REBUILDING SPIRITS
Winterfest aids community as Cohoes continues to recover from devastating fire
COHOES, N.Y. » Close to the scene where a fire destroyed more than 30 buildings Nov. 30, community members joined together on a snowy cold Saturday for the fourth annual Winterfest.
This year, the event raised money to help more than 20 residents displaced by the fire.
“The snow makes it festive. The temperature is a little off — last year was 68 degrees for Winterfest — [so this year] is much different,” said organizer Don Russell. “But after a tragedy like [the fire], especially in the downtown, an event like this helps brighten people’s spirits, especially in the holiday season.”
The festival took place on Remsen Street, between Columbia and Howard streets, with 10 percent of food and beverage sales being donated to fire victims. Additionally, a 50- 50 raffle benefited victims, and Smith’s Restaurant employees accepted tips while working to help with Winterfest since they’re temporarily unemployed due to the fire.
“Everybody has been fantastic, really trying to help us out. We’re trying to get the restaurant back together,” said Laura Kozlowski, who has worked at Smith’s for 18 months. “Been getting a lot of phone calls, a lot of regulars have been coming down to see us today. The community has been great.”
Kozlowski said the event was a good time.
“We have live music. Everything’s homemade, so you can’t go wrong,” said Kozlowski.
Russell owns Spindles on Remsen, which wasn’t affected by the fire.
“It really takes a community to lift everybody up from this. And it’s not just one fundraiser that does it,” said Russell. “It’s multiple after such a devastating tragedy like that.”
On Wednesday there’s a fundraiser at Spindles. Next weekend, Cohoes Bowling Center will host a fundraiser where $20 gets bowlers a T-shirt and two games.
“It’s just going to continue ... to get people into permanent homes, it takes cash and fundraising is how it happens,” said Russell.
It wasn’t just Winterfest that gave proceeds to those displaced by the fire. Vendors joined, too. The stalls of vendors lined the street, as people stopped by to see what was being offered Saturday afternoon.
“Obviously we were concerned about the event that happened last week,” Alan Martell, co- owner of Lularoe, said. “One of the parts of our company is giving back to the community, so when we found out that this happened, we automatically decided we were going to give 10 percent of the proceeds back to the community. And after a certain point the company matches, so [the company] gives up to 10 percent also; so 20 percent of the proceeds [are donated.]”
Lularoe, which sells women’s clothing, celebrated its third year at Winterfest. Martell spoke of the community coming together this time.
“I think it’s huge,” said Martell. “Don at Spindlers is amazing putting this together every single time, and now they’re donating 10 percent of their profits also. I think it’s just a great event, and a great community.”