Author: Kate Haggerty

John Lefner Elected New CEO of The Hyde Collection

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 8, 2023. Posted in Featured, In the Arts.

The Hyde Museum is one of the region’s most significant art museums, and John Lefner has been elected as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Hyde Collection. Lefner will replace retiring CEO Norman E. Dascher Jr. on May 1, 2023.

Jason Ward – Chair of the Board of Trustees – said via press release: “We are very thankful to Norm Dascher for his exceptional leadership during a difficult period for The Hyde Collection. His vision and business acumen financially stabilized our organization, reducing expenses by creating a five-year capital replacement plan and instituting smart financial decisions to minimize monthly expenses for the organization. He established a successful new department program, implemented a new position for the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, updated hardware, software, and the security system, led the organization through a successful American Alliance of Museums MAP review, updated the strategic plan, and so much more. The Hyde is very well positioned for a leadership transition.”

John Lefner will take over as CEO beginning May 1, 2023. Lefner is deeply committed to pursuing his vision to bring exceptional exhibitions to The Hyde. He will be working alongside three new curators to deliver an unparalleled experience for members and visitors.

Lefner is known as an accomplished leader and community builder – he currently serves as Chief Operations and Development Officer at The Hyde Collection. In this role, Lefner provides leadership to fundraising, relationship cultivation, marketing solutions and physical solutions for the organization. During his tenure in this position, Lefner and his team have been able to exceed fundraising targets, launched the campus Reimagine Project, executed two highly successful galas, and improved community confidence in the organization.

“I am honored to be leading The Hyde Collection, which I have long admired. With its internationally renowned collection, exceptional educational programs, and incredibly talented personnel, the museum is one of the world’s most important cultural institutions” Lefner said.

Current CEO Norman E. Dascher Jr. endorsed his successor: “John’s appointment comes at a moment of incredible transformation for The Hyde Collection, and his exceptional leadership experience will contribute greatly to further strengthen our mission and reach.”

John Lefner has a Bachelor of Arts from Champlain College, and he previously served as District Executive Director at Capital District YMCA, Director of Operations at Saratoga Independent School, and Assistant Director of Operations at Double H Ranch.

Lefner has focused his career on developing the structure and management needed for organizations to meet their goals and live up to their values. Lefner will be the 16th leader in the Hyde museum’s 60-year history.

Evolution of Business: Taco Bell Eyes Busy Intersection in Queensbury for New Location

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 7, 2023. Posted in Business, Featured.

Quaker Road in Queensbury is the proposed next location for a new Taco Bell. The franchise – which is known for its tacos and catch phrase ‘Live Mas” – is looking to expand and build a restaurant at the intersection of Dix Avenue and Quaker Road. The restaurant would be constructed on a portion of land currently owned by Binley Florist & Garden Center. The Taco Bell franchisee – Hospitality Syracuse Inc. – has 17 locations in the Albany Area.

Binley Garden Center currently has 7.18 acres of property at 773 Quaker Road. Plans for a subdivision have been filed with the Queensbury Planning Board, which is scheduled to review the request on February 21, 2023. This project will require subdivision approval as well as site plan approvals for the restaurant, and minor adjustments on the remaining 5.83 acres of the garden center. The preliminary plans call for the construction of a 2,650 square-foot restaurant with 42 seats and a drive thru. The restaurant would be located between the garden center and the Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant.

Binley Florist & Garden Center has been providing flowers and plants to the Glens Falls & Queensbury area for about 130 years. The business has been owned by two families; it was started by Arthur Binley in 1893, and later the business flourished under the leadership of Alexander Hirsh. Today, it is operated by the younger generation of the Hirsh family. The 773 Quaker Road location was purchased by Binley Florist & Garden Center as an expansion in 1978. Understanding the evolution of business has helped keep the business alive: according to the Binley website, Al Hirsh shortly before his death said, “We discovered early on in business, that as years go by people’s tastes change. A flower or a plant that is very popular in today’s market won’t be as popular in a few years so we try to follow the trends.”

Following these trends have led the business to look for new ways to use the land, as well as carry on the traditions of Binley Florist & Garden Center.

QBY Girls Basketball Capture Championship

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 7, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury (12-6 overall, 12-1 Section 2 Foothills) scored 42, South Glens Falls (15-3 overall, 11-1 Section 2 Foothills) scored 15; the Queensbury girls basketball team captured their fourth consecutive Foothills Council Championship with a win over visiting South Glens Falls. The Spartans came out strong with both offense and defense in the first quarter of play, forcing 12 turnovers and out-scoring the Bulldogs 15 to 0.

For the Spartans, Shea Canavan had 12 points and five steals. Kendra Ballard earned her second consecutive double-double, with 11 points and a season high 14 rebounds, along with five steals. Dyllan Ray contributed 11 points and eight rebounds. The South Glens Falls Bulldogs were led by #2 J. Wolf, who scored four points.

The Spartans were looking forward to this matchup, because on December 12th, the Bulldogs had handed the Spartans their only Foothills council loss. This Foothills Council title is # 11 for the Spartans, which ties them with Glens Falls for the most in league history! The Spartans have shown success under the coaching of Megan Bethel, having won six titles under her leadership…

However, the Spartans aren’t done yet! On Wednesday night, they face Saratoga Springs; then, it’s on to the Foothills Council Showcase at Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory. The Spartans will face Broadalbin-Perth at 1:00 PM on Sunday.

Dunham’s Bay Resort & Restaurants Sold For $1.8 Million… Rebranded “Bayside Resort”

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 6, 2023. Posted in Business, Featured.

Bayside Resort: Formally Dunham’s Bay Resort

The 132-acre property located at 2999 State Route 9L on the east side of Lake George formerly known as the Dunham’s Bay Resort was acquired for $1.8 million by investors Mike Caruso and Daniel Ellsworth. Dunham’s Bay Resort was purchased along with an adjacent property, and the deed filed with the Warren County Clerk’s Office states that the transaction closed in November.

This resort features two restaurants: The Brasserie At Bayside, and Tavern on the Bay, both operated by Chef Jason Travis and his wife Nicole. These two restaurants will have guests’ expectations covered, providing both an upscale farm to table restaurant, and an upscale tavern dining option. Travis and his wife have also owned 10 McGillis Public House in the Village of Lake George since 2019.

In addition to the two restaurants, the resort features amenities including banquet spaces, 36 year round and seasonal cabins and cottages, fire pits, pickleball courts, and an indoor heated pool with a jacuzzi. There are also 118 acres of wooded hiking trails.

The property was purchased from Swordfish Realty, a holding company for a NYC hedge fund company. The previous owners had purchased the resort for $2.62 million in 2013; during this time, hundreds of thousands of dollars were invested in bringing internet lines from the Village of Lake George to the resort. This resort was used by their investment management firm to give employees a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City while still allowing them to conduct business.

Glens Falls Unified Bowling Foothills Council Champs

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 6, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Unified Bowling was added to the sports line-up for Glens Falls High School, and they captured the Foothills Council Championship. The Championship was held at Kingpin’s Alley in South Glens Falls. 10 schools participated in the tournament, and Glens Falls rolled a six-game series: 6,006 to edge out Hudson Falls’ 5,842 in second place, and Amsterdam’s 5,842 in third place.

In bowling, each game has 10 frames, with a maximum possible overall score of 300. The Glens Falls Co-Ed Varsity team committed to three practices or matches a week for the season, which included five matches against area schools. Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center – which is the home bowling alley for the Glens Falls team – is owned by Doug and Alison Bohannon. They have owned the bowling alley since 2013, and the venue features birthday parties, group events, casual open bowling times, and competitive league play.

QBY Girls Basketball Celebrate Senior Night With A Win

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 3, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury 63, Hudson Falls 38 – The Queensbury Girls Basketball team celebrated Senior Night with a decisive victory over Hudson Falls. Seniors Kendra Ballard, Aislynn Dixon, and Liz Rowley led the team to victory over visiting Hudson Falls.

Ballard had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with a season high of eight steals. Dixon had four assists, and scored 16 points, shooting 6-of-9 on the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the three point line. Rowley matched a career high of eight rebounds.

The Spartans had some help from Junior Dyllan Ray, who added 10 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists. Sophomore Shea Canavan had nine points, and a career high eight assists.

Hudson Falls was led by Williamson, who scored 21 points. Queensbury held Hudson Falls to three points in the first quarter of play.

A a result of this game, Queensbury – 11-6 overall – improved to 11-1 in the Foothills Council.

The Spartans will soon host South Glens Falls, who are 12-0 in the Foothills Council… South Glens Falls beat Queensbury back on December 12, with a score of 37-30. This much anticipated rematch will be at Queensbury High School on Monday, February 6 – tipoff at 7:00 PM.

Love of Community, Public Service, and Balloons: The Grishkot Foundation Expands Scholarship Opportunities

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 3, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

The Grishkot Foundation was established in 2009, and is launching a new Joan Grishkot Memorial Scholarship program for college students studying for careers in nursing and related fields. The foundation is also continuing The Walter Grishkot Memorial Scholarship for college students studying for careers in aviation, aerospace and related fields. The Foundation will partner with the Kiwanis Club to administer both scholarship programs. These scholarship programs are open to college students who live in Warren, Washington, or Saratoga counties, and each scholarship will be at least $2,500 per year for up to four years.

Joan Grishkot (1942-2021) was Warren County Director of Health for 31 years; she was a volunteer who served on 28 regional healthcare organizations and charitable groups. She was instrumental in raising funds and administering annual scholarships in memory of her late husband, Walter Grishkot.

The Foundation President, Maury Thompson remembers Joan fondly: “I used to say that I was president, but Joan was prime minister. Joan’s interest in scholarship recipients didn’t stop with awarding the scholarships. She stayed in touch with scholars or their families, and was delighted to share their academic progress with others” Thompson said.

Walter Grishkot (1926-2011) predeceased his loving wife of 45 years. He was a photographer, publicist, event organizer and aviation enthusiast, and was known for his sense of humor – and locally known as co-founder of The Adirondack Balloon Festival. The Grishkot Foundation, based in Glens Falls, is funded by a bequest of the late Joan Griskot, and from private donations. A volunteer board manages the foundation’s investments and operates scholarship programs in collaboration with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club.

The application period for both programs is now open – the deadline to apply for the 2023-2024 academic year for these scholarships is March 3, 2023. Information about these scholarships can be found at: grishkotfoundation.org

Lake George: Controversial Herbicide Proposal is Back

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 2, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

The Lake George Parks Commission is applying for a 2023 permit to use a chemical herbicide in Lake George. The Parks Commission announced their intentions on January 24, 2023, with a Letter of Notification: Proposed Invasive Plant Management Program for Blairs Bay & Sheep Meadow Bay in Lake George. The letter explained that the Lake George Park Commission is applying to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Adirondack Parks Agency (APA) to use an aquatic herbicide in the spring of 2023. This herbicide would be used to control the invasive plant Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), which is rooted at the lake bottom and has created thick, dense beds. It reduces biodiversity in the lake, and competes with native species.

Conventional control efforts – such as mechanical harvesting – have been found to be unsuccessful for providing much more than short-term relief fighting this invasive species. The manual or mechanical harvesting of the watermilfoil inevitably leads to the release of fragments, and as a result, the harvesting process itself may be responsible for spreading the plant into uninfested areas. There are two areas of the lake that the Lake George Parks Commission would like to use the herbicide – Blairs Bay, Glenburnie (4 acres), and Sheep Meadow Bay, Huletts Landing (3.6 acres).

The use of herbicides has been found to be more effective, but can potentially have negative effects on non-targeted organisms. The proposed herbicide for usage – ProcellaCOR EC – has been registered and approved by the EPA, and will be applied at less than 10 parts per billion: “The herbicide ProcellaCOR EC will control invasive Eurasian watermilfoil for multiple seasons in the treatment areas, but will not impact most native plants” the notification stated.

This project did not go forward in 2022 because The Lake George Association Waterkeepers, and thousands of citizens, expressed concern over the first-ever use of a chemical herbicide in Lake George. There was concern from these groups regarding the potential consequences to the water quality and ecosystems, as many people use the lake as a source of drinking water.

Last year, the APA issued a permit to the Lake George Parks Commission to use the herbicide… Then, the Lake George Association Waterkeepers and co-petitioners filed a lawsuit. The suit charged that the APA should have held an adjudicatory hearing to gather expert scientific testimony prior to making the decision regarding the safety of the herbicide… As there has been successful hand harvesting of the watermilfoil in Lake George for years, and overwhelming public opposition to using the herbicide.

Written arguments were reviewed by the State Supreme Court Justice Robert Muller, who issued a preliminary injunction preventing the use of ProcellaCOR EC, pending oral arguments. These arguments are scheduled for 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 17, 2023. They will take place at the Warren County Municipal Center on Route 9 in Queensbury, and this session is open to the public.

GFSD: Cold Weather Precautions

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 2, 2023. Posted in Community, Education, Featured.

In preparation for the expected brutally cold weather, GFSD is providing information to help students and families prepare… The forecast is for dangerously cold wind chills, as low as 30 to 50 below zero! The impact of weather this cold can be frostbite on exposed skin in as few as 10 minutes.

GFSD wants families to be aware that there is an alternative to walking to school – the Greater Glens Falls Transit route is free for middle school and high school students. Students show their school ID when getting on the bus; this is a warm and dry alternative to walking to and from school.

When it’s bitterly cold outside, there is risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Dress your child in several loose layers of warm clothing, so that the air trapped between the layers can act as insulation against the cold. Children should wear windproof and waterproof outer layers, and mittens rather than gloves. If your family needs assistance getting proper winter clothes, please call the principal, nurse, or school counselor, and the staff can assist the family.

The National Weather Service also advises to avoid leaving the house at the coldest parts of the day. If you go outside, dress in layers and cover exposed skin, and make sure that at least one other person knows your whereabouts and is updated when you arrive at your destination. Make sure that your car has at least a half tank of gas, and that you have an updated survival kit.

QSD Girls Basketball Beats Glens Falls

Written by Kate Haggerty on February 1, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury 57, Glens Falls 22 – Queensbury Girls Varsity came out strong with 20 points, before Glens Falls sank a free throw to get on the board with 1:21 remaining in the first quarter.

Shea Canavan delivered 22 points, eight steals, and six rebounds. Kendra Ballard scored 10 points and had eight rebounds. Dyllan Ray scored eight points, had six rebounds, and five steals. Aislynn Dixon tied a career high six assists – five of which occurred in the first quarter.

Spartans have been featuring impressive defense, holding the last two teams that they have played scoreless for over 32 consecutive minutes of play! The Spartans have now climbed to 10-6 overall, and 10-1 in Foothills Council.

Next up, Queensbury will host Hudson Falls for Senior Night on Thursday, February 2nd – tip-off is at 7:00 PM.