Author: Kate Haggerty

SPoT Coffee’s Fall Fest is HERE!

Written by Kate Haggerty on September 12, 2023. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, Food.

There is always a reason to stop by SPoT Coffee in downtown Glens Falls! They have a wide variety of food, wonderful iced and hot beverages, and a comfortable and casual vibe… And now, there’s one more reason to stop by: The Fall Fest menu has been rolled out, and these menu items have been an instant hit!

The Falls Features include beverages that can be served hot or iced: White Chocolate Pumpkin Mocha, SPoT Chaider (Chai and Cider), and Autumn Green Tea with Maple and Ginger. The Fall Feature Sandwiches include, Top Round Roast Beef, Oktoberfest Ham, and the Bacon on Bacon Grilled Cheese!

SPoT Coffee understands that with the changing of seasons, pumpkin spice is everywhere! Bill Dingman, the Glens Falls District Operations Manager of SPoT Coffee, joked: “Here in the Northeast, it’s pumpkin seaso,n and that lasts eight months out of the year.”

This year, SPoT Coffee has gone above and beyond to create a seasonal menu that has more of an Oktoberfest vibe. These menu items will be available well after the pumpkin spice has been put back on the shelf!

The evolution of Fall Fest into a multi-month, multi-item promotion is something that Bill is proud of: “We had promotions with three beverages over the summer and one food item… Now we are doing three and three, three beverages and three sandwiches,” he said.

The sandwich board that is in front of the service counter draws the eye and entices the taste buds… The artwork is created by the assistant manager and has added to the success of the promotion: “It’s been really popular. I am super happy to see how the sandwiches have taken off,” Bill said.

He also noted the importance of the cafe staff when speaking of the new menu items: “Some of the things that help to make a promotion a success is the beautiful signage and friendly people at the point of sale who can talk to the guests and suggestively sell our features… Our crew has been crushing it, and I couldn’t be more proud!”

At SPoT Coffee, Fall Fest is more than seasonal promotion – it’s an indication that SPoT Coffee is not only thriving, but growing: “We are just grateful, this cafe has really grown, we are really happy to be part of this community… We want to be the place where Glens Falls starts their day and ends their day. We are really proud of our staff… My assistant manager has been with me for two years, and several of the other staff members have been with me just as long… We are employing more people because demand is there,” he said.

SPoT Coffee is open 7-7-7: from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, seven Days a week! So, stop in today and try one of the new additions, or a beloved favorite from the menu.

For more information, please visit Spotcoffee.com

Glens Falls Takes the Jug Game: 45 to 12

Written by Kate Haggerty on September 11, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

The 2023 Glens Falls/Hudson Falls 51st Jug Game matchup took place on the Hudson Falls home field. This traditional game spans generations… This year the competition and camaraderie also touched a somber note when the players and coaches observed a moment of silence for the late John Barvieri, a long time Tigers assistant coach who passed away suddenly on November 11th, 2022.

Glens Falls, in their first season as Black Bears, prevailed in this year’s Jug game to take the victory for the ninth straight year! The early season game was played in warm and muggy conditions, and was the Class B North season opener for each team. Senior runningback Dimaggio Riley led Glens Falls with 95 yards on nine carries, and Junior Brody Holcomb had three scoring passes in his debut as quarterback for the Glens Falls Black Bears, completing 9 of 11 passes for 188 yards in his first varsity start.

The Hudson Falls Tigers, led by senior quarterback Will Coon, rushed for 140 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Fullback Peyton Dupuis ran for 95 yards on 22 carries, and found the end zone. With the loss, Hudson Falls fell to 1-1 overall… Hudson Falls opened the season against Plattsburgh, and prevailed in a non-league, nail biting 24 to 22 victory.

The rivalry between Glens Falls and Hudson Falls, which dates back to 1917, is a battle to take home the red-and-green whiskey jug.

The Jug game came early in the season this year, giving both Glens Falls and Hudson Falls an opportunity to start the season with focus and intensity. Last year, Glens Falls won the Jug game 38 to 0, on the shoulders of seasoned Glens Falls quarterback Carson Rath… In that matchup, Rath completed five touchdown passes. Rath and most of his seasoned offensive line graduated last year, creating an opportunity for a younger – and until this season’s Jug game, untested – offense.

Next up, Glens Falls will travel to Gloversville on Friday, September 15th, for a 7:00 PM match up.

High Peaks Hospice Remembrance Event in Glens Falls

Written by Kate Haggerty on September 11, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

High Peaks Hospice will be holding a Remembrance Event on Saturday, September 16th, 2023 at Crandall Park Pavilion in Glens Falls from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. This remembrance and gathering is an opportunity to commemorate those who were cared for by High Peaks Hospice, and passed away between June 2022 and June 2023.

Friends, family and the community are welcome to attend, and may bring photos of loved ones to add to the display. Candles and memory name cards will be available to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. This is an opportunity for the community to honor those who have been lost regardless of being in hospice. The names of people who were cared for by hospice between June 2022 to June 2023 will be read.

The mission of High Peak Hospice is to provide end of life care that listens with respect, cares with compassion, supports with choice, and comforts with understanding. Come to Crandall Park on September 16th, and light a candle in the memory of a loved one to represent how their light lives on.

Come Join the Glens Falls Senior Center Expo!

Written by Kate Haggerty on September 7, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

On September 13th 2023, at the Queensbury Hotel, The Glens Falls Senior Center will host their second annual Senior Expo from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM! This event is free to the public. The Senior Center is looking to build on the successful event that they hosted last year with help from their Platinum Sponsor: Centers Health Care.

Kim Bren is the Executive Director of the Senior Center, and has held that position for 9 years. She is excited for the expo: “This is our second year… Our first one was last year at the Cool (Insuring) Arena. We have moved it to the Queensbury Hotel for easier parking and mobility for our seniors… Last year, we had 67 vendors and over 450 attendees. It was a huge success,” she said.

Glens Falls Senior Center Board of Directors President Harold McKinney – who jokes that he’s held the position “forever” although it’s only been five years – wants to make sure that the entire community knows that they were welcome at the event: “It’s critical that the public understand that this expo is free and open to anyone,” he said.

This expo is a fundraiser for the Senior Center, and also an educational opportunity for seniors, their families, and the community. There will be a broad range of vendors at the expo: “We have vendors who focus on aging in place, home repair, assisted living, health care and end of life planning… Vendors will be there to explain services that are out there for seniors,” Kim said.

Nicole Laing is the Activities Coordinator for the Senior Center, and has held that position for a year and a half. She has first hand experience coordinating events and traveling with the seniors: “It’s been really fun to see the members build relationships with each other. They really have a ball… Transportation is a need in the community for seniors, and (along with) housing are the two biggest issues that we are seeing,” Kim said.

Nicole has helped to increase accessibility to services for the seniors through technology – she has incorporated the use of Facebook and posted videos of health care presentations. For the expo, she has helped to create a resource guide to showcase the vendors… Just under 2,000 brochures have been distributed. This guide will be updated to include the vendors from this year’s expo, and is also available online.

The Glens Falls Senior Center has 641 members, and has a goal to not only retain members, but also increase membership. Kim and her team would like to educate the community about the services and events that are available through the center, as well as convey the fun that they have throughout the year.

The mission of the Glens falls Senior Center is to improve the quality of life for those over the age of 50 in the Greater Glens Falls Area by offering a wide range of educational, health and recreational activities and services. To join the Glens Falls Senior Center, there is a $30.00 per person annual fee, with no residency requirements. Membership includes social opportunities, health benefits, and educational programs throughout the year.

For more information, please visit gfseniors.com

Labor Day Weekend is Here! Fireworks, Festivals and Fun for the Entire Family!

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 31, 2023. Posted in Community, Entertainment, Featured.

Before the leaves begin to change and the kids go back to school, enjoy the last days of summer around the Glens Falls region! There are plenty of activities to celebrate Labor Day! Here are some of the offerings from around the region…

To kick off the weekend, the Shirt Factory (located at 71 Lawrence Street) will be having their Thursday Market & Food Truck Corral from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. This event has evolved over the years and become like a weekly block party – each week, there is a steady rotation of food vendors, and plenty of exotic ethnic offerings. This event features multiple stages for live music, local distilleries, homemade items for sale, and free or low cost activities for the whole family! There is so much to see and do on Thursdays at the Shirt Factory!

For more information, please visit shirtfactorygf.com

There will be live music at Blue Water Manor – located at 4436 Lake Shore Drive in Bolton Landing – to celebrate all Labor Day Weekend long!

Tonight: Chuck Kelsey from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Friday, September 1st: Neal McHugh 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Saturday, September 2nd: Who Knows from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Sunday, September 3rd: Mike Lapoint from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Monday, September 4th: Brandon LaRocca from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

For more Information, please visit bluewatermanor.com

Tonight at 9:30 PM will be the last night of Thursday Night Fireworks at Shepard Park on Canada Street in Lake George! Bring your picnic basket and claim your spot on the lawn to watch the fireworks on the lake. To confirm that the event is happening, call (518) 668-5771; rain date is on Friday.

Tonight, from 7:45 PM to 9:45 PM, there is the Blue Moon Summer Bonfire at the Battenkill Conservancy in Jackson, New York. This free event is taking place to celebrate the rising of the “Super Moon”. Enjoy the natural beauty while sitting around a bonfire!

For more information, please visit battenkillconservancy.org

Tonight, at 9:15 PM, is the Final 2023 Thursday Night Firework Cruise on the Saint! The Lake George Steamboat Company – located at 57 Beach Road on Lake George – invites you to climb aboard the gorgeous steamship Lac du Saint Sacrement and enjoy a boat ride, a cocktail and snack bar, and fireworks! This event is $35.00 for adults and Seniors, and $18.00 for kids. The cruise takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the cruise boards 15 minutes prior to departure time. Another firework cruise on the Minne-Ha-Ha will take place on September 3rd!

For more information, please visit lakegeorgesteamboat.com

Friday, September 1st through Sunday, September 3rd is the Adirondack Independence Music Festival at Charles R. Wood Park at 17 Elizabeth Little Boulevard (Formerly West Brook Road), Lake George! This three-day, multi-band event features several premier touring bands currently on the festival circuit. Music at the festival runs continuously across two side-by-side stages until 11:00 PM each night. A single day ticket costs $70 online, and $80 the day of the show; 2-day General Admission is $130 online, $140 the day of the show; and 3-day general admission is $180 online, $195 the day of the show. This event is suitable for all ages!

For more information please visit adkmusicfest.com

Thursday, August 31st thorugh Saturday, September 2nd, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, there is Jazz at the Lake: A Graphic Design Retrospective! Located at The Lake George Arts Project Courthouse Gallery at 1 Lower Amherst Street in Lake George, this free event showcases the evolution of imagery through integrated design that highlights the beauty of Lake George, along with a visual representation of Jazz sensibility. This event will also Honor the vision of Paul Pines, who was the Jazz at the Lake founder and artistic director from 1984 to 2018. Admission is free!

For more information, please visit Lakegeorge.com

Friday, September 1st: Live Music with James Mullen at the Adirondack Winery’s Queensbury Tasting Room from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, located at 395 Big Bay Road in Queensbury!

For more information, please visit adirondackwinery.com

Friday, September 1st: Paint & Sip at Slickfin Brewing Company, located at 147-149 Broadway in Fort Edward! This event is $50 per person from 6:00 PM 8:00 PM, and includes all painting materials, a free drink, and instruction by Andrea Tabor.

For more information, please visit slickfinbrewing.com

Friday, September 1st: Line Dancing Classes! This free event takes place from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 1000 Acres Ranch, located at 465 Warrensburg Road in Stony Creek, NY. These classes are taught by Dee Bowen, and no experience is necessary!

For more information, please visit 1000acres.com

Saturday, September 2nd: The Bolton Arts & Crafts Festival! Located at 5 Cross Street parking lot in Bolton Landing, this event takes place from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and will feature 25 artisans and craft vendors.

For more information, please visit visitlakegeorge.com

And, lastly, on Sunday, September 3rd: The Summer Farmers Market at West Mountain! This Sunday will be the final Summer Farmers Market of the season. The event will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at 59 West Mountain Road in Queensbury.

For more information, please visit Westmountain.com

With so many wonderful events across the region to choose from, you can’t go wrong this holiday!

Laurella’s Restaurant 21 Bay Street Glens Falls

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 30, 2023. Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, Food.

Jerry Porreca, owner of Laurella’s Restaurant, comes to the Glens Falls restaurant scene with a lifetime of experience in the hospitality business!

Located at 21 Bay Street, Laurella’s Restaurant serves “Old School” Italian food. It has a sophisticated yet welcoming ambiance, a full bar, and offers live music on both Friday and Sunday nights!

The menu at Laurella’s features all of the popular mainstay Italian favorites, as well as sandwiches, burgers, salads and appetizers… Jerry has found that Laurella’s generous portions can be a lot in one sitting and now offers small plates for the entrée portions.

21 Bay Street is a location that Jerry has had his eye on for some time, and he is enjoying meeting new customers and seeing old friends! Laurella’s as a new addition to the restaurant scene in Glens Falls allows owner Jerry Porreca to keep doing what he loves.

Jerry, who has a welcoming presence and just a hint of a resemblance to Tony Bennett, is originally from Hudson, New York… That’s where he began his career as a musician: “I’ve done this all my life… I started out as a musician. I started out playing at places, and said I can do this myself. Our first place was just music, then we moved to Saratoga and I learned how to cook there, and our last place was Smokey Joe’s in Lake George… And now, we are here,” Jerry said.

Laurella’s invites guests to sit at the bar for Happy Hour Tuesday through Sunday for $3.00 Domestic beer, $4.00 Imports and $5.00 Drafts. House wines and well drinks are $4.00, and premium wines and call drinks are $6.00. In addition to drinks, ½-priced appetizers and $9.00 Flatbread Pizzas are amongst the offerings.

So, if you’re still thinking of a way to celebrate Labor Day Weekend, why not stop in to Laurella’s? Say hello to Jerry, and enjoy wonderful Italian food, ambiance, and making new friends!

Laurella’s is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Hudson Falls Agricultural Program Receives Charter

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 29, 2023. Posted in Community, Education, Food, Sports.

Hudson Falls High School Agricultural Program is flourishing under the leadership and guidance of Maggie Hogan. Maggie – a Hudson Falls Alumni – was first offered a job by the High School Principal Jim Bennefield on the day that she graduated from Hudson Falls High School! Principal Bennefield noticed Maggie’s efforts throughout her high school career in agriculture science classes, and saw the need to expand the agricultural curriculum at Hudson Falls High School.

Maggie is from a large family of dairy farmers in Hudson Falls, and knows that the future of agriculture is in the hands of the students. Maggie obtained her degree from SUNY Cobleskill, returned to her hometown, and began teaching.

“This is an Ag (Agricultural) community, I want Ag in my hometown and for students to learn in four years what I wasn’t offered when I was a student here,” Maggie said.

Superintendent Dan Ward was happy with the implementation of the program: “The agriculture program has been on the cusp of implementation for a few years, unfortunately it was delayed by the pandemic. The fact that we have made this program a reality for our students is yet another post-pandemic triumph for the Hudson Falls School District,” he said.

This past June, Maggie attended the New York Association of Agricultural Educators conference, where Hudson Falls CSD was officially awarded with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and charter. FFA is a student-run organization that uses agricultural education to transform lives and prepare members for leadership, personal development, and career success. Future Farmers of America chapters can be chartered in any public school with an agricultural education program – Leadership is provided by student officers who are elected each year by the chapter’s members, and by the agriculture teacher who serves as the advisor for the chapter.

Maggie is proud of her role in the community and the school: “I literally love my job. It is so fun and so rewarding,” she said. This past Sunday, Maggie and her students were at the Washington County Fair to support the local FFA and to broaden awareness of the emerging agricultural program at Hudson Falls High School.

Glens Falls Kiwanis Club First Responders Recognition Luncheon

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 24, 2023. Posted in Business, Community, Featured.

On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023 Glens Falls Kiwanis Club held their First Responders Recognition Luncheon at the Queensbury Hotel for the first time since before the COVID pandemic. Kiwanis Club member and Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr put the program together to show appreciation to the first responders.

Guests included representatives from law enforcement, fire, and EMS organizations throughout Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties.

Sheriff LaFarr presented certificates of appreciation on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls, and thanked the organizations whom they represented for all that they do for our communities.

*Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr & Kiwanis Club President Doug Shaver*

Kiwanis Club President Doug Shaver also thanked the first responders for their professionalism and expertise in public safety during times of need and crisis – 24/7, 365 – as well as their support at Kiwanis community events, and other organizations’ public events in the tri-county area.

Glens Falls’ Football Phenom, Griffin Woodell, Earns UAlbany Scholarship

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 24, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured, Sports.

Former Glens Falls running back Griffin Woodell walked onto the UAlbany football team as a freshman last year and now he has been offered a full scholarship. The announcement was made on the scoreboard at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium after the teams practice on Friday. Woodell was named the team’s most improved offensive player during spring football.

Woodell – 5-foot-10, 194 pounds – was a four-year varsity player at Glens Falls High school, and as a senior rushed for an impressive 1,504 yards and scored 27 touchdowns – which also earned him the title of Class B North Offensive Player of the Year!

Woodell didn’t make it onto the field at all for UAlbany during the Fall season after being recruited as a walk-on, but had impressive runs during the Spring season.

The Great Danes kick off their 2023 season on Saturday, vs. Fordham. at 7:00 PM.

JG3 Transfers to Clemson

Written by Kate Haggerty on August 23, 2023. Posted in Community, Education, Featured, Sports.

Glens Falls local legend Joseph Girard III, nicknamed JG3, is still making headlines due to his prowess on the basketball court. His record-breaking high school career led him to Syracuse for four years, and now he has joined the Clemson Tigers for a fifth year of collegiate basketball!

Girard began his varsity career while in the 8th grade, when he averaged 21.7 points per game… Then, in his freshman year of high school, he began to get noticed by college coaches after he hit 122 3-pointers! His game continued to improve, and by his junior year he averaged 50 points per game and passed Lance Stephenson’s state record of 2,946 points scored. Girard finished his high school career with 4,763 points, and then committed to play at Syracuse University over offers from Boston College, Duke, Michigan, and Penn State.

This past spring, Girard graduated from Syracuse with a bachelor’s degree in athletic management, and has an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic – the NCAA granted college athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID impact on the 2020 to 2021 season. Girard played four seasons for Syracuse, averaging 13.2 points per game… He entered the transfer portal in March of 2023, and will be playing for Clemson as a graduate student. There, Girard will work on his master’s degree in athletic leadership, which would prepare him for coaching on the college level.

Girard started 123 out of 125 games for Syracuse under coach Jim Boehiem, and averaged 13.2 points per game… When he entered the transfer portal, he instantly began receiving phone calls! The transfer portal allows student athletes to place their name in an online database declaring their desire to transfer to a different school. The athlete enters the portal by informing their current school of their desire to transfer, and then the school has two business days to enter the athlete’s name in the database.

Since 2018, the transfer portal has completely changed the landscape for collegiate athletes… In 2022, 12,000 students entered the transfer portal. Along with increased transparency regarding the transferring process, there was also a rule change – in September of 2022, student-athletes who were transferring for the first time and in good academic standing could transfer their eligibility to their new school… Up until this point, student-athletes who transferred had to sit out a full season before getting an opportunity to play at the new school. The transfer portal provides more opportunities for student athletes to find a school that fits their needs, without losing a year of athletic competition.

Girard finished his career at Syracuse as the No. 2 all-time foul-shooter (.863), and was ranked third in 3-point shooting (297) in Syracuse history. With his choice to attend Clemson, Girard remains in the ACC, and will face off against Syracuse during the 2023 to 2024 season.