Today, Gary discusses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as some common myths about what it is and how it works. Also, a winter weather advisory in effect for the day, this weekend’s plans at the Lake George Winter Carnival, a new safety device tested during an ice rescue drill, Lake George set to be the subject of a segment on Monday morning’s NBC “Today” show, and a Nashville-based band coming to play some tunes in Lake George this weekend.
00:02 – Intro 00:46 – Ad Break 1 01:49 – Story 1: Winter Weather Advisory 02:44 – Story 2: Lake George Winter Carnival [Weekend 3] 05:09 – Ad Break 2 05:35 – Story 3: SNAP Benefits 09:07 – Story 4: Lake George Ice Safety Drill 10:34 – Story 5: Lake George to be Featured on Monday’s “Today” Show 11:45 – Story 6: Nashville Band Visiting Lake George 12:23 – Outro
Matthew Taormino of Queensbury was honored with the “Distinguished President” award by Kiwanis International’s New York District at their Annual Conference in Albany on February 11th. Taormino served as Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls’ President for the year 2021-2022; during his term, Matt made several contributions to the Kiwanis club, including beginning the monthly newsletter – which he continues to edit – and increasing membership with six new members. He also chaired the club’s popular “Duck Race” and served on the first-year committee that developed the “Spirits in the Trees” event; in addition, he serves on the Kiwanis Club Foundation board, and is a Key Club – Kiwanis’ high school leadership program – Advisor.
Matt joined Kiwanis in 2012. In addition to his duties with the Kiwanis Club, Matt also serves on the board of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, and for the last several years has been the General Manager of the Dunham’s Bay Resort in Lake George.
The Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls has been in operation for over 95 years, and is one of the oldest service clubs in the area. Visitors and new members alike are welcome to attend the monthly meeting at the Queensbury Hotel; meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information, please visit glensfallskiwanis.org
This has been the inaugural season for the Adirondack United section II girls ice hockey team… And what a season it has been!
This team is a merger of five school districts: Glens Falls, Saratoga, South Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, and Corinth. This team – which is made up of 30 total skaters – has a season record of 15-1, and they are now competing for the State Championship. The state semifinals will be held on Friday, February 17, at the Nexus Center in Utica, New York. The United will take on Section 10 team Canton at 6:00 PM.
Adirondack United was born out of a successful youth program – the Adirondack Northstars. The Adirondack Northstars 16u has won two state titles, and the 19u also won a state title last year. “There are about 170 girls in the Northstar program,” said United’s head coach Jeff Willis.
In the first game of the season, the Adirondack United beat the defending State champion Beekmantown team on their home ice 10-1. “Coming out of the youth program we knew we would be good. But to take on the defending state champion and beat them at their own place, in our first game, made a statement right at game one. And our confidence has grown from there and we have continued to develop over the course of the season” Willis said.
Coach Willis sees the future in what he is helping to build: “We are a young team, but we are a mature team. I was polling the girls the other day, and about a dozen of them have been captains of their teams in another sport” he said.
Creating opportunities for the kids is a major factor in the drive of making the team a success: “We didn’t cut any kids. We want kids to develop, we want kids to be excited about playing hockey. We’ve done that. We see the little girls in the stands watching us, and these girls have seen the success we have had on the team. Our girls are role models for younger players and girls in general. It will have a really positive effect on girls in the community“ Coach Willis said.
Coach Willis’s daughter, Lily, is a 10th grader who plays on the team. “This season has been super exciting. I didn’t think it was real until I actually went to tryouts. I couldn’t believe that we were actually having a team. It’s been fun, I have been playing my whole life. My closest friends have been made from hockey” Lily said.
Adirondack United has been a success due to the talent of the players, but also because of the community’s support. The creation of a booster club has been an important factor: “(The booster club) has done a fantastic job with the planning. The president of the booster club, Charles Amodia, provided a blueprint for buses and room blocks. The booster club cooked meals for the team, and raised money. We raised almost $20,000 in seven days, and that allowed us to do a lot of things for the team. It shows how much community support there was for the team” Willis said.
Adirondack United is ready to face Canton again in the semifinals; they last faced Canton on February 3rd, and defeated them 7-1. The other NYS semifinal game will be between Clinton and Kenmore/Grand Island; Adirondack lost their only game of the season to Clinton on January 2nd, but then beat Clinton later in the season 5-0. The United has yet to face Kenmore/Grand Island.
Today, Gary discusses new steps toward the future of all-electric heating and cooling. Also, a Queensbury man wins an international speech contest, a group of Washington County breweries holding a special President’s Day Weekend beer crawl, discussion of next steps for Ticonderoga EMS, updates in the design phase for LED streetlights in Warrensburg, and the Chapman Museum announces its schedule of special events for the month of March.
00:02 – Intro 00:42 – Ad Break 1 01:43 – Story 1: Queensbury Man Wins Speech Contest 02:56 – Story 2: Cherry Cider & Beer Crawl 04:34 – Ad Break 2 05:00 – Story 3: Electric Heating & Cooling 07:27 – Story 4: Ticonderoga EMS 12:39 – Story 5: Design Phase for LED Streetlights in Warrensburg 14:10 – Story 6: Chapman Museum March Schedule 15:54 – Outro
The Glens Falls Bowling Team has had a successful season, having won both the Foothills League and the Foothills Tournament with a season record of 60-12 match points. Glens Falls junior Jocelyn Smith will be heading to the State Bowling Tournament in Syracuse, New York, over the weekend of March 10th through the 12th.
New Head Coach Autumn Reichelt is a middle school PE teacher; it is her first year teaching and first year coaching. She found her starting team was welcoming and had a strong team dynamic: “The (coaching) spot opened up and I talked to my athletic director about it. They had their first match the next day. So, the first time I met the team was before we got on the bus to go to the match. It was challenging, especially on the first day figuring out the scoring and figuring out who everyone was and who they should be paired with. For example in our first match one of the players wasn’t there; So I didn’t know who to bring up. I didn’t know the stats or have a rooster, or knowledge of how each individual bowled or how they bowled with each other. That was a big thing” Coach Reichelt said.
She credits Jocelyn Smith’s natural leadership skills as key to helping her learn the scoring and the team roster: “The team dynamic is important in bowling. Teammates match up depending on their style and how they break down a lane” Jocelyn said.
Jocelyn has been competing on the varsity level since she was in 7th grade, and has been bowling since she was about seven or eight years old. She was introduced to the sport by her dad, and Coach Reichelt credits Jocelyn’s dad – Jamie Smith – with being the unsung hero of the team: “Before I took over, he was the one who really stepped up and really helped with the kids… (He) definitely helped me learn a lot” Coach Reichelt said.
Jocelyn is looking forward to the State Tournament, and also enjoying the success she has had this season; she has earned her second sanctioned 300 game this season, and reached the milestone of her first 800 series as well.
“What usually happens is when school bowling starts, I start bowling seven days a week and I get better as that goes on. I shot my second sanctioned 300 and my first 800–800 series for 3 games. It was a huge milestone” Jocelyn said.
After the regular season, Jocelyn competed in the Section II All Girls Composite, where she came in first place… And now, her next milestone is to compete in the State. She will be coached by Coach Bertrand, who coaches for the Cohoes team. There are three practices before the competition in Syracuse.
Jocelyn has qualified for states the last three years: “The first year there wasn’t a tournament because that was the shutdown year, and again in ninth grade there weren’t even sectionals. And last year I went to the State” Jocelyn said.
Jocelyn feels that the experience of having been to the State Tournament before will help her this year: “It’s going to be a lot better because I’ve been there. I have experience with travel and the hotel and being on my own… And bowling brings another level of emotion” she said.
Jocelyn is preparing her strategy on what type of bowling balls to use for the tournament: “I always use the same weight and brand. But, I use different cores and different cover stock” she explained.
As Jocelyn focuses on States, Coach Reichelt is excited to have her team honored in the gym with their first banner: “We will be getting a banner. We have never had a bowling banner in the high school gym before. So this is the first year that Glens Falls has won the league in general for Foothills, and the Foothills tournament. Which is a day tournament. That’s the biggest thing that I’m excited for and I hope to be with the team for a long time to come” Coach Reichelt said.
Jocelyn Smith will be competing in the State Tournament March 10th through 12th, at the AMF Strike-N-Spare lanes in Syracuse, NY.
The Glens Falls Police Department made two arrests in separate incidents over this past weekend, both of which took place within several hours of one another.
The first incident took place Saturday evening – this incident involved a motor vehicle damaging the front window at Broad Street Laundry at the Broad Street Plaza. At the scene, Glens Falls Police discovered a white Hyundai in the front of the building with heavy front end damage; the driver – Anne Larock from Pottersville, NY – appeared to be under the influence. Larock was arrested for driving while ability-impaired (DWAI).
The second incident involved a Volkswagen Jetta driving through a red light on Hudson Avenue. This occurred just after midnight on Sunday morning. The driver – Dylan Carter of Glens Falls – was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) after failing a field sobriety test, which showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%; the legal limit is 0.08%. Carter was also charged for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, for driving with a suspended New York State driver’s license.
Both Larock and Carter were released on their own recognizance to appear in Glens Falls City Court at a later date.
Today, Gary discusses a safety warning for those wishing to get out on the ice. Also, the Cambridge School Board reviews an upcoming capital project vote, another weekend of Fire & Ice cancelled due to weather, plans for a senior housing project in Lake George, and the EPA sets a public meeting regarding emissions from a Kingsbury facility.
00:02 – Intro 00:40 – Ad Break 1 01:37 – Story 1: Cambridge School Board Reviews Capital Project 03:54 – Story 2: Fire & Ice Cancelled Again 05:20 – Ad Break 2 05:44 – Story 3: How to Judge Thin Ice 08:04 – Story 4: Lake George Senior Housing Project 09:43 – Story 5: EPA Sets Meeting About Kingsbury Plant 13:17 – Outro
SNAP is a supplemental nutrition assistance program sponsored by the federal government and administered by the states. SNAP was originally created during the great depression, and debuted in Rochester New York in 1939; over the next four years, the program reached approximately 20-million people. In 1943, it ended because it was deemed no longer necessary, but the program was revived in 1961, and over the years has been both expanded and streamlined. The goal of this program is to improve nutrition among low income households. The program has evolved using technology like the electronic benefits card, and changed its name from food stamps to SNAP to lessen the stigma associated with the program.
Ben Driscoll – a volunteer with the SNAP Program and a member of the Board of Supervisors for Warren County – is aware of the stigma that is associated with food stamps and the SNAP program; he was recently at the Glens Falls High School Community Connections Fair, handing out educational materials as he compared SNAP to the programs that are offered at school: “This school is a government-run facility, and SNAP is a government-run program” he said. Trying to lessen the stigma associated with the program has been a continuing challenge for getting benefits to the families that need them.
There are four common myths about the SNAP program:
Myth: You can not get SNAP benefits if you have a job.
Truth: You may work and still qualify for SNAP benefits.
Myth: SNAP is a welfare program.
Truth: Most SNAP recipients are seniors, children, or working people. SNAP is a nutrition program that helps people buy healthy food when money is tight.
Myth: Other people need SNAP more than I do.
Truth: By receiving SNAP benefits, you are not taking benefits away from another person. Everyone who applies and is determined to be eligible will get SNAP benefits.
Myth: Getting SNAP benefits will hurt my chances of becoming a naturalized citizen.
Truth: No! SNAP benefits do not affect your citizenship application or U.S. Citizenship in general.
The goal of SNAP is to help people buy more nutritious food with less money, so they can prepare quick, easy, and healthy meals safely.
As well-intentioned as the SNAP program is, there are still abuses to the system – individuals sometimes provide false information on their application to receive more benefits, and sometimes recipients give the benefits to a family member or friend; or even sell them for cash.
There is also the issue of people using the benefits and purchasing junk food… Healthy food tends to be more expensive. The Food And Nutrient Act of 2008 states that SNAP recipients can purchase “any food or food product for home consumption”. To combat this, SNAP has extended its reach outside of the grocery store, to try and help people make healthier nutritional choices. SNAP and the USDA provide grants to use SNAP benefits at local farmers’ markets, and also provide nutrition classes through Eat Smart New York.
The goal of SNAP is to supplement the food budget of needy families and help them move towards being self-sufficient. For more information, go to myBenefits.ny.gov.
Queensbury 70, Broadalbin-Perth 35 – in the Foothills Council Showcase at Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory, the Queensbury varsity girls basketball team gave head coach Megan Bethel her 150th victory.
The Spartans got out to a great start, leading 19-4 over Broadalbin-Perth after the first quarter of play. Kendra Ballard led the Spartans with a career-high 22 points. Shea Canavan contributed 20 points and had eight assists. Marcie Perry led the Broadalbin-Perth Patriots with 10 points, and Camille Calderone added 9 points.
The Spartans finished the season in first place in Section 2 Foothills, with a league record of 12-1 and 13-7 overall.
The Section 2 postseason tournament brackets will be released on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Today, Gary Scott celebrates Valentine’s Day with his one true love: work. He’s got the story on the lineup for the 2023 Adirondack Theatre Festival, and also, New York State Police decommission the Northway Call Box System, the Johnsburg Town Board appoints a new interim supervisor, and a Warren County Assistant District Attorney receives a special honor.
00:02 – Intro 00:42 – Ad Break 1 01:46 – Story 1: Northway Call Boxes Decommissioned 03:37 – Story 2: Johnsburg Board Appoints Interim Supervisor 06:50 – Ad Break 2 07:14 – Story 3: Adirondack Theatre Festival 10:39 – Story 4: Warren County Assistant DA Honored 12:05 – Outro
