Mikaela Bee graduated from Queensbury High School in 2010, and has now written her fifth novel!
Up until her successful writing career, Mikaela worked as a teaching assistant and waitress. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bee had a golden opportunity to start writing; her first book “The Lake House” was written during the first year of the pandemic.
All of her books are thrillers set in the region between Lake George and Burlington, Vermont. Her latest book, “Hazardous Conditions” involves a serial killer in Lake George, and mentions both Warrensburg and Bolton in the plot. One of the main characters is modeled after Bee’s real life sister who likes to ride horses – in the plot of the book, the characters travel to a remote horse barn during a blizzard, and the plot twists and turns during their travels back home.
Mikaela enjoys writing and also works part time at a doggy daycare. Fans will be happy to hear that her writing career has only just begun – her next book is the first in a three-part series, called the “Wedding Nightmare Series”. Mikaela’s books are available in paperback on Amazon for $13.99, and also digitally on Kindle Unlimited.
Mikaela enjoyed her time in the Queensbury Schools, and has particularly fond memories of the fifth grade. Mikaela encourages anyone with an interest in writing to go ahead and try it: “If I had any clue a couple of years ago that people I’ve never met in my life would be reading my books and telling me it was their favorite book of the year, I would have never believed them” Mikaela said.
Officer Pete Casertino has joined the GFSD as a School Resource Officer (SRO). Officer Casertino is a Warren County Sheriff’s Deputy, who will have a desk at Glens Falls Middle School but be working throughout the whole district. He will be providing additional support to current SRO John Norton; Officer Norton became the school resource officer in 2019. He has a daily presence in Glens Falls High School and Middle School, and visits all three elementary schools.
The new position creates a new partnership between the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Glens Falls City School District. Adding another resource officer is part of the district’s continued focus of safety and security throughout the district.
Officer Casertino is a familiar face in the community – he is a Glens Falls PAL sports coach, and a retired Detective Lieutenant for the Glens Falls Police Department. He is also a former Glens Falls Board of Education member, and his children recently graduated from GFHS.
Safety and security of the Glens Falls Schools has been in the forefront of the school community since the beginning of the school year – on the first day of school, the High School was put in lockout and the Middle School was put in shelter-in-place when a High School student engaged in an altercation with the school hall monitor and principal. During this time, a BB gun fell out of the student’s backpack.
It was less than a week later that a toy replica handgun fell out of the backpack of a Middle School student… In both incidents, the Glens Falls Police Department responded and removed the student. Due to those incidents, backpack searches and increased security have been implemented.
Today, Gary discusses updates in the ongoing story of Glens Falls City School District’s search for a new mascot. Also, a man rescued after falling through the ice on Glen Lake, a Lake George resort acquired by new owners, an invasive insect species appears around Lake George and Queensbury, and Crandall Public Library’s upcoming used book sale.
00:02 – Intro 00:35 – Ad Break 1 01:44 – Story 1: Man Rescued After Falling Through Ice on Glen Lake 03:02 – Story 2: Menter Family Acquire Depe Dene Resort 04:31 – Ad Break 2 04:56 – Story 3: Process Outlined for Replacing GF School Mascot 06:58 – Story 4: Invasive Insect Appears Around Lake George 08:56 – Story 5: Crandall Library Used Book Sale 09:35 – Outro
Today, Gary discusses the FISU Winter World University Games arriving in the Adirondacks. Also, an update in the story of a Warrensburg town employee elected to also serve on the town board, Glens Falls High School’s plan to add Unified Bowling to its sports program, a new School Resource Officer coming to the Glens Falls School District, and Fort Edward issues a boil water alert during repairs of a town water line.
00:04 – Intro 00:40 – Ad Break 1 01:47 – Story 1: Reed Declines Warrensburg Board Seat 03:32 – Story 2: Glens Falls High School to Offer Unified Bowling 04:30 – Ad Break 2 04:55 – Story 3: FISU Winter Games Welcomed to ADK 06:47 – Story 4: New School Resource Officer at Glens Falls 07:32 – Story 5: Fort Edward Boil Water Alert 08:16 – Outro
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced the addition of four new members to their Board of Directors – the new board members are F. Raymond Agnew (Ray), Bill Moon, Paula Traina, and Daniel W. Washburn.
Photo Provided by ARCC: F. Ray Agnew
F. Ray Agnew, CFRE, is Vice President for Hospital & Community Engagement at Glens Falls Hospital. He took on the role at the hospital in 2020, after having previously served as Vice President for College Advancement at Paul Smith’s College since 2011. Ray has previously served as Vice President of Community Relations of Glens Falls Hospital, and Executive Vice President of Glens Falls Hospital Foundation. He joined the Glens Falls Hospital Staff after spending 18 years with the State University of New York (SUNY) as Vice President for College Advancement at SUNY Potsdam. Other credits include Assistant Vice President for development at SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, and development work at SUNY Binghamton and at Geneseo in both residential life and institutional advancement. He received his CFRE credential in 1996.
Ray graduated from the Crane School of Music, and is a member of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers). He is a member of Rotary International, and was named Rotarian of the Year by the Glens Falls Rotary Club in 2008; he was also named Humanitarian of the Year by Rotary District 7190 in 2008. Ray was also the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Recognition Award, and has been named faculty “Heavy Hitter” for his presentations to both the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.
Ray’s community involvement also includes currently serving on the Board of Directors of High Peaks Hospice, and he served as past Chairman of the Board of Adirondack Medical Center (serving on the Board from 2012-2020), along with serving on the Board of The Adirondack Health Institute (2016-2019), and a previous holding of the President role at the Rotary Club of Glens Falls. Ray has been on the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) Board and the Saratoga County Arts Council (now called Saratoga Arts) Board, and he is currently serving a temporary assignment on the Warren County ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) committee.
Ray lives in Glens Falls, and has two children – Mary Victoria and Zane.
Photo Provided by ARCC:Bill Moon
Bill Moon has been the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks since 2015. Bill is also a local rest estate agent, assisting clients in both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Bill lives in Fort Ann with his wife, Bethany, and their two boys Jason and Colby. Bill holds a degree in humanities and social services, a BA in Psychology, and a master’s degree in Human Resources – strategic alignment.
Bill enjoys working closely with other agencies and businesses to provide local families with the resources that they need to be successful. He believes the key to organizational success includes a strong sense of strategic alignment and sustaining an effective team.
Photo Provided By ARCC: Paula Traina
Paula Traina is the CEO of Traina Insurance and Financial Services Incorporated, with two Warren County agencies specializing in providing insurance and financial services products offered by State Farm. Paula is a transformative leader known for building teams who execute at a high level – she has led multiple start-ups and cross functional teams.
Paula was professionally groomed by a Fortune 500 Company, and has benefited from one of the top leadership and development programs in the corporate world. She holds an MBA in Organizational Leadership, and is currently pursuing FINRA investment advisor licensing.
Paula and her family call Queensbury their home, and enjoy all of the activities that the Adirondacks have to offer. Paula Looks forward to serving the business community as an ARCC board member.
Photo Provided By ARCC: Daniel W. Washburn
Daniel W. Washburn is the Vice President of Commercial Operations and Shareholder of Hilltop Construction Company; he has been a part owner of Hilltop Construction since 2006. Dan helped to diversify the company with a strong focus on the commercial construction side of the business. He served as an ambassador for the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves as a councilman for the Town of Kingsbury. He is a commissioner at the Washington County Sewer Department, and was president of the Hudson Falls Girls Softball Organization from 2009-2014.
The ARCC extends its gratitude to the board members whose terms were completed in 2022: Ash Anand of the Lotus Group Company, Jared Humiston of Adirondack Technical Solutions, and Zach Moore of French Mountain Commons.
The ARCC would also like to announce the appointment of Mark Yrsha, EVP, Director of Relationship Banking of Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company, as the ARCC Board Chair.
“The ARCC plays a critical role in our region by championing the needs, ideas and goals of our business community. I am very appreciative of the opportunities to chair this great board of highly engaged volunteers and work alongside the tremendous team at the ARCC. Together, we will continue to be the local leader supporting, educating, advocating and delivering for the members of the ARCC and our business community. Thank you to all the members of the ARCC: we really appreciate you” said Mr. Yrsha, EVP and Director of Relationship Banking at Glens Falls National Bank.
“The ARCC is so fortunate to have a board that is dedicated to the organization and our business community. We are grateful for past board members’ service and excited to welcome our new board members. We can achieve so much together” said ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers.
The ARCC was founded in 1914, and is 100% membership funded. The mission of the ARCC is to serve the members and business community through advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, and the power of connection and collaboration. To learn more, visit www.adirondackchamber.org
Queensbury 71, Gloversville 12… Queensbury hosted the Gloversville girls on Monday, January 10th, but the hosting was anything but hospitable; Queensbury scored 12 points in the first quarter of play, which was the total number of points that Gloversville would score for the entire match. Kayla Zehr, the Queensbury sophomore guard, scored 16 points with 4 assists and 2 rebounds to lead the Spartans to an easy victory over Gloversville. Only two players scored for Gloversville – Z. Tesi scored an impressive 10 points, and A. Christian added 2 points for Gloversville’s total 12 points.
Queensbury improved their overall record to 5-5, and are in 3rd place in Section 2 Foothills with a record of 5-1. Queensbury girls will take on Broadalbin at home on Thursday night; tip-off at 7:00 PM.
Today, Gary discusses Warrensburg Town Supervisor Kevin Geraghty’s re-election for chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Also, a new entrepreneur’s plans for a classic Lake George resort, a Greenwich man arrested following a missing child investigation, and the Queensbury Senior Center’s upcoming Medicare 101 event.
00:02 – Intro 00:33 – Ad Break 1 01:31 – Story 1: Canoe Island Lodge Preserved 03:02 – Story 2: Greenwich Man Arrested in Missing Child Investigation 03:55 – Ad Break 2 04:18 – Story 3: Geraghty Re-Elected As Warren County Chairman 08:23 – Story 4: Queensbury Senior Center Medicare 101 09:36 – Outro
Depe Dene – a 39-acre seasonal resort located at 3494 Lakeshore Drive – was acquired by husband and wife team Jess Ferguson and Chris Menter for $11.4 million in the closing days of 2022; this acquisition was financed with a mortgage through Glens Falls National Bank. Located three miles north of Lake George Village, this lake front property was part of the estate of Ken Erminger. Mr. Erminger passed away in October of 2021, after having operated Depe Dene for 45 years.
Depe Dene adds to the Menter family’s portfolio in the Lake George area – Chris’s parents Dave and Theresa Menter purchased Scotty’s Lakeside resort in 2014, and Chris and his family recently purchased the Lakefront Terrace Resort for $7.4 million. The couple also own The Juliana Resort in Bolton, which they purchased in 2018 for $2.9 million.
“We are going to revive and revitalize the property itself and operate like our other properties, which has been effective” Ferguson reportedly said.
Depe Dene has a five-story, 12,000 square foot mansion, more than 700 feet of waterfront, and 84 rental units. The property has a variety of accommodations, which range from lakeview motel efficiencies, one and two-bedroom beach suites, lakefront and forest town houses, and cottages. The mansion which was built by Captain D.S. Denison has 11 bedrooms and eight bathrooms, and can sleep up to 24 people.
Depe Dene was one of the most valuable assets in the Erminger estate, which also has other properties around Lake George and in Syracuse which still have yet to be sold; amongst these properties is a 3.3 acre property at the tip of Copper’s Point on Lake George.
Kate Barkley is hosting a Medicare 101 Lunch and Learn event at Queensbury Senior Center (742 Bay Road) on January 24, 2023 at 12:30 PM. This event – which features a free lunch – is sponsored by CVS Health, and Aetna. Medicare is a federally funded medical insurance program for the elderly and disabled, and also provides coverage for people with end stage renal disease and ALS.
The topics covered at this event will include:
How Medicare works
When to enroll and how to avoid penalties
What do Parts A, B, C,& D cover
Prescription drug plans
Medicare is broken down to four different parts, and each part pays for different expenses and has separate enrollment procedures. Individuals can choose what coverages they want, and also who they would like to manage their coverage if they choose an advantage plan. When enrolling in medicare part B, people often make mistakes. Common mistakes while enrolling can result in late enrollment penalties, higher out-of-pocket costs, and gaps in coverage.
To register for this event, either go to the front desk of the Queensbury Senior Center, or call (518) 761-8224.
The City of Glens Falls has sent out the quarterly water and sewer bill which reflects the last three months of 2022. These payments are due by February 16, 2023; after that date, a late payment fee will be incurred. These payments can be made by mail, online, on the city’s website (cityofglensfalls.com), or in person at City Hall. To pay in person, either bring the payment to the comptroller’s office, or place the payment in the after-hours drop box located outside of the front door at city hall.
Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the customer of their responsibility to pay. Customers can find current balance information on the city’s website. There are programs available to assist low income families – The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a new drinking water and wastewater emergency assistance program funded through New York State. The amount of assistance is based on the amount of unpaid water and sewer bills owed by the applicant, and uses a similar structure to the Home Energy Assistance program. For more information, visit otda.ny.gov/LIH
There will be a 5% increase in the water bill, which took effect January 1, 2023; this increase on average is $0.10 per day, and approximately $0.74 per week. This is based on an average of 20,000 gallons of water, and will be reflected in the next billing cycle.
