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‘I feel it’s needed’: Faces of Veterans helping veterans share their stories

Written by Dylan McGlynn on October 19, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, News.

*A photograph of a veteran from the ‘Faces of Veterans’ project (Photo by Stephen Willette/Faces of Veterans)*

QUEENSBURY — Every veteran has a story, and Stephen Willette is determined to share as many of those stories as he can.

Willette is the founder and CEO of Patriot Images, a photography company that began the ‘Faces of Veterans’ series in 2019. The project displays photographs of veterans, providing a glimpse into the lives of those who have served.

“There’s so many stories that are left untold,” said Willette. “They’re stories of inspiration, they’re stories of patriotism. … I think that America, or the general populace, needs to hear those.”

Willette first began photographing veterans in 2018 for the Saratoga County Veterans Peer to Peer Mentoring Program. He said this opportunity led him to begin the Faces of Veterans project.

“When I was done with that, I said, ‘Well, I think I’m just going to continue this across all of New York State,” said Willette.

Willette, a Schuylerville native, served in the Air Force for 16 years, from April 2001 to January 2017. He said the Faces of Veterans allows the opportunity for veterans to connect and share their stories.

He said it is important to share photographs and stories of veterans of wars such as World War II.

“The Vietnam-era veterans, they’re getting older as well. There’s a number of them that I have photographed that are no longer alive,” said Willette. “I’ve interviewed and I’ve photographed World War II veterans, and they’ve shared their stories with me, and I’ve been able to take the pictures and the stories that they’ve shared with me, and I’ve been able, in turn, after they died, to give it to their families.”

And the photos have also helped veterans open up and share their own stories with family, as Willette recounted a 2019 visit he made to the American Legion in Granville.

“It was just a regular photoshoot like any other one,” Willette said. “I had photographed a Vietnam-era veteran there, he was there with some of his family.”

A month later, Willette received a phone call from the veteran’s daughter.

“He went home afterwards, and he began sharing about his experiences,” said Willette. “His daughter just called me to say how thankful she was that he had that experience, and that he was able to come home and begin talking about his experiences there, that he’s never shared with his own kids.”

Faces of Veterans began as just a photography project, but expanded this fall with the launch of the ‘Faces of Veterans’ podcast.

The podcast is owned by Glens Falls Today’s parent company Spa City Digital, and is a separate entity from the photo series, allowing veterans the opportunity to openly discuss their experiences.

“The podcast is important because it is an outlet and it is an avenue, where veterans can get on there and they can share that,” said Willette. “And maybe it will open up the door for them to heal a little bit, to share more. Or maybe it will encourage a veteran that’s listening.

“Maybe not even in New York, maybe not even in the United States. But it might encourage them to share something, and to just begin healing from past wounds.”

This is in contrast to the photography series, which typically does not contain names or additional information besides the photos themselves, Willette said.

“When I photograph them, I don’t include names. I don’t include branch of service, time in service, anything like that,” said Willette. “I’ve always opened it up to where, if you want to get together at a later time, and you want to kind of share your story, then let’s meet, let’s talk. I’ve opened it up like that, and then I would share, obviously, their name, and more about them.”

Willette also said the podcast and photography series “fills the void” of camaraderie left once he was discharged. He said he asks every veteran on the podcast what they miss most about their service, with one common response.

“This will be a common answer if you asked any veteran what they missed the most, and that’s the camaraderie. They miss the camaraderie of the service,” Willette said. “For 16 years, I had the camaraderie, and then it was gone and I haven’t been able to find it elsewhere. This Faces of Veterans project fills that, but it also provides a way for me to continue to serve the veteran community.”

Willette’s goal is to travel to all 62 counties in New York State to photograph veterans, saying that he has visited 10 to this point. Willette, who currently resides in Queensbury, takes the photos free of charge, relying on donations to help assist in keeping the project alive.

“It’s completely done out of pocket, and through donations, hopefully, of people that feel it to be equally as important,” said Willette. “We need those donations, because without the donations, the next photoshoot doesn’t happen.”

And those photoshoots will help Willette continue to “serve the veteran community,” one of the reasons he believes the project is so important.

“It’s the camaraderie, and it’s really just continuing to serve the veteran community,” said Willette. “Because I feel it’s important, and I feel it’s needed.”

Fort William Henry honoring veterans with Field of Flags ceremony on Veterans Day

Written by Staff Report on October 17, 2022. Posted in Community, Featured, News.

*Photo provided by Fort William Henry Museum*

LAKE GEORGE — Fort William Henry will honor and remember veterans both living and deceased for their service, and sacrifice, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

The event begins with the annual ‘Field of Flags’ ceremony at 10:30 a.m., with a special salute following at 11 a.m. The salute will take place on “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when the agreement to end World War I was signed in 1918,” says a press release from the Fort William Henry Museum.

An Italian buffet lunch will follow the ceremony at Tankard Taverne at Fort William Henry. Net proceeds of ticket sales for the buffet will benefit the Adirondack Vets House Inc. of Glens Falls, a non-profit home for homeless veterans, the release says.

Hundreds of American flags will decorate the front lawn at Fort William Henry, with each honoring the memory of a veteran. To honor a veteran, submit names to annaa@fortwilliamhenry.com. The submission should include the veteran’s first and last name, as well as military rank, branch, and period of service, according to the release.

Reservations for the buffet lunch are not required, but tickets can be purchased in advance at fortwilliamhenry.com/veterans-day-lunch.

Fort William Henry was constructed by the British during the French and Indian War. The Fort was “the scene of a bloody, three-day siege in 1757, after which the British surrendered to the French,” the release says. The Fort was burnt down by French forces, according to the release, and a replica was built in the 1950s and serves as “a living history museum and historic site.”

‘There’s really something for everybody’: Adirondack Film Festival returns Thursday

Written by Dylan McGlynn on October 12, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Film Festival returns tomorrow for a seventh year, offering a weekend loaded with content spanning a wide variety of genres.

The festival is produced by the Adirondack Theatre Festival, which places it “at the nexus between theater, film, and television,” said Adirondack Theatre Festival producing artistic director Miriam Weisfeld.

Films will be screened at the Charles R. Wood Theater and at Crandall Public Library. For the second consecutive year, the festival will also be offering a hybrid model, said Weisfeld.

“That’s a really cool option, because it gives you so much flexibility,” said Weisfeld. “If you wake up in the morning and you decide that you want to be out on the town all weekend, you can do that. If you decide that you want to be home on your couch, you still have a whole weekend of content that’s been curated for you.”

The festival begins Thursday with ‘Opening Night Rocks,’ a screening of music videos and the regional premiere of a short documentary titled “Blondie: Vivir en la Habana,” detailing the rock band Blondie’s trip to Havana, Cuba, for a concert in 2019. The screening will be at the Wood Theater, followed by a Q&A with director Rob Roth and an opening night reception at Park 26 in the Queensbury Hotel.

“This was part of an official cultural exchange between New York City and Havana, and it’s this amazing piece of filmmaking that was created by an artist named Rob Roth,” Weisfeld said. “He’s got these incredible stories about working with Blondie. … After that screening, Rob and I are going to do a discussion with the audience at the theater, and then we’ll move over to Park 26 for a celebration together.”

All content at the festival is recommended for ages 18 and up, according to the festival’s schedule.

Friday screenings include ‘Remember This,’ starring Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, and ‘A Love Song,’ starring Dale Dickey and Wes Studi.

Dickey has appeared in shows such as ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Gilmore Girls,’ ‘Frasier’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ and more. Studi received a Governors Award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019, becoming the first Native American actor to receive the honor, Weisfeld said. Studi has appeared in movies such as ‘The Last of the Mohicans,’ ‘Dances with Wolves,’ ‘Avatar,’ and ‘Street Fighter.’

Saturday screenings include ‘There There,’ starring Jason Schwartzman and Lili Taylor, and ‘Cryptid,’ featuring Capital Region native Nicholas Baroudi.

“Another really exciting thing about the Adirondack Film Festival is that we are a platform for local filmmakers and for films that were shot in the Adirondack region,” said Weisfeld, noting that Baroudi, who has appeared as Joey Raven in five episodes of ‘Law and Order: Organized Crime,’ has also performed with the Adirondack Theatre Festival in the past.

Continuing the local focus, the festival will also screen several shorts throughout the weekend in multiple categories, including ‘Homegrown: Adirondack Regional Shorts.’ Other categories include ‘Stage to Screen,’ as well as Documentary, Comedy, and Suspense.

Weisfeld emphasized the wide variety of content throughout the weekend, saying, “There’s really something for everybody.”

“It’s over 35 films, so it’s a lot of content,” Weisfeld said. “Just about anybody is going to find something that they enjoy.”

The festival will also screen documentaries such as ‘The Quiet Epidemic,’ focused on the discovery of Lyme Disease.

“We feel like that is such an important topic around our region that we’re bringing in the directors of the film, and having a panel discussion with them and Dr. Holly Ahern from SUNY Adirondack, who’s the vice president of the Lyme Action Network,” said Weisfeld. “There’s serious substantive conversations happening about things that matter to our community, and there’s also a lot of entertainment value too.”

Other films that will be screened include ‘The Last Frankenstein,’ ‘Not a Tame Lion,’ ‘What We Do Next,’ and more.

Anyone interested in attending can choose between an in-person pass, a virtual pass, or an all-access pass, said Weisfeld. Single-day passes are also available throughout the weekend.

The festival reaches a close on Saturday night, with an awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. at the Wood Theater. There are six award categories: Documentary Short, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Feature, Music Video, and Best of the Festival.

Weisfeld said that anyone who purchases a pass will be able to vote for the awards.

“We’ll do the presentation live and live-streamed on Saturday night, and then we’ll go across the street to Downtown Social for another party,” said Weisfeld.

While the festival ends on Saturday, Weisfeld said that anyone who purchases a virtual or all-access pass will have on-demand access to content through midnight on Sunday. All films will be available for virtual screening, with the exception of three: ‘A Love Song,’ ‘Remember This,’ and ‘There There.’

“It’s been fantastic seeing the community support and the support of our business partners,” said Weisfeld of the community reception, giving thanks to partners such as the Queensbury Hotel, Fountain Square Outfitters, Lake George RV Park, Hudson Headwaters, Mannix Marketing, and Trampoline Design.

“We’re very appreciative of our board members, our committee members, and our volunteers. It’s really a community effort to get a project like this off the ground,” Weisfeld said. “We’re really excited to share all this material with the public tomorrow.”

Individual all-access passes begin at $80, while an individual in-person pass costs $65. Single-day passes are available for $35, with virtual passes beginning at $45. Visit www.adkfilmfestival.org for information regarding the festival’s schedule, how to purchase passes, and more.

Glens Falls names Drawbridge as new Communications Director

Written by Staff Report on October 11, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins announced today that he has appointed Tim Drawbridge as the city’s next Communications Director.

Drawbridge, a native of South Glens Falls, currently serves as a meteorologist for WTEN-TV in Albany, but he has a history of developing public relations campaigns, and assisting local nonprofits with developing and distributing messages, according to a release from the Mayor’s office.

“We are happy to add Tim to our great team working hard in City Hall,” Mayor Collins said in the release. “His work behind the scenes, literally, with regional nonprofits to help them develop their outreach and their voices will be very helpful as the City develops new outreach processes. Tim’s communications talent is evident, as anyone who has watched him deliver his reports on TV.”

“I am very happy to join the team at this exciting time in the city’s long history,” Drawbridge said. “Between the Downtown Revitalization Initiative plans that are moving forward, and the historic investments in paving and sidewalks in the city’s neighborhoods, there’s a lot happening in ‘Hometown USA.’”

Drawbridge officially began his role today on a part-time basis until his contract with WTEN-TV is fulfilled.

“I am looking forward to digging into all of the good news, and ensuring it is getting out into the community,” said Drawbridge.

“We very much look forward to Tim’s contributions in the city’s communication efforts,” Collins said in the release.

NYS Canal Corporation testing for seepage in Glens Falls Feeder Canal

Written by Staff Report on September 30, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, News.

GLENS FALLS — The New York State Canal Corporation announced today that they are undergoing efforts to identify potential areas of seepage in the Glens Falls Feeder Canal.

The Canal Corporation will be using a non-toxic dye to determine where seepage from the Feeder Canal may be entering basements in buildings on the Finch Paper property in the city, according to a press release from the New York Power Authority.

Dye testing may continue through the next week depending on the results of the investigation, the release states, noting the dye is non-harmful to individuals, animals, and the environment.

Based on the results of the testing, the Canal Corporation will undertake isolated repairs of the Feeder Canal.

The Most Important Auto Insurance Number That You’re Not Thinking About

Written by Scott Peterson of D'Orazio Peterson on September 30, 2022. Posted in Business, Columns, Featured, News.

Let’s talk about insurance.

I know, it’s dry like an overcooked steak. I get it.

But it’s also important, and in my world it can be critical.

Today we’re not talking general insurance, however, we’re talking SUM insurance.

Many of you have probably never heard this term before; and that’s generally good – it means you’ve never had to use it.

SUM stands for Supplementary Uninsured Motorist, and SUM insurance is a part of your auto insurance policy. SUM encompasses both UM (uninsured motorist) and UIM (underinsured motorist), and is meant to step in if you are severely hurt in a car accident, but the other driver either has no insurance or (more likely) does not have adequate insurance coverage to protect/compensate you.

Here’s a fun fact: Everyone in New York has some minimum level of SUM coverage, which means the good news is that you already have some. The bad news is that the bare bones limits are $25,000 per policy, which is woefully inadequate.

Let’s look at a common scenario in our practice: Person 1 – we’ll call her Jane – is driving down the street and is t-boned by Person 2 – we’ll call him John – at an intersection. Jane breaks her leg in two places, and in addition to requiring a substantial surgery, has a long recovery and is out of work for six months. Jane owns a successful chiropractic business, and while she is able to get coverage during her absence, it costs her a substantial amount of money.

Jane comes to us for help, and one of the first things we do is investigate how much insurance John has to adequately compensate Jane for her physical and economic losses. Unfortunately, we learn early on that John has a minimum insurance policy, and only maintains $25,000 worth of liability coverage. This is inadequate, but it is also relatively common.

From here, one of two scenarios will occur.

In scenario #1, Jane has the New York State minimum SUM coverage of $25,000. Because that amount is the same as the other driver’s insurance, Jane cannot make a claim and she is capped at recovering $25,000 from the other driver’s insurance company. In most instances this constitutes the entirety of Jane’s recovery, which does not even come close to making her whole.

In scenario #2, Jane has thought about SUM coverage, and has increased the coverage on her policy to $500,000. Now, once she has exhausted John’s coverage of $25,000, she can look to her own insurance carrier under the SUM portion of the policy. Jane can now obtain something close to a complete financial recovery for her injuries and losses as a result of the accident.

The kicker here – SUM coverage is relatively cheap. Adding substantial coverage to a policy will cost, maybe, a few hundred dollars per year.

Our world deals with loss, assessment of fault, and risk management. Increasing SUM coverage is something that anyone who owns a car can do, and it can make a signifncant difference if you find yourself severely injured in an automobile accident.

This is something that I talk about quite a bit, for good reason. This year alone I have had several clients come to me following a very severe accident, only to find out that the other driver has minimal coverage and, critically, that the client has minimal SUM coverage as well. It can be a very difficult conversation in cases involving severely injured individuals.

The takeaway for this week: talk with your insurance agent or go online and look at your policy. Increase your SUM limits as much as you are able. Like any insurance, hopefully you’ll never need it, but if you do you’ll be glad you have it.

Coming next time: the other side of the coin – do you have enough coverage?

If you have questions about SUM coverage or injuries after an accident, give us a call. We’re always happy to chat.

Disclaimer: This column is meant for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or the basis for an attorney-client relationship, which may only be achieved following consultation and execution of a formal engagement agreement.

A role-playing game is set up on a table, with dice, cards, and characters.

Fifth annual Adirondacon Gaming Convention this weekend

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 27, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, In the Arts, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondacon Tabletop Gaming Convention returns to Glens Falls this weekend for a fifth year. The event will be held at Charles R. Wood Theater from Oct. 1 to Oct. 2.

“The community has really embraced us,” said co-organizer Veronica Hamilton, noting it is “nice to hold an event and see all the familiar faces come back year after year, and to see new faces come trickling in as well.”

The Convention deals primarily with tabletop games, including role-playing games, board games, and more. Hamilton said they will be introducing Warhammer 40K to this year’s convention.

“Besides Warhammer, we have traditional role-playing games like ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, ‘Call of Cthulhu’, and ‘Pathfinder’,” Hamilton said. “There’s all sorts of stuff. There’s deck-builders, there’s dexterity games.”

Hamilton said that several people are bringing in their own Kickstarter-funded games, naming ‘Flamecraft’ as an example. She also mentioned games such as ‘Dune: Imperium’, ‘Lost Ruins of Arnak’, ‘Wonderland’s War’, and ‘Dungeon Drop’ as others that will be available.

Convention co-organizer John LeMaire will be running a game based on an RPG supplement book he authored, Hamilton said.

Sunday will also host a dedicated block for children’s games from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“We’re having just kind of a block (where) kids can come over and try different games, and we’ll have GMs available to teach them,” said Hamilton. “Another one of our local game designers has an RPG for kids and families called ‘Adventure Maximus’, so he’s going to run that on Sunday as well.”

Hamilton stressed that experience is not necessary, saying that “the first thing that the GM will do is teach the game.”

“If you sign up for a game, the GM will teach the game and walk you through how to play the game,” Hamilton said. “A lot of people are coming to try games they’ve never played before.”

The convention will also host a ‘Lending Library’, where help will be on hand for “people who want to take on a game at their own pace.” Attendees can also participate in ‘play-to-win’ games.

“How those work is, we will have a table and a signout sheet. Anyone who plays the game will (have) the chance to win the game they played,” said Hamilton. “We reached out to several different gaming companies, and we were lucky enough to have them send us support for the Con. We have, I believe, 13 play-to-win games this year.”

She emphasized that many of the games are “nice and quick.”

“A lot of them can be played in an hour or less, so you’re not spending your whole Con playing one game, and it gives everybody an opportunity to try the games as well,” Hamilton said.

Adirondacon will feature door prize tickets, as well as commemorative dice, for attendees as they enter, while supplies last, Hamilton noted.

People looking to sell or trade old games can also approach the convention’s bargain table. Hamilton said the table began in the event’s first year.

“It’s just a table that we put aside every year for people to help get rid of their gently-used games,” said Hamilton. “They put the price, their phone number on, and people can just come up and purchase the used games. Sometimes, they can strike a deal.”

The convention also features a ‘vendor alley’, with five vendors selling a variety of items. Hamilton named Two Ravens Games, Cooper’s Cave Games, Night Legion Comics, Gamer Gifts by FSP, and The Creative Chameleon as vendors that will be in attendance, selling a variety of items such as games, accessories, comic books, jewelry, and more.

There will also be cats on hand, as the convention will support North Shore Animal League America – Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center. Hamilton said “it seemed like a good fit,” noting that she and several other organizers have cats of their own.

“North Shore will be with us at the event until 4 p.m. on Saturday. They have a wishlist, and basically anyone who brings an item in off their wishlist, or a donation to the charity, we have a special drawing of a copy of a game called ‘The Isle of Cats’,” Hamilton said, mentioning the game was donated by First Stall Productions.

Now in its fifth year, Hamilton said she hopes Adirondacon sees “a record number of people” at this weekend’s event.

“We’re renting out the entire theater,” said Hamilton. “We’re hoping to raise a good chunk of money for North Shore, and we’re hoping everybody has a good time.”

Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins (left) and economic development director Jeff Flagg (right) walk with New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez (middle) during a tour of DRI projects last week. The City is holding two public meetings this week to discuss progress and updates on DRI initiatives. Photo by Dylan McGlynn

Glens Falls holding public meetings to discuss DRI projects

Written by Staff Report on September 27, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls will hold two public meetings intended to update residents on the progress of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and plans for an ‘Event and Market Structure’ on South Street, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.

The first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Queensbury Hotel. The second meeting is Friday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in Crandall Public Library, according to the release.

“It’s been a busy summer for preparations, and we look forward to sharing the final plans and details of this significant part of our City’s revitalization with our residents and businesses,” said Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins in the release.

Glens Falls was awarded a $10 million grant through DRI in 2017, and has used the funding to “revitalize the city’s downtown, including arts projects, securing downtown space for SUNY Adirondack’s culinary school, façade improvements and support of small downtown businesses, and infrastructure updates to prepare for revitalized buildings and new residents and businesses,” according to the release.

Hot air balloons take flight in the air.

Adirondack Balloon Festival ‘lights up the night,’ honors founders in 49th year

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 26, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

QUEENSBURY — The Adirondack Balloon Festival made its return for a 49th year over the weekend, offering balloon flights, food, crafts, and more at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury and Crandall Park in Glens Falls.

“I think we look at it as a huge success, any time you get more than one or two launches off,” said Erin Reid Coker, one of the festival’s organizers. “From a standpoint of size of crowds, it was very impressive, especially Saturday evening.”

Flights on Thursday and Friday were canceled due to wind, but Coker said, “We had a pretty good crowd for what it was.”

“We’re always looking at safety first, which I think most people here are familiar with and are used to and appreciate,” Coker said. “A lot of times, it’s about education. Just letting people know what’s safe, and what’s not safe, in regards to flying and pilots and spectators.”

The main events occurred on Saturday, with an early-morning flight in honor of festival founder Joan Grishkot, an afternoon launch, and a ‘Lighting Up the Night Moonglow’ flight at 8:00 p.m. Coker referred to Saturday as “our really successful day.”

“Conditions were perfect. About half of our balloons launched (in the afternoon), and the other half stayed for the 8 o’clock moonglow,” Coker said. “It’s always nice to be able to pull that Saturday night event off, because it really is the highlight of the event.”

The Moonglow flight saw balloons light up the night sky, synchronized to music.

“Our voice of the festival, Chuck Aiken, did a wonderful job of putting together the music. It’s probably like a 13 minute show where the balloons kind of sync to some different kinds of music,” said Coker. “Specifically, he put together some music that was strictly dedicated to each of the special shapes. There was a snowman balloon, so we had Frosty the Snowman, so we kind of profile that balloon during that particular song.”

Sunday morning saw another tribute to the festival’s founders, with ‘Walter and Joan’s Mass Ascension’ honoring the Joan Grishkot and her husband Walter.

“Sunday mornings are always the quieter morning,” Coker said. “It was another perfect launch, for sure.”

The festival’s closing flight at Crandall Park on Sunday evening was canceled due to rain in the area. But despite the cancellation, and the lack of flights on Thursday and Friday, Coker said the reception of the community was strong.

“We did get a lot of response from people that are just happy to get things back to normal, or getting back to normal,” said Coker. “Everyone was friendly, and happy, and just having a great time. That’s what it’s all about.”

Coker also mentioned that several audience members were even willing to help out, assisting with inflation of the ‘special shapes’ balloons.

“The community really stepped up. We had to grab people out of the crowd and say, ‘Would you help get this balloon inflated, and do this job, and this job?’ And everybody stepped up,” Coker said. “It wasn’t like, ‘No, we’re just here to watch.’ I didn’t hear that once. You’re always finding somebody that’s excited about that experience.”

The festival had 65 total balloons on hand, food vendors, a craft fair, and a large crowd over the weekend, but Coker said that the Balloon Festival still has not gotten back to “100%,” noting that the festival has seen nearly 100 balloons in past years.

“We’re not quite there yet, but I think maybe it was, in some weird way, a nice omen to transition from 15 balloons to 60 balloons, and now with the 50th anniversary next year, to get those 100 balloons back and make the event even more special,” said Coker.

The Adirondack Balloon Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary from Sept. 21 to 24, 2023, Coker said.

“The 50th anniversary, we have a lot of work to do, and hopefully make it something super special for people,” Coker said. “We have some ideas in mind as far as events other than actual launches to celebrate, but those are in pretty early stages.”

Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins, New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, and Glens Falls economic development director Jeff Flagg walk through the city's downtown.

‘A really vibrant area’: New York Secretary of State Visits Glens Falls

Written by Dylan McGlynn on September 22, 2022. Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez joined Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins and other city officials for a tour of Glens Falls’ downtown on Wednesday, showcasing the improvements made to the city as a result of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Rodriguez’ office is currently on a tour of DRI projects around the state. He referred to Glens Falls’ downtown as “a really vibrant area.”

“I think there’s a really great team, and the commitment of the Mayor and the City in supporting the DRI is really critical to that,” said Rodriguez. “We’ve seen a number of the businesses that have benefitted from our investment funds, and you really see that when you’re walking along the streets.”

Mayor Collins said, “This is what happens when you’re successful and you move these projects forward,” in reference to the visit.

“People start to pay attention, and more success breeds success,” Collins said. “The Secretary of State here today, the Lieutenant Governor here three weeks ago. Those are great indicators for a Mayor and a common council. That means that people are happy with what they’re seeing, they’re coming to see what the 10 million dollars is going to be leveraged into.”

Collins said the downtown area has seen $36 million of total investment, counting the $10 million the city received through DRI.

“That’s impressive. That sort of thing can change a downtown,” said Collins. “I believe Glens Falls has been under a revitalization for about 10 to 15 years now. Developers have invested in Glens Falls, and as they’re building, they’re filling things.”

Rodriguez emphasized the support of the Glens Falls community, saying that DRI projects around the state wouldn’t be successful “without local community support.”

“I think DRI is one of those things that the community really rallies behind. We’ve seen it with Glens Falls, but we’ve also seen it 59 other times,” Rodriguez said. “They’re the ones that choose the list of projects that we do. We don’t make it up, they make it up. The community makes it up. That’s what makes it special, and that’s why we have such a high rate of success.”

The tour involved a stop on South Street, “the last piece of the DRI investment,” as Rodriguez referred to it. The City is looking to build a year-round farmer’s market and renovate several buildings on South Street into mixed-use apartments and commercial spaces.

“The South Market, and that South Street corridor is still the last piece of the DRI investment that we’re looking to focus on,” said Rodriguez. “So really, seeing the housing get created around that, breaking ground, making sure that we get the year-round farmer’s market, are the final pieces to completing what has been the vision of Glens Falls around the DRI.”

“This has been a long time coming, six years. All I’m doing is helping carry the football across the end zone,” Collins said. “I’m very excited to be a part of this, and to keep us going forward.

“We need to continue to move forward, make sure we’re not in people’s way, and that our success leads a chance for everybody to come to Glens Falls and prosper.”