Prior to becoming a stay at home mother, I worked on Elk St. in Albany. In the morning, on my way to work, I drove past the Freihofer Bakery and was tantalized by the wonderful aroma wafting through the air of their fresh baked bread. Little did I know at that time, they also baked chocolate chip cookies and I would have a daughter who would almost become addicted to those sweet delightful cookies.

Several years later our family, Jim, Christa, Liz, Cindy, and I visited Old Salem in the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Old Salem is a restored Moravian settlement founded in 1766. Seventy percent of the buildings are original and the village is a living history museum with skilled tinsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers, gunsmiths, bakers, and carpenters practicing their trades while interacting with visitors.

While our family was strolling along the streets and going in and out of the buildings where people demonstrated their trades, we were stopped short by a familiar smell. Wafting through the air was the enticing aroma of fresh baked bread. Just as Freihofer Bakery entices you with a delight for the nose as well as the anticipated taste for your mouth, so were we led down the cobblestone street to a small building baking fresh breads and making our mouths water in anticipation of the taste.

The original method of baking which dates back to 1766 is an interesting process. The oven is covered with ceramic tiles that are heated to do the actual baking. Around 5:30 a.m., the bakers apprentice arrives to build and light the fire in the oven. When the fire dies down and the tiles are properly heated, a long iron pole is used to open a trap door in the bottom and to the rear of the oven. All of the remaining wood and ashes are pushed out of the oven through that trap door. Now the oven is ready for baking.

While waiting for the tiles to heat the bakers were making the dough for heavy and specialty breads like rye and raisin. They were put in baskets and set on a rack ready to go into the oven. The next baskets were filled with the lighter rolls and cookies. They finished with a very thin molasses cookie that required very little heat to bake.

When the oven is ready, the baskets containing the heavier dough are put in and the baking begins. As the oven cools, the baskets containing the lighter dough are put in to finish the day’s work. All of the baked goods are so tasty that they sell out almost as soon as they come out of the oven.

We put our order in for a loaf of white bread. When it came out of the oven we found a bench and pulled the bread apart to enjoy the delightful flavor that comes with home baked goods.

Throughout the years we have baked a lot of bread, cookies, and rolls in our home. Some have been from scratch, some were frozen, and all of them were good. Regardless of the beginnings, they always remind us of the trip to Old Salem Village and also our own Freihofer Bakery.

Four generations of the Freihofer family have, for 90 years, maintained Charles Freihofer's commitment to use, “the freshest, purest ingredients in their baked goods, and dedication to their customers”. From its All-Family White Bread to its wholesome premium grain breads and flavorful country breads, every Freihofer's product has the fresh home-style taste of the neighborhood corner bakery.

Freihofer’s name has also become known for its support of women’s distance running. Through its generous sponsorship of the Freihofer's Run for Women since 1979, its ongoing commitment has played a large part in stimulating the sport throughout the United States. They have promoted the national women's 10 kilometers road race for 10 years.

Making a difference is an everyday task for many corporations. They are grateful for the resources and talent entrusted to them by the communities in which they work. They strive to be good stewards of the environment and to support their neighbors in meaningful ways every day.

Our recent cruise hosted another example of helping the community. On a day at sea they conducted On Deck for the Cure. It was a 5 K noncompetitive walk around the ship’s deck to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This gave guests an opportunity to get some exercise, fresh air, and at the same time support the quest for a cure for breast cancer.  

Eight trips around the ship on the promenade deck equaled one mile. Jim and I did not complete the entire 5 K but it felt good being on deck and seeing all of the people going by who were supporting this worthy cause.

Just saying the words breast cancer elicits many different reactions from people. Even though cancer seems to be in the news almost every day some of our population does not think about the disease at all. Others, who have had a family member or friend with cancer, think about it all of the time.  

My first exposure to someone who had cancer was when our oldest child was in the hospital with a hip probem. That just means her hip sockets were not completely formed. The correction procedure was to put her in a cast and keep pressure on her hip sockets. Since she was so young her bones and joints were still developing and the procedure formed sockets for her hip joint.

While at the hospital we ran into a family from Altamont who also attended our church. They were there with their daughter who had been admitted with childhood cancer. We visited back and forth while there together. When our daughter’s cast was in place she was sent home with us. The other family was not as fortunate. Their daughter lost the battle with cancer. We have remained friends with them over the years and often think about how arbitrary this evil thing called cancer can be.

A person who has cancer needs a large support network and a fighting spirit. Family, friends, and faith are the three most important ingredients for survival. Many young women are at a more advanced stage when their breast cancer is detected because they don’t always understand the importance of having a mammogram. Also, there are a lot of women who feel that it will never happen to me. Still others may fear an exam because a sister, mother, aunt, or other close relative may have had breast cancer and did not survive.

 Let’s use the example of a young woman who was sitting on top of the world. She had a good job, was happily married to her high school sweetheart, had three beautiful children, a good home, a supportive family, and was very happy. She also had cancer. She had a dull pain in her left breast and sometimes it felt warm. She did the normal thing women do; she ignored the pain thinking that it coincided with her monthly periods. A friend finely told her that she had health insurance and should go see a doctor. Day’s passed from her first visit to the doctors before she received a call. She had cancer.

Having breast cancer can throw a young woman’s life into chaos but it is not necessarily a death sentence. A career can be interrupted and a whole team will need to be brought together to help but teamwork and faith is important.

There are many types of cancer and a lot of tough choices will lie ahead. Surgery will have to be considered, medication regimen selected,  decisions of what to say to family and friends, appointment schedules to put on the calendar, and volunteers to recruit to help with driving, meals, and a million other details that will need to be addressed.

Whatever happens, you will have to live life. You will have to fight back. This is the time to test your courage and faith. This is a time when you will find that there are more people out there who are willing to help. They will provide meals, drive, read, give hugs, pray, or do just about anything you need done. There is still a lot of life ahead and you will want to share that life with others.

Halloween parade

Youngsters of all ages are invited to participate in the Altamont Halloween parade sponsored by the Altamont Fire Department on Friday, Oct. 31.

The parade will leave from the Altamont fire hall at 6 p.m. and participants  will parade up Main St. to Orsini Park.  The Ladies of the AFD Auxiliary will meet the children at the park and will give each child  a glow safety necklace and a goody bag. 

This event is sponsored in part by the First National Bank of Scotia.

Roast beef dinner

On Saturday, Nov.1, don't forget to join with other community friends, and neighbors at the annual roast beef dinner at the Masonic Lodge on Maple Avenue. Servings will begin at 4:30 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; $11 for senior citizens; children ages five to 12 are $6; and children under 5 are free.

The dinner will include roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh squash, rolls and butter, coffee, tea and milk, and pie for dessert. The meal is served family style.  Take out orders will be available.  Tickets will be available at the door.

Comedy

The Altamont Fire Department will hold their 6th annual Night of Comedy Saturday, Nov. 1.  Tickets are $24 per person.  The ticket includes the show, beer, wine, soda, and finger foods.

For tickets or additional information contact Mark Wertman at 861-5758.

Leaves vacuumed

The village of Altamont will vacuum leaves on Tuesdays and Fridays weather permitting. Bagged leaves must be in biodegradable bags closed and sealed.  On Wednesdays, the village will pick-up brush and branches.  However, according to the village " brush and branches, no wider than 2 inches in diameter, must be bundled with twine, a maximum of 4 feet in length and must be able to be lifted to the truck by one person".

GHS seniors

Seniors at the Guilderland High School are reminded that the application for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program must be submitted to Mr. Lutsic by Nov. 4.

Fair

Members of Cyrene Temple No. 18, Daughters of the Nile, cordially invite all to attend their craft and vendor fair on  Nov. 8, noon  to 4 p.m. It will be held at the Latham Masonic Center located on 206 Old Loudon Rd, near the circle in Latham. Giffy's chicken dinners will be available from 3 to 4 p.m. There will be items available for gifts, decorations, crafts, and refreshments. 

Interested vendors are invited to contact Pat Irwin at 872-0672 by Nov. 1.

Anniversaries

Happy-anniversary wishes are extended to:

—  Carol and John Vincent celebrating their special day on Nov. 1; and

— Irene and Russ Peck on Nov. 5;

Birthdays

Happy-birthday wishes are extended to:

— Mike Crupe on Nov. 1;

— Andrew Whitney on Nov. 2;    

— Elaina Rose Brown, Matt Elario, Richard Heinze, and Christopher Nowak on Nov.  3;

— Grace Elizabeth Sinkins on Nov. 4;

— Lance Bradt and Stephen Caruso on Nov. 5; and

— Kevin  Aylward, Joe Dover, and Ashley Gifford on Nov. 6.