Author: Kate Haggerty

Faces of City Hall: Tom Girard, Superintendent of The Department of Public Works

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 20, 2023. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, Uncategorized.

The Glens Falls Department of Public Works is located at 230 Dix Avenue. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; however, the DPW handles emergency calls 24/7. The Department of Public Works is responsible for all city-owned buildings and grounds, and the maintenance of all city-owned parks, recreation facilities, and green areas within streets. Tom Girard – avid Mets fan and superintendent of the department – has worked for the City of Glens Falls for 11 years. He came to work for the city following a 32-year career working for Albany Engineering.

Girard’s position as Superintendent evolved over time – after being hired by Mayor Jack Diamond as the Field Operations Manager for water and sewers for the city – a role that he is still responsible for today – he would take over the Superintendent role as well in 2021. The position had opened up due to the departure of long term Superintendent Bob Schiavoni – Schiavoni had been in and out of the DPW Superintendent’s seat since 1985.

Girard pointed out that working for the city and working for the private sector have similarities: “You start out with one job and gain more responsibility. Mayor Jack Diamond hired me to become the field operations manager for water and sewer. I worked down in the water and sewer and I still do. I still have that ‘hat’” Girard said.

Girard sees himself continuing in the role as superintendent of the DPW: “Most likely I will work for a few more years, and then think about retirement… I can’t see myself not working, after retirement I would probably like to work part time for a little bit” Girard said.

Girard was born and raised in Glens Falls – he built a house in the east end in 1986, and still lives there today: “37 years I’ve been in the east end, and I know a lot of people.”

Girard enjoys his work, but admits that there are aspects of the work at the DPW that can be challenging… Like emergency calls when a water main breaks in the middle of the night, in the middle of winter when it’s below zero: “I have really been fortunate in the positions that I have had. I have a really great staff and I know that the job is getting done… That makes my job a lot easier. The workers and the supervisors are great” Girard said.

One of the challenges that the DPW faces is the grand patchwork of places that the they are responsible for maintaining: “There are the playgrounds, the recreation facilities, the sidewalks all around the city. The parking lots. There are little pieces of land all around the city and we receive calls regarding the maintenance of them. During the summer when we are busy, I receive 50 to 60 emails a day” he said.

There are also services that the DPW provides to help the community… The DPW provides support to elderly residents, including eight senior citizens’ residences where they shovel the sidewalk; these are residents who meet the age and financial requirements for the service. The DPW also takes care of the “ghost properties” in the city; these are properties that are in the process of foreclosure. They shovel the snow in the winter and mow the grass in the summer, and will also drain the water in these properties so that the pipes won’t freeze. Girard recalled an incident about five years ago where a pipe had burst in a vacant building – because no one was aware that it had happened, the city lost over a million gallons of water in one day.

Girard also has advice for people who are considering working for the DPW: there are currently about thirty positions that are filled at the DPW, but they are always looking to hire. “If you’re looking for a job, do a little research and look at the positions that are available. If you have a CDL license, that’s a bonus. If you don’t have one, we have grants now that will help pay for training. The grant is up to $3,700. The city pays the initial $1,200 for the first prep and permit step, and then $2,500 to the BOCES program for the hands-on training… It’s a pretty intense course… We have three employees who have just finished or are in the process of finishing” Girard said.

There are a variety of opportunities at the DPW at the entry level and more advanced levels alike, and there’s the shadow benefit of being out in the community as well: “The guys here really enjoy getting ‘thank you’ from the community. They go out of their way to help, they really do” Girard said.

Kiwanis Club: Matthew Taormino Honored As “Distinguished President”

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 16, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

Matthew Taormino of Queensbury was honored with the “Distinguished President” award by Kiwanis International’s New York District at their Annual Conference in Albany on February 11th. Taormino served as Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls’ President for the year 2021-2022; during his term, Matt made several contributions to the Kiwanis club, including beginning the monthly newsletter – which he continues to edit – and increasing membership with six new members. He also chaired the club’s popular “Duck Race” and served on the first-year committee that developed the “Spirits in the Trees” event; in addition, he serves on the Kiwanis Club Foundation board, and is a Key Club – Kiwanis’ high school leadership program – Advisor.

Matt joined Kiwanis in 2012. In addition to his duties with the Kiwanis Club, Matt also serves on the board of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, and for the last several years has been the General Manager of the Dunham’s Bay Resort in Lake George.

The Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls has been in operation for over 95 years, and is one of the oldest service clubs in the area. Visitors and new members alike are welcome to attend the monthly meeting at the Queensbury Hotel; meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information, please visit glensfallskiwanis.org

Adirondack United Takes a Run at The State Championship in Inaugural Season

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 16, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

This has been the inaugural season for the Adirondack United section II girls ice hockey team… And what a season it has been!

This team is a merger of five school districts: Glens Falls, Saratoga, South Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, and Corinth. This team – which is made up of 30 total skaters – has a season record of 15-1, and they are now competing for the State Championship. The state semifinals will be held on Friday, February 17, at the Nexus Center in Utica, New York. The United will take on Section 10 team Canton at 6:00 PM.

Adirondack United was born out of a successful youth program – the Adirondack Northstars. The Adirondack Northstars 16u has won two state titles, and the 19u also won a state title last year. “There are about 170 girls in the Northstar program,” said United’s head coach Jeff Willis.

In the first game of the season, the Adirondack United beat the defending State champion Beekmantown team on their home ice 10-1. “Coming out of the youth program we knew we would be good. But to take on the defending state champion and beat them at their own place, in our first game, made a statement right at game one. And our confidence has grown from there and we have continued to develop over the course of the season” Willis said.

Coach Willis sees the future in what he is helping to build: “We are a young team, but we are a mature team. I was polling the girls the other day, and about a dozen of them have been captains of their teams in another sport” he said.

Creating opportunities for the kids is a major factor in the drive of making the team a success: “We didn’t cut any kids. We want kids to develop, we want kids to be excited about playing hockey. We’ve done that. We see the little girls in the stands watching us, and these girls have seen the success we have had on the team. Our girls are role models for younger players and girls in general. It will have a really positive effect on girls in the community“ Coach Willis said.

Coach Willis’s daughter, Lily, is a 10th grader who plays on the team. “This season has been super exciting. I didn’t think it was real until I actually went to tryouts. I couldn’t believe that we were actually having a team. It’s been fun, I have been playing my whole life. My closest friends have been made from hockey” Lily said.

Adirondack United has been a success due to the talent of the players, but also because of the community’s support. The creation of a booster club has been an important factor: “(The booster club) has done a fantastic job with the planning. The president of the booster club, Charles Amodia, provided a blueprint for buses and room blocks. The booster club cooked meals for the team, and raised money. We raised almost $20,000 in seven days, and that allowed us to do a lot of things for the team. It shows how much community support there was for the team” Willis said.

Adirondack United is ready to face Canton again in the semifinals; they last faced Canton on February 3rd, and defeated them 7-1. The other NYS semifinal game will be between Clinton and Kenmore/Grand Island; Adirondack lost their only game of the season to Clinton on January 2nd, but then beat Clinton later in the season 5-0. The United has yet to face Kenmore/Grand Island.

GFHS Bowling Has Banner Season: Jocelyn Smith Heads to States

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 15, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

The Glens Falls Bowling Team has had a successful season, having won both the Foothills League and the Foothills Tournament with a season record of 60-12 match points. Glens Falls junior Jocelyn Smith will be heading to the State Bowling Tournament in Syracuse, New York, over the weekend of March 10th through the 12th.

New Head Coach Autumn Reichelt is a middle school PE teacher; it is her first year teaching and first year coaching. She found her starting team was welcoming and had a strong team dynamic: “The (coaching) spot opened up and I talked to my athletic director about it. They had their first match the next day. So, the first time I met the team was before we got on the bus to go to the match. It was challenging, especially on the first day figuring out the scoring and figuring out who everyone was and who they should be paired with. For example in our first match one of the players wasn’t there; So I didn’t know who to bring up. I didn’t know the stats or have a rooster, or knowledge of how each individual bowled or how they bowled with each other. That was a big thing” Coach Reichelt said.

She credits Jocelyn Smith’s natural leadership skills as key to helping her learn the scoring and the team roster: “The team dynamic is important in bowling. Teammates match up depending on their style and how they break down a lane” Jocelyn said.

Jocelyn has been competing on the varsity level since she was in 7th grade, and has been bowling since she was about seven or eight years old. She was introduced to the sport by her dad, and Coach Reichelt credits Jocelyn’s dad – Jamie Smith – with being the unsung hero of the team: “Before I took over, he was the one who really stepped up and really helped with the kids… (He) definitely helped me learn a lot” Coach Reichelt said.

Jocelyn is looking forward to the State Tournament, and also enjoying the success she has had this season; she has earned her second sanctioned 300 game this season, and reached the milestone of her first 800 series as well.

“What usually happens is when school bowling starts, I start bowling seven days a week and I get better as that goes on. I shot my second sanctioned 300 and my first 800–800 series for 3 games. It was a huge milestone” Jocelyn said.

After the regular season, Jocelyn competed in the Section II All Girls Composite, where she came in first place… And now, her next milestone is to compete in the State. She will be coached by Coach Bertrand, who coaches for the Cohoes team. There are three practices before the competition in Syracuse.

Jocelyn has qualified for states the last three years: “The first year there wasn’t a tournament because that was the shutdown year, and again in ninth grade there weren’t even sectionals. And last year I went to the State” Jocelyn said.

Jocelyn feels that the experience of having been to the State Tournament before will help her this year: “It’s going to be a lot better because I’ve been there. I have experience with travel and the hotel and being on my own… And bowling brings another level of emotion” she said.

Jocelyn is preparing her strategy on what type of bowling balls to use for the tournament: “I always use the same weight and brand. But, I use different cores and different cover stock” she explained.

As Jocelyn focuses on States, Coach Reichelt is excited to have her team honored in the gym with their first banner: “We will be getting a banner. We have never had a bowling banner in the high school gym before. So this is the first year that Glens Falls has won the league in general for Foothills, and the Foothills tournament. Which is a day tournament. That’s the biggest thing that I’m excited for and I hope to be with the team for a long time to come” Coach Reichelt said.

Jocelyn Smith will be competing in the State Tournament March 10th through 12th, at the AMF Strike-N-Spare lanes in Syracuse, NY.

Your Family May be Eligible for SNAP Benefits

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 14, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

SNAP is a supplemental nutrition assistance program sponsored by the federal government and administered by the states. SNAP was originally created during the great depression, and debuted in Rochester New York in 1939; over the next four years, the program reached approximately 20-million people. In 1943, it ended because it was deemed no longer necessary, but the program was revived in 1961, and over the years has been both expanded and streamlined. The goal of this program is to improve nutrition among low income households. The program has evolved using technology like the electronic benefits card, and changed its name from food stamps to SNAP to lessen the stigma associated with the program.

Ben Driscoll – a volunteer with the SNAP Program and a member of the Board of Supervisors for Warren County – is aware of the stigma that is associated with food stamps and the SNAP program; he was recently at the Glens Falls High School Community Connections Fair, handing out educational materials as he compared SNAP to the programs that are offered at school: “This school is a government-run facility, and SNAP is a government-run program” he said. Trying to lessen the stigma associated with the program has been a continuing challenge for getting benefits to the families that need them.

There are four common myths about the SNAP program:

Myth: You can not get SNAP benefits if you have a job.

Truth: You may work and still qualify for SNAP benefits.

Myth: SNAP is a welfare program.

Truth: Most SNAP recipients are seniors, children, or working people. SNAP is a nutrition program that helps people buy healthy food when money is tight.

Myth: Other people need SNAP more than I do.

Truth: By receiving SNAP benefits, you are not taking benefits away from another person. Everyone who applies and is determined to be eligible will get SNAP benefits.

Myth: Getting SNAP benefits will hurt my chances of becoming a naturalized citizen.

Truth: No! SNAP benefits do not affect your citizenship application or U.S. Citizenship in general.

The goal of SNAP is to help people buy more nutritious food with less money, so they can prepare quick, easy, and healthy meals safely.

As well-intentioned as the SNAP program is, there are still abuses to the system – individuals sometimes provide false information on their application to receive more benefits, and sometimes recipients give the benefits to a family member or friend; or even sell them for cash.

There is also the issue of people using the benefits and purchasing junk food… Healthy food tends to be more expensive. The Food And Nutrient Act of 2008 states that SNAP recipients can purchase “any food or food product for home consumption”. To combat this, SNAP has extended its reach outside of the grocery store, to try and help people make healthier nutritional choices. SNAP and the USDA provide grants to use SNAP benefits at local farmers’ markets, and also provide nutrition classes through Eat Smart New York.

The goal of SNAP is to supplement the food budget of needy families and help them move towards being self-sufficient. For more information, go to myBenefits.ny.gov.

Maximum SNAP Benefit Allowances:

Household Size	Maximum Allotment*

1	$281
2	$516
3	$740
4	$939
5	$1,116
6	$1,339
7	$1,480
8	$1,691
For each additional member	$211+

Queensbury Girls Basketball Shine at Albany Showcase

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 14, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury 70, Broadalbin-Perth 35 – in the Foothills Council Showcase at Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory, the Queensbury varsity girls basketball team gave head coach Megan Bethel her 150th victory.

The Spartans got out to a great start, leading 19-4 over Broadalbin-Perth after the first quarter of play. Kendra Ballard led the Spartans with a career-high 22 points. Shea Canavan contributed 20 points and had eight assists. Marcie Perry led the Broadalbin-Perth Patriots with 10 points, and Camille Calderone added 9 points.

The Spartans finished the season in first place in Section 2 Foothills, with a league record of 12-1 and 13-7 overall.

The Section 2 postseason tournament brackets will be released on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

In New York, The Future Of Heating and Cooling is Electric

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 13, 2023. Posted in Business, Featured.

On January 10, 2023, in her State of the State speech, Governor Kathy Hochul called for the nations’ most aggressive ban on fossil fuels yet in new buildings. During her speech, Hochul urged the State Legislature to phase out the sale of fossil fuel heating equipment in existing residential buildings beginning in 2030, and for commercial buildings, 2035. The Governor also proposed that new residential buildings be all electric by 2025, and commercial buildings be all electric by 2030.

Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is a local business that has been on the front line of the evolution of clean energy. Joe Cerrone, the owner and manager, is aware that the future in the industry will be electric: “They are starting to change the laws to push everyone to heat pumps” he said during a recent interview.

A heat pump runs on electricity and can both heat and cool the home. As the industry evolves and changes, Cerrone sees what he calls “hiccups” with covering the heating load of a house: “When a house is converted to be all electric, the heat pump will have a back up strip heater in the unit. So when the heat pump can’t keep up, the electric heater will help cover the load. The issue is that the electrical panels are not large enough to take care of the load of the house. So if the house has a 150-amp panel and with all of the electricity being drawn from it, the panel would have to be upsized to a 400 amp meter” Cerrone said.

Cerrone with his experience in the field of HVAC would recommend a gradual change towards the technology: “Right now, people still like their standard furnaces… They are all hooked up, and the furnaces last for 15 years or so. Right now what I would recommend to customers is if their central air conditioning system needs to be replaced, then replace it with a heat pump” Cerrone said.

There are rebates available to encourage customers to move towards installing heat pumps, offered in ranges between $500 and $5,000. Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has completed the training for the certifications to be an affiliated contractor with the clean heat program; they are one of the few contractors in the area fully trained to offer these rebates and services.

Although the industry is shifting, the technology of heat pumps is not new: “So, we’ve been installing heat pumps, mainly mini-ductless heat pumps, for 15-plus years. So they have been around… It didn’t happen overnight. They have been getting better and better over the years, and in some situations they can take the whole load for the house” Cerrone said.

Lake George: Senior Housing Project Near Million Dollar Beach

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 13, 2023. Posted in Business, Featured.

Despite the construction industry seeing increased material costs, rising interest rates, and a slowing overall economy, building just keeps going. An 11-acre property off of Bloody Pond Road – about a mile from Million Dollar Beach, on the southern shore of Lake George – is in the early stages of review with the town of Lake George for a 32-unit senior housing project. Rich Schermerhorn Jr. is seeking to develop the property, and the project is scheduled to be discussed at a Town of Lake George Planning Board meeting on February 21st, 2023.

Schermerhorn is aware of the changing market conditions: “We are still getting notices every other day about price increases for compound, plywood, roofing, trusses and shingles, and interest rates have a drastic effect on projects. Where things stand now, I can still develop and make a fair return and make projects happen. We just have to put in more sweat, equity, and a lot more liquidity” Schermerhorn reportedly said.

Schermerhorn – in his thirty years in business – has built a portfolio of over 2,500 apartments, and he has hundreds more apartments in various stages of approval. Just last year, Schermerhorn bought undeveloped land in Warren and Washington County.

Schermerhorn made headlines last summer when he purchased the former Water Slide World amusement park in Lake George for $3-million in cash – he plans to transform that property for mixed commercial and residential use.

The preliminary plans for the property on Bloody Pond Road is for a three-story, 32-apartment senior housing complex. The property is currently owned by George McGowan, a former town board member and former restaurant owner.

GFHS Community Fair Featured: SUNY Adirondack Free Continuing Education

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 9, 2023. Posted in Community, Education, Featured, Local Leads.

Glens Falls High School hosted a community connections fair on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM. There were over 30 providers on hand to explain the community services that their organizations provide – Organizations from throughout the region set up tables, and had free offerings including tote bags, pens, socks, magnets, and informational pamphlets. There was also free pizza, water, door prizes, and even child care.

SUNY Adirondack had a table featuring short-term courses that, due to grant funding, are tuition-free to those who qualify. These course offerings included an IT Desk Bootcamp and Electrical Maintenance Technician (EMT) Bootcamp.

The IT Bootcamp will teach students entry-level skills to begin a career as an IT Help Desk Technician. This course will strengthen understanding of fundamental computer systems strategies; including management in hardware architecture, operating systems, program troubleshooting, and more. This course will also highlight network management processes that improve skills on WAN, virtualization techniques, TCP/IP, and scanning. There will be a focus on adopting basic skills in network security, security threat analysis, cryptography, and security auditing across hardware and software systems. Finally, this course will prepare the student for the CompTIA exams.

Key competencies include:

Customer service principles and effective communication
Remote accessing and scenario analysis
Incident management process and understanding of issue prioritization techniques, and best practices of help desk operation
Understanding of operating systems, computer hardware components and devices, computer network and web applications
Supporting and troubleshooting laptops and mobile devices, and managing common issues
Installing configuring and troubleshooting print and display devices
Installing PC Components

Companies wishing to up-skill new or potential employees, and individuals who want to enter the exciting and ever changing world of IT support, will benefit from this course. Career services are embedded into the material, and also included are presentations by area job centers, along with recruitment opportunities with local employers. This course includes textbooks and computer hardware for each student. Students planning to attend must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to SUNY Adirondack Continuing Education when registering for this course. The instructors for this course are Gary Gordon and James Austin.

SUNY Adirondack Continuing Education is also offering The Electrical Maintenance Technician Bootcamp. Due to grant funding, this course may also be free to eligible participants. The Electrical Maintenance Technician Bootcamp is a short-term course where students will learn entry-level skills to begin their career as an electrical technician in a variety of modern manufacturing environments. Ideal candidates include those new to working in a modern manufacturing environment, with an aptitude for hands-on work and a desire to build competencies and skills to advance in their field. Students will learn through hands-on classes and independent study, and work outside the class… As a result, students will have the opportunity to build key competencies to ensure on-the-job success.

Key competencies include:

A strong foundation in basic math applications and mathematical conversions between measurement units and mathematical systems.
Reading and making precise measurements and utilizing scientific notation
An introduction to AC & DC currents and their use in electrical systems
Safety around high voltage equipment, including PPEand the OSHA lockout (LOTO) certification in electrical safety
An introduction to PLC equipment and relay communications
Hand tool use
Use of continuous improvement models in modern manufacturing including Lean and Six Sigma

Tuition for these courses is free for those who are eligible through the grant. To register for these classes, contact SUNY Adirondack Continuing Education at coned@sunyacc.edu, or call (518) 743-2238. The normal cost of the IT Help Desk Bootcamp without the grant would be $2,675.00, and the cost of the Electrical Maintenance Technician Boot Camp without the grant would be $899.00.

Saratoga Girls Basketball Ends Queensbury’s Winning Streak

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 9, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Saratoga 57, Queensbury 46 – The Blue Streaks snapped the Spartans’ four-game winning streak with a 57-46 victory at Queensbury’s home gym. Saratoga improved to 13-6 on the year. Carly Wise scored 12 of her game high 22 points in the first half, as Natasha Chudy scored 16 points while battling foul trouble. Chudy had an outstanding defensive game for the Blue Streaks, and contributed timely assists. Ella Gennoy scored 10 points for Saratoga Springs.

For the Spartans, Shea Canavan scored 16 points and Dyllan Ray scored 15 points. Aislynn Dixon had five assists, and Kaitlyn Barton had seven rebounds. The Spartans put up a good fight, trailing 42-34 with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter; Queensbury went on an 8-0 run to tie the score at 42. The Blue Streaks responded with an 11-0 streak of their own over four minutes of play.

The Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks will finish up their regular season this Friday, at Ballston Spa at 6:00 PM. The Queensbury Spartans will attend the Foothills Council Showcase at Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory, and face Broadalbin-Perth at 1:00 PM on Sunday.