New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce - Summer 2011 by Chronogram Media

COMMUNITY

BUS I NES S

EDUCATION

NEW PALTZ

REGIONAL

CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

TOURISM

REGIONAL

REPORT

SUMMER 2011

A QUARTERLY BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE INSIDE TRACK

IN THIS ISSUE Weaving a Website

By Kelley Granger

The Bottom Line

Member Profiles

The Business Benefits of Trend Tracking

ee if you can figure out what the following things have in common: An “ownerless” society driven by fractional ownership and experiences that demand less responsibility. Marketers who monitor customer moods via social networking channels—and respond to them. Consumers who define a healthy, toned body as a status symbol in the way past generations may have viewed a fancy car or a big home. Although they may seem completely unrelated, they all fall onto www.trendwatch.com’s list of the top 11 consumer trends for this year. Trend tracking provides a fascinating look at the things that drive the consumer mind, and being in touch with these ideas provides an invaluable platform for inspiration, innovation and potentially winning new clients. Continued on p. 12

Staking out a digital presence for your business is a must. We talk to the experts about best practices and tips for the web.

U.S. economy’s service sector grows for 18 months in a row; pet industry bucks recession; SUNY an economic engine.

G. Steve Jordan Gallery, Moondance Ridge Bed & Breakfast, A Tavola, Mid-Hudson Acupuncture

257 MAIN ST. NEW PALTZ, NY 12561 P 845 255 0243 F 845 255 5189 E INFO@NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG

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WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Letter from JOYCE MINARD Michael Gold / The Corporate Image

“Most changes that will affect a company announce themselves well in advance of the time they will strike.”

Services Include:

tax compliance & consulting . estate & gift tax planning . analysis & reporting of financial statements . corporate auditing . internal auditing . financial planning . business valuations . sales tax review & audit representation . business acquisitions & sales . operational & performance reviews.

—Michel Robert

hat does it really mean to listen? Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.” John Marshall said, “To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.” Igor Stravinsky said (and he would have known), “To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit.” According to Merriam-Webster, the word hear means “to have the power of taking in sound,” while listen means “to pay attention to sound, to hear something with careful attention, to give consideration.” We pride ourselves upon not only knowing but understanding the difference between these two words, and using that understanding to actively improve the way we serve our members. When we ask you to talk to us, we are prepared to pay full attention and genuinely empathize with your message. Of course, your opinion is important to us, but more than that, we are interested in understanding your business’s culture and individual personality and learning more about those things that set you and your business apart. Relationship-building is such an important part of Chamber membership. By listening to each other with sincere open-mindedness, we and our member businesses strengthen cooperation and promote mutual understanding. According to Michel Robert, bestselling author of The New Strategic Thinking Pure & Simple, “Most changes that will affect a company announce themselves well in advance of

At Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP, it is our responsibility to understand your business from the ground up, to gain insight into your changing needs, to forge long-term relationships built on integrity, quality, teamwork, harmony, commitment and innovation, and to deliver solutions that fully prepare you to meet the challenges unique to your business.

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the time they will strike.” In other words, the ingredients that will combine to become the modalities of the future are, in the main, already here and identifiable. By recognizing trends and sharing them with their peers, our members forge a foundation for growth and achievement, ensuring a successful future for this community. Regional Report is one way the Chamber shares what it’s learned with you. In this issue we discuss legislation and news that affects your business—including SUNY’s economic impact, the cost of housing in the Hudson Valley, the role of outdated technology on incidence of credit card fraud, and evidence of growth in the US economy’s service sector—and present best web practice and optimization tips, Member Profiles highlighting business owners who found their way here from New York City, and ins and outs of trend-spotting. We love to share with you. We also love to listen. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone, by email, or in person.

Best,

Joyce M. Minard, President

11 Racquet Rd. Newburgh, NY 12550 845-567-9000

2622 South Ave. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 845-905-9000

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REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, July 12 After-Hours Mixer @ LaBella Pizza Bistro and Dedrick’s Pharmacy & Gifts Be a part of this special joint mixer and experience the many ways local collaboration can benefit our business community. Taste the LaBella difference in delicious hors d’oeuvres and mingle in the LaBella Gallery—featuring work from a different local artist each month–then satisfy all your senses as you check out the variety of unique gifts that make Dedrick’s Pharmacy & Gifts a shopping destination. Both businesses actively participate in The 3/50 Project, along with True Value of New Paltz and PDQ Business Printers. Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Place: LaBella Pizza Bistro and Dedrick’s Pharmacy & Gifts, 190/194 Main Street, New Paltz Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members. Reservations required. Call 845-255-0243 or email info@newpaltzchamber.org.

Friday, July 29 Summer Business Card Exchange @ Woodland Pond at New Paltz, New Paltz Heat up your morning with midsummer networking at its best. The vibrant Woodland Pond community offers spacious independent living apartments and cottages with panoramic views and beautiful stone features, reminiscent of both Huguenot and local architecture, along with a wide range of amenities and services available on campus. Woodland Pond at New Paltz is a member of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley. Time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Place: Woodland Pond at New Paltz, 100 Woodland Pond Circle, New Paltz Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members. Reservations required. Call 845-255-0243 or email info@newpaltzchamber.org.

Tuesday, August 9 After-Hours Mixer @ A Tavola, New Paltz Grow your business network and check out one of the area’s hottest new restaurants. A Tavola focuses on fresh local produce and ingredients in a rustic, family-style atmosphere with a seasonally inspired menu centered upon bringing the farm to the table, including creative homemade pasta dishes inspired by Italian classics. Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Place: A Tavola, 46 Main Street, New Paltz Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members. Reservations required. Call 845-255-0243 or email info@newpaltzchamber.org. 4

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Tuesday, September 13 After-Hours Mixer @ Catskill Corn Maze, Hurley Join us for what promises to be one of the merriest mixers of the year. Partnered with Catskill Outdoor Adventures, Catskill Corn Maze has something for everyone—zip line, bike, canoe and kayak rentals, hayrides, 3-story hay bunker, giant sling shot (see how far you can make corn fly!), bounce house, walking trails including a 300’ high escarpment overlooking the maze, and fishing— in addition to the main attraction, the Maze! Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Place: Catskill Corn Maze, 1375 Hurley Mt. Road, Hurley Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members Reservations required. Call 845-255-0243 or email info@newpaltzchamber.org.

Sunday, September 18 21st Annual Taste of New Paltz The New Paltz region is renowned for its agricultural bounty and cuisine. Each year, the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce puts the best of the Hudson Valley on display with Taste of New Paltz, a flavorful opportunity to sample generously portioned samples of mouth-watering fare from the region’s finest farms and wineries, restaurants and caterers all in a single day. The Taste also offers a variety of fun activities for the whole family with eclectic shopping in the Antiques Expo and Craft Expo, the Artistic Taste and the Country Store; demonstrations and information in the Wellness & Recreation Expo and Business Expo; and free entertainment and activities in the Kids Expo. Live music performances by some of the area’s most popular local bands round out a full day at this Hudson Valley Festival of Food and Fun. Time: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Place: Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Road, New Paltz Cost: Admission is $5 in advance, $7 on the day of the Taste. Children under 12 admitted free. $2 and $3 “tastes” are offered at each of the food and beverage venues. Vendor applications are available. Visit www. newpaltzchamber.org to download your application. Call 845-255-0243 or email info@newpaltzchamber.org to learn more.

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CONTENTS

weaving a website Best Practices for Your Business In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital age, almost every business needs a digital presence. Regional Report talks with local experts about attracting new customers on the web.

THE INSIDE TRACK

We Salute All Our Friends at The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce Your Energy Enhances Life in the Hudson Valley

The Business Benefits of Trend Tracking Trend tracking provides a fascinating look at the things that drive the consumer mind, and being in touch with these ideas provides an invaluable platform for inspiration, innovation, and potentially winning new clients.

The Bottom Line Credit card fraud is on the rise in the U.S., while encryption technology lags behind European standards; taxes hurting New York manufacturing; and more.

Events Spotlight

Member Profiles: Expats!

A number of exciting upcoming Chamber events: The 21st Annual Taste of New Paltz on September 18; mixers on July 12 at La Bella Pizza and Dedrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy and Gifts, August 9 at A Tavola, and September 13 at Catskill Corn Maze.

www.CentralHudson.com

Kimlin Propane

Regional Report checks in with some Chamber members who have relocated to the New Paltz area from the wide world: G. Steve Jordan Gallery, Moondance Ridge Bed and Breakfast, A Tavola, and MidHudson Acupuncture.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS A report from Member Relations Associate MaryBeth Boylan on the diverse range of possibilities available to members through Chamber events.

Our Friendly Service Is REAL!

Upcoming Events

Recent Chamber Events

Member Updates

(845) 255-7324 Gardiner, NY

Member Renewals

www.kimlinpropane.com

Membership Matters

Serving Ulster, Dutchess, and Beyond

REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

NPRCoC BOARD AND STAFF Board Officers

2011 CORPORATE PARTNERS

CHAIR Ernie VanDeMark Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.

LEADING PARTNER

VICE CHAIR

Chris Drouin Beyond Wealth Management

2 ND VICE CHAIR TREASURER

Craig Shankles PDQ Printing and Graphics

Mindi Haynes Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni

& Weddell, LLP, CPAs

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. ASSOCIATE PARTNER

Brinckerhoff and Neuville Insurance Group SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Constance Harkin Ulster Savings

Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley Health Quest Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union KIC Chemicals Inc. Law Offices of James Yastion, PLLC M&T Bank Ulster Savings

Richard Heyl de Ortiz Historic Huguenot Street

Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP, CPAs

LEGAL COUNSEL James Yastion Esq.

Board of Directors

Frank Curcio Bank of America Tom Edwards Fox & Hound Wine and Spirits

Kay Hoiby Free Fall Express/dba: Blue Sky Ranch Walter Marquez Water Street Market Dr. David Ness Performance Sports and Wellness Patrick Turner Little Pond Consulting Sue Van De Bogart St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Helise Winters SUNY New Paltz (Office of Regional Education) EMERITUS MEMBERS

The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is a distinguished member of:

American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS) Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress Southern Ulster Alliance Hudson Valley Regional Coalition (One Valley—One Voice)

Robert Leduc Mohonk Mountain House

Who We Are

Ofc. Scott Schaffrick New Paltz Police Department

The New Paltz Regional Chamber, organized in 1900, is an active

Susan VanVoorhis M&T Bank

and trusted voice in the regional business and residential community that forges strong relationships between businesses and

Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Board OF DIRECTORS CHAIR

Kathy Ferrusi Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union

VICE-CHAIR

Sally Cross SUNY New Paltz Foundation

SECRETARY Teresa Thompson Main Street Bistro TREASURER Sue VanVoorhis M&T Bank BOARD MEMBER

Joanne Fredenberg

residents and promotes growth, prosperity, a sense of local pride, and a high quality of life in the Hudson Valley region. The Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz aids and augments the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce’s current slate of successful educational programs. The foundation envisions a comprehensive program of educational activities and scholarships, all geared toward

BOARD MEMBER Cathy Sifre

educating and supporting the community.

Chamber Staff

Regional Report is published quarterly by the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Joyce Minard President

Information in this publication was carefully compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. However, the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce cannot guarantee the correctness of all information provided herein. Readers noting inaccurate information should contact the chamber with corrections and updates.

Christine Crawfis Director of Marketing & Communications MaryBeth Boylan Member Relations Associate Janet Nurre Communications & Programs Administrator

@2011 New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission is strictly prohibited. Publishing services provided by Luminary Publishing. www.luminarypublishing.com.

WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RECENT CHAMBER EVENTS 1

1 NPRCoC Board Member Frank Curcio of Bank of America, 2nd Vice Chair Craig Shankles of PDQ Business Printers (far left) and Board Member Connie Harkin of Ulster Savings present a Michael Gold print to Sue and Scott Mass of WCW Kitchens, New Paltz as a celebratory gift at the ribbon cutting celebrating their grand opening. 2 Deborah Glassey of Always There and Alana Mayhon of Edible Arrangements at the Spring Business Card Exchange, held at Jenkinstown Motors, New Paltz. 3 Jeffrey Fredenberg of Rose and Kiernan, Inc. and Connie Harkin of Ulster Savings at the New Member Reception, held at Fox and Hound Wine and Sprits, New Paltz. 4 Local students help give New Paltz a fresh spring cleaning at the 15th Annual New Paltz Clean Sweep. 5 Cait Finn and Larry Ruhl of High Falls Mercantile at the June After-Hours Mixer, which they hosted. 6 NPRCoC Member Relations Associate MaryBeth Boylan (far left), President Joyce Minard and Board Member Walter Marquez of Antiques Barn at Water Street Market join staff and friends of A Tavola as Bonnie and Nate Snow cut the ribbon celebrating their grand opening.

REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS A Day in the Shade

Greenhill Contracting, Inc.

Photography by Cynthia

257 Vineyard Avenue, Highland, NY 12528 845-691-2727 Thomas and Robin Mazzetti tent.rentals@gmail.com www.adayintheshade.com Rentals/Tents & Party Supplies, Event Rental Equipment

P.O. Box 10, Esopus, NY 12429 845-594-5076 Anthony Aebi greenhillcontracting@yahoo.com www.greenhillcontracting.com Contractors - General

81 Penstock Lane, Lake Katrine, NY 12449 845-389-0655 Cynthia Starr cstarr1@hvc.rr.com www.photographybycynthia.com Photographers

A Tavola

57 Main Street-Retail 1 Water Street - Wholesale Warehouse New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-0873 Amy Cohen amyblueberry@gmail.com http://www.groovyblueberry.com Clothing

46 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-1426 Bonnie Snow atavolany@gmail.com www.atavolany.com Restaurants

Aflac 60 Park Lane, Highland, NY 12528 845-797-7955 Malinda Bisceglia malinda_bisceglia@us.aflac.com Insurance Services - Employee Benefits

Angels ‘N Earth 7 Autumn Knoll, New Paltz, NY 12561 Rebecca and Leo Glaser angelsnearth@gmail.com www.angelsnearth.com Gravesite Gardening

ARS Technical Sales Corp. 6 Barbara Drive, Warwick, NY 10990 845-544-7055 Fax: 845-544-7054 Phil Gregor phil_gregor@arstechsales.com www.arstechsales.com Engineers/Engineering Services

Complete Benefit Solutions

Groovy Blueberry Retail/ Wholesale

Hudson Valley Dogwatch 450 McKinstry Road, Gardiner, NY 12525 845-255-3126 David & Sharon Wingfield hudsonvalleydogwatch@gmail.com www.dogwatchdave.com Dog Fencing

Knit With Judy 8 Edgewood Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-1775 Judy Reichler jmreichler@aol.com www.knitwithjudy.com Instruction-Knitting

Mixture of New Paltz 48 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-1911 Chris Fahrbach mixtureprints@yahoo.com www.mixtureprints.com Screen Printing & Embroidery

11 Robinson Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 845-279-2742 Fax 845-279-2743 Donna Mills Donna@cobeso.com www.cobeso.com Insurance Services - Employee Benefits

Moxie Cupcake

DM Weil Gallery

New York Life

208 Bruynswick Road, Gardiner, NY 12525 845-255-3336 Donna Manger-Weil kwaspin@yahoo.com www.dmweil.com Art Galleries

460 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor, NY 12553 845-913-5660 Fax: 845-569-0057 Marsha Jones mjones1@ft.newyorklife.com www.hudsonvalley.nyloffices.com Insurance Services

Edible Arrangements of Newburgh

Pantano’s Wine Grapes and Home Brewers

606 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550 845-565-1144 Fax: 845-565-2144 Judy Annunziata ny585@ediblearrangements.com www.ediblearrangements.com Gift Baskets, Specialty Foods 8

215 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-2253 Josie Eriole moxiecupcakenp@gmail.com Bakeries

249 Route 32 South, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-5201, 845-706-5152 Jerry Pantano pantanowineandbeer@yahoo.com Winemaking and Home Brewing

Recycle Depot 230 Van Wagner Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-452-3939 Fax: 845-452-5310 Rita Trocino Nancy@recycledepotfacility.com www.recycledepotfacility.com Waste and Recycling Services

Rock and Rye Tavern

The Law Offices of James Yastion, PLLC. 153 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-4400 Fax: 845-255-1582 James Yastion, Esq. info@jgylaw.com www.jgylaw.com Attorneys - General Practice

The Law Offices of Steinberg, Symer and Platt, LLP 27 Garden Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845-471-4455 Fax: 845-471-8065 Robert Haskins and Janet Blake r.haskins@steinberg-law.com www.steinberg-law.com Attorneys - Trial Practice

215 Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-7888 Cassie Fellet cassmixer@gmail.com www.rockandrye.com Restaurants

Twisted Foods, Pretzel Roll Factory

Somsak Bhitiyakul, M.D. & Saharat Bhitiyakul, M.D.

Two Brothers Landscaping & Tree Care

368 Broadway Suite 201, Kingston, NY 12401 845-339-5811 Fax: 845-339-0708 Rattiya Hill bhitiyakul@hotmail.com Medical Health Services

Stevens Realty Group 171 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-8868 Fax: 845-256-8865 Bruce Stevens info@stevensrealtygrp.com www.stevensrealtygrp.com Real Estate Agencies

Stewart International Airport/PANYNJ 1180 1st Street, Building 138, New Windsor, NY 12553 845-564-7200 Fax: 845-567-3776 Diannae C. Ehler www.panynj.gov Transportation

The 1850 House 435 Main Street, Rosendale, NY 12472 845-658-7800 Mike Ruger www.the1850house.com Inns & Lodges

The Inner Wall 234 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-ROCK Glen McBride and Christopher McBride info@theinnerwall.com www.theinnerwall.com Rock Climbing/Indoors

446 Main Street, Rosendale, NY 12472 845-658-9121 Jeanne Rakowski and Giana Montanez twistedfoods@aol.com Restaurants, Catering

PO Box 2, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-6663 Ben Munch twobrothers1@gmail.com Tree Care and Service

USA Datanet 47 Main Street, Warwick, NY 10990 845-986-2934 Fax: 845-987-1160 Frank Cafarchio f.cafarchio@usadatanet.com www.usadatanet.com Telephone & Data Systems

VISITvortex PO Box 82, High Falls, NY 12440 845-687-3470 Jesse Marcus & Melissa Hewitt visitvortex@gmail.com www.visitvortex.com Publishing/Marketing, Digital Video Production

Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association PO Box 1048, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-4223 Ruth Elwell gorailtrail.org www.gorailtrail.org Outdoor Recreation

WCW Kitchens at Cherry Hill 3 Cherry Hill Road, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-2022 Fax: 845-255-2066 Scott C. Mass scott@wcwkitchens.com www.wcwkitchens.com Kitchen and Bath Design Members who joined as of June 10.

WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TIME matters, and so do you. HAHV’s Chest Pain Center at the Kingston Hospital.

The Chest Pain Center at the Kingston Hospital’s Emergency Department is the only accredited facility of its kind in the Hudson Valley and one of only nine in New York State recognized by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Using advanced testing and the latest technologies, we’re proud to be able to offer emergency treatment for you and your loved ones when it matters most. It is our goal to provide the best possible cardiac care to our community.

Visit hahvcares.com to learn more. 845.331.3131 www.hahv.org

YOU R PA RT N E R S I N H E A LT H

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Ellis Lader, M.D. Ali Hammoud, M.D.

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REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

BUSINESS 2.0

WEAVING A WEBSITE Best Practices for your Business By Kelley Granger

o matter what your industry, a presence on the web is all but mandatory. Whether you’re providing a simple, informative page of contact information and a brief description of services or building an extensive website with a full-blown e-commerce component, there are certain tenets to keep in mind that will ensure your site is attractive and effective. Regional Report spoke with a number of area professionals who provide design and optimization services to cull their insight on the topic. Well-designed Your website may be the first impression a potential customer has of your business, so it makes sense to approach it with purposeful design in mind. Kathleen Packard, the president and creative director of KathodeRay Media Inc. in Greenville, believes keeping things straightforward is key. “Keep it simple—you don’t have to clutter pages with a lot of content,” she says. “Engage the user and lead them through the process.” Remember that visitors to your site are coming to find specific information. Make that information easy to find. “If a visitor isn’t getting the information they think they want, they’ll bounce off your site, and hitting the back button is bad in number of ways,” says Packard. “First, you’ve lost a visitor. And

then from a search engine optimization standpoint, it’ll look like the visitor felt that they’ve hit the wrong place.” A visitor may also be inclined to hit the back button if your page doesn’t load quickly. Don’t get carried away on elements that might slow down a user’s experience, and remember that the way visitors are accessing your page is evolving—people may be logging on from a laptop, an iPad, or their mobile phone, all different viewing experiences. Packard recommends ensuring that any images are sized and compressed for optimum web performance and that you use standardized fonts. “I tend to like to lean towards minimalism,” says Jeff Severson of J.T.S. Design in Ulster Park, whose work spans from web design to custom development. “A design with too many elements can distract a user and/or make it difficult for them to find a focal point. Bells and whistles can be nice accents, but the main purpose a user has for visiting your website is to become informed.” Keep the focus of your design on content, keeping in mind that color choices affect readability. George Nivers, owner of Optimize Web in New Paltz, says that finding a content management system that you can use to update the site yourself is invaluable if you have a small budget or plan to maintain the site without professional assistance. “People

want to manage their own content and not have to pay for someone to do that for them,” he says. He’s a fan of the WordPress blog tool and publishing platform. “If you use WordPress as the base of your website, there are thousands of free applications you can use in conjunction with it. If someone builds a site for you, then you have to purchase each item and have them develop it for you.” The SEO Lowdown The web has almost limitless potential to help expand your customer base, but only when you approach your presence with a strategy. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is designed to maximize the number of visitors to your site by improving your rank among the list of results returned by a search engine. Jordan Dick, who operates Venturi Web Design out of Ulster Park and specializes in SEO services, says SEO is a subject that’s simultaneously simple and complex—but the basics are something a website shouldn’t ignore. Whether you’re building a new site or looking to enhance your search engine ranking for an existing site, the first step is to create a list of relevant key words. Dick says you should brainstorm all the possible terms that a person may search that would lead them to your business. For example, a local florist might include “New Paltz florist”

WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

and “Ulster County flower arrangements” on their list of terms. Once you’ve put together your list, you’ll want to weave these words into the content of your website. “You’ll want to incorporate these key words in your content in a way that reads naturally and gets the information across,” says Dick. “If you’re going to stuff key words in a page you’re going to get penalized [in your search engine ranking]. Search engines are smart—they analyze content and know how people naturally write.” Dick says another crucial piece to improving your rank is getting links to your site from reputable sources. “It’s not who you link out to, but getting other sites to link to you, especially those sites that have relevant content,” he says. Finally, if you haven’t already signed up with Google, Yahoo, or Bing for a local business listing, you should. It’s often an easy and free way to get your business to pop up at the top of a search results page. Buying into E-commerce When considering an e-commerce solution, keep your budget in mind and make sure you also develop a marketing plan to devise a strategy around how to get your products out. If you have no budget, PayPal link can provide you with an easy solution, though it will cost you a percentage of each transaction. For clients with more of a budget to play with, Jeff Severson recommends custom developed shopping carts or using a thirdparty shopping cart. Remember to keep ease of transaction at the forefront. “Put yourself in your customer’s shoes,” says Packard, who also develops e-commerce solutions for clients. “Ask: Is it easy to check out? Do you have to go to another site to check out? When you’re in the check out process, how many screens do you have to check out on? Is it easy for you to find out shipping costs?” Packard says to remember that e-commerce is a different ballgame than sales instore. “When someone walks into a store, it takes a lot more effort to walk out and find another to save a couple of dollars,” she says. Online, it doesn’t take that much effort to click to another business’s page, so make sure that you’re competitive and your products are easy to navigate.

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The Inside Track

What is a trend? Understanding what defines a trend is the first key to unlocking the potential that paying attention to tracking can hold. There are three types of trends: macro, industry, and consumer. Macro trends are large-scale trends that fall under the categories of social, technological, economic, environmental or political—for example, the shift of economic power to emerging markets is considered a macro trend. Industry trends, on the other hand, analyze a particular industry to determine its overall health and factors that affect it, like the level of competition within it. But the type of trend most interesting to small businesses is the consumer trend—the things that are driving the purchasing decisions of our population. Perhaps the best way to think about it is according to a definition provided by trendwatch.com, a company that gathers information from around the globe to identify developing consumer trends. They define them as “a novel manifestation of something that has unlocked or serviced an existing (and hardly ever changing) consumer need, desire, want, or value.” They argue that though trends may come, go, and change, the underlying reasons behind why they were successes are likely to stay the same. Knowing what those core needs and wants are—and the latest ways that companies are fulfilling them—gives business owners a point of ref12

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“It’s important to stay in the know, but it’s equally important to be able to sift through trends and recognize ones that truly affect your business and your customers.” —Lisa Morris, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union erence to develop new services, products, or ways of interacting with their customers. Putting trends to Use “The marketplace and information in general moves at such a fast pace today that keeping track of any trend can be like hitting a moving target,” says Lisa Morris, the director of marketing for Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union. “It’s important to stay in the know, but it’s equally important to be able to sift through trends and recognize ones that truly affect your business and your customers.” One trend that HVFCU recognized was the use of social media by financial institutions. Morris says they conducted a lot of research into how those channels could help their message before they decided to jump in. “It became clear to us that there is an audience just beginning to react to financial messages via social media. We planned a

systematic entry into Facebook and Twitter by creating specific messages and schedules for those messages prior to launching our pages,” she says. “We just started both social media sites on March 15, and in less than three months, we have nearly 3,000 followers. This is still an evolving trend, too, so it’s one we keep close watch on to continually perfect our messaging.” Other trends that are continually gaining momentum (and often overlapping) are ones grounded in eco-consciousness and the “buy local” movement. Robert Leduc, the food and beverage director at Mohonk Mountain House, says that the resort adopted procurement procedures that tap into both of these, which lend themselves quite well to a marketing message that touts sustainability. “The general population is trying to live a greener life,” says Leduc. “Part of that is understanding that shipping apples from

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Washington state is ludicrous when we’re in the Hudson Valley. It’s a global trend of trying to buy as much as you can locally— trying to save time, fuel, and energy. Why buy from other parts of the world when we have such great food right here in the Hudson Valley?” Even if a trend has proven successful for other businesses, it’s wise to consider the impact catering to it may have on your own— if it might negatively impact a standard of service. For example, Lydia Fitzgerald of Charmed Places, which offers event planning, design, and orchestration services, says she became aware of a trend in wedding planning services where couples would hire a planner only for the day of services. “I am not a proponent of this type of service,” she says. “In my view, the purpose of having a planner on board at the beginning stages of the planning process is to help the client navigate the many steps of planning a detailed event, as well as to provide the client with their industry knowledge, expertise, and access to their rolodex of vendor relationships. Having a planner on board from the start provides a more solid foundation to the planning process itself.” Though the degree of implementation for certain trends is up for debate depending on your business, staying in tune with consumer demands is critical, no matter what the industry. “It’s about increasing sales,” says Bill Sheeley, owner of Dedrick’s Pharmacy and Gifts, who has seen a big shift in technology trends, like the demand for electronic prescriptions, affect his business. “No backing up. You have to move forward or you will be left behind.” Staying on Top While large corporations are armed with entire teams devoted to researching, analyzing, and reporting the latest information on trends in their respective markets, it’s easy to assume that small businesses would be unable to access the same sort of information without a hefty budget. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Valuable market information is often right at your fingertips—and free for the taking. “I’m a big internet reader, so I’ve joined a few bed and breakfast owner forums, where I can read what other innkeepers are working on Continued on page 15

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The Inside Track

continued

Organizing a focus group or having a formal survey performed is no longer a luxury that’s out of reach. and respond and comment on issues as well,” says Kathy Drew of Moondance Ridge Bed and Breakfast. “Since I was a marketer in my previous life, I still subscribe to many of the professional sites, so I can keep up-todate with what the ‘pros’ are doing. Where I can, I adopt those techniques that work for my business.” Enelcy Sifre of Tress Olay Salon believes that education, in addition to attending industry trade shows, is the best way to stay on top of what’s trending in her industry. “Most of all, you cannot stop educating yourself,” she says. “I have been a licensed hairdresser since 1979, yet I still take at least 8 to 10 classes a year. Not only do I, along with my staff, learn what the new trends are, but it keeps us motivated and fresh. If you don’t, you will not grow as an artist.” Industry trade organizations and shows are another reasonably priced way to gain access to information about consumer wants and needs in relation to your business. Marcus Guiliano of Aroma Thyme

Bistro attends a number of trade events where he’s discovered a range of ingredients that he’s incorporated into his menu and has witnessed trends firsthand—for example, he says he’s seen huge companies start bringing the actual farmers to their trade booths to speak with attendees in an effort to satiate the trend of customers really wanting to know about the source of a product. “People really want to know where their food specifically comes from,” says Guiliano, “and I think [seeing things like that is] based on customer demand for it.” An avid blogger and user of social networking sites, he also says not to discount the information you can get directly from your clientele—and people from all over the world—in the form of comments, whether they appear online or are made in passing in person. Even though he’s tuned in to a bunch of Twitter and RSS feeds about food and restaurant related topics, he says he’s discovered things through customers before he’s ever heard of it elsewhere.

While organizing a focus group or having a formal survey performed and computed may seem like a luxury that’s out of reach, Ted Clark, a business professor at SUNY New Paltz, says to rethink that assumption—you might not have to look farther than your neighborhood educational institution for a solution. “We do a lot of research to determine the mechanisms and processes to discover, determine, or validate activity that we think can be an important trend and something that businesses should invest in,” he says. “There are inexpensive ways of trend tracking. I agree it would be wonderful if a business had a large budget to perform studies on an extensive basis, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” Clark and his students can be commissioned, often for a reasonable fee, to conduct surveys or focus groups to track consumer trends tailored to your business interests. But he also reminds that the business department of SUNY New Paltz, along with other colleges in the area, often publish reports on shifts in demographics and local economic development that are available for free online. And some big trend tracking companies, like trendwatch.com, offer a wealth of information on the latest consumer trends for free via their website and Facebook page. Others, like the Trends Research Institute in Kingston, offer a trend forecasting journal for a subscription fee. The Bandwagon Trend Businesses can’t—and shouldn’t—try to adapt to every trend. “It’s too easy for some businesses to simply jump on bandwagons with trends that just don’t last long,” says Morris of HVFCU. “Effort needs to be spent on the trends that will provide your business with true payback—whether that’s in the short or long term—rather than simply ones that momentarily look good.” But at least taking an index of what’s happening, even if it doesn’t necessarily seem to apply, can only help further an understanding of the consumer mindset and can still serve as valuable inspiration for the development of products and services that will resonate with your customers. REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

MEMBER UPDATES Teresa Johnson Appointed VP at CDPHP CDPHP announces the appointment of Teresa Johnson to vice president, sales innovation, overseeing product development, market intelligence and analytics, employer engagement, and sales administration. Johnson joined CDPHP in 2000 and served most recently as director of business development. Johnson holds a BS in marketing and management from Sienna College and an Executive Scholar Designation from Northwestern University’s Kellog School of Management and is an MS candidate in organizational management from Sage Graduate School. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a licensed agent for Life Accident and Health Insurances. Visit www. cdphp.com for more information.

Hollie’s Garden Opens at SLCH St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) welcomed guests to the Ribbon Cutting of Hollie’s Garden, the newest addition to the Littman Cancer Center. Hollie’s Garden is a healing place for patients and visitors to reflect on what’s important while enjoying the fresh air, beautiful waterfall and views of the Hudson Highlands. The garden pays tribute to the memory of Anne Hollis “Hollie” Atzrott. Hollie’s husband, SLCH President and CEO Allan Atzrott, and daughter Hilary and husband played vital roles in the project’s creative design and fundraising efforts. To make a donation in support of Hollie’s Garden and the Littman Cancer Center, call 845-568-2580 or visit www. stlukescornwallhospital.org/donate.

Central Hudson Donates to Queens Galley via Facebook Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. recently held a contest to donate $500 to a Hudson Valley-based charity chosen by a randomly selected “friend” of Central Hudson’s Facebook page. Diane Reeder and The Queens Galley, a non-profit organization in Kingston that provides food to the hungry, was the recipient. To “friend” or view Central Hudson’s Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/CentralHudson.

Always There Elects Board Members The following were recently elected to the Always There Board of Directors: Eva Graham of Kingston, Treasurer; Terri Lee of Kingston, Director; Nancy Rafter of Rifton, Director. Ms. Graham is CFO for Gateway Community Industries, Inc. Ms. 16

Lee owns SensatioNail Creations. Ms. Rafter is the owner of Arrow Promotions and president for the not-for-profit Krystal’s Wish Foundation. Founded in 1970, as a not-for-profit organization, Always There annually assists over 1,800 Ulster County residents. For a complete listing of services and programs, please visit www.alwaystherehomecare.org, call 845-339-6683, or email janson@ alwaystherehomecare.org.

Masseo Landscape Plants Trees at New Paltz Schools On April 28th, the New Paltz Rotary and Masseo Landscape, Inc. helped New Paltz Central School District celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees at all four of the schools: New Paltz Middle School, Lanape Elementary School, Duzine Elementary School and New Paltz High School. Students assisted in the planting. For more information about New Paltz Rotary visit www.newpaltzrotary.org. For more information about Masseo Landcape, Inc. visit www. masseolandscape.com or call 845-658-9148.

Teresa Laffin of Sedore Hudson Valley, CPAs Named Assistant Treasurer of the Dutchess County SPCA Teresa Laffin, CPA of Sedore Hudson Valley, CPAs was recently sworn in as an Assistant Treasurer of the Dutchess County SPCA. Laffin, an Audit Manager with Sedore, joined the Dutchess County SPCA Board of Directors in 2010. Laffin manages accounting and tax services including auditing and consulting for corporations, municipalities and not for profit organizations. Sedore Hudson Valley, CPAs is a full service financial provider including general accounting, tax, audit, valuation, and planning and consulting, has offices in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Port Jervis. Visit www.sedoreco.com or call 845-485-5510 for information.

Empire State Bank Announces Income Increases ES Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Empire State Bank, recently announced net income of $488,000, or $0.23 per diluted share, for 2010, an increase of $1.7 million from the previous year. Performance highlights for 2010 include: net interest income increased 19.1% to $4.9 million; total assets increased 2.6% to $161 million; deposits increased by 2.1% to $138.2 million; net interest margin increased to 3.12% from 2.77%; nonperforming loans to total loans decreased to 2.04%; net loans increased 14.7%, to $121.2 million. For more information about Empire State Bank, visit www.esbna.com or call 845-561-0003.

HOW TO SUBMIT ubmit items of general public S interest; no commercial sales announcements, rates, prices, etc. Items must be received no later than the 15th of November, February, May, and August to meet the quarterly deadline for the upcoming issue. The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to edit all material. E-mail or fax your information, including company name, address, phone number, contact name, and your news brief (100-word maximum) to the Chamber office at info@newpaltzchamber.org or 845-255-5189.

Hudson Valley Wine Magazine’s Cupcake Challenge Seven finalists in Hudson Valley Wine Magazine’s art and wine-themed Cupcake Challenge faced off to find out who makes the Hudson Valley’s ultimate cupcake at the Hudson Valley Art & Wine—A Grand Celebration on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown. The popular winner was Suzanne Whitney of Little Croc Bakehouse; ultimate cupcake judge Alan Richardson chose Josie Eriole of Moxie Cupcakes. Richardson is the author of New York Times best-selling books Hello, Cupcake! and What’s New Cupcake? For more information about Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, visit www.hvwinemag.com.

Sheryl McGrath of the American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter Deployed to Jackson, Mississippi Sheryl McGrath, a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer, was delpoyed to Jackson, Mississippi, to assist tornado victims with mental health needs. Ms. McGrath, of Modena, has been a volunteer with the Red Cross since 2009 and is a graduate of The Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz. Ms. McGrath is a member of the Ulster County Chapter’s Disaster Action Team and has received extensive training in Disaster Mental Health Care from the American Red Cross. For more information, call 845-471-0200 or visit www.redcrossneny.org.

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Cafeteria at New Paltz and LaBella Pizza Bistro Raise Money for HIV/AIDS On Thursday, April 28, Cafeteria at New Paltz and LaBella Pizza Bistro invited the community to raise a fork and raise funds for HIV/AIDS as part of AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS) Dining Out for Life. Cafeteria donated 25% of its proceeds; LaBella donated $1 for every slice of pizza purchased. These funds will be used to fight HIV/AIDS here in the Hudson Valley. For more information about ARCS, visit www.arcs.org. For more information about Cafeteria at New Paltz, call 845-633-8287. For more information about LaBella Pizza Bistro, visit www.labellapizzabistro.com or call 845-255-2633.

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Vlad Buggerhas of Masseo Landscape Receives NCMA Certification Masseo Landscape, Inc. is proud to announce that Hardscape Specialist Vlad Buggerhas received his NCMA certification. He has been employed at Masseo Landscape, Inc. since 2007 and continues to excel as an apprentice in the landscaping industry. For more information, visit www.masseolandscape.com or call 845-658-9148.

American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter Aids Local Families

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In early April, the American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter assisted two adults and four children forced to evacuate their home in the City of Kingston and two adults forced to evacuate their home in Mount Tremper. Red Cross Disaster Action Team members met with the families, providing temporary shelter and financial assistance for disaster related needs. Red Cross staff and volunteers also provided emotional support, offering additional assistance and a roadmap to recovery. For more information or to learn how to volunteer, call 845-471-0200 or visit www.redcrossneny.org.

HVFCU President/CEO Mary D. Madden Chosen to Serve on Federal Reserve Bank of New York Advisory Panel The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has chosen Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union (HVFCU) President/CEO Mary D. Madden to serve on its local advisory panel reporting to the national Community Deposit Institutions Advisory Council. Ms. Madden will participate in sessions aimed at cementing closer ties between Federal Reserve staff and community banks and credit unions. HVFCU is a full service, not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $3 billion in assets, serving its members through 20 branch locations in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, and Putnam Counties, a nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs, Internet banking and 24-hour account access by telephone. For more information, visit www.hvfcu.org. REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

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Charles F. Rae of Sedore Hudson Valley CPAs Nominated to the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together Dutchess County Charles F. Rae of Sedore Hudson Valley CPAs has been nominated to the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together Dutchess County. Rae will serve a 1 year term on the 17-member board. Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, participated in Rebuilding Together’s National Rebuilding Day, during which wheelchair ramp installation, roof repair, electrical improvements, plumbing repairs and more were performed on 12 local homes. Rae manages accounting and tax services including planning and consulting for Sedore Hudson Valley CPAs’ corporate and individual clients. Call 845-485-5510 for information.

SLCH Celebrates Six Years of Providing Comprehensive Cardiac Services St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) celebrated its sixth anniversary of providing comprehensive cardiac services to the region. The SLCH Center for Cardiac Care first opened its doors in 2005 and has since impacted the lives of more than 4,000 patients. For more information regarding cardiac services and treatment available at SLCH please contact Margaret DeyoAllers, RN, BSN, MSN, ANP at 845-568-2665 or Beverly Keefer, RN, BSN at 845-568-2087 or visit us online at www.stlukescornwallhospital.org.

Report: SUNY is Anchor for NY’s Economic Revitalization

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According to the report How SUNY Matters: Economic Impacts of the State University of New York, SUNY and its associated economic activity supported 173,000 jobs across the state with an economic impact near $20 billion and trending upward in 2008-09. The SUNY-wide report amplifies the Economic Impact Statement (EIS) released by SUNY New Paltz in December 2010. 97% of all New Yorkers live within 20 miles of a SUNY campus. These campuses and their communities are the anchors of the state’s economic revitalization. For more information about the New Paltz EIS visit www.newpaltz. edu/makinganimpact. For more information on SUNY-wide report visit www.suny.edu.

Community Foundations’ Partnership in Education Awards Reception The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley hosted its 26th annual awards. Lisa Morris of Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union was the emcee. Eleven Fund for Excellence in Education Grants (totaling $15,000) and eight Taconic IPA Science Equipment Teacher Grants (totaling $11,000) were awarded. Two teachers were awarded the Excellence in Teaching Global Issues and World Affairs Award. 18 scholarships totaling

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$54,000 were awarded to students in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Westchester. For more information about the community foundations, how you can establish a charitable fund or make a gift, call 845-338-2535 or visit www.cfhvny.org.

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SUNY New Paltz finds New President The SUNY New Paltz Presidential Search Committee and the New Paltz College Council completed their work finding a College President for New Paltz, according to Kenneth J. Abt, Chair, New Paltz Presidential Search Committee, and Chair, New Paltz College Council. On Monday, May 23, the College Council met to review the Search Committee’s recommendation and to review feedback from the campus community about presidential candidate Donald Christian. Christian, who has served as interim president since July 1, 2010, was named the new college president on June 15, 2011.

SLCH Stars of the Month St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) announces Brian Greene, Physical Therapist at the SLCH Center for Physical Therapy, as the April Star of the Month and Marty Atkins, Lead Mechanic in Engineering, as the May Star of the Month. Brian, a member of the SLCH family since 2005, is known by his coworkers, patients and peers as someone who performs above the call of duty. Marty has been a devoted employee since June of 2004 and is an essential member of the engineering staff, known for being reactive to each and every call, regardless of the task at hand. SLCH employees are nominated for the Star of the Month award by their co-workers, patients, physicians and/or visitors, based on Stellar Service Standards. For more information, visit www.stlukescornwallhospital.org.

Advertise in the program and reach over 10 thousand attendees and 65,000 Chronogram readers, visitors, and locals alike! • • • •

25,000 copies printed, 20,000 bound-in to the September issue of Chronogram, the program will reach over 65,000 readers Over 10,000 visitors to the event: Sunday, September 18 Event supports the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce The event is under tents—rain or shine! Advertising deadline: August 1 To advertise, contact Eva Tenuto: (845) 334-8600 x102 email eva@chronogram.com or Mario Torchio: (845) 334-8600 x106 email mario@chronogram.com.

Canning Classes OFFERED at Pantano’s Pantano’s Wine Grapes and Home Brewing announces a new educational component, canning classes Ongoing classes are available as well as a full supply of equipment and supplies, just in time for canning summer fruits and vegetables. Call for more information or class schedule. 845-255-5201.

Record Participation at CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club (HMRRC) of Albany and CDPHP, the lead sponsor of the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge, achieved a new record for participation at this year’s race with more than 9,200 registered runners/walkers representing 470 organizations. A 3.5-mile road race open to teams of employees, the Workforce Team Challenge is the largest annual road race between Utica and New York City. This year’s HMRRC “charity of choice” for the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge was the Albany Police Athletic League (PAL). For more information, visit www.cdphp.com. REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

THE BOTTOM LINE LEGISLATION AND NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS Compiled by Kelley Granger

Gone to the Dogs

Which industry has turned out to be one of the most resilient to economic plights? Pets. According to the market research firm Packaged Facts, the U.S. spent a whopping $55 billion on their pets last year, a recordsetting amount that continues the industry’s growth through the recession (and is more than the gross domestic product of Belarus, the New York Times points out). The paper reported that pet luxuries like clothing, organic food, antidepressants, and even prosthetic testicles (at $1,000 a pair) are evidence of big business. The trend was further driven by a 7 percent increase in veterinarian services—with better medical and dietary care, the pet population is living longer, too. Keep it Up

According to the Institute for Supply Management’s index, which tracks the health of service companies, the U.S. economy’s service sector grew in May for the 18th month in a row. Any measurement that exceeds 50 indicates expansion in the service sector, which accounts for 90 percent of the country’s workforce. The Institute’s index hit a high in February, posting 59.7, but dropped the following two months due to the spike in energy prices (though it maintained the ranking of 50 or greater required to report growth). This news comes on the tail of a Labor Department report that showed the unemployment rate increase to 9.1 percent in May. Manufacturing Jobs?

A recent study released by the Public Policy Institute, the research branch of the Business Council of New York State, looks at the reduction in manufacturing that the state has experienced compared to other states and 20

the country as a whole and emphasizing the significant role that the industry has on the overall economic health of the state. It also detailed the results from an online survey that was distributed to members of the Business Council who are manufacturers. It found that 75 percent of those who responded found property taxes to be one of their biggest issues, while 83 percent of respondents ranked our state’s overall business climate as poor or dismal. “We need to do more to attract capital investment in this sector so we can compete with other states,” said Heather Briccetti, acting-president and CEO of the Business Council. “The first step to growing New York’s manufacturing sector is lifting burdensome taxes and regulations that hinder the industry, which will make our state more business friendly and create much-needed jobs in New York.” To give an idea of the economic potential manufacturing stands to offer, it’s estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis that for every dollar spent on manufacturing, another $1.41 is generated in other sectors.

Rental Report

The National Low Income Housing Coalition recently released an annual report that calculates fair market rent, revealing mixed results for our region. In Orange County, renters are paying $28 more a month than they were in 2010, with fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment going for $1,156 this year. A tenant would need to earn $22.23 an hour to be able to afford that, according to the report, which uses affordable housing metrics as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This equates to housing costs amounting to no more than 30 percent of gross income. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there’s been dramatic growth in the number of renters who pay more than the recommended 30 percent—a rise of 12 percent over the last decade to stand at 52 percent, according to a 2009 statistic. In contrast, fair market rent in Sullivan and Ulster County dipped. Sullivan posted $899, down from $907 last year, and Ulster came in at $992, down from $1,001 in 2010.

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Counterfeit Cards

Credit card fraud is on the rise in the U.S., and National Public Radio reported that outdated technology may have a big role in the increasing number of cases reported. This is because all the account information needed to make a purchase is stored in the magnetic strip on the back of the card. The information there is unencrypted and can be easily copied and swapped to a counterfeit card. In contrast, many European countries use cards that contain a data chip with encrypted information and an identifying code that changes with each transaction. Andrea Rock, a senior editor at Consumer Reports, told NPR that card issuers in the U.S. say that losses due to fraud don’t yet exceed the cost they’d incur in switching to the new technology. One survey claimed that almost a third of American consumers have reported credit card fraud in the past five years. A College Try

State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher is touting the possibility of the SUNY system to be a major economic engine for that state. She commissioned a report that’s being called the most detailed analysis of the schools’ economic impact on New York’s economy. Prepared by the University at Buffalo Regional Institute and the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the University of Albany, the findings report an economic impact of at least $20 billion, the creation of $460 million in state and local taxes, and employment for 173,000 people. The study is based on figures from 2008-2009, the most recent time period for which data was available from each of the campuses in the SUNY system.

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REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

A FULL PLATE

The 21st Annual Taste of New Paltz Adds Even More to its Roster of Exhibits By Kelley Granger Photo by Teresa Horgan

very year an eclectic mix of culinary pros in the region—including restaurants, caterers, farm markets, wine makers, and more—all come together for the annual Taste of New Paltz, a day-long celebration that offers visitors scrumptious samples of regionally crafted wine and cuisine. While the focus is always on food, the event has transformed over the years to include a range of offerings for everyone in the family, from demonstrations for children to health and wellness exhibits and almost everything in between. In 2010, the Taste of New Paltz celebrated its 20th anniversary. For the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce, who hosts the event each year, this anniversary was not only a momentous occasion and a chance to celebrate all the hard work that has gone into creating such a successful event, but it also marked a turning point and a mission to keep growing and diversifying its roster of participants. With that spirit in mind, visitors can anticipate at least two new additions to the event this year. Jason Stern of Luminary Publishing is organizing a component of the day that will focus on sustainable agriculture. The idea was developed because of the prevalence of expert farmers in the area, and the interest in sustainable, community and tourism-based agriculture. “There’s people doing amazing things here who are quite visionary and I thought that was something that ought to be included in an event that’s ostensibly about food,” says Stern, who envisions a strong representation of farmers and sustainable agriculture experts on hand to talk to people about the health benefits and

importance of farming sustainably and eating locally grown foods. “I want people to feel inspired by a new understanding of the source of their food,” says Stern, “to meet the people who are growing their food, to understand the practices and principles that go into the preparation of our food, and to understand how sourcing food locally has global impact.” The second new exhibit is more of a departure—one that might occur on two wheels. Motorcycle enthusiasts will be excited to find an exhibit from Motorcyclepedia, the Orange County museum that has more than 400 vintage bikes on display, as well as the oldest running motorcycle in America. “Taste of New Paltz patrons will be amazed and fascinated by our collection,” said Mark Gamma, spokesperson for Motorcyclepedia. “In addi-

tion, patrons will receive a great education as far as the history behind each bike.” On the day of the event, Motorcyclepedia will be loading up a trailer with a few bikes to showcase. Visitors will get the lowdown on these motorcycles and the museum— Gamma says it’s the most extensive museum of its kind in the world, and it houses the largest collection of Indian motorcycles in the world—they have every Indian [model] ever made, in addition to an exhibit called the Wall of Death (a two-story barrel structure located on the bottom floor of the museum). These new additions will join the everevolving list of exhibits, which includes an expo designed for kids, one focused on wellness and recreation, and areas dedicated to antiques, art, crafts, the services of local businesses, and more. Along with spectacular food and live music, a good time is always on the menu. THE 21ST ANNUAL TASTE OF NEW PALTZ Sunday, Sept. 18 from 11 am to 5 pm, rain or shine, at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, Libertyville Road, New Paltz, NY. $7 admission. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tastes are $2 and $3. Save by purchasing advance admission passes for $5 or buying the advance ticket package for $20, which includes one admission, 10 food tickets and an official 21st Annual Taste of New Paltz t-shirt. Contact the Chamber office at (845) 255-0243 or stop in at 257 Main Street, New Paltz.

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SUMMER CHAMBER MIXERS

MIXING IT UP Connecting Local Businesses at NPRCOC Mixers

etworking is both a skill and a habit that can have a profound effect on your business, no matter what industry you’re in. Practice it at one of the many business mixers that The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce holds to encourage mingling amongst its members and provide yet another avenue to discover opportunities to grow your business. Attending is not only fun, but comes with a myriad of perks. “Meeting owners like me and other representatives of area businesses, and making contacts that may prove to be helpful in the future [are definite pluses to attending Chamber mixers],” says Bill Sheeley of Dedrick’s Pharmacy and Gifts. “Socializing with members of the area business community gives me the opportunity to explore avenues that I may not be familiar with.” In fact, it was at a Chamber mixer that Sheeley, along with PDQ Business Printers, LaBella Pizza Bistro and True Value of New Paltz, came up with an idea to promote the 3/50 Project, a buy local campaign,

through a coupon discount program. And it was born from a casual conversation they had at the event. While attending has its benefits, hosting a Chamber mixer can also give business a boost. Mixers have been held at a wide variety of locations, from hotels and resorts to residence facilities and restaurants and everything in between. “I would say that the number one benefit is networking,” says Bonnie Snow of A Tavola restaurant, who will be hosting an upcoming mixer. “We are a brand new restaurant and we are still getting our name out there and bringing people in always helps with that! It’s a good opportunity to get people through the doors.” Not only that, but Snow says the events go even further to help bridge businesses in the area. “Besides meeting, greeting and networking, the mixers give everyone who attends a sense of community which we think is very important. As business owners, we think that it is more about helping each other out rather than being competition, and the mixers highlight that.”

SUMMER MIXER SCHEDULE Mark your calendars with the details for this summer’s mixers. All events are complimentary to Chamber members, or $15 for non-members. Reservations are required, please call 845-255-0243 or email info@ newpaltzchamber.org.

Tuesday, July 12 at LaBella Pizza Bistro and Dedrick’s Pharmacy and Gifts, 190/194 Main St., New Paltz, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. T uesday, August 9 at A Tavola restaurant, 46 Main St., New Paltz, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 13 at Catskill Corn Maze, 1375 Hurley Mt. Road, Hurley, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

MEMBER PROFILES Expats! By Kelley Granger IT’S NO SECRET THAT NEW PALTZ and the surrounding areas draw a ton of visitors every year, who come to hike the Shawangunks, explore the local wine trail, and experience the unique culture and beauty of our region. It’s not surprising that many of them return to stay, opening businesses that only further enhance what we have to offer. Here are a few businesses that found their way to New Paltz and are enriching the region with their offerings.

MEMBER PROFILE

G. Steve Jordan Gallery A

nyone who has spent much time in the New Paltz area is likely familiar with the stunning landscape photography of G. Steve Jordan. Once an environmental science and biology student, he originally had no intention of pursuing photography as a vocation. But a series of events unfolded that led him straight down that path—first a job as a photographer with a newspaper in Ithaca, then steady work doing commercial photography and living in New York City. But it was the purchase of a weekend home in the Shawangunks about 20 years ago that really changed the direction. An avid climber, Jordan loved the mountains and began taking pictures of the area. “I thought that there must be so many people out there who feel the way I do [about the New Paltz region] 24

that I wondered if I could sell the images I had of the area,” he says. He set out with an intention to do for the Shawangunks what Ansel Adams did for Yosemite. A couple of decades later, residents and visitors alike visit his gallery in Water Street Market. Many visitors mistake some of the striking landscapes and sunsets for very different areas of the United States, like New Mexico, for instance—and Jordan is always happy to point out that every image in the gallery was taken just a few miles from where they now stand. In recent years, Jordan says he’s been experimenting with ways to make his photos less literal, and exercise more artistic freedom. “A lot of people would have a tendency to pigeonhole landscape photos as pretty pictures of a place,”

he says. “Hopefully our images are more than a pretty picture—we’ve played around with trying to make them less of a document.” As one example, the gallery has started printing on canvas, and divided one image into four canvas panels that are 10 feet by 8 feet. “Because photography is so literal, it’s hard to transcend the nature of it,” he says. “By breaking images up, we found a way to get people to look beyond what the photo is of.” G. STEVE JORDAN GALLERY Water Street Market 10 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-6800 www.mohonkimages.com

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MEMBER RENEWALS THANK YOU!

MEMBER PROFILE

Moondance Ridge Bed and Breakfast I

n 2008, Kathy Drew left behind a successful career and embarked on a new adventure, purchasing a turnkey bed and breakfast business in New Paltz known as Moondance Ridge. Prior to purchasing the property, Drew worked in the corporate sphere in a highly paced position as the creative director of the National Hockey League. “I knew as I was getting older that I wanted to work for myself, and that my next business life would not be working in the corporate world as I’d done for 30 years,” she says. Drew had always toyed with the idea of owning a bed and breakfast. Growing up, she says she was always impressed by the skill of her grandmother, who was a farm wife and made the most amazing breakfasts for the men hired to work on the property. Planning the menu was one of the more fun aspects of taking over the business, as was the rewarding climb in ranking on tripadvisor.com—when she took over the business, Moondance Ridge was ranked number three in the area, and now after three years it’s holding the number one spot. Drew attributes the success of

any bed and breakfast to personality—while guests are interested in exploring the area and spending time with each other, they’re also curious to know about their hosts. “I love the guest interaction and the day to day process,” says Drew. “Do I love laundry? No. But I do get excited when a reservation comes in, when someone asks questions and books. It’s fun and I feel proud that we’ve navigated a recession already and lots of interesting weather. It’s an interesting business where no two days are alike—and I love that.” Luckily for her, Drew says there’s not a lot of downtime, and she approaches her work with the same energy level and spirit that she had brought to her work in the city—she’s just not running around in expensive shoes anymore. MOONDANCE RIDGE BED AND BREAKFAST 55 Shivertown Road New Paltz, NY 12561 800-641-5618 www.moondanceridge.com

1712 House 87 Motel A-1 Business & PracticeBrokers, Inc. Accent Financial Group ACE Pictures Incorporated Adventure-Junction.com Alan Goodman Associates Allied Locksmiths Alpine Endeavors Always There Anderson Center for Autism Antiques Dealers Association of Ulster County Apple Greens Golf Course Arnoff Moving and Storage Aroma Thyme Bistro Arrow Promotions Artco’s Copy Hut AT&T Autumn Sky Development Co. Bank of America Barclay Heights Bed & Breakfast Barnaby’s Restaurant & Bar Blue Stone Cottage Bed and Breakfast Brookside Farm Business Marketing Association— Hudson Valley Chapter Century 21 Venables - Fawn Tantillo Clarkson’s Appliances Clear Channel Radio of the Hudson Valley Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty- Geraldine Buck Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty- Joan Lonergan Commercial Associates Realty Inc. Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Condor Associates of NY Cornerstone Services, Inc. Crosspoint Solutions, LLC Daily Freeman David K. Gordon, Esq. Dog Love LLC Dr. David Ness: Performance Sports & Wellness Dressel Farms Edible Arrangements of Kingston Ellenville Regional Hospital Ellinwood & Krasinski, CPAs Enthusiastic Spirits and Wine Shop Esopus Strength & Fitness Essence Medispa Excel Auto Glass Corporation

REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

MEMBER RENEWALS Fair-Rite Products Corporation Fall Fittings, Inc. Freefall Express, dba Blue Sky Ranch Frost Valley YMCA Gadaleto’s Seafood Market Gilded Otter Brewing Co. Glenn Properties, Inc. Gordon Fire Equipment LLC High Falls Mercantile Highland Rotary Club Historic Huguenot Street Homewood Suites Horsefeathers of New Paltz Hudson Valley Abstract Hudson Valley Audio Visual, Inc. Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union Hudson Valley Water Resources, Inc. Hugaren LLC Hurds Family Farm Idiverp Corporation Imperial Jewelers Inn at the Ridge Inn the Woods J. Philip Zand, Attorney JoAnne M. Boehm, CPCU Joe’s East-West Jonathan D. Katz Jonathan R. Sennett, P.C. Kimlin Propane Co., Inc. Loyer TCG, Inc. Lucky C Stables, Inc. Luis General Contracting Maglyn’s Dream McDonald’s McGillicuddy’s Tap House Mid-Hudson Acupuncture Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress Minard Farms Mohonk Preserve Monkey Boy Industries, Inc. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Neko Sushi & Restaurant New Paltz Bagel Café New Paltz Eye Care New Paltz Imaging New Paltz Rotary Club New Paltz Times Newburgh/NYC North KOA Nora Scarlett Studios, Inc. NYS Bridge Authority Olympix Corp. Optimize Web Plaza Diner Quiet Mouintain Sanctuary R. Robertson

MEMBER PROFILE

A Tavola B

onnie and Nathan Snow started with a passion and a dream—a love of rustic Italian fare, and the desire to open their own restaurant together. Both had spent time as chefs in New York City and agreed that they didn’t want to open their own place there. An avid skydiver, Bonnie was familiar with the area. A mutual friend of the previous owners of Beso told her and Nate that they were looking to sell the business. The couple thought their concept would translate well to the old Beso space and they moved forward with the deal. Based on the concept of communal dining and offerings that Bonnie describes as “traditional, creative Italian,” she says one of their favorite things to watch in their new restaurant is tables passing plates around and tasting everything. “This is why we offer a sharing size of pastas as well as dishes that are intended to be shared,” she says. “Also in the Italian spirit, we source as much local product as possible.” They also enjoy the fact that while people here have the smalltown mentality, they still have a sense of

sophistication and adventurousness when it comes to dining. Bonnie says that a large portion of the vegetables and produce restaurants purchase in the city comes from the Hudson Valley anyway, “so why not just go straight to the source!” She and Nathan appreciate that there is a heightened sense of concern in the community about where food is coming from. “There is more of a grassroots, farmto-table atmosphere here which was one of the big draws for us. We believe strongly in sourcing ingredients that are sustainable and as close to the restaurant as possible. That’s something that people here are very aware of, whereas in the city, it’s understood that food has to come from far away. There aren’t too many farms left in NYC!” A TAVOLA 46 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-1426 www.atavolany.com

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MEMBER RENEWALS

MEMBER PROFILE

Mid-Hudson Acupuncture W

illiam Weinstein left a career in teaching for one in acupuncture nine years ago, and hasn’t looked back. A native of New York City, he became interested in the ways that the body heals itself and the thousands of years of history behind the practice. “The treatment is nonpharmacologic,” he says. “It employs the body’s own capacity for healing to restore the individual to health, without recourse to drugs.” Focusing on the physiology and neuroanatomy aspects of the technique, Weinstein treats a range of issues, ranging from headaches and sinusitis to speeding the healing of sports injuries. “Acupuncture is versatile,” he says. “If the body can ‘treat the problem itself,’ a skilled acupuncturist can safely and effectively help an individual heal faster.” Today, he operates in New Paltz in collaboration with Dr. David Ness’s Performance Sports & Wellness center, and also keeps

hours at an office located at 119 West 23rd St. in Manhattan. He’s taught a course called “Common Sense Acupuncture” at SUNY Ulster, and says there’s a growing scientific understanding about how acupuncture works—acupuncture is entering the modern world and is an important component of comprehensive health care. “If there’s one thing I have learned in almost 10 years of practice, it’s that people live with a lot of pain because they haven’t found a reasonable solution to addressing that pain,” he says. “No one needs to live with pain. [Like] it says on my website: Minimizing pain is our mission.” MID-HUDSON ACUPUNCTURE 3 Cherry Hill Road New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-2070 www.mhacu.com

Rachel’s Cleaning Service Riverside Bank Robibero Family Vineyards Rock Da Pasta Royal King Cleaners Sam’s Club Schain and Company, CPA Seakill Custom Home Builders, Inc. Sedore Hudson Valley, CPAs Shapers of New Paltz Slotnick Signs and Designs Smitty’s Body Shop of New Paltz, Inc. St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Center for Rehabilitation StoneLedge Contracting Studio One Hair Design Sunoco APlus Mini Market SUNY New Paltz School of Fine & Performing Arts Susan Ivy Designs Terri Coonrad Hershkowitz NP. PC. The Bakery The Ranch Pro Shop The Valley Group, Inc. Time Warner Cable Town Tinker Tube Rentals Tuthillhouse at the Mill Ulster County BOCES Ulster County Office of Employment & Training Ulster Savings Bank Ultimate Homes, Inc. Unison Arts Center USIA Video Venturi Web Design Vicki Koenig, MS, RD, CDN Vineyard Commons Visualstuff Studios Walkway Over the Hudson Wallkill View Farm Market & Garden Center WAMC Northeast Public Radio Waring Storage Water Solutions of New Paltz, Inc. Westfair Business Publications Wiltwyck Golf Club Win Morrison Realty Wingate at Ulster Woodland Pond at New Paltz Woodstock Inn on the Millstream Yanni Restaurant Cafe Yaun Company, Inc. Members who renewed as of June 10.

REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER A strong business community benefits the whole community. In this issue, Member Relations Associate MaryBeth Boylan addresses the diverse range of possibilities available to our members through Chamber events.

MaryBeth Boylan

strong business community benefits the whole community. In this issue, we address the various ways the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce’s membership keeps the Chamber staff in the know. Biz Connect comes up in this Membership Matters column a lot, and there’s a reason for that. A forum for local business owners and key employees to discuss what’s working for them, where they’re succeeding and what’s new in their sphere, as well as seek advice 28

and compare notes on the challenges and struggles they face, Biz Connect is a special opportunity to take a more global measure of the climate in which our member businesses operate. Our members are out there on the cutting edge, finding novel ways to use emerging technologies. In Biz Connect meetings we have learned how our members are adapting to social and technological trends; members have shared tips and concerns with their peers and with us regarding online and social media marketing and discussed the very modern difficulty in arranging face to face meetings. By including a diverse range of participants and providing a setting for an honest exchange of information, Biz Connect is just one way we stay in the know on the needs of our members and the trends they’re using to their advantage. We know how busy our members are, and how hard it is for them to take time out of their day for a one-on-one meeting to discuss their specific needs or share their take on current business issues and trends. We are, however, genuinely interested in hearing from you about this, whether it’s a personal meeting or telephone call with our staff or a member of the Chamber’s Membership Success

Committee. The Membership Success Committee’s primary objective, of course, is to help our members put this Chamber to the best possible use, but additionally the Committee members are vital resources as sounding boards and mentors. We want to serve you as effectively as possible, and that can’t be done without having a finger on the pulse of what’s happening out there. We reach out to our membership in so many ways, and are always open to hearing from you. Our members are pioneers. We can only benefit from your expertise. Please share your ideas with us. Help us help you. Together we will help sustain a strong Hudson Valley business community and make our region a better place to live, work, play, worship and do business. . MEMBERSHIP SUCCESS COMMITTEE

CHAIR Patrick Turner Little Pond

Consulting Nancy Rafter Arrow Promotions Nancy Thomas-Finn Recycle Depot John Sorlie, Empire State Bank MaryBeth Boylan New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce

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REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2011

OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, at the highest level of membership, play an exclusive and vital role in the important work of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a premier member at the Corporate Partner level, they enjoy the advantage of exceptionally valuable benefits, in addition to those included in the standard NPRCoC membership. Exclusive opportunities to deliver your message to over 30,000 public event attendees, over 700 active Chamber members, and countless Hudson Valley residents, including a full 12 months of visibility in every Chamber publication, communication, and event. Customized personal service from the Chamber’s expert staff, including communications designed exclusively to keep you informed. We invite you to choose from four elite Corporate Partner membership categories: Principal, Leading, Associates, and Supporting.

• Feed • Fertilizers • Shavings

2011 CORPORATE PARTNERS LEADING PARTNER

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. ASSOCIATE PARTNER

Brinckerhoff and Neuville Insurance Group SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley Health Quest Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union KIC Chemicals, Inc. Law Offices of James Yastion, PLLC M&T Bank Ulster Savings Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP, CPAs

• Fencing • Pet Food & Supplies • Lawn & Garden Supplies

N UR S E RY AND GREENH OU S E F U L LY S T OCK E D

Phone | (845) 255-0050 Fax | (845) 255-7845 145 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 (GPS: 145 North Chestnut Street) 30

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REGIONAL REPORT SUMMER 2011

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