Author: Kate Haggerty

Michelle Bennett Memorial Girls Basketball Tournament

Written by Kate Haggerty on December 2, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, Local Leads, Sports.

On Friday & Saturday of this coming weekend, Queensbury High School is hosting The Michelle Bennett Memorial Tournament. Proceeds from this girls’ basketball tournament will be donated to the Michelle Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund. The J.V. and Varsity girls programs from Hudson Falls, Glens Falls, Queensbury, Cohoes, Guilderland, & Niskayuna will all be competing.

On February 5, 2022, Michelle Bennett – a beloved mother, teacher, and coach – passed away suddenly. Michelle had been married to her husband Jeff Bennett for almost 30 years, and together they raised three children: Mackenzie, Graceann, and Cole. Cole is a Glens Falls graduating senior this year.

Michelle was a 6th grade ELA teacher in the Queensbury School District and a valued department chairperson for many years. She was an advocate for her students and a leader amongst her colleagues, and committed to coaching and mentoring women in sports. As a coach, she was intense; but balanced that intensity with tough love for her players. Coaches and players alike knew and appreciated her mantra: “A quiet gym is a losing gym.”

When Michelle passed away in 2022, Superintendent Kyle Gannon wrote, “I feel for our staff members, our students, and our athletes who were lucky enough to know her. She has touched a thousand lives over the past 22 years.”

The J.V. Tournament will be taking place in the Queensbury High School Gold Gym, and the Varsity Tournament will be in the Blue Gym. Both J.V. and Varsity Games are scheduled on Friday at 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM, & 7:30 PM. Play resumes on Saturday, December 3rd at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, & 2:00 PM. Cash and Check donations will be accepted at the door all weekend long; please make checks payable to Queensbury Community Scholarship Association, and on the memo line, please indicate the Michelle Bennett Memorial Scholarship.

Open Door Mission, “Gooble Wobble” Draws Nearly 1,000 Participants

Written by Kate Haggerty on December 1, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, Local Leads.

A week ago today on Thanksgiving morning, 915 racers and “wobblers” turned out to participate in the Glens Falls Gobble Wobble. This event benefited the Open Door Mission, which serves those struggling with hunger and homelessness in the region. For this 5K run/walk, CDPHP was the Presenting Sponsor, and Hilltop Construction Co. was the Stride Sponsor.

The race began at 226 Warren Street – The Open Door Mission – and circled through downtown Glens Falls to finish back at the Mission.

Jen Steinberg, who participated in the race said, “Having attended this event again this year, I can say unequivocally that it is a beautiful, heartwarming event that makes me super proud of our community. Many homeowners were out on their lawns cheering and encouraging us as we walked past and raised money to help our most vulnerable community members through the tough winter ahead.”

The Open Door Mission exists to serve people at their point of need, cultivating personal growth and community sustainability. The Mission serves individuals that are homeless and low income by providing practical solutions to physical, spiritual, and relational brokenness. The Open Door Vision statement is to foster life transformation in a compassionate collaborative community: where the marginalized feel safe asking for help, resources are accessible, and all are treated with dignity.

The Open Door started with Erie Blanchette’s concern for a shelter in the area – it became apparent that a soup kitchen was in immediate need. The Open Door served it’s first 13 meals from an RV in a parking lot on South Street in Glens Falls on September 5, 1991. Over the years, the Mission has been located at 24 South Street and on 47 Lawrence Street; in 2018, The Open Door Mission moved to its permanent location at 226 Warren Street.

The Mission serves an average of more than 1,600 meals a month. It also provides sanctuary for people experiencing temporary homelessness. This location is also a Code Blue Shelter, and provides safety and protection during inclement weather.

The Open Door Mission is a Christian Ministry where people in need are invited into a welcoming environment. The staff develops meaningful relationships and helps people become stable; and all of the services of The Open Door Mission are provided free of charge. For more information, please visit opendoor-ny.org

Local Norway Spruce Shines To Kick Off the Holiday Season

Written by Kate Haggerty on December 1, 2022. Posted in Community, Entertainment, Featured, Local Leads.

On November 30th, New Yorker locals and visitors alike gathered at the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree to watch it light up at 9:57 PM on Wednesday night. The tree was lit by Tishman Speyer (President and CEO), Rob Speyer, & Chairman Jerry Speyer.

More than 50,000 multi-colored, energy efficient lights were strung on five miles of wire to adorn the 14-ton, 82 foot tall & 50 foot wide Norway Spruce. The Swaroski Star dazzled from the top of the tree. The star was designed by Daniel Libeskind, and this is the 19th year that a Swaroski Star has topped the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. This spectacular star is made up of 70 spikes, covered in 3 million crystals, 9 ½ feet in diameter, and weighs 900 pounds.

This star-studded event included the Radio City Rockettes. It was hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, and ACCESS Hollywood Host Mario Lopez. There was a special appearance by Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph; and, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani sang a special duet of “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”.

This tree is one of our own local beauties; it was donated by the Lebowitz family of Glens Falls. The tree was harvested on November 10th, and arrived in New York City on November 12th. The Lebowitz family attended the tree lighting ceremony.

Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM: All day (24 Hours) on Christmas, and from 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM on New Year’s Eve. For more holiday images, please visit: Twitter @rockcenternyc , Instagram @rockefellercenter and Facebook @rockefellercenternyc

Queensbury Walmart Shooting Suspect Pleads “Not Guilty”

Written by Kate Haggerty on December 1, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, Local Leads.

On Sunday, November 27th, Warren County Sheriff’s and State Police responded to a shooting incident in the parking lot of the Walmart on Route 9 in Queensbury. The police say that an aggressive driving incident occurred in the area of Northway Plaza.

Adrian Simental, 33, faces multiple charges. His vehicle followed the victim’s vehicle into the Walmart parking lot. At this time, a verbal and physical altercation occurred; Simental allegedly fired a handgun that hit the victim in the hip, and then fled the scene. The victim was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center.

Simental of California has been charged with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon. In Court today, he pleaded “not guilty” to all charges.

Court documents show that Simental and the victim got into a fight. The fight led to Simental pulling out a handgun and allegedly shooting the victim in the hip. The Deputies were able to identify the car used by the suspect and found him at a Moreau home; police then executed a search warrant and arrested Simental. He is being held on $200,000 cash bail or $600,000 bond in the Warren County Jail. The judge granted an order of protection for the victim, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, December 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM.

Rachel Seeber, Queensbury at-Large Supervisor, Resigns

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 30, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, Local Leads.

The day before Thanksgiving, Rachel Seeber – the Queensbury At-Large Supervisor – announced her resignation, which will be effective January 2023. Seeber hopes that the two-month notice will give the town board time to fill the position.

Seeber said, “I am, of course, hopeful that given the two months of notice to our community regarding the anticipated filing of my resignation in the next several weeks, that the Town Board will actively seek a representative to appoint to the position effective late January to ensure that Queensbury will continue to have full representation on the county board.”

Seeber has been a vocal advocate for change of the legislative format: “We are one of about a dozen left in the state, and frankly, our at-large reps are elected in Queensbury are incredibly rare to see. I think it makes it difficult for the candidates, and frankly, it can be confusing and frustrating for the voters and constituents. That being said, it is the system that we have to work within at this time, and anyone interested in being appointed to my unexpired term – about 11 months – would send a letter of interest to the council members for Queensbury,” Seeber noted.

The Queensbury At-Large Supervisor serves two-year terms on the county board. This board oversees the county government services such as the Department of Social services, county Department of Public Works, Sheriff’s office, and county Clerk’s office as well as others. With Queensbury having the highest population in the county, the town’s representatives have the highest weighted vote count on the Board of Supervisors.

In 2021, Seeber was elected as the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ first chairwoman, but only served one year. At the time, Seeber was completing her doctorate, and stepped down to focus on completing her degree.

“It’s time for me to refocus on my family and my professional career full time. Politics is not my career, and you will never hear me say that it is. I believe our government should be by the people and for the people – with this in mind, and having proudly earned my doctorate just a few short months ago, it is now time to focus on teaching college full-time as the spring semester for 2023 approaches,” Seeber reportedly said.

Seeber also announced her resignation on various social media accounts; she first ran for office in 2013, and her resignation will be effective January 23, 2023 – her current term would have ended on December 31, 2023.

North Country Subaru Donates to Jackson Heights Elementary School

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 30, 2022. Posted in Business, Community, Featured, Local Leads.

North Country Subaru has once again shown its support for the Jackson Heights Elementary School. Fifteen teachers were awarded $500 each to purchase items for their classrooms; these items range from reading cards, to organization bins, to white boards. These generous donations were part of the North Country Subaru “Learning Love” event. Kindergarten teacher Christy Sphur said, “We were also able to get craft supplies and other learning tools that have enhanced math and ELA instruction.”

The structure of the donation allowed individual teachers to get material that was needed for specific grade levels. Liz Gross – a third grade teacher – was able to use the donation for multiplication and division tiles. These tiles help students practice their math more effectively. “The tiles are stackable and kids love calling out the answers,” she said.

The funding was also used for letter-building kits, climbing steps, and new magnetic boards. The Jackson Heights Elementary School was very thankful for the continued support of the children’s education.

Adirondack Safari Has All of Your “Glamping” Needs Covered

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 30, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Local Leads.

Andrew Percetti – owner of Adirondack Safari – has a vision and expertise in the field of the Adirondack experience that keeps people coming back. He understands that the enjoyment of camping can be enhanced with modern comforts: The concept of “Glamping” is just that: a combination of camping, and luxury. To that effect, Adirondack Safari offers a camping experience with all the comforts of home… So, instead of the traditional “roughing it”, there is now an option to maintain comfort, while still enjoying the outdoors.

Adirondack Safari offers an upscale glamping experience. Fully furnished tents are provided – there are mattresses for comfortable sleeping, rugs, bedside tables, fan, a power strip, a fire pit, zero gravity chairs, a charcoal grill, and a picnic table with a canopy; all along the banks of the beautiful Schroon River.

A new addition to the 2023 Glamping season at Adirondack Safari will be themed tents; Adirondack Safari can take you any place you want to go with their destination-styled tented abodes, which include:

The island-themed tent creates ambiance and comfort with a fun and beachy decor.

The India-themed tent has vibrant colors and exotic decor.

For a true feeling of the Adirondacks, the Adirondack-themed tent compliments the Adirondack experience with appropriate furnishings.

The Native-American-themed tent comes with an authentic lean-to instead of the traditional canopy at your site.

The Luxe tent lets you camp like royalty while still in the great outdoors. This package includes luxurious niceties: complimentary Prosecco, two bundles of firewood, and two four hour Kayak rentals.

No matter which tent you choose, after a day on the river or exploring Lake George, a luxurious and relaxing tent will await.

The Adirondack Safari facilities also provide on-site bathrooms and showers, and outdoor sinks for cleaning dishes and cutlery. Everyone has a different expectation and experience with camping; however, Adirondack Safari makes it easy for everyone to enjoy. This type of camping spans generations, and the activities that are offered fit any and all age groups. There are Native-American performances, outdoor movies, bingo, the “silent disco”, river tubing, volleyball, giant Jenga, and rotating live entertainment. The goal of Adirondack Safari is to create an outdoor experience where families and friends can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and each other’s company.

Adirondack Safari checks all of the boxes for fun in the great outdoors; not to mention, being close to all of the amazing attractions in Lake George! Adirondack Safari combines the best glamping experience with the best location for guaranteed summer-time fun.

Adirondack Safari will be open from June 16, 2023, until September 4, 2023. Plan your Safari now! It could make a wonderful holiday gift. Adirondack Safari has 59 Tents available, but they book up quickly: Ensure your summer fun and book now at adirondacksafari.com

The Sunflower Collection at The Shirt Factory

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 29, 2022. Posted in Business, Community, Featured, In the Arts, Local Leads.

The Shirt Factory’s 21st Annual Holiday Open House coincided with Small Business Saturday this year. The Shirt Factory is the home of crafters and artisanal small businesses, and vendors filled the hallways with their offerings. Crowds of people enthusiastically wandered the halls of the former industrial building, turned home of the arts community.

Kim and Jim Vasiliou are the owners of The Sunflower Collection, which is located in The Shirt Factory’s Suite 304. The Sunflower Collection is happy to have found a home; founder Kim Vasiliou said about The Shirt Factory, “It’s a great place for small businesses.” The Sunflower Collection is an artisan producer of handcrafted soaps, bath bombs, sugar scrubs, and candles, and Kim has attributed the success of The Sunflower Collection to the help from family and friends: “My sister has been a huge help, and a lot of support (has come) from friends and family” she said.

All of the products are phthalate & paraben free – Parabens are commonly used in cosmetics as a preservative, and Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make plastic more durable. The Sunflower Collection doesn’t use any of that! They use a unique blend of scented essential oils, and butters with sunflower derived vitamin E; the collection also uses natural fruits and botanical extracts. These are high in minerals and vitamins, and help maintain a healthy glowing skin.

“Artisan soap is probably our biggest seller” Kim said. The soap is made with a special blend of oils, including camellia seed oil; this type of oil is very nourishing for the skin. All of the products have unique qualities that customers love: the whipped soaps create a rich and foamy lather, while the sugar scrubs moisturize the skin with a handmade blend of butters and oils, and the body oils that they sell have soft and soothing fragrances.

The Sunflower Collection has also kept the traveler in mind: They sell “Lotion Bars”. These solidified lotions moisturize the skin just like regular lotion, and because they are in a solid form, can’t ever spill in your travel bag… This makes the lotion easy to pack!

And of course, The Sunflower Collection has not forgotten about the four-legged members of the family: They have pet lotions for the paws and noses for your furry friends as well!

For more information, go to www.sunflowercollection.com, or to place an order online, orders@sunflowercollections.com

Pickleball, Anyone?.. Everyone?

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 29, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Local Leads, Sports.

Pickleball “mania” has been sweeping the nation for some time now: a sport originally founded by a group of dads looking to entertain their families on a summer afternoon now has legendary athletes like Labron James and Tom Brady owning teams or joining a Pickleball syndicate.

Pickleball has an interesting history: It was devised by Congressman Joel Pritchard and successful businessman Bill Bell. On a Saturday in the summer of 1965, the pair returned to Pritchard’s home to find that their families were sitting around with nothing to do. There was an old badminton court on the property, and the group improvised due to lack of equipment – they started playing with ping pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. They placed the net at 60 inches, but as the weekend progressed, lowered the net to 36 inches. The following weekend, fellow friend Barney McCallum was introduced to the game. The three created the rules relying heavily on the base of badminton, while remembering that the goal was to have a game the whole family could play together.

Two years later, Joel Prichard constructed the first pickle ball court in his friend Bob O’Brian’s backyard. In 1972, a corporation was created to protect the new sport… And in 1975, the National Observer published an article, introducing Pickleball as America’s newest racquet sport.

In 1984, The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A) was organized to help with the growth and advancement of the sport; their first rule book was published in March of 1984. As of 2015, USAPA has amassed over 10,000 members. Currently, the sport is exploding in popularity: there are nearly 8,500 locations on the USA Pickleball “Places2Play” map.

Some of the popularity of the sport is attributed to its accessibility, and as a result, Pickleball has often been played in community centers, PE classes, YMCA facilities, and retirement communities.

The name itself has gained attention, too: In the Summer of 1965, Joan Pritchard came up with the name in a reference to a rowing term “pickle boat”. A “pickle boat” is when a crew is thrown together to give all rowers an opportunity to compete. Pickleball was named as the reference to using the “leftovers” from tennis, ping pong, badminton and platform tennis… So, if you are looking for a holiday gift for the family or something to do together, think Pickleball! The sport originated with the odds and ends found around the house, has evolved into its own industry. There are now matching paddles, carrying cases and even celebrity Pickleball players! It can be played indoors or outdoors, and is fun for the entire family.

Narcotics Arrest in South Glens Falls

Written by Kate Haggerty on November 29, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, Local Leads, News.

On November 23, 2022, members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant after a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking. The search warrant was executed by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team, Narcotics Unit, and South Glens Falls Police Department at 42 Ferry Boulevard, in South Glens Falls.

The press release indicated that multiple subjects were located in the residence and were arrested. One of them, Caitllin Pruess, is accused of possessing and selling quantities of crack/cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crystal methamphetamine throughout Saratoga County. Zachary King, Brandan Pulica, Bobbie Demgerd, Patricia Sexton, Rachel Cenate, and Auriel Dabb were also arrested.

As a result of the investigation and search warrant, scales, packaging material, quantities of fentanyl, crack/cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, heroin, suboxone, oxycodone, and a shotgun were seized. All arrested were arraigned in front of the honorable Judge Hogan, in the Town of Moreau Court; of the seven that were arrested, only two – Rachel Cenate & Brendan Pulica – were held in lieu of bail. The other five were released on their own recognizance, and are due to appear in Moreau Town Court at a later date.