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Christmas Magic Can’t Last Forever, or Can It? Visit Santa in Gloversville The holiday season is here and with it comes magical memories. It’s not about the gifts under the tree, but about the nostalgia. OK, for some it is the gifts, but for most it is the memories that put the magic in Christmas. It’s the remembering of spending time with family looking at holiday light shows, eating delicious food, listening to seasonal music and concerts, picking out the best tree, and searching for Santa. Sometimes people lose that magic when they “grow up,” but a visit to Santa for anyone of any age can bring that excitement and delight back. Santa has been very busy in Downtown Gloversville since Thanksgiving, visiting children and adults alike at shops like the Micropolis Art Gallery, Mohawk Harvest and EmpowHERing Designs, as well as participating in the Gloversville Christmas parade and tree lighting. It’s no surprise that the children squealed with delight when seeing him, along with Mrs. Claus, but adults also brightened when having a cup of hot chocolate and visiting Father Christmas as it brought back many recollections of holidays from the past. If you are feeling a bit Grinchy and need a pick me up or have little ones that needs to get their list in before Christmas Eve, be sure to visit Santa when he is in Gloversville. He plans to come back to Gloversville a few more times before making final preparations at the North Pole. His appearances include: · Families can have breakfast with Santa at the Gloversville Senior Center, located at 53 Church St., on Dec. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. There is a fee and every child under 12 will get a small gift bag. · Fulton County Museum, located at 237 Kingsboro Ave., is hosting Santa on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. for a morning of stories and sweet treats. · Santa will be at Kay’s Beautique, located at 84 N. Main St., on Dec. 9 from noon to 3 p.m. Children can have their pictures taken with Santa and a gift per child will be available. · Santa will visit with children at 44 Lakes Customized Gifts & Décor, located at 15 N. Main St., on Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be sure to bring the children’s list for Santa and they will receive a letter back from Santa. · Santa will visit with children at The Glove Theatre, located at 42 N. Main St., on Dec. 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. There will be photos, a tree lighting, hot chocolate, and a holiday movie at 2 p.m. If you cannot make any of these events, you may be able to reach him through the Facebook page The Clauses. The Clauses is a local party entertainment service that has a direct line into Santa and Mrs. Claus and can help book Santa to events. Enjoy the magic of Christmas in Downtown Gloversville this month with Santa and be sure to visit the businesses as you can find some great holiday gifts for your loved ones. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 2nd in Gloversville The holiday season has begun! It is time for shopping, visiting Santa, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying Christmas lights. All of this can be done on Saturday, December 2nd, in Downtown Gloversville. It’s an old-fashioned Christmas with the parade and tree lighting event, sponsored by Gloversville Recreation Commission, and Santa will be on hand to help open a new business in the downtown core. Other events are planned as well so we invite people to come spend the day in Gloversville. Reach out to each organization or business to verify their events as some places may require a RSVP. Events include: · Breakfast with Santa will be held on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Gloversville High School. Sponsored by GHS Key Cub, RSVPs and money are due no later than Nov. 27th. A free professional photo with Santa will be available in addition to the breakfast. · Santa will be at the grand opening for EmpowHERing Designs, located at 45 S. Main St., on Dec. 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. A free 4x6 picture with Santa will be available. A ribbon cutting will be held at noon with the grand opening celebration continuing to 4 p.m. · Cheryl Bielli will give a presentation, “The Boy Who Never Threw Anything Out: From Idea to Illustration” on Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Screening Room, located on the third floor of the Schine Memorial Hall building on North Main Street. · A new food truck, owned by Heather Lynn, will be unveiled on Dec. 2 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. and then open for customers from 3 to 7 p.m. Called Nibbles & Bites, the wagon will be set up in the parking lot of the Beau Monde Progressive Hair Studio & Day Spa, 235 N. Main St., during the Christmas parade. · Santa will be participating in the Gloversville Christmas Parade on Dec. 2 that kicks off at 5 p.m. and travels down North and South Main Street. Immediately following the parade, Santa will help with the tree lighting at Wandel Park, located at the corner of Spring and Elm streets. Businesses will be decorated for the day as well as the Gloversville Recreation Commission is hosting a Window Decorating Contest. Entries for the contest are due Nov. 30th from businesses and they can reach out to the Commission at (518) 773-4542 or via email at recreation@cityofgloversville.com EmpowHERing Designs and Ricmar Solutions, both located on South Main Street, and Kay’s Beautique on North Main Street, are three of many businesses that are competing. Shop and eat in Downtown Gloversville while you are enjoying the festivities. Gloversville loves Christmas and cannot wait to celebrate with everyone. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

South Main Street has Ties to the Knox Gelatin Industry Happy birthday, Rose Knox! Those who know of the Knox name and the Knox gelatin history, relate it to Johnstown, but did you know that Rose Markward Knox also has a legacy in Gloversville? Born on November 18, 1857, Rose moved to Gloversville in the 1870s and she was known to have worked in the glove industry when she was a young woman. When she met and married her husband Charles, they later moved to Johnstown in 1896. History has shown that Rose would prepare gelatin at home and her husband was able to take her recipe and turn it into a business that would last until 1972, when the Lipton Tea Company bought it. Rose was known for more than her culinary techniques, although her book “Food Economy: recipes for left overs and plain desserts” was quite popular and a copy can be found here. When Charles died in 1908, she took over the business as president, a move that was unheard of at the time. She redirected the marketing to focus on women and she was also kind and fair to the employees, by instituting a five-day work policy, and implementing paid vacations. A force to be reckoned with in a time when women were not known to be presidents of large companies, Rose became the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Grocery Manufactures’ Association in 1929. More on Rose Knox can be found here and here. In addition to being a distinguished role model that hailed from Gloversville, Rose and the Knox institution was responsible for the building at 52 South Main Street in Gloversville. At one time it was a prestigious office building that included offices for A.C. Lawrence Leather Company and housed the Morning Herald newspaper. According to the current building owner, it was used as a bomb shelter during World War II, and there are only two of these buildings left in the state. They were built with no wood in the construction and were made completely with concrete and bricks. The building currently houses Beacon Bubbles laundromat. Next time you go down South Main Street, be sure to think of Rose Knox! Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Saluting our Veterans in Downtown Gloversville This weekend marks the commemoration of Veterans Day, a holiday that was first observed as Armistice Day. Later as it was designated Veterans Day, it still retained the salute at 11 a.m. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month as that was the official end of the first Great World War, but it now honors all veterans who have served our country. This year, the City of Gloversville will be hosting the annual ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in Downtown Gloversville, in front of 90 N. Main St., near the doughboy statue. (Doughboy was a nickname for infantrymen during World War I). Following the ceremony, American Legion Post 137, located at 200 N. Main St., will have an open house. Read more from the Fulton County Historical Society about the doughboy statue as it turns 100 years on Veterans Day. Several businesses are also offering specials to veterans on Saturday, including 44 Lakes Customized Gifts and Décor so stop in the Downtown Gloversville stores after these commemorations. While attending these events, or when you are downtown shopping, be sure to also look at our Hometown Hero banners that line the Downtown Corridor as they are our friends, neighbors and relatives that have served. A list of who is on the banners can be found at https://www.downtowngloversville.org/meetourheroes and several families wrote testimonials about their heroes and those can be found at https://www.downtowngloversville.org/hometownheroprofiles Just outside the Downtown Core is Veterans Park, located at the corner of Kingsboro Avenue and East State Street, a beautiful spot worth visiting as it is dedicated to the local veterans with monuments and flags honoring each of the branches of the Armed Forces. No matter how you honor the holiday, be sure to take time to thank a veteran in person for their dedication to our country and recognizing their commitment to keeping us safe and free. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Shop Local This Holiday Season Now that Halloween is over, the focus is now on the upcoming holiday season and what to purchase for loved ones as the gift giving season is right around the corner. Shopping locally and supporting small businesses are a theme we hear about, especially the day after Thanksgiving as it is nationally known as Small Business Saturday, but what does that mean? By shopping locally, customers receive great benefits such as saving gas as they don't have far to drive. They also don’t have to pay extra for shipping if they buy online. Shoppers also get personal attention from small business owners and the experience is more personalized than what happens in a big box store. Shopping locally also helps the community as it is typically our neighbors and friends who own stores, and we are supporting their businesses. It also helps the local economy by keeping sales tax dollars in the community and reinvesting in the municipality. Shopping, or even dining, locally can help more than one small business as stores typically receive products from other local organizations. For example, New York Lunch buys bread and rolls from Rauch’s Bakery. Mohawk Harvest sells products and produce from local farmers, including milk from Dygert’s Farm. Gloversville has a walkable downtown with a wide variety of shops that can assist shoppers with their gift giving needs. In addition to getting a lot of shopping done in a short amount of time and distance, Gloversville offers local retailers that make the shopping experience more enjoyable as they can personalize the customer’s experience and work closely with their needs. Downtown stores include: · 44 Lakes Customized Gifts, 15 N. Main St. · 2 of Cups Couture, 26 N. Main St. · Adirondack Stained Glass, 29 W. Fulton St. · Castiglione Jewelers, 25 N. Main St. · Dundays Clothiers, 49 N. Main St. · EmpowHERing Designs, 45 S. Main St. · Gearheads Variety Store, 82 N. Main St. · GoodbuyZ Liquidation, 12 St. Thomas Pl. · Great Rentals, 59 N. Main St · Kay's Beautique, 84 N. Main St. · Micropolis Cooperative Art Gallery, 30 N. Main St. · Panache Quality, 101 N. Main St. · Ralph’s Tailor Shop, 110 S. Main St. · Rossbach Shoe Store, 10 W. Fulton St. · The Fly Shack, 28 E. Fulton St. · True Value, 25 Bleecker St. · Young’s Variety Store, 136 N. Main St Struggling with gift ideas for a person who has everything? Gift cards for professional hair and nails are great ideas, as well as giving a loved one a pampered spa day. Suggestions for places to purchase a certificate include: · Addictive Pain Tattoo, 29 N. Main St. · Adirondack Barbershop, 12 St. Thomas · Adirondack Massage, 40 N. Main St. · Beau Monde Hair & Spa, 235 Main St. · Capano’s Hairitage Salon, 31 Bleecker · Doll House, 97 E. Fulton St. · Fulton County Barbershop, 17 N. Main St. · Glitter Lash Boutique, 12 St. Thomas Pl. · Ink Magic Tattoo, 221 S. Main St · Infinity Nails, 19 N. Main St. · Mr. G’s Hair Gallery, 55 W. Fulton St. · Sacandaga Therapeutic, 26 N. Main St. · SW The Spa, 23 Fremont St. · The Color Coven – Beauty Lounge, 2 S. Main St. · The Color Coven- INK, 10 S. Main St. · Time & Tide Tattoo, 145 N. Main St. While out shopping, be sure to dine downtown, or purchase a gift certificate for a loved one for a meal or treat. Eateries and dessert shops include: · Brass Monkey, 59 Cayadutta St. · Buck’s Pizza, 23 S. Main St. · Caesar’s Pizza, 253 N. Main St. · Cravings, 47 Cayadutta St. · Eva’s Soul Food, 116 S. Main St. · Harold’s Restaurant, 176 W. Fulton St. · Mohawk Harvest, 30 N. Main St. · New York Lunch, 21 Bleecker St. · Palace Diner, 62 S. Main St. A Downtown Gloversville business and shopping guide can be found here. The guide also includes entertainment options in case people are looking for something to do with guests who are staying with them for the holidays. Downtown Gloversville attractions include the Glove Theatre at 42 N. Main St. and the Dorn Space at 99 N. Main St. Besides supporting the businesses with your wallet, be sure to support them with your reviews. Word-of-mouth can help boost sales for a retailer and social media posts can help spread the word. Join the Shop Small movement, a celebration of small businesses on Small Business Saturday and every day, to help communities thrive and stay vibrant. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Arts In and Around Gloversville The word “artist” typically brings the image to mind of a person creating paintings or drawings. However, an artist can be a person who practices any of the creative arts including performance art such as an entertainer, showman, musician, etc., and Gloversville offers a variety of opportunities for artists, as well as entertainment options for fans of art. Micropolis Cooperative Inc. hosts a gallery that is located inside the Mohawk Harves Food Cooperative at 30 N. Main St. Established in 2011, the organization celebrates regional artists and showcases artwork created in a wide range of media and styles, including paintings, drawings, photographs, fiber art, mixed media, glass, digital art, jewelry, pottery, woodland collages, baskets, and fine arts card. Its mission statement includes providing “artists with an opportunity to exhibit and sell their artwork, build awareness of and support for the regional art community, and be a part of the revitalization of downtown Gloversville.” In addition to the gallery being manned by volunteers, the artists also take a turn at being on hand to talk to the public about their work and what inspires them. The gallery also hosts several “Meet the Artists Receptions” throughout the year. To learn more about the organization, exhibits or how to become a member, visit https://www.facebook.com/MicropolisGallery Glove Cities Arts Alliance is another local organization that “seeks to help sustain the health of the arts in our communities.” The alliance hosts the annual Art Walk that is held in Downtown Gloversville, where artwork is on display in downtown storefronts and windows. Last summer, 20 local artists participated with their work on display during the summer and showcased during the Southern Adirondack Wine and Food Festival. The alliance has also been promoting concerts at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, including performances by Michael Bisio and Timothy Hill. The organization is partnering with Kearney Development Group to bring an art gallery to a new housing project currently under development at 52 Church Str. that includes artist lofts and art opportunities. For more information on Glove Cities Arts Alliance, email glovecitiesarts@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/glovecitiesarts. The Schine Gallery, located on the third floor at the Schine Memorial Hall at 40 N. Main St., helps promote local artistic endeavors while partnering with local nonprofit organizations. A new exhibit, "Schine on the Holidays," will open on Nov. 16th. Located at 42 N. Main St. in the heart of Downtown Gloversville, is the Glove Theatre that entertains audiences throughout the year with music performances, community theater, comedy, holiday shows and more. Last summer, some 75 local youth took to the stage to perform “Disney Frozen Kids” and recently local actors performed in “What Remains of Edith Finch” and “Antigone.” To learn how to get involved with the Glove Theatre, visit the website theglovetheatre.com or email theglovetheatre@gmail.com The Dorn Space, located at 99 N. Main St., is a “creative haven for performing arts,” according to its website, https://dornspace.tv, and is a family-friendly arts and entertainment venue in Downtown Gloversville. The mission is to promote original material by original artists. To find out more, call (838) 202-4425 or email dornspace@gmail.com. In the summer, the Gloversville Civic Band and the Gloversville Community Music are very active with concerts and performances. Gloversville Community Music is also a music school located on the third floor at the Schine Memorial Building, 40 N. Main St. and can be contacted by email at gloversvilleCM@gmail.com and through the website https://gloversville-community-music.business.site. To find out more about Gloversville Civic Band and its summer performances, visit https://www.facebook.com/GloversvilleBand Authors and up and coming novelists seeking assistance with their craft can join the “Write On!” group offered through the Gloversville Public Library at 58 E. Fulton St. An open creative writing workshop for teens (ages 13 and up) and adults is offered every 3rd Friday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. To learn more, call the library at (518) 725-2819. Other nearby opportunities in Fulton County include: · Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN) Founded by 30 artists in 1997, SVAN’s mission is to promote the arts throughout the Sacandaga region by improving the quantity, quality, and diversity of cultural programming in the area and improving opportunities for local artists. SVAN sponsors dozens of art-related events, including its summer art trails that includes the Micropolis Art Gallery. To learn more, visit svanarts.org · Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, located at 2736 State Highway 30, Mayfield, is a community arts center that offers a variety of classes, workshops and lessons, as well as hosts performances and concerts, and art exhibits. To learn more, visit https://www.pncreativeartscenter.org · Caroga Arts Collective presents over 50 performances and community events featuring world-class artists and their programming includes the Caroga Lake Music Festival, artist residencies, lessons and ensemble program and community events. For more information and how to get involved, visit https://carogaarts.org · Perrella Gallery at the Fulton Montgomery Community College campus, located at 2805 State Highway 67, Johnstown, is a 1,200 square foot facility that hosts work by students and local artists, as well as national and internationally known artists as well. For hours, appointments, and how to get involved, call (518) 736-FMCC ext. 8879. · Full Grain Magazine is a publication that is distributed throughout the area including Fulton, Montgomery, and Schenectady counties, and is filled with playlists, artwork, interactive doodles, writings, and artwork. It can be found in Gloversville at the Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market and the Gloversville Public Library. Visit the organization’s website at https://linktr.ee/fullgrainmag to learn more about the magazine, read back issues, and discover how to submit work. Art is not only great for one’s soul, but it also brings people and communities together. Become a part of the Gloversville art community and meet the creative minds behind the beautiful creativity in this area. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

History or Haunted? Visit and decide! It’s spooky season and with it comes the ghost stories people tell about supposed sightings in their communities, including Gloversville. Fulton County Museum, located at 237 Kingsboro Ave., is a stop on the Haunted History trail of New York State. From the website https://hauntedhistorytrail.com, it is noted that “paranormal teams from around the state have conducted investigations in the building. They’ve captured some spectacular EVP evidence and shared their findings in public presentations. The museum’s volunteers and staff have also had their fair share of first-hand experiences, from already closed doors slamming shut to the model train operation on its own accord. With so many artifacts, and in a building that was full of energetic students for nearly a century, it’s no wonder that there still may be some spirits lingering.” Visitors will get a chance to chase the paranormal at the Psychic Fair that is being held on Oct. 21st at the museum. In addition to ghost hunting, the attendees of the event will have the opportunity to meet with mediums and more. Skeptics will also enjoy the museum as the rooms are filled with local history including displays dedicated to railroad history, the military, and the leather and tanning industries. Activity has been seen at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 66 Kingsboro Ave., as the Haunted in New York Paranormal and Metaphysical Expo was held earlier this year at the facility and a paranormal tour was conducted. Participants could download apps that would enable them to sense spirits as they walked around the building. Another opportunity is available on Oct. 28th as a Halloween Festival will be held and the day includes a live paranormal investigation, trick or treating, games, and more. Skeptics will also enjoy the museum as it displays replicas and documents from the past, including a section dedicated to baseball. According to several websites, people have had encounters in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, located off Kingsboro Avenue. One tale posted at www.ghostsofamerica.com relates that the writer and her friend “were driving up a long spooky dark path that was wide open with only a few trees when I had seen a white figure cross the pathway and go behind a tree, mind you this was only about 15 feet away. I had gotten closer and looked behind the tree, it disappeared behind and there was nothing there. I looked for as far as I could see, but there was nothing, and that was the only tree around.” True or not, the cemetery is filled with history and worth visiting and reflecting on the people of the past that worked to help further Gloversville, Fulton County, and the nation, such as veterans who are typically acknowledged by the American flags that are flown near their headstones during the summer months. A side note, one of the munchkins from the movie “Wizard of Oz” is laid to rest at this cemetery, accessed by Pearl Street. Known as the “Mayfield Munchkin,” Cynthia Marquette Nickloy was born in Mayfield and a summary of her life can be found at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11237055/margaret-cynthia-nickloy Whatever the reason that brings you to the cemetery, please be respectful and mindful of those who are there. Enjoy spooky season and be sure to visit the Downtown Gloversville shops as they will have treats and specials that are “to die for” at this time of year! Several will be open during the city's trick or treating hours on Oct. 31st so bring your costumed children down to Main Street that day from 6 to 8 p.m. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Explore Gloversville’s History throughout the Year with Markers October is New York State History Month, a designation meant to bring attention to state and local history. Gloversville is home to numerous historical markers that allow for learning interesting facts about the area, not just in October but throughout the year. On the local level, the city created historical markers for a variety of buildings and places including the Palace Diner at 64 S. Main St. that has been serving meals for over 100 years, and a plaque erected at the corner of South Main Street and Fulton Street noting the “Four Corners” of the city where three separate settlements came together to create the new city that would be known as the “Glove Capital of the World” in the 19th Century. A historical booklet can be found here that provides the location and a summary of the sites. According to the NYS Historic Marker Database, there are over 12,000 state historical signs in this state. Travel around Gloversville and discover the markers in the core and just over the city’s line. Here are a few: · Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St.: “Glove Theatre … Opened 1914. Hosted movies, music, vaudeville and civic events, operated by Schine Enterprises 1920-1965. Closed 1971. Reopened 1997. William C. Pomeroy Foundation 2023.” · Trail Station Park, West Fulton Street: “Site of the headquarters of the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville, Rail Road … 1870 – 1984 … Fulton County Historian 1995.” · American Legion Post 137, 200 N. Main St.: “Post 137 … American Legion Post ... Honoring WWI Pvt. Harold Wilmot Est. 1919, Legion House … Built CA. 1930. US Congressman Lucius N. Littauer, Donor. William C. Pomeroy Foundation 2022.” · Fulton County Museum, 237 Kingsboro Ave.: “Site of Kingsborough Academy … Built 1831 … Demolished 1900 … Private School 1831 – 1863 … Public Elementary School 1863 – 1900 … Bicentennial Fulton Co. 1976.” · Parkhurst Field, 50 Harrison Str.: “Opened July 12, 1906 … Home of N.Y.S. League Jags … Host to future HOF players, MLB, Negro League, Semi-Pro & Industrial Baseball Teams … Dedicated October 13, 2013.” Also at the baseball field complex are markers for the history of Gloversville Little League and Parkhurst Field that were created and erected by the league. · CVS pharmacy and store, 1013 State Highway 29A (East Fulton Street) has two markers. The read note notes: “On this site in Aug. 1950 the volunteer dept. was established by 50 men who dedicated countless hours protecting their community … in 2013 the BFD relocated and continues serving their community …2013.” The blue marker right next to it notes: “Berkshire School … Common School District #5 … Built 1869 – 2 Rooms … 1938 – 1 Room Addition … Closed 1969 – Torn Down 2010 … Consolidated with G.E.S.D. 1969 …in memory of F&M Gendron 2018.” · Dunkin’, 1008 State Highway 29A (East Fulton Street) boasts the Berkshire Grace Chapel sign. To learn more about the sign and the organization responsible for it, click here. At the top of the markers are images, typically of the state, Fulton County or an image of the sponsoring organization. The New York State Education Department was originally responsible for creating the blue and yellow markers and that job began for the agency in 1926, according to www.hmdb.org. (The state Education Department indexed its markers at https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/historicalmarkers/index.html). The William G. Pomeroy Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting and preserving community history, hosts a program that “fills a gap, as New York State stopped funding their roadside markers in 1939.” For guidelines on applying for a marker through the foundation, their website www.wgpfoundation.org. Gloversville is home to several museums and historical attractions, including the Fulton County Museum, the Glove Theatre Museum, Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Some hibernate for the winter so visit their exhibits in the new few weeks, but also make sure to stop and read the historical markers on the journey there as the roadside has plenty of history to offer to explorers. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Update on the DRI: Property for Glove City Lofts Being Prepped for Project In the past two weeks, a project in the $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant has begun as Glove City Lofts developers have started clearing the property at 52 Church Street, including milling of the parking lot and removal of electrical poles, as they begin to prepare the site for the 75-unit loft-style affordable housing project. The developer, Kearney Realty and Development Group, has received approval through the state to move forward. Currently, debris is also being removed, along with any potential asbestos being remediated. The next steps include excavating for the footings with forming the footings by next week. The existing building will be demolished in the next 45 days. The immediate goals include getting the slab poured so the framing can start prior to the weather turning. The project is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2025. The project spans three acres and was the site of a dilapidated call center. When completed, in addition to the mixed income artist housing complex, the project will include greenery, live-work spaces, and an art gallery run by the Glove Cities Art Alliance. While there is a focus on artists, others will be invited to apply to live there as well. There is a need in and around Gloversville for affordable housing, which is something a young professional is interested in for living in a downtown area. Demolition and construction of the project will be performed by local companies and those who have worked on other projects by the Kearney group. All the DRI projects, including this one, must also use a certain percentage of Minority and Women-owned Business Entrepreneurs (M/WBE) that are certified through the state as part of the grant’s requirements. In December 2021, the state awarded the City of Gloversville the grant. In November 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul came to Gloversville to announce the specific projects that were awarded. It takes time for these projects to move through the steps to ensure they stay compliant with the grant’s guidelines. While the public has not seen shovels in the ground for most of the projects, the developers have been working very hard behind the scenes. As the grant application was several years ago, in general, the projects must first update and refine plans, costs, budgets, and construction documents. Plans then must be reviewed and approved by the state Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), as well as any other local boards that have jurisdiction over the properties. Environmental reviews must also be performed, as well as finalizing financing. It must be noted that the grant is reimbursable and is only a portion of the entire cost of the project. This means the developer must pay out of pocket for the overall project and then, depending on the agency and the type of project, be reimbursed at certain stages of the construction, or reimbursed when the project is completed. During these past months, the projects have been researching and pursuing financing. Depending on the financial institution, it can take from three to six months from the time an application is submitted to the time it is approved. Roughly 14 steps in the development project are performed before construction even happens. In addition to Glove City Lofts, the other DRI projects include renovating the historic Glove Theatre, transforming the former Carriage House building in a restaurant and apartments, revitalizing the Daniel Hayes Mills property into a housing complex, creating a Downtown Business Improvement Fund, improving streetscapes in the downtown core, reviving and creating a new eatery at the former City Hall building on Main Street, and updating and creating three parks - St. Thomas Square, Littauer Piazza and Trail Station Park. In July, the first phase of the Trail Station Park was completed with the opening of the splash pad. The pad was funded with a $365,000 grant through the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, along with the expansion of the park. The expansion nearly doubles the size of the park with amenities and landscaping over a large area that was formerly a parking lot. The next phase of the project, funded through the DRI, will include a new 80’ x 20’ building to house restrooms, a kitchen area, and a large indoor space for special events. The foundation of the building was already created. The smaller projects are expected to break ground in the spring, while the bigger ones will take more time to complete their steps. The DRI is a lengthy process, but the reward is worth the wait. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Shine on Schine – A Beacon of Gloversville’s Past, Current, and Future in Downtown It’s not hard to miss the prominent red brick building on North Main Street that boasts numerous historic and beautiful windows on the upper floors and contains numerous businesses on the first floor as it welcomes visitors to the Downtown Corridor. As the sign proudly announces on the four-story Schine building, “Committed to preserving history and enhancing the vitality of Downtown Gloversville,” this gem of Gloversville was once the Kasson Opera House but has transformed with the times while keeping its history alive. Built in 1881, the Kasson Opera House was a well-known performance hall in upstate New York. Audiences of over 1,000 people would be entertained by performances ranging from dog and monkey shows to Shakespeare plays. There were also magicians, minstrels, operas, artists, community, and political events, and even the circus that graced the stage. In the early 1900s vaudeville replaced operas. It was later bought by the Schine brothers who also purchased the neighboring Glove Theatre and decided to convert the former opera building to three floors of offices and host a private screening room. Now known as the Schine building, it was the headquarters of the Schine Circuit theaters until the 1960s. When the building landed on the tax foreclosure list years later, a group of local residents purchased the building to save it. Occasional tours of the building are held and during that time, visitors can see remnants of the great opera hall on the fourth floor with amazing ceiling murals and more. Through their love and hard work, the building is filled with numerous activities with the ground level housing mainly commercial tenants, the second floor contains offices, and the third floor reserved for public arts. Current businesses and organizations in the Schine building include: · First Floor – Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, Micropolis Art Gallery, Daniel Storto and fashion gloves, Two of Cups Couture, Glover Insurance Agency, The Apothecary, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. · Second Floor - CSEA Union Local 818, Massage Therapy by Donna M. Panzl (MA, LMT) and Jamime Retersdorf (BS, LMT), Legal Aid Society, IdentoGO Fingerprinting, Julia La Porta (LMT) and Adirondack Massage Therapist, Lexington Employment Resources. · Third Floor - Gloversville Community Music and Joshua Thompson, and on the third floor is the Schine Gallery. The Schine is currently a project in the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant and its funding will help with the vision of renovating the third floor to create an attractive and expanded space for a museum, and also create an area for arts-related co-working space. The project will include new restrooms, a shared kitchen area, offices and new windows. The size of the renovation is approximately 3,260 square feet with an estimated $407,000 budget. This will create a unique space for artists and continue the Schine Memorial building’s reputation for supporting the arts and businesses in Downtown Gloversville. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Murals in Gloversville This is an update to a blog that was written over the wintertime, promoting local art and public murals. It’s being updated because there are more beautiful murals to be seen in the Gloversville area. In Castiglione Memorial Park, located on North Main Street, is a giant mural dedicated to reading and books. The park is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Louis J. Castiglione, Jr. who was a president of the Castiglione Jewelers Inc. business and a founding member of the former Gloversville Business Improvement District (BID). The mural is dedicated to Robert P. Best who was a mayor of Gloversville, District Attorney, County Court Judge and State Supreme Court Justice. Nearby, in the window at 39 N. Main St., also known as the Carriage House building, is “Re-Imagine Gloversville.” In 2018, artist Nicolina Schonfarber was commissioned to create a piece based off the thoughts, ideas and drawings that were collected from community members at the 2017 Bacon Jam. Just off Main Street at nearby St. Thomas Place, is a 19 by 25-foot mural on the side of the GoodbuyZ Liquidation Outlets (12 St. Thomas Place). Created by artist Alyssa Johnson, called the “FJG Mural,” it showcases Gloversville’s railroad history. On the Rail Trail near Train Station Park on West Fulton Street is an older mural, also dedicated to the railroad history in the city. It has been there since at least 2009. New on North Main Street, is a mural created by Gloversville native Dante Bouchard in Micropolis Park, located next to 7 and 13 N. Main St. The park is a green space managed and maintained by Micropolis Development Group who commissioned the artwork and plans for more murals, events, and activities in the space. Bouchard’s work can also be seen just outside the Downtown Core on a building located at West Eighth Avenue and right near another art piece displaying the iconic Mr. Kool-Aid. Not in Downtown Gloversville, but worth seeing, are several other murals including one located at Gloversville High School, 199 Lincoln St., that was created by artist Hannah Williams and students from the school. A view of the Great Sacandaga Lake, it is 7.5 by 15 feet and took the artists six days to complete. A mosaic waterfall mural is housed at the Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home, located at 99 E. State St. Created in 2019 with lead artists Tammy Merendo, Linda Biggers and Susan Ruscitto, the mural is six giant sections that were placed together on the side of a wall that can be admired while sitting in Littauer’s Reflection Garden. It is located on the first floor between the hospital and the Primary Care Center. Walmart Supercenter, located at 329 S. Kingsboro Ave., Ext., recently held a grand re-opening, showcasing the newly remodeled building. As part of the transformation, a new community-inspired mural was created in the front entrance that notes the City of Gloversville’s creation in 1890. These murals transform walls into colorful spaces and are worth journeying around Gloversville to view them. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville

Family Counseling Center Has a Long History of Investing in People and in Gloversville Last May, a charter employee took a tour of The Family Counseling Center, located at 11-21 Broadway, and marveled at how the organization has changed and grown in the past 47 years. The Family Counseling Center offers a behavioral health clinic, a domestic violence program, children and family services, a Genoa healthcare on-site pharmacy and a Doxy Link for telehealth appointments. This is a far cry from starting in the basement of a church with minimal staff for counseling. Not surprised by the organization’s long history of helping Gloversville and Fulton County, he was surprised by the large facility and was proud to be a part of its past Mike Brace said, “I guess I was one of the original charter employees for FCC joining Ann Lee Clough, Peg Ballantine, Bart Avery, and a few others. I did my master’s field placement at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (original home to the center on East Fulton Street). We then moved into the Bleecker Street location (former YWCA building) and began our startup. By then I had graduated with a master's in social welfare and went on to achieve Certified Social Worker status. I met with then Gloversville City Judge Vince DeSantis and he was instrumental in helping us to populate our new Domestic Violence Abuse Program. Sometime later we moved into the new headquarters on Broadway. This past spring I went to visit the all new revamped headquarters and was blown away! I was ready to sign on and enjoy the new facility (were it not for the fact that I lived 2,000 miles away in Phoenix). Congratulations FCC! Keep up the good work.” Jim Conkling, a board member during the organization’s early years, was also on the tour and was also amazed, stating the agency had grown beyond any of his expectations and visions. In addition to the social and well-being investments the organization makes by assisting the residents of the area with behavioral health and social services, The Family Counseling Center also made a $9 million economic development investment in the community with its expansion. With the renovations officially completed in 2021, the facility became one of Gloversville's largest private development projects in the last decade. As part of the project, the employees were asked for input, which resulted in natural light and outdoor spaces being built into the floor plans. The skyways that illuminate the center's common areas with natural light provide staff and clients with a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. Those employees also help the community they work in by supporting Downtown when they shop, eat, and visit local businesses. The center also is a community team player by having rooms available for community meetings, polling stations, blood drives, corporate retreats and more. The Family Counseling Center recently celebrated its birthday on August 2nd and will honor its legacy at the upcoming fall gala on Sept. 28th. For more information on the organization and the gala, visit www.thefamilycounselingcenter.org. Stay. Play. Explore. Live. Discover Downtown Gloversville