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SUNY Adirondack Students Organize Petition Against Sex Offender Enrolled in Classes

Written by Gary Scott on . Posted in Community, Education, Featured, News.

Students at SUNY Adirondack have organized a petition against a registered sex offender currently enrolled in classes at the college.

The controversy began on Sept. 8 when the college sent out a mass email alerting all students that a level three registered sex offender would be attending in-person classes at the college this semester. After the email went out, second-year student Destiny Rose began the petition, which has been signed by 975 people as of Tuesday morning. 

The petition requests that Timothy Philmon, 50, of Glens Falls, be removed from in-person classes, and enrolled in fully virtual classes instead. The petition states, “It is of the opinion of many students that having Timothy Philmon, a level three registered sex offender, on a campus with minors and a daycare, is unethical and unsafe.”

College president Kristine Duffy acknowledged the petition, but said it would be illegal for the college to satisfy this demand. According to college administration, registered sex offenders do have protected rights to pursue an education under the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000, provided that they notify authorities, as Philmon reportedly did.

According to the New York State Sex Offender Registry, Philmon was first convicted of second-degree sodomy in 1997. He had reportedly given marijuana to multiple boys aged 12 to 15 in exchange for sexual favors. 

He was first released on parole in March of 2008, but four months later was charged again with exposing himself to a 15-year-old co-worker. On this charge he pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. As this was in violation of his parole, he was returned to state prison to serve the remainder of his initial sentence.

Capital Region APA Announces New Division in Glens Falls

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Columns, Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — The Capital Region APA Pool League has announced a new nine-ball division for the upcoming season, scheduled to begin in Glens Falls this Sunday, Sept. 25.

“We want to get another format out there,” said Ryan Gilligan, League Operator of the Capital Region APA Pool League. “We do have a Wednesday division that we just started up (in Glens Falls), and that’s eight-ball. The players up there were like, ‘Hey, could we also get the nine-ball format up there as well?’”

The league plays at Downtown Social in Glens Falls at 6 p.m. on Sunday nights over a period of 12 weeks, according to a post on the league’s Facebook page. 

“Our league supports local business, so the Downtown Social, they love having it there, because they’re just hanging out,” Gilligan said. “Just drinking, eating, having a good time.”

There will be 5-8 players per team, with a maximum of 5 players per team participating in a match each week. Gilligan said this means players “don’t have to give up every Sunday,” instead having the option to rotate with other team members.

The nine-ball format sees nine balls on the table, with players starting with the lowest ball. Each ball is worth 1 point, while the nine-ball itself is worth 2 points.

“Depending what your skill level is will depend on how many balls you make,” said Gilligan. “It’s a fun, social league. Anyone can play. If you’re a lesser player, you have to make less balls to win the match. If you’re a higher skill level player, you have to make more.”

Each team requires a mix of skill levels, with Gilligan saying that the league has a “team skill-level limit.”

Gilligan said that several teams have signed up for the league already, which begins this Sunday. 

The first-place team in the league will automatically qualify for Tri-Annuals, while division and playoff winners will also qualify. Tri-Annuals will see these teams compete against other winners from the Capital Region, according to the league’s Facebook page.

Tri-Annual winning teams will receive a cash prize of $600, and advance to the Capital Region APA World Qualifiers in June 2023. The World Qualifiers will take place at the Albany Capital Center.

Winners at the World Qualifiers will advance to the World’s Largest Pool Tournament, held in Las Vegas in August 2023. The grand prize for the World’s Largest Pool Tournament is $30,000.

Gilligan said participation in the league has grown in recent years, emphasizing the social aspect of the league. 

“After the pandemic, I feel like people are itching to get out of the house and do something new,” said Gilligan. “Our league has been growing significantly after the pandemic. We actually grew coming out of the pandemic, where we had more teams coming out than we had starting.

“It’s like a social thing, that’s what our league is. We bring people together.”

The entry fee is $50 per team, plus an annual APA membership fee of $25. To join or register a team, visit the Capital Region APA Pool League page on Facebook, or call (518) 630-5664.

Warren County Property Auction Set for Oct. 15

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Downtown, Featured, News, Property.

Photo: auctionftp.com

QUEENSBURY — The Warren County Real Property Tax Services Office will hold its annual live public auction on Saturday, Oct. 15, according to a press release from the County.

Over two dozen tax-foreclosed properties will be available for purchase, the release states. The auction will be held at the Warren County Courthouse. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the auction itself set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

The release states that 27 parcels are on the auction list in total, including “a motel, single family homes, commercial property, and vacant lots.” 

The auction proceeds are used toward funding environmental cleanup and recouping “lost tax revenues needed for public services,” the County said in the release.

A full list of properties and details can be found on auctionsinternational.com. 

Adirondack Balloon Festival Begins Thursday, Glen Street to Be Closed at 3 p.m.

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Columns, Community, Downtown, Entertainment, Featured, News.

GLENS FALLS — Due to the Adirondack Balloon Festival, there will be no parking allowed on Glen Street after 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, according to a release from the City.

Glen Street will be closed from the traffic circle to South Street, the release states. The Balloon Festival will be holding a “Downtown Block Party” from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., kicking off a weekend of fun and balloons.

The Block Party will have balloon baskets on display, in addition to a car show and activities for kids, according to a release from the City.

In addition to the downtown party, festivities at Crandall Park will kick off at 4 p.m. on Thursday with the opening of food vendors. At 4:30 p.m., Beatin’ the Odds, a southern rock band from Clifton Park, will perform. 

Opening ceremonies for the Balloon Festival will be at 5 p.m. at Crandall Park on Thursday, with a flight of “10+ balloons” to follow at 5:30 p.m., according to a release from the city. 

Young Eagles Day Coming to Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport Oct. 1

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Community, Education, Featured, News.

QUEENSBURY — Kids with an interest in aviation will get a chance to learn about and fly in planes up close on Oct. 1, with Young Eagles Day coming to the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury. 

Young Eagles Day is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, which has flown over two million ‘young eagles’ in total, according to the EAA website. The Queensbury event is organized by EAA Chapter 353.

“We give the kids, for 15 minutes or so, they’ll walk around what you’d see on an introductory flight,” said Harrison Freer, the EAA Chapter 353 Young Eagles Coordinator. “Then we match them up with a pilot, either in a two-seat or four-seat airplane, and take them up for a ride.”

Kids aged 8-17 are eligible to participate in the event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. There will be multiple planes on hand, with Freer saying that he expects “probably half a dozen planes available,” as well as a ground crew.

The event was also held at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in June and October of 2019, with Freer stating that “between 40 and 60 participants” were at each one.

In addition to the flights, participants also receive a certificate and a logbook, which allows access to an online training program.

“As part of the logbook, they’re able to go online and get free access to an online flight training program called Learn to Fly by Sportys,” said Freer. “This online training course prepares people, in this case youth, to learn everything they need to know to get their private pilot written test passed.

“That’s another benefit that, again, at the Experimental Aircraft Association level, it is made available to anybody that participates.”

Freer, who served in the Air Force and said he has been flying for almost 50 years, said there is “a real growing need for professional aviation.”

“It can be both a hobby and a profession, or either or,” said Freer. “But the airline pilot projection is that there’s going to be a shortage of airline pilots for the next 10 to 15 years.”

The Young Eagles program is a way to introduce kids to aviation, and offer further opportunities to aspiring pilots.

“There’s a lot of opportunities, professionally and for fun,” Freer said.

To register, visit eaa.org.

City of Glens Falls to Install Parking Sensors, Renovate East Field Courts

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

GLENS FALLS — The City of Glens Falls will undergo a pair of construction projects in the coming weeks. 

The city will have parking sensors installed in “certain downtown locations,” according to a press release. The sensors will be installed below the streets. Cones are being placed to mark the locations of the sensor installations.

The sensors will be installed as a “precursor for the future development” of a city parking plan, the release states. The work is expected to be completed between today and Thursday.

The city will also work to refurbish the East Field basketball courts, following a contract award from the Glens Falls Common Council last week. A press release states that the city’s engineering department has received a signed contract and a Certificate of Insurance.

A pre-construction meeting will be held at the basketball courts at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The release states that the contractor “would like to begin work as soon as next week.” The courts will be closed for the duration of construction, with the release saying the contractor hopes to finish in a four-week period, “if temperatures allow the coatings to be applied.”

Glens Falls Senior Center Hosting Senior Expo Sept. 21

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

GLENS FALLS — A Senior Expo will be held on Sept. 21 at Heritage Hall inside Cool Insuring Arena, providing relevant resources and information to the senior community. The event is being run by the Glens Falls Senior Center.

The Expo is scheduled to run from 1 to 7 p.m. Kim Bren, Executive Director of the Glens Falls Senior Center, said the goal is for the Expo to be a “one-stop shop” for seniors.

“I wanted to cover the whole gamut as people go through the aging process, and know what information is out there and services that are available to you,” said Bren. 

Bren mentioned home repairs/services, home healthcare, assisted living, nursing homes, end-of-life planning, healthcare proxies, insurance, realtors, bankers, and nonprofit organizations as some of the services that will be available. She also said that a senior service specialist from the Senior Center will be on hand at the event.

“We’ll have the insurance companies, since open enrollment is coming up in October. Most of the insurance companies have picked a table that will be there for the plans,” Bren said. “We have some assisted living facilities, we have some nursing home facilities. … We have Glens Falls Housing, they’ll be there. The Cedars (Senior Living Community Apartments). We’re just trying to cover the whole range. We have attorneys that will be there too.”

This is the first Senior Expo to be held by the Senior Center, with Bren saying she hopes “we’ll do really well.”

“We’re going to run it from 1-7, so if you’re still working, there’s time to come after work to check things out,” said Bren, who emphasized that the event is not solely for seniors. 

“We have people that call here that are looking for services for mom and dad, so it’s not just for seniors. It’s for the community. If you have an aging person that you take care of, or a neighbor, or you know of someone who might need these services, it’s good to know this information.”

Bren, who has worked for the Senior Center for eight years, said the idea came from a similar event held near her hometown.

“I’m not from the area, and my grandmother and her friends used to go to a senior expo at Massena Arena, where I’m from,” Bren said. “I just thought, well this is something that would be fabulous down here to get the information out to the community of everything that can be available.”

There are currently 64 vendors signed up for the Expo, according to Bren. 

“I was very surprised at the number of vendors we have received, and I’m so grateful for all of them,” she said. “It’s going to be a great show. It’s going to run just like a business show. They’ll have their table, you can stop and talk to them and request information.”

While this is the first Expo to be held by the Senior Center, Bren said the goal is to make the event an annual occurrence and the main fundraiser for the organization.

“I would love to make it an annual thing. What we want to do is have it be our signature fundraiser for the year,” said Bren. “That way, we are doing a fundraiser, but yet we’re also helping the community.”

The Senior Center will also put together a resource guide following the Expo, “so if someone has a question, we can give them that information,” said Bren.

Romeo Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the Expo, while CDPHP and Hudson Headwaters Health Network are silver sponsors. 

“Just hopefully everybody comes out, and we get some really good attendance,” Bren said. “I just think it’s going to be super.”

Warren County Celebrates Workers at Great Escape

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business, Community, Featured, News, Workforce.

Photo from warrencountyny.gov.

QUEENSBURY — Warren County celebrated hospitality and retail workers at the Six Flags Great Escape on Monday, September 12, offering prizes, food, and rides.

Over 200 local workers attended the event, according to a press release from the County. The Warren County Employment and Training Administration held the event in collaboration with the Great Escape to “reward the often unsung heroes of our tourism and retail industries,” states the release.

“It was our pleasure to host the inaugural seasonal employee appreciation event last night,” said Great Escape Resort President Rebecca Wood in the release. “It was amazing to see the business participation and to support our collective workforce. We look forward to making this an annual celebration. Our teams deserve the best.”

Gift cards to restaurants and stores, as well as free tickets to “local attractions” were given out to employees during the event. Attendees were informed of winter employment opportunities at Gore Mountain and Ice Castles, and offerings from the Warren County Employment and Training Administration.

“While the workforce shortage continues across all sectors, it is important that we celebrate and retain our workforce to keep our economy going,” said Liza Ochsendorf, Warren County Director of Employment and Training in the release. “This event was a team effort that included the enthusiastic partnership of Six Flags Great Escape, the generous donations of prizes from many local businesses and the time the hospitality businesses took to nominate their employees for the various awards categories. Warren County is now a 365-day tourism economy and we have plenty of work for everyone year-round.”

Proceeds from ticket sales went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, the release states, with guests of employees costing $5. Workers were admitted for free.

“We have seen a multitude of benefits when our returning seasonal workers work elsewhere in the winter,” said Patrick Welton, Resort Manager of Lake George Escape Campground, in the release. “They have additional skills, experience, and they can cross-promote our area’s offerings. I intend on giving two additional paid days off to my returning seasonal workers who obtained a winter job somewhere else.”

Staff from Glens Falls Hospital also sold raffle tickets, with the winner receiving a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid from Romeo Toyota. The drawing will take place in February 2023, according to the release.

“The goal is that this event will become a fixture on the Monday evening following Adirondack Nationals Car Show, so hospitality businesses can mark their calendars in advance and come celebrate together,” says the release.

Brookfield Renewable Expands Footprint

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Business, Featured, Local Leads, News.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Brookfield hosted a ribbon cutting at 407 Big Bay Road. Joining their leadership and operators were representatives of the Warren-Washington IDA, Warren County Economic Development Corporation, the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, as well as state and local officials.

QUEENSBURY — Building upon their investment in New York State, Brookfield Renewable has expanded their footprint in Warren County by relocating their national control center to Queensbury from Marlborough, Massachusetts.

In addition to more than doubling the size of its workforce, Brookfield has made a multimillion-dollar investment in a new facility adjacent to the current office. Brookfield, which employs a staff of 35 people at an office at 399 Big Bay Road, has built a new office to house 50 new jobs in operations, project management, information technology and regulatory compliance

Operators will monitor 140 hydroelectric dams situated across the United States, as well as wind, solar and battery storage sites. Activity at the control center requires staffing 24 hours a day and seven days a week to ensure that power generation remains consistent.

“Expanding our operations here in Queensbury was certainly the best decision for Brookfield. Having the control center in the same location as staff working at our original office on Big Bay Road will enable us to integrate the national system control center employees into a regional office with other personnel and duties,” said National System Control Center Senior Director Tony Zarrella.

Zarrella also noted that the new location will foster a synergy with his operators and field operations, will enhance recruitment and advancement opportunities, and promote a better work-life balance within the workforce. 

Zarrella continued, “This community provides quality of life benefits that are second to none.”

To assist with the relocation, the Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency approved a $513,000 incentive package including $210,000 in sales tax exemptions and a $303,000 property tax savings over 10 years.

Job listings will be posted on Indeed.com, said Stakeholder Relations Manager Mark Luciano. Anyone interested in learning more about the positions or the company can visit brookfieldrenewableus.com.

Former Aldi Supermarket Potential Site for New Plasma Collection Facility

Written by Gary Scott on . Posted in Featured, News.

ImmunoTek Bio Centers have their sights set on Queensbury for a possible expansion.

The Texas-based health care company has been seeking to expand across the country, with new plasma donation facilities currently under construction in over a dozen states. These facilities are operated under two different brand names: ImmunoTek Plasma and Freedom Plasma.

Their expansion into New York has already begun, with plans for two new Freedom Plasma sites in Syracuse and Johnson City–a village in the Binghamton metropolitan area.

ImmunoTek is also seeking approval for a facility in Queensbury. They have filed documents with the town to take over the former Aldi market location at 176 Quaker Road.

This 2.3 acre property is home to a 15,500 square foot building which has been vacant for nearly three years. In October 2019, Aldi relocated to a building more than twice the size: the former Toys R Us location on Upper Glen Street. ImmunoTek hopes to renovate this property into a new plasma donation facility.

Plasma is a pale yellow liquid component of blood containing valuable proteins that help the body stop bleeding, and aid the immune system in fighting off infection. ImmunoTek uses this plasma to develop new vaccines and treatments for individuals suffering from blood disorders, immunodeficiency disorders, and other various illnesses.

Plasma cannot be synthetically produced, which is why ImmunoTek relies on willing donations from regular citizens, even providing compensation for the time spent in their collection facilities. Since its foundation in 2012, the company has collected over six million plasma donations.

ImmunoTek estimates an investment of $2.2 million will be put toward renovations of the property. They plan to utilize the space to accommodate three dozen beds for plasma donors. The company also estimates an availability for 30 job positions will be created by the facility.

A representative of the Queensbury Planning Department confirmed that further action would be discussed at the September 20 planning board meeting.