'Insane' Real Estate Market Rolls On

The local real estate market is “insane,” says local realtor Julie Snyder of Howard Hanna Real Estate.

“The prices are just crazy,” Ms. Snyder told Glens Falls Living.

She recently listed a 1,650-square-foot home in Moreau “in the $300,000 range” with three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms on a Friday. Offers started almost immediately. There were 62 showings, limited to 15 minutes each, from Friday afternoon to midday Sunday. After requesting the “best and final” offers Sunday afternoon, the sellers received 21 offers, all over asking price, and sold the house for $60,000 above asking price.

American flags line a charming Glens Falls street (…and nope! These homes aren’t for sale!) • Photo: Bri Lyons

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Jen Ball of Hunt Real Estate says “the market is sheer insanity. Every listing is a dogfight. Agents are busy if you have listings or buyers, but it’s hard for anyone who doesn’t have cash or a conventional mortgage.”

She said 95% of her sales have multiple offers and sell for more than the asking price, echoing similar comments from Ms. Snyder and Angela Cugini-Girard of Howard Hanna.

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Numbers from the Multiple Listing Service show the average sale price in Warren County is up 7% this year, compared to last year’s figures. In the first five months of 2020, the average Warren County sale price was $293,147. During the same period this year, the average sale price is $315,037.

Not only is the average price up, but the number of sales is up 45%, from 265 sold in the first five months last year to 385 sold this year through the end of May, according to MLS figures.

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“We’re in a bubble market,” Mrs. Cugini-Girard said. “You can’t sustain these numbers.” She said 40% of her buyers are from out of the area, “New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts. Many of them are on two-year plans to get out of their current home, and a lot are working remotely now.

“I’ve never seen anything like this…I’ve never worked this hard in 20 years. It’s insane. It’s also a little disheartening because local, hard-working people can’t compete with these other buyers. They can’t afford the prices. I just tell them to ride the wave and wait.

“Buyers have to remain calm. You’re not going to get a deal right now, and you may not get the first or second or third house you want.”

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Ms. Snyder said some buyers are waiving inspections, and “escalator clauses” are common where buyers say they will pay a set amount more than the highest offer.

“I’m not finding a lot of buyers from the City moving up here because of COVID,” she said. “I have a lot of local clients. I have clients who sold their house last August, and they are still renting because there’s nothing out there. Sellers have to have a place to move.

“This is not a bubble. There are so many buyers, but they will eventually find houses. This has always been an area with decent prices. It’s just starting to catch up with other areas… We just need listings.”

How can someone put themselves in the best position to buy a home in this market?

“Work with an experienced agent,” Ms. Snyder said. “Be pre-approved for a loan, or pre-qualified even better. Have nothing to sell, have a good down payment, and have enough for closing costs.

“It’s a very tough market for first-time home buyers. There are a lot of cash offers. Cash is still king and always will be. Cash offers are nice. They don’t require an appraisal, which isn’t a problem because [comparable sales] are out there.

“For sellers, the house needs to be in top shape and not need a ton of work. It’s still a very strong sellers’ market, but it’s leveling out a little. More inventory is coming on the market.”

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Ms. Ball said “we’re in a wave, not a bubble. It’s a long wave. It will level itself out at some point. Right now, demand is so high and inventory is so low, and there are more buyers than homes for sale. And if you see something on the market for two weeks or more, it’s likely overpriced or needs serious work.”

Her advice for potential buyers is to “get qualified for a conventional mortgage, have a fair amount for your down payment, be available to see the house when it’s available, and go heavy and go strong. Do not hesitate to make an offer.”

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Mrs. Cugini-Girard's advice?

“Try to go conventional financing,” she said. “The buyer has more skin in the game, and the appraisal process is less stringent.”

LAKEFRONT PROPERTY REMAINS HOT, TOO

Lakefront property continues to sell, with the pace quickening as the pandemic eases.

“The market is very strong,” said Dan Davies of Davies-Davies & Associates. “There’s still a lack of inventory, but I do think inventory is going to come on here soon. There’s still a lot of pent-up demand.”

Valerie Erceg of Davies-Davies said the majority of her customers are from New Jersey, Westchester and New York City, and almost all of her sales come with multiple offers and sell above asking price.

“Inventory is at historically low levels,” she said.

Mr. Davies said demand on Lake George is up “across the board. There is tremendous rental demand, tremendous demand for homes. The lake is going to be the busiest it has ever been by far. If you talk to any hotel or motel owners, they will tell you the same thing. The issue is, can we accommodate all of the visitors.”

New Addition: Elselina Alice Meijer

We got to know Amy Troelstra Meijer in a My Glens Falls story last month, and this month, we’re thrilled to share her family’s newest addition - Elselina! Hear about the significance behind her beautiful name, the way Amy shared the news with her husband Lodewiek, and more below…

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

Tell us about your family!

In our family we have my husband Lodewiek Meijer, myself Amy Meijer, our almost four year old WIllem and then Elselina who just turned three months. Of course our doggies are a part of the family too - Aubree, our 10 year old rescue, and our five year old miniature schnauzer, Nova. My husband is an engineer working at a Dutch based company with Global Foundries and I’m currently a stay at home mom trying to adjust to the mom of two life while getting back into a new normal routine. As a family we enjoy doing anything and everything outdoors. With Lodewiek and myself having a Dutch background, we LOVE to bike the bike trail or just around town during the nicer months. Willem really loves to go to Crandall Pond and feed the ducks. We also love to go hiking, whether it be in the Adirondacks or just local trails. During the winter months, having Crandall Pond as a skating rink really made our winter more enjoyable!

On Sharing the News

Having this baby as an IVF journey was so much different than my pregnancy with Willem in every way, even with the pregnancy announcement to everyone. Our family and friends all knew that we were going through IVF and knew how timed it was, so people were waiting in anticipation for the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" each round.

I told Lodewiek by dressing Willem up in a "big brother" shirt and giving Willem the pregnancy test to bring up to Lodewiek while he was working from home. I filmed the whole thing. Lodewiek looked at Willem and had no idea what Willem was handing him at first, but then he realized what was going on. I think I caught him off guard since he was in the middle of his work day. Lodewiek looked at me and nodded "yes?" and I just started crying and kept nodding "yes!" and he gave me a huge hug!

As for my parents, his parents, and our siblings, since they knew around the time we should be finding out we just called and told them. Same went for our friends. The IVF process really isn't romantic!

My best friend from college happened to be in the area a couple weeks after we got the good news and I shared it with her and her family when they came over to our house to visit (she screamed with joy)! We of course did a Facebook announcement after the 12 week mark (it was a black onesie with a black tutu which said "My little black dress" and the onesie was surrounded by the hundreds of needles I used throughout my IVF journey).

We did a blood test at the 10 week appointment at our IVF office to test for genetic abnormalities and in that was also a gender test. We found out the gender when I was pregnant with our son, and we did want to know the gender of this baby as well (we are the planning type). We were going to be over the moon no matter the gender, but were even more excited to see the word "GIRL" in the email from our favorite nurse at our doctor’s office.

As for a gender reveal, since we knew so early on what we were having, when we told our families we told them we were expecting and what the gender was all-in-one. When my two best girlfriends here in town and I celebrated my birthday (COVID style), I wanted to tell them what we were expecting. Earlier that week we had found out the gender, so at my celebration I brought over confetti cannons filled with pink confetti in them and had them shoot them off to reveal what we were having - a moment I will never forget. They both have girls and I was so excited to be raising my little girl with theirs!

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

On Finding the Perfect Name

As soon as we found out it was a girl, the hunt for names started! We knew we wanted to stick with a Dutch name, but also honor both of my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother's name is Elske (she goes by Ellen here in the United States), and my maternal grandmother's name was Elizabeth, so something that started with "El" was what we were looking for.

Of course, when you're pregnant, the first questions people always ask are "do you know what you're having?" followed by "have you picked out a name?". So when I was pregnant with our son, my husband and I came up with a "code name" we would call the baby by, because we wanted to keep something special and secret between just the two of us. So we did the same this time too. Her codename was "Elsa." In the beginning it was because we had no idea what we were going to name her, but then we just kept calling her by it. Yes, Elsa as in the movie Frozen (our son's favorite movie at the time). We also thought it was cute because, after all, she used to be frozen (IVF - yes, we are those people; jokesters! With something as serious as IVF, you have to laugh and live a little too)! Any time we would tell someone her code name and our little joke, we would follow it by "but don't worry, that's not really going to be her name." Everyone would sound a little disappointed and say "oh, but we really like that name." So we got to thinking, we wanted to keep that as a nickname for her, but what Dutch name would fit that nickname? Many nights, and I mean many nights, we stayed up going back and forth between Dutch names that would fit all of our stipulations and we stumbled upon Elselina (only 20 women with this name). At first it was between this spelling and Elseline, but ultimately Elselina is what won. Elselina translates to Elizabeth in English. As for the middle name Alice, it was my maternal grandmother's middle name and the middle name of my paternal grandmother's first born (who unfortunately only survived 10 days - Elselina was actually born on that little girls birthday as well). It all seemed to fit into place.

All About Elselina

Elselina Alice Meijer was born three weeks early on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 1:18pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 13.1 ounces and measured 19 inches.

So far we love everything about Elsa! She is just a dream baby! She smiles all day long, sleeps through the night and is an excellent eater! We are cherishing this time because having a "threenager", we know what comes next!

Our favorite thing to do together is just be together. With life starting to get back to normal, things are opening up, and activities happening more, we have become busy. So being able to just be together as a family of four is great. We also love bringing her to see family and friends, she is a favorite of my grandmother. I just love when we visit my grandmother and she says, "Now, bring me my baby," - it makes me tear up a little!

She looks like me when I was a baby with her strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. She gets her curly hair from my husband and her easy going demeanor from him as well. The extreme happiness and smiles all the time, I say she gets that from my dad!

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

On Parenthood

My favorite part of parenthood so far with both kids is the way our son is with his little sister. The love those two already have for each other is so pure and genuine. Any time she hears his voice, her whole face lights up in a huge smile and he is always wanting to help when it comes to "baby sissy."

The biggest challenge so far is having to deal with all the toddler tantrums of our son while trying to care for a newborn at the same time. Also, going shopping with two is so much harder than going with just one!

What I'm looking forward to doing most with Elsa is going on family vacations and experiencing the world together like we have done with her big brother. Most of all, I look forward to having her meet her relatives (mostly Lodewiek's immediate family) in Holland.

Being a parent has taught us a whole new level of being patient that's for sure. They do say you will find a love for your child that you have never known before, and that is extremely true. The love we have for these two kids is so great!

How have we changed since becoming parents? Well, we no longer go out on dates, heck, pre-covid we would go out twice a year; our anniversary and his company Christmas party. We were used to going out every weekend. Our television time went from reality TV to Paw Patrol and Power Rangers. Can we remember the important things we learned in college? No, but we can tell you all the Paw Patrol characters!

Some Good Advice

The best advice that was given to us is to enjoy even the bad times, as nothing lasts forever and before you know it, they are moving out of the house. Cherish each moment.

My advice for new parents is the same, enjoy every minute. It will seem to drag on, but when you look back at photos, you will realize how quickly time really goes and you can never get those precious years back.

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Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

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The Weekender: June 11 - 13

Happy weekend! Our ideal summer weather - 75 degrees and sunny - and lots of fun things to do around town…here’s a few:

Yoga: Yoga abounds this weekend with Yoga on the Mountain at West Mountain (details and sign up here) and an open house at the new location of Grounded on Glen (formerly Yoga Kayla) - grab the scoop here!

Dragons Baseball: Baseball is back in Glens Falls this month, and the Dragons have home games both Friday night and Sunday night - get the details here!

Disc Golf: Crandall Park is celebrating the official grand opening of the Crandall Park Disc Golf course this weekend with a Learn to Play Day, a Recreational Tournament, and a Pro Tournament. Last we heard, there were still spots left in the Recreational Tournament if you’re up for it - sign up here! And if you’re new to the sport, check out our beginner’s guide here.

Strawberry Season: We’re patiently (okay, impatiently) waiting for the local strawberry fields to open for you-pick, but we just saw that Bowman Orchard in Rexford will be opening their strawberry fields for picking tomorrow! Strawberry shortcake, here we come. Details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Back in the Day: Bicycle Craze

In a witty, late 19th century pun about leisure-time recreation, the first speaker says, “How wonderfully cheap clothing is getting to be. Trousers have come down one-half.”

The second speaker, as published Sept. 26, 1896 in The Morning Star of Glens Falls, quips, “Yes – just about one-half. Since this bicycle craze, they only come down to the knees.”

Glens Falls Bicycle Club circa 1900 • Photo courtesy of the Folklife Center at Crandall Library

The Glens Falls region enthusiastically embraced the “bicycle craze” of the 1880s and 1890s, a national phenomenon brought on by the inventions of safety bicycles, pneumatic bicycle tires and coaster brakes.

Numerous bicycle clubs were formed in the greater Glens Falls area, 

“It is stated that several bicyclists of Glens Falls and Sandy Hill contemplate organizing a local club and joining the National Wheelman’s League,” The Morning Star reported on July 13, 1883.

“A movement is a foot among several young bicyclists of Glens Falls to organize a club here, which will doubtless be accomplished in a few weeks, providing suitable quarters can be obtained,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 3, 1883. “About forty persons have already signified their intention of becoming members of the organization, nine of whom are owners of machines in the Columbia pattern,” with a large front wheel and a tiny back wheel.

One of the local bicycle clubs, The Glens Falls Bicycle and Athletic Club, was established on March 22, 1887, and by early May had 107 members.

The club evolved into The Glens Falls Club, an elite men’s social club that had its club rooms on the upper floors of the building at the corner of Glen and Ridge Streets, the building where Northeastern Fine Jewelry is now located.

The Fort Edward Bicycle Club, another local club, often joined cross-country touring bicycle groups that passed through the area, riding along on the stretch between Fort Edward and Glens Falls, and sometimes on to Lake George.

Local clubs included several exclusive “century” clubs, so named because membership was restricted to cyclists that had ridden at least 100 miles in a single day.

The bicycle craze dwindled in the early 1900s, due to multiple factors, including the advent of the automobile, the laying of trolley tracks along road-side paths that bicyclists had used, and the development of other recreational pursuits, according to the National Museum of American History.

Between 1900 and 1905, the number of bicycle manufacturers in the United States dropped from 312 to 101.

For about the next 50 years, bicycling would be a mode of transportation primarily limited to children and teenagers.

But at the peak of the craze, bicycling was enjoyed by riders of all ages.

“The bicycle craze has struck the line of boys over sixty years old, and several have ordered wheels,” The Morning Star reported on June 17, 1898.

Bicycle racing also was popular in Glens Falls.

“Nature donned one of her highest smiles yesterday after noon, and the managers of the bicycle meet were correspondingly happy,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 6, 1895. “The attendance was large and all things conspired to make the event a success.”

The program at The Mile Track, a harness racing track on Upper Coolidge Avenue, between Dixon Road and Sherman Avenue, featured both competitive and exhibition events.

The old One-Mile Track at Broadacres, where harness racing and bicycle racing was held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries • Photo courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library.

“A novelty was introduced when M.H. Donovan of South Glens Falls came on the track to attempt to walk one mile while a tandem team, consisting of George Eddy and C.H. Austin, wheeled three miles. The effort was successful. Donovan covered the mile in 7:14, several minutes ahead of the tandem.”

The quarter-mile speed race was particularly noteworthy.

James G. Budd won the first heat, with a time of 32 seconds, advancing to the championship heat against several other qualifying riders, including Harry D. Elkes, who won the second heat, with a time of 33.75 seconds.

The championship heat was close.

“Budd and Elkes finished a splendid exhibition of speed, and finished close together, with the former slightly in the lead.”

Budd won with a time of 32.25 seconds.

Budd and brother Delmar A. Budd operated a bicycle factory on Maple Street that made the D & H brand bicycle., according to former Post-Star history columnist Howard Mason, whose writing is collected in the anthology “Backward Glances,” which Warren County Historical Society published in 2014.

Elkes went on to become a professional bicycle racer who broke several records, racing in the United States and Europe.

Elkes was killed May 30, 1903, in a bicycle accident during a race in Boston, and he is buried in the Glens Falls Cemetery on Bay Street.

My Glens Falls: Sean Driscoll

This week, we’re chatting with Sean Driscoll, who you’ll likely recognize from his role with the Adirondack Thunder! He shares his experience growing up in Hometown USA (so many great memories!), his dreams for a shop downtown, and so much more…

Tell us about yourself!
Hey, I’m Sean Driscoll, I’ve been Director of Ticket Sales and Service for the Adirondack Thunder since 2015 and worked for the Flames as an account executive in 2014 during the final year of AHL Hockey in Glens Falls.

I grew up near Haviland’s Cove and went to Big Cross Street School. I was born on my grandfather’s 50th birthday in 1990, however he was working in Mexico for GE and missed the birth of his first grandchild. My parents, Bennet and Tawn, got me involved in sports at an early age and I grew up playing hockey, soccer, and a little basketball. I learned to skate at the Civic Center (7am weekend practices?) and played Rec. Soccer at Crandall Park. I graduated in 2008 from Glens Falls and went onto play soccer for two years at SUNY ADK before transferring to play D3 in Boston at Newbury College. While at Newbury, I was captain my senior year and during my two years there I had teammates from over 10 different countries, which was quite different from Glens Falls and an experience I will never forget! After graduating in 2013, I worked at Coleman in the outlets (my typical summer job) while looking for a job in sports. The following May I was hired by the Adirondack Flames and I remain the only staff member still left from that group.

Last summer I was furloughed for what ended up being 7 months. I am someone who really cannot sit still, something I guess was passed down to me from my parents. They are either working or volunteering somewhere. In early December I started volunteering at the St Mary’s Food Pantry every Friday and just recently joined the Glens Falls Recreation Commission. I also have been coaching youth soccer in the area for 15 years and still play in an adult league with friends at The Dome. I found a quote a while ago, "Nothing to do, but always busy" and that just about sums up my life. 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I have lived at The Mill for the past three years but am currently looking to buy a house. I want to stay in Glens Falls because of everything it offers. My mom grew up in Hudson Falls and my dad grew up between Boston and the Cape so we visit New England family and friends a few times a year and have a mini pack to the Boston Red Sox, but there truly isn’t anything like the Adirondack area. The mountains, lakes, businesses, and the people make this area Hometown USA. I have friends who fall in love with the area when they come to visit. 

At a young age I knew I wanted to work in sports. My first job was working at the Great Escape for Subway at age 14 like many local kids. Growing up, going to hockey games, concerts and special events at the arena was awesome. It is pretty cool to say I work for a professional sports team in my hometown. The arena gets shows and has teams coming in to see what downtown Glens Falls is all about. I remember myself and a coworker had to pick up comedian Gilbert Gottfried up at the train station in Fort Edward and he wanted to grab lunch (he was staying at The Q). When he asked what is good, it was easy for me to say, “Well what are you in the mood for?”. Glens Falls has so many different options for food and the store fronts are really starting to come to life! 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day during the summer is grabbing Battenkill Chocolate or Mocha Milk from Randy at the Farmers Market. Then it is either a hike somewhere around Lake George or kayaking on Glen Lake (if the parking lot is full it is nice to know Pete Dineen and just park at his house.) Next would be trying to pick a restaurant. Like I said downtown has so many options, it is tough to choose a go to place for a bite to eat or drink with friends. If there is a game on, any sport, you can likely find me at The Bullpen and hopefully the Radio Junkies are playing later. Over the years my grandfather and I have regularly hit all the locally owned spots for breakfast or lunch as well.

During the wintertime, game days are the best. They are long days but rewarding. I try to get to the rink around 8:00am to fulfill season ticket holders needs and open the office. Once 5:30pm hits and fans start coming in it makes it all worthwhile. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose (winning is better), we still have the most dedicated fans in all of sports. We are the smallest market in the ECHL but our fan base is second to none.

I need to mention that Opening Night is Saturday, October 23rd. YOU WANT TO BE THERE! The new roof might come off! (…figuratively, not literally, Mayor Hall).

On the Past

I have a couple of memories to share, both sports and non-sports related. As a kid I remember my best rec soccer team was the purple team and our star player was Jimmer Fredette. He would show up after football practice and dominate the soccer field. I am pretty sure he scored while playing goalie. I remember telling my college buddies “I was teammates with him” while watching BYU and NBA games on TV. I also played hockey and always wanted to win the Gazzillo Cup at the Rec. Center. I played on travel teams and couldn’t tell you how many tournaments I won but we always stayed in a hotel with a pool and played some mini hockey in the hallways.

In 2002, my family hosted a student from the Saga City Sister Program. The following year I was able to join 19 classmates in Saga and celebrated my 13th birthday there. A couple years later my dad went and stayed with the same family that I did. We still keep in contact with the Nakamura family through Facebook and sharing gifts. 

On the Future

I have joked with friends that I have always dreamed about opening a general store downtown (Driscoll’s General Store). I can picture my dad behind the counter greeting people and reading the paper with a coffee in his hand. He told me he is in no hurry to retire so this would be a perfect job for him, while I oversee the daily operations. I have a sweet tooth (something all my friends know) so we would have ice cream and a candy wall with a ladder like the one Charlie gets the golden ticket in the Willy Wonka movie. It would focus on basic household needs. Downtown is becoming a place to live and not just visit. If you live downtown and need a broom, hammer and kitchen tools, you still have to jump in your car to grab them.

I honestly cannot wait for the Farmers Market building and what South Street can turn into. People always try to compare Glens Falls to Saratoga, but Glens Falls is Glens Falls. Downtown has grown in the last decade and I can’t wait to see what exciting process awaits.

The Weekender: June 4 - 6

Happy weekend! The forecast looks glorious, and we are happy to settle into summer mode a bit early. Here’s a few ideas for your agenda:

Summer at West Mountain: We were psyched to see that West Mountain is opening for the summer on June 5th! We went a few times last summer and loved the picnic package and hiking, and the aerial treetop adventure looks like it would be a blast for families. Check out our story here, and grab tickets here!

Race for the Rest of Us: If you’re looking for a fun, family friendly “race” that gives back to the community (and does not require months of training - it’s a 0.5K downtown!), this one’s for you. The United Way does so much for our community and this is a great way to give back. Sign up here!

Canal Street Marketplace: A little something to put on your calendar for next Thursday (and each Thursday this summer) - the Canal Street Marketplace in Fort Edward re-opens this week! While we love our Saturday Farmers Market here in Glens Falls, it’s always fun to meet new vendors and find new goodies at others, and this is a great one! Details here.

Lakota’s Farm Spring Artisan Market: We were excited to see that our friend’s at Lakota’s Farm in Cambridge are starting out the summer right with their Artisan Market! Local artists and crafters, live music, local breweries, wineries, and distilleries, food trucks, and more. Get the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Southern Adirondack Audubon Society Focuses on Conservation Through Education

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes the longer days, warmer weather and the usual influx of tourists; but they won’t be the only ones flocking to our area in the coming weeks. 

“The birds that will be coming this time of year, and into the summer, will be the eastern meadowlarks, savannah sparrows, bobolinks, and eastern bluebirds,” says John Loz, President of the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society, or SAAS. 

A bird and pollinator-friendly native plant garden at Delong Usher Park in Lake George • Photo: Bri Lyons

Celebrating 40 years as a community organization, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society continues to uphold its mission to protect the environment through the preservation of natural habitats, and the advancement of environmental education. “We like to use the tagline, ‘conservation through education,’ with a focus on birds, of course,” Loz says. “Our bread and butter is educating the public through our monthly programs, and we do that between our centers in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs.”

Though based here in Queensbury, the local Audubon chapter encompasses an expansive territory. “Our catchment area runs from Saratoga Springs north to Crown Point, and then it heads west to Blue Mountain Lake, and south to Caroga Lake, so our area is quite large,” Loz says. “We’ve mostly focused on where people have been able to volunteer, which is in the communities along the Northway, but we’d really like to start expanding west and do more things out toward Indian Lake and North Creek.”

Photo: Nicholas Chowske

The SAAS has a variety of programs, projects, and events to help get the community involved with environmental conservation, including bird walks, community science surveys, and even international field trips. “We like to be out in the community anywhere we can be,” Loz says. From farmer’s markets to naturefests, you can find Loz and his birders reaching out to educate and inform. Last year, the SAAS worked with Common Roots Brewing Company for one of their membership drives. “We brought live birds of prey into their temporary taproom, and it was a great opportunity to educate a different demographic, and to talk to people who didn’t know anything about birds," Loz says. "What better way to encourage people to learn about the environment than to offer them a free pint of beer if they signed up to become a member of our Audubon chapter?”

Recently the SAAS has been planting bird and pollinator-friendly native plant gardens in local communities. “Research has found that installing gardens and planting native plants and shrubbery is really important for our migrating birds.” They began with a pilot garden in the Town of Greenfield, and have since added a second garden in the Delong Usher Park in Lake George. This year, the SAAS plans to expand by placing gardens in South Glens Falls, Bolton Landing and Ballston Spa. 

A bee enjoys the bird and pollinator-friendly garden in Delong Usher Park, Lake George • Photo: Bri Lyons

“I really want to give a shout out to the town of Lake George,” Loz says. “They have been very supportive of bird-friendly initiatives, such as putting up preventative measures for the big glass windows they have on their municipal building on Old Post Road.” Window strikes are one of the biggest killers of birds, according to Loz. “We want to prevent any bird strikes and bird collisions with windows that would reflect habitat, and that building has very large reflective windows, which birds can fly right into.”

In addition to local events, the SAAS and it’s volunteers also participate in the National Audubon Society’s annual bird counts and Climate Watch Surveys. “We host the Hudson Falls Christmas Bird Count, where we ask expert and amature birders alike to come out to help us count birds, and we submit those numbers to the National Audubon Society.” Now in it’s 122nd year, the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is a bird census that employs tens of thousands of volunteers across the Americas who count the birds in their community between December 15th and January 5th.

While the Christmas Bird Count encourages volunteers to count every bird they can, the Climate Watch Survey, now in its fifth year, focuses on just two birds - white breasted nuthatches and red breasted nuthatches - as a bellwether for climate change. The Climate Watch Survey is conducted twice a year by SAAS Director Rob Snell. “It’s based on a long term study that Audubon is doing, for at least 10 years,” Snell says. “They’re trying to compile data on some pretty common birds that they think are going to be affected by climate change.” 

For the survey, the chapter’s territory is divided into a grid, and then volunteers are asked to go to 12 different places in their grid and listen for nuthatches - once in early winter, and again in late spring. The numbers are then submitted to the National Audubon Society for analysis. "They’re looking for changes in population dynamics, to see if it corroborates with the mathematical models that they have with regard to climate change and the effects on these populations of birds," Snell says. "One of the species that we’re looking at really isn’t expected to have any changes - expansion or contraction - and the other they are modeling the population to decline by as much as 15 percent, which is dramatic over a 10 year period." The survey has been conducted each year from January 15 to February 15, and again from May 15 to June 15, since 2015. “It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s not hard for individuals, even with basic experience with birds,” Snell says. ‘It’s something that they can all do, and they’re contributing to real science, which is cool.” 

While the SAAS is always looking for volunteers and new members, they also provide a number of tips and educational resources for people who just want to get to know their local birds better. “If you want to do backyard birding, you can start with a tube feeder or a regular mixed seed feeder, as well as a hummingbird feeder,” Loz says. He also recommends a birdbath and planting native shrubbery wherever possible. “A lot of suburban areas that have feeders have been attracting hawks, so we want to give those little birds some place to hide and escape to between the feeders and the shrubbery.”

For those who want to get more involved, Loz hopes to begin offering their bird walks again soon. “We’ve unfortunately had to suspend those due to Covid-19 and the pandemic, but we are looking to have a limited run of bird walks to get people outdoors and educate them in person later this year,” he says.

First Look: The Book Cabin

What’s better than a book store? A book cabin. There’s something special about browsing books in person vs. on Amazon, but browsing in a cabin is even cozier than it sounds. We’re sharing a first look at the newly opened The Book Cabin just north of Lake George Village, along with owner Stephanie Jalowiec’s top picks for summer reading…

Tell us a bit about yourself, Stephanie!

I have been “selling books” for the last 23 years as a public school teacher in Connecticut. Most recently, I've been a Literacy Consultant working with kindergarten through fifth grade. I LOVE my day job! Helping students access the world of books and discover that every person can be an avid reader and writer is important to me.

I come from a family of voracious readers - we even have a Cape Cod vacation reading club! As a small child, my mom would regularly take us to the library and then as we got older, we'd visit Walden Books in my hometown. I can still see their shelf of Sweet Valley High books.

My husband Jim and I met in 1998 - he was working at Lee Partyka Chevrolet and sold me my used Pontiac Sunfire. On our second date, he tried to talk to me about Ernest Hemingway and I couldn't stop laughing. Neither one of us remember reading any Hemingway in high school. He was trying to pretend he liked to read, too, and it was the first author that popped into his head.

We have two amazing children - Nathan (16) and Addison (12) who sometimes like to read. It's all about the right book!

Owner Stephanie Jalowiec at The Book Cabin

What inspired you to open a bookstore? 

My husband and I first came to Lake George in 1998 and instantly fell in love with all the area offers. We knew we would want to eventually work and live here.  At first we started with a small cabin in the shadow of Mount Crane for weekends and summers and about five years ago, built a home in the Town of Lake George. We are eager to make Lake George our permanent home. 

During the pandemic lockdown, we kept walking past the Trinity Rock Motel property that was for sale. We were pulled towards the idea of creating a more permanent way to live in Lake George. Our children are well settled into their Connecticut lives so we know moving here full time won't be for a few more years. Jim and I always like to play the game of - what else do you want to be when you grow up? The only answer I ever have to that question is a bookstore owner.

The pandemic left me a lot of time to dream. Could I really be brave and open a small retail business?  We all know many businesses in the LG area come and go. Will I have what it takes to become a community anchor? Does the area have enough readers to sustain a small shop?

In April of 2020, I was reading the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle and she reminded readers to be brave and do hard things.  Just because when I was 21 and loved teaching, doesn't mean I have to do it until I'm in the grave...so here we are.

We scooped up the property and our budget only allowed me to start the bookstore. The motel renovation is for another year (those lumber prices need to come down!). Once we acquired the property, I literally couldn't stop myself from opening the store. There was no way I was waiting for my kiddos to be done with school! So, for now, we are a weekend and summer store.

We love the idea of a Book Cabin - we’d love to hear about the cabin itself, any history behind it, and why you chose it as your shop location! 

Our little cabin was part of the Trinity Rock Motel corporation and was built by two brothers for their mother who opened up a farm stand. My understanding is that the farm stand was only open a few years. The brothers did a beautiful job including large rustic logs in the interior.  It needed almost no work to open a retail shop.

We chose this location for two reasons: real estate in the village is too expensive to purchase or rent and the property allowed for both of us to have a project for our LG future. We hope that as word gets out about our new shop - it will become a sweet destination for tourists and locals who are looking for something besides t-shirt shops.

What can customers expect to see at the cabin? 

You’ll find books for all ages (mostly contemporary fiction and nonfiction), toys (a range of outdoor and indoor games featuring DJECO products), writing supplies (journals, notecards, grammar pencils, and paper products featuring E Frances Paper Company and Moleskin), art activities (amazing projects for children and sketch products for all ages), bookish gifts (Fly Paper Products candles, barware, totebags, and stickers), and other gifts (Mira windchimes, Parsley and Paisley drink coasters).

We’d love to hear five of your top book recommendations for summer. 

This question is like asking a mother who their favorite child is! Some recent favorites for adults (that have not been featured by Reese and Jenna!):

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart made me ache for the children who grow up in homes plagues by substance abuse.

Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston is for readers who loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen will make you laugh and quickly cringe as Majella deals with her family's difficult situation.

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a quick paced read for sitting lakeside this summer.

House of Sticks by Ly Tran is a timely memoir about her family's immigration to the United States and growing up with a controlling father in a foreign land.

What’s next for the Book Cabin - any plans for the future? 

I have HUGE plans for our future and look forward to growing with the community. I would love to add a snack and drink cart and additional themed book buildings on the existing property. I would also love to work with the community providing unique teacher workshops and scholarships for classroom libraries. There is so much we can do together as a reading and writing community for Warren County.

The Book Cabin
3373 Lake Shore Drive • Lake George
Website / Facebook

The Weekender: May 28 - May 30

Memorial Day Weekend! We’re ever so grateful, today and every day, for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.

Hope your holiday weekend is filled with friends and family and good food - and also hope the weather makes a quick change from the 50 degree temps we just saw! Here are a few things that caught our eye:

Memorial Day Ceremony: We’re bummed that the parade is canceled, but the City of Glens Falls will host a remembrance ceremony at Cool Insuring Arena on Monday at 11:30am - get the details here!

New Outdoor Seating at Craft on 9: We caught a glimpse of the new outdoor seating situation at Craft on 9 on Facebook the other day and can’t wait to check it out! They’ll be open from 3-10pm on Friday and Saturday - details here. Cheers!

Two Exhibit Openings: We spotted two openings downtown this weekend - the LARAC Members Show Exhibit Opening is Friday from 5-7pm (details here) and and the opening for George VanHook’s People, Places, and Plein Air Exhibit at Mountain Gallery is on Friday from 6-8pm (details here).

Bolton Art + Craft Festival: We love a cruise up to Bolton to start the summer! Here are a few of our favorites if you decide to head up that way too, and bonus - the Art + Craft Festival is happening this weekend too - details here!

Seymour’s Restaurant: Our friends at Spruce Hospitality Group, which also operates The Queensbury Hotel, Fenimore’s Pub, and Park 26, just announced the planned opening of Seymour’s Restaurant and The Tap Room at Ticonderoga Golf Course this weekend! Rumor has it The Tap Room has an expansive patio overlooking the Lord Howe Valley and we can’t wait to drive up and check it out (and maybe pair it with a visit to Fort Ticonderoga?) - details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

My Glens Falls: Nikki Ogden

This week, we’re chatting with Nikki Ogden, who you’ll probably recognize as the manager at Rude Betty! She shares what inspired her to move to Glens Falls, the joys of old home ownership, her go to for dinner downtown, and more!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Nikki Ogden and I am the manager of Rude Betty in Glens Falls and Happy Jack’s in Bolton Landing. I am married to Zach Ogden and we have a five year old named Emma, who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall at Kensington.

On Life in Glens Falls 

I grew up in Lake Luzerne and moved to Bolton Landing when I was 18. After meeting my husband in college, we decided to move to Glens Falls in 2003. I loved the idea of living in an up and coming city. I had substitute taught at Sanford Street Elementary and loved the school system. It was an ideal place to start our life together. 

We bought our house on Monument Ave in 2011. Our house was built in 1939 so it definitely needed a face lift. We had new siding and windows put in and had the original hardwood floors restored to their former glory. We are so lucky to have the most amazing neighbors. We love everything Glens Falls has to offer. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day 

We love spending our mornings at Crandall Park watching the ducks and then heading to the Library for story time. We would then head to Spot Coffee for an amazing latte and hang out with our friends. We love utilizing the bike trail and treating ourselves to Cooper’s Cave ice cream. My daughter loves to head to Rude Betty for some fun with Jeff (the owner) and getting a toy of course. Dinner at Mikado is also a must and then going to a hockey game and finishing the night having a beer with friends at Mean Max. 

On the Future

I would love to see an ice cream/candy shop in downtown Glens Falls!

A Beginner's Guide to Pickleball

If you’ve never played pickleball, toss your preconceived notions about this hot racket sport to the wind. That’s right, it’s hot right now — so hot that teenagers are playing it.

The eight pickleball courts at Ridge/Jenkinsville Park filled with new players taking lessons with the Adirondack Pickleball Club on May 12 • Photo: Alex Kochon

Teenagers? Yes, along with families of all ages and people right up into their 90s. While its condensed tennis-court layout emphasizes the short game, pickleball is designed to keep you on your toes and wanting to master the art of slamming a Wiffle ball at your opponent.

First things first, the pickleball isn’t actually a Wiffle ball; it is plastic but it’s a little heavier, bigger and has more holes. That makes it more susceptible to wind than a tennis ball, and it’s not as bouncy. A pickleball racket is actually a paddle, but bigger than a ping-pong paddle (and comparable to a tennis racket in price). 

Pickleball paddle and ball • Photo: Alex Kochon

You can play singles or doubles, although doubles is most popular. 

After a serve, which has to be done underhand (with contact below the waist) from behind the baseline, the ball must bounce twice — once on the opponents’ side (in the rectangle diagonal from the server) and once on your side, before you can move up to the volley line. This is where you should spend the rest of the volley, trying to hit ball in the air without it bouncing on your side. (Since the ball doesn’t bounce very high, it’s preferable to volley rather than try to play it on the bounce.)

Instructor Julie Carrow demonstrates a legal serve (underhand, contact below the waist, paddle head below the break of wrist) while aiming for a deep serve diagonally across the court • Photo: Alex Kochon

Double-Bounce Rule: The ball must bounce once on each side before either team may start volleying in the air.

Like tennis, the ball must make it over the net and land in-bounds on the opponents’ side (not beyond the sidelines or the baseline) to stay alive. If the ball bounces twice on one side, is hit into the net, or hit out of bounds (all of these things are known as “faults”), the rally ends and a new player gets to serve. 

The biggest catch is that no player can enter the “kitchen”, the non-volley zone between the net and the volley line.

The Kitchen: The non-volley zone. Players may not stand in this area within 7 feet of the net unless the ball has already bounced on their side. After hitting it and clearing the net, players must get out of the kitchen to prepare for the next volley.

A new player practices “ready position” near the non-volley line, or kitchen line, during a lesson on May 12 at Jenkinsville Park in Queensbury • Photo: Alex Kochon

Scoring: Points are only scored on the serve. The receiving side can’t score. 

At the start of the game, the serve always starts on the right side (also known as the even court). In doubles, the person calling the score calls out three numbers: their team’s score, the opponents’ score, and which server on the team is serving. For more on scoring, watch this video.

If the serving team wins the rally and scores a point, the server moves to the left side (odd court) and serves diagonally to the opposite court. 

If the serving team faults, their second player gets to serve (unless it’s the first serve of the game, in which case the receiving team gets to serve next). If the serving team commits another fault, it’s a sideout: the other team gets to serve. Games are usually played to 11 points and must be won by two points.

Instructor Paul Campbell (r) talks pickleball mechanics during a lesson with the Adirondack Pickleball Club on May 12 at Jenkinsville Park in Queensbury • Photo: Alex Kochon

It’s not tennis!

While it might look like it at first glance, pickleball is not tennis. It’s not badminton, ping pong, racquetball, or squash, either, although it shares similarities with all of those racket sports.

“What we do not encourage people to do is to play tennis on a pickleball court,” said Paul Campbell, a volunteer coach and member of the Adirondack Pickleball Club. “You don’t want to do that because whoever you’re playing, if they know how to play the game, you’re going to lose easy. 

“The idea is to start back [behind the baseline] on the serve and get up to the front as soon as you can,” he added. “People at the front have the advantage. There are a few strokes that are similar, but the way you play up front is totally different than tennis.”

Where to Play

The town of Queensbury has 11 pickleball courts (eight at Ridge/Jenkinsville Park and three at Hudson River Park) and Glens Falls has four new pickleball courts at Crandall Park, thanks to the Crandall Park Beautification Committee. 

All are open to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis, although courts can be reserved for special events (like tournaments), and Jenkinsville’s courts are closed for lessons on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. in May and June.

According to Amy Collins, Glens Falls’ director of tourism and business development, a Glens Falls-based pickleball league could evolve as the sport keeps growing in this area.

“The city unveiling these courts was really important to make sure city residents were exposed and had access to those courts,” Collins said of Crandall Park’s renovated courts, which also includes two tennis courts and two basketball courts. “Pickleball really was a saving grace for a lot of people, just like golf, during the pandemic. I think pickleball became an outlet that people utilized.”

Twenty players learn on eight pickleball courts at Ridge/Jenkinsville Park during lessons with the Adirondack Pickleball Club on May 12 • Photo: Alex Kochon

Take a Lesson

Glens Falls Living had a chance to practice “dinking” (an actual pickleball term which means hitting the ball from around the kitchen line) with Cindy Allen, who leads the four-week lesson series with Campbell at Jenkinsville. Taught by volunteers with the Adirondack Pickleball Club and hosted by the Queensbury Parks & Recreation Department, these lessons meet weekly in May and June and are completely booked with a waiting list.

“It’s grown phenomenally from the start,” Lori O’Shaughnessy, assistant director of Queensbury Parks & Rec, said of the local pickleball scene and Queensbury’s lesson program, which began in 2016. “So many people are eager to learn.”

In 2017, the Town of Queensbury decided to convert Jenkinsville’s two tennis courts into eight pickleball courts. The courts were completed in September of 2018.

“The minute we opened them in September of that year, they were just busy all the time,” Queensbury Parks & Rec Director Steve Lovering said.

He credited the sport’s popularity with its easier learning curve and quicker points than tennis.

“The skill set is easier, the points are faster, but you’re not getting into really long rallies,” Lovering said. “Generally speaking, when you’re playing doubles … you’re not covering as much ground; it’s not quite as strenuous.”

“But as you become more proficient, it’s a fast-paced game,” O’Shaughnessy added. “Think of ping pong, you have to have quick reactions. … The ball’s at a shorter distance, and as you see with advanced play, it’s fun to watch.”

When asked if pickleball is more about finesse than strength, Allen whipped the ball at this reporter so fast she didn’t have time to react. So the answer to that was, no. Singles play also proved to be a real workout.

Cindy Allen, a volunteer instructor with the Adirondack Pickleball Club, stands next to a poster for the Chuck Allen Memorial Pickleball Tournament in memory of her husband • Photo: Alex Kochon

For Allen, who actually has a gentle demeanor and teaching manner, pickleball is much more than a hobby; it’s a community.

“Pickleball is not only a sport that keeps you healthy and active, it’s also a sport where the pickleball group becomes your family,” Allen said.

When her husband, Chuck, passed away in December, the Adirondack Pickleball Club rallied around them.

“He suffered from cancer for his last two years especially, but still would wander out on the court,” she said of Chuck, who, at age 72, earned a silver medal in singles pickleball at the Huntsman World Senior Games. “When he couldn’t make it through a game, they’d take his place or back him up. The week before he died, about 30 of them sang Christmas carols in our house.”

Lovering explained that the Allens were instrumental in bringing pickleball to Queensbury. The rec department dedicated Jenkinsville’s Court 1 to Chuck, and the club dedicated a bench to him outside the courts.

“They’ve been the proponents and enthusiasts as far as building that really wonderful community of pickleball players,” O’Shaughnessy said of the Allens and other club volunteers. “That sense of community in that club is so strong, and I think they’re a big piece of that because they’re genuine, they’re welcoming, and they’re passionate about the sport.”

Since 2016, the Adirondack Pickleball Club has grown from 20 to more than 250 members. New players can drop in for “free play” on Monday nights from 5-7 p.m. at Jenkinsville to get lessons and tips from club members.

The club is simply an email list, which shares information on “mixers" (pre-COVID), upcoming tournaments, or announcements from Queensbury Rec. There is no cost to join. Email adkpickleballclub@gmail.com to join their mailing list.

The Chuck Allen Memorial Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for July 24-25, with men’s and women’s intermediate and advanced play on Saturday, and mixed doubles on Sunday. For more information, email adkpickleballclub@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

New Additions: Madden Jane & Kollins Rose Payne

Tonight, we’re sharing not one, but two new additions! The Payne Family welcomed their adorable twins, Madden and Kollins, in January, and they’re sharing their reaction to finding out they were having twins (surprise!), and all about life with four little ones below…

We are John and Kate Payne. We welcomed twin girls, Madden Jane and Kollins Rose to our family on January 13th, 2021 which also happens to be our wedding anniversary.

In addition to the twins, we have an eight year old daughter, Mia, and a two year old son, Jack. Our hands are certainly full but so are our hearts!

John and I both grew up locally and just recently bought a home in Glens Falls. John owns and operates a local moving company, Moving Made EZ, and I’m a Certified Surgical Technologist at the New York Eye Surgical Center in Wilton.

We love everything about our small hometown. We are walking distance to the bike trail, local shops and restaurants, and a short drive to Saratoga. We love to hike and spend summers on the Lake with family and friends. 

On a Surprise Pregnancy

We had originally planned on Jack being our last baby but then Covid happened and, well, so did the twins!

I found out I was pregnant in May and there wasn’t a special, well thought out pregnancy announcement. I hadn’t felt good for about a week, so I took a test, walked downstairs in total shock, looked at John and said “I’m pregnant”! He laughed and thought I was joking.

Fast forward to mid July at my first OB appointment. I was laughing with the nurses about our surprise Covid baby and casually mentioned I felt a little larger this time then my previous pregnancies. The second she put the wand on my belly I saw two circles....TWINS! I was alone because of Covid so I immediately drove to John’s office to share the news. We were both speechless. We called our family and close friends and put up a pregnancy announcement on Facebook that night!

We knew from the first scan that baby A (Madden) was a girl but it took a bit for Kollins to cooperate so we could tell the gender!

All about Madden and Kollins

Madden Jane was born at 10:29am on January 13th, 2021 weighing 4lbs 12.9oz and measuring 17.5” long. Kollins Rose was born at 10:31am weighing 5lbs 14.9oz and measuring 18.25” long.

The names were tough to decide on and we changed them a few times. We just wanted something kind of original and unique! Their middle names are family names though. 

The girls are complete opposites, looks and personality wise! Kollins is our vocal, blue eyed spunky baby and definitely favors my husband looks wise. Madden is our teeny, more quiet, brown eyed girl and looks like my side of the family! The girls spend a lot of time on the go keeping up with all of Mia and Jack’s activities. 

On Parenthood

Although a surprise, the girls are such a blessing. We love our insanely hectic, beautiful, chaotic life with four little ones and wouldn’t change a thing (except for maybe an extra hour or two of sleep)! People always tell you to enjoy every moment because they go so quickly....it really does fly by! Our advice to new parents is to soak in the moments, even the hard ones because they’re only little once!

Proud older siblings Mia and Jack

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Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

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

The Weekender: May 21 - 23

Happy weekend! It’s gone from spring to summer overnight, and we’re busy making summer garden plans - zinnias were a big success for us last year so that’s first on our list!

Here’s a few other things we’re hoping to get to:

The Shirt Factory: The Thursday Market and Food Truck Corral is back at The Shirt Factory starting this week! Dinner, dessert, drinks, live music, and so many awesome vendors - can’t wait! Get the scoop here.

A Change of Scenery: We’ve been taking long walks around the city but decided to switch things up with a walk on the Rush Pond Way Trail in Queensbury. Our first time there and definitely not our last, it was a beautiful change of scenery (and we can’t wait to see it in the fall!). Get the details on the trail here.

Cambridge Valley Fine Art Tour: A favorite! We’re big fans of so many Washington County artists, and this is an opportunity to visit a few in their Cambridge studios - and enjoy a stroll around Cambridge while you’re at it (here are a few of our recommendations while you’re there). Get the details on the art tour here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

First Look: Common Roots Beer Garden

Two years after a fire ripped a hole in the heart of South Glens Falls, Common Roots Brewery is back.

The state-of-the-art brewery at 58 Saratoga Avenue, with an expanded menu, indoor pub space and spacious outdoor beer garden, opened quietly on May 3rd, but it didn’t take long for the faithful following to return. (Word on the street is the fried chicken sandwich, available in three levels of spicy hotness, is delicious!).

“It’s been really spectacular, honestly,” Bert Weber told Glens Falls Living. “The reception has been everything we had hoped for…nice crowds of people, they love the beer and the space and the food.”

Co-owner Christian Weber, Bert’s son, said, “The outdoor space has been great. It’s still kind of different…before you could get a beer and walk around and talk to each other.”

Owners Bert and Christian Weber also announced the creation of the Common Roots Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit to give back to the community that was so supportive in the aftermath of the fire.

Co-owners Bert Weber and Christian Weber

“The foundation actually took over Gears and Beers, and it’s an event they are going to help us organize,” Christian said. “It grew so much — in mid-summer, we’ll see 80 to 100 riders come out for it — so we wanted to make sure we were a little more buttoned up.

“And on Wednesday nights, a dollar from every pint of beer sold goes to the foundation. It is a little different because of COVID still. The requirements are you have to be seated, and can’t walk around. That is a particular event where people aren’t necessarily seated. You got your beer after the bike and you socialized, you walked around. So we’re still adapting. We’re still figuring it out.”

Christian said most of the existing staff has been vaccinated or is in the process of being vaccinated, and Common Roots is still looking to hire more people.

“We’re having a lot of fun,” he said. “We have a really great staff. We have the original group plus we added a few more so we could run this properly. We now have close to 40 employees and we’re still hiring. We’re very fortunate with the group that we have. We’re always so humbled by the co-workers who come out to work with us.”

And now the foundation is up and running, further strengthening the bond with the community.

“From the moment we opened the original brewery in 2014, we always knew what a close-knit community SGF was,” Christian said, “but I don’t think we really knew until we came here. We are really humbled being here.”

The foundation has a nine-person board, an executive director — Christian’s longtime friend Alex (Matthews) Kochon — and seeks members, sponsors and partners to expand its reach.

“We seeded the foundation with some initial startup money,” Christian said, “but we need more money so we can do more. And the membership drive is not only to get money for the foundation but to create stakeholders.” [For more information on the foundation, click here.]

Common Roots is open seven days a week. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

“We are hoping to eventually do a brunch on Sundays and open a little earlier,” Bert said.

Common Roots
Website / Facebook / Instagram

The Weekender: May 14 - 16

Happy Thursday! Last weekend felt like a true GF summer weekend and we’re hoping for more of the same this weekend - a walk to the Farmers Market, breakfast at home on the porch (made with our Farmers Market haul, of course!), a little yard work, and a drink or two downtown. Here’s what else we’re hoping to fit in:

Patio Sessions: So thrilled to hear the sounds of live music around the city in the evenings again. We saw that Doc’s Restaurant’s popular Patio Sessions are back, with live music on their patio each Friday and Saturday evening from 5:30-8:30pm. Get the details here. Cheers!

Small Town Bookstores: We’re in the mood for a drive this weekend, so we may head out to one of our favorite Washington County gems, Owl Pen Books. If small town bookstores are your thing, check out our round up here!

Spring Hike: We’re eager to get back outside (and get back in hiking shape!), so we’re hoping to fit in a spring hike this weekend. We just saw Lake George Land Conservancy’s video featuring a few local favorites, if you need some trail ideas - watch them here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Brenda Manra

This week, we’re chatting with Brenda Manra! A higher ed professional by day and stationer by night, Brenda shares what brought her to our little city from Southern California, the moments that have made her wonder if Glens Falls might be Stars Hollow, and so much more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! My name is Brenda and I am the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at SUNY Adirondack. I live in Queensbury with my husband, Michael and our orange tabby cat, Churro. I am a higher ed professional by day and I run my side hustle, Lovely Amanecer, a stationery and gifts Etsy shop celebrating Latinx culture, by night.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I moved to the Glens Falls area in the summer of 2017. I am originally from Southern California and moved here to be with my now husband. We bought our little home in the summer of 2019 and one of our requirements was that it would be close to downtown Glens Falls since we love the atmosphere so much!

One of the things that I have enjoyed so much about living in this area is the amount of space that we have. We would never be able to have even half an acre of backyard in Southern California. Another thing I love about Glens Falls is the charming small town feel it has. One day I went in to get a cup of coffee from Cool Beans and realized that I forgot my wallet. The cashier told me, "No problem! Pay me when you can!" I was shocked and it was such a nice gesture during a stressful day. I went back to pay her that afternoon. That was one of those moments where I thought to myself, "Am I living in Stars Hollow and is this Gilmore Girls?". There is just something so cozy about that small town feel.

I think Glens Falls has amazing dining. Some of our favorites are Radici, Morgan and Co., Farmacy, Alif Cafe, Aroy Dee, and Docs!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My ideal day in Glens Falls would start bright and early at Crandall Library! We would grab a couple of books and bring them over to Spot Coffee to read with a latte and a smoked salmon bagel. That would be the perfect combination of some of my favorite things: books, coffee, people watching, and carbs! From there, we would probably head over to the Farmer's Market to get some groceries and share a crepe from Dickison's Delights! I would also like to peruse the different shops at the Shirt Factory. I love seeing what the artists and crafters are up to! My ideal day would DEFINITELY include a massage and facial over at the Spa Studio. We love their Adirondack-y atmosphere and have been going there for years now! We would end the night by grabbing dinner at one of our favorite restaurants above. Something warm and cozy, clearly I am a fan of the "hygge" life.

On the Past

This is one of my favorite memories during my first winter in Glens Falls. When I first moved here, I worked at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce back when it was on Glen Street. We are a one car family and one evening it was snowing and my now husband texted me to say he was outside to pick me up. When I walked outside the snow was coming down BEAUTIFULLY! It was that perfect snowfall that you see in movies and my husband was playing Christmas music from the car! I love Christmas and it was just such a cute moment! We ended up driving through Crandall Park and it was so magical, I thought I was in one of those cheesy Hallmark movies.

On the Future

This is a great question! I would love to have a Poke bar downtown. We love Poke bars for the convenience and fresh ingredients, so it would be awesome to pick up some Poke bowls and eat at the park!

The Weekender: May 7 - 9

Happy weekend, and Happy Mother’s Day! We’ve got big plans to enjoy some time with family (now that we’re all finally fully vaccinated!) along with soaking up as much of this spring weather as we can. Here’s a few things that caught our eye:

Mother’s Day: Have you made plans? We rounded up a list of ideas from shops and businesses around Glens Falls that would make a perfect gift or experience (Mother’s Day brunch, anyone?!) - read it here!

Common Roots: If you haven’t heard (and even if you have, we’ll celebrate it here again!) - Common Roots has opened their beer garden and taproom for on-site dining! We’re so excited to enjoy a pint and a pizza in their new space after grabbing take-out over the past year. Get the details here - cheers!

The Arts: The Hyde Collection just reopened (with three new exhibitions we can’t wait to see!), and strolling The Chapman Museum’s new collection featuring Now & Then Photos of Glens Falls would make a fun afternoon, too!

Food Truck Fridays: A big hit last summer, Food Truck Fridays at the Washington County Fairgrounds are back starting tomorrow! Food trucks and entertainment abound from 4-8pm - details here!

Hicks in Bloom: We’ve been keeping an eye on photos of the apple tree blooms at Hicks in Granville and this weekend looks to be a pretty one! A ride out to the orchard for a donut, some cider, and a stroll through the trees sounds pretty sweet - details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother’s Day coming right up (this Sunday to be exact!), we’re rounding up just a few ideas that would make a perfect gift. There are so many great shops in the city that it’s easy to find a great gift and hard to include them all in just one post! We hope this helps get you started, and mostly, we hope it gets you downtown to do your shopping!

a sure bet

Flowers: We always like to snip a few from our lilac bush if it blooms in time, but your best bet might just be a gorgeous bouquet from Adirondack Blooms - she’s hosting a pop-up shop at Spot Coffee this Saturday from 10:30am-1:30pm. Grab the details here!

Tulip Sugar Cookies • Photo courtesy of Abby’s Cookie Jar

FOR THE FOODIE

Cookies: Need we say more? We’ve been eyeing the selection at Abby’s Cookie Jar (like the tulip sugar cookies pictured above, and their floral cupcakes!), and for the ultimate in one stop shopping, they’ll have petite bouquets from Adirondack Blooms on hand, too!

Olive Oil: Having great olive oil always makes us feel like we’ve got it together in the kitchen. Lake George Olive Oil Company has an awesome selection, with traditional options as well as infused olive oil to add a little something extra.

Spice Mixes: Make her life a bit easier with spices and spice mixes from Rachel’s Spice Company. And these might just go perfectly in a gift basket with the aforementioned olive oil - just sayin’!

French Macarons: Alchemy Bagel Co. always knocks it out of the park with their macarons, and this weekend is no exception with their popular Take 5 and Strawberries and Cream flavors. Pre-order yours for pickup on Saturday at the Farmers Market - details here!

Craft Beer: The perfect way to unwind at the end of the day! Mean Max just released their Never Say Never Strawberry Lemonade which caught our eye in a major way, and Common Roots just opened their beer garden and taproom, so you’ll have to stay for a pint after you pick up a 4-pack for mom!

For the mom who prefers experiences over things

Mother’s Day Brunch: Whether it’s breakfast in bed or taking her out to eat, breakfast is always a win! If you don’t want to worry about making the quiche, take her out to brunch and let someone else do the dishes! Looks like Doc’s, Radici, Morgan and Co., [farmacy], and more are open for Mother’s Day.

Self Care: There’s no shortage of options in the beauty and self-care department in and around the city! We love the idea of a gift certificate to Studio Bari for nails, Brows by Nikari for brows, 518 Beauty Room for all things skin care and lashes, and maybe a massage from Graceful Touch, among so many others!

Dinner + A Show: Live shows are making a comeback (the Adirondack Theatre Festival summer schedule was just announced!), and a gift certificate for dinner out on a downtown patio followed by a fantastic show at The Wood Theater or The Park Theater would make the perfect pair.

Museum Date: When’s the last time you strolled a museum together? The Hyde Collection just reopened (with three new exhibitions!), and The Chapman Museum’s new collection featuring Now & Then Photos of Glens Falls would make a fun outing, too!

Work, Uninterrupted: Work doesn’t seem like much of a gift per se, but a few uninterrupted hours to focus for the work from home moms might be just the ticket! WorkSmart has gift certificates available for drop in hours or memberships here!

Looking toward Fountain Square Outfitters • Photo: Bri Lyons

for her Closet

Spring Jacket: Since jackets are necessary around here until ohhh maybe August, we always appreciate the bright colors of Patagonia jackets and pullovers at Fountain Square Outfitters - and so would she!

Spring Dress + Jewelry: She’ll probably want everything at MinkyMink, but the spring dresses and the jewelry by Buffalo Bannon always catch our eye!

The LARAC Gallery + Shop • Photo: Bri Lyons

FOR THE ART LOVER

Local Art: For an excellent collection of unique art from local and regional artists, pay a visit to Mountain Gallery and the LARAC Gallery + Gift Shop!

Spring at The Shirt Factory • Photo: Bri Lyons

THE ClASSICS

Notepad: For her never ending to-do list. We’ve picked up some great ones at Made in Upstate NY at The Shirt Factory in the past! And of course, The Shirt Factory is always a great place to browse for unique gifts!

Soap: You can’t go wrong with Beekman 1802! Rude Betty always has a great selection of their soaps and products (and the packaging is so pretty, you almost don’t need to wrap it!).

A Card: We can’t think of anything more meaningful than a handwritten note telling her just how much she means to you. Looks like Juicin’ Jar has a pretty selection, and they’re offering a free card with any purchase from their shop (so many great gifts!).

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Truth is, we could’ve snapped photos of gift ideas downtown all day. So many great options to make Mother’s Day special, and supporting local businesses at the same time!

Happiest Mother’s Day to all the Moms, soon to be Moms, hoping to be Moms, dog and cat Moms, and all the special ladies in between.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

Back in the Day: B.B. Fowler

Revenue at the B.B. Fowler Dry Goods store in 1885 reached “the enormous figure of $100,000,” – the equivalent of $2.73 million in 2021 dollars, more than quadruple the revenue of $22,000 in 1872.

Fowler celebrated by giving each employee “a nice fat turkey” on Christmas Eve, and set out to undertake a major expansion of his store at the corner of Glen and Exchange streets in downtown Glens Falls.

The expansion added 2,500 square feet of floor space, bringing total space to 7,000 square feet.

 The grand opening was held May 1, 1886.

The B.B. Fowler store at far right • Photo courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

“We are now ready to receive. Our reception, however, will be informal. Visitors are not required to appear in full dress,” Fowler advertised. “Seriously speaking, we are not much given to fuss and feathers, but we extend a cordial invitation to all who visit our new quarters, and we will endeavor to make the visit both pleasant and profitable.”

The Morning Star editorialized: “The grand opening of B.B. Fowler’s enlarged dry goods emporium, last Saturday, furnishes an apt illustration of what straight forward business methods and judicious advertising will accomplish, when backed by tact and ability.”

Fowler employed 10 salesmen, two sales ladies, and a bookkeeper, at the time.

“Mr. Fowler aims to employ none but the best help, pays liberal wages for such, and attributes much of his success to their efficiency.”

Fowler made certain that children felt welcome when they came shopping with their parents.

“He always kept a bushel basket full of candy on hand, and regardless of what he was doing, he would always find time to give a lolly pop to every child who appeared in the store.”

Fowler had advanced in business from a humble beginning.

He was born Sept. 4, 1845 in Chestertown.

After finishing school, he moved to Glens Falls and worked as a clerk for Glens Falls National Bank.

Later he took employment as bookkeeper and office manager for W.W. Rockwell General Merchandise Store at the corner of Glen and Exchange Streets.

On April 22, 1869, Fowler and brother Joseph bought the business and renamed it Fowler Brothers.

Joseph left the business 18 months later, and it became B.B. Fowler.

Christmas Display at B.B. Fowler • Photo courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

By the time of the 1886 expansion, the business had become a destination retailer.

Fowler seemed to be a cross between philosopher/poet and all-American pitch man in a Granville Sentinel ad aimed at attracting shoppers from Washington County.

“Oh fortune, thou fickle goddess, how often is misfortune attributed to thy frown, which is but the result of wasted opportunities?” he mused. “Thus, the man who has offered him gold dollars at seventy-five cents and waits for further depreciation to purchase should not blame fortune for his pigheadedness. He has simply wasted his opportunity.”

Don’t think of the upcoming “Great Slaughter Sale,” with quality merchandise discounted 21 percent or more, as shopping, but as an opportunity for investment, Fowler suggested.

“This may be far too important a sale to be casually noticed. This may be your opportunity, my friend, to make a paying investment. It won’t cost you anything to get the details.”

Economic downturns and a great fire could not prevail against the businesses.

The B.B. Fowler store and 15 other buildings on the west side of Glen Street were destroyed in 1902 in what become known as the Third Great Fire of Glens Falls.

Fowler rebuilt.

The building now houses Downtown Social eatery and lounge on the first floor and JMZ Architects and Planners on the second and third floors.

The B.B. Fowler name is still on the building.

The B.B. Fowler store at far left • Photo courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

The B.B., in case you were wondering, stood for Byron Baker.

In 1919, “Mr. Fowler,” as he was better known in his day, celebrated his 50th year in business.

He booked an orchestra to play on the second floor of his department store from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on three consecutive afternoons from April 22–24.

“A business, like an individual, can have only one fiftieth birthday,” a Post-Star advertisement announced.

Floral bouquets from well-wishers crowded the store.

“Some of the flowers were sent by men who are now highly successful merchants who in earlier years had been assisted and encouraged by Mr. Fowler when they were struggling for a foothold in the business world,” The Post-Star reported. “Others were from merchants who have always been appreciative of the dignified manner in which the Fowler business is conducted and its policy of honest dealings.”

Fowler retired from management of the business in February 1922, but he still went to the store at 10 a.m. every day and stayed till closing.

On April 1, 1936, Fowler sold the business to an investment group, just weeks before he died at 2 a.m. on May 2 at age 90.

“To be sure, he was a builder,” The Post-Star wrote of Fowler, a civic leader who also had interests in banking and transportation. “His community has been enriched, both materially and spiritually, by the things he has built, by the contributions he has made through almost a century to the economic, the social and the religious constitution of the city.”

The B.B. Fowler building, to the right of Davidson Brothers, in 2020 • Photo: Bri Lyons

Sources: The Morning Star Dec. 25, 1885; May 3, 4, 1886;  The Post-Star April 21, 23 and 24, 1919; May 2,4, 1936; The Granville Sentinel, July 2, 1886

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

The Weekender: April 30 - May 2

Hope you had a great week! The weekend forecast looks fabulous and we might even pack away our winter coats - too soon? ;) Here are a few things that caught our eye for the ol’ agenda:

Food Truck Corral for SHMD: It’s South High’s Marathon Dance weekend, and while it might look a little different this year, we have no doubt that the spirit of the dance will be as strong as ever! To show your support, head over to The Shirt Factory Food Truck Corral to grab dinner on Friday from 4:30-8pm (details here) - a portion of all food proceeds with benefit SHMD. As always, you can donate to the Marathon Dance online here. Go Bulldogs!

Farmers Market: A sure sign of spring, this weekend is the opening weekend of the outdoor market on South Street! We’re so excited to get back to our Saturday morning routine of strolling downtown to grab fresh produce (and bagels…and flowers…) for the weekend. Details here!

Patio Season, Continued: Not this weekend, but something to look forward to - the patio at Doc’s is opening for the season on Wednesday, May 5! They’ll also be launching a new menu and craft cocktail selection - grab the details here and make your reservations!

Washington County Antiques Fair: One of our favorite events to browse (always with a bag of kettle corn!), you’ll find over 200 vendors at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich this weekend with antiques, collectibles, and crafts - grab the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom