A past J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award. (Photo by Andy Camp)
GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 34th annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award. The winner of the award will be honored at the ARCC Annual Dinner on March 10, 2023 at the Sagamore Resort.
The J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award is the ARCC’s community service award, given to recognize and honor an extraordinary individual who has selflessly gone above and beyond by contributing time and energy to help others, a press release says.
The award is named in honor of J. Walter Juckett, who was an active participant in many community organizations, the release says. Past winners include John and Kevin O’Brien, Ed Moore, Elizabeth Miller, and Mark Behan, among others.
“We have seen some extraordinary individuals get honored with this award,” ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers said in the release. “This is a great opportunity to recognize community members who have really gone above and beyond to serve their community.”
Scout, one of the dogs at Lucky Puppy Adoption Center in Argyle (Photo courtesy of Lucky Puppy Adoption Center).
ARGYLE — Lucky Puppy Rescue in Argyle looks to help dogs find a home in Upstate New York. And they travel a long way to do so.
Lucky Puppy’s rescue center is located in Bonifay, Florida, roughly 90 miles west of Tallahassee. Founder Teri Mattson, who resides in Bonifay, said the organization started “completely by accident,” after she found two abandoned puppies in a park.
“There were two little puppies down there, playing in the mud and water,” said Mattson. “There was only one other person there besides me, and I said, ‘Are those your puppies? They’re really cute.’ He said, ‘No, somebody dumped them off here.’”
Mattson and her partner took the dogs in, and “it snowballed from there,” she said.
The Argyle location came about after Lucky Puppy’s Florida rescue center began transporting dogs to be adopted out of centers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
“We started with a large van, and we moved to a school bus, and then now we have a big commercial bus that we use,” Mattson said. “We would literally vaccinate them, get them healthy, fix them, and then drive them up to these rescues and hand them off, and then they would adopt them.”
That model was not financially stable for the organization, so Lucky Puppy purchased a former boarding kennel and training facility in Argyle and converted it into an adoption center for dogs from the Florida rescue.
“It’s the same corporation, Florida and New York, but the rescue is in Florida where there are so many abandoned dogs, and the adoption center is here in Argyle,” said Mattson.
Transporting the dogs from Bonifay to Argyle involves a bus ride of 24 to 28 hours, said Mattson, who typically drives the bus herself.
“We’re very blessed that our bus is set up to where it makes a comfortable trip,” Mattson said. “It’s still stressful, and it’s still long, but it’s a comfortable trip for them health-wise.”
The Argyle location, at 511 Pleasant Valley Road, is an “ideal” location, Mattson said. There are two buildings to house the dogs, as well as a home that Mattson and fellow Florida employees stay in while visiting the location. Mattson said several dogs typically stay in the home while people are there, “so they get a little feel of what the house is like too.”
The buildings have fenced-in yards connected, while Lucky Puppy’s property also includes walking trails through a wooded area and another open field that the organization hopes to expand to.
“When we purchased the property, the idea is to expand. We would be able to put more buildings over on this area, because it’s nice and open, and then fence in the whole property so we could have the woods for play, and the area between the house and the kennel,” said Mattson. “Our biggest point is we try to give them enrichment, not just put them in a kennel and hope somebody comes by and picks them out for adoption.”
Mattson said the organization emphasizes exercise and activity for the dogs, saying “it builds their confidence.”
“When you adopt them and take them home, you have a dog that’s more confident, that’s willing to meet new people, go new places, it makes for a better adoption,” Mattson said.
Lucky Puppy specializes in medium and large-sized dogs, Mattson said, naming breeds such as shepherds, border collies, and “all the kind of mix-ups.”
“A little bit of lab, a little bit of retriever, a little bit of border collie,” said Mattson. “People that are looking for good family pets, we can help match them. We know the dogs so well, when you come in and tell me what your life is like, I can say, ‘Oh, this is the dog for you.’”
Mattson said the adoption center typically has 30 to 35 dogs on-site during the warmer months, and said there are “almost always” between 150 to 200 dogs at the rescue center in Bonifay.
The adoption process begins with an online application, Mattson said, which is reviewed by volunteers at Lucky Puppy.
“We have a team of volunteers that would go through that application,” Mattson said. “If you have a pet now, we would check your vet records.”
After the application, an appointment can be made to visit the adoption center to meet the dogs.
“Sometimes, they have a specific (dog) that they want to meet, that they saw online,” said Mattson. “That’s good, we can start with that. But we actually, sometimes, may steer them toward a different one if the first dog they’re interested in is not a good match.”
Mattson said when evaluating matches, Lucky Puppy looks at things like fenced yards, apartments, and more.
“If it’s a young, active dog that needs to run and play a lot, a fenced yard is probably more suited. If it’s an older dog that just might do some leash walks and maybe hang out a little bit, that may not be required,” Mattson said. “People, if they live in an apartment, there’s some dogs that might do well in an apartment, there’s other dogs that would be crazy and bark and disturb your neighbors.”
All of the dogs at Lucky Puppy’s adoption center are fixed and vaccinated before arriving in New York, said Mattson. The center will also take a dog back “if something doesn’t work out.”
“Sometimes, somebody takes home a puppy and they don’t realize the demands of it. The amount of time for training, the amount of time for potty training,” Mattson said. “We’ll always take them back, but we’d hope, of course, that that won’t happen.”
Lucky Puppy also offers fostering opportunities, allowing a dog to live in a home until they are adopted. Mattson said it helps prepare the dogs, as well as provides them with a comfortable environment.
“They’ll take them home and let them live with them until they get adopted. It’s excellent, because they get some extra one-on-one attention,” said Mattson. “They can spoil them a little bit, they can also train them a little bit. They can expose them to riding in the car, expose them to what it’s like living in a house. It’s kind of like a prep school for adoption.”
Mattson said the typical foster stay lasts a week to two weeks, saying it is “a way to have a little fun but not have the commitment.”
The organization is also doing what it can to establish a strong footing in Upstate New York, appearing at numerous outdoor events and offering volunteer days.
“I’ve been trying to capitalize on the fall weather, where it’s so beautiful and people are out walking around and going to the different outdoor events,” Mattson said. “So I’ve been capitalizing on that, so there have been times when I drive back to Florida and spend the night, and then I load up the bus again and drive back.”
“I’ve had people come here and say, ‘We’ve been looking for a puppy to adopt for over a year.’ And here, I have 100 of them down in Florida, waiting to get their turn up here,” Mattson continued. “And they’re healthy, and they’re vaccinated and ready to go to a home. … When you deal with us, we have them off on the right foot to be able to go into your home and be a lifelong pet.”
Lucky Puppy charges adoption fees, but a majority of income is via monetary donations, Mattson said.
“We do charge an adoption fee for the dogs, which helps to kind of go back and cover the vet work that we’ve done, the vaccines, the spay surgeries, things like that,” said Mattson.
Donations help cover the costs of utilities, insurance, vehicles, fuel, and more, said Mattson. She said the organization, like many others of its kind, is in need of funding.
“We have to feed them, house them. We vaccinate everybody, we do flea and tick prevention every month for every dog, which is thousands of dollars,” Mattson said. “Especially when funding isn’t coming in to support that.”
Mattson said the situation with strays and owner surrenders is “overwhelming,” mentioning a crate with four dogs that was left at her home’s carport, and that the organization recently rescued roughly 40 dogs from a house in Florida.
“We operate on such a spectrum. I need money down there to take care of those dogs that we just rescued, and then I need money up here to support our adoption center to be able to get them into homes,” Mattson said. “In order to keep us open and operating, we need monetary support.”
Mattson said Lucky Puppy accepts Venmo and PayPal donations, and mentioned the organization also welcomes volunteer work. Mattson herself is a volunteer, she said, holding an unpaid director position.
She emphasized the work that has gone into Lucky Puppy, saying “we put a lot of effort into it.”
“I also think we could win people over if they come here and see what we do,” said Mattson. “I know this sounds egotistical, but we do a good job. … I live at the farm where the rescue is, my partner and I live there. I’m pretty much 24/7. When babies are being born, I sleep at the kennel and deliver puppies. When puppies are sick, I take them home and care for them there. When I come up here to New York, I stay in the house.
“So I live it, and I know how much we put into it.”
LAKE GEORGE — Fort William Henry will begin renovations on the historic Carriage House in November, converting the building into a new venue for wedding receptions, business meetings, and performing arts programs.
The Carriage House will have a capacity of 460 people in theater-style seating, and 300 people for banquets upon the expected completion in May 2023, according to a press release. The Carriage House will continue to host the Lake George Music Festival, stage productions, and more, along with receptions and meetings.
The renovations are part of a reinvestment into Fort William Henry. $5 million has gone to create premium rooms and renovating rooms and public areas of the Grand Hotel, including the kitchen and bar, the release says. $1 million went into renovating the Fort’s Conference Center, while the Carriage House renovations will cost $3 million according to the release.
“What we are really investing in is the extraordinary beauty of Lake George,” Fort William Henry chairwoman and CEO Kathryn Flacke Muncil said in the release. “There is no place on Earth like Lake George. We are so fortunate to be stewards of this lake and this historic property.”
The Carriage House will be part of over 16,000 square feet of rentable space at the Fort, the release says. Other spaces include the Conference Center (400 capacity theater-style, 250 banquet-style), the White Lion Room (200 capacity theater-style, 150 banquet-style), the Village Blacksmith Restaurant, and Tankard Taverne.
HBT Architects of Rochester created the design for the Carriage House renovations, the release says. BBL Construction Services Inc. of Albany will handle the renovations.
“For both weddings and business meetings, the Carriage House and the surrounding Fort property offer guests nice options to socialize both inside and outside,” said Fort William Henry Corp. president Sam Luciano in the release, mentioning that customer demand for meetings and conferences has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first Fort William Henry hotel opened in 1855, the release says. Its Carriage House sheltered horses and carriages of visitors reaching the resort by primitive roads and by rail. It was later used as an early car rental business for visitors arriving via train, and has also housed Fort employees and equipment. Since the 1970s, it has hosted musicals, plays, and concerts under the name Towers Hall.
QUEENSBURY — The Queensbury varsity football team rallied in the second half on Saturday, but couldn’t come all the way back in a 31-21 loss to Ballston Spa at home.
Both defenses held strong early, and neither team was able to score in the opening quarter of play. The Scotties were able to jump out to the lead in the second, with Darrien Insogna breaking free for an 18-yard touchdown run with 5:39 until halftime.
The score gave Ballston Spa a 6-0 lead, but the Spartans responded quickly, with Zavry Ward finding Trevon Bailey for a 16-yard touchdown just two minutes later.
The extra point gave Queensbury an 8-7 lead, but the Scotties had a response of their own, as Blaine Zoller returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown, giving Ballston Spa a 14-7 lead after a two-point conversion.
The Scotties tacked on as time expired in the half, with Nico Savini connecting with Zoller for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Another two-point conversion sent Ballston Spa to halftime with a 22-7 lead.
The visitors continued to add on in the second half, with Savini breaking free for a 38-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The score gave the Scotties a 29-7 lead, but Queensbury wouldn’t go away just yet.
With five minutes left in the third, Ryan Blanchard found the end zone from five yards out, cutting the deficit to 29-14. The Spartans quickly regained possession, and Ward found Blanchard for a 46-yard touchdown to make it 29-21 with 1:13 left in the third.
The Scotties’ defense buckled down, however, and did not allow any points in the fourth quarter. Ballston Spa added to their lead when Isaac Turenne blocked a Spartans’ punt out of the end zone for a safety, bringing the game to its 31-21 final score.
For Queensbury, Blanchard had 28 yards and a touchdown on four carries, and five catches for 98 yards and another score. Bailey had five carries for 31 yards, and a 16-yard touchdown catch, while Isaiah Engel added 21 yards rushing on seven carries.
Ward was 8 of 16 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns, running for 21 yards on 11 carries.
With the loss, Queensbury finishes the regular season with a 2-6 record (1-4 in the Grasso Division). The Spartans will play at Columbia (2-6) in a crossover game at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Ballston Spa finishes the regular season 7-2 (3-2 Grasso).
UPDATE (11/2): This event has been rescheduled to Nov. 19.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS — Veterans Day is fast approaching, and Atlas Jiu-Jitsu in South Glens Falls, along with nonprofit Operation Rolling for Resilience, is preparing to host its second annual Veterans Day fundraiser event on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Justin Hall, a veteran who helped start the event, said the initial idea came after he competed in 22 jiu-jitsu tournaments in a ten-month span from October 2021 to this August, raising money for veteran suicide awareness.
“Operation Rolling for Resilience is the name that we gave our movement for the tour for veterans suicide awareness,” said Hall. “In doing that, we came up with the idea to turn it into a nonprofit organization for people with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and things of that sort.”
Hall said he and Atlas instructor Joseph Zakriski initially discussed hosting a seminar, but it quickly evolved and has become an annual event.
“Then we decided to take it a step further, and ask some other people to get involved and join up on it, and they all did,” Hall said. “At the time, we got a yoga instructor, we got everyone involved and it ended up just taking off from there.”
Hall said he runs Operation Rolling for Resilience along with Zakriski, Nicholas Regner, and Miranda Smith.
The Veterans Day event will offer both adult and childrens’ lessons for No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, as well as a judo class. Hall said the classes will be aimed at beginners, encouraging new people to try it out.
“They’re going to be entry-level classes, or just some basic techniques to get people introduced to the sport,” said Hall. “Some things that aren’t going to require a ton of skill up front, that way anybody can walk in and give it a shot.”
The childrens’ no-gi jiu-jitsu class runs from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., with the judo class following from noon to 1:30 p.m. The adult no-gi jiu-jitsu class runs from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. After the adult class, Atlas will host a ‘Veteran and First Responder Intro to Operation Rolling for Resilience.’
A minimum donation of $20 is required, and will allow guests access to all three classes. The introduction to Operation Rolling for Resilience is open to the public, Hall said. The nonprofit has a page on GoFundMe, Hall mentioned, and also accepts cash donations.
Hall said the mission of Operation Rolling for Resilience is to help veterans who are struggling connect through jiu-jitsu, free of charge.
“A lot of the struggles, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and those kinds of things, we’re looking to kind of alleviate that and give them the community, sense of camaraderie, and purpose again,” said Hall. “That’s what jiu-jitsu has done for me, so I aim to give that back to them and kind of make it like a space where they can be themselves and work on themselves. … An environment where it’s sociable, it’s safe, and it’s a good stress outlet.”
Hall served for nine years in the Army, he said, noting the need for services to assist veterans is important as he, “was one of those people that needed that at one time.”
“I know if I needed that help, and those sort of resources weren’t available when I needed it, there’s definitely a need for it in the community,” Hall said. “Instead of sitting back and waiting for that miracle to happen, we want to be that for everybody else. We’re going to be there, we’re going to take the reins, and take this wherever it takes us.”
Hall, who is a blue-belt at Atlas, mentioned that the attendance at last year’s event was better than anticipated, and said he hopes to see “a big turnout” this year. Hall grew up in the Glens Falls region, and emphasized the community support in the area, saying “the roots run deep all around.”
“This area is known for the local support,” said Hall. “It’s one tight-knit area, and there’s a lot of love that gets around, for sure.”
Photo provided by the City of Glens Falls, courtesy of Advokate LLC
GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls’ annual ‘Boo 2 You Trick or Treat Event’ will return on Saturday, Oct. 29 in the heart of the city.
The event will take place on Glen Street from 2 to 4 p.m. The street will be closed to traffic from Centennial Circle to the intersection of South Street and Bay Street from noon to 5 p.m., according to a press release.
Boo 2 You is a “wonderful event put on by the Glens Falls Collaborative that enables the community to come together in a safe environment,” the release says.
“This event has been taking place for over 10 years now and is free to the public,” said event chairperson and Glens Falls Collaborative board member Casey Scoville in the release. “More than 40 businesses contribute to this event, such as Finders Keepers, BD, Candy Space, DJ Duane Bullard, and Cool Insuring Arena. In fact, the Adirondack Thunder have their home opener after our event, but Gunnar will be coming to Boo 2 You to trick or treat with everyone.
“And, of course, we can’t thank enough the dozens of volunteers that help in making this event a complete success.”
The winner of Glens Falls’ Halloween House Contest will also be announced at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The city will also continue with hydrant flushing on Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. near Bay Street, Ridge Street, and Glen Street. The work “will be completed in a timely fashion so as not to interfere” with Boo 2 You, the release says.
HUDSON FALLS — Kathy J. Genier, 52, passed away unexpectedly Monday, October 24, 2022, after a brief illness.
Born May 22, 1970, in Ticonderoga, NY, she was the daughter of Carolyn Gadway and the late Michael Ezzo.
Kathy was a graduate of Glens Falls High School. She had a passion for animals and fishing. She also enjoyed feeding the birds and the squirrels eventually joined. She was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.
Kathy was a ball of charisma and personality. She was always there to help anyone in need, at the drop of a hat. She had many friends who thought the world of her. She will be dearly missed by everyone who crossed her path.
In addition to her father, Kathy was predeceased by her nephew, Jeffrey Selleck and niece, Jenna Whiteway.
Those left to cherish her memory are her mother, Carolyn Gadway and stepfather, Art Gadway of South Glens Falls; her brother, Jeff Genier of Glens Falls; her sisters, Kim (Scott) Mowry of Palm Bay, FL, Teresa (Dan) Schaefer of Halfmoon, Michelle (Robert) Holmes of Hudson Falls and Shannon Plude of South Glens Falls; her longtime partner, Jeannie Williams; her children, Josh, Amber and Jeremy; her grandchildren, Kendyl, Kae’lyn, Kal’leigh and Kassi’dee; her beloved husky, Loki; nieces, Ashley and Alicia Genier, Amber and Alyssa Whiteway, and Sierra Demher (Tyler); nephews, Robbie Giordano, Justin Selleck, and Brandon and Cameron Plude; also several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Calling hours will take place Tuesday, November 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Baker Funeral Home, 11
Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804.
In loving memory of Kathy contributions may be made to North Country SPCA, P.O. Box 55, Elizabethtown, NY 12932.
Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.
