This week we chatted with Maria Nissi! She shares the sweet story of their home’s history (and the power of a neighborhood hello!), as well as the top three things that influenced her to move back to Glens Falls — not once, but twice!
Tell us about yourself!
Hi there! I’m Maria, and I live in Glens Falls with my husband, Joe Haun, and our two kiddos, Joey (10 this week) and Flannery (almost 7).
I’m an independent college advisor, which means I support high school students and their parents through the college search and admissions process. My goal is to turn an often stressful period into one of self-discovery, where the student owns the process and gets excited about the next big phase of their lives. Many of my students are local, but I also work remotely with students from all over the country.
My job requires me to be a lifelong student of colleges (not in the way I wish, as in my college years never ending!) - so I try to visit at least one campus whenever I leave the area.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I’m not originally from Glens Falls, but within the span of ten years, I moved back twice. How’s that for Hometown USA love? I’m originally from another river city called Haverhill, MA, and I’ve also lived in NYC, South America, and Montana before settling in upstate NY.
There is so much to love about Glens Falls. For me, it hits the trifecta: great schools, beautiful public spaces, and awesome people.
The Schools: There’s something special about every child living within walking distance of their elementary school and moving up to a centrally located middle and high school. I’m not a city planner, but I am certain this design cultivates community! The Glens Falls teachers and administrators truly care about the kids both inside and outside of the classroom. It’s been great to watch my own children and the high schoolers I work with flourish as a result of the supportive environment they show up to every day.
The Parks: We live across the street from Crandall Park and Cole’s Woods and spend a ton of time there playing soccer and pickleball, shooting hoops, and cross-country skiing under the lights. I think of the energy of Crandall Park, Cole’s Woods, and the YMCA as the collective heartbeat of the city.
And The People: We were still unpacking the moving truck when our neighbors showed up to introduce themselves and exchange phone numbers in case we needed anything. I also live two doors down from my best friend of 25 years and therefore consider myself the luckiest person in the world.
We own a sturdy old colonial on Fort Amherst. I wouldn’t call her a fixer-upper, but she’s a work in progress. My husband is a historic preservationist, so living in a construction zone is a marital hazard! Our house has a special history, which I’ll get to next.
On the Past
A favorite Glens Falls moment happened about five years ago, a few days after we moved into our house. Our neighbors, Ann and Chirp, both in their late 80s at the time and newly married, rang our doorbell and handed us a welcome present. Talking to us like old friends, Ann told us how she had raised her children in our house. About 30 years ago, when her kids had grown, she and her late husband built the house across the street, where she and Chirp now lived.
Soon after, we met Ann’s son Michael, who gave us old photographs documenting some renovations and told us more about the house’s history. Ann and Chirp have both since passed away, and Joe and I feel lucky that they welcomed us into their lives when they did. Oh, the power of a hello!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect day in and around the city is a typical Saturday in the winter. I head to my office at WorkSmart for a couple of hours to meet with a student or two, pick up the kids from morning sports, and head to Gore to meet friends on the mountain. If we’re not too exhausted, we grab dinner at Fenimore’s and let the kids run around the lobby of The Q while Ray plays piano.
On the Future
If I could magically bring one thing to Glens Falls, it would be an outdoor community pool. I grew up going to a local swim club, the summer hub of recreation and water sports for the town. Maybe someday we can bring back something like the old Glens Falls Swim and Tennis Club!
