Hometown News: June 17

A hometown grad is headed to the big leagues - Gordon chatted with Queensbury’s Brett Rodriguez this week about the exciting news! We’re also sharing the latest Phase 3 guidelines, updates on sports and camping, and lots more…

Brett Rodriguez (Courtesy of Wofford Athletics)

Queensbury Grad Signs with Seattle Mariners

Brett Rodriguez, one of the best all-around athletes ever to come from this area, is now a member of the Seattle Mariners organization.

Rodriguez, a three-sport start at Queensbury who went on to a standout baseball career at Division I Wofford College, signed with the Mariners last week.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity, but at the same time, this is the beginning for me and I’m just hungry to see how far I can go and just work hard and try to make my dreams come true,” he told Glens Falls Living.

Rodriguez, the son of Anthony and Michelle Rodriguez, had committed to playing his final year at Creighton University in Nebraska, “but because of Seattle calling me, I couldn’t turn down that offer,” he said.

He just graduated from Wofford with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. Getting that degree was one of the reasons he didn’t sign last year after his junior season.

“I feel really good about it,” he said. “That was one of the reasons I went back to school, to finish my degree, and I’m definitely super excited to have it along with starting my professional career.”

For now, he’s working out at home in Queensbury or at a friend’s house, getting in some swings when he can.

“I’ve been trying to hit on fields lately, but I’ve been kicked off a lot of them, so I’m going to a batting cage that a friend has in his backyard,” he said.

Rodriguez said he was talking to several teams, but decided on the Mariners.    “They said they loved my athleticism,” he said. “That’s a big thing that they really like about me. And also that I can play multiple positions. I played third, short, second and even a little bit of centerfield in my time at Wofford, so I’m definitely a utility guy for them, but they are thinking somewhere in the infield depending on where they need me for that team.”

Jay Marra, Brett’s high school coach at Queensbury, said, “I could not be happier for Brett! Just the nicest young man you would ever meet! I knew he would get [signed] on his athleticism and speed alone. He’s so much like [fellow Queensbury standouts] Brendan Harris and Will Groff, a multi-sport star who could play any position at an all-star level! I’m so proud of him!”

Rodriguez started in 164 games at Wofford College, batting .294 with 183 hits, 140 runs scored and 93 RBI. He is the school’s all-time leader in career stolen bases with 85, and was named All-Southern Conference first-team in 2019 when he ranked 15th nationally in stolen bases.

At Queensbury, he was a remarkable three-sport athlete, helping the Spartans to a state football title while leading the baseball team to the state semifinals and starting as point guard on the basketball team. 

As a senior, he batted .430 with 26 hits, 15 RBI, three home runs and 22 stolen bases. On the mound, he was 7-0 with 55 strikeouts and a 0.66 ERA. He was named first-team all-state as a senior.

What Else is New?

Gatherings grow

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that gatherings of up to 25 people will be allowed as part of Phase 3. The Capital Region, which includes the Glens Falls area, entered Phase 3 today. Restaurants can now have indoor dining at 50% of capacity. All servers will wear masks, and diners must wear masks when not seated at their table.

Gov. Cuomo also says some youth sports like baseball and softball could start up again early next month. The Governor said “low-risk” athletics — baseball, softball, gymnastics, field hockey, cross country and crew — may resume starting July 6 in areas that are in Phase Three of the state’s reopening plan amid the coronavirus. Up to two spectators per child will be allowed at the events, Cuomo said.

Also, the New York State Department of Health announced that sleepaway camps for children will not be allowed this summer.

More info here. 

Gone Camping

Warren County and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation announced Region 5 campgrounds and parks will be open as of June 19.

“There is good news for some but not all of the DEC campgrounds/parks in Lake George region, as Hearthstone. Luzerne and Rogers Rock are missing from the list. 

“The DEC hopes to have all of its campgrounds and state parks re-opened by July 1.

“Here is the list of those that will be open as of this Friday:
Glen Island
, Lake George Battlefield, Lake George Battleground
, Lake George
Million Dollar Beach (7 days/week), Long Island
, Narrow Island
, Eagle Point, Scaroon Manor, Lake Durant
, Lewey Lake
, Buck Pond
, Lake Harris
, Meadowbrook
, Putnam Pond.

“Note: Campgrounds operated by New York Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which include Moreau Lake State Park, are open.”

More info here.

Bears, Oh My

DEC issues guidance to reduce bear conflicts. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos encourages New Yorkers to reduce the potential for conflicts with bears in communities across the state. 

A press release said bears that frequent developed areas are more likely to be hit by vehicles, illegally killed by people who perceive them as a threat, or euthanized for dangerous behavior. New Yorkers can live responsibly with bears by taking down bird feeders, storing garbage containers and pet/livestock feed securely indoors, cleaning grill grease traps, and asking neighbors to do the same. A bear passing through a developed area in search of suitable natural habitat may investigate human food sources, but if it cannot obtain anything to eat, it will continue on its way.

Follow the tips below to live responsibly with New York black bears:
• Do not feed bears intentionally. Feeding bears intentionally is illegal and a ticketable offense. Bears that obtain food from humans will continue to seek food from humans and become nuisance bears, which can pose a threat to humans.
• Around dwellings, the public is encouraged to: Remove all bird feeders; Keep garbage, grills, pet food, and bird seed inside a solid, secure structure such as a house, shed, or garage; If grills cannot be secured, clean grills, move them away from houses, and remove grease traps after each use; Put garbage on the curb the morning of collection, not the night before, and use bear-resistant trash containers; and close garage doors and ground-floor windows/doors at night.

Anvil Inn Reopening - Good news + Bad news

In a Facebook post, Lisa Orsini of the Anvil Inn wrote, “Hi Folks! Good news and bad news! Good news is...we will be reopening! Bad news is...not until July 16th. Neal [Orsini] has the place ripped apart redoing the floors and painting the kitchen. Plus, hopefully the ‘new normal’ will look a little closer to the ‘old normal’ a month from now. We thank you for your patience and support! Miss you all!”

Gone Golfing

The 11th Annual Cornell Cooperative Extension Golf Tournament is Saturday, Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. at Cronin’s Golf Resort in Warrensburg. All proceeds from this benefit will be used to help financially support Cooperative Extension educational programs. $95 if pre-paid by Aug. 7. Includes golf, barbecue and prizes. Info: 518-623-3291. Pre-registration for tournament and barbecue is required by contacting Amy Sabattis at 518-623-3291 or 518-668-4881.

COVID-19, County by County

In Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties, the presence of the coronavirus continues to decrease steadily. For the first time since March 17, a span of 91 days, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases among Warren County residents.

“This is great news, and we are very thankful for the cooperation from our Warren County residents and work of our Warren County employees and local healthcare community that allowed us to get to this point,” Frank Thomas, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said Tuesday in a press release. “But please remember that this is not a time to let down our guard. This vicious virus is not eradicated. We need to continue taking precautions to ensure that we don’t undo all of the progress that has been made.” Warren County documented no additional COVID-19 cases Tuesday, and has had no new cases in the past 13 days. 

• In Warren County, 27 of their 33 deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. There have been 244 confirmed cases overall in Warren County, not including cases that were presumed to be COVID-19. 231 residents have recovered. 

• Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 212 total cases since the pandemic began. 195 residents have recovered, with four cases still active. That’s down two from last week. No Washington County residents were hospitalized as of Wednesday

• Saratoga County reports 17 deaths with 522 confirmed cases overall, and one person hospitalized as of Wednesday. That’s down three from last week. 484 residents have recovered, and there are 22 active cases, down 13 from last week at this time.

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: Danielle Kiser

This week, we’re chatting with Danielle Kiser! She’s a dietitian with a long list of jobs, the cutest pup, and a new love for Glens Falls after having just recently moved here. Get to know more about her below, including her favorite workout spots and a sweet story about neighborhood life in Hometown USA!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Danielle! Some people call me “D”, and a select few call me “Danny”. I’m a Registered & Certified Dietitian, Spinning® Instructor, runner, and proud dog mom. I have my Master’s in Community Nutrition and I have a “few” jobs to say the least. I’m actually new to Glens Falls and honored to be featured in Glens Falls Living.

I’m a Sports Dietitian consulting through Richard Kim Medicine in Saratoga Springs but my outreach goes far beyond Saratoga. I have virtual patients across the country. But I pride myself in “out of office” consults in my work with Dr. Kim. For instance, hands on interactions like Grocery Store Tours, Cooking Demos, etc. that I can do right here in Glens Falls. I’m also a clinical dietitian in a nursing home. I’ve worked at YMCAs for the past 5+ years teaching Spinning® and last year developed and led my first Diabetes Education Program at the Y. One of my favorite things to do is present. I consult with CDPHP traveling all over upstate NY, sometimes presenting to 100+ people. As you can probably tell much of this has changed since COVID, almost all of my jobs have moved to virtual for now. I am still in person at the nursing home, shout out to all of my fellow front line workers!

As far as family, I’m engaged to my best friend. We are getting married in October of 2021 in Brant Lake, NY. We have a 2 year old golden retriever/lab mix that we adopted as a puppy. Her name is Annie and she is super sweet and everyone loves her/offers to puppy sit.

On Life in Glens Falls

I grew up and went to college in Oneonta, NY and my fiancé grew up in Saranac Lake, NY. We met at Hartwick College our Freshman year and to sum it up he is just the kindest, most hard working person I know. Anyway, Glens Falls happens to be perfectly right smack in the middle of our families.

After college, Kellen got a job at Hughes Insurance Agency in Queensbury where he still works today. My first job out of college was south of Albany so we started out in a townhouse in Clifton Park. After a year of the “townhouse life” in a big city, we decided we were ready to buy a house. Clifton Park was too big. We eventually found our dream home in Glens Falls. The prior owners had moved in right after becoming engaged (just like Kellen and I!). It was their first home that they started their family in. They caught wind that Kellen and I were also a newly engaged couple and left us a bottle of champagne the first time we looked at the house. We were sold.

It was over a 90-minute commute to my job south of Albany. But I didn’t care, this was our home, this was our new community. So I quit my full-time job. Thankfully while working full-time I always had at least 2-3 other part-time gigs. It was a big financial risk, but I just knew everything would work out. And it did. We moved in August 2019 and since then, Glens Falls has welcomed my family and nutrition expertise with open arms.

On Good Neighbors

The night we moved into our new home, Kellen had a mandatory work dinner. So the two of us packed up our entire apartment in Clifton Park into a U- Haul that day and plopped it out front of our new GF home. Kellen took off to his work dinner and I began the unpacking process. Thankfully we put all of the heavy items in the back. I unpacked probably 70% of this thing all by myself. The last 30% were heavy items (dressers, beds, etc.) plus it was getting dark outside with no lights in the U-Haul.

As I’m standing in the dark U-Haul staring at these heavy items thinking “how am I ever going to move the rest of this stuff”, I heard voices behind me. About 8-10 other young adults (and their dogs) were standing behind me asking if I wanted a hand. The neighbors across the street were apparently having a bonfire and saw me unpacking by myself. Each one introduced themselves as they started hauling my heavy furniture into my house. In less than a year these people have become our family. I will never forget that first night moving in. It was like something out of a super cheesy small-town movie.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Some of my Glens Falls Favorites:

- Acupuncture Nirvana - they have some of the friendliest, most down to earth people in a very welcoming environment.

- Common Roots Brewery - their beer delivery system through COVID has been amazing! I can’t wait to see their renovations.

- Favorite Workout Spots - Glens Falls YMCA (of course), Kind Cycling, Go For Fitness Gym, and Restore Yoga - weighted blankets, enough said.

- Adirondack Balloon Festival - this was the first event I went to in the area when we moved. It was incredible, well worth waking up at 4AM.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

It would definitely start at the Glens Falls Farmers Market. Kell and I have been going almost every weekend religiously. I like to pick up local coffee, seafood, produce, cheese, milk, and other goodies there. Next Kell and I would whip up a brunch smorgasbord because we both love to cook (and eat). Kellen works 6 days a week usually until late in the evening, so I really cherish Saturdays together. After we eat our feast, we would take Annie for a walk around Havilands Cove trails. Later we would walk into town and enjoy an early date night dinner with friends. This could include cocktails at Farmacy or wings and a beer at the Bullpen Tavern. Many of our friends also live walking distance to downtown.

Since COVID has hit, we have been trying out many of the restaurants doing take-home dishes. One of our current favorites is the Queensbury Hotel! Their chicken and biscuits are to die for. The portion could seriously feed a family of 10. Another favorite is the Downtown City Tavern. Ask any of my friends, I am addicted to their beet salad. We feel it’s extremely important to support local businesses right now so ordering at restaurants downtown the past few weeks has been a fun way to help out.

On the Future

Right before COVID hit, I organized a coffee date with three ladies I have met since moving here that have similar interests, values, and drive. We are all relatively new to GF so I thought it would be great to create a networking group. Tori Torrisi runs the Queensbury location for Capital Area Physical Therapy and has her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She moved here right after us and has quickly become one of my best friends. Carly Samach is a clinical therapist who works at Restore Yoga right in Glens Falls. Her and I met through Kat at Acupuncture Nirvana and have since run a Wellness Workshop together focusing on the connection between food and emotions. Hillary Williams is a prior athletic trainer and current licensed massage therapist right in downtown GF at Adirondack Spine and Sport Chiropractic. I slid into her DM’s on instagram and we became instant friends after a coffee date at Spot. We all have an interest in health and wellness. Our dream is to collaborate and create a resource for local people interested in targeting all aspects of wellness. We would incorporate all of our specialities; massage, physical therapy, nutrition, and mental health into a multidisciplinary approach to create a healthier Glens Falls. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for us in the next few years. We are also up for recommendations on a name for our boss lady group!

By the Way…

One of my quarantine hobbies has been increasing my presence on Instagram (@kiserdanielle). I started doing “Trivia Tuesdays” a few months ago. I create 6-10 questions every Tuesday about various nutrition topics ranging from nutrition for runners to food safety. People seem to really love it and honestly my followers are getting better with answering correctly! Which either means my education is sticking and I’m a great teacher… or they are googling it. Either way I love doing it. It allows me to reach a huge span of people all over the world, connect with other dietitians, and teach people about nutrition in a fun way.

This week’s My Glens Falls is brought to you by Sidekick Creative.

Sidekick is a small, but mighty design team with a dedication to craft & creativity. With a focus on branding, illustration and print design, we collaborate with our clients to achieve real results. We are a proud, NYS-certified Women-Owned Business and we love calling Glens Falls our home.

Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

The Weekender: June 12 - 14

Happy weekend! In addition to washing the pollen off the car for the eighth time this week, here’s what else we’re hoping to get to:

Craft on 9 is Back: Psyched to see that Craft on 9 is back up and running as of today (Thursday)! Looks like they’ll have takeout as well as limited outdoor seating (first come, first served). Can’t wait to get our hands on their summer cocktails to go, too! Grab the details here.

…and Juicin’ Jar is too: Yay! Summer smoothies, here we come. They’ll be open 9-2 Tuesday thru Friday - find them here.

Downtown: Hoping to get back into our summer Saturday morning routine this weekend - which includes hopping on our bikes and cruising down to the Farmers Market. Get the details on the market here!

At the Lake: The weather looks awesome this weekend, and if you’re looking to get out on the water, we saw that Lake George Steamboat Company is setting sail again starting Saturday! Grab the scoop here.

Back Roads: If you’re up for a scenic Friday night ride out to the Washington County Fairgrounds, they’ve got a Food Truck Corral happening with BBQ, sweet treats and more (pre-order or walk-up ordering available!) - grab the details here!

Inactivewear for a Good Cause: The gang at Fountain Square Outfitters and Trampoline Design have teamed up to create the perfect activewear for … inactivity! With designs like “Laundry Mountain” and “Backyard Outing Club”, they’re perfect for all of the extra time we’re spending at home these days. And bonus - all proceeds will be donated to the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation in appreciation of frontline responders. Browse the collection and shop here!

Enjoy the weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, here’s this week’s news.

Hometown News: June 10

Large protests, small graduations… Gordon shares his take. Speaking of graduations, get the scoop on what local districts are doing for their ceremonies with the newly issued guidelines and lots more below.

Large Protests, Small Graduations…

Never before have we had the convergence of circumstances we are seeing now.

The region is hesitantly and tentatively reopening as healthcare officials warn of a possible COVID-19 surge.

And if that weren’t enough, citizens protesting the death of George Floyd are taking to the streets, as they did in Glens Falls on Friday, marching for racial equality and social justice.

A vast majority of the marchers wore masks and tried to keep social distance, but large gatherings go against the advice of most medical experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease official.

And now Governor Andrew Cuomo has established new guidelines for high school graduations, limiting them to outdoor ceremonies with a maximum of 150 people. That total includes graduates, faculty, staff, administrators and family and friends.

Some are questioning how thousands of people can get together and protest but graduations are still being limited, depriving our high school seniors of a meaningful and traditional rite of passage.

I argue that they are separate and distinct situations. Protesters are gathering of their own free will, fully aware of the risks and potential consequences. But high school graduations are a different issue.

School districts are tasked with keeping their students and staff safe. They are getting their marching orders from the state. Many local districts are coming up with creative ways to honor their graduating seniors. Will it be the same? No. And that’s truly a shame.

But the school districts are responsible for the health and safety of everyone who attends a graduation ceremony. Protesters are gathering freely, expressing their First Amendment rights.

If someone gets sick after protesting, that’s the risk they took. They can’t sue anyone.

But if someone gets sick attending a high school graduation, guess what? The school district may be liable. The school district could get sued. 

That’s the difference.

I understand why those question how protesters can gather in the thousands, but graduations are limited in attendance. I get it.

But as we maneuver through this COVID-19 pandemic, let’s all take a deep breath and remember that we still don’t know a lot about the virus, and any precaution we can take to try to ensure the health and safety of everyone are precautions worth taking.

Speaking of Graduations… The Latest on Local Ceremonies

With Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new guidelines on high school graduations, local districts are announcing their plans to honor their seniors.

Gov. Cuomo says the state will permit outdoor, socially distanced graduations of up to 150 people starting June 26.

"Schools need to plan," Cuomo said Sunday. "With the progress we've made so far, and if we continue this trajectory, we'll be able to do that." The announcement is subject to any large spikes or changes in the numbers, he said.

Here’s what we know about local graduation ceremonies, as of Wednesday morning:

• Glens Falls will hold a diploma ceremony on the morning of June 26, with June 27 as the rain date. The ceremony will be an in-person event on the football field at the High School. All attendees will be required to wear masks and to observe social distancing throughout the event. This event will also be live-streamed.

“In addition to the diploma ceremony, our virtual graduation ceremony will be live-streamed on June 26th at 7:00 PM. It will also air on channel 8. This online ceremony will feature student speeches, musical performances, and a commencement address from this year’s speaker, Jimmer Fredette.

“We truly appreciate the flexibility and patience the GF Nation has shown in recent weeks. We are working hard to give our seniors the safest and most creative graduation celebration we are able to deliver.”

Superintendent Paul Jenkins told Glens Falls Living that “We are waiting to see how many more changes Cuomo makes before we finalize the details of what we can do...or can’t do! The 150-person limit would not allow for one ceremony with students and families. We still have three weeks for him to change something yet again. Stay tuned.”

• Queensbury Union Free School District Superintendent Kyle Gannon announced, “To accommodate our (293) graduates and their families…we have planned eight ceremonies spanning two days, Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. [Each ceremony will include about 37 graduates]. 

“Graduates will arrive at a designated time (organized by last name) for their ceremony. Specific details, including safety guidelines and the schedule of these events, will be emailed to students and their families by the end of the week. Please note, to adhere to the maximum of 150 attendees per ceremony, graduates will be allowed two guests. 

“A professional photographer will be present to photograph all of the ceremonies. At 7 p.m. on June 27, we will release the pre-produced virtual graduation video on the district YouTube channel.

“As always, thank you for your continued cooperation, patience and support as we worked through this ever-evolving situation to give our seniors a celebration to remember. We could not be happier to share this news with you and we are so excited to be able to see your students cross our stage.”

 • South Glens Falls Superintendent Kristine Orr says a full class graduation ceremony for its 230 graduates will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 8:30 p.m., at the Glen Drive-In on Route 9 in Queensbury. The ceremony will be live-streamed so those who cannot attend can watch it.
    In addition, possible smaller-group in-person recognition could occur on Friday, June 26, Ms. Orr said. 

“By June 22, if Governor Cuomo adjusts restrictions to allow us to hold smaller, in-person events, we will announce a plan for these. We need a minimum of a 300-person limit to make this happen. If the restrictions stay below a 300-person limit, we will not be adding additional small group, in-person celebrations. The district will inform families on June 22 whether or not the additional in-person events will be taking place.”

• Hudson Falls plans to hold three in-person graduation ceremonies on the football field on Saturday, June 27, with the rain date of Sunday, June 28, high school principal Jim Bennefield said Wednesday.

The three sessions will be at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hudson Falls anticipates having between 140 and 150 graduates. Each session will feature 45-50 graduates.

• Fort Edward plans an outdoor in-person graduation for its 31 graduates on Friday, June 26 in the late afternoon or early evening. Superintendent Dan Ward told Glens Falls Living that the ceremony will likely take place on the front lawn of the school, which provides more shade than the football field. Rain date is Saturday, June 27.

“We are still proceeding with our virtual graduation ceremony planning,” Mr. Ward said. “We’re trying to cover all of our bases. We will be posting updates on our website.”

• Lake George is still solidifying plans for its graduation. A post on the district’s website Wednesday morning says, “For LGHS Seniors (12th grade) and parents/guardians of 12th graders, we understand and directly know that the uncertainty surrounding the graduation ceremony is of utmost concern. 

“We have been fully exploring all options and are awaiting further guidance and will announce tentative plans soon. We appreciate your patience as we try to close out this school year in a positive and memorable way while adhering to the most relevant and current guidance information. 

“We can assure everyone that we have been discussing graduation options at length.  We are trying our best to preserve the opportunity to hold some sort of in-person and perhaps outside ceremony, which is what a lot of feedback has stated. The delay in defining the ceremony structure and date is to see if the state is going to relax restrictions and allow for an in-person ceremony.

“With all this stated: We are still hopeful for some sort of ceremony on Saturday, June 27, 2020 @ 9:00 AM with a "rain-date" of Sunday, June 28, 2020 @ 4:00 PM. There also exists the potential for some sort of ceremony either the first or second week of July 2020 or thereabouts. (That is the time-frame we are attempting to work within). We hope to share specific information soon and appreciate your continued patience.”

What Else is New?

• Balloon Festival is Grounded for 2020: The Official Adirondack Balloon Festival Facebook page announced today that this year’s event will be cancelled.

“The most important part in planning in an event of this magnitude is safety. Safety is not only for our balloon pilots, but also includes our spectators, law enforcement, public works, fire and rescue staff, vendors, volunteers, musical acts, and our landowners in the region. This is an unprecedented decision for us and one we did not take lightly. Our decision process included discussions with state officials and the Federal Aviation Administration officials as well. This event is for the community by the community. We have a responsibility to make certain social distancing occurs and we do not feel we could make that happen with the tens of thousands of people who attend our event,” said Mark Donahue, President of the Festival’s Board of Directors. 

Dates for next year’s festival will be September 23-26, 2021.

• Lake George Steamboat Company Sets Sail: Lake George Steamboat Company announced that the Mohican will sail starting this weekend, June 13 and 14.

“She will be sailing four one-hour cruises,” they said on Facebook.

The Lac du Saint Sacrement “will start sailing on daily luncheon trips starting on Wednesday, June 17th and daily dinner trips on Saturday, June 20th! This included the Prime Rib cruise on Sunday nights and the St. Louis Ribs cruise on Monday nights!”

The Minne-Ha-Ha will start sailing on her one-hour cruises on June 27th and 28th. All Minne Ha Ha and Mohican one-hour cruises this summer will be going out at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30pm, and 7:30 p.m.

“This will allow us enough time to clean the ship and get it ready for the next cruise and make sure that we can offer the safest possible environment to our customers! Unfortunately we will not be able to serve food and drinks on any cruises (except the luncheon and dinner cruises) until July 1st.”

More info here.

• Take A Bite to Begin in August: Glens Falls Collaborative announces Take-A-Bite is scheduled to begin in August!

A press release said the popular Wednesday evening series where visitors can stroll and dine outdoors enjoying live music, will be held Wednesdays starting in August from 5 to 7 p.m.

“The dates, of course, are subject to change as regulations due to COVID-19 dictate what is permitted,” said a press release.

In addition, Wing Fest has been tentatively rescheduled to Saturday, October 10, from noon to 3 p.m.

Pet Fest is set for Sunday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

And the Grandma’s Table dining event is on the calendar for Sunday, August 16, from 4 to 6 p.m.

More info here.

• I Bird NY: The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the start of the 2020 "I BIRD NY" challenges for beginner and experienced birders.

“New York State is home to a wide range of habitats that support more than 450 different bird species throughout the year. In New York, there are also 59 designated Bird Conservation Areas to safeguard and enhance bird populations and habitats on State lands and waters across the state. The State's I Bird NY program provides resources for New Yorkers who would like to get outdoors and engage in birding all year long.

“The joy of birdwatching is experienced by people from all economic backgrounds and education levels. While binoculars can help, enjoying birds can be done without any special equipment. DEC is hosting its annual which is open to anyone 16 years of age and younger. 

“To complete the Beginner's Birding Challenge, participants must identify 10 common New York bird species and submit their challenge sheet to DEC. Entries can be mailed or emailed. All participants in this challenge will receive a certificate of participation and be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win birding accessories.”

• Palmertown Ridge Plans Taking Shape: In 2017, the Open Space Institute, in partnership with Saratoga PLAN and local partners, created the Southern Palmertown Range Community Conservation and Recreation Strategy, a conservation and recreation road map from Moreau Lake State Park to Saratoga Springs.

And this 13-mile corridor just added 84 crucial acres in Greenfield that will now establish 350 scores of protected land connected to Lincoln Mountain State Forest.

“The Greentree Lake Addition property is a key linkage in the…proposed 13-mile trail that will ultimately connect Moreau Lake and Saratoga Spa State Parks.”

More info here.

• Lavenlair Farm in Whitehall Closed for the Season: Lavenlair Farm announced “we're unable to welcome visitors for U-Pick, photography and events at the farm this summer. We are so grateful for your ongoing support of Lavenlair Farm. Fresh lavender bouquets will be available at Walker's Farm Home & Tack once the lavender starts blooming in a few weeks. And our full line of lavender products continues to be available on our website, www.lavenlairfarm.com.”

COVID-19, County by County

In Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties, the number of new cases continues to fall. As of Wednesday morning, Warren County had no critically ill COVID-19 patients for the first time since May 20. Warren County Health Services documented no new COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday morning, and has one new case confirmed over the past 12 days. There were also no additional recoveries noted.

In Warren County, 27 of their 33 deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. There have been 244 confirmed cases overall in Warren County, not including cases that were presumed to be COVID-19. 231 residents have recovered. 

Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 210 total cases since the pandemic began. 191 residents have recovered, with six cases still active. One Washington County resident was hospitalized as of Wednesday.

Saratoga County reports 17 deaths with 509 confirmed cases overall, and four people hospitalized as of Wednesday. 458 residents have recovered, and there are 35 active cases, down 12 from last week at this time.

NY State reports through June 8th that 15 residents of Glens Falls Center in Queensbury have died, with another five deaths presumed to be related to the virus. But Glens Falls Center reports no new cases, which is great news. Eleven residents of Fort Hudson in Fort Edward have died, but Fort Hudson administrators say there are no new cases there. That’s more good news. Five 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 June 9th, a total of 41 inmates had been infected. All 41 have recovered. That is exceptionally good news. At Washington Correctional Facility across the street, there are no inmates currently infected, with two having tested negative in May. More good news.

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: Amanda Murphy + Erinn O'Rourke

This week we’re chatting with our neighbors, Amanda and Erinn! Learn what’s kept them local after growing up in the area, grab their tips on the best places to head out for a bike ride, and find out where to scoop up some sweet treats from their baking business, Simpatico!

Tell us about yourselves!

Amanda is an art teacher, and Erinn is a Phys Ed teacher (turned home school teachers) - and we work together in the same school! Our coworkers like to joke that we'll need scheduled time apart after living and working together - but so far so good. When we're not teaching we are baking scones, cookies and home-made pop tarts. We have our own baking business - Simpatico. We started selling our goods last summer after deciding not to return to our waitressing gigs. We love baking for people, and we love the market atmosphere. We miss the Thursday night Food Truck Corrals in their traditional form, but are so glad to be able to participate with on-line ordering this year. Eric at The Shirt Factory did so much to make it easy for both vendors and customers. [Update: starting this Thursday, you can attend the Shirt Factory Food Truck Corral and order in person, too!]

 We have two awesome girls, Lily and Finley who are eight and four years old, two old dogs and a new cat - who found us in our yard and almost insisted we adopt her regardless of our "no cats" rule. We recently moved into a new home that we adore, and is made better by a wonderful neighborhood, and even better neighbors!

On Life in Glens Falls

We both grew up in towns near Glens Falls and spent our college years away before coming back to the area after graduating. We met at work and became good friends, helping each other through some pretty challenging life events before realizing that we'd fallen in love with each other! Erinn moved into a house Amanda owned in Glens Falls before we bought our home together as a family of four. 

We are the new owners of a beautiful old home - built in 1900! We've been enjoying slowly making it our own both inside and out. Our front porch is a family favorite spot, but there's nothing we don't like about this house. It looks a little different recently, as our dining room has turned into a classroom- complete with name tags and work hanging on the walls. We hung a framed map of Glens Falls from 1931 and it's awesome to see the history there on our walls, and we love knowing our house was already built when the map was printed! The neighborhood is perfect for kids - Lily and Finley love to ride their bikes through all the alleys and everyone is so friendly. We were lucky enough to have one great party before New York State was put on PAUSE, and we're really looking forward to more - especially ones we can host outdoors!

We love to be downtown in Glens Falls, especially when we can grab drinks and things to eat outside. We also love how safe the city is for walking and biking. On any given day we can leave home and hit either the bike path and head towards Lake George or the Feeder Dam Trail on our bikes. We can walk downtown or just through all the streets in Glens Falls - there's always something beautiful to see, and of course lately we have a healthy competition on which family member will see the most rainbows on a walk. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day 

A perfect place in Glens Falls is difficult for us to decide on because there are so many places we love to frequent. We'd have to start with brunch at Farmacy, we both knew that right away! When we finished we'd take a bike ride or walk down the Feeder Dam Trail, stopping for our own "book club" on the canoe launch near Finch Pruyn. From there we'd stop for a smoothie from Juicin’ Jar (we love to share the Juice Monkey), and walk through Rude Betty. Then we'd head home and snack on some of our own pop tarts or scones on the porch before grabbing a margarita and some guac and salsa outside at Raul's and finish the day with dinner downtown (we can't choose a favorite right now, there's too many!). 

On the Past 

It may be the recent past, but we're mourning The Exchange Cafe already. Amanda would've eaten that Granny Smith sandwich every day if she could. Amanda lived in Glens Falls first and misses more downtown retail stores - Sterling and Company and Kismet are ones that stick out in her memory. Erinn misses going to Summer Jam at East Field with her family.

Having both gone to local schools and playing high school sports we have a lot of fond memories at Glens Falls High School and Morse Complex on the fields.  

On the Future 

One thing we say almost every time we're downtown is how much we'd love to see a little deli and grocery store. A place to grab a quick sandwich with a few aisles of convenient groceries without needing to head to a larger retailer. We'd also love to see one of Glens Falls' parks have a water feature. We lived near Montcalm Park before buying our new home, and when they put in new equipment we were completely convinced they were going to squirt water and even got Lily and Finley overly excited, only to find out we were way off course. Both the girls love to play in water, so it'd be great if we could walk to something like a splash pad in Crandall Park.  

If we could really wave a magic wand we'd place a Simpatico bakery downtown. A place we could bike to, make friends with lots of customers and be a part of a downtown we love!

We're so fortunate to not just live in a home that we love, but in a city we love too. We're happy to raise Lily and Finley here and know they love to call it home as well!

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

Outdoor dining is back at The Q and we could not be more excited! Join them on the Park Patio for socially distanced seating, or in The Courtyard to lounge on cozy couches by the fire bowls under the string lights! They’ll be serving their Fenimore’s Pub menu for lunch, dinner, and drinks daily from 12pm-9pm, as well as breakfast on Saturday & Sunday from 7am-11am. Find out more and check out their menu here!

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

Golfing with Gordon: Cronin's Golf Resort

Last Saturday, I joined three of my closest friends at Cronin’s Golf Resort in Warrensburg for a rip-roaring scramble round for the ages.

Joining me for Golfing with Gordon were Greg Helwig, Richard White and Mick Powers.

All four of us are 1980 South High graduates. We’ve been playing golf together since the beginning of time. When we play as a team, as we did at Cronin’s, it’s pure joy.

Left to right: Richard White, Mick Powers and Greg Helwig

Greg, our favorite Corrections Officer, is the best golfer of the foursome. He’s our anchor, and our captain. Of course, there was not a vote for captain. He is self-appointed. But that’s okay. He is the glue that holds our group together. He encourages, cajoles, prods, challenges and pushes us as only he can, with that effervescent smile and easy-going way. He threatens not to speak to us again, and then seconds later is back in our ear, cheering us on.  

Richard is the best athlete of the group. A star at South High, he went on to captain the Colgate University football team under legendary coach Fred Dunlap. An agile and quick inside linebacker, he terrorized opposing offenses and was a dynamic force and all-league performer. Now a senior analyst with the State Department of Labor, Richard is still refining his golf game. He terrorizes trees on either side of the fairway, but when he slows down his swing, he’s solid! And he has a great short game. We’ve been best friends since first grade at Tanglewood, which, for those keeping score at home, is a long time.

Mick is the wise counsel of our group, the calm presence needed in a foursome with excitable personalities. Nothing phases Mick. He takes in the world at his own pace, in his own time. He sees the world through unique glasses. Funny and biting and intelligent, he keeps us loose. And he makes great trail mix, though I could do without the cashews.

And then there’s me. I’m just along for the ride. I can make a putt here and there, and occasionally I hit a good drive. But I’m just so darn inconsistent, that I’m afraid I’m not much help most of the time. 

But when we’re playing a scramble, we’re all one, a motley crew of smiling Bulldogs enjoying the game.

Cronin’s is in great shape. Lush and well maintained, it’s a challenging track, with long holes along the Hudson River and tight bowling-alley fairways across the road. And James Cronin is so generous, it makes us want to go back again and again. The dude is flat-out funny, and kind, too!

The four of us had played two weeks earlier in another Adirondack Golfers’ Association tournament, and we finished two-under. That’s not usually going to win a scramble with more than a dozen teams, and it didn’t two weeks ago.

On this day, we finished two-under again. Four birdies, two bogeys. And more laughs than we could count.

At one point, Greg couldn’t find his golf ball.

 “Where’s my ball?” he said. “I just had it!”

We all started looking around, and then Mick said, “Greg, what’s that in your hand?”

It was his golf ball. 

Halfway through the round, Greg decided to change the order. He hit first, theoretically because he was sick of watching the three of us visit Shank City before he stepped up.

On this day, it didn’t help. Nothing did.

But it didn’t matter. We have a chemistry that can only come from knowing someone for 40-plus years. We easily find a relaxed rhythm. Some putts fall, others don’t. Balls are lost, some are found.

For four hours, our world shrunk to just us. And it was perfect.

Until next time -
Gordon

This story was made possible by Cronin’s Golf Resort.

Nothing says vacation quite like a game of golf and what better resort in the Adirondack region other than Cronin’s Golf Resort?

Visitors have been creating wonderful memories at Cronin’s Golf Resort since 1945. Located in Warrensburg, NY, Cronin’s is an award-winning golf course with breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains and Hudson River. Our guests return year after year with their family and friends, and we’d love to welcome you this summer as well - learn more here!

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

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!

Black Lives Matter: Voices from the March

Thousands turned out at yesterday’s Black Lives Matter March, and it was a beautiful, powerful, peaceful demonstration of solidarity within our city and community. As we marched, we spoke with attendees to find out why it was important for them to be there, and what they’re hopeful for in the future.

Here they are, in their own words. 

Jasmine, Mary, and Emma

Jasmine: “I have two children, so by the time they get to this age, maybe it can be more equal for them. They’re biracial - they’re black and white - and it’s important to me because I feel like if I’m silent about one person’s death, I hope no one would be silent about mine or my children’s.

“I hope that more people…instead of sitting back and being silent about a matter…any matter…that everybody can stand up for what’s right, regardless of whether it affects them or not. Injustice to one is injustice to us all.”

Mary: “I’m here to let everybody know that we’re all here for one cause, and one thing only, and that’s love. And that we’re all equal, and we should all be treated equally. I hope that this is the start of something bigger and better, and that we can finally all just become one.”

Emma: “I’m here to be a voice in an area where certain people don’t have a voice, to really amplify the platform of unity and acceptance, and to really come together in a time when everyone is so divided. My hope is that this puts an end to complacency and increases accountability.”

Lee Braggs

Lee: “Seeing what I’m seeing now - with everybody coming together - is a tremendous step forward considering what we’ve gone through. Lately it seems like we’ve been taking one step forward and twenty steps backwards, so it’s a pleasure to see this. And it’s nice to see the young people! I’ve been doing this for years and years and years, but for me to take a step back and allow the young people to do it - that does my heart well. I love it.

“My hope for the future is that we as people, we as people of the human race, can all come together without regards to race, creed, or color, and just be one big happy family.”

Robin and her daughter, Sharika

Robin: “Today, to me, is a beginning. It’s a beginning to make real radical change for racial justice, for equality, for everything that matters, including black lives. I feel hopeful for the future. I have my daughter here with me, and I feel like we are moving confidently forward to a better tomorrow.”

Beth and her family

Beth: “I think enough is enough. We have to do something at this point. Sitting at home is just consent. We don’t agree with what’s going on and we don’t want any more terrible things to happen to innocent people. My hope for the future is to stop systemic racism, because this is a system problem as much as it is a personal bias problem, so we’ll just keep working towards that goal.

“Children have the right to not grow up in fear. I’ve heard a lot of stories from friends - that they’re worried about their children’s future - and that’s sad. So I’m here and I’m working to help those families and allow their children to have wonderful opportunities like every American should.”

Darrell and Denise Perkins

Denise: “The most important thing is that we’re all coming together for a common cause - to make a change. That’s the most important thing to me, because it means we all realize that there’s a problem that needs to be solved. So we’re all out here collectively, in one voice, making one sound for change. That’s a beautiful thing for me, especially because I’m the mother of a gentle giant, and every time I see George, I see my son.

“My hope is that there will be a lasting change and that they realize that we are not out to hurt anybody. As African Americans, we’re not looking for special treatment. We just want to be treated like everybody else. That’s it. We want them to look upon us and just see a human, not a person of color. And that’s the change that we want - just to be treated equally.”

Steven and friend

Steven: “To me, today means unity and coming together. I hope that we can learn from this, continue to make changes, continue to do more policy reform, and just listen and learn from everyone that is speaking.”

Michael Plank

Michael: “Today, for me, is about showing solidarity and about demonstrating the truth that we’re a community with one another and if one part of the community is hurting, we’re all hurting. I think this is a really painful time, but I’m really hopeful that pain is being illuminated in a new way that can help us move forward.”

Alex, Violet, and Desiree

Desiree: “Today means a lot to me. There are many people who have suffered injustice and we’re here to help fight for them, and to teach this little one a bit. There’s a lot we need to do and there’s a lot we need to work for, and I think as white people that we can support it and we can stand up for that.

“I’d like to see a lot more peace, a lot more justice - hopefully people are held accountable. Accountability is huge and as we’ve seen, a lot of that slips through the cracks. Being able to get things on video really helps. It’s unfortunate that that’s the way it has to go, but people being able to see it, as hard as it is to watch, is how we’re able to hold these people accountable and make change.”

Anonymous: “My husband is a person of color. I felt like I needed to come out because if the police murdered my husband, I would be outraged and I would take to the streets. I’m very happy with the turnout. I didn’t think that people would be this outraged in this area, because the minority population is very small. I’m comfortable with what the outrage would be if it were my husband that died, which is a difficult sentence in itself.”

Katie, Melissa, and Meaghan, on their way home from the event

Meaghan: “Today means a lot about community. I’m feeling very hopeful about the future and for a better future for our kids. I think this next generation is going to lead the real change.”

Melissa: “Today means using our voices for good, and not staying silent. I agree with Meaghan - I do believe the next generation is going to lead change. They were teaching us the chants before the march, and one of them was “This is the future”. That just felt so good. I got chills.”

Katie: “We’re here taking action and showing by example to our children that all lives don’t matter until Black Lives Matter. I was really touched by the outpouring of people here today and it makes me really hopeful that our community is headed in the right direction.”

This city. This day. So much love and so much hope for the future.

P.S. Huge thanks to the event organizers, Glens Falls Police Department, Warren County Sheriffs, NYS Police, all particiapting surrounding departments, and the City of Glens Falls for coming together to allow our community the opportunity to speak out peacefully and safely. Well done! Thank You!

The Weekender: June 5 - 7

The weekend is upon us, and apparently, so is outdoor dining! We’re rounding up the restaurants, breweries, and wineries that are opening up with outdoor seating this weekend (…oh, and retail too!). Cheers!

Here’s a quick list of Glens Falls restaurants that will have patios open this weekend:

• Fenimore’s Pub: The patio is open for lunch and dinner starting today.

• Morgan and Co: Opening Friday at 4pm for outdoor seating - reservations accepted!

• Radici: Open for outdoor seating starting today - a few tables available - first come, first served.

• Farmacy: Outside seating available as of today - first come, first served.

• Downtown Social: Patio is open starting today.

• The Bullpen: Open for sidewalk seating starting Friday.

• Downtown City Tavern: Open for patio seating starting today.

• Sam’s Diner: Limited outdoor seating available starting today.

• Kelly’s Roots: The deck is open beginning today.

• Rachel’s Spice Company & Cafe: Enjoy your takeout at their outdoor tables - no table service.

• Mikado: Opening on Friday for outdoor dining. They will take temperatures at the door.

• Farmstead Flatbread: Patio opens today.

• Talk of the Town: Open for outdoor dining (under a tent in their parking lot!) Friday at 11am.

Here’s a rundown of breweries with outdoor seating this weekend:

• Mean Max | Glens Falls: Outside seating open starting today!

• Adirondack Brewery | Lake George: Outdoor seating will open starting Friday at 11:30am.

• Argyle Brewing | Greenwich + Cambridge: Beer gardens at both locations will be open starting today, along with food trucks open at each.

• Ledge Rock Hill Winery | Corinth: Open for outdoor tastings and small plates on Saturday and Sunday from 12-3pm.

• Northway Brewing | Queensbury: Outdoor seating open starting today.

• R S Taylor & Sons Brewery | Salem: Open for outdoor seating starting today - bring your own lawn chairs or picnic blanket!

• SlickFin Brewing | Fort Edward: The patio is open starting today.

Retail is starting to open too! Here are some shops that are open this weekend downtown:

• Fountain Square Outfitters

• Milk & Honey

• Finders Keepers

• 42 Degrees

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

Hometown News: June 3

Today’s big story - the return of outdoor dining! Gordon has the scoop and the reaction from local restaurants, as well as the latest plan for Glens Falls High School graduation, and of course, COVID-19, county by county.

This Just In: Outdoor Dining Resumes Thursday

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced late Wednesday that outdoor dining in the region will be allowed starting Thursday, June 4th.

“Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated,” said the Governor’s directive.

It comes as welcome news to local restaurant owners who were part of a growing chorus of government officials and business leaders advocating for the change.

“You were the vanguard in what became a statewide push,” Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore said in a press release. 

Contacted for comment, Queensbury Hotel General Manager Tyler Herrick said of the news, “It’s fantastic! It’s about time. It never made any sense to be able to service everyone with to-go meals and have them sit in the park or on the curb to eat it. We will keep things clean and sanitary, and our patio and courtyard are all set. We are ready starting Thursday at noon.”

Paul Bricoccoli, Jr., one of the owners of the Bullpen and Talk of the Town in Glens Falls, said, “I think it’s great. I’m glad we’re able to open. A little notice would have been nice. It seems like the Governor is flying by the seats of his pants here. 

“I have a tent coming for Talk of the Town, and I talked to the tent guy and asked him how much notice I needed to give him because I figured it would be a last-minute decision. He told me he’d need three days.

“Today, I called him as soon as I heard the news, and he’s going to try to get something to us tomorrow. I can put a bunch of tables outside under a tent.”

He said he has not seen many specific directives except for servers wearing masks and diners wearing masks away from the table.

“It will be the Wild West but I’m obviously ecstatic to be able to open. As I told you yesterday, restaurant people are resilient and creative. We’ll figure it out. We’re ready to roll.”

To see what businesses and restaurants are now open, Warren County’s COVID Hub website has a tool that allows businesses to report re-opening and have their locations plotted on a county map for public consumption - view it here.

What Will Glens Falls High School Graduation Look Like This Year?

At this point, graduates will be given a time to pick up their diplomas at the school, and there will be a virtual ceremony, superintendent Paul Jenkins told Glens Falls Living Monday.

Teachers are delivering gifts to seniors, celebratory banners are being made and lawn signs are out.

“We’re trying to find ways to honor and recognize our seniors,” Mr. Jenkins said. “I know some want everyone together for a ceremony, but right now that goes against the guidelines from the state that we are following.

“We would prefer to have a traditional graduation ceremony. I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and have been involved in 30 graduations. We know how to do this. But we just can’t do the same thing this year.”

Some are pushing for a traditional ceremony on social media, prompting the district to post a letter earlier this week. The letter said, in part, “There have been some questions regarding the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020. Currently, there are a number of special recognition activities that have been put in place to honor and celebrate our graduating seniors. An individual diploma ceremony and a virtual ceremony are both being developed in lieu of our traditional June graduation. 

“We are working under the guidelines from the Governor regarding school closures and the restriction on non-essential gatherings of more than ten individuals. We also take our guidance from the state and local Departments of Health. The Superintendent is in constant contact with both DOH and they are not recommending large gatherings.

“That being said, we expect to hear something from the Governor’s office soon, seeing that both Massachusetts and New Jersey have made announcements allowing ceremonies in July. If that occurs, we will make appropriate changes. We would much prefer an in-person graduation ceremony for our students, as we have always been able to provide in the past, with some modifications for social distancing and the requirement of masks.”

Mr. Jenkins told me, “I understand the emotion, but we can’t overlook what the experts are telling us.”

COVID-19, County by County

In Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties, the number of new cases continues to fall. As of Tuesday, Warren County had not documented a new case of COVID-19 in four consecutive days.

In Warren County, 27 of their 33 deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. As of Tuesday, there had been four straight days without new cases. There have been 243 confirmed cases overall in Warren County, not including cases that were presumed to be COVID-19. 225 residents have recovered.

Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 204 total cases since the pandemic began. 177 residents have recovered, with 14 cases still active. One Washington County resident was hospitalized as of Wednesday.

Saratoga County reports 16 deaths with 481 confirmed cases overall, and six people hospitalized as of Wednesday. 418 residents have recovered, and there are 47 active cases.

NY State reports through May 25 that 14 residents of Glens Falls Center in Queensbury have died, with another five deaths presumed to be related to the virus. Eleven residents of Fort Hudson in Fort Edward have died. Five residents of The Pines in Glens Falls have died, with two additional presumed cases. Fort Hudson announced late last month that there were no new infections in the nursing home.

At Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Fort Ann, the state reports that as of May 27th, a total of 41 inmates had been infected. 39 have recovered. One test is pending. At Washington Correctional Facility across the street, there are no inmates currently infected, with two having tested negative in May.

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!

GFSD Celebrates Students and Supports Local Restaurants with Poems To Go

When Logan Fisher, the Instructional Coach at Glens Falls School District, was looking for a way to continue to encourage students to write during this time of virtual learning, she immediately thought to partner with another group that has been struggling during this time - local restaurants. In support of both parties, Poems To Go was created - a way to celebrate the writing of their students while also encouraging folks to support Glens Falls restaurants. 

“We’re always looking for interesting ways to get kids to have a reason to write, and have an audience to write for, so I just thought that this would be a really great way to build some community spirit”, said Logan. “We thought it might serve two purposes - the biggest purpose for me was that I wanted the students to have an audience to write for, and then of course, to support our local restaurants during this difficult time.” 

Carrie Krogmann and Logan Fisher

Carrie Krogmann, her partner in this endeavor, is a first grade teacher at Kensington Road School and also just so happens to be part of a family of restaurant owners. Carrie helped to contact other local restaurants and coordinate the effort, and ended up with eight participating restaurants where folks can order food to go and receive the anthology of poems free with their purchase. The poems will also be available at Hannaford on Broad Street, as it was important for them to be sure that families who are food insecure had a place where they could get the poems without the necessity of paying for take out.

M&M Digital Printing stepped up in support of this project to print the anthologies for free. The response from students submitting poetry was amazing - much more than expected - and George Normandin of Normandin Marketing stepped up to cover the additional printing costs incurred.

Matt Flint and Matt Flint Jr. of M & M Digital Printing along with Carrie Krogmann and Logan Fisher

Many primary students formed groups based on what style of poetry they chose (thesaurus, list, etc.), and groups met virtually with teachers to work through the process together - creating the poems, giving feedback, and working toward the final result. Older students wrote independently.

“At GFSD, we’ve been telling the kids that writing can serve two purposes during this pandemic; to escape and to make sense of,” said Logan. 

For example, Ila Fisher, a 4th grader at Kensington Road School, wrote the following list poem to make sense of the pandemic: 

This one (a thesaurus poem) is by Lucy Coker, a 4th grader at Kensington Road School: 

And finally, a poem written by Natalie Zachar, 6th grade at GFMS:

Poems To Go will take place this Wednesday, June 3. Participating restaurants include: The Bullpen Tavern, Fenimore’s Pub, Talk of the Town, The Grateful Den, Poopie’s, Mean Max, Sam’s Diner, and Downtown City Tavern. To take part, simply order takeout from one of these restaurants as you normally would, pick up your food and your packet of poems, and share photos on social media using the hashtag #poemstogogfsd. 

Back in the Day: Gene Kelly and Natalie Wood Film Marjorie Morningstar in Schroon Lake

Glens Falls, and a resort “near there” on Warren County’s northern border, gained national attention when the movie “Marjorie Morningstar,” starring Gene Kelly and Natalie Wood, was filmed at Schroon Lake in 1957.

“Movie folks will always draw larger crowds than Veeps,” Walter Winchell wrote in a September 1957 syndicated column. “When Richard Nixon visited Glens Falls, NY, about 1,500 people turned out. When actress Natalie Wood arrived there to film ‘Marjorie Morningstar,’ near there, over 8,000 greeted her.”

(Nixon flew into Warren County in 1954 to speak at a National Association of Governors conference at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing. But that’s another story for another time.)

Winchell’s math may have been a little bit off.

The Lake George Mirror estimated about 4,000 people, still a big crowd, turned out at Warren County airport the evening of Aug. 19 to watch planes land.

Arthur P. Irving, publisher of The Post-Star and Glens Falls Times, was there to greet the celebrities on behalf of Joseph Freiber, owner of Scaroon Manor, a resort hotel on the border of Warren and Essex counties, where about two-thirds of the movie would be filmed.

The land where the hotel once stood is now a state Department of Environmental Conservation campground.

Most of the cast and crew – about 50 people -- arrived on a chartered United Airlines DC7B flight with space for up to 104 passengers, the largest plane to land at Warren County airport, up to that point.

The plane flew in from Hollywood.

Wood arrived on a separate flight from New York City, for about three weeks of filming.

Cast and crew were transported from the airport, in Queensbury, to the resort via bus.

There also was a large crowd, “almost like a circus day,” at the Glens Falls rail yard for the arrival on Aug. 16 of a freight train loaded with cameras, motion picture equipment, costumes and props.

Entertainment writers frequently interviewed actors and actresses during the three-week filming over dinner at The Queensbury Hotel.

It would be nice to say that the publicity coup for the Adirondacks was the result of some well-thought-out Chamber of Commerce recruitment strategy.

The truth is that a site selection consultant remembered his honeymoon at Scaroon Manor 22 years earlier, and suggested it would be the ideal location for scenes set at “Southwinds Hotel” in the Catskills.

“They went, they saw, and decided this was the place that had the beauty, joyousness and excitement of an eastern mountain playground,” wrote Post-Star reporter Alice C. Armstrong.

Warner Brothers hired many regular resort guests and area residents as extras.

Trumpet player John Marine of Hudson Falls, a member of Glens Falls City Band, performed background music in several outdoor scenes.

Steve Gitto and The Blue Jacks, a Glens Falls area four-piece band, performed in several scenes.

The band would be the first to separately record “A Very Precious Love,” which Kelly sang in the movie.

The movie version of the song was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Song category.

The movie, based on the novel of the same name by Herman Wouk, revolved around Hunter College student Marjorie Morgenstern, who while working at a summer camp, fell in love with a 32-year-old aspiring playwright working at a nearby summer theater.

The movie was noted for including scenes depicting Jewish religious life, including a Passover Seder.

It won a Hollywood Foreign Press award for best film promoting international understanding.

The French Theatre Association selected it as best film of the year.

Carolyn Jones, who portrayed Marsha Zelenko, won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Female.

The 19-year-old Wood, who abandoned her previous trademark pixie haircut, viewed the role as her evolution from child star to adult actress.

“It shows the transition of a naïve, wide-eyed girl into a mature woman with a real understanding of life,” Wood told Glens Falls Times reporter Hal Boyle.

There was off-camera intrigue with actor Robert Wagner, Wood’s boyfriend and later husband, on location much of the time.

“Wagner, who isn’t in the film, haunts the set all day and is definitely in the picture as soon as cameras cease grinding,” Boyle wrote. “After work, he and Natalie, who is chaperoned by her mother and young sister, Lana, are as close as two holes in Swiss cheese.”

Lana, 11 years old, had a small part in the movie. 

—————

Sources: The Post-Star Aug. 15, 19, Sept. 6, 7,251957; April 25, July 18, 1958; Aug. 7, 1965; Glens Falls Times Aug. 14, 29, 30, Sept. 10, 19, 1957; Lake George Mirror, Aug. 23, 1957; imbd.com

MAURY THOMPSON

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. Read his full bio here.

To Go: Fenimore's Pub

Where are you grabbing takeout from this weekend? We grabbed an awesome meal to go from another GF favorite, Fenimore’s Pub, this week and to be honest, we’re debating heading back tonight for another round of Herbed Chicken Sandwiches and Crispy Chicken Wraps. While we were there we caught up with Food & Beverage Director, Jerid McKinney to find out how operations have been since the “pause”, as well as hear some of their silver linings and lessons learned. And… Read to the end for a chance to win a $20 gift card to Fenimore’s!

Herbed Chicken Salad Sandwich, Caesar Salad, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Crispy Chicken Wrap, Onion Rings

On Overcoming Challenges

We believe we have experienced a lot of the same challenges as all local restaurants and downtown businesses:

-Keeping our team safe and informed.

-Dealing with an abundance of ever-changing information/misinformation.

-Adjusting operations based on evolving time tables and moving targets.

-Figuring out how/if we can be operationally successful (and safely) in this climate/environment.

On Evolving

Operationally, we have shifted to a takeout, cash and carry model. All of our menu items are served to-go, and we’re also focusing on cash and carry alcohol sales.  We’ve been highlighting local craft beverages, like 4 packs of Mean Max and Brewnited brews and bottles of Adirondack Winery wines. We’re also about to launch some fun spring cocktails that will be available in mason jars to-go.

Originally, we offered a limited version of our menu for inventory and production reasons, but as we “found our way”, so to speak, we felt confident enough to resume our full menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees, etc. We had hopes that the more diverse offerings and the return of fan favorite dishes would help increase our volume of takeout orders. So far, I would say that it has been successful! 

On The Bright Side

Our Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day take out events were a very pleasant surprise for us! These spring holidays typically kick off our banquet and event season at The Queensbury. We were very concerned in the current climate that we would be unable to execute these community focused events as we are accustomed to.

We were able to take our family meal concept, and expand upon it offering an Easter Dinner and Mother’s Day Brunch. We experienced great success with both menus serving 150 meals each holiday. We included house made Bloody Marys and Mimosa kits for Mother’s Day which were also a hit! 

Since these meals feed a family of 4, we served 1200+ guests between the two days. We may not have been able to open our doors and fill the ballroom with families and groups of friends like we’d have liked, but we were proud to have found a way to still serve our community in these times and still be a part of people’s celebrations on these days.  Depending on how the next few weeks progress, we may even do a Father’s Day Takeout event!

We know we could not have achieved this level of success without the patronage and support of our community. Without the support of our local guests, we would have struggled greatly to maintain operation through these challenging times. We’ve always been proud to be a part of the Glens Falls community, and now more than ever.

On Lessons Learned

Maintain an open mind, stay flexible and stay positive. The world we occupy is fragile, and you never know when a situation could arise that will force evolution and adaptation. 

“Fortune favors the prepared mind” –Louis Pasteur 

Food & Beverage Director, Jerid McKinney

Fenimore’s Pub
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This story was made possible by Mahoney Alarms.

“These are challenging and unprecedented times for all of us. Being in business for 65 years, we at Mahoney Alarms have a proud heritage of supporting our local businesses, banks, hotels, schools, museums and homes with our unwavering commitment to provide high-quality service tailored to the individual needs of each of our customers. By keeping our focus on their needs, we appreciate how they have grown and changed with the times. We take pride to be part of a community that has shown the strength and resilience to survive and know we will emerge from this stronger together.”

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Enter to win a $20 gift card to Fenimore’s Pub!

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The Weekender: May 29 - 31

This is it! The last weekend in May. Summer is just around the corner, and things seem to be looking up (and opening up?!) around here. We’ll take it. We’re hoping the rain moves through quickly tomorrow so we can soak up the weekend much like last weekend (wasn’t that weather the best?!). Here are a few ideas:

Picnic: I know, we tell you to grab something to go every weekend. But how about grabbing something to go from a downtown restaurant and taking it to City Park for a socially distanced picnic?! We’ve seen some couples and families safely taking advantage of this pretty downtown space, sitting on picnic blankets and chairs, and it just seems very Hometown USA, doesn’t it? If it doesn’t rain, we’re hoping to give this a try!

*Ahem, a friendly disclaimer: Make sure you’re considerate of the city’s current guidelines when it comes to parks and picnics - like only picnicking with members of your household and wearing a mask if you’re within six feet of others - read more on that here.

Take a Hike: We’re hoping to finally get out for our first hike of the season this weekend! A few of our go-to trails are closed for the time being due to crowding (like The Pinnacle, for example), so we’re thinking about some other local options, like Sleeping Beauty, Buck, (edited to add: just heard these trails have been very crowded!), Cat Mountain, or Hadley (and would love if you have any lesser known suggestions!). If you’re getting out, check out these Leave No Trace tips for hiking during Covid, especially avoiding times and places of high use!

Build Something: A little extra time on Pinterest has our list of “things to build” growing, but we finally tackled the first project last weekend: building a flower box for our bay window! We used this tutorial, and it was fairly quick and easy, and definitely a rewarding way to spend an afternoon. Would love to see photos of yours if you build one too!

Backyard Americana: We’ve been inspired to see lots of fun backyard (and front yard!) activities happening around the neighborhood - slip and slides, running through sprinklers, little red wagons filled with gardening supplies, folks enjoying a good book or drinks on their front porches, couples and families riding by on their cruiser bikes. It kinda makes us want to buy a few of those classic aluminum folding lawn chairs and have a popsicle in the afternoon sun ;) If there’s one thing this pandemic has taught us, it’s to appreciate the little things. Hope you can fit a few simple pleasures in this weekend, too.

Have a great weekend,
Bri + Tom

Hometown News: May 27

The latest on local real estate during the pandemic, along with the scoop on the plan for Lake George beaches and Prospect Mountain, what’s next for high school basketball in Glens Falls, and more! 

Buying, Selling, or Thinking About It? The Latest in Local Real Estate

How’s the Glens Falls real estate market doing during the pandemic?

Are houses selling? Are buyers looking? Is there enough inventory? Are virtual tours and Zoom walk-throughs leading to signed contracts while agents are forbidden to have in-person contact with clients?

We checked in with three local real estate professionals for some answers, and Laura J. Burns, CEO of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors in Albany, supplied us with some relevant data.

• Single-family home sales in Warren County were down 33% in April compared to April of last year. This year, there were 44 sales in April, compared to 66 in 2019. The average sale price in April 2020 was $243,561; Last April it was $234,430. So, fewer houses sold, but the average price was up 4%.

• In March of this year, single-family home sales were down 21% compared to March 2019. This March, when the pandemic and economic shutdown began, there were 53 sales, down 21% from the 67 sales in March 2019. But again, the average sale price this March was $326,010, up 3% from the March 2019 average of $315,583.

• Year-to-date residential sales in Warren County are off 35% from the same period last year (197 this year, 304 in 2019), but the average sale price is up 12% ($299,635 in 2020 compared to $268,305 in 2019).

“These are new waters to navigate, but it’s not impossible,” said Angela Cugini-Girard of Howard Hanna. “You have to adjust to the circumstances to survive.”

She said since March 23rd, she has closed 15 deals.

“Prices are not dropping,” Mrs. Cugini-Girard said. “If anything, prices are closer to the list price than before the pandemic. That’s because there’s a lack of inventory because people are waiting to list their houses.”

She said she had listed a higher-end vacant home in Queensbury over the winter, but took it off the market until spring, when she listed it for $344,900.

“My clients took a virtual tour, and I sold it in 24 hours for $340,000,” she said.

Under state rules, real estate agents can’t go into homes. They can open the door but then leave the property. [Note: the New York State Association of REALTORS notes that agents who choose to travel to the property to open the door for showings do so at their own risk. See their recommendations here.] Prospective buyers looking at vacant homes must wear masks and gloves. Someone selling their home can show it, but an agent cannot. Virtual tours via FaceTime or Zoom are now the norm.

Julie Snyder of Howard Hanna said, “People are buying and putting in offers sight unseen. We are seeing a lot of cash offers, a lot of multiple offers, and a lot of people from downstate looking to move up here. And there’s not enough inventory in Glens Falls. There never is. But there are a lot of properties ready to come on the market.”

Jen Ball of Hunt Real Estate said, “There are a lot of buyers out there but also a lot of fear. But a lot of inventory is starting to hit the market because people are getting sick of this shutdown. Once we are released, I predict there will be a huge boom because local buyers are ready to go, plus the influx of people from out of the area.”

Ms. Ball said, “Houses are being sold. There is a lot of pent-up interest. I’ve had a ton of buyers looking to relocate to this area, and I have multiple listings ready to come on the market. I haven’t listed a ton of homes, but I have a lot ready to go on the market.”

Ms. Cugini-Girard said, “I’m telling sellers to list their house and we will take a different approach because it’s working and homes are selling. Agents have to be a lot more creative. I’m now doing virtual tours with 3D floor plan, architectural plans and photos with DigitalADK.net.”

Ms. Snyder said, “It’s hard for me to not do a walk-through or be at a closing, but I go and look at properties on my own so I have an idea and can answer any questions my clients might have… But I’ve had two listings have multiple offers sight unseen from people from out of town. Interest rates are low. It’s a seller’s market.”

Life’s a Beach: The Scoop from Lake George

Million Dollar Beach in Lake George Village will be open weekends on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The same guidelines as last weekend will continue, with social distancing enforced and a maximum of 500 people allowed on the beach at any one time.

DEC told Glens Falls Living that it is “evaluating opening the beach full-time.”

DEC says Memorial Day weekend went well. “Cumulatively, more than 3,500 people spent time at the beach during the three-day period, with 1,425 visitors on Sunday alone. We did reach the 500-maximum number of people on the beach on Sunday, and temporarily restricted entry to the beach for approximately 30 minutes until a few visitors left. 
     

“Overall, visitors adhered to social distancing guidelines and many stated they were grateful for the opportunity to spend time on the beach, especially with the nice weather. In addition, DEC staff were pleased to provide the public with a safe and enjoyable recreational experience during the ongoing COVID-19 response.”

Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais said overall crowds in the Village “were okay, not as large as usual. There weren’t any serious problems that I heard of, and visitors were happy with the disinfecting stations we had out, and for the restrooms.”

Mayor Blais said Shepard Park Beach and the Town of Lake George’s Usher Park Beach are set to open later in June.

“A lot of the hotels had 50% of their rooms available, and they were filled to capacity,” Mayor Blais said. “And we saw a lot of day trippers from Albany, Schenectady and Troy. They were just wanting to get by the lake.”

What about Prospect Mountain? When will that open?

A DEC spokesman said, “DEC is evaluating when to open Prospect Mountain Veteran’s Memorial Highway to motorized vehicles while ensuring staff and visitors meet guidance for social distancing, wearing masks when distancing cannot be maintained, and other guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

High School Basketball Will Be Back…

The executive committee of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wednesday approved the state boys’ basketball tournament staying in Glens Falls for an additional year. The tournament was supposed to return to Cool Insuring Arena this past March, but it was cancelled because of the Coronavirus.

So, Glens Falls will now be the host in 2021, 2022 and 2023, which is great news for the City and for downtown, which comes alive during the three-day event.

COVID-19, County by County

Locally, the number of new cases in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties has stabilized, as have the number of deaths. Warren County has 30 deaths, but hasn’t reported a new death since May 19th. Washington County remains steady at 13 deaths, and Saratoga County has been at 15 deaths for more than a week.

Warren County now has seen 30 residents die of COVID-19. Twenty-four of those deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. Two people remain hospitalized. There have been 238 cases overall in Warren County. 150 residents have recovered, and there are 58 active cases. 

Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 195 total cases since the pandemic began. 172 residents have recovered, with 10 cases still active. No Washington County residents are hospitalized as of Wednesday.

Saratoga County reports 15 deaths with 318 residents currently in isolation or quarantine, 462 confirmed cases overall, and four people hospitalized as of Wednesday. 398 residents have recovered, and there are 50 active cases, down 24 from last week.

NY State reports through May 25 that 14 residents of Glens Falls Center in Queensbury have died, with another five deaths presumed to be related to the virus. Eleven 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 Saturday, May 23rd, a total of 41 inmates had been infected. 32 have recovered. One test is pending. At Washington across the street, there are no inmates currently infected, with two having tested negative a few weeks ago.

Ending on a High Note

And finally, congratulations to Marc Monahan, who is the new chair of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) board of directors.

Monahan, a Hudson Falls native, is regional executive of NBT Bank. 

“Working with the Chamber has been a gratifying experience and I am looking forward to my role as chair,” he said in a press release. “We currently have an engaged board and executive team ready for the challenges that lie ahead. I am eager to continue work side by side with Michael Bittel and his team…Given the current economic challenges we all face ahead, rest assured that we will do everything in our power to support the local business community and our members.”

Monahan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Oswego. He is a member of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition Board, President of the Glens Falls Civic Center Foundation, and a member of the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation Board.

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!

New Addition: Elliot Maeve Sterrett

The Sterrett Family welcomed their adorable daughter, Elliot, in April! Tonight, they’re sharing the sweet birthday tradition that served as a way to tell their family the happy news that they were expecting, their favorite (social distancing friendly) things to do as a family so far, and what their ideal parents night out looks like once we’re on the other side of the pandemic.

Tell us about yourselves!

Hi! We are Luke and Makenzie Sterrett. Our daughter Elliot Maeve is one month old. She is our first baby and we are so in love with her. Luke and I met in college in Maryland and recently decided to move back home to be closer to my family and to take advantage of everything the Adirondacks has to offer. We have two cats, Renwick and Marshall, and we live near Crandall Park in Glens Falls. 

Sharing the News

How did you share the news of your pregnancy with your husband and family?

I am terrible at keeping secrets, especially from Luke. I woke up early to take a pregnancy test and left it in the bathroom for Luke to find while I anxiously waited downstairs for him to wake up. When he came downstairs, he asked "Does this mean we're pregnant?" I think he was in shock. We were both so thrilled and could hardly wait to tell our families. We told my family at my birthday in September. We have a tradition of going around the table at dinner and saying our favorite thing about the birthday person. Luke took his turn last and said his favorite thing about me was that I was going to be a great mom...in April! We had to wait a little bit longer to tell his family in Maryland since we wanted to share the news in person. Elliot is the tenth grandchild on his side and the first one on mine! 

Did you find out the gender prior prior to giving birth?

We did not find out the gender and it was the best surprise of our lives. Luke wanted to find out so I had to remind him to look away at our ultrasounds, though honestly we had no idea what we were looking at. I thought it was a girl almost the entire time except the last month for some reason. I didn't have any cravings or any of the wives' tales signs of either gender, just a lot of dreams about a baby girl. 

Photo courtesy of Makenzie Sterrett

All about Elliot

Elliot Maeve was born on April 14, 2020 at 7:20 am weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 21 inches. 

How did you decide on a name? 

We both really liked gender-neutral names. We also liked that Elliot has a few nicknames (Elle, Ellie). Luke really liked the middle name Mae and I wanted something completely different so we compromised on Maeve, which we both love.  

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

The cuddles, the new baby smell, seeing her change everyday, all the sweet noises she makes, her tiny toes - we're just obsessed. 

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

Even though we are quarantined we have still been able to sit outside with my family (at a social distance) and enjoy walks around the neighborhood. Most of all, we are loving this extra time at home to cuddle her and soak up all these newborn moments.

Have you noticed any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

We think she looks more like me as a baby (except much cuter) but she has the calm and relaxed demeanor of her daddy. We also think she will be tall like her dad based off her long legs and feet. 

On Parenthood

What has been your favorite part (and biggest challenge!) of parenthood so far?

Our favorite part of parenthood so far has been getting to know little Elliot and watching her grow everyday. We still can't believe how lucky we are! 

The biggest challenge has been the fact that her grandparents, aunts, and uncles haven't been able to hold her yet due to the quarantine. FaceTime is great but we can't wait for our family and friends to finally meet her in person. 

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

We can't wait to share our favorite activities with her: hiking, camping, traveling, exploring downtown. We are also so excited to learn her personality, teach her anything and everything, and watch her grow. 

What has being a parent taught you?

Neither one of us realized how much our parents went through. We have definitely become more appreciative of our parents. Our relationship has changed a lot since becoming parents. Watching each other take on the role of parent has caused us to fall in love all over again.

What is the best advice someone has given you? 

Take care of yourself first. Its not easy to do but it really is so important to make sure your "cup is full". When you're taking care of someone so precious you need to be at 100%. 

Do you have any advice to share for new parents? 

Well we are still figuring it all out but something that I am glad I started is journaling every day. Some days its just a few bullets and others its full pages, but it has been really nice to go back and read all those little moments from mid-pregnancy until now. My mom did the same with me and my siblings and she recently gave me one of my journals to read. It's so special to read about those early moments of my life from her perspective.

Photo courtesy of Makenzie Sterrett

Just for Fun

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

- Solly Baby Wrap

- SwaddleMe swaddles

- Owlet Sock 

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?

It’s kind of hard to imagine a "night out" at the moment, but drinks at Common Roots and dinner in downtown Glens Falls would be amazing. 

One more thing…

We really want to thank the nurses in The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital! Giving birth during a pandemic was scary and we weren't sure what to expect. Every nurse was so amazing and they took such great care of all three of us. 

Thanks Sterrett Family, and welcome Elliot!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here.

P.P.S. Have a new addition to share? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or contact us here.

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To Go: The Bullpen

What’s for dinner this weekend? We grabbed dinner to go from longtime Glens Falls favorite The Bullpen Tavern this week, and we haven’t stopped thinking about those wings, fish tacos, and fries since! We also caught up with the team to find out how they’re doing, what they’ve learned through all this, and what they’re looking forward to as we inch toward reopening…

Shown… Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken Philly Sandwiche, Famous Bufflao Chicken Wings, Baja Fish Tacos Special.

On overcoming challenges

Although we have overcome many challenges over the years (most notably a total rebuild in 2013 due to a fire), this pandemic has certainly provided us with many new ones. I would say that the most notable challenges would involve having to completely change the way we’ve done business for over twenty five years. We’ve gone from a bar/restaurant with a second floor catering venue to a take out only business. The kitchen was already maxed out to begin with and now they’re busier than ever. They’ve adapted though and work so well together getting the orders out efficiently and consistently.

We think our larger challenges lie ahead when we’re allowed to reopen. What parameters are we going to have to follow? What are our responsibilities for monitoring social distancing? How do we maximize our space at 25% or 50% capacity? 

On the Menu

Some fan favorites that continue to do well with to go orders are our Baja Fish Tacos (panko breaded cod with our house made mango pineapple salsa, ancho chile crema, crispy jalapenos, grilled flour tortillas), The Houston (blackened shaved sirloin, sauteed peppers & onions, pepper jack, bacon, crispy jalapenos, chipotle ranch, grilled garlic bread), and the Jackson Burger (blackened 8 oz. Kobe burger, house made pimiento cheese, banana peppers, bacon, crispy onion straws, grilled brioche).

On the Bright Side

The biggest positive we’ve seen is the community support, which has been unbelievable. From family to friends to our regulars to people coming in for the very first time, it really has been incredible. The number of new people who have now been introduced to our food should really add a whole new audience to our already solid customer base.

On the Future

The main thing we’ve learned is to not take anything in life for granted. One day business was booming like we’ve never seen, St. Patrick’s Day was coming, the boys state basketball tournament was returning to town, the NCAA tournament was starting and then life as we knew it changed in an instant. We’re hopefully only about a month away from opening, in whatever capacity, and we can’t wait for a little normalcy. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing all of our customers again and seeing all of our downtown restaurants open. Downtown Glens Falls is a pretty special place full of great people and great businesses and we can’t wait to see it booming again.

The Team - David Krogmann, Paulie Bricoccoli, and Pam Bricoccoli. Not pictured: Jason Krogmann, Scott Endieveri

The Bullpen
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This story was made possible by Associates of Glens Falls and Loomis & LaPann Insurance.

Associates of Glens Falls and Loomis & LaPann Insurance have been a part of the Glens Falls community since 1852. We’ve seen our region go through challenging times over the years, and we will come through the Covid-19 crisis better than ever. Our team stands ready to help everyone with their insurance and risk management needs. We’re also sharing risk management resources to assist businesses with their reopening plans.   Visit AOGF.com to learn more.

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Enter to win a $20 gift card to The Bullpen!

The giveaway is now closed - the winner will be contacted by email on Friday, May 29!
Thanks for participating!

The Weekender: May 22-24

Memorial Day Weekend! We’re ever so grateful, today and every day, for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We’re wishing we could commemorate the weekend like we usually do, with parades, ceremonies, cookouts with family. But let’s make the most of this whole thing, shall we? Here are a few things we’re getting up to this weekend:

Grilling Season: It’s time to dust off the grill! We’re looking forward to cooking out this weekend, but we’re also psyched to see so many options popping up from our local favs for bbq to go! We spotted Memorial Day Weekend offerings at The Queensbury Hotel, Radici, Farmacy, Morgan & Co, and more. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Also, Ice Cream Season: Good news - the Cooper’s Cave Ice Cream window opens today! A ride on the bike path and a cone to go sounds like the perfect afternoon to us. Grab the scoop (pun intended) here.

Beer, Delivered: Have you guys been taking advantage of beer delivery? Tom is soaking this up while it lasts (and hoping it’s one of the things that sticks after this is all behind us). I mean, what’s better than having beer delivered to your front door on a Friday afternoon? ;) Check out Mean Max, Common Roots, and Slickfin Brewing. Cheers!

Stroll the Orchard: Hicks Orchard is open this weekend and the trees are in full bloom! They’ll have the orchards open for strolling and the apple barn open for cider donuts and hard cider on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4…sign us up! Details here.

If You’re Heading to the Lake…: Here’s a great roundup of what’s up and running this weekend on and around Lake George - it includes the opening of some beaches (like Million Dollar Beach), boat and kayak rentals, golf, hiking, and take-out from local restaurants. That said, here’s our usual disclaimer: be safe, wear your mask, practice social distancing, and be prepared to change plans if there’s a big crowd.

Memorial Day: We’re so bummed that the parade is cancelled this year, but thrilled to hear that the City of Glens Falls will still be holding a small remembrance ceremony. The public is asked not to attend, however, it’ll be streamed live on YouTube at 10am on Monday - here’s the link to their channel.

Enjoy the weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, Gordon shared this week’s Hometown News roundup last night - read it here.

Hometown News: May 20

In this week’s edition of Hometown News, Gordon shares the latest on the region’s reopening from Warren County’s Ryan Moore, a county by county COVID roundup, the scoop on funding for Glens Falls Hospital, updates from the City of Glens Falls, and a chance meeting with JG3.

It’s Happening - The Latest on Reopening from Warren County’s Ryan Moore

The big news this week is that the Capital Region, which includes Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties, entered Phase One of reopening on Wednesday morning after the state adjusted its metrics.

Phase One allows “non-essential” businesses to gradually start reopening. Those businesses include construction; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; retail (limited to in-store pick-up or drop off); manufacturing and wholesale trade.

We will be in Phase One for at least two weeks while data is monitored every day by county administrators. The earliest the Capital Region could enter Phase Two is Wednesday, June 3. The earliest we could enter Phase Three is Wednesday, June 17.

Phase 2 allows professional services, retail, administrative support, real estate and rental and leasing businesses to gradually reopen. Phase 3 includes restaurants and food service, and Phase 4 includes arts, entertainment, recreation and education.

“Now our control room focus is looking at the seven metrics and making sure we don’t slip back,” Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore told Glens Falls Living Wednesday morning. “We’ve had a couple of nice days and people have been out and about in Lake George and elsewhere, and we haven’t seen an uptick in cases. So far, so good.”

When can barber shops and beauty salons reopen? Some media reports have them reopening in Phase Two.

“That’s still unclear to me,” Mr. Moore said. “The details are not fully put together for Phase Two…If it can be done safely, it will be done in Phase Two. If it can’t, it won’t.”

He said his focus is on advocating for campgrounds and RV parks in Warren County as we enter the Memorial Day weekend.

“Those regulations for campgrounds and RV parks have been very confusing to many counties in the Capital Region,” he said. “We need some clarity. We’ve got to get everyone on the same sheet of music before Memorial Day weekend.”

He’s confident that will happen and is anticipating further guidance from the state.

COVID-19, County by County

Warren County now has seen 29 residents die of COVID-19, up nine from last week. Twenty-three of those deaths have been nursing home residents. Another four were residents of assisted living facilities. Two people remain hospitalized. There have been 223 cases overall in Warren County. 142 residents have recovered, and there are 52 active cases.

Washington County has reported 13 deaths and 192 total cases since the pandemic began. 163 residents have recovered, with 16 cases still active. No Washington County residents are hospitalized.

Saratoga County reports 15 deaths, up one from last week, with 318 residents currently in isolation or quarantine, 429 confirmed cases overall, and six people hospitalized as of Wednesday. 340 residents have recovered, and there are 74 active cases.

New York State reports through May 18 that 13 residents of Glens Falls Center in Queensbury have died, with another five deaths presumed to be related to the virus. Eleven 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 37 inmates had been infected. 29 inmates have recovered, seven tested negative and one inmate is currently infected. Five test results are pending.

At Washington across the street, there are no inmates currently infected, with two having tested negative earlier this month.

Glens Falls Hospital Will Receive $21 Million in Funding

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced Tuesday night that she had secured $21-million in Medicare Advance Payments for Glens Falls Hospital. The hospital will be receiving the money in the next five days, she said.

A press release said “The hospital applied for this funding from the Medicare Advance Payment over a month ago. Their application was put on pause, and Congresswoman Stefanik’s office was able to work directly to resume their application process.

“Congresswoman Stefanik led calls with HHS Deputy Secretary Hargan and district hospitals and extensively advocated for the unique challenges faced by Glens Falls Hospital. 

“Congresswoman Stefanik raised this issue directly with President Trump and the White House Chief of Staff over the weekend at Camp David and worked hard to deliver this significant result.

“‘I raised the importance of financial support for Glens Falls Hospital with President Trump and the White House Chief of Staff,’ said Congresswoman Stefanik. “In addition, I worked directly with HHS and Glens Falls Hospital to resolve the issue and ensure their funding of $21 million will be delivered in under a week. I will continue to work directly with hospitals, health departments, and struggling families to deliver much needed relief and results for my constituents.”

The Latest from the City of Glens Falls…

Attention Glens Falls Business Owners

The City of Glens Falls compiled a list of helpful information for city business owners in order to help them reopen swiftly and safely. Take a peek at the official letter from the Mayor here, as well as the City of Glens Falls Self-assessment and Affirmation of Compliance Form that businesses are required to fill out here.

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Lawn Pickup

The City of Glens Falls has started open pickup of lawn and yard waste. It will continue through Friday, May 29.

Due to the late start, DPW crews will only be passing through the city once, officials report. “Please separate all bags, brush and branches as best as possible. Grass clippings must ALWAYS be bagged,” says a press release.

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Hydrant Flushing

The City of Glens Falls will also begin its water main and fire hydrant flushing program on Monday, June 1st. Water service should not be disrupted, and it usually lasts 10 to 15 days.

If you notice your water is discolored, run several cold-water faucets at the same time until the water runs clear.  Avoid using hot water if the water is discolored. Avoid doing laundry until you’re sure the water is clear. If laundry becomes stained by discolored water, do not dry or bleach the laundry, call the office for assistance: (518) 761-3850.

How ‘Bout Horse Racing?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has given the green light to horse racing at Saratoga Race Course this summer, but at this point with no fans. Wagering would still be allowed off-site. Last summer, horse racing fans wagered $558.7-million off-track on races at Saratoga. This year’s 40-day meet is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 16, and continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. For more info, click here.

Drive-Thru Food Pantry Event this Friday

There will be another drive-through food pantry event on Friday, May 22, starting at 11 a.m., at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Schroon River Road in Warrensburg. This event has been organized by The Salvation Army of Glens Falls in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York along with Tri-County United Way and Comfort Food Community (with the support of Rotary Club of Glens Falls, Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls, Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center (SAIL) and other local organizations!). Here’s a link for all of the details.

Get Outside…But Do It Safely

The State Department of Environmental Conservation encourages responsible recreation during this public health crisis, and follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health. 

Social distancing guidelines include:
    •    Stay Local: Stay close to home. Keep visits short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.
    •    Be Safe: Avoid crowds and groups. Recreate only with members of your immediate household. Keep a distance of six feet or more from others. Alert others as you’re about to pass, or step aside to let people pass. Wear a mask when you cannot maintain social distancing.
    •    Be Ready: Move quickly through parking lots, trailheads, and scenic areas. If crowded, choose a different park, trail, or time to visit.
    •    Stay Home: If you’re not feeling well, stay home. Anyone 70 and older or with a compromised immune system should postpone their visit.

For more information, head to their website here.

Ending on a High Note

Saturday, my father and I had a very pleasant surprise when we went to Queensbury Country Club for a late-afternoon nine holes.

As we made our way to the back window to pay, I heard, “Well, hello Mr. Woodworth!”

It was Joseph Girard III, the Glens Falls basketball legend and starting point guard for the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team!

JG3 was there with his boys Andrew Rizzo, Conor Schliff and Quinn Girard. They played in front of us, but not before we chatted about the season ahead and their golf games.

We ventured to the tee to watch them drive on the first hole. My observations: Joseph has a nice swing, but it’s too quick. He needs to slow it down. Andrew is a big man, and an athlete, and he’s got great potential. Connor and Quinn also have potential yet to be tapped. And they are all competitive.

Joseph didn’t hit his best drive. We urged him to hit another one, a breakfast ball, as it were.

He was having no part of it. 

“That’s cheating,” he said. “No mulligans.”

And off they went, but not before I snapped a quick photo.

I texted the photo to Joseph’s dad, and remarked how polite and courteous they were. Andrew took the time to thank my father for his service to our country (Dad had his Korean War Navy veteran hat on). Joseph was engaged and funny and nice.

JG3’s dad responded, “Glad to hear and it better be that way!!”

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: Ashley Kopf

We’re chatting with Ashley Kopf this week! She shares the story of her downtown engagement, the journey renovating an old Glens Falls home alongside her husband, and dreams for her new business, Abby’s Cookie Jar.

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Ashley Kopf, and I am the owner of Abby's Cookie Jar, named after my daughter, Abigail. My husband is a real estate agent and a soldier in the NY National Guard. We've now lived together in Glens Falls for three years.

On Life in Glens Falls

I originally grew up with my family in Connecticut, but ended up attending school in Oneonta, NY at Hartwick College.

I met my husband when a request for a long-term substitute was brought to my attention (we were both in education). While he grew up in Saratoga and lived in South Glens Falls at the time, we eventually ended up buying our first apartment building in Glens Falls not too soon after he returned from a three month military training in Missouri. I didn't know too much about the area, but we loved living so close to the restaurants and liveliness of downtown.

The first home that we bought was actually a duplex. We spent countless hours juggling our jobs as music teachers and giving that building some much needed TLC. We spent the first few weeks without any floors, ceilings, or walls. In fact, I remember looking down the side and seeing the grass through the wall. Dinners were microwaved steam veggies and probably a salad or pizza from Stewart’s while we were waiting for our appliances. It was an experience we will never forget.

In November 2018, my husband and I got married and, in the same month, moved into our current home. It's a beautiful old Victorian that was converted into a multi-family home. We have some of the greatest tenants that anyone could have ever asked for, and we are so thankful that we get to share this beautiful house with them.

I formerly taught music at Minerva Central School, which was a hefty 45 minute commute, but it was well worth it. Once I had Abigail, I realized that it would be too much of a commute while raising her, so I decided that it would be best to stay closer to home. I started baking for fun, and then before I knew it, Abby's Cookie Jar took flight.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

One of our favorite things to do is to walk to get dinner at Davidson Brothers and then snag an ice cream at Stewart’s on our way back home. We love the life that exists within Glens Falls, it has a great culture and there's always something to do with the kids or even just for a date night. Whatever you're looking for, be it a family event, hiking, the bike path, art festivals, or a romantic night out, you can be sure to find it in Glens Falls.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day (Post-Pandemic!)

One of our newest discoveries was Aroy Dee restaurant. My husband has an affinity for Thai food (I'm sure we'll be taking a trip to Thailand in the future), and we checked it out after it was suggested to us and have never looked back. The food is simply phenomenal.

We also have a sweet spot for the Bullpen and Davidsons. My husband proposed to me at the Bullpen on New Year’s in 2018, which ended up accidentally going viral because someone had taken a video of the proposal and could not figure out how to find us. What an adventure that was! We had our rehearsal dinner at Davidsons and just love the atmosphere and food there.

We also really enjoy how many places there are to take a nice stroll around Glens Falls. Lately, we have really fallen in love with the bike path that is conveniently located behind our house. We like to take Abby for walks on that during the afternoon, and we also really enjoy walking to Crandall Park. Glens Falls is great because it truly has it all.

On the Past

My favorite memory would have to be the night of my wedding rehearsal. We got married at Christ Church on Bay Street, so after the rehearsal, we all walked to Davidson's where we met our family for an awesome rehearsal dinner. Everything was just absolutely perfect, and then afterwards the younger crowd had a final hoorah together at the Bullpen in honor of our proposal there. Again, it was just wonderful. So many laughs were had, and I just won't ever forget that night.

On the Future

If I could bring something new to the city (while this might seem pretentious) I'd love to open up a storefront on Glen Street. It seems to be the only thing missing on that little strip, and I would just have the most fun seeing so many faces coming in for a cookie or two. Finishing up lunch or dinner at one of the great restaurants or after seeing a show at the Wood Theatre, and then being able to head over for a treat sounds like a perfect family night or date night to me!

Thanks Ashley! We’ll be on the lookout for that cookie shop ;)

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

Back in the Day: Artist of the Stars

A biography of artist Bradshaw Crandell, a Glens Falls native, would capture all the elements of a classic novel.

“Crandell’s success story is remarkable even in a city where ‘local boy makes good’ is a familiar phrase,” Frances Whiting, managing editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, wrote in 1939.

In 1918, Crandell, who had dropped out of Wesleyan College in his sophomore year to enlist in the Navy, came home from World War I in ill health.

WAC Recruitment Poster featuring a painting by Bradshaw Crandell, 1943

“He needed to build himself up and no spot on earth offered more, he felt, then the shores of Lake George, known and loved from childhood,” Whiting wrote, in a feature story, published in The Post-Star.

It was there that Crandell met and fell in love with Myra Clark, a new teacher at Lake George school.

The couple, who married May 15, 1919 in New York City, borrowed money to survive while Crandell launched his art career, with the pledge he would pursue a different lot if he was not successful in one year.

Crandell had attended Chicago Art Institute for about six months between high school and college.

The couple never looked back.

Judy Garland by Bradshaw Crandell - Cosmopolitan cover, 1944

The Post-Star on Feb. 26, 1920, reported that a recent issue of The American Painter magazine featured several sketches Crandell drew of a young girl in various moods.

“In the heart of New York, a Glens Falls boy is rapidly rising to lofty heights among the artists of the country. … This young man is John Bradshaw Crandell,” the home-town newspaper boasted.

Crandell stopped using his first name professionally around 1925.

The ideal young woman would become the trademark image of Crandell, famous for his advertising, magazine and movie poster illustrations, including 12 years illustrating the monthly covers of Cosmopolitan in the 1930s and ‘40s.

Carole Lombard, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Veronica Lake, and Lana Turner were among celebrities that posed in his studio.

Veronica Lake by Bradshaw Crandell - Cosmopolitan cover, 1941

His favorite subjects, though, were “not those scrawny sophisticates” associated with stardom, but the typical theater goer or office worker.

“The American girl I draw has character,” Crandell said in 1933. “She is resourceful, yet always feminine. She has plenty of sex appeal, but doesn’t show it.”

In later decades Crandell primarily was a portrait painter of politicians, college presidents and business tycoons.

Crandell, who as a teen won a blue ribbon at the Warren County Fair for his sketches of the Warren County Home, and in 1918 sketched the scroll for the Glens Falls YMCA military honor roll, frequently made his home city proud.

In 1923, father Hubert Crandell, owner of a flower shop at 17 Warren Street, distributed “highly attractive calendars” the son worked on for Palmer Advertising Service of New York.

The calendar had a sketch that the son drew of a young woman in summer attire, wearing a rose color scarf with a blue sky background and white clouds, set in a panel with a blue and white border.

In 1927 Bradshaw Crandell pointed an oil painting for The Queensbury Hotel of a scene of the falls on the Hudson River.

At Christmas 1932, Post-Star carriers distributed to subscribers a 1933 calendar with the Crandell illustration “Sweeter than all roses.”

Glens Falls architect Miles Crandell was the artist’s brother.

Crandell died Jan. 25, 1966 at age 69.

He is buried at Pine View Cemetery in Queensbury.

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Sources: The Post-Star May 27, 1918; Feb. 26, 1920; Jan. 6, 1923; Dec. 24, 1932; Feb. 17, 1933; April 24, 1939; Oct. 5, 1954; Jan. 6, 1966; Aug. 11, 1967; Glens Falls Times Oct. 12, 1963

MAURY THOMPSON

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. Read his full bio here.