Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
“I teach yoga, which is a lifesaver. I practice meditation. We have a lot of people who come in here in need, whether nutritional counseling, counseling or someone to listen. Sometimes you take that on. Self-care is huge in my industry.”
— Kimberly Kempston, Manager, Riverview Wellness Center, Oswego
“I like to fish, mostly. I like to do a little boating and cutting wood.”
— Nolan Bradbury, Owner, Bradbury’s Boatel, Brewerton
“I find a lot of peace in cooking, spending time with my family, going on for walks and going on vacation. We’re not picky: it could be a cool climate, warm climate or fall. It could be a weekend or two weeks.”
— Elizabeth Clark, Secretary/treasurer, Sanford & Burtis Fire Equipment, Inc., Fulton
“I like to watch mindless TV and hope I don’t get a text that someone won’t show up the next day.”
— Ali Scanlon, Owner of The Press Box, Oswego
“I try to schedule enough time for activities like golf. I also love watching sports. And I love anything to do with family.”
— Bill Galloway, Licensed real estate broker and owner, Century 21 Galloway Realty in Oswego
“I spend time with my grandkids. It gives me the most joy.”
— Cassie Clare, Executive director, Peregrine Home Care Services, Skaneateles
“Each person has a different way of relaxing from the stresses of being in the real estate profession. For me, personally, I enjoy being with my family and friends. Seeing and being with my grandchildren is an instant stress relief. Giving and receiving all that unconditional love makes the stress just melt away.”
— Leah Haggerty , Licensed real estate broker, owner, Century 21 Leah’s Signature, Fulton
“I have a lot of hobbies. I do martial arts and have since I was 12. My wife joined and will be a black belt in a year. I’ll have my fourth degree black belt by the end of 2026. I like games like board games with friends. I am an avid reader and converted an extra room into a library. I have an old school record player so I sit down and listen to a record with a book. Talking with people helps. The biggest stressor for me in this job is not being able to help enough.”
— Elvis Mehmedovic, Franchise owner, Express Employment Professionals, Syracuse
“I will relax with a good book and a cup of very strong coffee. If it’s been a very stressful day, I will put some good music on. I like post-modern fiction and the music depends on the day. If it’s really stressful, I listen to 1970s punk. If I just need to relax a little bit, I’ll listen to anything from classical to classic rock.”
— Todd Maclean, Sales associate, Oswego County Monuments, Oswego
“I watch TV when I get home, movies, etc.”
— Laurie O’Brien, Owner Port City Café, Oswego
“I like video games. I like Fallout Four.”
— Joshua Gavin-Hall, Production manager, Port City Copy Center, Oswego
“It’s quilting — believe it or not — it’s still relaxing to go home and do what I do here. I also scrapbook, love to read, garden, tend houseplants and do outdoor planting and camp. I do a lot of relaxing stuff when I get the time to do it.”
— Robin Hall, Owner, The Robin’s Nest, Fulton
“I play with my kids and like going to play golf.”
— Jake Richardson, General manager, Scriba Electric, Scriba
“I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons. There are a couple of places in town now to do that. And I play a lot of video games. Lately, I’ve been playing the classic games. The new skate park is great.”
— David York-Eagan, Team member, Sherwin-Williams, Oswego
“I have four children who play sports. That to me is kind of my relaxation: sitting and watching them do what they love and enjoy themselves. It’s something that brings peace to me. Everything else is non-stop with work. Watching them is relaxing.”
— Shane Stepien, Owner, Step One Creative, Oswego
“I hang out with the family.”
— Justin Taber, owner Torbitt’s Service Center, Inc., Oswego
“I like to exercise and do yoga.”
— Brenda Wilson, Owner, Travis Floral, Hannibal
“Go home and just relax. Try to turn the world off for a little while. In the summertime, I sit by my pool. In the wintertime, just go home and maybe sit on the couch with no TV on and scroll through social media like TikTok to get a laugh. I think it’s funny. I don’t answer the phone or anything. If I can, I get away to Florida.”
— Ashlee Bevacqua, Office manager, Universal Metal Works, Fulton
“I like to go home and unwind at night — nothing special.”
— Jim Bushey, Owner Valti Graphics, Oswego
“At home, I clean my house. I wasn’t this way as a teenager, concerned about cleaning. Usually, the dishes get done first. The whole house takes all weekend.”
— Debbi Law, Office manager, Wet Paint Company, Oswego
“I like spending time with family and traveling. I like to go to Vero Beach and Cape Cod. Those are our two favorites.”
— Kiara Coon, Office manager, Wiltsie Construction Company, Oswego
“I have a camp and I go to my camp as often as possible.”
— Brenda Weissenberg, Tax accountant and owner, Affordable Business Solutions, Central Square
“I go on a nice, long vacation — just kidding! I wish I could. This is a family-owned business. We probably all feel the same: we like to spend time with family, even though we all work together. We like spending time with each other outside of work. And we all have the travel bug. That’s what all of us do here. We like to get out and enjoy vacation time. For me, I like to get out and garden and do something outdoors.”
— Samantha Bonnet, General manager, Bonnet Sales & Service, Central Square
“I like to hang out with friends and stay out in the sunshine and walk the dog, an Australian shepherd.”
— Susan Cottet, Administrative assistant, Breathe Easy of CNY, Constantia
“I try to go to the gym as often as I can. I enjoy cooking. I made scratch lasagna and it came out amazing, right down to the noodles. I like boating, being the owner of a marina. I’d say that’s my number one hobby is snowmobiling in the winter.”
— Chris Renslow, Owner, Brewerton Boat Yard, Brewerton
“I spend time with my family and dog. It’s cattle dog and they have a lot of energy. I like doing anything outdoors.”
— Cliff Smith, Assistant, DTS Truck Service, Syracuse
“I like to oil paint on canvas, knit, and read. There are so many things; I could go on and on. In the summertime, I like to play golf and go camping so I can relax as I sit by the water.”
— Sharon Schantz,Leasing supervisor, Country Gardens Apartments, Central Square
