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SHRED EVENT AT AVIATION MALL

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in ARCC Spotlight, Community, Featured, Home & Garden.

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.

SPoT Coffee’s Fall Fest is HERE!

Written by Kate Haggerty on . 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

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

Written by Kate Haggerty on . 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 . 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 . 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.

Maggie Hogan with the FFA Charter

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.

Battlefield Park Alliance Hosts Members and Holds Elections

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Education, Entertainment, Featured.

The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance held its annual meeting on Saturday, August 19th at Battlefield Park, where Alliance President John DiNuzzo reported on the organization’s success over the past 12 months… During this time the Lake George Battlefield Alliance has seen a 78% increase in membership, and have hosted programs that have attracted as many as 152 attendees!

Russell P. Bellico, author and Alliance Trustee 

DiNuzzo also noted that the Battlefield Park Visitor Center seems very likely to exceed its attendance figure from last year, due to popular exhibits such as the diorama of Abercromby’s 1758 flotilla donated by the Adirondack Experience, artifacts of Native Americans, an 18th Century British bateau provided by the State Museum, and a replica cannon loaned by Fort William Henry.

The Alliance membership elected the following individuals to serve on the organization’s Board of Trustees:

• President: John DiNuzzo of Lake George

• Vice President: Francis Cocozza of Lake George

• Secretary: Peter Wuerdeman of Queensbury

• Trustee: Vinnie Crocitto III of Lake George

• Trustee: Jay Levenson of Ballston Lake

• Trustee: Bob Wilcox of Clifton Park

They will join the Alliance’s current governing body incumbents: Rosemarie Earl the Treasurer, and Trustees Larry Arnold, Russell Bellico, Todd Earl, Margaret Mannix, Pat Niles, and Bruce Venter.

The day’s events concluded with a presentation by Phil Giltner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, who shared the State’s plans for the 250 anniversary of the American Revolution and highlighted the number of Revolutionary sites in New York – a number unequaled among the states.

Phil Giltner, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

DiNuzzo concluded his remarks by highlighting some of the events for the year ahead, and thanking volunteers: “It’s been a terrific year for the Alliance, thanks to the member-volunteers who have worked behind the scenes with our board to bring great programs to fruition. Despite some challenges that all history organizations face, many unique opportunities – as represented by our excellent Visitor Center, the prospect of reinterring in the Battlefield Park the remains of 44 Continental soldiers found in 2019 at Lake George, the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and several other initiatives already underway – await us!”

Live! Folklife Concerts: 3 Events at 2 Sites

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Columns, Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, In the Arts.

The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library is excited to announce its Fall series of free live music featuring 3 bands, each for 2 nights at 2 locations – Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801, and Historic Salem Courthouse, 58 East Broadway, Salem, NY 12865.

Cantrip, an Old Scots word for charm, magic spell or piece of music, this foursome creates compelling, energetic music with swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar and rich voices, on Thursday September 7, 7 pm at the Library, and again on Friday, September 8, 7 pm at the Courthouse. Visit cantrip-music.com for more about Cantrip.

Heron Valley, on tour from Scotland, this foursome has roots in Scottish and Irish traditional music, on fiddle, guitar, keys, bagpipes, whistles bass, vocals, on Thursday, September 21, 7 pm at the Library, and again on Friday, September 22, 7 pm at the Courthouse. Visit heronvalleyband.com for more about Heron Valley.

Maire Ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, on tour from England with “blazing guitar and dancing harp” (so-says Dirty Linen) to present a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, on Thursday, October 19, 7 pm at the Library, and again on Friday, October 20, 7 pm at the Courthouse. Visit maireandchris.com for more about Maire Ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman.

This season of Live! Folklife Concerts are produced by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, in cooperation with the Historic Salem Courthouse. Doors open at 6:30 for the 7 pm shows. Seating is first come, first served, with no reservations. Portions of past concerts can be viewed at the Folklife Center’s YouTube page – www.youtube.com/thefolkllifecenteratcrandallpubliclibrary.org.

Live! Folklife Concerts are made possible with Folk Arts grant funding to the Folklife Center from the New York State Council on the Arts supported by the Governor’s Office and the New York State Legislature.

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

Heidelberg Inn to be Featured on America’s Best Restaurants

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Business, Columns, Community, Featured, Food, News.

QUEENSBURY, NY – Local restaurant Heidelberg Inn will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in late August 2023.

America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on August 29th. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner John Weber about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

Heidelberg Inn, open since 1972, has been under Weber’s ownership for over eight years. He claims they are the last truly authentic German restaurant in the area. With an outdoor covered biergarten, staff in traditional lederhosen or dirndls, and a full menu of German and American specialties all made from scratch, they offer a fun and different experience for locals and tourists alike.

“I think there’s something unique about what we offer and what we’re doing,” he says. He is looking forward to the upcoming visit from ABR to potentially get new customers in the door.

They have a big draw for Oktoberfest, which runs from mid-September through October at the restaurant.

A popular menu item that may be featured on the episode is the ‘German Tour’, a platter of options which consists of veal jagerschnitzel, choice of one wurst (which is sourced from a NYC charcuterie) and sauerbraten, which is beef marinated in a red wine vinaigrette for ten to twelve days, slow cooked for hours, and served with a beef-based gingersnap gravy.

“It’s definitely unique,” notes Weber. “Some people come in exclusively for that.”

And don’t forget the German beers on tap, available in das boot – 1.25 liters or 2 liters in a glass shaped like a boot.

America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Tuesday August 29th from 9 am to noon EST. The press is invited to attend but the filming is closed to the public. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/new-york/heidelberg-inn.

Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are found through customer nominations or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.

About Heidelberg Inn: Open Wednesday through Sunday, Heidelberg Inn is located at 352 Quaker Rd, Queensbury NY 12804. Telephone is (518) 792-5556. For more information visit www.heidelbergny.com.

About ABR: America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and restaurant marketing company based in Florence, KY, travels the country telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 900 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their story broadcast coast-to-coast. Visit AmericasBestRestaurants.com to learn more and to view the episodes and profiles of hundreds of America’s Best Restaurants!