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Glens Falls Dragons Make Improvements to East Field, And are in Need of Host Families

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured, Sports.

As the gray days of early spring give way to the pleasant sunshine of summer, East Field is prepping for the return of the “Boys of Summer”… The 2023 Glens Falls Dragon season is approaching, and in a handful of weeks, collegiate players from around the area will come and join the Dragons organization to continue playing the game they love! The Glens Falls Dragons organization is building towards the future with the help and support of the City of Glens Falls.

The Dragons and the City of Glens Falls are working together to make improvements to East Field; the focus of the organization, with the City of Glens Falls’ support, is to add 459 Stadium seats on a concrete base behind home plate. They would also like to replace the first-base-side old lumber bleachers with new, updated wooden seating, while keeping the price of attending a family night out as low as possible… An important part of keeping the price of attendance low is the “Host a Dragon” program, which is still in need of host families for the 2023 season.

Architectural drawing of the seating at East Field

Ben Bernard is the owner of the Glens Falls Dragons – he has owned the team since 2015, and his history with East Field stretches back to 1980, when East Field was home to the White Sox AA minor league baseball team… Bernard came back to East Field over forty years later because he wanted to help out: “Now, we are trying to get the ballpark fixed up, it’s 44 years old. The City of Glens Falls owns the field and has kept it going. A few years ago, they installed the LED lights, which was a huge improvement because the old lights were so costly, and by putting new lights in, that gave a new life to the ballpark,” Bernard said; most of the games at East Field are night games.

Ben Bernard -owner, and Mark Rogers – assistant to baseball operations, are looking to take the Dragons into the future – their goals are to improve the fan experience, increase community support, and keep the prices reasonable for families. Rogers has been instrumental in partnering with local businesses and creating marketing opportunities for the team… With more corporate sponsorship, Bernard and Rogers can keep prices down.

The affordability of a night out at East Field watching the Dragons is important to Bernard: ”Our price is $5.00 to get in, and $3.00 for kids… I have kept that price for seven years” Bernard proudly remarked. Mark Rogers added, “It’s a good family value, especially because parking is free… A family of four can have a pretty good night for low costs.”

East Field has a long history of minor league and collegiate baseball – it’s been an integral point for players who had tremendous success, like hall of fame pitcher John Smoltz, or Ron Kittle who was the AL Rookie of the Year on the “Playing Ugly” Chicago White Sox… The magic of East Field is that it holds the last of the players’ “playing” memories as their careers dwindle down to their final days – East Field becomes a cherished memory as the last dusting of clay is clapped off of a player’s cleats. This gives special meaning to each and every game that is played at East Field, and reinforces the importance of what the Dragons organization is there to do – to give college kids an opportunity to play, and embrace their love of the game.

East Field and the Glens Falls Dragons give players more time on the field, help develop players, and involve the community in a unique and special way – each year, the Glens Falls Dragons call on the community to open their homes to the players. The “Host a Dragon” program helps the organization host the players during their two-month stay, during which they play almost 50 games! The “Host a Dragon” program over the years has been a successful way for the Glens Falls Dragons to attract the most competitive ball players, and substantially reduce the cost to players and fans alike.

However, since the COVID pandemic, host family participation has dwindled… This has changed the way that the Dragons recruit: “One of our biggest problems since COVID has been host families. Our host family coordinator is Victoria Ferguson… She has really been trying to find places and people. With fewer host families, we are recruiting more kids just from this area – the Saratoga, Albany region, and around here. The kids that do come up from down south play all year round, and that makes a difference, it makes the team more competitive… However, the upside is that as we have more and more kids just from this region, and it gives them a chance to play,” Bernard said. As much as expanding the recruitment makes the team more competitive, Bernard can appreciate that The Glens Falls Dragons’ main focus is on player development.

The Glens Falls Dragons want to keep the wonder and the spirit of baseball alive… The true American sport has always captured the imagination, inspired a longing for a simpler time, and conjured up idyllic summertime childhood memories. Baseball takes the imagination to a time and place when there were long catches in the yard as the sun was setting… It captures the excitement as the bat hits the ball and the player races towards the bag! If you listen closely, you can hear a ball hitting the glove and the fans collectively cheering… Baseball and all its intangibles holds a place in peoples’ hearts as inexplicable as it is wise. 

Cooper the Dragon is the Glens Falls Dragons’ Mascot, and he embodies the spirit of baseball! He’s busy all summer long welcoming kids to the ballpark, and in his free time, he guards Cooper’s Cave, and throws out all of the baseballs that roll in.

Cooper The Dragon

The Glens Falls Dragons have 23 home games, and a total of 46 games played in two months… Their first home game will be on Friday, June 2nd, 2023.

The City of Glens Falls, Ben Bernard and Mark Rogers and our friend Cooper are all working together to keep the love of baseball alive in Glens Falls. The focus of the organization, along with the City of Glens Falls, is to make substantial improvements to the stadium; the addition of the 459 stadium seats on a concrete base behind home plate and replacing the first base side old lumber bleachers with new updated wood seating is a considerable investment in the organization.

Please come and support the boys as they take the field this summer, or invite a player to stay in your home… It will make a big difference to you, the players, and the Glens Falls Dragons organization.

For more information, visit GlensFallsDragons.com

Mother’s Day on Tap at Scotlander Brewery

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured.

Looking for Mothers’ Day plans? May 14th is just around the corner, and Scotlander Brewery is excited to have teamed up with Comfort Food Community – a local food recovery and distribution non-profit – to bring you a unique Mothers’ Day experience, all for a good and essential cause!

Scotlander Brewing Company is located on 453 County Rte 47 in Argyle, and is open Thursday through Sunday. The brewery features a taproom, and pavilion overlooking a serene countryside… Scotlander is teaming up with Comfort Community to host this special 2023 Mothers’ day experience on Mothers’ day, May 14th, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Comfort Food Community is working towards ending rural hunger, supporting local farms and building healthy communities. Comfort Food Community helps solve the problems of both food waste and hunger – they take produce that would otherwise go to waste, and distribute it to those in need. 

So, for a Mothers’ Day event that the whole family can enjoy, purchase your tickets for “Mothers’ Day on Tap” at Scotlander Brewery! Not only will you enjoy a special brunch menu, NY craft beverages, live music and a raffle basket, but Scotlander is also hosting their very first mini pop up market, featuring local artisans along with floral bouquets for sale. You may even see some goat kids roaming about…

Tickets are priced:

Ages 5 and Under: Free!

Ages 6 to 10: $12

Ages 11 and Up: $27

For more information about the event and tickets, please visit https://square.link/u/SMRvP5op

Warren/Washington County Veteran’s Peer-to-Peer Coordinator: Jeremy Duers

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Faces of Veterans, Featured.

United States Marine Corps Veteran Jeremy Duers is the Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Coordinator for Warren and Washington County. This Veterans’ program promotes outreach and holds events to help Veterans achieve and sustain personal health, wellness, and purpose in their post-service lives. The Peer-to-Peer program serves Veterans through the support of peers, and with social events.

This program has been in place since 2012, and it was inspired by the service and sacrifice of Joseph Patrick Dwyer; Dwyer enlisted in the army shortly after the events of 9/11, where he served as a combat medic in the 3rd infantry division. Dwyer became famous because of a photograph taken of him carrying an ailing Iraqi boy while his unit was engaged, as seen below – this photograph was taken during the push into Baghdad and the boy was hit with shrapnel in his leg. Although instantly a hailed hero, upon returning home, Dwyer was diagnosed with PTSD and struggled with it, passing away in 2008 and leaving behind a wife and child… Dwyer had spent 91 days in Iraq. 

PFC Joseph Patrick Dwyer

There were signs that Dwyer was not doing well during his transition out of the military – weight loss was an early sign that friends noticed, and later, Dwyer was prescribed antidepressants and referred for counseling. His condition worsened, and Dwyer began to answer his apartment door with a pistol in his hand… On one occasion, he was driving and swerved to avoid what he thought was a roadside bomb, causing him to crash into a convenience store sign. His wife confided in friends that Dwyer was seeing imaginary Iraqis all around him… Friends, family and the military tried to intervene to help Dwyer as he suffered from these setbacks that would occur without warning. Dwyer’s symptoms and his erratic and dangerous behavior caused his wife and daughter to relocate for their safety… When Dwyer opened up to his parents about his experiences, he talked about the volume of gunfire he had experienced and the grisly wounds that he had treated; he said that he could still smell the odor of rotting flesh and metallic tang of blood from the battlefield… Dwyer had come home from the war, but was still fighting the war in his head.  

The Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Program demonstrates that the peer-to-peer model holds tremendous value for helping veterans transition and reintegrate into civilian life – through this program, Veterans are able to come in contact with other Veterans to deal with their problems and become stronger… It’s important for Veterans to be able to gather and share their experiences and help one another.  

Jeremy Duer recently took over the role as coordinator for the Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Program: “The military is very good at training us at how to be effective, but not necessarily so good at training us to re-acclimate and deal with some of the things that we have to deal with… There are serious problems with trying to get back into society. Joseph (Dwyer) came home, and was self-medicating to deal with this stuff and accidentally overdosed. So, we instituted the program as a way to help veterans reintegrate and get access to different services,” Duers said. 

Duer – a USMC Veteran who served for five years – currently has an office on the campus of SUNY Adirondack, from which he covers both Warren and Washington Counties… When he previously re-enlisted, he found out that he had Crohn’s disease: “One of the best lessons that I learned in the Marine Corps is that it can always be worse. I was sick for a while, then I used my GI money to go to school, and I got an Associate’s Degree from SUNY Adirondack and got my Bachelor’s from Skidmore, and I did my graduate work and got a couple of Master’s Degrees from Union College. I was a teacher for about a decade,” Duers said. 

Adirondack Peer-To-Peer Coordinator Jeremy Duer

Duers joked a bit about his role as coordinator of the program: “What I do is plan the events… I deal specifically with Veterans and I’m like a ‘Veteran’s camp counselor’ so I wear two hats,” Duers said. “Some Veterans of a particular generation want to go to the VFW, others feel they have spent enough time away from their kids and want to bring them along… With that in mind, we schedule different types of events.”   

When Duers was ready to move on from teaching, he thought of how he could make a difference: “I was talking about changing jobs. I had worked at the college as a tutor and had a strong relationship with the college… It seemed like a good opportunity. When I first took over the program, it was a bit overwhelming because we didn’t have a template… The program had previously failed, and the state gave me some guidance because the program had ‘failed to launch’ so there wasn’t a precedent to lean on,” Duer said. “Marines get along well together, and I have leaned on friends I have in the community and asked the question, ‘How can we get veterans better integrated?’ When it comes to the social work part, it really is as a peer, because I am not a social worker… I let the Veteran determine what success looks like, set their own goals, and I take pride in the fact that our goal is to get them across the finish line and then follow up.”

Duers has support through an advisory board – Cindy Roberts is a “gold-star” mother who has been a tremendous resource for Duers: “Cindy is so well connected to the Veteran community. One of the programs that she championed was free fishing licenses for Veterans plus one, and it’s extremely popular… Fishing can be very therapeutic,” Duers said.   

Duers has a passion for his work with Veterans, and would like to see the program continue to grow… To help make that a reality, Duer has established a good relationship with the VA in Albany to help get the word out about the program. He utilizes technology to connect with the veterans, but also goes door to door to invite the Veterans personally… He wants the Veterans to know that these services exist, and that there is no charge, or fine print.

For more information about the Adirondack Peer-toPeer Veterans Program, or to reach out to Jeremy Duers, Email duersj@sunyacc.edu, or visit www.adkpeertopeer.org; or call (518) 681-5680.

Police Blotter: Apr. 3 – Apr. 9, 2023

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Blotter, Community, Featured.

Dustin E. Stevenson, 37, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Cecily A. Fantasia, 23, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Lyndsea K. Sullivan, 38, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Natasha L. Cornell, 42, was arrested for Petit Larceny

Tiwan M. Long, 30, was arrested for Petit Larceny

David E. Pregent, 41, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Michael A. Day, 50, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Criminal Mischief, 4th Deg. Grand Larceny

Demetrick M. Rawlins, 26, was arrested for Failure to Appear, Resisting Arrest

Brian K. Barton, 27, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 2nd Deg. Reckless Endangerment

James E. Eggleston, 21, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Jeffrey M. Cook, 32, was arrested for 2nd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

James W. Cox, 33, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Randy J. Habshi, 41, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Mark F. Zibro, 36, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

Ashleigh L.E. Chapman, 31, was arrested for Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance, Introducing Contraband into Prison

Richard E. Fox, 48, was arrested for 3rd Deg. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation

WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF

On Friday April 7, at approximately 11am, members of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Wal-Mart parking lot located at 891 State Route 9 in the Town of Queensbury for the report of a hit and run motor vehicle crash. Following a police investigation, it was determined that Patrick R. Holcomb, 36, of Queensbury, was driving while intoxicated. Holcomb later submitted to a chemical test which yielded a BAC of .10 of 1%. Holcomb was charged with the misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated and issued several traffic tickets. Holcomb was released with an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear at Queensbury Town Court at a later date.

Aimee Lactation Consulting

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured.

Aimee Woodhouse is the owner of Aimee Lactation Consulting. She is a Registered Nurse, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) which is the highest designation available for Lactation Consultants. Her business was born out of a need in the community to support new mothers breastfeeding infants at home; Aimee provides in-home lactation support to nursing mothers in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties, visiting new moms at home to help offer support and guidance during what can be a very stressful time in a woman’s life. 

Aimee has been working as a registered nurse since 1998; she has been a maternity nurse for 17 years, and a lactation consultant for 10 of those years. During her career, Aimee realized that there was a deficit of support for new moms as they began their breastfeeding journey, and Aimee has worked to fill that need: “I am very passionate about serving breastfeeding moms in our community and meeting them when they are at their most vulnerable… So, my goal is to help them be successful with their feeding goals for their infant,” Aimee said. 

Throughout her time helping new moms, Aimee has seen how lack of health insurance coverage has hindered new mothers from getting the care that they need… However, CDPHP has recently begun to cover and credential lactation consultants, which allows lactation consultants to be covered in-network for their patients. This also applies to Medicaid patients: “When we are talking about access to care, finally these mothers can get the care they need… I am able to see a breastfeeding mom as many times as she clinically needs my help. CDPHP covers unlimited visits at no cost to the mom,” Aimee said.

Aimee is pleased to see the expansion of coverage for new moms: “When I first opened my practice, I couldn’t accept health insurance… There was a severe lack of access to care because it was just the moms who could afford to have a lactation consultant that could get that help,” she said.  

As lactation services broaden and evolve, so do the tools that Aimee can use to help moms – Telehealth has created a new layer of care that Aimee can provide, as there are services that Aimee can provide virtually, like a weaning consult: “When moms want to know the best techniques to use to wean their baby, we usually just need to talk,” she said. 

Aimee understands that she is meeting women at a vulnerable point in their lives, and knows that providing lactation support without the disruption of leaving the house helps both the mother and child. 

Aimee Woodhouse RN, IBCLC

“It’s a very stressful time in a woman’s life. New moms are exhausted… There is a plummet in their hormones and lack of sleep. They want to take care of their baby. If that is going poorly, or she doesn’t know if she is doing the feedings correctly, that can cause stress,” she said.  

The services that Aimee provides are both necessary and reassuring to the moms: “I bring a scale sensitive down to the two gram increments. I weigh the baby before they eat and after they eat at the breast. I measure how much milk they took in at the breast. That information is very important in the decisions that we make for the care plan. It is also reassuring and makes the new mom feel so relieved,” she said.

Aimee would like new moms to know that there is in-home lactation support available and that it can be covered by insurance. If you are struggling to breastfeed your baby, or have questions about feeding, please visit aimeelactation.com. 

Nancy Turner to Run for Warren County Supervisor in the City of Glens Falls, Ward 3

Written by Kate Haggerty on . Posted in Community, Featured, Politics.

Nancy Turner, a Democrat of Glens Falls, NY, announced that nominating petitions have been filed with the Warren County Board of Elections to secure a ballot position for the upcoming Democratic Primary. Mrs. Turner, who is the endorsed candidate by the Glens Falls Democratic Committee, stated “Glens Falls needs strong advocacy for the City at the Board of Supervisors,” which is her major reason for running for office at this time.

“When I was walking door to door, I spoke with many individuals about their interests and needs. During the petition process, I learned that I live in a very diverse community, and am looking forward to having more conversations with my constituents,” Turner said. The election will be held June 27th, 2023.

“I am running for County Supervisor to use my planning, organizational, communication and business skills at the Board of Supervisors. Over the years, I have worked with many City officials and local business owners. I am proud to have earned their respect and friendship and plan to leverage those relationships as a County Supervisor. Glens Falls needs strong advocacy for the City at the Board of Supervisors. I plan to continue the good work of our current Supervisor Claudia Braymer in the areas of improved environmental policies, funding for the needs of Glens Falls, keeping down County taxes for our City taxpayers, and improving County services for City residents… I have been meeting with Supervisor Braymer for months so that I can hit the ground running as our next Supervisor. I reside in Glens Falls and have a strong professional history in hospitality, administration and communication. My skills as a business leader will benefit my political race and will enhance my strong commitment to my community… I have been very active in Glens Falls, volunteering my time with the Glens Falls Collaborative Board of Directors, (of) which I am currently President. I work with many people across the City on programs and activities that benefit the City and its citizens,” Turner said.

Queensbury Girls Lax Hosts Kingston

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

Queensbury, 15… Kingston, 5.

Kendra Ballard provided two goals and three assists, Kaitlyn Barton and Kendal Kelsey pumped in three goals apiece, and Meredith Montgomery contributed a goal and three assists as the Queensbury varsity girls lacrosse team remained undefeated with a 15-5 victory over visiting Kingston.

Chayse DeLisio and Brooke Longo each scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers.

Score by halves: Kingston 1-4 = 5, Queensbury 8-7 = 15.

Kingston goals-assists: Chayse DeLisio 2-1, Brooke Longo 2-0, Reese Longo 1-0, Alivia Gambino 0-1. TOTALS: 5-2.

Queensbury goals-assists: Kaitlyn Barton 3-1, Kendal Kelsey 3-0, Kendra Ballard 2-3, Meredith Montgomery 1-3, Lilly Trowbridge 1-2, Sarah Johnson 1-2, Ava Roca 1-0, Bayley Duffy 1-0, Sophia Flewelling 1-0, Emerson Lochner-Fehl 1-0, Gianna Marcantonio 0-1. TOTALS: 15-12.

Goalkeeper Saves – Kingston: N/A. Queensbury: Laura Dickerson 3 (25 minutes, 1 goal allowed), Abby Johnson 2 (25 minutes, 4 goals allowed).

Records: Kingston 4-4, Queensbury 8-0.

Upstate Agency Appoints Rebekah Crewell to Risk Advisor

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Business, Featured.

Upstate Agency, LLC in South Glens Falls – as part of the Arrow Family of Companies – recently welcomed Rebekah Crewell as Risk Advisor.

In her new role, Ms. Crewell is responsible for acquiring and retaining commercial clients within the property services, healthcare, non-profit, construction, and municipality segments. In addition to her production responsibilities, she is instrumental in the marketing of complex programs and renewals for the agency throughout the greater Capital Region.

Ms. Crewell, a designated Small Business Coverage Specialist (SBCS), is a seasoned insurance professional, bringing nearly 20 years of local insurance, risk management, and marketing experience to her role. Prior to joining Upstate Agency, LLC, Ms. Crewell spent her career with large global brokerage platforms, and regional brokerage firms located in the Albany market.

Ms. Crewell lives in Wells, NY, where she serves as Town Supervisor. 

Queensbury Boys Tennis Hosts South Glens Falls

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, Featured, Sports.

With a 7-0 victory against visiting South Glens Falls, the Queensbury varsity boys tennis team improved to 6-0 overall (5-0 in Foothills Council action) and increased its Foothills Council dual match winning streak to 32.

Queensbury, 7… South Glens Falls, 0.

Singles Results:

1. Skyler Allen (Q) def. Cooper Brennan, 6-1, 6-0

2. Will Lamy (Q) def. Ethan Vasak, 6-1, 6-1

3. Ryan Greenstein (Q) def. Connor Basile, 6-0, 6-2

4. Ian Rathbun (Q) def. Filson Kelleher, 6-0, 6-0

5. Jack Murray (Q) def. Sebastian Semanate, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles Results:

1. Max Anderson/Gavin Hochsprung (Q) def. Isaac Potter/Stephen Smythe, 6-1, 6-1

2. Max Coccia/Sean Donahue (Q) def. Carson Ogden/Angelito Manegdeg III, 6-0, 6-0

Warren County Hires Heather Bagshaw as Director of Tourism

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors has hired experienced tourism executive Heather Bagshaw to serve as Warren County’s Director of Tourism! She begins work on April 24th, 2023.

Ms. Bagshaw comes to Warren County after working in Greene County, New York, where she served as the county’s Director of Tourism. She spent nearly 10 years overseeing Greene County’s tourism promotion efforts, and her years in the hospitality industry followed tenures with marketing agencies and nonprofits in the Capital District and New York City… Ms. Bagshaw has also worked as vice president of marketing at Destination Niagara USA.

The county Director of Tourism is responsible for planning, developing and implementing programs to promote Warren County. The Director of Tourism promotes facilities and businesses as premier destinations for leisure travel, group tours, and special events… To achieve this, Ms. Bagshaw will be able to utilize marketing and advertising campaigns through Warren County Tourism Department. As part of her role, Ms. Bagshaw will oversee a department of four full-time staff members and two-part-time staff members.

“It is an honor to be chosen as the next Tourism Director by the hiring committee and the Warren County Board of Supervisors. I am excited to be working in an area that is recognized for its year-round outdoor adventure, events, attractions, and more! I will continue to build brand awareness for the Lake George Area in New York’s Adirondacks, and continue to grow it as a top tourism vacation destination,” Ms. Bagshaw said.

Gene Merlino – Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors Tourism Committee – believes that Ms. Bagshaw will have a positive impact on area tourism: “Heather has extensive experience in the tourism industry, working with different types of destination marketing offices, and we were impressed with her ideas to further develop our efforts to market Warren County and the local tourism industry,” he said. 

Ms. Bagshaw will be replacing former Director of Tourism Alfred Snow… Snow stepped down in November of 2022, after holding the position for two months.

Ms. Bagshaw is an avid golfer and outdoors enthusiast. She and her golden retriever, Roxie, are looking forward to experiencing all that Warren County has to offer.