Author: Megin Potter

How a former musician connects veterans to each other – and local services.

By: Megin Potter

The Beatles, Steely Dan, and jazz culture inspired a young Jeremy Duers to pursue the fine arts at the Crane School of Music after graduating from the Lake George Central School District. Failing to secure full-time gigs in local orchestras however, led to Jeremy joining the US Marines, like his father had before him thirty-nine years earlier. 

“At the time, it was a great option,” said Jeremy.

After passing his physical fitness exam and nailing the audition for an orchestral percussionist at the Schuylerville High School auditorium, Jeremy bypassed the traditional route prescribed for musicians. On September 14^th, 1999, he shipped out to the US Marine Corps recruit training depot in Parris Island, S.C. After Marine Combat Training in North Carolina, he went immediately to his first duty station at the Logistics Base in Albany, GA. 

“Get Ready, Marines!”

The Marine Band unit Jeremy was in was the largest on the base. Their mission: to bridge the gap between the military and civilian populations. Playing an important role as goodwill ambassadors, they performed in ceremonies and events within the country and abroad (with notable performances in Scotland, Iceland, and the US territories). 

A lot changed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, remembers Jeremy. Just three hours after seeing the second plane crash into the World Trade Center building in New York City, his unit mustered up; rifles and supplies at the ready. 

As a member of the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) unit, Jeremy was among the forces assigned to defend the Georgia base which was, at the time, one of the military’s largest arms depots in the world. 

A History of Conflict

In 2004, after receiving the US Navy Good Conduct Medal, a diagnosis of severe Crohn’s disease led to Jeremy’s medical discharge from the military. Married with two children, he didn’t want to go back to being a starving artist again, he said. So he started studying the history of political conflicts at SUNY Adirondack. 

“I was a much better historian than I was a musician,” he explained. 

Fascinated by history, particularly the Cold War, Jeremy earned an associate’s degree at SUNY Adirondack, a bachelor’s from Skidmore College, and a master’s from Union College before teaching history in Houston, TX for three years. 

When he returned to Lake George in 2017, Jeremy taught 11^th grade Social Studies in Granville while also coaching football and wrestling for the combined Lake George and Hadley-Luzerne school districts. In 2020, he began teaching middle school history at Hadley-Luzerne. 

“As a devout Catholic, for me, it’s always been about how I can help. With teaching I was trying to help kids and give back,” he said. 

Serving Those Who Served

Now, Jeremy has returned to the SUNY Adirondack campus, and as the Coordinator of Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Support Services, a Joseph P. Dwyer Project, he ensures veterans in Warren and Washington Counties have the resources they need within a supportive social network. 

“This program and SUNY are a great fit. They have a number of the resources we need to accomplish our mission,” he said, whether that’s hosting a yoga or art class, bingo, or a jam band.  

Along with a small (but effective!) cadre of part-time mentors and volunteers, Jeremy mans the “bat phone” taking calls from across two counties to improve the health and wellness of at-risk veterans. 

Through a confidential, one-on-one, peer-to-peer approach, veterans are connected to each other and to local services, learning about opportunities and special programs for them and their families. Designed to build and sustain a social safety net, the program hopes to reach veterans suffering from the crippling social isolation that can manifest into hunger, homelessness, or death by suicide. 

“There are veterans in terrible shape who are just languishing with physical, mental, and psychological problems,” Jeremy explained. 

Working from what was a blank slate when he arrived, Jeremy said he’s “building the plane while flying it” and helping between 200 to 500 veterans each month with his Rolodex of resources. From providing rides to medical appointments or the grocery store, to securing resume-writing services, to helping those facing a tenuous housing situation with a place to stay, and advocating for alternative sentencing (depending on the severity of the crime). For every veteran that Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Support Services helps, the ripple effect is a force multiplier strengthening the economy, he said.

If you, or someone you know, could possibly benefit from Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Support Services, or you are interested in assisting as a coach, mentor, leader, or friend, follow them on Facebook @ADKP2P and visit https://adkpeertopeer.org. 

Desperate and despairing pet parents turn to Alfie’s Rescue when their dog goes missing.

By: Megin Potter

Photos Provided

Jen Atchinson is on a mission to locate lost dogs. After joining in the community-wide search for Alfie, a miniature Australian shepherd who went missing from Glens Falls two years ago, she got to know the dog’s owners, who were visiting from Pennsylvania, and, when Alfie was finally found, experience the joy of a family reunited. 

Since then, Jen, a retired State of New York employee, and Stacy Berry, co-founders of Alfie’s Rescue, have located 40 missing dogs. 

“I go out as necessary. Sometimes there are no lost dogs in the area, but sometimes, I’m kept pretty busy,” said Jen, who, while searching for a missing dog named Scooby, drove the more than two and a half hours to Malone, near the Canadian border, to help find him. “If I know a dog is in danger or has been lost for a long time, I am willing to travel,” she said. 

Lost and Alone

Alfie’s Rescue does everything they can to recover a lost dog. While sometimes dogs are found within hours, it has also taken Jen more than 45 days to locate a missing dog.  Rising at 6 am, and out searching all day (with only brief breaks) until well after dark, she is doing what local agencies and rescue organizations don’t have the time and resources to do, and what pet parents often can’t. 

When they can’t find their beloved dog and are left on their own, the dog’s family sometimes exacerbates the situation. Franticly yelling the dog’s name, or moving toward a skittish dog, often scares him, causing him to run. 

“If the owner is out there, screaming, the dog is going to automatically think, ‘I’m in trouble’,” said Jen. “That’s why it’s extremely important to kneel down on the ground and talk to a lost dog like you would to a child,” she said.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Stray dogs are nomadic animals, moving to find the human food sources they rely on and the small animals that eat it, so, in addition to a perimeter search for prints, Jen looks for signs, like a garbage bag that has been ripped into, indicating that a dog may have recently visited an area. 

When Loki, a boxer from Broad Albin, ran away from home, his Mom and Dad were heartbroken, said Jen. After trying to help the distraught parents over the phone, there was an agonizing month of no sightings. That’s when Jen and Jill, a tracker from Bethlehem, scoured aerial maps, and picked up his trail. After five days with no luck, the team finally caught sight of him.

“He was the most emaciated dog I’ve ever seen,” said Jen. Although boxers have a strong jaw and powerful bite, their flat, square muzzle makes it difficult for them to pick up scents and find food. 

“When we went out to look, Jill and I almost walked right over him. He was extremely thin, exhausted, and sound asleep. I thought, this poor dog is going to die right in front of us, but then he picked up his head and ran away. I felt awful,” she said. 

When Patience Pairs with Cunning 

Next, Jen and Jill sprayed food with liquid smoke and grilled bacon in the middle of the woods to try to lure him in. 

“Dogs’ noses are 40 times more sensitive than ours, so we rely on that to be the guiding light to bring them to the food bowl,” she said. After strategically placing food and a trap (out of the reach of neighborhood cats and other wildlife) Jen and Jill set up their cellular-enabled trail cameras and went to a nearby restaurant to wait. 

The atmosphere was tense and quiet. 

Finally, Loki emerged, attracted to the food in the trap, and they knew this was it, he’d soon be going home. “It was incredible!” said Jen. 

Rescue from a Crazy World

Dogs go missing for a variety of different reasons, but a stray dog wandering the streets on his own can be more than just a nuisance. Without a pack helping them to hunt, on their own, lost dogs won’t last long. Traffic has increased tremendously since the days when dogs were left to run free. Today, we expect dog owners to be responsible for their pets. Stray dogs can contract a contagious disease, like mange (which is common in foxes), or develop aggressive behavior and bite a child. 

When a dog is dumped, Jen works with local sheriff’s offices and animal control to get the abandoned animal to a shelter and rehomed. The increasing value of certain dog breeds has led to them being stolen (even right off a front porch!) Dogs are also taken to be used as bait animals for dog fighting, which is still a huge problem in Albany, said Jen. 

Posting a reward for your missing dog can also be problematic because if someone is holding the dog and sees a reward offered, they may be incentivized to keep the dog longer (waiting to return the animal until the reward is raised). 

“You just don’t know. It’s a crazy world out there, nowadays. In a matter of minutes, your dog can be lost, taken, or something worse,” said Jen. 

Where a little goes a long way…

The community is very good at posting on social media, said Jen, but when a pet goes missing, it can cost Alfie’s Rescue more than $1,000 per dog in food, gas, and travel expenses to recover them.  

All of these services are provided to pet owners for FREE, leaving Alfie’s Rescue to pay for all of their expenses out-of-pocket The subscription to the handful of trail cameras they use is $200/month. They’d like to upgrade to a thermal imaging drone to help aid in the search and become a certified non-profit organization.

Alfie’s Rescue has started a Go Fund Me page. They have raised $718 toward their goal of $10,000. To donate, go to  https://www.gofundme.com/f/alfies-rescue

To find out more, follow Alfie’s Rescue on Facebook and go to https://alfiesrescue.com

A farm survival guide for perilous times

By: Megin Potter

Photos by Michael Nelson

The last century has focused on controlling and streamlining food systems. The result? Today, fewer farms, producing higher yields, and earning increased profits. 

Shifting production away from small farms nurturing natural, complex ecosystems however, has come at a cost. The lack of diversification makes the whole system vulnerable to problems. 

Fifty years ago, in the fall of 1974, Dan Wilson was just entering his freshman year at Granville Central School. His family had just purchased a 350-acre farm in Upstate New York, and moving here was a bit of a shock, he said. 

“It felt exciting, adventurous. My dad was a corporate executive, so it was a complete change of pace for us.” 

Before moving to Washington County, Dan’s family lived in Southern Connecticut and his dad was the head of Research and Development at industry giant, General Foods Corporation. 

The farm’s previous owners, the Hicks family, were very welcoming however, and had already established a successful U-pick farm on the property (the oldest of its kind in New York State). 

Surviving Unpredictable Circumstances 

In the 119 years that Hicks Orchard has been providing families with the opportunity to pick their own produce, they have learned how to capitalize on diversity. 

“Northern Washington County is hilly, so you have these very small farms, and the only way for them to survive is to do something unique by creating value-added products and processes that create a brand experience. That’s the way to ensure the survivability of small farms,” said Dan. 

Since he began running Hicks Orchard in 1990, it has attracted an average of 30,000 people annually, primarily from late summer to early November. 

Sometimes, that season is even shorter, like last year, when a late spring freeze resulted in Hicks Orchard losing 60% of their apple crop. 

Keeping it Fresh

To survive, farming, like other industries, must weather recessions, pandemics, and a changing climate. Agritourism across the country has experienced significant revenue growth in the last 30 years, but relies on luring urbanites and families out to the country for a wholesome experience. 

When there’s no pickable produce or unpleasant weather, agritourists might not make the trek out to the farm at all. Unlike other types of farming, the you-pick model includes the added costs of risk management, insurance, and providing customer comfort. Which is why one of the first things Dan did was convert the farm’s bakery building into public restrooms. 

As the old packing barn grew into a vibrant, year-round farm store, the farm hosted numerous parties and a variety of events. In addition to being a farmer preparing for future shocks and stressors, Dan is also akin to a stage manager creating a platform for people to have a memorable experience. 

Expanding Off-Site

To help insulate Hicks Orchard from the variability of the weather, they began making apple cider donuts. Donuts are “weatherproof” and available year-round. They are also the backbone of Hicks Orchard’s sales at their Shirt Factory store in Glens Falls. 

Hicks Orchard became acquainted with The Shirt Factory after appearing as a vendor at their annual Holiday Open House. During the warmer months, they started serving the refreshingly simple fresh apple cider slushies (and other farm fresh delights) at The Shirt Factory’s Thursday Market and Food Truck Corral. Now, the enticing aroma of apples can be found inside the sprawling Shirt Factory building at the Hicks Orchard Farm Store and Slyboro Cider House Tasting Room.

Open there every weekend, they offer the same great apples, donuts, and fresh-pressed cider available at the farm, along with homemade fudge and other foods from local producers. 

“The vast majority of our customers are from the Glens Falls area, so it’s a good opportunity for us and for our customers,” said Dan. 

Extending the Season

Before expanding off-site, in 2007, Dan strengthened the farm’s already solid foundation in tourism with the addition of the Slyboro Cider House and Tasting Room in a beautifully renovated 1935 barn. 

Although Hicks Orchard earns 80% of their revenue in the six weeks from Labor Day to November, the addition of the Slyboro Cider House and product line (which includes sparkling, still, and iced hard ciders as well as an apple brandy) attracts a different demographic and helps buffer the farm from variabilities caused by fluctuating weather. 

One of the earliest modern, licensed hard cider producers in the state, Hicks Orchard began experimenting with which apple varieties would make the best cider in what they called their “mad scientist” barn.  

“it’s a chance to be fun and creative while adding diversity to the farm. It keeps us on people’s radar and it’s an opportunity for us to keep staff members on, year-round,” said Dan. 

Although they hire 55 people during the peak of the season, just seven carry Hicks Orchard through the rest of the year, including retail managers Michelle Wilson and Kim O’Leary.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

Working with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Hicks Orchard has implemented diverse plantings, from adding vineyard-like apple trees that reach peak productivity faster in a more compact space, to experimenting with U-pick blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

They currently grow 20 varieties of apples, some especially well-suited to cider, like the English Kingston Black, as well as the traditional heritage varieties like Northern Spy, and the new favorite, Honeycrisp.

As the son of a food scientist, Dan said he thinks if his parents could see how far the farm has come in the past 50 years, that it would make them proud.

“I think they’d be thrilled that we’re making and launching new products,” he said. 

For more information on Hicks Orchard events and products, find them on Facebook, Instagram, and at https://www.hicksorchard.com

Nourishing children’s confidence through an immense educational ocean.

When Chris Leuzinger left Western Canada for Taiwan, he didn’t know his one-year contract to teach at a private school would turn into four of the best years of his life.

“I was having the time of my life, so why would I leave?” he said. “I figured out I loved teaching while I was doing it.”

Chris has been on a voyage of discovery ever since. A proponent of education in all forms, in 2014, he and his wife, Lauren, became co-pilots of Nourishing Minds Tutoring, a ship of scholars guided by a crew of professionally-trained educators— which has grown to as many as 21 during demand peaks— riding the waves of education.

In a Sea of Possibilities…

When Chris did leave the Far East, he took a fantastic four-month voyage through Africa, from Kenya to Johannesburg, South Africa. Following that journey, he spent a year in New Zealand earning his Graduate Degree in Primary Education.

After graduation, he would fly back across the globe yet again to begin a six-year “stay” in London from 2009 to 2014. While in London, he began teaching at a poorly-performing inner-city school in one of the worst areas of the city. When Chris arrived, his school ranked among the bottom 5% in the county; by the time he left, they had risen to among the top 10%.

“True magic can happen when you have higher expectations. Kids rise to the challenge.”

Chris Leuzinger, Founder of Nourishing Minds

During his six years in the United Kingdom, he would transition from teaching into administrative positions. Working as an educational consultant, he helped build teaching standards, curriculum, and professional development training for other schools. While some of these schools were also in England, others were as far off as Spain, Norway, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Chris would spend some time in each of these places as well, adding to his already impressive collection of stamps on his passport.

…A Compass Rose

Now in 2014 and back in the US, Chris and Lauren decided to make their home in Lauren’s native hometown of Saratoga Springs. The couple would then use their experience to navigate effectively through the challenge of starting Nourishing Minds Tutoring from scratch. They hit the streets and got the word out (through spots like Northshire Bookstore) then let their work speak for itself.

“That we’ve grown to this point almost 100 percent from word-of-mouth, tells me people are happy and satisfied with what we’re doing – We must be doing something right,” said Chris.

Now, Chris and Lauren (a Special Education teacher working on her second Master’s Degree) have three children; Taylor, 9, Brady, 6, and Layla, 4. They have also had the experience of nurturing a student who was struggling through 3rd grade all the way to earning an academic scholarship to a prestigious university.

“When you choose to invest in tutoring, you recognize that it is a long-term investment,” said Chris, adding, “But, I cannot guarantee grades. Learning doesn’t work that way.”

Taking the Helm

Making education come alive through engaging, real – world applications, kids are learning without realizing they’re learning – and without having to sit at a desk all the time, said Chris.

Nourishing Minds Tutoring utilizes both formative and summative assessments to gauge student learning. Using summative (or standardized) forms of testing when beginning to work with a student, they arrive at a launch point. Formative assessments monitor progress, further gauging learning through work samples, essays, and teacher evaluations over time.

Navigating Rough Waters

New and varied approaches to education like these are becoming popular because as technology helps inform our experience, research indicates traditional methods are failing children. Homeschooling is on the rise and the online tutoring services market is expected to reach $23.73 billion by 2030.¹

Whether students are failing to meet age-based expectations or are excelling beyond them, Nourishing Minds provides students with the individualized support and resources they need, while also contracting with school districts to help supplement home instruction.

Climbing the Rigging

Through creative, personalized approaches, Nourishing Minds tutors teach relevant standards- based curriculum in a way that students respond to.

Growing up petrified of math, Chris had the mentality that he just “wasn’t good at it” and “couldn’t do it.” Then, Chris learned math could be more than the flashcard memorization method he was taught as a child. Now, math is Chris’ favorite subject to teach.

“Common core was crucified in the media but I sing its praises,” he said. “When I was growing up, there was one way to do it, and that was it. Common core teaches kids a variety of ways a lot of parents and teachers never learned themselves and that helps so many kids.”

Full Speed Ahead

While the Capital District continues to experience a shortage in Occupational, Physical, Speech, Language, and Musical Therapists, Nourishing Minds Tutoring contracts to supplement education with school districts while also offering private and group tutoring, both in-home and online. They switched to an entirely virtual model during five months of the pandemic, but now exist as a hybrid.

“Homeschooling can be done in many, many ways, and you’re pretty free to do what you want. It’s a lot more doable and accessible than people think it is,” said Chris.

In New York State, homeschooling families are required to develop an Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) adhering to the 100.10 Standards on Home Instruction.²

Socialization can be accomplished in a variety of ways today, too, Chris stresses. By participating in sports, extra-curriculars, volunteering, and getting a part-time job, children learn socialization skills while also building confidence – which is key.

“To me, success in one aspect of life translates to success in another,” said Chris.

Living by example, Chris volunteers 2,000 hours per year as the Assistant Chief of the Wilton Fire Department, and serves on the board of the Cantina Fun Run.

“There’s power in getting together as a community and helping.

Find a way to get involved, something you care about, and make the world a better place,” said Chris.

For more information, go to NourishingMindsTutoring.com

¹ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/online-tutoring-services-market-worth-100000126. html
² https://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/10010-home-instruction