October 2016

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

WE’RE SAVING YOU A SEAT!

Save the Date 2

Donor Thanks! 2

Plan to Celebrate Silver! 3

The Apple Tree Near & Far! 4 & 5

Rai$ing Dough - How High? 6

Study Groups 8 & 9

Afternoon Tea Party 13

Inside this issue:

Points of Interest

Afternoon Tea!

Academy Extras

Register for Study Groups - it’s not too late!

Event Calendar

Shout Out!

West Side Sports Bar &

Grill,

Thanks for the Dough!

October! Our favorite color!

NOTES FROM

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I hope you enjoyed your summer and are

settling into fall and A.L.L. classes!

More than130 members and Academy friends attended our fall kick-off luncheon last month at the Knights of Columbus. Louise Young, A.L.L. executive council

chair, welcomed every-one and reflected on the

joy of being a member.

New members were asked to briefly intro-

duce themselves and to let the audience know how they had heard about A.L.L.. One new member actually chose Sarato-ga Springs over Albany when looking for a home because of the Academy! Wel-come all! We also heard from study group leaders who enthusiastically

shared information about their classes.

Many thanks to our volunteers, especially the Event Planning and Membership Committees for plan-ning, welcoming new

members and provid-ing door prizes. Thank you, too, to our study group leaders and last (but not least!) to those who brought food and drink. You

outdid yourselves this fall!

Classes are in session with over 300 mem-bers (35 new!) enrolled in fall study groups. As always, we welcome your in-

put in providing the best programs possi-

ble.

My personal thanks to our donors who are generous with the Academy all year long whether it’s during class registra-tions, in response to our spring and/or fall fund drives, or in memory of a passed member. Please be on the look out for

our fall fund drive letter which should be arriving in A.L.L. members’ mailboxes later this month. Please be as generous as you

can; your support is vital to the Academy.

I hope you will take advantage of our Academy Extras (see page 10 for all fall events). Please RSVP Vera at the A.L.L. office, and think about inviting a friend to join you; there’s no better way to ac-quaint non members with our organiza-tion! Please let us know what topics you are interested in knowing more about.;

we’ll try our best to make them happen!

Photos at left and below by Bernie Fabry at the Kick-Off Luncheon. At left above - Ann Gawler and Sheryl Egger work the welcome table. At left below - one of the buffet tables. Below - A.L.L. members meet with Study Group Leaders.

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

Upcoming

Events Save These Dates!

See page 10 for detailed list of fall events.

Oct 1 - Boomers Expo, Noon - 5 PM, Sa-

ratoga Springs City Center

Oct 7 - Academy Extra: Long Term Care

Ins. at Prestwick Chase - 10 - 11:30AM

(see page 7)

Oct 10 - A.L.L. Office closed - no classes -

in observance of Columbus Day

Oct 15 - National Lifelong Learning Day

Oct 18 - Pasta Making at Serendipity Arts

Studio 5 PM (see flyer on page 11)

Oct 21 - Academy Extra: Antiques - Iden-

tification, Appraisal and Marketing Part 1

9 AM - noon (see flyer on page 12 - note,

there will be a $15 fee for this Academy

Extra)

Oct 27 - Afternoon Tea at The Grove (see

pages 4 and 11)

Oct 28 - Academy Extra: Antiques - Iden-

tification, Appraisal and Marketing En-

core, 2 9AM - noon

Nov 3 - Wine Appreciation & Pairing at

Serendipity Arts Studio, 5 - 7 PM (details

to be announced)

Nov 6 - Chronicle Book Fair - Queensbury

Hotel, 11 AM - 3 PM

Nov 6 - Daylight Savings Time ends - Turn

your clocks back 1 hour at 2 AM today!

Nov 10 - End of Term Cocktail Party -

Prestwick Chase 4 - 6PM

Nov 29, 30, Dec 1 - Buy tickets - A Charlie

Brown Christmas (details to be an-

nounced)

Dec 9 - Holiday Luncheon at Longfellows

11 AM (details to be announced)

Dec 9 - A Charlie Brown Christmas at Spa

Little Theater, 7:30 PM (details to be an-

nounced)

Dec 10 - Barnes & Noble Book Fair - 9 AM

- 5 PM (details to be announced)

A.L .L . Fund Drive It’s no secret that balancing the budget for most non-profits is a difficult -

but necessary - task in these days of shrinking funding for most. Here at

the Academy, we’re no different, but because of the generosity of our

members and friends, we have made ends meet and are able to continue

our work - offering study groups and social opportunities! And for that

we are most grateful. These donors gave generously during our 2015 -

2016 fiscal year; thank you all! We appreciate and applaud you!

Regent ($500 and above): Anony-

mous, Barnes & Noble, Fred Baum,

Rita Carozza, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gor-

man

Dean ($250 - $499): Anonymous,

Richard Bartholomew, Alex & Me-

gan James, Alice Martin, Shirley

Neth, The West Sports Bar & Grill

Educator ($100 - $249) Francy

Balch, Balet Flowers & Design, Bev-

erly Becker, Kathleen Boehmer, Ve-

ronica Brown, Cathy Buckwalter,

Daureen Caiazzo, Alice Carroll, Mr &

Mrs. Jerome Cartwright, Elizaeth

Cassidy, Henry & Gisela Cooke,

Janie Cornell, Mary Crotty, Marilyn

Cummings, Janice Cutbush’s class

“Circle of Poets,” Patricia Davis,

Carolee De Blaere, Robert & Marcia

DeSieno, Thomas Doeblin, Todd &

Ellen Downing, Kathryn dudding,

Margaret Duval, Robert & Carolyn

Eckelhoff, Alan Fritz, Ann Gawler,

Dorothy Kelliher, Mary Lawrence,

Marilyn & Wilson Mathias, Janice

MePhee, Mary Jane Miles, Grace

Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Allen Mossman,

Joseph Peck, Patricia Peterson, Bob

& Linda Pommerer, Ronald Ramsey,

Joyce Rubin, Catherine Szenczy,

Louis & Judith Tirelli, Susan Valaitis,

Robert & Ruth Yates

Leader ($75 - $99): Corinna Bishop,

Joan Doran, Marsha Fagan, Marjo-

rie Gibbs, Anita Kopff, Norman &

Victoria Morey, James Richmond,

Royann Rogerson, Anton & Beatrice

Rohrmeier, Dorree Smassanow

Facilitator ($50 - $74): Carol Alexan-

der, Charles and Margaret Beers,

Gail Blackmer, Bailey Bloom, James

& Patricia Briglin, Beverly Brown,

Nancy Cameron, Kathryn Cas-

simeris, Ann Connolly, Janet Conti,

Marianne Dorsey, Sheryl Egger, Nor-

man Facklam, Deanna Fryhle, Jo-

seph Haedrich, Daniel Kelleher, Emi-

ly Killian, Christel Koch, Suzanne

Laplante, Scheryl LoMonico, Helen

Lucas, David & Elizabeth Marcinko,

Frank Matera, Jane Matthews, Ka-

ren O’Rourke, David & Helen Porter,

Gretchen Ruhl, Georgette Sadler,

Irma Somich, Mary Anne Weather-

wax, Joan Weaver, Nancy Woykow-

ski

Friend (up to $49): Anonymous,

Wendy Baird, Carole Baker, Louise

Carlini, Diane Casano, Mmary Lou

Casey, Thomas Cobb, Susan

Coveney, Pamela Crane, Catherine

Crumb, Mary Duffy, Judith Fiore,

Mary Firman, Barbara Floryshak,

General Electric Foundation, Judith

Gorman, Carol Gregson, Marjorie

Hamill, Eugenia Haneman, Christine

Harmon, Maria Harrison, Linda

Howe, Mary Huber, Susan Jorgen-

sen, Judith Judge, Roberta Kappler,

Judy Keller, Robert & Karen Kelley,

Robert & Helene Kirkham, Christa

Kraft, Agnes Liedel, Laurel Male, Pa-

tricia Malloy, David & Shanon Mar-

tin, David Mesh, Rosemary Munter,

Mary Murray, Sheila O’Connell, Rob-

bie C. Paine, Sue Press, Residence

Inn, Gail Rheingold, Joseph & Mar-

garet Rizzo, Saratoga Children’s Mu-

seum, Jonnie Simpson, Leslie Sittner,

Donna Skiff, Vilma Smith Sundaes

Best Hot Fudge Sauce, Town of

Ballston, Ann Van Derwerker, Trudy

Van Ryn, Alan Vonstetina, Gordon

& Ann Wright

P A G E 3

MEMBER NEWS

Academy member and artist Leslie Sittner has generously offered to donate to the Academy 10% of her sales at the Arts, Crafts & Gift Fair at the Malta Community Center (1 Bayberry Dr., Malta) Saturday, November 5 from 9 - 3 PM! More than 50 local vendors showcasing original art, handmade crafts, jewelry, food products, home party prod-ucts, holiday gift items and much more are featured. This event is open to the public, so bring your friends and neighbors; it’s free admission and free parking! For more infor-mation, go to www.maltaparkksrec.com or call 518-899-4411. Thanks, Leslie for bring-ing this to our attention and donating 10% of your sales to the Acaemy. We hope you have your best day ever!

ACADEMY

SILVER ANNIVERSARY

BRAINSTORM!

Fall Semester 2017 (only one year

away!) will mark the 25th

anniversary

of A.L.L.’s very first study groups, and

we are planning now to

Celebrate Silver! in a way that will mark this fabulous,

hard-earned, well-deserved, and aus-

picious milestone in a way befitting its

importance!

Come Friday October 7 at 1 AM to

room 104 (111 West Ave.) to brain-

storm ideas! The celebration could last

the entire year, and nothing’s off the

table! We welcome and need you and

your ideas. Please R.S.V.P. to Louise

Young at youngljt@nycap.rr.com and

plan to join this very special and mem-

orable project!

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

“Tea for Two” and many more at The Grove at Neu-mann. Join ALL members and guests for an elegant Af-ternoon Tea following a week of classes on Thursday, October 27. A variety of teas provided by Saratoga Tea & Honey Company will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

Please see the flyer on page 10.

The Afternoon Tea, an Academy fundraiser sponsored by The Grove, will be held in the magnificent Great Hall of this new luxury adult community. While enjoying tea and treats, guests will have the pleasure of listening to

Academy member Ann Vanderwerker at the piano.

The event is open to the public and reservations at $10 per person are appreciated by October 21. Plan on at-tending, and bring a friend or two! What better way to spend a crisp autumn afternoon than socializing with

friends in a beautiful setting with a lovely cup of tea.

Afternoon TEA

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

“Houston, We Have a Problem” is excerpted from long-time ALL member Ted Alderson’s essay “Apollo 13,” from The Apple Tree, Volume III, Number 1 published in 2001. It appears here as part of a series by Executive Council Chair Louise Young featuring our fellow Academy mem-bers’ life stories and experiences.

Astronomy was my hobby. The idea of landing on the moon had captured my attention from the beginning, and I followed all the published reports concerning the details of the design, construction, training, and planning for the Apollo missions. In addition, I was working in GE’s Missile and Space Systems Division. Although we had no direct part in the Apollo program, my work on planetary exploration systems made me uncomfortably aware of dangers the astronauts might face.

In April 1970, two days into their three-day flight to the moon, Apollo 13 almost became a disas-ter. An explosion had occurred leaving the Command Module unable to sustain power or pro-vide life support. The crew had

only minutes to leave the Command Module and shut

themselves into the Lunar Module, which had its own independent battery power and life support system. The Lunar Module was a safe refuge for a while, but only for a while. The Command Module contained their food sup-plies, flight controls, inertial navigation system, personal equipment and communication systems. Behind the Command Module was the Service Module containing life support systems, the spacecraft attitude control sys-tem, and a radio antenna for communication with Hou-

ston from the moon.

I knew there was a deadly time limit. You can’t turn a

spaceship around and fly it like an airplane. They had to make a course change of some kind before they passed the moon or lose forever the means of getting back to Earth. Did the Lunar module have enough thrust capaci-ty to turn all three modules around? Would the attach-

ments between modules take the loads? Would the atti-tude control systems work despite the added mass and a

different center of gravity. While I fretted, NASA figured.

NASA’s plan called for two rocket burns. The first accom-plished five hours after the incident; the second behind

the moon out of communication with NASA. Both worked. Apollo 13 was now on a trajectory that would

bring it back to Earth. But I knew that wasn’t everything.

They had to conserve battery power by shutting off al-most all systems and endure four days in a gradually cooling Lunar Module. Water was rationed to one-fifth

normal intake. A special method to dispose of CO2 was

rigged with plastic bags, cardboard and duct tape.

Even though they could get back to Earth in the Lunar Module, they couldn’t land in it. It had no heat shield or parachutes or system to control velocity. At some point

near Earth they would have to climb back into the Com-mand Module, hope that it would restart, activate the trajectory and velocity for re-entry. They climbed back in, and it restarted. We crossed our fingers. They landed

safely.

Thinking back on the nearly impossible situation they faced, and the remarkable skill and luck involved in their rescue, I was amazed it had succeeded. Had the incident occurred earlier in the mission, they might not have had the battery power to make it all the way. Had it occurred closer to the Moon, they might not have had time to de-

vise and execute rocket burns necessary to put them on a return course to Earth. If they had entered the lunar orbit, there would have been no way to boost the space-ship back into an Earth return orbit. If the Lunar module had separated, they would not have had a “lifeboat” to

survive in. Had radio communication been lost, there

was no way to get them back.

Because of my work at GE and my astronomy interests, I had a better position than most to appreciate what risks they faced and how remarkable were the solutions

which resulted in their safe return. My admiration of the astronauts and Houston crew of Apollo 13 is boundless. Their ingenuity, resourcefulness and courage were mag-

nificent.

Photo above left of Ted Alderson taken by a student in Bernie Fabry’s 2015 Photo Workshop Study Group.

Editor’s Note: Although out of print, one copy of The Apple Tree Volume III Number 1 is available from the archive at the Academy office for any member to borrow.

P A G E 5 O U R F A V O R I T E C O L O R I S O C T O B E R !

Long time Academy member and artist (published in many editions of The Apple

Tree and The Academy’s Notecards) Gisela Cooke received a letter of appreciation

addressed to the contributors of The Apple Tree from Andrea - the daughter of a

close friend and a teacher in Austria - regarding The Apple Tree!

Dear Tanta Gisela,

I am sure you receive letters of praise regularly but thought you might

welcome hearing from a reader who is quite far away from Saratoga

Springs. As an American who has lived in Austria for more than half her

life already, I have had the good fortune to receive several issues of your

publication via a beloved member of our extended family (as well as a

contributor to the Apple Tree!) and have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

Aside from the photographs and artwork, which I naturally admire, the

writing, regardless of whether poetry, fiction or non-fiction, invariably

expands my perspective on life and enhances my ability to guide and

educate my students at a university here. I read everything (am always

keen to learn a bit about the various contributors!), but do confess to

particularly enjoying the accounts of real-life experiences or encounters.

More than once, I have read an excerpt from a contribution aloud to my

Austrian husband (most recently Herta by M. Finnnegan and Thai Mas-

sage, which made me laugh, remembering my own Thai massage experi-

ences), so it may indeed be said that you have a foreign readership as

well.

I hope your efforts give you the same kind of pleasure you provide to your

readers! May you continue to be inspired . . .

Sincerely, Andrea M. Pellette

Walding/Austria

THIRD AGE PRESS

accepting submissions

Third Age Press is now accepting submissions of prose, poetry, art and photography for future editions of The Apple Tree. Submission guidelines are available at the A.L.L. office.; pick one up any time on the far left of the moat (counter surrounding Office Manager Vera Kasson’s

desk) on the bottom shelf of the black plastic set of trays).

For more information about Third Age Press, the group responsible for selecting new work, editing and bringing The Apple Tree to publication, contact Sue Valaitis at vavisme@hotmail.com or (518) 885-8091. The Apple Tree is available for purchase at the A.L.L. office at 111 West

Ave. or at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga.

Gerald Stulc is the author of Thai Massage. His story and Marianne Finnegan’s referred to at left appear in the current issue of The of Apple Tree avail-able for sale here at the A.L.L. office for $7 and The North-shire Bookstore (for slightly more) on Broadway in Sarato-ga Springs.

The poinsettia above is the work of Gisela Cook and fea-tured on one of A.L.L.’s Holiday notecards available still at the A.L.L. Office. Ten cards and envelopes are $5.

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

A.L.L.

We’re

Saving

You a

Seat!

A.L .L . ’s Future

& Your

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

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

Academy.

Lori Langdon, DVM

RAI$ING DOUGH

The west side

sports bar & grilL

Another succe$$ story! Thanks to the Resource Development Committee and everyone who par-

ticipated in our Fall fundraiser at the West Side Sports Bar & Grill. Not only

was it a lovely evening for dining out, but 20% of all food and beverages

purchased between 5 and 8 PM went to A.L.L! Add in the raffle and four

silent auction items - Courtyard by Marriott Saratoga Springs, Wines for

All Occasions, A.L.L. Goodie Bag and Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce -

and we RAI$ED $798. It was a delicious job, well done! (A little restau-

rant humor there!) New Academy member Andrea Flannery happily re-

ported, “. . . I finally broke my losing streak and won the raffle! Go A.L.L.!”

Mark your calendars for April 11, 2017 because that’s the date we’ll Rai$e

a Little Dough again next spring!

Photo below left: A.L.L. Member Gretchen Ruhl and Larry Clancy dine with Jim Ruhl and Cammie Clancy (Jim & Cammie are at the table, but beyond the frame)

Photo below from left: Barbara Rosenkranz, Mary Sommers, Kathy Crumb, Kathy Meier Helen Porter, and Linda Howe Photo below right: Resource Development Committee Member Carole Baker hugs up to Officer Manager Vera Kasson’s son Scott!

Tote it for $ 10

at the ACADEMY office now!

Medical Ethics is changed to room 143 at 113 West Ave.

on October 11 only. All other classes in room 142

History of Religious Ethics (Semester 2) will not start Oct

17. Dates the class will meet are now: Oct 24, 31, Nov 7,

and 14.

Photo Workshop WILL NOT MEET Sept 20 or 27. Classes

WILL MEET Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Nov. 1.

STUDY GROUP

DATE/room CHANGES

OPEN STUDY GROUPS If you’d like to add another study group to your semes-

ter, it’s not too late! The classes below have openings

and start later this month! Please use the Open Class

Registration form at right, or call Vera at the A.L.L. office

to register.

Religious Ethics - Mondays at 9:30 starting October 24 (2

open seats)

Creative Writing Seminar - One day only - Friday, Octo-

ber 14 9:30 to 3:30 PM, and includes lunch! (4 open

seats)

Explore 4 Exhibits @ the Tang Museum - Thursdays at 1

PM starting October 13 (11 open seats)

Genia Meinhold, Judy Tirelli, and Ann Roche marvel at the crisp, fresh colorful vegetables on display as they listen to farming tales at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

TO MARKET

TO MARKET

Wednesday afternoon, September 14 our

study group Behind the Scenes on Broadway

kicked off our series of visits to local merchants

with Market Manager Julia Howard. Our visit

began an hour before the Market opened as

she provided chairs for us to sit while she

shared information and stories about the Mar-

ket. She then introduced us to vendors who

explained their histories and products. We re-

convened with Julia, heard more information

and asked lots of questions. She capped off our

visit with gifts: an apron, potholder and bro-

chures about the Market for each of us!

Five more visits to Saratoga merchants are

scheduled Wednesdays from 2 to 4 pm. We

have room for six more people. Interested? To

join us, contact Vera at the A.L.L. office!

To shop or visit the Saratoga Farmers Market

go to the High Rock Park Pavilions at 105 High

Rock Avenue Wednesdays from 3 - 6 PM and

Saturdays from 9 AM - 1 PM through October.

For more information about the market includ-

ing vendors, programs, events, news and reci-

pes, go to www.saratogafarmersmarket.org

Photo above and story below submitted by Executive Council Chair and Study Group Leader Louise Young

Photo at left by Ann Roche of Nancy Kimball

and an Adirondack Raptor! Raptors of the

Adirondacks: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-

lease was the topic of the Sept 21st Wednes-

day Speakers Study Group. Good seats are

available there still. Topics are: Wild Birds

Thru the 4 Seasons: Photographs of Wild

Birds in their Natural Habitat; The Opioid

Crisis: How Did We Get Here?; “Love Letters

from Mt. Rushmore” Depression Era Leading

up to WWII; The History & Origin of Bottles

with a focus on Albany & Troy; and All About

Birds (So. Adirondack Audubon Society).

2016 FALL Events

(subject to change)

Academy for Lifelong Learning 111 West Avenue Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 587-2100 x2415, www.esc.edu/all

“We’re Saving You a Seat!”

Thank you to our fall term sponsor Prestwick Chase!

Oct 1 Boomers Expo, Sunday, 12noon to 5pm, Saratoga Springs City Center 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs Oct 7 Academy Extra: Financial Preparation for Long Term Care, 10am, free Prestwick Chase, 100 Saratoga Blvd., Saratoga Springs Oct 15 National Lifelong Learning Day Oct 18 Pasta Making at Serendipity Arts Studio, 5pm, eat at 6:30pm, $30, Congress Plaza (behind CVS) 26D Congress St., Saratoga Springs Oct 21 Academy Extra: Antiques - Identification, Appraisal and Marketing 9-noon, 113 West Ave., room 137, $15 Oct 27 Afternoon Tea Party Academy Fund Raiser at The Grove, 4:30-6:30pm, $10 The Grove, 233 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs

Oct 28 Academy Extra: Antiques - Identification, Appraisal and Marketing Repeat, 9-noon, 113 West Ave., room 137, $15 Nov 3 Wine Appreciation & Pairing at Serendipity Arts Studio, 5-7pm, $30 Congress Plaza (behind CVS) 26D Congress St., Saratoga Springs Nov 6 Chronicle Book Fair, Queensbury Hotel, 11am-3pm. 88 Ridge St., Glens Falls, NY Nov 10 Classes end Nov 10 End-of-Semester Celebration: Cocktails at Prestwick Chase, 4-6pm, free Nov 29, 30, Dec 1 Buy tickets - A Charlie Brown Christmas, ½ goes to Academy $18 adult, $12 for kids under 13, use promo code HelpALL Dec 9 Holiday Luncheon at Longfellows, 11am, $20, 500 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs Dec 9 A Charlie Brown Christmas at Spa Little Theater, 7:30pm 19 Roosevelt Drive in Saratoga Spa State Park Dec 10 Barnes & Noble Book Fair, 9am-5pm, % of sales goes to Academy 3029 Route 50, Saratoga Springs

For more information, please contact the Academy office at 587-2100 x2415, vera.kasson@esc.edu.