Posted on Jun 22, 2005

In retrospect, there was something odd about the bat.

It wasn't flying too well, and when Andrew Feffer went to capture it, it flopped into a purse.

Taking care not to touch the bat, Feffer transferred the animal into a plastic bag and placed it in his freezer, where it fell asleep and died.

Feffer has lived in Albany for almost a decade, and each year a couple of bats have found their way into his Chestnut Street home. But this was the first time any of Feffer's bats have tested positive for rabies.

“Because it was rabid, it wasn't flying around too well,” recalled Feffer, an associate professor of history at Union College. “When I thought about it, it was easier to catch.”

The bat Feffer encountered over Memorial Day weekend was the first rabid bat discovered in Albany County this year. But it probably won't be the last. Last year, 10 of the 299 bats tested for rabies in Albany County had the disease.

Only about 4 percent of the bats submitted to the state Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Rabies Laboratory for testing turn out to be rabid, and in the wild, that figure drops to about 1 percent.

Still, officials said there are some precautions people should take when handling bats, and certain things they should do if they are exposed.

Unless a bat's every indoor movement has been tracked, it should be taken to the state's rabies laboratory for testing. According to Marcia Lenehan, associate public health sanitarian for the Albany County Department of Health, it's always possible the bat touched someone while they were sleeping, and the person didn't realize it.

“The bat needs to be captured and brought to a lab,” Lenehan said. Although most people simply shoo bats outside, they should do that only if they're confident nobody in the house has had any contact with the bat, she said.

The Capital Region has a thriving bat population. In downtown Albany, where Feffer lives, the winged mammals often fly into the city's old rowhouses, particularly during the spring and summer, when people open their windows. But there are plenty of other ways for them to get inside, such as through a hole in the attic or roof.

Lenehan said the Albany County Department of Health receives more calls about bats from people who live in downtown Albany than the more rural areas of the county. That doesn't mean there aren't bats in the country – it just means they have more places to roost outside there, and are less likely to venture into houses and apartments.

So far this year, the state has tested 11 bats from Albany County. The only other rabid bat in the Capital Region was found in early May in the town of Carlisle in Schoharie County, although Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Fulton and Montgomery counties have all sent a handful of bats in for testing, according to a report from the New York State Department of Health Rabies Laboratory.

Bats are more active in the spring and summer, especially in August, when they are preparing for winter – their dormant phase – by consuming lots of insects, Lenehan said.

Above all, people should avoid touching bats, Lenehan said. If the bat is flying around out of reach, she said, close it in the room and let it tire itself out (which will take a while); capture it with a long-handled net; or call for assistance.

If a bat is within reach, flip it into a lidded container, such as a coffee can, using a piece of cardboard. “As long as it's in an airtight container, it will die on its own,” she said. The bat can then be brought to the state's Griffin Laboratory, which is open 24 hours a day, on State Farm Road in Guilderland.

Feffer's bat was discovered late at night, flying around a room where his sister-in-law and her baby lay sleeping.

He couldn't tell where else the bat had been, or whether it had touched anyone, so Feffer, his wife, his sister-in-law and the baby all got rabies shots as a precautionary measure. All are now fine.

For the most part, though, Feffer likes bats, and said he worries that people will panic when they hear about the rabid bat. He plans to install a bathouse on his roof so the animals will have a place to roost.

“They're very, very good creatures,” he said. “They eat twice their weight in mosquitoes every night.”

Neighborhood resident Doug Ebersman, who e-mailed notice of the rabid bat to other Center Square residents, said he usually catches one bat each year, but that so far none of them have tested positive for rabies.

“There are bats everywhere,” Ebersman said. “Anywhere you have mosquitoes, you have bats. Occasionally one will turn up rabid.” 

Posted on Jun 20, 2005

With the practiced elan of an astronaut donning his space helmet before a launching, Neil Greenberg pulls a capsule the size and shape of a large breadbox over his head and turns it on.

Mr. Greenberg is the proprietor of Natural Image, what is called a nonsurgical hair restoration salon, in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. ''Don't worry, this is completely safe,'' he says as his chin and mouth glow red beneath the device's rim. ''There's virtually no sensation at all.''

This is not to say that nothing is happening. Within the hood of his Laser Tek 5000 Mr. Greenberg's head is being bombarded by the light from 50 laser diodes to try to bring about a metamorphosis that defies known medical science. Indeed, Mr. Greenberg said, the Laser Tek 5000 can do what doctors, folk healers and sorcerers have failed to do for centuries — restore hair to a balding man's scalp.

The key is a process called photobiostimulation, said Lisa Cutler, Mr. Greenberg's colleague and the proprietor of the Natural Image studio in Cherry Hill, N.J., where this demonstration took place. ''Technically, it won't bring back follicles that have died,'' she said. ''But it will rejuvenate those that are on their way out and make the rest of your hair thicker, softer and more luxuriant.''

It usually takes two sessions a week for three to six months for clients to see whether they have new growth, she said, and they may pay up to $2,800 at her salon or $3,500 at Mr. Greenberg's. This price includes a monthly allotment of dexpanthenol, a sebum (oily scalp) control agent; a nonirritant shampoo; minoxidil; and an ''herbal DHT-killer'' intended to neutralize dihydro-testosterone (DHT) in the manner of Propecia.

''That's a $60-a-month value,'' Mr. Greenberg said. In a testimonial video that Ms. Cutler shows, . ''I was 18 when I noticed my hair was receding at the temples and getting thin in front,'' he said. He considered a transplant, but was advised he was too young. He arrived at Ms. Cutler's salon shortly after her Laser Tek arrived.

Within a few weeks, he said, he began to see results. ''I see a big difference when I look at family photos taken a few years ago,'' he said. ''From what I've read on the Net it will take three to seven years to get all my hair back. Then I'll have to come in just once a month for maintenance.''

Laser treatment can also be performed in the home, according to David Michaels, managing director of Lexington International of Boca Raton, Fla. His company manufactures the HairMax LaserComb, a hand-held laser device the size of a hairbrush that sells for $645. ''The advantage of the HairMax is, you pay one low price instead of paying for repeat visits to a clinic and you do it in the comfort of your own home,'' he said. ''All you have to do is brush your hair slowly with the HairMax for 15 minutes, three times a week.''

Mr. Michaels says his device has been ''cleared'' by the Food and Drug Administration, which has indeed pronounced it safe, though it has made no determination that it works.

Doctors question the benefits of laser hair therapy. Dr. Sandy Tsao, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in dermatology at Harvard Medical School, says skepticism about laser hair restoration prevails.

''We've been using lasers for years, but mostly to remove hair,'' she said. ''We've seen that sometimes, when we use inadequate energy to use lasers to remove hair, hair will grow. So now the theory is, if you can stimulate the follicle to reactivate hair cells, you can get new hair growth. This is a huge leap of faith. In those cases where it happens, it's a random hit. It took a long time to learn how to kill a follicle; it's going to take a lot more time to learn how to revive one.''

While the medical establishment is dubious, the news media have been intrigued.

In one continuing TV study first aired in November 2004, ''Dateline NBC'' presented five balding men, all patients of Dr. Alan Bauman of Boca Raton, six months after they had each undergone five different forms of treatment.

The five were examined by Dr. Paolo Romanelli, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami. The results of a Propecia and minoxidil program were proclaimed ''fair to moderate,'' while Propecia alone produced ''moderate growth with good results around the bitemporal area.'' Viviscal, a marine-extract-based pill, produced no visible growth; the results of a transplant performed by Dr. Bauman were ''good growth''; and the HairMax results were ''substantial'' with new follicles growing on the subject's crown.

A subsequent broadcast, to report on results 12 months after, is planned. In one sense, Dr. Bauman said, the study was a success. ''It was shown to nine million people,'' he said. But, he added, ''It wasn't science — it was made for TV.''

''I've been using lasers since 1999, longer than anyone I know,'' he said. ''It's a nice, nonsurgical, nonpharmaceutical way to promote hair growth.'' He also sells the HairMax to patients who can't make twice-weekly visits to his office. But he's realistic about its limitations. ''Other treatments may be, by themselves, far more effective than lasers against hair loss.'' But lasers, he said, are easier to sell. ''They've got more sizzle.''

Lasers as hair restorers may already be passe, according to Dr. Roy Geronemus, director of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York and president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

A new technology may soon replace lasers in many cosmetic and medical applications, he said. ''It uses light-emitting diodes not unlike the L.E.D. in your TV remote, and it's been shown to have a positive effect on tissue,'' Dr. Geronemus said. ''This is the wave of the future.''

Posted on Jun 16, 2005

Schenectady, NY (June 16, 2005) – Union College women's hockey coach Tim Gerrish has announced the selection of team captains for the upcoming 2005-06 season. Wearing the “C” for the Dutchwomen will be senior forward Kate Gustafson (Kenora, ONT). Junior forward Kelly Lannan (Winchester, MA) was chosen as the assistant captain.

“I am pleased with the selection the team made,” stated Gerrish, who will begin his second season at the helm of the women's hockey program in 2005-06. He also spoke highly about the commitment these two players have towards the betterment of the program. “Both are truly committed to making women's hockey at Union the best it can be. They both lead by words but more importantly by their example. They are first in every drill whether on ice or off. Our staff looks forward to next year and the leadership that these two fine individuals brings to our program.”

“It was an honor to be named captain by my teammates,” stated Gustafson. “Everyone was very supportive. It will be tough to fill Jamie (Laubisch) and Courtney's (Riepenhoff) shoes, those two were exceptional leaders for our team. There is a lot of senior leadership behind Kelly and me though so that will help make this team the best it can be. I am very excited about the upcoming season and seeing what we can accomplish.”  Gustafson played in 31 games for Union last season, scoring two power play goals and adding three assists.

“I am really looking forward to next year's season,” commented Lannan. “We have a great group of girls coming in and with the group that is returning things are only looking up. It was both an honor and a privilege to be voted a captain by my teammates and I am very excited and looking forward to taking on all the responsibilities that come with the title. I'm just so happy to have this opportunity and I'm sure good things will come for our team next year.” Lannan appeared in all 33 games for the Dutchwomen and scored three goals, two on the power play.

Gustafson becomes the 12th captain in the program's history while Lannan is the fifth assistant captain to be chosen.

Posted on Jun 13, 2005

Outgoing Union College President Roger Hull is calling on Congress to create mandatory two-year military or social service requirement for young adults.

The 62-year-old Hull, retires as president of the liberal arts school in Schenectady later this month after 15 years, was awarded an honorary doctorate before giving the keynote graduation speech yesterday.

Hull recalled the spirit of community service that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. He noted that more than 17-hundred U-S soldiers have died in military action in Afghanistan and Iraq since and wondered why many Americans have — quote — “reverted back to the life they lived prior to 9/11.”

Said Hull, “Why do so few of us care? Why do so few of us share the burden?”

His proposal for two-year service in the military or in a social program received mild applause from the hundreds of family and friends watching the ceremony.

Posted on Jun 13, 2005

Simons '51 was a key player during Watergate scandal

The man who coined the nickname of the 20th century – Deep Throat – for the story of the century – Watergate – was a Union College graduate whose influences on journalism remain legendary.

The late Howard A. Simons '51 played a pivotal role in the rise of The Washington Post to national prominence as a result of his involvement in the unprecedented political scandal. Managing editor of the Post from 1971 to 1984, Simons received the first phone call in the newsroom with word of the Watergate break-in. Under his leadership, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke many of the stories that led to President Nixon's downfall.  

Woodward and Bernstein have credited Simons with naming their key source after the title of top pornographic movie of the time. That source, 91-year-old former FBI official W. Mark Felt, recently revealed his identity, adding further intrigue to the decades-old story and sparking journalistic debates about the integrity of confidential sources.

Simons, who received a B.A. in English from Union, started at The Post as a science reporter. As an editor, he was responsible for running the newsroom's daily operations. Known for his wit, flair and restless intellect, he was once described by Woodward as “the day-to-day agitator, the one who ran around … inspiring, shouting, directing, insisting that we not abandon our inquiry, whatever the level of denials or denunciations.”

In the movie about the scandal, “All The President's Men,” Simons' part was played by Martin Balsam.

The recipient of a number of recognition awards, Simons was picked by Time magazine in 1974 as one of the 200 men and women “likely to provide the U.S. with a new generation of leaders.”

His leadership skills were never more apparent than when working with young people. Passionate about inspiring and encouraging talented young journalists, he started a second career, in 1984, as curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Particularly interested in helping Native Americans and other minorities, he also helped establish a fellowship program for Third World journalists at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he earned his M.S. in 1952.

A Depression baby who grew up in Albany, N.Y., Simons worked his way through high school, college and grad school. During his first year at Union, he washed dishes, sold ice cream, cleaned floors in a beauty salon and worked in the College library.

While employed nearly 40 hours a week in addition to taking a full course load, he still found the time and energy to be president of his senior class, editor of the Idol, Union's annual literary and arts magazine, and a member of Montebanks, the student drama organization. He was also a member of the Union College Publications Board and the college reporter for the Schenectady Gazette and Union-Star. 

In the summer of 1949, with the help of a Union College grant, he went to Ejido el Porvenir, Mexico to help rebuild a schoolhouse with the Unitarian Service Committee.

Twice after graduating he returned to campus to speak to students. In 1973, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters and spoke at Commencement on “The Founding Fathers, the Free Press and the Republic: Don't Shred on Me.” As the Minerva Speaker in 1985, he addressed the topic, “The Freer the Press, The Freer the Society. 

He was not the only Simons family member to earn a Union degree. Others include his brother, Sanford Martin Simons '46; Sanford's two children, Scott Simons '72 and Jamie Sue Simons '74; and a cousin, the late Marvin Miller '38. 

Following Simons' death from pancreatic cancer in 1989 at the age of 60, Post Executive Editor Benjamin C. Bradlee said, “For 15 years, Howard Simons played an absolutely vital role in all the historic events in which the Post was involved. His eclectic, original mind was brought to bear with great originality and humor.”