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Oh, the Places You'll Go in a 2013 Chevy Malibu!
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- Written by George L. Nitti and Kerryl Ann Ebneter George L. Nitti and Kerryl Ann Ebneter
- Category: Health & Spirit Health & Spirit
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
This year, Kerryl and I drove the 2013 Chevy Malibu, courtesy of Country Chevrolet in Warwick, as part of our 2nd annual Chevrolet drive. For those who remembered last year's story (and those who didn't, to read click here), we drove the The Volt, Chevy's electric vehicle with extended range capacity.
We would continue our tradition of traveling around the area visiting some of our favorite destinations. Frank Petrucci, owner of Country Chevrolet, introduced us to the Mailbu, one of Chevy's most popular and best selling vehicles. Aerodynamically designed with a slick looking and sporty exterior and cool, contemporary interior, the Malibu is just the type of car that will attract a broad audience of new car buyers.
For those of you who may be driving a vehicle from the last century, stepping into the 2013 Chevy Malibu may awaken you to a new world of auto bliss. And were not just talking about the intoxicating smell of sitting in a new car. Yes there will be familiarity: four wheels, a metal body, a cabin that sits atop those wheels, and a good old steering column, but there will be new technology such as an innovative braking system that stores energy and assists fuel efficiency, mobile apps that connect to your smart phone, a USB port to access stored music files from a loaded flash drive, a sensor that warns you when you are veering off into another lane, a rear vision camera to aid in navigating places behind you, built in bluetooth technology to make and receive hands free phone calls..... These are just a few of the new features that you can expect.
Intent to get on our way, we got comfortable in the car and drove off to our first destination – Newhard's - The Home Source, a great shopping venue all year round and especially during the holidays. Frank of Country Chevrolet happened to mention to us that his daughter Nora, who is a senior at Warwick Valley High, was working there for the holidays and so we were looking forward to meeting her, in part because she had just written an editorial for the local newspaper reassuring Tuxedo HS Students that they would be welcomed at Warwick Valley High School.
Nora proved to be most welcoming and professional as we talked about her editorial while she gave us a tour of the store, pointing out a few of her favorite things, including a beautiful, luxurious red robe and some attractive scarves.
The store was aglow in holiday lights and our eyes feasted on many wonderful possibilities for gift giving: a new Cuisinart coffee maker, Le Creseut cookery, attractive writing journals, tasteful holiday cards, charming ornaments and so much more for the home, including perfume, soaps and jewelry. Kerryl was interested in a pair of earrings made by a local artist and decided to purchase them. Just at that point, owner and Warwick mayor Michael Newhard arrived and we were given another warm welcome.
Starting to get hungry, our next destination was the historic and regal Chateau Hathorn located just on the outskirts of the village. We had been looking forward to experiencing their Wednesday night 4 course Gourmet dinner for two, which included a bottle of wine at a great price of only $85. We were not to be disappointed, from start to finish. Seated in the back dining room next to their large and captivating fireplace, we relished the ambiance - its warmth and cozy European decor and marvelously restored woodwork, crediting its proprietors Helene and Dolph Zueger for their remarkable passion and work for nearly 20 years developing the property into one of the shining gems of Warwick.
Our dinner was splendid. As an appetizer I had very tender sauteed strips of venison with a rich, creamy morel mushroom sauce and delicious spaetzle. Kerryl enjoyed a fresh avocado salad with lump crabmeat and beets served with a fine balsamic vinagrette. For the next course, I opted for their butternut squash soup while Kerryl went for the Lobster Bisque, in which she enjoyed the chunks of lobster. Course 3, I went for the seafood combination: monkfish, chilean sea bass and sea scallops while Kerryl went for the Double Cut Pork Chop, thereby nicely balancing out our meals. To top off the lovely dining experience, we had their warm, homemade apple strudel ala mode - a perfect end to a delightful meal and evening.
The service was noteworthy as our waiters were warm, attentive, and immensely knowledgeable about food and the restaurant business. Other highlights included Dolph escorting us into his impeccably clean and organized kitchen and one of the waiters guiding us through their tour de force wine cellar with over 12,000 bottles of wine.
After leaving the restaurant, we headed home to Greenwood Lake, which gave us another chance to check out the smooth riding Malibu. We enjoyably listened to 60's radio on Sirius, placed the vehicle on cruise control along Rt. 17A, chatting over its easy and pleasant ride. Kerryl was particularly impressed with the ambient lighting and slanted dashboard, showcasing all of the attractive, updated digital features.
Continuing on our 2nd annual Chevy Drive the following day, I took the Malibu to Tuxedo. It was the perfect opportunity to test out the car at higher speeds and altitudes and gave me a chance to get a sense of its road handling and power. Driving over the crest of Tuxedo Ridge at an altitude of over 1500 feet, a beautiful ride when the sunrise peaks over the forested area, I enjoyed the tight feel of the car hugging and gripping the contours of the rode, winding my way up and down and around corners of the mountain. When I descended beyond Tuxedo Ridge ski slopes and the grounds of the NY Renaissance Festival, I opened the car up, accelerating easily to greater speeds to meet the highway ahead, the 4 cylinder ecotec engine allowing this to happen easily. Nor was I worried about fuel economy as the Malibu consistently gets good gas mileage, averaging between 27 to 37 miles a gallon.
When I returned home, I picked Kerryl up and we planned to head to Warwick for a few more fun activities. On our way, we zipped up Mt. Peter, stopping at Bellvale Creamery to take a few pictures overlooking the beautiful Warwick Valley. Then we headed to the village of Warwick, where we had scheduled a reflexology session at Warwick's Foot Spa and Tea Room. There, Kerryl would receive a glorious session of foot reflexology and massage.
Set inside 2 rooms with calming music, trickling water fountains, comfy reclining chairs and soft, dimmed lighting, The Foot Spa and Tea Bar offers sessions that involve a warm, cleansing foot soak and gentle hand and back massage. That is followed by a warm, herbed eye compress all of which prepares you for the reflexology, which is the application of gentle pressure to specific points located in the feet. These points relate to the internal organs, glands and structures of the entire body, thereby enabling healing to occur.
Kerryl entered into a most calming and relaxing state, noting the comfort she experienced in her "very comfy" chair and the complete relaxation she experienced over the course of her session. When she was finished, she felt that it was a great place to come not only for the pampering, but for its healing properties and stimulation. Either individually, as couples, with friends or in a group or party, The Foot Spa and Tea Room is a worthwhile holistic experience and definitely a place that would make a great gift to anyone in need of healing, TLC, and something they never tried before.
On our way in our Malibu "sleigh," we went to the quaint bookstore in town, Ye Olde Warwick Bookshoppe.
Welcomed by the gracious proprietor Thomas Roberts, we were looking for a particular book to give to Nora for her earnest endeavors. He had just the right book we were looking for: Oh, The Places You Will Go – by Dr. Seuss. Not only did he gift wrap the book for us, but when we told him we were engaged in a community project involving several local businesses, he generously donated the book to us.
What better way to culminate our journey than to give it to the next generation of young drivers waiting to discover all the places they may go!
Warwick Valley Living gives special thanks to the generous support of advertisers and local business owners who helped make this adventure possible, exemplifying the strong spirit of community that resides in our special town of Warwick, NY.
Also, Kerryl and I would like to extend our warmest holiday wishes and the happiest of New Year's to all of our friends, family, advertisers and supporters who have made Warwick Valley Living what it is today. We are so grateful for the support we have received and thank you with all of our heart.
With love and appreciation,
George and Kerryl, publishers, Warwick Valley Living
First Chapters: "Rich Like Me"
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- Written by Andrew Field Andrew Field
- Category: Books and Writing Books and Writing
Why Real Estate?
In recent years a number of businesses and professions have been billing themselves as the second oldest profession. I have no doubt that the honor belongs to real estate. Ever since that primeval Australopithecus took possession of that ancient cave, declared his ownership and physically evicted his competitors, real estate has been a consuming preoccupation. Ownership has come a long way since then. Brute force has been replaced by money and the rule of law. Though these tools replaced one form of power and strength with another, the latter version attempts to protect the vulnerable.
Property ownership goes way back. Deeds were one of the first uses of written language. There is a cuneiform deed in the Louvre, work that has been dated 2600 BCE. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one that dates to 2800 BCE. Real estate has played a key role in all economies throughout history. Its investors have made and lost fortunes of every size. It has been the cause of war, famine, prosperity and invention. The ownership of property or lack thereof has influenced almost every ideology you can think of. It is a vast, undulating, economic juggernaut that, while ultimately expanding in value, can suffer from the most convoluted setbacks if you happen to be in the wrong location.
The pursuit of wealth through real estate is a life adventure. You’ll encounter plenty of thrills and chills along the way. You’ll take many wrong paths and experience many false starts. Finding your property is a discovery rivaling many of life’s great moments. When you bring together a group of like-minded individuals to form the ownership entity, you can expect to participate in negotiations every bit as intense as the six-way talks over North Korean nuclear disarmament. There will be good times and great times; and yes, there will be bad times, even times of danger and exposure to serious losses. That’s what an adventure is all about, and each adventure is unique.
As a real estate adventurer, you are open to every form of property investiture as a means for profit. This means that at every juncture, you are on the lookout for that diamond in the rough and that rough in the diamond. An open mind and flexible spirit are all that is required. If you are a rigid thinker and tend towards inflexibility, please run back to the bookstore where this book was purchased from and hope your return period hasn’t expired. This volume will be of no help at all.
The best news of all is that now is always the time to purchase property. Underlying the entire book is the principle that “there is always a best deal.” The type of deal you will pursue will change with economic cycles and preferences, but even in the worst of times, the buy of a lifetime can still be had. It is because this business does not have an even market. What do I mean by an even market? Stocks are traded in an even market. If the price of a stock is $34.75, that is the price. You might get it for $34.73, but that is about it. Real estate parcels, on the other hand, are held individually and each one has its own story. It is that unique story that can create the fantastic opportunities that this book is all about. The majority of the properties I’ve bought have sold for 50% off. That’s like getting our stock for $17.37. Of course, I can’t turn around the next day and sell it for full list price, but if I bide my time, I will cash in for list price and more.
By following the principles of this book, anyone with a little start-up capital and a willingness to stomach the ups and downs of business can tap into this juggernaut and accumulate virtually any amount of money. The amount is limited only by your willingness to persist and the amount of time you spend. Real estate pays little attention to an individual’s physical make-up, it is not sexist, and it isn’t racist. It will never ask you to show your diploma or file transcripts of your grades. When you show up to the plate with the money, the deed or the lease, you will be treated only as a principal. But be warned that principals can be open to some pretty rough treatment. Then again, that’s how the game is played. It’s also a game where you get to choose your own hours, working conditions and persona.
You can exercise in the morning and show up at noon. Lunch hours are as long as you want them to be and vacations are plentiful. There are practically no real emergencies and everything can be handled at a comfortable pace. Real estate does, however, stay with you. Be prepared to occasionally lose your off switch. There will be times when you won’t be able to leave your work at the office. All business is like that, but when it comes to real estate you are very much alone. There are no real allies, just collaborators of convenience.
Join Andrew Field at Ye Olde Warwick Bookshoppe on Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 6-8 p.m., for a booksigning. Click on image for details and a short book review.
Zooming in on the Greenwood Lake Airshow: Fine Photography by Gerry Molitor
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- Written by George L. Nitti George L. Nitti
- Category: Art and Photography Art and Photography
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Gerry Molitor lives in Wyckoff, NJ and spends a lot of time in the Warwick Valley. He is a motorcycle guy, riding 12 months a year.
My Day on an Alpaca Farm
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- Written by George L. Nitti George L. Nitti
- Category: Health & Spirit Health & Spirit
Some places draw you back over and over again - like they do at Shalimar Alpacas. Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to work on their Alpaca farm, after dropping by on several occasions to admire this unique breed of animal. Patricia Gillotin, owner of Shalimar Alpacas, graciously opened her doors to her farm, inviting me to join her in her daily routine, which entails two hours in the morning and another hour or so in the evening.
The origins of the Alpaca date very far back, stemming from the Camelid family, originating from North America. Camels, llamas, vicunas are amongst the families found in this group. When the camelid migrated to South America, the Inca bred them into the Alpaca, raising them in the higher altitudes of Peru, Chili and Ecuador, where their fine fur was used as fiber to create beautiful garments.
I was up for the morning challenge, seeing myself as a kind of George Plimpton, who was an American journalist and writer that placed himself in various roles (generally sports) in order to write about them. By participating, I wanted to get a better idea of what it means to live and work on such a farm, even if it were for only a few hours of my day.
When I arrived Patricia introduced me, by name, to her pack of curious animals. I would never be able to remember them all, but there they stood gazing at me with as much interest as I gazed at them. With their fluffy coats of brown and white and scrunched up faces resembling ET, they define what it means to be cute. Although skittish, they allow you some room to get close and admire them. I reached out my hand several times but they pulled away. I tried to get closer, but I guess they needed to get to know me better.
Soon after I arrived, several Alpacas slipped off through one of the gates that I accidentally left open. They are known to find trouble very quickly because they are smart and clever animals. They did not waste time grazing on the plush grass and leaves from their front yard, which fortunately was fenced in, keeping the animals off the road and close in sight. One Alpaca made his way into the vegetable garden, tiptoeing around the rows of unharvested vegetables. We tried to lure them back into the barn, but in vain. Patricia decided to let them be, knowing full well that they would come galloping back when she put out their grain and hay.
My first chore was soon at hand. One of the morning duties included picking up and disposing of Alpaca manure, tiny pellets in the form of deer skat. With 30 Alpacas on the farm, you can imagine what they leave behind. Taking shovel in hand, I scooped up the poop and placed it into a wheelbarrow, the dung mixed with other compost materials and used as fertilizer around the farm. Patricia pointed to the area where her wayward alpacas were grazing, noting the richness of the land and other areas where green life abounded as result of the rich compost. I spent 45 minutes scooping poop, the shovel made heavier due to the added weight from the rain of a thunderstorm just before I arrived.
Working at this activity, I thought how different my life is – my typical mornings spent on the computer and mixing with facebook friends in virtual reality. In the early morning, it was nice to get out into the fresh air and lose myself amongst these animals, talk to Patricia and learn something about her Columbian culture, and of course learn more about the culture of the Alpaca. To be an Alpaca breeder, I would think one must be well acquainted with routine, for the life on the farm never stops, as the basic doings of all the animals are as regular as the rising and setting of the sun.
The variety of experiences encountered in the course of my morning was a refreshing treat, giving rise to a host of emotions. I was stunned at the vast number of flies the animals attract and amazed by the steep wall of hay they eat over the course of a year, costing a small fortune to feed. After hanging some gooey fly paper, I relished watching the flies collect and stick. After putting hay and grains in their trough and filling up their water buckets, I delighted in watching them eat and drink. I appreciated watching Patricia run her hand through their fur, checking for pests, and marvelled at her bravery for showing me a close-up of their teeth. And then there was the baby alpaca that had to be weighed, which Patricia carried in her arms, to a scale while its peeved mother spit and kicked, giving both of us a look of real scorn. Boy, I enjoyed watching that and so much more! Who says Alpacas aren’t like us humans?
For Patricia, it may seem that Alpaca farming is a passion where the goal may be to breed and sell her animals, enter them in shows and win contests or keep them around as part of her extended family, which has clearly defined and shaped her life. But even more so, what drives her passion is to use the fine fibers of the Alpaca that she sheers once a year that are then processed into yarn to personally knit unique garments such as scarves, gloves, sweaters and hats for which she has received many blue ribbons.
After we were done with the cleaning, Patricia brought me to her gift shop where she sells her clothing and other goods imported and made from the fleece of the Alpaca. They are beautiful, soft garments. Who would not want a sweater made from such materials?
Once there, you may find yourself coming back over and over again....
Located at 164 East Ridge Rd. in Warwick, NY, Shalimar Alpacas is open Saturday and Sunday from 11- 4 pm. There is a small fee of $5 per person if you would like to visit the farm and receive a tour, or $20 per group for up to six persons. Visit their website at www.shalimaralpacas.com for more information.
Why Recording Studios Matter
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- Written by Dave Smith Dave Smith
- Category: Music Music
Ever notice how things sound different in a gymnasium than in a closet? - Or in a basement, bathroom or auditorium? Likewise, there are big differences between listening to something on ear-buds, a car stereo, television, or in a movie theater.
Every physical space and every speaker affects the way things sound. A good mix will sound consistently good in any environment and on any listening device.
Achieving a good balanced mix is no easy task. It’s natural for an audio engineer to adjust things to make them sound as good as possible. But, if they’re making adjustments to compensate for shortcomings in the room they’re working in or the speakers they’re mixing on - they could actually be doing more harm than good.
For example - when working in a room that sounds bass heavy the mixer might eliminate some of the low frequencies; when played back in another room this mix could sound thin. Conversely, if a track is mixed on speakers with poor bass response the mixer might try to compensate by pushing the low frequencies - creating a bass heavy mix.
As with most things, computers have radically changed audio recording. Good quality recording gear is now more affordable, and home studios - setup in a garage, basement or spare bedroom - have become common among musicians. While this has been great for recording enthusiasts it doesn’t automatically put them on a level with a professional studio.
Professional studios go to great lengths when designing a recording or mix space. They carefully consider room dimensions and use of acoustic treatments as well as choice of speakers and their placement and then calibrate their space and equipment in order to achieve as transparent and accurate a representation of the sound as possible. Without this - there’s a good chance that mixes will sound unbalanced and won’t translate well to other spaces or systems.
While a solid performance and good song are important – it’s equally important to capture that with a good recording and mix. This insures that the end listener is focused on what’s most important – the music. A good recording can take a song to another level; a bad one can ruin it.
For more information about Audio Alchemy, Savage Tunes and Quad Studios, visit their websites.
Velcro Reflectors and the Warwick Valley Farmers Market
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- Written by George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter
- Category: Health & Spirit Health & Spirit
“Oh for a muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention…” William Shakespeare, Henry the V, Prologue
On Sunday, July 14th, 2012, I went to the Warwick Valley Farmer’s Market with the intention of meeting new people and promoting Warwick Valley Living. It came with some invention, at the last moment, as I was trying to figure out how I was going to proceed. Thanks to the collaboration of others, I found my way to the light that sparked a great day out.
The previous week, while Kerryl and I were swimming in Greenwood Lake on our noodles ( flotation devices helping to extend our swim), we met Gary Castelle who was paddle boarding, which is a water sport where you stand on a board resembling a surfboard, using a long paddle to move around. After inviting me to try the board and conversing about this unique sport, Gary revealed he was an inventor. He pulled off a double sided reflector, red on one side, white on the other, held together by Velcro tape, which was wrapped around one of the straps on his board. “This is one of my inventions,” he said, tossing it to me. “It comes in several colors and a couple of shapes.” (Click here for details)
I pulled the Velcro apart and then placed the reflectors back together to test its strength. “A very tight fit and good quality,” I added. He continued, “You wrap them around a leash, a collar, a hat, a backpack, etc. Clearly they are safety devices. Even if I save one life, it’s worth it.” Clever yes yet so innocuous and basic one could very easily miss the brilliance of this necessity. Being a dog lover, Gary was inspired by his own dog, Junior, as he wanted to put something around his collar when he walked him at night. In the grander scheme of a man that once worked for a plastics company as an engineer was the desire to be independent and make his own hours, whenever he wanted to practice his favorite things in life, whether paddle boarding on Greenwood Lake or making ingenious safety reflectors and other clever inventions.
Kerryl wanted to give something away for free at the Warwick Valley Farmer’s Market at our booth and came up with the bright idea of Gary’s velcro reflectors. She said, “Let’s give Gary a call and see what he thinks. At the same time we can promote his reflectors." I called Gary up that evening, arranged a meeting, and before long Kerryl and I were driving home with a bagful of reflectors. Suddenly the world of reflectors opened up to me and a light went off in my head, as I saw them everywhere on the road: the back of cars, telephone poles, mailboxes, virtually everywhere.
The day of the market arrived and I handed out the reflectors and shared information about Warwick Valley Living. It worked, serving as the perfect promotion, for both Gary and our online publication. Also for Gary, it got the attention of several interested parties. A Volunteer for Guiding Eyes for the Blind requested a phone number for the manufacturer. “These reflectors will help protect dogs being walked by the blind,” she said. Warwick’s Superintendent of Schools suggested hitting the local PTA’s. “You might make them in Purple and Gold,” he said, "to go with Warwick's school colors.” Also at the market, a non-profit backpack group that promotes free school lunches thought the reflectors might be a good giveaway for their program.
How inventive we are as a society, leading people to pursue their dreams and to create innovating products and services that can be of use to others. At the Warwick Valley Farmer’s Market, meeting so many new people and sharing the invention of Warwick Valley Living, what a wonderful opportunity it was to have a venue where we can all come together and share these gifts.
Shakespeare must have been quite pleased knowing that his plays would serve and give back to future generations. Our genius belongs to each of us and seems to shine when we are willing to tap in to that need to be of service to others. How I would like to write a play with such a prologue.
George is the publisher of Warwick Valley Living, an online magazine giving an inside view and unique perspective of Warwick, NY, its surrounding towns and other destinations far and wide. Writing stories of local interest, George travels throughout the region experiencing life in the Valley. His weekly newsletter, featuring upcoming events, stories and businesses is transmitted to a mailing list of approximately 3500 local emails.