The Lake George Community Band will be performing their spring concert at the SUNY Adirondack Theater on Sunday April 23rd, 2023! Doors open at 2:30 PM, and the concert begins at 3:00 PM. Tickets for the concert are $10.00 for adults – children and students are free! The SUNY Adirondack Culinary Arts Program will also offer light refreshments in the lobby during intermission.
Lake George Community Band provides the community with musical programs throughout the summer and holiday season. This group helps to preserve the traditions of American band music and the hometown American band, and provides local musicians a place to share and nurture their talents. Their home venue is the Shepard Park amphitheater in Lake George!
This event is sponsored by the Village of Lake George, the town of Lake George, the Warren County department of Tourism, and SUNY Adirondack. For more information, visit info@lgcb.org or www.lgcb.org.
At Scotia-Glenville, the Queensbury varsity boys tennis team notched its fourth victory in as many dual matches this spring, and improved to 3-0 in Foothills Council action. The Tartans (5-1 overall, 4-1 Foothills Council) suffered their first loss of the 2023 campaign.
Singles Results:
1. Skyler Allen (Q) def. Shane McKone 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Will Lamy (Q) def. Xavier DeLuca 6-1, 6-1
3. Owen Young (Q) def. Remy Maynard 6-2, 6-1
4. Ryan Greenstein (Q) def. Ethan Jansen 6-0, 6-2
5. Jack Murray (Q) def. Samuel Feinberg 6-0, 6-2
Doubles Results:
1. Ian Rathbun/Gavin Hochsprung (Q) def. Sean Fluman/Jason Battaglia 6-2, 6-2
2. Ryan Smigelski/Caleb Feinberg (S-G) def. Max Anderson/Sean Donahue 6-2 1-6 (10-2)
Kaitlyn Barton matched her career-high with five goals, and both Meredith Montgomery and Kendal Kelsey delivered four goals and an assist to lead the Queensbury varsity girls lacrosse team to a 23-5 victory at Scotia-Glenville! The Spartans have won 18 consecutive true road assignments and 104 straight Foothills Council games – both program records!
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the expansion of WinklePickers into the Outlets at Lake George! WinklePickers has a location at 222 Canada Street in Lake George, and now has a store in the Outlets at Lake George. WinklePickers – which is owned by Lake George natives Rachel and Dave Dutra – features kitchenware, exciting flavors of jerky, and spices from Rachel’s Spice and Tea Company.
If you are interested in the name, you are not alone: “I’m so happy that we named it WinklePickers because when we did that, we were really just looking for an extra outlet… We really just wanted to get Rachel’s Spice and Tea Company a little bit more publicity, but maybe we can’t do a whole store just on that; so we brought in some beef jerky and some hot sauce. We need a name that means absolutely nothing! Because we had no idea where this business was going… That was three years ago. Because our business had a name that meant absolutely nothing, we could just let it grow… Let it go where it was going to go,” said owner Rachel Dutra.
The Dutra’s are always looking to try new things and create new offerings for their customers. This year at the Canada Street location, Rachel will be “slinging” fresh popcorn!
WinklePickers is the official retail home of Rachel Spice and Tea Company and it features kitchen accessories and more! For more information, visit pickwinks.com
On Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in City Park… Sustainable PR, Crandall Public Library, and The City of Glens Falls are sponsoring the Third-Annual Earth Day Celebration!
Sustainable PR is a green-focused public relation agency here in Glens Falls. They help to sponsor this event to reinforce the concept of sustainability in the community, and over the last three years this event has grown substantially… This year, it includes events for all ages – the event organizers have broadened the activities to get more members of the community interested in participating.
Lydia Miner joined the team at Sustainable PR as an account executive. Her previous experience working with the United Way helped her to develop relationships with local non-profits, corporate sponsors, and school districts. She has worked to attract organizations to participate, that in the past have sponsored their own Earth Day events.
“I like to get people involved and work with the school districts… Instead of everyone doing their own events, we’re trying to pull everyone together and have one event for the city. All of the organizations and businesses can get involved,” Lydia said.
The City of Glens Falls has helped to plan the event, and will be showcasing the green initiatives throughout the city. Jeff Flagg – the Director of Economic Development for the City of Glens Falls – will be on hand to give tours of the indoor vertical farm; vertical farming is the agricultural process where crops grow on top of each other, rather than next to each other. This so-called “Farming Upwards” reduces the space needed to grow crops – including herbs, lettuce, and fruit for nearby restaurants and markets.
Crandall Library is featuring an electronic recycling event, the grand opening of a new seed library, and will have master gardeners on hand with gardening tips and seed swaps!
As this year’s Earth Day event expands, Lydia keeps an open mind regarding the types of events that will be highlighted in future Earth Day events. She would like to hear feedback from the community regarding what they liked about the event: “This year we have expanded participation and are providing a good mix of events. It will be fun to hear what people liked about the event and start thinking about what we can expand on for next year,” Lydia said.
Among the many participants, BOCES SAEC will be on hand for Earth Day, and was integral in helping to market the event – each student in the BOCES graphic design class created a logo for the Earth Day flyer, and the logo that was chosen for the event was created by Kyra Connelly, through the BOCES SAEC Graphics and Visual Communications program.
More and more these days, our lives revolve around media consumption… But, do you ever ask the questions, “Who are the people behind the scenes? Who are the people who help create an image or help build a brand?” One of the talented groups behind the scenes is Gazai Media, a Media Company built by two friends – CEO Cory Gazaille, and Executive Producer Sean O’Neill. They are lifelong friends who joined forces to create the company, and they utilize a small team of video artists, designers, engineers, and marketers who collaborate to fulfill the needs of clients. Gazai Media brings a scalable concept to media production.
Cory and Sean understand that in the world of video production, each client and each project has different needs. They have cultivated relationships, and have the ability to bring experts in the field of media production to each project to provide clients with video solutions that meet the clients’ needs. Each client and project is different, so an extended team of specialists is hired per project… This scalable concept helps to fulfill the client’s expectations, and provide expert solutions for a variety of budgets. Keeping the process simple is a key to success for Gazai Media.
Cory Gazaille and Sean O’Neill – Gazai Media
Streamlining the production process is an important part of the work that goes into each production, and Sean believes that flexibility is an important aspect of their business: “We are fully remote. We run our business completely out of our own homes, which are based here in the Glens Falls area… This allows us to be a little more nimble. We can pack up and travel to any event or site for our clients. Building a concept at a location that suits our clients is where we thrive,” Sean said.
As Cory and Sean grow their business, they have relied on networking and community ties to get their name out in the business community: “So far, we have done a lot of work through the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has helped us develop relationships and make connections throughout the community,” Sean said.
Cory Gazaille strives to keep the process simple and client-focused: “I’m the owner and creative director, but instead of focusing on titles, I like to focus on the work… I’m the production guy. It’s that simple. Sean and I work together to come up with concepts for the client… I spearhead the creative approach and decide if we need to hire people for the production and the timeline. Throughout my career, I have built a network of professional relationships, and we can tap into that network for any aspect of any project. That is a key aspect of our business – building and maintaining relationships,” Cory said.
Both Cory and Sean are focused and committed to growing their business and clients’ businesses alike: “We supply the clients with ideas and advice that are in line with what they want to do. Each client is unique, and we focus on what their objective is… We listen to what they need. Video is king right now! It’s how a company gets their name and message out there, and that is the focus of our business,” Cory said.
Gazai provides a variety of video services, including video business cards, recruitment videos, and commercials; however, Gazai is not limited to only those services: “We want to have a conversation with each of our clients, and find out exactly what they need and provide that service. This creates trust and helps us build a relationship with our clients… We solve problems. From our vantage point, and our perspective, we can find both practical and sustainable solutions for our clients.” Cory said.
For more information, including their portfolio and testimonials of their work, please visit gazaimedia.com.
Kristopher Brunelle is a Navy Veteran turned entrepreneur, and in October of 2022, Kristopher started his own company – White Glove Janitorial Service! His motivation for opening his own business was that he knew that he could do better for himself, and teach others to do better for themselves as well.
Kristopher Brunelle and his team serve medium to large offices, medical practices, new & used car dealerships, and daycare centers. White Glove Janitorial provides office cleaning, carpet cleaning, interior window-washing, restroom cleaning, sanitation & re-stocking, floor stripping, waxing & buffing, and specialized disinfection services.
White Glove Janitorial uses proven techniques, proper tools and equipment, in-depth training, intensive focus on team mentality, and quality control to ensure that their clients are pleased with their clean work environment.
As owner of White Glove Janitorial, Kristopher draws his professional expectations from his time in the military; he enlisted in the Navy for job security during the uncertain economic times of 2008 and the Great Recession… His goal when entering the military was to have a stable job, where he could learn skills that he would carry with him past his military career. During his time in service, he was a E-5 builder in the Construction Battalion (known as the Seabee’s), and as a result, he spent a lot of time cleaning, which he found cathartic – having both his equipment and spaces in a ready state was comforting in a world of chaos. When he joined the Seabee’s, he found out that he was joining a battalion that “built where others couldn’t”. This concept of pushing forward and succeeding where other people couldn’t has stayed with Kristopher, and been a factor in his success building his own business… The military taught him the importance of getting a job done, even if it seems impossible.
As Kristopher grows his business he often revisits the lessons that he learned in the military; for instance, how as a unit, it was necessary for each individual to work as a team: “There wasn’t the option to fire someone if they weren’t doing a good job. So, I learned to find a way to motivate that person so that the unit could get the best results. As an employer, I find myself using the same tools. I want to motivate the people who work for me to learn and grow. I have gained the skills to assess people and offer positions that they may have been overlooked for… Everybody brings strengths and attributes and as an employer I try to find what a person can bring to the table,” Kristopher said.
As an entrepreneur and father, it has also been important to Kristopher to teach his little girl Lindsey life lessons. Kristopher and his wife Kealy are raising Lindsey to be an independent thinker when it comes to business – Lindsey gets to see her mom go off to work as a teacher every day, and that sets structure in her young life. When she is home with her dad, he is often working out of his home office and she gets to see that you don’t have to work a “nine-to-five” job, and it’s okay to follow your own path.
Kealy, Lindsey, & Kristopher Brunelle
As Kristopher sets goals for his business and watches his daughter grow, he is thankful for the community that came from his military career, including the Veterans Business Network, The Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, and military friends and mentors Juan and Amy Gonzales, who give so much help and support to Veterans.
Beginning Monday, April 17th, Greater Glens Falls Transit (GGFT) will change the Route 11, Route 12, and Route 19 weekday bus routes until further notice. GGFT has alerted the other municipalities that will be affected by these changes… These changes are being made because of a shortage of bus drivers.
The Route 11 and Route 12 weekday bus route – which runs along Upper Glen Street to Aviation Mall and the Wal-Mart on Route 9 in Queensbury – will be replaced by the Route 19 weekday bus. The Route 19 weekday bus, which typically runs along Bay Street and Quaker Road, will now run along Glen Street, while also servicing Upper Glen Street, the Wal-Mart on Route 9 in Queensbury, and the Montcalm Apartments.
Not only will be the Route 11 and Route 12 weekday bus route be different, but also, the times of the new Route 19 weekday bus route will change:
Route 11, Route 12 bus – normally at 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM – replaced by Route 19 bus at 9:30 AM
Route 11, Route 12 bus – normally at 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM – replaced by Route 19 bus at 10:30 AM
Route 11, Route 12 bus – normally at 12:30 PM, 1:00 PM – replaced by Route 19 bus at 12:30 PM
Route 11, Route 12 bus – normally at 2:30 PM, 3:00 PM – replaced by Route 19 bus at 2:30 PM
Route 11, Route 12 bus – normally at 3:30 PM – replaced by Route 19 bus at 3:30 PM
“Throughout the state, from the largest to the smallest communities, public transit ensures the basic level of mobility for the local population and for the economy,” stated Scott Sopczyk, the long-time GGFT Transportation Director who is due to retire at the end of May. “Without public transportation, there would be many residents who would be at a severe disadvantage.”
“Scott and his entire crew have done a phenomenal job keeping our GGFT bus schedule running at ‘full capacity’,” said Bill Collins, the Mayor of Glens Falls. “And I can’t thank the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) enough for all of the help with loaning drivers and other personnel to GGFT over the last 24 months.”
“The challenges GGFT continues to have in hiring and retaining drivers and mechanics is no different than what any other industry is facing,” continued Collins. “It’s a difficult decision to consolidate these bus routes now, as we know how much the region counts on our city’s transportation system. Unfortunately, we’re looking at the potential of consolidating additional bus routes by month’s end. It is the real-life evidence as to why the merger with CDTA needs to come to fruition.”
“We’re facing these challenges when we’re heading into the busiest time of the public transportation year,” continued Collins. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure our buses are running, because we understand they are a critical part in the summer economy in the area.”
The sister-city relationship established in 1988 between Glens Falls, New York, and Saga City, Japan, will be celebrated next week as a delegation of nineteen people from Saga City, led by Mayor Hidetaka Sakai, will commemorate the 35-year relationship in Glens Falls. It will be the first such commemoration since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The delegation will arrive Thursday evening, April 20th, for the 35th Anniversary Celebration at the Queensbury Hotel, which will begin at 6:00 PM. There’s a full schedule on Friday for the delegation, with a tour of City Hall and the Glens Falls Business District, including a stop at the Crandall Public Library. After lunch at Davidson’s and a trolley bus ride to the Warren County Municipal Center, the delegation will be hosted by the Koh family for dinner. Members of the delegation will have a “free day” Saturday with their respective host families before meeting up at 5:00 PM on Saturday evening for the Farewell (Sayonara) Dinner at Morgan & Company. The delegation will leave early Sunday morning.
“For the first time since 2019, Saga City will be visiting Glens Falls,” says Mayor Bill Collins, “and the support from our local community is fantastic. Over the years, we have seen college students from SUNY Adirondack as well as high school and middle school students from Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George and Hadley-Luzerne who have participated in the exchange program.”
“Our cities have many things in common,” continues Collins. “Both cities have similar industries, like paper mills, and our economies have experienced growth. Both cities have an appreciation for history as well as education, both cities host high school sports tournaments, and of course, both cities are involved with Balloon Festivals.”
“Awareness is so important,” states Milly Koh, who moved to Glens Falls with her husband in 1978, and is part of the Sister Cities Committee of Glens Falls & Warren County. “We are giving everyone a chance to understand that we are not the only ones living in this world… We all live in different ways.”
“As you may know, a person who lived in Glens Falls was a crew member for a hot-air balloon team that was invited to Saga City’s International Balloon Fiesta in 1986,” continued Koh. “The team had a fantastic time and were struck by the kindness of those who attended the Fiesta. And I’ll always be eternally grateful to former Mayor Frank O’Keefe, who agreed to developing the sister-city relationship with Saga City.”
