fbpx
Skip to main content

‘There’s really something for everybody’: Adirondack Film Festival returns Thursday

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Film Festival returns tomorrow for a seventh year, offering a weekend loaded with content spanning a wide variety of genres.

The festival is produced by the Adirondack Theatre Festival, which places it “at the nexus between theater, film, and television,” said Adirondack Theatre Festival producing artistic director Miriam Weisfeld.

Films will be screened at the Charles R. Wood Theater and at Crandall Public Library. For the second consecutive year, the festival will also be offering a hybrid model, said Weisfeld. 

“That’s a really cool option, because it gives you so much flexibility,” said Weisfeld. “If you wake up in the morning and you decide that you want to be out on the town all weekend, you can do that. If you decide that you want to be home on your couch, you still have a whole weekend of content that’s been curated for you.”

The festival begins Thursday with ‘Opening Night Rocks,’ a screening of music videos and the regional premiere of a short documentary titled “Blondie: Vivir en la Habana,” detailing the rock band Blondie’s trip to Havana, Cuba, for a concert in 2019. The screening will be at the Wood Theater, followed by a Q&A with director Rob Roth and an opening night reception at Park 26 in the Queensbury Hotel.

“This was part of an official cultural exchange between New York City and Havana, and it’s this amazing piece of filmmaking that was created by an artist named Rob Roth,” Weisfeld said. “He’s got these incredible stories about working with Blondie. … After that screening, Rob and I are going to do a discussion with the audience at the theater, and then we’ll move over to Park 26 for a celebration together.”

All content at the festival is recommended for ages 18 and up, according to the festival’s schedule.

Friday screenings include ‘Remember This,’ starring Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, and ‘A Love Song,’ starring Dale Dickey and Wes Studi.

Dickey has appeared in shows such as ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Gilmore Girls,’ ‘Frasier’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ and more. Studi received a Governors Award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019, becoming the first Native American actor to receive the honor, Weisfeld said. Studi has appeared in movies such as ‘The Last of the Mohicans,’ ‘Dances with Wolves,’ ‘Avatar,’ and ‘Street Fighter.’

Saturday screenings include ‘There There,’ starring Jason Schwartzman and Lili Taylor, and ‘Cryptid,’ featuring Capital Region native Nicholas Baroudi.

“Another really exciting thing about the Adirondack Film Festival is that we are a platform for local filmmakers and for films that were shot in the Adirondack region,” said Weisfeld, noting that Baroudi, who has appeared as Joey Raven in five episodes of ‘Law and Order: Organized Crime,’ has also performed with the Adirondack Theatre Festival in the past.

Continuing the local focus, the festival will also screen several shorts throughout the weekend in multiple categories, including ‘Homegrown: Adirondack Regional Shorts.’ Other categories include ‘Stage to Screen,’ as well as Documentary, Comedy, and Suspense.

Weisfeld emphasized the wide variety of content throughout the weekend, saying, “There’s really something for everybody.”

“It’s over 35 films, so it’s a lot of content,” Weisfeld said. “Just about anybody is going to find something that they enjoy.”

The festival will also screen documentaries such as ‘The Quiet Epidemic,’ focused on the discovery of Lyme Disease.

“We feel like that is such an important topic around our region that we’re bringing in the directors of the film, and having a panel discussion with them and Dr. Holly Ahern from SUNY Adirondack, who’s the vice president of the Lyme Action Network,” said Weisfeld. “There’s serious substantive conversations happening about things that matter to our community, and there’s also a lot of entertainment value too.”

Other films that will be screened include ‘The Last Frankenstein,’ ‘Not a Tame Lion,’ ‘What We Do Next,’ and more.

Anyone interested in attending can choose between an in-person pass, a virtual pass, or an all-access pass, said Weisfeld. Single-day passes are also available throughout the weekend.

The festival reaches a close on Saturday night, with an awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. at the Wood Theater. There are six award categories: Documentary Short, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Feature, Music Video, and Best of the Festival. 

Weisfeld said that anyone who purchases a pass will be able to vote for the awards. 

“We’ll do the presentation live and live-streamed on Saturday night, and then we’ll go across the street to Downtown Social for another party,” said Weisfeld.

While the festival ends on Saturday, Weisfeld said that anyone who purchases a virtual or all-access pass will have on-demand access to content through midnight on Sunday. All films will be available for virtual screening, with the exception of three: ‘A Love Song,’ ‘Remember This,’ and ‘There There.’

“It’s been fantastic seeing the community support and the support of our business partners,” said Weisfeld of the community reception, giving thanks to partners such as the Queensbury Hotel, Fountain Square Outfitters, Lake George RV Park, Hudson Headwaters, Mannix Marketing, and Trampoline Design.

“We’re very appreciative of our board members, our committee members, and our volunteers. It’s really a community effort to get a project like this off the ground,” Weisfeld said. “We’re really excited to share all this material with the public tomorrow.”

Individual all-access passes begin at $80, while an individual in-person pass costs $65. Single-day passes are available for $35, with virtual passes beginning at $45. Visit www.adkfilmfestival.org for information regarding the festival’s schedule, how to purchase passes, and more.

Glens Falls names Drawbridge as new Communications Director

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

Photo by Super Source Media

GLENS FALLS — Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins announced today that he has appointed Tim Drawbridge as the city’s next Communications Director.

Drawbridge, a native of South Glens Falls, currently serves as a meteorologist for WTEN-TV in Albany, but he has a history of developing public relations campaigns, and assisting local nonprofits with developing and distributing messages, according to a release from the Mayor’s office.

“We are happy to add Tim to our great team working hard in City Hall,” Mayor Collins said in the release. “His work behind the scenes, literally, with regional nonprofits to help them develop their outreach and their voices will be very helpful as the City develops new outreach processes. Tim’s communications talent is evident, as anyone who has watched him deliver his reports on TV.”

“I am very happy to join the team at this exciting time in the city’s long history,” Drawbridge said. “Between the Downtown Revitalization Initiative plans that are moving forward, and the historic investments in paving and sidewalks in the city’s neighborhoods, there’s a lot happening in ‘Hometown USA.’”

Drawbridge officially began his role today on a part-time basis until his contract with WTEN-TV is fulfilled. 

“I am looking forward to digging into all of the good news, and ensuring it is getting out into the community,” said Drawbridge.

“We very much look forward to Tim’s contributions in the city’s communication efforts,” Collins said in the release.

World Awareness Children’s Museum hosting ‘Night at the Speakeasy’ Oct. 14

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

Photo provided by World Awareness Children’s Museum.

GLENS FALLS — The World Awareness Children’s Museum will host their fall fundraiser, ‘Night at the Speakeasy’, Friday, Oct. 14 at the Park Theater in Glens Falls.

The fundraiser will feature live music by the Hot Club of Saratoga, in addition to art displays from the museum collection, a full cash bar with “signature cocktails,” and a raffle with items donated by local businesses. Guests will also be served “elegant hors d’oeuvres and decadent dessert,” according to a press release.

Tickets range from $80 to $90, the release says. The Museum is encouraging guests to dress in era-appropriate clothing, with a prize to be given out to the person with the best 1920s-themed outfit. Tickets are available at wacm.ticketleap.com. 

The Museum is also hosting several other events throughout the month, including a ‘Free Day’ this Sunday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free Day provides guests “a chance to explore everything WACM has to offer, thanks to a generous sponsorship from Stewart’s Holiday Match,” the release says.

A ‘Mini Masterpiece’ program will also be held Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. The program will be led by local artists Patrice Jarvis-Weber. Recommended for children age 10 and up, the class allows participants to paint “their own masterpiece” on a 4×4 canvas. The Mini Masterpiece program costs $8 per person (with a 10% discount for members), and is limited to nine people. 

The following day, Monday, Oct. 10, the Museum will host ‘Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day’ from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program will celebrate Indigenous culture, teach guests about beaded wampum belts, and allow participants to make their own beaded bracelets. This program is free with museum admission.

The World Awareness Children’s Museum contains pieces from 140 countries, and over 8,000 artifacts including instruments, dolls, toys, and fashion, as well as over 7,000 pieces of international children’s art. It has been a designated charter museum of New York State since 1995. 

To purchase tickets to any of the above events, visit wacm.ticketleap.com.

Glens Falls to begin water main and hydrant flushing Oct. 17

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Downtown.

GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls will begin its scheduled water main and fire hydrant flushing program on Monday, Oct. 17, according to a press release from the city.

The program is part of efforts “to deliver the safest and highest quality water possible,” the release states. A clean water distribution system will reduce taste and odor issues, while hydrant flushing improves fire protection by testing water valves and hydrants. Water service should not be disrupted during the process. 

Flushing will start at the northwest corner of the city and proceed south to the Hudson River. The flushing process will remove mineral deposits that accumulate in water mains, flush sediments from mainline pipes, verify proper operation of fire hydrants and valves, find weaknesses in the water system, and check for closed valves and weak flows in the mains, according to the release.

The process will begin with larger water mains and progress to smaller mains. Valves are opened and closed to control the direction of the water.

The program typically takes 10-15 days, the release states, but could last longer if maintenance issues such as system leaks or water quality concerns arise. 

Areas affected by the flushing process will have signs placed throughout each neighborhood approximately 24 hours in advance, according to the release. Flushing notices will be printed in local newspapers and posted in municipal buildings in the city.

The flushing process will take place between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with the release urging residents to use caution when traveling near hydrant flushing crews and while entering areas of water accumulation.

There will be temporary incidents of discolored water while fine sediment particles are washed out when fire hydrants are open. The release states that “there is no health hazard associated with the discolored water.” Residents should allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate, and can verify water is clear by running a cold-water tap for several minutes.

If residents notice their water is discolored, they should run an outdoor hose or several cold-water faucets at the same time until water runs clear, according to the release, which also says to avoid using hot water if the water is discolored. 

Residents should also avoid doing laundry until the water is clear, and should not dry or bleach laundry if it has been stained by discolored water. Residents can contact the Water and Sewer Department at (518) 761-3850 if laundry becomes stained by discolored water, the release says.

Bike path near a river

NYS Canal Corporation testing for seepage in Glens Falls Feeder Canal

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Downtown, News.

GLENS FALLS — The New York State Canal Corporation announced today that they are undergoing efforts to identify potential areas of seepage in the Glens Falls Feeder Canal.

The Canal Corporation will be using a non-toxic dye to determine where seepage from the Feeder Canal may be entering basements in buildings on the Finch Paper property in the city, according to a press release from the New York Power Authority. 

Dye testing may continue through the next week depending on the results of the investigation, the release states, noting the dye is non-harmful to individuals, animals, and the environment.

Based on the results of the testing, the Canal Corporation will undertake isolated repairs of the Feeder Canal. 

ARCC Business Expo Offers Opportunities for ‘Great Connections’ on Oct. 19

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business, Community, Downtown, Featured.

Photo provided by Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Business Expo on Oct. 19 at the Queensbury Hotel, offering local businesses a chance for networking and reconnecting.

“The ARCC Business Expo is a favorite event of our members and business community,” said ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers in a press release. “We are really looking forward to this event, as it’s a great opportunity to showcase our businesses. I would encourage everyone to stop by and discover new businesses and reconnect with old friends.”

The Business Expo will run from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the newly-renovated Queensbury Hotel.

“It’ll be a packed house. The Queensbury Hotel has done some amazing renovations, so we’re very excited to be able to help them show off that space,” said ARCC marketing director Amanda Blanton.

The Expo currently has 54 regional businesses signed up, said Blanton, with likely more to come.

“I like to look at it as a great way to kind of expand your network, or maybe check out some businesses that you might not be very familiar with,” said Blanton of the Expo. “We’ve heard from a ton of people in the past that they’ve made some great connections at the Business Expo, as well as reconnected with people that maybe they haven’t seen in a while.”

Blanton also emphasized the energy and excitement that comes with the Expo, saying, “It’s just exciting.”

“It is something that a lot of our members look forward to every year,” Blanton said. “There’s quite literally a buzz when you walk in the doors. … It’s just an overall really awesome vibe, and a lot of energy in a couple rooms in a hotel. It’s from 4 to 7 p.m., so it’s great timing. It typically goes by really fast, but I would say it’s an excellent use of your time if you’re looking to network.”

The Expo is free to attend for visitors, while ARCC members are eligible to exhibit with a fee. ARCC members can register at adirondackchamber.org/events. 

For visitors, Blanton said, “We recommend that you bring tons of business cards.”

“We’ll have door prizes, you can stick your business card in a bucket for a chance to win,” said Blanton. “It’s free-range. So for visitors, you just come in and explore. That’s what we want, for people to just come and explore and discover.

“It’s a fun event, and if you can’t exhibit, please come.… It’s just an awesome, positive experience all-around.”

A role-playing game is set up on a table, with dice, cards, and characters.

Fifth annual Adirondacon Gaming Convention this weekend

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, In the Arts, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondacon Tabletop Gaming Convention returns to Glens Falls this weekend for a fifth year. The event will be held at Charles R. Wood Theater from Oct. 1 to Oct. 2.

“The community has really embraced us,” said co-organizer Veronica Hamilton, noting it is “nice to hold an event and see all the familiar faces come back year after year, and to see new faces come trickling in as well.”

The Convention deals primarily with tabletop games, including role-playing games, board games, and more. Hamilton said they will be introducing Warhammer 40K to this year’s convention.

“Besides Warhammer, we have traditional role-playing games like ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, ‘Call of Cthulhu’, and ‘Pathfinder’,” Hamilton said. “There’s all sorts of stuff. There’s deck-builders, there’s dexterity games.”

Hamilton said that several people are bringing in their own Kickstarter-funded games, naming ‘Flamecraft’ as an example. She also mentioned games such as ‘Dune: Imperium’, ‘Lost Ruins of Arnak’, ‘Wonderland’s War’, and ‘Dungeon Drop’ as others that will be available.

Convention co-organizer John LeMaire will be running a game based on an RPG supplement book he authored, Hamilton said. 

Sunday will also host a dedicated block for children’s games from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

“We’re having just kind of a block (where) kids can come over and try different games, and we’ll have GMs available to teach them,” said Hamilton. “Another one of our local game designers has an RPG for kids and families called ‘Adventure Maximus’, so he’s going to run that on Sunday as well.”

Hamilton stressed that experience is not necessary, saying that “the first thing that the GM will do is teach the game.”

“If you sign up for a game, the GM will teach the game and walk you through how to play the game,” Hamilton said. “A lot of people are coming to try games they’ve never played before.”

The convention will also host a ‘Lending Library’, where help will be on hand for “people who want to take on a game at their own pace.” Attendees can also participate in ‘play-to-win’ games.

“How those work is, we will have a table and a signout sheet. Anyone who plays the game will (have) the chance to win the game they played,” said Hamilton. “We reached out to several different gaming companies, and we were lucky enough to have them send us support for the Con. We have, I believe, 13 play-to-win games this year.”

She emphasized that many of the games are “nice and quick.”

“A lot of them can be played in an hour or less, so you’re not spending your whole Con playing one game, and it gives everybody an opportunity to try the games as well,” Hamilton said.

Adirondacon will feature door prize tickets, as well as commemorative dice, for attendees as they enter, while supplies last, Hamilton noted.

People looking to sell or trade old games can also approach the convention’s bargain table. Hamilton said the table began in the event’s first year.

“It’s just a table that we put aside every year for people to help get rid of their gently-used games,” said Hamilton. “They put the price, their phone number on, and people can just come up and purchase the used games. Sometimes, they can strike a deal.”

The convention also features a ‘vendor alley’, with five vendors selling a variety of items. Hamilton named Two Ravens Games, Cooper’s Cave Games, Night Legion Comics, Gamer Gifts by FSP, and The Creative Chameleon as vendors that will be in attendance, selling a variety of items such as games, accessories, comic books, jewelry, and more.

There will also be cats on hand, as the convention will support North Shore Animal League America – Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center. Hamilton said “it seemed like a good fit,” noting that she and several other organizers have cats of their own.

“North Shore will be with us at the event until 4 p.m. on Saturday. They have a wishlist, and basically anyone who brings an item in off their wishlist, or a donation to the charity, we have a special drawing of a copy of a game called ‘The Isle of Cats’,” Hamilton said, mentioning the game was donated by First Stall Productions. 

Now in its fifth year, Hamilton said she hopes Adirondacon sees “a record number of people” at this weekend’s event. 

“We’re renting out the entire theater,” said Hamilton. “We’re hoping to raise a good chunk of money for North Shore, and we’re hoping everybody has a good time.”

Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins (left) and economic development director Jeff Flagg (right) walk with New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez (middle) during a tour of DRI projects last week. The City is holding two public meetings this week to discuss progress and updates on DRI initiatives. Photo by Dylan McGlynn

Glens Falls holding public meetings to discuss DRI projects

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins (left) and economic development director Jeff Flagg (right) walk with New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez (middle) during a tour of DRI projects last week. The City is holding two public meetings this week to discuss progress and updates on DRI initiatives. Photo by Dylan McGlynn
Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins (left) and economic development director Jeff Flagg (right) walk with New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez (middle) during a tour of DRI projects last week. The City is holding two public meetings this week to discuss progress and updates on DRI initiatives. Photo by Dylan McGlynn

GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls will hold two public meetings intended to update residents on the progress of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and plans for an ‘Event and Market Structure’ on South Street, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.

The first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Queensbury Hotel. The second meeting is Friday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in Crandall Public Library, according to the release. 

“It’s been a busy summer for preparations, and we look forward to sharing the final plans and details of this significant part of our City’s revitalization with our residents and businesses,” said Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins in the release.

Glens Falls was awarded a $10 million grant through DRI in 2017, and has used the funding to “revitalize the city’s downtown, including arts projects, securing downtown space for SUNY Adirondack’s culinary school, façade improvements and support of small downtown businesses, and infrastructure updates to prepare for revitalized buildings and new residents and businesses,” according to the release.

Hot air balloons take flight in the air.

Adirondack Balloon Festival ‘lights up the night,’ honors founders in 49th year

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

Hot air balloons take flight in the air.

QUEENSBURY — The Adirondack Balloon Festival made its return for a 49th year over the weekend, offering balloon flights, food, crafts, and more at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury and Crandall Park in Glens Falls.

“I think we look at it as a huge success, any time you get more than one or two launches off,” said Erin Reid Coker, one of the festival’s organizers. “From a standpoint of size of crowds, it was very impressive, especially Saturday evening.”

Flights on Thursday and Friday were canceled due to wind, but Coker said, “We had a pretty good crowd for what it was.”

“We’re always looking at safety first, which I think most people here are familiar with and are used to and appreciate,” Coker said. “A lot of times, it’s about education. Just letting people know what’s safe, and what’s not safe, in regards to flying and pilots and spectators.”

The main events occurred on Saturday, with an early-morning flight in honor of festival founder Joan Grishkot, an afternoon launch, and a ‘Lighting Up the Night Moonglow’ flight at 8:00 p.m. Coker referred to Saturday as “our really successful day.”

“Conditions were perfect. About half of our balloons launched (in the afternoon), and the other half stayed for the 8 o’clock moonglow,” Coker said. “It’s always nice to be able to pull that Saturday night event off, because it really is the highlight of the event.”

The Moonglow flight saw balloons light up the night sky, synchronized to music.

“Our voice of the festival, Chuck Aiken, did a wonderful job of putting together the music. It’s probably like a 13 minute show where the balloons kind of sync to some different kinds of music,” said Coker. “Specifically, he put together some music that was strictly dedicated to each of the special shapes. There was a snowman balloon, so we had Frosty the Snowman, so we kind of profile that balloon during that particular song.”

Sunday morning saw another tribute to the festival’s founders, with ‘Walter and Joan’s Mass Ascension’ honoring the Joan Grishkot and her husband Walter.

“Sunday mornings are always the quieter morning,” Coker said. “It was another perfect launch, for sure.”

The festival’s closing flight at Crandall Park on Sunday evening was canceled due to rain in the area. But despite the cancellation, and the lack of flights on Thursday and Friday, Coker said the reception of the community was strong.

“We did get a lot of response from people that are just happy to get things back to normal, or getting back to normal,” said Coker. “Everyone was friendly, and happy, and just having a great time. That’s what it’s all about.”

Coker also mentioned that several audience members were even willing to help out, assisting with inflation of the ‘special shapes’ balloons.

“The community really stepped up. We had to grab people out of the crowd and say, ‘Would you help get this balloon inflated, and do this job, and this job?’ And everybody stepped up,” Coker said. “It wasn’t like, ‘No, we’re just here to watch.’ I didn’t hear that once. You’re always finding somebody that’s excited about that experience.”

The festival had 65 total balloons on hand, food vendors, a craft fair, and a large crowd over the weekend, but Coker said that the Balloon Festival still has not gotten back to “100%,” noting that the festival has seen nearly 100 balloons in past years.

“We’re not quite there yet, but I think maybe it was, in some weird way, a nice omen to transition from 15 balloons to 60 balloons, and now with the 50th anniversary next year, to get those 100 balloons back and make the event even more special,” said Coker.

The Adirondack Balloon Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary from Sept. 21 to 24, 2023, Coker said. 

“The 50th anniversary, we have a lot of work to do, and hopefully make it something super special for people,” Coker said. “We have some ideas in mind as far as events other than actual launches to celebrate, but those are in pretty early stages.”

An employee scans a family's items at the register of a store.

‘It worked out beautifully’: Pure N’ Simple under new ownership

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business, Community, Downtown, Food.

GLENS FALLS — New ownership took over Pure N’ Simple Natural Foods in June, but not much else has changed for the longtime Glens Falls store.

Kristen and Andrew Holt have run the store for just over three months, taking over for former owners Paul and Bonnie Savard. Kristen Holt said the transition was “seamless.”

“They closed on a Friday under their name, and we opened on a Monday under our name,” said Holt. “The health inspector came in Monday morning before we opened, and it was just a seamless transition.”

Holt said the idea to run a health food store initially came from her husband.

“Several months back, my husband just randomly mentioned to me that we should start a health food store,” Holt said. “I said, ‘Well, you should talk to the other health food store in town. … We should talk to them and see if we can partner with them.”

What the Holts found instead, however, was that the property had been listed for sale.

“Two days later, I walked into the store and saw a ‘For Sale’ sign on the building,” said Holt. “I asked them about it, and they said that they were going to be selling the store.”

The Savards were planning on closing the store altogether at the end of May, Holt said. This led the Holts to take over Pure N’ Simple, which they have operated since June 6.

“I just got the chills and I just felt such a deep grief for this couple that had poured their heart and soul into this shop for 35 years, and for the community, that it wasn’t going to be here anymore for them,” said Holt.

After returning from a vacation, the Holts began talks to take over the store.

“We came back, and we met with them. We were able to just talk about what we needed, and what they needed,” Holt explained. “It worked out beautifully. … It’s just been so beautiful working with Paul and Bonnie. They’ve been such an encouragement, such a support in training us and teaching us everything we would need to know for the shop.”

Since taking over, Holt says the response from the local community has been strong.

“We love it. We have four small kids that love to be here with us as well,” said Holt. “We’ve gotten really positive feedback from the community. Everyone’s very excited that we’re here. … It’s great to have the support of the customers.”

Pure N’ Simple specializes in health food and supplements, Holt said. She noted that the couple is attempting to “keep everything the same” as before the sale, in addition to adding several new options.

“We’ve got supplements and herbs, and vitamins. We’ve got a lot of healthy, organic foods and also non-organic,” said Holt. “We’ve got foods for special diets, like vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free. We have a lot of bulk foods. … We package all our own dried fruits, nuts, flowers, oats, that sort of thing.”

Holt mentioned that the store hopes to partner with local growers to sell fresh produce.

“It’s great that we have the farmer’s market on Saturday, but we would like to afford them a place where they can also sell Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Not just on Saturday’s,” said Holt. “That would be our biggest goal.”

Holt also said the store will fulfill custom orders, encouraging customers to reach out and provide feedback.

“We’re still doing the famous granola and muffins that they made,” Holt said. “If there’s any changes that they’re not used to, or anything they would like that we don’t have, we would love for them to let us know.

“We want to make sure our customers are getting the same thing that they had, plus a little extra.”