Your Hometowne

The Last Vestige of Winter

BUSINESS in FOCUS: THE CHARLTON TAVERN

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As you read this spring is lessthan 16 days away! We canonly hope our cover shot isthe last you will see of thiswinter's abundance of snow.Read more on page 29.

For many of us March iswhen we take on the SPRING CHECKLIST that we havebeen creating in our heads while being snuggled up in ourhomes eying the projects need to be completed beforesummer. Soon we will be opening up the windows to air outthat fresh coat of paint we have been waiting to apply orripping out and replacing the worn out carpet that took itsfinal beating this winter. Bringing style and functionality toyour home is so much easier when you ask an expert and wehave many of them right here in Your Hometowne. Our localbusiness people are professionals that are vested in thecommunity. Not only do they have years of experience buttheir pricing is surprisingly competitive.

Take on your inside projects now so when Memorial Day hitsyou can get your garden started and be ready to enjoy beingoutside enjoying your boat, pool, motorcycle or whatever it isthat makes your summer spectacular! No one can ever call usUpstate New Yorkers lazy, we have built in deadlines calledseasons. No time for procrastination, in 8 months you will beback inside looking at the same walls, floors, kitchens andwindows unless you take it on.

Next month we'll be eying our lawns… in the mean timecheck this out-

Pro-Wrestling SPRING SLAM in Your Hometowne! BH-BLHigh School presents

Friday March 25. BH-BL's own JEFF STARR will headlinealong with Glens Falls native “Hacksaw' Jim Duggan andothers at BH-BL High School to raise money with theproceeds going to Coaches for Cancer and the Penny's fromHeaven Foundation

Doors open@ 6 pm for a meet & greet- Wrestling @ 8pm.Tickets are $15 for floor seats & $10 General admission. $18& $12 Night of the Show. Buy Tickets at Goldstocks 98Freemans Bridge Rd.

Happy St Patrick's Day!All our best-Cheryll, Paul,Randy and Al

A message from WHAT OUR EXPERTS ARE SAYING...

Amy Aldrich, State Farm Insurance - Distracted Driving

Burnt Hills Optical - What can be done about computer visionsyndrome?

Cheap Geek - Internet Virus’sChris Nyhan, Edward Jones - What does interest rate hike mean to you?

Mike Crowley, CPA - Businesses facing tax changes.

Dr. Oyangen - Snoring and sleep deprivation.

Padgett Business Services - Taxable or non-taxable income?

Precise Fitness - The most consistent thing in life is change.

TKO Licensed Home Inspections - Why hire a home inspector?

Comments and Input – Paul and Cheryll 280.5260Advertising – Cheryll [email protected] or 265.1105Photography – Paul [email protected] Design – Karen Garrison [email protected] or 883.3872


THE MOST CONSISTENT THINGIN LIFE IS CHANGE.It happens to everyone. That moment when you realizethat it's time to do something about your weight. Itmay happen when you're looking in the mirror orstanding on the scale. Your first thought is to go on a'diet' but as quickly as that enters your mind the ghostsof a hundred diets past return... along with all the

frustration. Then you wonder, why bother? The weight will come back, as italways has. Then you'll be back in front of the mirror as discouraged as ever.The answer is not to go on another diet.The answer is to change your lifestyle.You've heard this before, and it makessense, right? So why haven't you done it?Your Lifestyle Obstacles. Most people resist changing their lifestyle fortwo reasons.1. Change is scary. Whether you realize it or not, your life is in a constantstate of change. The most consistent thing in life is change. Since you'llnever escape it, you might as well channel it. It's time to make the changein your life purposeful and positive.2. Lifestyle misconception. How many times have you heard the term'healthy lifestyle' only to picture a health nut with celery sticks in one handand tofu in the other? The truth is that most people think that changingtheir lifestyle will be an extreme and unpleasant experience - and that's nottrue. Improving your lifestyle does not mean swearing off chocolate or livingin the gym. You don't have to eat wheat germ for lunch and you can stillenjoy a nice plate of pasta. The key is moderation.Making the Change. It's time to lose your 'all or nothing' mentality.Embrace simple, small changes that will add up to big improvements in yourlifestyle. These are your main venues for change:What You Eat. Let's face it, most of the foods you eat aren't the healthiest.Some are downright terrible (the burger and fries you had last week). Whileothers are simply excessive (the snacks you eat while watching TV).The solution to cleaning up your daily diet is NOT to go back on a 'diet'. Infact, I never want you to go on a 'diet' again. (Yes, you heard me right!)Instead I want you to make permanent healthy changes to your eatinghabits.

Here are some practical examples:• Choose salad over chips or fries • Don't add butter to your food • Eat fresh produce with every meal • Purchase fat free dairy products • Limit desserts to one or two per week • Cut out mindless snacking • Drink water, not soda

I don't expect you to eat a perfect diet every day of the week - that'd beludicrous. You should, however, make MORE healthy choices every day thanunhealthy ones.What You Do. Exercise is a huge component to a healthy lifestyle, and quitefrankly you're not getting enough of it. How often does an entire week goby without you ever lacing up your tennis shoes? Don't disregard theimportance and power of a good workout.Your new healthy lifestyle means exercising on most days of the week. Thismay seem tough, but I have the perfect solution - my training programswere created for busy people just like you who only have so much time todedicate to exercise. I understand how hard it is to find the motivation tostay consistent and to push yourself. Make exercise a no-brainer - contactme to get started on a lifestyle enhancing program today.Your lifestyle is the balance of all the choices that you make regarding yourbody. Swing the balance in your favor - make a majority of your choiceshealth conscious, contact me today.

Call or email to get started today! 424-7878 or [email protected]

to set up your free consultation.

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The performance is about to begin. It's the premium sport sedan born in Europe and bred on the Autobahn. Experienceall this and more when you join us in celebrating the arrival of the sport-injected 2011 Buick Regal.

Regal represents the next chapter in the Buick revolution. Regal delivers a dynamic driving experience that rivals the best the world has to offer. That's why it's The New Class of World Class.

ITS ARRIVAL IS A DEPARTURE.

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WHAT CAN BE DONEABOUT COMPUTERVISION SYNDROME?With so many of us using computers at work,computer eye strain has become a major job-related complaint. Studies show that eye strainand other bothersome visual symptoms occurin 50 to 90 percent of computer workers. These

problems can cause physical fatigue, decreased productivity and increasednumbers of work errors.Here are some ways to reduce computer eye strain and the other commonsymptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS):The first step is to have a complete ocular-visual examination with youroptometrist, who can determine if prescription eyeglasses are required.Contact lens wearers need to have clean, well-fitted and hydrated contactlenses to alleviate CVS symptoms. For bifocal users, progressive or no-linebifocals work best for computer use. There are new customized progressivelenses available now that allow a larger field of view when looking at amonitor.Other things you can do yourself to treat CVS:Adjust your monitor. It should be positioned two or three inches belowyour horizontal line of sight. Therefore, you should be able to see just abovethe top of your monitor. Placing the monitor too high creates unnecessaryeye and neck strain.Also, sit just far enough away from the monitor that youcan barely touch it without leaning forward.Remember to blink. This may sound trivial but studies have shown thatour blink rate reduces to roughly one-third of the normal blink rate while weare on the computer. We hydrate our eyes by blinking, so a reduction in theblink rate will dry the eyes out leading to increased eye strain.Increasing the contrast on your monitor and reducing the overall roomlighting can minimize the symptoms of computer vision syndrome. If yourcomputer is near a window, reflections can increase computer glare.Positioning the monitor away from a window may help.Remember that if you suffer from any of the symptoms of computer visionsyndrome, something can be done. If you have attempted the abovetechniques to improve CVS and symptoms remain, it is best to make anappointment with your optometrist to discuss other aids that can be usedto help.For more information contact Kristen Cameron, Burnt Hills Optical,793 Rt. 50 Burnt Hills, 399-6130 or visit www.burnthillsoptical.com.

Burnt Hills Optical was established in 1988 by Jean Bergstrom and continues asJean had planned under the leadership of Kris Cameron. The principles of superbpatient care and service on which Jean based her business remain unchanged.

“We care for people - not just their eyes.”

WHAT DOES INTEREST RATE HIKEMEAN TO YOU? In June 2004, the federal funds rate - the interest ratethat banks charge each other for overnight loans -stood at a low 1 percent. Over the following two years,the Federal Reserve Board raised this rate 17consecutive times, up to 5.5 percent. These rate hikes

may have made the evening news - but what did they mean to you, as aninvestor?

Before you can answer this question, you need to be somewhat familiarwith why the Federal Reserve raises rates in the first place. In a nutshell, theFederal Reserve increases rates in hopes of curbing economic growth justenough to combat inflation, but not enough to derail an economicexpansion.

Currently, there continues to be some uncertainty regarding when, howmuch and how long the Fed will raise rates. However, those questions canonly be answered by the future strength of the economy. Therefore,economic indicators will be looked at closely in order to get a better idea ofwhat the Fed might do.

In short, there's no formulaic way to gauge the effect of the Fed's actionson your investments. However, you probably can't go wrong if you takethese steps:

DON'T PANIC - You don't need to consider drastic measures. As yet, theserates haven't changed, and any change that comes will be manageable.

DIVERSIFY - Build and maintain a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds,government securities, floating rate securites and other investments.

LOOK FOR QUALITY - Keep investing in high-quality stocks.

"BUY AND HOLD" - If you've chosen high-quality stocks, you don't need tounload them solely because interest rates may be rising. You're much betteroff holding these stocks for the long term - until either your needs changeor the companies themselves move in a different direction.

BUILD A BOND LADDER - If you invest in bonds, you don't want toconstantly adjust your holdings in response to changes in interest rates.Instead, build a "bond ladder'' - a group of bonds of varying maturities.When rates are rising, you'll be able to reinvest the proceeds of short-termbonds that come due, and when rates are falling, you'll have your long-termbonds, with higher rates, working for you.

You can't predict the future course of interest rates. But by making thesebasic moves, you can continue working towards your long-term goals.

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

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

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



I CAN HELP WITH YOURHOME PURCHASE!I am Tom O'Connor, a licensed and insured homeinspector.WHY HIRE A HOME INSPECTOR? A homeinspection is a functional and comprehensive reviewyour future home. Fire up the furnace, open up the

electrical panel, evaluate the utility service, run the faucets, open andclose the windows, test the GFI outlets in the kitchen and bathroom andmore….It is a modest expense for such an important decision!As for me, I am a 1988 graduate of Siena College. I worked in theinsurance industry for more than 20 years and opted to seek my ownpath, start my own business. I managed and resolved hundreds of legaldisputes resultant from real estate transactions. That is why I know I canbe of value to you in your real estate investment.I offer you a second set of eyes.Now, let me comment briefly on the limitations of a home inspection. Itis a visual inspection. It is not a warranty that future problems may notoccur. I will not bore you with the state regulations and the required textcontained in the retainer agreement you will have to acknowledge.The home inspection engages all of the following readily accessible andobserved conditions as outlined in the pre-inspection agreement:

• Site conditions; land grade, trees and vegetation, walkways, steps,driveways, patios and retaining walls.

• Structural Systems; floors, walls, ceilings and roof structure.• Exterior; siding, flashing, trim, doors, decks, steps, railings, windows.• Roof Systems; roofing material and conditions, drainage, flashing,

roof penetrations.• Plumbing System; interior water supply, fixtures, drain, waste and

vent systems, sump pumps.• Electrical System; service drop, service conductors, grounding,

fixtures, switches and receptacles. GFI outlets. Amperage and Voltagerating service. Presence of aluminum wiring.

• Heating System; type of fuel, equipment and distribution system.Operate the system using the thermostat.

• Air Conditioning System; the type of equipment and it distributionsystem. If the temperature permits, operate the system.

• Interior; condition of the walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, railings, baths,windows, doors, visible water penetration.

• Insulation and Ventilation; accessible attics, insulated unfinishedspaces.A radon test, pest inspection, water quality, septic and water well can alsobe examined for an additional fee. I urge you to secure a radon test.A home inspection is intended to offer you an insight into the home'sfunctionality and make you an informed consumer. This is a majormilestone and I wish to add value to your confidence in making yourhome purchase decision. I welcome your thoughts and questions. If I donot know the answer, I will find it for you. I can help.It will be my pleasure to assist you in your home purchase decision.


Did You Know? Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras, the festival New Orleans, Louisiana,is famous for. "Gras" is French for fat and "Mardi" is French forTuesday. Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in New Orleans. It isscheduled to occur 46 days before Easter. Since the actual date Easter occurs or changes yearly, Mardi Gras can happen on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9, this year it'sMarch 8th.


STAY TUNED with Paul Hill“There is no distance too far between friends”Every year for the past 5 years, friends, family and invited guests havegathered at the request of Rick DeCresce, owner of RJD Enterprize AutoSales to remember friends and loved ones lost. Cheryll and I were invitedto attend, I'm glad we went.It began 5 years ago after Rick lost his wife Karen. Surrounded by familyand friends at Attanasio's Banquet house in Scotia after her wake, it was anemotional gathering for those who have not seen each other for some timebecause life got in the way, now drawn together under a somber cloud.Looking at this crowd of old friends a thought occurred to Rick that itwould be fitting to gather everyone together in a better atmosphere; at atime when emotions were under control and people could visit each otherand remember all who have passed on and touched their lives, a gatheringto celebrate life.When Rick called me he said I would see people I haven't seen in years, hewas right.We also paused to remember those who have passed on from thememorial board set up at the entrance. Their names listed devotedly togreet everyone who attends.Reading the list provided flashbacks to each I knew, recalling the goodtimes we shared. I didn't know all the names, but those gathered, fondlyrecalled those folks, creating a sense of camaraderie, a thread that heldeveryone together.Held every year in proximity to Rick and Karen' anniversary, invited guestsand what has become the extended family from the original gatheringattend the celebration to reconnect. They enjoy some good food, raise theirglasses and remember all their loved ones who have passed on.With Alan Payette and his band, “Rat Tail Jimmy” the music couldn't bebetter nor the atmosphere more enjoyable. The intent of the gathering isnot lost in the music and partying ; people meeting people who would not

have otherwise met. Ironically Alan Payette met his wife to be at the eventlast year.The story does not end here, as I sat with Rick, a girl he introduced us to atthe party earlier entered the room. Kristina Grippo a professional artistwith a portfolio of impressive work is joining Rick at his showroom andexpects to reveal her gallery of art and contemporary work. Fluent in manymediums, from oil to drawings as well as original creations, Kristina is alsoa prop master for the motion picture industry so look for some interestingstuff to be displayed in what is now a retro showroom.In Rick's shop there is a couch fashioned into the trunk of a '57 Chevy BelAir as seen above as well as original gas pumps from years gone by thatcan be seen from the road as you pass by his lot on Freemans Bridge roadnext to the airport.You may remember Rick from years ago as the throwback used car lot nextto what is now Lowes entrance with his lot lit by incandescent bulbs strungfrom tree to tree; Rick embraces the past in ways that bring you to a simplertime with a slower pace. Check out Rick's ad on page 13 and stop in ifyou're looking for a “dependable ride” or want to check out one of thecoolest showrooms in the area. Stay Tuned...


IT WILL HAPPEN TO EVERYONE!

It has been a long day. Youwere doing this and thatfeeling like you had no timeto breathe let alone relax.You have fulfilled all oftoday's requirements. It'stime for sleep. You snugglein all cozy and warm andthen it starts. Your partnersounds like a lawnmower.That is in excess of 70decibels. You poke and prod

them to no avail. Like second hand smoke, second hand snoring canboth physically and mentally damage you.Snoring is evidence of an airway obstruction - a narrowing of themouth and throat. It can be a sign of a far deadlier problem calledobstructive sleep apnea, one of the most common sleep disorders.Sleep apnea is usually associated with loud or heavy snoringinterrupted by pauses and gasps.Obstructive sleep apneas occur when the muscles in the back of thethroat are not able to keep the throat open. This causes blockagesin the airway and breathing interruptions called apneas. Theseblockages happen numerous times each night, even each hour andcan not only disrupt sleep cycles, but also lower the level of oxygenin the bloodstream.Loud snoring affects everyone. Especially if it is loud enough to be heard through walls and floorboards. It disrupts everyone's sleepcycles.It can make everyone within earshot tired, cranky and exhausted.The lack of proper sleep and rest will decrease your ability toconcentrate when you really need to. Your work and personal lifecan suffer long term. It can prevent you from getting that welldeserved promotion! Frustration and irritability can keep yourfriends and family away from you because you are no fun to bearound. There is help out there for all of you. The person who snoresneeds to be evaluated by a trained sleep specialist. The deadlycondition called obstructive sleep apnea must be ruled out as acause for this snoring. This obstructed airway must be opened thisvibrating soft tissue must be silenced by either surgery or amandibular repositioning device.There are dozens of mandibular repositioning devices out on themarket but only a handful of them work without seriousconsequenses. All of them take the lower jaw and position itforward thus opening the airway.Some lock your mouth in position and can prevent your mouth fromopening. This can be deadly, especially if the nasal cavity isobstructed by allergies, medications, or excessive overgrowth of thenasal bone or it's lining. A physical evaluation is done to confirm orrule out the presence of obstructive sleep apnea. The mouth andthroat must be examined, and a polysomnography (sleep study)should be done at one of the local sleep centers. Recent clinicalstudies have shown that a proper fitting mandibular repositioningdevice (anti-snore guard) has been shown to stop snoring as well assignificantly reduce mild to moderate sleep apnea. You should seeka dentist trained in sleep apnea conditions, as well as proper fit andtitration of this appliance. A major referral source for such doctors isthe American Academy Of Dental Sleep Medicine. This highly trainedorganization can be found at http://www.aadsm.org.

Roy Oyangen, DMD399-4696 • www.oyangendmd.com

Socha Plaza South • 113 Saratoga Road Glenville www.frankandsonsbodyworks.com


The heart of Charlton beat in William (Red) Maloney'schest for many years however he was unaware of it at thetime. Bill was raised in Schenectady and found his love of

Early American architecture and style while attending theUniversity of Vermont. New England and its rich history greatlyinfluenced his love of design and buildings.

Bill married Ethel Curran, daughter of Evelyn and Michael Curranof Ballston Lake. They began in Schenectady together raising theiryoung family; Ethel a nurse and Bill an insurance salesman. Billalso dabbled in selling men's clothing for a short time. It was notuntil his employment at Schenectady's famous Van DykeRestaurant, that Bill realized his dream of opening his ownbusiness. Early American furniture was what he would sell and thetown of Charlton would become the site.

The hamlet of Charlton housed a general store (circa 1787) on theverge on being condemned. In 1965 Bill, along with a partner,purchased the building and began restoring it to its authenticstate; beams were exposed, walls were covered in tongue andgroove pine boards and ceilings were concealed in burlap fabricdue to their dilapidated state. This newly renovated buildingbecame the site of Charlton's first furniture store (The CharltonShop) and the beginning of the Maloney legacy.

When Bill and his partner decided to part ways, John, Bill'scharismatic brother, along with his wife Shirley stepped in to jointhe team. In addition, their sister Mary came on board and openeda women's dress shop upstairs thus developing a rich Irish team. Itwas rumored that you could fill a music hall with the many familyand friends that worked one time or another-either deliveringfurniture or procuring another project started by Bill.

As the Maloney businesses grew, so did the building. In 1968, asecond story was added. Builder, Bill Trousdale along with the help

of The Wills Brothers used materials purchased from an old barnand a brick school house to authenticate the construction. Wallswere again covered in tongue and groove pine boards, beamsexposed and a fireplace erected. It soon became a period piece tofit the original style.

It was a dynamic time, the area was growing, specifically theClifton Park area. The Charlton Shop was enlisted to furnishmodel homes for a variety of builders. Their famous ChampagneSales were born. Annually large gatherings of clients and friendscame together every year for this famous Champagne andHors'devoures event. Many stories coming from the ChampagneEvenings are still of local lore.

In 1969, Frank Lafforthun, the most respected historian in thetown of Charlton and General Store owner, approached Bill andstated he was contemplating retirement. He asked Bill if he wouldbe interested in purchasing his General Store located across thestreet. They sealed the deal with a gentleman's promise and handshake and with that the center of Charlton's hamlet began todevelop.

“As with any restoration, nothing is level or insulated. Thechallenge is to tear it apart and reconstruct with your mind's eye”(Bill Maloney). Once again the rustic early American vision of Billwas put to task and with the help of his contractors in Galway;ceilings were torn down exposing hand hewn beams and a freestanding fireplace was built. Bill stated, “While the fireplace wasour doing, the material was transported from a beehive oven in thecellar. We exposed the wide plank floors and replaced what wasnecessary”. The general store was reconstructed into what is knowntoday as the Charlton Tavern. “After I opened in 1970 as a TeaRoom with a Vermont style country store, I knew the building wasnot being utilized to its full potential. It is said that “necessity is the

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mother of invention”-never more true were words spoken. Thetown of Charlton needed a center, a place of meeting andcommerce. To quote Bill, “My business not only reflected an era sorich in history but a commitment as a member of the community.”Bill's desire to organize and produce was not solely based on hispersonal interest in business, but on how his business impacted theenvironment aesthetically as well as communally. As his mother,Kathleen would say “self praise is poor recommendation.” Healways desired that Charlton residents not only approve of hiswork but in some ways shared in the pride of that work. He wasgranted that approval and shared pride and so it was- Bill's smalldowntown - the heart of Charlton.

The Charlton Tavern was born with Bill's desire to transform theTea Room into a full service restaurant, serving legal beveragesand an expanded menu. In concert with the help of the town'sleadership and trust, Bill was able to return to the hamlet- anauthentic tavern with the spirit in which it was originallyintended. Now the three Maloney businesses were flourishing-thefurniture store, the dress shop and the tavern -again on the vergeof expanding.

Luck would have it that the building next door (an automotivegarage) would become available. The owner of Haviland's Garage,Richard (Dick) Haviland, a good friend and golfing buddyapproached Bill about purchasing his garage. Dick was interestedin pursuing other interests and knew of Bill's success with hisexisting businesses. Again on a hand shake and gentleman'sagreement, the garage was transformed into the third earlyAmerican reconstruction. In 1975, “I bought the gas station nextdoor; I thought it would make a great clothing store. Sounds crazybut I've never been one to lack imagination”, Bill lamented.Originally conceived to be a men's clothing store, Bill and familyconverted the garage into Mary's Village Shop.

In 1976, The Village Shop moved from the Eastern side of theCharlton Tavern and took residence in the newly renovatedHaviland's Garage. After another round of design andconstruction, the Charlton Tavern grew into the eastern side ofthe building. The famous “blue room” with its potbelly stove andtilted floors as well as a smaller “Rose Room” and Roger Schoene'smural depiction of the tavern in 1787 became the expandeddining rooms.

As the businesses grew, so did the demand for additional help.Michael Maloney, Bill's eldest son, was pursuing a career in Hoteland Restaurant Management at University of Massachusetts, andwas a perfect fit to help his father manage the restaurant. Mikebecame his father's second hand man and helped him grow thebusiness into what it is today. The furniture store was beingmanaged by Bill's wife Ethel who gave it just the touch it neededto become the most popular furniture and gift shop around.People would come from miles away to peruse the store topurchase new furniture and get new decorating ideas. Mary's, dressshop also grew providing an opportunity for Michael's fiancée,Susan Quinn, to begin a long working relationship with Mary,managing the Village Shop buying and retailing fine women'sapparel and jewelry.

Christmas in Charlton was beautiful with red ribbons and greenwreaths decorating every door and window in the village.Glowing candles in the windows entice passers-by to want tostop in to be part of this enchanted feeling of the holiday season.The eloquently decorated Tavern was the work of Ethel's keeneye and decorating sense. It was a big event for all those who wereemployed by the Maloney family and all looked forward the endresult.

As with all things, time again forges changes. Mary Miller closedthe doors of The Village Shop after 30 years and retired. Thebuilding was sold and is no longer part of the Maloney businesses.It has since changed hands twice and is currently a general store.

Bill Maloney left the town, his family and friends one sadafternoon in January 2009. His passing saddened many as he hadsuch an immeasurable impact on not only the town of Charltonbut the lives of all those who had the honor of being a part of hislife. On the day of his wake and service, several thousand peoplecame to honor Bill and remember the impact he had had on theirlives. It was a Normal Rockwell setting in the driving snow as Billwas escorted down the center of town followed by his wife,children and grandchildren toward the Tavern and Charlton Shopto make one last trip through the Charlton he so loved. Many tearswere shed to the sound of the bag pipers attributing to thecelebration of the life of William T Maloney who helped make thetown of Charlton what it is today.

On January 9th 2009, the Maloney family experienced yet anothertragedy. The restaurant that Bill had built from the ground up hadburned to the ground. All was lost except for the Maloney family'sdesire to have Bill's dreams live on.

The heart would continue to beat in Charlton. The rebuilding ofthe Tavern was a mission of love and respect for Bill and Ethel tokeep their legacy alive. And once again the community stood upand took care of one of its own. Small business people from theentire area stepped up to help rebuild the tavern. There werefundraisers and generous giving of time from every walk of life.Waitresses donated their services to fundraisers, as restaurants andclubs donated their facilities. All of the people that benefitted fromthe gathering place stood with the Maloney's and rebuilt theTavern in less than a year. On December 26th 2009 The CharltonTavern re-opened its doors. Like a Phoenix the communityreplaced what fire had taken.

Once again the people of our community have made us proud tobe members and to be able to bring you this story in YourHometowne.

Sincerely, Mike and Sue Maloney

www.charltontavern.com399-9951


TAX TIMENew (and existing) businesses face myriad tax challenges.Many entrepreneurs have partial, but incomplete, taxknowledge. It is this partial understanding that posessignificant financial risk to businesses-either by understatingdeductions or overstating revenue. And, the tax code offerslittle comfort or guidance, especially when many of the

benefits are “hidden” within voluminous paragraphs or with words that areOMITTED from the code. Reconciling concepts within the code requires thealmost-daily encounter with its practice. This is where a good tax practitioner isworth a lot. Just as in clothing, a “one size fits all” approach may appeal to thepocketbook, but lacks the benefit of a custom fit. The tax practitioner’s value iseasier to measure than clothing-Either the benefit is greater than the cost, or it isnot (either the taxpayer saves money AFTER engaging the tax practitioner or not).Businesses should shop around for a tax practitioner that fits their needs. It is, inmy opinion, impossible for a tax practitioner to avoid specialization. Just as withmedicine, the patient will see the rheumatologist for arthritic pain (rather thanthe general practitioner or the orthopedic surgeon). Likewise, a taxpayingbusiness should search out the tax practitioner specialist who can meet theirspecific needs. For example, the following three tax issues and questions mayrequire specialization on the part of the tax practitioner:

1. Sales Tax for Contractors (capital improvement or repair?)2. Choice of entity (LLC, Sub-S, C-Corp, Partnership, or Sole Proprietor?)3 Should I share ownership with my college-aged Children?

These three issues don’t even address the new hire credit, health care credit, orthe upcoming increase in Medicare tax on passive income. We tend to ASSUMEthat all tax practitioners understand these issues!Additionally, variations in expertise within the tax practitioner community aresubstantial. I see this often. For example, in one recent case, a decedent’s Familyoverpaid federal and NYS estate taxes (without the opportunity for timelyrecovery) because their estate attorney and cpa were not specialists. Now, theyhave no recourse, but to bring suit (to obtain any relief).Before closing, I will share one tax gem with this audience as follows: Whenchoosing a tax entity type, our new client made the sub-s election. Unfortunately,the election was made one year late. His former CPA had failed to do so timely(whether this was caused by lack of communication or not is unknown, but itoccurred). This failure caused the taxpayer to overpay to the Medicare programapproximately $8,000 (because the ENTIRE net income was taxable, rather thanjust a reasonable salary). When tax practitioners “warehouse” tax clients, theclients tend to lose out.Satisfy Yourself that Your tax practitioner answers all Your questions to Your levelof understanding. Just like a good teacher, a good tax practitioner can explainthe code in terms that can be understood by each and every one of us.

Mike Crowley, CPA104A Heckeler Drive Glenville (518) 384-1517 ext. 18


MARCH CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers can be found on page 29

ACROSS1. Plant life6. Wealthy10. The Sun, for example14. Delineated15. Reflected sound16. You (archaic)17. Alter18. Stab or thrust (archaic)

19. Backside20. Self-denial22. Not bad23. Automobile24. Drowsy26. American elk30. Shenanigan32. Ends a prayer33. Wash35. Truth, old-style

39. Bridget Fonda, to Jane41. Loving murmur42. Forbidden43. Animal with a snout44. Intellect46. Masterstroke47. Passé49. Stick51. Admission54. Bother55. Gosh!56. Audacious behavior63. Assist64. Lacquered metalware65. Any habitation at a high alti-tude66. Entreaty67. Coin opening68. A unit of magnetic flux density69. Inform70. Border71. Go in

DOWN1. Dog biter2. Arm or leg3. 1 1 1 14. Let for money5. Junkie6. Direct elsewhere7. Computer symbol8. Fashionable

9. Truthful10. Old form of transportation11. Paroxysm12. He told fables13. Wheezy21. Wood fastener25. Enumerate26. Desire27. Dogfish28. Look furtively29. Relatively unimportant30. Evade31. A gas found in some lights34. Highest point36. Double-reed woodwind37. See the sights38. Expect and wish40. Historical periods45. Woodworking groove48. Spreads sleeping sickness50. Give51. Customize52. Not satellite TV53. Angler's basket54. Mountain crest57. Bend58. Whip59. Adolescent60. At one time (archaic)61. Anger62. 365 days

Replace Carpet

Get a Massage

Refinish the Floors

Fix the FaucetSPRING CHECKLIST:


PADGETT PATHWAYSSlowly but surely, spring is coming! The early morning ringsof birds chirping and soon we will see some flowers poppingthrough the earth. Hello again, my name is Joe Sangalineand along with my wife, Amy, we own the local PadgettBusiness Services franchise. We want to share with ourreaders our new web site: www.padgett-capitaldistrict.com.Please check us out when you are online! This month's

article will discuss 'Taxable or Non-Taxable Income', 'Title Matters:Who Owns theCar?' and 'Write-off for Heavy SUVs Used for Business'. Please feel free tocontact us at any time if you have a question. (By phone, 348-1666, or email:[email protected]) TAXABLE OR NON-TAXABLE INCOME There are situations when certain types of income are only partially taxed or nottaxed at all. Some examples of non-taxable income are:1. Adoption expense reimbursements for qualifying expenses,2. Child support payments,3. Gifts, bequests and inheritances,4. Non cash employer gifts (holiday turkey),5. Workers' compensation benefits,6. Meals and lodging for the convenience of your employer,7. Compensatory damages awarded for physical injury or physical sickness,8. Welfare benefits,9. Economic recovery payments, and 10. Cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer Some income may be taxable under certain circumstances, but not taxable inother situations. Examples of items that may or may not be included in yourtaxable income are:1. Life Insurance - If you surrender a life insurance policy for cash, you mustinclude in income any proceeds that are more than the cost of the life insurancepolicy. Life insurance proceeds which were paid to you because of the insuredperson's death are not taxable unless the policy was turned over to you for aprice.2. Scholarship or Fellowship Grant - If you are a candidate for a degree, youcan exclude amounts you receive as a qualified scholarship or fellowship.Amounts used for room and board do not qualify.3. Non-cash Income - Taxable income may be in a form other than cash. Oneexample of this is bartering, which is an exchange of property or services.The fairmarket value of goods and services exchanged is fully taxable and must beincluded as income on Form 1040 of both parties.Title Matter: Who Owns the Car?If your company is paying for a car, make sure you title it in the company's name.If the company writes the check but you put the title in your own name, the IRSis almost surely going to deny the business a depreciation deduction. (Thisdoesn't apply to sole proprietors as you and your business aren't separateentities.) Your company may also lose deductions for insurance, gas,maintenance, etc. Of course, even if the car is in the company's name, you stillhave to keep records of the business usage. But if you don't take the first step,you'll have an uphill battle. By the way, the same will likely be true for otherbusiness assets.Write-off for Heavy SUVs Used Entirely for BusinessUnder the 2010 Tax Relief Act, the bonus first -year depreciation percentage is100% (instead of 50%) for bonus-depreciation eligible “qualified property” thatis generally (1) placed in service after Sept. 8, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2012, and(2) acquired by the taxpayer after Sept. 8, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2012. Qualifiedproperty includes autos and trucks which are 5-year MACRS property and thusqualify for bonus depreciation. For example, a taxpayer buys and places intoservice a new $50,000 heavy SUV on October 1, 2010 and uses it 100% forbusiness, may write off its entire cost of $50,000 on his 2010 tax return.Please feel free to call us to discuss your questions regarding the above scenarios.Padgett Business Services is dedicated to meeting the tax, government compliance, profit & financial reportingand payroll needs of businesses with fewer than 20 employees in the retail and service sector of the economy.This publication suggests general business planning concepts that may be appropriate in certain situations. Itis designed to provide complete and accurate information to the reader. However, because of the complexitiesof the tax law and the necessity of determining whether the material discussed herein is appropriate to yourbusiness, it is important you seek advice from your Padgett office before implementing any of the conceptssuggested in this article.PENALTY NOTICE: As required by U.S. Treasury regulations, you are advised that anywritten tax advice contained herein was not written or intended to be used (and cannot be used) by anytaxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code.

Paint the Dining Room

Get a Jump on your Tan

Change your Hair Style

Organize the Closets


GEEK TIP OF THE MONTHOf all the sinister things that Internet viruses andspyware do, this may be the worst: They can makeyour computer a “zombie” and use it formalicious purposes.

Whatever the motivation, whether it be stealingyour passwords or personal information (banking records and identity), adenial of service attack or for reasons we fully do not understand yet(conficker).You might not realize it until the police come knocking at yourdoor!

An Associated Press investigation found cases in which innocent peoplehave been branded as pedophiles after their co-workers or loved onesstumbled upon child porn placed on a PC through a virus or spyware. It cancost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars to prove their innocence.

At any moment, about 20 million of the estimated 1 billion Internet-connected PC’s worldwide are infected which could give hackers fullcontrol. A computer can be made into a warehouse for pictures and videothat can be viewed remotely when the PC is online. Only 3 percent of theinfections on the internet are viruses, 97 percent of the infections now daysare adware, spyware and rogue applications. It only takes about 4 minutesfor an unprotected online PC to get infected.

What you can do: If you notice your computer is acting very slow, it couldbe a good sign someone may be stealing your resources remotely. Ifunwanted windows start popping up randomly, shut down your PCimmediately. If possible run a virus and malware scan. This is not alwayspossible once infected. If you are computer savvy- reformat your PC. If not,then you need to bring it to a professional to wipe it out ASAP.

We recommend using an anti-virus program called AVAST, it’s free andmore effective then the widely known programs, and runs and updatesdaily. Most PC magazines agree with this statement. For the spyware werecommend Malwarebytes.org. It is free, but you have to run it manually.If you want it to run automatically you can buy it for $25 per year.

No software protection program is 100%. You have to be very carefulwhere you go and what you download!

Stay away from file sharing sites such as Megaupload, Filetube andRapidshare. Also do not use peer to peer file sharing programs such asLimewire, Frost wire and Bearshare. These sites usually have little hiddenbonuses ( viruses, spyware) that come with them!

Until next time, safe computing.Maggie Faltskog, Cheap Geek Computer Services • 399-8886

Have the Dog Groomed

Wash Windows/Repair Screens


Start Working Out

Remodel the Kitchen


MARCH SCHEDULE

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

LIBRARY HOURSMonday -Thursday 10AM - 8PM

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

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

YOUTH SERVICEShttp://toby.sals.edu

E-mail: [email protected]

The March meeting of the library board of trustees - March 30th at 7PM in the librarycommunity room. Meetings are open to the public and we hope to see you there. MeetingAgendas and Minutes can be found under the Board tab at http://toblibrary.sals.edu.Library Trustee: There will be an opening for a library trustee in July 2011. Serve yourcommunity by setting policy and making decisions that affect local library service. Trustees areappointed by the Town of Ballston Town Board for a 5 year term. This is a volunteer position.1. Must be a town of Ballston Resident living outside of the village of Ballston Spa. 2. Mustbe available the last Wednesday of each month. Applications and information are available atthe library.Be Part of Library Art: Pick a favorite book and use it as inspiration to create art( either onpaper with Anne Francey or using the computer with Maryann Haskell) in the community roomat the Town of Ballston Community Library at 2 Lawmar Lane, Burnt Hills, NY. The finishedprojects will be used to make tiles that will become a permanent part of a table in the libraryreading room. All programs are free and open to the public, but space is limited andregistration is required by calling the library at 399-8174 ext. 2.

A variety Computer Classes are offered throughout the month of March -please visit the website for all the details or call today!

Art on Paper with artist Anne Francey – Bring afavorite book.Programs for Children ages 6-12:Friday, March 25th 2-3:30PM (BH-BL half day)Wednesday, April 13th 4-5:30PM Programs for Adults (ages 13-99):Friday, March 25th 4-5:30PMSaturday, April 9th 10:30AM-12PMWednesday, April 13th 6-7:30PMComputer Art with Maryann Haskell - Theseprograms are intended for adults who arecomfortable using computers. Bring a favorite book.April 30th 10AM-12PM and May 18th, 6:30-8PMThese programs are made possible in part withfunds from the Saratoga Program for Arts Funding(SPAF) part of the Decentralization re-grant programof the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA),administered by Saratoga Arts.

Honoring

March 11th marks the 5th anniversary of the untimelydeath of Dick Fyvie, a man who made a difference inthe lives of the people of Scotia.Giving the gift of compassion and guidance, Dick, aformer Marine was a Scotia police officer for 32 years.He served as a Sergeant and Lead Investigator officiallybut was a Mentor, Guide and Counselor to the youth of

Your Hometowne. Remembered as a fair man whobrought honor to his position, Dick worked with kids ofall ages providing a role model to each child heencountered. Even when he had to arrest someone hetried to change their lives for the better. “He turned mykid around by showing compassion but enforcing thelaw”, “Even though he arrested me I liked him andwould not be who I am today if it were not for him”.These are true statements made by people whose liveswere touched by Dick's kindness.Dick loved kids! He was Co-Founder of “OperationHandshake” a program that brought area youth andpolice together. He coached Little League, Babe Ruthand Umpired organized Softball.Dick Fyvie was a true Hometowne Hero.

STAGING YOUR HOMEDo you have a plan for selling your house? Doyou know how the competition compares? Howwill you make your home stand out in the sea ofbuyer's choice?

Before putting up your for sale sign, look at yourhome from the perspective of someone who issearching for “the perfect home” for their family.The key to a successful home listing is makingyour home attractive to a large number ofpeople. How do you do that? It's not necessary to move all your things tostorage. If you have a lot of furniture oraccessories, start with one room and takeeverything out. Clean the room from top tobottom: walls, ceiling, ceiling fans, light fixtures,

blinds and floors - don't forget the closets. If thewalls look worn, or if they're painted a bright ordated color, it's time to freshen up with a newcoat of paint.After cleaning and painting, bring furniture backinto the room to set your stage: raid other roomsif necessary for the right pieces. Once yourfurniture is arranged, bring in a few accessoriesto give the room some personality. Kitchens andbaths can make or break a home sale so startthere and work your way through the house,basement and garage.It can be difficult to de-personalize your ownspace. Hiring a professional decorator who willnot only help you make the right decisions, butalso help organize the items you will be movingto your new castle. For a few hundred to a few

thousand dollars, professional staging canincrease the sale price of a home by 5-50%(source: NAR) and can help reduce the number ofdays on the market from 200 to fewer than 33.For a very minimal investment, the payback canbe well worth it.For showings, be sure to put away the mail, cleanoff the counters and give the room a quick runthrough to dust and tidy. Turn on lots of lightsand open up the blinds, shades and drapes. Makeyour home look as inviting as possible. You loveliving there and after all your hard work, the nextfamily will too.

Dawn DiLorenzo, Owner,Locust Grove Designs, 222.9951www.locustgrovedesigns.com

HEROES


Boneless Beef Short Ribs2 pounds custom cut boneless chuck or roundbeef roast from Garofalo's cut into 6 to 8 slicesSalt and freshly ground black pepper to taste2 Tablespoons Butter2 Tablespoons Olive Oil5 to 6 medium Onions, peeled and thinly slicedinto rings1-1/2 Tablespoons Flour2 Cups dark beer, such as Guinness1/4 Cup Tomato Paste2 Beef Bouillon Cubes 2 to 3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme1 Whole Bay Leaf, broken in half

Sprinkle both sides of the beef slices generouslywith salt and pepper. Heat a large heavy Dutchoven over high heat until very hot. Add butterand olive oil and brown meat quickly on bothsides. Remove beef and set aside. Add slicedonions to the drippings. Lower heat, cover, andsweat onions until soft, lightly browned andsyrupy, stirring often. Sprinkle flour over onions.Cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is lightlybrowned.

Add beer, tomato paste, and beef bouillon, stir-ring until thickened. Stir in thyme and bay leaf.Return beef to the pot, along with any juices, andcover pot. Cook over low heat about 2-1/2 hours,turning beef occasionally, until beef is tender.Check often to be sure the beef is covered in liq-uid, adding more beer in required. Uncover potduring the last hour of cooking to thicken gravy,if needed. Remove bay leaves and thyme stems.Adjust salt & pepper to taste.

Serve over buttered noodles or rice. And vegetable of your choice.

Savory Beef and Beer Roast1 1/2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken -available at Garofalo's1 pound Andouille Sausage - available atGarofalo's1 pounds raw Shrimp peeled and deveinedGarofalo's has these too!1 Large Onion Diced1 Green Bell Pepper Diced 2 Stalks Celery Diced2 Tablespoons Fresh Garlic Minced2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce1-1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper 1/2 Teaspoon Tabasco 2 Cups Rice - Uncooked Long Grain4 Cups Chicken StockFresh Green Onion and Parsley chopped forgarnish

Slice chicken in cubes and slice Andouille into1/4 inch slices. Heat a large Dutch oven (castiron or other heavy bottomed pot) over highheat. Brown chicken and set aside. Brownsausage and set aside. Lower heat to mediumand add vegetables. Sauté until translucent.

Add garlic and sauté. Be sure to scrape bottomof pot. These gratings give Jambalaya itsdistinct color and flavor. Add rice and sauté 1minute. Add chicken stock, Worcestershire,pepper and Tabasco. Stir and return to boil.

Add chicken and Andouille. Cover, reduce heatand simmer about 20 minutes. Add shrimp, stir,cover and simmer another 10 minutes or untilrice is tender. Garnish with green onion andparsley.

3-10 oz Boneless Beef Short Ribs, custom cut fromGarofalo's (stand at room temp for 2 hours)

Spice Beef Rub2 Tablespoons Sea Salt2 Tablespoons Ground Black Pepper2 Tablespoons Onion Powder1 Tablespoon Chili Powder2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder1 Teaspoon Celery Salt

Miripoix1 Cup Diced Onions1 Cup Diced Carrots1 Cup Diced Celery1 Small Can Tomato Paste1 Cup Dry Red Wine1 Cup Beef StockSalt and Pepper to Taste

Rub the Ribs with the spice mixture on both sidesthen sear 2-3 Tbs. of vegetable oil using a CastIron Dutch Oven on both sides using high heat.Remove ribs, add vegetable Miripoix. Stir for 4minutes scraping the meat bits into the mixture.

Add tomato paste, stir for 2 minutes. Add wineand beef stock, salt and pepper, then the ribs backin to Dutch oven. Cover and adjust to low heat for about 3hours or until the meat for "fallsapart" with a fork. Remove meat and reducecooking liquids to sauce consistency. Strain outthe vegetable and toss away. Top ribs with sauce and enjoy!

For a nice presentation, top with fried onionstraws found in the market and lightly brownedpolenta on the side.

Spicy Jambalaya


THAT WAS

THEN...THIS IS NOW.

On the left, check out the “sled” built for the Grand Duke of Cyril of Russiabuilt by Henri Coanda and Featured on page 359 of POPULAR MECHANICSback in March of 1911 . Its power plant was a piston engine which drovea ducted fan or "suction turbine", the same power plant that Coanda hadexhibited in 1910 on his first aircraft. Developing an impressive (for 1911)40hp, this beast cut the snow at a blistering 50mph, and was baptized bythe priests of the Russian Church.

On the Right we have a sled 100 years into the future featured in YourHometowne, March 2011. This one was built by Norm Kneskern from Sno-Pro out in fort Plain for his Brother-in-Law Dave Crouse of CountrysideStove and Chimney. Bought brand new, the 2006 Ski-Doo, Mach 2 1000came to life as a pretty fast, however heavy trail sled that decided to seizeup on the Tug Hill Plateau back in 2008.

Faced with a decision, Dave chose to buy a new snowmobile and send thisone into the shop to be rebuilt into a much quicker sled with one purpose;to provide a white knuckle thrill ride with the ability to hit a blinding 120-125 mph in 660 feet, stopping the clock at 6-9 seconds.

Baptized in super fuel this beast runs on 117 octane and a nasty “100horse” shot of pure Nitrous Oxide provided by the 10lb bottle under thehood, creating a dizzying 180-200 horsepower.

The sled requires glare ice as the carbon tipped chisels dig in for the rununder a strapped down rear suspension and shortened front shock systemholding the ski's straight as she jumps into action around 4000 rpms.When it's time to run, hang on for dear life as this isn't your Sunday on thetrail sightseeing snowmobile.

Built for bragging rights, Dave trailers it along with his other sled “just incase” conditions provide the opportunity for some friendly competitionwith others who have built similar sleds. This is not a sponsor builtprofessional machine, rather a passion build that satisfies the need forspeed during the long winters here in the Northeast. Dave's summer toysinclude a pair of motorcycles, one Harley and a radical Carolina Custom300 Pro Street chopper.

Always looking to talk about his next ride over a comfortable fire, you canchat with Dave at the Countryside Stove and Chimney showroom on Route50 that he runs with his wife Jodi, see their ad on page 31.

Karl Batzinger from the Charlton Snowmobile club who graciouslyprovided us with the winter sport section wants to thank all their businesssponsors for their support and wishes all a safe year. We look forward toseeing the Charlton Snowmobile club in our paper next season.

Answers from Crossword Puzzle on page 21


I AM A TREE - LITERALLY A TREE!As the title of this article reads...you may think that Ihave fallen off my rocker thinking I was actually atree. Let me shed a little bit of light on this and mythinking in the matter.

A few years ago, I was part of our community theatre.It was that time in my life that I had just started by "bucket list" and"acting on stage was on it. Not an actress per say but something aboutbeing up on the stage in front of people really is exciting. Before youknew it there I was standing on the stage, hoping no one else showed soI was sure to get a part. I thought to myself as I looked down at thescript, wondering..."what the heck am I doing up here?" As mynervousness dissipated, I tried different voices and accents as I tried tofollow the lines in the little booklet. It took only moments for me to feelat home. A year later I was unable to speak, much less act or remembera line. My five minutes in the lime light had passed and my acting careerhad been put on hold.

Then came an early morning phone call from a fellow "actor" whichchanged all that. He invited me to be part of the community play. Myfirst reaction was..."they must be in need of a person who stutters andforget what she said 10 minutes ago. What they needed was a TREE! Itold him that would be perfect! Once on week I practice being a tree.There was one night that was just a bad night - seemed like everythingwas against me, my body hurt and I couldn't think straight. As we stoodon stage I felt my eyes well up."Focus, Pattie, focus!"

We shuffled out onto the stage (because that is what tree's do when theyare on stage - shuffle). I thought about how I would stand, how I wouldhold my hands to make myself look very tree-like. I realized that I had tokeep my feet planted into the ground (or stage) to keep my balance as Iheld out my faux branches. After a few run throughs and encouragementfrom my fellow "tree's", my head started to clear and when I got homethat night, I knew I was going to be a great tree not only on stage but inlife as well!

I realized that my life is not much different than the play we areperforming. I AM A TREE, trying to grow and bloom. A tree, a strong tree,has roots that travel deep into this earth. I will not let a little wind blowme over in one fail swoop. I knew I had to do what I did on stage - plantmy roots and be strong, learn to bend in the wind so I do not break. Ihave bent in the wind many times before, creaking and cracking butnever breaking. My roots are even stronger now - deeper into this soilof my life. It will take quite a big wind to blow my house down...(sorrywrong story)! I will stand up tall and enjoy the breeze.

I do hope that when you're feeling like you're going to break in the windof life, that you to plant those roots, stay strong, grow strong, and letyour roots grow deeply into your soil of life so you are able to bend inthe wind.

As always, I wish you peace, joy and many gentle breezes!

Pattie Rakvica • [email protected]

IS THAT PHONE CALL WORTHTHE RISK?Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and cancause personal injury and property damage. Driverswho use hand-held devices are four times as likely toget into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.1

Even with a hands-free device, multi-tasking whiledriving could have serious consequences.You’ve seen it before; a vehicle near you is weaving in the traffic lane ortraveling well below the speed limit. Chances are that driver is not focusedon the road! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation2, there are three maintypes of distractions:• Visual – taking your eyes off the road • Manual – taking your hands off the wheel • Cognitive – taking your mind off what you are doing Distracted driving isn’t just about phone calls or text messages. Manyactivities that take your attention away from traffic can lead to accidents.Examples of distracted driving include:• Adjusting a navigation system • Eating • Grooming • Reading • Retrieving a dropped item • Talking on the phone • Texting • Watching a video Nearly half the U.S. states have restrictions against activities that causedistractions. Some states ban phone use in construction zones and schoolzones. Others place restrictions on novice drivers and operators ofcommercial vehicles, such as large trucks and school buses. Take the time toresearch the laws in your state and visit www.distraction.gov.So, the next time you reach for the phone while driving, answer thisquestion: Is this call important enough to risk hurting someone, or can itwait? 1 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2005 2 Distraction.gov

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

Ever wonder if illiterate people

get the full effect of alphabet soup?

- -John Mendoza

Dinner and Theater - Lion King Special!Dinner and Theater - Lion King Special!

www.charltontavern.com • 745 Charlton Road • Charlton www.charltontavern.com • 745 Charlton Road • Charlton

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