Southside gets new eatery

By Dave Warner

Southsiders and others in Little Falls will soon have a new venue where they can get some great food.

Skobbys Southside Grill at 115 Flint Avenue is going to be serving BBQ and soft ice cream. They’ll have a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu and be open seven days a week, Monday through Thursday, 7 am - 9 pm and Friday 7 am - 10 pm, Saturday, 8 am - 10 pm, and Sunday, 10 am - 9 pm.

Owner Joe Lawrence said, “What we’re planning on doing is having a full grill menu, similar to what you would

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to work through, and we have a very small group of active volunteers. We definitely need more help in the future!” said Crystal.

There is still time to participate if you are interested in being part of one of the largest and most anticipated parades in the area. Please get in touch with Crystal at dolgevilleparades@ yahoo.com or call 315527-9585 to have your group added to the lineup for the Violet Festival parade.

Funding the Festival

Fundraising is an integral part of the festival. One of these fundraising efforts is the Themed Basket Raffle at the Violet Festival Information Booth, with the winners drawn on the festival’s final day. Local businesses and individuals donate baskets ranging from food and spirits, household and children’s items, summer fun, and more to support the Violet Festival. Be sure to stop by and show your support!

This year an Inaugural Violet Festival Golf Tournament will take place on August 12th at the Little Falls Municipal Golf Course. The fundraiser format will be fourperson scramble teams, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There will be prizes, a 50/50, and a Chinese Auction. If you want to play in the tournament, sponsor a hole, or donate, please get in touch with Ruth at 315-868-4130.

Village-Wide Pride

The Violet Festival is a village-wide endeavor, and the entire village gets into the spirit. You can find treasures at the garage sales and take in house decorations where residents show their support and decorating talents. The festival is also a wonderful way to support the small businesses in town, especially the Lyndon Lyon Greenhouse, whose famous violets are the namesake of the festival. Main Street businesses will be open and will have specials and Violet Festival-themed items for sale, so keep an eye out while you explore!

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The Mayor of Dolgeville, Mary Puznowski, is proud of the Violet Festival tradition. “I am so pleased and excited that the Violet Festival is our premiere event established here in the Village of Dolgeville. Last year it returned postCovid, after a necessary hiatus, and this year promises to be better than ever!”

“The committee is so dedicated- they work year-round to make it the successful event it continues to be, and I am most grateful to them and to the entire community who supports the festival. The festival highlights the history of our African Violet heritage here with the hybridization of the world’s first double pink violet by world-renowned grower Lyndon Lyon. For plant lovers, the greenhouse is a mustsee,” she said.

Puznowski continued, “We welcome all visitors to our lovely Village for the festival weekend- there is so much to experience, and as always, the parade on Saturday is one that you don’t want to miss - it has become known as the best in the area! I want to extend a very warm welcome to all who will be joining us for the weekend, and I’ll see you there!”

Festival Events & Highlights

Friday, June 9th: The festival begins Friday, June 9, with Village-wide garage sales at 9 am. The opening ceremonies at Joe Condello Gazebo in Plowe Park start at

6:30 pm and will feature the Presentation of the Lyndon Lyon Community Award to this year’s recipient Big M, the crowning of the Violet Festival Queen, Anna “Aunt Annie” Musella and the announcing of the winners of the House Decorating Contest.

Following the ceremony at 7 pm, the Violet Festival Princess & Little Mister Pageant takes the stage. The pageant is for ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-17. A Dolgeville Community Band Concert from 7:309 pm will close the events for Friday evening in town. If you are looking for even more entertainment on Friday evening, you can catch Whiskey Creek performing at Rustic Ties from 7-11 pm.

Saturday, June 10th: Saturday festivities begin with a Pancake Breakfast at the Dolgeville Firehouse from 7-10 am, followed by the everpopular Violet Festival Parade at 10 am. Village Garage sales continue, check out all the craft vendors and indulge in great food in Plowe Park. The Dolgeville Manheim Historical Society will be open from 9-5 pm. Families will find lots of great activities like Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, Free Kids activities like bounce houses, and a new rock-climbing wall. There will also be a mechanical bull to test your staying power! Don’t miss the Boy Scouts Chicken BBQ and enjoy live music throughout the day.

The Graystone will host the flower and art shows

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throughout the day, both Saturday and Sunday. The annual Flower Show and this year’s Featured Artist, Anne Contino, will be showcased from 10-5 pm, and the DCS Student Art Show K-12, including BOCES Pre-K & Dolgeville Pre-K, will be open from 1-4 pm.

Rounding out the 2nd day are the Violet Festival’s Got Talent Contest from 7:30-10 pm and fireworks at 10 pm. Dopp’s Inn will have two live bands on Saturday, Carson Murphy playing from 4-7 and Brimstone from 9-11 pm with food specials available.

Sunday, June 11th: Sunday kicks off with the “Run for Violets” 5K Run/ Walk and 1K Kids Fun Run, with registration from 7-8 am and races beginning at 8:30 am and 9:30 am, respectively. An Ecumenical Service will take place at Plowe Park Gazebo from 10-11 am, with the Violet Festival Poetry Contest following.

A new event this year will be a historical Cemetery Walking Tour with the Town of Manheim and Village of Dolgeville Historian Sue Perkins from 12-2 pm. Learn about the lives of famous residents and their contributions to the community. Craft vendors, art, flowers, and music will fill the final day.

For a full listing of events, visit the Dolgeville Violet Festival website: https://www. dolgevillevioletfestival. com/events see at Green Acres. We’ll have BBQ chicken, beef brisket, smoked beef sausage, and pulled pork.”

They plan on opening on Friday, June 2nd, with Helen Maksymicz and her Dixie Land Band playing from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

“All of our seating is outside, and we’ll have room for about sixty people,” he stated.

Lawrence also said they’re getting a projector and screen and will be showing outside movies a couple of nights a week.

“This year, we won’t have a beer and wine license, but next year we will. If people want to bring beer and wine in, they’re more than welcome to.”

He also said they’d be doing cans and clams and other similar meals.

Lawrence, who grew up on the southside, said there were all kinds of places to eat back then.

“I remember a time when the southside was vibrant, and when I came back after retiring, I always thought about what I could do to spark some interest and get things moving again down here.”

“We came up with this idea for the business, and I thought it was perfect. You’ve got the bike bath right here, and I’m already seeing a couple of hundred cyclists and walkers a day. It’s going to give them someplace to stop, and we’ll put up a little bike repair station as well for them,” he said. They have an ice cream window and a take-out window and will have 12” pizza available too. There’s even a customer bathroom on site.

“My goal, number one, is to be successful. With any business you open, you have to make money. But I want quality, quantity, and good prices. We’ll also continue to do a lot of community work, raising funds for different teams and whatnot. We still want to do that,” stated Lawrence.

They plan on having the business open from May 1st through the Canal closing, which is typically in October. “When they close the Canal, we’ll close as well,” he said.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - JUNE

City of Little Falls

June 2, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 3, 2023

Estate Sale - Office Furniture and supplies, 1 Hansen Island.

June 3, 2023

Motorcycle ride and event, Rock Valley Brewing Company, 56 West Mill St 1-3 pm.

June 6, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 6, 2023

Common Council Meeting - Auditing of the bills: 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing 6:50 p.m. on water and sewer rates. Regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

June 7, 2023

Police and Fire Board Meeting - Bills 8:30 am and Regular Session

9:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

June 8, 2023

Cruise Inn by Mike Little Falls Marina 5-8 pm

June 8, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 9, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 10, 2023

Little Falls PrideOutreach & Rainbow Club will host 3rd annual PRIDE celebration.

Pride Stride 5K | Footrace through downtown beginning 9 am

Pride Kids Run | 1/2 mile fun run for kids beginning 9:45 am

Pride Celebration with music, guest speakers, resources, entertainment, food, vendors & more in Burke Park 10 am-4 pm Pride Prom | Dance party (ages 16+) 6:30pm-10pm; location TBD After Party | Meet up (ages 21+) at The Renaissance 10 pm

June 10, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 11, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 5:00 pm.

June 13, 2023

Recreation Committee Meeting 6:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

June 14, 2023

Golf Commission Meeting - 8:00 am at the Little Falls Municipal Golf Course.

June 15, 2023

Cruise Inn by Mike Little Falls Marina 5-8pm

June 15, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 16, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 21, 2023

Urban Renal Agency Meeting - 8:15 am in the Mayor’s conference room at City Hall.

June 22, 2023

Tourism Committee Meeting 8:30 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

June 22, 2023

Harbor Commission Meeting 9:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

June 22, 2023

Cruise Inn by Mike Little Falls Marina 5-8pm

June 22, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 23, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 26, 2023

Board of Public Works Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

June 27, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

June 29, 2023

DiamondDawgs home game, Veterans Memorial Field, 6:35 pm.

Little Falls Elks

June 09, 2023

Drag Show sponsored by Little Falls Pride, 7pm at LF Elks Lodge. Public invited.

June 10, 2023

“Elk of the Year” event honoring Brian J Molinaro. 6pm cocktails, 7pm dinner & program. Ticket purchase deadline 6/3/2023. Public invited.

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Calendar

Tickets available at LF Elks Lodge or by contacting bjmolinaro@ aol.com

June 13, 2023

Lodge meeting 7pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

June 14, 2023

Flag Day Ceremony hosted by LF Elks, 6:30pm at the lodge. Light buffet to follow. Public invited, all ages welcome.

June 27, 2023

Lodge meeting 7pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

June 29, 2023

Live Music at LF Elks Lodge 7-10pm, featuring “The Shepherds” duo from Sarasota, FL. Free admission. Age 21 & over only. Also $1,000 monthly raffle drawing at 9pm. Only 200 tickets will be sold, @$10 each.

Dolgeville

June 9, 2023

Violet Festival begins with Village-wide garage sales at 9 am. The opening ceremonies at Joe Condello Gazebo in Plowe Park start at 6:30 pm and will feature the Presentation of the Lyndon Lyon Community Award to this year’s recipient Big M, the crowning of the Violet Festival Queen, Anna “Aunt Annie” Musella and the announcing of the winners of the House Decorating Contest. Following the ceremony at 7 pm, the Violet Festival Princess & Little Mister Pageant takes the stage. The pageant is for ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-17.

A Dolgeville Community Band Concert from 7:309 pm will close the events for Friday evening in town. If you are looking for even more entertainment on Friday evening, you can catch Whiskey Creek performing at Rustic Ties from 7-11 pm.

June 10, 2023

Saturday festivities begin with a Pancake Breakfast at the Dolgeville Firehouse from 7-10 am, followed by the everpopular Violet Festival Parade at 10 am. Village Garage sales continue, check out all the craft vendors and indulge in great food in Plowe Park. The Dolgeville Manheim Historical Society will be open from 9-5 pm. Families will find lots of great activities like Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, Free Kids activities like bounce houses, and a new rock-climbing wall. There will also be a mechanical bull to test your staying power! Don’t miss the Boy Scouts Chicken BBQ and enjoy live music throughout the day. The Graystone will host the flower and art shows throughout the day, both Saturday and Sunday. The annual Flower Show and this year’s Featured Artist, Anne Contino, will be showcased from 10-5 pm, and the DCS Student Art Show K-12, including BOCES Pre-K & Dolgeville Pre-K, will be open from 1-4 pm. Rounding out the 2nd day are the Violet Festival’s Got Talent Contest from 7:30-10 pm and fireworks at 10 pm. Dopp’s Inn will have two live bands on Saturday, Carson Murphy playing from 4-7 and Brimstone from 9-11 pm with food specials available.

June 11, 2023

Sunday kicks off with the “Run for Violets” 5K Run/ Walk and 1K Kids Fun Run, with registration from 7-8 am and races beginning at 8:30 am and 9:30 am, respectively. An Ecumenical Service will take place at Plowe Park Gazebo from 10-11 am, with the Violet Festival Poetry Contest following. A new event this year will be a historical Cemetery Walking Tour with the Town of Manheim and Village of Dolgeville Historian Sue Perkins from 12-2 pm. Learn about the lives of famous residents and their contributions to the community. Craft vendors, art, flowers, and music will fill the final day.