Month: July 2025

By Rod Bacon

On June 19, approximately 100 hospital staff and community members attended a groundbreaking ceremony for an addition to the Glens Falls Hospital’s Sheridan Emergency Department. 

The new structure, being built by the CG Construction Group of Saratoga Springs, will add 7,500 square feet to the existing 25,000-square-foot department. The addition will occupy the former space of the ambulance entrance, which was adjacent to the helicopter landing pad. It will push everything approximately 50 feet to the north.

“Glens Falls Hospital touches people in many ways,” said President and CEO Paul Scimeca. “In fact, it hard to find somebody who’s life hasn’t been touched by an experience at the hospital, much of which happens in the Emergency Department. A family member — a parent or a child — has needed to come to us at a time in need. When they’re vulnerable, when they’re scared, when they need help to figure out what goes on next and how that care really gets provided. All of that happens every day, every minute in the Sheridan Emergency Department, and this project will help us do that in a better way than we do it today.”

One of the most significant changes will be the installation of a dedicated CT scanner, which is a high resolution diagnostic tool. The hospital has several CT scanners but they are not near the Emergency Department and it takes 10-15 minutes for the department’s physicians to get results. With the dedicated scanner results will be available in minutes.

By Paul Post

The state’s $10 million investment in Lake George is expected to reinvigorate its local economy for decades to come.

A new Shepard Park bandshell and amphitheater, slated to open next summer, is one of 13 projects scheduled for completion over the next five years.

An adjacent Lake Walk and observation deck, winterizing Village Mall and Lagoon Restaurant for year-round use, a National Heritage site and new public arts installations are other highlights approved under the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

“When it’s all done it’s going to be a big thing economic development-wise, it’s going to bring new business and new investment, but I also think it’s going to bring new people, visitors and groups to Lake George,” said Dan Barusch, town and village planning and zoning director. “In the past, we haven’t focused on public art, culture and heritage tourism as much. It’s going to be huge for us.”

The state awarded DRI funding to Lake George just days before Christmas 2023. A committee co-chaired by Mayor Raymond Perry, town Supervisor Vincent Crucitto Jr., and Fort William Henry Corporation CEO Kathy Muncil, spent last year obtaining public input and fleshing out plans for proposed projects.

By Paul Post

Revolution Rail Company has begun offering adventuresome rail bike rides at historic Riverside Station in Riparius, its fourth Warren County location in addition to North Creek, Thurman and Hadley.

The company also has a challenging 20-mile round trip out of North River, on the old Tahawus line that it purchased three years ago, out of bankruptcy.

“This is an example of a business that takes the attributes, which make this place special and then turns it into enterprise,” said Jim Siplon, Warren County Economic Development Corporation president, during recent ribbon cutting ceremonies. “It doesn’t compromise the values of the (Adirondack) Park, but enhances them. It’s a role model for how we’re going to grow going forward in a way that’s aligned with the place, but doesn’t threaten it.”

Farther south, Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway had its best year ever last year, with 37,000 passengers, and continues to grow with a variety of year-round, special themed trips such as Moonlight Moonshine Express, a Sunday Funday Sundae Train, Autumn Explorer, Pumpkin Picker and Candy Cane Express, its most popular ride, at Christmas time.

By Paul Post

Sylvain Cloutier made it all the way up to the NHL during his 21-year pro career.

He’s in the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame for his outstanding play with the Red Wings, IceHawks and Frostbite.

He also has extensive minor league and major junior experience behind the bench, but most important, he’s a proven winner, which made him the best choice among nearly 50 candidates to become the Adirondack Thunder’s new head coach.

“We did like the fact that he has a history in Adirondack,” team President and General Manager Jeff Mead said. “The biggest factor is we think he’s the right person to lead our team back to the playoffs and compete at the highest levels of the ECHL on a consistent basis.”

The 51-year-old Cloutier was introduced to dozens of enthusiastic fans who turned out for a July 15 press conference at Heritage Hall in Cool Insuring Arena. He takes over a team that set a franchise attendance record last season, but also went from first to worst in the ECHL’s North Division standings.

By STAFF WRITER

Daifuku launched this spring at 756 Upper Glen Street in Queensbury Plaza following a two-week renovation of the previous Zou Japanese Steakhouse in March. The updates featured a full interior makeover, a broader menu, and a rebranding under the Daifuku name.

“We did a complete overhaul and rebranding to establish Daifuku as a fresh Asian fusion spot with a wide-ranging menu that includes sushi, hibachi, ramen, and poke bowls, along with traditional Japanese and Chinese cuisine,” said Heather Thompson, manager at Daifuku.

The 4,200-square-foot venue now boasts a larger bar area, a new sushi counter, a semi-private lounge, and a private dining space for small gatherings, plus a main dining area and a hibachi room featuring six tables. “We also introduced a distinctive traditional Japanese raised tatami-style seating area, where guests sit on cushions on tatami mats around low tables. It might be the only one like it in the region,” Thompson added.

By Anne Donnelly

In the bustling design world, where trends come and go, Joël Lynn Designs is a testament to passion, heritage, and a deep understanding of what makes a house a home. Owner Joël Lynn Ralph, whose showroom in Glens Falls will celebrate its second anniversary in July, has built a thriving business focusing on kitchens, baths, and more.

Design, for Ralph, is not just a profession; it’s a family legacy. She explains, “I had a great uncle who used to build cabinets. My mother’s father was a builder. So, having graph paper in our house and drawing up plans was always just a natural thing. When my parents were renovating their home, my mom was drawing up plans on graph paper, and my older brother taught me how to measure the squares to see how many feet are in the square.”

Ralph’s career journey into kitchen and bath design started when her brother, who owned a kitchen and bath company, asked her to help organize his showroom. Curious about the design process, Ralph would take the designer’s plans home. “I used to draw over them and try to understand what all this was about.”

However, the leap to establishing her own business came after COVID. She started representing a cabinet line but soon found herself inundated with calls from people asking her to design kitchens for them. What began as a side endeavor quickly grew organically, with calls continuously coming in. She worked from home for about two years before opening her showroom.

By Anne Donnelly

Cleome Table + Bar has quickly become a standout in Glens Falls’ popular dining scene, marking the hometown return of chef and co-owner Jakob White.With culinary experience in Boston and the Virgin Islands, White brings a distinctive mix of skill and passion to an experience that resonates with locals and visitors alike.

Since opening in April on South Street in Glens Falls, Cleome has become a popular spot for dinner, drinks and shared plates.

The terrace offers a streetscape view of the Civil War Soldiers Monument and City Park—delivering on White’s vision of a space where “people can come together over delicious food and then have a unified experience that they could talk about and share.”

White’s culinary journey began during an uncertain time in his youth. Cooking, originally a hobby, became a calling thanks to the encouragement of friends and family. A pivotal moment came when his family asked him to cook Christmas Eve dinner.

“It felt like a lot of pressure at the time,” he said. But the positive response—especially to his signature “creative touch”—solidified his belief that “people may enjoy the things that I can create.” Another early success was winning a category at the Bands and Beans chili cook-off in Lake George, prior to attending culinary school.