Sequel (Winter '11) by Paul Smith's College

Sequel PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE THE COLLEGE OF THE ADIRONDACKS WINTER 2011

Here’s an

idea Young alums are turning business dreams into business reality

VIC update Really Local Food

[ table of contents ] Paul Smith’s College

Winter 2011

On the cover: image by istockphoto.com

[ DEPARTMENTS ] To Our Readers

Faculty & Staff Notes

Our Adirondacks

Shore Lines

Evergreens

Spaces

Q&A

Alumni Life

Class Notes

How To

Parting Shot

Write to Sequel: PSC Alumni Office P.O. Box 265 Paul Smiths, NY 12970-0265 Fax: (518) 327-6267 E-mail: alumni@paulsmiths.edu

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Sequel | Winter 2011

6 Really local food Culinary students visit Tucker Farms and learn that while the Adirondack growing season may be short, it is also very generous. 7 Shore lines Our first LEED-certified building ... students battle Japanese knotweed ... fall sports wrapup ... making rooms for more students ... and more. 14 Wise acres The Advanced Silviculture class had a 1,400-acre canvas to work with this fall in developing a management plan for an area landowner.

18 Rare bird Austusto “Goose” Perez ‘94 is going for the gold. And he’s doing it on one leg. The Paralympian talks to us in our Q&A.

Sequel PAUL SMITH’s COLLEGE THE COLLEGE OF THE ADIRONDACKS WINTER 2011

President John W. Mills, Ph.D. Managing Editor Kenneth Aaron Director of Communications kaaron@paulsmiths.edu Institutional Advancement Staff Jennifer N. Ott Vice President for Institutional Advancement Renee Burslem Director of Individual and Capital Giving Mary L. McLean Director of Events and Conference Services

Randi Rabideau Alumni Relations Coordinator Amy White Director of Advancement Services Andrea Wilcox Institutional Advancement Assistant Contributors Nancie Battaglia Michael Farrell Pat Hendrick Chris Morris

David Patrick Kris Qua Jim Tucker

DESIGN Maria M. Stoodley Printing Service Press Connecticut / Scott Smith ’77 Wethersfield, Conn. Trustees of Paul Smith’s College E. Philip Saunders, Chairman Paul F. Ciminelli, Treasurer Caroline D. Lussi ’60, Secretary Stuart H. Angert Paul M. Cantwell Jr. Patricia Keane Dowden Jim Gould Anthony L. Johnson Pieter V.C. Litchfield Edward J. McAree Lee Quaintance Thomas Rosol ’74 James L. Sonneborn Nora Sullivan Joan H. Weill Katharine H. Welling

Trustees Emeriti

20 Self-made These entrepreneurs don’t have MBAs, but they’ve got dreams, drive and their own businesses.

32 Parting shot An impromptu cleanup yields a lot of garbage – and a Motown classic.

Donald O. Benjamin ’56 Ralph Blum ’54 Richard C. Cattani ‘64 John T. Dillon ’58 William B. Hale Calista L. Harder John W. Herold ’65 M. Curtiss Hopkins ’48 Frank M. Hutchins Sheila Hutt Charles L. Ritchie Jr.

Honorary Trustees W. Peter Ahnert ’64 Stirling Tomkins Jr.

Printed on recycled paper.

Published by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ to our readers ]

Lives well lived O

ne of the best parts about pulling together Sequel is writing about Smitties whose lives make great stories. They do cool things, we get a little of their reflected glory, and I get to talk to a bunch of them. But I don’t always get a chance to cover everybody I’d like. Because I learn about some people too late – in the obituaries. Since the last Sequel came out, a pair of alums passed whom I would have loved to have had a chance to meet. Both happened to be hospitality grads. One, William Wilkinson ’62, helped California cuisine become an international sensation; the other, William Giangreco ’48, managed some of Chicago’s finest hotels. Giangreco’s story is an American classic: According to his obit in the Chicago Sun-Times, Giangreco’s parents were Sicilian immigrants. He had to repeat kindergarten because of trouble with English. He served in World War II and went to college after. He didn’t like his

first college, so Giangreco started looking at other brochures; he settled on Paul Smith’s after something caught his eye. “My picture was in the catalog, and he thought: ‘That is a good place to go,’” said the woman who became his wife, Polly (Rushmore ’48) Giangreco, to the Sun-Times. He went on to dance with Betty Grable, meet Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan, and get in the ring with a champion boxer. And along the way, he managed some of Chicago’s best hotels. “He was like a mixture between Donald Trump and James Bond,” his son, David, told the Sun-Times. Wilkinson arrived in California in 1976 and left his mark place after place, hiring many young chefs who went on to prominence. Charlie Trotter, George Morrone, Jan Birnbaum, Craig Stoll, Bradley Ogden – Wilkinson hired them all. He also gave Thomas Keller, whose French Laundry and Per Se are regarded as two of the world’s finest restaurants, his first California gig.

“He was a groundbreaking pioneer in the culinary movement that was happening (in the 1980s),” Birnbaum told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Back in those days, hotel restaurants were banquet rooms where you got your limp chicken. He changed all that and was a real visionary, shaping the future of what was to become San Francisco as a centerpiece for the food movement.” Wilkinson championed the kind of young talent we’re showcasing in this issue. Such as Augusto “Goose” Perez ’94, who didn’t just survive cancer but whipped it, getting to the Paralympic Games. And all of the entrepreneurs featured in our cover story, which is about young alums who have opted out of a 9-to-5 life and are chasing their own dreams. I bet Giangreco and Wilkinson would approve.

Kenneth Aaron | Director of Communications

It’s not too late! Your gift to the Paul Smith’s College Annual Fund helps provide scholarships, student programs, technology upgrades and more. There’s still time to give in our current fiscal year. Please contribute by June 30. For more information, call Renee Burslem at (518) 327-6259.

knockout

www.paulsmiths.edu/alumni/annual_fund.php

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ FACULTY & STAFF NOTES] HOSPITALITY, RESORT AND CULINARY MANAGEMENT Ruth Pino, associate professor,

presented a healthy-cooking workshop at Adirondack Medical Center in November with three students in the Culinary Club: Morgan Horwatt, Brandon Bills and Stephen Angrisano.

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Tim Chick, adjunct, published “Allelopathy as a Biological Control for Integrated Vegetation Management” in the Dec. 2010 edition of Arborist News, a publication of the International Society of Arboriculture. Also served as a panelist discussing urban tree planting at events sponsored by the New York State Urban and Community Forestry Council and the New York Conference of Mayors, and presented lectures about “Invasive Species Identification” at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual workshop to recertify right-of-way pesticide applicators. Celia Evans, associate professor, attended a meeting of the Northeastern Ecosystem Research Cooperative with her Special Topics in Ecosystem Ecology

class in November.

faculty credentialing programs.

Jorie Favreau, associate professor, delivered a lecture, “Movement Ecology: Models, Bear, Kinkajous and Snowshoe Hares,” at Ithaca College in October. Also, reviewed “Urban Carnivores: Ecology, Conflict and Conservation” in the Oct. 2010 issue of Choice.

David Patrick, assistant

Elizabeth Harper, adjunct instructor, co-authored “Global sensitivity analysis for complex ecological models: A case study of riparian cottonwood population dynamics,” to be published in Ecological Applications. Additionally, presented “Multiscale validation of a spatially explicit demographic model of Fremont cottonwood on the Sacramento River” at the 2010 Bay-Delta Science Conference, Sacramento, Calif., in September, and “Using models to find practical solutions to complex problems” at SUNY-Potsdam. Eric Holmlund, professor,

completed his doctorate in environmental studies from Antioch University-New England in August. His dissertation is titled “Caretakers of the Garden of Delight and Discontent: Adirondack Narrative, Conflict and Environmental Virtue.” Holmlund’s studies were supported by the college’s sabbatical and

professor, received a $53,000 grant from the Northeastern States Research Consortium for a research project on the potential effects of changes in climate on the range and long-term persistence of the mink frog in the Northern Forest (with Elizabeth Harper). Additionally, helped organize the Follensby Pond Bioblitz with the Adirondack All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, and made several presentations: “Multi-scale habitat resistance models for predicting road-mortality hotspots for amphibians and reptiles,” at the Ecological Society of America’s annual meeting, Pittsburgh; “Assessing the sustainability of harvesting endemic chameleons in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania,” at the Society for Conservation Biology’s International Congress, Edmonton, Alberta; and “Using spatially-explicit habitat resistance models to guide mitigation of road effects on amphibian and reptile populations,” at the University of Maine-Orono.

SCIENCE, LIBERAL ARTS AND BUSINESS Charles Alexander, professor, presented a lecture about Mark

Reunion 2011 Aug. 5-7

Twain’s connections to this area at the “Mark Twain in the Adirondacks” conference sponsored by the college, Historic Saranac Lake, John Brown Lives!, Keene Valley Library and Saranac Lake Free Library in August. Daun Reuter, professor, co-authored “The Eutrophication of Lake Champlain’s Northeast Arm: Insights from Paleolimnological Analyses,” to be published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research; also conducted plant surveys and recorded data for the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program’s 2010 Terrestrial Invasive Plant Inventory. Lori Walters-Kramer, assistant

professor, contributed “Birth Imagery, Metaphor and Myth” to the Encyclopedia of Motherhood (2010: Sage Publications).

OTHER FACULTY AND STAFF Loralyn Taylor, registrar, and Virginia McAleese, director

of academic support, presented two sessions at the National Symposium on Student Retention in Mobile, Ala., in November: “Coordinating Student Success: Managing Information across Multiple Departments,” and “Improving Response and Efficiency of Early Alert Process through Technology.”

We’re saving a spot for you! For more info: (518) 327-6253

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ OUR ADIRONDACKS ]

Locally grown

egetables come from farms. Duh. to develop a relationship shows them that it Eventually, Tucker was growing more and But if you’re a chef in the is possible.” more for McCarthy. Adirondacks and you need candy By now, many people are aware that “All you have to do is ask a farmer to striped beets, where do you turn? “eating local” means more than picking a grow a few things, and next year, tell them How about golden beets, kohlrabi, neighborhood restaurant. It involves eating to grow everything in the catalog,” joked or Swiss chard? Yellow and green wax food grown close to home – and that means Tucker, who showed the students around beans, Hubbard, butternut and golden fresher, better tasting food, and it could be his farm. delicious squash, wild apples, baby leeks, good news for the environment, too, as food Now, Tucker provides produce for sevor purple and red potatoes? Green and eral restaurants in the Adirondacks, red onions, scallions, basil, parsley, including the student-run St. Regis or fennel? Café on campus and the Mirror Lake For students in Chef Kevin Inn in Lake Placid. He didn’t have McCarthy’s American Gastronomy any of that business before McCarthy class, the answer, they learned, is: Just approached him. down the road. The food isn’t necessarily as cheap To gather food for a Native as can be had from a giant food serAmerican-style feast in the fall, vice that delivers produce via tractorMcCarthy led a field trip to Tucker trailer. And for restaurants on a tight Farms in Gabriels. There, they got budget, not everything is worth purtheir hands dirty and pulled up suing locally, Tucker says: corn and ingredients straight from the ground, peas aren’t going to be big difference learning just how local the local food makers with diners, and those food PHOTOS BY KENNETH AARON movement can get. services can sell them for a lot less Dominique Hinds (left) holds up a watermelon radish for Morgan Horwatt to sniff. “I think it sets a good example of money than he can. what’s possible in whatever environment But the specialty ingredients, such you’re in,” says McCarthy, who came to doesn’t have to be transported hundreds or as the extra-spicy daikon radishes that are Paul Smith’s a couple of years ago after thousands of miles. making students’ mouths catch fire this day serving as chef at the Lake Placid Lodge While at The Point, McCarthy longed at the farm, are “the ones that can make a and The Point, the ultra-exclusive resort on to get more locally grown vegetables in difference for your restaurant,” Tucker says. Upper Saranac Lake. “A lot of times, people his kitchen, and he turned to Steve Tucker Brandon Bills, a junior from think of the Adirondacks as super-cold with of Tucker Farms for help. Their collaboraBinghamton, grew up with a pair of vegetaa short growing season. That’s true. But the tion started slowly, with McCarthy ble gardens, so he is plenty familiar with the opportunity to work with a small farm and asking Tucker to grow a handful of items. benefits of buying close to home. The visit, though, made him aware of the possiblities of partnering with area farmers wherever Students walk through rows of basil he might wind up. “Chef McCarthy at Tucker Farms in Gabriels. brought to our attention that you can grow a wide variety of unique ingredients that a big food purveyor might not be able to supply, such as the beautiful candy striped beets and purple basil we saw on the farm,” Bills says. Diners benefit. So does the community. “For them not only to learn and to see from beginning to end when they plant and when they harvest, but just to see a little bit of spending your money locally and supporting the local community, that’s a good thing,” McCarthy says. – KENNETH AARON

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ shore lines]

This dorm is nicer than yours T Tom Gosselin, a member of the college’s new rock-climbing team, scales the climbing wall in the Buxton Annex.

alk about nice problems to have: Enrollment is so strong, we’re running out of beds. We topped 1,000 students this fall for the first time in 30 years. Which is why construction has begun on our latest residence hall, which will house 93 students once it’s finished in time for classes in the fall. The $7.6 million

project, which features 23 suites of four bedrooms surrounding a living room, kitchen and two bathrooms, is located off Keese Mills Road, near the parking lot for the Saunders Sports Complex. The design is similar to Upper and Lower St. Regis halls, which opened in 2008. The residence hall will sit on a hilltop command-

ing a sweeping view of the Joan Weill Adirondack Library and Lower St. Regis Lake. To take advantage of the vista, BBL Construction Services of Albany has incorporated a two-story glass atrium. And like the Paolozzi Center (see below), it is expected to qualify for LEED Silver certification. – kenneth aaron

KRIS QUA

Hitting the wall

aul Smith’s has always maintained a full slate of out-of-the-ordinary athletic teams: there’s the woodsmen’s team, of course, and the internationalchampion snowshoers, as well as the marathon canoers, cross-country skiers and ruggers. The latest, a collegiate rock-climbing squad, is the creation of Tony Tufano ’98, who is coaching the new team. Tufano formed the team after hearing a chorus of requests from students who signed up to take his climbing-safety course – a mandatory requirement for those who want to use the college’s 32-foot-tall climbing wall in the Buxton Annex. So far, more than 20 students have signed up to compete. At their first event, in November, the team’s men swept first, second and third place, while the women captured the top two spots. Teams compete based on how many routes they can successfully climb during a given time. Climbers are awarded points based on the difficulty of the route up the wall that they attempt. While climbers can try a route as many times as they’d like, points are lopped off for each unsuccessful attempt. At first, Tufano says the team will simply attend open competitions and events hosted by other colleges; this spring, he’s hoping to attend at least four competitions. Eventually, though, he wants to join an existing league, such as USA Climbing’s Collegiate Climbing Series, and perhaps host events here on campus. He’s reached out to two dozen other colleges in New York State and beyond looking for other participants. “Our athletics program features so many niche sports, and climbing is very fitting for our niche,” says Tufano, an avid rock-climber. “Baseball wouldn’t make any sense for us. But this does.”

The green seal of approval

e’ve always said that we’re into green construction. But don’t just take our word for it – listen to LEED. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, that is. And this summer, the new Countess Alicia Spaulding-Paolozzi Environmental Science and Education Center received LEED Silver certification. LEED designation, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes buildings that are among the most energy-efficient on the planet. Just a handful of buildings in the Adirondacks have the certification; the Paolozzi Center achieved its ranking with such features as geothermal heating and cooling and a vent-free fume hood in the laboratory that uses filters to catch gases, rather than spewing them into the air. It’s our first LEED building, but we’re planning on more: Starting with the Paolozzi Center, the college will design all new buildings on campus to meet LEED standards.

– ka

– KA KRIS QUA

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ shore lines]

Hatchery help J

enna Daub, a first-year fisheries and wildlife science student from Pennsylvania, was among a dozen students who volunteered this fall at the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Adirondack fish hatchery in Lake Clear. Here, Daub takes a female salmon from one of the hatchery’s freshwater tanks so its roe can be extracted and fertilized. This was the second year that Prof. Jorie Favreau organized the volunteers, who helped the DEC’s full-time staffers during the annual spawning process. – Kenneth Aaron KENNETH AARON

Knotty problem

Redeeming feature

The

college’s sustainability fund is beginning to pay dividends – in this case, a nickel at a time. This fall, a bottle-and-can redemption machine was installed outside the Joan Weill Student Center, allowing students to cash in their empties 24 hours a day. In the two months it operated this fall, students redeemed 1,067 bottles and cans, or $53.35 worth. The $9,000 machine was paid for by the sustainability fund, a year-old initiative that is supported by a $25 fee charged to every student. Students suggest projects that the fund can cover, and the college’s Sustainability Council votes whether to back them. Coming this spring: new software for the library to cut the amount of wasted printouts, and a compost bin for the dining hall. – KA

Sequel | Winter 2011

hose unfortunate enough to have Japanese knotweed growing on their land know how hard it is to get rid of. Cutting won’t work, and it can take years before herbicides wipe it out. In the meantime, knotweed’s roots, which can reach 10 feet deep, can damage buildings and pavement. The plant is native to eastern Asia but is now widespread across most of the United States and is becoming increasingly common in the Adirondacks. To help combat the spread of this exotic invasive here, a group of Paul Smith’s students have teamed up with the college’s Center for Adirondack Biodiversity and the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP). They’re mapping where knotweed has taken root in the Saranac Lake area, and evaluating the variables that predict where it’s likely to be found. By the end of the project, that information will be made available to local management agencies and the state to help with control efforts. “This project really epitomizes how service can be integrated with learning,” says David Patrick, director of the Center for Adirondack Biodiversity. And it’s entirely volunteer-based. “Not only have the students (Alex Byrne, Kyle Mason, Jacob Dillon, John Scahill, Alex LeCheminant, and Katie Veress)

Photo courtesy of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant program

Knotweed, an invasive species, is taxing local resources as officials try to come up with ways to beat back the potentially destructive plant.

driven hundreds of miles in their free time to survey roadways for this species, but they aren’t receiving academic credit for the work,” Patrick says. The plant, which is on a list of the 100 worst invasives as ranked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, has been taxing resources across the park. “This mapping project is a great example of an initiative that benefits the students, APIPP, and the community of Saranac Lake,” says Hilary Smith, APIPP’s director. “Mapping infestations and building public awareness are important first steps in a broader management initiative.” – DAVID PATRICK

Library adds new scanner

Ah,

progress. You’re great, but now that you’ve gone and delivered a super-fast scanner to the library upon which students can digitize books, magazine articles, maps and other documents for free, what are we to do with all the spare change we used to dump into copy machines? We’ll come up with something. And, in the meantime, we’ll be us-

ing the so-called Knowledge Imaging Center, which was bought by the college thanks to a $17,500 grant awarded by the Northern New York Library Network. Systems Librarian Mike Beccaria expects the kiosk, which is near the circulation desk, to get frequent use for scanning articles, lecture notes and other materials. Rather than spitting out lots of paper, the scans can be

delivered to either a USB flash drive or sent directly to an e-mail account. So it’s better for students’ wallets, and for the environment as well. “We’re grateful to the library network for providing us with a grant to buy this equipment, which otherwise would not be available to us,” he says. – renee burslem

FALL sports roundup MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY – The men’s and women’s cross-country teams put up similarly solid results: after both won the Yankee Small College Conference championships, the men’s team finished third in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) nationals and the women finished fourth. It was the women’s first trip to the national event, at which 20 colleges and universities competed. The conference title was also the women’s first, which they won after finishing second for three years in a row. The men’s squad had three topthree finishes at invitationals during the season, a high-water mark for the team. Sophomore Kyle Dash of Java Village, N.Y., had several top five finishes and won the conference championship meet.

’80, who had led the team since its inception in 2000. MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER – The men’s team posted a .500 record, an improvement over 2009. The season was highlighted by a 3-1 upset victory over Albany College of Pharmacy in the year’s final match. A pair of first-year students, Daric Collins and Harrison Turk, shared goalkeeping duties, finishing 11th and 12th in save percentages in the USCAA; offensively, sophomores Jim Hartwell and Max Krueger ranked 10th and 14th in points per game. The women improved, too, finishing with three victories on the season. They finished strong: After losing five of their first six games, the team wrapped up with a .500 record (3-3-1) in its last seven. First-year student Coleen Nilan’s

RUGBY – First-year coach Mark Buckley led the ruggers to the state semi-finals, where they lost 26-19 to the ultimate state champs, the University of Buffalo. The team was shelled in its first game but regrouped quickly, running off three wins in a row to earn a playoff berth and a first-round victory against Alfred University. Buckley took over for Bob Brhel

goals-per-game average ranked third in the USCAA, while sophomore Renee Giffune ranked sixth in assists per game. VOLLEYBALL – After filling in at the last minute, first-year coach Christina Carpenter pulled together a small group of experienced players that won Paul Smith’s first volleyball match in three years – a matchup against Unity College during a tournament in New Hampshire. The limited roster made practice a challenge, though, and no other wins resulted during the campaign. With a core group established, though, additional players are being recruited – with more success expected in 2011.

WOODSMEN – The woodsmen’s teams maintained their reputations for excellence this fall – and took those reputations across the border, where the men and women were the top U.S. teams at the annual Sir Sandford Fleming championships in Ontario. Both squads finished second overall at that event. Closer to home, the women swept meets held at Finger Lakes Community College and here on campus, while the men finished first and second. – jim tucker

ABOVE: Max Krueger heads a ball during a match. The men’s soccer team improved to .500 in the 2010 season. RIGHT: Caitlyn Sparkes, Ashley Comeau, Linnea Shumway and Liz Havelin of the women’s cross-country team. pat hendrick

Thanks, Joan

Nancie Battaglia

fter serving as the chairman of the Paul Smith’s board of trustees for five years, Joan Weill stepped down from the post in August. She will remain one of the college’s trustees. E. Philip Saunders, who had served as cochairman with Weill since 2009, was elected chairman in her place. Weill’s tenure oversaw great changes on campus including the addition of a new student center that bears her name; construction of the Countess Alicia Spaulding-Paolozzi Environmental Science and Education Center; a pair of new residence halls, Upper and Lower St. Regis Halls; and improvements to the college’s sawmill, athletics center, laboratories and more. (That’s in addition to the Joan Weill Adirondack Library,

which opened in 2002 but remains the campus’ architectural showpiece.) As a tribute to Weill in the college’s annual report noted, though, “the greatest transformation at Paul Smith’s is where Joan has had the deepest impact: As we have made the transition over the past decade from a two-year college to a baccalaureate institution, nobody has been a stronger supporter, or more fervent believer, in what we can accomplish than she. And while our students have gone on to great heights for more than 60 years, there is a sense now more than ever that we are all expected to do great things – and Joan’s vision and leadership foster that expectation of excellence every day.” Thanks, Joan. – ka Sequel | Winter 2011

VIC is ours

The

VIC, which has helped introduce the wonders of the Adirondacks to thousands of people every year, now belongs to Paul Smith’s College. “This transfer is good news for both the community and the VIC,” said Dr. John W. Mills, the college’s president. “We’re excited that this great resource has been preserved. We will continue to look for ways to integrate the center into our academic programs, and explore additional possibilities for community involvement at the VIC.” The Adirondack Park Agency transferred the 24,500-square-foot visitors center to the college at the end of 2010, after nearly a year of uncertainty surrounding the property. Last February, the APA announced plans to close the VICs in both Paul Smiths and Newcomb by year’s end, setting off a months-long process to determine how to save the site. While the existing trails at the Paul Smiths VIC sit on college-owned land that had been leased to the APA, the visitors’ center itself was owned by the state. Ultimately, the state simply handed off the contemporary wooden center to the college. The trails remain open for year-round use. How the building will be used remains under

discussion, though, and the college is working closely with community groups to maintain the long tradition of public access to it. Some programming is already scheduled: The non-profit Adirondack Park Institute plans to continue welcoming school groups to the center, and a range of recreational events are being considered, such as trail runs, mountain biking and an expansion of the arts. In April, the Adirondack Center for Writing will host Sapphire, the author who wrote the novel that became the basis of the Academy Award-winning film “Precious.” And a chili-tasting that featured chili made by the college’s own culinary students drew hundreds in January. “We commend Paul Smith’s Nancie Battaglia College for coming forward and taking over this facility,” says APA Chairman Curtis F. Stiles. “Their intention to keep this valuable asset open to the public is an honorable community service.” New York State Assemblywoman Janet Duprey agrees. “It shows how important the center is to the North Country,” Duprey told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise after the transfer was announced in early January. “They’ve done so much in terms of education, and there’s nobody I can think of who would be better to run the center than Paul Smith’s College.” – Kenneth Aaron

Good wood, cold cash

aw, meet hammer. The auction hammer, that is. It fell on a portion of the School of Forestry & Natural Resources’ annual timber harvest, which was put up for bid in November. In all, the auction raised $1,448 for the college’s recently renovated sawmill. Students harvest about 15,000 to 20,000 board-feet of lumber every year, not including firewood that is donated to area families in need. Most of the lumber is used on campus or given to community groups. This year, though, about 3,000 board-feet of lumber were sold at auction, says Brett McLeod, an assistant professor in the forestry school who organized the sale. Most of the lumber was rough-cut white pine, although about 60 board-feet of hardwood were included. (All of the college’s 14,000 acres are managed sustainably, as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. But students harvest just a small portion of that land; the rest is managed by professionals, who sell timber into the market and give a portion of the proceeds to Paul Smith’s.) The auction was open to members of the college community, which was invited to submit sealed bids for the wood over a three-day period. All of the lumber was cut and dressed by students in the Timber Harvesting, Advanced Silviculture and Summer Forestry Block classes. McLeod says the auction gave them a chance to sort, grade and inventory lumber for real customers, a skill they’ll need in the workplace. “It’s also contributing to our goal of campus sustainability, by ensuring that every stick of wood that we cut is used,” he says. – ka

Vets make way to Paul Smith’s

erved the country? We’re ready to serve you. Paul Smith’s was named to Military Times Edge magazine’s “Best for Vets” list this fall, as well as G.I. Jobs’ list of “Military Friendly Schools.” And vets are noticing: this spring, 10 enrolled, bringing our total enrollment of servicemen and -women to about 20 – nearly twice last year’s total. “Our reputation is coming back to benefit us,” 10

Sequel | Winter 2011

says Amy Tuthill, the college’s veterans affairs coordinator. Tuthill, who has beaten a path to Fort Drum from campus over the past year, has spearheaded the college’s efforts to attract more vets. In addition to bringing a state veterans’ affairs counselor to campus once a month, Paul Smith’s is working closely with community colleges across the state to attract transfer students and working with veterans groups as well.

Most importantly, though, Tuthill – the mother of an Army lieutenant – says the close attention she is able to give vets has made a big difference in attracting them. “I’ll be there to help them navigate the system,” she says. They don’t need to be on campus to get that personal touch, either: This semester, Tuthill plans to be available via Skype, so servicemembers stationed overseas can speak with her over the Internet. – ka

[ EVERGREENS]

Moving in

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New arrivals turn dorms into homes

his fall, students came to Paul Smith’s in droves – not only did enrollment reach a 30-year high, but it was our biggest incoming class in about 20 years. And they brought a lot of stuff. If you’re looking for a snapshot of what makes the Class of 2014 tick, a peek inside their still-unpacked rooms is a pretty good indicator. So on moving-in day this August, photographer Nancie Battaglia asked some of our newest residents to share their favorite things. – PHOTOS by NANCIE BATTAGLIA

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ EVERGREENS]

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NNE, Ca

ledonia, N.Y The tedd . y bear was given to m passed aw e b y a boyfrie ay from a nd who methadon the only m e o ve rdose. It ementos I ’s one of have from person in m him. He was y life, no m t h e one atter wha just talke t was goin d to him f g o n , if I or five min laugh. The utes he w re’s a Lat o u ld make me ino comed “five levels ian who jok of fatnes es about t s.” One is “f he was a thic luffy.” My ker guy. So b o y f riend that’s wh at I name d the bear . rk City

Z, New Yo E H C N A S A N I KAR

comes to t word when it gh ri he t t n’ is “Love” out right. sed” sounds ab es bs “O s. oe sh re, me and kinds out the t en er f f di y an l! This There are so m catch them al o t t go – ” on all it’s like “Pokem We couldn’t fit n. io t c le ol c y m One isn’t even half d to take two: ha e w so , ar c with my shoes in one the other filled d an s ng hi t irs and with my college ve almost 100 pa ha ly ab ob pr I only my shoes. still counting.

Sequel | Winter 2011

RICKY HAMMACK, Plattsburgh, N.Y. Besides clothes, that guitar is actually the only object I brought with me. That guitar’s been with me my whole life, so I figured, why not bring it? I’ve been playing since I was five and have never put it down since. I had lots of time to play it during my first semester, and it actually helped me deal with the stress.

JENNA CORREI Dartmouth, MassA, .

On a family road trip west last su mmer, we pulled into a gas statio n in Wyoming. My mo m spotted a woman near an ol d pickup holding a sign that read “needs gas money.” After handing he r some cash, the woman offe red us one of th es e trees she had created. This me ans a lot to me be cause it’s a unique souvenir, not your average keychain or T-shirt. It symbolizes an im portant journey in my life.

The End Sequel | Winter 2011

[ EVERGREENS]

Wise Acres class helps landowner plan for sustainable future

By kenneth aaron

aul Avery had a vision for Partridge Park, his 1,400-acre Adirondack retreat – a vision that covered everything from the ducks, deer and other wildlife that would live there, and the forest stands he would sustainably harvest, to the wheelchairaccessible trails that would cross the land.

Sequel | Winter 2011

What he needed, though, was a way to turn that vision into a plan. Avery, a hospitality-industry veteran who has been an adviser to the college, knew that Paul Smith’s students have the expertise to deliver a blueprint he could work from. That’s where the students in Brett McLeod’s Advanced Silviculture class came in. This fall, he enlisted McLeod’s class to craft a forest-management plan for the former summer camp off Route 30 between Paul Smiths and Malone.

That kind of experience is a hallmark of a Paul Smith’s education. But as far as hands-on assignments go, getting to work at Partridge Park is tough to beat. It’s obvious from the moment you drive through the stone gate, down the long driveway through stands of timber (look out for the bald eagle watching sentry over the bridge), and past the rustic outbuildings and gazebo. On the students’ first day at the site, as they wore their orange hardhats and stood by a lake, McLeod reached into Photos by KENNETH AARON

ABOVE: Laura Benedict, a student in Prof. Brett McLeod’s Advanced Silviculture class, listens to a description of the goals for the Partridge Park project.

growth of Outback Steakhouse, wanted to accomplish several things from the collaboration. An avid sportsman, he’s interested in a long-term plan to thoughtfully manage the population of beaver, ducks and other wildlife that live on the site. He also wants to harvest enough timber from the property to offset the costs associated with the preserve, so a working-forest plan is critical. McLeod says that certification as a sustainably managed forest could yield higher prices for the timber; the American Forest Foundation has already given the plan its seal of approval, designating Partridge a Certified Tree Farm. (Because student development of a forest-management plan for a private landowner is unusual, it will be a good addition to their resumes, too.) The resulting 10-year plan was finished by the end of the semester. Avery and his caretaker at Partridge Park reviewed the recommendations shortly afterward, and found themselves agreeing with the students across the board. “I think the students did an exceptional job with the entire management program,” says Avery, who expects to employ the students’ recommendations beginning this spring. “It was comprehensive, concise and broad. And it nailed and exceeded my expectations. I couldn’t be more pleased with what the students did,” he says. “It’s enhanced the pride I have in the Paul Smith’s curriculum.” S

Prof. Brett McLeod (brown vest) discusses the Partridge Park landscape while standing in the forest.

‘‘

I think the students did an exceptional job with the entire management program.

‘‘

a tub filled with fish kibble and threw a handful into the water. Rainbow trout exploded from the surface in a welter, gobbling it up. “Are you kidding me?” one of the students asked, softly. “I’ve got a little bit of bad news for you,” McLeod told his class. “This is every forester’s dream job. So you’re starting at the top, and everything from here is downhill.” McLeod says the size of the parcel is unusually large, which allowed the students to practice management techniques on a bigger scale than is typically possible. And because they were working for a real client, “they went into it with a lot more pride,” he says. The dozen students in the class started their job by mapping the land with handheld GPS units and poking through the woods to identify stands of trees. By the time they wrote the plan, the students had spent nearly 200 hours, cumulatively, on the land. “The experience, I think it was invaluable,” says Alex Smith, a junior in the class. Smith, in an essay turned in at the end of the semester, commented that the key lesson he took from the course is that silviculture is as much art as science – and that “the trick is to use both the art and the science in balance, while recognizing that forestry is an extremely broad and complex study and no perfect solutions are likely to exist.” Avery, who played a big part in the

– PAUL AVERY

Landowner

Students mapped Partridge Park’s 1,400 acres with handheld GPS units, and later used those maps to develop their plan for the property.

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ SPACES]

5 6

oing green can be sexy – think shiny solar panels and electric cars. But a lot of the heavy lifting of saving energy isn’t that exciting. Take our new agreement with Johnson Controls Inc. It will cut our energy bills $4.6 million over the next 20 years, but much of the savings comes from installing energyefficient lights, insulation and better equipment, such as in the Joan Weill Adirondack Library’s air-handling room.

AIR HANDLING ROOM Joan Weill Adirondack Library Room 116

Sequel | Winter 2011

1 Is the library too hot? Too cold? Vents won’t stop blowing? Eventually, heating and cooling equipment for every building on campus will be connected to the Internet, so issues can be solved from a laptop like this one. Tony Tufano ’98, the director of facilities, makes adjustments here.

2 Data from all the library’s heating and cooling equipment – fans, pumps, valves, thermostats – lead to this hub. The 9-year-old library was built with many energy-friendly features, but thanks to some nonuser-friendly technology, much of this information has been ignored in favor of running things manually (and, as a result, less efficiently.) The library uses more than 16,000 gallons of heating oil every year, so every little bit helps. 3 This controller is on the way out, to be replaced by a model with a more sophisticated (and easier-touse) computer. The giant fans that heat and cool the library will run faster or slower depending on time of day and other factors. Overall, installation of similar gear throughout campus is expected to save up about $61,000 a year – the largest single chunk of savings in the plan. 4 Getting all this data to the connections hub takes a lot of wire. More than 3,500 feet of new wiring was strung throughout the library as part of Johnson Controls’ work.

5 This long metal box (it runs the length of the photo) is one of the library’s two air handlers – a set of fans that combines fresh outside air with air inside the building. How much of each is determined by several factors, including the inside and outside air temperature and where thermostats inside the building are set. 6 These switches control those air handlers. In the past, they’d blow at full speed all day long, but new automation means they can be adjusted automatically. Sequel | Winter 2011

Rare

bird AUGUSTO “GOOSE” PEREZ ’94 Age: 38 Now living in: East Syracuse, N.Y. Hometown: Madrid, Spain Family: Wife, Brenda; twin son & daughter, Iker and Ainos, 6. Education: Paul Smith’s College, 1994; Le Moyne College, B.A., Spanish and education, 1997 Hobbies: Playing with my kids; wheelchair curling, adaptive rowing, paracanoe, rowing and table tennis; travelling and spending time with family Last book read: “Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life,” Ralph de la Vega If you could achieve one athletic accomplishment, what would it be? To medal at the Paralympic games, and have the anthem played for me. I have already done that at the world championships, but the Paralympic Games are the top of all.

Sequel | Winter 2011

[Q & A] INTERVIEW By Kenneth Aaron | Director of Communications

et up, lazybones – Augusto “Goose” Perez ’94 is putting you to shame. He’s represented the United States curling in Torino and Vancouver. He’s in the International Canoe Hall of Fame. And, by the way, he’s competing on one leg: Perez lost one of his in 2003 after a third bout with soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer. He took some time out from training for the upcoming World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Prague to talk. You’ve been dealt a tough hand, but you are relentlessly positive. Is that attitude something you grew into? Or were you born with it? I think I always had that attitude. Life is hard enough as it is. So why be miserable at it? I’m a cancer patient, I’m an amputee, I could be miserable. But I could only control one of those. I often say: In order to see the rainbow, we must look through the rain. You must have had some dark moments during the fight. The hardest day, actually, was to tell my little brother that I was going to lose my leg. Because he used to watch me play soccer all the time. That was hard. I used to do my checkups on Fridays. Every time I had a bad diagnosis it was on a Friday. I told my doctor, “I think I’m going to change my checkups to Mondays – because I don’t want to wreck your Fridays any more.” You made the 2006 U.S. Paralympic curling team just seven weeks after picking up the sport, and you’ve had similar success para-canoeing and pararowing, winning international titles in both. How do you do it? My mom used to say that if books were round, I would have been a genius. You were a soccer player at Paul Smith’s. How did you pick up curling? I played a little soccer on crutches. But the closest place to do it was Philadelphia. I knew I needed to go back to do some kind of sports, or I would drive my wife crazy. I tried wheelchair basketball; I tried to play golf a little. Then I was asked if I wanted to try wheelchair curling. I said, “Why not?” I practiced for four to five hours a day, six days a week.

I made the Paralympic team right away. What’s your training regimen? I do weight lifting, to be able to throw a lot of rocks back-to-back without getting sore. I do stretching. And I do a lot of cardio to keep my heart rate down, so I’m nice and relaxed on the ice. Three or four times a week, I go to train with my teammates in Utica, at the Utica Curling Club. And I review every game that we play. Did we lose a game because we missed a shot, or did I make a bad call? I don’t mind making a mistake. I don’t like to make them twice. You’ve been to the last two Paralympics for curling. You’ll be in Prague in February for the curling championships, Hungary this summer for the world paracanoe championships, and you’re hoping to go to the London Paralympics next year on the U.S. rowing team. How do you raise the money to do this? I was supposed to defend my International Canoe Federation championship in Poland last year. But I couldn’t afford it because I had to pay my own way there. The national team pays for some competitions, but 80 percent of my expenses, I pay for. I have sponsors. Every little thing helps. I have a gentleman who donates compression shorts. If somebody wants to pay to have the logo on the back of my chair, great. I’ll do whatever. I lost my shame a long time ago with so many surgeries. Sounds like you’ve seen some great places. My wife and I love to travel. But sometimes, we are away and we don’t get to see places. We are in the curling club

and we are in the airport. I’m tired of having pictures of the curling club and airport. I try to stay an extra day now. Did cancer change your approach to sports? Cancer changed the way I train, physically – the cardio is tougher, because it’s all upper-body cardio. But I think my drive is the same. When people are out there Friday nights, drinking, I’m not. You get out what you put in. Few people are blessed with a phenomenal physique, I am not. I work my butt off for it. I carry a piece of paper that I wrote and I keep with me: Somewhere, somebody is training harder than you. What motivates you? My kids. It’s worth the times that I have to be away training to see their smiles when I compete. I also do this for everybody out there who thinks that just because you lost a leg, you can’t do things. The biggest disability is the inability to see ability in people. Your disability is in your head. I’m competing for all those people. What is the main thing you try to convey when you speak to others? No matter how tough your life gets, it will eventually get better. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down – you just have to get up one more time. If you fall down six times, get up seven. I always say: Hard work doesn’t guarantee success. No work guarantees failure. S

» For more information about how

to make a tax-deductible contribution toward Perez’ training, visit his Facebook page or contact him at augustogooseperez@gmail.com.

Portrait: MICHAEL P. FARRELL

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ cover story ]

Andrew Lewis and Tommy Thomson â&#x20AC;&#x2122;06 standing with a boat and dive tanks used for their business, Aquatic Invasive Management.

Sequel | Winter 2011

Self

made Entrepreneurial alums make their own opportunities By CHRIS MORRIS photos By kenneth aaron | Director of Communications

IT’S

an overcast summer day in the Adirondacks as Andrew Lewis deftly steers a Carolina Skiff along the calm waters of Upper Saranac Lake.

He slows down quickly as the boat nears a pair of buoys that move slowly in unison along an imaginary line. The buoys are there to mark two divers who are hand-picking clumps of Eurasian milfoil, a stringy, fastgrowing weed that is threatening waterways across the Adirondacks. On top, a solitary kayaker balances a bag of the dark green plants on the boat’s bow.

“This is our business,” Lewis says. “And it’s been one heck of a challenge.” For most college students, landing a job after graduation is of paramount importance. Buying a car, finding a place to live and, for many, paying off student loans make that post-college job hunt a major milestone. So it takes a truly gutsy soul to skip the job-seeking altogether and take the plunge

into starting a business. But here in the Adirondacks, in spite of a struggling economy, several recent graduates of Paul Smith’s College are forgoing the comfort of guaranteed paychecks and benefits and are striking forth on their own instead. Such as Lewis and his business partner, Tommy Thomson ’06, co-owners of Aquatic Invasive Management. Their

Sequel | Winter 2011

ABOVE: Tim Loomis ’01 with his partner, Keegan Konkoski. RIGHT: Konkoski writes the menu, which changes daily. BELOW: Loomis working on fish in the kitchen.

Sequel | Winter 2011

business, which they started after a stint with the college’s Adirondack Watershed Institute, is taking a stand in the growing fight against invasive species on area waterways. Lewis and Thomson both majored in natural resource management and policy and worked closely with Dr. Dan Kelting, director of the college’s Adirondack Watershed Institute, while they were here. And they learned a lot of the techniques they use today while they were students. “What AWI was doing, starting in 2003, was very experimental,” Lewis says, referring to early milfoil eradication efforts. “We went through extreme growing pains, using strange equipment, to see how we could clean up lakes like Upper Saranac and return them to a more pristine state.” Lewis and Thomson launched Aquatic Invasive Management at Kelting’s urging. “AWI wasn’t looking to become the park-wide harvesting organization,” Lewis explains. “But it was very clear at that point that there was an immense need for someone, some organization, to fill that invasive-management niche. Dr. Kelting told us, ‘Look, here’s a client that needs this service.’ So we came up with a business model using the hard lessons we learned with AWI.” The hard lessons to come from starting a business, though, were just beginning. “It was like getting your MBA without going to business school,” Lewis says of launching their company. “It was a crash course, and it took a lot of work and perseverance.” At the beginning, he and Thomson pooled $400, sat down at a computer and learned how to form a limited liability corporation. That accomplished, they realized they needed insurance – which became another challenge. “You’re basically calling insurers and telling them we need insurance for a group of divers who are spending 10 hours a day under water picking plants,” Lewis says. “Who’s going to insure you for that?” Eventually, Lewis and Thomson turned to the AWI for help with their problem, and wound up using the same insurers that covered the college. “That was the only group that had ever heard of this work,” Lewis says. There were more headaches. Worker’s compensation insurance is mandatory, which Lewis and Thomson bought, but they learned later they weren’t charging employees enough to cover the policy. “We just didn’t know these things,” Lewis says. “We didn’t have a board of directors and a chief financial officer who could handle this stuff. All we had was a basic understanding of our costs.” They fought through those early roadblocks, though. Three years later, Aquatic Invasive Management has 13 employees and runs eradication efforts from Chateaugay Lake, near the Canada border, to Lake George. The company broke even for its first three years before finally posting black ink in the ledger. “2010 was our first year seeing a small profit,” Lewis says. “We’re still investing and buying equipment, and this year we needed to buy a shop, which was huge. We closed on that in November.” At this point, they estimate that they’ve put $200,000 into the business. And even though Lewis needs just a couple of classes to finish his degree, he hasn’t had enough time to do it. Which, all things considered, is better than

ABOVE: Lewis and Thomson with aquatic charts they use in fighting invasives. LEFT: Bags of Eurasian milfoil sit near the shore after dive crews harvested them.

having lots of time. “Fortunately, what happened for us, was we kept getting more and more work,” he says. “You’ve got to find your niche. I have a lot of experience in construction, but would it have been smart to launch a construction business? Probably not. I would have been competing with hundreds of others, while learning this complicated business stuff at the same time.” Tim Loomis ‘01 knows about entering a crowded job market. After graduating with a degree in culinary arts, he began working in kitchens in Lake Placid. He rose to become the head chef at Freestyles, and then Lisa G’s, before taking the plunge into starting his own restaurant. Loomis says that it’s the most stressful, difficult thing he’s ever taken on. “Getting this place up and running,

finding the funds – I couldn’t imagine doing it alone,” says Loomis, who launched Liquids & Solids in Lake Placid last year with partner Keegan Konkoski. “Every day, Keegan and I look at each other and say ‘Okay, we’re open, people are coming in – it’s working.’” Loomis is happy with the progress Liquids & Solids has made since opening in June 2010, especially considering the difficulty they had convincing area banks that their business could make it. “The banks laughed at us,” he says. They approached several for start-up money without any luck. And it’s not as if they lacked a business plan. The duo went to the Adirondack Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit group that helps Adirondack entrepreneurs get on their feet, and developed a business plan. AEDC offered to help find some financing – its website boasts that since its inception, it has made 287 loans totaling over $8.1 million – but that process was slow, Loomis says. So they made a more personal pitch. “We got about two-thirds of our financing from family members,” Loomis says. “And then, at the last minute, AEDC came through with the last third that we needed.” Money was just the first step. Loomis and Konkoski had a vision for a restaurant that serves unique foods and beverages – alcoholic beverages at that. And this is New York.

“Dealing with the state liquor authority was tough,” Loomis says. “We opened up in June, and it took at least another month to get the license to serve liquor.” The casual observer might look at Loomis and think, “This guy is crazy.” Why leave a job at an established restaurant, where the paycheck is steady, and start a business? For Loomis, the answer is simple. “It was a desire to do what we wanted to do,” he says. That desire has translated into early success. Liquids & Solids has been open for less than one year, and Loomis says the business is bringing in enough to pay the bills. “We’ve been able to put a little bit of money in the bank, too,” he adds. Many college grads seeking employment encounter disappointment when they can’t find jobs in their fields. Loomis says those young adults need to adjust their approach. “Out of school, I made the choice to work in the kitchen, where I worked long hours for not a lot of money,” he says. “But if the goal is to run your own kitchen or open a restaurant, that’s what you need to do.” Diane Litynski, director of the college’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies program, says that kind of drive is more important than fancy graduate degrees in business. “If you’re going to dive into the

Sequel | Winter 2011

RIGHT: The cover of Nathan Scott ’08’s as-yet-unpublished cookbook.

corporate world in New York City, sure, I’d recommend going to business school,” she says. “But here in the Adirondacks, for what these guys are doing – it’s not a necessity.” Litynski isn’t surprised to hear that folks like Loomis encountered trouble trying to find financing. She says the nationwide economic crisis scared lenders. “They run a business just like anyone else,” she says. “And the economy hurt the banking industry.” Groups like AEDC are critical for upstart businesses, she says. But even more critical than financing and a strong business acumen, Litynski says, is putting in work. “That’s what marks success for these young business leaders,” she says. “Learning about workers comp, familiarizing yourself

with business management and computer databases. You can know your field, but unless you get intimate with the nittygritty, you’ll never set yourself apart.” Loomis sums Litynski’s words up nicely, noting that you can’t run a restaurant if you don’t know how to run a dishwasher. It’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary. “Sometimes the best thing you can do is suck it up and get to work,” he says. That’s what Nathan Scott ’08 did when the job market proved a tough go. Scott, who graduated with a degree in culinary arts and service management, first worked two semesters as an instructor at a culinary institute in Italy where he had studied. When he returned home, work was hard to find. “I had no job prospects when I returned; it was

tough out there,” Scott says. So he picked up a pen and began writing a cookbook. Scott used the very same troubled economy that kept him from finding work as the theme for the recipe book. “The idea is to create simple meals at home,” he says. “I wanted to show people that you can cook at home and entertain guests without breaking the bank. It’s realistic food for special occasions, on a budget.” Now, with the book finished, he’s seeking an agent, who will help him find a publisher. Scott also tapes cooking segments for WAGM, a local television news outlet in Maine, where he currently lives. “It’s just one of the ways I’m trying to promote the book,” Scott says. Getting on television was surprisingly easy for Scott. The station had done a cooking show in the past, and was looking for a replacement – right person, right time. “I’m quite happy with it,” Scott says. “We’ve been taping for five months now. All I had to do was put myself out there.” S

access granted

ometimes, being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean making a profit. But it might mean enriching others. Josh Wilson ’09 graduated with a degree in natural

a coach with

resource management and policy. But he and a friend, Elijah

the U.S. Para-

Cooper, wanted to start an organization to make the deep woods

lympic team, among

of the Adirondacks accessible to everybody – even people whose

others. Several organiza-

physical or mental disabilities might have made such excursions

tions and businesses are

off-limits in the past.

participating, including the

Together, they started Adirondack Adaptive Adventures, a not-for-profit program based in Lake Placid. Wilson serves on the board of directors, and Cooper is executive director. “We were both really interested in wilderness access,” Wilson

ment Authority. To make ends meet, Wilson works full-time at the

COURTESY OF JOSH WILSON

says. “Accessibility issues for people with physical or mental dis-

North Country Healthy Heart Network and part-time at Liquids

abilities are important to me, and Eli discussed the possibility of

and Solids. “Right now, this venture is just Eli, myself and a whole

starting something to make the park a place for everyone to enjoy.”

lot of other volunteers. It’s going to take some time before we can

They considered trying to make it a go as a for-profit business, but ultimately decided on a not-for-profit model. Today, their joint venture provides guide services for human-powered wilderness trips

Olympic Regional Develop-

find means to turn this into a living.” But this is Wilson’s passion, and he’ll be patient as their start-up continues to grow.

for people with disabilities and their families. From Feb. 25-27,

“Right now, we’re looking everywhere for funding; grants,

they’re organizing a cross-country ski camp in Lake Placid aimed

donation, and whatnot,” he says. “Eventually, we’ll get to where

at skiers with physical disabilities; instruction will be provided by

we want to be.”

Sequel | Winter 2011

– CHRIS MORRIS

[ alumni life]

[

2011

Alumni Events

]

Calendar

KENNETH AARON

February

April

Winter Carnival Reception Saturday, Feb. 12

Sugar Bush Breakfast Saturday, April 16

Noon – 4 p.m. The Hotel Saranac Saranac Lake, N.Y.

9 – 11 a.m. Paul Smith’s College Sugar Bush May

Paul Smith’s College Commencement Sunday, May 15

March

Pancake Breakfast at Bob’s Trees Saturday, March 26

11 a.m. Paul Smith’s College Campus

9 a.m. - noon Hagaman, N.Y. Hosts: Linda and Dave Eaton ’61

Chicago Restaurant Show Alumni Reception Monday, May 23

27th Annual Spring Career Fair Thursday, March 31 2 – 5 p.m. Paul Smith’s College Campus

7 – 9 p.m. Location TBD August

Alumni Reunion Friday – Sunday, Aug. 5-7 Paul Smith’s College Campus October

Fall Career Fair Date TBD For more information, contact Deb Dutcher at (518) 327-6082 or ddutcher@paulsmiths.edu

All dates are tentative and subject to change.

Contact Us » For additional information, please contact: Office of Alumni Relations Randi Rabideau, Alumni Relations Coordinator Phone: (518) 327-6315 E-mail: alumni@paulsmiths.edu . Brian W. Smith ’95 Memorial Basketball Game

RANDI RABIDEAU

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ alumni life / CLASS NOTES ] LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

hile it’s been 36 years since I graduated from Paul Smith’s, my memories of what made it such a great experience – experiential learning, a close community of faculty and students, and, well, the weather – remain the same today. Plenty else has changed, though. Through my participation with the Alumni Council, I have the pleasure of returning to campus from my New Jersey home several times each year. And each time, I’m struck by the ways in which our college continues to grow and offer an incredible learning experience to our future alumni. And you make many of those experiences possible. Did you know that nearly one-third of the college’s budget goes toward student scholarships? That’s why alumni participation in our Annual Fund is so important. Whether any one of us contributes $10 or $1,000, our collective participation makes a big difference. Please consider joining the Alumni Council’s efforts to boost the Annual Fund, and help give a student the same chance to succeed that Paul Smith’s gave us. To make a taxdeductible gift today, contact Renee Burslem, director of individual and capital giving, at (518) 327-6259. As always, the Alumni Council encourages all alumni to become connected. If you’re interested in joining the council’s board of directors, becoming a class representative, or taking part in a particular activity, please don’t hesitate to contact Randi Rabideau, our alumni coordinator, at (518) 327-6253. (We always welcome updates for class notes, too.) Of course, one of the best ways to reconnect is by attending an alumni event. Mark your calendars now for Reunion 2011, from August 5-7. This family-friendly weekend is the perfect opportunity to make your return to campus. It offers woodsmen demonstrations, bonfires, a golf outing, and more. For more information, look at our 2011 event calendar on page 25. I hope to reconnect with you at an event in the near future! Yours, Tom Rosol ’74

White Piners from the Class of ’62 visited Lake George this year on their annual outing. From left to right: Al Chapman, Dick Marshall, Charlie Chick, John Kozikowski, Jerry Buteau, Pete Goss, Keith Goodenough, Del Walker, Lee Pennock, John Harrison, Garry Nelson and John Vanderkamp.

40s

Edward L. Kimball ’49 traveled from Oregon to attend Woodsmen’s Weekend on campus. He had a real ball! Ed had help from the alumni department in arranging lodging; for this he was able to connect with two alumni in Saranac Lake, David A. Watts ’88 and Martha E. (Lang ’77) Watts. While on campus, Ed serenaded the alumni crew with a bit of Broadway. He sent David E. Mynott ’50, his roommate from Paul Smith’s who is in a nursing home in Danvers, Mass., some pictures of the woodmen’s event. Ed was disturbed when he saw the deaths of 1948 and 1949 classes listed; he is a survivor who overcame two bouts of cancer. Ed said he is glad he came back east when he did and that he was able to see everyone he did, including big John N. Russell ’50 at Bonnie Castle Resort on the St. Lawrence.

50s

Clare (Ely ’50) Cooper Manis Hatler can’t believe that it has

been 60 years since she graduated from Paul Smith’s College! She is enjoying life on the Olympic Peninsula. She volunteers at the National Wildlife Refuge at the Dungeness Spit and is active in the League of Women Voters. Clare is also on the board of the Dungeness River Audubon Center and volunteers with the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team. Ray W. Peterson ’52 just

passed 80 and is still in good health. He says the trout fishing has been very good.

Raymond G. Raushi ’52 has

been disabled since 1987 and is not physically able, but he has all of his good memories of Paul Smith’s (the leaning pine, sawmill, sugar bush, ski team, Chester

President, Alumni Council Board of Directors

Send us your class notes. Fax to (518) 327-6267, mail to PSC Alumni Office, P.O. Box 265, Paul Smiths, NY 12970 or e-mail alumni@paulsmiths.edu. 26

Sequel | Winter 2011

Buxton, great professors and on and on). George Parry ’54 just wanted to get in the 80s group. He is still working as a courier for a bank in Ventura, Calif., which keeps him busy. He loves to read class notes and sends a special hello to John G. Swift ’53 and F. Joseph McCranels ’54. David G. Baxter ’55 graduated from the University of Denver in 1957. He and his wife, Theresa, have three sons and eight grandchildren. His retirement is full of golf and volunteer commitments. David says he has only fond memories of Paul Smith’s and sends a special hello to Henry “Hank” Yost ’55. Donald Valentine ’58 graduated from

Utah State University in 1960 and moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 1961. He was involved in developing the Steamboat Springs ski area for twenty years. Don is a widower with two daughters and four grandchildren. He is still very active in the mining business and in ownership of banks.

60s

Edward “Jake” Schuler ’66 and Barbara O. (Auyer ’66) Grady wanted

to share that Jake retired last year as superintendent of schools in the Franklin Northeast S.U. District in Vermont. He stays busy as a USSA technical delegate and alpine official, among other things. Barb is still in the school district. She is a librarian and technology coordinator at Enosburg Elementary School. When Barb retires, they will stay in Vermont during the summer months and in North Fort Myers and Key West, Fla., during the winters. Robert T. Escheman ’67 visited Paul

Smith’s College this past spring for the first time since the mid 1980s. He said that he had forgotten how beautiful the area is and that the campus is certainly looking different. Bob also said the new library and student center are stunning.

Jean M. (Church ’68) Fant would love

to hear from her classmates. You can reach Jean by e-mail at toadweaver@live.com.

Norman T. Fedder ’69 reports that he is honored to be on the Paul Smith’s College Alumni Council Board of Directors.

BIRTHS To Samantha D. (Wurtz ’93) Dukes and Tony, daughter Zoey Shayera, on July 13, 2009.

DEATHS William F. Giangreco ‘48 on Jan. 18,

2011, in Park Ridge, Ill.

James H. Hackert ’48 on Jan. 14,

2010, in Little River, S.C.

John J. Hedderman ’48 on Feb. 2, 2010, in Hot Springs Village, Ark. Calvin J. Henderson ’48 on Sept. 27, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas. John B. Henry ’48 on July 10, 2009,

70s

Richard L. Brokaw ’49 on Aug. 21,

William A. Maszden ’70 writes that he

has retired to Reno, Nev.

Charles C. Cross ’49 on Feb. 9, 2009,

in Walterboro, S.C.

George W. Egglefield ’49 on July 5,

Kurt C. Swartz ’72 retired after 34 years

of service on Aug. 31, 2010, from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. He was a Forester III and GIS Section Chief.

R. Kenneth Blair ’64 has been involved

John J. Broadbin ’78 would like to

retirement. He has three children and eight grandchildren. Paul enjoys travelling this great country of ours.

Elaine C. (Leach ’78) to David Fuller in

June 2008.

2010, in Englewood, Fla.

David B. Knapp ’64 is now a certified master gardener in Lancaster County, Pa. He is doing a lot of volunteer work at the Penn State Research Farm, including planting trees as a tree tender.

Paul E. Van Schaick ’65 is enjoying

Paul M. Haertel ’76 to Linda on

March 11, 2007.

Gerald R. Van Duser ’48 on Dec. 16, 2009, in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Paul M. Haertel ’76 has retired as a police lieutenant after serving over 32 years for the city of Clifton, N.J. He finally got married to his wonderful wife, Linda, on March 11, 2007. He is still an avid fisherman who fishes both fresh and salt water. Paul would like his old friends to contact him on Facebook or at anglerpmh@aol.com.

in food service management of all sorts ever since graduating from Paul Smith’s College in 1964. Kenneth retired Sept. 10, 2010.

MARRIAGES

in Sodus, N.Y.

Del Walker ’62 writes, “Since 1985,

a group of ‘White Piners’ from the Class of ’62 have been getting together somewhere every fall. It didn’t matter where as long as we got together. Over the years, we’ve gathered in Saranac Lake, Martha’s Vineyard, Mystic, Conn., and many other places; this fall we did Lake George, and next year we’ll be in Sturbridge, Mass. We started with a group of four couples and as folks retired and nests emptied, we are now up to 12-13 couples. That number represents a third of the ’62 Piners still with us and I challenge any group nearly 50 years out to get that kind of representation. We have an exceptional group who really enjoy each other.”

Trail markers

2010, in Nokomis, Fla.

David L. Walsh ’49 on March 21,

2010, in Sarasota, Fla.

Francis G. “Gerry” Hambrook ’50

on May 22, 2008, in Center Sandwich, N.H. Philip D. Keane ’50 in 2000 in Point

Pleasant Beach, N.J.

Stuart R. McSweeney Jr. ’50 on Oct. 16, 2009, in Henrietta, N.Y. David E. Mynott ’50 on Oct. 10,

2010, in Danvers, N.Y.

Herbert F. Young ’50 on Nov. 16,

2010, in Orange City, Fla.

extend a warm holiday greeting to all his fellow Smittys!

Elaine C. (Leach ’78) Fuller married David Fuller in June 2008. Her son, Cory Leach, graduated from Paul Smith’s College in 2007 in the Culinary Arts and Service Management program.

Norman M. Swanson ’51 on April 12, 2007, in Birmingham, Ala. Ronald B. Haynes ’54 on Sept. 13,

2009, in Taberg, N.Y.

James H. Sutterby ’55 on July 19,

2005, in Brenham, Texas.

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ CLASS NOTES ]

Trail markers DEATHS Ronald M. Staring ’57 on Feb. 9,

2009, in Tucson, Ariz.

David A. Doxtader ‘60 on March 28,

2009, in Little Falls, N.Y. Ronald N. Villeneuve ‘60 on Feb. 25,

2010, in Geneva, Fla. Thomas D. Brennan ‘61 on April 24,

2008, in Mesa, Ariz. Donald B. Dietrich ‘61 on Nov. 30,

2009, in Lebanon, N.H.

Mark Daviau ’79

William F. “Bill” Drude ‘62 on Oct.

(right) shows Paul

17, 2010, in Scranton, Pa.

Pillis ’69 how his Trimble GPS unit

Ralph M. Lawson ‘62 on Nov. 7,

works. Daviau was

2009, in Burlington, Mass.

on campus to do surveying work for

Robert S. Rosen ‘62 on Sept. 22,

the college’s new

2007, in Naples, N.Y. John R. Warne ‘62 on Feb. 24, 2010,

residence hall.

in Lewiston, N.Y. William F. Wilkinson ‘62 on July 19,

2010, in San Francisco, Calif. Larry E. Eshelman ‘63 on April 27,

2010, in Gouglersville, Pa. William A. Keely ‘63 on April 27,

2009, in Oxford, Miss. Howard E. Wells ‘63 on Nov. 5, 2010,

in Gloversville, N.Y. Jan (Prentiss ’64) Loveless on July 8,

2010, in Skaneateles, N.Y. Christopher S. Fay ‘65 on Sept. 26, 2010, in Waddington, N.Y. Dennis P. McCormick ‘65 on Sept. 30,

2008, in Williamsville, N.Y. Vincent P. Chebetar ’66 on June 28,

2010, in Rochester, N.Y. Dennis R. Ames ‘66 on April 2, 2008,

in Vestal, N.Y. Patrick M. Boylan ‘66 on Jan. 12,

2010, in Philadelphia, Pa. Phyllis A. (Flatt ‘66) McIntosh on March 30, 2009, in Webster, N.Y. Robert D. “Randy” Francis ‘68 on

Oct. 7, 2010, in North East, Pa. Marshall F. “Bub” Baker ‘69 on May

2, 2009, in Schenectady, N.Y. Roger P. Bicknell ‘69 on June 6, 2010,

in Fort Myers, Fla.

Sequel | Winter 2011

80s

Guy B. Taylor ’83 is currently working for Clear Springs Food, one of the world’s largest trout farms. Guy; his wife, Julie; and their children, Danielle and Wylie, are all enjoying the great state of Idaho and all it has to offer. Patrick A. Jones ’85 sends word that it

has been a tough few years. He recently divorced after 20 years of marriage, and the corporation he worked for as senior project manager went bankrupt. Before that, he left aviation as a captain on an ERJ90 to seek out new challenges. While he discovers what they may be, he has been doing quite a bit of world traveling and HE LOVES IT! Patrick was just in southeast Asia. He says the best part was hiking the mountains and camping with the Karen mountain people along the border of Thailand and Laos. Before that he was in South Africa and Ireland. While he continues to make excuses to find himself again, he plans to visit India next. Patrick will be moving back to Colorado in December. He misses the skiing. He would love to hear from the gang of Franklin dorm. You can e-mail Patrick at paddyjones777@gmail.com. Michael D. Corse ’89 just finished his first

year as a CSA farmer providing 20 families with healthy, locally grown vegetables. Next year he will be concentrating more on an

expansion into locally grown mushrooms. As a result, his CSA will be smaller. “Eat locally, think globally!”

90s

James G. Guerrin ’98 was recently on

leave from West Virginia Division of Forestry during deployment to Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserves.

Tracey E. (Patch ’98) Parkhurst reports that she is currently a stay-at-home mom and a student by night. She will graduate in May 2011 with a degree in massage therapy.

00s

Louis “Lou” F. Venditti ’00 worked for

the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., for six years as assistant pastry chef; he has been promoted to pastry chef at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. You can contact Lou by e-mail at Lou.Venditti@hyatt.com.

Neal C. Thompson ’09 is currently junior PDA at Gotham Steakhouse in the Hotel Fontainebleau in Miami, Fla. This came after an externship the previous summer at the resort on Duck Island in the Florida Keys.

Trail markers DEATHS Michael T. Hurd ‘69 on Sept. 30,

2009, in Port Richey, Fla. Richard H. Arnold ‘71 on May 2, 2009, in Tolsona Lake, Alaska. Laurence Rydzewski ‘71 on March

23, 2009, in Pomona, N.J. Joseph J. Timko Jr. ‘71 on April 29,

2010, in Fort Ann, N.Y. Stephen L. Drown, II ‘72 on March

10, 2010, in West Chazy, N.Y. Bernd W. Burchardt ‘73 on May 7,

2008, in Brightwood, Va. Edward W. Warfel ‘73 on Feb. 12,

2010, in Leola, Pa. George F. Bennett ‘74 on Oct. 22,

2010, in Mount Wolf, Pa. Mark R. Skakel ‘76 on March 27, 2010, in Rutland Town, Vt. Jeffrey F. Winters ‘76 on Sept. 2,

2010, in Moriah, N.Y. Neil J. Carey ‘77 on March 30, 2009, in Chazy, N.Y. Michael V. Muto ‘77 on July 6, 2010,

in Little Falls, N.J. Christina L. (Hinckley ‘78) Perry on

July 29, 2009, in Hilliard, Ohio. Kenneth P. Doerseln ‘81 on Dec. 9,

2009, in Naples, Fla. Philip A. Gallen ‘81 on June 17,

2010, in Dover, Del. Whitney J. (Hersey ‘82) Marten on

Dec. 25, 2009, in Gloversville, N.Y. Mark J. Goliber ‘88 on April 21, 2009, in Worcester, Mass. Stewart D. Jacobs ‘88 on April 15,

2009, in Massena, N.Y. Michael A. Dilworth ‘91 on Dec. 2,

2009, in Horseheads, N.Y. Jeremy P. Crank ‘92 on July 1, 2010, in Ticonderoga, N.Y.

Alumni Association Board of Directors Ballot

The

Paul Smith’s College Alumni Association Board of Directors is dedicated to strengthening and nurturing the bonds between our college and its alumni. Members meet four times yearly, with special meetings held as needed. The alumni listed below are interested in continuing their service on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for a three-year term, beginning in June 2011. Please mark the name of each candidate you wish to vote for, and sign and return the ballot to: Paul Smith’s College Alumni Office, Routes 30 & 86, Paul Smiths, NY 12970-0265. Signed ballots must be postmarked no later than May 8, 2011. Alumni are permitted to vote once and are requested to sign their ballot. Provision for independent nominations: Any member of the Alumni Association may request to be a candidate for the board of directors by petitioning the board.

❑ John Rebstock

’58 HRTM

After graduating from Paul Smith’s College, John transferred to Denver University where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree. Upon graduation from Denver, he embarked on a 30- year-plus career with Aramark Corp.; during that time he was vice president of Pentagon operations for 12 years. John served four years on the Alumni Council Board of Directors, has served on the by-laws and reunion committees, and is presently chairing the development committee. John offers to serve another three years in an effort to assist the alumni board and Paul Smith’s College in any way requested.

❑ Alton Knapp

’64 FORT

Alton continued his education at SUNYESF, where he graduated with a degree in resources management. He spent 25 years

working at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a water program specialist. For the past 15 years, he has been an environmental consultant specializing in floodplain management and the national flood insurance program.

❑ Melissa Uhlik

’76 HRTM

Melissa is the food operations supervisor at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Adirondak Loj. Melissa has been a member of the board for many years and has served on many of its committees; she currently chairs the Historical Committee. Melissa wishes to continue with the board because she loves Paul Smith’s College and wishes to see it continue on an uphill note.

❑ Andrea (Dewey) Urmston ’89 HRTM Andrea has served as a class representative since graduation. She has been on the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1999 and continues to chair the Alumni/ Student Affairs Committee. Along with fellow Class Representative Dan Richards ’89, Andrea works very hard to bring many of her classmates together every five years during Reunion weekend. When she’s not teaching, she loves to kayak and is currently working on completing the entire length of the Erie Canal.

❑ Justin Vandervort

’08 BMES

After graduating from Paul Smith’s College, Justin returned home to Binghamton to begin a career with his management and entrepreneurial background. He currently serves on the board because of the satisfaction he receives in applying his skills toward enhancing lives of the students who choose to become a part of our family. Big changes in positive ways can mean big things.

Craig P. DeRue ‘08 on Jan. 28,

2009, in Fairport, N.Y. Todd A. Harvey ‘08 on March 20,

2010, in Oxford, N.Y.

Signature: Name: Class:

Sequel | Winter 2011

[ HOW TO]

[1] > Clamp your skis to a bench and clean your bases with a brass-bristled brush (shown). Scrub from tip to tail. This removes dirt and old wax, and opens the base structure for new wax. (The nylon bristles around the edge sweep away waste.)

Smooth operator

It’s

winter – might as well get out and enjoy it. But before you hit the trails with your ratty cross-country skis, wax them. Learn the basics with twotime All-American Stefan Bibb ’09, who raced with us when our men’s Nordic team got back together in 2007 and is now coach of our men’s and women’s squads. You’ll need an iron; brass-bristled and nylon brushes; plastic scraper; groove pin; cork; and wax. Expect to spend at least $100 to get started. Stefan Bibb ’09

– Text & PHOTOS by KENNETH AARON

[4]

. Clean out the groove in the middle of the base with a groove pin. Then, with a stiff plastic scraper, remove the excess wax.

[5] . If you’re using skating skis, you’re almost done. Scrub a nylon brush over your bases to remove wax particles, and that’s it.

Sequel | Winter 2011

[2]

[3]

. Here’s how wax works: When you ski, friction melts snow under your skis and creates a thin film of water. Suction between your ski and the water slows you down; wax helps break this suction.

The glide wax you’ll use depends on the air temperature. After picking an appropriate wax, touch the block to the waxing iron and rub it directly on the ski (again, tip to tail). It will look like you’re doing a crayon rubbing. If you’re using skating-style skis, apply the wax all the way to the end; if you have classic skis, apply it to the front and rear third, leaving the middle bare.

. Moving the iron at a steady pace, melt the wax into the ski base. The wax should melt evenly, without forming a pool. (Use a specially designed waxing iron, not a clothes iron.)

> If you’re using

[6]

classic skis, you’ll need to apply a kick wax – a sticky wax that prevents the ski from sliding backward when you’re pushing off on it. Rub it on the area under the boot like a glue stick, and, when done, burnish with a cork to melt it into the base.

Sequel | Winter 2011

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[ PARTING SHOT ]

Trunk show M

Barrett-Jackson.com

Could the trunk lid, top, come from a 1949 Ford Custom Coupe?

ost campus clean-ups focus on little stuff: Cigarette butts, scrap paper, loose trash. But when sophomore Ben Haigh learned of an old Ford half-buried in the woods behind the facilities building, that’s where he set to work in November. Haigh and a group of 10 friends from Alumni Hall lugged part of that car from the abandoned dump (the trunk lid is pictured above), as well as bales of wire, scraps of metal, bottles and cans, and a mess of other stuff. In all, they hauled out 1½ tons of trash in a single afternoon. The car – which resembles a 1949 Ford Custom Coupe, but don’t trust us, because we’re no experts – is still there. In fact, “there’s still a lot buried that we can’t even think about getting out of there, but it’s good to make the statement,” says Haigh, who is majoring in ecological forest management. » Do you have a Paul Smith’s-related photo, artifact or other item with a story behind it? Share! Drop a line to kaaron@paulsmiths.edu.