t do it, but as long as they realize I have the patience, they will learn. I try to work together with my clients to make sure they get a great dance experience.”
Arthur Murray is located at 7 Johnson Road in Latham. For more information or to learn about upcoming events call 786.1468 or visit www.arthurmurraylatham.com.

By Judy Torel

Commercial fitness facilities provide the general public with an amazing array of exercise equipment. Most facilities have multiple machines for each muscle of the body and an assortment of different cardiovascular machines. Clearly a gym membership is a good investment, but if your schedule or geographic circumstances make it impossible to get to one, you can create your own home gym without breaking the bank.

The basics
The bench
An absolute necessity for a home gym is a lifting bench. You need the bench to sit, lay or stand on top of in order to do many of the traditional muscle isolation exercises.
If you are a beginner, then you can invest in The Step, which can be used as a bench. By ordering online or directly from the company (The Step), as opposed to through a retail store, you can buy additional bubbles, which go underneath the step to increase the height. Each bubble is three inches so if you purchase nine bubbles (three each side of the step) then you will create a 12-inch bench (the top of the step is three inches). With nine bubbles you can also create an incline or a decline bench by making one side higher or lower, which will allow you to target different muscle fibers and do a larger variety of exercises. The Step and the additional bubbles run approximately $100 new. But, if you look on e-Bay or other buyer’s magazine, you can probably get a used step with bubbles for much cheaper, including shipping.
If you are a more seasoned lifter, then you will be best served by purchasing a weight bench. One that has an adjustable incline and decline will cost about $100. You can also purchase benches that have attachments for leg exercises, such as leg extensions and hamstring curls. If you will be bench-pressing with overload amounts that exceed 75 percent of your maximum lift, you will need the barbell holder. A multi–functional bench with barbell holder, leg attachments and an incline adjustment will cost about $350.
Dumbbells
Many times people setting up a home gym think the best option is to buy a few pairs of dumbbells. Often times what ends up happening is that as you become stronger and more fit, you need to purchase more dumbbells then what you first purchased. Also, what you will use to challenge your chest will be significantly different then what will challenge your triceps. So, instead of ultimately investing in 10 pairs of dumbbells it is better to purchase the more recently created Power Block (www.powerblock.com). This is one pair of dumbbells that are designed in such a way that you can use the same dumbbells for weights between 5 and 50 pounds.
Another option is to purchase an adjustable set. These are dumbbell holders that come with a variety of small weight plates that can be added and subtracted to the holders to create a variety of overloads up to 30 pounds. You can purchase a set from SPRI at www.spriproducts.com for $39.95 plus shipping. Although you have to change the plates to create various weights, they require less space for storage, which is a plus for a home gym with limited space. And, as you get stronger you don’t have to buy more dumbbells.
The barbell
You may be able to purchase dumbbells alone and have enough weight to work out your major muscle groups if you are just beginning a workout program. But, before long, if you are seriously committed to your program, you will need more resistance overload. If you are trying to strength train in order to improve bone density, you need to progressively increase the weight you are using so that you are working with weight loads that are more than 75 percent of your maximum. For these reasons and others, you will want to also invest in a barbell set.
A barbell set will come with a long straight bar, clips to hold weight plates on the bar, and weight plates. The two most common sets available are a 110-pound set and a 300-pound set. If you are setting up a home gym for a woman only, the 110 pound set will be fine; if there will be men and women working out then you need the 300 pound set. Concepts in Fitness, a local home gym equipment store located on Central Avenue in Colonie, sells the 300 pounds sets available for $149.
The barbells are used for chest exercises and standing leg exercises which utilize the larger muscle groups of the body and therefore require higher overloads to get a training effect if muscle strength, mass increase and/or increased bone density is your goal.
The tubes
Certain body parts are hard to overload without the specially designed machines available in a commercial gym setting. The upper back is one of these areas that most needs training in order to keep proper posture in everyday life and proper form for sports and exercises for other muscle groups. For this reason, no home gym will be complete without a set of tubes and a door attachment.
Tubes are exactly what the name implies, but with handles on each end. They come in a variety of colors and each color represents a different thickness, which makes them vary in resistance. Generally yellow is the easiest and black is the hardest.
You can purchase tubes from SPRI products online. The cost increases as the tubes progress in resistance level, but they average about $8 plus shipping per tube.
The door attachment, a necessity, cost $5 plus shipping. With this you can turn any doorway into a multi-functional training machine that will allow you to perform standing lat pulls for your upper back, single arm side lateral pull-downs, (for the large muscles on the sides of your upper back) and a large variety of additional exercises as well.
The cardio machine
No home gym would be complete without one piece of equipment that will enable you to rhythmically move your muscles so that you increase your heart rate and breathing rate into a training zone. Cardiovascular exercise is necessary for every goal from weight loss to control of diabetes.
Cardio equipment is the most costly of all exercise equipment. But, keep in mind that if you don’t invest in a quality piece you will pay down the road with lack of enjoyment of the workout if the machine was inexpensive, but lower in quality.
The least costly way to get a cardio machine in your home gym is to buy an indoor bike trainer on which you can mount your outdoor bike. This can be purchased through Klarsfeld Cycles on Central Avenue in Colonie, where the basic model runs about $100.
If you choose to purchase a stationary bike, a good one will cost around $450. Or, you can purchase a good model treadmill starting at $900. There are models that sell for less, but you will generally be sacrificing quality and durability.
Home use elliptical machines are currently the most popular cardio machines in commercial gyms because they enable the user to get a great workout with minimal impact on joints. The low end you should look to pay for an elliptical is $1,200. Life Fitness has a home model that sells for $1,900 and received the Consumer’s Guide highest rating in 2005.
The accessories
A few other items that will make your gym more comfortable and functional are an exercise ball ($20), an exercise mat ($10), and a boom box or TV, which provides entertainment while you workout and serves as a distracter when you need help pushing yourself through a tough spot in a workout!
Judy Torel is a therapist/personal trainer with a Master’s degree in psychology. She is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a fitness trainer and works out of Judy Torel’s Sweat Shop Exercise Studio and Planet Fitness. She can be reached at JTOREL2263@yahoo.com

By Arthur N. Falk, M.D.

Today’s skin resurfacing options are so numerous, that it can be confusing to know just where to begin when contemplating a rejuvenation program. Clearly, there is no single treatment that is right for all people; rather it is the correct balance of clinical needs, lifestyle demands, and financial resources. Below is an overview of the kinds of treatments available through our practice and their relative indications.
Peels
Medical peels go a step beyond conventional home exfoliation treatments to achieve controlled wounding to a depth that is suitable for the specific skin condition. Traditionally, chemical peels are divided into three categories: superficial, medium and deep peels. A superficial peel penetrates no deeper than the outermost layers of the epidermis. These are true “lunchtime” peels and include peels such as glycolic, salicylic acid and lactic acid peels. They cause minimal down time and the limited exfoliation that is created can go unnoticed by all but the most discerning eyes. It is important to consider these peels not in isolation, but rather as part of a series to achieve the maximum benefit. Each peel has its specific indication. For example, a lactic acid peel is for sensitive skin types and in addition to causing mild exfoliation, it is simultaneously hydrating to the skin. Salicylic acid peels are part of acne treatment regimens because this molecule can help unplug sebaceous glands and also has anti-inflammatory properties. One of my favorite superficial peels is a Jessner’s peel, which is made up of a combination of acids including salicylic and lactic. This peel causes a bit more peeling than the others, but I believe the enhanced results speak for themselves.
Medium depth peels are defined as peels that penetrate into the dermis. These peels are typically based on trichloroacetic acid and cause substantially more exfoliation. The recovery is longer, averaging about one week. This peel targets more intense sun damage including age spots, rough texture and wrinkles. Falling out of favor, are the true deep peels or phenol based peels. This peel has greater toxicity and down time which we can avoid now with other combination techniques.
An alternative to chemical peels are laser peels. They offer more precision than with a chemical peel, and in general, are a bit more expensive based on the added cost of the technology and expertise required to safely operate the laser. Erbium laser peels are replacing carbon dioxide laser technology, which gave laser resurfacing a bad name for a while on account of prolonged recovery periods and annoying lingering facial redness, which could persist for months. In contrast, Erbium laser peels produce very controlled levels of wounding, which can be titrated down to fractions of a millimeter. This enables the physician to peel as little or as much of the skin as he or she feels necessary. Laser peels also introduce the element of thermal heating. The heating of the skin produces a stimulus for collagen formation and skin smoothing. All things being equal, if one was to compare a comparable depth laser and chemical peel, the laser peel would produce more skin improvement.
FraxelTM laser resurfacing represents the newest twist on laser skin resurfacing which is quite remarkable. FraxelTM resurfacing technology borrows from laser resurfacing by producing a controlled skin wound, but does so on a microscopic level, laying down a series of non-overlapping tiny spots. Only a portion of the skin’s total surface area is treated with each session, so it takes about five sessions to complete a full facial treatment. Each treatment is associated with a two-three day period of slight skin bronzing. The end result is similar to a deep laser peel but without a prolonged recovery period. It is particularly good for acne scarring and melasma—two conditions that can be very difficult to treat by other methods.
Admittedly, this information can be very confusing when presented for the first time. I recommend that individuals who are serious about embarking on a rejuvenation program, or who just want to learn more about their options, consider attending one of our seminars or schedule an individual consultation. Peels have many salutary effects on our skin that go well beyond mere aesthetic enhancement.
Dr. Falk is the Medical Director of the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Skin Care located at 35 Hackett Boulevard in Albany. To schedule a consultation appointment, please call 262.7193 or visit www.universityent.com and click on Servcies/ Facial Plastic Surgery.

By Randy Cale, PH.D

Parents frequently complain that their kids have to have “the last word.” We all know what this sounds like, and it can be remarkably frustrating to try to get kids out of this pattern, but here’s how:
1. Let them have “the last word.”
That’s right. Unless you are prepared to put duct tape over your child’s mouth when they keep talking, you can’t really stop them from having the last word. Instead of trying to control this behavior, they need to learn that it’s not really worth it. But, first you have to start in your own head. You have to get clear that you are willing to allow them to have the last word (for now!) and then determine what to do in order to teach them that it is not the wisest choice.
In order to do that, it is essential that...
2. You give no attention to “the last word!”
Once you have said “no,” or given feedback, or made a request, there is no need to explain yourself. You don’t have to justify your decision or repeat it—even if the last word is coming from your child’s lips. Give no energy to “the last word.” Don’t give it a look, a sigh or a verbal explanation. Give it no attention. Just walk away and leave them talking to the wind!
After a week or two, when you have stopped investing in “the last word” your kids will too. Once you break this desire (on your part) for the last word, you now have a choice to walk away from most of the small stuff.
But, there are times when you are trying to teach important lessons. In those situations, focus your parenting on....
3. Teaching with powerful actions—not repeated words!
Action on your part will teach where your words will not. If you say, “No, you can’t go to Jack’s house” and your son just keeps asking “Why,?” just walk away. Your action doesn’t mean your son will stop right away; it just means that you have now set the conditions where there is no “return” for the argument.
Or perhaps your 12-year-old is starting to talk back when you ask her to pick up her room. She says, “I’ll do it later.” You say, “Please take care of it now.” She says, “I don’t want to. Nobody else has to clean up on Saturday morning.”
Rather than getting into a useless verbal struggle, just keep my Rule of Responsibility in mind: No fun...until your work is done! Once this rule is in place, you know exactly what action you need to take—you just wait her out. No computer. No phone. No TV. No friends...until her room is clean.
If you pause for a moment, you may begin to realize how often you can use this simple principle to teach the critical lessons you want to teach. It is particularly useful when you need to wait out “the last word.”
This is a critical lesson. We don’t teach limits on behavior with lots of words, or lots of yelling or screaming, or threats or negotiations. We don’t teach it with dirty looks, threatened consequences, or attempts to induce guilt or fear. When we throw our energy into what we don’t want, things only get worse. Instead, be more action oriented. Either walk away (this works for most of the insignificant stuff) or stick to the Responsibility Rule. Magical things start to happen when you apply these simple ideas.
Dr. Randy Cale, a Clifton Park based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist, offers practical guidance for a host of parenting concerns. Dr. Cale’s new website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

By Raymond F. Angelini, Ph.D.

Most of us long for deeper connections, but are at a loss as to how to go about developing them. In my experience, there is no greater need than for human connection. However, while technology has made it increasingly easier for us to communicate through a dazzling array of electronic media, most of us feel more disconnected from each other than ever before. It reminds me of the old saying, “Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink!”
Over the last several decades, life has gotten much busier for most of us, and despite claims from the technocrats, email and the Internet are not connecting us with each other on a deeper level. Most people I know are not longing for more emails, but instead crave greater intimacy and an opportunity to share with others more of their truer selves.
When I ask my clients what they want in their lives, they routinely respond, “more time with my loved ones.” The quality of our interpersonal relationships is the single most important factor in predicting our level of happiness and fulfillment in life. People say that right before death, our life often flashes before our eyes. What do you think is contained in each frame of this slide show? It’s not our achievements, our possessions or our jobs. Rather, it is those very special moments that we have spent with those that mean the most to us. People, and our relationships with them, are truly what make our lives most worth living.
However, the reality of our daily lives often leaves us with little energy to relate to significant others on anything more than a superficial level. We are deprived of the soulful connection we so desperately need and want. By “soulful” I mean those connections that touch us at the deepest level of our being and make us glad to be alive and grateful for that particular person in our lives. They are those uniquely human moments that bring a tear to our eyes or put a smile on our face. However, these soulful moments don’t always just happen spontaneously; we must create the time and space in our lives for them to occur.
While fulfilling our need for a deeper relationship will be challenging, it is not impossible. In her book, Take Time For Your Life, Cheryl Richardson offers several suggestions on how to connect in our interpersonal relationships. She emphasizes that, “every encounter with another human being is a spiritual encounter.” If we remain open to this truth, it can make it easier to reach out to others and open our hearts to them.
So how does one go about making more soulful connections in their life? As with any significant change, it has to begin with you.
• Practice making eye contact for longer periods of time. This communicates to others that you are very interested in what they are saying and expresses your desire to connect with them on a more profound level.
• Smile at strangers and say hello to them. This expresses warmth and a sense of approachability that can lead to a meaningful relationship.
• Be present for others and slow down to take the time to connect. Dare to ask questions of those you care about. Find out what their hopes and dreams are, and you will invariably move the conversation to a more intimate level.
• Acknowledge and appreciate others. Don’t be afraid to compliment and applaud them for their successes. This shows them that you see them at a deeper level, which leads to a more meaningful bond.
The opportunity for deeper and richer relationships exists everywhere. Practice being present and keeping your heart open and then watch what happens!
Dr. Raymond Angelini of New Horizons Coaching has been in private practice as a clinical psychologist and business & personal coach for over 15 years specializing in helping people have more fulfilling careers and relationships. For more information visit www.newhorizonscoaching.com or email him at newhorizons@spa.net.

By Victoria Moran

My husband and I first fell in love with Andrew Plummer’s cuisine when he owned Allegro Café in Troy. Plummer and team are truly working culinary magic again, this time in Albany. If you are planning a special night out, or simply want to enjoy an exceptional dinner any night of the week, head over to McGuire’s at 353 State Street in Albany.
My husband and I have eaten at McGuire’s more than a few times, but this time I really paid attention to the wonderful detail that goes into each and every meal. The night began with a warm greeting by Paul, who deserves great credit for the experience. He remembers names and really enjoys his big role in the restaurant’s success. His skillful leadership of the wait staff and his attention to the dining experience is probably unmatched in the Capital District.
We were seated in a booth area across from the bar. The decor is very conservative, but lovely—art deco and classic woods.
We started out with drinks—Stella draft beer for my husband and my favorite, Tasman Bay Sauvignon Blanc. The wine selection is vast and full of excellent selections ranging from a $25 Palmer Vineyards Cabernet Franc to a $550 bottle of Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon ‘02.
Since appetizers at McGuire’s are plentiful, a couple can easily share. We chose two—the lobster dumplings and a salad. The dumplings came with an Asian dipping sauce with chili sauce and wasabi that sat on spoon next to the sauce plate. It was cleverly served on a banana leaf and was outstanding!
The salad was simple, but delicious. It consisted of generous portions of provolone cheese, sweet red peppers and asparagus, dressed with a light balsamic dressing. Salads are always a treat at McGuire’s because the selection also includes wonderful seasonal specials not on the menu. Each salad has a trademark edible flower lying on the plate; a touch that makes it even more special.
With so many creative entrees on the menu, Plummer makes it nearly impossible to make selections. I chose macadamia encrusted moonfish with a pineapple salsa. Most dishes are served with a potato mixture of white and sweet topped with homemade chips, which looks like a work of art. The vegetables do not seem to vary much, but are excellent—green beans, snow peas and grape tomatoes. The moonfish, which has become my favorite fish when offered, was cooked to perfection—meaty and sweet. The portion was also quite large.
My husband selected veal tenderloin. It was served sliced in a marjoram cream sauce and topped with blue cheese pieces. It really was out of this world. The blue cheese was a stroke of genius and gave it a great bite. While this might sound incredibly heavy, it really wasn’t... another sign of a great chef!
Our dinner entrees were accompanied by another Tasman Bay (I am a creature of habit, but always good habits) and a glass of Ed Meads Red Zinfandel.
We were too full to enjoy dessert, but I can assure you that you will be delighted if you can save room. Every selection (which always includes a sinful chocolate creation) sounds like it was heaven sent. My favorite in the past has been a Lemoncello parfait served with a small glass of Lemoncello chilled.
The experience at McGuire’s is truly wonderful. It is classically decorated and the service is unmatched. It is expensive for the Albany market, but worth every penny. Our total bill was $146.90 before tip.
Reservations are required; call early for weekend seating. Parking is a problem, but for $8 valet parking is available. I advise you do it so you can get in and enjoy without delay.
McGuire’s is located at 353 State Street in Albany. Hours are Monday-Thursday 5pm- 9:30pm. On Friday and Saturday nights they stop serving at 10pm. For more information call 463.2100.
Victoria Moran is a freelance food writer. She can be reached at info@capitalregionliving.com.

The Hidden Café—“A Mediterranean & American Affair”

By Judith Power

When the publisher of Capital Region Living asked me to write a monthly food column, we agreed that I would seek out “off the beaten path”, or “less-known” establishments. They, by definition, can be hard to find, and when you do you hope that they are worth the trouble.
Let me tell you, the Hidden Café in Delmar was well worth any trouble. I’d walk here in the dead of winter for dinner if I had to, and after you try it you’ll feel the same way. It’s not so much off the beaten path since it’s located in the bustling Delaware Plaza, but its’ location is inconspicuous and has left more than a few Delmar locals surprised to discover it. It’s tucked away in a little breezeway in between REMAX Premiere and FYE—you’ll see the sign as you approach the back right corner of the Plaza.
Grant and I walked in and were greeted by a bustling server who was doubling as a hostess. She politely asked if we had reservations, which took us by surprise. Apparently, it wasn’t as “hidden” as we had thought. We did not, but only had to wait five minutes for a table to be prepared.
Service will make or break a restaurant. I don’t care how fantastic the food is, people won’t come back or recommend it to anyone if their server was suited for another profession. As an old, classically trained server in my former life, I can tell you that the wait staff here is attentive and well trained.
On the menu, the owner-chef, Joseph Soliman, describes your experience at the Hidden Café to be a “Mediterranean & American affair”. He is also a fan of garlic—you tell that by the signs over the small bar. The menu is descriptive from appetizers to entrees, including the daily features. The wine list is eclectic and offers good value. It includes a Greek wine, but we tried a Spanish Chardonnay out of curiosity. At $25 it was the most expensive bottle on the list. It was a tad sweet for my taste, but very drinkable nonetheless.
The appetizers, which ranged in price from $1.75-$8.95 were tough to choose between, but I finally settled on stuffed grape leaves with a taziki sauce, along with a falafel plate (not the “traditional” sandwich). The grape leaves were some of the best I’ve had, and that comes from a large sampling. They were firm, not gummy or chewy, and the rice was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The falafel was surprisingly light, and served on a well-presented plate complete with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, humus and warm pita.
Grant ordered an appetizer feature called Fries Hidden Café. It was a mix of house made potato and vegetable chips, simply topped with crumbles of feta, lemon juice, oregano and cumin. Fantastic choice.
Entrees were also hard to choose from. In addition to the specials of the night, the menu offered lamb, chicken, seafood and beef. They ranged in price from $12.95-$18.95.
I had the chicken kabobs, which I can only describe as delicate. The chicken was seasoned and tender, and the rice was of the type that you wish you could make at home, perfectly cooked and presented in a large timball. Grant had the shrimp and scallops tossed with a marinara of sorts. It was rich, but not heavy with its fresh tomatoes, oregano and onions.
Once again, we missed out on dessert, but if you’re a fan of sweets you’ll have a few more choices to complete your experience.
Toward the end of our dinner, Chef Soliman made his rounds through the restaurant, stopping at tables to check on the fruits of his labor. I wanted to give him a hug...that’s how good this place is.
The Hidden Café is also open for lunch, with a lighter menu consisting of salads, wraps, sandwiches and house specials
Total price: $100, including tip.
The Hidden Café is located at 180 Delaware Plaza in Delmar. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-3pm; 4:30pm-9pm. For more information call 439.8800.
Judith Powers is a freelance food writer. She can be reached at judith@capitalregionliving.com.

Lobster dinner

By John Gray

What is it they say about March? In like a lion out like a lamb? In my case it’s in like a lion out like a lobster. A very expensive lobster that nearly sent me to the poor house. Allow me to explain.

Like many of you I get a bit stir crazy during the long winter months in the Capital Region. So recently I decided to get out of town for a little winter escape. Since I had neither the time nor money to fly south to a warmer climate, I decided to hop in the car and visit our neighbors to the north—Canada. Montreal to be exact. I’ve been there once before and found the city and people quite friendly. For those of you who have never been, let me share a little secret —the average daily temperature in Montreal in the winter is 10 below zero. And that’s on a sunny day at noon. It’s so cold up there that they put all of their shopping malls underground so no one has any reason to walk outside from November to April. You can actually spend your entire life like a gopher moving in tunnels from building to building.

Of course, all this walking through Montreal’s underground world certainly works up your appetite, which leads me to my lobster tale. Or is that tail? I happened upon a five star restaurant that boasts the best lobster north of the border. Personally, I’ve always thought one lobster was as good as the next, but not here. Oh no, just ordering a lobster dinner is a whole production. Once you’ve chosen the lobster they pick out a live one and actually bring it to your table so you can say “Hi”. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to talk to my food before I eat it. But there you are, face to face. It’s such an awkward moment that you feel like you have to say something to the creepy crustacean.

Me: “So how’s it going?”
Lobster: “Pretty good. Hey, I noticed on the way to your table I passed a pot of scalding hot water in the kitchen. You don’t think they’re going to toss me in there, do you?”
Me: “Gosh no. Why would they? Hey, wanna hear a joke before you die? I mean leave!”
Lobster: “Did you say die?”
Me: “What do you call a lobster who won’t share?”
Lobster: (Staring in stunned silence.)
Me: “A lobster who is very shellfish. Get it? Pretty good huh?”
Lobster: “Could we go back to the part about dieing?”
Me: “Oh, I was just kidding. Now you get going and I’ll eat you in about ten minutes. See you, I meant, see you in ten minutes.”
As he waved goodbye with his little claw I felt guilty, but soon enough my beady-eyed friend would exact his revenge. You see, on page two of the menu right next to the word “lobster” were two words I’ll never forget—Market Price. My favorite market is Price Chopper and a decent size lobster there will run you maybe $20 bucks. Since this was a fancy restaurant with candles and free bread I figured I could double that price, or at worst triple it. I mean how much can lobster cost? I was about to find out.
After dinner the waiter brought the bill, laid it down on the table and then ran as if someone just pulled the pin on a hand grenade. Was something wrong with the bill? You could say that. Market Price really meant $40 per pound and my little red friend who I chatted with earlier tipped the scales at a healthy four pounds. I can see you’re doing the math. Oh yes, no kidding. Larry the lobster cost me $160 dollars. That did not include the other meal, salad and a beverage or two. Final bill: $333. I went to the bathroom to throw cold water in my face (I’ve seen people do that in movies when something really bad just happened) and noticed a window large enough to fit a big American who just ate a $160 lobster. Then I remembered they are French up here in Montreal and in that movie “Les Miserables” Liam Neeson got 20 years in prison, hard labor, for stealing one piece of bread. The French take food theft very seriously. So I paid in tear stained twenties.
As I left the restaurant nearly broke I thought about walking back to my hotel to save myself the cab fare, but as I mentioned earlier it was a balmy 10 below zero. Back in my hotel room I searched the TV channels for something to take my mind off the $160 lobster only to find an episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants” in French. I don’t speak French, but I’m pretty sure SpongeBob’s boss, Mr. Krabs, was mocking all the customers who were stupid enough to come into his restaurant and pay over-inflated prices for his Crabby Patties. Yeah, this was helping.
So, in light of the fact that month’s theme is Home Improvement, I have a little piece of advice you might want to heed: in order to have enough money to make improvements to your home, avoid restaurants where dinner costs more than your car payment.
I thought this fish story was finished until a recent trip to Price Chopper. While walking by the lobster bin I could swear one of them shouted out a word, one I had never heard before—“Abruti”. I hurried home, punched it into the search box on Google and it produced the following definition: “Abruti—French word meaning idiot, moron, one who is in a constant mindless state.” Obviously, he heard about my trip to Montreal. I probably ate his cousin.
John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writing at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com

The Winter Games are history. Meteorological winter is also history. Welcome to March...home of volatile weather in upstate New York. While we have had a very “unsnowy” winter, March can and has brought some major storms. You can take comfort in knowing that despite the fact that the two greatest snowstorms in Albany’s history took place in March, spring will be here and the warm weather will soon follow. The vernal equinox occurs at 1:26pm on Monday the 20th. For the first time in over four months, the average highs climb into the 50s, and record highs hit the 80s. But let me get back to the snow...

As of this writing, February 2006 was set to go down on the top five list of least snowiest Februarys. The 2005-6 winter season is threatening to stay in the top 10 list of least snowiest winters. So much for snow lovers. And so much for skiing, too, right? Not really. The science of snowmaking is a fascinating one. It is one of those cases where man can dodge Mother Nature and use technology to keep skiers and snowboarders happy and their recreational habitats operating.

Snowmaking, either natural or man-made, is all about two things: air and water. There is a difference between snow coming from the clouds and snow coming from the guns. Man-made snow is “engineered” to be much more compact and durable.

It takes roughly 75,000 gallons of water to cover a 200x200 foot area, a little less than one acre, with six inches of snow. That means (if I’ve done my math right) that Gore Mountain, which has about 344 acres of skiable terrain, would need roughly 27 million gallons of water to give all of their trails a six-inch base. Of course to do this, a tremendous of power is needed to keep the guns going, not to mention a ski area’s largest expense - labor. So how does all of this work?

As I mentioned, it’s all about air and water. The water part is relatively easy. Water is pumped up from a lowland reservoir to be transformed into snow. The air is the tough part. Compressed air is contained in a hose and used to “blast” the water into vapor and small droplets, as well as to send it up and out so that it can fall as snow. A component of the surrounding air is key in this process, and that is the amount of water already present. (It is commonly referred to as humidity.) If the air is not relatively humid, it is much easier to make snow, because it is easier for the water to evaporate and thus cool. Same principle that our bodies use to cool us in the summer—if it is very muggy on an August day, you will be uncomfortable because the sweat that has accumulated on the surface of your skin has a much harder time evaporating into the humid air.

Another physical principle that comes into play is the compression of the water vapor and droplets in the hose. As the water is shot out, it is under less pressure and thus loses temperature as it expands.

Snowmakers will tell you that this is a blend of science and art. A mix of water and air in concocted ratios will determine the durability of the snow. Wetter snow covers trails better and is more durable because it has more water (thus less air) than dry snow. Wet snow makes a good base, and skiers and operators alike hope for a dry natural snow to fall periodically throughout the season to keep the conditions prime. In a case like this year, where the natural stuff has been less plentiful, drier snow can be made to bring slopes up to par.

Now that we’re into March, any snow that does fall is likely to be more of the wet variety as temperatures will be on the move upward. Most ski areas stop making snow after about the middle of the month, because they cannot hold on to it long enough to justify the costs.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a few good runs in before you read my April column. Be safe and have fun.
Jason Gough is a meteorologist with NewsChannel 13. He can be reached at jgough@wnyt.com.

Until next time-
Your pal,

Welcome to March! Spring arrives (in theory) later this month. Since we still have a few more weeks of cold weather, it's a great time to get a jump-start on your home projects. In this issue, we bring you home improvement tips and ideas. Did you know that luxury bathrooms are the latest trend these days? In fact, people are spending the same amount of money renovating their bathrooms as they are on their kitchens. If you're thinking of painting a room, check out the color guide to help you determine which color best suits you and the look you wish to achieve.

Read about the "Day in the life of a dance instructor" and meet five local television personalities--Steve Caporizzo, Kristina Krawchuk, Jeff Saperstone, Benita Zahn and Greg Floyd.

New this month is an advertising section for dentists. You'll learn about many dentists in the area and what they have to offer, including dental implants, oral sedation and Lumineers.
If you've been looking for a new place to dine out at, look no further. McGuire's in Albany and The Hidden Café in Delmar both received a rave review from our food critics. After reading about each, I guarantee you'll be calling for reservations soon enough.

What's your favorite pizza? How about your favorite spot to grab coffee? We want to know! Log onto www.capitalregionliving.com and take our third annual "Best of the Capital Region" survey. Thank you to all who have taken the time to vote for your favorites. Results will be published in May.

Finally, don't forget to check out the Arts & Entertainment calendar in the back of the magazine. Aside from the many great events going on in the area, there is also a list of St. Patrick's Day events so you and your family can celebrate--Irish or not!

Enjoy!

Mary Beth DeCecco
marybeth@capitalregionliving.com

For the second year in a row I introduce you to five local television personalities. You’re probably familiar with each of them; one or two might even be your favorite. During the interview process I learned that although there seems to be a lot of movement in the local media lately, in general, there is camaraderie among everyone.

By Mary Beth DeCecco

Steve Caporizzo
“I’m a believer that things average out,” said Steve Caporizzo, chief meteorologist of WTEN News10 in Albany for the past 17 years. “As easy and mild as this winter has been, I’d venture to guess that we will have a cooler and wetter spring than normal.”
Of course, in his industry, he could always be mistaken. There has been more than one occasion this winter when snow was expected for the Capital Region, but only a dusting fell.
“It’s the nature of the beast,” said Caporizzo, 45, of the changing weather patterns.
Growing up in Georgetown, MA, a small town near the New Hampshire border, it was at age nine that the “weather bug” bit him. Always curious about why it snowed or why the “TV weather people” got the forecast wrong, he began reading about the subject.
“The more I read, the more interested I became,” he said, adding that his parents encouraged his hobby, buying him books and weather stations.
Caporizzo’s love of weather led to him graduating with a BS in Meteorology from Lyndon State University in Vermont in 1982. His career took him to two stations as chief meteorologist—WABI-TV in Bangor, ME and WWLP-TV in Springfield, MA, plus dozens of radio stations in New York and New England.
In fact, he still works for the same radio station that gave him his first paying job out of college— WTSA in Brattleboro, VT.
“I’ve been working for them for 26 years now,” he said. “It brings me back to my roots and reminds me of how excited I was when I started.”
The business of television is very much a matter of timing and contracts, making it hard to sometimes break into a bigger market, such as Boston or New York.
“No one ever left those stations,” said Caporizzo, who moved to the Capital Region in 1989 to work at News10.
“Albany is about as close to home as I could be.”
You can watch Caporizzo deliver the latest forecast on News10 weekdays at 5pm; 5:30pm, 6pm and 11pm. In addition, you can also hear his weather reports on WGNA 107.7FM, The Buzz 104.5FM and The Team 1300AM.
Though he doesn’t have to be at the station until around 1:30pm (and he doesn’t leave until after the 11pm news), his day begins at 6am. From his home in Guilderland he is able to research the weather online and tape his radio reports or call in with a live report.
From the time he started out in his career until now, the technology has changed on a remarkable level, allowing meteorologists to gather large quantities of data and update forecasts in a timelier manner.
“At one time we were happy to do a two-day forecast. Now we have five, seven, even ten day forecasts.”
However, the downside to these technological advances is that many people expect the forecast to be completely accurate. But, said Caporizzo, with the ocean, Great Lakes and mountains, the Capital Region is in a part of the country that presents an "amazing challenge".
“Every storm that moves across the country somehow ends up in the northeast,” he said. “There’s always something going on, even when it’s nice.”
If you’re a fan of Caporizzo’s, you might know that his second passion in life is pets. In 1990 he started the “Pet Connection” segment and has helped find homes for over 2,000 dogs and cats and raised over $230,000 on their behalf.
“It’s something my mother passed onto us kids,” said Caporizzo, one of five children. “We didn’t have a lot of money, but my mother always found a way to donate money to shelters.”
“Pet Connection” now airs in six primetime specials during the year, introducing viewers to homeless animals in hopes of finding them a home and reports on animal-related stories. It also airs every Thursday at 8:15am on WGNA 107.7FM.
Caporizzo, who has five pets of his own—three dogs and two cats—said that giving back to the animals brings him happiness.
His volunteerism in the community extends in many other directions as well. Over the years he has visited over 1,500 schools, civic groups and senior centers and helps with fundraising for the American Lung Association. He has also worked with the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center and the Center for the Disabled.
When not busy working, Caporizzo loves the outdoors—especially fishing for trout, bass and salmon. In fact, if he had a second career choice it would be professional fisherman.
But, he’s more than happy where he is right now.
“I’m living my childhood dream,” said Caporizzo, of his fulfilling career. “To be successful you must like what you do.”

Kristina Krawchuk
Turn on Capital News 9 and you’ll notice a slew of young reporters delivering the news of the day. Look closely and you’ll see Kristina Krawchuk, weekday and weekend anchor and features reporter.
From the time she was a small child Krawchuk knew that she wanted to be on television.
“I was obsessed with TV,” said the 35-year old. Growing up in a family that moved around a lot, television was the one constant in her life.
As a child, Krawchuk was inquisitive by nature. She would put on shows and interview friends and family members. Combine that with an affinity for the theatre and a broadcaster was born.
During a video production class at her Hendersonville, TN high school, where she got her first taste of being on camera, she was pulled out of class by the principal. Not for misbehaving, but so he could tell her that she should pursue a broadcasting career.
After graduating from Western Kentucky University, Krawchuk, whose sights were always set on New York City, landed a news internship at MTV. Following that she was chosen for an NBC page tenure where she gave studio tours and had the opportunity to work for Conan O’Brien, Rosie O’Donnell, “Saturday Night Live” and the executive offices.
When MSNBC launched, Krawchuk was hired for Jane Pauley’s show “Time & Again” as researcher for “grim reaper” stories such as hurricanes, tornadoes and plane crashes. With a similar hairstyle and stature of Pauley, Krawchuk also served as her camera stand-in.
From there she worked briefly as executive assistant to the vice president of NBC’s Cable & Development Group and later as executive assistant to the president of the ABC Network.
Finally, Krawchuk had the opportunity to be an on-air weekend reporter at ABC affiliate WCTI in the small North Carolina town of New Bern.
Her assignments were quite varied and much different than the work she did in New York City—she flew with the Blue Angels, interviewed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who came to town for the Hog Summit, which drew together many environmentalists and river keepers to update how hog farming was done, interviewed Senator John Edwards and even covered a trailer fire caused by an opossum that bit into the electrical cords.
After a year, Krawchuk wanted to return to the northeast and took a job at a small station in New Jersey. “I love the south to visit, but I was very homesick.”
When she heard about a cable news station set to open in Albany, she sent a letter to News Director Chris Brunner, got an interview and received a call back.
“I thought I screwed it up,” she said, laughing. Initially, she was hired for the Amsterdam reporting position. But, when the weekend anchor position opened up Krawchuk got the job, earning her the title “charter member” of Capital News 9, which made its debut in October 2002.
Today, you’ll see the energetic blonde (who admits to singing and dancing at the station to maintain energy) Wednesday-Sunday (11am-7pm Wed./Th./Fri. and 4pm-5am weekends). In addition to her anchoring duties, she also hosts the “Lending a Hand” segment, which spotlights a different non-profit each week and produces a weekly segment called “Dine at Nine”, an idea she implemented. It airs every Friday 15 minutes after each hour between 10am-3pm.
“Everyone loves food,” she said. “It’s much more sophisticated than when I was growing up.”
Some of Krawchuk’s favorite restaurants in the area include Yono’s, McGuire’s and Jack’s Oyster House.
Her drive to perform well came from the “tough love” she received over the years. “I used to have to re-write and re-edit my work.”
Working at an all news cable station, where the same story is recycled throughout the day presents a few challenges including the ability to keep the viewer’s attention.
“We’re sort of pigeonholed into a news wheel,” she said. “The challenge is to keep it fresh and interesting.”
After moving around so much, she is happy to call the Capital Region home.
“Every time I would pass Albany on the way to Vermont to ski, I always thought the city looked interesting,” she said. “It’s a neat area and there is a lot of stuff going on. I’m having an absolute blast.”

Jeff Saperstone
At only 25, Jeff Saperstone has become a familiar face on Albany’s Fox23 News at 5pm and 10pm. Since joining the station in 2003, he has reported on a wide range of topics, including the Ethan Allen tour boat disaster, politics, local soldiers and weather related stories such as the Northway landslide and the dam that burst in Fort Ann.
“I like it a lot, it’s a good first job,” said Saperstone, who graduated from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications with a degree in broadcast journalism. “It’s a nurturing environment and I was given a lot of pointers in the beginning.”
Many reporters fresh out of college start out at smaller markets and work their way up to bigger stations, but Saperstone considers himself lucky that he didn’t have to. Albany is considered medium sized, ranking 55 out of approximately 216.
Prior to joining Fox23 News, he had a temporary job at Capital News 9 as associate producer and assignment editor. While in college he won an Associated Press Award as news director of the college television station, beating out small market commercial stations in Binghamton, Watertown and Plattsburgh.
“It’s my proudest achievement so far,” he said.
Saperstone, a Guilderland native, realized in middle school that broadcasting was what he wanted to pursue.
“I always liked watching television and I enjoyed making videos,” he said. “I liked the fact that news was current history.”
Saperstone begins each morning leafing through the papers and watching the news (both local and national), even joking that it’s an “addiction” for him. Once he arrives at the station around 3pm, he looks over the AP wires and researches online. During the afternoon planning meeting it’s determined what stories he will be working on.
“They send us anywhere in the Capital Region,” he said.
Though he has never anchored the news, he likes being out in the field. “I like being out there. You get to know people. Your day goes by fast and everyday is different.”
During live reports, it’s not so much nervousness as it is adrenaline that “keeps him on his toes.”
The biggest challenge, he said, is covering the death of a young person.
“The hardest part is approaching parents,” he said, explaining that they don’t always understand that telling the story gives it a face. “It’s not just another car crash story. When you talk to friends and family it becomes a story about the victim’s life, not just the accident.”
But, he said, political issues are what he most enjoys covering. “Those are issues that affect everyone.”
The one person he has always looked up to in the business is NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw.
“It’s one thing to do a job, but it’s another thing to be so active in a job,” he said. “He’s been through a lot. It’s something to be respected and something to strive for.”
Though he aspires to move onto a bigger market, expect to see Saperstone on Fox for a while.
“I’d like to get a good amount of time in at Fox,” he said. “I like covering my hometown.”

Benita Zahn
I first met Benita Zahn at the Nine West outlet in Lake George this past holiday season. Across a display of trendy heels, I recognized her, but didn’t place her right away. Then, it hit me. She noticed the look on my face and probably thought, “Oh, no, not another fan.” I immediately introduced myself and told her I was planning on calling her to see if she would be a willing participant in my upcoming feature on TV personalities. She agreed and I walked away thinking that she is truly as nice in person as she appears on television.
“We’re the best shop in town,” said Benita Zahn, co-anchor of the 5pm and 5:30pm news and health reporter on WNYT NewsChannel 13 in Albany. “We’re eager and willing to take chances.”
Since 1979 Zahn has been a permanent fixture among the Capital Region media. Her work, which has garnered her many awards, has allowed her the opportunity to cover numerous political conventions, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Unabomber trial, and the World Gathering of Holocaust Survivors in Israel, to name a few.
Unlike many others in her field, Zahn, a “Long Island girl”, didn’t grow up knowing she wanted to pursue broadcasting. In fact, it wasn’t until taking an Introduction to Communications class at SUNY Oswego that she realized this was her calling. Originally, she started out as a biology major with a minor in theatre.
“When I was in the lab I wanted to be in the theatre and when I was in the theatre I wanted to be in the lab.”
But, after taking that first communications class, she realized that everything she liked or was good at was in the field of broadcasting.
Following graduation, Zahn worked simultaneously for Cablevision and WGBB on Long Island, and then moved to Syracuse, where she was a reporter, assignment editor and producer for the 6pm show on WTVH.
After a little more than a year, Zahn accepted a position at NewsChannel 13. “It was time to leave. I had places to go,” she said.
With her interest in biology never waning, she chose the health beat about 20 years ago.
“At the time, research showed that people were interested in two topics—money and health.”
Since then, Zahn has covered every health topic imaginable, including wellness, treatment breakthroughs, aging, nutrition and the latest in health care trends.
“It’s very empowering for people to share their stories,” she said. “If you can get one person to make a change and improve their quality of life—wow, that’s a great day.”
For Zahn, though, the real issue is patient advocacy. “There’s been a shift in how health care is delivered. It’s no longer from the top down. Patients have to know how to be informed and which questions to ask.”
She is also the creator, co-producer and host of HealthLink on WMHT, a half-hour live program that airs Tuesday nights at 7:30pm. It deals with a variety of health issues—physical, mental and emotional.
“It incorporates people who are challenged by or who have lived through a particular condition in their life,” said Zahn.
As with many reporters, it’s sometimes difficult not to feel moved when reporting on certain stories. To help balance emotions, Zahn said that many people in her industry have a switch.
“You can’t put it too far either way otherwise there would be no humanity and no subjectivity.”
After 9/11 though, she admits that the switch was “stuck open” for a while.
Zahn, who is out in the field so often during the week that she looks forward to the days when she’s “in house”, loves the Capital Region for its many offerings.
“If you love the outdoors it’s a great place to live and the proximity to New York City, Boston and Montreal is great.”
On her off time, Zahn enjoys running, something she got into when working on a story back in 1981. She has also pursued her love of theatre over the years, performing at the Albany Civic Theatre, Schenectady Civic Theatre, Schenectady Light Opera and Park Playhouse.
For those interested in a career in broadcasting, Zahn advises young people to read a broad cross-section of topics.
“It’s isn’t about the makeup and lights. It’s about the responsibility to the community to get the story right.”
And, she added, never be afraid to ask questions.

Greg Floyd
Twenty-seven years after interning at CBS 6 News in Schenectady, Greg Floyd, a Guilderland native, has returned—this time with age and experience on his side.
“It’s great,” said Floyd, 47, of his anchor/reporter position on the 6pm and 11pm news. “I was pleasantly surprised by how many people here are dedicated to what they do.”
His intern duties at CBS 6 during summer breaks from SUNY Oneonta consisted of what he deemed “gofer duties”. Following graduation, he was hired at CBS 6 for a short while, and then took a radio position in Gloversville, NY. Two years later he accepted a reporting position at WTEN News10, which turned into a weekend anchoring position.
There, he had the opportunity to work with local TV news giants Bob Lawson, Doug Myers and John McLaughlin.
“When you’ve been a recipient of that it’s almost your duty to follow the same path.”
He left after six years to take a job with WTZA-WRNN, a suburban news network for New York City based in Kingston, NY. Following that he went to work for Fox23 News, where he spent nine years.
“They treated me very well there,” said Floyd. “And they treated me well when I decided to leave.”
With so much movement among local reporters, one can’t help but wonder if the competition is tough around here.
“It’s competitive, but we’re kindred spirits in a way,” said Floyd. “We share the same crazy schedules.”
It’s his schedule, 2pm-11:30pm Monday-Friday, that is the toughest part of his job.
“Being on the opposite schedule of my children is tough, but I’ve learned to get creative with them in the mornings before they leave for school.”
Floyd’s work has brought him overseas to cover Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and Princess Diana’s death in 1997, but the stories that involve triumph of the human spirit are the ones that mean the most to him.
“I like doing stories that make a difference in someone’s life,” he said.
He recounted a story about getting to know a Rotterdam family whose son was involved in the Marine barracks attack in Lebanon in the 1980s, killing over 200 Marines.
“The local media were following the plight of this family,” said Floyd. “It was days before anyone knew if their son was dead or alive.”
At 4am one morning Floyd received a call from his contact in Washington, D.C., saying that the boy was on the survivor’s list. He raced to the family’s home, verified the social security number and middle name and gave them the news. The father, a former Marine who was stoic during the entire event, began making phone calls to family members with the words, “Michael’s alive.”
“Around the sixth or seventh call it hit him and he started bawling,” said Floyd, who was moved to tears, along with the photographer.
For the stories that don’t always have a happy ending, Floyd said, “It’s tough to see some of the despair.”
An ongoing segment at CBS 6 is helping the local police departments locate sex offenders who aren’t registered. Recently, five men were profiled and within 24 hours three of them were found.
Next week, expect to see Floyd reporting from New Orleans, where he’ll be for a week with a group of students on vacation from The College of St. Rose. They will be helping to rebuild houses for Habitat for Humanity and he will profile some of the people who lost homes.
“This is a good example of how much young people actually do care about making a difference in their world,” he said.
Floyd, who originally wanted to be a sports writer until he discovered that the news was more “interesting and diverse,” is an accomplished runner and tri-athlete who mentors other athletes in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. He also coaches Little League baseball and youth basketball.
Like others in his field, his advice to college students interested in pursing a similar career is to learn as much as possible about a variety of topics.
“You need to know about the environment, politics, the judicial system and more,” he said. “There are people who cover court cases and aren’t even sure how the system works.”
Years ago, he received an important piece of advice from a fellow reporter: “Find a place you like and stay there.”
So far Floyd has done just that. The farthest away he has moved during his career is Kingston.
“My family goals always outweighed my professional goals,” he said.
After moving around a bit in the local market, Floyd is staying put. “My thought is that this is my last job.”

By Carolyn Iannone

Everywhere you turn these days there are television shows and websites teaching us the how-to of home improvement. With all of this great information, it becomes a great wonder why we haven’t yet tackled that list of projects around the house. To help you in your quest, we bring you Home Improvement 101.
A for effort
Let’s face it—when it comes to home improvement, finding a starting point is never easy. Sometimes, it can seem impossible, especially when you’re looking at years of chaotic clutter. Many times, stopping before you start seems a lot easier. You tried, right? Wrong. This time, you will start that project because there are dozens of ways to make home improvement work for you, no matter what your project or budget may be.
Stay on schedule
Whether you are organizing a closet, making over a room, or taking on a full renovation, sorting out a step-by-step plan will allow you to fit your project into any budget and give you an estimated time of completion.
Take notes
Keep a binder of key styles, colors and textures that appeal to you. You may want to look into hiring a contractor to help you with large renovations or an interior designer for help with room makeovers.
Extra credit
Some tools are not so cost or storage friendly. Heavy-duty projects call for heavy-duty equipment and renting will cost a fraction of the price it would to purchase. Many rental stores not only rent equipment, but offer advice on how to use it safely and efficiently to get the most for your money.
Renting vs. buying
• Wallpaper Steamer—buy: $400-$800; rent: $60 per day.
• Paint Sprayer—buy: $400-$800; rent: $25 per day.
• Pressure washer—buy: $1,400; rent: $55 per day.
• Tiller—buy: $975-$130; rent: $45 per day.
• Electric Chainsaw—buy: $350; rent: $25 per day.
• Carpet Cleaners —buy: $200; to rent: $20 per day.
Prioritizing
So far so good! We have plans, ideas, tools and an inexhaustible bank account. Okay, maybe not that last part. However, if you are like the many other homeowners who need to budget their money cost effectively, no need to worry. You can solve this by prioritizing a few key items that can’t be compromised for cost. For example, if you are dreaming of a luxuriously, comfortable couch for your family room, then splurge on it. In turn, compromise on items that are lower on your list, like accessories for a side table or prints for the walls. By cutting some corners and splurging on key items, you’ll feel like you are spending where it counts and the finished product will also fit inside your budget!
Creativity counts
When devising a plan to update a certain room, knowing when to be “new” and when to be “improved” can be helpful. Give old cabinets a new look by painting them a bold color, renovate an old chair by reupholstering it, convert an old trunk into a coffee table that you won’t mind relaxing your feet and coffee mug upon. These are a few inexpensive and creative ways to make what you already have work with a fresh, new look.
Get personal
There is nothing like having a space that you can call your own, even when you are sharing it with other people. Customizing your environment to fit your style will make any room your own. From dishes and flatware to curtains and colors, everything should have a hint of your style and personality.
Looking for inspiration?
Find your focus
If you’re still stuck on finding that perfect style for a room, pick a focal point to work off of. For example, a colorful pillow or rug; a piece of artwork with distinct colors and patterns; or maybe an area rug that speaks to you. By examining what it is that attracts you to these pieces, you will find yourself inspired by various colors, textures, patterns and styles.

Being in the flow—Feng Shui for all aspects of your life

By Mary Mei-an Winslow

Do you ever wonder why you feel more comfortable in certain places than others? Or why you feel exhausted whenever you shop at the mall, even if you’ve only been there for 30 minutes? Or why you feel energized after you take a walk in the woods or on the seashore? It’s all about the flow—the energy flow of the place.
Everything in life has an energy, for everything is energy. The ancient Chinese science of Feng Shui, which is enjoying a renaissance in the West, works with the energy of a place—your home, garden, office, business, stores, malls, woods, mountains, literally everything in the universe. The Chinese call this energy “chi”. Those of you who are familiar with yoga, tai chi, reiki, or the martial arts are especially aware of this energy. The study of these energy patterns provided guidelines for the Chinese in designing homes, businesses and cities, including the Forbidden City in Beijing.
We need to ask what is the quality of this chi that surrounds us and which constantly bombards us. Buildings are not merely inanimate objects. We can effectively affect and accelerate whatever we wish to change by balancing or “charging” our environment. We place ourselves in jeopardy if we do not pay attention to our surroundings—we sabotage ourselves with clutter, disorganization and dilapidation. If we are to survive successfully in peace and harmony with ourselves, and the world, we must create it externally to reflect back to our inner selves. When the energy (chi) of a space is in balance with the occupant of that space then harmony, peace, beauty and whatever qualities we desire will naturally occur.
Feng Shui is exciting in that it gives us the possibilities to bring about changes to our lives by use of various adjustments, such as placing special objects in certain places, moving furniture around and use of color. However, it is more than just re-arranging furniture, painting walls, or adding wind chimes, as prescribed by many books on the subject; though these are certainly good beginning processes toward change. Adjusting the energy of a space is adjusting the energy of the occupants living in that space. Some typical tools used for bringing new energy into our life might be placing a plant, mirror or water fountain by the front door for the purpose of finding a better job or a career change. It is also necessary to consider several factors that oftentimes include architectural problems, outside surroundings, and the spatial arrangement of the rooms that may hinder the desired change. Implementation of Feng Shui principles restores empowerment and control back to you and changes your perspective of your connection to the environment and of life. By having a supporting environment we become less stressed which improves our mental, physical and emotional health.
The principles of Feng Shui have been practiced for at least 3,000 in China. There are various schools of thought in Feng Shui, but all methods use a map called the “ba gua”, an eight-sided figure that is used as an overlay for a floor plan, a piece of land, home, business, a work cubicle, 40 story building, or a desk. The ba gua is divided into sections representing various aspects of one’s life such as family, wealth, health, relationships, careers, etc. Visual energy patterns are uncovered by using the ba gua.
As the outside world appears to be more hostile—pollution, crime, terrorism, disease, fear—it is ever more important to create sanctuaries of our homes. Since many of us spend time telecommuting from home offices, it’s important to pay special attention as these arrangements impact on our home harmony.
Remember how you felt after you’ve been to the ocean, on a mountaintop, or witnessed another wondrous sunset? That feeling is what brings you into harmony with your environment and with yourself. It is the ultimate goal of Feng Shui to create and capture this feeling whenever you enter a space. If you do not have a home that heals your spirit, this whole world will never feel comfortable to you no matter what or how much else you may have.
Feng Shui constantly upgrades the aliveness that surrounds us. What we are doing in Feng Shui is matching our surroundings to the magnificence of who we truly are.
Mary Mei-an Winslow is a certificated Feng Shui consultant. You may contact her by email at fengshuiway@juno.com or call 330.6314.

Color intuition
A color guide to help brighten your home and life

By Arcangela Mele

Brightly painted rooms with color schemes of greens, purples, blues, and yellows are popular these days. Many of us would love to create a similar look in our own home, but experimenting with color can be risky. Yet with a little imagination and experimentation, you can turn that dull room into something you’ll love.
Decide what colors best suit you
The good thing to know about color is that you do not have to completely redo a room, but can introduce it on a single wall or accessory. Rugs, chairs, pillows, even flowers, are good things to start with because they can be changed or replaced easily. Since color has the ability to affect our moods and emotions, it’s essential to find out what shades make you feel happy and comfortable. To help you through your exploration, here are some helpful characteristics of color:

Yellow
The mood:Sunny and happy, energizing and uplifting
Shades to consider:Lemon, gold, canary
What to pair it with:Yellow always looks best when paired with white, and pale shades (lemon) are perfect with pastels such as light blue, green and pink. Bolder shades like gold and canary look great paired with black, blue and dark brown.
Where it works:Yellow is quite versatile and will work well in just about any room. However, it’s an especially inviting color for halls and entries and makes small spaces appear open and expansive. Yellow is thought to stimulate creativity and imagination, so it would also be ideal for a library, office, or study.

Blue
The mood:Calming, relaxing, serene
Shades to consider:Periwinkle, turquoise, cerulean, pastel blues
What to pair it with:If you opt for a lighter shade it can make a room feel chilly, so you may want to balance it with warm hues in furnishings and fabrics, such as purple-blues and warm greens. Bright and warm blues (periwinkle, turquoise, cerulean,) always look fabulous with white or gold or blond wood.
Where it works:Blue is known to slow down blood pressure and heart rate, so it’s often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms. Warmer blues are sometimes used for a fresh, contemporary look in dining and family rooms. You can even try pairing it with red and white accessories for a nautical look.

Green
The mood:Natural, comfortable, peaceful
Shades to consider:Soft sages, mint, bright lime greens
What to pair it with:Green has endless variations and blends easily with every other hue, making it a great color for beginners to start with. All shades of green always look best paired with neutral fabrics and furnishings, and soft sage blends especially well with brown and black. Bright limes are a new, daring trend, and they can be paired with orange, yellow, or stainless steel for a futuristic look.
Where it works:Since green is so versatile, it can work easily in just about any room in your home. Sage greens are common in family rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, and mint works well for a traditional bathroom or kitchen. Bright limes are a new trend in kitchens and childrens’ bedrooms.

Purple
The Mood:
Luxurious, restful, dramatic
Shades to consider:
Pastel lilac, lavender, deep violet, bold eggplant
What to pair it with:
Pastel purples are most popular and have the same calming effect as blue, yet are less chilly. Like blue, pastel purple looks crisp and clean paired with white, and pretty with other pastels like pink and yellow. Deeper, bolder shades of purple are best paired with black and dark wood, or even silver. Bright reds, oranges, and yellows can also be paired easily with deep purples for a dramatic and modern look.
Where it works:
Pastel purple and lavender can be used to create a frilly little girl’s room or a feminine bathroom. Bolder shades of purple can be paired with brightly colored accessories and paintings for a dramatic statement in a living or dining room, or just about any room you’d like to show off.

White
The Mood:Airy, clean, serene
Shades to consider:White paint comes in warm shades (leaning toward yellow, rose, or beige tones) and cool shades (with a hint of gray or icy blue). Although they look like pastels on paint chips, once they are painted on your walls they will look white with a cool or warm undertone. Pure white is the perfect backdrop for bold artwork and colorful furniture, yet there are various shades of white that can compliment a room on its own.
What to pair it with:Pure white trim on black or red walls makes a bold statement and is currently a popular trend. Yet, white on white can also be appealing by incorporating different shades of white with various textures. For example, a room could be painted a warm or cool shade of white with bright white trim and be filled with textured accessories, like a fuzzy chenille bedspread, leather couches, or weathered wood (blonde, cherry and ebony are all great). These textures will reflect light differently and contrast against the smooth, white walls. Also, jutted rugs and wicker furniture work great with white and create, creating a calming effect.
Where it works:White can work just about anywhere with a little creativity. A current trend is the revival of black and white, which can be introduced in virtually any room. You can try the “Old Hollywood” style by incorporating classic furniture with checkered floors, or a contemporary look with black and white striped fabrics, leather furniture and modern artworks. Toile walls and valances are also a popular black and white trend for bedrooms and baths.

Luxury bathrooms:
Better and more popular than ever

By Larry Miller, CKD, CBD

Mixing high style and relaxation, today’s luxury baths focus on comfort with a nod toward self-expression. The new luxury baths are highly serviceable and technologically savvy rather than the huge, opulent spa-like versions that have dominated for the past few years. And, people are spending money on them on a level once reserved for kitchens.
Today’s consumer is looking for simplification and a quality experience. People want their homes to service their functional needs but at the same time, personal style, aesthetics and craftsmanship are important. Since many homeowners are short on space and/or have to work within budgets, size and opulence are not the only criteria for luxury bathrooms. They are opting for high quality, beautifully designed, well-engineered elements instead of just fabulous looking objects.
Showering is in these days and many bathrooms are tub free. Large showers have replaced the 3’ x 3’ showers of the past. Many showers are 4’, 5’, 6’ and larger with amenities such as bench seats, multiple shower heads, body sprays, hand held showers and ceiling-mounted rain shower heads. Another popular feature is the steam shower, which offers the ultimate in relaxation. Careful consideration must be given when designing a steam shower so that condensation does not drip on the bather.
While the purpose of the shower process is to keep the bather wet, it is equally important that they stay hot during and after the shower. Therefore, floor heating and towel warmers are very alluring options. If you shower at the same time every day, you can set the towel warmer and the radiant floor heat on a timer.
Where space allows, whirlpool tubs and soaking tubs are still popular. There are many sizes available, from the 32” x 60” that replaces a standard tub, to 60” x 84” with a tub deck all around.
Homeowners are also exploring many new materials. They are being much more creative and artistic with tile work, going wild with the patterns they can create. Glass tiles, for example, are moving to the forefront. The use of clear frameless glass for shower doors is also very popular, allowing the tile designs to be easily seen.
Countertops run the gamut from solid surfaces like Corian to marble, granite and quartz materials. People are also looking for more exotic stones like lapis or onyx.
Regardless of how exotic any of the amenities are, when choosing colors they should have timeless appeal. Earth tones and lighter pastels are among the most recommended.
Lighting, whether for ambience or tasks, is also key to creating a successful luxury bath. There should be adequate general lighting to create a warm mood in the space and specific task lighting at the mirror for applying makeup or shaving.
Creating your luxury bath can be challenging, especially when dealing with a smaller space. Sometimes you can borrow space from an adjoining room or closet, and sometimes you are limited to what is there. Careful planning can make a smaller space appear larger by creating an open entrance. Whether your space is 5’ x 8’ or 18’ x 24’, you can have a luxury bath of your own to enjoy for many years to come.
Larry Miller is a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer, and the general manager of Creative Kitchens of Glenmont, Ltd., in Glenmont. He can be reached at 432.1320 or visit www.creativekitchensofglenmont.com.

Home organization

By Tom Barber

What makes an organized home? Is it having everything in its own place? Is it having tons of space for all your stuff? Or, is it having your closets, basement and garage organized?
For many, it’s a combination of all these factors. Because of this, the trend in closet organization began 20 years ago. Over time, it has expanded to the basement, kitchen, home office and garage. Since homes have natural architectural limits to them, the organization industry can only help make the existing space function better.
There are some basic architectural designs that make a closet work much better.
• First, complete access to your items is key. Try to avoid sliding doors, which only give partial access. Rather, bi-fold or swing doors are the best choices. Whenever possible do not have the door swing into your walk-in closet. If it does you are taking away usable storage space and if you have garments behind the door you always have to close the door behind you to get to them.
• Walk-in closets need to be a minimum of 5’6” if you intend to hang clothes on both side walls. The return walls by the door need to be 23” wide if you are going to hang clothes up to the door area.
• A reach in closet should never have more then 12” of return walls on the front of them. Deep returns make it impossible to access your clothes. Closets need to have full ceiling height to them if you intend to double hang clothes as the top clothing is hung at 84” off the floor. Closets with eves or with sloped ceilings do not offer you much chance of good utilization.
• Always keep in mind that a hanging garment needs between 21”-23” to clear the wall and fit in a closet for space allowance. You should plan on 1” for each hanging garment and 2” for coats. Generally, a hanging shirt, blouse or pants over a hanger needs 39”-40” to hang up and long garments need around 68” to hang up. A folded garment, i.e. sweater, needs an area 12x12 by 2” high at a minimum. Ladies’ shoes need around 7” per pair and mens’ shoes need around 10” per pair when stored side by side.
Today’s closets offer all kinds of accessories—tie and belt racks, scarf racks, jewelry drawers, clothes hampers, shoe cubbies, folding ironing boards and folding seats to name a few. The common material used is ventilated steel, melamine wood and ventilated hard wood. There are three major manufacturers of steel shelving—Rubbermaid, Schulte and Closet Maid.
Melamine covered particleboard, which is most commonly called laminated wood, comes in 3/4”, 5/8” and 1/2” thickness. Good quality closet systems come in 3/4 thick material. It can hold more weight and is structurally sound. Systems can be floor mounted to give a built-in look or wall hung by using the European hang rail system. Less expensive systems come in 5/8” and 1/2” material and are most commonly found in big box retail stores. There are a number of wood grains patterns and solid colors available through your professional closet companies.
Why is melamine particleboard used verses solid wood? Melamine covered particleboard board does not warp, splinter, expand and contract with the weather and never needs painting like wood does, and it costs a lot less.
Remember that a well-designed storage space should double or triple your usable space.
Tom Barber is owner of Closet Crafters & More, Inc. & Albany Shower Door located at 25 Kraft Ave. Albany. For more information call 459.0037 or visit www.closet-crafters.com & www.alb-showerdoor.com.

Save energy, money and stay warm with New York Energy $martSM programs

With the help of New York Energy $martSM programs, New Yorkers can save energy around their homes by making deliberate choices to use energy wisely. In addition to saving money, you can also help the environment—the less electricity produced by power plants, the fewer greenhouse gases released into the air. With increases in both the price of electricity and heating fuel, consumers often concede to paying more to stay comfortable.
Why should New Yorkers care about home performance? Whether your home is old or new, it could be wasting up to 40 percent on energy costs due to inefficient heating and cooling systems, poor insulation, and air leaks through cracks and gaps in the attic, basement, plumbing fixtures and duct systems. Many homes have rooms that are too hot or cold, or have drafts, poor indoor air quality, and ice build-up on the roof that can cause structural damage. These may be common signs that the house is not sealed, ventilated, insulated or heated properly. While it’s not always easy to pinpoint the problem, taking time to find it and fix it can make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable.
Seniors and others who live on a limited income are the most vulnerable to the higher bills, which is why for this winter only, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is now offering additional financial incentives for energy upgrades performed through its Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. Developed under the New York Energy $martSM Program, the program will cover up to 60 percent of the costs associated with the energy-efficiency improvements, up to a maximum of $6,000 per household or $12,000 for a two-to four-family building. The program connects you with a participating Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified Home Performance contractor to inspect your home and provide recommendations for energy improvements they can even do the work. These contractors will use diagnostic equipment to evaluate the performance of your home and generate a customized list of improvements that may include sealing air leaks, adding insulation or sealing duct leaks.
The program even offers a number of financing options to help pay for making the improvements.
“BPI-certified Home Performance Contractors take a unique, comprehensive approach to home energy usage that looks at the whole house, not just one room or single problem area. It’s a great service and value for homeowners,” said Peter R. Smith, president of NYSERDA, which administers the New York Energy $martSM programs. And if you are not eligible for the extra incentives, you can still participate in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and have access to the low-interest financing.
Also, remember to look for the ENERGY STAR label on lighting, appliances and various electronics. Whether you are in the market for a clothes washer, refrigerator, or other home appliance, make sure it has the ENERGY STAR label. To reap more energy savings, replace your five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR lighting products use two–thirds less energy than standard incandescent lighting, while providing more light. In addition, compact fluorescent bulbs last seven to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This means less time changing light bulbs, a convenience especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Additional energy tips:
Have your heating and cooling equipment serviced annually and remember to replace air filters regularly.
• Use a programmable thermostat and lower your thermostat when you’re not at home and at night.
• Sign up for your utility’s budget plan. You may qualify for help with your bills.
• Shop around for an alternative energy supplier.
• When it’s time to replace old equipment, choose an ENERGY STAR qualified model.
• Insulate your home, particularly in the attic. Not only is this spot usually the easiest to insulate, but it’s also where you’ll see the greatest energy-saving benefit.
• Turn down the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees F.
For more information on other energy efficiency programs and money-saving tips during the upcoming winter months, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call toll-free 1.877. NYSMART (1.877.697.6278).

What’s the buzz on shower doors and enclosures?

By Tom Barber

With bathrooms becoming more luxurious, it’s important to play up the importance of the shower door, which becomes the “exclamation point” of the room.
A shower door, tub door and enclosure all mean the same thing. There are literally thousands of sizes available with many options of frame finishes and glass styles. There truly is not a standard size in today’s market—the width may be somewhat standard, but the height of units seems to be all over the place.
They all do the same thing—keep the water inside the shower area as best as possible. Shower enclosures are not aquariums and they can allow some water out. With hand held sprays and body sprays, water can be forced out of the enclosure by the hinge area and on the closure side. To prevent this, the showerhead should always be turned toward the wall and away from the enclosure whenever possible. Shower thresholds and built-in seats should pitch into the shower by 1/8 of an inch. Walls need to be plum and the threshold needs to be level. Flat or pitching out thresholds make for leaky showers and need to be avoided at all costs.
There are basically three types of doors, framed, semi-frameless and frameless.
Framed doors which have aluminum all around the glass will most likely be 5/32” thick. These doors are also the least expensive to buy.
Semi-frameless doors usually have two areas on the door that do not have the aluminum frame on it. The glass in these doors may be 1/4” thick. You may also find a C-pull handle on them. These are usually in the middle range in cost.
Frameless doors have some kind of system to hold the glass in place. This may be a small aluminum channel or glass clamps. These door can be made to fit most configurations and designs. The most common glass is 3/8” of an inch thick and some are made of 1/2” inch glass. Frameless doors will cost two-three times more than a framed or semi-frameless door. All glass is tempered safety or laminated glass.
Tub doors may be two by-pass doors, three by-pass doors, swing door with a panel, French doors or spray panels that swing out of the way, which are becoming more popular. This makes it easier to bathe children, without having to lean over the track that by-pass doors have.
Shower doors also come in a number of configurations: by-pass, door and panel, panel door panel, panel and door with a side buttress, neo-angle, French doors and single swing doors that can be a pivot or hinged style.
Because of the beautiful decorative tiles available today, clear glass is popular choice for doors. However, there are many other glass options available, including rain, hammered/obscure, bubble, frosted, autumn, glue chip and fluted.
Maintenance
Maintenance of your shower door is much easier nowadays, especially with many doors coming with easy clean jambs and sills. The easy clean track allows most of the water to drain back into the shower area. The old E-track held some water back, which would turn to mildew or mold. Glass is also easy to keep. There are a number of glass cleaners and finishes available in the supermarket to help the water run off the glass. It’s also important to get into the habit of using a squeegee on the glass. This little chore will save you from big cleaning jobs and keeps the door looking new for a long time.
Tom Barber is owner of Closet Crafters & More, Inc. & Albany Shower Door located at 25 Kraft Ave. Albany. For more information call 459.0037 or visit www.closet-crafters.com & www.alb-showerdoor.com.

Tempur-Pedic and Stressless-EKORNES:
Better beds, better seating, better support, better comfort, better health

By Paul Balzer

One of the latest terms that you may have heard when shopping for home furnishings is tempur-pedic. What is it and how does it work?
Tempur pressure relieving material, the heart and soul of all the Tempur-Pedic products, is a breakthrough in sleep technology. The story of this revolutionary material begins with NASA’s research to develop a material to relieve the tremendous G-forces experienced by astronauts. A Swedish scientist realizing the potential of such a material spent nearly a decade, and millions of research dollars to perfect the Tempur material as the ultimate sleep surface.
This material has introduced a sleep revolution that has proven to people that a mattress does not have to be firm or soft, it can be both. A Tempur-Pedic mattress conforms to custom fit your body. It virtually eliminates painful pressure points and greatly reduces your body’s need to toss and turn in search of a comfortable position. Instead of inner springs pushing against your body, you feel like you are suspended on a Tempur-Pedic bed.
Tempur-Pedic currently has five different models of mattresses and a complete line of customized pillows. Three of the five mattress models come in an optional adjustable bed. The adjustable beds have wireless remote controls for raising and lowering the head and the feet separately, and come with a built in message feature. These models can also be purchased as a split adjustable bed. This allows each person to move on his or her side independently.
Many people with health issues find additional relief by customizing a sleep position. Tempur-Pedic has the Ease of Use Recommendation of the Arthritis Foundation, The Good House Keeping Seal of Approval and the Consumer’s Digest Best Buy Certificate. Tempur-Pedic backs up their product with a 20-year warranty and a 90-day money back guarantee.
Paul Balzer is owner Owner European Comfort Fine Furniture for Healthy Living located at The Crossing, Clifton Park. For more information call 371.2900 or visit www.europeancomfortfurniture.com.