Six Flags Great Escape announced it will have a new rollercoaster ride in 2024—the Bobcat. 

This addition marks the first new wooden coaster introduced in New York state since 1999 and is the first new coaster to be constructed at Six Flags Great Escape since 2003, according to Six Flags officials. 

It replaces the Alpine Bobsled which was retired Sept. 4, 2023.

“We knew we had to find a perfect fit to replace the Alpine Bobsled in the hearts of our guests,” said resort president Rebecca Wood. “This beautiful, all-natural wooden family coaster will deliver a smooth, fast and heart-pounding experience. It is sure to be an instant classic.”

The Bobcat will reach speeds of nearly 40 mph, officials said. It stands 55.4 feet high and is 1,412 feet long. There will be two trains, seating 12 passengers per train.

The Bobcat is expected to begin in the spring, just in time for the park’s 70th anniversary celebration. 

“The Bobcat will provide the unique feel of a quintessential wooden coaster, introducing thrill-seekers to quick turns, spunky drops and heart-pumping excitement aboard a custom, state-of-the-art, themed train,” the company said.

By Paul Post

 First a late-spring killing freeze. Then a devastating, early summer hail storm.

 “I’ve heard many, many stories about lots of orchards that had total loss and won’t even be able to do anything with apples this fall,” said Michelle Wilson, business manager of Hick’s Orchard in Granville. “Some got hit double whammy with the hail storm a few weeks after that freeze. It definitely depends on where you were, your elevation and how cold it got.”

 But Hick’s, like Saratoga Apple in Schuylerville, is the exception this harvest season, whose you-pick business kicked off on Labor Day Weekend, ushering in one of autumn’s most popular family-oriented outdoor activities.

 “We do have a crop,” Wilson said. “I think we’re going to be okay.”

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 31 counties across New York state, including Washington and Saratoga, as a primary natural disaster area following the late May frost-freeze event. These designations mean that impacted farmers may be eligible for assistance,  including emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that the 35th annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to Robert Nemer, co- owner of the Nemer Motor Group and financial contributor to many local community organizations. 

Nemer will be presented with the award at the ARCC annual dinner on March 8 at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

“All you need is a couple of minutes with Robert Nemer to learn that he is passionate about helping others,” said ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers. “His work spans through decades of helping our youth get the supplies and resources they need to succeed in school, all the way to helping fund the much-needed equipment that our hospitals need to serve their patients. When called upon, he answers the call. His contributions to our region will be felt for years to come.”

Nemer moved to Upstate New York in 1970, after teaching elementary school in Philadelphia, to help run his father’s Volkswagen dealership in Albany. Along with his brother Peter, they established and grew the Nemer Motor group which now includes four dealership locations.

Nemer is a founding member of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition Inc. that was responsible for the acquisition of the Glens Falls Civic Center/Cool Insuring Arena from the City of Glens Falls. He also started the Kids with Packs program, in partnership with The Post Star and the Tri-County United Way, to provide school supplies to children in need in 14 schools in Warren, Washington, Saratoga, and other counties. Nemer also serves as a board member for Hudson Headwaters Health Network, and the SUNY Adirondack Foundation.

Nemer is a regular contributor and sponsor for many community organizations and their events. Through the Nemer Motor Group, he has made considerable contributions to Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, and Hudson Headwaters Health Network. Nemer and his wife Francine have also donated time and funding to these health centers. The two have also contributed to the youth education efforts of The Hyde Collection.

By Christine Graf

The Body Barre dance studio has found a new home in the former Social Security building at 17 Cronin Road in Queensbury. 

Owners Annie Lafontaine and Katie Langdon spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the 12,000-square-foot building before opening their doors in July.

Lafontaine and Langdon met while teaching classes at the Glens Falls Ballet and Dance Center, and they opened The Body Barre in the Aviation Mall in 2018. At that time, they were primarily teaching classes for children.

“We then expanded into adult classes,” said Lafontaine who is also a real estate broker and the owner of Selling ADK in Lake George Village. “That program has taken off. We now have more than 70 classes a week that we offer, at least 3 to four classes each a day are adult dance or adult fitness– Zumba, indoor cycling, barre, and now yoga.”

Dance offerings for adults include ballet, tap, and hip hop. The studio also recently introduced a new circus arts class that incorporates hoops, silks, and aerial arts.

All adult classes are totally beginner friendly, and for those with more experience, joining the studio’s dance team is also an option. The adult dance team currently has about 30 members and performs in local parades as well as at Boo to You in Glens Falls. 

By Ann Donnelly

Walking into the new HiFi Loft shop and listening room at 32 Dix Ave. in Glens Falls, it can feel like returning to a 1970’s “rec room.” 

When owner and audiophile Jason Tavares saw the space, formerly Glens Falls Business Machines, with its wood paneling and a wall of windows looking out onto the street, he knew he had found a space to create his vision of what a hi-fi store should be. 

With the wood paneling, there are now geometric patterned rugs, artwork, a feature wall with retro wallpaper imported from Europe, armchairs, and sofas with throw pillows where fellow audiophiles can relax and enjoy what’s on the turntable. 

HiFi Loft offers a carefully curated assortment of amps, loudspeakers, turntables, and digital sources for any budget, level of experience, or musical taste. They also have a wide range of second-hand and new vinyl record albums. 

“The records bring new and younger customers into the shop,” says Tavares.

While HiFi Loft’s typical customer is a middle-aged male, Tavares’ ideal customers are  young people who love music. 

“They don’t know what they are missing, only listening to music recorded and reproduced digitally. They will see that, with better equipment, they can get much closer to the vibe of a live concert performance,” he said.

Fort Ticonderoga is now hosting private events including weddings, meetings, and other celebrations at pavilions and on the scenic grounds. 

Fort Ticonderoga is situated on Lake Champlain, nestled between New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains. From the newly restored 1826 Pavilion, to the 60-foot Carillon boat, to the King’s Garden and to the heights of Mount Defiance, couples and groups can choose their unique venue to hold their picture-perfect destination event.

One of the on-site venues is the Pavillion.

An 1826 National Historic Landmark home, the Pavilion has a rich past of hospitality and luxury.  Located on the shores of Lake Champlain and surrounded by gardens, the estate is now a location for weddings. The house itself is also a place to host small meetings, intimate gatherings, and cocktail parties.

It features a lake front setting and multiple locates available for ceremonies and receptions. The King’s Garden frames the Pavilion. There is a private bridal suite with private entrance and  family and bridal party waiting rooms.