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LARAC’s June Arts Festival 2023

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

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

Written by Scott Peterson, D'Orazio Peterson LLP on . Posted in Business, Columns, Featured, News, Opinion.

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.

Tonight! The Shirt Factory Thursday Market & Food Truck Corral

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

Thursday nights at The Shirt Factory are like a block party and mini carnival every week!

Today from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM, The Shirt Factory at 71 Lawrence Street will feature a Market and Food Truck Corral! There will be live music, local breweries and distilleries, homemade items… And, the shops are open late!

Live music will be provided by Rob Pulsifer, Geo Beat Duo, and Jolene Sierra.

There will also be free and low cost events for the family! Lego tables, games, a petting zoo, and bouncy houses! There is so much to do and see at The Shirt Factory on Thursday nights!

This event will take place every Thursday night, from May 18th to September 14th. Come and join the fun!

The EPA and The City of Glens Falls Lead Pipe Inventory

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

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.

For more information, please visit warrencountyny.gov

Queen Boat Company Adds Electric Boat Chargers to Lake George

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

Matt and Rebecca O’Hara have been the owners of Queen Boat Co. since the fall of 2018… That was when they started promoting electric outboard motors on Lake George. Now, they have taken the next step in sustainable boating and incorporated the first electric boat chargers on Lake George! These 75 DC fast chargers allow the boats to be charged without pulling them out of the water. Although the demand for this technology is relatively new, it is growing – there are 400,000 registered boats in New York that are under 25 feet in length. This is an ideal size range for an electric motor! This charger is the first of its kind East of Michigan. With the addition of the boat chargers, Queen Boat Co. will also be able to rent out electric boats to their clients.

New York State has been on the forefront of clean energy, and electric charging stations for boats is a step forward for that initiative: “New York is committed to building clean energy and protecting our environment for future generations,“ Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement about the 2023 state budget initiatives. New York State has a Climate Act goal of 100% zero emission electricity by 2040! To help reach this goal, decreasing the use of fossil fuels for recreational boating is key.

Lake George is a premier destination for boating enthusiasts, but the use of combustion engines to power these boats affects the environment… Recreational boating with a combustion engine can create pollutants and greenhouse gasses, and cause damage to aquatic life. When an internal combustion engine is used, it releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons; these emissions cause damage to the environment, and are harmful to the respiratory system. Electric outboard motors, on the other hand, produce zero pollution and zero emissions… There are no dangerous fumes, and no loud motor, either! There are also benefits in regards to the maintenance of the boat – because there are far fewer moving parts in the engine, electric boats require little maintenance; and the cost of electricity is lower than the cost of fossil fuels.  

Queen Boat Co. is a family-owned and operated business that provides the ultimate in boating hospitality and take their role as custodians of the lake very seriously! Since taking over the marina they have excavated a failing underground fuel tank, and upgraded an above-ground fuel tank. The O’Hara’s have built a new waterway system, and worked to prevent storm water from running into the lake. 

Queen Boat Co. is also home to Freedom Boat Club Lake George, which is the world’s oldest and largest membership boat club in the United States! The boat club cleans, maintains, stores, and insures the boats. Members make reservations, and show up to the dock, where there is a clean, fueled boat, ready for the day on the water. Now, there will be the option for electric powered boats as well.

Incorporating electric boats into lake life will help to lower the overall carbon footprint of all the boats on Lake George. For more information, please visit lakegeorgeboating.com

July 14th Payment Deadline Set For Tax Delinquent Property Owners In Warren County

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

Warren County property owners who are delinquent on property tax bills should contact Warren County Real Property Tax Services by Friday, July 14th, 2023 to discuss payment arrangements as deadlines approach for the annual tax foreclosure auction.

Warren County property owners who are behind on their taxes and would like to discuss a payment plan should contact Lexie Delurey, Warren County Director of Real Property Tax Services, at (518) 761-6466 by 9:00 AM on July 14th to avoid potential public auction of their property to recoup taxes.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors is considering doing away with the annual “last chance” public meeting for tax-delinquent property owners this year in light of dwindling attendance, so arrangements must be made with the Real Property Tax Services Office Director by July 14th.

In addition, Real Property Tax Services staff will be visiting tax-delinquent properties the week of June 5th, 2023 to begin the process of posting them for the annual property auction. This year’s auction has been scheduled for October 21, 2023 at Warren County Municipal Center.

For more information, please visit the Warren County Real Property Tax Services website.

LARAC’s June Arts Festival

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

The annual Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) June Arts Festival will be held June 17th & 18th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM… Rain or shine! This is the 52nd Annual June Arts Festival, and it will be held in Glens Falls City Park on Maple Street in Glens Falls. 

This is a juried outdoor arts and crafts festival featuring over 100 artists and musicians! There will be jewelry, fine art, textiles, home & garden decor, ands even specialty foods.

LARAC’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga County by supporting arts and culture. This nonprofit organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that works to support art and culture through sponsorship, networking, and providing art activities and services. 

LARAC was founded in 1972 to unify the arts community and establish a cultural identity for the region. It supports local artists and local art traditions while cultivating the community vision of what art is, and how it enriches our lives.

For more information visit larac.org

Evergreen Bicycle Works: Kids’ Bikes Trade-Up Program

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

Kyle and Randy Cozzens own and operate Evergreen Bicycle Works, which is located in the historic Fort Edward Train Station. Evergreen Bicycle Works is a full service bicycle shop offering new and used bicycles, gear, and apparel. They also offer maintenance and repair work, and bicycle rentals. 

Evergreen Bicycles understands how quickly a kid can grow out of a bike, and that parents often purchase larger bicycles so that the child can grow into the bike… This can be both unsafe and unenjoyable for the rider. To save parents money and make the experience more enjoyable for the kids, Kyle and Randy created the Kid’s Bike Trade-Up Program.

This program helps to offset the cost of a new bike as the child grows, and makes bike riding fun and enjoyable for the kids. It’s open to bike riders under the age of 16 – parents can purchase any new qualifying kids’ bikes, and if the kid outgrows it within four years, Evergreen Bicycle works offers a trade-in-credit towards a new bike for the same child.

Due to wear and tear, a percentage of the total cost is used to cover necessary repairs. This program keeps kids on a safe, size-appropriate bike.

For more information, please visit evergreenbicycleworks.com

Americade 2023

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

Have you been seeing and hearing more motorcycles lately? There’s a good reason for that – the 40th annual Americade in Lake George is taking place one week earlier this year! The event started May 30th, and is going on until June 4th. The opening celebration was on May 30th, the Expo started May 31st, and the Demos are starting June 1st. 

This week-long festival also raises money for charities: Americade partners with Ride for Kids and the Wounded Warrior Program, and has helped raise $600,000 for these charities as well as local and regional charities. 

When this event was started in 1983, it drew about 2,000 riders… Now, over 50,000 riders and passengers attend the Americade event in Lake George! This is the world’s largest multi-brand motorcycle touring rally, and features events that include exhibits and vendors, fireworks, and parades. Americade is a boost to the local economy, bringing motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country.

For more information and a schedule of events, please visit americade.com

The End of an Era: 42 Degrees Closes

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

A handmade sign in front of 42 degrees on Glen Street reads, “Thank You So Much for all the love Goodbye 42”… 42 Degrees and 42 Degrees Tavern closed on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023.

Robin Barkenhagen started the business as an art gallery and glassware shop in December of 2009… The Pipe shop, owned by Barkenhagen and co-owners Jon King and Mike Chowske, moved into the 206 Glen Street location in 2019, having previously been located for a decade on the corner of Park and Elm. 

42 Degrees opened a second location in Malta in 2021, and then added the tavern to the Glens Falls location – the tavern was on the second floor of the building, and offered live music, wine, and beer. 

The store closure was announced on Facebook earlier this month. Barkenhagen wrote: “I tried my best to hang on, but ultimately failed… 42 Degrees and 42 Degrees Tavern will be closing at the end of May. I want to thank you all for making the last 13 years special, and the 2 at the tavern magical. Hang on to those memories, good, bad and ugly, it was one of the finest stretches of my long life. This is obviously posted with a heavy heart, I gave both places my all, but it just wasn’t good enough… I love you all…Peace.”