Community Archives - Page 62 of 90 - Glens Falls Business Report

Glens Falls Mascot: “When We Know Better, We Do Better”

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 25, 2023. Posted in Community, Education, Featured.

The NYSED has ordered all school districts in the state to remove the “Indian” mascot and associated icons – arrowhead included – from the public school system by the end of the school year. The penalty for not complying with the order includes removal of school officers, and the withholding of state aid.

The Glens Falls Indian was chosen for the athletic teams in 1941, and the Indian was the theme of the 1943 yearbook… Since this time, additional icons have been added and the Indian symbol became expressive of all the activities in the school. In 1970, there was a dedication to the artist “Tom Two-Arrows – Iroquois, Onondaga Nation”, who sketched the classic Iroquois Chieftain’s head; also in 1970, the arrowhead icon was added. The most recently used arrowhead icons have the GF initials inside of the arrowhead.

The Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs have long held that the mascots are offensive, and this position is supported by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe: “We adamantly object to the ongoing practice of using Native images, names, likenesses – including in the form of caricatures and logos – and view their continued usage as offensive and a form of institutional racism; particularly by educational institutions and systems that should strive to be supportive environments for inclusiveness and diversity” The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe said in a statement.

The National Congress of American Indians responded to an inquiry regarding the harm that the mascot is causing: “ ‘Native American sports mascots, logos, or symbols perpetuate stereotypes of American Indians that are very harmful. The ‘warrior savage’ myth has plagued this country’s relationship with the Indian people, as it reinforces the racist view that Indians are uncivilized and uneducated, and it has been used to justify policies that forced assimilation and destruction” The National Congress of American Indians stated in response.

Glens Falls intends to create a framework of compliance with the NYSED; their goals include to keep the community connected, to get input from students, staff, families, the school community and alumni, and to have the student cabinet lead the process and make the final recommendation to the Board of Education.

It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the April 2023 Regents meeting. If that happens, then the proposed amendment will become effective as a permanent rule on May 3, 2023.

New Curator at The Hyde Museum

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 24, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured, In the Arts.

Dr. Bryn Schockmel Ph.D. is the new curator of the permanent collection at the Hyde Museum, located at 161 Warren Street in Glens Falls. The Hyde Collection is housed in the refurbished historic home of Louis and Charlotte Hyde – Charlotte Hyde established a trust in 1952 that dedicated her home and her extensive art collection to the community.

Charlotte Hyde’s vision was stated in the trust: “To establish and maintain a museum for the exhibition of art objects… and to promote and cultivate the study and improvement of fine arts, for the education and benefit of the residents of Glens Falls and vicinity and the general public.“

As curator, Dr. Bryn Schockmel will be responsible for carrying out Charlotte’s mission at the Hyde Museum. Bryn has strong ties to the Glens Falls area – a decade ago, she had an internship at The Hyde, and she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College.

Bryn’s education continued overseas at The Courtault Institute in London. This is where she earned her Masters Degree in Northern Renaissance Art History; then, she attended Boston University, where she earned her Ph.D in Italian Renaissance Art History. Bryn began her career in Oklahoma City at OKCMOA with a fellowship of provenance research – through this research, the ownership and history of a piece of art is traced. Bryn stayed in Oklahoma City for a total of about three years, and stayed on as curator of several exhibitions after completing her fellowship.

On January 9, 2023, Bryn started as the curator of the permanent collection at The Hyde. “My background is in Renaissance, and I wanted to be back in the Northeast. I wanted to be in a museum with a strong renaissance collection, which the Hyde has; we’ve got our Botticelli, and early modern in general like the Rembrandt, and the El Greco, so I saw this opportunity as a good fit for me” Bryn said.

Bryn has an abundance of energy and enthusiasm when she talks about both her role at the Hyde and Charlotte’s Collection: “As I’ve been learning more and more… reading about Charlotte and going through our collection’s database, I’m impressed by how diverse her tastes were… We have some medieval stained glass windows, and we have all of these early modern paintings. We also have our Picasso, so it’s such a broad spectrum. There is a lot of furniture and decorative art… It’s going to be a lot of fun to work with because there is such a variety, and there are so many things that I can do.”

This year is the 60th Anniversary of The Hyde Museum. To celebrate, The Hyde is putting on a David Smith exhibition – Smith, an American Abstract expressionist sculpture and painter, is best known for creating large steel abstract geometric sculptures, and is recognized as one of the great sculptors of the 20th century. This exhibition will feature around 25 pieces, on loan from both public and private collections and the estate of David Smith. Smith was a friend of Charlotte Hyde, and a key figure in the founding of The Hyde Museum – he was one its earliest trustees.

For the celebration, Bryn will be putting together a show in one of the smaller galleries in the museum. This show will focus on Charlotte, and feature items from the vault that have not recently been on display, showcasing Charlotte’s diverse taste in art. There will also be a recent acquisition show, to remind the public that the Hyde Collection is still growing: “The recent acquisition show will feature the works that we have acquired over the last five years or so. These are pieces that maybe haven’t been out on view yet… Some people might think that our collection is static, but we are constantly acquiring new works of art” Bryn said.

Dr. Bryn Schockmel has an intrinsic enthusiasm for The Hyde family, Charlotte herself, the house, and the art collection, and this enthusiasm has been recognized by Norman Dasher Junior, the CEO of The Hyde Museum: “We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Schockmel to The Hyde Collection team. A dynamic expert in her field, she is joining The Hyde at an incredibly exciting time as we celebrate the museum’s 60th anniversary. Dr. Schockmel shares our passion for the mission of The Hyde: To maintain a museum for the exhibition of the permanent collection and to promote and cultivate the improvement of the fine arts education and benefit of the residents of Glens Falls and vicinity and the general public” he said.

In her role as curator, Dr. Schockmel will be able to advance the vision of Charlotte Hyde, as well as a greater understanding and appreciation of the collection through research, lectures, and writing. The Hyde Museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; for more information, please visit hydecollection.org

Police Blotter: Jan. 9 – Jan. 15, 2023

Written by Staff Report on January 24, 2023. Posted in Blotter, Community.

Carl J. Skogsberg, 27, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Shannon A. Welch, 38, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Hope L. Younger, 32, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Charles E. McMillon, 60, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Michael P. Caruso, 54, was arrested for Criminal Obstruction of Breathing/Blood Circulation

Saana I.R. Sheerer, 19, was arrested for Criminal Mischief; Intent to Damage Property

Caitlin M. Pruess, 30, was arrested for Criminal Impersonation, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 2nd Deg. Forgery

Jesse J. Tracy, 39, was arrested for 3rd. Deg. Criminal Possession of a Weapon and 4th Deg. Criminal Possession of a Weapon

Sydney M. Mosier, 21, was arrested for Petit Larceny

Courtney L. Pigliavento, 37, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Thomas F. Campbell, 59, was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated; 1st Offense

Ernest Petro, 33, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Ricky A. Reyome, 48, was arrested for 1st Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Aggravated DWI; 1st Offense

Noah B. Rogers, 19, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Kade D. LaPointe, 24, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF

On Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at approximately 8:15pm, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigated an armed robbery at the Xtra-Mart Mobil located at 2398 State Route 9N, Lake George, NY. A male suspect entered the store, approached the clerk, displayed a handgun and demanded cash and cigarettes. After which, he fled the scene in a vehicle. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit is handling the investigation with assistance from the New York State Police. If anyone has any information pertaining to the incident contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office 518-743-2500 option (1) and ask for a member of the Criminal Investigations Unit. If you wish to remain anonymous you can also leave a tip at 518-761-9800.

It’s Chicken Soup Season: Will a Doctor’s Note Save My Job?

Written by Giovanna D'Orazio, D'Orazio Peterson on January 23, 2023. Posted in Business, Columns, Community, Featured, News, Opinion.

Out off office – memo on office workplace. Holiday Announcement, Day Off or Quarantine Covid-19.

The last couple of years have seen an increased focus on sick time at work mainly due to the COVID pandemic. But it’s also regular old cold and flu season, and we are often asked whether an employee can lose their job for being out sick and whether providing a doctor’s note will protect their job. As always, the answer is “it depends” because not all illnesses are protected.

New York does have a relatively new law requiring employers to provide some protected sick days. But, in general, if you need to be out for a significant period of time – or if you have exceeded those days – a doctor’s note is not necessarily going to protect you. The law protects the jobs of private employees in New York who are absent for medical reasons typically in two ways: (1) under the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act); and (2) under the disability discrimination laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New York State Human Rights Law (NYHRL). (This isn’t an exhaustive list and employees may be further protected under union contracts or laws applicable to public employees, among other things).

Not all illnesses, however, will be covered. The FMLA applies only to employees of larger (50+ employees) or public employers, who suffer from serious health conditions. A serious health condition is usually not something like the flu, a cold or a stomach virus. It is typically an issue requiring surgery or hospitalization or a medical condition that requires a period of follow-up treatment or that is chronic. The disability discrimination laws also may not apply to minor illnesses suffered by most individuals. Instead, the ADA requires that a disability substantially limit a major life activity or bodily function. The NYHRL is more broad than the ADA and, it is possible, given the particular facts of a case, that a disability not covered by the ADA is covered by the NYHRL. This will come down to the particular facts of an employee’s situation.

The take-away is that providing a doctor’s note is not necessarily going to protect your job. It may not hurt and could show your employer some proof that you are not abusing your time, but it won’t guarantee that you won’t be fired for excessive absenteeism. We encourage employees who do have a serious health condition to speak to their doctors or Human Resources about the availability of FMLA time. When it comes to disabilities, the law also typically wants the employee to actually ask for a reasonable accommodation, so making a formal request is another way to achieve some job protection or at least trigger the employer’s obligations to engage in an interactive process under the ADA and NYHRL to attempt to accommodate a disability.

In the same vein, we speak to many employees in the course of our practice, and often they are protective of their medical conditions and do not want to share personal, private and sometimes embarrassing information with their employers. However, if an employer is completely in the dark, you may have a hard time going back and proving some sort of discrimination or interference with your rights if you are fired. So, if an employee needs time off for a disability or serious health condition, we encourage them to consult their employee handbook and consider following the process for formally requesting leave. There is no guarantee that you will not be retaliated or discriminated against, but at the very least you will have some proof that you were not abusing your time or being excessively absent without a potentially protected reason. Ideally, your employer will do the right thing and notify you of your rights and work with you to accommodate your situation.

All employment situations are different and depend on the particular facts and circumstances. This article should not be relied on as legal advice in taking action in your specific situation, and you should speak to an attorney, Human Resources and/or consult your employee handbook for guidance on how to proceed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Giovanna A. D’Orazio has experience litigating, among other things, commercial, general civil, employment, land use and personal injury matters in New York State and federal courts. Giovanna also has experience litigating Article 78 proceedings in New York State court.

Property Transactions: Jan. 16 – Jan. 22, 2023

Written by Staff Report on January 23, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured, Property.

FORT ANN

Richard & Lisa Bancroft sold property at 38 Catherine St to Haylee I. Lefebvre for $189,900

Rodney & Rachelle Standage sold property at 25 Taylor Woods Rd to David & Linda Shaw for $230,000

FORT EDWARD

Simeon Hunsdon & Linda Perras sold property at 229 County Route 41 to Audrey & John Rugar for $400,000

GREENWICH

Robert & Ruth Sprague sold property at 2601 State Route 40 to Brett & Kimberly Stewart for $38,000

KINGSBURY

David I. Hayes sold property at 31 Country Acres Dr to Rodney & Donna Secor for $ 330,000

Michael Blau sold property at 735 County Route 41 to Linda & Simeon Hunsdon for $225,000

QUEENSBURY

Vanessa L. Zulauf sold property at 3 North Ct to Ashlyn E. Holderman for $219,000

Adrienne Lee Rowell sold property at 3 Ames Pl to Daniel Tucker for $230,000

SALEM

Sandra L. Green sold property at 56 Perry Hill Rd to Shannen Regan for $164,000

Raymond & Elizabeth Olson sold property at 35 Perry Hill Rd to Lynn M. Telford for $170,000

WHITE CREEK

Brent Peacock & Bonna Dee Zazzaro sold property at 219 Gannon Rd to Gregory S. Stork for $43,000

Jonathan Fitch sold property at 835 Ash Grove Rd to Matthew Kalbfliesh & Tiffany Hulka for $171,700

WHITEHALL

Donald & Jay Diresta sold property at 4 East Rock to Elvis Espinoza for $25,000

Richard Stonitsch sold property at 23 Mountain St to Shannon L. Fonda for $27,000

Glens Falls ‘Fire & Ice’ Event Moving Forward and Seeking Volunteers

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 23, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

The Third Annual “Fire & Ice” event at Crandall Pond will be hosted by The City of Glens Falls beginning on Friday, February 3rd. This event will go on – weather and ice safety permitting – every Friday night for the month of February, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. The city will be providing hot chocolate, and they ask that people bring their own skates, mugs for the hot chocolate, and a chair. This year, a warming tent will also be provided, thanks to Garden Time and Glens Falls Motors. Admission is free to this event, but parking is limited, and all children will need to be accompanied by an adult.

“Skating at Crandall Park is always a fun experience. But, there is something to be said about a snowy scene, a cup of hot chocolate, and a bright warm fire. ‘Fire & Ice’ is becoming one of the things that makes Glens Falls special” Mayor Collins said.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Diana Palmer has helped manage this event. “What makes ‘Fire & Ice’ so special is that Crandall Pond will be specially lit with six bonfires. Adding to the ambiance will be music provided by DJ Peter Wilhelm to make “Fire & Ice’ a unique skating experience. Last year because of the mild weather we had to postpone ‘Fire & Ice’ into March. Thankfully, the upcoming forecast looks promising, but we still have a need for volunteers to run our event.” Palmer said. The Glens Falls Fire Department require one adult to supervise each fire/burn barrel. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up via SignUpGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AA5A92BAAF49-fire.

New Jersey Man Damages Cars With Machete: Gets Arrested

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 23, 2023. Posted in Blotter, Featured.

On Thursday, January 19th, Glens Falls Police arrested William Palangi, 53, of New Jersey, after witnessing him damaging cars with a machete in the parking lot of Glens Falls Hospital.

On Thursday afternoon, the Glens Falls City Police Department received a report of a black Jeep Wrangler driving erratically on the Northway, before exiting the highway at Exit 18. Officers were dispatched to locate the vehicle and found it in the parking lot of the Glens Falls Hospital, where officers witnessed Palangi damaging motor vehicles with a machete.

Palangi – of Northvale, New Jersey – then returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. He was stopped by other officers while going Eastbound on Hudson Avenue in front of Glens Falls Hospital. The machete that was reported to be used to damage the cars was located in front seat.

Palangi was charged with third-degree felony Criminal Mischief, fourth degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and second degree Menacing, which is a misdemeanor. Palangi was arraigned, and was remanded to Warren County Jail due to lack of bail.

Queensbury Girls Basketball Go on the Road to Beat Schuylerville

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 23, 2023. Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury 49, Schuylerville 33: The Queensbury Spartans went on the road and delivered a loss to the Schuylerville Black Horses on Friday night.

The team effort by the Spartans was more than the Black Horses could handle, as the Spartans pulled away in the fourth quarter, out-scoring the Black Horses 14 to 2.

Shea Canavan scored a game-high 20 points, and Dyllan Ray grabbed a career-high-tying 15 rebounds in the Spartans’ victory.

Both Caravan and Ray showed their multitude of skills on the court – Caravan had eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while Ray had 10 points, four assists, four steals, and two blocked shots.

Kayla Zehr and Caleigh Johnson both reached personal bests – Zehr added seven points, a career high nine rebounds, and three assists. Johnson added a personal best of eight points, along with five boards, two blocks, and a pair of steals.

Queensbury improved their record to 8-5 overall, and 8-1 in the Section 2 Foothills Council. Next up, the Queensbury Spartans will face the Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks on Monday, January 23rd. This non-conference game will be played at Queensbury: tip-off is at 7:00 PM.

The Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls is Looking To Increase Membership

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 20, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured.

The Kiwanis Club in Glens Falls is one of the oldest civil service clubs in the Glens Falls area, and is looking for new members. This club has been in operation for over 95 years, and its focus is children and young people; however, they do work with other groups, including Veterans’ organizations and Senior Centers in the area.

Doug Shaver is the current Kiwanis Club President; Shaver joined Kiwanis Club after retiring from a 30-year career with Johnson & Johnson as a field engineer. Shaver traveled for work, and because of that, had very few ties to the community… He wanted to meet people. He has found great satisfaction and a sense of purpose as a member and current President of the Kiwanis Club.

Since the COVID pandemic, the Kiwanis Club has had both setbacks and successes. “COVID has made it difficult for us to help as many groups financially, but we do all types of volunteer hours, are affiliated with the Care Center and we did some renovations and painting for them there. We are here… Anything that people need help with, the Kiwanis Club is available to help” Shaver said.

Shaver would like to see membership increase – the club currently has 68 members. When Shaver joined the club, there were 90 members, and prior to that over 100: “So we are always looking for new members. We recognize that younger folks with young families have demands on their time and in the workplace, which makes it hard for them to do a lot, but we would like to recruit some younger members” Shaver said.

The Kiwanis Club keeps the member commitment flexible. A member’s participation can be as much or as little as they would like: “We have one lunch meeting a month, it’s not a commitment, but we like to see the people come… What we would like is for members to pick one of our projects and get involved with that. Serve on a committee, help us plan an event, help organize the volunteers who work on the projects… Things like that… We just ask that they do one thing throughout the year” Shaver said.

The Kiwanis Club holds events though out the year; they recently added a successful “Spirits in the Trees” event. For “The Spirits in the Trees” event, the Kiwanis Club set up 100 trees in Crandall Park, and for $75 an individual or group could sponsor a tree and decorate it. Out of the 100 trees, 94 of the trees were sponsored and fully decorated… And after the event, the trees were donated to a goat farm, as the pine needles provide a source of nutrients and vitamins for the goats.

“We were hoping that it would be a special event during the holidays, and it really was that and more. The comments that we received from people were just so great. People who had lost loved ones in the last year told us that when they got down a little bit, they would come and look at their tree, and that would pick them up. We had a lot of other community organizations that sponsored trees and decorated them in celebration which we were not expecting… A lot of different groups participated which was great. We were pleasantly surprised” Shaver commented.

Kiwanis is preparing for their next event, which is this coming weekend – The Duck Race will be held on Saturday, January 21, at 7:00 PM at the Cooling Arena. Traditionally, this event had taken place at the Feeder Canal at Haviland Cove Park; however, they have had to shift the event due to COVID and other factors. This turn of events led to a partnership with the Thunder. The original concept was that people would purchase a $5 ticket, and the number from the ticket would be put on a rubber duck. The ducks were then dumped into the feeder canal, and each duck’s place would be recorded 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on.

This fun-filled community event now takes place at the Cooling Area. Now, the ticket goes into a tumbler like a traditional raffle. The Kiwanis Club would eventually like the event to return to the Feeder Canal, but is happy with the support that the Adirondack Thunder has shown the club. This fundraiser is for the Kiwanis Foundation, which provides college scholarships to graduating Key Club members.

The next event after the Duck Race is a drive-thru BBQ event at East Field – Brooks BBQ from Oneonta provides the food, and the Key Club members, cub scouts, and boy scouts bring the food to the cars. In the summer, the Kiwanis Club has its annual golf tournament at Cronin’s Golf Course in Warrensburg. The Fall will hopefully bring the Taste of the North Country event, which is their signature event; it was sidelined initially because of COVID, and sidelined again last year due to supply chain issues. Doug Shaver and the Kiwanis Club would like to have more people join the organization, and invites anyone who is interested to be a guest at the monthly luncheon. For more information, visit glensfallskiwanisclub.org

New Face in The Glens Falls Dragons Organization

Written by Kate Haggerty on January 19, 2023. Posted in Community, Featured, Sports.

The Glens Falls Dragons have named Mark Rogers Assistant of Baseball Operations. Rogers is a Glens Falls native, who in his new role will be responsible for partnering with local businesses to develop strategic marketing opportunities at the East Field Stadium – the East Field ballpark is the Glens Falls Dragons’ home stadium.

Rogers’ work history provides a fresh perspective for his new role within the Dragons organization – he previously held a sales position at Bermuda Star Cruise Line in Florida, and also worked at TD Bank in Glens Falls, Manheim Auto Auctions in Clifton Park, and – most recently – at Adirondack Broadcasting Radio in Queensbury.

The Glens Falls Dragons participate in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). The team is made up of College baseball players from all over North America, and throughout June and July, the team plays 49 regular season games. The Glens Falls Dragons provides family-friendly entertainment, with General Admission tickets priced at $5.00 and Kids 2 and Under being $3.00. For more information about the Glens Falls Dragons, visit www.glensfallsdragons.com