FREE
VOLUME 4: NUMBER 9
SEPTEMBER 2024
September is going to be a stinkin’ good time! By Dave Warner
It’s that time again: the air in Canal Place Little Falls will be filled with the smell of the 21st Annual Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival on September 14, 2024, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The organizers say, “Rain or Shine, it’s always a stinkin’ good time.” The Mohawk Valley’s climate and soils are ideal for growing garlic and herbs, which is why there are so many local producers. The festival is a non-profit agricultural group that aims to provide information to area would-be farmers and gardeners about the benefits of growing these crops. Ready
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us? There are ninetythree vendors this year, including three new garlic growers, new artisans, new food producers, and new festival cuisine vendors. One of the founders, Julie Webster, stated, “We have great music this year, which we always like to say, spread the wealth. We’re getting local bands that create a party background. There are several different genres of music. We also have two sets of wandering minstrels, which means we’ll have music at Benton’s Landing while you’re waiting for the horse and carriage, which is awesome.”
Photo by Dave Warner - The Mohawk Valley Garlic & Herb Festival held its 20th outing in 2023 and, by any measure, broke attendance and satisfaction records with more than 5,000 people visiting.
will be playing. “It’s a for the kids to see. great music lineup that will be fun for everyone.” What’s your favorite variety of garlic? And “We have some new why? Here’s a hint of food vendors, a couple the varieties available on more artisans, and food September 14th. German products, including White, Music, Turkish cheese. Lots of garlic and Red, German Red, Italian good stuff,” she stated. Purple, Vietnamese Purple, Chesnok Red, Webster said they’re GSF65Asian, Tempest, also focused on getting Purple Glazer, Bavarian, Leslie Kubica has a new more children’s activities Kitab, and many more. six-piece bluegrass band going. They’ll have make called Poverty Hill that and take, and a beehive Every year, Webster says
MV Gives Campaign kicks off September 20th By Dave Warner
prizes, starting a fundraiser to share with friends, family, and colleagues, or simply donating to one or more participating organizations.
The third annual “Mohawk Valley Gives” campaign will be held on September 20, 2024. It’s a 24-hour community-wide giving day to benefit nonprofit organizations serving the We spoke with Kristen Mohawk Valley. Smith and Kayla Ellis from the Community During last year’s Giving Foundation of Herkimer Day, the community and Oneida County, raised more than $2.4 which has existed since million, benefiting over 1952. They provided 250 local organizations. more details about the upcoming campaign. Participating nonprofits can promote their mission, Kristen is a Boston raise unrestricted native who moved here dollars to support their about six years ago. organization’s needs, Her background is in and be entered to win nonprofits and higher several prizes and education. “When my incentives throughout the husband and I had an giving day. opportunity to move here, we snagged Donors can engage with it.” She is a fund and local causes they care systems strategist for the about by sponsoring organization.
come.”
they get asked a couple of questions about this time. Here are the answers: Why can’t I bring my dog? “We are a unique festival held in a closedin area of Little Falls. We have thousands of visitors milling around the area during the day. We have had some very unruly dogs create Please See GARLIC Page 3
commitment.
She gave a couple of examples: the n e i g h b o r h o o d When asked about the revitalization efforts and Mohawk Valley Gives the Cornhill project, Campaign, Smith said, which is a $75 million “It’s an online-focused initiative with a thirty-year day of giving to benefit any and all nonprofits in our Mohawk Valley. It’s an opportunity for nonprofits to raise unrestricted dollars for their organizations at no cost to them.”
“We’ve been working on this for a number of years,” she stated. “It’s really a collaborative effort to bring two impact Please See GIVES Page 3
Kayla was born and raised in the Utica area and, after graduating from college, started working in marketing. She’s now the foundation’s business communications manager. She said, “We’re not just a grantmaker, but more of a partner for our local nonprofits. We’re also taking on larger, more impactful initiatives that are going to help this community for years to
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