The goal of “No Mow May” is to pause the mowing of lawns during the month of May… This pause in mowing allows flowers to bloom in your yard, and help early pollinators get an appreciable start after hibernation. Lawns cover 40 million acres of land in the United States, and are the single most irrigated crop that we grow… Lawns provide little benefit to wildlife, and are actually often harmful! Grass-only lawns do not have flowers or nesting sites for bees, and lawns are often treated with pesticides that are harmful to bees and other invertebrates.
The start of the growing season is an important time for native bees and other pollinators, as flowers may be hard to find… By allowing the flowers to grow, much-needed pollen can be harvested to help pollinators thrive. There are other benefits to mowing less as well – it can help to create habitats, and increase biodiversity in local wildlife.
By mowing the lawn less, there can be year-round benefits! Taller grass tends to have deeper roots, and less water evaporates from the soil. Reducing the use of lawn mowers reduces air and noise pollution, and mowing less frequently creates better conditions for invertebrates, including lacewings and fireflies.
Although “No Mow May” is beneficial to the environment, it can be controversial… Many people feel societal pressure to keep their lawns neat and clean. To offset this problem, there are signs that can be placed to explain that you are participating in “No Mow May”. It is also advised that although your grass will be longer, you should still consider trimming other areas of the lawn, and make sure that all debris is picked up so that the yard otherwise looks neat. Another solution would be to mow around the edges of the property, to help convey that you are maintaining the property.
If participating in “No Mow May” somehow isn’t an option, there are other ways to help the environment and pollinators – you could plant a variety of native plants that bloom throughout the season and provide natural nesting sites for bees. You could also reduce or eliminate pesticide use… And simply talking to friends and neighbors can help, too! Talking about the effect that we have on the environment, and the steps that we can take to reduce our impact on the environment, can inspire action on the part of others.
For more information about “No Mow May” Please visit beecityusa.org
On Monday, June 26th, Folds of Honor New York will be hosting their 1st Annual Patriot Golf Tournament at the Edison Club in Rexford, New York. The goal of this 27-hole golf tournament was to have 175 players participate, and it is officially SOLD OUT!
Performance Industrial’s Owner & CEO Bill Miller, and Operations Manager Sean Willcoxon, are on the board of Folds of Honor New York. They have each put a tremendous amount of time and effort into making this event a success, and that hard work is paying off! This much anticipated golf outing will have amazing food and beverages throughout the day, as well as top-notch entertainment, and all for a wonderful cause.
Folds of Honor was founded in 2007… It began with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney’s flight home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. When his flight landed, the pilot announced that they were carrying the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on Board… Lt. Col. Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother and the deceased Corporal’s young son walked alongside the flag-covered coffin. Since that day, Lt. Col. Rooney has committed himself to rallying patriotic Americans, and meeting sacrifice with hope through Folds of Honor.
Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided life changing scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military, and this program is now being expanded to include the families of first responders as well.
Although the event itself is sold out, there are still other ways to participate! If you would like to support this incredible cause and be a part of the event, please consider purchasing a tee sign, pin flag, or for $100, a reception-only ticket. The reception from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM will feature Live music from Big Sky Country, and speaker Alan Mack!
Alan Mack retired from the Army as a Master Aviator. He served for over 35 years – first as a mechanic, and then as a pilot. Mack has over 6700 hours of flight time, of which 3200 hours were flown with night vision goggles. His book, “Razor 03: A Night Stalkers War” is an account of combat from the cockpit of a special ops aviation unit; Razor 03 is a radio call sign from just after 9/11. This book features first hand recollections, and the raw emotion of Mack’s time in service. Mack believes that training he received was an integral part of his success.
The Folds of Honor event is for a worthy cause, and will be hosted at a great location, too – The Edison Club! It has a unique history – the original concept for the club was inspired by employees of General Electric in 1903, where records show that the concept for The Edison Club was formulated in bar-room discussion amongst GE employees while waiting for a train in Garrison, New York. The original concept was for a “men’s club” as a place to meet to formulate friendships and make business connections… It was named after Thomas Alva Edison, one of the most prominent inventors of the 20th century, and who spent many years working at GE Schenectady… Over the years, the club named for him has evolved into a Country Club, Private Golf Course, and Private Event Space.
This event will be a great day out for a wonderful cause, and will even have incredible food… Megabites, Pies on Wheels, Brown’s Brewing Company, Innovo Kitchen, and Mazzone Hospitality will all be on hand with a variety of offerings throughout the event!
For more information, please visit Performanceindustrial.com, or the Folds of Honor NY FaceBook page.
Hot Yoga Queensbury, located at 118 Quaker Road in Queensbury, is an open, loving, non-judgmental space for people to feel safe and grow. Owner Serena Smith and her team of 16 instructors are committed to helping to support people physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually.
Hot Yoga can improve flexibility, range of motion, balance, posture and strength. It’s a cardiovascular workout… Higher temperatures can burn more calories by elevating your heart rate, and Hot Yoga can increase your circulation and have a relaxing effect on your muscles. Being exposed to heat can improve endurance and capacity to build muscle, and the controlled and healthy stress applied during hot yoga can build mental stamina and resilience. There are also other effects that help improve quality of life, including improving bone mineral density, sleep quality, pulmonary function, and psychological health.
The studio at Hot Yoga Queensbury is a state-of-the-art studio with infrared technology, which provides a sun like warmth which enhances your yoga experience – the infrared heat does not heat the air, it heats the body and the room… This promotes a deep sweat to help eliminate toxins and allow muscles and joints to stretch. The studio is also equipped with a Dyson purification unit to provide the best possible air quality.
The Hot Yoga Queensbury instructors are Yoga Alliance certified, and are trained in First Aid, CPR, and AED use.
Serena Smith – proud owner of Hot Yoga Queensbury – took over ownership in October of 2022. She has a background in the hospitality industry, and began taking yoga in 2015… Prior to taking over Hot Yoga Queensbury, Serena owned a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a food truck! “The entrepreneurial spirit is something that has blossomed out of me. I have passion for these industries,” she said.
Serana has worked to create a very inclusive community at Hot Yoga Queensbury, and would like to invite more people to drop in for a class or join one of their upcoming events. Her staff of 16 instructors each bring a diverse skill set to their classes so there is something for everyone. Her staff have a variety of playlists that set a tone for each workout, and highlight each for their individual personality: “Yoga is something that can be enjoyed at an early age (and) throughout life. We have fifteen-year-old kids, and we have adults in their seventies… Everyone finds what works for them, and everyone can work at their own pace,” Serena said.
Hot Yoga Queensbury has a variety of upcoming events that are open to the public: on Sunday, May 7th, they are holding a meditation & writing workshop from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM! This is a thoughtful 90-minute introspective workshop that will combine meditation, visualization, and gentle yoga poses with journaling prompts.
On Sunday June 4th, Yoga on West Mountain begins. These are 60-minute all levels Vinyasa classes, which take place on the summit of West Mountain in Queensbury, New York. The cost per class is $40, and they are held every Sunday through October 15th! This price includes a lift ticket, and there are also more events listed on the Hot Yoga Queensbury website.
Senera cares about community and creating events that help others… To promote giving back to the community Serena opens the yoga studio for charity events: “We have been doing a once a month donation class… So it’s a free class that anyone can come to, and it’s taught by different teachers who donate their time to teach the class… I donate the space, and we pick a charity. We recently chose WAIT House, and they were collecting household cleaning supplies and materials so you could come and donate a cleaning product and take the class,” she said. The mission of WAIT House is to provide stability to youth who present themselves as homeless.
The priority of Hot Yoga Queensbury is that people feel included and comfortable, and Serena is proud of the community that she is helping to build: “When people show up for those donation classes, they really show up. We got tons of stuff that we have been able to donate to charity… That’s a way for us to give back. It feels really good. That’s what yoga is about. People love it.”
City Historian Wayne Wright, in front of a display he created at City Hall
Wayne Wright is somewhat of a fixture at City Hall… He has been the historian for the City of Glens Falls since November of 1999, and has worked for the city since 1980. As the City Historian for the last 24 years, Wayne has been responsible for receiving and maintaining archival records relating to the city’s history, answering historical and genealogical requests, and other research. He prepares and maintains historical displays relating to the city, and he is also a member of the Glens Falls Cemetery Commission and works on improving all documentation needed to maintain burial records and the history of the cemetery.
Wayne is originally from Hudson Falls, but when he came to work for the city in 1980, Glens Falls became his home… He started out working for the city doing maintenance work, taking care of Glens Falls City parks and the city properties downtown. From 1980 to 1988, he would pack boxes for different departments for the city… During this time, it became apparent that Wayne had an interest in keeping and maintaining records, so Wayne stepped away from working at City Hall in 1988 to pursue his education – he took classes at Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack), where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Tourism and History, and in 1991, Glens Falls received a State Archives grant: “I was hired back to work through that grant. I was working under the grant and writing the grants. The money from the grants would be given out once a year to the agencies that apply for the funds,” Wayne said. He did this for several years and found the work to be fulfilling: “It was a lot of fun, to read the grants and see where the money was going… About half of the grants that are applied for would get funding,” he said.
Wayne has an indelible love for the history of Glens Falls, and he has spent his career making the most of every opportunity that was given to him: “I started out taking care of city parks and city property downtown… I did maintenance work year round. I pushed snow around. In 1995, the woman that worked as a clerk retired… At that time, it was getting harder and harder to fill salaries, so they made me a full time clerk and I worked in the City Clerk’s Office, everything I picked up along the way I kept.” he said, demonstrating a characteristic of a true historian.
Wayne enjoys his work as the City Historian, and believes that his love of history comes from his parents: “I grew up in a household where we all had an interest in history… My parents were interested in history, so this has always fit,” he said.
Wayne sees the importance of filling out the history of Glens Falls; he creates files where there have been none, and sorts through all of the items that people donate. “People donate pictures and items and I take care of those items. I have created displays for the second floor, and helped with family trees, I help people with their genealogy… And I answer local questions about peoples’ houses. People move here and they want to feel like they are a part of the city. They want to know who owned the house before them and when it was built… If I can find that information for them, they are very appreciative,” Wayne said.
Wayne would love to have more information about the houses in Glens Falls and the families that have lived in them: “The houses in the city, no matter what street they are on, as they are bought and sold, the new people want to know about the history of the houses… And the history of the families that have lived there. If anyone has that information, I would love to make a copy of that,” he said.
Wayne finds that technology has helped to make his job a lot easier, although he appreciates how much information was cataloged and maintained prior to use of computers and the internet: “You can get so much information from the old newspapers. The pictures and the articles bring the stories alive… I believe in images. Images expand the whole experience for people who are researching their family and family history,” Wayne said.
With the evolution of technology and his limited time in the office, Wayne mostly receives requests via email, and suggests that people use community resources that are in Glens Falls: “Now, since I work two days a week, people email me their requests… There are great resources in the community. The Folklore Center in Crandall Library has so much information, and they are very friendly and helpful. The Chapman Museum can be a great resource for people looking for more information about the area, as is the cemetery – there are more that 15,000 graves in the Glens Falls Cemetery on Bay Street, and it’s still an active cemetery. There are 70 to 80 burials a year,” Wayne said.
In his free time, Wayne surrounds himself with his extensive family of kids and grandkids, and spends time with his wife of 33 years, and he is also a published author, having written the book “Listening In: Memories of Glens Falls 1755-1931”. A grant was used to pay for the publishing of this book, so all the money that is made from the book is spent on history projects.
If anyone would like to donate memorabilia or historical items to the city, or would like a copy of Wayne’s book, please contact Wayne Wright at historian@cityofglensfalls.com, or call (518) 761-3871.
On Friday, April 28th, 2023, the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Professional EOS Implementer’s new office, located at 9 Broad Street in Glens Falls.
EOS is an Entrepreneurial Operating System that helps thousands of entrepreneurs around the world achieve the goals for their businesses by focusing on three main categories: vision, traction, and healthy management.
Wendy Waldron – franchisee and professional EOS implementer – is a successful medical practice specialist, coach, and speaker. In her role as Professional EOS Implementer, Wendy helps provide methodology to support business owners and executives who see the need to create a change in their companies. Operations leadership is about planning and executing, and EOS helps to set up tools and solutions for businesses that will facilitate team development and create measurable results.
At the ARCC ribbon cutting, Wendy explained the importance of her new role as a Professional EOS Implementer: “Now I get to work with our local leaders of businesses, people who are creating jobs, they are creating communities, they are creating space… Creating what they want from their business and their lives, giving back to those around them, and they are able to do that because of the success that they have had, and that I can be a small part of that is just a tremendous honor,” she said.
Wendy brings vast experience to each and every project. She has the ability to remove barriers, and deliver guidance that is simple and practical. Wendy opens up opportunities for business leaders to improve both their businesses, and their own lives as well.
On May 6th, 2023 at Crandall Library in Glens Falls, there will be a free workshop for folk song musicians and enthusiasts alike from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM! This event will feature Collin Cleveland – a fifth generation ballad singer – and David Ruch, a musician and teaching artist. Colleen Cleveland is the granddaughter of Sara Cleveland (1905-1992) one of America’s most important ballad singers.
Sara Cleveland
Sara was born in our region, where she learned the folk ballads and old songs of her Scottish and Irish family, friends, and neighbors… She and her mother began a notebook of these pieces that grew into a collection of over 600 regional and British Isles songs, which remains a cherished family heirloom to this day. Sara passed this repertoire to her son, Jim, and granddaughter, Colleen, to carry on the tradition of ballad singing.
Come hear the ballads, learn about the collection, and present your own versions! This event is hosted by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, located at 251 Glen Street in Glens Falls. This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Governor’s Office and the NYS legislature.
Glens Falls Senior Lily Haggerty prepares to score from third base
Glens Falls, 12… Amsterdam, 0!
Junior Gianna Endieveri pitched a 10-strikeout, five-inning perfect game against visiting Amsterdam. Endieveri added a two-run home run in the decisive victory. Freshman Izzy (Iz-Bomb) Johnson, Junior Kiersten Stevens, and Senior Lily Haggerty each had two hits for Glens Falls.
The defense stepped up to preserve the perfect game with a diving catch by utility player Gianna Balestrino, who snagged a hard hit ball to second base.
Glens Falls has won their last three games behind their impressive offense. Prior to this game they beat Broadalbin 10-2, and then went on to beat Warrensburg 10-1. They have scored an impressive 32 runs in three games while holding their collective opponents to 3 runs.
Glens Falls hits the road and heads to Troy for a 5:00 PM start today.
As the gray days of early spring give way to the pleasant sunshine of summer, East Field is prepping for the return of the “Boys of Summer”… The 2023 Glens Falls Dragon season is approaching, and in a handful of weeks, collegiate players from around the area will come and join the Dragons organization to continue playing the game they love! The Glens Falls Dragons organization is building towards the future with the help and support of the City of Glens Falls.
The Dragons and the City of Glens Falls are working together to make improvements to East Field; the focus of the organization, with the City of Glens Falls’ support, is to add 459 Stadium seats on a concrete base behind home plate. They would also like to replace the first-base-side old lumber bleachers with new, updated wooden seating, while keeping the price of attending a family night out as low as possible… An important part of keeping the price of attendance low is the “Host a Dragon” program, which is still in need of host families for the 2023 season.
Architectural drawing of the seating at East Field
Ben Bernard is the owner of the Glens Falls Dragons – he has owned the team since 2015, and his history with East Field stretches back to 1980, when East Field was home to the White Sox AA minor league baseball team… Bernard came back to East Field over forty years later because he wanted to help out: “Now, we are trying to get the ballpark fixed up, it’s 44 years old. The City of Glens Falls owns the field and has kept it going. A few years ago, they installed the LED lights, which was a huge improvement because the old lights were so costly, and by putting new lights in, that gave a new life to the ballpark,” Bernard said; most of the games at East Field are night games.
Ben Bernard -owner, and Mark Rogers – assistant to baseball operations, are looking to take the Dragons into the future – their goals are to improve the fan experience, increase community support, and keep the prices reasonable for families. Rogers has been instrumental in partnering with local businesses and creating marketing opportunities for the team… With more corporate sponsorship, Bernard and Rogers can keep prices down.
The affordability of a night out at East Field watching the Dragons is important to Bernard: ”Our price is $5.00 to get in, and $3.00 for kids… I have kept that price for seven years” Bernard proudly remarked. Mark Rogers added, “It’s a good family value, especially because parking is free… A family of four can have a pretty good night for low costs.”
East Field has a long history of minor league and collegiate baseball – it’s been an integral point for players who had tremendous success, like hall of fame pitcher John Smoltz, or Ron Kittle who was the AL Rookie of the Year on the “Playing Ugly” Chicago White Sox… The magic of East Field is that it holds the last of the players’ “playing” memories as their careers dwindle down to their final days – East Field becomes a cherished memory as the last dusting of clay is clapped off of a player’s cleats. This gives special meaning to each and every game that is played at East Field, and reinforces the importance of what the Dragons organization is there to do – to give college kids an opportunity to play, and embrace their love of the game.
East Field and the Glens Falls Dragons give players more time on the field, help develop players, and involve the community in a unique and special way – each year, the Glens Falls Dragons call on the community to open their homes to the players. The “Host a Dragon” program helps the organization host the players during their two-month stay, during which they play almost 50 games! The “Host a Dragon” program over the years has been a successful way for the Glens Falls Dragons to attract the most competitive ball players, and substantially reduce the cost to players and fans alike.
However, since the COVID pandemic, host family participation has dwindled… This has changed the way that the Dragons recruit: “One of our biggest problems since COVID has been host families. Our host family coordinator is Victoria Ferguson… She has really been trying to find places and people. With fewer host families, we are recruiting more kids just from this area – the Saratoga, Albany region, and around here. The kids that do come up from down south play all year round, and that makes a difference, it makes the team more competitive… However, the upside is that as we have more and more kids just from this region, and it gives them a chance to play,” Bernard said. As much as expanding the recruitment makes the team more competitive, Bernard can appreciate that The Glens Falls Dragons’ main focus is on player development.
The Glens Falls Dragons want to keep the wonder and the spirit of baseball alive… The true American sport has always captured the imagination, inspired a longing for a simpler time, and conjured up idyllic summertime childhood memories. Baseball takes the imagination to a time and place when there were long catches in the yard as the sun was setting… It captures the excitement as the bat hits the ball and the player races towards the bag! If you listen closely, you can hear a ball hitting the glove and the fans collectively cheering… Baseball and all its intangibles holds a place in peoples’ hearts as inexplicable as it is wise.
Cooper the Dragon is the Glens Falls Dragons’ Mascot, and he embodies the spirit of baseball! He’s busy all summer long welcoming kids to the ballpark, and in his free time, he guards Cooper’s Cave, and throws out all of the baseballs that roll in.
Cooper The Dragon
The Glens Falls Dragons have 23 home games, and a total of 46 games played in two months… Their first home game will be on Friday, June 2nd, 2023.
The City of Glens Falls, Ben Bernard and Mark Rogers and our friend Cooper are all working together to keep the love of baseball alive in Glens Falls. The focus of the organization, along with the City of Glens Falls, is to make substantial improvements to the stadium; the addition of the 459 stadium seats on a concrete base behind home plate and replacing the first base side old lumber bleachers with new updated wood seating is a considerable investment in the organization.
Please come and support the boys as they take the field this summer, or invite a player to stay in your home… It will make a big difference to you, the players, and the Glens Falls Dragons organization.
Looking for Mothers’ Day plans? May 14th is just around the corner, and Scotlander Brewery is excited to have teamed up with Comfort Food Community – a local food recovery and distribution non-profit – to bring you a unique Mothers’ Day experience, all for a good and essential cause!
Scotlander Brewing Company is located on 453 County Rte 47 in Argyle, and is open Thursday through Sunday. The brewery features a taproom, and pavilion overlooking a serene countryside… Scotlander is teaming up with Comfort Community to host this special 2023 Mothers’ day experience on Mothers’ day, May 14th, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Comfort Food Community is working towards ending rural hunger, supporting local farms and building healthy communities. Comfort Food Community helps solve the problems of both food waste and hunger – they take produce that would otherwise go to waste, and distribute it to those in need.
So, for a Mothers’ Day event that the whole family can enjoy, purchase your tickets for “Mothers’ Day on Tap” at Scotlander Brewery! Not only will you enjoy a special brunch menu, NY craft beverages, live music and a raffle basket, but Scotlander is also hosting their very first mini pop up market, featuring local artisans along with floral bouquets for sale. You may even see some goat kids roaming about…
United States Marine Corps Veteran Jeremy Duers is the Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Coordinator for Warren and Washington County. This Veterans’ program promotes outreach and holds events to help Veterans achieve and sustain personal health, wellness, and purpose in their post-service lives. The Peer-to-Peer program serves Veterans through the support of peers, and with social events.
This program has been in place since 2012, and it was inspired by the service and sacrifice of Joseph Patrick Dwyer; Dwyer enlisted in the army shortly after the events of 9/11, where he served as a combat medic in the 3rd infantry division. Dwyer became famous because of a photograph taken of him carrying an ailing Iraqi boy while his unit was engaged, as seen below – this photograph was taken during the push into Baghdad and the boy was hit with shrapnel in his leg. Although instantly a hailed hero, upon returning home, Dwyer was diagnosed with PTSD and struggled with it, passing away in 2008 and leaving behind a wife and child… Dwyer had spent 91 days in Iraq.
PFC Joseph Patrick Dwyer
There were signs that Dwyer was not doing well during his transition out of the military – weight loss was an early sign that friends noticed, and later, Dwyer was prescribed antidepressants and referred for counseling. His condition worsened, and Dwyer began to answer his apartment door with a pistol in his hand… On one occasion, he was driving and swerved to avoid what he thought was a roadside bomb, causing him to crash into a convenience store sign. His wife confided in friends that Dwyer was seeing imaginary Iraqis all around him… Friends, family and the military tried to intervene to help Dwyer as he suffered from these setbacks that would occur without warning. Dwyer’s symptoms and his erratic and dangerous behavior caused his wife and daughter to relocate for their safety… When Dwyer opened up to his parents about his experiences, he talked about the volume of gunfire he had experienced and the grisly wounds that he had treated; he said that he could still smell the odor of rotting flesh and metallic tang of blood from the battlefield… Dwyer had come home from the war, but was still fighting the war in his head.
The Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Program demonstrates that the peer-to-peer model holds tremendous value for helping veterans transition and reintegrate into civilian life – through this program, Veterans are able to come in contact with other Veterans to deal with their problems and become stronger… It’s important for Veterans to be able to gather and share their experiences and help one another.
Jeremy Duer recently took over the role as coordinator for the Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Program: “The military is very good at training us at how to be effective, but not necessarily so good at training us to re-acclimate and deal with some of the things that we have to deal with… There are serious problems with trying to get back into society. Joseph (Dwyer) came home, and was self-medicating to deal with this stuff and accidentally overdosed. So, we instituted the program as a way to help veterans reintegrate and get access to different services,” Duers said.
Duer – a USMC Veteran who served for five years – currently has an office on the campus of SUNY Adirondack, from which he covers both Warren and Washington Counties… When he previously re-enlisted, he found out that he had Crohn’s disease: “One of the best lessons that I learned in the Marine Corps is that it can always be worse. I was sick for a while, then I used my GI money to go to school, and I got an Associate’s Degree from SUNY Adirondack and got my Bachelor’s from Skidmore, and I did my graduate work and got a couple of Master’s Degrees from Union College. I was a teacher for about a decade,” Duers said.
Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Coordinator Jeremy Duer
Duers joked a bit about his role as coordinator of the program: “What I do is plan the events… I deal specifically with Veterans and I’m like a ‘Veteran’s camp counselor’ so I wear two hats,” Duers said. “Some Veterans of a particular generation want to go to the VFW, others feel they have spent enough time away from their kids and want to bring them along… With that in mind, we schedule different types of events.”
When Duers was ready to move on from teaching, he thought of how he could make a difference: “I was talking about changing jobs. I had worked at the college as a tutor and had a strong relationship with the college… It seemed like a good opportunity. When I first took over the program, it was a bit overwhelming because we didn’t have a template… The program had previously failed, and the state gave me some guidance because the program had ‘failed to launch’ so there wasn’t a precedent to lean on,” Duer said. “Marines get along well together, and I have leaned on friends I have in the community and asked the question, ‘How can we get veterans better integrated?’ When it comes to the social work part, it really is as a peer, because I am not a social worker… I let the Veteran determine what success looks like, set their own goals, and I take pride in the fact that our goal is to get them across the finish line and then follow up.”
Duers has support through an advisory board – Cindy Roberts is a “gold-star” mother who has been a tremendous resource for Duers: “Cindy is so well connected to the Veteran community. One of the programs that she championed was free fishing licenses for Veterans plus one, and it’s extremely popular… Fishing can be very therapeutic,” Duers said.
Duers has a passion for his work with Veterans, and would like to see the program continue to grow… To help make that a reality, Duer has established a good relationship with the VA in Albany to help get the word out about the program. He utilizes technology to connect with the veterans, but also goes door to door to invite the Veterans personally… He wants the Veterans to know that these services exist, and that there is no charge, or fine print.
For more information about the Adirondack Peer-toPeer Veterans Program, or to reach out to Jeremy Duers, Email duersj@sunyacc.edu, or visit www.adkpeertopeer.org; or call (518) 681-5680.
