LOCALadk Magazine

48 Winter 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk When it comes to the future of Northville, Mayor John Spaeth says the village has a 20 -year comprehensive plan. He calls it a two-pronged attack: "managed growth of [the] economy and businesses, and looking at the larger projects that we need to fix." One project is a waterfront revitaliza- tion program to make the Little Lake more accessible and tourist friendly. According to the mayor the goal is to increase tourism, and entice families and younger people to put down roots. " What we've found [is] if we can get people across the bridge and into the village, [they] will come to like us and potentially want to come and live here." Originally from New York City, Bill Coffey is one of many local artists living in the area. "I came up here 18 years ago. It wasn't by mistake but it was close to it. I came here to work on a piece of commercial property. Six weeks turned into 18 years." His galler y hosts eight other artist's work, including Rhea Haggart Costello's beautiful potter y and paintings. Bill's own work can be found around the village. Aside from the archway in Waterfront Park, he built the bar in the Timeless Tavern, along with pieces at the Johnson's Farm Store and the Inn at the Bridge. He also recently made the memorial for fallen Northville Police Officer, and personal friend, Bob Johnson. When asked what's so great about Northville, Bill had this to say, "I find Northville … it's where you go to get away from the city, it's where people come to vacation; I get to live where people vacation." The village also boasts the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN). The SVAN galler y and gift shop is on Main Street in the old parsonage of the First United Methodist Church. SVAN also has a galler y in the second floor of the Northville Librar y, among other places. In addition to providing space for artists to show their work, SVAN acts as a gathering place for the people of the village. President Rick Hasenauer says they host weekly con- certs during the summer at the Waterfront Park. "Summer is our busiest season. We can get 300 to 400 people to some of our concerts." SVAN also sponsors five monthly concerts from Januar y– May, as well as an arts education program. Rick said the pro- grams "have been quite varied in the past, including painting, photography, textile/fabric art, potter y, quilting, and wood- working." While Northville has businesses like a Tops Grocer y store and Rite Aid, these kinds of ser vices aren't always a given in Adirondack towns. Many people inside the Blue Line drive long distances for basics like food and medication. The next grocer y store you'll find going north along Route 30 is Char- lie Johns in Speculator—and that's some 30 miles away. Aside from those two chains, Howard Hanna Realty, and the Stewart's, the rest of the businesses in the village are lo- cally owned. That's by design. Mayor Spaeth shared a defin- ing moment for Northville, "There was a company that was looking to bring in a big box store. There was a public hearing and a huge uproar over that. What it brought out was the whole idea of tr ying to do something to preser ve the charac- ter of the village."

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