On January 19 at 2:00 PM, the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Director Viviana DeCohen and other leaders will hold a special event at the Adirondack Welcome Center, located on Interstate 87 North between exit 17 and 18 in Queensbury, New York. This event will dedicate a new “Veterans Welcome Center” digital kiosk to the rest area; this kiosk will provide specialized, interactive information on benefits that are available to veterans, service members, and military families passing through the area.  

“Every day in New York, we strive to ensure that those who have served our country have easy access to all of the benefits and programs available to them. Through cross-agency collaboration and initiatives like this expansion of digital kiosks, we are improving access to services and demonstrating New York’s continued commitment to making our state the best place for veterans and their families to call home.  We thank and honor them for their service” Governor Hochul said. 

New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Director Viviana Decohen remarked: “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued support and championing of new and innovative ways to reach the veterans of New York through technological solutions such as the digital Welcome Center Kiosks. Her administration’s support of these initiatives ensures we fulfill our mission of assisting all of New York’s veterans, service members and their families in accessing the benefits they have earned through their military service.”

DeCohen – a Marine Corps Veteran – joined the Division of Veterans’s Services in December of 2021. The first-ever digital Veterans Welcome Center Kiosk was dedicated on Veterans Day, 2021; this Kiosk was placed in the New Baltimore Welcome Center on The New York Thruway, which welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors annually.  The addition of the welcome center kiosk will help veterans throughout the Capital Region.

The Warren County 4% Occupancy Tax is due by Friday, January 20, 2023. This tax was collected by hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and short-term rentals in 2022; short-term rentals are defined as rentals for 30 days or shorter in duration. It is estimated that there are about 950 short-term rentals in Warren County.

This 4% occupancy tax for Warren County is used for tourism promotion – this tax is charged to the guest as part of their booking with the establishment.  Those who own and operate short term rentals in Warren County are required to register with the county, and the owners of the properties are responsible to pay the occupancy tax when the property is rented through AirBnb or VRBO.  

Short term rentals were added to the list of “Bed Tax” properties in 2018… The intention had been for major internet providers with services at those properties to collect and remit the tax to the county, but those companies did not respond to the request. This “Bed Tax” policy was then modified – in September of 2020 – to collect the tax directly from the property owners.

The property owners are required to register with the Treasurer’s Office, and must calculate, collect, and remit the tax per guest stay to the Warren County Treasurer. Penalties of up to 5% plus interest can be imposed for late payment or non-payment under the Warren County Occupancy Tax Law. For more information, visit Warrencountyny.gov or call Treasurer Mike Swan at (518) 761-6379.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, the City of Glens Falls honored Martin Luther King Jr. This event began at City Hall, and was led by Reverend Oats, Ward 5 Councilwoman Mary Gooden, and Mayor Collins. Community members then walked arm in arm over to Christ Church United Methodist. 

This event was also attended by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, Council at Large Jim Clark, Ward 2 Councilman Ed Donahue, Bob Driscoll, and Queensbury Supervisor John Strough. 

The program at Christ Church United Methodist included presentations by students from Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, and Queensbury School Districts. Presentations were also made by the Temple Synagogue Religious School, in conjunction with Temple Beth El.

This 2023 celebration commemorates the 40th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday – the legislation had originally been introduced in Congress in 1968, but opponents blocked its passage, leading to its reintroduction and successful passage in 1983; however, the first nationwide observance of the holiday did not take place until 1986. This holiday honors the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. and is celebrated with marches, parades, and speeches by civil rights and political leaders.