News & Notes
Fort Salem, Greenwich Seniors, VFW, Arrow Bank, More...
Let’s catch up with some News & Notes. These are ones that came in too late to make our last print edition.
Have a PSA or press release to submit? Use our handy wizard — click here!
Salem’s Iris Rogers returns to her roots in “The Bridges of Madison County”
At Fort Salem Theater this spring, “The Bridges of Madison County” arrives as a sweeping yet intimate love story, made even more personal by the real-life connection at its center. Salem-raised Iris Rogers stars as Francesca opposite her boyfriend, Ryan Canavan, who she first met during Fort Salem’s “The Rocky Horror Show” in 2023, where he appeared as a guest artist and she served as music director. Now, the two share the stage in a story that unfolds over just four days, yet carries a lifetime of emotional weight.
For Rogers, the role of Francesca resonates deeply on a personal level. “What drew me to Francesca was her personal story of growing up in Italy but ultimately leaving her war-torn country after meeting an American soldier,” she explains. “She went on to settle somewhere safe, safety being a priority. This is unfortunately a common story for a lot of people around the globe.” That connection is rooted in her own family history. “When I think of Francesca’s story, I think of my own grandmother, Irma, who fled Germany and war-torn Poland with just the clothes on her back. Francesca and Irma’s stories feel very similar to me, young women who had to make choices where safety and survival came first. I can’t imagine there was much freedom to stop and ask what they truly wanted for themselves.”
That sense of lived experience carries into the rehearsal room, where working opposite her real-life partner has created a uniquely open and immediate process. “For me, the rehearsal process has felt very fun and authentic,” Rogers says. “In past shows, it’s taken time for me to break down walls and feel comfortable with scene partners. With Ryan, that comfort is already there. It’s been freeing in a way I haven’t experienced before.” Their connection allows them to tap into the fleeting, electric nature of the show’s central relationship. “I remember the very first hug he gave me in the wings at Fort Salem before a ‘Rocky Horror’ rehearsal, there was something about that moment that felt different. That’s what this show is, really. Little moments, a glance, a brush of the hand - that’s how the connection builds.”
The role itself also marks a kind of artistic homecoming for Rogers. A graduate of Purchase College Conservatory with a focus in operatic studies, she has spent years adapting her classical training to musical theater. Francesca, however, brings her back to those roots. “Honestly, Francesca feels like coming home,” she shares. “For the first time in a long time, it feels like reconnecting with something I stepped away from. And the wild part is, it’s all still there! The training, the habits, it just needed a little dusting off.” That operatic influence is woven throughout Jason Robert Brown’s score, which Rogers finds especially powerful in its subtle emotional shifts. “Sometimes the musical change is subtle, but emotionally it’s huge! There’s a moment where one of her themes finally resolves, and it’s just the sweetest thing.”
Despite the emotional intensity of the piece, Rogers and Canavan have found ways to keep balance offstage. “We’re pretty silly people,” she says with a laugh. “We spend a lot of time just making each other laugh. With how intense Robert and Francesca’s story is, I treasure that even more. We get to come home and just be ourselves again.”
As audiences prepare to experience “The Bridges of Madison County,” Rogers hopes they leave not with easy answers, but with questions that linger. “I hope audiences find themselves asking: why do people make the choices they make?” she says. “I hope they leave feeling a little conflicted. Life isn’t always as simple as right or wrong, and I think this story really lives in that gray area.”
“The Bridges of Madison County” runs April 24 through May 3, 2026 at Fort Salem Theater, followed by productions of “The Laramie Project” (June 12-21), “Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill” (July 17-August 2), “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition” (August 7-9), “To Kill a Mockingbird” (September 18-27), “Lizzie | The Lizzie Borden Musical” (October 23-November 1), and “Snow Business” (December 11-13).
Tickets and additional information is available now at FortSalem.com or calling 518-854.9200.
Arrow Bank’s rebrand wins award
Arrow Bank has been named a finalist in the PR Daily 2025 Marketing Awards for Best Rebrand or Refresh, recognizing the company’s recent brand unification to Arrow Bank as one of the year’s top strategic marketing initiatives.
Arrow Bank was selected as a finalist for its transition to a unified brand, bringing together its banking subsidiaries, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, and its wealth management division under the Arrow name. The effort included the launch of the “Hello, Our Name Is Arrow Bank” campaign, a multi-channel initiative designed to introduce the new brand to customers, employees and communities across northeastern New York. The campaign was developed in partnership with Mills Marketing, whose creative collaboration played an important role in bringing the Arrow Bank brand to life. The rebrand led up to the organization’s 175th anniversary, marking a milestone year of growth while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to the region it serves.
“Our transition to Arrow Bank was one of the most significant strategic initiatives in our company’s long history,” said Annette Reitano, Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing, Arrow Bank. “Building a unified brand took years of thoughtful planning, creativity and collaboration across our organization. We’re proud to be named a finalist and have our thoughtful brand strategy recognized on a national stage.”
PR Daily, a leading resource for marketing and communications professionals, honors campaigns from corporate, private, nonprofit and government sectors that demonstrate excellence in strategy and creativity. Finalists were evaluated by a panel of industry experts who focus on innovative strategies and measurable results, including the ability to strengthen market positioning and stakeholder trust.
Podcast wins NPR award
A student-produced podcast examining the global banana industry and its human impact has earned national recognition for five SUNY Oneonta students, including one from our neck of the woods.
“it all started with bananas,” a podcast created by Leonella Abreu Garcia, Yanelyse Cruz, Hayley Garabitos, Katie Goris and Emily McDougall (of Argyle, pictured, center), received an honorable mention in the fifth annual NPR College Podcast Challenge. The competition drew approximately 200 entries from students in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Ten finalists and 35 honorable mentions were selected.
Over six months, the student team, made up of Exercise Science, Anthropology, Psychology, and Human Development and Family Studies majors, conducted background research before traveling to the Dominican Republic for a 13-day field reporting trip, accompanied by Philosophy Adjunct Professor Daniel Patrone. Students interviewed farmers, scientists, trade officials and community members, while collecting audio and visual materials to support the final production, as they investigated plant disease and farming practices in the banana industry. Their reporting takes listeners to the Dominican Republic, where the story expands beyond agriculture to explore colonialism, economic inequality and community resilience.
Marketing for farmers
Cornell Agriculture Marketing Research Program (CAMRP) and CCE Washington County are hosting a two‑part farm marketing workshop series on Thursday, April 23. These sessions are designed for farmers selling directly to consumers and will highlight new tools, pricing strategies, and marketing insights to help you prepare for the 2026 season. Join us for one or both parts. Both topics apply to livestock producers selling meat directly to consumers, while the second part of the evening will also appeal to dairy, egg, fruit and vegetable producers and those selling any farm product at a farmers market.
Part 1: Creating & Pricing Consumer‑Friendly Meat with MeatSuite
Learn how MeatSuite, a free tool, can help you increase bulk meat sales and make your products more accessible to first‑time buyers. We’ll demonstrate the new “Bundle Builder” tool, which helps you assemble profitable “bulk bundles” and utilize every cut.
Part 2: Boosting Farmers Market Sales with Customer Experience & Pricing Data
Discover what NY farmers market data tells us about customer behavior. Learn practical ways to enhance the shopping experience, increase customer spending, and improve daily sales. Ideal for producers of meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and other farm products.
Please email Brian Gilchrist by April 20th to register. Email btg5@cornell.edu or call 518-290-2302.
Date & Time: Thursday, April 23, 6:00–8:30 PM
Location: CCE Washington County, 101 Main St., Argyle, NY
Cost: $10 – Dinner included
Why not buy an ad in the next edition of the Journal & Press?
You know the ads work great — if you have a viable business, there’s no reason not to do this!
Follow this link to get your ad in our pages!
Henke regales Greenwich Seniors
Bob Henke, nature writer and humorist, answered questions from seniors about local animal activity and told several stories that were funny and entertaining at a recent meeting of the Greenwich Seniors. Henke talked about the migration of humming birds and the different types that pass through the area. He told several stories that amused the seniors from finding a tiger in his barn to raising new born humming birds.
The seniors meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at noontime, at the Bottskill Baptist Church, 26 Church Street, Greenwich, NY. All seniors are invited to attend a meeting to learn about our activities and get information about joining the group.
Veterans Muster April 18
The Greenwich VFW will hold a Veterans Muster on Saturday, April 18. The Muster will be held at the Greenwich VFW, Veterans Hall, located at 63 Abeel Street from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. All Veterans and family members are invited to attend the free breakfast starting at 8:30 am.
The Muster will provide information and qualifications to Veterans about recently passed NYS law exempting Veterans with 100% disability rating from local and county property taxes. Updates on the PACT Act and questions regarding benefits that family members of deceased veterans may be entitled.
Washington County Veterans Service Director Ken Winchell will provide information on how to apply for compensation and using the VA health care system. Representatives from the Veterans Administration will provide information and answer questions concerning the VA. Also, information on Veteran Real Property Tax Exemptions will be discussed. Jeremy Duers from the veterans peer-to-peer program will address the benefits of the peer-to-peer program.
The Greenwich Post will discuss Operation Honor and Restore to clean veterans head stones and the purchase of new grave markers for veterans grave sites.
The VFW encourages all Veterans and family members to attend the Muster. The Muster is designed to aid veterans and family members to learn about obtaining health, compensation and burial benefits.
For additional information contact Post Commander Don Ward at 518-788-0472.
Saratoga Jobs Showcase
Local residents in the market for a new career are invited to attend the upcoming Saratoga Job Showcase.
The event is set to feature nearly 50 employers representing industries such as construction, manufacturing, energy, finance, banking, technology and more.
It is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 16 at Empire State University, located at 113 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs. The showcase is open to the public and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their current resume.
Along with the chance to make real, in-person connections with recruiters, attendees can walk away with tools to help land their next role. Free professional headshots will be offered on site, along with a LinkedIn training session for job-seekers.
The morning will also include a networking reception prior to the event for attendees to mingle and get ready for the job showcase.
More information, including a full list of participating employers, is available at www.saratoga.org/jobshowcase.
Chicken parm dinner
The Easton Methodist Church,12053 Route 40, North Easton, NY will have a Chicken Parmesan Dinner on Thursday, April 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. In addition to homemade chicken parm, there will be pasta, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. You may eat in or take out. The cost is $20.00 for the full dinner. Reservations are needed by April 20. Call 518-531-4558 with your reservation number, pick up or eat in preference and a call back number or email eastonchurch126@gmail.com. Orders will be confirmed.
And Now for the Comics … A Political Cartoon by Joel Pett
More tomorrow!