Your Hometowne

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Join our team at Hair and Now,

a well established salon with easy parking and great location in

Socha Plaza, Rt 50, Glenville

Must be experienced and have a book of clients.

Call Lori at 399-9655 for details

Success comes in can's….

Failures come in can't.

Salon Booth Rental Available!


2011 has already startedwith positive news in Your Hometowne! Two new businesses just openedin Burnt Hills! JennieThompson's New Age Oasisopened in Burnt Hills Plaza,Jennie is a physic and ahypnotist. The interior ofher Oasis is inviting and up scaled, her selection of giftsand crystals are beautiful. Just down the road on Rt 50Sunraes, a state of the art tanning salon is opening soon.The salon is packed with the latest in tanning equipmentand has room for several tanners at once! Glenville Health and Fitness had added a new room tooffer a variety of classes in and will be having an OpenHouse on the weekend on Jan 22nd and 23rd. Paul and I are really pleased to see people investing in ourcommunity, filling up empty buildings and growing theirexisting businesses to a new level. Our local entrepreneursare boldly moving forward in an economy that has manypeople fearful to invest, we applaud them!Your Hometowne is making some changes as well. Our

new logo with the star and stripes is meant to represent the pride and love Paul and I have for our country and our community. We have moved our column inside to give our advertisers an opportunity to be seen by you, ourreaders as you first open our paper. If it were not for thebusinesses that pay us to be in Your Hometowne, therewould be no YHT. Our local businesses want to captureyour attention and let you know that shopping local willpay back 10 fold over the big box stores, remember theyare sharing our property taxes. Please be sure to tell themyou saw them in YHT! We hope you don't mind turningthe page to read what we have to say. We continue to thank our soldiers, past and present forkeeping our country safe. Freedom isn't free. The sacrificesmade by our military men and women along withcountless volunteers allows us to maintain a way of life farabove most of the world, their dedication should never betaken for granted. On a final thought, a special thank you to Karen Garrison,our Graphic Artist. Karen understands the need forbuilding an image, not just an ad and has worked very hard to improve the image of many businesses in YHT.Karen's talents brought YHT to a new level; We have more than doubled in size sincebringing her on board in June.,we could not be more gratefulfor her tireless efforts andcreativity. Happy New Year from Cheryll, Paul, Randy and Al!

A message from WHAT OUR EXPERTS ARE SAYING...

Amy Aldrich, State Farm Insurance - Take Advantage of a Roth IRA

Burnt Hills Optical - Astigmatism

Cheap Geek - New Christmas Present? How to use it.

Dr. Maggs - Concerned Parents of Young Athletes

Chris Nyhan, Edward Jones - Financial Resolutions

Dr Oyangen - Second Hand Snoring

Padgett Business Services - Tax Credits

Precise Fitness - Fitness and Fat Loss

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


Some people are afraid of heights,

not me I'm afraid of widths.


Make one of your resolutions tolive in a warm and cozy home!

A preventative maintenance visitor a new high efficiency heating/cooling system will ensure thatyour home is comfortable nomatter what time of year it is.We will help you control yourenvironment with Perfect Heat

and Perfect Humidity.

Up to

MOREviewing area

“A word to the wiseisn't necessary - it's the stupid ones

who need the advice."

We are excited to announce that National Grid

Rebates and Federal Tax Credits are back on select heating

and cooling units!


Illuminations ElectricFireplace is a breakthrough product thatfeatures an eclectic fusion of materials -

colored glass, mined calcite stone, naturalbeeswax or frosted sleeves, mixed withpatented technology that fools the eyeinto thinking you have a beautiful fire-

place decorated with real burning candles.

WoodstovesWoodstoves provide more than

warmth; they have cook top surfacesthat make them a true workhorse!

Fireplace InsertsFireplace inserts maintain the

aesthetic appeal of your fireplacewhile delivering enormous savings in your heating bill! No more drafts

coming down the chimney.

w w w . y o u r - h o m e t o w n e . c o m1 0

Our Professional Staff has the knowledge you need for youpainting, staining, finishing projects and the tools you’ll need to do a perfect job.

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There was a man who entered a local

newspaper's pun contest, he submitted ten

different puns hoping at least one would win,

unfortunately no pun in ten did.


RING IN SOME NEW YEAR'SFINANCIAL RESOLUTIONSNow that 2011 is almost here, you may want to makesome New Year's resolutions. Planning to volunteer?Go to the gym more often? Learn a new language? Allworthy ambitions, of course, but this year, why not addsome financial resolutions as well?

Which resolutions should you make? Here are a few ideas to consider:Boost your retirement accounts. No matter how old you'll be in 2011,one thing is certain - you're a year closer to retirement than you were in2010. That's why you'll want to increase your contributions to yourretirement accounts. If your salary is going up in 2011, boost the amountyou defer for your employer-sponsored retirement plan. With tax-deductiblecontributions, tax-deferred growth of earnings and several investmentoptions, these types of plans are tremendous ways to save for retirement.And try to “max out” your traditional or Roth IRA, too.Look for opportunities. With the uncertainties in the economy and thevolatility of the financial markets, many decide to head to the investment“sidelines” for a while. Yet, this environment may actually be a good one forinvestors with patience, discipline and the ability to look beyond yesterday'sheadlines. For one thing, many quality securities are now good values. We'restill seeing low inflation and interest rates which may lead to greatereconomic demand and improved strength in financial markets.Don't over-react to market swings. Over the past few years, we've seenplenty of sudden, sharp swings in the financial markets, and you're likelygoing to see more of them in 2011. Don't over-react to either the “ups” orthe “downs” of the market. Over-reacting leads to short-term thinking - andsuccessful investors are the ones who can maintain a long-term perspective.Rebalance when necessary. At least once a year, review and rebalanceyour portfolio, as necessary, to make sure it still reflects your goals, risktolerance and family situation, all of which can change over time.Reduce your debts. While the sluggish economy of the past couple ofyears has obviously been a cause of concern for everyone, we have seen one“silver lining” in that many people, concerned about over-spending, haveshed some of their debt load. The less money you have to spend on yourdebts, the more you'll have available to invest for your future, so do whatyou can to cut down on what you owe.Maintain adequate cash levels. As an investor, you've got at least twogood reasons for maintaining enough cash in your portfolio. First, havingadequate cash available means you'll be ready to act quickly to takeadvantage of good investment opportunities. And second, by having a cashcushion, you won't be forced to liquidate long-term investments to pay forshort-term needs such as a major car repair, a new furnace, a big doctor'sbill, and so on.By following these suggestions, you can position yourself to make progresstoward your long-term goals in 2011 - and in all the New Years that follow.

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

Advisor with Edward Jones in Burnt Hills, NY. He serves asPresident of the BH-BL BPA and the BH-BL Rotary Club. He can be

reached at 399-5087 or [email protected].

1 3

You've bundled your feet into layers of tights, socks and winterboots, not thinking you need to get a pedicure because no one seesyour feet anyway.

Pedicures are more than just beauty treatments. Removing toughcalluses and keeping your toenails trimmed will make putting onthose clunky boots a lot more comfortable! Getting a professionalpedicure will help your feet stay healthy during the winter monthsand will make you feel better about yourself in general. There isnothing more inviting than the warm water massaging your feetthrough a jetted pedicure basin. The smells of the lotions, themassage that comes with it and “YOU” time that comes with apedicure is well worth the price you will pay for this type ofpampering. And it is a good preventative against fungus and other

nasty issues that can occur if no one is paying attention.

I go to Wendy Nails on Burnt Hills Plaza on Rt 50. The salon is brandnew, extremely comfortable and the owners are friendly andcourteous. Believe it or not I got Paul to get a pedicure a fewmonths ago and now he's hooked! He says his feet feel so muchbetter with the calluses removed and the proper trimming of his toenails. We joke that his feet actually look human again! When wewent to Florida he felt good about being barefoot on the beachrather than hiding his Man Feet!

Pedicures are not just to show your toes off in summer sandals, youstill have to look at your feet every day, and if you have a partner-so do they.

Knock Your Socks Off! Get a Winter Pedicure!

1 4

FITNESS AND FAT LOSS TIPSI don't know if you are one to make New Year'sResolutions or not, but either way you're probablythinking about how you can become fitter, healthierand happier than you are right now.

Here are some Fitness and Fat Loss Tips will get you onthe right track for this New Year:

1.Push the intensity of your workouts. Don't kill time, burn calories bymaintaining a challenging intensity.

2. Build accountability into your workouts so that you resist the temptation totake days off. The best way to ensure accountability is to work with a personaltrainer either one-on-one or in a group training setting.

3. Drink water throughout your day. This simple action is extremely beneficial.

4. Maintain your metabolism by eating a healthy snack or meal every threehours. This food should be unprocessed, low in fat and high in fiber.

5. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

6. Incorporate High Intensity Interval Training into your cardio workout.

7. Do not eat processed foods. These items are high in empty calories andcontain a plethora of chemicals that are harmful to your health.

8. Fill your diet with lean protein and carbohydrates from plants and wholegrains.

9. Be wary of products that are labeled as ‘health food'. Always read thenutrition labels.

10. Find a personal trainer to guarantee dramatic results.

11. Be consistent with your workouts. Exercise three to four times each week.

12. Eat lots of whole plant foods.Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are filledwith fiber and antioxidants, vital for your good health.

13. Do your cardiovascular exercise after weight training to ensure more fatburn.Your stored sugars will be depleted during the weight training then yourbody will rely on fat stores to get you through the cardio workout.

14. Start each day with a healthy breakfast.

You deserve better... go get it.

If your New Year's Resolution has to do with losing weight and getting intogreat shape (and whose doesn't?) then guarantee your success by workingwith a fitness expert who can guide you to success.

I'd love to team up with you - together we will transform your body in 2011!

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

to set up your free consultation.

ASTIGMATISMThis month we discuss the refractive errorknown as astigmatism.Astigmatism frequentlyoccurs with other vision conditions likenearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness(hyperopia). Together these vision conditionsare referred to as refractive errors becausethey affect how the eyes bend or "refract"light. Astigmatism is a very common vision

condition and most people have some degree of astigmatism. Slightamounts of astigmatism usually don't affect vision and don't requiretreatment. However, larger amounts cause distorted or blurred vision, eyediscomfort and headaches.The specific cause of astigmatism is unknown. It can be hereditary, isusually present from birth and it can change as a child grows and maydecrease or worsen over time.Astigmatism is caused by the cornea having an oblong shape, like a football,instead of spherical shape, like a basketball. A cornea with astigmatism hastwo curves, one flat curve and one that is steep. Light is then focused at twopoints instead of one. One point of focus may be in front of the retina andthe other behind. This causes images to appear distorted in addition toappearing blurry. Astigmatism may also be caused by an irregularly shapedcrystalline lens. This condition is termed "lenticular astigmatism."Sometimes astigmatism may develop following an eye injury or eye surgery.There is also a relatively rare condition called keratoconus where the corneabecomes progressively thinner and cone shaped. This results in a largeamount of astigmatism resulting in poor vision that cannot be clearlycorrected with spectacles. Keratoconus usually requires contact lenses forclear vision, and it may eventually progress to a point where a cornealtransplant is necessary.Eyeglasses are the simplest and safest way to correct astigmatism. Patientswith high amounts of astigmatism must have their glasses carefullyadjusted to their face. Contact lenses that correct astigmatism are calledtoric contact lenses. In many cases, contact lenses provide clearer vision, awider field of vision, and greater comfort. They are a safe and effectiveoption if fitted and used properly. Patients with large amounts ofastigmatism have greater success with rigid gas permeable contact lenses.Refractive Surgery aims to change the shape of the cornea permanently. Thischange in eye shape restores the focusing power of the eye by allowing thelight rays to focus precisely on the retina for improved vision. Individualswith astigmatism have a wide range of options to correct their visionproblem. In consultation with your optometrist, you can select thetreatment that best meets your visual and lifestyle needs.

For more information contact Kristen Cameron Burnt Hills Optical, 793 Rt. 50 Burnt Hills, 399-6130

or online at www.burnthillsoptical.com.Burnt Hills Optical was established in 1988 by Jean Bergstrom and

continues as Jean had planned under the leadership of Kris Cameron.The principles of superb patient care and service on which

Jean based her business remain unchanged.“We care for people - not just their eyes.”

1 5

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

If you're experiencing mild depression, lack of energy, sleeptrouble, and carb cravings, you might just be suffering from SAD orseasonal affective disorder. You're also likely not alone. Short dayswith little sunlight make SAD a somewhat common condition thistime of year in some parts of the country, but there are a few stepsyou can take to treat and ward off this condition naturally:

• Consider getting a light box.Thirty minutes exposure every daymay be all your body needs to bounce back. There are several kindson the internet, some are even portable. I have one on my desk rightnow! It has made an amazing difference on how I feel.

• Eat healthy proteins at every meal and limit your carbs to thecomplex kind: whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

• If exercising outdoors gives you the shivers, find an indooralternative.

• Add additional food sources of vitamin D to your diet to offsetthe loss of sunlight. Think fish -- cod, herring, sardines -- or milk andfortified cereal.

• If it's in your budget, get out of town and go someplace sunny.

Treating SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder Naturally

1 6

STAYING HEALTHY WITH DR. TIM MAGGS This is the 6th article of my 6 part series

6.) CONCERNED PARENTS OF YOUNGATHLETES™ PROGRAM

All athletes have biomechanical imbalances, as seen in Fig. 1. This isknown as your Structural Fingerprint®. Regardless of whether thereare symptoms or not, these imbalances are precursors to current andfuture injuries.

All imbalances originate in the feet.

High school athletes are never looked at untilthey become injured, which is reactive care.These young athletes must also undergo a pre-season physical examination, however, this ismostly a medical exam (checking eyes, ears,nose and throat). The only biomechanical testperformed during these exams is a cursory checkfor scoliosis.When I worked with the New York Giants andconsulted with the Chicago Bulls, these twoteams used a conditioning pyramid that guided them in preparing playersfor the season. Every player had to pass 6 tests (anaerobic capacity, bodycomposition, joint mobility, strength endurance, core strength andaerobic capacity) before they were allowed in the weight room.In our middle and high schools, young, growing, biomechanicallyimbalanced kids are entering the weight room every day with no onescreening them for the imbalances and weaknesses that will dramaticallyimpact their future.Our Concerned Parents of Young Athlete’s™ Program encourages allmiddle and high school athletes to go through a comprehensivebiomechanical exam (The Structural Fingerprint™ Exam) at NO CHARGEand NO OBLIGATION. This information will provide a blue print of ayoung athlete’s biomechanics with a full report of findings andrecommendations.The Structural Fingerprint® Exam is themost comprehensive biomechanical testingavailable anywhere in the country today, and isdesigned to detect biomechanical faults. Onceperformed, a customized corrective program isrecommended. The Test consists of:. Foot/Knee Exams. Leg Length Tests. Joint Mobility Tests. Muscle Balance TestsCall today to schedule this examination for any middle or highschool athlete.

Figure 1

. Center of Gravity Test

. Stability Test

. Digital Foot Exam

. Standing Biomechanical X-Rays

The invisible man married the invisible woman;

their children aren't much to look at.


The Wright brothers' historic flight covered

a distance less than the length of

today's Space Shuttle.


Since June 1, 2008 Amy Aldrich has owned her State Farm Agency locatedin Socha Plaza, Glenville. Her career with State Farm started long beforethat, holding several mid-management positions for 15 years prior tolaunching her agency. Ironically her last position was manager of therecruiting department handling the entire Northeast; from Pennsylvaniaand New Jersey and north to Bangor Maine. With a growing family thetravel becoming less enticing, Amy decided to stay closer to home andrecruited herself to become an agent here in Glenville!

Her experience is what makes Amy stand out from the rest. Her vastknowledge of State Farm's internal workings allows her to guide her policyholders and investors to build custom plans to fit their specific needs. StateFarm is a mutual company, meaning decisions are made for what's best forthe policy holder's not the stockholders; she prides herself on herpersonalized relationships that deliver without having to dial a 1-800number. When it comes to the Auto, Home, Life, Health, BusinessInsurance, Banking and Mutual Funds; Amy knows State Farm's offeringsinside and out.

Her agency employs 2 full time employees and 1 part time employee. Heroffice is professional and comfortable. When you walk through her dooryou are greeted immediately and you can feel the harmony of the people

who work there. Amy's years of management experience and dealing in the

business world has given her the ability to build her team and create anenvironment that is fun and upbeat, yet professional and detail oriented.

She is a great relationship builder and truly loves her community and whatshe does. As if running an agency and raising 2 young children is notenough Amy is the Vice President of the Schenectady Kiwanis, Treasurer ofthe Glenville Business and Professional Association, Member of the BurntHills- Ballston Lake Professional Association and immediate past PTAPresident of Steven's Elementary School. Her involvement in thecommunity and dedication to her family and business comes from theheart. I have had the pleasure of doing business with Amy for over a yearnow and she always takes the time to sit with me and discuss her plans forthe future. She also shares her business knowledge with me to help me growYour Hometowne. As busy as she is, Amy is never selfish with her time.

State Farm's Mission Statement is as follows:Our mission is to improve the lives and futures of our customers, and thecommunity at large, by offering the products and services that best suit theirinsurance and financial services needs, one relationship at a time.

Amy Aldrich fulfills the mission and beyond. My respect for her as abusiness woman, mom and trusted advisor is immense. You will not bedisappointed if you chose Amy and her team to handle your insurance andinvestment needs.

123 Saratoga Road Socha Plaza Glenville384-2692

Like a good neighbor, Amy Aldrich is there!

See Amy’s

ad on

Page 26!


ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A ROTH IRA?By Amy M. Aldrich, State Farm® AgentSimply put... contributing to a Roth IndividualRetirement Account (IRA) may be a smart moneymove. The question then is...are you taking fulladvantage? The benefit of contributing to the Roth

IRA is the money you put into one of these accounts grows tax free and distributions may be made tax free.1

If you haven't opened a Roth IRA, do it now. You have until your taxdeadline (typically April 15) to set up an account and make contributionsfor the previous year. Annual contributions are limited; currently themaximum amount is $5,000.2 That means you can invest $5,000 for 2010,giving you a solid start to your savings.If you're just starting to invest, the Roth IRA should be one of your firstoptions – even before you open a regular, taxable account or contribute toa workplace retirement savings plan. The only exception is if your employeroffers a match on your 401(k) contributions. That's free money you don'twant to pass up. You can invest in both a Roth IRA and a workplaceretirement plan.Not sure where to find money to fund your account? Consider investingyour tax refund. The amount could be a great start for funding a Roth IRA.There are specific income restrictions for contributing to a Roth IRA.Contributions are limited and based on the taxpayer's filing status andModified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). When the taxpayer's incomeexceeds the eligibility limits for contributing to a Roth IRA, an eligibilityphase out period begins.For 2011, the MAGI phase out range for contributing to a Roth IRA is:

• At least $169,000 but less than $179,000 for a married couple filinga joint return or a qualified widow(er)

• At least $107,000 but less than $122,000 for a single individual orhead of household

• Less than $10,000 for a married individual filing a separate returnYour exact contribution amount can be calculated using the worksheetsfound in Publication 590 on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.1 Withdrawals are tax-free if you're over age 59•• and at least five years have expired sinceyou established a Roth IRA. Otherwise withdrawals of gain may be taxable (unless thewithdrawal is “qualified”) and may be subject to a 10% tax penalty.2 An individual can contribute up to $5,000 (or 100% of earned income, whichever is less) fortax year 2011. If you are over age 50, you are allowed to make additional catch-upcontributions of $1,000 for tax years 2010 and 2011. Your adjusted gross income may limit yourcontribution amount.

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

The man who invented lifesavers

made himself a mint.


PADGETT PATHWAYSHappy New Year! As the calendar turns, it's time torefocus and recap your financial situation, as theincome tax deadline looms. My name is Joe Sangalineand along with my wife, Amy, we own the local PadgettBusiness Services franchise. Please check us out whenyou are online! We want to share with you our new website: www.padgett-capitaldistrict.com. This month's

article will highlight the Small Business Health Care Credit, the SocialSecurity Tax and Nanny Tax, the 2001 Standard Mileage Rates, and theChanges to Flexible Spending Arrangements. Please feel free to contact usif you have a questio, email [email protected] or call 348-1666.Small Business Health Care CreditThe Affordable Care Act provides for a small business health care tax creditdesigned to encourage small businesses to offer health insurance coverageto their employees for the first time or maintain coverage they already have.In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half ofthe premiums for single health insurance coverage for their employees. Fortax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paidby eligible small businesses. The maximum credit goes to smaller employers-- those with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees -- payingannual average wages of $25,000 or less. The credit is completely phasedout for employers that have 25 or more FTEs or that pay average wages of$50,000 or more per year. Eligible small businesses will first use Form 8941to figure the credit and then include the amount of the credit as part of thegeneral business credit on its income tax return.Social Security Tax and Nanny TaxThe Social Security Administration has announced that the wage base forcomputing the Social Security tax in 2011 remains unchanged for the thirdyear in a row at $106,800. The first $106,800 of employee wage income for2011 will be subject to FICA tax at a rate of 15.3% (combined employer andemployee shares). Wages above this threshold will be subject to theMedicare tax of 2.9% (combined employer and employee shares). The Self-

employment (SE) tax applies at the same rates on the same amounts of SEincome, and there will be no upper limit on the income subject to the 2.9%tax rate. The Social Security Administration announced that for 2011, cashpayments for domestic service in the employer's private home are not FICAwages if the amount paid is less than $1,700 (unchanged from 2010).2011 Standard Mileage RatesBeginning January 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a carwill be: • 51 cents per mile for business miles driven • 19 cents per miledriven for medical or moving purposes • 14 cents per mile driven in serviceof charitable organizations. You may not use the business standard mileagerate for a vehicle after taking depreciation or after claiming a Section 179deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage ratecannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehiclesused simultaneously. When the vehicle is initially placed into service, you havethe option of calculating the actual costs of using that vehicle rather thanusing the standard mileage rates.Changes to Flexible Spending ArrangementsEffective Jan. 1, 2011, the cost of an over-the-counter medicine or drugcannot be reimbursed from Flexible Spending Arrangements or healthreimbursement arrangements unless a prescription is obtained. The changedoes not affect insulin or other health care expenses such as medicaldevices, eye glasses, contact lenses, co-pays and deductibles. The newstandard applies only to purchases made on or after Jan 1, 2011, so claimsfor medicines or drugs purchased without a prescription in 2010 can still bereimbursed in 2011, if allowed by the employer's plan. A similar rule goesinto effect on Jan 1, 2011 for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and ArcherMedical Savings Accounts (Archer MSAs).You and your employees should takethese changes into account as they make health benefit decisions for 2011.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.


Pork Shoulder Roast with Sauerkraut

2 1/2 to 3 lb. Boneless beef chuck pot roast fromGarafalo's1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper1 tablespoon Cooking oil2 medium onions cut in wedges3 cloves garlic, minced1 c brewed coffee1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes from Garafalo's1/4 c bottled mole sauce (in the Mexican foodaisle)

Trim fat from beef. Season beef on all sides withsalt and pepper. In a 5-quart Dutch oven brownbeef on all sides in hot oil. Remove beef fromDutch oven and set aside.In same Dutch oven cook onions over mediumheat 4 to 5 minutes or just until edges begin tobrown. Stir in garlic; cook 1 to 2 minutes or untilfragrant. Place beef on onion mixture. Add coffee,tomatoes, and mole sauce. Bring to boiling.Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 1 1/2 to 2hours or until beef is tender.

Chuck Roast with Onion Gravy 1.1 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/4 cup)

8 (2 1/2-ounce) beef short ribs, trimmed byGarafalo's expert butcher shop1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper2 tablespoons olive oil3/4 c diced onion1/3 c diced celery1/4 c veal demi-glace3/4 c hot water1/2 c dry red wineThyme sprigs (optional)1/4 c veal demi-glace10 whole black peppercornsServe this hearty winter dish over mashedpotatoes. Preheat oven to 350°. Place flour ina shallow dish. Sprinkle beef evenly on allsides with salt and pepper; dredge in flour.Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-highheat. Add oil to pan, and swirl to coat. Addbeef to pan; sauté for 8 minutes, turning tobrown on all sides. Remove beef from pan.Add diced onion, diced celery, diced carrot,and chopped leek to pan; sauté 5 minutes,stirring occasionally. Add garlic; sauté 1 min,stirring frequently. Place peppercorns, 3 thymesprigs, and bay leaves on a double layer ofcheesecloth. Gather edges of cheeseclothtogether; tie securely. Place herb and spicebundle in pan; return beef to pan. Dissolvedemi-glace in 3/4 c hot water, stirring well. Adddemi-glace mixture and wine to pan; bring to aboil. Cover and bake for 2 1/2 hours or untilbeef is fork tender. Remove beef from pan;strain cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieveover a bowl. Discard solids. Serve cookingliquid with beef. Garnish with thyme sprigs,if desired.

1/3 c diced carrot1/4 c chopped leek1 garlic clove, minced3 fresh thyme sprigs2 bay leaves3/4 c hot water1/2 c dry red wine

1 can Sauerkraut (14.5 ounce) with carawayseeds, rinsed and drained1 boneless Pork shoulder roast or Pork sirloinroast (2-1/2 pound) from Garafalo'sSaltBlack pepper2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard1 c beer

Place sauerkraut in a 3-1/2 or 4-quart slowcooker. Trim fat from meat. If necessary, cut meat to fit into the slow cooker. Lightly sprinklemeat with salt and pepper. Spread mustard over meat. Place meat on top of sauerkraut in cooker. Pour beer over the meat.Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.Transfer meat to a cutting board; cool slightly.Slice meat, discarding any fat.Serve sauerkraut with meat. Makes 8 servings.

Open-Face Pork SandwichesToast rye bread slices; spread one side of eachslice with Dijon-style mustard. Arrange breadslices on a baking sheet. Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds.Top each bread slice with drained sauerkraut,shredded pork, and shredded Swiss cheese.Place baking sheet under broiler 3 to 4 inchesfrom the heat.Broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese melts.

Braised Beef Short Ribs

Garofalo’s has a full Butcher Shop offering fresh cut selections daily

as well as fresh produce,cheeses, pasta’s and

tomato products.All the custom spices such as the “Essentials, Mediterranean and Good Stuff” blends used in their

recipes are available exclusively at Garofalo’s Market.


HAPPY NEW YEAR AND OH, DON'T FORGET TOBREATHE!Can you believe that it has been one year that I havebeen writing this article for Your Hometowne? Iremember that first call to Cheryll, trying to pawn offmy so-called writing skills. I guess as you can see, it

worked and ....the rest is history!

With each New Year, we take a look back on what we did and we lookforward to new beginnings. As I reminisce about the past, I realize I havecome a long way. Not only in my health or my speech, but I have comea long way in my thinking. When I look back, I did realize I'd beenholding my breathe all my life. Sometimes circumstance is thrust uponus and from that we change either by necessity or by choice. There weremany times my body told me I could not do it, and yet a little voice insideme always said I could! I am glad I did not listen to that other voice. Itdid however make me notice that if my circumstance weredifferent...would I have been here, doing what I do now and doing whatI love??? People say that we are put here on God's green earth for apurpose, a dream, a hope or an aspiration. I do believe that as well. Iwill say that, I also believe that we have to help it along somehow orsomeway. It is up to us to run with it. And that is what I did! I sat downone day, knowing I didn't need a reason. I didn't need a new year tocome to a resolve. I just needed to make a list, a "bucket list" as itwere...AND to start breathing again!

As I took the yellow lined paper and sat and stared at it for some time, Ithought about what I wanted to do. I thought about what I wanted tosee and mostly who I wanted to be. As I added to the list line byline...visit Greece, speak German fluently enough that every other wordwas not a German swear word and, of course on the list was to write. Asthe list grew and the paper filled up, the more I felt I was able toaccomplish them. Maybe it was the mere fact that I had acknowledgedthe list and that I had wrote them down. I of course wrote it all in pencilbecause; well to be honest, I can change my mind on a whim. It did notmatter if the list changed ten times, I knew I would work my way throughit enjoying each moment as they came and to relish the feeling of shearelation as I marked each one off my list.

I will ask you....have you been holding your breath your whole life? Takethis opportunity by necessity or by choice to allow this to be yourresolution to make your own "bucket list". Think about where you wantto go, what you want to see and who you want to be. Our purpose hereis to live the best life we can and by doing just that we inspire others todo the same. So what are you waiting for? Don't hold your breath! Getthat paper and pencil out and start writing!

As always, I wish you peace, joy and a very blessed New Year.... and don'tforget to breathe in life!

Pattie Rakvica • [email protected]


www.frankandsonsbodyworks.com


About our cover-Grandson; Noah August Ives

Son of Bethany (my beautiful stepdaughter) and Justin Ives

Noah is 9 months old and proudly sports the middle name of his Great Grandpa, August Wurster. A few of you may remember

Wurster's Sporting Goods of Ballston Spa. Noah is the Great Grandsonof Augie Wurster, one of the original entrepreneurs of this area.

Augie's 3 sons all went on to be speed skating champions in the 1960's. John Wurster, Beths Dad, and yes, my ex but still my friend was

the National Outdoor and North American Indoor Champion in the Senior Class (1976). Seven times National Team member; World

Sprint Team member (1970); two times Olympic Team member (1968,1972). He set one National Outdoor and one North American record.

Ritchie Wurster, Noah's Great Uncle was National Long TrackChampion as a senior in 1965, 1966 and 1975, and runner-up in 1970 and 1971. U. S. Open Long Track Champion in 1969 and 1970. North American Long Track Champion in 1971 and 1975. Set numerous national records at distances of 880 yards and longer.

Member of U. S. World team in 1965 and 1968 and the U. S. Olympic Team in 1968.

Dave Wurster, Noah's Great Uncle, also an excellent skater took a different path than his brothers and became a Boat Captain in Florida.

Noah's Dad. Justin is an avid sportsman, loves to fish the local lakes and enjoys loving his family! Noah has sports in his blood- I know

he will be a champion in his own way when he grows up! You have to admit he is gorgeous! ~Cheryll


STAY TUNEDWith Paul Hill

2011is off to a GREAT start. OnNew Year's Eve we wereable to combine our

annual tradition of watching the ball drop inTimes Square from the comfort of our ownhome and attend a birthday celebration for oneof our good friends, Glen Watkins at the Rollin'Stone. Angie (bartender and girlfriend of Glen)planned a surprise party complete with greatfood, outstanding music and as my wife said-she was able to dance off some of thoseChristmas cookies!The band is called Cornerstone and the namesays it all. A trio from Rotterdam, these guy'shad my attention from the get go. Digging intothe history bag, Cornerstone visited JohnMellincamp, the Moody Blues and the Zombieswith a rendition of “tell her no” that turnedeveryone's head. Not to be left out on the cold,Dell Shannon's' “ Runaway” had us all waxingmelancholy, singing along as if it were 1961 allover again. It didn't end there, Bass player andvocalist Jeff Haines belted out Joe Cockers“Unchain My Heart “, then lead player JoeWhimple followed up with Chicago's “Only theBeginning”.One rarely hears anyone attempt Van Morrison,one of the most unique voices in the business;however Joe has Nan's voice nailed to thenote. Kicking it up a notch later in the set,comfortably switching from an acoustic 12string to the “fine china” a sweet Fender

Stratocaster like mine; he handles the lead withease.Jeff compliments the trio with harmony and afive string bass filling in the Rhythm with basslines and chords, rendering a great blend andsolid fill to the band. What really impressed meabout this trio is that no one tries to outplay ordominate the other but make no mistake;Drummer Dana Lane is the Corner Stone andpulse of the group. Listening through headsetsDana guides the band with solid percussion

and chunky fills keeping it all in a tight pocket.Dana and Joe have been playing together forover 8 years in a band named Justice. Theypicked up Jeff about 6 months ago to formCornerstone. This was only their third time outin public together, you would have neverknown by listening.Once again the Rollin Stone churned outanother night of great local talent, provingYOUR HOMETOWNE is a great place to live.Stay Tuned...

“The lion and the calf shall lie down

together but the calf won't get much sleep."

- Woody Allen

From the Andersons Family

I wanted to let you all know how grateful our family iswith the incredible home improvements. Team Pena turnedour house into a dream home. We are totally overwhelmedwith the new bow window, the new bedroom windows and the important insulation which helps keep us warm! The fantastic fancy new door makes the house looks great.

We want to recognize all of these incredible elves. Robert Pena, Judy Pena, Chris Pena, Lisa Pena, Charity Vogle,Rob Fish, Rob Marotta, Chris Halladay, Tom Fraley, RyanRaymond,Chris Dingman, Jared Berggren and Todd Carkner.

Thanks to everyone who helped behind the scenes. It's amazing! It is a dream come true.

-Jeanne, Ray, Ryan, Michael, Jennifer Andersons



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JANUARY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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ACROSS1. Dry5. 24 little hours8. Website addresses12. In front of13. Bravery15. Train track16. Top of a house17. Palm cockatoo

18. "Good going!"19. Ubiquitous22. Recent23. Fifty-two in Roman numerals24. Blunder26. Shake29. Emblem31. 3rd person pronoun female32. Skirt fold

34. A cap with no brim or bill36. Annoyance38. A financial inspection40. 365 days41. Came up43. Undersides of feet45. When it's clear, it's blue46. Pass48. Accord50. Murres51. VCR button52. Picnic insect54. Secret61. Be in an agitated state63. Prepare64. Inspiration65. Dwarf buffalo66. Parisian river67. Pledges68. Transmit69. Beer70. Alternatively

DOWN1. A type of hair style2. Chamber3. Press laundry4. Desecrate5. Have the nerve6. "Oh, my!"7. Bygone time

8. Ashes holder9. Tropical woodland10. Cooties11. Killed13. Smallpox14. Slender and long-limbed20. Panderer21. Grave25. Comply with26. Not here27. Determination28. Utilize again29. Piling30. Porous31. Resort33. Bother35. Attempt37. Russian emperor39. Belonging to this world42. Majestic44. Notices47. Preserves, as pork49. Dynamic52. Fabrics made from goat hair53. Not a single one55. Region56. Wood fastener57. Eat58. Graven image59. Current event information60. Lack of difficulty62. Young boy

Here we sit with our sleds tuned upentering the New Year STILL waitingfor a significant snowstorm! The onewe just received as a late Christmaspresent is already melting and wasn’treally enough to begin with. Thetrails are waiting too, everything isready to go. Our groomers are readywith a new drag recently built; all weneed is the snow. If anyone has an“in” with the weather man, now isthe time to drop the hint.

We are planning a second annualfamily fun day “let it snow”ceremonial bonfire at Bob’s Trees in Galway on January 20th. Wesure hope that this year people can attend by driving there on thesleds. Bob’s Tree’s has good food at reasonable prices so everyonecan grab a bite to eat and get a hot chocolate or a soda withoutbreaking the bank.

Our 1st of the season snowmobilesafety course was recently held andtaught by Christen Zellucki.Depending on the demand, morecourses may be scheduled. Once thetrails do open, look for our club to besponsoring rides. Information onsponsored rides and safety courseswill be available on the Club web sitewww.Charltonsnowmobileclub.comor join us on Face book.

For anyone interested there is agroomer show again at SalisburyRidge Runners Club House Jan 14th

and 15th. For now, let’s hope for some fresh snow so we can get outon the trails and ride!

From all of us here at the Charlton Snowmobile Club, enjoy theseason and ride safe!

hits the trails with the CHARLTON SNOWMOBILE CLUB


JANUARY 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 Library will be Closed on Monday, January 17th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The January Meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be held on Wednesday, January26th at 7 PM in the library community room. Meetings are open to the public and we hope tosee you there!

The Winter 2011 schedules for computer classes and children's programs are nowavailable at the library and online at http://toblibrary.sals.edu and http://toby.sals.edu

The Town of Ballston Community Library is proud to be one of the recipients of the2011 Saratoga County Program for Arts Funding (SPAF) Project and Artist Grants andArts-in-Education Grants. The library will receive $1,850 for a program series titled "AComputer Montage - Combining Art and Technology." Working with artist Anne Francey and Technical Advisor Maryann Haskell, children and adultswill be able to create individual works of art reflecting a favorite book which will then bescanned into the computer and put on a tile. The tiles will be made into a collage on a tabletopin the main reading room of the library for all to enjoy. This is a unique opportunity forcommunity members, both children and adults, to create art that will become part of apermanent library display. Programs are planned for April, 2011.These programs are made possible in part with funds from the Saratoga Program for Arts

Thursday, January 13th 6-7:30pm Cat Mat Workshop - APF - 53 Maple Ave. ScotiaEvery cat deserves a mat and the APF uses thousands every year. Join us fora fun evening where you will learn three different ways of making cat mats,including a simple no-sew and two sewing methods. Children ages 8 and upare welcome with an adult. Please bring at least two yards of new fleecefabric, a needle, thread and scissors. If you have a portable sewing machine,bring it along. To reserve your spot, call (518) 374-3944, ext. 119.

Donate Your “Unloved” Jewelry to Help Shelter Pets by January 15thHelp shelter pets by donating jewelry that you no longer wear. The AnimalProtective Foundation (APF) is accepting donations of all types of jewelry forits 3rd Annual Tails of Treasure Jewelry Event through January 15, 2011.

Tails of Treasure will take place on Tuesday, February 9 from 4 pm to 8 pm atThe Waters Edge Lighthouse, located at 2 Freemans Bridge Road in Glenville.The event will feature literally thousands of pieces of new and pre-ownedjewelry, including vintage, costume, and fine jewelry, all priced to sell.If you have items to donate, please call 374-3944, ext. 119 or visitwww.animalprotective.org for more information. All proceeds will supportthe APF’s adoption and spay/neuter programs.

Saturday, January 22nd 12-4pmBottle and Can Drive - APF - 53 Maple Ave. ScotiaIf possible ... it makes things a lot faster and easier if you can do thefollowing. If you can't, we will still gladly accept them.

• remove caps from all bottles• separate cans, glass and plastic into different clear bags• separate recyclable water bottles• put items in clear plastic bags and write on outside the number of cans

or bottles within

Funding (SPAF) part of the Decentralization regrantprogram of the New York State Council on the Arts(NYSCA), administered by Saratoga Arts.The Oakroom Artists will have art on display atthe Town of Ballston Community Library from January4-27, 2011. A reception for the public will be held onJanuary 12th from 6:30-8PM. Students - come join usfor refreshments and talk with the artists about theirwork and professions in the arts.

Knitters, crocheters, and other yarn crafters areinvited to join our social crafting evening on February2nd from 7-9PM in the library community room.Please note that this is a new night of the week!

Sign up to receive our weekly e-news by going tohttp://toblibrary.sals.edu or http://tobylibrary.sals.edu

and putting your e-mail address in the appropriate box.


Answers from Crossword Puzzle on page 28

Answers from Kids Crossword Puzzle on page 27

GEEK TIP OF THE MONTHHOW TO USE IT… THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Now that the holidays are over, I’m sure many ofyou purchased or received new digital cameras.How to use it…that is the question!Be sure to read the manual that came with your

camera to understand all the basic features. After you have taken yourphotos you will then upload them to your computer. Once you have themuploaded, you can then share them with friends and family.One of the most popular ways to share digital images is by e-mail. You justwrite a message, attach or insert the image file, and send it to one or morerecipients. There are two basic ways to include a photo in a message, as anattachment or as an insert.Almost all e-mail programs still have an Attach command somewhere ontheir menus. When you use this command, you then enter the name of theimage file you want to attach, or browse to find it on your system. Afteryou've attached the photo, you just click the Send command and themessage with the attached photo is on its way.When an e-mail with an attachment arrives at the recipient's end, they canopen the attachment to see the photo. The one big problem withattachments is that they can be used to spread viruses so many people havestopped opening them and some firewalls or filters block them.Instead of attaching a photo, you can insert it right into the body of amessage. When the recipient opens the e-mail, the photo is displayed alongwith the text so there is no need to open an attachment. To create thisenhanced form of e-mail, the e-mail program uses HTML, the same languageused to layout and format Web pages. Since enhanced e-mail is such apopular way to send photos this feature is frequently integrated intoprograms you use to edit and organize your images.To insert a photo: Open a new e-mail and select the Insert > Picturecommand to browse your system for the image you want to send.After selecting an image, it's inserted into the e-mail and goeswherever it goes. The recipient sees the e-mail embedded in theirmessage and can then save it to their own hard disk so they canprint it.There is a certain etiquette to be observed when e-mailing photos,especially regarding file sizes and formats. Be sure to send images in aformat, such as JPEG, that most e-mail programs support. Not only is itimpolite to send too large an image (or too many images), they may also beblocked by an e-mail gateway somewhere along the route or by the settingson the recipient's computer. To make an image smaller, use a photo-editingprogram, such as Picasa from Google, to reduce the size to 640 x 480 or so,and increase compression. A smaller image will still look great on thescreen. When you want to share your photos with the largest possibleaudience, you can post them on-line, such as Facebook or Flickr. Next monthwe’ll talk about Webcams and how to set-up and use them.Until next time…..safe computing!Maggie Faltskog, Cheap Geek Computer Services, 399-8886


Unique lunches and dinners.Offering simple dishes,

originally conceived and authentically prepared.

Home of Country Designs and Furnishings.

The Americana Furniture and Accessories at the Charlton Shop will bring that feeling of warmth into any décor.

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