When Michael Jordan Played in Glens Falls

As millions watch the 10-part Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance” on ESPN, we thought it would be fun to look back to Oct. 15, 1984, when Jordan, then a 21-year-old rookie and the third pick in that year’s NBA draft, played in a pre-season game at the Glens Falls Civic Center. 

Jordan hit the game-winning shot late in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls edged the New York Knicks, 91-90, in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 6,386 fans that included Albany Patroons Coach Phil Jackson, who would later team with Jordan to win six NBA championships.

Jeff Casey was a water boy for the Bulls that night. His father Dave Casey was the Hall of Fame athletic trainer for the Adirondack Red Wings, and Jeff was a wide-eyed 9-year-old who was crazy about basketball like his dad.

Jeff Casey

“Michael Jordan was the rookie coming into the league,” Jeff told Glens Falls Living, “but I had no idea he would turn into what he did. The other guys on the team treated him like a rookie.

“I just remember it being very loud,” Jeff said. “It reminded me of the old Red Wings games. It was a huge crowd, and I think a lot of it was because the Knicks came up.”

The Knicks were led by future Hall of Famer Bernard King, a legitimate star at the time.

“I think Jordan outplayed King that night,” Jeff said. “It was a normal pre-season NBA game. The players were interacting with the fans behind the bench. All of the guys were very personable. They were asking me, ‘How’d you get this gig? Who do you know?’ They knew they were talking to a nine-year-old kid, and they made it fun.”

After the game, Dave Casey asked Chicago’s athletic trainer if he had anything that the players could sign as a keepsake for Jeff. 

“He said he didn’t with him, but told us when he got back to Chicago, he would have the players sign something and send it to me, and he did,” Jeff said. The vintage Bulls pennant is now framed.

A close up of Jeff Casey’s autographed pennant, with Michael Jordan’s signature in red at the top.

MJ finished with 21 points on 10-for-18 shooting. He tied the game in the final three minutes with a layup, and then hit a clutch jumper to give the Bulls the lead they would never relinquish.

In a recent Times Union story, reporter Mark Singlelais said Jordan told reporters after the game, “I don’t have to become a superstar. I want our team to become a winning basketball team.”

It seems he accomplished that goal, starting with a pre-season game in downtown Glens Falls!

GORDON WOODWORTH

A South Glens Falls native, Gordon Woodworth is a respected and well-connected voice of the community. As a journalist, he has covered the Glens Falls region for more than 20 years. Read his full bio here, and click here to follow along with him on Facebook - he’s always reporting!

To Go: The Log Jam

Have you been to The Log Jam lately? And by “been” we mean - have you grabbed dinner to go? We took a ride up to Lake George, picked up a delicious meal (it smelled so good in the car on the way home!), and chatted with General Manager Tony Grecco to find out how they’re doing, how they’ve evolved to take on the pandemic, and how the challenges have made them stronger - hear it all from him (and check out that amazing meal!) below!

On Pause

The challenges since this all started have been numerous...

To name a few: the logistics of how to go from dine in to pick up and delivery, staffing & training, what kind of menu to do, what our hours should be, how to let people know that we are still open, getting the correct supplies for packing food, how much food to prep and order, pricing, and deciding if this was all worth staying open for. We also wondered how to make contributions to the community while at the same time trying to keep ourselves afloat.

Chicken Piccata

On Evolving

We started out doing our normal lunch and dinner menu and realized the menu and hours were not feasible. We then went to one combined menu. After the first week we went from opening at 11:30 to opening at 3:00 or 4:00 each day. Last week we changed again and started opening at 1:00pm each day using one menu all day.

We now do specials each day, which are items that are not on the regular menu. We also do family style which feeds 4 people at a reduced price.

While we started out only doing beer, we have since developed a "Quarantine Cocktail" list which has proved to be very popular. Sometimes we will include a drink with the special of the day.

As we have slowly started to bring back our staff, we’ve realized that we have to train people to the new ways, whether it be the mechanics of the operation or using masks and gloves.

One of our most popular items has always been Prime Rib.  At first we didn’t have that on the take out menu, because of the time it takes to cook and us wanting to minimize the waste. By talking to customers who called we realized people were interested in it.  We now have Prime Rib on the menu every night...while it lasts.

We’ve also signed up for DoorDash and GrubHub to give us more exposure.

On the bright side

We have lots of people that order every week, and it’s been wonderful talking to them while taking orders over the phone - hearing their ideas on what they like or don't like, and thanking them for their support. 

We’ve come from doing 10-20 people a day to doing over 100 on weekends. Many people doubted if we would be able to pull it off. It's kind of like we accepted the challenge and ran with it. We feel it is a great accomplishment to where we are right now.  

There is a core group of staff that has stayed with us and worked very hard. We ran on a very thin staff, especially in the kitchen. We have since started hiring back staff and everyone has been on board. Seeing everyone's dedication is very rewarding, though not surprising.

Fresh Sea Scallops

On the Future

It’s been important to learn from the hard times. A few lessons:

Social Media, Social Media, Social Media - it’s more important than I ever thought.

Also important: thinking outside the box, learning to adapt, and making decisions on the fly.

We may do some different things with our menu when we reopen that we might not have otherwise done. 

We’ll be keeping things like DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats etc. and continuing to tap into the take out market.

Most importantly, never take things for granted.

Tony Grecco, The Log Jam General Manager

The Log Jam
Website / Facebook / Instagram

For updates on all of your favorite local businesses, click here.

This story was made possible by the Beef Jerky Experience, located in The Outlets of Lake George East.

“It has been truly extraordinary to see how the community has come together to support local small businesses during this unprecedented time. As a specialty grocery store, we have kept our doors open so that the community can stock up on high protein, long shelf life products for their pantries. We have increased our sanitation measures in-store and offer curbside pick-up of our products. We also ship, and if you spend $100 or more the shipping is on us. You can order online at www.lakegeorgejerky.com. Thank you for the support you have shown us during this time!”

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

Enter to win a $20 gift card to The Log Jam!

Thank you for participating! The giveaway has ended - congratulations to our winner, Michelle B.!

The Weekender: May 15 - 17

It’s 70 degrees, the weekend is in sight, and we’ve got big plans…to build some raised beds for our garden. Just another activity to check off the list of quarantine clichés (you know, like organizing the closet, baking bread, playing Yahtzee…). We digress.

We’re just as bummed as you are to have heard about all of the summer cancellations this week, so here are a few things that aren’t cancelled for this weekend: 

Ice Cream: Yep, Martha’s and Rob and Deb’s are both opening this weekend! We’re sharing this suggestion in a hushed whisper because there’s a decent chance that EVERYONE will be headed out for ice cream this weekend, so, our disclaimer alert: be safe, wear your mask, practice social distancing, and be prepared to change plans if there’s a huge crowd. And most of all, enjoy your ice cream! You’ve earned it ;) 

Cocktails to Go: We just saw that Radici Kitchen is now offering cocktails to go - yes, please! By the way, if you haven’t tried their take-out yet, click here to check out some of our favorites - perfect for a porch date night!

Adirondack Theatre Festival: Okay, so the in person event is indeed canceled (agh!) BUT we are psyched to hear that they’ll still be offering an On Demand option! This cancelation is a huge bummer for downtown as well, as it always draws so many folks who patronize other businesses before and after the shows. Check out their On Demand offering here and consider making a donation if you’re in a position to do so - it will support ATF in this off-season, you’ll get access to cool content, and bonus - $25 of every donation will go towards purchasing a gift card to the local restaurant or shop of your choosing. Win-win.

Food Truck Corral: Not this weekend, but we wanted to give you a heads up that the Food Truck Corral at The Shirt Factory is back (with lots of new precautions in place!) next Thursday, May 21 from 4-8pm. Sounds like they’ll have a website for pre-order / pre pay / curbside pickup going live in the next few days, so stay tuned on their Facebook page for updates!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Hometown News: May 13

This week in Hometown News, Gordon shares where the Glens Falls region stands on reopening, a county by county COVID round-up, the latest on Sgt. Arthur Coon’s recovery, and - you probably don’t want to hear what else is canceled - but we’ve got that too (and much more).

Glens Falls Region Awaits the Green Light to Reopen

As the North Country, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier prepare to gradually emerge from the statewide “COVID-19 pause” on Friday, Warren County waits with the other seven counties of the Capital Region to meet the data-driven benchmarks necessary to start reopening the economy.

Warren County meets all seven benchmarks individually, but will be lumped in with Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, Columbia and Greene Counties in the Capital Region in determining when the reopening process can start.

On Tuesday, Governor Cuomo announced that the Capital Region had met six of seven benchmarks, but in his Wednesday morning press briefing, he said they now meet five of seven.

Administrator Ryan Moore, who is in charge of compiling and analyzing the data for Warren County, hadn’t heard that news when we spoke to him early Wednesday afternoon.

“Well that’s a punch in the gut,” he said. “But Warren County is still seven for seven.”

He said he’ll know more after his daily 2 p.m. conference call with the Governor’s office.

The Capital Region has not yet met the benchmarks for 14-day decline in net hospitalizations or less than 15 new hospitalizations (3-day average) or for a 14-day decline in hospital deaths or fewer than five deaths (3-day average).

The process of reopening will be done in four phases, Gov. Cuomo says. Phase I includes the resumption of construction and manufacturing. Curbside-only retail, wholesale trade and agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing and hunting may also restart.

Each phase must be separated by at least 14 days, and will be monitored closely by county officials like Mr. Moore. When new benchmarks are reached, the next phase can begin.

Phase 2 includes professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support, real estate, renting and leasing. Phase 3 includes restaurants and food service. And Phase 4 includes arts, entertainment, recreation and education.

You can check out the NYS regional monitoring dashboard here.

COVID-19, County by County

The novel coronavirus continues to dominate local news.

Warren County now has seen 26 residents die of COVID-19. Twenty of those deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. Three people remain hospitalized, six are in critical condition in the hospital or another facility. There have been 213 cases overall in Warren County. 134 residents have recovered, and there are 53 active cases.

Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 190 total cases since the pandemic began. 122 residents have recovered, with 57 cases still active.

Saratoga County reports 14 deaths, 318 residents currently in isolation or quarantine, 404 confirmed cases overall, and nine people hospitalized as of Wednesday.

NY State reports through May 12 that 11 residents of Glens Falls Center in Queensbury have died, with another five deaths presumed to be COVID-19 related. Ten residents of Fort Hudson in Fort Edward have died. Four residents of The Pines in Glens Falls have died, with two additional presumed cases.

At Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Fort Ann, the state reports that as of Monday at 3 p.m., a total of 33 inmates had been infected. That’s one more than the state reported Saturday. There are no tests pending, and eight inmates tested negative. Eighteen inmates have recovered, and seven are currently being treated. At Washington Correctional Facility across the street, there are no inmates currently infected. Two inmates tested negative earlier this month.

Outpouring of Love and Support for Sgt. Arthur Coon

Retired National Guard recruiter Sgt. Arthur P. Coon is recovering in Albany Medical Center from a stroke he suffered Monday morning.

Hannah Coon, the daughter of Sgt. Coon and his wife Julie, told Glens Falls Living Tuesday that “we are a lot more hopeful now. We’re very, very happy.”

She said her father had FaceTimed with them earlier in the day, acknowledging their commands and reacting to prompts. He was still ventilated at that point after undergoing surgery Monday afternoon to remove one of three blood clots.

Tuesday evening, the family posted another update on Facebook, writing, “We have some…updates tonight that we’re very optimistic about. We talked to my dad’s nurse and she said he was laughing at her jokes and smiling. She called back a short time later and my dad wanted to call us when asked.

“He is shockingly now breathing without the ventilator. He was able to say ‘hi’ but of course his throat isn’t the best right now from the vent. We don’t even have words, we’re completely shocked.”

Hannah said her father, who started the annual Christmas Eve March in Glens Falls, is “the healthiest person I know. He exercises two to three hours a day, he eats healthy. His family has a history of heart problems and strokes, and that is what he was trying to avoid.”

He tested negative for COVID-19, she said, and doctors are hoping the blood clot at the base of his brain will dissolve without surgery.

Because of hospital restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 virus, no one has been able to visit Sgt. Coon.

“That’s been really tough on my mom,” Hannah said. “We understand, but it’s hard. He takes care of her. It’s hard just being home waiting for a call.”

But they are buoyed by the support of family and friends.

“We know the impact he’s had on the community,” she said. “It’s so overwhelming. It’s crazy all of the people who are praying so hard for him. People are offering hotel rooms and rides to Albany. Someone in Massachusetts called and said he was coming up to mow my mom’s lawn.

“My dad is such a great person. The support is so overwhelming in a good way. I truly believe all the the thoughts and prayers have gotten him to where he is now.”

~ Grab the latest regarding Sgt. Coon’s status on Facebook by clicking here.

Some Noteworthy Facts and Figures from Warren County’s Partnership for Recovery Report

The EDC of Warren County and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce coordinated a countywide effort called the Warren County Partnership for Recovery: Situation Report on COVID-19 and Recovery Needs. The report was released Tuesday.

Its executive summary says, “What is clear from this initial, baseline assessment is that significant recovery funding from the federal government is urgently needed. Without it, Warren County local governments and agencies, colleges and schools, public services, essential health care providers and private-sector businesses and community organizations will suffer steep and continuing economic losses. Some businesses and organizations will recover; others may cease to exist.”

In a 113-page report, several things jumped out at me. Among them:

“The Warren County Treasurer forecasts a decline in sales tax revenue approaching $10 million in the current calendar year. To mitigate these losses, the county is developing a plan to reduce current year expenses by $4 million to $5 million. This could require, among other things, a hiring freeze, staffing consolidations, mergers of county departments, postponement of collective bargaining negotiations, and salary and wage freezes for nonunion personnel.” 
“Warren County also stands to lose millions of dollars in state aid if Congress and the President fail to include substantial state and local government assistance in a stimulus bill. The New York State Association of Counties is warning that the state may be forced to reduce aid to local governments by 50 percent, a potential $8.7 million loss to Warren County. The result would be a dramatic loss of vital local services, massive property tax increases or a combination of the two.”

Glens Falls Hospital

“Glens Falls Hospital, the essential health care services provider and largest employer in the county, is facing major financial challenges. The hospital sustained a 2019 operating loss of $14.9 million, the result of insufficient federal and state reimbursements and overall declines in patient volume. It sustained operating losses in the first quarter of 2020 totaling nearly $11 million. 
“In March, New York State ordered all hospitals to develop plans for a surge of patients and to halt elective procedures to ensure there were sufficient beds for COVID-19 patients. As a result, Glens Falls Hospital sacrificed $27 million in revenue while investing $5 million in the required COVID-19 preparations. The financial pressures led to the furlough of more than 360 employees and reductions in salaries for administrators and physicians. Thus far, the assistance Glens Falls Hospital has received from the federal government totals $6 million.”

Hudson Headwaters

“The Hudson Headwaters Health Network, too, has experienced a significant drop in revenue as a result of the restrictions on non-emergent and elective medical procedures. During the week before the state of emergency was declared, Hudson Headwaters had 7,013 patient encounters at its 19 health centers, with only 29 percent of the appointment slots empty. In a recent week, HHHN had only 3,122 in-person patient encounters, and half of an already reduced number of appointment slots went unfilled.”

Tourism

“Tourism generates millions of dollars in sales and occupancy taxes that help fund Warren County government. The industry generates more than $600 million in direct spending annually and more than 9,000 jobs. Warren County lodging facilities sell 1 million room nights a year. 
“In 2019, the county’s 4 percent occupancy tax produced $4.8 million which, in turn, was invested in tourism promotion, marketing and events. The closely related second home, real estate, construction, cultural and retail sectors generate significant additional economic activity. 
“This year, tourism community leaders believe that visitor spending may be reduced by as much as 50 percent. Already, hotel occupancy appears to be down 75 percent from normal levels and the numbers of employees working in year-round operations have been reduced as much as 80 percent.”

Schools

“Warren County’s school districts also are planning for a possible return to traditional classroom instruction in the summer or fall, depending on direction from the state Education Department. Educators are addressing the special challenges of requiring face masks and enforcing social distancing and handwashing among children and acquiring sufficient PPE for teachers and staff. 
“Having been physically out of a classroom for months, students’ academic progress and needs have to be assessed. Students with special needs may need specific additional support as they return to school. 
“Deep cleaning and disinfecting schools and buses every day will cost more money. Schools are exploring options for continuing extracurricular and sports activities with social distancing. These activities are not only important to students’ development, but some students depend on sports, music and theater scholarships to attend college.”

Retail

“The impacts on the retail community have been significant. At Aviation Mall, only two businesses are open on a daily basis. April and May rent payments are down in excess of 80 percent and well short of the revenue required to pay operating costs, property taxes and debt service. Some bricks-and-mortar retailers are filing for bankruptcy. Some national estimates suggest 25 percent or more of small businesses will not be able to re-open following the pandemic.” 

The Arts

“Local arts, theater and cultural organizations, whose annual events attract thousands of local people and visitors, are in danger of having to cancel their seasons and forgo the financial support necessary to support their continued operation. The organizations have lost grant, ticket and sponsorship revenues, and some report a decline in charitable donations. Yet most still bear rent and other contractual expenses. Staff have been furloughed at several organizations. Some groups are reluctant to engage in detailed planning for future events until there is clear guidance on a date for reopening and social-distancing regulations that will need to be followed. "

Human Services

“The Salvation Army blew through its entire fiscal year 2020 food budget in 40 days,” according to EDC’s Ed Bartholomew and the ARCC’s Mike Bittel.

“Human service agencies are also considering how to reduce services to the vulnerable populations they serve. CWI has been informed of a 20 percent cut to its funding at a time when many of its services already were operating at a deficit.” 

You Probably Don’t Want to Hear What Else is Canceled, but…

The City of Glens Falls just released a slew of cancelations for the summer, which includes Kids Club Day Camp, the City Band Concert Series, the closure of Haviland’s Cove Beach, East Field Pool, basketball courts, playgrounds, and more. You can read the full list here.

GlobalFoundries Talking with Trump Administration about More Chip-Fab Plants

The Albany Times Union reports that GlobalFoundries is talking with federal officials about creating more high-tech computer chip fabrication plants around the country. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story Monday.

GlobalFoundries employs hundreds of workers from the Glens Falls region at its chip fab plant in Malta.

A company spokeswoman told the TU that GlobalFoundries was involved in discussions “on how to ensure technological leadership through U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing.”

Could another plant be in the Capital Region?

Dennis Brobston, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation president, told the TU, “I’m very hopeful we’re going to be looked at.”

Andrew Kennedy, president and CEO of the Center for Economic Growth in Albany, said, “This region is ready. We have the sites. We have the workforce.”

And technology analyst Tim Dunn of Dunn Strategy Group in Malta was quoted, “We’re really well-positioned in New York.”

Ending on a High Note

Dr. Mike Shea of Queensbury is one of six Hudson Valley Community College recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for 2020.

Dr. Shea, a full-time tenured professor in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, received the Excellence in Faculty Service Award. He primarily teaches microbiology, general and organic chemistry, and general biology.

A 1999 South Glens Falls High School graduate, Dr. Shea earned a bachelor of science degree from SUNY Geneseo, his master’s degree in cell/cellular and molecular biology from Hofstra University, and his Ph.D in microbial biochemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

A press release from Hudson Valley Community College says “Michael Shea has been a faculty member at the college since 2010 and has been praised for his innovative and creative teaching, his service to students in the Science Study Center, and his willingness to take on leadership roles on campus. 

“He has led efforts to create ‘hands-on’ instructional materials for chemistry students and acts as his department’s coordinator for the first-level chemistry courses for non-majors.”

Dr. Shea and his wife, Erica Fitzgerald Shea, live in Queensbury with their daughter Jillian. He is in his seventh year on the Queensbury Union Free School District Board of Education.

Instituted in 1972 by the State University of New York, the Chancellor's Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the university by dedicated professionals. Recipients must show a markedly strong dedication to their work or scholarship. Since its inception, more than 180 faculty and staff members from Hudson Valley have received the Chancellor's Award.

Until next time -
Gordon

GORDON WOODWORTH

A South Glens Falls native, Gordon Woodworth is a respected and well-connected voice of the community. As a journalist, he has covered the Glens Falls region for more than 20 years. Read his full bio here, and click here to follow along with him on Facebook - he’s always reporting!

Color Glens Falls

One of the things that’s been inspiring about this uncertain time has been seeing our little city and communities everywhere come alive with creativity and color. Rainbows in windows, uplifting messages written in sidewalk chalk, candles lit on porches to celebrate our essential workers and medical professionals, cars driving by with balloons and signs for birthday parades… we could go on! So, huge thanks to all of you for bringing so much joy to one another - it’s truly inspiring.

And speaking of inspiring, you’ve inspired us to share our love for Hometown USA in a new way while we’re at home - so, we’re excited to partner with Sidekick Creative to share our #ColorGlensFalls coloring pages!

Download the complete set for free below. Happy coloring!

P.S. We’d love to see your finished product! Share a snap of your artwork on social media with the hashtag #colorglensfalls, and tag us on Facebook or Instagram @glensfallsliving and @sidekickcreative to help share the joy!

Special thanks to our friends at Sidekick Creative for bringing these coloring pages to life! See more of their awesome work here.

My Glens Falls: James Joseph

This week we’re chatting with James Joseph, who you may recognize from his shop Sharp Presents! He shares how his family acclimated after moving to the area from Michigan, a past Glens Falls shop that he wishes he could visit today (don’t we all!), and some silver linings for his family during this period of social distancing.

Tell us about yourself!

I am James Joseph, the owner and manager of Sharp Presents located on Route 9. I am married and live in Queensbury with my three teenage children who attend Lake George Junior / Senior High School. Originally I am from the Flint, Michigan suburbs, where I was born and raised and a lot of my family still resides there. I have been operating Sharp Presents out of my storefront for almost 2 years now and prior to that out of a studio in my home after we relocated from Michigan to NY back in 2009.

On Pause

My family and I have been pretty serious about social distancing since the NY Pause movement started. Our oldest daughter has struggles with asthma and breathing related issues so we are taking every precaution to not to expose her or our family. The last couple of months have seen a real change of life for our family. Like many families with teens, we had a very hectic extracurricular schedule; between running a business and three kids in multiple sports, outside clubs, and very active school/social lives. The "Pause" truly put a pause on the craziness that was our schedule. In the "Pause" we have found many silver linings that have forced us to take on a more simplified and basic lifestyle. It has provided us with the time to sit down together at meal times, as one unit, and spend time as a family. It has allowed us to really be there for our kids during these strange and unusual times.

On Life in Glens Falls

We moved into the area from Michigan in 2009 due to a job transfer for the family. We integrated pretty fast into the community, fell in love with the area, and are happy to call this place home.

We own a beautiful home in a quiet neighborhood just inside the Adirondack Park border. We really enjoy getting to know our neighbors without being right on top of each other, seeing deer and other animals in our neighborhood during walks, seeing amazing mountainscapes right from our backyard, and that rare occasion when we see a moose while driving the kids to school or have a bobcat run in front of our vehicle during our morning commute. And all of this while only being 10 minutes from our storefront.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

I personally really love Saturday mornings at the Glens Falls Farmers Market, weekend nights at the Glens Falls Drive-in, and a good coney dog from A&W. It brings back a lot of memories from my childhood that I am lucky to be able to share with my kids here in the Glens Falls region.

I woud love to see more families relocate to the Glens Falls region like mine did. It truly is a great place to raise a family and lay down roots. It really is true that "Home is what you make of it" and this region is more than we could have ever expected it to be.

One of the hidden gems that we favor is Hovey Pond Park behind Glens Falls National Bank on Upper Glen Street. We don't get there often but really enjoy being there and exploring the walking path around the park.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day (…post-Pause)

My ideal day, in no particular order, starts off with an early morning workout at the Glens Falls YMCA, looking for treasures at TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning, grabbing a chai latte from Spot Coffee, and then on occasion a pit stop at the buffet from Nine Dragons. When I have time of my own, I love to mediate and practice yoga. I have never been big on cocktails, and date night is a rare thing, but family time with a nice dinner and a movie is a big thing for us and something everyone enjoys. It is always a pick from a handful of our "regular" spots, but if it is left up to me I would always pick a place that we have never been to before. There are so many unique mom and pop resturants with great food in the area just waiting to be explored. The last time we had a night out prior to the shutdown, we went to La Cosina Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful meal. I can't wait to be able to get back out there and explore some more.

On the Past

A little over ten years in the area is not a long time, but we have a couple favorite Glens Falls memories. One of my favorite Glens Falls memories is selecting our Christmas tree. Every year we head to Kelly's Emerald Feeds to pick out the most perfect Christmas tree. I always complain about it being too cold and we always struggle to get the tree tied on top of the van but the five of us picking the perfect tree always means the world to me and will be memories I will cherish forever.

Being in the business of gourmet gifting, I have always been disappointed that I missed the Boston Candy Kitchen. I have heard nothing but great things about their peanut butter filled ribbon candy. Friends still rave to me about their products.

…and On the Future

I would love to see a Trader Joe's move into the old Aldi storefront on Quaker Road.

Thanks James! We’re all with you on the Trader Joe’s thing :)

P.S. Read more from our My Glens Falls series here.

New Addition: Lindsey Whiting Brunelle

The Brunelle Family welcomed a baby girl to their family back in November, and they’re sharing their story this week, including the beautiful story behind Lindsey’s name, a fun alternative to a gender reveal, and a few of the many things they can’t wait to do with her as she grows.

Tell us about your family! 

Hello, we are The Brunelle Family - Kris, Kealy, and Lindsey! Kris and I were born at the Glens Falls Hospital Snuggery. I graduated from Glens Falls, and Kris graduated from Hudson Falls. We left the area after high school and came back years later. We met in Glens Falls, bought a house, and got married 3 years ago. We have two dogs, Columbo and Kona, and two cats, Mya and Velcro. The newest addition to our crew is Lindsey Whiting, born November 9th, 2019. We love to travel, see new places, and eat good food! 

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends? 

Finding out about our pregnancy and sharing was both a difficult and joyous occasion. Previously, we had a miscarriage, then tried to have a child for almost 2 years and tried a month of IUI. Finally, we decided to stop “trying” and signed up to be foster parents. A month and half later, my friend told me that I was “glowing”. So, in shock, in the middle of the same night, I took a pregnancy test. I woke up Kris from the bathroom with screams of joy.

Because of our previous experience, we told our friends and family in waves, then announced it on Facebook after our 20-week ultrasound. With our parents, we gave them special gifts; my parents got books on "How to babysit a Grandma" and "How to babysit a Grandpa" by Jean Reagan. Kris’s parents received mugs that said “Recently promoted to Grandpa” and "Recently promoted to Grandma".  

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl?

I didn't want to know and Kris wanted to know, so we didn't find out. Luckily the ultrasound technician listened to me and had to keep Kris from peeking. On the 20-week ultrasound, Kris thought he could tell that it was a boy. I initially thought girl, but everyone thought I was having a boy because of how I was carrying. So I wasn’t so sure! 

Instead of finding out the sex, we did some betting on our baby! We had a Jack & Jill style baby shower, but the guys and gals did their own thing, except for the baby pool. It was $10 to guess the height, weight, sex, and birthday. The winner got half of the pot. Not many people guessed girl! The winner of the pot didn't even guess girl, but she came the closest with the height, weight, and birthday. 

Photos courtesy of Kealy Brunelle

All about Lindsey

Lindsey Whiting Brunelle was born at 8:13pm on November 9th 2019. She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. 

How did you decide on her name? 

Both her middle and first name have great meaning and significance to us.

When we got married, Kris requested that I change my last name to Brunelle. I didn’t want to, however we agreed that I could have the ultimate decision making power in naming our firstborn. Therefore, I decided the middle name would be Whiting, for my maiden name, which is also my middle name now. Our daughter gets to have her mom and dad’s family as a part of her name.

The story of her first name still makes us cry. Lindsey’s namesake was my best friend and her godmother, Lindsey Skellie, a Glens Falls alum and long time resident. I picked a few names for a boy and girl beforehand, but we weren’t sure. We both needed to see the baby. Nine days before our daughter was born, my best friend Lindsey passed away from cancer. She joked several times before her death that we should name her Lindsey if the baby was a girl... I told her the name was too popular for me to choose it. As soon as we saw that the baby was a girl, we both cried, looked at each other, and knew her name was Lindsey. It took us some time to tell our family, friends, and even the nurses, her name. 

What are a few things you love about her so far? 

I love that she has her own personality, even at a few months old. I also love that she's wiggly and loves to make noises since birth. Kris loves that she has not been colicky. He also loves that she is inquisitive. 

What are some of your favorite things to do together? 

Lindsey is already an extrovert and traveler; she loves to be out of the house seeing new places and meeting new people. I love to take her for walks up the bike path or in the mall to do errands, even if it's the just the grocery store (before the pandemic, of course). She also loves music so we rock out to music as a family. Kris likes to watch Jack Harmon videos on YouTube and learn the alphabet. He loves to cuddle her before she goes to sleep every night.  

Any similarities to the two of you? 

She doesn’t wake up well like Kris. She loves to babble and talk like me. She is a very busy baby, always moving even when you're holding her, which is a lot like Kris when he was a baby. She looks a lot like me but has Kris' eyes, but Kris thinks she has my eyes. She loves to eat, which is like the both of us! She already has some of my facial expressions!

On Parenthood

We’d love to hear about your favorite part (and most challenging part) of parenthood thus far.

Our favorite part of parenthood is watching Lindsey learn and change: day to day, week to week, month to month. It's crazy how quick babies change and grow!

At first the biggest challenge for me was figuring out what Lindsey needed when she cried. Everyone tells you that "you'll figure it out", but until that point, it's so difficult! Kris's biggest challenge was adjusting to infant sleep patterns! 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Lindsey to your family?

As we said, we love to travel. We can't wait to take her new places and on new adventures with us. We went to NYC earlier this year and she loved it: all the busyness and people, so many things for her to look at. Also, Kris can't wait to show her how to do new things, like to read or work on cars.

What has being a parent taught you? 

With the challenges we had becoming parents, we are blessed and happy for every single moment we have with Lindsey, even the difficult ones. It has taught us the importance of sleep and how to live on a few hours of sleep. It has also taught us to make time for each other; we try to do date nights weekly even if it's just eating dinner at home without Lindsey. Also it taught us to give yourself some grace. You're not perfect and you're going to make mistakes, and that's okay.

What is the best advice you’ve received on parenthood? 

Onesies are made to be pulled off past the waist, not over the head! That made the world of difference when we experienced our first "blow out". 

Creating a routine or schedule is very important; do it as early as you can. Make it work for you and your family, not how it "should look". 

Don't buy just one style of pacifier or bottle. Get samples of different types of bottles and pacifiers (you can get free ones from joining baby registries at stores like Target, Walmart) because some babies, like ours, are super fussy. 

Do you have any advice to share for new parents? 

If you can't figure out why your child is crying, put them down. Sometimes they need alone time.  

People will try to give you so much advice. It's okay not to take it! Do what works for you and your family, but is also safe for the baby. On that note, find a doctor you like, trust, and aren't afraid to ask questions, even the "silly" ones. 

Just for Fun

What are some of the products that got you through the first few months?

1. A Graco swing/bouncer combo - the swing was useful when she was gassy and I needed a break from rocking them to sleep; the bouncer is very useful now because she loves the vibrations. 

2. A white noise machine helps so much in the beginning and created a bedtime routine. 

3. If you are breast feeding or thinking of breastfeeding, get a good pump, like Medela or Spectra, right from the beginning, because you never know when you will need it. 

4. Swaddles that transition into sleepsacks - the Halo sleepsack was great because we are still using it after she needed to be swaddled. 

If you could have one night out (post-pandemic) with a trusted babysitter, what would you do? 

We like to go out for drinks or just cook dinner at home just for the two of us.

Congratulations Brunelle Family and welcome Lindsey!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here, and if you have one to share, email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com!

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first ­­­­snuggle with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

To Go: Radici Kitchen & Bar

Dining “out” looks a little different these days, but we’ve been happy to continue to support our local favorites by grabbing something to go. Tonight, we’re excited to roll out our new series called To Go (creative name, we know!), starting with a new downtown gem - Radici Kitchen & Bar. We chatted with Chef Brian Bowden and his partner Carly Mankouski below to find out how the restaurant is doing during the pandemic - what challenges they’re facing, the unexpected wins they’ve experienced, and more. We also grabbed a little something to go for ourselves, and we can’t sing their praises enough - we loved it. 

Pro-tip: grab some pretty plates out of your cupboards and enjoy it on your porch or in your backyard - it makes it feel like a real dinner out, which is oh so special these days. 

On Pause

We have faced numerous challenges since the start of the pandemic. Obviously there is the business side of things where we had to evolve from an upscale casual, full service dining room to take-out only. Initially this was a bit terrifying! We had only been open for five weeks but we hit the ground running and forged wonderful relationships with our guests. The support from Glens Falls residents and beyond had us overwhelmed with joy that our new venture would do well. Then, bam! The State mandated shutdown certainly had us reeling.

Shrimp Aglio e Olio

On evolving

Keeping a positive attitude, we began to brainstorm value driven ideas to generate sales without sacrificing the quality and the standards our guests had come to expect. We came up with our signature three course dinner for two which has really done quite well...even if it's in a take-out container! At first, the idea of take-out containers had me quite unhappy since I believe "you eat with your eyes first" and a to go box just doesn't have the same aesthetic appeal. That said, restaurant folks are resourceful and our combined experience has carried us through thus far.

Beefsteak Tomato and Avocado Salad

AT HOME

The real challenge is now trying to keep our seven year old son Jackson entertained, educated, engaged, but more importantly - safe! Since we are all quarantined and the schools are closed, we have to bring Jackson with us to the restaurant everyday, which is taxing for us all. Especially for a seven year old that doesn't quite understand why he can't see his friends, or leave the yard, or go to school. Or why everyone is wearing masks and he has to sit in the restaurant office for dinner "service". This is very stressful for us all!

On Small Victories

Some unexpected wins for our business are that we are still keeping our head above water! The community support has been outstanding and each day brings new challenges which we can confidently face head-on knowing we are in Glens Falls. Our supportive guests have been very understanding during this transition. Some nights are fluid and efficient. Other nights people may have to wait for a few minutes for their food and they are ok with that...even if they are spread six feet apart while wearing masks. 

Chef Brian Bowden and partner Carly Mankouski

On the Future

Going forward, when the world re-opens and we have a la carte dinner service again, we plan to continue our signature Grab & Go three course dinner for two. It was something we planned to implement before this all began and has proved to be a real crowd pleaser!

On the Small Business Community

We believe it is important to practice what you preach.  We have appreciated the support from other businesses and business owners, and we have reciprocated.  This has been a very humbling experience for everyone, and it's amazing to see how everyone has banded together.   

Radici Kitchen & Bar
Website / Facebook / Instagram
518-804-1007

For updates on all of your favorite local businesses, click here.

This story was made possible by Keena Staffing.

“It’s wonderful to see how our Glens Falls businesses have adapted and overcome the challenges we have all faced over the past few months. From the locally owned restaurants to lawn care and hardware shops, Glens Falls has stood strong in the face of adversity and we are proud to serve the HR, payroll, and employment needs of all these amazing businesses. As a local HR company, we understand the unique challenges of our hometown businesses and can tailor our services to your needs. Please check out our website here to learn about what we can do for your business!”

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

The Weekender: May 8 - 10

Happy weekend! We’re going to pretend we didn’t see the snow in the forecast for tomorrow night and continue to dream about the blue skies, sunshine, and tulips in bloom. The weather seems to be shaping our days (or is it our moods?) wayyy more than usual during this time, but either way, our weekend plans are usually the same - work on projects around the house ;) That said, here are a few other things on our radar this weekend:

Mother’s Day Brunch: We’re sure there will be many a delicious brunch prepared at home this weekend, but if you’re not in the mood to cook, a few local favorites are offering brunch to-go options - check out Morgan and Company (dreaming about their coffee cake), farmacy (hellooo brioche french toast!), and Rachel’s Cafe and Spice Company (cinnamon rolls to go - yes please).

Quarantine Cocktails: All this staying at home stuff has us eager to get a little more creative with drinks at home, and we just saw that Doc’s Restaurant has started a Cocktail Series on Facebook and Instagram where they share recipes for classic and craft cocktails a couple times a week. We can’t wait to whip up The Paloma this weekend - check out their recipe here!

For Mom, of course: Shopping small is more important than ever, so here are just a few ideas from local shops (offering curbside pickup!) that we stumbled across while perusing Instagram:

• Beekman 1802 Hand Cream or Soap from Rude Betty in Glens Falls

• A book (or a puzzle) from Battenkill Books in Cambridge

• Artwork by local artists from LARAC - click here to view the works on Facebook and coordinate your purchase

• All things Patagonia from Fountain Square Outfitters in Glens Falls

• French Macarons from Alchemy Bagel in Glens Falls (order before 8pm on Thursday night!)

• Tulips from Lot 32 Flower Farm in Greenwich (message them on IG to arrange for pickup or pick them up at Country Power Products in Greenwich)

Everything and Nothing: Color a #colorglensfalls coloring page (download all four for free here!), catch up on watching The Wood Theater’s Virtual Talent Show (watch here - so many great entries!), read a book (I’m (Bri) just finishing this one), build a window box for summer flowers.

Lastly, Happy Mother’s Day! Sending warm wishes to all the moms, soon-to-be moms, hopefully someday moms, dog moms, cat moms, and all the special ladies in between.

Have a great weekend,
Bri + Tom

P.S. Did you catch the first edition of Hometown News with our new contributor Gordon Woodworth this week? Find out the latest from Glens Falls Hospital, what next steps are with the school districts (and graduations!) and more - read it here.

Hometown News: May 6

The Impact of COVID-19 on Local Nursing Homes + Prisons, The Scoop on School Budgets (and Graduation Plans!), The Latest from Glens Falls Hospital, and More…

Coronavirus, Continued

The novel coronavirus continues to shape our days as we long for a return to “normal.” The curve is flattening statewide, but we’re still seeing an increase in positive cases and deaths here in the Glens Falls region.

The biggest concerns now are the devastating toll the virus continues to take on our nursing home residents and in our local prisons, where hundreds of local residents work.

The Impact on Local Nursing Homes…

Several local nursing homes, including Fort Hudson, the Glens Falls Center and the Pines, have suffered loss while their determined front-line workers care for residents under very difficult conditions. 

New York State released data on statewide nursing home deaths on Thursday, and shows the Glens Falls Center in Queensbury reported nine COVID-19 related deaths and four presumed COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday. Fort Hudson in Fort Edward reported eight COVID-19 related deaths, and The Pines in Glens Falls had three confirmed deaths and one presumed death as of Wednesday. 

Statewide, 5,020 people have died in the state's nursing homes and assisted living facilities since March 1, according to statistics released by Governor Andrew Cuomo's office. This total includes confirmed COVID-19 cases and presumed COVID-19 cases. 

…and on our Prisons

The number of infected inmates continues to rise at Great Meadow Correctional Facility, the maximum security prison in Fort Ann. As of Wednesday, 31 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19, with two tests pending. Only five other facilities in the state have higher infection totals than Great Meadow. The total number of inmates infected at Great Meadow jumped 41% from April 30 to May 6, from 22 to 31. 

At Washington Correctional Facility, the medium security prison across the street from Great Meadow, the state said Tuesday that two inmates who had been tested do not have the virus. That’s great news. There remain no confirmed cases among inmates at Washington.

As for staff, NYS Corrections only releases statewide numbers. On Wednesday, the state said 1,143 staff across the state had the novel coronavirus, and four staff had died. Statewide, 15 inmates have died. 

COVID-19, County by County

There were four more COVID-19 related deaths in Warren County reported Wednesday. All four were nursing home residents. No additional deaths were reported Thursday. Total county deaths remain at 23. Seventeen deaths have been nursing home residents. Total cumulative number of cases remains 185.

As of Thursday, Saratoga County had 370 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, eight people hospitalized and 14 deaths. County health officials report two new cases Thursday. The good news is the numbers in Saratoga County appear to be leveling off.

In Washington County, no new deaths were reported Wednesday or Thursday. Ten people have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak began. On Thursday, eight more confirmed cases were reported by county officials, and that total remains at 174. There are 72 active cases. Nine more people recovered as of Thursday, bringing that total to 92.

The Scoop on School Budgets

School district officials are stuck in limbo as they try to craft a budget for next year and look to the following year as well. Governor Cuomo has mandated that all upcoming school board elections and school budget votes be held by mail ballot only on Tuesday, June 9, which throws another substantial wrinkle into the turbulent coming weeks.

“The first order of business is helping our 31 school districts in the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES understand their budgets for 2020-21,” district superintendent Jim Dexter told Glens Falls Living. “How do they adopt a budget if they don’t have the data from the state regarding state aid?”

Governor Cuomo has said school districts can expect a reduction of state aid up to 20%, with state aid adjusted and partially made up by $10-billion in anticipated federal aid.

“The poorer districts would see more of a cut, and the more wealthy districts would see less of a cut because they generally get less state aid because of their higher property tax base,” Mr. Dexter said. “Some of the poorer districts receive up to 70% of their budget through state aid. More wealthy districts won’t be affected as much, but the cuts could be catastrophic for some local districts.

“And don’t forget, the federal CARES money goes away next year, so it’s not just now, it’s looking into next year and thinking about, ‘What’s our two-year plan?’ It’s a little nervewracking.”

School districts that have a sizable fund balance will be able to temper the reductions to maintain services, but not all districts have huge fund balances they can tap, Mr. Dexter said.

Along with creating a budget and school boards passing those budgets so they can have residents vote on them, the issue of the mail balloting looms large.

“That’s the first order of business right now,” he said. “For example, I have people trying to find envelopes right now. You need outer envelopes to send the ballots and inner envelopes so residents can return them.”

The Latest from Glens Falls City Schools - and What about Graduation?

Glens Falls City School Superintendent Paul Jenkins said the Governor’s office has told school officials that they will release more information on state aid on May 15th. 

“Then we will have a board of education meeting on May 18th and officially adopt a budget,” he said in a Zoom interview with Glens Falls Living Monday. “We’re anticipating reduction in state aid may be an issue, but there are some answers we just don’t have, unfortunately.”

The early projections indicate Glens Falls could actually see an increase in state aid, from $19.972-million in 2019-20 to $20.420-million next year. But those numbers could change on May 15th.

“We will have to adjust,” Mr. Jenkins said. “We don’t want to cut programs, and on top of that, we don’t know what next year will bring in terms of making major changes in what we do. I can’t see us cutting staff when we’re looking at smaller class sizes and more monitoring of students. I can’t see us reducing staff. We will just be utilizing staff in a different way.”

What will graduation look like?

“We are reviewing a couple of scenarios right now,” he said. “There will be a ceremony in some form.”

What about holding graduation at a local drive-in movie theater, as some have suggested?

“That is one of our thoughts,” Mr. Jenkins said. “A lot of people have mentioned that. But the issue is, what are the restrictions going to be in mid to late June? Having a large gathering like that could be an issue, and it could be very difficult to control.

“So the questions of how do we actually get students their diplomas and where it will be is evolving.”

Mr. Jenkins said the pandemic is prompting larger questions.

“We are taking a very different look at education and how we do things like professional development, how we present information to students, how we grade them,” he said. “There is talk about having split school sessions, with some students coming in one day and others staying home. How do we handle the students not there?”

Are there silver linings?

“I’m communicating a lot more with other superintendents,” he said. “I have a great administrative staff, and everyone from the board members to the teachers to the staff has been amazing. I’ve seen a lot more personal support, both internal and external, for teachers and staff than ever before. 

“We are all very concerned about the families and the parents, and this has been hard on our own staff. Many of our teachers have kids at home, and are working with their own kids while also teaching their students remotely.”

Mr. Jenkins said right before schools were closed in mid-March, he upgraded his internet capacity at home.

“If I hadn’t done that, I would have been in trouble,” he said. “But a lot of families don’t have internet access, or don’t have the speed to do remote learning.”

At South High: Buildings are Closed but School is Open

South Glens Falls School Superintendent Kristine Orr, in an email interview, said they are putting together a budget but “we have discussed no student programs at this time. If cuts ever have to be made, we look at cutting through attrition first if possible. 

“At this point, we are continuing our continuity of learning, giving food to our families in need and providing child care.  Supporting our families through this time is first on our mind. I am working with the administrators to review all end of the year traditions and we will set a plan on all of those now that we know school is closed. Graduation will happen. We have several scenarios that we are reviewing and will let families know what it will look like soon. 

“As educators, we thrive being around children and watching them grow every day,” Ms. Orr said. “Seeing everyone over the screen helps, but human contact is just as important.

“As a leader, communication to staff, students, and families is essential. I write to the staff almost daily in some way. We continue to update our webpage and I have sent several videos to our families. 

“It is important as a leader to take this one day at a time and to lead with empathy and compassion. Regardless of any situation, all families are feeling lost in some way and it is important to recognize that and support them anyway we can. Our entire staff has been there for our families in many ways.  

“We will continue to work with students until the end of the year and help them process this. Our buildings may be closed but our schools are open and we will continue to work hard to keep our students engaged in learning.  

“As a BOCES, the 31 superintendents led by Jim Dexter meet several times a week to review all important topics. We will be talking about what reopening schools looks like as a group and adjusting our needs based on the makeup of the school.”

GFH Stands Ready for a Surge - If It’s Coming

At Glens Falls Hospital, “We are waiting for the surge, if a surge is coming,” said Dr. Sean Bain, president of the medical staff. “We’ve been lucky so far. We haven’t gotten as many cases as we thought we might.” 

Dr. Bain, a South Glens Falls native, said “It’s been stable. We haven’t seen a big spike. We’ve actually seen a decrease in the last week or two, from seven to nine patients to six or seven now.”

He said the hospital has yet to receive patients from Great Meadow. That could change, he said, as Glens Falls is the closest hospital to the prison, even though the state contracts with Albany Medical Center.

What is he expecting in the next week?

“I don’t know that we know yet,” he said. “The nursing homes and prisons are just starting, and I don’t know if we’ve reached a peak yet. I just don’t know.”

He said because this area is less congested than other larger cities, and because we started social distancing here early, the hospital hasn’t seen the surge of COVID-19 patients it expected.

“But we are prepared for a surge if it does happen,” he said. “We could staff up to 200 beds.”

Staff morale “has calmed down. There was a lot of anxiety in the beginning, with so many changes. But over the last two weeks, we’ve settled into a groove and things have calmed down.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Glens Falls Hospital has received permission from the state to resume elective outpatient surgeries and procedures while keeping their plan in place for any potential COVID-19 surges that may develop. Further details are available on their website here.

Testing, 1-2-3

Warren County, in concert with Glens Falls Hospital, continues to operate a drive-up COVID-19 testing facility at the County Municipal Center on Route 9 in Queensbury. The testing site is open to residents of Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex and Hamilton counties, and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone who believes they should have a test needs to contact a doctor or urgent care center to have it arranged.  Warren County Health Services can be reached at 518-761-6580 for any questions.

In the meantime, some important links: Centers for Disease Control, NYS Department of Health, Warren County Health Services.

Ending on a High Note

The Glens Falls Police Department shared this on social media on Wednesday, and we wanted to share it with you!

“On April 25th, 2020, Police Officer Thomas Pratt responded to a report of a 19-month-old child that was not conscious, alert or breathing.

“Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Pratt made a quick assessment of the situation and the child’s condition and proceeded to administer life saving assistance. 

“Officer Pratt was able to clear a large obstruction from the child’s airway and breathing was restored. His quick alert actions, (and) ability to assess the situation and act swiftly during a highly stressful time, resulted in saving the child’s life. 

“His actions on that day are not only appreciated by the City of Glens Falls Police Department but also by the child’s family.

“Officer Pratt was awarded the Life Saving Award by Police Chief Anthony Lydon at a ceremony at the Glens Falls Police Department on May 5th, 2020.

“Thank you for your dedication to the Glens Falls Police Department as well to the City of Glens Falls. Congratulations on a well-deserved award. The department is proud of your accomplishment.”

Until next time -
Gordon

GORDON WOODWORTH

A South Glens Falls native, Gordon Woodworth is a respected and well-connected voice of the community. As a journalist, he has covered the Glens Falls region for more than 20 years. Read his full bio here, and click here to follow along with him on Facebook - he’s always reporting!

My Glens Falls: Gordon Woodworth

This week’s My Glens Falls is extra special for us, as it also serves to welcome a new contributor to Glens Falls Living - the talented Gordon Woodworth! Likely a familiar face to most of you, we’re thrilled to have him join the GFL team to cover hometown news and local happenings. Gordon's exceptional journalistic experience and thoughtful coverage of the people and places that make our region great over the past 20 years will be a great addition to GFL. Read on to learn more about his beginnings at South High, that time he hung out with George Steinbrenner, what movie he watched from the balcony of the old Paramount Theater, and lots more! 

Tell us about yourself, Gordon!

Hello! I’m Gordon Woodworth, a South Glens Falls native now living in an apple-treed meadow on the Schroon River in Bolton. I’m a writer, journalist, news hound and sports nut. I love to fish for largemouth bass and hunt down birdies on local golf courses. I’ve warmed up for Phish (singing O Canada before the 2005 America East men’s basketball championship game at the University of Vermont before Trey and the boys sang the National Anthem), been splashed with champagne in the winning locker room after Tampa Bay’s seventh-game Stanley Cup win in 2004, golfed with a presidential candidate (U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand), guzzled morning Budweisers with George Steinbrenner in the Saratoga Race Course press box, shadow-boxed with a teenaged Mike Tyson, sipped Hungarian espresso with Pete Gogolak, the soccer-style placekicker who revolutionized pro football, and beaten the odds more than once.

On Social Distancing

During this pandemic, I’ve been embracing the quiet, chopping firewood, dodging porcupines, walking along the river, writing, posting on Facebook and enjoying the company of my amazing parents, who are staying with me until this blows over. I’ve also been helping a dear friend launch an exciting new business after a perfectly timed reconnection. Motivation has been a challenge at times, but having recently left my job as news editor of The Chronicle, I’m thoroughly enjoying the freedom from deadlines while I mull my next path! The silver linings are plentiful: Bald Eagles flying down the river steps from my living room picture window, nightly Scrabble games and frequent FaceTime chats with family and friends. Life, while different, has never been better. 

On Life in Glens Falls

I was born in Glens Falls Hospital and grew up in South Glens Falls. After college, I came home and then left again, working for 16 years at the University of Vermont. Then, in 2005, I returned. And I’m not leaving. My family is rooted in this community. My connections are deep. You’re stuck with me!

The best thing about Glens Falls is its people. Yes, the downtown is great, the arts scene is vibrant, the outdoor recreational possibilities endless. But it’s the people who make Glens Falls great. The spirit of compassion and kindness is genuine, and not restricted to the city limits. It’s all over the region. The South High Marathon Dance is a perfect example. It’s the premier fund-raising event in the region, and helps regular folks who need a hand up. That’s my kind of event.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day (Post-Pandemic, of course)

My ideal day starts with an early-morning workout with my personal trainer Keith Irving at ADK Fit, followed by a Very Berry smoothie from my friends at the Juicin’ Jar and a large iced tea with lemon from Spot Coffee. Lunch could be a bowl of soup at Gourmet Cafe, a salad at the Bullpen, or a couple of hot dogs with no mustard from New Way Lunch. I also love Poopie’s, and Coach’s Corner in South Glens Falls. Dinner could be pizza at Talk of the Town, or something fabulous from Doc’s or Massie’s, followed by a Thunder hockey game and post-game frivolity at the Bullpen.

On the Past

As a kid, I loved billiards, and more than once found myself shooting pool with Charlie Kaulfuss and others at the old Empire Billiards Hall downstairs on South Street. My first grown-up movie was Saturday Night Fever in the balcony of the old Paramount Theater. And in 1978, in the midst of weekly chemotherapy for leukemia (43 years remission on May 9), my Mom and I went to Saratoga Race Course to see Affirmed and Alydar battle it out in the Travers. 

…and On the Future

The City continues to rebound, slowly but surely. Lately, it’s two steps forward, one step back. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Downtown needs a good deli, a neighborhood store where you can get a sandwich, a quart of milk or a New York Times. A small grocery store would be great, but I think that’s still a few years off yet. Slow and steady wins the race.

I love having a voice in the community, and am thrilled to join Tom and Bri Lyons at Glens Falls Living and their growing media company! Let’s do this!


---

And we’re so thrilled to have you, Gordon! Stay tuned for the first edition of Hometown News tomorrow!

P.S. Check out more from our My Glens Falls series here.

This week’s My Glens Falls was made possible by The Queensbury Hotel.

Mother’s Day is coming (this Sunday!) and The Q has you covered with a delicious brunch to go! Housemade cinnamon rolls, mimosa french toast, quiche, and so much more. Did we mention the make your own mimosa kit?! A sure win! Be sure to pre-order by Thursday at 3pm for pick-up on Sunday morning. Get the details and ordering information here!

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Luca Anthony Romano

The Romano Family welcomed Luca in March and gosh aren’t they just the cutest family?! We caught up with them this week to find out how the transition to parenthood is going, hear about the adorable way Gabby shared the news with Tony that she was pregnant, and get some great words of advice to share with other new parents.

Tell us about your family!

Hello!  We are the Romanos - my name is Gabby and I married my high school sweetheart, Tony. We welcomed our first child (who is a bit hairy!) - our dog Henry (Hank) Romano in 2018, and most recently our first human child on March 1st of this year. We are both originally from South Glens Falls, NY but moved to Queensbury in 2018 after falling in love with the schools and close knit community. Our favorite family time is spent with weekend road trips, guessing the real antagonist on Dateline and testing the amazing restaurants in the 518. 

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband, family, and friends?

On the eve of my husband’s birthday, I decided to take a pregnancy test because we had been trying and I figured why not?! To my surprise it was positive! I gifted my husband a onesie that read “hello daddy” in a box labeled “I can’t wait to meet you”. That birthday gift will always be a tough act to follow!

To share the news with our family and friends, we invited them to dinner and our dog Henry had the pleasure of sharing the news with a “puppy book” full of photos of Henry and a page at the end with Henry wearing a bandana that so sweetly read “I’m going to be a big brother”.

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

Although the surprise of the pregnancy was mine to share, my husband actually found out the gender first and surprised me with an entire room of blue balloons. 

Everyone but me thought the baby was a boy! I didn’t have any inklings per say but a dream years prior of a little girl opening all of the Christmas gifts. Maybe a girl down the road but for now I am outnumbered and couldn’t be happier.

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

All about Luca

Luca Anthony Romano was born on March 1, 2020 at 12:03 PM weighing 7 pounds 8 oz and measuring 20.5 inches.

How did you decide on his name? 

Luca came from a city we saw on our trip to Florence, Italy which is actually Lucca but we preferred Luca. Anthony is my husband’s first name and his grandfather’s middle name so certainly a very special name in our family. 

What are a few things you love about him so far? 

What’s not to love? His sweet little toes, amazing baby smell, etc. We just love everything about our sweet boy but his beautiful smile is so wonderful. We have to work for it but oh man is it worth it. 

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

While the quarantine has made this season of life not what we expected, it has made family time so much more valuable. We’ve learned to appreciate just being together, cuddling up and watching movies and staring at our sweet baby and every new noise and expression he makes.

Does he have any similarities to the two of you? 

Right now Luca looks a lot like Daddy from an overall perspective and has Momma’s smile and eyes.

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

On Parenthood

What is your favorite part and the biggest challenge about parenthood thus far?

The best part of parenthood is watching your child grow and develop. Each new milestone is major and brings us so much joy!

The biggest challenges are just the endless worries that come with parenthood. We’ve Googled more in the last 8 weeks than high school and college combined. 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Luca to your family?

We are so looking forward to new adventures with Luca, traveling and experiencing new traditions.

What has being a parent taught you?

Being a parent taught us how much we truly love each other and were made for one another. I can’t imagine raising babies with anyone else.

I also think we are more confident than we were before becoming parents. There’s something so empowering about raising a child.

The best advice someone has given you? 

“Soak it in” short and sweet but true. Drop the laundry, answer that call or message later, the kitchen will eventually be clean but those sweet snuggles are irreplaceable. 

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other new parents?

You’re amazing and everything your baby needs. Your baby is so loved and that’s all that matters. 

Some advice for loved ones of new parents: I know your first instinct is to share every nugget of wisdom you’ve acquired with your experience but also remember that every baby is different and what that new mom and dad need the most is support. When you are asked to share in this special time with new parents save those nuggets of advice for the time they are needed the most and instead share your encouraging words and a reminder that they are doing an amazing job…and a hot meal or two is ALWAYS welcome. :)

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

Just for Fun

What are the top products that got you through the first few months?

1. Our son loved his swing! 4 moms is compact and quiet, highly recommend. 

2. We tried approximately eight thousand swaddles…maybe not, but it felt like it! Love to Dream was the best because it allowed Luca’s arms to be near his face like he preferred but also kept him snug so he didn’t startle himself awake.

3. Lou Lou and Company gowns are amazing. They are incredibly soft, allow for easy diaper changes and were created by a NICU nurse in Utah. We love their products.

4. This one is more for parents, but the Nespresso Espresso machine kept us going after those sleepless nights. 

If you could have one night out (post-pandemic!) with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?

What a dream! We would probably head to our favorite spot, Lake Placid, and enjoy Smoke Signals after an afternoon wandering through their local shops. 

—————

Thanks so much, and congratulations Romano Family!

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

Back in the Day: Our First Mayor

The Morning Star newspaper offered Charles Cool a tongue-in-cheek greeting on April Fool’s Day 1908, the morning after Cool was elected the city’s first mayor, carrying four of the five voting wards.

“Good morning Mayor Cool,” the paper quipped. “The band didn’t play last night. Look out for the Jolly Joker today.”

More than a century later, the bands do play, and the sports teams too, in the downtown Glens Falls building that bears his name.

When Cool Insuring bought naming rights to the arena formerly known as Glens Falls Civic Center in 2017, it wasn’t just about brand awareness.

The company wanted to honor its founder, Charles Cool, a central figure in Glens Falls business, government and civic life.

“All of Mr. Cool’s seventy-four years were passed in Glens Falls, and his loyalty to the city was perhaps the primary form which animated his life,” The Post-Star reported on Sept. 26, 1932, two days after Cool died at his home at 50 Warren Street. “He could not keep it out of his conversation; he translated it into fruitful endeavor in public office and private business.”

Cool was born in Glens Falls on Aug. 19, 1858, the grandson of Keyes P. Cool, the first to manufacture and ship lime from Glens Falls.

Charles Cool co-founded the fire and casualty insurance agency that bears his name in 1879, and he was sole owner from 1887 on.

The agency originally was located in Glens Falls.

Around 1900 Cool established Union Telephone Co. to compete with New York Telephone Co. in Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Fort Edward Lake George and Lake Luzerne.

Union Telephone later merged with Commercial Telephone of Troy to become Commercial Union Telephone Co., of which Cool was a director.

Cool served as Glens Falls village president in 1895, and was elected mayor twice, in 1908 and in 1922.

Cool was a member of the Committee of Ten that spearheaded Glens Falls becoming a city.

Gov. Charles Evans Hughes, a Glens Falls native, signed the city charter on March 13, 1908, and on March 31, Cool, a Republican, was elected the city’s first mayor, receiving about 53 percent of the vote.

Cool and others celebrated in June with an excursion to Lake George.

"Five automobiles, appropriately bedecked with flags and banners, left Glens Falls yesterday for Ripley's Point carrying twenty-five representative citizens of the new city," The Lake George Mirror reported on June 12, 1908. "The passengers were guests of Mayor C.W. Cool and spent a pleasurable afternoon at the Cool cottage where a picnic supper was served."

There did not seem to be an urgency to designate an office at City Hall for the new mayor, perhaps because Cool’s insurance office was on the same block of Ridge Street as City Hall, and he could get back and forth easily.

“A small room adjoining the city clerk’s office in the City Hall is being fitted up as an office for the mayor,” The Morning Star reported on July 18, 1908. “It is one of the smallest and stuffed rooms in the building, and with the mercury hovering around the 90 mark, Mayor Cool’s lot won’t be an enviable one.”

Traffic safety was among the issues Cool dealt with as mayor.

A headline in the Aug. 14, 1908, edition of The Daily Times of Glens Falls proclaimed, "Automobiles Planning Boycott of Glens Falls and Lake George."

The newspaper reported members of the Albany Automobile Club were upset about getting caught in speed traps in Glens Falls and elsewhere in Warren County during a recent weekend excursion.

"Returning through Glens Falls, I called attention to the existence of a speed trap of 15 miles per hour," J.C. Fitzgerald, chairman of the club's Committee on Speed Regulations, wrote in a letter that accompanied the article. "Notwithstanding the rate of speed of the car was reduced to 13 miles, we were stopped and charged with exceeding the legal limit."

Fitzgerald wrote that because of speed traps in Glens Falls and Lake George, "the pleasure of our trip was entirely destroyed."

The topic would continue to be an issue.

On April 14, 1909, the Board of Public Safety authorized Cool and a councilman to handle purchasing a motorcycle for the city Police Department to use to enforce the city’s 10 mph speed limit.

“The speeding of cars has become a menace to the public,” The Morning Star reported. “In the crowded sections of the city pedestrians are almost afraid to cross the streets for fear of being run down by passing autos, which in many cases are running far in excess of the speed limit.”

A year into Cool’s term, the mayor was praised because the new city government cost less to operate than the former village government cost in the previous year.

“Every citizen of Glens Falls should take his hat off to Mayor Cool today,” The Morning Star editorialized on March 17, 1909.

More information about Charles Cool and Glens Falls government during his lifetime can be found in the four-volume Charles Cool Scrapbooks, which can be viewed at The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library.

—————

P.S. Check out more from our Back in the Day series here.

Maury Thompson was a reporter for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance writer and documentary film producer specializing in regional history. Thompson is collaborating with Snarky Aardvark Films to produce a documentary about Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks, which is expected to release in September 2020. See the trailer here.

The Weekender: May 1 - 3

Happy weekend! We did a double take when looking at the dates for this post - it’s MAY! As chaotic as the world is right now, seeing everything come into bloom over the past week has been strangely comforting. Green buds on the trees, tulips popping up downtown, and even a 60+ degree day - it’s been a spirit lifter, for sure. The weather app says sunshine and warm weather for this weekend, so we hope you’re able to get out (you know, to your porch or backyard) and enjoy it. Here are a few things that are on our radar:

Margaritas, Chips + Guac: Cinco de Mayo is Tuesday, and there couldn’t be a better day for one of our downtown favorites, Raul’s, to re-open for take-out. We have a sneaking suspicion that their phone will be ringing off the hook! Follow them here for the latest on their updated hours and how to order.

Whiskey Spritz: Did you catch our Happy Hour with [farmacy] last week? Jon shared a quick and easy recipe for a Whiskey Spritz, and all of a sudden we’re inspired to take our at home cocktail game up a notch. If you’re in the mood for a drink this weekend, give it a try - watch here.

Face Masks: Who would’ve thought a couple months ago that I’d be browsing the internet for cute face masks? MinkyMink has you covered (pun intended) and it looks like they’re getting a re-stock in this week. Grab the details here!

All Things Garden: One of our Washington County favorites, Gardenworks, is re-opening this weekend (with safety in mind!), and their plant list has us even more inspired to get started on our backyard garden. Check out what they have in stock and see all of their details here.

Online Classes: I know, who in their right mind is thinking about classes right now? Staying at home will do that to you ;) SUNY Adirondack Continuing Ed is offering 10 free online classes for professional development, and since we’re always looking for the latest and greatest tips, we can’t wait to check a few of them out (especially those geared toward small businesses!). Find them here.

Enjoy the weekend, and stay well -
Bri + Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, we checked in with both Lisa Camp and Tricia Rogers this week - find them here.

Checkin' In: Tricia Rogers

This week, we’re Checkin’ In with Tricia Rogers to see how she’s managing during these crazy times (you may recognize her from her great work with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce!). She shares what she’s whipping up in the kitchen these days, how she’s keeping busy with her daughter, and some encouraging words for us all - watch below!

Stay well, neighbors -
Bri + Tom

P.S. See more of our Checkin’ In + My Glens Falls series here.

This episode of Checkin’ In was made possible by O’Brien Insurance Agency.

Your hometown insurance agency, they offer car, home, commercial, and life insurance (and lots more). O’Brien shops the best rates for you, often saving you money and getting you better coverage (and they make it super easy to switch to them if you’re considering a change!). Most importantly, they’re local people who are always there for you when you need them. Learn more about them and get a quote here.

Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

Checkin' In: Lisa Camp

This week, we caught up with Lisa Camp, who you’ll most certainly recognize from the Glens Falls Family YMCA! She shares what inspired her to get into wellness, some great ways for us to stay active during this time, and a few silver linings she’s found amidst all of the recent uncertainty.

Photo: Andy Camp

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Lisa Camp, the Wellness Director at the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area.  You might recognize me from teaching Yoga, Zumba, Barre or one of many other classes, the Wellness Center or perhaps from CWI’s fundraising event Dancing with the Adirondack Stars (this will be my third year returning to volunteer as a professional dancer!). 

I was born and raised in the Glens Falls Area and graduated from Queensbury High School where I met my husband Andy when I was just a freshman.  We recently celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary and are the proud parents of our almost 25-year-old son Garrett, 18-year-old daughter Delaney and our black lab puppy Jett.

How did you get into Wellness? 

I am a graduate of SUNY Adirondack and hold a B.A. in Human Behavior from Skidmore College. In my ‘past life’ I was a District Human Resources Manager for a large retail chain but was finding myself frustrated and unfulfilled. After many consultations with a life coach I resigned in early 2008 and have never looked back.  Within weeks I found myself at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Mass earning my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification, the first of many teaching and coaching credentials geared to serve others in working toward their health and wellness goals.  

What brought you to the Y? 

I actually began working here the summer of 1990 at the tender age of 18 as a swimming instructor, well before my life altering decision to walk away from human resources and dedicate my new career to helping people move, breathe and live healthier lives.  

I absolutely love everything about the Y. The core values of the Y of honesty, caring, responsibility and respect have always resonated with me, so I’ve always been at home here.  

I have a really hard time calling this a “job” because I subscribe to the notion that if you do what you love, you will never have to work a day in our life.  This holds true in trying to identify with what I love most, but I can say that what we do as an organization builds and strengthens community through connection, and THAT is what makes my heart sing.

What have been your biggest challenges and silver linings during this pandemic? 

Social distancing has been very challenging for me. My existence and purpose are centered around human connection. I often joke that I hug people for a living, not always in the literal sense but every day I am always somewhere on an infinite continuum of connection.

This extreme paradigm shift to maintaining social distance has certainly proven to be trying at times but in so many ways it has driven me to be more mindful of the importance of emotional connection. It has forced me to take a step back, to slow down, to appreciate things and perhaps dedicate more time and thought than I might otherwise have. I’ve responded with intention more than I have clicked ‘like’ and moved on. I have reached out more often, calling instead of sending a quick text. I have followed through and checked on people, instead of simply thinking of them. We all crave and need connection on some level, now we just need to find other ways to remain present and sustain it as we are swimming together in this ocean of uncertainty.

We’d love to hear a few quick tips on some fun exercises folks can do alone or with family at home (while safely maintaining social distancing). 

Movement? Now we’re talking!!!  

Easiest things first: GET OUTSIDE! Go for a walk, play with your kids or pets, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine! Self-care is so important, now more than ever.

If you’re looking for more, we have many free options for our community as a whole right now, for all ages and fitness levels. Check our website for our Y at Home options - virtual workouts, resources for family activities, and more!

Our Wellness Leadership Team is posting live videos or uploads on Facebook with options for strength, cardio, flexibility and mind-body! Check out the many other ideas posted there too: such as our word of the day for Working Out with the ABC’s, the deck of cards workout and more.

Everything is done with the mindset that we are not in the gym or studios and we don’t have access to any of the great machines or equipment we have at the Y… take a look at the innovative ways we’ve come up with to work around those obstacles such as filling gallon jugs with water or using canned goods as weights.

What are some other ways that the Glens Falls Family YMCA is lending a hand to keep our community active? 

We are constantly working on ways to lend a hand to keep our community active, it is truly an ever evolving and changing process unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before. Our entire team at the Y is dedicated to touching everyone: from reading children’s stories, providing activities for our swimmers, gymnasts and young athletes, daily guided meditations to support mental health, making phone calls to check in on both staff and members, even building a fort… we’re working on it all, so stay tuned!

What is the best way members and our community can support the Y during these difficult times? 

The best way members and our community can support the Y is to consider continuing their membership or program fees during these uncertain times.  We know that our classes are meaningful and provide so much more than a workout, that we are deeper than our pool, and that we are considered family to many.  Our mission is centered around the community we create and the relationships we build.  We do not turn anyone away based on their ability to pay and stand by our promise to serve all.  In order to secure the future of our YMCA and all the amazing services we provide including our scholarship program, we ask everyone to support us in service of our community.  We are all in this together and together we are truly stronger.

Thanks Lisa!

P.S. Check out more from our Checkin’ In and My Glens Falls series here.

Happy Hour: Whiskey Spritz from [farmacy]

Nothing says Friday like Happy Hour. Since we’re missing our downtown bartenders these days, we asked the awesome team at [farmacy] to walk us through a recipe that we can whip up at home, and we can’t wait to try this Whiskey Spritz tonight. Take it away, Jon!

From Jon -

Today we’re going to be making a Whiskey Spritz.

We’re going to start off with Ironweed Dry Whiskey, which is from Albany, NY. Pour 2 ounces into any style mixing glass.

Next we’re going to add 1/4 ounce of Sweet Vermouth.

Then we’re going to add 1/4 ounce of Campari.

What makes this a spritz is adding bubbles. I prefer to use Prosecco, but club soda can work as well. We’re going to add 2 ounces of this.

To make this cocktail sweet, we’re going to add 1 ounce of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Give it a little stir, and pour it over ice.

To top it off, we’re going to garnish with an orange round.

Enjoy!

Cheers, friends! Have a great weekend.

P.S. Did you know that [farmacy] offers cocktails to go, in addition to their regular menu? Check it out here.

The Weekender: April 24-26

Happy Thursday! We’re back with another exciting edition of The Weekender, live from the living room. We’ve had to get a little more creative with our weekend activities these days, but we came up with a few good ones (or at least we think so) - watch or read the summary below! What are you up to this weekend?

#ColorGlensFalls Coloring Sheets: The most relaxing activity of the week. Download here!

Gardening: We planted pansies this week, and if you’re up for adding a little color to your porch too, Binley’s and Garden Time both look to have a great selection (and a safe shopping / pick-up experience, too!).

Yard Work: We’re still raking. Also, PSA: the city is only picking up bagged yard waste until social distancing / staff reductions change. Follow them on IG for these types of announcements.

Call your Grandma: Or your Grandpa, your Aunt, your long lost pal - call someone you haven’t called in a while. Tell them you’re thinking of them. You’ll feel better after, promise.

Enjoy the weekend, and stay well -
Bri + Tom

Checkin' In with Alissa McDonald

This week, we’re Checkin’ In with Alissa McDonald (you may recognize her from the shop she used to have on Glen Street called Downtown Charm!). She shares what it’s been like being pregnant during this time, how she’s balancing being a mom, a teacher and a small business owner amidst all of this, and some words of advice that we’re soaking right up - watch below!

Find Alissa here —> Website / Facebook / Instagram

Stay well, neighbors -
Bri + Tom

P.S. See more of our Checkin’ In + My Glens Falls series here.

The Weekender: April 17-19

Happy weekend! Hope you’re all hanging in there. We’re coming at you live from the living room to chat about what we’re up to this weekend and hopefully give you some inspiration, too - watch below!

Coloring Sheets

Small Business Updates - Take-out + Delivery Options

Have a nice weekend,
Bri + Tom