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Author: Kate Haggerty

Departure of Drawbridge Sparks Debate

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Featured.

Tim Drawbridge has held the position of communications director for The City of Glens Falls since October 2022, and announced his resignation on August 14th, 2023… He will be leaving the position at the end of this month, to take a position in the Capital Region and be closer to his daughter. 

His departure has sparked debate about the need for a full-time communications director for the City of Glens Falls… Mayor Bill Collins believes that the role of communications director is vital to maintaining a line of communication with residents and the press alike: “Tim is the City’s first true communications director – and if we learned anything during his tenure, it is that the position is critical to keeping City residents informed,” Collins said.

Drawbridge’s departure comes when the city is working to fill other vital positions throughout City Hall; these vacancies include administrative secretary for the police department, code enforcement officer, and building inspector. The now-available position of communication director pays $50,000 to $55,000 a year, with “excellent benefits”.

Third Ward Councilwoman Diana Palmer questions the need for a full-time communications director: “In the past, we had a part-time webmaster that sent out communication on the website and on Instagram… The previous mayor’s secretary sent out the press releases. I think having one part-time person dedicated to communication is more than sufficient… Sometimes, we have to be resourceful to keep costs down,” Palmer said.  

Fourth Ward Councilman Ben Lapham is also unconvinced of the necessity of the role, citing the need for a list of responsibilities for the position, performance indicators, and benchmarks. 

Both Palmer and Lapham are open to the idea of partnering with a local PR firm, but the focus remains on the cost of the expenditure: “I would prefer to be cautious about adding to our full-time employees without careful consideration of the cost-benefit analysis,” Palmer said.

Crandall Library Receives $500,000 Donation

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured.

Queensbury Native Christopher Bennet has donated $500,000 to Crandall Public Library in memory of his mother Anna J. Bennett,  and his aunts Helen B. Whittemore and Mary E. Jones, who he described as “voracious readers who loved Crandall Library.”

The donation is the largest gift to the library made by an individual, and was donated without restrictions on it should be spent… The funds will be allocated to capital technology improvements – the first project being updating the computer room, which will be called The Bennett, Whittemore, Jones Information Center. 

Other improvements will include upgrades to the projection equipment of Christine L. McDonald Community Room, touch screen kiosks to access the Library Catalog, and a Creation Space that will host collaborative workshops. This area will be equipped with technology and materials to guide users to make their dreams come alive!

Special Olympics Fall Games: Volunteers Needed

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

The 2023 Special Olympics Fall Games include an opening ceremony on Friday, October 20th at Glens Falls City Park, and competition in seven sports Saturday October 21st – competitions will include bocce, cross country running, cycling, equestrian, soccer, golf and softball. 

Volunteers are needed to support the Games. Jobs that volunteers fulfill include: event set-up and break-down, registration, scorekeeping, timing, photography, and golf caddying. No experience is needed. The venues for the 2023 State Fall Games include: Glens Falls City Park (opening ceremonies), Adirondack Sports Complex (bocce), Cole’s Woods (cross-country running), SUNY Adirondack (cycling), Skidmore College (equestrian), Brookhaven Golf Course (golf), and Morse Athletic Complex (soccer and softball).

Volunteers work to set up and take down ceremonies that support the running of competitions… They cheer on the athletes, as well as capture and share moments from the events. 

Special Olympics New York has created a strategic plan to help athletes with intellectual differences (ID) play a sport, be part of a team, and compete. The goal of the strategic plan is to increase depth of participation, and quality of opportunities for existing athletes and stakeholders, as well as recruit the next generation of athletes, coaches and partners. Achieving organizational excellence is also core to enhancing the mission and securing the future.

The Special Olympics has been changing lives since 1968… The Special Olympics began because Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw how unjustly and unfairly people with disabilities were being treated, and she decided to take action. The goal was to learn what these children could do in sports and other activities, and not dwell on what they couldn’t do. The work of the Special Olympics has helped people with disabilities gain respect and admiration… This movement continues to bring people with and without disabilities together.

For more information, please visit www.specialolympicsny.org

Washington County Fair: August 21st through 27th

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Entertainment, Featured, Food.

The Washington County Fair will be held from August 21st to 27th, at 392 Old Schuylerville Road in Greenwich, NY. Adult admission is $15.00. Children under the age of 13 do not require an entry ticket. Separate tickets are required for the rides. Advanced ride tickets are on sale until August 18th – a sheet of 20 ride tickets is $12.00, and each ride uses 3 to 5 tickets. Parking for the fair is free. 

The Washington County Fair is an event that locals look forward to all year round! For nearly a century the fair has provided a week of rides, food, and agricultural exhibitions. Fairgoers have the opportunity to see aspects of everyday life on a farm, and get a glimpse of what life is like on a working farm.

This year, the fair is featuring “The Big Push” which is a live dairy birthing demonstration celebrating the beauty of new life. This is an experience that dairy farmers celebrate throughout the year. 

The Washington County fair gives fairgoers an opportunity to taste local food, dairy products, and produce. Each year, there is a wide variety of food to experience… This year, there will be Mexican Street Corn Pizza, Hearts Catering will feature a Southwest Egg roll, and Polar Bear will have a Pumpkin and Peach ice cream! Traditional fairground favorites like fried dough will also be available, and to quench your thirst throughout the day, you can stop by the Craft Beverages Corral, where there will be samples of local beer, wine, cider, and spirits. 

While enjoying the food and beverages, entertainment will be all around you… New performers this year include Catalyst Quartet, Kevin Warren and the Bedrock Foundation, Craic Agus Ceol. Jay Mattioli’s Electrifying Magic, Micheal Goudeau the Comedic Juggler, and Pirate Dan. For the kids, story time will be provided by the Argyle Free Library. There will be the always popular 3.0 diesel class truck pull and demolition derby contests… And, of course, so many wonderful animals to see!

For more information, please visit washingtoncountyfair.com 

Cantrip: Free Concert at the Folklife Center

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Entertainment, Featured, In the Arts.

On Thursday, September 7th, Cantrip will be performing a free concert at The Folklife Center at Crandall Library! Doors open at 6:30 PM music begins at 7:00 PM. The Folklife Center is a place to hear live music from world-class bands in an intimate setting. The concerts are free to the public due to funding from the Friends of Crandall Public Library and the New York State Council on the Arts: Folk Arts Program.

Cantrip formed nearly twenty years ago in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name Cantrip is an old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief… This name aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements! Swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar and rich vocals create an energetic sound. The music that Cantrip performs has its roots in 1960’s and 1970’s traditional music, but over the years, influences of funk music, metal, blue grass, and swing have shaped their sound. 

This high energy Celtic music comes from a group of friends – Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Alasdair White and Eric McDonald. Dan Houghton began his career playing bagpipes, and plays the flute, bouzouki, and DADGAD guitar… Jon Bews is a veteran fiddle player… Alasdair White plays the fiddle, and Eric McDonald studied the mandolin and guitar at Berklee College of Music.

Cantrip signed to the Foot Stompin’ label and created their first album “Silver” in 2001. Over the years the band has done significant touring, and later began producing their own records, “Boneshaker” in 2005 and “Piping the Fish” in 2008, and critically acclaimed “The Crossing” in 2016.

For more information, please visit cantrip-music.com

Veteran-Owned: Slickfin Brewing Company of Fort Edward

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Business, Community, Entertainment, Featured, Food, Local Leads.

Slickfin Brewing Company, located at 147 Broadway in Fort Edward, is owned and operated by former US Marines Kris and Heather March. This husband and wife couple came to Fort Edward, a small historical village along the Hudson River in Washington County… That’s where Slickfin Brewing Co. has made its home, and they’ve never looked back!

When Kris and Heather first discovered Fort Edward, the downtown was filled with vacant and deserted storefronts… Now, the area has a welcoming vibe, with the hustle and bustle of a thriving village that supports a variety of commerce. The couple saw the potential in downtown Fort Edward, and have worked to help build a neighborhood and community around them: “We were scouting locations for the brewery and came to Fort Edward to look around… What we saw were a lot of empty storefronts along the Hudson River, which is right there (Kris pointed to their backyard beer garden). We looked around and thought we could do something here,” Kris said. 

Slickfin Brewing Company has full-sized windows that look out onto a sidewalk patio with tables that line Broadway. The beer garden around the back of the building provides tons of space for patrons to relax! Kris described the interior of the building when they first found it: “The whole interior area was divided into small spaces. It was all sectioned off and very dark,” Kris said. Kris and Heather worked to open the space up, and Kris built the bar himself. 

The unique name of the brewery comes from Heather and Kris’s shared military experience – the term Slickfin refers to the fin on a bomb, as during his time in the Marines, Kris was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. His experience inspired the name, and the name in turn inspired their logo.

Kris and Heather love working together and being part of a community… Heather grew up in Fort Ann, on Hadlock Pond. She graduated from Fort Ann High School in 1998, and attended SUNY Adirondack prior to joining the Marines. Heather is happy to build their business and raise their family in the area where she grew up: “My family is here, and my friends are here. That makes a big difference to us,” she said. 

Kris and Heather met on the rifle range at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, and married a year later… Together, the couple run the brewery, with Kris brewing the artisanal craft beers, and Heather focusing on creating a welcoming environment and expanding their customer base.   

Slickfin Brewery is perfectly situated to both watch and be a part of the evolving resurgence of Fort Edward! Kris and Heather have watched new businesses move in around them and, love being part of building that community. “Our community wants to be a part of the change that is happening… Everyone is looking and watching and wants these businesses to succeed,” Heather said, as we gazed out the front window watching cars navigate the Broadway. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s taken a while,” Kris added with a smile. 

Kris and Heather experienced the support of the community first-hand while navigating the pandemic – having established their business in 2017, Slickfin Brewery officially opened in March of 2019. The pandemic created unforeseen challenges that warranted creative solutions… Slickfin provided curbside pick-up for their customers, and expanded their patio to serve their customers safely.  Having only recently opened, Heather and Kris found that the community was dedicated to helping their business: “Cars would line up along Broadway, and we would run their order out to them after they had paid over the phone.” Heather said. “It was definitely a challenging time, but we got through it.”

Slickfin is surrounded by businesses that help support each other. Heather gives credit to their neighbor – Underwood Park CrossFit – because their clientele often frequent the local businesses… The community has also welcomed the Twisted Taco Food Truck, and still values the long-standing businesses like The Anvil Inn, Ye Old Fort Diner, and Mamma’s Cafe.

Seeing what Heather and Kris have created begs the question, “What’s next?” Kris has her answer: “We have plans. Our fifth year in business is coming up in March of next year, that’s the year we plan to go to market… I’m working on organizing my methods. Since we opened, we have brewed over 200 types of beer… I would like to stick to between 50 and 75 of those. We have had a lot of fun. The small system that we use allows us to do a lot of things… It allows us to change our menu frequently,” she said. The Slickfin craft brew menu creates an opportunity for patrons to enjoy a 5-oz taster, the traditional 16-oz pint, or a 32-oz Crowler – a growler in a can!

Slickfin Brewery does not serve food, but has created partnerships to encourage patrons to support neighboring eateries – Kris and Heather keep menus of neighboring restaurants on hand, and allow customers to order food in! There are menus from Stumpy’s Pizza, and the Twisted Taco truck parks right outside of Slickfin’s on Tuesday nights.

Kris and Heather keep their customer base up to speed on what is on tap through their website… They are currently featuring Maize for Days Lager, Yacht Rock-Blueberry Blonde Ale, Silhouette IPA-Belguin, Chameleon IPA, Riptide Hard Seltzer,  Before I had Status IPA-American, Street Fighterz, Lager- Japanese Rice, Incoming-Spark it up and Choose a flavor -Sour, Riptide Slushie- Mixed Berry or Peach Hard Seltzer, and NightShade Maple Porter.

Kris and Heather are proud of what they have been able to build in Fort Edward and the calendar ahead is filling up with much anticipated events. August 19th is the 2nd annual Fort Fest. This event takes place at the Brewery from 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM. On Friday, September 1st, Slickfin is featuring a “Paint and Sip” event and then their attention will turn towards OktoberFest!

Slickfin Brewery is open Tuesday through Sunday. The hours of operation are 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays from 2:00 pm to 10:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

For more information, please visit slickfinbrewing.com

Faces of City Hall: Patrick Dowd

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured.

Patrick Dowd is the Community Development Director for the City of Glens Falls. He has an amiable demeanor, and a rich knowledge and understanding of systems and tools available to the City of Glens Falls through Block Grants… Block Grants are allocated for a wide range of services. Through these grants, the office of Community Development offers housing rehabilitation grants and loans as well as other services for low-to-moderate income homeowners. 

“… In March of 2022, when I arrived, between my office and the economic development director’s office we had 27 or 28 grants that were in various stages of completion. Between the death of Ed Bartholomew and COVID, a significant number of projects were put on hold,” Dowd said. 

“A big part of my job is that I am the Community Development Block Grant Administrator… The City of Glens Falls is an entitlement community. We are the only city in the Glens Falls MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) in Warren and Washington Counties, and because we are the only city, HUD (The Department of Housing and Urban Development) gives us a certain amount of money every year to go towards different programs to support low and moderate income residents.” Dowd said.

The City of Glens Falls has a concentration of non-profit support groups that help a wide variety of people: “These organizations support people that need it, and the city helps to support them with part of the block grant… So my responsibility is to make sure that the money is being spent correctly,” Dowd said.  

The programs are set up to help specific people: “HUD requires that each organization sends a report with an invoice that breaks down who we helped. The information that is reported includes the number of people and this is how they were helped,” Dowd said.

“At this point, for a family of 4, low income is $72,000 a year. 50% of the median income in the area is $45,000, and for some families income is lower… $30 to $40-thousand a year for a family of four.” Dowd said.

Patrick Dowd understands the importance of his role at city hall, and the importance of the work that he is doing: “I am honored to be able to run the program to use the money to help all of these people. The area median income for the Glens Falls MSA is $90,000 so these are people that make much less than that,” he said. 

Dowd sees the incredible need in the community, and is working to do more for them… For instance, with the Emergency Rehab Program; an income-qualifying program traditionally helps elderly or disabled homeowners with emergency repairs: “An example would be that it’s February and the homeowner’s furnace goes out, or it’s in the late part of the year and their hot water tank goes out. We have an emergency repair program. The City will pay for the replacement at no cost to the homeowner,” he said.

Dowd manages grants that help keep people in their homes, and grants that help people purchase a home as well – The Home Purchasing Grant Program, another income-qualifying program, sets the top price of a house that can be purchased at $231,000. The money in this program goes to closing costs and down payment assistance… To meet all of the qualifications for this program, there are credit council and certification programs that have to be completed. The City of Glens Falls has about a dozen people who have qualified for the program, and has completed three of these this year.

There are also other aspects of the role of the Community Development Director… Dowd is working on a plan to re-create a walking path along Pruyn’s Island. The improvements could give people an opportunity to sit and fish along the path… There is also a plan to provide walking trails through Cole’s Woods. This walking trail would allow people to walk through the woods comfortably and safely. 

Patrick Dowd understands the importance of maintaining accessible recreation in the Area of Glens Falls – Dowd and his seven sisters and one brother spent time in Glens Falls and Lake George while he was growing up. He has now lived in Glens Falls for 24 years, and his own children went to Glens Falls Schools.

Patrick Dowd also holds leadership positions outside of his role at city hall – he is the CEO of The Greater Glens Falls Local Development Corporation. This corporation helps support local businesses and their growth and development. He has also been appointed CEO of The Glens Falls Urban Renewal Agency – this agency gets properties back onto the tax rolls.

For more information, please visit cityofglensfalls.com.

Fort Edward’s “Tuesdays on the Hudson”

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

The businesses in downtown Fort Edward are building a community and enjoying themselves! Visiting the town for the weekly “Tuesdays on the Hudson”, there is a feeling of a tight-knit yet welcoming community… There were people lining up at the Twisted Taco Truck, sipping beer on the patio of Slickfin Brewing Company, and participating in outdoor Underwood Park CrossFit activities… All of this keeps Broadway bustling throughout the evening hours.  

Fort Edward is in the midst of a resurgence! In years past, the downtown has been littered with vacant storefronts… Now, there is noticeable economic activity throughout the downtown with families, residents, and visitors alike all enjoying the vibrant downtown scene. 

Fort Edward is an historic town on the Hudson River that is now forging an energetic downtown business district… One of the events that is helping to fuel this rejuvenation is the Fort Edward “Tuesdays on the Hudson”. This event has both daytime and evening activities that encourage people to spend time getting to know Fort Edward and all that it has to offer… These summer Tuesday’s began on July 18th, and will run until August 15th. 

The daytime activities include touring Fort Edward by bike! Rental bikes are available from Evergreen Bicycle Works, located at 71 East Street… This is a perfect way to explore the Empire State Trails and other local Fort Edward attractions. “Tuesdays on the Hudson” also encourages visitors to explore Rogers Island – to wander the grounds of the beautiful historic landscape along the Hudson River, and learn about the Native-American Inhabitants and Fort Edward’s important role in the French and Indian War. 

Local cafés, restaurants and eateries offer discounts on throughout the day… There are Happy Hour vendors – including Slickfin Brewing (147 Broadway), featuring $6.00 pints. Dalia’s on the Hudson (13 East Street) offers a “buy one specialty drink, get one for 50% off” deal. The Twisted Taco Truck (parked in front of Slickfin Brewery) offers a free pocket Keychain Flashlight with every order. Stumpy’s Pizzeria (165 Broadway) offers 15% of your order when you mention “Tuesdays on the Hudson”, and there is free Yoga on the Hudson River from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on the lawn of the Yacht Basin!

For more information, please visit visitfortedward.com

Binley Florist & Garden Center: “We are Here to Stay!”

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured, Home & Garden.

Binley Florist & Garden Center is located at 773 Quaker Road… Several thoroughfares meet there, and these roads are some of the busiest roads in the Glens Falls/Queenbury area, handling thousands of cars a day. This location is prime real estate for a variety of businesses – including Binley Florist and Garden Center, which is under new ownership! Tami Fields, as the new owner, is working to carry on the traditions of the past and build new relationships… Binley’s is an institution in the world of plants, flowers, and floral design, having been in business for 130 years. Tami is looking forward to carrying that tradition into the future.

Tami may be new to the owner role at Binley’s, but the business is not new to her; Tami has worked at Binley’s since 2000. She came to the company as a sales clerk and floral designer and was named Floral Manager early in her career. 

Tami, along with her husband and son, are carrying on the traditions of Binley’s and building new relationships as they move forward. The property and the business were purchased from Wally Hirsch by Taco Bell… Field bought the business from Taco Bell, and leases the land from them: “I couldn’t see a 130-year old business go down the drain,” Tami explained… Initially, Tami had been concerned about working and negotiating with a business as big as Taco Bell, but has been inspired by their commitment to help her business grow and move forward: “Taco Bell has been wonderful! They are wonderful! They are my landlords. They have bent over backwards for us,” she said.

“I have had to downsize since we’ve taken over… We lease the retail sale space, but not the growing space. Our plan is that next year, we will go back to growing our geraniums… Our customers love geraniums. It is important for us to bring in inventory that our customers like. We will be operating on a smaller scale, but focusing on what has always been important to the customer base and community that Binley’s has built. That’s why we are here,” Tami said.

Binley’s has maintained open communication with their customers through Facebook: “We love our customers, and our community and look forward to the years ahead.” Tami said.

For more information, please visit binleyflowers.com

Folklife Center 30th Anniversary Festival

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, In the Arts.

In City Park, the Folklife Center celebrated its 30 year Anniversary from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 25th. Live music played at the Bandstand as people sat and listened, content to enjoy the summer day surrounded by friends and neighbors… Artisans explained their crafts, and food trucks set up along Maple Street. 

The lawn at City park was dappled with bear sculptures made by Peter Winters Bears and Signs and artisans setup under white tents to show and explain their crafts. Carrie Hill of the Akwesane Mohawk Territory was on hand to explain Black Ash and Sweet Grass Basket Making – she teaches her own classes, performs demonstrations, and even offers restoration services. 

“I got an invitation from Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY) to attend. So I worked with them a few times and they thought that I would be a good fit for this event… I’m showing and explaining basket making. This is a traditional art form that has been in my family for many many many generations,” Carrie said. 

TAUNY is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing the folk culture and living traditions of New York’s North County. This organization collects, preserves, interprets and presents the customs and traditions of the Mohawk River from Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to Lake Champlain, including the Adirondack Mountains.

Rickele Lomax and Amy Hughes, both librarians in the children’s department of Crandall Library, were on hand to help with events for children: “We have fun activities for children to do along with the Folklife Festival,” Rickele said. 

Librarians Rikele Lomax & Amy Hughes

The Folklife Center partnered with New York Folklore of Schenectady and Traditional Arts in Upstate New York of Canton to organize the event. Friends of Crandall Public Library donated additional funds.