Balloon festival head not happy with county contribution
Still time this weekend to see ATF's hit comedy `Gutenberg!'
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The head of the Adirondack Balloon Festival has had enough.
Maybe more than enough, and he vented to the Queensbury Town Board on Wednesday afternoon.
"I don't feel very fond of Warren County right now," board president Mark Donahue told the board a workshop Wednesday while making a pitch for funding for the balloon festival. Donahue said he didn't want it to sound like he was complaining, but that's pretty much how it ended up.
Donahue was still angry over seeing winter events in Lake George get $150,000 in bed tax from Warren County while the balloon festival - a half-century staple in Warren County with a national reputation - was being whittled down from $100,000 to eventually $60,000.
"Talk about a slap in the face," Donahue said.
Ironically, Donahue made the complaint with a large framed aerial photograph of the balloon festival looming over his shoulder. He should have just turned around and pointed to the photo: That's what thousands of people from all over the region come to see.
Donahue pointed out that balloon festivals in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Reno, Nevada had $10 million and $5 million budgets respectively while the Adirondack Balloon Festival was scrimping along on $200,000 to $300,000 with a volunteer operation.
"This event takes years to plan," Donahue said. "I canceled the special shapes (balloons) this year because I don't want to go into the reserves."
The fact that Donahue has to even come make a presentation is ridiculous. The Queensbury Town Board and the Warren County Board of Supervisors should just ask how much and write him a check.
The special shapes are often seen as the driving force and what most spectators look forward to the most. I went a couple years ago just to see the penguin balloons. The fact there won't be any this year should worry anyone who cares about maintaining a robust tourism trade.
Donahue said this year's event will be smaller than last year 50th anniversary.
"It's harder every year," Donahue said, pointing out that Warren County is taking all the money for VIP parking and that the balloon festival is not allowed to collect donations.
Donahue said the sheriff "called him a liar" when he told him that balloonists were not allowed back into the airport while trying to return passengers who had booked private balloon rides.
Donahue, who has been associated with the balloon festival for 29 years, also said he was worried about his aging volunteer workforce of 30 people.
There was also complaints about traffic flow and it was suggested that a professional traffic coordinator be hired.
Donahue, who has been chairman of the balloon festival board for 16 years, also said he'd like to get a professional economic impact study done to show the county how valuable the event is.
That would be a waste of money.
Just make the it mandatory for every county supervisor to attend the event this year and they can see for themselves.
Donahue said he plans on talking to Warren County Administrator John Taflon and Board of Supervisors chairman Kevin Geraghty to see if the problems can be addressed.
"There is a lot of tension," Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said. "I don't think the public has an inkling into how much work this is to make this happen."
I think the public does know. I think it’s the board of supervisors that doesn't know.
Qby advantage
Jim Siplon, head of Warren County Economic Development Corporation, gave a presentation to the Queensbury Town Board Wednesday where he reminded them how much Queensbury is the economic engine of Warren County.
He pointed out:
- Queensbury has 45 percent of the county population.
- Its school district is the only one in Warren County with a stable enrollment.
- Its average income is $8,000 more than the rest of the county and its median income is $17,000 more.
He also reviewed the up and coming businesses now in the town.
Siplon also told the Town Board that the SLICFibre network, a broadband company, is expected to to announce its move into the Glens Falls and Queensbury markets later this year.
That competition should lead to cheaper prices and better quality internet in Glens Falls and Queensbury.
ATF cameo
Each night during Adirondack Theater Festival's Gutenberg! there is a cameo at the end of the play by a local person of note.
During the preview night last week, Glens Falls councilwoman and mayoral candidate Diane Palmer played the role. Apparently, she also managed a small campaign plug.
Naturally, that called for equal time. ATF officials said they had reached out to Mayor Bill Collins - who is facing off against Palmer in the fall election - to make sure both candidates get equal time.
Reminder, yhou still have time to see the show this weekend.
As one of the character says early in the show, “it’s fiction that’s true.”
Newspaper bill
You might notice that your newspaper bill might be a little higher this month.
Lee Enterprises, which owns The Post-Star, has added a $4.99 per month "temporary surcharge to its newspaper subscriptions citing inflation and global tariffs.
Protest permit
North Country Public Radio reported this week that a Lake Placid proposal to require a permit for anyone who wants to protest is getting pushback in the village.
The law would require a permit for any local gathering, rally, march, protest or demonstration involving 25 or more people on public property, including streets, sidewalks, parks or municipal parking lots.
Applications would have to be made at least five days before any event.
The reason for the law would be to "protect public safety," although it may come at the expense of free speech.
NCPR reported there is an "exception for spontaneous demonstrations."
It also sounds like this law would be impossible to enforce.
All-Star game
The pre-game shows for big sporting events are out of control and look less and less like sporting events.
Before the Home Run Derby on Monday night, the players were introduced and raised on pedestals above the field as if they were Greek Gods.
Keep in mind this wasn't Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron, this was James Wood, Brent Rooker and O'Neil Cruz. While all three may be future superstars, they are not household names by any stretch of the imagination.
As big as the Super Bowl is, I sense the halftime show may be bigger.
Every college football and basketball team introduces its players with flames and fog when they charge on to the field or court as if they were going to war.
Enough, already.
Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.
i have lived in albuquerque for a little over 40 years and we have our balloon fiesta just after the one in glens falls. ours might be better known, but there have been a number of occasions when i have bumped into someone who was from glens falls or just came from there, and they are surprised to meet a glens falls native living in albuquerque. one of my high school classmates from st. mary's - phil jackson - used to be very active in the festival, and i have met one or two people here that knew him. the balloon fiesta in albuquerque has moved, i think, three times since i arrived here. it used to be pretty close to our airport, so close that once in a while the airport had to close down because the wind was driving the balloons toward the airspace around the airport. there are a lot of people who live in albuquerque who know about glens falls because of the balloon festival there. it takes a lot, and i mean a lot, of people to plan, organize, and run the fiesta here. it is a huge economic benefit to the surrounding community and to the reputation of albuquerque though, and i can't believe warren county politicos are acting like this. oh, wait, yes i can believe it. the special shapes are a big deal here too. i can't imagine not having them.
Are the powers that be in Warren County so focused on continuing and protecting their conflicts of interests over the real contributions of large attractions such as the PROVEN draw of the Adirondack Balloon Fest? The recent failed attempts at attracting some of the winter events shows the short-sightedness that may be occurring when self-interest can cloud a vision of an event that has been beneficial to the county year after year. Support and improve conditions for this event as Donohue suggests. The public, local and from afar, really appreciates the beauty and the business benefits of being here during The Adirondack Balloon Fest.