On Thursday, October 26th, 2023, the Washington County Fair Office – located at 392 Old Schuylerville Road in Greenwich – will be hosting a Farm Lease Learning Circle for Non Farming Landowners. This event will take place between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM.
This event provides information to any landowner who would like more information about making their land available for farming. Nicole Tommell from the Cornell Cooperative Extension and farmers Jason Heitman and Andrea Grom will talk about what should be considered in developing a successful farm lease. The event provides an opportunity to meet landowners and service producers, ask questions, and learn about future goals.
The Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is a non-profit, community-supported land conservancy dedicated to protecting local farm land and working forests from encroaching development. The ASA is one of the very few land trusts in New York State focused exclusively on conserving working farms and forests. The ASA was founded in 1990, and has helped to conserve over 30.200 acres of 165 properties in Washington and Rensselaer counties.
This program is supported by American Farmland Trust, with support from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program and the New York Environmental Protection Fund.
On Friday, October 13th, 2023, The Warren County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting to begin the process to renew the county’s 0.25% tax on new mortgages.
Director of Public Affairs Don Lehman said: “The way the calendar falls this year, beginning the process at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on October 20th would not have gotten it done in time for when it expires at the end of 2023, so a special meeting was scheduled.”
This tax has been on the books since 2009. Annually, Warren County collects as much as $1.6-million through this tax. This tax is renewed every three years through this process.
The board set a public hearing regarding the local law that allows the tax. This public hearing will be held at the Board of Supervisors’ monthly meeting on Friday, October 20th. This meeting will start at 10:00 AM, at Warren County Municipal Center.
More than 30 properties will be available for purchase when Warren County Real Property Tax Services Office holds its annual live public auction of tax-foreclosed property on Saturday, October 21st, 2023, at Warren County Courthouse.
Among the 31 properties on the list as of this week are single family homes, commercial property, and vacant lots, including two with waterfront access – all of which were foreclosed upon for non-payment of property taxes. Auction proceeds will be handled in accordance with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings related to tax foreclosure auctions.
For further information and links to the full tax foreclosure property information booklet, which includes detailed descriptions and photographs of each property, check the auction company website here. (Scroll down on this web page for Warren County’s auction.) This website includes a photo gallery featuring the available Warren County properties.
Registration will begin at 8:00 AM, and the auction starts at 10:00 AM. Warren County Courthouse is located at the Warren County Municipal Center complex, at 1340 State Route 9 in Queensbury.
The area’s premiere new home tour, the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes opens its doors this weekend! Tickets are available at all Adirondack Trust branches, Saratoga National Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls National Bank in Glens Falls, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury and Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs. Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours of 10:00AM – 4:00PM or can be purchased ONLINE at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.
Once again this year, each showcase ticket holder will receive a FREE commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!
The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is being proudly presented over two weekends this year on October 7-8 and October 14-15. Tickets are only $25, which allows you to visit all of these beautiful new homes over four days. This year’s edition has 9 locations from 7 of our area’s finest builders. NEW this year is a showcase location in Lake George and Lake Luzerne!
Participating award-winning builders – Belmonte Builders, DeGraff-Bloom Custom Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, R & M Homes, Whitbeck Construction and Witt Construction. To view an interactive mobile map with locations, directions and much more, please visit our website.
This year’s showcase will also be featuring a student “Minds Under Construction” exhibition on Saturday, October 8th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the DeGraff-Bloom showcase home #3. Area students from the 10 – 12 grades will be building vertical gardens and students from the 2 – 5 grades will be participating in the popular toolbox build activity. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. In addition, a new 8’ x 24’ Tiny House built by BOCES students will be on display at the same location.
Now celebrating its 27th year, this annual community event has contributed nearly $1.5 MILLION dollars to our local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (www.rtsaratoga.org) and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (www.glensfallshabitat.org). For more details on the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check us out on FACEBOOK and follow all the updates on this year’s event!
About Saratoga Builders Association
The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the wellbeing and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit their website at www.saratogabuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518.366.0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org.
Aviation Mall is partnering with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and ConfiData to offer the community and its residents an opportunity to drop off documents to be shredded for free! This event will take place on Saturday, September 16th, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the front east parking lot of Aviation Mall.
Participants can bring up to five boxes to shred (box size cannot exceed 24” x 12” x 10 ¼”), and items will be shredded on the spot in the mobile shred trucks. ConfiData can shred and recycle just about anything – junk mail, tax returns, checks, files, manila folders, or any documents containing personal information.
Please consider bringing a non-perishable food donation with your shred drop-off. All food item donations will benefit the Open Door Mission, which exists to serve people at their point of need, cultivating personal growth and community sustainability – individuals who are homeless and low income.
The event is open to the public, and will occur rain or shine.
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.
Registration has opened for Warren County’s next household hazardous waste collection event on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 at Queensbury Highway Department – 742 Bay Road, Queensbury – from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
This event, which is overseen by the Warren County Department of Public Works, is open to Warren County residents that would like to safely dispose of hazardous household materials. These materials include cleaners, pesticides, other household chemicals, antifreeze, latex paint, and fluorescent light bulbs. There is no cost for the disposal of these items.
There are items that will not be accepted by the Warren County event collection staff… Those items include gasoline, munitions, automotive oil, batteries, asbestos, pharmaceuticals, infectious waste, and tires.
Registration is required for this event, and is open to Warren County residents only. Registration can be completed online at warrencountyny.gov/residents/waste, by mail, or in person at Warren County DPW, 4028 Main Street Warrensburg N.Y., 12855, or by fax at (518) 623-2772.
“Hometown USA” was just named the “Safest City in the U.S.” by Rocket Mortgage for the second year in a row! Rocket Mortgage ranked the fifteen safest cities in the United States, and Glens Falls came out on top for the second year running. To determine their findings, Rocket Mortgage used violent crime, property crime, and population data from the FBI’s 2019 crime report… The median home values were taken fromhttps://www.neighborhoodscout.com, which features real estate analytics, and the median household income was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
Violent crime rate is composed of four offenses – murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. These are crimes that involve force or the threat of force… With a population of 124,339, the Glens Falls violent crime rate is listed as one.
Property crime rate includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of this type of crime is the taking of money and property without threat of force against victims… The property crime rate for Glens Falls was listed as seven.
The median household income was listed as $50,071… This number is reached by dividing income distribution into two equal parts – one half falls below the income level, and the other half is above. The median home price for Glens Falls was listed as $211,692… Roughly half of the homes in Glens Falls have sold for more than that price, and roughly half of the homes have sold for less than that price.
Midland, Michigan was listed as the second-safest city in America, with a population of 82,943. Midland – according to this ranking – has a violent crime rate of three, property crime rate of seven, median household income of $62,625, and median home price of $207,130.
Glens Falls was joined by Kingston, New York – the only other New York city to be included on the list, coming in at #9. Located in Ulster County, Kingston is listed as having a population of 177,151, a violent crime rate of two, a property crime rate of 1,090.6, a median income of $51,299, and a median home price of $292,631.
Buying and selling homes are major milestones in people’s lives… These are times of upheaval and change, which a range of emotion which can include stress. There are times in these major transactions when each party needs a mediator to help find the correct answer and move the transaction forward. There are times when the public needs to know their rights to use and transfer property… The Southern Adirondack REALTORS® Inc. (SAR) is an organization that provides support and services to REALTORS® in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties. Located at 298 Bay Road in Queensbury, this organization promotes those rights, and supports the concept of conducting business in a competent and ethical manner. They strive to improve the quality of life for area residents by providing a variety of services; including providing a voice for REALTORS®, upholding professional standards, and acting as a third party to help mediate disputes with REALTOR® members.
Sarah Wisdorf is currently the interim Association Executive/CEO. Sarah has both senior management experience and leadership skills – she holds both a bachelor and master’s degree in business administration, and has decades of experience in the real estate industry. In her role as interim CEO, Sarah oversees the daily operations of SAR, and is responsible for the growth and development of the real estate industry in the Southern Adirondack region: “In my role I help to maintain relationships. As an organization, we strongly support property rights, and work to reduce barriers to home ownership,” Sarah said.
One of the key aspects of SAR is the high ethical standards that the organization sets for the members… This code of ethics separates SAR from other real estate licenses. It is a commitment to honor, integrity, and professionalism… This code of ethics is prescribed by The National Association of REALTOR®, which is the umbrella for SAR.
SAR has a responsibility to help members and clients in a disputed situation, and will provide an ombudsman and professional standards hearings if there is ever a dispute or a question of unethical practices that needs an unbiased third party… These services are optional, but often result in a more timely outcome and avoid litigation. Offering this free service helps to avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation.
Sarah is aware of the impact of societal changes on the real estate market… Americans move an average of 11.7 times over the course of a lifetime. These moves occur for a variety of reasons, including changing jobs, upsizing or downsizing, or just trying out a new neighborhood. Unfortunately, low inventory is increasing prices and sending ripples through the real estate market… Prospective buyers are holding off on purchasing their first homes, and retirees who in the past have downsized are staying in their homes longer because of the elevated costs of real estate. SAR studies and monitors these factors to help support their members, clients and community: “SAR is committed to being a partner in helping to solve the challenges in the housing market. Advocating for increased inventory at all price-points, working to find ways to lessen the barriers to entering the housing market, and looking at new, creative, and sustainable building options.” Sarah said.
The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring that every water utility across the United States complete an inventory of all of the water service lines by October 16th, 2024. This inventory is needed to identify and remove any lead pipes. The Water and Sewer division for the City of Glens Falls needs your help!
The EPA is amassing the inventory because there are 6 to 10-million lead service lines remaining in cities and towns across the country… There are dangerous health problems that can develop from lead exposure, as it can accumulate in your body, and has been linked to serious health ailments – which include headaches, stomach cramps, fatigue and irritability. Lead has also been linked to problems with development and health of bones, and can impair intellectual development and even damage the brain.
The Department of Water and Sewer is required to meet EPA regulations. Bill Norton – the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer department for the City of Glens Falls – oversees the drinking water, sanitary sewer system, and storm system. There’s never a typical day in the water and sewer department… There are always things that arise where the systems operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year! Glens Falls uses about 2 millions gallons of water a day for roughly 5,000 customers.
The EPA waterline inventory needs to be completed by October 16th, 2024. The primary focus of this inventory is to identify and remove any lead pipes… The city does have records regarding the pipes, but needs public assistance in identifying the pipes that go from the curb into the house: “We are asking people to participate in identifying their pipes so that we can comply with the EPA regulations,” Norton said. “The EPA wants 100% of the information, and we have a long way to go… Right now, we are doing the inventory, and if we find any lead, we notify the EPA,” Norton said. “We have to know all of the service lines going from our mains all the way to the homeowner’s house. They are looking to eliminate any lead connections… Years and years ago, lead was the material of choice. We are fortunate that we haven’t found a lot of it in Glens Falls, but we are still required to check everything… We have a lot of unknowns. We know about 85% of our system on the city side. We are also lucky enough that our meter readers who were going in and changing transmitters and meters would look on the homeowner’s side and they would note the kind of pipe… So we have about 40% to 45% of the inventory, and we are further along than most.”
To help the Department of Water and Sewer meet the EPA inventory requirements, there are quick and easy instructions on Warren County website. It’s a bit like an elementary school science experiment!
Determining the Material of Your Water Service Line
You will need a:
Key or a coin
Strong refrigerator magnet
Step by Step Instructions
Find the water meter in your basement. Look at the pipe that comes through the outside wall of your home and connects to your meter.
Carefully scratch the pipe (like you would a lottery ticket) with a key or a coin. Do not use a knife or other sharp tool. Note: If the pipe is painted, use sandpaper to expose the metal first.
Place the magnet on the pipe.
Take a photo of the scratched pipe and submit your results in the form on the website.
Types of Pipes
Lead Pipe A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe. Scratch the pipe with a penny. If the scraped area is shiny silver and flakes off, the service line is lead.
Copper Pipe A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe. Scratch the pipe with a penny. If the scraped area is copper in color, like a penny, your service line is copper.
Galvanized Steel Pipe If a magnet sticks to the surface, your service line is galvanized steel. A scratch test is not needed. If you scratch the pipe, it will remain dull gray.
In the meantime, if your tap water tests positive for lead or you have lead pipes in your home. there are a few easy steps you can take right now:
Use a Filter – Several types of inexpensive household water filters are effective at removing lead. Before purchasing, look for a certification from NSF International that verifies the filter’s ability to remove lead. It will usually be found on the packaging.
Run the Tap Before Use – Lead levels are likely at their highest when water has been sitting in the pipe for several hours. Clear this water from your pipes by running the cold water for several minutes, which allows you to draw fresh water from the main. You can use this water on houseplants, or to flush toilets.
Use Cold Water for Cooking – Always cook and prepare baby formula with cold water, because hot water dissolves lead more quickly, resulting in higher levels in water.
Clean Aerators – Aerators are small attachments at the tips of faucets which regulate the flow of water… They can accumulate small particles of lead. It’s a good idea to remove your aerators at least monthly and clean them out.
