Bill's Broadsides

Say it ain't so

I was sorry to hear Dave Gibson plans to shut down his stores in downtown Gloversville.

While the Fulton Computer Co. and Fulton Book Co. have been key contributors to the downtown business environment, the latter has also become an important cultural center for the community.

Good books and live music are two of my favorite things, so seeing the bookstore close its doors on Friday will be a sad moment. The music at the bookstore was one of Dave's many gifts to the community, and it was greatly appreciated.

The closing of this venue will compound the community's suffering in the department of live, local music. The demise of the New Year's Eve First Night celebrations, which for many years represented the best night of the year for live music, also was a tough break for cultural life in the Glove Cities.

As if that's not bad enough, we're told one of the buildings that burned to the ground in Johnstown last week was supposed to become a microbrewery. Man, I was really looking forward to tipping a pint of Cayadutta Cream Ale, or whatever the Hawk company had planned to brew there. Let's hope something good comes out of that big pile of blackened bricks, whether it's a brewpub or something else.

One ray of sunshine in Gloversville, I think, will be the new location of the Farmers Market. The new pavilion, built by Judge DeSantis and other volunteers, looks like it will be a great thing for the vendors and the community. In addition to the fresh vegetables and other local produce, the market will have live music. I'll be one of the many performers throughout the season, which starts May 17. The market will be open Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, and I understand there will be a coffee vendor on hand. Did I mention I like books, live music and microbrew? Those things are mere luxuries. Good coffee is a requirement -- like oxygen but better tasting.