Tuesday, June 28, 2011

We All Can Use an Education....

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Abigail. I'm eighty seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course, you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a coke. For three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Abigail became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Abigail to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:
"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.
"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives:
"The Rose"
Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower, and you its only seed.
It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dyin' that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose.

At the year's end Abigail finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
These words have been passed along in loving memory of Abigail. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

~Author Unknown 

Monday, June 27, 2011

Old Wive's Tales or Other Natural Works of Wonder

Do you know of a natural remedy to be told you or handed down to you generation after generation? Then we want to know what they are. Submit your tips for possible publication in upcoming issues. Thanks!


Easy eyeglass protection... to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small 
drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them. 



Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... if menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets
get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the
ground instantly.
 Windex works too



Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue- All over the splinter, let dry, and peel
the dried glue off the skin . The splinter sticks to the dried glue.



Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids
from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.



Balm for broken blisters... to disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerinea powerful antiseptic.


Vinegar to heal bruises... soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for
1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.



Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not just for breakfast any more!Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats
and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply
the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.



Grape Seed Oil Extract is great for all your aches and pains. Visit your local health food store to learn more on how to take this.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

It's Summer Time!

Hello and Good Afternoon All-


Happy 1st Day of the Summer Solstice! What have you got planned for today to celebrate this beautiful day?

solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky, as viewed from Earth, reaches its northern most or southern most extremes. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction.
The term solstice can also be used in a broader sense, as the date (day) when this occurs. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In some cultures they are considered to start or separate the seasons, while in others they fall nearer the middle. 
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice

Sacandaga Sun is gearing up for the summer by gathering all the sources out there that want to join us in our quest to teach others about what is available locally to help people live a healthier life. 
If you have a special event you'd like to share please post it on the blog and we will incorporate it into the magazine in print as well as online. 
Have a blessed day,

Shelley B.
Your editor in chief

Monday, June 13, 2011

Well Being of the Body, Mind and Spirit

Good afternoon all!

Today I wanted to touch base a bit on our Body, Mind and Spirit section of the magazine. To me that represents the "whole you" in well being. How can one take care of the whole self? There really are many options out there locally to help you do just that. All one has to do is learn about each area and educate themselves to help make empowered decisions. Let's take a look here...

Body: Diet, Exercise, Health, Yoga, Reiki, Organic foods, Green living, Prayer, and so many more. Someone once said, "Treat your body like a temple-pray in it daily." There are so many aspects on which we could touch here within the Body section of the magazine/guide but I cannot possibly do all that here. Where does your business fall into this category? What areas as a person would you like to learn more about?

Mind: There is Spirit Mind, your personal thoughts, your spiritual side, and then there is your Mind health. We can explore all of these areas. There truly is so much to oneself.

Spirit: What does this mean? We will learn about this in the many forms there are to your spiritual health. We have the Holistic ways of life. Or we have your physical health or even your personal wealth. It's all tied together. Alchemy, faith, meditation, astrology, angels, beliefs and the list goes on. What is your spirit health like today?

There you have it! A little information on some of the topics we may be discussing in our upcoming issues. If you are a professional person and would like to become a contributor to the magazine, please do email me. I'd like to learn more about what you do and how you think you could help us educate the public on what is available today.

Have a blessed day!

Shelley Brienza

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Arts & Music

Hello all!

I wanted to touch base today with one of our sections of the magazine that will be highlighting many of our own talented persons in the Art & Music business. There are so many! Recently I attended a local concert and I wanted to share with you my experience. It was great!


In the Flesh- The Glove Theater

By Shelley D Brienza/Sacandaga Sun Magazine

Elizabeth (Betsy) Emery did a fantastic job with the light show and graphic light design that entertained us all across the walls and ceiling as Aaron Mittler and his band performed a remarkable show for all that attended. The circular screen that hung above the band while they played gave us a show of its own. Amazing graphics danced across the screen pulling you into each song that was performed. The whole package was here, lights, sound and music and singing extraordinaire!

“In the Flesh-A Tribute to Pink Floyd” was held at the Glove Theater in downtown Gloversville on Saturday, June 4th. It appeared to be a full house as the community poured in. I hadn’t been in the “Glove” since I was a child. Although the theater is still in its renovation period, I thought the auditorium still held its charm. The ceiling looked great in what again appeared to have been recently worked on. The show was set up with a few tables and chairs on the upper portion of the freshly painted floors, with a concession stand of sorts available as well as alcohol, soda or water as you entered, a bit more grown up offerings than as a child visiting.

The downward slope of the rest of the room had chairs set up for the audience as well as a slew of security personnel on hand.

The band members of Aaron Mittler, lead singer/guitar player, Mike Ralbovsky/ guitar and vocals, “Goose” on drums, Jeff Baldwin/keyboards and vocals, Anthony Pazzaglia/bass and vocals and Tony Ficcili on a saxophone and all singing at various times equaled one extraordinary talented group of men!

The Pink Floyd music resonated throughout the entire auditorium with their impressive sound that literally gave me goose bumps for each song they played. I wanted to get up and dance as the music infiltrated into my every being. Some people did actually get up and dance a few songs. They were that good! If you ever see that this band is playing in a city near you, I highly recommend checking them out, as you will not be disappointed!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

History & Education

Another section planned for the magazine is our History & Education pages. We have an experienced, local resident language teacher working/volunteering for us in this area. His expertise in foreign languages whether through teachings or speaking engagements or throughout his travels in Europe, has been found to be invaluable.

Dominic Di Grazia will be writing articles on recipes, health and fitness or educational topics. These themes will vary per issue. We will be bringing back a children's page. We will be creating pages to reflect this area's rich history with pictures and information.

Any pictures to do with how we used to live "back in the day" will be considered. If you have pictures you would like to be considered for future publications, please send us a "SASE" so we can return your original pictures to you. Be sure to include as much information possible with the pictures so we can appropriately document.

 Mail to: Sacandaga Digest
61 Elmwood Ave, PMB 181
Gloversville, NY 12078

Regards,

Shelley Brienza
Editor-in-Chief

Giving Back...

When the publication comes out  I will be donating a portion of collected ad monies from the community back to the community. I'm collecting interested organizations/names for those in need. I thought of the Colonial Little Theater. There are so many hidden treasures in our hometowns. We should help keep them alive and well. Whomever participates in advertising will become a part themselves in giving back to our own community. That's my plan.

Email or call if you have any questions or if there is anything I can post for you on my site (www.sacandagadigest.com) I will do that also for no charge.