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®HERLIFE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2012 HERLIFENEWYORK.COMKEEPING WOMEN CONNECTEDThe PositiveImpact ofHelping EntrepreneursRealize Their DreamsTheStakeholders’

herlife | contentsnovember 201214welcome 6health 10Beauty 12inspirations 14cravings 18recipes 20favorites 22Kate Hedgeman: Working to Woo New York’s Brightest BrainsCatherine “Kate” Hedgeman, Esq., knew from a young age that she wanted to be a lawyer, and pursued those goalswith steely determination. After years of using her law degree as a lobbyist and Attorney at Law, acquiring numerousawards and accolades along the way, she formed GenNEXT, a professional networking group for young professionalsunder the age of 40. Shortly thereafter, she founded The Stakeholders, Inc., a non-profit organization which took thebusiness aspect of GenNEXT and married it with a vision to encourage volunteerism in the community, and to attractand retain professionals to the area.3646trendsetter 24wine 28book club 30business spotlight 32mother’s perspective 34working women 36finance 38Angel Investors: HelpingEntrepreneurs Realize Their DreamsYou have a great idea for a new product or service,and an impressive business plan, but need fundingto get started. Or perhaps you’ve already been inbusiness for a couple of years and need funding toexpand. Your friends and family don’t exactly havedeep pockets, and you need more than what yourlocal bank can lend you but not enough to seekout venture capital firms. Where do you go? Angelinvestors might be the answer.JOANNE DIMARCO’s Just Sayin’...I recall the opening scene in the book I Don’t Know HowShe Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother byAllison Pearson. The main character, a working mother,is in her kitchen at midnight, beating up a store-boughtpie to make it look homemade for the school holidayevent. She didn’t want to be thought of as “one ofthose mothers.” I can relate.spotlight 40tie the knot 42scene and be seen 44jUST sAYIN’ 46IN THE REGION 484 HERLIFEnewyork.com

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herlife | welcomeGratitudephoto by kermit hayesfor kermit hayes photographyIt’s customary to have a November theme wrapped around gratitude, reflective on thingsfor which we are thankful. When I think about the practice of being thankful, I thinkabout giving back and helping others—a true way to show the universe that you aregrateful for the blessings in your life.Our cover feature this month, Kate Hedgeman, epitomizes this notion. In additionto being an accomplished attorney, Kate started the group The Stakeholders, Inc., whichfocuses on positively affecting the communities we live in through volunteerism and philanthropy.Her work has been recognized by New York State and featured in O, The OprahMagazine. I am especially grateful to Kate because she agreed to sit for our cover just havinggiven birth to a beautiful baby one month before our photo shoot. She may have been sleepdeprived,but her smile was abundant and she was a true pleasure to work with.In the spirit of gratitude, we also spotlight the wonderful community work of theWomen Employment Resource Center (WERC). HERLIFE Magazine had the pleasure ofbeing a media co-sponsor at their recent awards luncheon. I was truly impressed by the workthis organization does to help transition women back into the workplace, the moving storiesfrom the women who have gone through the program, and the women who were honoredto have been recognized by WERC and received awards for their accomplishments andcommitments to helping women in the workplace.In this issue I also want to direct you to our Trendsetter section this month and thewinners of our Model for a Day auction item. This past year, we selected two events toauction this opportunity for charity. Our winners are Alexa Chrisman, whose auction pledgebenefited Domestic Violence Services of Saratoga County, and Siobhan A’hearn, whoseauction pledge benefited Saratoga’s Senior Center. I extend my sincere appreciation toSandra Dollard and the team at Evoke Style for supplying the fashion items for the shoot.Next year, we will select four charities to auction off HERLIFE Model for a Day. If you areinterested in having your charity be considered, please contact us at events@herlifenewyork.com.Part of the practice of being thankful is to express gratitude and acknowledge your blessings big and small every day. That’s sometimes a tallorder when life distracts us and gets in the way. I try to remember to say out loud a little ‘thank you’ list every day. So, today I share my list with you.I am thankful for (in no particular order): my family, a roof over my head, my pets who love me unconditionally, my belief in a higher power,the diversity of people, the colors of the leaves in autumn, the smell of babies just after a bath, difficult people who further refine who I am, a carso I can get to work, the fact that I live in a democracy, the soldiers who sacrifice so that I can rest my head on the pillow at night, comedy becauselaughter is the best medicine, great food, great wine, the ability of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and help one another, good manners, thesupport of my friends, my health, my body and the fact that my heart beats 100,000 times a day and my lungs breathe 36,000 times a day without myhelp. And lastly for today, I am truly thankful that in this wonderful, sometimes crazy world, even on my worst day, I can still be amazed and findsomething for which I am thankful.With deepest appreciation,readsharerecycleJoin HERLIFE New Yor k Magazine on Facebook and stay current on the hottest events and biggest deals around the region!6 HERLIFEnewyork.com

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®Staff and ContactsPublisher and Editor-in-ChiefAngela S. Beddoeangela@herlifenewyork.comAccount ExecutiveJanine Robinsonjanine@herlifenewyork.comEditorial Assistant and AdministrationJulie A. Prattjulie@herlifenewyork.comEditorCandi SmithCreative DirectorAshleigh ThomsonDesign and ProductionTodd GranthamArt DirectorElana BellMakeup & Hair StylingJennifer McCarthy NortonContributing AuthorsGreg Aidala, Lisa Allen, Ann E. Butenas, Joanne DiMarco,Kathleen M. Krueger, Natasha Logan,Linda Maranno, Kelly Jo McDonnell, Gail K. SilversteinCandi Smith, VeryCulinary.com, Catie WatsonContributing PhotographersJill Richardson,Angela Beddoe, Don Blais, Cy Dodson,Kermit Hayes, Joan Heffler, VeryCulinary.comTo contact HERLIFE ® Magazine:65 Long AlleySaratoga Springs, NY 12866Phone: 518-580-0000 / Fax: 518-633-5102HERLIFE® Magazine of New York is operated locally by Beddoe Publishing, LLC, an independently ownedand operated franchisee of HERLIFE Magazine, LLC. To reach national headquarters, call 913-402-6994.© 2012 by HERLIFE® Magazine. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproducedand reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.HERLIFE® Magazine is owned by HERLIFE Magazine, LLC and is a free publication distributed locally andis supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected specialty stores, grocery stores, doctor and dental offices,medical spas, hair and nail salons, tanning salons, public libraries and numerous other high traffic locations.Please call for a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible forthe products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas and feedback.SUBSCRIPTIONSSubscriptions are available for $20 (for 12 issues). Please go to www.herlifenewyork.comor mail a check made out to Beddoe Publishing, LLC to the above address.8 HERLIFEnewyork.com

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herlife | healthThe PositiveImpact ofOrgan Donationby kathleen m. kruegerDebra’s younger brother was experiencing kidney failure andhad begun dialysis. He needed a kidney transplant. Alongwith other family members, Debra submitted a bloodsample in order to determine if she would be a suitable candidate asher brother’s donor. After her match was determined, she made thedecision to be her brother’s donor. She underwent an extensive medicalexam to rule out any medical conditions which might exclude heras a candidate, and underwent a social and psychological evaluationas well. Being ruled in excellent physical and mental health, thetransplant was scheduled and Debra donated one of her kidneys toher brother. That was in 1994.It has been over 15 years since Debra voluntarily underwent majorsurgery in order to provide her brother with the chance to extendhis life. Her brother has just turned 50 and is still living with Debra’skidney in his body, providing the necessary organ functions he needsto survive. Debra has lived a healthy life with little evidence that theloss of a kidney has taken place outside of the massive scar whichcircles halfway around her torso.Debra was a living organ donor, an option which does includeserious risks for the donor, but can avoid the wait for an appropriatematch from a deceased donor. In either case, the recipient isprovided with a greater potential for living a longer life due to thereplacement of a failing organ.Kidney transplants are the most common organ transplant—asclose to 90 percent of those waiting for an organ donation are inneed of a kidney. Liver transplants are next on the list with over15,000 individuals listed on the transplant waiting list in the U.S. asof March 2012. To demonstrate the disparity between the need andthe number of donors—in 2011, a total of 14,144 individuals servedas organ donors, and over 6,000 of those were living donors. Yet, as ofMarch 2012, there were still over 100,000 names on the organ transplantwaiting list. “With nearly 7,000 people dying each year due toa lack of available organs for transplant, the need is great,” says DavidFleming, president and CEO of Donate Life America.In spite of extensive efforts to educate the public, there arestill several misconceptions regarding organ donation. For instance,many people assume that their organs would not be accepted fortransplantation due to their health history. Medical history is takeninto account when selecting organs for transplant, but any individual,regardless of health history, can offer to be an organ donor followingtheir death. The fear that having yourself listed as an organ donorwill affect the efforts of hospital staff in performing life-saving treatmentis totally unfounded. A patient’s donor status is never a factor intreatment by medical staff. There are also no medical costs incurredby a donor or the donor’s family when an individual donates an organas a living donor or after they have deceased.Based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s(OPTN) data as of July 24, 2009, over 80 percent of kidney trans-10 HERLIFEnewyork.com

plant recipients and 70 percent of liver transplant recipients werestill living 5 years after their transplant operation. Many, like Debra’sbrother, have their years of life extended far beyond that five-yearmark, and have also gained a much higher quality of life due to livingwith healthy, functioning organs.Donate Life America has set a goal of increasing the registerednumber of organ donors in the U.S. by 20 million by the end of 2012.Although a family can make the decision to offer the organs of thedeceased for donation after the fact, having those wishes personallyrecorded ahead of time prevents any uncertainty during a time whenfamily members are grieving their loss.Debra gave a gift to her brother; how much greater the gift of astranger who simply adds their name to the list of registered donorsand allows their loss of life to be a gift of life, sight or healing to otherswhom they do not even know. According to the Life Source DonorRegistry, one donor has the potential of impacting up to as manyas 60 different people through their donations of organs and tissue.Donor registration is simple. You can log onto DonateLifeMN.org to get the facts about donation and register today to give a gift ofhope to someone who is waiting. ■Sources for this article are the author’s personal experiences,donatelife.net, optn.transplant.hrsa.gov and United Network forOrgan Sharing brochure titled Living Donation – Information YouNeed to Know.HERLIFEnewyork.com 11

can become costly. Also, scarring can sometimes occur and for thatreason, electrolysis isn’t a good fit for women of color as it can leadto scar tissue and spots.If you’re patient and cost isn’t a factor, try Vaniqa ® , a topicalprescription cream of eflornithine applied twice a day. Althoughnot a hair remover, Vaniqa stops hair from growing back by blockingan enzyme. It can be used by itself, which could take monthsfor results, or with other hair removal methods like lasers. “If youapply it after laser treatments as an adjunct, it can help retard andthen stop hair growth,” says Joel Schlessinger, MD, president of theAmerican Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.White hairs got you down? Since laser treatments aren’t thesolution for white and non-pigmented hair, Vaniqa can be the answer,according to Dr. Schlessinger. Safe for all skin types, Vaniqacosts around $80 to $225 per tube, but isn’t recommended for hairremoval of large areas because of its steep price tag and practicalityof coverage.Laser hair removal is one of themore costly methods of removinghair, but it lasts longer thandepilatories. Pulsed light or lasersactually destroy the hair’s root, andthis technique is safe for all overyour body.Another popular hair removal method is waxing, a techniquethat can be used all over, even your bikini area. Even though itmust be repeated every two weeks or so, this versatile method canbe done in the comfort of your own bathroom or at a salon. Creamlikewax is applied to the hair you wish removed and cloth strips areplaced over the area. After the wax hardens, the strips are removedand with them, unwanted hair!Gone are the painful, honey-based pastes of the past. “Todaywe use a soy-based compound that does not stick to the skin, bondingonly to the hair,” said waxing technician Michelle Serniuk ofBeyond Day Spa at the Hackensack University Medical Center.Michelle shared that waxing has become less painful, but shouldbe followed up with an antibacterial lotion as the follicle is exposedafterwards, and could result in an infection. Costs run about $10 to$70, depending on the area to be waxed.Whatever option you choose, the good news is that there’s amethod to suit everyone’s budget, time and comfort level. So getout there and show off your carefree legs and hair-free upper lip! ■Sources for this article are modernmom.com and webmd.com.HERLIFEnewyork.com 13

herlife | inspirationsKateHedgemanby ann e. butenasphotography by jill richardsonhair and make up by jennifer mccarthy nortonclothing on this page by evoke style, albany, nyWhile her list of academic and professional honors,accomplishments, accolades and distinguishedachievements, stacked one upon the other, couldreach tremendous heights, it is her gentle humility paired witha curious intellect and passion for community that truly endearsothers to Catherine “Kate” Hedgeman, Attorney at Law. She is awoman who lives with purpose and on purpose, fully aware of herpath in life, yet she remains open to whatever doors in life inviteher to cross their thresholds, bearing new ideas, challenges andinitiatives. When opportunity knocks, Kate never complains aboutthe noise.Of course, there is a lot of noise going on in Kate’s life thesedays. However, it’s not the type of noise one would usually expectto surround a tenacious and driven lawyer with a passion for servingothers. No, the noise that surrounds Kate today consists of the earlymorning cries or the afternoon coos of her newborn son, Brendan,who came into Kate’s world on August 20, 2012.As I spoke with Kate over the phone one recent afternoon, sheexuded her usual professional prowess and confident demeanor,engaging in intellectual dialogue well-suited to her calling, yet shehad a natural ability to simultaneously assuage the temperamentalcries of a fussy baby. As one who had three babies in diapers at thesame time, I am all-too-familiar with the demands it places upon oneemotionally, mentally and physically. Yet Kate has steadfastly proventhat no matter what circumstances, blessings, challenges or opportunitiesare given to her, she handles them with grace, class, strength ofcharacter and immeasurable fortitude in an effort to give more than100 percent to whomever and whatever inspire her the most.This driven and determined Albany native graduated fromUnion College magna cum laude with a degree in Political Sciencewith Department Honors in 1996. From there, she forged acareer on Capitol Hill in government relations. It was during hertime in D.C. that she focused her sights on becoming a lawyer, andsubsequently returned to Albany to commence her graduate studiesat Albany Law School, receiving her Juris Doctor in 2000. While inlaw school, she was the associate editor for the Albany Law Reviewand was also awarded the Dominick Gabrielli Award for excellencein Appellate Moot Court.“When I was younger, I embraced the idea of becoming alawyer as a means to an end,” she expressed, her goals focused atthe time on government relations, whether becoming a lobbyist orrunning for office. After a brief pause, she jokingly added, “Whomakeup by jennifer mccarthy nortongrows up to deliberately say she wants dress to become and jewelry a lobbyist?” courtesy ofNevertheless, she was a New apropos York lobbyist prom and from bridal, 2002 albany, to 2007 nyaproposprom.com14 HERLIFEnewyork.com

Working to WooNew York’sBrightest Brainswhere she worked as an associate with some of the most highlyregarded and prestigious law firms in the city, counseling a host ofclients from the healthcare sector to those in telecommunications.Her professional designations and affiliations are many. Kate hasbeen admitted to practice before the courts in the State of New York,U.S. District Courts, Northern District of New York and SouthernDistrict of New York. She is also admitted to practice before the Districtof Columbia Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court, Districtof Columbia and the United States Supreme Court. She is a memberof the New York State Bar Association, the District of ColumbiaBar Association and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association.During those years as a lobbyist, sincere inspiration, whichtends to follow this eager young counselor, knocked louder thanusual and an idea which had been lingering in the back of hermind suddenly began to take shape.“I formed a professional networking group for young professionalsunder the age of 40 called GenNEXT, a business council of theAlbany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce,” she explained. “It was away for young professionals to become actively involved in the community,as well as to learn valuable business networking skills.”After working for eight years as a trial lawyer, Kate began tolose some of the intense drive typically associated with that arena.In short, she was becoming burned out. That area of the law hadlost some of its meaning for her. So in January 2007, she establishedher own private law practice, Catherine Hedgeman, Esq. /HedgemanLaw in Albany, focusing on commercial litigation, real estate,government relations and non-profit law.Shortly thereafter, following on the heels of GenNEXT, wasa more ambitious undertaking ready to take wings. “When I wasoverseeing the aspects of GenNEXT, so many other young professionalsapproached me wanting to know how they could becomemore involved in the community,” Kate said.Kate realized that opportunities for service and philanthropywere a means by which to revitalize the appeal of the community,putting an end to the so-called “brain drain” that had starved theCapital region of tremendous talent, energy and enthusiasm.“The GenNEXT mission was great, but it was more businessfocusedand lacked the elements of service and community,” Katestressed. “We wanted to incorporate more philanthropy into ourmission and vision.”As a result, The Stakeholders, Inc., a non-profit organization,was established in 2008, based upon the fundamental belief thatpeople are the key to the sustainability of the Capital Region. Alongwith several friends and colleagues, Kate took the business aspectHERLIFEnewyork.com 15

of GenNEXT and married it with a vision to encourage volunteerismin the community, and to attract and retain professionals to thearea. In short, this is a group dedicated to giving people a personalclaim to their community as they work toward a greater future,creating, as she puts it, “a cool, sustainable place to live.”“This organization was born to create a single point of entryfor volunteerism in the community,” stressed Kate. “Its mission is toretain and attract residents while fostering a sense of pride by connectingthese individuals with local resources and providing threecore programs: education, capacity building and philanthropy.”Among the many successes of The Stakeholders include receivinga $150,000, 3-year volunteer generation grant from the NewYork State Office of National and Community Service to establishthe Regional Volunteer Center. Mark Walter, the executive directorOprah Winfrey acknowledgedher efforts as Kate was chosenby the White House Project andby O Magazine in 2008 as 1of 80 women nationwide whoreceived a Women’s LeadershipAward for her work oneconomic development issues,philanthropy and volunteerism.of the New York State Office of National and Community Service,said, “The Stakeholders was chosen as one of ten Regional VolunteerCenters in the state of New York because of their demonstratedcommitment to charitable activities and initiatives that supportnon-profit organizations in the Capital Region.”The Stakeholders Regional Volunteer Center will provide servicesto eight counties including Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady,Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Warren and Washington.In 2011, The Stakeholders was also named an affiliate ofHandsOn Network of the National Points of Light Institute, anorganization supported by the George Bush Foundation.Further, The Stakeholders was recognized by the Center forEconomic Growth and received the Tomorrow’s Leaders TodayAward for its Young Philanthropist Institute that educates the nextgeneration on what they need to know to serve on non-profit boardsand then places participants on local non-profit boards.Kate has naturally fallen into the role of CEO/ExecutiveDirector of The Stakeholders by virtue of her legal background andher extensive advocacy skills for young professionals. While theCapital Region was suffering from attrition as young professionalsleft to pursue careers in what may have seemed like greener pastures,the area has reclaimed a far greater name for itself, encouragingpeople to either return or to remain. “This area is now akin tothe Silicon Valley of the East,” noted Kate. “And we have a vehicleto promote volunteerism as well as a business aspect to it.” Throughthis initiative, the historic Capital Region is now recognized as aworld-class community in which to live and work while boasting aphenomenal cultural component.Although Kate is truly a team player and readily credits thetalents of those who worked with her to initially establish the organization,such credit is also due to the intense passion she displayedin getting The Stakeholders, Inc. in motion, and her tireless effortsdid not go unnoticed. While many honors and distinctions bearher name, among those include her 2008 appointment to the NewYork State Young Leaders congress by the Spitzer administration toadvise the administration on certain economic development issuespertaining to the very mission of The Stakeholders.Oprah Winfrey acknowledged her efforts as Kate was chosenby the White House Project and by O Magazine in 2008 as 1 of80 women nationwide who received a Women’s Leadership Awardfor her work on economic development issues, philanthropy andvolunteerism. That same year, she was the recipient of the Womanof Distinction Award: Junior Trailblazer from the Girl Scouts ofNortheastern New York, and prior to that was the 2005 CapitalDistrict Business Review 40 Under Forty award winner as well asthe 2005 Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce Womenof Excellence Award for the Emerging Professional.When she is not tending to all of her professional endeavorsand her baby, Kate enjoys a variety of interests, such as playinggolf (something for which she wishes she had more time), workingout through running and weight training, and building upon newbusiness ideas.When hunger strikes and making dinner isn’t on the agenda,Kate enjoys dining out at local favorites such as Angelo’s 677Prime steakhouse or relaxing with friends at The Point Restaurantand Lounge. She loves living in the Capital Region for all of itswonderful amenities and its accessibility to New York City, Boston,Montréal and the Adirondacks.Prior to the birth of her son, Kate typically embraced a 60 to80 hour work week but has cut that down to about 40 hours fornow. “My son has definitely grounded me. However, once I getchildcare, I will ramp it back up again,” she noted. “Fortunately, Iam able to work at home significantly. I enjoy being able to do myown thing and man my own ship.”Kate obviously knows how to take something from its infancystage clear through its development, so little Brendan is obviouslyin for a sweet ride and will most likely become a key stakeholder inthe Capital Region one day. ■For more information on Catherine Hedgeman, call 518-573-3108or go online at hedgemanlaw.com. For more information on The Stakeholders,Inc., go online at thestakeholders.org.16 HERLIFEnewyork.com

herlife | cravingsJake MoonRestaurant and Caféby greg aidala | photography by angela beddoeThis restaurant is not good…it’s actually fantastic. Do I haveyour attention? Good! So pull up a chair to my literary table,relax and enjoy how the review of Jake Moon Restaurant andCafé in Clarksville, New York, came about.My friend and his wife–who reside in Las Vegas–stumbled ontoJake Moon Restaurant and Café this past summer during their yearlyvisit. They raved about it–and when I was asked to write the monthlyrestaurant review for HERLIFE, I threw three establishments intothe pool of choices and Jake Moon won out–and I’m glad it did. JakeMoon is owned by the well-respected Daniel Smith (whom you mayremember as the Executive Chef at the now-closed Nicole’s Bistro indowntown Albany).My companion and I arrived at 7:30 on a recent Thursdayevening with a bottle of Spanish wine. That’s the first quaint appeal toJake Moon—it’s BYOB. I dig that—it made me feel like a rebel. Ourserver, Monica, greeted us and led us to our table, which definitelyhad that café feel to it, but ultra cozy. The walls are painted in a softyellow, which are complemented by pictures and crafts that match thequaintness of Jake Moon. Daniel informed us that Milton Glaser (whois famous for creating the I Love NY logo) created the Jake Moon logo.How cool is that?!As we were seated, a basket of bread was placed on our table. Thebread–which is baked on property–consisted of three choices: dill,sourdough and multi-grain. Each choice of bread had its own uniquetaste which melded well together. For appetizers, my companion and Ieach had a cup of the Lobster Bisque which possessed a zesty yet palatabletaste that made for a perfect choice on an early fall evening.For further appetizers, we delved into the Eggplant Rollatiniwhich consisted of spinach, three cheeses and marinara. Then wemoved onto the Baked Goat Cheese Pillowwhich was complemented with a rhubarb chutney and arugulathat simply melted in your mouth. The highlight of the apps was theRigatoni Amatriciani which is actually an entrée choice, but Danielthoughtfully served it to us as an appetizer. This is a classic Italianpreparation using Jake Moon’s own garden fresh yellow tomatoes,bacon, garlic and basil. Super good!For entrées, I decided on the Butternut Squash Risotto (vegetarian)which was served with braised Toscana kale and toasted almonds. Thedish was very light, yet filling, with the toasted almonds adding to thatautumn feeling. My companion chose the Baby Pork Osso Bucco servedwith grilled polenta. The meat was tender and done to perfection.For entrées, I decided on theButternut Squash Risotto(vegetarian) which was served withbraised Toscana kale and toastedalmonds. The dish was very light,yet filling, with the toasted almondsadding to that autumn feeling.My companion and I did not hesitate when it came to the dessertchoices. We shared both the Coffee Toffee Pie and the Apple StreuselPie, and decided that we could go back just for the desserts alone.Our overall experience was splendid. So if you’d like an out-ofthis-worlddining experience without leaving Earth, visit Jake MoonRestaurant and Café. It’ll be one small step for your travel, one giantleap for your appetite. ■For a great dining experience, visit Jake Moon Restaurant and Caféat 2082 Delaware Turnpike in Clarksville, New York, call them at 518-768-2570 or go online at jakemoon.net.18 HERLIFEnewyork.com

herlife | recipesRoasted Acorn Squash with Butter, Brown Sugar and Cayennerecipes and photography by veryculinary.comIngredients:1 acorn squash1 Tablespoon butter, softened2 Tablespoons brown sugarSprinkle of salt, to tasteSprinkle of cayenne pepper, to tasteDirections:1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.2. Wash and dry the squash, then cut in half along the ribs, lengthwise. With aspoon, scrape the seeds and pulp from each half; discard.3. Spread the butter over the flesh of each half, then sprinkle with the sugar,salt and cayenne. Place on a lined cookie sheet or in a baking dish with cutsides up.4. Bake for 1 hour, or until soft. ■20 HERLIFEnewyork.com

Pumpkin Black Bean SoupIngredients:2 (15-ounce) cans of (low-sodium)black beans, rinsed and drained1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes¼ cup butter1 medium onion, chopped4 cloves garlic, minced3 cups chicken broth1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar2 Tablespoons sugar½ teaspoon nutmeg½ teaspoon cinnamon¼ teaspoon allspiceHeavy creamDirections:1. Pour the black beans and tomatoes (including their liquid) into a food processoror blender. Purée until smooth. Set aside.2. Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic,and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the onion is softened,about 5 minutes.3. Stir in the bean purée and the remaining ingredients. Mix until wellblended, then simmer for about 20 minutes, or until thick enough to coat theback of a metal spoon.4. Serve with a generous drizzle of heavy cream. ■HERLIFEnewyork.com 21

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Come experience our winter wonderland in Lake Placid!DECEMBER 7-9, 2012A community-wide weekend full of holiday traditions, shopping, live music and great food.Visit lakeplacid.com/holidays518-523-2445HERLIFE proudly sponsors Lake Placid’s Holiday Village StrollHERLIFEnewyork.com 23

herlife | trendsetterModel For ADay Winnersa special thank youto evoke stylealbany, ny,a community partner,for providing clothingand accessoriesevokestyle.com(518) 512-5240BEFOREphotography by jill richardsonmakeup and hair by jennifer mccarthy nortonmodel this page alexa chrisman,winner at williams plastic surgery center eveningof beauty to benefit saratoga county domesticviolence services24 HERLIFEnewyork.com

BEFOREmodel siobhan a’hearn,winner at saratoga senior center benefit26 HERLIFEnewyork.com

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herlife | wineWinterWineMythsby kelly jo mcdonnell | photography by cy dodsonMyth: a popular belief or tradition that has grown up aroundsomething or someone. Who would guess this definitionapplies to wine? It does when one is trying to figure outfact from fiction—or fact from myth. It shouldn’t be stressful to weedthrough wine myths during the cold winter months. This time of yearis stressful enough as it is.Let’s start with some favorite wine myths that we’ve all probablyheard once or twice.The first one has to do with sweet wines. As in, only sweet wineswork with turkey and all the trimmings. It begins from the idea that thewine should be sweeter than the food. “Sometimes this is a regionalone,” explained Elizabeth Schneider, Certified Sommelier and bloggerof Wine for Normal People, “but I understand why. It’s a contrast;you want a contrast of sweet versus salty and savory. Sweet wines pairbest with cheese or sweet foods. There is an entire world of wines thatgo with turkey. Philosophy comes into play; it’s not about the turkey,it’s about all the things on your table. You don’t pair wine with onedish.” She stresses that, for example, a Thanksgiving meal isn’t like aTV dinner. One doesn’t eat all the turkey, all the potatoes and all thegreen beans and cranberry sauces in little groups. “It doesn’t work thatway,” said Elizabeth. “Folks take bits of each at a time. With cranberry,perhaps a Chardonnay or a fuller bodied Pinot Noir with the cranberry.Think about what you put on your turkey–like the spices–andnot just the turkey.”How about corks are always better than caps during the coldmonths? If you’re going to buy wine from New Zealand (and youshould), it’s going to be a cap wine. “This is related to age,” explainedElizabeth. “Wines that are meant to age should be in a cork closure.It lets the air in to let the wine change and breathe with time.” She“Special wine isn’t for specialoccasions. There’s some riskinvolved when you age something.Wine is chemical and it changeswith time, and even vibration. It’sa very sensitive substance. You’relucky most of the time if your winehas made it from a journey.”recalled a taste test where she had bottles of wine with a screw cap, areal cork, and a fake plastic cork. “There was a giant different betweenthe screw cap and that plastic cork. The plastic is terrible because youtaste the cork. But the real cork has a romance and drama, and it’s not28 HERLIFEnewyork.com

like weddings. Champagne is a sparkling wine. Like Kava, you canget it for $10 or $15 and it’s amazing. When you look at the field ofwine possibilities, almost nothing pairs as well as champagne. It’s aterrific pairing wine with light, salty foods, salads and soups. It’s very“We have become orientedinto thinking we can only havechampagne at New Year’s orspecial events like weddings.Champagne is a sparkling wine.Like Kava, you can get it for $10or $15 and it’s amazing.”refreshing and a great palate cleanser. Bubbles or no, it’s a wine.”She just reminds to buy during the ‘off’ seasons– retailers will jackthe prices up right before New Year’s–so stock up on the bubblywhen the price is right!All in all, practice makes perfect. Remember that Rule #1 is thereare no rules. And Rule #2 could be there are still no rules...drink whatwines you like. Leave the myths to the Greeks. ■Source for this article is Elizabeth Schneider’s blog Wine forNormal People.going away soon.”What about the myth of storing a particular valuable bottle ofwine for a certain number of years before opening it? “Picture yourselfhaving a Christmas dinner,” said Elizabeth, “and you’ve been savingthese choice bottles of wine for 10 years or more. They cost a lot ofmoney, and you’ve been hoarding them in your cellars. You open itand it’s terrible. You open the next bottle and it’s terrible. You musthave a back-up plan for wine.” She reminds that first of all, old winedoesn’t always mean better. “Special wine isn’t for special occasions.There’s some risk involved when you age something. Wine is chemicaland it changes with time, and even vibration. It’s a very sensitivesubstance. You’re lucky most of the time if your wine has made it froma journey,” said Elizabeth. So she offers words of caution when dealingwith storing wine for long periods of time. Be careful with what youplan to put on your table, and make sure you have back-ups.A nice back-up to have is a little bubbly, yes? The only time youshould bring out champagne in the winter is New Year’s Eve. Right?Wrong, says a very adamant Elizabeth. “I think this is just crazy,”she admits. “People wait all year to have bubbly on New Year’s Eve.I have friends that work in the champagne business, and 90 percentof their sales happen right before New Year’s in the U.S. I can’t stressenough how much, as a culture, we have become oriented intothinking we can only have champagne at New Year’s or special eventsHERLIFEnewyork.com 29

herlife | book clubLaborDayby Joyce Maynardreview by catie watsonThe narrator of Joyce Maynard’s compelling novel about familyand loss is Henry, a man in his 30s who’s looking back ona life-changing summer in the late 1980s when he was 13.Henry lives with his divorced mother Adele in a small New Hampshiretown. Within the first few pages, we realize that Adele is an emotionallyfragile woman who rarely leaves home, and that Henry hasassumed the role of her protector. He is lonely and bored and has spentthe summer before 8 th grade playing with his hamster, doing crosswordpuzzles and fantasizing about the girls in school.A classmate once told Henry that his mother looked like Gingerfrom Gilligan Island. She is a former dancer who has retained hergrace and beauty, but she is so agoraphobic that she stockpiles frozendinners and cans of soup so she can avoid leaving home. With LaborDay weekend approaching, Henry convinces her to take him on arare shopping trip to the local Pricemart for school supplies. In thestore, Henry is approached by a tall stranger who appears to be a storeemployee. The man’s leg is covered in blood and he asks Henry forhelp. Perhaps because they are desperate for human contact, Henryand Adele agree to give the stranger a ride.Once the trio is in the car and driving away from the shoppingcenter, the stranger introduces himself as Frank Chambers and revealsthat he has just escaped from a local prison by jumping out of thewindow of the prison hospital. It is at this point in the story that webegin to realize that Adele has become so disconnected from the worldthat she doesn’t care about her own safety and is willing to put Henryin danger. Frank is polite and apologetic, but he is desperate be free.Adele takes him home and over the next five days he’s the perfecthouseguest. Despite the fact that he is recovering from an appendectomyand a cut leg, he prepares tasty meals, bakes a pie and even tackleshome repairs. He provides Henry with some much-needed male support,teaching him how to change a tire and throw a baseball.Frank, Adele and Henry become an unlikely family over thesweltering Labor Day weekend. It quickly becomes apparent that thereis a strong attraction between Frank and Adele. She again shows a lackof concern for her son’s welfare by initiating a passionate affair withthe escaped prisoner despite television news reports that he say he isa convicted murderer. As an unwilling witness to the couple’s growinglove, Henry’s emotions swing between relief that someone else is30 HERLIFEnewyork.com

taking care of his mother to fear for her safety and jealousy that he isbeing replaced in her affections. Despite the fact that Adele has treatedhim more like a girlfriend than a son, he is fiercely loyal to her.Henry becomes even more confused when Adele and Frankbegin to plan their escape to Canada. Assuming that they will leavehim behind to live with his father’s new family, he acts out in waysthat jeopardize Frank’s freedom. Like Ian McEwan’s Atonement, thestory line of Labor Day pivots on the damage that an unthinking youngperson can cause in other people’s lives, though in this case the effectis not so tragic.Frank, Adele and Henry become anunlikely family over the swelteringLabor Day weekend. It quicklybecomes apparent that there is astrong attraction between Frankand Adele. She again shows a lackof concern for her son’s welfare byinitiating a passionate affair with theescaped prisoner despite televisionnews reports that he say he is aconvicted murderer.Maynard is a skilled writer who is able to take us from a sense ofmenace to feelings of hope for Adele and Frank. She shows us Adele,a neglectful and inappropriate parent, through Henry’s loving eyes.In her 1998 memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard revealed thather own childhood home was less than ideal. Her father was proneto alcohol-fueled rages and her mother was a frustrated author. As ateenager, she pushed herself to fulfill her parents’ expectations. She receivednational attention in 1972, when her article “An Eighteen YearOld Looks Back on Life” put her on the cover of The New York TimesMagazine. The article brought her to the attention of 53-year-old reclusiveauthor J.D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye). Because of Salinger’sfame, Maynard’s mother fully supported her decision to drop out ofYale in her freshman year and move in with Salinger. The relationshipended disastrously after a year. Maynard never returned to college butwas able to establish a career as an author and journalist.I listened to the Labor Day audiobook, which is nicely narrated byWilson Bethel. I later discovered that Bethel is Maynard’s son as wellas an actor who has appeared in the daytime soap opera The Young andThe Restless and in the comedy-drama series Hart of Dixie. I couldn’thelp but wonder how much of Maynard’s and Bethel’s mother-son relationshipinfluenced her depiction of Adele and Henry. ■HERLIFEnewyork.com 31

herlife | business spotlightHU GH E SO P T IC I A N SI N Cby ann e. butenasLocated in the heart of Delmar, New York, at the famousintersection of Delaware and Kenwood Avenues, sits an oldVictorian home which houses one of the most time-honoredbusinesses in the area—Hughes Opticians. Established in 1987 byThomas Hughes, Sr., a New York State licensed optician and contactlens dispenser, Hughes Opticians has been helping the Capital Regionsee and look better for 25 years. Tom and his son, Tom Jr., bring yearsof experience in the industry, along with a large following of localclientele. With their team of unique employees, the Hughes create anatmosphere that is luxurious and chic, yet has the same aura of friendlinessand ease one sees in many family-owned businesses.The business has achieved such large success that they willbe opening their second location soon in Malta. The new HughesOpticians will be located in Ellsworth Commons, just seven minutesHughesOpticiansDelivering QualityEye Wear inMultiple Locationsfrom downtown Saratoga, and will boast the same designer sunglassesselection featured in the Delmar location at their attached sunglassesbusiness, Tommy Shades.Tom Hughes, Jr. has eagerly followed in his father’s footsteps,building upon the groundwork laid down by Tom Sr. He learned thetrade side-by-side with his father since he was a child. Tom Jr., a graduateof Mater Dei College, is also a New York State licensed opticianand contact lens dispenser. Now that he is taking the reins of the business,he hopes to continue a tradition of impeccable customer service.The business prides itself on having only the best in customer service,lens materials, tints and coatings on the market, the most coveted designerbrands from major metropolitan areas and a friendly and highlytrained staff. Why go anywhere else for your eye care needs?“I was born and raised in this business and was totally focused onit from a young age,” reflected Tom, who always knew that this wasthe profession that spoke to his heart. He refuses to rest on his laurels,expanding and improving the business alongside his father with eachpassing year.Now that the elder Hughes has cut back his time at the office,Tom Jr. is hard at work six days a week making sure all of his clientsobtain the best and most thorough eye exams. Hughes Opticians providesall lens types: single, bifocal, trifocal, progressive and emPower!electronic lenses, offering a variety of additional lens features, tints andcoatings to ensure that your new glasses are made perfectly for you.“Because there are so many fashionable designer frames outthere now, we see more people going from contacts back to glasses,”said Tom Jr. “We carry many exclusive brands that you just can’t getanywhere within a 200-mile radius from here.”Among the top designers in eyewear available at Hughes Opticiansinclude Airlock, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dior, Dolce &32 HERLIFEnewyork.com

Gabbana, Eyephorics 2.5, Fendi, Flexon, Gucci, John Varvatos, KateSpade, LINDBERG, Kazuo Kawasaki, Marc Jacobs, Mosley Tribes,Nike, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith, Prada, Ray-Ban, Swarovski,Tiffany, Tory Burch and Tom Ford.With so many stylish and desirable frames to choose from, manyHughes customers choose to have more than one pair of glasses. “Youonly have one set of eyes,” noted Tom. “Why not treat them well?Many of our clients purchase multiple pairs to provide them with awide range of looks.”Once customers have made their frame selection, they usuallydon’t have a lengthy wait time on getting their prescription put inthem. With their in-house lab, Hughes Opticians can provide 24-hourturnaround time in many cases. They also have hundreds of contactlenses in stock. If they don’t have what you need, they can usuallyorder it in by the next day.The staff is expertly trained and extremely knowledgeableabout the frames and lenses they sell. They can help determine whatproducts suit each customer best and the length of time it will take toprovide such services. Aside from Tom Jr. and Tom Sr., the HughesOpticians team includes Michele Hughes-Whelan, daughter and sisterto the Toms, who is also a licensed optician and graduate of MaterDei College. Jackie Livingston, a fashion merchandising graduate, isthe on-staff merchandising and marketing manager. She also assists inpersonal styling. Aubrey Jeune is the receptionist, front desk managerand insurance expert. In the lab, Kate Sipher oversees each job’s edgingand assembly, and Christine Hughes (Tom Jr.’s new bride) is theorder entry specialist, assuring each job is consistently monitored. Dr.Kerry Harbeck, the on-site optometrist for over 20 years, rounds outthe team. “We all get along very well,” said Tom. “This is a laidbackand positive environment.”It’s no secret that Tom brings a wealth of talent and expertiseto the practice, but he also brings his heart. “I love interacting withpeople and making them feel good about themselves,” he smiled.For more information on Hughes Opticians, visit them at 411Kenwood Avenue in Delmar, New York, call 518-439-4971 or go onlineat hughesopticians.com. ■HERLIFEnewyork.com 33

herlife | mother’s perspectiveShould You Stay Married forthe Sake of the Children?Being honest with your kids that your marriage is not exactly howyou wished it would be allows them to note the failure and aimhigher for their own marriages.by natasha loganUnfortunately, most of us know at least one married couplewho constantly bicker in front of people. Worse yet, theyoften do it in front of their kids. If asked why they don’t justget divorced, they state that they are staying married for the sake oftheir kids. But does it really benefit children for their parents to staytogether in an unhealthy relationship?According to licensed social worker Mel Schwartz, “Divorceneeds to be well considered, and navigating the children through thisprocess should be undertaken with insight, reflection and empathy.”But what about the kids who grow up in intact homes wherethey witness parents who are unloving, conflicted and unable toagree with one another? Few consider the consequences that modelingthis type of bad marriage behavior ensures the likelihood that ourchildren will probably repeat those behaviors in their own marriages.Or what about the parents who mistakenly believe that their childrendon’t know “anything’s wrong.” This results in the parents normalizinga dysfunctional and disappointing marriage instead of telling theirchildren the truth. Being honest with your kids that your marriage isnot exactly how you wished it would be allows them to note the failureand aim higher for their own marriages.Schwartz reiterates that more than any proscribed model for marriage,the best thing we can show our children is a level of authenticity—onewhere we face fears and challenges head on, and don’t backaway. If making the choice to stay married, commit to the processand model that commitment for your children. If your marriage isdisappointing and does not provide for joy in your life, then be honest34 HERLIFEnewyork.com

about it and face it. We show our children how healthy relationshipsfunction when we “face our fears, embrace them and choose to staymarried from a healthy place of growth and hopefulness, not to succumbto the deprivation of a joyless life.”Christine Carter, Ph.D., sociologist, educator, parent and authorof Raising Happiness, researched many studies about whether parentsshould stay married or not, and determined that it is the quality ofthe parents’ relationship with each other, not whether or not they’remarried, that has the most impact on children. Since kids learn fromtheir parents how to handle conflict, any anger or negative emotions acouple display around their children is going to have a negative effect.This can often result in a child acting out, being withdrawn, and havingfewer social and academic skills. And sadly, some of that conflictis misdirected toward children which results in a double whammy ofnot only having parents who don’t get along, but also being on thereceiving end of those distilled emotions.According to Carter, it’s not impossible to fix your marriage,but you must determine how high-conflict your marriage is, howunhappy you are and whether or not you can fix these things. Americansused to have two mindsets when thinking about divorce: youeither just stayed married, no matter what, or you divorced and wereexpected to fight.Finally, William C. Spohn, a Presidential Professor of Ethicsand the Common Good at Santa Clara University, weighs in that toomany Americans buy into the myth that children are better off if theirparents divorce. Statistics show that 45 percent of all American childrencan expect their parents to split up before they’re 18 years old.He explained that marriage used to be viewed as an ethicalobligation to others—yet now it’s seen as an obligation to one’s self.As such, the standard for a successful marriage became individualhappiness, and parents started putting their interests before those oftheir children, resulting in a high divorce rate. Studies conducted onlarge populations of “divorced” children over time show that the effectson children were devastating. Children from divorced familieshad greater emotional problems, early sexual experimenting, delinquency,teen pregnancy, drug use and more school drop-outs. Spohnfurther explained that long-term studies show that “their parents’ inabilityto sustain the relationship that counted most to them and thesubsequent loss of connection to their fathers seem to have erodedthese young peoples’ sense of identity and ability to trust others andcommit themselves.”He agrees that in the case of marriages with severe abuse andphysical violence (which comprise about 10 to 15 percent of marriages),divorce is justified and better for the children. But for theremaining marriages marked by emotional disconnection, dissatisfactionor affairs, adults are more resilient than children and shouldnot only stay in the marriage to help their family flourish, but to alsoimprove their relationship. ■Sources for this article are psychologytoday.com, huffingtonpost.com and scu.edu.HERLIFEnewyork.com 35

Angel investors typically offermore flexible agreements forthe entrepreneur and requireless stringent criteria to be metthan traditional financial lenders.Most angel investors are formerentrepreneurs themselves and canoffer vast knowledge and expertise,as well as important contacts tohelp a new business succeed.own money in a new business venture, they expect a large returnon investment (ROI). The average angel investor ROI can rangeanywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of the individual’s initialcapital investment. Earnings depend on how long it takes for astart-up to reach critical stages of growth. Although level of companyinvolvement varies for each investor, many angels expect a percentageof company ownership and/or a seat on the new company’s boardin exchange for their investment. Individuals seeking funding fromangel investors must be comfortable with the possibility of giving upsome control of the operations of their company.A good place to start your search is the Golden Seeds ® angelinvestor network, which is the fourth largest angel group in theU.S. The group has 250 members, and the majority of those angelinvestors are women. You can also check out the Pipeline Fellowshipand Women’s Capital Connection mentioned earlier to learnabout their application guidelines and requirements. Another greatresource is the Angel Resource Institute, which has an extensive listof angel groups nationwide on their website with links to details oneach group.When searching for angel investors, there are a number offactors you need to consider. First, you will want to seek out investorswho have proven expertise in your particular industry. It’s alsoimportant to do as much research as possible about prospectiveinvestors you are considering, including the companies they haveinvested in previously, and their reputation and character. A callto the owners of companies these individuals have funded in thepast should provide valuable information to help you find the rightmatch for your new venture. ■Sources for this article are wikipedia.com, angelresourceinstitute.org,angelcapitalassociation.org, pipelinefellowship.com, goldenseeds.com,entrepreneurship.org, go4funding.com, forbes.com, inc.com andfindventure.com.HERLIFEnewyork.com 37

Credit card statements have also undergone significant changes, andnow contain a ‘Payment Information’ box designed to help consumersunderstand the true costs of leveraging credit. This box uses the actualbalance at the end of the billing cycle to calculate three factors: how longit will take to pay off the balance if you elect to only make the minimumpayment; how much you must pay monthly to pay off the entire balancein three years; and the amount of savings between those two calculations.The average American consumer hasa ninth-grade reading level, but thefine print of credit card agreements iswritten at a twelfth-grade level.Studying and comparing the Payment Information boxes of differentaccounts can help consumers understand which cards are costing themmore money, and might help determine if consolidating balances or accountswould be helpful or detrimental to your financial health.Reading the fine print won’t always be a dreaded task, and doing soalso alerts consumers to the benefits of being a loyal and responsible cardcarrier. Rewards programs, rebates and other information are also disclosedin the fine print. ■Sources for this article are credit.com, pacificservice.org andmoneyinsight.net.HERLIFEnewyork.com 39

herlife | spotlightWomen’sEmployment& ResourceCenter (WERC)by ann e. butenas | photography by joan hefflerThere is something so inspiring about women helping women tosucceed. We are typically each other’s natural support group, upliftingone another in the challenging times and championing eachother in the best of them. One Albany organization is doing just that inphenomenal leaps and bounds. The Capital District’s Women’s Employment& Resource Center (WERC) has been helping women succeed fornearly a quarter of a century.A state-funded program established in 1978, and 10 years lateropened as the Albany Displaced Homemaker Program, WERC ultimatelyevolved in 2000 into the non-profit organization it is today, allowingthem to exponentially expand their services to the women who needthem. It is 1 of 21 centers statewide that help displaced homemakers findemployment and transition back into the workplace, assisting over 4,500women statewide annually and over 300 women locally. Since 1988, over5,800 Capital District women have been helped to find or improve theiremployment. Sadly, many of these women do not qualify to receive otherservices including unemployment insurance or social services, and couldlose their homes, vehicles and their pride if they do not find work.Executive Director Beth Miller, PHR, has been with WERC since1996, and was originally hired as the Training Coordinator, developingthe employment network still used today. “We are here to providewomen who have lost their source of income due to the death of aspouse, divorce, separation, disability, dislocation of a spouse or thosewho are single mothers with the tools, options and resources to get backinto the workforce,” explained Beth. “We serve both Albany and Rensselaercounties and assist approximately 300 women annually. However,we will happily serve anyone who can get to our center. We are small innumbers but huge in impact.”When women are faced with the turbulence of unexpected transitionin life, they often experience a loss of self-esteem and confidence. AtWERC, they are given a boost in that regard and are given the necessaryguidance to find jobs. These women receive more than 2,700 free servicesincluding career readiness and computer training, job search and placementassistance, and ongoing supportive services.With an 85 percent placement rate of women who graduate fromWERC’s intensive training programs, WERC has a proven track record ofhelping women in the Capital Region by improving economic opportunitiesand providing excellence in workforce development. The womenleave the program with enhanced qualifications, skills and self-confidence,as well as the motivation to achieve excellence within their chosenwork place.“We teach our women how to use the Internet to find jobs and toconnect to our employer network. We teach them to use the computerto create résumés and cover letters, and even to make their own businesscards as a way to promote themselves and their marketable skills,” notedBeth. “Many of these women have been out of the workforce for manyyears and we assist them in transferring skills from an earlier job or role inlife to help them find something today.”40 HERLIFEnewyork.com

herlife | tie the knotEmily&TiedGarrettthe Knot October 7, 2011by candi smith | photography by mirus polleoEmily and Garrett Lecoeurs met through a former employer. The couplehad been friends for quite some time before becoming exclusive and datingeach other. Shortly after, Garrett enlisted in the United States MarineCorps and left for boot camp. Emily and Garrett stayed in close contact throughwriting daily and Emily attended his graduation. By the completion of boot camp, thecouple realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Garrett proposedon a whim and the two were married in a courthouse in San Angelo, Texas.It had been a dream to get married in the Catholic Church and have the opportunityto celebrate their marriage with family and friends. Unfortunately, due tothe unpredictability of the Marine Corps, their wedding was put on hold for a fewyears. However, Garrett received orders which allowed the couple to finally make theirdream come true!An important part of this great love story are Emily and Garrett’s two children,Ryan and Grace, who played a huge role in recognizing and celebrating this event.Emily and Garrett made their special day not only about their unity, but about theunity of their perfect family of four. They were so happy to finally being able toshare this celebration with all of their guests!The happy couple tied the knot on October 7, 2011. Their wedding party waschosen to be kept small and intimate to focus on their family. Emily’s Maid of Honorand Junior Bridesmaid were her sisters Bonnie Dekorp and Maggie O’Rourke. The BestMan was Jason Tucker, Garrett’s long-time best friend who is like a brother to him. Thering bearer and flower girl were Emily and Garrett’s children, Ryan and Grace.In keeping with a traditional Marine Corps ceremony, the swordsmen wereSergeant Scott Rahm, Sergeant Scooter Bently, Sergeant Nick Janey, Sergeant MikeHarvey, Sergeant Adam Harris and Sergeant Brian Holl, all of whom were stationedtogether at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland, as part of the U.S. MarineCorps Chemical Biological Incidence Response Force. ■42 HERLIFEnewyork.com

LOCAL BUSINESSES THATSHARED IN THE LOVEBridal gown:Bridal Gallery by YvonneLatham, NYBridesmaids’ gowns:Bridal Gallery by YvonneLatham, NYgroom’s suit/tux:LOCAL Marine BUSINESSES Corps Dress Blues THATSHARED IN THE LOVEPhotography:Mirus Polleo,Adams, MAFlorist:Surroundings Floral StudioSchenectady, NYCake:CoccadottsAlbany, NYvenue:The State RoomAlbany, NYHERLIFEnewyork.com 43

herlife | scene and be seenWERC 8th Annual Awards Luncheonphotography by joan heffler photographyThe Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center’s(WERC) 8th Annual Awards Luncheon was held on Tuesday,October 2, 2012. Over 300 professionals from the CapitalRegion attended the event at the Troy Hilton Garden Inn to supportWERC and recognize the 2012 WERC Awardees. Congratulationsto CAP COM Federal Credit Union, who received the Advancementof Women in the WERCPlace Award presented to Paula Stopera,President & CEO; Trish Rost, President of Madison Handbags, receivedthe WERCing Woman of Achievement Award; and Avon Scherff, Ownerof Scherff Insurance, received the Harriet Rifkin Leadership Award.44 HERLIFEnewyork.com

I Am I Can Casino Night and Auctionphotography by don blaisThe I Am I Can First Annual Casino Night and SilentAuction was held on September 13th at the CanfieldCasino in Saratoga Springs, NY. Over $ 12,000 wasraised for this non-profit organization which was created tomentor girls in grades 9 – 12. The organization provides theneeded encouragement, guidance and advocacy to studentsas they navigate their high school years and move towardpost-graduation goals.HERLIFEnewyork.com 45

herlife | just sayin’Gratitude forAll Momsby joanne dimarco | photo by jill richardsonIrecall the opening scene in the book I Don’t Know How She Does It: The Lifeof Kate Reddy, Working Mother by Allison Pearson. The main character, aworking mother, is in her kitchen at midnight, beating up a store-bought pieto make it look homemade for the school holiday event. She didn’t want to bethought of as “one of those mothers.” I can relate. I have been a working momsince I gave birth to my first child on a Friday, and conducted a sales meetingon Monday. Although I never felt guilty for the choice to work outside thehome, I did worry about what others thought of my choice and how it wouldimpact my children.I was not only a working mom, but during most of the time my childrenwere growing up, I was a single mom as well. This may not seem unusual in2012, but 25 years ago, this was not the norm. I knew other moms were gettingtheir children off the bus, hearing immediately how their day went. As a single,working mom, I was at work, making sales calls or negotiating deals. I wouldn’tget to hear the details of their day until much later. To keep pace with my malecounterparts, as I have often said, I had to look like a woman but think like man.My work often included lots of meetings, travel, supporting various charitableevents and working during non-traditional hours. From the age of 9, my childrenvolunteered next to me, attending fundraisers and galas, or playing the EasterBunny or Santa Claus at events—not the typical family weekend activities theirfriends participated in. As mothers we all had our roles. Other moms were askedto sew costumes for the dance company. I was asked to help negotiate the leasefor the new dance school. While the other children at school wanted to playhouse, mine wanted to play office. I often wondered what my children werelearning from these experiences and what they might be missing.My children are now 25, 23 and 18. The oldest has her Bachelor’s degree,the middle one her Master’s and the youngest is a freshman in college. I finallyrealize what they learned. They learned how to set goals and achieve them.They learned a great work ethic, each working from the time they were 14. Theylearned how to dress for success, how to talk to adults and how to conduct themselvesin a business environment. They learned the importance of volunteeringand giving back to the community, time management, the power of networkingand the importance of never burning a bridge.I am eternally grateful to those moms who picked up my children frompractice when I ran late in an appointment, took them to rehearsal when I had to46 HERLIFEnewyork.comwork on Saturday, picked them up from school if they were sickor kept them overnight when I had to travel. I am also gratefulto finally return the favor. As the children of those moms whohelped me are graduating college, they now reach out to me forhelp with a résumé, to use me as a reference or use my contactsto get an interview. I go out of my way whenever I can to returnthe favor.My 23-year-old was recently looking to purchase a car. I toldher to call a contact of mine. She said, “Mom, I can’t use yourcontacts for everything.” I told her that although I may not havemade homemade pies for the bake sale, this is now what I couldgive—my contacts.As we remember what we are grateful for, I want to thankthe moms who helped me, and want them to know that I amhere for your children as well. I may not have been at the PTAmeeting but I am helping your child now as they enter the workplace.They say it takes a village to raise a child. I have learnedthat it takes all different kinds of moms. There is no perfectmother, whether you work in the home or outside the home.Let’s support each other. I, for one, will not be beating up anypies this Thanksgiving. Just sayin’. ■Joanne DiMarco has lived most of her life in upstate New York, graduating from Shenendehowa High School and Paul Smith’s Collegewith a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After a successful career in the hospitality industry, Joanne transitioned intoSales and Marketing. She is currently the Vice President of Select Sotheby’s International Realty. She never lost her love of the restaurantindustry and has turned that passion to writing about food for HerLife Magazine.Joanne is known throughout upstate New York for her extensive network of friends and clients and for her exceptional fundraisingabilities and charitable works. She is a sought after speaker on the topics of outside the box marketing, experiential marketing, AdirondackHospitality and the art of networking.

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herlife | in the regionCalendar of EventsNOTE: All calendar events must be submitted by October 15 for consideration in our December issue. Pleaseinclude event location, date, details and contact information and email Sherry@herlifenewyork.com. Events consideredfor publication are normally limited to community wide/charity events or events hosted by our advertisers.We cannot guarantee that all events submitted will be published.november 2Empire State Plaza FallAuto ShowDates: November 2–November 4Times: November 2, 9:00am–9:00pm;November 3, 10:00am–6:00pm; November 4,11:00am–5:30pmLocation: Empire State Plaza, ConcourseLevel, Albany, NYDetails: The region’s largest display of 2012and 2013 models from 30 different manufacturersfeaturing more than 160 cars, trucks,sport-utility vehicles, minivans and specialtyexhibitor vehicles to look at, along with additionalautomotive displays and exhibitors.Admission is free.Contact: albanyautoshows.com or call 518-452-0584, Ext. 202november 8Williams Center Skin CareSeminarDate: November 8Time: 5:30pmLocation: 1072 Troy-Schenectady Road,Latham, NYDetails: Come see the newest Stem Cellskin care products. The first ten people to signup and attend receive a free skin care analysis.Contact: Call 518-786-7000 to reserveyour seatnovember 10Second Annual Fall GalaDinner Dance & AuctionDate: November 10Time: 7:00pmLocation: Sagamore Resort, 110 SagamoreRoad, Bolton Landing, NYDetails: Entertainment by Grand CentralStation Live and a silent auction. Indulgeyourself for others at the Second AnnualFall Gala Dinner Dance & Auction! Enjoyculinary delights, fine wine and rich chocolate.Gala benefits the Warren & WashingtonCounties ARC. Cost $150.Contact: glensfallsregion.com/event/wwarcfall-galaor call 518-615-9794Holiday Reindeer OpenHouseDate: November 10Time: 2:00pm–4:00pmLocations: Saratoga Springs Public Library,49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, NYDetails: See live reindeer. Listen to authorBruce Hiscock read from his book The BigCaribou Herd, show slides of his Alaskan travels,draw reindeer and make reindeer antlers.No registration needed. Free admission.Contact: sspl.org or call 518-584-7860,option 3november 13Guilderland Wedding WeekDates: November 13–November 18Times: VariousLocations: Various businesses in Guilderland,NYDetails: Presented by the GuilderlandChamber of Commerce. Visit participatinglocations for giveaways, samples, fashionshows and demonstrations with a chance towin a $500 gift card. Contact the Chamberfor locations.Contact: www.guilderlandchamber.com orcall 518-456-6611november 1518th Annual BeaujolaisNouveau Wine CelebrationDate: November 15Time: 6:00pm–9:00pmLocation: Rensselaer Banquet & ConferenceFacility, Hilton Garden Inn-Troy, 235Hoosick Street, Troy, NYDetails: This event benefits the AIDSCouncil of Northeastern New York at theirGeorges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau WineCelebration. Admission $75.Contact: aidscouncil.org/howyoucanhelp/specialevents/bn.aspx or call 518-434-4686,Ext. 2415november 16Designer Jewelry TrunkShowDates: November 16–November 17Times: November 16, 10:00am–5:00pm;November 17, 10:00am–4:00pmLocation: Connelly’s Diamond Gallery,Newton Plaza, 594 New Loudon Road,48 HERLIFEnewyork.com

Latham, NYDetails: Must-see close-out designer jewelryin for two days only!Contact: connellysdiamondgallery.com orcall 518-782-0569Marika Charles FactoryStore Sales EventDates: November 16–November 18Times: November 16, 10:00am–6:00pm;November 17, 10:00am–5:00pm; November18, 11:00am–4:00pmLocation: 1080 Catalyn Street, Schenectady,NYDetails: Designer line of ready-to-wear fallinventory at factory prices and below.Contact: Call 518-344-7092 or email factorystore@marikacharles.comnovember 18Schenectady Business &Professional Women’s Club,Inc. Annual Fashion ShowDate: November 18Time: 10:30am–3:00pmLocation: The Glen Sanders Mansion, 1Glen Avenue, Scotia, NYDetails: Luncheon and Fashion Show (fashionsby Ursula of Switzerland). All proceedsgo to the Scholarship Fund supporting localgirls and women in Schenectady County.Cost is $40.Contact: www.schenectadybpw.org or 518-370-7249november 2265th Annual Troy TurkeyTrotDate: November 22Time: 8:00am–10K; 9:20am–1-mile walk;9:45am–5KLocations: 4th Street, Troy, NYDetails: This is one of the oldest and largestraces. Online registration closes November18th.Contact: troyturkeytrot.com11th Annual ChristopherDailey Turkey TrotDate: November 22Time: 8:30amLocation: Saratoga City Hall, Saratoga,New YorkDetails: Each year on Thanksgiving morning,thousands of runners (and walkers)congregate in Saratoga Springs to race in theannual 5K Turkey Trot race which benefitsthe Christopher Dailey Foundation. Cost $22.Contact: Call 518-581-1328november 2321st Annual North CountryFestival of TreesDates: November 23–November 25Times: November 23, 11:00am–8:00pm;November 24, 11:00am–6:00pm; November25, 11:00am–4:00pmLocation: Queensbury Hotel, 88 RidgeStreet, Glens Falls, NYDetails: Kick-off the holiday season and startgetting in the holiday spirit at the QueensburyHotel for The Festival of Trees. At this year’sNorth Country Festival of Trees, you willbe surrounded by the holiday spirit and seebeautifully decorated trees, wreaths, stockingsand more from local artisans.Contact: glensfallsregion.com/eventnovember 24Festival of Trees in SchenectadyDates: November 24–December 9Times: Monday–Saturday, 10:00am–5:00pm;Sunday, 12:00pm–5:00pmLocation: Schenectady County HistoricalSociety and YWCA of Schenectady, 32 & 44Washington Avenue, Schenectady, NYDetails: The Sixth Annual Festival of Treesis hosted by the Schenectady County HistoricalSociety and YWCA Northeastern NY. Seea fantastic display of lights at the Festival ofTrees in Schenectady. Let the decorations fillyou with the holiday spirit. Cost $5.Contact: albany.com/event/schenectadyfestival-of-treesnovember 29Drue Sanders Holiday OpenHouseDate: November 29Time: 5:00pm–8:00pmLocation: Drue Sanders Custom Jewelers,1675 Western Avenue, Albany, NYDetails: Great gifts for the holiday season.Stop in, browse and enjoy complimentarycocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The first 50people receive a holiday gift bag.Contact: druesanders.com or call518-464-9636Saratoga Springs VictorianStreet Walk 2012Date: November 29Time: 6:00pm–10:00pmLocation: Various locations in SaratogaSprings, NYDetails: Saratoga Springs Victorian StreetWalk is a holiday event that can’t be missed.As you walk the sidewalks of downtownSaratoga, you’ll see carolers and entertainersin period costumes. Kids can visit Santaand adults can enjoy the decorations at TheFestival of Trees.Contact: saratoga.com/event/saratogasprings-victorian-streetwalkHERLIFEnewyork.com 49

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THERE’S NO PLACE LIKEHOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.52 HERLIFEnewyork.com151 Wolf Road, Albany 518.458.1846Mon., Tues., Thurs. 10-8; Wed., Fri., Sat. 10-6; Sun. 12-5Complimentary Interior Design Service stickleyaudi.com