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Music in the Museum: European Baroque Chamber Music at The Hyde

On Sunday, July 2nd, 2023, from 6:30PM to 8:00 PM, a baroque chamber music concert will be held in The Helen Froehlich Auditorium at The Hyde Museum. This is a collaboration with The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls Symphony, and the De Blasiis Chamber Music Series led by Music Director Charles Peltz. This concert features a gallery of brilliant musical miniatures, written by the giants of the European Baroque: Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and George Frideric Handel.

The Hyde Collection is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary by featuring Songs of the Horizon: David Smith Music and Dance. This exhibit opened on June 24th and will be on exhibit through September 17th, 2023.  This exhibit – curated by Dr. Jennifer Field, Executive Director of the Estate of David Smith – is the first museum exhibit to focus on the indelible influence of music and dance on Smith’s work in painting, drawing, and sculpture. David Smith was Hyde’s first guest curator, a trustee on the board, and Charlotte Pruyn’s friend… He died in a car accident in 1965, leaving behind nearly 100 large sculptures in the grass outside of his studio in Bolton Landing.

This Baroque performance honors the great friendship between David Smith and Hugh Allen Wilson – a driving force behind the creation of the Glens Falls Symphony. Baroque – which is derived from the Portuguese “barroco” or “oddly shaped peal” – is a term that has been widely used to describe European art music, and has come to encompass one of the richest and most diverse periods in music history.

Tickets are $35 for general admission, $25 for museum members, and $10 for students or children. For more information, please visit hydecollection.org

Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance – French & Indian War Society Hosting Free Program on Native Peoples in the Region

Heather Bruegl

The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French & Indian War Society at Lake George will be hosting a joint program entitled “A History of the Lake George Area & the Nations Who Called It Home”. This event will be presented by Heather Bruegl, a nationally recognized historian and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. This free event will take place on July 5th, 2023, at 7:00 PM, and will be held at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center. Attendees will learn about the early Native peoples who lived and sustained themselves in this area, and the policies that removed Indigenous Nations from their homes and ultimately pushed them onto reservations. 

This program is the latest in a series being co-sponsored by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French and Indian War Society at Lake George. Their goal is to increase awareness of the region’s early history. Heather Bruegl will share her expertise in the field of history and indigenous people. Heather graduated from Madonna University, with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in U.S. History.  Her research includes numerous topics related to American history, legacies of colonization, and Indigeneity. Heather is currently a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she is studying First Nations Education, with a focus on creating inclusive historical narratives for teaching.

Kathryn Flacke-Muncil is a founder of the French & Indian War Society at Lake George, and CEO of the Fort William Henry Corporation: “Fort William Henry has partnered with Heather Bruegl to elevate the interpretation of Indigenous history. Heather’s personal background and extensive knowledge have provided an opportunity to enhance the representation of Indigenous allies’ pivotal roles during 18th Century battles at and around Lake George. It has also expanded the educational narrative surrounding pre-European contact,” Ms. Flacke-Muncil said. “This collaborative program with the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance signifies a significant milestone for Fort William Henry in its commitment to present a more comprehensive and accurate account of Indigenous history. By harnessing Heather Brugel’s expertise, the museum aims to deliver an enriched understanding of the area’s historical context to the public. Heather’s presentation offers the opportunity to the public to hear from this expert ahead of a new exhibit Fort William Henry will soon be opening.”

Jay Levenson is a Trustee of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, and a Native American living historian: “The history of Native Americans in the Lake George region is a complex story of intertribal and European relations during both peace times and war. It is a story that needs to be told,” he said.

Space is limited for this event. Please register in advance at the following email address: info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org.

The Hyde Collection’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Brings Bolton Landing Sculptor Back Home

David Smith
Untitled (Home of the Welder), 1946
Gouache on paper
23 x 29 ¼ in. (58.4 x 74.3 cm)
The Estate of
David Smith, New York

GLENS FALLS, NY – In honor of its sixtieth anniversary, the Hyde Collection is pleased to announce the exhibition Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance. Curated by Dr. Jennifer Field, Executive Director of the Estate of David Smith, this is the first museum exhibition to focus exclusively on the indelible influence of music and dance on Smith’s work in painting, drawing, and sculpture. The exhibition features thirty-five pieces loaned by major private and public collections, including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Harvard Art Museums, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the Estate of David Smith, in addition to archival materials from the Estate and works from the Hyde’s permanent collection. The Hyde aims to draw scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts to celebrate Smith’s legacy as well as the enduring traditions of dance and music in the southern Adirondack region. 

David Smith (1906-1965; b. Decatur, IN) is recognized as one of the great sculptors of the twentieth century. Smith began spending summers in Bolton Landing, New York, in the late 1920s and settled there permanently in 1940. “The Adirondack region that encompasses Bolton Landing and Glens Falls was inseparable from Smith’s artistic practice,” says Field. “A dialogue with nature—the mountain landscape, the change of seasons, the flight of birds—is reflected in his artwork in every medium.” In the 1940s, inspired by performances in the region and in New York City, Smith initiated an exploration of dancers and musicians rapt in song. 

Jason Ward, Hyde Collection Board of Trustees Chair, notes, “As part of his commitment to the area, Smith became deeply involved with the foundation of The Hyde Collection before his premature death in 1965. Charlotte Hyde, the founder of the Museum, was a friend of David Smith and fond of his artistic creations. David Smith was one of the Collection’s earliest trustees and curated The Hyde’s very first summer exhibition, installing his own sculptures on the lawn. In the spirit of that inaugural event, Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance will feature two graceful, vertical sculptures from later in Smith’s career, measuring up to twelve feet tall that poetically evokes the essence of music, dance, and nature. This intimate association with David Smith,” Ward continues, “is what the museum seeks to highlight with this anniversary exhibition.” 

In 1926, Smith moved from the Midwest to New York City. There he met artist Dorothy Dehner; they married the following year. Beginning in the mid-1930s, Smith photographed Dehner in dance poses. These images, along with photographs by Barbara Morgan of Martha Graham, spurred Smith’s sustained study of the female figure in motion. Songs of the Horizon features Smith’s sculpture Boaz Dancing School (1945; Private collection)—a stylistically radical interpretation of Franziska Boaz’s Bolton Landing dance studio, and a rare example of Smith explicitly referencing a particular historical and autobiographical moment. This sculpture has been publicly displayed only once since 1947.

Smith cited music as essential to his life and work, particularly classical and jazz from his radio: “I use  music as company in the manual labor part of sculpture, of which there is much.” He regularly traveled to New York City to attend concerts and jazz clubs. Locally, he enjoyed the lively summer concert season in Lake George. A trio of drawings depicts a 1946 performance by harpsichordist Sylvia Marlow, reunited here for the first time. These works in turn, engendered an ambitious group of drawings, paintings and sculpture inspired by the two ancient Greek muses of music and dance, represented here by the innovative, abstract sculptures Euterpe and Terpsichore (1946; the Estate of David Smith) and  Terpsichore and Euterpe (1947; Harvard Art Museums). 

Concurrently, Smith created a series centered on renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, who briefly settled in the Adirondacks in the 1940s. Smith captured the psychological intensity and geometry of the cellist and his instrument in a painting series and in the sculpture Cello Player (1945; Private collection). These works, reunited in the exhibition for the first time in nearly 20 years, are accomplished examples of the  complex, abstract direction in which Smith took his paintings and sculptures in the mid-1940s.  

Of this exhibition, David Smith’s daughters, Rebecca and Candida Smith, state: 

“We are thrilled to see our father’s work back at the Hyde Collection. Our father wanted his sculptures to be experienced in relation to nature, to changing light, weather, and seasons. He always said that an artist is a person of their time. There was a vibrant community of artists and performers in the southern  Adirondacks, and our father’s work responded to contemporaneous performing arts and music and was inspired by the wild beauty of the mountains and the lakes.”  

– Rebecca and Candida Smith 

Additional Information Regarding David Smith 

David Smith married artist Dorothy Dehner in 1927. Dehner encouraged Smith to enroll at the Art Students League and introduced him to modern dance. In acknowledgment of the vital role Dehner played in Smith’s early career and his life in the Adirondacks, Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and  Dance include a selection of artworks by Dehner. She left the marriage in 1950, returning to New York City. Smith’s works became increasingly large and inventive, his sculptures spreading into the fields of his mountain home. 

Accompanying Educational Program Offerings 

  • June 24, 11 AM: Exhibition Tour with Guest Curator Jennifer Field 
  • June 24, 4 PM: Conversation with the Daughters of David Smith 
  • July 2, 6:30 PM: The Sculptor and the Musician: European Baroque Chamber Music
  • July 20, 5:30-7:30 PM: Adult Workshop: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
  • July 22, 7:30 PM: “A Tribute to David Smith” with Hub New Music 
  • July 25, 27 & August 1, 3, 10-11:15 AM: Youth Workshop: Earth Movement with Ellen Sinopoli  Dance Company 
  • July 27 & 28, 12-4 PM: Youth Workshop: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
  • July 28, 5:30 PM: Performance: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
  • August 6, 10 AM-5 PM: Community Day  
  • August 17, 6 PM: Lecture: David Smith, Music, Dance and Community with Paula Wisotzki
  • September 8-10, 9 AM-4 PM: Welding Workshop with Salem Art Works: Inspired by David Smith

Thank You to Our Sponsors 

Special thank you to: The Charles R. Wood Foundation and The Hoopes Family Foundation  

Leading Sponsors: The Glens Falls Foundation, Anne and George Morris, Francine and Robert Nemer, Franklin and Mary Renz, Charnell H. Thompson, and Jason C. Ward and Heather M. Ward 

Major Sponsors: Mr. Mark Behan, Tenée and James Casaccio, The Chateau On The Lake, Ellen-Deane Cummins, D.A. Collins, Carl and Terry DeBrule, Tom and Sally Hoy, The Robert Lehman Foundation,  J.M. McDonald Foundation, and Wilmington Trust 

Supporting Sponsors: India and Benjamin Adams, Atherton Painting & Renovations, Giorgio and  Maureen DeRosa, KEENA Staffing Inc., Mrs. Joan Lapham, Mr. John J. Nigro, Dennis J. Phillips and Patricia Smith Phillips, The Queensbury Hotel, Chelsea and Joshua Silver, StoredTech IT Consulting,  Sarah Parker Ward and Chris Ward, Warren County Bar Association, and Domenique and Dmitriy Yermolayev 

A SECOND EXHIBITION OPENING 

The 1960s: Beyond Op and Pop 

The 1960s are understood as the dawn of widespread progressive social views, from the civil rights movement to war protests and the sexual revolution. The visual arts as well experienced the advent of radical styles, including Op Art, Pop Art, and countless new approaches to what it meant to work abstractly. 

Notwithstanding the allure of novelty, not all artists shunned the “real world”—and the sixties also saw the development of the painting style known as Photorealism. The 1960s: Beyond Op and Pop draws from The Hyde’s permanent collection of 1960s painting, sculpture, and works on paper in a wide range  of styles.  

About David Smith 

Widely regarded as one of the most innovative sculptors of his generation, David Smith (1906-1965) was pioneering in his ability to fuse Surrealist and Cubist influences, redefining what sculpture could be for the modern world. David Smith’s sculptures, paintings, and drawings have been exhibited internationally since the 1950s. Smith represented the United States at La Biennale di Venezia in 1954 and 1958.  Numerous solo exhibitions of his work have been mounted in the decades since, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1965, 2011), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1969,  2006); the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1982); Sezon Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (1994);  MNCA, Reina Sofia, Madrid (1996); Tate Modern, London (2006); Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY (1997-99, 2017), and Yorkshire Sculpture Park (2019-20), among many other venues.

About The Hyde Collection 

The Hyde is one of the Northeast’s exceptional small art museums with distinguished European and  American art collections. The core collection, acquired by Museum founders Louis and Charlotte Hyde,  includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, and James McNeill Whistler. The Museum’s Modern and  Contemporary art collection features works by artists including Josef Albers, Dorothy Dehner, Sam Gilliam, Adolph Gottlieb, Grace Hartigan, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, George McNeil, Robert Motherwell, Ben Nicholson, Robert Rauschenberg, and Bridget Riley. Today, The Hyde offers significant national and international exhibitions and a packed schedule of events that help visitors experience art in new ways. Visit www.hydecollection.org.

Folklife Center 30th Anniversary Festival

The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library is 30 years old and we’re celebrating  with a free Festival in City Park, outside the Library, Tuesday, July 25th, 10 am to 5 pm.  

Over 50 folk artists will fill the park demonstrating their crafts and traditions. Up close and personal, festival goers will be able to witness first hand the skill, and to talk  directly with the experts. Many of the artists will also have a hands-on component.  

The list of traditions is far reaching: Afghanistan kites, black ash and birch bark  basketry, barn quilts, blacksmithing, chainsaw carving, chair caning, drumming, fiber  arts, fly fishing flies and casting, hammer dulcimer, henna art, iconography painting,  Irish stick fighting, nature garden sculpture, painted floor cloths, paper art,  photographic portraits, plasma cut metal work, primitive weaving on a peg loom, rough  edge bowl turning, sculptures of found objects, stringed instrument making,  stonework, timber framing, tintype photography, torah scribing, ukulele club, wood  carving birds.  

There’ll be live music all day at the Bandstand. The morning will showcase Adirondack  music, with Dan Berggren, Dan Duggan, Josh Clevenstine (10 am), followed by John  Kirk and Trish Miller with Cedar Stanistreet and Greg Anderson (11 am). At noon, The  McKrells will join us with Irish music. The Desi Trio will take the stage with Pakistani  music at 1:30 pm, followed a by Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra at 2:30 pm).  We’ll wind up the day with a country music reunion 4-5 pm, featuring Marty Wendell,  Al and Kathy Bain, and the legendary Smokey Greene & Sons. 

We’re also scheduling food demonstrations in front of the Library (homestead cheeses,  Congolese recipes, local soul food dinner, etc), a selection of food trucks along Maple  Street, and other participatory activities. 

Thanks to our major partners, New York Folklore (Schenectady) and Traditional Arts in  Upstate New York (Canton) for helping organize the event, to the Friends of Crandall  Public Library for additional funds, and to the many local organizations joining us for a  day of fun for the entire family. 

65th Annual Pierce-Arrow Society Meet

Luxury! Power! Prestige! These are some of the words that come to mind when looking at a Pierce-Arrow. Although the opportunities are generally few and far between, this week Glens Falls has been the host city of The Pierce-Arrow Society 65th Annual meet. The Queensbury Hotel has provided an elegant backdrop for the Pierce-Arrow Society automobiles… Just a glimpse of one can remind us of a time gone by, and a lifestyle afforded by few and sought after by many. The Pierce-Arrow embodies the grandeur of the golden age of automobiles.

The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was an American vehicle manufacturer from 1901 to 1938, based in Buffalo, New York. The Pierce-Arrow Society is dedicated to the preservation of Pierce-Arrow Motor Cars and Trucks, as well as the history associated with the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company.

From 1901 to 1938, Pierce-Arrow produced approximately 80,000 automobiles, of which 3,000 still exist. Their 1933 Silver Arrow is still one of the most recognizable and influential automobile designs of all time… Only five were made, and only three have survived. 

If you would like to see the cars up close, on Saturday, June 24th, there will be a Pierce-Arrow Society car show at Glens Falls City Park from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. So, until then, if you’re around Glens Falls, pass by the Queensbury Hotel and catch a glimpse of one of these breathtaking, eye-catching automobiles.

For more information, please visit pierce-arrow.org

Charles R. Wood Theater Updates Signage

The Charles R. Wood Theater, located in the heart of downtown Glens Falls, is updating their signage. This 300-seat production theater offers cutting-edge music, theater, dance, comedy, lectures, meetings, and seminars. Their mission is to promote cultural and artistic endeavors, fostering economic development and improving the quality of life within the Glens Falls area. 

Parking was partially blocked off on Glens Street as the new signage went up… The previous signage had Charles R. Wood in smaller letters on the top of the sign, and “Theater” as the predominant word, featured in lowercase letters vertically against a maroon background.

The new signage has “Wood Theater” as the predominant focal point, in large black letters against a white backdrop with “The Charles R. Wood Theater” written on the bottom. The panels behind the sign have been updated to a checkered red and white design.

The Charles R. Wood Theater opened in 2004, after the former Woolworths Department Store was renovated into a theater space.

 What’s Next at The Hyde Museum?.. The Exhibition Tour, Songs of the Horizon

Beginning on June 24th, in honor of the Hyde Collection’s 60th anniversary, the museum will be featuring an exhibition focused on the influence of music and dance on David Smith’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures. This exhibition features works of art from both the private and public collection, and the Estate of David Smith, in addition to a selection of rare archival materials!

This exhibition – curated by Dr. Jennifer Field, Executive Director of The Estate of David Smith – is organized to commemorate The Hyde Collection’s 60th anniversary as a public museum. It features approximately thirty loans from major private and public collections, including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Harvard Art Museums, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the Estate of David Smith; along with a selection of archival materials from the Estate, and works from The Hyde’s permanent collection.

David Smith (1906-1965) settled permanently in Bolton Landing, New York, in 1940, with the artist Dorothy Dehner. The Adirondack region that encompasses Bolton Landing and Glens Falls became inseparable from Smith’s artistic practice… A dialogue with nature – the mountain landscape, the change of seasons, the flight of birds – is reflected in his artwork in every medium. In the 1940s, inspired by modern dance and concerts held both locally and in New York City, he made inventive works of art that depict dancing figures and musicians playing instruments. Music was intrinsic to Smith’s life and work: “I use the music as company in the manual labor part of a sculpture,” he later explained.

As part of Smith’s commitment to the area, he became deeply involved with the foundation of The Hyde Collection prior to his death in 1965… Mrs. Charlotte Hyde, founder of the Museum, was a friend of David Smith. There were very close bonds between the sculptor and Mrs. Hyde’s curators – Otto Wittman and Jerry Dodge – as well as her longtime friend and Chair of her trustees, artist and experimental filmmaker Douglass Crockwell. Smith was one of the Collection’s earliest trustees – he curated The Hyde’s very first summer exhibition, installing his own sculptures on the lawn. In the spirit of that inaugural event, Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance will feature two graceful, vertical sculptures from later in Smith’s career… Measuring up to twelve feet tall, they poetically evoke the essence of music, dance, and nature.

This exhibition also includes a selection of works by Dorothy Dehner, in acknowledgment of the vital role she played in Smith’s early career and his life in the Adirondacks… Dehner and Smith married on Christmas Eve, 1927, and bought a farm in Bolton Landing, where they spent much of their married life. Dehner’s subject matter consisted of natural forms, such as shells and aquatic life, while her style was influenced by cubism. The couple divorced after over two decades of a tumultuous marriage… However, the twenty-three year marriage still contributed to each of the artists’ work.

For more information, please visit hydecollection.org

Wiawaka Center for Women Celebrates 120 Years 

Wiawaka was created in 1903, and is located at 3778 Route 9L in Lake George, NY… It was created by and for women! It is the oldest and longest continuously operating retreat for women in America. Nestled within the breathtaking Adirondack Park, the property spans nearly 60 acres of waterfront and wooded hills at the base of French Mountain. Wiawaka is celebrating their 120th year this summer, and the upcoming season will be filled with an array of enriching workshops, retreats, events, and programs.

Wiawaka Center for Women is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, committed to enhancing the lives of women through wellness programs, workshops, events, and artistic celebrations. In 1908, renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe became one of the first artists to stay at Wiawaka, and her room remains one of our most sought-after accommodations on the property! Wiawaka remains dedicated to preserving this historic property, and fulfilling the mission established by their founders – Katrina Trask, and Mary Wiltsie Fuller.

Doreen Kelly is the Executive Director of Wiawaka Center for Women: “We take great pride in this historical milestone, and express our deep gratitude to all our supporters who have been instrumental in helping us reach this significant achievement,” Doreen said.

In addition to overnight stays, Wiawaka offers offer daily healthy meals, day passes, season passes, and a host of programs… As the oldest continuously operating retreat for women in America, Wiawaka takes great pride in honoring this cherished tradition while embracing the future. In recognition of its historical significance, Wiawaka was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It stands as one of the Places Where Women Made History, and is featured on the travel itinerary compiled by the National Park Service, showcasing National Register properties in Massachusetts and New York associated with significant events in women’s history.

Noteworthy highlights of their programming include the Georgia O’Keeffe Week, Artists in Residency Week, and SWIM Week – honoring the remarkable woman swimmers of Lake George. Diane Struble will be one of the swimmers honored; she made history as the first woman to complete the full lake swim. Additionally, there will be a captivating Storytelling weekend planned, and many other exciting offerings!

Every Monday at 5:00 PM, there will be Historical Tours, and an invitation to enjoy dinner after the tour. To participate in dinner, it is requested that you make reservations in advance by contacting the front desk at (518) 668-9690.

Come experience the beautiful historic property, and discover how it can enrich your life, empower your outlook, and rejuvenate your spirit! Join the ranks of thousands who have shaped the history of this extraordinary place.

Learn more about Wiawaka’s upcoming events at wiawaka.org, or call (518) 668-9690.

LARAC’s June Arts Festival 2023

On Saturday, June 17th, and Sunday, June 18th, the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council – fondly known as LARAC – held their 52nd annual Junes Arts Festival at the Glens Falls City Park. This event ran from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. LARAC is a year-round, non-profit arts organization which was founded in 1972 to enhance cultural services in Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties. The LARAC June Arts Festival features over 130 exhibitors, offering a variety of products from jewelry, home items, food, fine art, and textiles, and more. 

All fine artists and artisans – with no geographic or membership restrictions – were invited to apply for a booth space by juried entry. All work submitted for consideration must be original design and handcrafted by the artist. Reproductions of original work must involve hand work or direct supervision by the artist.  

A gentle but persistent rain fell on Saturday as visitors opened up umbrellas and donned their rain gear to wander through CIty Park and enjoy the art, music, and food offerings. A visitor’s map was provided with a layout of all of the vendors and their corresponding locations in and around the park. 

Ritvik Sharma – an artist from the Schenectady/Rotterdam area – works primarily in oils and watercolors. He has been coming to the LARAC Arts Festival for the last few years to exhibit and sell his art: “I’ve been doing this festival for a few years and I enjoy coming here and I enjoy the people,” he said. He works out of his home studio and his garage, and felt that the turnout in the rain was surprisingly good! 

Artist Ritvik Sharma at LARAC Art Festival

Jessica Rogers Landry also had a booth to promote her business – “A Sense of Wonder Studio”. Her store – located at The Shirt Factory – opens three days a week year round, and she also attends festivals and has an online store to promote her business: “So my art starts with my photography and then I make what I call ‘functional art’ out of it. I get my images transformed into fabric and sew them into things like tote bags and pillows and coasters and clutches, and I also dabble in a few paper products, greeting cards and calendars,” Jessica said. 

Jessica Rogers Landry at the LARAC Arts Fest

LARAC is run by Executive Director Phil Casabana and Community Outreach Director Alyssa Shiel. Their board of directors is made up of President Will Siegel-Sawma, and members Carol Ann Conover, Susan Ford, Pamela Green, Jessica Landry, Anne Nelson, and David H.B. Thomas.

LARAC is located at 7 Lapham Place which sits on the edge of Glens Falls City Park. For more information, please visit larac.org.

Navigating Car Accidents with Intoxicated or Drug-Impaired Drivers: Crucial Steps for Seeking Compensation and Protecting Your Rights

Drunk driving

Today we are going to talk about what to do if you are hurt in a car accident involving a driver who was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. 

There are a couple of things that you need to think about if and when you are involved in an accident involving a drunk driver, or a driver who was under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, which is now recreationally legal in New York.

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that the police are called so that a police report can be made, statements obtained, etc. If a driver is under the influence they will likely be issued tickets, which is important because that can help you establish liability down the road in the event that you have to file a lawsuit or if you’re dealing with an insurance company.

You’ll want to make sure that you call the police, that the police come to the scene, accident reports are completed, insurance information is exchanged, and any witnesses are identified by the responding police officer. After the accident, you or your attorney is going to want to reach out to the local court or district attorney who is responsible for prosecuting those tickets, who will be notified that this was an accident that involved a serious injury.

Why do we do that? Because then the prosecutor is less likely to give a quick plea deal to the wrongdoer, which may become important later if there is an admission of liability in the criminal matter.  

You’ll next want to make confirm the insurance coverage limits for the other driver, and notify any relevant insurance carriers. This may not only include the other driver as we’ll discuss below.

After you have determined the other driver’s insurance coverage limits, you may need to notify your own insurance company that you have a potential SUM or UM claim. This is a claim that allows you to seek damages from your own insurance company in excess of the other driver’s insurance.

Why is this important?

This is important because often drunk driver involve very serious injuries. You may need surgery or surgeries. You may have a long recovery. You may miss work, or worse. If the other driver has minimal insurance coverage it may not be enough to adequately compensate you.

SUM or UM coverage – under your own insurance policy – is there to help you in this exact scenario, and in many cases allows you to make a claim for damages beyond the other driver’s coverage. If you don’t know what your SUM or UM coverage is take a look at the declarations page on your auto insurance policy.  You can get that from your insurance carrier.

TIP: If you’re able to, you should increase your SUM/UM coverage. It’s relatively cheap, and we have had far too many clients obtain less than they should because of inadequate coverage.

Of course the most important thing following an accident is to take care of yourself or your family member. Thinking about the above, however, may also help you or your family in the end.

If you have questions contact us today.

*Attorney advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.