This week we’re getting to know Katy Cook! It’s always fun to hear stories of folks moving here from out of town (or across the country, in her case!), falling in love with the area, and staying put. Read on to find out what brought her here, where she graduated (with a class of 12!), and the Glens Falls favorites that have kept her local.
Tell us about yourself!
Hi there! My name is Katy Cook, and I am the Telehealth Project Manager at Adirondack Health Institute (AHI), located across from the Queensbury Hotel in downtown Glens Falls. I have been working in health care for almost eight years now and truly love the work I get to do at AHI. I help health care facilities of all types to develop virtual care programs or service lines for their patients to better access specialists and care that is often hard to reach or find in more rural areas. I am also a trainer/coach part-time at Lake George CrossFit, located on Bay Rd. (I am sure many of you drive by and see our large bay doors open and people working out inside!)
I graduated from Utica College with my Master’s degree in Health Care Administration and have lived in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area for close to ten years now. I live in Queensbury with my four-year-old cat named Marshmallow who is basically my son.
On Life in Glens Falls
I actually was born and raised in Southern California until I was 11 years old, and we (my parents and brother and I) made a cross-country move to a very tiny town many of you may know, Minerva, NY. It was quite a transition coming from sunny beaches to snowy winters. I graduated from Minerva with a class of 12! I would never trade my time in that tiny town for anything, there is something truly special about a small community like that.
Once I graduated, I was itching to go away for college and spent a year at SUNY Oswego. I quickly realized that I missed the area and returned home to get my undergraduate degree from the SUNY Plattsburgh extension campus at SUNY Adirondack. I was one of the first few classes to graduate from that program and I am so thankful that SUNY Adirondack has helped create these opportunities for continuing one’s college education.
Through my time at SUNY Plattsburgh, I made the move from Minerva to Glens Falls, and have lived in various homes and apartments in the area for the last decade. My parents recently relocated from Minerva to South Glens Falls, so it is nice to have them nearby. I currently have a seven-minute drive to work and I really cannot beat that commute!
What keeps me in the area is how much the city has to offer, and how much the city has grown in the last few years. Glens Falls is truly a community that supports their own and is slowly adding in great new dining options, housing options, outdoor activities, and more! I encourage my out of town friends to give Glens Falls a chance and when they do, they are always pleasantly surprised at how much the city has to offer!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
A perfect Glens Falls day would start with a workout at Lake George CrossFit or a run in Cole’s Woods, followed by breakfast at Spektor, their nitro cold brew lattes are my kryptonite! I try to get to the Saturday Farmer’s Market when I can, it is such a lively environment and so important to support local farmers. I love to grab lunch from Gourmet Café – their California Club Wrap is my favorite! My favorite beauty spot is Beauty Bubble – they are a great group of women who are very talented at what they do (check them out for an amazing facial or set of lashes!) I also enjoy walking around City Park on a nice day and would wrap up the day with dinner at Downtown Social with friends – their new menu is out of this world and I am so happy to have yet another great food option downtown!
On the Future
I would love to see the Cool Insuring Arena book some major music or comedy acts. This would be a great way to bring people into town and bolster the local economy for a night or two. I am also very excited to see what else is in the works for the South Street projects! Lastly, it would be great to have a healthy grocery store in Glens Falls, maybe not downtown, but nearby (I’m thinking Whole Foods or maybe a Healthy Living!)
Thanks, Katy! We would love to see a Healthy Living up this way!!
P.S. Check out more from our My Glens Falls series here.