Batten Hudson Living 2023

•red, white and blended estate wines

•guided wine tastings

•wine by the glass

•local cheese snack plates

•bottles to go with case discounts

•venue with a vineyard view

•event spaces for your party

•friendly ser vice

Welcome

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Batten Hudson Living, a new annual magazine by the Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. It is with great pride that we debut this entertaining and informative publication. Our sincere wish is to provide you, our readers, with a showcase of our wonderful region.

Small towns have a unique and welcoming feeling. We take joy in knowing our neighbors, working together and striving for a better place to live, work, learn and play. There is a resiliency found in rural areas that is unparalleled.

Whether you are a local or a visitor planning a day trip, on a vacation or just passing through, you will discover the natural beauty and charm of our area and friendly small town. Washington County possesses stunning farmland and landscapes alongside historic and charming villages. We are home to farm stands, u-pick orchards, dairies, vineyards, craft breweries and farmers markets. Get outdoors and kayaking, fish, ski, hike and birdwatch. There is something for everyone here.

Our role at the Greenwich Chamber is to champion business, be the voice of the business community and work toward a bright future for business. We are here to enhance the success of our membership, advance our economy and improve our quality of life through resources, advocacy and support.

As you read about Greenwich and Washington County communities, consider giving us a visit. We hope this magazine will inspire you to think locally and support our fellow community members and small businesses.

Kelly Stephen Eustis Executive Director Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce kelly@greenwichchamber.org

Happenings

Around Washington County

Let’s Go Shopping … Just Because

Looking for a fun and funky costume piece? Are you wanting to craft a classy outfit, complete with eye-catching accessories, that makes a statement? Or how about jewelry made from semiprecious stones and metals? No matter what shoppers are on the lookout for, Just Because is a place to find those special things that make living and giving exciting. The women’s boutique, located in the heart of the Village of Greenwich, was founded in 1992 by Glenda Clausen. Current proprietor Jenness Bivona-Laval purchased the shop in 2018. Together, they have helped shoppers find the perfect piece for more than 30 years. Bivona-Laval and her staff are always on a quest to find interesting and hard-to-find brands in the shop. Just Because’s team of stylists are warm and welcoming as they provide top-notch customer service.

In addition to its storefront, Just Because shows its dedication to the surrounding community by supporting the efforts of Comfort Food Community, the Longest Day Greenwich – a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association – and several local fundraisers.

Gather Around the Table

Through partnerships with local organizations and a wide range of programs, Comfort Food Community (CFC) models how to address rural food insecurity. CFC was established in 2014 with the mission of providing convenient access to fresh, wholesome food to the Greenwich community. Nine years later, it is a multifaceted nonprofit organization with 11 employees, two Food Center locations and a bustling Food & Farm Hub which distributes fresh and local produce throughout Washington, Warren and

Since the organization’s inception, CFC has expanded to include three main areas of impact: food access, food recovery and food as health. CFC’s flagship Greenwich Food Center is a food pantry focused around a model of choice. With empowerment and dignity at the heart of CFC’s mission, the Food Center functions like a traditional grocery store. This approach puts the power back in the hands of individuals who use these services.

In addition to its more traditional food centers, CFC offers programs that help community members access fresh, local food when they need it. Through the Farm-2-Library program, CFC partners with the Southern Adirondack Library System to deliver weekly fresh produce to 11 local libraries, housing centers, senior facilities and food pantries.

The food recovery program involves partnering with more than 40 local farms and retail stores to salvage quality food that might otherwise go to waste. This allows CFC to support the local food system, reduce waste

and provide fresh, nutritious food to the community.

It is crucial to CFC that it is not just feeding the community, but providing access to high quality, healthy food. The organization’s Produce Prescription Program is a partnership with Hudson Headwaters Health Network, which provides boxes of fresh produce to patients, curated to their specific health and dietary needs.

Another main initiative through the food as health program is food education. CFC participates in the Glens Falls and Saratoga farmers markets as part of the organization’s food as health program. By distributing recipes and resources, it empowers community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to cook produce they may be unfamiliar with.

Overall, this multi-faceted approach allows CFC to make a real difference in tackling food insecurity in the community. To learn more about how to support CFC’s mission to feed the community or contact the organization, visit comfortfoodcommunity.org.

The Village and Town Work Together to Benefit Greenwich

Greenwich has a vision to be a desirable place to live, work, play and do business. The Village and the Town of Greenwich have been working together to make this vision a reality. With thoughtful planning and several major grant award wins, they are experiencing success.

In 2022, both entities launched a revision of the Town’s 2004 Comprehensive Plan, incorporating the Village as a special district in the plan. They held two public meetings for community members to voice their opinions and concerns, as well as a meeting with 30 high school students to hear their thoughts about Greenwich’s future. The Comprehensive Plan will be edited based on the feedback they receive from the draft. It will be presented to and accepted by the Village and Town boards in the next year. Regularly posted progress reports can be found on both municipalities’ websites.

Improving the community comes with a heavy financial toll. To help ease that burden, the Village and Town of Greenwich have sought various grants.

Reaching out to our neighbors ~ Studying God’s unchanging Word ~ Loving and supporting each other in times of troubles and in times of joy.

Come join us on the hill. Sundays at 10am ~ In the chapel of Saint Mary’s Convent

HolyRedeemerGreenwich@gmail.com 242 Cloister Way Greenwich, NY

Washington County Cooperative Insurance Company has been protecting farms and homes in Washington and surrounding counties since 1858. We are a local company based in Greenwich with agents in Washington, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties. After insuring farms and rural properties for over 165 years, we attribute our success and longevity to:

• A QUALITY Product

• PERSONAL Service

• TIMELY Claims Settlements

• KNOWLEDGEABLE Staff

• COMPETITIVE Rates

Please give us a call and we will arrange to have an agent review your insurance needs and quote you a price.

WASHINGTON COUNTY COOPERATIVE Insurance Company

40 Main Street, Greenwich, NY 12834

Please call 692-2881 • www.wccic.com

Additional ongoing improvement projects include the following:

• The town is installing a new roof on the main building and ADA upgrades to the restrooms on a 3-acre waterfront parcel between the Empire State Trail and Hudson Crossing Park.

• In Fall 2023, the Town and Village will kick off a bicycle and pedestrian connectivity survey aimed at improving connections to Greenwich’s diverse recreation offerings.

• Several state- and federally-funded studies have been conducted to develop a 9.5-acre former mill site in the Village into a mixed-use space, including a park.

• Three Main Street projects will provide 10 additional rental housing units and a new office, retail and restaurant space to the Village. This is possible through $1.7 million in Restore NY funding which the Village received over the past year.

In 2019, the Village Board of Trustees and the Town of Greenwich Board made the decision to jointly apply for the Brownfields Opportunity Area (BOA) Pre-Nomination Grant. The BOA Program provides communities grant funding and technical assistance to develop plans to revitalize brownfields and other underdeveloped sites. In early 2020, they learned they had received the funding. The Town and Village are continuing to work together to achieve the next grant level in the BOA Program.

In 2020, the Town and Village kicked off the Greenwich Revitalization Plan, a $200,000 NYS

Department of State funding planning process that resulted in a vision for revitalization throughout much of Greenwich’s commercial core. Once the plan was completed, the Town and Village submitted a successful application to the State for BOA designation. This designation (awarded in 2022) creates an opportunity for property owners and developers, including prioritization for grant opportunities. Since receiving this designation, funds have been flowing to the Town and Village to support the plan’s vision.

This year, the Town is kicking off infrastructure and zoning projects funded through a $170,000 NYS Department of State BOA grant to begin making the Greenwich Revitalization Plan vision a reality. This work effort will advance water and sewer infrastructure expansions to key underutilized sites and update their zoning to set the stage for redevelopment.

The Village was also awarded $4.5 million in 2022 to construct a new wastewater treatment plant and $3 million in 2019 to complete water system upgrades, ensuring there is adequate capacity to support long-term sustainable growth.

Collaboration between the Village and the Town has enhanced planning and leveraged their ability to obtain grants. Both municipalities agree that the experience of working together on the BOA grants has been productive and enjoyable.

Greenwich Library Goes Beyond Books

It’sa typical morning at the Greenwich Free Library. Preschoolers in the kindergarten readiness program, accompanied by their caregivers, pick out books to read and play with the train table. Lego sculptures, which members of the afternoon Lego Club recently finished, stand on display. A volunteer carries fresh produce and bags of nuts through the back door for the week’s Farm 2 Library bounty.

It’s a perfect microcosm of the surrounding community.

For six days of the week, Greenwich Free Library, located on Main Street in the heart of the village, provides its services to residents and visitors alike. All guests, no matter their age, are encouraged to use the library not just to access information resources, but also to build connections and engage in learning opportunities which are available every week. Youngsters are welcome to attend any of the three drop-in story times per week. Older kids may participate in afterschool activities such as the Chess Club, Teen Lounge and Gamers Café. The regionally famous Lego Club can attract up to 40 enthusiastic kids. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy panel discussions, book signings, film screenings, live music and informational and arts-based programs throughout the year.

Local libraries have moved beyond providing just books to become a sturdy community resource for all. The Greenwich Free Library houses 42,000 physical items. While its catalog mostly consists of books, the library also provides magazines, laptop computers, wifi boosters, DVDs, museum passes, audio recordings, video games, board games, lawn games – even a ukulele. Library visitors can also take advantage of free internet access, public computers, printing, copying, faxing and scanning capabilities.

Cardholders and visitors alike can take advantage of the library’s comfortable seating, quiet meeting rooms and book sales hosted by the Friends of the Library. The I.V.H. Gill Room Local History Archive offers researchers and curious individuals the chance to dig through archival photographs and newspaper articles about the region’s history. On any given day at Greenwich Free Library, individuals of all ages can be found learning, relaxing, chatting, reading, working and playing.

Hudson Crossing Park

AJourney ThroughTime

Located just north of Schuylerville and centered on Champlain Canal Lock C5 Island is Hudson Crossing Park, a bi-county educational space that was built by the community, for the community. What began as a grassroots effort to provide an accessible green space is now a thriving recreational and educational resource to the entire region.

The park’s name is a nod to the long history of crossings that have taken place along the Hudson River’s shores. However, the river has always been more than just a waterway to cross for those who have lived along it.

The name “Saratoga”– the original moniker of the Village of Schuylerville – tells the story of just how deeply connected those who live here have always been to the river’s waters. Saratoga is an adaptation of the Mohican “se-rach-ta-gue,” or “hillside country of the quiet river.” The river provided a rich life to those who originally inhabited this land. The remnants of fire pits, used by the native peoples who called the shores of the river home, have been found in the area dating back to more than 7,000 years ago.

In 1777, British General John Burgoyne and more than 6,000 of his troops, camp followers and accompanying munitions crossed the Hudson where Hudson Crossing Park stands today via a “Bridge of Boats.” Soldiers anchored bateaux – light, flat-bottomed riverboats –across the span of the river, lashed them together with beams and topped them with planks for the troops to walk across. The army then marched to Bemis Heights, where England’s historic defeat at the Battle of Saratoga

changed the course of our entire nation’s history.

Exactly 200 years ago this year, the Champlain Canal opened, bringing with it commerce, opportunity and more crossings – this time on a much larger scale. Suddenly, people had access to the entirety of New York State, allowing an increase in commerce, industry and the social expansion that came with it. While today the Champlain Canal is primarily used for recreation, it continues to serve as a part of our region’s identity. Hudson Crossing Park gives tens of thousands of people access to its waters and lock system every year.

In the 1880s local businessmen, tired of paying tolls every time they shipped goods between Washington and Saratoga counties, built what was originally known as the Free Bridge. People were able to cross the Hudson River as often as they liked without penalty, giving them a new sense of freedom and a greater connection to their neighbors. It was eventually renamed as the Dix Bridge, named for local manufacturer and former New York Governor John Alden Dix, who lived on the Washington County side of the river.

Once slated for demolition, the Dix Bridge was refurbished and reopened in 2013. Today, the bridge is the cornerstone of Hudson Crossing Park and is open to pedestrians, cyclists and, in colder months, snowmobilers. It serves as the local crossing point of the Empire State and Champlain Canalway Trail systems and allows Hudson Crossing Park to continue its valuable work joining communities on both sides of the river.

Visitors can learn about all these crossings – and

much more – during their trip to Hudson Crossing Park, but their adventure does not have to end there. Guests can enjoy more than two miles of trail systems looping the island, picnic pavilions, a unique play garden, a meditation labyrinth, pollinator gardens filled with native plants, artwork throughout the grounds and numerous birding and fishing sites. Hudson Crossing Park offers the opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to explore part of what makes the area so special.

Once considered the area’s “best kept secret,” Hudson Crossing Park now welcomes more than 30,000 people annually and serves as a recreational, educational and social hub for its communities. The park gives friends, families and neighbors a chance to connect at the numerous free and low-cost family-friendly events that are hosted on-site each year, such as the Cardboard Boat Races held every August. The park also offers educational programming on a wide range of topics for all ages, including school groups, Scouts, clubs and community organizations. Visitors can participate in history events including this summer’s free Local History Cruises on the Caldwell Belle, Mohawk Maiden Cruises’ historic paddlewheel boat, through the New York State Canal Corporation’s “On the Canals Excursions” program.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Hudson Crossing Park is a special and unique resource for our region and is kept open thanks to the generous support of volunteers and donors. To learn more about Hudson Crossing, visit hudsoncrossingpark.org.

Expert Collision Repair

‘The Song is Forever’

by Rulyn Graves

Regarded as one of the most popular holiday songs, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” has been recorded by more than 300 artists and has resonated with millions of people – both at home and serving overseas. While Bing Crosby made the song popular by first recording it in 1943, the lyrics were composed by longtime Greenwich resident James Kimball “Kim” Gannon.

Born on November 18, 1900 in Brooklyn, NY, Kim attended Middlebury College and graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1924 where he met, and subsequently married, his wife, Norma Allen. The couple lived in the Greenwich vicinity from 1929 to 1933 before moving to Ballston Spa where Kim practiced law. His favorite pastime was playing the piano; it was at the keyboard where he composed the tunes and lyrics for his songs, including an early composition in college which became St. Lawrence University’s alma mater.

While living in Ballston Spa, Kim hosted an evening program on radio station WGY using the name “Johnny

Albright” where he entertained his listeners by singing and accompanying himself on the piano. In 1942, the Gannons moved back to New York City where Kim began writing lyrics for popular songs by other composers. That same year, his music career took off when he accepted a job as a lyric writer with Warner Brothers. Norma and Kim relocated to Hollywood where Kim wrote lyrics for movie studios including Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Republic Pictures, United Artists, Rogers Productions and Producers Releasing Corporation, penning songs for some 30 Hollywood films.

Gannon collaborated with dozens of composers and penned lyrics for over 100 songs, earning three Academy Award nominations, but his 1943 collaboration with composer Walter Kent on “I’ll be Home for Christmas” is his most renowned work.

While they spent much of their life in other places, the Gannons considered Greenwich as their home and in the spring of 1949 Kim and Norma returned to the area; however, Kim continued to spend considerable time in New York City taking his skills to Broadway. In the mid-1950s the Gannons eased into a more leisurely lifestyle in Greenwich. They were active members in the Battenkill Country Club where Kim was an officer and director, in addition to participating in many community activities and projects.

The Gannons’ legacy goes beyond Kim’s song and continues to this

day. Norma bequeathed a significant portion of her estate to the youth of Greenwich. This gift inspired the formation of the Citizens Committee for Greenwich Youth (CCGY), a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The CCGY works directly with the Village of Greenwich to manage the Greenwich Youth Center, located in the Village Hall. The CCGY and the Village of Greenwich established Gannon Park, located on Gray Avenue in Greenwich, to honor the memory and contributions of the Gannons and their love for Greenwich and the youth of the community.

Kim died on April 29, 1974 at the age of 73. Norma lived in Greenwich in their Prospect Street home until her passing on April 1, 2000. Both of them are buried in Greenwich Cemetery. People can visit Kim’s gravesite, marked with a headstone that simply reads, “The song is forever.”

Doing Our Part to Support Pollinators

Drive down any back road in Washington County and you will encounter at least one meadow that stretches as far as the eye can see, overflowing with wildflowers. If you pull over nearby, crouch down and look closely, you will find a wide variety of pollinators enjoying all that the land has to offer.

There, you are likely to spot a honey bee flitting from flower to flower. She is storing away pollen in “pollen baskets” on her hind legs to feed a brood, or baby bees, and collecting nectar that will later be turned into honey. A happy byproduct of the honey bee’s hard work is that she is also pollinating these flowers, brushing against the pollen on the outside and carrying it to the inside of the flower.

Look up and scan the horizon. You may notice that there are many honey bees flying around.

Keeping as busy as the bees

Back in 1979, lifelong Greenwich resident Bob Stevens could not find beekeeping supplies that met his standards, so he decided to open his own enterprise. Betterbee, a company situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks, opened its doors in 1979 to serve honey bees, their keepers and all who enjoy the products of the hive. Its headquarters is still on the old Stevens family farm with farmhouses and horse barns repurposed into offices and warehouse spaces. Over the past 45 years, Betterbee has grown to become a leading national supplier

Betterbee, one of the top beekeeping supply companies in the country, is headquartered in Greenwich. In addition to selling hive and beekeeping supplies, Betterbee also has many bee yards sprinkled throughout Washington County where people keep bees, test out products and contribute to local pollination. Many locals have become beekeepers since getting beekeeping supplies in town is so convenient!

of beekeeping and related products, ranging from live bees and beehive kits to protective clothing and honey harvesting equipment.

For 27 years, Stevens led Betterbee to growth and success, seeking out and sharing high-quality products with beekeepers across the nation. As a former educator, Stevens kicked off Betterbee’s education program by offering classes early on; he also partnered with Cornell to help build the master beekeeping program.

Today, Betterbee and its sister woodenware company, Humble Abodes, are owned and operated by three forwardthinking beekeepers from varying backgrounds: veterinarian Chris Cripps, stonemason and entrepreneur Neal Kober and mechanical engineer John Rath.

Betterbee aims to provide high-quality and innovative beekeeping products, outstanding customer service by many staff who are beekeepers themselves and trustworthy education to help beekeepers succeed. As a member of the Greenwich Chamber for 30 years and a family-oriented company with roots deep in the Greenwich community, Betterbee lives its mission. Betterbee shows it cares by donating honey to the Comfort Food Community food pantry, offering free field trips and library presentations, providing educational talks around the country and supporting a high school beekeeping scholarship program through the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association.

How to help honey bees and local pollinators

Most of our favorite foods are made possible by the hard work of pollinating insects. There are many different ways that you can help honey bees and other pollinators in your area.

Become a beekeeper. Beekeeping has many mental, emotional and physical health benefits. Plus, beekeepers get their own local honey out of the deal! It can be hard work, but the payoff is worth it.

If you, or someone you know, is considering trying beekeeping, conduct research, watch videos and soak up all information you can before jumping right into it. Take a class with Betterbee, join a local bee club, check out YouTube videos by Betterbee and other trustworthy beekeeping experts and join online forums.

Reach out to Betterbee with any questions you might have or visit the Betterbee showroom to ask all your questions, as everyone loves talking beekeeping with interested “newbees”! Betterbee is a full-service beekeeping supply company that can provide all the education and beehive products that you need to start your beekeeping journey.

Support your local beekeeper. If your town has a farmers market, odds are good that you will find a beekeeper there selling local honey and other products such as beeswax candles, lip balms, soaps or skin creams. Purchase some homemade local goods from them or pick up their beeswax and make your own crafts to gift to friends and family.

Many of these local beekeepers grow their apiaries with what they make from farmers markets. More honey bees equal more pollination!

Plant trees and flowers for pollinators. Of all the plants that you might choose, trees and some flowering shrubs offer the most pollinator-feeding nectar per square foot. Unfortunately, it often takes years for trees to flower. Don’t let that deter you from planting some bee-favorite trees for the long-term benefits!

“Shoulder” season flowers – those that bloom first thing in spring or dead last before winter – are the most valuable to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Begin by making note of the last bee-foraged flowers of the season or visit a plant nursery for tips. These flowers will help pollinators get by when other resources are slim.

Go easy on lawn care. Dandelions are an excellent early source of pollen and nectar for bees, as are other flowers like clover that sometimes appear in lawns. Some may consider these lawn flowers as weeds, but allowing them to survive is an easy way to help pollinators in the spring. You might also consider using more natural options to replace pesticides and herbicides in your lawn care regimen. Vinegar-based weed killers work great and don’t have a negative effect on pollinators.

The Betterbee showroom, located at at 8 Meader Road in Greenwich, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The

benefits of massage go far beyond relaxation. Massage can eliminate pain, reduce muscular tension, increase flexibility, prevent future strain, promote the feel-good chemicals that enhance your mood, and improve your mind-body connection. Massage helps you to re-discover your sense of well-being, which nourishes your body, mind and soul.

Situatedin the foothills of the Adirondacks, Pheasant Ridge provides a scenic space for events of all kinds, from corporate events to reunions and weddings.

The 100-acre estate is home to several historic buildings that supply spacious and aesthetically-pleasing locations for special occasions. Indoor events take place in the restored 19th century three-story barn and a former corn crib complex that houses a vintage circular bar and a dance floor.

Nature provides an excellent backdrop, no matter the occasion. Guests enter the property on a winding, tree-lined private road amid pines and maples. The vistas are an ideal setting for unique wedding photos. For outdoor events, tents can be set up around pre-Revolutionary War fieldstone walls or spring-fed pond.

Pheasant Ridge has something special up its sleeve for rehearsal dinners. Up to 50 guests can gather for a three-hour event that includes a succulent pig roast – with a Washington

Providing an Elegant Affair with Rustic Charm Locust Grove Smokehouse

County-raised pig carved on site with all the fixings – local wine and craft beer, dessert and live entertainment.

No matter if the bride and groom want an elegant or classic country feel to their special day, Pheasant Ridge is ready and eager to accommodate. Its mission is to “personalize your wedding to ensure a perfect and memorable celebration reflecting your distinctive style.” To make a reservation for a wedding or special event, call 518-692-9459 or email vamallon@gmail.com.

More is in store for visitors, as Pheasant Ridge plans to resume its English-style pheasant hunting. For more than 30 years, the organization has operated as an exclusive NYS licensed hunting preserve. Hunters come from across the country to participate in hunts from September to November. They are accompanied by six to 10 dog handlers and their champion retrievers. Once harvested, the birds are smoked and mailed to hunters. Pheasant Ridge placed its hunting program on hold during the pandemic, but plans are underway for the 2023-2024 season.

in Greenwich Gather Together

In a town that is home to more livestock than people, one may not think that there is need for a space exclusively dedicated to events. However, the truth has proven to be quite the opposite.

In 2017, longtime Greenwich residents Tom and Rulyn Graves saw this need as an opportunity to open a venue that would provide a space for people to come together, while supporting the growth of their community. With this vision, they created Gather, located at 103 Main Street in Greenwich, in September 2018.

Over the past five years, the Graves family has transformed the space into an event hub. Gather has been home to countless baby and bridal showers, birthday parties and special celebrations. Shortly after opening, the organization expanded to include pop-up markets, workshops, live shows and a weekly farmers market. Today, event space rental continues to be a

significant part of the business with bookings nearly every weekend. Community events remain equally as important by cultivating engagement and strengthening social connection.

Gather’s mission is to build a vibrant community through collaboration, creativity and social connection. Its work supports the local economy by providing new opportunities for the makers, artisans, farmers, dreamers and “do-ers” of Upstate New York.

Since December 2019, Gather has worked with a network of more than 70 local vendors and small business owners to offer reoccurring markets, workshops, classes and special events. Past events have included DIY soap and macrame workshops, yoga and ballroom dance classes, live music and even a tropical-themed murder mystery night.

Shortly before Gather’s opening, Tom and Rulyn’s daughter, Haley Graves, relocated back to the area. Although happy to be back in her hometown, she felt a lack of access to local events and social opportunities. As she began to reacquaint herself with small town life, Haley soon realized that she was surrounded by talented individuals and many

entrepreneurs growing small businesses of their own. This realization led her to launch the first of many pop-up markets at Gather, showcasing more than 20 local makers and drawing in nearly 300 patrons. Today, Haley is Gather’s events manager.

“Watching members of our community turn their passion into a successful business has been one of the most fulfilling rewards,” Haley said. “The interest and excitement when launching a new event never gets old.

Gather will be celebrating its fiveyear anniversary with a special event at its premises this September. For more information, visit gather103.com, email info@ gather103 or follow it on social media.

and Barrels of

cheese, maple syrup products and honey.

Borden’s Orchard is located at 2841 Valley Falls Road in Schaghticoke. For more information, visit bordensorchard.com, call 518-692-2370 or email info@ bordensorchard.com.

The right pick for any season

From fruit orchards and maple tree groves to dairy and beef farms, Washington County is abundant in fresh, local produce. Here are just a few places where you can pick up a few items for your home pantry and enjoy fun activities for the whole family.

More than just an orchard

The Borden family has owned and operated Borden’s Orchard for seven generations. Smith Borden first purchased a 23-acre parcel of land in 1837. Today, the farm totals 776 acres of orchards, cropland, pastures and forest.

Borden’s Orchard grows more than 20 different apple varieties, as well as pears, plums, peaches and blueberries. It also produces its own sweet apple cider from September to January. During the fall harvest season, visitors can enjoy a glass of cider, plus a variety of other apple treats, including homemade apple cider donuts and the popular cider slush.

Borden’s also provides milk and dairy products. The dairy farm’s 120 cows produce milk for the local dairy cooperative, Stewart’s, which becomes part of the many dairy products available locally in Stewart’s Shops.

The farm stand is open year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The stand offers a variety of seasonal fruits, beef and brown eggs from Borden’s chickens. In addition to its own products, the stand provides local items including

Hicks Orchard in Granville is a family tradition that began in 1905. Originally founded by the Hicks family, the orchard was purchased by the Wilson family in 1974. Current owner Dan Wilson, who was in high school when his family bought the orchard, continues the legacy. Over the years, he gleaned his business knowledge from the example set by his parents, Don and Dot, as well as horticulture experts at Cornell University.

As New York State’s oldest u-pick operation, Hicks Orchard is one of the crown jewels of Washington County’s top tourist attractions, only next in line to the county fair. Though the main attraction is its apple season in the fall, there are many reasons to visit the farm throughout the year.

Summer brings in the first fruits of the harvest season with pick-your-own cherries in June, closely followed by

Dan Wilson

blueberries in July. Visitors can enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere while dining on wood-fired pizza, playing games and simply relaxing. Apple cider slushies and the famous “Hicks-wich” (a sliced cider donut filled with Battenkill Valley hard ice cream) are popular treats to fight the summer heat. The orchard’s annual community pig roast includes a full plate of BBQ pork with all the fixings, a hard cider festival featuring area homebrewers and local live music.

Directly next door to Hicks is Slyboro Ciderhouse, featuring a 1935 tasting room. It’s here that Wilson skillfully handcrafted a proprietary line of award-winning hard ciders and an apple brandy. Wilson has been one of the leaders at the forefront of cider resurgence in New York State and the country, as one of his passions is reviving “old spirits.”

Fall sees thousands of visitors from all over the world descend on the farm for the harvest. Honeycrisp, McIntosh and northern spy are just a few favorite varieties. The smell of fresh cider donuts and homemade fudge fills the air. Guests can explore the local wares at the Barn Store such as maple syrup, honey, jams, jellies, apple butters and handcrafted gift items. Autumn activities include a bounce house and goat feeding for kids, weekend ticketed tractor tours and this year’s grand reopening of the pumpkin patch.

Winter brings a flurry of activity with the Children’s Christmas Bazaar. On December 9, more than two dozen vendors flood the farm with handmade gifts and specialty items priced at $10 or less for children to shop for their loved ones. A special guest appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Claus help make the day even more festive. January kicks off with a month-long fitness challenge for patrons which culminates with a 3-mile walk through the orchard. The orchard hosts a romantic candlelight snowshoe walk on the second Saturday in February. Patrons can book their own personal campfire, complete with unique food and drink offerings, as a way to hang out with friends.

Spring sets the orchard into motion, kicking off with the annual Easter Apple Hunt. Hundreds of children and adults hop to the farm to search for apples wrapped in colorful foil hidden in a portion of the orchard. Kids with

a special VIB (Very Important Bunny) ticket can receive all-star access to the Easter Bunny, complete with a Bunny Brunch, story time and photo opportunities. Around Mother’s Day weekend, the farm hosts “Blossoms & Babies,” featuring a wide variety of baby animals, while also honoring mothers of all ages.

Hicks Orchard and Slyboro Ciderhouse are located at 18 Hicks Road in Granville. For more information, visit hicksorchard.com, slyborociderhouse.com, call 518-642-1788 or email events@hicksorchard.com.

A family affair

Easton Station Farms is a local family-run farm that has been raising Blonde d’Aquitaine and crossbred cattle since 2010. It is located in Greenwich and is owned and operated by Jeremy and Erin Perkins.

The roots of the Perkins’ farm were planted in the late 1800s by the Sheridan family, Erin’s great-grandparents. The land where Easton Station Farms currently sits was originally a family dairy farm until the mid-1980s. Erin and Jeremy acquired the farm in 2007 with the goal of having a few cows to maintain pastures and eventually having some animals for their children to show at the county fair. They started with a Hereford/Holstein/Angus cow calf pair in 2010 and didn’t end up with Blondes until 2014.

“Two became four and four became 12 and what seemed like overnight, we had a herd of about 40 cattle,” Erin said. “We feel privileged to be raising our boys in a family farm lifestyle. They learn and appreciate hard work, determination, dedication and sometimes heartache, but at the end of the day, we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Easton Station Farms is currently the only registered Blonde d’Aquitaine herd in the state. This group of cattle is known for their docile temperament,

lean beef, calving ease, remarkable length of body, high carcass yield and calf growth rates.

“You will not find much marbling in our beef yet it’s still tender and full of flavor,” Erin stated. “We love their docile temperament, as most live up to their nickname of ‘gentle giant’ for their large frame and calm demeanor.”

Jeremy and Erin work full time off the farm and are first generation farmers. They were both very involved in FFA and Erin is also involved in 4-H, now as a leader; they contribute much of their success to what they learned in those programs. From public speaking to animal husbandry and welding and electrical, that experience has reaped tremendous benefits.

They started selling beef directly to consumers in January 2021 with a small freezer on the back porch. Sales exploded by the end of the first year, requiring an expansion. Early the following year, Jeremy and Erin began renovations to convert a room in the garage to a small, self-service store which opened in mid-May 2022. The store is open daily Monday-Saturday and features their Blonde d’Aquitaine beef alongside local pork, maple, honey, goat milk products, eggs and farm merchandise. “All products are sourced within 5 to 10 miles of our farm!” Erin said.

It’s not very often you see one member of the Perkins family working without the other. The whole Perkins family takes pride in the way their cattle are raised, maintaining high standards for each animal on the farm. Jeremy and Erin work together to bring customers healthy, high performing cattle. They and their sons enjoy showing cattle at the county fair, hosting farm tours and educating others about the benefits of Blonde cattle. “From feeding cattle, to building fence, showing cattle and making hay, it takes all of us to get everything done in a day,” Erin said. “We involve our boys in everything we do, so they are fully immersed in the family farm life.”

Easton Station Farms is located at 284 Easton Station Road in Greenwich. For more information and stories about life on the farm, visit eastonstationfarms.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The Perkins family

Taste the tradition of maple sugaring

With its unique climate, soil and forests, the Battenkill Valley Region is naturally perfect for producing some of the world’s best pure maple syrup. Behind each bottle of syrup there’s a story of a way of life and generations of maple producers who take special pride in continuing the tradition today.

One of the largest maple farms in the region is Mapleland Farms in Salem. Mapleland Farms is owned and operated by two brothers – David and Terry Campbell – and their families and employees. The Campbells tap about 20,000 trees on over 600 acres and produce about 8,000 gallons of syrup each year on their five-generation family farm.

Mapleland Farms is best known for its award-winning pure maple sugar shapes. This natural candy, as well as a full line of other maple products, is available for sale at the farm, in stores across the region and on the Campbell’s website, maplelandfarms.com.

Fun continues to flow during annual celebrations. Maple Weekend, sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association, takes place on the last two weekends of March. Several sugar makers in the Battenkill Valley Region participate in the promotion, including Mapleland Farms. Producers welcome families to their sugarhouses to experience firsthand how pure maple syrup and other maple products are made. Many locations offer hands-on activities for kids and shopping opportunities.

Mapleland Farms is open for guided and self-guided tours of their operation, a walk through its sugarbush and syrup tastings the last three weekends of March. The Campbell family also offers a hearty all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast featuring its freshly made syrup all

Self-serve farm store open Monday- Friday, 8am-7pm, Saturday 9am- 3pm, Sunday by appointment

284 Easton Station Rd Greenwich NY 12834 Questions? 518-269-7634

www.eastonstationfarms.com

Email eastonstationfarms@gmail.com

“Raising beef for our family and yours”

NY Grown and Certified producer • Featuring Blonde d’Aquitaine beef

Owned and Operated by Jeremy & Erin Perkins

Syrup facts

• New York State is the second largest maple producing state in the nation.

• Maple syrup has only about 50 calories per tablespoon and is fat-free. It’s a remarkable single-ingredient product with no additives and no preservatives.

• Tapping sugar maple trees does no damage to the tree.

• Maple season only comes after the leaves are off the trees and the ground is frozen. For the sap to run, the weather conditions have to be just right with temperatures below freezing at night and above freezing during the day.

• It takes about 40 to 50 gallons of sap from sugar maple trees to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

• There are four grades of pure maple syrup ranging from light to very dark. The darker the syrup, the stronger the maple flavor due the higher amount of minerals contained in the darker grades. All four grades are 67 percent sugar and 100 percent delicious.

three weekends. School and other groups are welcome by appointment weekdays in March.

In August, the Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association’s sugarhouse welcomes visitors during the Washington County Fair. The building is located on East End Drive, in front of the County Bounty Building. The sugarhouse is staffed by volunteers from several of the maple farms from across the region, including the

Campbell brothers from Mapleland Farms.

“Come by and learn about maple syrup making and the equipment we use to produce syrup and other maple products,” David said. “We have many products for sale in the maple building including syrup, maple roasted nuts, maple sugar shapes and our popular maple cotton candy.”

Visitors can savor the flavor of the Battenkill Valley

Region all year long in their home kitchen. Take home a couple of jugs of syrup and some granulated maple sugar. Try using maple syrup or granulated maple sugar – both natural sweeteners – in recipes that call for sugar or honey. Experiment with the different grades of syrup to pair the strength of the maple flavor with the other ingredients in the recipe. “Our family especially enjoys apple crisp made with locally-grown apples and our own Mapleland Farms pure maple syrup,” David said.

Mapleland Farms is located at 47 Bunker Hill Road in Salem. Get maple recipes and serving suggestions at maplelandfarms.com.

on the Town

Fun activities for the whole family

PERFORMING ARTS & MORE

Fort Salem Theater, Salem Community productions come alive at Fort Salem Theater. The 2023 season includes performances of “The Pirates of Penzance,” “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “The Little Mermaid Jr.” and more. fortsalem.com

Sandy Hill Arts Center, Hudson Falls

The five-story building is filled with culture. The ground floor is home to DeNatale’s Restaurant & Bar and galleries. The upper floors house artists’ studios and event spaces. The top floor is equipped with a stage, perfect for performances. sandyhillartscenter.com

Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education

The arts center is dedicated to “developing, promoting and sustaining the cultural life” of the community. Guests can take a class on martial arts or dance, enjoy a symphony concert or watch community theater. hubbardhall.org

Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward Local bluegrass and country music, historic reenactments and lectures are just some of the sights you can catch at the Farm. Set in a rolling farmland, this performance space seeks to increase people’s appreciation of the arts, area history and environment. littletheater27.org

The Strand Theatre, Hudson Falls

With free movies for the community, open mic nights, recitals and concerts, everyone can find something they’ll enjoy nearly every day of the week.

mystrandtheater.org

NATURE

Hudson

This park is rich in history and attractions including a play garden, picnic pavilion, more than two miles of trails and multiple vantage points of waterways. Open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk.

hudsoncrossingpark.org

Grassland Bird Trust, Fort Edward

The Georgi on the Battenkill, Shushan

Open from May to November, the community park boasts nine acres of lush lawns, gorgeous gardens and a row of hydrangea trees that are more than 60 years old. A variety of flowers and trees provide a beautiful backdrop for a picnic or special event. thegeorgi.com

HISTORY

Visitors can get an up-close look at nature at grassland viewing areas, take a guided walk with a conservationist and watch a bird banding demonstration. Raptor Fest is a popular event that draws dozens of guests. grasslandbirdtrust.org

Take a walk through history at Slate Valley Museum. On-site displays include a shanty and blacksmith shop. Check out the museum’s website for current exhibits. slatevalleymuseum.org

Pember Library & Museum of Natural History, Granville

Go look for a book on the first floor or explore history on the second floor of this century-old building. Together with Pember Nature Preserve, the museum provides programs, exhibits and activities for students and families. thepember.org

Rough

A local historical gem, the Rough & Ready Engine Company No. 2’s historic firehouse museum features a large collection of antique fire-fighting equipment and implements used in the area. 29 Main Street, Greenwich

Built in 1869, the courthouse is now home to a thrift shop, community garden and shared-use commissary kitchen. It is also the site of local concerts, carnivals and art exhibits, among other events. salemcourthouse.org

Crossing Park, Schuylerville

& Ready Firehouse Museum, Greenwich

Historic Salem Courthouse, Salem

Slate Valley Museum, Granville

Batten Hudson

With acres of rich, fertile farmland, it’s no surprise that Washington County has a variety of drinking establishments to choose from. Here are just a few if you feel the need for a glass of wine or a good beer.

in Washington County

Bringing back brews to Greenwich

When Argyle Brewing Company opened its doors in Spring 2014, Argyle was the largest dry town in New York. Thankfully for the company’s owners, Rich Thomas and Chris Castrio, their brewery was located to the south in Greenwich Township.

The decision to name the brewery after the Town of Argyle was born out of respect and admiration for its people and heritage. Although prohibition was largely repealed, its vestiges remained in the Town of Argyle until 2018; eventually, in 2019, residents voted to allow alcohol sales. The decision to open the brewery in Greenwich was made a little easier when research uncovered that Greenwich was a part of Argyle up until 1803. So, Thomas and Castrio claim in jest that they are trying to take back Greenwich “one pint at a time.”

Argyle Brewing Company was one of the first breweries in the state – and the very first in Washington County – to give the New York State Farm Brewing

License a try. The license requires the bulk of the ingredients that go into every beer to be grown in the State of New York. While operating under this license for the past nine years may have been challenging at times, it has been worth it.

Thomas and Castrio have a strong connection to Washington County. Thomas was born and raised in Granville, and Castrio has lived in the Village of Argyle for the past 25 years. Although both of them are passionate about the beer they brew, it’s the community that really makes the brewery.

The brewery serves ales, IPAs, stouts and seasonal variations alongside spirits from Main Street Distillery and hard cider from Saratoga Apple and Slyboro Ciderhouse. It participates in events around the community as well as hosts renowned activities at its historic depot in Cambridge such as the Semi-Annual Soup Swap; annual Hometown Brew, Brunch and Local Craft Bazaar; cornhole and curling tournaments; and live music.

Argyle Brewing Company Beer Garden

Barnhart run the business on a former 115-acre dairy farm.

After a career in New York State’s environmental agency, Gerry developed a plan to build wetlands to enhance water quality as well as manage woodlots to enhance wildlife habitats, sustainably grow grapes, make wine and keep the family farm in productive agriculture. Mary, a public school teacher at the time, agreed to be the wine taster. Together they established the vineyard in 2008 using environmentally-conscious decision making and opened a tasting room in August 2013. The vineyard gradually grew from a quarter acre to seven acres in 2019. In just a few years the farm winery became known for its award-winning red and white wines, beautiful setting and warm hospitality.

Victory View Vineyard is an estate winery. All the new style wines are crafted exclusively with grapes grown on site. The vineyard’s soils, southern exposure and temperate climate allow the Barnharts to use sustainable methods to grow their grapes.

The Barnharts are dedicated to best management practices to promote soil health, water efficiency and pest management to ensure sustainable viticulture. They use

Victory View Vineyard

a customized, site-specific, limiteduse spray program to control pests in an integrated pest management program. They aggressively handmanage the vineyard canopy to optimize grape exposure to sunlight, promote air movement through the vineyard to create a micro-climate that minimizes fungal diseases and reduces mechanization and their carbon footprint.

The vineyard’s hilltop location provides maximum sun exposure, helps increase air flow to dry out the vineyard after rain and helps to prohibit bud damage during incidents of late frost. Also, the hybrid grapes they grow are well suited to the environment in upstate New York – they are cold-hardy and diseaseresistant. The red French-American varieties include marquette, maréchal foch, frontenac and petite pearl. Their white grape varieties are la crescent, lacrosse and melody.

All the grapes are hand-harvested

from mid-September through early October. Friends and family converge shortly after dawn for a morning of grape picking, followed by an afternoon on the crush pad. The crush crew are treated to a catered meal after the crush. Those who visit on a crush day will be able to observe the grape-to-crush process.

The winery is located in a region which is rich with history, especially in regard to the Revolutionary War; just across the Hudson River is the Saratoga National Historical Park. As such, several of the wines produced at Victory View are named to highlight the significance of the region. Labels include Turning Point, Revolution, Independence, Freedom and Lafayette – honoring the Marquis de Lafayette. Additionally, the historic victory at the Battles of Saratoga is commemorated in the vineyard’s name.

There is usually something new to taste at the winery. The Barnharts enjoy making and sharing their

limited production. Visit for guided tasting sessions, bottles to go, snack plates featuring local cheese and seasonal fruit and wine by the glass with a vineyard view.

The owners of the Argyle Brewing Company – Chris and Rich – would like to welcome you to enjoy the ales of the first New York Farm Brewery in beautiful Washington County. Together we are dedicated to making the best craft beers you will drink in Washington County, or anywhere else.

village of Cambridge. All of its wines, beginning with the 2018 vintage, are estate-grown, and the grapes are crushed, fermented and bottled on site. Harvests bring friends, family and neighbors together to pick grapes, enjoy a fabulous potluck meal and listen to live performances by local musicians.

Together with Northern Cross and Victory View vineyards – which are all within three miles of each other, South Dominion creates a perfect synergy for a great wine tasting experience. South Dominion Vineyard is part of the Upper Hudson American Viticultural Area and Upper Residing on land that has been

have taken well to the well-drained terrain. The vineyard is planted with six varietals – three red (Marquette, white (La Crescent, Louise Swenson

and Itasca). While South Dominion’s hybrid vines were recently developed, its wine-making techniques are traditional.

The tasting room is housed in a post and beam structure designed in a style similar to the 18th and 19th century agricultural buildings on the property. On the main floor, guests can sample South Dominion’s wines and savor local cheeses, chocolates and charcuterie. The vineyard’s store features jams and jellies made from South Dominion’s grapes, locally produced maple syrup, handcrafted ceramics, gift bags and wine bottle totes. Upstairs in The Loft is a selection of used books and vinyl records, works by local artists and a curated selection of gift items. Visitors can curl up with a book and beverage in the upstairs lounge while listening to tunes from South Dominion’s vinyl library.

Lakota's Farm

All Are Welcome at Wallie’s!

For generations, Wallie’s of Greenwich has sought to bring friends and neighbors together for a wholesome meal. This local historical restaurant has persevered through decades of closure, a pandemic and a thorough restoration to continue that tradition.

Wallie’s first opened in 1929 as a sandwich counter and became a mainstay of southern Washington County. The eatery expanded in 1945 and was family-owned for three generations before the owners retired in 2005. Wallie’s remained closed until 2021. Now the eatery is enjoying its new life with its reimagined restaurant and pub.

Delving into the past

the New York State Office of Economic Development covered about 25 percent of the cost with grants.

The restoration project was complex from start to finish. As the building sat abandoned for over a decade, it had deteriorated to a point of rain pouring in from the roof, through three floors to the basement. The building had to be completely stripped to its shell and rebuilt from the ground up.

As workers removed layers of walls, floors and ceilings, they discovered that the restaurant was comprised of two separate structures – a former barn and blacksmith’s shop from around the Civil War era, and a house built in the late 1800s. The team found some surprises, both good and bad. The sill on the east and street side of the building had rotted, forcing the workers to jack up the whole building, re-cap the stone foundation and replace the sill. Additionally, the floor joists under the old dining room were hand-cut logs covered in bark and moss.

Some items from the former Wallie’s were salvageable, including the original maple chairs, a mirror and bottle opener.

Kuzmich Restorations was able to preserve and restore the brick walls and hand-hewn beams which can be seen in the pub and loft area today.

“We uncovered new challenges several times through demolition. When we did, we had to re-draw the designs with our architect, and go back at it,” said Wallie’s Chef and General Manager Mickey Hopkins. “We spent a year of demolition, asbestos remediation, re-drawing the plans, starting again, followed by 18 months of construction.”

Persistence pays off

Opening Wallie’s during the pandemic presented unforeseen obstacles. Originally set to re-launch in 2020, the opening was delayed until July 2021. Over the past two years, the business has endured the flux of busy and slow months due to the surge in COVID variants and record-high inflation with the cost of fuel, food and energy peaking in 2022. Despite everything, Wallie’s has managed to overcome its challenges.

“The current national economic environment with inflation and product availability still has an impact on the restaurant industry across America,” Hopkins said. “These influence decision-

making as we evolve and move forward as to what we can order weekly and what the public’s expectations are.”

Wallie’s currently employs more than 30 parttime and full-time staff members. Many of the front of the house staff are local college and high school students who “are hardworking and eager to learn,” Hopkins said. With its additional culinary talent, the restaurant was able to enhance its initial opening pub menu into a broader entrée menu. Hopkins and his staff run weekly specials in addition to the regular menu, while they work to make improvements and evolve as they learn from customer feedback. “It’s a little trial and error with a new restaurant opening,” said Hopkins.

Plans are in the works to expand the cooking line with an additional sauté station to enhance the menu even further. The pub features 12 draft beer lines – both local and domestic brands – and a selection of gluten-free beverages. Some patrons come for popular events at Wallie’s, such as live music performances on the rooftop deck in the summer and warmer months as well as trivia night in the colder months.

An example for the community

Renovating Wallie’s to its full glory has reinvigorated the heart of the Village of Greenwich. Other vacant properties across the street on the Battenkill River have also been renovated by the same local developers, and are almost fully occupied. The 1811 yellow brick house, which had been vacant since 1979, was completely restored to its former grandeur, while the final restoration of the former A&P market building across from Wallie’s is nearing completion, with Whipple City Chiropractic expanding into all the previously vacant space.

Hopkins is hopeful that as more customers come to Wallie’s – the restaurant welcomed 30,000 and Hopkins estimates it will serve 35,000 in 2023 – awareness of neighboring businesses will grow. “They say, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats,’ so we feel that as we grow, so will our neighbors,” he said. “We hope to see Greenwich as destination where people don’t just say, ‘Let’s go to Wallie’s for dinner,’ but ‘Let’s go to Greenwich for dinner,’ and walk our streets and shop in our small businesses.”

Bridging the Past and Present

Bridge Street in Greenwich is obviously named for the fact there is a bridge connecting the Greenwich and Easton sides of the village. The question is, what types of bridges have spanned the Battenkill River at this location? For this, we’ll need to take a look into history, working backwards from what is known.

In a dedication ceremony in June 2012, the newly rebuilt bridge was given the name “The North Star Bridge” in honor of the role Greenwich and Easton played in the Underground Railroad. As with its predecessor, this new bridge was constructed using concrete. The design differed, though straight support beams give the bridge a slab-like appearance when viewed from the side.

Ninety-six years earlier, in 1916, the first concrete bridge was constructed at this same spot. Although four bridges were redone that year – including spans at Middle Falls, Clark’s Mills and Battenville – this structure used the closed spandrel deck arch design. An arch was used as the support, which was a very popular look for stone and concrete bridges at the time and is still in use.

Local historian Charles VanNess, who lived from 1858 to 1951, wrote a series of articles in the Greenwich Journal newspaper entitled “Hearsay and History,” which noted the different types of bridges he had seen: “There have been four different bridges there in my day. The old wooden bridge was succeeded by an arch iron bridge, but it proved to be too light in weight to stand the traffic, and was replaced by a Howe truss iron bridge that carried the roadway in the bottom of the truss instead of on the top as is usually done. This bridge was also taken down and the present enforced concrete bridge took its place.”

The bridge before 1916 was a truss iron bridge. One postcard image taken sometime between 1907 and 1916 shows this bridge, along with the railroad trestle. This is where information becomes a little fuzzy. It’s known that this iron bridge was in place before 1907, however, there is no current indication of when it was actually built. A clipping from the December 14, 1898 paper reports, “The bridge across the kill has received a general overhauling. New iron stringers take the place of the old wooden ones, and the bridge and walk have been replanked, and the walk raised five inches higher than the bridge proper. In the spring, two coats of paint will be added.” An earlier clipping from July 4, 1873 reads: “New

hemlock planks have been laid on the iron bridge. A new set will probably be needed next year.” Going back even further, the truss design bridge is clearly shown on the 1869 Burleigh plate map of Greenwich.

In regards to the first iron bridge on the Battenkill River, there are no definite dates of its creation. However, the timeline can be narrowed down a bit. VanNess remembered the earlier wooden bridge and an arched iron one from his childhood, indicating the short-lived span fell somewhere near the window of 1862 to 1869. The one photo that has endured shows (as well as VanNess’ note) that it was of the type known as a “through arch bridge.” It is this bridge that appears in B.F. Sharpe’s booklet, “The History of Greenwich 1809-1909.”

There is no doubt there have been several wooden bridges in this spot since the settlement was established. The real question is, what type? The early written histories of the formation of the village merely indicate a “wooden bridge.” Neither Sharpe’s history, the two volumes of Grant J. Tefft’s The Story of Union Village, or either of Gill or Thurston’s local history writings specifically state a covered bridge. It seems doubtful that VanNess would intentionally leave out something as distinct a detail as the bridge being a covered one, if it was in his early years.

What is known is that a wooden bridge was wiped out by a spring freshet around 1834, for this would have been when local teen George Henry Corliss took up subscriptions from the area businesses to design and build a temporary bridge until a proper replacement could be constructed. Would he have built a covered bridge? Highly doubtful.

There is one old indication that there was possibly a covered bridge in the village: an engraving entitled, “Southeastern View of Union Village” which appeared in the pages of the “Historical Collections of the State of New York, 1842.” Was this the replacement erected after Corliss’ temporary bridge or was this a bit of artistic embellishment?

For the great historians to make note of details such as when the churches were built and where people worshipped, of when and who built houses, who planted trees that line the village streets and the rise and fall of the citizens, and not to make mention of a distinct covered bridge—is a bit odd. So, it’s up to you, dear reader, to decide: Was there or wasn’t there a covered bridge on Bridge Street?

of all river cra�, shu�les included PFD’s (all ages & dogs), paddles, gear, river T’s Tied by Tom Miller of Ba�enkill flies

Head to the Green

The Battenkill River flows through various landscapes all along its 59-mile stretch. Just a few miles before it joins the Hudson River, it passes through Greenwich and by one of its major attractions: the Battenkill Country Club.

This country club has welcomed golfers to Greenwich since 1925. Set next to the historic Battenkill River, the golf course offers nine holes. The member-owned golf course features rolling greens and more than 3,000 yards of wellmaintained fairways. There are six sets of tees, including front nine and back nine tees for men, women and seniors, allowing for 18-hole play. The golf course is open to the public seven days a week.

Much of the golf course offers scenic views of the river, which can be seen on the first green; the second, third and fifth holes; and the sixth tee. Woods run along the right side of the majority of the holes, and a stream comes into play on holes 2, 6 and 9.

The clubhouse offers a locker room, pro shop, bar and a full kitchen. The Battenkill hosts many tournaments throughout the year, including fundraisers, memorials and corporate events, with many of these events including lunch and dinner.

The newly refinished bar in the clubhouse offers a variety of beer on tap, cooler drinks and a selection of mixed drinks. The kitchen provides entrees including burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken tenders and BLTs. Indoor seating is available at the bar and the brand-new high-top tables. During warmer months, guests can lounge on the screened-in patio overlooking the golf course or outside near the fire pit.

Keith Sprenger is the head golf professional at the club. He has been in the golf business since 1993 and as a golfer, he has qualified for numerous national tournaments over the years. Sprenger offers golf lessons as well as junior clinics in the summer. His pro shop features Battenkill Country Club

logo merchandise including apparel for men and women, golf balls and gloves.

The Battenkill Country Club offers a family-friendly and relaxed atmosphere, no matter if guests are engaged in a friendly competition or having a laid-back round of golf. The course has no tee times; golfers can arrive at their convenience and head directly to the tee after checking in. Alternatively, they can visit the practice putting green to hone their skills, or get loose at the warm-up net.

Friendly competition is easy to find at the Battenkill, with leagues offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the summer and a big, long-running skins competition every Sunday morning throughout the season.

Some members consider there to be four “majors” on the tournament schedule. The Spring Handicap is a bracketstyle tournament where members go head-to-head in matches in the spring and summer. During the three-day Club Championship, 35 members compete in the men’s and ladies’ divisions. The Member Guest features three days of actionpacked golf. The Morrisey Cup rounds out the schedule with a late summer bracket tournament.

Other highlights include the Senior Club Championship, Junior Championship and Member Member tournament. The Battenkill holds Ryder Cup competitions, where members compete in two teams – either against one another or going head-to-head with nearby Kingsbury National Golf Club.

The Battenkill has a season-long points race called the “Donnelly Cup,” where the winner earns a free cart membership for the following season. There are several scrambles open to non-members as well, including the annual Obie Brundage Memorial scramble, named after the club’s first superintendent who held the position for 47 years.

There is a rich history at the Battenkill and many of these events date back to the earliest days of the course. This year marked the 64th annual Spring Handicap tournament; visitors to the clubhouse will find plaques listing the winners of these traditional tournaments dating back to 1958. The club has its own Hall of Fame, with each of its 16 members memorialized with a picture.

There are currently more than 200 members at the Battenkill. With memberships for juniors, young executives and corporations, couples and families, the club is eager to welcome new additions.

The Battenkill Country Club is located at 593 NY-29, in Greenwich, just 20 minutes from Saratoga Springs. For more information, visit battenkillcc.com, call the clubhouse at 518692-9179 or email battenkillcc@gmail.com. Updates can also be found on the Battenkill Country Club Facebook page.

Books off the Beaten Path

Ona hot afternoon in 1944, Barbara Probst of Manhattan drove along the winding country roads of Washington County, when her car’s radiator began to overheat. She pulled over, reached into the back seat for the pitcher she kept for these occasions and found a small stream just off the road. As she stood up, she saw a dilapidated century-old farmhouse and its accompanying barns. “This is my place,” she thought. Within weeks she had purchased the property and begun what would be her life’s work.

Probst decided to uproot her metropolitan life as an editorial assistant for Mademoiselle magazine in New York City and move to the country to renovate the farmhouse – which was built in the mid-1800s – and learn to raise chickens and sheep. She taught herself to plane wood, lay bricks, sell eggs and birth lambs, among other things.

As years passed and the farming life grew more routine for her, she began the second phase of her life’s work – an endeavor that would require just as much audacity as becoming a chicken farmer on a whim. Though she had left the magazine business behind, Probst never lost her love for reading, writing and collecting books. She expanded this passion into a business plan; in 1960 she opened Owl Pen Books in a former hog pen on her property.

A bookstore on a farm located on a rural back road would seem like a foolish venture for any sensible person, but as Probst admitted in the store’s first slogan, she had “more books than sense.” Even so, within 10 years, Owl Pen Books became a regionally-known destination, thanks to word of mouth and a little print publicity. Eventually, she needed more space for her catalogue of books, so she cleared out the chicken coop; the space now houses the main bookstore.

Around 1980, two frequent customers, Edie Brown and her husband Hank Howard, were looking for a barn of their own to serve as a storefront for their home-based bookselling business. One day while leaving the store, Howard said to Probst, “Whenever you’re ready, let us know.” Eventually she called and said, “Kids, it’s time.” For the following 40 years, Howard and Brown saw Owl Pen Books through an evolution

of the bookselling business in the burgeoning online market and into the digital age. They also expanded the inventory and maintained the charm of the bookstore as a destination for generations of local readers and visitors from all over the Northeast and beyond.

In 2020, after Howard’s passing, Brown decided it was time to retire and pass the torch of the now 60-year-old institution. When Sydney Nichols came across the listing for the Owl Pen on her Facebook feed, she sent it to her husband, Eric Kufs with a half-joke about completely changing their lives.

Nichols, a graphic designer, and Kufs, a singer/ songwriter and English professor, had never dreamed of running a bookstore, let alone a bookstore in a barn on a dirt road in rural upstate New York. But as they learned more about the place, their new dream took shape. Upon meeting Edie, seeing the store up close and sensing the rich history and the magical surroundings, Nichols and Kufs were sold on uprooting their lives in California to embark on an adventure for them and their 4-year-old daughter. They knew, “This is our place.”

They arrived in February 2022, moved into the house in the middle of a snowstorm and reopened the store in April 2022 for a successful first season and a warm welcome from longtime customers.

Patrons can still find books of all kinds at the Owl Pen, from antique children’s books to new poetry collections, vintage technical manuals, cookbooks and fiction of all genres. The inventory also features antique maps and ephemera, as well as a selection of local history materials. The newest addition to the store is a renovated back office with a wide array of vinyl records, ranging from classic rock to modern hip hop, world music, folk, classical, children’s music and more.

Owl Pen Books, located at 166 Riddle Road in Greenwich, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, from April 29 to October 29, 2023.

I

I

I’ve

Coffee And Makes Fresh Start in Greenwich

“Coffee And” was simply a colloquialism for teatime used by a grandmother in Danby, VT who happened to have a passion for baking and an appreciation of her Swedish heritage. This casual, yet longstanding saying would go on to inspire the name of a small bakery in Greenwich, owned by Cambridge locals Ashley McCuin, 31, and Gordon McQuerrey, 30.

It was McCuin’s childhood dream to open a restaurant; her hard-earned skill as a cook and a baker would form the foundation of the enterprise. McQuerrey’s experience in hospitality, entertainment and various manual trades helped prepare him for the many challenges of opening a business. The mission was simple. Make fresh food from scratch. Source the products locally, ethically and sustainably. Serve food at a fair price in a space that is safe and welcoming for people from all walks of life.

~YOUR

McCuin and McQuerrey believed that if their venture succeeded, they would ensure that it was a shared success; they wanted their capacity to do good in the world to grow in proportion to the size of the company.

With a sense of pragmatic idealism and a willingness to work through pain and grime, the two business partners began scraping together all the funds they could muster. They eventually came up with enough to requisition a rental space at 99 Main Street. They cleaned it up, fixed it, painted it, furnished it, equipped its kitchen and stocked its pantry just in time to open for the Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade in

Hi! My name is KellyJo. I am owner and stylist of CherryRazz studio. Being from Greenwich, it’s nice to be back in my stomping grounds!

and better luck. Thus far, the continued support of local patrons has enabled Coffee And to slowly make good on the gambit.

In the end, it’s the food that matters. McCuin specializes in viennoiserie – Austrian-style pastries – while her flavors are often derived from Swedish and French dishes. She has drawn influence from a wide range of culinary sources throughout her training as a journeywoman in the industry, as well as from TV, social media, heirloom recipes and cookbooks.

Open Friday through Monday, Coffee And’s menu features an array of breakfast pastries, croissants, sweet rolls, quick breads, snack cakes, cookies and other sweets. Those seeking savory fare can find a selection of fresh house-made bagels, quiche, sandwiches and salads to satisfy their palate. An expanding retail section includes gifts from local makers and growers such as seasonal flowers, hand-printed cards, soaps, tinctures, salves, homeopathic teas, coffee beans, seasoning mixes and honey. The bakery provides community events such as weekly artist performances and monthly charity opportunities in addition to hosting the Greenwich Farmers Market 3 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday.

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome to Elsasser’s!

Looking for more European fare? Elsasser’s Beim 111 in Greenwich has diners covered.

Elsasser’s is an Alsatian restaurant which serves Germanand French-style dishes. The eatery is modeled after wine outlets and taverns in Franken, Germany and Vienna, Austria – called heckenwirtschaften and heurigen, respectively. These restaurants are opened seasonally, and the locals flock to eat the cuisine and drink wine from the current harvests. They are casual meeting places, usually set in very old town buildings that have been passed down through the generations.

From Tuesday to Saturday, patrons can find Elsasser’s proprietor Christopher Bischoff behind the bar or waiting on tables, providing down-to-earth hospitality and serving Germanic and French offerings, paired with carefully chosen wines and Bavarian beers.

Tuesday-Saturday you can find Christopher Bischoff, Elsasser’s proprietor, behind the bar or on the floor providing down to earth hospitality and serving tasty Country Germanic and French offerings... paired with carefully chosen wines and Bavarian beers.

Ashley McCuin and Gordon McQuerrey

Lighting up the streets for the Holidays

Strings of lights, decorations and a chill in the air are reminiscent of the holiday season – but in Greenwich, it has been taken to a new level.

For over a decade, the Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade has dazzled both locals and visitors of all ages with its amazing display of illuminated tractors and floats.

The Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade is held each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, bringing one and all into the holiday spirit. This annual kickoff to the season, faithfully supported by the community and Greenwich Chamber members since 2013, has become one of the largest events in Washington County and, unofficially, the largest parade of its kind in the country.

Before the sun begins to set, the village is abuzz with food, drink and activities. Horse-drawn wagons roll through

the streets with cheery passengers. Music plays from a gazebo in the park. Wishful children wait in line to see Santa Claus. Hot cocoa flows as attendees wait for the parade to begin.

All of the hard work of volunteers and participants comes to fruition when the first tractors leave the school and begin their trek through the village. Many decorate their tractors and floats for months in hopes of winning a wreath and ribbon in one of the eight judged categories, including Best in Show. The entries come in all sizes, from lawn tractors to harvesters, with themes ranging from “Winter Wonderland” to “Christmas in Paradise.” All are decked out with a minimum of 1,000 lights.

Thousands of attendees watch a seemingly endless caravan of tractors from the street sides and the livestream online. Judges observe from the grandstand and jot down notes to make their difficult decisions on winners. The parade concludes with Santa and Mrs. Claus waving to the crowd. Once the tractors return to the school, awards are given out at an afterparty.

It is truly a magical, small-town way to celebrate agriculture and bring joy to thousands.

For more information about the parade, including a schedule of events, a list of food and drink vendor locations, parking tips and more, visit greenwichtractorparade.com.

of Chamber Members directory

ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICE

Member Since 1996

Dana A. Clark Financial Services 26 North Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2128

Member Since 2018

Daniel Petteys, CPALevy Breaks, LLC

132 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 538-1983

Member Since 2021

Evelyn S. Eidem, CPA, P.C. PO Box 188

Greenwich, NY 12834 (361) 443-6886

See ad on page 31

Member Since 1990

Judith L. Klingebiel, CPA 73 Main Street Ste 1 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2267

AGRICULTURE & FARMS

Member Since 2014 Battenkill Valley Creamery, LLC 691 County Route 30 Salem, NY 12865 (518) 854-9400 battenkillcreamery.com

Member Since 1991

BJ Farms 276 General Fellows Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 222-0058

Member Since 2009

Booth’s Blend Compost, Inc. 56 General Fellows Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 695-6784 boothsblendcompost.com

Member Since 1997

Borden’s Orchard 2841 Valley Falls Road Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 692-2370

bordensorchard.com

See ad on page 19

Member Since 2009

Crandalls Corners Farm, LLC 567 County Route 54 Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 281-8034

Member Since 2007 Dry Brook Sugar House 432 Chambers Road Salem, NY 12864 (518) 854-3955

drybrooksugarhouse.com

Member Since 2002 Eastern Hay Company, LLC PO Box 92 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 573-2390

Member Since 2022

Easton Station Farms 284 Easton Station Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 269-7634

eastonstationfarms.com

See ad on page 21

Member Since 1996

Hand Melon Farm, LLC 533 Wilbur Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2376 handmelonfarm.com

Member Since 2001

Kernel Acres, LLC 1548 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2361

Member Since 2010

Mapleland Farms 647 Bunker Hill Road Salem, NY 12865 (518) 854-7669 maplelandfarms.com

See ad on page 19

Member Since 2017

Marchaland Farms 211 Burton Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 538-1288

marchalandfarms.com

Member Since 2023

Mohawk Valley Trading Company 901 Broad St Utica, NY 13501 (315) 519-2640

tenonanatche.com/maple-syrup.htm

Member Since 2018

Reggie’s Veggies 15 Brophy Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8452

Member Since 2022 South Dominion Vineyard 166 Brownell Road Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 291-8882

southdominionvineyard.com

See ad on page 27

ANTIQUES

Member Since 2022

Arena Sisters 1357 State Route 372 Greenwich, NY 12834 (617) 448-2653

arenasisters.com

See ad on page 11

ARCHITECTS & PLANNING

Member Since 2021

Patane Architecture, PLLC 25 North Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 420-2850

ATTORNEYS

Member Since 1997 Kelly & Sellar Ryan, PLLC 18 Gray Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-1200 ksrpllc.com

Member Since 1994

Law Office of Catherine A. Burkly, Esq.

74 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 695-3050 burklylaw.com

Member Since 2015

Law Offices of Newell & Klingebiel PO Box 2152 Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 798-1758 newellandklingebiel.com

See ad on page 23

Member Since 2004

Ruth A. Ihne, Attorney at Law 939 County Route 30 Salem, NY 12865 (518) 854-9177 ruthaihne.com

Member Since 1994

Timothy M. Bulger, Attorney at Law 138 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8504

Member Since 2019 Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC 5 Emma Lane Clifton Park, NY 12065 (518) 881-1621 wplawny.com

AUTOMOBILE DEALERS

Member Since 2008

Battenkill Motors, LLC 1106-1108 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2886 battenkillmotors.com

Member Since 2019 Greenwich Ford 1111 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2246 greenwichford.com

AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS & SERVICE

Member Since 2021

Warren Tire Service Center 88 Abeel Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8535 warrentiresvc.com

Member Since 1990

Witchcraft Body & Paint, Inc. 70 Corliss Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-7774

witchcraftautobodypaint.com

See ad on page 11

BANKS & BANKING ASSOCIATIONS

Member Since 2021 Capital Bank

3057 New York 50 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 430-2832 capitalbank.com

Member Since 1994

Farm Credit East, ACA 394 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (800) 234-0269 farmcrediteast.com

Member Since 1990 Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. 1153 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9021 gfnational.com

Member Since 2022 Pioneer 652 Albany Shaker Rd Albany, NY 12211 (518) 281-7220 pioneerny.com

Member Since 1990 TD Bank 146 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2231 tdbank.com

BEAUTY SALONS

Member Since 2016 2nd Story Salon 10 Sherman Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 683-2371

2ndstorysalon.wixsite.com/2ndstorysalon

Member Since 2022

Cherry Razz Studio Salon 1251 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4219

cherryrazzstudio.booksy.com

See ad on page 36

BOOK DEALER, STORE & DEPOSITORY

Member Since 2001 Owl Pen Books 166 Riddle Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-7039

owlpenbooks.com

See ad on page 46

BREWERIES & WINERIES

Member Since 2013 Argyle Brewing Company, LLC 1 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 338-7405 argylebrewing.com See ad on page 28

Member Since 2021 Melo Moon Cider 24 Intervale Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4020 melomooncider.com

Member Since 2022

Scotlander Brewing Company 453 County Rt 47 Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 232-3156 scotlanderbc.com

Member Since 2014 Victory View Vineyard 11975 State Route 40 Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 461-7132 victoryviewvineyard.com See ad on inside front cover

BUILDERS & RENOVATIONS

Member Since 1999 Andrews Builders, LLC 25 Carl Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8094

Member Since 2013 Hayes Contracting Corp. PO Box 208 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2550

Member Since 2021 Hunt Companies Inc. 515A County Route 45 Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 638-8061 huntcompanies.net

Member Since 2005

Premier Renovations 65 County Route 52 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 312-0846

Member Since 2013

Trevett Millworks 207 Fiddlers Elbow Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2593

trevettmillworks.com

See ad on page 9

BUSINESS SERVICES

Member Since 2021

Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York 1000 Bryant Woods S Amherst, NY 14228 (800) 828-5000

bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-upstate-newyork

Member Since 2022

The Bond 1786 3 Hudson Street Warrensburg, NY 12885 (518) 570-5522

thebond1786.com

Member Since 2023

Paybiz Payroll Solutions 4183 State Route 29 Salem, NY 12865 (216) 357-8737

paybizpayrollsolutions.com

CATERERS

Member Since 2022

Adk Appetizer Co. 189 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 855-1435

adkappetizerco.com

Member Since 2022

Canteen Coffee Co. 148 Dunbar Road Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 321-0239

campcanteencoffee.com

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Member Since 1990

Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce

68 Warren Street Ste 200 Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 798-1761

adirondackchamber.org

CHURCHES & RELIGIOUS

Member Since 2022

Bottskill Baptist Church

26 Church Street

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 796-6944

bottskillbaptist.org

Member Since 2003

Christ the King Center

575 Burton Road

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-9550

ctkcenter.org

Member Since 2022

Holy Redeemer Anglican Church

242 Cloister Way

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 955-5424

holyredeemergreenwich.com

See ad on page 7

Member Since 2007

United Church of Greenwich

37 Salem Street

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-7746

unitedchurch12834.org

COMMUNICATIONSTELECOMMUNICATION CONSULTANTS

Member Since 2023

CIT Associates LLC

469 Main Street

Bennington, VT 5201

(802) 681-7536

citassociates.net

CONCRETE

Member Since 1990

The Fort Miller Group, Inc.

PO Box 98

Schuylerville, NY 12871

(518) 695-5000

fmgroup.com

CONTRACTORS & CONSTRUCTION

Member since 2023

Battenview Building

2621 State Route 29

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-2005

gaillery4u.biz

Member Since 2003

Braymer Construction, LLC

346 Vly Summit Road

Cambridge, NY 12816

(518) 469-6983

braymerconstructionllc.com

Member Since 1994

Fly Brook Construction, LLC

4464 County Route 74

Greenwich, NY 12834

Member Since 1990

S & S Construction Co., Inc. 303 Spraguetown Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 944-7293

COPIER & SERVICES

Member Since 2021

Repeat Business Systems 4 Fritz Blvd Albany, NY 12205 (518) 869-8116 rbs-usa.com

DENTISTS & DENTAL CARE

Member Since 2005

Byrne Orthodontics, PLLC 454 Maple Avenue Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 692-2666

byrneorthodontics.com

Member Since 2004

Greenwich Family Dentistry 2651 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9333

saratogaspringsdentists.com/ greenwich-family-dentistry

See ad on page 5

Member Since 2021

Merryman Family Dentistry, PLLC 92 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 695-9015

merrymanfamilydentistry.com

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Member Since 2016

Cossayuna Volunteer Fire Department

21 Bunker Hill Road

Cossayuna, NY 12823

(518) 692-7155

Member Since 2016

Easton Volunteer Fire Company

11804 State Route 40 Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 692-8671

Member Since 1991

Greenwich Fire Department 60 Hill Street Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-9002

greenwichny.org/departments/public-safety

ENERGY

Member Since 2021

Barnett Fuels LLC

2973 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 507-6181

barnettfuelsllc.com

Member Since 2020

Boralex

39 Hudson Falls Road South Glens Falls, NY 12803 (518) 339-7769

boralex.com

Member Since 2007

G.A. Bove Fuels

76 Railroad Street Mechanicville, NY 12118 (518) 664-5111 bovefuels.com

Member Since 1993

Main-Care Energy 58 Corliss Avenue Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 438-4195 maincareenergy.com

Member Since 1990

Suburban Propane

12 Knapp Hill Road

Chestertown, NY 12817 (518) 494-2428

suburbanpropane.com

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING

Member Since 2012

Flatley Read, Inc. PO Box 104 Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 577-5681

flatleyread.com

See ad on inside back cover

Member Since 2013 Golde Engineering, P.C. PO Box 176 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4260 goldeengineering.com

EVENT SPACES, RENTALS & SERVICES

Member Since 2013

DJB Northeast, LLC 204 Hill Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 322-6763 djbnortheast.com

Member Since 2016

Easton Mountain Retreat 391 Herrington Hill Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8023 eastonmountain.org

Member Since 2021

Erbe Tent Rentals

73 Meeting House Road

Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 791-4562

erbetentrentals.com

Member Since 2009

Gather 103 103 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 gather103.com

See ad on page 17

Member Since 2012

Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education 25 East Main Street Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 677-2495

hubbardhall.org

Member Since 2017

Lakota’s Farm Weddings & Events 99 County Route 62 Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 677-3140

lakotasfarm.com

See ad on page 29

FARM EQUIPMENT, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Member Since 2011

Aubuchon Hardware 511 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8494 hardwarestore.com/132-easton-ny

Member Since 1990 Capital Tractor, Inc. 1135 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9611

capitaltractorinc.com

Member Since 1993

Country Power Products, Inc. 2339 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-1015

countrypowerproducts.com

Member Since 2006

K-Hill Auction Service PO Box 53 Middle Falls, NY 12848 (518) 573-0683

Member Since 2006

United Ag & Turf 217 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2676

agandturf.unitedequip.com/locations/ greenwich-ny

GreenwichChamber.org

FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT ADVISORS

Member Since 2013

Edward Jones - Breanna Lundy

2 Church Street

Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-2649

edwardjones.com/breanna-lundy

Member Since 2021 Morgan Stanley 20 Maple Street Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518)742-2071

morganstanleyfa.com/edward.costello

Member Since 1998

Wilbur Financial Group 72 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-2419

See ad on page 8

FLORIST

Member Since 2011

Blooms Floral Design 1023 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)232-3317

bloomsfloraldesign.com

FUNERAL HOMES & MEMORIAL PARKS

Member Since 1990 Flynn Bros. Inc. Funeral Home 80 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-2680

flynnbrosinc.com

GOLF COURSES

Member Since 1996

Battenkill Country Club, Inc. 593 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-9179

battenkillcc.com

See ad on page 12

Member Since 2007

Ondawa Greens Golf Course and Driving Range 196 Scotch Hill Road Cambridge, NY 12816 (518)338-7513

ondawagreens.com

Member Since 1996

Windy Hills Golf Course 219 Windy Hill Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)695-4902

windyhillsgolf.com

GOVERNMENT

Member Since 2005 Town of Greenwich 2 Academy Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-7611 greenwichny.org

Member Since 2021 Village of Greenwich 6 Academy Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-2755 villageofgreenwich.org

Member Since 2021

Warren Washington IDA 5 Warren Street Ste 210 Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518)792-1312 warren-washingtonida.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Member Since 2020 Bare Soul Massage 70 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (646)209-8660 baresoulmassage.com

See ad on page 15

Member Since 2004 Helping Hands Physical Therapy, LLC

4 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-3311

Member Since 2021 Kennedy Coaching Group 41 Academy Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (978) 407-1047

See ad on page 15

Member Since 2021 L.E.A.P. 383 Broadway Fort Edward, NY 12828 (518)746-2390 leapservices.org

Member Since 2022 OGLAM Veteran’s Way Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)879-1743 oglam.org

Member Since 2011

Whipple City Family Chiropractic 69 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-8584 wcfamilychiro.com

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Member Since 2022 Superior Co-Op HVAC 264 Ray Rd Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)7 19-5614 scoophvac.com

HOBBIES & SPORTING GOODS

Member Since 1993

Betterbee - Northeast Center for Beekeeping, LLC 8 Meader Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (800)632-3379 betterbee.com

Member Since 2021 Crawford Island Art LLC 28 Gray Ave Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)461-0196 crawfordislandart.com See ad on page 36

Member Since 1991 Dux’ Dekes Decoy Co. 1356 North Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-7703 duxdekes.com

Member Since 2011 Hark, LLC 72 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 murderinmaine.com

Member Since 2020 Sip and Swirl of Greenwich LLC 10 Church Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)531-8089

HOME SERVICES

Member Since 2002 Atlantic Inland Inc. N.Y. Electrical Inspections 1467 North Road Greenwich, NY 12834

Member Since 1994 WEL-DUN, Inc. 384 Dunbar Road Cambridge, NY 12816 (518)677-3306 wel-dun.com

HOSPITALS & MEDICAL CENTERS

Member Since 2006

Greenwich Medical Center 1134 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-9861

glensfallshospital.org

Member Since 2022

Hudson Headwaters Health Network 9 Carey Road Queensbury, NY 12804 (518)338-7905 hhhn.org

INSURANCE

Member Since 2016

Aflac / Hickok Associates Inc. 63 Academy Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)858-6430

aflac.com/agents/rachael_hickok.aspx

Member Since 2019

Bethany Liddle - State Farm Agent 114 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-3088

bethanyliddle.com

Member Since 2012 North Country Insurance Services 79 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-9601 northcountryinsures.com

Member Since 1991 Upstate Agency, LLC 132 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)792-5841 upstateagency.com

Member Since 1993

Washington County Cooperative Insurance Co. 40 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518)692-2881 wccic.com

See ad on page 7

LAND DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING

Member Since 2002

Agricultural Stewardship Association

2531 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-7285

agstewardship.org

See ad on page 46

Member Since 2021

LaBella Associates

20 Elm Street Ste 110

Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 812-0513

labellapc.com

LANDSCAPING & FORESTRY

Member Since 2020

Aqua Clean Services 432 Christie Road

Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 894-4180

Member Since 1992

Donald W. Dulmer

Tree Surgeon Arborist

204 Old Cambridge Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2971

Member Since 1999

Green Springs Landscaping, LLC

PO Box 50 Greenwich, NY 12834

LIBRARY

Member Since 2000

Greenwich Free Library

148 Main Street

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-7157

greenwichfreelibrary.org

See ad on page 33

LODGING

Member Since 1992

Bunker Hill Inn

412 Bunker Hill Road Salem, NY 12865

(518) 854-9339

bunkerhillinn.com

See ad on page 37

Member Since 1992

Sunshine Inn

2624 State Route 40

Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-2997

thesunshineinn.us

GreenwichChamber.org

MANUFACTURING

Member Since 2010

Battenkill Fibers

2532 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-2700

battenkillfibers.com

Member Since 2004

Essity Professional Hygiene

NA LLC 72 County Route 53 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 742-5724 essity.com

Member Since 2011

Fronhofer Tool Company, Inc. PO Box 84 Cossayuna, NY 12823 (518) 692-2496 fronhofertool.com

Member Since 2021 Greenwich Materials 441 Christie Road Greenwich, NY 12834

Member Since 2011

Hollingsworth & Vose Company 3235 County Route 113 Greenwich, NY 12834 hollingsworth-vose.com

Member Since 2021 Morcon Tissue 62 Owl Kill Road Eagle Bridge, NY 12057 (518) 677-8511 morcontissue.com

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Member Since 2021 black dog DESIGNS PO Box 765 Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 792-0500 blackdogllc.com

Member Since 2021 Eusatrix, Inc. PO Box 191 Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 796-8999

eusatrix.com

MOVING & STORAGE

Member Since 2006

Middle Falls Self Storage / A Plus Storage Containers PO Box 53 Middle Falls, NY 12848 (518) 573-0683

aplusstoragecontainers.com

NEWSPAPERS

Member Since 2020

The Eagle Press PO Box 493 Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 677-5158

eaglepressnews.com

Member Since 2015

The Greenwich Journal & Salem Press 39 County Route 70 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 507-6370 journalandpress.com

Member Since 2021 Hill Country Observer PO Box 158 Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 677-8508 hillcountryobserver.com

Member Since 1998 NYVT Media PO Box 330 Granville, NY 12832 (518) 642-1234 nyvtmedia.com

NURSING HOME

Member Since 2022 Centers Health Care 4573 State Route 40 Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 638-8274 centershealthcare.com

OFFICE-SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT & FURNITURE

Member Since 2023 Adobe 345 Park Avenue San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 753-5826

OPTOMETRISTS & EYE CARE

Member Since 1991 Bay Optical 477 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2960

bayopticalgroup.com

Member Since 2021

Old Saratoga Eyecare 1224 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2040 oldsaratogaeyecare.com

ORGANIZATIONS

Member Since 2003

Battenkill Community Services, Inc.

2549 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2819

battenkill.org

Member Since 2013

Citizen’s Committee for Greenwich Youth 6 Academy Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4273

greenwichyouthcenter.org

Member Since 2014

Comfort Food Community PO Box 86 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-3082

comfortfoodcommunity.org

Member Since 2017

Grassland Bird Trust, Inc. 12 Spring Street Ste 1W Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 499-0012

grasslandbirdtrust.org

Member Since 2007

Hudson Crossing Park, Inc. PO Box 144 Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 350-7275

hudsoncrossingpark.org

Member Since 2010

Saratoga Regional YMCA, Battenkill Branch 184 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 587-3110

srymca.org

PHOTOGRAPHY

Member Since 1994

Clifford Oliver Photography 28 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9559

cliffordoliverphotography.com

Member Since 2018

EMH Photography 140 Meeting House Road Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 727-1673

emhphotography.com

Member Since 2022

Melissa Ann Photography 4 Brentwood Drive South Glens Falls, NY 12803 (518) 269-9913

PRINTERS, GRAPHICS & SIGNS

Member Since 2022

Parker’s Designs

14 N Greenwich Rd

Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 934-1655

parkersdesigns.com

Member Since 2019

T-Shirt Graphics

12 Grove Street

Ballston Spa, NY 12020 (518) 885-7991

t-shirtgraphics.com

PROPERTY MANAGER

Member Since 2011

Schuyler Companies

596 New Louden Road Latham, NY 12110 (518) 783-5871

schuylercompanies.com

REAL ESTATE

Member Since 2009

Barkley Real Estate, LLC

79 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8263

Member Since 2013

Jamie Lewis Realty

200 Main Street Ste A Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 222-4805 jamielewisrealestate.com

Member Since 2021

PennyDot Realty

2012 State Route 22 Cambridge, NY 12816 (518) 321-9767 pennydot.com

Member Since 2011

Preble Realty, LLC 4061 State Route 22 Salem, NY 12865 (518) 854-7888 preblerealtyllc.com

Member Since 2021

Stephanie Woodard Real Estate 16 Peregrim Lane Johnsonville, NY 12094 (518) 810-7453

stephaniewoodard.exprealty.com

See ad on page 13

Member Since 2019

Whipple City Realty Group Inc. 33-35 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4057 whipplecityrealty.com

RECREATION & SPORTS

Member Since 2009

Batten Kill Railroad, Inc.

1 Elbow Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 222-0058

Member Since 2010

Parker MX Powersports, LLC

381 Anthony Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-7025 parkermx.com

Member Since 1991

Pheasant Ridge Hunting Preserve PO Box 216 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9459 pheasantridgehuntingpreserve.com

See ad on page 27

Member Since 2021

Surya Polo Club 441 Christie Road Greenwich, NY 12834

Member Since 1996 Willard Mountain, Inc. 77 Intervale Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-7337 willardmountain.com

RESTAURANTS, CAFES & PUBS

Member Since 2022 Coffee And 99 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 369-9998

Member since 2021 Elsasser’s Beim 111 111 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4777 elsassers111.com

See ad on page 37

Member Since 2021

Greenwich House of Pizza 1251 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2260

Member Since 2010

Greenwich Village Cafe & Bakery

2 Washington Square Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2668

Member Since 2017

The Ice Cream Man 417 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-8382 the-ice-cream-man.com

Member Since 2022

Just Meats

5 Salem Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4480

justmeatsdelimarket.com

Member Since 2021 Sweet Lou’s Bistro 161 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY 12831 (518) 507-6013 sweetlousdeli23.com

Member Since 2021

Wallie’s of Greenwich 54 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 531-4573

walliesofgreenwich.com

See ad on page 31

Member Since 2023

Wicked Wicks Wicked Good Italian Food 83 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 423-8450

See ad on page 9

RETAIL SHOPS

Member Since 1992

The Country Peddler Shoppes, Inc.

2 Washington Square Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-7030

countrypeddlershoppes.com

See ad on back cover

Member Since 1993

Just Because

2 Washington Square Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2670

justbecausegreenwich.com

See ad on page 39

Member Since 2021

Lakestyle 2449 Seneca Trail Way Argyle, NY 12809 (518) 531-4018

lakestyleshop.com

Member Since 2013

The Pennywise Shoppe, LLC 89 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2105

thepennywiseny.com

Member Since 2011

Ruby’s Nimble Thimble 81 Main Street Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2765

Member Since 1993

Stewart’s Shops Corp. PO Box 435 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 581-1201

stewartsshops.com

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES & EDUCATION

Member Since 1990

Greenwich Central School District 10 Gray Avenue

Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-9542

greenwichcsd.org

SURVEYORS

Member Since 2014

Corner Post Land Surveying, PLLC 364 Spraguetown Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2435

cornerpostlandsurvey.com

SWIMMING POOL CONTRACTORS

Member Since 2021

Pro-Dive Pools Inc. 217 Kenyon Rd Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 882-5220

prodivepools.com

TAILORS

Member Since 2005 me, myself & I 60 Ferry Street Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 695-4867

memyself-i.com

TOURIST ATTRACTION

Member Since 1993

Washington County Fair, Inc. 392 Old Schuylerville Road Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2464

washingtoncountyfair.com

VETERINARIAN

Member Since 1993

Battenkill Veterinary, P.C. 516 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834 (518) 692-2227

battenkillveterinary.com

Board

Rulyn Graves Chair of the Board Gather 103

Evelyn Costello Vice Chair Lakestyle

Stephanie Woodard Secretary

Stephanie Woodard Real Estate

Evelyn Eidem Treasurer

Evelyn S. Eidem, CPA, P.C.

Jenness Bivona-Laval Director Just Because Chey Blackmer Director Greenwich Youth Center Sarah Moses Director Battenkill Community Services Leah Silva Director Bare Soul Massage Staff Kelly Eustis Executive Director

for over thirty years of support

Our customers

Our friends, Our neighbors

In the summer of 1991 Joan and Bob Jeffords purchased The Country Peddler from Connie Sloan. The shop was located at 70 Main Street in Greenwich. Later that year The Country Peddler was moved to its current location at 2 Washington Square in Greenwich.

In 1992 the Jeffords opened The Christmas Attic, a year around Christmas shop located on the second floor above The Country Peddler. Our Christmas Attic carries a large selection of ornaments and waterglobes, Dept 56 Villages and Snowbabies, as well as Byer’s Choice Carolers and Fontanini Nativities.

Locally owned and operated by the Jeffords Family since 1991

Located in historic downtown Greenwich

2 Washington Square Greenwich, NY 12834

518-692-9279

Beautiful Home Decor Accent pieces. Kitchen Accessories, Gourmet Foods, and a large selection of Melissa and Doug Toys.