Southy’s – a local South Glens Falls Pizzeria, located at 75 Saratoga Avenue – was gifted $300 via Venmo to help families in need on December 22nd, 2022. The money was Venmoed to a Southy’s employee, asking that the money be spent on pizza for people in need; the anonymous donor’s original message said that they would be donating $200, but the amount that was Venmoed was $300. To manage this gift, Southy’s distributed gift certificates to families that they knew to be struggling. Southy’s Pizzeria distributed the gift certificates until they were gone.
This act of kindness inspired others to donate as well. Via a Facebook post Southy’s wrote “If you remember this post from a few days ago, you’ll be happy to know that Saturday afternoon another SGF business owner felt inspired to donate $200 to the same effort.” Angel Isaac – owner of The Pretty Hot Mess Wellness Boutique – made the donation. And then, there was more… Cardinale’s Car Care Venmoed $200 as well, with a Facebook message that read, “It takes a village. Thank you for doing this. XO, Cardinale’s Car Care”
Southy’s explained that they have been managing over 50 messages, and that they will soon be contacting people who they were unable to help with the original donation.
Photo Credit:City of Glens Falls Chef Rebecca Newell-Butters & Manager Jolene of Morgan & Co.
The popular Glens Falls restaurant Morgan & Co showed their appreciation for the Glens Falls Police Department on Thursday, December 22, 2022, with lunch for the entire staff. Chef Rebecca Newell-Butters and the restaurant manager Jolene presented the luncheon to the Glens Falls City Police Department, which has 30 sworn members and two civilian employees.
“The holidays can be a sad time of year for some. Giving back makes you feel better, especially when you give back to the community. This year, we decided to do this for the Glens Falls Police Department because they do a lot of hard work around the city. We have a great police department, and the work they are doing in drug enforcement to keep drugs away from our kids is very important. It’s pretty amazing what our police department does” Chef Rebecca Newell-Butters said. The Chef and Co-owner of Morgan & Co said that she was doing it in the name of her father Ron Newell who was born and raised in Glens Falls. “He loved Glens Falls and helped a lot of people in the community.”
Police Chief Jarrod Smith thanked Morgan & Co: “On behalf of the police department, I wanted to say thank you very much for arranging the lunch. It was delicious and everyone was very appreciative. Thank you for thinking of us, and have a Merry Christmas.”
Morgan & Co is located in the historic 19th century McEchron House in Downtown Glens Falls. It has been owned by Chef partners Rebecca Newell-Butters & Steve Butters since 2014. Rebecca is a graduate of Glens Falls High School, and attended New England Culinary Institute in Burlington, Vermont. Rebecca’s international travel helped her sample a variety of cuisines and further develop her palate, helping her to win on an episode of the Food Network reality show “Chopped” in 2009.
Chef Steve Butters grew up in Norwood Massachusetts, and started cooking at a young age. He worked summers in restaurants on Cape Cod, and attended the famous Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Steve also garnered culinary fame on the Food Network – he appeared on the show “Sweet Genius”, where his humor earned him a cameo on E! Entertainment’s “The Soup with Joel McHale”. The couple married in 2010, at the Sagamore Hotel in Bolton Landing.
Morgan & Co is located t 65 Ridge Street in Glens Falls, which is also known as The McEchron House; the house was originally built by William and Sarah McEchron in 1891. The McEchron’s were philanthropists and involved in many local businesses – William McEchron was a charter member of the YMCA, and was involved in the construction of Christ Church. In 1984, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Morgan & Co is open year-round, and features gourmet catering, private parties, and outdoor dining in the warmer months. For more information, visit MorganRestaurant.com
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce presented a festive ribbon cutting to kick off the long awaited grand opening of the Park & Elm Restaurant on Friday, sponsored by M&M digital printing. A sizable crowd of community members attended the ribbon cutting to show their support for the newest endeavor by Glens Falls’ favorite mother and son entrepreneurs, Elizabeth & Ben Miller.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, people wandered the isles of the already popular Park & Elm Market & Deli. Conversations about already beloved “must-try” menu items filled the space. Both Ben & Elizabeth Miller kindly greeted guests, and cheers rang out as the ribbon fell.
Elizabeth & Ben Miller
Ben Miller then welcomed everyone in attendance to enjoy a drink at the bar prior to the first seating. Amongst the attendees was Andrea Harwood, the Director of Development and Site Acquisition for Habitat for Humanity: she said, “Elizabeth and Ben Miller are pillars of this community. We are fortunate to have innovators like them in our downtown corner.”
The bar area was large enough to comfortably accommodate the crowd. Everyone clearly enjoyed the architectural features of the industrial chic decor – decorative wooden tables set with simple yet elegant place settings accented the long teal banquet, which lined the wall that separated the bar from the dining room. The bar area was lined with high top tables, and the barstools were cushioned and had decorative backs. The decor was pulled together with exposed brick walls and a tin ceiling.
The Park & Elm menu will be executed by Executive Chef Matthew J. Delos; Delos and his staff moved across the street from Doc’s Restaurant, and will continue to feature the locally-sourced ingredients that his creative dishes are known for.
Park & Elm will be open Wednesday through Saturday, from 5:00 PM until close; the attached Market & Deli will operate Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. For more information, please visit https://www.parkandelm.com/
Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls hosted the opening of “Spirits In the Trees” on Sunday night at Crandall Park. The lighting of the trees took place at just after 5:00 PM; of the 100 trees on display, 94 of them were decorated. Patricia Van Buren, coordinator of the event, was on hand in the late morning on Sunday to help set up.
She was very pleased with the number of trees that were decorated: “Yesterday, it was so nice to see people talking and laughing as they decorated the trees. They were intermingling and introducing themselves to one another. It was wonderful to see the community together” she said, as we wandered from tree to tree, admiring each one. Van Buren decorated her own tree: “Celebrating People and The Cats they Love…and a few dogs.”
Patricia Van Buren and her tree
Just after 4:30, cars streamed into Crandall Park as the daylight faded into a gray snowy evening. People wandered around the trees, admiring each one and greeting neighbors and friends. There were heaters near the stage, and the boy scouts were raising money by offering hot chocolate for a donation.
The event included remarks from Kiwanis Club President Doug Shaver, and Mayor Bill Collins; these remarks were followed by an invocation by Pastor Chris Jewell of Queensbury United Methodist Church. After these remarks, there was a reading of the themes for each of the trees, and the program for the event had a listing of the trees and the people involved in donating it.
Doug Shaver credited past president and current club secretary Patricia Van Buren with advocating for the event: Shaver said from the band stand, “Spirits in the Trees was the vision of one of our past presidents and current club secretary, Pat Van Buren. Pat felt that families and friends, working together to plan and design a tree theme should gather to decorate those trees in remembering a lost loved one, honoring an individual or group dear to them, or celebrating the importance of something in their lives, would be a wonderful event to share with our community.”
Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins
Mayor Collins gave the crowd a warm welcome and received cheers from the crowd. “This is an amazing thing that we’ve got here; and I hate to make predictions as Mayor, but I predict that after you see these lights lighting up, that you’ll all wish that I do that I got a tree. You know both my father and my sister passed away years ago right before Christmas, and it makes Christmas both more meaningful and a little more difficult every year. But as I walked out tonight looking at all of these trees I grew with regret that I didn’t take the time to do this. And I bet there’s a few others as you walk through tonight that would think the same thing. And I’ll bet you there will be double the number next year. Great ideas catch on and this is a great idea.”
The Abraham Wing Elementary School donated a tree, celebrating the Abraham Wing Community; second-grader Quentin Straight was on hand to show off the ornament that he had made in art class. When asked about the most exciting part of the event, Quentin said, “Seeing my artwork on the tree and seeing the tree light up.” Quentin was accompanied by his father Eric Straight, his mother Tori Phillips, and his aunt Johna Ferry.
Second Grader Quentin Straight & Family
After the trees were lit, there was seasonal music played by the Queensbury High School Madrigals. Trees will be lit every evening throughout the New Year.
Heating bills are expected to increase this winter by 28% in nearly half of US homes. The cold days of winter are upon us… Energy and fuel costs are soaring as supply continues to tighten, but there are ways to save on your heating bill. One way is to seal up leaks. There can be air leaks in walls, windows, ceilings… Anywhere air can escape. Caulking and weather striping are helpful ways to seal up air leaks. Programming the thermostat can also be helpful; there can be as much as a 10% savings a year by dropping the thermostat 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day. Shutting doors of unused rooms, wearing warmer clothing, cooking, and buying curtains and shades are also affective ways to lower your heating costs.
As costs rise, people naturally look for alternatives to heating. Ventless gas heaters are heaters that do not have a vent or chimney… These heaters are inexpensive and can be placed anywhere in a house or apartment; however, the indoor air quality can be compromised. Since the 1980s, all ventless warmers have been required to include an oxygen depletion sensor – this senses the oxygen in the room, and if the concentration of oxygen falls below a certain threshold, the heater is turned off. Ventless heaters are not meant for long-term use, or to be used to heat more than one room; they are designed to only be used when essential, and under parental supervision… And, because the heaters do not circulate air from the outside, it is essential to open a window when using them.
Ventless heaters also create combustion byproducts that are harmful to your health: these include Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Water Vapor.
Carbon Monoxide is hazardous, and can be lethal in high concentrations; in low concentrations, it can cause health issues. Nitrogen Dioxide can affect your immune system and make you more susceptible to respiratory disease. Water vapor can cause mold to grow, which can trigger allergy and asthma attacks. Ventless heaters do not have sensors for carbon monoxide or other harmful pollutants.
There are extensive safety warnings that accompany ventless gas heaters. These outline the dangers and potential hazards of the heaters.
There are other alternatives to help keep heating costs lower and your home safer – changing filters ensures that the systems are working as efficiently as possible. A ceiling fan set to clockwise can be utilized to help to push heat down in the room. Buying shades and curtains help keep the house warmer; about 30% of heat loss is through windows.
These are safe and easy ways to help keep your home a bit warmer this season. Although ventless heaters may seem like a great bargain, there are health and safety risks associated with them as well.
Park Street Hospitality is hosting the grand opening for their restaurant, Park & Elm, on Friday, December 9th. This is their next step – after the successful opening of the gourmet food market & delicatessen on November 19 – for this multi-concept eatery. Chef Matthew J. Delos has moved his team over from the kitchen at Doc’s Restaurant.
Park Hospitality Manager Ben Miller said: “We are beyond excited to open the dining room doors at Park & Elm. With a fresh take on classic dishes, an expanded cocktail and wine program, and a bright welcoming atmosphere, we are eager to welcome customers to this new chapter in our journey.”
Park & Elm has 85 seats in the dining room and a full service bar; the cocktail menu of which was crafted by lead bartender Ethan McKee. In the Spring, guests will also be served on the three-season enclosed patio, which provides the restaurant with an additional 60 seats. The restaurant will be open Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5:00 PM, and the market is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
For opening night, seats in the dining room will be available by reservation only, and the event will include a ribbon cutting presented by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce at 4:00 PM.
For more information, call (518) 480-3220, or visit parkandelm.com
On Thursday, December 8th, The Glens Falls Collaborative is hosting Glens Falls Ladies Night from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Participating businesses will stay open late, offering a variety of discounts; and bars, restaurants & eateries will have special offerings as well.
The Glens Falls Collaborative is a membership organization whose mission is to band together and support Glens Falls. This group organizes festivals, creates advertisements and holds mixers, along with working with the city of Glens Falls on hospitality efforts.
Amongst the shops and stores that are participating in this event, there will also be a pop up party at The WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space. This shared workspace concept is a locally owned and certified NYS women-owned business, which is owned by Christy Alexander. The workspace is scaled to individual needs, and utilizes membership plans with different tiers: the four tier system ranges from a $25 per day drop in pass, $159 per month shared workspace, $309 per month dedicated desk, & $409 and up per private office.
Christy Alexander owner of WorkSmart
The WorkSmart concept helps people who work remotely create a dedicated workspace. There are some challenges to working from home, including distractions, and the blurred lines between home life and work life… WorkSmart creates an environment where people can better concentrate on their work, and also collaborate with other professionals. For people interested in trying out the workspace, there are $25 “Drop-In Passes” available. These passes can be purchased online, and offer a choice of using the shared workspace or a private office; or a meeting room can also be booked. WorkSmart is located at 237 Glen Street, in Glens Falls, NY. For more information, visit worksmartgf.com.
The Glens Falls Collaborative has hosted events that are synonymous with Glens Falls Festivals, including the Adirondack Christkindlmarket, Wing Fest, and Take a Bite. For more information about Glens Falls Ladies’ Night and The Glens Falls Collaborative, visit https://glensfallscollaborative.com/.
On November 30th, New Yorker locals and visitors alike gathered at the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree to watch it light up at 9:57 PM on Wednesday night. The tree was lit by Tishman Speyer (President and CEO), Rob Speyer, & Chairman Jerry Speyer.
More than 50,000 multi-colored, energy efficient lights were strung on five miles of wire to adorn the 14-ton, 82 foot tall & 50 foot wide Norway Spruce. The Swaroski Star dazzled from the top of the tree. The star was designed by Daniel Libeskind, and this is the 19th year that a Swaroski Star has topped the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. This spectacular star is made up of 70 spikes, covered in 3 million crystals, 9 ½ feet in diameter, and weighs 900 pounds.
This star-studded event included the Radio City Rockettes. It was hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, and ACCESS Hollywood Host Mario Lopez. There was a special appearance by Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph; and, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani sang a special duet of “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”.
This tree is one of our own local beauties; it was donated by the Lebowitz family of Glens Falls. The tree was harvested on November 10th, and arrived in New York City on November 12th. The Lebowitz family attended the tree lighting ceremony.
Spectators can view the lit tree each day from 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM: All day (24 Hours) on Christmas, and from 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM on New Year’s Eve. For more holiday images, please visit: Twitter @rockcenternyc , Instagram @rockefellercenter and Facebook @rockefellercenternyc
Andrew Percetti – owner of Adirondack Safari – has a vision and expertise in the field of the Adirondack experience that keeps people coming back. He understands that the enjoyment of camping can be enhanced with modern comforts: The concept of “Glamping” is just that: a combination of camping, and luxury. To that effect, Adirondack Safari offers a camping experience with all the comforts of home… So, instead of the traditional “roughing it”, there is now an option to maintain comfort, while still enjoying the outdoors.
Adirondack Safari offers an upscale glamping experience. Fully furnished tents are provided – there are mattresses for comfortable sleeping, rugs, bedside tables, fan, a power strip, a fire pit, zero gravity chairs, a charcoal grill, and a picnic table with a canopy; all along the banks of the beautiful Schroon River.
A new addition to the 2023 Glamping season at Adirondack Safari will be themed tents; Adirondack Safari can take you any place you want to go with their destination-styled tented abodes, which include:
The island-themed tent creates ambiance and comfort with a fun and beachy decor.
The India-themed tent has vibrant colors and exotic decor.
For a true feeling of the Adirondacks, the Adirondack-themed tent compliments the Adirondack experience with appropriate furnishings.
The Native-American-themed tent comes with an authentic lean-to instead of the traditional canopy at your site.
The Luxe tent lets you camp like royalty while still in the great outdoors. This package includes luxurious niceties: complimentary Prosecco, two bundles of firewood, and two four hour Kayak rentals.
No matter which tent you choose, after a day on the river or exploring Lake George, a luxurious and relaxing tent will await.
The Adirondack Safari facilities also provide on-site bathrooms and showers, and outdoor sinks for cleaning dishes and cutlery. Everyone has a different expectation and experience with camping; however, Adirondack Safari makes it easy for everyone to enjoy. This type of camping spans generations, and the activities that are offered fit any and all age groups. There are Native-American performances, outdoor movies, bingo, the “silent disco”, river tubing, volleyball, giant Jenga, and rotating live entertainment. The goal of Adirondack Safari is to create an outdoor experience where families and friends can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and each other’s company.
Adirondack Safari checks all of the boxes for fun in the great outdoors; not to mention, being close to all of the amazing attractions in Lake George! Adirondack Safari combines the best glamping experience with the best location for guaranteed summer-time fun.
Adirondack Safari will be open from June 16, 2023, until September 4, 2023. Plan your Safari now! It could make a wonderful holiday gift. Adirondack Safari has 59 Tents available, but they book up quickly: Ensure your summer fun and book now at adirondacksafari.com
The Shirt Factory’s 21st Annual Holiday Open House coincided with Small Business Saturday this year. The Shirt Factory is the home of crafters and artisanal small businesses, and vendors filled the hallways with their offerings. Crowds of people enthusiastically wandered the halls of the former industrial building, turned home of the arts community.
Crafts & Customers
Kim and Jim Vasiliou are the owners of The Sunflower Collection, which is located in The Shirt Factory’s Suite 304. The Sunflower Collection is happy to have found a home; founder Kim Vasiliou said about The Shirt Factory, “It’s a great place for small businesses.” The Sunflower Collection is an artisan producer of handcrafted soaps, bath bombs, sugar scrubs, and candles, and Kim has attributed the success of The Sunflower Collection to the help from family and friends: “My sister has been a huge help, and a lot of support (has come) from friends and family” she said.
All of the products are phthalate & paraben free – Parabens are commonly used in cosmetics as a preservative, and Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make plastic more durable. The Sunflower Collection doesn’t use any of that! They use a unique blend of scented essential oils, and butters with sunflower derived vitamin E; the collection also uses natural fruits and botanical extracts. These are high in minerals and vitamins, and help maintain a healthy glowing skin.
“Artisan soap is probably our biggest seller” Kim said. The soap is made with a special blend of oils, including camellia seed oil; this type of oil is very nourishing for the skin. All of the products have unique qualities that customers love: the whipped soaps create a rich and foamy lather, while the sugar scrubs moisturize the skin with a handmade blend of butters and oils, and the body oils that they sell have soft and soothing fragrances.
The Sunflower Collection has also kept the traveler in mind: They sell “Lotion Bars”. These solidified lotions moisturize the skin just like regular lotion, and because they are in a solid form, can’t ever spill in your travel bag… This makes the lotion easy to pack!
And of course, The Sunflower Collection has not forgotten about the four-legged members of the family: They have pet lotions for the paws and noses for your furry friends as well!
