In 2014, SPoT Coffee was a new addition to the restaurant scene on Glens Street in Glens Falls… Now, just under a decade later, they are a mainstay of Downtown Glens Falls! SPoT Coffee, through the leadership of District Operations Manager Bill Dingman, is always on the lookout to expand offerings and find ways to service more customers… With this in mind, SPoT has moved to provide more substantial and widespread catering options through ezCater.
EzCater was established in 2007, to connect businesses with restaurants through an online marketplace. SPoT Coffee recognized the opportunity, and Bill has been able to implement the expansion with the help of his seasoned crew. Dingman is thankful to be a part of the thriving Glens Falls community: “Honestly…We think that this cafe has really grown in terms of revenue over the last couple of years, and we are really thankful and really glad to be part of the community. We want to be the epicenter, where Glens Falls starts their day, and ends their day,” he said.
Bill knows that he owes the success of the cafe to his tenured staff, as low staff turnover is not a common trait of the cafe model: “I’m proud of our staff… They’ve done a fantastic job. We’ve added the number of staff that we are holding at any particular time because of revenue growth… We are employing more people. The demand is there, and we are really thankful,” he said.
SPoT Coffee is open “777” – from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, seven days a week. “We have to wake up and do it every day… Our staff has had to adjust, grow, and get stronger. They manage when there is a line out the door all day,” Bill said.
As SPoT Coffee grows and adds more dynamic offerings, catering is at the forefront of their endeavors… Joining on with ezCater has allowed SPoT Coffee to service more customers in more communities, and increases catering options for potential customers that are further away – the first catering order that SPoT filled through ezCater was for customers in Corinth, instantly proving the value of the expansion!
Catering allows SPoT Coffee to increase revenue with less impact on the staff, and with Bill Dingman, it all comes back to having a reliable staff: “There had been some concern that we wouldn’t be able to have a busy cafe and keep the product that we would need for catering… We have the tenured staff, and that has allowed us to have the information to make it work. We have folks who recognize where we are, what we are doing, and see the opportunities… That’s the benefit to having long term employees,” he said.
To order from SPoT Coffee on the ezCater.com website, the minimum order is $75.00. For more information, please visit ezcater.com, or Spotcoffee.com.
On Thursday, October 19th, Crandall Library will host a free Folklife concert featuring Maire Ni Chathasaigh & Chirs Newman. This dynamic duo is made up of two extraordinarily talented international musicians!
Maire is one of Ireland’s most important and influential traditional musicians. Her love of the Harp began at age eleven, and her West Cork background influenced her technique while she played traditional music steeped in oral traditions. Chris, a prolific composer, arranger and record producer began playing the guitar at age four, and played his first paying gig at the age of fourteen in a folk club.
The pair made their debut on the main stage at the 1987 Cambridge Folk Festival, and have been touring the world together ever since.
Their talent is recognized the world over: the “Blazing guitar and dancing harp” (Irish Linen). This celebrated partnership of “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” (fRoots) with “the doyenne of Irish harpers” (Scotland On Sunday) has presented its unique musical vision in twenty-two countries on five continents, to venues ranging from the tiniest of village halls to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney Town Hall, and the Philharmonie in Cologne. Expect a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass, and baroque, spiced with striking new compositions.
First Show: Crandall Library Glens Falls, NY – Thursday, October 19th, 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30) – Crandalllibrary.org
Second Show: At the Historic Salem Courthouse, Salem, NY – Friday, October 20th, 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30) – www.salemcourthouse.org
On Thursday, October 5th, at 10:30 AM, a press conference was held outside of Glens Falls City Hall to announce Northern Power and Light’s partnership with Boralex to offer a Community Hydro Subscription Program. This program brings locally sourced hydro power to the local community! The City of Glens Falls is the anchor customer for this project, and is working with Northern Power and Light and Boralex to make community members and local businesses aware of the opportunity to participate in this program.
Mayor Collins
Jeff Flagg – the Economic Development Director for the City of Glens Falls – was on hand for the press conference: “We are here today to celebrate and advocate for the opening of the Northern Power and Light, Boralex, Community Hydro Subscription Program that the city is engaged in, and we are hoping that other member of the community and the region will engage in as well,” he said as part of his opening remarks.
“This Community Hydro Project, which the City has signed on as an anchor tenant, is unique in that we are sourcing local hydro power credits from a facility here in the county that produces local jobs using local resources… This is a great opportunity for residents, businesses and municipalities around the state to access clean power,” Flagg said.
Mayor Collins was on hand for the event as well: “We continue to make small, significant steps towards clean energy. This is an opportunity for a public private partnership between Boralex and Northern Power and Light. We need more partnerships like this to drive clean energy initiatives forward. We are so happy that Glens Falls is part of this… We are moving forward,” the mayor said.
Northern Power and Light co-founder Ethan Smith said a few words as well: “This is a really exciting day… It’s wonderful to be working with Boralex again on another community hydro project, especially right here in their home town… This collaboration with the City of Glens Falls is equally exciting, and marks a new milestone. It enables individuals and communities to benefit from the resources in their own backyard,” Smith said.
Northern Power and Light, through a state-run program called Community Distributed Generation, helps small-scale renewable power producers connect directly with energy users in a way that is economically beneficial for the energy producers and the energy consumers… It’s a way to choose clean power, keep your dollars local, and not raise costs.
The City of Glens Falls is an anchor customer, and is the biggest subscriber to the program… Moving forward, the Community Hydro Projects needs individuals and businesses to sign up for the program. The City of Glens Falls, Northern Power and Light, and Boralex are working together to campaign for individuals and businesses to sign up for locally sourced hydro power.
For more information about the program and how to participate, please visit npandl.com
LENS FALLS, NY – The Hyde Collection is pleased to present four new fall exhibitions. Opening Saturday, October 7, and on view through December 31, 2023, are the final exhibitions of the 60th-anniversary season: Edgar Degas, The Private Impressionist; Degas at The Hyde: A Master of Form; Illustrations: Honoré Daumier, Winslow Homer, and Anthony Saris, and Ron Jude: 12 Hz. The exhibitions are open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10 am-5pm.
Glens Falls, NY—For the first time, The Hyde Collection is pleased to introduce the 2023-2024 season of The Met: Live in HD, featuring nine live performance broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York directly to The Hyde. The series, which is offered on select Saturdays beginning on October 21, 2023, and concluding on May 11, 2024, is presented in the comfort of The Hyde’s state-of-the-art auditorium, with pre-screening programming offered in partnership with The Sembrich. The Hyde is the regional provider of The Met: Live in HD.
The Met: Live in HD joins the best British Theatre and Great Art from around the world to round out the On Screen @ The Hyde experiences. Beginning October 13, 2023, The Hyde Collection remains the exclusive Capital Region area venue for National Theatre Live, a thrilling film series of great plays and Great Art on Screen. Whether you show up for serious drama, romcoms, sold-out theatre hits, or award winning documentaries, these unmissable experiences are filmed live from Britain’s most exciting stages or captured from destinations worldwide. You’ll always have the best seat in the house at The Hyde Collection.
Commented Katelyn Foley, Curator of Education and Engagement at The Hyde Collection, “We are so excited to offer the 2023-2024 season of The Met: Live in HD. The award-winning series of live, high definition cinema simulcasts features the full live performance. Met artists serve as hosts for the Live in HD series, providing backstage interviews, introducing exciting behind-the-scenes features and conducting live interviews with stars, crew and production teams from The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. We have been working on this new offering for several years and are so pleased to bring this new cultural opportunity to our region.”
“We are honored to bring The Met: Live in HD, National Theatre Live and Great Art on Screen to our members, community, and region,” acknowledged John Lefner, The Hyde Collection CEO. “We are beyond excited to offer The Met: Live in HD to our 2023-2024 season. This new experience will take place in our beautiful state-of-the-art high-definition 144-seat Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Offering exceptional cultural experiences is central to our mission as a world-class art museum.”
The Met: Live in HD events are made richer by a partnership with The Sembrich, a unique museum in Bolton Landing that preserves the life & legacy of soprano Marcella Sembrich (1858-1935), one of The Met’s first operatic stars. The Sembrich will provide an exclusive 15-minute preview program prior to each of the 2023-24 season operas. These discussions will be on-site at the Hyde Collection and will feature The Sembrich staff and special guests, including performing artists and professionals from the music world.
“We take pride at The Sembrich in Marcella Sembrich’s long association with the Metropolitan Opera,” says Richard Wargo, Artistic Director at The Sembrich. “We’re honored to further that tradition through this exciting partnership with The Hyde—and to share the rich history of Sembrich at the Met with the community.”
Each performance ticket is $20, $18 for Hyde members, $18 for seniors and students with valid ID, and $5 for children under 12. Special student matinee performances are $10 per student.
This series is funded in part by Robert and Susan Hahm, Pinnacle Nutrition LLC, and The Candy Space. Student matinees are supported by lead education sponsor Stewarts Shops & The Dake Family with additional support from Francine & Robert Nemer.
CLICK HERE for 2023-2024 on Screen @ The Hyde Performances. Students interested in attending any performance should register here.
ABOUT THE MET: LIVE IN HD
The Met: Live in HD is The Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts. Broadcasts feature the full performance along with backstage interviews and commentary. The Helen Froehlich Auditorium on the Hyde Collection Campus at 161 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY, provides an exceptional viewing experience, offering a large screen, excellent acoustics, and comfortable seating. Accessible seating options are available for those requiring special assistance.
The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor Neubauer Family Foundation. Digital support of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Met: Live in HD is supported by Rolex.
ABOUT NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE
Since 2009, the UK’s National Theatre has produced an on-going performing arts series, featuring world class stage plays from its London stages and other venues, captured live in high definition, and offered to cinema audiences around the world at an affordable ticket price. BY Experience (BYE) helped launch the series in cinemas and is the exclusive international distributor of the program. Each National Theatre Live event is captured with cameras preferentially positioned to give the in-cinema capture the best viewpoint to the on-stage action. The result is an unparalleled experience for theater lovers, magnified by the big screen. The events also feature behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and creative teams plus additional bonus content.
National Theatre Live is an initiative by the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain to broadcast performances in cinemas around the world. Over 11 million people have now experienced the work of National Theatre Live.
ABOUT GREAT ART ON SCREEN
Great Art on Screen is a series of event documentaries exclusively for U.S. cinemas, featuring an in-depth look at the most extraordinary and groundbreaking art masters of their time. Audiences will be able to journey all over the world with the most expert scholars viewing the works of artists such as Modigliani, Botticelli, and many more.
ABOUT BY EXPERIENCE
BY Experience, a pioneer of global live cinema events presents the most in-demand arts events in cinemas. Since 2009, BY Experience helped launch and continues to distribute National Theatre Live to cinemas and other venues globally (excluding the UK and China) and is now also the U.S. distributor of the Great Art on Screen series. In addition, BY Experience is the Worldwide Distribution Representative of the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning and critically acclaimed Live in HD series.
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 Charlotte and Louis Hyde, includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, Tintoretto, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, and Pablo Picasso and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, and Anna Hyatt Huntington. 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, 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
Throughout the years, the Museum has expanded considerably from the historic Hyde home. It includes a modern museum complex with an auditorium, classroom, five galleries, and a state-of-the-art storage facility.
Over the summer, throughout the City of Glens Falls, motorists and bystanders were harassed by groups of teenagers. As a result, Glens Falls patrol officers have arrested 21 people on charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.
In August, the police department notified the public that they were investigating multiple reports of juveniles committing crimes, mostly in the downtown area… 16 of the individuals who were arrested were juveniles, and five were adults.
An increase in reported activity involving youths during the summer is not unusual… However, these reports were especially alarming: “Usually it’s just the minor traffic calls, they’re blocking traffic and harassing motorists. When the motorists or bystanders confronted the youths… That’s when it started to escalate,” Smith said.
Mayor Bill Collins urged the public to call the police rather than handle the situation on their own: “We needed people to report this to us so we could address it, so if you see something, say something. Call us, and don’t engage these kids alone – let us do it,” Collins said.
The juvenile participants were charged with assault and gang assault, and the adults were charged with endangering the welfare of a child for not supervising their children. The juvenile cases were filed through family court, while the parents are scheduled to appear in city court.
The Glens Falls Police Department wants to update the public in regard to the incidents involving juveniles in the downtown area throughout the last several months and over this past summer. While the Police Department cannot release detailed information regarding the specific juveniles involved, the Department wants to inform the public that several arrests have been made in these incidents.
Officers have been proactive in handling these incidents, and the City thanks everyone for their continued efforts in both making reports and cooperating with the investigations as the Department continued to investigate the incidents while moving forward.
Glens Falls Patrol Officers have filed numerous complaints against juveniles in Warren County Family Court. The department has made 16 penal law arrests of juveniles this summer for a variety of charges that are misdemeanor or felony level, including charges of individual as well as gang assault.
Also, there have been a number of arrests of parents/guardians related to the incidents, including on charges that the parent/guardian failed to exercise control of the minor for which they are responsible. The Department has arrested five adults this summer related to juvenile cases.
Again, because juveniles are involved, the information able to be released is limited. Names and specifics of the cases are being withheld, as well as the status of the arrests and the outcomes of the arrests made. The police continue to monitor and patrol the downtown area as well as the entire city regarding any new instances of activity.
If you see any illegal activity, or anything that is of concern, please contact the Glens Falls Police Department at 911 for emergencies, or otherwise (518)-761-3840, and report what you see.
The Patrol Officers will continue to investigate any and all reports they receive, as well as present charges and make arrests when applicable.
WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space has reached a milestone of five years in operation supporting the Glens Falls business community! WorkSmart provides entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners with a collaborative workspace designed to help them focus on their goals and turn their ideas into reality.
To celebrate this milestone, WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space is hosting a Fall Open House on September 30th from 9:00 AM to noon, at 237 Glen Street in Glens Falls. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour private offices, collaborative workspaces, and professional meeting spaces.
“The Glens Falls region is rich with talent, but much of it goes untapped. WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space stimulates entrepreneurial activity, drives economic growth, and reduces the risk of losing that talent,” said Christy Alexander, WorkSmart’s founder. “WorkSmart is a place for that talent to assemble and collaborate to recognize greater potential.”
WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space is growing a diverse community of professionals and creatives in a productive workspace that fosters strong professional and social connections. WorkSmart is a place where local businesses can tap into a pool of talented professionals, exchange ideas, and innovate!
WorkSmart member and founder of The Grove Venture Lab, David Dammerman, stated, “This was the ideal place to launch our nonprofit and immediately start helping entrepreneurs succeed. We are fortunate to join with WorkSmart as part of the infrastructure that invigorates the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and drives employment in the region.”
“Glens Falls has been developing and executing on its vision for revitalization, and I’m proud to be an important element of the initiative by providing a place where ideas can flourish and business owners can thrive. We look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of the Glens Falls region,” said Christy Alexander.
On Saturday, October 7th, from 1pm to 4pm, Mean Max Brew Works, located at 193 Glen Street #2, Glens Falls, NY 12801, will transform into a haven for feline enthusiasts and craft beer connoisseurs alike. This exciting event, in collaboration with North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center, promises a purr-fect afternoon.
The main attraction of this special day is the chance to mingle with some of the region’s most adorable and adoptable cats and kittens. North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center has been working tirelessly to find loving homes for these furry friends, and this event provides the perfect opportunity to meet your future feline family member.
But that’s not all; the festivities extend beyond feline admiration. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the finely crafted brews that Mean Max Brew Works is known for. Sip on delicious craft beer while basking in the company of these charming cats.
What’s more, your visit could lead to winning a stunning handmade quilt! Take a chance, try your luck, and you might just go home with a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
It’s not just about having fun and making new furry friends; it’s also about giving back to the community. For every beer purchased during the event, $1 will be directly contributed to North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center. Your choice of beverage will make a difference in the lives of these deserving cats and kittens.
For those who wish to further contribute, there’s an opportunity to donate items and earn a chance to win gift certificates. It’s a win-win situation, where your generosity could be rewarded.
So mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7th, and head over to Mean Max Brew Works for a purr-fect afternoon filled with sipping delicious craft beer and meeting adoptable cats and kittens from North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center!
On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, at City Park, community members gathered to participate in the 2023 Walk for Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention. The morning had been soaked with rain, but as the day progressed, blue sky prevailed. Participants gathered near the gazebo in City Park, which was lined with veteran resource booths.
HicksStrong Inc. had a booth where Michael Hick explained why he was there, “We started HicksStrong after we lost our son… He was active duty Navy when he died by suicide on February 11th, 2019. After that, we realized how difficult it was for active duty military to get help… It’s just tragic, and we needed to turn our pain into a purpose. We connect active duty, and veterans, and military families with therapists via telehealth, and we cover up to eight sessions. After that, they can shift to self-pay at a discounted rate,” he said.
The event was MC’d by ARCC President Tricia Rogers, who welcomed everyone to the third annual walk: “The members of this group have worked tirelessly to not only build this event, I know that many of you were here last year, look at the size of this event from last year, the vendors our resource booths have doubled. Their hard work is evident,” she said.
Tricia introduced Sean Dion, the chair of the veterans business network and one of the founding members. He thanked the crowd for taking time out of their busy day and highlighting the growth of the event to featuring 20 booths, and also thanked the sponsors.
The rendering of the National Anthem was a show stopper by Charles Martin of USI Insurance. His deep voice resonated through the park with a reverence that was felt throughout the crowd.
This event was attended by local leaders Senator Dan Stec, Senator Jake Ashby and Assemblyman Matt Simpson. Senator Dan Stec said: “A lot of veterans through their service suffer a lot of mental health challenges and certainly depression challenges… We have a preventable but very real crisis when it comes to veterans committing suicide.”
Jake Ashby also spoke to the crowd: “Just a tremendous effort here… You see people continuing to live in isolation, and what a demonstration here in opposition to that… Your presence in someone’s life face to face is so meaningful and so impactful when they need you… It goes a long way. Just being present when someone is struggling, being there for them and trying to help them, you won’t forget that and they won’t forget that either,” he said.
The Keynote Address prior to the walk was given by Gold Star Mother, Cindy Roberts: “Our daughter, Sgt. Kristie Roberts, is one of the ’22-a-Day’ as the military calls them, who died by suicide… A life after the loss of a child, how can we get through each day? Every day is a struggle, everyday is a challenge, but I embrace all of you… Because of you, we have the strength to go on, to share these walks and try to educate folk to continue this… Helping each other, let’s try to erase that stigma of asking for help as a sign of weakness. With every step you take today and everyday, know that if you are not ok, that’s ok. It’s ok to ask those uncomfortable questions, and please educate yourself on where to turn for help. You matter. You all matter. And you are not alone.”
